Genome integrity relies on the strict alternation of S and M phases of the cell cycle, so that one and only round of DNA replication takes place per cell cycle. This is achieved through replication licensing, which involves the formation of a multi-protein complex, the pre-replicative complex, onto origins of replication. Cdt1 is a crucial component of this complex and Geminin, a small protein shown to tightly bind Cdt1, inhibits its licensing function from S to M phase, when licensing is illegitimate. Although previous experimental evidence shows that Cdt1 and Geminin are expressed in different phases of the cell cycle, physical interaction between these two proteins has been demonstrated in vitro as well as in vivo. The fate of a normal cell is not perpetual division. Cells may exit the mitotic cell cycle to enter quiescence, to terminally differentiate or to senesce. These "out-of-cycle-states" must be strictly regulated in order to establish and maintain the hierarchical organization of complex tissues in metazoa. Replication licensing has been proposed to coordinate cell-cycle exit and re-entry in vitro and in metazoan tissues. Cdt1 and Geminin down-regulation during exit to quiescence supports the idea that their expression correlates with cell proliferation. In contrast to other out-of-cycle states, little is known about the regulation of Cdt1 and Geminin expression during cellular senescence. Senescence refers to the irreversible resting state of cells grown for succeeding passages in culture, as a response to DNA damage caused by telomeres erosion. Other stimuli, such as oxidative or oncogenic stress, may force mitotically competent cells to respond similarly, a phenomenon termed as Stress Induced Premature Senescence (SIPS).

The first part of this work focused on the study of the expression patterns of Cdt1 and Geminin during the unperturbed cell cycle of primary human fibroblasts and compared to that of tumor-derived cell lines. The cell cycle specific expression and the intracellular localization of both proteins, as assessed at a single-cell level using indirect immunofluorescence and a new monoclonal antibody against Geminin, appear similar in primary fibroblasts compared to the cancer cells examined. Cdt1 is strictly expressed in BrdU-negative cells, whereas Geminin starts accumulating after S phase onset. The two proteins are, therefore, not co-expressed at the "time-window" of G1/S transition of the cell cycle. We showed that Cdt1 levels, but not those of Geminin, are mainly regulated in a proteasome-dependent way during normal cell cycle of human primary and cancer cells.

The second part of this work focused on the investigation of Cdt1 and Geminin during cellular senescence and their possible role in the establishment of the senescence phenotype. To this end, primary human fibroblasts were maintained in culture for succeeding passages in order to induce them to undergo replicative senescence. Alternatively, an H202-induced senescence protocol was applied to force cells to undergo premature senescence (Stress-Induced Premature Senescence/SIPS). We show that, although Cdt1 and Geminin retain their nuclear localization and are correctly expressed during specific phases of the cell cycle during both replicative and Η202-induced premature senescence, their expression levels are down-regulated. In SIPS-experiments, Geminin down-regulation is an early event during the establishment of the senescent-phenotype, as assessed by senescence-associated β-Galactosidase and BrdU incorporation assays. This prompted us to further examine Geminin's functional significance in the establishment of cellular senescence.
To achieve this, we interfered with Geminin expression levels in human and mouse cells. Using RNA interference techniques, we were able to show that Geminin depletion from human cells is able to induce a senescent-phenotype in a fraction of the treated culture. Similarly, Geminin-depleted human cells were more susceptible to Η202-induced premature senescence, compared to control cells. Heterozygotes for Geminin mouse embryonic fibroblasts were more prone to senescence compared to their control counterparts. In contrast, when Geminin was over-expressed in control mouse embryonic fibroblasts cultures, senescent phenotype was reduced. Finally, a strong senescent-phenotype was induced when the licensing regulator, Cdt1, was silenced within human cells.

Taken together, we conclude that Cdt1:Geminin balance within cells is crucial, and when disturbed, is able to promote a senescent phenotype, possibly through a mechanism that involves over- or under-licensing of DNA replication.


The present invention relates to a tobacco filter and a cigarette comprising a paper filter treated with a fragrance-like natural plant extract, wherein the paper filter is made of fragrance-like natural plant pulp. While maintaining the advantages, it is possible to remove the harmful substances in cigarette smoke more effectively, while having a rich taste without the negative taste such as paper odor when smoking. The present invention is characterized by applying a natural plant extract to a filter which is a non-combustible region, so that the functionality and flavor of the natural plant component are not feared to be modified by heat. Natural plant extracts, natural plant pulp, pulp, tobacco vein pulp, filter paper, sizing, crimping, paper filter, fragrance, taste, eco-friendly, tobacco filter, tobacco


PURPOSE: To provide a molded plastic part producing method and apparatus excluding the cost and time for forming individual core segments by using an integrated melt recovering metal core ring assembly for the outer surface molding and production of a molded plastic part having a complicated structure and the cumulation of the common difference generated during assembling. CONSTITUTION: A process for preparing a machine 12 distributing a molten alloy, a process for injecting the molten alloy into male and female core molds 14 by a pump in order to form male and female core rings, a process for together assembling the male and female core rings in order to form a core ring assembly, a process for mounting the core ring assembly in a molding machine 34 for the purpose of outer surface molding and a process for melting and recovering the core ring assembly from a surface-molded part to return the molten alloy to the machine 12 are included. The core ring assembly is constituted of a female core ring and the complementarily shaped male core ring inserted in the female core ring and the male and female core rings have a plurality of segments extending from first and second flanges.


EDITOR—During the past two years the issue of organ retention has placed Alder Hey Children's Hospital under a political and media spotlight. The chief medical officer's report on retained organs clearly identified longstanding practices that were widespread and well recognised by the medical profession.1 The early revelation at the Bristol inquiry about heart collections, and subsequent discoveries in our own trust, led to an independent inquiry and intense media attention.2 We are proud that all staff continued to provide the highest standards of care to the children and their parents while facing the difficult issues uncovered in the course of the inquiry. The trust has accepted the report of the independent inquiry and replied to its recommendations. Consultant members of our medical board have apologised for the …


Concern with the rising real costs of fertilizers to Third World farmers is reflected in the increasing interest in the role caf soil microorganisms in crop nutrition. This paper examines, of necessity in a sorrmewhat cursory fashion, carrent understanding of two of the key plant-soil microbe symbioses, those involving Rhizobiurr and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae. It briefly describes the underlying biology and ecology of the interactions and carrent efforts to manipulate theri;, larggely through inoculation. It then 'Dutlir;es what to our riminds are the chie-f challenges for research if the promise of Iower cost and envi ronrriental1y inoccuous plant nutrition are tc. be tirade available to those who stand must tc. benefit.


This paper examines thc problems of "civil rcligion,""anfvmie," and injustice in Athenian society as presented in Thucydides's narrative of the Peloponnesian war. Thucydides juxtaposes Pericles's funsral oration, as an embodiment *)f Athenian civil religion, with his description of Atherlian denwraliyation and anomie during the subsequent plague. These c(mcepts are lirQd to thc problem of injustice in the Melian Dialogue, which describes Athenian imperial behavior toward this small islarul people. The paper shows how Thucydides knks these ideas to the notion of Fortune in the ultimate collapse of the Athenian war effort. Thucydides is a pi(meer in the systenzatic use of these sc)ciological concepts and he is compared briefly to more recent sociologxsts, such as Durkheim, Mert(m, a7v1 Bellah. The concepts of "civil religion" and "anomie" are closely associated with the work of Emile Durkheim, although both have been subsequently developed in new directions by a host of writers, including Merton, Warner, Bellah, and others. From a systematic standpoint, the two concepts have a symmetrical quality. While "civil religion" points to the highest level of religio-political ritual and symbolism unifying a people, "anomie" reveals the fragility of social integration and asks us to examine the sources and manifestations of social dislocation and the collapse of the moral order. Indeed, the two concepts seem to work well when paired with one another. This paper examines these two concepts, along with several related ideas, as they appear in Thucydides's history of the Peloponnesian war. This text contains one of the most famous historical illustrations of "civil religion," Pericles's funeral oration. In his discussion of the effects of the wartime plague on Athenian society, Thucydides also provides a vivid historical account of "anomie" as well as one of the first instances of this term's (i.e., anomia's) sys tematic use in the human sciences. Moreover, in the so-called "Melian Dialogue," Thucydides presents the problem of justice and injustice in the individual as well as in the relations among Greek states, in a manner which echoes many of the themes of the funeral oration and the plague narrative.


The traditional method of biological nomenclature and the phylogenetic nomenclature method are reviewed. Under a phylogenetic nomenclature, ranks would not be required, and names of taxa would be given definitions based on descent. The phylogenetic nomenclature method, as currently proposed, would be in conflict, not only with the Linnaean hierarchy, but also with the notion of nomenclatural types. While the phylogenetic method would increase explicitness and universality regarding the application of names, it may do so at the expense of taxonomic flexibility and circumscriptional stability of a taxon represented by a given name. Suggestions are provided on how a code of nomenclature could be designed so as to accommodate both systems.


1 Agricultural Machinery and Technologies Engineering Department, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey ABSTRACT. Harvesting of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seeds at right time of maturity is one of the important issues because pod dropping and shattering is a major problem during harvest. Also, the physical properties of chickpea seeds can be affected by harvest time. For this purpose, a field experiment was carried out to examine the effects of harvest times after physiological maturity on the seed yield per plant and the seed quality properties in chickpea production. The treatments used in the experiment consisted of five harvest times, which chickpea pods were harvested at physiological maturity (H1) and 5, 10, 15, and 20 days after physiological maturity (H2, H3, H4 and H5, respectively). The physiological maturity time (R7) was considered as the stage that leaves start to yellow and 50% of pods are yellow. Moisture content, dimension properties, hundred seed weight, true density, bulk density and porosity and seed yield per plant was determined in the study. The results showed that all measured variables were affected by harvest time. The true density and porosity increased with delayed harvest time. But, the other measured variables decreased when harvest was delayed.


Purpose: Increased levels of cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) have been observed in tobacco-related malignancies of the upper aerodigestive tract. Moreover, exposure to tobacco smoke can stimulate the synthesis of PGE2. Recent evidence suggests that urinary PGEmetabolite (PGE-M) can be used as an index of systemic PGE2 production. In this study, we investigatedwhether levels of urinary PGE-Mwere increased in smokers and inpatientswithhead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Experimental Design:Fifty-eightHNSCCcases and 29 ageandgender-matchedhealthy controls were prospectively enrolled in the study. A detailed smoking history and single void urine specimen were obtained from each participant. Levels of urinary PGE-M were quantified in a blinded fashion usingmass spectrometry and comparedwith smoking history and tumor status. Results: Adjusted for case-control matching, median urinary PGE-M levels were significantly higher in ever smokers (15.7 ng/mg creatinine) compared with never smokers (9.9 ng/mg creatinine) for the entire study population (n = 87, P = 0.005). Concentrations of urinary PGE-Mwere nearly doubled in ever smokers (15.2 ng/mg creatinine) versus never smokers (7.8 ng/mg creatinine) among healthy controls (P = 0.001). Higher PGE-M levels were observed in current versus former smokers and in those with greater pack-year exposure. A significant difference in amounts of PGE-Mwas not observed in patients with HNSCC versus healthy controls. Conclusions: Increased levels of urinary PGE-Mwere observed in smokers. Urinary PGE-Mmay have use as a noninvasive biomarker of the effects of tobacco smoke exposure. Tobacco smoke contains potent carcinogens that have been causally linked to the development of numerous malignancies including those of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT; refs. 1–3). A variety of mechanisms have been identified by which tobacco smoke contributes to carcinogenesis. Tobacco carcinogens cause mutations and epigenetic phenomena that can activate proto-oncogenes or inactivate tumor suppressor genes (4, 5). Differences in the capacity to detoxify tobacco carcinogens or repair DNA contribute to interindividual differences in host susceptibility to the procarcinogenic effects of tobacco smoke (6 – 8). Cyclooxygenase (COX) – derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) may also play a role in tobacco-induced carcinogenesis of the UADT. Elevated levels of PGE2, detected in cancers of the UADT including non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), correlate with increased tumor vascularization, the development of metastasis, and reduced survival (9–14). Several observations further suggest that PGE2 contributes to the development and progression of cancer. For example, PGE2 can stimulate cell proliferation, induce angiogenesis, inhibit apoptosis, and suppress immune surveillance (15–20). Treatment with selective inhibitors of COX-2, prototypic inhibitors of PGE2 synthesis, or an anti-PGE2 monoclonal antibody inhibited the growth of transplantable tumors of the UADT including HNSCC (20, 21). Recently, exposure to tobacco smoke was found to stimulate COX-2 transcription resulting in enhanced PGE2 synthesis in cells derived from the UADT (22, 23). Despite an increased understanding of the link between tobacco smoke and malignancy, biomarkers that reflect the cumulative systemic effects of tobacco smoke exposure in a given individual remain elusive. Measurements of tobacco smoke metabolites and DNA adducts can provide useful information, but there is a significant unmet need for additional markers that incorporate the host response to tobacco smoke exposure (24–26). PGE2 is a reasonable candidate for use as a biomarker of the carcinogenic effects of tobacco smoke. However, tissue measurements of PGE2 are invasive and impractical for routine clinical use. Moreover, PGE2 in plasma is rapidly metabolized in the lungs and consequently does not accurately reflect endogenous PG Cancer Prevention Authors'Affiliations: Departments of Surgery (Head and Neck Service) and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center ; Department of Medicine,Weill Medical College of Cornell University, NewYork, NewYork; and Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology,Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville,Tennessee Received 4/2/05; revised 5/19/05; accepted 5/24/05. Grant support: American Society of Clinical OncologyYoung InvestigatorAward; Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Prevention Control and Population Research Program Pilot Project Award; NIH grants T32 CA09685, R01CA82578, P01CA106451, P01CA77839, R01DK48831, P50GM15431, and RR00095; and Center for Cancer Prevention Research. The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges.This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with18 U.S.C. Section1734 solely to indicate this fact. Requests for reprints: AndrewJ. Dannenberg, NewYork Presbyterian-Cornell, 525 East 68th Street, Room F-206, NewYork, NY10021. Phone: 212-746-4403; Fax: 212-746-4885; E-mail: email@example.com. F2005 American Association for Cancer Research. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-05-0733 www.aacrjournals.org Clin Cancer Res 2005;11(16) August15, 2005 6087 Research. on May 1, 2017. © 2005 American Association for Cancer clincancerres.aacrjournals.org Downloaded from production (27). Catabolism of PGE2 is initiated by 15prostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) and results in a stable end metabolite, 11-a-hydroxy-9,15-dioxo-2,3,4,5tetranor-prostane-1,20-dioic acid (PGE-M) that is excreted in the urine (Fig. 1; refs. 28–31). Previous studies have shown that urinary PGE-M can be used as an index of systemic PGE2 production (32, 33). Levels of urinary PGE-M have been reported to be elevated in NSCLC patients compared with healthy controls (34). In the current study, we investigated whether levels of urinary PGE-M were increased in HNSCC patients. Because of preclinical evidence that tobacco smoke can induce PGE2 synthesis, we also aimed to determine whether levels of urinary PGE-M were increased in smokers. In contrast to the previous findings for NSCLC, we did not find increased levels of urinary PGE-M in HNSCC patients compared with healthy controls. However, levels of urinary PGE-M were elevated in ever smokers compared with never smokers. This finding indicates that the inductive effect of tobacco smoke on PGE2 synthesis observed in vitro translates to humans in vivo . Moreover, these results suggest that urinary PGE-M represents a noninvasive biomarker of host response to cumulative tobacco smoke exposure. Materials andMethods Study design. The study was designed as a phase II biomarker study according to the criteria described by Pepe et al. (35). This observational, hospital-based, case-control study was structured to assess the ability of urinary PGE-M to discriminate between healthy controls and HNSCC cases. Cases were age and gender matched to controls at a 2:1 ratio. The sample size calculation was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis as the primary tool for evaluating the discriminatory ability of urinary PGE-M. The study was designed to have 80% power using a one-sided 0.05 level significance test to ascertain if the sensitivity of PGE-M was at least 0.65 at a fixed false positive rate of 0.30 (36). All cases were recruited from the Head and Neck Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic at Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center without consideration of race or socioeconomic status. Controls were recruited from the population of relatives accompanying patients to the clinic. Cases were eligible for participation if they had histologically confirmed HNSCC (newly diagnosed or recurrent) and were older than 18 years of age. Exclusion criteria for cases and controls included any surgery, chemotherapy (including corticosteroids), hormonal therapy (other than hormone replacement therapy for menopause), and/or radiation therapy within 6 weeks of enrollment, known unrelated malignancy, or chronic inflammatory disease, renal disease (serum creatinine, >1.5 mg/d), or active infectious process. Individuals taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, excluding a daily cardioprotective dose (81 mg) of aspirin, within 1 week of enrollment were also excluded. Informed consent was obtained from each participant. The Institutional Review Board of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center approved this study. Specimen and data collection. Participant exposure to known HNSCC risk factors, including tobacco and alcohol, was documented. Former smokers were defined as those who quit at least 12 months before presentation. Never smokers were defined as those who smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. Drinking status was selfreported as never, former, or current. Former drinkers included those who quit anytime before presentation. Never drinkers were defined as those who denied any pattern of alcohol use and excluded ''social'' drinkers. Daily 81 mg aspirin use, defined as routine intake including within 48 hours of urine collection, was similarly documented. Information regarding site and stage of disease was then extracted from the medical record. All tumors were staged according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system (37). When available, pathologic staging was preferred over clinical staging. Prior cancer history and any applied therapeutic interventions were identified and recorded as applicable. All data was maintained within a secure, password-protected clinical research database at the Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center. Single void urine specimens were then collected from each participant and promptly transported to the laboratory after collection. Each specimen was aliquoted into 2-mL cryovials and stored at 80jC. A second ''follow-up'' urine specimen was collected from those HNSCC cases undergoing s


The objective of this paper is to show the general pessimism on human being revealed in Shakespeare's Coriolanus as one of the most distinguished tendencies in Jacobean drama. Interpreted in the light of political point of view, this play has been looked upon as the metaphor or the replica of Jacobean England under the veil of Roman history. This play in fact seems to involve much similarities with the Jacobean political situations, especially those of class struggle and social disorder derived from it. This critical eye leads us to focus our interest to Coriolanus' character problems and his aptitude as a consul in Roman society, which results in the fact that Coriolanus, due to his overflowing pride as a war hero, is so arrogant and despotic that he can not live in human society. To him political world is a servitude whereas war for Rome is freedom. But regardless of his intention other characters surrounding Coriolanus, urging him into the political world, charge himself with the burden of tragic destiny. In this process we can see the faults and the undesirable features in characters surrounding Coriolanus. Menenius as a renowned and sophisticated patrician fails to show his responsibility as a leading politician. He always tries to represent and defend aristocratic privilege. He can not have the ear and the eye for protecting citizens. And from Volurnnia we can not find the genuine motherhood. She manipulates his son, Coriolanus with the Machiavellian tactics. To her honor Coriolanus brings is everything. Through him she attempt to satisfy her desire. Therefore to her Coriolanus is a puppet. Two tribunes and citizens are full of avarice and groundless malignity for Coriolanus. They always settle their interest and profit prior to solidarity of Roman society. The anomie each character shows may reflect the general pessimism in Jacobean England. In Jacobean age we can see many social and moral disorder in every part of society. General anxiety and moral unstability caused by this anomie affect human consciousness and behavior at that time. Shakespeare, in this sense, may try to reflect such a misanthropic vision on human being under the veil of Roman history in Coriolanus.


The anthropological view of ecology stresses the adaptive and exploitative relations, through the agency of technology, of the human group to its habitat, and the demographic and sociocultural consequences of those relations. Descriptive ethnographies and regional archeological histories, considerations of the interplay between the cultural and physical nature of man, comparative studies of social organization, and inquiries into sociocultural change and levels of development have proceeded from this perspective, sharpening and modifying anthropological aims and methods in the process of identifying the nature and action of ecological determinants.


Objectives Identifying factors associated with opioid use in middle-aged and older adults is a fundamental step in the mitigation of potentially unnecessary opioid consumption and opioid-related harms. Methods Using longitudinal data on a community-based cohort of adults aged 50–90 years residing in Johnston County, North Carolina, we examined sociodemographic and clinical factors in non-opioid users (n = 786) at baseline (2006–2010) as predictors of opioid use at follow-up (2013–2015). Variables included age, sex, race, obesity, educational attainment, employment status, household poverty rate, marital status, depressive symptoms, social support, pain catastrophizing, pain sensitivity, insurance status, polypharmacy, and smoking status. Results At follow-up, 13% of participants were using prescription opioids. In the multivariable model, high pain catastrophizing (adjusted odds ratio; 95% confidence interval = 2.14; 1.33–3.46), polypharmacy (2.08; 1.23–3.53), and history of depressive symptoms (2.00; 1.19–3.38) were independent markers of opioid use. Discussion Findings support the assessment of these modifiable factors during clinical encounters in patients ≥ 50 years old with chronic pain.


This chapter reviews the recentachievements of 45°-tilted fiber gratings (45°-TFGs) in all fiber laser systems, including the theory, fabrication, and characterization of 45° TFGs and 45° TFG-based ultrafast fiber laser systems working in different operating regimes at the wavelength of 1 µm, 1.5 µm, and 2 µm.


A nanopore electrode structure was fabricated consisting of ensembles of nanopores with separately addressable electrodes at the pore bottoms and the rims. A metal/insulator/metal layer structure allowed for adjusting the spacing between the bottom and rim electrodes to be in the range of about 200 nm. Pore diameters varied between 200 and 800 nm. The electrochemical properties of this electrode structure and its perspectives for applications in bioelectronics were studied using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry along with high-resolution scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in constant-distance mode. It was possible to visualize the electrochemical activity of a single nanometric electrode using high-resolution SECM in a combination of sample-generation-tip-collection mode and positive feedback mode. The SECM images suggested an influence of the unbiased rim electrode on redox amplification which was used as a basis for evaluating the feasibility of current amplification by means of redox cycling between the bottom and rim electrodes. Amplification factors superior to those obtained with interdigitated array electrodes could be demonstrated.


Using the inverse algorithm of heat transfer and the nonlinear estimation method, matching calculated values with measured ones, the interfacial heat transfer coefficient at casting/Cu mould interface was determined.The results show that the interfacial heat transfer coefficient at Al/Cu interface changes in a range of 4.0×10 3 1.0×10 5 W·m -2 ·K -1 and its average value is in a range of 5.0×10 37.0×10 3 W·m -2 ·K -1 .


In order to solve the problems of traditional Fuzzing technique for software vulnerability detection, this paper proposes a novel method based on genetic algorithm and dynamic taint analysis. First, static analysis is applied to calculate the critical path information, including danger functions, high cyclomatic number functions and loop structures. Second, dynamic taint analysis is introduced to identify the key bytes to reduce the input space. Third, the genetic algorithm fitness function is constructed based on the critical path information to guide the test case generation and the genetic operators are executed on the reduced input space. Experiments show that the method could obtain higher vulnerability detection accuracy and efficiency.


We develop a structure theory of connected solvable spherical subgroups in semisimple algebraic groups. Based on this theory, we obtain an explicit classification of all such subgroups up to conjugation.


Using fuzzy set and rough set theory,to investigate the clustering analyses and evaluation of weighting,and propose a new comprehensive evaluation system—the comprehensive evaluation system based on FCM Algorithm and weighting mining by rough sets(briefly FCM-WMRS).Then,to develop the system of the region technology ability evaluation of China.Finally,to process clustering analyses and weighting mining on the judgement of the region technology ability evaluation of China basing on the judge index system and involved data supported by the research group of continuous development Institute of Chinese Academy of Science.


This chapter on a modified iterative scheme for the equilibrium traffic signal setting (ETSS) problem is one in a book of essays published in honor of David Boyce for his contributions to the fields of transportation modeling and regional science. In this chapter, the author begins by providing essential background on ETSS, including formally defining the problem and presenting a selective overview of the relevant literature. The author then discusses the motivation and the key features of a proposed approach to ETSS, and outlines the details of the modeling framework and solution algorithm. The author also presents and discusses the results of numerical experiments in which the proposed approach is implemented on a small test network, but using realistic link delay functions as descriptors of intersection performance. The author concludes that results obtained from the numerical tests are encouraging and suggest that the proposed approach to ETSS may represent a worthwhile step toward an improved description of the real-world evolution of network conditions ensuing from the interaction of route choice and traffic-responsive signal control.


This study builds on the theories of Knowledge Management (KM) and identifies the hurdles and challenges faced by the military organizations within Brazilian Navy responsible for applying the principles of the Neptune Program in the education, specialization, and training of Supply Officers. Initially, we examine relevant concepts on Knowledge Management and pinpoint their importance to Public Administration, particularly to hierarchical organizations such as the Armed Forces. Later on, we provide a brief contextualization of the theories of KM based on the organizational structure of the Brazilian Navy Quartermasters Corps and the current principles of the Neptune Program. We also highlight the continuous pursuit for excellence in Public Administration as a source of inspiration to fostering the consolidation of KM within organizations. The utilization of qualitative research methods allows for an accurate understanding of the tenets of KM and brings to the forefront the major facilitators and barriers to knowledge sharing in professional environments. This approach enables the identification of the main practical tools observed in the fieldwork and does not deprive oneself from bringing up different tools haply suggested by the respondents. Subsequently, this study makes evident that the Neptune Program, whose website may be regarded as a virtual environment of knowledge sharing, has the necessary requirements to take over the role of a provider of a shared space for knowledge creation "Ba". In this sense, one may infer that the Neptune Program provides solid opportunities to consolidate KM within Brazilian Navy Quartermaster Corps. Finally, this work concludes that the Admiral Newton Braga Instruction Center (CIANB) has an outstanding potential to become the "Corporate University for the Quartermaster Corps" in the near future.


The construction and physical characteristics of a shower spectrometer with a stratified radiator consisting of alternating layers of TF-5 lead glass approximately 3.7-mm thick and a plastic scintillator approximately 1-mm thick are described. The results of tests of the instrument on beams of charged particles are presented.


Two general kinds of view about moral responsibility are discussed—internalism and externalism. An agent's internal condition at a time may be defined as something specified by the collection of all psychological truths about the agent at the time that are silent on how he came to be as he is at that time. Internalists maintain that—at least in the case of direct moral responsibility—all that is needed to determine whether an agent is morally responsible for a pertinent action is to be found in his internal condition. Externalists disagree; they contend that agents' personal histories can have a special bearing on moral responsibility. This disagreement is described and discussed. Various thought experiments are used to shed light on the disagreement and to start building a case for an externalist view.


Subjects 181 participants were randomly assigned to weight loss alone (n = 61), or CPAP and weight loss (n = 62) or CPAP alone (n = 58). The mean age of participants: Weight loss alone 48.3 years, CPAP and Weight loss 49.0 years, and CPAP alone 49.8 years. More than 53% of participants were male and white, mean BMI range was 38.1 to 39.8 and the mean AHI range Effects of CPAP and Weight Loss on OSA Outcomes Commentary on Chirinos et al. CPAP, weight loss, or both for obstructive sleep apnea. N Engl J Med 2014;370:2265-75. Robert L. Owens, M.D.1; Shirin Shafazand, M.D., M.S.2 1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA; 2Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL


The full title of the original convention is Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, 1988. It was supplemented from the outset by the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf,1988. The two new Protocols amend the 1988 Convention and the 1988 Protocol respectively.


The management of patients with cognitive impairment (CI) is one of the urgent problems of modern medicine. Issues of diagnostics and therapy of patients with CI and their high mortality during the period of coronavirus infection are discussed. A wide prevalence of patients with mild CI (MCI), an important role of neuropsychological research in establishing CI, and frequent diagnosis of CI only at the stage of dementia were noted. In our country, CI is poorly diagnosed, the most common cause of CI in the elderly - Alzheimer's disease (AD) - is rarely established, patients are observed for a long time with a diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease (CVD). Some non-drug and drug methods can reduce the manifestations of CI, improve the quality of life of both the patients themselves and those around them. In severe CI, socio-psychological methods, stimulating patients to feasible household and social, physical and mental activity, and avoiding prolonged hospitalization are of primary importance. In addition to lifestyle changes, much attention in CI is given to the prevention of stroke, the treatment of arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. At the stage of dementia, cholinomimetic drugs (acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) and the glutamate receptor blocker memantine are used. The use of choline alfoscerate in CI and the results of the multicenter, placebo-controlled ASCOMALVA study are discussed, in which, in patients with AD and CVD, the addition of choline alfoscerate to donepezil reduced the severity of CI, manifestations of depression, anxiety, and apathy. A new oral form of choline alfoscerate (Cerpechol) is reported that may improve patient compliance and be used in patients with swallowing disorders.Copyright © 2023 Ima-Press Publishing House. All rights reserved.


In behavioral science research there is often the need to determine if an outcome variable differs, or is equivalent, across groups. Significance tests are the most prevalently applied data analysis method for this type of question. The purpose of this study was to examine how statistical tests for equivalence and difference have been applied to compare clinical interventions. Peer-reviewed journal articles that made treatment comparisons were examined. For each study, the primary hypothesis, statistical test usage, and the stated conclusion were recorded. Of the 270 studies investigated, 54.4% inappropriately made equivalence-based conclusions from difference-based test statistics (e.g., t test, ANOVA). Significance tests are often applied as a matter of course regardless of the research question. We have found that difference tests are similarly favored and have been applied to examine difference and inappropriately applied to examine equivalence. We discuss our findings and provide resources for researchers who want to statistically evaluate between-groups equivalence.


Surveys of community drug use can pinpoint patterns of drug misuse identify the channels through which people obtain drugs assess the appropriateness of drug distribution by community health workers and provide health program administrators with information on public perceptions. Presented in this monograph is a four-month (two months of data collection and two months for data analysis) rapid assessment methodology. Household interviews seek data on the percentage of illness episodes treated with self-medication most commonly used drugs drugs in stock in the home attitudes toward various types of health care facilities ideas about drug efficacy drug sources and treatment of childhood diarrhea. Statistics on these indicators are presented as simple frequency distributions. Also presented is a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of structured interviews informal interviews focus group discussions observation techniques and document reviews. The results of baseline surveys can be used to develop strategies for more rational drug use.


The Disability Inclusive Development (DID) programme is a large disability programme funded by the UK government's Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Under this programme, Task Order 20 is a project in Kenya aiming to develop the idea of inclusive early child development and education (IECDE), so that children with disabilities will be able to attend pre-schools alongside other children in their community. The project is trialling this approach in nine schools in different contexts, and as part of the project, the Institute of Development Studies UK is leading a piece of qualitative participatory research running a series of focus group discussions and individual interviews with different stakeholders. This report outlines the findings of the first round of focus group discussions. URI


Università degli Studi di Napoli " Parthenope " 1. Introduction The evolutionary process that has characterized the multinational beverage and beer companies, with specific reference to their role in the wine market, proves to be always-growing and more dynamic. That is also thanks to efficient marketing policies, and to an intense international concentration and reorganization process of the alcoholic beverages sector which has brought to the establishment of a limited number of huge American, Australian and European multinational companies. Also the alcoholic consumption model has sustained deep changes. At the same time, international competition has deeply changed: today, we can no more talk about competition between countries, but we have to refer to competition between companies or groups of companies (often results of combination and takeover processes, also by actors completely unrelated to the market, as financial companies, insurance groups, merchant banks). The old world of wine and the new are not strictly opposed: the real difference is between companies which have focused on winning market-oriented strategies and those which have remained product-oriented. The effects of the strategies of the main multinational beverage companies in the Italian wine sector are still very limited, differently from the undoubted world success obtained: by the right changes, Italy (already at the top of international wine market) could adjust itself to the new requirements of entrepreneurial competition and have a special attention to the way companies relate with the market. The progressive growth of foreign multinational companies in different markets and their new company strategies, regarding production, distribution, marketing, brand policies, product diversification, promotional activities and investments, should push the universe of Italian small and medium enterprise to follow action lines that are capable to let them compete with the main global actors, with good chances to succeed. The aim of the present work is to analyse the Italian wine-market and, above all, show the outcome of an enquiry into enterprises' export of an important Italian Region: Campania. In the first part a picture of the wine regional sector is introduced, with particular observations on the employed surface and the wine varieties, on the actual levels of the general production and the specific typologies of the offer, on the principal characteristics of the model of consumption, on the features of enterprises and on the actual weight of the export in the Campania economy. In the second part, then, the conducted investigation will be illustrated …


Background : Rapid activation of the cardiac catheterization laboratory for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) improves outcomes for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), but selected emphasis on minimizing time to reperfusion may lead to a greater frequency of false-positive activations. Methods : We analyzed consecutive patients referred for primary PCI for a possible STEMI at 2 centers from October 2008 to April 2011. "False-positive STEMI activa-tion" was defined as lack of a culprit lesion by angiography or by assessment of clinical, electrocardiographic, and biomarker data in the absence of angiography. Clinical and electrocardiographic factors associated with false-positive activations were evaluated in a backward step-wise selection bootstrapped logistic regression model. Results : Of 411 STEMI activations by emergency physicians, 146 (36%) were deemed to be false-positive activations. Structural heart disease and heart failure were the most common diagnoses among false-positive activations. Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.15; 95% CI, 1.55-6.40; P =.001), a history of coronary disease (AOR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.04-3.59; P =.04), or prior illicit drug abuse (AOR, decisions were formulated. The inciting STEMI ECGs (ie, the ECG that led to the decision to activate the catheteriza- tion laboratory) were deidentified and reread for key variables by 2 cardiologists (E.J.A. and K.S.H.) blinded to clinical out- comes. Laboratory values, angiographic and echocardiographic datawerecollectedfromtheelectronicmedicalrecords.Awaiver of consent was obtained from the institutional review board at University of California, San Francisco. Study data were col- lected and managed using REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) tools hosted at the University of California. 13 coronary artery disease or illicit drug abuse; cardiac arrest at presentation;bodymassindex;hypotensionatpresentation(sys-tolicbloodpressure (cid:2) 100 mm Hg), after-hours presentation, and the extent of the diagnostic ECG changes on the inciting ECG (maximum millimeters of ST-segment elevation, specific territory with greatest ST-segment elevations, number of leads with ST-segment elevations, and presence of LBBB). The statistical output is reported as an odds ratio (OR) or adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval. Boot-strapping with 200 repetitions was used to generate confi- dence intervals and P values. 17,18 Continuous variables are presented as means and standard deviations or median values and interquartile ranges (IQRs) for nonnormally distributed data. Sensitivity analyses performed with omission of highly in- fluential points demonstrated no qualitative or statistically significant differences in outcomes (data not reported). All sta- tistical analyses were performed with Stata version 11 (StataCorp).


Theoretical production on communication in social sciences in a dialog with literary theory and pragmatic. This article retakes a seminal project by Gabriel Cohn when he announced, in Sociologia da Comunicacao (Sociology of Communication) the convergence of this area of study with pragmatic. The importance of a communication turn in social sciences and at the same time how the social sciences contribute to identify the social conditions of producing meaning in the cultural consumption and in the necessary conditions for its symbolic effectiveness.


Extreme temperature indices (ETIs) are used to assess extreme temperature events, to further reveal possible climate impacts of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on temperature extremes. The primary objective of this paper is to investigate the spatial and temporal variability of ETIs, and further examine the linear and nonlinear relationships between ETIs and two ENSO anomalies including the Niño 3.4 and Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) between 1969 and 2016 in the Wei River Basin (WRB) of China. The trends of ETIs were analyzed using Mann-Kendall test and cloud model, and the relationships between ENSO and ETIs were quantified using correlation and wavelet analysis. Results showed that the ETIs had increased from 1969 to 2016. Most of the stations exhibited similar trends for each ETIs except diurnal temperature range (DTR). The trend of minimum temperature (Tmin) was larger than that of maximum temperature (Tmax). Meanwhile, the variability of Tmin in the south of WRB was more stable than in other regions. Niño 3.4 was mainly positively correlated with PC1 of ETIs, and vice versa for SOI. The results help to understand the changes in extreme temperature events and their relationships with climate anomalies, which can provide scientific references for the water resource management of the watershed.


-hexane and 80% methanol. Thebiological active 80% methanol fraction was evaporated, andpartitioned again between phosphate buffer (0.1 M, pH 7.8)and ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate soluble fraction was thenloaded on a silica gel (20 g, Merck Co.) column. Elution wascarried out with every 100 mL of chloroform, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 50% methanol in chloroform. The fraction 4-6%methanol in chloroform shown BR-activity was combinedand subjected to C18 bulk chromatography (100 mL,Waters, Preparative C18) that was eluted with 50, 60, 70, 80,90 and 100% methanol. The fraction eluted 70-90%methanol was further purified by a reversed phase HPLC(Senshu Pak Pegasil-B, 10 × 150 mm) at a flow rate 2.5 mLmin


The paper shows the possibility to use the glaciers of valley and cirque type for the evaluation of average annual precipitation at the firn-limit elevation. The map of average annual precipitation in the basin of river Khovd is applied.


Rainbow trout is one of the most popular introduced game species around the world. Similar patterns of use for lake and inlet streams have been described for both native and introduced populations. However, for many introduced rainbow trout populations, there is a lack of information about how and when those habitats have been used. Here, we hypothesized that the majority of adult and sexually mature individuals inhabit inlet streams during the reproductive period most likely to spawn whereas juvenile trout occupy these same streams as nursery areas most of the year before emigrating to the lake. We studied rainbow trout age distribution and sexual maturity in a lake and its main inlet streams in southern Chile. We found that stream-dwelling individuals inhabited inlet streams up to age 2 + whereas lake-dwelling trout were older (most of them from ages 4 + to 6 + ). During the reproductive period (May to September) older and sexu- ally mature individuals were in both habitats probably indicating movement to upstream locations to spawn. Rainbow trout of the same ages were larger in the lake than in streams, which may imply better growth in the lenthic environment. Our study offers further evidence of the highly adaptable nature of rainbow trout. Future regulations should consider rainbow trout populations in lakes and streams separately because trout life histories suggest that both environments are important to different ontogenic stages. This study provides key information that may be useful in the management of ad-fluvial populations of rainbow trout in Patagonia.


Cancer is a big health problem with high morbidity and mortality and possess both economic and phsychological challenges. The aim of the present study is to evaluate methanolic (80%) ginger extract for their anticancer activity using two cancer cell lines: hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HePG2) and breast carcinoma cell line (MCF7). The results showed that ginger methanolic (extract 80%) exhibited a pronounced cytotoxic effect and was found to possess a very potent inhibitory activities against hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HePG2) and breast carcinoma cell line (MCF7).


During 2009, 15 100 unaccompanied children sought asylum in Europe. Many of them came from 'failed states' like Somalia and Afghanistan where official documents with exact birth dates are rarely issued. This has led to requests to health care professionals in many countries to assist migration authorities in determining whether a young asylum seeker is a child or an adult. Many different methods are currently employed in Europe for this purpose by dentists, paediatricians, radiographers and social workers, but no currently available method has been demonstrated to have the accuracy needed to be of real use in this decision. Unclear guidelines and arbitrary practices may lead to alarming shortcomings in the protection of this high‐risk group of children and adolescents in Europe. Medical participation, as well as non‐participation, in these dubious decisions raises a number of ethical questions.


This is an important book not only for our understanding of precolonial India, but for the larger debate over 'Oriental Despotism' and its intellectual heritage. The author's contribution centres on the Persian term fitna, meaning sedition or rebellion. From the centralist and universalist perspective of Islamic theory, all fitna was deplorable and morally wrong. Still, sedition and rebellion, Wink argues, were pervasive features of both earlier Muslim empires and the Mughal Empire. Rather than the better-known building of the bureaucracy and the mansabdari system, he sees the Mughal polity as 'a balancing system of continually shifting rivalries and alliances'. The strength of this formulation is that it brings in the conquered Hindu groups Marathas, Rajputs, Bundelas, for example -


The No.2 FCC unit in SINOPEC Wuhan Company suffered from rising riser pressure drop and deteriorating product distribution.The root causes were found to be the coking in the riser reactor.After analysis of the causes,corrective measures were proposed and taken,such as increasing atomizing steam flowrate,maintaining driving force in the spent catalyst line,properly raising the regenerator bed temperature and using VGO as the feedstock for start-up,etc.The unit has been operating stably for near 10 months after the above effective measures were taken.


Information systems capstone projects aim to prepare students for what they will encounter in the industry after graduation. Corporate application development is often a complex endeavor that requires coordination between related products. For example, software development in the mobile application sector may require a coordinated parallel development of native cellphone applications and mobile web applications. The dual approach taken by these companies enable end users to access the application over a wide variety of devices and operating systems. Instructors usually must choose between a mobile web development environment and a native development environment such as Android or iPhone. In order to provide students with a learning experience that incorporates additional complexities of the real world, a challenging capstone course project is presented that requires a large team to implement the same application in both environments. This course was implemented in a single semester at Bentley University in the spring of 2015. Student teams created pub crawl applications based on stops within a local mass transit system that would run both on an Android phone and on a mobile website. Java, Eclipse and Google's Android SDK were used to create the Android component. JQuery, HTML5, PHP and JavaScript constituted the development environment used to create the mobile web component. The project management and coordination of the two development environments within a single team resulted in unexpected challenges. Factors leading to varying degrees of successful completion of the team capstone projects are presented along with lessons learned.


Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) has been presented as a revolutionary technique in order to treat low and ultra-low rectal cancer. Although we recognize the potential advantages when done properly, we consider that it is important to remember that laparoscopic ultra-low anterior resection with total mesorectal excision is feasible when the technique is mastered and avoids the need for a long learning curve of the TaTME with the associated potential risks. The added inconvenience of the TaTME is the need for two specialized surgical teams, double laparoscopic equipment and specialised devices, with the consequent impaired logistics and team dynamics. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


Optical and electrical measurements are performed in methane/diluent mixtures in a 250-ns pulsed-dc discharge using a fast-rise-time pulser. In particular, emission and laser-induced-fluorescence studies of CH produced by direct-electron-impact dissociation reveal the postdissociation kinetics of CH as well as a means of estimating the CH density. In a 20-Torr 10%∕20%∕70% mixture of argon/methane/nitrogen, the instantaneous CH density is determined to be 2.1×1013cm−3 at the end of the steady-state voltage and current condition. Kinetics analysis reveals that neutral chemistry with methane is the largest loss process for the CH fragments. Analysis of N2(C-B) rotational temperatures indicates that less than 30% of the input electrical energy is deposited as heat in the gas, with the balance going toward dissociation, excitation of internal molecular states, and ionization.


The efficacy of various soil moisture regimes on photosynthesis and photores-piration in leaves of one and a half year-old pot-grown saplings of lemon, was studied at the Horticultural Research Centre, Patharchatta of G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Nainital) during autumn-1983 and spring-1984. The maximum rates of photosynthesis and photorespiration were observed in the trees irrigated at 20 per cent of moisture depletion which significantly decreased with the increase in moisture stress. Significantly higher rate of photosynthesis (1.54 folds) was recorded in autumn than in spring flush-leaves and that of photorespiration (3.44 folds) in spring as compared to autumn flush-leaves.


Giant landslides over 1×107 m3 for a single landslide volume are dominant geological disasters in the area of the Three Gorges reservoir,whose developing mechanism include two aspects,i.e.,forming mechanism and triggering mechanism.Based on investigations in real-time field,forming mechanism of giant landslides in the area are revealed by using Geomorphology and are classified into chain avalanching of perilous rock,debris flow deposits,and earthquake,appearing about 70%,10% and 20% respectively.Meanwhile,lots of loose deposits sitting on slopes are initial conditions to form landslides,and almost all landslides are composed of loose deposits;while that by earthquake belongs to rock landslides.According to many geotechnical observations and physical simulations in laboratory,three triggering mechanisms of landslides are promulgated obviously,i.e,(1) softening landslide earth by precipitation;(2) unreasonable mankind actions,such as loading on top and cutting at foot of slope and engineering refuse dump,etc.;(3) variation between 145 m a.s.l.and 175 m a.s.l.of water level of the reservoir,and alternatively soaking of earth at the variation region.In the three mechanisms,the first and the second extensively appear in engineering construction sits,such as urban,roads and highways,villages of immigrants above 175 m a.s.l.,while the third plays a role frequently in landslides locating in the variation region.Giant landslides locating in the variation region are soaked by water of the reservoir totally or partially,so strength of earth is composed of the landslide attenuate by a big margin.Additionally,greater seepage forces exist in these landslides during descending of water level of the reservoir,and coupling both of the aspects speed up forming and rupture processes of landslides sitting on the slope.All results above reveal initially developing mechanisms of giant landslides in the area.


Computers are the only research tools that by design exhibit chaotic behavior: a minimal change in the input to a computation can change its output in any imaginable way. Developers and users of scientific software should be aware of this feature and set up safety nets for protecting themselves against bad surprises.


This working paper provides a background context to the uses of a specific software resource, Learning by Questions (LbQ), piloted in 6 schools across Northern Ireland, from October 2017 to July 2018. There has been continued use in those schools since the end of the pilot. The LbQ resource has similarities with previous software resources used in schools in the 1990s, called Integrated Learning Systems (ILSs). This paper compares the contemporary LbQ resource with these previous ILS resources, highlighting some fundamental differences that the LbQ resource offers. Case vignettes from four schools provide evidence of outcomes arising in practice. It is clear that uses are affecting and shifting both teacher and pupil behaviours. Importantly, some of these behavioural shifts are not only positively affecting learning and teaching, but also teacher wellbeing. Implications are considered.


In this paper, a method of repeatedly direct kinematics is introduced. By using this method, a flowchart serving for the solution of inverse kinematical problem of an articulated robot arm is investigated. The performance of the flowchart is analyzed in a robot arm whose inverse kinematical answers cannot be directly obtained in formula because of the existence of an offset in its wrist. In the flowchart, because the position error and the posture error are evaluated separately the computing efficiency becomes very high. In addition, another flowchart dealing with the plural answers of a robot hand with the same position and posture is put forward. The solution of the plural answers makes it possible for a robot arm to avoid the angular limitations of its joints or to bypass the obstacles while working.


Abstract The Gallery of Costume (Manchester City Art Galleries) in Partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University Fiftieth Anniversary Conference, 3–6 July 1997


Nosocomial catheter-related urinary tract infections, i.e. catheter-associated bacteriuria (CAB), is common in hospitalized patients with urinary catheters. The most common uropathogens in CAB are Escherichia coli and vancomycin sensitive enterococci (VSE). Other common uropathogens in patients with CAB include other aerobic Gram-negative bacilli and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). In patients with nosocomial CAB, infection control measures are important to prevent transmitting Gram-negative bacilli and enterococci to other patients. IDSA guidelines state that antimicrobial therapy of CAB is not necessary. In practice, nosocomial CAB in patients with impaired host defences, are often empirically treated. Since patients with nosocomial CAB are afebrile, are not bacteremic, and do not have upper tract disease, if nosocomial CAB is treated, an oral antibiotic is preferred. In the present era of antibiotic resistance, particularly among uropathogens, oral therapeutic options to treat nosocomial CAB are limited. While some oral antibiotics used to treat nosocomial CAB may be active against some uropathogens, their use may induce subsequent resistance in the patient's fecal flora. Resistance is a common problem with oral antibiotic treatment of nosocomial CAB. Often antibiotic treatment only replaces one pathogen with another more highly resistant pathogen. Since there are relatively few oral antibiotics active against common nosocomial CAB pathogens, therapeutic options are limited. Nitrofurantoin is an underutilized often overlooked antibiotic for CAB used extensively worldwide for over 60 years, and is one of the few oral antibiotics active against E. coli, most strains of Klebsiella sp. as well as both VSE and VRE. The lack of resistance associated with prolonged nitrofurantoin use over the years is explained by its unique antibacterial mechanism of action, i.e. nitrofurantoin blocks carbohydrate metabolism in three different locations in the Krebs's cycle in bacterial cells of susceptible organisms. Because nitrofurantoin is excreted primarily via the urine, relatively small amounts are excreted in the fecal flora and nitrofurantoin does not affect the fecal flora. Nitrofurantoin's spectrum includes most aerobic uropathogens except Proteus sp., Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Fortunately, these three organisms are relatively uncommon causes of nosocomial CAB. Clinicians should be aware of the difference between in vitro susceptibility and in vivo effectiveness. In vivo effectiveness is also dependent on antibiotic concentration at the site of infection. In lower urinary tract infections, urinary concentrations of renally eliminated antibiotics may exceed brothderived susceptibility breakpoints. Susceptibility breakpoints with nitrofurantoin are expressed as susceptible, intermediate, or resistant. In adults with intact renal function, the urinary concentrations of nitrofurantoin are 50–300 mcg/ml. Nitrofurantoin susceptibility breakpoints are: ,64 mcg/ml5susceptible, 64 mcg/ml5intermediate susceptibility, and .64 mcg/ml5resistant. Since relative resistance/intermediate susceptibility is concentration dependent, susceptibility to nitrofurantoin at achievable urinary concentrations may be greater than is apparent from in vitro susceptibility data. With E. coli nosocomial CAB, if an E. coli strain has an MIC of 1 : 128 to nitrofurantoin, the strain may be eradicated if the urinary concentrations are .128 mcg/ml. Since susceptibility is, in part, concentration dependent, it is reasonable to combine susceptible with intermediate susceptibility data to achieve a more accurate prediction of susceptibility. The clinically effective urinary spectrum of an antibiotic is determined by its concentration in the urine, urinary antibacterial substances, and urinary pH. The antimicrobial activity of nitrofurantoin is optimal when the urinary pH is y5.5. In addition, the tubular reabsorption of nitrofurantoin is pH dependent Correspondence to: B A Cunha, Infectious Disease Division, WinthropUniversity Hospital, Mineola, NY 11501, USA and State University of New York School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, USA. Email: bacunha@ windthrop.org


Various embodiments are generally directed to an apparatus, a method and other techniques to generate a rest period for a processing unit and a switching circuit by one or more packets in a buffer for one or more input / output (I / O) ports is buffered or. Embodiments may include: causing the processing unit and / or to operate in a lower power state during the idle period of the switching circuit, and causing the processing unit and / or the switching circuit to leave the lower energy state by one or more out-band send messages to the processing unit and / or the switching circuit is communicated or.


This paper discusses the viability of Time Tick based Built In Self Test (TT BIST) implementation using the binary "hot" values of the Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) output for ADC testing. In traditional methods histogram testing is done using sinusoidal signals. But such testing methods are quite slow for high resolution ADCs. The proposed method uses dynamically generated ramp signal using current source with digital switch for selecting the various combinations of the binary "hot" values thereby minimizing the test vectors for computation of the INL and DNL errors. Thus by choosing only the binary onehot, threehot, fivehot and sevenhot values yields the minimum variance of the static errors from the benchmark results and hence the number of clock ticks during the transition between these "hot" values are determined and compared with the ideal number of ticks between those levels using the TT BIST method. The entire computation is done in a single ramp cycle and since this modified TT BIST method uses only 20 "hot" levels of digital output instead of all the 256 levels of an 8 bit ADC, the testing time is reduced with the desired accuracy levels being achieved with the TT BIST method.


As a new concept and style of tourism planning, strategy planning of regional tourism development can help to supplement and perfect the existing tourism planning system. This paper starts with a definition of the conception of Strategy Planning of Regional Tourism Development and an explanation of its connotation. It then proposes a competition-oriented framework for studying strategy planning of regional tourism development, discusses the quantitative evaluation method of the competitiveness of regional tourism, and ends with a case study of Gansu province.


For geometries such as multiple spheres the scattering problem can be solved more efficiently using semi-analytical (spectral) techniques. Here we develop such a method, which in some sense is analytical since it is based on solutions in the form of infinite series. At the same time the method is numerical, since in the simple form presented here, it requires the solution of a large linear system for determining coefficients in the series, to satisfy boundary conditions on multiple spheres. The solution is based on decomposing the contributions of each scatterer to the total field representation of each contribution in the form of a series of spherical multipoles of the Helmholtz equation, and reexpansion of each multipole near the center of each sphere to satisfy the boundary conditions. This procedure produces infinite linear systems in the coefficients of the expansions. This system can be solved numerically by truncation of the series.


"Initiative fatigue" was one symptom afflicting the NHS last year. The civil servants working on the Jenkins review of functions and manpower (the review that spelt the end of regions) calculated that the NHS was being presented with one new initiative from the top every working day. No wonder the review team detected a mismatch between the "command economy" of the management executive and the regions and the need of the new market NHS for a light touch.

Yet 1994 may not be much different. Shortly before Christmas the minister for health, Dr Brian Mawhinney, announced that the government would implement in full the recommendations of the Calman report on specialist medical training. He also reaffirmed the commitment to …


Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability, characterized by a spectrum of muscle weakness and movement abnormalities related to the upper limb. About 80% of individuals who had a stroke suffer from upper limb dysfunction. Conventional rehabilitation aims to improve one's ability to use paralyzed limbs through repetitive exercise under one‐on‐one supervision by physiotherapists. This poses difficulty given the limited availability of healthcare resources and the high cost of availing specialized services at healthcare centers, particularly in developing countries like India. Thus, the design of cost‐effective, home‐based, and technology‐assisted individualized rehabilitation platform that can deliver real‐time feedback on one's skill progress is critical. This paper describes the design of a novel, multimodal, virtual reality (VR)‐based, and performance‐sensitive exercise platform that can intelligently adapt its task presentation to one's performance. Here, we aim to address unilateral shoulder abduction and adduction that are essential for the performance of daily living activities. We designed an experimental study in which six individuals who had chronic stroke (post‐stroke period: >6 months) participated. While they interacted with our VR‐based tasks, we recorded their physiological signals in a synchronized manner. Preliminary results indicate the potential of our VR‐based, adaptive individualized system in the performance of individuals who had a stroke suffering from upper limb movement disorders.


One of the biggest pieces oj gardening news in years: a spray that is poisonous to unwanted plants but nut to animals or the soil.


In this paper we present a theoretical evaluation of the effectiveness of prevention strategies focused on different population groups. For this evaluation predictions of the future spread of HIV and of four other classic STDs are made with the STDSIM simulation model for four hypothetical populations with different patterns of sexual behaviour. In our analysis we also address the relationship between the timing of interventions and the effectiveness of different prevention strategies. In our modelling exercise we do not focus on the important issue of the feasibility of identifying core groups but instead simply assume that it is possible to reach and influence a certain proportion of them as well as of the general population. (excerpt)


The characterisation of a power system at every operating state is a requirement for reliable and secured operation. This paper presents the evaluation of the state variables of a power system with static state estimation under steady state and transient conditions. Power flow for evaluation of the initial system variables was obtained through Newton Raphson algorithm. Real time system data is obtained through the phasor measurement units (PMUs) installed at remote terminal units (RTUs) of each load points. Weighted least square estimation method is applied on the initial state parameters; power flows, voltage magnitudes and angles and frequency obtained from the load flow evaluation to obtain reliable and final system state parameters. The result obtained through simulation of a 40 bus network on MATLAB (PSAT) shows 32.5% and 50% variances of state variables above 1%. Static state estimation (SSE) with PMU also provided improvement in the network performance through transmission loss reduction and overall system stability. A real time data acquisition (PMU) and data analysis system (SSE) is required to fully model, accurately characterise and ensure secured operation of the network under steady state and transient conditions.


Dogs play a distinct role in their impact on human relationships and processes because of the unique role they play in American society, existing in a liminal space of "almost" human. Both the level of emotional attachment and the requisite daily care make dogs important players in bringing humans in contact with one another and mediating human relationships. This study examines the role that dogs play in mediating relationships between and among humans. By analyzing 24 in-depth interviews, as well as Letters to the Editor, editorials, and other items in a local newspaper, and observing public meetings around dog usage at a local park, I identify a range of ways that dogs influence social relationships and processes, even for those who do not have dogs in their homes. On the positive side, I find that dogs act as "tickets" for people to socialize and develop relationships, they facilitate the diversification of social networks, and they act as an avenue to political participation. On the negative side, dog ownership and dog breeds can become the basis for clique formation, stereotypes, and boundary formation, serving as grounds for exclusion.


This paper present design of Real time monitoring and controlling of un-dissolved particle in water distribution system by using Turbidity sensor,LAN (LocalAreaNetwork), SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and motor pump to control based upon the Turbidity sensor reading in the being monitored house. Generally the monitoring of water is carried out by taking water samples to laboratory to analyze water quality parameters, this analyzing take long time and not instant. Objective of this paper is to detect undissolved particle inside water received in the monitored house online using LAN and display the turbidity value of monitored tank house on the webpage with turbidity values observed based on defined time. To carry out control using webpage a button is made on the webpage in order to control water motor pump at MWSS (Major Water Supply Station) by clicking after observing the turbidity sensor reading of monitored house are in danger or ok range by clicking the hyperlink in the single page the hyperlink details of water quality being reached to monitored houses from the MWSS in the single


Three new species of the family Eriophyidae,Neocymoptus ornapodus sp.nov.,Aculochetus phyllostacher sp.nov.and Tetra spicrostrae sp.nov.,are described and illustrated.They were collected on bamboo from the Qinling-Dabashan region in Shaanxi,China.Type specimens are deposited at the Biological Specimens Collection of Ankang Region,in Ankang University,Ankang City,Shaanxi,China.All measurements are given in micrometers.


Digitalisation is the integration of technology across all areas of an organisation. The business accounting and auditing sectors have switched to digital; data analysis has also used software in the digital age. The role of accountants in business has changed and transformed into a computerised accounting system. This study hopes to reach the following research objectives such as explore the impact of digital transformation on accountants' work and professional life, identify the needs and priorities of the accountants in the digitalisation era, identify challenges and opportunities associated with digital transformation for accountants, and determine the potential outcomes of providing access to digital tools and resources, training and support, and recognition for the accountants' work in the digitalisation era and identify the potential risks associated with providing access to digital tools and resources, training and support, and recognition for the accountants' work in the digitalisation era. This study will use a questionnaire survey method. The questionnaire will be designed based on the needs and priorities identified by the accountants in the digitalisation era. The questionnaire consisted of a series of questionnaires designed to gather data on different aspects of accountants' work in the digitalisation era. The questionnaire will be distributed to the accountants using email. The research outcomes will be analysed using the most recent version of SPSS. Finally, the data will be analysed to answer all the research questions to achieve the research objectives.


The potential for use of Tanzania grass (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania) cut at different ages for the production of silage was evaluated. In the first experiment, Tanzania grass, cut at 42, 63, 84, 107, and 126 days of growth, was evaluated considering its productivity, agronomic characteristics and chemical composition. It was observed gain in height of Tanzania grass until the 84th day, with increased the production of green fodder and mass production of dry material with the advancing age of cutting. It also resulted in a decrease in the percentage of leaves and an increase in the percentage of stems. Regarding chemical composition, it was detected a decrease in crude protein percentage and an increase of fibrous fractions with the advancing of age. The results were reflected in the kinetics of rumen fermentation of Tanzania grass cut on the 42nd, 63rd, 84th, 107th, and 126th days, described by semi-automated in vitro gas production technique, showing less potential for gas production, lower fractional of fermentation and, consequently, less effective degradability of dry matter. For the production of grass silage, it is recommended cutting the Tanzania grass from 42 to 63 days of age.


Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO), an enzyme involved in detoxifying xenobiotics, regulating glucose uptake, and effecting cell adhesion, leukocyte trafficking and angiogenesis, was purified from the crude microsomal fractions of rat lung by Cibacron Blue 3GA-agarose and Concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatographies with a specific activity of 5.554 nmol/min/mg of protein. A 46-fold purification and a recovery of about 15% were obtained. Purity was approved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The purified SSAO appeared as a single band with a molecular mass of 184 kDa in PAGE; however, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-PAGE under reducing conditions yielded a band of 93 kDa, suggesting that the enzyme is a homodimer which is composed of 93 kDa subunits possibly attached by disulfide bridges. Optimum temperature and pH were found as 45oC and 7.5, respectively. Incubation at 60oC resulted in a complete loss of SSAO activity. Purified SSAO was stable for at least one month at -80oC. Km and Vmax values towards its substrate benzylamine were determined to be 3.65 μM and 5.6 nmol/min/mg, respectively. The velocity of the reaction decreased with increasing substrate concentration when benzylamine was used as substrate, indicating that Michaelis-Menten enzyme behavior was obeyed at only low concentrations of the substrate. Semicarbazide exhibited a suicide type of inhibition on the oxidation of benzylamine by SSAO by possibly interacting first with the enzyme to form a reversible enzyme-inhibitor complex with a subsequent reaction and then leading this complex to the covalently bound enzyme-inhibitor adduct.


Oxidative stress is induced by a wide range of environmental factors including heavy metals stress. Therefore, antioxidant resistance mechanisms may provide a strategy to enhance metal tolerance, and processes underlying antioxidant responses to metal stress must be clearly understood. In the present study, the effects of heavy metals generating antioxidative defense systems (i.e. superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxydase, glutathione reductase and catalase) were studied in the leaves of Atriplex plants grown in soil polluted with heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn). The results showed that exposure of plants to different levels of metal reduced the dry matter production and height of shoots. The decrease in root growth caused by toxicity of metals was more severe than the decrease in shoot growth. Atriplex plants showed gradual decrease in height following metal treatments, a 4-week exposure of A. hortensis (red) to 25, 50, 75 and 100% contaminated soil gave a respective mean values of 21.4, 12.2, 9.3 and 6.5 cm, these values were lower than 39.00 cm for the control. Of the antioxidant enzymes only superoxide dismutase (SOD) and probably ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were diminished by metal toxicity. However, the activity of catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) was increased by metal stress. Hence, the plants of the three annual arroach species or varieties used, all showed an intermediate level of tolerance according to the imposed treatments. The antioxidative activity seems to be of fundamental importance for adaptive response of Atriplex plants against environmental stress.


This paper aims to research the influence of the metal mesh pattern design structure on capacitance. Firstly, the capacitance data of different pattern design products are collected. Through the Minitab analysis, it is presented that the Tx/Rx channel area, the Tx&Rx overlap area and the space size are significant factors for capacitance. Furthermore, three groups of experiment were designed, and the following conclusions were drew: the capacitance is positively correlated with the mesh width, negatively correlated with the space size, positively correlated with the mesh area of channel region.The research results have an important guiding role for OGM pattern design and touch‐related issue analysis.


Abstract This paper presents a study on the TPACK model (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge), which focuses on the assumption that in order to use ICTs effectively in teaching, the instructor must be trained in technological, content and pedagogical knowledge. In consequence, education, teacher training and professional development programmes should provide learning opportunities so that teachers can develop and put into action the three areas included in the model. To analyse the TPACK model of the teachers included in the study, a translation of an already developed instrument was applied; its reliability resulted in a Cronbach's alpha of .97. The sample was comprised of 1,368 people who conducted training activities related to education and technologies at universities in Spain, Argentina, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. The results reveal the need to stress not the technological aspects but the pedagogical and content knowledge, which is where the respondents earned the lowest scores.


T he Team Software Process SM (TSP SM) is designed to facilitate superior performance of software development teams. Although the TSP is designed for the software domain, it is so well defined that it can be used in other domains. For example, the management team of QuarkSoft, a start-up software company, decided to apply TSP techniques to run the company. In particular, they have been using TSP techniques as the baseline process for planning , controlling, and performing the activities of all the members of the management team. QuarkSoft's management team members have been using the TSP approach for more than 10 months and are very pleased and excited with the results. They are convinced that the TSP has been fundamental for having effective company management. For example, the strategy and objectives for the company are well defined, risk management has been implemented, communication problems have been reduced, realistic plans have been built, and important problems are addressed in a timely manner. Their experience shows that the TSP is a powerful team process that can be customized to improve the performance of teams beyond the software domain. This article explains the motivation for using the TSP as an executive management process, how the TSP has been adjusted to fit the QuarkSoft management team's needs, and the lessons learned from this experience. The authors assume the reader knows the main concepts and products of the TSP. Please refer to [1, 2] for a description of the TSP.


We present a three-dimensional theory of stimulated Raman scattering
(SRS) or superradiance. In particular we address how the spatial and temporal properties of the generated SRS beam, or Stokes beam, of radiation depends on the spatial properties of the gain medium. Maxwell equations for the Stokes field operators and of the atomic operators are solved analytically and a correlation function for the Stokes field is derived. In the analysis we identify a superradiating part of the Stokes radiation that exhibit beam characteristics. We show how the intensity in this beam builds up in time and at some point largely dominates the total Stokes radiation of the gain medium. We show how the SRS depends on geometric factors such as the Fresnel number and the optical depth, and that in fact these two factors are the only factors describing the coherent radiation.


The data about accumulated experience in application of cryopreserved placenta in obstetrics, aimed to treating fetoplacental failure (FPF) and chronic fetal hypoxia (CFH) are shown. The effect mechanism of cryopreserved placenta is based on the effect of metabolically active substances of placental origin on different organs and systems of an organism. The implantation of cryopreserved placenta fragment (CPF) considerably improves placenta echostructure of a recipient, enriches uterus-fetus-placenta blood flow due to remodulating placental vessel channel, results in blood redistribution in placental structures, normalises a synthesis of placental proteins in pregnant woman's organism. The introduction in FPF and CFH therapy protocol of subcutaneous CPF implantation augments the treatment efficiency for this pathology, favourably affects the labour outcome.


R packages neuralnet is used to calculate the inverse kinematics of the ABB IRB7600-500 robot 6-revolute jointed robot arm. This robot arm is required to move from a position to the desired position with a minimum error in the workspace. The commonly methods are not sufficient, it can not solve the complex kinematics problems of the redundant robotic manipulators. To overcome such complicated things, ANNs are used nowadays. Firstly we analyzed the kinematics of 6-DOF robotic arm, secondly quintic polynomials was applied in 6-DOF robotic arm trajectory planning. The network is trained using the input data and the performance plot, training state and regression plots are observed. In this training, Random rule divides the data where 70% data are assigned to training set, 30% data to test set.at the same times, theta error were obtained acceptable.


Power control (PC) techniques have been studied for years with the aim of reducing interference and allowing efficient battery energy management. Among PC algorithms, those based on the signal-level (not on cochannel interference) show good characteristics in terms of network stability and provide optimum downlink performance when a half-compensation scheme is used instead of a full-compensation algorithm. This work is concerned with partial (including the full and half cases) compensation signal-level-based PC algorithms and their impact on battery duration of mobile terminals, i.e., the uplink is investigated. A time division multiple access (TDMA)-based cellular system is considered. The effect of a slow PC, i.e., following only slow channel fluctuations, on the average transmitted power of mobile terminals is evaluated through a completely analytical model; both ideal and nonideal PC are considered. Starting from suitable requirements on radio coverage, we show that a half-compensation PC scheme is often a good choice for extending terminal battery life (thus, also reducing health risks).


In the present civil engineering world sometimes the foundation soil is not suitable for construction purpose. This creates lots of problem to civil engineer during the execution. To make the problematic soil suitable for engineering projects is known as ground improvement. So for the purpose of ground improvement we use numerous types of admixtures like cement, lime, blast furnace slag, rice husk ash, fly ash etc. This paper reviews on the influence of blast furnace slag when used alone or with some other admixtures on various properties of clayey soil. From the experimental results it has been found that by using blast furnace slag with admixtures like lime increases the value of U.C.S and C.B.R. and the variation is also found in the compaction characteristics of soil.


The study aims to analyze the factors that influence local tax revenues and the relationship between economic growth and local tax revenues in Muaro Jambi Regency. The data used are secondary data sourced from the Muaro Jambi Regency Central Bureau of Statistics and the Muaro Jambi District Revenue Service. Data analysis used multiple regression models and Pearson correlation. The results of the analysis found: 1) simultaneously and partially, the regional tax revenue of Muaro Jambi Regency was influenced by the number of business units, per capita income and the number of taxpayers; 2) there is a significant positive relationship between economic growth and local tax revenues in Muaro Jambi Regency.


dark aviator sunglasses glued to his unsmiling tribal-marked face is a picture that has become recognizable around the world over the past three years. But precisely who Abacha is may not be as easy to ascertain as being able to recognize him. One thing is sure, however: many psychoanalysts would give their eye-teeth to have him on their couches to find out what makes him tick, especially now when speculation is high that he is preparing the ground for a transformation to


To assess the success of development in agriculture can be done by looking at the level of welfare of farmers, which can be measured from the Farmer Exchange Rate (NTP). NTP is the ratio between the price index value received by farmers and the price index value paid by farmers. NTP is suspected to have a relationship with various factors, where to determine the influence of these factors can be done through modeling both as response variables and predictor variables. NTP values in several sectors can be observed from an object of research in a certain period of time. Therefore, panel data regression can be used in modeling the relationship between NTP and the factors that influence it. The purpose of this research is to analyze the factors that are thought to influence the Food Crop Farmer Exchange Rate (NTTP) by using panel data regression. The factors referred to are land area, harvested area, production, productivity, GRDP of the agricultural sector, inflation, and the consumer price index.. The data used comes from the five largest rice-producing provinces in Indonesia according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture in 2020. This research data is sourced from the website of the Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) and the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture for the 2008-2017 time period. The independent variabels in the study were land area, harvested area, production, productivity, agricultural sector GDP, inflation, and the consumer price index, while the dependent variabel was NTTP. The results of the regression analysis, it can be concluded that the Common Effect Model is the best model of the NTTP panel regression in 5 provinces of Indonesia with an R-Squared value of 53.25% and an error value of 7.55% accuracy of the estimation results using MAPE. This shows that the factors that are thought to affect NTTP such as Productivity, Inflation, and CPI have a significant influence, while the variabels of Land Area, Harvest Area, Production, GRDP of the Agricultural Sector are not significant in the regression model and the rest is influenced by other factors. outside of this research. The value of the MAPE accuracy error rate shows a percentage below 10% which means the forecast value is very accurate.


An integrated storm surge modeling system, CH3D-SSMS, based on the CH3D (Curvilinear-grid Hydrodynamics in 3D), has been further enhanced to enable simulation of storm surge, wave, inundation, and 3D circulation along Florida coasts during recent tropical cyclones. Until recently, CH3D was coupled to a barotropic basin-scale model to simulate 2D/3D barotropic response of coastal and estuarine waters to tropical cyclones. In this study, CH3D is coupled to a 3D baroclinic circulation model HYCOM which covers the North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico to enable simulation of salinity, temperature, and currents in addition to water level in coastal waters. Tidal open boundary condition is obtained from ADCIRC. The CH3D is also coupled to a coastal wave model SWAN which receives open boundary condition from the basin-scale WAVEWATCH- III model. The 3D baroclinic CH3D-SSMS is used to simulate the surge, inundation, and salinity in the NE Florida coast, including St. Johns River and Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM-NERR) near St. Augustine, during Tropical Storm Fay in 2008. The slow moving storm with heavy precipitation caused significant inundation in St. Johns River while lowering salinity inside the GTM-NERR. While the water level during Fay was accurately simulated, accurate salinity simulation required the use of precipitation forecasts from HYCOM and river flow forecasts from NWS' AHPS. Inadequate river flow forecast results in salinity simulation errors.


Signal regulatory proteins (SIRPs) comprise a family of cell surface signaling receptors differentially expressed in leukocytes and the central nervous system. Although the extracellular domains of SIRPs are highly similar, classical motifs in the cytoplasmic or transmembrane domains distinguish them as either activating (β) or inhibitory (α) isoforms. We reported previously that human neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN)) express multiple SIRP isoforms and that SIRPα binding to its ligand CD47 regulates PMN transmigration. Here we further characterized the expression of PMN SIRPs, and we reported that the major SIRPα and SIRPβ isoforms expressed in PMN include Bit/PTPNS-1 and SIRPβ1, respectively. Furthermore, although SIRPα (Bit/PTPNS-1) is expressed as a monomer, we showed that SIRPβ1 is expressed on the cell surface as a disulfide-linked homodimer with bond formation mediated by Cys-320 in the membrane-proximal Ig loop. Subcellular fractionation studies revealed a major pool of SIRPβ1 within the plasma membrane fractions of PMN. In contrast, the majority of SIRPα (Bit/PTPNS-1) is present in fractions enriched in secondary granules and is translocated to the cell surface after chemoattractant (formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine) stimulation. Functional studies revealed that antibody-mediated ligation of SIRPβ1 enhanced formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine-driven PMN transepithelial migration. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments to identify associated adaptor proteins revealed a 10–12-kDa protein associated with SIRPβ1 that was tyrosine-phosphorylated after PMN stimulation and is not DAP10/12 or Fc receptor γ chain. These results provide new insights into the structure and function of SIRPs in leukocytes and their potential role(s) in fine-tuning responses to inflammatory stimuli.


Collaborative writing is on the increase. In order to write well together, authors often need to be aware of who has done what recently. We offer a new tool, DocuViz, that displays the entire revision history of Google Docs, showing more than the one-step-at-a-time view now shown in revision history and tracking changes in Word. We introduce the tool and present cases in which the tool has the potential to be useful: To authors themselves to see recent "seismic activity," indicating where in particular a co-author might want to pay attention, to instructors to see who has contributed what and which changes were made to comments from them, and to researchers interested in the new patterns of collaboration made possible by simultaneous editing capabilities.


In this paper we present a digital generator which produces sine-wave signals with variable frequency. The shape of the signal is stored in memory. The modification of the frequency is achieved by changing the number of samples used to generate a period. The digital circuitry of the generator is implemented using a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and a microcontroller. Experimentally we have generated sine-wave signals with frequencies between 1÷100 kHz and analysed their content in harmonics. Finally we present some possibilities for optimising the generator.


Based on grey prediction GM (1,1) model,an integrated grey Support Vector Machine (SVM) model was presented. Through improving the GM (1,1) prediction accuracy based on background value calculation,initial value selection and smooth degree of data sequence,three grey prediction models that are background GM model,initial value GM model,smooth degree GM model,were put forward. Then,combining the advantages of SVM,the prediction results of three grey prediction models were used as the SVM input factor,and the original data sequence was used as the output factor of the SVM. The support vector regression machine was trained to get the optimal structure. The results of experiment show that the model is valid.


NATURALLY occurring antigens have the disadvantage, for the study of the relation of specificity to chemical structure, that their constitution is incompletely known and that very little is known of the arrangement of the constituent units in their molecules. Slight chemical differences may be detected between two antigens such as the serum albumins of two different species, but it is not possible to decide what is the essential difference which determines that the one will act with the homologous antiserum and that the other will not. Even the specific polysaccharides, whose constitution is better known, do not provide a range of variations of structure convenient for the study of the relation of constitution of specificity. This difficulty can be overcome by the use of derived antigens. By attaching known chemical groups to proteins in various ways antigens are formed the specificity of which is determined by the groups so attached. The most convenient method of attachment is by an azo-link.