Viruses are the most abundant biological agents in the global marine environment. Through cellular lysis viruses influence many biogeochemical and ecological processes, including energy and nutrient cycling, host distribution and abundance, algal bloom control and genetic transfer. Nano- and picophytoplankton are ubiquitous in the world's oceans and are responsible for a high proportion of the annual global carbon fixation. However, relatively few viruses have been isolated and described that infect these key primary producers and little is known of their diversity, dynamics or propagation strategies. The aims of this study were to detect, isolate and characterise novel marine viruses that infect these important members of the phytoplankton assemblage. Screening of seawater samples for viruses that infect a broad representation of nano and picophytoplankton species was undertaken here. To enable this, a large culture collection of 106 phytoplankton species was established and used to screen seawater samples for viruses on a weekly basis over a two year period. A total of 12 novel viruses infecting the prasinophyte species' Ostreococcus tauri and Micromonas pusilla were isolated from seawater sampled in coastal waters of the Western English Channel. Viruses were purified by plaque purification or liquid serial dilution techniques. Characterisation of novel virus isolates included growth kinetics, visualisation using transmission electron microscopy, host range analysis and estimates of viral genome sizes using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Phylogenetic analysis of these viruses was conducted based on the sequence of the conserved DNA polymerase gene. Genome sequencing of two of the viruses infecting O. tauri was completed and revealed many exciting features, including a suite of genes hitherto unreported, or with rare occurrence, in viruses. Evidence is presented for horizontal gene transfer between viruses isolated in this study and their hosts, as well as between other eukaryotic and bacterial sources. Functional characterisation of the viral genomes sequenced and described in this study will provide clearer insights into viral dynamics and evolutionary history.


This chapter explores the link between entrepreneurship and the larger project of reservation land tenure reform. Many scholars draw a connection between land-tenure design and economic development generally. This chapter provides a more detailed analysis of current reservation land tenure dynamics and the specific challenges these systems can create for private economic development. Despite this current system's widely recognized economic and non-economic perils, successful reservation land reforms have proven incredibly difficult to achieve. In order to encourage more land-tenure innovation, this chapter flips the land reform conversation on its head. Instead of focusing solely on land reform strategies to promote economic development, this chapter explores how supporting entrepreneurship itself might, in turn, drive more experimental, innovative, and flexible Indigenous-led land reform. Entrepreneurs tend to thrive in the kind of uncertain legal environment that is otherwise seen as a problem in Indian country, and entrepreneurs might therefore be uniquely well suited to navigate reservation legal landscapes in creative ways. Entrepreneurship can be a powerful catalyst both to improve reservation economies and to support Indigenous efforts to reclaim and sustain local land ethics and community property law choices.


The free-piston Stirling engine driven heat pump (FPSHP) is presented as an alternative residential heat pump technology. In this type of heat pump system the mechanical output of an externally heated free-piston Stirling engine (FPSE) is directly connected to a Rankine or transcritical cycle heat pump by way of a common piston assembly. The attractiveness of this system is the economics of operation when compared to an electrically driven conventional heat pump as well as the low environmental impact of the system. It is expected that the primary energy ratio for the ground water source FPSHP will be close to 2.15 for heating mode and 3.34 for cooling mode with the inclusion of domestic hot water generation. The working fluids are dominantly helium (He) gas for the engine and carbon dioxide (CO2) for the heat pump. Technical concerns for this system include the effects of working medium mixing and the load stability under various operating conditions. The direct connection of the Stirling engine to the compressor of the heat pump allows for the working fluids to mix with each other. He separation for the heat pump is discussed and the effect of the mixing of working fluids on both the heat pump and Stirling engine is investigated through a demonstrative experiment and simulation. Experimental verification of the performance due to the mixed working fluid is presented for the heat pump cycle, while simulation techniques with proper gas mixture properties are used to determine the effect on the Stirling cycle. About 50% by volume of CO2 gas is expected in the working fluid of the free-piston Stirling engine and less than 1% by volume of He gas is expected in the CO2 heat pump cycle.


The success of gene therapy mainly depends on the gene vector (GV) responsible for the efficient transport of genetic information. The qualities of a GV have a profound influence on the method of application, the efficiency of gene transfer in the target tissue, the amount and persistence of gene expression and the potential side effects and safety risks. Clinical gene therapy studies over the past 20 years have contributed to the development and testing of different GV systems, some of which also show great potential for the treatment of skin diseases. In this review the structures, methods of application, characteristics, clinical uses and possibilities for optimization of these GV will be discussed with regard to their cutaneous applications.


Background: Despite new medical and surgical strategies, 5-year local recurrence of rectal adenocarcinoma was reported in up to 25% of cases. Therefore, we aimed to review surgical strategies for the prevention of local recurrences in rectal cancer. Summary: After implementation of the total mesorectal excision (TME), surgical resection of rectal adenocarcinoma with anterior resection or abdominoperineal excision (APE) allowed decrease in local recurrence (3% at 5 years). More recently, extralevator APE was described as an alternative to APE, decreasing specimen perforation and recurrence rate. Moreover, technique modifications were developed to optimize rectal resection, such as the laparoscopic or robotic approach, and transanal TME. However, the technical advantages conferred by these techniques did not translate into a decreased recurrence rate. Lateral lymph node dissection is another technique, which aimed at improving the long-term outcomes; nevertheless, there is currently no evidence to recommend its routine use. Strategies to preserve the rectum are also emerging, such as local excision, and may be beneficial for subgroups of patients. Key Messages: Rectal cancer management requires a multidisciplinary approach, and surgical strategy should be tailored to patient factors: general health, previous perineal intervention, anatomy, preference, and tumor characteristics such as stage and localization.


In the past decade, the new concept of coherent risk measure has found many applications in finance, insurance and operations research. In this paper, we introduce a new class of coherent risk measures constructed by using information-type pseudo-distances that generalize the Kullback-Leibler divergence, also known as the relative entropy. We first analyze the primal and dual representations of this class. We then study entropic value-at-risk (EVaR) which is the member of this class associated with relative entropy. We also show that conditional value-at-risk (CVaR), which is the most popular coherent risk measure, belongs to this class and is a lower bound for EVaR.


Background and aims The causes of psychosomatic disorders in children are in a family attitude towards a child and the relationship between parents. The understanding of 'family psychological health' will allow creating strategies to prevent and treat psychosomatic disorders in children. Aims To define the types of family disorganisation and psychological adaptation features of preschoolers living in families. Methods The questioning on the test 'ABC for parents and children aged 3–10 years' the parents of 36 preschoolers with psychosomatic symptoms was held. We studied the level of parental protection in upbringing, the degree of the child's needs satisfaction, the number and quality requirements to the child in a family, instability of parenting style. The daily urine free cortisone concentrations were investigated. Results The upbringing peculiarities which promote to deviation's development in behaviour and psychosomatic diseases development were found in 91,6% of children: due to hyperprotection (in 52,8%) and hypoprotection (in 38,8%). The hyperprotection of children is related to the expansion of parental feelings (56%), upbringing insecurities of parents (61%). In half of the families there is a projection of undesirable qualities of the parents to the child. The elevation of daily urine free cortisone excretion in children with hypoprotection compared with hyperprotection were determined ((18.2 (16.0;18.6) and 16.7(15.5;17.7) nmol/nmol in creatinine, respectively (p < 0.05)). Conclusions These data suggest that the paediatrician should pay attention not only to physical health of the child, but also the psychological. The timely correction of upbringing will reduce the frequency of psychosomatic illnesses.


This case study analyzes nurses' political participation in shared management in the Brazilian Public Health Care System (Sistema Unico de Saude). The researchers' initial statement is that the nurse has a relevant political participation in local health system management. From that we identify the nurse's conception about political participation and the space in which participation is exercised. Based on pre-defined categories, we utilize the thematic analysis technique to interpret how this political participation in health care management occurs. We adopted a qualitative, exploratory approach and the data was collected using semi-structured interviews as well as observation of nurses in different positions in a local, consolidated, health care management system in a municipality in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The results indicate the nurses' restricted view about their political role in health care management; their incipient political participation; and the low value placed upon this kind of participation, despite the fact they are occupying different, relevant, and political-technical functions in the local public health care system.


A validation of the p-SLLOD equations of motion for nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation under homogeneous steady-state flow is presented. We demonstrate that these equations generate the correct center-of-mass trajectory of the system, are completely compatible with (and derivable from) Hamiltonian dynamics, satisfy an appropriate energy balance, and require no fictitious external force to generate the required homogeneous flow. It is also shown that no rigorous derivation of the SLLOD equations exists to date.


The nuclear factor [[Unable to Display Character: ƙ]]B (NF-[[Unable to Display Character: ƙ]]B) comprises a family of transcription factors involved in many physiological processes such as innate and adaptive immune responses, cell proliferation, cell death, and inflammation. The dimeric NFκB transcription factors are inhibited in quiescent cells through stable association with inhibitor IκBs. Recent literature suggests aberrant or constitutive NF-[[Unable to Display Character: ƙ]]B activation in many human malignancies, including lung cancer. Hence, we aim to decipher the role of NF-[[Unable to Display Character: ƙ]]B on tumour progression and metastasis employing a non-metastatic tumour animal model, SPC-CRaf-BXB. We generated SPC-CRaf BXB mice, where constitutively active C-Raf is expressed in alveolar type II cells. These mice develop tumour nodules within 3-5 months. Further, we cross breed these mice with SPC- rtTA/Tet-O IKK2-CA (inducible constitutively active IKK2 under SPC promoter) or SPC-rtTA/Tet-O-IKK2-DN (dominant negative IKK2 under SPC promoter) to generate triple transgenic mice (SPC-C-Raf BxB/SPC rtTA/Tet-O IKK2 CA or SPC-C-Raf BxB/SPC rtTA/Tet-O-IKK2-DN). At different time intervals of induction (one month, two months and 10-12 months), these mice were sacrificed and analysed for histomorphological changes. Immunohistochemical staining showed NFκB localization within the cell and its translocation to the nucleus, which was confirmed by protein expression levels in cytoplasm and nucleus. Modification of NF-[[Unable to Display Character: ƙ]]B levels in mice showed tumours and significant histological changes such as alveolar enlargement and emphysema like structures. Similarly, Lewis lung carcinoma 1 (LLC1) cells injected to SPC-rtTA/TetO-IKK2-CA and SPC-rtTA/TetO-IKK2- DN transgenic mice showed tumour reduction and tumour microenvironmental changes as seen with CD3, F4/80 and CD11b staining. Screening 10 different human cancer cell lines, for the NFκB pathway members revealed variation in expression levels of NFκB in different cancer types. Based on their expression, selected cell lines (A549, H23 and H226), were stably transfected with NF-[[Unable to Display Character: ƙ]]B pathway-modifying constructs to study the functional significance of inducible constitutively active or dominant negative IKK2.Cells transfected with NF-[[Unable to Display Character: ƙ]]B pathway-modifying constructs, like pEGZ-IKK2-CA and pEGZ-IKK2-DN, showed changes regarding their proliferation and migration abilities. Cells with an activated NFκB pathway were less apoptotic and more proliferative, suggesting contribution of the NFκB signalling pathway to lung cancer progression. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1396. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1396


Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) therapy has marked a paradigm shift in the treatment of hematological malignancies and represent a promising growing field also in solid tumors. Neurotoxicity is a well‐recognized common complication of CAR-T therapy and is at the forefront of concerns for CAR-based immunotherapy widespread adoption, as it necessitates a cautious approach. The non-specific targeting of the CAR-T cells against normal tissues (on-target off-tumor toxicities) can be life-threatening; likewise, immune-mediate neurological symptoms related to CAR-T cell induced inflammation in central nervous system (CNS) must be precociously identified and recognized and possibly distinguished from non-specific symptoms deriving from the tumor itself. The mechanisms leading to ICANS (Immune effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome) remain largely unknown, even if blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment, increased levels of cytokines, as well as endothelial activation are supposed to be involved in neurotoxicity development. Glucocorticoids, anti-IL-6, anti-IL-1 agents and supportive care are frequently used to manage patients with neurotoxicity, but clear therapeutic indications, supported by high-quality evidence do not yet exist. Since CAR-T cells are under investigation in CNS tumors, including glioblastoma (GBM), understanding of the full neurotoxicity profile in brain tumors and expanding strategies aimed at limiting adverse events become imperative. Education of physicians for assessing individualized risk and providing optimal management of neurotoxicity is crucial to make CAR-T therapies safer and adoptable in clinical practice also in brain tumors.


Y-Ba-Cu-O samples with additions of Y2O3 and CeO2 were quenched during seeded isothermal melt processing and examined by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Large YBa2Cu3O7-y (Y123) particles in the starting powder were found to form a distinct type of melt during heating, which was unaffected by the Y2O3 or CeO2 additives. This type of melt later formed regions with a low concentration of Y2BaCuO5 (Y211) particles in the Y123 matrix. The maximum growth rate of Y123 that could be sustained in the sample was found to be lower in the melt formed from large Y123 particles, and this may lead to growth accidents and subgrains in some samples.


In this paper, the effect of the carbonization temperature on the mechanical properties, density, wear and corrosion resistance of AA 6063 reinforced with eggshells was investigated. The selected fabrication route for this investigation was stir casting while the weight fraction of the eggshells was kept constant at 5 wt.%. The carbonization temperature was varied at 900, 1000, 1100, and 1200 °C. The microstructure revealed that the eggshells were fairly uniformly dispersed on the individual grains and along the grain boundaries of the base metal. It was also shown that the presence of agglomeration increased with increasing carbonization temperature. The densities of the eggshell-reinforced AMCs were lower than that of the base metal. The analysis of the microhardness showed an improvement of 40.79, 22.93, 25.70, and 29.43% for the 900, 1000, 1100, and 1200 °C carbonized eggshell samples, respectively. The compressive strength studies showed that the addition of carbonized eggshells improved the compressive strength of the composites compared to the base metal. The tribology studies showed that the wear resistance improved for the 900 and 1200 °C samples, while the electrochemical studies revealed that the corrosion resistance improved for the 900 and 1000 °C samples only.


Boolean satisfiability (SAT) solvers are used heavily in hardware and software verification tools for checking satisfiability of Boolean formulas. Most state-of-the-art SAT solvers are based on the Davis-Putnam-Logemann-Loveland (DPLL) algorithm and require the input formula to be in conjunctive normal form (CNF). We present a new SAT solver that operates on the negation normal form (NNF) of the given Boolean formulas/circuits. The NNF of a formula is usually more succinct than the CNF of the formula in terms of the number of variables. Our algorithm applies the DPLL algorithm to the graph-based representations of NNF formulas. We adapt the idea of the two-watched-literal scheme from CNF SAT solvers in order to efficiently carry out Boolean Constraint Propagation (BCP), a key task in the DPLL algorithm. We evaluate the new solver on a large collection of Boolean circuit benchmarks obtained from formal verification problems. The new solver outperforms the top solvers of the SAT 2007 competition and SAT-Race 2008 in terms of run time on a large majority of the benchmarks.


A sensitive and selective technique for the quantitative measurement of atmospheric perfluorocarbon trace species at the sub part per quadrillion (10(-15)) levels is presented. The method utilizes advances in adsorbent enrichment techniques coupled with benchtop capillary gas chromatography and negative ion-chemical ionization mass spectrometry. The development and enhancement of sampling technology for tracer experiments is described, and the results from background measurements and a preliminary field experiment are presented. The overall precision of the analytical method with respect to the preferred tracer for these atmospheric transport studies, perfluoromethylcyclohexane, was +/-1.7%. The background concentrations of perfluorodimethylcyclobutane, perfluoromethylcyclopentane, and perfluoromethylcyclohexane at a remote coastal location (Mace Head, Ireland, 53 degrees N, 10 degrees W) were found to be 2.5 (+/-0.4), 6.8 (+/-1.0), and 5.2 fL L(-1) (+/-1.3), respectively. Background concentrations within an urban conurbation (Bristol, U.K.) were slightly greater at 3.0 (+/-1.5), 8.1 (+/-1.8), and 6.3 fL L(-1) (+/-1.1), respectively.


financing of rare disease drugs remains a serious problem for both foreign countries and our country. A limited budget for treatment of such patients determines significant difficulties for its distribution as part of drug supply to rare disease patients. The introduction of multiple-criteria analysis for identifying priority areas for financing diseases can be considered as one of the approaches to increase objectivity and transparency of decisions in the area of rare diseases. The main advantage of multiple-criteria analysis is the comprehensiveness of decisions: this type of analysis can provide consideration of disease severity and treatment efficacy. In 2014, a pilot study was conducted in the Russian Federation which involved 85 experts in various fields of medicine (clinical medicine, health financing, health management, scientific activity), which demonstrated that, from the point of view of experts, the characteristics of treatment are more important for identification of rare disease funding priority than the characteristics of the disease itself.


In the usual forcespinning (FS) process, a meso-scale fluid jet is forced through an orifice of a rotating spinneret, where the ambient fluid is air. This leads to the formation of a jet with a curved centerline. In this study we make use of a phenomenological viscosity model, which, in particular, takes into account both extension thinning and thickening of the polymeric jet, to investigate the properties of polymeric fiber jets during FS process. We consider the governing modeling systems for such rotating jets and calculate numerically the expressions for the nonlinear steady solutions for the jet quantities such as radius, speed, stretching rate, strain rate and trajectory versus arc length. We determine these quantities for different values of the parameters that represent effects due to rotation, viscosity and relaxation times for shear and extension. We also carry out experimental investigation for several types of polymeric fluid jets during FS process that provide general agreement with the present theoretical results.


Research shows that market orientation affects news content. However, very little research examines how market orientation affects the coverage of a particular story. This is the first to examine news content concerning the same story covered by two different organizations: a strongly market-oriented legacy outlet and a weakly market-oriented digitally native news nonprofit. This study employs textual analysis to examine how the New Haven Register and the New Haven Independent electronically covered the Annie Le murder and investigation. While both organizations covered the same story and concentrated on the same aspects of the story, the results appear very different. The Register highlighted the more salacious aspects and focused on speculation and scoops, while the Independent focused more on why it happened and what it meant to readers. The results of this study are analyzed through the lens of gatekeeping theory.


Thyroid hormone (TH) has diverse effects on mitochondria and energy expenditure (EE), generating great interest and research effort into understanding and harnessing these actions for the amelioration and treatment of metabolic disorders, such as obesity and diabetes. Direct effects on ATP utilization are a result of TH's actions on metabolic cycles and increased cell membrane ion permeability. However, the majority of TH induced EE is thought to be a result of indirect effects, which, in turn, increase capacity for EE. This review discusses the direct actions of TH on EE, and places special emphasis on the indirect actions of TH, which include mitochondrial biogenesis and reduced metabolic efficiency through mitochondrial uncoupling mechanisms. TH analogs and the metabolic actions of T2 are also discussed in the context of targeted modulation of EE. Finally, clinical correlates of TH actions on metabolism are briefly presented.


Abstract In pulsed fiber laser using Q-switching or mode locking techniques, the choice of the different components and the management of linear and non linear parameters of the cavity, play a paramount role in the generation of stable ultra short pulses with high peak powers and low widths. In this paper, we focus on the operating process of mode locked fiber lasers especially passively and hybrid type Eight Fiber Lasers (8FLs). By modeling the light propagation within the two cavities, we describe the whole operating process of ultra short pulses generation. The interaction between the mode locking mechanism and nonlinear effects in fiber laser is also illustrated. We demonstrate enhancing non linear effects do not lead necessarily to better results. It depends on the type of mode locking techniques used. The highest and narrowest output pulses are obtained for specific values of the non linear parameters and the mean dispersion of the cavity.


Abstract This study proposes a new interpretation of the texts of two late ancient or early Byzantine papyrus amulets that refer to conflict with "headless" entities (PGM P 5a–b). Based on the identification of parallels in the Byzantine and later Greek tradition, a traditional incantation motif can be identified, targeting fever, which is analogized as a judicial crisis. An appendix publishes or republishes the relevant texts with translations. The complex career of the motif attested by the papyri and the Byzantine texts is also applied to illustrate the workings of the Greek tradition of incantations, in particular the mechanism by which elements of a received repertoire are re-combined, modified, and augmented for changing contexts, a process comparable to folkloric composition. The judicial motif can further be contextualized among beliefs about the supernatural, including the divinization of fever itself and the crediting of a broad cast of powers, including John the Baptist along with other holies, angels, and demons, with its infliction and relief.


Laser beam scanning systems benefit from dynamic focus control and aberration correction using a deformable mirror, enabling 3D real-time scanning. Designed for focus and spherical aberration control in optical beam scanning systems, these mirrors are capable of video rale bandwidths allowing real-time 3D imaging in micro-optical scanning systems. Field curvature aberration can also be corrected with the same mirror. Previous work with polysilicon deformable mirrors validated the concept of using specialized deformable optics in beam scanning systems. Fabrication of micro-optics in this dissertation was achieved using a modified surface micromachining technique with silicon nitride replacing polysilicon as the structural material. A bulk anisotropic silicon etch following a PSG release etch allows the creation of a variable cavity depth, overcoming the typical deformation limitations of standard surface micromachining. To perform as desired, parabolic curvature of the mirror surface is required with the ability to introduce positive and negative quartic curvature. Analytical theory showed that deformed simply supported plates have curvature closer to parabolic than deformed clamped plates. Segmentation and thinning of the perimeter was done to in order to emulate this simply supported boundary. Two annular actuation zones were implemented to give independent control over the second and fourth order curvatures. It was found that residual stress present in the silicon nitride structural plate improved the surface curvature and mechanical resonance at the expense of a larger actuation pressure. Mirrors with diameters of 1500, 1000, 750, and 300pm were built and tested. Zonal actuation with annular electrodes proved successful in providing sufficient correction of the mirror surface curvature, allowing spherical aberration free focus control. Perimeter segmentation greatly reduced required actuation loads allowing improved focal ranges. It was found that the sacrificial layer thickness has a significant impact on the initial curvature of the mirror. Sacrificial layers 0.2pm thick proved sufficient for release, improved device yield, and resulted in an initially flat mirror.


A comparative study in described involving a novel type of oil, a more established synthetic oil, and an actually approved naphthenic transformer oil. A brief description is given of the experimental equipment and procedures used in this study. The experimental results are reported, and their significance is discussed. Test results show that HT 40, a perfluoropolyether, is a promising candidate to replace PCB as a nonflammable oil in power transformers.<<ETX>>


Abstract The history of the European Parliament can be seen as part of the development process toward a federal parliament supported by some researchers, but however another viewpoint of EU nature, as an international organization would be influenced from the European Parliament's viewpoint as well. It has been admitted that formal upcoming changes have turned it into a codecision-maker with the Council of Ministers. There isn't any other organization, where the member countries should share the decision-making process with the institutions which have been selected directly. In fact, during the creation of the united Europe, the power of the European Parliament have continuously increased trying to reduce the "democratic deficit" for which the Community is accused. Also the role of the EP role as an alternative point of access in the "policy-making'" process for interests that feel excluded from the domination of business interests could help in building a sense of European Identity among such groups in the longer term. The European Parliament appoints an Ombudsman, who may receive complaints from any citizen of the Union or from any other natural person or legal entity living or having his/her statutory residence/registered office in a member country. The cases handled by an Ombudsman are related to the bad administration of the institutions or community bodies' activities except the Court of Justice and the General Court in their court functions. The Ombudsman works in full competence and does not accept or require directives from any other organization. During his assignment must not perform any other professional activity for free or against payment. He is appointed by the European Parliament with the same duration of his legislature having a renewable mandate. In the DPB are provided also the Ombudsman's norms that might have in the cases of bad administration in conjunction with the activity of institutions in this sector. Thus, it will be solved the problem of accusation for lacking of transparency addressed to this sector.


The present study was undertaken to find out the occurrence of the hydatidosis in 3.31% (6/181) affected sheep by examination of the carcasses of the slaughtered sheep in Bareilly slaughterhouse. Grossly, there was the presence of variables sizes solitary to multiple grayish-white cysts embedded in lung parenchyma. These cysts were either confined to a single lobe mostly on diaphragmatic lobes or in some cases all over the lobes of lungs. Histopathologically, the cysts were characterized by laminated and closely encapsulated by an adventitial layer, consisting of an inner wide zone of hyalinized material composed of a concentric bundle of collagen fibers is demonstrated by using Masson's trichrome stains.


Abstract Context: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is resistant to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and is associated with cognitive impairment. The modern Chinese medicine, compound Danshen dripping pills (CDDP), is clinically effective in treating epilepsy and improving cognitive impairment. Objective: This study evaluated the protective effects of CDDP alone and in combination with carbamazepine (CBZ) on kainic acid-induced TLE and cognitive impairment in rats. Materials and methods: Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: control (sham operated), model, CDDP, CBZ and combined. A TLE model was then created via bilateral intrahippocampal injection of 0.35 μg kainic acid (KA). Rats received CDDP (85 mg/kg), CBZ (100 mg/kg) or combined (85 mg/kg CDDP +100 mg/kg CBZ) via intragastric administration for 90 d, respectively. Seizure intensity, apoptosis and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) were measured. Furthermore, the improvement in cognitive impairment and hippocampal neuronal damage was evaluated. Results: CDDP combined with CBZ significantly decreased seizure severity and frequency (p < 0.05) and ameliorated cognitive impairment (p < 0.05). The model group showed a significant reduction of neurons and Bcl-2/Bax expression in the hippocampus CA3 area (p < 0.01), the combined groups significantly reversed these change (p < 0.01). GDNF expression in the combined groups showed a clear increase over the model group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings support the use of CDDP as an adjuvant drug for the treatment of TLE and cognitive deficit. Its mechanism might be related to an anti-apoptosis effect and up-regulation of GDNF.


EU-IST Network of Excellence (NoE) IST-2004-507482 KWEB Deliverable D2.4.5v1 (WP2.4) Current activities in WP 2.4 include web service discovery, composition and interoperation. Although significant contributions has been done, a conceptual and formal framework for Semantic Web services is required to provide a consensual grounding in which further progress in WP2.4 will be achieved. Following guidelines of SDK Cluster (http://www.sdkcluster.org/), the Web Service Modeling Ontology (WSMO) provides the conceptual underpinning and a formal language for semantically describing all relevant aspects of web services in order to facilitate the automatization of discovering, combining and invoking electronic services over the web. A revised version of this document will be submitted at the end of 2005. Keyword list: web services, semantic web services, semantic web service discovery, semantic web service composition Copyright c © 2005 The contributors Document Identifier KWEB/2005/D2.4.5/v1 Project KWEB EU-IST-2004-507482 Version v1 Date June 26, 2005 State Final Distribution Public Knowledge Web Consortium This document is part of a research project funded by the IST Programme of the Commission of the European Communities as project number IST-2004-507482. University of Innsbruck (UIBK) Coordinator Institute of Computer Science Technikerstrasse 13 A-6020 Innsbruck Austria Contact person: Dieter Fensel E-mail address: firstname.lastname@example.com Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) Computer Science Department Swiss Federal Institute of Technology IN (Ecublens), CH-1015 Lausanne Switzerland Contact person: Boi Faltings E-mail address: firstname.lastname@example.com France Telecom (FT) 4 Rue du Clos Courtel 35512 Cesson Sevigne France. PO Box 91226 Contact person : Alain Leger E-mail address: email@example.com Freie Universitat Berlin (FU Berlin) Takustrasse 9 14195 Berlin Germany Contact person: Robert Tolksdorf E-mail address: email@example.com Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (FUB) Piazza Domenicani 3 39100 Bolzano Italy Contact person: Enrico Franconi E-mail address: firstname.lastname@example.com Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (INRIA) ZIRST 655 avenue de l'Europe Montbonnot Saint Martin 38334 Saint-Ismier France Contact person: Jerome Euzenat E-mail address: email@example.com Centre for Research and Technology Hellas / Informatics and Telematics Institute (ITI-CERTH) 1st km Thermi Panorama road 57001 Thermi-Thessaloniki Greece. Po Box 361 Contact person: Michael G. Strintzis E-mail address: firstname.lastname@example.com Learning Lab Lower Saxony (L3S) Expo Plaza 1 30539 Hannover Germany Contact person: Wolfgang Nejdl E-mail address: email@example.com National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) National University of Ireland Science and Technology Building University Road Galway Ireland Contact person: Christoph Bussler E-mail address: email@example.com The Open University (OU) Knowledge Media Institute The Open University Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA United Kingdom Contact person: Enrico Motta E-mail address: firstname.lastname@example.com Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM) Campus de Montegancedo sn 28660 Boadilla del Monte Spain Contact person: Asuncion Gomez Perez E-mail address: firstname.lastname@example.com University of Karlsruhe (UKARL) Institut fur Angewandte Informatik und Formale Beschreibungsverfahren AIFB Universitat Karlsruhe D-76128 Karlsruhe Germany Contact person: Rudi Studer E-mail address: email@example.com University of Liverpool (UniLiv) Chadwick Building, Peach Street L697ZF Liverpool United Kingdom Contact person: Michael Wooldridge E-mail address: email@example.com University of Manchester (UoM) Room 2.32. Kilburn Building, Department of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Oxford Road Manchester, M13 9PL United Kingdom Contact person: Carole Goble E-mail address: firstname.lastname@example.com University of Sheffield (USFD) Regent Court, 211 Portobello street S14DP Sheffield United Kingdom Contact person: Hamish Cunningham E-mail address: email@example.com University of Trento (UniTn) Via Sommarive 14 38050 Trento Italy Contact person: Fausto Giunchiglia E-mail address: email@example.com Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VUA) De Boelelaan 1081a 1081HV. Amsterdam The Netherlands Contact person: Frank van Harmelen E-mail address: firstname.lastname@example.com Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) Pleinlaan 2, Building G1


The in vitro activity of drugs currently used in the treatment of diarrhea against 595 enteropathogens from worldwide sources was compared with that of six newly developed antibiotics, ciprofloxacin; norfloxacin; ofloxacin; aztreonam; HR810, an expanded-spectrum cephalosporin; and RU28965, a new macrolide. In contrast with ampicillin and chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole showed an excellent activity against all of the enteropathogens tested, except Campylobacter species. Ciprofloxacin had the highest activity, with an overall 90% MIC of less than or equal to 0.097 micrograms/ml, except for Campylobacter species (0.39 micrograms/ml). Unlike other cephalosporins, HR810 showed a satisfactory activity against Campylobacter species (90% MIC of 3.12 micrograms/ml). RU28965 was three times less active than erythromycin against Campylobacter species.


We retrospectively checked patients who underwent chemotherapy and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from 2007 to 2016, in order to evaluate whether early computed tomography is useful in children treated for cancer with acute central nervous system complications. Out of a total sample of 443 patients, 52 children (11.7%) presented these complications. In the end, 31 patients were included, with a total of 33 events of central nervous system complications. The computed tomography was abnormal in 22 events (67%) and diagnostic for a specific complication in 20 events (61%), whereas it directly influenced the treatment in 16 events (48%). Computed tomography should be still considered a relevant diagnostic tool in the management of acute central nervous system complications in the emergency setting.


We studied whether a chronic neuropathy induced by unilateral spinal nerve ligation changes the response characteristics of spinal dorsal horn wide-dynamic range (WDR) neurons or their periaqueductal gray (PAG)-induced descending modulation. Experiments were performed in rats with behaviorally demonstrated allodynia induced by spinal nerve ligation and in a group of nonneuropathic control rats. The stimulus-response functions of WDR neurons for mechanical and thermal stimuli and the modulation of their peripherally evoked responses by electrical stimulation of the PAG were determined under pentobarbital anesthesia. The results showed that neuropathy caused a significant leftward shift in stimulus-response functions for mechanical stimuli. In contrast, stimulus-response functions for noxious heat stimuli in the neuropathic limb were, if anything, shifted rightward, although this shift was short of statistical significance. In neuropathic rats, PAG stimulation produced a significantly stronger attenuation of spinal neuronal responses induced by noxious heat in the unoperated than in the operated side. At the intensity that produced attenuation of noxious heat stimuli, PAG stimulation did not produce any significant change in spinal neuronal responses evoked by mechanical stimuli either from the operated or the nonoperated hindlimb of the neuropathic rats. Spontaneous activity of WDR neurons was higher in the operated side of neuropathic rats than in control rats. Afterdischarges evoked by peripheral stimuli were observed in 1/16 of the WDR neurons ipsilateral to spinal nerve ligation and not at all in other experimental groups. The WDR neurons studied were not activated by innocuous or noxious cold stimuli. The results indicate that spinal nerve ligation induces increased spontaneous activity and enhanced responses to mechanical stimuli in the spinal dorsal horn WDR neurons, whereas noxious heat-evoked responses are not significantly changed or if anything, attenuated. Moreover, the inhibition of noxious heat stimuli by PAG stimulation is attenuated in the neuropathic side. It is proposed that the observed changes in the response characteristics of the spinal dorsal horn WDR neurons and in their descending modulation may contribute to the neuropathic symptoms in these animals.


We explore the properties of casein/xanthan mixtures for xanthan concentrations beyond those inducing phase separation. Previous work has successfully described the onset of demixing by depletion theory in the protein limit, where the xanthan polysaccharides, the polymers, are larger than the caseins from skim milk powder, the colloids (S. Bhat et al., J. Phys.: Condens. Matter, 2006, L339). We now extend these studies to xanthan concentrations in a range of c/c* = 13–88, aiming to arrest the phase separation via a (transiently) arrested casein-rich phase. Surprisingly, we find that the casein-rich phase remains fluidic deep into the two-phase region, with an equilibrium composition that significantly differs from predictions for mixtures of hard spheres plus flexible polymer chains in a good solvent. Furthermore, we show that macroscopic phase separation is arrested for c/c* > 60. Our investigations reveal that the rheological properties of the mixtures are fully determined by the xanthan-rich phase with characteristic long relaxation times that depend remarkably strongly on the xanthan concentration.


Background Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population of immature cells that increase in the pathological state such as tumour or inflammation and have the immunosuppressive ability. MDSCs have been reported to ameliorate arthritis in several mice models. Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and glutaminolysis activate cooperatively in the differentiation from myeloid progenitors to mature myeloid cells such as dendritic cells, macrophages, or osteoclasts as well as the activation of effector T cells and the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells. Although rapamycin has reported to facilitate the expansion of MDSCs and their immunosuppressive ability, the effect of the inhibitor of glutaminolysis on MDSCs is still unknown. Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate the facilitative effects of the inhibition of mTOR pathway and glutaminolysis on MDSCs in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods Bone marrow (BM) cells from untreated Balb/c mice were cultured for 5 days under granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) stimulation with four patterns of drugs; 1) DMSO (control), 2) rapamycin (Rapa), 3) 6-Diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON; a glutamine antagonist), or 4) the combination of rapamycin and DON (Rapa +DON). Cultured BM cells were analysed by flow cytometry. Cultured MDSCs were isolated by manual MACS and analysed their immunosuppressive characters by co-culture with CFSE-dyed CD4+ T cells. Rapa or Rapa +DON were administered intraperitoneally to arthritic SKG mice induced by Zymosan A injection. Results We found that DON suppressed the differentiation of dendritic cells (DC) in a dose-dependent manner and the addition of Rapa on DON inhibited the differentiation of macrophages in vitro. The proportions of the phenotype of MDSCs were increased with administrations of Rapa or DON, and large part of them were Ly6G+ cells (the phenotype of polymorphonuclear MDSCs; PMN-MDSCs). Rapa ±DON significantly increased the expressions of TGF-β and PD-L1 and the inhibitory capacity of Ly6G+ PMN-MDSCs. Rapa +DON significantly suppressed arthritis more efficiently in SKG mice than Rapa in vivo. (see figure 1) Conclusions The combination of rapamycin and a glutamine antagonist facilitates the expansion of PMN-MDSCs in vitro and ameliorates arthritis in SKG mice in vivo. Disclosure of Interest None declared


Power gating is an efficient technique for reducing the leakage power of electronic devices by disconnecting the power supply from blocks idle for long periods of time. Disconnecting gated blocks causes changes in the current densities of the grid branches and vias. For some gating configurations, dc current densities may increase in some grid locations to the extent that they violate electromigration (EM) constraints. In this paper, we analyze the EM and infrared (IR) voltage drop effects in gated global power grids. Based on our analyses, we develop a global grid sizing algorithm to satisfy the reliability constraints on grid branches and vias for all feasible gating configurations. Our experimental results indicate that a grid initially sized for all blocks connected to it may be modified to fulfill EM and IR constraints for multiple gating schedules with only a small area increase.


In this document, we propose a demonstration of TOTEM, a TOolbox for Traffic Engineering Methods. This toolbox integrates a series of tools for intra-domain and inter-domain traffic engineering of IP and MPLS networks. It provides an open source software that allows an operator to test methods coming from the academic research. A researcher can also use the toolbox to compare and promote new TE algorithms. The toolbox is designed to be deployed either as an on-line tool in an operational network, or as an off-line traffic engineering simulator.


Plant polyphenols have been studied largely because of the possibility that they might underlie the protective effects afforded by fruit and vegetable intake against cancer and other chronic diseases. The objective of the present study is to estimate the total polyphenolic content in aqueous and methanolic extract prepared from the bark of Acacia nilotica plant species. Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del commonly known as babul, kikar or Indian gum Arabic tree, has been recognized worldwide as a multipurpose tree. Mostly it occurs as an isolated tree and rarely found in patches to a limited extent in forests and has been widely planted on farms throughout the plains of the Indian subcontinent. The bark, root, gum, leaves and flowers have found use for skin diseases, diarrhoea, dysentery, cough, diabetes, eczema, wound healing, burning sensation and as an astringent, demulcent, antiasthmatic. For present work the bark of well identified A. nilotica (L) plant for the extraction of phytochemicals was done from the village Khargawali (Hoshangabad district). 20-20 grams of the fine powdered sample were subjected to soxhlet extraction with 200 ml distilled water and 40% methanol separately at 70C and 50C respectively, for 24 hours and concentrated. The percentage yield so obtained was 35 and 32.5% respectively. The extracts were then subjected for preliminary phytochemical screening of alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids and glycosides the results of which refers to data given in this article. The total phenolic content of the extracts was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method with suitable modification. When compared with the gallic acid standard curve the aqueous extract of 0.01 mg/ml dilution contains 0.323 mg/ml approx of total polyphenol content and that of the methanolic extract of the same concentration shows 0.422 mg/ml approx concentration of TPC. Thus from the present study it can be concluded that the aqueous and methanolic extracts A. nilotica are rich in TPC, the potential of which could be utilized in many ways after further advance studies and proper data generation for the development of new chemotherapeutic agents.


In the ketonic decarboxylation process, a ketone is formed from two moles of carboxylic acid; water and carbon dioxide are produced as side-products. At present, the mechanism of this reaction remains under debate; it has been proposed as a radical mechanism, a mechanism involving a -keto acid as intermediate, or a concerted mechanism. This paper demonstrates that the latter mechanism is the most likely one and that weak bases may play the role of promoters. Different processes are reviewed for the syntheses of the following ketones: symmetrical ketones, such as acetone or 3-pentanone, cyclic ketones, such as cyclopentanone (parent compound and substituted derivatives), fatty ketones, and some unsymmetrical ketones. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)


Although the school-age children's mortality rate is low, they face diseases that keep them from succeeding in school; therefore, the objective of a School Health and Nutrition (SHN) program is to improve the health and nutrition status of school children which leads to improved school performance. The program activities include iron supplementation and deworming; health and nutrition education; capacity building of partners, teachers, and students; and provision of safe drinking water and toilets. In 2009 Save the Children (SC) is implementing the SHN program in four districts of Nepal reaching 1,127 primary schools and 354,170 students in the districts, representing almost 90% of enrolled children in these districts.  Implementation is in partnership with local Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and in close coordination with the Department of Education (DOE) and Child Health Division (CHD), Department of Health Services (DHS). In the past, many successful school based health, hygiene and nutrition programs were implemented in Nepal from time to time, but these initiatives were temporary projects. The National SHN Strategy 2006 successfully brought the two key ministries together along with other stakeholders to create a sustainable program. The National SHN Strategy 2006 emphasized implementing comprehensive SHN package by building the capacity of teachers, health workers, School Management Committees (SMC) including students at all levels.  Currently, the SHN program is progressing towards successful nation-wide expansion through the government system.


In this paper, radial basis functions are used to obtain the solution of evolution equations which appear in variational level set method based image segmentation. In this method, radial basis functions are used to interpolate the implicit level set function of the evolution equation with a high level of accuracy and smoothness. Then, the original initial value problem is discretized into an interpolation problem. Accordingly, the evolution equation is converted into a set of coupled ordinary differential equations, and a smooth evolution can be retained. Compared with finite difference scheme based level set approaches, the complex and costly re-initialization procedure is unnecessary. Numerical examples are also given to show the efficiency of the method.


The fibrinolytic response to venous occlusion was studied in 17 patients with inflammatory bowel disease: 7 with Crohn's disease, 10 with ulcerative colitis and compared with those obtained in 20 controls. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease showed decreased tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen release (t-PA Ag), no significant Von Willebrand antigen release (vWF Ag), and a residual plasminogen activator inhibitor activity (PAI activity) after venous occlusion. These modifications were more important in the evolutive colitis group compared with the remission group. Hypofibrinolysis, as defined by a defective t-PA release, and a residual PAI activity after venous occlusion might contribute to digestive and/or extra digestive thrombotic manifestations observed during the course of inflammatory bowel diseases.


The large‐scale growth of semiconducting thin films on insulating substrates enables batch fabrication of atomically thin electronic and optoelectronic devices and circuits without film transfer. Here an efficient method to achieve rapid growth of large‐area monolayer MoSe2 films based on spin coating of Mo precursor and assisted by NaCl is reported. Uniform monolayer MoSe2 films up to a few inches in size are obtained within a short growth time of 5 min. The as‐grown monolayer MoSe2 films are of high quality with large grain size (up to 120 µm). Arrays of field‐effect transistors are fabricated from the MoSe2 films through a photolithographic process; the devices exhibit high carrier mobility of ≈27.6 cm2 V–1 s–1 and on/off ratios of ≈105. The findings provide insight into the batch production of uniform thin transition metal dichalcogenide films and promote their large‐scale applications.


We compared the assemblages of phyllostomid bats in three Neotropical rainforests with respect to species richness and assemblage structure and suggested a method to validate estimates of species richness for Neotropical bat assemblages based on mist-netting data. The fully inventoried bat assemblage at La Selva Biological Station (LS, 100 m elevation) in Costa Rica was used as a reference site to evaluate seven estimators of species richness. The Jackknife 2 method agreed best with the known bat species richness and thus was used to extrapolate species richness for an Amazonian bat assemblage (Tiputini Biodiversity Station; TBS, 200 m elevation) and an Andean premontane bat assemblage (Podocarpus National Park; BOM, 1000 m elevation) in Ecuador. Our results suggest that more than 100 bat species occur sympatrically at TBS and about 50 bat species coexist at BOM. TBS harbours one of the most species-rich bat assemblages known, including a highly diverse phyllostomid assemblage. Furthermore, we related assemblage structure to large-scale geographical patterns in floral diversity obtained from botanical literature. Assemblage structure of these three phyllostomid assemblages was influenced by differences in floral diversity at the three sites. At the Andean site, where understorey shrubs and epiphytes exhibit the highest diversity, the phyllostomid assemblage is mainly composed of understorey frugivores and nectarivorous species. By contrast, canopy frugivores are most abundant at the Amazonian site, coinciding with the high abundance of canopy fruiting trees. Assemblage patterns of other taxonomic groups also may reflect the geographical distribution patterns of floral elements in the Andean and Amazonian regions. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 94, 617–629.


MIRI, the Mid-InfraRed Instrument, is one of four instruments being built for the James Webb Space Telescope, and is developed jointly between an European Consortium and the US. In this paper we present a software data simulator for one of MIRI's four instruments: the Integral Field Unit (IFU) Medium Resolution Spectrometer (MIRI-MRS), the first mid-infrared IFU spectrograph, and one of the first IFUs to be used in a space mission. To give the MIRI community a preview of the properties of the MIRI-MRS data products before the telescope is operational, the Specsim tool has been developed to model, in software, the operation of the spectrometer. Specsim generates synthetic data frames approximating those which will be taken by the instrument in orbit. The program models astronomical sources and generates detector frames using the predicted and measured optical properties of the telescope and MIRI. These frames can then be used to illustrate and inform a range of operational activities, including data calibration strategies and the development and testing of the data reduction software for the MIRI-MRS. Specsim will serve as a means of communication between the many consortium members by providing a way to easily illustrate the performance of the spectrometer under different circumstances, tolerances of components and design scenarios.


The microstructure of bulk YBCO processed by the powder melting process using a submicrometre Y2BaCuO5 precursor in combination with the addition of CeO2 was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and high resolution electron microscopy. The mean diameter of the Y2BaCuO5 precursor was less than 500 nm. As a result, the mean diameter of the Y2BaCuO5 particles entrapped in the textured bulk YBCO is about 500 nm. Two types of Y2BaCuO5 were found within the bulk YBCO: one with one or two nanometric Y2O3 cores; the other, however, has no cores. The refinement mechanism for Y2BaCuO5 particles related to the employment of a submicrometre Y2BaCuO5 precursor and the minor addition of CeO2 is discussed. In addition, a high density of twins with an average spacing of about 60-80 nm was observed. Moreover, a twin domain boundary structure where domains with different orientation twins meet one another was found. The formation mechanisms for this high density of twins and the twin domain boundary structure are also discussed.


The formation and the spectroscopic and structural properties of 1:1 and 2:1 (ligand-to-dication) complexes of an (18-crown-6)stilbene with ethane-1,2-diammonium diperchlorate in MeCN were studied by UV–vis and NMR spectroscopy and by density functional theory calculations. Prolonged UV irradiation of 2:1 mixtures of the crown stilbene and the diammonium salt led to the formation of two main photoproducts, namely, the single syn-"head-to-head" photodimer of the crown stilbene (rctt cyclobutane) due to supramolecular-assisted [2 + 2] photocycloaddition and a crown ether derivative of phenanthrene due to a photoinduced electrocyclization reaction. The rctt cyclobutane was isolated by preparative photolysis, followed by chromatography. The selectivity of the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition is explained by supramolecular pre-organization of crown stilbene molecules into the 2:1 complexes that have a pseudo-sandwich structure with stacking interactions between the stilbene moieties.


Interleaving is a standard signal processing technique used in a variety of communication systems. An application of interleaving is in turbo coding schemes where two or more interleaved versions of the same information sequence are encoded. The interleaver allows the component decoders to generate separate estimates of the a posteriori probabilities for a given information symbol based on data sources that are not highly correlated and ensures that the set of code sequences generated has good weight properties. The classical use of an interleaver is to randomise the locations of errors introduced in transmission in order to allow the use of random error correcting codes at the receiver. An interleaver will be used in a system intended to work in mobile environments to counteract the effects of fading causing burst errors. It would be interesting to determine if the turbo interleaver provides the same randomising capacities to the system in order to correct burst errors. For this reason, the turbo interleaver is studied to provide simulation results where its effect is pointed out. Conclusions are provided where the necessity of outer channel interleavers is questioned.


Two form factors of 12C have been calculated with projected Hartree-Fock functions using the Gartenhaus-Schwartz (1957) and the Tassie-Barker (1958) methods for the separation of the centre-of-mass motion. Comparison of the results gives a justification for using the simple Tassie-Barker method for many light nuclei.


Objective In recent years, an increase has been observed in the incidence of bone metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In 2007, our institution established a team approach, which includes the provision of palliative care. In the present study we evaluate the effects of palliative care on the prognosis of HCC patients with bone metastases. Methods The subjects included 44 patients with bone metastases who were treated with radiotherapy between 2000 and 2014. The subjects were divided into groups that received radiotherapy from 2000 to 2006 and after 2007. The overall survival rates after radiotherapy were analyzed. Results The median survival time of the patients who received care between 2007 and 2014 was 6 months, which was significantly longer than that in the patients who received care between 2000 and 2006. Conclusion The present team approach in our hospital, which includes the provision of palliative care, started in 2007. This approach may have improved prognosis of patients with metastatic HCC.


This paper shows the performance evaluation of the mathematical formula recognition system applied to a large scale of printed formula images, which has been developed in our laboratory. Our laboratory has collaborated with Michler of University of Essen, Germany, on project of "Retro-digitalization of mathematical journals, and their integration searchable digital libraries". In this project, two kinds of mathematical journals were scanned for digitalization. In this process, we cut out formulas manually from many pages, and created the answer database, "Ground-Truth." We report the results of performance evaluation with respect to the recognition of symbols, various types of sub-expressions and whole expressions of mathematical formulas


The bioactivity of a nano-hydroxyapatite-augmented, bioresorbable bone graft substitute made from the unsaturated polyester, poly(propylene fumarate), was analyzed by evaluating biocompatibility and osteointegration of implants placed into a rat tibial defect. Three groups of eight animals each were evaluated by grouting bone graft substitutes into 3-mm holes that were made into the anteromedial tibial metaphysis of rats. Thus, a total of 24 animals was included in this study. Two different formulations varying as to the type of hydroxyapatite were used: Group 1 - nano-hydroxyapatite, Group 2 - micron-hydroxyapatite, with a Group 3 control defect remaining unfilled. Animals of each of the three groups were sacrificed in groups of eight at postoperative week three. Histologic analysis revealed best superior biocompatibility and osteointegration of bone graft substitutes when nanohydroxyapatite was employed. At three weeks, there was more reactive new bone formation in this group when compared to the micron-hydroxyapatite group. The control group showed incomplete closure of the defect. This study suggested that nano-hydroxyapatite may improve upon the bioactivity of bone implant and repair materials. The model scaffold used in this study, poly(propylene fumarate), appeared to provide an osteoconductive pathway by which bone will grow in faster. Clinical implications of the use potential advantages of nano-hydroxyapatite on bone repair and orthopaedic implant design are discussed.


Systems architects commonly use multiple cores to improve system performance. Unfortunately, multicore hardware is evolving faster than software technologies. New multicore software standards are necessary in light of the new challenges and capabilities that embedded multicore systems provide. The newly released multicore communications API standard targets small-footprint, highly efficient intercore and interchip communications.


The ground-state behavior of two-dimensional symmetrical mixtures subjected to the external potential of square symmetry is discussed. It is demonstrated that different commensurate, high-order commensurate, as well as incommensurate phases may appear depending on the properties of the mixture as well as on the corrugation of external potential. In particular, it is shown that a finite corrugation of external potential considerably influences the stability of different ordered states. The ground-state calculations are confirmed by finite temperature grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations.


Abstract A sustainable diet is, by definition, nutritionally adequate, economically affordable, culturally acceptable, and environmentally respectful. Designing such a diet has to integrate different dimensions of diet sustainability that may not be compatible with each other. Among multicriteria assessment methods, diet optimization is a whole-diet approach that simultaneously combines several metrics for dimensions of diet sustainability. This narrative review based on 67 published studies shows how mathematical diet optimization can help with understanding the relations between the different dimensions of diet sustainability and how it can be properly used to identify sustainable diets. Diet optimization aims to find the optimal combination of foods for a population, a subpopulation, or an individual that fulfills a set of constraints while minimizing or maximizing an objective function. In the studies reviewed, diet optimization was used to examine the links between dimensions of diet sustainability, identify the minimum cost or environmental impact of a nutritionally adequate diet, or identify food combinations able to combine ≥2 sustainability dimensions. If some constraints prove difficult to fulfill, this signals an incompatibility between nutrient recommendations, over-monotonous food-consumption patterns, an inadequate supply of nutrient-rich foods, or an incompatibility with other dimensions. If diet optimization proves successful, it can serve to design nutritionally adequate, culturally acceptable, economically affordable, and environmentally friendly diets. Diet optimization results can help define dietary recommendations, tackle food security issues, and promote sustainable dietary patterns. This review emphasizes the importance of carefully choosing the model parameters (variables, objective function, constraints) and input data and the need for appropriate expertise to correctly interpret and communicate the results. Future research should make improvements in the choice of metrics used to assess each aspect of a sustainable diet, especially the cultural dimension, to improve the practicability of the results.


Many factors affect the strength of what engineers call soil. This report deals primarily with the effect of the grain size of sand or silt particles mixed with the clay in the soil. In order to understand the effect of grain size, the influence of (1) water content, (2) type of clay mineral, and (3) ratio of clay to sand in the soil must be known. The effect of these four variables was investigated by measuring the strength of a series of synthetic soils in which the water content, clay type, clay-sand ratio, and grain size of admixed sand were changed from one experiment to another. For given water content, kaolin and illite are essentially equal in strength, and both are much weaker than mont-morillonite. Ball clay—a kaolin containing organic matter—is intermediate in strength. For all clays the strength increases, for given water content and given grain size, as the ratio of clay to sand increases. For given water content and given clay-sand ratio, the strength increases as the grain size of the sand decreases below 135 microns. For coarser sand, grain size has little effect. The cause of the greater strength for increasing fineness of sand is ascribed to the well-known principle of greater surface area upon which forces can act.


The protooncogenes fos and jun encode proteins that bind to DNA as dimeric complexes and regulate gene expression. Protein dimerization is mediated by a leucine zipper and results in juxtaposition of regions of each protein rich in basic amino acids that comprise a bimolecular DNA binding domain. We have developed an approach based on resonance energy transfer for the quantitative analysis of dimerization and DNA binding by Fos and Jun in solution. Fos-(118-211) and Jun-(225-334) polypeptides were labeled with either 5-iodoacetamidofluorescein or rhodamine X iodoacetamide on unique cysteine residues located in their DNA binding domains. Formation of heterodimeric complexes between the labeled proteins allowed resonance energy transfer between the donor fluorescein and the acceptor rhodamine fluorophores. DNA binding induced a conformational transition that increased the efficiency of resonance energy transfer. This increase was consistent with a 3-A reduction in the distance between the fluorophores. Using this assay, we determined the affinity of the Fos-Jun interaction and examined the kinetics of dimerization and DNA binding as well as the rate of subunit exchange. Dimerization and DNA binding by Fos and Jun were rapid, with half-times of < 10 s. In the absence of DNA, Fos and Jun subunits exchanged rapidly, with a half-time of < 10 s. In contrast, in the presence of DNA, the complex was extremely stable. Thus, leucine zipper-containing transcription factors may exchange subunits readily when free in solution, but not when bound to DNA.


Nucleic acid aptamers are ssDNA or ssRNA fragments that specifically recognize targets. However, the pharmacodynamic properties of natural aptamers consisting of 4 naturally occurring nucleosides (A, G, C, T/U) are generally restricted for inferior binding affinity than the cognate antibodies. The development of high-affinity modification strategies has attracted extensive attention in aptamer applications. Chemically modified aptamers with stable three-dimensional shapes can tightly interact with the target proteins via enhanced non-covalent bonding, possibly resulting in hundreds of affinity enhancements. This review overviewed high-affinity modification strategies used in aptamers, including nucleobase modifications, fluorine modifications (2′-fluoro nucleic acid, 2′-fluoro arabino nucleic acid, 2′,2′-difluoro nucleic acid), structural alteration modifications (locked nucleic acid, unlocked nucleic acid), phosphate modifications (phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates), and extended alphabets. The review emphasized how these high-affinity modifications function in effect as the interactions with target proteins, thereby refining the pharmacodynamic properties of aptamers.


Purpose: We have shown previously that oral feeding of green tea polyphenols (GTP) to transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate mice in a purely chemopreventive setting significantly inhibits prostate cancer development. To translate this to a human situation, the present study was designed to identify the stage of prostate cancer that is most vulnerable to chemopreventive intervention by GTP. Experimental Design: GTP infusion (0.1% in drinking water) to transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate was initiated at ages representing different stage of the disease: (a) 6 weeks (group 1, normal prostate), (b) 12 weeks (group 2, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia), (c) 18 weeks (group 3, well-differentiated adenocarcinoma), and (b) 28 weeks (group 4, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma). At age 32 weeks, subsets of animals were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and prostate weight and for serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I/IGF binding protein-3 and IGF signaling. Results: Tumor-free survival was extended to 38 weeks (P < 0.001) in group 1, 31 weeks (P < 0.01) in group 2, and 24 weeks (P < 0.05) in group 3 compared with 19 weeks in water-fed controls. Median life expectancy was 68 weeks in group 1, 63 weeks in group 2, 56 weeks in group 3, and 51 weeks in group 4 compared with 42 weeks in the control mice. IGF-I and its downstream targets including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, pAkt, and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase were significantly inhibited only when intervention was initiated early when prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia lesions were common. Conclusions: Our studies indicate that chemopreventive potential of GTP decreases with advancing stage of the disease and underscore the need to design appropriate chemoprevention clinical trails.


Wrist arthrodesis has been used successfully for the management of severe wrist flexion deformity when soft tissue procedures would not provide adequate correction. However, in athetoid type cerebral palsy which has a component of involuntary movement, the outcome of wrist arthrodesis has not been discussed much. We present our experience in 2 athetoid type cerebral palsy patients who underwent wrist arthrodesis due to severe involuntary movement of the wrist. One patient had a nonunion and both patients had unexpected aggravation of involuntary movement in the adjacent joints. Secure fixation using a pre-contoured plate is necessary and preparation for iliac bone grafting should be considered as proximal row carpectomy is usually not necessary in these patients. In addition, although single-event, multi-level surgery is advocated for patients with cerebral palsy, potential additional procedures for the adjacent joints should be discussed preoperatively because unexpected aggravation of involuntary movement of adjacent joints can occur after stabilization of the wrist.


Abstract This article points to the 1820s as a crucial period that saw a great reversal in the location of sovereignty in Belize. The article employs two inflection points—first, an 1822 case of 'Indian' slaves from Mosquito Shore, and second, slave desertion in 1825—to point to unprecedented challenges to settler sovereignty over slavery in Belize that arose during the 1820s. While British amelioration allowed the metropolitan government to bring frontier and borderland regions within its legal purview, thus challenging settler autonomy, the concurrent event of Central American emancipation provided enslaved people in Belize additional opportunity to desert their masters at a moment when restitution of runaway slaves became increasingly difficult. Yet, this essay is about more than just the fracturing of settler sovereignty over slavery. Rather it also illuminates how settlers responded to these challenges by using force, diplomacy, and the print media. The settlers' most potent response was in portraying Belizean slavery as 'benign,' creating a surprisingly robust narrative that would endure for generations. The essay illuminates how emancipation and imperialism remained inextricably linked in borderland areas such as Belize, which straddled the boundaries between Spanish America and the British Caribbean.


We thank Dr Jamous for his comments on our review of pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to left-sided heart disease (LHD). 1 Dr Jamous brings up several important questions regarding the hemodynamic diagnosis of mixed PH in the setting of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and how to use vasodilators during right-sided heart catheterization. First, differentiating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) from HFpEF can be very challenging, and differentiation should be based not solely on hemodynamics but also on clinical risk factors and other ancillary testing. There are published algorithms suggesting how rightsided heart catheterization can help distinguish between the two, 2 but those guidelines are not evidence based, and further research in this area is needed. At our center, we do a volume or exercise challenge in patients with clinical risk factors for HFpEF who have upper normal or slightly elevated left-sided heart fi lling pressure. A "disproportionate" increase in left-sided heart fi lling pressure is most con sistent with HFpEF. There are no evidence-based protocols for how much volume to give or the level of exercise that should be achieved. Once a patient has been found to have mixed PH, a systemic vasodilator (nitroprusside) can be given to assess reversibility. Reversibility would implicate a pulmonary vasoconstrictive response, whereas irreversibility would suggest the development of vascular remodeling. It is not known whether reversibility affects treatment response or prognosis. Hypothetically, patients with reversible (normalization of pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure) mixed PH may have a better response to medical management (systemic afterload reduction). Also hypothetically, patients with irreversible mixed PH may benefi t from PH-specifi c therapies. Trials looking at PAH-specifi c therapies in PH due to LHD have, however, been largely disappointing. The question of whether a subgroup of patients with mixed fi xed World Health Organization (WHO) group 2 PH may benefi t from PH-specifi c therapies remains to be answered. Last, pulmonary vasodilators (nitric oxide, epoprostenol, or adenosine) are indicated for vasoreactivity testing in WHO group 1 PAH and should not be used in evaluation of WHO group 2 PH due to LHD .


Globally firms strictly review and apply corporate rules, and yet corporate scandals are on the increase. In a paradigm-shift, this book intends to discern beyond the rules by investigating how informal behavioral board process factors, and a combination of key contractual stakeholders (such as firm employees, external creditors and regulatory agencies)can constitute effective corporate governance for Nigerian emerging market by participating in making top board decisions. In the agency framework, rule-based board factors dominate, while the principle-based that form the informal behavioral system are a relatively untested area despite the continuous call by scholars. The blind leading the blind characterize present research about boards, hence scholars need to go beyond establishing and protecting their own fortresses of research subject to empirical dogmatism (Daily et al., 2003). Therefore, in the study structure of this book, board process factors, employees and creditor participation are significantly related to board performance. This debate will follow other preceding arguments that portray a delusion of the superiority of equity shareholder as the ultimate board role.


In light microscopy, colour CCD cameras are now capable of generating image data sets that contain more information than can be captured with slow 35 mm colour reversal film. The resolution of colour CCD cameras with a high density of sensor elements ( 3300 × 2200 per channel of colour) is equivalent to that of slow 35 mm colour film over typical fields of view for objectives with a wide range of magnifications and numerical apertures. The contrast that can be achieved in images derived from the data sets obtained with colour CCD cameras far exceeds that found with film and can exceed that of human vision. Finally, the data sets collected with high‐resolution colour CCD cameras are capable of being displayed at a wide range (four‐fold) of different magnifications easily and interchangeably. Consequently, the combination of a data set that describes a relatively large field of view with one or two data sets that describe specific details taken with an eight‐fold increase in magnification are all that is necessary to describe the salient features of the vast majority of stained specimens examined with transmitted light microscopy.


Photosynthesis and decay are the two most essential processes in nature. Photosynthesis by green plants captures and stores energy from the sun. This energy is used to form wood and other tree parts. Photosynthesis also removes carbon dioxide and adds oxygen to the atmosphere. Decay releases stored energy and essential elements by the breakdown of wood. Fungi decay the wood in living and dead trees as part of a vital web of microorganisms, insects, and wildlife. Decay organisms enter trees through wounds, large and small. Trees have survival strategies that can resist the spread of decay.


The counterfactual account of causality defines an effect as the difference, for some unit, between an outcome under an observed treatment and an outcome under a hypothetical alternative. When units are heterogeneous in a population, there is no single causal effect. The micro-level account of causation is complicated when units interact with one another, as they do in human populations. The search for causation requires manipulation. But key micro-level demographic variables-age, race, sex-are not easily manipulated. What are subject to manipulation are the social rules, policies, or choice sets available to individuals within populations. Thus causes are best conceptualized at the macro level, even if their effects are observed at the micro level. Copyright 2003 by The Population Council, Inc..


Keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) is a benign tumor often associated with basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS). Mutations in Patched 1 (PTCH1), the Hedgehog (Hh) receptor, are responsible for BCNS. BCNS is distinguished by morphological anomalies and predisposition to benign and malignant tumors, including medulloblastoma, basal cell carcinoma, KCOT and ovarian fibromas. Among these tumors, KCOT is the least well studied because a suitable model system is not available for its investigation. To enable KCOT to be studied, we established two KCOT cell lines, one from a BCNS case (designated as iKCOT1) and one from a sporadic KCOT case (designated as sKCOT1). The BCNS‑derived KCOT cell line, iKCOT1, retained a germline-mutated PTCH1 allele and a wild-type PTCH1 allele. The sporadic KCOT-derived KCOT cell line, sKCOT1, had different loss-of-function PTCH1 mutations on both alleles. Both cell lines expressed stem cell markers (CD44, SOX2 and BMI1), mesenchymal cell markers (CDH2, VIM and SNAI2) and a neurogenic marker (NEFL). Culture of the cell lines in high calcium concentration media induced expression of epithelial cell and keratinocyte marker proteins (CDH1, CLDN1, KRT10 and IVL). Parakeratosis, which is characteristic for KCOTs, was observed in 2-D cultures. The similarities in protein expression patterns between the two cell lines suggested that common mechanisms underlie the development of both types of KCOT and a probable common origin of KCOT cells.


Global standards for preventing money laundering and terrorism financing are among the most widely observed standards in the world today. Unfortunately there is substantial evidence that they do not work. A main reason is that private sector parties, mostly financial institutions but including a few others, are tasked with duties for which they are ill suited. While they are required to monitor client transactions and report to the government those that raise suspicion of money laundering or terrorism financing, they do not have sufficient expertise, access to key data, or incentives to do so effectively. A second reason is that by giving the private sector the task of identifying suspicious transactions, law enforcement, which is responsible for investigating them, is tasked with too little. This Article argues that dividing these tasks between the private sector and law enforcement is inherently inefficient. It separates expertise and data pools among many different private parties and the government, making empirically based analytical tools for identifying possible criminals both difficult (by dividing data bases) and unlikely (because the private sector has few incentives to spend money to do so). It also includes an inherent contradiction: the public sector is tasked with informing the private sector on how best to detect launderers and terrorists, but to do so could act as a road map on how to avoid detection should such information fall into the wrong private hands. These problems can be addressed by turning all analytical work over to law enforcement and reserving for the private sector only the reporting of objective information: certain client profiling data and records of all financial transactions. Law enforcement should then be required to use, to the extent possible, empirically based analytical tools to select clients and transactions for investigation. While such a system would be substantially different from the current one there is considerable precedent in the way in which modern tax administrations select taxpayers for audit investigation. A careful review of key aspects of those systems reveals that private parties transmit only objective information to tax administrators, and that tax administrators use empirically based analytical tools to select taxpayers for audit. Such reforms should result in additional effectiveness as well as over-all cost savings as redundancies among multiple private sector party analytical duties are eliminated.


In the recreational sport "war games" opposing teams fire gelatin pellets containing vegetable dye at each other as they attempt to capture the opponent's flag without being hit. Three articles have appeared in the ophthalmic literature that report eye trauma resulting from war games. 1-3 We present the following case because of its unique corneal injury. Case Report. —A 16-year-old white male adolescent was participating in an organized war game but was not wearing his protective safety goggles. A yellow "paint pellet" was fired by a participant (a policeman by trade) from a distance of about 4.5 m, striking the patient's right eye. The initial examination immediately following the injury revealed a right hyphema with the best visual acuity reduced to 20/300 OD. A distinct imprint of the pellet's impact was noted on the nasal half of the right cornea. This imprint, which straddled the limbus, produced a depressed circular


\pspto \rho\pi is observed for the fisrt time in a data sample of 14M \psp decays collected by the BESII detector at BEPC. The branching fraction is measured to be \BR(pspto\rho\pi)=(5.1+-0.7+-0.8)10-5, where the first error is statistical and the second one is systematic. A high mass excited \rho state wirh mass around 2.15GeV/c2 is also observed wirh \BR(pspto \rho(2150)\pi) \ra pi+pi-pi0) =(19.4+-2.5+11.2-2.1)10-5. The branching fraction of \pspto pi+pi-pi0 is measued with improved precision, \BR(\pspto pi+pi-pi0)=(18.1+-1.8+-1.9)10-5. The results may shed light on the understanding of the longstanding "\rhopi puzzle" between \jpsi and \psp hadronic decays.


The Transcendental Painting Group (1938-41), Los Alamos and shamanism: marginalised philosophies, forgotten artistic practices and contemporary film making in the New Mexico landscape.

This project examines an intersection between three elements that co-exist in the same geographical and temporal site and proposes that this intersection generates a unique synchronicity between past and present, power and place and the agency of a forgotten art practice. The three elements are the practice and theosophical beliefs of the under-researched Transcendental Painting Group (1938-41), the nuclear landscape of New Mexico and shamanism.

Interrogating these elements through methodologies that include art history, film theory, psychoanalysis and psychogeography reveals interplay between ancient mythologies, militaristic science and artistic positions that gives the local site a singular global agency and produces new possibilities for marginalized philosophies and forgotten artistic voices within the framework of
an artistic practice.

Critical reflection and questions interrogated in the theoretical investigation are given form through a subjective filmmaking practice that together with the thesis forms a single unified project. Overall, practice blends documentary film, drama and archival materials to conjure ghosts, spectres and occult events. This haunted aesthetic aims to identify unresolved issues from this conflicted landscape that are unique to the site yet generate anxieties of universal significance.


We study the effect of Hindu-Muslim riots on election results in India. We combine data on geo-coded riots with data on state elections and on demographics and public goods provision to construct a unique panel data set for 16 large states in India from 1981-2001. A new instrument is used that draws upon the random variation in the day of the week that Hindu festivals fall on, as set by a lunar calendar. The probability of a riot increases if a Hindu festival falls on a Friday, the holy day for Muslims. This allows us to isolate the causal effect of riots on electoral results. The results are also corrected for under-reporting of riots and their effect on nearby districts. We find that riots occurring in the year preceding an election increase the vote share of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party by at least 5 percentage points. JEL codes: D72, D74, Z12 ∗This work has been funded by the Spiritual Capital Research Program, sponsored by the Metanexus Institute on Religion and Science, with the generous support of the John Templeton Foundation. We would also like to acknowledge funding support from the Gates Cambridge Trust, the Centre for Research in Microeconomics and the Faculty of Economics, Cambridge. We would like to thank Steven Wilkinson for generously sharing his data on religious riots from 1950-1995 in India. We are grateful to Rachana Shanbhogue, Paul Sweeny and Shreya Nanda for excellent research assistance. For their help, comments and suggestions, we are grateful to Toke Aidt, Jean-Marie Baland, Eli Berman, Guilhem Cassan, Partha Dasgupta, Amrita Dhillon, James Fenske, Sanjeev Goyal, Timothy Guinnane, Gabriel Leon, Hamish Low, Christopher Rauh, Chander Velu, seminar and conference participants at the University of Namur, Paris School of Economics, PODER summer school, ASREC 2015 Boston, and Yale University. 1Corresponding author: Faculty of Economics and St. Catharine's College, University of Cambridge. Austin Robinson Building, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge CB3 9DD, United Kingdom. Tel: 44 1223 335257; Fax: 44 1223 335475; firstname.lastname@example.com. 2Azim Premji University, Bangalore. email@example.com


Author(s): Rabinovich, Maxim | Advisor(s): Jordan, Michael I | Abstract: With the greater adoption of statistical and machine learning methods across science and industry, a greater awareness of the need to align statistical theory ever more closely with the demands of applications is developing. One recurring theme within this process is the re-examination of basic questions and core assumptions through the lens of modern mathematical statistics. This thesis targets two such basic questions in two different contexts: posterior simulation using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), on the one hand; and multiple hypothesis testing, on the other. For MCMC, we analyze convergence in terms of the expectations of a limited number of query functions, rather than the entire posterior. We show both theoretically and via simulations that the resultant theory predicts the required chain length more sharply than global convergence criteria. Furthermore, we provide match- ing lower bounds that show our bounds are essentially optimal in their dependence on chain parameters and target accuracy. For multiple testing, we provide the first general framework for establishing the optimal tradeoff between false positives (measured by the False Discovery Rate, or FDR) and false negatives (measured by the False Non-discovery rate, or FNR). We begin by proving some of the first non-asymptotic results available on this topic – initially in the context of Gaussian-like test statistics. We then go on to develop the more general framework. The latter applies to test statistics with essentially arbitrary analytic forms and dependence, recovers previous results as special cases, and yields numerically simulable lower bounds that can be evaluated in almost any model of interest.


A challenge persists in modern higher education regarding gaining an understanding of the activities and services that facilitate student support, student success, student community and student voice. As modern universities continue to grow in both size and complexity, gaining an understanding of the operations for enhancing and supporting both students' experiences and outcomes grows in importance for resource allocation and supporting student success for university administrators. These exploratory or audit-based activities attempt to gain an understanding of students' engagement, time pressure and, relatedly, their calendar journeys throughout their higher education, with an aim to create coherence as opposed to chaos in students' journeys. This case study shares a tested practice from a UK higher education institution of a method to map the so-called 'student experience' across a whole university. This framework for mapping student engagement activities takes an asset-based approach beginning with the core activities which lead a student to graduation prioritising activities by time of students' engagement. This framework is inclusive of the core student experience and the optional, complementary extracurricular activities (Student Community), supporting services (Student Support), and enhancement activities engaging students in the development of education (Student Voice) to gain oversight of complex institutions. This case study offers a transferable framework for use in institutions globally with potential to be implemented as a management tool for administrator and faculty member understanding of the student experience with a view to make enhancements to support student success resourcing and interventions.


Seafood, defined here as marine and freshwater fish and shellfish, is recognized as a healthy food choice because it is a low-fat protein source that provides long-chain omega-3 fatty acids important for early development along with eye and heart health. However, seafood is also known to contain certain contaminants, such as methylmercury and persistent organic pollutants, which can have harmful effects on human health and development. In order to limit exposure to contaminants while maximizing the benefits of seafood consumption, a number of quantitative and qualitative risk-benefit analyses have been conducted for seafood consumption. This review paper provides a brief background on risk-benefit analysis of foods, followed by a discussion of the risks and benefits associated with fish consumption. Next, risk-benefit analyses are reviewed in an historical context. While risk-benefit analysis consists of three main elements (that is, assessment, management, and communication), this review will primarily focus on risk-benefit assessments. Overall, most studies have found that the benefits far outweigh the risks among the general population, especially when a variety of fish is consumed at least twice per week. However, for certain populations (for example, pregnant women and young children) a more targeted approach is warranted in order to ensure that these groups consume fish that are low in contaminants but high in omega-3 fatty acids. The potentially harmful unintended consequences of risk-benefit communication on the general population and certain groups are also discussed.


Abstract In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of the tobacco moth Ephestia elutella was sequenced and analyzed. The mitochondrial genome is 15345 bp long and contains 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and one control region. Twenty-three genes were found to be encoded by the majority strand and the other 14 genes by minority strand, those is similar to that of other insects. The nucleotide compositing of the majority strand are 38.6% of A, 11.77% of C, 42.05% of T and 7.58% of G. The phylogenetic analysis by Maximum-likelihood (ML) method revealed that the E. elutella was close to the same genus insect Ephestia kuehniella.


Distal locking is one of the most difficult steps in intramedullary nailing. Numerous methods can help the surgeon, but all are time-consuming and involve much irradiation. We have developed and tested a new method based on only two fluoroscopic shots that do not need to be taken in the axes of the holes. This avoids requiring the presence of an experienced fluoroscopy operator to accurately adjust the imaging device in front of the locking holes, and decreases the exposure to radiation of the patient and medical team. A 3-D model of the distal nail and of its locking holes was constructed from a pair of calibrated fluoroscopic views. Prior to this, the contours of the nail and locking holes projections had to be determined. A 3-D optical localizer allowed the tracking of reference frames fixed to the nail, imaging device, and drilling motor. A navigation system based on the model guided the surgeon during distal targeting. The robustness, accuracy, and duration of the technique were evaluated in laboratory. The range of acceptable orientations of the X-ray beam has also been determined. Twenty drilling tests were carried out on sawbones. The accuracy and the duration required by our system to perform the distal targeting shows potential suitability for clinical use. The drill passed through the nail locking holes for all of them. The accuracy was about 1.5 mm in translation and 1deg in rotation. The total time spent on drilling did not exceed 15 min. The system was also assessed in vivo on three patients.


Little attention has been paid to the influence of Arctic sea ice loss on climate variability in the tropical Pacific. By analyzing observational data sets, we hypothesized that anomalous Arctic sea ice concentration variations have the potential to influence tropical Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) variability via atmosphere‐ocean coupled processes in the eastern subtropical North Pacific. To test this hypothesis, we conducted idealized model experiments with 15 ensembles in which historical SSTs for 1951–2016 were restored in the Arctic only with different initial conditions. We found that a positive phase of North Pacific Oscillation‐like atmospheric circulation, which is modulated by a sea ice reduction in the Pacific Arctic sector, triggers El Niño‐like warming in the central tropical Pacific. This implies that connections between the Arctic and the tropics should be considered for further understanding of changes in El Niño and other tropical Pacific climate variability in a changing climate.