Purpose of review The aim of this study was to discuss recent advances regarding the pathogenesis of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), which highlight the pathogenic role of macrophages. Recent findings TRALI remains a leading cause of transfusion-related fatalities, despite the success of the mitigation strategy, and therapeutic approaches are unavailable. Neutrophils (PMNs) are recognized pathogenic cells in TRALI. Macrophages have previously also been suggested to be pathogenic in mice via binding of C5a to their C5a-receptor, producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damages the pulmonary endothelium. Recent work has further highlighted the role of macrophages in the TRALI-pathogenesis. It has been shown that the protein osteopontin (OPN) released by macrophages is critical for pulmonary PMN recruitment in mice suffering from TRALI and that targeting OPN prevents the occurrence of TRALI. Another recent study demonstrated the importance of M1-polarized alveolar macrophages in murine TRALI induction by showing that α1-antitrypsin (AAT) overexpression prevented TRALI in mice through decreasing the polarization of alveolar macrophages towards the M1 phenotype. Summary Apart from PMNs, macrophages also appear to be important in the pathogenesis of TRALI. Targeting the pathogenic functions of macrophages may be a promising therapeutic strategy to explore in TRALI.


STUDENT-CREATED VIDEOS AS A LANGUAGE ACQUISITION STRATEGY FOR A HAITIAN LEARNER Sarah-Jane Thomas, Ph.D. George Mason University, 2017 Director: Dr. Beverly Shaklee American schools are becoming increasingly diverse, with an estimated 17 million firstand second-generation refugee and immigrant children residing in the United States. English learners navigate the challenges of learning how to read, write, and speak a new language, all while being expected to stay on grade level. Classroom teachers nationwide are looking for engaging ways to meet the needs of their students, despite resource and budget deficits. The purpose of this study was to explore the role that student-created vodcasts, or video podcasts, may play in the English acquisition of a Haitian learner. This research question morphed to focus on the perceptions and practices of this student's middle school teacher of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in using vodcasting and other technologies to facilitate his English acquisition. A second research question explored the role of sociocultural learning regarding the learner's creation of vodcasts. Guiding bodies of research in this work included second language acquisition research, particularly regarding identity formation involving brain-compatible teaching, sociocultural learning, and culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP). Data collection occurred between January 2015 and May 2015. The student and his teacher shared their perspectives in six interviews each during the data collection process. Other data sources included 2 student-created vodcasts, 1 created in a group and 1 created by the student alone, a writing sample, and results from the previous school year of the state English as a Second Language Achievement Test (ESLAT). The teacher found that the vodcasts, in combination with other factors, helped the student reflect on his writing, particularly regarding punctuation, and that he overcame an error with comma splices immediately after recording a vodcast. The student found that the practice of vodcasting, in combination with other factors, helped him practice academic language, as required by his teacher for the assignment. The teacher allowed the student to work individually for the second vodcast assignment, and stated that the result was of much higher quality overall, particularly noting an increase in the amount of time the student spent speaking. The data indicated that vodcasting, in conjunction with other strategies supporting language acquisition, might have played a positive role in the student's progress in his ESOL class. Furthermore, according to both the student and the teacher, independent creation of the video was more effective for him than collaborative group work, which the teacher explained may have had causes rooted in the student's home culture.


Comparative Genomics
Sequencing of whole genomes and obtaining information about gene transcription offer the promise to compare changes and variation in gene expression and function across species. However, Dunn et al. show that analyses of gene expression data that use pairwise comparisons across multiple species may not be able to distinguish between differing models of evolution. By examining published studies of how gene expression may change across species, they show that it is necessary to consider the mode of evolution—i.e., duplication generating paralogs or orthologous evolution through speciation—as well as the time since the species diverged. Thus, phylogenetic information is needed to discern commonalities and differences across species and among genes that share an ancestor but may have undergone different evolutionary trajectories.

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 10.1073/pnas.1707515115 (2018).


Abstract A relatively large part of the Slovak territory consists of the "marginal regions", which in terms of the economy of ruminants keeping can efficiently produce animal commodities only occasionally. The geographic, social and economic stability of these regions is strongly influenced by the rearing of ruminants and the associated market milk production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and aetiological agents of mastitis in two herds of dairy cows situated in the marginal parts of Slovakia. In total, 530 of the Slovak spotted breed and Holstein cows were involved in the study. The diagnosis of mastitis was performed on the basis of the clinical examination of the udder, macroscopic evaluation of the milk, determination of somatic cell count (SCC), and the bacteriological examination of the milk. The prevalence of mastitis in the two herds of dairy cows ranged from 34.7 % to 18.8 %, respectively. From the total of 2120 quarter milk samples, 36.3 % were positive to the California mastitis test (CMT). Also, pathogenic microorganisms causing intramammary infection (IMI) were isolated from 25.6 % of the samples, which accounted for most subclinical mastitis forms (23.3 %), with the SCC under 400 000, mainly caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) and coliform bacteria E. coli and Enterobacter aerogenes. The clinical forms of mastitis accounted for 13.0 % of all infected cows and were caused mainly by the bacteria: Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus and coagulasenegative staphylococci.


The purpose of this paper is to exam the philosophical development of Emanuel Swedenborg's doctrine of correspondence and to note some of the more important parallels between Swedenborg's doctrine and the three contemporary most debated theories concerning the mind-body problem. These three theories was pre-established harmony, its opponent physical influx and finally occasionalism. Especially occasionalism has close connections to Descartes' dualism, but neither pre-established harmony or physical influxus, which in some ways can be dated before Descartes, would have looked the same, if it were not for the Cartesian way of thinking. Also Swedenborg initially inherited major influences from Descartes and that is the first approach in this paper. From there on the paper follows the development of the doctrine of correspondence and the parallels according Swedenborg's more contemporary philosophical writers, until Swedenborg gets to a point where he underwent a profound spiritual crisis and turned his focus on an all together theological approach.


Abstract I investigated spatial relationships and mating in a population of individually marked nine-banded armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus, in a riparian habitat in south Texas. Adults had larger home ranges than younger individuals. Home ranges of adult females overlapped extensively with those of other adult females and breeding and nonbreeding males. Breeding males had almost exclusive home ranges from one another, but overlapped considerably with adult females and nonbreeding males. Observations of paired males and females indicated a well-defined breeding season, from June through November, with 83% of pairings occurring from June through August, confirming morphological data reported previously. The mating system was polygynous because most breeding males paired with more than one female during the breeding season, although most females paired with just one male. Polygyny and competition among males for mates was further suggested by sexual dimorphism in body mass and by the observation that just a few older males monopolized pairings.


Three-dimensional NAND flash memory is widely used in sensor systems as an advanced storage medium that ensures system stability through fast data access. However, in flash memory, as the number of cell bits increases and the process pitch keeps scaling, the data disturbance becomes more serious, especially for neighbor wordline interference (NWI), which leads to a deterioration of data storage reliability. Thus, a physical device model was constructed to investigate the NWI mechanism and evaluate critical device factors for this long-standing and intractable problem. As simulated by TCAD, the change in channel potential under read bias conditions presents good consistency with the actual NWI performance. Using this model, NWI generation can be accurately described through the combination of potential superposition and a local drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) effect. This suggests that a higher bitline voltage (Vbl) transmitted by the channel potential can restore the local DIBL effect, which is ever weakened by NWI. Furthermore, an adaptive Vbl countermeasure is proposed for 3D NAND memory arrays, which can significantly minimize the NWI of triple-level cells (TLC) in all state combinations. The device model and the adaptive Vbl scheme were successfully verified by TCAD and 3D NAND chip tests. This study introduces a new physical model for NWI-related problems in 3D NAND flash, while providing a feasible and promising voltage scheme as a countermeasure to optimize data reliability.


Crystalline nanostructured (PZT) with atomic ratio of the Pb:Zr:Ti of 1:0.53:0.47 was synthesized by a chemical method starting from lead, titanium and zirconium salts; and using low temperature synthesis path which supposed to compose a nanostructured PZT. Using XRF, a qualitative analysis had carried out to investigate that the samples contain lead, titanium and zirconium. The samples were pressed as pellets 10mm diameter and 1mm thickness. Then sintered at 1100°C. Using high voltage generator a poling process were achieved at (0.5-1.5)KV/mm at room temperature. Using AC measurements, dielectric constant including real and imaginary parts where studied in a function of frequency in the range (20Hz-3kHz) for poled and unpoled samples at room temperature. The dielectric constant including real and imaginary parts were studied too in a function of temperature at constant frequency. Pyroelectric current was measured in order to calculate the pyroelectric coefficient of the material.


Regions of the brain with high energy requirements are especially sensitive to perturbations in mitochondrial function. Hence, neurotoxicant exposures that target mitochondria in regions of high energy demand have the potential to accelerate mitochondrial damage inherently occurring during the aging process. 1,3-Dinitrobenzene (DNB) is a model neurotoxicant that selectively targets mitochondria in brainstem nuclei innervated by the eighth cranial nerve. This study investigates the role of age in the regional susceptibility of brain mitochondria-related proteins (MRPs) to oxidation following exposure to DNB. Male F344 rats (1 month old [young], 3 months old [adult], 18 months old [aged]) were exposed to 10 mg/kg DNB prior to mitochondrial isolation and histopathology experiments. Using a high-throughput proteomic approach, 3 important region- and age-related increases in DNB-induced MRP oxidation were determined: (1) brainstem mitochondria are ×3 more sensitive to DNB-induced oxidation than cortical mitochondria; (2) oxidation of brainstem MRPs is significantly higher than in cortical counterparts; and (3) MRPs from the brainstems of older rats are significantly more oxidized than those from young or adult rats. Furthermore, lower levels of DNB cause signs of intoxication (ataxia, chromodacryorrhea) and vacuolation of the susceptible neuropil in aged animals, while neither is observed in DNB-exposed young rats. Additionally, methemoglobin levels increase significantly in DNB-exposed adult and aged animals, but not young DNB-exposed animals. This suggests that oxidation of key MRPs observed in brainstem of aged animals is necessary for DNB-induced signs of intoxication and lesion formation. These results provide compelling evidence that environmental chemicals such as DNB may aid in the acceleration of injury to specific brain regions by inducing oxidation of sensitive mitochondrial proteins.


A13 CHEK2, encoded on chromosome 22q, is a protein kinase that is involved in cell-cycle checkpoint control by causing arrest in G1 and G2 after DNA damage. The protein-truncating CHEK21100delC mutation abolishes the protein kinase activity of CHEK2 and increases the risk of breast cancer. Germline mutations/variations in CHEK2 were studied in high-risk African Americans from the Northern California site of the Breast Cancer Family Registry (n = 198) and Howard University Hospital (n = 62). High risk criteria for hereditary breast cancer included a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, bilateral breast cancer, or early-onset (age 40 years or less) breast cancer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers were excluded. The entire CHEK2 coding and intron flanking regions were examined using denaturing high performance liquid chromatography and putative mutations/variations were delineated by DNA sequencing. These experiments revealed two novel mutations: R180C and 1135delTC. Mutation R180C is not located in a functional domain but may affect protein folding and function as the mutation was deemed intolerant by the bioinformatic analysis tool Sort Intolerant From Tolerant (SIFT) that compares homologous sequences in different organisms. Mutation 1135delTC is protein truncating and located in the important kinase domain of CHEK2 in close proximity to the 1100delC mutation; therefore, 1135delTC is expected to be pathogenic. The yeast Rad53 gene is homologous to the human CHEK2 gene. The wild type human CHEK2 gene has been demonstrated to complement the deleted yeast Rad53 gene. Therefore, yeast complementation allows evaluation of the effect of potentially pathogenic mutations. Site-directed mutagenesis of the human wild type gene was used to generate plasmids with the 1100delC, 1135delTC and R180C mutations. Introduction of the human wild type CHEK2 gene into the Rad53 deleted yeast resulted in growth in selective media; whereas introduction of the latter three mutations yielded no growth in selective media and growth in control non-selective media. We conclude that the 1135delTC and R180C mutations are pathogenic because they are detrimental to the function of the protein. These findings are significant because 1135delTC is the only other protein-truncating mutation discovered to date in this gene. Screening for CHEK2 variations in the African-American population should include the pathogenic R180C and 1135delTC mutations.


The illusion of stereophonic sound is one that is experienced daily by many listeners. When faced with two loudspeakers or headphones playing, say, a selection of orchestral music, a listener might hear the sound of violins localized near the left speaker, the cellos near the right speaker, and the trumpets playing somewhere near the middle, where there is no speaker at all. In the parlance of psychoacousticians, this phenomenon is referred as "summing localization" (Litovsky et al. 1999). In the conditions best known in the laboratory, identical sounds are presented from two sources in the horizontal plane with a brief inter-stimulus delay (ISD) between the onsets of the two sounds. When the ISD is near zero, the listener reports an auditory image centered between the two sources. As the ISD is varied over the scale of a few hundred microseconds, the image moves progressively toward the leading source. When the ISD exceeds about 700s, the listener hears a single source located at the position of the leading source. Summing localization has been well characterized in humans, and a physiological correlate of summing localization has been demonstrated in the auditory cortex of cats (Mickey and Middlebrooks 2001). In this issue, Tollin and Yin (2003) explore the phenomenon behaviorally in cats. They confirm in cats the phenomenon that is well known in humans in the horizontal plane, and they demonstrate that summing localization also occurs in the vertical midline plane. Moreover, they demonstrate a rather unexpected vertical localization illusion that is produced by sound sources on the horizon. The latter illusion is explained well by a model that attributes vertical localization to recognition of spectral shape cues. The most novel observation in the Tollin and Yin study is that, when cats were presented with simultaneous sounds located in the horizontal plane (i.e., 0° elevation), they oriented to a location on the vertical midline about 8° above the horizontal plane. The midline response in the horizontal dimension is precisely what is predicted by any model of horizontal localization based on interaural differences between the sounds at the two ears. It is the vertical response that is remarkable. Most present-day models of elevation in the vertical dimension assume that vertical localization cues result from elevationdependent filtering of sounds by the listener's external ears. Based on such a model, one would assume that the cats were somehow hearing sound spectra that they associated with an elevated source. That assumption was validated by a careful analysis by Tollin and Yin. They used measurements of the filter functions of a cat's external ears and inferred the sounds that would have resulted from the addition of two sounds arriving at each eardrum. The spectra resulting from the interaction of two simultaneous sound sources located in the horizontal plane were marked by a conspicuous spectral notch centered near 12 kHz. Examination of the cats' filter functions for single sounds showed that the filters for 0° elevation showed a notch centered near 11 kHz, whereas filter functions for elevations near 8° showed a notch near 12 kHz. This result is consistent with a popular model in which vertical localization is attributed entirely to identification of the frequency of a spectral notch (Rice et al. 1992), although the result cannot exclude the possibility that the cats were basing their location judgments on some other feature of the spectrum. The beauty of Tollin and Yin's observation of a vertical localization illusion in cats is that it provides us with a useful animal model of vertical localization. A previous study has demonstrated in the cat's auditory cortex a correlate of a vertical localization illusion (Xu et al., 1999), but that study used a narrowband sound that probed vertical localization mechanisms rather selectively. The new result opens a door to physiological study of vertical localization of broadband sounds that will permit us to examine the neural substrates that underline the computations that listeners perform routinely to localize everyday environmental and communication sounds.


In database-as-a-service platforms, automated verification of query equivalence helps eliminate redundant computation across queries (i.e., overlapping sub-queries). State-of-the-art tools for automated detection of query equivalence adopt two different approaches. The first technique is based on reducing queries to algebraic expressions and proving their equivalence using an algebraic theory. The limitations of this approach are threefold. It cannot prove the equivalence of queries with significant differences in the attributes of their relational operators. It does not support certain widely-used SQL features. Its verification procedure is computationally intensive. The second technique is based on deriving the symbolic representation of the queries and proving their equivalence using the satisfiability modulo theory. The limitations of this approach are twofold. It only proves equivalence of queries under set semantics. It cannot prove the equivalence of queries with significant structural differences in their abstract syntax trees.
In this paper, we present a novel two-stage approach to automated verification of query equivalence that addresses the limitations of these individual techniques. The first stage consists of reducing queries to a novel algebraic representation and then normalizing the resulting algebraic expressions to minimize structural differences. The second stage consists of applying a verification algorithm to convert the normalized algebraic expressions to a novel query pair symbolic representation and proving their equivalence under bag semantics using satisfiability modulo theory. We implement our two-stage approach in SPES. SPES proves the equivalence of a larger set of query pairs (90/232) under bag semantics compared to the state-of-the-art tools based on algebraic (30/232) under bag semantics and symbolic approaches (67/232) under set semantics.


Based on the density functional theory combined with the non-equilibrium Green's function methodology, we have studied the thermally-driven spin-dependent transport properties of a combinational molecular junction consisting of a planar four-coordinate Fe molecule and a 15,16-dinitrile dihydropyrene/cyclophanediene molecule with single-walled carbon nanotube bridge and electrode. Our results show that the magnetic field and light can effectively regulate the thermally-driven spin-dependent currents. Perfect thermal spin-filtering effect and good thermal switching effect are realized. The results are explained by the Fermi-Dirac distribution function, the spin-resolved transmission spectra, the spatial distribution of molecular projected self-consistent Hamiltonian orbitals, and the spin-resolved current spectra. On the basis of these thermally-driven spin-dependent transport properties, we further design three basic thermal spin molecular AND, OR and NOT gates.


The main features of the nuclear optical model are reviewed, with particular attention to current growth points. The determination of the form and strength of the nucleon-nucleus interaction by calculation from the nucleon-nucleon interaction is described and the results compared with those obtained phenomenologically. The potential is applied to analyse single-particle bound states, and it is shown how this can give its isospin and state dependence. Even when it is used simply to calculate the elastic scattering, the optical model must be established in the framework of nuclear reaction theory, and allowance made for the effects of all the reaction channels, and in particular for the compound nucleus processes and the associated fluctuations in the cross sections. The model can then be applied to analyse data on the elastic scattering of nucleons, deuterons, helions, tritons and α particles by nuclei, and this enables its parameters to be determined more precisely and its range of validity to be investigated. The nucleon data is so extensive that it is possible to study several small terms in the potential, in particular the isospin term and the nuclear spin term, in addition to the familiar spin-orbit term. The scattering of the composite particles shows several apparently anomalous features that on investigation yield additional information on nuclear structure. The optical model may be extended to give the inelastic as well as the elastic scattering, and this makes it possible to analyse many apparently complicated phenomena. The application of the results of optical model analyses to the calculation of compound nucleus cross sections is also discussed, together with the use of optical model wavefunctions in calculations of direct reaction cross sections. This review was completed in August 1971.


Abstract:Economic inequality is increasingly recognized as one of the main problems of our time. But what human rights have to say about it? Are human rights effective tools for tackling inequality, as human rights practitioners have argued, or are they powerless and inadequate tools to challenge inequality in the age of neoliberalism, as stated recently by Yale's professor Samuel Moyn? This article examines the complex relations between economicinequality and human rights, especially economic and social rights (ESR), by exploring the arguments behind these two opposite views. We propose an intermediate position: while human rights and discussionsabout inequality predominantly take place in autonomous fields, it is not onlypossible but crucial to overcome some of the pitfalls ofhuman rights law in relation to inequality in order to use it as an equalizinginstrument. Extreme inequality poses not only strong empirical obstacles to the enjoyment of human rights but alsoundermines core tenets of human rights law, such as the principle of equality of opportunity.These links allow us to bridge the gap between the two fields and to speak of inequality as ahuman rights issue. We explore five pathsto reinforce the equalizing potential of human rights law: 1) moving towards 'empirical based normative standards', 2) advancing interpretations of human rights law more sensitive to economic inequality, 3) enhancing the equalizing potential of human rights accountability mechanisms; 4) incorporating human rights concerns across different regimes of internationaleconomic law, and 5) providing strategies and arguments for supporting redistributive policies between and within countries.


Since the first color short, Walt Disney animated films have been known for their beautiful and breathtaking environments that seamlessly integrate with the hand drawn characters that populate them. Over the years, technological innovations have streamlined the process of creating these environments while still maintaining the extremely high artistic standards that have made our films famous. Other advances, like the multi-plane camera, have helped to revolutionize how the camera moves through these environments. In general, such technological innovations are inspired by an artistic need which must be achieved with out being prohibitively expensive. On Walt Disney's "Treasure Planet", new innovations to the DeepCanvas renderer were inspired by such artistic needs and desires.


Chronotherapeutics refers to a treatment method in which in vivo drug availability is timed to match rhythms of disease, in order to optimise therapeutic outcomes and minimise side effects. It is based on the observation that there is an interdependent relationship between peak-to-trough rhythmic activity in disease symptoms and risk factors, pharmacologic sensitivity, and pharmacokinetics of many drugs. The specific time that patients take their medication is very important as it has significant impact on treatment success. Optimal clinical outcome cannot be achieved if drug plasma concentrations are constant. If symptoms of a disease display circadian variation, drug release should also vary over time. Drug pharmacokinetics can also be time-dependent; therefore, variations both in a disease state and in drug plasma concentration need to be taken into consideration in developing drug delivery systems intended for the treatment of disease with adequate dose at appropriate time. Various technologies such as time-controlled, pulsed, triggered and programmed drug delivery devices have been developed and extensively studied in recent years for chronopharmaceutical drug delivery. These, as well as pertinent issues, are addressed in this review.


This paper discusses how informal structures intersect with women's participation in formally created decision-making spaces for managing domestic water at the village level in Tanzania. The results reveal the influence of the informal context on women's access to and performance in the formal decision-making spaces. Overall, there is low community involvement in local governance structures, and in most village assemblies that of women is even less. Only in the Social Welfare Committee women are fairly well represented, presumably because of its linkage with the traditional division of labour and women's practical gender needs. In the Village Water Committees, women's representation is regulated by a quota system but women rarely occupy leadership positions. Even when husbands are supportive, patriarchal culture, scepticism and negative stereotypical assumptions on female leadership frustrate the government's effort to enlarge women's representation in the local decision-making spaces. Three entry points for change were identified: successful women leaders as role models; women's passive participation in village meetings that could develop into active participation; and women's membership of social and economic groups which strengthens their skills and bargaining position.


Secure Information exchange in a network of mobile and wireless nodes without any infrastructure support such networks are called as adhoc networks. A Mobile adhoc network (MANET) is multi-hop, mobile, infrastructure less wireless network which is capable of independent operation. In this paper we have been discussing some of the basic routing protocols in MANET like Destination Sequenced Distance Vector(DSDV), Dynamic Source Routing(DSR), Adhoc On Demand Distance Vector(AODV) and Zone Routing Protocol(ZRP). Security is one of the principal issue in MANETs as they are infrastructure-less and independent. Therefore, in manet having security needs, there must be two considerations kept in mind: one to make a data transmission. Our endeavour in this paper would focus on achieving the routing and secure data exchange. In this course, we have designed the Ad Hoc on Demand Routing Protocol (AODV) using asymmetric cryptographic algorithm such as RSA . Which is more efficient as well as we have implemented the security technique so that we can prevent the data loss at the time of transmission. KeywordsAdhoc network, key management, mobile adhoc network, routing protocol, security.


Prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis with standard heparin and low molecular weight heparin has been studied in many clinical trials in surgical patients and in few and various medical conditions in hospitalized subjects. Clinical trials have been conducted in patients with recent myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, pulmonary sepsis, cancer, or any acute disease with a high risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (previous thromboembolism, thrombophilia, obesity, recent bedridden, dehydratation.). The combination of a high risk disease with a high risk factor related to the history of the patient might reasonably conduct to a prophylaxis with low molecular weight heparins. The duration of this treatment has to be short and limited to the period of the acute medical condition inducing a high risk for deep vein thrombosis. Prophylaxis has to be offered to patients with ischemic stroke, cardiac failure, recent myocardial infarction, active cancer or any other acute medical disease in patients with a previous thromboembolism or thrombophilia history. Bedridden status and age are not, by themselves, an indication for prophylaxis with heparins. A widespread diffusion of these recommendations is needed to reduce overprescriptions.


AIMS To compare arterial blood gas (ABG) readings obtained with a multiparameter intra-arterial sensor with those from an ABG analyser. METHODS An MPIAS with the ability to measure continuously pH, PaCO2, and PaO2 was introduced via an umbilical arterial catheter in 27 neonates requiring intensive care. They underwent 3260 hours of MPIAS monitoring, during which 753 ABG readings were performed. RESULTS Overall bias (mean difference: MPIAS–ABG) and precision (standard deviation of differences) values were: −0.002 and 0.022, respectively, for pH; +0.26 and 0.52 for PaCO2 (kPa); and −0.19 and 0.99 for PaO2 (kPa). This gave 95% limits of agreement as: −0.047 to +0.042 for pH, −0.76 to +1.28 kPa for PaCO2, and −2.13 to +1.75 kPa for PaO2. For each variable, precision across readings from the same individual was better than overall precision for all data. No complications related to the use of the catheter were observed. CONCLUSIONS Continuous MPIAS ABG monitoring is an exciting development, with the potential to reduce blood transfusions and improve ABG homeostasis.


The Francis Burnout Inventory (FBI) conceptualised poor work-related psychological health in the terms of the classic model of balanced affect proposed by Bradburn. Operationalised specifically for application among clergy and religious professionals, in the FBI negative affect is assessed by the 11-item Scale of Emotional Exhaustion in Ministry (SEEM) and positive affect is assessed by the 11-item Satisfaction in Ministry Scale (SIMS). In the present study the FBI was completed by 803 Methodist ministers in Great Britain together with two independent measures hypothesised as reflecting the consequence of burnout, dissatisfaction with present appointment, and thoughts of leaving ministry. These data were employed to test the significance of the interaction between SEEM and SIMS in predicting these independent measures. In support of the theory of balanced affect, these data demonstrated that the mitigating impact of positive affect increased with increasing levels of negative affect.


Mg deficiency underlies the mechanism of insulin resistance of conditions associated with altered glucose tolerance, such as t2DM. Despite of many reports showing deranged magnesium level in t2DM, most of these studies have focused on level of t Mg in spite of the fact that iMg is the physiological form. Furthermore, data on iMg in newly diagnosed t2DM yet to start treatment is scarce. Therefore, this study was undertaken to evaluate both tMg and iMg level in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study was conducted to evaluate serum levels of tMg and iMg in 30 patients with newly diagnosed t2DM and 30 non-diabetic healthy controls, recruited from the out-patient department of Medicine, BPS Government Medical College for Women, KhanpurKalan, Sonepat, and Haryana. Fasting venous blood was drawn from each participant for the biochemical analysis of FBS, HbA1C, tMg and iMg. The results are Compared to controls, the FBS, HbA1C and tMg levels were significantly increased (1.17±0.50 vs. 0.86±0.10 ; p=0.002), whereas the iMg level was significantly decreased (0.52±0.04 vs. 0.55±0.06; p=0.02) in type 2 diabetic patients. The findings of significant association in non-diabetic control group(r=0.558, p=0.001) and no significant association between tMg and iMg in the patient group (r=0.245, p=0.192) strengthens the concept of altered Mg metabolism in diabetes. There were no significant associations of FBS and HbA1C with tMg and iMg in the diabetic patient group. In conclusion the observation of decreased physiologically active form of Mg (iMg), despite increased total Mg and loss of correlation between tMg and iMg, suggests that Mg metabolism in diabetes is significantly altered though without any relation to glycemic control.


Abstract
A substantial part of airports' revenues relates to charges covering the costs of services supplied by the airport. Charges are imposed on carriers, which in turn pass them or a percentage of them, on to passengers. In the present chapter, special attention is given to regional airports characterized by low traffic volumes, enabling only one or a few carriers to serve each destination. A classic economic model is presented to analyze how the pass-on rate depends on supply and demand characteristics and market structure. Some illustrative examples assuming combinations of common specifications for market characteristics are also presented, showing pass-on rates ranging from 50% to more than 100%. Consequently, market structure and characteristics of carriers and passengers are decisive for how passengers experience changes in airport charges. The differences between the optimal charge from the perspectives of the airport and the welfare of society are specifically addressed. It is demonstrated that knowledge of the pass-on rate in the monopoly cases may be sufficient to infer how the mark-up will be affected by a change in marginal costs. Consequently, the understanding of the pass-on rate is relevant for airport owners and for decision-makers when considering the welfare of passengers and other politically stated goals.


Aims. We study gravitational perturbation effects of observed giant extrasolar planets on hypothetical Earth-like planets in the context of the three-body problem. This paper considers a large parameter survey of different orbital configuration of two extrasolar giant planets (HD 70642b and HD 4208b) and compares their dynamical effect on Earth-mass planetary orbits initially located within the respective habitable terrestrial region. We are interested in determining giant-planet orbit (and mass) parameters that favor the condition to render an Earth-mass planet to remain on a stable and bounded orbit within the continuous habitable zone. Methods. We applied symplectic numerical integration techniques to studying the short and long term time evolution of hypothetical Earth-mass planets that are treated as particles. In addition, we adopt the MEGNO technique to obtain a complete dynamical picture of the terrestrial phase space environment. Both multi-particle and single-particle simulations were performed to follow an Earth-mass planet in the habitable region and its subsequent long term evolution. Results. Our numerical simulations show that giant planets should be on circular orbits to minimize the perturbative effect on terrestrial orbits. The orbit eccentricity (and hence proximity) is the most important orbital parameter of dynamical significance. The most promising candidate for maintaining an Earth-mass planet on a stable and bounded orbit well-confined to the continuous habitable zone is HD 70642b. Even the large planetary mass of HD 70642b renders an Earth-mass planet habitable during the complete lifetime of the host star. The results allow us to extrapolate similar observed systems and points the necessity further constraining the uncertainty range in giant planet orbital eccentricity by future follow-up observations.


OBJECTIVE
A complex examination of patients with chronic myofascial pain syndrome (MPS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS
This study included 136 patients with MPS (66 men and 70 women). Pain was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Investigation of profiles of natural antibodies (nAbs) to specific opioid peptides (β-endorphin and orphanin), biogenic amines (dopamine and serotonin), surface electromyography (SEMG) of m. errector spinae at the L3-L4 level bilaterally were performed. Measurements were done at 1st, 10th and 21st days of treatment.

RESULTS
There was a significant decrease in pain intensity (by 71% in men and by 63% in women) accompanied by a decrease in muscle tension by 10-25% in group values of SEMG amplitudes, and by 34-38% as assessed by individual dynamics of SEMG amplitudes. All nAbs levels were elevated or high in the 1st day. The dynamics of nAbs levels was multidirectional. At the 21st day, there was the increase in the incidence of patients with high nAbs levels to opioid peptides (39-41% women and 33-39% men) and patients with normal nAbs levels to serotonin (59% men and 52% women), while the levels of nAbs to dopamine decreased to normal levels in women (56%) and remained elevated (50%) or highly elevated (17%) in men.

CONCLUSION
The dynamics of immune indicators correlates with pain intensity that possibly reflects the pathological changes in neural/humoral interactions in chronic pain. In this regard, monitoring of nAbs levels is prognostically relevant for assessment of risk of pain chronification.


The decay processes in Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe after resonant excitation of Ne 1s, Ar 2p, Kr 3d, and Xe 4d electrons to Rydberg levels have been studied recently in detail. A comparison between the results shows a clear resemblance in the decay of the Ne 1s → np, Ar 2p → ns, Kr 3d → np, and Xe 4d → np resonances whereas the Ar 2p → 3d excitation gives rise to a more complicated structure.


Background: Distal radial physeal stress syndrome, or 'gymnast's wrist' (GW), refers to an overuse condition of the distal radial physis, resulting from repetitive compressive loading and shear forces on an extended wrist. As the distal radius (DR) bears nearly the entire axial load imparted on the extended wrist, the DR is at increased risk. Affected gymnasts often present with chronic wrist pain in the absence of discreet trauma. Physical examination will generally show tenderness to palpation along the DR physis and pain with hyperextension and axial loading. The condition, most commonly diagnosed radiographically, will include abnormalities at the DR such as widening distal radial physis and can lead to more debilitating conditions (e.g. distal physeal growth disturbance). Previous literature has been limited to small populations of elite level gymnasts. The primary aim of the current study was to assess a larger and more varied population of gymnasts at different ages and levels to better elucidate the descriptive epidemiology, presenting clinical and radiologic findings, treatment, and outcomes in a cohort treated at a tertiary care pediatric hospital over a 14 year period. Methods: A word search query was performed on a departmental database for records from January 1, 2003 thru January 1, 2017 using a series of words or phrases inclusive of GW. A subsequent retrospective medical record and radiologic review was conducted on all patients diagnosed with 'GW', as reported in clinical or radiologic documentation, which was then confirmed by the senior authors. Data that was collected and analyzed included demographic features, presenting signs and symptoms, imaging modalities pursued, and treatment methods for each patient. The clinical course for each patient was followed, based upon clinic notes and any subsequent imaging. The natural history, recurrence rates, and potential sequellae of this overuse condition were recorded, with special attention towards the details of physeal growth disturbance and surgeries required to address symptomatic ulnar impaction syndrome. Results: 100 study subjects were identified with GW over the study period. Demographic features of the population included a mean age of 11.7 years (range: 6-17) at the age of diagnosis, with a strong female preponderance (F = 95, M = 5), and a different mean age between males (12.4y) and females (11.6y). The mean level of gymnasts was 4.5 (range: level 1 –10). The mean hours of gymnastics practice was 13.4 hours per week (range: 1–30), with over 90% of patients reporting that gymnastics was their primary sport. All of the patients reported pain about the DR with activities involving wrist impact, and about 75% of patients reported that they have been practicing though the pain prior to clinical presentation. The condition was shown to present on either the left (37%), the right (27%), or bilaterally (35%); where the location of pain was present mostly on the radial side (52%) or both the radial and ulnar side (38%) versus only the ulnar side (5%). The average duration of symptoms before presentation or diagnosis was about 98.7 days (range: 0-730) and resolution of symptoms occurred after an average of 3.5 subsequent visits (range: 1-14). The sequence of imaging modalities pursued and providing definitive diagnosis can be seen below in Image 1 and Table 1. Treatment most commonly consisted of cessation of all upper extremity impact activity, but was formally recommended to only 89% of patients. Other treatment strategies included physical therapy (49%) and gymnast-specific braces (46%). The mean time of complete rest pursued was 68 days, the mean time of from initial clinical evaluation to symptom resolution was 208 days, and mean time from initial onset of pain to resolution was about 351 days (due to frequent delays in presentation or diagnosis). 12 patients (12%) developed recurrence of GW, and 10 (10%) developed radial or ulnar growth disturbance (or both), with 3% undergoing corrective surgery. Conclusions/discussion: In a large series of skeletally immature gymnasts who developed GW, the vast majority of patients were female, though 5% of the population were males who developed the condition at a relatively older age than their female counterparts. The mean level of gymnast activity (4.5) and hours practicing (13) suggests that even lower level gymnasts can develop this overuse injury. Around 75% of patients were still practicing despite pain, greater than 3 months prior to presentation, which may reflect a poor understanding of the condition by the athletes, their coaches/trainers, and their families. The majority (71%) of cases were diagnosed by XR, but sometimes required advanced imaging (5%) to definitively diagnose or corroborate radiographically suspicious cases. Perhaps most importantly, alarmingly high rates of recurrence (12%), growth disturbance (10%) and surgical intervention were seen associated with the condition, underscoring the notion that delays in diagnosis or inadequate treatment may have lasting adverse impacts on these young athletes, and that strict adherence to prolonged periods of rest are critical to avoiding debilitating sequellae of GW. Tables and Figures: Table 1: Rad. Findings Imaging Finding Total n n % Normal 91 10 11.0 Radial growth plate widening 91 53 63.7 Ulnar growth plate widening 91 2 2.2 Ulnar negative variance 91 8 8.8 Ulnar neurtral variance 91 2 2.2 Ulnat positive variance 91 11 12.1 Concomitant Radial Fx 91 10 11.0 Concomitant Ulna Fx 91 2 2.2 Sclerosis 91 42 46.2 Image 1: Age Distribution of GW (female vs male)


Stimulation of laryngeal afferent fibers evokes a profound reflex inhibition of central respiratory drive. The interaction of this airway reflex with chemoreceptive ventilatory control mechanisms is poorly understood. The present study was undertaken to determine whether there is significant interaction between the effects of central chemoreceptor and laryngeal afferent stimulation on central inspiratory activity and, if so, to also determine the nature of the interaction. The effect of electrical stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) on the timing and intensity of central inspiratory activity was determined from the rectified and filtered phrenic neurogram in 10 dogs. Each dogs was decerebrated, artificially ventilated, vagotomized, and had the carotid bodies denervated. In each case, stimulation of the right SLN at 3 and 10 Hz caused a frequency-dependent slowing or arrest of central inspiratory activity. Increases in arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) attenuated the absolute level of inhibition of central inspiratory activity recorded during both SLN stimulation and control periods. Tp clarify the nature of the interaction between chemoreceptor and laryngeal afferent stimulation, the relationship between PaCO2 and central inspiratory activity was investigated during stimulation of the SLN at 0, 3, and 10 Hz. Control central inspiratory activity increased as a sigmoidal function of PaCO2. This sigmoidal relationship was greatly depressed during SLN stimulation but did not appear to be shifted along the PaCO2 axis. The results of this study therefore suggest that the interaction between central chemoreceptor and laryngeal afferent stimulation is multiplicative: the inhibition of the central inspiratory activity is mediated by an attenuation and not a resetting of central chemoreflexes.


This important new work connects evolutionary biological concepts to modern psychoanalytic theory and the clinical encounter. Synthesizing their years of experience in the practice of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, the authors provide a comparative psychoanalytic map of current theoretical controversies and a new way of deconstructing the hidden assumptions that underlie Freudian, Ego Psychological, Kleinian, Object Relational, Self Psychological, and Interpersonal theories. In so doing, they provide a new vantage point from which to integrate competing models into a larger picture that more fully embraces the many facets of human nature. Moreover, they offer clinicians a new framework with which to understand and respond to the inevitable paradoxes and conflicts that arise in the therapeutic relationship.


The present article concentrates on understanding the limits of language from the realm of meaning theory as portrayed by Wittgenstein. In the Tractatus, Wittgenstein's picture theory provides a glimpse of reality by indicating that a picture could be true or false from the perspective of reality. He talks about an internal limitation of language rather than an external limitation of language. In Wittgenstein's later works like Philosophical Investigations, the concept of picture theory has faded away, and he deeply becomes more interested in the 'use theory of meaning' and 'language game.' My other attempt in this paper is to show Husserl's theory of meaning and try to find out its compatibility with Wittgenstein's thoughts. Husserl thinks that as a part of phenomenological experience, 'meaning' should be an act character that Wittgenstein rejected as an appeal of inner experience. Like Mohanty, I also attempt to show the Husserlian idea of meaning as an essence that is related to the meaning rather than linguistics. Both the giants are talking about description of language from different levels. My effort would be to illustrate how these two giant thinkers proclaim their meaning theories in such a way that leads to a well-known internalism versus externalism debate in the philosophy of mind and language.


Grasses are among the most ecologically dominant flowering plants. Did the most dominant herbivores of the Mesozoic--the dinosaurs--evolve together with grasses? This question has been hard to answer, owing to the poor fossil record. In their Perspective, [Piperno and Sues][1] discuss results reported in the same issue by [ Prasad et al. ][2] in which phytoliths, the small silicate structures synthesized by many plants, found in coprolites (fossilized dinosaur dung) have been examined and compared. The work is the first evidence that dinosaurs ate grass and that the large grass family, known as Poaceae, had originated and diversified during the Cretaceous era. The results will have important implications for studies of evolutionary interactions between ancient plants and herbivores.

 [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/310/5751/1126
 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/310/5751/1177


We have measured the concentration of cartilage-derived retinoic-acid-sensitive protein (CD-RAP) in synovial fluid (SF) from the knees of 49 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and 79 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in order to investigate the correlation between the type of joint disease and level of CD-RAP. The mean concentration of CD-RAP in synovial fluid was significantly higher in OA than in RA. The level of CD-RAP in the group of patients with mild OA was significantly higher than in the moderate or severe groups and that in the group with mild RA was also significantly higher than in the other RA groups and decreased with progression of the disease. Immunohistochemical studies showed expression of CD-RAP in the cytoplasm of chondrocytes in newly-formed fibrocartilage. Since CD-RAP is mainly produced in young and proliferating chondrocytes, our results suggest that the level of CD-RAP in synovial fluid reflects remodelling of articular cartilage and may be used as a marker to estimate objectively the restorative reaction of chondrocytes.


The energy consumption is steadily increasing very rapid due to more people on the earth, better living conditions as well as we are trying to live in areas where the energy demand is high. The economy growth in the last century has not been possible without low prize of energy which has been achieved by fossil fuels. Looking into the future – the fossil fuel resources have a time limit – which can appear faster than expected – both because of the limited resources but also because the market can suddenly increase the prize. Therefore there is a demand to come up with sustainable energy solutions for energy production like wind turbines, hydro power as well as photovoltaics. At the same time it is evident that by the use of new technology it is possible to make energy saving. In both situations power electronics are making this possible – we are using power electronics to interface renewable sources to maximize the energy yield from wind turbines and photovoltaics as well as smoothly integrate it to the grid. Also in many applications we use power electronics to interface a load with the grid and control the behavior of the electrical equipment according to the demand. In many cases power electronics is able to ensure a large amount of energy saving like in pumps, compressors as well as in ventilation systems. Also the transportation gain a lot of using electricity instead of fossil fuel – clearly made possible due to the power electronics. Denmark is one of the societies which have been the frontier of implementing the renewable technology and has today covered more than 50 % of the electrical energy consumption by means of renewable and has as ambition to be fully independent on fossil fuels in 2050. Already in 2035 100 % of the electricity will be covered by renewables. At the same time the energy consumption has not really increased for 20 years despite the GDP has grown by more than 60 % - much is enabled by energy efficient technologies based on power electronics. So renewables and power electronics are a perfect tool for a sustainable society.


We investigate small sequence adjustments (of one or a few amino acids) that induce large conformational transitions between distinct and stable folds of proteins. Such transitions are intriguing from evolutionary and protein‐design perspectives. They make it possible to search for ancient protein structures or to design protein switches that flip between folds and functions. A network of sequence flow between protein folds is computed for representative structures of the Protein Data Bank. The computed network is dense, on an average each structure is connected to tens of other folds. Proteins that attract sequences from a higher than expected number of neighboring folds are more likely to be enzymes and alpha/beta fold. The large number of connections between folds may reflect the need of enzymes to adjust their structures for alternative substrates. The network of the Cro family is discussed, and we speculate that capacity is an important factor (but not the only one) that determines protein evolution. The experimentally observed flip from all alpha to alpha + beta fold is examined by the network tools. A kinetic model for the transition of sequences between the folds (with only protein stability in mind) is proposed. Proteins 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


It is shown that polytypes or stacking sequences of cronstedtite, an Fe-bearing trioctahedral 1:1 phyllosilicate, can be determined using near-atomic high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). By viewing along the [010], [310] and [310] directions (orthohexagonal indexing), the four groups of the standard polytypes can be distinguished. Imaging along the [100], [110] and [110] directions allows determination of the polytypes in each group. The polytypic sequences of groups A and C are intergrown at the monolayer level in cronstedtite from Lostwithiel, England, which is a new insight if compared with previous suggestions that layer stackings characteristic of different groups do not occur together. The HRTEM images also revealed the relationship between the layer polarity and the morphology of the cronstedtite crystals, where the tetrahedral sheet side points towards the top of the truncated pyramidal shape of the crystal.


This paper concentrates on the solution of the nonlinear optimal power flow. We describe an interior-point algorithm for nonlinear programming which is an extension of interior-point methods for linear and quadratic programming. Our major contribution is the inclusion of a merit function, which is used to measure, at each iteration, the progress along a search direction. Ensuring that the search directions are good descent directions for the merit function provides global convergence for the algorithm. We describe two kinds of merit functions: a classical approach based on a penalty function and a penalty parameter which has to be updated, and a new merit function with no penalties. Numerical tests for a set of power networks are made to compare the performances of the new merit function and the penalized function with two different parameter updating strategies.


For training a few-shot keyword spotting (FS-KWS) model, a large labeled dataset containing massive target keywords has known to be essential to generalize to arbitrary target keywords with only a few enrollment samples. To alleviate the expensive data collection with labeling, in this paper, we propose a novel FS-KWS system trained only on synthetic data. The proposed system is based on metric learning enabling target keywords to be detected using distance metrics. Exploiting the speech synthesis model that generates speech with pseudo phonemes instead of texts, we easily obtain a large collection of multi-view samples with the same semantics. These samples are sufficient for training, considering metric learning does not intrinsically necessitate labeled data. All of the components in our framework do not require any supervision, making our method unsupervised. Experimental results on real datasets show our proposed method is competitive even without any labeled and real datasets.


Gracilaria lemaneiformis polysaccharide (GLP) exhibits good physiological activities, and it is more beneficial as it is degraded. After its degradation by hydrogen peroxide combined with vitamin C (H2O2-Vc) and optimized by Box–Behnken Design (BBD), a new product of GLP-HV will be generated. While using GLP as control, two products of GLP-H (H2O2-treated) and GLP-V (Vc-treated) were also produced. These products chemical characteristics (total sugar content, molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, UV spectrum, morphological structure, and hypolipidemic activity in vitro) were assessed. The results showed that the optimal conditions for H2O2-Vc degradation were as follows: H2O2-Vc concentration was 18.7 mM, reaction time was 0.5 h, and reaction temperature was 56 °C. The total sugar content of GLP and its degradation products (GLP-HV, GLP-H and GLP-V) were more than 97%, and their monosaccharides are mainly glucose and galactose. The SEM analysis demonstrated that H2O2-Vc made the structure loose and broken. Moreover, GLP, GLP-HV, GLP-H, and GLP-V had significantly inhibition effect on α-glucosidase, and their IC50 value were 3.957, 0.265, 1.651, and 1.923 mg/mL, respectively. GLP-HV had the best inhibition effect on α-glucosidase in a dose-dependent manner, which was the mixed type of competitive and non-competitive. It had a certain quenching effect on fluorescence of α-glucosidase, which may be dynamic quenching.


A common cause of bugs and vulnerabilities are the violations of usage constraints associated with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). API misuses are common in software projects, and while there have been techniques proposed to detect such misuses, studies have shown that they fail to reliably detect misuses while reporting many false positives. One limitation of prior work is the inability to reliably identify correct patterns of usage. Many approaches confuse a usage pattern's frequency for correctness. Due to the variety of alternative usage patterns that may be uncommon but correct, anomaly detection-based techniques have limited success in identifying misuses. We address these challenges and propose ALP (Actively Learned Patterns), reformulating API misuse detection as a classification problem. After representing programs as graphs, ALP mines discriminative subgraphs. While still incorporating frequency information, through limited human supervision, we reduce the reliance on the assumption relating frequency and correctness. The principles of active learning are incorporated to shift human attention away from the most frequent patterns. Instead, ALP samples informative and representative examples while minimizing labeling effort. In our empirical evaluation, ALP substantially outperforms prior approaches on both MUBench, an API Misuse benchmark, and a new dataset that we constructed from real-world software projects.


During the last decades, the study of cell behavior was largely accomplished in uncoated or extracellular matrix (ECM)-coated plastic dishes. To date, considerable cell biological efforts have tried to model in vitro the natural microenvironment found in vivo. For the lung, explants cultured ex vivo as lung tissue cultures (LTCs) provide a three-dimensional (3D) tissue model containing all cells in their natural microenvironment. Techniques for assessing the dynamic live interaction between ECM and cellular tissue components, however, are still missing. Here, we describe specific multidimensional immunolabeling of living 3D-LTCs, derived from healthy and fibrotic mouse lungs, as well as patient-derived 3D-LTCs, and concomitant real-time four-dimensional multichannel imaging thereof. This approach allowed the evaluation of dynamic interactions between mesenchymal cells and macrophages with their ECM. Furthermore, fibroblasts transiently expressing focal adhesions markers incorporated into the 3D-LTCs, paving new ways for studying the dynamic interaction between cellular adhesions and their natural-derived ECM. A novel protein transfer technology (FuseIt/Ibidi) shuttled fluorescently labeled α-smooth muscle actin antibodies into the native cells of living 3D-LTCs, enabling live monitoring of α-smooth muscle actin-positive stress fibers in native tissue myofibroblasts residing in fibrotic lesions of 3D-LTCs. Finally, this technique can be applied to healthy and diseased human lung tissue, as well as to adherent cells in conventional two-dimensional cell culture. This novel method will provide valuable new insights into the dynamics of ECM (patho)biology, studying in detail the interaction between ECM and cellular tissue components in their natural microenvironment.


We propose a standard data format for the interchange of XAFS data. The XAFS Data Interchange (XDI) standard is meant to encapsulate a single spectrum of XAFS along with relevant metadata. XDI is a text-based format with a simple syntax which clearly delineates metadata from the data table in a way that is easily interpreted both by a computer and by a human. The metadata header is inspired by the format of an electronic mail header, representing metadata names and values as an associative array. The data table is represented as columns of numbers. This format can be imported as is into most existing XAFS data analysis, spreadsheet, or data visualization programs. Along with a specification and a dictionary of metadata types, we provide an application-programming interface written in C and bindings for programming dynamic languages.


This study was carried out to evaluate the impact of dietary supplementation of probiotic (Diamond XP™) T1 or prebiotic (BioBoostTM) T2 on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation characteristics, productive performance and economic efficiency of Barki lambs. Lambs in control group offered a concentrate feed mixture (CFM) and clover hay without supplementation while, lambs in treatment (T1) and treatment (T2) were fed CFM supplemented with probiotic or prebiotic at rate of 10 g/ head/ day, respectively. Nine barki male sheep (47kg ± 2.5) were used for running metabolism trail. The animals were allocated into three equal groups. Three ruminally cannulated ewes (45 kg ± 3.2) were used to study the rumen liquor parameter, while growth performance trails were carried out with twenty four growing male Barki lambs (27.5 kg ± 0.75) used to determine the growth performance, feed conversion and economic efficiency.The obtained results could be summarized as follow: Animals given ration supplemented with probiotic recorded the highest values of (p<0.05) digestibility and nitrogen utilization followed by animals given ration supplemented with prebiotic, however those fed control ration  had the lowest values. The same trend was observed with TDN and DCP values.No significant (p<0.05) differences among rations in ruminal pH values, were recorded while total volatile fatty acids (VFA's) concentration and microbial protein synthesis had significantly (p<0.05) increased with probiotic supplement. The control ration recorded the highest ruminal NH3-N concentration. A positive impact of probiotics (DFM) and prebiotic supplementation on nutrient intake, feed conversion ratio and economic efficiency have been recorded. It could be concluded that feeding lambs on rations supplemented with either probiotic (DFM) or prebiotic at 10 g/h/d has beneficial effects on rumen parameters, digestibility coefficients, growth performance and economic efficiency of growing Barki lambs.


Highly substituted furans have been synthesized by the reaction of 2-(1-alkynyl)-2-alken-1-ones and various nucleophiles under very mild reaction conditions in good to excellent yields. Gold and some other transition metals are efficient catalysts for this reaction.


To clarify the etiology of the prepotentials (PPs) between the end of P wave and the onset of QRS complex (P'-R segment) in signal averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG), SAECG was recorded in 26 healthy volunteers and 15 patients with idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia (VT) and electrophysiologic study (EPS) was done in those 15 VT patients. The PPs which had three components (PP1, PP2, PP3) were recorded in 14 of the 26 volunteers (53.8%) and 10 of the 15 VT patients (66.7%). The intervals from the PPs to the onset of QRS complex were 45.4 +/- 6.6, 30.6 +/- 5.6, 16.0 +/- 4.7 ms, respectively. These intervals in SAECG were very similar to the intervals from the electrograms of His bundle, right bundle, Purkinje network to the onset of QRS complex in EPS. The PPs in SAECG were thought to represent the electrical activity of His bundle, right bundle and Purkinje network.


Production Petrophysics plays a key role in reservoir surveillance and field management. This is particularly true for mature assets which present several challenges related to fluid contact movement, connectivity of reservoir layers and well productivity. Identification of infill targets therefore requires an integration of all sub-surface data. This paper presents examples from a mature North Sea field where cased-hole surveillance helped minimize risks in a high cost infill project. The Machar field, located in the UK Central North Sea is a fractured Cretaceous chalk and Palaeocene sandstone oil reservoir. The field development has been carried out in a phased manner due to a high degree of reservoir uncertainty, especially in the eastern flank. Enhancing the seismic sufficiently to fully assess prospects on the east became a priority, and ultimately led to drilling the east flank of the field in 2008. Machar is a subsea field development and therefore petrophysical surveillance has been restricted due to limited well access and logistical challenges. During the infill drilling, it was therefore decided to use the opportunity and capture cased-hole saturation and production logs in existing wells. This data enabled the asset teams to understand fluid displacement mechanisms and upon integration with LWD and other logs provided the basis for the side track strategy. In particular, location of the imbibition flood front, fracture conduits and differentiation between formation and injection water were critical in the delivery of a successful producer. Two wells have been drilled on the eastern flank, one in 2008 and another in 2010. Baseline petrophysical surveillance was part of the data acquisition program in both wells. The initial objective was to use such data in Time Lapse mode with later surveillance. However, in-depth work identified immediate use when integrating with LWD and Wireline data.


In recent years teachers have been encouraged to take up reflective practice because of its perceived ability to improve teaching and learning, but this has largely been limited to the West. The emphasis has not been widespread in developing countries and many educators are largely unaware of reflective practice and its perceived potential as a teacher development strategy. This article reports a study undertaken to understand and explore the process and consequences of engaging teachers in reflective conversations in Karachi, Pakistan. It describes how two English language teachers and a reflective coach reflected through conversations on their practices. The findings suggest that teachers in such contexts need to engage in reflective conversations if their practices are to improve. Also, the role of the reflective coach in this context appears to be fluid and evolving. The article also presents possibilities and tensions that are likely to emerge if reflective conversations are implemented as a teacher development strategy and a framework for using reflective conversations as a teacher development strategy in developing country contexts. Finally, implications of the study for schools and teacher development in Pakistan and similar contexts are identified.


Validation using published, high quality test suites can serve to identify different problems in simulation software: modeling and coding errors, missing features, frequent sources of user confusion. This paper discusses the application of different published validation procedures during the development of a new TRNSYS version: BESTEST/ASHRAE 140 (Building envelope), HVAC BESTEST (mechanical systems) and IEA ECBCS Annex 21 / SHC Task 12 empirical validation (performance of a test cell with a very simple mechanical system). It is shown that each validation suite has allowed to identify different types of problems. Those validation tools were also used to diagnose and fix some of the identified problems, and to assess the influence of code modifications. The paper also discusses some limitations of the selected validation tools.


BACKGROUND
Increased renal sympathetic nerve activity can result in diuretic resistance in patients with chronic congestive heart failure. We investigated the effect of regional renal nerve blockade on the patients with chronic refractory heart failure and diuretic resistance.

METHODS
Eighteen patients with chronic refractory heart failure were enrolled (mean age (64 ± 11) years). The patients were randomly divided into two groups (renal nerve blockade group and standard therapy group, n = 9 each). Renal nerve blockade was performed by percutaneous injection of local anaesthetic under computed tomographic guidance. Heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, plasma and urine electrolytes, neurohormones, factional excretion of sodium (FENa), 24-hour urine volume were monitored at baseline and the first 24 hours after therapy. Dyspnea and oedema were also evaluated. The major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were compared between the two groups during the 3 - 12 months follow-up period.

RESULTS
No complication was observed during the acute phase of renal nerve blockade. After renal nerve blockade, the 24-hour urine volume and FENa were significantly increased, while the level of plasma rennin, angiotensin II, aldosterone, BNP and atrial natriuretic peptide as well as dyspnea and oedema were significantly reduced in renal nerve blockade group compared with baseline and standard therapy group. During three to 12 months of follow-up, the rate of MACE and plasma BNP level were significantly lower, while LVEF was significantly higher in renal nerve blockade group than those in standard therapy group.

CONCLUSION
Regional renal nerve blockade may be a safe and effective treatment for patients with chronic refractory heart failure.


The existence of different interpretation of al-Qur'an has been an undeniable historical reality. This notion might simply because the mufassirun (interpreters) hade different scientific and social backgrounds. As a resalt. There were numerous interpretation books with different interpretation styles and tendencies in the area of Qur'anic interpretation. One of the book was Lataif al-Isyarat by Imam al-Qusyairi. This interpretation book was apiece with tasawuf characters meaning almost all of the interpretation of the book are characterized by domination of tasawuf contents. In the history of Qur'anic interpretation, the book was the first Sufistic Interpretation Book in Islamic world that thoroughly interpret the verses of al Qur'an from the first surah al-Fatihah to the last surah al-Nas.
Al-Qusyairi's interpretation methodologically relied more on the esoteric meanings (isyarah) consisting in the exoteric meanings (zahir) of the text. Al-Qusyairi, however, did not put the exoteric meaning asides. Rather, he compromised the two types of meanings in his interpretations. There was a methodoligal problem in al-Qusyairi' is interpretations because he based on esoteric meaning stating no relationship with the literal one in the application of his interpretations of some verses such as his interpretations of verse 15 of surat al-Nahl, verse 61 surat al-Naml, verse 47 of surat al-Kahfi and Hijaiyyah alphabets in the beginning of some surats.
Starting from various interpretations of al-Qusyairi above, the basic problems are formulated in this dissertation as follows: (1) The interpretation method used in al-Qusyairi's Lataif al-Isyarat, (2) The method applied in Lataif al-Isyarat, (3) Consistent of al-Qusyairi in applying his interpretation method in Lataif al-Isyarat.
This research is a textbook study with the following research steps: First, Inventory, i.e., reading thoroughly the work of al-Qusyairi to be studied and his other masterpieces as well as the work of others related to the present study. Second, critical evaluation, i.e., presenting the experts comments on the interpretation method of the book. Third, formulating conclutions about the interpretation method used by al-Qusyairi and his application in the book.
Some of the findings of the study are presented as follows: (1) the interpretation method used by al-Qusyairi was tahlili method in the form of tafsir bi al-ra'y with tasawuf character, (2) in general al-Qusyairi applied his method relating the esoteric meanings of the text (isyarah) with the exoteric meaning of the text (zahir) and some time taking the riwayah into consideration, (3) a number of interpretations werw found to be based on the esoteric meanings only without regarding the exoteric one, such as the interpretations of verse 15 of surat al-Nahl, verse 61 of surat al-Naml and verse 45 of surat al_kahf. The same caseas was found in the interpretation of a number of Hijaiyyah alphabets in the beginning of some surats. In such cases, al-Qusyairi was found to be inconsistent in applying his interpretation method because the esoteric meanings he presented hase nothing to do with the exoteric one containing in the text.
The findings suggest that the existence of interpretation book af al-Qusyairi, Lataif al-Isyarat, be considered as an additional masterpiece of the interpretation of al-Qur'an with tasawuf characters. This is so because the number of interpretation book with tasawuf characters was much smaller than the number of the interpretation book with other characters. Therefore, the presence of this book could contributes significant roles to the development of the dynamic of interpretation of al-Qur'an, especially the ones with tasawuf characters. However, there should be carefulness and critical and wise attitudes in reading this interpretation book as well as other sufistic interpretation books, so that we do not easly judge an interpretation books, so that we do not easly judge an interpretation of al-Qur'an to be deceiving. Doing so, we could proportionally put in its place al-Qusyairi interpretation book and other sufistic Interpretation books in general.


Time resolved photoluminescence in semiconductor microcavities in the strong coupling regime both for non-resonant and resonant excitation is modeled by considering scattering of exciton polaritons by acoustic phonons. Rise time and decay time of the luminescence signal are studied as a function of temperature. The polariton bottleneck effect is put into evidence in model structures which are free of leaky modes. In realistic structures these modes are instead expected to play a dominant role in the relaxation of non-resonant photoluminescence.


Artwork created to sell flower and vegetable seeds to the public is bright, eye-catching, and tempting. It reflects the fantasy that any novice gardener can grow beautiful plants just by buying the seeds. This is not a new phenomenon. Over 475 boldly colorful flower and vegetable seed artwork, catalog, packet, and publication illustrations are arranged here chronologically (l1869 to 1997) and alphabetically (acroclinium to zinnia) for easy reference in this fun visual delight. Many images are from the vast and superb collection of the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where the author was Director of the Heirloom Seed Project. See unusual plant varieties from both small independent and large seed producers, like the W. Atlee Burpee Company. A mid-20th century watercolor illustrators work is featured as an impressive record of plants grown from seeds; see how many you can recognize. The stunning images will stimulate artists, gardeners, naturalists, and interior decorators to find these and additional seed art examples to add beauty to their lives.


Human habitation may significantly affect the chemical soil composition leading to enrichments and depletions of specific chemical elements and the formation of archaeological soils. Prospection and interpretation of sites by means of element analysis of soils requires appropriate and well‐tested geochemical methodologies. In this paper element analysis in archaeological prospection and site interpretation is briefly reviewed and three major unresolved issues are discussed: (i) how to distinguish archaeological chemical signals in soils from modern and geogenic signals; (ii) what role do geochemical processes play in the formation of archaeological soils; (iii) how to implement geochemical methods in archaeological research programmes. These issues are addressed with reference to the geochemical literature on retention and sequestration pathways of presumed anthropogenic elements in soils and analytical procedures. Based on the acquired knowledge, several directions for future research are proposed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, was intended to improve fair value accounting by eliminating "diverse and inconsistent practices," especially for items that are not actively traded, by requiring companies to value their assets based on market realities rather than financial projections or estimates. But critics have called for suspension of the standard until the market for mortgage-backed securities stabilizes. A different alternative would be to create flexibility in the standard so financial firms would have the ability to differentiate between bonds that were credit impaired and those that were liquidity impaired. By allowing financial firms to make such a distinction, the revised standard would help prevent the type of death spiral that has forced dozens of entities, including venerable banks and hedge funds, to sell their assets in illiquid markets at depressed prices.


Bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture rates vary among women of differing ethnicities. Most reports suggest that BMD is highest in African-Americans, lowest in Asians, and intermediate in Caucasians, yet Asians have lower fracture rates than Caucasians. To assess the contributions of anthropometric and lifestyle characteristics to ethnic differences in BMD, we assessed lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in 2277 (for the lumbar spine) and 2330 (for the femoral neck) premenopausal or early perimenopausal women (mean age, 46.2 yr) participating in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Forty-nine percent of the women were Caucasian, 28% were African-American, 12% were Japanese, and 11% were Chinese. BMDs were compared among ethnic groups before and after adjustment for covariates. Before adjustment, lumbar spine and femoral neck BMDs were highest in African-American women, next highest in Caucasian women, and lowest in Chinese and Japanese women. Unadjusted lumbar spine and femoral neck BMDs were 7-12% and 14-24% higher, respectively, in African-American women than in Caucasians, Japanese, or Chinese women. After adjustment, lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD remained highest in African-American women, and there were no significant differences between the remaining groups. When BMD was assessed in a subset of women weighing less than 70 kg and then adjusted for covariates, lumbar spine BMD became similar in African-American, Chinese, and Japanese women and was lowest in Caucasian women. Adjustment for bone size increased values for Chinese women to levels equal to or above those of Caucasian and Japanese women. Among women of comparable weights, there are no differences in lumbar spine BMD among African-American, Chinese, and Japanese women, all of whom have higher BMDs than Caucasians. Femoral neck BMD is highest in African-Americans and similar in Chinese, Japanese, and Caucasians. These findings may explain why Caucasian women have higher fracture rates than African-Americans and Asians.


As the goal to eradicate wild polio virus (WPV) is approached, outbreaks associated with vaccine derived polioviruses (VDPV) with neurovirulent properties have emerged. The relevance for the spread of infection by nonparalytic cVDPV cases, with mutations associated with neurovirulence, is discussed with reference to the molecular analysis of a VDPV isolated from a Jamaican child who presented with aseptic meningitis. Potential risks to the Jamaican community resulting from circulation of cVDPV and critical factors defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the global eradication of Polio are analyzed in the context of immunization coverage, and the need to stop all Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) use once wild polioviruses (WPVs) have been eradicated.


An annotated bibliography of Internet resources related to natural disasters such as volcanoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Web sites are listed in three categories: multidisciplinary; geologic and environmental hazards; and disaster relief, rescue, and investigation. Also covered are newsletters, listserv discussion groups, and bulletin boards.


Price in commercial gambling is effectively the house edge of the game. For electronic gaming machines (EGMs), house edge is the hold percentage. The paper tracks changes in hold percentage for club and hotel EGM gambling in Australia. We use real gambling turnover and revenue data to show that hold generally falls over time, save for the State of Victoria between 1993 and 2009. In Victoria, hold fell during the roll-out phase of the sector, before rising steadily. We examine local level data, finding that hold varied considerably by gaming operator across the period, before converging. The unique owner/operator corporate duopoly that existed in Victoria is posed as a potential explanation for aggregate price changes. We then calculate estimates of the monetary value of changes in hold percentage. We find increased hold can lead to substantial monetary redistributions of gamblers' stakes toward the house and away from gamblers. Policy options to protect gamblers from the unfairness of undetectable price rises are discussed, including the possibility of a more tightly regulated hold percentage, a tax on windfall profits derived from raising hold, and tying game identities to particular hold percentages.


The effects of 10 wk of functional overload (FO), with and without daily treadmill endurance training, on the cross-sectional area, myonuclear number, and myonuclear domain size of mechanically isolated single fiber segments of the adult rat plantaris were determined. The fibers were typed on the basis of high-resolution gel electrophoresis for separation of specific myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms and grouped as type I(+) (containing some type I MHC with or without any combination of fast MHCs), type IIa(+) (containing some type IIa with or without some type IIx and/or IIb but no type I MHC), and type IIx/b (containing only type IIx and/or IIb MHCs). Type I(+) fibers had a higher myonuclear number than did both fast types of fibers in the control and FO, but not in the FO and treadmill trained, rats. All fiber types in both FO groups had a significantly larger (36-90%) cross-sectional area and a significantly higher (61-109%) myonuclear number than did control. The average myonuclear domain size of each fiber type was similar among the three groups, except for a smaller domain size in the type IIx/b fibers of the FO compared with control. In general, these data indicate that during hypertrophy the number of myonuclei increase proportionally to the increase in fiber volume. The maintenance of myonuclear domain size near control values suggests that regulatory mechanisms exist that ensure a tight coupling between the quantity of genetic machinery and the protein requirements of a fiber.


A new control strategy for a class of piecewise deterministic processes (PDP) is presented. In this class, PDP stochastic processes consist of ordinary differential equations that are subject to random switches corresponding to a discrete Markov process. The proposed strategy aims at controlling the probability density function (PDF) of the PDP. The optimal control formulation is based on the hyperbolic Fokker–Planck system that governs the time evolution of the PDF of the PDP and on tracking objectives of terminal configuration with a target PDF. The corresponding optimization problems are formulated as a sequence of open-loop hyperbolic optimality systems following a model predictive control framework. These systems are discretized by first-order schemes that guarantee positivity and conservativeness of the numerical PDF solution. The effectiveness of the proposed computational control framework is validated considering PDP with dichotomic noise.


Arable land is covering less than 3% of the total area of Norway, and is partly situated north from the Arctic Circle. The remaining part is mainly forests and mountains. The history of the Norwegian people and agriculture was hence a history about poverty. Before the industrial revolution in the middle of the 17th century, the population lived on small farms where they grew what they needed for their self-sufficiency. Farmers made their own farm buildings and equipment according to their own ideas and regional traditions. The buildings were small, specialized and normally had a short lifespan. Typical building materials were timber and stone. Indoor climate was far from good. The total workload was high, however, the work force was large as a lot of people lived on the farms.From approx. 1850 a big change took place in Norway as industrial products became available. A lot of people moved to the cities (or immigrated to USA) to live from industry or trade. The cities became a new market for agricultural products, the farmers got an income (as cash) and could buy "modern" factory built farm equipment. As people left the countryside for a better life (!?) in the city, farmers also had to select more efficient solutions to be able to run their farms with less hands involved. The monetary housekeeping also made it possible to loan money. Loan money was invested in more robust buildings, better solutions, e.g. for taking care of the manure and for storing food etc. As these buildings were more expensive, different productions were gathered in fewer buildings. What was called the "unity building" became the new standard. In those buildings, the manure was typically stored in the cellar, animals were kept on the main floor, and food was stored above there again. The gravity became the farmers "helping hand". A great improvement in work load, animal welfare, hygiene and production was achieved, and traditional housing methods were soon forgotten, however, the debt increased.In the years after world war II, the spread of electricity and combustion motors made room for another change; mechanization replacing manual work and gravity. Milking machines replaced hand milking, and feed and manure work were mechanized using mass-produced equipment.Today mechanization has developed into automation, and at the same time market forces has multiplied production volumes. The unity barn is also replaced with wide one-level buildings. The normal situation today, is also that one person is normally running several farms. Hence, to raise new buildings the work load is too big for the farmer, and the result is that he have to buy both building materials as well as hands to build – and the debt is increasing even more…


For applications in optical communication, sensing or information projection in automotive lighting, polymer based optical devices are of keen interest. Optical structures such as waveguides and gratings are basic blocks for these devices. We report on a simple, versatile, and yet low-cost fabrication method suited for both binary and multilevel diffractive microstructures as well as multimode optical waveguides in polymers. The fabrication of the diffractive structures, i.e. gratings, with two and multiple levels, is achieved by using a maskless optical lithography system employing a spatial light modulator. With the same system, waveguide cladding structures are realized by stitching of multiple single exposure patterns. For replication of these structures on polymer, e.g. polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a lab-made hot embossing machine is used. We then employ UV curable material and doctor blading to realize the waveguide cores. The created diffractive and waveguide structures are characterized in terms of diffraction efficiency and optical propagation loss, respectively, showing good optical quality and performance. With our fabrication system we have demonstrated a diffraction efficiency of 71% for multilevel grating structure and a propagation loss for stitched waveguides of 2.07 dB/cm at a wavelength of 638 nm. These basic elements will be employed to realize entire optical measurement systems for applications in sensing and integrated photonics in the next step.


We revisit the problem of the star formation timescale and the ages of molecular clouds. The apparent overabundance of star-forming molecular clouds over clouds without active star formation has been thought to indicate that molecular clouds are "short-lived" and that star formation is "rapid." We show that this statistical argument lacks self-consistency and, even within the rapid star formation scenario, implies cloud lifetimes ≈10 Myr. We discuss additional observational evidence from external galaxies that indicate lifetimes of molecular clouds and a timescale of star formation of ≈107. These long cloud lifetimes, in conjunction with the rapid (≈1 Myr) decay of supersonic turbulence, present severe difficulties for the scenario of turbulence-controlled star formation. By contrast, we show that all 31 existing observations of objects for which the line width, the size, and the magnetic field strength have been reliably measured are in excellent quantitative agreement with the predictions of the ambipolar-diffusion theory. Within the ambipolar-diffusion-controlled star formation theory, the line widths may be attributed to large-scale nonradial cloud oscillations (essentially standing large-amplitude, long-wavelength Alfvén waves), and the predicted relation between the line width, the size, and the magnetic field is a natural consequence of magnetic support of self-gravitating clouds.


The emergence of power efficiency as a primary constraint in processor and system design poses new challenges concerning power and energy awareness for numerical libraries and scientific applications. Power consumption also plays a major role in the design of data centers, which may house petascale or exascale‐level computing systems. At these extreme scales, understanding and improving the energy efficiency of numerical libraries and their related applications becomes a crucial part of the successful implementation and operation of the computing system. In this paper, we study and investigate the practice of controlling a compute system's power usage, and we explore how different power caps affect the performance of numerical algorithms with different computational intensities. Further, we determine the impact, in terms of performance and energy usage, that these caps have on a system running scientific applications. This analysis will enable us to characterize the types of algorithms that benefit most from these power management schemes. Our experiments are performed using a set of representative kernels and several popular scientific benchmarks. We quantify a number of power and performance measurements and draw observations and conclusions that can be viewed as a roadmap to achieving energy efficiency in the design and execution of scientific algorithms.


As increasing the Internet traffic, many researches on access network are reported for end-to-end highspeed broadband network, where E-PON (Ethernet-Passive Optical Network) is one of reasonable candidates for the network with respect to cost and bandwidth utilization. For the high-speed access network, E-PON needs an efficient bandwidth allocation method. This paper describes a WFBA (Water-Filling Bandwidth Allocation) algorithm for the efficient bandwidth allocation with various simulation test. Based upon the simulation test, we suggest several ways to improve performance of E-PON.


High-Pitch CT for TAVR Evaluation in Patients not Suitable for ECG-GatingThe use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been established to be non-inferior to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). As a result, in the United States, more patients now undergo TAVR than SAVR. It is recommended that preprocedural CT imaging for aortic valve evaluation and optimal sizing should include an ECG-gated scan of, at least, the aortic root. However, many patients suffer from concomitant tachyarrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, which may seriously degrade the diagnostic accuracy of ECG-gated scans. The aim of the present study is to explore whether a high-pitch non-ECG-gated computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the entire aorta can render similar diagnostic preprocedural images as a standard ECG-gated scan. 108 patients were included. Objective image quality parameters such as image noise, CNR and SNR as well as subjective image quality analysis by two different readers were compared. The results showed a significant increase in image noise at the level of the aortic root with use of the high-pitch protocol (p = 0.001). Otherwise, our study revealed no significant differences in subjective and objective image quality. Diagnostic image quality was achieved in all patients without a record of inaccurate sizing in the surgical reports or subsequent patient histories.


Chemotherapy keeps an important place in malaria control programme. The development of schizonticidal formulations, which may maintain their efficacy for at least one month after single administration, becomes needful. These formulations should allow to assure a suitable patient compliance and to avoid the disadvantages of high plasmatic peaks. The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of implantable bioresorbable reservoir-forms. The use of these polymers allow to avoid the surgical extraction of implanted preparations. Two drug delivery systems were prepared: microspheres and rods. Pyrimethamine, as a drug model was incorporated. Therapeutic activity of these preparations was evaluated on a TB mice-Plasmodium berghei model. Polycaprolactone and polylactide 100 microspheres are not suitable for long-term treatment. In contrast, implantable subdermic rods allowed to fulfil the long-term coverage requirements. Their activity depend on the administered dose and the drug content in implants. Polycaprolactone, polylactide 100 and polylactide 50 implants containing respectively 21.5%, 19-40% of pyrimethamine have protected animals for at least three months.


In this paper, we used, thin bulk Dy/sub 1/Ba/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O (DBCO) samples cooled adjacent permanent magnets in the close magnetic circuit to enhance both the magnetic levitation force and stiffness values. Then soft magnetic material (yoke) is opposed to the surface of field cooled high temperature superconductor (HTS) sample. It is obvious that, when the yoke is approached to the surface, of trapped-field HTS, the attraction force will be increased. However, in the small air gap (<0.8 mm), the reduction of force causing "positive stiffness" effect which is the key point in this suspension system. In this report, the relation between attractive force and air gap is investigated when cross section of air gap is selected as a parameter. By this system, it is possible to levitate a mass by the weight of 150 N with positive stiffness of 8 N/mm.