A class of phosphane gold(I) compounds, made of azoles and phosphane ligands, was evaluated for a screening on the regards of Breast Cancer cell panels (BC). The compounds possess N-Au-P or Cl-Au-P bonds around the central metal, and they differ for the presence of aprotic or protic polar groups in the azoles and/or the phosphane moieties to tune their hydrophilicity. Among the six candidates, only the compounds having the P-Au-N environment and not displaying neither the hydroxyl nor carboxyl groups in the ligands were found active. The compounds were screened by MTT tests in SKBR3, A17, and MDA-MB231 cancer cells, and two compounds (namely the 4,5-dicyano-imidazolate-1yl-gold(I)-(triphenylphosphane, 5, and 4,5-dichloro-imidazolate-1yl-gold(I)-triphenylphosphane, 6) were found very cytotoxic, with the most active with an IC50 value of 3.46 μM in MDA-MB231 cells. By performing enzymatic assays in the treated cells lysates, the residual enzymatic activity of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) has been measured after cell treatment for 4 or 12 h in comparison with control cells. Upon 12 h of treatment, the activity of DHFR was significantly reduced in both SKBR3 and A17 cells by compounds 5 and 6, but not in human MDA-MB231 cells; interestingly, it was found remarkably high after 4 h of treatment, revealing a time dependence for the DHFR enzymatic assays. The DHFR inhibition data have been compared to those for the thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), the most recognized molecular target for gold compounds. For this latter, similar residual activities (i.e., 37 and 49% for the match of SKBR3 cells and compound 5 or 6, respectively) were found. Binding studies on the regards of ct-DNA (calf-thymus-DNA) and of plasma transporters proteins, such as BSA (bovine serum albumin) and ATF (apo transferrin), were performed. As expected for gold compounds, the data support strong binding to proteins (Ksv values range: 1.51 ÷ 2.46 × 104 M−1) and a weaker interaction with ct-DNA's minor groove (Ksv values range: 1.55 ÷ 6.12 × 103 M−1).


Gentle thermolysis of the 18e alkyl-allyl complex, CpW(NO)(CH(2)CMe(3))(eta(3)-3,3-Me(2)C(3)H(3)) (1), generates a reactive 16e allene intermediate, CpW(NO)(eta(2)-CH(2)=C=CMe(2)) (A), with the concomitant evolution of neopentane via hydrogen abstraction from the dimethylallyl ligand. A has been structurally characterized as its PMe(3) adduct and is capable of effecting single and multiple C-H bond activations of hydrocarbon solvents. For example, the thermal reaction of 1 with cyclohexane leads to the formation of the 18e cyclohexenyl hydrido complex, CpW(NO)(eta(3)-C(6)H(9))(H) (5), as a result of three successive C-H activations of the alkane solvent.


Recycling of discarded polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is an important issue for both environmental protection and resource conservation purposes. In this work, a dissolution-degradation strategy has been developed for recycling PET by adding solvents such as aniline, nitrobenzene, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) into the traditional PET glycolysis system. The results show that the conversion of PET reaches 100% and the yield of monomer bis(hydroxyalkyl) terephthalate (BHET) reaches 82% during 1 min with zinc acetate as catalyst in DMSO at 463 K. Importantly, this strategy can be applied to a variety of catalysts. The simulation and in situ IR results indicate that the π–π interaction between PET and aromatic solvents plays a key role in PET dissolution, which leads to fast degradation. This promising dissolution-degradation strategy can improve the glycolysis efficiency of PET dramatically and may be applied to the degradation process of other polyesters.


Objective
To evaluate the pain of patients in the immediate postoperative period during admission, an hour after admission, and at discharge of the post-anesthesia care unit in terms of intensity, and sensory and affective aspects.

Methods
Analytical, cross-sectional study with 336 patients. Data were collected using a sociodemographic and clinical form, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire. Data collection occurred from September to October 2015 at the post-anesthesia care unit of a general hospital in the north-west of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The significance level of the descriptive and statistical analyses was set at p<0.05.

Results
According to the data, 57.3% of the patients did not report pain and 47% felt pain from admission to discharge. Patients submitted to cancer and trauma surgeries reported more pain (p<0.01). At admission and maintenance, there was a prevalence of moderate and intense pain, and at discharge, a predominance of mild and moderate pain.

Conclusions
The results showed a high percentage of patients with pain in the immediate postoperative period from admission to discharge. These findings can encourage researchers and health workers to conduct further investigations with the larger number of patients to allow for inferences.


Summary

The role of thiol/disulphide exchanges during acid gelation of preheated milk was studied with milk samples with or without N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), a thiol-blocking agent, and acidified to pH 4 by the addition of glucono-delta-lactone at 20 °C. Active or total thiol groups, particle size with light scattering measurements in a dissociating solvent or by SDS-agarose electrophoresis were determined on acidified milk samples. Diffusing wave spectroscopy and rheology in low strain were applied during acidification of sample, while rheology in large strain was applied on final acid gels. The only effect of the presence of NEM was a reduced firmness of acid gels as measured at large strain and a reduced tendency to form large aggregates at pH<5.5. In conclusions, thiol/disulphide exchanges during acidification of milk played only a minor role in the building of acid gel networks from heated milk.


The impacts of climate change are affecting ski tourism in Europe's southernmost ski resorts, such as those in France, and Spain. This is leading to changes in the scheduling of activities which, in turn, imply changes in how ski resorts are managed. The main aim of this work is to analyze whether ski resort websites are developing an effective marketing strategy and if they are adapted to e-commerce and the needs of contemporary society, including the adaptations needed to better face climate change and the stagnation the sector is suffering. In order to achieve this, we have developed a model to analyze ski resort websites; it is based on web content analysis, taking four factors into account: information, communication, e-commerce, and additional functions. We will, secondly, apply the eMICA (Extended Model of Internet Commerce Adoption) methodology to analyze the maturity of such e-commerce activities in ski tourism. Fifty-two ski resorts in Spain and 173 in France were analyzed. Results show that, while alpine ski resorts in general, and those in France in particular, are better prepared, resorts still have to facilitate more effective communication and interaction with their target public. A minority of resorts provide information on environmental certifications and snowmaking.


This study determines the microbiological and physicochemical quality of well water samples in relation to their proximity to pit latrine in four Local Government Areas of Kano Metropolis. A total of 32 water samples were collected and analyzed for aerobic mesophilic bacterial count, fungal, coliform and faecal coliform count. The physicochemical parameters analyzed included Chromium, Cadmium, Lead, Zinc, Copper, Iron, Phosphate, Nitrate, Electrical conductivity, Total dissolved solid, Biological oxygen demand. Dissolved oxygen Temperature and pH. The mean aerobic mesophilic bacterial, fungal, coliform and faecal coliform count in the well water samples close to pit latrines in Dala Local government were 2.7×10 5 cfu/ml, 7.86×10 4 cfu/ml, 6.75/ml and 3.5/ ml respectively. These were higher than the count of the Well water samples from same Local government that are located away from pit latrine with the mean values of 1.7×10 5 cfu/ml, 2.83×10 4 cfu/ml, coliform counts 1.0/100ml and 3.5/100ml faecal coliform count respectively. However, a total of seven genera of bacteria were isolated including E.coli, Enterobacter spp, Shigella spp, Salmonella spp, Proteus spp, Klebsiella spp, Pseudomonas spp. Similarly, three fungal genera were isolated including Aspergillus spp, Penicillum pp, and Cladosporium spp. The average mean value of Electrical conductivity ranged from 14.3-1118.3μs/cm, pH 5.8-7.0, Temperature 25 28 o C, Cadmium 0.09-55mg/ Lead 0.05-0.53mg/L, Zinc 0.05-0.66mg/L, Cupper 0.06-0.27mg/L Nitrate 0.12-18.83mg/L, Chromium 0.09-0.44mg/L, Phosphate 0.11-16.2mg/L, Iron 0.06 0.46mg/L. Some of the water samples analysed were not within the acceptable limit of World Health Organization and National Standards for Drinking Water Quality standard for drinking water quality. Wells should be located at least 30m away from pit latrine and soak aways as proposed by World Health Organization and National Standard for Drinking Water Quality. Keywords : Well water, Chromium, World Health Organization, Enterobacter spp.


The objective of this study was to develop two methods to predict the volume of whole Alaska pollock and to compare the results with the experimentally measured volumes. One hundred fifty-five whole pollock, obtained from a Kodiak processor, were individually immersed in a graduated cylinder equipped with an outflow tube to catch the displaced water as a result of immersion. The weight of the water was recorded. Then the fish were placed in a light box equipped with a digital video camera, and the side view and top view recorded (2 images for each fish). A reference square of known surface area was placed by the fish. A cubic spline method to predict volume by integration of cross-sectional area slices based on the top and side views and an empirical equation using dimensional (length L, width W, depth D) measurements at three locations of the fish image were developed. The R2 value for the correlation between the L × W × D versus measured volume was 0.987. The best R2 for the correlation of the predicted volume by the cubic spline method versus the measured volume was 0.99. Image analysis can be used reliably to predict the volume of whole Alaska pollock.


Pancreas divisum has not been previously described in the computed tomography (CT) literature of the pancreas. Nine endoscopic retrograde choledochopancreatography (ERCP) confirmed examples of pancrease divisum were evaluated by CT. Four patients (44.4%) were observed to have a characteristic lobulated appearance of the pancreatic head. Of 21 patients with a normal pancreas confirmed by ERCP, only 2 (9.5%) showed lobulation on CT. The incidence of this previously unreported configuration was found to be significantly higher (p less than 0.05) in patients with pancreas divisum than in those with normal ductal anatomy.


A combined experimental and theoretical analysis is used to determine the manner in which the characteristics of the half-wave and full-wave voltage-doubling rectifier circuits depend upon the resistance of the diodes and upon the load resistance. The characteristic curves reproduced include those for the load voltage, ripple voltage, and maximum tube currents. Since it was found that the rectifier characteristics are nearly independent of the load-resistance parameter in the usual operating range, it is possible to obtain general characteristics which hold not only for the doublers but also for multiplying rectifier circuits of higher orders. Various combinations of these multiplying circuits are also discussed.


. Transparency of financial accounting information in FDI firms will have certain impacts on enhancing responsibilities of FDI investments on society, income and environment. The research aimed to evaluate the association of disposable income and environmental pollution on the investments measured using FDI. The research was specific to the Vietnam compared to Indonesian economy. We use both qualitative and quantitative analysis. In Vietnam, qualitative analysis, synthesis, dialectical materialism and statistics explanation method were used. Then, The research was secondary quantitative and the data was accumulated from World Bank. The time frame considered for this study ranged from 1960 to 2018. For statistical analysis, descriptive statistics, stationarity testing, ARDL assessment and Granger Causality have been used. The results unveiled that both disposable income and environmental pollution are found to have significant effect on the FDI of Vietnam and Indonesia. Moreover, the higher transparency level of financial accounting information in FDI firms, the higher CSR in term of business environment and society for FDI firms. We also propose some recommendations for enhancing financial accounting information transparency in Vietnam. For instance, FDIs firms need to increase transparency in financial statements, internal and external investor financial accounting reports, income distribution, tax and stakeholder payment obligations, internal price transfer policy, etc. Lat bu not least, the research is limited to 2 above countries and no other country has been evaluated. Therefore, in future more countries can be considered for comparative analysis. In furtherance, more factors can be considered in future that affect Vietnam and Indonesian FDI.


Maude is an executable rewriting logic language specially well suited for the specification of object-oriented open and distributed systems. In this paper we explore the possibility of using Maude as a formal notation for writing and reasoning about RM-ODP enterprise specifications. An example is used to illustrate our proposal and to compare it with other approaches that also try to formalize this viewpoint.


The author seeks to analyze in what ways international law can justify or limit ethnicity-based non-territorial autonomy (NTA). NTA serves as a category of practice lacking a uniform understanding. NTA has gained two basic interpretations: as a collective entitlement to promote ethnicity, language and culture and as the idea of granting self-governing organisations certain public functions and resources. Some 'soft law' provisions explicitly employ the notion of non-territorial autonomy or self-administration; they are declaratory and far from being instrumentalised. Concurrently, there are more concrete and instrumental provisions as well as case-law which fit into the second understanding of NTA; but these approaches more restrictive than of the first cluster. This gap can be explained in terms of differences between symbolic and instrumental policies, through taking into account the ideological function of international law, or the function of generating non-controversial macro-narratives.


Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify change in the exercise behavior and to identify factors influencing long-term adherence to aquatic exercise in patients with arthritis as a follow-up study after five years. Method: Baseline data had been collected using a structured interview 6 months after participants completed the aquatic exercise educational program. This second follow-up data collection included 133 participants from the original baseline study and was done 5 years after the original baseline study. Data was analyzed using SPSS 16 Win program. Results: The stage of change for the participants was as follows: Precontemplation (44.3%), Contemplation (24.1%), Preparation (3.0%), Action (0%) and Maintenance (adherence, 28.6%). The adherers (N=38) had significantly higher scores than non-adherers (N=91) in self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, group coherence and self-evaluation, and significantly lower scores in barriers to exercise. In logistic regression analysis, self-efficacy, group cohesion, barriers to exercise and self-evaluation were associated with exercise adherence (Chi Square=17.14, p=.002). Group cohesion (OR=2.587l, 95% CI=1.094-6.113, p= .030) was the most important factor. Conclusion: Self-efficacy, group cohesion, barriers to exercise and self-evaluation need to be considered in planning exercise programs to improve exercise adherence.


Hoisting devices are a special category of devices used for working on tall buildings and in hazardous locations where it is difficult for human beings to operate. Rope climbing devices have been developed for various functions and wide ranging tasks for construction and material handling in not too tall buildings. The ease of operating rope climbing devices is high as compared to complicated and heavy hoisting systems normally used for tall buildings. Besides, such devices do not cost much. In this paper, the focus is on developing a low cost and reliable vertical climbing that is simple in operation and is useful for construction of buildings of about 5-6 stories. The drive is a simple roller squeeze mechanism based on sugarcane juicer machine concept. The device can be relocated quickly at desired location at the construction site, as opposed to fixed location type systems, and shall be able to carry tools and construction equipment up to 100kg weight using ropes of different diameters


We report the observation of dynamical behaviour in dilute, aqueous solutions of a surfactant CTAT (cetyl trimethylammonium p-toluenesulphonate), below the overlap concentration $c^*$. At these concentrations, CTAT forms cylindrical micelles and shows a pronounced shear-thickening transition above a concentration-dependent critical shear rate $\dot{\gamma}_c$. An analysis of the time-series of the stress relaxations at controlled shear rates in the shear-thickening regime shows the existence of correlation dimensions greater than two and positive Lyapunov exponents. This indicates the existence of deterministic chaos in the dynamics of stress relaxation at these concentrations and shear rates. The observed chaotic behaviour may be attributed to the stick-slip between the shear-induced structure (SIS) formed in the sheared surfactant solution and the coexisting dilute phase. At even higher shear rates, when the SIS spans the Couette, there is a transition to higher-dimensional dynamics arising out of the breakage and recombination of the SIS.


Abstract: Background: The Genomics Used to Improve DEpresssion Decisions (GUIDED) trial assessed outcomes associated with combinatorial pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Analyses used the 17-item Hamilton Depression (HAM-D17) rating scale; however, studies demonstrate that the abbreviated, core depression symptom-focused, HAM-D6 rating scale may have greater sensitivity toward detecting differences between treatment and placebo. However, the sensitivity of HAM-D6 has not been tested for two active treatment arms. Here, we evaluated the sensitivity of the HAM-D6 scale, relative to the HAM-D17 scale, when assessing outcomes for actively treated patients in the GUIDED trial. Methods: Outpatients (N=1,298) diagnosed with MDD and an inadequate treatment response to >1 psychotropic medication were randomized into treatment as usual (TAU) or combinatorial PGx-guided (guided-care) arms. Combinatorial PGx testing was performed on all patients, though test reports were only available to the guided-care arm. All patients and raters were blinded to study arm until after week 8. Medications on the combinatorial PGx test report were categorized based on the level of predicted gene-drug interactions: 'use as directed', 'moderate gene-drug interactions', or 'significant gene-drug interactions.' Patient outcomes were assessed by arm at week 8 using HAM-D6 and HAM-D17 rating scales, including symptom improvement (percent change in scale), response (≥50% decrease in scale), and remission (HAM-D6 ≤4 and HAM-D17 ≤7). Results: At week 8, the guided-care arm demonstrated statistically significant symptom improvement over TAU using HAM-D6 scale (Δ=4.4%, p=0.023), but not using the HAM-D17 scale (Δ=3.2%, p=0.069). The response rate increased significantly for guided-care compared with TAU using both HAM-D6 (Δ=7.0%, p=0.004) and HAM-D17 (Δ=6.3%, p=0.007). Remission rates were also significantly greater for guided-care versus TAU using both scales (HAM-D6 Δ=4.6%, p=0.031; HAM-D17 Δ=5.5%, p=0.005). Patients taking medication(s) predicted to have gene-drug interactions at baseline showed further increased benefit over TAU at week 8 using HAM-D6 for symptom improvement (Δ=7.3%, p=0.004) response (Δ=10.0%, p=0.001) and remission (Δ=7.9%, p=0.005). Comparatively, the magnitude of the differences in outcomes between arms at week 8 was lower using HAM-D17 (symptom improvement Δ=5.0%, p=0.029; response Δ=8.0%, p=0.008; remission Δ=7.5%, p=0.003). Conclusions: Combinatorial PGx-guided care achieved significantly better patient outcomes compared with TAU when assessed using the HAM-D6 scale. These findings suggest that the HAM-D6 scale is better suited than is the HAM-D17 for evaluating change in randomized, controlled trials comparing active treatment arms. Funding Acknowledgements: Assurex Health, Inc.


As airspace becomes ever more crowded, air traffic management must reduce both space and time between aircraft to increase throughput, and on-board collision avoidance systems become ever more important. These systems and the policies that they implement must be extremely reliable. In this paper we consider implementations of distributed collision avoidance policies designed to work in environments with arbitrarily many aircraft. We formally verify that the policies are safe, even when new planes approach an in-progress avoidance maneuver. We show that the policies are flyable and that in every circumstance which may arise from a set of controllable initial conditions, the aircraft will never get too close to one another. Our approach relies on theorem proving in Quantified Differential Dynamic Logic (QdL) and the KeYmaeraD theorem prover for distributed hybrid systems. It represents an important step in formally verified, flyable, and distributed air traffic control. This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation under grant numbers CNS-1054246, CNS-1035800, CNS0931985, CNS-0926181. Sarah M. Loos was supported by a DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of any sponsoring institution, the U.S. government or any other entity.


In orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)-based systems, base station (BS) can adaptively adjust modulation and coding parameters according to channel quality indicator (CQI) fed back, therefore spectrum efficiency can be significantly improved. In this paper, based on the joint consideration of both quality of service (QoS) difference and spectrum efficiency, we have proposed a novel resource allocation algorithm and a modified top- M feedback scheme for OFDMA-based systems with limited CQI feedback. In order to meet the QoS requirements, users of different traffic types are assigned with different priorities. Simulation results have proved that the proposed allocation algorithm can fully sustain user's requirements under reasonable traffic loads, and simultaneously the feedback load can be greatly reduced.


all their opportunities and ambiguities, inclusion and exclusion. Several months of fieldwork and interviews with researchers, doctors and administrators, as well as reports on conferences, workshops and occasional conversations, are the solid foundation of the book. Her case study delivers insights into everyday practices in the clinic, laboratories and pharmacies, discusses the pros and cons of capacity building for Ugandan doctors and researchers, and analyses the relationship between administrative competences, the control of money, and racial prejudice. Despite the fundamental changes ARVs have brought to the life of the patients, the practice of 'global health' is not free of problems. The many rifts and conflicts generated by these kinds of transnational cooperation are vividly illustrated through the biographies of the researchers and the personnel of the clinic. What makes this book an interesting and rewarding reading experience is the combination of scientific analysis and social criticism. Her description of the 'molecularization' of HIV treatment, European stereotypes of African behaviour and the growing distance between clinicians and researchers problematizes this form of knowledge production under conditions of unequal transnational relations. While the focus of the book lies in the organization of international research agendas, it is a pity that Crane abstained from asking patients about their evaluation of this high-tech world. The integration of their perceptions would have rounded up an otherwise balanced analysis sustained by a very refreshing self-reflexivity. Making and Unmaking Public Health offers interesting reading. Its historical contextualization of public health practices under different relations of power, economic dependencies and conditions of change confronts the reader with one of the most important transformations Africa has gone through. Written by renowned specialists, the chapters are well informed and rich in data and critical evaluations. But, as in many edited volumes, the chapters rarely speak to one another, which leads to some doubling of arguments (see Prince and Geissler). Although the term 'public and global health' looms throughout, its theoretical discussion is quite short (Marsland, Prince and Whyte). Marsland's interpretation is rather empirical and remains unsatisfactory, especially as the reference to Habermas lacks deeper analysis. But apart from these minor deficiencies, the volume sums up admirably the problems of public health and its transformation into a world of global medical institutions.


Objective: To investigate anti-oxidative protective effects and potential anti-apoptosis mechanisms of He Ying An Xin-Formula (HYAX-F).
Method: VSMC were incubated by H2O2 (200 μmol/L) for 2 h as oxidative stress control group, same dosage of H2O2 was administered 2 h after treatment with HYAX-F (100 g/mL, 50 g/mL, 25 g/mL) as therapeutic group and incubated for another 24 h, cell supernant content of GSH and MDA were measured. Sub-cutaneous injection in back with D-galactose (125 mg/kg) to establish ageing rat model. Control group: D-galactose 125 mg/kg, therapeutic groups: HYAX-F 500 mg/kg+D-galactose 125 mg/kg, HYAX-F 250 mg/kg+D-galactose 125 mg/kg, HYAX-F 125 mg/kg+D-galactose 125 mg/kg, normal group and young group. The RT-PCR technique was used to measure the expression of relevant genes, such as tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α) and B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2) in the tissues of brain and liver.
Results: Compared with the control group, HYAX-F can significantly enhance the content of GSH (P<0.05) and decrease the content of MDA (P<0.01). Also HYAX-F can significantly decrease TNF-α expression and increase Bcl- 2 expression in rats brain and liver tissues (P<0.05, P<0.01).
Conclusion: HYAX-F has greatly protective effects on anti-oxidative of rat VSMC and anti-apoptosis of ageing rats.


Josef, M., Martin, S. & Jaromir, S. (2014). Physical activity as a determinant of diseases, back and joint pains in adult Czech population. J. Hum. Sport Exerc., 9(Proc1), pp.S429-S435. In this contribution it was shown that the Czech adult population has a relationship between selected kinds of individual physical activity and civilization diseases (smoking and alcohol consumption), back and join pains. In this research is involved 5862 adult (over 18 years of age) Czech people of both sexes. Watched parameters were gained by questionnaire (totally 19 questions) from which we are discussing an influence of sport practising (yes or not), character of the work (physical, physical and sedentary, sedentary or do not work) and kind of transportation to work (walking, biking, public transport, car or does not travel) on smoking, alcohol consumption, back and joints pains. Results demonstrated that over 72% of Czech adult population do not practise any sport. There were found only slight differences between watched parameters (smoking, alcohol consumption, back and joints pains) and those who are physically active or inactive. Back pains have over 70% of people, more often those not sporting. Join pains have about 55% and there are not any significant differences among groups. Very negative effects would be expected because of alcohol consumption ‐ over 80% answered 'yes I take alcoholic drinks'; more positive seems to be parameter smoking, about 22% of the sports group were practising smokers, while among non sporting it was about 32%. The parameter 'character of the work' does not show great differences; those who work physically smoke the least, those who do not work drink alcohol less like others. Also parameter transportation to work does not show any great differences; only those who use bike have significantly lower joints pains. Presented results are part of The project "Creating a research team for the purpose of determining the level of physical activity (inactivity) in selected age groups of the population of men and women in the Czech Republic" (CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0044) is financed by the European Social Fund and the state budget of the


tainable development. There is particular emphasis on international conventions, environmental law, environmental evolution, pollution control, environmental impact assessment, sustainable development and intergenerational equity. The text includes a small number of diagrams and various boxes that tabulate particular information. The definitions provided are clear and concise and there is a great deal of very up-to-date material on conventions and the


Recombinant human interleukin-12 (rHuIL-12, HemaMaxTM) is being developed for mitigation of HSARS under the FDA Animal Rule using a NHP model of HSARS for proof of efficacy and clinical studies in healthy human subjects to demonstrate safety. We have shown previously that a single injection of rHuIL-12 administered 24-25 hours after lethal total body irradiaton (TBI), in the absence of antibiotics, fluids or blood products, resulted in improved survival while filgrastim (G-CSF) did not provide any survival benefit in our NHP HSARS model (Basile et al 2012, Gluzman-Poltorak et al 2014, Gluzman-Poltorak et al 2014). The mechanism by which IL-12 mitigates HSARS following TBI appears to involve multiple effects of IL-12 on hematopoieses. In our previous studies, animals treated with rHuIL-12 showed statistically significant reductions in the occurrence of severe neutropenia and severe thrombocytopenia, as well as attenuated nadirs for lymphocytes, neutrophils, platelets, and reticulocytes. To characterize further relationship between survival and hematological nadirs (lymphocytes, neutrophils, platelets, RBCs and reticulocytes) in the rhesus model of HSARS and to better understand the effects of rHuIL-12 versus G-CSF on blood cell nadirs, we undertook a meta-analysis analysis across three studies in irradiated rhesus monkeys. Animals used in this analysis were irradiated (700 cGy) and treated with a single subcutaneous injection of vehicle (n=64) or rHuIL-12 50-500ng/kg (n=108) 24-25 hours after irradiation, or daily subcutaneous injections of G-CSF at 10μg/kg/d for 18 days starting 24-25 hours after irradiation (n=26). Males and females were equal in each group. Lymphocytes, neutrophils and platelets were significantly lower in decedents versus monkeys that survived to day 60 overall and this was true in each treatment group (p Lymphocytes nadir appears to be the strongest and most consistent predictor of death followed by neutrophils and platelets (Spearman's rank correlation). RBCs and reticulocytes are less informative in terms of predicting survival status. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve area under the curve (AUC) by nadir value was assessed. The operating characteristics for lymphocytes, neutrophils and platelets allow for relatively large positive predictive values (PPV) of death with relatively high sensitivity. A cutoff value for lymphocytes nadir of 0.08x109/L (values less than or equal predicting death and higher values predicting life) allows for largest PPVs (97.2% and 92.5%) with 76.1% and 62.7% sensitivities for control and rHuIL-12 treatments, respectively. A cutoff value for neutrophils nadir of 0.03x109/L permits for 84% and 71.1% PPVs with sensitivities of 91.3% and 91.5 % for control and rHuIL-12 treatments, respectively. A cutoff value for platelets nadir of 9x109/L permits for 84.1% and 76.8% PPVs with sensitivities of 80.4% and 72.9 % for control and rHuIL-12 treatments, respectively. RBCs and reticulocytes were found less informative. To conclude, in the rhesus model of HSARS we have observed that an augmented hematological nadirs generally predicts an increased potential for survival as this effect reflects early bone marrow regeneration. The nadir for lymphocytes appears to be the strongest and most consistent predictor of death. Decrease of lymphocyte counts has been established as a best marker of bone marrow damage in a large database of human victims of acute radiation (METREPOL, Fliedner et al 2001). Thus, the correlation of our results with the human data supports the validity of our animal model as an accurate representation of human HSARS and its ability to predict effectiveness in humans exposed to lethal radiation. These data also suggest that the significant increase in early bone marrow regeneration seen in our studies, resulting in increases in nadir values for all major blood cell types, may be the main mechanism of action by which rHuIL-12 mitigates the lethality of HSARS. This project has been entirely funded with Federal funds from BARDA/ASPR/DHHS under Contract No. HHSO100201100037C. Disclosures Gluzman Poltorak:Neumedicines Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Vladimir:Neumedicines Inc.: Consultancy, Employment, Equity Ownership. Basile:Neumedicines Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership, Neumedicines Inc. Patents & Royalties.


This study was undertaken to characterize the biochemical properties of rat pancreatic phospholipase D (PLD). Based on Western blot analysis of pancreas subcellular fractions, PLD1 was detected as a protein of 120 kDa associated with the microsomal fraction, whereas PLD2 appeared as a 105-kDa protein enriched in the microvesicular fraction. In these fractions, a low level of PLD activity was measured with an exogenous substrate containing phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), unresponsive to guanosine triphosphate (GTP)&ggr;S and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation factor (ARF). Addition of unsaturated but not saturated fatty acids stimulated an oleate-dependent PLD activity that colocalized with the PLD1 enzyme in the crude plasma membrane and microsomal fractions. The transphosphatidylation reaction was maximal with either 200–400 m M (1.2–2.3%) ethanol or 25 m M (0.23%) 1-butanol, with an optimal pH between 6.5 and 7.2. Lipids extracted from the pancreatic membranes were potent inhibitors of the HL60 cell PLD activity when compared with those isolated from HL60 cells. Oleate-dependent PLD activity was less susceptible to these inhibitions. A phospholipase A1 (PLA1) activity hydrolyzing phosphatidylethanol also was found in the pancreatic membrane fractions and was nearly absent in the HL60 cells. This activity was completely inhibited by 400 n M tetrahydrolipstatin (THL), a lipase inhibitor. Pancreatic PLD1 and PLD2 activities could be measured after a chromatographic separation from microsomal membranes and high-speed supernatants, respectively. Activities of both enzymes were inhibited by oleate and required the presence of PIP2 in the substrate vesicles. ARF1 strongly activated PLD1 in a dose-dependent manner, and PLD2 was slightly responsive. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed that PLD2 is distributed throughout the pancreas, with a more intense staining in the islets. This study presents for the first time biochemical characteristics of the pancreatic PLD activities and shows the presence of oleate-dependent PLD1 and PLD2 activities, as well as PLD1 and PLD2 proteins in this gland.


In this book Pierre Assouline reveals the life and art of Tintin's Belgian creator, Georges Prosper Remi, better known as 'Herge'. Assouline has had privileged access to personal papers to explore Herge's life and work and the fascinating ways in which the two intertwine. He does not shy away from such controversial matters as Herge's support for Belgian imperialism in the Congo or his relationship with the Nazis during the occupation of Belgium. Herge's books sold millions of copies throughout the world, but, as Assouline shows, the impact of his work goes far beyond his enormous popularity with children - his pioneering use of clean line drawing had a profound influence on artists from Warhol to Lichtenstein and he revolutionized the comic book art form.


We propose a definition of entropy for stochastic processes. We provide a reproducing kernel Hilbert space model to estimate entropy from a random sample of realizations of a stochastic process, namely functional data, and introduce two approaches to estimate minimum entropy sets. These sets are relevant to detect anomalous or outlier functional data. A numerical experiment illustrates the performance of the proposed method; in addition, we conduct an analysis of mortality rate curves as an interesting application in a real-data context to explore functional anomaly detection.


The objective of this work was to quantify the country's NH3 emissions from livestock production. This calculation was based on the mass flow of total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN). The analysis was performed for all 15 geographical regions in Chile. The definition of livestock subcategories was based on data from the Chilean Agriculture and Forestry Census as well as technical reports published by the Chilean National Statistics Institute. Significant differences were observed among the sources of livestock emissions in Chile's regions, and there was high variability depending on the degree of livestock confinement. In 2013, the total calculated emissions were 69.1 kt NH3/year (± 31.1). The O'Higgins Region had the highest NH3 emissions in Chile, representing 45% of the total. In terms of livestock production, 45% of the emissions were generated by pigs, 22% by poultry, 16% by cattle, 11% by equines and 4% by sheep. Emissions from the TAN that was available during manure and slurry management and the degree of animal confinement were the primary sources of uncertainty. This uncertainty could be greatly reduced by developing regional emission factors and by including the degree of animal confinement in Chile's national statistics such as the Agriculture, Livestock and Forestry Census.


The regulation of the link positions of compliant robots, damping out undesired link oscillations while preserving the system's inherent elasticity is still a challenging task in practical applications. This task becomes even harder to be tackled in the case of compliant robots driven by agonistic-antagonistic variable stiffness actuators in which there are two motors associated with each joint of the system. In this work, leveraging on the physical realization of the elastic mechanism of such actuators, we propose a novel control law able to simultaneously achieve a good regulation performance and a desired damped behavior at the link, while preserving the elastic structure of the system as well as the possibility of adjusting the passive stiffness at the joints. Simulations on the agonistic-antagonistic actuators of the forearm and wrist joints of the Hand Arm System from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and experiments on a planar platform with an analogous actuation unit, namely qbMove Advanced, validate the proposed method.


Migraine is a significant health problem due to its frequency and accompanying morbidity, which includes disability and loss of performance. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of migraine and assess the disability and preferences of treatment among university students in Afyon, a Turkish city. This is the first cross-sectional prevalence study of migraine conducted on university students in Turkey. The study has been carried out in two stages. The first stage aimed to identify the students with migraine by using a standardized International Headache Society (IHS) questionnaire. In this questionnaire, the students were asked about medical consultations and medicines used during attacks. The standard questionnaire was applied to 1,029 students, and migraine was found in 128 students (12.4%). Of these headache sufferers, 104 students were using non-prescribed drugs during headache attacks, while the remaining 24 students were using the drugs on advice of physicians. At the second stage, we evaluated the impact of disease on daily life in these students by the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) questionnaire, showing that the degrees of disability are minimal in 11 students (8.6%), mild in 30 students (23.4%), moderate in 34 students (26.6%), and severe in 53 students (41.4%). In conclusion, migraine attacks are associated with a considerable degree of handicap in activities of daily living. However, many university students with migraine do not consult a physician and continue to treat their headaches with simple analgesics. Global educational programs are required for patients to recognize the importance of effective migraine treatment.


Who we learn from, where and when is dramatically affected by the reach of the Internet. From learning for formal education to learning for pleasure, we look to the web early and often for our data and knowledge needs, but also for places and spaces where we can collaborate, contribute to, and create learning and knowledge communities. Based on the keynote presentation given at the first Learning Analytics and Knowledge Conference held in 2011 in Banff, Alberta, this paper explores a social network perspective on learning with reference to social network principles and studies by the author. The paper explores the ways a social network perspective can be used to examine learning, with attention to the structure and dynamics of online learning networks, and emerging configurations such as online crowds and communities.


Van
Wyk-Grumbach syndrome (VWGS) is characterized by juvenile hypothyroidism, delayed
bone age, isosexual precocious puberty and massive ovarian cysts. We report
such a case in a 7-year-old girl who presented with a bilateral pelvic pain,
abdominal distension and signs of hypothyroidism. Physical examination showed a
breast development and lack of pubic and axillary hair. There was no
clitoromegaly. Pelvic ultrasonography and CT scan showed enlarged bilateral multiloculared
multicystics ovarian masses. The pituitary MRI was recommended before an
elevated prolactin, revealed a large sellar and suprasellar mass. The patient
was started on thyroid replacement using L-Thyroxine. Clinically, the patient's
fatigue, pelvic pain, and abdominal distension are resolved. During the follow-up,
her thyroid functions and serum prolactin normalized within 8 months.
Ultrasonography revealed regression of ovarian cysts in 2 months measuring,
with normal sized ovaries in 14 months.


The control of zoonotic pathogens in animal produce can occur in several steps along the food chain. However, only reduction at farm level will reduce the risk posed by the environment and by direct contact with farm animals. Farmers have a key role to play in food safety, especially when a farm is open to the public. This is formalised in EU and UK legislation, placing the accountability for food safety on livestock farmers. This emphasises the need for systematic and documented control measures implemented at the farm level. Good herd health plans can provide the farmer with a standardised approach to control for zoonotic agents. This study identified several good management practices, which if applied systematically, can reduce the prevalence of E. coli O157 (VTEC) in young cattle. Management practises, which were associated with low herd prevalence of VTEC, were identified using a randomised controlled trial on cattle farms in England and Wales (Ellis-Iversen et al. 2008). The farmers were contacted through veterinary practices that use the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) for diagnostic testing. Initially, 411 farms were contacted and 255 were visited and sampled. Exclusion criteria were: no VTEC cultured at first visit, herd size <60 in total or <20 young-stock, positive TB status and public side-enterprises such as B&Bs or open farms. The remaining 54 farms were randomly allocated either to apply a package of specified biosecurity and hygiene practices (intervention farms) or to continue their usual practices (control farms). The within farm prevalence of VTEC and compliance with allocated practices were then observed in young-stock on each farm over a period of 4.5 months. Multivariable population-averages-based statistical models were used to assess the effect of the package of control measures on the proportion of positive samples and adjust for compliance. Throughout the study, the prevalence decreased in all groups, but VTEC prevalence on farms in one intervention group declined 30% more than in the control group (Figure 1). This intervention package consisted of very dry bedding, stable groups throughout rearing, keeping a closed herd and preventing young-stock to have direct contact with other cattle. When the results were adjusted for compliance, this difference in risk reduction was statistically significant (risk ratio = 0. 14, p<0.05). The study showed that simple practices such as improved hygiene and increased biosecurity can reduce zoonotic agents, if they are applied consistently and systematically. The control measures identified in this study are common good management practices and are likely to reduce the risk of other cattle disease of economic importance. When incorporated in herd health plans, these practices will be better implemented and application sustained. The implementation is likely to result in a safer environment for the farmer, his family and staff and ultimately improve public health. Furthermore, it may provide the individual farmer with auditable evidence of action, if the need arises.


Projections indicate that solar energy will constitute 55% of total electricity capacity by 2050 in the US. Despite solar energy's growing importance, few studies have analyzed the risks of country-wide deployments of solar infrastructure due to extreme weather events such as hurricanes. This paper presents a probabilistic framework to evaluate the performance of solar infrastructure to generate energy during hurricanes, which often cause significant outages in the US. Our novel framework integrates recent data-driven models that capture two critical and compounding factors: transient cloud conditions that decrease irradiance and high winds that can cause permanent panel damage. We apply the framework to the 2694 counties in the 38 Central and Eastern US states to elucidate the risk landscape of solar generation during hurricanes. Our results show that hurricane impacts are significant, compounding, and strikingly disproportional in the US. We show that in Florida and Louisiana, clouds rapidly reduce solar generation to 32% and 65%, respectively, of their normal levels with a return period of 100 years. Our results also show that damage to panels can induce more acute and permanent energy losses a few days after landfall, especially in rarer storms, e.g., causing 80% more losses than hurricane clouds two days after landfall for 200-year events. Synopsis: A new methodology to model solar generation during hurricanes shows substantial regional variability in the environmental risk landscape of solar infrastructure in the US.


The recent opinion by the Office of Legal Counsel has created a lot of activity after years of uncertainty about the legality of Internet gaming in the United States. Internet gaming poses a threat of unknown magnitude to brick and mortar casinos, including Indian casinos. Because internet activities are difficult to regulate across state boundaries and national uniformity is likely to be more effective and more efficient than multiple state regulatory structures, Congress should federalize the regulation of Internet gaming. Congress should, however, consider the important role that Indian gaming has had in lifting the socioeconomic status of Indian people and improving the self-governance and self-sufficiency of Indian nations. Congress must insure that Indian tribes have an equal opportunity to be part of the future of Internet gaming.


We have developed a method utilizing low-coherence phase-shifting interferometry (LCPSI) to directly visualize molecularly thin lubricant films coated on diamond-like carbon (DLC) surfaces. The measurement accuracy is guaranteed by the use of a low-coherence light source, a feedback-controlled phase-shifting system, and an image subtraction method. By measuring nanometer-thick perfluoropolyether films coated on DLC surfaces, we demonstrated that the LCPSI is capable of providing real-time three-dimensional measurements at a sub-nanometer thickness resolution and a spatial resolution of several micrometers.


This work presents a biosensor operating in the microwave frequencies. This structure is based on meta-atoms for S band applications such as quality sensing of consumable goods. Modelling and simulations are carried out through commercially available 3-D electromagnetic solver in this research. Initially, a square meta-atom resonator made up of a highly conductive copper based micro strip line with a small split gap in the centre was built and optimization was run to function at a particular frequency of 2.35 GHz. Transmission and reflection curves were obtained in the first stage when nothing is presented on the surface area of biosensor, and then three different dielectric materials with various dielectric constants, namely 3.4, 4.6, and 5.8, are applied in order to observe its characteristics. During each step of the dielectric coefficient adjustment, a maximum change of about 99.9 MHz in the core resonant frequency is noticed. This has shown that the proposed meta-atom split ring shape may be utilized as a biosensor for sensing biomaterials such as tissues and other cells. Our simulation results have also revealed that this device can also be used for biological materials with diverse dielectric constants which have been discovered by earlier open investigations, and that it is a reliable device for biomedical sensing.


This paper investigates the physical and mechanical properties of copper‐nickel alloy (at 50 wt.%–50 wt.%) and pure copper, mixed with various types of reinforcement materials such as carbon nanotubes (0.5 wt.%–2 wt.%) as nanoparticles, silicon carbide (1 wt.%–4 wt.%) as microparticles. The acquired composite specimens characteristics were estimated such as microstructure, density, electrical and thermal conductivity, hardness, and compression stress properties to determine the suitable reinforcement percentage that has the best physical and mechanical properties with different main matrix material whether copper‐nickel mechanical alloying or pure copper powder. The micron‐sized silicon carbide and nanosized carbon nanotubes were added to improve the mechanical and physical properties of the composite. The electrical and thermal conductivity of pure copper alloy enhanced compared with the copper‐nickel alloy matrix material. The hardness and compression yield stress of both pure copper and copper‐nickel composites have enhancement values and for copper‐nickel base composites hardness and compression yield stress have enhanced with the most positive enhancement values to examined an optimum percentage of reinforcing material.


TreeSearch is an R package for phylogenetic analysis, optimized for morphological datasets. Tree search may be conducted using equal or implied step weights with an explicit (albeit inexact) allowance for inapplicable character entries, avoiding some of the pitfalls inherent in standard parsimony methods. Profile parsimony and user-specified optimality criteria are supported. A graphical interface, which requires no familiarity with R, is designed to help a user to improve the quality of datasets through critical review of underpinning character codings; and to obtain additional information from results by identifying and summarizing clusters of similar trees, mapping the distribution of trees, and removing 'rogue' taxa that obscure underlying relationships. Taken together, the package aims to support methodological rigour at each step of data collection, analysis, and the exploration of phylogenetic results.


This thesis introduces a new approach to the design of estimation algorithms. It is applicable to systems which have a special structure and the measurements involve only subsets of the total state vector.
The approach used is to partition the system into subsystems, each containing subsets of the state associated with a particular measurement type. Reduced-order filters are designed for each of these subsystems. A separate full-order filter interacts with these filters to ensure that they maintain close to unbiased (state and covariance) estimates. This full-order filter, in turn, receives compressed information from the reduced-order filters. The combination of the full-order filter and reduced-order filters has a smaller computational requirement compared to that of the optimal filter. In fact, a systematic design approach is provided wherein a trade-off between accuracy and computational requirements can be made. Computer simulation of the algorithm for typical systems has verified the predicted performance of the algorithms.
The design approach introduced in this thesis also provides a hierarchical structure in the estimation process whereby information is assimilated at different rates at different levels. As such the algorithm provides valuable insight for the design of multi-level and multi-rate estimation algorithms for systems of large dimension.


– By the end of the XVIIIth century and during the first three decades of the XIXth century, continental Portugal functioned as a vital commercial platform to satisfy the demand for colonial products in different European markets. This study, based on archival sources from Brazil, Portugal, and Hamburg, analyzes the importance of Brazilian products among Portuguese exports to Hamburg from 1796 to 1831, which consisted mainly of one product: sugar, both in its white and brown varieties. It also tries to show in how far Portugal profited from its position as intermediary between Brazil and Hamburg.


Radiative lifetimes for 2p53s, 2p53p and 2p53d states of the positive ions Al IV and Cl VIII of the Ne isoelectronic series have been calculated in the multiconfigurational optimized potential model. The appropriate diagonal elements in the Breit-Pauli matrix were altered so that the calculated energy separations within each JΠ space are in agreement with the corresponding observed values. The resulting calculated lifetimes were compared to observed as well as to other theoretical values.


An improved micromethod for plasma fibrinogen, based on the Ellis-Stransky thrombin-clot density procedure, is presented. Modifications includes: (1) addition of Polybrene eliminates heparin interference; (2) measurement of absorbance at 340 nm provides improved sensitivity at low fibrinogen levels as well as with small volumes of plasma (40 mul.); (3) higher concentration of thrombin reduces the incubation time. Plasma fibrinogen by the proposed method compares well with a reference procedure based on total clottable protein (coefficient of correlation 0.99).


Research about Sperm Production Pattern of Lesser Brown Horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus stheno ): Microchiroptera in Indarung cave, Padang had. This research was using descriptive method toward testes preparation of Lesser Brown Horseshoe bat with using Hematoxilin-Eosin staining to observe the presence of spermatozoa. The result showed that the spermatogenesis activity on January until April 2007 was inactive, because there was no spermatozoa and seminiferous tubules epithelium only consisted of spermatogonium and spermatocytes. Spermatogenesis activity was started on May and spermatozoa had been released on June.  R. stheno  follows the bimmodally polyestrus reproduction pattern based on the hypothetical diagram that constructed as supporting mean for this statement. Key words: sperm production, lesser brown horseshoe bat


In the present study, Eucalyptus camaldulensis bark/maghemite composite (ECMC) was used as a lowcost adsorbent for the removal of phenol from aqueous solution. The structural characterization, morphology and elemental analysis of ECMC were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effects of various independent parameters such as contact time, initial phenol concentration, temperature, pH on adsorption process were investigated. It was found that the adsorption capacity of ECMC increases with the increasing of phenol concentration. The optimum pH was found to be 5 for the removal of phenol by ECMC. The adsorption capacity for 500 mg/L phenol was found to be 90.92 mg/g with 1 g ECMC at pH 5 and 20 0C. Langmuir isotherm model described perfectly the adsorption process with 0.998 correlation coefficient.


Between 1857 and 1859 Alexandre Dumas published eleven tales from the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen's collections in his magazine Le Monte-Cristo. The texts have a particular status, between translation and rewriting. Dumas includes them in a causerie (chat) with the readers of his magazine, and they are framed in a story where an adult tells tales to children. This results in several modifications of the originals—such as the addition of explicative comments—which I study through a comparison of "Petit-Jean et Gros-Jean" and Andersen's "Little Claus and Big Claus." Underrated and forgotten, Dumas's tales are nonetheless representative of his particular style and bear witness to his storytelling skills. They also show similarities between Dumas and Andersen, who actually became acquainted in Paris in 1843.


Particle Staining: Physically Based Texture Generation. (December 2003) Jean Michael Mistrot, B.F.A., Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Donald House Computers are being employed in a variety of ways by a variety of individuals to create imagery. Much work has been done to accurately model natural phenomena in the context of computer graphics as well as model specific artists' tools and techniques. Focusing on the dynamics of water flow across surfaces, it is the goal of this work to develop a physically inspired texturing tool that allows artists to create interesting staining and wearing effects on surfaces. Weathering or the wearing down of materials by natural forces can create complex and beautiful patterns on a variety of surfaces. In this process lies the very essence of the creative act. To distill the essence of the elements of the water staining process, we employ a computer generated particle system in a phenomenological model. The motion of these particles is controlled by physically based constraints, such as wind, gravity, mass, etc. The way in which each particle interacts with or modifies the look of the surface is further controlled by parameters such as surface roughness, surface color and surface hardness. Each particle can remove or deposit material as it flows across the surface, creating complex patterns.


Childhood overweight and obesity have a high prevalence and multifactorial character. To determine the influence of biological and environmental factors in their development, a cross-sectional study was performed with 699 children, ranging from 5 to 9 years of age, from the public and private schools in the urban area of Feira de Santana, BA. Overweight and obesity were defined as body-mass index > the 85th and 95th percentiles for age and gender, respectively. Interviews with the children's responsible were used to determine the influence of these factors. It was observed as statistic significance for the development of both conditions: high level of parent's education and income, being an only child, studying at private school, having household appliances and using computers. The white ethnic group was related only to overweight. There was an inverse association regarding school flunking and practice of systematic physical activity. The odds ratio showed a predictive and independent association with studying at private school and being an only child. In conclusion there was an influence of biological and environmental factors in the development of childhood overweight and obesity, confirming the multifactorial etiology of these conditions.


This work describes a rapid and highly sensitive method for the quantitative detection of an important biomarker, uric acid (UA), via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with a low detection limit of ~0.2 μM for multiple characteristic peaks in the fingerprint region, using a modular spectrometer. This biosensing scheme is mediated by the host-guest complexation between a macrocycle, cucurbit[7]uril (CB7), and UA, and the subsequent formation of precise plasmonic nanojunctions within the self-assembled Au NP: CB7 nanoaggregates. A facile Au NP synthesis of desirable sizes for SERS substrates has also been performed based on the classical citrate-reduction approach with an option to be facilitated using a lab-built automated synthesizer. This protocol can be readily extended to multiplexed detection of biomarkers in body fluids for clinical applications.


We show a construction of a quantum ramp secret sharing scheme from a nested pair of linear codes. Necessary and sufficient conditions for qualified sets and forbidden sets are given in terms of combinatorial properties of nested linear codes. An algebraic geometric construction for quantum secret sharing is also given.


The Bragg reflection technique improves the Q-factor of a resonator by reducing conductor and dielectric losses by concentrating the field in the inner area of the cavity. In this paper, we present a general way of designing a high Q-factor Bragg resonator, using a simple model of non-Maxwellian equations. The method is a more general method, which allows us to design resonators of cylindrical geometry and arbitrary thicknesses for either the horizontal or cylindrical dielectric reflectors, which is often imposed by the manufacturer. In this work, we only consider cylindrical symmetric resonators operating in transverse electric mode (TE0,n,p), which only has the Eθ component made from low-loss single crystal dielectrics. The horizontal plates are of thickness 2.75mm and radius 24.3 mm, and the rings are 31.8 mm high and of the same radius. The size of the cavity to obtain Bragg reflection may be calculated using the simple model, which is verified with rigorous Method of Lines analysis. When we fix the number of variation of Eθ, in r and z directions to the minimum (fundamental mode) we obtained an unloaded Q-factor of order 2×105 at 9.7 GHz in a single crystal sapphire resonator. Two other cavities were built to investigate Bragg confinement of higher order modes in the sapphire structure at 12.4 GHz with unloaded Q-factors of order 105. We also illustrate the general designing principles of a Bragg reflector with dielectric layers of arbitrary thicknesses using the simple model, with verification using the Method of Lines.


The sensitivity engineering model of the coupling capacitance detector is built to provide the theoretic foundation for designing its circuits and electrodes scientifically. The sensitivity concept model of the capacitance proximity detector is discussed, and the detecting sensitivity of the coupling capacitance detector is analyzed theoretically. Then the sensitivity engineering model, which can reflect the main parameters relationship of the detecting circuit is set up based on the foregoing analyses. It is concluded that: ① the sensitivity is mainly correlative with some parameters including the voltage transmission factor of the demodulator, the oscillating voltage amplitude and the amplitude variation constant of the oscillator; ② the sensitivity is also influenced by the areas of electrodes and the distance between electrodes of the detector.


Adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) after malaria treatment remains challenging to assess in settings of malaria nonendemicity. Biological evaluation of parasitological clearance relies on microscopic investigation of thick blood smears, which is a specific technique that not all diagnosis laboratories are able to perform. ABSTRACT Adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) after malaria treatment remains challenging to assess in settings of malaria nonendemicity. Biological evaluation of parasitological clearance relies on microscopic investigation of thick blood smears, which is a specific technique that not all diagnosis laboratories are able to perform. Rapid diagnosis tests (RDTs) and molecular biology techniques are proposed as alternatives to microscope conventional techniques; however, their performance for treatment efficacy evaluation is controversial. We present here a retrospective comparative study for RDT and PCR (nested and high-resolution-melting quantitative PCR [HRM-qPCR]) evaluation of ACPR in a nonendemicity context. Blood samples from 133 patients presenting a Plasmodium falciparum monoinfection were included. Samples obtained at the time of diagnosis and at 3, 7, and 28 days after diagnosis were investigated. Histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP-2)-based RDT results remained positive in 51% of cases 28 days after diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic management. Parasite DNA was detected by the two PCR techniques (nested PCR and HRM-qPCR) in 12% and 10% of samples 28 days after treatment initiation, respectively. No therapeutic failure was recorded in the studied patients. Persistence of positive signal might reflect the presence of circulating asexual parasites or persistence of HRP-2 and parasitic DNA in patient's peripheral blood after parasitic clearance.


Abstract:  The optimization of multi-objective problems from the Pareto dominance viewpoint can lead to huge sets of incomparable solutions. Many heuristic techniques proposed to these problems have to deal with approximation sets that can be limited or not. Usually, a new solution generated by a heuristic is compared with other archived non-dominated solutions generated previously. Many techniques deal with limited size archives, since comparisons within unlimited archives may require significant computational effort. To maintain limited archives, solutions need to be discarded. Several techniques were proposed to deal with the problem of deciding which solutions remain in the archive and which are discarded. Previous investigations showed that those techniques might not prevent deterioration of the archives. In this study, we propose to store discarded solutions in a secondary archive and, periodically, recycle them, bringing them back to the optimization process. Three recycling techniques were investigated for three known methods. The datasets for the experiments consisted of 91 instances of discrete and continuous problems with 2, 3 and 4 objectives. The results showed that the recycling method can benefit the tested optimizers on many problem classes.


We develop a framework in which the host-country productivity has a positive effect on the intensive margin (the size of FDI flows), but only an ambiguous effect on the extensive margin (the likelihood of FDI flows to occur). The source-country productivity has a negative effect on the extensive margin. An increase in the host-country corporate tax rate reduces the actual FDI flows and the likelihood that such flows will occur. An increase in the source-country corporate tax rate reduces the likelihood of FDI flows. These predictions are confronted with data on FDI flows, drawn from the International Direct Investment dataset (Source OECD), covering the bilateral FDI flows among 18 OECD countries over the period 1987 to 2003. We find some support for the main predictions of the model.


As persons whose careers depend upon the support of the public, politicians by definition are required to be concerned with the management of their public impressions. This research considers the impact of a politician's sex on citizens' evaluations following alleged transgressions. The study uses an experimental design to test how the sex of the politician affects the acceptability of various accounts following transgressions. The interaction of sex with the nature of the offense and the type of account offered is examined. Analysis suggests that sex, type of account, and type of transgression affect citizens' evaluations although not always in obvious or direct ways. Most significantly, the analysis shows that women are not judged more harshly than men when involved in a transgression.


Abstract Supernovae constitute a critical source of energy input to the interstellar medium (ISM). In this short review, we focus on their latest phase of evolution, the supernova remnants (SNRs). We present observations of three old SNRs that have reached the phase where they interact with the ambient interstellar medium: W28, IC443, and 3C391. We show that such objects make up clean laboratories to constrain the physical and chemical processes at work in molecular shock environments. Our studies subsequently allow us to quantify the impact of SNRs on their environment in terms of mass, momentum, and energy dissipation. In turn, their contribution to the energy balance of galaxies can be assessed. Their potential to trigger a further generation of star formation can also be investigated. Finally, our studies provide strong support for the interpretation of γ-ray emission in SNRs, a crucial step to answer questions related to cosmic rays population and acceleration.


In this paper, we present MHYDAS‐Erosion, a dynamic and distributed single‐storm water erosion model developed as a module of the existing hydrological MHYDAS model. As with many catchment erosion models, MHYDAS‐Erosion is able to simulate sediment transport, erosion and deposition by rill and interrill processes. Its originality stems from its capacity to integrate the impact of land management practices (LMP) as key elements controlling the sedimentological connectivity in agricultural catchments. To this end, the water‐sediment pathways are first determined by a specific process‐oriented procedure defined and controlled by the user, which makes the integration of LMP easier. The LMP dynamic behaviours are then integrated into the model as a time‐dependent function of hydrological variables and LMP characteristics. The first version of the model was implemented for vegetative filters and tested using water and sediment discharge measurements at three nested scales of a densely instrumented catchment (Roujan, OMERE Observatory, southern France). The results of discharge and soil loss for simulated rainfall events have been found to acceptably compare with available data. The average R2 values for water and sediment discharge are 0·82 and 0·83, respectively. The sensitivity of the model to changes in the proportion of LMP was assessed for a single rain event by considering three scenarios of the Roujan catchment management with vegetative filters: 0% (Scenario 1), 18% (Scenario 2, real case) and 100% (Scenario 3). Compared to Scenario 2 (real case), soil losses decreased for Scenario 3 by 65% on the agricultural plot scale, 62% on the sub‐catchment scale and 45% at the outlet of the catchment and increased for Scenario 1 by 0% on the plot scale, 26% on the sub‐catchment scale and 18% at the outlet of the catchment. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Ageing and skin exposure to UV radiation induces production and activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and human neutrophil elastase (HNE). These enzymes are known to break down the extracellular matrix (ECM) which leads to wrinkle formation. Here, we demonstrated the potential of a solid-in-oil nanodispersion containing a competitive inhibitor peptide of HNE mixed with hyaluronic acid (HA), displaying 158 nm of mean diameter, to protect the skin against the ageing effects. Western blot analysis demonstrated that activation of MMP-1 in fibroblasts by HNE treatment is inhibited by the solid-in-oil nanodispersion containing the peptide and HA. The results clearly demonstrate that solid-in-oil nanodispersion containing the HNE inhibitor peptide is a promising strategy for anti-ageing effects. This effect can be seen particularly by ECM regulation by affecting fibroblasts. The formulation also enhances the formation of thicker bundles of actin filaments.


Data on the extensiveness and intensity of infection of Kildin island cod with Echinorhynchus gadi in various seasons are given. E. gadi was proved to have a one-year life cycle and Gammarus duebeni as an intermediate host in the lake. A change of the parasite generations occurs in late summer--autumn. A high extensiveness (100%) and intensity of Kildin cod infection with E. gadi depends on the feeding habits (monophagy) and narrow distribution range of the host. Infection intensity is directly correlated with the fish age. Selfregulation of the parasite quantity in the host's intenstine is an important factor affecting the existence of E. gadi population in Lake Mogilnoye.


In the aftermath of the great debate in African philosophy, questions have been asked which triggered what we would call post-debate disillusionments. One such question posed to the advocates of Philosophical Universalism who ridiculed ethnophilosophy is: having disestablished the episteme of what they ridiculed as ethnophilosophy, what do they offer in its place? The second question posed to both the advocates of Philosophical Universalism and Philosophical Particularism 2 is: in the absence of any other point to debate about and in the absence of any commonly accepted episteme, what constitutes the concern and the future direction of African philosophy now? The fact that none of the two schools had any definite answers to these questions created unexpected disillusionments which saw many who had expended great intellectual energy during the debate silently exit the stage of African philosophy. One of our goals in this essay shall be sketching a brief outline of systematic African philosophy. In doing this, we shall show how the conversational school has evolved as a new school of thought that takes phenomenological 3  issues as its concern in the contemporary period. Understandably, the promise of this new school shall be the centerpiece of this essay as we engage Bruce Janz in a conversation on the concept of »philosophical space.« Our methods shall be evaluative, critical and prescriptive.


Direct measurement techniques for the investigation of electrical processes in solid dielectrics are reviewed and their respective strengths and weaknesses are discussed, particularly the complementary nature of thermally stimulated current measurements. The successful design and construction of a new Thermally Stimulated Discharge Current (TSDC) Spectrometer at the University of Southampton is presented and its correct function validated with experimental measurements of the well known and often characterized synthetic polymers low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyethylene terephtalate (PET). Results were found to correspond well to published data. First TSDC observations of filled and oil impregnated papers are presented. The second aspect of this work is the investigation of natural polymer insulation materials,specifically paper for oil-paper insulation systems. For the first time, electrical insulation papers with filler contents up to 50% were investigated. Bentonite and talcum were compared as filler materials and found to have negative and positive effects respectively. The superior electrical strength of a talcum filled kraft paper was verified, and a series of constructive modifications was undertaken to further maximise its electrical strength at comparable or improved dielectric performance. An increase in electrical breakdown strength of 20% to 30% has been observed, but the substitution of such great amounts of fiber with fillers also lead to a reduction in mechanical strength of the paper. Further trials with chemical additives were conducted to counteract this effect and polyvinyl alcohol and starch were found to enhance the paper strength. Additional trials also comprised sizing agents, guar gum and wet strength agents. Uncharged or slightly charged chemical additives provided best results with regard to dielectric performance. The significance of the trialled paper modifications is judged in light of statistical analysis.


Historically, scapular dyskinesia has been used to describe an isolated clinical entity whereby an abnormality in positioning, movement or function of the scapula is present. Based upon this, treatment approaches have focused on addressing local isolated muscle activity. Recently, however, there has been a progressive move towards viewing the scapula as being part of a wider system of movement that is regulated and controlled by multiple factors, including the wider kinetic chain and individual patient-centred requirements. We therefore propose a paradigm shift whereby scapular dyskinesia is seen not in isolation but is considered within the broader context of patient-centred care and an entire neuromuscular system.


For Fr. Franciszek Blachnicki, the catechesis was in close relationship with the Church. 'e most appropriate place for the catechesis as the fundamental formation of Christians (adults, youth and children) is in the Church which is both the subject, goal and object of catechesis. Fr. Franciszek Blachnicki drew the concepts of the Church from studies by German-speaking authors, and above all from documents of the Second Vatican Council. For him, the Church was an intermediary of salvation, a universal sacrament of salvation, a mother, a temple of God, and most of all, a union of God's people, a community in Christ, a community of faith, hope and love. 'e task of catechesis is, in the 0rst place, the introduction and experience of the Church. 'e nature of catechesis stems from the concept of the Church. 'erefore, if the Church is a community, the aim of catechesis is to introduce it to the faithful so that they may not only participate in it, but above all create it. It is also important that catechesis serves the process of Christian initiation, discovering the Church as a place of ful0lling the mystery of life, salvation and healing. 'erefore, Fr. Blachnicki put a strong emphasis on the relationship between the liturgy and catechesis, because the most complete process of initiation takes place in the liturgy. Another task of catechesis is its function of awakening and developing faith. For faith is the foundation for the Church and the primary goal for catechesis. It is to be both personalistic and social in nature. Father Blachnicki claimed that cathechesis educated faith was not an individual faith but the faith of the Church. Many Christians, even including those most zealous, live their Christian lives alongside the life of the Church, but not in the Church. In the meantime, every Christian is the Church, because the Church is the whole Christ, the head and members, and we are its members. For that reason, the life of the Church grows in so far as the life of faith of each member grows.


Background: Extracellular and intracellular pH (pH o and pH i ), which can be changed in various pathological conditions such as hypoxia, affects vascular contractility. To elucidate the mechanism to alter vascular contractility by pH, the effects of pH on reactivity to vasocontracting agents, intracellular Ca²? influx, and Ca²? sensitivity in vascular smooth muscle were examined. Material and Method: Isometric contractions in rat superior mesenteric arteries (SMA) were observed. Intracellular Ca²? concentration ([Ca²?] i ) was recorded by microfluorometer using Fura-2/acetoxylmethyl ester in muscle cells. pH o was increased from 7.4 to 7.8 or decreased to 6.9 or 6.4. pH i was decreased by applying NH₄? or propionic acid or modulated by changing pH o after increasing membrane permeability using β-escin. Result: Decreases in pH o from 7.4 to 6.9 or 6.4 shifted concentration-response curve by norepinephrine (NE) or serotonin (SE) to the right and significantly increased half maximal effective concentration (EC50) to NE or SE. Increase in pH o from 7.4 to 7.8 shifted concentration-response curve by norepinephrine (NE) or serotonin (SE) to the left and significantly reduced EC50 to NE or SE. NE increased [Ca²?] i in cultured smooth muscle cells from SMA and the increased [Ca²?] i was reduced by decreases in pH o . NE-induced contraction was inhibited by NH₄?, whereas the resting tension was increased by NH₄? or propionic acid. When the cell membrane of SMA was permeabilized using β-escin, SMA was contracted by increasing extracellular Ca²? concentration from 0 to 10μM and the magnitude of contraction was decreased by a decrease in pH o and vice versa. Conclusion: From these results, it can be concluded that a decrease in pH o might inhibit vascular contraction by reducing the reactivity of vascular smooth muscle to vasoactive agents, Ca²? influx and the sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle to Ca²?.


Magneto-rheological (MR) fluids have been successfully introduced to prosthetic devices. One such device is a biomechanical prosthetic knee that uses MR fluids to actively control its rotary stiffness. The brake is rotational, utilizing the MR fluid in shear mode. In this study, the geometrical design of the MR brake is addressed. This includes the design of the magnetic circuit and the geometry of the fluid chamber. Mathematical models are presented that describe the rotary torque of the brake. A novel perfluorinated polyether (PFPE)-based MR fluid is introduced, whose properties are tailored for the prosthetic knee. On-state and off-state rheological measurements of the MR fluid are presented. The finite element method is used to evaluate the magnetic flux density in the MR fluid. The design is formulated as an optimization problem, aiming to maximize the braking torque. A parametric study is carried out for several design parameters. Subsequently, a multi-objective optimization problem is defined that considers three design objectives: the field-induced braking torque, the off-state rotary stiffness and the weight of the brake. Trade-offs between the three design objectives are investigated which provides a basis for informed design decisions on furthering the success of the MR prosthetic knee.


eaching Calculus can be one of the most challenging practices in the engineering context for several reasons. It is taught at thebeginning of engineering courses in a critical phase of student transition between high school and university. And most of the time,students are notable to understand the meaning of some contents in relation to Engineering. In the engineering education context,the disciplines of Calculus are responsible for high failure rates and students' dropout. Besides that, lectures are predominantlyused, with rigid contents centered on the blackboard and in the book. Therefore, students have low interaction with teachers.Besides, students have difficulty building their own knowledge and to understand the importance of mathematical methods andprocedures. However, this paper shows a collaborative project-based learning (CPBL) experience to teach Calculus to engineeringstudents with an important support of capstone courses teachers as collaborative professors. Students were asked to choose aphenomenon of their Engineering area of knowledge and explain why and how it needs integrals and derivatives to be explained.127 students from six engineering courses were involved in the experiment. The students were organized in teams and tutored bycapstone courses faculty. These professors were called collaborative professors. This paper aims to describe the collaborativeprofessors' interactions with the teams and analyze the outcomes in terms of the perception of learning and development oftransversal competences. The evaluation was based on content analysis of the reports delivered by the students. 100% of the groupsevaluated the experience as positive. The students used adjectives such as ''excellent'', ''extraordinary'' to characterize theexperience. In addition, students reported the following learning outcomes: knowledge and understanding; analysis; problem-solving; creativity/originality; communication and presentation; evaluation; planning and organization; interactive and groupcompetences. Some groups reported that, in this project, they used laboratories and created prototypes that they will keep onresearching and developing to take these ideas to the market. Yet, in this experience, the failure rate of this discipline thatpreviously was 95% dropped to 5%.


We present a method for calculating multiple scattering of electromagnetic radiation by a collection of sparsely spaced spherical scatterers (SSSS) of Mie-scattering size based on first principles rather than radiative transfer theory. In this respect, our methodology is conceptually similar to the superposition T-matrix method. However, our implementation, which we call the SSSS scheme, differs in a number of respects. Overall, the SSSS scheme is simpler, it is better suited numerically to sparse spacing, and the computer memory required is only linearly dependent on the total number of scatterers. We suggest that the SSSS scheme would be particularly useful for examining the effects of different spatial configurations of drops within water clouds in Earth's atmosphere and would also be useful in other fields of research in which the exact configuration of a collection of sparsely spaced Mie-sized scatterers is important.


We present a joint theoretical-experimental study of CO coverage on Au under both gas phase and
electrochemical conditions. By analyzing temperature programmed desorption (TPD) spectra on
(211) and (310) surface facets, we show that, under atmospheric CO pressure, the steps of both
facets adsorb up to 0.7 ML coverage of *CO, while the terraces have close to zero coverage. We
show this result to be consistent with density functional theory calculations of adsorption energies.
Under electrochemical conditions on polycrystalline Au, we investigate the CO binding with in
situ attenuated total reflection surface enhanced IR spectra (ATR-SEIRAS). We detect a CO band
at 0.2V vs. SHE that disappears upon partial Pb underpotential deposition (facet selective), which
suggests Pb blocks the CO adsorption sites. With Pb underpotential deposition on single crystals
and theoretical surface Pourbaix analysis, we narrow down the possible adsorption sites of CO to
open site motifs: (211) and (110) steps, as well as (100) terraces. Ab initio molecular dynamics
simulations of explicit water at the Au surface, however, shows the adsorption of CO on (211)
steps to be significantly weakened relative to the (100) terrace due to competitive water adsorption.
This result suggests that CO is more likely to bind to the (100) terrace than steps in an
electrochemical environment. The competition between water and CO adsorption can result in
different binding sites for *CO on Au in gas phase and electrochemical environments.


Purpose Diabetes is a grave and progressive condition characterized by debilitating complications. Diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD) is a very common complication with no specific treatments currently available. Unlike other tissues affected by this disease, the bladder is subjected to two independent insults; 1) polyuria, created by the osmotic effects of glucose in the urine, and 2) hyperglycemia itself. Based on our understanding of inflammation as a major contributor to the underlying organ damage in several other diabetic complications, its presence in the bladder during DBD and the contribution of polyuria and hyperglycemia to its development were assessed. Methods Awake, restrained cystometry was performed on wild type C57BL/6 mice and diabetic (Akita) mice on a C57BL/6 background at 15 weeks of age. A subgroup of the Akita mice were treated with phlorizin, an inhibitor of sodium-glucose linked transporter types 1 and 2 that prevents glucose reabsorption in the kidney. All groups were assessed for serum glucose, 4-hour voiding totals, and inflammation in the bladder (Evans blue assay). Results Akita mice develop cystometrically-defined DBD by 15 weeks of age, as evidenced by an increase in urinary frequency, a decrease in voiding volume, and an increase in post-voiding residual volume. Phlorizin effectively normalized serum glucose in these animals while increasing the urine output. Inflammation in the bladder was present in the diabetic animals at this time point, but not detectable in animals receiving phlorizin. Conclusion Inflammation in the bladder of diabetic mice correlates with the development of DBD and is triggered by hyperglycemia, not polyuria.


In the title compound, C18H18N2O, the morpholine ring adopts a chair conformation with the exocyclic N—C bond in an equatorial orientation. The dihedral angles between the central benzene ring and the morpholine ring (all atoms) and the cyanobenzene ring are 87.87 (7) and 52.54 (7)°, respectively. No significant intermolecular interactions are observed in the crystal structure.


Abstract Nowadays, a nanostructure-based drug delivery system is one of the most noticeable topics to be studied, and in this regard, boron nitride nanoclusters are promising drug carriers for targeted drug delivery systems. In this article, the interaction mechanism of Anagrelide (AG) drug with B12N12 and Al- and Ga-doped B12N12 nanocages have been investigated using DFT with B3LYP/6-31 G (d, p) method in both gas and water media. All our studied complexes are thermodynamically stable, and doped nanocage complexes have higher negative adsorption energy (EAd.) and negative solvation energy than AG/B12N12 complexes which correspond to the stability of these systems in both media. The negative highest EAd value is 64.98 kcal/mol (63.17 kcal/mol) and 65.69 kcal/mol (65.11 kcal/mol) in gas (water) media for complex F (AG/AlB11N12) and complex I (AG/GaB11N12) respectively, which refers to the highest stability of these systems. The enhanced values of dipole moment (from 12.40 (12.65) Debye to 17.21 (17.69) Debye in complex F (complex I)) also confirm their stability. The QTAIM and RDG analysis endorse the strong adsorption nature of the AG drug onto the AlB11N12, and GaB11N12 nanocages, which is consistent with the adsorption energy as chemisorption occurs for these complexes. According to the electronic properties, doped nanocages show high sensitivity that infers their promising nature for drug delivery purposes. Thus, complex F and complex I are promising drug delivery systems, and doped nanocages (AlB11N12 and GaB11N12) are better carriers than pristine nanocages for the AG drug delivery system. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma


This paper aims to express efforts to use comparative literary works as a medium in language learning, and at the same time as a means for the formation of the character of learners. The benefits of comparative literature, among others: (1) as the basis of the study of cross-cultural literary works, (2) as the basis or basis of language skills learning (Sprachfertigkeiten) namely: listening (Hӧrverstӓndnis-Sprechfertigkeit), reading-writing (Leseverstӓndnis-Schreibfertigkeit), (3) as a means of strengthening character education. As the basis for cross-cultural text studies, comparative literary works can be used to compare cultures between nations. As the basis of language learning, comparative literary works, has a uniqueness that is not possessed by other linguistic teaching materials, because the language of literary works has a connotative characteristic (figurative), contains majas, and prioritizes the characteristics of narrative discourse. Language in literary works prioritizes its main function, which is communicative function and suitable to be used to teach language skills. Furthermore, as a means of strengthening character education, literary works are worthful, which can be used to provide value strengthening for learners as the future generation of the nation.


After World War II, Japan experienced a great political and social shift, which brought a concern of emerging public landscape in urban development. This paper analyses the management of the aesthetic intentions in urban design effort. We reviewed the development of various public installation of artworks concerning urban landscape aesthetics through its administrative process in chronological order. The monuments during the first decade marked a shift in emphasis from the militarism of the pre-war and wartime period to one of peace. However, some of the monuments and sculptures are not immune to controversy. This became an issue that could no be ignored by public officials whose responsibility was to place the sculptures while maintaining sensitivity to public opinion. As public administrators began to consider the possibility that sculptures may contribute to improving public amenities, the contextual concepts were basically ignored. Some of the programs in 1970s began to show more respect to the context, while other programs in this period expressed more interest in educational aspects of sculptures in the public spaces. Urban development projects also seek to introduce artworks integrated to their urban design concepts in 1990s. Generally, the administrators responsible for these programs were rarely trained in any relative field study other than public administration. Installing sculptures tended to be considered as part of public works projects on the level of urban planning and construction. The general public is basically removed from participating in the critical decisions that actually impact their lives in relation to the artworks. In conclusion, public art in japan has unique social and historic background both in its advantages and disadvantages. Issues pertaining to art in public spaces have evolved over the decades as the term `sculpture pollution` began to appear by the mid 1990s. most of the problems originated in either the lack of monumentality, contextual consideration, quality, or public participation. From another point of view, these programs played great roll in the development of modern Japanese sculpture and patronizing process, and the creation of new urban landscape with aesthetic value. In this sense, they must be considered as successful and noteworthy examples of cultural administration and urban design policy.


Recently, I received a letter from a phycologist specializing on the systematics and phylogeny of siphoneous green algae. In the course of discussion, he questioned, "Can we place much strength in wall polysaccharides for systematic purposes in the algae?" This question bears out my thesis that the significance of cell wall chemistry to algal phylogeny has, as yet, not been adequately demonstrated, let alone universally adopted. Thus, it is to this subject that I shall focus my attention today, using examples especially from the siphoneous green algae. In discussing the significance of cell wall chemistry to phylogeny in algae, a number of general points should be kept in mind. First, only a relatively small number of algae has received comprehensive treatment. By comprehensive, I refer to polysaccharide, protein, and perhaps lipid composition of the wall; to both structural, amorphous, and adcrusting phases; and to the use of a variety of complementary techniques. Admittedly cellulose has been reported in hundreds of algal cell walls by either nonspecific staining reactions or the technique of x-ray diffraction crystallography. This widespread occurrence of cellulose among algae indicates that the mere presence of this substance is often of little phylogenetic or systematic value. For example, cellulose in some form apparently occurs universally among brown a1gae.l0, lo Sphacelaria species (FIGURE 1 ) typify the microfibrillar network of cellulosic substance (as per staining and x-ray diffraction) which is obtained generally with mild alkali or hot water extraction of brown algal Such widespread occurrence of cellulose in brown algae is of little value per se on the subdivisional level. In contrast, the occurrence of cellulosic microfibrils (as per staining and x-ray diffraction) in alkali-extracted Nemalion sp. (FIGURE 2 ) 4 7 may have slightly more phylogenetic significance. This feature suggests a closer alliance of Nemdion to other members of the Florideophyceae than to the Bangiophyceae, in which little or no cellulose has been found.l** 23, 40 I shall attempt to show subsequently that cellulose may have still greater phylogenetic and systematic significance in the green algae, where this polysaccharide does not occur universally. Unfortunately, these numerous algae with cellulose, in most instances, have other wall components of unknown identity, and these substances may have greater value for supporting phylogenetic schemes. The importance of the comprehensive approach to cell wall composition, as well as structure, is well illustrated in recent studies by Dyck li on selected extant and fossil charophytes. The possibility of comparative studies of cell wall chemistry in both extant and fossil charophytes arose when a Miocene Chara contraria (identification by Fay Daily, personal communication) revealed intact cellulose microfibrils in its vegetative and oosporangial walls (FIGURES 3-4) .*' Dyke has concentrated his investigations on the oosporangial walls both