BACKGROUND
Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are one of the most common presentations to Australian general practitioners. Patients often present hoping to be cured, but most URTIs are caused by viral infections, so the task of management is predominantly symptomatic. Patients may be impatient to recover from cough because of concerns from others regarding infectivity from potential SARS-CoV-2 infection. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of interventions is poorly understood and lacking a robust evidence base. As a result, URTIs are a common presentation leading to unnecessary use of antibiotics or ineffectual treatments.

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this article is to improve the management of acute cough, a common reason for consulting a general practitioner. Understanding the pathophysiology and time course of this symptom informs selection of evidence-based treatment options and supports better antibiotic stewardship.

DISCUSSION
URTI presentations provide fertile ground for educating patients about infections, self-management options, dealing with uncertainty and responsible use of medicines.


Information technology (IT) implementation is likely to be a complex and difficult process involving both the technical and social systems of an organization. Much of the theory and practice of organizational IT implementation assumes that organizational decisions--whether technical or social--are consequences of individuals and organizational units objectively collecting, evaluating, and applying information in a rational manner to make choices on behalf of the organization. However, recent data from case studies on IT implementation suggest that rationality may be the exception, rather than the rule. One important limitation, then, of traditional research and systems analysis methods is that they fail to account for the human factors that impact IT implementation. As a result, there is no systematic way to incorporate what we might learn from individual action and practice into the model. A theoretical perspective and research methodology that successfully encompass and expand the normative approach in mainstream science is "action science." Action science is a theory of action that helps explain how, and why, individuals behave as they do; and how their actions impact their organizations. In this paper, our primary goal is to employ an action science perspective to understand how a large financial services firm was inhibited from implementing a major IT effort in a timely, effective, and error-free way because of the thought and action routines of those charged with designing and implementing the system. In particular, we look for disagreements and other, unproductive action routines among these individuals, and evidence of their inability to surface and discuss them. We also review two published studies of IT implementation to show that the level of analysis required by action science is implied, but not made explicit in them. We conclude with a discussion of what constitutes a descriptively adequate account of an IT implementation and the barriers to the production of such an account. We also suggest a competing framework, based on action science, for designing and managing organizational IT change.


The PEP-II Low-Energy Ring will operate at a nominal energy of 3.1 GeV with a positron beam current of 2.1 A. Design parameters for vacuum components are 3.5 GeV at 3 A. The arc vacuum system is based on an aluminum antechamber concept. It consists of 192 pairs of 2 m long magnet chambers and 5.5 m long pumping chambers. Titanium nitride coating of the entire positron duct is needed in order to suppress beam instabilities caused by multipactoring and the "electron-cloud" effect. An extensive R&D program has been conducted to develop coating parameters that give proper stoichiometry and a suitable thickness of TiN. The total secondary emission yield of TiN-coated aluminum coupons has been measured after the samples were exposed to air and again after electron-beam bombardment. A coating facility has been built to cope with the large quantity of production chambers and the very tight schedule requirements.


Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) is the operational satellite dedicated to atmospheric CO2 observations. Assimilation of data provided by GOSAT is expected to yield reliable CO2 fluxes in semi-arid regions because of frequent observations owing to clear skies. Here we estimated net CO2 flux over semi-arid regions of the Southern Hemisphere using the GOSAT column averaged CO2 (XCO2) and surface CO2 measurements. Assimilation of GOSAT XCO2 indicated that semi-arid regions are integral components of recent terrestrial CO2 uptake, accounting for 44% globally. Compared with estimates assimilated from surface measurements, estimates by GOSAT XCO2 suggest a 50% reduction in the semi-arid CO2 uptake, amounting to 1.1 Pg C yr . Significant estimation differences occurred for South America and South Africa, where the GOSAT makes frequent measurements but where surface CO2 measurements are limited. In comparison, the two estimates varied less in Australia, where more surface measurements are available. These results suggest that GOSAT XCO2 is effective at regulating excess estimates of semi-arid CO2 uptake in regions that are less constrained by surface CO2 measurements. To promote understanding of climate change effects in semi-arid regions, it is important to continue monitoring trends in CO2 uptake with GOSAT. (Citation: Kondo, M., T. Saeki, H. Takagi, K. Ichii, and K. Ishijima, 2016: The effect of GOSAT observations on estimates of net CO2 flux in semi-arid regions of the Southern Hemisphere. SOLA, 12, 181−186, doi:10.2151/sola.2016-037.)


Pollution of groundwater has become a major environmental problem. Anthropogenic impacts on groundwater within different zones of Abeokuta, Southern Nigeria were evaluated. The study area was divided into four zones; Crowded, Market, Residential and Industrial areas. Groundwater samples were randomly collected from hand dug wells and boreholes and analysed for pH, electrical conduitivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS). The samples were also analysed for selected trace metals using ICP-NS and major anions and cations. Results of the Physicochemical parameters were in the range of 67 – 649 ppm for TDS; 6.6 – 8.9 for


Background: Cabozantinib is an oral MET/VEGFR2 inhibitor. A recent phase II study of cabozantinib (100 mg daily) showed improved bone scans in subjects with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), but adverse events (AE) caused frequent dose reductions. This study was designed to determine the efficacy and tolerability of cabozantinib at lower starting doses. Experimental Design: An adaptive design was used to determine the lowest active daily dose among 60, 40, and 20 mg. The primary endpoint was week 6 bone scan response, defined as ≥30% decrease in bone scan lesion area. The secondary endpoint was change in circulating tumor cells (CTC). Results: Among 11 evaluable subjects enrolled at 40 mg, there were 9 partial responses (PR), 1 complete response, and 1 stable disease (SD). Of 10 subjects subsequently enrolled at 20 mg, there were 1 PR, 5 SDs, and 4 with progressive disease. Among 13 subjects enrolled on the 40 mg expansion cohort, there were 6 PRs and 7 SDs. No subjects required dose reduction or treatment interruption at 6 or 12 weeks; 3 subjects at dose level 0 discontinued due to AEs by 12 weeks. At 40 mg, median treatment duration was 27 weeks. 58% of subjects with ≥5 CTCs/7.5mL at baseline converted to <5. Conclusions: Cabozantinib 40 mg daily was associated with a high rate of bone scan response. Cabozantinib 40 mg daily was associated with better tolerability than previously reported for cabozantinib 100 mg daily. These observations informed the design of phase III studies of cabozantinib in mCRPC. Clin Cancer Res; 19(11); 3088–94. ©2013 AACR.


Introduction: BK polyomavirus is a double-stranded DNA virus from the Polyomaviridae family. According to DNA sequences, this virus can be classified into six genotypes. In hematological patients enrolled in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) programs, it can lead to hemorrhagic cystitis. Aim: The aim of this study is calculating the prevalence of BK polyomavirus PCR (polymerase chain reaction) positivity in the blood and urine of patients involved in allogeneic HSCT, determining the predictive factors for clinical presentation of BK polyomavirus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis, as well as determining its effects on overall survival (OS) of the patients. Materials and methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 42 patients from the Clinic of Hematology of the University Clinical Center of Serbia. The presence of the virus in blood and urine was determined by the PCR method. The survival rate of the patients in relation to hemorrhagic cystitis was calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method and comparison was performed with the log-rank test. Results: A positive PCR result in the blood was found in 97.6% of the subjects, while urine tested positive in 100% of patients. The estimated survival time in patients without hemorrhagic cystitis was 44.357 months, while the group with the clinical presentation of hemorrhagic cystitis had an estimated survival time of 17.395 months. Based on the log-rank test, we found a significant difference in survival between those groups of patients ( p = 0.049). With regards to leukocyte engraftment day, patients engrafted after D+14, had a higher frequency of hemorrhagic cystitis ( p = 0.037). Conclusion: BK polyomavirus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis is a common complication of treatment in patients suffering from hematological malignancies who are enrolled in an alo-HSCT program, and has


solution available in clinical settings, especially when current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines state that only solutions of PPD containing 5 TU/0.1 mL should be used.1 We have discontinued the 250 TU formulation in our institution. We urge caution in the interpretation of tuberculin tests and suggest careful examination of the strength of the solution before administration.


Introduction. Life expectancy in Moldova after independence either fluctuated in the 1990s or stagnated in the early millennium, followed by moderate improvements since 2010. The objective of the study is to investigate the evolution of regional variations in life expectancy since independence in Moldova and to identify the main demographic components (causes of death and age groups) responsible for interregional mortality inequalities.
Material and methods. Five-year average mortality rates by age and cause in the territorial profile were used for three periods: 1991-1995, 2002-2006 and 2012-2016. Abridged life tables and confidence intervals were computed. The difference in life expectancy between the two subpopulations was decomposed, according to Andreev's method.
Results. The gap in life expectancy between the best-performing and the worst-performing groups constitutes 6.0 years. Important progress has been made in the municipality of Chisinau and the northern districts of Briceni and Edinet concerning cardiovascular mortality. In 11 districts located mainly in the centre, the decline in infant mortality due to respiratory diseases was offset by the growth in adult mortality due to external causes and neoplasms.
Conclusions. Regional disparities can be reduced through preventive measures targeting the key risk factors for cardiovascular disease, liver cirrhosis and external causes of death within the backward geographical area.


The present study was designed to investigate the outcome of pregnancy and delivery in patients with anemia with poor dietary intake. 300 mothers admitted in a Tertiary health centre for delivery were recruited for the study. Hemoglobin, gestational age of delivery and birth weight of the babies was noted. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 16. More than 66 % mothers were anemic at some point of time during their pregnancy. Only 34.7% patients had intake of extra diet during pregnancy. Mean birth weight of babies born to anemic mothers was 2.39 ±0.5 kg which was significantly lower compared to that of babies born to non anemic mothers 3.04 ±0.47 kg ( p value = 0.001). Only 28.3% of the anemic patients took extra diet during pregnancy among whom 35% mothers had LBW babies. 71.7% patients did not take extra calorie diet which resulted in 45% LBW babies. The mean gestational age at delivery for mothers who were anemic was 36.40±2.9 weeks compared to non anemic group 38.33±1.8 weeks. The incidence of low birth weight babies and preterm deliveries were significantly more in mothers who were anemic with a poor diet intake. Occurred more frequently in mothers.


We describe a distributed sensor network test-bed and a surveillance experiment to demonstrate the integration of distributed tracking algorithms with strategies for location estimation, energy management and mobility management of sensor nodes. The test-bed consists of real sensor nodes augmented with a simulated environment. Data from real world tracking is provided to the simulated environment, where it is used to self-organize the sensor network in an energy-efficient way. Results from the simulation are then fed back to the real world to enable the sensor network to reorganize for reinforced tracking.


Background: Patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding generally were decreased nutritional status that hypoalbuminemia because of increased albumin excretion from hemorrhage and patients fasted indefinitely until the bleeding stops. Enteral nutrition in patients with bleeding should be given to prevent malnutrition and reduce mortality. Objective: To identify the differences in levels of albumin serum in the early enteral nutrition without waiting for the results of gastric lavage is clear (without fasting) and after 2-3 times the clear gastric lavage (fasted). Method: The study used pre-experimental research design by static group comparison design. The study was conducted in RS Aisyiyah Bojonegoro in March to June 2015. The sample was 30 patients divided into 2 groups by Random Allocation, there was the treatment group I that fasted (15 patients), and treatment group II without fasted (15 patients). Analysis of data using Wilcoxon test Signed Ranks Test. Results: The research found that there were differences in the provision of early enteral nutrition to albumin. Results showed that albumin level in patients who fasted lower than that without fasted. Results Statistics by Wilcoxon Signed Rank test with a 0.05 significance level values obtained 0,046, its means that H1 was accepted. Conclusion: Patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding can be given early enteral nutrition without waiting for the results gastric lavage clear rinse.


The use of medical marijuana-both the psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol and its nonpsychoactive relative cannabidiol-is a growing practice in facilities served by senior care pharmacists. Currently, 30 states have approved its use under a variety of different regulations and for a number of conditions. Its use is bolstered by a growing number of Americans who support legalization of cannabis. Though oral synthetic cannabinoid compounds are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and appetite stimulation associated with AIDS, synthetic products differ from plant-derived products in several ways. In addition, use of these substances has created a regulatory and legal quagmire that differs considerably depending on the state in which the pharmacist practices. In long-term care, pharmacists face an entirely different set of challenges than pharmacists who practice in other settings: Increasingly, long-term care residents and their attending physicians are asking to use medical marijuana. This manuscript discusses how some long-term care facilities are accommodating this substance that federally and in many states is considered illegal. It also discusses some of the challenges faced by pharmacists who work in dispensaries.


The investigation on the herbal of Euphorbia humifusa Wild. was carried out in order to find its anti-HBV constituents. The isolation and purification were performed by chromatography such as Sephadex LH-20, MCI GEL CHP 20P, etc. Based on the spectral analysis, five apigenin glycosides were identified as apigenin-7-O-(6"-O-galloyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), apigenin-7-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), apigenin-7-O-beta-D-lutinoside (3), apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranside (4) and apigenin (5). Among them, compound 1 is a new compound, compound 2 and 3 were isolated from this plant for the first time.


This paper describes the techniques in threading and autodocumenting news stories according to topic themes. Initially, we perform story clustering by exploiting the duality between stories and textual-visual concepts through a co-clustering algorithm. The dependency among stories of a topic is tracked by exploring the textual-visual novelty and redundancy of stories. A novel topic structure that chains the dependencies of stories is then presented to facilitate the fast navigation of the news topic. By pruning the peripheral and redundant news stories in the topic structure, a main thread is extracted for autodocumentary


Resource is the basis of sustainable development. Water is the source of life. It is essential for survival and development of human beings. It is directly related to the national economy and the people's livelihood, the social development and the prosperity of nations. Disasters brought about by too little or too much water as well as water pollution restrict the sustainable development of the national economy. So it is imperative for us to solve the water problems and to carry out management of sustainable water resources (MSWR). This paper summarizes the researching status quo of MSWR, analyzes and selects the evaluation indices, and then establishes the analytical hierarchy figure. Aiming at the complexity and fuzziness of water resource system, this paper combines fuzzy theory with analytical hierarchy process and puts forward an AHP-based fuzzy evaluation approach which converts quantitative analysis into qualitative analysis. The method mainly consists of three procedures: establishment of hierarchy index-system, single-index evaluation and comprehensive evaluation. The most important procedure is the second one. In this procedure, the weights of each index and the membership degree must be calculated on the basis of AHP and fuzzy sets theory. This approach is very easy to understand and its conclusion is more accurate. Through the conclusion, problems should be found out in the water resources management. So we can take some measures to improve it.


Nowadays logistic service centers have taken place. The main reason for it is the process
which is popular among companies. They outsource the most of the logistic processes.
GYSEV CARGO Inc. has a significant role in this field.
In this paper, I presented my experiences of my internship. I chose this topic because
of this internship. During the time spent there I had the opportunity to get to know all the
processes which are necessary for an important logistic service center like the GYSEV
CARGO Inc. Thereby, I could get a more accurate picture of the company's current situation,
field of action, as well the effectiveness of its processes.
In the first part of my thesis I try to give an overall picture about the enterprise. I
present its history in the beginning, its organisational structure, its services and the technologies
used by the company. After that I focus on the main processes and procedures
used in the GYSEV CARGO Inc. Then I represent the combinant and its services, functions
and the company named HCCR Sopron's connection to this terminal. After that I list
the IT systems used by the enterprise. I introduce that, which softwares can be used for the
different tasks and what is their importance. During my internship I had the chance to gain
information about the storage processes and their technologies used by the logistic service
center, which are introduced as well. I also had the opportunity to get an accurate picture
about the company's complain handling, RMA, billing and marketing pocesses.
In the fourth part of my thesis I explain my remarks more deeply about the company's
operation and the development opportunities for them. The development opportunities
suggested by me point to help the working processes and make them faster and easier.
The main essence of my thesis is to present why the logistic service center is so important
in the everyday life.


The chemical specificity induced by chemisorbed oxygen at atomically clean surfaces is shown to have diverse implications for the fundamental mechanisms of surface processes. Photoelectron spectroscopy, used in a dynamic mode, has enabled the synergistic chemistry associated with the chemistry of coadsorbed molecules (nitric oxide with water and ammonia) at Zn(0001) and Mg(0001) surfaces to be attributed to the activation of the O-H and N -H bonds. The step-wise reduction of chemisorbed nitrogen to NH (a) and NH2(a) has been established; with Mg(0001) dehydrogenation of the surface amide rather than complete hydrogenation to NH3(g) favoured. The reaction pathway is critically dependent on temperature, the concentrations of O2-(a) and OH(a) and the strength of the zinc-nitrogen and magnesium-nitrogen bonds. At Mg(100) surfaces preadsorbed oxygen, through an electrostatic (ligand) effect, controls the two chemisorption states of acetic acid, one involving sp3 and the other sp2 hybridization. Analogous ligand effects are involved in the correlation established between the reactivity of chloride overlayers at pB(110) surfaces and the presence of surface oxygen. In the reaction of halogen hydrides with Pb(110), surface oxygen plays two distinct roles: activation of the halogen hydride and stabilization of the chloride overlayer. The surface oxygen is a prerequisite for both the generation of the overlayer and the reactivity of the overlayer. Two distinct types of oxygen are invoked, one of which is subsurface. Oxygen interaction with nickel and titanium has been shown through analysis of Ni(2p) and Ti(2p) spectra to involve variable oxidation states. Ti2+ and Ti3+ are formed preferentially at the titanium —overlayer interface while Ti4+ is predom inantly at the oxide—gas interface. A localized bonding model for the oxygen overlayer is suggested, which also has analogies with observations m ade of m ixed-halide (chloride and brom ide) overlayers at Pb(110) surfaces.


The owner asks the author to see the condition of the commercial building. The author recognizes that Commercial Buildings do not meet the requirements of the structure of strength, stability, and stiffness. Of the substructure and upper structure of commercial buildings in the business center in Riau Province. Even though they have been built, they do not meet the structural requirements. A thorough analysis is needed from the bottom structure to the top structure. This research aim is strengthening under and upper structure, nothing moving the user and operational — survey methodology with collecting primary and secondary data. Substructure and upper structure data are analyzed for the cause of the damage. The solution is the design and construction stages — design of substructure and upper structure strengthening. The right construction stage applies for an essential role in the success of the construction because the condition of the existing structure from the bottom up is weak. The structural improvement achieved successful results


The study aim was concerned with formulation and evaluation of bioadhesive buccal drug delivery of tizanidine hydrochloride tablets, which is extensively metabolized by liver. The tablets were prepared by direct compression using bioadhesive polymers such as hydroxylpropyl methylcellulose K4M, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose alone, and a combination of these two polymers. In order to improve the permeation of drug, different permeation enhancers like beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD), hydroxylpropyl beta-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD), and sodium deoxycholate (SDC) were added to the formulations. The β-CD and HP-β-CD were taken in 1:1 molar ratio to drug in formulations. Bioadhesion strength, ex vivo residence time, swelling, and in vitro dissolution studies and ex vivo permeation studies were performed. In vitro release of optimized bioadhesive buccal tablet was found to be non-Fickian. SDC was taken in 1%, 2%, and 3% w/w of the total tablet weight. Stability studies in natural saliva indicated that optimized formulation has good stability in human saliva. In vivo mucoadhesive behavior of optimized formulation was performed in five healthy male human volunteers and subjective parameters were evaluated.


The operations of Nissen, Hill, and Belsey are adequate in controlling esophaegeal reflux in the majority of patients. In a small percentage however, objective and subjective evidence of esophagitis persists in spite of repeated operations to restore lower esophageal sphincter competency. These failures are then usually treated by operative procedures of great magnitude involving organ interposition. Repeated antireflux operations directed to the gastroesophageal area may in some instances result in impairment of blood supply with an increased risk of both esophageal and gastric fistulae. In the past many observers have felt that reflux esophagitis resulted solely from the effects of acid-pepsin secretions bathing the distal esophagus. Recently experimental and clinical data have indicated the importance of duodenal contents in the etiology and perpetuation of reflux esophagitis. During a recent two year period, 6 patients with persistent reflux esophagitis uncontrolled by repeated antireflux procedures have been seen on our service. These 6 patients, underwent 12 unsuccessful antireflux operations elsewhere. Three of the 6 patients had also been subjected to vagotomy-antrectomy for a coexisting duodenal ulcer. A marked lowering of gastric acidity took place but esophageal reflux and esophagitis persisted. These three patients were treated on our service by takedown of the Billroth I anastomosis, closure of the duodenal stump and diversion of the duodenal contents into a Roux-en-Y limb. Three other patients who had undergone unsuccessful antireflux procedures alone were subjected to antral resection, Roux-en-Y diversion and transthoracic vagotomy.This simplified approach to the treatment of persistent esophageal reflux uncontrolled by repeated antireflux procedures has given satisfactory results. The operation should be considered when technical considerations preclude further surgical attempts to perform another effective antireflux operation. Total duodenal diversion should, however, not be considered as the primary operation for the patient suffering from reflux esophagitis. However, in circumstances discussed above this indirect approach appears preferable to major resectional procedures.


Understanding of the pathophysiology of neuronal injury has advanced remarkably in the last decade. This largely reflects the burgeoning application of molecular techniques to neuronal cell biology. Although there is certainly no consensus hypothesis that explains all aspects of neuronal injury, a number of interesting observations have been published. In this brief review, we examine mechanisms that appear to contribute to the pathophysiology of neuronal injury, including altered Ca2+ signaling, activation of the protease cascades coupled to apoptosis, and mitochondrial deenergization associated with release of cytochrome c, production of free radicals, and oxidative injury. Finally, evidence for neuroprotective mechanisms that may ameliorate cell injury and/or death are reviewed. Little information has been published regarding the mechanisms that mediate injury in the enteric nervous system, necessitating a focus on models outside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which may provide insights into enteric nervous system injury.


Class, human worth and money This article discusses class, economy and culture in a rather down-to-earth way. Empirically the study focuses on debates on household budgets and the growing anxieties of economical decline among the Swedish middle classes during the first half of the twentieth century. Class is conventionally defined by socio-economical or/and cultural criteria. The point of this paper is to analyse source material about the economical situation of (self-defined) middle class groups from a cultural perspective. Theoretically I address the question how people try to make the seemingly contradictory economic value and ideal values commeasurable in everyday practice. In other words I show by three historical examples how writings about financial issues can shed light on cultural and moral boundaries between classes and how the ambiguous concept of value/values can be used as an analytical tool in the study of class.


Optical telescopes are the most intriguing investigative instruments used for astrometric monitoring and for investigation of celestial objects. Literature presents several investigations concerning the expected imaging performance of optical telescopes and sources of influence which can affect the obtained image quality. In fact its features can drastically decrease in presence of induced vibrations, kinetic movements and mechanical shock, which can come from external sources (i.e. ambient disturbance) or internal signals (i.e. working conditions of the telescope). It should be noted that in the perspective to predict vibrations level which could affect the device, several solutions have been proposed in literature by using wind-tunnel tests (to emulate ambient effects), fluid-dynamic analysis, simulations, shock test, etc. However, very often, these methods implies approximations in terms of induced vibrations as respect the real scenario. In this context, we present here measurements campaigns to study the real kinetic influences which affect a telescope and to analyze the most critical points where these movements are applied. The analyses here conducted arouse interest during the design and the mounting of the instrument and also in order to design specific active compensations, mechanical filters, feedback control and helpful for real-time vibration corrections. In the present study, several types of induced movements will be accounted through 3D measurements and considerations in terms of impressed accelerations.


This PhD thesis is devoted to studying the topic of Leadership in Work Environment Complexity (WEC). In recent years, organisations have been rapidly evolving into ever more complex workplaces that single actors are hardly able to oversee or control (Osborn & Hunt, 2007). This thesis therefore introduces and works with the construct of Work Environment Complexity (WEC), which outlines the (individually perceived) complexity within organisational work contexts. As WEC presents organisations and leaders with a new and often challenging quality of work, further research is needed to understand complexity as well as the consequences for working and leading in high-complexity work environments (e.g., Burnes, 2005; Uhl-Bien & Marion, 2009).

Leaders are especially expected to successfully navigate this new kind of business environment, which is more and more unstable, fluid, and challenging (e.g., Hannah, Avolio, Luthans, & Harms, 2008; Intezari & Pauleen, 2014). In organisational psychology, Complexity Leadership has thus emerged as one of the top leadership theories of the modern age (e.g., Dinh et al., 2014). However, the characterisation of WEC and the approach to its measurement have remained contested areas. In particular, with many and competing views in complexity science, there has not yet been a common agreement about what characterises a "complex" work environment for an individual, and how these insights can be substantially and empirically related to research in leadership and organisational psychology (Black, 2000; Burnes, 2005; Schneider & Somers, 2006). Consequently, this thesis aimed to expand knowledge and research, both on the construct of WEC itself and on leadership within complex working environments.


In this paper we present a methodology to use drift diffusion (DD) simulations in the
design of short channel heterojunction FETs (HFETs) with well pronounced velocity
overshoot. In the DD simulations the velocity overshoot in the channel is emulated by
forcing the saturation velocity in the field dependent mobility model to values
corresponding to the average velocity in the channel obtained from Monte Carlo (MC)
simulation. To illustrate our approach we compare enhanced DD and MC simulation
results for a pseudomorphic HEMTs with 0.12 μm channel length, which are in good
agreement. The usefulness of the described methodology is illustrated in a simulation
example of self aligned gamma gate pseudomorphic HEMTs. The effect of the gamma
gate shape and the self aligned contacts on the overall device performance has been
investigated.


In the current revised 4th edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, 'other iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (Oii-LPDs)' is listed in the last section in the chapter on immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders. Oii-LPDs cover a broad spectrum from benign lesions to lymphoma, and correspond to one of the subtypes in the WHO classification for immunocompetent patients. The WHO classification does not clearly indicate the histological subtype of this disease category; however, the framework of subtype classification is similar to the classification of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders, and recent studies have attempted to subcategorize Oii-LPDs that fit this unique disease type. In this review, we provide an overview of B-cell-type Oii-LPDs regarding their histopathology and immunophenotype, genetics and clinical behaviors.


Abstract
 Graptemys sabinensis (Sabine Map Turtle) occurs in the Sabine, Calcasieu, and Mermentau river drainages of Louisiana and Texas. The Mermentau River was altered by construction of seven cut-offs between the towns of Mermentau and Lake Arthur, LA, in the 1970s, and several cut-offs also have been constructed along the river's largest tributary, Bayou Plaquemine Brule. We surveyed basking turtles on lower Plaquemine Brule and the Mermentau River to determine if the new channels are used to the same extent as the original channels. The original channels had nonsignificantly higher counts of basking Sabine Map Turtles and total turtles than the new channels. However, the shorter new channels had significantly higher densities of Sabine Map Turtles and total turtles than the original channels. The new channels create a bypass for excess water on the river following heavy rainfall, allowing higher flow on new channels, which may be preferred by Sabine Map Turtles. There was no significant difference in Sabine Map Turtle density between the inner and outer banks of the Mermentau's original channels, presumably because dredging made the depths along the inner and outer banks similar; new channels also divert water away from the original channels during high-flow events, which may maintain the anthropogenically homogenized condition of the original channels.


We have made a preliminary study on a possibility to build a device, which could measure three-phase alternating current at a distance. This report gives a brief look at the theoretical background related with such a device and derives several mathematical results associated with the theory and the structure of the device. Our results suggest that such a device can be built, assuming the distances between the three current-carrying wires and the two sensors of the device are known accurately enough. There are ways to measure these distances, but this article does not concentrate on them.


Introduction: Standard precautions defined as "a group of infection prevention practices that apply to all patients, regardless of suspected or confirmed diagnosis or presumed infection status". The aim of these precautions is prevention and or reduction of transmission of HAI, and in the same time, protection of Nurses from sharp injuries. Main objective: the main objective is to assess Prevalence of SI and NSI and related causes among Nurses in Northern West Bank Hospitals /Palestine. Method: a systemic random sample of (249) nurses was selected from Rafedia hospital, Alwatani hospital, Thabet Thabet hospital, Khalil Suleiman hospital and Darwish Nazzal hospital. Self administrated questionnaire was filled by participants, and data was analysis by using SPSS version 17. Results: the result showed that the prevalence of sharp injuries and needle stick injuries in previous 12 month were (66.8%) and (46.4%) respectively. Conclusion and Recommendations: standard precaution is basic level of infection control precaution . However , the vast majority of participants in this study didn't always follow it. So more training program on infection control and more concentration on standard precaution by educational program and regular lectures must be given to nurses in order to improve their knowledge and practice of SP measures.


On top of conventional necropsy, virtopsy (postmortem computed tomography and postmortem magnetic resonance imaging) has been integrated into the Cetacean Stranding Response Programme in Hong Kong since March 2014. To date, 177 out of 240 local stranded cetaceans have been examined by virtopsy. This integration has modernised the characterisation and documentation of cetacean biological health and profiles, and causes of death. During this 6-year period, critical pitfalls regarding logistics, carcass recovery, handling, and preservation have been identified. A strategic management scheme is crucial for the successful incorporation of virtopsy into this pioneer programme. This study explains the workflow of the Cetacean Virtopsy Stranding Response Programme in Hong Kong waters. Difficulties encountered are highlighted and practical solutions to address management issues are proposed to consolidate the stranding response network.


Quasi-elastic light scattering has been used to investigate the viscoelastic properties of colloidal monolayers on the surface of water. The frequency shifts, linewidths and intensities of the scattered light demonstrate that it arises from thermally excited capillary waves on the liquid surface. The photon correlation functions are consistent with predictions for a surface monolayer, and have been analysed in terms of the tension and dilational modulus of the surface. The measured values of the associated surface viscosities were compatible with zero. The pi -A variation was in accord with literature data from Wilhelmy plate measurements. However, at small A the light scattering values of the dilational modulus systematically exceeded those derived from the pi -A isotherm. This is as expected for viscoelastic relaxation in the monolayer on time scales much slower than the inverse wave frequencies.


The aetiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) reflects a complicated interrelationship of environmental, lifestyle and genetic risk factors, each comprising a unique causal pie to realise disease in each patient. Of these factors, there is variable evidence in support of each, though some of the strongest and most consistent have been tobacco smoke, EpsteinBarr virus (EBV) exposure and the major histocompatibility locus, particularly the HLADRB1*15:01 allele, while less consistent evidence exists for factors including sun exposure/vitamin D, 5 alcohol intake and BMI. In addition to exploring direct effects of these risk factors, the interaction between them, particularly gene–environment interaction, is of great interest as well as highly biologically plausible. A seminal publication by van der Mei et al explored the interaction between early childhood infant sibling exposure, a measure of early pathogen exposure and HLADRB1 genotype, finding those with less infant sibling exposure had a greater risk of MS, but this relationship was fourfold higher among those of HLADRB1 risk variant genotype, though this did not differ by antiEBVEBNA IgG titre. This study, like many like it, was not able to differentiate between participants of relapsingonset versus progressiveonset MS types, due to the infrequency of progressiveonset ases. While Professor van der Mei has since undertaken the Primary Progressive Case–Control Study, which aims to recruit a sufficient population of progressiveonset cases to evaluate the relationships of lifestyle, environment and genetic factors with disease risk in this patient subgroup, this study is yet ongoing. Hedstrom and colleagues leveraged the wealth of the medical information retained within the Swedish central medical register to explore the relationships of these factors with MS risk among relapsing and progressiveonset MS cases and whether these relationships differed between the patient subgroups. Using two large case–control studies, one established MS (Genes and Environment in MS) and one newly diagnosed MS (Epidemiological Investigation of MS), comprising 7520 relapsingonset MS, 540 progressiveonset MS and 11 386 controls, the authors were able to explore the direct effects of a range of environmental and lifestyle factors' associations with MS risk between the two MS patient subgroups as well as their additive interaction with HLADRB1 genotype. Among relapsingonset and progressiveonset MS cases, the authors found that ever tobacco smoking was associated with 50% and 90% higher MS risk, obese adolescent BMI with 70% and 80% higher MS risk, and high antiEBNA-1 IgG titre with 300% and 200% higher MS risk, respectively. Lower sun exposure was also associated with 30% higher MS risk among both MS phenotypes, while higher alcohol intake (>89 g/week among women >114 g/ week among men) was associated with 30% and 50% lower MS risk and snuff use with 30% and 40% lower MS risk among relapsing and progressiveonset MS, respectively. Of especial interest, however, was assessing additive interaction of these with HLADRB1 genotype, those with the HLADRB1*1501 risk variant showed 6 and 4.6fold enhancement of the adolescent obesity association and 3.4 and 4.4fold enhancement of the low sun exposure association among relapsing and progressiveonset cases, respectively, and roughly 3.0fold and 3.5fold enhancement of the smoking and antiEBVEBNA (EpsteinBarr Nuclear Antigen) associations between both MS phenotypes. These results are of interest, not merely in their substantiation of these risk factors' relationships with MS risk, but particularly showing that the concern heretofore that due to the infrequency of progressiveonset cases in most previous epidemiological studies, associations seen might only have reflected relationships among the relapsingonset cases. While obviously the pathophysiology of progressiveonset MS is distinct from that of relapsingonset, the results of this study indicate that the deleterious associations of smoking, EBV exposure, obesity, and low sun exposure are not restricted to the relapsingonset MS cases. Moreover, that both the measures of association of their direct effects, as well as the degree of enhancement among those with the HLADRB1 risk variant, are so similar suggests their modes of action may be comparable across MS phenotypes. This is encouraging in the utilisation of these risk factors as diagnostic elements for predicting MS risk. In addition, interventions targeting these aspects of environment and lifestyle might have benefits for progressive as well as relapsingonset MS, this a potentially valuable adjunct to established methods of care in MS.


Removal of Pi from the body during hemodialysis (HD) is more difficult than that of urea or creatinine. Therefore, the precise evaluation of its effective dialysis clearance (K) is of practical significance. Estimation of K of Pi is associated with some problems because its kinetics during HD cannot be expressed by a simple mathematical function. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent the calculation of K of Pi is affected by the calculation method employed. In six patients, the kinetics of Pi in serum and effluent dialysis fluid was repeatedly monitored during HD. The first stage of HD, associated with a fairly rapid decrease in serum Pi concentrations, was followed by their stabilization at a constant level. The average predialysis serum Pi was 2.69 (+/-0.41) mmol/l. Three hours after the start of HD, the average serum Pi concentration was 1.33 (+/-0.33) mmol/l and, four hours after the start of HD, it was 1.34 (+/-0.30) mmol/l in average. The following procedures were used for K calculation: (a) the amount of Pi removed during the time interval at which serum Pi concentration was stabilized at a constant level (and calculated per one minute) was divided by the recorded stabilized serum value, (b) the amount of Pi removed from the body during HD and calculated per one minute (D/t) was divided by the average value of pre- and post-HD serum concentrations, (c) K calculation assumed exponential function of the decrease in serum Pi during HD, (d) the total amount of Pi removed during HD was divided by the area under the curve of serum concentrations (D/AUCs), (e) the amount removed during HD and calculated per one minute (D/t) was divided by the serum concentration recorded at the midpoint of HD. The average value of K of Pi calculated on the basis of method (a) was 122.5 (+/-33.6) ml/min and was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than that calculated on the basis of methods (b) (95.7 +/- 31.2 mmol/l) and (c) (103.2 +/- 31.9 mmol/l), but was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that calculated according to method (e) (142.8 +/- 46.3 ml/min). The average value of K calculated on the basis of method (a) did not differ significantly from that calculated according to method (d) (124.7 +/- 35.2 ml/min). Calculation of K according to method (a) is identical with the classic method for calculating the renal clearance of various substances and used generally in clinical nephrology. We therefore used this method as a reference one. The results obtained suggest that, of the other methods used for K calculation, only method (d) based on the calculation of the D/AUCs ratio gives values which do not differ significantly from those obtained using method (a).


Substantial therapeutic progress has been made in myasthenia gravis (MG) even before the era of molecular medicine. Here we characterize modern treatment algorithms that are adapted to disease severity and introduce the principle of escalating treatment strategies for MG. In very mild cases and in some ocular forms of MG, treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors may be sufficient, at least temporarily, but commonly some kind of immunologically active treatment is needed. In generalized MG, a wide array of immunosuppressive treatments has been established through observational studies, some prospective, but most of them have never been tested in a double-blind, prospective and randomized trial. Within the immunologically active drugs, glucocorticosteroids (GCS) and the immunosuppressive drug azathioprine (Aza) have been studied the longest. Aza is still the standard base-line treatment, in particular in cases where high doses of GCS would be needed to maintain remission. If Aza is not tolerated, several alternatives are available including cyclosporine A (Cic A), mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide, and methotrexate, all of them off-label in most western countries. Tacrolimus is under investigation. More severe cases may profit from drug combinations in which compounds with more rapidly acting drugs (GCS, Cic A) are combined with others showing a more delayed action (Aza). All such combination therapies need to be supervised by an experienced neuroimmunological center because of potentially serious adverse reactions. Serial measurements of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies, once these are elevated, is a useful adjunct for monitoring long-term treatment success and may help in weaning from higher to lower doses or to single drugs rather than combinations. For very severe and treatment-resistant cases, co-treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins or different modalities of plasmapheresis may be considered on the short term while the humanized monoclonal anti-CD 20 antibody (rituximab) is a candidate for the long term. In highly refractory cases also immuno-ablation via high-dose cyclophosphamide, followed by hematologic trophic factors such as G-CSF, has been tried successfully. Future developments may include other immunologically active monoclonal antibodies (e.g., anti-CD 52, Campath-1). Up to 10% of patients with MG are associated with a malignant thymoma, often referred to as paraneoplastic MG, as detected by CT scan or MRI, and these patients require thymomectomy and sometimes postsurgical chemotherapy and radiation treatment. In nonthymoma patients with generalised MG, including older children and adults up to the 5th decade, a complete transsternal thymectomy is recommended based on available open trials and expert opinion, preferentially during the first year of disease. Endoscopic surgery may also be effective. Before surgery, pretreatment with immunosuppressive medication or plasmapheresis is usually recommended to ameliorate MG and subsequently reduce perioperative morbidity and mortality which is now near zero in experienced centers. Myasthenic crisis is the life-threatening exacerbation of MG and is best treated by plasmapheresis, mostly combined with immunoadsorption techniques. Intravenous immunoglobulins are a reasonable alternative, but a shortage in supplies and high prices limit its use.


Establishment and focus: This paper aims to develop a system that can control RC cars in five directions: forward, backward, left, right, and stop using EEG signals to apply BCI-based technology. The Neurosky's Mindwave device headset is used to measure brainwave signals and the Arduino Uno is used as a microcontroller for RC car control. The NeuroSky's eSense algorithm is used to represent mental state.  The communication between the EEG headset and the PC was via Bluetooth and the communication between PC and Arduino for RC car control is done via Wi-Fi. The EEG signals are converted into attention and meditation values to present mental states.
System: The developed system can control RC car in 5 directions (forward, backward, right, left, and stop) by using EEG measured in real time. The wearable EEG mobile headset is used for user convenience. We have developed a web-based program to run on mobile devices. The program consists of RC car control module and EEG status information module. The RC car control module is for inducing user's RC car direction control. This module displays arrows for direction selection and number of eye blinking. When the arrow is in the desired direction, user blink his/her eyes to select the direction. The EEG status information module shows the attention and meditation values of the user and power value for each frequency band in real time. This module reflects the user's EEG status when the user wants to keep the RC car moving in the specified direction. The developed system has more than 80% accuracy when changing the direction of RC car. Also, the direction of RC car is changed within 1 second after the direction selection is made in WEB GUI program. The developed system can be used for wheelchair operation or other external device control technology for people with discomfort such as stroke or spinal cord paralysis patients.


Bone morphology is related to static and dynamic parameters during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) kinematics and can affect injury mechanism patterns, gait analysis, biomechanical properties, and surgical references for ligament reconstructions. It does not only depend on mechanical factors but also reflects a developmental program with many other factor involved, including nutrition and hormones, especially those involved in the calcium metabolism. Although Wolff׳s law continues to be a dominant paradigm in Orthopaedics, in the past 15 years enormous advances have been made that have improved our understanding of how individual bones achieve their internal and external structure. Transition from the quadrupedal mode of locomotion to bipedalism compelled changes in the femur morphology and the modern human knee has an extensive history of modifications produced by natural selection acting on its function in habitually upright walking and running. The human ACL is a band-like structure of dense connective tissues that binds the femur to the tibia. The femoral ACL attachment is located on the posterior aspect of the medial surface of the lateral femoral condyle and is composed of both direct and indirect fibers; the central part of the insertion is constructed in the manner described by the classical 4-phase architecture (direct insertion), whereas the posterior margin of the insertion is composed of a 2-phase architecture more typical of indirect insertions. The knowledge of anatomy, comparative anatomy, evolution, and natural selection allows us to have a more profound understanding of the interaction between form and function; after all, as Theodosius Dobzhansky has stated, Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of Evolution.


Companies implementing an IS/IT backsourcing strategy (i.e. bringing IT functions back in-house after they have been outsourced) aiming at increasing operational effectiveness may face several problems. In this paper, we develop a framework characterizing backsourcing as an organizational innovation. We offer a set of propositions on the adoption of a backsourcing strategy. This framework recognizes the role that social context and organizational action plan play in the adoption of IS/IT backsourcing. It serves to clarify why organizations backsource and to understand the antecedent of backsourcing, especially the outsourcing decision. Several hypotheses try to explain the backsourcing decision. The framework has value for both researchers and practitioners. Two major issues are raised in this paper: 1) development of a framework allowing us to understand companies' backsourcing decisions, 2) development of a set of hypotheses aimed at validating the framework. The backsourcing framework is based on innovation. The fundamental hypothesis of our work supposes that a backsourcing decision is based on an innovation process, taking into account the social context as well as the organizational actions. It has been validated on a limited set of data.


The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of telithromycin against 142 strains of Haemophilus influenzae using determination of MICs by agar dilution method and to evaluate the correlation between MICs and inhibition diameter zones obtained by disk diffusion testing. MIC50 and MIC90 of telithromycin were 1 and 2 mg/L respectively. Telithromycin activity against H. influenzae was similar to that of azithromycin, superior to erythromycin and clarithromycin and irrespective of the susceptibility to betalactams. Distribution of diameter zones showed a similar pattern to that of MICs but correlation between MICs and diameter zones was poor with correlation coefficients inferior to 0.5 whatever the agar media used.


Climate change is projected to aggravate water stress in dry and arid regions. Against the backdrop of the epic drought faced by the U.S. state of California in 2015, this chapter discusses the significant vulnerabilities and options for maintaining the resilience of the state's water-dependent economic activities. The drought led to very uneven impacts on different water users and sections of the state, as well as on natural ecosystems versus managed landscapes. Differential vulnerabilities can be traced to the state's complex geography, the configuration of its water storage and delivery infrastructure, and its imperfectly administered mixture of prior appropriation and riparian surface water rights coupled with limited regulation of groundwater withdrawals. Approaches for reducing economic losses have included selective fallowing, increased groundwater pumping, adoption of water-saving irrigation techniques, and market transfers of water. The chapter highlights innovative water management strategies that have emerged over the course of the drought and the lessons that California's drought experience suggests for other areas that may face increasing drought risks in a warmer future climate.


In this article, a study of characteristic vibrations of marine oils separation system is presented. Vibrations analysis allows for the extraction of representative features that could be related to the lifetime of their pieces. Actual measurements were carried out on these systems on Ro-Pax vessels to transport passengers and freight. The vibrations obtained were processed in the frequency domain and following this, they were used in a Genetic Neuro-Fuzzy System in order to design new predictive maintenance strategies. The obtained results show that these techniques as a promising strategy can be utilized to determine incipient faults.


The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a supplemental peer-mediated reading program on reading achievement of first graders (N = 76) in a two-way bilingual immersion (TWBI) program. Nearly 80% of students were Hispanic; of these, 24 were identified as English language learners (ELLs). Classrooms were randomly assigned to peer-assisted learning strategies (PALS) or contrast condition. PALS students participated in a 30-hour peer-mediated early literacy intervention that was conducted three times a week. Results showed statistically significant differences, with large effect sizes favoring PALS on phoneme segmentation fluency, nonsense word fluency, and oral reading fluency. Additionally, disaggregated results analyzed by subgroups (ELLs and English proficient) revealed a differential pattern in response to intervention. Implications of findings in relation to research and practice are discussed.


Chromosome dynamics are recognized to be intimately linked to genomic transactions, yet the physical principles governing spatial fluctuations of chromatin are still a matter of debate. Using high-throughput single-particle tracking, we recorded the movements of nine fluorescently labeled chromosome loci located on chromosomes III, IV, XII, and XIV of Saccharomyces cerevisiae over an extended temporal range spanning more than four orders of magnitude (10−2–103 sec). Spatial fluctuations appear to be characterized by an anomalous diffusive behavior, which is homogeneous in the time domain, for all sites analyzed. We show that this response is consistent with the Rouse polymer model, and we confirm the relevance of the model with Brownian dynamics simulations and the analysis of the statistical properties of the trajectories. Moreover, the analysis of the amplitude of fluctuations by the Rouse model shows that yeast chromatin is highly flexible, its persistence length being qualitatively estimated to <30 nm. Finally, we show that the Rouse model is also relevant to analyze chromosome motion in mutant cells depleted of proteins that bind to or assemble chromatin, and suggest that it provides a consistent framework to study chromatin dynamics. We discuss the implications of our findings for yeast genome architecture and for target search mechanisms in the nucleus.


In South Korea, the suicide rate is more than double the OECD average, and precise identification of the cause is required for suicide prevention. Psychological autopsy is used to reveal factors related to suicidal behavior; however, such studies are lacking in Korea. This study investigated the factors related to suicide using psychological autopsies in Incheon, a major city in Korea. In total, 46 cases were investigated using the Korea-Psychological Autopsy Checklist (K-PAC), and data on mental health conditions and psychosocial factors of suicide decedents and their families were analyzed. It was estimated that 87% of individuals of suicides had a mental health condition before death, but only 15.2% continued treatment or counseling. Most individuals who died of suicide showed warning signs before death, but only 19.6% of survivors of suicide loss noticed them. Mental health concerns before and after the death of the individual were also identified in more than half of their families. To prevent suicide, intensive and continuous treatment for psychiatric conditions and prompt recognition of active response to suicide warning signs are required. Care for the mental health of family members is also important.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap.

METHODS
Since 1994, 60 cases were performed breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap with fat tissue nourished by thoracodorsal artery according to the shape and volume of the normal breast on the other side. All of cases were followed up for 3 months to 5 years.

RESULTS
Among the 60 cases, excellent effect was obtained in 41 cases (68.3%), good effect in 16 cases (26.7%), unsatisfactory in 3 cases (5.0%).

CONCLUSION
Modified latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap to reconstruct breast overcome the shortcoming of volume deficiency of traditional latissimus dorsi in breast reconstruction, and it is a safe and easy-manipulated surgical operation.


The water content distribution in root zone of oil palm crop is substantial for predicted the crop water usage both for productivity and environmental issues. The varying condition of climate, soil properties, crop stage, ground water existing of oil palm cultivation require the specific water balance analysis model which can evidence the precision condition of water content in root zone. The oil palm water balance tool was developed by inputting the data base including climate, soil properties, crop stage, root density and root zone layer as well. The data was generated through the reference vapotranspiration process by Penman Monteith equation, set parameter of van – genuchten and water flow analysis by Richard equation to bring about the output data in hourly time step which consisted of ETo, soil moisture, cumulative drainage flux, cumulative capillary flux and cumulative water content - rainfall in three root zone. The first, second and third root zone were determined variously depend on the type of soil and the crop stage. The model was built based on the data observation on field research conducted in 3 different condition; the type of soil inceptisol free drainage (without capillary), spodosol with no flux bottom and ultisol with groundwater contribution.


The effects of number of tamps and tamping force on drug dissolution from capsules filled on an instrumented dosing-disk automatic capsule filling machine (Hofliger-Karg) were studied using hydrochlorothiazide as a model, low dose, poorly soluble drug. Generally, there was a trend toward slower dissolution rate with increasing numbers of tamps, the effect being most marked when insoluble dicalcium phosphate dihydrate was the filler. Higher compression forces improved drug release when anhydrous lactose was the filler, but adversely affected the dicalcium phosphate-based capsules. Inclusion of 4% croscarmellose sodium disintegrant tended to nullify the effects of number of tamps or tamping force with both fillers; however, the disintegrant also markedly enhanced drug dissolution from the dicalcium phosphate-based formulation. Hydrochlorothiazide dissolution from the latter formulation without disintegrant appeared to follow a "diffusion from insoluble matrix" model regardless of number of tamps or their intensity. Mercury intrusion pore size distribution data for some plugs suggested that for tamps of equal force (100 or 200 N), further powder consolidation after two tamps does not occur.


Latent class analysis is a popular statistical learning approach. A major challenge for learning generalized latent class is the complexity in searching the huge space of models and parameters. The computational cost is higher when the model topology is more flexible. In this paper, we propose the notion of dominance which can lead to strong pruning of the search space and significant reduction of learning complexity, and apply this notion to the Generalized Latent Class (GLC) models, a class of Bayesian networks for clustering categorical data. GLC models can address the local dependence problem in latent class analysis by assuming a very general graph structure. However, The flexible topology of GLC leads to large increase of the learning complexity. We first propose the concept of dominance and related theoretical results which is general for all Bayesian networks. Based on dominance, we propose an efficient learning algorithm for GLC. A core technique to prune dominated models is regularization, which can eliminate dominated models, leading to significant pruning of the search space. Significant improvements on the model.


This paper describes the application of the monolithic UNISA Folded Pendulum, optimized as inertial sensor (seismometer) for low frequency characterization of sites (including underground sites) and structures (e.g. buildings, bridges, historical monuments), but, in general, for applications requiring large band low-frequency performances coupled with high sensitivities. The main characteristics of this class of sensors are high sensitivity, large measurement band, compactness, lightness, scalability, tunability of the resonance frequency, low thermal noise and very good immunity to environmental noises. The horizontal and vertical versions of folded pendulum allow an effective state-of-the-art mechanical implementation of triaxial sensors, configurable both as seismometer and/or as accelerometer.


Purpose: Individualized pay has become a frequently used characteristic of organizations in the private as well as the public sector. Although the literature emphasizes that employee perceptions of justice of the pay-setting process is necessary for individualized pay to have motivational effects, comparatively few studies have investigated how such justice perceptions may be formed. The aim of the present study is to contribute to the understanding of the determinants of pay justice, by focusing on a range of pay-related factors (e.g., pay level, participation in performance reviews, knowledge about pay criteria) and leadership characteristics (e.g., feedback, goal clarity). Pay-related fairness is conceptualized in terms of distributive, procedural, informational, and interpersonal justice.Design/Methodology: An on-line questionnaire is currently being administered to 2100 school teachers in Stockholm, Sweden.Results: The survey data will be used to investigate the relative importance of pay-related factors and leadership characteristics for perceptions of pay justice.Limitations: Although the cross-sectional nature of the data prohibits causal inferences, the study will provide preliminary understanding of the importance of pay-related factors and leadership characteristics for perceptions of pay justice.Research/Practical Implications: By identifying how pay justice perceptions may be formed by pay-related factors and leadership characteristics, the study will have important implications for management practices in connection with the implementation of pay-for-performance systems.Originality/Value: Justice can be considered an important goal in itself, given that a prerequisite for the success of any pay system is that it is perceived as fair. The study adds to the literature by identifying how such justice perceptions may be formed.


The present study aimed to investigate the effects of adding cinnamon bark oil (CBO) on the quality of ground lamb meat, considering different packaging conditions, including modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) using Hengxian HX-300H and overwrapped packaging. The CBO was incorporated into lamb meat samples at three different levels: 0% (control), 0.025% and 0.05% (v/w). The samples were then subjected to three packaging methods: MAP1 (80% O2 + 20% CO2), MAP2 (40% O2 + 30% CO2 + 30% N2) and overwrapped packaging and stored at 4 °C for 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 days. The findings of the present study revealed that the addition of 0.025% and 0.05% CBO under MAP1 condition significantly improved the color of the meat samples after 12 days of storage at 4 °C (p < 0.05). The overwrapped samples exhibited higher levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) compared to all other treatments, starting from day 4 of storage (p < 0.05). Furthermore, microbial counts were notably higher in the overwrapped samples than in all other samples after day 8 of storage (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the combination of 0.05% CBO with MAP proved to be an effective strategy for enhancing the color stability and oxidative stability of ground lamb meat. These results suggest that CBO can be utilized as a beneficial protective agent in meat packaging processes.


Triglyceride release by livers isolated from normal fed animals has been shown previously to be stimulated by the addition of palmitate to the perfusate. It may be concluded from the data reported herein that the output of cholesterol and phospholipid into the d < 1.006 lipoprotein class is proportional to release of triglyceride into this fraction. Triglyceride, cholesterol, and phospholipid may be secreted in constant proportion in order to maintain a physical-chemical stability and solubility of the very low density lipoprotein whose primary function is transport of triglyceride from liver to extrahepatic tissues. CCl4, which inhibits triglyceride release by the liver, also inhibits output of cholesterol and phospholipid into the d < 1.006 lipoprotein. Release of cholesterol into the d < 1.063 lipoprotein is not clearly related to non-esterified fatty acid levels in the medium, to triglyceride release by the liver, or to other lipids present in this fraction. The serum lipoprotein class containing the largest initial concentration of any lipid is not necessarily identical with the fraction having the major net hepatic release of that lipid. Thus, each lipoprotein class released may have specific and different lipid carrier functions.


Potentials evoked by stimulation of the ulnar nerve and the thoracic cord were recorded in the cervical cord of Nembutalized, curarized cats. The sites of the spinal cord stimulated or recorded therefrom were cooled, all together or independently, in 30 cats, and the effects of the cooling on the evoked potentials were investigated. In all cases, the peak latency tended to increase. On the other hand, the amplitude gradually decreased in the cats in which the stimulation site was cooled, gradually increased in the cats in which the recording site was cooled, and transiently increased when the whole area extending from the stimulation site to the recording site was cooled. In 20 cats, the effects of cooling on the anoxic spinal cord were studied. In the hypothermic cats, the evoked potentials disappeared in 24 min, and in the normothermic cats in 13 min. The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.01). This indicates that cooling could counteract the effects of anoxia to a certain extent.


It is estimated that 366 million people were living with diabetes in 2011, and this is predicted to rise to 522 million by 2030. One of the most common complications of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy, where patients experience various symptoms of neuropathic pain including mechanical allodynia. Using a high fat diet (HFD) in combination with streptozotocin (STZ) produces a model of diabetes which mimics aspects of type 2 diabetes. The aim of this thesis was to characterise pain responses in the HFD/STZ model and to explore some of the peripheral and spinal mechanisms associated with the changes in somatosensory processing. The effectiveness of a variety of drugs in alleviating/preventing neuropathic pain was also investigated in this model.

The effects of the HFD/STZ model on mechanical sensitivity, and changes in metabolic parameters were investigated, and it was found to cause a robust development of mechanical hypersensitivity and a large increase in plasma glucose and a contrasting decrease in plasma insulin. The impacts of the HFD/STZ model on peripheral nerve function and pathology, and spinal mechanisms of central sensitisation, were explored to help identify the mechanisms underpinning the behavioural pain phenotype in these rats. No neuronal degeneration was detected in DRGs or the spinal cord at the timepoints investigated, and a decrease in microglial activation and GFAP immunoreactivity was observed at later timepoints (day 50). Changes in neuronal responses in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord were then investigated, and there was a trend towards a decrease in mechanically evoked responses of spinal neurones in the HFD/STZ group, but no changes in the threshold for electrical activation of C-fibres, nor any significant changes to electrically evoked responses, were observed. There was no change in spontaneous firing, possibly due to the search criteria used.

The effects of different types of interventions on aberrant pain responses were also investigated. As neuropathic pain often proves intractable, one of the key objectives is to develop new drugs, or to find alternative uses of current drugs, that are able to provide symptomatic relief of pain. The gold standard treatment for pain in diabetic neuropathy, pregabalin (10mgkg-1, p.o.), was effective at alleviating established mechanical hypersensitivity at day 37 in the HFD/STZ model. A novel MAGL inhibitor, MJN110 (5mgkg-1, i.p.), was found to be as effective as pregabalin in this model, highlighting a possible role for endocannabinoid modulators in providing pain relief in diabetes. The antidiabetic pioglitazone (10mgkg-1, p.o.), however, was unable to alleviate mechanical hypersensitivity when administered at day 21 for 28 days. Two other antidiabetic drugs, linagliptin (3mgkg-1, p.o.) and metformin (200mgkg-1, p.o.), did show promise in preventing the development of mechanical hypersensitivity in this model when administered from day 4, independent of glycemic control. It is worth investigating these findings further since both of these drugs are already licensed and have undergone all necessary safety testing, and so could rapidly be put to use if effective.

In conclusion, this thesis has highlighted the role that the HFD/STZ model can play in investigating underlying mechanisms of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, and its use in exploring potential new therapeutic options for alleviating this pain.


Lessons from America's early efforts to control livestock diseases. At the turn of the twentieth century, innovations in agriculture and infrastructure created opportunities for livestock diseases to emerge and spread in the United States. Arresting Contagion offers a penetrating glimpse into the behavioral economics that defined early animal disease control efforts, a story complete with setbacks and victories, heroes and villains. Reviewer Delia Grace applauds this comprehensive history, and recommends it those who are grappling with the resurgence in zoonotic diseases brought about by the rapid expansion of the livestock sector in developing countries and elsewhere.


This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the empirical literature on irrigation water tariffs in several countries, particularly in Mediterranean European countries, and to offer insights into the Portuguese status quo. We analyze a wide variety of tariffs, and the largest differences among them are discussed. In various countries, in those regions with a higher demand for water, irrigation water tariffs are more complex and higher, varying from country to country and, within the same country, from region to region. Large differences in irrigation water tariffs among different water-use associations were found, mostly because each one has its own objectives. A SWOT analysis was performed for Portuguese irrigation water tariffs. It concludes that there is much to do to enact the proposed strategies, including recovering operation and maintenance costs and promoting the efficient use of water and efficient water allocation. Furthermore, the farmers' position in the value chain must be improved along with their ease of access to credit, thus increasing the added value of the produced goods.


The methods of synthesis and properties of compounds with the adamantane structure containing silicon, germanium, or tin atoms in the side chain or substituting carbon atoms in the adamantane lattice are examined. The review includes studies published towards the beginning of 1979. The bibliography comprises 189 references.


Abstract Flemingia macrophylla (Willd.) Prain is an ethnomedicinal plant with high nutritional and medicinal values. In this study, we report the complete chloroplast genome of F. macrophylla. The chloroplast genome has a typical quadripartite structure with a genome size of 152,988 bp, including a large single-copy (LSC) of 83,634 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) of 17,774 bp and two inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,790 bp. The genome contains 129 genes, including 84 protein-coding, 37 tRNA and 8 rRNA genes. The overall GC content is 35.1%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that F. macrophylla grouped with a clade containing the genera of Fagelia, Dolichos, Eriosema, Dunbaria and Cajanus in Fabaceae. This study provides essential data and insight for understanding the phylogenetic placement of Flemingia.


Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance results from incomplete erasure of parental epigenetic marks during epigenetic reprogramming at fertilization. The significance of this phenomenon, and the mechanism by which it occurs, remains obscure. Here, we show that genetic mutations in Drosophila may cause epigenetic alterations that, when inherited, influence tumor susceptibility of the offspring. We found that many of the mutations that affected tumorigenesis induced by a hyperactive JAK kinase, HopTum-l, also modified the tumor phenotype epigenetically, such that the modification persisted even in the offspring that did not inherit the modifier mutation. We analyzed mutations of the transcription repressor Krüppel (Kr), which is one of the hopTum-l enhancers known to affect ftz transcription. We demonstrate that the Kr mutation causes increased DNA methylation in the ftz promoter region, and that the aberrant ftz transcription and promoter methylation are both transgenerationally heritable if HopTum-l is present in the oocyte. These results suggest that genetic mutations may alter epigenetic markings in the form of DNA methylation, which are normally erased early in the next generation, and that JAK overactivation disrupts epigenetic reprogramming and allows inheritance of epimutations that influence tumorigenesis in future generations.


Background and Objective: Because of the high survival rate and low recurrence rate of thyroid carcinoma, the therapeutic process is changing from aggressive treatment to submissive treatment. Currently, choosing central node dissection (CND) as a treatment option is considered controversial since. This approach has been shown to have poor outcomes. Therefore, we conducted this study to confirm whether the intraoperative frozen section analysis (IFSA) of CND during surgery affects treatment outcomes of patients with this type of cancer. Materials and Methods: First, we collected the medical records of 265 patients who underwent surgery for papillary thyroid cancer at the Presbyterian Medical Center from 2014 to 2016. The patients were divided into 2 groups: IFSA and non-IFSA. The outcomes of treatment options were then assessed. We analyzed the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of IFSA of CND. Results: Of the 265 patients in the study, 74 patients (89%) in the IFSA group and 95 patients (52.2%) in the non-IFSA group were treated appropriately (P-value=0.000). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of IFSA of CND were 93.5%, 100%, 100%, 96.3%, and 97.5%, respectively. Conclusions: The IFSA of CND is a useful method to confirm central node metastasis during surgery. Determining the range of surgery required for each patient using this method is useful for ensuring minimal complications and for providing a successful, effective oncologic surgery.


Background: Darier's disease is an autosomal dominant genodermatosis typified by hyperkeratotic papules and plaques in a predominately seborrheic distribution. The vesiculo-bullous variant of Darier's disease is rare. Several previously reported cases have demonstrated clinical and microscopic features resembling familial benign chronic pemphigus or Hailey-Hailey disease. Objectives: The objective of this report is to describe an uncommon presentation of Darier's disease, which has been infrequently described in the literature. Methods: The authors present a case of bullous flare of long-standing Darier's disease. Conclusions: Darier's disease may assume several atypical morphologies, including vesiculo-bullous lesions.


The dynamics of molecules are governed by rare event transitions between long-lived (metastable) states. To explore these transitions efficiently, many enhanced sampling protocols have been introduced that involve using simulations with biases or changed temperatures. Two established statistically optimal estimators for obtaining unbiased equilibrium properties from such simulations are the multistate Bennett acceptance ratio (MBAR) and the transition-based reweighting analysis method (TRAM). Both MBAR and TRAM are solved iteratively and can suffer from long convergence times. Here, we introduce stochastic approximators (SA) for both estimators, resulting in SAMBAR and SATRAM, which are shown to converge faster than their deterministic counterparts, without significant accuracy loss. Both methods are demonstrated on different molecular systems.


This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements in image processing and deep learning techniques for pavement distress detection and classification, a critical aspect in modern pavement management systems. The conventional manual inspection process conducted by human experts is gradually being superseded by automated solutions, leveraging machine learning and deep learning algorithms to enhance efficiency and accuracy. The ability of these algorithms to discern patterns and make predictions based on extensive datasets has revolutionized the domain of pavement distress identification. The paper investigates the integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for data collection, offering unique advantages such as aerial perspectives and efficient coverage of large areas. By capturing high-resolution images, UAVs provide valuable data that can be processed using deep learning algorithms to detect and classify various pavement distresses effectively. While the primary focus is on 2D image processing, the paper also acknowledges the challenges associated with 3D images, such as sensor limitations and computational requirements. Understanding these challenges is crucial for further advancements in the field. The findings of this review significantly contribute to the evolution of pavement distress detection, fostering the development of efficient pavement management systems. As automated approaches continue to mature, the implementation of deep learning techniques holds great promise in ensuring safer and more durable road infrastructure for the benefit of society.


Objective: Limited real-world evidence is available on the effectiveness of liraglutide compared with sitagliptin as an add-on therapy to metformin in clinical practice for adult patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes 6 months after initiating treatment with liraglutide or sitagliptin for patients uncontrolled on metformin monotherapy in the United States (US). Methods: We used the General Electric Centricity electronic medical records database to analyze the effectiveness of liraglutide and sitagliptin in adult (≥18 years) patients with T2DM who started either drug between January 1, 2010 and January 31, 2013 (index period) as an add-on to metformin monotherapy. Changes in A1C, body weight, and the proportion of patients reaching ADA A1C target of <7.0% 6 months after starting treatment with liraglutide or sitagliptin, adjusted for differences in demographic and baseline clinical characteristics, were evaluated. Results: 395 patients treated with liraglutide (mean age: 52.9 years, female: 57.5%) and 1,896 patients treated with sitagliptin (mean age: 58.0 years, female: 51.1%) were identified during the index period. After adjusting for baseline factors, patients treated with liraglutide experienced greater reductions in A1C (-1.18% vs. -0.94%, p<0.001) and body weight (-3.0 kg vs. -1.6 kg [6.6 lbs vs. -3.4 lbs], p<0.001) at 6 months from baseline than patients treated with sitagliptin. Significantly more patients treated with liraglutide met the A1C <7.0% target after 6 months follow-up (49.4% vs. 40.0%, p=0.001). Conclusions: As in clinical trials, this real-world study found that among adult patients with T2DM uncontrolled on metformin monotherapy liraglutide was associated with significantly greater reductions in A1C and body weight and improved glycemic goal attainment compared to sitagliptin.


ABSTRACT The Pot culture experiment performed for phytoextraction potential of selected agricultural plants [millet (Eleusine coracana), mustard (Brassica juncea), jowar (Sorghum bicolor), black gram (Vigna mungo), pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis)] grown in metal contaminated soils around the Salem region, Tamilnadu, India. Physiochemical characterization of soils, reported as low to medium level of N, P, K was found in test soils. The Cr content higher in mine soils than control and the values are 0.176 mg/L in Dalmia soil and 0.049 mg/L in Burn & Co soil. The germination rate low in mine soil than control soils (25 to 85%). The content of chlorophyll, carotenoid, carbohydrate and protein decreased in mine soils than control. The morphological parameters and biomass values decreased in experimental plants due to metal accumulation. Proline content increased in test plants and ranged from 0.113 mg g−1 to 0.858 mg g−1 which indicate the stress condition due to toxicity of metals. Sorghum and black gram plants reported as metal tolerant capacity. Among the plants, Sorghum produced good results (both biomass and biochemical parameters) which equal to control plant and suggests Sorghum plant is an ideal for remediation of metal contaminated soils.


In the absence of a proper definition based on comprehensive anatomical investigations, the genus Fluviopupa Pilsbry, 1911 has been used for hydrobioid gastropods from several continental regions and oceanic islands in the southwest and south Pacific. The type species F. pupoidea Pilsbry, 1911 was the only hydrobioid gastropod known from Fiji to date. In this paper we provide descriptions of shell, operculum, radula and anatomy of 10 species of Fluviopupa from Fiji including the type species. This and seven other species occur on Viti Levu. The remaining two species were found on Vanua Levu. The high diversity is not surprising considering similar distribution and diversity patterns of spring and stream-dwelling hydrobioid gastropods in other parts of the world. Based on geology, geography and comparative anatomy, we hypothesize that the ancestor of the Fijian taxa was likely a freshwater species sharing a common ancestor with extant taxa in either New Caledonia or New Zealand. The islands of Vanuatu may have served as stepping stones.


A systematic approach was developed to review, revise and adapt existing exposure control guidance used in developed countries for use in developing countries. One-page employee and multiple-page supervisor guidance sheets were adapted from existing documents using a logic framework and workers were trained to use the information to improve work practices. Interactive, hands-on training was delivered to 26 workers at five small-scale demolition projects in Maputo City, Mozambique, and evaluated. A pre-and-post walkthrough survey used by trained observers documented work practice changes. Worker feedback indicated that the training was effective and useful. Workers acquired knowledge (84% increase, p < 0.01) and applied the work practice guidance. The difference of proportions between use of work practice components before and after the intervention was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Changes in work practices following training included preplanning, use of wet methods and natural ventilation and end-of-task review. Respirable dust measurements indicated a reduction in exposure following training. Consistency in observer ratings and observations support the reliability and validity of the instruments. This approach demonstrated the short-term benefit of training in changing work practices; follow-up is required to determine the long-term impact on changes in work practices, and to evaluate the need for refresher training.


This paper introduces the large scale visual search algorithm and system infrastructure at Alibaba. The following challenges are discussed under the E-commercial circumstance at Alibaba (a) how to handle heterogeneous image data and bridge the gap between real-shot images from user query and the online images. (b) how to deal with large scale indexing for massive updating data. (c) how to train deep models for effective feature representation without huge human annotations. (d) how to improve the user engagement by considering the quality of the content. We take advantage of large image collection of Alibaba and state-of-the-art deep learning techniques to perform visual search at scale. We present solutions and implementation details to overcome those problems and also share our learnings from building such a large scale commercial visual search engine. Specifically, model and search-based fusion approach is introduced to effectively predict categories. Also, we propose a deep CNN model for joint detection and feature learning by mining user click behavior. The binary index engine is designed to scale up indexing without compromising recall and precision. Finally, we apply all the stages into an end-to-end system architecture, which can simultaneously achieve highly efficient and scalable performance adapting to real-shot images. Extensive experiments demonstrate the advancement of each module in our system. We hope visual search at Alibaba becomes more widely incorporated into today's commercial applications.


Common functional polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, a key enzyme in folate and homocysteine metabolism, influence risk for a variety of complex disorders, including developmental, vascular, and neurological diseases. MTHFR deficiency is associated with elevation of homocysteine levels and alterations in the methylation cycle. Here, using young and aged Mthfr knockout mouse models, we show that mild MTHFR deficiency can lead to brain-region specific impairment of the methylation of Ser/Thr protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Relative to wild-type controls, decreased expression levels of PP2A and leucine carboxyl methyltransferase (LCMT1) were primarily observed in the hippocampus and cerebellum, and to a lesser extent in the cortex of young null Mthfr−/− and aged heterozygous Mthfr+/− mice. A marked down regulation of LCMT1 correlated with the loss of PP2A/Bα holoenzymes. Dietary folate deficiency significantly decreased LCMT1, methylated PP2A and PP2A/Bα levels in all brain regions examined from aged Mthfr+/+ mice, and further exacerbated the regional effects of MTHFR deficiency in aged Mthfr+/− mice. In turn, the down regulation of PP2A/Bα was associated with enhanced phosphorylation of Tau, a neuropathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our findings identify hypomethylation of PP2A enzymes, which are major CNS phosphatases, as a novel mechanism by which MTHFR deficiency and Mthfr gene-diet interactions could lead to disruption of neuronal homeostasis, and increase the risk for a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders, including age-related diseases like sporadic AD.


productivity expected from these crosses is the effect of heterosis or hybrid vigor. Boer goat is selected to improve the productivity of local Kacang goats, because this goat has a high genetic potential and has a large body formation. The objective of this research was to evaluate relative superiority of crossbreed between Boer and local goat (Kacang) during pre weaning period. The research was conducted at Goat Research Station, Sei Putih-North Sumatra, from Januari 2007 to December 2009. During pre weaning period the kids were reared with their mothers in group pen. Research results showed that birth weight and weaning weight of crossbreds (Boerka 1 and Boerka 2) were heavier than that of Kacang goat. The relative superiority of the crossbreds were 21,89 - 43,20% for birth weight, 32,88 – 54,68% for weaning weight and 37,11 – 53,32% for pre weaning daily gain. In addition the degree of mortality at pre weaning period of crossbreeds was lower than that of Kacang goats. Key words : Kacang Goat, Boer, Boerka, Relative Superiority


Cowden Syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the development of several hamartomas in a variety of tissues, including the skin, gastrointestinal tract, adipose tissue, and bone and connective tissues. This syndrome is associated with a high risk of developing malignancies, especially breast, thyroid and endometrium cancers. This report presents a case of a 53-year-old patient who sought assistance at the Dentistry Department of the University Hospital of Brasilia (HUB) to receive basic dental treatment. The current and past medical history and oral and facial manifestations led to the diagnosis of Cowden syndrome . This case report aims to highlight the importance of a dental surgeon in the diagnosis of this syndrome, based on the observation of oral manifestations and medical history. Keywords Cowden Syndrome; Multiple Hamartoma Syndrome.


Contrast agents in medicine are chemical materials used to improve tissue and fluid contrast in the body during medical imaging. It is mainly used in improving the visibility of blood vessels and the gastrointestinal tract. Some types of contrast materials are used in a medical imaging examination and can be classified according to the imaging technique used. The first contract agent (Gadolinium) dates back to 1988 which is called gadopentetate dimeglumine (Magnevist) and was allocated for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)


A critical question in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research is the cause of memory loss that leads to dementia. The amyloid precursor protein + presenilin-1 (APP+PS1) transgenic mouse is a model for amyloid deposition, and like AD, the mice develop memory deficits as amyloid deposits accumulate. We profiled gene expression in these transgenic mice by microarray and quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). At the age when these animals developed cognitive dysfunction, they had reduced mRNA expression of several genes essential for long-term potentiation and memory formation (Arc, Zif268, NR2B, GluR1, Homer-1a, Nur77/TR3). These changes appeared to be related to amyloid deposition, because mRNA expression was unchanged in the regions that did not accumulate amyloid. Transgene expression was similar in both amyloid-containing and amyloid-free regions of the brain. Interestingly, these changes occurred without apparent changes in synaptic structure, because a number of presynaptic marker mRNAs (growth-associated protein-43, synapsin, synaptophysin, synaptopodin, synaptotagmin, syntaxin) remained stable. Additionally, a number of genes related to inflammation were elevated in transgenic mice, primarily in the regions containing amyloid. In AD cortical tissue, the same memory-associated genes were downregulated. However, all synaptic and neuronal transcripts were reduced, implying that the loss of neurons and synapses contributed to these changes. We conclude that reduced expression of selected genes associated with memory consolidation are linked to memory loss in both circumstances. This suggests that the memory loss in APP+PS1 transgenic mice may model the early memory dysfunction in AD before the degeneration of synapses and neurons.


Patients with fatty liver of grades I and II were re-examined by liver biopsy after a 10 years' interval. Only two patients showed improvement in the original findings. In each case up to about half of the material for investigation showed an unchanged stage of fatty liver or a deterioration. In the group with an unchanged clinical picture of grade II fatty infiltration and in the cases with a tendency to deteriorate, an accumulation of etiological factors was noted. Extensive histories proved that the patients had not altered their living habits in the past 10 years. This means that the prognosis of fatty liver with regard to regression of an originally established stage is very unfavorable, because the patients' understanding seems not to be very great.


Burmagrion azari sp. nov., sixth species of the small damselfly family Burmacoenagrionidae, is described and illustrated. This family is currently only recorded from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber and is possibly endemic to this isolated island of the Tethys Ocean at that time. The presence of slender, elongate legs with very long tarsi is a putative synapomorphy of the Burmacoenagrionidae, as present in Burmagrion and Burmacoenagrion. The type specimen of the new genus and species is dislocated together with several fragments of flies, suggesting that these fossils are possibly the result of a regurgitation by a small vertebrate passing aside the fresh resin. The female of Burmagrion azari sp. nov. was probably laying its eggs inside plant cuticles. Its ovipositor is described.