Abdominal precontrast CT was performed in 12 patients (5 males, 7 females, 29-81 years, mean age; 57.5 years) with enterohemorrhagic colitis due to Escherichia coli O157:H7. Mural thickening was recognized in the terminal ileum (11/12), cecum (12/12), ascending colon (11/12), transverse colon (7/12), descending colon (2/12), and rectosigmoid colon (1/12). Dirty fat sign, lymphadenopathy, and peritoneal fluid collection were seen in 11, 7, and 5 of the 12 cases, respectively. The CT appearance of enterohemorrhagic colitis is one of moderate to severe circumferential thickening. The bowel wall is heterogeneous because of submucosal edema and hemorrhage. The CT appearance is nonspecific, but the condition is mainly seen in the right colon. Precontrast CT is useful in the screening of enterohemorrhagic colitis, especially in mass outbreaks.


Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a popular antifibrinolytic drug widely used in hemorrhagic trauma patients and cardiovascular, orthopedic, and gynecological surgical patients. TXA binds plasminogen and prevents its maturation to the fibrinolytic enzyme plasmin. A number of studies have demonstrated the broad life‐saving effects of TXA in trauma, superior to those of other antifibrinolytic agents. Besides preventing fibrinolysis and blood loss, TXA has been reported to suppress posttraumatic inflammation and edema. Although the efficiency of TXA transcends simple inhibition of fibrinolysis, little is known about its mechanisms of action besides the suppression of plasmin maturation. Understanding the broader effects of TXA at the cell, organ, and organism levels are required to elucidate its potential mechanisms of action transcending antifibrinolytic activity. In this article, we provide a brief review of the current clinical use of TXA and then focus on the effects of TXA beyond antifibrinolytics such as its anti‐inflammatory activity, protection of the endothelial and epithelial monolayers, stimulation of mitochondrial respiration, and suppression of melanogenesis.


This paper aims to overcome a fundamental problem in the theory and application of deep neural networks (DNNs). We propose a method to solve the local minimum problem in training DNNs directly. Our method is based on the cross-entropy loss criterion's convexification by transforming the cross-entropy loss into a risk averting error (RAE) criterion. To alleviate numerical difficulties, a normalized RAE (NRAE) is employed. The convexity region of the cross-entropy loss expands as its risk sensitivity index (RSI) increases. Making the best use of the convexity region, our method starts training with an extensive RSI, gradually reduces it, and switches to the RAE as soon as the RAE is numerically feasible. After training converges, the resultant deep learning machine is expected to be inside the attraction basin of a global minimum of the cross-entropy loss. Numerical results are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.


Truth matters; and the norms associated with a democratic society, such as the common good, responsibility, ethics, and civic engagement, are under attack with the emergence of the post-truth society. There are concerns worldwide that public education is failing us on pushing back on disinformation. Schools are not seen as developing skills that permit students to adequately differentiate truth from nontruths. In this context, the education system also faces some unprecedented challenges. The quality of education in most of the world is low, and only slowly improving. Also, future workers are concerned with automation's threat – or perceived threat – to jobs. In most countries, education systems are not providing workers with the skills necessary to compete in today's job markets. The growing mismatch between demand and supply of skills holds back economic growth and undermines opportunity. At the same time, the financial returns to schooling are high in most countries, and growing skill premiums are evident in much of the world. Schooling remains a good economic and social investment, and there are record numbers of children in school today. The skills that matter in the coming technological revolution are likely the same as what is needed in a media environment of disinformation. More and better education, and noncognitive skills, will not only prepare students for the future world of work; they will also prepare them to navigate the increasingly complex post-truth society. They will be able to detect fake news – or deliberate disinformation spread through news or online media. It will also allow young people to gain trust. In other words, better education is democratizing, to the extent that it promotes truth, values, and civic engagement.


The use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) as a tool in the aerodynamics and oil industry provides a reinforcement to efficiency in the design of aircrafts or for understanding the flow through pipes. A similar approach can be taken towards microfluidics, where traditionally devices have been designed based on experience or physiological replication, and a CFD simulation is shown post-manufacture to show the flow and diffusion patterns present. In this study, a reverse approach is suggested, by designing the device first in CFD and perform simulations on variations of alterable parameters to get insight on how the changing parameters affect the conditions within the device. A 3D Microfluidic Living Cell Array (3D LCA) wherein cells are embedded in a hydrogel is used as the model to perform the simulations on. It is shown that alterations of certain parameters (such as pore size) can have drastic effects on the nutrient supply and waste removal mechanics of the 3D cell microchamber, while other factors such as the permeability of the medium of cell culture (hydrogel) does not affect the glucose concentration but does affect the O2 and CO2 concentrations generated within the microchamber.


The Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) gene on chromosome 11q23 is fused by reciprocal translocation to a diverse group of partner genes in both acute myeloid and acute lymphoid leukemia (AML, ALL). As a result of the t(4;11)(q21;q23), MLL fuses to AF4 (AFF1), one of the most common MLL fusion partner proteins. Unlike several other MLL fusions that are frequently found in both AML and ALL, MLL-AF4 is almost exclusively associated with B-cell ALL with a pro-B immunophenotype. It accounts for 10-15% of ALL cases and confers a poor prognosis. Although many MLL-fusion leukemia models have been established, it has not been possible to generate a t(4;11) pro-B leukemia model that accurately recapitulates the human disease, hampering research into the molecular mechanisms that underlie the development of this subtype of leukemia. Here we present a faithful model of t(4;11) pro-B-ALL that fully recapitulates the immunophenotypic and molecular aspects of the human disease. Human hematopoietic CD34+ cells transduced with a modified MLL-AF4 fusion gene successfully initiate ALL in NSG mice with high penetrance. The leukemia cells have a CD19+CD34+ pro-B immunophenotype and are CD10(-), a common feature in MLL-AF4 patients. The effect of the oncogene is species-specific, as retroviral transduction and transplantation of murine hematopoietic cells results in only AML using either lymphoid or myeloid conditions. An MLL-AF4 specific gene signature derived from patients is significantly enriched in our model cells, as shown by RNA-Seq, and the model samples group tightly with MLL-AF4 patients, even when compared with other MLL-fusion leukemia samples in unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis. Interestingly, using gene profiles of normal pro-B and pre-B cells as reference, our MLL-AF4 leukemia cells show strong enrichment for pro-B genes, while instead, pre-B but not pro-B genes are overrepresented in our MLL-AF9 B-ALL leukemia cells. This differential developmental stage blockage of MLL-fusions is also reflected in patient samples. More strikingly, in accordance with the distinct lineage bias of MLL-fusions observed in the clinic, human cells expressing MLL-AF4 have a strong predilection for the lymphoid lineage and a demonstrated resistance to lineage redirection in response to myeloid signals compared to human cells expressing MLL-AF9. This difference in lineage predisposition of MLL-AF4 compared to MLL-AF9 can be attributed to differential effects on lineage-specific gene expression. Under myeloid-priming conditions, phenotypically (CD33+CD19-) and morphologically myeloid MLL-AF4 cells are still able to initiate pro-B ALL in immunodeficient mice, while only AML is generated by MLL-AF9 myeloid cells. Accordingly, an active lymphoid molecular program with lower expression of critical myeloid genes is observed in MLL-AF4 myeloid cells compared to MLL-AF9 myeloid cells. Interestingly, we find that the polycomb gene BMI1, which was reported to be critical to prevent lymphoid priming in normal hematopoiesis, is expressed at significantly lower levels in MLL-AF4 than in MLL-AF9 myeloid cells. Reintroduction of BMI1 into MLL-AF4 cells enables AML generation with variable penetrance, while control vector transduced cells always result in B-ALL. Our results demonstrate that lineage fate in response to MLL-fusion protein expression involves a complex interplay of oncogene, intra- and extra-cellular microenvironmental cues. In addition, our data clearly demonstrate the species specificity associated with the t(4;11). This in vivo model provides a valuable tool to unravel the pathogenesis of MLL-AF4 leukemogenesis. This abstract is also presented as Poster A06. Citation Format: Shan Lin, Roger T. Luo, Mark Wunderlich, Joseph J. Kaberlein, Ahmad Rayes, John Anastasi, Maureen M. O9Brien, James C. Mulloy, Michael J. Thirman. A novel MLL-AF4 in vivo model phenocopies t(4;11) pro-B ALL and reveals a lymphoid lineage bias of the fusion protein in human cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research: From Mechanisms and Models to Treatment and Survivorship; 2015 Nov 9-12; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(5 Suppl):Abstract nr PR01.


Controlled pollinations were used to examine the mating system of diploid and tetraploid individuals of the endangered grassland herb Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides F.Muell. Crosses among unrelated plants gave 1.5–2 times as many fruit as crosses between plants that were half-sibs, while selfed crosses generally resulted in no fruit. Three classes of compatibility reaction were observed within outcross treatments: (1) reciprocal compatibility, (2) one-way compatibility and (3) reciprocal incompatibility. This is diagnostic of sporophytic control of self-incompatibility, which is characteristic of the Asteraceae. This is supported by the occurrence of a dry stigma and trinucleate pollen. Analysis of the behaviour of self- and outcross pollen on the stigma by using fluorescence microscopy shows that rejection of self-pollen does not all occur at one point but at a number of stages, with cumulative reductions in the adherence of pollen to the stigma, pollen germination, pollen tube penetration of the stigma and fertilisation. On the basis of both fruit set and pollen behaviour data, for any level of relatedness, tetraploid plants are about 20% less likely to be compatible with each other than diploid plants. This presumably reflects the greater likelihood of matching S alleles given the greater potential for polymorphism at the individual level. The occurrence of two plants, one diploid and one tetraploid, that set large amounts of fruit on selfing shows that self-incompatibility can break down.


Background To investigate if microRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in regulating h-ERG trafficking in the setting of chronic oxidative stress as a common deleterious factor for many cardiac disorders. Methods We treated neonatal rat ventricular myocytes and HEK293 cells with stable expression of h-ERG with H2O2 for 12 h and 48 h. Expression of miR-17-5p seed miRNAs was quantified by real-time RT-PCR. Protein levels of chaperones and h-ERG trafficking were measured by Western blot analysis. Luciferase reporter gene assay was used to study miRNA and target interactions. Whole-cell patch-clamp techniques were employed to record h-ERG K+ current. Results H-ERG trafficking was impaired by H2O2 after 48 h treatment, accompanied by reciprocal changes of expression between miR-17-5p seed miRNAs and several chaperones (Hsp70, Hsc70, CANX, and Golga2), with the former upregulated and the latter downregulated. We established these chaperones as targets for miR-17-5p. Application miR-17-5p inhibitor rescued H2O2-induced impairment of h-ERG trafficking. Upregulation of endogenous by H2O2 or forced miR-17-5p expression either reduced h-ERG current. Sequestration of AP1 by its decoy molecule eliminated the upregulation of miR-17-5p, and ameliorated impairment of h-ERG trafficking. Conclusions Collectively, deregulation of the miR-17-5p seed family miRNAs can cause severe impairment of h-ERG trafficking through targeting multiple ER stress-related chaperones, and activation of AP1 likely accounts for the deleterious upregulation of these miRNAs, in the setting of prolonged duration of oxidative stress. These findings revealed the role of miRNAs in h-ERG trafficking, which may contribute to the cardiac electrical disturbances associated with oxidative stress.


The ground-source heat pump systems are highly efficient and energy saving. Its main disadvantage is a significantly higher installation cost compared to conventional systems. The length of the ground heat exchanger (GHX) piping, consequently, the first cost, depends on several factors; one key factor is the undisturbed ground temperature estimations. Xing and Spitler model was developed which provides a new set of ground temperature results for GHX design. There are two common methods in United States to be used for ground temperature estimations ASHRAE Handbook method and ASHRAE district heating manual method. This paper presents the impact of Xing and Spitler model development on the horizontal ground heat exchanger (HGHX) design. An analytical HGHX simulation tool is developed. 12 geographically diverse sites in United States are chosen for the case study. Three different HGHX configurations are investigated. For each site, HGHX design length using the Xing and Spitler model estimated ground temperatures as inputs are compared to design results based on measured ground temperatures; the calculated HGHX design length percentage error are within ±18.9%. The calculated HGHX design length percentage error using the ASHRAE Handbooks results and ASHRAE district heating manual results are within ±38.3% and ±57.7% respectively.


BACKGROUND
Incidence and risk factors for skin tumors following renal transplantation can vary geographically; therefore, a retrospective study was performed to determine the incidence of and potential risk factors for skin cancer at 14 Transplant Centers in Iran between 1984 and 2008.

MATERIAL/METHODS
We enrolled 11,255 kidney transplant recipients who were examined for all skin tumors. All skin cancers were established by histological examination. The data collection included the patient's age and sex, immunosuppressive regimen before and after diagnosis of tumor, rejection episodes, post-transplant latency period, other concurrent neoplastic problems, renal allograft function and outcome.

RESULTS
One hundred and twenty-eight (1.14%) renal recipients had skin tumor, representing half of all post-transplant malignancies (128 out of 245 cases). Kaposi's sarcoma was the most common post-transplant cancer compared with other skin tumors. Male recipients had more tumors than did females (P=0.04); the male-to-female ratio in the affected patients was 2.5:1. The age at transplantation of patients with skin tumor was higher compared to RTRs without skin tumor (47±11 vs. 38±15 years, P=0.000), and individuals older than 45 years were at higher risk (odds ratio=3.8, 95%CI 2.6-5.5) of skin cancers. Patients consuming azathioprine were at risk more of skin cancer compared with those were on MMF (odds ratio =2.9, 95%, CI 2.0-4.2). The overall mortality was low (7.8%) in cases with skin cancer.

CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that male sex, increased age, prolonged immunosuppression and azathioprine increased the risk of skin tumors after renal transplantation.


A simple approach for reducing the mutual coupling in two closely spaced electrically small antennas (ESAs) is proposed based on the general idea of field cancellation. The antenna array consists of two metamaterial-inspired small printed monopole antennas. The mutual coupling is reduced by self-cancellation of the induced common ground and near-field currents, without introducing additional structures. A fabricated prototype of a two-element array with an edge-to-edge separation of ¿0/30.6 (or center-to-center separation of ¿0/13.6) yields a measured mutual coupling of |S11| better than -18 dB across the impedance band of |S11| < -10 dB, which is significantly better than the -9 dB level of the original array.


We study the 6d $\mathcal{N}=(1,0)$ superconformal field theory with smallest non-Higgsable gauge symmetry $SU(3)$. In particular, we propose new 2d gauge theory descriptions of its self-dual strings in the tensor branch. We use our gauge theories to compute the elliptic genera of the self-dual strings, which completely agree with the partial data known from topological strings. We further study the strings of the $(E_6,E_6)$ conformal matter by generalizing our 2d gauge theories. We also show that anomalies of all our gauge theories agree with the self-dual string anomalies computed by inflows from 6d.


Cutting Tools form the basis of the machining industry. The Machining industry relies on various processes such as cutting, welding, bending, rolling, turning, profiling, drilling, milling, finishing, which require an effective set of cutting tools. These machining activities need the right cutting tools so that the day to day operations can be performed in an extremely efficient manner while increasing the productivity of the industry. The basic function of a metal cutting tool is to get rid of the extra material from the workpiece and help in producing products with a better surface finish. The material used for the manufacturing of the cutting tools has a significant role to play in deciding the effectiveness and the longevity of the tool. Coated cutting tools were used in the industry for a long time. In recent times more than three fourth of all tools are coated with TiALN and TiN. The mechanical properties of these tools tend to change drastically under elevated temperatures and thus cause the failure of such tools. In this paper, our objective is to use Carbon Nano Tube nanoparticles as coatings for cutting tools. We aim to compare the mechanical properties of these coated tools and do a comparative analysis of tools coated with CNT nanoparticles versus the conventional multi-layered tool


Kithul (Caryotaurens) flour has great gelling properties compared to other flour from plant sources. The colour of flour samples collected from five main Kithul growing districts, namely Rathnapura, Kegalle, Kandy, Matale and Kurunegala district, was analyzed by two methods as Universal Colour Language (UCL) colour chart and Colorimeter (Konica Minolta colorimeter, sensing, Japan). Pale yellow (UCL 89) was the most common colour while yellowish white colour (UCL 92) was not present in Sabaragamuwa province. According to the readings, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) among flour samples from five different growing areas for L*(lightness), a*(redness) values and b* (yellowness) values. Kandy (71.56) and Kurunegala (70.18) flours presented higher L* values than those of other flour treatments. Kithul flour samples from Matale district has the lowest L* value (65.58). The lowest a* value (4.54) was observed in Kandy flour samples while the highest values were reported from Kegalle (5.34) and Rathnapura (5.29). In the case of b* (yellowness) values presented the highest value was observed in flour samples from Kegalle (17.90). The lowest b* value was reported from Matale (14.29).From the results the flour samples Matale (∆E=34.77) and Kegalle (∆E=34.65) had a greater deviation from the standard colour value than the other samples.


Objective: In this study, our aim is to define the cognitive profile specific to Huntington's disease (HD) in comparison to Parkinson's disease (PD) without any accompanying cognitive involvement and to search for its relationship with CAG repeat number. Materials and Methods: Demographic data and detailed cognitive test results of HD and PD patients were reviewed, analyzed retrospectively and were compared to results of healthy controls (HC). Cognitive test battery included minimental state examination (MMSE), Beck's depression inventory, enhanced cued recall (ECR), semantic fluency, digit-span forwards and backwards, trail making part A (TMT A) and B, reciting months backwards, phonemic fluency, Stroop, clock drawing, Benton's line orientation, Benton's facial recognition and Hooper visual organization tests. Instrumental activities of daily living test (IADL) was given for evaluating independence of patients in daily life. The relationship between test results and CAG repeat number and CAP score (product of CAG repeat number and age) for HD were evaluated. Results: Age, disease duration and number of years of education were similar between HD and PD. All cognitive test results of HD group were significantly worse than those of HC. HD group also scored significantly worse than PD group in MMSE, ECR, semantic fluency, TMT A, reciting months backwards, phonemic fluency, Stroop 1-5, clock drawing, Hooper visual organization and Benton's facial recognition tests. CAP score was significantly correlated with the results of Stroop part 3-4 and scores of IADL. Conclusion: This study showed that HD has a cognitive profile with certain particular features, which differentiates it from PD. We can also conclude that cognitive decline takes place earlier in the course of HD compared to PD and it is more severe. CAP score was found corelated with executive functions and ADL in HD, confirming that the severity of pathological involvement is directly related to the cognitive profile of patients as well as their life quality. şekilde korele bulundu. Sonuç: Bu çalışma, HH'nin, belli yönleriyle PH'den ayrışan ve kendine has özellikleri olan bir bilişsel bir profili olduğunu göstermiştir. Ayrıca kognitif kaybın HH seyri içinde, PH'ye kıyasla daha erken gerçekleştiği ve daha şiddetli olduğu sonucuna varabiliriz. CAP skorunun, HH'de yürütücü işlevler ve GYA ile ilişkili olduğu ve patolojik tutulumun şiddetinin hastaların bilişsel profili ve yaşam kalitesi ile doğrudan ilişkili olduğu da bu çalışma ile doğrulanmıştır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Nörodejeneratif hastalıklar, CAP skoru, nöropsikiyatrik testler, depresyon, yürütücü işlevler


Background: Increasing resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to ciprofloxacin in ICU/burn units has created a problem in the treatment of infections caused by this microorganism. Methods: Fifty P. aeruginosa strains were isolated from burn patients hospitalized in the Kerman Hospital during May 1999-April 2000 and were tested for in-vitro sensitivity to different antibiotics by disc diffusion breakpoint assay.  The isolates were subjected to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test by agar dilution method.  Existence of the plasmids was also investigated in the isolates. Results: Thirty-four patients infected with ciprofloxacin strains showed MIC of 8 m g/ml [p<0.001].  Sixteen patients were infected with sensitive strains exhibiting MIC range of 0.0125-0.125 ± 0.033 m g/ml.  The isolates were also also resistant to other antibiotics [p<0.001].  Plasmid isolation and agarose gel electrophoresis (0.7%) revealed three plasmid bands in strains 8 and 16, and one band in strain 35. Conclusion: The emergence of ciprofloxacin resistance of P. aeruginosa in burn patients is alarming since this antibiotic has only recently been introduced onto the market in Iran.  One important observation was that some isolates exhibited cross resistance to other antibiotics.  Furthermore, some strains were carriers of plasmids which might have acted as the potential source of acquired resistance in the hospital setting.


Health care professionals are often the first people domestic violence victims turn to for help, but many don't know how to respond. Be ready to embrace this educational opportunity with policies that incorporate the right screening, assessment, and interventions.


An observational, cross sectional study was conducted on elementary school students in Central Jakarta between May and October 1997. This preliminary study aimed to determine the prevalence and influencing factors of obesity in elementary school students. From 488 students studied, 47 were obese. The prevalence rate in this study was 9.6%, with boys twice as much as girls. Factors that influenced the incidence of obesity were: (1) age, (2) time of introduction of solid food during infancy, (3) eating habit, (4) calorie intake, and (5) physical activities. There were two factors that increased the incidence of obesity namely: (1) obesity of parents, and (2) birth weight. Environmental factors that increased the incidence of obesity were: (1) parent's occupation and (2) family income. Laboratory findings associated with obesity were: (1) increase blood cholesterol concentration, (2) increase blood triglyceride concentration, (3) decreased HDL cholesterol concentration, and (4) increased LDL cholesterol concentration. We conclude that the prevalence rate of obesity obtained in this study was higher compared with the previous studies, and that obesity in school children is influenced by many factors.


Negative emotions are the result of unpleasant experiences when using a product or service. In education, the low-level of negative emotions are "early warning signals" about student confidence in a diminished university. At a higher level, negative emotions can lead to a variety of coping behaviors such as complaint, sharing a negative word-of-mouth, and switching intention. The study employed the Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling to analyze the relationship between negative emotions and switching decisions in a sample of 374 students who are studying at the University of Labour and Social Affairs, Ho Chi Minh campus (ULSA2). The empirical results revealed that there is a positive impact of anger, frustration on the complaint, and negative word-of-mouth. The regret leads to switching intention. Result of the research are references to university managers in policy planning.


: Artificial intelligence applications represent a great opportunity to support the resilience of cities. This paper seeks answer to a central question that asks about how Interactive City (IC) mechanism - that based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) - support the city's resilience. Therefore, the main goal of this paper is to prove or deny the paper assumption, which assumes that the AI-based IC mechanism can support the resilience of the city. To achieve this goal, a deductive approach is adopted by presenting and analyzing the concept of resilient cities and their different features; then, describing and analyzing the challenges of cities; analyzing the concepts of AI and its various applications; analyze the components of the IC to conclude its role in supporting and achieving city resilience. As a result, the paper proved the assumption and conclude that the AI-based IC supports city resilience. The paper also recommends applying the AI-based IC mechanism in different cities.


In general, the pre-imaging condition methods for generating angle-domain common-image gathers are computationally expensive. Algorithms that require full or partial wavefield decomposition at every image point prior to imaging are considered prohibitive for their application to full wide-azimuth surveys. Direction-vector-based methods are an attractive alternative to reduce the cost, but are often troubled by complicated wavefields that exist in geologically complex areas. In this paper, we present a method that reduces the cost of most preimaging condition methods and in particular, direction-vectorbased methods while improving their quality considerably. We present the detailed workflow and substantiate our claims with the help of synthetic and real data examples. In 3D, it is also very important to choose opening angles and azimuths such that they uniformly sample the surface of the unit sphere around the image point. However, this is usually not the case, and we discuss a possible scheme to achieve that.


The transcription of the ΔN133p53 isoform of the TP53 gene is controlled by an internal promoter region (IPR) containing eight polymorphisms in 11 common haplotypes, following a resequencing of 47 Caucasians. We assayed the functional effects of the commonest six haplotypes on the promoter activity with a luciferase reporter system, in HeLa and 293T cells. These studies showed that different IPR haplotypes are associated with differences in the promoter activity resulting in marked variation in the baseline expression of ΔN133p53. In vivo quantitative‐polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on human tissues confirmed that the baseline levels of ΔN133p53 showed haplotype specific differences that paralleled those seen in vitro. When cell lines were treated with camptothecin, the fold‐increase in ΔN133p53 levels was dose‐dependent but haplotype‐independent (i.e., similar for all the haplotypes). Finally, we used an electrophoretic mobility shift assay to analyze the rs1794287 polymorphism and found changes in the pattern of protein binding. This partially confirmed our in silico analysis showing that the polymorphism rs1794287 can affect the function of the internal promoter by changing its affinity for several transcription factors. Thus, we showed that the expression of ΔN133p53 is under genetic control, and suggested the presence of interindividual differences underlying this mechanism. Hum Mutat 31:1–10, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The main goal of this paper is to establish the present state of the art for wind farm control. The control area that will be focused on is the mechanical/aerodynamic part, which includes the wind turbines, their power production, fatigue and wakes affecting neighbouring wind turbines. The sub-objectives in this area of research are as follows: (i) maximizing the total wind farm power production; (ii) following a reference for the total wind farm active power; and (iii) doing this in a manner that minimizes fatigue loading for the wind turbines in the farm. Each of these sub-objectives is discussed, including the following important control issues: choice of input and output, control method and modelling used for controller design and simulation. The available literature from industry is also considered. Finally, a conclusion is presented discussing the established results, open challenges and necessary research. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


"A meeting without food," to mutilate an old Italian proverb, "is like life without love"—"come la vita senza l'amore." For how can we absorb and assimilate so much science without the benefit of at least an elegant opening reception with some facilitative high energy precursors?

On the old continent of Europe such scientific meetings are often held in picturesque places replete with history, tradition, and ancient ruins. The opening ceremony begins with speeches of varying brevity and languages, by congress and scientific society presidents, the all too usual speakers, and officials not too important or busy to attend.

But where is the food? And where is the wine? For a meal without wine ("pranzo senza vino") is indeed like life without love. But wait, first a classical concert. Respectfully, and with varying degrees of rapture, the guests listen to classical pieces by Corelli, Albinoni, and Monteverdi; and show their appreciation by applauding after every movement of Mozart's Serenade in G.

At last it is time to go to the banqueting hall. The doors open. Is it the Vandal cohorts of Genseric that are approaching? Is it a crowd that has fasted for weeks in anticipation of the event? Could this be the end of Ramadan? But no, for the Saracens were turned back in 732, and we are in the land of the once victorious Charles Martel, the Hammer.

Repudiating the prudent heart diet, the crowd rushes to the buffet, pushing all obstacles aside. Five pairs of hands converge on one single shrimp, and food is snatched out of the hands of waitresses. Some people pick up whole trays, others full bottles of wine. A man steps on a young woman's toes; a blonde matron projects herself unstoppably towards the hors d'oeuvres, leaving behind a trail of bruised smaller men. Within minutes entire tables of neatly arranged tarts and sandwiches are devastated, the food vanishing as in the wake of an army of locusts.

Soon nothing is left but empty plates, empty bottles, and trash. Is this the work of the Exterminating Angel? Remember Luis Bunuel's 1962 movie, where high society guests, mysteriously and inexplicably shut up in their elegant banqueting hall, end up behaving like beasts, fighting over chairs and drinks and scrambling for scraps of food? For like it or not, when the chips are down, the veneer of human civilization is still pretty thin.


There is increasing interest in the use of arts-based media to improve the health and wellbeing of the older
population. Whilst there have been a number of initiatives in this area, there have been relatively few arts-informed
evaluations of such interventions. This paper worked with a local theatre to design an evaluation that was an arts-based
intervention. What is novel about the approach adopted here is that not only was the study user-guided, but the study also adopted a new and emerging form of arts-informed inquiry, which offered clarity to the evaluation that is not seen in some of the earlier methods available. The findings of the study indicate that theatre and performance provided opportunities for diverse marginalised members of a community to connect and participate in a shared activity and transform their views of themselves and others in ways that were beneficial for health and wellbeing.


Tax is the main source of state revenue used to finance state expenditure. Corruption in the tax sector is one of the factors that influence a country's tax revenue. This study aims to (1) map the risks and opportunities for corruption in the tax sector, (2) propose strategies to prevent and eradicate corruption in the tax sector. This study used descriptive qualitative research method with normative juridical approach. In addition, this study used a comparative approach, which was a study comparing the implementation of tax bureaucratic reform in the State of Bolivia.  The results showed that (1) detecting risks and opportunities for corruption in the tax sector can be done by mapping the points of corruption in the tax sector, (2) bureaucratic reform of the Directorate General  of Tax is one of the efforts in the prevention and eradication of corruption in the tax sector, but the Directorate General of Taxation has failed to implement bureaucratic reform with a series of corruption cases involving employees and officials of the Directorate General of Tax.


We consider the problem of computing, given a set S of n points in the plane, which points of S are vertices of the convex hull of S. For certain variations of this problem, different proofs exist that the complexity of this problem in the algebraic decision tree model is Omega(n log n). This paper provides a relatively simple proof by reduction from epsilon-closeness.


Many are the examples of application of SAR and differential SAR interferometry for topographic mapping and ground deformation monitoring. However, on repeat pass geometry, the performances of these two techniques are limited by the loss of correlation (coherence) between the two radar acquisitions. The lack of coherence causes an additional noise thus a poor estimate of the interferometric phase. The disturbances can be due either to surface changes because of long period cover (temporal decorrelation) or to a too large baseline (spatial decorrelation). In this paper, we propose an empirical model for the estimate of coherence considering separately these two sources of disturbances. Starting from the observations of experimental data, we study the behaviour of coherence according to baseline and period cover in order to express the two terms of correlation. A number of 170 multi temporal and multi baseline differential interferograms covering the same region is used to validate the proposed model.


Following surgical disruption (4-16 weeks) of the nerves supplying the dog heart, catecholamine (norepinephrine and epinephrine) levels in the atria and ventricles were markedly reduced. Using the 10,000 g particulate fraction as an enzyme source, the activation of adenylate cyclase by norepinephrine was considerably greater in the denervated myocardial preparations (atria and ventricles) than in control hearts. Moreover, in the denervated ventricular preparation fluoride (5 and 10mM) elicited a significantly greater stimulation of the enzyme than that observed in the controls.


Suppression, an active inhibition of vision in one eye under binocular conditions, is a sensory adaptation in concomitant strabismus. The characteristics and extent of suppression differ not only in different types of strabismus but also in the same type under different testing conditions, which may differ in their degree of dissociation. The findings in exodeviations have thus varied from regional suppression to hemiretinal trigger, and in esodeviations from two point scotoma to single large scotoma. There is a need for a simple but less dissociative test to chart the fields under binocular conditions. We have devised a new, simple instrument based on polaroid dissociation. The findings corroborate the findings of more sophisticated tests like phase-difference haploscope.


From the 4th/10th century onwards, large numbers of letters (arab. rasā'il, the common distinction is between dīwānīyāt, "chancery letters", and ikhwānīyāt, "letters between friends") have survived to our time, both in letter collections and other works (e.g., literary anthologies). The survival of so many letters from the writers of the Buyid period stands in constrast to the earlier Islamic centuries from which relatively few letters have survived, although it had been customary among high-ranking scribes to collect and publish their letters from late Umayyad times onwards. This study examines how letters were treated: (a) in early works of literary criticism; (b) in the so-called adab al-kātib literature (scribe manuals); and (c) in literary anthologies (florilegia). In all three areas, it is possible to trace a growing "literarization" that resulted in the emergence of a so-called ornate prose style that came to dominate Arabic epistolography in the 4th/10th century.


India has been a huge market for GMAC, and the country has the potential to grow bigger market for the GMAC. In the testing year 2001-02, 12963, Indian citizens took the GMAT exam while by 2015-16, it has gone to up to 33123 with a growth of 155%. Statistics reveal that compared with a decade ago, the GMAC market in India has become a big boon for Indian and international business schools to tap the potential candidates for their business programs. Most of the Indian MBA aspirants apply for MBA programs global, mainly to the US based programs. We do not see any top business school in the world without admitting any Indian citizen, and that is the popularity of Indian students worldwide. Asians, mainly the Chinese and Indian MBA aspirants make a beeline to the top business schools such as Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Insead... etc. Indian citizens per cent was 5.2% in the testing year 2001-02, 6.0% in the testing year 2002-03, 5.9% in the testing year 2003-04, 6.7% in the testing year 2004-05, 8.0% in the testing year 2005-06, 9.8% in the testing year 2006-07, 11.6% in the testing year 2007-08, 11.5% in the testing year 2008-09, 10.2% in the testing year 2009-10, 9.8% in the testing year 2010-11, 10.5% in the testing year 2011-12, 10.6% in the testing year 2012-13, 11.6% in 2013-14, 11.7% in the testing year 2014-15, and 12.6% in the testing year 2015-2016. It is good to see there was a double-digit growth eight times in the fifteen years. The present article analysis the GMAC examination trends in India for the last 15 years.


We study magnetization dynamics in spin-transfer devices subject to DC and microwave injected currents. When the frequency of the injected current is sufficiently close to the self-oscillation frequency of the device, phase-locking occurs. This phenomenon is theoretically studied by using Landau-Lifshitz equation with Slonczewski spin-torque term. By exploiting separation of time scales and using averaging technique, we derive equations which are applicable to the study of phase-locking for arbitrary large magnetization motion. The stability diagram in the (detuning, ac current)-plane is determined and it is shown that phase locking is hysteretic at sufficiently large ac currents.


Information-Centric Networking (ICN) specifically Name Data Networking (NDN) is the name-base (content-base) networking and takes named-contents as "first class citizen", being considered as the ideal candidate to form the Future Internet basis. NDN striking features like named-data self-secured contents, name-base-forwarding, in-network caching and mobility support suits the Internet of Things (IoT) environment, which aims to enable communication among smart devices and to combine all Internet-based smart applications under the one roof. With these aims, IoT put many research challenges regarding its network architecture as it should support heterogeneous devices and offer scalability. IoT may depend on the names and addresses of billions of the devices and should smartly manage the bulk of data produced every second. IoT application smart campus has gained a lot of attention in both industry and academia due to many reasons. Therefore, to design NDN for IoT, a sophisticated naming scheme is needed to explore and it is the main motivation for this work. In this paper, we study NDN-IoT smart campus (in terms of connected devices and contents) and find that it lacks in a reasonable naming and addressing mechanism; and thus we propose NDN based Hybrid Naming Scheme (NDN-HNS) for IoT based Smart Campus (IoTSC).


Phosphate rock samples collected from the phosphate bearing formations of Sokoto State, Northwest Nigeria were assessed for their radiological contents by gamma spectrometric technique (sodium iodide (NaI (Tl) detector). The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in all the studied samples were 720.1±4.2 Bqkg-1, 33.5±1.4 Bqkg-1, and 315.3±6.7 Bqkg-1 respectively. Contributions from radium contents to the overall radionuclide activity concentrations were quite significant. The calculated mean value of the absorbed dose rate was found to be 3.6 times the maximum value for the world background level, which shows the severity of radiation risk the public is exposed to in the study areas. The computed values for radiation hazard indices were above the world's proposed safety limits by UNSCEAR, which place the study areas among high background radiation zones. Some restrictive measures and precautionary actions are therefore obligatory for the local farmers and the general public from the view point of radiation protection.

 Key words: Natural radioactivity, Sokoto, phosphate rock, radiation hazard, NaI (Tl) detector, radiation dose.


In this work, we present the convergence analysis of one-point large deviations rate functions (LDRFs) of the spatial finite difference method (FDM) for stochastic wave equations with small noise, which is essentially about the asymptotical limit of minimization problems and not a trivial task for the nonlinear cases. In order to overcome the difficulty that objective functions for the original equation and the spatial FDM have different effective domains, we propose a new technical route for analyzing the pointwise convergence of the one-point LDRFs of the spatial FDM, based on the Γ -convergence of objective functions. Based on the new technical route, the intractable convergence analysis of one-point LDRFs boils down to the qualitative analysis of skeleton equations of the original equation and its numerical discretizations.


ABSTRACT Buffaloes are compulsory vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in many countries as part of the official control programmes. Serological testing aimed to indirectly assess herd immunity is currently performed using the same Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) applied for bovine sera, assuming an agreement between the ELISA's diagnostic results and those obtained using the virus neutralization test (VNT). Here we evaluated the accuracy of different ELISA tests to assess vaccine-induced antibodies against FMDV in buffalo's sera classified according to their VNT titres. Currently used liquid-phase blocking ELISA yielded very low specificity, producing high titres for many samples with low VNT titres. To increase specificity, we developed an indirect ELISA using purified 140S viral particles and an avidity single-dilution ELISA, which includes a urea washing step after the incubation of the diluted serum sample, to detach weak binders. Combining these two high-throughput single-dilution tests, an excellent concordance with VNT was achieved. This is the first study analysing the diagnostic agreement of traditional and novel serological tests with VNT for the indirect assessment of antibodies against FMDV capsid proteins in buffalo serum samples.


Ginkgo biloba is a popular medicinal plant widely used in numerous herbal products, including food supplements. Due to its popularity and growing economic value, G. biloba leaf extract has become the target of economically motivated adulterations. There are many reports about the poor quality of ginkgo products and their adulteration, mainly by adding flavonols, flavonol glycosides, or extracts from other plants. In this work, we developed an approach using two-trace two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2T2D COS) in UV-Vis range combined with multilinear principal component analysis (MPCA) to detect potential adulteration of twenty G. biloba food supplements. UV-Vis spectral data are obtained for 80% methanol and aqueous extracts in the range of 245–410 nm. Three series of two-dimensional correlation spectra were interpreted by visual inspection and using MPCA. The proposed relatively quick and straightforward approach successfully differentiated supplements adulterated with rutin or those lacking ginkgo leaf extract. Supporting information about adulteration was obtained from the difference between the DPPH radical scavenging capacity of both extracts and from chromatographic (HPLC-DAD) fingerprints of methanolic samples.


The thyroxine has been known as a hormone that can increase fish growth especially in the larvae stage. The provision of hormone thyroxine on larvae fish can be conducted through dipping. Determination of dipping time are very important to increase growth. The purposes of this research are determining the optimum dipping time for the growth and survival rate of snakehead larvae. This research was done at Laboratorium Dasar Perikanan, Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Sriwijaya, Indralaya. The method used Competely Randomized Design (RAL) with five treatments and three replicates, with dipping time are 24, 27, 30, 33 and 36 hours. The parameters observed are the absolute length growth, absolute weight growth, survival rate of larvae and water quality (temperature, pH and disolved oxygen). The results showed that the duration of immersion in thyroxine hormone solution in snakehead larvae showed relatively faster growth on treatment (P5) with 36 hours of dipping time. While the regression test result showed the optimal growth of snakehead larvae at the time immersion for 27,92 – 29,49 hours. Thyroxine hormone increased the growth of snakehead larvae but has no statistically significant effect. The length of time of thyroxine hormone 24-36 hours with a dosage of 0.1 mg l-1 did not affect the survival of snakehead larvae. Water quality of maintenance media is still tolerance for supporting the growth and survival of snakehead larvae.


Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA

Background: Experimental studies support anti-tumor properties of vitamin D for breast cancer (BC), which have yet to be conclusively demonstrated in epidemiological studies. Common genetic variations in the vitamin D-related pathways have also been studied with BC risk, mostly in populations of European ancestry. Studies in populations of African ancestry (AA), known for a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency due to high skin pigmentation, have been sparse.

Methods: We examined 69 genes from three vitamin D-related pathways: vitamin D metabolism and signaling, pigmentation synthesis and metabolism, and UV exposure response in the African American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk (AMBER) Consortium. Tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected and genotyped in a customized Illumina Exome Array, followed by systematic imputation using 1000 Genomes haplotypes. The analytical dataset included 25,295 variants with a minor allele frequency (MAF) of 0.006 or above from the targeted genetic regions in 3,663 breast cancer cases and 4,687 controls. Odds ratios (OR) were derived from multivariable logistic regression models for risk associated with overall BC as well as by estrogen receptor (ER) status (1,983 ER positive and 1,098 ER negative). Case-case analyses were also performed.

Results: Among the three vitamin D-related pathways, genes involved in UV exposure response appear to be the top ones associated with BC risk overall and by ER status. The most significant genes in this pathway included: REV1 for overall BC (OR for the T allele of rs9308822 = 0.86, p = 1e-4), similar for both ER+ and ER- BC; ERCC6 for ER-positive BC (OR for the T allele of rs114723899 = 0.62, p = 4e-5); and DDB2 for ER-negative BC (OR for the G allele of rs4647707 = 1.26, p = 4e-5). For the skin pigmentation pathway, the most significant genes were SLC24A2 with ER-negative BC (top SNP rs4900134 p = 1e-4), and OCA2 associated with ER-negative vs. ER-positive status (top SNP rs144465989 p = 6e-5). For the vitamin D metabolism and signaling pathway, the most significant gene was CASR associated with ER-negative vs. ER-positive status (top SNP rs112594756 p = 7e-5). Only one of the commonly studied VDR SNPs, ApaI or rs7975232, was marginally associated with ER-positive BC (OR = 1.11, p = 0.05) in this study of AA women. Gene-level and pathway-level analyses and for multiple testing correction are ongoing.

Conclusion: In a comprehensive study of vitamin D-related genetic variations in AA women, we found several genes involved in UV exposure response most significantly associated with BC risk overall and by ER status. Because those genes are also involved in DNA damage and repair pathways, findings should be interpreted with caution due to their roles in cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D.

Citation Format: Song Yao, Chi-Chen Hong, Kathryn Lunetta, Stephen Haddad, Edward Ruiz-Narvaez, Qiang Hu, Qianqian Zhu, Song Liu, Lara Sucheston-Campbell, Christopher Haiman, Andrew Olshan, Julie Palmer, Christine Ambrosone. Genetic variations in vitamin D-related pathways and breast cancer risk in African American women. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2794. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2794


NASA and the General Electric Co. are jointly developing two low noise propulsion technology demonstrators (Engine "A" and "C" incorporating, respectively, a low tip speed and high tip speed fan) under the Experimental Quiet Engine Program. The acoustic and Aerodynamic performance characteristics of Engine "C" which is currently on test will be reported at a later date. The present paper describes the design, component development and engine evaluation of the "A" demonstrator. The aerodynamic and acoustic performance obtained on the fan component are discussed. The demonstrator engine acoustic test program is outlined. The effect of inlet geometry and duct acoustic treatment are presented. The static acoustic data are extrapolated to flight and compared with the FAA noise regulations.


Using bicycle ergometry in combination with quantitative and qualitative assessment of ECG changes (in 605 coronary patients), and with direct measurement of oxygen consumption and systemic oxygen supply efficiency (118 coronary patients), a possibility of non-invasive assessment of the severity of coronary arterial affection prior to coronary angiography and the identification of patients with poor prognosis is demonstrated. This assessment lends a more objective foundation to the determination of indications for coronary angiography and prospective aortal-coronary shunting.


AIM
Different patients exhibit wide variability in the way they respond to medications. Individual differences in drug response can result from environmental factors, as well as genetic determinants. In particular, inherited differences in the metabolism and disposition of drugs can have a great influence on the efficacy and toxicity of medications, so herein we focus on the pharmacogenetics of drug metabolism.

DEVELOPMENT
Clinical observations of inherited differences in drug effects were first documented in the 1950s, giving rise to the field of pharmacogenetics. These observations were then followed by population studies of drug disposition phenotype, then biochemical, and eventually molecular elucidation of the genetic defect associated with the inherited trait. Genetic polymorphisms have been described for many phase I and phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes including several cytochromes P450, N-acetyltransferases, and thiopurine S-methyltransferase. Rapid advances in human genomics gave birth to pharmacogenomics, an emerging discipline that uses genome-wide approaches to study the entire spectrum of genes involved in drug response. High-through-put genomic technologies will serve as the foundation of personalized therapies.

CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of an individual's genetic variability in drug response may be clinically and economically important and could provide the basis for a rational approach to drug prescription in neuropsychiatric disorders.


As the anti-viruses run in a trusted kernel level any loophole in the anti-virus program can enable attackers to take full control over the computer system and steal data or do serious damages. Hence the anti-virus engines must be developed with proper security in mind. The ant-virus should be able to any type of specially created executable files, compression packages or documents that are intentionally created to exploit the anti-virus's weakness.Viruses are present in almost every system even though there are anti-viruses installed. This is because every anti-virus, however good it may be, leads to some extent of false positives and false negatives. Our faith on the anti-virus system often makes us more careless about hygienic habits which increases the possibility of infection. It is necessary for an anti-virus to detect and destroy the malware before its own files are detected and destroyed by the malware.


Kashmir became part of the Indian Union in 1950 with a special status under the Act 370. Since then, both Pakistan Administered and India Administered Kashmir exist, divided by LOC. After the 1987 makeshift elections and with the defeat of the pro-Kashmir party, the sense of betrayal and angst intensified to the level of militancy and led to an armed insurgency for the cause of self-determination. To counter this, the Indian government imposed AFSPA in the region in 1990. The armed forces, under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the Disturbed Areas Act, the Army Act and the Criminal Procedure Code (for police, who are treated just like civilians by the Army) have immense and unwarranted power which guarantees them impunity from all and any violation of human rights (beyond their professional 'obligations'). It is rather paradoxical how the forced occupation by the Indian government has only led to less accountability and more violation in the region. This paper attempts to locate the plight  and silence of women in the conflict-torn J&K by charting the policies of the Indian state (370, AFSPA, and others) till the post-Burhan Wani situation in the region to bring out the (im)possibility of any likelihood of justice. It will also try to discuss aspects of a governance which itself devises a framework to deny justice and hence implicated in the increase the level of victimisation manifold.


BACKGROUND
There are scant data on the effect of body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) on cardiovascular events and death in older patients with hypertension.

OBJECTIVE
To determine if low body mass in older patients with hypertension confers an increased risk of death or stroke.

PATIENTS
Participants were 3975 men and women (mean age, 71 years) enrolled in 17 US centers in the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program trial, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of lowdose antihypertensive therapy, with follow-up for 5 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Five-year adjusted mortality and stroke rates from Cox proportional hazards analyses.

RESULTS
There was no statistically significant relation of death or stroke with BMI in the placebo group (P = .47), and there was a U- or J-shaped relation in the treatment group. The J-shaped relation of death with BMI in the treated group (P = .03) showed that the lowest probability of death for men was associated with a BMI of 26.0 and for women with a BMI of 29.6; the curve was quite flat for women across a wide range of BMIs. For stroke, men and women did not differ, and the BMI nadir for both sexes combined was 29, with risk increasing steeply at BMIs below 24. Those in active treatment, however, had lower death and stroke rates compared with those taking placebo.

CONCLUSIONS
Among older patients with hypertension, a wide range of BMIs was associated with a similar risk of death and stroke; a low BMI was associated with increased risk. Lean, older patients with hypertension in treatment should be monitored carefully for additional risk factors.


The tyre/road interaction model developed by Chalmers during the last years is utilised to exam both sound generation mechanisms and sound radiation properties of rolling tyres. The model is based on a very advanced tyre model, a fully non-linear contact model, and a radiation model including the surface of the road. The model is successfully validated. The two main mechanisms, tyre vibrations and air-flow related mechanisms – often called air-pumping – are analysed from measurements and from simulation results. The results indicate the strong influence of air-flow related mechanisms. Different tyre/road combinations influence this result. The so gained insight is essential for the optimisation of tyres and road surfaces. The simulations show that the lateral structure of the surface roughness can have strong influence on the generated sound at higher frequencies. The analysis of pass-by measurements also underlines the findings that at these frequencies, low order modes with respect to the cross section determine the sound radiation. Finally the influence of the road surface is investigated and the horn effect for a rolling tyre is calculated.


Here, we describe a cost-effective setup for targeted photoconversion of fluorescent signals into electron dense ones. This approach has offered invaluable insights in the morphology and function of fine neuronal structures. The technique relies on the localized oxidation of diaminobenzidine (DAB) mediated by excited fluorophores. This paper includes a detailed description of how to build a simple photoconversion setup that can increase reliability and throughput of this well-established technique. The system described here, is particularly well-suited for thick neuronal tissue, where light penetration and oxygen diffusion may be limiting DAB oxidation. To demonstrate the system, we use Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM) to visualize functionally-labelled individual synaptic vesicles released onto an identified layer 5 neuron in an acute cortical slice. The setup significantly simplifies the photoconversion workflow, increasing the depth of photoillumination, improving the targeting of the region of interest and reducing the time required to process each individual samples. We have tested this setup extensively for the photoconversion of FM 1-43FX and Lucifer Yellow both excited at 473 nm. In principle, the system can be adapted to any dye or nanoparticle able to oxidize DAB when excited by a specific light wavelength.


Consideration is given to the unsteady motion of a sphere moving from rest under the action of a constant force in elastico-viscous liquids. Expressions are found for the velocity of the sphere; these can be evaluated for all values of the time and material constants involved. Information is provided which may be of use to experimentalists who use the falling-ball technique to determine the limiting zero shear rate viscosity of elastico-viscous liquids. Indications are also given of how this technique may be used to determine the elastic parameters of liquids.


OBJECTIVES
To further elucidate earlier findings, the present study investigated whether physical activity could serve as a positive stimulus to modify other changeable cardiac risk factors.

METHODS
Participants were 140 patients who had completed a cardiac rehabilitation programme focused on physical activity. Their present level of physical activity, smoking habits and Quetelet index were investigated as well as that before the cardiac event, in retrospect. Current feelings of anxiety and depression were also assessed. Participants were divided into two categories according to their present level of physical activity after finishing the rehabilitation programme, compared with that before the cardiac event.

RESULTS
It appeared that the more physically active category contained more smokers. Although many of them had quitted smoking, significantly more persisted in their smoking habits compared with the patients who did not increase their physical activity. Significantly less depression was found in the more active patients.

CONCLUSIONS
Although it could not be confirmed that physical activity stimulated a positive change in smoking and Quetelet index, the more active patients appeared to be less depressed.


Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) are a widely used model for their diverse availability in studying early embryonic development and their application in regenerative treatment of various intractable diseases. Transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (Trpm7) regulates Ca2+ as a nonselective ion channel and is essential for early embryonic development; however, the precise role of Trpm7 in mESCs has not been clearly elucidated. In this study, we showed that the inhibition of Trpm7 affects the pluripotency and self‐renewal of mESCs. We found that short hairpin RNA (shRNA)‐mediated suppression of Trpm7 resulted in decreased expression of transcriptional regulators, Oct4 and Sox2, which maintain stemness in mESCs. In addition, Trpm7 knockdown led to alterations in the basic properties of mESCs, such as decreased proliferation, cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, embryoid body (EB) formation and teratoma formation assays revealed abnormal regulation of differentiation due to Trpm7 knockdown, including the smaller size of EBs, elevated ectodermal differentiation, and diminished endodermal and mesodermal differentiation. We found that EB Day 7 samples displayed decreased intracellular Ca2+ levels compared to those of the scrambled group. Finally, we identified that these alterations induced by Trpm7 knockdown occurred due to decreased phosphorylation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and subsequent activation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) in mESCs. Our findings suggest that Trpm7 could be a novel regulator for maintaining stemness and modulating the differentiation of mESCs.


Structure-activity relationship studies of substituted arylsulfoanilides as antiproliferatives, which are mediated by the partial depletion of intracellular Ca(2+) stores, resulted in the identification of compounds with micromolar activity against lung cancer cells in a growth inhibition assay. Incorporating the substitution pattern of the best arylsulfoanilides onto the 3-phenyloxindole scaffold resulted in a potent arylsulfoanilide-oxindole hybrid, 27. Compound 27 inhibits cancer cell growth by partial depletion of intracellular Ca(2+) stores and phosphorylation of eIF2alpha.


Recent empirical literature has identified the importance of information transmission in creating box office blockbusters. It has been shown that box office revenue distributions are characterised by extremities of skew and variance that cannot be explained by such things as expensive budgets, star power, critical acclaim or awards. Empirical research of this industry has subsequently turned its attention to models of information transmission and the consequential implications for box office revenues. Using a large new Australian dataset, this paper adds to the literature by exploring the suitability of the α-stable distribution for various definitions of Australian box office revenues. Copyright © 2008 The Economic Society of Australia.


A mathematical model describing the steady state flows in a forced gradient tracer test between an injection and pumping borehole in a multilayered sandstone aquifer has been developed that includes the effect of vertically variable background heads. A second model describing the recovery of tracer from a layer in which there are discharges due to vertical flow in the injection borehole is also presented. Application of the models to field tracer test data indicates that the observed recoveries, which are not proportional to the abstraction rate in each layer, are consistent with the hydraulic behavior of the aquifer when natural vertical head gradients are taken into account. Investigation with the models illustrates that the vertical distribution of tracer recovery depends strongly upon the background heads and that tracer tests conducted in the same aquifer, but at different times, may interrogate different aquifer layers. It is also shown generally that for a given abstraction rate the vertical distribution of tracer recovery in small‐scale tracer tests is controlled largely by the transmissivity distribution but that as the spatial scale of the test increases, the distribution of recovery becomes proportional to the discharges from the injection borehole because of vertical flows within it, which may be natural or induced by pumping in the monitoring borehole. Uncertainties inherent in the design of forced gradient tracer tests in multilayered aquifers and the problems of applying the results of such tests to natural gradient contaminant migration are discussed.


Background: The directional nature of the link between anxiety and tinnitus has not been verified. COVID-19 has added stress to involved residents and provided a good opportunity to discover if anxiety/stress plays a causative/promotive role to tinnitus. Methods: A retrospective research design was used to compare the tinnitus clinics between the patients in 2020 under COVID-19 and those from the matching period in 2019. While anxiety was quantified using the Zung's Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), tinnitus severity was evaluated using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire and the test of minimum masking level (MML). The assessments were repeated after two months of therapy with sound therapy + educational counselling (STEC) or EC alone. Results: A large increase in anxiety was evident in 2020 in both case rate and SAS. The treatment of both methods was less effective in 2020. SAS, THI and MML were all deteriorated after the EC alone treatment in 2020, while an improvement was seen in 2019. Discussion: The differences between years and between treatment methods suggest that EC alone could not counteract the stress by COVID-19 at all, and the stress, if not managed well, can significantly increase the severity of tinnitus and associated anxiety.Conclusions: By using the EC subgroup in virtual control, we conclude that anxiety can serve as a promoting factor to tinnitus. We believe that this is the first study report that confirm the causative/promotive role of anxiety on tinnitus


In this paper, we present the concept of the Radio Environment Map (REM) designed to ensure electromagnetic situational awareness of cognitive radio networks. The map construction techniques based on spatial statistics are presented. The results of field tests done for Ultra High Frequency (UHF) range with different numbers of sensors are shown. Exemplary maps with selected interpolation techniques are presented. Control points where the signal from licensed users is correctly estimated are identified. Finally, the map quality is assessed, and the most promising interpolation techniques are selected.


The incidence of postoperative convulsive seizure was compared retrospectively during either isoflurane or sevoflurane anesthesia in patients after craniotomy. Overall, 5 of a total of 125 patients suffered convulsive seizures after craniotomy: 2 (4%) of 45 patients with isoflurane anesthesia and 3 (4%) of 80 patients with sevoflurane anesthesia. No significant differences were observed between these two groups. The duration of anesthesia and duration of the MAC.h were similar between these two groups. The occurrence of postoperative convulsive seizure was not related with the inhalational anesthetic agents, the underlying disorders and patient characteristics. It is suggested that either isoflurane or sevoflurane anesthesia in neurosurgical patients may have no specific relationship with the postoperative convulsive seizures.


The hypocretins (Hcrts), also known as orexins, are two neuropeptides produced exclusively in the lateral hypothalamus. They act on two specific receptors that are widely distributed across the brain and involved in a myriad of neurophysiological functions that include sleep, arousal, feeding, reward, fear, anxiety and cognition. Hcrt cell loss in humans leads to narcolepsy with cataplexy (narcolepsy type 1), a disorder characterized by intrusions of sleep into wakefulness, demonstrating that the Hcrt system is nonredundant and essential for sleep/wake stability. The causal link between Hcrts and arousal/wakefulness stabilisation has led to the development of a new class of drugs, Hcrt receptor antagonists to treat insomnia, based on the assumption that blocking orexin‐induced arousal will facilitate sleep. This has been clinically validated: currently, two Hcrt receptor antagonists are approved to treat insomnia (suvorexant and lemborexant), with a New Drug Application recently submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration for a third drug (daridorexant). Other therapeutic applications under investigation include reduction of cravings in substance‐use disorders and prevention of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, given the apparent bidirectional relationship between poor sleep and worsening of the disease. Circuit neuroscience findings suggest that the Hcrt system is a hub that integrates diverse inputs modulating arousal (e.g., circadian rhythms, metabolic status, positive and negative emotions) and conveys this information to multiple output regions. This neuronal architecture explains the wealth of physiological functions associated with Hcrts and highlights the potential of the Hcrt system as a therapeutic target for a number of disorders. We discuss present and future possible applications of drugs targeting the Hcrt system for the treatment of circuit‐related neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions.


Traumatic dental injuries in young individuals are often exposed to the invasion of oral microorganisms that leads to pulp necrosis. Infective necrosis in permanent teeth not-fully-developed causes aberrant root formation. Regeneration endodontic treatments (RETs) have shown promising results by promoting continued root development by stem cells. Critical to the success of RET is the thorough disinfection of the pulpal space. To establish effective antimicrobial protocols for root canal disinfection, the invading microorganisms need to be identified. In the present study, we use a combination of culture-based and high-throughput molecular sequencing techniques to investigate the microbial profiles from traumatized teeth (30 cases) and controls, i.e., teeth with pulp infections not caused by trauma (32 cases). Overall, a high microbial diversity in traumatized necrotic teeth was observed. Eubacterium yurii subsps. yurii and margaretiae, as well as key 'bridging oral species' F. nucleatum sp., Polymorphum and Corynebacterium matruchotti, were highly associated with traumatized teeth. The microbial compositions of traumatized teeth differed considerably from those of infected teeth not caused by trauma. Age and tooth position also influence microbial compositions. In conclusion, we show that the root canal microflora of traumatized teeth is highly diverse, and it differs from root canal infections not caused by trauma.


The GridKa Tier 1 data and computing center hosts a significant share of WLCG processing resources. Providing these resources to all major LHC and other VOs requires efficient, scalable and reliable cluster management. To satisfy this, GridKa has recently migrated its batch resources from CREAM-CE and PBS to ARC-CE and HTCondor. This contribution discusses the key highlights of the adoption of this middleware at the scale of a European Tier 1 center: As the largest WLCG Tier 1 using the ARC-CE plus HTCondor stack, GridKa is exemplary for migrating more than 20 000 cores over the time span of only a few weeks. Supporting multiple VOs, we have extensively studied the constraints and possibilities of scheduling jobs of vastly different requirements. We present a robust and maintainable optimization of resource utilization which still respects constraints desired by VOs. Furthermore, we explore the dynamic extension of our batch system, integrating cloud resources with a lightweight configuration mechanism.


Objective To systematically evaluate the effect and safety of compound Kushen injection (CKI) as an add-on treatment on the treatment for breast cancer. Methods We searched eight major electronic databases from their inception to November 1, 2021, for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing CKI plus chemotherapy with chemotherapy alone. Primary outcomes included objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and tumor marker level. We used Cochrane's RevMan 5.3 for data analysis. The GRADEpro was used to appraise the certainty of evidence. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was applied to estimate the required sample size in a meta-analysis and test the robustness of the current results. Results Thirty RCTs with 2556 participants were totally included. CKI plus chemotherapy showed significant effects in increasing ORR (RR 1.30, 95%CI [1.18, 1.43], I2 = 27%, n = 1694), increasing DCR (RR 1.21, 95%CI [1.15, 1.28], I2 = 16%, n = 1627), increasing HRQol as measured by Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score improvement rate (RR 1.42, 95% CI [1.26, 1.61], I2 = 37%, n = 1172), increasing the PFS (MD 2.24 months, 95%CI [1.26, 3.22], n = 94) and the OS (MD 2.24 months, 95%CI [1.45, 3.43], n = 94), compared to chemotherapy alone. The results showed that CKI plus chemotherapy had a lower risk of ADRs than that of chemotherapy alone group. The certainty of evidence of the included trials was generally low to very low. TSA for ORR and KPS score improvement rate demonstrated that the current results reached a sufficient power regarding both numbers of trials and participants. Conclusions Low certainty of evidence suggested that the combination of CKI and conventional chemotherapy appeared to improve ORR, DCR, and KPS score in breast cancer patients. Conclusions about PFS and OS could not be drawn due to lack of evidence. Additionally, CKI appeared to relieve the risk of ADRs in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapies. However, due to weak evidence, the findings should be further confirmed in large and rigorous trials.


Resilience is a network property of systems responding under stress, which for biomed- icine correlates to chronic or acute insults. Current need exists for models and algo-rithms to study whole transcriptome differences between tissues and disease states to understand resilience. Goal of this effort is to interpret cellular transcription in a dynamic system biology framework of RNA molecules forming an information struc- ture with regulatory properties acting on individual transcripts. We develop and evalu-ate a bioinformatics framework based on information theory that utilizes RNA expression data to create a whole transcriptome model of interaction that could lead to the discovery of new biological control mechanisms. This addresses a fundamental question as to why transcription yields such a small fraction of protein products. We focus on a transformative concept that individual transcripts collectively form an " infor- mation cloud " of sequence words, which for some genes may have significant regulatory impact. Extending the concept of cis - and trans -regulation, we propose to search for RNAs that are modulated by interactions with the transcriptome cloud and calling such examples nebula regulation. This framework has implications as a paradigm change for RNA regulation and provides a deeper understanding of nucleotide sequence structure and -omic language meaning.


A new class of antimicrobial, "soft", quaternary ammonium l-carnitine esters, of the type (CH3)3N+-CH2-CHOCO(R1)-CH2-COO(R2) Cl-, has been designed, with R1 and R2 being in general long-chain alkyl substituents. The series shows good activity against a wide range of bacteria, yeasts, and fungi. Lipophilicity has been measured by RP-HPLC method to give the logarithm of the experimental capacity factor (log k'), and a quantitative relationship has been determined between log k' and the theoretical partition coefficient (CLOGP); also, bond-dipole descriptors have been introduced into calculations by accounting for polar moieties present within the apolar cores of the molecules, giving a more refined calculated capacity factor (log k'calcd). Finally the latter has been related to the antimicrobial activity (MIC values). The proposed models are predictive for the best broad-spectrum antimicrobial compound within the series.


Introduction/Background Cervical cancer remains the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age, even in countries with existing cytology screening program. In recent years it was shown that infection with HPV, development and progression of dysplasia of cervical epithelium are accompanied by changes of microRNA expression profile of epithelial cells. Evaluation of these changes may have diagnostic value in doubtful cytological data (ASCUS) and prognostic value in identifying of LSIL and HSIL that was the aim of this study aim of this study. Methodology Study enrolled patients with cervical cancer (n=33), intraepithelial neoplasia of high (HSIL, n=28) and low grade (LSIL, n=34) and healthy women (n=20). RNA was isolated by original method from material of cytological smears, dried on glasses. miRNA expression analysis was performed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Also in all cases it was carried out research of fifteen HPV types of high oncogenic risk, viral load and genotyping. Results It was found that progression of the neoplastic process was accompanied by increased expression of miR-20a and decreased expression of miR-375. It was developed the classifier that allows by assessing expression of the three microRNAs to confidently differentiate cervical cancer from dysplasia (AUC = 0,876), or divide norm from group with neoplastic changes of the squamous epithelium (cervical cancer, HSIL) that implies further thorough examination (AUC = 0,94). The observed changes in microRNA expression correlated with presence of HPV, but not correlated with the viral load. Samples of the LSIL group were characterized by the most heterogeneous profiles of microRNA expression, which may indicate the heterogeneity of this category of patients in regard to the risk of cervical cancer development. Conclusion Search for specific changes of microRNAs opens possibility of developing new methods of screening and early diagnosis of cervical cancer. Disclosure Nothing to disclose


The volume dependence of single breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) and carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO) was determined in 24 healthy subjects. The change in DLCO [fraction of DLCO measured at total lung capacity (TLC)] to change in alveolar volume [fraction of alveolar volume (VA) at TLC] closely fitted a simple linear regression and matched a theoretical model. As VA decreased, DLCO fell linearly and KCO increased as expected from the relation of DLCO to VA. The equations for adjustment of predicted DLCO and KCO for alveolar volume are: DLCO/DL COtlc = 0.58 + 0.42 VA/VAtlc, KCO/KCOtlc = 0.42 + 0.58/(VA/VAtlc). DLCO and KCO were evaluated in 2313 patients. Subgroups of patients with asthma, emphysema, extrapulmonary lung disease, interstitial lung disease and lung resection were identified. Unadjusted DLCO and KCO percent predicted values showed large differences and much variability, so can be misleading. As expected, KCO and DLCO percent predicted values adjusted for alveolar volume were nearly identical. Subgroups have characteristic patterns of VA and unadjusted and adjusted DLCO and KCO. Changes in DLCO and KCO with alveolar volume are relevant for accurate interpretation of diffusion in patients with low lung volumes. Adjusting predicted DLCO and KCO for alveolar volume provides a better assessment of lung function.


We outline the basic principles of the self-mixing effect and present the design and construction of an interferometer based on this phenomenon. It differs from the previously reported in the literature by the use of two photodetectors, located at different arms of the interferometer. This feature allows widening the arsenal of strategies for the digital processing of the signal. The interferometer is used as vibrometer for the characterization of professional loudspeakers. Experimental results are presented as an illustration.


A simple and accurate self-centring method of mounting a microsphere coupling lens on a fibre endface is described. In over 85% of cases tried, the lenses were centred on the fibre axis to within 3 μm. The lenses yield a laser-fibre coupling efficiency of about 65%.


This paper evaluates non-destructive examination (NDE) detection capabilities of fatigue cracks in piping. Industry performance demonstration initiative (PDI) data for fatigue crack detection were used to develop a matrix of statistically based probability of detection (POD) curves that consider various NDE performance factors. Seven primary performance factors were identified - Material, Crack Geometry/Type, NDE Examination Access, NDE Procedure, Examiner Qualification, Pipe Diameter, and Pipe Wall Thickness. A database of 16,181 NDE performance observations, with 18 fields associated with each observation, was created and used to develop statistically based POD curves for 42 stainless steel and 14 carbon steel performance cases. Subsequent comparisons of the POD fits for each of the cases showed that excellent NDE performance for fatigue cracks can be expected for ferritic materials. Very little difference was observed between the POD curves for the 14 carbon steel performance cases considered in this study and NDE performance could therefore be represented by a single POD curve. For stainless steel, very good performance can also be expected for circumferential cracks located on the same side of the weld from which the NDE examination is made. POD depended primarily on component thickness. Three POD curves for stainless steel were prepared. Bestmore » estimate and the associated 95% confidence bounds POD verses through-wall depth logistic regression digital data are provided. Probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) calculations were performed to compare best estimate leak probabilities obtained from both the new performance-based POD curves and previous PFM models. This work was performed under joint funding by EPRI and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology's Nuclear Energy Plant Optimization (NEPO) program. (authors)« less


This article argues that, in the context of international law, Hart can really be considered a post-modern positivist. Hart has not only refined the source thesis of Hobbes, Bentham and Austin by shedding the command-based understanding of law. Hart has also overcome the difficulties of Kelsen's hypothetical grundnorm by devising a concept of validity based on social facts. In doing so, Hart has paved the way for a modernization of legal positivism which is of particular relevance in international law. The article submits that the social thesis of Hart has generally been overlooked by international legal scholars, for they have not come to terms with the fact that Hart demoted international law to a very primitive set of rules. The only aspect of Hart doctrine to which international legal scholars really paid attention is his famous distinction between primary and secondary rules - a dichotomy which he did not devised himself but borrowed from other authors like Ihering. It is argued in this paper that international legal scholars should be more amenable to Hart's social thesis because it offers some theoretical solutions to the contemporary objections to legal formalism, and in particular to those elaborated by scholars affiliated with critical legal studies. Hart's (modest) use of ideas of Wittgenstein and other scholars of the Philosophy of language, although being insufficient to capture all the special and subtle features of domestic legal system, provides insighful conceptual tools for a modernization of the source thesis in international law.


Multi-task concurrent execution and resource sharing based on preemptive scheduling strategy may cause priority inversion phenomenon in real-time systems. Priority inversion phenomenon is the significant reason of unpredictable errors in real-time system, serious continuous priority inversion phenomenon will lead to real-time system collapse. The paper analyzes the phenomenon and the cause of the phenomenon, puts forward several design and implementation methods to solve priority inversion problem suitable for various application scenarios in μC/OS-II. A priority exchange method is proposed to improve priority inheritance protocol. The proposed method limit priority inversion phenomenon to one level. Theoretical analyses and experimental results indicate that the methods to solve the priority inversion problem in μC/OS-II are concise and effective, provides reasonable technical means for the safe running of complex real-time applications in μC/OS-II.


Objective: To evaluate the safety and cost effectiveness of single layer interrupted intestinal anastomosis in comparison with the double layer conventional method of intestinal anastomosis. Study Design : Prospective comparative study. Period & Setting: Surgical unit 4 DHQ hospital Faisalabad operated by single team during 12 months starting from Feb. 2007 to Jan. 2008. Materials and Methods: The cases were assigned to the two techniques, each being applied on alternate patient, single layer extra mucosal interrupted anastomosis anddouble layer anastomosis. In group 1 we used black silk 3/0 and in double layer we used vicryl 3/0 for inner continuous layer and black silk 3/0 for outer continuous layer. Comparison between two techniques was done on the bases of procedure time, cost effectiveness, morbidity in terms of rate of leakage/. Results: Average time for the construction of the single layer anastomosis was 20 minutes and in double layer was 35 minutes, the difference in average time is statistically significant (p<.001) while average duration of stay was 168 hrs and 216 hrs in group 1 and 2 respectively (p<.001). Leakage rate was double (12%) in group 2 while 6% in group 1. Moreover structure material consumption was more in two layered technique and longer stay added to that lead to more hospital expenses on two layered technique. Conclusion: Anastomosis usinga single layer interrupted extra mucosal technique was faster to perform, cost effective, less likely to leak and as strong as a 2-layer anastomosis.


There are a variety of environmental impacts, particularly non-market related, that are still considered to be non-quantifiable and, therefore, excluded from the decision making process in many developing countries. This paper discusses the importance of incorporating these impacts into the policy-making process. Using the case of Bangladesh, it demonstrates how a failure to properly account for environmental impacts has resulted in decisions that have had negative implications for the environment and society.


Lung function, acute pulmonary exacerbations (APE), and weight are the best clinical predictors of survival in cystic fibrosis (CF); however, underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Biomarkers of current disease state predictive of future outcomes might identify mechanisms and provide treatment targets, trial endpoints and objective clinical monitoring tools. Such CF-specific biomarkers have previously been elusive. Using observational and validation cohorts comprising 97 non-transplanted consecutively-recruited adult CF patients at the Intermountain Adult CF Center, University of Utah, we identified biomarkers informative of current disease and predictive of future clinical outcomes. Patients represented the majority of sputum producers. They were recruited March 2004-April 2007 and followed through May 2011. Sputum biomarker concentrations were measured and clinical outcomes meticulously recorded for a median 5.9 (interquartile range 5.0 to 6.6) years to study associations between biomarkers and future APE and time-to-lung transplantation or death. After multivariate modeling, only high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB-1, mean = 5.84 [log ng/ml], standard deviation [SD] = 1.75) predicted time-to-first APE (hazard ratio [HR] per log-unit HMGB-1 = 1.56, p-value = 0.005), number of future APE within 5 years (0.338 APE per log-unit HMGB-1, p<0.001 by quasi-Poisson regression) and time-to-lung transplantation or death (HR = 1.59, p = 0.02). At APE onset, sputum granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF, mean 4.8 [log pg/ml], SD = 1.26) was significantly associated with APE-associated declines in lung function (−10.8 FEV1% points per log-unit GM-CSF, p<0.001 by linear regression). Evaluation of validation cohorts produced similar results that passed tests of mutual consistency. In CF sputum, high HMGB-1 predicts incidence and recurrence of APE and survival, plausibly because it mediates long-term airway inflammation. High APE-associated GM-CSF identifies patients with large acute declines in FEV1%, possibly providing a laboratory-based objective decision-support tool for determination of an APE diagnosis. These biomarkers are potential CF reporting tools and treatment targets for slowing long-term progression and reducing short-term severity.


Bandwidth efficiency is a critical concern in wireless communications. To fully utilize the available bandwidth, this paper adopts the superimposed training (ST) scheme in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems without using cyclic prefix (CP) and guard interval (GI). If the pilot pattern is fixed, it is shown that the performance of the channel estimation using the ST scheme is the same for both the proposed architecture, denoted as OFDM-ST, and the OFDM system with CP and ST scheme, denoted as CP-OFDM-ST. In addition, since the CP is not adopted in the proposed system, the performances of channel estimation and data detection are degraded because of the inter-symbol interference (ISI) and the inter-carrier interference (ICI). Therefore, a novel data detector, which includes ICI cancellation, is proposed to improve the channel estimation in OFDM-ST systems. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm substantially enhances the systems performance.


ABSTRACT Virtual fitting rooms (VFRs) provide consumers with a fitting experience comparable to in-store fitting. However, despite the great potential of VFRs, their adoption is still in the preliminary stage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between consumers' motivational orientations, perceptions, and their adoption intentions toward VFRs. Additionally, the moderating effects of fashion leadership and technology visibility were examined. Data were collected from 324 Korean consumers and analysed using structural equation modelling as well as multi-group comparisons. The results reveal that respective motivational orientations exerted significant influence on consumers' perceived functional and experiential values toward VFRs, which, in turn, had a positive influence on their adoption intention. Results also suggest that fashion leadership and technology visibility moderated the importance of rendering functional and experiential features of VFRs in increasing consumer adoption of VFRs.


Abstract : Documentation in this report was provided by the Instrumentation Division, Technical Services Directorate for a jungle penetration fuze program. The Fuze Research Engineering Division of Picatinny Arsenal requested height- of-burst (HOB) measurements in a jungle environment for an electronic fuze incorporated in a supersonic rocket. A sound-ranging system, successfully developed and fabricated in 1967 by the Technical Services Directorate at Picatinny Arsenal, was utilized with some modifications of acoustic sensors and amplifiers. The accuracy of the HOB data received by this system can optimally be plus or minus 5% based on evaluations at Picatinny Arsenal and Aberdeen Proving Ground. This accuracy depends on precise operator measurements in system setup and data reduction procedures, monitoring meteorological conditions in real time and monitoring sound velocity in real time. The details of a successful approach to HOB of supersonic rockets as determined by these fuze tests are included in this report together with the HOB test data and results. In these tests two electronic timing fuzes were compared in a jungle environment; no discernable difference between their performance was measured.


Amalgamation of appropriated Brillouin dissipating demonstrating in optical strands utilizing a recently created calculation. The recreations of a conveyed fiber optic sensor are completed with the go for temperature and strain sensing. The practices of Brillouin scrambling in optical strands are contemplated through the backscatter flags under different working parameters along the optical filaments utilizing the created MATLAB codes. The examination of backscatter signs qualities when influenced by temperature and strain are exhibited. All reproduced models show excellent exactness versus distributed estimation results. The work completed cleared route for a more intricate dispersed Brillouin disseminating demonstrating.


Objectives To prospectively examine the health and health-related behaviors of Army Special Forces personnel in comparison with two distinct, but functionally similar Army groups. Methods Special Forces, Ranger Qualified, and General Purposes Forces enrolled in the Millennium Cohort Study were identified using data from the Defense Manpower Data Center. Using prospective survey data (2001–2014), we estimated the association of Army specialization with mental health, social support, physical health, and health-related behaviors with multivariable regression models. Results Among the 5,392 eligible participants (84.4% General Purposes Forces, 10.0% Special Forces, 5.6% Ranger Qualified), Special Forces personnel reported the lowest prevalence of mental disorders, physical health problems, and unhealthy behaviors. In the multivariable models, Special Forces personnel were less likely to report mental health problems, multiple somatic symptoms, and unhealthy behaviors compared with General Purpose Forces infantrymen (odds ratios [OR]: 0.20–0.54, p-values < .01). Overall, Special Forces personnel were similar in terms of mental and physical health compared with Ranger Qualified infantrymen, but were less likely to sleep < 5 hours/night (OR: 0.60, 95% confidence intervals: 0.40, 0.92) and have 5 or more multiple somatic symptoms (OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.98). Both Special Forces personnel and Ranger Qualified infantrymen engaged in more healthy behaviors compared with General Purpose Forces infantrymen (OR: 2.57–6.22, p-values<0.05). Engagement in more healthy behaviors reduced the odds of subsequent adverse health outcomes, regardless of specialization. Conclusions Army Special Forces personnel were found to be mentally and physically healthier than General Purpose Forces infantrymen, which may in part be due to their tendency to engage in healthy behaviors. Findings indicate that engagement in a greater number of healthy behaviors may reduce odds for subsequent adverse outcomes.