The tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL or Apo2L) is a potent inducer of death of cancer but not normal cells, which suggests its potential use as a tumor-specific antineoplastic agent. TRAIL binds to the proapoptotic death receptors DR4 and the p53-regulated proapoptotic KILLER/DR5 as well as to the decoy receptors TRID and TRUNDD. In the present studies, we identified a subgroup of TRAIL-resistant cancer cell lines characterized by low or absent basal DR4 or high expression of the caspase activation inhibitor FLIP. Four of five TRAIL-sensitive cell lines expressed high levels of DR4 mRNA and protein, whereas six of six TRAIL-resistant cell lines expressed low or undetectable levels of DR4 (chi 2; P < 0.01). FLIP expression appeared elevated in five of six (83%) TRAIL-resistant cell lines and only one of five (20%) TRAIL-sensitive cells (chi 2; P < 0.05). Two TRAIL-resistant lines that expressed DR4 contained an A-to-G alteration in the death domain encoding arginine instead of lysine at codon 441. The K441R polymorphism is present in 20% of the normal population and can inhibit DR4-mediated cell killing in a dominant-negative fashion. The expression level of KILLER/DR5, TRID, TRUNDD or TRID, and TRUNDD did not correlate with TRAIL sensitivity (P > 0.05). These results suggest that the major determinants for TRAIL sensitivity may be the expression level of DR4 and FLIP. TRAIL-resistant cells became susceptible to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in the presence of doxorubicin. In TRAIL-sensitive cells, caspases 8, 9, and 3 were activated after TRAIL treatment, but in TRAIL-resistant cells, they were activated only by the combination of TRAIL and doxorubicin. Our results suggest: (a) evaluation of tumor DR4 and FLIP expression and host DR4 codon 441 status could be potentially useful predictors of TRAIL sensitivity, and (b) doxorubicin, in combination with TRAIL, may effectively promote caspase activation in TRAIL-resistant tumors.


Solid though hydrogels are a class of bio-inspired elastomeric material with the ability of high stretch-ability, toughness, and water absorption. Though hydrogels exhibit nonlinear features such as stress softening, permanent set, cyclic energy dissipation and induced anisotropy in their mechanical responses. Besides, gels used in biomedical devices and soft robots are designed to sustain continuous cyclic loading during their service-life. While most studies assume that the majority of stress softening occurs in the first cycle. However, experimental studies suggest that the material exhibits damage accumulation and stiffness reduction significantly at higher number of cyclic loading. This progressive stress softening can lead to an unpredicted response of the material in dynamic loading as it is a function of material stiffness. However, there are only a few constitutive models developed to address this accumulative damage in the elastomeric gels. Thus, here, we developed a data-driven method to predict the behavior of hydrogels subjected to a high number of cycles. The developed model can be particularly used to estimate material response in each cycle and its steady-state response due to three-dimensional deformation. The strain energy of the material is the same in all direction in the undeformed state and damage evolve in each direction based on its maximum deformation. Moreover, the energy of the material in each direction estimated through two parallel artificial neural network. The proposed model shows good agreement with cyclic uni-axial tensile test data in different cycles of the loading and steady-state response of material.


Introduction: The orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 (also known as NR4A1, NGFIB, TR3, TIS1, NAK-1, or N10) is a unique transcription factor encoded by an immediate early gene. Nur77 signaling is deregulated in many cancers and constitutes an important molecule for drug targeting. Areas covered: Nur77 as a versatile transcription factor that displays distinct dual roles in cell proliferation and apoptosis. In addition, several recent insights into Nur77's non-genomic signaling through its physical interactions with various signaling proteins and its phosphorylation-dependent regulation will be highlighted. The possible mechanisms by which Nur77 supports carcinogenesis and specific examples in different human cancers will be summarized. Different approaches to target Nur77 using mimetics, natural products, and synthetic compounds are also described. Expert opinion: These latest findings shed light on the novel roles of Nur77 as an exploitable target for new cancer therapeutics. Further work which focuses on a more complete understanding of the Nur77 interactome as well as how the different networks of Nur77 functional interactions are orchestrated in a stimulus or context-specific way will aid the development of more selective, non-toxic approaches for targeting Nur77 in future.


BACKGROUND In light of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, how resources are managed and the critically ill are allocated must be reviewed. Although ethical recommendations have been published, strategies for dealing with overcapacity of critical care resources have so far not been addressed. OBJECTIVES Assess expert opinion for allocation preferences regarding the growing imbalance between supply and demand for medical resources. DESIGN A 10-item questionnaire was developed and sent to the most prominent members of the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC). SETTING Survey via a web-based platform. PATIENTS Respondents were members of the National Anaesthesiologists Societies Committee and Council Members of the ESAIC; 74 of 80 (92.5%), responded to the survey. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Responses were analysed thematically. The majority of respondents (83.8%), indicated that resources for COVID-19 were available at the time of the survey. Of the representatives of the ESAIC governing bodies, 58.9% favoured an allocation of excess critical care capacity: 69% wished to make them available to supraregional patients, whereas 30.9% preferred to keep the resources available for the local population. Regarding the type of distribution of resources, 35.3% preferred to make critical care available, 32.4% favoured the allocation of medical equipment and 32.4% wished to support both options. The majority (59.5%) supported the implementation of a central European institution to manage such resource allocation. CONCLUSION Experts in critical care support the allocation of resources from centres with overcapacity. The results indicate the need for centrally administered allocation mechanisms that are not based on ethically disputable triage systems. It seems, therefore, that there is wide acceptance and solidarity among the European anaesthesiological community that local medical and human pressure should be relieved during a pandemic by implementing national and international re-allocation strategies among healthcare providers and healthcare systems.


The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence on disc cells after laser irradiation using three-dimensional (3-D) culture system and to clarify the optimum Ho:YAG laser irradiation condition on percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) therapy. Since the Ho:YAG laser ablation is characterized by water-vapor bubble dynamics with pressure wave, thermal effect on cell metabolism might occur in the intervertebral disc. We studied the disc cell damage on the metabolic point of view to investigate the optimum irradiation parameter of the Ho:YAG laser. We have developed the 3-D cultured disc cell system using agarose gel to investigate laser - disc cell interaction. This culture system provides a highly in vivo-like environment for disc cells in which cell-extracellular matrix interactions appear to be more important than contacts among cells. Intervertebral discs were obtained from Japanese white. The isolated disc cells were seeded in 96-well culture plates at the cell densities of 1x10 6 cells/ml, and incubated for 12 days. A pulsed Ho:YAG laser was delivered through a 200μm-core diameter single silica glass fiber. On the agarose gel including the 3-D cultured disc cells, we used the Ho:YAG laser irradiation energy ranging from 40 to 180 mJ/pulse at the fiber end. Cytotoxicity and matrix synthesis after the laser irradiations were evaluated in time course to determine the optimum condition of laser irradiations. It was confirmed that laser irradiation causes necrosis of the cells and additionally produces apoptosis depending on the condition. The ability of matrix synthesis was maintained even after the irradiation, which differed depending on the irradiation conditions. The optimum irradiation conditions seemed related to the preservation of intact area and the acceleration of matrix synthesis in reactive area.


This study aimed to examine the effect of the professionalism of auditors and audit quality on the level of materiality considerations in the Audit Board of Indonesia Representatives of Central Java province. The independent variables used in this study, the professionalism of auditors and audit quality, resize obtained by questionnaire. This study uses primary data is a questionnaire that has 53 questions that represent the three variables. The sample in this study is the auditor who works in BPK RI Representative of Central Java province. Data analysis techniques in this study using descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression to determine the influence of professionalism of auditors and audit quality on the level of materiality. The results showed that the professionalism of auditors and audit quality findings significant positive effect on the determination of the level of materilitas an inspection by the auditor of BPK RI Representative of Central Java province.


A triode crossed field tube has been operated as a high voltage on-off switch tube. A third, partially transparent (grid) electrode is interposed between the anode and cathode and electrically tied to the cathode by a grid leak resistor. High voltage is first applied to the anode and cathode; the magnetic field is then raised to the conduction level (~ 0.01 Tesla). Ignition does not occur because the magnetic field is too low in the grid-anode gap and the electric field is zero in the cathode-grid gap. Pulsing the grid positive relative to the cathode (~ 1 kV) then results in breakdown of the cathode-grid gap; plasma comunication between the two gaps then fully ignites the tube and closes the main power circuit. Grid ignition has been achieved at 50 kV as well as grid ignition followed by current interruption against 10 kV. These levels were limited by the use of a modified, laboratory tube and not by the physics of the technique.


The paper directs attention to and criticizes an unexamined metaphor that
dominates talk about the translation of the Treaty of Waitangi. Key terms in the Treaty, such as 'Sovereignty' and 'Property', are commonly talked about as if they point to entities in the world, observable by us independently of the talk about them. The activity of 'translating' the Treaty, in this schema, is talked about in terms of 'conveying' bits of meaning over from English to Maori, ultimately replacing one set of labels with another. Treaty translator Rev. Henry Williams has been repeatedly judged, implicitly or explicitly, something of a failure in his supposed task of 'conveying' cum re-labeling meaning. But meaning, I submit, is always meaning to someone, who is uniquely located in some context. What the Treaty means to one person, with their particular set of experiences and expectations, will of necessity be in some degree different from all others. Justly judging Williams requires that we let go of the 'conveying' metaphor. A new metaphor may enable us to see the Treaty and Williams quite differently; it may stimulate new questions and create new
understandings.


Background There is still a lack of nomograms that can accurately predict liver metastasis and poor prognosis after neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Effective nomograms may help clinicians better identify LARC patients with potential high-risk risks, so as to carry out more targeted monitoring, treatment and follow-up. Methods The nomograms were based on the FOWARC trial (NCT01211210), which included 302 LARC patients who underwent neoadjuvant treatment before surgery at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from 2011 to 2014. The predictive accuracy and discriminative ability of the nomograms were determined by the concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve. The results were validated using bootstrap resampling and a prospective study on 100 patients in 2017. Results The 3-year liver disease-free survival (LDFS) rate after neoadjuvant treatment for LARC was 91.65% (training cohort 92.22%, validation cohort 90.01%). Factors associated with LDFS were hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, anemia, lymph node number, postoperative T stage and tumor nodule, which were all included in the nomogram for LDFS. The C-indies of the nomogram for LDFS were 0.828 and 0.845 in the training and validation cohorts. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 94.14% (training cohort 94.13%, validation cohort 94.05%). Factors in the nomogram for OS were mesorectal fascia involvement (MRF), postoperative N stage, pathological differentiation, tumor nodule and neural invasion. The C-indies of the nomogram for predicting OS were 0.73 and 0.774 in the training and validation cohorts. The calibration curve for the survival probability showed good agreement between the nomogram predictions and the actual observations. Conclusions The nomograms established in this study can effectively predict LDFS and has good clinical application potential for OS in LARC patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy.


Background. Menstrual health has emerged as an under recognised barrier to women and girls' dignity, health, education, and psychosocial wellbeing in low and middle income contexts. Interventions targeting this issue have seen increasing dissemination, despite little evidence for their effectiveness and sparse research to inform intervention development or evaluation. Objectives. 1) Appraise current evidence for the effectiveness of menstrual health interventions; 2) Evaluate the effectiveness of a reusable sanitary pad and puberty education intervention for girls' school attendance; and, 3) Expand understanding of menstrual health to inform future research and practice. Methods.. The multiple objectives of this thesis were addressed through a range of methodological approaches, reported across six manuscripts. The first collates and critically appraises existing evidence in a systematic review, while the second provides a broader overview in a position piece advocating for an evidence-based approach to menstrual health. The third paper reports on a cluster quasi-randomised control trial of reusable sanitary pad and puberty education interventions undertaken in Uganda. The fourth and fifth papers report secondary analyses of the trial survey data to investigate the prevalence and consequences of menstrual hygiene, and schoolgirls' experiences with menstrual absorbents. The final manuscript presents a qualitative, framework analysis to describe and compare the menstrual experiences of 27 schoolgirls in the controlled trial. Results. Systematic review identified eight controlled trials of menstrual health interventions. There was emerging evidence for the effectiveness of both education and product provision interventions, although methodological quality was poor. The controlled trial of reusable sanitary pad and puberty education provision found both interventions were similarly effective in reducing school absenteeism, with a moderate effect size. Follow-up quantitative papers provided insights into girls' menstrual experiences. In the first of these, the prevalence of inadequate menstrual hygiene was estimated to be 91% when measured consistently with the consensus definition, and did not differ between those using trial-provided reusable sanitary pads and those using existing methods. Aspects of menstrual hygiene were associated with shame, reduced school engagement, and health concerns. In the second follow-up, girls rated the trial-provided reusable sanitary pads favourably. However, greater perceptions of reliability did not translate into reduced rates of soiling or odour in the last menses. Finally, qualitative work provided process evaluation and nuanced understanding of the interventions' change mechanisms. Reduced fears of soiling improved school attendance for those provided with absorbents, while improvements in social support may have mediated the impact of the puberty education on attendance. Conclusions. This thesis represents a significant step forward in the emerging field of menstrual health research. The work provides critical appraisal of existing studies and new evidence for the effectiveness of interventions to improve outcomes for girls' in low and middle income contexts. Further, new insights on the prevalence and consequences of menstrual hygiene, girls' appraisal of menstrual absorbents, and qualitative exploration of girls' experiences provide guidance for the development of future interventions and evaluations.


On 26 June 2003, the England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division) granted an application for leave to appeal a decision of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal, which had overturned an adjudicator's decision to allow an HIV-positive citizen of Uganda to immigrate to the United Kingdom (UK).


The enhancement of ergot alkaloid production by tryptophan and its analogues in both normal and high-phosphate cultures is more directly related to increased dimethylallyltryptophan (DMAT) synthetase activity rather than to a lack of regulation of the tryptophan biosynthetic enzymes. Thiotryptophan [beta-(1-benzo-thien-3-yl)-alanine] is rather ineffective in the end product regulation of tryptophan biosynthesis, whereas tryptophan and 5-methyltryptophan are potent effectors. The presence of increased levels of DMAT synthetase in ergot cultures supplemented with tryptophan or thiotryptophan, and to a lesser extent with 5-methyltryptophan, suggests that the induction effect involves de novo synthesis of the enzyme. Thiotryptophan and tryptophan but not 5-methyltryptophan can overcome the block of alkaloid synthesis by inorganic phosphate. The results with thiotryptophan indicate that the phosphate effect cannot be explained merely on the basis of a block of tryptophan synthesis.


Inflammation upon infectious lung injury is a double-edged sword: while tissue-infiltrating immune cells and cytokines are necessary to control infection, these same factors often aggravate injury. Full appreciation of both the sources and targets of inflammatory mediators is required to facilitate strategies to maintain antimicrobial effects while minimizing off-target epithelial and endothelial damage. Recognizing that the vasculature is centrally involved in tissue responses to injury and infection, we observed that pulmonary capillary endothelial cells (ECs) exhibit dramatic transcriptomic changes upon influenza injury punctuated by profound upregulation of Sparcl1. Endothelial deletion and overexpression of SPARCL1 implicated this secreted matricellular protein in driving key pathophysiologic symptoms of pneumonia, which we demonstrate result from its effects on macrophage polarization. SPARCL1 induces a shift to a pro-inflammatory "M1-like" phenotype (CD86+CD206-), thereby increasing associated cytokine levels. Mechanistically, SPARCL1 acts directly on macrophages in vitro to induce the pro-inflammatory phenotype via activation of TLR4, and TLR4 inhibition in vivo ameliorates inflammatory exacerbations caused by endothelial Sparcl1 overexpression. Finally, we confirmed significant elevation of SPARCL1 in COVID-19 lung ECs in comparison with those from healthy donors. Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with fatal COVID-19 had higher levels of circulating SPARCL1 protein compared to those who recovered, indicating the potential of SPARCL1 as a biomarker for prognosis of pneumonia and suggesting that personalized medicine approaches might be harnessed to block SPARCL1 and improve outcomes in high-expressing patients.


Despite the number of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths from influenza each year, developing the ability to predict the timing of these outbreaks has remained elusive. We have developed the Above Local Elevated Respiratory illness Threshold (ALERT) algorithm to help public health practitioners develop simple rules to define a period of increased disease incidence in a given location. The ALERT algorithm defines a period of elevated disease incidence in a community or hospital that systematically collects surveillance data on a particular disease. By defining this period of increased risk, the ALERT algorithm enables fast response to emerging outbreaks in healthcare settings.


Applying a Ni-P electroless coat on the surface of BN(h) particles has a beneficial effect on their wettability in vortex technique during composite manufacturing. In this investigation, different preliminary treatments consisting of different combinations of surface oxidation, sensitization and activation have been investigated. The results obtained from scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) showed that the preliminary treatment has an important role in deposition of Ni-P on the surface of BN(h) powder. A preliminary treatment consisting of oxidation in 200 oC for 1 hour, sensitization in 10g/l SnCl2+30ml/l HCl solution for 15 minutes and then, activation in 0.25 g/l PdCl2 +30ml/l HCl solution resulted in the best results.


An error-burst correcting algorithm is developed based on a circulant parity-check matrix of a cyclic code. The proposed algorithm is more efficient than error trapping if the code rate is less than about 2/3. It is shown that for any (n, k) cyclic code, there is an n × n circulant parity-check matrix such that the algorithm, applied to this matrix, corrects error bursts of lengths up to the error-burst correction limit of the cyclic code. This same matrix can be used to efficiently correct erasure bursts of lengths up to n - k. The error-burst correction capabilities of a class of cyclic low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes constructed from finite geometries are also considered.


The regulation of pyrimidine biosynthesis was studied in Pseudomonas putida. The biosynthetic and salvage pathways provide pyrimidine nucleotides for RNA, DNA, cell membrane and cell wall biosynthesis. Pyrimidine metabolism is intensely studied because many of its enzymes are targets for chemotheraphy. Four aspects of pyrimidine regulation are described in this dissertation. Chapter I compares the salvage pathways of Escherichia coli and P. putida. Surprisingly, P. putida lacks several salvage enzymes including nucleoside kinases, uridine phosphorylase and cytidine deaminase. Without a functional nucleoside kinase, it was impossible to feed exogenous uridine to P. putida. To obviate this problem, uridine kinase was transferred to P. putida from E. coli and shown to function in this heterologous host. Chapter II details the enzymology of Pseudomonas aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase), its allosteric regulation and how it is assembled. The E. coli ATCase is a dodecamer of two different polypeptides, encoded by pyrBI. Six regulatory (PyrI) and six catalytic (PyrB) polypeptides assemble from two preformed trimers (B3) and three preformed regulatory dimers (I2) in the conserved 2B3:3I2 molecular structure. The Pseudomonas ATCase also assembles from two different polypeptides encoded by pyrBC'. However, a PyrB polypeptide combines with a PyrC. polypeptide to form a PyrB:PyrC. protomer; six of these assemble into a dodecamer of structure 2B3:3C'2. pyrC' encodes an inactive dihydroorotase with pyrB and pyrC' overlapping by 4 bp. Chapter III explores how catabolite repression affects pyrimidine metabolism. The global catabolite repression control protein, Crc, has been shown to affect pyrimidine metabolism in a number of ways. This includes orotate transport for use as pyrimidine, carbon and nitrogen sources. Orotate is important because it interacts with PyrR in repressing the pyr genes. Chapter IV describes PyrR, the positive activator of the pyrimidine pathway. As with other positive activator proteins, when pyrimidine nucleotides are depleted, PyrR binds to DNA thereby enhancing expression of pyrD, pyrE and pyrF genes. When pyrimidine nucleotides are in excess, the PyrR apoprotein binds to orotate, its co-repressor, to shut down all the pyrimidine genes. Like many positive activators, PyrR is subject to autoregulation and has catalytic activity for uracil phosphoribosyltransferase inducible by orotate.


Hot-spots are present in micro-electronics and are challenging to cool effectively. This paper presents highly nonuniform heat flux measurements obtained for a pseudo-CPU with 35 local heaters and temperature sensors cooled by a silicon multi-microchannel evaporator with 85 μm wide and 560 μm high channels separated by 46 μm wide fins. A low pressure dielectric refrigerant, R245fa, was used as evaporating test fluid. The base heat flux was varied from 6 to 160 W/cm2 and the junction temperature always remained below 65°C, while the fluid inlet saturation temperature was 30.5°C. On-chip two-phase cooling was found to very effectively cool the hot-spots without inducing flow instabilities. Building on analogous uniform heat flux tests made on the same test section, the effects of position, orientation size, and strength of the hot-spots were analyzed.


In order to obtain the parameters of dispersion and interaction impedance of Helix Slow-Wave Structure (SWS), an automatic system was established. A non-resonant perturbation model was employed in the system. The helix SWS under measurement is 1:1 model of practical helix SWS. The hardware of the system is mainly composed of Vector Network Analyzer (VNA), personal computer (PC), moving platform, controller and optical monitor. The special program was developed to control the measure progress and manage the data. The experimental results were in good agreement with the results calculated using Microwave Studio.


Over the past decade, positron emitter labeled nanoparticles have been widely used in and substantially improved for a range of diagnostic biomedical research. However, given growing interest in personalized medicine and translational research, a major challenge in the field will be to develop disease-specific nanoprobes with facile and robust radiolabeling strategies and that provide imaging stability, enhanced sensitivity for disease early stage detection, optimized in vivo pharmacokinetics for reduced nonspecific organ uptake, and improved targeting for elevated efficacy. This review briefly summarizes the major applications of nanoparticles labeled with positron emitters for cardiovascular imaging, lung diagnosis, and tumor theranostics.


BACKGROUND
Syringocystadenoma papilliferum is an unusual benign tumor most commonly located on the scalp or face, which frequently arises from a nevus sebaceous. Transition of SP to basal cell carcinoma and, rarely, to metastatic adenocarcinoma may occur.

CASE REPORT
A 28-year-old female patient had been suffering from a pinkish, painless nodule for 25 years. Physical examination revealed a pinkish, non-tender, painless nodule, 5mm in diameter, on the lower eyelid. The nodular lesion was excised, and the lower eyelid was reconstructed with V-Y advancement flap. Histopathologic examination revealed hyperkeratosis with papillomatosis of epidermis. The dermis showed several cystic invaginations extending downwards from the epidermis. One year later, the postoperative result was cosmetically and functionally acceptable.

CONCLUSION
Syringocystadenoma papilliferum mimicking basal cell carcinoma on the lower eyelid is of interest, since there were scanty skin appendages. Our paper considers the issue of differentiating between SP and BCC, since SP is asymptomatic and may have similar appearance. We believe that SP may be a transitional step from nevus sebaceous to basal cell carcinoma, since molecular studies show PTCH gene in all three lesions, the origins of SP are still debatable, and both SP and BCC can arise in nevus sebaceous of Jadassohn.


During unmoderated discussions it is commonly observed that some people end up having more influence than seems justified by the actual quality of their contributions. In this paper, we propose and illustrate a spreading-activation architecture for modeling such differential influence. In our model, each participant's level of influence vis-à-vis others in a discussion emerges out of the interplay of the following four negotiated factors, (1) the relative quality of each person's contributions; (2) their degree of authority as credible sources of information; (3) their level of access to the conversational floor; and (4) their level of access to the interactional space. We demonstrate the empirical viability of our model by showing how it can account for the dynamics of a heated student science argument. In particular, we show how shifts in the interaction that would perturb specific nodes in a model later affected other nodes in ways consistent with the model.


This paper considers the range of research methods used by the UK education research community. Using insights from 25 interviews with key stakeholders it describes their views on the current strengths and weaknesses in methods, and of what methodological developments are needed for future improvement in this field. Using survey returns from 521 active researchers, the paper goes on to describe the techniques that are available for use, and those where further 'training' or experience is required. Using the 8,691 individual RAE returns to education, the paper then summarises the methods reported to be in actual use. Finally, it uses a brief analysis of journal contents as triangulating evidence.Our informants were generally in agreement that there is currently a widespread weakness in the quality of UK education research. Much of this weakness is attributed by them to a shortage of skills in 'quantitative' methods. Our other data sources suggest that the latter is less likely than the informants believe. A clear majority of education researchers report having used some quantitative methods, and the substantial number of publications involving quantitative methods supports this view. It is, perhaps, rather the type and quality of both quantitative and qualitative research along with unreasonable expectations by its users that leads to the poor public image of education research. Improvement is not going to come simply by enlarging the group of people using quantitative methods.


The goal of this research was to study methods of altering the standard approach to volume weighted average price such that it respects stock-specific volume volatility. The early returns are promising, and we think this concept can be applied to other algorithms where inappropriately tight constraints create excess cost. In this article, we review the state of the art for volume forecasting and how these efforts are rewarded. We show the results of a random trial of orders that use a static tolerance around the target schedule versus orders that use a tolerance set by the volume volatility of the stock. The results show less aggressive trading. We also argue that traders should not choose algorithms based on stock characteristics. Instead, algorithm choice should focus on the tradeoff between cost and timing risk.


Abstract Allorge, L., P. B. Phillipson & R. Razakamalala (2015). Catharanthus makayensis L. Allorge, Phillipson & Razakamal. (Apocynaceae), a new species from Madagascar. Candollea 70: 61–66. In English, English and French abstracts. Catharanthus makayensis L. Allorge, Phillipson & Razakamal. (Apocynaceae), a species new to science from Madagascar is described and illustrated. It differs from all other species in the genus by the hexagonal cross-section of its stems, and by a combination of flowering and fruiting characters. Its 5–6 mm long filiform sepals are clearly much narrower and longer than all other species with the exception of Catharanthus coriaceus Markgr., but the latter species is highly distinct with its pendulous fruits, as opposed to erect fruits of Catharanthus makayensis and all other species of the genus. Catharanthus makayensis and Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don are the only species to have a magenta, rather than white to pale yellow eye. The corolla lobes and the flower buds of Catharanthus makayensis are pure white or tinted pale pink whereas Catharanthus roseus typically has pink lobes. The relationships of the new species with the eight other species of Catharanthus G. Don are discussed and an identification key to the Malagasy species of the genus is provided.


The purpose of this study is to know whether financial knowledge, financial capability and financial behavior in partially and simultaneously that have affect to financial saticfaction. Then, to know which is most dominant factor that effect to financial saticfaction. The type of this research is quantitative that using numerical data to analyzed. The sample in this research is using proportionate stratified random sampling. Which is technique of collecting the data that using questionare distributed to lecturer at Universitas of Papua counted 83 samples. The data were analyzed using validity and reliability test, classic assumption test, multiple regression analysis (determination coefficient test, F tes and T Test) with SPSS 21 software support. The results of this study showed that the variables of financial knowledge and financial behavior influenced partially to financial saticfaction. While financial capability does not effect partially to financial saticfaction. Simultaneously, financial knowledge, financial capability and financial behavior have an effect to financial saticfaction. Then, the most dominant variable of financial behavior is affect to financial saticfaction.


Host-virus interactions have co-evolved to play an interactive role in the pathogenesis of viral infections and their disease outcome. Host responses to viral infections, including the cell-mediated and humoral immune responses, have been a subject of intensive research in virology and immunology. Definition of specific cellular receptors for cellular entry of the agents, the rates of their intracellular viral replication, the rates of turnover of circulating virions, persistence of viral infection possibly due to inadequate immune responses, and continued formation of circulating immune complexes provide the framework for our current understanding of the immunopathology of virally induced disease. Among the multiple blood-borne viruses (BBV) transmissible through transfusion, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV-1/-2) are relatively more important than several other viruses. Not only do they establish asymptomatic persistent infections with occasional oncogenic sequelae, but they also cause significant morbidity and mortality when transmitted through transfusion of blood and blood products. Molecular characterization of these agents and their in vitro inactivation and removal from blood have become key issues in contemporary transfusion safety since the advent of AIDS. Because many of the BBV are associated with white blood cells that have no therapeutic benefit in haemotherapy, simple filtration-removal of leukocytes from donated blood confers a dual benefit of immunological and virological safety in transfusion medicine.


ABSTRACT The function of the human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) Rex phosphoprotein is to increase the level of the viral structural and enzymatic gene products expressed from the incompletely spliced viral RNAs containing the Rex-responsive element. The phosphorylation of HTLV type 2 Rex (Rex-2), predominantly on serine residues, correlates with an altered conformation, as detected by a gel mobility shift, and is required for specific binding to its viral RNA target sequence. Thus, the phosphorylation state of Rex in the infected cell may be a switch that determines whether the virus exists in a latent or a productive state. A mutational analysis of Rex-2 that focused on serine and threonine residues was performed to identify regions or domains within Rex-2 important for function, with a specific emphasis on identifying Rex-2 phosphorylation mutants. We identified mutations near the carboxy terminus that disrupted a novel region or domain and abrogated Rex-2 function. Mutant M17 (with S151A and S153A mutations) displayed reduced phosphorylation that correlated with reduced function. Replacement of both serine residues 151 and 153 with phosphomimetic aspartic acid restored Rex-2 function and locked Rex-2 in a phosphorylated active conformation. A mutant containing threonine residues at positions 151 and 153 displayed a phenotype indistinguishable from that of wild-type Rex. Furthermore, this same mutant showed increased threonine phosphorylation and decreased serine phosphorylation, providing conclusive evidence that one or both of these residues are phosphorylated in vivo. Our results provide the first direct evidence that the phosphorylation of Rex-2 is important for function. Further understanding of HTLV Rex phosphorylation will provide insight into the regulatory control of HTLV replication and ultimately the pathobiology of HTLV.


The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is currently working on a project to develop accounting standards suitable for entities that (a) do not have public accountability and (b) publish general purpose financial statements for external users. This article presents the current status of IASB activity on this new direction of financial reporting. Our study has as key objectives to review the extant of academic literature and to analyze, based on the questionnaire conducted by IASB, the impact of a set of new IFRSs for small and medium entities (SMEs) on practitioners and on professional organizations. The literature review unearthed a variety of prior studies on SMEs. Currently, in most jurisdictions SMEs are subject to relaxed regulation as determined at the national level, taking on board specific economic and local conditions. However, the increasing significance of SMEs in the global economy, the burden/inapplicability of full International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the potent arguments in favour of differential reporting have drawn the attention of international regulators and given rise to the proposed new regulatory regimes for SMEs. We briefly present the content of IASB recent SME exposure draft and, as conclusion we comment the answers received at the questionnaire conducted and their influence on the requirements of the new SME reporting standards.


To investigate the effect of diesel exhaust or particle-free diesel gas on immune responses in IgE low responder mice, C57BL/6 mice immunized intranasally with sugi basic protein were exposed to diesel exhaust or diesel gas components. We evaluated the changes in lymphocyte subpopulations, cell proliferation, chemokine production of cervical lymph nodes cells, and antigen-specific-antibody levels in plasma. Exposure to diesel gas decreased the percentage of CD4+ and TCR-beta+ T cells of cervical lymph nodes from immunized mice. Culture supernatants of cervical lymph nodes cells from diesel gas-exposed mice had significantly increased levels of macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine, but exposure to diesel exhaust did not affect it. Antigen-specific IgG2a titers in plasma were significantly enhanced after their exposure to diesel exhaust or gas. In contrast, exposure to diesel exhaust or gas markedly decreased antigen-specific IgG1 titers in immunized mice. These facts indicate that concurrent exposure to allergen and diesel exhaust or diesel gas modulates chemokine production in cervical lymph nodes cells and antibody production in plasma differentially.


This volume presents a new reading of an extraordinary Proto-Coptic magical text. "Papyrus British Museum EA 10808" features a unique spell for a victim of divine wrath composed in the liturgical language of ancient Egypt, but in Greek script with a few Demotic signs. Sederholm reveals a coherent and distinctive text that contributes to the illumination of Egyptian thought in the Graeco-Roman Period, just before the great shutdown of the ancient temple learning. In nine chapters of transcription, translation, and commentary, Sederholm considers such features as taboo, secrecy, and the efficacy of magical words and names. He also discusses the destructive nature of the stars and the role of Fate in the bloody slaughter of divine enemies within the text.


Small catchments play an important role in the genesis of flood and rainfall-runoff events in large catchments for many reasons, as the cumulated length of hydrologic networks of first and second order. Small catchments are characterised by a large spatial and temporal heterogeneity. These catchments are a key room to characterise the processes during rainfall-runoff events. Recent observations on research catchments show a complex image of the runoff, result of the mobilisation of the different reservoirs in the catchment. Initial conditions have an importance equal to the rainfall characteristics. Impacts of landuse/land cover and of anthropic structures, as agricultural drains, ditches, hedges, are quickly addressed. Their effects are currently often modelised on simulated landscapes. These effects are quite limited on events with a low frequency. These processes characterise on a part of the hydrological hazard. Others studies at larger scale than small catchments and integrating the flux aggregation are needed. The control of the vulnerability is useful, but out of the scope of small rural catchments.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if there is correlation between the size of radical prostatectomy specimens and perioperative complications including intraoperative blood loss.

METHODS
One hundred twenty consecutive retropubic radical prostatectomy cases were retrospectively reviewed. Perioperative complications, intraoperative blood loss, pathologic stage, and size of the prostatectomy specimen were recorded. Logistic regression was used to determine whether variables such as age, PSA, and prostate weight are significant predictors of perioperative complications and intraoperative blood loss.

RESULTS
The final analysis included a total of 117 cases. Significant complications were seen in 10 patients (8.5%). The median weight of the prostatectomy specimen in the group with major complications was 44.5 g (range 24-219) which was significantly higher than the median weight of 39.9 g (range 13-124) for the group without any complications (p = 0.034). The size of the prostate gland predicted the likelihood of a perioperative complication better than chance. A prostate size greater than 37 g was 10 times more likely to encounter major complications. Our analysis also indicated a statistically significant positive correlation between the weight of the prostatectomy specimen and intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.046).

CONCLUSIONS
Prostate size correlates with a higher risk of major perioperative complications and higher intraoperative blood loss.


Introduction Cu-exchanged small-pore zeolite catalysts, belonging to the structural family of chabazite (CHA), have achieved substantial commercial importance in the recent years as the materials of choice for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of oxides of nitrogen with ammonia in diesel exhaust. This was achieved because of their unparallel NOx conversion ability at low temperatures and hydrothermal stability at elevated temperatures. Nonetheless, the NOx conversion activity of these catalysts is not immune to sulfur oxide species. Sulfur oxides (SO2 and SO3, commonly referred to as SOx) are ubiquitous in the exhaust gases and are detrimental to SCR catalyst performance. Despite drastic reduction of sulfur content in diesel fuels, for example by the introduction of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), sulfur poisoning remains one of the most significant factors impacting the performance of various catalysts in diesel exhaust after-treatment systems. In order to maintain the high NOx conversion to meet stringent emission requirements, Cu-zeolite SCR catalyst is periodically exposed to high temperatures, in excess of 550°C, which can be detrimental to the health of the SCR catalyst, other PGM-based aftertreatment components and also results in a fuel penalty. In this presentation a newly discovered method of sulfur removal at relatively low temperatures from Cu-zeolite SCR catalyst, by modulating the feed gas conditions, will be described.


In this paper, we present a symmetrical iterative Fourier transform algorithm (IFTA) using both the phase and amplitude freedom (SIFTA_(p+a)) for the design of diffractive beam shaping elements. This algorithm is compared to the GSA, IFTA_(p+a), and SIFTA_(p), which is symmetrical IFTA exclusively using phase freedom. We compare these four methods by employing them to a number of flat-top super-Gaussian (SG) beam shaping problems. In this paper the modified Fourier-domain constraint is decided automatically by iteration


'Practice makes perfect' is a traditional statement, and practice hours, including training background, are used as an explanatory factor for success. Studies however show that hours of practice alone, are a poor predictor of future success. The content of practice sessions has been less studied, even though it naturally should be considered just as important as the amount of time spent practising.The traditional soccer practice is the more linear approach to learning, where technique and other skills are to be practised and mastered before the players are considered ready to play the game itself. The research into the field of skill development in soccer, and sports in general, is relatively coherent across different theoretical viewpoints when it comes to recommendations regarding effective practice activities.Few studies have categorize the content of practice until the concepts of training form (TF) and playing form(PF)was introduced a decade ago. The aim of this study was to compare two U16 teams, one in a professional club and one in a non-professional club, in terms of both PF and TF, including their sub-categories.We used systematic observations of soccer practice sessions to examine the type of practice activities being used. Two Norwegian U16 teams participated. Participants were systematically observed using a simple hand notation system, to provide detailed analysis of the practice activity. We evaluated these findings based on what contemporary research suggest as best to facilitate skill acquisition and development. Findings indicate that both teams use more time in Playing form activities, deemed more relevant to match performance in soccer, than training form activities who is deemed less relevant. Findings are discussed in the light of research connected to skill development, perceptual-cognitive development and expert performance. The practical implications of this study suggest that the practice activities in which coaches engage their players should create as many situations as possible where the players must make decisions and appropriate technical choices, and by that develop their perceptual-cognitive and technical skills. To do this, coaches should seek to use a high amount of PF in their daily coaching sessions and at the same time closely monitor the total mental and physical practice load of the players.


This essay aims to explore the fecundity of the postulates of Alexander Romanovich Luria to contemporary research. More specifically, it will seek to elucidate the vigor of the premises, ideas, and investigation procedures adopted in his studies on mental processes in their relation to culture throughout a career that spanned almost six decades. The contributions of the Lurian approach are illustrated by the description of some of the studies he carried out last century. The text places emphasis on the promising nature of this approach for the investigation of human development, since it makes it possible to understand the phenomena in their complexity, the need to create research instruments and procedures capable of ensuring this understanding, and also the active role played by the researcher in the formulation of questions and in the conduction of empirical research. The presentation and analysis of features representative of the various themes explored by the author reveal a researcher determined to understand the complex process of the human constitution through the fertile combination of investigations on the biological roots of psychological functioning and the historical making of the human psyche.