BACKGROUND
In this study, we investigated the correlation between odontogenic conditions and the presence of maxillary sinus (MS) abnormalities using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging.

METHODS
The study unit was defined as the ipsilateral MS, maxillary alveolar bone, and posterior teeth. The study included 1,140 study units from 570 patients visualized with CBCT. MS abnormalities, MS septal walls, the anatomical relationship between the MS and the teeth, and missing teeth were recorded. Adjacent odontogenic infections, including periapical lesions, periodontal bone loss, and combined periodontal-endodontic lesions, were documented, and the shortest distance between the infection and the MS floor was measured. The possible correlations between odontogenic conditions and MS abnormalities were analyzed. Whether the anatomical relationship between the MS and the teeth was related to age or sex was analyzed. The chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and logistic regression were used for the statistical analyses.

RESULTS
MS abnormalities were detected in 57.54% of patients and 42.89% of MSs. Male sex (OR =1.653; P<0.001) and a MS adjacent to teeth with periapical lesions (OR =5.771; P<0.001), periodontal bone loss (OR =2.778; P<0.001), or combined periodontal-endodontic lesions (OR =13.818; P<0.001) increased the probability of MS abnormalities. In MSs with a single infected tooth, male sex (OR =2.413; P=0.045), infected molar (OR =3.431; P=0.008), and a smaller distance between the infection and the MS floor (OR =0.871; P=0.021) increased the probability of MS abnormality. The maxillary root apices of older subjects tended to be farther from the MS (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
Adjacent odontogenic infection increased the probability of MS abnormalities. The likelihood of MS abnormality was related to the distance between the infection and the MS, not to the type of infection.


Thermoelectric (TE) generators play an important role in preventing an energy crisis and environmental deterioration by converting wasted heat, generated by various human activities, into electrical energy. This work is the first experimental demonstration of a bileg Si-nanowire (Si-NW) micro thermoelectric generator with cavity-free architecture for designing a large-scale integrated planar Si-NW TE generator. In the bileg-TE generator, the mobility and thermopower mismatches between electron and hole effects on the optimum dimensional parameters of n- and p-type Si-NWs and optimum dose of impurity. In this work, under a specific ion dose condition, the best p-type NW width exists at less than 100 nm when the n-type NW width is 60 nm. The experimental dependency of the power density on the p-type NW width is in agreement with the estimation of an equivalent heat-electrical circuit model.


Neuronal loss can considerably diminish neural circuit function, impairing normal behavior by disrupting information flow in the circuit. We reasoned that by rerouting the flow of information in the damaged circuit it may be possible to offset these negative outcomes. We examined this possibility using the well-characterized chemosensory circuit of the nematode worm C. elegans. In this circuit, a main sensory neuron class sends parallel outputs to several interneuron classes. We found that the removal of one of these interneuron classes impairs chemotaxis to attractive odors, revealing a prominent path for information flow in the circuit. To alleviate these deficiencies, we sought to reinforce a remaining neural pathway. We used genetically engineered electrical synapses for this purpose, and observed the successful recovery of chemotaxis performance. However, we were surprised to find that the recovery was largely mediated by inadvertently formed left-right lateral electrical connections within individual neuron classes. Our analysis suggests that these additional electrical synapses help restore circuit function by amplifying weakened neuronal signals in the damaged circuit. These results demonstrate the power of genetically engineered synapses to regulate information flow and signal intensity in damaged neural circuits.


Abstract Tourism is one of the major drivers of socio-economic growth. For tourism organisations to remain competitive, they must be able to adapt to the current dynamic scenario where the sector operates. Organisational learning strategies can provide the sector with the knowledge required to transform tourism research and intellectual property into capabilities for the industry and stimulate tourism models with a minimal effect on the environment. Knowledge management involves managing tacit and explicit information in a way that ensures it is available where and when needed. From a knowledge management perspective, environmental learning refers to the processes of acquiring, distributing and using knowledge of the natural environment, involving the processes of socialisation, externalisation, combination and internalisation of knowledge and its central aim is to improve performance. This article describes how knowledge management and organisational learning can help to achieve a sustainable tourism sector. Sustainability in this context is understood as efforts to progress simultaneously in environmental, societal and economic development. The article argues that the principles of sustainable tourism lead to both improved strategies and avenues for future research, provided they are informed and supported by learning and knowledge management; value co-creation; co-operation and trust-building; corporate social responsibility and pro-environmental behaviour.


ABSTRACT While public debate over gun control in the United States has often hinged on individual public mass shooting incidents, legislative action should be informed by knowledge of the long-term evolution of these events. We present a new Bayesian model for the annualized rate of public mass shootings in the United States based on a Gaussian process with a time-varying mean function. While we present specific findings on long- and short-term trends of these shootings in the U.S., our focus is on understanding the role of model design and prior information in policy analysis. Using a Markov chain Monte Carlo inference technique, we explore the posterior consequences of different prior choices and explore correlations between hyperparameters. We demonstrate that the findings about the long-term evolution of the annualized rate of public mass shootings are robust to choices about prior information, while inferences about the timescale and amplitude of short-term variation depend sensitively on the prior. This work addresses the policy implications of implicit and explicit choices of prior information in model design and the utility of full Bayesian inference in evaluating the consequences of those choices.


The principles of electrodynamic analysis of the characteristics of the ferrite control components (nonreciprocal digital phase shifters, cut-off switches and isolators) which use circular waveguides, entirely filled with azimuthally magnetized ferrite or containing a coaxial disc- or ring-shaped area of the medium alluded to and a dielectric one, surrounding it or taking up its hollow, resp., and work in the normal TE01 mode, are enunciated: i) employment of complex confluent hypergeometric and eventually also of real cylindrical functions; ii) indispensability of inventing of numerical methods for evaluation of some special functions of the mathematical physics: the Euler gamma function, its logarithmic derivative and the confluent functions in the complex field, as well as of the cylindrical ones in the real domain; iii) elaboration of techniques for numerical solution of complicated transcendental equations, involving complex confluent and possibly real cylindrical functions, too; iv) introduction of a new class of real numbers, called L numbers, connected with the purely imaginary roots of the equations mentioned; v) development of numerical schemes for computation of the phase curves of geometries regarded and of iterative procedures for finding the differential phase shift provided by them; vi) laying down of criteria for the operation of configurations as phase shifters, magnetically controlled cut-off switches and isolators. Each of the maxims pointed out is elucidated in detail.


Purposes: Typhoon Nari attacked Jeju on September 16, 2007 and caused flood resulting from severe rainfall. We performed this study to determine the impact of a typhoon on emergency departments and to analyze characteristics of injured patients. Methods: First, we analyzed the correlation between precipitation and numbers of patient visits using the National Emergency Department Information System. Second, characteristics of typhoon related injuries (TRI) were compared with those of non-typhoon related injuries (Non-TRI). Data were extracted from the Cheju National University Hospital Injury Surveillance System. The impact of a typhoon on moderate or severe injury and death from injury was analyzed by case-control study. Results: The daily mean number of patients during a typhoon was larger than during previous six days. A dramatic rise in number of of injured patients (p=0.003) was noted after weather conditions improved. To analyze the characteristics of injury, 208 injured patients were enrolled. Among them 59 categorized as TRI and 116 as Non-TRI, respectively. TRI patients were older than Non-TIRI patients (p=0.001) and the most common mechanism, place, activity and object/substance in TRI were, respectively: cut/pierce, home, the vital activity, and building/building component or related fitting. By severity based on the NISS, TRI and NonTRI were not significantly different. Relationship between a TRI patients and moderate or severe injury (OR=1.70, 95% CI: 0.39, 6.99) or death from injury (OR=5.28, 95% CI: 0.82, 56.5) was not significant statistically. Conclusion: In typhoon, preparation must be made for dramatic risk to patients with minor laceration in the ED. To prevent injury, it is imperative that people who live in dangerous housing are evacuated before the event.


Surgical management of rectal cancer has evolved with the advent of total mesorectal excision (TME) and neo-adjuvant treatment allowing for more sphincter-preserving proctectomies. The laparoscopic approach to TME has numerous advantages over the open approach, including faster recovery, fewer wound complications, and overall reduced morbidity. However, laparoscopic dissection around the distal portion of the rectum is particularly difficult, and thus makes achieving TME completeness and negative resection margins for low rectal tumors a challenge. Transanal TME (TaTME) is designed to overcome these difficulties. It is performed in addition to laparoscopic operation as a bottom-up approach facilitating dissection around the distal rectum. More importantly, TaTME has been shown to have the potential to improve oncological outcomes of minimally-invasive sphincter-preserving proctectomy by providing better TME specimen quality and resection margins. Although interest in TaTME has been growing worldwide, the technique is still relatively new, and adoption into routine practice may be challenging. Potential criteria for successful adoption of the TaTME technique include experience in laparoscopic rectal resection and transanal minimally-invasive surgery (TAMIS), cadaveric TaTME training, and a multidisciplinary approach to selection and management of patients with rectal cancer. Once these criteria are met, gradual and careful implementation of TaTME could be feasible. This report describes the 2-year follow-up of the first TaTME case in Hawai'i managed by a multidisciplinary oncological team in a community hospital setting.


Detailed compositional analyses of sedimentary organic matter can provide information on its biotic input, environment of deposition, and level of thermal maturation. Pyrolysis-gas chromatography (py-GC), often coupled with a mass spectrometer (py-GC/MS), is one technique used to provide this information. New developments in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC or 2D-GC), coupled with pyrolysis (py-GC x GC), offer the prospect of providing more complete and quantitative compositional information of complex organic solids, such as kerogen and coals. This study will describe applications of pyrolysis-GC x GC to the characterization of petroleum source rocks using flame ionization detector (FID) and sulfur chemiluminescence detector (SCD). In the hydrocarbon analysis by FID, paraffins, naphthenes, and aromatics form distinct two-dimensional separated groups. In the analysis with SCD, sulfur-containing compounds can be distinguished as different classes, such as mercaptans, sulfides, thiophenes, benzothiophenes, and dibenzothiophenes. Single components or summed bands of homologous components can be analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. With these detailed molecular fingerprints, the relations between kerogen composition and its biotic input, environment of deposition, and thermal maturation may be better understood.


In June 2004, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announced changes to the guidelines and protocols of some 40 ministerial councils and intergovernmental fora which comprise the web of intergovernmental consultative arrangements. This article examines the impact of the guidelines on the operation of the oldest of the sectoral ministerial councils, those relating to agriculture. The COAG guidelines aim to increase the strategic focus of the councils. However, in the case of agricultural policy there appears to have been a centralising of policy control, both within state governments and towards the Commonwealth, which undermines that objective and leaves the ministerial councils focusing on the more technical issues which they are more effective at addressing.


Downhole tool failures induced by drill string vibrations was one of the leading causes of non-productive time in a deep exploratory field in southern Iraq. To improve drilling efficiency, it was paramount to understand the primary source of potential drilling dysfunction before commencing field development phase.
 To overcome the challenge, a finite element analysis (FEA) study was developed to simulate the drillstring transient dynamic behavior from bit back to surface. The model has been utilized to quantify the potential vibration, contact force, torque, displacement and other high-interest parameters of every drillstring component in the wellbore.
 To fully exploit the modeling algorithms, it is required to input a comprehensive dataset including mechanical rock properties, cutting structure design, bit drive mechanism, drillstring physical characteristics, 3D well profile and expected drilling parameters. Using offset well data, surface and downhole measurements, and a thorough knowledge of drilling equipment, the model creates a virtual drilling environment simulating the downhole drilling conditions enabling the evaluation of the source of inefficiency. Finally, the model is validated for its accuracy by comparing its outcomes with actual field acquired data.
 By accurately modeling the drillsting interaction with the drilling environment, the operating company was able to evaluate different BHA options to safely drill the wells and by reducing harmful vibrations, minimizing tool failures, increasing ROP, this translates to a reduction of drilling time by 24%.
 This paper will share with the industry a case study demonstrating the value of the utilization of the advanced dynamic modeling which has been able to save over 500 K$ per well to the operating company by an efficient selection and placement of drill string components. This approach has enabled to outperform past drilling performance and has become the norm in similar fields in southern Iraq.


Background: Lentils are often responsible for allergic reactions to legumes in Mediterranean children. Although the primary sequence of the major allergen Len c 1 is known, the location of the IgE-binding epitopes remains undefined. Objective: We sought to identify IgE-binding epitopes of Len c 1 and relate epitope binding to clinical characteristics. Methods: One hundred thirty-five peptides corresponding to the primary sequence of Len c 1 were probed with sera from 33 patients with lentil allergy and 15 nonatopic control subjects by means of microarray immunoassay. Lentil-specific IgE levels, skin prick test responses, and clinical reactions to lentil were determined. Epitopes were defined as overlapping signal above interslide and intraslide cutoffs and confirmed by using inhibition assays with a peptide from the respective region. Hierarchic clustering of microarray data was used to correlate binding patterns with clinical findings. Results: The patients with lentil allergy specifically recognized IgE-binding epitopes located in the C-terminal region between peptides 107 and 135. Inhibition experiments confirmed the specificity of IgE binding in this region, identifying different epitopes. Linkage of cluster results with clinical data and lentilspecific IgE levels displayed a positive correlation between lentil-specific IgE levels, epitope recognition, and respiratory symptoms. Modeling based on the 3-dimensional structure of a homologous soy vicilin suggests that the Len c 1 epitopes identified are exposed on the surface of the molecule. Conclusion: Several IgE-binding sequential epitopes of Len c 1 have been identified. Epitopes are located in the C-terminal


With humans increasingly serving as computational elements in distributed information processing systems and in consideration of the profit-driven motives and potential inequities that might accompany the emerging thinking economy[1], we recognize the need for establishing a set of related ethics to ensure the fair treatment and wellbeing of online cognitive laborers and the conscientious use of the capabilities to which they contribute. Toward this end, we first describe human-in-the-loop computing in context of the new concerns it raises that are not addressed by traditional ethical research standards. We then describe shortcomings in the traditional approach to ethical review and introduce a dynamic approach for sustaining an ethical framework that can continue to evolve within the rapidly shifting context of disruptive new technologies.


Forecasting the traffic flow is a critical issue for researchers and practitioners in the field of transportation. Using the graph convolutional network (GCN) is widespread in traffic flow forecasting. Existing GCN-based methods mostly rely on undirected spatial correlations to represent the features of spatial-temporal graph. What's more, the traffic flow renders two types of spatial correlations, including the stable correlation constrained by the fixed road structure and the dynamic correlation influenced by the traffic fluctuation. In this paper, we propose a two-stream graph convolutional network by considering stable and dynamic correlations in parallel, which is an end-to-end deep learning framework for dynamic traffic forecasting. We present an auto-decomposing layer to decompose real-time traffic flow data into a stable component and a dynamic component with different spatial correlations. Specifically, the stable component is constrained by the physical road network, and the dynamic component represents fluctuations caused by changes in traffic conditions such as congestion and bad weather. Moreover, we extract stable and dynamic spatial correlations through our two-stream graph convolutional layer. Finally, we use parameterized skip connection to fuse spatial-temporal correlations as the input of output layer for forecasting. Extensive experiments are conducted on two real-world traffic datasets, and experimental results show that our proposed model is better than several popular baselines.


Arc cathode spots operating by formation of surface-microplasmas are reviewed for discharges in vacuum and in gases. New experimental studies using advanced optical methods (image converter cameras and laser absorption techniques) reveal that the spot is composed of fragments with a size below 10 pm. In vacuum these are highly mobile, for copper on a rime scale < 50 ns. The motion and the rapid sequences of extinctions and re-ignitions determine the behavior of the whole spot. Cu-spots in vacuum exhibit displacements in times < 100 ns. A tentative explanation of the spot movement is given on the base of the fragment dynamics. In gases the fragments are more separated than in vacuum. The ignition of fragments is discussed in the framework of recent studies on the glow-toarc transition in high pressure discharges. Finally, new mechanisms for enhanced field electron emission are mentioned.


Oral combinations of nifedipine and atenolol are widely used in the treatment of hypertension, proving particularly effective when the atenolol is released immediately and the nifedipine is released in a sustained manner. This work examined the potential of combining nifedipine and atenolol in a tablet, which would be easier to manufacture than currently available combined formulations. The results indicated that a 40:60 (w/w) nifedipine-atenolol mixture forms a eutectic melting at 140 degrees C. Nevertheless, both drugs were stable when incorporated in tablets elaborated using cellulose ethers as base excipients. Tablets prepared from atenolol-lactose granules and solid dispersions of nifedipine-hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (100 cP) had more adequate dissolution profiles than a more complex reference formulation in hard capsules.


Abstract               This research discusses the ethics of buying and selling in the muslim community, especially in the traditional manado market, the subject of the discussion is on buying and selling ethical values using the approach of religious social phenomena.               For most of the manado muslim community, trading is a  profession, something they're doing for their continuation of their life. the problem is whether the various forms of buying and selling carried out are in accordance with the guidelines of Islamic ethics, because buying and selling prohibits the existence of physical ways and demands that every actor performs ways that are self-sufficient. As far as the author's observation, some Muslims have been able to apply the ethical values of buying and selling in their lives, but there are also some of them who have not been able to actualize these values. The contributing factors are lack of awareness and understanding of religion.Keywords:: Ethics of buying and Selling


This Research a Development (R a D) has the main goal to develop and produce OCIPSE learning model. The main product of this research is the OCIPSE learning model with five phases, they are 1) Orient and organize the students for study; 2) Collaborative Investigation; 3) Presentation and discussion; 4) Strengthening of scientific creativity; and 5) Evaluate and provide recognition. The OCIPSE learning model' quality data is obtained through an expert validation process by using the OCIPSE learning model Qualification Assessment Instrument. The OCIPSE learning model quality analysis used an average validity score, single measures ICC, and Cronbach's coefficient alpha. The result of the research shows OCIPSE learning model with average content validity (3.69), construct validity (3.69), with the validity of each aspect statistically in (rα = .92) and reliability in (α = .87).n The results of this study indicate that the developed OCIPSE learning model was declared qualified by experts. The research implication is that a qualified OCIPSE learning model can be used to enhance the scientific creativity of junior high school students in natural science learning.n


The Ingleton inequalities are the inequality constraints known to be required of representable matroids. For a matroid of n elements, there are 16n Ingleton inequalities. In this paper, we show that many of these inequalities are redundant. We explicitly determine the unique minimal set of Ingleton inequalities, which number on the order of 6n/4- O(5n). In information theory, these inequalities are required of the entropy functions of certain random variables constructed from linear subspaces. As a result, these inequalities appear as constraints in linear programming outer bounds for the capacity region of multisource network coding where the codes are required to be linear. Ingleton inequalities have also played an instrumental role in demonstrating the insufficiency of linear codes for multisource network coding. The reduction that we obtain for Ingleton inequalities is sufficiently large to meaningfully reduce the complexity of these linear programming bounds.


The complete amino acid sequence of the cyanogen bromide (CNBr) fragment Ia (CN-Ia) from the murine histocompatibility antigen H-2Kb has been obtained by using radiosequence methodology. This glycopeptide is the largest CNBr cleavage product of the H-2K molecule and extends from position 139 to position 228. The sequence determined for CN-Ia was Ala-Ala-Leu-Ile-Thr-Lys-His-Lys-Trp-Glu-Gln-Ala-Gly-Glu-Ala-Glu-Arg-Leu-Arg-Ala -Tyr-Leu-Glu-Gly-Thr-Cys-Val-Glu-Trp-Leu-Arg-Arg-Tyr-Leu-Lys-Ans-Gly-(Asn)-Ala- Thr-Leu-Leu-Arg-Thr-Asp-Ser-Pro-Lys-Ala-His-Val-Thr-His-His-Ser-Arg-Pro-Asp-Asp -Lys-Val-Thr-Leu-Arg-Cys-Trp-Ala-Leu-Gly-Phe-Tyr-Pro-Ala-Asp-Ile-Thr-Leu-Thr-Tr p-Gln-Leu-Asn-Gly-Glu-Glu-Leu-Ile-Gln-Aps-Met. The data were obtained by analysis of fragments derived by thrombic, tryptic, chymotryptic, and V8 protease digestion of CN-Ia. A carbohydrate moiety is attached to Asn at position 176. Homology between this 90 amino acid stretch of H-2Kb and HLA-B7 [Orr, H. T., Lopez de Castro, J. A., Lancer, D., & Strominger, J. L. (1979) Biochemistry 18, 5711] is 68%, and differences are noted at positions 176, 177, and 178 which in the H-2 molecule are the attachment region for a second carbohydrate moiety. No carbohydrate was detected in this position for HLA-B7 [Orr, H. T. Lopez de Castro, J. A. Lancet, D., & Strominger, J. L. (1979) Biochemistry 18, 5711].


Considering the methods employed to prolong the survival of homotransplanted tissues, the bare facts of evidence are that only one of them is successful in the clinical application i.e., to destroy or depress the immunological competence of the host with cytotoxic drugs or different ways of irradiation. Any other attempts-to modify the immunitry reaction and interrelation between the host and the graft or to simulate the genetic information, inducting self-knowledge in mature an imalehave not given any satisfactory results out of the experimental field. The accumulated results from research since the work of Medawar, Billingham and Brent, Miller, and Gowans et al. have shown the predominant role thst lymphoid cells play in transplantation immunity. This led to a great number of researchers working to develop ways of using the lymphoid tissue as a method of preventing homograft reaction. Our research tries to evaluate some of these methods which are supposed to act on the lymphoid system and also, following our previous line of work, attempts in some of them the partial substitution of the immunity pattern of the host by cells from the donor with a mutual tolerance.


The extraction of water-soluble dietary fiber (SDF) from apple pomace (AP) by cellulase, microwave- and ultrasound-assisted methods was studied in comparison with conventional acid method. The functional properties of extracted SDFs were further evaluated, and the speciality of each method was clarified in order to suggest the right method to adopt for practice. Results indicated that AP is rich in SDF, which is significantly potential to be applied in food processing. Acid hydrolysis of AP gave 10.3% of SDF, whereas ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) provided a yield of 16.4% after 40 min of sonication. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) gave a slightly lower yield (14.9%) than UAE, but it showed a drastic efficiency, wherein the yield was achieved after 2 min of irradiation. The hydrolysis of AP by cellulase occurred with the highest SDF yield (18.7%) among all the methods used. The functional properties of SDF were improved by UAE, MAE and cellulase extraction, wherein the water retention and swelling capacities were increased more considerably than the oil retention capacity. Especially, cellulase showed a remarkable performance in improving the hydration property.

Practical Applications
A large amount of apple pomace (AP) was produced as the by-product of apple processing in China. Its disposal is of significance in consideration of resource utilization and environmental protection. Therefore, the results of this study can promote the full use of AP and similar industrial wastes, and also help to avoid possible pollution. In addition, the comparison of acid, cellulase, microwave- and ultrasound-assisted methods suggests the right method to adopt SDF extraction method for practice.


Development of a rotary kiln reactor for pyrolytic oil production from waste tire has been successfully fabricated and tested. The reactor has been designed with the diameter and length of 260 mm and 400 mm respectively. The reactor was equipped with the lifter which has a segment length of 28 mm. The pyrolysis experiments were conducted using a semi-batch rotary kiln reactor and carried out at the temperature of 300°C. The materials used in this experiment is waste tire collected from the local recycling company. This study aims to investigate the effect of rotational speed and lifter presence on the product distribution and oil characteristics including viscosity, density, and heating value. From the preliminary result of the experiment, it can be seen that the rotational speed and lifter affect the product distribution and oil characteristics. The experiment without lifter shows that at the rotational speed of 15 rpm produced highest liquid product. However, the liquid product produced in this experiment is still low in all condition. The use of lifter reduced the liquid and solid products while the gaseous product increases. The viscosity, density, and heating value of the oil still acceptable for using it in the engine.


The spleen is a major site for extramedullary hematopoiesis and adult mouse and human spleens retain low numbers of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). Hematopoiesis is however dependent on stromal microenvironments that provide appropriate molecular signals. Recent evidence now suggests that a distinct stromal cell type exists in the spleen which can function as a niche for hematopoiesis. This review considers the role of the spleen in hematopoiesis, and the possibility that the spleen can be utilized or amplified as a site for hematopoiesis during HSC transplantation. If stromal cells can be isolated and used to expand HSC in vitro, or provided as an ectopic niche in vivo for the same purpose, then the potential exists to enhance hematopoiesis in patients undergoing myeloablative treatment, HSC transplantation or involution of lymphoid tissue with ageing.


Background: Anadromous threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) from Rabbit Slough were introduced into Cheney and Scout Lakes, Alaska in 2009 and 2011, respectively. The introductions were intended to model colonization of freshwater habitats by oceanic stickleback following the deglaciation of the Cook Inlet region, which resulted in a widely studied system of highly variable populations. Hypothesis: Life-history traits of females in the colonizing lake populations will change from the ancestral phenotype within the first few generations after the experimental introductions, consistent with expectations for an opportunistic life-history strategy based on models for life-history change in invasive fishes. Females in the lakes are expected to reproduce at an earlier age and smaller size than anadromous females, and to exhibit greater reproductive effort (size-adjusted clutch mass) and clutch size (size-adjusted numbers of eggs). Changes in egg mass are difficult to predict because complex factors influence this life-history trait. Methods: We quantified length, body mass, clutch mass, clutch size, and egg mass of wildcaught females from the anadromous source population and the two introduced lake populations during the first few years after introduction. In analyses of clutch mass, clutch size, and egg mass, we used body mass to correct for female size. Results: As expected, age at reproduction and adult body size decreased while size-adjusted clutch size and reproductive effort increased. These changes occurred abruptly in the first year after introduction. Egg mass did not change in the first year post-introduction. Changes in life-history traits in subsequent years included larger mean egg mass and a greater proportion of females reproducing at age 2 instead of age 1.


Chagas' disease is a zoonosis caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, a haematic protozoan, transmitted by insects from the Reduviidae family. This constitutes a relevant health and socio-economic problem in the Americas, with 11 - 18 million people infected, and approximately 100 million people at risk. The therapeutic possibilities rely into two drugs, nifurtimox and benznidazole, that were discovered more than thirty years ago, and are mainly successful during the acute phase of the disease. In the majority of the cases the disease is diagnosed in the chronic phase, when the therapy is inefficient and the probability of cure is low. In addition, these drugs are highly toxic, with systemic side effects on patients. Trypanosoma cruzi has a metabolism largely based on the consumption of amino acids, mainly proline, aspartate and glutamate, which constitute the main carbon and energy sources in the insect stage of the parasite life cycle. These amino acids also participate in the differentiation process of the replicative non-infective form (epimastigote) to the non-replicative infective form (trypomastigote). In particular, the participation of proline in the intracellular differentiation cycle, which occurs in the mammalian host, was recently demonstrated. In addition, an arginine kinase has been described in T. cruzi and T. brucei, which converts free arginine to phosphoarginine, a phosphagen with a role as an energy reservoir. Arginine kinase seems to be an essential component of energy management during stress conditions. Taken together, these data indicate that amino acid metabolism may provide multiple as yet unexplored targets for therapeutic drugs.


The charity organizations in China lack transparency and the supervision to them is difficult to achieve, which has a negative impact on the willingness of the people to donate. Blockchain as a underlying technology of Bitcoin system provides a new solution for the charity system in terms of technology. This paper proposed a charity system based on blockchain technology and expounds the design pattern, architecture and operational process of the platform. Some core functions of the charity platform have been realized and verified on Ethereum in this article. We hope to increase the transparency of charities to enhance the public's trust in charities and promote the development of philanthropy by blockchain-based charity system.


OBJECTIVE
To study the immunology effects of live attenuated hepatitis A vaccine in different doses and schedules groups, and compare with inactivated hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix, Smithkline).

METHODS
318 susceptible children were enrolled in Guangxi and Hebei province. These subjects were divided into six groups. Each group was vaccinated with either inactivated vaccine or different doses and schedules of live attenuated vaccine. Serum specimens were collected and tested for anti-HAV antibody at different time after the vaccination.

RESULTS
GMT of each group arrived at the peak 1 months after re-vaccination, then declined, and GMT of 6 months after booster dose was still significantly higher than that after primary immunization. Sero-conversion rates in all groups reached 100% after a booster dose, and kept at 6 months after booster dose.

CONCLUSIONS
A booster dose of live attenuated vaccine can induce secondary immune response well. The immunology effects after booster dose are comparable with inactivated vaccine and it should be useful to the immune persistence.


This paper studied the method of the wind turbine's dynamic modeling creation based on the research of the relationship between the blade attack angle of the new vertical wind turbine and its efficiency, and also studied the fuzzy neural network algorithm based on BP network which was applied in the constant speed control of such a new vertical wind turbine. We created a specific mathematical model for a 500W experimental prototype and did the simulation. From the results we know that the fuzzy neural network algorithm of BP network based is more advanced than the traditional PID algorithm in the control of the new vertical wind turbine.


Background Peak exercise capacity is an independent predictor for mortality in patients with coronary artery disease. However, sometimes cardiopulmonary exercise tests are stopped prematurely. Therefore, submaximal exercise measures such as the oxygen uptake efficiency slope have been introduced. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of the oxygen uptake efficiency slope and other exercise parameters, in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods Between 2000 and 2011, 1409 patients with coronary artery disease (age 60.7 ± 9.9 years; 1205 males) underwent cardiopulmonary exercise tests. A maximal effort was not reached in 161 (11.5%) patients. The oxygen uptake efficiency slope was calculated and information on mortality was obtained. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to assess the relation of oxygen uptake efficiency slope and other gas exchange variables with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses was performed to define optimal cut-off values. Results During an average follow-up of 7.45 ± 3.20 years (range 0.16–13.95 years), 158 patients died, among which 68 patients for cardiovascular reasons. The oxygen uptake efficiency slope was related to all-cause (hazard ratio: 0.568, p < 0.001) and cardiovascular (hazard ratio: 0.461, p < 0.001) mortality. When significant covariates were entered in the analysis, oxygen uptake efficiency slope remained related to mortality (p < 0.05). When other submaximal exercise parameters were added to the model, oxygen uptake efficiency slope and minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production slope also remained significantly related to mortality. Conclusion The oxygen uptake efficiency slope is an independent predictor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with coronary artery disease, irrespective of a truly maximal effort during cardiopulmonary exercise tests. Furthermore, the oxygen uptake efficiency slope provides prognostic information, complementary to the minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production slope and peak exercise capacity.


By giving his main characters all with the "life-like mask", Eugene O'Neill in his play Mourning Becomes Electra aims to reveal the morbid psychology behind that people at that time were facing. O'Neill deepens the tragic effect of excessively emotional self-restraint by intentionally making the conflict happen between family members in a puritanical family, and further making it become a family's doomed and repeated fate. O'Neill presents the awkward situation but he fails to presents the way out; he indeed leaves the remedy to his audience.


STUDIES ON SIZE FOR TEXTILES (III) AN APPLICATION OF a-AMYLASE TO STARCH SIZE By Noboru Azuma and Fujio Bekku (Tokyo Institute of Technology, Department of Textile, Ookayama, Meguro-ku,Tokyo, Japan) In order to size effectively to warp yarn with starch at low temperature, starch size solutions with low viscosities were prepared by decomposing starch molecules with a-amylase, and observations are made on the mechanism of addition of starch size to yarn, mechanical properties of starch films and sized yarn, and their relations, with the following results obtained: a) Drop of viscosity of size solution based on decomposition of starch molecules with a-amylase was remarkable, and its dependency on temperature was less in proportion to the degree of decomposition. Viscosity of starch solution illustrated the saturated minimum value after the time of treatment correspond to the addedamount of a-amylase to starch. b) In decomposing starch, it is better to add a-amylase to starch solution after preparing its size solution, for the reason of obtaining homogeneous size solution. Similarly, it is better to treat starch for longer time with smaller volume of enzyme than treatment for shorter time with larger volume. c) Reduction of viscosity by enzyme treatment promotes penetration of size solution into the yarn, and it results in increased amount of size adheres to the yarn. d) Increase of breaking strength and abrasive resistance of sized yarn per unit weight of adhered size is remarkable using the size treated with a-amylase. It may be explained from difference of role between size fixed on surface of yarn which resists mainly to stretch and the inter-fiber size which takes part of cross-links between them. e) As decomposition of starch is advanced mechanical properties of sized yarn gradually deteriorates, but they are much more predominant than in that sized with non-treated starch. All this is due to weakning of mechanical properties of solid phase of fixed size prepared by drying, based on decomposition of starch molecules with a-amy]ase. It can also be verified by determination of breaking strength and elongation of films made with starch sizes variously decomposed by a-amylase. f) From above results, it is obvious that the analytical method is more desiable to perform extensive study of warp sizing than by determination only of mechanical properties of sized yarn. (Received 24. 8. 1956)


The peripheral blood of 41 Yaruro and Guahibo Indians from Venezuela was examined for HTLV antibodies and DNA. Twenty-five samples (61%) were found to be infected with HTLV-IIB. The sensitivities of the serologic and DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses were 80% and 96%, respectively. Epidemiologic studies supported both sexual and perinatal transmission of the virus. Sequence analyses of the HTLV-IIB strains from these Indians indicate that they are unique relative to HTLV-II detected in other groups of humans. HTLV-IIB-G2 isolated from a Guahibo Indian is the most divergent HTLV-IIB strain relative to the prototype HTLV-II NRA.


The initiative AESOP (ArchitecturE for Service-Oriented Process-Monitoring and — Control) envisions a Service-oriented Architecture approach for monitoring and control of Process Control applications (batch and continuous process). Large process industry systems are a complex (potentially very large) set of (frequently) multi-disciplinary, connected, heterogeneous systems that function as a complex system of which the components are themselves systems. The future "Perfect Plant" will be able to seamlessly collaborate and enable monitoring and control information flow in a cross-layer way. As such the different systems will be part of an SCADA/DCS ecosystem, where components can be dynamically added or removed and dynamic discovery enables the on-demand information combination and collaboration. All current and future systems will be able to share information in a timely and open manner, enabling an enterprise-wide system of systems that will dynamically evolve based on business needs. The SOA-based approach proposed by AESOP can, on one hand, simplify the integration of monitoring and control systems on application layer. On the other hand, the networking technologies that are already known to control engineers could also simplify the inclusion of or migration from existing solutions and integration of the next generation SCADA and DCS systems at network layer.


Abstract This paper proposes a novel two dimensional capsubot without legs and wheels, and works on the principle of internal force-static friction. It moves forward by the snake-like sliding movement. Two parallel inner masses are controlled to move the capsubot in two dimensions. The dynamic model of the proposed capsubot is developed. Motion generation and the optimum parameter selection of the acceleration profile are investigated. The capsubot is an underactuated mechanical system as there are two control inputs and four outputs. The capsubot can perform linear, rotational and curved motions.


Recognition and detection of melamine are of very significance in food industries. Molecular recognitions of barbituric acid lipids to melamine at the air-water interface have been investigated in detail using in situ infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). Hydrogen bonding patterns and molecular orientations of the molecular recognitions have been revealed. Prior to molecular recognition, the barbituric acid moieties in the monolayers were hydrogen bonded with a flat-on fashion at the air-water interface, and the alkyl chains were preferentially oriented with their CCC planes perpendicular to the water surface. After molecular recognition, the NH(2) stretching bands of recognized melamine were clearly observed at the air-water interface as well as primary characteristic bands, the barbituric acid moieties underwent a change in orientation with non-hydrogen bonded C4═O bonds almost perpendicular to the water surface and C2═O and C6═O bonds involved in hydrogen bonds with melamine, and the alkyl chains were preferentially oriented with their CCC planes parallel to the water surface. The monolayers of barbituric acid lipids exhibited excellent selectivity for melamine over nucleosides.


One of the most difficult problems in HIV care today is the management of individuals infected with multidrug-resistant viruses. Well-controlled, carefully designed clinical trials have recently resulted in the approval of several new antiviral agents for the treatment of drug-resistant HIV. The design of these trials has come at the cost of the predictable emergence of drug-resistant viruses among individuals randomly assigned to receive a suboptimal revised treatment regimen. We propose here a different approach to the evaluation of drug efficacy in individuals harbouring multidrug-resistant HIV.


In many of the industrialized lean construction efforts in the construction industry today, collaborative communication and its supporting ICT have been reduced to a secondary issue in favour of rationalizing the physical design and production processes, as if effective project communication practices and technologies are taken for granted. Often when ICT based communication is discussed and managed in construction it often only comprises the technical aspects of information handling, such as modelling, classification and standardization. This paper introduces the subject field of Project Communication, which considers the improvement of organization, group processes, work procedures, as well as the sharing and transfer of knowledge between different professional domains in projects and corporations. The subject area has a special focus on the concept of the integration of project organizations and the creation of an effective platform for collaboration through shared ICT business tools. One prioritized field of research in this area is the problematic issue of creating true usefulness, user acceptance and organizational adoption of ICT in project team work. The paper describes four indicative feasibility studies in Project Communication in the Swedish construction sector. It argues that to solve the practical problems that the industry is encountering, as described in the studies, the perspective must be widened so as to include information and communication technology from an organizational and management viewpoint.


Porphyrias are a group of rare disorders caused by enzyme defects in haem biosynthesis pathway. Acute intermittent porphyria is the most common hepatic porphyria. The disorder presents with severe neuropathic abdominal pain that can be accompanied by a wide range of gastrointestinal, psychiatric and neurological symptoms, making the diagnosis clarification very challenging. We report a case of a 27-year-old female patient who presented with acute abdominal pain, vomiting and marked hyponatremia, developed seizures and disorientation, and eventually required intensive care unit treatment to maintain breathing. Her symptoms were initially misinterpreted as a functional gastrointestinal disorder, thus delaying the needed specific treatment. She was diagnosed a week after the initial hospital admission, and her condition improved after receiving treatment with intravenous glucose and haemin. For patients with acute neurovisceral attacks, early clinical recognition is essential. Severe hyponatremia, urine that develops orange colour on exposure to light and gastrointestinal symptom combination with neurologic symptoms are three valuable clues that may lead to the right diagnosis faster. Pathophysiology of hyponatremia in case of acute intermittent porphyria in only partly understood and can be associated with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, gastrointestinal or renal sodium loss.


This thesis tested hypotheses related to the dispersal, behaviour patterns and response to forest fragmentation of two endangered colobus monkey species living in sympatry in Cantanhez National Park, Guinea Bissau. Western black-and-white colobus (BWC: Colobus polykomos) and Temminck's red colobus (TRC: Procolobus badius temminckii) are two forest dwelling primates that share most of their ecological requirements but exhibit contrasting social systems, namely in dispersal, group size and social organization. By combining behavioural data obtained for one social group of each species and non-invasive genetic data (15 microsatellite loci and a fragment of the mitochondrial control region) from eight black and white colobus and six red colobus social groups, I examined: i) historical and current dispersal patterns; ii) the within-group distribution of social interactions among males and females, and iii) the effect of forest fragmentation on genetic structure. I found evidence for historical and/or long-range dispersal via males in BWC and via females in TRC. However, a change in the current dispersal pattern was detected for BWC, as both sexes seem to be dispersing. Behavioural analysis showed that TRC females exhibit stronger social bonding than BWC females. More interestingly, and contrary to what was described for the species, TRC females seemed to prefer to engage in grooming other females rather than males and males only rarely groomed other males. Finally, analysis of genetic structure indicates the existence of only one genetic unit for each species, although some fine-scale spatial genetic structure was found for TRC. Whereas BWC seemed to be able to use the available forest corridors to disperse between forest patches, TRC females tend to disperse to immediately adjacent groups showing some constraint in the ability to disperse throughout the park. I hypothesise that the detected changes in dispersal mode in BWC and social dynamics in TRC may constitute behavioural local responses to habitat degradation. Constraints in dispersal found for TRC support the evidence that forest fragmentation should be playing an important role shaping these colobus monkey social systems.


Seldom, indeed, do we meet with crustacea of any great size in the very old rocks, unless these be members of the Trilobite order. Of these, indeed, the largest forms are the oldest of all, for no Trilobite approaches the size of the giant Paradoxides, which characterize the Menevian group—the oldest fossil group with which we are acquainted—for, in spite of all that has been said and done, Eozoon has not passed beyond the mythical stage. Some of its admirers regard it at least with superstitious reverence. But into the positive stage it has not entered; and, therefore, the Menevian group, proposed by Dr. Hicks and myself for Britain, and recognized abroad, is the oldest known. No Crustacea, except a few small Bivalve Phyllopods (Leperditia), are known to accompany the trilobites in it. But when we ascend to the next overlying group—the true Lingula flag or Pfestrinog group of Sedgwick, while the trilobites reduce their size, a large Phyllopod or two, Hymenocaris, usurps the ascendancy, and, up to yesterday, was probably the most active, and therefore the highest, of his tribe, known in these rocks.

Lately, Mr. David Homfray, the explorer of the Lingula and Tremodoc groups (Sedgwick), has struck out a still larger, possibly a rarer form, of the great shield-bearing Phyllopoda. Instead of having an ample folded carapace, or shield, like Nebalia, it had a hollow oblong scute, to all appearance only slightly hollowed, after the manner of Apus.

Three distinct ridges on the hinder ...


Background: The Group Lifestyle Balance™ (GLB) program is an adaption of the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program that has been recognized by the CDC as a model curriculum for diabetes prevention. The implementation of GLB at 8 predominantly autonomous and highly diverse clinics within a single, large multi-specialty healthcare organization provides a unique opportunity to evaluate the program in a real-world setting. Methods: We conducted structured interviews with GLB facilitators at Sutter Health, a Healthcare Delivery System in Northern California, using snowball sampling. Interview questions were based on the RE-AIM framework to explore the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance of the program between sites. We focused this analysis on a single regional affiliate of Sutter, with 8 clinic sites offering GLB to examine potential within-region variation. Results: Ten GLB facilitators were interviewed, representing 8 clinical sites within the Sutter Health regional affiliate. All the facilitators were diabetes educators; 9 were registered dietitians and 1 was a registered nurse. Five sites began offering GLB in 2010, followed by two sites in 2013 and one in 2015. Eligibility criteria were the same across sites, and included all patients regardless of risk factors, except pregnant women. While all sites consistently offer 12 weekly "core" sessions over a 3-month period, the maintenance sessions are optional and are only offered at half of the sites. Almost all facilitators (n= 9) reported that they use a modified version of the curriculum developed by the University of Pittsburgh and all mentioned that they provide participants with additional information. Conclusion: These preliminary data suggest that the GLB program has been implemented within a regional affiliate of a healthcare system, consistently, yet with some variation in the use of the post-core maintenance curriculum. Future work will examine the effectiveness of GLB based on the type of curriculum and duration of the program. Disclosure K.M.J. Azar: Research Support; Self; Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. C. Nasrallah: None. N. Szwerinski: None. V. Chopra: None. M. Halley: None. R. Romanelli: Research Support; Self; Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer Inc..


This study examines the content of MySpace pages to reveal the types of personal information users disclose on their pages and the types of communication users engage in via through their MySpace account. The researchers performed a traditional content analysis on MySpace user profiles to learn about user characteristics and about the types of content posted on profiles pages. Findings showed a clear pattern of use of the site for creating and developing personal identities and relationships online. Findings show a high degree of control by users over private information, with very few users posting personal information such as telephone numbers and addresses. The results of this research contribute to an understanding of the use of MySpace as a social networking site, a communication tool, and a means of self-disclosure and identity formation.


Interactions between the Wnt/β-catenin and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways have been posited, but the molecular mechanisms and cooperative roles of such interaction in carcinogenesis are poorly understood. In the present study, the Raf-1, MEK, and ERK activities were concomitantly decreased in fibroblasts, which inhibit morphological transformation and proliferation by Axin induction. The inhibition of the components of the ERK pathway by Axin occurred in cells retaining wild-type β-catenin, including primary hepatocytes, but not in cells retaining non-degradable mutant β-catenin. Axin inhibits cellular proliferation and ERK pathway activation induced by either epidermal growth factor or Ras, indicating a role of Axin in the regulation of growth induced by ERK pathway activation. ERK pathway regulation by Axin occurs at least partly via reduction of the protein level of Ras. Both wild-type and mutant Ras proteins are subjected to regulation by Axin, which occurs in cells retaining wild-type but not mutant β-catenin gene. The role of β-catenin in the regulation of the Ras-ERK pathway was further confirmed by Ras reduction and subsequent inhibitions of the ERK pathway components by knock down of mutated form of β-catenin. The Ras regulation by Axin was blocked by treatment of leupeptin, an inhibitor of the lysosomal protein degradation machinery. Overall, Axin inhibits proliferation of cells at least partly by reduction of Ras protein level via β-catenin. This study provides evidences for the role of the Ras-ERK pathway in carcinogenesis caused by mutations of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway components.


Recent developments in the clinical capabilities of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) have provided researchers with considerable insight into potential neurochemical alterations associated with the pathology and treatment of affective disorders. This review focuses on the clinical application of MRS to the study of affective disorders, discusses the major MRS visible neurochemicals, and addresses some essential principles of MRS methodology, such as pulse sequences and neurochemical quantitation. Additionally, some of the more recent key findings in the area of mood disorders and their treatment are highlighted, including pharmacological effects and mechanisms. For example, several independent groups have reported alterations in levels of choline, myoinositol, N-acetylaspartate, and gamma-aminobutyric acid in the central nervous systems of patients with major depression, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Finally, the current direction of advances and areas of further investigation are discussed. This review will afford the reader a fundamental foundation in the applications of MRS in mood disorders and an update on some of the current findings in this rapidly developing discipline.


Filled with the Spirit by John R. Levison is a highly original study of this theme in Israelite, Jewish, and early Christian literature. The following response to Levison's book focuses on Part III, Early Christian Literature, section 3, 'Filled with the Spirit and the Book of Acts' (pp 317365). Levison organizes his discussion under the topics, 'The Salience of a Slave-Girl', 'The Allure of Ecstasy at Pentecost', 'Speaking in Tongues', and 'Spirit and the Inspired Interpretation of Scripture'. Levison's methodology is a combination of a history of religions approach, intertextuality, and contextual exposition. According to the reviewer's assessment, Levison's approach to the subject paganizes those experiences which Luke portrays to be uniquely Judeo-Christian, profanes what Luke portrays to be an awe-inspiring sacred marvel, and humanizes what Luke portrays to be the mysterious or luminous tangible experiences of the Spirit.


This study investigated the challenges that history learners in rural black schools are faced with during assessments when using English as the language of learning and teaching. The aim of the study was to investigate whether English, which is used as a language of learning and teaching in schools, is a barrier to the learning and teaching of history. It is argued that the use of English has implications on the results that learners obtain during summative assessment. The literature reviewed revealed that any language of learning and teaching, which is not the mother tongue of learners, has an impact on the process of learning. Assessment, which determines whether the learning outcomes have been attained or not, is affected by factors like the type of assessment, for example, formative or summative; the purpose of assessment and the rules and regulations that goes along with assessment. In order to gain a greater insight and a comprehensive understanding of the research problem, a qualitative approach was used with some quantitative elements. A multiple-case study design was adopted. The research instruments employed were interviews, document analysis and observations. The findings indicated that the environment in which the learners learnt a second language had an impact on the learners' language proficiency. Furthermore, it was found that assessment poses a challenge to learners, in addition to the challenges caused by the language. The findings also indicated that educators and the learners preferred to use English as a language of learning and teaching and not their mother tongue. This was despite all the challenges they faced when they used English. An important recommendation was to develop mother-tongue terminology in history.


In recent years a lot of new consumer devices have been introduced to the home network. Modern home networks usually consists of multiple heterogeneous communication technologies such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi and power-line communications. Today, the user has to manually decide which transmission technology to use as there is no automated optimization across technologies. Load balancing algorithms can improve overall throughput while redundant links also provide the opportunity to switch flows in case of link failures. Current standards either lack real implementation in consumer devices or do not have the flexibility to support all necessary functionality towards creating a convergent hybrid home network. Therefore, we propose an alternative way by using Software-Defined Networking techniques to manage a heterogeneous home network. In this paper we specifically evaluate the ability of OpenFlow-enabled switches to perform link switching both under normal conditions and in case of link failures. Our results show that SDN-based management can be used to improve heterogeneous home networks by utilising redundant links for flow rerouting. However, they also show that improvements are still needed to reduce downtime during link failure or rerouting in case of TCP traffic.


Sympathetic ganglia from newborn rats and guinea-pigs were grown in modified Rose chambers and examined with scanning electron microscopy after 5-7 days. The cell types seen were macrophages, neurons, glial cells and connective tissue cells. They presented a wide range of surface morphologies and 3-dimensional configurations, from spheroid with an irregular surface to flattened with a smooth surface. The arrangement of the nerve fibres and cells in the outgrowth was essentially 2-layered with connective tissue cells nearest the substrate and nerve fibres, glial cells and macrophages lying over them. The relationships of sympathetic nerve fibres to the different cell types were also investigated. In all cases nerve fibres closely followed the cellular surface contours although the nature of the relationships varied. Fine finger-like cytoplasmic projections were sometimes seen from connective tissue cells and macrophages. The possible role of these structures in adhesion and motility is discussed.


Corneal arcus senilis has long implied cardiovascular disease because of its association with altered lipid levels. This study demonstrates that arcus senilis does not have a higher prevalence rate in diabetics than non-diabetics in spite of the increased cardiovascular risk in insulin-dependent diabetics.


The paper summarizes the results of the 1994-1998 activities in preparing sanitary legislative documents and standard guidelines that define strategies and tactics to prevent parasitic diseases in the Russian Federation under the present conditions. Moreover, it lists the guidelines that are being developed and planned for approval in 1999-2000.


Abstract : Almost two years before the attacks of September II, 2001,the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction, known as the Gilmore Commission, concluded the United States lacked a coherent, functional national strategy to guide disparate counterterrorism efforts. On February 14, 2003, President George W. Bush issued the long-awaited National Strategy For Combating Terrorism. The strategy, through its AD" tenets (deter, deny, diminish, and defend), attacks terrorists with global influence, and attempts to reduce their capabilities to that of the criminal domain." Furthermore, the strategy advocates preemption - calling for the destruction of terrorist targets wherever they can be found, before they can strike against the United States. Long gone is the strategy of deterrence and containment that characterized the era of the Cold War. The strategy worked well against the formidable Soviet threat, but proved to be ineffective against today's radical Islamic terrorist movement. Although the strategy is fairly new, this paper will examine whether it capitalizes on all tools of government. It will also determine whether the strategy is sufficient to meet changing and adaptable threats, and guide the application of finite resources to achieve critical objectives. The United States' response has predictably been through military means and although effective, has minimally capitalized on the potential of diplomatic, information, intelligence, and economic elements of national power.


The electronic structure of a magnesium overlayer on the GaAs(110) surface is calculated in the self-consistent tight-binding approximation. It is found that the surface relaxation structure is important for low-coverage adsorption, and for determining the bonding energy state in particular. The Fermi level is pinned close to the top of the valence band by the covalent hybridization of the highly localized adatom Mg s orbitals and the surface Ga sp3 dangling bonds. Our results show a higher density of unoccupied states than occupied states on Mg atoms, which is in good agreement with scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) images. A comparison is made with theoretical and experimental results of free and other adsorbate GaAs(110) surfaces.


We used the otoliths from a sample of Dissostichus eleginoides pre-recruits, whose length density was distinctly polymodal, to see whether ages estimated by reading otoliths were congruent with the length modes observed. Length densities by age were compared graphically with the overall length density observed. Additionally, ages were predicted for each fish based on length, and compared with ages estimated from reading otoliths in a goodness-of-fit test. The majority of the otoliths (83.6%) were estimated to be from fish 1+ or 2+ years old, with mean total lengths of 32.5 cm and 41.3 cm respectively. No difference was found between predicted and estimated ages. We conclude that the two dominant modes observed in the length density represent different age cohorts separated by one year.


Radio link control (RLC) protocols are typically employed for reliable in-sequence delivery of service data units (SDUs) in wireless packet data systems. The RLC layer segments packets obtained from the upper layer (referred to as SDUs) into smaller RLC transmission units (or blocks) and uses selective-repeat automatic repeat request (SR-ARQ) for error recovery of RLC blocks. In earlier work, SR-ARQ performance is typically characterized in terms of the long-term throughput or in-sequence delivery delay of RLC blocks. The SDU delivery delay which is a more meaningful measure of RLC performance (in terms of the service provided to a higher layer, e.g., transmission control protocol) has not been quantified. In this paper, we analyze the SDU delivery delay of SR-ARQ as a function of the SDU size and the channel coding scheme employed. Closed-form delay expressions as well as approximations are provided. The analysis is verified through enhanced general packet radio service RLC simulations. Based on the analysis, we propose that link adaptation be backlog dependent in order to reduce the SDU delivery delay at the RLC layer.


Lattice-based cryptography offers some of the most attractive primitives believed to be resistant to quantum computers. Following increasing interest from both companies and government agencies in building quantum computers, a number of works have proposed instantiations of practical post-quantum key exchange protocols based on hard problems in ideal lattices, mainly based on the Ring Learning With Errors (R-LWE) problem. While ideal lattices facilitate major efficiency and storage benefits over their non-ideal counterparts, the additional ring structure that enables these advantages also raises concerns about the assumed difficulty of the underlying problems. Thus, a question of significant interest to cryptographers, and especially to those currently placing bets on primitives that will withstand quantum adversaries, is how much of an advantage the additional ring structure actually gives in practice. Despite conventional wisdom that generic lattices might be too slow and unwieldy, we demonstrate that LWE-based key exchange is quite practical: our constant time implementation requires around 1.3ms computation time for each party; compared to the recent NewHope R-LWE scheme, communication sizes increase by a factor of 4.7x, but remain under 12 KiB in each direction. Our protocol is competitive when used for serving web pages over TLS; when partnered with ECDSA signatures, latencies increase by less than a factor of 1.6x, and (even under heavy load) server throughput only decreases by factors of 1.5x and 1.2x when serving typical 1 KiB and 100 KiB pages, respectively. To achieve these practical results, our protocol takes advantage of several innovations. These include techniques to optimize communication bandwidth, dynamic generation of public parameters (which also offers additional security against backdoors), carefully chosen error distributions, and tight security parameters.


A 10-bit 50 MS/s pipelined SAR ADC is presented which pipelines a 5-bit SAR-based MDAC with a 6-bit SAR ADC. The 1-bit redundancy relaxes the requirement for the sub-ADC decision in accuracy. The SAR-based and "half-gain" MDAC reduce the power consumption and core area. The dynamic comparator and SAR control logic are applied to reduce power consumption. Implemented in 180 nm CMOS, the fabricated ADC achieves 56.04 dB SNDR and 5mW power consumption from 1.8 V power supply at 50 MS/s.


Euphorbia amygdaloides L. subsp. robbiae (Turrill) Stace was first collected by Mrs Mary Anne Robb. She collected a wild growing Euphorbia L. specimen in 1891 from an unknown locality near Istanbul, and carried this plant in a bonnet box to England. Since 1891, this well-known cultivated plant has not been collected from any wild locality. This paper reports the wild specimens from Istanbul with morphological detail. We also present the composite image illustrations of the specimen, and images of the type specimen. The article also reveals that the date of the type specimen of Euphorbia amygdaloides subsp. robbiae does not match the literature, and it is proposed that the specimen dated 12 May 1949 be treated as the holotype. This paper explains why a lectotypification of the specimen is unnecessary.


One story that needs to be told in composition classes K-16 is the story of language--the "composition" class or the English class might be the only setting for most students to learn the broader picture of how language is used throughout the world in real life. To become proficient writers/speakers, students must comprehend the complex ways language is used in society: dialects, registers, global varieties of major languages, attitudes about language use, and both first language and second or multiple language acquisition. In the United States (U.S.), schools have maintained myths about language, despite strong position statements over the past 40 years acknowledging the country's linguistic diversity by most major professional language organizations. Myths perpetuate the ideas that: there is a "best" language, a "right" grammar; "language does not change"; and the U.S. is a monolingual English-speaking nation. This last myth often leads to ideas about languages other than English, especially the idea that all students should abandon other languages and non-standard dialects as they walk through the school door. Yet second language acquisition research has soundly demonstrated that if an instructional goal is reading/writing in English, nonnative speakers of English will achieve this most effectively through learning to read and write in their home language which will then transfer to English. What needs to be told is that being bilingual and/or bidialectal is an attribute, not something of which to be ashamed. One educator discusses in class what language is and is not and then explores not only English use in the US but the implications of English as a World Language or a Language of Wider Communication. (Contains 15 references.) (NKA) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. The Imperative of Language Education in Composition Classrooms.


This study aimed to obtain empirical evidence regarding the correlation of the use of information technology to the learning process (lectures) and its impact on student academic achievement. This study used path analysis or analysis that not only tested the direct influence of independent variable to the dependent variable, but also explained the presence or absence of indirect influence given by the independent variable through the intervening variable to the dependent variable. This study uses questionnaires media that are disseminated through electronic media. The statements contained in the questionnaire were measured using the Likert scale of 5 (five) points, then processed using Path Analysis, and interpreted. Total respondents in this study as many as 204 students of Master of Accounting who have been through the course of information technology management. The results of this study indicate that information technology influences student academic achievement and influences the learning process and has an impact on student academic achievement. Keywords : Information t echnology; Learning process; Student academic achievement.


The degree and orders of nonlinearity of a system can be determined by the use of a random test signal. A Gaussian-distributed random signal with a uniform power spectral density except for a narrow spectral notch is used as an input test signal. The power within the notch at the system output is a measure of the degree of system nonlinearity. Relative variations of the output power within the notch with input loading identify the orders of nonlinearity.


The vast majority of information about cells and cell organelle structure were obtained by means of transmission electron microscopy investigation of cells serial thin sections. However often it is very difficult to derive information about 3D structure of specimens from such electron micrographs. A new program restoring 3D image of cells from the serial thin sections micrographs have been developed in our lab. The program makes it possible to visualize a 3D image of cell and obtain image of inner cell structure in arbitrary plane. The plague bacteria and anthrax cells with spore were visualized with resolution about 70 nm by means of the program.


Background and objectives: The timing of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) is controversial in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory hypoxemia. The study aimed to develop a novel biomarker called cumulative oxygen deficit (COD) for the initiation of IMV.Methods: The study was conducted in four designated hospitals for treating COVID-19 patients in Jingmen, Wuhan, from January to March 2020. COD was defined to account for both the magnitude and duration of hypoxemia. A higher value of COD indicated more oxygen deficit. The predictive performance of COD was calculated in multivariable Cox regression models. Time-dependent propensity score matching was performed to explore the effectiveness of IMV versus other non-invasive respiratory supports on survival outcome.Results: A number of 111 patients including 80 in the non-IMV group and 31 in the IMV group were included. Patients with IMV had significantly lower PaO2 (62 (49, 89) vs. 90.5 (68, 125.25) mmHg; p < 0.001), and higher COD (-6.87 (-29.36, 52.38) vs. -231.68 (-1040.78, 119.83)) than patients without IMV. As compared to patients with COD < 0, patients with COD > 30 had higher risk of fatality (HR: 3.79, 95% CI: 2.57 to 16.93; p = 0.037) , and those with COD > 50 were 10 times more likely to die (HR: 10.45, 95% CI: 1.28 to 85.37; p = 0.029). The Cox regression model performed in the time-dependent propensity score matched cohort showed that IMV was associated with half of the hazard of death than those without IMV (HR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.16 to 1.93; p = 0.358).Conclusions: The study developed a novel biomarker COD which considered both magnitude and duration of hypoxemia, to assist the timing of IMV in patients with COVID-19. We suggest IMV should be the preferred ventilatory support once the COD reaches 30.


Electroencephalogram (EEG) is one of the most reliable physiological signals used for detecting the emotional states of human brain. We propose Asymmetric Ratio (AR) based channel selection for human emotion recognition using EEG. Selection of channels reduces the feature size, computational load requirements and robustness of emotions classification. We address this crisis using Asymmetric Variance Ratio (AVR) and Amplitude Asymmetric Ratio (AAR) as new channel selection methods. Using these methods the 28 homogeneous pairs of EEG channels is reduced to 4 and 2 channel pairs respectively. These methods significantly reduce the number of homogeneous pair of channels to be used for emotion detection. This approach is illustrated with 5 distinct emotions (disgust, happy, surprise, sad, and fear) on 63 channels EEG data recorded from 5 healthy subjects. In this study, we used Multi-Resolution Analysis (MRA) based feature extraction the original and reduced set of channels for emotion classification. These approaches were empirically evaluated by using a simple unsupervised classifier, Fuzzy C-Means clustering with variable clusters. The paper concludes by discussing the impact of reduced channels on emotion recognition with larger number of channels and outlining the potential of the new channel selection method.


An analysis method is developed to investigate the vibrational properties of thin films by use of infrared in situ ellipsometry. The procedure is based on the study of regions located in or outside the vibrational bands as a function of film thickness. Infrared index, line positions, bandwidths, and absorption intensities can be determined, even in the case of low oscillator strengths. As an illustration, C—H bonding of 100-nm-thick hydrogenated amorphous carbon films have been studied: Weak vibrations located at 1405 and 1440 cm-1, which had not been observed so far, are evidenced, thus revealing the presence of CH olefinic units and methyl groups bonded to sp2-configured carbon.


Croatian coast has traditionally been oriented towards agriculture as the most important activity for existence of its inhabitants. That also refers to Dalmatia. Because of geographic position of Croatian coast, its relief and climatic characteristics, some agricultural branches developed that have up to this day remained important for people's lives and for identification of Dalmatia. They are olive growing, grape growing, sheep breeding, pig breeding, and fruit growing. Olive growing has been traditional activity in this area since ancient times. Thanks to specific soil, climatic conditions and traditional way of processing, autochthonous sorts of wine grape give their maximum in these endemic geographical conditions. Some parts of Dalmatia have long tradition of sheep and pig breeding. Specific relief, climatic and soil conditions are ideal for growing marasca cherry used to prepare various drinks. All of this should be used to create brand of Dalmatia as an ecologically preserved area with unique geographic conditions that have created predispositions for growing field crops of exceptional quality by using traditional autochthonous ecological procedures. That can attract tourists who can see traditional way of life in this area, and also feel it.


This paper deals with theoretical and application-related issues connected with the possibilities of creating intelligent bio-medical and multimedia systems based on graph linguistic formalisms, originating from AI methods. Such systems can be directed at tasks supporting medical diagnosis, multimedia indexation as well as classification and cognitive semantic perception of the content of medical images. The said possibilities can be obtained owing to the use of structural and semantic reasoning processes in such systems, conducted pursuant to linguistic rules of appropriately defined graph and sequential grammars, describing the semantics of selected MRI and RTG images.


The crystal structure of a complex of methyl-alpha-D-mannoside with banana lectin from Musa paradisiaca reveals two primary binding sites in the lectin, unlike in other lectins with beta-prism I fold which essentially consists of three Greek key motifs. It has been suggested that the fold evolved through successive gene duplication and fusion of an ancestral Greek key motif. In other lectins, all from dicots, the primary binding site exists on one of the three motifs in the three-fold symmetric molecule. Banana is a monocot, and the three motifs have not diverged enough to obliterate sequence similarity among them. Two Greek key motifs in it carry one primary binding site each. A common secondary binding site exists on the third Greek key. Modelling shows that both the primary sites can support 1-2, 1-3, and 1-6 linked mannosides with the second residue interacting in each case primarily with the secondary binding site. Modelling also readily leads to a bound branched mannopentose with the nonreducing ends of the two branches anchored at the two primary binding sites, providing a structural explanation for the lectin's specificity for branched alpha-mannans. A comparison of the dimeric banana lectin with other beta-prism I fold lectins, provides interesting insights into the variability in their quaternary structure.


On 26 April 1986, the international nuclear community experienced a dramatic "wake-up call" when the reactor core of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, situated in the former Ukrainian Republic of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, melted down. Due to the large volume of radioactive elements which were released into the atmosphere and spread around the globe, particularly across the northern hemisphere, the accident has been categorised as "by far the most devastating in the history of nuclear power".1 The incident served to dramatically and vividly remind the world of the potentially devastating national and transboundary consequences which may follow a nuclear accident, and it dispelled the myth that nuclear incidents create predominantly national safety risks. Suddenly all countries, even those without nuclear power capacity or situated in relative geographic isolation from nuclear sites, were forced to realise the risks that could be thrust upon them by a nuclear accident, even one occurring in a far distant state. Chernobyl demonstrated that despite the stationary nature of such plants, thanks to global wind currents external damage could be considerable.


Ten patients with spontaneous ascitic fluid infections received intravenously 400 mg of pefloxacin for pharmacokinetic evaluation of the drug and its diffusion into peritoneal space. The patients were then treated with oral pefloxacin (400 mg every 36 h except for icteric patients: 48 h) during 21 days. Total body clearance was decreased (0.66 +/- 0.16 ml/min/kg) and elimination half life was increased as compared to that observed in normal subject (28.2 +/- 7.6 h), the longest half-lives being observed in the cases with the most severe alteration of hepatic function. Peritoneal concentrations were higher than 1 microgram/ml (i.e. exceeding the minimal inhibitory concentrations for most of the bacterial species involved in ascitic fluid infections) from the first half-hour after infusion to at least 36 hours. 9 of the 10 cases were cured. Pefloxacin provided a well spaced rythm of administration is a suitable antibacterial drug for ascitic fluid infections in cirrhotic patients with two advantages: its effectiveness against Enterobacteriaceae and an oral administration.


Phoma exigua Desm. (teleomorph Didymella exigua (Niessl) Sacc.) was isolated from wilted Centaurea solstitialis L. (yellow starthistle) plants displaying necrosis of the crown that were found near Krasnodar, Russia. The fungus was identified using morphological and cultural characteristics (1,2) and confirmed by sequencing the complete internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear rDNA (GenBank Accession No. AY089978). P. exigua is a relatively common soilborne fungus that is weakly pathogenic on a diverse range of primarily dicotyledonous plants throughout the world (1). To our knowledge, it has never been reported previously on members of the genus Centaurea. Yellow starthistle is native to eastern Europe and the Mediterranean Region, and is now a noxious weed in North America for which P. exigua is being investigated as a potential biological control agent. Repeated pathogenicity studies (N = 30) resulted in a mortality of 80 and 93% within 7 days when 1-week-old seedlings were transplanted in soil infested with P. exigua-colonized wheat seed at rates of 6.7 and 10% (vol/vol), respectively. Symptoms of the seedlings included necrosis of the stem and wilting of the seedling. Pycnidia were observed in the roots of dead seedlings. The isolate of P. exigua has been deposited as a dried specimen at the U.S. National Fungus Collections, Beltsville, MD (BPI 841766) and as a living culture at the CBS collection in Utrecht, Netherlands (CBS 110211). References: (1) G. Morgan-Jones and K. B. Burch. Mycotaxon 32:477, 1988. (2) H. A. Van Der Aa et al. Persoonia 17:435, 2000.


Abstract Objective The Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics-Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) program is a consortium of community-engaged research projects with the goal of increasing access to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) tests in underserved populations. To accelerate clinical research, common data elements (CDEs) were selected and refined to standardize data collection and enhance cross-consortium analysis. Materials and Methods The RADx-UP consortium began with more than 700 CDEs from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) CDE Repository, Disaster Research Response (DR2) guidelines, and the PHENotypes and eXposures (PhenX) Toolkit. Following a review of initial CDEs, we made selections and further refinements through an iterative process that included live forums, consultations, and surveys completed by the first 69 RADx-UP projects. Results Following a multistep CDE development process, we decreased the number of CDEs, modified the question types, and changed the CDE wording. Most research projects were willing to collect and share demographic NIH Tier 1 CDEs, with the top exception reason being a lack of CDE applicability to the project. The NIH RADx-UP Tier 1 CDE with the lowest frequency of collection and sharing was sexual orientation. Discussion We engaged a wide range of projects and solicited bidirectional input to create CDEs. These RADx-UP CDEs could serve as the foundation for a patient-centered informatics architecture allowing the integration of disease-specific databases to support hypothesis-driven clinical research in underserved populations. Conclusion A community-engaged approach using bidirectional feedback can lead to the better development and implementation of CDEs in underserved populations during public health emergencies.


This paper describes how analyzing the defect coverage of memory tests can lead to optimized test coverage and rest application time before the device reaches production. A 9-port embedded SRAM will be used as the example memory for this paper. We will analyze four different functional tests and show that using just two of the four tests provides nearly all the defect coverage of all four tests, but requires a fraction of the test application time. We will also show that a more complete test set should contain non-simultaneous port accesses and time-dependent tests.


Various plant seeds have received little attention in fatty acid research. Seeds from 30 species mainly of Boraginaceae and Primulaceae were analysed in order to identify potential new sources of the n-3 PUFA α-linolenic acid (ALA) and stearidonic acid (SDA) and of the n-6 PUFA γ-linolenic acid (GLA). The fatty acid distribution differed enormously between genera of the same family. Echium species (Boraginaceae) contained the highest amount of total n-3 PUFA (47.1%), predominantly ALA (36.6%) and SDA (10.5%) combined with high GLA (10.2%). Further species of Boraginaceae rich in both SDA and GLA were Omphalodes linifolia (8.4, 17.2%, resp.), Cerinthe minor (7.5, 9.9%, resp.) and Buglossoides purpureocaerulea (6.1, 16.6%, resp.). Alkanna species belonging to Boraginaceae had comparable amounts of ALA (37.3%) and GLA (11.4%) like Echium but lower SDA contents (3.7%). Different genera of Primulaceae (Dodecatheon and Primula) had varying ALA (14.8, 28.8%, resp.) and GLA portions (4.1, 1.5%, resp.), but similar amounts of SDA (4.9, 4.5%, resp.). Cannabis sativa cultivars (Cannabaceae) were rich in linoleic acid (57.1%), but poor in SDA and GLA (0.8, 2.7%, resp.). In conclusion, several of the presented plant seeds contain considerable amounts of n-3 PUFA and GLA, which could be relevant for nutritional purposes due to their biological function as precursors for eicosanoid synthesis. Practical applications N-3 PUFA are important for human health and nutrition. Unfortunately, due to the increasing world population, overfishing of the seas and generally low amounts of n-3 PUFA in major oil crops, there is a demand for new sources of n-3 PUFA. One approach involves searching for potential vegetable sources of n-3 PUFA; especially those rich in ALA and SDA. The conversion of ALA to SDA in humans is dependent on the rate-limiting Δ6-desaturation. Plant-derived SDA is therefore a promising precursor regarding the endogenous synthesis of n-3 long-chain PUFA in humans. The present study shows that, in addition to seed oil of Echium, other species of Boraginaceae (Cerinthe, Omphalodes, Lithospermum, Buglossoides) and Primulaceae (Dodecatheon, Primula), generally high in n-3 PUFA (30–50%), contain considerable amounts of SDA (5–10%). Therefore, these seed oils could be important for nutrition.


COMMON MOVEMENT DISORDERS PITFALLS: CASE-BASED LEARNING. 2012. By Alberto J. Espay, Anthony E. Lang. Published by Cambridge University Press. 123 pages. C$75.00 approx. LATERAL SKULL BASE SURGERY: THE HOUSE CLINIC ATLAS. 2012. Edited By Rick A. Friedman, William H. Slattery III, Derald E. Brackmann, Jose N. Fayad, Marc S. Schwartz. Published by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. 201 pages. C$130.00 approx.


Hippocratic Lives and Legends examines the ideal of the ancient physician and processes of biographical fiction that shaped the legend of Hippocrates. Focusing on three stories in particular - how Hippocrates cured the plague, Hippocrates' detection of King Perdiccas' lovesickness, and Hippocrates' refusal to serve Artaxerxes, King of Persia - J.R. Pinault traces the development of these legends from their Hellenistic origins to the end of antiquity and into the Islamic world. In addition, Hippocrates Lives and Legends will prove a useful reference work. J.R. Pinault brings together in a convenient format the classical biographies of Hippocrates and the principal Arabic lives, translated here for the first time. Each text is discussed in detail, and the Greek and Latin texts of the classical lives are made available in the appendices.


OBJECTIVE
The study was carried out on the evaluation of number and value of STR loci applied in paternity identification.

METHODS
A total of 13 STR loci, divided into four groups, was observed in 102 cases of paternity exclusion and 100 cases of paternity inclusion. PCR amplified products of 13 STR loci were injected into a capillary on the ABI PRISM 310 Genetic Analyzer. GeneScan software analyzed the collected data, which can then be imported into Genotyper software for genotyping of alleles.

RESULTS
At least 3 STR loci incompatibilities between alleged father and child were found in all paternity exclusion cases of two observed groups which Cumulative Probability of Exclusion (CPE) was more than 99.99%, and in all paternity inclusion cases of those same observed groups, their Relative Chance of Paternity(RCP) could be over 99.99%.

CONCLUSION
The exclusion of paternity should be based on at least three STR loci incompatibilities in the identification practice. As a criterion for evaluation of the number and value of STR loci applied in paternity test, CPE should reach 99.99%.


Batch leaching experiments were conducted to estimate the leaching of As(III) and As(V) from exhausted CalSiCo. The leaching of As(III) and As(V) was found to be function of time and concentrations of anions such as Cl-, NO3-, SO4(2-) in extraction fluid. Extraction tests were carried out to determine the maximum leachable concentration under the chosen conditions of leaching medium and leaching time. It has been observed that the leaching of As(III) is more than As(v) in all the cases. Leaching of As(III) and As(v) from exhausted CalSiCo is also carried out in rainwater and in tap water. It is observed that leaching of As is more in rainwater than tap water. Further higher leaching is observed in case of fluids containing chloride compared to those containing nitrate and sulphate.


In the present work, the exergy analysis and economic study of 3 different samples of threecomponent mixtures have been investigated (ESI>1, ESI≈1, and ESI<1). The feed mixture has been tested under three different compositions (low, equal, and high contents of the intermediate component). A quantitative comparison between simple and complex configurations, considering thermally coupled, thermodynamically equivalent, and divided-wall column (DWC) has been carried out. The results present that the best sequence could be found by TAC or exergy loss rate analysis. Complex sequences have greater exergy losses in comparison to simple sequences. Despite expectations, the Petlyuk sequence only performs well in a few cases and poorly on others. According to the results, as the amount of intermediate component in the feed increases, both TAC and exergy losses of each sequence increase. The results also demonstrated that the occurrence frequency as the best sequence for DWC, thermodynamically equivalent, thermally coupled, and basic sequences are 36%, 28%, 25%, and 11% respectively. According to authors' best knowledge, a quantitative exergy and cost comparison (based on rigorous simulation and optimization) between these configurations have never been carried out all together before.


We present semiclassical calculations of total cross section for electron capture, vibrational excitation, dissociation and nuclear exchange reactions in H++H2 collisions at energies 5 eV < E < 1 keV. Our results for electron capture agree with close-coupling calculations but not with the recommended data for this system.


Rodent models have been extensively utilized to identify putative human immunotoxicants; however, even when immunotoxicity is established, uncertainty remains whether the effects are predictive of human risk. Therefore, the objective of this study was to establish a polyclonal immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody-forming cell (AFC) response model to directly characterize immunotoxicity in primary mouse or human B cells. CD40 ligand (CD40L) was selected to activate B cells because it effectively drives both primary human and mouse B cells in vitro to AFC in a physiologically relevant manner to mimic T-cell-dependent antibody responses in vivo. In this model, the IgM AFC response is induced by cell surface-expressed CD40L and promoted by recombinant cytokines. Reported here are the conditions required to induce IgM AFC responses using mouse splenic B cells or human peripheral blood B cells, allowing for species comparisons. Moreover, less than one order of magnitude difference was observed in the CD40L-induced B-cell AFC responses based on data from multiple donors. In addition to antibody production, proliferation and phenotypic changes characteristic of B-cell activation as well as the plasma cell phenotype were also significantly induced. Finally, two well-characterized immunotoxicants, arsenic and benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide, using the CD40L-induced IgM AFC response were compared in both mouse and human B cells. Collectively, an IgM AFC response model is described that can be applied to assess the sensitivity of antibody responses to modulation by xenobiotics using mouse as well as human primary B cells.


We investigate the size of the Durbin-Wu-Hausman tests for exogeneity when instrumental variables violate the strict exogeneity assumption. We show that these tests are severely size distorted even for a small correlation between the structural error and instruments. We then propose a bootstrap procedure for correcting their size. The proposed bootstrap procedure does not require identification assumptions and is also valid even for moderate correlations between the structural error and instruments, so it can be described as robust to both weak and invalid instruments.