In this work an integrated model for acoustic evaluation of electric vehicles is introduced. The paper focuses on the force excitation part of the model. The analysis is performed for permanent magnet synchronous machines. The excitation forces are placed on the stator teeth and calculated for a structure dynamic model of the power train. A model for the acoustic emission is adapted and finally the psychoacoustical behavior is characterized at the position of the driver of the e-car. An approach for the design of the rotor pole topology is introduced to ensure a beneficial acoustic behavior under consideration of air gap flux density and related force densities on the stator teeth. The calculation is performed using FEA simulation, but also analytical design methods are considered. Objective of this comparison is a very short computation time and therefore an efficient simulation process. The model is validated by measurements on test benches.


Two different models exhibiting self-organized criticality are analysed by means of the dynamic renormalization group. Although the two models differ by their behaviour under a parity transformation of the order parameter, it is shown that they both belong to the same universality class, in agreement with computer simulations. The asymptotic values of the critical exponents are estimated up to one-loop order from a systematic expansion of a non-linear equation in the number of coupling constants.


Prepaid parking vouchers, known as parking cards, were introduced for on-street parking in the City of Bath in October 1987, the first use of such a system in Great Britain. The Transport and Road Research Laboratory has carried out attitudinal and parking activity surveys both before and after the implementation of the scheme in collaboration with the County of Avon. The surveys covered designated on-street parking places, unrestricted kerb lengths, yellow lines and off-street car parks. The principal findings are: (1) In locations where parking cards applied, the number of parking acts, parking duration and kerbside occupancy were all lower, even though there was an increase in available on-street spaces. (2) Drivers found it easier to find somewhere to park both on-street and in car parks. The average time to find an on-street parking space had almost halved. (3) The proportion of vehicles exceeding the time limit decreased. (4) On yellow lines, occupancy and duration were lower. (5) No change in the total number of parking acts in Bath was detected. (6) In locations where parking cards applied, about a quarter of the parking acts were illegal because a card had not been displayed. The County Council have decided to retain the scheme permanently. (A)


During storage of insulin formulated for therapy, minor amounts of various degradation and covalent di- and polymerization products are formed [1-3]. The main chemical transformation products were isolated from aged preparations and characterized chemically and biologically. The most prominent products formed in neutral medium were identified as a mixture of deamidation products hydrolyzed at residue B3, namely isoAsp B3 and Asp B3 derivatives. A hydrolysis product formed only in crystals of insulin zinc suspensions containing a surplus of zinc ions in the supernatant was identified as an A8-A9 cleavage product. The small amounts of covalent insulin dimers (CID) formed in all formulations were shown to be a heterogenous mixture of 5-6 different CIDs with a composition dependent on the pharmaceutical formulation. The chemical characteristics of the CIDs indicate that they are formed through a transamidation reaction mainly between the B-chain N-terminal and one of the four amide side-chains of the A chain. GlnA15, AsnA18 and, in particular, AsnA21 participate in the formation of such isopeptide links between two insulin molecules. The covalent insulin-protamine products (CIPP) formed during storage of NPH preparations presumably originate from a similar reaction between the protamine N-terminal with an amide in insulin. Covalent polymerization products, mainly formed during storage of amorphously suspended insulin at higher temperature, were shown to be due to disulfide interactions. Biological in vivo potencies relative to native insulin were less than 2% for the split-(A8-A9)-product and for the covalent disulfide exchange polymers, 4% for the CIPP, approximately 15% for the CIDs, whereas the B3 derivatives exhibited full potency. Rabbit immunization experiments revealed that none of the insulin transformation products had significantly increased immunogenicity in rabbits.


Ice-binding proteins (IBPs) belong to a family of stress-induced proteins that are synthesized by certain organisms exposed to subzero temperatures. In plants, freeze damage occurs when extracellular ice crystals grow, resulting in the rupture of plasma membranes and possible cell death. Adsorption of IBPs to ice crystals restricts further growth by a process known as ice-recrystallization inhibition (IRI), thereby reducing cellular damage. IBPs also demonstrate the ability to depress the freezing point of a solution below the equilibrium melting point, a property known as thermal hysteresis (TH) activity. These protective properties have raised interest in the identification of novel IBPs due to their potential use in industrial, medical and agricultural applications. This paper describes the identification of plant IBPs through 1) the induction and extraction of IBPs in plant tissue, 2) the screening of extracts for IRI activity, and 3) the isolation and purification of IBPs. Following the induction of IBPs by low temperature exposure, extracts are tested for IRI activity using a 'splat assay', which allows the observation of ice crystal growth using a standard light microscope. This assay requires a low protein concentration and generates results that are quickly obtained and easily interpreted, providing an initial screen for ice binding activity. IBPs can then be isolated from contaminating proteins by utilizing the property of IBPs to adsorb to ice, through a technique called 'ice-affinity purification'. Using cell lysates collected from plant extracts, an ice hemisphere can be slowly grown on a brass probe. This incorporates IBPs into the crystalline structure of the polycrystalline ice. Requiring no a priori biochemical or structural knowledge of the IBP, this method allows for recovery of active protein. Ice-purified protein fractions can be used for downstream applications including the identification of peptide sequences by mass spectrometry and the biochemical analysis of native proteins.


OBJECTIVES
A survey serves to clarify whether psychotherapists working in inpatient and day treatment psychotherapeutic hospitals feel sufficiently trained as group therapists and what their specific training needs are.

METHODS
The survey queried 175 therapists from different hospitals and professions who perform group psychotherapy in their hospital. The questionnaire focussed on training experiences, everyday group practice, and training needs.

RESULTS
As expected, only some of the therapists had completed training as group therapist. The therapists are faced with a wide variety of group formats and patients in their everyday work and reveal a broad spectrum of training needs.

CONCLUSIONS
The survey, although not entirely representative, indicates general and specific needs of group therapists within psychotherapeutic hospitals and underlines the role of training and therapist experience in reducing uneasiness toward group psychotherapy.


This article expands upon research on the use of Police Liaison Teams (PLTs) within public order policing operations surrounding football fixtures. Using a Participant Action Research approach, the article reports on PLT use across multiple events and locations with different police forces, different personnel and fans and divergent command perspectives, as well as comparative data from PLT and non-PLT events. It identifies how accountability dynamics associated with the classification and management of risk in the policing of football may explain the continued reliance on more coercive policing tactics, as well as a number of other barriers that hinder the development of PLT use at football. Despite this, the article provides evidence that PLTs can offer similar benefits to the policing of football as they do to the policing of protest. In particular, we argue that developing such approaches will make the policing of football more human-rights complaint.


[1] The change in the extratropical circulation under global warming is studied using the climate models participating in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) fourth assessment report. The IPCC models predict a strengthening and a poleward shift of the tropospheric zonal jets in response to global warming. The change in zonal jets is also accompanied by a strengthening and a poleward and upward shift of transient kinetic energy and momentum flux. Similar changes in circulation are simulated by a simple dry general circulation model (GCM) when the height of the tropopause is raised. The similarity between the simple GCM and the IPCC models suggests that the changes in midlatitude circulation are predominantly driven by a rise in the height of the tropopause, and that other factors such as increased moisture content and the change in the low-level pole-to-equator temperature gradient, play a secondary role. In addition, the variability about the ensemble-mean of the zonal wind response is significantly correlated with the variability of the tropopause height response over the polar cap, especially in the Southern Hemisphere.


The objective of this paper was to report the development of precision agriculture for rice
crop production in Taiwan during past five years. Three multi-disciplinary research teams
have been organized for the purposes of developing techniques required for monitoring
growth status and environmental conditions for rice crop; integrating the elements necessary
for fertilization recommendation system and pest management system; and developing
machinery for yield monitoring and mapping system, field-based remote sensing system,
variable-rate pesticide spraying system, and variable-rate fertilizing system. More than fifty
researchers have engaged in the precision agriculture project of US$3.5 millions budget
during past five years.


The struggle for justice is commonly articulated in literature and drama through metaphors of physical encumbrance (cramped, constraining conditions, being entangled and mired) and escape (e.g. to open landscapes and a view of the horizon and sky). What is less well known or observed is that a comparable metaphorical opposition of encumbrance/escape plays an important role in legal language too. This article traces the appearance of this metaphor across some key moments in English criminal law in which injustice is conceptualised metaphorically in terms of being held up, kept down or back, impeded, constrained or contained, and that achieving a just outcome necessitates shaking off the encumbrance and getting free. The article argues that analysis of this metaphor establishes an important intersection between literature and law. Following a discussion of the relevant general themes, the article offers a close reading of a number of appellate judgments on a range of criminal legal issues. Some of these judgments are very well known and concern questions such as how courts should set standards of culpability (e.g. on dishonesty and recklessness) and assess a defendant's responsibility (e.g. the availability of 'excusatory' defences to murder). We seek to throw light on the way that the metaphors of encumbrance and escape work (or in some cases fail to work) in legal language, and thereby to advance understanding of the moral intelligibility, persuasiveness and longer-term prospects of judicial rulings as authorities.


Avians have thrombocytes in their blood circulation rather than mammalian platelets. However, many details of thrombocyte characteristics have not been determined. Here, chicken thrombocytes were isolated, and extracellular vesicle (EV) production was investigated. The thrombocyte-specific markers cd41 and cd61 were expressed in the yolk sac at 24 h. According to the embryonic developmental stage, the cd41-expressing tissues changed from the yolk sac to the bone marrow and spleen. Accordingly, the bone marrow and spleen were the main tissues producing thrombocytes in adult chickens. Avian thrombocytes were separated from adult spleen cells through a combination of discontinuous density gradient centrifugation, phagocytic cell removal, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Isolated thrombocytes produced CD41+ EVs (CD41+ EVs), and the CD41+ EVs also expressed CD9. Microarray analysis revealed that CD41+ EVs contain many microRNAs. Macrophage lines (RAW264.7) phagocytosed CD41+ EVs, and their phagocytosis and migration activity were suppressed. Microarray analysis also revealed that EVs altered gene expression in macrophages. These data indicated that the CD41+ EV was a carrier of microRNAs produced from thrombocytes and affected the cell characteristics of the received cells. Therefore, the CD41+ EVs of avians worked as a communication tool.


Synthesis and preparation of creatinine sensor material by molecularly imprinted method using N,N'-Methylenebisacrylamide (MBAA) and 2-Acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPSA) as precursors, on nylon membrane had been conducted. The precursor i.e. MBAA and AMPSA is used as cross-linker monomer, and functional monomer respectively, with the creatinine as template.  The performance of creatinine sensor material been studied by instrument response (resistance) pattern analysis to concentration of creatinine.  The result of FTIR spectra and SEM photograph, indicated the formation of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) on nylon membrane. Logarithmic pattern is appears as instrument response to concentration change of creatinine. Linear correlation of instrument response and creatinine concentration is observed at concentration ranges 1 to 5 ppm of creatinine. Comparative studies show that performance of nylon coated membrane is better than non-coated membrane. Linearity, limit detection, and limit quantification value of coated membrane is 0.9592; 1.2066 ppm; and 4.0221 ppm respectively. On the other hand for non-coated membrane, linearity, limit detection, and limit quantification value obtainedis 0.8799; 2.1607 ppm and 7.2044 ppm respectively.


One of the criticisms on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) rating scales pertains to the lack of reference to the performance of learners in the construction process of the scales. Therefore, this study attempted to delve into rating scale functioning by English as a Second Language (ESL) learners during self-assessment and peer assessment of their oral proficiency practice. Two objectives guided the study: 1) to gauge the overall rating scale functioning and 2) to measure each criterion scaling structure. Three self- and peer assessments' cycles were conducted in three months. In each cycle, eleven learners recorded their own speech, uploaded their video clips to a private YouTube channel and assessed their own videos as well as selected peers based on five CEFR oral assessment criteria with six levels of ratings (A1-C2). Findings revealed that four of the CEFR levels were utilised (B1-C2). Categories A1 and A2 (basic user level) however, were not observed during the practice. Analysis from the Many-Facet Rasch Measurement (MFRM) indicated that utilised categories seemed to function usefully since each category observed was advancing by more than 1.4 logits. Category B2 dominated four criteria of ratings awarded while B1 dominated the rating distribution for fluency. The implications of this study will be discussed in relation to rating scale development, specifically on matching learners' proficiency to the psychometrically developed rating criteria as well as illustrating assessment as learning approach in the ESL classroom where learners become the key assessors for their own performance.


Reaction of the dimers [(Cp*MCl)2(μ-Cl)2] (Cp* = η5-C5Me5) with Ph2PCH2CH2NC(NH(p-Tolyl))2 (H2L) in the presence of NaSbF6 affords the chlorido complexes [Cp*MCl(κ2N,P-H2L)][SbF6] (M = Rh, 1; Ir, 2). Upon treatment with aqueous NaOH, solutions of 1 and 2 yield the corresponding complexes [Cp*M(κ3N,N′,P-HL)][SbF6] (M = Rh, 3; Ir, 4) in which the ligand HL presents a fac κ3N,N′,P coordination mode. Treatment of THF solutions of complexes 3 and 4 with hydrogen gas, at room temperature, results in the formation of the metal hydrido-complexes [Cp*MH(κ2N,P-H2L)][SbF6] (M = Rh, 5; Ir, 6) in which the N(p-Tolyl) group has been protonated. Complexes 3 and 4 react with deuterated water in a reversible fashion resulting in the gradual deuteration of the Cp* group. Heating at 383 K THF/H2O solutions of the complexes 3 and 4 affords the orthometalated complexes [Cp*M(κ3C,N,P-H2L-H)][SbF6] [M = Rh, 7; Ir, 8, H2L-H = Ph2PCH2CH2NC(NH(p-Tolyl))(NH(4-C6H3Me))], respectively. At 333 K, complexes 3 and 4 react in THF with methanol, primary alcohols, or 2-propanol giving the metal-hydrido complexes 5 and 6, respectively. The reaction involves the acceptorless dehydrogenation of the alcohols at a relatively low temperature, without the assistance of an external base. The new complexes have been characterized by the usual analytical and spectroscopic methods including the X-ray diffraction determination of the crystal structures of complexes 1–5, 7, and 8. Notably, the chlorido complexes 1 and 2 crystallize both as enantiopure conglomerates and as racemates. Reaction mechanisms are proposed based on stoichiometric reactions, nuclear magnetic resonance studies, and X-ray crystallography as well as density functional theory calculations.


Interstitial cystitis (IC) is still considered a rare disease, but in the future its incidence will probably be revised if tendency is that of considering interstitial cystitis on the basis of clinical rather than endoscopic-histological criteria. According to some urologists, cystodistension and vesical biopsy, even if not pathognomonic, are still effective up till now, at least for their prognostic-therapeutic value as well. If on one hand in the diagnosis of this condition symptoms tend to be of more and more value unlike instrumental investigations, on the other hand little has changed in therapy.


—Fault detection involves the detection, location, and identification of faults. Three types of unbalances (mechanical, hydraulic and magnetic) can occur in hydrogenerators. There are two main reasons for the existence of magnetic unbalance: shorted turns in the windings of the rotor poles and geometric asymmetry of the air gap. In this study, the authors propose a novel fuzzy measurement algorithm for fault detection in the hydrogenerator. The proposed algorithm has been developed with aim to detect the presence and cause of the magnetic unbalance and vibrations of the hydrogenerator. The study is based on fuzzy theory and three measurement methods for measuring inner and outer magnetic fluxes and measuring mechanical vibrations. The fuzzy algorithm has to ensure, in situ and real time, magnetic and vibration monitoring and fault detection and as such it is suitable for implementation in on-line and real time monitoring systems. The main benefit of the proposed solution lies in the support for the optimal decision making regarding the predictive maintenance.


We consider the pulse design problem in multicarrier transmission where the pulse shapes are adapted to the second order statistics of the WSSUS channel. Even though the problem has been addressed by many authors analytical insights are rather limited. First we show that the problem is equivalent to the pure state channel fidelity in quantum information theory. Next we present a new approach where the original optimization functional is related to an eigenvalue problem for a pseudo differential operator by utilizing unitary representations of the Weyl-Heisenberg group. A local approximation of the operator for underspread channels is derived which implicitly covers the concepts of pulse scaling and optimal phase space displacement. The problem is reformulated as a differential equation and the optimal pulses occur as eigenstates of the harmonic oscillator Hamiltonian. Furthermore this operator-algebraic approach is extended to provide exact solutions for different classes of scattering environments


We recorded MEG responses from 17 participants viewing random-dot patterns simulating global optic flow components (expansion, contraction, rotation, deformation, and translation) and a random motion control condition. Theta-band (3-7 Hz), MEG signal power was greater for expansion than the other optic flow components in a region concentrated along the calcarine sulcus, indicating an ecologically valid, foveo-fugal bias for unidirectional motion sensors in V1. When the responses to the optic flow components were combined, a decrease in MEG beta-band (17-23 Hz) power was found in regions extending beyond the calcarine sulcus to the posterior parietal lobe (inferior to IPS), indicating the importance of structured motion in this region. However, only one cortical area, within or near the V5/hMT+ complex, responded to all three spiral-space components (expansion, contraction, and rotation) and showed no selectivity for global translation or deformation: we term this area hMSTs. This is the first demonstration of an exclusive region for spiral space in the human brain and suggests a functional role better suited to preliminary analysis of ego-motion than surface pose, which would involve deformation. We also observed that the rotation condition activated the cerebellum, suggesting its involvement in visually mediated control of postural adjustment.


Satisfaction is a most important factor among staff at public educational organizations. Job satisfaction is located as an inner principle feeling that is created by various elements at work environment. Due to the role of various items on job satisfaction, educational organizations should be conscious of right leadership styles. Because lack of attention to this organizational behavior lead to multiple abnormal reactions between staff. This paper presents a literature review to identify the essential role of leadership styles on job satisfaction among staff at public educational organizations. Substantial attention should be dedicated to the precise leadership style at an organization. In the same way, specific leadership styles as external factors have an important role on job satisfaction at public educational organization because these styles can improve the commitment of staff toward organizations. This initiative is about enhancing satisfaction among staff and finding an effective style which is one of the main parts of educational organization improvement.


This paper considers the stochastic linear quadratic optimal control problem in which the control domain is nonconvex. By the functional analysis and convex perturbation methods, we establish a novel maximum principle. The application of the proposed maximum principle is illustrated through a work-out example.


Growing numbers of trans people require access to mental health services; however, previous research suggests that many trans clients have negative experiences with mental health professionals. This paper reports on an Australian survey of 304 counsellors, mental health nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers with regard to their clinical knowledge, comfort and confidence in working with trans clients. The findings suggest that training and previous experience in working with trans clients are related to increased levels of accurate clinical knowledge and confidence; that psychiatrists had the lowest levels of accurate knowledge; that female participants had higher levels of accurate knowledge than did male participants; that counsellors had the highest levels of confidence and that there was a negative relationship between religiosity and comfort in working with trans clients. The paper concludes by advocating for the development of more nuanced measures to assess the attitudes and skillsets of mental health professionals in regards to working with trans clients and the need for further upskilling of the Australian mental health workforce.


The effect of consumer protection on firms' strategy choices in a market with perfect competition is examined in a simple model. It is found that consumer protection may lead to reduced product quality and adverse effects on firm survival.


Abstract In July 2001, a few years after my first encounter with the intersection of criminal law and international law at the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and for Rwanda (ICTR), I asked the following question at a lecture at Melbourne University: While the political will to pursue war criminals was first lacking, is there, as some seem to fear, a danger that it will become relentless? If so, what effect will that have on the integrity of the complex aspirations and methodologies of criminal law as an instrument of social control in a democracy? After 11 September of the same year, the question acquired added acuity as I assumed that it would be not just war criminals but also international terrorists that the criminal law framework, domestic and international, would now be pursuing. I obviously was gravely mistaken in my concerns. The pursuit of terrorist suspects seems to have little to do with criminal or international law as we know it. Hence the real questions: What is it then about? Under what legal framework, if any, does it purport to operate and who is accountable to whom?


Epidemics of a permanent, non-progressive spastic paraparesis with sudden onset hasbeen reported from several rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Studies in East Africasuggested an association with dietary cyanide intake from unprocessed cassava. InZaire the disease was attributed to an infectious cause as the cyanogenic glucosides inthe cassava consumed were known to be removed by traditional soaking. The aims ofthe thesis were to define the disease entity and elucidate its etiology. A communitybasedsurvey in rural Zaire identified 110 live and 24 dead cases among 6764inhabitants (16/1000). The clinical findings were identical to earlier studies and it wasdecided to name the disease konzo as in the first known report. Annual and monthlyincidence of konzo was associated with almost exclusive consumption of shortsoakedbitter cassava roots. The appearence of konzo coincided with the completionof a tarmac road from the capital, which turned cassava into the main cash crop, andinduced short-cuts in the processing. A processing experiment showed that flour fromshort-soaked roots was high in cyanogens. A higher cyanide intake in affectedcompared to un-affected populations was confirmed by much higher urinarythiocyanate levels, the main metabolite. A low urinary sulphate indicated lowavailability of sulphur, the substrate for detoxification. All three konzo patientsexamined at onset had blood cyanide levels above 4 Ilmolll, versus only 2 out of 23controls (p<O.Ol). This supports an etiological role for cyanide. An odds ratio of 11was found for short-soaking of cassava, in a multivariate logistic regression analysis ofa case referent study in Zaire, with a dose-response curve indicating higher risk ofkonzo with frequent consumption of short-soaked cassava. Serological investigationsof 33 cases in Zaire excluded retrovirus etiology for konzo. Konzo was also identifiedin low prevalence in the Central African Republic, again associated with consumptionof insufficiently processed cassava. Investigation in Sweden of two severely disabledTanzanian patients revealed normal magnetic resonance imaging but neurophysiologyshowed isolated upper motor neuron dysfunction. This is consistent with clinicalfindings and identifies konzo as a distinct disease entity. The evidence for anetiological role of high cyanide and low sulphur intake in konzo is now strongenough to urge for prevention by promotion of efficient processing of cassava roots.


A new class of CMOS VLSI asynchronous sequential circuits utilizing pass transistors is introduced. This class of self synchronizing circuits eliminates the need for critical race free state assignments. These circuits synchronize the transition path action by forcing the circuit to sequence through proper unstable states. >


We find that the normal muon polarization in the decay K->mu nu_mu gamma is very sensitive to the values of the kaon vector F_V and axial-vector F_A form factors. It is shown that the ongoing KEK-E246 experiment can definitely determine the signs of the sum of the form factors if their difference is fixed from other considerations. This method can also verify the form factor values and signs obtained from the K^+ -> l^+ nu_l e^+ e^- decays. A new experiment with sensitivity to the normal and transverse muon polarizations of about 10^-4 will provide a unique possibility to determine the F_V and F_A values with a few percent accuracy.


In Monte-Carlo simulations of gamma-ray or cosmic-ray detector arrays on the ground (here mainly arrays of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes), the atmosphere enters in several ways: in the development of the particle showers, in the emission of light by shower particles, and in the propagation of Cherenkov light (or fluorescence light or of particles) down to ground level. Relevant parameters and their typical impact on energy scale and so on are discussed here.


Background &Aim:Hepatitis B infection is a worldwide health problem. Egypt classified as an area of intermediate endemicity. Hepatitis B has high materno-fetal transmission. The aim of this study was to assess hepatitis B virus infection in Egyptian pregnant females in Nile Delta as regards risk factors and magnitude of the problem.Methods:This cross sectional study was performed on 1948 pregnant females. Historical and sociodemographic data were collected through short simple questionnaire. They were screened for hepatitis B surface antigens. Positive ones were subjected to test hepatitis B e antigen and viral load by real time polymerase chain reaction.Results: Thirty patients (1.54%) were hepatitis B surface antigen positive. Only two of them (6.67%) were hepatitis B e antigen positive with high viral load. Others were hepatitis B e antigen negative and low viral load. Family history of hepatitis B, occupation, age more than 27 years, and history of surgical or dental procedures were significant risk factors associated with hepatitis B acquisition.Conclusion: Screening for hepatitis B is important as a part of antenatal care mainly in the presence of risk factors to follow up mother, and protect fetus so as to prevent wide spread of hepatitis B in Egypt.


Presents an MPI (Message Passing Interface) implementation of a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation using force decomposition as a parallelization strategy. In contrast to atom decomposition and spatial decomposition techniques, this method affords ease of load balancing and performs well for an intermediate number of atoms, even for irregular geometries. The interactions between the atoms are calculated in a separate module. Periodic boundary conditions are used to simulate an infinitely replicated confined region in space. The main thrust of our research efforts is currently directed towards in situ visualization of the MD simulations. This is accomplished using simple X-Windows calls available through the MPE (MPI Extensions) extension to the MPI routines. Our implementation using MPI with MPE graphics makes the algorithm portable. The code has been tested on a range of platforms, including clusters of workstations as well as the the IBM SP2 at the Maul High-Performance Supercomputing Center (MHPCC) and the IBM SP1 at the Albuquerque Resource Center of the University of New Mexico. We have also adapted our code to interact with a high-end graphics computer (SGI Onyx) using the OpenGL graphics library, which allows for real-time manipulation of 3D objects. The communication between the MD simulation and the graphics renderer was achieved with the use of sockets. The use of sockets allows the parallel MD simulation to run independently of the application used for graphics rendering.


: In this paper, initially in this paper some design modification is required for using hydrogen as a fuel in existing four stroke gasoline engine that has been discussed. Combustive properties of hydrogen fuel have been discussed. After that the performance and emission characteristics of a conventional fourcylinder spark ignition (SI) engine operated on hydrogen and gasoline has been reviewed. The variations of torque, power, brake thermal efficiency, brake mean effective pressure, exhaust gas temperature, and emissions of NOx, CO, CO2, HC, and O2 versus engine speed are compared for a carbureted SI engine operating on gasoline and hydrogen.


Phosphite derivatives are well known as cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI)-forming additives for greatly enhancing the performance of cathode materials for use in high-voltage Li-ion batteries. Our computational screening suggests four phosphite molecules as promising candidates for effective CEI-forming electrolyte additives on the basis of density functional theory (DFT)-based calculations of their redox potentials and chemical reactivities with a hydrogen fluoride (HF) molecule. Our computational screening protocol provides a fast and inexpensive method for the development of novel CEI-forming electrolyte additives for use in high-voltage Li-ion batteries.


BACKGROUND
The rat sciatic nerve crush injury model is one of the most commonly used models to research peripheral nerve injury (PNI), however, the evaluation of the model preparation lacks exact standards. This study aimed to investigate accurately assessment methods for research concerning the rat sciatic nerve crush injury.

METHODS
The sciatic nerve crush injury model of was performed using the FST toothless forceps. The corresponding locations and pressures of different ratchet strengths were assessed by using CMAP, behavioral, and morphological methods.

RESULTS
In each group of PNI, motor and sensory functions were gradually restricted on the injured side of rats as the applied pressure increased. CMAP was more sensitive to nerve injury arising out of the force values obtained from the forceps.

CONCLUSIONS
As a sensitive indicator for PNI, the neuroelectrophysiological examination was more likely to reflect the morphological changes of injured nerves. These findings may provide a standardized approach to sciatic crush injury modelling.


X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), surface area measurements, and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy were used to examine the surface properties of organosilane-modified smectite-type aluminosilicate clays. Organic modified clays derived from the reactions of montmorillonite (containing 93–95% montmorillonite from a bentonite, <1% quartz, and 4–6% opal CT) with octadecyltrichlorosilane (C18H37SiCl3) and octadecyltrimethoxysilane [C18H37Si(OMe)3] are highly hydrophobic. Surface loadings of the modified clays depend on the organosilane and the solvent, and they range from 10 to 25 wt. %. The organic species are probably adsorbed to the outer surfaces and bound to the edges of the clay via condensation with edge-OH groups. Encapsulation of montmorillonite with C18H37SiCl3 and C18H37Si(OMe)3 resulted in a hydrophobic coating that acts like a "cage" around the clay particles to limit diffusion. Basal spacings of the organic modified clays remain at ∼15 Å upon heating to 400°C in N2, whereas those of unmodified clays collapse to ∼10 Å. A considerable reduction in surface area (by 75–90%) for organic modified clays is observed, which is consistent with the existence of a surface coating. The solvent used can affect the amount of organic silane coated on the clay particles, whereas the difference between the products prepared using C18H37SiCl3 and C18H37Si(OMe)3 in the same solvent is relatively small. The carbon and oxygen K-edge NEXAFS spectroscopy of the modified montmorillonite surfaces showed that surface coatings on the outside of the clay particles exist. The encapsulating system may allow for economical remediation and storage of hazardous materials.


Is "be yourself" always the best advice? We suggest that interpersonal consequences of behaving authentically depend on the extent to which individuals identify with the social environment where they behave authentically. Bridging the research on authenticity, social identity, and conflict, we propose that for high identifiers, authentic behavior reveals how similar they are to others, thereby reducing dyadic relationship conflict. When social identification is low, behaving authentically increases the salience of how different the individual is from others, increasing relationship conflict. In a multi-source time-lag sample of professional work teams (Study 1), we found that authentic behavior indeed reduced relationship conflict and enhanced task performance for high identifiers, but had an inverse, detrimental effect for low identifiers. In a sample of student teams (Study 2), we only found an attenuating effect of authentic behavior on relationship conflict for high identifiers, and no effect for low identifiers. These results suggest that the advice "to be yourself" applies in educational contexts involving younger adults, but has to be prescribed with care in professional work contexts. Our findings emphasize the importance of social context for the consequences of authentic behavior, and call for more research on the contextual effects of authenticity.


Prostate cancer is the most frequent non-cutaneous malignancy in men. There is strong evidence in rodents that neonatal estrogen exposure plays a role in the development of this disease. However, there is little information regarding the effects of estrogen in human fetal prostate tissue. This study explored early life estrogen exposure, with and without a secondary estrogen and testosterone treatment in a human fetal prostate xenograft model. Histopathological lesions, proliferation, and serum hormone levels were evaluated at 7, 30, 90, and 200-day time-points after xenografting. The expression of 40 key genes involved in prostatic glandular and stromal growth, cell-cycle progression, apoptosis, hormone receptors and tumor suppressors was evaluated using a custom PCR array. Epigenome-wide analysis of DNA methylation was performed on whole tissue, and laser capture-microdissection (LCM) isolated epithelial and stromal compartments of 200-day prostate xenografts. Combined initial plus secondary estrogenic exposures had the most severe tissue changes as revealed by the presence of hyperplastic glands at day 200. Gene expression changes corresponded with the cellular events in the KEGG prostate cancer pathway, indicating that initial plus secondary exposure to estrogen altered the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, ultimately resulting in apoptosis inhibition and an increase in cell cycle progression. DNA methylation revealed that differentially methylated CpG sites significantly predominate in the stromal compartment as a result of estrogen-treatment, thereby providing new targets for future investigation. By using human fetal prostate tissue and eliminating the need for species extrapolation, this study provides novel insights into the gene expression and epigenetic effects related to prostate carcinogenesis following early life estrogen exposure.


This paper addresses one of the fundamental issues faced by offices in the transacting of withprofits business, namely the provision of equity-related performance along with maturity guarantees that increase over the lifetime of the policy. The approach commonly followed of using capital to cover the office's investment mismatch risk is considered from an individual policy viewpoint, and, through stochastic modelling, the degree of security represented by different reserve levels identified. An alternative approach using derivatives to provide similar levels of security is then presented and the range of policy proceeds resulting from the two methods compared. While it is recognised that the latter approach may have limited application in practice, the ideas presented could form the basis of a new approach to pricing guarantees under with-profits business that would be consistent with the pricing of current derivative-backed guaranteed products.


ABSTRACT: Fluoride pharmacokinetic data are presented for infants given a fluoride supplement. Seventeen infants participated in a total of 20 studies. On one day, 0.013 mmol (0.25 mg) fluoride was given as a supplement (fluoride supplement study), and on another day a placebo was given (control study). Samples of plasma and urine were collected for 5 h and analyzed for fluoride. During control studies fluoride intake averaged 0.15 μmol/kg (2.9 Mg/kg), and plasma fluoride concentrations ranged from 0.05 to 0.11 μmol/L (10 to 20 μg/L). In nine instances, the quantity of fluoride excreted in the urine was more than twice that consumed. When the fluoride supplement was given, total fluoride intake averaged 1.93 μmol/kg (36.6 μg/kg). Plasma peak concentration was reached by 30 min in 14 studies and by 60 min in six studies. Mean plasma peak fluoride concentration was 3.3 μmol/L (63 ng/mL). Area under the plasma concentration curve averaged 236 nmol · m−1min (4479 ng · mL−1 · min) and was not related to the dose of fluoride. The rate of urinary excretion was significantly correlated with rate of urinary flow. When the dose of fluoride was expressed per unit of body weight, fluoride retention was strongly related to the dose. Retention of the fluoride absorbed from the fluoride dose ranged from 75.4 to 87.6%. Plasma clearance averaged 6.8 mL · kg−1 · min−1 and decreased significantly with age. Net fractional clearance (renal clearance of the fluoride dose/GFR) averaged 56.7%, which was significantly greater than the 29% observed during the control studies. The greater percentage retention of fluoride by infants than by adults is probably explained by a greater capacity of the infant to deposit fluoride in hard tissues.


The biodegradable polyaspartic acid(PASP) is a type of environmentally friendly scale inhibitor for water treatment. In order to improve the scale and corrosion inhibition effect of PASP, some modification methods such as introducing hydroxyl group, sulfonyl group, carboxyl group, and copolymerization with glutamic acid were reported. The biodegradability of PASP and the morphology and size of scale crystal are affected by the modification methods, which lead to different scale and corrosion inhibition ability. Therefore, special modification method should be developed for a particular water sample based on the mechnism of scale inhibition.


Abstract Objective and importance Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia (CDA) represents a genotypically and phenotypically heterogeneous group of disorders. CDA type II, the most frequent variant, was recently shown to be caused by mutations in the gene encoding the secretory COPII component SEC23B. We report two siblings hailing from Punjab in northern India with classical CDA type II where this mutation was demonstrated. Clinical presentation A 7-year-old girl presented with transfusion-dependent anemia, splenomegaly, and progressive growth failure since 1 year of age. Her 5-year-old brother was similarly afflicted, but there was no other family history. Extensive prior work-up for hemolytic anemia, storage and metabolic disorders, and infectious diseases was negative. Hemoglobin was 71 g/l with normal leukocyte, platelet, and corrected reticulocyte counts. Bone marrow examination revealed marked normoblastic erythroid hyperplasia with dyserythropoiesis (36%) and the presence of bi- and multinucleated erythroblasts with equal-sized nuclei. Many pseudo-Gaucher cells were also seen. Iron stores were increased although ring sideroblasts were absent. Hereditary erythrocyte multinuclearity with positive acidified serum (HEMPAS) test revealed lysis of the red cells in four out of five control sera. Technique Genomic DNA sequencing of the SEC23B exon 12 revealed homozygosity for c.1385 A → G; Y462C mutations in both siblings. Conclusion CDA has traditionally been a difficult diagnosis to establish, since it requires exclusion of other causes of dyserythropoiesis and the performance of complex tests including HEMPAS and electron microscopy for confirmation. The availability of molecular genetic testing for SEC23B promises to streamline and hasten the diagnostic process for this rare and intriguing disease.


Site-specific ultraviolet "point welding" makes designed DNA objects much more durable. Bottom-up fabrication of custom nanostructures using the methods of DNA nanotechnology has great potential for applications in many areas of science and technology. One obstacle to applications concerns the constrained environmental conditions at which DNA objects retain their structure. We present a general, site-selective, and scalable method for creating additional covalent bonds that increase the structural stability of DNA nanostructures. Placement of thymidines in close proximity within DNA nanostructures allows the rational creation of sites for covalent cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) bonds induced via ultraviolet irradiation. The additional covalent bonds may be used in a sequence-programmable fashion to link free strand termini, to bridge strand breaks at crossover sites, and to create additional interhelical connections. Thus designed multilayer DNA origami objects can remain stable at temperatures up to 90°C and in pure double-distilled water with no additional cations present. In addition, these objects show enhanced resistance against nuclease activity. Cryo–electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structural analysis of non–cross-linked and cross-linked objects indicated that the global shape and the internal network of crossovers are preserved after irradiation. A cryo-EM map of a CPD-stabilized multilayer DNA origami object determined at physiological ionic strength reveals a substantial swelling behavior, presumably caused by repulsive electrostatic forces that, without covalent stabilization, would cause disassembly at low ionic strength. Our method opens new avenues for applications of DNA nanostructures in a wider range of conditions.


The aim of this study is to evaluate The effect of aqueous extracts of Allium porrum leafs on Reproductive system in female albino rats. This study was conducted in laboratories of physiology and chemistry which belong to the College of Veterinary Medicine / University of kufa and laboratory of physiology of Faculty of Dentistry / University of kufa for period from 17/12/2013 to 25/11/2013 .It was used female white rats giving deferent dosages with deferent concentration (400,800) mg/kg for 20 days. It shows significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.05) In the weights of ovaries of white female rats for both concentrations (400,800) mg/kg and the concentration 800 mg/kg is the more significant in reducing the weights of the ovaries comparing with control group . It also shows significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in the weights of uterus for both concentrations 400,800 mg/kg and the concentration 800 mg/kg is the more significant in increasing the weights of the uterus comparing with control group. The histological study showed significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in the number of the primary , secondary follicle and graffian follicle after dosing for both concentrations and duration , the reveals significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in the thickness of endothelium of the uterus in the female white rats after dosing for treatment by this was 800 mg/kg for period of 20 days compared with the control group. In short , the aqueous of leek extract acts as anti- fertility in white female rats through its negative effects on the genitals ovaries and uterus, Effect of aqueous of leek extract for two concentration on the weight of ovaries and uterus , Also effect in the numbers of primary , secondary and graffian follicles and the effect of aqueous of leek extract in the thickness of endometrium and myometrium.


In this paper, a non-contact dynamic displacement measurement method based on video motion detection (VMD) technique and a structural modal identification technique based on the principal component analysis (PCA) is proposed for vibration tests and modal identification of frame structures. Relying on the instant digitized image acquiring using a digital video recorder and image processing based on the close-range photogrammetry theory, the dynamic deformation of a structure can be measured. The PCA is then employed to decompose the correlated structural deformation measurements into statistically uncorrelated ones. Under the condition of small damping, these uncorrelated data can be shown to be related to modal responses and can be used to estimate the modal parameters of a structure. To demo the process and validate its accuracy, a dynamic test on a scaled frame structure is conducted in the lab. Dynamic responses at given target point were obtained and structural modal parameters were estimated. Compared with the modal parameters obtained from the eigenvalue analysis of a FEM model, the proposed method is of enough precision for vibration tests and modal identification of frame structures.


A new analysis shows that most (59 %) plate boundaries have a relative velocity vector that is markedly oblique (greater than 22°) to the boundary normal. A significant proportion (14% ) have vectors that are nearly ( ± 22°) parallel to the boundary. Accommodation of the oblique motion usually involves strike-slip faulting, but the kinematic role of these faults differs at divergent and convergent boundaries. Four main types of plate-boundary related strike-slip faults are distinguished: ridge transforms, boundary transforms, trench-linked strike-slip faults and indent-linked strike-slip faults. Discrimination of the four types should be possible in ancient orogenic belts, but is complicated by the common reactivation of the strike-slip zones in other roles. Plate-boundary related strike-slip faults form major lineaments at the present day. Ridge transforms have a low preservation potential in continents. Boundary transforms and indent-linked faults often re-use old lineaments, but trench-linked strike-slip faulting is an effective method of forming new lineaments in continental crust. Strike-slip faulting in general is less commonly recognized in ancient orogenic belts than its abundance in present plate-boundary orogens requires. This under-recognition results both from poor understanding of strike-slip kinematics and from deeper prejudices about the way in which orogenic belts form.


Concern about the effects of deinstitutionalization has generally related to the plight of former mental patients rather than to that of patients' families. In examining whether schizophrenic clients attending a community mental health center were burdensome to their families, this study focused on the perceptions of clients' significant others and concluded that burden and social supports might be related in important ways.


This report provides an introduction to the approach to child care known as social pedagogy and an evaluation of a social pedagogy training programme delivered to a group of child care staff employed in Sycamore Services. It is a 1st stage evaluation which gathers information from participants during the training programme and over the first few months following the training. This was a pilot programme and the Sycamore Services management have decided that the programme will be run again, and will eventually be offered to all staff. A further evaluation will be carried out in order to identify benefit and impact one year on from the end of the pilot.


Care at home is central to promoting the well-being of some of the most vulnerable members of our communities in Wales. Fundamental to the future of care at home is a high-quality social care workforce. With this in mind, in Autumn 2008 the Care Council for Wales commissioned an 18-month study to examine the care at home workforce — and what is needed to make it fit for the increasing demands of providing care at home in the future. The study was undertaken by researchers from the Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care, the University of Glamorgan, Insight Social Research and the Management Standards Consultancy, and resulted in a report 'Care at home: challenges, possibilities and implications for the workforce in Wales' published by the Care Council in May 2010. This paper describes the drivers for the study, the findings and recommendations, and the crucial next steps.


The use of continuous cold chain monitoring technology that transmits real-time data during the entire cold storage and distribution process is becoming increasingly popular in the fruit industry, particularly because it enables retailers to implement 'first expired first out' (FEFO) management, potentially saving millions of rands annually.


The article will identify and analyse the signifi cance of creativity and innovation as essential aspects of innovative leadership in the public sector. Innovation denotes the synthesis of different leadership styles that infl uence employees to produce creative ideas, products, services and solutions. In this process the role of the innovative leader and his/her creative planning and initiatives is indispensable as he/she shapes the nature and success of creative efforts within the organisation. The article posits that innovation has some similarities with creativity, a concept that denotes a new synthesis of ideas that might or not be put in practice. Innovation leadership is quite a complex concept that denotes the strategic and visionary role of the leader in shaping organisational roles and different modes of planning, design, decision-making, implementation, assessment and monitoring of outputs that aspire to be innovative both in theory and practice. Innovation leadership's connection to creativity is directly related in many ways to organisational encouragement that allows strategic tactical and organisational renewal based on well-thought plans that permeate the whole spectrum of the organisation. The article further pinpoints the signifi cance for an innovative leader to guide a public organisation in shaping, adjusting strategies and tactics against corruption at all operational levels.


In this paper, a systematic synthesis approach is proposed for achieving negative group delay responses using lossy coupling matrix. It is mathematically proved that, for a passive and reciprocal network, loss is the necessary condition to realize a negative group delay. Also, the optimum strategy is to place zeros and poles of the transfer function on the left complex plane. A closed-form relation between the group delay and magnitude is then derived based on this strategy, and followed by a complete synthesis approach using coupling matrix. Two numerical and one experimental examples are finally given to illustrate the proposed synthesis method.


MiraMap is a social innovation project of the DAD Department of Turin Polytechnic, which works on a digital collaborative platform to favour communication, participation and interaction between citizens and administration. MiraMap combines online and offline activities and consists in a geo-referenced interactive map, used by the public to report problems and make suggestions with regard to public space, and in a back-office system available to technical-administrative staff to manage the information supplied by users. This strengthens the role of active participation by the public and of governance of the area by the PA (public administration), which becomes a subject capable of managing different types of contribution with a view to co-design and co-production of services.


It has recently been observed in numerical simulations that the phases of two coupled nonlinear oscillators can become locked into an irrational ratio, exhibiting the phenomenon of irrational phase synchronization (IPS) [Phys. Rev. E 69, 056228 (2004)]. Here, using two coupled nonidentical periodic mechanical metronomes, we revisit this interesting phenomenon through experimental studies. It is demonstrated that under suitable couplings, the phases of the metronomes indeed can become locked into irrational ratios. Numerical simulations confirm the experimental observations and also reveal that in the IPS state, the system dynamics are chaotic. Our studies provide a solid step toward further studies of IPS.


In our previous study, SET was identified as one of the differentially expressed             proteins that was associated with tetra-arsenic tetra-sulfide (As4S4)-induced             NB4-R1 [retinoic acid-resistant acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell line]             apoptosis. However, the mechanism through which SET regulates pathways during             this process remains unclear. The aim of this study was to construct lentivirus-mediated             short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against SET and investigate the effect of SET on As4S4-induced             retinoic acid-resistant APL cell apoptosis. In the present study, 4 different             oligonucleotides targeting the human SET gene were synthesized and cloned into             the eukaryotic expression plasmid pGCSIL-GFP. The recombinant vectors were introduced             into NB4-R1 cells. The silencing efficiency was measured by real-time quantitative             PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. Our results showed that the 4 recombinant             RNA interference (RNAi) vectors were constructed successfully. Fluorescence microscopy             demonstrated that infection efficiency ranged from 70 to 90%. Infection with the             4 different RNAi vectors significantly knocked down the expression of SET by 52.8,             69.1, 48.9 and 90.3% at the mRNA level, and 92.5, 96.3, 91.7 and 98.4% at the             protein level, respectively. We attempt to clarify the mechanism of As4S4 treatment             on retinoic acid-resistant APL.


Tobacco use, particularly cigarette smoking, is a major cause of preventable disease and premature death worldwide. Both smokers and nonsmokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke are at risk. Cessation of smoking reduces risks. Although the addicting properties of nicotine can make cessation difficult, both medical interventions aimed at helping smokers quit and social policies aimed at control of cigarette smoking can have significant benefits. Physicians should play an active role in control of smoking by ensuring that counselling and pharmacological therapy must be available for the individual smoker. Physicians should also participate in the public debate regarding smoking both individually and through medical organizations. As smoking represents a threat to the public health, physicians must take a strong and active role seeking its control.


The in uence diagram is a probabilistic model for presenting decision problems as a directed graph. In this study, the dynamic in uence diagram and the interactive dynamic in uence diagram are used to model the three parties to service innovation: customers, suppliers, and service enterprises. The models analyze the decisions of these di erent parties and describe the process by which service enterprises should consider their own innovation conditions as well as those of the other parties, that is, customers and suppliers. Moreover, during the process of service innovation, service enterprises should be in constant communication with customers and suppliers. After the customers and suppliers respond, service enterprises can modify their innovation decision-making, and improve service innovation quality and income.


The solution of the problem in the title is reduced to an analysis of the question of the number of and stability of equilibrium states of the quasi-normal form of the boundary-value problem under consideration. A mechanism is revealed for the origin of its so-called simple equilibrium states. It is shown that as the coefficient of elasticity decreases, the number of such states increases, and that those of them with the most complex spatial structure are stable.


The scientific user's computing demands are becoming increasingly complex and can benefit from distributed resources, but effectively marshalling these distributed systems often introduces new challenges. The authors describe how researchers can exploit existing distributed grid infrastructure to get meaningful scientific results.


A rare, benign congenital lymphangioma has been reported to occur frequently in the neck and axilla, but rarely in the retroperitoneal space. We report a case of a retroperitoneal lymphangioma associated with hypoproteinemia caused by protein-loss into the tumor. In this case, lymphoscintigraphy with subcutaneously injected Tc-99m-human serum albumin (HSA) disclosed the communication between the tumor and the lymphatic system, and sequential abdominal scintigraphy with intravenously injected Tc-99m-HSA revealed the protein loss into the tumor. Abdominal scintigraphy with Tc-99m-HSA injected intravenously or subcutaneously is occasionally useful for determining the etiology of hypoproteinemia.


A pregnant woman of 24 weeks' gestation underwent ultrasound examination for fetal anomaly screening. The ultrasound findings revealed a single fetus with biparietal diameter of 61 mm, which was consistent with menstrual dates. The thoracic cage was small compared to the abdomen with hypoplastic scapulae and normally ossified unfractured ribs. All bony structures demonstrated normal echogenicity. The upper long bones were normal length and shape. Both femurs and tibiae were obviously bowed anteriorly, and slightly shortened. Bilateral talipes equinovarus were clearly demonstrated. A prenatal diagnosis of campomelic dysplasia was made and was confirmed by postnatal radiography and autopsy. The sonographic diagnosis in this case was based on the findings of small thorax, hypoplastic scapulae and bowed tibiae and femurs. Copyright © 2000 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology


Full skeletal survey was performed on 193 consecutive children presenting over a 6-year period with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). A record was made of the degree of bone pain in these patients and 60 others presenting immediately prior to the availability of skeletal surveys. Bone pain was present in 76 out of 253 patients (30%) and radiological bone changes characteristic of leukaemia in 125 out of 193 (65%). A significant correlation was found between the severity of bone pain and the number of bones involved on X ray (r = 0.25, P = less than 0.001), but not between initial white cell counts and bone score (r = -0.14, P = 0.08). There was no significant correlation between the degree of bone pain and survival or length of first remission (P = 0.29 and 0.86). Similarly, the extent of radiological bone disease was of no prognostic significance with relation to survival (P = 0.41) or length of first remission (P = 0.21).


SUMMARY This study examined the effects of orally given grape seed extract (GSE) on healing of surgically induced full thickness skin wounds in terms of clinical, histopathological and biochemical aspects. A total of 48 healthy, adult male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided in 2 equal experimental and control groups: one week prior the surgery, 260 mg/kg grape seed extract was orally given for 20 days to the assay animals. A circular full thickness skin wound (2.5 cm in diameter) was made in the back midline of all rabbits under anaesthesia then, macroscopic and histopathological aspects as well as the tissue oxidant/antioxidant balance were determined on 6 rabbits from each group slaughtered at the 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th days post-surgery. In treated rabbits, it was clinically observed that the wound contraction was significantly amplified and the histological processes of re-epithelisation, granulation tissue development, collagen accumulation and angiogenesis were markedly hastened whereas the inflammatory reaction and the ulcer disappeared more rapidly than in the not-treated controls. Furthermore, the maximal skin MDA formation observed on the 10th day was significantly depressed and the antioxidant catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities remained significantly elevated until the 15 th day compared to the controls. These results demonstrate the beneficial effects of treatment with GSE on skin wound healing in rabbits.


Three isolates of Plasmodium elongatum were obtained from 3 species of raptors (red-tailed hawk [Buteo jamaicensis], bald eagle [Haliaeetus leucocephalus], and eastern screech owl [Otus asio]) from Florida using isodiagnostic techniques in Pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). Six to 10 species of mosquitoes were tested for susceptibility to these 3 isolates. Complete development of the sporogonic cycle of the 3 isolates of P. elongatum occurred in 3 species of mosquitoes, Culex nigripalpus, Culex restuans, and Culex salinarius. The pattern of susceptibility was similar among the 3 isolates of P. elongatum in Cx. nigripalpus. Culex restuans and Cx. salinarius were significantly more susceptible than Cx. nigripalpus to the 3 isolates of P. elongatum tested. Culex nigripalpus transmitted all 3 isolates of P. elongatum from duck to duck both by bite and after intraperitoneal injection of sporozoites. Infections of the 2 isolates tested occurred in ducks after intraperitoneal injection of sporozoites from Cx. restuans and Cx. salinarius. The results suggest that these 3 Culex species are potential vectors of P. elongatum from raptors in Florida.


Radical prostatectomy, a standard treatment for prostate cancer, is often associated with sequelae including urinary incontinence. To control incontinence, regular pelvic floor exercise (PFE) is recommended. Individual and dyadic planning and their potential reciprocal relations were investigated as predictors of adoption and maintenance of regular PFE. In contrast to individual planning, dyadic planning refers to creating plans together with a partner on when, where, and how the individual target person will implement a new behavior. A total of 209 prostate-cancer patients participated in a study with 4 post-surgery assessments, each 2 months apart. Individual and dyadic planning, PFE, and incontinence were assessed by self-reports. Results from autoregressive models revealed sequential effects of both planning strategies on PFE while controlling for incontinence. Individual planning was related with increases in PFE at T2 whereas dyadic planning was associated with increases in PFE at T3. Findings indicated that individual planning seemed to be more important for adoption and early maintenance PFE, whereas dyadic planning seemed more important for medium-term maintenance of PFE.


ABSTRACT Underpinned by the threshold and dynamic capabilities perspectives as a sub-set of Resource-Based Theory, the objective of this study is to understand ways in which management teams build types of capabilities to facilitate their internationalisation activities. Thirty-one semi-structured interviews took place among smaller-sized, service-oriented internationalising firms located in three countries within the southern hemisphere: two emerging economies (Chile and Colombia) and one developed economy (New Zealand). The findings indicate that some management teams were able to develop threshold capabilities enabling them to operate outside their domestic market. In contrast, certain management teams appeared to possess dynamic capabilities, facilitating their evolving business models and sustainability. Particular capabilities allowed the respective firms, regardless of their national origin, to exhibit varying performance-enhancing internationalisation strategies. The study contributes to theory and practice in the domain of entrepreneurial marketing, offering new insights questioning whether certain capabilities are enough to sustain particular management teams' internationalisation behaviour.


ABSTRACT There is increasing pressure on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to follow the evidence-based approach promoted in allied health and medicine, in which the randomised control trial represents the evidence gold standard. However, many CAM advocates see these methods as undermining the holism of CAM practice. This paper explores how such tensions are managed in CAM university departments – settings in which particular forms of knowledge and evidence are given 'official' imprimatur by CAM educators and researchers. By comparing two types of CAM, the paper also unpacks differences within this broad category, asking whether CAM academic disciplines comprise different 'epistemic cultures' (Knorr-Cetina, K. (1999). Epistemic cultures: How the sciences make knowledge. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press). Interviews were conducted with 20 lecturers in Chinese medicine and osteopathy, across five Australian universities, and augmented with observation in two degree programs. Findings reveal contrasting ontological and epistemological perspectives between the two academic fields. Chinese medicine lecturers had largely adopted bioscientific models of research, typically conducting laboratory work and trials, although teaching included traditional theories. Osteopathy academics were more critical of dominant approaches and were focused on reframing notions of evidence to account for experiences, with some advocating qualitative research. The study illustrates CAM's 'epistemic disunity' while also highlighting the particular challenges facing academic CAM.


Tuning the parameters of any evolutionary algorithm is considered as a very difficult task. In this paper, we present a new adaptive multi-objective technique which consists of a hybridization between a particular particle swarm optimization approach (Tribes) and tabu search (TS) technique. The main idea behind this hybridization is to combine the rapid convergence of Tribes with the high efficient exploitation of a local search technique based on TS. In addition, we propose three different places where the local search can be applied: TS applied on the particles of the archive, TS applied only on the best particle of each tribe and TS applied on each particle of the swarm. The aim of those propositions is to study the impact of the place where the local search is applied on the performance of our hybridized Tribes. The mechanisms proposed are validated using 10 different functions from specialized literature of multi-objective optimization. The obtained results show that using this kind of hybridization is justified as it is able to improve the quality of the solutions in the majority of cases.


Global software development, an emerging software development methodology within a technology-enabled environment has recently received increased attention from scholars and practitioners. Despite the fact that the lack of effective communication is a major challenge of globally distributed teams, communication research related to the scale development is still very limited in existing literature. Considering the communication challenges and increasing need to measure the effectiveness of communication, this research is focused to develop a scale for "Effective Communication†for globally distributed software development teams. Systematic literature review is performed to identify the best practices of effective communication for the development of "Effective Communication†scale. A questionnaire survey consisting of 29 items is administered in globally distributed software development teams. Confirmatory factor analysis and statistical results depicted that the four-factor model (e.g. stakeholders' involvement, acculturation, usage of appropriate tools and technology, and information availability) is more parsimonious and an optimal model fit.


Objective To investigate the effect of splenic autotransplantation combined with lower esophagus transection on immune functions and portal hemodynamics in hepatic cirrhosis with portal hypertension patients. Method 20 patients with liver cirrhosis complicated with portal hypertension were randomly allocated into 2 groups: splenic autotransplantation(n=10), in which patients underwent splenectomy with retroperitoneal splenic autotransplantation and gastroesophageal devascularization (modified Sugiura operation), and control group(n=10), in which only splenectomy and gastroesophageal devascularization were performed. Serum tuftsin and IgM were measeured. Dynamic scintigraphy with technetium 99mTC-labeled heat-damaged erythrocytes was performed. The cross section area, blood velocity and flow and collateral circulation of portal parameters were comparatively evaluated 3D DEC MRA, and the fragment, size, blood flow and collateral circulation of retroperitoneal transplanted spleen were comparatively assessed. Results The preoperative levels of serum tuftsin and IgM showed no statistical difference between groups. However, Serum tuftsin and IgM decreased remarkably in the control group (P0.05) while that in splenic autotransplantation group remained stable. Autotransplantation group showed the transplanted splenic fragment during follow-up. At 6-month after operation, the cross section areas of MPV in both two groups significantly decreased (study group t=13.96, P=0.00; control group t=11.38,P=0.00). The mean blood velocity and the mean blood flow volumeof MPV after operation were lower (study group t=18.98,P=0.00; control groupt=22.32, P=0.00), and those in study group were lower than that in control group (t=-8.02, P=0.00). The transplanted spleen had extensive collateral circulation. Conclusions Partial splenic autotransplantation combined with lower esophagus transection in the treatment of hepatic cirrhosis complicated portal hypertension not only preserves splenic immune function, but also ploys a role in devascularization and shunting for portal hemodynamics.


Abstract 3819 Objective: Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common side effect and can have a substantial impact on patient quality of life and subsequent health-related resource utilization. In addition to other risk factors including chemotherapy emetogenicity, patient age, gender, and alcohol use, patients with prior history of CINV may have an increased risk of CINV. This study assessed the increased likelihood of a subsequent CINV following a first chemotherapy administration CINV in patients with a hematologic cancer diagnosis receiving single-day low emetogenic chemotherapy (LEC), moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC), or high emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted utilizing a merged data set comprised of Georgia Cancer Specialists, Florida Cancer Specialists, and ACORN9s electronic medical records databases (April 2006 – June 2010). Patients with any hematologic malignancy (those diagnosed with any leukemia, lymphoma, and/or myeloma (ICD-9-CM 200.xx-208.xx) who received at least two single-day chemotherapy administrations (oral or intravenous) and had no chemotherapy 3 months prior to first chemotherapy administration [index date] were included. Two cohorts: 1) patients with a first chemotherapy administration CINV event and 2) those with no first chemotherapy administration CINV event, were identified and followed for six months. Uncontrolled CINV events were identified through ICD-9-CM codes [nausea and vomiting (N&V)], CPT codes (hydration), rescue medications, N&V hospitalizations, and/or antiemetic therapy after last chemotherapy administration of the cycle. A multivariate logistic regression was conducted to assess the likelihood of subsequent CINV. The model controlled for differences in demographic and clinical variables between the two cohorts including age, gender, Charlson comorbidity index, number of chemotherapy administrations, days between chemotherapy administrations, anti-emetic prophylaxis use with first chemotherapy administration, and chemotherapy emetogenicity. Result: A total of 1,121 patients met the inclusion criteria; 247 (22.0%) experienced a CINV within six months. Of those patients with CINV, 68 patients (27.5%) encountered a CINV event with the first chemotherapy administration. These 68 patients were younger [55.9 (SD: 16.5) vs. 60.8 (SD: 16.1) years; p=0.016] and had fewer chemotherapy administrations [6.4 (SD: 3.0) vs. 8.1 (SD: 5.9); p=0.0189] as compared to patients with no CINV with the first chemotherapy administration. Unadjusted subsequent CINV rate was higher for patients with first chemotherapy administration CINV (33.8% vs. 17.0%; p=0.0005) as compared to patients without a CINV event during first chemotherapy administration. After controlling for differences in covariates, patients with first chemotherapy administration CINV were 2.8 times more likely to have a subsequent CINV compared to patients without a first chemotherapy administration CINV [Odds Ratio (OR): 2.84 (95% CI: 1.63 – 4.96); p=0.0002]. Conclusion: In this retrospective analysis using merged electronic medical records data, patients with hematologic malignancies receiving single-day chemotherapy who had a first chemotherapy administration CINV event were at increased risk of a subsequent CINV event versus those without a CINV event during the first chemotherapy administration. Disclosures: Jackson: Xcenda: Xcenda received funding to conduct the study. Jain: Xcenda: Xcenda received funding to conduct the study. Balu: Eisai, Inc.: Employment. Buchner: Eisai, Inc: Employment.


Inflammatory response in COVID-19 responsible for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiorgan failure and play a major role in morbidity and mortality of patients. The present study was undertaken to assess serum level of cytokines and its association with other inflammatory markers and disease severity in COVID-19 and hence their prognostic significance.

METHODS
This was a retrospective observational study of 175 admitted COVID-19 patients. The patient's clinical data, laboratory investigations, inflammatory markers and serum level of cytokines [interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα)] were extracted from their medical records. All patients were divided into three groups viz. group A had asymptomatic patients, group B had mild to moderate ill patients and group C had severe or critical ill patients. Above parameters were analysed and comparative evaluation with severity of disease was done.

RESULTS
& In present study 55% patients were asymptomatic, 24% patients were mild to moderate illness and remaining 21% patients had severe or critical illness. Fever, cough, dyspnoea and co-morbidities including hypertension and diabetes were more common in group C. Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), lymphocyte monocyte ratio (LMR) showed decreasing trend whereas absolute neutrophil count (ANC), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and eosinophil-lymphocyte (ELR) showed increasing trend with increase in disease severity. Serum IL-6 was found to be significantly higher in group C (64.98±111.18pg/mL) as compared to group B (15.51±20.66pg/mL) and group A (5.04±56.1pg/mL) (P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for IL-6 to differentiate the patients with severe disease from asymptomatic and mild symptomatic disease showed a cut-off of 6.75pg/ml.

CONCLUSION
Elevated IL-6 levels lead to adverse clinical events so IL-6 level might serve as a potential prognostic marker for severity of disease in COVID-19. Inhibition of IL-6 might be helpful to prevent serious adverse events in COVID-19 infection.


This paper presents Sonic Xplorer an interfaces that uses timbre adjectives for multiparametric control sound synthesis. The interface utilises an artificial neural network to create a personalised interface. Users can manipulate a large number of sound synthesis parameters without the need to learn or use the synthesiser's complex interface by utilising programed sounds by expert users. Sonic Xplorer learns a correlation based on users' ratings between timbre adjectives and the acoustic descriptors. Timbre adjectives are then used to describe the acoustic qualities of the desired sound. This paper discusses in detail the approach that has been followed to develop the system and the mapping and strategies users employed when using the interface in order to discover new sounds.


—Soft robotics is a rapidly growing research area in robotics. Sensing of robotic systems is important for designing feedback controllers which usually pro- vide robustness to modeling uncertainties. Sensing of soft robots, however, is considered a challenging task because theoretically, soft robots have infinite degrees of freedom while existing sensors only provide a limited number of measurements. One solution to this challenge is to design an observer/filter to estimate the unknown states from the sensor measurements. In this work, we design a boundary observer for soft robots based on the well-known Cosserat rod theory which models soft robots by nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). This boundary observer is able to estimate all the continuous robot states (poses, strains, and velocities) using the PDE model, inputs, and only tip velocity measurements (which explains the name "boundary" observer). The key idea is to inject sequential tip velocity measurements into the observer in a way that dissipates the energy of state estimation errors through the boundary. This boundary observer only requires sensing the tip velocity, can be implemented by simply changing a boundary condition in any numerical solvers of Cosserat rod models, and is proven to be locally input-to-state sta- ble. Simulation studies are included and suggest that the domain of attraction is large and the observer is robust to measurement noise.


Incidence of Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Durable Ventricular Assist Devices Background: There is a high incidence of depression in patients with heart failure and the presence of depression is associated with worse outcomes. There have been few reported data on depression in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Methods: Patients with LVAD were seen by a palliative care practitioner embedded in the cardiology/CT surgery outpatient clinic at a large quaternary care hospital as part of routine post VAD management. The patients were screened for anxiety and depression as part of the palliative care clinical assessment, using previously validated PHQ-9 and GAD-7 tools. Their scores were entered into a QI database. Patients were considered to have scores concerning for depression if the total PHQ-9 score was greater than or equal to 10 (moderate depression) or if they met USPTF scoring criteria for major or other depressive disorders. Scores of greater than or equal to 10 on the GAD-7 were considered concerning for generalized anxiety disorder. Results: 129 unique post LVAD patients were seen over 40 months, over a timeframe of 3 months to 5 years post implant. Of these, 110 (85%) were screened for depression using the PHQ-9 tool, usually at the first visit, or at a second follow up visit. 20 (18%) of those surveyed had met the above criteria for at least moderate depression, and 6(5%) had scores ≥ 15 consistent with at least moderate to severe depression. 83 were surveyed for anxiety using the GAD-7, and 8 (10%) had scores ≥ 10. Four patients had significant scores for both anxiety and depression. Of those patients who screened positive for significant depression, most (13/20, 65%) had a history of depression and were on antidepressants (13/20, 65%). Conclusion: The incidence of depression and/or anxiety in patients with LVAD, although higher than that of the general population (depression reported as 5-9%), appears to be on the low end of par with that reported in heart failure (depression incidence reported as 13-48% in the outpatient HF population). In our cohort, depression or anxiety were primarily observed in patients who already had a history of such. This finding is somewhat reassuring in that VAD therapy does not appear to induce these symptoms de novo. Nonetheless, patients with such a history are likely at risk for worsening symptoms with the significant stressor of undergoing VAD implant. Given the negative impact of depression on quality of life, this population should be carefully screened and supported both pre and post VAD implant.


The authors have analyzed the effect of pentobarbital (10(-5) M to 10(-3) M) on the contractile activity of isolated human cerebral arteries. Pentobarbital was found to inhibit both the spontaneous mechanical activity and the basal tone of these vessels. Relaxation induced by this drug was dose-dependent, and was more marked when the arterial tone was previously increased with noradrenalin, potassium chloride, or 5-hydroxytryptamine. In addition, pentobarbital inhibits, in a dose-dependent manner, the contractions elicited by these vasoconstrictor agents. The present findings indicate that barbiturates decrease cerebrovascular reactivity, and disagree with the hypothesis that these drugs reduce raised intracranial pressure by means of exerting a direct constrictive effect on the cerebral arteries.


Essential oil (EO) from Origanum majorana L. (Lamiaceae) shoots, extracted by hydrodistillation from plant cultivated under control and salt conditions. Essential oil composition was determined by GCMS. Plant material was harvest at three vegetative stages; early (EVS), late (LVS) and early flowering (P.F.S). Essential oil yield were 0.11% and 0.071 for E.V.S, 0.19% to 0.37% for L.V.S 0.23% and 0.47% for P.F.S, at the control and in the presence of 75 mM NaCl, respectively. Salt stress and development of vegetative stage affected the formation of the major compounds: cis-sabinene hydrate and terpinene-4-ol. Leaves were observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM), to determined trichomes number, size and distribution. Results showed that globular trichome density decrease with leaf maturity but increased with salinity.


Local extinction of specialist species due to fragmentation is one of the major causes of biodiversity loss. Increased extinction rates in smaller fragments are expected to result from both smaller local population sizes, which increase the effect of environmental or demographic stochasticity, and increased edge effects. The relative effect sizes of these two factors are still poorly investigated, however. We attempt to disentangle these effects on ground beetle communities of temperate broadleaved woodland fragments situated in one of the most urbanised regions in Belgium. Assemblages were sampled along transects that extended from 30 m outside to 100 m inside both small and large historical forest fragments. Although species assemblages within the forest were highly distinct compared to those sampled outside the forest, species turnover along these transects was less pronounced within forest fragments indicating only weak edge effects. The magnitude of edge effects did not differ significantly between large and small fragments. Nevertheless, larger differences in species composition were observed with respect to fragment size, wherein highly specialised species persisted only in the largest fragment. In summary, increased local extinction processes in smaller fragments, which led to a strong reduction in specialised and wingless forest species, appeared to be the most important factor that drives changes in species composition in this historical and fragmented woodland complex.


Now a days web is growing very quickly, therefore it is important to search useful Patterns for web search document. The clustering of web search result has become a very interesting and popular research area to many organizations as it provides useful insights to information retrieval.Clustering of web search result system provides the search result for the user very concise and accurate, also provides reviews on them and locate specific information of interest.Clustering techniques can be used to organize retrieved results into a set of group based on their similarities. Several approaches existed for web document clustering using a suffix tree, but results show there is more research remains to be done.This paper presents a various approaches to Suffix Tree Cluster merge techniques to generate the informative, meaningful cluster and also compare some of the important cluster merging methods according to its performance .The method to merge clusters is used to sort out the problem of merging boundaries. Identical clusters are merged together based on a given estimation criterion until no more clusters can be merged. This survey aims to provide useful guidance for many applications where merging is having a remarkable impact on clustering.


Objectives: Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by nasal itching, sneezing, rhinorrhea, and nasal obstruction. In this review article, the communication problems in AR patients will be discussed. Methods: With the detailed literature survey, allergic rhinitis; and its effect on Quality of Life (QoL), work life and social communication were presented. Results: Nasal congestion is the most prominent symptom in AR. It is associated with sleep-disordered breathing. In allergic rhinitis patients, nasal congestion and runny nose were the most bothering symptoms. The other problems were fatigue (46%), concentration difficulty (32%), and decrease in productivity (23%). The patient's quality of life, school/work performance and social interaction were negatively affected by AR. It also creates financial burden. Effective treatment of nasal symptoms may decrease the burden of illness and improve patient productivity and QoL in AR. Conclusion: AR affects social communication of the patients. Sleep problems and runny nose cause problems at work and decrease in quality of lives of the patients. Decreased work performance increased the economic burden of the AR. If patients were informed for the disease and treated appropriately; runny nose, sneezing, headache and sleep problems will be reduced. In this way, socially isolated live of allergic rhinitis patients will be prevented.


Current strategies to contain emerging diseases in growing kiwifruits involve the massive use of pesticides. Their high doses applied increase the risk of pollution with consequences to the soil fauna and human health. In order to reduce the negative impact on the environment, the European Economic Community adopted a new legislative framework on pesticides to foresee the replacement of chemical substances with natural ones. Following this European trend, the aim of this work is to improve the quality production of Actinidia by growing plants able to better resist pathogen infection through the use of chitosan, a natural and biodegradable, well-known elicitor of Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR).

Two years old plants of yellow (A. chinensis Planch.) and green (A. deliciosa (A. Chev.) Liang & Ferguson) kiwifruits were inoculated with Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae(PSA), an important and emerging threat of kiwi plants in Italy, 24 hours after soil chitosan treatment and maintained in a quarantine greenhouse. The SAR's onset was determined 2 weeks after the bacterial inoculation with the detection of plant response to the infection by biochemical analyses. In particular, to evaluate the link between chitosan and SAR, the activities of enzymes involved in biotic stress response were determined, i.e. antioxidant enzymes guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and those of phenolic compounds pathway (phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO)).

According to the results, both species treated with chitosan counteracted the pathogen attack in a similar way. In fact, after elicitor application the activities of antioxidant enzymes (G-POD and APX) and of enzymes involved in strenghtening plant defence barriers (PAL and PPO) were increased in both species. Moreover, the higher phenol amounts observed after the treatement further confirmed chitosan's role in eliciting plant responses against the pathogen.
Further tests on chitosan's potential as an elicitor of SAR in kiwifruit plants are in progress. A rapid method to evaluate its effect has been adopted. Following a screening of possible SAR molecular markers, two members of Pathogenesis Related Protein families (PR1 and PR5) were chosen and two primers pairs were designed for measuring PR gene expression. A quantitative method such as qRT-PCR will be used to quantify the elicitation induced by chitosan at the molecular level during different developmental stages of kiwi plants.
This study has shown the reliability of chitosan treatment in eliciting plant defence response and its potential in the protection against PSA. Thus chitosan might be considered a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to the traditional and hazardous pesticides for kiwi pest management, in order to reduce the number of chemical treatments.


Ceramisite concrete was charateristic of size effect as common concret. Through the experimentation of size effect on cubic compressive strength and axial compressive strength,and analysed and research coefficient of size effect by classical theoretics,elicit size effect of ceramisite concrete.


Agaricus bitorquis is an edible white mushroom of the genus that is cultivated at high temperature(25±1oC) unlikeA. bisporus is cultivate at 16±2oC. Unlike Agaricus bisporus, an edible white A. bitorquis mushroom is cultivated at hightemperature (25±1oC). Most farmers cultivate this mushroom for a long cultivation period in Korea. For this reason, we madeheterokayons to develop a new cultivar that generate fruitbodies for short cultivation period. Over one hundred SSIs(singlespores isolates) were collected from selected A. bitorquis ASI1151 and ASI1349 strains. Seventy-three SSIs were germinated onCDA(compost dextrose agar) media after 20 days (minimum) or 83 days (maximum) incubation under different mediacondition. The mycelial growth rate of germinated SSIs was different. 9 homokaryons in ASI 1151 and 11 homokaryons in ASI1349 from SSIs were selected by OPN-02 primer in RAPD analaysis. Also this primer was used to select heterokaryon thatcross among each homokaryon with compatible locus. Therefore 44 compatible matings were confirmed of 99 crossed lines.


Abstract Mutations at gene loci associated with body lipid metabolism may affect not only carcass and meat quality traits in young animals but also the production results of mother sows. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of mutations in the DGAT1 gene, found in Polish populations of maternal breeds, on condition of gilts and later on condition and reproductive performance of sows during three reproductive cycles. The study involved 118 gilts of maternal breeds (Polish Large White (PLW ) and Polish Landrace (PL)). Gilts and subsequently sows were monitored for body weight (BW) and P2 backfat thickness over three reproductive cycles and their litters were analysed for the number and body weight of the piglets. A total of 354 litters of pigs were evaluated. In the analysed pig populations, a single mutation (A/G) in the DGAT1 gene (rs45434075) had a significant effect on deposition of subcutaneous fat only in the PLW gilts (P2G, AA,AG<GG P≤0.05 and P2F r=214 P≤0.01). As regards the G/A 3'UTR polymorphism of the DGAT1 gene (rs342152658), this mutation is negatively correlated only in the PL sows with fatness during their reproductive life and with BW of the piglets reared to 21 d of age. Sows of the DGAT1GG 3'UTR genotype had significantly lower P2F backfat thickness (P≤0.05) and, during a 21-d lactation, reared lighter piglets (P≤0.01) compared to sows of the same breed with the DGAT1AG 3'UTR genotype. The analysed traits were also affected by the interaction between mutations in the DGAT1 gene of the sows of maternal breeds (DGAT1/DGAT1 3'UTR). Sows of the DGAT1GG/GG genotype were characterised by the highest backfat thickness on selection day, and during three reproductive cycles they reared significantly more piglets compared to sows of the DGAT1AA/AG genotype. Heterozygous sows (AG/AG) reared significantly heavier piglets than sows of the AA/GG and AG/GG genotypes (P≤0.05).


The consumption trend of the plant-based product has increased over the last few years, from health reasons to the unsustainability of consuming animal product. Plant-based product has been perceived by consumers as products to improve human health and well-being. Plant-based milk substitute such as rice milk is an example of the product and could be made from various rice varieties. Black rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one type of rice that is cultivated in Indonesia. Black rice has been reported to poses antioxidant activity, which is beneficial for health. For this reason, black rice has the potency to be further processed into a functional drink. However, the information regarding the antioxidant and nutritional content in the processed form is still lacking. This research aimed to analyze the antioxidant activity and nutritional content of organic black rice milk. Proximate analysis and antioxidant content (DPPH and total phenol) were conducted in this experiment. The results showed that black rice milk contained 92.36% water, 0.67% fat, 0.14% protein, 0.15% ash, and 6.69% carbohydrate. Black rice milk can inhibit 69.18% activity of 0.2 mmol DPPH radicals. It also contained total phenolic content of 32.75 mg GAE/ 100 mL


ZnSe/ZnMnSe MQW structures are grown by MBE. In situ RHEED control allows one to lock the growth cycle on the phase of the RHEED oscillations so that lattice plane completion is achieved independent of beam flux fluctuations and other irregularities. The band-edge resonant optical properties of the structures are dominated by sharp and pronounced excitonic features. The influence of strain and confinement on these excitons, their localization and interaction with phonons are discussed.