In this paper, the characterization of a thermally tunable fiber optic filter is presented. It consists of two Sagnac interferometers (SIs) connected in series. Each SI contains a high-birefringence fiber (HiBiFi) segment with different length in the loop, which generates a reduction in the bandwidth of the filter transmission peak. In a previous work, a filter composed by two SIs with equal HiBiFi segments connected in series was reported. An experimental bandwidth reduction of approximately 31%, compared with a filter composed by a single SI was obtained. Using the configuration proposed in the present work, a reduction of approximately 52% in the range of 1533 to 1586 nm and a sensitivity of -1.27 nm/degC was obtained.


Study objective: Research shows that neighbourhood socioeconomic factors are associated with preterm delivery. This study examined whether cigarette smoking and individual socioeconomic factors modify the effects of neighbourhood factors on preterm delivery. Design: Case-control study. Setting: Moffit Hospital in San Francisco, California. Participants: 417 African American and 1244 white women, including all preterm and a random selection of term deliveries 1980–1990, excluding non-singleton pregnancies, congenital anomolies, induced deliveries, and women transported for special care. US census data from 1980 and 1990 were used to characterise the women's neighbourhoods, defined as census tracts. Results: Cigarette smoking increased the risk of preterm delivery among both African American (OR=1.77, 95% confidence intervals (CI) (1.12 to 2.79)) and white women (OR=1.25, 95% CI (1.01 to 1.55)). However, cigarette smoking did not attenuate or modify the association of neighbourhood factors with preterm delivery. Among African American women, having public insurance modified the relation between neighbourhood unemployment and preterm delivery; among women without public insurance, the risk of preterm delivery was low in areas with low unemployment and high in areas with high unemployment, while among women with public insurance the risk of preterm delivery was highest at low levels of neighbourhood unemployment. Conclusions: Cigarette smoking was associated with preterm delivery, especially among African Americans. Adverse neighbourhood conditions had an influence on preterm delivery beyond that of cigarette smoking. The effects of some neighbourhood characteristics were different depending on individual socioeconomic status. Examining socioeconomic and behavioural/biological risk factors together may increase understanding of the complex causes of preterm delivery.


Heterocyclic amines have been isolated from cooked foods and found to be mutagens and carcinogens. Among them, 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) and 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2) were also found to enhance UV-induced mutation frequencies in Escherichia coli at the concentrations where they were neither toxic nor mutagenic by themselves. Using an immunological method recently developed to detect UV-induced DNA damage, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Trp-P-1 on the removal of both cyclobutane dimers and (6-4)photoproducts from the DNA of UV-irradiated E.coli. Cells repaired 60% of the initial cyclobutane dimers within 30 min and 75% at 120 min after UV-irradiation. Furthermore, the same cells repaired 90% of the initial (6-4)photoproducts within 30 min. On the other hand, Trp-P-1 clearly showed inhibition of repair of both photolesions in a concentration-dependent manner. The levels of repair inhibition by Trp-P-1 were almost the same between cyclobutane dimers and (6-4)photoproducts. These results suggested that the enhancing effect of Trp-P-1 on UV-induced mutagenesis in E.coli stemmed from the inhibition of the removal of photolesions from the DNA.


The property right body is the registration object for 3d cadastre. Its fast an economic reconstruction is the key to realizing the precision management of 3D property rights. Most property rights are rule bodies and they have corresponding construction data and height information. The method of "stretching" can be applied to rebuild the property right bodies. This paper provides the pre-processing procedures of the 2D floor plans, analyzes the format of the E00 file and proposes the 3D reconstruction method based on E00 file. Also, there are practical cases, the result of which indicates that the algorithm is effective and viable. Keywords-floor plans; property right body; 3D reconstruction;


In this work, CeO2 nanoparticles, as well as CeO2 nanocomposites with plasmonic silver nanoparticles, were synthesized using a simple sol-gel process. The concentration of silver in the composites varied from 0.031–0.25 wt%. Cerium hydroxide dried gel was calcined at temperatures from 125 to 800 °C to obtain CeO2. It was shown that, at an annealing temperature of 650 °C, single-phase CeO2 nanopowders with an average particle size in the range of 10–20 nm can be obtained. The study of acid-base properties showed that with an increase in the calcination temperature from 500 to 650 °C, the concentration of active centers with pKa 9.4 and 6.4 sharply increases. An analysis of the acid-base properties of CeO2-Ag nanocomposites showed that with an increase in the silver concentration, the concentration of centers with pKa 4.1 decreases, and the number of active centers with pKa 7.4 increases. In a model experiment on dye photodegradation, it was shown that the resulting CeO2 and CeO2-Ag nanopowders have photocatalytic activity. CeO2-Ag nanocomposites, regardless of the silver concentration, demonstrated better photocatalytic activity than pure nanosized CeO2.


Activation of G protein-coupled receptors like the β1-adrenergic receptor results in conformational changes that ultimately lead to signal propagation through a G protein to an effector like adenylyl cyclase. In this study we identified amino acids that seem to be critical for activation of the human β1-adrenergic receptor. Activation patterns of mutant receptors were analyzed using two structurally different ligands for β-adrenergic receptors that both are mixed agonist/antagonists. Broxaterol and terbutaline are agonists at β2- and β3-receptors; however, they act as antagonists at the β1-subtype. We reasoned that this functional selectivity may be reflected by a corresponding sequence pattern in the receptor subtypes. Therefore, we exchanged single amino acids of the β1-adrenergic receptor for residues that were identical in the β2- and β3-subtypes but different in the β1-receptor. Pharmacological characterization of such receptor mutants revealed that binding of a panel of agonists and antagonists including broxaterol and terbutaline was unaltered. However, two of the mutants (I185V and D212N) were activated by broxaterol and terbutaline, which acted as antagonists at the wild-type receptor. Two additional mutants (V120L and K253R) could be activated by terbutaline alone, which is structurally more closely related to endogenous catecholamines like epinephrine than to broxaterol. A model of the human β1-adrenergic receptor showed that the four gain-of-function mutations are outside of the putative ligand-binding domain substantiating the lack of an effect of the mutations on binding characteristics. These results support the notion that Val-120, Ile-185, Asp-212, and Lys-253 are critically involved in conformational changes occurring during receptor activation.


Laboratory experiments on infiltration into a fine sand under frozen and unfrozen conditions have been performed. The infiltration rate has been measured for different soil-temperature profiles. Different temperatures of the rain or meltwater have been simulated. Under frozen conditions, the infiltration rate was 1 – 2 mm/min, which is about one order of magnitude smaller than the infiltration rate under frozen conditions (10.6 mm/min). The results are discussed and compared with other data.


This paper presents results of testing twelve hollow square reinforced concrete specimens wrapped with Carbon fibre reinforced polymer CFRP. The effect of ply configuration on the behaviour of the specimens is investigated. All specimens were 800mm high and had the dimensions of 200mm× 200mm in cross-section and a hollow core of 80mm× 80mm. The specimens were divided into four groups with three specimens each.The specimens in the first group without bonding CFRP served as references.While the remaining three groups of specimens were externally wrapped with CFRP in three different ply configurations of hoop, vertical and 45◦ angle with reference to the circumferential direction, respectively. The specimens in each group were tested as columns under three eccentricities (0, 25, and 50mm). Experimental results show that all types of wrap configuration increased the strength of reinforced concrete columns. The columns wrapped exclusively with hoop configuration proved to show the greatest ductility properties.


An efficient in vitro regeneration protocol is reported for common buckwheat. A combination of 0.5 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.2 mg/l BAP with sucrose showed highest induction of somatic embryogenesis from cotyledon and hypocotyl explants. More than 35% of normal somatic embryos matured on MS. MS with 2% sucrose were found best for germination and conversion of somatic embryos to plantlets. In tissue culture, abnormal somatic embryos usually occur. In this report, abnormal embryos are also used to induce shoot organogenesis, adding to the number of final regenerants and ensuring full utilization of regenerative propagules. A treatment of 0.2 mg/l BAP induced meristemoids in 60% of underdeveloped embryos and a combination of 0.5 mg/l BAP and 0.5 mg/l AgNO3 led browning and senescence-free progression of shoot buds to well developed shoots, which were subsequently rooted in half strength MS containing 2% sucrose and 0.25 mg/l IBA. The regenerated plants survived acclimatization, flowered and set seeds.
Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 29(1): 33-47, 2019 (June)


SUMMARY Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic methods, management and treatment for intrauterine devices being displaced into the abdominal cavity. Design: Retrospective clinical study Setting: This retrospective study was conducted between 1980 and 2004 at the Suleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Isparta Women's and Children's Hospital. Patients: Eleven patients with displaced intra-abdominal intrauterine device Main Outcome Measures: Eleven patients with displaced intra-abdominal intrauterine device were evaluated with respect to the demographic characteristics, clinical manifestation, state of current IUD use, duration of IUD use and type of clinical management. Results: The mean age was 36.8±1.8 years, and the mean duration of IUD use was 61.82 ±75.93 months. The diagnostic method was ultrasonography in 5 cases, X-ray examination in 5 cases and cystoscopy in 1 case. The IUD location was the rectosigmoid in 4 cases (36%), the ligamentum latum in 2 cases (18%), the small bowel in 3 cases (27%), vesicouterine space in 1 case (9%) and the bladder in 1 case (9%). The type of IUDs was Cu-T 380A in 7 patients (63%), Lippes- Loop in 2 patients (18%) and Multiload 375 in 2 patients (18%). 45% of the patients were asymptomatic. Removal was performed by laparoscopy (n=8, 72%), laparotomy (n=2, 18%), laparotomy+cystostomy (n=1, 9%). Conclusions: Although we removed all the intraabdominal intrauterine devices, the removal of an asymptomatic displaced IUD is controvertial. A surgical intervention may cause more adhesions rather than preventing adhesion formation.


A strategic plan is a document used to communicate an organisation's goals and the actions needed to achieve those goals. Strategic planning in public organisations promotes timely decisions, enhances the management of limited resources in a more rational manner, improves service delivery and induces greater satisfaction of customers. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to critically examine the strategic planning challenges facing the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS), and how these impact organisational performance; second, to identify strategies that can be implemented to enhance strategic planning and performance management in the DTPS.,This paper used a qualitative case study design with the aid of document analysis to provide insight into the research questions.,The paper concludes that public institutions such as the DTPS face a plethora of challenges that militate against successful strategic planning and implementation. A major challenge is resistance to change arising from a desire to maintain the status quo. This paper argues that it is important to promote strategic planning, and aligning organisational objectives with performance in public institutions.,This study is based on documentary research and therefore its findings may lack current findings that would have emerged from direct interviews.,This research contributes towards efforts being made to make strategic planning and implementation effective and credible in public institutions especially in sub Saharan Africa.,In many South African public institutions, strategic planning is viewed as the work of top management, a misconception which compromises service delivery. In addition, strategic planning has been implemented as a direct attempt to inhibit poor budgetary planning and corruption in procurement systems, and in order to effectively manage public resources. There is a need for the department to conduct regular skills development programmes, uproot top-level bureaucracy, and increase innovation, monitoring and evaluation of organisational activities.


Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) represents a valuable addition to breast cancer screening by decreasing recall rates while increasing cancer detection rates. The increased accuracy achieved with DBT is due to the quasi-three-dimensional format of the reconstructed images and the ability to "scroll through" breast tissue in the reconstructed images, thereby reducing the effect of tissue superimposition found with conventional planar digital mammography. The margins of both benign and malignant lesions are more conspicuous at DBT, which allows improved lesion characterization, increased reader confidence, and improved screening outcomes. However, even with the improvements in accuracy achieved with DBT, there remain differences in breast cancer conspicuity by mammographic view. Early data suggest that breast cancers may be more conspicuous on craniocaudal (CC) views than on mediolateral oblique (MLO) views. While some very laterally located breast cancers may be visualized on only the MLO view, the increased conspicuity of cancers on the CC view compared with the MLO view suggests that DBT screening should be performed with two-view imaging. Even with the improved conspicuity of lesions at DBT, there may still be false-negative studies. Subtle lesions seen on only one view may be discounted, and dense and/or complex tissue patterns may make some cancers occult or extremely difficult to detect. Therefore, radiologists should be cognizant of both perceptual and cognitive errors to avoid potential pitfalls in lesion detection and characterization. ©RSNA, 2016 Online supplemental material is available for this article.


Fighting game is one of the video games which 2 players fighting in screen by controlling characters. While skilled fighting game players are perceived to have great reflex or judgment like chess players, there is no precise skill evaluation method. In this paper, we suggested surface EMG signal as fighting game skill evaluation method. In the experiment, we divide 10 subjects into skilled group and unskilled group by inputting trial. Furthermore, we measured EMG of their left arms and derived average rectified value. As a result, there were no significant difference of input power, but were input timing between 2 groups.


Purpose. To develop a clinically viable mathematical model that quantitatively predicts tumor volume change during radiotherapy in order to provide treatment response assessment for prognosis, treatment plan optimization, and adaptation. Method and Materials. The correction factors containing hypoxia, DNA single strand breaks, potentially lethal damage, and other factors were used to develop an improved cell survival model based on the popular linear-quadratic model of cell survival in radiotherapy. The four-level cell population model proposed by Chvetsov et al. was further simplified by removing the initial hypoxic fraction and reoxygenation parameter, which are hard to obtain in routine clinics, such that an easy-to-use model can be developed for clinical applications. The new model was validated with data of nine lung and cervical cancer patients. Results. Out of the nine cases, the new model can predict tumor volume change in six cases with a correlation index R 2 greater than 0.9 and the rest of three with R 2 greater than 0.85. Conclusion. Based on a four-level cell population model, a more practical and simplified cell survival curve was proposed to model the tumor volume changes during radiotherapy. Validation study with patient data demonstrated feasibility and clinical usefulness of the new model in predicting tumor volume change in radiotherapy.


The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a master circadian pacemaker. It regulates the 24 h timing of many physiological processes, including sleeping and waking. After bilateral SCN lesions, the circadian rhythm of the sleep wake cycle was completely eliminated, but the characteristics of the sleep wake profile were not well clarified. In the present study, bilateral suprachiasmatic nucleus lesions (SCNX) were created in rats to determine the effects of SCNX on the sleep-wake profile in terms of number of episodes, mean duration of each stage and number of transitions between stages. Although bilateral SCN lesions completely eliminated the circadian rhythm in the sleepwake cycle, there was no significant change in the total amount of daily sleep or wakefulness before and after lesions. However, the SCN-lesioned rats exhibited anincreased episode number of wake and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep during dark period and a decreased one during light period. The mean duration of wakefulness decreased significantly during the dark period and increased during the light period. The number of transitions between NREM sleep and wakefulness increased during the dark period and decreased during the light period. The NREM sleep power density and total number of episodes, number of transitions, and mean duration were not significantly different from those of sham controls when viewed over 24 h. These results indicate that lesions of suprachiasmatic nucleus did not alter the total amount of daily sleep but did modify the structure of sleepwake profiles in rats.


With the increase in disruptions and vulnerabilities, demand for more resilient supply chain is echoed vibrantly in business world. It is important to develop resilient capability in right time because supply chain disruptions may be the cause of serious financial loss to the organizations as well as their supply chains. Supply chain managers need to identify supply chain disruptions and vulnerabilities so that they can develop resilience capability corresponding to those disruptions. In this paper, an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) integrated Quality Function Deployment (QFD) technique has been used to identify prioritized vulnerabilities and corresponding resilience capability requirements. Such approach is still absent in the supply chain literature. An illustrative example has also been introduced to get a clear picture of the research process and future research plan.


The effects of resistance exercise on fiber-type-specific expression of insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-1R) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) was determined in 6 healthy males. The expression of both genes increased in Type I fibers (p < 0.05), but only GLUT4 increased (p < 0.05) in Type II fibers. These data demonstrates that an acute bout of resistance exercise can up-regulate mechanisms of glucose uptake in slow and fast-twitch fibers, but the IGF signaling axis may not be as effective in fast-twitch fibers.


We determine the masses and decay constants of the pseudoscalar mesons Bs and Bc, and also the masses of the vector mesons Bs^* and Bc^*, in quenched lattice QCD with exact chiral symmetry. For 100 gauge configurations generated with single-plaquette action at beta = 7.2 on the 32^3 x 60 lattice, we compute point-to-point quark propagators for 33 quark masses in the range [0.01, 0.85], and measure the time-correlation functions of pseudoscalar and vector mesons. The inverse lattice spacing and the charm quark bare mass are determined using the mass and decay constant of eta_c(2980). The bare masses of s and b quarks are chosen such that the masses of the corresponding vector mesons are in good agreement with phi(1020), and Upsilon(9460) respectively. Our results are: m_{Bs} = 5385(27)(17) MeV, f_{Bs} = 253(8)(7) MeV, m_{Bc} = 6278(6)(4) MeV, f_{Bc} = 489(4)(3) MeV, m_{Bs^*} = 5424(28)(19) MeV, and m_{Bc^*} = 6315(6)(5) MeV.


1. Quantum Field Theory and Renormalization Group 2. Gaussian Expectation Values. Steepest Descent Method . 3. Universality and Continuum Limit 4. Classical Statistical Physics: One Dimension 5. Continuum Limit and Path Integral 6. Ferromagnetic Systems. Correlations 7. Phase transitions: Generalities and Examples 8. Quasi-Gaussian Approximation: Universality, Critical Dimension 9. Renormalization Group: General Formulation 10. Perturbative Renormalization Group: Explicit Calculations 11. Renormalization group: N-component fields 12. Statistical Field Theory: Perturbative Expansion 13. The sigma4 Field Theory near Dimension 4 14. The O(N) Symmetric (phi2)2 Field Theory: Large N Limit 15. The Non-Linear sigma-Model 16. Functional Renormalization Group Appendix 1. Quantum Field Theory and Renormalization Group 2. Gaussian Expectation Values. Steepest Descent Method . 3. Universality and Continuum Limit 4. Classical Statistical Physics: One Dimension 5. Continuum Limit and Path Integral 6. Ferromagnetic Systems. Correlations 7. Phase transitions: Generalities and Examples 8. Quasi-Gaussian Approximation: Universality, Critical Dimension 9. Renormalization Group: General Formulation 10. Perturbative Renormalization Group: Explicit Calculations 11. Renormalization group: N-component fields 12. Statistical Field Theory: Perturbative Expansion 13. The sigma4 Field Theory near Dimension 4 14. The O(N) Symmetric (phi2)2 Field Theory: Large N Limit 15. The Non-Linear sigma-Model 16. Functional Renormalization Group Appendix


BACKGROUND
Staff working with clients with intellectual disabilities (ID) who display challenging behaviour may contribute to the continuation of this behaviour, because it causes emotional reactions such as anxiety, anger and annoyance, which may prohibit adequate response behaviour. To enhance staff behaviour and treatment skills a training that aimed at improving emotional intelligence (EQ) was developed.

AIM
The goal of this study was to assess whether an EQ training in combination with a video-feedback training programme improves emotional intelligence of staff working with clients with ID and challenging behaviour.

METHODS
Participants were 60 staff members working with individuals with ID and challenging behaviour. Thirty-four staff members participated in a 4-month training programme and 26 constituted the control group. A pretest-posttest control group design was used. Effectiveness was assessed by using the Dutch version of the Bar-On EQ-i and the judgments of experts on emotional intelligence.

RESULTS
Emotional intelligence of the experimental group changed significantly more than that of the control group. Judgments of experts on emotional intelligence indicated that the change of emotional intelligence of the experimental group improved positively.

CONCLUSIONS
The positive effect of the training programme on emotional intelligence is consistent with previous research on emotional intelligence and suggests that emotional intelligence of staff working with clients with ID and challenging behaviour can be influenced by training.


Rapid urbanization has created an unprecedented pressure on the use of land in cities around the world, resulting in physical and legal complexities. This book explains the theoretical basis and practicality of connecting urban land administration practices with the 3D digital data environment of Building Information Modelling (BIM). The main focus is to adopt a BIM-based paradigm for enhancing communication and management of complex ownership rights in multi-story buildings, which are prevalent in urban built environments. This book first elaborates on a range of data elements required for managing legal information in current land administration practices pertaining to subdivision of legal interests within multi-story building developments. It then explains how an open data model in the BIM domain – Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) – can be extended with legal data elements to lay the foundation for adopting BIM in urban land administration. The book also highlights benefits and barriers of implementing BIM-enabled urban land administration.


Bends, T-intersections, U-shape turns and cross-junctions are some variations that can be found frequently in long enclosed spaces. For a receiver located around the bend in the "T" intersection, the total sound pressure consists of contributions from direct, reflected and diffuse sound waves. The direct sound contribution is dominant in the near fields in the region of sight-lines. The reflected sound field becomes more important as the receiver moves farther away from the corner of the intersection. In all cases, the diffracted sound field at the edge of the bend plays a relatively minor role along a long enclosure. The present study examines the transmission of sound along a tunnel with a "T" intersection. The characteristics of the sound fields are investigated theoretically and experimentally. A numerical model, known as an image source method, has been developed for the prediction of sound transmitted around the corner in the "T" intersection. In the numerical scheme, the phase and magnitude of all contributions from the direct and reflected waves have been included in the calculations. Indoor experiments have been carried out in a corridor with a "T" intersection for validating the theoretical formulation. Experimental results and numerical predictions for the transmission of sound of this configuration in a long enclosure are presented in this paper.


This work sought to develop an inelastic scattering imaging system based on Raman spectroscopy for the detection of the fungal phytopathogen, Pseudocercospora fijiensis, which causes Black Sigatoka disease in banana crops, very important in Colombian agro-industrial economy. This system consists of a modified stereoscope with an optical setup able to simultaneously capture spectral images together with its Raman spectra. The camera has two different bandpass filters attached, centered in the spectral region of C=O stretching of Chitin and the equatorial bending vibration of beta-1,3-glucan, molecules of the fungal cell wall. In this way, the system can get images with unique spectral features, suitable for training a convolutional neural network in order to get a recognition pattern of the fungal strain growing in the PDA agar. As a result, the instrument was able to detect the presence of P.fijiensis over the culture media.


This paper presents an investigation of the influence of surface radiation on indoor environmental parameters such as thermal comfort and indoor air quality. To achieve this objective, coupled heat transfer by mixed convection and radiation was numerically carried out inside a ventilated cavity. Air-CO2 mixture was considered as the working fluid. Uniform heat and CO2-concentration were applied at the bottom wall of the cavity. The boundary conditions of other walls were fixed at the external conditions. The same emissivity value was considered for all interior surfaces. An external fresh air enters at the cavity through an opening located on the top of the left vertical wall and exits from another one located at the bottom of the opposite wall. The mass, momentum, energy and chemical specie equations, coupled with the RNG k-ε turbulence model were solved via finite volume method. The obtained results indicate that the surface radiation presents slight effect on thermal comfort indexes, while the increasing of Rayleigh number enhances them. A good indoor air quality is insured inside the studied cavity.


A recently assembled W7-AS stellarator database, consisting of 143 electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) heated discharges, 51 discharges heated by neutral beam injection (NBI), and five discharges using combined ECR and NBI heating, is used to test three scaling models for the energy confinement time in terms of the other physical parameters. The three models are: the Lackner-Gottardi model, the ion plateau neoclassical transport model and the ITER 89-P model. The analysis employs Bayesian reasoning. On the basis of these data, Lackner-Gottardi scaling is 37 dB more likely to be correct than ITER 89-P in W7-AS and is over 21 dB more probable than the ion plateau neoclassical transport model. Values for the scaling exponents are given taking these data into account


A survey is given of the impression methods developed for the accurate manufacture of crown and bridge preparations by means of the indirect technique. A description of the impression task in fixed prostheses is followed by an account of the principles of band and bandless impression techniques, pointing to their advantages and disadvantages and their indications.


There many methods for estimation of permeability. In this Paper, permeability has been estimated by two methods. The conventional and modified methods are used to calculate flow zone indicator (FZI). The hydraulic flow unit (HU) was identified by FZI technique. This technique is effective in predicting the permeability in un-cored intervals/wells. HU is related with FZI and rock quality index (RQI). All available cores from 7 wells (Su -4, Su -5, Su -7, Su -8, Su -9, Su -12, and Su -14) were used to be database for HU classification. The plot of probability cumulative of FZI is used. The plot of core-derived probability FZI for both modified and conventional method which indicates 4 Hu (A, B, C and D) for Nahr Umr formation based on the four straight lines. The permeability was calculated by two methods for comparison and choosing the best.  The modified FZI method gives better results because the predicted permeability by this method demonstrates a coefficient of correlation (R2) higher than that of the conventional approach, where the value of R2 is 0.9645 of  modified FZI method while 0.892 of the conventional approach. When plotting RQI versus  on a log-log scale, all core samples with similar FZI values will lie on a straight line with a unit slope. Other core samples that have different FZI values will lie on other parallel lines. All lines in (RQI and ) plot of modified FZI method have unit slop and more parallel than these of the conventional approach. The plot of probability cumulative of FZIm is used to determine number of hydraulic flow unit for Nahr Umr formation. The plot of core-derived probability FZI for both modified and conventional method which indicates 4 Hus for Nahr Umr formation based on the four straight lines, these four straight lines of modified FZI method was more distinguished than these of the conventional approach.


ABSTRACT Aim: To compare and evaluate the remineralizing potential of four commercially available products namely SHY-NM, GC Tooth Mousse Plus, ReminPro and Colgate strong teeth on demineralized human teeth. Materials and methods: The study included 50 extracted premolars having 3 × 3 mm window prepared on the middle third of the tooth, which was then subjected to demineralization for 48 hours at 37°C. Teeth were randomly selected and grouped into five study groups of 10 teeth in each. Each group was treated with respective remineralizing agent and sectioned using hard-tissue microtome. Each section obtained was visualized under polarized light microscope and analyzed using Image J software. Results: The statistically evaluated results revealed that SHY-NM has the most remineralizing potential followed by ReminPro, GC Tooth Mousse Plus and fluoridated toothpaste. Conclusion: Based on the study, the SHY-NM was superior to the GC Tooth Mousse Plus, ReminPro and Colgate strong teeth on demineralized human teeth. How to cite this article: Rajan R, Krishnan R, Bhaskaran B, Kumar SV. A Polarized Light Microscopic Study to Comparatively evaluate Four Remineralizing Agents on Enamel viz CPP-ACPF, ReminPro, SHY-NM and Colgate Strong Teeth. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2015;8(1):42-47.


We investigate high partial wave resonances in positron-hydrogen scattering using the momentum-space coupled-channels optical method above the H (n = 2) threshold. Resonances with angular momenta of L = 0–6 are reported. Ionization continuum and positronium formation channels are included via a complex equivalent local potential. Comparisons with the existing theoretical results are presented.


In this chapter we discuss the relative 'status' of the researcher as well as the researched, and argue that researching is intricately and intimately tied to our and others' gender, age, class, race, sexuality and thus to links between power, politics and the personal. Identities are bound up inextricably with certain signifying 'characteristics' – commonly our age, disability, ethnicity, gender and sexual preferences. There are other less physically visible (but equally important) signifiers of the self, such as religion and class that influence the degree to which we are considered 'acceptable' in any given organization or community, depending on how difference/diversity is either celebrated or rejected by the members of a particular group. In many instances the researcher may be constructed as 'interlopers' into another environment. Researchers may then have to 'work' on their identities (through the performance of identity work) in order to create connections with other members, and suppress much of what they feel in line with any prevailing cultural rules. This chapter explores how researchers can feel marginalised because of their position, often as 'students', a traditional and therefore comparatively ambiguous identity. Researchers are often young and can readily be patronized by the people whose behaviour they are seeking to understand. In such circumstances, and as evidenced in Chapter 2, researchers may be the butt of jokes because they are seen as naive and unworldly (Collinson, 1992). Other times, researchers may be co-opted into the culture and be in danger of 'going native'. This demonstrates how there is a fine line between the dispassionate and the over empathetic research self.


This paper analyzes the potential problems in the exploitation of the older
 generation of spark-ignition engines with higher octane number of petrol
 (unleaded petrol BMB 95) than required (leaded petrol MB 86). Within the
 experimental tests on two different engines (STEYR-PUCH model 712 and GAZ 41)
 by applying piezoelectric pressure sensors integrated with the engine spark
 plugs, acceleration sensors (accelerometers) and special electronic block
 connected with distributor, show that the cumulative first and second
 theoretical phase of combustion when petrol of higher octane number (BMB 95)
 is used lasts slightly longer than when the low-octane petrol MB 86 is used.
 For new petrol (BMB 95) higher optimal angles of pre-ignition have been
 determined by which better performances of the engine are achieved without a
 danger of the combustion with detonation (also called knocking).


Fracture stress data for the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) SiC coatings of tri-isotropic (TRISO) carbon/silicon carbide coated fuel particles were obtained using a newly developed testing and evaluation method, and their relationship with microstructure investigated. A crush testing technique using a blanket foil at load-transferring contact has been developed for hemispherical shell SiC specimens based on finite element (FE) analysis results. Mean fracture stress varied with test material in the range of 330 650 MPa, and was connected to the combined characteristics of inner surface roughness and porosity.


The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is one of few vertebrate species that is known to reproducibly eliminate large fractions of its genome during normal embryonic development. In lamprey, elimination events are initiated at the 6th embryonic cleavage and result in the loss of ∼20% of an embryo's genomic DNA from essentially all somatic cell lineages (these same sequences are retained in the germline). This germline-specific DNA is lost in the form of large fragments, including entire chromosomes, and available evidence suggests that DNA elimination acts as a permanent silencing mechanism that prevents the somatic expression of a specific subset of "germline" genes. However, reconstruction of eliminated regions has proven challenging due to the complexity of the lamprey karyotype (84 small pairs of somatic chromosomes and ∼100 pairs of germline chromosomes), the exceedingly high repeat content of the genome and even higher repeat content of eliminated fragments. We applied an integrative approach aimed at further characterization of the large-scale structure of eliminated segments, including: 1) in silico identification of germline-enriched repeats; mapping the chromosomal location of specific repetitive sequences in germline metaphases, and verification of repeat specificity to eliminated chromosomes by 3D DNA/DNA-hybridization to embryonic lagging anaphases. Our integrative approach resulted in the discovery of multiple highly abundant repetitive elements that are found exclusively on the eliminated (germline-specific) chromosomes which in turn permitted the identification of 12 individual chromosomes that are programmatically eliminated during early embryogenesis. The fidelity of germline-specific repetitive elements and their distinctive patterning in elimination anaphases are taken as evidence that these sequences might contribute to the specific targeting of chromosomes for elimination and possibly in molecular interactions that mediate their decelerated poleward movement in chromosome elimination anaphases, isolation from the primary nuclei and eventual degradation. AUTHOR SUMMARY Epigenetic silencing methods provide a means of precisely restricting gene expression while maintaining the integrity of the genomic template that encodes this information, and are employed by diverse species throughout the tree of life. Programmed genome rearrangement (PGR) represents a parallel approach that maintains genome integrity across generations but alters the genomes of cells within an organism. To better resolve elimination events that take place during PGR in the sea lamprey (one of few vertebrate species known to undergo large scale PGR) we sought to identify sequences that define specific eliminated chromosomes. Using computational predictions and cytogenetic validation, we identified six new repetitive elements that are restricted to the eliminated chromosomes and permit the identification of twelve distinct eliminated chromosomes. Analysis of these repeats in meiotic testes and in embryos sampled during the process of elimination shows that these repeats localize to specific subcellular regions, and suggest a potential role of these repetitive elements in targeting chromosomes for silencing via elimination.


This paper explores the allative usages of the two Korean postpositions -ey and -(u)lo in relation to dynamic locomotive motion in spatial domain. It focuses on explicating the allative uses of -ey and -(u)lo and the implication for their semantic distributions. With regard to allative sense, the semantic structures of -ey and -(u)lo are discussed to show that these grammatical particles have distinct conceptual imports, however schematic they are. Through a rating experiment, this paper also investigates semantic factors such as verb types, goal size, container, tense and aspect and their relationships for the choice of -ey and -(u)lo. The result shows that verb type plays a crucial role in determining the choice of the postpositions. It is finally argued that the allative usages serve as possible motivations for the semantic extension of -ey and -(u)lo.


Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of oral nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and locally injectable steroid (methylprednisolone) in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty subjects with unilateral plantar fasciitis were recruited and randomly allocated to two study groups. Group I (NSAIDs group) (n=60) received oral tablet diclofenac (50 mg) and paracetamol (500 mg) twice a day (BD) along with tab. ranitidine 150 mg BD. Group II (injectable steroid group) (n=60) received injection of 1 ml of methylprednisolone (Depomedrol) (40 mg) and 2 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine into the inflammed plantar fascia. Pain intensity was measured using 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS). Subjects were evaluated clinically before, and 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks (2 months) after the initiation of treatment in both the groups. The outcome was assessed in terms of VAS score and recurrence of the heel pain. Statistical Analysis Used: "Z" test and Chi-square test were used wherever applicable. Results: Pain relief was significant after steroid injection (P<0.001) and the improvement was sustained. The recurrence of heel pain was significantly higher in the oral NSAIDS group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Local injection of steroid is more effective in the treatment of plantar fasciitis than oral NSAIDs.


An increasing number of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) will require total joint replacement (TJR) in the next decade. T2DM patients are at increased risk for TJR failure, but the mechanisms are not well understood. The current study used the Zucker Diabetic‐Sprague Dawley (ZDSD) rat model of T2DM with Sprague Dawley (SPD) controls to investigate the effects of intramedullary implant placement on osseointegration, peri‐implant bone structure and matrix composition, and fixation strength at 2 and 10 weeks post‐implant placement. Postoperative inflammation was assessed with circulating MCP‐1 and IL‐10 2 days post‐implant placement. In addition to comparing the two groups, stepwise linear regression modeling was performed to determine the relative contribution of glucose, cytokines, bone formation, bone structure, and bone matrix composition on osseointegration and implant fixation strength. ZDSD rats had decreased peri‐implant bone formation and reduced trabecular bone volume per total volume compared with SPD controls. The osseointegrated bone matrix of ZDSD rats had decreased mineral‐to‐matrix and increased crystallinity compared with SPD controls. Osseointegrated bone volume per total volume was not different between the groups, whereas implant fixation was significantly decreased in ZDSD at 2 weeks but not at 10 weeks. A combination of trabecular mineral apposition rate and postoperative MCP‐1 levels explained 55.6% of the variance in osseointegration, whereas cortical thickness, osseointegration mineral apposition rate, and matrix compositional parameters explained 69.2% of the variance in implant fixation strength. The results support the growing recognition that both peri‐implant structure and matrix composition affect implant fixation and suggest that postoperative inflammation may contribute to poor outcomes after TJR surgeries in T2DM patients. © 2023 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.


Climate change may reduce biodiversity leading to a reduction in ecosystem productivity. Despite numerous reports of a strong correlation of microbial diversity and ecosystem productivity, little is known about the warming effects on plant associated microbes. Here we explore the impact of experimental warming on the microbial and nitrogen-fixing (diazotroph) community associated with the widespread and ecologically relevant Sphagnum genus in a field warming experiment. To quantify changes in the abundance, diversity, and community composition of Sphagnum microbiomes with warming we utilized qPCR and Illumina sequencing of the 16S SSU rRNA and nifH gene. Microbial and diazotroph community richness and Shannon diversity decreased with warming (p<0.05). The diazotroph communities shifted from diverse communities to domination by primarily Nostocaceae (25% in control samples to 99% in elevated temperature samples). In addition, the nitrogen fixation activity measured with the acetylene reduction assay (ARA) decreased with warming treatment. This suggests the negative correlation of temperature and microbial diversity corresponds to a reduction in functional potential within the diazotroph community. The results indicate that climate warming may alter the community structure and function in peat moss microbiomes, with implications for impacts to host fitness and ecosystem productivity, and carbon uptake potential of peatlands.


Phosphatidylinositol (PI) signaling is an essential regulator of cell motility and proliferation. A portion of PI metabolism and signaling takes place in the nuclear compartment of eukaryotic cells, where an array of kinases and phosphatases localize and modulate PI. Among these, Diacylglycerol Kinases (DGKs) are a class of phosphotransferases that phosphorylate diacylglycerol and induce the synthesis of phosphatidic acid. Nuclear DGKalpha modulates cell cycle progression, and its activity or expression can lead to changes in the phosphorylated status of the Retinoblastoma protein, thus, impairing G1/S transition and, subsequently, inducing cell cycle arrest, which is often uncoupled with apoptosis or autophagy induction. Here we report for the first time not only that the DGKalpha isoform is highly expressed in the nuclei of human erythroleukemia cell line K562, but also that its nuclear activity drives K562 cells through the G1/S transition during cell cycle progression. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 2550–2557, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Fragments of the nafenopin-induced pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma of rat have been examined in virro for patterns of intracellular protein transport and carbamylcholine-induced protein discharge. Continuous incubation of the fragments with I"H]-leucine for 60 minutes resulted in labeling of rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi cisiternae, and mature zymogen granules, revealed by electron microscope autoradiography. This result indicates transport of newly synthesized protein from the rough endoplasmic reticulum to mature zymogen granules in approximately 60 minutes. 'The secretagogue carbamylcholine induced the discharge of radioactive protein by carcinoma fragments pulse-chase labeled with [:'H]-leucine. A maximal effective carbamylcholine concentration of 10 -' M was determined. The acinar carcinoma resembles normal exocrine pancreas in the observed rate of intracellular protein transport and effective secretagogue concentration. However, the acinar carcinoma fragments demonstrated an apparent low rate of carbamylcholine-induced radioactive protein discharge as compared with normal pancreatic lobules or acinar cells. It is suggested that the apparent low rate of radioactive protein discharge reflects functional immaturity of the acinar carcinoma. Possible relationships of functional differentiation to the heterogeneous cytodifferentiation of the pancreatic acinar carcinoma are discussed. Cancer 47:1535-1542. 1981.


ABSTRACT Podocyte apoptosis is considered as the important element that promotes the development and progress of membranous nephropathy (MN). Unfortunately, the underlying mechanism of podocytes apoptosis in MN remains elusive. We compared the renal expressions of miR-130a-5p and M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) between MN patients (n = 30) and 30 controls by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. The podocyte damage model in vitro was established by angiotensin II (Ang II, 100 nmol/L) exposure for 24 h. Interaction between miR-130a-5p and PLA2R was determined using dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. MN mice were induced by intravenous injection of cBSA. In this study, miR-130a-5p expression was significantly decreased both in the renal biopsy specimens from MN patients and podocyte cell line AB8/13 following stimulation of Ang II. Overexpressed miR-130a-5p in AB8/13 cells significantly attenuated the Ang II induced-apoptosis in vitro. In contrast, down-regulated miR-130a-5p induced podocyte apoptosis. PLA2R was identified as the target of miR-130a-5p in AB8/13 cells. And up-regulated or down-regulated PLA2R could obviously attenuate the effect of miR-130a-5p overexpression or knockdown on the apoptosis of AB8/13 cells. Furthermore, it was also observed that overexpressed miR-130a-5p by miR-130a-5p agomir could obviously alleviate renal injury in MN mice. In conclusion, decreased miR-130a-5p was contributed to the pathological mechanism of MN through increasing PLA2R expression, which induced podocyte apoptosis.


In Côte d'Ivoire, cassava is an important source of food and income for the population. However, its development is confronted with the attack of numerous pathogens such as phytoplasmas as observed in several countries in recent years. The main aim of this study is to diagnose cassava leaf infection in Côte d'Ivoire in order to contribute to sustainable production. Thus, cassava leaf samples were collected from nine growing localities. Molecular analyses required the use of the universal primer pairs for the direct PCR and specific primers for Nested PCR in order to detect the presence of phytoplasmas in the DNA extracted from the samples. Mosaic, vein banding, chlorosis, shoestring and witches' broom symptoms were observed, sometimes alone and other times in complex symptoms. The prevalence of leaf infections was over 70%, with average severity scores ranging from 4.29 to 4.74 depending on the cassava variety. Of the samples tested, 42 (19.44%) were positive with the specific primer (AkwaSR/GH813f) and 32 (18.39%) with the universal primer (R16mF2n/R16mR2), thus demonstrating the presence of phytoplasmas in both symptomatic and non-symptomatic cassava leaves. The amplicons obtained with the specific primer pair allowed the detection of the phytoplasma "Candidatus Phytoplasma palmicola" of subgroup XXII-B associated with the coconut lethal yellowing disease in Côte d'Ivoire in cassava grown in the different collection localities.


CONTEXT
Tandem mass spectrometry now allows newborn screening for more than 20 biochemical genetic disorders. Questions about the effectiveness and risks of expanded newborn screening for biochemical genetic disorders need to be answered prior to its widespread acceptance as a state-mandated program.

OBJECTIVES
To compare newborn identification by expanded screening with clinical identification of biochemical genetic disorders and to assess the impact on families of a false-positive screening result compared with a normal result in the expanded newborn screening program.

DESIGN
Prospective study involving an inception cohort of newly diagnosed children.

SETTING
Massachusetts, Maine, and a private laboratory in Pennsylvania with expanded newborn screening; other New England states with limited screening.

PARTICIPANTS
Families of 50 affected children identified through expanded newborn screening (82% of eligible cases); 33 affected children identified clinically (97% of eligible cases); 94 screened children with false-positive results (75% of eligible cases); and 81 screened children with normal results (63% of eligible cases).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Child's health and development and the Parental Stress Index.

RESULTS
Within the first 6 months of life, 28% of children identified by newborn screening compared with 55% of clinically identified children required hospitalization (P =.02). One child identified by newborn screening compared with 8 (42%) identified clinically performed in the range of mental retardation (P<.001). Mothers in the screened group reported lower overall stress on the Parental Stress Index than mothers in the clinically identified group (z = 3.38, P<.001). Children with false-positive results compared with children with normal results were twice as likely to experience hospitalization (21% [n = 20] vs 10% [n = 8], respectively; P =.06). Mothers of children in the false-positive group compared with mothers of children with normal screening results attained higher scores on the Parental Stress Index (z = 4.25, P<.001) and the Parent-Child Dysfunction subscale (z = 5.30, P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS
Expanded newborn screening may lead to improved health outcomes for affected children and lower stress for their parents. However, false-positive screening results may place families at risk for increased stress and parent-child dysfunction.


Background: Bilateral sagittal split osteotomy aims to improve and correct functional problems related with facial defects and aesthetics. But osteotomies are placed in closed vicinity with the inferior alveolar nerve hence an incidence of nerve paresthesia producing sensory and functional effects has been reported. Objective: The purpose of this study was to report the incidence of nerve paresthesia (and problems they face due to altered sensation and function) immediately, on six months and one year follow up in patients undergoing the procedure of bilateral sagittal split osteotomy. Study settings & duration: The study was conducted at Islamic International Dental College & Hospital, Islamabad over a period of five years starting from 2013 to 2017. Methodology: The sample population consisted of 18 operated subjects who had undergone bilateral sagittal split osteotomies between the years 2013 and 2017 at the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery at Islamic International Dental Hospital Islamabad. Patients were called to hospital at three different intervals i-e 0 months, six months and 1 year after the surgery. They were asked to answer several questions regarding their perceived sensory changes after the operation by selecting a word from a standardized list describing altered sensation. Results: Seventeen patients had changes in sensation immediately after the surgery. And all the seventeen patients had changes in sensation in lower lip and chin. Seven patients have hypoesthetic sensation, one patient had paresthetic and two patients had dysesthesic sensation one year after the surgery. no patient had pain due to altered sensation immediately, six months or one year after the surgery. Conclusion: More than half of the operated subjects have some sort of paresthesia one year after the surgery. But only two patients had functional problem and one patient had speaking problem due to altered sensation.


BACKGROUND
Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)-assisted lobectomy is widely used to treat non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). There are no reports concerning the comparison between single-port VATS and two-port VATS in treating NSCLC. This study aimed to compare the perioperative and short-term follow-up results between these two methods for treating NSCLC.

METHODS
A retrospective surgical evaluation of patients undergoing either single-port VATS or two-port VATS for NSCLC between January 2013 and June 2015 was conducted. The propensity score (PS) matching method was used to reduce selection bias by creating two groups. After generating the PSs, 1:1 ratio and nearest-neighbor score matching was completed. The primary outcome measures were surgical time, blood loss, drainage time, length of hospital stay, postoperative pain score and patient satisfaction score. The data were analyzed statistically with P<0.05 defined as statistically significant.

RESULTS
Of the 143 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 66 (46.2%) were operated on using two-port VATS and 77 (53.8%) using single-port VATS. After 1-to-1 PS matching, 63 pairs were selected. Both groups were well balanced for age, gender, body mass index, pulmonary function, preoperative comorbidity, tumor size and tumor type. The single-port VATS group had less blood loss, less postoperative pain, and a higher satisfaction score than those in the two-port VATS group, with statistical significance. Postoperative complications occurred in 2 (2/63, 3.2%) patients in the single-port VATS group and 6 (6/63, 9.5%) patients in the two-port VATS group, not a significant difference. No deaths occurred during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS
A single-port VATS-assisted lobectomy is suggested to be safe and feasible for treating NSCLC. Compared with two-port VATS, single-port VATS has many advantages, including reduced blood loss, less postoperative pain and a higher satisfaction score.


Ultrasonography is one of the safest methods used in imaging human organs. The visual interpretation of B-scan images principally depends on the ability of the clinician to observe certain textural characteristics. However, a visual criterion of diagnosing liver diseases primarily depends on the clinical experience of physicians and it is extremely subjective. Therefore, a method that can provides a possibility of abnormalities is valuable for physicians. Since the sets of pattern misclassified by the different classifiers designs potentially offered complementary information about the pattern to be classified this could be harnessed to improve the performance of the selected classifiers. In this study, we intend to integrate the real numerical outputs of different classifiers in order to assign a better quantitative measure of certainty about an object in question. And, a quantitative characterization about suspicious disease can be provided to a physician that can decide whether need further examination.


In my thesis, the cell cycle analysis of archaea and hyperthermophilic organisms is presented for the first time. Crenarchaea from the genus Sulfolobus were used as a model system. Plow cytometry and light microscopy were applied to investigate the timing and coordination of different cell cycle events. Furthermore, DNA content, nucleoid structure, and nucleoid distribution at different stages during the cell cycle were studied. The Sulfolobus cell cycle was characterized as having a short pre-replication and a long post-replication period. The presence of a low proportion of cells with segregated genomes in the exponentially growing population suggested 3 considerable time delay between termination of chromosome replication and completion of nucleoid partition, reminiscent of the G2 period in eukaryotic cells.The first available collection of conditional-lethal mutants of any archaeon or hyperthemophile was used to elucidate the coordination of cell cycle events. The studies showed that chromosome replication, nucleoid partition and cell division in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, which are normally tightly coordinated during cellular growth, could be separately inhibited or uncoupled by mutation.The ftsZ gene, which is involved in cell division in bacteria and euryarchaea, was isolated from the halophilic archaeon Haloferax mediterranei. Transcriptional start sites were mapped, and putative translation initiation elements were identified. In both the upstream and downstream regions of the ftsZ gene, open reading frames were found to be conserved within the genus Haloferax. Furthermore, at the 3' end of the ftsZ gene, the homologs of the bacterial secE and nusG genes are conserved in almost all euryarchaea analyzed so far. The studies also demonstrated the functional conservation of the FtsZ protein in different archaeal species, as well as between euryarchaea and bacteria.


In this study an attempt has been made to inspect the forecasting of thunderstorms based on two cases (1st case: 17th May, 2019 and 2nd case: 31st March, 2019) over Dhaka using WRF Model. The model is run for 72 hours with 03 nested domain of 09 km, 03 km and 01 km horizontal resolutions using 0.25º X 0.25º six hourly global data assimilation system. For model simulation, Milbrandt-Yau Double-Moment 7-class scheme (9) has been used as microphysics scheme in this study. The model performance is evaluated by calculating hourly instability indices (VTI, TTI, KI, CTI, MCAPE, MCIN, BRN, LI, SI, SWI) value and have been compared with the threshold value of indices. Different meteorological parameters such as MSLP, temperature, winds at upper (300 hPa) and lower (925 hPa) level, relative humidity along with vertical cross section are also studied by the model and compared with the favorable conditions for forming of thunderstorms. Area rage rainfall (hourly) value has been also calculated and compared with indices value to comprehend the nature of thunderstorms. Observing the indices value it is seen that all indices value increase sharply 5-6 hours before of thunderstorm occurring and MCAPE is giving more reliable result.  Moreover, this study shows that inner two domains (3 and 1 km resolution) are giving better results than outer one and which indices are more probable in forecasting of thunderstorm for our country as well as giving less Root Mean square Error. From the simulated and validated results, it can be concluded that the model performance of instability indices can be used as forecasting of thunderstorms over Bangladesh.


The recent proposal of Eichten, Lane, and Preskill for CP nonconservation in electroweak gauge theories with dynamical symmetry breaking is reviewed. Through the alignment of the vacuum with the explicit chiral symmetry breaking Hamiltonian, these theories provide a natural way to understand the dynamical origin of CP nonconservation. Special attention is paid to the problem of strong CP violation. Even though all vacuum angles are zero, this problem is not automatically avoided. In the absence of strong CP violation, the neutron electric dipole moment is expected to be 10-24-10-26 e-cm. A new class of models is proposed in which both strong CP violation and large |ΔS| = 2 effects may be avoided. in these models, |ΔC| = 2 processes such as D0D̄0 mixing may be large enough to observe.


Purpose: Fractures of the femoral diaphysis are associated with a risk of morbidity in children. Various fixation methods have been developed, but with only limited evidence to support their use. This systematic review assesses the evidence regarding clinical outcomes of closed femoral diaphyseal fractures in children treated with plate fixation or flexible intramedullary nails. Methods: A PROSPERO-registered, PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science (WoS) databases were searched from inception to February 2023. Inclusion criteria included clinical studies reporting adverse outcomes following surgical treatment of pediatric closed femoral diaphyseal fractures using plate fixation and flexible intramedullary nails. The ROBINS-I and RoB 2 tools evaluated the risk of bias. Results: Thirteen papers (2 prospective randomized controlled trials and 11 retrospective cohorts) reported 805 closed diaphyseal femoral fractures in 801 children (559 males, 242 females). There were 360 plate fixations and 445 flexible intramedullary nails. Two cases of osteomyelitis and one nonunion were reported. Meta-analysis showed that plate fixation had a lower risk of soft tissue infection (relative risk 0.26 (95% confidence interval 0.07–0.92)). There was no difference in the following outcomes: malunion (relative risk 0.68 (95% confidence interval 0.32–1.44)); unplanned reoperation (relative risk 0.59 (95% confidence interval 0.31–1.14)), and leg-length difference (relative risk 1.58 (95% confidence interval 0.66–3.77)). The risk of bias was high in all studies. Conclusions: An analysis of 805 fractures with minimal differences in meta-analyses is considered high quality even when the quality of the evidence is low. The findings are limited by important flaws in the methodology in the published literature. Well-designed multicentre prospective studies using standardized core outcomes are required to advise treatment recommendations. Level of evidence: III.


Millisecond magnetars produced in the center of dying massive stars are one prominent model to power gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). However, their detailed nature remains a mystery. To explore the effects of the initial mass, rotation rate, wind mass loss, and metallicity on the GRB progenitors and the newborn magnetar properties, we evolve 227 of 10–30 M ⊙ single star models from the pre-main sequence to core collapse by using the stellar evolution code MESA. The presupernova properties, the compactness parameter, and the magnetar characteristics of models with different initial parameters are presented. The compactness parameter remains a nonmonotonic function of the initial mass and initial rotation rate when the effects of varying metallicity and the "Dutch" wind scale factor are taken into account. We find that the initial rotation rate and mass play the dominant roles in whether a star can evolve into a GRB progenitor. The minimum rotation rate necessary to generate a magnetar gradually reduces as the initial mass increases. The greater the initial metallicity and "Dutch" wind scale factor, the larger the minimum rotation rate required to produce a magnetar. In other words, massive stars with low metallicity are more likely to harbor magnetars. Furthermore, we present the estimated period, magnetic field strength, and masses of magnetars in all cases. The typical rotational energy of these millisecond magnetars is sufficient to power long-duration GRBs.


Abstract Variation in marks awarded, alongside quality of feedback, is an issue whenever large-scale assessment is undertaken. In particular, variation between sessional teaching staff has been studied for decades resulting in many recorded efforts to overcome this issue. Attempts to curtail variation range from moderation meetings, extended training programmes, electronic tools, automated feedback or even audio/video feedback. Decreased marking variation was observed whenever automated marking was used, potentially due to less academic judgment being used by the markers. This article will focus on a case study of three interventions undertaken at Monash University that were designed to address concerns around the variability of marking and the feedback between sessional teaching staff employed in the chemistry teaching laboratories. The interventions included the use of detailed marking criteria, Excel marking spreadsheets and automated marked Moodle reports. Results indicated that more detailed marking criteria had no effect whilst automated processes caused a consistent decrease. This was attributed to a decrease in the academic judgment markers were expected to use. Only the Excel spreadsheet ensured the provision of consistent feedback to students. Sessional teaching staff commented that their marking loads were reduced and the new methods were easy to use.


Prospective memory (PM) is essential in the everyday activities of children because it involves remembering intentions for the future, such as doing their homework or bringing written parental permissions to school. Developmental studies have shown increases in PM performance throughout childhood, but the specific processes underlying this development are still under debate. In the present study, event-related potentials were used to examine whether the focality of the PM task is related to the PM increments by testing two groups of children (first and last cycle of primary school) and assessing differences in N300 (cue detection), frontal positivity (switching), parietal positivity (retrieval of the intention) and frontal slow waves (monitoring of the retrieved intention). The results showed significant differences in focality in the group of older children but no differences in any of the components for their younger counterparts. In addition, the differences between prospective and ongoing trials were smaller for younger than older children. These findings suggest that the ability to adjust attentional strategies, monitor, switch and retrieve the intention develops across childhood and affects PM performance in attentionally demanding conditions.


GaAs MESFET ring oscillators were fabricated on a Si substrate and successfully operated. Epitaxial techniques to grow a GaAs layer on a Si substrate were investigated. The device-quality GaAs epitaxial layer was obtained by introducing a Ge layer (by ionized cluster-beam deposition) and alternating GaAs/GaAIAs layers (by MOCVD). The typical transconductance of 140 mS/mm was obtained for the FET with a 0.5 µm × 10 µm gate. The minimum delay time was 66.5 ps/ gate at a power consumption of 2.3 mW/gate.


(2+n) REMPI spectra of CF3Br for the ions CF3 + and i Br + ( i = 79, 81) was recorded for the excitation energy region 71 320 – 84 600 cm -1 . 1D-REMPI spectra for the measured ion fragments were constructed by integrating the 2D-REMPI spectra obtained from the measurements. Only CF3 + , C + and 79,81 Br + signals were observed during the measurements. The latter two ion fragment signals being non-continuous yielding only sharp atomic line peaks. The carbon and bromine atomic lines were compared to the NIST atomic line database and showed good agreement with the accepted values with a maximum error of about 0.01 %. The signal from CF3 + was only observed in the excitation energy region where the CF3Br molecule was excited to a [X 2 E] 5p Rydberg state from a ground state. Transitions 4p  5s were not observed due to the low transition probability since the transition does not follow the selection rule for two-photon excitation: ∆l = 0, ±2. Continuous CF3 + signal and strong bromine atomic lines would indicate that the major photodissociation mechanism of CF3Br is breaking of the C-Br bond and the formation of CF3 + Br radicals via a repulsive state. Dissociation via ion-pair state was observed aswell as the formation of a fluorescent CF3* species. Power dependence measurements were done on the CF3 + signals which confirmed that the signal observed was from CF3 + formed via ion-pair state dissociation.


The aim of the paper was to evaluate the clinical presentation, demographic and lifestyle characteristics of men with genital lichen sclerosus (LS). This study examined the cases of 73 men with genital LS who appeared at the City Institute for Skin and Venereal Diseases in Belgrade between January 2007 and December 2008. The diagnosis of LS was established by history and physical examination. Data about demographic and lifestyle characteristics were obtained by the use of a questionnaire. Nearly 60% of men with LS were older than 45 years. The most frequent complaint was a tight foreskin which was detected in 70% of men. White atrophic lesions, fissures and cracking were recorded in the majority of the patients. The most frequently affected site was prepuce in 76% of cases. More than 70% of participants had frequent sexual activities and 57.5% were exposed to stress. LS is disease with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, such as prepuce lesions, which increases the risk for acquiring some sexually transmitted pathogens. That fact stresses the importance of LS patients counseling on consistent condom use and importance of early diagnosis and early treatment which may prevent further penile lesions, complications and diminish vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections and HIV.


An 18-y-old female llama (Lama glama) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan was examined during a routine herd check, and a mass was detected in the ventral cervical area just below the angle of the jaw. No clinical signs were evident except for the mass and chronic loss of body condition. Postmortem examination revealed bilateral enlargement of the thyroid gland with multiple cysts. Histopathology of the thyroid gland revealed follicular compact-cellular carcinoma lesions, with infiltration of neoplastic thyroid follicular cells in regional lymph nodes.


Using concepts from switched adaptive control theory plus a special parameterization of the class of 2 times 2 nonsingular matrices, a tractable and provably correct solution is given to the three landmark station keeping problem in the plane in which range measurements are the only sensed signals upon which station keeping is to be based. The performance of the overall system degrades gracefully in the face of increasing measurement and miss-alignment errors, provided the measurement errors are not too large.


Epithelial branching morphogenesis drives the development of organs such as the lung, salivary gland, kidney and the mammary gland. It involves cell proliferation, cell differentiation and cell migration. An elaborate network of chemical and mechanical signals between the epithelium and the surrounding mesenchymal tissues regulates the formation and growth of branching organs. Surprisingly, when cultured in isolation from mesenchymal tissues, many epithelial tissues retain the ability to exhibit branching morphogenesis even in absence of proliferation. In this work, we propose a simple, experimentally-plausible mechanism that can drive branching morphogenesis in absence of proliferation and cross-talk with the surrounding mesenchymal tissue. The assumptions of our mathematical model derive from in vitro observations of the behavior of mammary epithelial cells. These data show that autocrine secretion of the growth factor TGFβ1 inhibits the formation of cell protrusions, leading to curvature dependent inhibition of sprouting. Our hybrid cellular Potts and partial-differential equation model correctly reproduces the experimentally observed tissue-geometry dependent determination of the sites of branching, and it suffices for the formation of self-avoiding branching structures in absence and also in presence of cell proliferation.


Avgadr Abstract. This paper will address from a peculiar point of view the key issue -raised today by Greta Thunberg and her peers- of the unlimited economic growth in a limited planet. It is its aim to point out how a relentless growth, while entailing dramatic ecological consequences in terms both of resources' consumption/destruction and of climate change, contrary to a common perception does not benefit everybody. In contrast, because of the unequal distribution of GDP and wealth that is largely driven by the legal systems such as politically shaped, it benefits only the very rich. This new understanding should finally lead the vast majority of us to stop asking for an unlimited growth and to join Greta Thunberg in her protest, calling for something different, namely a less unequal redistribution of what we have via different legal rules. Why in fact should we destroy the planet, such as we need it for our survival, just to make the very wealthy even more


Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA

Tumor cells have an altered metabolism that distinguishes it from their normal counterpart. Intriguingly, tumor cells show increased use of glutamine to fuel catabolic processes. Therefore, altered metabolic tumors have been considered as a good target for anticancer therapy. Ring finger protein 5 (RNF5) is an ER membrane-associated ubiquitin E3 ligase. RNF5 expression has been associated with breast cancer progression. We identified solute carrier family 1 member 5 (SLC1A5) as a possible RNF5 regulated protein using a MS analysis of breast cancer cells. SLC1A5 is a high affinity L-glutamine transporter, which is highly expressed in tumors such as breast, liver and lung. RNF5 promotes ubiquitination-mediated degradation of SLC1A5 in response to chemotherapeutic drugs known to induce ER stress. RNF5-mediated SLC1A5 instability attenuated mTOR signaling, leading to inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and promotion of apoptosis/autophagy. The loss of RNF5 in PyMT-MMTV crossed with RNF5 mutant animals developed less differentiated mammary tumors, which exhibit increased levels of SLC1A5. TMA analysis of human breast cancer tumors identified a fraction that exhibited an inverse correlation between RNF5 and SLC1A5 expression. Notably, reduced expression of SLC1A5 exhibited a strong association with improved prognosis of breast cancer. Taken together, our observations identify mechanisms underlying the control of SLC1A5 stability, and the implications of such regulation for mTOR signaling and breast cancer survival in response to therapy.

Citation Format: Young Joo Jeon, Sihem Khelifa, Yongmei Feng, Eric Lau, Robert Cardiff, Hyungsoo Kim, David L. Rimm, Yuval Kluger, Ze'ev Ronai. RNF5 mediates ER stress-induced degradation of SLC1A5 in breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2440. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2440


Background: Magnetoelectric multipoles, which break both space-inversion and time-reversal symmetries, play an important role in the magnetoelectric response of a material. Motivated by uncovering the underlying fundamental physics of the magnetoelectric multipoles and the possible technological applications of magnetoelectric materials, understanding as well as detecting such magnetoelectric multipoles has become an active area of research in condensed matter physics. Here we employ the well-established Compton scattering effect as a possible probe for the magnetoelectric toroidal moments in LiNiPO 4. Methods: We employ combined theoretical and experimental techniques to compute as well as detect the antisymmetric Compton profile in LiNiPO 4. For the theoretical investigation we use density functional theory to compute the anti-symmetric part of the Compton profile for the magnetic and structural ground state of LiNiPO 4. For the experimental verification, we measure the Compton signals for a single magnetoelectric domain sample of LiNiPO 4, and then again for the same sample with its magnetoelectric domain reversed. We then take the difference between these two measured signals to extract the antisymmetric Compton profile in LiNiPO 4. Results: Our theoretical calculations indicate an antisymmetric Compton profile in the direction of the t y toroidal moment in momentum space, with the computed antisymmetric profile around four orders of magnitude smaller than the total profile. The difference signal that we measure is consistent with the computed profile, but of the same order of magnitude as the statistical errors and systematic uncertainties of the experiment. Conclusions: While the weak difference signal in the measurements prevents an unambiguous determination of the antisymmetric Compton profile in LiNiPO 4, our results motivate further theoretical work to understand the factors that influence the size of the antisymmetric Compton profile, and to identify materials exhibiting larger effects.


Objective: To establish a multifactorial measure of older adults' beliefs related to medication adherence. Methods: Ninety-two older adults (M = 71.42 years) were asked to provide medication and health-related information, memory strategies, and complete the Beliefs Related to Medications (BERMA) Survey. Results: The final version of the BERMA survey contains 53 questions with three scales. The overall reliability of the scale is excellent (Cronbach's alpha = .94), as is the reliability of the scales. Correlations show that better rated memory for medications was associated with higher reported adherence and fewer external memory strategies. Higher perceived ability to deal with health professionals was related to higher importance of medication adherence and greater perceived seriousness of one's medical condition. Finally, more positive attitudes about medications were associated with better self-rated health and fewer side effects. Discussion: The results indicate that the BERMA survey is a potentially useful research tool for understanding older adults'medication adherence.


The nucleophilic addition of methanol and other alcohols to 1,1-diphenylethylene (1) and styrene (6) into the Markovnikov- and anti-Markovnikov-type products was selectively achieved with 1-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyrene (Py) and 1,7-dicyanoperylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid bisimide (PDI) as photoredox catalysts. The regioselectivity was controlled by the photocatalyst. For the reductive mode towards the Markovnikov-type regioselectivity, Py was applied as photocatalyst and triethylamine as electron shuttle. This approach was also used for intramolecular additions. For the oxidative mode towards the anti-Markovnikov-type regioselectivety, PDI was applied together with Ph–SH as additive. Photocatalytic additions of a variety of alcohols gave the corresponding products in good to excellent yields. The proposed photocatalytic electron transfer mechanism was supported by detection of the PDI radical anion as key intermediate and by comparison of two intramolecular reactions with different electron density. Representative mesoflow reactor experiments allowed to significantly shorten the irradiation times and to use sunlight as "green" light source.


The term "snapping bottom" was initially used by Rask1 to describe subluxation of the long head of the biceps femoris tendon at the ischial tuberosity, in what we believe to be the only reported case of this phenomenon in the literature. This entity was discovered by reproduction of the snapping during active hip flexion and with direct palpation of the snapping long head of the biceps femoris tendon over the ischial tuberosity. After unsuccessful nonoperative treatment, a tenotomy was performed; all symptoms were alleviated. There are several etiologies of the snapping hip, "coxa saltans," which include snapping of the iliotibial band or gluteus maximus over the greater trochanter, snapping of the the iliopsoas over the iliopectineal eminence, and intra-articular lesions2. However, subluxation of the proximal hamstring origin is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis. We present the case of a woman with coxa saltans caused by subluxation of the proximal hamstring origin over the ischial tuberosity. Institutional review board approval and the patient's informed consent for publication of this information were obtained.

A fifty-five-year-old female recreational tennis player presented to us with a one-year history of left buttock pain as well as audible snapping of the buttock when she bent at the hips. The symptoms began approximately one month after she sustained a hamstring strain while playing tennis. Because of the pain, she had been unable to return to athletic activities. Physical examination revealed tenderness at the hamstring origin. Full motion of the hips, knees, and back was present with no contractures. The patient reproduced the snapping with hip flexion of approximately 90° while she was in the standing position. The snapping was palpable at the ischial tuberosity and was audible. Pelvic radiographs showed no abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a partial tear of the proximal …


The V 1.85 W 0.15 O? thin films deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates by RF sputtering method exhibited fairly good TCR and dielectric properties. It was found that film crystallinity, dielectric properties, and TCR properties were strongly dependent upon the annealing temperature. The dielectric constants of the V 1.85 W 0.15 O? thin films annealed at 400℃ were 38.11, with a dielectric loss of 1%, respectively. Also, the TCR values of the V 1.85 W 0.15 O? thin films annealed at 400℃ were about -3.45%/K.


The theory of the electric dipole moment (EDM) of an atom caused by an EDM on the electron is discussed in detail. The absence of an atomic EDM is the non-relativistic limit is examined both formally and numerically. The two strategies which are used in practice to calculate the leading relativistic terms of order alpha 2 are extended by the inclusion of all terms of this order. One-transverse-photon exchange involving the EDM and effects due to the Breit interaction are included; the terms so generated are new, occur only in many-electron atoms, and can be identified semiclassically with the nu *B and delta A/ delta t contributions to the electric field seen by the atomic electrons. The need for projection operators to avoid negative energy states is examined. Numerical calculations are made for caesium and thallium; these show that the contribution from the central potential is dominant.


We show that a lattice of phase oscillators with random natural frequencies, described by a generalization of the nearest-neighbor Kuramoto model with an additional cosine coupling term, undergoes a phase transition from a desynchronized to a synchronized state. This model may be derived from the complex Ginzburg-Landau equations describing a disordered lattice of driven-dissipative Bose-Einstein condensates of exciton polaritons. We derive phase diagrams that classify the desynchronized and synchronized states that exist in both one and two dimensions. This is achieved by outlining the connection of the oscillator model to the quantum description of localization of a particle in a random potential through a mapping to a modified Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation. Our results indicate that long-range order in polariton condensates, and other systems of coupled oscillators, is not destroyed by randomness in their natural frequencies.


We investigate f(T) cosmology in both the background, as well as in the perturbation level, and we present the general formalism for reconstructing the equivalent one-parameter family of f(T) models for any given dynamical dark energy scenario. Despite the completely indistinguishable background behavior, the perturbations break this degeneracy and the growth histories of all these models differ from one another. As an application we reconstruct the f(T) equivalent for quintessence, and we show that the deviation of the matter overdensity evolution is strong for small scales and weak for large scales, while it is negligible for large redshifts.


Epidemiologic evidence is often a key source of information used by expert committees to guide policy decisions, yet epidemiologists rarely consider this audience for their research. To better understand the pipeline from epidemiology research to expert committee assessment to policy, several reports from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) were reviewed and discussed with staff and committee members. The topics of these consensus committee assessments included health behaviors, medical care, and military exposures. The focus was often on emerging issues of immediate concern with little relevant research available but a need for prompt action. Committees generally sought a comprehensive assessment of potential health effects of a given product or exposure, which often included social and behavioral health outcomes rarely addressed by epidemiologists. To enhance epidemiology's contribution to societal decisions, the choice of research topics should expand to consider emerging societal concerns. Research funding agencies need be engaged as mediators between committee needs and the research community to stimulate contributory research. Improved communication of research needs to the epidemiology community would be beneficial to researchers aspiring to have impact and to those who use epidemiologic information to help guide policy decisions.


A newly constructed computer program was used to simulate partitionless growth of alpha in gamma of Fe-Ni-C alloys, taking into account so-called solute drag by evaluating the dissipation of Gibbs energy due to diffusion inside the interface and in the nickel spike being pushed in front of it. It could be shown how the conditions at the alpha/gamma interface vary with the velocity. A continuous change from paraequilibrium to quasi-paraconditions could be illustrated in the phase diagram. By combination with an approximate analytical growth equation, it was possible to derive the thickness of a as function of time. The growth velocity was assumed to start at very high values but decreased due to the pile-up of carbon. For alloy compositions outside the limit for quasi-paraconditions and just inside it the growth was predicted to stop suddenly when critical conditions are approached during the reaction. For alloy compositions further inside the limit, there was no such stop, except by the action of impingement of diffusion fields for carbon. Somewhere between the lines for paraequilibrium and quasi-paraconditions there is a rather rapid drop of the final thickness of a. In order to explain experimental information on this drop one must accept an appreciable tendency of segregation of nickel to the alpha/gamma interface.


The results of the same rehabilitation protocol are compared in two groups of patients with recent transmural myocardial infarction. The first group consists of 63 males, aged from 40 to 49 (mean 44.5); the second one of 63 males, aged from 60 to 74 (mean 64.7). The age is the only difference between the groups. The training does increase the mean value of the Total Work Performed from 5126 +/- 2201 to 7505 +/- 2455 Kgm (p < 0.001) in the young patients and from 3340 +/- 1414 to 4793 +/- 1598 Kgm (p < 0.001) in the old ones. The amount of increase is 46.4 and 43.5 per cent, respectively. The Heart Rate at fixed level of 75 W decreases from 125 +/- 2 to 119 +/- 1.6 beats per minute (p < 0.001) in the young group and from 119.2 +/- 2.2 to 111.3 +/- 2.2 (p < 0.001) in the old group of patients. The O2 Pulse at 75 W increaes from 8.8 +/- 0.2 to 9.7 +/- 0.25 cc per beat (p < 0.001) in the young subjects and from 9.4 +/- 0.4 to 10.3 +/- 0.4 (p < 0.001) in the old ones. The Double Product at 75 W decreases from 23.6 +/- 0.7 (X 10(3)) to 21.4 +/- 0.5 (p < 0.001) in the young patients and from 24.4 +/- 0.8 to 21.6 +/- 0.7 (p < 0.001) in the old ones. A control performed in 26 subjects of both groups 1 year later, shows a good persistance of the training effect as in young as in old patients. The AA. come to conclusions that: a) The age does not represent a limiting factor for the indication to the rehabilitation after a myocardial infarction; b) the rehabilitation can provide similar results in young and in old patients and the achieved benefits can be similarly maintained; c) the risk of any complication during training is higher in old than in young patients. It compels us to a careful choice of patients and control of the rehabilitation procedure.


The use of a biaxially textured silver tape as a substrate for high temperature superconductor (HTS) phases is one possible route towards the fabrication of high-Jc superconducting tape. Using a cold-rolling and annealing process we have reproducibly fabricated {110}110 textured silver which is stable up to 900 °C. We have found that there are two critical process requirements for the formation of this texture; a low oxygen content in the material prior to deformation, and a cold-rolling thickness reduction of less than 97%. To overcome the problems associated with the poor mechanical strength of pure silver, texture development in Ag-Mg and Ag-Hf alloys with improved mechanical properties has been studied. Heat treatments in a reducing atmosphere allow the {110}110 annealing texture to be obtained in Ag-0.1 wt%Mg. The recrystallization behaviour of a Ag-Pd alloy with an increased stacking fault energy was also investigated and a partial cube texture was obtained in this material. Using orientation distribution function (ODF) analysis we have shown that minor variations in the deformation texture of both pure silver and Ag-based alloys can lead to significant differences in the recrystallization textures obtained.


Cultured human lymphoma cells exposed to adriamycin exhibited extreme sensitivity to the drug. When these cells were exposed to adriamycin for 12 hr, a 5-log kill in terms of reproductive capacity was observed. Furthermore, under these conditions, adriamycin exerted an immediate (interphase) lethal effect on about 60% of the cells. Synchronized cells revealed that the S-G2 boundary region was the most sensitive stage of the cell cycle. Insofar as adriamycin can achieve a great killing effect at low doses and with short exposure times, we suggest that a superior clinical therapeutic index could be achieved by utilizing adequately spaced low doses of adriamycin in the treatment of human tumors.


Using longitudinal data on labour law in France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States over the period 1970–2010, the authors estimate the impact of labour regulation on unemployment and the labour share of national income. Their dynamic panel data analysis distinguishes between the short-run and long-run effects of regulatory change. They find that worker-protective labour laws in general have no consistent relationship to unemployment but are positively correlated with labour's share of national income. Laws specifically relating to working time and employee representation are found to have beneficial effects on both efficiency and distribution thus proxied.


UNLABELLED
Hypercalcemia is observed in >80% of ATL. Serum MIP-1alpha levels were elevated in all 24 ATL with hypercalcemia but undetectable in all 10 patients with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy with solid tumors and in 34 of 37 ATL without hypercalcemia. We propose that serum MIP-1alpha is a clinical hallmark for hypercalcemia in ATL.

INTRODUCTION
High serum cytokines levels are not always associated with hypercalcemia in patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), suggesting that other factors are involved in the pathogenesis of ATL patients with hypercalcemia. This study was designed to determine the role of macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), a chemokine recently described as an osteoclast stimulatory factor, in ATL-associated hypercalcemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
We measured serum interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), and MIP-1alpha levels in ATL patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. FACScan was used to measure the expression of RANKL on ATL cells. Osteoclast formation in cocultures of ATL cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was evaluated by TRACP staining.

RESULTS
High serum MIP-1alpha levels were noted in all 24 ATL patients with hypercalcemia and in 3 of 37 ATL patients without hypercalcemia. The elevated levels of MIP-1alpha and calcium in ATL patients decreased after effective chemotherapy, emphasizing the role of MIP-1alpha in ATL hypercalcemia. ATL cells spontaneously produced MIP-1alpha. MIP-1alpha significantly enhanced human monocyte (precursor cells of osteoclasts) migration and induced RANKL expression on ATL cells. ATL cell-induced osteoclast formation from PBMCs was inhibited by anti-MIP-1alpha antibody and osteoprotegerin.

CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that MIP-1alpha can induce RANKL on ATL cells in autocrine fashion and that RANKL seems to mediate the hypercalcemic effect of MIP-1alpha in ATL. We propose that MIP-1alpha is the clinical hallmark of hypercalcemia in ATL and could be a potentially useful therapeutic target.


The article relates to the issue of training candidates for the teacher profession. By referencing to the core of the competencies required for the teacher's work in a changing school, the weakest areas, which are the source of the fear and anxiety of students completing teacher education, were identified. The sources of fears, as well as proposals for changes in education to the teaching profession, were compiled on the basis of research conducted among 187 candidates of the profession of teacher studying at universities in Malopolska (Lesser Poland Voivodeship).


Abstract. Digitalization and interactivity of reality in Augmented and Virtual Environments represent the synergic union between current technology potentialities and smartness of users in going beyond the traditional perception of real environment. As it is well-known, touristic bodies already taken advantages of Virtual Environments as cultural and touristic promotion of historic and archaeological sites. However, the analysis of potentialities in supporting technical community and professionals are still underway. Starting from the survey of instruments and protocols in previous experiences, the work presents a methodological flow aimed to create a virtual environment using 360° images – Virtual Tour – where the first phase of technical knowledge in historic sites can be resumed. In detail, a double level of knowledge can be reached: firstly, a virtual environment containing information about the actual state of conservation, then an upgraded one with historic and technical information (e.g. reports, images, surveys, etc.) added in an interactive as well intuitive way. The protocol has been applied to the undergrounded Cryptoporticus of Egnatia, an archaeological site in Apulia Region (Italy).