【Manganese, copper and chlorine-doped ZnS phosphors (ZnS:Mn,Cu,Cl) were synthesized through solid-state reaction. Manganese was added in the range of amount $1.4{\sim}5.3$ mol % to ZnS phosphors containing 0.2 or 1.0 mol % of copper and a small amount of chlorine. As-synthesized phosphors showed a spherical morphology with a mean size of ${\sim}20\;{\mu}m$ and structural properties of Wurtzite, which were identified by SEM and XRD, respectively. Optical properties of ZnS:Mn,Cu,Cl synthesized with various concentrations of activators were analysed by both of PL and EL spectra. Samples mainly showing only 580 nm-orange emission by 380 nm-UV excitation gave different EL spectra of blue, green, and orange emissions at 450, 480 and 580 nm, respectively, depending on concentrations of $Cu^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$ .】


The purpose of this research was the study of reproductive performance in postpartum dairy cows with different parities. Twenty Holstein dairy cows were assigned into two equal primiparous and multiparous groups. Body weight and body condition score (based on 1-5 scoring) were measured every other week, starting from two weeks before calving till pregnancy confirmation. Daily milk yield was also recorded. Reproductive parameters including days from calving to the uterus returning time, to the initiation time of clinical oestrus signs, to the first time of insemination and number of insemination per pregnancy were recorded. Meanwhile, blood serum concentrations of estrogen and progesterone were measured. Results indicated that, the mean (±SE) of body weight and milk production was significantly higher for multiparous cows. Blood serum concentration of estrogen (mean ±SE) was significantly lower for primiparous cows (61.86±17.91 vs. 71.39±17.02 pg/ml). The number of insemination per pregnancy and estrus frequency did not differ between both groups. However, the intervals (mean ±SE) of calving to the uterus returning time (40.0±5.41 vs. 24.0±5.41 days), to the first insemination (119.62±14.17 vs. 67.5±14.17 days) and the initiation of clinical oestrus signs (28.5±4.5 vs. 19.67±8.5 days) was significantly higher for primiparous than multiparous cows. In general, this study demonstrated that the effect of parity on postpartum reproductive performance is modulated through its effect of blood serum estrogen level, uterus returning time and estrus initiation time.


If, as expressivists maintain, the function of normative thought and talk is not to represent or describe the world, then how can normative judgements be correct or incorrect? In particular, how can I make sense of my own normative fallibility, the possibility that my own normative judgements might be mistaken? In this paper, I construct and defend a substantive but non-representational theory of normative (in)correctness for expressivists. Inspired by Blackburn's (1998: 318) proposal that I make sense of my fallibility in terms of the possibility that my judgements might be unstable through improvement, my account is designed in the first instance to vindicate the expressivist's conception of the nature of normative inquiry. I then defend the proposal from the charge that it leaves insufficient room for my own fallibility, and in particular from Egan's (2007) argument that it implies a "smug" asymmetry between myself and others. Critical to the response is the appeal to indeterminacy in cases of fundamental normative disagreement between reasonable normative outlooks.


OBJECTIVES
To determine types of pharmacy blogs in existence, themes of discourse on pharmacy blogs, and impressions of the profession generated by pharmacy blogs.

DESIGN
Descriptive, qualitative, cross-sectional study.

SETTING
Weblogs (blogs) on the World Wide Web in July 2009.

PARTICIPANTS
Not applicable; pharmacy-centric blogs were analyzed.

INTERVENTION
Qualitative research methods were used to form categories and assign pharmacy-centric blogs to appropriate categories. Thematic analysis was used to study the discourse of blogs in the personal views category. Finally, blogs in the personal views category were analyzed further to determine what type of impression (positive, negative, or neutral) they gave the reader.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Categories, themes, and impressions of blogs, as determined by analysis.

RESULTS
136 blogs met study criteria. Seven main categories of pharmacy blogs emerged from the study. The majority of blogs were assigned to the news (n = 44) and personal views (n = 38) categories. Thematic analysis of blogs in the personal views category revealed 11 different themes. The top four blog post themes were issues with patients (n = 30), personal lives (n = 29), working conditions/issues (n = 20), and issues with other professionals (n = 19). A total of 24 (63%) blogs in the personal views category were judged as promoting a negative impression of pharmacists and/or the profession.

CONCLUSION
The pharmacy blogosphere contains a variety of blog types. Most of these blogs studied were useful information resources for those in or considering the profession. However, a considerable number of pharmacy blogs contained derogatory posts regarding patients, other health care professionals, and/or the author's occupation as a pharmacist. Blogs such as these tend to generate a negative impression of pharmacy to the reader. The opportunity exists for pharmacists and pharmacy educators to use social media applications such as blogs to educate new pharmacists and advance the profession.


ABSTRACT Objectives: To identify all studies of injuries in wrestling, assess risk of bias and compute weighted average injury rates. Methods: 17 online databases and nine grey literature resources were searched with no language/date limitations. Abstracts were assessed for inclusion and data abstracted independently by two reviewers. Results: Eleven studies of competitions, 27 databases, four surveys (699 wrestlers) and seventeen case reports (604 cases) were included. Studies provided varying completeness of data. Weighted average injury rates of 16.3/1000AE (AE = Athletic encounter) could be computed for 8/11 studies of competitions and 69.5/1000AE for 5/27 databases. Eleven of the databases focused on specific injuries. Weighted average injury rates by location for 8/11 competition studies and 7/16 databases were similar for the upper extremities (competitions 26%, databases 24%) and torso (15%, 12%), but dissimilar for head/neck (31%, 20%) and lower extremities (24%, 39%). Weighted average injury rates by injury type varied from 6/11 to 2/11 competition studies and 6/16 to 3/16 database studies. Percentages were similar for fractures (6%, 7%), dislocations/subluxations (6%, 6%), ligament tears/cartilage injuries (12%, 17%) and concussions/1000AE (2 competition studies, 1 database) in competitions (25%, 27%) and training (5.7%, 7.1%). Percentages were dissimilar for lacerations/abrasions/contusions (23%, 4%) and sprains/strains (38%, 26%). The differences may be due to the small number of databases providing specific data and the unknown proportion of training injuries. Databases extrapolating injuries to the national US level reported high annual numbers. Conclusions: Average injury rates weighted by sample size are 16.3/1000AE for 8/11 competition studies and 69.5/1000AE for 5/27 databases. Competition data are likely to be accurate because they were observed by physicians, trainers and referees and the completeness and accuracy of database studies vary. Databases which extrapolated data to provide annual national rates estimated large numbers. Few studies provided data about the situations in which injuries occur and the causes of injuries.


This work deals with a technique for estimating the soil permittivity starting from Ground-Penetrating-Radar (GPR) measurements collected under a reflection mode single view (one transmitting antenna) multistatic (plurality of receivers) configuration. The technique consists of two steps: i) first the soil Fresnel reflection coefficient is estimated; ii) then the soil electromagnetic parameters are inferred from the retrieved reflection coefficient. In real scenarios, the transmitting antenna couples with the soil as it is in close proximity of the air-soil interface so that mutual interactions arise. Accordingly, the transmitting antenna plane-wave spectrum depends on the electromagnetic properties of the medium under investigation. This strongly complicates the problem as the first step becomes a non-linear inverse problem. To overcome such a drawback, a pre-processing stage consisting of a suitable time gating procedure is here introduced. This allows to restore linearity of the Fresnel coefficient estimation. Moreover, it is also able to mitigate negative effect due to not matched transmitting antenna. Numerical examples are presented to assess the feasibility of the proposed technique.


A 2200-yr long, high-resolution (~5 yr) record of drought variability in northwest Montana is inferred from diatoms and δ18O values of bio-induced carbonate preserved in a varved lacustrine core from Foy Lake. A previously developed model of the diatom response to lake-level fluctuations is used to constrain estimates of paleolake levels derived from the diatom data. High-frequency (decadal) fluctuations in the de-trended δ18O record mirror variations in wet/dry cycles inferred from Banff tree-rings, demonstrating the sensitivity of the oxygen-isotope values to changes in regional moisture balance. Low frequency (multi-centennial) isotopic changes may be associated with shifts in the seasonal distribution of precipitation. From 200 B.C. to A.D. 800, both diatom and isotope records indicate that climate was dry and lake level low, with poor diatom preservation and high organic carbon: nitrogen ratios. Subsequently, lake level rose slightly, although the climate was drier and more stable than modern conditions. At A.D. 1200, lake level increased to approximately 6 m below present elevation, after which the lake fluctuated between this elevation and full stage, with particularly cool and/or wetter conditions after 1700. The hydrologic balance of the lake shifted abruptly at 1894 because of the establishment of a lumber mill at the lake's outlet. Spectral analysis of the δ18O data indicates that severe droughts occurred with multi-decadal (50 to 70


BACKGROUND: Different temporizing neurosurgical procedures are available for the management of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in preterm newborns. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short efficacy of the external ventricular drains (EVDs) and the ventriculosubgaleal (VSG) shunt. METHODS: This is a Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology–conformed retrospective cohort study. The inclusion criteria were (1) gestational age <37 weeks, (2) birth weight <1500 g, (3) posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus because of intraventricular hemorrhage grade II/III, and (4) EVD or VSG shunt procedure before ventriculoperitoneal (VP)-definite shunt. Twenty-four newborns were collected from 2006 to 2022. The end points considered were infectious events, proteinorrachia, reintervention rate, and time to conversion to definite VP shunt. RESULTS: Overall, 12/24 newborns underwent EVD, and the remnant had a VSG shunt. The results showed a statistically significant difference (P = .02) concerning cerebrospinal fluid infections between the EVD group (50%) and VSG shunt 1 (8.33%). The reintervention rate of EVD was significantly higher (66.67%) compared with that of the VSG shunt group (8.33%). A statistically significant difference was stated between the 2 groups (t[13] = −8.250; P < .001) (mean difference ± standard error; 10.5 ± 1.273) in the mean number of days elapsed from the achievement of the ideal weight (2000 g) to the definitive VP drainage. CONCLUSION: The increased infectious risk and the higher reintervention rate in EVD were confirmed in this study. In addition, a significant delay in the time to -conversion from EVD to VP shunt was demonstrated. Despite these optimal results, the VSG shunt remains a low practiced intervention, probably because of the limited operator experience.


OBJECTIVE. Professional guidelines for adolescents recommend annual preventive visits with screening and anticipatory guidance for health-related behaviors. The objective of this study was to examine receipt of preventive services, including disparities in services received, by using a nationally representative sample of adolescents. METHODS. Using data from the 2001–2004 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (ages 10–17; N = 8464), we examined receipt of preventive care visits and several measures of the content of care, based on caregiver's reports, among adolescents who received a preventive care visit during the past 12 months. Content of care outcomes included physical parameters measurement (height, weight, and blood pressure); receipt of anticipatory guidance (dental care, seat belts, helmets, exercise, healthy eating, and secondhand smoke exposure); and, for 12- to 17-year-olds, whether adolescents had time alone with their provider during their most recent visit, a proxy for confidential services. We conducted logistic regression analyses to test for disparities in the outcomes on the basis of race/ethnicity, income, and insurance status. RESULTS. Thirty-eight percent of adolescents had a preventive care visit in the previous 12 months. Low-income and full-year uninsured status were associated with higher risk for not receiving this visit. Most adolescents had height (87%), weight (89%), and blood pressure (78%) assessed. Rates for height and weight were lower in poor and uninsured adolescents. Anticipatory guidance rates were much lower, ranging from 31% for seat belts, helmets, and secondhand smoke to 49% for healthy eating. Only 10% had all 6 areas addressed. Multivariate analyses yielded few disparities in receipt of anticipatory guidance. Forty percent had time alone with their providers. Hispanic and the lowest-income adolescents were the least likely to have time alone. CONCLUSIONS. Few adolescents received a preventive visit; among those who received this visit, provision of recommended anticipatory guidance was very low. Strategies are required to improve delivery of recommended preventive services to adolescents.


Bouin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections from the dorsal skin of Bufo bufo and Xenopus Laevis were subjected to lectin histochemistry. A panel of biotinylated lectins (Con-A, PSA, LCA, UEA-I, DBA, SBA, SJA, RCA-I, BSL-I, WGA, s-WGA, PHA-E and PHA-L) and an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) showed a species-specific compartmentalization of saccharides to certain parts of the epidermis and glandular domains. Some marked histochemical differences between the two examined species adapted to fully aquatic (X. laevis) or semiterrestrial (B. bufo) environments may be relevant of a relationship existing between habitat selection and the glycosaminoglycans content of the skin. In addition the technique used in this paper may be applicable for further studies of the carbohydrate composition in various tissues of lower vertebrates.


Abstract Lipases are acyl hydrolases that represent a diverse group of enzymes present in organisms ranging from prokaryotes to humans. This article focuses on an evolutionarily related family of extracellular lipases that include lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase and endothelial lipase. As newly synthesized proteins, these lipases undergo a series of co- and post-translational maturation steps occurring in the endoplasmic reticulum, including glycosylation and glycan processing, and protein folding and subunit assembly. This article identifies key factors that facilitate this process and discusses mechanisms that direct early and late events in lipase folding and assembly. Lipase maturation employs the two general chaperone systems operating in the endoplasmic reticulum, as well as a recently identified lipase‑specific chaperone termed lipase maturation factor 1. We propose that the two general chaperone systems act in a coordinated manner early in lipase maturation in order to help create partially folded monomers; lipase maturation factor 1 then facilitates final monomer folding and subunit assembly into fully functional homodimers. Once maturation is complete, the lipases exit the endoplasmic reticulum and are secreted to extracellular sites, where they carry out a number of functions related to lipoprotein and lipid metabolism.


Background: Depression is a common chronic recurrent syndrome, characterized by apathy, loss of energy, retardation of thinking and activity, as well as profound feelings of gloominess, despair and suicidal ideation. The present study aimed to evaluate the antidepressant activity of synthesized novel furan compound by using forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). Methods: The antidepressant activity was studied in albino mice using FST and TST. Fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) were used as standard drugs and test drug novel furan compound (5, 10, 20 mg/kg) was used as test drug. A total of 60 mice were selected for the study and utilized 30 mice in each model. Animals were divided into five groups consisting of 6 animals in each. Control group received 10% tween 80 orally; standard group received fluoxetine 20 mg/kg orally; test group 1 received 5 mg/kg substituted furan compound orally; test group 2 received 10 mg/kg substituted furan compound orally; test group 3 received 20 mg/kg substituted furan compound orally. Results: In FST the low dose test compound had shown the percentage inhibition of 75.5% which was comparable to percentage inhibition of standard drug fluoxetine -82%. In TST the test group-1 had produced 66.6%, test group-2 83.3% and test group-3 produced 100% protection against passive behavior (immobility). The percentage of protection produced by highest dose was equal to standard drug fluoxetine against passive behavior. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the test drug has produced significant inhibition in duration of immobility by FST and also had significant protection against passive behavior. Hence substituted furan had potential antidepressant activity.


This thesis consists of three different essays, all of which have arisen from a practical problem. In the first essay, "Technical efficiency and ownership: The case of booking centers in the Swedish Taxi Market" the purpose is to examine the question of competition on an equal basis between privately and publicly owned booking centers in the Swedish taxi market. One way to answer this question is to study technical efficiency, and decomposing technical efficiency into managerial and organizational efficiency. In the empirical investigation, no evidence was found of a relation between amount of technical efficiency and ownership type. The result of the Mann-Whitney test indicates that there is no statistically significant difference in technical efficiency between the privately owned and the publicly owned booking centers. In the second essay, "Identification of References: An Explorative Approach" the focus is on implementing the result from a efficiency study in the investigated industry, by providing inefficient units with information on relevant reference units. The aim of the study is to provide guidelines on which properties one can expect of a reference unit, and on methods for detecting reference units for an inefficient unit. Relevant reference units make it possible for inefficient units to, on site, study production that is more efficient than its own. This makes it possible to adopt more efficient ways to organize production. In the study, we argue that to be a relevant reference unit the unit has to be the existing and efficient unit that are most similar, indicated by the Euclidian distance, to the inefficient unit. To identify reference units, three methods are explored: Dominance, non-zero Intensity variables and the Sphere. Strengths and weaknesses of each method are explored in the study. In the third essay, "The Effect of Omitted Variables on Optimal Scale: An Application on Swedish Employment Offices", we investigate the effects of omitting/adding variables on both the source of scale inefficiency and on the input-output size of scale efficient units. Both a non-parametric and a parametric distance function approach are used to compute measures of scale efficiency and scale elasticity respectively. This information is used to classify units in one of the following groups; scale efficient, scale inefficiency due to increasing returns to scale and, finally, scale inefficiency due to decreasing returns to scale. We then investigate if, as an effect of omitting/adding variables, changes exist between these groups and changes within the group of scale efficient units, with respect to input and output size. Changes between the groups imply that policy recommendations, concerning means to reducing inefficiency, change. Changes within the scale efficient group, with respect to input and output size, imply a change in the optimal scale of production. In the empirical application, we show that omission of variables will influence the source of scale inefficiency. In general, when the two quality indicators are omitted, scale inefficiency is to a larger extent explained by increasing returns to scale. Further, we show that optimal scale is larger, if the quality indicators are omitted.


Active control of a slightly sagged cable using actuator motion in the cable axial direction is studied. Two active control schemes are proposed: (i) active stiffness control and (ii) active sag-induced force control. They are verified experimentally, and good agreement between experiments and predictions is shown. Next, using the direct method of Liapunov, a stable control scheme to control multimodal response of a cable is proposed. An uncontrollable motion is identified as a circular swirling motion of the cable that is formed by two closely spaced antisymmetric modes. The simulation results show that the controller suppresses free vibration of a cable efficiently whenever the cable motion is controllable and stops when uncontrollable. It is observed that control spillovers occur but their effects are not significant. The vibration energy of the multimodal response of a cable under random excitation is shown to be reduced effectively by the proposed control scheme.


We orally administered Goshuyu-to or Evodia fruit extract and Ginger extract to untreated rats, and found a slight but not significant rise in their body temperature. In rats treated with chlorpromazine, the administration of Goshuyu-to prevented decrease in the body temperature. After administration of each extract of component crude drugs (Evodia fruit, Ginger, Ginseng: Jujube: such an effect was recognized only by Evodia fruit, and other component crude drugs exhibited no body temperature retaining effect in this experiment system. We further studied the effect of Evodia fruit alkaloid hydroxyevodiamine, evodiamine, rutaecarpine and evocarpine used individually and confirmed that the body temperature retaining effect occurred mainly with evodiamine.


.. Objectives: To determine the frequency of neurological manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency and to observe the reversibility of the symptoms after the therapy. Study Design: Descriptive study. Study Design: Descriptive study. Setting: Medicine Department of Bolan Medical Complex Hospital Quetta. Period: One year that is from January 2012 to December 2012. Methodology: 46 patients presented to various OPDS of B.M.C.H.. The inclusion criteria for the patients to be studied were: Anemia, Neurological complaints. Results: Out of 46 patients 26(56%) were males and 20(43%) were the females with a mean age of (40) years.32 (69%) belonged to the rural areas. 45(97%) had mixed diets whereas only one 1(2.1%) young non Muslim was found to be pure vegetarian.32 (69%) patients presented with hematological as well as neurological complaints. 23(30%) had pancytopenia and 9(19.5%) had bicytopenia. 14(30%) presented with neurological complaints only as sacd 6 (13%), ataxia 8 (17%), sensorimotor neuropathies 36 (78%) and dementia 2 (4.3%). In signs glossitis was found in 6(13%), jaundice in 22 (47%), pallor in 32 (69%) proximal myopathy in 12 (26%) out of which 6 (13%) had shoulder girdle and 8 (17%) pelvic girdle myopathy. Impaired position sense was found in 18 (39%) patients and vibration sense in 21(45%) patients. other signs were pigmentation 2(4.3%) hypotonia in 6(13%) Spasticity in 2(4.3%) and Upgoing plantars in 6(13%) patients. Lhermittes sign could be elicited in only 2(4.3%) patients Optic neuritis and optic atrophy was found in 4(8.6%) patients who came with paraplegia and marked anemia. Rhombergs sign was positive in 8(17.3%) who came with clumsiness of gait. Hemoglobin (Hb %) was found to be low in 32(69%) with a mean of 7.2gm%.pancytopenia (anemia+leucopenia+thrombocytopenia) was found in 23(50%) of patients whereas bicytopenia was found only in 9(19.5%) of patients. Hypersegmented W.B.C were very carefully looked for and were found in 20(43%) of cases. ovalomegaloblasts were found in 32 (69%) of cases .both findings of ovalomegaloblasts and hypersegmented w.b.cs were found in 20 (43%). in the rest 14 (30%) the blood investigations were found to be normal. The next investigation in all patients was serum B12 estimation, It was found that levels below 200pg/ml were found in 95% cases where only 2(4.3%) patients came with levels slightly above 205pg/ml and 210pg/ml. the response to therapy was recorded as reversible and irreversible. the irreversible features were sacd in 6 (13%), optic atrophy in 2 (4.3%), and dementia in 2 (4.3%) patients. the partially reversible features were myelopathy 10 (21%) numbness and paraesthesias 30 (65%) optic neuritis inn 2 (4.3%) patients were assessed on a duration of 24 weeks. partially reversible features were ataxia, in 6 (13%) patients myelopathy in 2 (4.3%) patients dementia in 2 (4.3%) patients and paraesthesias and numbness in 6 (13%) patients over a period of 24 weeks. Conclusion: It is concluded from my study that the neuropsychiatric manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency are common among the elderly age group, either with or with out the evidence of anemia.


Abstract The Chinese species of Parametriocnemus Goetghebuer are reviewed. Two species, Parametriocnemus fortis sp. n. and Parametriocnemus vittatus sp. n. are described and illustrated as males, and Parametriocnemus ornaticornis (Kieffer), Parametriocnemus scotti (Freeman) and Parametriocnemus brundini Sinharay & Chaudhuri are recorded from China for the first time. A key to the males of the seven Chinese Parametriocnemus speciesis given.


Cardiovascular disease mortality is high in children on maintenance dialysis, accounting for about 25% of patient deaths. Cardiovascular-related mortality rates for children on dialysis are higher than for children with successful kidney transplants. Data on the long-term consequences of risk factors for cardiovascular disease are lacking for pediatric end-stage renal disease patients. This article reviews pediatric data pertaining to the following risk factors: anemia, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, left ventricular hypertrophy, abnormal calcium-phosphorus metabolism, and hyperhomocysteinemia. The potential relationship of end-stage renal disease to the etiology of several functional disorders of the cardiovascular system is discussed. Clinical studies are needed to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and of cardiovascular disease risk factors in the pediatric end-stage renal disease population. Possible preventive and therapeutic guidelines need to be developed for at-risk children on maintenance dialysis.


We describe the case of a woman with chronic hepatitis C which had been diagnosed by biochemical, sero- logical and histological criteria. She presented acute autoimmune hepatitis and acute liver failure a year after starting treatment with pegylated interferon and required orthotopic liver transplantation.


A business enterprise interested in influencing the design, adoption or enforcement of a particular law, rule or regulation often confronts a choice. Does it lobby officials directly? Or does it do so indirectly, using a collective action group as an intermediary? We draw on data from a large, 2010 survey of enterprises across the Russian Federation to demonstrate that the propensity to engage in intermediated lobbying increases with region-level political competition. Our explanation builds on recent evidence confirming Mancur Olson's claim (1982) that less encompassing actors tend to lobby for more distortionary policies. We hypothesize that with greater political competition government officials become more responsive to encompassing voices (i.e. associations of businesses as opposed to single firms), since the electoral costs of being captured by narrower interests becomes greater. Evidence from a complementary survey of regional business association managers points in the same direction; the relative attention paid by officials to lobbying efforts by encompassing associations increases with political competition.


The study compares the psychometric properties of four different approaches to patient-assessed health outcomes in asthma, including the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), Newcastle Asthma Symptoms Questionnaire (NASQ), SF-12 and EuroQol. The instruments were administered by means of a self-completed postal questionnaire to 394 patients recruited from general practices in the North East of England. Patients completed a follow-up questionnaire at 6 months. The levels of missing data were assessed and instrument scores compared using correlational analysis. Scores were related to self-reports of smoking behaviour, socioeconomic status and health transition. Responsiveness was assessed using standardized response means. Two hundred and thirty-five patients took part in the study giving a response rate of 59.6%. There was a relatively large amount of missing data for the individualized section of the AQLQ. Correlational analysis provided evidence of convergent validity between the specific instruments; the largest correlation was found between NASQ scores and the asthma symptoms scale of the AQLQ (r = 0.84). The NASQ was found to be the most powerful at discriminating between smokers and non-smokers. All four instruments were linearly related to self-reported asthma transition (P<0.05); the specific instruments having the strongest association. The specific instruments showed good levels of responsiveness with the NASQ producing a large SRM of 0.82. SRMs for the AQLQ were of a moderate to large size (0.32-0.77) and the SRMs for the SF-12 and EuroQol were of a small size. The two specific instruments are capable of greater levels of discrimination between groups of patients and are more responsive to changes in health than the generic SF-12 and EuroQol. The greater responsiveness of the NASQ is probably due to its focus being restricted to symptoms of asthma compared to the broader focus of the AQLQ domains. The NASQ has a strong relationship with the AQLQ and is a more practical instrument that is more acceptable to patients. However, the AQLQ does measure broader patient concerns. The SF-12 and EuroQol have greater potential to capture side-effects and have wider scope for application in economic evaluation.


This paper investigates the vibration characteristics of rotor displacement signals in a magnetic bearing system under conditions when rotor contact with auxiliary bearings is possible. Since these signals may be used for feedback control, it is necessary to determine how they may affect the ability of the controller to regain rotor levitation. An experimental system is used to demonstrate the sensitivity of the rotor non-linear dynamic behavior to unbalance, which is sufficient to cause contact during rotor run up through rigid body and flexural mode critical speeds. Complex rotor dynamics may involve contact with more than one auxiliary bearing or bush. Application of appropriate rotating forces to the rotor through a magnetic bearing is also shown to induce similar contact dynamics. Thus an alternative procedure for assessing the non-linear rotor dynamic behavior is established with the potential for identification of appropriate control forces. The contact dynamics are also considered in the presence of auxiliary bearing misalignment. Misalignment may arise through physical translation of a housing or through steady state offset errors in sensor measurements. A misalignment of 50% of the nominal radial clearance is applied at an auxiliary bearing. Various contact modes are evident as the rotor is run up in speed. During run down different contact dynamics may be encountered and the level of such hysteresis is assessed.Copyright © 2004 by ASME


ing disease states for each different drug. To state the obvious, care for a patient with chronic renal failure will cost much more than care for a patient with depression; the statistical analysis does not account for this cost differential. A more appropriate cost evaluation would have been across the disease state variables; this was not reported in the article. Further, baseline pretreatment costs were higher for patients in the switching group, showing a cost bias in favor of oxycodone CR (OxyContin). In addition, pretreatment healthcare costs for transdermal fentanyl and CR morphine groups were significantly higher, again showing this bias. Funding for the study and 2 authors came from Purdue Pharma (OxyContin's manufacturer) and the rest of the authors were from Policy Analysis, a statistics for-hire firm in Brookline, MA. Oxycodone CR, transdermal fentanyl, and CR morphine sulfate have all shown efficacy in pain relief in cancer and noncancer pain; oxycodone CR has shown a need for more rescue doses 2,3 and can cause fatal dose dumping if the controlled-release mechanism is broken4 when compared with CR morphine sulfate . There has not been a definitive trial showing patient preference of one opiate over another for pain relief. The types of studies Policy Analysis performs (retrospective, nonblinded post hoc analyses) are hypothesis generating, at best, and should not influence prescribing at any level.


Twenty-five years ago, morphologically aligned Hebrew-Finnish and Greek-Finnish bitexts (texts accompanied by a translation) were constructed manually in order to create an analytical concordance (Luoto et al., eds. 1997) for a Finnish Bible translation. The creators of the bitexts recently secured the publisher's permission to release its fine-grained alignment, but the alignment was still dependent on proprietary, third-party resources such as a copyrighted text edition and proprietary morphological analyses of the source texts. In this paper, we describe a nontrivial editorial process starting from the creation of the original one-purpose database and ending with its reconstruction using only freely available text editions and annotations. This process produced an openly available dataset that contains (i) the source texts and their translations, (ii) the morphological analyses, (iii) the cross-lingual morpheme alignments.


After harvesting the stigma from saffron flower, the petal part of the flower, which is violet in colour, is thrown as a waste. Pashmina shawl is a very delicate material and requires mild chemical treatments for dyeing. In the present study, an attempt has been made to utilize the petal part of the saffron flower to extract dye for application on the Pashmina shawl. The saffron flower waste was dried and ground into powder form. The natural dye was extracted by aqueous method at boiling conditions. The extracts were then applied on Pashmina wool at two different pH namely pH 4-5 and pH 7-8 with and without the use of mordant. The results showed that saffron flower waste extracts was able to dye the Pashmina shawl satisfactorily with very good washing and light fastness properties. It is also proposed to give an alkaline detergent treatment after dyeing to avoid tone variation of dyed fabric. Saffron flower extract dyed fabric at acidic pH without mordant showed zone of inhibition for the growth against Staphylococcus aureus


Synopsis Five pre-emergent herbicides were applied either on their own or in various combinations to commercially planted Acacia mearnsii De Wild. seedlings in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Acacia mearnsii growth responses to the protected or unprotected application of these herbicides were compared to a weedfree and weedy control. Compared to the weedfree control, suppression from weed competition only caused a significant reduction in tree growth from 92 days after planting, by which stage most of the residual capabilities of the herbicides tested had been reduced. The herbicides which did give good control of both grasses and volunteer wattle regeneration relative to the weedy treatment were oxyfluorfen alone, or when combined with thiazopyr or thiazopyr + metazachlor. When applied as an unprotected spray, only the herbicide combinations of simazine/terbuthylazine and metazachlor did not cause a significant reduction in tree growth. Although only significant at p < 0,1 the herbicides of oxyfluorfen and glyphosate/ simazine/terbuthylazine, when applied as an unprotected spray, caused a reduction in tree survival (arcsine transformed) when compared to the weedfree control. Tree variability was found to be a function of the presence or absence of weed growth and the method ofherbicide application. Lower tree variability was exhibited in those treatments for which no pre-emergent herbicides were applied or where the seedlings were protected during spraying.


This research is going to describe and evaluate how actually work performance of the escorts of Program Keluarga Harapan is contributing to achieve successfully society empowerment programme held in Kecamatan Banyuputih Kabupaten Situbondo in 2013. Qualitative paradigm and descriptive research is used, which processing primary and secondary data. Techniques that I use to work on primary data are observation and interview, meanwhile I have documentating secondary data. From its evaluation I able to conclude that Program Keluarga Harapan held in Kecamatan Banyuputih Kabupaten Situbondo in 2013 have been contributed toward society empowerment programme. Society empowerment concept is always upperhanded as final achievement of PKH. This means that even the programme ended people still able to recieve benefits from it. Health and education considered as the main indicator as a social modal to survive and make a betterment in the live of the society. With having strong body they able to strive and working hard, and with posessing education they have a chance to make bigger fortunes. Example of one successful PKH outcome is seen by increasing of number of working housewives as snack sellers or making a catering services. This efforts effect family economical condition, too. At last, implementation of Program Keluarga Harapan already make society to change their mindset in order to make a betterment for their lives.


A novel approach for optical biosensing can be obtained based multiphoton induced luminescence (MIL) and its dependence on plasmonic coupling. It has been shown that the proximity of spherical AuNPs determines the generation of MIL in far-field multiphoton laser scanning microscopy (MPM). A stimuli responsive contrast mediator with high sensitivity can be created by controlling the aggregated state of AuNP. In this study we explore a system based on spherical AuNPs functionalized with β-cyclodextrin and multiple β-D-lactose units (lacto-CD-AuNP). The aim of the β- D-lactose units is to target cancer cells, based on overexpression of galectin3 (Gal-3) receptors. The results demonstrate that clustering of particles, and thereby MIL signal, was only acquired from tumor cell lines, i.e., SK-MEL-28 and A431, while not from normal keratinocytes (HEKn). Thus further studies should be undertaken to translate the concept to a preclinical setting.


As a consequence of multiple cycles of deforestation and reforestation, most forest landscapes in Europe consist of a complex mosaic of patches of different successional ages. Despite the biogeographical distinctiveness of the Mediterranean region, studies on the effects of forest age on plant species diversity and composition are almost lacking for this area. This paper evaluates the influence of forest successional age on plant species richness and composition in various forest types of Mediterranean Italy.


Because of a high pertussis morbidity, compulsory vaccination with DPT-vaccine was started in GDR in 1964. The performing of vaccination for many years has led to a 60--100 fold decrease of morbidity. The well established system of medical care for mothers and babies and the high percent of children who spend their day in nurseries and kindergardens enables satisfying control of the vaccinees. The observed side reactions give no reason to abandon the DPT-Vaccination.


The need for patient-centeredness in care delivery has been articulated for decades, yet meaningful progress toward patient-centered healthcare has been hobbled by the lack of a replicable patient-centered care model and method. The authors describe the patient- and family-centered care method, built around viewing every care experience through the eyes of the patient and family, and its outcomes proving the approach is replicable and sustainable while improving outcomes without additional cost. A follow-up article on patient and family shadowing will be published in the January 2011 issue.


The emerging roles of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in the initiation and progression of multiple cancers have drawn great attention in cancer research. We hypothesized that BMP2 promotes cancer metastasis by modulating MMP-2 secretion and activity through intracellular ROS regulation and ERK activation in human pancreatic cancer. Our data show that stimulation of PANC-1 cells with BMP2 induced MMP-2 secretion and activation, associated with decreased E-cadherin expression, resulting in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) and cell invasion. Blockade of ROS by the ROS scavenger, 2-MPG, abolished cell invasion, inhibited the EMT process and decreased MMP-2 expression, suggesting ROS accumulation caused an increase in MMP-2 expression in BMP2-stimulated PANC-1 cell invasion. Furthermore, treatment of PANC-1 cells with 2-MPG or ERK inhibitor PD98059 reduced the phosphorylation of ERK, resulting in attenuation of BMP2-induced cell invasion and MMP-2 activation. Taken together, these results suggest that BMP2 induces the cell invasion of PANC-1 cells by enhancing MMP-2 secretion and acting through ROS accumulation and ERK activation.


A study is described that was conducted to provide a realistic technical and economic assessment of the use of advanced ceramic materials technology for heat engines in transportation applications. Key results from a worldwide Delphi survey are presented on the expected timing and rate of market development for ceramic engine components and engines. These results show that, by the mid 1990s, a substantial number of ceramic engine components will be in production and ceramic-intensive engines will be introduced. Also presented in the study are benefits and barriers to the use of ceramic technology in heat engines and other relevant factors influencing its rate of adoption. A modeling approach is presented that uses the survey data to produce a series of market penetration curves for individual ceramic engine components for light- and heavy-duty applications under different scenarios. Finally, the conditions required for rapid market development of ceramic technology for heat engines are discussed.


We describe a technique of scleral IOL fixation and optic centration of in the capsular bag subluxated IOL in a patient of "dead bag syndrome." A 29-year-old male diagnosed case of thalassemia presented with painless progressive diminution of vision in the left eye following uncomplicated sequential phacoemulsification in both eyes 15 years back. The right eye revealed completely centered IOL with significant amount of anterior capsular opacification (ACO), while the left eye revealed inferior subluxation of the IOL within capsular bag. The capsular bag was dilated, diaphanous with clear anterior and posterior capsule without any evidence of capsular fibrosis or opacification. Thus, a diagnosis of "dead bag syndrome" was made. The haptics were sutured to sclera (Hoffman's pockets) using two loops of 9-0 polypropylene, passed anterior and posterior to IOL haptics within the capsular bag. Postoperatively, the patient had a vision of 20/40 with a centered intraocular lens.


After a life of writing about Victorian novelists, Rosemarie Bodenheimer found herself entranced by the work of Samuel Beckett. In this book she shares her journey of discovery with readers who may or may not be familiar with Beckett's novels and stories. She follows his trajectory from the first unpublished novel, Dream of Fair to Middling Women, through the great postwar trilogy of Molloy, Malone Dies, and The Unnamable, and on to the ever more experimental inventions in the shorter, later fictions and monologues. Through readings of his work alongside extracts from his published correspondence, Beckett emerges as a sympathetic human figure, a poet of productive doubt, and a brilliant stylist of mood changes and second thoughts. Bodenheimer considers Beckett's treatments of memory, nostalgia, and grief, and the forms he finds to convey those essential human experiences while avoiding melodrama or sentimentality. His dramatized relationship with his own writing is a crucial part of that emotional landscape. His playful jousts with the conventions of novel-writing show how, from the start, Beckett challenged the notion of character and other inherited novel conventions. The book also emphasizes his dismantling of the autobiographical "I," his moving narratives of attachment and loss, and the inimitable mixture of comedy and pathos he creates by inventing outlandish situations to which his characters respond with very recognizable human anxieties and adaptations.


Estimation of relative potency of several test prep a ations with respect to one standard preparation is considered. The hypotheses about sim ilarity of preparations and the relative potencies for multivariate responses and proper tes t functions are presented. Some reduction of full linear multivariate model to chosen test prepa rations or to some traits in responses is proposed. For such a reduced model, some choice mat rices are defined. Proper hypotheses and test functions in the reduced model are presented.


Community diversity can reduce the prevalence and spread of disease, but certain species may play a disproportionate role in diluting or amplifying pathogens. Flowers act as both sources of nutrition and sites of pathogen transmission, but the effects of specific plant species in shaping bee disease dynamics are not well understood. We evaluated whether plantings of sunflower (Helianthus annuus), whose pollen reduces infection by some pathogens when fed to bees in captivity, lowered pathogen levels and increased reproduction in free-foraging bumblebee colonies (Bombus impatiens). Sunflower abundance reduced the prevalence of a common gut pathogen, Crithidia bombi, and reduced infection intensity, with an order of magnitude lower infection intensity at high sunflower sites compared with sites with little to no sunflower. Sunflower abundance was also positively associated with greater queen production in colonies. Sunflower did not affect prevalence of other detected pathogens. This work demonstrates that a single plant species can drive disease dynamics in foraging B. impatiens, and that sunflower plantings can be used as a tool for mitigating a prevalent pathogen while also increasing reproduction of an agriculturally important bee species.


This paper explores autonomic approaches for optimizing provisioning for heterogeneous workloads on enterprise Grids and clouds. Specifically, this paper presents a decentralized, robust online clustering approach that addresses the distributed nature of these environments, and can be used to detect patterns and trends, and use this information to optimize provisioning of virtual (VM) resources. It then presents a model-based approach for estimating application service time using long-term application performance monitoring, to provide feedback about the appropriateness of requested resources as well as the system's ability to meet QoS constraints and SLAs. Specifically for high-performance computing workloads, the use of a quadratic response surface model (QRSM) is justified with respect to traditional models, demonstrating the need for application-specific modeling. The proposed approaches are evaluated using a real computing center workload trace and the results demonstrate both their effectiveness and cost-efficiency.


Polyamide (PA)-66 is successfully ionised with various weight fractions of CaCl2 to prepare PA-66 ionenes bearing different ion contents (ICs). The PA-66 ionenes against PA-66 are incorporated as heterogeneous nucleators into poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) to effectively promote PET crystallisation. Compared to the PET/PA-66 (95/5 wt/wt), the PET/PA-66 ionenes (95/5) markedly improve the crystallisation rate and degree of crystallinity. Notably, as the IC of the PA-66 ionene rises from 0 to 11.4 mol%, the nucleation efficiency first increases and then decreases. This may be attributed to the introduction of strong ion–dipole interactions between the CaCl2-coordinating amides of the PA-66 ionenes and the esters of the PET matrices as the IC increases, which gradually boosts the PET/PA-66 ionene interfacial compatibility to create finer nucleator crystals with a denser distribution, thereby steadily enhancing the nucleation efficiency. However, once the IC exceeds 6.5 mol%, the dramatically improved interfacial compatibility causes greatly more and thicker amorphous interphase, which inhibits PET crystallisation. The results indicate that the PA-66 ionene containing 6.5 mol% of Ca2+ is a promising nucleator to maximise the crystallisation acceleration of PET due to the moderate interfacial compatibility by medium-concentration ion–dipole interactions.


One of the most important methods in loss reduction and controlling the voltages of distribution systems is the utilization of the fixed and switched capacitors. To do this, real modelling of the system in actual operational conditions including unbalanced or balanced loading and for actual feeder structure, ie, radial/meshed configuration, are required. In this paper, a new technique for finding the optimal values of the fixed and switched capacitors in the distribution networks with above properties based on the differential evolution algorithm is presented. For this purpose, the modelling of the loads at different load levels are simulated with low voltage and medium voltage capacitors that are available on the market. Regarding the above factors in addition to the various parameters in the optimization problem, DE Algorithm is used to find the best and real optimal network with the best rate for the capacitors


The modern industry is dominated by electric drives of the system frequency converter‒ induction motor, which employ integer-order controllers. Allowing the implementation and adjustment of fractional order controllers in the converter itself greatly expand their capabilities and, therefore, is relevant. This paper reports a procedure for the parametric synthesis of PI λ D μ -controllers of fractional order, providing for the use of the desired forms of fractional order, as well as their practical implementation in the system frequency converter–induction motor. In this case, the control object is described by a transfer function of the fractional or integer order, derived on the basis of experimental results. The study results demonstrate the possibility of constructing new, as well as modernizing existing, electromechanical systems involving the fractional-order PI λ D μ -controllers with an expanded range of dynamic properties that correspond to the desired forms of fractional order. The procedure for the parametric synthesis of a PI λ D μ -controller has been theoretically substantiated, which was confirmed by applying the simulation and during field experiments concerning the system frequency converter–induction motor. The reported procedure is universal because it makes it possible to synthesize the PI λ D μ -controller for standard forms of both the integer and fractional orders. It is clear that the range of the desired standard forms in the synthesis process can include all possible known forms, including those of fractional order. The result of this study allows us to argue that it is possible to apply the developed algorithm of actions for those engineering tasks that aim to build such systems for various industrial mechanisms. At the same time, no restrictions are imposed on the transfer function of the control object


International comparative testing, such as the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), has considerable impact on policy-makers, the media and the general public. A central assumption underlying PISA is that global variation in students' academic performance is attributable to national educational structures and policies. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the problematic nature of this assumption. Rather than critiquing it from the outside, we turn the tools, data and presumptions of the current discourse of international comparisons upon themselves, showing that this assumption is refuted by analysis of immigrant student test scores. Data from the PISA 2009 tests show that Chinese immigrant students in New Zealand and Australia achieve math scores that are more similar to those of students in Shanghai than to their non-immigrant Australian and New Zealand peers. Thus, cultural background appears to be more consequential for the educational attainment of Chinese immigrant students than exposure to the educational systems of Australia or New Zealand. We discuss limitations of our analysis, using them as basis to discuss the shortcomings of PISA more generally.


An advanced in-house procedure, which is based on a commercial numerical code, to predict a potential danger of unstalled flutter has been developed and validated. This procedure using a one way decoupled method and a full-scale time-marching 3D viscous model in order to obtain the solution of the Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations in the time domain thus calculate an aerodynamic work and a damping ratio is used as an essential tool for developing ultra-long last stage rotor blades in low pressure turbine parts for modern steam turbines with a large operating range and an enhanced efficiency. An example is shown on a development of the last stage blade for high backpressures.


A kinetic study into the styrene hydrogenation over a palladium on alumina catalyst has been made. Styrene was used as a model component for pyrolysis gasoline. A kinetic rate expression has been derived and the inhibiting e6ect of sulfur components has been included. Using this kinetics and mass-transfer models compiled from literature, the performance of two types of reactors for the styrene (pyrolysis gasoline) hydrogenation has been evaluated. A structured reactor such as a monolith has large advantages over a conventional trickle-bed reactor. For the monolithic reactor a more than 3 times higher volumetric productivity is obtained with much less catalyst. The modeling results indicate that deactivation by gum formation should be signi8cantly less due to much better hydrogen mass transfer in the reactor.


Information on the Web often contains contradictions and conflicting information, thus impacting the quality of data sources and the quality-related performance of search and retrieval. Therefore, appropriate techniques need to be developed and integrated into the infrastructure serving for the retrieval and browsing of data sources such that conflicting data are detected, can be removed or blocked, or can be highlighted to the user in order to offer an improvement of the quality of content consumed by users. This paper proposes an approach which allows to detect conflicting data by providing a technique for investigating deviation between values available from structured data on the Web. Our approach consists of multiple phases: First, some initial pre-processing of data from targeted data sources prepares the data sources to be comparable. Second, Levenshtein distance is computed between data elements to represent the degree of conflict between data elements. Third, computing the cosine similarity between vectors of Levenshtein distance values and a user-configurable sensitivity vector, encoding the characteristics of a specific kind of conflict that is subject to investigation, finally allows for a ranked detection of the conflicting data. This algorithm has been applied and tested on a data collection about movies from the Web, illustrating how the techniques can be applied for the detection of conflicting information on the Web.


Mineral composition and the Sensory attributes of Some food softening agents: Potash, dry Plantain leaf, Unripe Plantain peel, dry Palm bunch (Extracts) and their effects on African bread fruit were evaluated. The results showed the following mineral contents of the samples: Phosphorus 15.66mg/100g (Potash) to 26.22mg/100g (Palm bunch); Iron 2.78ppm (Palm bunch) to 6.77mg/100g (Plantain peel); Zinc contents of the samples ranged from 2.25ppm (Plantain peel) to 3.34ppm(Potash); Potassium content of the samples ranged from 27.81mg/100g (Palm bunch) to 176mg/100g(Potash); Sodium content ranged from 9.17mg/100g (Palm bunch) to 24.78mg/100g (Potash); Magnesium ranged from 11.86mg/100g (Plantain peel) to 13.44mg/100g (Potash, Plantain leaf); Lead ranged from 0.17mg/100g (Palm bunch) to 0.39mg/100g (Potash).Calcium content of the softening agents ranged from 14.69mg/100g (Palm bunch) to 27.82mg/100g (Potash). Sensory parameters of the samples evaluated were taste, colour, aroma, texture and general acceptability. The mean taste scores of the samples ranged from 4.44 (Palm bunch extract) to 6.72 (Potash), mean colour scores ranged from 4.04 (Palm bunch extract) to 6.44 (Potash extract), mean aroma scores ranged from 4.04 (Palm bunch extract) to 6.08 (Plantain peel). Texture of the samples ranged from 8.1 (Plantain peel, Plantain leaf extracts) to 8.4 (Palm bunch extract). The general acceptability of the samples ranged from 7.20 (Palm bunch, Potash extracts) to 7.5, (plantain peels extracts).The plantain peel extract had the highest mean sensory scores in terms of overall acceptability. Its effects as a softening agent were similar to those of the potash which served as a control sample.


PURPOSE
The exposure of cells in vitro to trains of low voltage-pulsed electric fields in the range of 20-100 V/cm was previously shown to induce an efficient uptake of macromolecules with molecular weight in the range of M(r) 300-2,000,000 via an endocytic-like process. This study examines the antitumor effectiveness of treatment based on similar exposure of solid tumors in mice to low electric fields (LEFs) in the presence of chemotherapeutic agents.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
LEF was applied to approximately 5 mm in diameter (60-70 mm(3)) s.c. B16-F10.9 melanoma tumors by percutaneously placed electrodes after intratumoral injection of either cis-platinum(II) diamminedichloride, Taxol, 5-fluorouracil, or bleomycin.

RESULTS
Significant eradication of primary tumors, prolongation of survival, and complete cure of some of the C57Bl/6 mice from both primary tumors and metastases were achieved using this technique with cis-platinum(II) diamminedichloride, bleomycin, and Taxol (13.5, 8, and 26% cure rate, respectively). Mice cured by LEF-enhanced chemotherapy and challenged with a tumorigenic dose of B16-F10.9 cells lived significantly longer than first time inoculated ones, and 23.5% of the challenged mice did not develop tumors at all. Spleen cells from the cured mice that were inoculated together with B16-F10.9 cells inhibited the primary tumor growth in intact mice. Histological analysis of tumor sections of LEF-enhanced chemotherapy-treated mice revealed multiple necrotic areas, apoptosis, and massive infiltrates of T lymphocytes and macrophages. Low voltage electrochemotherapy with Taxol was shown to be more effective than surgical removal of the tumor with Taxol.

CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that LEF-enhanced chemotherapy is an effective treatment of animals bearing metastatic melanoma.


Recognition by vocal characteristics between parents and their offspring is thought to be ubiquitous in colonially nesting avian species. The Brown-headed Parrot Poicephalus cryptoxanthus nests in hollows in trees. However, when the chicks fledge they leave the nest and for the following three weeks spend their time in a tree where they are fed by their parents. As the fledglings are mobile and cryptic, returning parents must locate their own chicks. In this study a series of playback experiments was carried out, which showed that the chicks recognise their parents by voice. A simultaneous mirror experiment indicated that recognition was not reciprocated, although there may be alternative explanations for this behaviour. When the young began to forage with their parents, vocal stimuli did not induce any response from adult or chick. We suggest that vocal recognition becomes secondary to visual recognition as development proceeds.


Roadside Unit (RSU) planning is a key step for the development of a robust Intelligent Transportation System (ITS). Many factors, including traffic flow variation, energy consumption, and budgetary constraints, all affect the daily operation and performance of the ITS. Therefore, there is an urgent need to effectively incorporate all these factors in designing a planning program that addresses this complex and dynamic problem. In this paper, we propose a general RSU planning solution, where complex and dynamic parameters are investigated. The objective is to maximize the effective coverage area of the placed RSUs, given: i) a planning budget comprised of periodic operating expenses (OPEX) and capital expenditures (CAPEX), ii) the physical limitations of the transceivers, and iii) the potential use of renewable energy to offset the on-grid electricity cost. We formulate a Mixed-Integer Quadratically Constrained Programming (MIQCP) problem that can simultaneously determine the optimal placement and daily activation/deactivation schedules of each RSU, whether or not they have a solar panel attached, and their ranges during each period of time. We performed a sensitivity analysis over a realistic map, and results show that as the budget increases, no matter the CAPEX/OPEX, there is an increase in coverage efficiency with a diminishing-returns behavior, a positive correlation between maximum transmission power ratings on the RSUs and coverage efficiency, and a negative correlation between minimum required data transfer rate and coverage efficiency.


The distal portion of the rat insulin I gene 5'-flanking DNA contains two sequence elements, the Far and FLAT elements, that can function in combination, but not separately, as a beta-cell-specific transcriptional enhancer. We have isolated several cDNAs encoding proteins that bind to the FLAT element. Two of these cDNAs, cdx-3 and lmx-1, represent homeo box containing mRNAs with restricted patterns of expression. The protein encoded by lmx-1 also contains two amino-terminal cysteine/histidine-rich "LIM" domains. Both cdx-3 and lmx-1 can activate transcription of a Far/FLAT-linked gene when expressed in a normally non-insulin-producing fibroblast cell line. Furthermore, in fibroblasts expressing transfected beta-cell lmx-1, the addition of the Far-binding, basic helix-loop-helix protein shPan-1 (the hamster equivalent of human E47) causes a dramatic synergistic activation. ShPan-1 causes no activation in fibroblasts expressing transfected cdx-3 or the related LIM-homeodomain protein isl-1. Deletion of one or both of the LIM domains from the 5' end of the lmx-1 cDNA removes this synergistic interaction with shPan-1 without any loss of basal transcriptional activation. We conclude that beta-cell lmx-1 functions by binding to the FLAT element and interacting through the LIM-containing amino terminus with shPan-1 bound at the Far element. These proteins form the minimal components for a functional minienhancer complex.


This thesis consists of four papers that are all related to the Snell envelope. In the first paper, the Snell envelope is used as a formulation of a two-modes optimal switching problem. The obstacles are interconnected, take both profit and cost yields into account, and switching is based on both sides of the balance sheet. The main result is a proof of existence of a continuous minimal solution to a system of Snell envelopes, which fully characterizes the optimal switching strategy. A counter-example is provided to show that uniqueness does not hold.The second paper considers the problem of having a large number of production lines with two modes of production, high-production and low-production. As in the first paper, we consider both expected profit and cost yields and switching based on both sides of the balance sheet. The production lines are assumed to be interconnected through a coupling term, which is the average optimal expected yields. The corresponding system of Snell envelopes is highly complex, so we consider the aggregated yields where a mean-field approximation is used for the coupling term. The main result is a proof of existence of a continuous minimal solution to a system of Snell envelopes, which fully characterizes the optimal switching strategy. Furthermore, existence and uniqueness is proven for the mean-field reflected backward stochastic differential equations (MF-RBSDEs) we consider, a comparison theorem and a uniform bound for the MF-RBSDEs is provided.The third paper concerns pricing of Bermudan type options. The Snell envelope is used as a representation of the price, which is determined using Monte Carlo simulation combined with the dynamic programming principle. For this approach, it is necessary to estimate the conditional expectation of the future optimally exercised payoff. We formulate a projection on a grid which is ill-posed due to overfitting, and regularize with the PDE which characterizes the underlying process. The method is illustrated with numerical examples, where accurate results are demonstrated in one dimension.In the fourth paper, the idea of the third paper is extended to the multi-dimensional setting. This is necessary because in one dimension it is more efficient to solve the PDE than to use Monte Carlo simulation. We relax the use of a grid in the projection, and add local weights for stability. Using the multi-dimensional Black-Scholes model, the method is illustrated in settings ranging from one to 30 dimensions. The method is shown to produce accurate results in all examples, given a good choice of the regularization parameter.


Author(s): Leger, Kate | Advisor(s): Charles, Susan T | Abstract: Affective responses to life's daily stressors shape our health and well-being. When studying an individual's affective response to stress, research has primarily focused on the effects of initial reactivity to stressful events. Researchers have further theorized that a person's ability to recover from a stressful experience is also an important contributor to health and well-being, but research supporting this claim is scarce. This dissertation examines lingering affect in response to both naturalistic and controlled laboratory-based stressors and its associations with physical health. This dissertation further examines how positive emotions influence lingering negative emotions following stress, and the relationship between lingering affective change in response to stress and sleep behavior. The first study found that next day lingering negative affect in response to a minor stressor predicted poor physical health in an assessment 10 years later (Chapter 2). The next study revealed that positive emotions play a role in how much lingering negative affect people experience. On stressor days when people experienced greater levels of positive emotions, they reported less lingering negative affect on the following day (Chapter 3). The final study used a laboratory-based design to examine the association between prolonged affective recovery from a stressor and sleep behavior. This study found that prolonged affective, but not physiological, recovery was related to worse reports of sleep quality and efficiency (Chapter 4). Findings from this dissertation demonstrate that emotions that linger following a stressful event are important for shaping physical health. These results point to the importance of emotion regulation strategies that focus on hastening affective recovery from stressful events and managing emotions that linger in the time following a stressful event.


The magnesium oxide (MgO) protective layer plays an important role in plasma display panels (PDPs). In this paper, we describe the structural and discharge properties of MgO thin films, which were prepared by the ion-beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) of oxygen as the protective layer of PDPs. The energy of the oxygen ion beam was used as the parameter to control the deposition. We found that the oxygen ion beam energy was effective in determining in structural and discharge characteristics. The lowest firing inception voltage, the highest brightness and the highest luminous efficiency were obtained when the MgO thin film was deposited with an oxygen ion beam energy of 300 eV. The crystallization of the MgO thin film was also measured by X-ray diffraction analysis, and the surface quality was measured by atomic force microscopy.


The influence of dietary supplementation (5%) of a casein diet with faba bean seeds, haba bean hulls and faba bean oligosaccharides extracted from cotyledons on the metabolism of the caecum was investigated in an experiment on Wistar rats. In rats receiving the diet with seeds and their fractions (hulls and oligosaccharides), a greater weight of caecal tissue (especially in oligosaccharide treatment) was recorded, compared with the control group. The significantly greater accumulation of digesta was observed only in the case of the oligosaccharide group. The highest hydration of digesta as well as activity of bacterial β-glucuronidase activity was in the control group. The highest activity of β-glucosidase was in group fed diet containing whole faba bean seeds. The oligosaccharide addition to a diet was associated with the highest activities of α-glucosidase and α-galactosidase, the highest production of short-chain fatty acids in the caecum as well as the most beneficial composition of particular acids.


Abstract Eupolyphaga Chopard, 1929 is a cockroach genus mainly endemic to China. In this study, the species diversity of this genus is further explored through morphology and molecular analysis. Four species are described new to science: Eupolyphagamiracidia Qiu, sp. nov., Eupolyphagaudenostyla Qiu, sp. nov., Eupolyphagareducta Qiu, sp. nov., and Eupolyphagasimila Qiu, sp. nov. New knowledge on some known species is added, including new distribution records and characteristics of females. Forty-five COI sequences were newly sequenced and a molecular species delimitation analysis was performed using ABGD method. Eighteen molecular operational taxonomic units were obtained by ABGD analysis, which are nearly consistent with the results of morphological delimitation.


Comparisons between modern pollen and tree—inventory data from northeastern North America show how the clear portrayal of vegetational patterns in pollen data depends upon several choices made in selecting and preparing these data. These choices concern the size and location of the area studied, the types of pollen examined, the quantitative measure of pollen used, the types of sediments sampled, the number of analysts contributing samples to the data set, and the degree of smoothing applied to the data either by adding samples together or by combining pollen types into groups. Our results show that these choices can control not only what scale of vegetational pattern will appear on maps of pollen data but also whether these maps portray vegetational patterns at all. Of the choices examined, the most important were those concerning the size of the area studied, the types of pollen examined, and the amount of smoothing used. Before presenting the results, we introduce an expression for a signal—to—noise ratio that contrasts the degree of vegetational variation affecting the pollen data with the size of the uncertainties and nonvegetational variation (e.g., changes in pollen dispersal) that also influence these data. The effects of the different choices in data selection are discussed in light of their effect on this ratio.


The Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai Mizukubo, a close relative of the German cockroach, B. germanica (L.), has been discovered in over 900 km2 from Tampa to Lakeland, Fla., and is prevalent in citrus groves, wooded areas, lawns, and homes. Differentiation of the two species is best accomplished by the diagnostic behavior of the Asian cockroach—it is crepuscular (sunset) and nocturnal, readily flies, is attracted at sunset to light-colored or brightly lit surfaces, and lives outdoors in large numbers. Analyses of microhabitat composition of 86 trap sites indicate that the principal habitat of the Asian cockroach is leaf litter in shaded areas. Here, the densities of nymphs and females bearing oothecae were highest. All other adults were more diffusely distributed. Asian cockroaches may be difficult to control because of the mobility of the species and the common occurrence of feral reservoirs.


Tail breaking forces (TBFs) are measured for various process conditions to understand phenomena such as short tail formation. TBFs obtained with several Cu wires are compared to find the most suitable Cu wire type that improves consistent tail formation. In situ online TBF measurement method is developed. The highest TBF obtained is 61.59 + 9.10mN. The highest Cpk value obtained is 2.97 + 0.33 when lower specification limit of 10 mN is assumed.


Methyl ketone oxime esters have been found to be excellent coupling partners for C(sp(2))-C(sp(3)) bond formation via Pd-catalyzed aromatic C-H activation. This transformation forms the basis of an approach to regioselectively synthesize substituted isoquinolines via coupling with aryloxime esters. Our mechanistic studies suggested that the reaction proceeded through Pd(II)-catalyzed aromatic C-H activation, tautomerization, and a 1,3-shift of the palladacycle-ligated methyl ketone oxime ester to enable the C-C bond formation by reductive elimination, and intramolecular condensation of an imido-Pd(II) intermediate to form the heterocycle. The aryloxime group not only was used as a directing group for Pd-catalyzed aromatic C-H activation but also functioned as an internal oxidant to allow the reaction to be redox-neutral. Our study illuminated the scope and limitations of this C-H alkylation process, which may serve as the point of departure for developing other C-H functionalization reactions using oxime esters and potentially other carbonyl derivatives as the nucleophilic coupling partners.


In this paper, we study the robust exponential filter design problem for a class of uncertain time-delay systems with both Markovian jumping parameters and nonlinear disturbances. The jumping parameters considered here are generated from a continuous-time discrete-state homogeneous Markov process, and the parameter uncertainties appearing in the state and output equations are real, time dependent, and norm bounded. The time-delay and the nonlinear disturbances are assumed to be unknown. The purpose of the problem under investigation is to design a linear, delay-free, uncertainty-independent state estimator such that, for all admissible uncertainties as well as nonlinear disturbances, the dynamics of the estimation error is stochastically exponentially stable in the mean square, independent of the time delay. We address both the filtering analysis and synthesis issues, and show that the problem of exponential filtering for the class of uncertain time-delay jump systems with nonlinear disturbances can be solved in terms of the solutions to a set of linear (quadratic) matrix inequalities. A numerical example is exploited to demonstrate the usefulness of the developed theory.


Experience with static, fact-based Knowledge Representation (KR) in past decades has revealed its limitations: it is inexible (for adjustments) and non-portable (knowledge in one domain cannot be directly used in another domain). We believe that dynamical, process-based KR oers better perspectives. Below we start our presentation with a philosophically informed underpinning of a process view of KR. The most important conclusion of this enterprise is that the processes of perception and cognition can be modeled in the same way. This part is followed by the introduction of a cognitively based, semiotically inspired model of KR that complies with our philosophical considerations. As computer science in its core meaning is necessarily fact oriented, due to the limitations of current computers, the proposed theory of KR is based in logic, but this logic is less articulate than predicate calculus (regarded as a language for the specication of recursively computable functions). Note that it is a limitation of syntax, not of expressive power. In knowledge representation, in the broader sense, including problem elicitation and specication, the restricted syntax may turn out to be more practical than the whole (i.e. predicate calculus).


A case study based on the clinical picture and the short term course we describe diagnostic problems in a case of Morbus Pick.


The organization of the Cebus monkey retina was analysed after the intraocular injection of 5,6‐dihydroxytryptamine. This amine was taken up not only by the previously known dopaminergic neurons, but also by a set of indoleamine‐accumulating neurons, whose processes are confined to the inner plexiform layer.


Visual angle car following models assume fixed values (thresholds) for the angular velocity (∆Ө/∆t) over which the driver of the following vehicle is affected by the leading vehicle. This paper explains the advantages and limitations of such models and provides possible solutions for these limitations. Sensitivity analysis has been carried out for these purposes as a part of this paper.
It was found that the main advantages of using visual angle models are their simplicity and ability to represent the effect of the widths of different types of vehicles (e.g. heavy goods vehicles, cars and motorbikes) on space headway (i.e. the clear distance between leading and following vehicles). Also, these models are simply capable of including the effect of driver's reaction time as a function of traffic density, relative speeds between leading and following vehicles and the action/behaviour of the leading vehicle (i.e. accelerating/decelerating following a change in local traffic conditions).
However, the main concern in using such models is related to the appropriate choice of the threshold values. The paper will illustrate that using a fixed threshold value for the angular velocity will be illogical since it eliminates the effect of variations in speed of the following vehicle for the same given relative speed between the leader and follower (∆V). Moreover, other limitations are related to the effect of leader's width on the acceleration/deceleration rates of the follower.
Finally, and in order to deal with the above limitations and advantages that visual angle models have, an alternative car following model has been proposed. The proposed model will then be tested against data from sites to examine its applicability.


Childbirth, a seemingly singular event in China, is nonetheless momentous.
Bearing a child transforms a girl into a woman and a mother. Motherhood, in most
traditional cultures, symbolizes both the major achievement and the full attainment of
femininity. This is particularly true of contemporary China.


Background: In type I diabetes mellitus, lung function has been investigated in several clinical studies, but there are few data concerning pulmonary function abnormalities in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the presence of pulmonary function abnormalities in patients with NIDDM and to verify the possible associations between diabetic renal microangiopathy, retinopathy and diabetes control. Method and Patients: Thirty patients with NIDDM were collected and divided into two similar groups: subjects with retinopathy and/or diabetic glomerulopathy (group 1, n = 15) and patients without any complications (group 2, n = 15). 17 were males and 13 females, aged from 45 to 81 years. They had had diabetes for 3–23 years and were studied at the Division of Internal Medicine, with an outpatient service for diabetic patients. All patients were non-smokers. The presence of diabetic glomerulopathy was determined by measuring the 24-hour protein excretion rate using the nephelometric method. The presence of retinopathy was determined by using ophthalmoscopy. Glycosylated hemoglobin was measured as an indicator of glycemic control. We performed a global spirometry and measured pulmonary diffusion capacity by the single-breath method corrected by alveolar volume. Results: We found a significant reduction in lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in the group of patients with other signs of diabetic microangiopathy (p < 0.005) and a significative correlation between DLCO and the grade of albuminuria (r = –0.83, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Pulmonary function abnormalities, in particular a reduction in diffusion capacity, are common in patients with NIDDM and signs of diabetic microangiopathy. A possible explanation is related to an impaired pulmonary microvasculature and alveolar epithelial basal lamina.


Metastatic Crohn's disease is an uncommon extraintestinal manifestation of Crohn's disease. Its hallmark features include the presence of cutaneous noncaseating granulomas that are noncontiguous with the gastrointestinal tract or fistula. We report a rare case of metastatic Crohn's disease involving the external genitalia in a 14-year-old girl. Diagnosis was based on skin biopsy. Patient had complete recovery on treatment with oral and topical steroids along with azathioprine.


In this review, we discuss the most recent progress on graphene-related nanomaterials, including doped graphene and derived graphene nanoribbons, graphene oxide, graphane, fluorographene, graphyne, graphdiyne, and porous graphene, from both experimental and theoretical perspectives, and emphasize tuning their stability, electronic and magnetic properties by chemical functionalization.


This article examines general trends in teacher-reported conflict and closeness among 878 children from kindergarten through sixth grade, and examines early childhood characteristics that predict differences in initial levels and growth of conflict and closeness over time. Results indicated modest stability of teacher-perceived conflict and closeness through sixth grade, with relatively greater stability in perceptions of conflict. Levels of conflict at kindergarten were higher for children who were male, Black, had greater mean hours of childcare, had lower academic achievement scores, and had greater externalizing behavior. Children identified as Black and those with less sensitive mothers were at greater risk for increased conflict with teachers over time. Levels of teacher-reported closeness were lower when children were male, had lower quality home environments, and had lower academic achievement scores. The gap in closeness ratings between males and females increased in the middle-elementary school years. Additional analyses were conduced to explore differences in teacher-ratings of conflict between Black and White students.


ABSTRACT Background Left hemisphere stroke often causes a severe communication disorder that is usually attributed to aphasia. While aphasia refers to linguistic problems, communication is also accomplished by voluntarily articulate and gestural movements, which may be compromised due to apraxia. Along with aphasia, apraxia is a common disorder in left hemisphere stroke, which in severe cases can limit the use of verbal and nonverbal communication methods. The discussion about apraxia from a communicative perspective is still scarce, although the disorder is regularly experienced among left hemisphere stroke patients with aphasia. The rehabilitation of the disorder in severe apraxia-aphasia is challenging and recovery is slow. Aims The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the research on long-term recovery from apraxia and to discuss the meaning of these findings in observing the recovery of communication abilities in a person with a severe apraxia-aphasia. The search was not restricted to any specific type of apraxia, as this review assumes that communication may be influenced by apraxia in its different manifestations. The review is based on a systematic literature search, which includes English-language studies retrieved from the databases of Ovid Medline, PsycINFO, and Scopus. Main Contribution Seven long-term follow-up studies of apraxia were found; one case study of apraxia of speech (AOS), four group studies of ideomotor apraxia (IMA), one case study of IMA (and aphasia), and one group study of limb apraxia. Conclusions The reviewed group studies of patients with left hemisphere stroke indicate that apraxia is a persistent disorder, but the steepest recovery occurs within the first few months post-stroke. Imitation skills and actions involving real-tool use in activities of daily functions show the best recovery. Real-tool use also continues to improve longer, while recovery of gesturing after verbal command may not show clear signs of recovery in the chronic stage post-stroke. There is some evidence that the pace of recovery from oral apraxia and limb apraxia is comparable, and recovery from apraxia and aphasia would not correlate. Some of the studies used only imitation to assess changes in gesturing, which cannot be regarded as an ecologically valid measure to compare gesturing in natural communicative situations or even gesturing after verbal command. Finally, no follow-up studies were found that would have discussed apraxia from a communicative perspective. Overall, the field is lacking research on long-term follow-up of patients with apraxic-aphasic disorder.


The goal of this work was to evaluate physical and chemical cluster characteristics of eight Vitis rotundifolia cultivars: Topsail, Magnolia, Noble, Roanoke, Magoon, Regale, Bontiful and Dixie. The evaluated clusters were collected from a preexistent Vitis rotundifolia orchard located at the Canguiri Experimental Station of the Federal University of Parana, in Pinhais-PR. The following variables were evaluated for the 2004 and 2005 crops: total cluster mass, berry mass per cluster, rachis mass, number of berries per cluster and berry diameter. A completely random design with 50 replications was used and each cluster has been considered as a parcel. The chemical characteristics of the juice were evaluated: pH, acidity and total soluble solids. For these analyses, a completely random design with 10 replications was used with 5 clusters per plot. The cultivar Noble stood up from the rest in terms of total soluble solids content for both crops (2004 and 2005) with 12.7° and 13.7° Brix respectively. The cultivar Dixie presented the highest pH (3.04) in 2004 and the cultivar Magnolia in 2005, which present the lower acid content in both years. The cultivars Magnolia and Roanoke stood up in 2004 and 2005 respectively in total cluster mass, mass of berries and rachis mass. In terms of number of berries per cluster, the cultivars Roanoke and Magnolia presented the highest numbers in 2004 while in 2005 the highest numbers were presented by the Roanoke, Regale and Noble cultivars. In 2004, the average berry mass of the cultivars Magnolia and Topsail was superior to the others being the last cited cultivar also superior in this variable in 2005. The cultivar Noble presented the smallest diameter of berries. It was possible to conclude that Vitis rotundifolia cultivars, due to their low total soluble solids content, high acidity and low pH are not recommended for fresh consumption but present potential for juice, jam and jelly production. Furthermore, the cultivars presented small clusters with few berries, being considered inferior than clusters from other american grapevines.


OBJECTIVE To evaluate urinary glucocorticoid excretion profiles in a cohort of recently diagnosed young hypertensive patients. METHODS After excluding patients with secondary causes, 60 individuals with premature hypertension were recruited (diagnosed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring before the age of 36 years). In addition, 30 older hypertensive controls (age of onset > 36 years, "middle aged hypertensive controls"), and 30 normal controls (age matched to the young hypertensive group) were studied. All provided 24 hour urine collections for mass spectrometry for total cortisol metabolites and total androgen metabolites by gas chromatography. RESULTS Among male patients, those with premature hypertension had higher total urinary excretion of cortisol metabolites (mean (SD), 13 332 (6472) μg/day) than age matched normal controls (7270 (1788) μg/day; p = 0.00001) or middle aged hypertensive controls (8315 (3565) μg/day; p = 0.002). A similar increase was seen among the female patients, although the absolute concentrations were lower. There was no significant difference between middle aged hypertensive patients and normal controls. Urinary total androgen excretion profiles in female patients also showed an unusual increase in the premature hypertension group (2958 (1672) μg/day) compared with the other groups (middle aged hypertensive controls, 1373 (748) μg/day, p = 0.0003; normal controls, 1687 (636) μg/day, p = 0.002). In all subjects, serum sodium and creatinine concentrations were within the normal range; serum potassium concentrations were found to be low before the start of treatment. CONCLUSIONS Individuals presenting with premature hypertension have an abnormally high excretion of glucocorticoid metabolites in the urine. While the mechanism remains uncertain, these findings are compatible with partial resistance of the glucocorticoid receptors, with a compensatory increase in cortisol and androgen metabolites. The mineralocorticoid effects of the latter (sodium and water retention) may contribute to an abnormally high blood pressure and may have implications for targeted selection of first line treatment in young hypertensive patients.


All pairs of names generated by the individual names of nine historically important psychologists were submitted as queries to the Google search engine. The resulting page counts were used to generate similarity/dissimilarity indices that were submitted to both cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling. Both of the analyses separated the names into three distinct clusters that were easily associated with three historically important schools of psychology. The purpose of the study was to examine the idea that the world-wide-web contains latent structures of the sort made familiar awhile ago by Charles Osgood. Earlier related data, gathered by the author in the last three or four years, is summarized and presented as further evidence that Osgood meaning may be latent in the world-wide-web. Questions regarding appropriate indices of similarity/dissimilarity and problems of the reliability and validity of these procedures and their results are discussed. Evidence is presented for all of these qualities in the results of this study. Finally, it is demonstrated that at least one of Osgood's connotative Semantic Differential factors is hidden in the structure of the world-wide-web. Current Research in Social Psychology (Vol. 11, No. 12) (Arnold)


Introduction: Genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is not yet established for widespread use internationally to provide diagnostic confirmation, in part due to high cost and resource requirement. We need to establish whether genetic testing is clinically justified in terms of risk stratification and prediction of cardiovascular events. Methods:We performed a single tertiary cardiac centre retrospective evaluation of patients with FH managed within our genetic screening service. We evaluated the prevalence of cardiovascular events in genetically confirmed cases of FH compared to those unconfirmed upon genetic testing, to assess whether gene positivity confers a higher risk phenotype. We also compared the clinical characteristics of the genetically confirmed and unconfirmed group. Results:Amongst adult patients (≥18 years) with genetically confirmed heterozygous FH (n=87), 34% (30/87) had one or more documented CV events. In comparison a lower event rate was observed in adult patients with genetically unconfirmed FH (n=170) with 25% (42/170) experiencing one or more documented CV events. Additional cardiovascular risk factors were more prevalent in the unconfirmed group including hypertension, co-morbidities, higher age and body mass index which may have modified the difference in cardiovascular risk. Conclusion:Genetic testing in FH may be clinically justified and appears to identify a subset of patients with higher risk of cardiovascular events. However, the risk difference is modified by alternative cardiovascular risk factors and co-morbidities which may be more prevalent in genetically unconfirmed FH.


Background: We aimed to systematically summarize the diagnostic and prognostic value of circulating/tissue miR21 in patients with colorectal cancer. Methods: An original study was conducted to explore the potential value of circulating miR21 in colorectal cancer diagnosis and tissue miR21 in colorectal cancer prognosis. PUBMED and EMBASE were searched (to August, 2013) to identify eligible studies. To explore the diagnostic performance of circulating miR21, meta-analysis methods were used to pool sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic OR and to construct a summary ROC curve. For prognostic meta-analysis, study-specific HRs of tissue miR21 for survival were summarized. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were applied to explore heterogeneity. Results: Finally, 14 studies (including our study) were included in the meta-analyses. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of circulating miR21 were 0.76 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.59–0.88], 0.81 (95% CI, 0.76–0.85), and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.78–0.85) in diagnosing colorectal cancer. Patients with higher expression of tissue miR21 had significant inferior overall survival (OS; pooled HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.16–2.11) and disease-free survival (DFS; pooled HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.08–1.69). The individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis demonstrated that tissue miR21 level was independently associated with worse colorectal cancer OS (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.07–2.67; P = 0.023), whereas this association seems to be confined to males (P = 0.007) but not for females (P = 0.845). Conclusions: Circulating miR21 level has potential value for colorectal cancer early detection, whereas high tissue miR21 level is associated with adverse colorectal cancer prognosis. Impact: miR21 is a promising biomarker for early detection and prognosis of colorectal cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(12); 2783–92. ©2014 AACR.


This article introduces the work of the transcultural histories of psychotherapies network. Reflecting on the comparative lack of work here, it traces psychotherapies' identity crisis, focussing on nodal points such as the rise of the term, failed attempts to unify the field from Forel to Jung, and the rise of outcome studies. Finally, it situates histories of psychotherapies within the context of adjacent fields: the relation of the history of psychotherapy to the history of science, to Freud studies, to the history of religion and religious studies, to intellectual history, to the history of psychiatry, to the history of medicine, and its place within cultural history.


lhe physiography and geomorphology of the ooasta1 plains in Jambi and South Kalirnantan were studicd with the aim of describing the recent sedirnents deposited there. For this purpose, borings were made along transects from inland to the ooast to a depth of up to 6 meters. The results of these studies indicate the presence of five physiographic regions and fifteen geomorphic units in the coastal plain of Jarnbi. In the coastal pLain of South Kalimantan, four physiographic regions and eleven geomorphic units were established. The landforms in both of these coastal plains were developed by peat and mineral soil deposits. These deposits started to aocurnulate during the Hol(rcene period. ln JambL peats situated in the ombrogenous peats zone, which sornetirnes exceed 6 meters in depth, have been deposited since the terrestrial soils on the Pleistocene terrace were transformed into fluviatile swampy soils to form the so-called peat-capped terrace. Peats on rnangrove deposits situated in the riveime to brackish deposits zone were formed in later periods. ln the brackish to rnarine deposits zone, the thin peats are very young. in South Kalimantan. peats situated in the riverine to brackish deposits zone have been deposited on mangreve deposits and on sand or graveL I believe that the peat formation on sand or gravel is of the same age as the older peat in Jarnbi.