We report on 335 patients (319 families) with mild-to-profound nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss. We identified 178 mutated GJB2 alleles representing 29 different sequence changes (including 3 novel mutations: Q7P, N14D, H100Q), and 2 alleles with the deletion del(GJB6-D13S1830) of the GJB6 gene. Eleven GJB2 mutations (119 mutated alleles) were truncating (T), and 18 mutations (59 alleles) were nontruncating (NT). Biallelic GJB2 mutations were found in 71 patients (21.2%; 67 families; 25 different genotypes). Audiograms of 62 patients (56 families) with biallelic GJB2 mutations typically indicated a profound hearing loss with T/T mutations, moderate hearing loss with T/NT mutations, and mild hearing impairment with NT/NT mutations (p < 0.01, Student's t test). From 37 patients (34 families) with biallelic GJB2 mutations, audiograms at different ages were available and indicated progressive hearing loss (>15 dB) in 10 patients (27.0%, 10 families). Interestingly, we identified an unexpectedly large subset of patients (n = 29; 8.7%) presenting with only one GJB2 mutation (n = 14 T/wild-type; n = 15 NT/wild-type). This strongly suggests the presence of additional recessive mutations that are not detected by current GJB2 mutation and GJB6 deletion analyses.


The reaction between a bulky N-heterocylic carbene (NHC) and C(60) leads to the formation of a thermally stable zwitterionic Lewis acid-base adduct that is connected via a C-C single bond. Low-energy absorption bands with weak oscillator strengths similar to those of n-doped fullerenes were observed for the product, consistent with a net transfer of electron density to the C(60) core. Corroborating information was obtained using UV photoelectron spectroscopy, which revealed that the adduct has an ionization potential ∼1.5 eV lower than that of C(60). Density functional theory calculations showed that the C-C bond is polarized, with a total charge of +0.84e located on the NHC framework and -0.84e delocalized on the C(60) cage. The combination of reactivity, characterization, and theoretical studies demonstrates that fullerenes can behave as Lewis acids that react with C-based Lewis bases and that the overall process describes n-doping via C-C bond formation.


If due to heating or cooling of an object, a phase transition occurs, the propagation of heat significantly changes. Unlike one-component metal, upon cooling of the multicomponent alloy, when passing through the liquidus temperature, enthalpy, density and thermal conductivity are continuous, but their derivatives and, in particular, the heat capacity become discontinuous. By heating the surface of the solid metal cylindrical object with two-component composition above the liquidus temperature, the two-phase zone occurs at the surface, and moves to the cylinder axis. We propose a method of introducing "effective" specific heat that allows calculating the speed of this zone movement, as well as the temperature of the object at any point and at any time. The ordinary equation of heat conductivity with variable coefficients which, in this case, depend on temperature was used. Liquid, solid and transitional zones of a sample were counted by the same equation, its coefficients were counted by the same method. For each point of the sample for each respective temperature the proportion of solid and liquid phases was calculated. In this paper, for simplicity, the solution was considered as ideal. Specific volume, thermal conductivity and specific enthalpy were calculated as the weighted average of the corresponding values for the liquid and solid states. The specific heat was calculated as the derivative of the enthalpy with respect to temperature. The resulting system of differential equations was reduced to finite-difference equations. A computer program was developed to solve the resulting system of difference equations. Results of one of such calculations are given in the article. The developed method allows to calculate the velocity of the phase boundary, as well as the object temperature at any point and at any time. The results may be interesting not only for metallurgists, but for metrology to develop self-testing temperature sensor theory.


In this paper, the reduction of carrier-to-interference ratio (C/I) in broadband fixed wireless access networks using beam-switched base station antennas is proposed and studied. The C/I has been evaluated by means of simulation taking into account the cellular reuse pattern proposed by on-going standardization proposals. The influence of both base-station and subscriber station antenna parameters on the obtained C/I values has also been considered. Up to 10 dB C/I improvement is achieved using the proposed beam-switched base station antennas approach.


Objective: Monozygotic twinning incidence following preimplantation genetic testing in embryos at cleavage-stage does not appear to increase; however, data regarding the possible impact of the blastocyst-stage preimplantation genetic testing is lacking. We compared the incidence of monozygotic twinning in preimplantation genetic testing cycles performed at the blastocyst-stage, versus cycles without PGT, following single embryo transfer. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed the incidence of twin pregnancies in patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection and blastocyst-preimplantation genetic testing (253 cycles), versus a period-matched control population of patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection and single embryo transfer without preimplantation genetic testing (606 cycles). Results: The overall monozygotic twinning rate was 14/859 (1.6%) per clinical pregnancy. The incidence of zygotic splitting following intracytoplasmic sperm injection and preimplantation genetic testing was 3.5% (95% Confidence interval 1.8%-6.6%) versus 0.8% (95% Confidence interval 0.3%-1.9%) following intracytoplasmic sperm injection without preimplantation sperm injection. After adjusting for potential confounders, preimplantation genetic testing cycles were associated with an increase in the incidence of monozygotic twinning when compared to cycles without embryo biopsy (Odd ratio 3.44, 95% Confidence interval 1.05-11.27, p=0.041). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that embryo biopsy for preimplantation genetic testing performed at the blastocyst stage is associated to an increase in the incidence of monozygotic twinning. Further validation in larger sample size studies is warranted. Patients undergoing preimplantation genetic testing must receive proper counselling about the potential risks of the technique.


The teaching of wave mechanics has received much attention and rightly so, since the topics is so important for physicists and chemists. It is desirable to use the simplest mathematical methods available in order to present the initial concepts and methods of solution, before developing more powerful and abstract methods. It is also desirable to use accurate diagrams of actual cases, taking care both to avoid the selection of special conditions that can give misleading impressions and to identify important special cases with their physical interpretation.


Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate, intracellular parasite with a broad host range, including humans and rodents. In both humans and rodents, Toxoplasma establishes a lifelong persistent infection in the brain. While this brain infection is asymptomatic in most immunocompetent people, in the developing fetus or immunocompromised individuals such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, this predilection for and persistence in the brain can lead to devastating neurologic disease. Thus, it is clear that the brain-Toxoplasma interaction is critical to the symptomatic disease produced by Toxoplasma, yet we have little understanding of the cellular or molecular interaction between cells of the central nervous system (CNS) and the parasite. In the mouse model of CNS toxoplasmosis it has been known for over 30 years that neurons are the cells in which the parasite persists, but little information is available about which part of the neuron is generally infected (soma, dendrite, axon) and if this cellular relationship changes between strains. In part, this lack is secondary to the difficulty of imaging and visualizing whole infected neurons from an animal. Such images would typically require serial sectioning and stitching of tissue imaged by electron microscopy or confocal microscopy after immunostaining. By combining several techniques, the method described here enables the use of thick sections (160 µm) to identify and image whole cells that contain cysts, allowing three-dimensional visualization and analysis of individual, chronically infected neurons without the need for immunostaining, electron microscopy, or serial sectioning and stitching. Using this technique, we can begin to understand the cellular relationship between the parasite and the infected neuron.


Physical mechanisms for streamer initiation and electrical breakdown in water are discussed. The focus is on various processes that could lead to the inception and propagation of streamers in water. Physical details associated with observed disparities in breakdown at the anode versus the cathode, differences in luminosity, and variations in streamer propagation speeds are discussed. Creation of a localized low-density region near the site of a field enhancement is shown to be essential for streamer initiation. Finally, the use of a trigatron-type electrically triggered switch with a triple-point geometry is shown to be a low-cost, compact alternative to laser (or acoustic) switching. Such controlled breakdown could be used for various applications including water purification and bio-decontamination.


My editorship of Perspectives ends with this issue and coincides with my retirement as a professor at the University of Chicago. The new editor is a friend and colleague, Richard L. Landau, professor of medicine at the University of Chicago. The first issue of Perspectives was published in the autumn of 1957. The following quotations are from the Introductory Editorial: "This journal is designed to communicate heuristic ideas. We hope that the reader will carry these ideas to the laboratory and to the bedside.—The orientation of Perspectives will be toward man and his illnesses, but with appreciation of the fact that the roots of medical theory reach into all fields of biology." Perspectives was once described as "free-wheeling" and that characterization pleased us. I mention for the first time in this journal that the person who inspired me to plan it was Fuller Albright, a bold thinker, brilliant medical scientist, and good friend. There have been other kindred spirits in my past who have known the uses of free fancy linked to subsequent tests by evidence and reason. Among them were Walter B. Cannon, Edwin J. Kepler, C. Judson Herrick, Charles B. Huggins, John R. Piatt, and Hans Selye. The success of Perspectives represents the efforts of our boards, sponsors, the University of Chicago Press, our managing editors, and most of all our authors. I thank all of them for making possible my 16 pleasant years with the journal, and extend best wishes for the future to the editors and the editorial board. I shall continue my association as advisory editor. D. J. I.


Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) have been carried out to investigate the structure of the self-aggregates of two phenothiazine drugs, chlorpromazine (CPZ) and trifluoperazine (TFP), in aqueous solution. In the SAXS studies, drug solutions of 20 and 60 mM, at pH 4.0 and 7.0, were investigated and the best data fittings were achieved assuming several different particle form factors with a homogeneous electron density distribution in respect to the water environment. Because of the limitation of scattering intensity in the q range above 0.15 A(-1), precise determination of the aggregate shape was not possible and all of the tested models for ellipsoids, cylinders, or parallelepipeds fitted the experimental data equally well. The SAXS data allows inferring, however, that CPZ molecules might self-assemble in a basis set of an orthorhombic cell, remaining as nanocrystallites in solution. Such nanocrystals are composed of a small number of unit cells (up to 10, in c-direction), with CPZ aggregation numbers of 60-80. EPR spectra of 5- and 16-doxyl stearic acids bound to the aggregates were analyzed through simulation, and the dynamic and magnetic parameters were obtained. The phenothiazine concentration in EPR experiments was in the range of 5-60 mM. Critical aggregation concentration of TFP is lower than that for CPZ, consistent with a higher hydrophobicity of TFP. At acidic pH 4.0 a significant residual motion of the nitroxide relative to the aggregate is observed, and the EPR spectra and corresponding parameters are similar to those reported for aqueous surfactant micelles. However, at pH 6.5 a significant motional restriction is observed, and the nitroxide rotational correlation times correlate very well with those estimated for the whole aggregated particle from SAXS data. This implies that the aggregate is densely packed at this pH and that the nitroxide is tightly bound to it producing a strongly immobilized EPR spectrum. Besides that, at pH 6.5 the differences in motional restriction observed between 5- and 16-DSA are small, which is different from that observed for aqueous surfactant micelles.


Mesogen jacketed liquid crystalline poly(1-alkyne) and poly(1-phenyl-1-alkyne) linked pendants of terphenyl mesogens with hexyloxy tails at the waist position ({RCC [(CH2)3OOC-terpheyl-(OC6H13)2]}n, where RH, PHATP(OC6)2; RC6H5, PPATP(OC6)2) were synthesized. The influences of structural variations on the thermal, mesomorphic, and luminescent properties were investigated. Polymerizations of all monomers are carried out by WCl6-Ph4Sn catalysts successfully. The polymers are stable (Td ≥ 340 °C) and soluble in common solvents. The monomers and polymers show enantiotropic SmA phases in the heating and cooling processes, and the lateral side chains of the mesogenic units are perpendicular to the main chain. The "jacket effect" of chromophoric terphenyl core "shell" around the main chain also contributes to polymers with high photoluminescence, and the pendant-to-backbone energy transfer path is involved in the luminescence process of this polymers. In comparison with monosubstituted polyacetylene PHATP(OC6)2, the disubstituted polyacetylene PPATP(OC6)2 shows better photoluminescence in both THF solution and film, and exhibited about 40 nm red-shifted than PHATP(OC6)2, indicating that the "jacket effect" of terphenyl mesogens forces poly(1-phenyl-1-alkyne) backbone to extend in a more planar conformation with a better conjugation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010


This paper reflects on the uses of prototypes in "Research through Design" and considers "Design Fiction" as a technique for exploring the potential value of new design work. It begins with an analysis of Research through Design abstracts in the ACM digital library and identifies an emerging language and structure of papers in this emerging field. The abstracts: frame a problem space, introduce a study, often involving the deployment of a prototype, and conclude with considerations, reflections and discussion. This format is then pastiched in a series of design fictions written for a project investigating new and emerging forms of reproduction in Art. The fictions take the form of "imaginary abstracts" which summarize findings of papers that have not been written about prototypes that do not exist. It is argued that framing concept designs as fictional studies can provide a space for research focused critique and development.


: The role of conditionally pathogenic microflora in the pathogenesis of lower jaw bone traumatic osteomyelites was investigated. The different groups of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms were detected by real-time PCR. Role of conditionally pathogenic microflora in the pathogenesis of traumatic osteomielytis was shown.


Conflict between a parent and an adolescent may be indicative of problems of family cohesion, and may predict poorer self-esteem and problems of emotion and behavior. This ideals explored in high school and junior college populations in Alberta, Canada, and in Britain. in all, 1,796 12 to 19-year-olds completed the summary scale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD), which was also completed by a parent Results were generally similar in both cultures, with many more similarities than differences, On all scale items, adolescents were significantly more critical of their family life than were their parents. The degree of difference between parent and child descriptions of family functioning was significantly correlated with the adolescents' Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale scores, as well as self-completed, standardized measures of problems of emotion and behaviour. Differences between parent and child's responses to the FAD were better predictors than FAD scores alone.


Fluorescence microscopy is a powerful tool to detect biological molecules in situ and monitor their dynamics and interactions in real-time. In addition to conventional epi-fluorescence microscopy, various imaging techniques have been developed to achieve specific experimental goals. Some of the widely used techniques include single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET), which can report conformational changes and molecular interactions with angstrom resolution, and single-molecule detection-based super-resolution (SR) imaging, which can enhance the spatial resolution approximately ten to twentyfold compared to diffraction-limited microscopy. Here we present a customer-designed integrated system, which merges multiple imaging methods in one microscope, including conventional epi-fluorescent imaging, single-molecule detection-based SR imaging, and multi-color single-molecule detection, including smFRET imaging. Different imaging methods can be achieved easily and reproducibly by switching optical elements. This set-up is easy to adopt by any research laboratory in biological sciences with a need for routine and diverse imaging experiments at a reduced cost and space relative to building separate microscopes for individual purposes.


The success of therapeutic TAAs-based subunit vaccines may not only depend on their ability to activate new and/or boost existing immune responses, but also on their potential to overcome tumor-induced immunosuppressive mechanisms. This will require the use of adjuvants with pleiotropic effects on the cells of innate, adaptive, and regulatory immunity as the immunomodulatory component of subunit vaccines. Additionally, the adjuvant efficacy can further be enhanced if it can also serve as a vehicle to deliver TAAs to DCs for uptake, processing, and cross-presentation to T cells. We have recently hypothesized that costimulatory ligands of the TNFR family may serve as effective immunomodulatory component of subunit therapeutic vaccines against cancer. We therefore generated a chimeric 4-1BBL with streptavidin (SA-4-1BBL) that exists as tetramers/oligomers with potent activity on cells of innate, adaptive, and regulatory immunity. In this study, we tested if SA-4-1BBL can be used as a vehicle to deliver TAAs into dendritic cells constitutively expressing 4-1BB receptor for the generation of effective immune responses against tumors. We demonstrated that SA-4-1BBL can be effectively conjugated to biotinylated ovalbumin (Ova) as a model antigen. Immunization with Ova conjugated to SA-4-1BBL resulted in increased Ova uptake and cross-presentation by DCs, most notably lymphoid subpopulation, that resulted in potent Ova specific proliferation of CD4 + (OT-II) and CD8 + (OT-I) T cells. These effects were superior to the nonconjugate (Ova mixed with SA-4-1BBL) vaccine. The conjugate vaccine also generated significantly higher in vivo specific CTL responses to Ova and HPV E7 oncoprotein than nonconjugate vaccine. Importantly, a single vaccination with HPV E7 oncoprotein conjugated to SA-4-1BBL resulted in robust and superior efficacy than nonconjugate vaccine in the eradication of established E7 expressing TC-1 tumors. Similar results were found in the 3LL lung carcinoma model using survivin as a bona fide self TAA. Therapeutic efficacies of the vaccines were achieved in the absence of detectable toxicity and associated with increased CD4 + T and CD8 + T cell effector and memory responses and higher intratumoral CD8 + Teff/CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg ratio. In conclusion, potent immunomodulatory activities of SA-4-1BBL combined with its ability to serve as a vehicle to deliver TAAs to DCs further rationalizes the extensive evaluation of this novel molecule as a platform for the development of therapeutic vaccines against cancer. Funded in parts by NIH 2R44 AI071618-02, R43 AI074176, R41 CA121665, KLCP, the W.M. Keck Foundation, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky Research Challenge Trust Fund. *Equal contribution. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2416.


During the screening effort to discover new types of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitors, it was found that a MeOH extract of the leaves and stems of Weigela subsessilis (Caprifoliaceae) inhibited the enzyme activity. By means of an in vitro bioassay‐guided fractionation on the MeOH extract, two 24‐norursane triterpenes, ilekudinol A (1) and ilekudinol B (2), were isolated as active metabolites. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited PTP1B with IC50 values of 29.1 ± 2.8 and 5.3 ± 0.5 μM, respectively. Kinetic studies suggest that both 1 and 2 are non‐competitive inhibitors of PTP1B. The findings indicate that the free carboxyl group at C‐28 in this type of triterpenes plays a critical role in the inhibition of PTP1B. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


This paper discusses a 2(1/2)-D tracking method allowing real-time recovery of the three-dimensional (3-D) position and orientation of a head moving in its image plane. The described method uses a two-dimensional (2-D) elliptical head model, region- and edge-based matching algorithms, and a linear Kalman filter estimator. The resulting motion tracking system works in a realistic environment without makeup on the face, with an uncalibrated camera, normal lighting conditions, and an unknown background.


Gyrochronology can be used to measure the age of a low mass, or highly evolved star. Depending on how fast the star is spinning, we can also determine how fast it lost its mass from earlier stages of evolution, which in turn tells us if it was orbiting very close to another host. This is all in accordance with the general theory, meaning the oldest, most highly evolved and/or dead stars will barely spin at all. Examples are provided with hand written notes to prove that I did not steal the idea from anybody, as it is a natural consequence of realizing stars are young hot planets, and planets are very old, slowly spinning stars.


Local blood flow of the hypothalamus (HBF) was measured by the hydrogen clearance method in anaesthetized dogs. The average value for HBF in normal controls was 0.64 +/- 0.05 ml/g/min, which compares favourably with values available in the literature. During haemorrhagic hypotension induced by a modified Wiggers method there occurred a marked reduction of HBF to 52% of the initial control value at a mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) of 55--60 mm Hg and to 44% at 35--40 mm Hg. Prevention of concomitant extracellular acidosis by infusion of sodium bicarbonate solution during the hypotensive period resulted in a significantly smaller decrease in HBF as compared to an untreated control group, and a significant protection of HBF was also found at 55--60 mm Hg MABP in the bicarbonate treated group, but not in controls treated with physiologic saline. Hypothalamic tissue hypoxia was inevitable in untreated bled animals due to insufficient circulatory transport, while evidence suggested that the metabolism might have remained unaltered in the group protected against acidosis during haemorrhage. Analysis of the control of local hypothalamic blood flow revealed a significant correlation (r = 0.7026, p less than 0.001) between HBF and arterial blood pH in severe hypotension which is outside the autoregulatory blood pressure domain.


This paper presents a set of cubes for modular design that act as a meaningful trial for the democratization of design and manufacturing. Called CUBEMENT, the cubes are compatible with existing building platforms such as LEGO Technics, and physical computing components. CUBEMENT consists of a power supply and components for mechanism building that can support other cubes or extend to physical computing. CUBEMENT components can be connected and interlocked with one another by simply snapping together small magnets. The aim of CUBEMENT is to create a seed movement, expand the application of structural mechanisms further, and control that movement by embracing other platforms within its platform. Therefore, it will be able to simultaneously support the sketching of movement from mechanism building and physical computing. CUBEMENT also plays a role as a tangible communication medium for intangible mechanism movement.


Data concerning the thermal decomposition of lanthanide, yttrium, and scandium oxalates and carbonates are surveyed. The complexity of the process, the large number of stages involved, and the dependence of the composition of the intermediates in the thermal transformations on the experimental conditions is noted. Certain process characteristics have been discovered and it is concluded that the decomposition process depends on the ionic radius of the metal. The bibliography includes 83 references.


Fresh fruits and vegetables are a rich source of micronutrients. However, many foodborne illnesses have been linked to the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables as they are reported to harbor contaminants such as microorganisms and pesticides. Recently reported foodborne outbreaks have been linked to a diverse group of fruits and vegetables due to the presence of various pathogens including Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes. Also, the increased use of pesticides has resulted in the deposition of chemical residues on the surface of fruits and vegetables, which has led to the adverse health conditions such as cancer, birth defects, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Fresh commodities are subjected to various treatments to prevent or minimize these outbreaks, and the main targets of such treatments have been the elimination of pathogens and degradation of toxic chemical residues. Here, we have discussed various decontamination methods including simple household washing, chemical treatments, and modern technologies with their mode of action for microbial and pesticide removal. The simple household processes are not very effective in the removal of pathogenic organisms and pesticides. The use of modern techniques like cold plasma, ozone, high hydrostatic pressure, and so on, showed better efficacy in the removal of microorganisms and pesticides. However, their industrial use is limited considering high installation and maintenance cost. In this review, we suggest combined methods based on their mode of decontamination and suitability for a selected fruit or vegetable for effective decontamination of microbes and pesticide together to reduce the treatment cost and enhance food safety.


Supplementary descriptions based on new specimens of two rare dragonfish species, Photonectes klepadloae and P. litvinovi, formerly known by the holotypes only, are presented. The presence of a bulbous swelling at the tip of the terminal filament of the mental barbel is documented for P. klepadloae, and its absence in some specimens of that species, including the holotype, is likely an artifact of preservation. The presence of blue luminous tissue is documented for P. litvinovi, which was formerly believed to lack it due to skin abrasion in the holotype. A key for the species is corrected based on the new diagnostic characters of P. litvinovi. Incorrect mapping of the distribution of P. filipendulus provided in the original description is improved and a map showing the known distribution of all three aforementioned species is presented.


This study aims to determine the influence of organizational culture, job satisfaction, and leadership style on employee performance in Pojok Celebes Mandiri. This study used primary data obtained from the distribution of questionnaires to 67 respondents who are all employees in all divisions. The statements in the questionnaire describe each of the 4 variables using the Likert scale. The indicators used in this study are 7 indicators for organizational culture variables, 5 indicators for job satisfaction, 4 indicators for leadership style, and 6 indicators for employee performance. Technique Data analysis used is descriptive research and multiple linear regression. R square produced by this research is 0,549 which means that organizational culture, job satisfaction, and leadership style have an effect on to employee performance equal to 54.9%. The results of this study illustrates that organizational culture has a positive and significant effect on employee performance, while job satisfaction and leadership style have positive but not significant effect on performance. Another conclusion is that to improve employee performance in Pojok Celebes Mandiri, the company should pay attention to the main things that are felt less like aggresiveness, teamwork, support from leaders, and payment issues such as salary and incentives.


Mating system variation in anuran amphibians of the Arizona-Sonoran Desert was reviewed. Male density and breeding period duration were negatively correlated in seven bufonids and pelobatids. Variation in male mating behavior and ability of females to freely select their mates unhindered by active-searching males also was related directly to male density. These observations support hypotheses relating ecological factors to mating system organization. It is suggested that male calling behavior, and anuran lek mating sytems in general, may be significantly influenced by predation on vocalizing males. The Arizona-Sonoran Desert boa.sts a surprising diversity of frogs and toads: seven bufonids, three pelobatids, three ranids, two hylids, one microhyhd, and one leptodactyhd. As expected, the breeding biology of these anurans is significantly influenced by the xeric climate. Most of these species have short, or "explosive," (Wells 1977) breeding periods during the summer rainy season, although a few have relatively extended, or "prolonged" breeding periods during the spring (Sullivan 1982a, 1983a, 1984, Sullivan and Sullivan 1985). As suggested by Wells (1977), the mating behavior ofanurans such as those of the Arizona-Sonoran Desert appears related to breeding period duration. For example, Woodhouse's toad {Biifo woodhousei) forms low-density breeding aggregations at sources of permanent water throughout the spring, and all males within these choruses call to attract females (Sullivan 1982a). In contrast, the Great Plains toad (B. cog,natus) forms high density aggregations at temporary rain pools for only a few nights each summer. Within these short-lived choruses some males adopt satellite positions near vocalizing males and attempt to intercept females approaching the calling males (Sullivan 1982b). This diversity in breeding period duration and reproductive behavior provides an excellent opportunity for evaluating hypotheses of sexual selection and mating svstem theorv (Trivers 1972, Emlen and Oring 1977, Wells 1977). It is generally hypothesized that diuation of breeding period should directly influence opportunities for female mate selection and, hence, male behavior. Wells (1977) argued that for explosive-breeding anurans female choice should be restricted as a result of: (1) temporal constraints limiting time available for mate selection and (2) high male densities and corresponding alternative male mating tactics that typically reduce the ability offemales to move freely in breeding aggregations. Conversely, in species with prolonged breeding periods and lower male densities, females should be capable of freely selecting their mates and constitute a potentialKsignificant evolutionary force (e.g., Arnold 1983). The variation in breeding biology of anurans of Arizona allows direct test of these hypotheses. Here I summarize recent studies ofsexual selection in pelobatids and bufonids of Arizona and, following Emlen and Oring (1977), document the existence of predictable relationships between the ecology, mating sys-| terns, and reproductive behavior of these species. I also examine species recognition and acoustic competition among these anurans. Lastly, I discuss the evolution of anuran lek mating sytems.


The paper proves the need to modify the modern education system in compliance with the globalization challenges. The author proposes to consider thematic and didactic filling of cultural enrichment of preschool children in the conditions of early bilingual education as the means of early socialization of the child. Special attention is paid to allocation of conceptual culturological approaches. The multicultural approach, based on a cross-cultural paradigm as new ontology of modern language education of global society, is considered to be the basic. The work presents the complete system of modeling of pedagogical preschool childhood system on the cross-cultural bases in the conditions of early bilingual education of global society as a way of the child entry to global value and standard system. Theoretical development is confirmed by results of introduction of practice-oriented technology for multicultural education of preschool children in the course of early bilingual education.


Genetic variability in humans is influenced by many factors, such as natural selection, mutations, genetic drift, and migrations. Molecular epidemiology evaluates the contribution of genetic risk factors in the etiology, diagnosis, and prevention of a particular disease. Few areas of medicine have been so clearly affected by genetic diagnosis and management as multiple neoplasia type 2 (MEN2), in which activating pathogenic variants in the RET gene results in the development of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), pheochromocytoma, and hyperparathyroidism in nearly 98%, 50% and 25% of gene carriers, respectively. Here, we aimed to collect RET genotyping data worldwide to analyze the distribution and frequency of RET variants from a global perspective. We show that the mutational spectrum of RET is observed worldwide. The codon 634 variants seem to be the most prevalent, but there are differences in the type of amino acid exchanges among countries and in the frequencies of the other RET codon variants. Most interestingly, studies using haplotype analysis or pedigree linkage have demonstrated that some pathogenic RET variants have been transmitted to offspring for centuries, explaining some local prevalence due to a founder effect. Unfortunately, after almost three decades after the causative role of the germline RET variants have been reported in hereditary MTC, comprehensive genotyping data remain limited to a few countries. The heterogeneity of RET variants justifies the need for a global effort to describe epidemiological data of families with MEN2 to further understand the genetic background and environmental circumstances that affect disease presentation.


What is the problem that "epistemic virtues" seek to solve? This article argues that virtues, epistemic and otherwise, are the key characteristics of "scholarly personae," that is, of ideal-typical models of what it takes to be a scholar. Different scholarly personae are characterized by different constellations of virtues and skills or, more precisely, by different constellations of commitments to goods (epistemic, moral, political, and so forth), the pursuit of which requires the exercise of certain virtues and skills. Expanding Hayden White's notion of "historiographical styles" so as to encompass not only historians' writings, but also their nontextual "doings," the article argues that different styles of "being a historian"—a meticulous archival researcher, an inspired feminist scholar, or an outstanding undergraduate teacher—can be analyzed productively in terms of virtues and skills. Finally, the article claims that virtues and skills, in turn, are rooted in desires, which are shaped by the examples of others as well as by promises of reward. This makes the scholarly persona not merely a useful concept for distinguishing among different types of historians, but also a critical tool for analyzing why certain models of "being a historian" gain in popularity, whereas others become "old-fashioned."


India is a nation that has an adequate number of engineering colleges but, the language proficiency of students is not to the mark, and owing to this, many of them are to earn only a meagre salary. As communicative skill is the yardstick for their placements, it is necessary to improve their language skills (LSRW). This paper briefly explains the various causes of engineering students' poor language skills along with measures to have a successful career.


In order to reduce the rapidly increasing environmental problems and fossil fuels exhaustion, usage of renewable energy has become essential. Distributed generators are commonly used to utilize renewable energy and generator power. This paper is concerned about two renewables which are solar PV and wind generators and their suitable placement in the test system. In this paper, two operational issues of micro grid has been examined with varying penetration of solar and wind resources through number of case studies. Results show that, both real and reactive power loss increases with increasing penetration of renewable sources irrespective of their locations in grid. However, voltage recovery time has been found to be within 200ms till 40% penetration.


This paper describes a new visible light photometer system and presents the results of a test program where visible light transmission has been measured for a variety of materials of varying thicknesses. From these measurements, equivalent absorption coefficients are presented for some of the materials commonly used in x-ray and extreme ultraviolet (euv) filters. Also presented are some criteria for quantifying light leaks through pinholes.


A nonlinear dynamic model with eight DOFs of a four-wheel vehicle is established in this paper. After detaching the nonlinear characteristics of the leaf springs and shock absorbers, the multi-step linearizing method is used to simulate the vehicle vibration in time domain, under a correlated four-wheel road roughness model. Experimental verifications suggest that the newly built vehicle model and simulation procedure are reasonable and feasible to be used in vehicle vibration analysis. Furthermore, some nonlinear factors of the leaf springs and shock absorbers, which affect the vehicle ride performance (or comfort), are investigated under different vehicle running speeds. Some substaintial rules of the nonlinear vehicle vibrations are revealed in this paper.


Use of 3-D human motion sensing without physical restrictions is the most promising approach to realize seamless coupling between virtual environments and the real world. Motion capturing without any specific markers by computer vision techniques is the most appropriate for such purposes. As the first step, we have developed an avatar motion control by user body postures, and we have applied it to 3D object manipulation in virtual environments. However, the biggest problem here is that the intention of the user can not be fully recognized only by human body postures, and that, sometimes, unintentional human motions cause unintended object manipulations and incorrect selection of the target object. Currently, we are introducing the user's gaze to control 3D direct manipulation user interface. Using the gaze it becomes possible to control the user interface more accurately and efficiently. In this paper, we outline our gaze detection method based on computer vision techniques and its use to user interface after reviewing our framework of 3D direct manipulation user interface.


Abstract Background Low-wage dormitory-dwelling migrant workers in Singapore were disproportionately affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. This was attributed to communal living in high-density and unhygienic dormitory settings and a lack of inclusive protection systems. However, little is known about the roles of social and geospatial networks in COVID-19 transmission. The study examined the networks of non-work–related activities among migrant workers to inform the development of lockdown exit strategies and future pandemic preparedness. Methods A population-based survey was conducted with 509 migrant workers across the nation, and it assessed dormitory attributes, social ties, physical and mental health status, COVID-19-related variables and mobility patterns using a grid-based network questionnaire. Mobility paths from dormitories were presented based on purposes of visit. Two-mode social networks examined the structures and positions of networks between workers and visit areas with individual attributes. Results COVID-19 risk exposure was associated with the density of dormitory, social ties and visit areas. The migrant worker hub in the city centre was the most frequently visited for essential services of grocery shopping and remittance, followed by south central areas mainly for social gathering. The hub was positioned as the core with the highest degree of centrality with a cluster of workers exposed to COVID-19. Conclusions Social and geospatial networks of migrant workers should be considered in the implementation of lockdown exit strategies while addressing the improvement of living conditions and monitoring systems. Essential services, like remittance and grocery shopping at affordable prices, need to be provided near to dormitories to minimize excess gatherings.


 Abstract— The Stewart platform is one example of a parallel manipulator with high force to weight ratio and fine positioning accuracy far exceeding those of a conventional serial-link arm. It is basically a closed-link type robot manipulator having 6 degrees of freedom. In this paper the implementation of an adaptive control scheme based on fuzzy logic theory is used to control the motion of a Stewart platform manipulator. The inverse kinematics is analysed and six individual controllers are implemented in the actuators coordinates. An experimental study is conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed control scheme implemented to control the manipulator to track a defined path. Experimental results show that the proposed control policy provides superior tracking capability as compared to the fixed-gain controllers..


Sixty-nine children with Down syndrome (mongolism, trisomy 21), with atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect, or endocardial cushion defects, and 315 children with similar cardiac anomalies without this syndrome underwent cardiac catheterization during an 8-year period from 1964 to 1973. Only patients under 17 years of age were included in the study. Nine tenths of the children with Down syndrome but only one fourth of the control group had abnormally high pulmonary arterial pressures. For example, 9 of 11 children with defects of the atrial septum and Down syndrome had pulmonary hypertension; in contrast, only 5 of 55 control subjects with similar defects had pulmonary hypertension. The data suggest that children with congenital heart disease and Down syndrome have an unusually high pulmonary vascular resistance and a propensity for early development of severe damage to the pulmonary vascular bed.


Abstract : Studies of military operations indicate a need for improvements in persistent communications reconnaissance and surveillance (CSR). The Army Science Board investigated capabilities of platforms deployed in space near space and lower altitudes and assessed tradeoffs among benefits weaknesses costs and logistics burdens associated with platform types. The study used a model to assess platform types versus relevant characteristics. Key findings include: persistence is not well defined; there are gaps in coverage; communications relay capabilities are inadequate; use of commercial space platforms for communications relay is very costly; large aircraft (e.g. KC-135) could be utilized for communications relay; proponency for CSR platforms is distributed and many solutions are ad hoc; no integrated mission Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) was found; satellites are not sufficiently responsive to lower echelon commanders; unmanned platforms are increasingly effective and accepted; and Lighter than Air (LTA) platforms have great potential. Major recommendations include: assign proponency for LTA to the Aviation Center; retain proponency for High Altitude LTA platforms at SMDC; accelerate Medium Altitude LTA (untethered) prototypes for joint CSR experiments; invest to mature High Altitude LTA airship CSR platforms; form LTA Integrated Product Team (IPT) of technologists material developers and combat developers; conduct an integrated Analysis of Alternatives for CSR platforms mixes.


Isolated rat liver parenchymal cells (PC) were co-cultured with a non-parenchymal rat liver epithelial cell line (NEC) or with an oval cell line. The homotypical gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) between the liver PC was measured after microinjection of Lucifer Yellow by dye transfer. The rat liver PC were dye coupled between 87% and 100% for at least 1 week in both co-cultures, in contrast to PC In monoculture between which no dye coupling was left after 1 week. When liver PC were co-cultured with a transformed and tumorigenic NEC or with a transformed and tumorigenic oval cell line the homotypical GJIC between the liver PC was drastically decreased with culture time, and the PC were then compressed and displaced by the expansive growth of the transformed cell lines. The disturbance of the GJIC between normal cells by adjacent tumorigenic cells might be a new mechanism to explain the expansive growth of tumors.


The dorsal subiculum lies among a network of interconnected brain regions that collectively map multiple spatial and orientational relationships between an organism and the boundaries and pathways composing its environment. A unique role of the subiculum in spatial information processing has yet to be defined despite reports of small neuron subpopulations that encode relationships to specific boundaries, axes of travel, or locations. We examined the activity patterns among populations of subiculum neurons during performance of a spatial working memory task performed within a complex network of interconnected pathways. Compared to neurons in hippocampal sub-region CA1, a major source of its afferents, subiculum neurons were far more likely to exhibit multiple firing fields at locations that were analogous with respect to path structure and function. Subiculum neuron populations were also found to exhibit a greater dynamic range in scale of spatial representation and for persistent patterns of spiking activity to be aligned to transitions between maze segments. Together, the findings indicate that the subiculum plays a unique role in spatial mapping, one that complements the location-specific firing of CA1 neurons with the encoding of emergent and recurring structural features of a complex path network.


Proper positioning of the mitotic spindle is fundamental for specifying the site for cleavage furrow, and thus regulates the appropriate sizes and accurate distribution of the cell fate determinants in the resulting daughter cells during development and in the stem cells. The past couple of years have witnessed tremendous work accomplished in the area of spindle positioning, and this has led to the emergence of a working model unravelling in-depth mechanistic insight of the underlying process orchestrating spindle positioning. It is evident now that the correct positioning of the mitotic spindle is not only guided by the chemical cues (protein–protein interactions) but also influenced by the physical nature of the cellular environment. In metazoans, the key players that regulate proper spindle positioning are the actin-rich cell cortex and associated proteins, the ternary complex (Gα/GPR-1/2/LIN-5 in Caenorhabditis elegans, Gαi/Pins/Mud in Drosophila and Gαi1-3/LGN/NuMA in humans), minus-end-directed motor protein dynein and the cortical machinery containing myosin. In this review, I will mainly discuss how the abovementioned components precisely and spatiotemporally regulate spindle positioning by sensing the physicochemical environment for execution of flawless mitosis.


Interactions between aqueous Zn and mineral surfaces can lead to notable Zn isotope fractionation that affects Zn source fingerprinting, which needs an atomic-level understanding. In this study, we demonstrate that Zn isotope fractionation (Δ66Znsorbed-aqueous) during Zn sorption onto γ-Al2O3 depends on both pH and Zn concentration and ultimately correlates to surface coverage (Γ). At pH values of 6.0-6.5 and/or Zn concentrations of 0.1-0.2 mM, where Γ < 0.8 μmol m-2, Δ66Znsorbed-solution is 0.47 ± 0.03‰, whereas Δ66Znsorbed-aqueous decreases to 0.02 ± 0.07‰ at pH values of 7.0-8.0 and Zn concentrations of 0.4-0.8 mM, with a high Γ ranging from 1.5 to 3.2 μmol m-2. Using extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, we elucidated that a Zn-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) with a Zn-O bond length of 2.06 Å forms at high surface coverage (1.5 < Γ < 3.2 μmol m-2). In contrast, at low surface coverage (Γ < 0.8 μmol m-2), the sorbed Zn occurs as a tetrahedrally coordinated inner-sphere surface complex with an average Zn-O interatomic distance of 1.98 Å. Such contrasts lead to an atomic level understanding of the strong links between isotope fractionation, local bonding structures (i.e., coordination and bond distances), and solution chemistry, which is crucial for more effective applications of stable metal isotopes as environmental tracers.


The review highlights the main results of two decades of research on climacostol (5-[(2Z)-non-2-en-1-yl]benzene-1,3-diol), the resorcinolic lipid produced and used by the ciliated protozoan Climacostomum virens for chemical defense against a wide range of predators, and to assist its carnivorous feeding. After the first studies on the physiological function of climacostol, the compound and some analogues were chemically synthesized, thus allowing us to explore both its effect on different prokaryotic and eukaryotic biological systems, and the role of its relevant structural traits. In particular, the results obtained in the last 10 years indicate climacostol is an effective antimicrobial and anticancer agent, bringing new clues to the attempt to design and synthesize additional novel analogues that can increase or optimize its pharmacological properties.


Islamic insurance is one of the option that can be choosen by Muslim society, because it offers a way of investing to prevent future risks. The success of Islamic insurance companies cannot be separated by community participation in insurance business. This research is aimed to examine and analyze public perception on the existance of Islamic insurance. A descriptive quantitative analysis is used as the research method. This research set Jabodetabek people as the population and sample by using convenience sampling technique. The results show that premium and promotion do not effectively affect public perception, therefore, insurance company must do more socialization about Islamic insurance to Muslim communities.


A qualitative study is made of a plane charge-neutral magnetopause separating a field-free plasma from a plasma-free magnetic field, in the case where the plasma is flowing parallel to the applied field. It is shown that the existence of small-scale equilibrium dépends on boundary conditions which are governed by the large-scale structure of the System. On certain conditions, which are defined, equilibrium is possible at ail flow speeds. For a class of structures characterized by approximately axial flow, thèse conditions cannot be satisfied if the plasma encloses the magnetic field, but can if the magnetic field encloses the plasma. They are satisfied most naturally if, in addition, the magnetopause has the form of a torus. While intended originally as a contribution to magnetospheric physics, this study may be more relevant to the high-0 confinement of fusion plasmas.


The present article is dedicated to the investigation of the manuscript «The Abazin dictionary» of the Decembrist Vladimir Pavlovich Romanov, compiled by him in 1827. Although the dictionary is entitled «Abazinian», the words included in it are, on the whole, Abkhazian. We are making an attempt to bring the given work into scientific use. The linguistic researches of V.P. Romanov are of scientific interest for the languages of the North Caucasus.


Abstract Beta-induced X-ray spectrometry (BIXS) is a nondestructive method to detect tritium both on the surface and in the bulk of materials. The effects of internal bremsstrahlung (IB) from the beta decay of tritium on tritium profile reconstruction have been theoretically studied by numerical simulation based on Matlab code. Three kinds of samples, two polymers [(T-C4H6O2)n, Zeff = 6.4, homogeneous and heterogeneous] and one zirconium, with different tritium depth profiles were used in the calculations, and two of them were confirmed by experiments. The results indicate that the intensity of IB is comparable with external bremsstrahlung (EB) for low-Z materials, and the intensity of IB decreases a little faster than that of EB for the same material. Neglecting IB would lead to as much as 12% counts loss in tritium profile reconstruction for a polymer sample, and it is expected to be more serious for lower-Z materials such as beryllium and carbon fiber composites. The results also show that for the same material, the influence of IB depends on the depth profile of tritium in the sample.


Although bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone (VMP) therapy is a well-established standard treatment for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who are ineligible for high-dose therapy, it is not clear whether very elderly patients should be treated with VMP, considering the toxicities. The purpose of this case-control study was to compare the efficacy of VMP versus melphalan-prednisone or cyclophosphamide-prednisone (MP/CP) as initial therapy for very elderly patients. We retrospectively studied 202 patients aged 75 years or older with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma between March 2007 and February 2015. One-hundred twenty two patients received VMP and eighty patients received MP/CP regimen were enrolled from 13 institutions throughout Korea. Patient characteristics were comparable in these two groups. Overall response rate was 69.7% in VMP patients and 47.5% in MP/CP patients (P=0.002). Complete response rate was 24.6% in VMP patients and 10% in MP/CP patients (P=0.005). After a median follow-up for survivors of 28.4 months, progression-free survival was significantly different between the two groups (median 21.0 vs. 11.9 months in VMP and MP/CP group, respectively, P=0.037). Overall survival was also significantly different between the two groups (median 34.6 vs. 27.8 months in VMP and MP/CP group, respectively, P= 0.023). Hematologic grade 3-4 toxicities were more common with VMP (anemia: 29.1% vs 15.3%, P=0.077; thrombocytopenia: 39.3% vs. 15.3%, P Despite the presence of age-related comorbidities, VMP therapy was associated with modest toxicity, a better response rate and prolonged survival, supporting the use of this effective combination as frontline therapy for very elderly patients with MM. Disclosures Lee:Amgen: Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kim:Celltrion, Inc.: Research Funding.


The growth in volume of the epithelium and mesenchyme of the intestine and stomach was estimated in mouse embryos aged between 11.6 days after fertilization and birth, by means of a morphometric technique. The findings on the growth in volume of the stomach confirm the results obtained for the intestine: the epithelium grows faster than the mesenchyme and the retardation rate of the former exceeds that of the latter. In roughly the same period, the relative increase in volume is much greater for the epithelium of the intestine than for that of the stomach. However, the relative increase in volume of the mesenchyme of the intestine is similar to that of the gastric mesenchyme. A set of data can often be described by several regression equations, the choice of the function depending on the investigator's purpose and knowledge of the process under study. The growth data were first fitted by exponential and then by polynomial functions. Both fits permit an accurate linear representation of the results, but only the polynomial description permits the expression of properties like summation and the introduction of the beginning of the growth process into the growth equation as an additional parameter. Furthermore, while the specific growth rates given by the exponential model slow down with a constant rate of decrease, those given by the polynomial model seem to reach an exponential retardation. This is in accordance with other growth concepts formulated in the past.


Health-related industries use a variety of methods to influence health news, including the formation and maintenance of direct relationships with journalists. These interactions have the potential to subvert news reporting such that it comes to serve the interests of industry in promoting their products, rather than the public interest in critical and accurate news and information. Here, we report the findings of qualitative interviews conducted in Sydney, Australia, in which we examined journalists' experiences of, and attitudes towards, their relationships with health-related industries. Participants' belief in their ability to manage industry influence and their perceptions of what it means to be unduly influenced by industry raise important concerns relating to the psychology of influence and the realities of power relationships between industry and journalists. The analysis also indicates ways in which concerned academics and working journalists might establish more fruitful dialogue regarding the role of industry in health-related news and the extent to which increased regulation of journalist–industry relationships might be needed.


This article offers a close reading of Derrida's response to the events of 11 September 2001, in the interview he conducted immediately afterwards with Giovanna Borradori in the text Philosophy in a Time of Terror (2003). I argue that this text is significantly different from previous philosophical responses to horrific political events (such as those by Walter Benjamin, Theodor Adorno and Hannah Arendt) insofar as it invites us to contest radically the assumption that philosophy's role is to envision and to realize the `good'. Instead, Derrida's response provokes us to acknowledge that philosophy's role was only ever to criticize itself, that this is the absolute limit of what philosophy can or should do, and that this work is both genuinely risky and crucially important, because in undertaking a critique of itself philosophy intervenes for democracy, without rules or guarantees, in the very determinations that are the material of political life.


This paper assessed the performance of jetty operations in Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC). Primary data for the study consisted of ship turn round times, volume of cargo and number of vessels handled at the jetties for years 2004 to 2018. These variables served as key performance assessment criteria. In addition, copies of questionnaires on postulated factors affecting terminal performance were administered to a random sample of WRPC staff. Our findings showed that the jetties were being operated at less than optimum level. Trend analysis of the key performance indicators showed existence of continuous decline in operational performance of WRPC over the years covered in the study. Significant factors accounting for this performance outcome were found to include: inadequate berthing facilities, shortage of manpower supply, pipeline vandalisation, inadequate maintenance of jetty facilities and poor documentation process. The study recommended deployment of trained workforce to jetty operations, maintenance of berthing facilities, adequate funding and improved documentation of processes during jetty operations.


In this study the effect of silicon carbide particle (SiCp) of 50μm size reinforced to AA 2024-T3 in the percentage of 4% was investigated. Wear specimens were prepared in dimensions of 20mm*10mm according to ASTM (G9904) from Native metal, base cast alloy and casting reinforced alloy. Microstructure was examined using optical microscope to examine the structure and hardness test also implemented to show its effect on wear resistance Adhesive wear test was carried out on all alloys at different parameters (sliding time, load and velocity). From the obtained results of wear test it was found that wear rate increased with the increasing of all the studied parameters and the reinforced alloy improved the wear resistance in the percentage of 14% while the cast alloy improved it in the percentage of 10% comparing with the native alloy that is because of the improving in hardness value achieved after adding silicon carbide. A mathematical model has been made depending on the method of least squares which helps in foretelling about the wear rate through the knowledge of time limits taken from the experimental test as a variable with fixing the other variables; also building a model with the same method by which foretelling the rate of adhesive wear through knowing the sliding speed and load. The mathematical (theoretical) results shows a great match in magnitude with wear values attained from experimental test.


Haematopoietic progenitor stem cells acquired from the peripheral blood have been increasingly used to treat patient with haematological malignancy. The success of the allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) is significantly dependent on amount of CD34+ stem cell infused which will determine the rate of the haematopoietic recovery and engraftment. This study was aimed to correlate the amount of CD34+ cell infused with the period of engraftment. This retrospective study was conducted on 62 patients with haematopoietic malignancy who have received PBSCT at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre from year 2011 to 2015. The impact of CD34+ stem cell infusion on neutrophil and platelet engraftment and obtaining complete chimerism was studied. Patients were divided into two groups based on the amount of CD34+ stem cell. Group A consisted of 9 patients and infused with <5x106 cells/kg CD34+ cell while Group B consisted of 53 patients and infused with ≥5x106 cells/kg CD34+ stem cell. Data were collected and analysed. Group B patients were significantly associated with faster neutrophil engraftment: 12 (10-14) days while group A were 15 (10-21) days, (p=0.002). Platelet engraftment was also faster in group B: 17(12-25) days compared to group A: 18 (15-30) days. Complete chimerism in group B occurred in 30 (15-90) days and in group A was 60 (30-240) days. Platelet engraftment (p=0.149) and complete chimerism (p=0.021) were not significantly influenced by the CD34+ cell count. This study has shown that infusion of ≥5x106 cells/kg CD34+ stem cell shorten the time to haematopoietic engraftment particularly of neutrophilic engraftment.


Stochastic optimization facilitates decision making in uncertain environments. In typical problems, probability distributions are fit to historical data for the chance variables and then optimization is carried out, as if the estimated probability distributions are the "truth". However, this perspective is optimistic in nature and can frequently lead to sub-optimal or infeasible results because the distribution can be misspecified and the historical data set may be contaminated. In this paper, we propose to integrate existing approaches to decision making under uncertainty with robust and efficient estimation procedures using Hellinger distance. Within the existing decision-making methodologies that make use of parametric models, our approach offers robustness against model misspecifications and data contamination. Additionally, it also facilitates quantification of the impact of uncertainty in historical data on optimization results.


OBJECTIVE
Fesoterodine 4 mg and 8 mg once daily are indicated for the treatment of overactive bladder. A thorough QT study was conducted to investigate the effects of fesoterodine on cardiac repolarization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this parallel-group study, subjects were randomly assigned to receive double-blind fesoterodine 4 mg, fesoterodine 28 mg, or placebo or open-label moxifloxacin 400 mg (positive control) for 3 days. Electrocardiograms (ECGs) were obtained on Days -1 (baseline), 1, and 3. The primary analysis was the time-averaged changes from baseline for Fridericia's-corrected QT interval (QTcF) on Day 3.

RESULTS
Among 261 subjects randomized to fesoterodine 4 mg (n = 64), fesoterodine 28 mg (n = 68), placebo (n = 65), or moxifloxacin 400 mg (n = 64), 256 completed the trial. The least squares mean changes in QTcF from baseline were 21.1, 20.5, 18.5, and 31.3 ms (maximum), and -5.1, -4.2, -5.2, and 7.6 ms (time-averaged at Day 3) for placebo, fesoterodine 4 mg, fesoterodine 28 mg, and moxifloxacin, respectively. The lower limit of the 95% confidence interval exceeded 5 ms for moxifloxacin.

CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that fesoterodine is not associated with QTc prolongation or other ECG abnormalities at either therapeutic or supratherapeutic doses.


Over recent years gram-positive bacterial pathogens have become dominant in many forms of nosocomial infections. The principal pathogens in severe infections are Staphylococcus aureus and enterococci. The utility of the traditional antibiotics used for nosocomial sepsis, particularly beta-lactam agents, has been severely compromised by the spread of resistance and there was, often, no therapeutic alternative to the glycopeptide antibiotics, vancomycin and teicoplanin, for empirical (and often also the specific) therapy of infections caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and Enterococcus spp. This reliance on glycopeptides, however, is now also threatened by acquired resistance. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), particularly E. faecium, have become a therapeutic problem in many European cities and are now endemic in some hospital wards. The recent reports from several continents of MRSA with reduced glycopeptide-susceptibility (GISA) is of grave concern. New agents are needed to meet these threats and several classes of compounds are under development. One class is the streptogramins and the combination of quinupristin/dalfopristin (Synercid) is nearing licensing. Clinical trials and a compassionate use programme have already shown it to have considerable promise for the treatment of the most problematic forms of gram-positive nosocomial sepsis, including MRSA and vancomycin-resistant E. faecium infections that had failed therapy with other antibiotics.


Objective: Although children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have, on average, lower intelligence quotient (IQ) scores than control subjects, the reasons for these deficits remain unknown. Because IQ is highly familial, we investigated whether children with ADHD have a decrement in IQ from expectations based on parental IQ. Method: Subjects were 276 children with ADHD and 239 control subjects of similar age and sex. Expected IQ was calculated based on biological parents' estimated IQ. A significant discrepancy between observed and expected estimated IQ was defined by a child scoring 15 IQ points or more lower than expected, based on parental IQ. Results: Compared with control subjects, children with ADHD were significantly more likely to have lower than expected estimated IQ scores based on parental IQ, though this finding was accounted for by a small subgroup of children with ADHD who had an IQ 15 points or more lower than expected, based on parental IQ. These children were more likely to be female, have higher psychopathological, neuropsychological, educational, and interpersonal deficits, as well as higher rates of perinatal complications. Conclusions: Group differences in IQ scores between children with and without ADHD reported in the literature may be accounted for by a subgroup of children with ADHD who have a large decrement in IQ from expectations based on parental IQ. Although perinatal complications may explain these findings, more work is needed to better understand the etiology of these IQ deficits.


OBJECTIVE
This investigation evaluated the effectiveness of disposable plastic inserts in radiopharmaceutical unit dose lead containers (pigs) in preventing the distribution of doses in blood-contaminated containers. Technologists commonly dispose of the syringes by placing them into the lead pigs, leaving the needles uncapped. This process raises the question of unsuspected blood contamination of these pigs. Consequently, the distribution of commercially prepared radiopharmaceutical doses in reusable lead pigs may result in radiopharmaceutical doses being distributed in containers that are contaminated with blood.

METHODS
Using a simple chemical wipe test designed to determine the presence or absence of blood contamination, 618 pigs from commercial radiopharmacies throughout the U.S. were tested for contamination. The inside of the pigs and inserts, if present, were wiped before and after dose administration. Of the pigs tested, 292 came from radiopharmacies that used a protective, disposable plastic insert inside the pig, and 326 came from radiopharmacies that did not use an insert.

RESULTS
Of those pigs without the protective disposable inserts, 39.3% arrived in the nuclear medicine department in pigs contaminated with blood. Of those pigs with inserts, 1% arrived with blood-contaminated inserts. After dose administration, 46.3% of the pigs without inserts were contaminated with blood and 3% of the protective inserts were contaminated.

CONCLUSION
The proper use of disposable plastic inserts reduces the possibility of distributing radiopharmaceutical unit doses in containers contaminated with blood.


Background: The clinical burden and natural history of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) vary globally. We aimed to investigate NAFLD-related mortality profiles in hospitalized patients in southern China. Methods: A multicenter retrospective investigation with a 10-year study period (2009–2018) analyzed 10,071 deaths during hospitalization (NAFLD: 2,015; other liver diseases: 1,140; without liver diseases: 6,916) was performed using a multiple cause of death analysis. Medical histories and biochemistry and imaging findings were extracted from the electronic medical record system. The underlying causes of death were classified by 10th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes. Results: The distribution of death causes in patients with NAFLD has stabilized over time, with cardio- and cerebral vascular disease (CVD) ranked first (35.6%), followed by extrahepatic malignancies (22.6%), infection (11.0%), kidney disease (7.5%), liver-related diseases (5.2%), respiratory diseases (3.9%), digestive diseases (3.5%), endocrine diseases (3.5%), and other diseases (7.2%). NAFLD patients had more deaths attributable to CVD, extrahepatic malignancies, liver-related diseases (all P < 0.001) and multiorgan failure than the deceased controls. The severity of steatosis was independently associated with these relationships (liver-related diseases: OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.20–1.59, cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases: OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.19–1.31, infectious diseases: OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.04–1.26, and renal diseases: OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.02–1.47, all P < 0.05) after adjustment for sex, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, uric acid, metabolic syndromes and fibrosis index based on the 4 factors. Conclusion : NAFLD patients had higher proportions of death due to underlying CVD and liver-related diseases than the general population in China; these proportions positively correlated with steatosis degree.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in metacognitive listening strategies (learner's Knowledge of their understanding of listening demands, cognitive goals and their perceptions themselves) used by second year Chinese college learners; and to discover the in-depth information of the extent that Chinese learners employ metacognitive listening strategies while completing a English listening comprehension test. Mixed methods were used in the research, which employed a questionnaire and semi structured interview. The questionnaire who were second year English majors at Yunnan Normal University Business School.In all. 9 participants were interviewed.  The finding of the study revealed that there were statically significant difference in the use of the "planning and evaluation" strategy between high and intermediate and low level learners. Moreover, "person knowledge" and "problem solving" strategies tended to be employed by nine participants, but "planning and evaluation" "mental translation" and "directed attention" strategies played difference  roles among high, intermediate and low learners. The findings suggested that teacher should encourage low level learners to use more metacognitive strategies, which were frequently used by high and intermediate level learners.


A ray optics technique is used to derive a closed-form expression for the first-order coupling coefficient of trapezoidal gratings in a generic five-layer separate confinement heterostructure distributed feedback (DFB) laser configuration for transverse electric (TE) mode. Expressions for a rectangular grating with the duty cycle of 0.5 and a symmetric triangular grating are also obtained as special cases of our general expressions. Based on the comparison of the coupling coefficient calculated by the ray optics technique with those calculated by the extended additional layer method, we show that the ray optics technique is very useful to calculate the coupling coefficient for most cases of realistic grating depths and profiles used in multilayer DFB devices without using any numerical techniques.


Present study is to identify and validation of the species using different methods like morphological and meristic characters including pyloric caeca count and pattern and by DNA bar-coding. Morphological and meristic characters of the species landed in Visakhapatnam and Paradeep are in close proximity to the earlier reports for E. coioides, and is distinctly different from E. tauvina. Molecular studies using DNA bar-coding also revealed high similarity with E. coioides and low similarity with E. tauvina. It is therefore concluded that the particular grouper species landed along north-east coast is E. coioides and not E. tauvina.


Simulation is a way of doing thought experiments besides the deduction and induction methods. Agent-based Simulation (ABS) falls under the domain of artificial intelligence when agent is used to perform certain tasks such as behaviour prediction, optimization of functions or time-constrained work-flow management. This work discussed the use of ABS on a computational normative framework based on a set of empirical characteristics that influence agents' performance in time-constrained environment. The ABS simulates a domain called the Examination Preparation and Moderation Process (EPMP) which entails document submission processes with deadlines. The simulation is conducted in six different environments and the results of the agent performance in each environment are presented and discussed. The results indicate that the simulation conducted in the EPMP is suitable and effective for evaluating normative agent-based systems.


In this study of reductive chromium immobilization, we found that flow-through columns constructed with homogenized aquifer sediment and continuously infused with lactate, chromate, and various native electron acceptors diverged to have very different Cr(VI)-reducing biogeochemical regimes characterized by either denitrifying or fermentative conditions (as indicated by effluent chemical data, 16S rRNA pyrotag data, and metatranscriptome data). Despite the two dramatically different biogeochemical environments that evolved in the columns, these regimes created similar Cr(III)-Fe(III) hydroxide precipitates as the predominant Cr(VI) reduction product, as characterized by micro-X-ray fluorescence and micro-X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis. We discuss two conflicting scenarios of microbially mediated formation of Cr(III)-Fe(III) precipitates, each of which is both supported and contradicted by different lines of evidence: (1) enzymatic reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) followed by coprecipitation of Cr(III) and Fe(III) and (2) both regimes generated at least small amounts of Fe(II), which abiotically reduced Cr(VI) to form a Cr-Fe precipitate. Evidence of zones with different levels of Cr(VI) reduction suggest that local heterogeneity may have confounded interpretation of processes based on bulk measurements. This study indicates that the bulk redox status and biogeochemical regime, as categorized by the dominant electron-accepting process, do not necessarily control the final product of Cr(VI) reduction.


Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) isolates with β-hemolysis and carbohydrate groups G or C are increasingly recovered from invasive infections in Japan. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological characteristics of SDSE isolates circulating locally among patients with invasive and noninvasive infections. We selected groups G/C β-hemolytic streptococci from a repository at the Clinical Laboratory of Kitasato University Medical Center, from May 2014 through April 2015. Thirteen isolates were identified as SDSE based on the data from API-20 Strep and 16S rRNA sequencing. The samples were from 7 sterile specimens (blood) and 6 non-sterile specimens (pus/sputum/vaginal secretion). Information about the patients with invasive or noninvasive SDSE infections was retrieved from their medical charts. We performed emm genotyping, multilocus sequence typing, a dendrogram analysis of the samples using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and amplifications of the streptococcal inhibitor of a complement-mediated cell lysis-like gene (sicG) and antimicrobial resistance determinants. We identified 8 different emm genotypes, 8 different sequence types, including 4 novel types, 9 different groups in the PFGE dendrogram, the presence or absence of sicG, and 4 different resistance genotypes. Our observations indicate genetic diversity in SDSE isolates from patients with invasive and noninvasive infections in a Japanese university hospital (2014-2015).


The mechanism by which n-alkanols produce anesthesia and the characteristics relevant to those mechanisms (e.g., lipid solubilities versus potencies) remain unknown. Accordingly, we determined potencies (minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration [MAC]) and solubilities of normal methanol, ethanol, butanol, hexanol, and octanol. We also determined the additivity of these alkanols with a conventional anesthetic (desflurane) and the additivity of methanol with butanol. Finally, we determined whether alkanol metabolism influences alkanol potencies. MAC for methanol, ethanol, butanol, hexanol, and octanol (0.00200, 0.000989, 0.000133, 0.0000214, and 0.00000117 atm, respectively) increased with an increasing solubility in olive oil (olive oil/gas partition coefficients 48.6, 108, 1,650, 11,600, and 93,500, respectively) and octanol (octanol/gas partition coefficients 163, 1,150, 22,900, 135,000, and 4,140,000) to give a product of MAC x solubility for olive oil approximately 10 times less (values of 0.10-0.25) than that expected from the Meyer-Overton hypothesis (compared with conventional inhaled anesthetics). There was less deviation for octanol, but the results were more variable. Inhibition of methanol and butanol metabolism by 4-methylpyrazole did not alter MAC. Methanol, ethanol, butanol, hexanol, and octanol had approximately additive anesthetic effects with desflurane, with some small but statistically significant deviations both above and below additivity. In the presence of 0.5 MAC of desflurane, we needed to add 0.4-0.6 MAC of each alkanol to inhibit the movement of 50% of the rats in response to noxious stimulation. Similarly, the effects of methanol and butanol were additive (with each other). The saline/gas partition coefficient for each alkanol was high (3700, 2650, 1400, 900, and 709 for methanol through octanol), which indicates high polarity. We conclude that the potent anesthetic effects of normal alkanols may result from an affinity to both polar and nonpolar phases. Our finding of additivity of alkanols with each other is consistent with a common mechanism of action. Similarly, the finding of additivity or slight deviations from additivity for alkanols with desflurane is consistent with mechanisms of action that have much in common. (Anesth Analg 1997;84:1042-8)


To explore regulation and function of cyclin D2, a candidate cell cycle-regulatory proto-oncogene, we examined subcellular localisation, cell type- and cell cycle-dependent expression, and requirement of cyclin D2 protein for G1 progression, in a panel of 40 human normal and cancer cell types. Except for lymphoid cells and sarcoma cell lines, expression of cyclin D2 was considerably more restricted than that of cyclin D1, whereas both D-type cyclin proteins were low or undetectable in cells lacking functional retinoblastoma gene product. In G1 cells, the cyclin D2 protein was more resistant to extraction and localised predominantly to nuclei, whereas it became more soluble and distributed in both nuclei and cytoplasm from G1/S transition onwards. Centrifugal elutriation and multiparameter flow cytometry analyses of several cell types showed moderate cell cycle oscillation with maximum levels of the cyclin D2 protein reached in late G1. Microinjection and/or electroporation of antibodies to cyclin D2 during G1 arrested the cyclin D2-expressing lymphocytes, breast myoepithelium, and U-2-OS sarcoma cells in G1 phase, whereas cyclin D2-negative cell types were unaffected by such treatment. Consistent with the putative proto-oncogenic role of cyclin D2 in specific cell types, our data show that this G1 cyclin has properties closely resembling those of cyclin D1, including the essential positive role in regulation of G1.


Query optimizers are a performance-critical component in every database system. Due to their complexity, optimizers take experts months to write and years to refine. In this work, we demonstrate for the first time that learning to optimize queries without learning from an expert optimizer is both possible and efficient. We present Balsa, a query optimizer built by deep reinforcement learning. Balsa first learns basic knowledge from a simple, environment-agnostic simulator, followed by safe learning in real execution. On the Join Order Benchmark, Balsa matches the performance of two expert query optimizers, both open-source and commercial, with two hours of learning, and outperforms them by up to 2.8× in workload runtime after a few more hours. Balsa thus opens the possibility of automatically learning to optimize in future compute environments where expert-designed optimizers do not exist.


Quantization of $R^2$ and $S^1 \times S^1$ phase spaces are explicitly carried out tweaking the techniques of geometric quantization. Crucial is a combined use of left and right invariant vector fields. Canonical bases, operators and their actions are explicitly presented. Arguments of Dirac and also Wu and Yang for monopoles are applied for obtaining the quantization of the phase space area. Equivalence of states in the infinite dimensional prequantum Hilbert space resulting in a physical Hilbert space of dimension equal to the phase space area in units of the Planck constant is demonstrated. These techniques can be applied to any manifold with a symplectic structure.


Split skin graft is frequently needed in the treatment of burned patients. Scalp is often free of burns. Due to its good skin quality and important surface, scalp is a very interesting skin donor site, specially in case of children. A controlled, randomised clinical trial was carried out in 10 French Plastic Surgery or Burns Units. It assessed the efficacy and the acceptability of calcium alginate dressing (Algosteril) versus paraffin gauze dressing (Jelonet) in the treatment of scalp donor sites in children. 67 children (mean age 54 months) entered the study, 34 in the alginate group and 33 in the control group. Follow-up visits were on day 2/d3, d5/d6, Day complete healing, d30 and d60 after surgery. The two groups were comparable on inclusion (demographic characteristics, burn nature and surface, donor site surface and thickness of split skin graft). The mean healing time was 10 and 11 days for Algosteril and Jelonet group respectively (ns). The quality of the newly formed tissue was estimated to permit a sooner skin reharvesting in the Algosteril group than in the control group (p = 0.003). Bleeding through dressing was significantly less important in the Algosteril group (p = 0.02). Changes were considered by investigators less painful with Algosteril on day complete healing (p = 0.0096). Hair growth is homogenous in both groups on day 30 and day 60 (ns). These results showed that scalp is a very interesting skin donor site and that Algosteril is of a real interest in donor site treatment.


The annual General Conference of the Condensed Matter Division of the European Physical Society has grown into a leading forum for discussion and exchange of the latest scientific developments. The conference series started seven years ago at the initiative of J T Devreese with the Antwerp Conference; it continued with the conferences in Manchester (1982), Lausanne (1983), The Hague (1984), Berlin (1985) and Stockholm (1986). The 7th General Conference was held in Pisa from 7 to 10 April 1987; it was attended by about 900 participants, coming from more than 30 countries of Europe and overseas. The present volume, in two issues T19A and T19B, collects the papers orally presented at the Pisa Conference. The scientific programme contained 90 invited speakers, distributed in plenary lectures, symposia and individual invited talks. The presentation of the papers in this volume follows the pattern of the Conference as closely as possible. The recent explosion of interest in High Temperature Superconductivity motivated, besides the plenary lecture in the programme, the last minute inclusion of an open symposium on this subject. More than forty research groups contributed to this event. The titles of the contributions and the affiliation of the speakers have been included at the end of volume 19B for the benefit of interested readers. Numerous contributions (more than 500), ranging over the entire field of Condensed Matter Physics, were presented in poster sessions. Several poster contributions at the conference (as well as a number of the contributions to the Symposium on High Temperature Superconductivity) will appear as regular articles in Physica Scripta. These articles will later be collected in a Reprint Series of Physica Scripta. We wish to thank the Conference Committees and the individual people who helped in the choice of such stimulating material, and all the contributors to this volume for their cooperation in the timely preparation of manuscripts. A special acknowledgement is also due to the Sponsors, whose generous help has made this manifestation possible.


In ultrasound hyperthermia, focal patterns generated by phased arrays can be degraded by phase errors due to tissue inhomogeneities, digitization of the driving signals, and imperfect fabrication of the transducers. The degree of degradation depends on the severity of phase aberrations. As predicted by simulation and verified by experimental results, focal degradation scales with the circular variance of phase errors. However, degraded power deposition patterns can be significantly improved after phase aberration correction, especially where patterns are complicated and the aberrations are severe. Also, as shown in motion compensation experiments, an aberration corrected pattern can be particularly sensitive to aberrator movement greater than the correlation length of the aberrator. After motion compensation, new sharply focused patterns can be accomplished, thus reducing the unwanted influence of "body" movement by stabilizing the positions of foci with respect to patient anatomy.<<ETX>>


The preservation of secrecy occupies an important place for the respect of freedoms and human rights, which is also foreseen in the Albanian Constitution. In the Albanian Penal Code, several articles have been presented that punish the violation of the confidentiality of correspondence etc. This principle is also very important in medicine. In fact, in the last years, the risk of its violation has become greater due to the development of electronic media, computers, faxes, voice messages etc. Under these conditions, a new medical legislation has begun to be developed in many countries, for these issues. But the field of medical confidentiaity after death is not studied enough. It is important to know the different aspects of this issue in our country, because recently there have been many publications in our country, accompanied by discussions and criticisms, especially regarding the illnesses and deaths of some public figures. In this presentation, among others, some ethical, philosophical and legal data on this issue are analyzed, which are mainly related to the interests of the deceased person, the time that has passed since death, the negative impact of not saving medical data on his memory, followed by the presentation of some well-known cases, etc. In conclusion, it is emphasized that medical confidentiality after death, especially that of a public person for our country, is a very delicate issue that requires great care in cases of its announcement.


This communication describes the results of the measurements made for the flight model of the offset Cassegrain antenna of superconducting submillimeter-wave limb-emission sounder (SMILES) aboard the International Space Station. We have employed a near-field phase retrieval method in which the aperture phase distribution is estimated only from the amplitude distribution measurements over two near-field planes. The far-field patterns estimated from the estimated near-field patterns were compared with theoretical calculations based on physical optics in which the surface errors measured for the main and sub reflectors were taken into account. As a result of the comparison, the far-field patterns estimated from the phase retrieval method were found to be in very good agreement with the physical-optics calculations to the sidelobe levels as low as -55 dB. We have also found that patterns of machined flaws on the surface of the main reflector were clearly identified in the retrieved near-field phase pattern. This demonstrates that the phase retrieval is an effective method to evaluate aperture antennas in the submillimeter-wave region, where accurate phase measurement is rather difficult.


Abstract : Institutional tensions between civilian government leaders and senior military officers have waxed and waned over the 223-year history of our republic. The framers of our constitution laid the foundation for this relationship and defined its basic tenets based on their experience under British colonial rule and with an innate disdain for the unchecked power of a poorly regulated militia. Recent events lend a fresh urgency to recurring concerns about the potential harm that could result from violations of those tenets. The voting public constitutes the third element of a civil-military trinity officers must consider when defining the limits of appropriate behavior as they interact with their political masters. In addition to maintaining the trust relationships critical to the proper functioning of governmental processes and the national-security apparatus, observing these limits will help the military maintain professional autonomy. Differences in military and civilian culture explain some of the tension that could erode this trust. Education and information sharing can do much to decrease this gap in civil-military relations, but military professionals must also reinforce their professional ethic and avoid incidents of public dissent. This project investigates these dynamics of civil-military relationships and attempts to define those limits.


The present status of Unified Theories is summarized with special emphasis on their possible experimental tests. Outline: i) Unification of couplings; ii) Where can a positive signal come from? iii) HERA anomaly and Unification; iv) Recent progress in model building; v) Flavour and Unification.


Cloning and expression of hepatitis C virus have allowed the development of immunoassays to detect hepatitis C virus infection. However, currently available recombinant fusion protein C100-3 assays, based on a nonstructural protein of the virus, are limited in sensitivity, particularly for detecting acute infection. In this report seroconversion panels showed that an assay based on synthetic peptides, derived from immunodominant regions of both capsid and nonstructural proteins, accelerated hepatitis C virus antibody detection by 4-10 weeks. In screening, this enzyme immunoassay increased detection from 47% to 64% in plasmapheresis donors with elevated alanine aminotransferase levels (greater than 100 international units per liter), from 15% to 24% in anti-hepatitis B core antigen-positive blood donors, and from 28% to 42% in renal dialysis patients when compared with nonstructural peptide-based assays. The screening assay was repeatedly reactive for 27 of 2902 volunteer blood donor samples (0.93%); four sera reacted only with the capsid antigen. The peptide test distinguished true from false positive results in agreement with recombinant immunoblot assay in 96% of blood donor samples repeatably reactive on a recombinant hepatitis C virus enzyme immunoassay.


Abstract The objective of this study is to determine differences between design wave heights determined on the basis of short- and long-term wave trains. Wave parameters measured over a period of 7.47 years in the vicinity of Coastal Research Station Lubiatowo were used as short-term wave data, while wave parameters determined through the so-called wave reconstruction for a period of 44 years for the same region and depth were used as long-term wave data. The results of the calculations lead to the conclusions the significant wave height distributions obtained for short and long-term wave data are similar.


This paper provides an overview of current formulation approaches to mitigate toxicity of orally administrated drugs. The formulation approaches are characterized by their intended impact on a drug's pharmacokinetic parameters, pharmacological properties or metabolic pathways. Regulatory opportunities and constraints with focus on U.S. regulations in optimizing a drug's safety or efficacy profile are reviewed. The following formulation approaches are described: (i) pharmacokinetic-modulating and (ii) pharmacodynamic-modulating. In the pharmacokinetic-modulating approach, the pharmacokinetic profile of drug release is modified by, for example, a reduction in peak drug plasma concentration while preserving or improving AUC, thereby potentially reducing toxic effects that may be related to Cmax. In the pharmacodynamic-modulating approach, the drug is co-dosed with pharmacologically active or nonpharmacologically active agent or agents intended for mitigation of the drug's toxicity. The pharmacodynamic-modulating approach requires information on the specificity of drug interactions with other compounds and also on metabolic pathways. Examples demonstrating successful formulation work in reducing drug toxicity are provided. The in-depth knowledge of the drug's PK and PD properties combined with a greater understanding of the biology of diseases are necessary for successful drug product formulation leading to optimized in vivo exposure and minimized toxicity.


Abstract Recent satellite studies have shown that active subglacial lakes exist under the Antarctic ice streams and persist almost to their grounding lines. When the lowest-lying lakes flood, the water crosses the grounding line and enters the sub-ice-shelf cavity. Modeling results suggest that this additional freshwater influx may significantly enhance melting at the ice-shelf base. We examine the spatial and temporal variability in subglacial water supply to the grounding lines of the Siple Coast ice streams, by combining estimates for lake volume change derived from Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) data with a model for subglacial water transport. Our results suggest that subglacial outflow tends to concentrate towards six embayments in the Siple Coast grounding line. Although mean grounding line outflow is ~60m3 s–1 for the entire Siple Coast, maximum local grounding line outflow may temporarily exceed 300 m3 s–1 during the synchronized flooding of multiple lakes in a hydrologic basin. Variability in subglacial outflow due to subglacial lake drainage may account for a substantial portion of the observed variability in freshwater flux out of the Ross Ice Shelf cavity. The temporal variability in grounding line outflow results in a net reduction in long-term average melt rate, but temporary peak melting rates may exceed the long-term average by a factor of three.