Hedonic and sensory expectations related to fat-free and regular-fat pound cake, crackers and American cheese were studied with 97 subjects divided into three subgroups, each testing one type of product. Four study phases were separated by 1-month intervals: (1) a questionnaire on demographics, dietary practices and consumption of the test products, (2) intensity ratings of sensory attributes and ratings of liking of unlabeled fat-free and regular-fat samples, (3) ratings of expected attribute intensities and liking in response to product labels of "fat-free" and "regular", and subsequent ratings of these samples and (4) phase 3 repeated with opposite (incorrect) labels. Fat-free products were expected to be less liked than their regular counterparts; however, only cheese was less liked in actual taste tests. Expected liking was best predicted by familiarity with the product and, in the case of fat-free products, by the extent to which a person substituted low-fat for high-fat foods. Actual liking was best predicted by the effect of labeling and by expectations. The expected intensities of sensory attributes were uniformly higher in regular than in fat-free products. Both sensory and hedonic ratings of labeled samples changed in the direction of expectations, as compared to baseline values, supporting an assimilation model of the effect of disconfirmed expectations on sensory perception and consumer acceptance.


This paper mainly investigates various factors that influence the quality and the reliability of a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) for space applications. TE material degradation and metal junctions detachment are two major factors that lead to the degradation or failure of TEC. Qualification and screening tests are needed to make TEC be widely applied to space remote sensing. The defective TEC products can be distinguished with qualified TEC products by thermal and mechanical cycling impact experiments. These differences, such as micro-cracks and metal junctions detachment, could be demonstrated by tests of thermoelectric parameter, and then the defective TEC product can be removed. Compared with test of resistance, some indices, figure of merit, time constant, resistance, maximum DT as thermoelectric testing parameters to screen TEC products are measured and the condition of temperature and random vibration experiments is set after many discussions. Finally, ten TEC products are tested before and after thermal and mechanical experiment, and then a standard of qualification and screening tests of TEC products is established for space applications.


The reaction of mono- or dichloro-dimolybdenum(III) complexes [Mo2Cp2(mu-SMe)2(mu-Cl)(mu-Y)] (Cp=eta5-C5H5; 1, Y=SMe; 2, Y=PPh2; 3, Y=Cl) with NaBH4 at room temperature gave in high yields tetrahydroborato (8), hydrido (9) or metallaborane (12) complexes depending on the ancillary ligands. The correct formulation of derivatives and has been unambigously determined by X-ray diffraction methods. That of the hydrido compound 9 has been established in solution by NMR analysis and confirmed by an X-ray study of the mu-azavinylidene derivative [Mo2Cp2(mu-SMe)2(mu-PPh2)(mu-N=CHMe)] (10) obtained from the insertion of acetonitrile into the Mo-H bond of 9. Reaction of NaBH4 with nitrile derivatives, [Mo2Cp2(mu-SMe)4-n(CH3CN)2n]n+(5, n=1; 6 n=2), afforded the tetrahydroborato compound 8, together with a mu-azavinylidene species [Mo2Cp2(mu-SMe)3(mu-N=CHMe)](14), when n=1, and the metallaborane complex 12, together with a mixed borohydrato-azavinylidene derivative [Mo2Cp2(mu-SMe)2(mu-BH4)(mu-N=CHMe)] (13), when n=2. The molecular structures of these complexes have been confirmed by X-ray analysis. Preparations of some of the starting complexes (3 and 4) are also described, as are the molecular structures of the precursors [Mo2Cp2(mu-SMe)2(mu-X)(mu-Y)] (1, X/Y=Cl/SMe; 2, X/Y=Cl/PPh2; 4, X/Y=SMe/PPh2).


The study was designed to investigate the presence and level of maternally derived antibodies (MDA) in broiler and pullet chicks to determine the right days and time of vaccination against Infectious bursal disease (IBD). A total of 150 day old broiler chicks and pullets chicks were obtained from reputable breeder farmers and the birds divided into 5 groups (A, B, C, D and E) comprising 30 chicks per group. Coefficient of variation (CV), central vaccination time (CVT), and vaccination days (VD) from mean MDA (passive immunity chicks derived from parents' stock) ELISA titres were also determined using Hipra calculator (a device online for determining vaccination day and time from mean ELISA titers). One milliliter of blood sample was collected from each broiler and pullet chick from all the groups to obtain sera. The antibody titre level of broiler chicks ranged from 1,962 ± 438 to 4,363 ± 974 while that of pullets ranged from 2,111 ± 471 to 4,526 ± 1011. The highest CV was 46% for broiler chicks from farm A and the highest CV for pullets was 42.5% from another breeder farm D. The CVT for broilers to be vaccinated with mild IBD vaccine was 19 days, it was 18 days for intermediate vaccine and for intermediate plus vaccines was 12 days. The CVT was 33 days for pullets to be vaccinated with mild vaccine, 31 days for intermediate vaccine, while with intermediate plus vaccines it was 20 days. While the vaccination days for broiler was 7 and 17 days and it was 10 and 25 days for pullets. From the study the presence and level of MDA in day old chicks has been established and was above 1000 ELISA titre in chicks from all the five breeder farms. Keywords: Broilers, ELISA, Infectious bursal disease, Maternal derived antibodies, Pullets


Microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated in ultra fine-grained oxide-dispersion steels with 24 mass% Cr ferrite matrix fabricated from mechanical milled powders. Powder mixtures of Fe, Cr and Y2O3 were mechanically milled in an argon gas atmosphere and then consolidated at around 1100K. After 720 ks mechanical milling (MM), nanocrystalline ferrite grain structures were formed within powder particles. As for Y2O3 particles. It was observed that they were not only crushed to several nanometers but also decomposed during MM, and then oxides like Y2O3 and YCrO3 finely precipitated in ultra fine grained structure on annealing at around 1200K. Such ultra fine oxide particles effectively retarded the growth of matrix grains. The sample with 1 vol.% Y2O3 addition maintained ultra fine ferrite grains of 0.4 μm even after the annealing of 1573 K-3.6 ks by the Zener pinning effect of the oxide particles of about 10 nm in diameter. Tensile strength of the bulk samples markedly rose as the ferrite grain size became smaller in the grain size range below 1 μm and reached 1.93 GPa for the bulk sample with 1 vol.% Y2O3 addition and with the smallest mean grain size of 0.16 μm.


Kappa (‐κ) carrageenan gels prepared with various carrageenan concentrations in pure water were completely dried and then swelled in water vapor. Steady state fluorescence measurements were performed using a spectrometer equipped with temperature controller. Pyranine was embedded in κ‐carrageenan gels as a fluorescence probe during gel preparation. The fluorescence intensity, I, increased exponentially as swelling time is increased for all gel samples. The increase in I was modelled using Li‐Tanaka equation from which swelling time constants, τc and cooperative diffusion coefficients, Dc were determined. It was observed that Dc increased as the swelling temperature was increased. On the other hand at each temperature, it was seen that Dc decreased as kappa carrageenan concentration was increased. Activation energies for swelling were obtained and found to be 57.4, 58.3 and 62.73 kJ mol−1 for the gels with increasing amount of κ‐carrageenan content.


Background and Objective: We detected the expression of MIF and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in meningiomas to determine whether they are valuable recurrence predictor for meningioma. Methods: 67 cases of meningiomas, including 57 benign tumors (WHO grade I) and 10 non-benign tumors (WHO grade II and III), were collected, and expression of MIF and MMP9 in tissue microarray was evaluated immunohistochemically. The correlations between immunostainings and clinicopathological parameters, as well as the follow-up data of patients, were analyzed statistically. Results: Increased expressions of both MIF (58.2%, 39/67) and MMP9 (55.2%, 37/67) were significantly associated with microvessel density (MVD) of tumor, but only dual high-expression of MIF and MMP9 was in relation to tumor invasion (P=0.016) and tumor recurrence (P=0.001). Based on univariate analysis, histological grade, tumor invasion and co-expression of MIF and MMP9 were significant predictors for recurrence. However, only histological grade and co-expression of MIF and MMP9 in tumor were independent recurrence factors with a hazard ratio of 49.033 (P=0.002) and 37.766 (P=0.002) in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Together with histological grade, increased co-expression of MIF and MMP9 in tumor might be a valuable predictor for recurrence, especially for benign meningiomas.


STUDY DESIGN
Cross-sectional.

BACKGROUND
Short episodes of more intense pain are common in knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA), but little is known about such pain flares in response to specific activities.

OBJECTIVES
To determine prevalence, severity and clinical correlates of pain flares in response to a repeated sit to stand activity.

METHODS
The analyses included 11,013 patients with knee OA and 3,889 patients with hip OA who completed a 30s chair stand test before starting the Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark (GLA:D®) treatment program. Prevalence and severity of pain flares were evaluated by change in self-reported joint pain intensity on a 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS) after the test. Correlates with pain flares (increase in NRS ≥2) were assessed using regression analyses.

RESULTS
One in every three patients with knee OA, and one in every five patients with hip OA experienced pain flares (NRS ≥2). Low knee/hip confidence, three or more painful body sites, fewer than 12 chair stands in 30s, and BMI ≥30 were associated with pain flares from the 30s chair stand test in patients with knee and hip OA. Low self-efficacy and joint stiffness was associated with pain flares in patients with knee OA. Using pain medication was associated with pain flares in patients with hip OA.

CONCLUSION
Pain flares in response to a repeated sit to stand activity were common in patients with knee and hip OA. Clinical correlates, including joint confidence, functional performance and BMI, potentially modifiable with patient education, exercise therapy and weight loss, were associated with pain flares. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, Epub 6 Sep 2019. doi:10.2519/jospt.2019.9125.


Purpose: To report a case of symblepharon due to epidermolysis bullosa (EB), surgical treatment, and follow-up to 14 years. Methods: A 17-year-old white female with recessive dystrophic EB presented with decreased vision due to extensive symblepharon OU. There was opacification and neovascularization of the cornea OU with limited motility. Results: The symblepharon was surgically lysed, anterior lamellar keratectomy performed, and amniotic membrane graft transplanted to the cornea and palpebral conjunctiva, first in the OS and subsequently in the OD. Visual acuity improved from counting fingers to 20/40 in the OS and from 20/200 to 20/70 in the OD at 2 months and 6 weeks postoperatively, respectively, with minimal symblepharon, mild corneal scarring, neovascularization, and haze of OU. She recovered full ductions, but noted diplopia and had a 35 prism diopter exotropia. Symblepharon resolved after 6 months, and alignment improved to 4 prism diopter exophoria. At 14 years follow-up, visual acuity was 20/20 in the OD and 20/30 in the OS, with clear cornea, maintained on fluorometholone 0.1% one drop OU at bedtime. Conclusions: Surgical symblepharolysis, superficial lamellar keratectomy, and amniotic membrane graft transplantation were effective for our patient with recessive dystrophic EB. Her postoperative exotropia resolved over time with monitoring and convergence exercises.


Targeting oxidative phosphorylation overcomes ibrutinib resistance in mantle cell lymphoma. Dismantling lymphoma metabolism Mantle cell lymphoma is a B cell malignancy that often responds to initial treatment with ibrutinib, an inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase. Unfortunately, the therapeutic response is typically short lived for reasons that are not yet fully understood. Zhang et al. found that resistance to ibrutinib in mantle cell lymphoma can be associated with metabolic reprogramming and a shift toward reliance on glutaminolysis and oxidative phosphorylation by the cancer cells. The authors demonstrated that these drug-resistant cells can be effectively targeted with a small-molecule inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation, showing promising therapeutic results in patient-derived mouse models. Metabolic reprogramming is linked to cancer cell growth and proliferation, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance in a multitude of cancers. Targeting dysregulated metabolic pathways to overcome resistance, an urgent clinical need in all relapsed/refractory cancers, remains difficult. Through genomic analyses of clinical specimens, we show that metabolic reprogramming toward oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and glutaminolysis is associated with therapeutic resistance to the Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a B cell lymphoma subtype with poor clinical outcomes. Inhibition of OXPHOS with a clinically applicable small molecule, IACS-010759, which targets complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, results in marked growth inhibition in vitro and in vivo in ibrutinib-resistant patient-derived cancer models. This work suggests that targeting metabolic pathways to subvert therapeutic resistance is a clinically viable approach to treat highly refractory malignancies.


On the base of constructing the evaluation index system of the enterprise's independent innovation capability, this paper firstly achieves an objective evaluation of the enterprise's independent innovation capability through the division of its five stages. During this process, it uses a new fuzzy multi-attribute group decision-making method to establish a mathematical model. Compared to the traditional evaluation methods, this method takes into account the uncertain preference coefficient in decision-making and uses the weighted Hamming distance, based on the fuzzy theory and multi-attribute decision-making theory. Furthermore it can identify the enterprise's independent innovation capability by the relative closeness interval. Finally, the empirical result about Yantai Wanhua Polyurethanes Co. LTD shows that the model can effectively identify the enterprise's independent innovation capability.


Clonal gammopathies and autoimmune disease following standard conditioning haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are thought to reflect immune dysregulation post HSCT. Serial serum protein electrophoresis was performed on 124 patients with myeloid malignancies undergoing Alemtuzumab based reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) HSCT. The median age of patients was 53 years (range 22–72), with a median follow-up of 521 days (range 82–2096). The median follow-up for survivors was 720 days (range 82–2096). The majority of patients were treated for myeloid malignancies: MDS 84, AML 28, CML 10, others 2. There were 45 sibling and 79 VUD allografts. All patients received the same RIC protocol with FBC (30mg/m 2 fludarabine iv day −9 to −5, 4 mg/kg busulphan oral from day −3 to −2; and 20 mg alemtuzumab iv from day −8 to −4) conditioning with cycloporine A for GvHD prophylaxis. Patients with autoimmune disorders or clonal gammopathies prior to transplant were excluded from the study. We observed the presence of clonal gammopathies in 49 patients (40%). On analysis of immunoglobulin sub-classes, the M component was identified as monoclonal in 21 (43%), biclonal in 16 (33%) and oligoclonal in 12 (24%). The predominant Ig isotype was IgG (84%), and gammopathies were present for a median time of 138.5 days (range: 27–462). The kappa:lambda ratio between samples was 1.6:1. The median level of gammopathies was 2.6 g/l (range 1.0–16.5). There was no evidence of plasma cell dyscrasia on bone marrow assessment in any of the patients. We compared the characteristics of patients with and without gammopathies. There were no significant differences in donor or recipient age, sex, disease type, stem cell source, stem cell dose. The incidence of viral infections, acute GvHD, donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) was similar between the groups. However, patients with gammopathies were more likely to have chronic graft versus host disease (GvHD) (p=0.006). Bone marrow chimerism was available for analysis on 45 patients. At time of detection of gammopathy, 34 patients (76%) had achieved full donor chimerism, and 11 patients (24%) were mixed donor chimerism. Of the entire group of 124 patients, 11 patients (9%) developed autoimmune disorders. There was however no association between the presence of autoimmune disorders and clonal gammopathies (p=0.50). When patients with gammopathies were compared with those without, there was a significant difference in both disease free survival (54% vs 24%, p=0.012), and overall survival (69% vs 45%, p=0.007). On univariate analysis, early disease stage and presence of gammopathy were significant predictive variables for improved disease free survival and overall survival. On multivariate analysis, disease stage was the only independent variable for disease free survival (p


Knowledge distillation can effectively transfer knowledge from BERT, a deep language representation model, to traditional, shallow word embedding-based neural networks, helping them approach or exceed the quality of other heavyweight language representation models. As shown in previous work, critical to this distillation procedure is the construction of an unlabeled transfer dataset, which enables effective knowledge transfer. To create transfer set examples, we propose to sample from pretrained language models fine-tuned on task-specific text. Unlike previous techniques, this directly captures the purpose of the transfer set. We hypothesize that this principled, general approach outperforms rule-based techniques. On four datasets in sentiment classification, sentence similarity, and linguistic acceptability, we show that our approach improves upon previous methods. We outperform OpenAI GPT, a deep pretrained transformer, on three of the datasets, while using a single-layer bidirectional LSTM that runs at least ten times faster.


This study investigated whether individualism-collectivism (cultural) differences would account for the observed relationship between ethnic group status and affective responses to and fairness perceptions of affirmative action interventions. Forty-nine international (Latin America and East Asia), 116 minority, and 106 majority participants from a major southwestern university and its community provided fairness and affective response ratings to an affirmative action scenario. Implementation policy and qualification of the recipient were also manipulated. Though ethnicity was related to individualism-collectivism, the latter did not explain any variance in affective response ratings. Minority and international participants reported more positive affect and higher agreement and fairness levels than did majority participants. Participants in the preferential treatment and equally qualified conditions had more favorable responses than those in the reverse-discrimination and less qualified conditions. Language: en


Epilepsy is a chronic episodic disorder of brain function characterized by the unpredictable occurrence of seizures. Epileptic seizures are transitory alterations in behavior, sensation, or consciousness caused by abnormal, excessive, or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain that can be detected with the electroencephalogram (EEG). Approximately 0.8% of the population suffers from epilepsy. Epilepsy can occur at any age, but onset is more frequent in children younger than about age 10 and in adults over age 50. Recurrent seizures, if frequent, interfere with a patient's ability to carry out day-to-day activities. However, daily oral use of antiseizure medications allows approximately 70% of patients to remain seizure free. Seizures are classified into two major types: focal onset (formerly partial onset) seizures and generalized onset seizures. Focal seizures arise in a localized region in one cerebral hemisphere and are accompanied by EEG abnormalities that are restricted to the epileptic focus. In contrast, generalized seizures are associated with EEG features indicating simultaneous hemispheric activation. Focal seizures are further classified as aware, impaired awareness, or focal to bilateral tonic-clonic. The seizures are termed aware (formerly simple) if consciousness is preserved, and impaired awareness (formerly complex) if consciousness is impaired or lost. In impaired awareness seizures, motor activity often appears as a complicated and seemingly purposeful movement referred to as an automatism. If a focal seizure spreads to encompass both hemispheres, the focal seizure can transition to a bilateral tonic-clonic seizure (formerly secondarily generalized) resulting in tonic-clonic manifestations, which involve rigid extension of the trunk and limbs (tonic phase) followed by rhythmic contractions of the arms and legs (clonic phase). In generalized seizures, both hemispheres are involved at the onset. There are various types of generalized seizures, including generalized tonic-clonic seizures, which are similar to focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures except that they do not begin focally; absence seizures, characterized by impaired consciousness and minimal motor manifestations; and other types of seizures, including myoclonic, clonic, tonic, or atonic (astatic), depending on the specific clinical manifestations. The classification of seizures and their characteristics are presented in the Therapeutic Overview Box. Status epilepticus, clinically defined as abnormally prolonged or repetitive seizures, presents in several forms, including: (1) tonic-clonic (convulsive) status epilepticus, (2) nonconvulsive status epilepticus, (3) focal status epilepticus, and (4) absence status epilepticus. Convulsive status epilepticus is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Traditionally, convulsive status epilepticus was defined as more than 30 minutes of either (1) continuous seizure activity, or (2) two or more sequential seizures without full recovery of consciousness between seizures. Because persistent seizure activity is believed to cause permanent neuronal injury and the majority of seizures terminate in 2 to 3 minutes, it is now generally accepted that treatment should begin when the seizure duration reaches 5 minutes for generalized tonic-clonic seizures and 10 minutes for focal seizures with or without impairment of awareness. Convulsive status epilepticus can lead to systemic hypoxia, acidemia, hyperpyrexia, cardiovascular collapse, and renal shutdown. Nonconvulsive status epilepticus, a persistent change in behavior or mental processes with continuous epileptiform EEG but without major motor signs, also requires urgent treatment. All people are capable of experiencing seizures. Brain insults such as fever, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, hyponatremia, and extreme lactic acidosis, or exposure to certain drugs or toxins, can trigger a seizure, but if the condition is corrected, seizures do not recur, and the condition is not considered epilepsy. Epilepsy is a disease (also variously described as a disorder) characterized by an enduring predisposition to epileptic seizures and by the neurobiological, cognitive, psychological, and social consequences of this condition. The diverse causes of seizures and epilepsy are listed in Box 21.1. The goal of antiseizure drug therapy is to prevent seizures while minimizing adverse effects. If seizures continue after drug therapy is initiated, the dose may be increased until unacceptable adverse effects Voltage-gated Ion Channel Modulators Voltage-gated sodium channel blockers T-type voltage-gated calcium channel blockers Gabapentinoids (α2δ ligands) Kv7 voltage-gated potassium channel openers GABA Enhancers GABAA receptor modulators GABA transporter inhibitors GABA transaminase inhibitors AMPA receptor antagonists SV2A ligands Mixed-Acting Compounds MAJOR DRUG CLASSES


ABSTRACT Introduction: Correct and prompt diagnosis is essential for the appropriate management of patients. Often, children and their caretakers cannot provide a reliable history to allow clinicians to determine the cause of the pain. This study's objective was to find out the prevalence of abnormal ultrasonographic findings among referred patients with pain abdomen in the radiology department of a tertiary care center of Nepal. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients in the out-patient and emergency department with complaints of abdominal pain from 2021 April 5 to August 30 in a tertiary care hospital. Ethical clearance was taken from IRC (registration no: 423/2021). The convenience sampling method was used. Written informed consent was taken from each study participant. Collected data were entered and analyzed on Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and percentage for binary data. Results: Among 250 patients with pain abdomen referred to the department of radiology, 169 (67.6%) (61.80-73.40 at 95% Confidence Interval) had abnormal ultrasonographic findings. Mean age of the patients was 39.4±17.9 years. Initial clinical diagnosis was in agreement with the abdominal ultrasound diagnosis in 57 (22.8%) patients. For the remaining 193 patients, the diagnosis obtained from abdominal ultrasound differed from the initial clinical diagnosis. Conclusions: Most of the cases of pain abdomen showed abnormalities in ultrasound. Clinical evaluation should be used together with ultrasound abdomen in order to arrive at a correct diagnosis.


Tap water that becomes the main source of water that is used by people should be
evaluated for the safety level whether it is free from the contamination of bacteria or heavy
metals. Most of the studies that have been done that use tap water samples showed that
heavy metals really exist in tap water samples. This study focuses on tap water because it is
widely used and it became the basic need for human being. The evaluation of the safety
level of tap water is very important. Hence, this study is done to achieve a few objectives ,
that are to determine the concentration of heavy metals in tap water samples whether they
are safe or not according to the parameter and standard of water quality for heavy metals
by MNDWQS and US EPA. So as to determine the concentration of each element in order
to identify which is the most concentrated and vice versa. This study also compares the
level of heavy metals' concentration according to the types of site sampling from industrial,
agricultural and housing areas. By using AAS, the result of this study showed that most of
the samples contain heavy metals. This study has achieved all of the objectives whereby the
results of this study showed that the levels of most of heavy metals' concentration exceed
the limit for level of the water quality. This study also proves that the location of water
might influenced the concentration of heavy metals in tap water sample.


Solid-state hydrogen-deuterium exchange with mass spectrometric analysis (ssHDX) is a promising method for characterizing proteins in amorphous solids. Though analysis of HDX kinetics is informative and well-established in solution, application of these methods to solid samples is complicated by possible heterogeneities in the solid. The studies reported here provide a detailed analysis of the kinetics of hydration and ssHDX for equine myoglobin (Mb) in solid matrices containing sucrose or mannitol. Water sorption was rapid relative to ssHDX, indicating that ssHDX kinetics was not limited by bulk water transport. Deuterium uptake in solids was well-characterized by a biexponential model; values for regression parameters provided insight into differences between the two solid matrices. Analysis of the widths of peptide mass envelopes revealed that, in solution, an apparent EX2 mechanism prevails, consistent with native conformation of the protein. In contrast, in mannitol-containing samples, a smaller non-native subpopulation exchanges by an EX1-like mechanism. Together, the results indicate that the analysis of ssHDX kinetic data and of the widths of peptide mass envelopes is useful in screening solid formulations of protein drugs for the presence of non-native species that cannot be detected by amide I FTIR.


Although people seek to avoid expenditure of cognitive effort, reward incentives can increase investment of processing resources in challenging situations that require cognitive control, resulting in improved performance. At the same time, subjective value is relative, rather than absolute: The value of a reward is increased if the local context is reward-poor versus reward-rich. Although this notion is supported by work in economics and psychology, we propose that reward relativity should also play a critical role in the cost-benefit computations that inform cognitive effort allocation. Here we demonstrate that reward-induced cognitive effort allocation in a task-switching paradigm is sensitive to reward context, consistent with the notion of relative value. Informed by predictions of a computational model of divisive reward normalization, we demonstrate that reward-induced switch cost reductions depend critically upon reward context, such that the same reward amount engenders greater control allocation in impoverished versus rich reward context. Succinctly, these results confirm that reward relativity factors into the value computation driving effort allocation, revealing that motivated cognitive control, like choice, is all relative. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).


Peptide toxins have proved to be useful agents, both in discriminating between different components of native calcium channel currents and in the molecular isolation and designation of their cloned channel counterparts. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of the biochemical and physiological properties of a novel 74-amino acid peptide toxin (DW13.3) extracted from the venom of the spider Filistata hibernalis. The subtype specificity of DW13.3 was investigated using calcium channel currents recorded from two separate expression systems and several different cultured mammalian cell preparations. Overall, DW13.3 potently blocked all native calcium channel currents studied, with the exception of T-type currents recorded from GH3 cells. Examination of transiently expressed calcium channels in oocytes showed that DW13.3 had the highest affinity for alpha1A, followed by alpha1B > alpha1C > alpha1E. The affinity of DW13.3 for alpha1B N-type currents varied by 10-fold between expressed channels and native currents. Although block occurred in a similar 1:1 manner for all subtypes, DW13.3 produced a partial block of both alpha1A currents and P-type currents in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Selective occlusion of the P/Q-type channel ligand omega-conotoxin MVIIC (but not omega-agatoxin IVA) from its binding site in Purkinje neurons suggests that DW13.3 binds to a site close to the pore of the channel. The inhibition of different subtypes of calcium channels by DW13.3 reflects a common "macro" binding site present on all calcium channels except T-type.


The aging brain is characterized by a progressive increase in neuroinflammation and central insulin resistance, which contribute to neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive impairment. Recently, the Interventions Testing Program (ITP) demonstrated that the anti-diabetes drug, Canagliflozin (Cana), a sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i), led to lower fasting glucose and improved glucose tolerance in both sexes, but extended median lifespan by 14% only in male mice. Here we show that Cana treatment significantly improved central insulin sensitivity in the hypothalamus and the hippocampus of 30-month-old male mice. Remarkably, Cana-treated mice showed significant reductions in age-associated hypothalamic gliosis with a decrease in inflammatory cytokine production by microglia in both sexes. In the hippocampus, Cana reduced microgliosis and astrogliosis in males, but not in female mice. The decrease in microgliosis was partially dependent on mTOR signaling, as evidenced by reduced phosphorylation of S6 kinase in microglia of Cana-treated aged male, but not female mice. Remarkably, Cana treatment improved exploratory and locomotor activity of 30-month-old male but not female mice. Taken together, our findings demonstrate sex-specific neuroprotective effects of Cana treatment, suggesting its application for the potential treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of anti-alpha-fodrin antibody specific for adult Sjögren's syndrome (SS) in patients with juvenile onset SS.

METHODS
Serum anti-alpha-fodrin antibody was examined in 15 patients with juvenile SS (11 cases of primary SS and 4 secondary SS) and in 16 children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by Western blot analysis using a recombinant 120 kDa alpha-fodrin fusion protein.

RESULTS
All the 15 serum samples from patients with SS reacted with a recombinant alpha-fodrin fusion protein in Western blot analysis. In contrast, reactivity was found in only 2 of the 16 patients with SLE. The clinical features of the 15 patients with juvenile onset SS were very specific; only 4 patients complained of dryness, while 6 had abnormal excretion ability. Salivary gland enlargement was the most common clinical manifestation. Characteristic laboratory findings in juvenile onset SS included a higher prevalence of antinuclear antibodies, anti-SSA/Ro antibodies, and rheumatoid factor, as well as increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hypergammaglobulinemia.

CONCLUSION
The pathogenesis of juvenile SS seems to be the same as that of adult SS, although subjective symptoms of dryness are less frequent in juvenile cases. This discrepancy may indicate that SS is a slowly progressive disease with a long time span. The anti-alpha-fodrin antibody is likely to be a reliable diagnostic marker for juvenile SS.


Drawing on theories of new product adoption and intertemporal choice, the authors show in cross-sectional and longitudinal investigations (Study 1) that when adoption is in the distant future, people are more concerned about performance- and symbolic-benefit uncertainties. In contrast, in the near future, the concerns are more about switching- and affective-cost uncertainties. In Studies 2 and 2a, using theories of mental simulation, the authors show that in the distant-future adoption scenario, communication strategies that promote outcome simulations are more effective in reducing performance uncertainty, bolstering positive feelings, and enhancing behavioral intentions. In contrast, in the near-future adoption scenario, communication strategies that promote process simulations are better at reducing switching cost and affective uncertainties, assuaging anxiety, and increasing behavioral intentions. The authors also find positive effects of these communication strategies on actual adoption rates and postconsumption satisfaction (Study 2) and on delayed behavioral intentions (Study 2a). In addition, these communication strategies are more efficacious in increasing behavioral intentions when uncertainty levels are higher (Study 3). The key managerial implications are that communication strategies for new products need to reduce uncertainties about costs and benefits and account for temporal distance to adoption.


One of the most influential novelists, Henry James led a life that was as rich as his writing. Born into an eccentric and difficult family, he left the United States for Europe, where he quickly became a fixture of the expatriate writing community. Fred Kaplan recreates the world of Henry James: his friendships with Edith Wharton and Joseph Conrad, his love of all things exquisite-including exquisite writing-and his quest for understanding human nature. As James himself advocated and would have wanted, this is an artful, dramatic biography, placing the chronological narrative of James's life in the historical context of his times. "The twenty-one-year-old Henry James, Jr., preferred to be a writer rather than a soldier. His motives for writing were clear to himself, and they were not unusual: he desired fame and fortune. Whatever additional enriching complications that were to make him notorious for the complexity of his style and thought, the initial motivation remained constant. Deeply stubborn and persistently willful, he wanted praise and money, the rewards of recognition of what he believed to be his genius, on terms that he himself wanted to establish. The one battle he thought most worth fighting was that of the imagination for artistic expression. The one empire he most coveted, the land that he wanted for his primary home, was the empire of art."-from Henry James: The Imagination of Genius


Fall-related injuries of elderly people have become a major public-health burden resulting in direct physical, physiological and financial costs to the surfer and indirect societal costs. Automated fall detectors play a central role in reducing these damages and in supporting safety and independency of the seniors. Typically, automated fall detection devices can send real time notifications to the caregivers in case of emergency. In this study, we consider the problem of fall detection of compressively sensed data. The proposed approach involves first, acquiring acceleration data from different subjects using different fall and activities of daily living (ADLs) scenarios by means of shimmer devices. The collected data is then, multiplied by a binary sensing matrix. Two classification approaches were investigated using k-nearest neighbour (KNN) and extended nearest neighbour (ENN), respectively. Our experiments showed promising results with accuracies of up to 91.34 % and 91.73 % on the test set using five and ten folds cross validation respectively.


Arabidopsis thaliana cell-wall invertase 1 (AtCWIN1), a key enzyme in sucrose metabolism in plants, catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose into fructose and glucose. AtCWIN1 belongs to the glycoside hydrolase GH-J clan, where two carboxylate residues (Asp23 and Glu203 in AtCWIN1) are well documented as a nucleophile and an acid/base catalyst. However, details at the atomic level about the role of neighboring residues and enzyme-substrate interactions during catalysis are not fully understood. Here, quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) free-energy simulations were carried out to clarify the origin of the observed decreased rates in Asp239Ala, Asp239Asn, and Asp239Phe in AtCWIN1 compared to the wild type and delineate the role of Asp239 in catalysis. The glycosylation and deglycosylation steps were considered in both wild type and mutants. Deglycosylation is predicted to be the rate-determining step in the reaction, with a calculated overall free-energy barrier of 15.9 kcal/mol, consistent with the experimental barrier (15.3 kcal/mol). During the reaction, the -1 furanosyl ring underwent a conformational change corresponding to 3E ↔ [E2]⧧ ↔ 1E according to the nomenclature of saccharide structures along the full catalytic reaction. Asp239 was found to stabilize not only the transition state but also the fructosyl-enzyme intermediate, which explains findings from previous structural and mutagenesis experiments. The 1-OH···nucleophile interaction has been found to provide an important contribution to the transition state stabilization, with a contribution of ∼7 kcal/mol, and affected glycosylation more significantly than deglycosylation. This study provides molecular insights that improve the current understanding of sucrose binding and hydrolysis in members of clan GH-J, which may benefit protein engineering research. Finally, a rationale on the sucrose inhibitor configuration in chicory 1-FEH IIa, proposed a long time ago in the literature, is also provided based on the QM/MM calculations.


On the basis of their aims, the Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe focuses on lifestyle-oriented structural prevention and health promotion as well as the continuously changing (social, cultural, sexual, medical, etc.) conditions. In doing so, they stress the collective responsibility of the local AIDS service organizations and of other agents involved in prevention as well as of policy, administration, economy and society. In the face of the modified perception of HIV infection, the disentanglement of sexuality from the "dictatorship of fear" and the growing individualization and differentiation in matters of risk management, it is necessary to enhance the life style and service orientation in prevention and health promotion, to enhance the utilization of all media available in the age of information, particularly the internet, and to convey clear(er) messages on new forms of risk management to ensure what has been achieved so far (compared to other European countries a low rate of newly diagnosed infections and a largely non-discriminatory attitude towards the people affected) and to gain substantial improvements.


The purpose of the present study is to measure up the effects of two methods of teaching collocations (i.e., explicit and implicit) on Iranian EFL learners' use of collocations in writing. The participants in this study were selected from three intact classes consisting of forty five adult Iranian advanced EFL learners. Two intact classes were selected as the experimental groups (EG/IG) and one other class as the control group (CG). A pretest was administered to determine learners' use of collocations in writing. It consisted of 20 selected words from "Anecdotes in American English" (Hill, 1980). At the end of the study the participants were given 20 selected words to make a complete sentence. The groups were found to perform with considerable differences on the posttest. The results revealed that the group receiving explicit method of teaching collocations outperformed the other two groups in using collocations in sentence writing.


Pixel based image fusion entails combining geometric details of a high-resolution Panchromatic (PAN) image and spectral information of a low-resolution Multispectral (MS) image to produce images with highest spatial content while preserving the spectral information. This work reviews and implements six fusion techniques - A Trous algorithm based wavelet transform (ATW), Mulitresolution Analysis based Intensity Modulation, Gram Schmidt fusion, CN Spectral, Luminance Chrominance and High pass fusion (HPF) on IKONOS imagery having 1 m PAN and 4 m MS channels. Comparative performance analysis of techniques by various methods reveals that ATW followed by HPF perform best among all the techniques.


The past few decades have seen an increase in both the role and the complexity of neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer. Neoadjuvant therapy was initially described as systemic chemotherapy for inflammatory or locally advanced breast cancer but now entails a combination of chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and targeted therapy. Neoadjuvant systemic therapy is employed for inoperable inflammatory and locally advanced breast cancer, and also for patients with operable breast cancers who desire breast‐conserving therapy (BCT) but are not candidates based on the initial size of the tumor in relation to the size of the breast. Neoadjuvant therapy in this subset of patients may impact the surgical options. This review will summarize the benefits of neoadjuvant systemic therapy and implications for BCT, the timing of sentinel node biopsy, and the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to predict response to therapy. J. Surg. Oncol. 2010; 101:283–291. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


This paper addresses how future citizens are being socialized in Mexico, and more specifically, what is the role of family communication and viewing news in shaping civic awareness and political participation. The analyzed data comes from a survey to Mexican children enrolled in the 6 th year of elementary school in three cities of the North East of Mexico (n = 1544).  The analytical strategy consisted in developing a full structural equation model to test both the validity of the constructs proposed, and the hypothetical relationships among those constructs.  Results reinforced the central role of parents in shaping future citizens, by having an effect on children's attitudes to political participation. Otherwise, TV news viewing was found as having an effect on children's civic awareness, but just a weak effect on children's attitudes to political participation.  The paper concludes with a final elaboration regarding theoretical and public policy implications from those findings; more specifically, it offers guidelines for educational interventions that take advantage from the relevance of parents on shaping Mexican future citizens.  Keywords: Political socialization, political communication, civic development, public opinion, structural equation models. Submission date: 2013-05-30 Acceptance date: 2013-12-08


This study takes a Jacobian-free approach based on the Arnoldi iteration to present a method to perform hydrodynamic instability analysis based on Direct Numerical Simulations. The method employs high order spatial and temporal discretizations for the flow simulation and has very low requirements of computational time and memory, compared to conventional matrix-forming methods. Details of the numerical treatment applied to guarantee consistency in the numerical solution are discussed, such as mesh and domain dependencies, and buffer zones for the open boundary conditions. The implementation presented here is applicable to any flow with Cartesian geometry, however, the method can be extended to complex geometries and three-dimensional flows.


Investigations were made into the origins and causes of radio interference from high-voltage insulators, and factors which affect the interference level were studied. Pin-type, multicone post-type and pedestal-type insulators were used. In pin-type insulators, over their working voltage range practically all interference was generated in the region of contact between the high-voltage conductor and the porcelain. The interference was reduced to a very low level by applying a conducting paint or a semiconducting glaze to the insulator head. In multicone post-type and pedestal-type insulators most of the interference originated in the metal-cap/first-shed region, and the cement joint between the metal cap and first shed was the predominant source of interference. Control of the voltage stresses by using stress distributor and guard ring, and application of conducting paints to the cement joint, caused a large reduction in the interference and increased the voltage at which interference was first observed. Radio interference from pin-type insulators was also studied in air of different humidities. Increasing humidity caused a decrease in radio interference. The effect was relatively small in the drier conditions, but large reduction in interference was observed in humidity conditions near the saturation value.


Determination of the residual β-cell mass using noninvasive tools might help to follow up the efficacy of new treatments in both type 1 (insulin-dependent) and type 2 (non–insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus, including islet transplantation. β-cells are neuroendocrine cells that can take up and metabolize the serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan. The serotonin pathway may therefore be an attractive target for the development of an imaging tracer for residual β-cell mass. The aim of this study was to evaluate the uptake mechanism and the retention of the PET tracer 11C-hydroxytryptophan in endocrine and exocrine pancreas in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The exocrine human pancreas carcinoma cell line (PANC-1) and the endocrine human insulinoma cell line (CM) were applied for in vitro 11C-hydroxytryptophan accumulation/efflux experiments and blocking studies using inhibitors of key enzymes and transporters involved in the serotonin pathway. Animal experiments were performed on normal Wistar rats and on rats pretreated with the monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor clorgyline. After intravenous injection of 11C-hydroxytryptophan, a 60-min dynamic PET scan was acquired followed by an ex vivo biodistribution study. Autoradiography and hematoxylin–eosin staining were performed on the dissected pancreas to localize the radioactivity within the pancreatic tissue. Results: 11C-hydroxytryptophan accumulated rapidly in both endocrine CM cells and exocrine PANC-1 cells. In the exocrine cells, a rapid efflux of radioactivity was observed, whereas most radioactivity remained trapped in the endocrine cells. PET images showed clear accumulation of 11C-hydroxytryptophan in the pancreas in both animal groups, but with a significant 3-fold higher retention of the radiopharmaceutical in clorgyline-treated animals. Ex vivo biodistribution studies confirmed the results obtained by PET. Autoradiographs did not discriminate between the exocrine and endocrine pancreas in control animals, whereas autoradiographs showed intense radioactive spots colocalized with the islets of Langerhans in clorgyline-treated animals. Conclusion: 11C-hydroxytryptophan is trapped in β-cells but not in exocrine pancreatic cells. β-cell selectivity can be strongly enhanced by inhibition of MAO-A. This observation offers perspectives for the development of a more selective PET tracer for β-cell mass, based on an 11C-hydroxytryptophan derivative with increased resistance toward degradation by MAO-A.


A non-linear Schrödinger equation with small terms accounting for dissipation and a driving force randomly varying in time is considered. Physical applications of this model are, e.g., Langmuir waves in a plasma driven by a random electric field, or a randomly pumped non-linear optical fibre. The analysis is developed for the "high-temperature" case, when the drive is essentially stronger than the dissipation. In this case, it is possible to introduce a mean potential of the soliton-soliton interaction, defined as the known usual potential (containing an oscillatory tail generated by the dissipative term) averaged over an equilibrium distribution of the soliton's amplitude, which is produced by the corresponding Fokker-Planck equation. It is demonstrated that the mean potential contains a set of local minima, which should give rise to bound states in the rarefied gas of solitons supported by the random drive. An equilibrium separation between the solitons in the bound states depends, in the "high-temperature" approximation, only on the dissipative constant, but not on the "temperature" (mean-squared amplitude of the random drive).


Background: Hyperkalemia is an electrolyte abnormality that may cause ventricular dysrhythmias and cardiac arrest. The presence of hyperkalemia may necessitate prompt treatment via intravenous insulin and dextrose. One notable complication of this therapy is the development of hypoglycemia. Previous trials have examined the impact of altering the insulin dose administered on hypoglycemia development; no trials to date however, have examined the impact of altering the dextrose dose. Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective, matched cohort study of patients who received intravenous insulin and dextrose for reversal of hyperkalemia. Patients received either 25 g or 50 g of dextrose in addition to 10 units of insulin. Study populations were matched based on preexisting rates of acute kidney injury, end-stage renal disease, and diabetes mellitus. Blood glucose levels were measured at 60 and 240 min following treatment. Results: A total of 240 patients were included in the analysis. At 60 min following treatment, 15.8% of patients who received 25 g of dextrose developed hypoglycemia, as opposed to 8.3% of patients who received 50 g of dextrose (p = 0.11). Hyperglycemia was more common in patients who received 50 g of dextrose at 60 min posttreatment; however, this difference did not persist at 240 min. Potassium reduction at 60 min did not differ between groups. In patients with a pretreatment blood glucose <110 mg/dl or without diabetes, rates of hypoglycemia were significantly lower when 50 g of dextrose was administered. Conclusion: In the overall patient population, use of 50 g of dextrose instead of 25 g does not reduce hypoglycemia incidence. However, it may be beneficial is select patient populations, such as patients without type 2 diabetes or patients with a baseline blood glucose <110 mg/dl. Administration of 50 g of dextrose did not appear to place patients at significant risk for hyperglycemia however and could be considered during treatment of hyperkalemia.


Some neoplasms are associated with granulomatous inflammation. Granuloma formation in tumor tissue is caused by the cytokines derived from either the main tumor or other cells surrounding the tumor. In other instances, granulomatous inflammation is observed in the lymph nodes draining a tumor. This has been recognized as a sarcoid-like reaction. Herein, we report of a 75-year-old man with pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), where granulomatous inflammation was observed extensively at the primary site. The carcinoma seemed to partly regress. In the regressing area, tumor cell debris was surrounded by granuloma. In contrast, no granuloma was identified in the dissected regional lymph nodes. To the best of our knowledge, such a case of SCC had not been described thus far. More case studies are required to determine whether tumor-related granuloma is the main cause of regression or whether it is just a secondary phenomenon caused by the attack and destruction of the tumor by lymphocytes.


We present a laser induced breakdown spectrum of Er II in the near ultraviolet region. To use the spectrum for the evaluation of the transition probabilities, an alloy target with a low content of Er was used to suppress the self-absorption. From the linearity of the Boltzmann plot obtained by using the sensitivity corrected experimental intensity and existing transition probability data, the local thermal equilibrium condition of the plasma and the reliability of the transition probability data are confirmed. The linear function obtained in the Boltzmann plot is used for the determination of a previously unreported transition probability for the line at 393.863 nm.


Digital learning through computer software and applications is rarely applied by pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) in Indonesia. So far, the application commonly used by traditional (salaf) pesantren, modern (khalaf) pesantren, and integrated pesantren is the Maktabah Syamila application. However, in Maktabah Syamila, religious radicalism, false hadiths, and texts allow the killing of innovators. Responding to this, pesantren activists developed digital learning through the application and computer program Maktabah Syumilah NU 1.0 as a comparison to Maktabah Syamila and an alternative to learning in pesantren as a counterradicalism. The research explores digital learning through Maktabah Syumilah NU 1.0 software and computer application to cultivate religious moderation in Temanggung Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The qualitative research method with case studies on ten traditional pesantren using Maktabah Syumilah NU 1.0. The results show that digital learning through Maktabah Syumilah NU 1.0 is carried out in various activities in and outside the pesantren. The application of Maktabah Syumilah NU 1.0 is used to cultivate Islamic moderation for santri (students of pesantren). The use of Maktabah Syumilah NU 1.0 has an impact on strengthening Islamic moderation in pesantren. This research recommends that the Ministry of Religious Affairs implement Maktabah Syumilah NU 1.0 in all pesantren. Future researchers must explore digital learning more deeply through the latest applications for strengthening Islamic moderation in pesantren.


. We have generated events and coordinates that lead to a hockey goal in this project. Swedish Hockey League data from season 2020-21 for twenty matches provided by Sportlogiq were used that contain event data of those matches. We used TimeGAN to generate event data. TimeGAN learns the distribution of the original time-series data and creates a synthetic version of it. After that, we showed which events led to a goal from the synthetic data. We used principal component analysis (PCA) plots to show the original and synthetic data distributions as a qualitative evaluation. Also, we have used a sequence prediction model to test the synthetic data quantitatively. We compared the synthetic data quality with another two GAN models.


ABSTRACT Papillomavirus E6 proteins are adapters that change the function of cellular regulatory proteins. The bovine papillomavirus type 1 E6 (BE6) binds to LXXLL peptide sequences termed LD motifs (consensus sequence LDXLLXXL) on the cellular protein paxillin that is a substrate of Src and focal adhesion kinases. Anchorage-independent transformation induced by BE6 required both paxillin and BE6-binding LD motifs on paxillin but was independent of the major tyrosine phosphorylation sites of paxillin. The essential role of paxillin in transformation by BE6 highlights the role of paxillin in the transduction of cellular signals that result in anchorage-independent cell proliferation.


An early summer breeding hiatus in wild populations of white-footed mice ( Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis ) in eastern Virginia has been well documented. This report explores the question of the age of the reproductively inhibited animals and demonstrates that mice reproductively suppressed during the hiatus period were not merely young-of-the-year who had not reached sexual maturity but were adults, many of which were known to be reproductive before the hiatus period. Further, animals known to be adults for an average of >2 months when necropsied during the hiatus period had significantly smaller testes, seminal vesicles, and ovaries than adults with similar histories, captured, and necropsied during other reproductive periods of the year.


Softcoral has a potency as the new source of bioactive compound. This research aims to study antibacterial activity from several softcorals. Samples were identified as Sinularia, Sarcophyton and Lobophytum taken from Tulamben, Bali. Samples were extracted by maceration technique with methanol (70, 80, and 96%) and dried by rotary evaporation. Antibacterial activity of the extracts was tested by agar diffusion method to pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus,and Streptococcus pyogenes. Antibacterial activity results were: Sarcophytonshowed highest activity, followed by Lobophytum and Sinularia. The most inhibited bacterium was P. aeruginosa. Methanol 80 and 90% showed similar results, while 70% resulted below them. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Sarcophyton(96% methanol extract) to P. aeruginosa was 4% v/v. Keywords : Softcoral, antibacterial, Sinularia, Sarcophyton,Lobophytum


Abstract This expository article details the effects of the choice of underlying models in the statistical analysis of regression. The two models considered are when all the data are jointly normally distributed and when the independent variables are assumed to be constants. The standard results for both these models are conditionally related to each other in a unified manner, and an example is given where new results in one model can be obtained from old results in the other model. Particular emphasis is devoted to demonstrating differences that arise in power function considerations.


We want to understand the human capabilities to perceive amplitude similarities between a haptic and an audio signal. So, four psychophysical experiments were performed. Three of them measured the asynchrony JND (Just Noticeable Difference) at the signals' attack, release and decay, while the forth experiment measured the amplitude decrease on the middle of the signal. All the experiments used a combination of the constant stimulus and staircase methods to present two stimuli, while the participants' (N=12) task was to identify which of the two stimuli was synchronized. The audiotactile stimulus was defined using an stereo audio signal with an ADSR (Attack Decay Sustain Release) envelope. The partial results reveal JNDs for temporal asynchrony of: 54ms for attack, 265ms for decay and 57ms for release. Also the results reveal an amplitude decrease JND of 25%. Although for decay the results were to disperse, therefore we suspect that the participants were not able to the changes on the haptic signal.


This paper presents a new architecture that fully integrates local and global database management in a transparent for the user fashion. The architecture utilizes the workstation's local processing and uses the global mainframe for sharing and maintenance of consistency. Two access path distribution protocols distribute data and processing by localizing uncommon paths to their requesting workstations while avoiding repetition of globally shared paths in workstations. A new concurrency control protocol is used which has its foundation on the deferred update strategy, the concept of differential files, and a new lock for derived objects.


Background There is a need for more detailed information on the resource use across different cost components for patients with psoriasis alone (PSO) and psoriasis patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) from a population-based perspective, especially after the introduction of biological treatment for these groups. Objectives To study annual incremental societal costs for patients with PSO and PsA compared to population-based referents free from PSO and PsA years 2008-2011. Methods Patients of any age were identified by ICD-10 codes associated with PSO and PsA using information from 1998 to 2007 in the Skåne Healthcare Register (SHR), which covers all healthcare utilization by the Skåne Region population (total N=1.2 million 2011). For each included PSO/PsA patient, three population-based referents, matched for age, sex and residential area, were selected. Data included demographics, all-cause healthcare utilization by cost components (primary care, secondary outpatient care, and inpatient care) and caregivers (physician, nurse, physiotherapist, other), drugs and productivity losses. Resource use and costs were retrieved from SHR (healthcare), Swedish Prescribed Drug Register (drugs) and Social Insurance Register (productivity losses). We calculated the mean annual cost per patient over four years (2008-2011) adjusted for cases and referents dropping out of the study (relocation from the region or death). The human capital method was used to value productivity losses. Costs were assessed from a societal perspective and expressed in Euros (2011 prices). Differences in costs were tested by Students t -test. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results We identified 15 283 patients (51% women, mean age (SD) 52 (19)) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria for PSO (n=12 562, 50% woman, mean age 52 (20)) or PsA (n=2 721, 56% women, mean age 54 (16)) and included 45 849 referents. Mean annual societal cost per patient with PSO and PsA was 56% higher compared to referents, € 11 146 vs. € 7 132 (p<0.001). The cost was 84% higher for PsA compared to PSO, € 17 853 vs. € 9 693 (p<0.001). Costs due to productivity losses represented the largest share of the annual mean societal costs in all groups with the highest share for PsA (59%). Almost 25% of the costs were attributable to inpatient care for individuals with PSO and referents. The corresponding figure for PsA was 12%. Annual mean drug cost represented 15% (biologics 10%) of the costs for PsA. The corresponding figures for PSO was 9% (biologics 1.5%) and for referents 7% (biologics <1%). Conclusions The annual mean incremental societal cost per patient was highest for PsA, mainly due productivity losses and biological treatment. Patients with PSO had higher costs for inpatient care compared to PsA patients. The impact of comorbidities on these costs should be further studied. Disclosure of Interest None declared


The article addresses the myth symbol of Caucasian Mountains which is characterized by ambivalence. On the one hand, it isthe Place of Gods, on the other hand, it is the place of punishment of deities. This reveals the function of the mountain, as the borderof various universes. Therefore, the perpetrator chained here is in an indefinite state. He is not able to act and his destructive forceis sustained. Such beliefs of Caucasians influenced the Greek Mythology as well. The article reviews the plots of the Caucasian andGreek Mythology in which Caucasian Mountains represent a sacral place of punishment of deities.


of age, intercurrent disease, and tumour staging, results in a hospital mortality nearer 10% as shown in several recent British studies.24 Indeed, in the latter quarter of the Lancaster series mortality has been reduced to 7o% with no significant variation according to cell type.5 In considering alternatives to resection as suggested by Dr K F R Schiller (12 March, p 897) these too should be seen in true perspective. Fibreoptic endoscopic intubation has a hospital mortality of between 11%, and 27'%,.7 When used alone it denies the possibility of cure and cannot approach the 90>", restoration of normal swallowing achieved by resection.4 Published results of radiotherapy are generally poor, with a 9'0, mortality for patients undergoing radical radiotherapy in one series8 and an overall five year survival rate of 4°¢,.9 While many surgical series quote five year survival rates of 10-200% only one radiotherapeutic series claims to equal these albeit disappointing results."'


The approach advocated in this work implements energy/exergy analysis and indirectly an irreversibility evaluation to a continuous manufacturing process involving discrete netshape production of compact heat exchangers through a complex controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB) process. To the best knowledge of the authors, this investigation constitutes the first effort in merging a thorough study of materials processing phenomena and an exergy/irreversibility approach for sustainability analysis in manufacturing. The system under consideration involves fifteen cells of a continuous ramp-up heating, melting, reactive flow, isothermal dwell, and rapid quench solidification processing sequence during a controlled atmosphere brazing of aluminum compact heat exchangers. Detailed mass, energy, and exergy balances were performed. The irreversibility sources were identified and the quality of energy utilization at different processing steps determined.Copyright © 2004 by ASME


In this article, the author presents a practical and accessible framework to understand some of the basic underpinnings of these methods, with the intention of leading the reader to a broad understanding of how they interrelate. The author also illustrates connections between these techniques and more classical (empirical) Bayesian approaches. The proposed framework is used to arrive at new insights and methods, both practical and theoretical. In particular, several novel optimality properties of algorithms in wide use such as block-matching and three-dimensional (3-D) filtering (BM3D), and methods for their iterative improvement (or nonexistence thereof) are discussed. A general approach is laid out to enable the performance analysis and subsequent improvement of many existing filtering algorithms. While much of the material discussed is applicable to the wider class of linear degradation models beyond noise (e.g., blur,) to keep matters focused, we consider the problem of denoising here.


Abstract : The problem of the turbulent mixing along the curved boundaries of a jet has been analyzed for an incompressible plane flow. The initial and fully developed regions of the curved mixing zone are analyzed with Tollmien and Goertler eddy viscosity models. It is shown that similarity solutions exist under certain conditions. A perturbation analysis is carried out to include the first order effects of curvature and growth of mixing zone. Comparison is made of the results of the numerical computation with the two eddy viscosity models. A parametric study of different centerline velocity decay rates and the external pressure gradient is made in the fully developed region.


Objective There is growing evidence from observational studies that lifestyle factors such as obesity, an unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity are associated with poor long-term outcome in women with breast cancer. The primary objective of the lifestyle modification part of the Simultaneous Study of Docetaxel Based Anthracycline Free Adjuvant Treatment Evaluation, as well as Life Style Intervention Strategies (SUCCESS C) Trial is to investigate the effect of an individualised lifestyle intervention programme aiming at moderate weight loss on disease-free survival in women with HER2/neu-negative breast cancer. Secondary objectives include the effect of the intervention on body weight, cardiovascular risk and quality of life. Methods The SUCCESS C Trial is an open-label, multicentre, randomised controlled phase III study using a 2×2 factorial design in women with newly diagnosed HER2/neu-negative intermediate-risk to high-risk breast cancer. The first randomisation served to compare disease-free survival in patients treated with two different chemotherapy regimens (3642 participants). The second randomisation served to compare disease-free survival in patients with a body mass index of 24–40 kg/m² (2292 participants) receiving either a telephone-based individualised lifestyle intervention programme for moderate weight loss or general recommendations for a healthy lifestyle for 2 years. Outcome analyses will be conducted after 5 years of follow-up. Perspective This study will provide information on the efficacy and safety of a comprehensive lifestyle intervention programme on disease-free survival in a large cohort of women with breast cancer. EU Clinical Trials Identifier: 2008-005453-38.


Thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRGO) was incorporated as a reinforcing filler in the epoxy resin to investigate the effect on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber (CF)/epoxy composites. At first, the epoxy matrix was modified by adding different wt % of TRGO from 0.05 to 0.4 wt % followed by the preparation of TRGO/CF/epoxy composites througha vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process. The prepared TRGO was characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) techniques. It was observed that the wrinkled structure of synthesized TRGO may be helpful to interlock with the epoxy resin and CF.The inter-laminar shear strength, in-plane fracture toughness and impact strength increased by ~67%, 62% and 93% at 0.2 wt % of TRGO loading in the CF/epoxy composites as compared to the CF reinforced epoxy. The mechanical properties of the hybrid composites decreased beyond the 0.2 wt % of TRGO incorporation in the epoxy resin. The fracture surfaces of the hybrid composites were studied by FE-SEM image analysis to investigate the synergistic effect of TRGO in the CF/epoxy composite. This study suggested that TRGO could be used asgood nanofiller to resist the matrix and fiber fracture.


Juvenile ossifying fibroma is an uncommon benign but aggressive fibroosseous lesion that affects the craniofacial skeleton. Their distinct clinical and histopathological features warrant the lesion to be considered as a separate entity from other fibro-osseous group of lesions such as fibrous dysplasia and cemento ossifying fibroma. Concomitant development of secondary aneurysmal bone cyst may rarely occur, which makes the lesion more aggressive and difficult to treat. We report a case of a 6 year old girl who was diagnosed with aneurysmal bone cyst during her earlier presentation at a private hospital and was treated for the same. The lesion recurred within 6 months. The second incisional biopsy specimen revealed features of trabecular variant of juvenile ossifying fibroma along with areas of aneurysmal bone cyst.


The management of spinal metastases is palliative and aimed at improving quality of life at an acceptable risk. This population study uses administrative databases and measures survivorship and complication rates after surgery for spinal metastases. The effects of various potential predictor variables were evaluated. We identified 987 patients with a median survival for all types of cancer of 227 days. The one and three-month mortality was 9% and 29%, respectively. Increasing age, male gender and primary lung cancer were significant risk factors for death within 30 days of surgery. A preoperative neurological deficit contributed a 19% increase in mortality and a 71% increase in the risk of postoperative wound infection. We found an overall major complication rate of 27%. This information will provide patients, families and clinicians with objective data which will help in the choice of treatment and the understanding of the surgical risk and outcome.


Objective: To evaluate the improvement of renal function after pyeloplasty measured by 99mTc-DTPA renography.
Materials and Methods: This hospital based quasi experimental study was done in the department of urology, National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology (NIKDU) and Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation for Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM) from July 2014 to December 2020. Sixty patients were included in this study who underwent Anderson-Hynes (A-H) dismembered pyeloplasty for pelviureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction. All patients were evaluated with diuretic 99mTc- DTPA renogoam before and at 3 and 6 months after operation. Improvement of renal function was evaluated by comparing preoperative and postoperative differential renal function (DRF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
Results: Sixty patients with unilateral hydronephrosis due to PUJ obstruction were included in this study. Of these patients 34 male and 26 female with mean age of 15.6 years (ranged from 3 – 38 years). Out of 60 patients, 56.7% had left sided hydronephrosis and 43.3% had right sided hydronephrosis. Diuretic renography was done using 99mTc- DTPA in all patients preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Preoperative mean DRF and GFR were compared with post-operative findings. The mean preoperative DRF in the study was 16.72 ± 8.35% at baseline which increased to 26.03 ± 7.08% at the end of 3rd month and 28.15 ± 5.84% at the end of 6th month. The mean preoperative GFR was 14.29 ± 6.73 ml/min/1.73 m2 at baseline which increased to 24.13 ± 5.31ml/min/ 1.73 m2 at the end of 3rd month and 27.38 ± 4.78 ml/min/1.73 m2 at the end of 6th month.
Conclusion: The result demonstrates that, after pyeloplasty renal function improves. Highest recovery of renal function occurs in children and patients with poor pre-operative DRF and GFR.
Bangladesh J. Urol. 2021; 24(2): 155-160


Pyridines have been formed by heating azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-4-ones in toluene. The generation of a 3-azacyclopentadienone intermediate via a [2 + 2]-cycloreversion is proposed as the key step. A Diels-Alder reaction of a styrene, extrusion of carbon monoxide, and loss of hydrogen then gives the pyridine. The process parallels the well-known synthesis of benzenes from cyclopentadienones. The azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-4-ones were synthesized from the reaction between readily available cyclopropenones and 1-azetines, in which the cyclopropenones behave as all-carbon 1,3-dipolar equivalents.


The world today is faced with serious global warming and environmental pollution. Besides that, the fossil fuel will become decrease in the near future and also increasing prices of fuel cause awareness to find alternative energy. Carbon is one of the most abundant elements found on earth. Nowadays carbon is really useful in the chemical industries and the demand of carbon used is high based on its applications towards the human needed. Carbonization is one of the possible thermo chemical conversions of biomass into energy, where a solid residue known as charcoal is produced through a slow process of partial thermal decomposition of in the absence or controlled presence of oxygen. (Bridgewater, 2003). There are three objectives that need to achieve at the end of this research. The objectives are; to develop and demonstrate the technology of hydrothermal carbonization process; to compare the carbon particles produce from HTC process and pyrolysis process; to study the effect of the wood fibre waste used towards the production of carbon. The HTC process occurs in the excess of water. About1 liter water was used for every experiment of hydrothermal carbonization process. The reaction is based on catalyst which is 50ml of citric acid was used for every experiment of hydrothermal carbonization process.the reaction occur in the supercritical unit for temperature about 200oC. The product obtained then was drying to remove the water contain. Second process which is the pyrolysis was run in the furnace by using the same operation condition as the HTC process. The differences between the process is the pyrolysis is no including water during the process. The process is about heating the wood fiber waste with absence of oxygen. Then the products were undergoing the physical characteristic testing by using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). After analyzing the sample from both process through FESEM and NM) the comparison was made. Through the FESEM characterization, the diameter of the sample and the morphology effect was determined. The comparison was made and the best sample shown by the sample from HTC process using 150g of wood fiber waste. The diameter of the sample shown about 7.3μm and the highest rupture occur at the surface of the particles. Results from NMR proves that the carbon content inside the sample was changes after undergo the HTC and pyrolysis process. The comparison was made and it shows that after undergo the HTC process the carbon content for cellulose and lignin was increased and HTC sample shows the content of aromatic lignin. Differ with pyrolysis process which does not contain aromatic lignin but for other content still increase after undergo the pyrolysis process. The proximate analysis also was done and it was found that HTC 175g WF gives the highest value of moisture content, HTC 150g WF gives the highest values of ash content with15.07%. for volatile content the highest values was the sample from pyrolysis 175g WF with 91.89% and lastly for calorific value proves the pyrolysis with 175g of WF give the highest calorific value with 24.88 MJ/kg.


In order to elucidate the relationship between evaporation, salinisation, and annual water and salt balances in semi-arid and arid regions, hydrological and meteorological observations were undertaken over 3 years in a small, salinised, bare-soil, groundwater seepage area in Western Australia. This paper focuses on water behaviour near a bare saline soil surface during the dry summer. Analysis of observed data on soil vapour density using a vapour diffusion transfer model can account for the daily upward vapour flux from the soil surface that occurs in midsummer. The dry soil undergoes cycles of drying during the day, accompanied by salt crust formation and wetting during the night. In late summer, the same zones show a wetting trend owing to a marked atmospheric vapour invasion and condensation at night regardless of evaporation during daytime. The daily average vapour flux at the ground surface in mid- and late-summer, respectively, estimated through the vapour transfer model in the dry soil layer was ~0.35 and 0.03 mm/day. Comparison of vapour fluxes at the ground surface measured with a portable surface evaporimeter with modelled estimates of vapour transport in soil showed agreement of the proposed model to field results at low wind speed, but not at the higher wind speeds. This identifies the active role of turbulent surface wind speed on vapour transfer in the dry soil layer below the ground surface.


ISAS/JAXA is now planning to adopt a thruster made of monolithic silicon nitride (SN282 manufactured by Kyocera Co.) onto a Venus exploration probe, PLANET-C, in replacement of conventional niobium heat-resistant alloy. Silicon nitride is still brittle and requires precise analysis on multiaxial thermal stresses induced during firing, though it has high toughness among other structural ceramics. This study evaluated quasi-static fracture characteristics of SN282 considering the surface conditions through compression-torsion biaxial fracture tests as well as the conventional four-point-bending tests. The samples were applied to the mechanical tests either as-ground or after annealing at 1300°C in air for 1 h, which formed an oxidation layer of more than 250nm on the specimen surface. Symmetry four-point-bending tests showed that annealing improves flexure strength and reduce the difference caused by grinding directions. Biaxial stress fracture tests showed the high compressive stress makes the influence of facial crack insensitive.


Limited research has been performed since 1980 on the origin of novaculitic chert in the Arkansas Novaculite in the Ouachita Orogen of southeastern Oklahoma and in the Woodford Shale in the Oklahoma Shelf. Further research needs to be performed that applies emerging analytical technology and geologic concepts in order to formulate a more modern set of paleoenvironmental interpretations and to identify characteristics unique to each depositional setting. This study employed outcrop, core, thin section and SEM/EDS analysis to characterize and interpret the chert from megascopic to nanoscopic scales. Based on the high abundance of siliceous microfossils and the phosphatic nature of the chert, it is proposed that it formed from a biogenic silica source in a region influenced by marine upwelling and high organic productivity, which led to the development of an oxygen minimum zone. There is great similarity between the structures, sedimentation, and fabric on all scales in Woodford chert and the Arkansas Novaculite. The chert was deposited in a broad range of shelf, slope and basinal environments. On the Oklahoma Shelf, for example, the novaculitic chert was deposited atop a major Cambrian-Devonian carbonate bank. In the Ouachita Embayment, by contrast, similar chert was deposited in an oceanic setting above a succession including Cambrian-Silurian turbidite fan deposits that were probably deposited on the continental rise. Thicker bedding, a lower proportion of terrigenous sediment, and an absence of phosphate suggests that novaculite in the Broken Bow uplift was deposited in a distal setting where upwelling was less intense. Novaculitic chert within the Woodford Shale is an important component of unconventional reservoirs in the southern Midcontinent, from not only the standpoint of brittleness, but also in terms of organic content and hydrocarbon storage potential. Similarity between Woodford chert and the Arkansas Novaculite suggests that the hydrocarbon potential of novaculitic chert in the southern Midcontinent is underexplored.


Mutations can be harmful but sometimes they can be beneficial, like in the case of sickle cell anemia. Where if you have one mutated hemoglobin gene you are less susceptible to malaria. Like humans, the bacterium, Plasmodium falciparum, which causes Malaria, has developed resistance to our methods of killing it. It would seem counterintuitive that mutations in genes that are in charge of DNA repair allow Plasmodium falciparum, to become resistant to anti malaria drugs. However, this is the case. Mutations in the genes that regulate DNA repair cause mutations in the overall genome. Sometimes these mutations allow for drug resistance because they change the targets anti malaria drugs target.


Introduction: The coronavirus pandemic poses a massive challenge for the healthcare system and overburdens the Healthcare Workers (HCWs) in a developing country like India. The coronavirus may survive on various surfaces and/or aerosols for hours to days, making it a necessity to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while treating infected patients. Wearing the PPE is often uncomfortable while working, more so in the summer season, when the temperatures in a tropical country like India are soaring. Aim: To identify, quantify and highlight the difficulties faced by the HCWs while wearing PPEs. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2020, by a team of researchers working in a government owned designated Coronavirus Disease- 2019 (COVID-19) hospital in metropolitan city, West India. The questionnaire was prepared for a multicentre survey for 230 HCWs who had used PPE kits during their COVID-19 duties. The online questionnaire responses were recorded in an Microsoft Excel sheet and the results were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 19.0. Results: Total 230 responses were received out of which 74% were doctors, 21.7% nurses and 4.3% paramedical staff. The mean duration of work was 6.24 hours and per duty one, PPE was used by almost all of the respondents. The most common difficulty faced by the responders while on duty was excessive sweating (96%/n-221), itching of the nose (56%/n-129) and face (50.9%/n-117). While after the duty 61.7% of respondents reported being dehydrated and 68.2% complained of de novo headache. In a subset with a history of migraine, almost all reported worsening of migraine with increased frequency and severity of attacks. Many (40%) reported occasionally lowering the masks or face shield due to unbearable heat, risking self- contamination. Conclusion: The PPEs in current use and in the hot and humid conditions of summer months in tropical countries poses a unique challenge for the HCWs. Customisation of PPEs and working conditions is essential in the mitigation of the problems faced by the HCWs.


Purpose This study aims to evaluate the value of the clinical application of ultrasound-guided percutaneous thermal ablation in focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) by comparing its safety, effectiveness, and patient experience to surgery in the treatment of hepatic FNH ≤5 cm. Method This retrospective study enrolled 82 patients with hepatic FNH having a maximum diameter of ≤5 cm, confirmed by postoperative pathologic diagnosis or needle biopsy, who underwent thermal ablation or surgery between January 2019 and September 2021. Postoperative efficacy, surgical trauma (operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, liver function, and lost volume of normal liver tissue), postoperative complications (postoperative infection, pleural effusion, and liver dysfunction), patient experience (degree and time of postoperative pain, postoperative fasting time, indwelling thoracic chest drain, and scar size), and economic indices (postoperative hospitalization and total charges) were compared between both groups. Result No significant difference existed in postoperative efficacy between both groups (p > 0.05). No recurrent or new lesions were observed during the 6-month follow-up in both groups. However, significant differences were observed in operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, and lost volume of normal liver tissue (p < 0.05), with significantly less trauma in the thermal ablation group. No statistically significant differences in ALT, AST, and Hb existed between both groups (p > 0.05); however, albumin was higher in the ablation group compared to the surgery group (38.21 ± 3.32 vs. 34.84 ± 3.71 g/L, p < 0.05), and WBC were lower in the ablation group (11.91 ± 3.37 vs. 13.94 ± 3.65/L, p < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the ablation group was significantly lower than that in the surgery group (p < 0.05). Patient experiences were significantly better than in the surgical group (p < 0.05), with economic indicators being significantly less in the ablation group (p < 0.05). Conclusion Ultrasound-guided percutaneous thermal ablation can treat hepatic FNH ≤5 cm with similar clinical efficacy as surgery and is an economical, safe, and minimally invasive treatment method worthy of recommendation.


BACKGROUND
Fibroblasts are now seen as active components of the immune response because these cells express Toll-like receptors (TLRs), recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns, and mediate the production of cytokines and chemokines during inflammation. The innate host response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Porphyromonas gingivalis is unusual inasmuch as different studies have reported that it can be an agonist for Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and an antagonist or agonist for Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). This study investigates and compares whether signaling through TLR2 or TLR4 could affect the secretion of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) in both human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) and human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLF).

METHODS
After small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of TLR2 and TLR4, HGF and HPDLF from the same donors were stimulated with P. gingivalis LPS or with two synthetic ligands of TLR2, Pam2CSK4 and Pam3CSK4, for 6 hours. IL-6, IL-8, and CXCL12 mRNA expression and protein secretion were evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.

RESULTS
TLR2 mRNA expression was upregulated in HGF but not in HPDLF by all the stimuli applied. Knockdown of TLR2 decreased IL-6 and IL-8 in response to P. gingivalis LPS, or Pam2CSK4 and Pam3CSK4, in a similar manner in both fibroblasts subpopulations. Conversely, CXCL12 remained unchanged by TLR2 or TLR4 silencing.

CONCLUSION
These results suggest that signaling through TLR2 by gingival and periodontal ligament fibroblasts can control the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8, which contribute to periodontal pathogenesis, but do not interfere with CXCL12 levels, an important chemokine in the repair process.


Vocational journalism education in New Zealand is facing the twin challenges of declining student numbers and increasing industry expectations that graduates should have strong multimedia skills. The main reason for both is the digital revolution, which has created a public perception that there are no longer jobs for new journalists and increased demand from industry for recruits proficient in convergent journalism. Some journalism schools, unable to meet these challenges, have closed. This article considers what the remaining schools are doing to meet the challenges. The article also reports the results of a survey of graduates of the oldest continuously operating journalism school in the country. The results reveal how the nature of journalism education in New Zealand has changed over the past 50 years, the experience of the graduates since leaving the school and the advice they offer today's aspiring journalists.


Introduction: The insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of 287 bp Alu repeat sequence in intron 16 of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) gene resulting in three genotypes I/D, D/D and I/I. ACE gene expression is associated with ACE levels in cells and in the plasma. It indicated that the polymorphism may modulate the expression of the ACE gene. The D/D genotype is believed to confer deleterious effect to many pathogenesis, also, it might be a cause-effect for type 2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN). In this study, we evaluated the frequency of the different genotypes of ACE gene and investigated if there is an association between ACE gene polymorphism and T2DN by comparing the genotypes results of T2DN patients to healthy control, Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and nephropathy patients in Gaza Strip.
Methodology: The study included 170 subjects, consisting of 43 T2DM patients undergoing dialysis "T2DN" compared to 41 T2DM patients who were not undergoing dialysis, 43 patients undergoing dialysis without T2DM and 43 healthy individuals. Blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes for DNA extraction. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to detect ACE gene polymorphism. All subjects were asked to fill the questionnaire interview.
Results and Conclusion: The initial results showed that there is no statistically significant association between ACE genotypes and T2DN, also between the T2DM and nephropathy when compared to the healthy control (p> 0.05). The (D/D) genotype was the most frequent in all study groups. Moreover, no association was observed between ACE genotypes and gender, diabetic nephropathy, nephropathy, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and various other diabetes complications.


Lanthanum is an important member of the rare earth elements (REE) that are a global strategic resource and have many technological applications ranging from microelectronics manufacturing to the production of clean and renewable energy. Aspergillus niger is widely used in industrial fermentations due to its production of multiple secondary metabolites including citric and oxalic acids. Since it is a ubiquitous soil inhabitant and produces geoactive agents, it can play a role in the biotransformation of metal-containing minerals. Previous studies found that A. niger is capable of mineral solubilization and secondary mineral formation, many metals being precipitated as oxalates. However, there is limited knowledge about the biotransformation of La mediated by fungi. The aim of this project was to explore the mechanisms and factors determining the interactions between A. niger and La. In this study, fungal growth on La-supplemented solid media was carried out and it was discovered that crystalline deposits were formed around fungal colonies in the presence of LaCl3. These biogenic crystals were recovered and subjected to examination for their elemental composition, morphological features and mineral phases using energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) respectively. These confirmed the biotransformation of lanthanum and identified the products as lanthanum oxalate [La2(C2O4)3·10H2O], which was further transformed into La2O3 by thermogravimetric (TG) treatment. Geochemical modelling also supported these results. Our findings provide a new aspect for the bioprecipitation and biorecovery of REE from solution using fungal culture systems.


The evanescent field coupling between a single-mode fiber and a multilayer planar waveguide which includes a thin metal film has been investigated theoretically and experimentally. The shift and spreading phenomena for the optical transmission resonances (dips) of the TM-mode depending on the superstrate refractive index have been observed and explained. The role of losses in the resonance weakening and spreading phenomena is clarified. Possibilities for tuning the TM-mode resonance independently of the TE-resonance, and even to have coincidence of the transmission dips for both TE- and TM-modes are discussed.


[Objective]The aim of experiment was to lay molecular foundation for studying maturity mechanism of banana after harvest.[Method]The combined method of suppressing subtractive hybridization and cDNA micro-array was used to obtain cDNA segment of one PRMT gene in banana and the whole cDNA sequence of the gene was cloned.The bioinformatics analysis was operated on it,in addition,the expression profile analysis was conducted in different organs and different mature periods of banana.[Result]The whole length of cDNA in MaPRMT1 was 1 158bp and possessed a complete open reading frame,which could encode 385 amino acids.It had high with PRMT in plant,containing one Methyltransf-11 domain.The MaPRMT1 gene was expressed in root,stem,leaf and fruit of banana and the expression levels in stem and leaf were relatively high.As the increase of days after harvest,the expression level declined gradually,however it reached maximum when ethylene release was biggest,then it declined.[Conclusion] MaPRMT1 belonged to the first kind of arginine methyltransferase and it was expressed differently in different organs and in fruits in diferent mature periods.


In humans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae the free glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) lipid precursor contains several ethanolamine phosphate side chains, but these side chains had been found on the protein-bound GPI anchors only in humans, not yeast. Here we confirm that the ethanolamine phosphate side chain added by Mcd4p to the first mannose is a prerequisite for the addition of the third mannose to the GPI precursor lipid and demonstrate that, contrary to an earlier report, an ethanolamine phosphate can equally be found on the majority of yeast GPI protein anchors. Curiously, the stability of this substituent during preparation of anchors is much greater in gpi7Δ sec18 double mutants than in either single mutant or wild type cells, indicating that the lack of a substituent on the second mannose (caused by the deletion of GPI7) influences the stability of the one on the first mannose. The phosphodiester-linked substituent on the second mannose, probably a further ethanolamine phosphate, is added to GPI lipids by endoplasmic reticulum-derived microsomes in vitro but cannot be detected on GPI proteins of wild type cells and undergoes spontaneous hydrolysis in saline. Genetic manipulations to increase phosphatidylethanolamine levels in gpi7Δ cells by overexpression of PSD1 restore cell growth at 37 °C without restoring the addition of a substituent to Man2. The three putative ethanolamine-phosphate transferases Gpi13p, Gpi7p, and Mcd4p cannot replace each other even when overexpressed. Various models trying to explain how Gpi7p, a plasma membrane protein, directs the addition of ethanolamine phosphate to mannose 2 of the GPI core have been formulated and put to the test.