The conventional Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy model is an effective tool used to approximating behaviors of nonlinear systems on the basis of precise and certain input and output observations. In some situations, however, we can only obtain mixture of precise data (for input variables), imprecise and uncertain data (for output variable/response). This paper presents a method used to constructing T-S fuzzy model in such case where the imprecise and uncertain output observations are represented as fuzzy belief function, and then proposes the so-called mixture data-driven T-S fuzzy model, among which, the consequents are identified by using a novel fuzzy evidential Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm and the antecedents are automatically constructed by using a data-driven strategy, considering both the accuracy and complexity of model. The performance of such mixture data data-driven fuzzy model was validated by conducting some unreliable sensor experiments. The numerical simulations suggest that the proposed fuzzy model can be used to approximate nonlinear systems with high accuracy when the outputs of systems are imprecisely and uncertainly observed.


This article discusses preliminary data on advancing what we know about "sacred sites" and their effects on dreaming. Thirty-five volunteers spent between one and five nights in one of four unfamiliar outdoor sacred sites in England and Wales. Another volunteer awakened them following the observation of rapid eye movement and asked for dream recall. The same volunteers monitored their own dreams in familiar home surroundings, keeping dream diaries. Equal numbers of site dreams and home dream reports were obtained for each volunteer. The 204 dream reports had previously been subjected to inspection for bizarre and paranormal content, with no significant differences. This analysis used the Hall-Van de Castle Scale, and several differences were found, most notably more aggressive content in site dreams and more friendly content in home dreams. In addition, home dream reports contained more incidences of failure, striving, and success. A number of explanations were proposed for these differences, including expectancy, suggestion, the effect of unfamiliar surroundings, and possible anomalous properties of the sacred sites.


This study aims to explore the expression of GRP78, a marker of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, in the cortex of rat brains acutely exposed to methylmercury (MeHg). Thirty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups, and decapitated 6 hours (h) after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of MeHg (2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 mg/kg body weight) or normal saline. Protein and mRNA expression of Grp78 were detected by western blotting and real-time PCR, respectively. The results showed that a gradual increase in GRP78 protein expression was observed in the cortex of rats acutely exposed to MeHg (2, 4 or 6 mg/kg). Protein levels peaked in the 6 mg/kg group (p < 0.05 vs. controls), decreased in the 8 mg/kg group, and bottomed below the control level in the 10 mg/kg group. Parallel changes were noted for Grp78 mRNA expression. It may be implied that acute exposure to MeHg induced hormetic dose-dependent changes in Grp78 mRNA and protein expression, suggesting that activation of ER stress is involved in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity. Low level MeHg exposure may induce GRP78 protein expression to stimulate endogenous cytoprotective mechanisms.


Human population growth has increased the demand for water and clean energy, leading to the massive construction of reservoirs. Reservoirs can emit greenhouse gases (GHG) affecting the atmospheric radiative budget. The radiative forcing due to CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions and the relative contribution of each GHG in terms of CO2 equivalents to the total forcing is practically unknown. We determined simultaneously the CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes in reservoirs from diverse watersheds and under variable human pressure to cover the vast idiosyncrasy of temperate Mediterranean reservoirs. We obtained that GHG fluxes ranged more than three orders of magnitude. The reservoirs were sources of CO2 and N2O when the watershed lithology was mostly calcareous, and the crops and the urban areas dominated the landscape. By contrast, reservoirs were sinks of CO2 and N2O when the watershed lithology was predominantly siliceous, and the landscape had more than 40% of forestal coverage. All reservoirs were sources of CH4, and emissions were determined mostly by reservoir mean depth and water temperature. The radiative forcing was substantially higher during the stratification than during the mixing. During the stratification the radiative forcings ranged from 125 mg CO2 equivalents m−2 d−1 to 31 884 mg CO2 equivalents m−2 d−1 and were dominated by the CH4 emissions; whereas during the mixing the radiative forcings ranged from 29 mg CO2 equivalents m−2 d−1 to 722 mg CO2 equivalents m−2 d−1 and were dominated by CO2 emissions. The N2O contribution to the radiative forcing was minor except in one reservoir with a landscape dominated by crops and urban areas. Future construction of reservoirs should consider that siliceous bedrocks, forestal landscapes, and deep canyons could minimize their radiative forcings.


Brownian and molecular dynamics simulations are used to study rapid bimolecular reactions at near-infinite dilution in near-critical and supercritical fluids. We probe the dynamics of both nonreactive and reactive collisions and measure rate constants for reaction and collision. Collision rate constants are nearly independent of bulk solvent density, but affected by local solute-solute density enhancements at a given density: their magnitudes depend on the length scale for molecular encounters (cybotactic radius) in the reaction through the equilibrium solute-solute radial distribution function. In contrast, reaction rate constants asymptotically approach the gas-kinetic limit at low densities and the Smoluchowski liquid-like limit at high densities. They also display the same radial dependence as collision rate constants at lower densities and a direct dependence on the cybotactic radius at higher densities (as in the Smoluchowski theory). Their behavior is explained in terms of a transition from a collision-limited regime at low densities to a diffusion-limited regime at higher densities. The transition between these regimes depends on the cybotactic radius and the density of the system, the interplay of which causes shifts in the transition region which depend not only on the properties of the near-critical solvent: they differ for different reactions, even at the same solvent density. This explains some of the apparent inconsistencies among previous experimental and computational studies of reactions in supercritical fluid media.


The cyclohexane derivative cis-2-(carboxymethyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid [(1R,2R)-/(1S,2S)-2-(carboxymethyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid] has previously been identified as metabolite in the pathway of anaerobic degradation of naphthalene by sulfate-reducing bacteria. We tested the corresponding CoA esters of isomers and analogues of this compound for conversion in cell free extracts of the anaerobic naphthalene degraders Desulfobacterium strain N47 and Deltaproteobacterium strain NaphS2. Conversion was only observed for the cis-isomer, verifying that this is a true intermediate and not a dead-end product. Mass-spectrometric analyses confirmed that conversion is performed by an acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and a subsequent hydratase yielding an intermediate with a tertiary hydroxyl-group. We propose that a novel kind of ring-opening lyase is involved in the further catabolic pathway proceeding via pimeloyl-CoA. In contrast to degradation pathways of monocyclic aromatic compounds where ring-cleavage is achieved via hydratases, this lyase might represent a new ring-opening strategy for the degradation of polycyclic compounds. Conversion of the potential downstream metabolites pimeloyl-CoA and glutaryl-CoA was proved in cell free extracts, yielding 2,3-dehydropimeloyl-CoA, 3-hydroxypimeloyl-CoA, 3-oxopimeloyl-CoA, glutaconyl-CoA, crotonyl-CoA, 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA and acetyl-CoA as observable intermediates. This indicates a link to central metabolism via β-oxidation, a non-decarboxylating glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase and a subsequent glutaconyl-CoA decarboxylase.


Luteolin was isolated from Scutellaria barbata D. Don (S. barbata). In the present study, we examined the underlying molecular mechanism of luteolin and its effect on in vivo tumor growth of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells. Luteolin exhibited antiproliferative activity against LLC cells with IC50 of 12 M. Luteolin effectively increased Annexin-V-positive cells as well as sub G1 DNA portion as seen on flow cytometric analysis. Western blotting has revealed that luteolin effectively activates caspase 9 and 3, cleaves poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and increases the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. Furthermore, mitochondrial membrane potential was reduced by luteolin as seen on fluorescence microscopy. Luteolin downregulated the expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, luteolin significantly inhibited the growth of LLC cells implanted on the flank of mice to 40% and 60% of untreated control group values at 2 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively. Similarly, luteolin significantly reduced the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) as well as increased the expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) in tumor section Address for correspondence: Sung-Hoon Kim, O.M.D., Ph.D., Department of Oncology, Graduate school of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, 1 Seochunri, Yongin 449-701, Republic of Korea. Voice: +82-31-201-2179; fax: +82-31-205-1074. e-mail: email@example.com Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1090: 147–160 (2006). C © 2006 New York Academy of Sciences. doi: 10.1196/annals.1378.016


Potential applications for functional RNAs are rapidly expanding, not only to address functions based on primary nucleotide sequences, but also by RNA aptamer, which can suppress the activity of any target molecule. Aptamers are short DNA or RNA folded molecules that can be selected in vitro on the basis of their high affinity for a target molecule. Here, we demonstrate the ability of RNA aptamers to recognize--and bind to--human IgG with high specificity and affinity. An optimized 23-nucleotide aptamer, Apt8-2, was prepared, and was shown to bind to the Fc domain of human IgG, but not to other IgG's, with high affinity. Apt8-2 was observed to compete with protein A, but not with the Fcgamma receptor, for IgG binding. NMR chemical-shift analyses localized the aptamer-binding sites on the Fc subdomain, which partially overlaps the protein A binding site but not the Fcgamma receptor binding site. The tertiary structures of the predicted recognition sites on the Fc domain differ significantly between human IgG and other species of IgGs; this, in part, accounts for the high specificity of the selected aptamer. Apt8-2 can therefore be used as a protein A alternative for affinity purification of human IgG and therapeutic antibodies. Using Apt8-2 would have several potential advantages, raising the possibility of developing new applications based on aptamer design.


In order to derive boundary conditions, atmospheric and seismo-ionospheric models are coupled with generic assumptions. These boundary conditions are used to simulate possible interaction between earth's atmospheric, geological processes and the Ionosphere. Rn is one of the major contributors to surface ionization, which is also believed to contribute to the geophysical and geochemical processes causing disturbance in the Ionosphere. Its relationship with metrological parameters in a given region gives an insight on the natural processes in the underground, as well as the relationship with atmospheric processes. It can enable models to establish realistic results rather than ideal theoretical consequences. Rn can be influenced by a number of physical variables, and therefore, this influence is sometimes very complicated to study, because of the Forcing researchers to make ideal assumptions. The relationship between Rn and some geological variables are studied, namely; soil temperature at 5 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm, and 50 cm, atmospheric pressure, and atmospheric temperature. A hybrid model is established based on the artificial neural network (ANN), which is referred to as multiANN model. This model is a combination of multi-regression and ANN models. Itenables Rn prediction to metrological parameters. To test the robustness of our model 50% training periods is employed with 50% testing periods. The model is able to forecast the remaining 50% effectively. With the aid of the Monte-Carlo method, it is possible to predict multiple future Rn variations with high precision. The regions with low performance of the multiANN are identified for possibly relationship to seismic events. The model could be a good candidate for predicting of Rn concentration from metrological parameters, especially in establishing the lower boundary conditions in seismo-ionospheric coupling models.


Recent advances in Explainable AI (XAI) increased the demand for deployment of safe and interpretable AI models in various industry sectors. Despite the latest success of deep neural networks in a variety of domains, understanding the decision-making process of such complex models still remains a challenging task for domain experts. Especially in the financial domain, merely pointing to an anomaly composed of often hundreds of mixed type columns, has limited value for experts. Hence, in this paper, we propose a framework for explaining anomalies using denoising autoencoders designed for mixed type tabular data. We specifically focus our technique on anomalies that are erroneous observations. This is achieved by localizing individual sample columns (cells) with potential errors and assigning corresponding confidence scores. In addition, the model provides the expected cell value estimates to fix the errors. We evaluate our approach based on three standard public tabular datasets (Credit Default, Adult, IEEE Fraud) and one proprietary dataset (Holdings). We find that denoising autoencoders applied to this task already outperform other approaches in the cell error detection rates as well as in the expected value rates. Additionally, we analyze how a specialized loss designed for cell error detection can further improve these metrics. Our framework is designed for a domain expert to understand abnormal characteristics of an anomaly, as well as to improve in-house data quality management processes.


A quench protection system has been proposed for an 8-T split superconducting magnet consisting of low-temperature superconducting (LTS) NbTi coils and high-temperature superconducting (HTS) Bi2223 coils. For the LTS coils, a code has been developed to adjust the circuit parameters and the heater geometry. The calculation method of the internal electric potential in the LTS coil is introduced. For the HTS coils, the temperature and current margins are studied. The voltage signal for quench detection is chosen, and quench simulations on the HTS coil with different heating fluxes and heating zones are performed. The simulation results show that the employment of only the dump resistors can bring down the current and the temperature rise rapidly in the event of a quench. The coupling effect of the LTS and HTS coils is simulated and analyzed.


The market worth of the crude oil transported to the international market has a great influence on the crude's physical properties, as such demands that certain desirable physical properties ought to be possessed. The distillation of crude oil is the first process in the sequence of refining operation and is key to refinery operations profitability. In this work, five crude oil samples were collected from a reservoir in the Niger Delta designated as S11A, S12A, S13A, S14A and S15A. Sample S11A was not treated with bio-disc while samples S12A-S15A were treated with bio-disc at different number of times. This was necessary to ascertain the effect of the bio-disc on crude oil physical properties and their distillate yield. After the treatment, the specific gravity, American Petroleum Institute (API), pour point, flash point and viscosity of the treated and untreated crude samples were determined and then the samples distilled with a distillation tester. From the results obtained, the bio-disc had a great influence on the physical properties of the samples as well as on the distillate yield. The specific gravities of the oil samples decreased as the number of times the samples were treated with bio-disc increases and this in turn increased the crudes' API. The pourpoint and viscosity decreased with increase in number of treatments of crude samples with bio-disc. As the number of treatments increased, the crude samples which were originally paraffinic were tending towards being naphthenic. The flash point and distillate yield increased with increase in number of treatments of crude samples with bio-disc. Thus, treatment of crude oil with bio-dic alters the physical properties of the crude.


Machine learning can extract information from neural recordings, e.g., surface EEG, ECoG and µECoG, and therefore plays an important role in many research and clinical applications. Deep learning with artificial neural networks has recently seen increasing attention as a new approach in brain signal decoding. Here, we apply a deep learning approach using convolutional neural networks to μECoG data obtained with a wireless, chronically implanted system in an ovine animal model. Regularized linear discriminant analysis (rLDA), a filter bank component spatial pattern (FBCSP) algorithm and convolutional neural networks (ConvNets) were applied to auditory evoked responses captured by µECoG. We show that compared with rLDA and FBCSP, significantly higher decoding accuracy can be obtained by ConvNets trained in an end-to-end manner, i.e., without any predefined signal features. Deep learning thus proves a promising technique for µECoG-based brain-machine interfacing applications.


Previous studies have shown that near-IR transillumination is well suited for imaging deep occlusal lesions. The purpose of this study was to determine if near-IR images can be used to guide a CO2 laser for the selective removal of natural occlusal lesions on extracted teeth. Near-IR occlusal transillumination images of extracted human teeth with natural occlusal caries lesions were acquired using an InGaAs camera and near-IR light at wavelengths from 1290 to 1470-nm from a filtered tungsten halogen source. A CO2 laser operating at 9.3-μm with a pulse duration of 10-15-μs and a pulse repetition rate of 100-300-Hz was used for caries removal. Optical Coherence tomography was used to confirm lesion presence and serial scans were used to assess selective removal. Teeth were also sectioned for histological examination using polarized light microscopy. This study suggests that near-infrared transillumination is a promising method for the image guided laser ablation of occlusal caries lesions but the use of serial near-IR transillumination imaging for monitoring lesion removal was limited.


papacy on Scotland and the province of York. Each had about 1,000 parishes, contained significant tracts of poor and unproductive land, and each also had areas which suffered badly from the effects of war. This is not a study of the high politics of the Avignon papacy nor of the effects of the Hundred Years' War on the relationship of the Avignon popes with the English or Scottish church. It is rather a close study of the effects of papal taxation and provisions to benefices in a period when the pressures from war, plague and famine were rising, and when, despite the Schism, the curia's bureaucratic machinery


The urinary excretion of certain steroid hormones estrone estradiol-17(EZ) estriol (E3) 17-ketosteroids and pregnanediol was studied from the vaginal smears of 23 women using gestagens (Anovular and Lyndiol 2.5) as treatment for menstrual disorder functional sterility secondary amenorrhea and endometriosis. The reactivity of women treated with gestagens for genital problems was different from that of women using gestagens as contraceptives. This difference is related to the initial state of the endocrine secretion prior to the therapy. The KI was depressed during the course of the treatment and returned to its normal levels after discontinuation of the drug. Increased urinary excretion of estrogens (especially E2 and E3) was accompanied by low KI values and vice versa. Evaluation of the endocrine activity should be based on both cytologic smears and urinary steroid tests in order to estimate the doses and duration of the therapy.(Authors modified)


Venous and arterial access are among the most widespread medical procedures performed in children. Especially in young children venous and arterial access can be problematic due to tiny blood vessels that are difficult to localize beneath a layer of baby fat. This thesis describes the development and clinical evaluation of the VascuLuminator, a guidance tool for peripheral venous and arterial access by visualizing blood vessels underneath the skin with near-infrared light. In a third to a fifth of the pediatric patients, more than one attempt is required for a successful intravenous cannulation. Arterial cannulation is successful in one attempt in only 20% of the patients. To facilitate localization of blood vessels, near-infrared light can be used to visualize blood vessels underneath the skin. Based on this knowledge, we developed a device (the VascuLuminator) to facilitate peripheral access to the blood vessels. The VascuLuminator consists of a NIR emitting LED which is placed underneath the puncture site. The light, absorbed by blood and scattered by other tissue, is processed by a NIR-sensitive camera. An LCD display shows an image of the blood vessels as dark lines against a light background of tissue. The VascuLuminator was able to visualize blood vessels in most patients, and was clinically useful in venipunctures. There was a tendency to an increase in success at first attempt in arterial cannulation with the VascuLuminator. However, the VascuLuminator was not clinically beneficial for intravenous cannulation in a general pediatric population. Only in children with a dark skin and anticipated as difficult to cannulate, the VascuLuminator increased success at first attempt. Further research is required to affirm or refute clinical effectiveness of the VascuLuminator in this specific population. The main problem with difficult peripheral venous and arterial access is advancement of the cannula into the vessel, rather than localizing the vessel. Future research should focus on methods to facilitate successful cannula advancement within the vessel


Abstract Bobcat (Lynx rufus) populations in the Midwestern United States experienced historic declines due to habitat loss and exploitation but have rebounded in recent decades. We investigated natal dispersal of juvenile bobcats from a population in south-central Indiana, USA, from 1999 to 2006. We radiocollared 16 juvenile bobcats (11 M, 5 F) and monitored them for 237–1,014 days (x¯  =  506). One female (20%) and 11 males (100%) dispersed from natal home ranges that averaged 14.6 km2 in size. Most juveniles (70%) initiated dispersal from mid-February through March, late in their first year. Only 5 bobcats (42%) ultimately established a final home range 63 ± 35 km2 in size 13–92 km (x¯  =  44) from their natal range 140 ± 45 days after initiating dispersal. Survival did not differ (P  =  0.93) between dispersing (S  =  0.73) and philopatric (S  =  0.75) individuals, although 4 bobcats (3 M, 1 F) were killed in collisions with vehicles. We found dispersal of bobcats in fragmented landscapes is prolonged and often unsuccessful; the ability of dispersers to locate suitable vacant habitat patches may be vital to the continued growth of bobcat populations recolonizing the agricultural Midwest.


In the state of Louisiana, roadways often have to be built over a weak subgrade due to the soft nature of Louisiana soil, which generates many design and construction difficulties. As an alternative to the traditional method of treating the soft soil with lime or cement, two geosynthetic products, a triaxial geogrid and a high-strength woven geotextile were evaluated for reinforcing unpaved roads constructed over natural soft subgrade. A total of six full-scale unpaved test sections were constructed, among which two sections were reinforced by one and two layers of triaxial geogrids respectively while high-strength geotextiles were used to reinforce two of the other sections with different base thicknesses. The remaining two sections were left as control, of which one was constructed over sand embankments as is common practice in southern Louisiana. The test sections were subjected to a full-scale moving wheel load applied by the accelerated loading facility (ALF). A variety of instrumentation was used to measure the load-associated and environment-associated pavement responses and performance. Results of the full-scale testing demonstrate the benefits of geosynthetics in reducing the permanent deformation in the pavement structure.


The effectiveness of the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae), as a suppressive agent of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), was evaluated on greenhouse cucumber at predator:prey release ratios of 1:5, 1:15, and 1:30. Releases at each predator:prey ratio were made at 30 T. urticae densities per leaf. Evaluation was initiated 4 days after the release. On the under side of the leaves which were selected randomly from the lower, middle, and upper parts of the plants, the eggs and active forms of T. urticae and P. persimilis were counted using 10X hand magnifier for each treatment. In control treatments without predatory mite and acaricide application, population of T. urticae was constantly increased and reached 140 active forms/leaf in August. Subsequently the population decreased when the plants died. At ratios of 1:5, P. persimilis reached 8 active forms/leaf while T. urticae populations reached 11 active forms/leaf. At ratios of 1:15 P. persimilis population increased (3.4 active form per leaf) and T. urticae population decreased (1.6 active forms per leaf) in September and the latter one was kept by P. persimilis at low levels thereafter. Plant damage also was significantly reduced at these densities. P. persimilis population decreased when prey (T. urticae) population decreased. Our work demonstrates the potential of P. persimilis to provide effective control of T. urticae on a greenhouse-grown cucumber at a moderately low predator:prey ratio (1:15) in Tokat Province, Turkey.


Her-2/neu is a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor family that has been found to be overexpressed or amplified in approximately 20-30% of breast cancers. Negative prognosticators and a shortened survival have been shown to be associated with these changes in Her-2/neu, but previous studies have consisted of predominantly Caucasian populations. Additionally, chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) has been suggested to be a potential alternative to fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), the expensive and labor-intensive gold standard assay currently used for Her-2/neu amplification. This study evaluated breast cancer samples from 313 Chinese women participating in the Shanghai breast cancer study, of which 100 (32%) were found to have Her-2/neu amplification by either FISH or CISH methodologies. After a mean follow-up period of 6.67 years, Her-2/neu amplification was found to be significantly associated with an increased hazard of death, regardless of which assay was used to detect amplification. Patients with Her-2/neu amplification were approximately 60% more likely to die of the disease (HR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0-2.6) than patients without amplification, even after adjusting for age, stage, menopausal status, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and tamoxifen treatment. Furthermore, the negative prognostic effect of Her-2/neu varied by cancer stage, with greater risks of death evident among later stage patients. This study supports a negative prognostic role for Her-2/neu in breast cancer survival among a Chinese population, irrespective of whether FISH or CISH is used to detect amplification of the Her-2/neu gene.


Background: FOXO proteins, which are overexpressed in multiple human tumors, belong to the Forkhead family of transcription factors that are involved in cell-cycle regulation, cell apoptosis, differentiation, stress response, and metabolism. The p27Kip1 gene leads to cell cycle arrest, cell apoptosis, tumor suppressor genes, and cell adhesion. The low expression level of the p27Kip1 gene is attributed to poor prognosis in patients with colorectal, gastric, pulmonary, and breast cancers. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the possibility of tumor growth inhibition in a mouse model by targeting FOXO3a shRNA and the simultaneous induction of P27Kip1gene.Methods: The tumor model was generated by intratumoral inoculating with plasmids. When tumor size reached an average volume of 8 mm in diameter, the mice received injections of construct and control plasmids three times a week for two weeks, followed by tumor growth assessment.Results: Based on the obtained results, the delivery of construct plasmid significantly inhibited tumor growth in nude mice, as compared to the control plasmid. Moreover, the immunohistochemical analysis indicated that the delivery of construct plasmid significantly suppressed expression of FOXo3a and induced P27Kip1 in tumor samples.Conclusion: The findings of the present study revealed that FOXO3a shRNA, along with simultaneous induction of P27Kip1gene using a useful in vivo gene delivery strategy, seems a practical therapeutic approach for breast cancer treatment and may provide profound insight into gene therapy of solid cancers.


Computer science programs have been delivering newly undergraduate students to the software industry without sufficient knowledge on how to perform software testing activities. It occurs because that activity is usually taught as part of Software Engineering courses, which means that teachers have to put a lot of efforts to teach the main testing techniques and criteria along with many other contents. In this way, the content is mostly addressed in a theoretical way as the teacher has to stick to the course schedule and has no time to address the testing practice. On the other hand, some studies reported the efforts of professors to optimize the time during classes and attract students to the software testing area. These efforts are associated with the employment of activities in which students are actively engaged in the classroom, solving problems, developing real projects, or dealing with real cases. A pedagogical model that seeks to leverage such an approach is the flipped classroom model. However, while some have praised that model, others have criticized it. In the state of the art, there is no consensus about the appropriateness of flipped classroom for specific learning contents. In this paper, we present an experimental study that was conducted to verify the suitability of the flipped classroom model to teach software testing, especially black-box testing. This study comprised an analysis of students' learning gains when subject to the flipped model and the workload introduced when compared to the traditional teaching model.


This longitudinal study investigates the factors at home and school that influence children's attainment and progress in writing at Key Stage 1. Sixty children between the ages of four and seven years in four Reading primaiy schools were tracked and data was collected in the term before they started school, at school entry, on a termly basis once in school and at the end of Key Stage 1. Semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, observation schedules, checklists and standardised assessments were used. Associations between measures and continuity over time were assessed using multiple regression analysis.

Pre-school independent variables that were found to be significantly associated with writing proficiency at school entry included mother's educational level, family size, parental assessment of writing and a measure of home writing.

Child characteristics, skills and competencies were measured at school entry and those found to be significantly associated with writing at outcome included season of birth, WPPSI-R vocabulary score, pre-reading skills and proficiency in writing their own name. The only pre-school variable that maintained its significant relationship to writing at outcome was home writing. Teacher assessments of pupil attitudes to writing were consistently found to be significantly associated with writing at outcome. Data from the termly writing samples indicated that only the handwriting assessment predicted general writing ability at seven years of age.

Eight pupils were observed writing at two points in time and the records are discussed in terms of processes and products. Issues such as quality and quantity of writing generated are considered in relation to the development of component skills (e.g. handwriting, spelling, vocabulary), within the context of the curriculum and role of the teacher. The results confirm the complexity of learning to write for children at Key Stage I and developmental considerations are discussed in relation to policy and practice issues.


Financial inclusion refers to accessibility of financial services to people of all walks of life at an affordable cost. The interest has been increased in financial inclusion in recent years after globalisation and economic reforms. Indian economy is growing at very fast pace, as majority of population lives in rural area, the financial inclusion of rural households is very important. In this background, the present study was carried out. The objectives of the study were to determine the extent of financial inclusion of rural households and also to find out the correlation between financial inclusion and socio-economic status of rural households. The sample consisted of 211 rural households from the purposively selected Goluwala village of the district. Pre-validated and pre-tested semi-structured interview schedules were used to collect the data. The findings showed that 63 per cent of households were having bank account. The use of financial services was limited to having a saving account in the bank. In majority of the cases, there was one account per household. Out of the total accounts, two-third accounts belonged to men and remaining one-third belonged to women. The usage of other financial services was limited to less than one fifth of households. There was a low degree of positive correlation between socio-economic status and financial inclusion of rural households. In conclusion, no doubt it is one step forward in the right direction but more innovative strategies need to be adopted to bring the rural households under the umbrella of financial services to reap the benefit of prevailing high growth rate of the country.


This study aimed to elucidate the venous vasculature in human fetuses with 3D Reconstruction of vessel and nerve localization. Here, it is reported that D2-40 was used as a venous marker, whereas αSMA had been used. D2-40 (PDPN), a lymphatic and mesotheliomal marker, is not expressed in normal blood vessels. It is essential to repeat the study with correct blood vessel specific markers. This paper reports embryological evidence disproving the detectability of blood vessels using D2-40 and provides the correct blood vessel specific markers that should be chosen instead


This paper uses the gravity model of trade to investigate the link between foreign aid and exports in recipient countries. Most of the theoretical work emphasizes the negative impact of aid on recipient countries' exports primarily due to exchange rate appreciation, disregarding possible positive effects of aid in promoting bilateral trade relations. The empirical findings, in contrast, indicate that the net impact of aid on recipient countries' exports is positive -even though the macroeconomic impact of aid is rather smalland that the average return for recipients' exports is about 1.50 US$ for every aid dollar spent. We argue that "bilateral aid" seems to promote good bilateral trade relations, mutual trust and familiarity and that those factors reinforce bilateral trade, including recipient country exports. The paper also estimates the effect of different types of aid (bilateral aid versus multilateral aid flowing to a specific recipient) and studies aid's contribution to an expansion of exports in different regions of the world. It is found that aid is strongly export-enhancing in Asia and Latin America, but not in Africa.


Summary A cDNA coding for the carboxy-terminal region of human protein S and containing a complete 3'-untranslated region, was isolated by a combination of antibody screening of a λgt11 human liver cDNA expression library and in situ hybridization of a pUC9 human liver cDNA library. Hybridization analysis of human total DNA with radiolabelled non-overlapping cDNA restriction fragments revealed the existence of two genes per haploid genome homologous with the protein S cDNA. Both genes were mapped to chromosome 3 using human-rodent cell hybrids. Neither of the genes showed polymorphism for sixteen different enzymes upon hybridization with the protein S cDNA.


INTRODUCTION: Castration-resistant progression of prostate cancer occurs in >80% of patients after failure of hormonal therapy but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Emerging evidence implies that ligand-independent activation of the androgen receptor (AR) is of critical importance during this process. Our previous studies show that the levels of NF-κB2/p52 are elevated in prostate cancer cells and that active NF-κB2/p52 promotes prostate cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we examined the role of NF-κB2/p52 in the aberrant activation of the AR during castration resistant progression, in contrast to the interaction between the AR and RelA/p65. METHODS: The effects of NF-κB2/p52 on cell survival, growth and androgen responsiveness were examined in prostate cancer cells. Modulation of LNCaP tumor growth by p52 was examined in intact and castrated male nude mice. Effect of p52 or p65 on AR activation was examined using luciferase assays, EMSA, ChIP assays and ELISA. RESULTS: Expression of NF-κB2/p52 enhanced androgen-sensitive LNCaP human CaP cell growth and clonogenic ability in androgen-deprived conditions in vitro. LNCaP cells expressing p52 exhibited protection from apoptotic cell death and cell cycle arrest induced by androgen-deprivation. Adenoviral mediated p52 expression in LNCaP cells induced tumor growth in castrated male nude mice. NF-κB/p52 induced the activation of the AR resulting in increased transactivation of AR-responsive genes such as PSA and NKX3.1 in a ligand-independent manner. NF-κB2/p52 enhanced nuclear translocation and transactivation of AR by interacting with its N-terminal domain and enhanced the recruitment of co-activators like p300 to the promoters of AR-dependent genes. These results were confirmed in 3 different prostate cancer cell lines: LAPC-4 (wild type AR), LNCaP (mutant AR) and C4-2 (androgen-insensitive). Transfection of p52 into LAPC-4 and LNCaP cells (which express low levels of p52) showed increased activation of the endogenous AR. Downregulation of endogenous p52 in C4-2 cells resulted in abrogation of AR constitutive activation. In contrast, we observed that p65 exhibited transcriptional repression of the AR, and did not induce expression of AR-responsive genes, PSA and NKX3.1. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that overexpression of NF-κB2/p52 induces castration-resistant growth and aberrant activation of the AR in LNCaP cells. NF-κB2/p52 may promote castration resistant progression by activating the AR under conditions of androgen deprivation. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1709.


1. This study investigated the subcellular localization of injected N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuNAc) in brain. Forty pregnant rats were distributed into four groups. Two groups were given a 200 g casein/kg diel and the other two groups a 100 g casein/kg diet throughout gestation. One group from each of the low- and high-protein groups were given their respective diets for the first 11 d of lactation. On day 12 of lactation, 2·5 μCi [14]NeuNAc/kg body-weight were injected intraperitoneally into their pups. After 1 h the pups were killed, their brains removed and subjected to subcellular fractionation. On day 16 of lactation the other two groups were similarly treated. 2. In all groups of animals 80% of the [14C]NeuNAc incorporated into the brains was found in the synaptosomalfraction and the remainder distributed among the other subcellular fractions in proportion to their total NeuNA ccontent. 3. These results suggest that NeuNAc exerts its effects on behaviour via the synaptic membrane.


Estimating demand for licenses for recreational activities is complicated because of a lack of meaningful variation across time, space, buyer types, and license attributes, including price. Prior work uses discrete choice experiments (DCEs) to overcome this challenge, but the resulting demand models are unlikely to replicate observed demands in the absence of ad hoc calibration procedures. We use a generalized method of moments–based approach that combines DCE data with observed market share data to estimate a choice model that yields demand functions that much more closely replicate observed data.


A compact quasi-elliptic microstrip bandpass filter with lower and upper stopband zeros is presented. The bandpass filter consists of terminated anti-parallel coupled-line and the stopband zero is generated and controlled by the reactive termination. In comparison to the traditional parallel coupled-line bandpass filter, the proposed filter achieves simultaneous size reduction and sharp filter skirt. The usefulness of the proposed filter is validated by a simultaneously miniature and selective quasi-elliptic bandpass filter centred at 2.4 GHz with 4.6% fractional bandwidth as well as two transmission zeros at 2 and 3.2 GHz.


Two of the best multivariate mood-state scales are the Differential Emotions Scale (DES-IV) and the Eight State Questionnaire (8SQ). Both instruments purportedly measure several different fundamental emotions. In many situations, though, the measurement of numerous different mood states may be somewhat time-consuming and inefficient. As fundamental emotions are at the Cattellian source-state level, it would seem useful to elucidate secondary factors at the Eysenckian typological level of analysis. Clearly, a smaller set of mood-type factors would provide greater economy of measurement and administration time. Moreover, delimitation of secondary factors should add to the usefulness and flexibility of the two instruments. The present paper reports a higher-order scale dR-factoring of the 8SQ and DES-IV instruments on a sample of 212 undergraduate students.


Samples of hepatic lymph collected from isolated perfused rat livers or from livers of whole rats, during continuous infusion of BSP, showed two types of response with respect to content of BSP. One of these was characterized by lymph BSP concentrations below those in blood plasma, and a chromatographic composition of lymph BSP different from that in both plasma and bile. In the other response BSP concentrations in lymph were grossly higher than those in plasma, and the chromatographic composition of the BSP was identical with that in bile. The second response was observed whenever bile flow was deliberately arrested, but it also occurred when bile was apparently flowing freely, suggesting that a type of nonobstructive, nonhemolytic jaundice could exist, based on failure of labile mechanisms which normally prevent diffusion of biliary substances into the extracellular space. The chromatographic composition of the BSP in responses of the first type suggests that part of the BSP in hepatic lymph normally arises from the hepatic cells, rather than from either the blood plasma or the bile.


In Ontological Tools for Geographic Representation, Casati, Smith and Varzi have formalized and introduced the geo-ontological distinction between classical and non-classical geographies. Although that distinction makes no essential reference to maps, the authors have pointed out that the dichotomy can be useful to specify the kind of geography that is implied in spatial representation. the aim of this paper is to showcase the main assumptions behind the distinction between classical and non-classical geography and to present some possible issues arising from its application to cartographic representation. Accordingly, the first two sections offer a short introduction to the scopes of the ontology of geography and to the main theoretical tools needed for advancing a (formal) theory of spatial representation. The third section shows some issues emerging from the application of the distinction between classical and non-classical geographies to the cartographic representation. Finally, the fourth section connects such issues to the lack of a shared notion of geographical entity and exhibits a (virtuous/vicious) indeterminacy about which notion is most fundamental between cartographic representation and geographical entity.


Building Information Modeling (BIM) is widely seen as a catalyst for innovation and productivity in the construction industry. While BIM is increasingly being adopted in developed countries, implementations in the developing country context are rare. Research has established how construction firms struggle from several limitations having to do with the socio-economic and technological environment found in developing countries. Case studies shows that BIM does enhance the traditional scheduling and cost estimating methods with a more reliable and automated technology. Due to numerous steps of construction industry and its complicated and extensive structure, errors and reworks often might happen in this section. As such, BIM (Building Information Modeling) is regarded as a beneficial tool in minimizing the waste and improving the efficiency of building construction. This project is an application of Building Information Modeling which is an upcoming topic in the field of construction planning and management. We selected an institutional building to show the application of Building Information Modeling using software like Revit (2018) and Navisworks Manage (2018). We wanted to show the application of BIM which would make the construction of a humungous project like an educational institutional building to be more precise and well managed within the limited time frame. We collected data such as the floor plans and elevations of the new Gandhi Block (School of Architecture) in VIT, Vellore campus and created a 3-Dimensional model of the building using the Revit (2018) software. By creating a 3-D model we were able to give a real life representation of the building. We created the 3-D model according to the dimensions and specifications in the floor plan and elevation provided to us. We then transferred the model to the Navisworks Manage software for simulation the time constraint. As majority of the building construction was completed at the time of the project, we collected the actual start and finish dates of construction of different components and parts of the building. We created a CSV excel file with the time schedule of the entire construction process including start and finish dates of each process. The file was then added to Navisworks manage. We created sets for each building components like flooring, walls, windows, doors and ceiling for each floor. We then linked the sets to the activity and their respective dates to create the time constraint simulation. Creating this sort of a time constraint simulation will help us get a virtual idea or image of the completion of the entire project part by part and helps managing the construction more efficiently and precisely.


While the use of timber harvests is generally accepted as an effective approach to controlling bark beetles during outbreaks, in reality there has been a dearth of monitoring to assess outcomes, and failures are often not reported. Additionally, few studies have focused on how these treatments affect forest structure and function over the long term, or our forests' ability to adapt to climate change. Despite this, there is a widespread belief in the policy arena that timber harvesting is an effective and necessary tool to address beetle infestations. That belief has led to numerous proposals for, and enactment of, significant changes in federal environmental laws to encourage more timber harvests for beetle control. In this review, we use mountain pine beetle as an exemplar to critically evaluate the state of science behind the use of timber harvest treatments for bark beetle suppression during outbreaks. It is our hope that this review will stimulate research to fill important gaps and to help guide the development of policy and management firmly based in science, and thus, more likely to aid in forest conservation, reduce financial waste, and bolster public trust in public agency decision-making and practice.


The microstructure especially the size, shape, number and distribution of precipitate, together with the strain hardening exponent n value at different strain range during plastic deformation of the Al-0.9Mg-1.0Si-0.7Cu-0.6Mn alloy sheet, subjected to different heat treatment were investigated. The results showed that the strain hardening exponent n values of Al-0.9Mg-1.0Si-0.7Cu-0.6Mn alloy sheet at any different strain range are different from each other, which is in agreement with the result that the relationship between true strain and true stress of polycrystalline alloy sheet during tensile test does not fully meet the Hollomon formula. The continuous strain hardening exponent nc defined in this paper essentially represents the approximate liner strain hardening effect during the total calculating strain range, while the stage strain hardening exponent ns defined in the paper can objectively indicate the counteraction of the micro strain hardening with the micro strain softening of alloy sheet during plastic deforming. When the precipitate in the matrix of alloy sheet can be cut by dislocation, the alloy sheet has the weakest strain hardening effect at the beginning of yielding process. Otherwise, the alloy sheet has the most prominent strain hardening effect at the beginning of yielding process when the precipitate in the matrix can be bowed bypass operation of dislocation. Gridded precipites is of no advantage to the glide and multiplication of dislocation of alloy sheet.


Author(s): Marczak, William Russell | Advisor(s): Paxson, Vern | Abstract: Computer security research devotes extensive efforts to protecting individuals against indiscriminate, large-scale attacks such as those used by cybercriminals. Recently, the problem of protecting institutions against targeted attacks conducted by nation-states (so-called "Advanced Persistent Threats") has likewise elicited significant research interest. Where these two problem domains intersect, however---targeted cyber attacks by nation-states against individuals---has received little significant, methodical research attention. This new problem space poses challenges that are both technically complex and of significant real-world importance.In this thesis, we undertake to characterize the emergent problem space of nation-state Internet attacks against individuals engaged in pro-democracy or opposition movements. We first present several years of research we have conducted into cases from two Middle Eastern countries, in the aftermath of the Arab Spring. Leveraging our connections in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, we encouraged potential targets to send us any ``suspicious'' electronic communications they received. Dissidents forward us messages with malicious attachments, links, and other content designed to deanonymize them and break into their computers and phones. Strong circumstantial evidence ties some of these messages to specific nation-state attackers. We frame the nature of these attacks, and the technology and infrastructure used to conduct them, in the context of their impacts on real people. Building on our understanding of attacks targeting dissidents, we engaged with 30 potential targets of Middle Eastern and Horn of Africa-based governments, in order to better understand subjects' perceptions of the risks associated with their online activity. We interviewed subjects, and examined settings and software on their computers and phones. Our data illuminate the ways that dissidents are vulnerable to the types of attacks employed by nation-states.Informed by our fieldwork, we developed \tool, a defensive approach that readily integrates with targets' workflow to provide near real-time scanning of email messages to check for threats. Our prototype implementation of \tool currently protects 36 subjects, and has found a number of attacks both from scans of past message archives and in live activity.


Purpose To explore the rate of post-stroke disability and its associated factors in the third year following discharge from inpatient rehabilitation in Northeast China. Design A prospective cohort study. Methods A total of 522 persons who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of stroke were recruited consecutively between April 2015 and December 2015 and followed for 3 years. The primary outcome was disability, which was assessed using the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), a cutoff score of ≤95 indicates disability. Plausible risk factors of disability were selected from available variables to perform multivariate logistic regression analysis. Findings The proportion of post-stroke patients with disability decreased from 63.8% to 46.7% at 3-year follow-up. The factors associated with post-stroke disability were age, neurological deficits, cognitive function, depression, and social support. Conclusions/Clinical Relevance Disability continues to be a significant issue for individuals after a stroke, and community health workers should perform targeted assessments and interventions to decrease disability, and pay special attention to individuals who are at greatest risk of post-stroke disability.


Interleukin-2 can induce steroid resistance in T cells. IL-15 shares biological activities with IL-2, as both cytokines use IL-2Rγ for signal transduction. We therefore sought to determine whether IL-15 contributes to induction of PBMC corticosteroid resistance. Surprisingly, we found that incubation of unfractionated PBMC with IL-15 for 48 h resulted in the inhibition of glucocorticoid receptor (GCR) nuclear translocation in response to dexamethasone (DEX) treatment in CD19-positive B cells significantly greater than CD19-negative non-B cells (p < 0.01). However, pure B cells incubated with IL-15 responded normally with nuclear translocation of GCR in response to steroids, but failed to translocate GCR when they were grown in the presence of CD19− cells. Coculture of B cells with CD3+ (T cells), CD14+ (monocytes), or CD56+ (NK and NKT cells) in the presence of IL-15 revealed that only CD56+ cells contributed to the steroid insensitivity of B cells. IL-15 stimulation significantly increased production of IL-4 by CD56+ cells (p < 0.02). Treatment of purified B cells with combination IL-15/IL-4 resulted in abrogation of glucocorticoid receptor nuclear translocation and the inability of DEX to suppress cytokine production by B cells. In the presence of IL-4-neutralizing Ab, when B cells were cocultured with CD56+ cells and IL-15, the B cells were found to be steroid sensitive, i.e., DEX induced GCR nuclear translocation. This study demonstrates that B cells develop steroid resistance in the presence of CD56+ cells after IL-15 stimulation. Furthermore, IL-15 and IL-4 have the capacity to induce B cell insensitivity to steroids.


Context: Obesity has become a serious public health issue in emerging nations, notably in India. Obesity alters the mechanics of the respiratory system, as well as exercise tolerance, gas exchanges, respiratory pattern modulation, and respiratory muscle strength and endurance, among other things. Aims: The aim was to compare the pulmonary function test parameters in normal weight, overweight, and obese young people among the medical students. Settings and Design: Obesity and overweight have become a global problem. They are the key health issues in both industrialized and developing nations today. As a result of obesity, which was defined as an excess of fat tissue in the body, a several systemic illnesses and a higher mortality rate might occur. Many bodily systems may be affected by obesity, resulting in higher rates of illness and death in the community. Subjects and Methods: The present study was carried out at Santosh Medical College in the Department of Physiology and was a cross-sectional study. Based on the body mass index (BMI), three student groups were taken as normal, overweight, and obese, which was followed by pulmonary tests conducted using spirometry, and the observations were noted and were compared among the three groups. Statistical Analysis Used: In this study, descriptive and inferential statistical analyses was performed. Continuous measurement data was shown as mean ± standard deviation (SD), whereas categorical measurement results was presented as a number (%). The significance is determined at a 5% level of significance. Assumptions: (1) Independent variables should have a normal distribution, (2) Samples selected from the population should be random, and sample cases should be independent. Conclusions: This type of study is completely novel to this geographic location as a comparison is made between two different strata (medical and paramedical students) of both genders, and it aimed to determine whether there is a difference in pulmonary function between obese, overweight, and normal weight people, especially in this section of the country. As a result, the current study in both the groups found that: (1) Forced vital capacity in overweight people was much lower than in people of normal weight and much lower in obese compared to overweight, (2) Forced expiratory volume in the 1 s in overweight people was much lower than in people of normal weight and much lower in obese compared to overweight, (3) Forced expiratory flow 25–75 in overweight people was much lower than in people of normal weight and much lower in obese compared to overweight, (4) Peak expiratory flow rate in overweight people was much lower than in people of normal weight and much lower in obese compared to overweight. As a result, all of the indices of the lung function evaluated in this study indicated a statistically significant inverse relationship with a rise in BMI. This suggests that a rise in the body mass index changes lung functioning, potentially leading to long-term consequences and being linked to early mortality and morbidity.


beta-D-Mannosidase was partially purified (108-fold) from human placenta by ammonium sulfate precipitation, Concanavalin A-Sepharose affinity chromatography, gel filtration and hydroxylapatite chromatography. Further attempts to purify the enzyme by several conventional methods failed due to loss of activity. The stability of beta-mannosidase, the effect of several compounds on its activity and some physico-chemical and kinetic parameters were investigated.


I present the results of a recent calculation to determine the number of strange scalar resonances below 1.8 GeV based on the analytic properties of the experimental pi K scattering amplitude. Only one resonance was found in the data, and this is readily identifiable as the K_0^*(1430). We found no evidence to support the kappa(900).


In this paper, a comparative study with three support vector machines (SVM) classifiers was carried out. The input images were first preprocessed to form the candidate text string regions. Next, Based on different features sets extracted by different methods, three SVM classifiers are used to analyze the textural properties of text and classify the text and no text strings in video frames. Then, a comparative evaluation of their performance is presented. The goal of the paper is to identify good feature selection for SVM in video text detecting task.


Objective To establish a sensitive and specific LC-MS/MS method for measurement of notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rd, tanshinone Ⅰ, astragaloside Ⅳ and harpagosidein of Fufang Xueshuantong Capsule in rat plasma. Methods The HPLC separation was performed on Thermo Hypersil GOLD column(2.1 mm× 100mm, 5 μm) at 30 ℃, injecting 10 μL and using acetonitrile-water(0.1% formic acid) as the mobile phrase(B was acetonitrile, A was 0.1% formic acid;0-10 min, 25%-55%B;10-20 min, 55%-70% B) with the flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. Detection was performed on a tandem quadrapole mass spectrometer using positive electrospray ionization, SRM scan mode. Results The eight compounds showed good linearity in wide ranges(notoginsenoside R1 1.00-800 ng/mL, ginsenoside Rg1 0.950-760 ng/mL, ginsenoside Re 1.44-1440 ng/mL, ginsenoside Rb1 1.33-1330 ng/mL, ginsenoside Rd 9.90-990 ng/mL, harpagosidein 1.01-1010 ng/mL, astragaloside Ⅳ 1.16-928 ng/mL, tanshinone Ⅰ 10.0-800 ng/mL). In addition, the accuracy and recovery were around 85%-115% and 50%-70%. The RSD of intra and inter day precision were lower than 15%. Conclusion The method is specific, rapid and sensitive. Therefore, it can be applied to pharmacokinetic study of eight effective compounds in Fufang Xueshuantong Capsule.


ABSTRACT To move beyond current aggregate and static conclusions regarding radicalisation and subsequent terrorist behaviour, empirical research should look to criminological models which are influenced by the life-course perspective. Current UK government policy designed to prevent radicalisation and terrorist engagement look to outputs from criminological perspectives to inform policy and practice. However, the guidance suffers from a lack of specificity as to the major concept of 'vulnerability to radicalisation', and what this incorporates. This investigation uses sequential analyses to add to our understanding of 'vulnerability' in the specific context of lone-actor terrorism. The statistical method bridges the gap between qualitative and quantitative approaches and provides a series of empirical outputs which visualise typical lone-actor terrorist trajectories through the discrete stages of radicalisation, attack planning and attack commission.


Two stone-built short cists were excavated in Broomlands, Kelso, by AOC Archaeology Group under the Historic Scotland Call-off Contract for Human Remains. A single poorly preserved adult inhumation was recovered from one cist, along with a small intrusive disc-shaped perforated oil shale object. The inhumation was dated to 2340–2120 cal BC. The second cist contained heavily damaged and fragmentary unburnt bones from two adults. Radiocarbon dates suggest one individual, the principal interment in the cist, dates to 2030–1750 BC and the second individual was interred much later, between 930 and 800 cal BC.


Surface modulation is part of normal bone growth. However, the radiologic appearance of physiologically growing bone in infancy may resemble changes secondary to trauma. This case report reviews bone remodeling in the postnatal infant and describes its unique radiologic and pathologic characteristics, allowing normal to be differentiated from healing and repair.


In the book V of Ethica nicomachea, in the context of the discourse on "distributive justice" (a subsystem of "justice in general" or "political justice", essentially consisting in the respect for the law), Aristotle addresses the question of the fair distribution of social assets such as power functions, prestige positions, public wealth. The democratic deception of a perfectly egalitarian distribution must be avoided as it does not correspond to the real social hierarchies of class and merit, and also to the greed (pleonexia) that distinguishes the oligarchic regimes: both classlessness and greed are seeds of social conflicts. Aristotle therefore proposes a concept of "proportional" equity, a kind of fairness with variable geometry in the distribution of social goods, which is able to take into account the real differences among members of the political community, while not allowing the powerful to abuse their power. Aristotle then extends this concept of "proportional" equity to apparently strange areas, such as trade and "corrective justice", namely the provision of penalties for crimes affecting the harmony of the community.


To the Editor:— The Chairman's Address, "Chronic Leg Ulcers" ( JAMA 186 :1080 [Dec 21] 1963), emphasizes the many facets and problems coming under this title. However, several procedures in diagnosis and treatment have not been emphasized in this review or in recent symposia and deserve comment because of the decreased hospitalization time and improved results which can be accomplished when they are used. As part of the evaluation of venous incompetency ulcers, injection of 25 to 30 ml of radiopaque dye in a foot vein with the patient in the upright position will allow much more accurate localization of the incompetent perforating veins than will physical examination alone. On completion of the injection an anteroposterior film is taken, after which the dye will remain pooled for about 15 seconds. This is sufficient time for a lateral exposure, thus obviating the need for automatic film-changing equipment, biplane machines, or multiple injections.


Researchers have routinely found that improved medication adherence--getting people to take medicine prescribed for them--is associated with greatly reduced total health care use and costs. But previous studies do not provide strong evidence of a causal link. This article employs a more robust methodology to examine the relationship. Our results indicate that although improved medication adherence by people with four chronic vascular diseases increased pharmacy costs, it also produced substantial medical savings as a result of reductions in hospitalization and emergency department use. Our findings indicate that programs to improve medication adherence are worth consideration by insurers, government payers, and patients, as long as intervention costs do not exceed the estimated health care cost savings.


BACKGROUND
Interleukin (IL)-1beta is a key cytokine in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, and it induces inflammatory mediators in periodontal diseases. We developed immortalized human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs), investigated the effects of IL-1beta on the gene expression using expression arrays containing approximately 40,000 genes, and tested the role of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in maintaining an activated HGF population.

METHODS
Total RNA was isolated from IL-1beta-induced and mock-induced control cells. Gene expression analyses were performed using expression arrays and confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blot analysis to show inhibitor of kappa B-alpha (IkappaBalpha) phosphorylation and immunostaining of cells for NF-kappaB nuclear translocation were performed. Apoptosis was confirmed by assay of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage.

RESULTS
A total of 382 probe sets corresponding to 254 genes were differentially expressed in IL-1beta-induced cells (P <0.001). A total of 215 genes were upregulated, and 39 genes were downregulated. Most notable NF-kappaB pathway members (NFkappaB1, NFkappaB2, IkappaBalpha, IkappaBepsilon, IkappaBzeta, REL, RELB, and TA-NFKBH) were upregulated. IkappaBalpha was phosphorylated, and NF-kappaB accumulated in the nucleus. An IL-1beta-induced set of 27 genes was downregulated by an NF-kappaB inhibitor, leading to a decreased number of viable cells and suggesting an antiapoptotic role for NF-kappaB.

CONCLUSIONS
IL-1beta leads to a large number of significant expression changes consistent with a pathologic role in periodontitis, including enhancement of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, transcription factors, matrix metalloproteinases, adhesion molecules, and especially NF-kappaB-dependent antiapoptotic genes. NF-kappaB activation blocks apoptosis, thereby stabilizing the HGF population in inflammation.


HSV-1 sensitized hosts were not resistant to challenge with small numbers of HSV-1 transformed cells. Virus immunization did not inhibit or enhance the incidence of tumour metastases.


Obesity is the basis of numerous metabolic diseases and has become a major public health issue due to its rapidly increasing prevalence. Nevertheless, current obesity therapeutic strategies are not sufficiently effective, so there is an urgent need to develop novel anti-obesity agents. Naturally occurring saponins with outstanding bio-activities have been considered promising drug leads and templates for human diseases. Cyclosiversioside F (CSF) is a paramount multi-functional saponin separated from the roots of the food-medicinal herb Astragali Radix, which possesses a broad spectrum of bioactivities, including lowering blood lipid and glucose, alleviating insulin resistance, relieving adipocytes inflammation, and anti-apoptosis. Recently, the therapeutic potential of CSF in obesity and relevant disorders has been gradually explored and has become a hot research topic. This review highlights the role of CSF in treating obesity and obesity-induced complications, such as diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Remarkably, the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with CSF in disease therapy have been partially elucidated, especially PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, MAPK, apoptotic pathway, TGF-β, NLRP3, Nrf-2, and AMPK, with the aim of promoting the development of CSF as a functional food and providing references for its clinical application in obesity-related disorders therapy.


A disability-friendly flat is a vertical residence that can be accessed and used by everyone including persons with disabilities and the elderly. The implementation of access in vertical buildings that are friendly to people with disabilities has not become a particular concern, especially in Indonesia. Hence, they still experience difficulties and obstacles in carrying out their activities. Disability-friendly flats located in an urban area and close to various public facilities aim to accommodate the problem of the high demand for housing in urban communities, overcome the problem of limited land and green space, provide easy access and achievement, and also realize the life of disability users that is more qualified, fair, physically and mentally prosperous, independent, and dignified. This flat was designed by using an Ecological Architecture approach to decrease environmental issues and problems in an urban area, also create comfort and independence for disability users through the application of these ecological principles that applied to building zones, materials, vegetation, and rainwater that can stimulate the human senses to recognize or identified place. The research method uses descriptive qualitative methods and data collection is obtained through field surveys, comparative studies, and literature studies. The design of this flat considered the vertical access inside the building by providing facilities such as stairs, ramps, and lifts to make it easier for all flat users, including persons with disabilities and the elderly


We report the development of in situ (online) EPR and coupled EPR/NMR methods to study redox flow batteries, which are applied here to investigate the redox-active electrolyte, 2,6-dihydroxyanthraquinone (DHAQ). The radical anion, DHAQ3–•, formed as a reaction intermediate during the reduction of DHAQ2–, was detected and its concentration quantified during electrochemical cycling. The fraction of the radical anions was found to be concentration-dependent, the fraction decreasing as the total concentration of DHAQ increases, which we interpret in terms of a competing dimer formation mechanism. Coupling the two techniques—EPR and NMR—enables the rate constant for the electron transfer between DHAQ3–• and DHAQ4– anions to be determined. We quantify the concentration changes of DHAQ during the "high-voltage" hold by NMR spectroscopy and correlate it quantitatively to the capacity fade of the battery. The decomposition products, 2,6-dihydroxyanthrone and 2,6-dihydroxyanthranol, were identified during this hold; they were shown to undergo subsequent irreversible electrochemical oxidation reaction at 0.7 V, so that they no longer participate in the subsequent electrochemistry of the battery when operated in the standard voltage window of the cell. The decomposition reaction rate was found to be concentration-dependent, with a faster rate being observed at higher concentrations. Taking advantage of the inherent flow properties of the system, this work demonstrates the possibility of multi-modal in situ (online) characterizations of redox flow batteries, the characterization techniques being applicable to a range of electrochemical flow systems.


--- The objective of this study is to examine the role of marketing communication and information sharing in firm performance. In this direction, the relationship between marketing communication, information sharing, customer retention, customization and firm performance is examined. A survey instrument was preferred in this study for data collection. A questionnaire was designed by using already revealed scale items related to the marketing communication, information sharing, customer retention, customization and firm performance in previous studies. 500 questionnaires were distributed among the employees of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand. Data were analyzed by using statistical tool; Partial Least Square (PLS). It is found that marketing communication has positive effect on customer retention which further lead to the firm performance. Additionally, information sharing has positive effect on customization which lead to the firm performance. Therefore, marketing communication and information sharing has central importance to promote SMEs performance.


We investigated whether the presence of intact RNA is a valuable indicator of viability of mycobacteria with Mycobacterium smegmatis. M. smegmatis was exposed to various concentrations of rifampin and ofloxacin suspended in broth for different periods of time. The NASBA nucleic acid amplification system was used because of its rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of 16S rRNA. During drug exposure, the viability of the mycobacteria, expressed by the number of CFU, was compared with the presence of 16S rRNA as determined by NASBA and with the presence of DNA coding for 16S rRNA as determined by PCR. Both NASBA and PCR were shown to have a detection limit of approximately 5 x 10(2) CFU/ml. The intensity of the NASBA signal corresponded well with the number of CFU, and the lack of NASBA signal coincided with a loss of viability, which was reached after 3 days of exposure to bactericidal concentrations of both drugs. The presence of mycobacterial DNA, as determined by the intensity of the PCR signal, and the viability of M. smegmatis were not related, but an increase in the number of cells and intensity of PCR signal correlated well. Bacterial viability may thus be assessed by a rapid, sensitive, and specific, and semiquantitative technique by using NASBA. This system of viability testing provides the potential for rapid evaluation of drug susceptibility testing.


(25.6%). Residual sites including overlaps were mastoid cavity (n= 7) followed by tympanic cavity (n= 6) and attic (n= 4), which is different from adult acquired cholesteatoma where the tympanic cavity such as tympanic sinus is the most likely area of residues. Among the various factors examined, significant differences were found between the residue (+) and (−) groups: multiple primary sites such as TAM and PTAM diseases and poor status of stapes were more seen in residue (+) group.


Abstract In this paper I will engage in a process of highlighting the way in which liberal and, later, neoliberal political agendas regulate and establish formal semantic registers in the field of medical informal economy within the Romanian public healthcare system. How accurate is the legalistic approach, which classifies any extra-payment as a bribe? Despite the questionable legal status, the voluntary informal economy acquires the role of establishing bridges at human level between doctor and patient. Far from pleading to accept the conditioning of the medical act by an additional payment from patients or their family members, facts that obviously fall within the scope of illegality, I claim that the labels of "corruption", "bribe", "informal payment" cannot be correctly applied to the whole phenomenon of informal exchanges. Moreover, the gifts offered as a form of gratitude or to tame the "medical gaze" even have a role of social link between doctor and patient, helping to bind an unwritten human contract between the two who, in fact, are victims of the same system and its political decision-makers.


This study intends to advance character education, which is important in the digital age. The contemporary environment, where young people's behavior frequently demonstrates a moral crisis, makes strengthening character education extremely vital. Bullying and phubbing incidents are just two examples of the juvenile misbehavior that is rising. This study employs a descriptive qualitative methodology together with data analysis strategies based on literary studies, which are supposed to be able to communicate and comprehend the meaning that various persons or groups of people consider a problem to be. This is done in an effort to comprehend the phenomena that are emerging in society as a result of literary discoveries. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that religious education and religiosity of students can help them develop into people with good morals, who are responsible, and who behave in accordance with religiously instilled moral values. This will help them deal with a variety of situations in life and help them become good members of society.


Abstract Temperature distribution is predicted as the tire cools during post‐cure inflation. A finite element transient heat transfer analysis is employed, with appropriate material conduction and convection coefficients determined from lab experiments. Initial temperatures to apply to the tire model were determined from measurements on a range of tire sizes. Measurements were also made during and at the end of the post‐cure inflation cycle for comparison with the predicted values. Reasonable agreement is seen between the predicted temperatures and the population of measured tire values.


Under gamma irradiation, p53 gene regulatory network is able to exhibit three different modes, namely low state, oscillations, and high state. There are experimental studies demonstrating that oscillatory behaviour of p53 is due to the interaction between upstream mediator of p53, i.e. ATM, and a negative feedback loop formed by Wipl with that upstream. By proposing a canonical model based on ordinary differential equations made up of polynomial type birth and death terms, we show mathematically that the simple interaction between ATM and Wipl is indeed able to exhibit three different behaviours relevant to DNA damage response of p53 network. We further carry out bifurcation analysis on the model with the aim of investigating the mutations such as Wip1 overexpression and ATM deficiency. Based on the proposed canonical model, we show that Wipl is an important target for curing these types of mutations.


The World Health Organization(WHO) influenza surveillance network now maintains 110 National Influenza Centers in 83 countries and four WHO Collaborating Centers(London, Atlanta, Melbourne and Tokyo). This network provides useful epidemiological and virological information to decide the recommended vaccine composition each year. Another important role of the network is to detect and analyze potential pandemic strains, since an early detection of pandemic strain is crucial to minimize the impact of the pandemic. WHO continues to improve the global surveillance particularly in China, since China has the important role for the influenza epidemiology in the world. WHO also published Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan in 1999.


In this paper we review several novel approaches for research evaluation. We start with a brief overview of the peer review, its controversies, and metrics for assessing efficiency and overall quality of the peer review. We then discuss five approaches, including reputation-based ones, that come out of the research carried out by the LiquidPub project and research groups collaborated with LiquidPub. Those approaches are alternative or complementary to traditional peer review. We discuss pros and cons of the proposed approaches and conclude with a vision for the future of the research evaluation, arguing that no single system can suit all stakeholders in various communities.


The aim of this study is to synthesize novel piperazine-containing dihydrofuran compounds (3a-n)from radical additions and cyclizations of diacyl and alkyl-acyl piperazine derivatives (1a-h) with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds (2a-c) mediated by Mn(OAc) 3 for the first time. From the reactions of 1a-c with dimedone (2a);1a, 1c, and 1d with acetylacetone (2b); and 1a with ethylacetoacetate(2c) ,the dihydrofuran-piperazine compounds 3a-c, 3d-f, and 3g were obtained in medium to high yields (31%–81%), respectively. In addition, dihydrofuran-piperazine compounds 3h-j and 3k-n were prepared at low to medium yields (20%–40%) from the reactions of 1e-g with 2a and 1e-h with 2c , respectively.


Background: Androgenic Anabolic Steroids (AAS) are also synthetic derivatives of testosterone, modified to improve its anabolic actions. The misuse of AAS is of particular concern in sports and society. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry had some limitations and allows identification and characterization of steroids and their metabolites in the urine but may not be able to distinguish between pharmaceutical (Exogenous) and endogenous origin. Thus, it is of great importance to discriminate endogenous steroids such as testosterone or testosterone prohormones from their chemically identical synthetic copies. The abuse of Androgenic Anabolic Steroids (AAS) by sports person is banned by World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) as per the WADA Prohibited list 2019. Methodology: The gas chromatography-combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) technique differentiates between natural and synthetic endogenous steroids by comparing compounds specific 13C/12C ratio. However, the analytes have to be efficiently isolated and purified prior to GC/C/IRMS analysis. Results and Discussion: HPLC Cleanup method prior to analysis by GC−C/IRMS needs to be developed and validated for discriminating the origin of anabolic androgenic steroids. These methods involves the solid-phase extraction, enzymatic hydrolysis with β-glucuronidase, HPLCfractionation for the cleanup and analysis by GC−C/IRMS. The difference (Δ13C) of urinary δ13C values between synthetic analogues and Endogenous Reference Compounds (ERC) by GC-C/IRMS would be used to elucidate the origin of steroids. The present perspective gives an overview of the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids in sport and methods used in anti-doping laboratories for their detection in urine, with special emphasis on GC−C/ IRMS technique after two-fold HPLC cleanup.


Abstract.
 LOWER—MIDDLE MIOCENE OSTRACOD ASSEMBLAGES OF LOMA NEGRA (BARDENAS REALES DE NAVARRA, EBRO BASIN): PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL EVOLUTION OF A LACUSTRINE SYSTEM. The palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Loma Negra section (Bardenas Reales de Navarra, Ebro Basin) during the lower—middle Miocene, is studied for the first time. The paleoenvironmental interpretation is based on the recovered ostracod assemblages and the sedimentology. The lower part of this section is composed by red, yellow and grey mudstones, and with Paralimnocythere sp. as the most abundant ostracod taxon. The lithological features and the faunistic assemblage allows the interpretation of a paleoenvironment with the development of shallow water bodies with stagnant, warm and fresh to oligohaline waters in distal alluvial flood plains for this section. The presence of some sandstone levels where the most abundant ostracod species is Cyclocypris laevis (Müller) marks punctual higher energy events inside this alluvial system and the presence of more saline waters. The upper part of the section is formed by grey limestones with interbedded fine grey mudstones. In this interval, Pseudocandona parallela Müller is the most abundant ostracod species, indicating the development of a stable lacustrine system with water currents, and temperate to cold and oligohaline to mesohaline waters. The transition between the alluvial and the lacustrine systems shows a gradual evolution.


Travel is not unsusceptible to the ideology in force  since  its  journey and focal incidents are shaped by the spirit of the era. During the Victorian age, travel writing sponsored the imperial expansion by providing new markets for the British products especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In this aura, Africans  are often  presented as primitive, lacking history and culture. Unconventionally, Mary Kingsley gives the lie to this representation by exposing Africa as a land of cultural diversity and Africans as heterogeneous people with cultural specificities. The eminence of the cultural difference in the African society is strategically placed by Kingsley to point at the static and second-class identity imposed on Victorian women in 19 th century. Approaching the native African culture differently can be read as a hedge against the static identity imposed on Victorian women at home.


Between January 1984 and November 1990 a total of 292 patients underwent reduction mammaplasty for hypertrophic breasts. Of these patients, 233 had a superomedial pedicle (Orlando's method) and 36 an inferior pedicle (Robbins' method). 23 had various other operations. The patients operated on by Orlando's and Robbins' method were compared retrospectively. It was found that Robbins' method was superior in younger women, owing to increased sensitivity of the nipple-areola complex, and lactation. In the physicians' opinion, wide scars developed in 32% of the patients. In our opinion closing the wound with intracutaneous suture might improve the quality of the scar. Of the patients assessed, 98% were satisfied with the physical outcome of the operation and 86% with the cosmetic outcome. The operative technique of the two methods is described.


The issue of Information security in the transmit process becomes more and more urgent with the development of the network technology and the information technology. A novel scheme for text information hiding is proposed in the paper. Firstly, we encode the characters of the text information by ASCII code and receive plaintext information codes. Secondly, we encrypt the plaintext information codes by chaotic encryption method and receive encryption information codes. Then we encode the encrypted information codes by BCH code again before we transmit them, and embed the ciphertext information into the selected wavelet coefficients of a carrier image in DWT domain. Finally, we do many experiments to prove our scheme to be secure and robust.


The traditional electronic medical records storage pattern has became the bottleneck of its rapid development, this paper introduce the cloud storage mechanism for electronic medical records, HBase is a distributed column-oriented database built on top of Hadoop Distributed File System based on the common computer cluster. After researched on the distribution storage mechanism of Hadoop Distributed File System and the big unstructured and semi-structured data storage principle of HBase, the paper proposed a distributed storage model for electronic medical records based on HBase according to HL7, there are two NameNodes in this model, and a big storage table was designed to organize the data. This storage model is not limited with storage capacity, and provides fastly read and write performance and highly fault-tolerant.


Background Chronic low back pain is one of the most common health problems and the treatment remains unclear. Motor control of trunk and pelvis is the main alteration found in subjects with low back pain and might be responsible of recurrence of symptoms. Recent studies have shown that improvement of trunk motor control is efficient to reduce of pain and increase of function in people with chronic low back pain (1). Trunk motor control can be recovered through stabilizing exercise that involves appropriate deep trunk muscle recruitment and functional training (1). Objectives To compare the short-term results between trunk stabilizing exercise and strengthening exercise on pain, quality of life and function in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain Methods 10 subjects with non-specific chronic low back pain were randomized into 2 groups: group A –strengthening exercise, group B – trunk stabilizing exercise. Strengthening exercise consisted in 3 steps: 1 – Correction of postural alignment; 2 – Stretching of the lower limbs muscles; 3 – Strengthening exercises of abdominal and lumbar spine muscles. Trunk stabilizing exercise involved 4 steps: 1 – Correction of postural alignment; 2 – Respiratory exercises associated with change of body positions (laying to sitting position, kneeling to semi-kneeling position and semi-kneeling to standing position); 3 – Motor training of trunk and pelvis through recruitment of transversus abdominis muscle, training of balance and postural adjustments with voluntary arm movement in different directions and body positions (sitting and standing); 4 – Training of challenging tasks as walking and stairs climbing with maintenance of trunk and pelvic alignment. Intervention was applied on two weekly sessions for 4 weeks with 50 minutes each session for both groups. Each group was conducted by 2 different professionals. A blinded professional conducted all evaluations for pain (Visual Analogic Scale, VAS), quality of life (SF-36) and function (Rolland-Morris Questionnaire, RMQ) before intervention and after treatment program. Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare the difference of variables between groups before treatment and to compare the increment or decrement of the variables after treatment (score before minus score after treatment). Results There were no differences between groups before the treatment for VAS (p=0.598), all domains of SF-36 (p>0.05) and RMQ (p=0.751). Between groups comparison showed significant differences of decrement for VAS (p=0.023, Group A median=1 and Group B median=4), and for SF-36, significant increment for functional capacity (p=0.008, Group A median=-5 and Group B median=-25) and significant increment for emotional aspects (p=0.045, Group A median=0 and Group B median=-33) and marginal decrement for RMQ (p=0.059, Group A median=3 and Group B median=10). Conclusions This pilot study showed that trunk stabilizing exercise showed better short-term results for pain, quality of life and function compared to strengthening exercise in subjects with non-specific chronic low back pain. References Tsao H, Galea MP, Hodges PW. Driving plasticity in the motor cortex in recurrent low back pain. European Journal of Pain, 2010. 14: 832–9. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


RATIONALE
Pre-hospital opportunities to predict infection and sepsis hospitalization may exist, but little is known about their incidence following common healthcare encounters.

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the incidence and timing of infection and sepsis hospitalization within 7 days of living hospital discharge, emergency department discharge, and ambulatory visit settings.

METHODS
In each setting, we identified patients in clinical strata based on the presence of infection and severity of illness. We estimated number needed to evaluate values with hypothetical predictive model operating characteristics.

RESULTS
We identified 97,614,228 encounters including 1,117,702 (1.1 %) hospital discharges, 4,635,517 (4.7%) emergency department discharges, and 91,861,009 (94.1 %) ambulatory visits between 2012 and 2017. The incidence of 7-day infection hospitalization varied from 37,140 (3.3%) following inpatient discharge, 50,315 (1.1%) following emergency department discharge, and 277,034 (0.3%) following ambulatory visits. The incidence of 7-day infection hospitalization was increased for inpatient discharges with high readmission risk (10.0%), emergency department discharges with increased acute or chronic severity of illness (3.5% and 4.7%, respectively), and ambulatory visits with acute infection (0.7%). The timing of 7-day infection and sepsis hospitalizations differed across settings with an early rise following ambulatory visits, a later peak following emergency department discharges, and a delayed peak following inpatient discharge. Theoretical number needed to evaluate values varied by strata, but following hospital and emergency department discharge, were as low as 15 to 25.

CONCLUSIONS
Incident 7-day infection and sepsis hospitalizations following encounters in routine healthcare settings were surprisingly common and may be amenable to clinical predictive models.


Purpose Nuclear retention is a mechanism whereby excess RNA transcripts are stored in the event that a cell needs to quickly respond to a stimulus; maintaining proper nuclear-to-cytoplasmic balance is important for cellular homeostasis and cell function. There are many mechanisms that are employed to determine whether to retain a transcript or export it to the cytoplasm, although the extent to which tissue or cell type, internal and external stressors, and disease pathogenesis affect this process is not yet clear. As the most biochemically active tissue in the body, the retina must mitigate endogenous and exogenous stressors to maintain cell health and tissue function. Oxidative stress, believed to contribute to the pathogenesis or progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs), is produced both internally from biochemical processes as well as externally from environmental insult. Here, we evaluate the effect of oxidative stress on transcript localization in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), with specific focus on transcripts related to RPE function and disease. Methods We performed poly(A) RNA sequencing on nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions from human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived retinal pigment epithelium (iPSC-RPE) cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), as well as on untreated controls. Results Under normal conditions, the number of mRNA transcripts retained in the nucleus exceeded that found in studies on other tissues. Further, the nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio of transcripts was altered following oxidative stress, as was the retention of genes associated with AMD and IRDs, as well as those that are important for RPE physiology. Conclusions These results provide a localization catalog of all expressed mRNA in iPSC-RPE under normal conditions and after exposure to H2O2, shedding light on the extent to which H2O2 alters transcript localization and potentially offering insight into one mechanism through which oxidative stress may contribute to the progression of visual disorders.


Introduction: The current study was carried out to determine prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and related factors among the pupils of nurseries and primary schools in Semnan province. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 764 stool specimens were collected by the method of stratified-randomized sampling for stool examination. The specimens were examined by both simple smear and formalin-ether concentration methods. In addition, other data were collected through questioner and analyzed by the SPSS program and logistic regression. Results: Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was %13.7 (%10.2 in nurseries and %14.2 primary schools), meanwhile, Giardia lambelia had the greatest prevalence (%8.4), followed by Entamoeba Coli (%3.2). Intestinal Parasitic Infections (IPI) in boys (%15.6) was greater than girls (% 11.9), also the prevalence of IPI in the families with one child was significantly lower than the families with more children. Therefore, the families with 2 or 3 children and with more than 3 children were respectively 5.28 and 8.47 times more at risk of IPI, compared to the families with a child. In addition, there was a significant relationship between the occupation of pupils' father and the prevalence of IPI, as the pupils that their fathers were building worker were 4.19 times more at risk of parasite infections, compared to the pupils that their fathers were clerk. The risk of IPI was 1.75 times more among the pupils who using fruits and vegetables that were washed only by water, compared to the pupils who using fruits and vegetables that were disinfected by antiseptic solutions in their home. With respect to the prevalence of intestinal parasite infections, no significant difference was observed between different cites and schools (with and without health instructors) of Semnan province. Conclusion: Since, Giardia lambelia, as a pathogenic parasite, was the most common parasite infection in Semnan province, education of the mothers and pupils about personal hygiene and prevention methods of IPI by health instructors and health centers could help to reduce the rate of intestinal parasite infections.
Keywords: Intestinal parasites, Giardia, Entamoeba Coli, primary Students