Tumor immunotherapy has had demonstrable efficacy in patients with cancer. The most promising results have been with T-cell–based therapies. These include adoptive cell transfer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, genetically engineered T cells, and immune checkpoint inhibitor antibodies. In this review, we describe the different T-cell–based strategies currently in clinical trials and put their applications, present and future, into perspective. Cancer Immunol Res; 3(10); 1115–22. ©2015 AACR.


In our paper, Strategic News Releases in Equity Vesting Months, which was recently made publicly available on SSRN, we study the link between the equity vesting schedules of CEOs and the timing of corporate news releases. We show that, in months in which the CEO has equity vesting, the firm releases more news. This is an easy way to pump up the short-term stock price, as news attracts attention to the stock. This attention also increases trading volume, which allows the CEO to cash out his equity in a more liquid market. Indeed, we find that these news releases lead to significant increases in the stock price and trading volume in a 16-day window, but the effect dies down over 31 days, consistent with a temporary attention boost. The median CEO cashes out all of his vesting equity within seven days—within the window of price and volume inflation.


Molecular crystals are promising anisotropic optical transducing media for next‐generation optoelectronic microdevices that will be capable of secure transduction of information and impervious to external electromagnetic interference. However, their full potential has not been explored yet due to their poor processability, low mechanical compliance, pronounced brittleness and high proneness to cracking that often result in irrecoverable damage. These issues are detrimental to their ability to transduce light. Here, a novel strategy is presented based on 3D epitaxial crystal growth of organic/inorganic crystals based on charge‐assisted hydrogen bonds that can be used to efficiently weld broken molecular single‐crystalline optical waveguides and restore their light‐transducing capability. This approach can also be applied to prepare asymmetric multidomain crystalline heterostructures starting from isostructural molecular tectons, resulting in novel opto/electro/mechanical functionalities in the hybrid materials. It also removes an important obstacle toward wider application of molecular crystals in the next‐generation optoelectronics.


Efficiently predicting the vibratory responses of flexible structures which experience unilateral contact is becoming of high engineering importance. An example of such a system is a rotor blade within a turbine engine; small operating clearances and varying loading conditions often result in contact between the blade and the casing.The method of weighted residuals is a effective approach to simulating such behaviour as it can efficiently enforce time-periodic solutions of lightly damped, flexible structures experiencing unilateral contact. The Harmonic Balance Method (HBM) based on Fourier expansion of the sought solution is a common formulation, though it is hypothesized wavelet bases that can sparsely define nonsmooth solutions may be superior. This is investigated herein using an axially vibrating rod with unilateral contact conditions. A distributional formulation in time is introduced allowing periodic, square-integrable trial functions to approximate the second-order equations. The mixed wavelet Petrov-Galerkin solutions are found to yield consistent or better results than HBM, with similar convergence rates and seemingly more accurate contact force prediction.© 2014 ASME


Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe medical condition that causes inflammation and fluid buildup in the lung, resulting in respiratory distress. Moreover, ALI often occurs as a complication of other medical conditions or injuries, including the coronavirus disease of 2019. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are being studied extensively for their therapeutic potential in various diseases, including ALI. The results of recent studies suggest that the beneficial effects of MSCs may not be primarily due to the replacement of damaged cells but rather the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and other soluble factors through a paracrine mechanism. Furthermore, EVs derived from MSCs preserve the therapeutic action of the parent MSCs and this approach avoids the safety issues associated with live cell therapy. Thus, MSC‐based cell‐free therapy may be the focus of future clinical treatments.


The work is devoted to a problem of statistical robustness of deciding functions, or risk estimation. By risk we mean some measure of decision function prediction quality, for example, an error probability. For the case of discrete "independent" variable the dependence of average risk on empirical risk for the "worst" distribution ("strategies of nature") is obtained. The result gives exact value of empirical risk bias that allows evaluating an accuracy of Vapnik-Chervonenkis risk estimations. To find a distribution providing maximum of empirical risk bias one need to solve an optimization problem on function space. The problem being very complicate in general case appears to be solvable when the "independent" feature is a space of isolated points. The space has low practical use but it allows scaling well-known estimations by Vapnik and Chervonenkis. A heuristic approach for using the obtained results for estimating a quality of deciding functions in general case (multidimensional space of discrete and continuous features) is also suggested.


Fe/SiC hybrid fibers have been fabricated by electrospinning and subsequent high-temperature (1300 °C) pyrolysis in Ar atmosphere using polycarbosilane (PCS) and Fe3O4 precursors. It is found that the introduction of Fe has had a dramatic impact on the morphology, crystallization temperature, and microwave electromagnetic properties of the hybrid fibers. In addition, the Fe particles have acted as catalyst sites to facilitate the growth of SiCO nanowires on the surface of the hybrid fibers. As a result, the permittivity and permeability have been enhanced effectively, and the high reflection loss (RL) has been achieved at a low frequency band with a thin absorber thickness. At an optimal PCS/Fe ratio of 3:0.5, the hybrid fiber/silicone resin composite (35 wt %) with a 2.25 mm absorber thickness exhibits a minimal RL of about -46.3 dB at 6.4 GHz. The wide frequency band (4-9.6 GHz) and thin absorber thickness (1.5-3.5 mm) for effective absorption (<-20 dB) prove that the Fe/SiC hybrid fiber is a promising candidate to work as a highly efficient and lightweight absorber in the C band (4-8 GHz).


Patients concerned with the quality of their lives direct their attention to biological regeneration centers. Visiting modern wellness and spa centers, they look for quick revitalization and improvement of physical fitness that will help them regain their strong professional performance.


Objectives: To analyze the prognostic factors influencing the survival of patients with thymoma, clinical characteristics, treatment modalities and survival of patients were evaluated. The efficacy of chemotherapy was also determined. Methods: Retrospective study was done on one hundred patients whose diagnosis was confirmed pathologically at Seoul National University Hospital from 1981 to 1994. The staging was carried out according to the Masaoka system. Survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and prognostic factors were analyzed by a multivariate analysis (Weibull model). Results: The stage of 100 patients was as follows : Stage I-50, II-6, III-27, IV A-10, IV B-7. The overall survival rates at 5 and 10 years after diagnosis were 73.1% and 58.7%, respectively. The 5-year survival differences, according to various prognostic factors, were as follows: Stage : I-92.8%, II-100%, III-71.6%, IVA-25.9% and IVB-32.9% (p=0.0029). Age : <60 years-79.5% and ≥60 years-41.5% (p=0.0489). Extent of resection: Total patients : complete reseotion-87.6% and incomplete resection-50.5% (p>0.05) Stage III: complete resection-66.7% and incomplete reseotion-75.5% (p>0.05) Myasthenia gravis: present-71.6% and absent-74.9% (p>0.05) Seventeen patients were treated with a combination chemotherapy of Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin and cisplatin (CAP). Two complete responses and seven partial responses (overall response rate of 53%) were observed with a median response duration of fourteen months. Combination chemotherapy with CAP was effective. Conclusions: Stage and age were the independent prognostic factors in patients with thymoma. However, the presence of myasthenia gravis or the extent of resection in stage III patients was not associated with the survival time.


ABSTRACT Background: Fruit and vegetable intake has multiple health benefits in preventing diet-related chronic diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of inadequate daily fruit and vegetable consumption and it's associated factors among the elderly in Malaysia. Materials and Methods: Secondary data from the National Health Morbidity Survey 2011 in Malaysia was used for the statistical analysis. The elderly aged 60 years and above who were living in selected households were recruited into this study. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, fruit and vegetable consumption, self-rated health, and history of chronic diseases were obtained by trained research team members by face-to face interview. Descriptive analysis and complex sample logistic regression were used in data analysis. Result: Respondents comprised of 51.5% females, 61.6% aged between 60 and 69 years old, and 67.9% were married. Half of the respondents (50.0%) ever attended to primary school and more than half of them were living in the urban area (65.0%). This study revealed that 81.9%, 87.6%, and 91.9% of elderly people did not consume adequate fruit, vegetable and combination of fruit and vegetable respectively. Complex sample logistic regression analysis showed that education level, moderate self-rated health status, and being single were significantly associated with inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. Conclusion: Majority of the elderly did not consume adequate fruit and vegetable per day. Therefore, a nutrition policy to encourage healthy eating practices among the elderly in the health facilities of the Ministry of Health Malaysia is recommended to promote the health benefits of consuming fruit and vegetable. Keywords: fruit and vegetable intake, older people, socio-demography, dietary practices, healthy eating


This paper presents the outcomes of laboratory evaluation of the performance of a sample of LED lighting systems (lamp/driver and dimmer combinations) in presence of audio frequency injection control (AFIC) signals used by electricity distribution system network service providers (DNSPs) for control of certain loads. The testing presented in this study has been undertaken in response to a significant number of customer complaints that have been received by DNSPs related to the performance of LED lighting systems with dimmers incorporated. In a number of cases, performance issues have been verified in the field to occur during periods where AFIC signaling voltages are present in the electricity distribution network. In order to determine the contributing factors that AFIC signaling may have on the performance of the LED lighting system, a light-based flicker evaluation testing system has been developed to investigate LED lighting system performance under controlled conditions. One of the main objectives of the study was to use light-based flicker indices to identify the effect on different combinations of LED lamps/drivers and dimmers by varying the voltage magnitude and frequency of the AFIC signal as well as the position (i.e., voltage output) of the dimmer. Visual observations were also carried out to investigate the correlation between measured flicker indices and visually observed flicker. This paper presents the test results that have been analyzed in terms of types of technologies used in LED lamp/driver and the variables in the AFIC signal.


We reexamine the general solution of a Schroedinger equation in the presence of a time-dependent linear potential in configuration space based on the Lewis-Riesenfeld framework. For comparison, we also solve the problem in momentum space and then Fourier transform the solution to get the general wave function. Appropriately choosing the weight function in the latter method, we can obtain the same wave function as the former method. It is found that a non-Hermitian time-dependent linear invariant can be used to obtain Gaussian-type wave-packet solutions of the time-dependent system. This operator is a specific linear combination of the initial momentum and initial position operators. This fact indicates that the constants of integration such as the initial position and initial momentum that determine the classical motion play important roles in the time-dependent quantum system. The eigenfunction of the linear invariant is interpreted as a wave packet with a 'center of mass' moving along the classical trajectory, while the ratio between the coefficients of the initial position and initial momentum determines the width of the wave packet.


Ever s ince its introduction to the United States, cotton has played an important role in the U.S. economy and its position in the international market. The success of cotton production in the U.S. has, in the past, served as a major boost for the American economy and a catalyst for industrial improvements and inventions. However, the global market for cotton fibers and cotton-based textile products has undergone a few changes over the past decades. Competition surrounding cotton has placed the industry under pressure and intense competition among the largest producers such as China, India, and Pakistan. Due to the increased competition of the cotton production and international trade of cotton in the global market alongside the decreased production of textile products, the U.S. cotton industry had to look beyond its own borders to meet the demands of the global textile market. The purpose of this paper is to examine and discuss the important issues raised in the U.S. cotton textile industry and to look for the future of this industry. The case can be used as a tool to stimulate a critical evaluation of the industry and to facilitate discussion about the potential strategies to make the industry viable.


Abstract Transport is a very important part of activities in the tourism sector. In addition to the transport of tourists to and within a destination, transport itself can be a tourist attraction. The aim of this paper is to analyse selected problems of railways in Slovakia (a decrease in the importance of railways for passenger transport in Slovakia in the past 20 years, discontinued passenger transport on certain railway tracks and the modernisation of other tracks, and zero-fare public rail transport services for certain categories of passengers), and to present good examples of the use of narrow-gauge railways for the purposes of tourism (the Tatra Electric Railways and the Kysuce-Orava Forest Railway).


The spontaneous resistive anisotropy (SRA) in PdNi has been measured in the vicinity of the critical Ni concentration (c0) necessary to establish a ferromagnetic ground state. These data provide the first demonstration of a power-law relation for the SRA on the reduced composition (c/c0-1) near c0; the associated critical exponent governing this relationship is estimated experimentally.


Importance
Use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is high among adolescents, but the extent to which the JUUL e-cigarette brand accounts for the high prevalence has not been explored using population-based surveys.

Objective
To examine e-cigarette and JUUL use among adolescents in New Jersey.

Design, Setting, and Participants
Survey study using data from the 2018 New Jersey Youth Tobacco Survey, a cross-sectional statewide representative survey of tobacco use. The survey was school based and sampled New Jersey students in grades 9 to 12.

Exposures
Use of tobacco products; JUUL as first tobacco product tried; exposure to JUUL at school; number of friends perceived as JUUL users; liking or following a tobacco brand on social media; and buying or receiving tobacco-branded merchandise.

Main Outcomes and Measures
Prevalence ratio (PR) for current and frequent e-cigarette use, inclusive of JUUL.

Results
In this sample of 4183 adolescents, respondents were 49.6% female and 49.6% non-Hispanic white. Students were evenly distributed across grades 9 through 12. Overall, the estimate for current use of e-cigarettes inclusive of JUUL was higher (24.2%; 95% CI, 22.5%-25.9%) compared with current use assessed by use of e-cigarettes only (17.8%; 95% CI, 16.4%-19.4%) or JUUL use only (21.3%; 95% CI, 19.7%-23.0%). Divergence in e-cigarette use estimates was higher for certain subgroups, including female respondents and non-Hispanic black respondents. Also, 88.8% (95% CI, 86.6%-91.1%) of current e-cigarette users reported JUUL as a brand they used. Hispanic students (PR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.69-0.89) and non-Hispanic students of other races (PR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.51-0.81) were significantly less likely than non-Hispanic white students to be current e-cigarette users, and students in 12th grade were more likely than those in 9th grade to be current users (PR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.11-1.48). Current e-cigarette use was positively associated with current use of other tobacco products (PR, 2.57; 95% CI, 2.24-2.95), endorsing a tobacco brand on social media (PR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.19-1.72), having tobacco-branded merchandise (PR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.46-1.97), having close friends who used JUUL (PR, 3.81; 95% CI, 3.17-4.58), and seeing JUUL used on school grounds (PR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.24-1.65). Estimates of prevalence were greater when modeling frequent use.

Conclusions and Relevance
This study found that prevalence of current and frequent e-cigarette use among adolescents was higher when inclusive of JUUL use, and JUUL was by far the most common e-cigarette brand used, providing support for inclusion of brand-specific questions when assessing e-cigarette use. The results also identify characteristics of adolescents who may be more likely to use e-cigarettes.


Knowing the date when a word first appeared in the language is not only helpful for linguistic dating purposes. This information is important because it can guide studies about the actuation problem and evaluation stages (WEINREICH; LABOV; HERZOG, 1968) of linguistic changes. The present study is an attempt to locate, historically and socially, the behavior of forms to address the interlocutor, using more grammaticalized variants of the pronoun (honorific form) vossa merce, first in Portugal (voce — you, en English) then in Brazil (voce and oce/ce — contracted forms of voce ), correcting, updating and fixing the appearance dates of these occurrences. By referring to literature authors born between the 17th Century and the beginning of the 20th Century it was also possible to anticipate by half a century the dating of the noun senhorita (Eng. mistress), maybe an indicator of a new statute for women.


Thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) semi-hollow spheres consisting of low density cores, dense shells and separated cavities between cores and shells were prepared via two-step precipitation polymerization. The self-cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid) (PNIPAM-co-PMAA) gels with low solid density were prepared in the first precipitation polymerization and served as the templates on which dense PNIPAM shells cross-linked by N,N'-methylenebis(acrylamide) (BMA) were formed in the second precipitation polymerization. The shell thickness of the semi-hollow spheres could be controlled via adjusting the feeding core/shell mass ratios. The carboxylic groups on the core were conjugated with doxorubicin (DOX) via disulfide bonds which could be degraded by the reduction of glutathione (GSH). The release of DOX from the cores could be controlled by temperature and shell thickness with the disulfide bonds degraded by GSH. The cell viability assay indicated that the semi-hollow particles conjugated with DOX by disulfide bonds showed remarkable toxicity to Hela cells, and the toxicity was related to the shell thickness of the particles.


: Use of suitable auxiliary information is always suggested in literature at the planning and estimation stage to make the estimators more powerful in terms of efficiency. Estimation using auxiliary information is common in sampling literature but using distribution of study and auxiliary information at the estimation stage is uncommon and useful specially when dealing with rare variable. This study utilizes the auxiliary information and Poisson distributed variates for proposing the log-type estimator and another generalized estimator for finite population mean under simple random sampling without replacement. The Mean Square Error expressions of the proposed estimators are obtained and mathematical conditions are established to prove the efficiency of proposed estimators.  It is revealed from empirical (point estimation and interval estimation) & theoretical study that use of log type estimators along with suitable auxiliary information for Poisson distributed variates excels the performance of estimators in terms of efficiency.


In a previous article (1) we have stated that in animals which received into the subscapular tissue a second injection of a large amount of serum, there occurred on the ears, either or both erythema or edema which in relation to the time of the second injection could be compared with immediate and accelerated serum sickness in man. We wish to report here in greater detail regarding these reactions. It may be well to recall as a basis for comparison that the reactions which we speak of as serum sickness in rabbits are manifested on the ears. The rather generalized distribution of the erythema involving most markedly the basal half or two-thirds and leaving unaffected a more or less triangular area at the tip is quite distinctive; the erythema may be morbilliform or scarlatinal in part or in whole. The edema, usually basal, may be more or less marked or more or less extensive.


Abstract Objective: To examine rural–urban differences in temporal trends and risk of inappropriate antibiotic use by agent and duration among women with uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI). Design: Observational cohort study. Methods: Using the IBM MarketScan Commercial Database (2010–2015), we identified US commercially insured women aged 18–44 years coded for uncomplicated UTI and prescribed an oral antibiotic agent. We classified antibiotic agents and durations as appropriate versus inappropriate based on clinical guidelines. Rural–urban status was defined by residence in a metropolitan statistical area. We used modified Poisson regression to determine the association between rural–urban status and inappropriate antibiotic receipt, accounting for patient- and provider-level characteristics. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate trends in antibiotic use by rural–urban status. Results: Of 670,450 women with uncomplicated UTI, a large proportion received antibiotic prescriptions for inappropriate agents (46.7%) or durations (76.1%). Compared to urban women, rural women were more likely to receive prescriptions with inappropriately long durations (adjusted risk ratio 1.10, 95% CI, 1.10–1.10), which was consistent across subgroups. From 2011 to 2015, there was slight decline in the quarterly proportion of patients who received inappropriate agents (48.5% to 43.7%) and durations (78.3% to 73.4%). Rural–urban differences varied over time by agent (duration outcome only), geographic region, and provider specialty. Conclusions: Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is quite common for the treatment of uncomplicated UTI. Rural women are more likely to receive inappropriately long antibiotic durations. Antimicrobial stewardship interventions are needed to improve outpatient UTI antibiotic prescribing and to reduce unnecessary exposure to antibiotics, particularly in rural settings.


From measurements of pre-breakdown currents across plane-parallel electrodes, and with the aid of a simple analysis developed here, ionization and attachment coefficients have been evaluated for 50 < E/p0 < 250 v cm−1torr−1. Values of the attachment coefficient are found to reduce to practically zero at about 70 v cm−1 torr−1, which could indicate a detachment process. Sparking potentials were also measured in the range 0·1 < p0d < 5 cm torr, and this enabled the evaluation of generalized secondary coefficients.


Adipokinetic hormone/corazonin-related peptide (ACP) and adipokinetic hormone (AKH) are two neuropeptides that demonstrate homology to the vertebrate gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Despite the structural similarity and the close evolutionary relationship between the ACP and the AKH, their signaling systems function independently. To date, the role of ACP and its receptor (ACPR) remains unclear in the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Structure-activity relationships (SARs) are often carried out on peptide ligands to determine critical residues for bioactivity and receptor activation; however, residues and features necessary for ligand binding and specificity in the receptors themselves are less studied. Herein, this study focuses on the ACP and AKH signaling systems and examines structural features of their receptors critical for conferring activation and ligand specificity. Firstly, to determine the specific ACPR regions most critical for ligand fidelity and specificity, ACPR chimeras were created by singly replacing each of the three ACPR extracellular loops (ECLs) in their entirety and incorporating the corresponding ECLs from the AKH receptor (AKHR). Heterologous functional assays determined that the three ACPR ECL chimera receptors with complete replacement of full individual ECLs showed no response to either ACP or AKH. These results suggest that the complete replacement of each individual extracellular loop is detrimental to ligand binding and recognition. Secondly, through a more targeted approach, we aimed to determine specific residues critical for functional ligand-binding by substituting only select highly conserved residues within the three ECLs of the ACPR with those from the AKHR. Modifications of specific and highly conserved residues in these ACPR ECLs chimeras suggest that the third extracellular loop contains the most critical residues necessary for ACP binding and receptor activation. In addition, the combination of two selectively-modified ACPR ECLs demonstrated a significant decrease in response to ACP compared to the native ACPR response. Interestingly, combining all of the ACPR ECLs chimeras together resulted in a significant decrease in response to ACP compared to native ACPR. Relatedly, a significantly increased response to AKH was observed in the receptor chimera combining selected modifications in all three ECLs compared to native ACPR. Hence, the particular residues essential for ACP ligand interaction were identified due to the detrimental effect that occurred in ACPR activation after the selective modification of crucial residues localized within the three extracellular domains of the receptor. These data provide key insight into how these two closely related neuropeptidergic systems maintain functional independence in the mosquito A. aegypti as well as other insects.


Although school dropout remains an important policy issue and has generated considerable research, little of this research has examined dropout as a measure of school performance. Even less attention has been paid to student turnover, another, related measure of how well schools are keeping students enrolled. This study examined the distributions of both dropout and turnover rates among a large sample of U.S. high schools and tested a series of models to explain these differences, using data from the NELS High School Effectiveness Study and non linear multilevel modeling. The results revealed substantial variability in school dropout and turnover rates among the high schools. Moreover, consistent with other work in this area, much of the variation in school dropout and turnover rates could be attributed to differences in the background characteristics of the students. Yet student composition, school resources, and school processes-factors that policy makers and educators control-also influenced dropout and turnover rates


ZnO:Ag films were prepared by rf sputtering on Si substrates. A detailed study on as-grown and annealed films was carried out using x-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicate that the film crystalline quality and the Ag doping efficiency were both influenced by oxygen in the sputtering and annealing atmosphere. The optimum conditions are found. Ultraviolet and green emissions of annealed ZnO:Ag films were observed at room temperature. Photoluminescence results show that oxygen in annealing atmosphere reduces the deep-level defects in ZnO:Ag and increases the film quality.


We demonstrate single- and double-gate synaptic operations of a thin-film transistor (TFT) with double-gate stack consisting of an Al-top-gate/SiOx/TaOx/n-IGZO on a SiO2/n+-Si-bottom-gate substrate. This synaptic TFT exhibits a tunable drain current, mimicking synaptic weight modulation in the biological synapse, upon repeatedly applying gate and drain voltages. The drain current modulation features are analog, voltage-polarity dependently reversible, and strong with a dynamic range of multiple orders of magnitude (∼104). These features occur as a consequence of the changes in mobility of the IGZO channel, gate insulator capacitance, and threshold voltage. The drain current modulation responsive to the timing of the voltage application emulates synaptic potentiation, depression, paired-pulse facilitation, and memory transition behaviors depending on the voltage pulse amplitude, width, repetition number, and interval between pulses. The synaptic motions can be realized also by a double-gate operation that separately tunes the channel conductance by top-gate biasing and senses it by bottom-gate biasing. It provides the modulated synaptic weight with a wide level of synaptic weight through the read condition using a bottom-gate stack without read-disturbance. These results verify the potential application of TaOx/IGZO TFT with single- and double-gate operations to artificial synaptic devices.


The efficacy of liquid smoke from oilpalm empty fruit bunch in suppressing the development of fungus. Fungi that have been grown on maize seed were Aspergillus niger, A. flavus and Aspergillus sp. From those species, A. niger is important species because of its toxigenic characteristic on agricultural product. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of oilpalm empty fruit bunch liquid smoke in suppressing the development of the fungus. This research was conducted in several steps i.e. pyrolisis of liquid smoke, analysis of liquid smoke content, and efficacy test of liquid smoke as antifungal. Agar media used was PDA (potato dextrose agar) and concentration of liquid smoke was 0, 1, 2, and 3% (v/v). The results indicated that the liquid smoke inhibited the fungal growth. The highest result was on liquid smoke with temperature pyrolisis of 400 and 450oC and concentration 3% with average value of 100%. The contents of organic fraction of liquid smoke, such as acid and phenol might be responsible for the difference in antifungal activities among this liquid smoke.


We introduce a wide class of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes, large enough to include LDPC codes over finite fields, rings, or groups, as well as some nonlinear codes. A belief-propagation decoding procedure with the same complexity as for the decoding of LDPC codes over finite fields is also presented. Moreover, an encoding procedure is developed


How to generate multi-view images with realistic-looking appearance from only a single view input is a challenging problem. In this paper, we attack this problem by proposing a novel image generation model termed VariGANs, which combines the merits of the variational inference and the Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). It generates the target image in a coarse-to-fine manner instead of a single pass which suffers from severe artifacts. It first performs variational inference to model global appearance of the object (e.g., shape and color) and produces coarse images of different views. Conditioned on the generated coarse images, it then performs adversarial learning to fill details consistent with the input and generate the fine images. Extensive experiments conducted on two clothing datasets, MVC and DeepFashion, have demonstrated that the generated images with the proposed VariGANs are more plausible than those generated by existing approaches, which provide more consistent global appearance as well as richer and sharper details.


We've rewritten OpenLayers from the ground up with the goal of offering a powerful, high-performance library leveraging the latest in web technologies. This talk will present the latest advances of the library, focusing on aspects that make OpenLayers 3 stand out. OpenLayers 3, for example, uses technologies, techniques and algorithms that enable high-quality and high-performance vector rendering. Come learn about the optimizations and techniques OpenLayers 3 uses internally, and how you can leverage them in your next web-mapping applications.


Background—It is unclear whether teaching status or day of discharge influences outcomes after a heart failure hospitalization. Methods and Results—We evaluated adults discharged after a heart failure hospitalization between 1999 and 2009 in Alberta, Canada. The primary outcome was death or nonelective readmission 30 days postdischarge. Of 12 216 patients discharged from teaching hospitals and 12 157 patients from nonteaching hospitals, 20 524 (84%) discharges occurred on weekdays. Although they had greater comorbidity and used more healthcare resources before their heart failure hospitalization, patients discharged from teaching hospitals exhibited shorter lengths of stay (adjusted ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80–0.86) and significantly lower rates of death or readmission in the 30 days after discharge than those discharged from nonteaching hospitals (17.4% versus 22.1%; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.83; 95% CI, 0.77–0.89). Patients discharged on weekdays were older and had greater comorbidity, yet exhibited significantly lower rates of death or readmission at 30 days than those discharged on weekends (19.5% versus 21.1%; aHR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.80–0.94). Compared with weekend discharge from a nonteaching hospital, 30-day death/readmission rates were lower for weekday discharge from a nonteaching hospital (aHR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.77–0.94), weekend discharge from a teaching hospital (aHR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.69–0.92), and weekday discharge from a teaching hospital (aHR, 0.71, 95% CI, 0.63–0.79). Conclusions—Patients discharged from teaching hospitals or on weekdays exhibited better outcomes despite having higher risk profiles. Future studies should focus on distinguishing which discharge processes differ between teaching and nonteaching hospitals and between weekdays and weekends to define those that optimize patient outcomes.


The characteristics of low pressure plasma produced by a gas discharges lie in that the energy of the electrons are much higher than that of the heavy particles in the system. In this paper, the low-pressure plasma treatment technology for the environmental contaminants was synthetically studied, and the reaction processing and mechanism between the low-pressure plasma and the environmental contaminants were theoretically analyzed. At last, the prospects and existing problems on the application of low-pressure plasma in the field of environmental protection were discussed.


Abstract This article outlines challenges facing gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered employees at the workplace because of a lack of federal legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. A conceptual framework, PIE, is offered which addresses the protection, inclusion and equity issues which must be considered in order to create a safe and productive working environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered employees. Additionally, attitudes, knowledge and skills are described which a practitioner would need to acquire, so as to become culturally competent in working with sexual minority employees.


Introduction The Association of American Medical Colleges surveys graduating medical students regarding the persistent prevalence of learning environment concerns. This training module is designed to increase awareness of appropriate and inappropriate behaviors in the clinical learning environment among medical professionals and trainees. Methods An introductory PowerPoint presents the types of inappropriate behaviors that may be observed in the clinical learning environment along with institution-specific mechanisms for reporting such behaviors. We have also created six vignettes depicting various scenarios that trainees may encounter. The vignettes are presented in both text and video format and may be used in any combination. The entire module consisting of the PowerPoint presentation and the case studies can be delivered in 90 minutes to a large group of learners. Learners are divided into smaller groups of six to eight for discussions. The presentation and discussion can be done by a single or multiple facilitators. The target audience is primarily medical professionals and trainees at various levels of clinical exposure. Results Since implementation of this training module at our institution, awareness of what constitutes mistreatment and how to report it has increased to nearly 100%. Representative institutional responses are provided for each vignette. Discussion This training module can be presented to medical students, residents, and faculty at different stages of their professional development. We have enhanced learner awareness of what constitutes mistreatment and how to report these events. We offer these educational materials for other institutions to adapt and use in their specific institutional contexts.


Recently, deep breathing exercise(DBE) is used as a non- pharmacological
adjunct in the treatment of hypertension, anxiety and diabetes mellitus. The present
study was undertaken in 146 student volunteers, doing the first year M.B.B.S
course in Tirunelveli Medical College, Tirunelveli in the adolescent age group
(17-19 years). The aim was to study the effects of deep breathing exercise on the
cardiopulmonary function and to assess the anxiety level by pretest and post-test
technique in those individuals, who were trained for doing deep breathing exercise
for a period of 12 weeks. The cardiopulmonary parameters include pulse rate(/min)
, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) and FVC, FEV1, FEV1/ FVC, PEF
at the beginning prior to the DBE, and at the end of 4, 8, and 12 weeks; and
anxiety level in terms of Brief Patient Health Questionnaire (English) before and
after DBE. The lung parameters were carried out with a computerized
spirometer—Super Spiro. The various data was collected, tabulated, and
statistically analysed and all the parameters were found to be highly significant
(p<0.001). Results indicate that, regular practice of DBE increases parasympathetic
activity and lung compliance. To conclude, this study reveals the usefulness of
deep breathing exercise as non-pharmacological adjunct in reducing the anxiety
among the students and improving the efficacy of pulmonary and cardiovascular
functions.


This paper presents a robust assessment of debond in a glass fibre-reinforced polymer composite structure with L-stiffener attachment. Towards this, the ultrasonic guided wave (GW) propagation based laboratory experiments have been carried out on a stiffened composite panel with piezoelectric transducers for the excitation of GWs and a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer for sensing the GW propagation. To study the changes caused by the stiffener and debond a signal processing based multi-point analysis has been carried out. The proposed methodology consists of two steps. Step 1 using the full wavefield root mean square energy map-based approach to check the presence of debond. Step 2 using point-wise measurements to study debond localization and size estimation using a baseline free signal coefficient difference algorithm (SCDA). The proposed processing approaches are applied for an in-depth analysis of the experimental signals that provide information about the interaction of GWs with stiffener and debond. The mentioned approaches take advantage of the asymmetry caused by the damage. For the applied SCDA methodology there is no need for full-wavefield measurements, healthy case measurements, as only a few measurement points can be enough for the assessment of stiffener debond in such structures.


Biogeographical patterns of animal body size and the environmental and evolutionary mechanisms that may be driving them have been broadly investigated in macroecology, although just barely in ectotherms. We separately studied two snake clades, Viperidae and Elapidae, and used phylogenetic eigenvector regression and ordinary least squares multiple regression methods to perform a global grid-based analysis of the extent at which the patterns of body size (measured for each species as its log10-transformed maximum body length) of these groups are phylogenetically structured or driven by current environment trends. Phylogenetic relatedness explained 20% of the across-species size variation in Viperidae, and 59% of that of Elapidae, which is a more recent clade. Conversely, when we analysed spatial trends in mean body size values (calculated for each grid-cell as the average size of its extant species), an environmental model including temperature, precipitation, primary productivity (as indicated by the global vegetation index) and topography (range in elevation) explained 37.6% of the variation of Viperidae, but only 4.5% of that of Elapidae. These contrasted responses of body size patterns to current environment gradients are discussed, taking into consideration the dissimilar evolutionary histories of these closely-related groups. Additionally, the results obtained emphasize the importance of the need to start adopting deconstructive approaches in macroecology. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 98, 94-109. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: Bergmann's rule - ectotherms - interspecific variation - model selection - niche conservatism - phylogenetic eigenvector regression - snakes.


In plants, flowering is triggered by endogenous and environmental signals. CONSTANS (CO) promotes flowering of Arabidopsis in response to day length. Four early target genes of CO were identified using a steroid-inducible version of the protein. Two of these genes, SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CO 1 (SOC1) and FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), are required for CO to promote flowering; the others are involved in proline or ethylene biosynthesis. The SOC1 and FT genes are also regulated by a second flowering-time pathway that acts independently of CO. Thus, early target genes of CO define common components of distinct flowering-time pathways.


Recent data has demonstrated that fatty acid metabolism plays a critical role in the hypothalamic regulation of food intake and the evidence is as follows. Circulating long chain fatty acids act as nutrient surplus signals in the hypothalamus. On addition, fatty acid synthesis pathway enzymes, such as fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and its upstream regulator, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) are regulated by nutritional and hormonal stimuli. Very importantly, current evidence also indicates that fatty acid metabolism pathway may be a potential target for obesity treatment. In this sense, it has been demonstrated that pharmacological inhibition of FAS results in profound decrease in food intake and body weight in rodents. These anorectic actions are mediated by the modulation of hypothalamic neuropeptide systems, through a malonyl-CoA dependent mechanism. In this review, we recapitulate what is known about hypothalamic fatty acid metabolism and the regulation of feeding, with particular interest in a specific FAS inhibitor, C75, which has been recently patented as a potential drug for adipose


A capillary gas liquid chromatography method was established for the routine determination of fatty acid profiles from washed erythrocyte membranes. Only the five major fatty acids found in erythrocytes (palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acids) had acceptable precision (CVs <10·0%) for use in establishing quantitative differences between groups of individuals. Reference values were established for the relative amounts of these five fatty acids in adults. Significant alterations in the relative concentrations of oleic and arachidonic acids were found after storage at +4°C for 24 h, which has important implications in the study of changes in erythrocyte fatty acids in cancer and diabetes.


In this paper, a control strategy is proposed for gait generation for a two-legged humanoid robot. The two-legged robot is assumed as a 3-dimensional robot with 5-links. Gait generation is performed by assuming motions in the saggital and lateral planes. Dynamic model of the robot is obtained by using MATLABreg/SimMechanics Toolbox. A fuzzy logic controller (FLC) is established for gait generation. The rule-base of the controller is optimized offline by using artificial neural network (NN). The neural networks are trained by using the reference joint trajectories obtained from clinical gait analysis (CGA) [13].


Non-classical virtual knots may have upper and lower quandles which are not isomorphic. We exploit this property to define quandle difference invariants, which can detect non-classicality by comparing the numbers of homomorphisms into a finite quandle from a virtual knot's upper and lower quandles. The invariants for small-order finite quandles detect non-classicality in several interesting virtual knots. We compute the difference invariant with the six smallest connected quandles for all non-evenly intersticed Gauss codes with four crossings. For non-evenly intersticed Gauss codes with four crossings, the difference invariants detect nonclassicality in 86% of codes which have non-trivial upper or lower counting invariant values.


Voting is an important aspect for democratic countries. Elections decide which candidate is capable and also decides the future of that country therefore elections should be as transparent as possible and should have high level of security. But the existing voting system has some flaws like time consuming process because voter has to wait in queue for casting their vote also there is lesser security in present voting system. Due to this, inclination of voters is decreasing towards voting and voting percentage decreases. To overcome these issues and to improve the existing voting system we are designing online voting system using android application which will give better system security and vote casting become less time consuming process and it will provide better results. Voter can cast vote remotely from anywhere in the country with the help of an android device and voting application on his device. Voters must have internet connection on their android device to cast vote from remote place. Android application will be compatible with almost all the android devices so that every voter should get benefit of online voting system. It has higher level of security as it has two stage authentication technique i.e. Facial recognition and One Time Password (OTP). Voter data that is his facial images and voter id will be stored on the database. Verification process is done by server itself. Facial image of voter will fetched by android application which will be then forwarded to server for further verification, also thereafter One Time Password will be provided to the voter on his registered mobile number for further verification process for vote casting. Voter is allowed to cast his vote after successful verification with facial recognition and One Time Password. Results of election will be displayed on individual voter's device in terms of notification and voter will get updates about election to enhance the system performance.


Highly sensitive detection of DNA is of great importance for the detection of genetic damage and errors for the diagnosis of many diseases. Traditional highly sensitive organic electrochemical transistor (OECT)-based methods mainly rely on good conductivity materials, which may be limited by complex synthesis and modification steps. In this work, DNA biosensor based on OECT and hybridization chain reaction (HCR) signal amplification was demonstrated for the first time. Au nanoparticles were electrochemically deposited on the Au gate electrode to increase the surface area. Then, the HCR products, long negatively charged double-stranded DNA, were connected to the target by hybridization, which can increase the effective gate voltage offset of OECT. This sensor exhibited high sensitivity and even 0.1 pM target DNA could be directly detected with a significant voltage shift. In addition, it could discriminate target DNA from the mismatched DNA with good selectivity. This proposed method based on HCR in DNA detection exhibited an efficient amplification performance on OECT, which provided new opportunities for highly sensitive and selective detection of DNA.


Maintaining an increasing flow of income to rural farmers is a challenge to success of poverty alleviation programmes in developing economies, due to risks and uncertainties that characterize agricultural activities. The study thus, evaluated farming systems and other informal insurance measures used by farmers for optimum farm income in rain forest zone of Nigeria. Fifty farmers were randomly selected from Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Data collected through structured questionnaires and interview schedules were analysed using net farm income analysis, Pearson correlation, and two way ANOVA techniques. Results showed a positive correlation between number of sources of risks and uncertainties perceived by farmers and strategies employed to prevent their effects. The two way ANOVA showed that farmers who cultivated plantation crops, food crops, reared poultry and small ruminants have more income than those who
do not. It also showed that adoption of risk management techniques, marketing strategies, souring of microcredit and improving information sources simultaneously, ensured higher income. Recommendations include encouraging farmers to adopt the most profitable farming systems and informal insurance measures as well as provision of more micro-finance facilities to rural people. Keywords : Agriculture; Risks and Uncertainties; Informal Insurance; Income. Nigeria Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences Vol. 5 (1) 2007: pp. 53-63


The Tanzimat-i Hayriye , or "Auspicious Reorderings," was a period of sustained legislation and reform that modernized Ottoman state and society, contributed to the further centralization of administration, and brought increased state participation in Ottoman society between 1839 and 1876. Its antecedents lay in the passion for "ordering" ( nizam ) that had guided the efforts of Gazi Hasan Pasa and Halil Hamit Pasa during the reign of Abdulhamit I (1774–1789) as well as those of Selim III and Mahmut II. It was the latter who made the Tanzimat possible by extending the scope of Ottoman government far beyond its traditional bounds to include the right and even the duty to regulate all aspects of life and changing the concept of Ottoman reform from the traditional one of attempting to preserve and restore the old institutions to a modern one of replacing them with new ones, some imported from the West. The successes as well as the failures of the Tanzimat movement in many ways directly determined the course reform was to take subsequently in the Turkish Republic to the present day. Leading the Tanzimat were Mahmut's sons, Abdulmecit I (1839–1861) and Abdulaziz (1861–1876), whose reigns encompassed the entire period and who provided the context in which the Tanzimat bureaucrats could and did proceed at their work. The Accession of Abdulmecit I The beginnings of the new reign were hardly auspicious. The old warrior Mehmet Husrev Pasa, who had fallen out of favor in Mahmut's later years, used his position as head of the Supreme Council ( Meclis-i Vâlâ ) to gain influence over his young and inexperienced heir-apparent, Abdulmecit, and planned to use the new regime to regain power.


For a case of dissecting vertebral artery aneurysm (DVAA) in a dominant vertebral artery (VA) or posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA)-involving lesion, stent-assisted coil embolization (SACE) is an effective technique to preserve blood flow of the VA. A 41-year-old man presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Angiography demonstrated DVAA on the left VA just distal to the PICA, and the right VA was thinner than the left. For this case, SACE was performed to preserve the left VA and PICA. On the 10th day, angiography showed recurrence of the dissection. The dissected portion had thickened and extended to both distal and proximal sides involving the PICA origin and proximal portion to the PICA. A second endovascular embolization was performed and the recurrent dissecting aneurysm was embolized including the main VA cavity. In cases of DVAA, there is a possibility of recurrence after SACE, if a dissecting cavity remains unembolized. Therefore, total embolization is necessary under close observation from multiple angles, including the down-the-barrel view.


Target resolution involves the recognition of a particular target in an arbitrary target environment. While pulse compression methods have solved the problem of separating two closely spaced targets of about the same cross section, this separation is usually accomplished at the expense of introducing "sidelobes" in the matched filter response, which may mask weak targets and prevent their detection altogether. The paper investigates the nature of the constraints on combined range and range rate resolution in a matched filter radar and establishes a clear tie between the uncertainty relation and the practical limitations on the resolution performance of radar. It is found that, in general, an optimum radar waveform for target resolution cannot exist. Radar signal design for target resolution consists of matching the waveform to the characteristics of the target environment, and a signal can be optimum only in that it achieves the best match. These findings are illustrated by examples of matching the radar waveform to a given target environment.


Library resources for students in Brand Management at the University of South Alabama. [Originally created by Marty Branch, Business Librarian]


metabolism contributed by Klein. The section on generalized disorders of the skeleton by Ferguson, although using some terms unfamiliar to British readers is stimulating and pursues an aetiological theme convincingly and with conviction. There is a balanced review of indications for treatment in cerebral palsy and when surgical measures are mentioned emphasis is on the few well-tried and successful procedures such as triple arthrodesis, and even these are discussed in a cautious way. The many operations described which have a theoretical rather than a practical application are rightly left out. The illustrations are excellent and help both to clarify and amplify the text. The bibliography is well chosen and affords a good introduction to further reading in those subjects which in a book of this nature must be covered briefly. This book should be in the library of every orthopaedic and paediatric hospital and department, but its price, £6, will probably exclude it from the personal collection of many paediatricians and surgeons. This is a pity.


There are numerous benefits associated with integrating hypermedia applications into teaching and learning environments. However, simply adding a hypertextual component does not ensure increased success in teaching or learning. Various issues can transform hypermedia into a constraint rather than an enabler of learning. For instance, problems occur when users are new to either hypermedia environments or the topic of study in which the hypermedia is integrated. We argue that a web-based database can act as an intermediary in the integration of hypermedia applications into learning environments. In this paper, we describe the reasons for using a web-based database as well as stages of implementation. We conclude with two examples of projects that utilize databases in hypermedia learning environments as well as methods for the development of database-driven hypermedia environments.


Wireless mesh networks are an emerging paradigm for future broadband wireless access networks, with manyapplication areas ranging from content distribution over community networking and providing backhaul networking for sensor devices. In wireless mesh networks, clients connect to wireless routers which are equipped with one or more wireless cards and relay the packets over the wireless links towards internetgateways or the destination. Peer-to-Peer applications are an important class of applications which contributes nowadays to the majority of internet traffic. Therefore, it is important to provide high capacity in the mesh network to support them. However, the capacity of wireless mesh networks depends on many factors such as network topology and size, traffic volume and pattern, interfaces per node and channel assignment scheme used, modulation schemes, routing approaches, etc. In this paper, we develop an analytical framework which allows to estimate theachievable capacity of a wireless mesh network when peer-to-peer applications download many flows simultaneously. The model is based on the collision domain concept and incorporates various channel assignment, replication and peer selection strategies. We investigate the achievable capacity for various scenarios and study the impact of different parameters such as the number of channels or radios used


ABSTRACT Construction projects may be procured by various means: design-build (DB), design-bid-build (DBB), construction management at risk (CM-at risk), and integrated project delivery (IPD), among many others. Each approach must be considered in selecting the most appropriate procurement strategy for any specific project. Thus, in making that choice, a selection approach along with selection criteria need to be considered. This study seeks to reassert clarity by consolidating the available literature on factors impacting project delivery selection and presenting a definitive, comprehensive list of those factors. The approach relies on systematic analysis. An initial retrieved 224 papers across 53 journals was reduced to 45 papers relevant to construction projects. These each offered between four to 39 factors. An examination and rationalization of themes distilled to a definitive 22 criteria and 35 sub-criteria. Chief among these, in descending order of reported frequency, were: owner related issues, contractor issues, time, cost, quality, contract disputes, risk, market conditions, regulation, complexity, innovation, scope, site, community support, project size, project type, resource availability, natural disasters, political impact, sustainability, culture, and safety. The factors will vary project-to-project, and a discussion of the impacts of these factors on the project delivery method selection is offered.


An automated imaging system was developed to identify and sort annual canarygrass seeds with the glabrous trait in order to screen bulk amounts of seed to segregate populations for this desirable trait. Glabrous seed is preferred since it does not have the irritating silica hairs that pubescent seeds do. Glabrous seeds may also have potential as a food product. The automated system inspected seeds at a rate of approximately four seeds per second (~100 g/h) and had an average accuracy of 90%. The system performed consistently over time across five different cultivars from two growing seasons at four different locations. Cost for all of the parts in the system was approximately $2500, and therefore, was affordable for breeding programs developing glabrous canaryseed and perhaps other glabrous seeds.


The effect of inorganic fertilizer (NPK) on earthworm population was studied for two years (20022004) under different plantations at Sakawrtuichhun (SKT) and Pachhunga University College (PUC) agroforestry sites in Mizoram, north-eastern state of India. Five species of earthworms, viz. Drawida sp., Metaphire houletti (Perrier), Perionyx excavatus (Perrier), Perionyx macintoshi (Stephenson) and Eutyphoeus mizoramensis (Julka et al.) under three families were identified in the study sites. Detailed study was carried out under different soil strata and on different age group of earthworms in plantations like maize+Leucena leucocephala (ML) and pine apple+citrus+Leucena leucocephala (PCL). Doses of inorganic fertilizer treatment were given as per state agriculture department recommendation. Earthworms were collected from five random sampling sites at monthly intervals by hand sorting method in each replicate. The most versatile species was found to be Drawida species. An epigeic species, P. excavatus showed significant population variation between NPK treatment and control in both study sites. The one-way ANOVA showed positive impacts of NPK fertilizer treatment on earthworm population. Four species of earthworms excluding the anecic E. mizoramensis showed a significant variation between the two treatments in PCL plantations of PUC. The uppermost stratum (0-10 cm) seemed to be the most affected by fertilizer treatment among the three strata. The Juvenile and immature worms were found to be most influenced by NPK application. The impact of NPK application on earthworm population was greater in PCL plantation compared to ML plantation.


In the recent past, the possibility to use a superconducting trap confining a hot and dense plasma as a tool to investigate radioactivity in astrophysical scenarios has been proposed. Making possible these kind of unprecedented measurements is the main aim of the PANDORA (Plasmas for Astrophysics Nuclear Decays Observation and Radiation for Archaeometry) project. In this context, it is planned to build a compact and flexible magnetic plasma trap where plasma reaches an electron density n e ∼ 1011–1013 cm−3, and an electron temperature, in units of kT, kT e ∼ 0.1–30 keV. The setup is conceived to be able to measure, for the first time, nuclear β-decay rates in stellar-like conditions in terms of ionization states. In this paper, the design study of a mm-wave polarimeter for the PANDORA plasma line-integrated electron density measurement is presented. The paper highlights the method of this type of measurements for the first time proposed for a magneto-plasma trap which represents an "intermediate" case between the ultra-compact plasma ion sources and the large-size thermonuclear fusion devices. Preliminary measurements at scaled microwave frequencies have carried out both on a "free-space" setup by using a wire-grid polarizer and a rotable Ka-band OMT + horn antennas system, and on a compact trap (called Flexible Plasma Trap) installed at INFN-LNS and used as PANDORA down-sized testbench are described. The polarimeter technique will support β-decay investigation by simultaneous measurements of the total plasma density, which is crucial to carefully evaluate the decay-constant and to extrapolate the laboratory observed data to the astrophysical scenarios. Moreover, this work proposes to adopt an electromagnetic inverse-scattering-based technique-based method to retrieve the electron density profile along the probing antennas line-of-sight. Numerical results of this so-called "inverse profilometry" are also shown.


Chemoresistance is a complex mechanism, involving various biological pathways. Also, chemoresistance is a major cause of cancer treatment failure. Cancer stem cell (CSC) in solid cancer has recently identified, but its role in solid organ tumour is not clearly documented. However, research data supported that CSC may involve in carcinogenesis, invasion and metastasis, as well as resistance to various form of chemotherapy. Understanding more how CSCs involve in chemoresistance would enhance our knowledge and thus would lead us to the possibly newly developed cancer treatment.


We report on the first common volume ground‐based and space measurements of the mesospheric front in noctilucent clouds (NLCs). The detailed ground‐based observations were performed with automated digital cameras located at the Athabasca University Geophysical Observatory (Canada) on the night of 29–30 June 2012, while simultaneous space measurements were conducted onboard the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics satellite using the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry instrument. The large temperature difference of 20–25 K between two different air masses at about 85 km altitude was responsible for the front jump separating the area filled with NLCs from the area with no NLCs. The front jump (soliton) had a pronounced elevation of 12 km up to the altitude of 96 km relative to the undisturbed NLC layer located between 84.5 and 86.3 km. Considering present and previous ground‐based measurements of the NLC height, we conclude that altitude of 96–97 km is the upper limit of possible heights of NLCs.


Abstract : This report describes the program undertaken for the further development, assembly, and testing of the XM36E1 Fuze Setter. The program included the fabrication, test, and delivery of five First Article Acceptance Sample (FAAS) and ten preproduction units that are designed to set the XM587E2/ XM724 Electronic Time Fuzes from 0.2 to 199.9 sec in 0.1-sec increments. Setting is accomplished in less than 1 sec with function mode and desired function time selected by means of bidirectional toggle switches on the fuze setter. A readout display indicates the set time. The fuze setter is battery powered and requires no field maintenance except recharging of the battery. Design features incorporated in the fuze setter include self-checking test capability, indication of low battery voltage and the capability of interrogating a fuze to determine its time setting. The circuit configuration employs state-of-the-art components, most of which are available on an off-the-shelf basis, which minimize power consumption. Packaging of the fuze setter allows hand held operation and permits functioning in an artillery ground environment. System tests demonstrate that the system complies with the specific technical requirments, while withstanding selected environmental conditions.


Hypermethylation of regulatory sequences at the locus of the pi-class glutathione S-transferase gene GSTP1 was detected in 20 of 20 human prostatic carcinoma tissue specimens studied but not in normal tissues or prostatic tissues exhibiting benign hyperplasia. In addition, a striking decrease in GSTP1 expression was found to accompany human prostatic carcinogenesis. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-GSTP1 antibodies failed to detect the enzyme in 88 of 91 prostatic carcinomas analyzed. In vitro, GSTP1 expression was limited to human prostatic cancer cell lines containing GSTP1 alleles with hypomethylated promoter sequences; a human prostatic cancer cell line containing only hypermethylated GSTP1 promoter sequences did not express GSTP1 mRNA or polypeptides. Methylation of cytidine nucleotides in GSTP1 regulatory sequences constitutes the most common genomic alteration yet described for human prostate cancer.


Background: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential to child growth and development. Objective: To assess the effect of PUFAs-fortified infant formula on lipid profile, growth and micronutrient status in children 12 to 30 months old. Methods: This study is a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. Two study groups were assessed: (a) milk-based infant formula with micronutrients and PUFAs (PUFAs) and (b) milk-based infant formula with micronutrients, no PUFAs added (Non-PUFAs). Children received prepared formula (240 mL) twice a day, according to the color-code assigned to each infant. Anthropometric measurements and venous blood samples were taken at each day-care center at baseline, and again after four months. Total serum lipid extraction was 0.5 mL. Samples were treated and modified by the Folch method and analyzed with gas chromatography. Results: Changes in serum lipid profile (expressed as % FA) between baseline and four months showed a statistically significant increase in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (0.22 vs. −0.07, p < 0.05) and Alpha-Linoleic acid (0.08 vs. 0.02, p < 0.05) in infants who consumed PUFAs-fortified formula compared to Non-PUFAs-fortified formula. Infants increased their length/height-for-age Z-score: median change for the PUFAs group was 0.16 (95% CI = 0.08, 0.28) and 0.23 (95% CI = 0.14, 0.33) for Non-PUFAs, with no differences between groups. Median folate level was significantly higher among the PUFAs group compared to Non-PUFAs: −0.87 (95% CI = −1.38, −0.44) and −3.83 (95% CI = −4.65, −3.03) respectively. Consumption of both supplements was adequate and stable during the intervention. Conclusion: A significant improvement was observed in the lipid profile of children who received the PUFAs-fortified milk-based formula.


Abstract Objective: Subjective well-being is a crucial variable for mental health practitioners. This study examines the influence of therapists' attachment dimensions and self-reported reflective functioning on their perceived well-being. Further, it examines if reflective functioning mediates the association between attachment insecurity and well-being. Method: A total of 416 experienced psychotherapists were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, and completed self-report measures of attachment insecurity, reflective functioning, and well-being. We tested the hypothesized mediation model with path analysis that examined indirect effects. Results: Both attachment anxiety and avoidance dimensions had a significant negative association with perceived well-being with small to medium effects. "Certainty" in reflective functioning had a small positive effect on therapist well-being. Reflective functioning mediated the association between insecure attachment dimensions and well-being, suggesting that therapist's lower ability to mentalize may partially account for the effects of higher attachment insecurity on lower well-being. Conclusion: The well-being of psychotherapists with greater insecure attachment may deserve special attention, and therapists' mentalizing capacities may be targeted by researchers and trainers as a core ability to be cultivated in order to preserve therapists' professional and personal resources.


The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of one night of sleep deprivation on maximal fat oxidation during a graded exercise test. Ten healthy young males underwent two 2-day control and sleep deprivation trials. Participants were allowed normal sleep from 2300 to 0700 for the control trial, whereas they were required to stay awake for 34 h during the sleep deprivation trial. At 1700 on day 2, participants performed a graded exercise test to exhaustion on a treadmill; this allowed us to determine maximal oxygen uptake and maximal fat oxidation. Before and immediately after the graded exercise test, blood samples were collected in order to measure glucose, insulin, free fatty acid, and triglyceride concentrations. Plasma glucose concentrations were significantly higher in the sleep deprivation trial than in the control trial before the graded exercise test. Serum insulin and free fatty acid concentrations were not significantly different between the two trials. Serum triglyceride concentrations were significantly lower in the sleep deprivation trial than in the control trial. The maximal fat oxidation rate, oxygen uptake, and heart rate at maximal fat oxidation intensity, during the graded exercise test, were not significantly different between the two trials. These findings suggest that maximal fat oxidation during graded exercise is unaffected by one night of sleep deprivation.


An ultra-wideband (UWB) filtering-antenna with controllable band notch is reported in this paper. The filtering-antenna consists of a modified monopole antenna and defected microstrip structure (DMS). The monopole antenna is modified using microstrip transition in the feedline and block with a triangular-shape slot on each side of the circular patch to produce wider impedance bandwidth with better return loss. The DMS is constructed using U-shaped slot etched on the feedline to provide band notch and remove WLAN band (5.1–5.8 GHz). A switch is employed in the DMS to control the created band notch. The measured results show that the proposed design exhibits a wide impedance bandwidth with controllable WLAN band rejection, realized peak gain of 4.85 dB and omnidirectional radiation pattern. Therefore, the proposed design is suitable for UWB applications.


Raman spectra of 12 amino acids have bcen recorded using the 6328 Aradiation from a He-Ne laser as exciter. The substances studies are (1) L-arginine,(2) L-cystine,(3) L-glutamic acid,(4) L-glutanztc acid-HCI,(5) Monosodium glutamate,(6) L-glutanzine,(7) Hydroxy-L-proline, (8) L-isoleucine, (9) L-se' me, (10) L-threonine, (11) L-tyroiine and (12) L-valine. Eleven of them have been recorded for the first time. The infra-red spectra of these compounds and also of (13) L-leucine and (14) L-proline have also been recorded in the region 400-4000° cm -I . Some of the infra-red absorption spectra were recorded also at 100°K. The N-H stretching  modes are influenced by hydrogen bonding. Raman lines characteristic of NH 43- and COO - groups have been identified in 'many of the amino acids. It has been shown that the appearance of band at 2100 cm -1 which is assigned to a combination of the torsional oscillation and degenerate deformation of the NH1 groups can also beused a "finger print" for the identification of NH 1 groups in amino acids.


Oxide semiconductors have drawn much attention in recent years due to their outstanding electrical performance, such as relatively high carrier mobility, good uniformity, low process temperature, optical transparency, low cost and especially flexibility. Flexible oxide-based thin film transistors (TFTs) are one of the hottest research topics for next-generation displays, radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags, sensors, and integrated circuits in the wearable field. The carrier transport mechanism of oxide semiconductor materials and typical device configurations of TFTs are firstly described in this invited review. Then, we describe the research progress on flexible oxide-based TFTs, including representative TFTs fabricated on different kinds of flexible substrates, the mechanical stress effect on TFTs and optimized methods to reduce this effect. Finally, an outlook for the future development of oxide-based TFTs is given.


ABSTRACT The past three decades have seen important transformations in family life in Chile: falling marriage and fertility rates and increasing cohabitation and extramarital births. Increasing female employment has weakened the traditional male-breadwinner family. This article provides evidence of the effects of these changes in family living arrangements in Chile and their implications for intergenerational relations. We use 1990, 2000 and 2011 data from the National Socio-economic Characterisation Survey to explore why extended family living is increasingly important for young women in the early stages of family formation. We hypothesise two different processes to explain this increase. Firstly, due to the rise in women's employment, young women need greater assistance from their extended family to reconcile the demands of work and family responsibilities. Secondly, declining marriage rates and rising rates of cohabitation and lone parenthood increase the need for extended family support. Our findings show that family change is the main driver of the rise in extended family living, indicating that intergenerational dependence is often driven by the economic and social support needed by young families. Despite improvements in social welfare and female employment, better-designed housing and work–family reconciliation policies are needed to offer young families an alternative to intergenerational family support.


The Berelekh mammoth graveyard became known following its first scientific description in 1947. Both the "graveyard" and the "archaeological site" were investigated in the early 1970s, and then systematic investigations ended. This article reviews all the available data from a range of sources and provides a complete set of the 36 14C dates so far obtained for the Berelekh geoarchaeological complex. The host deposits of the Berelekh bone bed (or mammoth graveyard) accumulated between 14,000 and 11,000 14C yr B.P., with the most intensive accumulation of bones around 12,300 14C yr B.P. There is almost no chronological overlap between the "graveyard" and "archaeological site" at the same location. Episodes of human habitation near the bone bed, which produced the Late Palaeolithic Berelekh archaeological site, were related to the exploitation of natural mass mammoth accumulation, which was a valuable source of raw material, such as ivory and long bones. The youngest mammoth remains date to 11,800 14C yr B.P. and have no cultural relation to the Dyuktai archaeological culture. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Bovine �-lactoglobulin ( �-lg), consisting of pronounced �-sheet content, have been chosen as a model protein which on prolonged thermal treatment forms large molecular aggregates similar to Alzheimer's type amyloid fibrils. The effects of L-arginine (free base) in thermal aggregation process of �-lg were monitored at varying concentrations. Concentration dependent opposite behaviour has been reported here for the first time where 0.2-0.3 M concentration was optimized as an apparent critical concentration above which arginine acts as a suppressor and at below it behaves as a promoter of aggregation of �-lg. Solubility study and SDS-PAGE pattern followed by densitometric analysis shows this fact. Solution behaviour of arginine and its self assemblyformation were evidenced with the help of circular dichroism (CD) studies. The delocalized pi-pi ( ��� ) type of interaction is proposed to foster the energy stabilization during the attainment of planarity of the molecules accompanied with the self-clustering of arginine molecules.


Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze and compare the cephalometric readings between manual tracings with digital software tracings using Steiner′s analysis. Materials and Methods: The conventional lateral cephalograms of twenty participants were obtained. Six hard tissue landmarks were identified, and Steiner′s analysis was carried out. The radiographs were manually traced, and the readings were recorded. Following this, the radiographs were uploaded in the FACAD digital software for digital tracing. Results: SNA, SNB, lower incisor to NB angle, and linear values show statistically significant differences. The remaining parameters do not show statistical difference. Conclusion: The results show a statistical difference between manual and digital tracing. The variation lies in the difference in identification of the hard tissue landmarks.


Three models of glucose homeostasis are compared in terms of their steady-state dose-response characteristics, how they characterize glucose distribution kinetics, and how they characterize the dynamics of insulin action. The three models [minimal model, AIDA (Automated Insulin Dosage Advisor), and a model by Sorensen] are used to discuss a wider variety of questions related to metabolic modeling. Simulations are performed comparing each model's response to an intravenous glucose tolerance test, with and without incremental insulin responses, to existing data in individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Predicted changes in blood glucose following a subcutaneous bolus of insulin or an incremental increase in basal insulin delivery are simulated. From these results, the models are evaluated as potential candidates for simulating changes in treatment and developing a closed-loop insulin delivery algorithm. While no consensus model is proposed, relevant issues needing to be addressed are highlighted.


A tri-band frequency selective band-stop EMI shield is designed using various concentric rings with each ring resonating at the specific desired frequency. The shield is fabricated using roll-by-roll screen-printing process, making it suitable for large surface architectural shielding applications. The design is designed using full-wave simulation tool and the performance is validated experimentally.


Summary Major risk factors for gallbladder disease include a sedentary lifestyle and a diet rich in refinedsugars. In genetically prone individuals, these two factors lead to an abnormal bile composition, altered gutmicroflora, and hyperinsulinemia, with resulting gallstone formation. As a large percentage of gallbladder patientshave continued digestive complaints following cholecystectomy, the author examines complementary andalternative medicine (CAM) treatments to counteract gallstone formation. Herbal medicine such as turmeric,oregon grape, bupleurum, and coin grass may reduce gallbladder inflammation and relieve liver congestion.Elimination of offending foods, not necessarily 'fatty' foods, is often successful and recommended by many holisticphysicians. Regular aerobic exercise has a beneficial effect on hyperinsulinemia, which is often associated withgallbladder disease. Dietary changes that lower plasma insulin levels, such as a change in dietary fats andsubstitution of unrefined carbohydrates for refined carbohydrates, may also be helpful.a 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.


Background Ideally more patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) will obtain remission if we can predict very early in their disease course (such as by 3 months) who will be in a low disease state in the future (such as at one year) using clinical parameters and adjusting DMARD treatment for those who are not likely to obtain remission. Objectives To determine predictors of 1-year remission in early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) using baseline and 3 months data. Methods The Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort (CATCH) patients were included if baseline, 3 and 12 months data were available. Regression analyses for four different definitions of remission at 12 months were done to determine baseline and 3 months predictors of remission. Results 579 had 12 months data; mean age 52.6 years, disease duration 6.2, 73% were female. The factors at baseline associated with all four remission outcomes at 12 months were age, gender, TJC, physician global assessment (MDGA), patient global assessment (PTGA), HAQ and pain. Baseline ESR was associated with DAS28 remission only and SJC was associated with CDAI and SDAI remission. At 3 months, all four remission definitions were associated with: age, gender, TJC, SJC, MDGA, PTGA, HAQ, pain, ESR and CRP in univariate analyses. In the regression model, variables associated with SDAI remission were MDGA (OR 0.76, p<0.001), pain (OR 0.86, p=0.008), HAQ (OR 0.49, p=0.010) and age (OR 0.98, p=0.043); CDAI remission was associated with MDGA (OR 0.73, p<0.001), pain (OR 0.87, p=0.009), and HAQ (OR 0.52, p=0.013). DAS28 remission was predicted by ESR (OR 0.95, p<0.001), MDGA (OR 0.78, p<0.001), age (OR 0.97, p=0.001), HAQ (OR 0.54, p=0.002) and male (OR 1.99, p=0.007), whereas Boolean remission was associated with PTGA (OR 0.75, p<0.001), MDGA (OR 0.83, p=0.007), and HAQ (OR 0.49, p=0.015). Table: Multivariate Analysis of Predictors of Remission at 12 months using data from 3 months. Conclusions A low MDGA at 3 months was consistently associated with 1-year remission in ERA. Disclosure of Interest T. Choy Grant/research support from: Schulich Research Training Program (SRTP) grant from UWO, V. Bykerk: None Declared, B. Haraoui: None Declared, G. Boire: None Declared, C. Hitchon: None Declared, C. Thorne: None Declared, E. Keystone: None Declared, J. Pope Grant/research support from: The CATCH study was designed and implemented by the investigators and financially supported initially by Amgen Canada Inc. and Pfizer Canada Inc. via an unrestricted research grant since inception of CATCH. As of 2011, further support was provided by Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., United Chemicals of Belgium (UCB) Canada Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Abbott Laboratories Ltd., and Janssen Biotech Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson Inc.).


Summary Amid growing academic and policy interest in the influence of think tanks in public policy processes, this article demonstrates the extent of tobacco industry partnerships with think tanks in the USA, and analyzes how collaborating with a network of think tanks facilitated tobacco industry influence in public health policy. Through analysis of documents from tobacco companies and think tanks, we demonstrate that the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, a network of 449 free market think tanks, acted as a strategic ally to the tobacco industry throughout the 1990s. Atlas headquarters, while receiving donations from the industry, also channeled funding from tobacco corporations to think tank actors to produce publications supportive of industry positions. Thirty‐seven per cent of Atlas partner think tanks in the USA received funding from the tobacco industry; the majority of which were also listed as collaborators on public relations strategies or as allies in countering tobacco control efforts. By funding multiple think tanks, within a shared network, the industry was able to generate a conversation among independent policy experts, which reflected its position in tobacco control debates. This demonstrates a coherent strategy by the tobacco industry to work with Atlas to influence public health policies from multiple directions. There is a need for critical analysis of the influence of think tanks in tobacco control and other health policy sectors, as well as greater transparency of their funding and other links to vested interests. © 2016 The Authors The International Journal of Health Planning and Management Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd


Ultrasonic sensors are widely used in distance measurement for robots. In practice, there is an important problem about the measurement resolution which is the ability to distinguish different targets. This paper is concern about the range resolution of the ultrasonic distance measurement using cross correlation. The highlight model is introduced to describe the resolution playing an important role in measurement. Then the resolution of cross correlation relies on ambiguity function of the signal. At the same time, the phase mismatch effect can be improved by using complex operation. The single bit correlation method can improve measurement error and reduce the computational complexity. The simulation results show that this method is suitable for distance measurement.


States and municipalities have committed over $24 billion in bond issues for land conservation in recent years, yet the structure of the land conservation industry and markets is poorly understood. Using a stated choice experiment survey, we examine the ...


The Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1/nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (KEAP1/NRF2) pathway is well recognized as a key regulator of redox homeostasis, protecting cells from oxidative stress and xenobiotics under physiological circumstances. Cancer cells often hijack this pathway during initiation and progression, with aberrant KEAP1-NRF2 activity predominantly observed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), suggesting that cell/tissue-of-origin is likely to influence the genetic selection during malignant transformation. Hyperactivation of NRF2 confers a multi-faceted role, and recently, increasing evidence shows that a close interplay between metabolic reprogramming and tumor immunity remodelling contributes to its aggressiveness, treatment resistance (radio-/chemo-/immune-therapy) and susceptibility to metastases. Here, we discuss in detail the special metabolic and immune fitness enabled by KEAP1-NRF2 aberration in NSCLC. Furthermore, we summarize the similarities and differences in the dysregulated KEAP1-NRF2 pathway between two major histo-subtypes of NSCLC, provide mechanistic insights on the poor response to immunotherapy despite their high immunogenicity, and outline evolving strategies to treat this recalcitrant cancer subset. Finally, we integrate bioinformatic analysis of publicly available datasets to illustrate the new partners/effectors in NRF2-addicted cancer cells, which may provide new insights into context-directed treatment.


Introduction. Cardiovascular complications are more often observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Available cardiovascular risk scales were developed for general population and provide in sufficiently adequate assessment of the cardiovascular event likelihood. Studying the risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis patients is necessary for timely diagnosis and prevention. Objective : To analyze the incidence of atherosclerotic lesions in the brachiocephalic arteries in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and associations of this pathology with cardiovascular risk factors. Material and Methods . Two hundred and twelve Caucasian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (age of 58.0 years [48.3; 65.0]; Disease Activity Score-28 of 4.96 [3.86; 5.85]) were included in our study. Patients had American College of Rheumatology-defined rheumatoid arthritis (1987 classification criteria). The ratio of women to men was 5.8 to 1. General clinical examination of patients, the identification of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and the determination of disease activity were performed. The atherosclerotic progression was assessed by ultrasonography with carotid intima-media thickness measurement and atherosclerotic plaque detection. All patients gave written informed consent before enrollment into the study. Results . Atherosclerotic plaques were found in 59 patients (27.8%), predominantly in older individuals (66.0 [59.0; 73.0] versus 55.0 years [42.0; 61.0], p<0.001) and in men (51.6 versus 23.8% in women, p=0.001). Atherosclerotic plaques were detected in 46.3% of smokers versus 23.4% of non-smokers (p=0.003). Atherosclerotic plaques were more frequently detected in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (58.3 versus 26.0%, p=0.036), arterial hypertension (41.7 versus 5.0%, p<0.001), angina pectoris (73.1 versus 21.5%, p<0.001), past history of acute cerebrovascular event (83.3 versus 25.9%, p=0.008), and the presence of post-infarction cardiosclerosis (100.0 versus 26.6%, p=0.03). No atherosclerotic plaques were found in 48 non-climacteric women. Except for the level of rheumatoid factor, all parameters of rheumatoid arthritis activity did not demonstrate statistically significant differences between groups with and without atherosclerotic plaques. The intima-media thickness mainly correlated with age (rs=0.633, p<0.001) and was not associated with rheumatoid arthritis activity. After the use of age- and sex-specific ultrasound criteria, the proportion of patients with intima-media thickening increased from 34.9 to 58.0% (p<0.001). Prevalence rates of most cardiovascular risk factors were associated with age and gender. Conclusion . The present study identified the differences between the incidence rates of traditional risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with the corresponding values in world studies and generated comparable results with REMARKA study confirming a significance of studying this question in the context of the Russian population. The results, obtained in this study, improve understanding of the structure of risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and may provide the basis for the algorithm of curation of patient with high cardiovascular risk.


The following case report is that of a laryngeal tumor of the type first described in 1926 by Abrikossoff.1This tumor, presumably composed of immature skeletal muscle elements, has been described variously as myoblastic myoma, granular-cell myoblastoma, myoblastoma, rhabdomyoma, and rhabdyome granulocellulaire. Although such tumors usually occur in sites where striated muscle is found, many have been reported from sites devoid of skeletal muscle. For this reason the exact origin of granular-cell myoblastoma remains obscure.2We are concerned here with a granular-cell myoblastoma of the larynx. In October, 1954, MacNaughtan and Fraser reported the 14th case of granularcell myoblastoma of the larynx and comprehensively reviewed the preexisting literature.3In view of the paucity of reported cases of granular-cell myoblastoma of the larynx, we feel that the present case should be reported. This case was diagnosed and treated at Freedmen's Hospital, Washington, D. C., in 1956. Report


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to detect novel in vitro effects of clopidogrel on platelets by assessment of the following parameters: malondialdehyde, glutathione, nitrite, aggregation response, and expressions of P-selectin, fibrinogen, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, and phosphatidylserine.

METHODS
Platelets were obtained from healthy (n: 9) and hyperlipidemic (n: 9) volunteers. Expressions of P-selectin, fibrinogen, apolipoproteins A1/B and phosphatidylserine with and without clopidogrel were assayed by flow cytometry. Malondialdehyde, glutathione, aggregation and nitrite levels were also assayed.

RESULTS
Without clopidogrel, the baseline values of platelet aggregation, malondialdehyde, and expressions of P-selectin, fibrinogen and phosphatidylserine were significantly higher, whereas nitrite and expression of apolipoproteins A1/B were significantly lower in hyperlipidemics than in the healthy group. In both groups, clopidogrel significantly reduced aggregation and expression of fibrinogen, but it elevated nitrite levels. Clopidogrel significantly decreased P-selectin and phosphatidylserine expression and malondialdehyde but increased expressions of apolipoproteins A1/B only in hyperlipidemics.

CONCLUSION
It seems that clopidogrel has some new in vitro antiplatelet effects. The present study is a basic in vitro study to suggest new insights into the effects of clopidogrel on platelet functions.


Most of what we know about a drug prior to human clinical studies is derived from animal testing. Because animals and humans have substantial differences in their physiology and in their drug metabolism pathways, we do not know very much about the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behavior of a drug in humans until after it is administered to many people. Hence, drug-induced liver injury has become a significant public health problem, and we have a very inefficient drug development process with a high failure rate. Because the human liver is at the heart of these problems, chimeric mice with humanized livers could be used to address these issues. We examine recent evidence indicating that drug testing in chimeric mice could provide better information about a drug's metabolism, disposition, and toxicity (i.e., its "behavior") in humans and could aid in developing personalized medicine strategies, which would improve drug efficacy and safety.


In this professorial lecture Professor O'Regan explores the dual movement of embracing and challenging cultural policy frameworks. Cultural policy development is moving in directions which require cultural policy studies to transform itself in ways which take it beyond cultural and media studies as presently conceived. In response cultural policy studies is opening up to other "disciplines" including intellectual property, administrative and international law, political science, public policy, economics, sociology, art history, strategic management and international relations, gender studies, leisure sport and recreation studies, tourism and town planning. Cultural policy studies is getting as dispersed as the sites cultural policy making is taking place in. With this dispersion comes the imperative for diverse sets of disciplinary engagements. As culture's web grows this will inevitably imply a greater
fragmentation of cultural policy studies. But it is precisely in these diverse disciplinary engagements that cultural policy studies will be productively rejuvenated.


The high rate of drug abuse and trafficking among street children requires special attention in handling it. The solution that can be done in tackling the problem is to empower street children based on social network as P4GN Efforts (Prevention, Eradication, Abuse and Illicit Circulation of Drugs). The method used in this program is a method with creative coaching. This method emphasizes the formation of street children leadership skills as well as build a network of fellow street children. In our implementation, we divide in several stages (1) initial approach, (2) delivery of creative materials about drugs, (3) P4GN simulations (Prevention and Eradication of Abuse and Illicit Circulation of Drugs), (4) evaluation and rewarding. In the implementation, street children enthusiastically follow this program from stage to stage so that the program runs interactively. The results of this program can be seen from the increasing understanding of street children about the dangers of drugs and the actions that must be done as an effort P4GN. This increase of understanding can be shown from the pre-test and post-test results. At the end of the stage, street children who have been cultivated who have criteria as cadres got the title of Satria Anti Drug (SAN).