BACKGROUND
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is not routinely performed for Clostridioides difficile and data evaluating minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) are limited. We performed AST and whole genome sequencing (WGS) for 593 C. difficile isolates collected between 2012-2017 through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infections Program.

METHODS
MICs to six antimicrobial agents (ceftriaxone, clindamycin, meropenem, metronidazole, moxifloxacin, and vancomycin) were determined using the reference agar dilution method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. WGS was performed on all isolates to detect the presence of genes or mutations previously associated with resistance.

RESULTS
Among all isolates, 98.5% displayed a vancomycin MIC ≤ 2 μg/mL and 97.3% displayed a metronidazole MIC ≤ 2 μg/mL. Ribotype 027 (RT027) isolates displayed higher vancomycin MICs (MIC50: 2 μg/mL; MIC90: 2 μg/mL) than non-RT027 isolates (MIC50: 0.5 μg/mL; MIC90: 1 μg/mL) (P < 0.01). No vanA/B genes were detected. RT027 isolates also showed higher MICs to clindamycin and moxifloxacin and were more likely to harbor associated resistance genes or mutations.

CONCLUSIONS
Elevated MICs to antibiotics used for treatment of C. difficile infection were rare and there was no increase in MICs over time. The lack of vanA/B genes or mutations consistently associated with elevated vancomycin MICs suggests there are multifactorial mechanisms of resistance. Ongoing surveillance of C. difficile using reference AST and WGS to monitor MIC trends and the presence of antibiotic resistance mechanisms is essential.


Current evidence suggests that a modulatory action on O(2)-dependent EPO secretion is exerted by the erythroid/precursor cell population in the erythropoietic organs through a negative feedback system. The hypothesis is based on studies of stimulated-EPO secretion performed in mice in whom the erythropoietic rates were either enhanced or depressed in the presence of normal plasma EPO half-lives. Since erythropoietic depression was elicited by cyclophosphamide administration, which could have altered EPO production directly, the aim of the present investigation was to estimate hypoxia-stimulated EPO secretion in a mouse model of functional depressed erythropoiesis induced by exposure to normobaric hyperoxia. Females CF#1 mice aged 70 d were divided into control (C) and experimental (E) groups. The former was maintained in plastic cages in a normal environment, while the latter was placed in an environment of 60% O(2)/40% N(2) in an 85-dm(3) atmospheric chamber with air flow of 1 L/min. Erythropoiesis was evaluated by either 24-h RBC-(59)Fe uptake or iron kinetics performed 3 h after IV injection of a tracer dose of (59)Fe. Both indexes of the red cell production rate were significantly depressed in E mice. Plasma disappearance of exogenous EPO in C mice, as well as in E mice exposed to hyperoxia for 4 d, was estimated by injecting (125)I-rHuEPO intravenously. Linear regression analysis indicated that neither the differences between the slopes of both curves nor the Y-intercepts were significant. Hypobaric hypoxemia was used as stimulus for EPO production. Plasma immuno-EPO titer after a 4-h exposure to hypobaric air was 73% higher in mice with hyperoxia-induced hypoerythropoiesis than in control mice with normal erythropoiesis. Data support the concept that the rate of erythropoiesis, perhaps through the number of the erythroid progenitor/precursor cell population, modulates O(2)-dependent EPO secretion.


The very concept of Public Square as microcosms of urban life and social relations has been transformed dramatically, especially in modern Iran. This article investigates the most dominant foundations, abstract ideas, ideologies and power relations that influenced the Iranian Public Squares' designing. By considering the changing foundations for ideology and power relations, and their impact on urban form, this research follows the history and development of Iranian urbanism. Building on these foundations, it focuses on the transitional history and urban evolution of Iranian public squares through the Politico-religious and modern foundations till the contemporary era. Since the source of power has shifted to a wider mass of people in contemporary era, it can be concluded that designers should consider the social foundations at the time of redevelopment; in other words, the squares needed to be designed for people.


The Medical Journal of Australia ISSN: 0025729X 2 August 2010 193 3 136-137 ©The Medical Journal of Australia 2010 www.mja.com.au Ross Ingram Memorial Essay Competition respected Doctor of Philosophy, writer, and promo Aboriginal issues through my writing. I was full of cu to know the reason for this out-of-the-blue telephon Arrangements were made to meet with Associate P Profess r) Sandra Thompson to discuss her proposi work as an Associate Professor for Cultural Safety in Health Sciences at Curtin University's Centre for wa pe 20 I


OBJECTIVE
To explore the reported impact of regional resettlement of refugees on rural health services, and identify critical health infrastructure for refugee resettlement.

DESIGN
Comparative case study, using interviews and situational analysis.

SETTING
Four rural communities in New South Wales, which had been the focus of regional resettlement of refugees since 1999.

PARTICIPANTS
Refugees, general practitioners, practice managers and volunteer support workers in each town (n = 24).

RESULTS
The capacity of health care workers to provide comprehensive care is threatened by low numbers of practitioners, and high levels of turnover of health care staff, which results in attrition of specialised knowledge among health care workers treating refugees. Critical health infrastructure includes general practices with interest and surge capacity, subsidised dental services, mental health support services; clinical support services for rural practitioners; care coordination in the early settlement period; and a supported volunteer network. The need for intensive medical support is greatest in the early resettlement period for 'catch-up' primary health care.

CONCLUSION
The difficulties experienced by rural Australia in securing equitable access to health services are amplified for refugees. While there are economic arguments about resettlement of refugees in regional Australia, the fragility of health services in regional Australia should also be factored into considerations about which towns are best suited to regional resettlement.


BACKGROUND
While the effect of neurohormones is often studied in congestive heart failure, their role in aortic stenosis needs to be elucidated.

METHODS
54 consecutive patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis without overt heart failure were studied at the age of 64.4 +/- 9.3 yrs with echocardiography, x-ray and catheterization. Levels of circulating atrial natriuretic factor endothelin-1, catecholamines, plasma renin activity, immunoreactive insulin and C-peptide were assessed, related to hemodynamic data and compared to those in 23 healthy controls, aged 59.2 +/- 12.8 yrs.

RESULTS
Patients had significantly higher plasma levels of endothelin-1 (z-value 0.64 +/- 1.19, p = 0.019), atrial natriuretic factor (z-value 2.46 +/- 2.46, p < 0.001) and dopamine (z-value 0.91 +/- 2.33, p = 0.02). Levels of endothelin-1 and ANF positively correlated with mean (r = 0.631, p < 0.001) and wedged pulmonary artery pressures and with left atrial diameter index (r = 0.602, p < 0.001). Endothelin-1 levels correlated negatively with aortic valve area (r = -0.306, p = 0.041). No correlation was found between neurohumoral plasma concentrations and left ventricular mass index.

CONCLUSIONS
In patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis without overt heart failure, elevated plasmatic levels of endothelin-1, atrial natriuretic factor and dopamine were documented. The increase of ET-1 levels is related to pulmonary hypertension and severity of the disease. Left ventricular hypertrophy is not related to neurohormonal levels. Neither circulating system renin-angiotensin nor noradrenaline are activated in these patients.


Purpose – The implementation of the tax amnesty program in Indonesia is expected to increase the intention to comply. However, the effectiveness of the program is likely to depend on the intention of taxpayer compliance. The purpose of this study is to examine differences in the intention of taxpayer compliance based on perceived justice and the taxpayer's attitude of the government. Research methodology – Primary data was obtained through experimental research involving 117 students who were enrolled in the taxation class. To ensure that participants understand their role as taxpayers in an experiment, a role test is performed and this also acts as a test of internal validity. Findings – The results showed that there was a difference in the intention to comply based on perceived justice over the implementation of tax amnesty and taxpayers' attitudes of government. Further analysis indicated that if taxpayers feel justice and have a positive attitude towards the government, it will lead to the highest intention to comply. Research limitations – The relationship between the justice variable on tax amnesty and the intention to comply is also possibly influenced by the existence of other variables such as feelings of disappointment. Therefore, in the future, it is necessary to do a study involving feelings of distress as a moderating variable in the relationship between justice and tax amnesty to comply. Practical implications – The government should continue to improve the performance and taxation system in order to create a positive attitude among taxpayers so that they will eventually comply with their tax obligations. Originality/Value – There are no previous studies that examined the interaction effect between the perceived justice of tax amnesty and taxpayer's attitudes towards the government on intentions to comply.


A 68-year-old man with known hairy cell leukemia (HCL) underwent splenectomy; the spleen weighed only 140 g. Microscopic examination of the spleen revealed no clear diagnostic evidence of HCL, but there was an unusual and suspicious subendothelial lymphoid infiltration of the trabecular veins. Cell suspension studies also were not diagnostic because a monoclonal B-cell population could not be defined. Alternatively, when we focused on the subendothelial infiltrate in the frozen sections prepared for immunohistochemical studies, the findings indicated that the subendothelial cells were monoclonal B-cells (IgG, kappa). Staining with monoclonal antibodies disclosed the phenotype Tac+, Leu-14+, Leu-M5+, B2-, BA-1-, and BA-2-, a phenotype characteristic of HCL. In this case, an unusual but nondiagnostic morphologic finding provided guidance for the correlative immunophenotypic analysis of the same site in frozen sections and thereby allowed a definitive diagnosis.


The Pax-5 gene encodes a B-cell-specific activator protein (BSAP) that plays a key role in B lymphocyte differentiation and embryogenesis. The deregulation of this transcription factor is also linked to B cell malignancies and recently to other cancers. More specifically, the downstream effects of Pax-5 promote cell-cell interactions and mediate the activation of adhesion genes which result in an epithelial phenotypic behavior of human carcinoma cells. To gain a better understanding of Pax-5-mediated gene regulation, we studied available gene expression data in depth and identified several Pax-5 downstream targets. Among these, we found that Pax-5 activity is consistently inversely correlated with the expression of Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 (FAK1). FAK1 is known to enhance migration of cancer cells and promote metastatic dissemination to distant sites. Further analysis looking at genome wide profiling of Pax-5 DNAbinding points to both direct and indirect regulation of FAK1 expression by Pax-5 and its downstream targets. These findings suggest a key role for Pax-5 in phenotypic transitioning during metastasis through the regulation of FAK1 activity.


Japan has the world's highest life longevity, and centenarian patients are no longer rare. However, sufficient information related to centenarians is not available. Herein, we report the case of a 101-year-old centenarian woman who recovered from extreme inactivity and general weakness, mainly through nutritional management at home, to understand instances of nutritional management in centenarians. The patient developed lethargy, with a rapid decline in activity levels and food intake. She was diagnosed with senility by a primary doctor. We concluded that she had no problems with feeding and swallowing and predicted that her motivation to eat had decreased. We planned an intervention that lasted three months. To reduce the risk of aspiration, we paid attention to her posture while eating. To stimulate her appetite, we increased the variety and color of food items. To consider both the texture of food and safety, we changed the form of foods from paste (IDDSI Level 4)-like to solid food of regular size as much as possible. We recommended that the patient consume her favorite sweet between meals to enjoy eating. Two and half months after the initial intervention, the patient's inactivity and general weakness improved dramatically, which was recognized by her willingness to eat, laugh loudly, and hum, although she could not speak clearly. The patient finally was able to have dinner with her family.


Abstract Cutworms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) constitute an important insect pest complex that causes damage to a variety of crops across western Canada and particularly in canola (Brassica napus Linnaeus; Brassicaceae) crops in recent years. However, individual cutworms are very difficult to identify to species based on morphology alone, particularly at the larval stage. Problems with pest identification can lead to difficulties in recommending appropriate management strategies for specific cutworm infestations. In the current study we have developed and applied a single-step multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay, based on the rRNA ITS2 genomic sequence, which can be used to identify, to the species level, individuals of the following five key cutworm species: Agrotis orthogonia Morrison, Euxoa auxiliaris (Grote), Euxoa ochrogaster (Guenée), Feltia jaculifera (Guenée), and Lacinipolia renigera (Stephens). This molecular identification tool will be a valuable asset in agronomic and ecological studies of cutworm infestations in the canola cropping system across western Canada and potentially could be used as a timely identification tool for determining pest infestations to the species level during outbreaks.


In our paper we introduce curricula of on-line courses of programming in Imagine Logo environment. Courses were meant mainly for IT science teachers with small or no experience in programming. We characterize successful participation in the course by following aims: Programmer defines and uses own commands for the turtle; recognizes situations where using parameter in command is appropriate, creates more turtles; changes shape of the turtle to the image or describes the shape by simple drawinglist, changes the behaviour of the turtles; turtles react on events or changing properties of their surroundings, controls turtles by launching processes, uses buttons, sliders and multimedia objects for enriching own projects. Figure 1 Milky Way project We developed prototype of the project which contains all aims mentioned above – Milky Way project. We describe ways that we have chosen to fulfil educational aims. We discuss several examples that we used for constructing basic programmer skills in Imagine – turtle geometry, repetition of commands, definition of own commands, reactions on events and processes for controlling turtle's movement. We tried to develop skill to read and understand unknown code, to analyse solution and to find principles on which solution is based. We consider these skills as essential for teaching of programming. Latter we search for propaedeutic of advanced techniques of programming in Imagine Logo in our courses, especially recursion and object-oriented approach as described in Blaho and Kalaš (2002). We examine final projects of several participants and design alternatives for program. We explore knowledge authors of the programs missed that could help them to reduce their solution. We deduce a few recommendations for teachers'training in Logo programming from our experiences.


This paper is concerned with the H/sub 2/ problem of sampled-data systems with their intersample behavior taken into account. It is well known that the problem reduces to an equivalent discrete-time H/sub 2/ problem, which is always singular. In this paper, we show that if the generalized plant of the original problem satisfies the standard assumptions usually made in the continuous-time H/sub 2/ and H/sub /spl infin// problems, then the reduced problem can actually be solved without any essential difficulties. Namely, the singularity can be circumvented by solving a reduced-order Riccati equation, and the Kalman filter associated with the optimal controller reduces to a minimal-order observer.


The export control and economic sanctions laws are a minefield for U.S. companies that export products and engage in other forms of cross-border transactions. Mistakes are common, even for diligent, well-intentioned exporters. The company suspecting it has exported an item or technology outside of compliance with these complex laws must consider whether to disclose the violation to the relevant federal agency. Although usually not required by law, a voluntary disclosure can be advisable for many reasons, including avoidance or mitigation of penalties. But two things are true about the vast majority of violations: Most do not remotely threaten the national security of the United States and most are unlikely to be independently discovered by the enforcing agency. The would-be discloser is justified in wondering what is the merit-for the company and for the national security-in making a disclosure. In addition, where the company does decide to disclose, it confronts a host a questions, including what should be disclosed, how, to whom, and when to make the disclosure. This article considers these questions in the context of the three primary U.S. export-control and economic sanctions laws: the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), administered by the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC); the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), administered by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS); and the economic sanctions regulations administered by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).


This paper is largely historical in that it reflects on the reasons why the British system of industrial relations was transformed from a system rooted in voluntarism or legal abstentionism to one which became increasingly juridified from the 1960s onwards. Juridification can be understood as a combination of judicial intervention in the arena of industrial conflict and the enactment of substantial legislation in areas previously left to employment contracts between employers and their employees and to non-legally enforceable collective agreements between employers and trade unions. The paper also involves critical reflection on Kahn Freund's conception of collective laissez-faire. It is argued that the concept of collective laissez-faire failed fully to take into account the role that judges have played in the British system of industrial relations. Judges have been able to use the common law to intervene in or disengage from involvement with industrial relations in line with the needs of employers and the state to foster responsible trade unionism whilst simultaneously seeking to restrain trade union militancy. To substantiate this contention the paper focuses on the language used by judges, in the past and in more recent times, in judgments concerned with regulating the organisation of industrial action. In Britain, juridification on the part of the judges has been accompanied and implemented by what can be characterised as a process of judicial mystification of industrial relations. The other main contention of the paper is that, whatever the deregulatory preferences and instincts of the current government, it is not possible for governments to turn back the clock by creating a new form of laissez-faire which eliminates employment rights – be they individual or collective – from the workplace. This is partly because the juridification of workplace conflict must remain the State's preferred mechanism for the resolution of employment disputes; and partly because, in contrast with the past, European law provides an important constraint on a government's ability to deregulate the employment relation. The paper concludes by arguing that the key role for progressive employment lawyers today is to demonstrate the negative consequences of restricting employment rights whilst continuing to promote the case for more extensive and effective collective and individual rights in the future.


We have discovered that all cisplatin resistant (CR) lung cancer cells are less reliant on glycolysis while increasing oxidative metabolism and mitochondrial numbers. Here, we showed that glutamine withdrawal has a detrimental effect on CR cell lines, especially in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) CR cells. We assayed for glutaminase, a key enzyme in glutaminolysis pathway and found a significant decrease in protein expression and activity in all our CR cells (n=8, P 0.05). Since not all CR cells exhibited similar sensitivity to glutamine withdrawal, we further explored other key amino acids which may be used in TCA cycle. We have found that NSCLC-CR lost argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) expression while SCLC-CR showed an increase. ASS is a key enzyme in urea cycle to regenerate arginine. Thus, NSCLC-CR will depend on exogenous arginine for their survival. Moreover, arginine in the urea cycle can be used to generate glutamate via proline pathway using P5CDH (pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase) which may explain why NSCLC-CR are auxotrophic for both arginine and glutamine. To investigate this possibility, we have studied P5CDH expression in all CR cells and their parental cells in complete and glutamine-free media. We have found that NSCLC-CR has significantly less to non-detectable levels of P5CDH and cannot be upregulated upon glutamine deprivation, while its parental cells have higher P5CDH expression which is further upregulated on glutamine deprivation. In contrast, SCLC-CR has significantly higher P5CDH expression compared to its parental cells and both can be upregulated upon glutamine deprivation. To further confirm this finding, we have overexpressed ASS using the pCMV6 vector containing full length ASS cDNA in NSCLC cells (SCASS). These transfected cells were able to withstand arginine free media compared to the NSCLC-CR transfected with empty vector (10% of NSCLC-CR cells were viable after 72hrs in arginine free media compared to 90% of SCASS were still viable). SCASS also took up less glutamine and was able to withstand glutamine free media when compared to NSCLC-CR. Furthermore, SCASS expressed higher levels of P5CDH and was further upregulated upon glutamine withdrawal. Our data demonstrate a complex metabolic network between arginine, proline, and glutamine. The derangement of the key enzymes which are necessary for generation of these amino acids can be exploited for future clinical application to selectively kill cisplatin resistant cells and improve treatment outcome in lung cancer patients. Supported by Department of Veterans Affairs, CDA2 award. Citation Format: Medhi Wangpaichitr, Chunjing Wu, Ying Ying Li, Shumei Chen, Min You, Vy Dinh, Lynn G. Feun, Macus T. Kuo, Niramol Savaraj. Targeting metabolic alteration in cisplatin-resistant lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1428. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1428


Using 3 psychological scales, this study examined the level of emotional intelligence, moral judgment, and leadership of more than 200 gifted high school students who participated in an accelerative academic program or an enrichment leadership program through a university-based gifted institute. Major findings include that on emotional intelligence, gifted males were comparable to students in the age normative sample, while gifted females lagged behind the norm group. Regardless of gender, gifted students had higher scores on adaptability but lower scores on stress management and impulse control ability compared to the normative sample. On moral judgment, gifted students were comparable to the level of individuals with master's or professional degrees, and they showed an above-average level of leadership compared to the normative sample. No differences were found in students' scores on the 3 scales by the type of program (academic versus leadership).


Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is one of the most common causes of poisoning death and its diagnosis requires an elevated carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level. Noninvasive CO saturation by pulse oximetry (SpCO) has been available since 2005 and has the advantage of being portable and easy to use, but its accuracy in determining blood COHb level is controversial. To evaluate the accuracy of SpCO (index test) to estimate COHb (reference test). Systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) studies. Four electronic databases were searched (Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and OpenGrey) on 2 August 2022. All studies of all designs published since the 2000s evaluating the accuracy and reliability of SpCO measurement compared to blood COHb levels in human volunteers or ill patients, including children, were included. The primary outcome was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of SpCO for estimating COHb by blood sampling by modeling receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calculating sensitivity and specificity (primary measures). The secondary measures were to calculate the limits of agreement (LOA) and the mean bias. This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis-DTA 2018 guidelines and has been registered on International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, CRD42020177940). The risk of bias was evaluated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. Twenty-one studies were eligible for the systematic review; 11 could be included for the quantitative analysis of the primary measures and 18 for the secondary measures. No publication bias was found. The area under the summary ROC curve was equal to 86%. The mean sensitivity and specificity were 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI, 0.66–0.85) and 0.83, 95% CI (0.74–0.89), respectively (2089 subjects and 3381 observations). The mean bias was 0.75% and the LOA was −7.08% to 8.57%, 95% CI (−8.89 to 10.38) (2794 subjects and 4646 observations). Noninvasive measurement of COHb (SpCO) using current pulse CO oximeters do not seem to be highly accurate to estimate blood COHb (moderate sensitivity and specificity, large LOA). They should probably not be used to confirm (rule-in) or exclude (rule-out) CO poisoning with certainty.


Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory disorder, which is histopathologically characterized by multifocal inflammatory demyelinating lesions affecting both the central nervous system's white and grey matter. Especially during the progressive phases of the disease, immunomodulatory treatment strategies lose their effectiveness. To develop novel progressive MS treatment options, pre-clinical animal models are indispensable. Among the various different models, the cuprizone de- and remyelination model is frequently used. While most studies determine tissue damage and repair at the histological and ultrastructural level, functional readouts are less commonly applied. Among the various overt functional deficits, gait and coordination abnormalities are commonly observed in MS patients. Motor behavior is mediated by a complex neural network that originates in the cortex and terminates in the skeletal muscles. Several methods exist to determine gait abnormalities in small rodents, including the rotarod testing paradigm. In this review article, we provide an overview of the validity and characteristics of the rotarod test in cuprizone-intoxicated mice.


Dual-rail encoding, return-to-spacer protocol, and hazard-free logic can be used to resist power analysis attacks by making energy consumed per clock cycle independent of processed data. Standard dual-rail logic uses a protocol with a single spacer, e.g., all-zeros, which gives rise to energy balancing problems. We address these problems by incorporating two spacers; the spacers alternate between adjacent clock cycles. This guarantees that all gates switch in every clock cycle regardless of the transmitted data values. To generate these dual-rail circuits, an automated tool has been developed. It is capable of converting synchronous netlists into dual-rail circuits and it is interfaced to industry CAD tools. Dual-rail and single-rail benchmarks based upon the advanced encryption standard (AES) have been simulated and compared in order to evaluate the method and the tool.


In our study 150 referred patients were assessed for the presence of gingival recession and root caries. The mean age of the patients was 40 +/- 9 years. On average they failed 6.8 teeth. Gingival recession was present in all patients, with mean value of 55.5% denuded dental root surfaces, the most frequently expressed on buccal root surfaces. Number of denuded dental root surfaces increases with patient's age. The root caries lesion was found in 75% of patients. Patients had on average 5.7 treated and untreated caries lesions. The number of root caries lesions increases with age of the patients as well. The mean Index of total root caries was 9.4%. Most frequently root caries of lower molars and premolars was found, mostly on the buccal surfaces, rather than on approximal and lingual surfaces.


Abstract:Women's triathlon clothing designer Kristin Mayer established Betty Designs in 2010. Through the brand, Mayer created a visual embodiment of a self-defined sporting femininity that evoked strength and beauty. Mayer's personal struggle to define and defend a gendered aesthetic for women triathletes is at the heart of an oral history recorded for the Women in Triathlon History Project in 2019. A close reading of the Mayer oral history reveals a combination of rehearsed origin scripts, resistance, and discomposure. Considered together, the narrative and performative elements of the oral history raise the possibility of critical agency in female sporting apparel design and also demonstrate that competing feminisms and notions of empowerment combined to contest, shape, and reshape triathlon aesthetics. More broadly, the Mayer oral history reveals the extent to which oral testimonies reflect, negotiate, and craft versions of the pasts in active contributions to present and future discourse.


There is a global trend towards the "rediscovery" of urban centers for capital reproduction purposes. Such an exercise involves high levels of private investment for the development of new spaces, services and dwellings aimed at middle and higher-income segments, thus suggesting a close relationship with the financial phase of urban capitalism. In this context, gentrification theory is currently regarded either as an explanation that allows the development of the field of comparative research, based on generic definitions about the process, or through adopting a post-colonial 'provincial' approach that rejects the very concept of gentrification as a structural narrative that comes from the Global North inapplicable to the Global South. This paper suggests the need to develop an episteme intended to separate factual aspects and explore some key spatial, political, economic and social elements associated with the gentrification phenomenon. Such an exercise is based on the analysis of two cities, Santiago and Mexico City, as well as from an updated theoretical review, referring to other world cities. It is concluded that gentrification processes at planetary level seem to converge and share the same characteristics within a context marked by the greater mobility and aggressiveness of political-financial power.


The effect of thyroid hormones on the reduction in resting metabolic rate by the beta-blocker propranolol has been investigated in young pigs. Oxygen consumption was measured 12 to 20 hr after the last meal in euthyroid and hypothyroid animals on a high or low level of energy intake. The increase in resting metabolic rate in animals on the high energy intake was reduced by propranolol in the euthyroid controls but not in those animals made hypothyroid by methimazole. Thus at least part of the action of propranolol to decrease diet-induced thermogenesis depends on its interaction with thyroid hormones.


Self-sustained vibrations which can appear in mechanical systems often limit the performance of such systems or can even cause failure or damage to such systems. Moreover, different types of vibration can appear in dynamical systems. In order to gain an improved understanding and to predict different types of vibrations which appear in mechanical systems, it is important to understand the causes for such vibrations and the interaction between those vibrations. In this thesis, we address on the one hand friction-induced vibrations in flex- ible mechanical systems, and on the other hand lateral vibrations caused by mass- unbalance in rotor systems, and the interaction between those two types of vibrations. Although a lot of theoretical research has been done on vibrations in flexible rotor systems, a limited number of papers is available which include experimental results on the friction-induced vibrations and on the interaction between different types of vibrations. For this purpose, we have designed and constructed an experimental drill-string set-up which exhibits both types of vibration. The set-up consists of a DC-motor, two rotating (upper and lower) discs, a low-stiffness string, which connects the two discs, and an additional brake at the lower disc. The lower disc can rotate around its geometric center and is also free to move in lateral direction. The configuration of the experimental set-up is representative for many other mechanical systems, in which friction or unbalance can deteriorate the system performance by the appearance of vibrations. For example, when the lower disc is fixed in lateral direction (i.e. when the lower disc only rotates), the system forms a configuration of two masses, coupled by a flexibility, of which one is subject to friction and the other is driven by an actuator. In this context, one can think of set-ups such as printers, pick and place machines, industrial and domestic robots, braking mechanisms and many others. Moreover, when mass-unbalance is present at the lower disc and the disc can move in lateral direction, this configuration can be recognized in drilling systems which are used for exploration of oil and gas, in electrical shavers, in various turbines, pumps, fans and so on. The drill-string set-up is modelled and the parameters of the model are estimated. The comparison between responses of the experimental set-up and estimated model indicates a high accuracy of the obtained parameter estimates. The steady-state behaviour of the drill-string system has been analyzed when various constant input voltages are applied to the DC motor; first, when only torsional and no lateral vi- brations occur and, second, when both torsional and lateral vibrations appear in the system. When analyzing the friction-induced vibrations a discontinuous static friction model is used. We have chosen such a model and not a more complicated dynamical friction model since it accounts for the friction characteristics which are crucial for the global dynamics of the system but avoids unnecessary complexity. A discontin- uous friction model leads to a discontinuous model of the system dynamics which exhibits both friction-induced vibrations and the interaction between friction-induced vibrations and vibrations due to mass-unbalance. As a result of the analysis on a theoretical, numerical and experimental level the following conclusions are drawn. When analyzing the set-up with only friction-induced torsional vibrations and no lateral vibrations, the main conclusion is that a subtle interplay of negative damping characteristics at low velocities and viscous friction at higher velocities determines the occurrence and nature of friction-induced limit cycling. It also determines the range of parameters for which these limit cycles sustain. Furthermore, the level of posi- tive damping at very low velocities relative to the negative damping level at slightly higher velocities determines whether torsional vibrations with or without stick-slip can occur. Then, both model-based and experimental bifurcation analysis confirm that discontinuous bifurcations play a crucial role in the creation and disappearance of these limit cycles. Also, the way in which such friction characteristics are influ- enced by physical conditions such as temperature and normal forces on the frictional contact is experimentally studied. An important observation is that the normal force in the frictional contact influences the friction force in a rather complex way and can induce a higher negative damping level (for larger normal forces), which in turn can give rise to limit cycles of a larger amplitude for a larger range of constant input voltages to the DC motor. The analysis of the set-up, when both torsional and lateral vibrations are present, leads to the main conclusion that two types of torsional vibrations can appear. Firstly, friction-induced torsional vibrations and, secondly, torsional vibrations due to cou- pling between torsional and lateral dynamics may appear. Furthermore, if mass- unbalance is present at the lower disc, the amplitude of friction-induced vibrations and the region in which these vibrations occur, both decrease compared to the situ- ation without mass-unbalance. Moreover, it is shown that if the mass-unbalance is large enough then torsional vibrations can disappear entirely. Next, on a simulation level it is shown that torsional vibrations due to coupling between torsional and lateral modes appear for input voltages to the DC motor which are higher than the so-called critical voltage, which is related to the critical angular velocity inducing resonance in lateral direction. Due to limitations in the available DC motor, those vibrations are studied only at a simulation level. Finally, the knowledge obtained in this thesis provides a better understanding of the causes for torsional and lateral vibrations. Moreover, based on this knowledge, various control strategies may be designed and tested on the designed set-up in or- der to eliminate torsional and lateral vibrations. Furthermore, the results presented here can support the design of various braking mechanisms, pumps and fans in pre- venting the occurrence of or in decreasing the amplitude of friction-induced torsional vibrations and lateral vibrations due to mass-unbalance.


Introduction: Acquired angioedema with C1 inhibitor deficiency (AAE-C1-INH) is rare but a potentially life-threatening disease. There are no official prevalence data, nor approved therapies for this condition. Objective: In this study, we aimed to collect and analyze clinical data on patients with AAE-C1-INH in the Czech Republic. Methods: We have conducted a retrospective analysis of AAE-C1-INH patients from Czech referral centers for the treatment of hereditary angioedema with C1 inhibitor deficiency. The inclusion criteria involved recurrent episodes of angioedema with the first manifestation at or after the age of 40, negative family history of angioedema, and C1 inhibitor function 50% or less. Results: A total of 14 patients (7 males and 7 females) met the inclusion criteria for AAE-C1-INH. The median age of the symptom onset was 59.5 years, and the median diagnosis delay was 1 year. The most common clinical manifestation was facial edema (100%) and upper airway swelling (85.7%). All patients responded to the acute attack treatment with icatibant and plasma-derived or recombinant C1 inhibitor concentrate. Lymphoid malignancy was identified in 9 patients (64%), monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance in 3 (21%), and in 1 patient autoimmune disease (ulcerative colitis) was considered causative (7%). We were not able to identify any underlying disease only in 1 patient (7%). In 6 of 7 patients (86%) treated for lymphoma, either a reduction in the frequency of angioedema attacks or both angioedema symptoms' disappearance and complement parameter normalization was observed. Conclusions: The prevalence of AAE-C1-INH in the Czech Republic is about 1:760,000. This rare condition occurs in approximately 8% of the patients with angioedema with C1 inhibitor deficiency. AAE-C1-INH is strongly associated with lymphoproliferative disorders, and treating these conditions may improve the control of angioedema symptoms.


The ability to formulate disease control programmes and put strategic action plans into practice has become an important issue for Regional Health Directorates in Ghana. An important factor in disease control programmes is to correlate variations in different communities with environmental factors using spatially reliable data. To achieve this, spatial distribution maps for predominant diseases such as malaria, skin infection, Respiratory Tract Infection (RTI), asthma and diarrhea for the year 2005 were created. In this study, a database of disease statistics and the geographical information representing the boundaries as well as the centre of the administrative units of the Western Region of Ghana were built using cartographic and GIS techniques – choropleth mapping to examine the spatial distribution of the selected diseases. The results show that there is a strong correlation between mining activities and the prevalence of diseases under study in the Western Region.


To obtain qualified logging while drilling (LWD) data, a new acoustic LWD tool was designed. Its overall design is introduced here, including the physical construction, electronic structure, and operation flowchart. Thereafter, core technologies adopted in this tool are presented, such as dominant exciting wave bands of dipole source, a sine wave pulse excitation circuit, broadband impedance matching, and an intellectualized active reception transducer. Lastly, we tested this tool in the azimuthal anisotropy module well, calibration well, and normal well, working in the model of the cable, sliding eye, and logging while drilling. Experiments showed that the core technologies achieved ideal results and that the LWD tool obtained qualified data.


Mycobacterium marinum is one of the nontuberculosis mycobacteria responsible for skin infections. There have been very few case series of M. marinum infections reported in the English literature. Herein, we describe three patients with M. marinum tenosynovitis. All patients had positive cultures and were exposed to pricking by a fishbone. The incubation period ranged from 7 to 60 days. Key elements in the diagnosis of this infection were a high index of suspicion raised by negative bacterial tissue cultures, poor response to conventional antibiotics treatment, a history of exposure to tropical fish and tissue biopsy for culture and histology. The treatment is essentially antimicrobial therapy supplemented by an appropriate surgical debridement, especially when deep structures are involved.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the risk factors of postoperative complications after reoperation for recurrent Crohn disease(CD).

METHODS
From 1995 to 2009, 65 patients undergoing reoperation for recurrent CD were identified in the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. Risk factors of postoperative complications were analyzed. These patients were matched by age to 65 patients undergoing primary operation and treatment outcomes were compared between primary operation and reoperation.

RESULTS
Postoperative complications were observed in 25 cases(38.5%) undergoing reoperation for CD recurrence and the rate of postoperative complication was higher than that after primary operation(12.3%). Postoperative complications rate in patients with stoma was significantly lower than those without stoma(15.8% vs. 47.8%, χ(2)=5.831, P=0.016). Compared to primary operation, reoperation had longer operative time, more severe intraperitoneal adhesion, and a longer postoperative hospital stay(all P<0.05).

CONCLUSION
Reoperation for CD recurrence is associated with higher postoperative complications. Temporary stoma may decrease the rate of postoperative complication.


Research advances knowledge; audit is a way of ensuring that this new knowledge is applied to practice. Uni-disciplinary audit is well-established; multi-disciplinary audit presents other challenges. Jonathan Ash outlines and illustrates how nurses working in a multi-disciplinary mental health team can initiate, design and use audit to improve the quality of the service, and to ensure it meets users' wants and needs.


Conclusions. The results of the present study show that the early inflammatory response in plasminogen (plg)-deficient mice is not altered compared to that in wild-type (wt) mice. Therefore the chronicity of the perforation in the long-term healing experiment cannot be explained by an impairment of the early inflammatory response, but rather by an impairment in activation of the inflammatory cells. These findings give further insight into the mechanisms resulting in a clinically seen chronic tympanic membrane (TM) perforation and thus possible therapeutic strategies to replace today's conventional surgical treatment of these perforations. Objectives. Plg has been shown to play an essential role in the healing of TM perforations. In plg-deficient mice a completely arrested healing reaction was seen, resulting in a chronic TM perforation. The mechanisms involved seem to be an abundant neutrophil recruitment, an accumulation of macrophages, an arrested keratinocyte migration, and a massive deposition of fibrin along the TM tissue. However, the exact functional role of plg in the early inflammatory response during healing of TM perforation remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the early inflammatory response, mainly the occurrence of macrophages and neutrophils, during the first 48 h following a perforation in the pars tensa (PT) of the TM, in mice lacking the plasminogen gene compared to the corresponding response in wt mice. Materials and methods. The TMs were perforated in 45 plg-deficient and 39 wt mice. Otomicroscopic evaluation was performed at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, and 48 h after the perforation was made. Mice were harvested at all time points and prepared for morphology including immunohistochemistry (IHC). IHC was performed with antibodies targeting macrophages, neutrophils, T and B cells, cytokeratin, and fibrin(ogen). Morphometry was performed regarding the volume percentage of TM tissue occupied by the different inflammatory cells. Results. Perforation of the TM resulted in early otomicroscopic changes of the pars flaccida (PF) in both genotypes. Infiltration of inflammatory cells to PF and the presence of edema occurred as early as 6 h after the perforation was made, in both plg-deficient and wt mice. Morphometry did not reveal any significant differences between the genotypes concerning the occurrence of inflammatory cells. In contrast to the PF, the PT showed only sparse reactions during the experimental period. Furthermore, the migration pattern of keratinocytes did not differ between the genotypes throughout the experimental period.


XPath expressions play a central role in both querying XML databases and searching for XML data which is distributed over the web. Our work focuses on XPath query optimization for XML data, which is distributed over several nodes in a database or several nodes on the web, and which follows a single global schema defined by a DTD, i.e. multiple nodes contain fragments of a global ?virtual? XML document. Whenever the accessible XML content stored in a node is described by an XPath expression, it may be considerably advantageous to search for XML data only on those nodes which contain a relevant fragment of the distributed ?virtual? XML document. To enable this optimization, we present an intersection test for XPath expressions that works on the DTD and on the XPath expressions alone, i.e. it does not require any access to XML fragments. The key idea is to construct a graph containing all paths selected by one XPath expression and to show that none of these paths can be selected by the other XPath expression in any document that is valid according to a given DTD.


Hierarchical superstructures assembled by binary mixed homopolymer-grafted nanoparticles are investigated by using a self-consistent field theory (SCFT). Our results demonstrate that grafting mixed homopolymer brushes provides an effective way to program the spatial lattice arrangement of the nanoparticles. For the polymer-grafted nanoparticles with specific interaction parameter and total grafting density, the unusual non-close-packed simple cubic (SC) crystal lattice is obtained at small spherical core/polymer size ratios (R/([Formula: see text]) < 1). As the size ratio increases to [Formula: see text] > 1, the nanoparticle arrangement transforms into a body-centered cubic (BCC) crystal lattice. Meanwhile, some unconventional microphases are formed in the polymer matrix, such as the tetragonal cylinder and simple cubic sphere phases. Furthermore, the two-dimensional (2D) model calculations reveal that the binary hairy nanoparticles prefer to arrange into the lattice in a way they can maintain the free energy-minimizing morphology as an isolated particle. Our findings suggest a possible strategy to design hierarchical nanomaterials composed of unique inorganic/organic hybrid superstructures.


In Taiwan, the epidemiological status of HCV infection is similar to those observed in other areas of the world, with 1.0% prevalence among adult volunteer blood donors and high prevalences among the high risk groups, by the detection of anti-HCV with synthetic peptide antigens. However, unusually high prevalences, 35.1%, 15.8% and 14.2%, were observed among adult populations in three of the five aboriginal communities. No difference in sex specificity was noted. In 37 (75.0%) of the 48 anti-HCV-positive cases, HCV-RNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. None of such particular risk factors as tattooing, sexual promiscuity, operation, blood transfusion, nor intravenous drug abuse could be accounted for this high prevalence of HCV infection. No helpful supporting evidence for ethnic specificity was noted, either. Although a possible sexual transmission between spouses was observed, it is unlikely to be the main cause of the high prevalence in these aboriginal communities. We conclude that the unusually high prevalence of HCV infection observed in some aboriginal communities in Taiwan could be ascribed to poor anti-septic medical practice derived from insufficiency of medical personnel and facilities in these communities as compared with the other regions in Taiwan at the time before twenty years ago.


This position paper details views of the UK Building Research Establishment with respect to future research concerning the Internet and Knowledge-Based Systems. It contains some view-points on what the future (both near and far) may hold for the construction industry in these areas. Discussion of these topics is presented with the intention of stimulating debate, and promoting consideration of them as possible research directions.


Objective: To investigate access to sexual knowledge, understanding of the sexual partners' beauty and sexual arousal in blind males and analyze the factors affecting them.Methods: A total of 54 blind males were conducted a face-to-face interview survey and questionnaire by the trained investigators. Results: The sound of mobile phones accounted for 51.9% of access to sexual knowledge, radio for 27.8%, the sound of television for 35.2%, and peer communication for 48.1%. The gentle and pleasant voice (64.8%) was most frequent on understanding of the sexual partners' beauty, followed by sexy and stylish figure (55.5%), fine and smooth skin (51.9%) and attractive body fragrance (18.5%). The results on the stimulation of sexual arousal showed that hearing gentle and pleasant sounds accounted for 40.7%, touching delicate and smooth skin for 44.4%, touching sexy and stylish figure for 53.7%, and pleasant mood for 22.2%. Conclusion: Blind males lack formal and systematic sex education in Ganzhou. And the understanding of the sexual partners' beauty mainly includes hearing, touch and smell. The stimulation of sexual arousal is mainly reflected in sound and touch, and pleasant mood also has a certain impact.


Evidence is mounting that recent multiwavelength detections of fast blue optical transients (FBOTs) in star-forming galaxies comprise a new class of transients, whose origin is yet to be understood. We show that hydrogen-rich collapsing stars that launch relativistic jets near the central engine can naturally explain the entire set of FBOT observables. The jet-star interaction forms a mildly-relativistic shocked jet (inner cocoon) component, which powers cooling emission that dominates the high velocity optical signal during the first few weeks, with a typical energy of ∼1050 − 1051 erg. During this time, the cocoon radial energy distribution implies that the optical lightcurve exhibits a fast decay of $L \,\, \buildrel\propto \over \sim \,\,t^{-2.4}$. After a few weeks, when the velocity of the emitting shell is ∼0.01 c, the cocoon becomes transparent, and the cooling envelope governs the emission. The interaction between the cocoon and the dense circumstellar winds generates synchrotron self-absorbed emission in the radio bands, featuring a steady rise on a month timescale. After a few months the relativistic outflow decelerates, enters the observer's line of sight, and powers the peak of the radio lightcurve, which rapidly decays thereafter. The jet (and the inner cocoon) become optically thin to X-rays ∼ day after the collapse, allowing X-ray photons to diffuse from the central engine that launched the jet to the observer. Cocoon cooling emission is expected at higher volumetric rates than gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) by a factor of a few, similar to FBOTs. We rule out uncollimated outflows, however both GRB jets and failed collimated jets are compatible with all observables.


: In this research, the direct effect of school climate on teacher job satisfaction and the indirect effect of school climate on job satisfaction through self-efficacy were investigated. International Teaching and Learning Survey-2018 data collected by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development from Turkish teachers were used in the study. The research data were obtained from the responses of the participants to the Teacher SelfEfficacy, Job Satisfaction and School Climate scales in the International Teaching and Learning Research Teacher Questionnaire. Although a total of 15498 teachers working in primary school, lower secondary school and upper secondary school participated in the research, participants with missing data were excluded from the analysis. Within the scope of the research, data obtained from 12111 teachers were used. Following the testing of the constructed model with the structural equation model, the following results were obtained: Teachers' self-efficacy directly affects job satisfaction. The perceived disciplinary dimension of the school climate directly and negatively affects job satisfaction. The other two dimensions of the school climate, teacher-student relations and the dimensions of participation among stakeholders, affect job satisfaction directly and positively. All dimensions of the school climate indirectly affect job satisfaction through self-efficacy.


OBJECTIVE
MicroRNA is an endogenous, non-coding small RNA that has a significant role in regulating organisms and pathology. Previous studies have demonstrated that microRNA-330-5p was a cancer-promoting gene. However, the role of microRNA-330-5p in osteosarcoma (OS) has not been reported. The aim of this work was to explore the characteristics of microRNA-330-5p expression in OS, and to further study its expression in OS and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to investigate the expression of microRNA-330-5p in 48 pairs of OS tissues and paracancer tissues, and to analyze the relationship between the expression of microRNA-330-5p and OS clinical indicators and patient prognosis. Meanwhile, qRT-PCR was performed to verify the microRNA-330-5p expression in OS cells. In addition, the microRNA-330-5p knockdown expression model was constructed using lentivirus in OS cell lines U2OS and MG63. The effects of microRNA-330-5p on the biological function of OS cells were analyzed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell experiments. The potential mechanism was explored by Western blot.

RESULTS
In this paper, qRT-PCR results showed that the expression of microRNA-330-5p in OS was higher than that in paracancer tissues, and the difference was statistically significant. Compared with microRNA-330-5p low expression group, patients with high expression of microRNA -330-5p had a higher prevalence of distant metastasis and a lower overall survival rate. In vitro experiment showed that the proliferation, invasion and metastasis abilities of the cells in the microRNA-330-5p silencing group were markedly decreased compared with the negative control group (NC group). Western blot results demonstrated that microRNA-330-5p inhibitor can activate SPRY2 and regulate the expression of key proteins, such as p-Smad2, p-Smad3, TGF-β1, MMP9 and Vimentin in the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. It was found that there was a mutual regulation between microRNA-330-5p and SPRY2, which promoted the malignant progression of OS.

CONCLUSIONS
The expression of microRNA-330-5p was markedly increased in OS, which was associated with distant metastasis and poor prognosis. Furthermore, we found that microRNA-330-5p may promote the vicious progression of OS by inter-modulating SPRY2 and the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathways.


ABSTRACT In Chlamydiaceae, the nucleotide sequence between the 5S rRNA gene and the gene for subunit F of the Na+-translocating NADH-quinone reductase (nqrF or dmpP) has varied lengths and gene contents. We analyzed this site in 45 Chlamydiaceae strains having diverse geographical and pathological origins and including members of all nine species.


Low-energy isomers of Ag(N) clusters are studied within gradient-corrected density functional theory over the size range of N = 9-20. The candidate conformations are drawn from an extensive structural database created in a recent exploration of Cu(N) clusters [M. Yang et al., J. Chem. Phys. 124, 24308 (2006)]. Layered configurations dominate the list of the lowest-energy isomers of Ag(N) for N < 16. The most stable structures for N > 16 are compact with quasispherical shapes. The size-driven shape evolution is similar to that found earlier for Na(N) and Cu(N). The shape change has a pronounced effect on the cluster cohesive energies, ionization potentials, and polarizabilities. The properties computed for the most stable isomers of Ag(N) are in good agreement with the available experimental data.


To examine possible genetic influence on the sensation of dyspnea and on load compensation, we conducted a twin study using healthy adult pairs (10 monozygotes, MZ, and 9 dizygotes, DZ). The ventilatory response to progressive hypercapnia (HCVR) was examined under three different conditions: hyperoxia (PETO2 > 150 mm Hg), hypoxia (PETO2 maintained at 50 to 55 mm Hg), and hyperoxia with an inspiratory flow-resistive load (17 mm H2O/L/s), with simultaneous assessment of the dyspnea sensation by visual analog scale (VAS). Although the VDZ/VMZ ratio (VMZ and VDZ are within-pair variances in MZ and DZ, respectively) for the slope value of the minute ventilation-PETCO2 regression line was not different from 1 in hyperoxia either with or without an inspiratory load, it was significantly larger than 1 in hypoxia (F = 5.17, p < 0.05), suggesting that a genetic influence on HCVR existed only in the presence of hypoxia. During 3% CO2 inhalation, the VDZ/VMZ ratio for the tidal volume (VT) was larger than 1 in hyperoxic HCVR with loading (F = 7.89, p < 0.01), and that for respiratory frequency (f) was larger than 1 only in hypoxic HCVR (F = 3.59, p < 0.05). At a PETCO2 of 55 mm Hg, the VT ratio was larger than 1 under all conditions (F = 5.91, p < 0.05; F = 6.99, p < 0.05; F = 3.75, p < 0.05; respectively), and the f ratio was significantly larger than 1 again only in hypoxic HCVR (F = 3.48, p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


In this paper, it has been provided the impact of lead free solder use in electronics to the aerospace electronics in the aerospace environment. These impacts especially have been faced in the areas of reliability, assembly methods, cost drivers, supply chain management, and alternative materials selection. Reliability will probably be the most significant factor for the aerospace industry if it converts to Pb free. So, the question has been addressed by focusing in the reliability issues in this paper. Some information has been summarized from other studies to give an idea and references.


Based on a suggestion of Richard Hamilton, we propose an alternate proof of his matrix Harnack inequality for solutions of the Ricci flow with positive curvature operator. This Harnack inequality says that a certain endomorphism, consisting of an expression in the curvature and its first two covariant derivatives, of the bundle of 2-forms Whitney sum 1-forms is nonnegative. The idea is to consider the 2-form which minimizes the associated quadratic form to obtain a symmetric 2-tensor. A long but relatively straightforward computation implies this 2-tensor is a supersolution to the heat-type equation. An application of the maximum principle should then imply the result.


Reproduction by individual female Xiphinema diversicaudatum from eleven populations and by females which developed from the progeny of these original females was examined in a laboratory study. Unmated females did not produce progeny thus reproduction by X. diversicaudatum is unlikely to be thelytokus. Females from all populations produced progeny when mated and numbers of progeny produced by individual females differed. Similarly, mean numbers of progeny produced by females from the populations varied significantly (P<O.OOl) in the first and the second generations of progeny. Females from nine of the populations when inter-bred with males from a Scottish population produced reproductively viable progeny. Few females from a Spanish population produced progeny when mated with Spanish or Scottish males and the use of three species of host plants little affected reproduction by these nematodes. It is concluded that despite morphometric differences the anatomical similarity and successful inter-breeding between populations is evidence that probably they all belong to one classical biological species, X. diversicaudatum.


The purpose of the study was to investigate influence of strengthening mathematics and Science Education on pupils' science performance in Kenya certificate of Primary Education in Dondori division. The study aimed to achieve this by assessing learner-centered teaching methodologies, improvisation of learning resources, PDSI approach as well as teachers' attitudes towards ASEI-PDSI strategies influence pupils' science performance in KCPE. It was based on constructive theory by Taber (2009). The study adopted a descriptive survey design and targeted 12 public primary schools with 12 head teachers, 90 science teachers and 1510 class eight pupils. Simple random sampling technique was used to sample 30% of teachers and 10% of pupils in all public primary schools. The study sample comprised of 12 head teachers, 28 teachers and 151 standard eight pupils. Data were collected using questionnaires and analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively and presented in frequencies and percentages in form of tables and figures. Learners' centred teaching methodologies on SMASE influence pupils'science performance in KCPE, the study revealed that all the pupils indicated that they attended field trips once a year. About 65.8% of the pupils noted that they did peer-training daily in their class. The teachers and headteacher questionnaires revealed that 74.1% of the teachers and 66.7% headteachers said that group discussion and individual experiences in science lessons were carried out on weekly basis. Performance of pupils was also tested against their homework, 65.8% indicating that they had homework and 62.2% of the pupils attained between 40-100 marks in their current science exam.Improvising of local learning resources on SMASE influence pupils' science performance in KCPE, 59.3% of the pupils indicated they had an average performance with the availability of learning resources on SMASE. Headteachers (83.3%) and teachers (81.5%) who indicated availability of teachings aids in their schools. On the availability of science textbooks majority of the pupils 85.2% indicated that science textbooks are available and hence had an effect of performance in science. Majority of the pupils (65.8%) indicated that they asked questions on unclear concepts daily. From the pupil's attitude, 49.0% of the pupils indicated that they enjoyed very much the science lesson. About 96.3% of the teachers agreed that there was need for immediate follow up of assignment enhance academic performance while 92.5% of the teachers agreed that evaluation is very necessary for effective teaching and learning and 85.2% indicated that it is not possible to have activities in every lesson. The following are the recommendations of the study there is need more field trips to scientific sites to enable pupils get firsthand information. There is need for the school without teaching and learning aids, science text books to avail them to enable pupils to get information which they have not learnt from other areas in school. This would enable them to complete their homework. There is need for teachers to employ PDSI to enable pupils understand concepts that they did not understand during lesson time to enable them understand it better when asking questions. Teachers should implement what they have learnt in SMASE INSETS so as to ensure that pupils understand the concepts of the lesson well.There is need for teacher's change of their attitude towards science lesson to enable change the attitude of the pupils and also to deliver it effectively.


Topical therapy is desirable in treatment of nail diseases like onychomycosis (fungal infection of nail) and psoriasis. The topical treatment avoids the adverse effects associated with systemic therapy, thereby enhancing the patient compliance and reducing the treatment cost. However the effectiveness of the topical therapies has been limited due to the poor permeability of the nail plate to topically applied therapeutic agents. Research over the past one decade has been focused on improving the transungual permeability by means of chemical treatment, penetration enhancers, mechanical and physical methods. The present review is an attempt to discuss the different physical and chemical methods employed to increase the permeability of the nail plate. Minimally invasive electrically mediated techniques such as iontophoresis have gained success in facilitating the transungual delivery of actives. In addition drug transport across the nail plate has been improved by filing the dorsal surface of the nail plate prior to application of topical formulation. But attempts to improve the trans-nail permeation using transdermal chemical enhancers have failed so far. Attempts are on to search suitable physical enhancement techniques and chemical transungual enhancers in view to maximize the drug delivery across the nail plate.


Let $d\geq 2$. We consider an i.i.d. supercritical bond percolation on $\mathbb{Z}^d$, every edge is open with a probability $p>p_c(d)$, where $p_c(d)$ denotes the critical point. We condition on the event that $0$ belongs to the infinite cluster $\mathcal{C}_\infty$ and we consider connected subgraphs of $\mathcal{C}_\infty$ having at most $n^d$ vertices and containing $0$. Among these subgraphs, we are interested in the ones that minimize the open edge boundary size to volume ratio. These minimizers properly rescaled converge towards a translate of a deterministic shape and their open edge boundary size to volume ratio properly rescaled converges towards a deterministic constant.


We propose a robust scheme involving atoms fixed in an optical cavity to directly implement the universal controlled-unitary gate. The present technique based on adiabatic passage uses novel dark states well suited for the controlled-rotation operation. We show that these dark states allow the robust implementation of a gate that is a generalisation of the controlled-unitary gate to the case where the control qubit can be selected to be an arbitrary state. This gate has potential applications to the rapid implementation of quantum algorithms such as of the projective measurement algorithm. This process is decoherence-free since excited atomic states and cavity modes are not populated during the dynamics.


Motion synchronization in mobile robot networks is a fundamental task in distributed multi-robot collaboration. In this paper, we investigate the robustness of synchronous speeds against robot and communication failures, an important feature of distributed systems. A performance metric is proposed to represent the robustness of the robot teams based on complex networks theories. Moreover, a distributed topology control algorithm to improve the robustness metric of groups of robots by increasing the communication range temporarily is presented. When the new topology is constructed and is stable, the range for communicating is reduced to the original value. Finally, the results of simulation experiments have demonstrated the efficiency of the proposed control algorithm while robots and connections fail in a robot group


Bigeye tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean were perceived as overfished for nearly 20 years, in large part because of incidental catch in the much larger skipjack tuna fishery. Efforts to halt the overfishing of bigeye stalled because of disagreements over the distribution of costs and benefits from reform. An alternative Coasean-style approach to setting both harvesting levels and the allocation of costs and benefits might offer a path forward. We calculate the costs and benefits of achieving bigeye conservation goals and describe an exchange through which benefits could be realized via removal of fish-aggregating devices (FADs). Through trade, aggregate benefits and costs are more apt to be in balance relative to mandated protection controls. The realities of bargaining costs in a multilateral setting are not underappreciated, but in light of existing stalemates in this and other fisheries, consideration of Coasean-style approaches is warranted.


The question of whether and when to mandate the wearing of masks or face coverings by the lay public to prevent the spread of Covid-19 remains controversial. A vast research literature, across a range of academic disciplines, has accumulated in the past six months. We summarise that literature, which (whilst not universally accepted) points consistently to some important conclusions. First, there is growing evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is airborne and hence may spread long distances and be inhaled. Infection control policy must therefore go beyond 'contact and droplet' measures such as hand-washing and cleaning surfaces. Second, masks and face coverings, if widely worn, appear to significantly reduce population transmission of the virus. Third, randomized controlled trials of the preventive impact of population masking in Covid-19 remain sparse and have yet to address the question of source control. Fourth, the harms of wearing masks appear to be relatively minor (though by no means trivial) and were over-estimated in the early months of the pandemic; harms are outweighed by benefits when COVID-19 is spreading in a population. Fifth, face shields, valved respirators and flimsy or ill-fitting face coverings are unsuitable for source control. Finally, mandated masking involves a trade-off with personal freedom so such policies should be pursued only if the threat is severe and the benefits cannot be achieved through less intrusive means.


GilR is a recently identified oxidoreductase that catalyzes the terminal step of gilvocarcin V biosynthesis and is a unique enzyme that establishes the lactone core of the polyketide-derived gilvocarcin chromophore. Gilvocarcin-type compounds form a small distinct family of anticancer agents that are involved in both photo-activated DNA-alkylation and histone H3 cross-linking. High resolution crystal structures of apoGilR and GilR in complex with its substrate pregilvocarcin V reveals that GilR belongs to the small group of a relatively new type of the vanillyl-alcohol oxidase flavoprotein family characterized by bicovalently tethered cofactors. GilR was found as a dimer, with the bicovalently attached FAD cofactor mediated through His-65 and Cys-125. Subsequent mutagenesis and functional assays indicate that Tyr-445 may be involved in reaction catalysis and in mediating the covalent attachment of FAD, whereas Tyr-448 serves as an essential residue initiating the catalysis by swinging away from the active site to accommodate binding of the 6R-configured substrate and consequently abstracting the proton of the hydroxyl residue of the substrate hemiacetal 6-OH group. These studies lay the groundwork for future enzyme engineering to broaden the substrate specificity of this bottleneck enzyme of the gilvocarcin biosynthetic pathway for the development of novel anti-cancer therapeutics.


MRSA infections, especially pneumonia have been associated with considerable morbidity and mortality and the management of MRSA infections is considered as an issue of high priority for scientific societies. Many studies which have been published during the last 10 years have provided evidence for MRSA pneumonia epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. The main regime of antibiotic treatment recommended for MRSA pneumonia is either vancomycin or linezolid. Despite its pK/pD superiority over vancomycin, linezolid has to date failed to show clear advantage over vancomycin in recent clinical trials.


Foams of conventional ceramics are attractive for a wide range of industrial applications such as filters, insulators, heat exchangers and others. Advanced functional ceramics, e.g., superconductors or piezoceramics profit from a foam structure for a variety of applications. Foams of Y2BaCuO5—being the properitectic phase in the formation of YBa2Cu3O7—find applications as supports for melt processing of bulk YBa2Cu3O7 materials or as preforms for processing of superconducting YBa2Cu3O7 foams. In this paper we discuss the processing of Y2BaCuO5 foams of various porosities and dimensions either as replicas of reticulated polyurethane foams or prepared by burning out of wax spacers embedded into a 211 preform.


A closed-cycle CO/sub 2/ laser facility with a clear aperture diameter of 18.7 cm was developed for testing large diameter optical resonators designed for use with cylindrical chemical lasers that have an annular gain region. In this report, the considerations that lead to the present laser facility design are discussed, and the results of the open-cycle tests that established the feasibility of the design are presented. The closed-cycle gas flow system and the high-voltage electrical discharge circuits are described, the operating parameters are given, and the results of some gas flow and electrical discharge measurements are presented. The performance of the facility was established by gain measurements and by the game quality obtained with several resonators.


Giardia contamination in the Grand River Watershed (south‐western Ontario, Canada) was monitored from 2005 to 2013 as part of FoodNet Canada. Our study objectives were to describe the temporal pattern of Giardia occurrence and determine whether water quality parameters and bacterial indicators could act as effective markers for Giardia occurrence. Water samples were collected monthly from the Grand River near a drinking water intake point (2005–2013) and also collected intermittently from other areas in the watershed during the study period. Samples were tested for Giardia cysts using the US EPA method 1623. Samples were also tested for chemical and microbial water quality indicators. Univariable and multivariable linear regression models were built to examine whether temporal, water quality and bacterial indicators were associated with Giardia cyst concentration. Giardia cysts were identified in 89% of samples (n = 228), with highest measured concentrations downstream of a waste water treatment plant outfall. Year and season were found to be predictors for Giardia occurrence. Concentrations were significantly higher in the winter and fall compared to the summer, and significantly higher in 2007 compared to other study years. After controlling for season, year and sampling location, dissolved oxygen was the only variable significantly associated with Giardia cyst concentration. Seasonal peaks in Giardia cyst concentrations in samples collected near the intake for the drinking water plant did not align with the seasonal peak in human Giardiasis cases in this region that are reported annually by public health authorities. This suggests that the risk of contracting Giardiasis from treated drinking water in this community is possibly low when the treatment plant is functioning adequately. Instead, waterborne exposure is likely the result of seasonal behaviours surrounding recreational water use. Therefore, the collective findings of our study are important to help inform future risk management studies and guide public health protection policies.


Ethnicity is sometimes one of the misunderstood cultural aspects of national heritage in Africa. The mere mention of the term 'ethnicity' or 'ethnic origin' is apt to elicit
negative reactions, basically because only one facet is assumed, namely
'ethnocentricity', or to use a less anodyne term, 'tribalism'. Yet there are many other
positive facets to ethnicity. For example, ethnicity can be claimed, rightly so, as one
aspect of national identity, which enriches Africa's national heritage(s).This paper
attempts to highlight these dynamics through analyzing how one community,
namely, the Nandi, manifests its ethnicity its social construction of reality, the
differences in intra-ethnic identities that separate them from their immediate 'cousins'
as well as other neighbors, namely, the Maasai and Luo and the Kenyan nation as a
whole. It is hoped that the answers to the above will help us to positively harness
ethnic diversity to create a multicultural society at ease with itself Journal of Language, Technology & Entrepreneurship in Africa Vol. 1 (2) 2009: pp. 90-98


South Africa obtains over 80% of its energy needs from fossil fuels. Latest research indicate that South Africa emits over 500 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year and is therefore ranked number eight as the world's CO2 emitter. Unabated or controlled emission of CO2 and other green house gases has largely contributed to detrimental global warming and adverse climatic change. Microalgae are capable of converting hazardous CO2 into valuable biomass. A high CO2 tolerating microalgae was collected from Johannesburg Zoo Lake and identified as Desmodemus sp. Batch cultures were grown in 1000 mL. Erlenmeyer flasks. CO2 was bubbled into the microalgae culture media. The media contained optimal nutrients, an optimal photoperiod and light intensity and controlled pH. CO2 concentrations of 100%, 50%, 25%, 10%, and 5% and total gas flow rates of 20, 50 and 100 mL/min were used. The aim of this study was to determine the effective flow rate and CO2 concentration that gave optimal microalgae growth. Microalgae dry mass contain 50% carbon and carbon is known to be a limiting factor when all other nutrients and environmental conditions are presents. When atmospheric air was supplied at 50 mL/min the growth rate was 0.1151 per day and it increased drastically by almost 5 folds when 100% CO2 was supplied at 50 mL/min. Using a gas flow rate of 20 mL/min and 10% CO2, growth rate increased to 1.42 per day with a dry biomass yield of 809.96 mg/L after 12 days of growth. At a gas flow rate of 50 mL/min, 5% CO2 and the highest growth rate was 1.993 per day and an overall biomass yield of 1200 mg/L and the average pH was 6.36. At 100% CO2 the growth rate was 1.265 per day and dry biomass yield obtained was 469.81 mg/L while the average pH was 5.12. When gas flow rate was increased to 100 mL/min using 5% CO2 the growth rate slightly reduced to 1.30 per day with a dry biomass yield of 1000 mg/L. A growth rate was 0.34 and dry biomass yield of 279.47 mg/L at an average pH of 5.09 were achieved at 100% CO2. Higher flow rates and higher concentrations resulted in slightly reduced growth due to low pH. These investigations indicate that the species under study is CO2 tolerant and it presents a viable CO2 abatement strategy. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2012


Ionising radiation (IR) causes DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) injury and activates intracellular signal pathways including the regulation of DNA repair and cell cycle. However, the further knowledge of molecular events involved in radiation exposure is essential to more comprehensively understand the effects of irradiation. Therefore, the gene expressions of mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) by X-ray irradiation in human B lymphoblast cell line (IM-9) using a microarray were investigated. The mRNA expressions of 65 genes were shown to be up-regulated at >2.0-fold in irradiated cells (4 Gy) when compared with non-irradiated cells (0 Gy) by microarray analysis. Among 65 genes, a large number of genes were up-regulated with an X-ray dose-dependent change. These results indicate that the up-regulation of their mRNAs is the effects of irradiation and may be due to biological dosimetric markers for the evaluation of radiation exposure in the future.


Abstract Objective we assessed the diagnostic accuracy of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) 1 measurements with 1 growth hormone stimulation test (GHST) vs performing 2 GHSTs as the standard test to confirm the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in children. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the baseline characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory data of 703 children with short stature, aged 4-14 years (mean age, 8.46 ± 2.7 years), who had undergone 2 GHSTs. We compared the diagnostic values of IGF-1 levels by using a cut-off value of ≤0 SD score, along with results of a single clonidine stimulation test (CST). We evaluated the false-positive rate, specificity, likelihood ratio, and area under the curve (AUC) of the 2 diagnostic methods. GHD was diagnosed if the peak growth hormone level was <7 ng/mL on 2 GHSTs. Results Of the 724 children, 577 (79.7%) had a low IGF-1 level (mean 104.9 ± 61.4 ng/mL), and 147 (20.3%) had a normal IGF-1 level (mean 145.9 ± 86.9 ng/mL). GHD was diagnosed in 187 patients (25.8%), of whom 146 (25.3%) had a low IGF-1 level. An IGF-1 level reflecting ≤0 SDs in combination with results of a single CST had a specificity of 92.6%, a false-positive rate of 5.5%, and an AUC of 0.6088. Using an IFG-1 cut-off level of ≤−2 SDs did not alter the diagnostic accuracy. Conclusion Low IGF-1 values of ≤0 SDs or ≤−2 SDs in combination with results of a single CST had poor diagnostic accuracy for GHD.


It is well known that the chances of success of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence depend on the longevity of technological civilizations or, more broadly, on the duration of the signs of their existence, or technosignatures. Here, we re-examine this general tenet in more detail, and we show that its broader implications have not been given their proper significance. In particular, an often overlooked aspect is that the duration of a technosignature is in principle almost entirely separable from the age of the civilization that produces it. We propose a classification scheme of technosignatures based on their duration, and we use Monte Carlo simulations to show that, given an initial generic distribution of Galactic technosignatures, only the ones with the longest duration are likely to be detected. This tells us, among other things, that looking for a large number of short-lived technosignatures is a weaker observational strategy than focusing the search on a few long-lived ones. It also suggests abandoning any anthropocentric bias in approaching the question of extraterrestrial intelligence. We finally give some ideas of possible pathways that can lead to the establishment of long-lived technosignatures.


Vasoinhibins are a family of peptides that act on endothelial cells to suppress angiogenesis and promote apoptosis-mediated vascular regression. Vasoinhibins include the N-terminal fragments from prolactin (PRL), GH, and placental lactogen. One of the vasoinhibins, the N-terminal PRL fragment of 16 kDa, is generated by the lysosomal representative protease cathepsin D (Cath D). Because the normal growth and involution of the mammary gland (MG) are profoundly affected by the expansion and regression of blood vessels and also because PRL stimulates the growth and differentiation of MG, we proposed that intact PRL produced during lactation contributes to MG angiogenesis and increased blood flow, whereas during involution, the N-terminal PRL fragment would have proapoptotic effects on mammary epithelial cells (MECs). Therefore, we investigated the production of the N-terminal PRL fragment and its direct effect on the MG. Mouse PRL (mPRL) was proteolytically cleaved by Cath D between amino acids 148 and 149. N-terminal PRL fragment and Cath D expression increased during MG involution. Furthermore, incubation of MG fragments and MCF7 with recombinant 16 kDa mPRL revealed a proapoptotic effect in MECs. Ectopic mPRL in MECs was cleaved to 16 kDa PRL by Cath D in the MG lysosomal fraction. The majority of PRL derived from pituitary gland was cleaved to 16 kDa PRL in culture medium. Therefore, N-terminal PRL fragment increases during the involution period, has a proapoptotic effect on MECs, and is mainly generated by secreted Cath D in the extracellular space of MG.


Network reconfiguration has been involved in energy loss reduction by considering the time-varying nature of loads. Nowadays, with the integration of intermittent micro-sources (MSs) to the power grid, optimal configuration should be determined corresponding to the variations in loads and generations. In this study, optimum reconfiguration instants are achieved based on the switching operations and energy losses costs. Moreover, the sequence of selecting loops for reconfiguration is optimised in conjunction with the time intervals by a joint optimisation algorithm. Furthermore, a simple branch exchange method of reconfiguration is modified in the presence of MSs. Discrete genetic algorithm (DGA) is employed to optimise the reconfiguration instants as well as the sequence of selecting loops. By applying the proposed method, the total operating cost of the network is reduced significantly, compared to optimum fixed configuration and hourly reconfiguration policies. The proposed algorithm is evaluated on a real-life 77-bus distribution system with two interconnected MSs.


The crystal structure of the initiating form of Thermus aquaticus RNA polymerase, containing core RNA polymerase (α2ββ′ω) and the promoter specificity σ subunit, has been determined at 4 angstrom resolution. Important structural features of the RNA polymerase and their roles in positioning σ within the initiation complex are delineated, as well as the role played by σ in modulating the opening of the RNA polymerase active-site channel. The two carboxyl-terminal domains of σ are separated by 45 angstroms on the surface of the RNA polymerase, but are linked by an extended loop. The loop winds near the RNA polymerase active site, where it may play a role in initiating nucleotide substrate binding, and out through the RNA exit channel. The advancing RNA transcript must displace the loop, leading to abortive initiation and ultimately to σ release.


Praptosuwiryo TNg. 2017. Spore germination and early gametophyte development of Platycerium wandae (Polypodiaceae) from Papua, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 18: 175-182. Studies on gametophyte development in ferns are very important, as the data generated is often useful for supporting taxa delimitation in ferns and fern-allies. This data is also very important for understanding the ecology, reproductive biology, evolution and distribution of ferns. The study reported here aimed to develop a deeper understand of morphogenesis in the fern Platycerium wandae Racib. by investigating the process of spore germination and early gametophyte development of the species on natural media. Fresh spores of P. wandae were germinated in a mixed media consisting of minced roots of Cyathea contaminans and charcoaled rice hulls (1: 1) under green house condition. Spores of P. wandae are monolete, ellipsoid, nonchlorophyllous, dark brown, and lacking perine. Spores germinated between 7 to 14 days after sowing (DAS). Spore germination of P. wandae is of the Vittaria-type and the prothallial development is of the Aspidium-type, characterized by early development of unicelullar trichomes (30-40 DAS). Only unisexual gametophytes were observed at 60-80 DAS. New data is provided concerning the morphogenesis of P. wandae from Papua, Indonesia, on natural media. The findings are relevant to reproductive biology, would contribute to establish an efficient ex situ propagation strategies for the conservation of epiphyitic ferns and to facilitate further in situ studies of gametophyte ecology.


The purpose of this study was to develop and test the effectiveness of the character education module based on the school literacy movement. This type of research uses Research and Development (RnD). The research subjects used were fifth grade elementary school students in the RA Kartini Cluster, Jaken District, Pati Regency. Data collection techniques by means of observation, interviews, documentation, and questionnaires. The data was collected using observation sheets, interview sheets, photos of activities, and filling out questionnaires. Sources of data obtained from filling out questionnaires, observations, and responses from school principals, class teachers, subject teachers, students, and school committees on the implementation of the module. The resulting module is validated by material experts and module experts. Small group trials were conducted in fifth grade SDN Mojoluhur, Jaken District, Pati Regency. Meanwhile, product use trials were carried out in fifth grade SDNs in the RA Kartini Cluster, Jaken District, Pati Regency. Data analysis techniques are data collection, data presentation, and drawing conclusions and using the t-test to determine the effectiveness of the module. The questionnaire instrument test used validity and reliability, while the quality of the module in the study used expert validation. The results showed: (1) a character education module developed based on the school literacy movement for elementary schools; (2) the character education module based on the school literacy movement is declared valid, the percentage of eligibility criteria for the validator is 75% (feasible) and 83% (very feasible); (3) the character education module based on the school literacy movement is effective for instilling character education in elementary school students. This is shown in the t test the effectiveness of -121.696 1.86 was obtained and the average student character questionnaire before and after using the module increased by 30.08%; (4) the results of teacher responses from observations showed 75.6% (good).


This experimental study was designed to compare the acquired resistance in pigs to Ascaris suum eggs following 4-weekly oral immunizations with either 200 A. suum infective eggs or 50 A. suum third stage larvae (L3). The two immunized groups (n = 7) together with an unimmunized control group (n = 7) of pigs were challenged orally with 50 infective A. suum eggs per kilogram bodyweight on day 19 after the last immunization. Seven days post-challenge the group immunized with eggs showed signs of resistance as evidenced by reduced lung larval counts compared with the challenge control group. Such significant resistance was not observed in the L3-immunized group. However, a markedly increased inflammatory liver reaction and white spot formation was demonstrated in the L3-immunized pigs after challenge compared with both control animals and egg-immunized pigs. On the day of challenge only the egg-immunized pigs mounted an anti-Ascaris antibody response both in serum and in lung lavage fluid. Ascaris-antigen induced increased histamine release from peripheral leucocytes following both immunization and challenge could only be demonstrated in the egg-immunized pigs. On day 7 post-challenge local IgA-anti-Ascaris antibodies were further demonstrated in bile of the egg-immunized group and in the small intestine of both immunized groups. In conclusion, oral A. suum egg immunization of pigs induced a significant reduction in lung larval counts upon challenge. In contrast, oral L3 immunization seemed to prime the pigs as observed by the presence of stunted lung larval growth and increased liver reaction post-challenge with A. suum eggs.


There bave heen very few reports of oral W in children.'Cutaneous IP may occur in childhood,or even in infancy.' ^ but it is uncommon. Childhood LP has been reported in familial licben planus." ' ' in wbicb it may occur at an early age. Very few of tbe reported children with cutaneous LP had oral lesions. In the largest series of children with cutaneous IJP,^ only one of 17 had oral lesions, and tbese were on the lips only.


Abstract The foundations for study of the Troodos ophiolite and adjacent units in Cyprus were laid down by systematic mapping by the Cyprus Geological Survey Department (1952–1970). Prior to the late 1950s, Cyprus geology was interpreted in classic geosynclinal terms. The first, integrated description of the Troodos was given by Gass & Masson Smith in 1963. Publication of the Vine & Matthew's (1963) sea-floor spreading hypothesis was followed by Ian Gass's key interpretation in 1968 of the Troodos as oceanic lithosphere formed by sea-floor spreading. During the early 1970s, the dominant view of the Troodos was of a mid-ocean ridge, formed by spreading at a narrow, linear spreading zone, fed by a single, axial magma chamber. However, early geochemical studies suggested that genesis could have taken place above a subduction zone. During the 1980s, drilling related to the International Cyprus Crustal Study Project stimulated much new field work. By 1990 a popular view of the Troodos was that it had formed above a northward-dipping subduction zone during the earlier stages of convergence within an oceanic basin, similar in some respects to the origin of SW Pacific forearcs. Others favoured an origin as a marginal basin formed by spreading above a southward-dipping subduction zone, either in the vicinity of Cyprus, or located in central Turkey. In whatever scenario, it is generally accepted that the spreading fabric was unstable and was fed by small, multiple magma chambers. The extension outpaced magma supply and this favoured extensional detachment faulting, mainly near the base of the sheeted dykes. The Troodos lithosphere was also bounded by an oceanic fracture zone to the present south. Studies of the Late Cretaceous-Recent sediment cover have documented deep-sea sedimentation and later uplift, related to Africa-Eurasia convergence. In W Cyprus, the adjacent Mamonia Complex was pieced together as a Mesozoic passive margin bordering a small ocean basin, although whether this was a Red Sea-type basin, or a backarc marginal basin is still debated. The Mamonia lavas and sediments were juxtaposed with the Troodos ophiolite by processes, variously interpreted as subduction/accretion, oceanic transform faulting, strike-slip, collision and/or palaeorotation of a Troodos microplate. The Kyrenia Range in N Cyprus also includes remnants of Mesozoic passive margin; it was emplaced in stages apparently by a combination of strike-slip and thrusting. On a regional scale, the Troodos ophiolite preserves part of one of a number of inferred small oceanic basins within the Mesozoic Tethyan area of the Eastern Mediterranean.