The research specifically discussed PKBM as an institution that could facilitate the needs of the community and could increase more empowered human resources with a variety of capabilities through economic strengthening. The researchers want to know how does the PKBM institution as a strong institution that is able to partner and be able to assist disadvantaged communities. The purpose of this study in general is to obtain a clear picture of determinant in institutional strengthening, improving the quality of PKBM services, and human resource development through a participatory partnership model in PKBM. The conceptual framework of the research refers to the concept of PKBM, the concept of capacity building and the concept of partnership. This research used a qualitative approach with descriptive method. The location is chosen in Cimahi, Tasikmalaya,, and Karawang Regency. The results obtained are: (1) the first determinant factor is educators, in general, the objective conditions of educators in PKBM are few and there are educators who do not meet the competency standards that they must have. (2) Students become the next determinant factor, PKBM recruits students by opening registration and registering students who drop out of school in formal schools then asks the school to refer students to continue their education at PKBM. (3) PKBM, which is stablished based on community self-help certainly has limitations in facilities and infrastructure, starting from the inadequate amount and quality that is no longer good. (4) In meeting the needs of program sustainability, PKBM has attended by carrying out a variety of businesses, but this has not been able to meet overall needs. (5) PKBM has business activities such as selling products made by students in the form of food or handicrafts, but has limitations in the marketing process.


We discuss our grain-continuum approach to modeling stress-driven grain boundary migration in polycrystalline Cu films, assuming that migration is due to differences in strain energies. We focus on thermally induced stresses and compute those using comsol multiphysics. To account for grain structure in polycrystalline films, the anisotropic elastic constants of single crystal Cu are used for each grain, after aligning them with each grain's orientation. Local grain boundary velocities are calculated based on the differences in strain energy across grain boundaries. The computed velocities are then used to update the level sets that represent the grain boundaries using the PLENTE software. Simple and more complicated grain structures are studied as part of a larger effort to understand the effects of thermally induced stresses in 3D-IC inter-wafer vias


OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE INFLUENCES ON COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN ADOLESCENTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES Natalie E. Benjamin, B.A. Marquette University, 2017 Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an increasingly common chronic illness in children and adolescents that can result in shortand long-term health complications. Disease management can be a particular challenge for adolescents seeking autonomy from caregivers. Recently, there has been a significant increase in adolescents' use of diabetes-related technology to aid in blood glucose (BG) management and insulin administration. Individuals with T1DM also experience symptoms related to their BG levels, and these symptoms can serve as indicators of out-of-range BG levels and guide management decisions. Although research shows that diabetes-related health factors can affect cognitive functioning, no existing research has explored the relationship between cognitive performance and immediate symptomatology at the time of testing. The present study examined the similarities and differences between objective and subjective diabetes-related variables and their respective relationships to cognitive performance. This study also explored the use of diabetes technology in this population, and adolescents' ability to accurately estimate their current BG levels. Fifty-five adolescents (ages 13-17) diagnosed with T1DM completed the study during a 10-day diabetes camp session. Participants completed symptom inventories and estimated their BG level before checking it with a meter. They also completed two cognitive assessments (Symbol Digit Modalities Test, or SDMT, and D-KEFS Tower Test) and a brief interview about their use of diabetes-related technologies. Adolescents whose BG levels were out of the recommended range performed more poorly on the SDMT, and those who endorsed more subjective symptomatology also took longer to make their first move on the Tower Test. Adolescents were fairly accurate in their BG estimations, most making estimates that were inaccurate but without clinically serious implications. No relationships were found between continuous glucose monitor use and BG estimation accuracy. However, participants who reported checking their BG more frequently per day with a meter made more accurate BG estimations. Overall, present findings suggest that both immediate BG levels and immediate symptomatology relate to adolescents' cognitive function. These results underscore the importance of considering symptomatology, symptom awareness, and estimation accuracy in school settings in order to optimize adolescents' functioning in these settings.


Young people are turning to botulinum toxin, fillers, peels and more to prevent signs of aging. But are they doing it for legitimate reasons or simply succumbing to marketing messaging and perceived pressure?


: The non - planar hex - rotor aircraft mentioned in this article can change its flight status by simply changing the tilt angle of the rotor. In this paper, mainly studied the best aerodynamic performance of a non - planar hex - rotor aircraft under the influence of horizontal wind (0m/s, 2.5m/s and 4m/s). Firstly, the rotation speed of the rotor is a fixed value (2200r/min) in the low - speed wind tunnel test, the horizontal wind speed and the tilt angle of the rotor are variable values, the thrust, power consumption and power loading(PL) values of the aircraft are obtained. Secondly, the computational fluid dynamics(CFD) method is used to simulate the aerodynamic performance of a non - planar hex - rotors aircraft when subjected to a horizontal wind to obtain the simulation results. Finally, comparing the experimental values and the simulation values, it is found that the horizontal speed has a greater impact on the thrust and power consumption of the non - planar hex - rotor aircraft. From the change of PL values, it is concluded that the horizontal wind speed is 0m/s, 2.5m/s, 4m/s, the best inclination angle is 10°, 30°and 50°, and the strongest anti - wind performance.


Haemin and protoporphyrin IX, but not bilirubin, are extensively bound by human spectrin. The absorption spectrum of the bound haemin is indicative of coordination of the iron by nitrogenous ligands in the protein. The protoporphyrin IX generates difference spectra on binding, which change with ligand:protein ratio, showing the existence of at least two structurally distinct types of site. The binding of both ligands is complex, and may be cooperative. Binding isotherms, based on spectrophotometric titrations, are given. Haemin and protoporphyrin IX also bind strongly to erythrocyte ghosts. At ionic strengths near physiological we can find no evidence of binding of haemoglobin to spectrin, as judged by sedimentation velocity, and it appears that reported interactions of this nature represent only non-specific binding at low ionic strength.


It was recently pointed out that so-called "superhydrides", hydrogen-rich materials that appear to become superconducting at high temperatures and pressures, exhibit physical properties that are different from both conventional and unconventional standard type I and type II superconductors [1, 2]. Here we consider magnetic field expulsion in the first material in this class discovered in 2015, sulfur hydride [3]. A nuclear resonant scattering experiment has been interpreted as demonstration that the Meissner effect takes place in this material [4, 5]. Here we point out that the observed effect, under the assumption that the system is in thermodynamic equilibrium, implies a Meissner pressure [6] in this material that is much larger than that of standard superconductors. This suggests that hydride superconductors are qualitatively different from the known standard superconductors if they are superconductors.


We propose a critical reflection on quality of information concerning violence in Brazil, emphasizing some of the main sources of primary data: Public Law Enforcement Departments, Police, and Municipal and State Secretaries of Health. The city of Rio de Janeiro is taken as a typical "case" in this analysis. The hypotheses are: (a) in the process of producing this information, its generation, systematization, and dissemination are poor quality, thus becoming banal and revealing their discriminatory bias; (b) data are treated as private tools and not as a public service, thus reflecting an authoritarian and bureaucratic institutional structure. They themselves become a form of (mis)information, void of any valid social or political meaning and insufficient to inform society about the real expression of violence and to aid in formulating effective public policies. Conclusions are as follows: 1) that information on violent events be valued from the time it is recorded until it is put to social use: 2) that professionals and institutions dealing with the issue transform structures and ideas with a view towards an integrated and conscious fulfillment of their social roles; and 3) that society organize and work collectively against violence, bolstering the value of human life.


In many situations it is important to be able to propose N independent realizations of a given distribution law. We propose a strategy for making N parallel Monte Carlo Markov Chains (MCMC) interact in order to get an approximation of an independent N -sample of a given target law. In this method each individual chain proposes candidates for all other chains. We prove that the set of interacting chains is itself a MCMC method for the product of N target measures. Compared to independent parallel chains this method is more time consuming, but we show through examples that it possesses many advantages. This approach is applied to a biomass evolution model.


Point Pelee originated as a sandy foreland enclosing a marsh approximately 4000 years BP. A reconstruction of paleoenvironmental conditions prior to that time suggests strongly that it was formed initially by the progressive merging of beach ridges and dunes formed on opposite sides of the Pelee-Lorain moraine when rising lake levels in the western basin of Lake Erie were 3 to 4 m below present lake datum (173.4 m above sea level). Since that time, it has retreated to its present position and orientation under the influence of slowly rising lake levels and increasing wave energy from both sides.Such an evolution, though different from conventional mechanisms of spit formation, is supported by evidence derived from the local post glacial stratigraphy and the geomorphology of relict features preserved on the Point and on the shoal area to the south.


As part of the development and manufacture of engine pistons used by the automotive industry, a series of laboratory tests are carried out that include: Mechanical, metallographic and chemical analysis of the material, dimensional verification, final weight and piston finishes finished, tests on the engine dynamometer of the finished product, etc. The technological development department of an automotive piston manufacturing company, as part of the quality assurance process of its products, has established the need to assess the compressive and fatigue resistance of pistons, both at room temperature and at temperature normal operation of an internal combustion engine. The equipment proposed to carry out these tests is an hydraulic servo machine, which has the capacity to apply dynamic load and static load, with which extreme piston operating loads can be simulated. For this reason, the design goal of this work is to design a device with which the test specimens (pistons) can be held in the machine, in order to perform fatigue and compression tests and in which, the heat can be heated. piston at the required test temperature.


See related article, pages 1973–1979.

The lack of effective and widely applicable pharmacological treatments for ischemic stroke patients may explain a growing interest in traditional medicines, for which extensive observational and anecdotal experience has accumulated over the past thousand years. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines traditional medicine as "health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being".1 Unlike Western medicine, which focuses on disease, traditional medicine takes the approach that the body provides external clues to an internal imbalance that can be addressed by interventions such as herbs and acupuncture (holistic treatment approach).2 According to a 2003 WHO report,1 traditional medicine is very popular in all developing countries, and its use is rapidly increasing in industrialized countries. For example, traditional herbal preparations account for 30% to 50% of the total medicinal consumption in China. In Europe, North America and other industrialized regions, over 50% of the population have used traditional medicine at least once. The global market for herbal medicines currently stands at over US $60 billion annually and is growing steadily.1

In recent years, several reviews have been published on the effect and potential benefits of traditional Eastern medicine in stroke.3–7 It has been suggested that some herbal medicines, or their products, may improve microcirculation in the brain,4,8 protect against ischemic reperfusion injury,8,9 possess neuroprotective properties3,4 and inhibit apoptosis,10 thus justifying their use in ischemic stroke patients. However, unlike industrially manufactured pharmacological drugs used in Western medicine, the active (potent) components of herbal medicines often have not been specified and measured precisely, although there have been recent attempts to regulate dosages and use of …


warmly welcomed by those who are seriously interested in Protestant mysticism. It is not a simple devotional book. William Law, the greatest English mystic, said, "When I first began to read Boehme's book it put me into a perfect sweat. I followed the impulse to dig in Boehme with continual prayer to God for His help to understand His servant, till at length I discovered the wonderful treasure there was hid in this field." CARL R. PRITCHETT


Gene silencing for functional studies in plants has been largely facilitated by manipulating viral genomes with inserts from host genes to trigger virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) against the corresponding mRNAs. However, viral genomes encode multiple proteins and disrupt plant homeostasis by interfering with endogenous cell mechanisms. To circumvent this issue, we have developed a silencing method based on the minimal autonomously-infectious nucleic acids currently known: viroids. In particular, Eggplant latent viroid (ELVd), an asymptomatic viroid, was manipulated with insertions between 21 to 42 nucleotides and our results show that larger insertions are tolerated but secondary structure is critical for their stability. Additionally, these ELVd constructs are able of local and systemic spread and can silence a target gene in eggplant. Inspired by the design of artificial microRNAs, we have developed a standardized procedure to generate stable insertions into the ELVd genome capable of silencing the desired target gene. Analogously to VIGS, we have termed our approach Viroid Induced Gene Silencing (VdIGS) and demonstrate that is a promising tool for dissecting gene functions in eggplant. Overall, this represents the use of minimal circular replicating RNAs able to spread systemically combined with the production of a tailored sRNA for targeted silencing.


Ticks transport and transmit microbial pathogens that inflict malevolent diseases on domestic and wildlife animals, and humans. We reveal the first record of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, in British Columbia (BC) and, concurrently, far western North America. We unveil the primary tick-host record of I. scapularis parasitizing a Mallard duck, Anas platyrhynchos. In our study, the most pronounced Ixodes species was I. scapularis (61%) followed by the western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus (34%). The most frequently occurring mammalian host parasitized by I. scapularis was the eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus, a lagomorph of grassland habitats. Healthcare professionals must be aware that both I. pacificus, and I. scapularis bite humans in BC, and transmit at least six tick-borne human zoonotic pathogens that cause insidious diseases.


One way to reduce mass incarceration and the fiscal and human sufferings intrinsic to it is to engage in a morally constrained form of risk assessment in sentencing offenders. The assessment of an offender's risk of recidivism was once a central component of criminal sentencing in the United States. In the mid-1970s, however, sentencing based on forward-looking assessments of offender risk was abolished in many jurisdictions in favor of set periods of confinement based solely on backward-looking appraisals of offender blameworthiness. This situation is rapidly changing, however. After a hiatus of 40 years, there has been a resurgence of interest in risk assessment in criminal sentencing. Across the political spectrum, advocates have proposed that mass incarceration can be shrunk without simultaneously jeopardizing the historically low crime rate if we put a morally constrained form of risk assessment back into sentencing.


The robust stability problem for uncertain, linear, state-space models is considered. When a fixed Lyapunov function is used to provide an admissible perturbation set, the obtained variation bounds can be too conservative. The main purpose of this investigation is to define the conditions, under which it is always possible to construct a parameter-dependent Lyapunov function for a class of uncertain systems.The contribution to robustness study is due to a new sufficient condition for robust stability. The advantages of this approach are illustrated by examples and comparison with results, obtained by known procedures is made. Copyright  2002 IFAC


The 2013 TELT White Paper on Technology Enhanced Learning and Teaching endorsed by the University of Tasmania provides a five-year vision for the university. At its heart, is an examination of how UTAS can use technology to extend its influence and contributions to teaching and learning locally, nationally and internationally through the sharing of learning and teaching resources. Principle 5 of the White Paper recommends the development of a high quality learning object repository. The project's rationale were to establish a culture of sharing learning resources through community development and to develop a Learning Objective Repository (LOR). Sharing learning objects across the University provides for an economy of scale in the production of teaching resources, quality improvement and the opportunity for communities of teaching practice to develop. However, to make learning objects available to various user groups requires active management of object rights, as well as cultural change within the university to encourage the sharing of teaching resources. This Spotlight presentation will explore the main activities, deliverables and challenges faced by this project that was funded by the University of Tasmania, Projects of Institutional Significance Funding Scheme (mid 2014 through to 2015). One of the main deliverables was a repository framework for sharing learning resources, which was developed in consultation with key stakeholders including Faculty, Library, and ITS. The repository can potentially support teachers in providing high quality learning experiences to students. Additionally, an LOR is a powerful tool to make the work of academics more efficient and innovative. According to the project evaluation, Champions would like to have the repository as an ongoing resource for teaching and learning at the University of Tasmania. Sustainability has become a key challenge and planning is needed in order to maintain and continue development of such a repository.


A mobile manipulator - a serial connection of a mobile robot and a task robot - is a very useful system to achieve various tasks in dangerous environment, because it has the higher performance than a fixed base manipulator in terms of its operational workspace size as well as efficiency. A method for estimating the position of an object in the Cartesian coordinate system based upon the geometrical relationship between the image captured by 2-DOF active camera mounted on mobile robot and the real object, is proposed. With this Position estimation, a method of determining an optimal path for the mobile manipulator from the current position to the position of object estimated by the image information using homogeneous matrices. Finally, the corresponding joint parameters to make the desired displacement are calculated to capture the object through the control of a manipulator. The effectiveness of proposed method is demonstrated by the simulation and real experiments using the mobile manipulator.


Objective
This paper aims to describe the preliminary development of a scale of parental efficacy for parents participating in the Maudsley model of family-based treatment. The purpose of this scale is to provide a means of testing the effect of new and augmentative therapeutic strategies in the Maudsley model on the development of parental efficacy over time.

Method
Forty-nine parents of patients with anorexia nervosa completed a preliminary version of the Parents Versus Anorexia Scale (PVA). They also completed the Rotter I/E Scale and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale II (FACES II) as comparison measures. Measures of total increase in percentage ideal body weight (%IBW) were taken for the children of 34 of these parents who were participating in family-based treatment. Comparisons were also made between mean PVA scores of parents waiting for treatment and those whose children had gained significant weight as a result of treatment.

Results
The Cronbach's alpha for the final seven items of the PVA was 0.78. The scale also has a significant positive correlation with internal control as measured by the Rotter I/E Scale and with the total increase in %IBW that parents had been able to achieve for their children in the process of treatment. FACES II was not sensitive enough to measure differences in family structure for the purpose of this study. A significant difference was found between PVA scores of parents waiting for treatment and those of parents of patients who had gained greater than 10% of ideal body weight as a result of treatment.

Discussion
These results provide preliminary support for the Parents Versus Anorexia Scale and as such this study represents the first attempt to design a measure specifically for the Maudsley model of family-based treatment. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.


Autophagy is an intracellular degradation process that clears away aggregated proteins or aged and damaged organelles. Abnormalities in autophagy result in defects in clearance of these misfolded and aggregate proteins, which have been associated with neurodegenerative disorders. A key neuropathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that contributes to the progressive loss of motor neurons is abnormal protein aggregation of mutant Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase1 (SOD1). TFEB is a recently described gene that regulates autophagy. Several studies have reported that autophagy is altered in ALS, but little is known about the role and mechanisms of TFEB-mediated autophagy during the progression of ALS. In this study, altered expression of TFEB and Beclin-1 were detected in the spinal cords of ALS transgenic mice at different stages and in an NSC-34 cell model with the SOD1-G93A mutation using RT-PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The majority of cells positive for TFEB and Beclin-1 are β-tubulin III-labeled neurons, especially in the anterior horn of the gray matter. Overexpression of TFEB in NSC-34 cells with the SOD1-G93A mutation increased the mRNA and protein levels of Beclin-1, accompanied by increased levels of LC3-II protein. MTS assay revealed that TFEB overexpression increased proliferation and survival of NSC-34 cells with the SOD1-G93A mutation. Our findings suggest that TFEB promotes autophagy by enhancing the expression of Beclin-1. The altered autophagy mediated by TFEB is a key element in the pathogenesis of ALS, making TFEB a very promising target for the development of novel drugs and new gene therapeutics for ALS.


Infectious laryngotracheitis is an acute viral respiratory disease of chickens with a worldwide distribution. Sensitive detection of the causative herpesvirus is particularly important because it can persist in the host at a very low copy number and be transmitted to other birds. Quantification of viral genome copy number is also useful for clinical investigations and experimental studies. In the study presented here, a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was developed using SYBR Green chemistry and the viral gene UL15a to detect and quantify infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) in ILTV-inoculated chicken embryos or naturally infected birds. The specificity of the assay was confirmed using a panel of viral and bacterial pathogens of poultry. The sensitivity of the assay was compared with two conventional PCR assays, virus titration and an antigen-detecting enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The qPCR developed in this study was highly sensitive and specific, and has potential for quantification of ILTV in tissues from naturally and experimentally infected birds and embryos.


Background There are an increasing number of publications on ACP in NHs. However, few studies use mixed-methods design, few include all stakeholders as informants, and few describe the process of implementation and tools developed in detail. Aim The aim of this abstract is to describe and discuss the design and methods of an on-going ACP-study in Norwegian NHs. It is the final part of the larger study «End-of-life Communication in Nursing Homes – Patient Preferences and Participation». The first two parts of the larger study were a systematic literature review, and a study of practice and experiences with ACP in NHs. Methods This project has a mixed-methods design, using both quantitative (e.g. baseline registrations) and qualitative (e.g. interviews with all stakeholders, and logs from conversations) methods. 6 NHs were pair-matched, 1 of each pair randomised to systematic implementation of preparatory conversations. Results/discussion One of the strengths of this study is the inclusion of all stakeholders, also patients without competence to consent and their next of kin. The main focus of this study is the process that ACP entails, and not how many advance directives filled in. This lack of standardisation may increase the possibility to elicit and listen to what is most important to patients when it comes to end of life care. However, the documented patient preferences with regard to future treatment will be less clear. Mixed methods give a more in-depth exploration of the complexities of reality. However, generating both quantitative and qualitative data is demanding, often limiting the size of the study.


While previous studies on obesity's effects on healthcare costs conclude that obesity increases costs, they do not control for the endogeneity of insurance and estimate a tobit model for the corner solution when individuals have no medical expenditure. This study recognizes that there are unobserved heterogeneous factors that guide choices on health insurance, body mass index (BMI) and visiting a provider. Therefore, neither health insurance nor BMI can be treated as exogenous in estimating a cost function and a tobit model must be used to account for corner solutions when the individual does not visit a provider and incurs no medical costs. We find that obesity raises medical costs by $430.33, and that a 10% reduction in the BMI of each obese person would only lower costs by $45.28. The obesity elasticity with respect to cost is only .0115%.


Previous studies have reported impaired humoral responses after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), particularly those treated with anti-TNF biologics. We previously reported that IMID patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or rheumatoid arthritis exhibited greater waning of Ab and T cell responses than healthy control subjects after SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose 2. Fewer data are available on the effects of third and fourth doses. This observational cohort study collected plasma and PBMCs from healthy control subjects and untreated or treated patients with IMIDs prevaccination and after one to four doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273). SARS-CoV-2-specific Ab levels, neutralization, and T cell cytokine release were measured against wild-type and Omicron BA.1 and BA.5 variants of concern. Third vaccine doses substantially restored and prolonged Ab and T cell responses in patients with IMIDs and broadened responses against variants of concern. Fourth-dose effects were subtle but also prolonged Ab responses. However, patients with IMIDs treated with anti-TNF, especially patients with inflammatory bowel disease, exhibited lower Ab responses even after the fourth dose. Although T cell IFN-γ responses were maximal after one dose, IL-2 and IL-4 production increased with successive doses, and early production of these cytokines was predictive of neutralization responses at 3-4 mo postvaccination. Our study demonstrates that third and fourth doses of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines sustain and broaden immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, supporting the recommendation for three- and four-dose vaccination regimens in patients with IMIDs.


Lungless salamanders in the family Plethodontidae exhibit an impressive array of life history strategies and occur in a diversity of habitats, including caves. However, relationships between life history, habitat, and body size remain largely unresolved. During an ongoing study on the demography and life history of the paedomorphic, cave-obligate Berry Cave Salamander (Gyrinophilusgulolineatus, Brandon 1965), we discovered an exceptionally large individual from the type locality, Berry Cave, Roane County, Tennessee, USA. This salamander measured 145 mm in body length and represents not only the largest G.gulolineatus and Gyrinophilus ever reported, but also the largest plethodontid salamander in the United States. We discuss large body size in G.gulolineatus and compare body size in other large plethodontid salamanders in relation to life history and habitat.


In the middle 1960s IBM responded to pressure from its most prestigious customers to hasten the development and availability of computer time-sharing systems. When MIT and Bell Laboratories chose General Electric computers for their new time-sharing system, IBM management feared that the "prestige luster" of these customers would lead other customers to demand the same capabilities and that there would be a "snow-balling" effect as more customers rejected IBM computers. IBM worked on a time-sharing product and brought it to market by the end of the decade despite greater-than-expected costs. Meanwhile MIT, Bell Laboratories, and GE worked together on a new time-sharing system known as Multics. By examining IBM's role in and response to the development of time-sharing, the article illustrates the nontechnological criteria that even high-technology companies use to decide what products to develop and market.<<ETX>>


Exploring the colorful lives and music of 88 brilliant players, this book brings the entire history of jazz piano into perspective. From the ultimate early 1900s innovator Jelly Roll Morton, to bop legend Thelonious Monk, to this year's Latin jazz Grammy winner Chucho Valdes, this engaging collection of profiles describes the intriguing personality and performance characteristics of each pianist. Profiles also highlight recordings that exemplify the artist's unique approach to the keys. Personal reflections from selected top performers offer deeper insight into the vibrant world of the jazz pianist. Seven major figures are covered in depth: Jelly Roll Morton, Earl Hines, Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Keith Jarrett, and Cecil Taylor. Featured artists include James P. Johnson,Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Nat "King" Cole, Oscar Peterson, Les McCann, Herbie Hancock,Dave Brubeck, Billy Taylor, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, and 70 others in styles ranging from stride to swing, bebop to post-bop, funk to avant garde, and more.


Background: Intestinal parasitosis remains an important public health concern worldwide because of its high incidence reached in several countries as well as its nutritional consequences. The role of intestinal parasites in causing morbidity and mortality, as well as the pathogenesis of other infectious diseases, is determined. Intestinal parasitic infection is most common among school-age children and tends to cause high-intensity infection in this age group. Intestinal parasites are divided into two major types: helminths and protozoa. Protozoa are unicellular organisms and belong to the Protista kingdom and can reproduce in the human body which can allow the formation of serious infections. Objectives: The objective of this study was to detect the incidence of intestinal parasites in children attending and hospitalized at Karbala Teaching Hospital in the holy city of Karbala, Iraq. Materials and Methods: Between February 2021 and January 2022, 3748 feces samples from children between the age of 1 and 15 years were tested using both direct smear and acid fast stain test in addition to rapid test techniques. Results: The result showed that the total percentage of infection with intestinal parasites was 13% and recorded five types of intestinal parasites: Entamoeba histolytica (10.54%), Giardia lamblia (2.46%), Cryptosporidium parvum 0.4%, Hymenolepis nana (0.24%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.13%), and Trichomonas hominis (0.03%). Males were more likely to get infected than females, and the incidence of intestinal parasite infection (IPI) changed over the month of the study. Also, the infection with one species has more incidence than two and three species. The age groups of the infected children were likewise impacted by the infection rate. The statistical analysis revealed differences in the percentage of IPI by age and gender of children (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: We conclude from the result of the present study that the incidence of infection with E. histolytica is more than that of other intestinal parasites, and intestinal parasites were affected by most epidemiological criteria such as gender, the duration of the study, and age of infected patients.


Porcine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (pBMSCs) have the potential for application in regenerative medicine. This study aims to investigate the effects of extracellular calcium ([Ca2+]o) on pBMSCs proliferation and to explore the possible underlying mechanisms. The results demonstrated that 4 mM [Ca2+]o significantly promoted pBMSCs proliferation by reducing the G0/G1 phase cell percentage and by increasing the S phase cell proportion and the proliferation index of pBMSCs. Accordingly, [Ca2+]o stimulated the expression levels of proliferative genes such as cyclin A2, cyclin D1/3, cyclin E2, and PCNA and inhibited the expression of p21. In addition, [Ca2+]o resulted in a significant elevation of intracellular calcium and an increased ratio of p-ERK/ERK. However, inhibition of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) by its antagonist NPS2143 abolished the aforementioned effects of [Ca2+]o. Moreover, [Ca2+]o-induced promotion of pBMSCs proliferation, the changes of proliferative genes expression levels, and the activation of ERK1/2 signaling pathway were effectively blocked by U0126, a selective ERK kinase inhibitor. In conclusion, our findings provided evidence that the enhanced pBMSCs proliferation in response to [Ca2+]o was associated with the activation of CaSR and ERK1/2 signaling pathway, which may be useful for the application of pBMSCs in future clinical studies aimed at tissue regeneration and repair.


Similarly to nucleated cells, platelet life span is also controlled by an intrinsic apoptotic program that triggers collapse of the mitochondrial inner membrane potential, activation of caspases-3, -8 and -9, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization and microparticle shedding. The aim of the present study was to investigate platelet apoptosis in adult patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) under different treatment conditions and to search for its relationship with the type of auto-antibody and the platelet-activation status. Twenty-four patients with chronic ITP, age 42 (21-80) years (median and range) diagnosed according to current criteria (Rodeghiero et al, 2009) were included after written informed consent in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee from Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas Alfredo Lanari. Platelet count was 38x109/L (6-85). Platelet apoptosis was evaluated by phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure on the platelet surface using FITC-conjugated Anexin-V, mitochondrial electrochemical potential changes (ΔΨm) using the cell penetrating lipophilic cationic fluorochrome JC-1, and activated caspase-3 (a-casp3) measured by the cell-penetrating carboxyfluorescein-labelled fluoromethyl ketone tetrapeptide (FAM-DEVD-FMK). These parameters were studied in resting platelets and after stimulation with calcium ionophore (A23187). Platelet activation was evaluated by FITC-PAC-1 binding to activated GPIIb-IIIa and GPIb-IX internalization using PE-CD42b, in resting conditions and after stimulation either with ADP or TRAP. Apoptosis and activation parameters were evaluated by flow cytometry. In resting conditions, platelets from ITP patients showed increased PS expression and a- casp3 and abnormal ΔΨm (table 1). After stimulation with A23187, ITP platelets had similar levels of PS expression (p=0.305, n=20) and ΔmΨ (p=0.383, n=25) compared to normal controls. However, an increased sensitivity to the apoptotic stimulus was evidenced by elevated levels of a-casp3 at low and high A23187 concentrations (1-3 mM, p=0.097; 6-10 mM, p=0.002). Platelet apoptosis was not related to platelet activation, as PAC-1 binding was not increased in ITP platelets (basal p=0.847, ADP-induced p=0.059, TRAP-induced p=0.103, n=16). Besides, internalization of GPIb-IX after ADP and TRAP stimulation was also normal (p=NS, n=9 for both agonists). Platelets from ITP patients bearing two of the most frequently found auto-antibodies (5 with anti-GPIIb-IIIa and 1 with anti-GPIb-IX) had similar levels of PS expression and ΔmΨ at resting conditions than those who were negative for these auto-antibodies (n=14) (p=0.265 and 0.148, respectively). There were no differences in apoptosis markers either in resting platelets or after stimulation when comparing untreated patients (n=9) vs patients under any kind of treatment (n=15) (resting conditions, PS p=0.737; ΔmΨ p=0.270; stimulated, PS p=0.966; ΔmΨ p=0.987), although platelet count was similar in both groups. Normal platelets incubated during 1 hour with plasma from ITP had higher a-casp3 than those incubated with normal plasma (n=12 and 9, respectively, p=0.027), suggesting a plasmatic component could be responsible for the apoptotic stimulus. In conclusion, increased platelet apoptosis in ITP patients could be induced by a plasmatic factor, contributing to thrombocytopenia in this entity. Disclosures Riveros:Roche: Speakers Bureau.


Objective: To find diagnostic accuracy of increased total leucocyte count (TLC) and decreased absolute neutrophil count (ANC) for diagnosis of neonatal sepsis taking culture and sensitivity as gold standard.Methodology: Samples was collected from all the neonates with suspicion of sepsis admitted to neonatal due to severe bad health condition in the Children Hospital, Lahore. Parents were informed for consent. Total 3.5 cc sample was drawn by venipuncture.2.0 cc in CBC voil containing trisodium citrate, this sample was sent to CBC lab for automated CBC on sysmex KX-21 analyzer and peripheral smear. 1.5 cc was taken in specialized containers for blood culture and was sent to microbiology lab. Neonatal sepsis on TLC, ANC and blood count were be recorded. Patients of sepsis was managed as per hospital protocol. Data was analyzed using SPSS.Results: Neonates in this study was at mean age of 3.86±1.81 days. There was almost equal number of males and females neonates. Male were 155(51.7%) and female babies 145(48.3%). It was noted that 182(60.7%) babies were on term while 118(39.3%) were preterm neonates in this study. Neonatal sepsis was positive on TLC in 101(33.7%) cases. in 115(38.3%) on ANC.It was noted that sensitivity of the TLC was 71% while specificity was 66% with a diagnostic accuracy of 68%. On the other and, ANC sowed a sensitivity as 65%, specificity as 56% and diagnostic accuracy of 65%.Conclusion: Conclusively, TLC and ANC is not a good marker for the taking a neonate for the consideration of neonatal sepsis.


Synopsis : Neutron engineering diffraction is a powerful technique which provides the information of the micro structure of steels in bulk-average, while X-ray diffraction or Electron backscatter diffraction can provide information only from the surface layer. However, such measurement using neutron diffraction is typically performed in a large facility such as a reactor and a synchrotron, while a compact neutron source has never been used for this purpose. Authors have recently developed a neutron diffractometer installed in Riken Accelerator driven compact Neutron Source (RANS) and succeeded in the measurement of texture evolution of a steel sheet. In this study, we made an attempt to measure the volume fraction of retained austenite by RANS. Background noise was carefully eliminated in order to detect as many diffraction peaks as pos-sible with low flux neutrons. The volume fraction was estimated by Rietveld analysis. The accuracy of the measurement result was discussed by comparing with those obtained by a large neutron facility (J-PARC TAKUMI). The volume fraction obtained by RANS with reasonable measurement time, i.e. 30-300 min, showed only 1-2% discrepancies with those obtained in J-PARC. These comparisons suggest that neutron diffraction by RANS is capable of quantitative analysis of the volume fraction of crystal phases, showing the possibility of practical use of an in-house compact neutron source in the industry.


The isolation, structure determination and chemical characterization of eumelanins has been plagued by their very low solubility in organic solvents. To gain insights into the structure and reactivity of these unusual and important biologic macromolecules and to pave the way for their use in electronics, we have prepared soluble melanins via the synthesis of monomeric precursors containing lipophilic substituents. Two such monomers derived from 5,6‐dihydroxyindole‐2‐carboxylic acid (DHICA) were prepared, namely the benzyl and octyl ester derivatives. Both benzyl and octyl ester monomers were oxidatively polymerized to yield dark, melanin‐like pigments. These polymerization processes were followed by UV–visible, fluorescence and NMR spectroscopy. These studies showed that the polymerizations proceeded by cross‐linking at the 4‐ and 7‐positions of the indole nucleus and led to highly heterogeneous polymeric products. Incorporation of a lipophilic benzyl or octyl group resulted in enhanced solubility of the pigments in a wide range of organic solvents. The UV–visible spectra of the organically soluble synthetic melanins were essentially identical to that of natural eumelanin.


BACKGROUND
WHO guidelines state that adulticide interventions are recommended only in case of disease outbreak. However, peridomestic sprayings are carried out routinely to reduce Aedes albopictus (Skuse) nuisance, at least in Italy. Failing to keep low adult abundance over time triggers the need for further applications. The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of a common control strategy routinely performed by citizens in highly infested urban sites inside the metropolitan city of Rome using a freely purchasable pyrethroid and a hand-held sprayer. Moreover, the effectiveness evaluated in three field experiments was compared with that achieved by blending the pyrethroid with a new carbon-based liquid additive.

RESULTS
An 86% post-treatment reduction in Ae. albopictus abundance was observed in gravid and host-seeking females, while the population recovery time was 10 days. Blending the insecticide with the additive lengthened mosquito recovery time to over 14 days.

CONCLUSION
Peridomestic sprayings largely reduce mosquito populations immediately after treatment but fail to keep low mosquito abundance for a longer period, partially explaining the uncontrolled repetitions of treatments. An optimal control application could benefit from research in the field of additives to improve mosquito abatement and the performance of pyrethroids over time. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.


Given the aims of the founders of the London School of Economics, it is not surprising that accounting should have been taught at the School from soon after its establishment. An early focus on teaching practical accounting, with professional practitioners as teachers, was gradually supplanted by approaches informed by the economics of decision-making in conditions of scarce resources. By the 1930s, the Department of Business Administration provided an intellectual basis for thinking about financial reporting and costing that challenged taken-for-granted practices. After World War II, the "LSE Triumvirate" of William Baxter, Harold Edey and David Solomons took forward ideas of opportunity cost and value to the owner as core theoretical concepts, while developing undergraduate and later postgraduate programmes that provided rigorous education for future accountants, administrators, business people and academics. However, the focus on education, and the weak infrastructure for accounting research in the UK had the unintended consequence that, by the early 1970s, the Department of Accounting did not have the opportunity of responding to changes in research focus in North America, which were influenced by developments in financial economics.


To assess clinical utility of the 21-gene assay (Oncotype DX® Recurrence Score®), we determined whether women with HER2(−)/ER+ pN1mi breast cancer with low (<18) Recurrence Scores results are given adjuvant chemotherapy in a lower proportion than those with high scores (≥31). This was a multicenter chart review of ≥18 year old women with pN1mi breast cancer, HER2(−)/ER+ tumors, ductal/lobular/mixed histology, with the assay ordered on or after 1 January 2007. One hundred and eighty one patients had a mean age of 60.7 years; 82.9% had ECOG performance status 0; 33.7% had hypertension, 22.7% had osteoporosis, 18.8% had osteoarthritis, and 8.8% had type-2 diabetes. Mean Recurrence Score was 17.8 (range: 0–50). 48.6% had a mastectomy; 55.8% had a lumpectomy. 19.8% of low-risk group patients were recommended chemotherapy vs. 57.9% in the intermediate-risk group and 100% in the high-risk group (p < 0.001). A total of 80.2% of the low-risk group were recommended endocrine therapy alone, while 77.8% of the high-risk group were recommended both endocrine and chemotherapy (p < 0.001). The Oncotype DX Recurrence Score result provides actionable information that can be incorporated into treatment planning for women with HER2(−)/ER+ pN1mi breast cancer. The Recurrence Score result has clinical utility in treatment planning for HER2(−)/ER+ pN1mi breast cancer patients.


A well-prepared, innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce is crucial to the Nation's health and economy. Indeed, recent policy actions and reports have drawn attention to the opportunities and challenges inherent in increasing the number of highly qualified STEM graduates, including STEM teachers. Priorities include educating students to be leaders and innovators in emerging and rapidly changing STEM fields as well as educating a scientifically literate populace. Both of these priorities depend on the nature and quality of the undergraduate education experience. In addressing these STEM challenges and priorities, the National Science Foundation invests in evidence-based and evidence-generating approaches to understanding STEM learning; to designing, testing, and studying instruction and curricular change; to wide dissemination and implementation of best practices; and to broadening participation of individuals and institutions in STEM fields. The goals of these investments include: increasing the number and diversity of STEM students, preparing students well to participate in science for tomorrow, and improving students' STEM learning outcomes.


Background Conventional ultrasound (CUS) is the first choice for discrimination benign and malignant lymphadenectasis in supraclavicular lymph nodes (SCLNs), which is important for the further treatment. Radiomics provide more comprehensive and richer information than radiographic images, which are imperceptible to human eyes. Objective This study aimed to explore the clinical value of CUS-based radiomics analysis in preoperative differentiation of malignant from benign lymphadenectasis in CUS suspected SCLNs. Methods The characteristics of CUS images of 189 SCLNs were retrospectively analyzed, including 139 pathologically confirmed benign SCLNs and 50 malignant SCLNs. The data were randomly divided (7:3) into a training set (n=131) and a validation set (n=58). A total of 744 radiomics features were extracted from CUS images, radiomics score (Rad-score) built were using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression. Rad-score model, CUS model, radiomics-CUS (Rad-score + CUS) model, clinic-radiomics (Clin + Rad-score) model, and combined CUS-clinic-radiomics (Clin + CUS + Rad-score) model were built using logistic regression. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results A total of 20 radiomics features were selected from 744 radiomics features and calculated to construct Rad-score. The AUCs of Rad-score model, CUS model, Clin + Rad-score model, Rad-score + CUS model, and Clin + CUS + Rad-score model were 0.80, 0.72, 0.85, 0.83, 0.86 in the training set and 0.77, 0.80, 0.82, 0.81, 0.85 in the validation set. There was no statistical significance among the AUC of all models in the training and validation set. The calibration curve also indicated the good predictive performance of the proposed nomogram. Conclusions The Rad-score model, derived from supraclavicular ultrasound images, showed good predictive effect in differentiating benign from malignant lesions in patients with suspected supraclavicular lymphadenectasis.


Tipping events in dynamical systems have been studied in many contexts, often modelled by the decay of critical modes, system states which are tending towards bifurcation, characterised by increased return times to stable equilibria. Temporal scaling properties of time series data can be used to detect the presence of a critical mode by estimating the decay rate, and indicators of changes in these properties may therefore be used to provide an early warning signal (EWS) for an impending tipping event. The lag-1 autocorrelation function (ACF(1)) indicator and the detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) indicator have previously been used in such a way; in this paper we introduce a novel scaling indicator based on the decay rate of the power spectrum (PS). We compare the ACF(1), DFA- and PS-indicators using artificial data; data from a model which includes a bifurcation point; and sea-level pressure data along the paths of 14 tropical cyclones. By using the PS-indicator with such data, we show that the new indicator may be used to provide an EWS in a context where the ACF(1)- and DFA-indicators fail.


Coping with rapid changes in technologies in professional lives requires tools that can persistently train the users. An important task for humans is to control the physical system behaviors with prediction. Though humans learn to perform this task with relative ease over several natural physical systems, engineered physical systems pose a problem as they are often inaccessible for natural interaction. Our research proposes a new architecture of autonomous agents, which allows them to be persistent assistants. These agents learn to perform a given Control based Prediction task over the physical systems by applying a modified Q_Learning algorithm. During this learning the state and actions spaces of physical system are acquired, which are projected as perceptual spaces in which the user can explore to learn to perform the given task. While facilitating such an exploration, the agent learns to support learning by the user by applying a modification of the TD(λ) algorithm. In this paper, we present the architecture of the agent, the learning algorithms, and a solution to some complex implementation issues. This agent is being tested on examples from a number of domains such as electronics, mechatronics and economics.


Traditional building materials have disadvantages such as high pollution and high energy consumption, so it is particularly important to develop new environmentally friendly materials. In this paper, foamed glass-ceramics are prepared by high-temperature melting method with iron tailings, blast furnace slag, and desulfurization slag as the main raw materials, and CaCO3 as foaming agent. The effects of three kinds of basic glass scheme, the content of the foaming agent and heat treatment system on the degree of crystallization, micro-morphology, and crystal phase composition of foamed glass-ceramics are studied. The nucleation temperature and crystallization temperature of the basic glass are determined by differential thermal analysis curve to be 730 ℃ and 1000 ℃, respectively. Orthogonal experiments show that the optimal composition ratio of the prepared base glass is CaO: 22.25 wt.%, MgO: 4.57 wt.%, Al2O3: 6.19 wt.%, SiO2: 41.8 wt.%. The optimized scheme is based on a base glass prepared with 45 wt.% iron tailings, 25 wt.% blast furnace slag, and 30 wt.% desulfurization slag, added with 10% CaCO3 and sintered to 1000 °C for 3 h. The bending strength, fracture toughness, and elastic modulus are 95.73 Mpa, 53.09 Mpa·m1/2, 28023.55 Mpa, respectively.


Can an examination of the interactive effects of soil disturbance by rodents and landscape positions on vegetation response evaluate the ecological role of the keystone species (ecosystem engineers) at a broad scale, thereby providing good approaches to the management of the key engineers for healthy Mongolian steppes? To answer this question, we surveyed plants growing on and off the mounds created by Siberian marmots (Marmota sibirica) among 14 landscape positions and within a single mountain slope in a forested steppe region of Mongolia. Significant interactions between landscape position and soil disturbance by marmots were seen in forb volume. The impact of soil disturbance on species composition was low in mountain areas and high on depositional plains. Soil disturbance may have changed microenvironments from xeric to more humid or from moist to more xeric, depending on the other site characteristics. Collectively, our results suggest that sedimentation and pre-existing water conditions modify the relationships between soil disturbance and landscape position. Because the landscapes can be divided clearly into those that received only positive influences and those that received only negative influence from the marmot disturbance, zoning becomes more meaningful. Our a priori evaluation of the influence of keystone engineers on ecosystems at a broad scale could provide insights into how to optimize the performance of ecosystem engineering in a way that is beneficial to ecosystem management.


Abstract Neighbourhood / district councils exist in most big Polish cities. But their position in city politics is very weak, although differences among individual cities may be easily identified. There is also a low citizen interest in neighbourhood councils. The article tests a model to explain the variation among the cities and discusses the negative feedback between the dis-engagement of citizens and the narrow set of functions delegated to neighbourhoods. It asks the question if breaking that negative feedback is possible.


Introduction: Quality of life is an important index in assessing the personal health, making decisions and passing judgments on the general health status of the society, and finding major problems people have in different arenas of life. This study aimed at determining the quality of life among students of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This applied cross-sectional research was carried out in 2011. The data collection instrument was the 26-item quality of life questionnaire by WHO. The collected data were analyzed through chi square test with SPSS. Results: The average age of the participants was 20.8±2.3. 79.2% of the participants were females. 22.7% of the participants were indigenous students. In studying the students' quality of life in the four areas of health, physical health (14.2±2.4) showed the highest score, followed by social health (14.1±3.2), mental health (13.1±2.8) and environmental health (12.7±2.5). No significant relationships were observed between quality of life and gender, level of education, marital status, place of residence, economic activities, the size of family, birth order, and the life status (dead/alive) of the parents (P>0.05). However the relationships between quality of life and being indigenous (P=0.049), family's income (P=0.02) and main field of study (P=0.02) were significant. Conclusion: In addition to admitting indigenous students, setting up counseling clinics in campuses and dormitories and offering training and explanatory courses on living in university environments, improving the facilities and sports and recreational programs can promote the health level of students and enhance their life quality.


Background: The TIP60 acetyltransferase mediates p53 acetylation at K120 and is required for p53-dependent growth arrest and apoptosis. Results: UHRF1 suppresses TIP60 interaction with p53 and TIP60-mediated p53 acetylation. UHRF1 depletion significantly enhances p53 and Tip60-dependent transactivation of growth arrest and apoptotic targets. Conclusion: UHRF1 negatively regulates p53 transactivity upstream of the TIP60-p53 interplay. Significance: Inhibition of the TIP60-p53 interplay contributes to the oncogenic functions of UHRF1. Numerous studies indicate the importance of acetylation in p53-mediated stress responses upon DNA damage. We and others previously showed that TIP60 (Tat-interacting protein of 60 kDa)-mediated acetylation of p53 at K120 is crucial for p53-dependent apoptotic responses. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how TIP60-mediated effects on p53 are dynamically regulated in vivo. Here, we report that UHRF1 (ubiquitin-like with PHD and RING finger domains 1) interacts with TIP60 both in vitro and in vivo and induces degradation-independent ubiquitination of TIP60. Moreover, UHRF1 expression markedly suppresses the ability of TIP60 to acetylate p53. In contrast, RNAi-mediated knockdown of UHRF1 increases the endogenous levels of p53 acetylation at K120 and p53-mediated apoptosis is significantly enhanced in UHRF1-depleted cells. To elucidate the mechanisms of this regulation, we found that the interaction between TIP60 and p53 is severely inhibited in the presence of UHRF1, suggesting that UHRF1 modulates TIP60-mediated functions in both K120 acetylation-dependent and -independent manners. Consistent with this notion, UHRF1 knockdown promotes activation of p21 and PUMA but not MDM2. These findings demonstrate that UHRF1 is a critical negative regulator of TIP60 and suggest that UHRF1-mediated effects on p53 may contribute, at least in part, to its role in tumorigenesis.


Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is increasingly used for the management of critically ill patients. As a consequence, the incidence of complications that accompany CRRT is also rising. However, a standardized approach for preventing or minimizing these adverse events is lacking. Dialytrauma is a newly proposed concept that encompasses all harmful adverse events related to CRRT while providing a framework for prevention or, at the least, early recognition of these events in order to attenuate the consequences. A mainstay of this approach is the utilization of a dedicated checklist for improving CRRT quality and patient safety. In this context, we discuss the most important adverse effects of CRRT and review current strategies to minimize them.


Background and Objectives: Internet use, which has become extremely important and essential in everyday life, often leads to problematic use. The main aim of our study was to answer the question of whether self-esteem is a predictor of Internet addiction. Methods: The participants were 1,011 people from three countries: Turkey (N = 320), Poland (N = 350), and Ukraine (N = 341). Young's Internet Addiction Test and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale were used. Results: Results provide evidence that self-esteem is a predictor of Internet addiction and that this pattern is found across cultures. Conclusions: People who approach themselves with heavy self-criticism and evaluate themselves as unworthy are more prone to Internet addiction. More research is also needed to provide a better understanding of the Internet addiction phenomenon and its relation to self-esteem, personality, and culture. Received: 9 January 2016 Revised: 18 January 2016 Accepted: 22 March 2016 150 AGATA BŁACHNIO ET AL.


Modification in several enzyme activities after Li treatment are described. The enzymes under study were Lys-aminopeptidase (Lys-AP), glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK). The changes observed were as follows: Modifications of Lys-AP activity in the hypothalamus (Ht), pituitary gland and hippocampus (HC); LDH increases in Ht and medulla (Md); CK increases in HC, Ht and Md. No changes were found in GOT activity. It is suggested that these enzymes play a part in the lithium action mechanism.


Abstract Context. Climate and land use are among the most important drivers of global biodiversity change, and they may be operating at different spatial scales. The effects of cross-scale interactions (CSIs) between these drivers on avian abundance are poorly understood. Aims. Our primary objective was to assess whether the abundances of eight forest bird species in the eastern United States were significantly associated with CSIs involving four subregional climate variables (breeding- and pre-breeding-season temperature and precipitation) and two landscape variables (percentage exurban cover and forest patch size). Methods. For North American Breeding Bird Survey routes in six U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Level II ecoregions, we measured subregional climate variables within species maximum natal dispersal distances, and we measured landscape variables within species median natal dispersal distances. Using Akaike's information criterion and negative-binomial regression, we compared the fits of 21 a priori competing models separately for each of the eight species, and separately for percentage exurban cover and forest patch size (8 × 2 = 16 model sets). Key results. Total abundances during 2009–2013 of all eight species were associated with CSIs, which were informative in nine of the 16 best-supported models. The informative CSIs in the best-supported models involved all four subregional climate and both landscape variables. These results were evident after we accounted analytically for various methodological and environmental covariates, including within-scale interactions, that may otherwise have obscured the effects of CSIs. In some models, CSIs were more influential than were the associated additive effects, similar within-scale interactions, or other environmental variables, whereas in other models they were not. The associations between species abundances and CSIs were species-specific. Conclusions. CSIs among global drivers of change may be common, and failure to identify CSI effects may result in misleading bird−landscape models. Implications. Understanding how CSIs modify the effects of variables at different spatial scales may be crucial for effective broad-scale management of declining species. Conservation attention to species that are presently common but declining in abundance may help avoid extirpation in parts of their geographic ranges.


Introduction: As conditions like atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism (VTE) become more prevalent in the United States, the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is increasing. Patients presenting to the hospital with indications of thrombosis are often started on unfractionated heparin (UFH) infusion, which has traditionally been monitored using laboratory based PTT and anti-Xa assays. While monitoring UFH with anti-Xa assays have been shown to correlate with better outcomes than dose adjustments guided by PTT, anti-Xa assays are susceptible to interferences from DOACs taken prior to admission and can result in inappropriate dose adjustments that can negatively impact patient care. Methods: We derived a novel assay, termed corrected heparin (CH), using quantified values from a chromogenic anti-Xa assay with heparin calibrators prior to and following heparinase treatment to detect any residual DOAC still present within the patient sample. We retrospectively assessed 79 adult patients admitted to our institution who had their UFH infusion monitored using the CH assay due to known DOAC use. These patients were continually monitored by the CH assay and the PTT (unreported) if they had detectable DOAC levels (>0.1 IU/mL by anti-Xa). Of the patients included in the study, 92% were administered apixaban, while 8% were administered rivaroxaban prior to admission and all received UFH while admitted. Results: To assess linearity of anti-Xa assay for this purpose, patient samples with both UFH and apixaban present were diluted with drug-free plasma and displayed good correlation (R2=0.999) throughout the linear range of the assay. Of the 79 patients, 53 patients reached the therapeutic range by the PTT and CH assays, 17 reached the therapeutic range by the CH assay only, 2 reached the therapeutic range by PTT only, and 2 never reached the therapeutic range with either assay. The average time to therapeutic dosing level for the CH assay was 9 hours after initiation of UFH infusion. Using the CH assay, we were able to determine how long the DOAC persisted and was detected by the anti-Xa assay. At 12 hours after the last DOAC dose, more than 80% of patients still had detectable DOAC levels capable of interfering with the anti-Xa assays. The majority of patients (80%) still had measurable anti-Xa assay interference from the DOAC until 72 hours after the last dose. We evaluated the role of kidney function as a predictor for prolonged interference in the anti-Xa assay however, clearance rates of apixaban were difficult to predict based on kidney function status alone. Conclusions: Our CH assay has provided clinicians with an assay that accounts for the presence of residual DOAC and allows patients to reach therapeutic heparin levels faster. Our study also highlights the delayed clearance of commonly prescribed DOACs, which can be longer than expected and independent of kidney function status resulting in prolonged interference in anti-Xa assays that can lead to improper dose adjustments and potentially negative outcomes for patients on UFH infusion. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


During the course of inflammation and its resolution, macrophages are exposed to various cytotoxic materials, including reactive oxygen species. Thus, macrophages require a protective machinery against oxidative stress to survive at the inflammatory site. Here, we showed that xCT, a component of transport system xc−, was significantly up-regulated in activated infiltrating cells, including macrophages and neutrophils at the inflammatory site. System xc− mediates the uptake of extracellular L-cystine and is consequently responsible for maintenance of intracellular glutathione levels. We established a loss-of-function mouse mutant line of xCT by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenesis. Macrophages from xCTmu/mu mice showed cell death in association with the excessive release of high mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 upon stimulation with LPS, suggesting that xCT deficiency causes unremitting inflammation because of the impaired survival of activated macrophages at the inflammatory site. Subcutaneous injection of 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MCA) induced the generation of fibrosarcoma in association with inflammation. When 3-MCA was injected s.c. into mice, xCT mRNA was up-regulated in situ. In xCTmu/mu mice, inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-1β and TNFα) were overexpressed, and the generation of 3-MCA-induced fibrosarcoma was accelerated. These results clearly indicate that the defect of the protective system against oxidative stress impaired survival of activated macrophages and subsequently enhanced tumorigenecity.


Research on citronellal cyclization using a polymer based on eugenol supported H2SO4 catalyst has been carried out. The study aim was to determine the ratio of the addition of polymer based-eugenol supported H2SO4 catalyst used to produce the highest isopulegol. Citronellal cyclization was carried out using variations of catalyst concentration (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5%) and reaction time (30, 60, and 90 minutes). The results have obtained a yield of 50.67% found in the catalyst concentration of 1% and 90 minutes reflux time. From the results of GC-MS analysis, 29 compounds were read and among them isopulegol which was read at retention time 19.703 at peak 9 and peak area 4.76%. And the isopulegol results obtained are 11.34%.


BACKGROUND
During ship transport of organic cargo e.g. soybeans in bulk or textiles in containers, there is a risk of pests damaging the cargo during transport as well as of unwanted global spread of organisms. Consequently, fumigation of the shipped goods is recommended. While aiming to protect the cargo from being damaged by pests during the transport time, fumigation constitutes a risk to the health of seafarers and port workers and even fatal cases are seen. Phosphine gas is increasingly applied for fumigation. Based on former experiences this article aims to describe the risk and to provide recommendations for prevention.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
All reports of acute occupational exposures to phosphine in the maritime shipping industry to the Belgian Poison Centre were analysed and compared to reports in a study by ANSES (Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail), which collected data from the French Poison Centres. Data were registered and analysed between the 1st of January 1999 and the 31 of December 2018.

RESULTS
The reported incidents have so far been rather few but seem to have increased over the last years. Symptoms are gastro-intestinal, neurologic and respiratory and often seem "vague" and non-specific and are often difficult to recognise for first responders. In the cases where the aetiology of the incident is known, there often seems to be a lack of clear information about the risk and options for mitigation in workplaces and among the workers. Twelve publications of case reports were included from the literature review that showed the same patterns as found in the registered incident reports.

CONCLUSIONS
There seems to be an increase in incidents of acute poisoning from phosphine worldwide. This increase could be linked to the phasing out of methyl bromide in the Montreal Protocol but may also have other explanations. Strict precautions are needed when using phosphine for fumigation of ship cargoes and containers. Since symptoms are often vague, first-responders need to pay attention to the possible occurrence of acute phosphine intoxication as it may be life threatening. Phosphine intoxication remains a diagnosis nor to underestimate not to miss. Further monitoring and research is needed. Preventive actions are mandatory. It is essential to implement in a strict way the existing legislation of an in-transit fumigation with phosphine. Training of the crew and good communication between the different actors during an in-transit fumigation (ship-owner, captain, fumigator, crew, longshoremen) is the key of a good prevention of accidents.


Abstract This article examines the ways that ethnic pluralism and Jewish exceptionalism coexisted in philosopher Horace M. Kallen's thought from the time that Jewish identity began to play a significant and positive role in his own self-conception, roughly in 1900, until his coining of "cultural pluralism" in 1924. Kallen conceived of pluralism, in large part, to address concerns about American Jewish identity, but its conception created a vexing problem for Jews. If Jews were the "chosen people," then how could they fit into a model of the nation that emphasized equality, or at least harmony, between many different groups? Kallen would solve the dilemma of pluralism and chosenness by advocating that American Jews maintain their particularity on the basis of cultural distinctiveness rather than of superiority. Interrogating Kallen's thought on this question illuminates how his enduring theory of cultural pluralism owed its origins, in part, to specific Jewish concerns and how it developed in conjunction with a sustained struggle to articulate a meaningful Jewish identity that would prove continuous across generations. Kallen's solution to the dilemma of pluralism and Jewish exceptionalism also demonstrates one instance of how debates about Jewish particularity profoundly influenced understandings of cultural, racial, and religious difference within American democracy during the early twentieth century.


Ionization chambers working in ambient air in current detection mode are attractive due to their simplicity and low cost and are widely used in several applications such as smoke detection, dosimetry, therapeutic beam monitoring and so on. The aim of this work was to investigate if gaseous detectors can operate in ambient air in pulse counting mode as well as with gas amplification which potentially offers the highest possible sensitivity in applications like alpha particle detection or high energy X-ray photon or electron detection. To investigate the feasibility of this method two types of open- end gaseous detectors were build and successfully tested. The first one was a single wire or multiwire cylindrical geometry detector operating in pulse mode at a gas gain of one (pulse ionization chamber). This detector was readout by a custom made wide -band charge sensitive amplifier able to deal with slow induced signals generated by slow motion of negative and positive ions. The multiwire detector was able to detect alpha particles with an efficiency close to 22%. The second type of an alpha detector was an innovative GEM-like detector with resistive electrodes operating in air in avalanche mode at high gas gains (up to 104). This detector can also operate in a cascaded mode or being combined with other detectors, for example with MICROMEGAS. This detector was readout by a conventional charge -sensitive amplifier and was able to detect alpha particles with 100% efficiency. This detector could also detect X-ray photons or fast electrons. A detailed comparison between these two detectors is given as well as a comparison with commercially available alpha detectors. The main advantages of gaseous detectors operating in air in a pulse detection mode are their simplicity, low cost and high sensitivity. One of the possible applications of these new detectors is alpha particle background monitors which, due to their low cost can find wide application not only in houses, but in public areas: airports, railway station and so on.


To improve the generalization ability of the machine learning and solve the problem that recognition rates of the speech recognition system become worse in the noisy environment, a modified Gaussian kernel function which may pay attention to the similar degree between sample space and feature space is proposed. In this paper, used the modified Gaussian kernel support vector machine to a speech recognition system for Chinese isolated words, non-specific person and middle glossary quantity and chose the improved noise-robust MFCC parameters as the speech feature, used "one-against-one" method for the multi-class classification problem of SVM, and analyzed the influence of Gaussian kernel parameter gamma and error penalty parameter C on SVM generalization ability. Experiments indicate that the recognition rates of SVM which chose the best parameters and modified Gaussian kernel are much better than those of traditional HMM model and RBF network. The robustness is better too.


Juvenile victims, a highly vulnerable group in criminal justice, are subject to damages caused by crime as well as the suffering caused by criminal proceedings. This paper is devoted to the clarification of the legal status of juvenile victims based on the combination of two statuses, namely the aggrieved person and minor in Vietnamese criminal justice, clarification of their legal status in Vietnamese traditional and contemporary legal culture, thereby making comparisons with the norms of international law. Accordingly, this paper indicates a great deal of attention given by the Vietnamese criminal procedure law to such group, despite several provisions that need to be further adjusted towards a new approach to minors and especially crime victims in the future.


The activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase in extracts of mitochondria from rat hepatocytes cultured for 21 h in medium 199 was increased 2.5-fold by the presence of 55 nM-glucagon and 1 mM-sodium n-octanoate in the culture medium. The change was comparable with that induced in vivo by 48 h starvation. The potential contribution of branched-chain complex to estimates of PDH-complex activity in rat liver mitochondria has been defined.


Background People in the UK are often uncomfortable with supporting the dying. As the population ages we are less likely to have supported a loved one who has died. Methods The Centre for the Art of Dying Well, with palliative care experts and experts by experience, created a resource to support someone at the deathbed of a loved one. This was updated for the COVID-19 pandemic. This abstract describes the wider public engagement with this resource, using content analysis to evaluate public sentiment and understanding of it. Results Release of the original Guide coincided with a report assessing preparedness for supporting someone who is dying, a podcast and a press release. It was widely quoted in the news media with reports in The Times; local and national news (Radio Oxfordshire, Talk Radio, Channel 5 News). Google Analytics demonstrated 7,341 unique visitors to the Guide spending, on average, 2 minutes 2 seconds reading it. The version updated for COVID-19 was widely cited in the Financial Times, the Daily Mail, the Sun and Vatican News and an interview on 5 Live Radio. Based on an analysis of article comments, public sentiment and understanding were shown to be varied including very positive and very negative reactions. There was widespread individual engagement online and offline and also endorsement by organisations such as Marie Curie and Health Improvement Scotland. The Guide for COVID-19 had 2,545 unique page reviews with users spending on average 2 minutes 50 seconds on the page. Analysis of Twitter data demonstrated a wide level of engagement with the content of both guides, and discussions occurring across a diverse range of individuals. Conclusions There has been widespread uptake. Public reception, as evaluated in the content analysis, will guide future research to explore the Guide's impact.


The acquired immune response against tuberculosis is commonly associated with T‐cell responses with little known about the role of B cells or antibodies. There have been suggestions that B cells and humoral immunity can modulate the immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, the mechanisms involving B‐cell responses in M. tuberculosis are not fully understood, in particular the antibody gene preferences. We hypothesized that a preferential use of V genes can be seen associated with resistance to infection mainly in the IgA isotype, which is of prominent importance for infection by pathogens via the mucosal route. We studied healthy individuals with long‐term exposure to tuberculosis, infected (TST+) and uninfected TST−) with M. tuberculosis. From a total of 22 V genes analysed, the TST− population preferred the VH3‐23 and Vκ1 genes. The VH3‐23 genes were subsequently subjected to 454 amplicon sequencing. The TST− population showed a higher frequency of the D3‐10 segment compared with the D3‐22 segment for the TST+ population. The J segment usage pattern was similar for both populations with J4 segment being used the most. A preferential pairing of J4 segments to D3‐3 was seen for the TST− population. The antibodyome difference between both populations suggests a preference for antibodies with VH3‐23, D3‐3, JH4 gene usage by the TST− population that could be associated with resistance to infection with M. tuberculosis.


The auxiliary calcium channel alpha2delta subunit comprises a family of three genes, alpha2delta-1 to 3, which are expressed in a tissue-specific manner. alpha2delta-2 mRNA is found in the heart, skeletal muscle, brain, kidney, liver and pancreas. We report here for the first time the identification and functional characterization of alpha2delta-2 splice variants and their mRNA distribution in the mouse brain. The splice variants differ in the alpha2 and delta protein by eight and three amino acid residues, respectively, and are differentially expressed in cardiac tissue and human medullary thyroid carcinoma (hMTC) cells. In situ hybridization of mouse brain sections revealed the highest expression of alpha2delta-2 mRNA in the Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum, habenulae and septal nuclei, and a lower expression in the cerebral cortex, olfactory bulb, thalamic and hypothalamic nuclei, as well as the inferior and superior colliculus. As the in situ data did not suggest a specific colocalization with any alpha1 subunit, coexpression studies of alpha2delta-2 were carried out either with the high-voltage-gated calcium channels, alpha1C, alpha1E or alpha1A, or with the low-voltage-gated calcium channel, alpha1G. Coexpression of alpha2delta-2 increased the current density, shifted the voltage dependence of channel activation and inactivation of alpha1C, alpha1E and alpha1A subunits in a hyperpolarizing direction, and accelerated the decay and shifted the steady-state inactivation of the alpha1G current.


Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) is a commercially and ecologically important fish that exhibits group synchronous and multiple spawning. However, the reproductive characteristics of the male in this species, especially sperm features and activation, are still largely unknown. In this study, we confirmed that features of the sperm and characteristics of the activations, regarding sperm motility and moving velocity. The average size of the sperm was 51 ± 1.3 I¼m in total length and possessed a normal structure with clockwise, anticlockwise, and linear motion. The initial motility at one minute after activation in seawater was 75 ± 12% during spawning time in this species (21:00– 22:00), and the initial moving velocity (196 ± 26 I¼m/sec) remained constant for fifteen minutes post activation. While, comparatively low motility (30 ± 10%) was found until 17:00, and the sperm was almost immotile in the morning (08:00–09:00). Swimming ability was also confirmed with sperm that swam for more than one hour in seawater without an exogenous energy supply derived from the ovary in females, suggesting the trigger for sperm activation in multiple spawning fish is possibly species dependent. This report is the first to demonstrate time specific activation, that is, circadian rhythm, in teleost males.


This is SIGTYP's fifth newsletter on recent developments in computational typology and multilingual natural language processing. Each month, various members of SIGTYP will endeavour to summarize recent papers that focus on these topics. The papers or scholarly works that we review are selected to reflect a diverse set of research directions. They represent works that the editors found to be interesting and wanted to share. Given the fast-paced nature of research in our field, we find that brief summaries of interesting papers are a useful way to cut the wheat from the chaff.


The risk of acute functional decline increases with age, and concepts including frailty and post-acute care syndrome have been proposed; however, the effects of the nutritional status currently remain unclear. Patients admitted to the emergency department of Hitachi General Hospital for infectious diseases between April 2018 and May 2019 were included. To identify risk factors for functional decline at discharge, defined as Barthel Index <60, we investigated basic characteristics, such as age, sex, disease severity, the pre-morbid care status, and cognitive impairment, as well as laboratory data on admission, including albumin as a nutritional assessment indicator. In total, 460 surviving patients out of 610 hospitalized for infection were analyzed. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, factors independently associated with Barthel Index <60 at discharge were age (adjusted OR 1.03, 95%CI 1.01–1.06, p = 0.022), serum albumin (adjusted OR: 0.63, 95%CI: 0.41–0.99, p = 0.043), and the need for care prior to admission (adjusted OR: 5.92, 95%CI: 3.15–11.15, p < 0.001). Hypoalbuminemia on admission in addition to age and the need for care prior to admission were identified as risk factors for functional decline in patients hospitalized for infection. Functional decline did not correlate with the severity of illness.


This paper casts a critical view on the problem of expansion of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the African continent. It examines the impending implications and consequences of the engagements of African countries with the PRC by and large as the PRC continues to amass influence in the African continent. In order to assess this problem comprehensively, as well as address the neo-colonial theories often employed by Western leaning scholars to characterize the nature of Sino-African relationship, an analysis of the prerequisites for cooperation between the PRC and African countries is carried out. Pragmatic and quantitative methodologies were employed to demonstrate the peculiarities of trade, economic and humanitarian relations between the PRC and African countries. The use of the methods of dialectics and comparative analysis allowed contrasting the model of the foreign economic strategy of the PRC and some Western countries with regard to African states. The most promising areas of relations between the PRC and African countries in the framework of implementation of global geoeconomic strategy of the PRC – the New Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road were established. The mechanisms of the expansion of the PRC on the African continent through direct trade with further penetration of Chinese capital into key sectors of African economies have been revised. This gives grounds for further studies of Chinese-African relations, as well as for strengthening the role of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the role of the PRC in regional African organizations.Keywords: China-Africa relations, Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), foreign trade balance, investment, trade expansion.


Previous investigations have shown that above 460°C. there are two pressure limits between which the combination of hydrogen and oxygen takes place explosively and outside which it may abruptly become extremely slow. Practically difficulties have hitherto hindered a detailed study of the conditions governing the position of the lower limit. A modification of the earlier experimental arrangement has allowed these difficulties to be overcome, and the influence on the limit of hydrogen-oxygen ratio, vessel diameter, temperature and presence of inert gases has been investigated. The influence of these various factors corresponds in general to that found in other reactions which exhibit limit phenomena. The results are consistent with the hypothesis, already put forward and discussed, that the lower limit is that pressure where reaction chains cease to be broken at the walls of the vessel as rapidly as they are started by the "branching" of existing chains. The method of experiment was simply to prepare in A (fig. 1) a mixture of appropriate composition, measure off a small proportion of it in the capillary pipette B, and then to allow the contents of B to stream into the evacuated silica reaction vessel C. The coefficient of sharing between B and C was determined by a special calibration. C was heated in a horizontal electric furnace provided with a quartz window. If the calculated final pressure in C was below the limiting value nothing was seen when a pipetteful of mixture was added, while if it was above the limit a flash was observed. The temperature of C was measured with a thermocouple.


The 'short rains' in East Africa from October to December have significant year‐to‐year variability. Their abundance or deficiency is often associated with floods or droughts for which early warning is crucial, though even in normal seasons skillful forecasts facilitate planning and preparedness. Here we study the relationship between initial‐state sea surface temperatures and subseasonal rainfall forecast errors in the European Center for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts model in the region. We demonstrate that the initial mode of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is a partial control on the rainfall error in weeks 3–4. This relationship is also clear on the seasonal scale, exemplified by too‐wet forecasts during the 2015 season when the IOD was positive, and too‐dry forecasts in 2010 when it was negative. Our results provide an entry point for model improvement, and we show that a priori forecast corrections based on the initial IOD index are feasible.


Air quality is a major concern for the quality of life in high-density urban environments. In most dense urban areas of Hong Kong air quality in street level does not depend only on the air pollutant emission rate, but also on dispersion rate. Air pollution dispersion is also a result of the physical built form; Urban Morphology. The study postulates an association between urban morphology and air quality. This paper presents a model to explain this street level air pollution phenomenon; relationship between street level air pollutant concentration and the morphology of hyper dense residential environments in Hong Kong. This study investigated 20 different high-density urban residential areas in five districts of Hong Kong through field measurements and statistical analysis. Real time street level air pollutants, microclimatic data and 21 urban morphological attributes were identified and calculated geometrically for the statistical analysis. The findings revealed that only limited numbers of micro level morphological attributes are distinguishable for street level air pollution. The finding also validating the theoretical assumptions and the method developed to model the relationship among morphological attributes, microclimatic conditions and street level air pollution phenomena which will be useful for future urban design and planning considerations.


Accurate and timely information on the global cropland extent is critical for food security monitoring, water management and earth system modeling. Principally, it allows for analyzing satellite image time-series to assess the crop conditions and permits isolation of the agricultural component to focus on food security and impacts of various climatic scenarios. However, despite its critical importance, accurate information on the spatial extent, cropland mapping with remote sensing imagery remains a major challenge. Following an exhaustive identification and collection of existing land cover maps, a multi-criteria analysis was designed at the country level to evaluate the fitness of a cropland map with regards to four dimensions: its timeliness, its legend, its resolution adequacy and its confidence level. As a result, a Unified Cropland Layer that combines the fittest products into a 250 m global cropland map was assembled. With an evaluated accuracy ranging from 82% to 95%, the Unified Cropland Layer successfully improved the accuracy compared to single global products.


This study evaluates the effects of heat treating on the microstructure, phase composition, and friction and wear behavior of plasma sprayed FeAl coatings. Fe-40Al feedstock powder was deposited on mild steel substrates by atmospheric plasma spraying and the coatings were vacuum annealed at 500, 650, 900, and 1000 °C. An examination of coating cross-sections revealed the presence of diffusion layers in the samples treated at 900 and 1000 °C. XRD analysis indicates that annealing at 650°C facilitates the transformation of Fe(Al) solid solution into FeAl intermetallic phase, resulting in an increase in coating hardness. At higher temperatures, however, Al depletion occurs along with a reduction in hardness. Tribological testing showed that both the friction coefficient and the effects of wear increased after heat treatment.


Background: Rodents play important role as host of ectoparasites and reservoir of different zoonotic diseases. The aim of this study was to asses the infestation of commensal rodents with ectoparasites in Bandar Abbas, a port city located in the northern part of the Persian Gulf in Iran. Methods: Rodents were captured using live traps during the study period in year 2007. After transferring the rodents to the laboratory, they were identified and then their ectoparasites were collected and mounted for species identification using appropriate systematic keys. Results: A total of 77 rodents were identified including Rattus norvegicus (74%), R. rattus (16.9%), Mus musculus (7.8%) and one hamster. Among all rodents, 40.3% were found infested with ectoparasites. A total of 69 ectoparasites were collected comprising flea, lice, mite and tick. Two species of fleas; Xenopsylla cheopis and X. astia were identified with higher index of X. astia. Two genera of ticks including Hyalomma sp. and Rhipicephalus sp. were identified. Laelaps nuttalli was the only mite found. The Polyplax spinulosa was considered as lice ectoparasite. Conclusion: Among all arthropods collected, flea and lice had the most and the least frequency, respectively. Nearly all rodent species were infested with Xenopsylla. These fleas are important due to their role in plague and murine typhus transmission. Ticks are important due to their role in CCHF (Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever), theileriosis, babesiosis, anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis transmission. Monitoring of ectoparaiste infestation is important for preparedness and early warning preparation for possible control of arthropod-borne diseases.


A photosensitive form of trichothiodystrophy (TTD) results from mutations in the same XPD gene as the DNA-repair-deficient genetic disorder xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XP-D). Nevertheless, unlike XP, no increase in skin cancers appears in patients with TTD. Although the ability to repair ultraviolet (UV)-induced DNA damage has been examined to explain their cancer-free phenotype, the information accumulated to date is contradictory. In this study, we determined the repair kinetics of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) and (6-4)photoproducts (6-4PP) in three TTD cell strains using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found that all three TTD cell strains are deficient in the repair of CPD and of 6-4PP. UV sensitivity correlated well with the severity of repair defects. Moreover, accumulation of repair proteins (XPB and proliferating cell nuclear antigen) at localized DNA damage sites, detected using micropore UV irradiation combined with fluorescent antibody labeling, reflected their DNA repair activity. Importantly, mutations of the XPD gene affected both the recruitment of the TFIIH complex to DNA damage sites and the TFIIH expression. Our results suggest that there is no major difference in the repair defect between TTD and XP-D and that the cancer-free phenotype in TTD is unrelated to a DNA repair defect.