Phase separation of In_xGa_1− x N into Ga-rich and In-rich regions has been studied by electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) in a monochromated, aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). We analyze the full spectral information contained in EELS of InGaN, combining for the first time studies of high-energy and low-energy ionization edges, plasmon, and valence losses. Elemental maps of the N K, In M_4,5 and Ga L_2,3 edges recorded by spectrum imaging at 100 kV reveal sub-nm fluctuations of the local indium content. The low energetic edges of Ga M_4,5 and In N_4,5 partially overlap with the plasmon peaks. Both have been fitted iteratively to a linear superimposition of reference spectra for GaN, InN, and InGaN, providing a direct measurement of phase separation at the nm-scale. Bandgap measurements are limited in real space by scattering delocalization rather than the electron beam size to ∼10 nm for small bandgaps, and their energetic accuracy by the method of fitting the onset of the joint density of states rather than energy resolution. For an In_0.62Ga_0.38N thin film we show that phase separation occurs on several length scales.


Nusantara classic children's literature, in which there is tembang dolanan , oral story tradition, traditional literature, fiction, and which is spread across many regions in Indonesia has not been revealed and known nationally by the children. The Nusantara literary treasures should be read, sung, and widely enjoyed by all the children of Indonesia. It can be started from the family, enjoyed by the children in the home, and can then be integrated in the field of education. As culturally internalized, this activity will nurture and enrich the cultural knowledge of Indonesian children about the importance of various nusantara classic literatures. Nusantara classic children's literature that contains a variety of stories, tales, poems, dolanan songs is an heritage of the ancestors which is not only just fictional imagination. Many things can be learned from the nusantara classics of children's literature, such as good and bad teaching pitutur and their consequences, honesty and discipline in child Tembang dolanan which is sung in a way that is full of playing rules. It is still relevant to the growing value in the field of education, especially primary education at the momment, because of the emphasis of insightful cultural values presented in a highly condensed nusantara classic children's literature.


The goal of this study was to investigate isoform-specific functional domains of the inhibitory troponin subunit, troponin I (TnI), as it functions within the intact myofilaments of adult cardiac myocytes. Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer was used to deliver and express a TnI chimera composed of the amino terminus of cardiac TnI (cTnI) and the carboxy terminus of slow skeletal TnI (ssTnI) in adult rat cardiac myocytes. The TnI chimera, designated N-card/slow-C TnI, was expressed and incorporated into myofilaments after gene transfer, without detectable changes in contractile protein stoichiometry or sarcomere architecture. Interestingly, force at submaximal Ca(2+) levels was markedly elevated in single permeabilized myocytes expressing the N-card/slow-C TnI chimera relative to force generated in adult myocytes expressing ssTnI or cTnI. Based on these results, a hierarchy of myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity is emerging by use of TnI chimera analysis, with the order of sensitivity being N-card/slow-C TnI>>ssTnI>>cTnI. These results also strongly suggest that independent isoform-specific domains in both the amino and carboxy portions of TnI influence myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity. In additional studies carried out under pathophysiological ionic conditions (pH 6.2), the dramatic acidosis-induced decrease in myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity observed in myocytes expressing cTnI was blunted in myocytes expressing N-card/slow-C TnI in a manner similar to that in ssTnI-expressing myocytes. These results demonstrate that there is a pH-sensitive domain residing in the carboxy-terminal portion of TnI. The dissection of isoform-specific functional domains under physiological and acidic pH conditions demonstrates the utility of TnI chimeras for analysis of TnI function and provides important insights into the overall function of TnI within the intact myofilament of adult cardiac myocytes.


Introduction: Knowledge of balanced nutrition in toddlers in Indonesia is still relatively low. Of the 37.2% of toddlers in Indonesia, only 13.0% experienced malnutrition status based on age and 2.5% who experienced thinness based on weight compared to height. This means that there are only 13.0% and 2.5% of children under five who have been malnourished from a long time until now, low balanced nutrition knowledge has resulted in Indonesia still facing nutritional problems in toddlers such as malnutrition. Purpose: To determine the effect of "balanced nutrition" education on maternal knowledge in fulfilling "balanced nutrition" in toddlers in Teluk Pinang Village. Method: The method carried out is the lecture method, in this community service, the speaker team provides understanding to 22 mothers who have toddlers. Results: The results of statistical test calculations obtained a t value of 6,953 and p = 0.000 (p<001), meaning that there is an influence of balanced nutrition education for toddlers. From the results obtained from the pre-test and post-test, it shows an increase in participants' understanding from an average pre-test value of 60 to an average post test value of 75. Conclusion: This "balanced nutrition" education can be influenced on mothers who have toddlers, especially for mothers who are poorly educated and relatively young to be able to increase knowledge in meeting the nutrition of toddlers in Teluk Pinang Village.


The effects of the glare level and the illuminance level on visual comfort and discomfort experienced by the observers were investigated in a full scale office room located in the laboratory. Sixty-one observers, who were not informed of the real aim of the observations, aged from 20 to 41, were asked to rate their impressions as to various lighting conditions in the room on the Semantic Differential Rating Scales consisting of 13 pairs of adjectives. As a result, the influences of the glare and the illuminance level on which adjectives were chosen by the observers were analyzed statistically. We found that the illuminance had a greater influence on the comfort of the interior atmosphere than did the luminance of the luminaires. Also, the luminance had greater influence on the psychological tenseness of the interior atmosphere than on the comfort of the interior.


This study aims to describe the Socio-Economic Study of Coconut Farmers in Mangaran Village, Kabupdate Subdistrict, Talaud Islands Regency. The research method used is a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. Data collection was carried out through observation, interview and documentation techniques. The results showed, namely: 1) the socio-economic existence of coconut farmers in the village of Mangaran has many benefits and uses for meeting their daily needs as well as main income besides cloves and nutmeg; 2) the existence of land accessibility is still inadequate so that coconut farming communities experience difficulties, especially in transporting coconut processing products to be marketed; 3) accessibility by sea still does not support, especially the existence of ships for the outbound transportation of the Talaud Islands district; 4) the selling price of coconut (copra) has decreased in 2018, below the standard of five hundred per kilo, so that the farming community is in trouble and is even embarrassed because they have to fail the panel; and 5) the role of the local government of the Talaud Islands district is still not empowering and striving for accessibility, both land and sea, and is not even able to minimize the existence of the selling price of coconut which has decreased below the standard of five hundred per kilogram. Therefore it is suggested that there should be efforts, especially by the local government of the Talaud Islands district, so that the existence of accessibility can support both land and sea, and even be able to maximize the selling price of coconut as the main income of coconut farming communities.


Phlorotannins are common metabolites produced in kelps that can have deterrent functions against grazers. The factors dictating seasonal patterns of phlorotannin content in northeastern Pacific kelps are not well understood. This study assessed density and grazing of the gastropod Lacuna vincta on the annual canopy-forming kelp Nereocystis luetkeana and the perennial understory species Agarum clathratum, Saccharina latissima and S. groenlandica in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. In addition, we assessed seasonal patterns of environmental variables as possible drivers of phlorotannin concentrations. Phlorotannins occurred in all species, with overall lowest levels in N. luetkeana, and with different seasonal patterns among the four species. Lacuna vincta was most dense on N. luetkeana thalli in the summer and had highest grazing rates on this low-phlorotannin species. However, correlations between L. vincta density and phlorotannin content of each kelp species were not significant. Except for N. luetkeana, there were no correlations between phlorotannin levels and environmental variables. We suggest that kelp life history traits may be more important for phlorotannin patterns in these kelp species than grazers or environmental drivers.


With the over age 65 population growing at a faster rate than the under 65 population, and with the strong effect of age on the incidence and prevalence of dementia, South Carolina faces a major health problem among its elderly residents by the year 2010. This report summarizes data on the 4,283 persons identified by the Statewide Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Registry during the period 1988 to 1990. Sixty-one percent of these cases had a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or senile dementia and 62 percent of these were currently institutionalized. The demographic distribution of the AD cases did not change over the three-year period. Compared to community cases, those in institutions were generally older, and more likely to be women, unmarried, and white. The average time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis of AD was about five years.


Illicit trafficking and narcotics abuse cause many victims and social problems. In implementing legal protection policies, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) of Banyumas Regency undertakes rehabilitation efforts for narcotics abuse by collaborating with the Nurul Hikmah Islamic Boarding School in Cilongok. This study aims to analyze the form of legal protection for narcotics abusers in the Banyumas district, and the rehabilitation process for narcotics abusers based on Islamic boarding schools at Nurul Hikmah Islamic Boarding School, Cilongok Banyumas. This research is a type of empirical normative research. This study found that the BNN provides legal protection for narcotics abuse by placing them in institutions or rehabilitation centers. Based on the theory of victim protection, the steps and actions taken by the Banyumas Regency BNN are correct, namely separating the criminal offender (narcotics trafficker) from the victim (addicts and victims of narcotics abuse). In terms of carrying out rehabilitation, BNN Banyumas Regency has collaborated with the Nurul Hikmah Islamic Boarding School in Cilongok. The rehabilitation process at Nurul Hikmah Islamic Boarding School in Cilongok is an indicator that the government has carried out its obligations (in accordance with the UU No. 35/2009 about: Narcotics) in carrying out legal protection for victims of narcotics abuse in the form of pesantren-based social rehabilitation so that they can return to live a good life according to religious rules and principles.


MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and participate in a lot of biological processes. Several studies indicated that miRNAs play an important role in hematopoietic system. It has not been elucidated well about miRNAs involved in cytokine-regulated molecular mechanisms in cellular proliferation and differentiation. We screened specific miRNAs expressed in human leukemia cell lines, UT-7 and its sublines UT-7/GM, UT-7/EPO and UT-7/TPO, which exhibit hematopoietic lineage properties depending on cytokine stimuli by GM-CSF, erythropoietin (EPO), or thrombopoietin (TPO), respectively. The expression profiles of 470 miRNAs in all were analyzed using LNA-based microarray between UT-7/GM, UT-7/EPO and UT-7/TPO cells. The initial microarray data were validated, and specific expressions of several miRNAs were confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR. Especially, the expression levels of miR-188 and 362 clustered on X chromosome were significantly higher in UT-7/EPO cells as compared with those in UT-7, UT-7/GM and UT-7/TPO cells. To assess the effect of EPO on the expression of miR-188 and 362, UT-7/EPO cells were cultured under various concentration of EPO (0 to 10 U/ml) after cytokine withdrawal for 24 hours. Quantification of miRNAs expression by real-time PCR showed that miR-188 and 362 were increased 2- to 20-fold by EPO stimuli, but both expressions were not in dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the addition of EPO (1 ng/ml) to growth factor-derived UT-7 cells which were cultured for 1 month caused a 4- to 50-fold increase of miR-362 expression; while miR-188 expression was not increased. Similarly, EPO induced the expression of miR-362 in erythroleukemic cell line TF-1. The expression levels of miR-188 and miR-362 were significantly higher in UT-7/EPO with erythrocytic features than UT-7/GM and UT-7/TPO cells, in addition, expressions of both miRNAs were induced by EPO stimuli in UT-7/EPO cells, suggesting that miR-188 and miR-362 are involved in lineage specific molecular mechanisms of erythropoiesis.


To study the effect of incorporation of organic, inorganic and biofertilizers on rhizospheric microbial population and enzyme activities at various time intervals in pea crop, the experiment was laid in randomized blocked design in triplicate with plot size of 7 ×2.5 m 2 using Punjab-88 variety. Study was conducted during winter season of 2015-16 in field of Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. Enumeration of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, diazotrophs, PGPR and PSB was done on Nutrient Agar medium, Glucose Yeast Extract medium, Kenknight's medium, Jensen's medium, King's B medium and NBRIP medium respectively, using serial dilution spread plate technique. Activities of soil enzymes (Alkaline phosphatase, Urease and Dehydrogenase) were studied. Significantly higher total bacterial population (150 ×10 7 CFU g -1 of soil) and PGPR (218 ×10 5 CFU g -1 of soil) population was observed in treatments when there was combination of organic, inorganic and consortium biofertilizer. Actinomycetes remained unaffected with different fertilizers. Biofertilizer used in combination with FYM resulted in significantly higher population of fungi (20 ×10 3 CFU g -1 of soil), diazotrophs (140 ×10 5 CFU g -1 of soil) and PSB (80 ×10 4 CFU g -1 of soil). Among rhizospheric soil enzyme activities, alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly higher in treatment with FYM +consortium biofertilizer while dehydrogenase activity was higher in treatment with inorganic fertilizer +FYM +consortium biofertilizer. Urease activity showed a variable pattern during different time intervals. Microbial activities were also affected by different stages of plant growth. Total bacterial population showed positive correlation with enzyme activities during initial stages of plant growth but showed negative correlation with urease activity during late stages of plant growth. Combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers resulted in improved soil microflora leading to significantly higher enzyme activities which were further enhanced by inoculation of biofertilizers. context of soil fertility management, addition


(2006) A study of results overlap and uniqueness among major web search engines. 2 .ABSTRACT The performance and capabilities of Web search engines is an important and significant area of research. Millions of people world wide use Web search engines very day. This paper reports the results of a major study examining the overlap among results retrieved by multiple Web search engines for a large set of more than 10,000 queries. Previous smaller studies have discussed a lack of overlap in results returned by Web search engines for the same queries. The goal of the current study was to conduct a large-scale study to measure the overlap of search results on the first result page (both non-sponsored and sponsored) across the four most popular Web search engines, at specific points in time using a large number of queries. The Web search engines included in the study were MSN Search, Google, Yahoo! and Ask Jeeves. Our study then compares these results with the first page results retrieved for the same queries by the metasearch engine Dogpile.com. Two sets of randomly selected user-entered queries, one set was 10,316 queries and the other 12,570 queries, from Infospace's Dogpile.com search engine [the first set was from Dogpile, the second was from across the Infospace Network of search properties were submitted to the four single Web search engines. Findings show that the percent of total results unique to only one of the four Web search engines was 84.9%, shared by two of the three Web search engines was 11.4%, shared by three of the Web search engines was 2.6%, and shared by all four Web search engines was 1.1%. This small degree of overlap shows the significant difference in the way major Web search engines retrieve and rank results in response to given queries. Results point to the value of metasearch engines in Web retrieval to overcome the biases of individual search engines.


Job performance is increasingly being seen to encompass constructs such as organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and counterproductive work behavior (CWB). To clarify the OCB-CWB relationship, a meta-analysis was conducted. Results indicate a modest negative relationship (p = -0.32). The relationship strength did not increase appreciably when the target of the behavior (the organization vs. other employees) was the same. Moreover, OCB and CWB exhibited somewhat distinct patterns of relationships with antecedents. The OCB-CWB relationship was moderated by the source of the ratings, the presence of antithetical items, and the type of response options. An employee-centric perspective is proposed whereby both OCB and CWB are perceived as adaptive behavior. Implications for organizations are discussed.


In biological systems, pathways define complex interaction networks where multiple molecular elements are involved in a series of controlled reactions producing responses to specific biomolecular signals. These biosystems are dynamic and there is a need for mathematical and computational methods able to analyze the symbolic elements and the interactions between them and produce adequate readouts of such systems. In this work, we use rewriting logic to analyze the cellular signaling of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its cell surface receptor (EGFR) in order to induce cellular proliferation. Signaling is initiated by binding the ligand protein EGF to the membrane-bound receptor EGFR so as to trigger a reactions path which have several linked elements through the cell from the membrane till the nucleus. We present two different types of search for analyzing the EGF/proliferation system with the help of Pathway Logic tool, which provides a knowledge-based development environment to carry out the modeling of the signaling. The first one is a standard (forward) search. The second one is a novel approach based on narrowing, which allows us to trace backwards the causes of a given final state. The analysis allows the identification of critical elements that have to be activated to provoke proliferation.


In this paper, we propose a new opportunistic multicast protocol to improve multicast throughput in Wireless Mesh Networks (WMN). It builds upon opportunistic routing (OR) strategies that have been designed to improve unicast throughput in wireless networks. The key concept in our multicast protocol is a tree backbone. Our tree backbone protocol represents a tradeoff between traditional structured multicast protocols where a complete multicast tree is constructed and unstructured protocols where multicast is treated as a collection of unicasts. Tree backbone selects multiple nodes as intermediate nodes. Each pair of upstream and downstream nodes may be multiple hops away, and packet delivery between them takes advantage of OR. For single-rate WMNs, we show that constructing an efficient tree backbone that minimizes the number of transmissions is NP-hard, and we devise one effective heuristic algorithm for it. For multi-rate WMNs, we investigate the inherent rate-distance tradeoff and propose a Euclidean opportunistic multicast protocol by devising a Euclidean tree backbone as well as an efficient rate selection scheme to minimize the number of transmissions. In our simulations, our tree backbone multicast protocols outperform both the completely structured traditional multicast protocols and the completely unstructured unicast-based protocols augmented with OR in both throughput and delay.


We present a method for solubilizing and purifying UDP-Glc:ceramide glucosyltransferase (EC 126.96.36.199; glucosylceramide synthase (GCS)) from rat liver and present data on its substrate specificity. A Golgi membrane fraction was isolated, washed with N-lauroylsarcosine, and subsequently treated with 3[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-2-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonate to solubilize the enzyme. GCS activity was monitored throughout purification using UDP-Glc and a fluorescent ceramide analog as substrates. Purification of GCS was achieved via a two-step dye-agarose chromatography procedure using UDP-Glc to elute the enzyme. This resulted in an enrichment >10,000-fold relative to the starting homogenate. The enzyme was further characterized by sedimentation on a glycerol gradient, I labeling, and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which demonstrated that two polypeptides (60-70 kDa) corresponded closely with GCS activity. Purified GCS was found to require exogenous phospholipids for activity, and optimal results were obtained using dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine. Studies of the substrate specificity of the purified enzyme demonstrated that it was stereospecific and dependent on the nature and chain length of the N-acyl-sphingosine or -sphinganine substrate. UDP-Glc was the preferred hexose donor, but TDP-glucose and CDP-glucose were also efficiently used. This study provides a basis for molecular characterization of this key enzyme in glycosphingolipid biosynthesis.


During wintertime Viburnum opulus var. roseum (snowball) shrubs are forced in warm greenhouses to harvest early cut flowers. Early forcing is occasionally unsuccessful. This is probably due to a lack of hours with low temperatures that is needed to break bud dormancy. To gain more insight about the effect of temperature on breaking dormancy and early forcing results, shrubs were transferred into cold storage in week 41, 43 and 45 (2009) for 4, 6 or 8 weeks at a temperature of 2, 5 or 8°C. After storage, the shrubs were forced at a day-/night temperature of 28/23°C. Shrubs stored for at least 8 weeks from week 41, 6 weeks from week 43 and 4 weeks from week 45 gave good forcing results, regardless of storage temperature. Since growing conditions outside vary every year and differ between nurseries, it is difficult to determine when forcing can be started. To prevent poor forcing results, we aimed to develop a molecular diagnostic assay to determine the moment at which winter dormancy of snowball flower buds is sufficiently broken. In order to identify genes involved in bud breaking dormancy, an experiment was performed on a commercial nursery from October 2010 to January 2011. Flower buds of snowball shrubs outside were sampled weekly and in December and January batches of shrubs were placed every week in a greenhouse to observe forcing results. Genes involved in bud breaking dormancy were identified by performing next generation Illumina RNA sequencing on bud samples with poor and good forcing results. A set of candidate genes was validated during a second trial at two different commercial nurseries in 2011-2012.


The cell cycle is known to be regulated by features such as the mechanical properties of the surrounding environment and interaction of cells with the adhering substrates. Here, we investigated the possibility of regulating cell-cycle progression of the cells on gelatin/hyaluronic acid composite hydrogels obtained through hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-mediated cross-linking and degradation of the polymers by varying the exposure time to H2O2 contained in the air. The stiffness of the hydrogel varied with the exposure time. Human cervical cancer cells (HeLa) and mouse mammary gland epithelial cells (NMuMG) expressing cell-cycle reporter Fucci2 showed the exposure-time-dependent different cell-cycle progressions on the hydrogels. Although HeLa/Fucci2 cells cultured on the soft hydrogel (Young's modulus: 0.20 and 0.40 kPa) obtained through 15 min and 120 min of the H2O2 exposure showed a G2/M-phase arrest, NMuMG cells showed a G1-phase arrest. Additionally, the cell-cycle progression of NMuMG cells was not only governed by the hydrogel stiffness, but also by the low-molecular-weight HA resulting from H2O2-mediated degradation. These results indicate that H2O2-mediated cross-linking and degradation of gelatin/hyaluronic acid composite hydrogel could be used to control the cell adhesion and cell-cycle progression.


Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations (AIMD) are systematically performed to study the Vibrational Energy Redistribution (VER) in solid nitromethane (NM) by combining normal mode decomposition and short-time Fourier transform technique. After the selective excitations of all fourteen intramolecular vibrational modes above 400 cm−1, four three-dimensional (3D) excitation and detected vibrational spectra are obtained. The evolution of the kinetic energy proportion of all vibrations are also given and discussed quantitatively. These results show that, as the daughter modes, NO2 symmetric stretches, CH3 stretches and bends are usually excited quickly and relatively conspicuously compared with the other vibrations. Interestingly, we found that, although the stretching vibration of the CN bond which is a bridge between the methyl and nitro group can not respond immediately to the selective excitations, it always accumulates the vibrational energy slowly and steadily. Then, the underlying mechanisms are discussed based on the response of vibrational modes in both the time and frequency domain. As a result, we found that anharmonic transfers following symmetry rules which involve the couplings assisted by the overtones and rotations, as well as the transfers among the adjacent modes, play important roles in the VER of solid NM.


Li-air batteries with organic electrolyte at the anode and aqueous electrolyte at the cathode (dual electrolyte systems) are modeled using the mass transport and drift-diffusion equations of the electrolyte during the discharge of the cells. Two regimes of operation are analyzed: (1) when the concentration of the electrolyte is smaller than the concentration of saturation of Li + OH in water, and (2) when the electrolyte concentration reaches saturation and the reaction product is deposited at the cathode. Numerical simulations are performed to evaluate the dependence of the specific capacity, energy and power densities on the geometrical and material parameters during the two regimes of operation. It is shown that the energy density and specific capacity can be improved by increasing the solubility and the diffusion coefficient of oxygen in the cathode, but they are not much affected by adding a uniformly distributed catalyst in the cathode. The power density can be increased by 10% by increasing the solubility factor, the oxygen diffusion coefficient, or the reaction rate. The limiting factors for the low power density of these batteries are the low values of the oxygen diffusion coefficient in the cathode and the relatively high separator/anode and separator/cathode interface resistances.


Protein phosphorylation modulates many biological processes. However, the characterization of the complex regulatory circuits underlying cell response to external and internal stimuli is still limited by our inability to describe the phosphorylation network on a global scale. Modern MS‐based phosphoproteomics allows monitoring tens of thousands of phosphorylation sites in multiple conditions, making the approach ideal to explore signaling pathways mediated by phosphorylation. Here, we review recent advances in phosphoproteomics and discuss some of the computational approaches developed to facilitate extraction of signaling information from these datasets. Finally, this review focuses on approaches that integrate prior literature information with unbiased phosphoproteomics experiments.


Paul Howard-Jones is an expert in Educational Neuroscience, who lectures at the Graduate School of Education, University of Bristol. In the following interview given in May 2013, he shares his thoughts on a number of topics he has researched over many years. First off, he insists on defining the limitations of the neurosciences in their dialogue with the realm of education (a famous example is his pars destruens on "neuro-myths" in his essay Introducing Neuroeducational Research: Neuroscience, Education and the Brain from Contexts to Practice, published by Routledge in 2010). He then addresses more recent areas of research: evaluating the impact of teaching strategies involving movement, games and creativity. At the end of the interview, Howard-Jones states: "At the end of the day, neuroscience can only tell us what we can do, not what we should do. These decisions about balancing learners' experience and the curriculum need to be made by educators, although hopefully educators informed by neuroscience". Howard-Jones argues that the concept of Neuroeducation should be conceived as a two-way dialogue between the laboratory and the classroom, without either realm eclipsing the other. Thus, though the neurosciences are known for their efficacy as a demonstrative platform, the educational sciences, too, must be recognized for their mastery of designing learning experiences


University life presents challenges that can negatively affect the health and wellbeing of students and staff. Resilience is critical to managing challenges and thus is increasingly viewed as important for university students, graduates and employees. To date research on resilience has tended to adopt a view of resilience as an individual issue with little consideration of the socio-cultural factors that influence an individual's resilience. To address this gap a leadership program to enhance both staff resilience and their capacity to lead resilience enhancements for students from an ecological perspective was developed. The program, piloted in three universities across Australia, assisted staff in understanding the nature and importance of resilience, the contextual factors that impact on resilience and the leadership practices that help drive change in the higher education context. Both academic staff and professional staff involved in leading co-curricula student experiences participated in the two-day leadership program. This study, part of a broader program evaluation, adopted a mixed methods approach to investigate university staffs' levels of distress, resilience, and leadership practices. Pre- and post-intervention survey data indicated the program was positively received and most participants felt confident to lead curricula and co-curricula changes to enhance resilience within their work context. Implications for university educators, researchers and leaders are discussed .


Internet technology has found its way into all areas of business and research. The World Wide Web is also used at universities to achieve different goals. On the one hand, it acts as a means of outer appearance, on the other hand, as an instrument of knowledge transfer and knowledge examination. Of course other purposes in addition to those named above do exist. Often different systems are used to achieve the different goals; usually, Web content management systems (WCMS) are used for the outer appearance and learning management systems (LMS) for transfer and examination of knowledge. Although these systems use the same medium (i.e., the WWW), it can be stated that often there is a heterogeneous landscape of systems. Resultant is the object of investigation of the present chapter. The chapter analyses the challenges concerning the integration of public Web sites and LMS a typical European university has to face.


Continuous monitoring of blood pressure (BP) is highly valuable for hospitalized and domestic patients; however, the existing non-invasive cuff-based BP monitoring system is discreet and applies artificial pressure on patient' arms that makes the overall diagnostic process uncomfortable. The other invasive methods are interventional in nature, thereby the recuperating patient suffers from constant disturbances while measuring. Hence a cuff-less and contactless BP estimation system that allows caretakers to have easy access to measure BP of the patients at regular intervals without any disturbance is needed. A thermal imaging based continuous BP measurement system that is non-invasive, cuff-less, contact-less, non-disturbing, and targeted toward surgical, clinical, and domestic usage is proposed in this work. This system consists of a two-stage model wherein a pre-trained DenseNet-201 architecture is used to extract features from the thermal images and a 4 layered dense neural network (DNN) is employed on the extracted features to estimate the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with high accuracy. For developing this system, a novel in-house data-set was established that consisted of thermal images of 20 healthy participants. The novel cuff-less blood pressure evaluation system presented a mean absolute error (MAE) of 2.27 mmHg and 2.51 mmHg for SBP and DBP respectively with similar standard-deviation (SD) metrics. The characterized error metrics of the proposed system are the lowest till date when compared to other prior work, and it also satisfied the BHS, AAMI, and IEEE standards with highest grade for further clinical and domestic usage.


The conditions required for the production of varicella-zoster virus (VSV)-induced deoxythymidine kinase (dTk) have been studied. Extracts from Vero cells harvested 62 h after VZV infection were found to contain VZV-induced dTk activity, with a minimal contribution from the cellular dTk activity. VZV dTK was shown to have a broad substrate specificity phosphorylating both deoxythymidine, deoxycytidine, and iododeoxyuridine. Deoxythymidine triphosphate inhibition studies revealed an intermediate deoxythymidine triphosphate sensitivity when compared with that of the cellular cytosolar enzyme and the deoxythymidine triphosphate-insensitive herpes simplex virus dTk. An assay for VZV dTk-blocking antibodies was developed, with [125I]iododeoxyuridine as a substrate in the presence of a deoxythymidine triphosphate concentration which selectively blocked the dTK of host cell origin. A total of 79 serum samples were studied; these included serum pairs from patients with varicella or herpes zoster and single sera from immune and nonimmune adults. VZV dTk blocking antibodies were detected exclusively in sera from patients with herpes zoster. All serum pairs showing VZV dTK seroconversion also showed a parallel conversion of complement fixation titers. The VZV dTk antibodies were found to be of the immunoglobulin G class. The immunological specificity of VZV dTK was investigated, and no cross-reactivity with herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2 dTk was found.


Reviewed the paper are the composition and functions of Vibrio cholerae chitinolytic complex which play an important role in the maintaining and creating new forms of vibrios in the environment, it is better adapted to survive in environmental.


This investigation explored links between mother-infant coregulated communication patterns and infants' emerging parasympathetic regulatory processes (cardiac vagal tone). Participants included 56 first-time mothers and their 6-mo.-old infants (31 girls, 25 boys). A 4-mm. baseline EKG was gathered from the infant and an ensuing 15-min. mother-infant dyadic free-play episode was videotaped and coded using Fogel's 1994 Regional Coding System. This system was developed to describe variations in coregulated features of communication among dyads, ranging from symmetrical patterns to disruptive patterns of coregulation. Analysis suggests a positive link between infants' cardiac vagal tone and more symmetrical features of coregulated communication patterns in mother-infant dyads Cardiac vagal tone was also negatively correlated with unilateral features of coregulation communication systems. These findings point toward the potential relation between emerging physiological regulatory abilities of infants and the more relational regulatory processes in mother-infant dyads.


Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC

Tissue factor is recognized to be an important regulator of tumor angiogenesis and metastasis, independent of its participation in the blood coagulation pathway. The tissue factor gene is highly expressed only in breast carcinoma cells having high invasive potential, but the mechanisms regulating tissue factor gene expression in breast cancer cells remain unclear. This study examined the hypothesis that microRNA regulation of tissue factor expression is responsible for over-expression of the tissue factor gene in invasive breast cancer cells. Tissue factor was highly expressed in the highly invasive MDA-MB-231 line but was barely detectable in the less invasive MCF-7 line, as assayed by RT-PCR and western blot. A reporter gene assay showed that the tissue factor promoter can be activated in extracts prepared from MCF-7 cells. Forced expression of tissue factor cDNA was achieved in MCF-7 cells, implying that that tissue factor expression is regulated by the 3′-UTR of its transcript. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that microRNA species such as miR-19 (miR-19a and 19b) and miR-106b interact with the 3'-UTR of the tissue factor transcript and may regulate tissue factor protein translation and/or mRNA degradation. microRNA array confirmed that miR-19b is highly expressed in MCF-7 cells, as compared to MDA-MB-231 cells. A reporter gene assay using a TF-3′-UTR-luciferase construct indicated that the tissue factor 3′-UTR negatively regulates tissue factor expression, an effect that was completely reversed by deletion of the miR-19 binding site in the reporter construct. Application of an antisense microRNA for miR-19 enhanced tissue factor expression in MCF-7 cells. This study demonstrates that tissue factor expression in breast cancer cells is regulated by miR-19. The expression pattern of miR-19 in breast cancer tissues and its role in mediating angiogenesis and metastasis merit future investigation.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2048.


Abstract The Knitting and Crochet Guild archive, Holmfirth, west yorkshire hosts a vast array of handmade items, including clothing, artifacts, yarns, and samples, as well as tools, pattern leaflets, booklets, and magazines. this article explores how the collection was used as a starting point for engaging students in new experiential encounters with the archive, as both a concept and as a container for material histories of the past. two theoretical frameworks of investigation provide an intertwining methodology for reading the project: the first operates as a feminist narrative of intervention in the history of textile craft making, and the second considers how the "thought-images" of walter benjamin provide a tool for thinking through student responses. it is argued that as a repository of the home crafts, lee mills provides historical materialism with the experiential investigation it needs for a critical pedagogy of the present.


Abstract Considering a set of reaction wheels and an array of magnetorquers, we revisit the classical "cross product control law" solution for achieving attitude stabilization and momentum damping. In particular, we highlight the existence of a quasi-cascade structure for which asymptotic stability can be obtained by selecting a sufficiently high gain of the attitude stabilizer. However, we show how the classical solution renders the actuators more inclined to saturate. This is the reason underlying the introduction of a revisited version of this control law which stabilizes the overall system regardless of the aggressiveness of the attitude stabilizer by transforming the quasi-cascade into a real cascade. We then discuss how both strategies are such that the attitude control is affected by the momentum damping task although it should be treated as a secondary goal. To overcome this drawback, we propose a new allocation-based controller which makes the attitude dynamics completely independent of the momentum damping of the reaction wheels while preserving the possibility of considering non-aggressive attitude controllers. Finally, several simulation results enrich these discussions and highlight the pros and cons of the different control strategies.


Background Despite considerable collective improvement efforts and clinical initiatives to integrate palliative and end-of-life care the intensive care unit (ICU), few patients are currently receiving palliative care in this particular setting as promoted by the World health organisation (WHO). Aim Our first study showed that three conditions promote the integration of palliative care in the ICU: sharing a common vision, a concerted decision-making process and a proper environment. In light of these findings, we developed, implemented and evaluated an intervention integrating these previously identified conditions. The purpose of this communication is to present our research process and its main results. Method and discussion An action research design was chosen for this study because this method is highly collaborative, values consensual decision-making process and provides an organisational structure allowing success and sustainability. Results The first phase of this study led to the development of a two component communication intervention: an interactive educational workshop and an interdisciplinary component, making the entire team and the patient active participant in the decision making. This intervention was implemented in the ICU and evaluated with a constructivist approach through a pilot-case study which offered an operational illustration of palliative care in the ICU through an integrative model. Conclusions This study clearly demonstrates that changing the culture of the ICU is a collective endeavour that could be empowered by action research process. Early proactive interdisciplinary rounds and regular patient-family meeting, improves successful goal-directed care, quality end-of-life care and satisfaction.


Background The use of machine learning techniques is increasing in healthcare which allows to estimate and predict health outcomes from large administrative data sets more efficiently. The main objective of this study was to develop a generic machine learning (ML) algorithm to estimate the incidence of diabetes based on the number of reimbursements over the last 2 years. Methods We selected a training data set from a population-based epidemiological cohort (i.e., CONSTANCES) linked with French National Health Database (i.e., SNDS) to develop a ML-algorithm for estimating the incidence of diabetes. To develop this algorithm, we adopted a supervised ML approach. Following steps were performed: i. selection of final data set, ii. target definition, iii. coding variables for a given window of time, iv. split final data into training and test data sets, v. variables selection, vi. training model, vii. validation of model with test data set and viii. selection of the model. Results The final data set used to develop the algorithm included 44,659 participants from CONSTANCES. Out of 3,468 variables, which were similar in SNDS and CONSTANCES cohort were coded, 23 variables were selected to train different algorithms. The final algorithm to estimate the incidence of diabetes was a Linear Discriminant Analysis model based on number of reimbursements of selected variables related to biological tests, drugs, medical acts and hospitalization without a procedure over the last two years. This algorithm has a sensitivity of 62%, a specificity of 67% and an accuracy of 67% [95% CI: 0.66 – 0.68]. Conclusions Supervised ML is an innovative tool for the development of new methods to exploit large health administrative databases. In context of InfAct project, we have developed and applied the first time a generic ML-algorithm to estimate the incidence of diabetes for public health surveillance. The ML-algorithm we have developed, has a moderate performance. The next step is to apply this algorithm on SNDS to estimate the incidence of type 2 diabetes cases. More research is needed to apply various MLTs to estimate the incidence of various health conditions and to calculate the contribution of various risk factors on developing type 2 diabetes.


The impact of electronic pressure and electronic pressure gradient induced by laser excitation on the dynamic response of metals (Cu and Ni) has been numerically investigated using two complementary approaches. In the framework of DFPT, for electronic temperatures up to 6 eV, we demonstrate that electronic pressure results in a higher lattice stability. In other words, the electronic pressure has a negative influence on the phonon entropy and induces an increase in the shear modulus, which improves the melting temperature and lattice vibration frequency. Given the relaxation of electronic pressure during an extreme non-equilibrium state, we adopt a modified 2T-MD model to identify the contribution of the electronic pressure gradient to the atomic dynamics during fs laser excitation. Our results indicate the presence of rapid destabilization of the structure of Cu and Ni nano-films along the electronic pressure gradients. Specifically, the nucleation of the voids and heterogeneous nucleation occur at the surface layer, at a depth of several nanometers, for Cu and Ni, respectively. With the coexistence of a-thermal and thermal effects on scales, two different ultrafast destructuring processes of Cu and Ni both interrelate a hot electronic blast force and classical electron–ion dynamics.


Discrete-event modeling has long been used for logistics and scheduling problems, while multi--agent modelling closely matches human decision-making process. In this paper a metric-based comparison between the traditional discrete-event and the emerging agent-based modeling approaches is reported. The case study involved the implementation of two functionally identical models based on a realistic, non-trivial, civil aircraft gas turbine global repair operation. The size, structural complexity, and coupling metrics from the two models were used to gauge the benefits and drawbacks of each modeling paradigm. The agent-based model was significantly better than the discrete-event model in terms of execution times, scalability, understandability, modifiability, and structural flexibility. In contrast, and importantly in an engineering context, the discrete-event model guaranteed predictable and repeatable results and was comparatively easy to test because of its single-threaded operation. However, neither modeling approach on its own possesses all these characteristics nor can each handle the wide range of resolutions and scales frequently encountered in problems exemplified by the case study scenario. It is recognized that agent-based modeling can emulate high-level human decision-making and communication closely while discrete-event modeling provides a good fit for low-level sequential processes such as those found in manufacturing and logistics.


Considering the significance of green governance in economic restructuring and the green technology revolution, this study examines the impact of China's recent green governance policies and their implications in various regions; it also examines new models, methods, and development directions for China's green governance in the future. Green governance efficiency and spatial patterns have been studied through 2008–2018 data using a three-stage generalized panel Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model, spatial autocorrelation model, spatial gravity model, and social network analysis. The study summarizes the status and role of each provincial region in green governance based on the social network of green governance efficiency under the network architecture. It concludes that (1) green governance efficiency in China's provinces has a U-shaped trend, with non-managerial elements in the external environment masking genuine green governance efficiency. (2) During the study period, the overall efficiency of the industrial system improved. The efficiency of the manufacturing and wastewater stages has been substantially enhanced, but no significant gains were observed in the treatment stages of solid and gas waste. (3) Although China has made progress in enhancing the overall efficiency of its industrial system, there is still potential for improvement. (4) China has established a "three horizontal and two vertical grid-type" green governance spatial correlation structure among the sub-stages of the industrial system, and the radiation impact of major provincial areas would increase overall green governance efficiency.


With the main problems which exist on the key customer management and the characteristics of high costs and high returns on the domestic coach industry, then it is necessary to further grade the key customers who are confirmed based on the ABC classification through the profit and loss accounting method. To identify the real key customers, which is in order to realize the benefit development of the customers and optimize configuration of the enterprise resources, and finally the enterprise realizes the benefit development. The analysis results of this paper show that: it is necessary for the coach enterprises to grade the key customers, so that it can better control the enterprise cost and realize the goal of enterprise profit by identifying and managing the real key customers from the perspective of cost control.


Surprisingly stable is the first example of a binary six π electron aromatic SN cation with an N3 unit, S2 N3+ . It can be isolated on a macroscopic scale when a large counter anion is present. The structure determined by X-ray investigations is in good agreement with theoretical data. The unequivocal identification was supported by Raman and infrared studies. The structure and bonding are discussed on the basis of MO (molecular orbital) and AIM (atoms-in-molecules) analysis.


Abstract The spatial synthesis problem addressed in this paper is the configuration of rectangles in 2D space, where the sides of the rectangles are parallel to an orthogonal coordinate system. Variables are the locations of the edges of the rectangles and their orientations. Algebraic constraints on these variables define a layout and constitute a constraint satisfaction problem. We give a new O(n2) algorithm for incremental path-consistency, which is applied after adding each algebraic constraint. Problem requirements are formulated as spatial relations between the rectangles, for example, adjacency, minimum distance, and nonoverlap. Spatial relations are expressed by Boolean combinations of the algebraic constraints; called disjunctive constraints. Solutions are generated by backtracking search, which selects a disjunctive constraint and instantiates its disjuncts. The selected disjuncts describe an equivalence class of configurations that is a significantly different solution. This method generates the set of significantly different solutions that satisfy all the requirements. The order of instantiating disjunctive constraints is critical for search efficiency. It is determined dynamically at each search state, using functions of heuristic measures called textures. Textures implement fail-first and prune-early strategies. Extensions to the model, that is, 3D configurations, configurations of nonrectangular shapes, constraint relaxation, optimization, and adding new rectangles during search are discussed.


[Extract] Diagnostic reasoning is intricate and error-prone. Success hinges upon the collection and correct
interpretation of accurate clinical information. To make a diagnosis, the clinician should first collect a
good history and carry out a thorough physical examination. At this stage the patient's problems are
identified and appropriate differential diagnoses are listed. If necessary, further diagnostic tests (such as
diagnostic imaging, blood tests and urine analysis) can be done to help rule in or rule out differential
diagnoses. The clinician then uses inferential reasoning to refine her or his understanding of the patient's
problems. More specific diagnostic tests may be necessary at this stage to approach a diagnosis. A
'definitive' diagnosis can be deduced once the patient's problems are understood with a degree of
precision sufficient to allow accurate prognostication and formulation of an optimal therapeutic plan.


Students in the social margins of their classroom peer group, in the current study operationalized as students who are often by themselves, do not belong to a group of friends, and are unpopular, are hampered in their social development. In line with social referencing, which states that teachers can affect peer perceptions through their interactions with students, we hypothesized that teachers may contribute to the social participation and integration of these students, by modeling frequent and positive interaction with them. We therefore explored teacher behavior with socially marginalized students, and how these interactions were related to changes in the severity of their social marginality over time. Multilevel analyses were performed with a sample of Dutch 824 fifth-grade students (Mage = 10.63) and their 32 teachers. Teachers had less frequent interactions with students in the social margins of the group, particularly when these students were unpopular. Nonetheless, we found some evidence for a social referencing mechanism: latent growth modeling showed that when teachers acted less negatively toward socially marginalized as well as rejected students, they became more socially integrated in their peer-group over time.


Asset quality of banks has come under increasing pressure with rising NPAs and Restructured loans. The Gross NPA ratio for the banking system, which was 2.4% in March 2011, increased to 3.6 per cent by September 2012. Having seen the challenges before the Indian banking system, what are our motivations for discussing, today, the issue of taking the Indian Banking Sector towards the next orbit? [Valedictory Address delivered at the 11th Advanced Management Programme 'Towards the Next Orbit: Indian Banking Sector' organized by IMI at New Delhi].


The purpose of this activity is to provide understanding to final year students about writing scientific articles from theses and theses for students and how to publish them in accredited and unaccredited national journals as a condition for attending the final trial or graduation requirements. This activity is also a means to motivate students to write quality scientific articles from the results of theses and theses. The method of implementing this Community Service (PKM) activity uses the lecture and demonstration method. This activity was carried out through Zoom Meetings and Live Streaming YouTube. This activity involved 2 lecturers of the Wiyatamandala School of Economics, namely Mrs. Made Irma Lestari S.E, M.Acc and Mr. Drs. Sutrisno M.M. The number of participants involved in this community service activity (PKM) are dozens of participants consisting of final year students of the Wiyatamandala School of Economics in the final semester who will face a thesis trial as well as various other students from universities and colleges in Jakarta and its surroundings. The topic of the first material is "Systematics for Writing Scientific Articles". In this session, it is explained about how to write scientific articles so that they can be published in scientific journals as well as providing examples of scientific articles from theses and theses that have been published in student scientific journals and national journals. The topic of the second material is "Ethics and Rules for Writing Scientific Papers". In this session, it is explained about ethical procedures such as citing theoretical references and other general rules in writing scientific papers. This activity is expected to foster enthusiasm in the participants because of the positive response from the participants to the implementation of the training and many enthusiastic participants asking questions either in the Zoom Chat Room or YouTube Live Chat related to the topic of the activity.


Introduction Photogrammetry has traditionally provided a means of generating three-dimensional spatial data to represent terrain surfaces, which complements traditional ground-based surveying methods. Although techniques such as airborne laser scanning (Lohr 1998) and synthetic aperture radar (Hogg et al. 1993; Vencatasawamy et al. 1998) have developed, photogrammetry remains the primary method of generating topographic maps (Wolf 1983; Capes 1998). One important advantage of photogrammetry is the flexibility of scale that allows application to imagery acquired from ground, air and space. Indeed, a new generation of high (i.e. 1 m) resolution satellite sensors (Capes 1998) is likely to further increase the potential applications of photogrammetry. Despite many advantages, there have been several problems with the application of photogrammetry using traditional methods. Most significantly, there was the requirement to use an expensive and complex photogrammetric stereoplotter. This ensured that the measurement process was slow and generally required the skills of an experienced operator, particularly if results of the highest accuracy were to be obtained. Rapid developments in computing hardware and software have allowed the science of photogrammetry to develop rapidly during the last ten years (Gruen 1994; Atkinson 1996; Greve 1996). These developments have radically eased many of the problems and limitations associated with traditional analogue instrumentation. Use of a purely numerical or analytical solution provides flexibility, which assists in two important ways. Satellite imagery, oblique aerial photography and ground-based imagery can be used, in addition to the more traditional vertical aerial perspective. Similarly, imagery acquired using


As growing concerns about food safety, consumers consider more about what to eat and how to buy groceries. The new term 'locavore' coined in the mid-2000s is a reflection of this recent phenomenon. Its meaning is a person interested in eating food that is locally produced. As an appropriate countermeasure for healthful food consumption, the locavore movement can sustain food supply system in a various way. The agricultural business in the rural areas has been on the decline due to a series of market openings caused by the FTAs. In this regard, it is time to bring up more effective feasible measures for farming. By putting the locavore movement into action, the rural community can boost its economy as well as enhance its social unity. In this study, Pocheon, Gyeonggi province is chosen to be a model to initiate the locavore movement in Korea. As a neighboring city of Seoul, Pocheon composes of a number of farmlands and livestock breeding farms as well as tourists' attractions. The transportation system in Pocheon is so convenient that Seoul citizens easily visit the community. In this regard, Pocheon is most likely to be a starting point providing the urban areas nearby with good quality of local food.


Throughout his career, Zbib was innovative, originating models in seminal papers that anticipated areas of subsequent increased interest. These include strain-gradient plasticity, discrete dislocation dynamics, multiscale modeling, arrays of Somigliana ring dislocations and nanoscale plasticity. We comment here on these aspects of his work. Many of the papers in this volume represent applications of these ideas.


Advances in the past 5 years in geologic modeling and seismic processing now make it possible to perform stratigraphic interpretation to a degree not previously possible. These techniques provide the geologist and geophysicist with an ability to correlate well data with seismic data to a higher degree of reliability, particularly in stratigraphic situations that were previously difficult to interpret. The ability to detect lateral facies changes, vertical lithology transitions, reefs, channel sands, barrier bars, pinchouts, and gas/liquid contacts is greatly enhanced. These techniques have been used successfully and practically to aid exploration in diverse geologic provinces; and these methods have been used not only in an exploration context, but also in exploitation situations. In exploitation, methods are continually being evolved which incorporate the use of seismic, geologic, and engineering data for more refined estimates of oil and gas in place, as well as recoverable reserves.


The first detection of perchlorate salts in the Martian regolith was made by NASA's Phoenix Mars lander in the northern polar plains. Perchlorate salts are important as they can lead to the formation of brines, are a possible energy source for microbes and can be used as a marker for climate change from wet to dry conditions. There is currently no known mechanism of perchlorate production on Mars though an atmospheric chemical pathway resulting in perchlorate has been proposed.


Today's enterprise systems and networks are frequent targets of malicious attacks, such as worms, viruses, spyware and intrusions that can disrupt, or even disable critical services. Recent trends suggest that by combining spyware as a malicious payload with worms as a delivery mechanism, malicious programs can potentially be used for industrial espionage and identity theft. The problem is compounded further by the increasing convergence of wired, wireless and cellular networks, since virus writers can now write malware that can crossover from one network segment to another, exploiting services and vulnerabilities specific to each network. This dissertation makes four primary contributions. First, it builds more accurate malware propagation models for emerging hybrid malware (i.e., malware that use multiple propagation vectors such as Bluetooth, Email, Peer-to-Peer, Instant Messaging, etc.), addressing key propagation factors such as heterogeneity of nodes, services and user mobility within the network. Second, it develops a proactive containment framework based on group-behavior of hosts against such malicious agents in an enterprise setting. The majority of today's anti-virus solutions are reactive, i.e., these are activated only after a malicious activity has been detected at a node in the network. In contrast, proactive containment has the potential of closing the vulnerable services ahead of infection, and thereby halting the spread of the malware. Third, we study (1) the current-generation mobile viruses and worms that target SMS/MMS messaging and Bluetooth on handsets, and the corresponding exploits, and (2) their potential impact in a large SMS provider network using real-life SMS network data. Finally, we propose a new behavioral approach for detecting emerging malware targeting mobile handsets. Our approach is based on the concept of generalized behavioral patterns instead of traditional signature-based detection. The signature-based methods are not scalable for deployment in mobile devices due to limited resources available on today's typical handsets. Further, we demonstrate that the behavioral approach not only has a compact footprint, but also can detect new classes of malware that combine some features from existing classes of malware.


Behavioral economics has now become a major new field in economic. Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky backed up by a large amount of experiments; show that rationality in standard economy is not always accomplished by the decision maker. Due to these experiments the discussion is the following: if the individual can harm himself by making his own decision, then should the State make the decision on what is best for the individual? This subject matter leads to the controversy on paternalism: Does it diminish freedom as a value and so the development of the responsible citizen? In this paper we will set some examples of the discussion currently held in the academic world. Last we will show how the historic market dynamic can modify the irrational behavior. We will also set some precision on when not only the state intervention doesn't diminish freedom but also can enforce the experience of consumption of the responsible citizen.


Lingual mandibular cortical defects (Stafne's defects) are relatively uncommon in recent as well as past populations, but while this condition is often discussed in clinical reports, they are rarely the subject of anthropological research. In this paper, the prevalence of Stafne's bone defects in skeletal samples from Late Neolithic, Late Roman, Medieval and Modern Portugal is investigated (N ¼ 704 complete mandibles and 111 incomplete mandibles). The aims of this paper are threefold: (1) to present and analyse for the first time in Portuguese osteological record prevalence data on Stafne's bone defect, (2) to analyse variations in defect prevalence between skeletal samples from a wide temporal array and (3) to verify if more tenuous lesions in which resorption of the lingual cortex was not yet extensive had the classic radiographic appearance described by Stafne in order to validate the hypothesis that lesions are present clinically in many more cases than published figures indicate. In all cases, differential diagnosis against other conditions that mimic Stafne's defects, namely odontogenic lesions, cysts and neoplasms, was done. In all samples, the evidence of Stafne's defect occurred in 12 individuals (1.7%), and males (2.84%) were more frequently affected than females (0.61%). When incomplete mandibles were considered, only one left fragment (0.90%) exhibited Stafne's defect. Accurate identification of all examples of Stafne's bone defects in antiquity is thought to represent an important contribution to elucidate which factors may be responsible for this trait's cultural, ecological, temporal and geographical patterning. Copyright 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Abstract Two new milbemycin derivatives, 27-methoxylmilbemycin α31 (1) and 27-oxomilbemycin α31 (2), were isolated from the genetically engineered strain Streptomyces bingchenggensis BCJ60. Their structures were determined by 1D NMR, 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectral analysis, and comparison with previous reports. The acaricidal and nematocidal capacities of compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated against Tetranychus cinnabarinus and Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, respectively. The results showed that the two new macrocyclic lactones 1 and 2 possessed potent acaricidal and nematocidal activities.


Despite the declining number of traditional taxonomists, our knowledge of Earth's biodiversity continues to grow in the form of DNA sequence data. Freely available through online databases, analyses of sequence datasets are increasingly used as an alternative for the traditional taxonomic process. Species identifications have become "DNA barcoding," new species discoveries are characterised by genetic divergences, and traditional classification has been supplanted by molecular phylogenetics. These developments are illustrated through a case study investigating the identities of Taygetis butterflies of Costa Rica. Here I review prospects and problems with the molecularization of taxonomy and the key role of publicly available nucleotide sequence databases in efforts to catalogue diversity of life.


In patients with manifest anterograde ventricular preexcitation, the electrocardiographic manifestation of the anomalous conduction through the simultaneous conduction over the atrioventricular (AV) node and the accessory pathway ("delta wave"); depends on several factors, the most representative being the conduction velocity over one or another connection. Occasionally, ventricular ectopic beats may present with retrograde penetration over one or both conduction pathways (AV node and/or accessory pathway), impacting on the morphology of the next immediate anterogradely conducted QRS. We present a case of a young patient with WPW syndrome and ectopic ventricular beats with different manifestations on the postectopic QRS due to concealed penetration of different conduction pathways.


The design and performance of a general purpose, monolithic, wide-band GaAs IC amplifier is described. This amplifier features a high-voltage gain (26 dB), wide bandwidth (5 MHz to 3.3 GHz), and very low input: VSWR (less than 1.3:1). No matching components are used on-chip, allowing for a small chip size of /SUP 1///SUB 4/ mm/SUP 2/. The input stage consists of a 248 /spl mu/m MESFET in a common-gate configuration with a noise figure under 10 dB (f=1 GHz) with a 50 /spl Omega/ source resistance. Noise figure limitations of both common-source and common-gate MESFET stages are discussed in detail. The amplifier uses 1 /spl mu/m gate length MESFETs, GaAs Schottky diodes for level shifting, thin-film silicon nitride capacitors for AC coupling, and GaAs implanted resistors. The high gain and wide bandwidth make this amplifier useful for many signal processing and instrument/measurement applications.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether there are cerebellar vermis abnormalities in schizophrenia.

DESIGN
Prospective imaging study with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).

SETTING
Schizophrenia clinic at a large urban hospital.

PATIENTS AND CONTROLS
Twelve right-handed male patients with schizophrenia, and 12 control subjects with no psychiatric history.

INTERVENTIONS
MRS data were acquired from a 2.0 x 2.0 x 2.0 cm volume of interest that included the entire cerebellar vermis.

OUTCOME MEASURES
Spectral peak arising from N-acetylaspartate (NAA), phosphocreatine/creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho).

RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the patients with schizophrenia and the controls in cerebellar vermis ratios of NAA to Cr (p = 0.71) or Cho to Cr (p = 0.50).

CONCLUSIONS
This study does not support earlier structural studies that found abnormalities of the cerebellar vermis in schizophrenia, although it does support reported neurochemical studies. It does not rule out cerebellar involvement in schizophrenia through mechanisms such as aberrant circuitry. Larger in vivo structural/neurochemical and functional imaging studies in other parts of the cerebellum are needed.


As described in Chapter 6, an inverter circuit with lumped elements is always applied for coupling wireless power transfer (WPT) because its frequency is usually in the kHz-MHz range and its wavelength is very low compared to the circuit size. As described in Chapters 7 and 8, radio waves with frequencies in the GHz range that are below tens of cm-1 are used for WPT to extend the WPT distance. At frequencies above 1 GHz, the size of the circuit and the wavelength are essentially the same; therefore, distributed constant lines are often applied to the circuit at frequencies greater than GHz instead of the lumped elements (Figure 9.1). We must consider a phase and an amplitude at each point in the circuit and the characteristic impedance of the circuit given by the amplitude and the phase of the voltage and current in the circuit. We should additionally consider parasitic capacitances and inductances at GHz frequencies. While the inverter circuits and design method described in Chapter 6 can be applied for WPT via radio waves, other transmitter/receiver circuits and design methods with the distributed constant lines are more suited for WPT via radio waves and should be used instead of the circuits described in Chapter 6.


Effects of pure and mixed substrates of sisal waste, grass (Panicum coloratum) and a combination of the two substrates at 50:50 (w/w) on nutritional composition, minerals and antioxidant potential of sun-dried Pleurotus sapidus 969 were investigated in the present study. To determine the proximate chemical composition and antioxidant properties of the samples, standard analytical procedures were employed. Moisture content, crude protein and crude fibre ranged between 11.09-12.80%, 6.4-6.6% and 18.3-30.5%, respectively. Macro elements Ca, Mg, Na, K, and P were also found in substantial amounts with K being present in an exceedingly higher amount (541.3-657.1 mg/100g) than the other macro minerals. The samples from the three substrates contained antioxidant β-carotene (4.6-6.0 mg/100g), lycopene (4.9-5.1mg/100g), Vitamin C (5.2-5.6 mg/100g), phenols (361.0-859.0 mg of GA/g) and flavanoids (33.5-64.0 mg RE/g).Mushroom harvested from mixed substrates contained better nutritional qualities than the pure substrate, although the phenolic content in mushrooms cultivated on sisal substrate was higher. The results further showed that, all the extracts exhibited scavenging ability and metal chelating activity. The findings showed that Pleurotus sapidus 969 is rich in nutrients, macro minerals as well as natural antioxidant which could be explored for pharmaceutical applications.


We present a case of decreased vision due to the presence of retained Descemet membrane (DM) following Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) and penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). A 78-year-old male presented postoperatively from PKP after previous failed DSAEK with retained DM. We present a unique technique for combined surgical resection using bimanual vitrectomy and forceps excision assisted by triamcinolone acetonide for membrane visualization. Histopathological evaluation confirmed incomplete DM removal during the PKP. With surgical excision, there was an improvement in best spectacle-corrected visual acuity from 20/80 to 20/30.


Although surgery is the treatment of choice for symptomatic gallstones, most bile duct calculi can be successfully treated with the use of routine percutaneous or endoscopic methods. Failure of these methods is most often associated with stones larger than 1.5 cm. The authors used percutaneous intracorporeal electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) to treat 11 patients with calculi in the bile ducts (n = 10) or gallbladder (n = 1) in whom the use of other percutaneous or endoscopic methods failed. The stones in all 11 patients were successfully fragmented and removed. There were no complications. Intracorporeal EHL is an effective alternative therapy for the treatment of biliary tract calculi when standard methods fail.


Abstract The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that the identification of carbonate platforms in frontier exploration using seismic data remains challenging despite the variety of attributes that can be extracted from the data and their integration with other sources of information. A Miocene example from offshore Tobago (Southern Caribbean) is evaluated using 3D seismic data integrated with regional geology, potential fields, analogues and structural restoration. The data are compatible with interpreting the target as shallow-marine carbonates, and a conceptual model is presented. However, far fewer of the seismic characteristics are diagnostic of a carbonate platform, and despite the intensive approach and the use of published criteria for subsurface carbonate interpretation, it was impossible to conclusively identify the target as a shallow-marine carbonate. Alternative explanations such as volcaniclastics, eroded remnants of siliciclastics and basement highs are considered. The study illustrates that it is common to find situations where the origin of a prospective geobody cannot be determined beyond significant levels of uncertainty unless it is drilled. If other elements of the petroleum system are favourable, this irreducible risk has to be accepted to avoid overlooking attractive carbonate reservoirs, provided all available data are used and all possible alternative interpretations considered.


GEZGIN-2 is a real-time image processing subsystem, currently being developed for RASAT, the second small satellite to be launched by TUBITAK-BILTEN, in 2007. It is an advanced version of the GEZGIN payload, implementing JPEG 2000 image compression algorithm and currently flying on the BILSAT-1 satellite. The main enhancements in GEZGIN-2 are the integration of the full processing path of JPEG 2000 algorithm in a single Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) for increased processing performance and high speed data links complying with the ESA Spacewire standard, for data transfer at a rate of 100 Mbps. In addition to JPEG2000, GEZGIN-2 facilitates image pre-processing for cloud/sea detection and image/data encryption implemented on a daughter-board called GOLGE. As in GEZGIN, GEZGIN-2 allows for adjustment of compression ratio for different mission times by means of run-time supplied parameters and full reconfigurability in orbit.


We present FlowMO: an open-source Python library for molecular property prediction with Gaussian Processes. Built upon GPflow and RDKit, FlowMO enables the user to make predictions with well-calibrated uncertainty estimates, an output central to active learning and molecular design applications. Gaussian Processes are particularly attractive for modelling small molecular datasets, a characteristic of many real-world virtual screening campaigns where high-quality experimental data is scarce. Computational experiments across three small datasets demonstrate comparable predictive performance to deep learning methods but with superior uncertainty calibration.


PURPOSE
Eye plaque brachytherapy is one of the approaches for radiotherapy treatment for ocular cancers: retinoblastoma and choroidal melanoma. This study, investigates the potential benefits of using gold nanoparticles to enhance therapeutic efficacy during eye plaque brachytherapy.

METHODS
The EYE PHYSICS Inc. Plaque Simulator program distributed by IsoAid, LLC, Port Richey, Florida was used. It is based on the superposition of dose contributions from individual seeds following the TG-43 formalism. Dose enhancement factor (DEF) values for feasible nanoparticle concentrations from previous studies was used to investigate the benefit of using nanoparticles to enhance dose to tumour or reduce dose to healthy tissue. The dose enhancement factor (DEF) represents the ratio of the dose deposited in tumour with nanoparticles divided by dose deposited in the tumour without nanoparticles. The investigation was done for I-125 and Pd-103 typical sources employed for eye plaque brachytherapy. The prescription dose used is 85 Gy.

RESULTS
Lower dose enhancement values were obtained for Pd-103. With DEF of 2 due to gold nanoparticles, critical structure doses reduce by a factor of 2. Optic disc dose is 6.69 Gy and 4.571 Gy, opposite retina dose is 4.064 and 2.484 Gy, lens dose is 12.66 Gy and 9.870 Gy, and fovea dose is 9.85 Gy and 7.275 Gy. With DEF of 3 due to gold nanoparticles, critical structure doses reduce by a factor of 3. Optic disc dose is 4.352 Gy and 2.975 Gy, opposite retina dose is 2.644 Gy and 1.618 Gy, lens dose is 8.322 Gy and 6.427 Gy, and fovea dose is 4.815 Gy and 4.737 Gy.

CONCLUSION
The results of this research predict that using gold nanoparticles will lead to major sparing of dose to critical structures. The finding provides more impetus for the development of nanoparticle-aided brachytherapy.


Using variable-temperature neutron powder diffraction measurements, we show that the two quartz-like metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) deuterium indium(III) terephthalate and zinc(II) isonicotinate exhibit anisotropic positive and negative thermal expansion (PTE/NTE) behaviour. Whereas in the former the NTE response is uniaxial—occurring along the hexagonal crystal axis—this behaviour is inverted in the latter such that PTE occurs along the hexagonal axis and NTE is found in the entire plane of perpendicular directions. We show that this inversion of mechanical response can be explained on geometric grounds alone; specifically, we identify a critical framework geometry that demarcates a switch from linear to area NTE response. Extending this analysis to other common MOF topologies, we establish a generic predictive approach for establishing the dimensionality of NTE (or, by extension, negative compressibility) responses in a large range of different framework systems. Our analysis suggests that framework geometry plays a crucial role in determining the mechanical response of framework materials which show anisotropic responses via hinging.


Background: Exposure to parental chronic illness is associated with adverse developmental outcomes. Objective: We examined the association between parental multiple sclerosis (MS) and parental MS-related clinical factors on developmental health. Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study in British Columbia, Canada, using linked health databases. The outcome was childhood development at 5 years of age, expressed as vulnerability on the Early Development Instrument (EDI). Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Results: MS-affected parents (n = 783) were older, more likely to be English speakers, and had higher rates of mental health morbidity (39.6% vs 22.2%, p < 0.001) than unaffected parents (n = 2988). In the adjusted models, children of mothers with MS (aOR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.44–0.87), but not children of the fathers with MS, had a lower risk of vulnerability on the social development domain of the EDI. However, mental health comorbidity (aOR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.05–2.50) and physical comorbidity (aOR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.05–2.64) among mothers with MS were associated with increased vulnerability on the EDI. Conclusion: Maternal MS, but not paternal MS, was associated with lower rates of developmental vulnerability on the social development domain. However, mental and physical comorbidity among MS-affected mothers were associated with increased developmental vulnerability in children.


Abstract 312 Prognosis in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is heavily influenced by cytogenetics. Trisomy 8 (+8) is reported in 15–20% of MDS patients (pts) and is one of the most commonly identified karyotypes in this disease. Sole +8 is an intermediate-risk karyotype in MDS by the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS). However, pts with +8 myeloid malignancies exhibit wide clinical heterogeneity. In chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), +8 is considered high-risk, while in MDS functional data suggests an "immunopathologic" cause that is responsive to immunosuppressive agents and confers a good prognosis. Single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP-A) and molecular technologies (next generation sequencing) have led to further refinement of prognosis in MDS, and subsequent discovery of molecular mutations with distinct effects on outcomes. We hypothesized that the differential outcomes noted in +8 MDS are primarily influenced by both clinicomorphologic features and the acquisition of new cytogenetic (isolated, +1, ≥2) and molecular defects. To further characterize the clinical and molecular behavior of +8 myeloid neoplasms, we analyzed 68 pts seen at the Cleveland Clinic with a +8 clone. Hematologic, bone marrow (BM), cytogenetic (metaphase cytogenetic [MC]/SNP-A) and survival data were collected. Survival comparisons were made by Kaplan-Meier analyses. Cox-proportional hazard ratio was used to determine factors predictive of outcomes. Response was evaluated per International Working Group 2006 criteria. Most (69%) pts were male; median age 69 years (38–89), and median follow-up 15 months. 69% (47/68) had MDS, 10% (7/68) MDS/MPN, 3% (2/68) MPN and 18% (12/68) AML. 41% of pts had an isolated +8 abnormality (+8 (i)), 16% had one additional abnormality (+8plus1), and 43% had ≥2 additional abnormalities defined as +8complex. By IPSS, Int-1=34%, Int-2=25%, high=42%. SNP-A data were available in 51% of the cases and detected new lesions in 60% of them (gains[46%], losses[43%], UPD[23%]). Clinically, pts with +8complex had higher median peripheral blood blasts (PB) compared to +8plus1 and +8(i) (3.5 vs 0 vs 0%,p=.04). By treatment, pts received high intensity (BMT±high dose chemo=35%), low intensity (hypomethylating agents [HMA]± lenalidomide=37%) or supportive therapies=28%). Overall response rate was 47%, with 14% CR. By cytogenetic grouping, +8complex had lower response rates compared to +8 with additional karyotype (30 vs 60 vs 52%; p=.06). Median overall survival (OS) was 15 months, and median event free survival (EFS) was 8 months, with worse OS noted in +8 complex compared to +8 plus1 and +8(i) (OS=11 vs 22 vs 29 months, p=.02; EFS=5 vs 10 vs 12 months; p=.04). To investigate the biologic rationale of these observations, we performing direct sequencing for poor prognostic genes in myeloid malignancies, such as ASXL1 , IDH1/2 , EZH2 , K/NRAS, CBL and TP53 and for predictors of good outcomes/response like SF3B1/TET2 . Molecular mutations were identified in 9/24 (38%) pts, with mutational frequencies within +8(i) (12 pts) of TET2 (42%), ASXL1 (42%), K-/NRAS (17%), SF3B1 (17%), and TP53 (0%). None of these mutations were detected in the +8plus1 or +8complex cohorts except for TP53 in one +8complex pt. No IDH1/2 / EZH2 / CBL mutations were found in the entire +8 cohort. Interestingly, mutations in TET2 conferred a better OS (88 vs 12 mos; p=.01). In +8 myeloid malignancies, ASXL1 mutations did not impact OS. We are currently performing whole exome sequencing and other immunogenetic studies in +8 pts to help identify factors that contribute to these group outcomes. To further define factors predictive of worse outcomes in +8 pts, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed and a predictive model of OS was designed. Using a simple scoring system, one point each was assigned to LDH ≥240, platelets 5%, and 2 points to an ANC 2], median OS=4.6 months; p Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


An adaptation of the hard-thresholding denoising method for analogue circuits is presented. The proposed approach has been proved with a chip fabricated in 0.5 µm CMOS technology. The system works for signals contaminated with white Gaussian noise in the range 100 kHz to 1.6 MHz. On-chip measurements demonstrate a noise reduction up to 7 dB.


MiRNAs are associated with normal cellular processes and with many complex diseases in respiratory tissues.

In multiciliated cells, hundreds of motile cilia beat in a coordinated manner to generate directional fluid flow. We have identified microRNAs of the miR-34/449 families as evolutionary conserved key regulators of vertebrate multiciliogenesis. miR-449 strongly accumulated in multiciliated cells in human airway epithelium and Xenopus laevis embryonic epidermis, where it triggered centriole multiplication and multiciliogenesis by directly repressing the Delta/Notch pathway. Our data unravel a novel conserved mechanism whereby Notch signaling must undergo microRNAmediated inhibition to permit differentiation of ciliated cell progenitors.

We then observed an altered expression of miR-199a-5p in IPF (idiopathic fibrosis) patients, and also in the mouse bleomycin model of lung fibrosis. Increased levels of miR-199a-5p were observed in myofibroblasts from injured mouse lungs and fibroblastic foci. In cultured lung fibroblasts, miR-199a-5p expression was induced upon TGFβ exposure, and ectopic expression of miR-199a-5p was sufficient to promote the pathogenic activation of pulmonary fibroblasts. The effects of miR-199a-5p as a key effector of TGFβ signaling in lung fibroblasts were explained by its effects on CAV1, a critical mediator of pulmonary fibrosis. Dysregulation of miR-199a-5p probably represents a general mechanism contributing to the fibrotic process. MiR-199a-5p thus behaves as a major regulator of tissue fibrosis with therapeutic potency to treat fibroproliferative diseases.

References:

Marcet B et al. Nat Cell Biol. 2011 13:693-699.

CLL Cardenas et al. PLoS Genetics. 2013. In press.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) manifestations of perianal abscess and to evaluate MRI diagnosis for perianal abscess.

METHODS
Fifty cases of perianal abscess between July 2007 and March 2009 were included in this study. MRI was performed using T1 weighted sequence in axial plane, T2 weighted sequence with fat saturation in axial, coronal and/or sagittal plane, and T1 weighted enhanced sequence with fat saturation in axial, coronal and/or sagittal plane. The location, size, shape, signal characteristics, and enhancement patterns of perianal abscess were analyzed.

RESULTS
Fifty cases with 51 perianal abscesses were identified. The abscess appeared slight hypo- or isointense signal on T1 weighted imaging, obviously hyperintense signal at cavity and isointense signal at wall on T2 weighted with fat saturation imaging, and marked enhancement at wall. The largest diameters ranged between 0.5 cm and 9.0 cm (mean 3.4±1.7 cm ) in abscess, between 0.2 cm and 8.0 cm(mean 2.7±1.7 cm) in cavity. The abscess was round, oblong and crescent in 23, 18 and 7 cases respectively, and was unilocular in 41 cases and multilocular in 10 cases. The abscess located between levator ani and intersphincteric groove in 23 cases, under intersphincteric groove in 3 cases, across levator ani and intersphincteric groove in one case, on levator ani in 7 cases, on intersphincteric groove in 16 cases and above levator ani in one case.

CONCLUSION
MRI is a noninvasive, convenient and highly accurate procedure for diagnosing perianal abscess, which can demonstrate the anatomical relationship between abscess and anal canal.


Endovascular management of vertebral artery stenosis has been shown to have significantly better outcomes than surgical therapy or medical therapy alone. The average mortality is zero and morbidity is about 1%. There is a 97% procedural success rate. The issue is a restenosis rate that is between 30% and 41%. This article will discuss the indications, procedure, and treatment options.


While Hermiticity of a time-independent Hamiltonian leads to unitary time evolution, in and of itself, the requirement of Hermiticity is only sufficient for unitary time evolution. In this paper, we provide conditions that are both necessary and sufficient. We show that symmetry of a time-independent Hamiltonian, or equivalently, reality of the secular equation that determines its eigenvalues, is both necessary and sufficient for unitary time evolution. For any -symmetric Hamiltonian H, there always exists an operator V that relates H to its Hermitian adjoint according to V HV −1=H†. When the energy spectrum of H is complete, Hilbert space norms ⟨ψ1|V |ψ2⟩ constructed with this V are always preserved in time. With the energy eigenvalues of a real secular equation being either real or appearing in complex conjugate pairs, we thus establish the unitarity of time evolution in both cases. We also establish the unitarity of time evolution for Hamiltonians whose energy spectra are not complete. We show that when the energy eigenvalues of a Hamiltonian are real and complete, the operator V is a positive Hermitian operator, which has an associated square root operator that can be used to bring the Hamiltonian to a Hermitian form. We show that systems with -symmetric Hamiltonians obey causality. We note that Hermitian theories are ordinarily associated with a path integral quantization prescription in which the path integral measure is real, while in contrast, non-Hermitian but -symmetric theories are ordinarily associated with path integrals in which the measure needs to be complex, but in which the Euclidean time continuation of the path integral is nonetheless real. Just as the second-order Klein–Gordon theory is stabilized against transitions to negative frequencies because its Hamiltonian is positive-definite, through symmetry, the fourth-order derivative Pais–Uhlenbeck theory can equally be stabilized.


The balance of osteogenesis and adipogenesis in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is disrupted in osteoporosis. This study was designed to investigate the effects of extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGB) on proliferation, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. The effect of EGB on proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. Osteogenic differentiation was evaluated by Alizarin Red S staining and Alkaline phosphatase assay. Adipogenic differentiation was evaluated by Oil Red O staining. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the expression of osteogenic specific genes (BMP-2, Runx2 and Colla1) and adipogenic specific genes (ap2, PPARγ). EGB did not significantly affect proliferation of BMSCs. However, it increased the calcium accumulation and significantly promoted the activity of alkaline phosphatase, especially when the concentration of EGB reached 150 µg/mL. EGB dose-dependently inhibited the adipogenic ability of BMSCs. The osteogenic-related genes (BMP-2, Runx2, Colla1) were overexpressed while the expression of genes involved in adipogenesis, such as PPAR-γ and ap2, was decreasing with the increase of EGB concentration. Our data proves that EGB inhibited adipocyte differentiation and enhanced osteogenic differentiation in BMSCs, but had no effect on the proliferation of BMSCs.


Summary: Survival rates after lung transplantation are the lowest among solid organ transplantations. Long-term survival is limited by the development of chronic rejection, known as bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). Risk factors, such as acute rejection and cytomegalovirus infection, contribute to the development of BOS. However, these risk factors alone do not explain the interindividual variability seen in the development of BOS. There is growing evidence that genetic variations might contribute to an individual's susceptibility to rejection. In this systematic review, based on a literature search through Medline and Embase, an overview is given of the genetic polymorphisms that have been investigated in lung transplant recipients in relation to the devlopment of BOS. Functional genetic polymorphisms in the genes of IFNG (+874 A/T), TGFB1 (+915 G/C), and IL6 (−174 G/C) have been found to be associated with the development of BOS and allograft fibrosis after lung transplantation. However, confirmation was not consistent across all studied cohorts. Genetic polymorphisms in the genes of several Toll-like receptors, mannose-binding lectin, CD14, killer immunoglobulin-like receptors, and matrix metalloproteinase-7 were also found to be associated with the development of BOS, but these studies need to be replicated in independent cohorts. This review shows that there may be involvement of genetic polymorphisms in the development of BOS. Genetic risk profiling of lung transplant recipients could be a promising approach for the future, enabling individualized risk stratification and personalized immunosuppressive treatment after transplantation. Further studies are needed to define risk alleles.


Planar transformers provide a light-weight and low-profile solution for power electronic converters with highly reproducible parameters and simple manufacturability. Parasitic inductances, capacitances, and resistances in planar magnetics are difficult to model due to the complex interactions between the physical winding arrangement of each layer and the core geometry (track width, air gap, clearance, etc.). These nonlinear and multivariate magnetic devices play a key role in defining the performance of traditional, soft-switching, and resonant converters by ruling behaviors such as ringing, self-resonant frequency, conduction losses, and the current rate of change in these converters. In this paper, a methodology for determining parametric models for leakage and magnetizing inductance, inter- and intrawinding capacitances, and the winding resistance of small planar transformers is presented using a variety of winding arrangements. The models are employed to shape the winding design to control parasitic elements in order to optimize soft-switching and resonant converters. A central composite design based on the design of experiment methodology is employed on finite element simulations to provide the comprehensive models. Results from physical verification on a planar Ferroxcube ER18/3.2/10-3F3 core set are provided and show excellent correlation between models and verification tests. The method is later employed to effectively design an LLC resonant converter, which is also experimentally verified to illustrate the benefits of the proposed method. The methodology can be employed to characterize and design planar transformers and to predict their performances as part of a variety of power electronic converters.