In this paper we compare conceptualising single factor technical and allocative efficiency as indicators of a single latent variable, or as separate observed variables. In the former case, the impacts on both efficiency types are analysed by means of structural equationmodeling (SEM), in the latter by seemingly unrelated regression (SUR). We compare estimation results of the two approaches based on a dataset on single factor irrigation water use efficiency obtained from a survey of 360 farmers in the Guanzhong Plain, China. The main methodological findings are that SEM allows identification of the most important dimension of irrigation water efficiency (technical efficiency) via comparison of their factor scores and reliability. Moreover, it reduces multicollinearity and attenuation bias. It thus is preferable to SUR. The SEM estimates show that perception of water scarcity is the most important positive determinant of both types of efficiency, followed by irrigation infrastructure, income and water price. Furthermore, there is a strong negative reverse effect from efficiency on perception.


In this paper, I will first discuss the historical development of the Mexican migrant as "illegal." Second, I will discuss current border control and legalization policies and their effects on the undocumented population in the United States. Finally, reflecting on the effects of previous policies, I will discuss Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano's proposed "three-legged stool" and its likely effects on the undocumented population in the United States. I will argue that the current immigration system, and any future proposals that include border enforcement as the primary mechanism to stop undocumented migrants from entering the United States will likely result in the continual perpetuation of an undocumented population of Mexican migrants in the United States. This paper is informed by the ethnographic data collected from July 2009 to August 2010 in the border city of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. During this time at the border, I talked to migrants deported from the United States.


Introduction: Blood pressure transient spikes have been considered to be noise and only a hindrance to a proper assessment of typical blood pressure, which is defined as the actual underlying average blood pressure over a long period of time. The current study aimed to see if the highest Self measured Systolic blood Pressure could be utilized to forecast the occurrence of Target organ damage and evaluate the independent association between the maximum Self measured Systolic blood Pressure and Target organ damage in individuals with untreated hyper-tension.
Method: We evaluated the urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) us-ing ultrasonography in 462 hypertensive individuals who had never taken treatment for their hypertension. Resi-dential blood pressure was recorded.
Result: The maximal Self measured Systolic blood Pressure had considerably higher association coefficients with left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and carotid intima-media thickness than the mean Self measured Systolic blood Pressure. Irrespective of the mean Self measured Blood pressure level, multivariate regression studies showed that the maximal Self measured Systolic blood Pressure was independently related with left ventricular mass index and carotid intima-media thickness.
Conclusion: Transiently high blood pressure measurements recorded at Self measured shouldn't be dismissed as noise but rather taken seriously as significant warning signs of hypertensive Target organ damage in the heart and arteries.


Background: In Poland the share of non-marital births has increased steadily for more than two decades. Studies differentiating between births to unmarried partnered and unpartnered women are rare. Objective: This paper examines the age- and education-related changes in the share of births to unpartnered women in a setting characterised by a rising non-marital birth ratio. Methods: I use Polish birth registers for the years 1985 to 2011, which cover all births between 1985 and 2010 and contain some information on the parents (e.g., date of birth, education, and marital status at the time of the child's birth). Results: In the analysed period the share of births to unpartnered women was stable at a level of 3%-5% of all births. Substantial increases were only noted among the least educated and teenage mothers, whose values exceeded 20% and 30%, respectively, in 2010. The share of teenagers among unpartnered mothers rose from around a quarter to more than one-third. Conclusions: In Poland the share of births to unpartnered women remained stable in the period 1985- 2010, but the number of the youngest and least educated mothers in this share increased.


According to author David Roochnik, the "tragedy of logos" refers to the condition of having a "logos" (meaning a view of the rational structure of the world) and colliding with its limits and limitations. The tragedy of logos arises when some event or experience shows that things are otherwise, because tragedy entails the intersection between persons feeling themselves to be agents of what happens to them and finding themselves directed by circumstances beyond their control, according to the ancient Greeks. Networked computers make it possible for students to grow, experiencing productive tragedies of logos, wherein they realize the limits of their understanding and are in a position to reflect on those limits, accept responsibility, and then acknowledge that that diversity and unassimilated otherness they discovered is not accounted for and must be given its due. In a networked classroom, students were asked to read an essay which identified a number of features of language use in the culture that reinforce pejorative attitudes toward women and respond on the classroom's disk to the essay's claims. During open lab hours students read what other students wrote--sometimes finding relief when they learn that classmates share their perspective--and then wrote a short response indicating what they had learned from this exercise in confrontation of their logos and revisions of their assumptions. Thus networked computers can promote productive "tragedies of logos" in writing classrooms. (Contains 7 references.)


Mobile Ad-hoc NETwork (MANET) is an application of wireless network with self-configuring mobile nodes. MANET does not require any fixed infrastructure. Its development never has any threshold range. Nodes in MANET can communicate with each other if and only if all the nodes are in the same range. This wide distribution of nodes makes MANET vulnerable to various attacks, packet dropping attack or black hole attack is one of the possible attack. It is very hard to detect and prevent. To prevent from packet dropping attack, detection of misbehavior links and selfish nodes plays a vital role in MANETs. In this paper, a comprehensive investigation on detection of misbehavior links and malicious nodes is carried out.


Over 900 patients have been treated at the Mayo Clinic for Zenker's diverticulum since 1944 using a one-stage transcervical diverticulectomy under general anesthesia. Overall results have been very good, but not entirely free of morbidity or mortality. An attempt is made to define those circumstances in which the procedures used have either been judgmentally or technically difficult or in which morbidity or mortality has occurred. These include patients with concomitant medical or surgical problems, or complexity related to the diverticulum itself. Among the latter are huge or giant sacs, patients with severe nutritional and respiratory symptoms related to aspiration, the perforated diverticulum, reoperation for recurrent diverticulum and cancer in a diverticulum.


Over the past decade, diabetes self-management (DSM) interventions have become increasingly heterogeneous to address the needs of diverse populations. The purpose of this integrative review is to summarize the state of the science regarding DSM interventions led by nurse principal investigators. The Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework informed identification, selection, and appraisal of the literature. A total of 44 national and international studies (RCTs [randomized controlled trial] and quasi-experimental studies) were identified for inclusion. Across national studies, diverse ethnic groups (Latinos, African Americans, Asians, and Native Americans) were most frequently sampled (67%). Review findings identified (a) DSM intervention typologies (primary DSM intervention, DSM reinforcement intervention, and primary DSM intervention plus reinforcement intervention) and selection of blended or bundled intervention components; (b) DSM intervention translation to community-based, electronic, and home settings; and (c) DSM intervention delivery (interventionists, dosages, and fidelity).


Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. It has also been hypothesized that plasma exosomal lncRNAs may be used as Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers. In this systematic review, we compiled all studies on the subject to evaluate the accuracy of lncRNAs in identifying AD cases through meta-analysis. Methods A PRISMA-compliant systematic search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases for English publications till September 2022. We included all observational studies published which investigated the sensitivity and specificity of various lncRNAs in plasma samples of AD diagnosis. Our search strategy included lncRNA and all the related spelling and abbreviation variations combined with the keyword Alzheimer's disease. Methodological quality was assessed using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines and the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-II) tool. The meta-analysis was carried out using the area under the Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC) and sensitivity and specificity values to assess the accuracy of the identified lncRNAs in AD diagnosis. To account for the predicted heterogeneity of the study, a random-effects model was used. All the statistical analyses and visualizations were conducted using Stata 17.0 software. Results A total of seven studies (AD patients = 553, healthy controls = 513) were included in the meta-analysis. Three lncRNAs were upregulated (RNA BACE-AS1, RNA NEAT1, RNA GAS5), and one lncRNA (MALAT1) was downregulated in plasma samples of AD patients. RNA 51A and RNA BC200 were reported to have variable expression patterns. A lncRNA (RNA 17A) was not significantly different between AD and control groups. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC values of lncRNAs in identifying AD were (0.74; 95% CI [0.63, 0.82], I2 = 79.2%), (0.88; 95% CI [0.75, 0.94], I2 = 88.9%), and 0.86; 95% CI [0.82, 0.88], respectively. In addition, the pooled diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of the five individual lncRNAs in AD diagnosis was 20. Conclusion lncRNAs had high accuracy in identifying AD and must be seen as a promising diagnostic biomarker of the disease.


Immunosenescence is believed to be responsible for poor vaccine efficacy in the elderly. To overcome this difficulty, research into vaccination strategies and the mechanisms of immune responses to vaccination is required. By analyzing the innate and adaptive immune responses to vaccination with vaccinia virus (VACV) in mice of different age groups, we found that immune cell recruitment, production of cytokines/chemokines and control of viral replication at the site of intradermal vaccination were preserved in aged mice and were comparable with younger groups. Analysis of cervical draining lymph nodes (dLN) collected after vaccination showed that numbers of germinal center B cells and follicular T helper cells were similar across different age groups. The number of VACV-specific CD8 T cells in the spleen and the levels of serum neutralizing antibodies 1 month after vaccination were also comparable across all age groups. However, following intranasal challenge of vaccinated mice, body weight loss was lower and virus was cleared more rapidly in aged mice than in younger animals. In conclusion, vaccination with VACV can induce an effective immune response and stronger protection in elderly animals. Thus, the development of recombinant VACV-based vaccines against different infectious diseases should be considered as a strategy for improving vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy in the elderly.


Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is the gold standard therapy for the prevention of sudden cardiac death. Nevertheless, ICD placement in the paediatric population is still limited because of several technical difficulties. Several implantation techniques have been proposed but experience in infants with very low weight and less than 6 months is very limited. We herein describe a case of a minimally invasive ICD epicardial implantation in a 4-month-old infant weighing 5 kg. A diagnosis of arrhythmic cardiomyopathy with left ventricular non-compaction disease with ventricular tachycardia storms, QT prolongation and Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern was made. Antiarrhythmic drugs, radiofrequency ablation and sympathetic denervation were not effective. ICD implantation was successful allowing the infant to survive and bridging to heart transplantation.


Chlamydospores of Fusarium sulphureum were formed within 72 h by incubating macroconidia at 37 degrees C in stationary culture in a medium containing mannitol and inorganic salts. The conversion process was dependent on inoculum level, temperature, aeration, and the presence of an external source of nitrogen and carbon. Chlamydospore formation was not inhibited by an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation, 2,4-dinitrophenol, or by inhibitors of bacterial cell wall synthesis; however, it was affected by inhibitors of respiration and of protein and chitin synthesis.


Seed of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) Dewit variety K-8 and L. retusa Gray variety Yellow Puff were germinated in growth chambers maintained at 10, 25,30, and 35 degrees C. A fifth treatment of 30 degrees C for 13 hours followed by 25 degrees C for 11 hours was also included. Seed were monitored every 4 days for 16 days for percent germination, testa weight, cotyledon weight, hypocotyl weight and length, and radicle weight and length. Yellow Puff exhibited higher maximum germination and a higher germination rate (expressed as percent of germinable seed germinated 4 days after imbibition) than K-8. There was no temperature effect on maximum germination of K-8, while the 35 degrees C treatment substantially reduced germination in Yellow Puff. Despite faster germination, Yellow Puff seedlings elongated slower compared to K-8. Radicle/hypocotyl ratios were similar for both species across all temperatures. Due to heavier seed weight of K-8 than Yellow Puff, testa and cotyledon weights were also heavier. Rate of nutrient reserve mobilization from the tests and cotyledon increased with increasing temperature in K-8, while rate of mobilization of nutrient reserves in Yellow Puff seed declined at temperatures above 30 degrees C.


The genus Dioicomyces is reviewed on the basis of the examination of types, authentic material, or personal collections. Three new species from Spanish anthicids are described: D. denticulatus, D. ladoi, and D. leptalei spp. nov. Eleven taxa (including eight species, two forms, and one variety) are synonymized and included under D. anthici, which is considered a very variable species. With additions and changes, Dioicomyces currently includes 23 species. In this synopsis no taxa at infraspecific rank are recognised. For each accepted species synonyms are listed, mostly based on the study of type material. Types for each taxon are included and lectotypes designated when necessary. This monograph also includes descriptions, photographs and/or drawings for all species studied and a key for their determination.


It is proved in a theory that the wear intensity of tribosystem of diesels of the special-purpose self-propelled railway rolling stock at laser modification will diminish at growth of concentration of surplus vacancies in superficial layers. Thus there will be the process of crawling over the vacancies and dislocations in the adjacent superficial layers of diesel tribosystems, i.e. running the processes of self-organization. The latter can be achieved at application of discrete laser modification of working surfaces of diesel tribosystems with carbon as a basic element in the form of carbon dioxide or natural graphite with niobium.


After constructing a scale model of planned changes to a power plant exhaust system, tests were performed to measure pressure losses in the transition, silencer, and stack. A dimension of 0.30 m (1.0 ft) for the scale model corresponded to 3.7 m (12.0 ft) at full scale. To the extent possible, the scale model tests exhibited geometric similarity with the actual power plant. Total pressure loss coefficients varied between 2.122, 1.969, and 1.932, for three separate scale model configurations that were considered. A combination of turning vanes and splitter vanes in the five-gore elbow, coupled with the use of turning vanes in the rectangular elbow yielded the lowest total pressure loss. Although Reynolds number similarity between the scale model experiments and the actual power plant was not attained, Reynolds number independence was achieved in the tests. The results from this study was applied to model pressure loss in the actual power plant. The scale model testing revealed that utilization of the exhaust ducting design designated as Case A would yield a sufficiently low pressure loss that it would not degrade the performance of the combustion turbine in the power plant to be repaired. Therefore it was selected for inclusion in the retro-fitting of the power plant to facilitate its being quickly brought back on-line.


Traditionally, time-consuming, numerical simulations are used to calculate and interpret poroelastic pressure changes induced by hydraulic fractures. In this work, we develop and apply semi-analytical models to calculate the poroelastic pressure signature and estimate the geometry of the propagating fracture. The speed of the analytical forward model allows us to apply inverse models (which require the forward model to be run hundreds of times) to compute the fracture geometry in near-real-time.
 A 3-D, semi-analytical model is developed to calculate reservoir deformation, stress shadow, and pressure changes around multiple hydraulic fractures. The model is extended and combined with an inversion algorithm to calculate the geometry of the propagating fracture for a measured poroelastic pressure signature recorded in a monitoring well. The model is then applied to a real field scenario with a treatment well and a fractured monitoring well where the pressure signature measured in the monitoring wells is used to estimate the dimensions of the propagating fractures in several fracturing stages.
 The analytical model presented here is shown to be very accurate for predicting the stress shadow of multiple propagating fractures. This model is used to quantify the impact of various operational unknowns on the poroelastic pressure signature. We consider scenarios where the pressure change in the monitoring well is measured through isolated fractures in the monitoring well. We demonstrate the impact of the number of propagating fractures, their length, height, net pressure, and the monitoring well fracture geometry on the observed pressure change. Based on this understanding, an inversion algorithm is developed to convert the recorded poroelastic pressure into the dimensions of the propagating fractures and the dimensions of the monitoring fractures. Finally, the method is used to interpret poroelastic pressure measurements recorded in a pair of wells in the Delaware basin to estimate fracture dimensions.
 In this work, we showcase the development and application of a novel semi-analytical model to interpret poroelastic pressure signatures observed in isolated monitoring well fractures. The application of the new method to estimate fracture dimensions is shown using a newly developed inversion algorithm. The efficient computations provide clear evidence that the developed workflow can be used for near-real-time fracture diagnostics.


Dynamic changes in the competitive global arena and constraints from the lack of natural resources to meet these changes have led Singapore to look beyond its borders to create an external economy. A failed internationalisation initiative in the early 1990s led Singapore to shift the emphasis to regionalization. The focus of this paper is on Singapore's strategic initiative to create the economic space for local and Singapore-based multinationals to expand regionally , centred on a number of industrial township developments in China, Vietnam and Indonesia. The basis for the townships has been to transplant Singapore's successful industrial township model into the region, enabling a `strategic blend' of Singapore's capital and reputation for sound industrial infrastructure with the abundant resources of host countries. These, along with Singapore's efficient infrastructure and stable, corrupt-free administration, and 'guanxi' (or connections) with regional governments, were believe to provide the projects with a competitive edge in the global marketplace. This paper finds the attempts to replicate the Singapore-styled townships in East Asia have met with only limited success.


Objectives To investigate the association between head and neck cancer (HNC) and occupation in men. Methods As part of a large population based case-control study conducted in France between 2002 and 2007 (the ICARE study), 1924 incident male HNC cases and 2780 male population controls were interviewed. Detailed lifetime occupational histories, as well as information on potential confounders were collected. A preliminary analysis based on job titles was performed. Odds-ratios (OR), adjusted for age, smoking and alcohol drinking, and 95% CIs were estimated using unconditional logistic regression. Results The risk of HNC was significantly increased for dry cleaners (OR: 6.9, 95% CI 1.5-30.9), building caretakers and cleaners (OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2 to 3.2), rubber and plastics product makers (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.4), metal processors (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2 to 3.0), bricklayers and other construction workers (OR:1.7 ; 95% CI :1.4 to 2.1), plumbers and welders (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2 to 2.0), food and beverages processors (OR:1.5, 95% CI:1.1-2.0), cooks and waiters (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1 to .2.1), painters (OR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.0 to 2.1), material-handling and related equipment operators, dockers and freight handlers (OR: 1.3, 95% CI : 1.0 to 1.6), blacksmiths, toolmakers and machine-tool operators (OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0 to 1.6). Teachers, managers and clerical workers had a significantly decreased risk. Conclusions These preliminary results suggest that occupational factors may play a substantial role in the risk of HNC. Assessment of exposure to several substances is in progress, and will help identify specific causal agents.


Fluid added mass, damping, and stiffness are highly relevant parameters to consider when evaluating the dynamic response of a submerged structure in a fluid. The prediction of these parameters for hydraulic turbines has been approached relatively recently. Complex fluid-structure analyses including three-dimensional flow and the need for experiments during operation are the main challenges for the numerical and experimental approaches, respectively. The main objective of this review is to address the impact of different parameters, for example, flow velocity, cavitation, nearby solid structure, and rotational speed on the fluid added mass and damping of Kaplan/Propeller and Francis turbine runners. The fluid added stiffness is also discussed in the last section of the paper. Although studies related to hydraulic turbines are the main objective of this paper, the literature on hydrofoils is also taken into consideration to provide valuable information on topics such as individual runner blades. In this literature survey, the analytical, numerical, and experimental approaches used to determine fluid added parameters are discussed, and the pros and the cons of each method are addressed.


OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that the vasoactive effects of hemolysate of dog erythrocytes on dog basilar artery in vitro are caused by adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP).

METHODS
Dog erythrocyte hemolysate was assayed for ATP by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Dog basilar arteries were cut into rings and studied under isometric tension to determine the effects of the P2-purinoceptor antagonists suramin, pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid, and reactive blue 2 on contractions induced by hemolysate, prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), KCl, uridine 5'-triphosphate, and ATP.

RESULTS
Dog erythrocyte hemolysate contained 34 mumol/L of ATP. Hemolysate produced concentration-dependent contractions of dog basilar artery. Suramin (100 mumol/L) significantly inhibited contractions to hemolysate, ATP, and uridine 5'-triphosphate but not to PGF2 alpha and KCl (P < 0.05). Pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid (100 mumol/L) caused a small but significant reduction of the contractions to hemolysate and did not affect contractions to PGF2 alpha and KCl. Reactive blue 2 (30 mumol/L) produced significant inhibition of contractions to hemolysate and PGF2 alpha but did not affect contractions to KCl.

CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that ATP mediates a smooth muscle contractile response of hemolysate on dog basilar artery. Because erythrocyte cytosol is known to be important in the pathogenesis of vasospasm, these results suggest that ATP may contribute to the vasoconstriction that occurs in vasospasm.


Abstract AIM: To monitor the consequences of withdrawing mineral Cu supplements from two dairy herds with initially high concentrations of Cu in liver. METHODS: Two herds were selected from dairy farms in the Waikato region of New Zealand that participated in an earlier survey of Cu supplementation practices and Cu status of dairy cows. The herds were fed pasture, grass and maize silage, plus palm kernel expeller (PKE) containing 25–30 mg Cu/kg dry matter (DM) fed at 2–4 kg/cow/day. No mineral Cu supplements were supplied from January 2009. Pasture samples were collected for mineral analysis in September 2008 and April 2009. Concentration of Cu in liver biopsies from the same 9–10 cows per herd was measured on three occasions between April 2009 and May 2010. RESULTS: Pastures on both farms contained 10 mg Cu/kg DM, 0.1–0.5 mg Mo/kg DM and 3.5–4.0 g S/kg DM. The initial herd mean concentrations of Cu in liver were 1,500 (SD 590) and 1,250 (SD 640) μmol Cu/kg fresh tissue. In the absence of mineral Cu supplements, those mean concentrations decreased over 12 months to 705 (SD 370) and 1,120 (SD 560) μmol Cu/kg fresh tissue, respectively. For cows in the first herd, the rate of depletion of liver Cu reserves was influenced by initial concentration of Cu, such that high concentration led to faster loss according to first-order kinetics. CONCLUSIONS: Mineral Cu supplementation was not necessary over 12 months for two dairy herds with mean concentrations of Cu in liver >1,250 μmol Cu/kg fresh tissue, grazing pastures containing 10 mg Cu/kg DM and concentrations of Mo <1 mg/kg DM. The quantity and particularly the duration of feeding PKE appeared to be a factor in whether or not the herd lost substantial reserves of Cu in liver during the year. However, the Cu status of both herds in this study was more than adequate to support late pregnancy and mating. CLINICAL REVELANCE: Copper status of the herd should be monitored and on-farm management of Cu nutrition should take into account all sources contributing to daily intake of Cu. Where Cu supplementation has been excessive and there is risk of chronic Cu toxicity, mineral Cu supplements may be withdrawn for a period commensurate with the expected rate of liver Cu depletion.


The valid law does not unequivocally define a physician's competence and obligations at the place of a subject's death outside the health-care facilities. The scheme creates a general instruction for the medical personnel to be used in cases of death outside health-care facilities. It is aimed at a better understanding of the problem, and it is supplemented with relevant legal regulations. The scheme is divided into 3 horizontal levels, the death being placed on the first level, the decision about autopsy on the second level, and the burial on the third level. These three levels are interconnected vertically, in order to represent the chronological sequence of individual steps and the respective decisions made by the examining physician. The schematic representation of the problems of death outside health-care facilities resulted in several lines of action, all that with regard to the medical and forensic aspects of the death. In every line of action, the work of the examining physician's is summarised.


In this paper, a micro-grid consists of clusters of load and distributed generators that operate as a single controllable system is explored by means of computer simulations. The interconnection of distributed generator to the utility through power electronics converters has raised concern about safe operation and protection of the equipment. In this work, a method for power flow control between utility and micro-grid through back-to-back converters, which facilitates desired real power flow between utility and micro grid is presented. Controlled power flow between the micro-grid and the utility can be used in case of any contractual arrangement. In the case of a fault in either utility or micro-grid side, the protection system should act not only to clear the fault but also to block the back-to-back converters so that its dc bus voltage does not fall during fault. The converter's internal mechanism prevents it from supplying high current during a fault and this makes the operation of a protection system complicated. To overcome this, an admittance based relay scheme is proposed. The investigation reveals that the proposed protection and control schemes are able to ensure reliable operation of a micro-grid. The model of the power system is simulated in PSCAD.


Access to healthcare has become one of the most contentious issues in South Africa, where the two-tier healthcare system has made it almost impossible for ordinary citizens to have equitable access to healthcare, as they cannot afford to pay for it. Such polarized healthcare access implies that only those who can afford to pay will have access to the best healthcare facilities and amenities in the country. It is against this background of deprivation and inequitable healthcare access that the South African government introduced the National Health Insurance (NHD as the primary means of ensuring that every citizen has equitable access to healthcare, irrespective of their financial, economic, or social standing in society (ANC General Congress, 2010). The aim/purpose of this study is to examine whether or not the proposed National Health Insurance (NHD policy is realizable, given the existing human capital dynamics within the public health sector in South Africa. Desktop document review and analysis was the preferred research design and methodology opted for in the study. In that regard, the study was qualitative and exploratory considering also that the NHI is a relatively novel health policy initiative by the State. The exploratory aspect of this fundamentally qualitative study was most suitable for the document analysis approach, as it is preparatory for further studies on the research topic (Bums & Grove, 2009). The key research findings essentially relate to the results or outcomes of the study, on whose basis the recommendations and conclusions were derived (Babbie & Mouton, 2001 :4, 563). The document/content analysis approach was exploratory in that it focused on the feasibility of the NHI in the context of the existing nursing staff challenges. In that regard the main findings indicate that there exists a relative degree of an increase in the production of nurses by various nursing institutions. However, the irony emerges insofar as the pervasiveness of attrition/shortages still abound in the totality of the healthcare (nursing and medical) sector, in which there are virtually enormous shortages in specialized areas such as dentistry, pharmacology, nursing professionals, and medical practitioners (Parliamentary Monitoring Group, 2012). Furthermore, the atrocious nurse-to-patient ratio of 203: 1 in the country augments to the staffrelated challenges that may impair the eventual implementation of the NHI throughout the country.


Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a prominent and rising role in the tumor microenvironment. An understanding of the tumor-MDSC interactions that influence disease progression is critical, and currently lacking. To address this, we developed a mathematical model of metastatic growth and progression in immune-rich tumor microenvironments. We model the tumor-immune dynamics with stochastic delay differential equations, and study the impact of delays in MDSC activation/recruitment on tumor growth outcomes. We find when the circulating level of MDSCs is low, the MDSC delay has a pronounced impact on the probability of new metastatic establishment: blocking MDSC recruitment can reduce the probability of metastasis by as much as 50%. We also quantify the extent to which decreasing the immuno-suppressive capability of the MDSCs impacts the probability that a new metastasis will persist or grow. In order to quantify patient-specific MDSC dynamics under different conditions we fit individual tumors treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors to the tumor-MDSC model via Bayesian parameter inference. We reveal that control of the inhibition rate of natural killer cells by MDSCs has a larger influence on tumor outcomes than controlling the tumor growth rate directly. Posterior classification of tumor outcomes demonstrates that incorporating knowledge of the MDSC responses improves predictive accuracy from 63% to 82%. Our results illustrate the importance of MDSC dynamics in the tumor microenvironment and predict interventions that may shift environments towards a less immune-suppressed state. We argue that there is a pressing need to more often consider MDSCs in analyses of tumor microenvironments.


Acidification and Eutrophication are two environmental impacts that have a significant effect on air pollution and human health. The quantitative analysis of these two impacts remains hitherto unknown at the scale of new neighborhoods. The main purpose of this research is to evaluate, analysis and compare the acidification and eutrophication potentials of one neighborhood initially located in Belgium. To perform this comparison, the same neighborhood design is applied to in150 countries, but four parameters are adapted to each country: energy mix, local climate, building materials, and occupants' mobility. In addition, this research evaluates the induced environmental costs of the neighborhood over 100 years and examines the impact of the photovoltaic panel on these environmental impacts. This research, extended to the scale of several nations, will enable new researchers, and especially policy-makers, to measure the effectiveness of sustainable neighborhoods. Eutrophication and acidification potentials were assessed under different phases (construction, use, renovation, and demolition), with Pleiades ACV software. Among the four local parameters (energy mix, local materials, climate, and transport, the energy mix has the most significant effect on the two studied environmental impacts. The results show that 72 %, and 65% of acidification, and eutrophication potentials are produced during the operational phase of the neighborhood. In the case of sustainable neighborhoods, the acidification potential is 22.1% higher in the 10 top Low incomes countries than the 10 top High-income countries. At the neighborhood scale the main eutrophication potential component is water (34.2%), while, the main source of acidification potential is electricity production (45.1%)


Fire is a major disturbance affecting ecosystems worldwide. Phylogenetic studies have shown that the evolution of seed persistence (fire resistance) is associated with fire frequency or severity. However, the existence of specific seed traits resulting from natural selection mediated by fire remains a key question in plant evolution. We evaluated the role of fire in the evolution of seed traits from a microevolutionary perspective, using as a study system a native forb from the Chilean matorral, where fire is a novel, anthropogenic disturbance. We show that anthropogenic fires are shaping the evolution of seed traits such as pubescence and shape. Among-population variation in seed pubescence, shape, and pericarp thickness was strongly associated with fire frequency, and within a population, fire selected those plants with more pubescent seeds, thicker pericarps, and less rounded seeds. Seed pubescence and shape were shown to be heritable traits. Our findings provide insights into the understanding of the evolution of seed traits in fire-prone environments and demonstrate that human-made fires can be driving evolutionary changes in plant species from ecosystems where fires do not occur naturally.


We read the article by Baetz and others (1) with interest, as we emphatically agree with the principle of acknowledging the spiritual aspect of patients' lives to address the person as a whole. However, we were disappointed to find that the published results do not seem to support the clinical implications stated at the beginning of the article. Unfortunately, the cross-sectional nature of this study does not allow us to assess the potential benefits of "support[ing] this potentially significant coping resource" or of "involv[ing] spiritual advisors, such as clergy or chaplains, when needed." Although the authors may have shown a correlation between religious involvement and mental health, they have not demonstrated that external support for religious involvement has any effect upon patient outcome.


Lottery-linked deposit accounts (LLDAs) are financial assets that provide an interest rate determined by a lottery. These accounts that combine savings and lottery have become very popular in recent years and in a number of countries (Guillen and Tschoegel). However, their existence cannot be explained in the framework of the expected utility model. Their popularity can only be understood in light of behavioral finance studies, especially if individual preferences are described by Kahneman and Tversky's cumulative prospect theory (1992). Actually, this theory provides a good explanation for the emergence of these deposit accounots by integrating simultaneously risk-averse and risk-seeking behaviors. In this paper, we propose a behavioral analysis of these financial assets by assuming that investors' individuals preferences obey cumulative prospect theory. We study how the structure of prizes of the LLDAs should be framed to appeal to and attract many investors. Our aim is thus to determine the optimal design of these financial assets.


V6Ni16Si7 has a very unusual reciprocal lattice, closely related to that of gamma -brass but requiring a minimum of six basis vectors in order to index all observed reflections. It can be described formally as a three-dimensional, incommensurately modulated beta -brass structure. Characteristic satellite extinction conditions observed at (001) zone axes imply the presence of certain six-dimensional super-space group symmetry operations which can be used to develop a modulated structure approach to the structural description of V6Si16Si7 and to provide a structural comparison with gamma -brass.


Garnet-type lithium stuffed oxide Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZ) in the cubic phase has received significant attention because of its high Li(+) conductivity at room temperature and excellent stability against lithium metal anodes. In addition to the high Li(+) conductivity, the dense microstructure is also a critical issue for the successful application of LLZ as a solid electrolyte membrane in all-solid-state lithium and lithium-air batteries. The stabilization of LLZ in the cubic phase with dopants indicated a reduction in sintering temperature with La(3+) site doping and improved conductivity by doping the Zr(4+) site. However, there are only a few reports regarding the simultaneous substitution on the La(3+) and on the Zr(4+) site in LLZ. In the present study, systematic investigations have been carried out on Li7-xLa3-yYyZr2-xTaxO12 (x = 0.4, y = 0, 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5) to understand the effect of simultaneous substitution of Y(3+) for La(3+) and Ta(5+) for Zr(4+) in LLZ on the stabilization of the high conductive cubic phase, microstructure, and Li(+) conduction behavior. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) revealed the stabilization of a cubic-like garnet structure for the entire selected compositional range of Li7-xLa3-yYyZr2-xTaxO12 (x = 0.4, y = 0, 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5) samples sintered at 750 °C. However, the Raman spectra revealed that the cubic phase stabilized at around 750 °C for the Li7-xLa3-yYyZr2-xTaxO12 (x = 0.4, y = 0, 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5) samples is different from the high Li(+) conductive cubic phase (Ia3̅d), and the transformation to the high Li(+) conductive cubic phase with a distorted lithium sublattice (Ia3̅d) is observed only for the samples sintered at elevated temperature. Preliminary thermogravimetric (TG), Raman, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) studies indicated that the observed low temperature cubic phase of the investigated samples sintered at 750 °C might result from insertion of water vapor from the humid atmosphere into the crystal lattice and subsequent replacement of the lithium ions by protons to form O-H bonds. The AC impedance analysis indicated that the optimal Y substitution in Li7-xLa3-yYyZr2-xTaxO12 (x = 0.4, y = 0.125 and 0.25) helps to reduce the grain boundary resistance in a major way and also helps to reduce the bulk resistance slightly. Among the investigated compositions, Li6.6La2.75Y0.25Zr1.6Ta0.4O12 sintered at 1200 °C exhibits a maximized room temperature total (bulk + grain boundary) Li(+) conductivity of 4.36 × 10(-4) S cm(-1) along with the improved ceramic density.


ABSTRACT Recent public interest in so-called "ethical" food production, and in particular the welfare of intensively housed farm animals, has been linked to an increase in sales of free-range eggs in several countries including Australia. Animal activist groups around the world have campaigned for the abolition of caged-egg production, retailers and large food companies are now sourcing less of these products, and governments in various locales have placed restrictions on caged-egg production. In addition, the recent focus on food production and preparation in popular culture including books, films, and television has made these practices, including those associated with eggs, more transparent to mainstream audiences. Previous studies have examined consumers' willingness-to-pay for free-range eggs, and community attitudes to animal welfare, but there has been little qualitative work that unpacks a key assumption which underlies much discussion of these issues: that free-range egg purchases are primarily or solely linked to consumers' desires to have egg production systems changed from intensive to free-range. This paper analyses qualitative research undertaken in Australia that explores consumers' motivations for buying free-range (or cage-free) eggs, which was part of a larger study examining ethical foods. Qualitative analysis of focus groups and interviews involving 73 participants revealed that free-range and cage-free eggs are perceived as being better quality, more nutritious, and safer, and having better sensory characteristics, than caged eggs. In response to open-ended questions, free-range and cage-free eggs were mentioned much more frequently than free-range meats, and were described as easy to identify and affordable, compared with other products with humane production claims. Several participants even had begun keeping their own hens in order to have an alternative to purchasing caged (or expensive free-range) eggs. Although caged-egg production was described by many participants as cruel, the desire to purchase free-range eggs was more often described in connection to efforts to avoid "industrialized" food than in relation to taking a stance on the issue of caged-hen welfare.


The Azambuja fault is a NNE oriented fault zone located 50 Km north of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal and has been considered as a possible source of historical earthquakes. Therefore, its study is a priority in seismic hazard evaluation. It has a clear morphological signature and Miocene and Pliocene sediments are tilted eastwards and cut by steeply dipping meso-scale faults presenting reverse and normal offsets with a net downthrow to the east. Neotectonic studies indicate Quaternary slip on the fault in the range 0.05 to 0.06 milimetres/year. However, the fault has not been observed to affect Pleistocene or Holocene sediments. Here, we present a P-wave seismic reflection study carried out to image the fault below the Holocene alluvium cover southwards of the fault outcrop. We show that the fault is present below the Holocene cover as suspected and, with the aid of nearby well data, that fault segments are affecting the 14 000 year aged alluvium cover, suggesting a larger slip rate then previously admitted.


We report the synthesis of two 2nd generation dendritic terpolymers consisting of poly(butadiene) (PB) of 1,4 geometric isomerism, poly(isoprene) (PI) enriched in 3,4 geometric isomerism (at least 55% PI3,4) and polystyrene (PS). The main focus of this work was the synthesis of well-defined dendritic terpolymers exhibiting high levels of molecular and compositional homogeneity. The preparation of these materials was achieved via anionic polymerization techniques in combination with chlorosilane linking chemistry. The molecular characterization of the intermediate products and the final dendritic materials was accomplished via gel permeation chromatography, membrane osmometry, differential scanning calorimetry, and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, leading to the conclusion that they can be considered model polymers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1567–1574, 2009


We have measured the transmission of acoustic waves through a rough 4He superfluid interface at 15, 45 and 75 MHz between 0.4 and 1.1 K. The phonon transmission is enhanced at low temperatures for the higher frequencies, in place of rapidly decreasing with T as explained by the high mobility interface theory. These experimental results are very well interpreted with the help of the surface inertia introduced by Puech and Castaing.


We consider remote state estimation of cyberphysical systems under signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio-based denial-of-service attacks. A sensor sends its local estimate to a remote estimator through a wireless network that may suffer interference from an attacker. Both the sensor and the attacker have energy constraints. We first study an associated two-player game when multiple power levels are available. Then, we build a Markov game framework to model the interactive decision-making process based on the current state and information collected from previous time steps. To solve the associated optimality (Bellman) equations, a modified Nash Q-learning algorithm is applied to obtain the optimal solutions. Numerical examples and simulations are provided to demonstrate our results.


It is now recognized that the EQ-5D may miss
dimensions important for some conditions.
When this happens, a possible solution is adding
bolt-ons to expand its descriptive system.
Previous bolt-on studies have identified
potential candidates using information on
validity in specific areas such as vision (1).
Although this is a useful approach for
identifying individual bolt-ons, it does not help
in identifying what other dimensions may be
missing from the EQ-5D.
Factor analysis has been seen to be a potential
approach for bolt-on identification. This
techniques pinpoints to a list of factors, and
items loading on them, that are not related to the
EQ-5D latent constructs(2). These can be
adapted / developed into bolt-ons.
However, not all bolt-ons can be added to the
EQ-5D simultaneously, as this would affect the
measure's acceptability and feasibility. Hence,
methods to select bolt-ons from the identified
list are needed.
This study investigates the possibility of using
linear regression models for the selection of
bolt-ons after factor analytic identification


Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) is an uncommon disorder which can present in patients being evaluated for defecatory disorders or which can present as a primary process often involving hematochezia, rectal pain and tenesmus. Unfortunately the diagnosis of this disorder is often delayed due to misdiagnosis and/or physician unfamiliarity with the condition. We present a 24-year-old female who presented with 6 months of bloody diarrhea and weight loss. She had been receiving treatment for a presumed diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to an endoscopic picture of rectal thickening, edema and ulceration and had been on prednisone for 2 months prior to presentation without relief of her symptoms. After further testing including repeat endoscopy with biopsies, defecography and anorectal manometry, the diagnosis of SRUS was made and treatment was changed. Medical management was unsuccessful and she ultimately required surgical intervention. This case highlights the difficulty in diagnosing SRUS due to its resemblance to other gastrointestinal diseases and should serve as a reminder that if a patient is not responding to IBD therapy, another etiology should be considered.


The Mars polar layered deposits (PLD) likely hold an extensive record of recent climate during a period of high-amplitude orbit and obliquity cycles. Previous work has detected limited evidence for orbital signatures within PLD stratigraphy, but data from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) permit renewed analysis of PLD stratigraphy at sub-meter scale. Topography derived from HiRISE images using stereogrammetry resolves beds previously detectable only as alternating light and dark bands in visible images. We utilize these data to measure the thickness of individual beds within the PLD, corrected for non-horizontal bed orientation. Stratigraphic columns and bed thickness profiles are presented for two sites within the NPLD, and show several sets of finely bedded units 1–2 m thick; isolated marker beds 3–4 m thick; and undifferentiated sections. Bed thickness measurements for three sites within the SPLD exhibit only one bed type based on albedo and morphology, and bed thicknesses have a larger mean and variance compared to measurements for the NPLD. Power spectra of brightness and slope derived along the measured stratigraphic sections confirm the regularity of NPLD fine bed thickness, and the lack of a dominant SPLD bed thickness. The regularity of fine bed thickness of the NPLD is consistent with quasiperiodic bed formation, albeit with unknown temporal period; the SPLD thickness measurements show no such regularity.


Negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) has become a growing concern in nanometer technologies. It may reduce the lifetime of reliable operation of PMOS transistors in the design. Process variation has started impacting the nanometer ICs by reducing the parametric yield. Process variation together with NBTI can further reduce the reliable lifetime of ICs. Conventional ASIC design methodology uses pre-characterized standard cells to optimize the design as per specifications. The standard cells occupy nearly 75% of the chip real estate in a sea-of-gate design. Therefore process variation and NBTI tolerant robust standard cells may help in reducing the margin of performance variation thereby increasing the lifetime of reliable operation. The use of robust cells may further help in reducing the design time overhead. In this work, the authors model the combined effect of process variation and NBTI on intrinsic gate delay using a reduced dimension modeling technique. The authors use the models to optimize the standard cells in the presence of NBTI and process variations with a target lifetime of 10 years. Experimental results show that the use of optimized robust standard cells can considerably improve the tolerance of circuit in the self-timed sections of critical timing paths.


Obstruction of the oesophagus by a piece of goulash meat resulted in tracheal stenosis in an 18-year-old girl. Because of the history of the illness and information supplied by others, as well as the marked stridor, it was first thought that the tracheal stenosis was at the level of a previous tracheostomy with aspiration, but bronchoscopy revealed marked bulging of the posterior wall of the trachea. Subsequent oesophagoscopy then detected the foreign body, which was removed whole.


Falls from a height are a common problem in Singapore. However, there has been no analysis of the injury patterns and outcomes of patients who survived initial resuscitation after falls from a height in Singapore. One hundred and thirty-nine patients admitted over a two-and-a-half year period after falls of greater than one storey were studied. The higher the fall, the greater the likelihood of hypotension and neurological injury. The length of stay in hospital, the number of operative procedures and mortality also correlated with the height of the fall. The overall mortality rate was 11% but rose to 47% among patients who were hypotensive on admission. About half of the deaths were due to head injury with haemorrhage being the second most common cause. The majority of patients who fell from five or more storeys did so intentionally, and had more severe torso and extremity injuries compared with those who fell accidentally. These findings suggest that efforts in injury prevention and aggressive evaluation and treatment of fall victims arriving alive at the hospital continue to be important.


One of the most fundamental concepts in statistics is the concept of sample mean. Properties of the sample mean that are well-defined in Euclidean spaces become unwieldy or even unclear in graph spaces. Open problems related to the sample mean of graphs include: non-existence, non-uniqueness, statistical inconsistency, lack of convergence results of mean algorithms, non-existence of midpoints, and disparity to midpoints. We present conditions to resolve all six problems and propose a Majorize-Minimize-Mean (MMM) Algorithm. Experiments on graph datasets representing images and molecules show that the MMM-Algorithm best approximates a sample mean of graphs compared to six other mean algorithms.


Abstract : A previous research effort resulted in a conceptual framework for integrating manpower, personnel, and training (MPT) considerations into the Army's system acquisition process. This report describes the results of follow- on research to develop specific methods and means for implementing this conceptual approach. The approach involves two principal types of analysis: system specific man/machine analysis (which focuses on a specific system in the early stages of the acquisition process) and total force MPT analysis (which considers the impact of the new system on the MPT needs and capabilities of the entire force). The report describes the need for such analysis, outlines the conceptual approach, recommends specific tools and data for use in the analysis, describes the incorporation of the analysis into the current system acquisition process, recommends organizational changes within the Army to facilitate implementation of the approach, and outlines a proposed project to demonstrate the approach in the context of an actual system which is in the early stages of the acquisition process. (Author)


Martha Kempner, SIECUS education coordinator, analyzed the status of sexuality education programs in schools throughout the US during 1999-2000. In her article she pointed out that only strict, abstinence-only-until-marriage education programs were being accepted in America's schools with very little community debate. Kempner further stated that these proliferating abstinence-only-until-marriage programs have been taking the forms of one-time assemblies and semester-long classroom-based programs. Moreover, it was noted that other community debates during the period include appropriate content for sexuality education, opt-in/opt-out policies, and the separation by gender for classroom instruction. However, this discouraging picture drawn by Kempner is given hope in the August/September 2000 issue of the SIECUS Report. The Report published articles focusing on developments achieved regarding the issue of sexuality education in the US. These include the articles on the success of the national newsletter and Web Site called "SEX, ETC" and the semester-long program on sexuality education.


This paper describes experimental calculations of shadow prices for evaluation of investment projects in the Chilean economy. These are based on a growth model emphasizing the dependence of Chile on foreign trade, especially imports of capital goods. For this reason two state variables are used-one standing for plant-type capital produced by a non-traded sector and the other representing equipment-type capital which must be imported. These imports are paid for by exogenous traditional exports, and exports from a traded goods sector. The model thus determines allocation of imported and domestic factors between the two sectors, and the corresponding pricing policy. Numerical results show (i) a rate of discount consistent with the results of other rate-of-return studies in Chile; (ii) an almost flat transformation surface between the traded and nontraded sectors, with a correspondingly inflexible relative price ratio; (iii) inverse proportionality between tariffs and the exchange rate, which follows essentially from the flat transformation surface. This last result is inconsistent with partial equilibrium estimates of the shadow exchange rate, and some doubt is raised as to what is the "true" value of this shadow price.


ABSTRACT
The study examines the level of Emotional Intelligence among teachers working in the private institutions in Erode District. It also emphasizes the importance of Emotional Intelligence in personal, academic and career success. Descriptive research design was adopted and proportionate stratified random sampling was chosen for study. Sampling fraction of 25% was taken to divide the population into a homogeneous subgroup. The academic staffs who were teaching in High School level were taken up for the study. Questionnaires on Emotional Intelligence were distributed. Hundred questionnaires were received Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics. The study identified the phenomena related to Emotional Intelligence among private institutions teachers in Erode District. Demographic factors influencing on Emotional Intelligence were also identified and reported by using descriptive statistics. Result indicated that the private educational institutions teachers in Erode District have fairly high level of Emotional Intelligence.

Key Words: Emotional Intelligence, Teachers and Educational institution.


An experiment was conducted to investigate the replacement value of Acha (Digitaria exilis Staph) for maize in broilers diets. Five diets were formulated in which unprocessed Acha replaced maize at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% levels for the starter phase. Two hundred and twenty-five unsexed Marshall Broiler chicks were weighed and randomly allotted to the five dietary treatments with three replicates per diet in a complete randomized design (CRD). The highest (P<0.05) daily feed intake (71.,90g) and (P<0.05) daily weight gain (24.60g) were obtained in the birds fed diet 5 while the best feed conversion ratio was found in diet 2 as 2.55. Hematological evaluation was done at the end of the experiment and, the dietary treatments 2 9 had no significant (P>0.5) effect on RBC (x10 L, WBC (x10 K Hbc (g/dl) MCH (pg) and MCHC (g/dl) and had significant (P<0.05) effect on PCV%, Lymphocytes (P<0.001) and Neutrophiles (%). Unprocessed Acha (Digitaria exilis Staph) could completely (100%) replace maize as energy source in the diets of broiler chicks at starter phase.


Developing nanofibrous aerogels with high porosity, robust underwater mechanical strength, and rich adsorption ligands, has been considered as one of the most promising strategies for preparing the next generation of high-efficiency and high-throughput chromatographic media; yet still remains great challenges. Herein, a novel type of highly phosphorylated nanofibrous aerogels (PNFAs) is fabricated, for the first time, by combining electrospinning, cryogenic induced phase separation regulation, and in situ phosphorylation modification. The PNFAs exhibit outstanding underwater superelasticity and excellent compression fatigue resistance (~0% plastic deformation after 1000 compression cycles), as well as favorable shape-memory property. Besides, the PNFAs also can be bent and compressed even in the ultra-cold liquid nitrogen without obvious plastic deformation, further highlighting their robust structural stability. Benefiting from the superelastic, interconnected, and highly phosphorylated 3D nanofibrous frameworks, the PNFAs possess a superb protein adsorption capability of 3.3 × 103 mg g-1 and a large liquid permeation flux of 1.5 × 104 L m-2 h-1, which are superior to the commercial and previously reported fiber-based chromatographic media. Moreover, the PNFAs also exhibit superior performance stability, easy assembly, and outstanding applicability, highlighting their potential actual application. The successful preparation of such fascinating PNFAs may not only provide a new option for the current protein adsorption and purification engineering, but also could open up some new perspectives for the further design and development of next-generation nanofibrous aerogel-based chromatographic media for various bio-separation applications.


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

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common hematological malignancy and the main cause of cancer-related deaths in children. Therefore, search for novel treatment strategies is warranted. We identified AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), a master regulator of bioenergetics, as a potential target for ALL therapy due to its effects on cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation, as well as its crosstalk with critical metabolic and oncogenic pathways. We demonstrated that treatment of NALM6 (Bp-ALL) and CEM (T-ALL) cells with AICAR, an AMPK activator, induced growth inhibition and apoptosis. Using metformin, another AMPK agonist, we found 40% growth inhibition, and up to five- and three-fold greater induction of apoptosis relative to controls in CEM and NALM6, respectively. Unexpectedly, rescue experiments with AMPK inhibitors Ara-A and compound-C (CC) failed to abrogate the cytotoxic effects induced by AICAR. When used alone, Ara-A induced 60% and 40% cell death in NALM6 and CEM cells, respectively, whereas CC induced 75- and 15-fold more apoptotic death relative to controls. To investigate the mechanism by which AMPK activation vs. inhibition induced apoptosis, we determined levels of P-AMPK (T172) and factors associated with the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and RAS/cRAF/Erk signaling pathways in NALM6 and CEM cells treated with either CC, AICAR, or in combination. Our data show that P-AMPK levels were decreased by CC and increased by AICAR. Additional Western blots demonstrated that these agents exerted opposite effects on Akt and RAS signaling. CC decreased P-Akt (S473) and activated the RAS pathway, while AICAR increased P-Akt. We showed that activation of Akt by AICAR down-regulated the RAS pathway via phosphorylation of cRAF (S259). P-mTOR (S2448) and P-4EBP1 (T70) exhibited a greater decrease in cells treated with CC + AICAR as compared to each agent alone. A significant decrease in P-Akt was also detected in cells treated with both agents vs. each drug alone. Together, our data indicate that AICAR and CC induce cell death in ALL cells by two different mechanisms mediated by AMPK: AICAR-activation of AMPK inhibited the RAS-dependent cell proliferation pathway, and CC-inhibition of AMPK by down-regulating the Akt cell survival pathway. These results suggest that alterations in AMPK signaling may regulate the cross-talk between the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and RAS/cRAF/Erk cascades and may dictate the fate of ALL cells by regulating apoptosis after exposure to agents targeting these pathways. Experiments co-targeting AMPK and Akt using AICAR and Akt-inhibitor X, respectively, induced synergistic growth inhibition in CEM (CI=0.90) and NALM6 (CI=0.85) cells compared to each drug alone. These findings provide a rationale for simultaneously targeting AMPK and key signaling factors associated with either PI3K/Akt/mTOR or RAS/cRAF/Erk pathways in ALL.

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 5089.


Lingcod liver oil unsaponifiable material was separated into three main fractions by means of an aluminum oxide column. Major components of the three fractions were vitamin A, cholesterol, and glyceryl ethers, respectively. These fractions were given as dietary supplements to cholesterol-fed chicks and the effect of the supplements on the hypercholesterolemia induced by the cholesterol feeding was investigated. The fraction containing vitamin A prevented the hypercholesterolemia. Crystalline vitamin A acetate produced a similar effect when it was added as a dietary supplement. It was concluded that vitamin A was probably the hypocholesterolemic agent in lingcod liver oil although other compounds in the oil may also exert some influence on the control of the serum cholesterol concentrations in the chicks.


The production of nitric oxide (NO) by rat adherent peritoneal cells stimulated with preformed IgE/Dinitrophenyl-BSA (DNP-BSA) complexes and its dependence on the activation of the transcription factor NF-kappa B were studied. Stimulation with IgE/DNP-BSA complexes at equivalence induced both the production of NO and an increased expression of the inducible isoform of NO synthase (iNOS) protein. Both events were also elicited by a rabbit polyclonal F(ab')2 anti-CD23 cross-reacting with rat CD23, thus suggesting Fc epsilon RII/CD23 antigen as the IgE-binding structure involved in the triggering of the response and ruling out an interaction of the antibody via its Fc portion. Inhibition of redox-sensitive signaling mechanisms by the antioxidant pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) blocked NO production, iNOS expression, and NF-kappa B activation elicited by both IgE/DNP-BSA complexes and anti-CD23 F(ab')2, thus suggesting the involvement of NF-kappa B in the signaling pathway leading to the transcriptional activation of iNOS. These results show the existence in rat peritoneal macrophages of a signaling pathway triggered by CD23 engagement that promotes nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B and transcriptional activation of the inducible isoform of NO synthase.


Abstract The role of PET/CT in pancreatic malignancy is evolving with new scientific evidence emerging continuously. PET/CT applications in imaging the pancreas and its organ-specific merits, limitations, and potential pitfalls are still evolving. This article provides an overview of the state-of-the-art applications of PET/CT imaging in evaluating pancreatic malignancy, comparing with conventional imaging modalities, such as contrast-enhanced CT and MRI. Current PET/MRI is also reviewed, along with brief discussion on cost-benefit analysis.


It's very important to locate and recognize the lung region accurately in chest X-ray images in clinical application and research. This paper provides a novel method to extract the lung region in the chest X-ray images. In this paper, the active shape model (ASM) based on deformed technology is applied to segment the lung region. In order to get a more accurate and time-saving segmentation result, we also improve the original ASM. Firstly, Because of the body location and the individual difference, we use thin-plate spline method to register the chest radiographs in order to get a more appropriate shape model .Secondly, apex pulmonis and gulus costa are localized and used to initialize the mean shape mode, and the mean intensity of the bound rectangle regions of the initial shapes is adopted to match the shapes. Finally, a multi-resolution framework based on Gaussian pyramid was introduced to acquire quick iteration. Experimental results show that our algorithm performs significantly better than the original ASM.


Poor outcome of pancreatic cancer necessitates development of an early diagnostic method to reduce mortality. No reliable early diagnostic test for pancreatic cancer detection has been developed and validated to date. In the current study, metabolic profiling of plasma samples from selected cancer patients and noncancerous controls was performed to seek novel metabolic biomarkers of pancreatic cancer. A comprehensive mass spectrometry based analytical platform established at the Metabolomics Core of the UC Davis Genome Center allowed detection of multiple compounds previously unreported in plasma from pancreatic cancer patients. It was found that selective amino acids, bile acids, and polar lipids were detected with increased or decreased levels in pancreatic cancer samples compared to controls. These findings on blood plasma levels of the relevant metabolites might be very useful clinical parameters for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.


: The effect of resistant gene Lr19 on the development of brown rust fungus Puccinia triticina in the immune line of Thatcher variety was similar to that of nonhost species. The development of the fungus was inhibited in the plant tissue at the early stages. The fungus cells demonstrated structural disorganization of the nuclei and mitochondria before host cell invasion. The plant cell membranes and chloroplasts were changed; large chromatin aggregates appeared in their nuclei. Hypersensitive reaction developed after inhibition of the fungus.


The concept of evidence-based states that the use of folic acid during pre and perikonsepsi reduce the risk of brain damage, neural disorders, spina bifida, and anencepalus on the fetus. Folic acid is also useful to help the production of red blood cells, DNA synthesis in fetal and placental growth. The scope of midwifery care for pregnant women included in the standard midwife-3 is one of competency assess nutritional status of pregnant women and its relation to fetal growth. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between the level of knowledge of midwives and practice of folic acid supplementation for pregnant mothers. This study used an analytic observational method with cross sectional, and samples were taken by quota sampling. Subjects were 42 private practice midwives who work area measuring Surakarta. Used in the form of questionnaires and medical records. Data were analyzed using Fisher's statistical test (α = 0.05). The results of the 42 respondents indicated that most respondents have a level of knowledge about folic acid is enough for 21 respondents (50%), while folic acid supplementation in practice, most respondents did fine that is equal to 26 respondents (61.90%) . Statistical analysis showed the significant value of 0.483 (p> 0.05). The conclusion of this research is that there is no relationship between knowledge and practice of folic acid supplementation, in the sense of high and low knowledge of a midwife does not affect the practice of folic acid supplementation to pregnant mothers.


Full-wave expressions are derived for the Mueller matrix elements that provide a complete polarimetric characterization of the electromagnetic fields scattered from irregular layered media consisting of dielectric coatings over dissipative substrates. The upper interface between free space and the coating material and the substrate is a two-dimensionally random rough surface, and the bottom interface between the substrate and the coating material is a planar surface. Each term of the full-wave expression for the vertically or horizontally polarized electromagnetic fields scattered by the irregular stratified media is shown to have a clear physical interpretation. The full-wave solutions satisfy the reciprocity and duality relationships in electromagnetic theory and are invariant to coordinate transformations. The expressions for the scattered fields reduce to that for the specularly reflected wave when the layered structure is a parallel stratified medium. The Mueller matrix or the modified Mueller matrix are measurable quantities that are used to relate the scattered Stokes vector to the incident Stokes vector. The elements of these matrices are related to commonly measured quantities in remote sensing and in ellipsometry. The analysis is relevant to problems of communication in irregular stratified media, remote sensing of irregular stratified media, and interpretation of ellipsometric data obtained from layered media.


Introduction: Tremendous evidence indicates that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) epigenetic modification and m6A-related enzymes constitute a complex network, which jointly regulates prevailing pathological processes and various signaling pathways in humankind. Currently, the role of the m6A-mediated molecular regulatory network in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains elusive. Methods: We recruited expression and pathological files of 368 HCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort. Four public datasets serve as external authentication sets for nearest template prediction (NTP) validation. The correlation between 35 regulators and their prognostic value was compared. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) was used to explore the latent mechanism. Four independent algorithms (ssGSEA, xCell, MCP-counter, and TIMER) were used to calculate the ratio of tumor cells and non-tumor cells to evaluate the tumor immune microenvironment. The m6Ascore model was established by principal component analysis (PCA). Prediction of immunotherapy and potential drugs was performed using TIDE and SubMap. Results: A total of 35 m6A regulators were widely associated, most of which were risk factors for HCC patients. The m6A phenotypic-cluster revealed differences in regulator transcriptional level, gene mutation frequency, functional pathways, and immune cell infiltration abundance under distinct m6A patterns. As expected, the m6A gene cluster confirmed the aforementioned results. The m6Ascore model further found that patients in the high-m6Ascore group were associated with lower tumor purity, higher enrichment of immune and stromal cells, upregulation of metabolic pathways, lower expression of m6A regulators, and favorable outcomes. Low-m6Ascore patients were associated with adverse outcomes. Notably, low-m6Ascore patients might be more sensitive to anti-PD-L1 therapy. Conclusion: This study found that a classification model based on the m6A manner could predict HCC prognosis and response to immunotherapy for HCC patients, which might improve prognosis and contribute to clinical individualized decision-making.


We perform isothermal-isobaric first-principles molecular-dynamics simulations to investigate the dynamics of liquid silicon (l-Si) under pressure. We find that the self-diffusion coefficient increases with increasing pressure in the deeply supercooled state. This anomalous diffusivity is attributed to the formation of locally tetrahedral configurations which on average reduces the diffusivity at low pressures. Densification hinders the formation of the tetrahedral configurations, thus the diffusivity increases with increasing pressure. The tetrahedral configurations frequently formed at low pressures may be viewed as fragments of the low-density form of l-Si . It is therefore conceivable that transformations between two distinct liquids, low- and high-density liquids, locally occur in deeply supercooled l-Si . The present findings indicate the profound generality of the dynamics in liquids with a tetrahedral network such as water.


High employment rates of both young parents and women increase the need for good childcare provi-sions. Employers can allocate time and money to their employees for this purpose, and trade unions are the appropriate actors to bargain over the relevant terms and conditions. But is the employees' apparent need for childcare provisions reason enough for unions to make it an agenda item? What other factors can play a role in the unions' agenda setting? A quantitative analysis of 278 distinct FNV bargaining agendas shows that, contrary to expectations, nei-ther the share of women nor the share of young parents, covered by the collective labour agreement, are related to trade union agenda setting with respect to childcare issues. Rather, central recommenda-tions and history dependence play important roles, along with the concept of communities of practice within FNV unions.


Methods based on nucleic acid detection are currently the most commonly used technique in COVID-19 diagnostics. Although generally considered adequate, these methods are characterised by quite a long time-to-result and the necessity to prepare the material taken from the examined person—RNA isolation. For this reason, new detection methods are being sought, especially those characterised by the high speed of the analysis process from the moment of sampling to the result. Currently, serological methods of detecting antibodies against the virus in the patient's blood plasma have attracted much attention. Although they are less precise in determining the current infection, such methods shorten the analysis time to several minutes, making it possible to consider them a promising method for screening tests in people with suspected infection. The described study investigated the feasibility of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based detection system for on-site COVID-19 diagnostics. A simple-to-use portable device was proposed for the fast detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in human plasma. SARS-CoV-2-positive and -negative patient blood plasma samples were investigated and compared with the ELISA test. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 was selected as a binding molecule for the study. Then, the process of antibody detection using this peptide was examined under laboratory conditions on a commercially available SPR device. The portable device was prepared and tested on plasma samples from humans. The results were compared with those obtained in the same patients using the reference diagnostic method. The detection system is effective in the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 with the detection limit of 40 ng/mL. It was shown that it is a portable device that can correctly examine human plasma samples within a 10 min timeframe.


This essay focuses on Who Knows Tomorrow , which ran in Berlin from June 4 to September 26, 2010. Hosted by the Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, this exhibition featured the work of five prominent international artists of African origin—El Anatsui, Zarina Bhimji, Antonio Ole, Yinka Shonibare, MBE, and Pascale Marthine Tayou. The artists' work engaged visitors with a range of difficult issues, including the role that Germany and the city of Berlin played in the colonization of Africa. The exhibit also acknowledged and explored the complex postcolonial relationship between Africa and Europe, an interconnected history that remains an integral component of modern-day globalization. This essay considers the historical significance and legacy of this exhibition as well as the extensive accompanying catalogue and concludes that the challenging questions posed by Who Knows Tomorrow urgently warrant answers today.


The influence of grain boundary (GB) properties on device parameters of polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) thin film solar cells is investigated by two-dimensional device simulation. A realistic poly-Si thin film model cell composed of antireflection layer, (n)-type emitter, 1.5 μm thick p-type absorber, and (p)-type back surface field was created. The absorber consists of a low-defect crystalline Si grain with an adjacent highly defective grain boundary layer. The performances of a reference cell without GB, one with n-type and one with p-type GB, respectively, are compared. The doping concentration and defect density at the GB are varied. It is shown that the impact of the grain boundary on the poly-Si cell is twofold: a local potential barrier is created at the GB, and a part of the photogenerated current flows within the GB. Regarding the cell performance, a highly doped n-type GB is less critical in terms of the cell's short circuit current than a highly doped p-type GB, but more detrimental in terms of the cell's open circuit voltage and fill factor.


ABSTRACT The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted under the Paris Agreement propose a country's contribution to global mitigation efforts and domestic adaptation initiatives. This paper provides a systematic analysis of NDCs submitted by South Asian nations, in order to assess how far their commitments might deliver meaningful contributions to the global 2°C target and to sustainable broad-based adaptation benefits. Though agriculture-related emissions are prominent in emission profiles of South Asian countries, their emission reduction commitments are less likely to include agriculture, partly because of a concern over food security. We find that income-enhancing mitigation technologies that do not jeopardize food security may significantly augment the region's mitigation potential. In the case of adaptation, analysis shows that the greatest effort will be directed towards protecting the cornerstones of the 'green revolution' for ensuring food security. Development of efficient and climate-resilient agricultural value chains and integrated farming bodies will be important to ensuring adaptation investment. Potentially useful models of landscape level climate resilience actions and ecosystem-based adaptation are also presented, along with estimates of the aggregate costs of agricultural adaptation. Countries in the region propose different mixes of domestic and foreign, and public and private, adaptation finance to meet the substantial gaps. Key policy insights Though substantial potential for mitigation of agricultural emissions exists in South Asia, governments in the region do not commit to agricultural emissions reductions in their NDCs. Large-scale adoption of income-enhancing technologies is the key to realizing agricultural mitigation potential in South Asia, whilst maintaining food security. Increasing resilience and profitability through structural changes, value chain interventions, and landscape-level actions may provide strong options to build adaptive capacity and enhance food security. Both private finance (autonomous adaptation) and international financial transfers will be required to close the substantial adaptation finance gap


Haibo Xue, 2 Geert Brocks, 2, 3 and Shuxia Tao 2, ∗ Materials Simulation and Modelling, Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Center for Computational Energy Research, Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Computational Materials Science, Faculty of Science and Technology and MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500AE Enschede, the Netherlands.


Antidepressant continuation studies have used 2 different designs. In the placebo substitution design, all patients are initially treated with active medication in an open-label fashion, and then treatment responders are randomized to continue with medication or switch to placebo in a double-blind manner. In the extension design, patients are randomized to a double-blind placebo-controlled acute study at the outset, and responders to active treatment and placebo are continued on the treatment to which they initially responded. We hypothesized that the design of antidepressant continuation studies would impact on the likelihood of relapse. In the extension design, there is no change in treatment. Whether patients responded to placebo or medication, the treatment that produced the response is continued. In contrast, in the placebo substitution design, there is an obvious change in treatment protocol upon initiation of the continuation phase. Patients are aware that they initially received active medication, and there is now a chance that they will be switched to placebo. We speculated that the expectation of a continued positive response is lower in patients treated using the placebo substitution design than the extension design and therefore predicted that relapse rates would be higher. We conducted a meta-analysis of antidepressant continuation studies and compared the relapse rates in continuation studies using these 2 different designs. As predicted, for both the active medication and placebo groups, the frequency of relapse was lower in studies using an extension design. We also found that the difference in relapse risk between antidepressants and placebo was greater with the extension design. Thus, the design of continuation studies of antidepressants was associated with the absolute percentage of patients who relapse on both active medication and placebo, as well as estimates of differential relapse risk between antidepressants and placebo.


*Corresponding author: email@example.com doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njtd.v17i3.5 ABSTRACT: Pinch technology is one of the most powerful methodologies of process integration that allows industries to increase their profitability through reductions in energy, water and raw materials consumption. In this study, reduction in the total annual cost of heat exchanger network (HEN) of Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) unit in Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), Kaduna was determined. With the help of pinch technology, the reduction was achieved by first determining optimum minimum temperature difference by trading off energy cost and capital cost targets as a function of minimum temperature difference. Thereafter, the total annual cost obtained at the optimum minimum temperature difference was compared with total annual cost of existing design. The results of the analysis showed that the optimum minimum temperature difference was 12°C, the total annual costs of the existing design and the optimum-minimum-temperature-difference based cost were $8.7 and $7.1 Million respectively. This amounted to percentage reduction in the total annual cost of 18.4% which means that about $1.6 Million would been saved annually using the optimum minimum temperature difference to design the HEN of the FCC unit.


Biophysics![Figure][1]

CREDIT: BERTZ ET AL., PROC. NATL. ACAD. SCI. U.S.A. 106 , 10.1073/PNAS.0902312106 (2009)

One of the first lessons in learning to work with wood is that it exhibits a resistance to compression or tension that depends upon the direction in which force is applied. A macroscopic clue to this anisotropic behavior can be found by examining the wood grain. Bertz et al. demonstrate that this phenomenon can also be observed at the molecular level in their atomic force microscopy investigation of titin, a structural protein found in skeletal and cardiac muscle. In these tissues titin is subject to considerable force, and the endcap protein, telethonin (red), grasps two titin molecules, binding to the N-terminal domain Z1 (dark green and blue) and the next interior one Z2 (light green and blue). Pulling apart this joint requires a force of 700 pN when applied to Z2 (that is, the normal physiological direction of pulling), but only one-third as much force need be applied to Z1; the difference is accounted for by directionally oriented hydrogen bonds (gray) between telethonin and the Z2 domain.

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 106 , 10.1073/pnas.0902312106 (2009).

 [1]: pending:yes


Introduction: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has revolutionized the field of oral radiology. With the detailed three-dimensional views of dental tissues, incidental findings which were once considered abnormalities present outside the area of interest can now be recognized. Here, we report various incidental findings found on CBCT. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study consisted of 1500 CBCT scans. Different fields-of-view ranging from 5 × 5 to 11 × 13 were selected. Age group of the subjects included in the study was 5 to 89 years. All incidental findings were categorized in seven groups according to the area and nature of pathology – dento-alveolar region, cysts and tumors, nasal and sinus pathologies, supernumerary and impacted teeth, artifacts, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region, and miscellaneous. Results: Out of 1500 patients, 723 (48.2%) were males and 777 (51.8%) were females. Mean age of patients referred for CBCT was 47.08 years. Most frequently referred patient age group was 60–69 years (19.75%). Eighty-nine percent of the subjects showed incidental findings. Total number of incidental findings was 2734. The most common area showing incidental findings was dento-alveolar area (44.3%), the least number of findings were seen in the TMJ area (0.4%). Most common finding was mucositis/mucous retention cyst (83.4%) whereas the least finding found was odontogenic keratocyst cyst and coronoid hyperplasia (0.6%). Conclusion: The full CBCT dataset should be fully examined and interpreted by Oral Maxillofacial Radiologists. Correct identification of various potentially pathological lesions outside the area of interest on CBCT scan should be reported and documented.


This study examines the teleconnection between sea surface temperature (SST) in different ocean regions and tropical cyclone (TC) activity affecting Vietnam's coastal region. Using spatial correlation and principal component analyses, it is found that the variability of TCs affecting Vietnam during 1982–2018 is remotely connected with SST in the Indian Ocean, the southwestern Pacific Ocean, and the northern Philippine Sea. Among the three regions, SST in the northern Philippine Sea displays the most significant inverse relationship with TC activity in the South China Sea (SCS), with lower June–November TC accumulated energy (ACE) for warmer northern Philippine Sea SST. Further analyses of large-scale atmospheric circulations show that this teleconnection between the northern Philippine Sea SST and TC activity in the SCS is linked to the East Asian subtropical jet (EASJ). Principal component analyses of the 200-hPa zonal wind associated with EASJ capture indeed a strong relationship between the second principal component, which characterizes the EASJ intensity, and ACE. Specifically, higher EASJ intensity corresponding to colder northern Philippine Sea SST would enhance large-scale ascending motion and low-level cyclonic anomalies in the SCS, which are favorable for TC formation and result in an overall increased ACE. Examination of the correlation between this second principal component and the northern Philippine Sea SST confirms that this correlation is statistically significant at a 95% confidence level. In this regard, these results support the Pacific–Japan teleconnection between the northern Philippine Sea SST and TC activity in the SCS.


Before transport data can be understood quantitatively, a few prerequisites have to be fulfilled: the geometric and the electronic structures of the metal/molecule contacts have to be known, and electron correlation effects have to be taken into account. Here we discuss experimental and theoretical approaches to tackle these challenges. On the theoretical side, density‐functional theory (including van der Waals‐corrections for structural optimization) is combined with many‐body perturbation theory and numerical renormalization group theory in order to include all relevant correlation effects. We had already discussed such features in a previous study [Phys. Rev. B 84, 125413 (2011)], but some remaining differences between our calculated spectra and our experimental data from a scanning‐tunnelling microscope remained unexplained. Here we show that the explicit incorporation of van der Waals interaction in the calculations, that had been negleted before, yields improved geometric structure and leads to much better agreement with our measured spectra. This clearly demonstrates the significant sensitivity of electronic transport to structural details.PTCDA molecule in a junction between a silver surface and an STM tip.


In this thesis we study a variety of nanoscale phenomena in certain polymer systems using a combination of numerical simulation methods and mathematical modelling. The problems considered are: (a) the mixing behaviour of polymeric fluids in micro- and nanofluidic devices, (b) capillary absorption of polymer droplets into narrow capillaries, and (c) modelling the phase separation and self-assembly behaviour in polymer systems with freely deforming boundaries. These problems are significant in nanotechnological applications of polymer-based systems. First, the mixing behaviour of a polymeric melt over two parallely patternedslip surfaces is considered. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, it is shown that mixing is enhanced when the polymer chain size is smaller than the wavelength of the chemical pattern of the surfaces. An off-set in the upper and lowerwall patterns improved themixing in the centre of the channel. Application of a sinusoidally varying body force in addition to the patterned-slip conditions is shown to enhance mixing further, compared to a constant body force case, with some limitations. Simulation findings for the constant body force cases are in qualitative agreement with the continuum theory of Pereira [1]. However, in the case of a sinusoidally varying body force our simulations do not agree with the continuum theory. We explain the reasons for the discrepancy between the two and point out the deficiencies in the continuum theory in predicting the correct behaviour. Second, the capillary phenomena of polymer droplets in narrow capillaries is studied using MD simulations. It is demonstrated that droplets composed of longer chains require wider tubes for absorption and this result is in agreement with our continuum modelling. The observed capillary dynamics deviate significantly from the standard Lucas-Washburn description thus questioning its validity at the nanoscale. The metastable states during the capillary absorption in some cases cannot be explained using the existing models of capillary dynamics. Lastly, the phase separation process in polymer blends between both confined and unconfined boundaries is studied using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH). The SPH technique has the advantage of not using a grid to discretize the spatial domain, which makes it appealing when dealing with problems where the spatial domain can change with time. The applicability of the SPH method in describing phase separation in these systems is demonstrated. In particular, its ability to model freely deforming polymer blends is shown.


Airway responsiveness to inhaled cholinergic agonist during the early stage of pulmonary O2 toxicity was examined to determine whether normobaric hyperoxia alters airway function. Eight healthy nonsmoking males with moderate base-line methacholine responsiveness breathed normobaric O2 (greater than or equal to 95%) over 12 h and on another occasion breathed air in an identical protocol. Vital capacity, expiratory flow, airway responsiveness to methacholine, and respiratory symptoms were measured at 0, 4, 8, and 12 h while subjects breathed O2 and 12 h afterwards. After 12 h, forced vital capacity was significantly decreased with O2 breathing but not with air breathing. At 4, 8, or 12 h of exposure and 12 h after exposure, there was no difference in methacholine sensitivity or reactivity between O2 and air-exposure trials. The earliest manifestations of pulmonary normobaric O2 toxicity in normal adults include diminished vital capacity and the onset of respiratory symptoms, but early O2 toxicity does not produce altered responsiveness to inhaled methacholine.


The in vitro star system used for sunscreen UVA-testing is not an absolute measure of skin protection being a ratio of the total integrated UVA/UVB absorption. The in vivo persistent-pigment-darkening method requires human volunteers. We investigated the use of the ESR-detectable DMPO protein radical-adduct in solar-simulator-irradiated skin substitutes for sunscreen testing. Sunscreens SPF rated 20+ with UVA protection, reduced this adduct by 40–65% when applied at 2 mg/cm2. SPF 15 Organic UVA-UVB (BMDBM-OMC) and TiO2-UVB filters and a novel UVA-TiO2 filter reduced it by 21, 31 and 70% respectively. Conventional broad-spectrum sunscreens do not fully protect against protein radical-damage in skin due to possible visible-light contributions to damage or UVA-filter degradation. Anisotropic spectra of DMPO-trapped oxygen-centred radicals, proposed intermediates of lipid-oxidation, were detected in irradiated sunscreen and DMPO. Sunscreen protection might be improved by the consideration of visible-light protection and the design of filters to minimise radical leakage and lipid-oxidation.