RCTs evaluating the efficacy of PPIs on nighttime symptoms in adults with GERD. Methodological and clinical homogeneity across studies was explored. Methodological diversity or differences in study quality evaluated by Jadad score (ranging from 1 = low to 5 = high) and clinical diversity in nighttime criteria used for patient enrollment, nighttime outcomes measured, and the nighttime definition used were explored. RESULTS: Thirtytwo RCTs compared the efficacy of PPI with placebo only (n = 7), H2-receptor antagonist only (n = 12), another PPI only (n = 11) or both placebo and H2-receptor antagonist (n = 2) in controlling nighttime GERD. The majority of studies (n = 28) were of high methodological quality (Jadad score of at least 3 points). Source of data collection was patient daily diaries across all studies. Criteria for enrolling nighttime GERD patients (frequency and/or severity of nighttime symptoms) lacked consistency. Nighttime heartburn measures varied from percentage of patients without heartburn (n = 18), percentage of heartburnfree nights (n = 15), heartburn severity score (n = 11) or time to heartburn relief (n = 6). Most studies assessed efficacy at eight weeks or less; only three studies measured the long-term efficacy of PPI. However, very few nighttime heartburn measures assessed the same timeframe. The time window for the nighttime symptom assessment was reported in only three studies and was not based on specific hours but on sleep/posture (retiring/lying down to sleep). CONCLUSION: RCTs of PPI therapy in nighttime GERD are of high methodological quality. However, presence of clinical heterogeneity across trials in enrollment criteria, outcomes, and timeframes minimizes the possibility of performing meta-analysis.


What is the UEGF? The first ideas about a Federation that would combine the various European associations and societies active in gastroenterology and allied fields, surfaced during the International Congress of Gastroenterology in Rome in 1988. To many of us the many organisations all holding their own annual meetings looked like misspent energy. Therefore the idea was born to have one annual meeting in Europe for the entire field of gastroenterology, including endoscopy, gastrointestinal surgery, paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and pancreatology. Thus the UEGF was established. The first formal United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW) took place in Athens, in 1992. Since then there have been UEGWs in Barcelona (1993), Oslo (1994), and Berlin (1995). The number of submitted abstracts is growing and so is the number of participants: 4000 in Oslo and over 7000 in Berlin.


B64 VEGFR-2 is a key regulator of endothelial cell functions in both physiological and pathological angiogenesis. Blockade of VEGFR-2 function in tumor angiogenesis has been extensively studied and the pathway has been validated as target for cancer therapy. CT-322 is a pegylated Adnectin that selectively blocks VEGFR-2 thereby inhibiting VEGFR-2-mediated endothelial cellular functions in vitro and in vivo. Adnectins are a new class of protein therapeutics designed from a domain of human fibronectin. CT-322 is the first product in this class to enter clinical trials and is currently in Phase 1 development in cancer patients. CT-322 binds to the extracellular domain of VEGFR-2 and blocks its activation by all of its know ligands: VEGF-A, -C and -D. In vivo, CT-322 has demonstrated antitumor activity in a wide variety of tumor models as a monotherapy in both xenograft and orthotopic models. In addition, the combination of CT-322 with cytotoxic chemotherapies showed additive effects on the inhibition of tumor growth in tumor models. In this study we evaluated the effects of CT-322 on tumor vasculature density and morphology in a xenograft tumor model. The results indicated an association between CT-322-mediated inhibition of tumor growth and relevant structural changes in tumor vasculature. Quantitative 2D immuno-histochemical analyses of an endothelial vascular staining marker, CD31, demonstrated a significant reduction of microvascular density in tumors from CT-322-treated animals as compared to vehicle-treated animals. Parallel 3D vascular casting studies corroborated the 2D findings confirming the decreased tumor vascular density under CT-322 treatment. The 3D vascular casting data enabled quantitative morphometric analysis of both intervascular and interbranching tumor vessel distances; these measurements showed a significant reduction of both parameters in treated compared to control animals. In CT-322-treated animals immature blood vessels were trimmed and the abnormal appearance was reversed, as measured by a reduced chaotic tumor vessel branching. These observations support the hypothesis that CT-322-mediated inhibition of VEGFR-2 signaling leads to reduction and remodeling of tumor vasculature in connection with its inhibitory effects on tumor growth.


By considering the non-uniform phase transition, a theoretical lower bound of the probability of finding the 't Hooft-Polyakov monopole in the so-called Inflationary universe is given.


Cr3B7O13I is cubic, space group F.hivin.43c, with a 12.214(1) .ANG.; dc = 4.130 for Z = 8. Final R = 0.023 for 109 reflections. At. coordinates are given. Shortest interat. distances are Cr-O 2.075(2), Cr-I 3.0520(2), O-B 1.439(3), and O-O 2.393(3) .ANG.. The deviation from planarity of the O-atom environment around the metal atom is compared with those of other cubic boracites.


Bianchi type -III cosmological model in the presence of magnetized anisotropic dark energy is investigated. The energy-momentum tensor consists of anisotropic fluid with anisotropic EoS p = ωρ and a uniform magnetic field of energy density ρ B .We obtain exact solutions to the field equations using the condition that expansion is proportional to the shear scalar . The physical behavior of the model is discussed with and without magnetic field. We conclude that universe model as well as anisotropic fluid does not approach isotropy through the evolution of the universe.


The unsteady MHD flow of an incompressible viscous electrically conducting
 fluid between two horizontal parallel non conducting plates, where the lower
 one is stretching sheet and the upper one is oscillating porous plate, is
 studied in the presence of a transverse magnetic field and the effects of
 Hall current. Fluid motion is caused by the stretching of the lower sheet and
 a constant suction is applied at the upper plate which is oscillating in its
 own plane. The stretching velocity of the sheet is assumed to be a linear
 function of distance along the channel. The expressions relating to the
 velocity distribution are obtained and effects of different values of various
 physical parameters are calculated numerically and shown graphically.


In this article the autor presents a description, analysis and evaluation of the fundamentally new interpretation of the economic history of the early modern world that is defended by authors who collectively have become known as the California School, the most important among them being Kenneth Pomeranz, Roy Bin Wong, Andre Gunder Frank and Jack Goldstone. He in particular analyses their claim that in the period from roughly 1400 to 1800 the most advanced economies of Eurasia formed a world of 'surprising resemblances' and that the Great Divergence between 'the West' and 'the Rest' only originated with industrialisation and must be interpretated as a fairly contingent and recent phenomenon, basically due to differences in the availability of resources. The author claims that the Californians have a tendency to exaggerate the resemblances between Western Europe and East Asia and should be more specific when it comes to time, place and the differing historical trajectories of various regions. Finally, he claims they should pay far more attention to political and military developments and to the role of culture and institutions.


Our laboratory at MIT has been interested over the past few years in new techniques to facilitate the transfer of chemical information from living organisms, specifically plants, animals and humans, for applications ranging from precision agriculture to precision medicine. This presentation will discuss recent advances on this topic. As tool towards this end, fluorescent nanosensors hold the potential to revolutionize life sciences and medicine. However, their adaptation and translation into the in vivo environment is fundamentally hampered by unfavourable tissue scattering and intrinsic autofluorescence. Here we develop wavelength-induced frequency filtering (WIFF) whereby the fluorescence excitation wavelength is modulated across the absorption peak of a nanosensor, allowing the emission signal to be separated from the autofluorescence background, increasing the desired signal relative to noise, and internally referencing it to protect against artefacts. Using highly scattering phantom tissues, an SKH1-E mouse model and other complex tissue types, we show that WIFF improves the nanosensor signal-to-noise ratio across the visible and near-infrared spectra up to 52-fold. This improvement enables the ability to track fluorescent carbon nanotube sensor responses to riboflavin, ascorbic acid, hydrogen peroxide and a chemotherapeutic drug metabolite for depths up to 5.5 ± 0.1 cm when excited at 730 nm and emitting between 1,100 and 1,300 nm, even allowing the monitoring of riboflavin diffusion in thick tissue. As an application, nanosensors aided by WIFF detect the chemotherapeutic activity of temozolomide transcranially at 2.4 ± 0.1 cm through the porcine brain without the use of fibre optic or cranial window insertion. The ability of nanosensors to monitor previously inaccessible in vivo environments will be important for life-sciences research, therapeutics and medical diagnostics. Also towards this overall objective, our laboratory at MIT has been interested in exploring the relatively new interface between living plants and non-biological nanostructures to impart the former with new and enhanced functions, which we call Plant Nanobionics. We have developed a theory of subcellular uptake and kinetic trapping of a wide range of nanoparticles, validated in-vivo in living plants. Confocal visible and near infrared fluorescent microscopy and single particle tracking of Gold-Cystein-AF405 (GNP-Cys-AF405), Streptavidin-Quantum Dot (SA-QD), Dextran and Poly(acrylic acid) nanoceria, and various polymer-wrapped SWCNT, including lipid-PEG-SWCNT, chitosan-SWCNT and (AT)15-SWCNT, were used to demonstrate that particle size and the magnitude, but not the sign, of the zeta potential are key in determining whether a particle is spontaneously and kinetically trapped within chloroplasts or the cytosol. We develop a mathematical model of this Lipid Exchange Envelope Penetration (LEEP) mechanism, which agrees well with observations of this size and zeta potential dependence. As an application, we rationally designed a chitosan-complexed single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) as nanocarriers to selectively deliver plasmid DNA (pDNA) to chloroplasts of different plant species without external biolistic or chemical aid. We demonstrate chloroplast-targeted transgene delivery and expression in living mature arugula (Eruca sativa) and watercress (Nasturitium officinale) plants in planta and in isolated Arabidopsis thaliana mesophyll protoplasts. Another application of nanoparticles and nanotechnology to plant sciences is in the form of biochemical sensors that operate in planta and across diverse species. Using non-destructive optical nanosensors, we find that the spatial and temporal H2O2 concentration immediately post-wounding follows a simple logistic waveform for six dicot plant species: lettuce (Lactuca sativa), arugula (Eruca sativa), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), strawberry blite (Blitum capitatum), sorrel (Rumex acetosa), and Arabidopsis thaliana, ranked in order of wave speed from 0.44 to 3.10 cm/min. The H2O2 wave tracks the concomitant surface potential wave measured electrochemically for the series of plants. We show that the plant NADPH oxidase RbohD, glutamate receptor-like channels (GLR3.3 and GLR3.6) are all critical to the propagation of the H2O2 waveform upon wounding. Our findings highlight the utility of a new type of nanosensor probe that is species-independent and capable of real-time, spatial and temporal biochemical measurements in planta.


Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that caused by the result of lack of dopamine in a specific area of the brain called bangsal ganglia. It is a long term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly effect the motor system that has some impacts such as difficulty in speech, problem in swallowing, and dressing, trouble with handwriting or even doing some activities, and tremor. Based on this problem, researchers use the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) database to classify subtypes: Tremor Dominant (TD) and Postural Instability Gait Difficulty (PIGD). Identifying the factors of Parkinson's disease subtypes is crucial in understanding the appropriate therapy for Parkinson's disease patient. Furthermore, it gives some characteristics of patient that is classified into TD or PIGD. Classification method is used to identify the factors of parkinson's disease subtypes on 207 patient with PD and 47 variables obtained from Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) part II and part III in event V12. The result is PD patient who is classified to PIGD class have the lower value in constancy of rest tremor, rest tremore amplitude (RUE), tremor, rest tremor amplitude (LUE), and postural tremor of right hand than PD patient with TD and the higher value in postural stability, walking and balance, and freezing than PD patient with TD.


In this study, an automatic microfluidic fluorescence-array measurement system is developed to detect the concentration of organic phosphate based on the luminol-hydrogen peroxide catalytic fluorescent mechanism. Not only sample quantity and cost can be reduced, but also detection time, accuracy and precision can be improved in the system. The system is composed of a CCD image module, a stepper motor with driver, a microfluidic fluorescence array, a background light elimination module, and a dynamic image-analyzed interface. The pesticides of chlorpyrifos and fenitrothion of organic phosphate are chosen as experimental samples. Only a 2.5 μ l quantity of sample is required to have a fast response time of 1.4 second. Experimental results show that the sensitivities of chlorpyrifos and fenitrothion are 1.88 V/ppm in the range of 0.166 ∼ 10 ppm with averaged error of 1.66% and 0.32 V/ppm in the range of 0.03 ∼ 10 ppm with averaged error of 1.68% respectively. The organophosphorus effective detection range of the developed system covers the legal prescription for pesticide residues.


The sustaining significance of cyberspace and information security is evident from nations' strategical planning to firms' specialized regulations. To manage the security risk, practitioners in radio and television field rely on the information security technologies. Though the academic and practical aspects of IT security are proliferating, it is a tough task to construct a reliable information security system that is applicable for program broadcasting. This paper demonstrates how to conduct such a framework from theory to practice. And the empirical result shows that the deployment and application is reasonable and effective.


Purpose : To explore the effect of α-cyclodextrin on the activity of α-amylase with a view to expanding its application range. Methods : The concentration of α-cyclodextrin, temperature, pH and interaction time were used as single factors to explore the influence of α-cyclodextrin on the activity of α-amylase and endogenous fluorescence in the enzyme system. Results : The results showed that the concentration, time, pH and temperature affect the interaction of them. The most obvious conditions for inhibition of α-amylase activity are as follows: 10 mmol/L concentration of α-cyclodextrin, pH 6.9, duration of 120 min and temperature at 55 oC. In addition, the fluorescence intensity of α-amylase changed as a result of the addition of α-cyclodextrin. Conclusion : The activity of α-amylase can be inhibited by α-cyclodextrin. At the same time, the addition of α-cyclodextrin will lead to the transfer of tryptophan group in α-amylase, which cause the change of microenvironment and changes the endogenous fluorescence intensity of α-amylase. Keywords : α-Cyclodextrin, α-Amylase, Fluorescence intensity, Inhibition


Abstract The sustained high levels of unemployment in South Africa have resulted in an increase in the number of individuals entering the informal sector. This study provides a profile of twenty informal collectors who frequented a newly established multi-material buyback centre in the Durban central business district. All but one collector had come to the city in search of employment, with only four being successful in securing formal employment. Eleven collectors had dependants, who generally lived at their permanent home. Seven collectors had begun hawking as a result of having seen or heard about the buyback centre, while one collector had been trading cardboard for 21 years. Most did not understand the concept of 'recycling', but admitted that their activities led to a cleaner city. Recognition for this 'service' was requested in order to legitimise their activities in the eyes of the community. The income generated was variable. Several factors, including a fluctuating market price, have a considerable impact on the poverty status and vulnerability of these collectors.


Knowledge of the craft of trumpet performance has tended to be hidden within the oral tradiion of the teacher/student relationship. This study outlines a wholistic approach towards the investigation of the craft, surveying the multi- dimensional factor influencing the performing lives of trumpet players, deriving a model that expands on four categories of the experience of trumpet playing. This research project has investigated an approach to the study of performance that transcends the constraints of particular performance cultures. In addition, the project presents an approach to the systematisation and modelling of musical performance which is centred on the individual experience of musicians.


The elevated serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) serve as independent predictors of stent thrombosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Our study aims at investigating the relationship between the serum ALP and the responsiveness to clopidogrel. Patients undergoing elective PCI were enrolled for the study, and all participants received a 300-mg clopidogrel loading dose. The responsiveness to clopidogrel was determined by thromboelastography (TEG), and low responsiveness to clopidogrel was defined based on two aspects: (1) adenosine diphosphate (ADP) -induced platelet-fibrin clot strength (MAADP) of > 47 mm and (2) ADP-induced platelet inhibition rate of < 50%. A logistic regression model analysis was used to calculate the risks of responsiveness to clopidogrel as odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Overall, 809 patients were considered for the study. They were divided into four quartile groups based on the serum ALP levels. A positive linear trend was observed in MAADP across the ALP quartiles (P for linear trend < 0.001), whereas ADP-induced platelet inhibition rate decreased across the ALP quartiles (P for linear trend = 0.007). When multiple confounders were adjusted, the highest ALP quartile correlated with an increased risk of low responsiveness to clopidogrel compared to the lowest ALP quartile (OR, 1.423; 95% CI, 1.017-1.991; P = 0.039). In the sensitivity analysis, the association remained significant for different definitions of low responsiveness to clopidogrel. The elevated serum levels of ALP are independently associated with an increased risk of low responsiveness to clopidogrel.


The time response of APDs is conventionally modelled assuming that carriers travel always at their saturated drift velocity. The present study tests this assumption by comparing the distributions of carrier exit times in an avalanche process predicted from this conventional model and from a Monte Carlo model incorporating more realistic transport behaviour. While the two treatments give very similar results in a long (1.0 μm) structure, as the device width is reduced, the results from the conventional model increasingly diverge from those of the Monte Carlo model, with the latter predicting faster avalanche processes, so that in a 0.1 μm thick structure the speed predictions differ by more than a factor of 3. These results confirm that non-equilibrium transport plays an important part in the time response of sub-micron devices, where the conventional modelling approach is inappropriate.


BACKGROUND
It is controversial whether proteinuria is a valid surrogate end point for randomized trials in chronic kidney disease.

STUDY DESIGN
Meta-analysis of individual patient-level data.

SETTING & POPULATION
Individual patient data for 9,008 patients from 32 randomized trials evaluating 5 intervention types.

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR STUDIES
Randomized controlled trials of kidney disease progression until 2007 with measurements of proteinuria both at baseline and during the first year of follow-up, with at least 1 further year of follow-up for the clinical outcome.

PREDICTOR
Early change in proteinuria.

OUTCOMES
Doubling of serum creatinine level, end-stage renal disease, or death.

RESULTS
Early decline in proteinuria was associated with lower risk of the clinical outcome (pooled HR, 0.74 per 50% reduction in proteinuria); this association was stronger at higher levels of baseline proteinuria. Pooled estimates for the proportion of treatment effect on the clinical outcome explained by early decline in proteinuria ranged from -7.0% (95%CI, -40.6% to 26.7%) to 43.9% (95%CI, 25.3% to 62.6%) across 5 intervention types. The direction of the pooled treatment effects on early change in proteinuria agreed with the direction of the treatment effect on the clinical outcome for all 5 intervention types, with the magnitudes of the pooled treatment effects on the 2 end points agreeing for 4 of the 5 intervention types. The pooled treatment effects on both end points were simultaneously stronger at higher levels of proteinuria. However, statistical power was insufficient to determine whether differences in treatment effects on the clinical outcome corresponded to differences in treatment effects on proteinuria between individual studies.

LIMITATIONS
Limited variety of interventions tested and low statistical power for many chronic kidney disease clinical trials.

CONCLUSIONS
These results provide new evidence supporting the use of an early reduction in proteinuria as a surrogate end point, but do not provide sufficient evidence to establish its validity in all settings.


Orissa Remote Sensing Applications Centre (ORSAC), an autonomous technology organization established by the Government of Orissa, had grown tremendously; developing competencies in the fields of remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS) and space technology. Since ORSAC was established by the Government of Orissa, ORSAC's relationship with the state, Department of Science (DoS), National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) and Space Application Centre (SAC) helped it to secure remote sensing and GIS projects effortlessly, thereby ensuring a steady revenue stream for ORSAC during the early days of its inception. Upon assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Amiya Kumar Mohapatra, an Indian Forest Service officer, realized that he was unable to bring desired changes within the organization. Low motivation amongst the employees prevented the organization from growing and winning large-scale projects. ORSAC faced stiff competition from private players and other government agencies in the ever-advancing remote sensing and GIS market in India. The CEO realized that dependence on the government for patronage and funding had had a detrimental impact on ORSAC. The organization was unable to recognize the need for developing competencies in marketing its products and services to users until it was too late, and it had already lost large-scale projects in the manufacturing industry to private players. However, an increase in the salary expenses and the salary shortfall in comparison with Department of Science and Technology funding was forcing ORSAC to sustain its operational expenses by securing more projects from the open market. The organization was facing diverse challenges ranging from high operating costs, especially salary expenses, to low productivity of employees, which were affecting ORSAC's competitiveness negatively. Additionally, the organization faced a near-permanent recruitment ban by the state government preventing it from sourcing key competencies from the market to keep pace with the changing technologies and customer demands. Thus, this case study aims to present diverse challenges of a state-owned enterprise by highlighting internal factors such as structural, financial and human resource challenges, as well as external factors such as technological change and competition in the industry, which influences organizational competitiveness and makes organizational turnaround a difficult task.


Traditional medical school curricula have made a clear demarcation between the basic biomedical sciences and the clinical years. It is our view that a comprehensive medical education necessarily involves an increased correlation between basic science knowledge and its clinical applications. A basic anatomy course should have two main objectives: for the student to successfully gain a solid knowledge base of human anatomy and to develop and hone clinical reasoning skills. In a basic anatomy course, clinical case discussions based on underlying anatomic anomalies or abnormalities are the major means to teach students clinical reasoning skills. By identifying, classifying, and analyzing the clinical data given, a student learns to methodically approach a clinical case and formulate plausible diagnoses. Practicing and perfecting clinical problem‐solving skills should be a major objective of the anatomy curriculum. Such clinical reasoning skills are indeed crucial for the successful and expert practice of medicine. Anat Sci Ed 1:267–268, 2008. © 2008 American Association of Anatomists.


Introduction: Nowadays, hepatitis is of the most important health priorities around the world, where information plays a very significant role in specialized diseases prevention planning, and policy- and decision-making processes. Thus, this study addressed challenges of hepatitis information management and investigated the outcomes of establishing a hepatitis information management system to overcome such challenges. To this end, this research intended to study the implementation of an Electronic hepatitis information management system. Methodology: This is an applied-developmental study with following specifications and procedures: preparation of study proposal and design, justification of the design's stakeholders, approval of the design by the Postgraduate Education Council of Faculty, determination of pilot hepatitis control center, software development, deciding on control, prevention, and treatment centers, and finally development of a network-based system for collecting and managing hepatitis information. Findings: Results indicated that the inconsistency and lack of integrity of data, as well as the lack of communication between related units prevented timely information register of viral hepatic patients and services that are provided to them. This inhibited the possibility of considering a follow-up process. However, the implementation of this system and involvement of relevant units greatly solved these problems. Conclusion: Results show that the implementation of an electronic system for the management of hepatitis control, prevention, and treatment is a regional and national requirement; since, this system with its empowered infrastructure is capable in providing desired services to all laboratories, counseling and health centers, specialized clinics, and physicians connected to the hepatitis network. This enables them to follow up and monitor patients' conditions. That mentioned system paves the way for the analysis of gathered information, managers' and specialists' access in different regions to the data for making appropriate and accurate decisions.


Background Improvement of skin fibrosis over time is part of the "natural history" of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). However, in individual patients, the pattern of change in skin fibrosis varies widely. The extent of skin fibrosis measured by the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) is the major outcome measure in clinical trials (CT) in dcSSc. Understanding the factors behind the improvement of skin fibrosis in dcSSc could avoid unnecessary use of therapy and medical resources. Moreover, it could improve cohort selection in CT with skin fibrosis as a major outcome. Objectives Identification of predictors for improvement of skin fibrosis over a 1 year follow-up in dcSSc patients. Methods We performed a longitudinal analysis on the EUSTAR registry. The inclusion criteria were: dcSSc, fulfillment of ACR criteria, baseline mRSS ≥7, available data for mRSS at 12±2 months. The primary outcome was skin improvement, defined as decrease in mRSS of >5 points AND ≥25% within 1 year. Variables with p<0.2 in univariate analysis were selected for multivariable analysis using nominal group technique. Multiple imputation for missing data was used. Multiple logistic regression with a stepwise forward and backward model selection was applied to each of the imputed datasets. Variables included in >50% of the models were re-tested in the available dataset. The final model was validated in a second temporal cohort from the EUSTAR database. Results Out of 11228 EUSTAR patients, 704 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and 155/704 (22%) patients had skin improvement. In univariate analysis, high baseline mRSS (Figure 1), a high modified skin fibrosis progression rate at baseline, cardiac involvement (defined as presence of at least one of conduction blocks, diastolic dysfunction or left ventricular ejection fraction <45%), immunosuppression and ESR <25 mm/h were associated with skin improvement after 1 year. In multivariable logistic regression, the variables present in >50% of the models from the imputed datasets were baseline mRSS (100%), Anti Scl-70 positive (97%), ESR >25mm/h (88%), DLCO ≥70% (61%). These were tested again in the available dataset. The final model revealed high mRSS at 1st visit and ESR <25mm/h as independent predictors of skin improvement after 1 year. The predictive value of high baseline mRSS was confirmed in the validation cohort (N=47).Figure 1 Baseline mRSS in patients with and without skin regression: patients with skin regression (black bars) have higher baseline mRSS relative to patients without skin regression (grey bars). Conclusions These results show that patients with already advanced skin fibrosis are more likely to regress under standard of care in the next 12 months than patients with milder skin fibrosis. Thus, focus for treatment intervention and recruitment in CT aiming at skin fibrosis should shift from these patients with high baseline mRSS to at risk patients characterized by low to moderate skin fibrosis. Disclosure of Interest R. Dobrota Grant/research support from: Articulum Fellowship (Pfizer), Actelion, B. Maurer: None declared, N. Graf: None declared, C. Mihai Speakers bureau: Actelion, Pfizer, MSD, Roche, UCB and Abbvie, O. Kowal-Bielecka Consultant for: Abbvie, Actelion, Pfizer, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Actelion, Pfizer, Y. Allanore Grant/research support from: Bayer Pharma, Actelion, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, CSL Behring, Roche, Consultant for: Bayer Pharma, Actelion, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, CSL Behring, Roche, O. Distler Grant/research support from: 4D Science, Actelion, Active Biotec, Bayer-Schering, Biogen, Biovitrium, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma, EpiPharm, Ergonex, GSK, Inventiva, Medac, Novartis, Pfizer, Pharmacyclics, Roche/Genentech, Sanofi/Genzyme, Serodapharm, Sinoxa and United BioSource Corporation, Consultant for: 4D Science, Actelion, Active Biotec, Bayer-Schering, Biogen, Biovitrium, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma, EpiPharm, Ergonex, GSK, Inventiva, Medac, Novartis, Pfizer, Pharmacyclics, Roche/Genentech, Sanofi/Genzyme, Serodapharm, Sinoxa and United BioSource Corporation


Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was chemically modified with two types of comb-shaped copolymers of polyethylene glycol derivative and maleic anhydride, one with the molecular weight of 13,000 (activated PM13) and the other with 100,000 (activated PM100), to form PM13- and PM100-BSA. The immunoreactivity of BSA was markedly reduced by coupling with each modifier and was completely lost when 30% or 20% of amino groups in BSA were modified with activated PM13 or PM100, respectively. The esterase activity of PM13- and PM100-BSA without immunoreactivity were retained 63% and 93% of non-modified one, respectively. These results were discussed with those of modified-asparaginases(1).


PURPOSE
The guinea pig is being used increasingly as a model of human myopia. As accommodation may influence the effects of manipulations used in experimental myopia models, understanding the accommodative ability of guinea pigs is important. Here, nonselective muscarinic agonists were used as pharmacological tools to study guinea pig accommodation.

METHODS
Measurements were made on 15 pigmented guinea pigs. For in vivo testing, animals were anesthetized and, following baseline measurements, 2% pilocarpine was applied topically. Measurements included A-scan ultrasonography, optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, corneal topography, and refraction. In vitro lens scanning experiments were performed using anterior segment preparations, with measurements before and during exposure to carbachol. Anterior segment structures were examined histologically and immunohistochemistry was done to characterize the muscarinic receptor subtypes present.

RESULTS
In vivo, pilocarpine induced a myopic shift in refractive error coupled to a small, but consistent decrease in anterior chamber depth (ACD), a smaller and more variable increase in lens thickness, and a decrease in pupil size. Lens thickness increases were short-lived (10 minutes), while ACD and pupil size decreased over 20 minutes. Corneal curvature was not significantly affected. Carbachol tested on anterior segment preparations in vitro was without effect on lens back vertex distance, but did stimulate pupil constriction. Immunohistochemistry indicated the presence of muscarinic receptor subtypes 1 to 5 in the iris and ciliary body.

CONCLUSIONS
The observed pilocarpine-induced changes in ACD, lens thickness, and refraction are consistent with active accommodation in the guinea pig, through cholinergic muscarinic stimulation.


Abstract. The objective of this work is to evaluate the impact of vehicular emissions on the formation of fine particles (PM2.5;  ≤  2.5 µm in diameter) in the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Area (SPMA) in Brazil, where ethanol is used intensively as a fuel in road vehicles. The Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model, which simulates feedbacks between meteorological variables and chemical species, is used as a photochemical modelling tool to describe the physico-chemical processes leading to the evolution of number and mass size distribution of particles through gas-to-particle conversion. A vehicular emission model based on statistical information of vehicular activity is applied to simulate vehicular emissions over the studied area. The simulation has been performed for a 1-month period (7 August–6 September 2012) to cover the availability of experimental data from the NUANCE-SPS (Narrowing the Uncertainties on Aerosol and Climate Changes in Sao Paulo State) project that aims to characterize emissions of atmospheric aerosols in the SPMA. The availability of experimental measurements of atmospheric aerosols and the application of the WRF-Chem model made it possible to represent some of the most important properties of fine particles in the SPMA such as the mass size distribution and chemical composition, besides allowing us to evaluate its formation potential through the gas-to-particle conversion processes. Results show that the emission of primary gases, mostly from vehicles, led to a production of secondary particles between 20 and 30 % in relation to the total mass concentration of PM2.5 in the downtown SPMA. Each of PM2.5 and primary natural aerosol (dust and sea salt) contributed with 40–50 % of the total PM10 (i.e. those  ≤  10 µm in diameter) concentration. Over 40 % of the formation of fine particles, by mass, was due to the emission of hydrocarbons, mainly aromatics. Furthermore, an increase in the number of small particles impaired the ultraviolet radiation and induced a decrease in ozone formation. The ground-level O3 concentration decreased by about 2 % when the aerosol-radiation feedback is taken into account.


The 21st century life skills are seen as urgent in connection with globalization that brings change and paradox that demands students' competencies to be equipped with a number of social skills so that they can be competitive in the global era. To meet these competencies, it is necessary to designed the 21st century social skills systemic programs in the scope of higher education. This study aims to design social studies based cultural literacy material to develop student social skills competencies. The research method used is the R&D method by following the Borg & Gall procedures. The research subjects involved: lecturers of courses; students as subjects for limited group trials; and four experts who have social studies expert criteria. The instrument used was the Social Studies learning material design questionnaire which was validated by experts and analyzed using the average percentage of scores. Data analysis was also carried out on the results of observations related to student social skills competencies through qualitative descriptive analysis techniques. Observation of student competencies is carried out both during the learning process takes place in the classroom and in project activities outside the classroom. The results showed that the design of social studies learning material based on cultural literacy was declared valid and suitable for use. The results also show that learning material designs can develop student social skills competencies which include aspects: Social interaction skills, effective communication skills, skills in building teams, and skills in problem solving.


We have designed and synthesized a new curved π-conjugated molecule, 1,1-difluorosumanene (1), which possesses two fluorine atoms on the same benzylic carbon of unsubstituted sumanene, producing a large dipole moment along the in-plane direction. Thermal analyses, variable-temperature X-ray diffraction, and IR measurements indicated a 120° in-plane motion of 1 in the stacking columns, which did not cause any phase transition in the crystalline state. Indeed, dielectric measurements on powder and single-crystal forms of 1 showed that both the real (ε1) and imaginary (ε2) parts of the dielectric constant were enhanced above ~360 K at 1 MHz with a Debye-type dielectric relaxation, confirming that 1 underwent a pendulum fluctuation induced by the external electric field.


The vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) technique is a low-cost alternative to the autoclave process suitable for manufacturing large-scale composite parts. During the VARTM process, carbon fiber sheets are covered by a vacuum bag, and a vacuum pump is utilized to assist the resin flow in the infiltration process. However, when dealing with carbon fiber fabrics with complicated microstructure such as 2D textile fabrics, the gaps between the fiber tows are sometimes not fully saturated by the resin flow, creating starvation areas that potentially compromise the mechanical performance of the composite part. In addition, during the resin infusion process, the cross-linking reaction is activated under the preheated condition, making the material properties of resin both temperature and degree of cure (DOC) dependent. Therefore, the key is to establish a multi-physics model that incorporate heat transfer analysis and cure kinetics into the flow compaction model. In this paper, an integrated flow compaction model is developed to predict the flow front advancement inside the textile fabrics during the VARTM process. The flow velocity and pressure distribution inside the resin flow are governed by the continuity equation and Darcy's law. Due to the fact that the behavior of the resin flow is influenced by the local permeability, which in return is a function of fluid pressure, the flow model and the compaction model are coupled, and they are solved simultaneously to determine the flow behavior of resin inside the fiber fabrics. In the meantime, the viscosity model of the resin is incorporated into the flow compaction model through the material properties of the resin to account for the effects of infusion parameters. Using this flow compaction model, the permeability of the carbon fabrics used in this study is determined by comparing the flow front predicted by the flow compaction model to that observed in the radial injection experiment. Moreover, once the fluid distribution is determined, the local fiber volume fraction and thickness variation of


The aim of this study was to develop a scale measuring attitudes toward strategic planning for primary and secondary school administrators. In the research, 498 school administrators (77 females, 421 males; 140 principles, 56 vice and 302 assistant administrators) consisted of the sampling group in three districts of Istanbul/Turkey according to the three different income levels. Study was completed at eight steps: (i) items were consisted, (ii) the study of content validation , (iii) the study of itemtotal point and item-remainder correlations, (iv) defining item-discrimination, (v) defining structure validation [(a) exploratory factor analysis, (b) confirmatory factor analysis (vi) defining Cronbach Alpha coefficient, (vii) correlations between sub-scales and (viii) the level of confidence was explained with the method of test retest. Item- total point and item-remainder correlations of the scale were found to be statistically significant. Item discrimination index was significant at the level of p < .01 for all items and they were found significant for sub and top 27% group meanings. As a result of the exploratory factor analysis, it was observed that the scale had a five-factor structure. The subscales are named as (i) Organizational Development, (ii) Distrust, (iii) Productivity, (iv) Efficiency and (v) Resistance. Factor loadings of the sub-scales ranged from .41 to .87. Self value of scale was 20.33 and percent of variance explained was 58.11. Result of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the value of chi-square (X2) and level of statically meaningful were enough for model suggested. Cronbach alpha coefficients of subscales ranged from .72 to .94 and for the total scale, it was .82. The test-retest coefficients ranged from .70 to .87. Findings showed that the scale had high internal consistency and validity in measuring the attitudes of school administrators towards strategic planning.


In this paper, we present a stochastic queuing model for the road traffic, which captures the stationary density-flow relationships in both uncongested and congestion conditions. The proposed model is based on the $M/g/c/c$ state dependent queuing model of Jain and Smith, and is inspired from the deterministic Godunov scheme for the road traffic simulation. We first propose a reformulation of the $M/g/c/c$ state dependent model that works with density-flow fundamental diagrams rather than density-speed relationships. We then extend this model in order to consider upstream traffic demand as well as downstream traffic supply. Finally, we calculate the speed and travel time distributions for the $M/g/c/c$ state dependent queuing model and for the proposed model, and derive stationary performance measures (expected number of cars, blocking probability, expected travel time, and throughput). A comparison with results predicted by the $M/g/c/c$ state dependent queuing model shows that the proposed model correctly represents the dynamics of traffic and gives good performances measures. The results illustrate the good accuracy of the proposed model.


The major aim of the present study was to develop an integrin receptor-targeted liposomal paclitaxel (PTX) to enhance the targeting specificity and therapeutic effect of PTX on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The specific Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) ligand was conjugated to 1,2-distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine-polyethylene glycol 2000 to prepare the RGD-modified liposomes (RGD-LP). Furthermore, physicochemical characteristics of RGD-LP, including particle size, ζ potential, encapsulation efficiency and in vitro PTX release, were evaluated. RGD-modified liposomes were selected as the carrier for the present study, as they exhibit good biocompatibility and are easy to modify using RGD. The cellular uptake efficacy of RGD-LP by HepG2 cells was 3.3-fold higher than that of liposomes without RGD, indicating that RGD-LP may specifically target HepG2 cells by overexpressing integrin αvβ3 receptors. The RGD modification appeared to enhance the anti-proliferative activity of LP-PTX against HepG2 cells, with the extent of anti-proliferative activity dependent on the concentration of PTX and the incubation time. Additionally, evaluation of the homing specificity and anticancer efficacy of RGD-LP on the tumor spheroids indicated that solid tumor penetration was enhanced by the modification of RGD. In agreement with these in vitro findings, in vivo investigations demonstrated that RGD-LP-PTX exhibited a greater inhibitory effect on tumor growth in HepG2-bearing mice than LP-PTX or free PTX. Thus, RGD-LPs may represent an efficient targeted PTX delivery system for the treatment of patients with HCC.


Kazakhstan's advanced nuclear industry and active foreign nuclear policy make it a significant player on the global nuclear scene. This article sets the stage by addressing Kazakhstan's nuclear inheritance from the Soviet period. It then provides an overview of the country's nuclear sector with an emphasis on the nuclear fuel cycle and on prospects for introducing nuclear energy into Kazakhstan's energy mix. The article's final section analyzes Astana's nuclear diplomacy on the international global nuclear scene.


Due to recent advances in hyperspectral imaging sensors many subtle unknown signal sources that cannot be resolved by multispectral sensors can be now uncovered for target detection, discrimination, and identification. Because the information about such sources is generally not available, automatic target recognition (ATR) presents a great challenge to hyperspectral image analysts. Many approaches developed for ATR are based on second-order statistics in the past years. This paper investigates ATR techniques using high order statistics. For ATR in hyperspectral imagery, most interesting targets usually occur with low probabilities and small population and they generally cannot be described by second-order statistics. Under such circumstances, using high-order statistics to perform target detection have been shown by experiments in this paper to be more effective than using second order statistics. In order to further address a challenging issue in determining the number of signal sources needed to be detected, a recently developed concept of virtual dimensionality (VD) is used to estimate this number. The experiments demonstrate that using high-order statistics-based techniques in conjunction with the VD to perform ATR are indeed very effective


The trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) is defined as the sudden onset of parasympathetic dysrhythmia, sympathetic hypotension, apnoea or gastric hyper-motility during mechanical/thermal stimulation of any of the sensory branches of the trigeminal nerve. The risk factors that are already known for increasing the prevalence of the TCR include anatomical location, hypercapnia, hypoxemia, light general anaesthesia, age (more pronounced in children), the nature of the provoking stimulus (stimulus strength and duration) and different drugs. Already different potential confounders are also identified. This discussion about risk factors has its importance because of the substantial consequences for functional outcome after intraoperative TCR occurrence. But there remains still a substantial lack of thorough understanding of the TCR, the current treatment options for patients with TCR include a mostly empirical approach: (i) risk factor identification and modification; (ii) prophylactic measures of vital signs and (iii) administration of vagolytic agents or sympathomimetics. In this context, we have now created different thinking models so that we can preoperatively plan a skull base surgery procedure safely in relation to a potential occurrence of the TCR episodes. This chapter provides an overview of this unique reflex that presents a unique interaction between heart and brain. In addition, this also illustrates the mechanism of various cardiac rhythm changes related to the TCR.


We investigate the pulse length dependence of the third-order nonlinear response of a gold film using pulse widths between 325 and 650 fs at λ = 1320 nm via a sensitive cut-pulse technique that measures background-free self-phase modulation. We find a cubic dependence of the transmitted nonlinear power on incident peak intensity that is independent of the pulse width in this range to within experimental accuracy. We estimate a value of χ 3 = 8 ± 3 × 1 0 − 18 m 2 / V 2 by fitting experimental data to numerical simulations accounting for both losses and reflections at each film interface. These results provide valuable insights into near-infrared nonlinear plasmonic device designs.


Summary This paper deals with single-wheel suspension car model. We aim to prove the benefits of controlled semi-active suspensions compared to passive ones. The contribution relies on H 8 control design to improve comfort and road holding of the car under industrial specifications, and on control validation through simulation on an exact nonlinear model of the suspension. Note that we define semi-active suspensions as control systems incorporating a parallel spring and an electronically controlled damper. However, the type of damper used in automotive industry can only dissipate energy. No additional force can be generated using external energy. The control issue is then to change, in an accurate way, the damping (friction) coefficient in real-time. This is what we call semi-active suspension. For this purpose, two control methodologies, H 8 and Skyhook control approaches, are developed, using a linear model of the suspension, and compared in terms of performances using industrial specifications. The performance analysis is done using the control-oriented linear model first, and then using an exact nonlinear model of the suspension incorporating the nonlinear characteristics of the suspension spring and damper.


Hepatic venous congestion (HVC) has not been assessed quantitatively prior to hepatectomy and its resolving mechanism has not been fully analyzed. We devised and verified a new method to predict HVC, in which HVC was estimated from delineation of middle hepatic vein (MHV) tributaries in computed tomography (CT) images. The predicted HVC was transferred to the right hepatic lobes of 20 living donors using a paper scale, and it was compared with the actual observed HVC that occurred after parenchymal transection and arterial clamping. The evolution of HVC from its emergence to resolution was followed up with CT. Volume proportions of the predicted and observed HVC were 31.7 ± 6.3% and 31.3 ± 9.4% of right lobe volume (RLV) (P = .74), respectively, which resulted in a prediction error of 3.8 ± 3.7% of RLV. We observed the changes in the HVC area of the right lobes both in donors without MHV trunk and in recipients with MHV reconstruction. After 7 days, the HVC of 33.5 ± 7.7% of RLV was changed to a computed tomography attenuation abnormality (CTAA) of 28.4 ± 5.3% of RLV in 12 donor remnant right lobes, and the HVC of 29.1 ± 11.5% of RLV was reduced to a CTAA of 9.3 ± 3.2% of RLV in 7 recipient right lobe grafts with MHV reconstruction. There was no parenchymal regeneration of the HVC area in donor remnant livers during first 7 days. In conclusion, we believe that this CT‐based method for HVC prediction deserves to be applied as an inevitable part of preoperative donor evaluation. The changes in CTAA observed in the right lobes of donors and recipients indicate that MHV reconstruction can effectively decrease the HVC area. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:763–770.)


In this paper, a new methodology is proposed to mitigate the unbalanced voltage sag with phase jumps by Unified Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC). UPQC is used to mitigate both voltage and current power quality (PQ) problems. During the process of mitigation, UPQC is supposed to inject real and reactive power into the system to mitigate current (shunt) and voltage (series) power quality (PQ) problems. As per the sensitive load concerns, deep and long duration sags are more vulnerable than shallow and short duration sags. To resolve these issues a new methodology is proposed with optimal Volt-Ampere (VA) loading on UPQC to mitigate deep and long duration unbalanced sag with phase jumps. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is utilized as a tool for evaluating the optimal VA loading of UPQC with constraints like magnitude of injected voltage from Series active power filter, Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of source current and terminal voltage. The proposed methodology ensures optimal VA loading on UPQC without compromising mitigation capability of the UPQC. The proposed method has been validated through detailed simulation studies.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the natural menopause age of middle-aged women in Korea and to analyse various factors affecting them. For the collection of date, 1,140 women aged between 45-54 were selected through stratified sampling technics in Seoul and at a rual area in Kyong KiProvince. They were interviewed from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31,1987 by use of questionnaires made after pilot study had been performed twice. Among them the final subjects for analysis were restricted to only those who had experienced menopause or irregular menstruation during the past one year, the number of which was total 410:206 in urban and 204 in rural area. For the analysis, menopause age was used as dependent variables while fertility variables, socio-economic variables, bio-physical varibles, and insight of life variables were classified as independent variables. Dependent variables such as menopause was tested and analysed by descriptive statistical methods(e.g., frequency, percentage, mean, t-test, ANOVA). The relation between menopause age and independent variables was analysed by use of Pearson's correlation coefficients. For the analysis of various factors affecting menopause age, multiple stepwise regression method was used. The obtained results are summarized as follows: 1. The natural menopause age of Korean women were 47.2 mean age: it was 47.7 and 46.7 mean age in urban and rural area respectively, which revealed that the former was later then the latter by one year. And the recollective error on menopause starting age between the menopause group and the group who had experienced irregular menstruation during the past one year was 0.4-0.7 year. 2. The main factors affecting the menopause age were (1) the duration of marital life, (2) the duration of oral pill use, (3) insight of life and economic status, (4) educational background. (5) menarche, (6) usual menstruation amount, (7) electic charge. and (8) area. These factors. altogether, could explain of factors related with menopause, and they took the high percentage in the order mentioned.


Background & Objective: Talin-1 is a constituent of the multiprotein adhesion complexes that play main role in the formation of tumors and migration in different types of malignancies. The present study aimed to assess expression and prognostic significance of the talin-1 protein in ovarian serous carcinoma (OSC) patients. Methods: The expression of talin-1 in mRNA and its protein levels were investigated for ovarian cancer (OC) by using bioinformatics tools, including Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2), Gene Expression Database of Normal and Tumor Tissue 2 (GENT2), and The University of ALabama at Birmingham CANcer data analysis Portal (UALCAN) databases. Thereafter, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was used to study the expression patterns of the talin-1 protein using 46 paraffin-embedded OSC tissue specimens, 25 benign tumors, and 20 normal tissues, which were assembled in tissue microarrays (TMAs). We also assessed the potential association between the expression of the talin-1 protein, various clinicopathological parameters, and survival outcomes. Results: Our IHC examination for talin-1 was significantly overexpressed in OSC tissues compared to benign tumors and normal tissues. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis has also indicated statistically significant differences in terms of disease-specific survival (DSS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between the patients with high and low expression levels of talin-1, respectively. Conclusion: The talin-1 protein was overexpressed in OSC tissues, and a high expression level of talin-1 was found to be significantly associated with tumor aggressiveness and poorer DSS or PFS. Therefore, talin-1 may serve as a molecular marker of cancer progression and a novel prognostic biomarker in these patients.


In the present text, we present some possibilities to formalize the mathematical content and a historical context, referring to a numerical sequence of linear and recurrent form, known as Sequence of Padovan or Cordonnier. Throughout the text some definitions are discussed, the matrix approach and the relation of this sequence with the plastic number. The explicit exploration of the possible paths used to formalize the explored mathematical subject, comes with an epistemological character, still conserving the exploratory intention of these numbers and always taking care of the mathematical rigor approached


This article presents the findings of an action research project carried out by a group of teachers and students from the Universidad de Antioquia. The action research project aimed to determine the impact of a professional development proposal for elementary school English teachers. In the first section, the article describes the project, including its objectives, the methodology used, and the theoretical framework that supports the proposal. In the second part, the findings obtained in the study are discussed in light of the objectives stated. Findings reveal that  participant teachers improved both their use of the foreign language and their pedagogical practices as a result of having the opportunity to take risks and reflect as learners and teachers about holistic strategies for teaching and learning English as a foreign language. This work contributes to the construction of local knowledge in which university teachers as well as elementary school teachers work together to promote the construction of an academic community that encourages educational changes through professional development processes such as the one described in this article.

Received: 29-08-08/ Accepted: 11-12-08
How to reference this article:

Cadavid Munera, I. C.; Quinchia Ortiz, D. I. & Diaz Mosquera, C. P. (2009). Una propuesta holística de desarrollo profesional para maestros de inglés de la básica primaria. Íkala. 14(1), pp.135-158.


OF THE THESIS Utilizing Academic Detailing to Improve Childhood Influenza Vaccination Rates in San Diego: A Two Year Intervention Study by Evelyn Ly Master of Public Health with a Concentration in Epidemiology San Diego State University, 2012 Background: Influenza vaccination rates nationally remain much lower than rates for routine pediatric immunizations and leave many children at risk. The delivery of the influenza vaccine presents unique challenges as it requires yearly administration in a short time frame. Although the majority of influenza vaccinations are administered OctoberDecember, the peak of cases often occurs in February. The San Diego Influenza Coverage Extension (SD-ICE) study is a two year intervention study that aims to improve influenza vaccination rates using an academic detailing intervention. Academic detailing is a form of continuing medical education for physicians where a health educator conducts a brief seminar on designated topics; in this case immunization. Methods: Parents of children 6-60 months were recruited and interviewed during the 2008-2009 (n=788) influenza season in 6 medical clinics. Intervention clinics received an academic detailing visit from the study staff medical director who discussed clinic immunization rates and promoted the adoption of selected evidence based practices to improve immunization rates; including vaccinating during late season. Recruitment and interviewing the follow up year took place during the 2010-2011 (n=717) influenza season. Results: The overall influenza vaccination rate of the intervention group significantly increased by 7.7% (2008-2009: 55.4%, 2010-2011:63.1%, p=0.03) while control group vaccination rates were not significantly different across study years (2008-2009: 73.0%, 2010-2011: 77.4%, p=0.16). However, when placed in a generalized linear model, study year by study group interaction was found to be insignificant (p=0.61). In the follow up year the intervention group experienced a borderline significant increase of 8.5% in late season vaccination rates from baseline (2008-2009: 20.5%, 2010-2011: 28.5%, p=0.05). The control group experienced a 4.4% increase in late season vaccination rates from baseline however, it was not significant (2008-2009: 23.4%, 2010-2011: 27.8% p=0.72). Odds ratios of influenza vaccination for group, private, and community health clinics are not significantly different where p=0.1975. Conclusions: The academic detailing intervention was not successful in increasing childhood influenza vaccinations any more than what naturally occurred from the 2008-2009 to 2010-2011 season. The intervention was minimally successful at increasing late season vaccination in intervention clinics from the 2008-2009 to 2010-2011 influenza season. More intensive methods are required to improve influenza vaccination rates through the use of academic detailing. There are no disparities in vaccination of children less than 5 years old between the major types of medical clinics.


In this article, we estimate the variable Ease of Doing Business-EDB in the context of Environmental, Social and Governance-ESG model. We use data from ESG World Bank dataset. We have used data from 193 countries in the period 2011-2020. The level of EDB is positively associated, among others, to "Individuals Using the Internet", "Government Effectiveness", "Cooling Degree Days", and negatively associated to "Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing, Value Added", "Forest Area" and "Strength of Legal Rights Index". Furthermore, we have applied a cluster analysis with the application of the k-Means algorithm optimized with the Elbow Method and we have found the presence of four clusters. Finally, we have proposed a confrontation among eight different machinelearning algorithms to predict the future value of EDB. We have found that Linear Regression is the best algorithm and that the level of EDB is expected to improve of 1.66% for the analysed countries.


Copyright © 2015 by Journal of Orthpaedic Case Reports Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports | pISSN 2250-0685 | eISSN 2321-3817 | Available on www.jocr.co.in | doi:10.13107/jocr.2250-0685.310 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Dr. Kevin R. Choksey Dr. Jayprakash V Modi Abstract Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports 2015 July Sep: 5(3):Page 60-62 Case Report


Background:The famous SDH-model, with layers in a semicircle, was first painted in the sand by M.Dr. Haglund and published in Swedish 1983 with M.Dr. Svanstrom. The model has been translated and mo ...


An insect's flapping flight is an attractive method of transportation. It shows many useful flight modes such as maneuverable turning and stable hovering. In recent studies, experimental methods and numerical simulations have been successfully applied to solve the mechanism quantitatively. However, it is extremely difficult to accurately estimate the deformation of the wing caused by interaction with airflow. In prior studies, we analyzed this problem using a novel numerical simulation, fluid-structure interaction analysis, in order to represent this interactive behavior accurately, and achieved the quantitative evaluation of dragonfly hovering with flexible wings. As an advanced analysis, we added a solution of the interaction between the body and wings to the method, and realized free-flight simulation. Here, we demonstrate a sharp turn of 10 rad/s in a numerical simulation using a model based on an actual dragonfly.


This paper describes increasing precision of Batch Pipe Forming Method Using Burring and Ironing of Large Diameter Steel Pipe in FEM Analysis. Branch pipes are one of the components of the piping system in a factory that serves as a flow path for gases and fluids. The bifurcated tube is formed by burring as a typical molding technique. The burring process is to form a branch pipe by raising the peripheral portion of the prepared hole formed in the mother pipe. There is a problem that the cutting of the edge is required in the post process. Therefore, a branch pipe batch forming method has been developed in which burring processing that does not require a cutting step in the subsequent step is combined with ironing processing using FEM analysis. The purpose of this research is to improve the accuracy of FEM analysis in the branch pipe batch forming method using burring process and ironing process by cutting the material into a cylindrical shape and performing a compression test to obtain the deformation resistance of the actual material. The experimental results were compared with the analytical results and approximately good agreement was obtained.


Acute-onset heart failure in a young, otherwise healthy patient can be due to either acquired or congenital etiologies. While some diagnoses carry specific histologic hallmarks, many causes of myocardial injury culminate in the relatively nonspecific morphologic pattern of dilated cardiomyopathy. In such cases, a broad differential diagnosis and close clinicopathologic correlation are essential. Here we describe the acute and chronic histologic features of heart failure arising in the context of long-standing abuse of cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana. The mechanisms of cardiotoxicity are discussed for each drug, with particular emphasis on the amplified cardiac injury caused by concomitant cocaine and alcohol use. Although its histologic features are themselves nonspecific, correlation with clinical history, targeted studies to exclude alternative diagnoses, and careful morphologic examination permit confident diagnosis of cardiomyopathy secondary to polysubstance abuse.


To evaluate the pattern of goblet cell differentiation in sinus mucosa in response to external stimuli, New Zealand White rabbits were subjected to either experimental sinusitis or topical capsalcin application. Sinus mucosa was examined by light microscopy after serial sectioning, whole-mount preparation or immunohistochemistry. The mucosa was also examined by electron microscopy after perfusion fixation or high-pressure freezing. While goblet cells were normally very scarce in the healthy rabbit maxillary sinus mucosa, such cells were frequent after experimental sinusitis or topical capsaicin application. The process of goblet cell differentiation seems to follow a sequential path where serous secretory cells start to produce an increasing amount of mucous granules which appear electron lucent after conventional fixation. Parallel to this shift in secretion production, the cell assumes a bulging appearance after conventional fixation. It is concluded that newly formed goblet cells are recruited from intermediate secretory cell stages rather than from ciliated cells.


Recent observations and climate change projections indicate that changes in rainfall energy, intensity, duration, and frequency, which determine the erosive power of rainfall, will amplify erosion rates around the world. However, the magnitude and scope of these future changes in erosive power of rainfall remain largely unknown, particularly at finer-resolutions and local scales. Due to a lack of available projected future sub-hourly climate data, previous studies relied on aggregates (hourly, daily) rainfall data. The erosivity for the southeastern United States in this study was calculated using the RUSLE2 erosivity calculation method without data limitation and a recently published 15-min precipitation dataset. This precipitation data was derived from five NA-CORDEX climate models' precipitation products under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario. In this dataset, hourly climate projections of precipitation were bias-corrected and temporally downscaled to 15-min resolution for 187 locations with collocated 15-min precipitation observations. Precipitation, erosivity (R-factor), and erosivity density (ED) estimations were provided for historical (1970-1999) and future (2030-2059) time periods. Ensemble results for projected values (as compared to historical values) showed increase by precipitation, erosivity, and erosivity density by 14 %, 47 %, and 29 %, respectively. The future ensemble model showed an average annual R-factor of 11,237±1299 MJ mm ha-1h-1yr-1. These findings suggest that changes in rainfall intensity, rather than precipitation amount, may be driving the change in erosivity. However, the bias correction and downscaling limitations inherent in the original precipitation dataset and this study's analyses obscured this particular result. In general, coastal and mountainous regions are expected to experience the greatest absolute increase in erosivity, while other inland areas are expected to experience the greatest relative change. This study offers a novel examination of projected future precipitation characteristics in terms of erosivity and potential future erosion.


Abstract The poorly known type species of Lingulella, Lingula davisii M'Coy, 1851b, is redefined from new material collected from the type locality and horizon (Upper Cambrian, North Wales). Lingulella is similar to Obolus and to Ungula in its musculature, mantle canals, and pseudointerareas, but has a thinner shell and irregular pits over its internal surface, concentrated in the visceral areas. A dissolution method that can facilitate the study of lingulate brachiopods preserved in clastic lithologies is described, and its wider adoption is recommended in order to reveal diagnostic morphological characters.


The effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of mu- and delta-selective opioid agonists on the methamphetamine-induced behavioral alterations in the mouse were determined by using multi-dimensional behavioral analyses. Methamphetamine (1.0 mg/kg) produced a marked increase in linear locomotion, circling, rearing and grooming behavior. Although the mu-selective opioid agonist [D-Ala2,NMePhe4,Gly-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO) (0.003 and 0.01 microgram) itself did not significantly affect different behavioral responses, DAMGO (0.003 and/or 0.01 microgram) antagonized the methamphetamine (1.0 mg/kg)-induced increase in behavioral responses such as linear locomotion, circling, rearing and grooming. Additionally, the effects of DAMGO (0.01 microgram) on the methamphetamine (1.0 mg/kg)-induced behavioral responses were fully reversed by pretreatment with the mu-selective alkylating agent beta-funaltrexamine (beta-FNA) (5.0 micrograms). In contrast, the delta-selective opioid agonist [D-Pen2,L-Pen5]enkephalin (DPLPE) (0.3 or 1.0 microgram) had no marked effects on the methamphetamine (1.0 mg/kg)-induced behavioral responses. These results suggest that the stimulation of mu but not delta opioid receptors plays an inhibitory role in the methamphetamine-induced behavioral responses.


Arenaviruses are bi-segmented, single-stranded RNA viruses that cause significant human disease. The manner in which they regulate the replication of their genome is not well-understood. This is partly due to the absence of a highly sensitive assay to measure individual species of arenavirus replicative RNAs. To overcome this obstacle, we designed a quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assay for selective quantitation of each of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) genomic or antigenomic RNAs. During the course of assay design, we identified a nonspecific priming phenomenon whereby, in the absence of an RT primer, cDNAs complementary to each of the LCMV replicative RNA species are generated during RT. We successfully circumvented this nonspecific priming event through the use of biotinylated primers in the RT reaction, which permitted affinity purification of primer-specific cDNAs using streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. As proof of principle, we used the assay to map the dynamics of LCMV replication at acute and persistent time points and to determine the quantities of genomic and antigenomic RNAs that are incorporated into LCMV particles. This assay can be adapted to measure total S or L segment-derived viral RNAs and therefore represents a highly sensitive diagnostic platform to screen for LCMV infection in rodent and human tissue samples and can also be used to quantify virus-cell attachment.


The cell-mediated immune response was investigated in 21 children with acute measles and in 8 healthy children using the intradermal Heaf and leucocyte migration tests. Tuberculin and purified protein derivative were used as antigens. Whereas all the children with measles were anergic in the in vivo test, two groups of children, i.e. 'reactors' and 'non-reactors' could be delinerated with the in vitro test. The mechanisms responsible for the anergy are discussed.


In the area of renal diagnosis, B-mode ultrasound allows for the study of renal morphology, while power color Doppler is of strategic importance not only for the qualitative and quantitative information it provides on renal vasculature, but also because it allows for the measurement of 'Index Resistance'. This is the ratio between the peak systolic speed [VPS] minus the telediastolic speed [VTD] and the VPS: [VPS-VTD/VTD]), now one of the most sensitive parameters in the study of renal pathologies through the quantification of changes in renal plasma flow. The reliability of the measurement of IR is dependent on accurate methodology, such as sampling at the level of the interlobar or arcuate arteries of 3 to 5 waves of similar dimensions in three different areas of the kidney, etc. Reliability also depends on careful analysis of the value obtained, owing to the confounding influence of peripheral resistance in addition to many other factors, including tachy-brady-arrhythmias, severe hypotension, and perirenal or subcapsular fluid collections. In adults an average IR of < 0.70 is considered normal, although this figure varies with age, giving higher values in children in the first years of life and in the elderly. The color Doppler measurement of IR at the level of the interlobar artery has been proposed as an indicator for differential diagnosis of acute or chronic nephropathies: for example, the ratio was higher in acute pathologies with vascular and tubulo-interstitial involvement, but not in those with glomerular involvement. This review aims to highlight clinical situations in which the study of intrarenal IR can provide useful information on the physiopathology of renal disease in both the native and in the transplanted kidney, as illustrated by the alterations of the morphology of the Doppler wave that are caused by variations in vascular resistance, hydrostatic capillary pressure and pressure inside the urinary tract.


As files are added to and deleted from a file system, the disk becomes fragmented, much as main memory becomes fragmented, because of dynamic storage management. After a period of time, individual files tend to be spread across the disk rather than stored in contiguous areas. When this happens, file access times increase and disk throughput decreases. One possible solution to this problem involves disk restructuring techniques: the constituent disk blocks of selected files are moved so that total seek time for these files is decreased. Techniques to determine which files should be restructured based on the principle of least effort are introduced, and the results of experiments on a 4.2 BSD Unix file system are presented. The experiments demonstrated that over a two-week period seek time performance degraded by more than 20% as a result of fragmentation, despite attempts to control it through careful allocation.<<ETX>>


The design and performance evaluation of voice activated wireless home devices are presented in this paper. The speech recognizer is built using hidden Markov model technology and tested under various kinds of noise. An example of how the built speech recognizer is integrated with X.10 protocol based light controller is given to demonstrate the open architecture of the system. Results from testing and experimentation show that it is feasible to use voice as the unified control method to control home devices and appliances


Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles were synthesized with a chemical precipitation method in different experimental conditions using cerium nitrate hexahydrate (Ce(NO3)3·6H2O) as a precursor, modifying the solution pH, the reaction time, and Co atoms as dopants, in order to tune the band gap energy values of the prepared samples. The physical characteristics of the synthesized ceria nanoparticles were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–Vis analyses and photoluminescence measurements. XRD data revealed a pure cubic fluorite structure of CeO2 NPs, the estimation of crystallite sizes by Scherrer's formula indicates the formation of crystals with dimensions between 11.24 and 21.65 nm. All samples contain nearly spherical CeO2 nanoparticles, as well as cubic, rhomboidal, triangular, or polyhedral nanoparticles that can be identified by TEM images. The optical investigation of CeO2 samples revealed that the band gap energy values are between 3.18 eV and 2.85 eV, and, after doping with Co atoms, the Eg of samples decreased to about 2.0 eV. In this study, we managed to obtain CeO2 NPs with Eg under 3.0 eV by only modifying the synthesis parameters. In addition, by doping with Co ions, the band gap energy value was lowered to 2.0 eV. This aspect leads to promising results that provide an encouraging approach for future photocatalytic investigations.


The title of Douglas Robinson's 2001 study asks the question: Who translates?" (1) This essay addresses that same question; however, whereas Robinson's work focuses on the translator's subjectivity (or subjectivities), my attention is turned more toward attitudes toward the translator and his or her work. Is the translator perceived as a self-absorbed, incestuous outsider, a menace to himself and others, as we see in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Cien anos de soledad [ One Hundred Years of Solitude] ? Or "une heroine postmoderne," (2) a necessary and salutary bridge between individuals and cultures, as Sherry Simon concludes in response to Nicole Brossard's Le desert mauve [Mauve Desert]? Furthermore, how can the same activity generate such radically different responses? This essay explores some of the cultural and philosophical influences that shape Brossard's essentially optimistic view of translators and translation as well as the more familiar one evoked by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Much of my thinking on this topic is inspired by Walter Benjamin's famous 1923 essay, "The Task of the Translator," an essay Rosanna Warren describes as "so hermetic that any number of translators (not to mention poets, novelists, philosophers, and critics) can extract almost any number of readings from it and come away satisfied and nourished (or in despair)." (3) This is because, rather than offering any practical pointers about the actual translation process, Benjamin's essay concentrates more on the "ends" of translation--what we should translate, and why, and what should be our goals in so doing. Benjamin's greatest contribution in this essay is perhaps his break with the traditional practice of evaluating translations in terms of their "fidelity" to the original. Benjamin can propose this radical break in thinking because he posits that neither the original nor the translation is truly "meant" for the reader; the "essential quality" of art is "not statement or the imparting of information." (4) Thus, we must see both the writer and the translator as working cooperatively to express something that exists outside of the realm of any one language. For Benjamin, "it is the task of the translator to release in his own language that pure language which is under the spell of another, to liberate the language imprisoned in a work in his re-creation of that work" ("TT," 80-81). What exactly is this notion of pure language? In defining it, Benjamin posits a "kinship" of languages dependent on what he sees as their supplementary nature, because that kinship is found "not in the similarity between works of literature or words," but rather in the intention underlying each language as a whole--an intention, however, which no single language can attain by itself but which is realized only by the totality of their intentions supplementing each other: pure language. While all individual elements of foreign languages--words, sentences, structure--are mutually exclusive, these languages supplement one another in their intentions. ("TT," 75) Some critics find Benjamin's concept of pure language odd, if not downright troubling. Its implication of the existence of a transcendent signified has annoyed some postmodern scholars, but the model at least has the virtue of liberating us from the traditional metaphorics of translation, which are striking in their recourse to the power dynamics of gendered and family relationships. This may be a matter of less pressing concern to those people who do not do translation than to those of us who do--although surely all literary scholars are impacted by the status and practice of translation. But for translators, those metaphors are the ways in which our work is measured and described, and they are an unfortunate gauge of how it is (or, perhaps, is not) valued. "Traduttore, traditore," and "les belles infideles"--these expressions retain their currency, despite considerable growth and increasing complexity in the field of translation studies. …


A removable partial prosthesis is a therapeutical modality used to restore partial edentulous ridges in which a fixed partial prosthesis is not indicated. Removable partial prosthesis although is an excellent way to restore lost teeth could become a serious threat for the remmant teeth due to possible lever effect exerted on the structure when it is not adequately planned. Preservation of remmant teeth and optimization of function of the masticatory system are the main objectives of removable partial prosthesis. The purpose of this review is to identify the causes of failure of removable partial prosthodontics keeping in mind the benefits provided to the patient when there are no other alternatives.


ABSTRACT Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough, possesses an array of virulence factors, including adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT), relevant in the establishment of infection. Here we better define the impact of cyclic AMP (cAMP) intoxication due to the action of ACT on dendritic cell (DC)-driven immune response, by infecting monocyte-derived DC (MDDC) with an ACT-deficient B. pertussis mutant (ACT−18HS19) or its parental strain (WT18323). Both strains induced MDDC maturation and antigen-presenting cell functions; however, only ACT−18HS19 infected MDDC-induced production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) p70. Gene expression analysis of the IL-12 cytokine family subunits revealed that both strains induced high levels of p40 (protein chain communal to IL-12 p70 and IL-23) as well as p19, a subunit of IL-23. Conversely only ACT−18HS19 infection induced consistent transcription of IL-12 p35, a subunit of IL-12 p70. Addition of the cAMP analogous d-butyril-cAMP (d-cAMP) abolished IL-12 p70 production and IL-12 p35 expression in ACT−18HS19-infected MDDC. ACT−18HS19 infection induced the expression of the transcription factors interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) and IRF-8 and of beta interferon, involved in IL-12 p35 regulation, and the expression of these genes was inhibited by d-cAMP addition and in WT18323-infected MDDC. The concomitant expression of IL-12 p70 and IL-23 allowed ACT−18HS19 to trigger a more pronounced T helper 1 polarization compared to WT18323. The present study suggests that ACT-dependent cAMP induction leads to the inhibition of pathways ultimately leading to IL-12 p35 production, thus representing a mechanism for B. pertussis to escape the host immune response.


While minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) has become increasingly popular recently even in the field of cardiovascular surgery, the conventional full median sternotomy is still the main approach to the mediastinum, especially for cases which cannot be applied for MICS or in the facilities where MICS is not performed. It has been known that sternal instability is one of the leading causes of sternal infection after median sternotomy. Therefore, we have sought for an additional product to secure strong sternal stability. Since August in 2018, we used a new type of corrugated plate( Super Fixsorb Wave) which is placed inside the sternum in addition to regular sternal wires for 140 patients who had full median sternotomy. Up to now, we have no complications regarding sternotomy including mediastinitis. We believe that additional use of Super Fixsorb Wave enables firm sternal stability and prevents mediastinitis following full median sternotomy.


The consequences of predation for prey population dynamics depend on the extent to which this mortality is predisposed by malnutrition or senescence, or additive in the sense that animals that would otherwise not have died at that time were killed. In places lacking effective predators, few adult ungulates die during the summer or wet season months when food is plentifully available. Hence the seasonal distribution of predator kills as well as the age and sex classes of the prey indicates the extent to which malnutrition contributes to mortality as well as other influences on vulnerability. Using records of animal deaths assembled over 35 years in South Africa's Kruger National Park, these patterns were investigated for 12 ungulate species forming the prey of lions, and for three other large predators with respect to one prey species. Buffalo, kudu and giraffe were more strongly represented in kills made during the late dry season, while wildebeest and zebra made relatively greater contributions during the wet season. Impala, waterbuck, warthog and rarer antelope species became more prominent in kills during transitional periods between seasons. Five prey species showed an elevation in representation of males in lion kills during the mating season, as well as impala for all predator species. Females were more prominently represented in kills during the time of late gestation and parturition for three prey species. Hence reproductive activities as well as changing vegetation cover and food resources affected vulnerability to predation. Shifts in susceptibility to predation over the seasonal cycle corresponded with rainfall-related variation in the annual representation of these ungulate species in lion kills. The availability of vulnerable prey species, age and sex classes at different stages of the seasonal cycle helps maintain a high abundance of lions. These factors contribute to the strong additive impact that predation has had on the abundance of some of these ungulate populations.


By using phased bifilar antennas, helicon waves have been excited by applying fields which rotate either in space or in time, or both simultaneously. The direction of rotation is made to favour either m=+1 or m=-1 waves, where m is the azimuthal mode number, and m is measured directly. Rotation in time is found to be more effective than rotation in space and makes possible a direct comparison of excitation. An m=-1 structure was seen only in the antenna near field, while m=+1 modes propagate far downstream. Up to 2 kW of RF power, density profiles and antenna loading measurements show that m<0 (left-hand) waves are poorly coupled, and m=+1 (right-hand) waves are necessary for good plasma production. Loading results indicate that antennas also couple to absorption mechanisms unrelated to helicon waves.


Poland is an example of a national and ethnic structure which is inextricably linked with religion. Religion ought to be perceived as a multi -faceted phenomenon for it permeates all structures of the society. It exerts a profound influence on the functioning of families, local communities, the system of education, as well as on professional and other types of associations. Poland and its history constitute an excellent point of reference in that matter, for it has undergone a long and complex process of transformation from the country of multiculturalism to that of homogeneity. National and religious homogeneity was a rather short -lived experience because it was the outcome of the change of the country borders and expulsions of World War II. In the People's Republic of Poland any manifestation of identity or difference was received with hostility. Depending on the area of social life, various degrees of repressive policies were implemented, and national and religious minorities became one of the targets of such politics. It can be argued that it exerted a particularly strong influence on the German minority, no longer able to cultivate its cultural and ethnic identity. The situation did not change until the socio -political transformation of 1989. It was then that a service in the German language was celebrated for the first time since the end of war. The place of celebration was no less significant – it was the Annaberg, a place which both Poles and Germans hold sacred.


1. The effects of changes in habitat size and quality on the expected population density and the expected time to extinction of Sorex araneus are studied by means of mathematical models that incorporate demographic stochasticity. 2. Habitat size is characterized by the number of territories, while habitat quality is represented by the expected number of offspring produced during the lifetime of an individual. 3. The expected population density of S. araneus is shown to be mainly influenced by the habitat size. The expected time to extinction of S. araneus populations due to demographic stochasticity, on the other hand, is much more affected by the habitat quality. 4. In a more general setting we demonstrate that, irrespective of the actual species under consideration, the likelihood of extinction as a consequence of demographic stochasticity is more effectively countered by increasing the reproductive success and survival of individuals then by increasing total population size.


Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) receptors (uPAR) can be engaged for activation signaling either by aggregation or by binding exogenous uPA. These signaling mechanisms require uPAR to associate with two distinct adhesion proteins, L-selectin and complement receptor 3 (CR3), respectively. uPAR contains a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor, suggesting that it is concentrated within glycosphingolipid-enriched microdomains, or "lipid rafts". This study was undertaken to determine the extent to which uPAR-mediated signaling is compartmentalized to lipid rafts. Human neutrophil uPAR was cross-linked or stimulated with uPA after pretreatment with the lipid raft-disrupting agents, methyl-beta-cyclodextrin or filipin III. Both agents suppressed increases in intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)) triggered by cross-linking, but did not affect [Ca(2+) ](i) in response to uPA. Neutrophil membranes were separated into lipid raft and non-raft fractions, revealing the presence of uPAR and L-selectin, but the virtual absence of CR3 alpha chain in lipid rafts, either constitutively or in response to uPAR aggregation. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments confirmed close proximity of a lipid raft marker to both uPAR and L-selectin, but not CR3. We conclude that uPAR can engage distinct signaling pathways involving different partner proteins that are functionally and physically segregated from one another in both lipid raft and non-raft domains of the plasma membrane.


The effect of a patient's race or ethnicity on cancer incidence and mortality rates remains a neglected area of cancer research. However, with cancer statistics differing among various populations, research on racial and ethnic groups could provide clues to cancer trends. Definitions of ethnicity and/or race need to be established and standardizedfor use in study protocols. Accordingly, all research on ethnic groups must address two questions: (1) When is genetic research on a population appropriate? (2) How should researchers define a given population being studied?


VPS1 encodes a 79 kDa protein required for the proper sorting of soluble vacuolar proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The N-terminal half of Vps1p, which contains a consensus GTP-binding motif, shares extensive homology with a growing family of high molecular mass GTP-binding proteins. Members of this family have been implicated in a number of cellular processes. Vps1p most closely resembles the microtubule-associated protein dynamin. As predicted from the sequence, Vps1p binds and hydrolyses GTP. However, no requirement for microtubules was found for Vps1p function in protein sorting. In subcellular fractionation experiments Vps1p associates with the membrane fraction; the C-terminal half of Vps1p is important for this association. Mutational analysis of VPS1 generated two classes of mutations, dominant negative and recessive. The dominant mutations all mapped to the N-terminal half of the protein. Recessive mutations gave rise to either truncated or unstable proteins. A potential Vps1p-interacting protein (Mvp1p) has been isolated by screening for suppressors of the dominant alleles of VPS1. Taken together these results suggest that Vps1p is a two-domain protein that is part of a multi-subunit protein complex involved in vacuolar protein sorting.


This paper investigates the relationship between the length of Unemployment Insurance (UI) entitlement and transitions out of unemployment. Our focus is on older job seekers who usually access to longer benefit periods and may withdraw from the labour force via early retirement. We exploit the 2003 reform of the French UI system that involved substantial cuts in benefits for this specific group. The design of the reform naturally leads us to adopt a Regression Discontinuity framework, comparing the search behaviour of people who became unemployed just before and after the policy change. We account for seasonal factors by taking advantage of pre and post reform cohorts and thus combining the standard RD framework with a Difference-in-Differences strategy. Our empirical analysis reveals that the reform had a structural impact on the distribution of unemployment durations, which shifted downwards in response to benefits cuts. This adjustment mainly operated through the displacement of job seekers from unemployment insurance to unemployment assistance, which largely contributes to explaining the observed spikes in exits from unemployment around the benefit exhaustion date. The effect on transitions to employment was on the contrary quite modest, while the subsequent job stability remained unaffected by the reform


Abstract : This report describes an extension to the C programming language to introduce the notion of ranged integers, that is, integer types with a defined range of values. A variable of a ranged integer type will always have a value within the defined range as a result of initialization or assignment. Use of ranged integers would help prevent integer overflow errors and thus would result in more reliable and secure C programs. The syntax and semantics of ranged integers are presented, and some examples are given to illustrate their use.


We test the forecasting power and information content of lumber futures prices traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, from 1995 to 2013, at four forecast horizons. A Mincer-Zarnowitz regression finds evidence of statistically significant forecasting power at all forecast horizons. The results also support the presence of a time-varying risk premium for the shorter forecast horizons. A Granger causality test provides evidence that lumber futures prices lag spot prices in information assimilation over longer forecast horizons, while neither lagging nor leading over shorter forecast horizons.