The aim of this work was to establish whether workers at sawmills where chlorophenol-containing anti-stain agents had been previously used were still exposed to chlorophenols. A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) procedure for the determination of chlorophenols in urine was developed. Chlorophenols were determined from hydrolysed urine as acetylated derivatives and determined by GC-MS using selected ion monitoring (SIM). Isolation of the chlorophenols with toluene gave the best extraction efficiencies (65-119%). Stability tests at -20 degrees C showed no degradation of the chlorophenols studied during 6 months. The limit of quantification was 3.6 ng mg-1 creatinine for 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 5.5 ng mg-1 for 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol and 3.6 ng mg-1 for pentachlorophenol. Traces of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol and pentachlorophenol were found both in previously exposed workers and in non-exposed controls, the urinary concentrations ranging from 1.1 to 15.9 ng mg-1 creatinine. The concentrations of urinary chlorophenols in previously exposed workers were of the same magnitude as those found in non-exposed controls and in the general population. The results show that it is unlikely that sawmill workers would be currently occupationally exposed to chlorophenols or polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans via a contaminated work environment.


After the f lowering of the epigram in Ancient Greece and Rome, greater attention to this genre was paid at the beginning of the Renaissance, and the epoch of the Baroque (the 17–18th centuries) could be called one of the brightest periods of epigram revival and prosperity in all Europe. In the 16–18th centuries literary theorists in their works discussed the place of the epigram in the hierarchy of literary genres, determined their functions, form, defined the possibilities of content. By suggesting that the form of the epigram had not been settled in Antiquity, theorists gave most attention to the content of the epigram and explained how, when in imitating the most famous ancient authors, the epigram could be given Christian features. The article, using comparative methods, will analyze how epigrams of Martial were imitated by the poet of the 17th century Grand Duchy of Lithuania M. C. Sarbievius.


Rotating the gravity gradient tensor about a vertical axis by an appropriate angle allows one to express its components as functions of the curvatures of the equipotential surface. The description permits the identification of the gravity gradient tensor as the Newtonian tidal tensor and part of the tidal potential. The identification improves the understanding and interpretation of gravity gradient data. With the use of the plunge of the eigenvector associated with the largest eigenvalue or plunge of the main tidal force, it is possible to estimate the location and depth of buried gravity sources; this is illustrated in model data and applied to FALCON airborne gravity gradiometer data from the Canning Basin, Australia.


Abnormal protein assembly causes multiple devastating disorders in the central nervous system (CNS), such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and prion diseases. Due to the now extended human lifespan, these diseases have been increasing in prevalence, resulting in major public health problems and the associated financial difficulties worldwide. The wayward proteins that lead to disease self‐associate into neurotoxic oligomers and go on to form fibrillar polymers through multiple pathways. Thus, a range of possible targets for pharmacotherapeutic intervention exists along these pathways. Many compounds have shown different levels of effectiveness in inhibiting aberrant self‐assembly, dissociating existing aggregates, protecting cells against neurotoxic insults, and in some cases ameliorating disease symptoms in vivo, yet achieving efficient, disease‐modifying therapy in humans remains a major unattained goal. To a large degree, this is because the mechanisms of action for these drugs are essentially unknown. For successful design of new effective drugs, it is crucial to elucidate the mechanistic details of their action, including the actual target(s) along the protein aggregation pathways, how the compounds modulate these pathways, and their effect at the cellular, tissue, organ, and organism level. Here, the current knowledge of major mechanisms by which some of the more extensively explored drug candidates work are discussed. In particular, we focus on three prominent strategies: 1) stabilizing the native fold of amyloidogenic proteins, 2) accelerating the aggregation pathways towards the fibrillar endpoint thereby reducing accumulation of toxic oligomers, and 3) modulating the assembly process towards nontoxic oligomers/aggregates. The merit of each strategy is assessed, and the key points to consider when analyzing the efficacy of possible drug candidates and their mechanism of action are discussed.


Multilingual neural machine translation models typically handle one source language at a time. However, prior work has shown that translating from multiple source languages improves translation quality. Different from existing approaches on multi-source translation that are limited to the test scenario where parallel source sentences from multiple languages are available at inference time, we propose to improve multilingual translation in a more common scenario by exploiting synthetic source sentences from auxiliary languages. We train our model on synthetic multi-source corpora and apply random masking to enable flexible inference with single-source or bi-source inputs. Extensive experiments on Chinese/English → Japanese and a large-scale multilingual translation benchmark show that our model outperforms the multilingual baseline significantly by up to +4.0 BLEU with the largest improvements on low-resource or distant language pairs.


Systematic fundamental understanding of mass transport in osmosis-driven membrane processes is important for further development of this emerging technology. In this work, we investigate the role of membrane surface chemistry and charge on bidirectional solute diffusion in forward osmosis (FO). In particular, bidirectional diffusion of ammonium (NH4(+)) and sodium (Na(+)) is examined using FO membranes with different materials and surface charge characteristics. Using an ammonium bicarbonate (NH4HCO3) draw solution, we observe dramatically enhanced cation fluxes with sodium chloride feed solution compared to that with deionized water feed solution for thin-film composite (TFC) FO membrane. However, the bidirectional diffusion of cations does not change, regardless of the type of feed solution, for cellulose triacetate (CTA) FO membrane. We relate this phenomenon to the membrane fixed surface charge by employing different feed solution pH to foster different protonation conditions for the carboxyl groups on the TFC membrane surface. Membrane surface modification is also carried out with the TFC membrane using ethylenediamine to alter carboxyl groups into amine groups. The modified TFC membrane, with less negatively charged groups, exhibits a significant decrease in the bidirectional diffusion of cations under the same conditions employed with the pristine TFC membrane. Based on our experimental observations, we propose Donnan dialysis as a mechanism responsible for enhanced bidirectional diffusion of cations in TFC membranes.


Code review is an important part of the development of any software project. Recently, many open source projects have begun practicing lightweight and tool-based code review (a.k.a modern code review) to make the process simpler and more efficient. However, those practices still require reviewers, of which there may not be sufficiently many to ensure timely decisions. In this paper, we propose a recommender-based approach to be used by open-source projects to increase the number of reviewers from among the appropriate developers. We first motivate our approach by an exploratory study of nine projects hosted on GitHub and Gerrit. Secondly, we build the recommender system itself, which, given a code change, initially searches for relevant reviewers based on similarities between the reviewing history and the files affected by the change, and then augments this set with developers who have a similar development history as these reviewers but have little or no relevant reviewing experience. To make these recommendations, we rely on collaborative filtering, and more precisely, on matrix factorization. Our evaluation shows that all nine projects could benefit from our system by using it both to get recommendations of previous reviewers and to expand their number from among the appropriate developers.


Orientation The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted all job sectors. Arguably, the hardest hit were healthcare institutions. Nurses are at the front line, and it is known that the pandemic added pressure to the way nurses performed their duties. Their working schedules became more complex, including longer hours, as nurses dealt with high rates of COVID-19 cases while still dealing with other healthcare issues. Research purpose The study aimed to establish the relationship between idiosyncratic deals (i-deals) and work engagement of nurses. The study focused on these three types of i-deals - task, flexibility and career. It investigated which i-deals best predict work engagement among nurses. Motivation for the study There is a need to understand the work arrangements of nurses during the pandemic through i-deals. Although research on idiosyncratic deals has become popular in international research, there is scant research within the South African context. Research approach/design and method The sample consisted of 220 nurses working in three private hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa. Inferential statistics and regression analysis were used to achieve the research objectives. Main findings The study's findings revealed a correlation between the three types of i-deals and work engagement. However, only task and flexibility i-deals predicted work engagement. The COVID-19 pandemic added pressure to the healthcare industry and to nurses' challenges. The pandemic highlighted the importance of having an engaged nursing workforce. Thus, recommendations and suggestions for nurses, nursing managers and human resource managers are provided. Practical/managerial implications The concept of i-deals is a reasonably new phenomenon within HR practices, and there is no empirical research within the South African context. Contribution/value-add The study adds value by providing insight into customised work arrangements, from an i-deal perspective, during a much appropriate time and urgently needed for nurses.


We report a successful elective re-AVR and MVR 10 years after AVR with aortic root enlargement and OMC. The patient was a 41-year-old woman. The diagnosis of thrombosed Björk-Shiley (B-S) valve was first suspected by transtelephone PCG monitoring and reconfirmed by the frequency analysis of prosthetic valve sounds and the aortography preoperatively. The thrombosis was 15 x 8 x 6.5 mm in size and located at the minor orifice of B-S valve, extending to the strut. The transtelephone PCG was useful in analyzing prosthetic valve sounds for patients especially living away from the hospital.


Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA

Background: MiRNAs are regulators of gene expression in tumorigenesis and progression. To identify miRNAs associated with metastasis miRNA expression in distant metastases was compared to primary clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Material and methods: Total RNA of 27 primary ccRCC samples and 25 distant metastases (lung, bone and brain) was isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples Microarray analyses were performed for a global miRNA expression profiling. Results were validated by qPCR. For miRNA target identification a ccRCC cell line (786-O) was transfected with miRNAs differently expressed in metastatic primary tumors and metastases.

Results: We identified 9 miRNAs (including miR-30c and miR-126) with a similar expression in metastatic primary ccRCC and distant metastases from different metastatic sites compared to non-metastatic primary ccRCC. 11 miRNAs (including miR-10b and miR-204) were differently expressed in distant metastases compared to primary ccRCC. Furthermore, each metastatic site is characterized by a specific miRNA signature. Results were verified on selected miRNAs using qPCR. In vitro studies identified potential miRNA targets and associated metastasis related pathways.

Discussion: These data suggest that miRNAs play an important role in metastatic processes of ccRCC. Furthermore, our results regarding different metastatic sites suggest two important statements. Specific miRNAs characterize distant metastases in general. On the other hand, miRNA expression is associated with specific conditions at different metastatic sites. Thus, the data presented in this study give the base for a better understanding of the involvement of miRNAs as regulators of metastasis which opens new possibilities for new targeted therapy options.

Citation Format: Joana Heinzelmann, Franzsika Stolzenbach, Robert Schneeweiss, Ulrike Wickmann, Sophie Baumgart, Mieczyslaw Gajda, Michael Stockle, Kerstin Junker. Specific miRNA signatures characterize different metastatic sites in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1493. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1493


Ulvan is a water-soluble polysaccharide that is extracted from the algae Ulva pertusa (Chlorophyta). In this study, ulvan-calcium derivative (U-calcium) was prepared and calcium content was 5.2%. Ulvan-calcium could effectively scavenge on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethyl-benzothiazolie-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), hydroxyl, and superoxide radicals. The inhibition rate on superoxide radicals (•O2-) was 83.14% at 0.2 mg/mL, and the scavenging activity of ABTS and hydroxyl radical (•OH) at 3.0 mg/mL was 58.45 and 43.65%, and that of DPPH radicals at 8.0 mg/mL was 57.37%. All results showed that the antioxidant activity of ulvan-calcium was stronger than that of ulvan. The ulvan-calcium maybe used as an antioxidant to remove ROS and resist excessive oxidative stress.

 Key words: Ulvan-calcium, Ulva pertusa, antioxidant activity.


The aim of this demonstration is to create, at the surface of a plate, the illusion that a user is touching a finely textured surface. To achieve that, vibrations of a few micrometers at very high frequency, reduces friction between the fingertip and the vibrating surface.


Genetic algorithm (GA) is a kind of algorithm that simulates the process and the mechanism of the evolution. Because of its unique biologic feature and its suitability to any function, it becomes very popular and has been used in many problems in many fields. Estimation of distribution algorithm (EDA) is an algorithm that is generated from the GAs. Comparing with GAs, the EDAs replace the crossover and the mutation operations in GAs with learning and sampling the probability distribution of the best individuals of the population at each iteration of the algorithm. Because of its superior, it becomes a hot topic recently. Based on the former researches, this paper mainly focuses on solving the problem of one primary network model named all-terminal network model using the strategies of the evolutionary algorithms.


ABSTRACT Leek (Allium porrum) has become one of the major leafy vegetable crops in Egypt and all over the world. Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) was observed on leek plants in eight different governorates in Egypt, in fields near to onion fields. The symptoms in infected leek plants included yellowish or tan diamond-shaped or irregularly shaped lesions on leaves and flower stalks. Necrotic areas developed on leaves, and some plants had elongated brown lesions or brown flecks resembling thrips injury. Moreover, thrips larvae and adults feed with a punch-and-suck behavior that removes leaf chlorophyll, causing white to silver patches and streaks, which were observed on all infected plants. The plant samples were collected and subjected to ELISA test using IYSV polyantiserum. The results revealed that about 90% of the collected samples with symptoms were positive. For further confirmation, the ELISA positive samples were subjected to PCR amplification using nuclear coat protein specific primers. The PCR results were in agreement with the results obtained by ELISA. Thrip tabaci adults were reared on the infected plant and biological transfer was performed onto new healthy plants. After 15 days to 4 weeks post inoculation, symptoms were observed on the plant. Biologically infected plant samples were collected at different times after thrips-inoculation and the extracted RNA was subjected to Real Time PCR using the coat protein gene primers. The results showed that the expression of the coat protein fluctuated but reached its peak on day five (264%). Differential display technique was performed on the newly infected plant tissues to identify changes in gene expression in leek elicited by IYSV that causes a symptomatic phenotype. Both up- and down- regulated genes were observed in infected plants conjugated with the healthy ones. Sequence analysis of the up-regulated genes was performed and the encoding sequence analysis showed that the obtained genes include: MFS family protein, Pathogenesis- related protein, Mitogen-activated protein kinase, N-acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase-like protein, Serine/threonine-protein kinase, and Putative Retrosat2 Ty3-Gypsy retroelement. On the other hand, only one down-regulated gene was identified, alpha- tubulin suppressor-like protein. Most of the identified genes are suppress defensin genes (innate/adaptive). It can be concluded that viral infection is capable of inducing a huge number of genes which are important in the plant immune system.


The pyramid algorithm for computing single wavelet transform coefficients is well known. The pyramid algorithm can be implemented by using tree-structured multirate filter banks. The authors propose a general algorithm to compute multiwavelet transform coefficients by adding proper premultirate filter banks before the vector filter banks that generate multiwavelets. The proposed algorithm can be thought of as a discrete vector-valued wavelet transform for certain discrete-time vector-valued signals. The proposed algorithm can be also thought of as a discrete multiwavelet transform for discrete-time signals. The authors then present some numerical experiments to illustrate the performance of the algorithm, which indicates that the energy compaction for discrete multiwavelet transforms may be better than the one for conventional discrete wavelet transforms.


This paper presents a real-time entropy compression/decompression unit for disparity map information used in 3D teleconferencing systems. The disparity map data form a constant bit rate data stream which has to be transmitted through an ATM channel supporting lower data rates. The selection of the proper compression algorithm must be based on the durability of the regenerated data to various types of errors, generated mainly due to the limited available bandwidth. Initially we present the disparity map formats, why they should be coded losslessly, some well-known entropy algorithms and their performance in terms of compression rate and throughput. All algorithms are evaluated according to the application requirements which are: good compression rate, real-time implementability and fast convergence during the compression initialization phase. Feasible implementations are proposed for the algorithms selected using commercially available digital signal processors (DSPs) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).


This paper aims to expand the research on ecological synthesis (Keller, 1999) through the inclusion of improvisation practice. We propose a formalization of creative processes in sonic improvisatory-compositional environments (targeting comprovisation), based on ecologically grounded creative practices. Our approach entails the use of socio-ecological models that deal with complex adaptive systems [Sibertin et al., 2011]. We developed a performance/experiment called The Maxwell Demon, as a case study. The observations done during the case study indicate that imitation is an important strategy for creative activities in socio-ecological systems. Improvisation may provide a relevant source of sonic content in ecological environments, enhancing their flexibility without losing consistency.


This paper contains a brief discussion of the Application Development Environment (ADE) that is used to build database applications involving the graphical user interface (GUI). ADE computing separates the database access and the user interface. The variety of applications may be generated that communicate with different and distinct desktop databases. The advanced techniques allows to involve remote or stored procedures retrieval and


The International Union of Pharmacologists comes together every four years to discuss the latest research in pharmacology. The theme of this congress was "From molecular to integrative pharmacology". Among the highlights of this congress was the symposium on protein kinases and protein phosphatases. Protein serine-thronine kinases, such as protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC), and the tyrosine kinases, such as the growth factor receptors, with their respective phosphatases, are key regulators of cellular homeostasis and gene transcription. Since the 1994 meeting in Montreal, considerable progress has been made in understanding the structure and function of these enzymes. The structures of several key enzymes have been fully or partially resolved and important structures in the binding and catalytic domains elucidated. This area is of particular interest for rational drug design. Furthermore, some key pathways that had previously been poorly understood have now been largely described.


Efforts to mentor undergraduates in research require time, energy, and resources but can yield significant benefits. A review of education research on undergraduate research is presented followed by a case study of how technical and educational principles from the literature have been implemented and practiced in a new underwater acoustics lab. This case study involves the students who have joined this lab over its first three years. The results highlight the importance of several key factors that mentors can implement to improve their students' research experience. In order to meet the steep learning curve that new students face, faculty mentors should establish a culture of research (i.e., well established norms, expectations, and practices associated with being a part of a research group) through clear expectations, open communication, and student-led peer mentorship supported by carefully selected or designed resources (i.e., scaffolding). This paper seeks to share these education research resources with the acoustics community while providing a case study for review as a specific application of these key principles into an acoustics laboratory setting.


Organic vertical field‐effect transistors (VFETs) have attracted significant attention over the past years due to their unique characteristics of high output currents, low operation voltages, high working frequency, and promising high‐density integration for circuits. However, most currently reported VFETs demonstrate poor performance, e.g., with low on/off ratio and current density. Here, the first organic‐single‐crystal vertical field‐effect transistors (SC‐VFETs) and phototransistors are constructed from 2,6‐diphenyl anthracene (DPA) through a modified method. The devices exhibit high on/off ratio of 106 and a high current density of 100 mA cm‐2 under a small voltage of −5 V, which are proved to be one of the best performances for organic VFETs. Furthermore, superior photoresponse performance with photoresponsivity of 110 A W‐1 and detectivity of 1013 Jones is obtained under light illumination for vertical phototransistors. These results confirm the control of the intrinsic Schottky barrier height at the graphene–DPA junction along with good interfacial contact effectively suppressing the dark current to realize a large on/off ratio and high light detectivity. This vertical integration of graphene with organic single crystals via simple, effective fabrication processes opens up new opportunities to realize high‐performance integrated organic vertical electronic and optoelectronic devices.


Moritatherapy was found by Shoma Morita in 1919 in Japan and is psychotherapy for anxiety disorders based on Eastern psychology. 2 OCDcases were illustrated to which Inpatient Morita therapy was applied after the trial of Cognitive Behavioural therapy and showed a favourable progress. Case 1 rejected exposure. Although Case 2 engaged in Cognitive Behavioural therapy, it had a side effect that his obsession intensified. Case 1 could shorten her bathing time and engaged in occupation of taking care of animals. After Case 2 engaged in works with other patients, he could live with obsession and was aware of anger towards his parents. Morita therapy is effective for OCD patients who reject exposure and who are inclined to intellectualize their emotions.


INTRODUCTION
Home mechanical ventilation in chronic respiratory failure improves quality of life and decreases hospitalizations. In order to know clinical characteristics, resource consumption and survival, we proposed an analysis of the vital trajectory during six years.

METHODS
Descriptive and retrospective study. Information was obtained from the clinical history of the day hospital program. Kaplan Meier type survival curves were made. We included 100 patients, 57% men, age 65 ± 13 years and body mass index of 29.1 ± 8.6 kg/m2. Thirty had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 23 had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 18 obesity hypoventilation syndrome, other neuromuscular diseases in 16 cases, diaphragmatic dysfunction in 10, and chest wall restriction in 3 patients. Ninety-eight received non-invasive ventilation and two invasive cases through tracheostomy. 80% used spontaneous-timed mode (S/T); 14.6%, spontaneous (S); 4% average volume-assured pressure support ventilation (AVAPS) and 1.3% control pressure. Non-invasive compliance was: 7.8 ± 2.6 hours/day.

RESULTS
After the start of home ventilation, hospitalizations were reduced (0.2, SD: 0.38 vs. 0.5 SD: 0.5, p < 0.001) and days of hospitalization per episode (5.14, SD: 17.7 vs. 10.45 SD: 16.69, p < 0.001). Median survival was two years with a better vital prognosis in COPD (3 years on average) vs. neuromuscular disease (< 2 years) p < 0.05.

CONCLUSIONS
patients with home mechanical ventilation showed a reduction in the days of hospitalization after starting ventilation. Better survival was observed in COPD in relation to neuromuscular disease.


The evidence-based approach has increasingly been employed to synthesize empirical findings from the primary research in software engineering. Nevertheless, the reproducibility of evidence-based software engineering (EBSE) studies seems to be underemphasized. In our investigation into the automatic search of 311 sample studies, more than 50% of the search strings are not reusable; about 87.5% of the search activities (e.g., search field settings) are unrepeatable; and more than 95% of the whole automatic search implementations are unreproducible. Considering that searching is a cornerstone of an EBSE study, we are afraid that the reproducibility of the current secondary research could be worse than we can imagine. By analyzing and reporting the root causes of the aforementioned observations, we urge collaboration and cooperation among all the stakeholders in our community to improve the research reproducibility in EBSE.


A procedure for applying thoroughly tested data processing techniques to the solution of complex cabling problems is outlined. The problems are discussed briefly, and are followed by a description of the major steps required to solve them via automatic wiring list generation. The techniques resulted in the successful cabling of a large phased-array radar system. A number of proposed computerized techniques for solving equipment integration problems are also discussed. Such methods would provide greater engineering efficiency, lower system costs, and increased ability to meet critical schedules.


This study deals with TCP/IP traffic using the available bit rate (ABR) service and focuses particularly on the interaction between the TCP flow control and the ABR explicit rate control, when zero cell loss is provided by the ATM layer. The TCP retransmission mechanism is based on timeout of acknowledgements, which means that if the ABR service introduces too much delay variation, which may be the case when fast reaction rate control algorithms are used, false retransmissions will occur. Apart from, obviously, being a waste of bandwidth, a false retransmission actually causes a transient rate increase when the TCP slow start mechanism is mistakenly invoked, which may cause additional false retransmissions. Simulations of two ABR algorithms and TCP implementations have been performed to evaluate both the transient steady state behaviour as well as the average throughput when on-off VBR traffic was added. Based on the simulations, it can be concluded that the TCP performance improves if the TCP packet emission rates are closely adjusted to the rate offered by the ABR service, which also allows a small granularity of the retransmission timer. Moreover, of the two evaluated ABR algorithms, the one providing the fastest rate reactions gives the overall highest throughput compared to the one with more restrained rate change behaviour.


Abstract Background: Brief admission (BA) is an adjunctive treatment option for individuals with self-harming behavior, having traits of borderline personality disorder (BPD). It is offered alongside outpatient psychotherapy for the purpose of strengthening autonomy, self-reflection and self-care and to increase the likelihood of being able to stay in therapy by avoiding lengthy inpatient hospitalizations. Aims: To investigate participants' experiences with BA during the pilot phase of the Brief Admission Skåne Randomized Controlled Trial (BASRCT), in order to detect possible strengths and limitations of the intervention and gain knowledge to facilitate implementation of BA at other treatment centers. Method: Eight participants randomized to BA were interviewed to obtain their experience of BA, or alternatively their reasons for choosing not to use BA. Thematic analysis was conducted upon their transcribed interviews. Results: Reported as most helpful by the participants was the structure/routines at the ward and the positive attitudes from the staff. However, some individuals reported problems with perceived negative attitudes from the staff administering BA and negative rumination about themselves. The reported reasons to request BA were: preventing urges to self-harm from escalating; ending isolation; preventing longer admissions and forced admission; feelings of emotional exhaustion, and the need for rest and support in re-creating a daily routine. Reasons for not requesting BA were fear of rejection, questioning the method; presumed room shortage; difficulties in deciding whether one's problems are serious enough; experiencing the situation to be too clinically acute. Conclusion: The results from this study indicated the importance of repeated staff education on all aspects of BA when it is being newly implemented, as well as the importance of working with attitudes of staff delivering BA. These were the key ingredients in making BA implementation successful. Our findings may be of value to other treatment centers implementing BA for the first time. Trial registration: NCT02985047.


Electrical linewidth measurements have been extracted from test structures replicated in thin planar films of mono-crystalline silicon with feature widths down to 0.18 /spl mu/m. The structures are electrically insulated from a bulk-silicon substrate by a layer of silicon dioxide provided by SIMOX (Separation by the IMplantation of OXygen) technology. The motivation is to facilitate the development of linewidth reference materials for Critical-Dimension (CD) instrument calibration. Appropriate selection of the orientation of the starting silicon, relative to the orientation of the structures' features, allows patterning by a lattice-plane selective etch thus providing the desired reference-feature properties of rectangular cross section and atomically planar sidewalls. These properties are highly desirable for CD-reference applications where feature widths must be certified with nanometer-level uncertainty for use by a diverse range of CD instruments. End applications include the development and calibration of new generations of CD instruments directed at controlling processes for manufacturing devices having sub-quarter-micrometer features.


Hemangioma of the spermatic cord is a benign, extremely rare tumor. We report a case of spermatic cord hemangioma presenting with a painless mass in the left hemiscrotum. Physical examination revealed a non-tender nontransilluminating irregular mass in the left hemiscrotum, above and clearly separate from the left testis. After surgical removal of the mass arising from the spermatic cord, histologic examination showed a benign vascular tumor consistent with cavernous hemangioma. To our knowledge, only a few cases of spermatic cord hemangioma have been previously reported in the literature.


The project WEIN was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF | Berlin, Germany) in the framework of the high-tech strategy of Germany's program "KMU-Innovativ". The project started in 2012 and was completed in 2014. In the scope of the project, an integrated system for analysis, monitoring and information at river basin level was developed, which provides relevant information for all stakeholders that are concerned with water resource issues. The main objective of the project was to improve water use efficiency and hence ensure the agricultural production in the region. The pilot region, in which this system was implemented, is the semi-arid Limari basin in Northern Central Chile. One of the main parts of the project was the development and implementation of a web- and app-based irrigation water ordering and accounting system for local farmers.


Objectives To assess whether social support or autonomy support intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes can achieve glycemic control at the end of intervention, and to test whether the glycemic control effect can be maintained for a long time. Research design and methods In this cluster randomized controlled trial, 18 community healthcare stations (CHSs) were randomized to the following: (1) usual care group (UCG) offering regular public health management services, (2) social support group (SSG) providing 3-month social support intervention based on problem solving principles, and (3) autonomy support group (ASG) offering 3-month autonomy support intervention based on self-determination theory. A total of 364 patients registered in the CHSs were enrolled into either of the three groups. The primary outcome was hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and secondary outcomes were diabetes self-management (DSM) behaviors. Assessment was conducted at baseline and at 3 and 6 months. Results Patients in ASG achieved better HbA1c reduction at the end of intervention (0.53% or 7.23 mmol/mol, p<0.001) than those in the UCG and successfully maintained it up to 6 months (0.42% or 5.41 mmol/mol, p<0.001). However, patients in SSG did not experience significant change in HbA1c at 3 or 6 months when compared with patients in UCG. Besides, patients in both the SSG (0.12, p<0.05) and ASG (0.22, p<0.001) experienced improvement in exercise at 3 months. Patients in ASG sustained improvement in exercise up to 6 months (0.21, p<0.001), but those in the SSG did not. Conclusions Autonomy support for patients with type 2 diabetes could help achieve glycemic control at the end of intervention and successfully maintain it up to 6 months. These findings indicate that autonomy support has positive long-term effects on DSM behaviors and glycemic control and can be recommended in future diabetes intervention programs. Trial registration number ChiCTR1900024354.


A fraction that increases infectivity of bacteriophage f2 was isolated from uninfected E. coli cells. The greatest effect was obtained when the fraction was added to the phage reconstituted in vitro. The fraction isolated from the ribosome-free supernatant consisted of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and unidentified material. Cleavage of protein by the treatment with trypsin did not significantly affect the infectivity-restoring activity. It is suggest that lipids may play an essential role in the activity of the fraction isolated from the host cell.


This paper shows how iterative hardware/software partitioning in heterogeneous DSP/FPGA based embedded systems can be utilized to achieve real-time deadlines of modern 3GPP wireless equalization workloads. By utilizing a well defined set of application partitioning criteria in tandem with SOC simulation tools, we are able to show a greater than six fold improvement in application performance and ultimately meet, and even exceed real-time data processing deadlines.


The effects of the claw size used on the shoes of the traditional sea snail beam trawl and the effect of the steel wire used between the shoes on catching efficiency were investigated on the Samsun coast of the Black Sea. A traditional beam trawl with steel wire and with a claw length of 5.5 cm (T) was compared to modified beam trawls with steel wire (M1) and without steel wire (M2) with a claw size of 0.5 cm. The operations were performed as T-M1 and then T-M2 hauls using the dual parallel towing method. There was no significant difference in the amount of target species in the comparison of T (70.12) and M1 (63.23) according to the average catch per unit effort (CPUE, kg h ?1 ) values obtained (P = 0.399). In the T-M2 comparison, 49% higher CPUE value was achieved with the T (77.37) beam trawl and there was a significant difference in terms of targeted species (P = 0.002). As a result, it was observed by underwater observations that steel wire on the beam trawl had a negative effect on the ground, and it was found that the bycatch ratio with the T beam trawl was higher than that with the modified beam trawl.


Two series of aromatic polyimides containing various-sized alkyl side groups were synthesized by thermal imidization of the poly(amic acid)s prepared from the polyaddition of benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride and hexafluoro-isopropylidene bis(phthalic anhydride) with 4,4′-methylenedianiline, 4,4′-methylene-bis(2,6-dimethylaniline), 4,4′-methylene-bis(2,6-diethylaniline), and 4,4′-methylene-bis(2,6-diisopropylaniline). The extent to which alkyl substitutes affect the thermal properties of polyimides was examined by differential scanning calorimetry, thermomechanical analyzer, and thermogravimetric analysis techniques. The analytical results demonstrated that the incorporation of alkyl moieties causes a moderate increase in the coefficient of thermal expansion and a slight decrease in thermal stability. Notably, all polymers had a decomposition temperature exceeding 500°C. The glass transition temperature increases markedly when hydrogen atoms at ortho positions on aniline rings are replaced with methyl groups, but decreases with growing alkyl side group size. The dielectric measurements show that the polymer possessing a large alkyl side group would have the lower dielectric value. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 4672–4678, 2006


Shared communication channels are subject to multiple-access interference. Transmitter and receiver design techniques that explicitly deal with this interference have been shown to improve substantially the performance of communication systems over radio-frequency and other "classical" channels. Quantum multiple-access communication channels, on the other hand, have received comparatively little attention. In this paper, an input-output model for multiple-access quantum channels relevant to optical communications is proposed. The model accounts for multiaccess interference, signal attenuation, and random noise, and can be used in the analysis and design of communication systems. Using a result from optimization, a perturbation method is developed to find the minimum achievable error probability in small-interference channels. It is shown that the quantum measurement that minimizes the error probability in a no-interference channel is robust in the presence of small multiaccess interference. The results are illustrated with numerical examples, which show that optimal quantum detectors can significantly outperform conventional detectors even for moderate levels of crosstalk.


Cancer is a leading cause of death in the world. The rapid development of medicine and pharmacology allows to create new and effective anticancer drugs. Among modern anticancer drugs are bacterial proteins. Until now has been shown anticancer activity among others azurin and exotoxin A from Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Pep27anal2 from Streptococcus pneumoniae , diphtheria toxin from Corynebacterium diphtheriae , and recently discovered Entap from Enterococcus sp. The study presents the current data regarding the properties, action and anticancer activity of listed peptides. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjp.v8i3.15704 Bangladesh Journal of Pharmacology Vol.8(3) 2013 343-348


Novichoks are the suspected nerve agents in the March 2018 Skripal poisoning. In this context, the novichok agent A234 (chemical structure proposed by Mirzayanov) was studied using computational methods to shed light on its molecular, electronic, spectroscopic, thermodynamic and toxicity parameters as well as on potential thermal and hydrolysis degradation pathways. The poisoning action and antidote of A234 were also investigated. Some of these parameters were compared to three common G- and V-series nerve agents, namely GB, VR and VX. The research findings should be useful towards the detection, development of antidotes and destruction of A234.


Introduction. This article is devoted to one of the urgent problems of modern emergency abdominal surgery – the result of surgical treatment of ulcer bleed in patients with ischemic heart disease.Undoubtedly intensive hemostatic conservative therapy and endoscopic hemostasis methods are the main treatment methods for this group of patients. However, in a certain number of patients with NGDK with various variants of IHD, such treatment is ineffective and there is a need to perform surgical hemostasis in an emergency and urgently.Surgical methods of hemostasis of NGDK patients with different variants of IHD are shown only in cases of inefficiency of conservative and endoscopic treatment methods. Among surgical interventions, radical surgeries are more preferable, which, if performed against the background of intensive resuscitation support, allow to achieve reliable hemostasis and thus avoid postoperative recurrent bleeding. Palliative surgery should be used when radical surgery is not possible due to the severity of the patient's condition or lack of technical skill of surgeons. Finally, it is clear that in order to improve treatment results in patients in this category, correction of changes caused by the accompanying IHD is necessary.Materials and methods: In our research material, 89 out of 997 patients had such a need, which was 8.9%. It mainly corresponds to the modern literature data.Results: An analysis of the results of these patients' palliative and radical surgical interventions clearly showed that the last ones were more preferable.The basis for this judgment was the high percentage of mortality after palliative care compared to radical care with approximately the same number of postoperative complications.In addition, it is noteworthy that postoperative complications typical of palliative care in the form of recurrent ulcerative bleeding are often fatal, because half of these patients in our observations have not experienced repeated radical interventions.Conclusion: At the same time, the necessary condition for performing radical operations is, firstly, appropriate technical skill of the surgeon, and secondly, providing the latter with intensive resuscitation support. In case of impossibility of performance of these conditions the method of a choice should serve palliative care.


The observation of current in the afterglow of the discharge in a pulsed hollow-cathode lamp illuminated by tunable lasers, combined with optogalvanic techniques, provides a simple and reliable tool for multi-step photoionization spectroscopy studies. A three-photon photoionization spectroscopy study was performed in a uranium hollow-cathode lamp, using this combination of techniques. Single-, double- and triple-frequency photoionization paths were identified for uranium, in the range between 5900 and 6060 Å.


Objective There are subclinical cardiac abnormalities (SCA) in children with biliary atresia (BA). However, data on the consequences of these cardiac changes after liver transplantation (LT) remain controversial in the pediatric field. We aimed to determine the relationship between outcomes and the subclinical cardiac abnormalities in pediatric patients with BA based on two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) parameters. Methods A total of 205 children with BA were enrolled in this study. The relationship between 2DE parameters and outcomes, including death and serious adverse events (SAE) after LT, was analyzed by regression analysis. Using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves to determine the optimal cut-off values of 2DE parameters for outcomes. Differences in the AUCs were compared using DeLong's test. The Kaplan -Meier method with log-rank testing was used to evaluate survival outcomes between groups. Results Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and relative wall thickness (RWT) were found to be independently associated with SAE (OR: 1.112, 95% CI: 1.061 − 1.165, P < 0.001 and OR: 1.193, 95% CI: 1.078 − 1.320, P = 0.001, respectively). The cutoff value of LVMI for predicting the SAE was 68 g/m2.7 (AUC = 0.833, 95% CI 0.727-0.940, P < 0.001), and the cutoff value of RWT for predicting the SAE was 0.41 (AUC = 0.732, 95% CI 0.641-0.823, P < 0.001). The presence of subclinical cardiac abnormalities (LVMI > 68 g/m2.7, and/or RWT > 0.41) was associated with lower patient survival (1-year, 90.5% vs 100.0%; 3-year, 89.7% vs 100.0, log-rank P = 0.001). and higher incidence of SAE events. Conclusions Subclinical cardiac abnormalities were correlated with post-LT mortality and morbidity in children with BA. LVMI can predict the occurrence of death and serious adverse events after liver transplantation.


In this study, electroless copper plating on polyester fabric using glyoxylic acid and potassium ferrocyanide (K4Fe (CN) 6) as reducing agent and brightener agent, respectively. Influence of concentration of potassium ferrocyanide (K4Fe (CN) 6) in the plating solution on the deposited rate, morphology and surface resistance of copper plated polyester fabrics were studied. It was found that the deposition rate significantly decreased with the rise of the concentration of K4 Fe (CN)6 and the copper deposits became more compact and smoother. The copper coating on the fabric exhibited a face centered cubic crystal structure. The surface electrical resistance of the obtained copper plated fabric was 13.8 mΩ/sq when 20 mg/L K4Fe(CN)6 was added in the plating solution. The copper plated fabric possesses excellent electrical conductivity.


BACKGROUND Patients with erythrodermic cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) frequently have debilitating hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles that is refractory to therapy. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of etretinate as an adjunctive therapy for recalcitrant palmar and plantar hyperkeratosis in erythrodermic CTCL patients undergoing photopheresis. METHODS Five patients with erythrodermic CTCL and recalcitrant palmar and plantar hyperkeratosis were given etretinate (0.8 mg/kg per day) while undergoing photopheresis therapy. RESULTS There was a rapid and marked improvement of the hyperkeratosis in all patients. CONCLUSION Etretinate is a safe and effective adjunctive treatment for recalcitrant palmar and plantar hyperkeratosis in erythrodermic CTCL patients undergoing photopheresis.


As the wind power penetration continues to increase in the modern day electrification, the stabilized operation of wind farms interconnected with grids pose an alarming situation. Typically for an asymmetric grid fault, whose probability of occurrence is more than 70%, the voltage and VAR profile of the wind farm gets disturbed thus leading to erroneous operation of wind energy conversion system. LVRT (Low Voltage Ride-Through) requirements for the wind energy conversion systems typically for an offshore based grid interconnection are still under discussion. This paper presents a FACT device based LVRT capability, where the FACT device injects 1pu reactive current in the grid during asymmetric faults as well as symmetric three phase faults.


Dyslipidemia is highly prevalent in the Chilean population: about 40% have total cholesterol levels over 200 mg/dl and 25% are obese (BMI > 30) which produces an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and deaths. Over consumption of foods rich in lipids and carbohydrates unchains these events, due to the high amount of lipid accumulation in adipocytes. These cells are capable of producing a large number of mediators of inflammation and adipokines which in large quantities can compromise the overall metabolism. Apple has been shown to stop these events. We used CF-1 mice that were fed on a high-fat diet which leads to a metabolic status similar to dyslipidemia. Different types of apple waste were direct from orchard and fruit industry. Extracts obtained were characterized and administered in drinking water. At the end of the 40-day experimental period, biochemical parameters in animals were measured and the weight of white adipose tissue (WAT) was quantified. The results were compared with the normal diet and fat diet controls. All apple extracts decrease total and LDL cholesterol to levels similar to normal control and decrease WAT. Apple extracts may be an effective protector against development of risk factors in cardiovascular disease in the Chilean population.


To more accurately determine the tissue-specific expression of the target gene in prostate cancer cells, we introduced the enhancer element (–4,777 to –3,934; PSAR) and the promoter region (PSAP) of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) gene. Furthermore, to elucidate the advantages of using liposomes as a gene carrier, we screened more than 20 liposome preparations in this study. The 5′ upstream region of PSA gene (PSARPSAP) was conjugated to either the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene or herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) gene, and the transfection of these plasmids was carried out using cationic liposomes, DMRIE-C (Gibco) or LipoTAXI (Stratagene). The expression of CAT activity was clearly observed when PSARPSAP-CAT plasmid was transfected into PSA-positive LNCaP cells, whereas no CAT activity was detected in PSA-negative DU145 cells or bladder carcinoma T24 cells. The CAT activity increased after the addition of testosterone. We then evaluated the therapeutic effect of the PSARPSAP-TK plasmid in vitro. When PSARPSAP-TK plasmid was transfected and ganciclovir was added to the medium, the growth of LNCaP cells was inhibited, while no growth inhibition was observed in DU145 cells. Furthermore, this inhibitory effect was observable even when the cells were cultured in a medium supplemented with dialyzed fetal bovine serum. These results suggest that the liposome-mediated transfection of PSARPSAP-TK appears to be a potentially effective approach for selecting the optimal treatment for tumor cells producing PSA even with the low androgen levels seen in patients treated by anti-androgen therapy.


Introduction: The Multi-Temporal Database of Planetary Image Data (MUTED) is a comprehensive web-based tool to support the identification of surface changes and time-critical processes on Mars. The database enables scientists to quickly identify the spatial and multi-temporal coverage of orbital image data of all major Mars missions. Since the 1970s, multitemporal spacecraft observations have revealed that the martian surface is very dynamic [e.g., 1-8]. The observation of surface changes and processes, including eolian activity [e.g., 3], mass movement activities [e.g., 4, 5], the growth and retreat of the polar caps [e.g., 6], and crater-forming impacts [e.g., 7] became possible by the increasing number of repeated image acquisitions of the same surface areas. Today more than one million orbital images of Mars are available [8]. This increasing number highlights the importance of efficient and comprehensive tools for planetary image data management, search, and access. MUTED is accessible at http:\\muted.wwu.de and will assist and optimize image data searches to support the analysis and understanding of short-term, longterm, and seasonal processes on the surface and in the atmosphere of Mars. In particular, images can be searched in temporal and spatial relation to other images on a global scale or for a specific region of interest. Additional information, e.g., data acquisition time, the temporal and spatial context, as well as preview images and raw data download links are available. Structure: MUTED is based on open source software and standards from the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). Metadata of the planetary image datasets are integrated from the Planetary Data System (PDS) into a relational database (PostGreSQL). In order to provide the multi-temporal coverage, additional information, e.g., the geometry, the number and time span of overlapping images are derived for each image respectively. A Geoserver translates the metadata stored in the relational database into web map services (WMS) and web features services (WFS). Using Common Query Language (CQL), the web services can be filtered by date, solar longitude, spatial resolution, incidence angle, and spatial extend. All services are combined and visualized in the web-based user interface. The web-user-interface was built using HTML, PhP, JavaScript, and Openlayers and provides several features for data selection, filtering, and visualization. Locationand data-driven search algorithms are combined in the user-interface. Using global spectral, topographic or geological information, users are able to define a region of interest and explore the local image coverage (Fig. 1). All available orbital images can be filtered by date, season, or spatial resolution. By selecting image footprints, metadata, including, e.g., product ID, acquisition time, download links, as well as high-resolution preview images [9], are presented. The multi-temporal search enables users to find


Women have participated in war throughout history, but their experience in Russia during the First World War was truly exceptional. Between the war's beginning and the October Revolution of 1917, approximately 6,000 women answered their country's call. These courageous women became media stars throughout Europe and America, but were brushed aside by Soviet chroniclers and until now have been largely neglected by history. Laurie Stoff draws on deep archival research into previously unplumbed material, including many first-person accounts, to examine the roots, motivations, and legacy of these women. She reveals that Russia was the only nation in World War I that systematically employed women in the military, marking the first time that a government run by men had organized women for combat. And although they were originally envisioned as propaganda - promoting patriotism and citizenship to inspire the thousands of males who had been deserting or refusing to fight - Russian women also proved themselves more than capable in combat. Describing the formation, provisioning, and training of the units, Stoff sheds light on their social and educational backgrounds, while recounting a number of amazing individual stories. She tells how Maria Bochkareva, commander of the First Russian Women's Battalion of Death, and her unit met its baptism of fire in combat and how Bochkareva later traveled to the U.S. and met President Wilson. We also meet Maria Bocharnikova, who served with the First Petrograd Women's Battalion that defended the Winter Palace during the Bolshevik Revolution. Stoff also chronicles the exploits of the Second Moscow Women's Battalion of Death, Third Kuban Women's Shock Battalion, and the First Women's Naval Detachment. Stoff's remarkable account rescues from oblivion an important but still little-known aspect of Russia's experience in World War I. It also provides new insights into gender roles during a pivotal period of Russia's development and resonates with the current debates over the role of women in warfare.


The formation of crystals and symmetry on the atomic scale has persistently attracted scientists through the ages. The structure itself and its subtle dependence on boundary conditions is a reflection of three principles: atomic attraction, repulsion, and the limitations in 3D space. This involves a competition between simplicity and high symmetry on the one hand and necessary structural complexity on the other. This work presents a simple atomistic crystal growth model derived for equivalent atoms and a pair potential. It highlights fundamental concepts, most prominently provided by a maximum number of equilibrium distances in the atom's local vicinity, to obtain high symmetric structural motifs, among them the Platonic Solids. In this respect, the harmonically balanced interaction during the atomistic nucleation process may be regarded as origin of symmetry. The minimization of total energy is generalized for 3D periodic structures constituting these motifs. In dependence on the pair potential's short- and long-range characteristics the, by symmetry, rigid lattices relax isotropically within the potential well. The first few coordination shells with lattice-specific fixed distances do not necessarily determine which equilibrium symmetry prevails. A phase diagram calculated on the basis of these few assumptions summarizes stable regions of close-packed fcc and hcp, next to bcc symmetry for predominantly soft short-range and hard long-range interaction. This lattice symmetry, which is evident for alkali metals as well as transition metals of the vanadium and chromium group, cannot be obtained from classical Morse or Lennard-Jones type potentials, but needs the range flexibility within the pair potential.


The absorption and disposition of fluvastatin have been studied in the female rabbit. In naive rabbits receiving a single oral dose (1 mg kg-I) of [3H]fluvastatin, absorption was rapid and amounted to c. 90 per cent compared with an intravenous reference dose. The drug was subject to considerable first-pass effect, its absolute bioavailability being 46 per cent. The steady-state volume of distribution of fluvastatin was 0.29+0.041kg-' while the total body clearance was 0.33+0-051 h-I kg-I. The administered radioactivity was excreted predominantly in feces, with the renal pathway accounting for 28 +4 per cent of the oral dose and 32 2 3 per cent of the intravenous dose. In pregnant rabbits on a multiple oral dosing regimen, 1 mg kg - day-I beginning day 6 post-conception (P.c.), steady-state concentrations in maternal blood and tissues were achieved within 5 days. The concentrations in the reproductive organs were c. 25-50 per cent of that in maternal blood while those in the kidneys and liver were considerably higher. In contrast, radioactivity levels in the fetuses and amniotic fluid decreased significantly during repeated drug administration. The fetus : placenta and amniotic fluid : placenta concentration ratios declined from 0.92 and 0-97, respectively, on day 10 p.c. to 0.10 and 0.04, respectively, on day 18 P.c., indicating a limited transfer of fluvastatin and/or its metabolite@) across the placenta at the later stage of pregnancy. After cessation of dosing, radioactivity levels in all tissues and fluids showed a progressive and nearly parallel decline, suggesting no tissue retention of the drug.


Purpose: To develop a novel technique to enhance the image contrast of clinical cone beam CT projections and extract respiratory signals based on anatomical motion using the modified Amsterdam Shroud (AS) method to benefit image guided radiation therapy. Methods: Thoracic cone beam CT projections acquired prior to treatment were preprocessed to increase their contrast for better respiratory signal extraction. Air intensity on raw images was firstly estimated and then applied to correct the projections to generate new attenuation images that were subsequently improved with deeper anatomy feature enhancement through taking logarithm operation, derivative along superior-inferior direction, respectively. All pixels on individual post-processed two dimensional images were horizontally summed to one column and all projections were combined side by side to create an AS image from which patient's respiratory signal was extracted. The impact of gantry rotation on the breathing signal rendering was also investigated. Ten projection image sets from five lung cancer patients acquired with the Varian Onboard Imager on 21iX Clinac (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) were employed to assess the proposed technique. Results: Application of the air correction on raw projections showed that more than an order of magnitude of contrast enhancement was achievable. The typical contrastmore » on the raw projections is around 0.02 while that on attenuation images could greater than 0.5. Clear and stable breathing signal can be reliably extracted from the new images while the uncorrected projection sets failed to yield clear signals most of the time. Conclusion: Anatomy feature plays a key role in yielding breathing signal from the projection images using the AS technique. The air correction process facilitated the contrast enhancement significantly and attenuation images thus obtained provides a practical solution to obtaining markerless breathing motion tracking.« less


In random wind-generated wave motion on the sea surface, extreme wave events have been shown theoretically to occur within groups with a well-defined configuration and time history that can be specified in terms of the space-time autocovariances of the surface displacement. The predictions of the theory have been tested in a field experiment in the Straits of Messina in which an array of nine wave gauges and nine pressure transducers supported by vertical piles provided space-time information on waves generated over a fetch of approximately 10 km. It was confirmed that the general configuration of the extreme wave groups measured was consistent with the theoretical predictions in terms of the measured space-time autocovariance. During the development stage of a group, as the height of the central (outstanding) wave grows to a maximum, the width of the wave front reduces to a minimum. As an individual wave passes through the group, its wavelength decreases as the wave height increases towards the apex, after which the wavelength increases again as the wave moves towards the front of the group and abates.


This history of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) is divided into two parts. Part I, the Early History, begins with a review of the initial description of the disease (published in the latter part of the 19th century) and concludes with a recounting of the discovery of the alternative pathway of complement by Pillemer in the early 1950s. Part II, the Modern History, begins with a review of the studies of Dacie and Rosse. The results of their experiments, published in the mid-1960s, defined many of the unique features of the disease. This chronicle ends with a summary of the studies that built on the seminal discovery in 1993 by Kinoshita and colleagues of the genetic basis of PNH.


What are the real vs. the potential effects of urban agriculture (UA) on the welfare of communities living in the city and the close-by areas – this is amongst the main queries posited by the book "Urban Agriculture for Improving the Quality of Life. Examples from Bulgaria", edited by Donna Pickard. A multidisciplinary study that leans on scientific data and unravels the interplay between the impact of UA practices and the quality of life. Content-wise, this research involves multi-layered analyses on the subject – UA has been viewed through social, educational, economic, spatial, and ecological aspects. At the beginning of the book, there is a text about the historical dimension of UA in Bulgaria, revealing curious information about what urban agriculture looked like in the 1930s in Sofia. An intriguing find, for instance, is that people working in the newly established National Assembly raised poultry in a parliamentary annex building during the first years of their service. The book has been awarded the scientific and applied achievement of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IPhS-BAS) for 2022 after the General Assembly of Scientists vote in January 2023. The values of this scientific work are listed below.


Introduction Inpatient full polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard diagnostic to identify obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS)1. Due to healthcare resources and utilisation many sleep centres employ limited multichannel sleep testing (MC) at the patient's home. Both diagnostic tests provide measurements of oxygen desaturation index (ODI), apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) and oxygen saturation (Sp02). The sleep studies however are subject to factors that may influence sleep quality, including environmental effects (location of performance and staff versus patient setup) that may influence overall sleep study scoring. Methods All patients referred to the CSU for investigation of OSAS who subsequently performed a PSG were included in this observational study. Patients who were symptomatic (Epworth score ≥11) and received a diagnosis of mild OSAS (AHI 5–14/hr) continued to PSG. MC were performed using NOX T3 and PSG using NOX A1 (Nox Medical, Katrinartun, Iceland). Sleep scoring was in accordance with AASM guidelines version 2.3. Comparisons of data sets was performed using SPSS statistical software. Results Patient demographics are shown in table 1. In total 8 patients were included. All patients scored a higher AHI on PSG compared to MC. Mean PSG AHI and ODI were significantly higher than MC (18.48/hr; 8.1/hr and 17.68/hr; 7.08/hr, p≤0.001 respectively). Sp02 was comparable between PSG and MC (92% and 94%, p=0.0135, respectively). [Figure 1]. Discussion Data from this single centre, small sample study shows higher AHI and ODI from PSG compared to MC in symptomatic mild OSAS patients. Reasons may include location of sleep and clinical support with sleep study setup. In this patient group it may be advised that PSG is required in order to confirm a diagnosis of OSAS and severity in order to select the most appropriate treatment modality and optimisation of treatment selections. Larger multicentre studies are required to substantiate the results from this study.


Spondias mombin (Linn.) (Anacardiaceae) is an herbaceous plant widely used in Traditional African medicine (TAM) for the treatment of diverse ailments including infections and febrile conditions. This study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial and antipyretic properties of the aqueous leaf extract of S. mombin. The sensitivity test (using zones of inhibition), minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration tests were used to investigate its antimicrobial properties, while the 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP)and yeast-induced hyperthermia tests were used to investigate antipyretic activity in rodents. S. mombin (50, 100 and 200 mg kg-1, p.o) produced significant (p<0.05) antimicrobial activity in the sensitivity test. The effects of 50, 100 and 200 mg/ml S. mombin were generally comparable to those of ciprofloxacin. Also, S. mombin produced significant (p<0.05) reduction of elevated temperature in the 2,4-DNP and yeast-induced hyperthermia models with peak effects of anti-pyrexia produced at 200 mg kg-1 for 2,4-DNP induced hyperthermia and 100 mg kg-1 for the yeast-induced. The effect at these doses was comparable to that of paracetamol, being the positive control in the two models. The results obtained in this study demonstrated that the aqueous leaf extract of Spondias mombin possesses antibacterial and antipyretic properties.


Fish — Iceland's main export product — accounts for three quarters of its exports. Although only a small proportion of the population is employed in fishing and fish processing, the economy is highly vulnerable to any fluctuations in the earnings from fish exports. This article discusses the Icelandic responses to vulnerability: an inwardly orientated emphasis on rapid adaptation to change, and an outwardly orientated qualified support for liberal trade policies. Also discussed is the possible impact of some of the changes in the foreign economic relations of the country in recent years, and the question of Iceland's relationship with the process of European integration.


In their recent paper, "Caregiver descriptions of joint activity routines with young children with autism spectrum disorder in South Africa", Ramseur and colleagues examined the applicability of an early intervention model for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which was developed and validated in more highly resourced settings, to the diverse cultural context of South Africa (1). They highlighted the importance of this work by noting the dearth of ASD research on the African continent; for example, Africa is yet to see an ASD prevalence study, and as of 2017, a scoping review identified only 53 peer-reviewed publications on ASD published in sub-Saharan Africa (2). Moreover, none of the publications focused on early intervention in Africa. Thus, Ramseur et al .'s study represents an important step forward in addressing the needs of children with ASD in South Africa.


Background: Characterization of the immunological microenvironment has been demonstrated to be associated with prognosis and the effect of chemotherapy of various cancers. Then it has been shown by their role several studies in 5-FU-based neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer. However, their role in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for rectal cancer remains unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between immune reactions and the pathological response to induction oxaliplatin-based NAC in patients with advanced rectal cancer. Methods: A total of 65 patients with advanced rectal cancer who underwent induction oxaliplatin-based NAC followed by surgical resection were enrolled. The resected tumor specimens were counted positive cell of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and macrophages by using immunohistochemical staining for CD3, CD8, Foxp3, CD86, CD206. We analyzed for the relationship between the numbers of TILs or macrophages at the stroma in resected specimens and the pathological response to induction oxaliplatin-based NAC. Results: The numbers of Foxp3+ TILs in resected specimens were strongly correlated with pathological response. Patients with higher number of Foxp3+ TILs showed poor pathological response (p Conclusions: In rectal cancer patients, T lymphocyte-mediated immune reactions significantly correlated with pathological response of oxaliplatin-based NAC for advanced rectal cancer. These were similar to the T lymphocyte-mediated immune responses in the neoadjuvant radiation therapy for rectal cancer. Citation Format: Kentaro Sekizawa, Yasushi Ichikawa, Atsushi Ishibe, Hirokazu Suwa, Masashi Momiyama, Ikuma Kato, Mitsuyoshi Ota, Itaru Endo. Relationship of characterization of the immunological microenvironment and pathological response in advanced rectal cancer after oxaliplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4894.


MAKING INDIGENOUS CITIZENS: IDENTITIES, EDUCATION, AND MULTICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN PERU. By María Elena García. (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2005. Pp. 232. $52.95 cloth, $20.95 paper.) MAYAS IN THE MARKETPLACE: TOURISM, GLOBALIZATION, AND CULTURAL IDENTITY. By Walter E. Little. (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2004. Pp. 332. $55.00 cloth, $22.95 paper.) THE STRUGGLE FOR INDIGENOUS RIGHTS IN LATIN AMERICA. Edited by Nancy Grey Postero and Leon Zamosc. (Brighton, UK: Sussex Academic Press, 2004. Pp. 272. $67.50 cloth, $27.50 paper.) CONTESTING CITIZENSHIP IN LATIN AMERICA: THE RISE OF INDIGENOUS MOVEMENTS AND THE POSTLIBERAL CHALLENGE. By Deborah J.yashar. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. Pp. 388. $85.00 cloth, $37.99 paper.)


The application of priority arguments to study the structure of the upper semilattice of α-r.e. α-degrees for all admissible ordinals α was first done successfully by Sacks and Simpson [5] who proved that there exist incomparable α-r.e. α-degrees. Lerman and Sacks [3] studied the existence of minimal pairs of α-r.e. α-degrees, and proved their existence for all admissible ordinals α which are not refractory. We continue the study of the α-r.e. α-degrees, and prove that no minimal pair of α-r.e. α-degrees can have as least upper bound the complete α-r.e. α-degree. The above-mentioned theorem was first proven for α = ω by Lachlan [1]. Our proof for α = ω differs from Lachlan's in that we eliminate the use of the recursion theorem. The proofs are similar, however, and a knowledge of Lachlan's proof will be of considerable aid in reading this paper. We assume that the reader is familiar with the basic notions or α-recursion theory, which can be found in [2] or [5]. Throughout the paper a will be an arbitrary admissible ordinal. We identify a set A ⊆ α with its characteristic function, A(x) = 1 if x ∈ A, and A(x) = 0 if x ∉ A. If A ⊆ α and B ⊆ α, then A ⊕ B will denote the set defined by A ⊕ B(x) = A(y) if x = λ + 2z, λ is a limit ordinal, z < ω and y = λ + z, = B(y) if x = λ + 2z + 1, λ is a limit ordinal, z < ω, and y = λ + z.


A case of D-lactic acidosis in a 2 1/2-year-old child followed for 11 months is reported. The infant had previously undergone extensive small intestinal resection for midgut volvulus. Diagnosis was confirmed by measurement of plasma D-lactate. Metabolic acidosis, increased anion gap, ataxia, and lethargy in patients with small intestinal resection warrant investigation for D-lactic acidosis. The presumed etiology is absorption of D-lactic acid produced by bacterial fermentation of carbohydrate in the colon. Antibiotic treatment resulted in prompt resolution of symptoms in this case. Prospective and prolonged monitoring of acidosis in patients with small bowel resection is encouraged.


Sugarbeet (L.) seed is commercially processed and graded to several different fruitsizes. My objectives were first to determine the effect of fruit size on emergence potential and second to determine whether a laboratory packed sand test reliably measures these differences in emergence potential. Commercially processed and graded seed lots and cultivars were evaluated by the standard germination procedure, a laboratory packed sand test measuring percent emergence of seedlings through a 3.3 cm layer of packed sand (4% water wt/wt), and by field emergence trials. Field emergence was highly correlated with laboratory packed sand emergence (r = 0.92, 12 dr), but not correlated with standard germination in tests involving three cultivars ('GWH58,' 'GWH93,' and 'GWHllS') and four fruit sizes (2.4 to 2.8, 2.8 3.9, 3.2 to 3.6, and 3.6 to 4.0 mm diameter) in a 3 ✕ 4 factorial combination. Field and laboratory emergence increased with increase in fruit size from 2.4 to 2.8 to 3.2 to 3.6 ram; however, emergence of the largest fruit size (3.6 to 4.0 mm) was equal to or less than that of 3.2 to 3.6 mm size. Influence of fruit size on field emergence was not affected by planting date. Emergence of seed lots (four sizes per lot) of four cultivars ('GWH45,' GWH58, GWH93, and GWHllS) was evaluated with the packed sand test in factorial combinations. Each cultivar had seed lots which were significantly different from one another. Emergence of GWH45, GWH93, and GWHII5 seed progressively increased with increase in fruit diameter except for the largest size (3.6 to 4.0 mm) which was equal to or less emergence than that of the 3.9 to 3.6 mm size. GWH58 showed a similar trend except that seed size effects were not significant. No seed lot ✕ fruit size interaction was found. Thus all sizes of the superior emerging lots had better emergence than the corresponding sizes in the poorer lots. These tests show that fruit size must be kept constant when emergence potential of seed lots or cultivars is measured. The laboratory packed sand test, utilizing seed lot ✕ fruit size factorial combinations, effectively evaluated the emergence potential of seed lots of commercial cultivars.


Pharmacogenomics are frequently considered in personalized medicine to maximize therapeutic benefits and minimize adverse drug reactions. However, there is a movement towards applying this technology to populations, which may produce the same benefits, while saving already scarce health resources. We conducted a narrative literature review to examine how pharmacogenomics and public health can constructively intersect, particularly in resource-poor settings. We identified 27 articles addressing the research question. Real and theoretical connections between public health and pharmacogenomics were presented in the areas of disease, drugs and public policy. Suggested points for consideration, such as educational efforts and cultural acceptability, were also provided. Including pharmacogenomics in public health can result in both health-related and economic benefits. Including pharmacogenomics in public health holds promise but deserves extensive consideration. To fully realize the benefits of this technology, support is needed from private, public and governmental sectors in order to ensure the appropriateness within a society.


An antagonist to H1 histamine receptor and one to H2 histamine receptor were used to prevent protamine-induced hypotension in 126 Japanese patients undergoing open heart surgery. In a study comparing an H1 antagonist "diphenhydramine" and an H2 antagonist "famotidine", 103 patients were divided into four groups: 31 patients were given no drugs (Group 1), 25 patients were given 0.4 mg/kg of diphenhydramine (Group 2), 33 patients were given 0.4 mg/kg of famotidine (Group 3), and 14 patients were given both the drugs (Group 4) before protamine administration. Although the systolic arterial pressure decreased significantly after protamine administration in all groups, famotidine was found to be effective in reducing protamine-induced hypotension, whereas diphenhydramine was not effective. In order to further investigate the hemodynamic changes in a double-blinded fashion, 12 patients were given normal saline (Group 5), while 11 patients were given 0.4 mg/kg of famotidine (Group 6) before protamine administration. Again, the minimal systolic and mean arterial pressures after protamine injection were significantly higher in Group 6 than in Group 5, while left atrial pressure, central venous pressure, heart rate, and cardiac index were almost the same and remained constant in the two groups. These results strongly suggest that the H2 antagonist "famotidine" is beneficial in reducing protamine-induced hypotension after cardiopulmonary bypass, while the H1 antagonist "diphenhydramine" is not.


The aim of the study is to find the relationship between accounting factors (internal and external audit) and the 23 Jordanian banks (15 Jordanian banks & 8 foreign banks work in Jordan) commitment to detect and combating the money laundering in Jordan. The study has designed a questionnaire for collecting data. The total population was 115 questionnaires. To analyse data, the study used SPSS program. The result of the study showed that there is a direct and positive reflecting relationship between internal and external audit to detect and combating the money laundering in Jordanian banks. The main recommendations for this study is that bankers and policy makers should take all of the accounting factors (internal and external audit) into account to help them in detecting and combating of money laundering in Jordan; in the meantime the independent variables (internal and external audit) are necessitate and operative contribution towards current combating of money laundering, and conducting specific courses for users to detect the nature and importance of the independent variables essential for creation high-quality.


A varied and balanced diet that is rich in fresh fruit and vegetables and poor in preserved foods is thought to represent the main protection against gastric cancer. Helicobacter pylori infection also appears to have a role in the disease; its eradication therefore represents another promising potential preventive measure. The effect of diet is supposed to be mediated by micronutrients with an antioxidant role, such as ascorbic acid, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol, which could act on different phases of the carcinogenic process, interrupting the progression of precancerous lesions towards cancer. The two trials ongoing in Latin America and the one planned in Europe all deal with the effect of antioxidants, with or without H. pylori eradication, on the progression/ regression rate of precancerous lesions of the stomach. The trial in Venezuela has an 80% power to detect a 50% reduction in the net progression of precancerous lesions in the group (from a high-risk population) undergoing a complex antioxidant treatment for 3 years. In this population a case-control study confirmed the protective effect of fresh fruits and vegetables in relation to gastric cancer. Other trials, which aimed to evaluate the chemopreventive potential of micronutrients on other cancer sites, have reported contradictory results concerning gastric cancer risk. When interpreting these results the following should be considered; a possible interaction between H. pylori infection and the antioxidants; the baseline levels of antioxidants in these populations; and the doses and duration of treatment.


This contribution combines a theoretical reflexion and an empirical survey to reconsider recent research on "camps" as social forms, and on their problematic relationship with the political order. The article opens with a theoretical critic of a vision of camps as politically "abandoned" devices : in this perspective, camps are seen as mostly managed by street-level, empirically-defined-and-enforced "policemen's policies" – policies which, as such, generally avoid political supervision or judicial review. In that sense, camps are a blind point inside democratic polities. The second part of the article however challenges this vision, basing itself on empirical research performed by the author on immigration detention centres in France. In this case, the original informality, opacity and precariousness of administrative detention was publicly denounced, with two essential consequences : first, immigration detention was institutionalized. Second, it was strongly connected to its political and legal environment through the organization of an independent control (performed by non-state Human Rights organizations) inside the centres, a measure that gave detention a public visibility.


Recent revelations – from government documents and investigative reports – have brought renewed attention to the disturbing involvement of U.S. psychologists in the abuse and torture of "war on terror" detainees. In light of these revelations, this commentary examines the American Psychological Association's inexplicable decision to close – without any sanction – an ethics complaint filed against psychologist John Leso for his role in the abusive treatment of prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. The essay reviews key components of the case: the relevant background and context, Dr. Leso's documented actions at Guantanamo, the APA's ethical standards, the ethics complaint rules and procedures, the justifications invoked by the APA leadership to defend the no-sanction decision, and recommendations for what should be done now.


Dear Sir, Re: Y. Maeda, C. J. Vaizey & M. A. Kamm. Pilot study of two new injectable bulking agents for the treatment of faecal incontinence. Colorectal Dis doi:10.1111 ⁄ j.1463-1318.2007.01318.x We read with interest the St Mark's group experience with Bulkamid and Permacol (cross-linked liquid porcine dermal collagen) for the treatment of passive faecal incontinence. It is their assertion that Permacol injections did not have a major effect on faecal incontinence. However, their experience differs remarkably from that of Stojkovic et al. [1] who also utilized intra-anal injections of cross-linked liquid collagen, but derived from bovine sources (Contigen). Stojkovic and colleagues injected only 5 ml in total, only a third of the volume used by the St Mark's group and yet noticed good outcomes at 12 months. We hypothesize that operative technique may play an important role as the bulking agent used. Stojkovic et al. injected their bulking agent submucosally, just proximal to the dentate line, rather than via the trans-sphincteric route. We presented a small pilot series of seven patients using Permacol and a similar submucosal injection technique utilizing a total of 9 ml per patient [2]. Subjective results were good at a maximum of 13 months. At present neither the optimal intra-anal bulking agent, nor the optimal route of injection has been ascertained for the treatment of passive faecal incontinence. A randomized controlled trial comparing the route of injection using Permacol is currently in progress. The St Mark's group assertion that these new agents do not have a major effect on faecal incontinence should be amended to include the specific injection technique used.


Abstract. The rapid estimation of earthquake fatalities using earthquake parameters is the core basis for emergency response. However, there are numerous factors affecting earthquake fatalities, and it is impossible to obtain an accurate estimation result. The key to solve this problem is quantifying the uncertainty. In this paper, we proposed a new method to estimate earthquake fatalities and quantify the uncertainty based on basic earthquake emergency scenarios. The accuracy of the model is verified by earthquake that occurred during recent year. The preliminary analysis and comparison results show that the model is more effective and reasonable and can also provide a theoretical basis for post-earthquake emergency response.


The article describes the state of the art in reinforced geopolymers, taking into consideration various types of polymer fiber reinforcements, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or polylactic acid. The description is focused on the usage of polymer short fibers and the mechanical properties of the geopolymer composites. However, to show a wider research background, numerous references are discussed concerning the selected studies on reinforcing geopolymer composites with long fibers and fabrics. The research method applied in the article is the critical analysis of literature sources, including a comparison of new material with other materials used in similar applications. The results of the research are discussed in a comparative context and the properties of the composites are juxtaposed with the properties of the standard materials used in the construction industry. Potential applications in the construction industry are presented. Moreover, the contemporary research challenges for geopolymer materials reinforced with fibers are presented.


The unsightly nature of a circumscribed reddish vascular nevus, elevated above the surface of the skin, in children, causes a great deal of distress to their parents, who, therefore, seek medical advice early in almost all cases. Some authors state that in vascular nevi of the elevated type the earlier treatment is applied after their appearance the better are the results obtained, since these lesions tend to grow with the child.* Other authors reserve treatment for special cases only, for cosmetic or functional purposes, or to prevent ulceration with secondary infection and hemorrhage.† J. Walter 5 found that radiation or other treatments can make vascular nevi disappear faster, but he concludes that, unless there are positive reasons for early treatment, this is usually unnecessary and may well be considered undesirable. Bowers, 7 in analyzing 20 successful cases treated with thorium X, came to the conclusion that at least 13 among


The program will accomplish its goals through academic work in four themes and two threads, which are woven throughout the four years of the program. The program includes a variety of educational formats to deliver the curricula, including problem-based learning sessions, team-based learning, independent study, seminars, extensive hands-on preclinical simulation education and dental procedural skills development, experiential learning opportunities, traditional lectures, laboratories, standardized patient experiences, and patientbased comprehensive care. An important goal of the curriculum is to help students become better prepared in independent learning, interprofessional practice, critical thinking skills, and the use of evidence. The curriculum includes the following themes and threads:


Optimal investment strategies for enhanced indexation problems have attracted considerable attentions over the last decades in the field of fund management. In this paper, a featured difference from the existing literature is that our main concern of the investigation is the development of a sparse enhanced indexation model to describe the process of assets selection by introducing a sparse L1/2 regularization instead of binary variables, which is expected to avoid the over-fitting and promote a better out-of-sample performance for the resulting tracking portfolio to some extent. An Alternating Quadratic Penalty (AQP) method is proposed to solve the corresponding nonconvex optimization problem, into which the Block Coordinate Descent (BCD) algorithm is integrated to solve a sequence of penalty subproblems. Under some suitable assumptions, we establish that any accumulation point of the sequence generated by the AQP method is a KKT point of the proposed model. Computational results on five typical data sets are reported to verify the efficiency of the proposed AQP method, including the superiority of the sparse L1/2 model with the AQP method over one cardinality constrained quadratic programming model with one of its solution methods in terms of computational costs, out-of-sample performances, and the consistency between in-sample and out-of-sample performances of the resulting tracking portfolios.


With the development of computer information technology, the information revolution permeates every corner of life. Colleges and universities are the frontiers of information development, and their hardware infrastructure construction is relatively perfect. Due to the large number of people in colleges and universities, the computer room and computer training room equipment are also required. Traditional computer asset management methods are inefficient, especially the management of computer laboratory assets, which is not standardized and difficult to manage and count online. Therefore, we need to develop a set of online computer training rooms asset management system, equipment management, assets input, assets, to solve the online query, asset service, asset leasing, fault statistics, maintenance records, etc., at the same time, through the system specification work of the staff of computer room, computer lab asset management more standardized and efficient.


Mitochondria are multifunctional organelles with their own genome and protein synthesis machinery. The 13 proteins encoded by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are core subunits of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system producing the majority of cellular ATP. Yet most mitochondrial proteins are encoded by nuclear genes, synthesized by cytosolic ribosomes, and imported into mitochondria. Therefore, disturbances in cytosolic proteostasis have consequences on the gene expression and synthesis of mtDNA‐encoded proteins and overall on mitochondrial function. Internal and environmental factors such as mutations, aging, oxidative stress, and toxic agents can affect the translation and the stability of mitochondrial proteins and lead to OXPHOS dysfunction. Here, methods for analysis of mitochondrial translation rate and protein stability using radioactive and non‐radioactive technique as well as the methods for studying steady‐state levels and assembly of OXPHOS complexes are described. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


This paper reviews the design optimization of wind turbine blades through investigating the design methods and analyzing the performance of the blades. The current research work in this area include wind turbine blade geometric design and optimization, aerodynamics analysis, wind turbine blade structural design and dynamics analysis. Blade geometric design addresses the design parameters, including airfoils and their aerodynamic coefficients, attack angles, design tip speed ratio, design and/or rated wind speed, rotor diameter, blade aerodynamic shape with chord length and twist distributions, so that the blade achieves an optimum power performance. The geometry of the blade is an aerodynamic shape with nonlinear chord and twist distribution, which can be obtained based on the BEM theory with respect to gi ven aerofoil with known aerodynamic coefficients. In terms of blade aerodynamics analysis, there are four types of aerodynamic models which can be used to predict the aerodynamic performance of blades, including blade element momentum (BEM) model, lifting panel and vortex model, actuator line model, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model . Among the four, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model has been used to calculate the aerodynamic effect on the blade airfoil. Critical Reynolds number and constant wind speed has been considered during analysis under different turbulence models Viz, spallart -almaras, k-epsilon, invicid flow. During investigation it is observed that only k - epsilon showed efficient results than others and 14 degree angle of attack (AOA) is the optimum value at which


: Under significant physical exercises the myocardium of rats displays distinct enzymopathy, increased permeability of the cell membranes with a considerable dispersion of plasma proteins and damage to the ultrastructures of the myocytes. The employment of pyridoxilate reduces the severity of the damaging reaction, and to some extent normalizes the structure of the cellular and sub-cellular elements of the myocardium. This indicates to the prospects of using the regulators of cellular respiration under total and tissue hypoxia.


LOCALIZED amyloidosis is not an uncommon syndrome in medical literature. However, its appearance simulating tumor formation, particularly in the skin, is a most unusual finding. The case here presented is reported primarily for its rarity. REPORT OF A CASE The patient, a married woman, aged 56, a housekeeper, was first referred to the outpatient department of the Jewish Hospital of Brooklyn, by Dr. M. G. Wasch on May 14, 1951. At that time she presented a "growth" on her nose, which she claimed had been present for approximately one year. The growth, following its first appearance, had increased in size rather rapidly for about six months and then had remained stationary up to the time of examination. There were no symptoms aside from the cosmetic problem presented by its appearance. Examination on admission disclosed a well-nourished middle-aged woman whose general physical examination presented no important abnormalities aside from the


Abstract This article analyzes various legal defenses and immunities against patent infringement liability during COVID-19 under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act ("PREPA" or "Act"). Although initially enacted in response to the 2001 Anthrax attacks, PREPA was once again invoked in response to COVID-19 under the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the "Secretary"). Through declarations issued by the Secretary, the scope of the original Act inferably expanded in a pursuit to mitigate the public health emergency of COVID-19. The nature of this review primarily focuses on the uncertainties surrounding the extent and practical legal applications of this expansion.


There is currently tremendous interest in how the physiology of individual animals changes and develops during ontogeny. One of the key areas is the extent to which the timing and/or rate of physiological development is fixed within an individual and to what extent can it be altered. We propose that plasticity in the timing of the onset of a particular physiological regulatory system during an individuals development be referred to as physiological heterokairy (to clearly distinguish this phenomenon from physiological heterochrony, which is an evolutionary pattern), and we marshal evidence for three different patterns of heterokairy: 1. altering relative position in the physiological itinerary; 2. altering overall rate of development per se and; 3. a combination of 1 and 2. Using these patterns as a starting point, we develop a framework for investigating physiological heterokairy which takes cognizance of the facts that multiple components of each regulatory system could appear at different times and multiple regulatory systems could come 'on-line' at different times. We finish by placing physiological heterokairy in the wider context of its ecological and evolutionary implications and its relationship to physiological genomics and heterochrony.