Altered glucose metabolism has been described as a cause of chemoresistance in multiple tumor types. The present study aimed to identify the expression profile of glucose metabolism in drug-resistant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells and provide potential strategies for the treatment of drug-resistant AML. Bone marrow and serum samples were obtained from patients with AML that were newly diagnosed or had relapsed. The messenger RNA expression of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α, glucose transporter (GLUT)1, and hexokinase-II was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The levels of LDH and β subunit of human F1-F0 adenosine triphosphate synthase (β-F1-ATPase) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent and western blot assays. The HL-60 and HL-60/ADR cell lines were used to evaluate glycolytic activity and effect of glycolysis inhibition on cellular proliferation and apoptosis. Drug-resistant HL-60/ADR cells exhibited a significantly increased level of glycolysis compared with the drug-sensitive HL-60 cell line. The expression of HIF-1α, hexokinase-II, GLUT1 and LDH were increased in AML patients with no remission (NR), compared to healthy control individuals and patients with complete remission (CR) and partial remission. The expression of β-F1-ATPase in patients with NR was decreased compared with the expression in the CR group. Treatment of HL-60/ADR cells with 2-deoxy-D-glucose or 3-bromopyruvate increased in vitro sensitivity to Adriamycin (ADR), while treatment of HL-60 cells did not affect drug cytotoxicity. Subsequent to treatment for 24 h, apoptosis in these two cell lines showed no significant difference. However, glycolytic inhibitors in combination with ADR increased cellular necrosis. These findings indicate that increased glycolysis and low efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation may contribute to drug resistance. Targeting glycolysis is a viable strategy for modulating chemoresistance in AML.


The authors describe the results of Monte Carlo simulations of the spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the honeycomb lattice. They find that the staggered magnetisation is nonzero and given, quite accurately, by spin-wave theory. Similar results have been found earlier for the square lattice.


Hypertension and diabetes mellitus represent increasing threats to the health of many populations. For reasons not completely understood, the prevalence of these diseases is higher in some ethnic groups than in others. The key to this puzzle may rest with the interplay of a defect of an enzyme-mediated process and the environment. Oxidative stress and impairment of synthesis or release of nitric oxide (NO) are being regarded as causative factors in the pathogenesis of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis, among other conditions. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency has been overlooked as a cause of both oxidative stress and a decrease in the generation of nitric oxide (NO). G6PD generates nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), a co-factor in the synthesis of nitric oxide. There is impairment of the production of nitric oxide superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in G6PD-deficient granulocytes. In the polyol pathway, G6PD deficiency causes hyperglycemia, making more glucose available for the non-enzymatic production of advanced glycosylation end products (AGE's), which also causes an increase in superoxide anions and a quenching of nitric oxide. Currently, there are 200 million people worldwide with red cell x-linked chromosome defects who, with the persistent ingestion of refined carbohydrates, are at greater risk of developing hypertension or diabetes mellitus than those racial groups without the defect.


Climate simulations suggest that cloud feedback plays an important role in the arctic warming. Moreover, the high seasonal variability of arctic aerosol properties is expected to significantly impact the cloud properties during the winter-summer transition. Field measurements are needed for improved understanding and representation of cloud-aerosol interactions in climate models.
Within the CLIMSLIP project (CLimate IMpacts of Short-LIved Pollutants and methane in the arctic), a two months (March-April 2012) ground-based cloud measurement campaign was performed at Mt Zeppelin station, Ny-Alesund, Svalbard. The experimental set-up comprised a wide variety of instruments. A CPI (Cloud Particle Imager) was used for the microphysical and morphological characterization of ice particles. Measurements of sized-resolved liquid cloud parameters were performed by the FSSP-100 (Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe). The Nevzorov Probe measured the bulk properties of clouds. The Polar Nephelometer was used to assess the single scattering properties of an ensemble of cloud particles. This cloud instrumentation combined with the aerosol properties continuously measured at the station allowed us to study the variability of the microphysical and optical properties of low level Mixed Phase Clouds (MPC) as well as the aerosol- cloud interaction in the Arctic. Typical properties of MPC, snow precipitation and blowing snow will be presented. First results suggest that liquid water is ubiquitous in spring arctic low level clouds. Carbon monoxide measurements allow us to compare polluted with clean cases. The cloud-aerosol interactions processes which take place during the transport of polluted air masses from mid-latitude to the Arctic is thus assessed.


Abstract Background Venous congestion is the most common perfusion-related complication of deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap. Several hydraulic constructs can be created for venous superdrainage in case of flap venous engorgement or as a preventive measure. These can be classified based on the choice of the draining vein of the flap, either a second deep inferior epigastric vein (DIEV) or a superficial inferior epigastric vein (SIEV), and of the recipient vein, either a vein of the chest or the DIEV. Methods We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature review in Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar to find publications that reported on venous congestion in DIEP flap. The keywords used were DIEP Flap, breast reconstruction, venous congestion, supercharging, superdrainage, SIEV, and DIEV. Results Based on the studies found in the literature, we developed an algorithm to guide the surgeon's decision when choosing the veins for the superdrainage anastomosis. Conclusion Several alternatives for venous anastomosis in superdrainage are available. We propose an algorithm to simplify the choice. The use of the ipsilateral SIEV to be connected to a vein of the chest appears to be advantageous. The anatomical position that allows the easiest anastomosis dictates which chest vein to favor.


Competitive binding of fluorescent probe DSM and ribonuclease to liposomes, consisted of phosphatidylcholine and diphosphatidylglycerol has been investigated. Association constants and binding stoichiometry for probe and protein has been estimated.


Corporate governance has been the focus of much recent debate. A concept describing the control mechanisms by which any system sustains itself, it applies to governments as much as to corporate enterprises. Nowhere is this more central than in the post-socialist economies of the East, where both governments and enterprises have undergone structural transformation. The complexities of governance in the socialist enterprise are not well understood by prospective investors in post-socialist economies, while the governance of western economics is equally opaque to the post-socialist managers responsible for promoting reform. This book is designed to sensitize managers, Eastern and Western, to the kind of governance issue they will face when working together. A feature of the book is that it represents those who have worked on both sides of the former ideological divide. The dialogue took place at a round table held in Warsaw by the Centre for Organizational Studies (COS). Focusing on the case of a local Polish company, the round table discussions apply a wide variety of professional experience to some of the central problems of East-West business enterprise.


Energy is the most limiting factor in wireless sensor networks. Harvesting solar energy is a feasible solution to overcome the energy-constraint in some applications. It enables a theoretically infinite network lifetime, sustaining a mode of operation termed energy neutral consumption rate. The challenge arises, how can the harvested energy be utilized to maximize the performance of the sensor network. Considering a field monitoring application the performance is measured as the sustained sampling rate of the sensors. Maximizing the sampling rate needs to take the spatio-temporal distribution of load and energy into account, to prevent the overloading of nodes. In [12] they introduced a optimal, theoretical solution based on perfect global knowledge. In this paper we propose the solar-aware distributed flow (SDF) approach. SDF enables each node to predict the harvested energy, calculate a sustainable flow and control its local neighborhood. Extensive simulations confirmed that SDF achieves over 80% of the theoretical optimum, while introducing negligible overhead.


OBJECTIVE
Daily vitamin D supplementation is often inadequate in treating vitamin D deficiency due to poor compliance. A single, large dose of vitamin D given at timed intervals may be an alternative strategy.

METHODS
We conducted a systematic literature review to investigate the efficacy of a single large bolus dose to treat vitamin D deficiency. We identified 2,243 articles in PubMed using the terms "high dose vitamin D," "single dose vitamin D," "bolus vitamin D," or "annual dose vitamin D." Review articles, cross-sectional studies, non-human studies, responses to other articles, and non-English articles were excluded. Manuscripts were also excluded if the study: (1) did not use oral cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol, (2) used vitamin D analogs, (3) enrolled participants under age 18 years, (4) administered doses <100,000 international units (IU) (2.5 mg), or (5) administered >1 dose per year. References of eligible manuscripts and the Cochrane databases were also searched. Two independent reviewers identified eligible manuscripts, and a third reviewer evaluated disagreements. Thirty manuscripts were selected using these criteria.

RESULTS
Large, single doses of vitamin D consistently increased serum/plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations in several vitamin D-sufficient and -deficient populations. Vitamin D3 doses ≥300,000 IU provided optimal changes in serum/plasma 25(OH)D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations. Vitamin D supplementation also impacted bone health and extraskeletal endpoints.

CONCLUSION
This review recommends that vitamin D3 be used for supplementation over vitamin D2 and concludes that single vitamin D3 doses ≥300,000 IU are most effective at improving vitamin D status and suppressing PTH concentrations for up to 3 months. Lower doses, however, may be sufficient in certain populations. Vitamin D doses >500,000 IU should be used judiciously in order to minimize adverse events.


Advanced Robot for Interactive Application (ARIA) is a Humanoid Robotic Head which is capable of mimicking Various Human Facial Expressions. Much work has been done on Implementation of Humanoid Robotic Head with High end systems and Personal Computers (PCs). This paper presents the essential elements necessary for the implementation of Advanced Robot for Interactive Application (ARIA) on UDOO Board. The main aim of the Project was to develop a control system and Graphical User Interface (GUI) for ARIA to deliver real time human facial expressions using embedded board. Humanoid Robotic Head which is capable of mimicking Human Facial Expressions in Real time. Implementation of ARIA   involved careful selection of Embedded Board, actuators, control algorithms, motor drivers, operating system, communication protocols, and programming languages. The Board contains a Quad Core A9 Processor and a Controller embedded on it, which are interconnected. In this project the controller is dedicated to control micro servo motors which are controlling eyes, eyebrows and eyelids movements whereas the Processor Handles the Dynamixel motors, GUI and different communication modules.


In this paper we implement numerical PDE solution techniques to compute the probability of lifetime ruin which is the probability that a fixed retirement consumption strategy will lead to financial insolvency under stochastic investment returns and lifetime distribution. Using equity market parameters derived from US-based financial data we conclude that a 65-year-old retiree requires 30 times their desired annual (real) consumption to generate a 95% probability of sustainability, which is equivalent to a 5% probability of lifetime ruin, if the funds are invested in a well-diversified equity portfolio. The 30-to-1 margin of safety can be contrasted with the relevant annuity factor for an inflation-linked income which would generate a zero probability of lifetime ruin. Our paper then goes on to compare the numerical PDE values with various moment matching and other approximations that have been proposed in the literature to compute the lifetime probability of ruin. Our results indicate that the Reciprocal Gamma approximation provides an accurate fit as long as the volatility of the underlying investment return does not exceed three-fourths = 30% per annum, which is consistent with capital market history. At higher levels of volatility the moment matching approximations break down and we provide some theoretical reasons for this phenomena. Our numerical and methodological results should be of interest to both academics and practitioners who are interested in methods of approximating stochastic present values as well as methods for computing sustainable consumption and withdrawal rates towards the end of the human life cycle.


Inflammation-mediated skeletal muscle wasting is induced by inflammatory cytokines. It occurs in critically ill patients with sepsis (termed intensive care unit acquired weakness) and patients with advanced metastasis (termed cancer cachexia). Both conditions severely impact on patient morbidity and mortality. Lithium chloride has been investigated as a drug repurposing candidate for numerous diseases. In this study, we assessed whether lithium chloride affects inflammation-mediated muscle wasting, using in vitro and in vivo models of cancer cachexia and sepsis. Lithium chloride prevented wasting in myotubes cultured with cancer cell conditioned media, maintained expression of the muscle fiber contractile protein, myosin heavy chain 2 and blocked upregulation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase, Atrogin-1. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β inhibition was indicated as the target mechanism, due to the following observations: 1) β-catenin was upregulated in the myotubes and 2) inhibition of IMPA1, the secondary biological target of lithium chloride, did not inhibit the effects of cancer conditioned media. Lithium chloride inhibited upregulation of the inflammation-associated cytokines Il-1β, Il-6 and inos in macrophages treated with lipopolysaccharide. Lithium chloride treatment in an animal model of sepsis improved body weight, increased muscle mass, preserved the survival of larger fibers and decreased expression of the wasting effector genes, Atrogin-1 and Murf-1. In a model of cancer cachexia, lithium chloride increased muscle mass, enhanced muscle strength and increased fiber cross sectional area, with no significant effect on tumorigenesis. These results indicate that lithium chloride could be repurposed as a drug to treat patients with inflammation-mediated skeletal muscle wasting.


We sought to investigate the possibility that there are sex differences in the cardiovascular responses to trigeminal nerve stimulation (TGS) with cold exposure to the face at rest and during dynamic exercise. In 9 healthy men (age: 28 ± 3 yr; height: 178 ± 1 cm; weight: 77 ± 8 kg) and 13 women (age 26 ± 5 yr; height 164 ± 3 cm; weight 63 ± 7 kg) beat-to-beat heart rate (HR) and blood pressure were recorded. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), stroke volume (SV), cardiac index (CI), and total vascular resistance index (TVRI) were calculated. TGS was applied for 3 min at rest and in-between 10-min steady-state cycling exercise at a HR of 110 beats/min, the measurements were obtained during the last minute of each period. At rest, TGS increased MAP (men: Δ18 ± 8 mmHg; women: Δ23 ± 8 mmHg; means ± SD), TVRI (men: Δ1.1 ± 0.6 mmHg·l-1·min·m-2; women: Δ1.2 ± 1.2 mmHg·l-1·min·m-2) and SV (men: Δ19 ± 15 ml; women: Δ16 ± 11 ml) in both groups. CI increased with TGS in women but not in men. However, men presented a bradycardic response to TGS (Δ-11 ± 8 beats/min) that was not significant in women compared with baseline. Cycling exercise increased HR, MAP, SV, and CI and decreased TVRI in men and women. TGS during exercise further increased MAP in men and women and did not change CI in either group. SV and TVRI increased with TGS during exercise only in women. TGS during exercise evoked bradycardia in men (Δ-7 ± 9 beats/min), whereas HR was unchanged in women. Our findings indicate sex differences in TGS-related cardiovascular responses at rest and during exercise.


Optimal T follicular helper (Tfh) cells function is important to promote the development of germinal centers and maturation of high affinity antigen-specific B cells. We have found that the expression of CXCR3 defines distinct Tfh subsets: CXCR3+ Th1-like Tfh cells mainly producing single IFN-γ and dual IL-21/IFN-γ and CXCR3- Th2-like Tfh cells mainly producing single IL-4 and dual IL-21/IL-4 cytokines. CXCR3- Th2-like Tfhs are significantly reduced during ongoing HIV replication. While the percentage of Th2-like Tfh cells correlates with that of total and cycling HIV-specific B cells, the percentage of CXCR3+ Th1-like Tfhs correlates with HIV-specific B cells expressing T-bet and CXCR3. Of note, only IL-4 and IL-21 cytokines boosted efficient maturation of HIV-specific B cells while IFN-γ induced expression of T-bet and CXCR3 in B cells. Interestingly, total and HIV-specific CXCR3+ B cells showed lower rate of somatic hypermutation, as compared to CXCR3- B cells. Therefore, the imbalance in Th2/Th1-like Tfhs affects B cell responses in viremic HIV infection.


Six book reviews in the September 2004 issue of Notes and Records: M. Campbell–Kelly, M. Croarken, R. Flood and E. Robson (eds), The history of mathematical tables: from Sumer to spreadsheets. Kevin C. Knox and Richard Noakes (eds), From Newton to Hawking: a history of Cambridge University's Lucasian professors of mathematics. Patricia Fara, Pandora's breeches: women, science and power in the enlightenment. Maurice Crosland, Gay Lussac: scientist and bourgeois. John van Wyhe, Phrenology and the origins of Victorian scientific naturalism. Donald Cardwell, The development of science and technology in nineteenth–century Britain: the importance of Manchester (Edited by Richard L. Hills).


Past research has shown that the self-congruity effect (Sirgy, 1982) is an important key predictor for consumers' responses (e.g., attitude, purchase intention, choice, satisfaction, and loyalty) toward various marketing stimuli such as brand, store, and product (Barone, Shimp, and Sprott, 1999; Sirgy, Grewal, & Mangleburg, 2000). The self-congruity effect refers to the match between consumers' actual self-concept and the image of objects compared, such as brand image, product image, store image, and advertising materials (Choi & Rifon, 2012; Sirgy, Grewal, & Mangleburg, 2000). These relationships, however, have not been tested in the context of luxury brand products (Sirgy, 1982). Our purpose is to address this knowledge gap by investigating the relevancy of self-congruity theory to the purchase of luxury brands. In contrast to the long-standing self-congruity effect, we propose that actual self-incongruity and ideal self-congruity effects will work when consumers evaluate luxury fashion brands.A survey method was used to gather data. Data were collected through an online panel provided by E-rewards, a marketing research company located in the United States. A stratified sampling method was employed to obtain an evenly distributed number of participants from different income classes. The strata was identified by income. Three strata were developed: (1) more than $100,000; (2) $55,000 to less than $100,000; and (3) less than $55,000. The sample (n = 502, average age = 41) represented most demographic categories.We tested the influence of actual self-incongruity and ideal self-congruity on brand attitude, purchase intention, and perceived quality for 3 brands. Actual self-incongruity had a significant positive effect on brand attitude, whereas ideal self-congruity had a significant positive effect on brand attitude, purchase intention, perceived quality. Overall, the results supported our main hypothesis. We conducted an additional analysis to examine the moderating role of income. Specifically, for brand attitude, the influence of actual self-incongruity was significantly positive only for the low-income group. The influence of ideal self-congruity was significantly positive only for the low- and middle-income groups. For purchase intention, the influence of ideal self-incongruity was significantly negative only for the low-income group, whereas the influence of ideal self-congruity was not significant for the middle- or high-income groups. Finally, for perceived quality, the influence of actual self- and ideal self-incongruity was significant only for the middle-income group, whereas that influence was not significant for the high-income group. This research contributes to the self-congruity effect in the context of luxury brands. Our results show the positive influence of ideal self-congruity and actual self-incongruity on the evaluation of luxury brand products. This is the first study identifying that actual self-congruity has a negative influence on the evaluation of brands in a luxury market context, as opposed to previous findings. Our results provide important implications to practitioners in planning their marketing communication strategies or consumer relationship management for luxury brand consumers.


Citation for published version (APA): Megson, I. L., Treweeke, A. T., Shaw, A., MacRury, S. M., Setford, S., Frias, J. P., & Anhalt, H. (2015). Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Cohort Study to Establish the Relationship Between Glucose Control and Plasma Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 9(3), 573-580. DOI: 10.1177/1932296815570359


Acute and chronic symptomatic anterior sternoclavicular (SC) dislocations are rare; various treatment options have been described. With the purpose of surveying current practices and opinions concerning treatment of these lesions, we sent a questionnaire to members of a general orthopaedic society, a national shoulder society and an international shoulder society. Closed reduction was attempted by 52% of the respondents, but > 80% of the surgeons stated that the reduction was not maintained in more than half of the dislocations. The procedure preferred by the respondents--explicitly by members of the international shoulder society--to deal with chronic symptomatic anterior SC dislocation, is reconstruction of the ligaments. Members of the international shoulder society are more likely to choose operative treatment for chronic symptomatic anterior SC dislocations.


Abstract 4497 Background: IM 400mg daily is the current standard of treatment of CP CML. Almost 70% of patients achieve complete cytogenetic response (CCR) at 12 months (mo) (IRIS Trial) and the rate of Major Molecular Response (MMR) is 40% with IM 400mg daily (TOPS Trial). On the other hand, low doses of Peg-IFN 2a has the same efficacy and lower toxicity profile and cost as high dose, mainly when it is combined with other drugs (MRC and Hovon groups, Blood 2004; 103:4408). Combination of IM + Peg-IFN 2a or Cytarabine could increase the rate of response in CML. Aims: To evaluate the rates of CCR and MMR at 12 mo in Mexican patients with newly-diagnosed CP-CML treated with IM versus IM + Peg-IFN 2a. Methods: Between 2006 and 2008, 10 patients were randomized 1:1 and stratified by Sokal and Hasford risk groups. Cytogenetic and Molecular assesments were available for all patients. In the arm A of the study IM 400 mg daily was delivered. In the Arm B IM + Peg-IFN 2a was delivered at 400 mg daily + 90 μ g per week respectively. Peg-IFN 2a was started in the 7 th week of treatment (Hochhaus A, et al ASCO 2003. Abstract #2287). Results: For this initial report, 10 patients were analyzed, median age was 35 years (25-55), 50% males; Sokal score was: low risk 70%, and high risk 30%. Hasford score was: low risk 40%, intermediate 30% and high risk 30%. All patients are alive with a median follow-up of 41 mo (30-48). CCR at 12 mo was obtained in 80% in both arms of treatment. MMR was obtained in 10% in patients with IM alone and 30% in patients with IM + Peg-IFN 2a. Overall the rate of primary resistance was 10% and the rate of suboptimal response was 10%. IM 400 mg was well tolerated. Peg-IFN 2a was tolerated in most patients, but needed discontinuation because increased cytopenias or other non hematologic toxicities. The median time of duration of treatment with Peg-IFN 2a was 6 mo (3-12). Conclusions: IM 400 mg and IM 400 mg + Peg-IFN 2a obtained similar rates of CCR. IM 400 mg + Peg-IFN 2a obtained a higher rate of MMR. The combination of IM 400 mg + Peg-IFN 2a is feasible. There is a slight increase in toxicity with this combination. Further follow-up is warranted for these patients. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


preferable to leave it to the attending physician to decide the best risk-benefit ratio for a given patient. I suspect that many patients would prefer the chance to respond to a lower dosage protocol. I agree with Dr. Enns that the estimation of the seizure threshold for a given patient using electrode placement and some demographic variables is likely very inaccurate. Unfortunately, the titration method to establish seizure threshold is almost as crude, unless very small increments in stimulus energy and multiple stimuli are used. Dr.Enns does not mention the energy of the initial titration stimulus used by his ervice. Therefore, it is difficult to comment on its potential accuracy, given the 50% increments used for the second stimulus. It is important to note that, if it is being used properly, the titration procedure requires initiation of treatment with a subthreshold stimulus such that all patients are exposed to at least two and often three stimuli. The administration of subconvulsive stimuli is not totally without risk, and the titration method itself probably adds little to routine clinical ECT practice. The inaccuracy and potential risks of the titration method are referenced in the above-noted correspondence. The level of uncertainty and debate in this area inspires further research. A report of the dosage strategy used by Dr. Enns and its clinical effectiveness would be a welcome addition to the debate.


Background Epigenetic mechanisms, including reversible acetylation and methylation of histones, play a pivotal role in regulating cellular inflammatory responses. Aberrant activity and expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) contributes to pathology in inflammatory lung diseases, and recent reports have suggested that HDAC activity is deregulated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and associates with synovial expression of inflammatory cytokines. Objectives To analyze potential associations of synovial protein acetylation and HDAC expression with RA patient disease activity and synovial expression of inflammatory mediators, and to characterize the effects of inflammatory stimulation on HDAC expression in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). Methods The study was performed on synovial tissue sections of 12 RA and 12 osteoarthritis (OA) patients undergoing joint replacement surgery, and 20 RA patients undergoing arthroscopy. Synovial protein acetylation and cellular composition of the synovial tissue was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and quantified by digital image analysis. mRNA expression of HDAC family members, TNFα, IL-6 and MMP-1 in the synovial tissue, and changes in mRNA levels of HDACs expressed in FLS were measured by quantitative PCR. Results Similar levels of acetylated lysine and acetylated H3 were detected in RA and osteoarthritis (OA) synovial tissue, while a modest reduction in H4 acetylation was observed in RA compared to OA (P=0.04). Total protein acetylation levels in the synovial tissue of 20 RA patients failed to correlate with clinical parameters and synovial T cell or FLS numbers. On the other hand, a strong positive association of acetylated lysine, acetylated H3, acetylated H4 and dimethylated H3 levels with synovial macrophage numbers was observed (R≥0.539, P<0.02). Synovial expression of TNFα and MMP-1 positively correlated with mRNA levels of HDAC1 (TNFα: R=0.651, P=0.003; MMP-1: R=0.502, P=0.029) and other Class I HDACs. A significant negative correlation was observed between HDAC5 expression and both RA patient disease activity (CRP: R= -0.664, P=0.007; ESR: R= -0.557, P=0.013; DAS28: R= -0.567, P=0.011) and synovial IL-6 expression (R= -0.477, P=0.039). mRNA expression of HDAC5 in RA FLS, but not other HDACs, was rapidly suppressed following IL-1β stimulation. Conclusions This study provides several novel findings regarding the relationship between HDAC-mediated epigenetic regulatory mechanisms and inflammation in RA. First, our data suggests that differences in HDAC expression or activity that might be present in RA synovial tissue are not sufficient to result in global changes in total protein or histone acetylation associated with disease activity. Second, cellular protein hyperacetylation represents a cell type-specific phenomenon characteristic for synovial macrophages in RA, not directly related to diagnosis or disease activity. Finally, we confirm previous studies suggesting that high synovial expression of Class I HDACs is associated with local expression of inflammatory mediators, but identify cytokine-mediated reduction of HDAC5 as a potential marker of systemic inflammatory processes. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


The concept of outsourcing has been addressed from different vantage points by various researchers. The ACM Job Migration Task Force analyzed the impact of outsourcing on jobs [1]. This report and others examining the impact of outsourcing on employment have received significant coverage in the press. Wiederhold et al [12] look at intellectual property and tax implications when a software company operates in multiple countries. This article takes an entirely different perspective. What are new computer-based techniques that can be employed to yield innovative solutions that can benefit both developed and developing environments? What is the long-term vision for conducting work in a global economy? Is there an end scenario for offshore outsourcing?


We have assessed the ability of several of the main groups of antiarrhythmic agents to modify the incidence of reperfusion-induced ventricular fibrillation in the isolated working rat heart preparation with transient coronary artery occlusion. Hearts were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit medium containing 5 microM epinephrine to provide some level of exogenous catecholamine support. Compounds selected were: the fast sodium channel inhibitors lignocaine (1 and 10 microM) and prenylamine (4 microM) (the latter also possessing slow calcium channel antagonistic actions); the beta-adrenergic blocking agents oxprenolol (1.2 microM), timolol (0.13 microM), metoprolol (1.0 microM), and acebutolol (5.6 microM); and the slow calcium channel antagonist nifedipine (0.05 and 0.5 microM). After 15 min of coronary artery occlusion, over 90% of control hearts fibrillated 30-60 sec after the onset of reperfusion. Drugs reduced this to the following: prenylamine, 0% (p less than 0.001); 1 microM lignocaine, 83%; 10 microM lignocaine, 33% (p less than 0.01); oxprenolol, 92% (NS); timolol, 92% (NS); metoprolol, 42% (p less than 0.01); acebutolol, 67% (p less than 0.05); 0.05 microM nifedipine, 83% (NS); and 0.5 microM nifedipine, 67% (NS). Thus, inhibition of the fast inward sodium channel with agents such as prenylamine and lignocaine, (when begun before coronary-artery occlusion) offers maximal protection against reperfusion-induced ventricular fibrillation, while beta-blockade with timolol and oxprenolol and slow calcium channel inhibition with nifedipine do not offer any significant protection. The beta-blocking agents metoprolol and acebutolol produce a partial reduction that may be due to a membrane-stabilizing action, rather than to beta-blockade.


SUMMARY With over one-half of all college students volunteering for community service activities and increasing numbers of colleges and universities moving towards a greater infusion of service-related learning experiences into the curriculum, it is important to understand the impact volunteerism has on those who serve. This paper presents the results of a qualitative study of the meaning and impact of volun-teerism as described by experienced college student volunteers in a Head Start-based Family Literacy Project. Volunteers reported benefits in the areas of self-knowledge, academics, and social awareness. Positive outcomes in the areas of personal growth, self-esteem, and personal efficacy were noted. Service and traditional academics were viewed as mutually enhancing learning strategies; volunteering gave coursework more meaning and what was learned in the classroom increased the volunteers' effectiveness in the community. Increased awareness of important social issues, greater appreciation for divers...


This study focuses on the contribution of annual glacier ice melt to streamflow along two rivers in two watersheds situated in the monsoon‐influenced part of the Nepal Himalaya (Trishuli and Dudh Kosi basins). We used a simple elevation‐dependent ice ablation model based on glacier areas from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) and IKONOS remote‐sensing data combined with hypsometry from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). Long‐term hydrologic measurements were used to calculate the percent contribution of the glacier ice melt component of the water balance to discharge at various elevations and distances from glacier outlets. Glacier ice melt was positively correlated with the basin glacierized area and contributed 58.3% to annual flow in the small Langtang Khola watershed in the Trishuli basin (43.5% glacierized area) and 21.2% in the Hinku watershed in Dudh Kosi basin (34.7% glacierized area). Of this, 17.7% and 4.1% of streamflow, respectively, was due to the contribution of debris‐covered glaciers in Langtang Khola and Hinku. The contribution of glacier ice melt to measured discharge decreased substantially toward lowland locations in both study sites, i.e., 9.5% of the streamflow measured at Betrawati (600 m) and 7.4% at Rabuwa Bazaar (470 m), about 50 km from glacier termini. Glacier ice melt contribution decreased to 4.5% of annual discharge further downstream in Trishuli basin (at 325 m, about 75 km from glacier termini). At low elevations, debris‐covered tongues contributed a small percent (1.1% and 3.0%) to measured discharge at Betrawati and Rabuwa Bazaar stations, respectively. We independently evaluated the ice ablation approach with synoptic sampling of stable water isotopes (δ18O and δD) collected during the post‐monsoon season to quantify the contribution of various sources of water to river flow. Mixing models showed groundwater to be an important component of river flow within only tens of kilometers of the glacier outlets in the post‐monsoon season.


Abstract #4002 Background: 30% of all breast cancer patients will be diagnosed with locally advanced disease in 2008. A complete assessment of the extended regional lymphatics of these patients is critical for accurate staging and treatment. We retrospectively evaluated our institution9s experience with the use of ultrasound of the extended regional lymphatics.
 Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all our patients who were treated for locally advanced breast cancer (T3/T4 or N2/N3) with radiation therapy between 1996 and 2006. Among Stage III patients treated with radiotherapy, 865/1200 had undergone ultrasound studies which included the extended regional nodal basins as part of their initial evaluation. These 865 patients are the study cohort for this analysis. Physical examination findings and mammography results were also reviewed for this subset of patients.
 Results: 37% of all patients (325/865) evaluated had additional disease beyond the breast and low axilla which was identified only by extended regional ultrasound. 90% of these patients (293/325) had pathologic evaluation of suspicious nodes during ultrasound and 91% of these abnormalities (266/293) were confirmed pathologically, usually by ultrasound guided FNA, resulting in an 82% pathologic confirmation rate. Compared to clinical examination, mammography and targeted breast ultrasound, extended regional nodal ultrasound identified previously undocumented infraclavicular disease in 32% of patients (275/865), supraclavicular disease in 16% of patients (140/865), and internal mammary chain disease in 11% of patients (98/865). While 72% of the patients with extra-axillary regional nodal involvement had T3 (94/325) or T4 (141/325) primary tumors, 28% of these patients had T1 or T2 lesions (90/325). Most commonly, regional ultrasound changed a patient9s N-stage from N1 to N3 disease. In the T1-T2 cohort, there was a shift from N1 to N3 disease in 22% of patients, with an equal shift from N2 to N3 disease. For T3 patients, 13% had a change from N1 to N3 disease, and 7% converted from N2 to N3 disease. 13% of T4 patients went from N1 to N3 disease, 11% from N2 to N3 disease. When assessing stage, it was observed that all the patients found to have N3 disease (37%) in this cohort of locally advanced breast cancers would have been understaged without the use of regional ultrasound evaluation. All patients with involvement of the extra-axillary regional nodal received a radiation boost to the involved areas. Thus at least 37% of the patients with advanced breast cancer had their radiation therapy altered by information garnered from sonography.
 Conclusions: Evaluation of the extended regional lymphatics in patients with locally advanced breast cancer reveals abnormalities beyond the axilla in 37% of patients, including the infraclavicular, internal mammary and supraclavicular regions. Disease in these sites is historically under-appreciated resulting in incorrect staging and possibly in undertreatment with locoregional modalities. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 4002.


Foraging is establishing itself as a powerful way of studying visual search in humans. Cognitive abilities related to foraging and visual search in general include feature search ability, feature integration ability, metacognition and executive functions (EF's) such as working memory (WM), inhibition and attentional flexibility. While the role of some of these abilities in visual search has been established, little is known about the relationship between EFsubcomponents and foraging. The primary goal of the current study was to determine to what degree two facets of working memory, object-based and location-based WM, play a role in foraging performance. A second goal was to clarify the role of inhibition in foraging, not least to verify whether it would remain insignificant as seen in previous studies. Eighteen individuals aged between 21 and 33 (M = 24.4, SD = 2.7) were tested on a foraging task along with three tasks measuring object-based WM, location-based WM and inhibition, respectively. The results indicate that object-based WM and location-based WM jointly account for a considerable proportion of variance in foraging performance. The role of each of the WM components differs depending on the foraging condition and variables in question. As seen in previous research, inhibition does not seem to contribute to foraging performance. The implications of these results are discussed.


High tumor interstitial fluid pressure (TIFP) is a characteristic of most solid tumors. TIFP may hamper adequate uptake of macromolecular therapeutics in tumor tissue. In addition, TIFP generates mechanical forces affecting the tumor cortex, which might influence the growth parameters of tumor cells. This seems likely as, in other tissues (namely, blood vessels or the skin), mechanical stretch is known to trigger proliferation. Therefore, we hypothesize that TIFP-induced stretch modulates proliferation-associated parameters. Solid epithelial tumors (A431 and A549) were grown in Naval Medical Research Institute nude mice, generating a TIFP of about 10 mm Hg (A431) or 5 mm Hg (A549). Tumor drainage of the central cystic area led to a rapid decline of TIFP, together with visible relaxation of the tumor cortex. It was found by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis that TIFP lowering yields a decreased phosphorylation of proliferation-associated p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase and tumor relaxation. In confirmation, immunohistochemical staining showed a decrease of tumor-associated proliferation marker Ki-67 after TIFP lowering. These data suggest that the mechanical stretch induced by TIFP is a positive modulator of tumor proliferation.


For pt I see ibid. In anonymous networks, the processors do not have identity numbers. In Part I of this paper, we characterized the classes of networks on which some representative distributed computation problems are solvable under different conditions. A new graph property called symmetricity played a central role in our analysis of anonymous networks. In Part II, we turn our attention to the computational complexity issues. We first discuss the complexity of determining the symmetricity of a given graph, and then that of testing membership in each of the 16 classes of anonymous networks defined in Part I. It turns out that, depending on the class, the complexity varies from P-time to NP-complete or co-NP-complete.


We propose a MultiScale AutoEncoder (MSAE) based extreme image compression framework to offer visually pleasing reconstruction at a very low bitrate. Our method leverages the "priors" at different resolution scale to improve the compression efficiency, and also employs the generative adversarial network (GAN) with multiscale discriminators to perform the end-to-end trainable rate-distortion optimization. We compare the perceptual quality of our reconstructions with traditional compression algorithms using High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) based Intra Profile and JPEG2000 on the public Cityscapes and ADE20K datasets, demonstrating the significant subjective quality improvement.


This paper presents an extensive literature review of Hospital Information System (HIS) in public hospital in Malaysia. This paper aims to deliver information (guideline) about the importance and benefits of HIS so that can help government to enhance the standard of healthcare quality. Accordingly, the Malaysian Government Ministry of Health (MoH) has presented three groups of HIS such as Basic Hospital Information System (BHIS), Intermediate Hospital Information System (IHIS), and Total Hospital Information System (THIS) amongst Malaysian government owned (public) hospitals. In Malaysia, there are 138 public hospitals but at this time only 21 hospitals implementing HIS. In this paper, researcher explains the three groups of HIS (THIS, BHIS, IHIS), the benefits, the challenges, the frameworks, also the current issues of HIS.


The purpose of the study was to determine whether the leadership style perception is associated with auditors' communication behavior for information gathering activities. Questionnaire data were collected from 195 Taiwanese auditors with at least one year of audit experience. As proposed, the study indicates that CPA firms' leadership style would have a significant effect on auditors' communication behavior for exchanging and gathering information. According to the LISREL analysis, leaders in the participating Taiwan CPA firms tend to adopt initiating leadership style that concurs with the perception that CPA firms are formalized and structured. This initiating leadership style helps auditors' communication behavior in information accuracy and satisfaction with supervisors.  However, initiating leadership style has a negative effect on boundary spanning.  It is the suggestion of the study that leaders in the CPA firms might want to encourage their auditors to engage more in boundary spanning activities for a better decision quality.


The main question to ask himself when preparing to write an article is "why publish a scientific paper?" First of all to publish an own article qualifies his author - or authors - as "scientist". Because the surgery is a mixture of art and knowledge, which coexist and interreact mutually increasing each other, scientific publications are the world where ideas are shared. Secondly, to an academic career is essential to be Author of scientific publications; but also for those who follow an hospital career or simply exercise the surgical profession in other contexts it represents the opportunity to communicate their experience and give a personal contribution to the knowledge of the art. The commitment of the academic world in particular must also stimulate new generations to pursue not only technical skills but at the same time updating their knowledge, and its members must also take on the role of researchers. The dissemination of ideas in the scientific community is a milestone for progress, because if they are not shared their concrete value is fleeting, and professional surgical activity value is itself transient and ephemeral, while the written documentation very often goes beyond the time, but certainly beyond space, stably transmitting ideas: "scripta manent". To write a "paper" - as a scientific publication is conventionally and internationally named - requires compliance with specific rules, which make it suitable to diffusion and well used by the readers. These appropriate rules are stated in the similar although variable "Guidelines for the Authors" set by the editors of most scientific journals - as also of Annali Italiani di Chirurgia - on the common purpose of making clear, comprehensive and concise the exposure of the study that is the motivation of the publication. The printed papers - as well the more recent on-line publications in digital format - use a very different language from that spoken in conferences and in verbal communications. Exemplary is the form of presentation used in the best "papers" of British tradition, where every effort is aimed at the clarity and brevity, for definite, consequential and well understood conclusions. Beyond any residual national pride, in the scientific world that has been globalized well earlier than other sectors of civil life, it is not a surrendering to a foreign tradition to conform oneself to the British model when writing a paper - and not simply adopting the English language - with the certainty to better achieve the brevity, clarity and concreteness of an exhaustive communication. "Be brief and you'll be good" - this is a suggestion always of great value to overcome the congestion and convulsions of our times. Furthermore in following the rules suggested by the "Guidelines for Authors" in writing a paper gives the Author the adjunctive advantage of a preventive and autonomous checking the validity and interest of the article as for premises, objectivity and reality of conclusions, and therefore vehicle of at least of one clear element of knowledge and progress, although possibly and despite of a "niche" argument. A paper is much more effective as more focused on a well-defined theme and as such more easily understood and its conclusions more easily assimilated. Therefore in the formal preparation of a paper, the critical sense must develop itself and grow, added to the vocation of following and attain the curiosity of knowledge typical of surgery, but following the typical procedure of the medical profession in the approaching march to the diagnosis, and then to the identification of the correct therapeutic indications which must take into account individual patient characteristics. As the very technical skill in performing the therapy chosen and agreed with the patient, completion of the professional duties, must not leave aside a constant exercise of criticism and self-criticism at every stage of the profession, similarly this same critical sense is also necessary in the preparation of a scientific paper to transmit a concrete, valid and original scientific contribution. It is useful to keep in mind that, as any student knows and does perhaps unconsciously, those who read an article do not follow the order in which it is printed, but having considered the catchy title go directly to review the conclusions. If still interested, they go on to the Abstract or to Summary, and only at this point if intrigued they read the Introduction, and then the material and method of study with their results, and finally the discussion, and to the end they read anew the Conclusions. However, in the formal drafting of a paper one has to remember this very likely sequence in reading an article and adapt accordingly: first put into focus the conclusions, which in fact are the reason of the publication. Therefore this must lead us to give up writing an article such as a report or a conference, and to conform attentively to the Anglo-Saxon model of presentation of a paper. A last point concerns the language of the presentation of a paper. Using own native language, in our case Italian, it is easy to the precise in language and is facilitated the communication of concepts, but that restricts the communication to own linguistics environment, whereas all scientific knowledge and the surgical one in particular, in accordance as stated by the motto of the International Society of Surgery "La Science n'a pas de Patrie", needs no linguistic boundaries. We should not feel therefore humiliated and colonized in adopting the English language in publishing our papers, because it has become the language of science globally adopted, indeed we must consider positively this choice for formal and substantial reasons. Formally the use of English forces ourselves to conform to a language traditionally pragmatic, schematic and synthetic typical of the Anglo-Saxon world, so renouncing to the usual subordinate phrases of Italian language, that may result contrary to its ingenuous purpose, making instead less clear and more foggy the concepts. This achieves in the meantime the advantage of a better and more schematic final clarity. We must take in mind from the very beginning the final concept you want to express with every sentence, and take it in the highest account. From a substantial point of view the adoption of English opens at the best the entire scientific world to all cultural contributions, no longer limited to the national linguistic areas, that now, in the globalized world of knowledge remains provincial even though vector of undisputed professional value and experience of Italian surgery. Any possible inadequacies of the used English language - that should be carefully avoided in terms of syntactic and orthographic rules, with the eventual help of a native language fellow - can anyways be accepted within certain limits as the price of a globalization of the diffusing knowledge, become even more evident by the introduction of digital editions. A special case is given by the publication of experiences derived from individual case reports. Clearly it is evident the impulse to disclose one's own individual experience, or because of its rare occurrence, or on the enthusiastic wave of a diagnosis successfully completed or because of the own satisfaction in choosing and performing an effective treatment successfully achieved thank to a surgical technique exceptional or of particularly difficulty. One can, however, make the mistake of aiming to publish "a case report" simply to show off one's skills and personal professional value. It is a short-sighted goal that gives the author an ephemeral satisfaction, but it will almost inevitably penalizated in the judgment of colleagues who read it. For psychological reasons it is difficult for someone to cheer the professional success of a not related fellow, and therefore it is advisable to refrain from this type of publication, which is a waste of time not very profitable, both to the one's reputation and for the likely rejection by the most accredited scientific journals. The publication of a case report must follow the same rules set for a "genuine article", with the difference that in the introduction has to be immediately highlighted the particularity of the experience, possibly framing it in common knowledge. The presentation of the clinical and strategic aspects is the result of a careful reflection on the surgical experience lived, because its exposure has to be very different from an extemporaneous oral presentation, which is by nature open to a free immediate confrontation in oral discussions that follow.


In analogy to higher plants, eukaryotic microalgae are thought to be incapable of utilizing green light for growth, due to the "green gap" in the absorbance profiles of their photosynthetic pigments. This study demonstrates, that the marine chlorophyte Picochlorum sp. is able to grow efficiently under green light emitting diode (LED) illumination. Picochlorum sp. growth and pigment profiles under blue, red, green and white LED illumination (light intensity: 50–200 μmol m−2 s−1) in bottom-lightened shake flask cultures were evaluated. Green light-treated cultures showed a prolonged initial growth lag phase of one to 2 days, which was subsequently compensated to obtain comparable biomass yields to red and white light controls (approx. 0.8 gDW L−1). Interestingly, growth and final biomass yields of the green light-treated sample were higher than under blue light with equivalent illumination energies. Further, pigment analysis indicated, that during green light illumination, Picochlorum sp. formed unknown pigments (X1-X4). Pigment concentrations increased with illumination intensity and were most abundant during the exponential growth phase. Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance data indicated, that pigments X1-X2 and X3-X4 are derivatives of chlorophyll b and a, which harbor C=C bonds in the phytol side chain similar to geranylgeranylated chlorophylls. Thus, for the first time, the natural accumulation of large pools (approx. 12 mg gDW −1) of chlorophyll intermediates with incomplete hydrogenation of their phytyl chains is demonstrated for algae under monochromatic green light (Peak λ 510 nm, full width at half maximum 91 nm). The ability to utilize green light offers competitive advantages for enhancing biomass production, particularly under conditions of dense cultures, long light pathways and high light intensity. Green light acclimation for an eukaryotic microalgae in conjunction with the formation of new aberrant geranylgeranylated chlorophylls and high efficiency of growth rates are novel for eukaryotic microalgae. Illumination with green light could enhance productivity in industrial processes and trigger the formation of new metabolites–thus, underlying mechanisms require further investigation.


Solid tumors can be ablated with minimal invasiveness using radio-frequency (RF) heating under guidance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To analyze the thermal damage in tissue produced under different input power and RF probe conditions, we developed a bio-heat model of the three dimensional (3D) temperature distribution dynamics in tissue. In this model, the tissue temperature was increased by RF heating, decreased by perfusion, and distributed by heat conduction. Furthermore, we associated a probability model that relates perfusion to thermal damage locally. Thermal damage (and blood coagulation) was determined by the temperature history at each position in the tissue. During the ablation process, the local perfusion begins to decrease when the temperature rises above 43/spl deg/C. Our model of thermal damage includes the probability of cell death and recovery from damage. The rate coefficients of this model depend on the local temperature history. The aim of this model was to predict when tumor cells in a local region are truly dead rather than simply damaged. This tissue-damage model provides a fundamental basis for quantifying changes in the perfusion coefficient of the bio-heat equation. We compare model predictions with MR lesion images repeatedly over time when ablation ceases as well as with histological tissue studies.


This paper challenges the conventional wisdom that team members' objective distance (e.g., measured in miles) translates directly and fully into subjective distance (i.e., a team's perception of distance between its members). We have build on social information processing theory and argue that team members' reactions to workplace stimuli such as 'dispersion' are more influenced by their perceptions of these stimuli than merely by their physical properties. Using responses from 678 team leaders and team members pertaining to 161 new product development projects in the software industry, our results show that the subjective perception of distance is affected rather by team members' national diversity than their physical distance. In alignment with this theory's presumptions, we find that team members' perceptions of distance do not primarily stem from the extent of their objective distance. Instead, subjective distance emanates from a more complex and socially based construction of reality which we find to be significantly affected by team members' national heterogeneity. In further support of social information processing theory, our analyses reveal that subjective distance as a psychological state is more predictive of social and task-related team processes than spatio-temporal distance or any form of configurational distance.


Dear Editor: As a competitor in the sport of gymnastics, an assistant coach for a private gymnastic club, and an instructor for an elementary public school, I was pleased to read an article that showed an interest for the sport. The authors realized that there is an increase in popularity in the sport of women's gymnastics. This tremendous increase in popularity of this hazardous sport will eventually lead to an increase in the number of injuries within the competitors (elite, advanced, and intermediate) level and within the increasing number of beginners. The researchers' goals were to elaborate their findings and to confront the coaches and physicians in order to provide safety in preventing possible injury rate among their athletes. Even though the authors found a strong correlation between the duration of workout in the gym and the number of injuries sustained from the fatigue, I must comment on the fact that I feel that an experienced gymnast (such as in the advanced or elite level) is very well physically conditioned and well trained to endure the duration of workout


Background: Research studies rely on accurate assessment of entry criteria in order to maintain study integrity and participant safety, however, challenges can exist with HIV studies in international settings. Objective: Examine the unexpectedly high proportion of study participants with an undetectable HIV viral load found in Ugandan and Russian research cohorts meeting antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve entry criteria. Methods: Russian participants with documented HIV and ART-naïve status were recruited between 2012 and 2015 from clinical and non-clinical sites in St. Petersburg. Participants in Uganda were recruited from Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital from 2011 to 2014 with documented HIV infection via rapid diagnostic testing and recorded ART-naïve in the clinic database. HIV viral load testing of baseline samples was performed; the lower limit of detection was 500 copies/mL in Russia and 40 in Uganda. Due to an unexpectedly high proportion of participants with undetectable viremia, additional tests were performed: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay HIV testing and testing for ART. Results: In Russia, 16% (58/360) had undetectable viremia; 3% (9/360) re-tested HIV-seronegative and 4% (13/360) tested positive for ART. In Uganda 11% (55/482) had undetectable viremia; 5% (26/482) re-tested HIV-seronegative, while <1% (4/482) tested positive for ART. Conclusions: In both Russia & Uganda, undetectable viremia was much higher than would be expected for an HIV-infected ART-naïve cohort. Misclassification of study participants was due to misdiagnosis of HIV with rapid diagnostic testing and inaccurate accounting of ART use. Confirmatory HIV testing could improve accuracy of participants meeting entry criteria for HIV infection as might increased scrutiny of medication use in an ART-naïve cohort.


In the previous paper, it was recognized that the poor growth of onion which followed cabbage was always accompanied with the poor absorption of phosphorus which seemed to be due to the stronger acidity resulting mainly from the heavy application of ammonium sulfate for cabbage cropping, In this report the authors describe the results of several investigations which have been executed to meet this situation as well as to ascertain our sup-position. The results obtained can be summarized as follows. 1) To get enough yield of onion, basic application of a large amount of water soluble phosphorus (as superphosphate) was required overall in this area and it was especially so when it followed cabbage. For example, to get yield over 20 tons per acre, no more than 200 to 300 pounds of phosphorus per acre for the onion following barley and much more than 400 to 500 pounds of phosphorus per acre for the onion following cabbage was required respec-tively, while without phosphorus application almost no yield could be obtained in both cases. The differ-ence of onion yields due to the kind of preceding crop, therefore, was most pronounced when 100 to 200 pounds of phosphorus per acre was applied, which is the most common practice in this area. To increase onion yield overall in this area and especially in the cases following cabbage, basic ap-plication of phosphorus as much as 500 pounds per acre was most effective and in addition controlling of soil acidity with lime or dolomite and application of increased potassium were also desirable in strongly acid soils. 2) A wide variation in onion yields was observed also in the area where onions had been grown suc-cessively year after year. The survey carried out in this area indicated that the yield of onion had the highest correlation with y1 value of the soil and succeedingly high correlation with pH (H2O), pH (KCl) and base saturation percentage in this order, while with 0.002N sulfuric acid extractable phos-phorus or exchangeable potassium no correlation could be found. 3) In the experiment field of our station onion was shown to be more sensitive to high soil acidity than cabbage. At soil reaction about pH 5. 2, the growth of onion was remarkably inferior to that of cabbage and at pH 4.2 almost no growth could be seen, while cabbage showed considerable growth 70 to 80% as much as at pH 6.2. 4) Among several properties of acid soil which influence on the plant growth, aluminum toxicity to which onion was thought to be especially sensitive and the influence of high concentrations of hydrogen ion were investigated by water culture method with onion and cabbage comparatively. The data showed that at 1 ppm aluminum the growth of onion as well as of cabbage was inhibited equally and to high concentrations of hydrogen ion cabbage was more sensitive than onion, though more precise investigations are necessary for this kind of comparison. 5) Besides the poor growth of onion which fol I-owed cabbage, abnormal growth of cabbage itself had become to be seen especially in the area where cabbage had been grown successively. Some of the distinctive features of this abnorma-ity, for example, the hooking and the development of thin and water soaked areas of light brown color around the margins of headed leaves and the dis-tortion, undulation and browning of tips of older leaves were quite similar to some of calcium defi-ciency symptoms induced in our laboratory by exclud-ing calcium supply in the middle stage of growth. In spite of this resemblance, however, there remains some possibility of boron or magnesium deficiency and much work should be done in order to evaluate this abnormality and further the possibility of its participation on the inferior growth of onion following cabbage.


Increasing evidence suggests that the novel anti-inflammatory and proresolving mediators such as the resolvins play an important role during inflammation. However, the functions of these lipid mediators in immune complex–induced lung injury remain unknown. In this study, we determined the role of aspirin-triggered resolvin D1 (AT-RvD1) and its metabolically stable analog, 17R-hydroxy-19-para-fluorophenoxy-resolvin D1 methyl ester (p-RvD1), in IgG immune complex–induced inflammatory responses in myeloid cells and injury in the lung. We show that lung vascular permeability in the AT-RvD1– or p-RvD1–treated mice was significantly reduced when compared with values in mice receiving control vesicle during the injury. Furthermore, i.v. administration of either AT-RvD1 or p-RvD1 caused significant decreases in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid contents of neutrophils, inflammatory cytokines, and chemokines. Of interest, AT-RvD1 or p-RvD1 significantly reduced bronchoalveolar lavage fluid complement C5a level. By EMSA, we demonstrate that IgG immune complex–induced activation of NF-κB and C/EBPβ transcription factors in the lung was significantly inhibited by AT-RvD1 and p-RvD1. Moreover, AT-RvD1 dramatically mitigates IgG immune complex–induced NF-κB and C/EBP activity in alveolar macrophages. Also, secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, keratinocyte cell–derived chemokine, and MIP-1α from IgG immune complex–stimulated alveolar macrophages or neutrophils was significantly decreased by AT-RvD1. These results suggest a new approach to the blocking of immune complex–induced inflammation.


The wine sector is a billion euro business and therefore subjected to multiple attempts of fraudulent practices. This requires the development of rapid and reliable methods to detect such situations. Several methodologies have been developed based on the chemical profiles of the wines, but they are limited due to the environmental conditions that cannot be controlled. The use of DNA-based detection systems are an emergent research field that have been extended to a wide variety of food prod- ucts and are still the most reliable methods for varietal identification. However these methods are not suitable for geographical determination. Soil related fingerprints have a primary role considering that there is a relationship between the elemental compo- sition of wine and the composition of the provenance soil. WineBioCode is a project aiming to define the best strategy for wine authenticity based on a multidisciplinary approach. Two DNA-based strategies have been developed based on Real-time PCR and a label free optical biosensor platform. Both platforms enabled successful identification of specific DNA-targets when applied to Vitis vinifera L., and can be applied throughout the grape-wine chain. The methods are complementary and can be used in dif- ferent situations, according to the requirements. The geographical evaluation has been assessed by the strontium 87 Sr/86 Sr isotope ratio determination involving soil evaluation in the vineyards followed by its assay in the wine samples. The results are being integrated in order to establish the best procedure to be undertaken for wine fingerprinting, including varietal composition and geographical origin, therefore fulfilling the requirements of the geographical denominations in wine certification.


During the international campaign of the European program Dynamics-Aerosol-Chemistry-Cloud Interactions in West Africa (DACCIWA), investigating the relationship between weather, climate and air pollution in southern West Africa, a mini backscatter lidar was embedded on the French research aircraft (ATR42) of the Service des Avions Francais Instrumentes pour la Recherche en Environnement (SAFIRE). This implementation was made possible thanks to the support of the Centre National d'Etude Spatial (CNES), with the aim of assessing the relative relevance of airborne or spaceborne (e.g. Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations, CALIPSO) remote sensing instruments. The lidar complemented the various in-situ observations carried out on the plane, by identifying the aerosol layers in the atmospheric column below the aircraft, and bringing strong constraints for the validation of other measurements. The field campaign took place from 27 to 16 July 2016 from Lome, Togo. The aircraft conducted flights between 1 km and 5 km above the mean sea level (amsl), allowing the coupling of in situ and remote sensing data to assess the properties of the aerosol layers. Aerosol plumes of different origins were identified using the coupling between the lidar cross-polarized channels, satellite observations and a set of back trajectories analyses. During several flights, depolarizing aerosol layers from the northeast were observed between 2.5 and 4 km amsl, which highlight the significant contribution of dust-like particles to the aerosol load in the coastal region. Conversely, air masses originating from the east-southeast were loaded with a mixing of biomass burning and pollution aerosols. The former originated from Central Africa and the latter from human activities in and around large cities (Lome). The flight sampling strategy and related lidar investigations will be presented and discussed.


The intent of this article is to consider the same issue in a longer, historic context (1919-69). 1-lave monetary influences dominated economic activity in periods when financial and institutional factors were substantially different, as in the 1920's, and when the general trend of economic activity was largely depressed, as in the 1930's? The results presented in this article indicate that monetary influences have dominated fiscal influences on economic activity in all subperiods considered, with the single exception of the years covering World War II. This article also presents evidence that the movements in the money stock have been dominated by the behavior of the monetary authorities and not by the behavior of the public.


Data repositories can support secure data management for multi-institutional and geographically dispersed research teams. Primarily designed to provide secure access, storage, and sharing of quantitative data, limited focus has been given to the unique considerations of data repositories for qualitative research. We share our experiences of using a data repository in a large qualitative nursing research study. Over a 27-month period, data collected by this 15-member team from 83 participants included photos, audio recordings and transcripts of interviews, and field notes. The data repository supported the secure collection, storage, and management of over 1,800 files with data. However, challenges were introduced during analysis that required negotiations about the structure and processes of the data repository. We discuss strengths and limitations of data repositories, and introduce practical strategies for developing a data management plan for qualitative research, which is supported through a data repository.


BRAF alterations, including V600E and non‐V600E mutations and fusions, in soft tissue sarcoma (STS) have been identified in a limited case series. Here, we aimed to evaluate the frequency of BRAF mutations and concurrent alterations in STS to understand their therapeutic action. In this retrospective analysis, we included data from 1964 patients with advanced STS who underwent comprehensive genomic profiling tests at hospitals in Japan between June 2019 and March 2023. The prevalence of BRAF and recurrent concurrent gene alterations were also investigated. BRAF mutations were detected in 24 (1.2%) of 1964 STS patients, with a median age of 47 (range 1–69) years. BRAF V600E was detected in 11 (0.6%) of the 1964 patients with STS, BRAF non‐V600E mutations in 9 (4.6%), and BRAF fusions were detected in 4 (0.2%). BRAF V600E was identified in 4 (0.2%) cases of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. The most common concurrent alteration was CDKN2A (11 cases, 45.8%), and the frequency was equivalent to that of the BRAF V600E (5/11 cases, 45.5%) and non‐V600E (5/9 cases, 55.6%) groups. Recurrent concurrent alterations, such as TERT promoter mutations (7 cases, 29.2%), were detected at the same frequency in the V600E and non‐V600E groups. In contrast, TP53 alterations (4/9 cases, 44.4%) and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK)‐activating genes, including NF1, GNAQ, and GNA11 (3/9 cases, 33.3%), were identified as relatively higher in the non‐V600E group than in the V600E group (each 1/11 case, 9.1%). We identified BRAF alterations at a rate of 1.2% in all patients with advanced STS. Among them, BRAF V600E and BRAF fusions account for 45.8% and 16.7%, respectively. Collectively, our findings support the clinical characteristics and therapeutic strategies for patients with BRAF‐altered advanced STS.


A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken in Shimul Memorial North-South School Laxmipur Branch, Rajshahi. Among the children aged under five years with premature or early tooth loss or shedding. In order to find out the relationship between early shedding of deciduous teeth and selected dental conditions like dental caries, dental trauma, etc., and socioeconomic background.  In this study, out of 110 children, 61 (55.5%) were male, and 49 (44.5%) were female. It was observed that the highest number of children, 109 (99.1%), were Muslim and 1 (0.9%) was Hindu. Among all the parents of children, 6 (5.5%) were educated up to primary level, and 33(30%) were masters and above. Regarding monthly family income, 2 (1.8%) had Tk. 5000-8000 and 15 (13.6%) parents had Tk. 15000-18000. The majority (66.4%) of the children under study were found to clean teeth only once daily. Tooth cleaning by toothbrush & paste and frequency was once daily73 (66.4%). Children liked more sugar-containing food 89 (80.9%) and used to take milk at bedtime (42.7%). The majority of the respondents had intake carbohydrate 91 (82.7%) containing food and the majority of the respondents, 61 (65.5%), had dental caries.  A significant association was found between dental carries and shedding of deciduous teeth, but no association was found between sugar- containing food and shedding of teeth.
TAJ 2021; 34: No-1: 97-105


We investigated the response of ant species to landscape and geomorphologic parameters of a long‐term (7–11 years) restoration project in the Jequitinhonha River (Northern State of Minas Gerais, Brazil) margins, previously dredged by a diamond mining company. Geomorphological changes from the dredging were severe and the area is unlikely to be adequately restored, mainly due to the negative effects of flooding. Our hypothesis is that ant species assemblages bioindicate successional stages and soil characteristics. We studied the association of effects from the river's flooding zone, the native vegetation, and sedimentary grain size with that of ant species diversity, abundance, and composition. An ant sampling program was conducted in April 2005, using three methods: baits, pitfall traps, and direct collection. Grain size was measured by sieving. In total, 10,784 ants were sampled, belonging to 7 subfamilies, 24 genera and 45 morphospecies. Ant species richness was greater in the undisturbed savanna area than in the restored habitats, and equivalently greater in the ecotone and intermediate zone habitats than on the river bank, the poorest habitat. Atta sexdens rubropilosa indicated a condition related to small forest remnants having well‐structured soil. On the other hand, ants with a body length of under 0.5 cm (Dorymyrmex pyramicus and Pheidole fallax) predominated in sandy areas, where the majority of the granules were the finest. The lack of organic matter and soil structure for constructing suitable nests may prevent large ants from colonizing such areas, and thus inhibit the advance of natural succession.


The evidence that protein S6 of rat liver ribosomes is involved in P-site functions and that this protein is the main target of the small subunit for in vivo phosphorylation suggests that S6 phosphorylation may contribute to the regulation of protein synthesis. Therefore, we have studied the activity of small ribosomal subunits with unphosphorylated and phosphorylated protein S6 in Met-tRNAf binding. The results described in this paper show that at least under in vitro conditions S6 phosphorylation does obviously not influence the activity of small ribosomal subunits for eIF-2 dependent binding of initiator-tRNA.


A breadboard optical bench for SMART-2 has been designed and set up using preliminary optics and mounting techniques. A feature of the design is its relative insensitivity to laser frequency noise, achieved by closely matching the arm lengths of the main measurement interferometer. The design also introduces the use of an auxiliary unequal arm length interferometer to measure laser frequency fluctuations. Hydroxy-catalysis bonding has been investigated as a possible method for attaching optics of different materials to a low thermal expansion base plate. Bonds involving combinations of ULE, Zerodur and fused silica have been successfully tested for its reliability under vibration and thermal cycling. A phasemeter based on a programmable logic device has been developed. The phasemeter communicates through a standard PC bus and is software-controlled. The general principle of operation and its implementation are described. At a signal frequency of 10 kHz the phasemeter has been demonstrated to have a noise level of less than 10−6 cycles Hz−1/2 for frequencies down to 1 mHz.


This paper shows results of a study on the corrosion behavior of micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coatings sampled from the AlMg6 alloy. The alloy was simultaneously subjected to a corrosive environment and static tensile stress. For comparative purposes, the tests were run for both coated samples and samples without coatings. The research was conducted at a properly prepared stand; the samples were placed in a glass container filled with 3.5% NaCl aqueous solution and stretched. Two levels of tensile stress were accepted for the samples: σ1 = 0.8R0.2 σ2 = R0.2, and the tests were run for two time intervals: t1 = 480 h and t2 = 1000 h. Prolonged stress corrosion tests (lasting up to 1000 h) showed that the samples covered with ceramic coatings demonstrated significantly higher corrosion resistance than the samples without the coatings. Protective properties of the coating could be explained by its structure. Surface pores were insignificant, and their depth was very limited. The porosity level of the main coating layer was 1%. Such a structure of coating and its phase composition provided high protective properties.


The effects of supply-induced frequency variations on single-ended tuning <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$LC$ </tex-math></inline-formula> voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) which degrade the jitter performance of the clock are investigated. The first-order impact on the supply sensitivity is that the varactor's effective capacitance varies with the supply voltage, with other second-order impacts attributed to commonly used capacitive bank and cross-coupled pairs. A compensation technique based on complementary varactors to improve the supply sensitivity of single-ended tuning <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$LC$ </tex-math></inline-formula> VCO is proposed with no extra power dissipation, nor phase noise degradation within the relative frequency band of interest, along with the discussion on the operating principle of the compensation technique. Both the NMOS cross-coupled and complementary cross-coupled <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$LC$ </tex-math></inline-formula> VCOs have been designed, demonstrating robust supply-insensitive performance over process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations. Prototyped oscillators were fabricated in a 0.18-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu {\mathrm{ m}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> CMOS process to verify both the theoretical analysis and the effectiveness of the proposed technique. Measurement results show that the compensated topologies exhibit more than 93% reduction in periodic jitter versus the noncompensated counterparts, with the figures of merit (FoMs) among the best compared with previous supply insensitive works.


This paper attempts to operationalize and measure firm‐specific capabilities using an extant conceptualization in the resource‐based view (RBV) literature. Capabilities are conceived as the efficiency with which a firm employs a given set of resources (inputs) at its disposal to achieve certain objectives (outputs). We expand on extant theoretical literature on relative capabilities, by delineating the conditions that have to be met for relative capabilities to be measured non‐tautologically. We then proceed to suggest an estimation methodology, stochastic frontier estimation (SFE), that allows us to infer firm capabilities. We illustrate this technique with a sample of firms in the semiconductor industry. Our findings underscore the heterogeneity in R& D capability across firms in this industry, as well as the persistence in these capabilities over time. We also find that the market rewards high R& D capability firms, in that they show the highest average values of Tobin's q. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


On the other hand the problem of the electromagnetic pollution has recently become an important theme of discussion for both scientific and media communities and it has often been faced with incomplete, where not wrong, knowledge of the phenomena involved. This is especially true while concerning with cellular networks where the most popular belief is that transmitting antenna produce the most of the electromagnetic radiation. RF Sounding will provide the user with the possibility of understanding the real behaviour of cellular communications in terms of RFs transmission power.


Objective: Placental pathology reflects the health condition of both mother and fetus during pregnancy, providing information about pathogenesis especially in adverse pregnancies, and may provide guidance on subsequent pregnancies. Description on the placental changes after long-term use of rivanol is lacking, and this evaluated the placental changes, with emphasis on the differential diagnosis from other primary placental lesions. Methods: A total of 85 placentas from rivanol induced abortion submitted to the Department of Pathology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from Januaury 2017 to October 2019 were reviewed; and 81 gestational-age-matched cases of spontaneous abortion or preterm delivery during the same period were also included as the control group. Diagnoses were based on the consensus statement of 2016 Amsterdam Placental Workshop Group. Statistical differences were analyzed by individual diagnostic terms. Results: The maternal age in rivanol group was (30.5±4.1) (range 22-41) years, compared with (30.9±4.3) (range 22-44) years in the control group. Gestational age was (23.2±3.5) (range 17-35) weeks and (23.3±2.8) (range 17-33) weeks in the rivanol and control groups. The incidence of chorioamnionitis in rivanol group was 91.8%, significantly higher than the control (63.0%, P<0.05); and there were more stage 1 (subchorionic) maternal response in rivanol than in the control (61.0% vs.28.6%, P<0.05) groups. In addition, acute deciduitis was also more common in rivanol group (27.1% vs. 13.6%, P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in fetal inflammatory responses (vasculitis of vessels in chorion plate and umbilical cord); maternal malperfusion (narrowing of intervillous space, increased intervillous fibrin deposition, decidual arteriopathy, villous infarction and retroplacental hematoma); and fetal malperfusion (villous stromal hemorrhage and avascular villi). Conclusions: The chemical chorioamnionitis caused by rivanol is characterized by maternal inflammatory response of low stage and high grade. The use of rivanol has no obvious impact on the fetal inflammatory response, maternal malperfusion and fetal malperfusion. Such morphologic changes may reflect the original placental lesions.


Teaching large classes remains a great challenge, primarily because it is difficult to attend to all the student needs in a timely manner. Automatic text summarization systems can be leveraged to summarize the student feedback, submitted immediately after each lecture, but it is left to be discovered what makes a good summary for student responses. In this work we explore a new methodology that effectively extracts summary phrases from the student responses. Each phrase is tagged with the number of students who raise the issue. The phrases are evaluated along two dimensions: with respect to text content, they should be informative and well-formed, measured by the ROUGE metric; additionally, they shall attend to the most pressing student needs, measured by a newly proposed metric. This work is enabled by a phrase-based annotation and highlighting scheme, which is new to the summarization task. The phrase-based framework allows us to summarize the student responses into a set of bullet points and present to the instructor promptly.


Mouse lemurs are the smallest of extant primates and are thought to resemble early primates in many ways. We provide histological descriptions of the major sensory nuclei of the dorsal thalamus and the superior colliculus (SC) of mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus). The dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus has the six layers typical of strepsirrhine primates, with matching pairs of magnocellular, parvocellular, and koniocellular layers, one of each pair for each eye. Unlike most primates, magnocellular and parvocellular layers exhibit only small differences in cell size. All layers express vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2), reflecting terminations of retinal inputs, and the expression of VGLUT2 is much less dense in the koniocellular layers. Parvalbumin is densely expressed in all layers, while SMI‐32 is densely expressed only in the magnocellular layers. The adjoining pulvinar complex has a posterior nucleus with strong VGLUT2 expression, reflecting terminations from the SC. The SC is laminated with dense expression of VGLUT2 in the upper superficial gray layer, reflecting terminations from the retina. The ventral (MGNv), medial, and dorsal divisions of the medial geniculate complex are only moderately differentiated, although patches of dense VGLUT2 expression are found along the outer border of MGNv. The ventroposterior nucleus has darkly stained cells in Nissl stained sections, and narrow septa separating patchy regions of dense VGLUT2 expression that likely represent different body parts. Overall, these structures resemble those in other strepsirrhine primates, although they are smaller, with the sensory nuclei appearing to occupy proportionately more of the dorsal thalamus than in larger primates.


The Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Intelligence (C4I) systems provide battlefield information for the commanders to make decisions, and to control the military forces to accomplish missions. These systems were based on static architectures to ensure high dependability, support for real-time constraints and were mission specific. However, these systems lacked the dynamic features provided by recent advances in information technology. C4I systems require that both the feature sets of static and dynamic approaches be made available to ensure dependability, real-time support, facilitating reusability and interoperability. Web Services based on the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is the most popular middleware used in Enterprises today. Another middleware which is becoming popular is Data Distribution Service (DDS) based on Data-Centric Publish Subscribe Infrastructure. Recent advances in both the approaches have made them competitive for implementation in C4I systems for integrating its elements. Both the approaches need to be evaluated considering the system requirements of military communications. This paper carries out a comparative study of the two middleware solutions for integrating C4I system of a weapon system deployed in modern battlefields. In this paper, we present possible solutions and remaining challenges on the way towards realizing seamless information exchange for a weapon system.


The discussion about paradigmatic approaches in the field of Administration may be fruitful when it induces researchers to think through premises, practices, and values shared by a scientific community. However, at the extreme, it becomes a dispute that prevents the search for other approaches to deal with the complexity of social phenomena. In this sense, it is worth understanding that, when producing scientific knowledge, researchers are not faced only with choices about epistemology, logic, or linguistic theory, but also political problems. This essay aims to contribute with reflections on the researcher and the epistemological and political challenges with which he is faced when conducting research, arguing that it is not only a choice between kinds of positivism and interpretivism, but it also involves power struggles within a scientific field. For this, we intentionally selected texts with key concepts, such as paradigms and scientific field. As a response to the general objective of this essay, we think that the making of science constitutes a human activity that has an inseparable link with space and time and it imbricates with power games. We also think that the scientific field of Administration in Brazil is a space of competitiveness and political struggles where we are parties, either as oppressing or privileged individuals, but never as mere spectators. In this arena, not only of epistemological debates the researcher in Administration lives.


Polymeric microspheres with different internal structures have been widely used because of their characteristics in the structures. This paper reports a method of controlling the internal structures of polymeric microspheres via the introduction of a water-soluble organic solvent to the continuous phase in the foam phase preparation of porous polymeric microspheres. The introduction of a water-soluble organic solvent enables the control of polymeric microspheres' internal structures, from porous to hollow. Because a water-soluble organic solvent is introduced, the organic solvent may be diffused toward the interface because of the affinity between the organic solvent and the oil droplets, resulting an accumulation of organic solvent molecules at the interface to form an organic solvent layer. The presence of this layer may decrease the evaporation rate of the internal organic solvent in an oil droplet, which extends the time for the mingling of porogen droplets to form a few large pores or even an extremely large single pore inside. This method is also capable of altering the thickness of hollow microspheres' shells in a desired way, with improved efficiency, yield and the capacity for continuous use on an industrial scale.


The Indian telecom sectoris witnessing an unprecedented growth for the past few years. With the introduction of Mobile Number Portability ( MNP )in 2010, the customer is free to switch to any service provider of his choice without any cost. Hence the telecom companies are faced with the challenge of preventing customer churn and retaining the existing customer base . The increase in the number of service providers has aggravated the competition and customer acquisition costs in this industry . Under these circumstances , retaining the existing customers by enhancing customer loyalty and customer value has become a core marketing strategy of the service providers. They have to identify the factors that contributes to loyalty so as to achieve a competitive edge .The present study is a conceptual analysis of the factors influencing customer loyalty in mobile telecom industry .In this study , an exploratory research method based on archive method has been adopted to identify the key determinants of customer loyalty. Based on the literature review, it is revealed that factors like service quality, price, customer relationship management and corporate image contribute to customer satisfaction which ultimately increases customer loyalty in mobile telecom sector. It is also revealed that apart from satisfaction, trust is also a significant factor affecting customer loyalty .A conceptual model is developed based on the research that shows the relationship between these variables and customer loyalty.


Iodine-azide reagent enabled to evaluate quantitatively content of thioamines excreted within a day. Concentration of thioketons in urine of patients was 11-15 microgram/eqv of thiourea per 1 ml, at the same time their excretion within a day accounted for 13.06 +/- 0.56 mg/eqv in women and 22.11 +/- 1.1 mg/eqv in men. Neither concentration of thioketones in urine nor their excretion in patients with various tumors studied were distinct from these patterns in urine of non-oncologic patients. Comparison of these two methods suggests that development of color on addition of selenous acid to urine is not due to reaction with thioamines present but to interaction with other unknown substances.


The aun of this paper was to discuss tite use of Pearson's corre/a tion coefficient to evaluate sorne psychornetric properties of assessrnent techniques used in behavioral sta¬dies. Tite characteristic of these techniques are described first, and titen tite use of Pear¬Sons coefficient as a contparison statistic of standard scores, and as a linear ntodel of tite forrn '~'t = a ± i3 X~ is discussed.It is suggested titat tite ,neasurernent of interobserver agreernent is only a special case of tite linear regression ntodel, and that tite use of this tecitnique in assessing inter¬observer agreernent is notjustsfied. Tite need for developing newpsychontetric tecitniques for behavioral studies is st re ssed.


Crowd behavior has been subject of study in fields like disaster evacuation, smart town planning and business strategic placing. It is possible to create a model for those scenarios using machine learning techniques and a relatively small training data set to identify behavioral. We implemented a BDI-based agent model that uses such techniques into a large-scale crowd simulator, and apply inverse reinforcement learning to adjust agents' behaviors by examples. The goal of the system is to provide to the agents a realistic behavior model and a method to orient themselves without knowing the scenario's layout, based in learnt patterns around environment features.


The streaked tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus) is equipped with a quill vibrating mechanism on the dorsal side of the caudal trunk that has evolved as an extraordinary sounding apparatus for communication. An arrangement of 15 or 16 light-brown quills was observed. Thickened cutaneous muscles were confirmed beneath quills. We named this structure the "quill vibrator disc" (QVD). The QVD was 16.8 mm long and 8.55 mm wide in a typical adult. Longitudinal musculature symmetrical about the sagittal plane was developed in the QVD. Myocytes were found immunohistochemically to contain mainly fast myosin but not slow myosin. These findings indicate that the QVD is a specialized apparatus in the cutaneous muscle that contributes to the vibration of quills and to the production of sound for communication.


To assess knowledge, attitude and practices of medical officers, staff nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacist and field staff regarding BMW (Bio-medical Waste Management and UP (Universal Precautions). To know the difference in the levels of awareness and practice regarding BMW & UP between trained and untrained health care personnel.To provide recommendations for proper BMW Management and Universal Precautions.Material & Methods: This was a Cross-Sectional study conducted among health care personnel working at the Primary Health Centre with 25 sub-centers in Penamaluru Mandal, Krishna district, AP. A total of 63 health care personnel comprising of Medical Officers, Staff nurses, Pharmacist, CHO, PHN, male and female MPHA and MPHW participated. Data was collected with a pre-designed and pretested proforma with a semi-structured questionnaire.
Results:
 Only 44 (69.8%) of HCP could define what BMW is. Only 21 (33.3%) knew that there is a legislation regarding the management of BMW. Only 54 (85.71%) were aware of the common types of wastes disposed and 52 (82.5%) were able to identify color codes of bins for waste disposal. 26 (41.2%) had some knowledge about hazards of improper disposal of BMW but only 18 (28.57%) were practicing them properly. Correct knowledge regarding Universal Precautions was found among 36 (57.14%) HCP. The level of difference of KAP between trained and untrained personnel was observed but not statistically significant.Conclusion: KAP regarding various aspects of BMWM and UP was inadequate among health care personnel of Primary health centre .The present study revealed the necessity of training with a periodic follow-up and monitoring.