Four species of fish (Danio rerio, Xenotoca eiseni, Carassius auratus, and Pterophyllum scalare) were tested in a detour task requiring them to temporarily abandon the view of the goal-object (a group of conspecifics) to circumvent an obstacle. Fishes were placed in the middle of a corridor, at the end of which there was an opaque wall with a small window through which the goal was visible. Midline along the corridor two symmetrical apertures allowed animals to access two compartments for each aperture. After passing the aperture, fishes showed searching behavior in the two correct compartments close to the goal, appearing able to localize it, although they had to temporarily move away from the object's view. Here we provide the first evidence that fishes can solve such a detour task and therefore seem able to represent the "permanence in existence" of objects, which continue to exist even if they are not momentarily visible.


Abstract A high-pressure single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) study has been carried out on two natural zoisite samples Ca2Al3-xFexSi3O12OH, one Fe-free (x = 0) and one Fe-rich (x = 0.12). The unit-cell parameters were determined for the Fe-free sample at 18 different pressures up to 7.76 GPa and for the Fe-rich sample at 13 different pressures up to 7.63 GPa. The P(V) data for both of the samples were fitted by a third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state (BM3 EoS). The equation of state coefficients are: V0 = 903.39(5) Å3, KT0 = 122.1(7) GPa, and K0′ = 6.8(2) for the Fe-free sample and V0 = 906.95(5) Å3, KT0 = 119.1(7) GPa, and K0′ = 7.3(2) for the Fe-rich sample. This shows that the addition of Fe in to the crystal structure of zoisite leads to a slight softening of the structure. Both compositions exhibit axial compressibilities βc > βa >> βb, with the compressibilities of the a and b axes of the two samples being indistinguishable. The softening of the bulk modulus of zoisite with Fe content follows from softening of the c-axis of the structure. A high-pressure structural study of the Fe-free sample showed that the main compression mechanisms in the structure are the compression of soft inter-octahedral distance along [001] and soft intra-octahedral distances along [010] directions, while along [100] the main compression occurs because of the compression of stiff intra-octahedral distances. The substitution of Fe on to the M3 octahedral site of the structure leads to an increase of the intra-octahedral distance of the M3 that triggers the rotation of M12 and therefore leads to the softening of the M12 inter-octahedral distances that accounts for the softening of the c-axis of the structure.


The thrombopoietin receptor (MPL) has been shown to be mutated (MPL W515L) in myelofibrosis and thrombocytosis yet new approaches to treat this disorder are still required. We have previously shown that transcriptome and proteomic effects do not correlate well in oncogene-mediated leukemogenesis. We therefore investigated the effects of MPL W515L using proteomics. The consequences of MPL W515L expression on over 3300 nuclear and 3500 cytoplasmic proteins were assessed using relative quantification mass spectrometry. We demonstrate that MPL W515L expression markedly modulates the CXCL12/CXCR4/CD45 pathway associated with stem and progenitor cell chemotactic movement. We also demonstrated that MPL W515L expressing cells displayed increased chemokinesis which required the MPL W515L-mediated dysregulation of MYC expression via phosphorylation of the RNA transport protein THOC5 on tyrosine 225. In addition MPL W515L expression induced TGFβ secretion which is linked to sphingosine 1-phosphate production and the increased chemokinesis. These studies identify several pathways which offer potential targets for therapeutic intervention in the treatment of MPL W515L-driven malignancy. We validate our approach by showing that CD34+ cells from MPL W515L positive patients display increased chemokinesis and that treatment with a combination of MYC and sphingosine kinase inhibitors leads to the preferential killing of MPL W515L expressing cells.


Programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) protein is a tumor suppressor that inhibits translation through the mTOR-dependent initiation factor EIF4A, but its functional role and mRNA targets in neurons remain largely unknown. Our work identified that PDCD4 is highly expressed in axons and dendrites of CNS and PNS neurons. Using loss- and gain-of-function experiments in cortical and dorsal root ganglia primary neurons, we demonstrated the capacity of PDCD4 to negatively control axonal growth. To explore PDCD4 transcriptome and translatome targets, we used Ribo-seq and uncovered a list of potential targets with known functions as axon/neurite outgrowth regulators. In addition, we observed that PDCD4 can be locally synthesized in adult axons in vivo, and its levels decrease at the site of peripheral nerve injury and before nerve regeneration. Overall, our findings demonstrate that PDCD4 can act as a new regulator of axonal growth via the selective control of translation, providing a target mechanism for axon regeneration and neuronal plasticity processes in neurons.


Communication strategies (CS) used by L2 speakers have been investigated using various tasks, and it has been demonstrated that there exist task effects that cause differences in CS choice. Previously missing in CS research has been the use of culture-specific notions as referents. This study aimed at exploring CS use for culture-specific notions in L2 by answering two questions: "What kinds of CS will Thai ESL speakers employ to convey these referential concepts in English?" and " Will there be any patterns that can be observed as different from CS used in other kinds of tasks?" The participants, 30 Thai native speakers with intermediate English proficiency, were asked to perform two tasks that contain culture-specific notions. The analysis focuses on 14 concepts that were expected to be problematic. The results showed that circumlocution and approximation were the most preferred strategies. Patterns of approximation, all-purpose words, and L1 words followed by circumlocution were also seen and found to be similar to the hierarchy of CS found elsewhere in the referential CS research. Finally, the study suggests that the familiarity of the L2 speaker with a concept does not always help them in dealing with communicative problems; rather it is their knowledge of how to talk about it in the L2 that matters more.


The male of Afroserphus bicornis Masner is redescribed, and female of this species is described for the first time. This extremely rare species is recorded from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa. The genus Afroserphus is hypothesised to be a Gondwanan relic.


To investigate the effects of abolished cholic acid (CA) synthesis in the ApoE knockout model [apolipoprotein E (apoE) KO],a double-knockout (DKO) mouse model was created by crossbreeding Cyp8b1 knockout mice (Cyp8b1 KO), unable to synthesize the primary bile acid CA, with apoE KO mice. After 5 months of cholesterol feeding, the development of atherosclerotic plaques in the proximal aorta was 50% less in the DKO mice compared with the apoE KO mice. This effect was associated with reduced intestinal cholesterol absorption, decreased levels of apoB-containing lipoproteins in the plasma, enhanced bile acid synthesis, reduced hepatic cholesteryl esters, and decreased hepatic activity of ACAT2. The upregulation of Cyp7a1 in DKO mice seemed primarily caused by reduced expression of the intestinal peptide FGF15. Treatment of DKO mice with the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist GW4064 did not alter the intestinal cholesterol absorption, suggesting that the action of CA in this process is confined mainly to formation of intraluminal micelles and less to its ability to activate the nuclear receptor FXR. Inhibition of CA synthesis may offer a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hyperlipidemic conditions that lead to atherosclerosis.


Uveal melanoma is a malignancy with exceptional features for treatment with immunotherapy. Primary uveal melanoma can be treated with a variety of therapies that may limit the growth of the primary tumor in the eye and partially preserve vision. However, none of these treatment modalities prevents the development of metastases, which predominantly arise in the liver and universally remain fatal. Novel therapies are being explored for their effectiveness against uveal melanoma metastases and immunotherapy may be a potential option as an alternative or adjunctive treatment, even in the prophylactic setting. Uveal melanoma may be particularly responsive to T-cell-based immunotherapy because it originates in the immune-privileged eye. The localization of the primary tumor in the immune-privileged eye excuses the tumor cells from continuous immunological pressure. This may render primary uveal melanoma more immunogenic than tumor cells from non-privileged sites and allow expression of novel tumor antigens to which the patient's endogenous T cell repertoire is not tolerized. The clinical and genetic differences between cutaneous and uveal melanomas underscore the need for immunotherapy specifically designed for uveal melanoma patients. In this review, the current developments in the field of immunotherapy for uveal melanoma are discussed, with a special emphasis on T-cell-based strategies.


A decline in mitochondrial redox homeostasis has been associated with the development of a wide range of inflammatory-related diseases. Continue discoveries demonstrate that mitochondria are pivotal elements to trigger inflammation and stimulate innate immune signaling cascades to intensify the inflammatory response at front of different stimuli. Here, we review the evidence that an exacerbation in the levels of mitochondrial-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to mito-inflammation, a new concept that identifies the compartmentalization of the inflammatory process, in which the mitochondrion acts as central regulator, checkpoint, and arbitrator. In particular, we discuss how ROS contribute to specific aspects of mito-inflammation in different inflammatory-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, pulmonary diseases, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Taken together, these observations indicate that mitochondrial ROS influence and regulate a number of key aspects of mito-inflammation and that strategies directed to reduce or neutralize mitochondrial ROS levels might have broad beneficial effects on inflammatory-related diseases.


FDA is warning healthcare professionals of the rare but serious risk of heart attack and death with use of cardiac nuclear stress test agents regadenoson (Lexiscan) and adenosine (Adenoscan).


Background: The objectives were to explore the real world treatment of T3 breast cancer (maximum diameter of tumor bigger than 5 centimeters).

Materials and Methods: We selected T3 breast cases diagnosed from 2011 to 2017 in the CSCO BC database. These cases were categorized into two groups: non-NAC group and NAC group. Adjusted hazard ratios for known predictors of event free survival (EFS) using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results: The study included 868 patients: 49.0%(425/868) of patients chose NAC after diagnosis, 51.0%(443/868) chose surgery as their initial therapeutic strategy(non-NAC group). Compared with non-NAC group, patients in NAC group were correlated with clinical positive lymph nodes, hormonal receptor(HR) negative and human epidermal receptor growth factor 2(HER2) positive. For non-NAC group, only 87.1%(386/443) of patients were pathologic T3 after surgery, the overestimation of clinical examination of tumor lesion was 12.9%(57/443). In addition, there was no significance of EFS between the NAC group and non-NAC group(HR=0.82, 95%CI: 0.64-1.05). However, for T3 breast cancer patients with positive lymph nodes, HR negative and HER2 positive tumors, the NAC group had a better survival than the non-NAC group. Cox proportional analysis showed that lymph node negative, HER2 negative status and neoadjuvant chemotherapy were associated with a longer survival time.

Conclusion: As the initial option for T3 breast cancer patients with positive lymph nodes, HR negative and HER2 positive tumors, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the first therapy.


Tiered social distancing policies have been adopted by many governments to mitigate the harmful consequences of COVID-19. Such policies have a number of well-established features, i.e. they are short-term, adaptive (to the changing epidemiological conditions), and based on a multiplicity of indicators of the prevailing epidemic activity. Here, we use ideas from Behavioural Epidemiology to represent tiered policies in an SEIRS model by using a composite information index including multiple indicators of current and past epidemic activity mimicking those used by governments during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as transmission intensity, infection incidence and hospitals' occupancy. In its turn, the dynamics of the information index is assumed to endogenously inform the governmental social distancing interventions. The resulting model is described by a hereditary system showing a noteworthy property, i.e. a dependency of the endemic levels of epidemiological variables from initial conditions. This is a consequence of the need to normalize the different indicators to pool them into a single index. Simulations suggest a rich spectrum of possible results. These include policy suggestions and identify pitfalls and undesired outcomes, such as a worsening of epidemic control, that can arise following such types of approaches to epidemic responses.


In this study, the equation for the reactive and harmonic power compensation of a shunt active power filter (APF) system has been derived by studying the power exchange mechanism and power tetrahedron phasor diagram. The switching dynamics of a voltage source inverter (VSI)-based three-phase, three-wire (three-leg /half-bridge) shunt APF system with hysteresis band current control has been studied and verified by simulation. The relation between the design parameters and their effects on the active losses has also been identified. Detailed calculation and extensive simulation have been performed for a three-phase, three-wire shunt APF implemented in a 400VL-L distribution system, as an example, to study the effects of design parameter selection and their role in active power loss calculation. Simulated and calculated results are presented for the important design parameters for different switching frequencies together with their associated losses and kVA ratings. The procedure can be followed to design the parameters for other topologies, such as three-phase, four-wire or single-phase systems.


We consider a discrete-event stochastic simulation that represents a generic manufacturing process flow and assume the availability of limited knowledge about part inter-arrival times and machine processing times. We investigate how the state-of-the-art simulation methodologies can be utilized to propagate input inter-arrival-time and service-time uncertainty through such a manufacturing simulation. We quantify the impact of limited knowledge on steady-state manufacturing-line performance measures such as utilization, lead time, inventory, and throughput. First, we conduct experiments for single-stage manufacturing systems where we additionally study the impact of yield loss uncertainty on annual throughput predictions. Then, we switch our focus to multi-stage manufacturing systems and investigate whether there may be situations in which it becomes difficult to correctly identify the system bottleneck. We conclude with the identification of the manufacturing system stages that contribute most to the variability in lead time and inventory predictions.


The purpose of this study was to find the factors that influence consumer perceptions of sweet potato-based foods product innovation in Province of Yogyakarta. The research method used was survey. The method of data analysis used was EFA (Exploratory Factor Analysis). Based on the review of previous literature, it was found five factors that affect consumers in consuming innovative foods, these factors were novelty and change, variety, processing and technology, origin and ethnicity and convenience. Based on these factors, a set of questionnaires was formulated. Using quota sampling, the questionnaire was divided and distributed to respondents in 3 districts, namely Bantul, Sleman, and Yogyakarta's city. The survey was conducted twice, first survey involved 318 respondents with 62 indicator questions. The first survey was rotated 6 times. It formed 12 factors, consist of 30 indicators that considered to affect consumer perceptions of sweet potato-based foods product innovation. The KMO-Bartlett was 0.636 with a significance level 0.000. The second survey involved 155 respondents. It was divided into 3 districts as same as the first survey. After processed by factor analysis, the last rotation (2 nd rotation) identified 10 factors and 27 question indicators of consumer perceptions of sweet potato-based foods product innovation. The KMO-Bartlett was 0.605 with a significance level 0.000. Through a face validity, the factor was summarized into four factors namely novelty and change, variety, processing and technology, andn convenience.


The purpose of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of Plyometric Training (PT) and Resistance Training (RT) for improving speed ability of the Athletes. Total thirty six (N = 36) district level athletes were randomly selected. All the subjects were divided into three equal groups: i) Resistance Training Group (RTG) as Experimental Group-I, ii) Plyometric Training Group (PTG) as Experimental Group-II and iii) Control Group (CG). Experimental group-I underwent resistance training whereas experimental group-II underwent plyometric training for eight weeks. But the control group did not involve in any of the above treatments. In the present study speed ability was measured through 60 yard dash. To draw the statistical inference analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used followed by Tukey's LSD test as post hoc test. Both RTG and PTG improved significantly with respect to the CG in speed ability. Significant difference was also observed between RTG and PTG in speed ability. It was also confirmed that the PTG improved better than the RTG in speed ability. From the above findings it can be concluded that PT is more effective training means than RT to improve the speed ability of the athlete.


Efficient second harmonic generation (SHG) in a nonlinear transparent conducting oxide (TCO) stripe waveguide that incorporates an organic polymer is theoretically investigated. The phase match condition between the fundamental photonic mode at the second harmonic and the fundamental long-range plasmonic mode at the fundamental frequency can be satisfied by dynamically or statically tuning the free carrier concentration of the TCO. The theoretically generated signal reaches its maximum up to 56.4 mW at a propagation distance of 34.8 μm for a pumping power of 1 W. The corresponding normalized conversion efficiency of the phase-matched SHG is up to 4.65 × 103 W−1 cm−2. OCIS codes: 190.2620, 190.4390. doi: 10.3788/COL201614.031901.


This study aims to present a combined documentation method that can be easily applied on the built vernacular heritage prior to establishment of appropriate conservation methodology and treatment strategy. It takes into consideration the vernacular house type of Alaçatı, İzmir, Turkey and defines the appropriate techniques to be used in the conservation aimed analytic recording process. The prismatic house masses at human scale, with plain façade orders and orthogonal plan layouts at this settlement can be recorded fast and accurately with close-range digital photogrammetry. The concepts of mapping should be utilized for the representation of analtic data. Within this frame, a 19 century house located in the urban conservation site of Alaçatı is to be presented as the case study.


This paper presents an approach to extracting and using semantic layers from low altitude aerial videos for scene understanding and object tracking. The input video is captured by low flying aerial platforms and typically consists of strong parallax from non-ground-plane structures. A key aspect of our approach is the use of geo-registration of video frames to reference image databases (such as those available from Terraserver and Google satellite imagery) to establish a geo-spatial coordinate system for pixels in the video. Geo-registration enables Euclidean 3D reconstruction with absolute scale unlike traditional monocular structure from motion where continuous scale estimation over long periods of time is an issue. Geo-registration also enables correlation of video data to other stored information sources such as GIS (geo-spatial information system) databases. In addition to the geo-registration and 3D reconstruction aspects, the key contributions of this paper include: (1) exploiting appearance and 3D shape constraints derived from geo-registered videos for labeling of structures such as buildings, foliage, and roads for scene understanding, and (2) elimination of moving object detection and tracking errors using 3D parallax constraints and semantic labels derived from geo-registered videos. Experimental results on extended time aerial video data demonstrates the qualitative and quantitative aspects of our work.


ABSTRACT An Action-Research (AR) design was implemented throughout a competitive season in which Constraint-led and Step-Game approaches were combined. This intervention study investigated the impact of increased performance complexity on emergence of counterattacking synchronisation tendencies in team players (laterally and longitudinally on court) at different set moments. Fifteen youth volleyball team players were studied across three action-research cycles, with performance in one competitive match analysed per cycle. Team synchronisation tendencies were assessed using the cluster phase method, with a 3 (matches) x 2 (set moments) x 2 (court direction) repeated-measures ANOVA statistical procedure to calculate differences in cluster amplitude mean values. Results revealed a reduction in team synchrony levels when tactical complexity of counterattacking play increased (second AR-cycle). Nevertheless, similar levels of team synchrony emerged between the first and third AR-cycles. Results also revealed the final moments of a set as a significant environmental constraint that shaped synchronisation tendencies. Evidence suggested that the (re)achievement of functional synchrony was realised through integration of Constraint-led and Step-Game approaches during practices designed to enhance tactical awareness in players. Finally, an insider action-research design provided relevant contextualised insights on the development of a team's synchronisation tendencies.


One of the highly controversial issues in the area of finance is "Efficient Market Hypothesis". Efficient Market Hypothesis states that, "In an efficient market, all available price information is reflected in the stock prices and it is not possible to generate abnormal returns compared to other investors." A lot of studies conducted previouslyto test the Efficient Market Hypothesis, confirmed the theory until recent years, when some academicians found it to be non-applicable in financial markets. According to them, it is possible to forecast the stock price movements using Technical Analysis. The results of various studies have been inconclusive and indefinite about the issue. This study attempted to test the efficiency of FMCG Sector stocks in India in its weak form. For the study, closing prices of top 10 stocks from Nifty FMCG index has been taken for the 5-year period ranging from 1st October 2014 to 30th September 2019. Wald-Wolfowitz Run test has been used to test the haphazard movements in the stock price movements. The results indicated that FMCG sector stocks does support the Efficient Market Hypothesis and exhibit efficiency in its weak form. Hence, it is not possible to accurately predict the price movements of these stocks.


High-hypnotizable subjects (n = 18) were superior to low-hypnotizable subjects (n = 18) in the extent of pain reduction produced by hypnotic analgesia and by a stress-inoculation procedure. However, stress inoculation but not hypnotic analgesia impaired performance on a cognitively demanding task that competed with pain reduction for cognitive resources. This outcome implies that hypnotic analgesia occurs with little or no cognitive effort to reduce pain and challenges the social psychological model of hypnosis. The findings are also inconsistent with the notion of dissociated experience, which proposes that pain and the cognitive efforts to reduce it are cut off from consciousness by an amnesialike barrier. However, the results do support the notion of dissociated control, which proposes that suggestions for hypnotic analgesia directly activate pain reduction and thereby avert the need for cognitive strategies to reduce pain.


A special part such as a flow passage opening device is required to prevent the disconnection of fuel transfer in a pressurized fuel tank. To meet this requirement, the device utilizing an acceleration follow-up technique was invented. RecurDyn, a dynamic analysis tool, is introduced in this article to predict the device's performance and to determine parameters affecting it. In the analysis, it is shown that balancing weights can open the passage in accordance with fuel position.


Abstract British Library Pap. 2053 is a Greek papyrus fragment from Oxyrhynchus. Its two sides, written in distinctly different hands, were published separately in 1911 as P.Oxy. 8.1075 (Rahlfs 909, the last verses of Exodus) and P.Oxy. 8.1079 (P18, early verses of Revelation). The original editor of the piece, Arthur S. Hunt, described Pap. 2053 as part of a roll rather than a codex. He speculated that at some point after Exodus was copied along the fibers, the reverse was then reused for a copy of Revelation written against the fibers. I argue that, for at least three reasons, it is worth entertaining the possibility that Pap. 2053 is not part of a roll but rather a leaf from a codex. First, the amount of text and the format of the text on the papyrus are appropriate for a codex leaf. Second, we now have good evidence (unavailable to Hunt) for the existence of Christian codices with an eclectic mix of contents copied by different scribes. Third, when the back sides of rolls were reused, they were often rotated 180° such that the texts on the two sides of the papyrus were upside down relative to one another, rather than same-side-up, as the columns of Pap. 2053 are.


Preoperative nursing action is an action performed by the nurse in order to prepare the patient for surgical measures in order to ensure the safety of intraoperative patients. When faced with surgery actions that are not hypertensive patients may increase their blood pressure temporarily due to the two most common factors of pain, and anxiety. This study aims to determine the relationship of anxiety levels with increased blood pressure in elective preoperative patients. This research using cross sectional approach, accidental sampling sampling method. The sample of this study were 30 elective preoperative patients with no history of hypertension. Measurement of anxiety using Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and blood pressure using Spymomanometer. Chi square test results showed that there is a significant relationship between anxiety levels with an increase in blood pressure (pvalue = 0.023).


The effects of secondary air ratio (0–50%) and injection types (radial or tangential) on the bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficient have been determined in a circulating fluidized bed (0.1 m-I.D. × 5.3 m-high). The bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficient increases with increasing particle suspension density. The heat transfer coefficient by gas convection increases, but the overall convective heat transfer coefficient decreases with increasing the radial injection of secondary air. The convective heat transfer coefficient increases, but the particle convective component decreases with the tangential secondary air injection. A model, based on the model of Basu (1990), is proposed to predict the bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficients in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) with the tangential secondary air injection system.


INTRODUCTION
Glycaemic index (GI) reflects the blood glucose response after ingestion of a 50 g digestible carbohydrate portion. Many factors affect the GI, including degree of starch gelatinization.

METHODS
The objective was to determine the GI and the effect of different cooking methods on GI of a Pakistani basmati rice (PBR) and an Indian basmati rice (IBR) frequently purchased by Sri Lankans. This was a crossover study. Participants were ten healthy individuals aged 20-30 years whose BMI range was 18.5-23.5 kgm(-2). Proximate composition, [carbohydrate, protein, fat, soluble dietary fibre (SDF), insoluble dietary fibre (IDF) and ash], amylose content and GI of the two rice varieties were determined by using standard methods. Rice was cooked separately in a rice cooker and a microwave by adding 1 cup of rice (110 g) and 1 cup of water (150 ml)). Glucose was used as the standard. GI values were expressed as the average value of 10 participants.

RESULTS
Fat, total dietary fibre (TDF), SDF and IDF contents were significantly (p<0.05) higher in IBR when compared to PBR. The GI values of IBR and PBR cooked in a rice cooker (GI=54 SD=8; GI=64 SD=12) or microwave (GI=43 SD=28; GI=56 SD=12) belonged to low and medium GI categories respectively. A percentage reduction in GI values was seen in PBR (12.5%) and IBR (20.4%) when cooked in a microwave oven compared to a rice cooker.

CONCLUSIONS
Irrespective of the method of cooking PBR had medium GI and IBR had low GI.


The thesis consists of an introductory chapter and four independent research papers, summarized as follows. The introductory chapter discusses the role of economics in international health and the policy contributions of each of the particular papers. In addition, the data and the methods that have been used are discussed. Paper I, entitled Community-based health insurance in low-income countries: a systematic review of the evidence, assesses the evidence base for the extent to which community-based health insurance schemes in low-income countries mobilize resources and provide effective protection. Findings suggest that the evidence base is weak and that these schemes raise little resource and provide only moderate protection. Paper II, Catastrophic Health Payments and Health Insurance in Zambia: The Problem to the Answer, assesses the extent to which health care prepayment in Zambia provide protection against the catastrophic effects of health payments compared with paying for care out-of-pocket. The results indicate that prepayment does not provide such protection and that prepayment may even induce catastrophic effects due to its effect on the demand for care. The third paper, Multiple Health Insurance Availability, Health Care Utilization, and Expenditures: Evidence from Jordan, looks at various health insurance programs in Jordan. The analysis suggests that the effect of insurance on utilization and expenditures differ significantly across the various insurance types. Also, the effect of the programs differs across income groups. The final paper, A Note on Insurance Premiums, Price Differentiation, and Moral Hazard, is a theoretical note on insurance premium setting and moral hazard. It is shown that allowing insurance premiums to reflect insurers? ability to pay rather than marginal costs and risks will lead to market inefficiencies. The model and its findings have policy implications in, for example, poor settings where an insurer lets premiums differ so as to not exclude the poorest sections of the population.


Full‐text periodical databases have changed how students access research materials. Many librarians fear that students favor the convenience of full‐text databases over more valuable information found in print periodical literature. To what extent is this true? A study was undertaken at Oakland University to determine how well students mastered the retrieval process for print and full‐text articles, and to gather their opinions on the value of both formats. A pre‐/post‐test instrument was administered to students before and after instruction to measure their knowledge of the library and its databases. A final test, including questions designed to measure student attitudes about the article retrieval process, was administered upon completion of a term paper. Results indicate that many students valued the convenience of full‐text articles over the article's relevance, but they also found the overall research process to be difficult. The research students conducted also impacted on their test results. Other findings are discussed.


S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), formed after donation of the methyl group of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to a methyl acceptor, is reversibly hydrolyzed to adenosine (ADO) and homocysteine (HCY) by S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAHH). In chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica), sahh, a hypovirus-regulated gene that encodes a deduced SAHH protein was shown to have an SAHH enzymatic activity in vitro. Deletion of sahh resulted in the increased accumulation of intracellular SAH and SAM but decreased ADO, and a remarkably increased accumulation of transcripts that encode adenosine kinase, methionine adenosyltransferase, and an O-methyltransferase, key components of the methylation pathway. The Δsahh knockout mutants showed a phenotype of slower growth rate, fewer aerial hyphae, loss of orange pigment, absence of asexual fruiting bodies and conidia, and a significant reduction in virulence. Deletion of sahh significantly reduced the accumulation level of transcripts of the cyp1 that encodes cyclophilin A as well as genes of the heterotrimeric G-protein signaling pathways including cpga1, cpgb1, and cpgc1 and ste12, a target activated by the MAP kinase cascade. Taken together, we demonstrated that SAHH is required for virulence and multiple traits of phenotype in C. parasitica, by regulation of the expression of genes involved in key process of the cell.


Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the development of rigidity, resting tremors and postural instability. Recently, the focus of PD's treatment has shifted towards herbal medicines. Mucuna pruriens (Mp) and Withania somnifera (Ws) are traditional herbal medicines known to have neuro-protective effects due to the L-DOPA present in Mp seed powder and withanoloides present in Ws root extract. Here, the synergistic effect of Mp and Ws in Parkinsonian mice induced by chronic exposure to paraquat was evaluated. Co-treatment with Mp and Ws for 9 weeks, significantly decreased the elevated nitrite levels and lipid peroxidation found in Parkinsonian mice. In behavioural tests, Mp and Ws treated mice showed a significant decrease in the time taken to cross a narrow beam, an increase in the time of stay on drum in rotarod test and an improvement in the hanging time. Furthermore, it was found that the use of Mp and Ws considerably improved the tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the substantianigra region of the brain. The results suggest that Mp and Ws may provide a platform for future drug discoveries and novel treatment strategies for PD.


During the summer of 1968, two-beam, incoherent-scatter radar measurements were made at Arecibo. The two beams were formed by two separate feeds for the Arecibo reflector, one a line feed which illuminated essentially all of the reflector, and the other a horn feed which effectively illuminated about 500 feet of the reflector. A by-product of this experiment was the calibration of the near-field correction to the backscatter gain of the line-feed system. This was obtained by comparing the power received as a function of range in the two radar systems. The measured loss of gain in the near field for the line feed was about 1.5 db at a height of 100 km.


Integration of wind power generation into the grid raises a need to re-consider current power system planning and operation approaches due to variable nature of the wind power. This paper presents a probabilistic approach in power system security assessment with significant wind power penetration within operational context taken into account the uncertainty of wind. An example using a modified IEEE 14-bus system is used to illustrate the advantages of the proposed probabilistic approach compared with the traditional deterministic approach. The results show that the probabilistic approach provides a better view on the system security leading to better operational decision-making.


In the paper change in iron losses due to the switching frequency in soft magnetic materials supplied by PWM inverter, is analyzed. Experimental tests with several samples of material and switching frequency from 1 kHz up to about 20 kHz, are reported. Values of iron losses vs switching frequency, for different values of the fundamental flux density and assigned modulation parameters, are presented for the materials investigated.


Building on the Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the study examines the influence of intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and in-class deterrents on prior cheating, neutralization, and likelihood of cheating in the future. In addition, the model has been tested based on gender differences. To test the hypotheses, the data were collected from 324 undergraduate hospitality and tourism students. The proposed model was tested using structural equation modeling. Results of hypotheses testing showed that both extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation had negative relationships with prior cheating, which is consistent with previous research. In addition, neutralization showed a positive relationship with likelihood of cheating and prior cheating was positively related to likelihood of cheating. These findings can help hospitality and tourism instructors and administrators develop various strategies to prevent students' unethical behaviors. A discussion of implications is included along with limitations and recommendations for future research.


Fixing Russia's Banks documents how Russia's financial system is built on what Michael S. Bernstam and Alvin Rabushka call ersatz banks. These inferior imitation banks have served largely as tools of the government to redistribute public funds to favored firms. The highly vaunted achievements of privatization, removal of price controls, and foreign trade liberalization have failed to produce growth because of a lack of private financing. National income has declined nearly 40 percent since 1992, with no recovery in sight.


Statistical learning theory on probability space is an important part of Machine Learning. Based on the key theorem, the bounds of uniform convergence have significant meaning. These bounds determine generalization ability of the learning machines utilizing the empirical risk minimization induction principle. In this paper, the bounds on the risk for sets of unbounded nonnegative functions on possibility space are discussed, and the rate of uniform convergence is estimated.


Gymnosperms are the plants of the great antiquity; they have the tremendous kinds of the evolutionary pattern. Mesozoic era the age of the greatest development of the gymnosperm but in the cenozoic era one can see the tremendous decline in the great world of the giant Cyclades and the conifers, now they are very relict in distribution, they can be found in the comes places of the India and the some places of the world like the USA and the other nations. due to change in the climate and the habitat destruction now they are at the junction of the disappearances, cycadales are considered as the living fossils, in whole of the globe they are presented by the only 11 genera of the rare taxonomic values, in this review articles we are working in the one of the genus entitled as the bowenia of the stangeriaceae family of the cycadales order of the gymnosperms, the genus has very narrow distribution and they are now at junction of the endangered by the version 3.1 of the IUCN red data books


The community of practice is an internet application that nourishes knowledge management and innovation. Implementing the community of practice in education can enhance the learning process and make it an enjoyable, exiting and lifelong experience. In this paper, the researchers intend to create a conceptual model for the successful implementation of community of practice in Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through evaluate the literature review about the educational community of practice. Then, a prototype is developed followed by a survey to collect feed-backs about the experiment. Using the Chi-Square statistical method of qualitative analysis associated with the Design Science Methodology of research, the research is fulfilled. The results illustrated the conceptual model of the effective implementation of the community of practice in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, that define the seven factors to be considered which are network density, culture perceptions, distributed production, knowledge complexity and richness, government enforcement, IT specialist role, and senior members role.


CXCL8 (interleukin-8, IL-8) is a CXC family chemokine that recruits specific target cells and mediates inflammation and wound healing. This study reports the identification and characterization of two cxcl8 homologs from rock bream, Oplegnathus fasciatus. Investigation of molecular signature, homology, phylogeny, and gene structure suggested that they belonged to lineages 1 (L1) and 3 (L3), and designated Ofcxcl8-L1 and Ofcxcl8-L3. While Ofcxcl8-L1 and Ofcxcl8-L3 revealed quadripartite and tripartite organization, in place of the mammalian ELR (Glu-Leu-Arg) motif, their peptides harbored EMH (Glu-Met-His) and NSH (Asn-Ser-His) motifs, respectively. Transcripts of Ofcxcl8s were constitutively detected by Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR) in 11 tissues examined, however, at different levels. Ofcxcl8-L1 transcript robustly responded to treatments with stimulants, such as flagellin, concanavalin A, lipopolysaccharide, and poly(I:C), and pathogens, including Edwardsiella tarda, Streptococcus iniae, and rock bream iridovirus, when compared with Ofcxcl8-L3 mRNA. The differences in the putative promoter features may partly explain the differential transcriptional modulation of Ofcxcl8s. Purified recombinant OfCXCL8 (rOfCXCL8) proteins were used in in vitro chemotaxis and proliferation assays. Despite the lack of ELR motif, both rOfCXCL8s exhibited leukocyte chemotactic and proliferative functions, where the potency of rOfCXCL8-L1 was robust and significant compared to that of rOfCXCL8-L3. The results, taken together, are indicative of the crucial importance of Ofcxcl8s in inflammatory responses and immunoregulatory roles in rock bream immunity.


Field monitoring and incubation experiments were conducted to evaluate the litter yield and examine the decomposition of the litter of three representative mangrove species frequently used for mangrove re-vegetation in a subtropical mudflat on the South China coast. The results show that the litter yield of the investigated mangrove species varied significantly from season to season. The annual litter production was in the following decreasing order: Heritiera littoralis > Thespesia populnea > Kandelia obovata. Initially, rapid decomposition of easily degradable components of the litter materials resulted in a marked weight loss of the mangrove litter. There was a good linear relationship between the length of field incubation time and the litter decomposition rate for both the branch and the leaf portion of the three investigated mangrove species. Approximately 50% or more of the added mangrove litter could be decomposed within one year and the decomposed litter could be incorporated into the underlying soils and consequently affect the soil carbon dynamics. An annual soil carbon increase from 2.37 to 4.64 g/kg in the top 5 cm of the soil was recorded for the investigated mangrove species.


Diverse criminal procedural traditions across Europe are undergoing a process of being drawn to gether by two strong forces: the EU Area of Freedom, Security and Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. Increasingly, Member States are reforming their criminal procedural systems to take account of the developments in both arenas. Since 2003, Poland has been amending its Code of Criminal Procedure in an effort to make it more 'adversarial'. A recent reform, the strongest move yet towards developing an adversarial system, came into force in July 2015. The 2015 reform introduces procedures that look adversarial. The reforms in this jurisdiction, and indeed those of other Member States, towards a more 'adversarial' system challenge us (again!) to examine what we understand by 'adversarial', whether it is understood differently from the common law perspective versus the Continental (so-called 'inquisitorial') perspective and whether, if so, the convergence of procedural traditions is more imagined than real. The article will approach this question taking Poland as an example, drawing comparisons between its approach and that of Italy, and using Ireland as exemplar of the common law adversarial procedural tradition. It traces the reforms to Poland's criminal procedure and questions whether it can really be described as 'adversarial'.


Art is a symbolic means of communication through which man can communicate his inner needs, desires and worries. Children find art a good means of communicating what ordinarily, they may not be able to describe orally. This study was on description of Nigerian children human figure art using Lowenfeld and Brittain (1970) developmental model. The participants were five hundred and twenty six (526) children drawn from population of primary and junior secondary schools from two towns in Northern and Southern Nigeria respectively. They included three hundred and eight (308) females and two and eighteen (218) males. Their ages ranged between 6 to 13 years. Their (18) males. Their ages ranged between 6 to 13 years. Their M age was 9.84 and SD age was 2.08. The analysis of the drawing showed developmental sequences on human figure drawings of children. Every age had their peculiarities on the drawings that differed from that of other ages. The developmental peculiarities were analyzed on such factors as spatial relationships, sexual orientations, socio-cultural and image representations. Implications of the study for early diagnosis and intervention on children were discussed.


Purpose.  The purpose of this study is to understand the factorsthat influence the internationalization behaviour of SMEs from transitioneconomies within the context of industrial clusters from a theoreticalperspective of entrepreneurial orientation. According to Lumpkin (1996), theconcept of entrepreneurial orientation can be connected to autonomy,innovativeness, propensity for risk taking, proactiveness as well ascompetitive aggressiveness. Through these theoretical lenses, we investigatethe specific postures of management and the moderating effects ofentrepreneurial orientation on the internationalization of these firms.Methodology.Forexploratory research we conducted a comparative study of two industrialclusters from Poland and Romania. Datawere obtained through semistructured and open ended in-depth interviews withcompany representatives from six companies in both clusters, as well asrepresentatives from cluster related institutions. We identify and analyzeentrepreneurial orientation related attributes and the role of managers ofthese cluster embedded SMEs and their influence on  patterns of internationalization.Results.Wefind that different firm specific factors have an impact on theinternationalization of SMEs. The degree of entrepreneurial orientation variesaccording to factors related to the role that managers play, as well as pathdependency related factors which impact the trajectories of internationalization.Practical implications.The authors find thatinward and outward cluster linkages depend on nature of technology, personalityof entrepreneurs and other factors related to path dependency.Keywords: industrial cluster,transition economy, entrepreneurial orientation, role of managers.Papertype:Research paper.


The (B-Cl)-chloroboroles 2-chloro-1,3-di(4-R-phenyl)-2,4,5,6-tetra-hydrocyclopenta[c]borole (R = H, Br) undergo a novel dimerisation process in CH2Cl2 solution. The resulting unsymmetric dimers are highly fluxional in solution via reversible enantiomerisation through an intermediate with mirror symmetry. DFT calculations suggest an unusual dimerisation mechanism and provide insight into the dynamics of the dimers.


This article explores who has most skilfully used the rules of the global economic regime — China, or the nations whose companies invest in her? We first analyse China's adoption and implementation of WTO commitments in the auto industry and the cultural goods sector. We then consider the liberalisation of China's foreign direct investment (FDI) scheme and China's use of FDI as a vehicle to acquire foreign technology, while also restricting FDI to protect the domestic banking sector. Finally, we analyse China's engagement with the international financial regime, particularly its exchange rate policy, and whether this too represents a strategic implementation of reforms. Based on these four case studies, we conclude that while the West initially dictated the terms of China's interaction with the global economic system, over time China has deftly engaged with global rules so as to promote its own national interests.


Weaner crossbred rabbits were allocated to five treatment groups in a completely randomized design. The treatments consisted of 100, 75, 50 and 25% levels of soybean cheese waste/maize offal diet (SBW). 100% rabbit meal served as control. Each rabbit received chopped Bracharia decumbens hay ad libitum. Water was offered ad libitum. Concentrate and hay were offered in separate feeders. Rabbits on the control diet had significantly higher feed intake compared with SBW treatments. Hay intake was significantly lower in 100 and 75% level treatments than 50 and 25% SBW treatments. Weight gain was significantly lower for 25% level with daily gains ranging between -2.08 g for 25% and 6.70 g for the control. Feed conversion efficiency was significantly lower for 25% level compared with other treatments. Survival rate of rabbits ranged between 40 and 60% for the experimental treatments. Dry matter, ash, ether extract, crude protein and nitrogen free extractives intake decreased with decrease in the level of concentrate. Crude fibre intake was similar for the control, 100, 75 and 50% SBW treatments but significantly lower for 25% SBW treatment. Dry matter, ether extract and nitrogen free extractives digestibility were similar for the control, 75 and 25% SBW treatments, and significantly higher than 100 and 50% SBW treatments. Crude protein digestibility and retention were similar for all the groups. Soybean cheese waste/maize offal diet offered at 50% along with bracharia hay compared favorably with the standard rabbit meal in terms of growth and digestibility of nutrients by weaner rabbits. Level of SBW concentrate offered to rabbits should however, not be below 50% when fed with bracharia hay.


This Article explores two approaches to regulating traditional culture within intellectual property law. We can characterize these contrasting approaches as a choice between preservation vs. innovation. The preservation model seeks to harness intellectual property rights to preserve traditional culture in its authentic form. The innovation model encourages tradition to be adapted to serve contemporary needs. This Article argues that innovation offers the most viable strategy to sustain traditional culture. Traditional culture will only endure to the extent that it retains meaning and value to its source communities. This requires the freedom to creatively reinvent tradition to keep it relevant. By contrast, a system of intangible property rights focused on preservation risks calcifying traditional expression in "authentic" forms that preclude experimentation. To develop this argument, the article presents the Nigerian film industry — Nollywood — as a case study. Nollywood has emerged as a major creative force that ranks among the top three film industries in the world. The appeal of Nollywood films derives in significant part from their portrayal of traditional culture. By adapting and remixing folkloric elements, Nollywood films repurpose tradition to serve new narrative contexts and infuse it with fresh meaning and relevance. Yet, while such semiotic renewal — Folklore 2.0 — represents a healthy, even praiseworthy phenomenon, it runs contrary to Folklore 1.0 conceptions of intangible heritage as a cherished legacy whose authenticity must not be compromised. Enforcing intangible heritage rights could therefore limit socially valuable innovation and deter much-needed investment in creative industries. By contrast, by adapting copyright law to better serve the needs of developing countries, we would encourage the emerging creative industries of the Global South and help to realize the bright promise they hold.


It is well known that the Fe based alloys can exhibit shape memory effect due to the y to E martensitic transformation. The effect may not be as striking as observed in the NiTi alloy but it might become attractive fkom the practical point of view. In this work, two compositions of Fe-Cr-Ni-Mn-Si(-Co) stainless steel based shape memory alloy, prepared by the VIM technique, will be presented. The results are good with shape recovery of 95% for a pre-strain of 4% after some training cycles. In terms of workability the alloys produced are worse than the usual AISI304. However, adjusting the thermo-mechanical processing, it is perfectly possible to produce wire as thin as 1,20mm in dia. or down.


Water splitting allows the storage of solar energy into chemical bonds (H2 + O2) and will help to implement the urgently needed replacement of limited available fossil fuels. In particular, in a neutral environment electrochemically initiated water splitting suffers from low efficiency due to high overpotentials (η) caused by the anode. Electro-activation of X20CoCrWMo10-9, a Co-based tool steel resulted in a new composite material (X20CoCrWMo10-9//Co3O4) that catalyzes the anode half-cell reaction of water electrolysis with a so far, unequalled effectiveness. The current density achieved with this new anode in pH 7 corrected 0.1 M phosphate buffer is over a wide range of η around 10 times higher compared to recently developed, up-to-date electrocatalysts and represents the benchmark performance which advanced catalysts show in regimes that support water splitting significantly better than pH 7 medium. X20CoCrWMo10-9//Co3O4 exhibited electrocatalytic properties not only at pH 7, but also at pH 13, which are much superior to the ones of IrO2–RuO2, single-phase Co3O4- or Fe/Ni-based catalysts. Both XPS and FT-IR experiments unmasked Co3O4 as the dominating compound on the surface of the X20CoCrWMo10-9//Co3O4 composite. By performing a comprehensive dual beam FIB-SEM (focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy) study, we could show that the new composite does not exhibit a classical substrate-layer structure due to the intrinsic formation of the Co-enriched outer zone. This structural particularity is basically responsible for the outstanding electrocatalytic OER performance.


The gesneriad flora of the Reserva Río Guajalito, Province of Pichincha, and Bosque Protector Otonga, Province of Cotopaxi, Ecuador have been investigated. Three new species,Gasteranthus aurantiacus M. Freiberg,G. atrolimbus M. Freiberg, andG. acuticarinatus M. Freiberg, are described and illustrated in preparation for a contribution for the Gesneriaceae in the Flora of Ecuador. While bothG. acuticarinatus andG. atrolimbus are characterized by a dorsal keel on a tubular, pink to wine-red corolla, the infundibulate, bright orange-colored corolla ofG. aurantiacus has a rather wide opening and a large limb.


Objective: To determine the evidence for physical therapy interventions aimed at improving functional outcome after stroke. Methods: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, DARE, PEDro, EMBASE and DocOnline were searched for controlled studies. Physical therapy was divided into 10 intervention categories, which were analysed separately. If statistical pooling (weighted summary effect sizes) was not possible due to lack of comparability between interventions, patient characteristics and measures of outcome, a bestresearch synthesis was performed. This best-research synthesis was based on methodological quality (PEDro score). Results: In total, 151 studies were included in this systematic review; 123 were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 28 controlled clinical trials (CCTs). Methodological quality of all RCTs had a median of 5 points on the 10-point PEDro scale (range 2–8 points). Based on high-quality RCTs strong evidence was found in favour of task-oriented exercise training to restore balance and gait, and for strengthening the lower paretic limb. Summary effect sizes (SES) for functional outcomes ranged from 0.13 (95% CI 0.03–0.23) for effects of high intensity of exercise training to 0.92 (95% CI 0.54–1.29) for improving symmetry when moving from sitting to standing. Strong evidence was also found for therapies that were focused on functional training of the upper limb such as constraint-induced movement therapy (SES 0.46; 95% CI 0.07–0.91), treadmill training with or without body weight support, respectively 0.70 (95% CI 0.29–1.10) and 1.09 (95% CI 0.56–1.61), aerobics (SES 0.39; 95% CI 0.05–0.74), external auditory rhythms during gait (SES 0.91; 95% CI 0.40–1.42) and neuromuscular stimulation for glenohumeral subluxation (SES 1.41; 95% CI 0.76–2.06). No or insufficient evidence in terms of functional outcome was found for: traditional neurological treatment approaches; exercises for the upper limb; biofeedback; functional and neuromuscular electrical stimulation aimed at improving dexterity or gait performance; orthotics and assistive devices; and physical therapy interventions for reducing hemiplegic shoulder pain and hand oedema. Conclusions: This review showed small to large effect sizes for task-oriented exercise training, in particular when applied intensively and early after stroke onset. In almost all high-quality RCTs, effects were mainly restricted to tasks directly trained in the exercise programme.


Past compliance-gaining message selection experiments were reviewed, and three strong predictors of persons' compliance-gaining message choices emerged: (1) benefit to other, (2) negativism, and (3) dogmatism. Two major procedural limitations of these studies were identified: (1) a lack of realism, and (2) a lack of attention to change in the use of compliance-gaining messages. Thus an experiment without these limitations was designed. Subjects (Ss)senl messages to a confederate trying to persuade the confederate to change point allocations on an anagram task. These messages were sent under conditions of either high or low benefit to the confederate (other) and high or low benefit to the subject (self). Individual differences also were assessed. Results indicated that persons are concerned with equity, but that they are more concerned with others being treated fairly than they are with self being treated fairly. While dogmatism did not prove to be a strong predictor of compliance-gaining messages directed toward other, other predictors gleaned from past research correlated as predicted. The benefit self treatment proved to be a stronger predictor of compliance gaining message selection than it has in past studies.


Albino rats were subjected to rapid decompression from high ambient pressure (6 atm). The mean levels of histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in skin, ileum, lung, and brain were measured. They showed no significant change as compared to a nondecompressed control group even when decompression time was short enough to cause immediate death. The decompression also failed to produce any changes in the morphological appearance of the mesenteric mast cells.


Regular wave deformation and breaking on very gende slopes is calculated by Mixed-Eulerian-Lagrangian procedure. The velocity potentials and their normal derivatives on the boundary are calculated through the mixed 0-1 boundary element method. The wave elevation and the potentials of time-stepping integration are detertnined by the 2nd-order Taylor expansion at the nodes of free surface boundary elements. During calculation the x-coordinates of the free surface element nodes are supposed to remain unchanged, i.e. the partial derivatives of wave elevation and potentials with respect to x are considered as zero. The numerical results of asymmetric parameters of breaking waves are verified by experimental study. It is shown that when the wave asymmetry is weak, the maximum horizontal velocity of water particales occurs at the wave peak and, the average ratio of this maximum velocity to wave celerity is 0.96. However, when the wave asymmetry is strong, the maximum horizontal velocity of water particles occurs just before the wave crest, and the average ratio of the maximum velocity to wave celerity is about 0.98. The numerical results also show that the asymmetry of wave profiles affects the value of the wave breaking index (H/d)b, that is, when the asymmetric characteristics are weak, the value of wave breaking index coincides with that given by Goda; on the contrary, when the asymmetry of wave profiles is notable, the value of wave breaking index is close to Nelson's result. The experimental study gives the same conclusions.


A quantum memory with the performances of low noise, high efficiency, and high bandwidth is of crucial importance for developing practical quantum information technologies. However, the excess noises generated during the highly efficient processing of quantum information inevitably destroy quantum state. Here, we present a quantum memory with built-in excess-noise eraser by integrating a photon-correlated quantum interferometry in quantum memory, where the memory efficiency can be enhanced and the excess noises can be suppressed to the vacuum level via destructive interference. This quantum memory is demonstrated in a rubidium vapor cell with a 10-ns-long photonics signal. We observe ∼80% noise suppression, the write-in efficiency enhancement from 87% to 96.2% without and with interferometry, and the corresponding memory efficiency excluding the noises from 70% to 77%. The fidelity is 93.7% at the single-photon level, significantly exceeding the no-cloning limit. Such interferometry-integrated quantum memory, the first expansion of quantum interference techniques to quantum information processing, simultaneously enables low noise, high bandwidth, high efficiency, and easy operation.


The Black arts organisations play a vital role in displaying and perpetuating artistic forms that are distinctive to the culture of Black Minority Ethnic groups (BMEs) in the UK. The hub of this socio-cultural existence is concentrated in the cosmopolitan cities such as London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. However, we have little understanding of their range of artistic forms and of how they exploit cultural opportunities and productivity. Consequently, I explored these issues through ethnographic interviews of two representatives of Black arts organisaitons, 'The Drum' and 'Ewajo - Come and Dance', and conducted a comparative analysis of their website features. The study found that the Black arts organisations are vibrant in promoting artsform in both shared and self-contained spaces. However, they face a number of challenges including limited contribution to the formulation of cultural policy, location in socio-economically deprived areas, bad publicity, racial prejudice, limited contribution to arts education, and funding. Finally, they gather little personal information about audiences' taste and interest to enhance the quality of the artsform and performance for the purpose of increasing audience attendance and participation.


Virtual scanning keyboards are commonly used augmentative communication aids by persons with severe speech and motion impairments. Designers of virtual scanning keyboards face problems in evaluating alternate designs and hence in choosing the better design among alternatives. Automatic evaluation of designs will be helpful to designers in making the appropriate design choice. In this paper, we present performance models for virtual scanning keyboards that can be used for automatic evaluation. The proposed models address the limitations present in the reported work on similar models. We compared the model predictions with results from user trials and established the validity of the proposed models.


On 30 December 2008 Competition Authority of Bosnia & Herzegovina (Konkurencijsko vijece BiH) (KV) received a complaint submitted by MHS d.o.o. (MHS) alleging the abuse of dominant position…


Our target article argued that a genetically specified Universal Grammar (UG), capturing arbitrary properties of languages, is not tenable on evolutionary grounds, and that the close fit between language and language learners arises because language is shaped by the brain, rather than the reverse. Few commentaries defend a genetically specified UG. Some commentators argue that we underestimate the importance of processes of cultural transmission; some propose additional cognitive and brain mechanisms that may constrain language and perhaps differentiate humans from nonhuman primates; and others argue that we overstate or understate the case against co-evolution of language genes. In engaging with these issues, we suggest that a new synthesis concerning the relationship between brains, genes, and language may be emerging.


Water with a controllable amount of swirl was admitted to a long Perspex tube which could be held at any angle. At tappings along the tube, the wall pressure and the air core diameter were measured, colour bands were inserted at various radii, and total-head traverses across the stream were made. From these observations the distribution was determined of the axial and tangential components of velocity, which were about 10 to 15 ft. /s. Experiments were made when the outlet was partly blocked, causing a jump to form, and also when it was unobstructed as in a 'vortex drop'. For both states the inviscid theory of the motion is derived; but agreement with the experiments is not close because, as in swirling flow through a nozzle, the shearing action in the stream was intense. The core sometimes assumed a helical shape of its own accord, and always took this form after the stream had been forced round a bend. Observations of these effects are compared with theoretical analysis.


The mode of operation of internet can lead to congestion which, in turn, leads to degradation in the quality of service (QoS). Congestion can be seen as overflow in the input and/or output buffers of switches at a node. Research issue relating to internet services is determining the optimum network resources - in terms of transmission link bandwidth and buffer capacity in switches - that are required for heterogeneous internet traffic which guarantees a given QoS, even under high network loading conditions. This paper, therefore, presents a method for determining the optimum internet resources required for heterogeneous (data and voice only) traffic services to guarantee given QoS requirements


The Philippine Research Reactor-1 (PRR-1) of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) has slightly irradiated Training Research Isotope General Atomics (TRIGA) nuclear fuel rods that have been stored in a wet storage tank for three decades. In support of the re-operation of PRR-1 as a subcritical assembly, which will reuse the TRIGA fuel rods, residues collected from the fuel cluster shrouds were characterized to ascertain the integrity of the fuel. The elemental composition of the residue samples was determined via wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (WDXRF), while radiological characterization of potential alpha, beta, and gamma contamination was performed using a radiation counter. Gamma spectrometry was also carried out for water samples obtained from the fuel storage tank to determine if the water contains any radioactive materials that are beyond normal levels. Results indicated that residues collected on the fuel cluster shrouds were aluminum oxide while radiological contaminations were found to be below the values for surface and water contamination based on the Code of PNRI Regulations Part 3. These results demonstrated that although the fuel cluster shroud had some level of oxidation, there is no evidence that the integrity of the TRIGA fuel cladding has been compromised, thus confirming its suitability for repurposing.


Abstract This essay sets out from the strain of liberal political thought which, in recent years, has come to the defence of nationalism, and raises some preliminary thoughts concerning its appropriate application to the very concrete issue of national territorial rights. It asks what type of justifications could be morally acceptable to "liberal nationalism" for the acquisition and holding of territory. To this end, the paper takes a brief look at five central arguments for territorial entitlement which have become predominant in political debates. These are: so called "historical rights" to territory; demands for territorial restitution; efficiency arguments; claims of entitlement to territories settled by co-nationals; and lastly, territorial demands based on claims of equal entitlement to the earth's natural resources. These popular arguments point towards several potential criteria for the arbitration of territorial conflicts. The paper attempts to outline the morally relevant guidelines for thinking about territorial issues that flow from, or are at least consistent with, applying liberal values to the national phenomenon. It places the territorial aspect of nationalism at the head of the liberal nationalist agenda and offers an initial common ground for discussion (including disagreement) among liberals, and for the mediation of claims between nations.


Coproporphyrinogen oxidation is a last step in heme biosynthesis. The biochemically characterized eukaryotic coproporphyrinogen III oxidases have an obligate requirement for molecular oxygen, and a similar enzyme is encoded by the hemF gene in Salmonella typhimurium. Anaerobic heme synthesis requires an oxygen-independent coproporphyrinogen oxidase, which is probably encoded by the hemN gene in S. typhimurium. The hemN gene has been cloned from an insertion mutant. The nucleotide sequence was obtained and used for PCR amplification of the wild-type gene. A single open reading frame was identified as the hemN gene on the basis of its interruption by the insertion mutation and plasmid complementation studies of hemF hemN double mutants. The predicted HemN protein has 38% amino acid sequence identity to a putative anaerobic Rhodobacter sphaeroides coproporphyrinogen oxidase. The hemN RNA 5' end and the inferred transcription initiation site were mapped by primer extension. The 52.8-kDa HemN protein is expressed from the second ATG codon of the hemN open reading frame. An open reading frame with an unknown function directly upstream of hemN has a striking amino acid sequence, including 11 acidic residues in a row.


The American Fisheries Act (AFA) of 1998 significantly altered the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands pollock fishery by allowing the formation of harvesting and processing cooperatives and defining exclusive fishing rights. This paper uses data envelopment analysis and stochastic production frontier models to examine effects of the AFA on the fishing capacity, technical harvesting efficiency (TE), and capacity utilization (CU) of pollock catcher-processors. Results from multi-input, multi-output models indicate that fishing capacity fell by more than 30% and that harvesting TE and CU measures increased relative to past years. This work provides examples of how existing data, which is currently devoid of operator costs and provides only general indicators of earnings, may be used to analyze changes in elements of fleet and vessel performance in response to management actions.


Background Cancer patients are characterised by a high frequency of attendance at the emergency services. Specialised care is required due to complications from chemotherapy treatments. It is important that patients are educated about what to expect from their regimen and the correct use of supportive care medications. Purpose To identify, quantify and analyse the reasons why cancer patients come to the emergency service, and to evaluate the toxicities related to chemotherapy. Material and methods Observational and retrospective study including patients who attended in an emergency during 2014 and required the assistance of the oncologist. Data were collected from the PCH emergency programme and clinical documentation. Data analysed: age, sex, stage, histology, hospitalisation required, mean duration of hospitalisation and time between the last cycle of chemotherapy and the day attended the emergency service. The reasons for assistance were grouped into three types: tumour cause, chemotherapy toxicity and other. Results 238 emergency events were analysed in 158 patients with a mean age of 65 ± 12.3 years. 58.2% (92) were men and 77.8% (123) were in stage IV. Regarding tumour histology, the majority were colorectal in 22.7% (36) of patients, and breast and lung in 20.8% (33). 50.8% (121) of events required hospitalisation with a mean duration of 11.4 days (1–24). The tumour cause was the reason for attendance by the oncologist in 47.4% (113) of events (including asthenia and dyspnoea). Chemotherapy toxicity was the reason in 36.9% (88) of cases. Of these, 47 were haematological disorders (15 with grade IV anaemia and 9 with grade IV neutropenia), 37 gastrointestinal disorders and 7 neurological disorders. The mean number of days between the last cycle of chemotherapy and the day attended the emergency service was 8.2 (1–24). 15.5% (37) of events were due to other reasons. Conclusion The main reason why cancer patients come to the emergency service is related to the tumour process itself, followed by post-chemotherapy toxicities in 36.9% of events (mainly haematologic and gastrointestinal disorders). Pharmacists can educate patients about the adverse effects of chemotherapy and the ability to manage them. It would be interesting to develop models to predict the risk of post-chemotherapy toxicities in order to reduce these toxicities (and hospitalisations). No conflict of interest.


Although several techniques have been developed for the detection of JAK2 V617F mutation, these techniques have their disadvantages. High-resolution melting (HRM) analysis is a new, post-PCR analysis. Simple and fast, this method is based on PCR melting curve techniques. This study examined the JAK2 V617F mutation by the high-resolution melting method in 20 patients with erythrocytosis, and the results were compared with those obtained from the direct sequencing method. The results showed 100% sensitivity and 100% positive predictive value for this methodology in the patient sample set tested.


Providing adequate nutrition for the healthy full-term newborn is relatively easy; breast milk or formula is sufficient for the first six months of life. Although the full-term infant's organ systems are relatively mature, the gastrointestinal tract is often stressed by the demands of rapid growth, and feeding difficulties, such as gastroesophageal reflux, colic, milk allergy, and constipation, may occur that necessitate special handling. The small preterm infant, however, has many urgent nutritional needs; management is usually complicated by the fact that the infant's immature organs may be unable to cope with enteral feedings. Thus, total parenteral nutrition is necessary, with extensive laboratory monitoring of metabolic functions and precise attention to detail to avoid a prolonged period of partial starvation.


Cotton is a highly variable natural material that is routinely blended during textile processing to create a uniform product. Harvesting and ginning can introduce some blending before the mill. Blending earlier in the supply chain could produce a more consistent and predictable product. There has been limited research on the benefits of in-field blending of cotton cultivars, especially from a textile perspective. Experiments were conducted over two seasons to determine the economic and performance impacts of in-field blending. The seed of three cultivars with different quality parameters were blended in combinations of two cultivars at 25% increments before planting. Crop maturity, lint yield, fiber quality, and textile processing were evaluated for both years. Some combinations resulted in differences in micronaire, fineness (linear density), and fiber length, which mostly followed the blend rates of the constituent cultivars. Although there were some statistical differences, no functional differences were observed for yield, textile processing, or textile quality. The most significant result was the movement of one set of blends from the base range of micronaire to the premium range. The results showed that infield blending of cultivars could be done without harming quality or resultant textiles, as long as the cultivars are carefully selected for similar seed characteristics and maturation timing. Individual producers will have to determine if the benefits and risks are worthwhile for their specific situation.


Background: Few human papillomavirus (HPV) seroprevalence studies have been carried out in women from low-resource countries. Methods: Seroprevalence of antibodies against HPV16 and HPV18 was assessed in 7,074 women ≥15 years of age (median 44 years) from eight world areas. Serum antibodies against HPV16 and HPV18 were tested for using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HPV DNA was assessed using a general primer GP5+/6+–mediated PCR. Results: HPV16 and HPV18 seroprevalence both ranged from <1% (Hanoi, Vietnam) to ≥25% (Nigeria). Of women who were HPV16 or HPV18 DNA-positive, seropositivity for the same type was 39.8% and 23.2%, respectively. Seropositivity for either type was directly associated with markers of sexual behavior. HPV16 and/or 18 (HPV16/18)–seropositive women had an increased risk of having cytologic abnormalities only if they were also HPV DNA-positive. A high international correlation was found between HPV16/18 seroprevalence and overall HPV DNA prevalence (r = 0.81; P = 0.022). However, HPV16/18 seroprevalence was substantially higher than the corresponding DNA prevalence in all study areas (although to different extents) and, contrary to DNA, tended to increase from young to middle age, and then decline or remain fairly constant. In all study areas, the vast majority of the information on the burden of exposure to HPV16/18 derived from serology. Conclusions: The correlation between HPV DNA and HPV serology was not very good at an individual woman level, but high at a population level. Impact: HPV serology is a poor marker of current infection or related lesions, but it can contribute, together with DNA, in evaluating the variations in the burden of HPV infection worldwide. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(9); 2379–88. ©2010 AACR.


The individual response to physical or chemical stress may vary as a function of the particular gene combination regarding metabolism of chemical mutagens, DNA repair, cell death and cell cycle control. Nowadays, methods for genotyping have become easy to perform and in vitro phenotyping approaches are in development. It is therefore interesting to consider whether these methods assessing genetic susceptibility can be implemented for occupational biomonitoring. A major question is whether genotyping or phenotyping or both has the best predictive value for cancer risk and should be applied. To fully understand the relationship between genotype and phenotype, knowledge about the different factors influencing the expression of a genotype into a phenotype is still missing. In this review we compare advantages and disadvantages of genotyping and phenotyping to assess individual susceptibility and discuss the different parameters modifying the genotype-phenotype relationship. The importance of both approaches is illustrated by a study conducted in our laboratory in workers exposed to low dose ionising radiation. Genotyping for hOGG1, XRCC1 and XRCC3, enzymes involved in base excision and double strand DNA repair was performed; the DNA strand break repair phenotype was assessed by in vitro challenging with γ-rays. The results indicate that hOGG 1 and XRCC3 may be predictive for induced mutations after exposure to ionising radiation, and that the in vitro repair phenotype assay might also be a valuable approach to assess individual susceptibility. Additional studies on larger population samples are needed before advising these genetic tests for susceptibility in daily practice.


Sensitivity analysis is a widely applied tool used to investigate the predictions of numerical models of environmental processes. This paper illustrates the importance of undertaking a sensitivity analysis that considers the spatially distributed nature of model predictions, rather than simply assessing the sensitivity of one or more model parameters that are assumed to represent the distributed behaviour of the system. A spatially distributed sensitivity analysis is applied to the output from a distributed model of turbulent river flow, used to simulate the flow processes in a natural river channel bifurcation. Examples are provided for an input parameter which illustrates the importance of sensitivity analysis with respect to model assessment and error analysis. The distributed nature of the analysis suggests the importance of spatial feedback in environmental systems that more traditional approaches to sensitivity analysis cannot reveal.


ABSTRACT Interprofessional education (IPE) activities are recommended to reflect current and future practice. The opioid epidemic is one of the most significant current health challenges; recently declared a United States public health crisis. Thus, an IPE program centered on interprofessional roles in pain management during the opioid crisis was developed at the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Professional students from pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, and nurse anesthesia programs were included. The program included a lecture about each profession, small group case-based problem-solving sessions (group activity), and a panel discussion led by representative pain management experts from each profession. We conducted a retrospective review of data from 251 professional students attending the IPE program, and assessed students' knowledge of each profession and their respective roles in pain management. We evaluated interprofessional skills using the Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey and gathered qualitative student feedback. Participants gained knowledge about other professions. Each represented profession had improvements in five constructs related to interprofessional skills. Students found the most value from the group activity, which encouraged interaction among professions. Overall, the program design was effective in enhancing student knowledge and attitudes regarding collaborative interprofessional team skills.


Fog computing is emerging as a powerful and popular computing paradigm to perform IoT (Internet of Things) applications, which is an extension to the cloud computing paradigm to make it possible to execute the IoT applications in the network of edge. The IoT applications could choose fog or cloud computing nodes for responding to the resource requirements, and load balancing is one of the key factors to achieve resource efficiency and avoid bottlenecks, overload, and low load. However, it is still a challenge to realize the load balance for the computing nodes in the fog environment during the execution of IoT applications. In view of this challenge, a dynamic resource allocation method, named DRAM, for load balancing in fog environment is proposed in this paper. Technically, a system framework for fog computing and the load-balance analysis for various types of computing nodes are presented first. Then, a corresponding resource allocation method in the fog environment is designed through static resource allocation and dynamic service migration to achieve the load balance for the fog computing systems. Experimental evaluation and comparison analysis are conducted to validate the efficiency and effectiveness of DRAM.


To retrieve aerosol properties from the radiance measured at the top of the atmosphere in clear sky conditions, the contributions of the surface and the various atmospheric constituents need to be separated. This is easiest done over dark surfaces, i.e. with a negligible reflectance that can relatively easily be accounted for. This principle has been used for the retrieval of aerosol optical depth (AOD) over water from satellite observations in the near-infrared. The AOD at wavelengths in the UV can be determined both over water and over land, using the same principle of a dark surface. For longer wavelengths, the dual view provided by ATSR-2 is used to separate the aerosol reflectance from the surface contribution. Single and dual-view algorithms have been developed by TNO-FEL and tested for the US east coast and over Europe. Currently the algorithms are extended with other aerosol types and tested versus data over the Indian Ocean (INDOEX area) and South Africa (SAFARI experiment). The initial results indicate that the AOD can be retrieved within reasonable limits. Apart from the ATSR-2, algorithms aimed at the determination of aerosol optical depth and composition are developed for AATSR and SCIAMACHY (ENVISAT) and OMI (EOS-TERRA).


Abstract. The surficial deposits surrounding the Mount Meager volcanic complex include numerous avalanche deposits. These deposits share many attributes: (a) they are nearly monolithologic and comprise mainly intermediate volcanic rock clasts, (b) they lack internal structure, and (c) they are very poorly sorted. Despite these similarities, the avalanche deposits represent two distinct processes. Mass wasting of the Mount Meager volcanic edifice has produced cold rock avalanche deposits, whereas gravitational collapse of active lava domes and flows has produced hot block and ash avalanche deposits. The ability to discriminate between these "hot" and "cold" avalanche deposits is a critical component in the assessment of hazards in volcanic terranes. Hot block and ash avalanche deposits can be distinguished by the presence of radially-oriented joints, breadcrust textures, and incipient welding, which are features indicative of high emplacement temperatures. Conversely, rock avalanche deposits resulting from mass wasting events may be distinguished by the presence of clasts that preserve pre-depositional weathering and jointing surfaces. Volcanic avalanches are mechanically similar to rock avalanches but pose a greater hazard due to high temperatures, increased fluidization from degassing and the potential to decouple highly mobile elutriated ash clouds. The increasing use of hazardous regions such as the Lillooet River valley requires more reliable risk assessment in order to minimize losses from future hazardous events.


Objective
This meta-analysis examines loneliness in children and adolescents with chronic physical conditions as compared with their peers. Multilevel meta-analyses were performed on 43 studies (69 samples), published between 1987 and 2015. A total of 2,518 individuals with chronic physical conditions and 1,463 control peers were included in the analyses. Children and adolescents with chronic conditions are, on average, somewhat lonelier than their peers without such conditions. Moreover, the link between chronic conditions and loneliness varied according to the recruitment procedure used for participant selection. Stronger links were found for studies that recruited from patient organizations as compared with clinical registers. Findings support the link between loneliness and chronic conditions. To take into account the heterogeneity within patient groups, we advocate an alternative approach that cuts across diagnostic boundaries and focuses on illness-related variables such as illness duration and visibility of the condition.


THIS ESSAY PRESENTS AN OVERVIEW OF TUMOR LOCALIZATION using radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies. In particular the contribution of three major factors—the antibodies, imaging techniques, and various properties of the tumor—are all considered. Despite the fact that monoclonal antibodies are not truly tumor-specific, the evidence suggests that specific tumor localization is possible. In addition, tumor detection may be improved by the use of antibody fragments. The use of isotopes other than iodine to label immunoglobulins as well as single photon emission computerized tomography may also improve tumor resolution. Tumor heterogeneity and the presence of circulating tumor antigens may be self-limiting, but each of these problems can be overcome. The accurate detection of lymph node metastases is a subject of current study, but if feasible it may represent the major contribution of this imaging technology to clinical medicine.


The glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family of ligands binds to lipid anchored proteins termed GDNF family receptor (GFR)alphas, and then activates the RET receptor tyrosine kinase, by ligand GFRalpha. The binding of soluble GFRalphas to transfected cells suggested that different GFRalphas were dedicated to particular ligands, with GDNF acting primarily or entirely through GFRalpha1, and neurturin (NTN), through GFRalpha2. More recent evidence has suggested the possibility of cross-talk between these ligands and the two receptors. We examined here whether crosstalk between the GDNF ligands and the GFRalphas is biologically relevant, using midbrain dopaminergic, and parasympathetic, submandibular gland neurons. By biochemical and genetic addition and/or deletion of GFRalpha1 and 2, we show that in both neuronal cell types, robust biological activities of GDNF or NTN can be mediated by either GFRalpha1 or GFRalpha2, although GDNF is slightly more potent in dopaminergic (DA) neurons which normally express GFRalpha1, and NTN in submandibular neurons which normally express GFRalpha2. Throughout the body, GDNF and NTN are likely to have important biological actions on both GFRalpha1- and GFRalpha2-expressing cells.


Background: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a powerful tool to individualize cancer treatment by detecting alterations in target genes. Safe, robust, and feasible diagnostic systems are urgently required.

Methods: Recruited patients had advanced solid tumors and were planning to receive anticancer drugs at National Cancer Center Hospital East. Genomic DNA was extracted from pretreatment FFPE biopsy samples, and 10 ng of double strand (ds) DNA was applied to the amplicon sequence using Ion AmpliSeq™ Cancer Panel ver1.0, targeting 739 COSMIC-registered mutations of 46 oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. A multidisciplinary institutional cancer board ("Expert panel") was organized to review the safety of the biopsy and quality of the sequencing. The panel also gave qualified reports to clinicians. Results are presented for the prespecified feasibility evaluation with over 100 full analysis sets.

Results: From July 2012 to February 2013, 105 patients were enrolled. Primary tumor sites were stomach (n=28), colorectal (n=20), lung (n=12), breast (n=11), liver (n=9), and others (n=25). Most patients were enrolled before receiving first-line chemotherapy (74.3%). No serious adverse events were observed with biopsy procedures. Adequate biopsy samples for DNA extraction were obtained from 92 patients, and successful sequencing was performed in 90 patients using only 10 ng dsDNA, for a sequence success rate for all enrolled patients and for DNA extracted samples of 85.7% (90/105), and 97.8% (90/92), respectively. Mutation analyses were performed in 93 patients, which included archival tissue or re-biopsied samples from three patients. The median amount of extracted dsDNA was 3334 ng; more than 100 ng dsDNA was retrieved from 92 of 93 samples (99%), which provided enough material for the Cancer Panel and for other additional analyses. The mean number of mutations detected was 1.6 per patient. Potentially targetable mutations were detected in 44% of the patients; these included PIK3CA (15%), KRAS (15%), CTNNB1 (7.5%), EGFR (3.2%), GNAS (3.2%), BRAF (2.1%), ERBB2 (2.1%), KIT (1.1%), and NRAS (1.1%). Proportions of patient with these mutations in major types of malignancies were as follows: breast (77%), colorectal (66%), liver (63%), lung (45%), and stomach (29%). These mutation profiles resulted in treatment of one colon cancer patient with an ERBB2 mutation and amplification with trastuzumab, while other colon cancer patients with KRAS mutations (p.Q61P or p.A146T) received alternative treatments prior to anti-EGFR therapy. Detailed analyses of the sequence data suggested that apparent amplifications of the target genes correlated with the sequence coverage.

Conclusions: An NGS-based multiplex mutation analysis was safely and effectively performed with FFPE biopsy samples. Potentially targetable mutations were detected in about half of the patients with major types of malignancies except for gastric cancer. Application of gene amplification detection using sequence data may expand the utility of the multiplex sequencing for stratifying cancer patients; additional gene amplification analysis should be conducted. Evaluation of the clinical utility of this method is warranted.

Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):B29.

Citation Format: Hideaki Takahashi, Kohei Shitara, Takeshi Kuwata, Yoichi Naito, Shingo Matsumoto, Wataru Okamoto, Seiji Niho, Hideaki Bando, Yasutoshi Kuboki, Yoko Yamada, Izumi Miki, Takeharu Yamanaka, Atsushi Watanabe, Motohiro Kojima, Genichiro Ishii, Satoshi Fujii, Shigeki Umemura, Masafumi Ikeda, Takashi Kohno, Akihiro Sato, Atsushi Ohtsu, Hiroyasu Esumi, Atsushi Ochiai, Takayuki Yoshino, Katsuya Tsuchihara. Feasibility of amplicon sequencing using a pan-cancer gene panel with pre-treatment biopsy samples of (Japanese) patients with advanced solid tumors: Analyses of Biopsy Samples for Cancer Genomics (ABC) study. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B29.


The most common computer authentication method is to use alphanumerical usernames and passwords. This method has been shown to have significant drawbacks. For example, users tend to pick passwords that can be easily guessed. On the other hand, if a password is hard to guess, then it is often hard to remember. To address this problem, some researchers have developed authentication methods that use pictures as passwords. In this paper, we conduct a comprehensive survey of the existing graphical password techniques. We classify these techniques into two categories: recognition-based and recall-based approaches. We discuss the strengths and limitations of each method and point out the future research directions in this area. We also try to answer two important questions: "Are graphical passwords as secure as text-based passwords?"; "What are the major design and implementation issues for graphical passwords?" This survey will be useful for information security researchers and practitioners who are interested in finding an alternative to text-based authentication methods


Mechatronics engineering courses at undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as vocational training courses, are rapidly increasing across the world. Philosophy and structure of such courses divert from the classical single-discipline engineering programs and induce a challenge for the higher education institutions. The paper describes a project based approach utilising a mechatronics "kit of parts" to enable teams of students to build a mobile robot. The robots have two major competitive tasks in which the students fully engage. The teaching activity is based around activity packs which the students complete at their own pace.