BACKGROUNDThe complexity of clinical genomics – testing your entire genetic information for health benefit – is a rapidly evolving field demanding swift clinical practice change at multiple levels as widespread testing in healthcare becomes a reality. We aimed to a) describe a combined stakeholder- and evidence-driven approach to developing a toolkit for implementing genomics into the Australian health system, and b) hypothesise key steps in the change to Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) domains via coded implementation strategies and associated mechanistic links. METHODSThe TDF was used to analyse interview data from 16 nongenetic medical specialists using genomics in practice. Barriers and enablers were identified for three key target behaviour areas across the genomic testing process: 1) identifying patients, 2) test ordering/reporting, and 3) providing results. Barriers were grouped by distinct TDF domains, and, where barriers overlapped, 'overarching' domains were identified. Intuitive enabling strategies generated by clinicians were aligned with identified barriers, and retrospectively coded against evidence-based behaviour change techniques (BCTs). Additional theory-driven strategies were developed to address remaining identified barriers. Using structured expert consensus processes, members of the research team participated in a series of workshops to discuss and agree theory-informed links and propose mechanisms through which specific implementation strategies would address TDF-based barriers.RESULTSA total of 32 barriers were coded against TDF domains and constructs, and eight overarching TDF domains were identified on 13 occasions. Across all target behaviour areas, 21 BCTs were represented within the 30 intuitive enabling strategies generated by clinicians, found to be used on 49 occasions. Of these, nine (18%) aligned with a corresponding distinct TDF domain coded barrier that has previously demonstrated statistically significant mechanistic links. 20 new implementation strategies were developed to address nine remaining barriers using a theory-driven approach.CONCLUSIONThis study provides rich detail of crucial stages in intervention development, aiming to ensure implementation strategies are both evidence-informed and contextually appropriate. All barriers were mapped to the TDF, implementation strategies coded against BCTs, and standardised hypothesised behavioural pathways have been proposed, making potential underlying theory explicit. Next steps will be to test toolkit effectiveness for facilitating scale-up of genomics across Australia.


Phased-array systems, a special case of multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems, take advantage of spatial directivity and array gain to increase spectral efficiency. Implementing a phased-array system at high frequency in a commercial silicon process technology presents several challenges. This thesis focuses on the architectural and circuit-level trade-offs involved in the design of the silicon-based fully integrated phased-array transmitters. As the first implementation, a four-element 24GHz 0.18µm CMOS phased-array transmitter with integrated power amplifiers is presented. On-chip power amplifiers use substrate-shielded slow-wave transmission lines for impedance matching and can generate up to 14dBm of output power. The transmitter employs a two-step upconversion architecture with 4.8GHz as the intermediate frequency (IF) and uses a single 19.2GHz synthesizer serving as the local oscillator (LO) generator. The phased-array, employing the LO phase shifting architecture, achieves 23dB of peak to null-ratio when all four elements are used, demonstrates a beam steering range covering all signal incident angles, and can support a data rate of 500Mbps with a quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) baseband signal. As the second implementation with a modified phase shifting architecture, an integrated 4-element 77GHz Silicon-Germanium (SiGe) phased-array transceiver is presented. Two-step conversion, envisioning a dual-mode 77GHz/24GHz operation, is used at both the receiver and the transmitter paths. A differential phase of 52GHz is generated by the on-chip voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and is distributed to all radio frequency (RF) paths. The phase shifting is performed at the LO ports of the RF mixers with continuous analog phase shifters. The quadrature signal of the second LO, at the IF frequency of 26GHz, is generated by dividing the VCO frequency by a factor of 2 using a cross-coupled injection-locked frequency divider. The on-chip 77GHz power amplifier with an output power of 17.5dBm and peak power added efficiency (PAE) of 14% achieves the best performance demonstrated in silicon. A single transmitter path achieves a 40dB conversion gain at 77GHz with 2.5GHz of bandwidth and a maximum output power of 12.5 dBm. The measured results demonstrate the feasibility of using silicon-based integrated phased-arrays for wireless communication and vehicular radar applications.


This work aims at developing a process to valorise pharmaceutical wastes through the recovery of pharmaceutically active compounds. The ibuprofen extraction and isolation from solid pharmaceutical wastes is used here as a case study and an integrated approach comprising the ibuprofen solid–liquid extraction, the removal of the insoluble excipients present in the pills, the target drug recovery and the recycling of the aqueous solutions is proposed. The present work is centred on the optimization of the first (solid–liquid extraction) and third (drug recovery) steps mentioned above. For the solid–liquid extraction step, various ionic liquid aqueous solutions were tested, tetrabutylammonium chloride ([N4444]Cl) being adopted to further optimize the process. A solution composed of 45 wt% of [N4444]Cl + 5 wt% of citrate buffer + 50 wt% of H2O led to the highest ibuprofen extraction efficiency (EEIBU = 97.92 ± 2.65%) while in the absence of citrate the extraction efficiency was somewhat lower (EEIBU = 93.53 ± 0.62%). The polishing task was affected by the type of aqueous solution utilized during the solid–liquid extraction step: in the presence of citrate buffer water was not prone to induce significant ibuprofen precipitation (maximum REIBU of 34.71 ± 4.00%) the aqueous KCl solution being the best option (maximum REIBU of 87.97 ± 1.00%); when no citrate buffer is used water can be used as an anti-solvent with a maximum REIBU of 91.60 ± 0.19% while aqueous KCl solutions lead to an REIBU up to 97.07 ± 0.14%. Based on these results an integrated process is proposed for the ibuprofen recovery and isolation aimed at adding value to pharmaceutical wastes.


Abstract Background In Singapore General Hospital, the use of the Computerized Decision Support System (CDSS) is mandatory when antibiotics audited by the hospital antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) are prescribed. It was envisioned that CDSS could, in part, replace the need for ASP review via prospective audit-feedback (PAF). However, quality of CDSS use is prescriber-dependent, and inappropriate use (diagnosis selected is incongruent with antibiotic indication specified in patient notes) was observed. We investigated the role of prescriber enablement and engagement as strategies to improve CDSS appropriateness rates (CAR). Methods A series of interventions was rolled-out in January 2018. Intervention 1 (I1) was implemented hospital wide—an expanded repertoire of antibiotic guidelines, display of CDSS selected diagnosis on the hospital's electronic medical record, education and publicity via mass emails. Intervention 2 (I2) involved conducting additional roadshows but only in selected clinical departments (one major medical and two major surgical departments). CAR (prospectively evaluated by ASP team) 3-months pre- and post-implementation of these interventions were compared using interrupted time-series analysis. Its potential impact on ASP manpower in place of PAF (30 minutes/case) was estimated. Results An average of 1,043 antibiotic courses, piperacillin–tazobactam (75.7%) as the most common, was prescribed with CDSS per month. Unspecified sepsis (51.5%) was the most common indication. Departments with I1 alone had mediocre improvement in CAR [66.8% (n = 1,699) vs. 68.9% (n = 1,760), P = 0.10], while departments that received a combination of I1 and I2 saw greater improvement in CAR, with a trend toward statistical significance [60.4% (n = 354) vs. 68.3% (n = 393), P = 0.07]. Improvement in CAR was most apparent in the surgical departments (50.6% vs. 59.4%, P = 0.09). This absolute increment in CAR meant manpower savings of 6.5 hours/month, and could potentially reach 41 hours/month had both interventions been implemented and similar results achieved hospital-wide. Conclusion Active prescriber engagement is pivotal in effectively obtaining buy-in to and success of ASP strategies. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


Connecting a synchronous generator to a power system is a dynamic process, requiring the coordinated operation of many components and systems. The goal is to connect the oncoming generator to the system smoothly i.e without causing any significant bumps, surges, or power swings, by closing the ACB when the oncoming generator matches the power system in voltage magnitude, phase angle, and frequency. If oncoming generator voltage is not matched to the power system voltage, reactive power will flow either into or out of the system at the instant of ACB closure. If this voltage difference is too great, the reactive power flow may result in high transient stresses that could damage the windings of the generator. Also, if oncoming generator frequency is not matched to the power system frequency, transient power will flow between generator and power system. If the frequency difference is too great, the transient power flow is reflected into the prime mover shaft, and this may result in excessive shaft or coupling stress. This paper tries to prove the necessity of correct synchronization for ship generators through a transient phenomenon analysis.


Optical solitons which remain radiationless in spite of having wavenumbers immersed in the spectrum of linear waves are rather unusual. This article shows that moving solitons of this type are solutions of an extended NLS equation with third and fourth-order dispersion, and a quintic nonlinearity. The mechanism which prevents the emission of radiation in these solitons is presented. The radiation emitted when these solitons are perturbed is also studied. This radiation exhibits four propagating fronts, and the velocities of these fronts are calculated and explained.


Background Acute visual loss is a catastrophic irreversible complication of Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA). We describe the relationship of GCA related blindness with various patient related factors at presentation. We also report morbidity, mortality and effect on quality of life after sight loss. Objectives To explore the association between sight loss and presenting clinical, laboratory, histology and ultrasound features, and to describe the impact of sight loss from GCA on morbidity, mortality and quality of life. Methods From 2009-2013, 115 patients were diagnosed with GCA by ACR criteria at our centre. 19 (16.5%) of these presented with unilateral or bilateral sight loss. We performed retrospective review of the hospital records of these 19 patients, and of our GCA Fast Track Pathway clinic database. We recorded demographic, clinical, laboratory, biopsy and ultrasound finding, and symptom to steroid time. We also reviewed the case notes for subsequent inpatient admissions, causes of death and discharge destination. EQ5D scores at baseline and 6 months were taken from our Fast Track Pathway database. Results Of 19 patients with sight loss, 14(73.7%) were female, mean age 86. Most patients presented with herald ischaemic features before onset of blindness; 17/19 (85%) described jaw claudication or blurred vision. The second commonest clinical presentation (in 15 (79%) patients) was classical headache, scalp tenderness and thickened temporal artery. 68.5% described constitutional upset, particularly night sweats, weight loss and fatigue. Polymyalgic symptoms were only seen in 4 (21%) patients with visual loss, and fever in just one (5.2%). The mean delay from symptom onset to starting steroid in patients with visual loss was 27.1 days (range 3-84). 18 patients (94.7%) were temporal artery biopsy positive. The clinical and laboratory picture of the remaining patient was classical for GCA. All 19 cases underwent temporal artery ultrasound. 14 (73.7%) were found to be halo sign positive. Morbidity, Mortality and Quality of Life (QOL) All 19 patients with visual loss required inpatient admission more than once following sight loss, with pneumonia and urinary tract infection the commonest causes of admission. 3 (15%) suffered femoral fracture, and 3 (15%) poorly controlled diabetes or ketoacidosis. Overall, there were 64 inpatient episodes (mean number/patient 3.4). Mean length of hospital stay was 23.9 days, with total 453 bed days in this patient group. QOL, assessed by EQ5D at baseline and 6 months, was adversely affected in this patient group. All 19 experienced some degree of depression related to loss of independence, impaired mobility and loss of confidence. Mean Health Score was 61.2/100 (range 45-80), reflecting significantly worse quality of life after sight loss. 7 (36.8%)required residential home admission due to their blindness. 5 (26.3%)patients died, 4 in the first year post diagnosis, 1 in the second year. Cause of death was: myocardial infarction (2 cases), pneumonia (1 case), pulmonary embolus post femoral fracture (1 case). Conclusions Herald cranial ischaemic symptoms and delayed steroid commencement in GCA are associated with high incidence of permanent sight loss. Blindness due to GCA is associated with significant mortality, morbidity, reduction in quality of life and loss of independence. Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.5303


Background : Colostrums are the only natural food that is healthy for newborn infants since colostrums contain proper nutrition needed for infants' growth. This study aimed to reveal the knowledge level of pregnant women on nutrition and benefits of colostrums. Methods : This study used descriptive cross-sectional method on 73 pregnant women in Cipacing village, Jatinangor district, Sumedang Regency, West Java, from October 18 to November 14, 2012. A questionnaire was used. Results : The results showed that the characteristics of these pregnant women were as follows: 20-35 years old (53.4%), most were middle school graduates (42.5%), most were unemployed (72.6%), and some claimed to have never given birth before (37,0%). Mostly, the knowledge level of these pregnant women was in the category of "favorable" (84.9 %). The knowledge level with the highest percentage (100%) came from pregnant women aged above 35 years old, college graduates, employed as private employees, civil servants, or self-employed, as well as having three biological children or more. Conclusions : Sustained health promotion and counseling programs are needed to maintain already-favorable knowledge level; thus pregnant women's knowledge on nutrition and benefits of colostrums can be applied and can also encourage these women themselves to provide colostrums for their newborn infants. Keywords : Benefits of colostrums, Jatinangor, nutrition, women's knowledge level DOI : 10.15850/amj.v2n1.422


From the experimental research, the relations between the dynamic modulus of elasticity and natural vibration frequency of specified density concrete are studied, the static Young's modulus and dynamic modulus are compared. Based on regression analysis, the influence of different Substitution ratio of lightweight aggregate, age of concrete and cement water ratio is studied. According to the test results, the formula of natural vibration frequency and the dynamic modulus of elasticity of Specified density concrete is given, which provide theory basis for the nondestructive detector of the specified density concrete.


Wnts comprise a family of secreted growth factors that regulate the development and maintenance of many organs. Recently, Wnt10b was shown to stimulate osteoblastogenesis and bone formation in mice. To evaluate further the role of Wnt10b in bone health in humans, we performed bidirectional sequencing of ∼8 kb of the WNT10B gene region in 192 individuals (96 African, 96 white) to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We identified 19 SNPs with minor allele frequency (MAF) ≥0.01. Ten of these SNPs were not present in the NCBI dbSNP database (build 127), whereas 10 of the 20 SNPs (50%) reported in dbSNP were not verified. We initially genotyped seven tagging SNPs that captured common (MAF ≥ 0.05) variation in the region with r2 > 0.80 and a potentially functional SNP in exon 5 in 1035 Afro‐Caribbean men ≥40 yr of age. Association analysis showed three SNPs in a 3′ region of linkage disequilibrium that were associated with DXA measures of hip BMD. Associations between two of these three SNPs (rs1051886, rs3741627) with hip BMD were replicated in an additional 980 Afro‐Caribbean men (p < 0.05), in the combined sample of 2015 men (p ≤ 0.006), and in 416 individuals ≥18 yr of age (mean, 44 yr) belonging to eight extended, multigenerational Afro‐Caribbean families with mean family size >50 (3535 relative pairs; p < 0.05). Further analysis showed that rs1051886 and rs3741627 were associated with cortical cross‐sectional area, periosteal circumference, and BMC in the radius, such that individuals with the minor alleles had lower biomechanical indices of long‐bone bending strength. This analysis implicates the WNT10B locus as a genetic element in the regulation of bone mass and structural geometry.


The history of trade secret law is an interesting study in how certain intellectual property rights have developed. Whereas copyright and patent law in the United States find legal justification in the Constitution (14) and implementing federal statutes, trade secret law grew out of the common law and has now been codified separately in most states. Indeed, the very assumptions underlying patent and copyright laws--that government-granted rights can serve to incentivize the creation and sharing of new ideas and expression (15)--are diametrically opposed to the notion of keeping information secret to gain a competitive advantage. A. Trade Secret Basics 1. Definition of a Trade Secret In broad strokes, a trade secret is some sort of information that has value because it is not generally known. The notion of secrecy exempts trade secrets from preemption by patent law. (16) The UTSA defines a trade secret as follows: (17) "Trade secret" means information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process, that: (i) derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable (18) by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, and (ii) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy. For those states that have not implemented the UTSA, and for most judicial opinions that predate the UTSA, (19) the definition of a trade secret is set forth in the comment to section 757 of the Restatement (First) of Torts: (20) Definition of trade secret. A trade secret may consist of any formula, pattern, device or compilation of information which is used in one's business, and which gives him an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not know or use it. (21) Secrecy. The subject matter of a trade secret must be secret. Matters of public knowledge or of general knowledge in an industry cannot be appropriated by one as his secret. (22) The Restatement definition of a trade secret is different from that of the UTSA, but it is also similar. Key differences are: (a) the exception for "single use" information, which can be trade secret under the UTSA; (b) the requirement of continuous use in business, which is not required under the UTSA; and (c) less emphasis on efforts to maintain secrecy than under the UTSA. 2. Trade Secret Misappropriation Misappropriation of a trade secret involves improper means used to acquire or use a trade secret. (23) Trade secret law outlaws three different acts: (a) acquisition of a trade secret--merely obtaining the information; (b) disclosure of the trade secret--merely telling the information to another; and (c) use of the trade secret--using the information to one's advantage. The categories of defendants who may be liable for misappropriation are also threefold: (a) the knowing acquirer of information is liable--this person obtains the information by improper means; (b) the knowing discloser of information is liable--this person discloses the information that has been improperly acquired, or perhaps properly acquired but for which there is a duty of secrecy; and (c) the constructively improper acquirer/discloser of information is liable--this person obtains the information with reason to know that the information was improperly obtained. (24) The discussion above uses the term "improper" extensively. Under the UTSA, "'improper means' includes theft, bribery, misrepresentation, breach or inducement of a breach of a duty to maintain secrecy, or espionage through electronic or other means." (25) In large part, "improper means" includes acts that are actionable in and of themselves--trespass, breach of contract, conversion of physical property, and, under modern laws, the misuse of computer networks. …


The purpose of this paper is to establish a supervisory battery management system which collects measurements from the installed battery storage units and enables various battery management functions. In addition, an HMI user interface was designed to allow the user to monitor and control the batteries. The batteries communicate with the PLC via Modbus TCP/IP protocol. The communication enables the exchange of measured power and state of charge values between the PLC and batteries, as well as setting the desired setpoint values. The PLC and HMI communicate via PROFINET. The battery storage units are installed in Smart Grid Laboratory (SGLab) at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing.


T cell receptors (TCR) containing Vβ20-1 have been implicated in a wide range of T cell mediated disease and allergic reactions, making it a target for understanding these. Mechanics of T cell receptors are largely unexplained by static structures available from x-ray crystallographic studies. A small number of molecular dynamic simulations have been conducted on TCR, however are currently lacking either portions of the receptor or explanations for differences between binding and non-binding TCR recognition of respective peptide-HLA. We performed molecular dynamic simulations of a TCR containing variable domain Vβ20-1, sequenced from drug responsive T cells. These were initially from a patient showing maculopapular eruptions in response to the sulfanilamide-antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The CDR2β domain of this TCR was found to dock SMX with high affinity. Using this compound as a perturbation, overall mechanisms involved in responses mediated by this receptor were explored, showing a chemical action on the TCR free from HLA or peptide interaction. Our simulations show two completely separate modes of binding cognate peptide-HLA complexes, with an increased affinity induced by SMX bound to the Vβ20-1. Overall binding of the TCR is mediated through a primary recognition by either the variable β or α domain, and a switch in recognition within these across TCR loops contacting the peptide and HLA occurs when SMX is present in the CDR2β loop. Large binding affinity differences are induced by summed small amino acid changes primarily by SMX modifying only three critical CDR2β loop amino acid positions. These residues, TYRβ57, ASPβ64, and LYSβ65 initially hold hydrogen bonds from the CDR2β to adjacent CDR loops. Effects from SMX binding are amplified and traverse longer distances through internal TCR hydrogen bonding networks, controlling the overall TCR conformation. Thus, the CDR2β of Vβ20-1 acts as a ligand controlled switch affecting overall TCR binding affinity.


Abstract We determined 1) whether the previously observed induction of estradiol secretion in bovine granulosa cells cultured in serum-free conditions is associated with an increase in cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) mRNA abundance and 2) whether P450arom mRNA levels are responsive to FSH in vitro. Granulosa cells from small (2–4-mm) follicles were cultured in serum-free medium. Estradiol secretion increased with time in culture and was correlated with increased P450arom mRNA abundance. Progesterone secretion also increased with time in culture, but P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage (P450scc) mRNA abundance did not. FSH stimulated estradiol secretion and P450arom mRNA abundance; the effect was quadratic for both estradiol and P450arom mRNA. Estradiol secretion and P450arom mRNA levels were correlated. FSH stimulated progesterone secretion and P450scc mRNA abundance, although the minimum effective dose of FSH was lower for estradiol (0.1 ng/ml) than for progesterone (10 ng/ml) production. Insulin alone stimulated estradiol secretion and P450arom mRNA levels but not progesterone or P450scc mRNA abundance. We conclude that this cell culture system maintained both estradiol secretion and P450arom mRNA abundance responsiveness to FSH and insulin, whereas P450scc mRNA abundance and progesterone secretion were responsive to FSH but not insulin.


ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to quantify the relationship between age and available response time in fastpitch softball for pitchers, which is necessary to evaluate the efficacy of interventions designed to decrease player response times and determine if player protective equipment are necessary. High speed video was used to measure ball impact location relative to home plate, swing speed, and ball exit velocity of 588 swings taken by 87 female fastpitch softball players 9 to 24 years old. Available response time considered age-appropriate ball aerodynamics, field dimensions, ball impact location, and pitcher advancement during pitch delivery. Mean available response times were reported for each age group, with the lowest observed for collegiate-aged participants at 326 ms. Available response time was observed to decrease as age increased, but did not undergo rapid change between any age groups. In light of prior investigations regarding response time in softball, the results of this study suggest older participants may not have enough time to execute a protective manoeuvre.


Recently, a novel class of incentive mechanisms is proposed to attract extensive users to truthfully participate in crowd sensing applications with a given budget constraint. The class mechanisms also bring good service quality for the requesters in crowd sensing applications. Although it is so important, there still exists many verification and privacy challenges, including users' bids and subtask information privacy and identification privacy, winners' set privacy of the platform, and the security of the payment outcomes. In this paper, we present a privacy-preserving verifiable incentive mechanism for crowd sensing applications with the budget constraint, not only to explore how to protect the privacies of users and the platform, but also to make the verifiable payment correct between the platform and users for crowd sensing applications. Results indicate that our privacy-preserving verifiable incentive mechanism achieves the same results as the generic one without privacy preservation.


Through the use of nonlinear circuit techniques similar to those normally associated with series-connected magnetic amplifiers, it is possible to modify the basic circuits of almost all of the numerous types of magnetically-coupled switching-transistor multivibrators so as to provide for frequency control of these circuits by means of a low-level dc control signal. Using two well-known types of such inverter circuits as examples, this paper describes the basic principles involved in this frequency control technique and discusses the operation of two test circuits. A primary advantage of this frequency control method is its physical simplicity and low cost.


Three-dimensional (3D) printers are attracting attention as a method for arranging and building cells in three dimensions. Bioprinting technology has potential in tissue engineering for the fabrication of scaffolds, cells, and tissues. However, these various printing technologies have limitations with respect to print resolution and due to the characteristics of bioink such as viscosity. We report a method for constructing of 3D tissues with a "microscopic painting device using a painting needle method" that, when used with the layer-by-layer (LbL) cell coating technique, replaces conventional methods. This method is a technique of attaching the high viscosity bioink to the painting needle tip and arranging it on a substrate, and can construct 3D tissues without damage to cells. Cell viability is the same before and after painting. We used this biofabrication device to construct 3D cardiac tissue (LbL-3D Heart) using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. The constructed LbL-3D Heart chips had multiple layers with a thickness of 60 µm, a diameter of 1.1 mm, and showed synchronous beating (50-60 beats per min). The aforementioned device and method of 3D tissue construction can be applied to various kinds of tissue models and would be a useful tool for pharmaceutical applications.


Carpal bone fractures comprise an important group of injuries that present difficulties in both diagnosis and treatment. These fractures may be missed for the following reasons: physician's low index of suspicion, the carpal bones' irregular contours and degree of overlap on radiographs making the fractures difficult to visualize, and the common occurrence of concomitant fractures of neighboring metacarpals, distal radius, or scaphoid, which misdirects the examiner. A high index of suspicion with careful clinical examination and elicitation of point tenderness is key to making the correct diagnosis (Fig. 14). Swelling, loss of motion, deformity, and crepitus are often minimal and are not reliable in distinguishing carpal fractures. Specific radiographic projections, tomograms, computerized tomographic scans, or bone scans are often required and should be considered in any wrist injury where the diagnosis is in question. A greater awareness of the fracture types, methods of diagnosis, and choices of treatment is essential for optimal management of these injuries.


One of the changes to University education in recent years has been an increase in learning flexibility for students. Modular programming has allowed students to not only customize their learning, but also to study in a variety of part time patterns. Whilst there have been many positive benefits of this arrangement, one of the negative consequences has been a loss of the camaraderie that students – and staff - benefit from when working with a consistent cohort, on a prescribed programme in a studio engendered design culture. Lecturers have had to become more imaginative in providing opportunities for both students and staff to become engaged with the programme and actively identify with its values. The imperative to foster this loyalty increases as retention becomes more of an issue, programmes compete for students and students become more discerning in directing their educational pathways. Lecturers need to look to innovative ways to connect with their students irrespective of their fragmented patterns of study, help the students connect with each other – both within the cohort and between years – and encourage the students to see themselves as part of an overall discipline area. Umbrella projects and extra curricular initiatives can sidestep the confines of modularized learning and provide staff and students with a shared design experience. This paper outlines alternative approaches by two University design departments in using the same external event to foster design culture, a sense of identity for students and staff and reinforce the values of their programmes.


Copper manganese oxides (CMO) with CuMn2O4 composition are well-known catalysts, which are widely used for the oxidative removal of dangerous chemicals, e.g., enhancing the CO to CO2 conversion. Their catalytic activity is the highest, close to those of the pre-crystalline and amorphous states. Here we show an easy way to prepare a stable CMO material at the borderline of the amorphous and crystalline state (BAC-CMO) at low temperatures (<100 °C) followed annealing at 300 °C and point out its excellent catalytic activity in CO oxidation reactions. We demonstrate that the temperature-controlled decomposition of [Cu(NH3)4](MnO4)2 in CHCl3 and CCl4 at 61 and 77 °C, respectively, gives rise to the formation of amorphous CMO and NH4NO3, which greatly influences the composition as well as the Cu valence state of the annealed CMOs. Washing with water and annealing at 300 °C result in a BAC-CMO material, whereas the direct annealing of the as-prepared product at 300 °C gives rise to crystalline CuMn2O4 (sCMO, 15–40 nm) and ((Cu,Mn)2O3, bCMO, 35–40 nm) mixture. The annealing temperature influences both the quantity and crystallite size of sCMO and bCMO products. In 0.5% CO/0.5% O2/He mixture the best CO to CO2 conversion rates were achieved at 200 °C with the BAC-CMO sample (0.011 mol CO2/(m2 h)) prepared in CCl4. The activity of this BAC-CMO at 125 °C decreases to half of its original value within 3 h and this activity is almost unchanged during another 20 h. The BAC-CMO catalyst can be regenerated without any loss in its catalytic activity, which provides the possibility for its long-term industrial application.


Light-emitting CdSe quantum dot (QD) — ZnO nanorod (NR) hybrid structures were fabricated via wet chemical methods. Structural investigations indicated that the nano-sized CdSe QDs were formed on the ZnO NRs. Optical investigations showed that the energy band gap of the CdSe QDs was changed by varying the number of deposition cycles of CdSe due to the quantum confinement effect. The emissions from the hybrid structures depended on the existence of an Al2O3 shell layer on the ZnO NRs, which acted as an electrical barrier layer blocking charge carrier losses from the CdSe QDs to the ZnO NRs.


This paper gives an overview of the types of models available for analysing possible futures of the global economy. It then focuses on dynamic intertemporal general equilibrium models and describes how these models are used for both projections and scenario analysis. Some lessons from recent history both theoretical and practical are used to demonstrate the usefulness of the models.


Fas ligand (FasL) is expressed on some cancers and may play a role in the immune evasion of the tumour. We used immuno-histochemistry to study the expression of Fas and FasL in tissue samples from breast cancer patients, as well as normal breast tissue. Our results show that Fas and FasL are co-expressed both in normal tissue and in breast tumours. Fas and FasL mRNA were expressed in fresh normal and malignant breast tissue, as well as cultured breast epithelium and breast cancer cell lines. Flow cytometry analysis of live cells failed to detect FasL on the surface of normal or malignant breast cells; however, both stained positive for FasL after permeabilization. Fas was detected on the surface of normal breast cells and T47D and MCF-10A cell lines but only intracellularly in other breast cell lines tested. Neither normal breast epithelium nor breast cell lines induced Fas-dependent apoptosis in Jurkat cells. Finally, 20 tumour samples were stained for apoptosis. Few apoptotic cells were detected and there was no increase in apoptotic cells on the borders between tumour cells and lymphocytes. We conclude that FasL is expressed intracellularly in both normal and malignant breast epithelium and unlikely to be important for the immune evasion of breast tumours. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com


PKS 2155-304, the brightest BL Lac object in the ultraviolet sky, was monitored with the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite at ~1 hr time resolution for 10 nearly uninterrupted days in 1994 May. The campaign, which was coordinated with Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer, ROSAT, and ASCA monitoring, along with optical and radio observations from the ground, yielded the largest set of spectra and the richest short-timescale variability information ever gathered for a blazar at UV wavelengths. The source flared dramatically during the first day, with an increase by a factor of ~2.2 in an hour and a half. In subsequent days, the flux maintained a nearly constant level for ~5 days, then flared with ~35% amplitude for 2 days. The same variability was seen in both short- and long-wavelength IUE light curves, with zero formal lag (≲2 hr), except during the rapid initial flare, when the variations were not resolved. Spectral index variations were small and not clearly correlated with flux. The flux variability observed in the present monitoring is so rapid that, for the first time, based on the UV emission alone, the traditional ΔL/Δt limit indicating relativistic beaming is exceeded. The most rapid variations, under the likely assumption of synchrotron radiation, lead to a lower limit of 1 G on the magnetic field strength in the UV-emitting region. These results are compared with earlier intensive monitoring of PKS 2155-304 with IUE in 1991 November, when the UV flux variations had completely different characteristics.


Abstract : Diagnostic speech intelligibility tests were evaluated to assess vulnerability of two different 2400 bit-per-second linear predictive vocoder algorithms to random bit errors imposed on the data stream. Listening tests with crews of eight subjects yielded diagnostic intelligibility scores at zero, 1%, 3% and 5% bit error rates. These data were analyzed to establish linear regression models relating intelligibility performance and bit error rate. Piecewise-linear prediction coding (PLPC) was confirmed to have a small but significant advantage through being less vulnerable to bit errors than conventional linear prediction coding (LPC), an advantage that had been hypothesized from the inherent redundancy that is added by transmitting separate LPC coefficients for low-frequency and high-frequency speech bands. A small but consistent improvement in intelligibility was also found for the error-free case, believed to result from improved spectrum modeling that is a consequence of the piecewise approach. Significant differences in susceptibilities to bit errors were found among individual intelligibility scores for speakers as well as for intelligibility features. Tables for predicting average intelligibility performance, and confidence limits, were constructed from the regression models. The findings provide guidance for further research towards the goal of minimizing susceptibility of narrowband LPC vocoders to jamming and interference. They also highlight a need for further studies to obtain better understanding of causes of the typical large dispersion in intelligibility scores for individual speakers, obtained in these and many other tests.


Proceedings of National Conference on Harmony with Nature in Context of environmental Issues and Challenges of the 21st Century (HARMONY 2014) November 28 30, 2014, Udaipur, Rajasthan organized by Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Earth Sciences, M. L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur 313 001 (Rajasthan) in association with National Environmentalists Association, India www.neaindia.org S. Ngomle et al., ISOLATION AND SCREENING OF PHOSPHATE SOLUBILIZING BACTERIA FROM DIFFERENT CROP RHIZOSPHERE


Chrysophyllum cainito leaves were processed into a herbal tea and the antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic properties of this herbal tea were evaluated on alloxan-induced diabetic rats. . The rats were grouped into four treatment groups: DC (diabetic group fed with rat feed and water), CON1 (diabetic group fed with rat feed and 1 g/100 ml of tea intake), CON2 (diabetic group fed with rat feed and 2 g/100 ml of tea intake) and CON3 (diabetic group fed with rat feed and 3 g/100 ml of tea intake). Feed, water or herbal tea were provided ad libitum for the respective groups for twenty one days. At the end of the treatment period, the average fasting blood glucose concentration of the diabetic group DC increased from 357.8 mg/dl to 574.12 mg/dl while those of the diabetic groups CON1, CON2 and CON3, decreased from 317.2 mg/dl to 119.6 mg/dl; 344.8 mg/dl to 254.6 mg/dl and 337.0 mg/dl to 322.4 mg/dl, respectively. Chrysophyllum cainito tea was effective in controlling diabetes at low concentration of 1 gm/100 ml of intake. The diabetic groups CON1, CON2 and CON3 that took different concentrations of the herbal tea also showed significant reduction in their mean serum triglyceride, LDL and VLDL levels and increase in HDL level, when compared with the diabetic group DC that did not take the tea.Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, herbal tea, antihyperglycemic, hypolipidemic


At this time when general awareness of intracranial infectious processes (particularly brain abscess) seems somewhat blunted, a review of this problem seems appropriate. Unfortunately the present work falls below expectations. The initial general review chapter contains several half-page and full-page isotopic scans and roentgenograms which are of poor quality. These reproductions would appear to add unnecessary publication expense. The area devoted to brain abscess is painfully brief. Essentially no discussion of surgical treatment of brain abscess is included, except for the recommendation that they be primarily excised when possible. This approach is certain to find prominent dissenters in neurosurgical circles. Also, worthy of discussion is the comment that postcraniectomy wound infections can be cleared without removal of the devitalized bone plate. Previous experiences with this problem would indicate that such is not the case. The discussion of sinus and ear infections and their propensity to lead to intracranial problems is


Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder associated with a selective loss of the dopamine(DA)rgic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the degeneration of projecting nerve fibers in the striatum. Because there is currently no therapy that delays the neurodegenerative process, modification of the disease course by neuroprotective therapy is an important unmet clinical need. Toward this end, understanding cellular mechanisms that render the nigral neurons particularly vulnerable have been a subject of intensive research. Increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays a major role. The metabolism of DA itself contributes to oxidative stress, resulting in modification of intracellular macromolecules whose functions are important for cell survival. Mitochondrial dysfunction and the consequent increase in reactive oxygen species also trigger a sequence of events that leads to cell demise. In addition, activated microglia produce nitric oxide and superoxide during neuroinflammatory responses, and this is aggravated by the molecules released by damaged DAergic neurons such as α-synuclein, neuromelanin and matrix metalloproteinase-3. Ways to reduce oxidative stress therefore can provide a therapeutic strategy. NAD(P)H:quinone reductase (NQO1) and other antioxidant enzymes, whose gene expression are commonly under the regulation of the transcription factor Nrf2, can serve as target proteins utilized toward development of disease-modifying therapy for PD.


In this research, viscous and turbulent flow is simulated numerically on an E387 airfoil as well as on a turbine blade. The main objective of this paper is to investigate various configurations of roughness to find a solution in order to mitigate roughness destructive impacts. Hence, the sand grain roughness is distributed uniformly along pressure side, suction side and both sides during the manufacturing process. Navier-Stokes equations are discretized by the finite volume method and are solved by SIMPLE algorithm. Results indicated that in contrast with previous studies, the roughness will be useful if it is applied on only pressure side of the airfoil. In this condition, the lift coefficient is increased to  and 1.2% compare to the airfoil with rough and smooth sides, respectively. However, in 3-D simulation, the lift coefficient of the blade with pressure surface roughness is less than smooth blade, but still its destructive impacts are much less than of both surfaces roughness and suction surfaces roughness. Therefore, it can be deduced that in order to reveal the influence of roughness, the simulation must be accomplished in three dimensions. Article History : Received Jun 12 th 2017; Received in revised form August 27 th 2017; Accepted Oct 3 rd 2017; Available online How to Cite This Article : Jafari, K., Djavareshkian, M.H., Feshalami, B.H. (2017) The Effects of Different Roughness Configurations on Aerodynamic Performance of Wind Turbine Airfoil and Blade. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 6(3), 273-281. https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.6.3.273-281


Approach/avoidance paradigms could constitute an interesting alternative in measuringintergroup attitudes, notably if they overcome one criticism often addressed toward classic indirect tasks: measuring attitudes beyond the influence of cultural knowledge. Using intergroup stimuli and a population likely to be exposed to a similar cultural knowledge, we observed two informative results regarding this issue: approach/avoidance effects measured by the Visual Approach/Avoidance by the Self Task (VAAST) varied across participants (i.e., consistent with the variability of intergroup attitudes; Experiment 1) and both participants of dominant and non-dominant groups produced an ingroup bias (Experiment 2). A last experiment (Experiment 3) showed that compatibility scores in the VAAST predict trustworthiness ratings of the ingroup/outgroup. This experiment also investigated potential differences between the VAAST and the IAT. These results suggest that approach/avoidance tasks (notably the VAAST) could be relevant to assess personal attitudes when it comes to normatively sensitive topics.


Recently we reported on the development of a composite material exhibiting reversible shape memory effect. A Ti–25Ni–25Cu (at.%) alloy was obtained by the melt spinning technique as amorphous–crystalline ribbons with a thickness of approximately 40 μm. The thickness of the amorphous and crystalline layers (dа and dc, respectively) was varied by electrochemical polishing. It has been ascertained that with varying the relationship dc/dа the martensite transformation and shape-recovery temperatures do not actually change, while the minimum radius of the ribbon bending decreases from 8.0 mm to 2.4 mm with increasing the relationship dc/dа from 0.33 to 1.40. The maximum reversible strain comprises 0.4% at dc/dа = 0.82. On the basis of experimental data obtained the phenomenological description, providing an explanation for nature of the phenomena taking place in the rapidly quenched amorphous-crystalline ribbon composite, has been proposed.


The low capacity and poor cycling performance severely restrict the further development of Mn-based materials for aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs). Finding effective strategies to address these issues is urgent but still challenging for the design of high-performance cathodes. Here, we developed Ca-deficient Ca0.96Mn3.04O4 nanoparticles (denoted as CP-CMO) by a simple structural reconstitution strategy to achieve high capacity and long cycling durability in AZIBs. The unique nanoparticle architecture endows the CP-CMO sample with improved electrical conductivity and enhanced structural stability, and accelerates the diffusion rate of Zn ions. Correspondingly, the Zn//CP-CMO battery based on the CP-CMO cathode delivers a favorable capacity of 231.1 mA h g−1 at 0.2 mA cm−2, good rate performance, excellent cyclic lifespan and great coulombic efficiency (close to 100%). Moreover, the battery device also exhibits a satisfactory energy density of 299.5 W h kg−1 and a peak power density of 512.5 W kg−1. This work offers an excellent example of using structural recombination strategy to develop high-performance cathode materials for AZIBs.


The flea beetle genus TegyriusJacoby, 1887 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) associated with Piperaceae is revised. Eight new species, namely Tegyrius agasthyai sp. nov., Tegyrius dalei sp. nov., Tegyrius nigrotibialis sp. nov., Tegyrius pucetibialis sp. nov., Tegyrius radhikae sp. nov., and Tegyrius tippui sp. nov., from India, and Tegyrius anupama sp. nov. and Tegyrius buddhai sp. nov., from Sri Lanka, are described and illustrated. Key to species and host plant information are also provided. Tegyrius piceusKimoto, 2001 is transferred to Longitarsus Latreille, 1829 (new combination); Tegyrius antennatus (Medvedev, 2001), Tegyrius bicolor (Medvedev, 2001) (both earlier Lankaphthona), and Tegyrius keralaensis (Doeberl, 2003) (earlier Ogloblinia) are proposed as new combinations.


In this paper I argue that the informal hawala money-transfer networks, which were made to take much of the blame for terrorist financing in the wake of the September 11 attacks, are not 'underground' banking systems but are connected to Western banking in a myriad of ways. I argue that negative stereotyping of hawala in press and policy discourses has implicitly constructed Western banking as the normal and legitimate space of international finance and has deflected calls for regulation of Western investment banking. I discuss how hawala is connected to the financial exclusion of migrant workers in the West. In the war on terrorist finance, discourses of hawala have led to the underestimation of the complexity of cutting off terrorist funding, while criminalising remittance networks.


The authors recently encountered a patient with omental anisakiasis who presented with features of acute appendicitis and who made an uneventful recovery following resection of an inflammatory omental mass containing the larva(e). Anisakiasis refers to infestation of humans by species of marine nematode larvae belonging to the subfamily Anisakinae. Although this condition is rarely reported in the United States, it has been well described both in Holland and in the Orient. Several publications in the Japanese literature have detailed the morphology of the parasite and the clinical symptoms of infestation. The source of infestation is most often raw or uncooked fish, the latter widely enjoyed as a foodstuff in the Orient, but less popular in the United States. With the growing popularity of "sushi" bars and the increasing numbers of Americans developing a taste for raw fish, this condition may become more prevalent in the future.


OBJECTIVE: To find the evolution of the prevalence of the Hepatitis-A antibody in Sevilla. DESIGN: Observational study of a crossover type. Comparison of results in 1995 with those from a similar study in 1981. SETTING: Health Area covered by Sevilla's University Hospital Virgen del Rocio. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Aliquots of serum from patients without Hepatitis were obtained from the hospital's clinical analysis laboratories. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The sera were analysed in the Nuclear Medicine laboratory of the HUVR. 37.96% (62.74% in 1981) of the individuals surveyed were HA-positive. Prevalence increased with age: in the over-24s it was over 75% (90% in 1981). The differences between the two sets of results was significant (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis-A infection is becoming less common in Andalusia, which can now be considered a low-incidence area.


Introduction: FAK and VEGFR-3 have stirred considerable interest in recent years as attractive anti-cancer targets, owing to their high expression across several tumor types and relatively low levels in normal tissues. Our lab has shown that VEGFR-3 binds to the FAT domain of FAK and the physical interaction between the two proteins confers a significant survival advantage to tumor cells. We developed a platform for the discovery of small molecules that specifically target the FAK-VEGFR-3 interaction site, and identified small molecule C4. Although in vitro and in vivo studies with C4 are promising, it exerts anti-tumor effects at moderate concentrations. We next sought to discover C4 analogs that display enhanced potency, minimum toxicity and high specificity for the target site. By using C4 as the parent moiety, we synthesized a series of C4 analogs on the basis of structure activity relationship (SAR). In this study, we have shown that some C4 analogs disrupt FAK-VEGFR3 interaction and inhibit pancreatic tumor growth at low concentrations as single agents. Methods: The structure of C4 was modified at various positions by substituting alkyl and aryl moieties. The resulting analogs were screened for anti-cancer inhibitory effects in different cancer cell lines by MTT assay. Effects of C4 analogs on six pancreatic cancer cell lines were determined by MTT assay (viability and IC50), Clonogenecity assay (colony formation) and Western blot (phosphorylation and apoptosis). Target specificity and binding confirmation of C4 analogs was done using immunoprecipitation and Forte-Bio9s Octet Red Technology. Subcutaneous xenograft mouse model of pancreatic cancer was used to determine anti-tumor effects of C4 analogs in vivo. Results: After in vitro screening of C4 analogs, C9, C10, C9A and C9B was selected for further analyses. All four analogs revealed dramatic decrease in cell viability in a panel of six pancreatic cancer cell lines. Analog C9 showed highest cytotoxic effects in pancreatic cancer cell lines and inhibited colony formation of Panc-1 cells at 1μM concentration. Treatment with C9 leads to apoptosis with dose dependent cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP. It caused decrease in phosphorylation levels of Akt and Erk, which are critical downstream targets of FAK that mediate survival signaling. Disruption of FAK-VEGFR3 interaction was seen after 24h treatment with 1μM C9. With Octet method we determined that at 20μM C9, KD (M) = 1.29×10(−7). In vivo, 30 days treatment with low doses of C9, C10 and C9A as single agents led to 40% to 45% reduction in tumor volume (P Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that targeting the FAK-VEGFR-3 interaction site inhibited the survival function of these two tyrosine kinases, thus representing a unique approach for molecular-targeted highly specific cancer therapeutics. The significance of this study lies in the discovery of an oral-based small molecule inhibitor that might impact the therapeutic management for pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C124.


This book examines the character of the governing elite of sixteenth-century Paris--a group that included some of the most important jurists, administrators, and intellectuals of the early modern French state--and investigates the strategies employed by members of this group to promote and maintain their position in the city and in the monarchy.Originally published in 1983.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.


Master files scanned at 300 ppi (256 Grayscale) using Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 on an Epson Expression 1640XL in PDF format. OCR obtained using OmniPage Professional 15.0.


The Lena Delta in the Laptev Sea in northern Siberia is the largest delta in the Arctic covering an area of about 32.000 km². It is situated in the zone of continuous permafrost, but is also characterized by widespread thermokarst. For many years the interest of Russian and lately also German scientists (e.g. within the framework of the German-Russian research project System Laptev Sea 2000 supported by the BMBF) has been focused on the investigation of different problems concerning biology and geosciences in this area, which serves as an interface between the Siberian mainland and the Laptev Sea. The Lena Delta can be clearly divided into an active part in the East and a passive one in the West. Furthermore, a classification is made into three main terraces, which were formed during different stages since the late Pleistocene. The first and second terraces (early to late Pleistocene) were built by fluvial action of the Lena River. The third terrace consists of relicts of a late Pleistocene accumulation plain, which was enclosed by Holocene delta progression. In addition to about 800 channels, numerous lakes occur in the Lena Delta as characteristic landforms. These are not only relevant for the reconstruction of the paleoenvironment in this area, but also for todays delta geomorphology and ecology. The lakes are obviously of different genesis, e.g. thermokarst or abandoned channel lakes, which is important for balancing methane emissions in the Lena Delta as different lake types contribute different amounts of methane to the overall methane budget. Many of them have a clear orientation of their major axes tending in the same direction, most obvious on the second terrace. The phenomenon of oriented lakes described for many arctic coastal plains has not been fully explained yet despite intense research during the past decades. Different theories on the cause of orientation have been proposed, in most of which wind is seen as the main driving force. In order to generally quantify different lake types, to investigate possible ideas about their genesis, and to test tendencies of their orientation the lakes were analyzed using remote sensing methods and spatial statistics. All lakes > 20.000 m² were included in the analysis (more than 2.600 lakes). Their total area is ca. 1.865 km² which is 6% of the delta area. Investigations were made using a Geographical Information System (GIS) based on LANDSAT-7 ETM+ satellite data. This allowed for an effective processing of the vast study area. We analyzed parameters describing lake morphometry (e.g. area, perimeter, different form indices, orientation of the major axis) as well as the spatial distribution of lakes throughout the delta area. That includes both the geographical position and the lakes geologic-geomorphologic unit within the delta. Based on this, correlations between several parameters were tested to investigate potentially predetermined patterns concerning lake morphogenesis and lake orientation. In order to test the wind hypothesis, morphometric data were combined with regional climate data.


Environmental enrichment (EE) has a beneficial effect on rodent behaviour, neuronal plasticity and brain function. Although it may also improve stress coping, it is not known whether EE influences the brain response to an external (psychological) stressor such as water avoidance stress (WAS) or an internal (systemic) stressor such as gastrointestinal inflammation. This study hence explored whether EE modifies WAS-induced activation of the mouse corticolimbic system and whether this stress response is altered by gastritis or colitis. Male C67BL/6N mice were housed under standard or enriched environment for 9 weeks, after which they were subjected to a 1-week treatment with oral iodoacetamide to induce gastritis or oral dextran sulfate sodium to induce colitis. Following exposure to WAS the expression of c-Fos, a marker of neuronal activation, was measured by immunocytochemistry. EE aggravated experimentally induced colitis, but not gastritis, as shown by an increase in the disease activity score and the colonic myeloperoxidase content. In the brain, EE enhanced the WAS-induced activation of the dentate gyrus and unmasked an inhibitory effect of gastritis and colitis on WAS-evoked c-Fos expression within this part of the hippocampus. Conversely, EE inhibited the WAS-evoked activation of the central amygdala and prevented the inhibitory effect of gastritis and colitis on WAS-evoked c-Fos expression in this region. EE, in addition, blunted the WAS-induced activation of the infralimbic cortex and attenuated the inhibitory effect of gastritis and colitis on WAS-evoked c-Fos expression in this area. These data reveal that EE has a region-specific effect on stress-induced c-Fos expression in the corticolimbic system, which is likely to improve stress resilience. The response of the prefrontal cortex – amygdala – hippocampus circuitry to psychological stress is also modified by the systemic stress of gut inflammation, and this interaction between external and internal stressors is modulated by the housing environment.


Optimum design is defined as a design that is the best possible solution. All design variables are determined simultaneously to satisfy a set of constraints and optimize a set of objectives. Two parametric FE pre-processors and a general purpose optimization environment are presented. Due to its open architecture, finite element as well as analytical models can be implemented. Stochastic algorithms usually require substantially more function evaluations compared to gradient methods, which increases the elapsed computation time. However, the stochastic algorithms feature unmatched simplicity in the setup of an optimization model. A parallel implementation of the evolution strategy is presented, which offers one way to reduce the elapsed computation time. An optimization task is discussed to outline the general application range of the developed tools. The optimum design of an inductor used in a traction drive system is described in detail. Special attention is paid to the formulation of the quality function.


Isolated infective endocarditis in the native pulmonary valve is an unusual clinical entity in patients without predisposing factors and in non-intravenous drugs users. We present the case of a 75-year-old patient, with a subacute clinical picture of fever and pulmonary cavity nodules, admitted to our hospital with an initial suspected diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. The presence of Enterococcal bacteremia in hemocultive and the documentation of a large vegetation in pulmonary valve by transtoracic and transesophageal echocardiography were key factors for final diagnosis.


Science fairs can be good motivators, but as extracurricular activities, they leave some students behind. However, by staging a Science Challenge Day at school, educators can involve all students in doing everything from choosing activities to judging projects. This article presents a model for running a successful Science Challenge Day. My colleagues and I conducted a Science Challenge Day during a recent year to meet the International Baccalaureate Organization's requirement to assess personal skills: self motivation, perseverance, teamwork, and self-reflection (IBO 2007). The event can be used for much more, however. It could help assess any number of laboratory process skills, or, with a specific theme, it could reinforce classroom concepts. We found the event to be genuinely fun while also letting students work in teams, apply their critical-thinking skills, and compete in a non-traditional manner. Let students run it My IB science colleagues and I decided to run a science fair--type activity to meet the IB group 4 project (G4P) requirement, which requires students to conduct eight hours of scientific investigations and to work collaboratively within biology, chemistry, and physics. Students often find the G4P demanding because they're required to complete it outside of their class load. To energize both our students and ourselves, we decided on the Science Challenge Day, modeling it on a Science Olympiad (see "On the web"). Reluctant to shoulder the burden of organizing the event ourselves, we decided to let students do most of the work. We assigned students to teams of three or four and asked each team to "author" an event, that is, choose and develop an activity in which the other teams would compete. Each team had to * choose a task suitable for a competition, * develop rules for the event, * determine how to judge the event, and * procure supplies for the event. In the final stage of planning, each team would have to present and explain its activity to the other students at a symposium held before the Science Challenge Day. These tasks challenged and developed students' skills in research, planning, organization, and public speaking. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We teachers still had to do our part--setting up guidelines, a timeline, expected outcomes, and the day's schedule, along with making the assessment very clear. So, we provided the framework, while letting students work on the actual science and practicalities of each event. See the four-week timeline for the process (Figure 1). Introducing the concept The first week, we introduced the idea to students in a 20-minute meeting, giving an overview of our plan. Our assessment of their work, we explained, would be based not on winning an event but on overall participation, presentations and slide shows, and written reflections. To guide students in selecting events, we provided some general rules, including one that prohibited using shortest time to determine outcome--thus avoiding simple relay races or other track-and-field events. We offered several sample ideas for events to spur their thinking: * using Tangram puzzle sets, teams compete to build the most designs in 20 minutes; * teams build a boat of recycled materials and see which boat can float the greatest mass for a given period; * teams examine, for only 20 seconds, a sheet with images of common objects, then compete to see which team can identify the most objects missing from a second sheet. Once they understood the concept of preparing a challenge for their peers, we gave the students the timeline (Figure 1), guidelines for the challenges and team presentations (Figure 2), a list of helpful websites, and the assessment criteria for the month-long project (Figure 3, p. 54). All of this information was posted to our Moodle G4P web page. …


Good practices at harvest and postharvest could be useful in obtaining nutritious mango with high minerals and vitamins. The present study evaluated effect of harvest handling and postharvest conditions on the level of minerals and vitamins using standard methods. Ripe, half-ripe and unripe mangoes were harvested on parent plant and on ground around parent plant. The half-ripe and unripe mangoes were further divided to include heat ripened mangoes. The mango samples were separately stored naturally at 25±3oC and heat ripened at 37±5oC for 0 to 10 day after harvest (dah). The results show Ijebu-Mamu mangoes could cater for reference dietary intake of Vit C. Mango harvested on parent plant has highest level of minerals and vitamins than those picked on ground. Ripe mango has highest level of minerals, half ripe mango presented highest level of vits. B1 and B2 and unripe mango has highest level of Fe and Vit. C. Heat caused increased level of minerals and reduced level of vitamins. The minerals show increased level from 0 to 4 or 6 dah while vitamins reduced from 0 till 10 dah. High level of minerals and vitamins was obtained with optimum integrated harvest and postharvest condition of half-ripe mango naturally ripened at 6 dah. The present results highlight effects of the assessed harvest handling and postharvest conditions and their co-optimization that might be necessary for high minerals and vitamins in mango.


A segmentation-based fully-polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) image classification method that incorporates texture features and color features is designed and implemented. This method is based on the framework that conjunctively uses statistical region merging (SRM) for segmentation and support vector machine (SVM) for classification. In the segmentation step, we propose an improved local binary pattern (LBP) operator named the regional homogeneity local binary pattern (RHLBP) to guarantee the regional homogeneity in PolSAR images. In the classification step, the color features extracted from false color images are applied to improve the classification accuracy. The RHLBP operator and color features can provide discriminative information to separate those pixels and regions with similar polarimetric features, which are from different classes. Extensive experimental comparison results with conventional methods on L-band PolSAR data demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method for PolSAR image classification.


A systematic approach to determine the extreme value of total electrical length for trisection stepped impedance resonator (TSSIR) is proposed in this paper. It utilizes the Lagrange multipliers method to search the extremum condition. Result demonstrates that the maximum resonator length of TSSIR is limited to triple that of the corresponding uniform impedance resonator (UIR). Spurious resonant frequency of λ/2 TSSIR is mainly analysized under the extremum condition ( θ 1 ≠ θ 2 ≠ θ 3 ). Through comparison between the proposed approach and previously assumed condition ( θ 1 = θ 2 = θ 3 ), the staircase discontinuity of transmission line can be reduced using the paper theory to achieve same harmonic ratio. Last, a simulated example is presented to verify correctness of the method. This paper aims to provide a theoretical basis and general guideline for the filter design using TSSIR.


Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most common brain tumors in adults. Despite a standard-of-care including surgery and chemoradiotherapy, patients only live to a median of 15 months. This may be due to extensive spatiotemporal, intratumoral heterogeneity observed. This is thought to be created by a small population of stem-like cells marked by expression of CD133. CD133 has been shown to correlate with poor patient prognosis, metastases, relapse and worse overall survival in GBM. We thus created an anti-CD133 CAR-T therapy. Our CD133-targeting CAR-T (CART133) has shown great efficacy and in our patient-derived models of GBM. It has also exhibited safety in sparing healthy CD133-expressing cells, particularly, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, in our humanized model of hematopoiesis. However, in looking to the clinic, the generation of autologous CAR-Ts may be difficult as it requires sufficient numbers of a patient9s own T-cells who may be immunocompromised after first-line therapy. Thus, we propose to generate allogeneic CAR-Ts that target CD133 (AlloCART133) from healthy donor T- cells. AlloCAR-T cells are genetically-edited to abrogate the T-cell receptor (TCR) to avoid graft-versus- host disease, a phenomenon in which immune-mismatch causes donor tissues to attack recipient tissues. These cells can thus be safe for a recipient while also maintaining their anti-tumor activity. AlloCART133 thus presents a clinically-relevant, off-the-shelf therapy for patients with GBM. Citation Format: Sabra K. Salim, Jiarun Wei, Vassil Dimitrov, Katherine Chen, Chitra Venugopal, Parvez Vora, Jason Moffat, Sheila K. Singh. Systematic Generation of Allogeneic Immune-targeting Modalities for Glioblastoma [abstract]. In: Abstracts: AACR Virtual Special Conference: Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2020 Oct 19-20. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2021;9(2 Suppl):Abstract nr PO081.


Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic bacterium which produces spores that can survive for a long time in the environment. The disease spectrum caused by Clostridium difficile ranges from diarrhea to toxic megacolon and collectively they are all called Clostridium difficileassociated disease (CDAD). Since 2000, this pathogen has demonstrated an increased propensity to cause more frequent and virulent illness that is often refractory to treatment. Clostridium difficile-associated disease is usually diagnosed following the demonstration of toxins A and/or B in stool samples. The most important risk factors are: age over 65 years, broad-spectrum antibiotics, severe underlying illness, nasogastric intubation, gastrointestinal surgery, and longer hospital stay. The measures of prevention and control of Clostridium difficile in the health care settings include the appropriate use of isolation precautions, hand hygiene, protective clothing, environmental cleaning and cleaning of medical equipment, good antibiotic stewardship, and specific measures during outbreaks.


Introduction: Caregivers help a person in those actions which cannot be performed by an individual independently; a person's personal needs, environmental barriers that hinders an individual's abilities etc. This ultimately puts an increased burden on the caregiver. This study was conducted to determine the levels of caregivers' burden among the parents of children with cerebral palsy.
Material & Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 298 parents of children with cerebral palsy. Non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to collect data from the parents coming to the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Islamabad. The parents of children with cerebral palsy who were having auditory, cognitive or visual impairment were excluded from this study. Demographic information form and Caregiver Burden Inventory were used for the data collection. The data was analysed through IBM SPSS version 21 and results were presented in the form of frequency, percentages and mean ± sd with p-value wherever needed.
Results: the result of this study showed a greater need for respite and other services for caregivers of children with cerebral palsy. The overall Caregiver Burden Inventory score was 45.19 ± 11.9. Out of the total included participants, 163 (54.33%) participants sometimes needed relief, 116 (36.67%) needed frequent need for relief and other services while 19 (6.33%) of the included parents rarely needed relief and other services.
Conclusion: Majority of the caregivers of children with cerebral palsy needed relief and other services (compromise the growth, physical and emotional health and social relationship) to manage caregivers' burden.


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Abstract The purpose of the current study is threefold: (a) to present a descriptive picture of classroom anxiety (FLCA), reading anxiety (FLRA), and listening anxiety (FLLA) in foreign language classrooms; (b) to explore the association between FLCA, FLRA, and FLLA; and (c) to test the mediating effect of FLCA on the relationship between FLRA and FLLA. The participants included 341 tertiary-level students studying at the English Preparatory Program of four public universities in the Turkish EFL context. The data were collected at the beginning of the 2022 fall semester through the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale, Foreign Language Reading Anxiety Scale, and Foreign Language Listening Anxiety Scale. The descriptive findings indicated a moderate level of FLCA, FLRA, and FLLA among the participants. In addition, significant and positive correlations were found between these three types of anxieties, with the strongest correlation between FLRA and FLLA. In the last stage of the analysis, it was found that FLCA partially and significantly mediated the relationship between FLRA and FLLA. Finally, directions for further research on investigating skill-based anxieties are presented.


In this paper, we propose a bit and power allocation strategy for adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) based spatial multiplexing multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems. This strategy aims to maximize the average system throughput by allocating the available resources optimally among the utilized bands depending on the corresponding channel conditions and the total transmission power constraints. The average system throughput is represented as a trade-off criterion between the spectral efficiency and bit error rate (BER). The considered AMC technique utilizes distinct modulation and coding scheme (MCS) options rather than adopting fixed or uncoded approaches. The transmitter divides the OFDMA frame at each transmit antenna into bands depending on the number of active users in an assigned base station (BS). The simulation results show superior performance of the MIMO-AMC-OFDMA system, which adopts the proposed strategy, over other conventional schemes.


Background: This is an update of the Mossbridge et al's meta-analysis related to the physiological anticipation preceding seemingly unpredictable stimuli which overall effect size was 0.21; 95% Confidence Intervals: 0.13 - 0.29 Methods: Nineteen new peer and non-peer reviewed studies completed from January 2008 to June 2018 were retrieved describing a total of 27 experiments and 36 associated effect sizes. Results: The overall weighted effect size, estimated with a frequentist multilevel random model, was: 0.28; 95% Confidence Intervals: 0.18-0.38; the overall weighted effect size, estimated with a multilevel Bayesian model, was: 0.28; 95% Credible Intervals: 0.18-0.38. The weighted mean estimate of the effect size of peer reviewed studies was higher than that of non-peer reviewed studies, but with overlapped confidence intervals: Peer reviewed: 0.36; 95% Confidence Intervals: 0.26-0.47; Non-Peer reviewed: 0.22; 95% Confidence Intervals: 0.05-0.39. Similarly, the weighted mean estimate of the effect size of Preregistered studies was higher than that of Non-Preregistered studies: Preregistered: 0.31; 95% Confidence Intervals: 0.18-0.45; No-Preregistered: 0.24; 95% Confidence Intervals: 0.08-0.41. The statistical estimation of the publication bias by using the Copas selection model suggest that the main findings are not contaminated by publication bias. Conclusions: In summary, with this update, the main findings reported in Mossbridge et al's meta-analysis, are confirmed.


PURPOSE
To evaluate the magnetic field interactions with Yasargil aneurysm clips exposed to a 1.5-T MR system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sixteen Yasargil aneurysm clips made with Phynox (10 clips returned to the manufacturer due to suspected magnetic field interactions and six clips obtained from the manufacturer in sterile packages) were tested for magnetic field interaction at 1.5 T by using techniques to assess magnetic field-induced translational (deflection angle test) and torque (changes in alignment or rotation) forces.

RESULTS
None of the aneurysm clips demonstrated magnetic field interactions; that is, deflection angles were zero and there were no changes in alignment or evidence of rotational forces present.

CONCLUSION
It is safe to perform MR procedures at 1.5 T or less in patients with Yasargil aneurysm clips made with nonferromagnetic material.


The article analyzes different approaches and practical aspects of the strategy format. The aim of the study is to understand the formats of existing strategies of enterprises. On this basis, it is revealed which of them are more often used in practice, what kind of ready-made strategy has, how it relates to the recommendations of the theory. Among the theory of strategy, three groups of approaches identified: strategy as a goal, strategy as an action and their mix. On their basis, the strategies of the largest Russian companies consider in detail. They made it possible to identify the specific features of the strategic structure. It includes duration, type, target orientation, publicity. The largest Russian companies form the strategy in accordance with the recommendations of the modern theory of strategic planning. Usually, the strategy is presented as public, with a limited validity period, detailed by areas of activity. It is with the direction sets of strategic decisions or vectors of development in this area.


Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can not only turn HIV infection from a fatal disease into a treatable chronic disease, but also reduce HIV transmission among high-risk people. In recent years the concept "treatment as prevention" has been accepted by the public. More and more studies have shown that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV can effectively reduce the spreading of HIV in high-risk populations. Clinical trials have also shown that PrEP is safe, and can effectively prevent high-risk people from HIV infection. The guidelines of Europe, the United States and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend that PrEP should be considered for high-risk populations including men who have sex with men (MSM), heterosexually active men and women, HIV-uninfected partner in serodiscordant couples and injection drug users(IDUs). PrEP with daily oral tenofovir/emtricitabine combination is the recommended PrEP regimen, and TDF alone can be considered as an alternative regimen for IDUs and heterosexually active adults. PrEP can provide a high level of protection against HIV, and is even more effective when it is combined with condoms, ART and other prevention methods. PrEP is currently facing great challenges including ethical issues, drugs accessibility, adherence, and low utilization rate, and should be further recommended for high-risk people to reduced HIV infection.


The effects of no-take marine reserve (NTMR) protection and changes in benthic habitat on fusiliers (family Caesionidae) were investigated at four small Philippine offshore islands on time scales of 10–31 years. Fusiliers are highly mobile, schooling, medium-sized planktivorous fish that generally feed "off-reef." For these reasons, and given the small size of the NTMRs (3.6–37.5 ha) in this study, it was predicted that fusilier density would be unlikely to show clear effects of NTMR protection, or to respond to changes in benthic habitat. In contrast to predictions, clear NTMR effects were observed on fusilier density at three of the four NTMRs, with durations of protection from 14 to 31 years. Furthermore, the study provided strong evidence that benthic variables, specifically cover of live hard coral and dead substratum, affect the density of fusiliers. This effect of benthic habitat on density was highlighted by several major environmental disturbances that caused shifts in the benthic habitat from live hard coral to dead substratum. For two of the three most abundant species of fusiliers individually, and for all three of them combined (Pterocaesio pisang + Caesio caerulaurea + Pterocaesio digramma/tessellata), as live hard coral cover decreased, fish density decreased. It is hypothesized that these "off-reef" daytime feeders may have such a strong association with live hard coral cover because they use this habitat as nocturnal sleeping sites. Multivariate analyses indicated that, across all sites and times sampled, cover of live hard coral and dead substratum accounted for 38% of the variation in fish assemblage structure. These results are important as there are very few reports in the published literature of strong effects of NTMR protection or changes in benthic habitat on the density and assemblage structure of fusiliers.


In this paper the principles and structure of a WTS (Wind Turbine Simulator) are described. The proposed WTS is a versatile system specially designed for the purpose of developing and testing new control strategies for wind energy conversion systems. The simulator includes two sub-systems; a torque controller which controls a 3-phase induction motor in order to simulate the wind turbine and wind speed generator which can simulate an actual wind speed. In order to make the proposed system working in real-time, two sub-systems are incorporated into one simulink block by using Real-time workshop. The performance of the proposed system is verified by considering various wind speeds.


3-Hydroxy-2-cyanoalk-2-enamides, and 2-cyano-2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-ylidene)- and 2-cyano-2-(tetrahydropyran-2-ylidene)acetamides with N-alkyl and N-aryl substituents have been synthesized in three steps from cyanoacetic acid. Their conformations were investigated by X-ray crystallography and 1H-NMR ROESY spectroscopy at room temperature. The enolic compounds 1–3 adopt an extended conformation stabilized by a strong intramolecular OH … OC bond both in the solid state and in (D6)DMSO solution. In contrast, the structure of the cyclic derivatives 5a,b–8a,b is solvent-dependent. In the solid state and in CDCl3 solution, the compounds adopt an extended conformation of type I or III, while, in (D6)DMSO solution, their structures undergo time-dependent (Z)/(E)-isomerization structures (of type II or IV). This observation is compatible with a dipolar transition state of rotation. The kinetics of the isomerization are controlled by the N-substituent, the N-(t-Bu) derivatives 7a and 7b having the highest barrier of rotation around the CC bond. The whole body of experimental evidence together with the results of molecular-mechanics calculations with I–IV, indicate that, in DMSO, two (E)/(Z)-isomers with two conformations are present, and that they undergo interconversion at room temperature with four different constants. The very fast exchange rates kI,II and kIII,IV in the NMR time-scale might be responsible for the detection of only two isomers.


Iris Murdoch, a writer with a profound understanding of the importance of creating voices/selves, often explored human truths that are timeless in her novels. Bakhtin developed a frame of work in which he mainly aimed at describing a democratic language which was "dialogical" or "carnivalesque". A world of interchange, of a dialogue between many voices is what Bakhtin hoped for. One of the great contributions of Bakhtin is the concept of polyphony (multivocality or multi-voicedness). He suggests that "the polyphonic novel as a whole is thoroughly dialogical" (Bakhtin, 1973, p. 40). To Bakhtin the language of a culture is full of intersecting language uses those of class, profession, activity, generation, gender, region and a rich variety of interacting significances. Iris Murdoch's novel Nuns and Soldiers has often been studied in relation to the ethical, moral and philosophical issues. However, it is also significant to explore how these issues are voiced for female characters. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explore the voices of female characters in Iris Murdoch's Nuns and Soldiers on the basis of Bakhtinian theory of the novel.


This paper presents an efficient and reliable approach to study the low-velocity impact response of woven composite shells using 3D finite element models that account for the physical intralaminar and interlaminar progressive damage. The authors' previous work on the experimental assessment of the effect of thickness on the impact response of semicylindrical composite laminated shells served as the basis for this paper. Therefore, the finite element models were put to the test in comparison to the experimental findings. A good agreement was obtained between the numerical predictions and experimental data for the load and energy histories as well as for the maximum impact load, maximum displacement, and contact time. The use of the mass-scaling technique was successfully implemented, reducing considerably the computing cost of the solutions. The maximum load, maximum displacement, and contact time are negligibly affected by the choice of finite element mesh discretization. However, it has an impact on the initiation and progression of interlaminar damage. Therefore, to accurately compute delamination, its correct definition is of upmost importance. The validation of these finite element models opens the possibility for further numerical studies on of woven composite shells and enables shortening the time and expenses associated with the experimental testing.


Transition metal carbonates/hydroxides have attracted much attention as appealing anode materials due to their considerable reversible electrochemical catalytic conversion capacity. However, their serious positive or negative trends with cycles caused by the electrochemical catalytic conversion seriously affect their practical applications. Herein, novel one-dimensional cobalt hydroxide carbonate (CHC) nanomaterials are tightly anchored on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets via a facile one-pot hydrothermal synthesis, forming surface confined domains to further restrict the electrochemical catalytic conversion process. The analysis on the cycled electrodes at varied potentials confirms that the added capacity of CHC arises from the step-by-step reversible reactions of Li2CO3 and LiOH under the electrochemical catalysis of Co metal generated by the conversion reaction of CHC. The reversible reaction of Li2CO3 is followed closely by that of LiOH in the discharge process, while the order is opposite in the charge process. Such a step-by-step electrochemical catalytic conversion process could confine each other to accommodate the volume change and avoid side reactions. The confined effect is further enhanced by limiting the width and length of the CHC which are determined by regulating the nucleation and growth of CHC on the surface of RGO, leading to an extraordinary cyclability. The optimized CHC/RGO hybrid maintains a high reversible capacity of 1110 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g-1, much higher than the theoretical value of CHC (506 mA h g-1) on the basis of the recognized conversion reaction. Furthermore, it keeps high reversible capacities of 755 mA h g-1 and 506 mA h g-1 after 200 cycles at 1 and 2 A g-1, respectively, exhibiting a high-rate cyclability with the lowest coefficient of variance of 9.4% among the reported. The confined step-by-step electrochemical catalytic conversion process facilitates high lithium storage capacity and satisfactory cyclability with a pretty low variance coefficient.


Abstract We hypothesized that acute stress would induce endothelial dysfunction. Male Wistar rats were restrained for 2 h within wire mesh. Functional and biochemical analyses were conducted 24 h after the 2-h period of restraint. Stressed rats showed decreased exploration on the open arms of an elevated-plus maze (EPM) and increased plasma corticosterone concentration. Acute restraint stress did not alter systolic blood pressure, whereas it increased the in vitro contractile response to phenylephrine and serotonin in endothelium-intact rat aortas. NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; nitric oxide synthase, NOS, inhibitor) did not alter the contraction induced by phenylephrine in aortic rings from stressed rats. Tiron, indomethacin and SQ29548 reversed the increase in the contractile response to phenylephrine induced by restraint stress. Increased systemic and vascular oxidative stress was evident in stressed rats. Restraint stress decreased plasma and vascular nitrate/nitrite (NOx) concentration and increased aortic expression of inducible (i) NOS, but not endothelial (e) NOS. Reduced expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, but not COX-2, was observed in aortas from stressed rats. Restraint stress increased thromboxane (TX)B2 (stable TXA2 metabolite) concentration but did not affect prostaglandin (PG)F2α concentration in the aorta. Restraint reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, whereas concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were not affected. The major new finding of our study is that restraint stress increases vascular contraction by an endothelium-dependent mechanism that involves increased oxidative stress and the generation of COX-derived vasoconstrictor prostanoids. Such stress-induced endothelial dysfunction could predispose to the development of cardiovascular diseases.


The international shipping trade has emerged to be a growth enabler of globalisation, playing a crucial role in the economy and development of many countries, such as Malaysia. To support the industry, the Malaysian Government liberalised policies to develop the container haulage industry, but some issues still exist. The present study focuses on retention behaviour of consignees who use container haulage services in major Malaysian ports. The findings reveal that customers retain the same container haulage company provided overall service quality is maintained at an acceptable standard. The safety and security of goods transported by haulage companies are the highest priorities of customers. However, customers also reported that haulage service providers need to show professionalism in human resources competency, employee-customer relations, appropriate pricing for expected service delivery, and information databases.


In this issue of Acta Radiologica we present two articles written by two pioneers from the early years. The first article was written by the Norwegian surgeon Christian Magnus Falsen Sinding-Larsen (Fig. 1). SindingLarsen was born in 1866 in Oslo (at that time named Kristiania), and obtained his MD in 1891. From 1892 he was affiliated to the Surgical Departments A and B at Rigshospitalet. His main interest was skeletal tuberculosis in especially children, and he was from 1892 candidate and thereafter consultant and Chief surgeon at ''Kysthospitalet'' at Stavern, Norway, at that time being a hospital for children with scrofulosis. In later years it became a hospital specialized in orthopedic surgery, today a rehabilitation center. In 1907 he obtained his PhD degree with his publication ''Beitrag zum Studium der Huftgelenks tuberculose''. In the following years he had several study periods at hospitals in Germany, Austria, France, and Denmark. In 1911 he was appointed managing director at Rigshospitalet in Oslo/Kristiania. Sinding-Larsen had several radiological publications even if he originally was educated as a surgeon, with more than 70 publications concerning surgical topics, but also articles as ''Roentgen treatment of surgical tuberculosis'' (1925) and ''Don't forget to obtain an X-ray image of serious back trauma'' (1927). He was a man with many interests in topics other than surgery and radiology, and he also authored publications as ''Necessary equipment in Prisons in the treatment of diseased prisoners'' to ''A letter to a fanatical total abstainer''. On 12 February 1930 he gave a presentation at a meeting of the Norwegian Medical Society. Immediately after his presentation he had a serious heart attack, and was brought to the hospital where he died of a cardiac infarction the same evening. It was said that ''he died with his boots on''. In this issue of the ''Old Classics'' we present his article from 1921 about ''An Hitherto Unknown Affection of the Patella in Children'' (1). The second article in this month's issue was written by the famous Danish professor Poul Flemming Moller (Fig. 2). He was born in 1885 and died in 1974. He became a medical candidate in 1911. As many radiologists at that time, he started his career first in epidemiology, and later, i.e. in 1914, he studied surgery in Germany. From 1916 he became an assistant at the radiological department at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, and later on he was appointed as radiologist and chief of the radiological department of Fredriksbergs hospital in 1920–1930. In 1930 he was appointed Chief of Rigshospitalet's radiological clinic and docent at the University of Copenhagen at the same time. From 1936 he became full Professor. As the author of the other article in this issue of the ''Old classics'', Flemming Moller was interested in tuberculosis, and in 1924 when he defended his thesis dealing with Calve-Legg Perthes disease, he could show


Including excess salt during lyophilization has been shown to increase the activity of freeze-dried subtilisin Carlsberg (SC) in anhydrous media by over 20,000-fold [Ru et al. (1999) Biotechnol Bioeng 63:233-241]. In the present study, salt-activated SC (KCl-SC) showed a 30% enhancement in enantioselectivity compared to the salt-free enzyme in a variety of organic solvents. Activity toward both enantiomers of N-acetyl-phenylalanine methyl ester (APME) increased in tandem by 2-3 orders of magnitude in all solvents, indicating that the mechanism of salt activation is inherent to the enzyme and does not strongly favor one enantiomer over the other. However, activity and enantioselectivity of salt-activated SC could be manipulated through changes in the lyophilization conditions. Variations in lyophilization time, initial KCl concentration, and initial lyophilization volume altered enantioselectivity over 2-fold. The changes in enantioselectivity reflected the activity for the L enantiomer, while the activity toward the D enantiomer was mostly unaffected. The results indicate that the lyophilization time and final water content of the KCl-SC are important determinants of enzyme activity for the L enantiomer, suggesting that the favored reaction is more sensitive to the structural integrity of the salt-activated enzyme.