Although many sophisticated stability models of parachutes have appeared, advances are concentrated in the simulation of dynamics of the solid body components of multibody systems. For the complex canopy aerodynamics it is routine to quote several standard simplifying assumptions, few of which can be factually justified since none of the models has convincingly demonstrated its validity by detailed comparison with experimental data. Such demonstrations are essential for confident prediction. This study investigates a fundamental three-dimensional parachute model. Fluid accelerative reactions are represented by an idealised added mass tensor, and it is shown that the equations of motion in previous treatments are either inadequately or incorrectly derived and/or implemented. Nonlinear solutions of the six degree-of-freedom equations for a rigid axisymmetric system are obtained, and a parameter sensitivity analysis for dynamic stability of a typical personnel parachute indicates that the most important aerodynamic parameters are the added mass components and the pitch damping derivative, not one of which has been adequately estimated. A systematic validation method is outlined. The kinematics of four free-falling parachute scale models, with canopy flight diameters from 1.4 m to 5.8 m, have been acquired from a strapdown inertial measurement system. Spectral analysis of the transducer signals reveals sharply defined frequencies of oscillation. Comparisons of simulation and experiment demonstrate that satisfactory agreement in frequencies and mean amplitudes of oscillation can be extracted. However, no inherent influence is evident in the model to enable the observed, apparently random amplitude modulation to be reproduced. Sources of the random motion are discussed, one significant and hitherto ignored source being self-excited unsteadiness of the separated flow around the canopy. Measurements of unsteady aerodynamic forces on parachute canopies are needed, also improved estimates of fluid accelerative reactions and aerodynamic damping. "Jr mutt an of an neapcr"4rrtn a1eOll Il) nuaij nC1 1fLttg3 re ate p1arC ar an rioc. Suvrout '5jaet t


Antitranspirants (wax emulsions) have been evaluated for several years as orchard sprays to increase fruit size by reducing water stress in the tree. In earlier work with cherries (California Agriculture, August 1972) antitranspirant (AT) spray applied shortly before harvest substantially increased fruit size. However, more information was needed on the best spray concentration and timing to influence fruit size, yield, and soluble solids content. Further, no definitive tests had been conducted to evaluate the postharvest effects on fruit caused by preharvest AT application to the trees.The tests reported here indicate that AT spray has beneficial effects on fruit size and on postharvest characteristics of the cherry fruit.


Calprotectin is a heterodimeric EF-hand Ca2+ binding protein that is typically released by infiltrating polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages. This protein is a key player linking inflammation and cancer. Due to the increased levels of calprotectin in different inflammatory diseases and cancer, it is considered as a marker for diagnostic purposes. In this study, we evaluated the mechanism of cell viability and apoptotic-inducing effects of recombinant human calprotectin (rhS100A8/S100A9) on the gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS), the most common type of gastric cancer cell line. AGS cells were exposed to the different concentrations (5–100 μg/ml) of calprotectin for 24, 48, and 72 h, and cell viability was assessed through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Apoptotic-inducing effects of calprotectin were evaluated by sub-G1 cell cycle assay and Annexin V/propidium iodide double staining. Furthermore, real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were performed to evaluate the mechanism of action of calprotectin. Our findings indicated that calprotectin inhibits growth and viability of AGS cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration values were measured as 85.77, 79.14, and 65.39 μg/ml for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Additionally, we found that calprotectin downregulated the expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and upregulated proapoptotic protein Bax in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion. Calprotectin also slightly upregulated the expression of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 2 (ERK2), while it significantly decreased the levels of phospho-ERK in a time-dependent manner. Overall, these findings indicated that calprotectin has cytotoxicity and apoptosis-inducing effects on AGS cell lines in high concentration by modulating Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratio accompanied by inhibition of ERK activation.


A 68-year-old woman with no history of cardiac events suffered acute myocardial infarction after surgery for middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion manifesting as transient left motor weakness. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple infarctions in the right cerebral hemisphere. Magnetic resonance angiography and cerebral angiography demonstrated an occlusion at the horizontal segment of the right MCA and no collateral circulation. Cerebral blood flow study 6 weeks after the initial presentation indicated decreased blood flow in the right cerebral hemisphere. Superficial temporal artery-MCA anastomosis was conducted to prevent recurrent cerebral infarction. Two hours after surgery, her systolic blood pressure fell to 60 mmHg and her consciousness worsened. Emergency coronary angiography indicated occlusion of the right coronary artery. Percutaneous coronary intervention was successfully performed and the subsequent course was uneventful. Preoperative evaluation of the coronary artery may be necessary before surgery for cerebral ischemic disease in both the intracranial and extracranial arteries.


ABSTRACT CO2 gas hydrate technology seems to be a gentle way to concentrate juices, especially comparing to evaporation processes which achieve high levels of concentration and is furthermore energetically favorable in contrast to freeze concentration processes. CO2 can form gas hydrates at around 30–80 bar and 274–283 K. For evaluating this new technology, it is not only important to know the phase equilibrium lines of commercial juices like apple and orange juices but also how the application of e.g. a bubble column affects the gas hydrate formation and separation from the concentrated product. In order to support the experimental outcome, numerical modeling seems suitable to understand the physical background of this novel concentration technology. This includes the simulation of temperature, velocity, pressure and concentration fields using finite volume technique. All three work packages combined will lead to a better understanding of the behavior of gas hydrate technology used to concentrate liquid food.


Background: Lapatinib, an oral EGFR/HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is approved in combination with capecitabine for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have been treated previously with an anthracycline, taxane and trastuzumab. Treatment associated elevations in transaminases and bilirubin have been observed in lapatinib clinical trials. A common TA repeat polymorphism in the promoter region of uridine diphosphoglucuronyl transferase ( UGT1A1 *28, TA7 allele) reduces UGT1A1 enzyme levels and has been associated with hyperbilirubinemia for a range of drugs. We sought to determine the effect of the UGT1A1 *28 variant on bilirubin elevation in lapatinib treated patients. Patients and Methods: Association between the UGT1A1 TA repeat polymorphism and total bilirubin levels (TBL) was examined in lapatinib treated patients using data pooled from 12 trials in advanced and metastatic breast cancer. A total of 899 lapatinib treated (as monotherapy or combined with chemotherapy) patients provided a germline DNA sample and were available for this analysis. UGT1A1 TA repeat genotype was determined by PCR amplification and sequencing. For case-control analysis, patients were defined as having normal TBL at baseline, with on-treatment TBL ≥1.5 and ≤1 times upper limit of normal for cases and controls, respectively, and at least 13 weeks of treatment for controls. Results: The UGT1A1 TA repeat polymorphism strongly correlated with lapatinib associated hyperbilirubinemia. A significant association (P=1.03x10 -5 , 60 cases and 396 controls) was observed. For hyperbilirubinemia cases, 21/60 (35%) were carriers of two TA7 alleles and 28/60 (47%) were carriers of one TA7 allele. Overall, when compared with other genotypes, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of the TA7/TA7 genotype for developing hyperbilirubinemia was 10.7 (5.3-21.6). Conclusion: These data suggest that UGT1A1 *28 accounts for the major proportion of total bilirubin elevation observed during lapatinib treatment. This is consistent with an underlying predisposition to Gilbert9s syndrome. Given the life-threatening nature of advanced and metastatic breast cancer and the benign clinical course of Gilbert9s syndrome, these data support treatment continuation with lapatinib for patients with mild to moderate, isolated, indirect bilirubin elevation, when accompanied by appropriate ongoing safety evaluation (eg, bilirubin fractionation, ALT evaluation) to exclude liver injury risk in these patients. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 1112.


This was an open cohort prospective study (2016–2018) that analyzed the prevalence and incidence rates of human Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi-infection and the evolution of their clinical-immunological profiles in distinct urban and rural scenarios of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) in Pará State, in the Brazilian Amazon. These infection profiles were based on species-specific DTH/IFAT-IgG assays and clinical evaluation of infected individuals, comprising five profiles: three asymptomatic, Asymptomatic Infection [AI], Subclinical Resistant Infection [SRI], and Indeterminate Initial Infection [III]; and two symptomatic, Subclinical Oligosymptomatic Infection [SOI] and Symptomatic Infection [SI = AVL]. The two distinct scenarios (900 km away) were the urban area of Conceição do Araguaia municipality and the rural area of Bujaru municipality in the southeast and northeast of Pará State. Human populations were chosen based on a simple convenience sampling design (5–10% in each setting), with 1723 individuals (5.3%) of the population (32,464) in the urban area and 1568 individuals (8.9%) of the population (17,596) in the rural one. A serological survey (IFAT-IgG) of canine infection was also performed in both scenarios: 195 dogs in the urban area and 381 in the rural one. Prevalence and incidence rates of human infection were higher in the urban area (20.3% and 13.6/100 person-years [py]) than in the rural setting (14.1% and 6.8/100-py). The AI profile was the most prevalent and incident in both urban (13.4% and 8.1/100-py) and rural (8.3% and 4.2/100-py) scenarios, but with higher rates in the former. An III profile case evolved to SOI profile after four weeks of incubation and another to SI (=AVL) after six. The prevalence of canine infection in an urban setting (39.2%) was also higher (p < 0.05) than that (32%) in the rural zone. AVL urbanization in Pará State, in the Brazilian Amazon, has led to infection rates significantly higher than those in rural sites, requiring more intense control measures.


Despite the rapid escalation of cyber threats, there has still been little research into the foundations of the subject or methodologies that could serve to guide information systems researchers and practitioners who deal with cybersecurity. In addition, little is known about crime-as-a-service (CaaS), a criminal business model that underpins the cybercrime underground. This research gap and the practical cybercrime problems we face have motivated us to investigate the cybercrime underground economy by taking a data analytics approach from a design science perspective. To achieve this goal, we: (1) propose a data analysis framework for analyzing the cybercrime underground; (2) propose CaaS and crimeware definitions; (3) propose an associated classification model, and (4) develop an example application to demonstrate how the proposed framework and classification model could be implemented in practice. We then use this application to investigate the cybercrime underground economy by analyzing a large data set obtained from the online hacking community. By taking a design science research approach, this paper contributes to the design artifacts, foundations, and methodologies in this area. Moreover, it provides useful practical insights to practitioners by suggesting guidelines as to how governments and organizations in all industries can prepare for attacks by the cybercrime underground.


Plasmapheresis has been used as a supplementary method for the treatment of 11 cases of SLE (7 with lupus nephritis and 4 without renal changes). In 7 cases there was a marked improvement during the plasma exchanges which lasted from 2 months to 3 years of follow up. In one case the direct result was satisfactory but after 3 months there was a severe relapse and the patient died. In 3 cases (two without lupus nephritis) plasmapheresis was without any effect. We believe that plasmapheresis is chiefly indicated in severe cases with high levels of ds-DNA antibody titers.


The macroeconomic impact of banks' misconduct led users of financial services to be deterred from using the system to the detriment of market integrity and called upon policymakers and supervisors to turn to "culture" as a means to regain public trust and eventually guarantee the stability of the real economy. From this vantage point, the crisis showed that culture did indeed matter, as it can significantly influence the effectiveness of the decision-making process and, thus, the risk appetite/profile of banks. Culture and behaviour have been shown to be the main threats to financial stability that policymakers and supervisors have currently to cope with. What is already clear is that culture is an important subject to focus on when supervising banks. Nevertheless, the problem is that current academic thinking lacks both clarity and expertise on what "culture" is all about and how it should be implemented by banks. This article addresses this gap by exploring the illustrative case of cooperative banks. Extensive empirical evidence shows indeed that cooperative banks turned out to be more stable than commercial banks for several reasons related to the ownership structure and the business model. However, the extant literature fails to take into account whether cooperative values (ie, solidarity; mutualism; proximity; social commitment) contributed in motivating employees to do the right thing and to steer them away from reckless behaviour. The investigation brings to the fore the main questions of whether and how cooperative banks' values and culture played a role in ensuring the soundness and efficiency of risk-taking policies.


North-South student mobility programs (including internships as part of academic studies, education abroad, cooperative education, and field schools) offer immense opportunities for fostering cross-cultural understanding, mutual learning, and capacity building for students and partners. Drawing on diverse bodies of literature, we examine perspectives of host institutions and organizations in the Global South and the breadth of ethical considerations to be analysed in North-South student mobility programs, offering considerations for improved institutional practice.


Recent interest in nucleotides and related agents as part of clinical trials in cystic fibrosis (CF) therapy have elicited efforts to identify novel compounds capable of activating transepithelial chloride (Cl(-)) transport in CF cells and tissues. From a library of nucleosides, bases, and other substituted heterocycles, 341 compounds were screened for their ability to activate anion transport in CF cells grown on permeable supports. One compound, SRI 2931, was found to confer prolonged and potent activity when administered to the apical surfaces of CF pancreatic epithelial cells, primary CF nasal epithelial cells, non-CF human colonic epithelial cells, and intact tissue taken from mouse models for CF. Concentrations of SRI 2931 (20 microM), which activated Cl(-) transport, had minimal effect on cell proliferation. SRI 2931 was not calcium (Ca(2+)) or cAMP dependent, suggesting important differences from conventional chloride secretagogues. The compound selectively released ATP from the apical, but not basolateral, surfaces of CF cells grown on permeable supports. The magnitude, longevity, and mechanism of action of the response provide a tool for dissecting pathways of epithelial ATP extracellular signaling and Cl(-) permeability.


GENE TRANSCRIPTIONThe biochemical machinery that responds to certain hormones is so large and seemingly cumbersome that researchers have long wondered how it manages to react quickly to changes in hormone concentrations. New results, described on page [2232][1], suggest a solution that might provide a new role in regulating gene expression for the proteins known as chaperones. The work indicates that the chaperone proteins p23 and Hsp90 help disassemble regulatory complexes shortly after they form on the DNA. When thus released, the receptor can detect when hormone levels fall off--a feedback needed to tell the regulatory complex to stop overseeing the genes.

 [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/296/5576/2232


Since the discovery of X-rays , overexposures and radiation injuries have been reported in both patients and persons exposed in the course of their professional duties. Each year, more than 2,500 million diagnostic radiological examinations, 32 million nuclear medicine examinations or treatment procedures and 5.5 million radiotherapy sessions are performed worldwide. Despite all precautions, avoidable incidents and accidents occur throughout the world every year , albeit with low frequency. Whereas diagnostic radiology is generally safe for patients and staff, interventional procedures (e.g. coronary artery dilatations) involve the risks of occupational overexposure and of skin injuries to patients. In nuclear medicine, radiation protection is focused on the introduction of new procedures with beta-emitters, for example. The increasing frequency of positron emission tomography (PET) requires a special focus on shielding measures. In radiotherapy, occupational overexposure caused by malfunctions and accidents is relatively rare.


. Social-ecological change has placed unprecedented stress on water resources throughout the world. This has driven water users to employ a diverse range of adaptation strategies and necessitates new governance structures, such as adaptive water governance (AWG), which have the capacity to manage resources in the midst of uncertainty and complexity. As such, AWG has the potential to support household adaptation strategies; however, little empirical work has been done to identify the factors that facilitate the emergence of AWG. To address this gap, we conducted a household survey of 448 households in northwestern Pakistan, a post-conflict, water-scarce area where adaptive governance is needed to support rural livelihoods in the midst of numerous socioeconomic and environmental transformations. Indeed, we found that households in our study area perceived a range of changes to the water system, including but not limited to declines of fish populations, decreased quality and amount of river water, and an increase of local tourism. Respondents reported a range of adaptation strategies including increasing agricultural inputs, planting new crop varieties, and changing their domestic water supply system. In some cases, households employed these adaptation strategies despite economic barriers, and although many were willing to go against friends' and community leaders' opinions to adapt, and they were less likely to counter the opinions of family members. This reveals that households negotiate multiple factors in their decisions to adapt to social-ecological change; as such, there is a great need for flexible and collaborative governance systems such as AWG to support this complexity in household adaptation decision making. Further, we argue that the varying roles of social influence should be considered to align governance structures with household decision-making processes. Thus, we suggest that AWG will be more likely to emerge when decision makers involved in water management draw on existing informal institutions and cross-sectoral collaboration to reflect the complex ways water users adapt to social-ecological change.


Wilson's disease (WD) or hepato-lenticular degeneration is a rare autosomal-recessive disorder. A prevalence rate of 30 cases per million and a birth incidence rate of one per 30,000 to 40,000 are often quoted. In 40 to 50% of individuals with WD, hepatic dysfunction is the initial clinical manifestation. With the exception of liver transplantation, treatment of WD is only palliative and intended to restore and maintain copper balance. It does not eliminate the underlying defect responsible for WD. Thus, a lifelong commitment to treatment is required.
Limitation of dietary copper intake is generally ineffective, and pharmacological management is necessary. Administered either as acetate, sulfate, or gluconate, zinc reduces intestinal absorption of dietary copper via induction of metallothionein formation in intestinal enterocytes. Antioxidants, mainly vitamin E, may have a role as adjunctive treatment. Serum and hepatic vitamin E levels have been found to be low in WD. Symptomatic improvement when vitamin E was added to the treatment regimen has been occasionally reported but no rigorous studies have been conducted. No correlation of antioxidant deficiency with clinical symptoms was reported in one study.
A vegetarian diet may be useful as adjunctive therapy; copper is less available. Adherence to a low copper diet is most important during the initial phase of treatment.  The recommendation is to avoid the foods highest in copper content:  organ meats, shellfish, chocolate, nuts, and mushrooms.  Once copper levels have stabilized at normal levels, these foods are allowed occasionally. Copper content of the drinking water you consume should also be tested.  If the water is over 0.1 ppm (parts per million) (which is 0.1 mg/L), consider an alternative water source or invest in a good filtering system that removes copper.

Keywords: Copper, Nutrition Support, Wilson's Disease.


A phosphorus (P)-doped n-type heteroepitaxial diamond (001) sample was grown in a DC-plasma chemical-vapor-deposition chamber. The crystalline properties of incorporated phosphorus were examined by cathode luminescence. Hall-effect measurement of the sample was performed for the temperature range of 293–870 K. The results of these measurements showed that the bulk properties of the n-type sample are comparable to those of previously reported homoepitaxial P-doped n-type diamond (001) samples. The work function of the heteroepitaxial sample was measured by photoemission electron microspectroscopy. The Fermi-level positions at the surface and at a Au Schottky junction of the sample were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Knowing the bulk properties and the critical values of the energy band structure, the whole energy band diagrams at the surface and at the Schottky junction of the sample were evaluated by solving the Poisson equation. The resulting surface electronic structure of the sample was qualitatively different from those of the previously reported H-terminated P-doped n-type diamond (111) surface and heavily P-doped H- and O-terminated diamond (111) surfaces. The presence of ∼0.02 ML of Sn impurity is tentatively ascribed to the peculiarity of the surface electronic structure of the heteroepitaxial sample. The Schottky barrier height of ∼4.2 eV determined for the present sample was consistent with those of previously reported n-type diamond (111) and (001) samples. It is noted that the Schottky barrier height may be determined by the Fermi-level pinning states at the junctions irrespective of the type of dopant to diamond.


Temporal specifications provide an abstract and powerful framework for modelling (reactive) systems with respect to safety, liveness and fairness properties, for example, telecommunications services and the feature interaction problem. However, techniques and tools are required for analysing temporal specifications as for instance model checking-based techniques or theorem proving-based techniques, because temporal notations are powerful expression of rich concepts (fairness) and are then very difficult to validate. We focus our work on TLA/TLA+ as a specification language, but we require the possibility to validate temporal specifications by animation with respect to an abstraction.


Evidence indicating that the mantle below Pangea was characterized by elevated temperatures supports the widely held view that a supercontinent insulates the underlying mantle. Implementing a 3D model of mantle convection featuring distinct oceanic and continental plates, we explore different effects of supercontinent formation on mantle evolution. We find that a halt in subduction along the margins of the site of the continental collision is sufficient to enable the formation of mantle plumes below a composite "super‐plate" and that the addition of continental properties that contribute to insulation have little effect on sub‐continental temperature. Our findings show that the mean temperature below a supercontinent surpasses that below the oceanic plates when the former is a perfect insulator but that continental thermal insulation plays only a minor role in the growth of sub‐supercontinent mantle plumes. We suggest that the growth of a super‐oceanic plate can equally encourage the appearance of underlying upwellings.


In line with the discussion of the ambiguity and confusion of definitions of the term morality, the concept of morality as a multilayered phenomenon and the object of descriptive ethics is clarified. Morality includes (1) behavioral patterns, regularly reproduced in human communities (part of the ethos), which in turn are associated with (2) specific psycho-emotional and motivational-volitional mechanisms of regulation of individual behavior in the social environment, (3) a special way of recording information in social memory and the cultural-genetic mechanism of imitation, ie belongs to socio-cultural mechanisms and is not limited to what operates at the level of individual mental organization. And the fourth layer here is the actual mental activity, woven into a network of social communications, which affects individual behavior (morality in the narrow sense). Component of the ethos of the community, which is reproduced as a cultivated norm of the "right" person, which includes his ability to subject his will to certain rules of relations, to lead a proper life, which is highly valued in this community, which increases social status and self-esteem. the desire to imitate her and protect her as one's own, as a personal value, as a significant person, is a harma. The harmа of ethos is a cultivated model of man as a social measure of "humanity", its paradigm. He who meets this standard, the charm, is his own and deserves to be like him. Otherwise, the mechanism of xenophobic alienation is triggered. The presented distinction between the terms morality, ethos and haram allows us to more clearly structure the problematic field of descriptive ethics, distinguishing between established patterns of behavior characteristic of a particular community (its ethos), cultivated in it a sample of "his", which fixed protection and selective mechanism (in the narrow sense) as part of the social impact on the individual and social consciousness in the form of teachings, guidelines, explanations, and so on.


A Lyot filter has been developed which uses precision liquid crystal waveplates to achieve tuning of the filter pass band over hundreds of nanometres. Tuning is rapid and non-mechanical, and produces a neglible shift in the transmitted image. Transmission is high (50%), and can be characterized using the methods developed for fixed-wavelength interference filters. Such a filter, coupled with a silicon photodiode trap detector whose radiometric response is well known, offers a direct method for linking detector-based radiometry and photometry.


The different water soluble ink-jet inks based on conjugated poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) were formulated with various organic co-solvents such as diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TRIEG), tetraethylene glycol (Tetra EG), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) to print on the flexible substrate. The effect of adding various organic co-solvents, which show a same trend of molecular weight, dipole moment and boiling point on the formulated inks properties and ink-jet printed films electrical conductivity, morphology and transparency were investigated. The conductivities of the ink-jet printed films were evaluated by four-point probe conductivity measurement. The morphologies of the printed films have been studied using atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The size of PEDOT:PSS particles and the printed film morphology altered by addition of different types of co-solvent in the ink-jet ink formulation. The electrical conductivity of the ink-jet printed film increased by raising the molecular weight, boiling point and dipole moment of used co-solvent in ink-jet ink formulation.


Nowadays Power has become a major concern in low power VLSI design. Achieving low power consumption is a tedious one in IC fabrication industries. In modern integrated circuits, clocking is the most dominating power consuming element. Hence this paper describes a method for reducing the power consumption by replacing some flip-flops with fewer multi-bit flip-flops. We perform a co-ordinate transformation to identify those flip-flops that can be merged and their legal regions. Besides, we show how to build a combination table to enumerate possible combinations of flip-flops provided by a library. Finally, we use a hierarchical way to merge flip-flops. Besides power reduction, the objective of minimizing the total wire length is also considered. This algorithm can reduce clock power and the running time is very short.


In this study, a new compact wideband lowpass filter was introduced. The proposed filter is developed by cascading two shapes of '4' open stubs back to back embedded on a microstrip line. This structure results in wide cutoff frequency and rejection band with improved scattering parameters.  The filter utilized operating bands up to 4 GHz. Many useful wireless communication bands were allocated within this band, global system for mobile communications (GSM) bands (1.8, 1.9 and 2.1 GHz) and 2.4 GHz which is used for industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band and wireless local area networks (WLANs) applications.The designed filter also covers the band 3.5 GHz widely used for worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) applications. The frequency response of the filter shows good stopband characteristic and provides -3 dB cutoff frequency at 3.85 GHz. The return loss of the designed filter is -50.8 dB at 3GHz and the insertion loss is less than -0.18 dB along the passband. The proposed filter has been designed, analyzed, and optimized on a substrate with 10.8 dielectric constant and thickness of 1.27 mm using full wave Electromagnetic Simulator. The proposed filter is a compact size and the final optimized dimension of the simulated filter with the above features is only 20 mm ×15mm.


SUMMARY In next generation wireless network, significantly higher rate data services of close to 1 Gpbs are expected. The wireless channels for such a broadband data transmission become severe frequency-selective. Frequency-domain equalisation (FDE) technique may play an important role for broadband data transmission using multi-carrier (MC)- and direct-sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA). The performance can be further improved by the use of multi-input/multi-output (MIMO) antenna diversity technique. The downlink performance is significantly improved with FDE. However, the uplink performance is limited by the multiple access interference (MAI). To remove the MAI while gaining the frequency diversity effect through the use of FDE, two-dimensional (2D) block spread CDMA can be used. Recently, particular attention has been paid to MIMO space division multiplexing (SDM) to significantly increase the throughput without expanding the signal bandwidth. In this paper, we present a comprehensive performance comparison of MC- and DS-CDMA using FDE. Copyright # 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Background: Recent studies of national practice patterns suggest that there is inconsistency in the appropriateness of referrals for cardiac stress testing. However, little is known about the prevalence of relevant clinical outcomes such as coronary revascularization or acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after stress testing. Methods: Using administrative claims from a large national private insurer, we conducted an observational cohort study of patients aged 25-64 who underwent de novo stress testing from 2006-2012. We excluded patients with a prior diagnosis of coronary artery disease, heart failure, or stroke. We calculated rates of AMI and coronary angiography with or without revascularization in the year following stress testing. We estimated logistic regression models that included demographic characteristics (age, sex, and race) and relevant comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia). Finally, we stratified the cohort into quintiles based on their risk of having an AMI or revascularization event in order to describe the characteristics of patients at lowest and highest risk. Results: We identified 564,313 patients (mean age 50, 49% women, 73% white) who underwent stress testing during the study period. Among these patients, 15% had diabetes, 37% had hypertension, and 42% had dyslipidemia. Within one year, 2.5% of the cohort underwent coronary revascularization or were hospitalized for AMI, and 2.7% underwent coronary angiography without revascularization. In the risk-stratified analysis, 0.5% of patients in the lowest risk quintile had an AMI or revascularization event, compared to 6.2% in the highest risk quintile (p Conclusion: The percentage of commercially insured U.S. patients who had an AMI or revascularization event within 1 year of stress testing was small. In the lowest risk quintile, the a priori prevalence of coronary disease risk factors was low, and the rates of subsequent AMI and revascularization was extremely low, raising questions about the value of stress testing in this subgroup.


Introduction/Background There is limited evidence favoring the use of the sentinel lymph node technique in ovarian cancer, and no standardized approach has been studied. The objective of the present pilot study and clinical trial is to determine the feasibility of the sentinel lymph node technique by applying a clinical algorithm and the use of 99mTc and indocyanine green for its detection. Methodology Patients with confirmed ovarian cancer were included. 99mTc and indocyanine green were injected into the ovarian and infundubulo-pelvic ligament stump. A gamma probe and near-infrared fluorescence imaging were used for sentinel lymph node detection. Results The sentinel lymph node technique was performed in 10 patients in the pilot study and in 20 patients in the clinical trial with a detection rate in the pelvic and/or para-aortic region of 100%. Conclusion The sentinel lymph node technique appears to be applicable in early-stage ovarian cancer with excellent detection rate. further studies are needed to establish the negative predictive value of the technique. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.


Over the past decades of preliminary aero-engine design a great effort has been invested in increasing steady-state efficiency to reduce missions fuel burn and thus CO2 emissions. Whilst pushing the performance cycle further to its limits previously minor deemed processes such as the transient behavior become more important because engines stability must still be granted for. It is therefore beneficial to integrate transient performance early into the overall aero-engine design tool chain to be able to predict the dynamic behavior from the beginning.
 This paper presents a methodology to couple predesign and transient performance simulation in order to get a more holistic picture of aero-engines early in the design process. This procedure entails extensive amount of data transfer throughout multi-disciplinary tools with different fidelity levels. This task is tackled using DLRs virtual engine platform GTlab (Gas Turbine Laboratory), which provides a geometric data model with abstract description of predesign components and standardized interfaces for data exchange. In order to demonstrate the proposed methodology a performance model of a turbofan similar to the V2500 aero-engine is used. For that purpose, a performance cycle is established providing boundary conditions for the preliminary aerodynamic engine design. The designed components provide necessary input data for the subsequent transient certification maneuver Eventually, parametric studies are conducted to show the impact of design variations on transient data such as the minimum surge margin and minimum tip clearance as well as on preliminary engine design.


A 69-year-old man was admitted for the evaluation of leukocytosis with atypical cells. Physical examination revealed marked hepatosplenomegaly. The peripheral blood demonstrated Hb 10.1 g/dl, platelet 13.6 x 10(4)/microliters, and WBC 14200/microliters with 76% lymphoid cells. Bone marrow showed 52.4% lymphoid cells. These cells had a nucleus which was relatively large with a coarse chromatin structure and one prominent nucleolus. Under electron microscopy, these cells had a narrow cytoplasm containing a few mitochondria with some microvilli. The surface of these cells was positive for Ia, B1, B2, C3R, and had markedly elevated IgM-K and IgD-K surface immunoglobulins. Levels of IgG, IgA and IgM were 1140 mg/dl, 53 mg/dl, and 198 mg/dl respectively. He was diagnosed as having B-PLL, and was treated with vincristine, cytarabine and prednisolone. Since B-CLL frequently in accompanied by reduced levels of one or several immunoglobulins, and the most significant is the decrease of IgA, it is speculated from our case that B-PLL is very similar to B-CLL in the abnormalities of B cell function.


Purpose. The purpose of this research is to identify the specifics, condition and problems of the development of insurance activities of Ukrainian agrarian enterprises.
Methodology / approach. The methods of analysis and synthesis, due to which the diagnostics of the insurance segment in agriculture was conducted, were the basis of the methodological approaches in studying the state and dynamics of the agricultural insurance market. Abstraction for clarification of the essence and content of the concept of «agricultural insurance»; correlation and regression analysis for studying the factors of influence on the total volume agricultural insurance premiums; induction and deduction, generalization and formalization for the definition of the characteristics of insurance activities of agricultural enterprises.
Results. The essence, forms and types of insurance of activity of agrarian enterprises are considered. The problems and specifics of insurance business development of enterprises of agrarian sector of economy of Ukraine are revealed. The basic insurance products for agrarian enterprises are determined.
Originality / scientific novelty. Further development of identification of peculiarities and problems of development of insurance of activity of agricultural enterprises in the part of identification of basic insurance products and possibilities of their use was investigated.
Practical value / implications. The main results of the research can be applied in the practical activity of agricultural enterprises in order to minimize the risks of their functioning.


Elastic-wave data collected around the world in sediments with methane hydrate point to significant velocity increases due to the presence of the hydrate in the pores. This effect can be easily understood if we recall that gas hydrate is a solid as opposed to brine or gas. By filling the pore space, gas hydrate acts to reduce the porosity available to the pore fluid and increase the elastic moduli of the solid frame. However, it is difficult to reconcile this effect with more recent observations that the attenuation of elastic waves grows with increasing gas hydrate concentration.

Indeed, intuitively, one would expect that the stiffer the rock, the smaller the relative elastic energy losses per cycle and the smaller the attenuation. Measurements in many sediments support this intuition. For example, Klimentos and McCann (1990) show that attenuation increases with increasing porosity and clay content, while the velocity behaves in an opposite way. Recent results by Koesoemadinata and McMechan (2001), who statistically generalized many experimental data, point to the same fact. This inference, combined with quantitative modeling, led Dvorkin et al. (2003) to suggest reduced absorption as a possible seismic attribute for methane hydrate detection.

However, the facts are persistent. Unexpectedly large attenuation in sediments with gas hydrates has recently been observed at different geographical locations, in different depositional environments and at different frequencies. In 1999, Guerin et al. presented qualitative evidence of dipole waveform attenuation in the hydrate-bearing sediments in the Outer Blake Ridge off the U.S. east coast. Sakai (1999) noted that the shear-wave VSP signal may be strongly attenuated in a Mallik well in northern Canada within the methane-hydrate interval. Wood et al. (2000) observed increased attenuation of seismic waves at the same location. Guerin and Goldberg (2002) used monopole and dipole waveforms to quantify compressional- and shear-wave …


School and district staff members, like others in the workforce, are becoming more and more involved in seeking and taking advantage of opportunities to improve their professional skills and increase their effectiveness. The literature on adult learning theory and effective staff development programs together provide a powerful knowledge base that offers guidance in the design, development and implementation of effective staff development programs for teachers and administrators.


This study aimed to assess the effect of different breeds and crosses of broiler chickens and sex on growth, carcass characteristics, and tissue composition. The experimental design was a completely randomized design in a 6 × 2 factorial scheme, with six genotypes (New Hampshire – NHS, Jersey Black Giant – JBG, Rodhe Island Red – RIR, Indigenous Giant – IG, and the hybrids IG × NHS and IG × JBG) and two sexes (male and female). Each treatment was composed of five replications with three broiler chickens, totaling 180 broiler chickens. Zootechnical performance and growth were assessed through the Gompertz equation parameters. After slaughtering at 105 days, the characteristics of carcass and main cuts were determined by means of weight, yield, and proportion of tissue constituents (meat, bone, and skin). Regarding the Gompertz equation parameters, the genotype NHS presented a higher growth potential. Males presented higher live weight and carcass weights, except for IG. No difference was observed between genotypes and sexes (P > 0.05) for carcass yield. The genotype JBG presented the highest average for breast yield (24.4%). Males presented the highest average for leg yield (30.5%). The genotype IG presented the highest value of breast meat yield (71.2%), being similar to the genotypes from the crosses IG × NHS, and IG × JBG (68.9 and 68.3%, respectively). For meat to breastbone ratio, the genotype IG presented the highest value (3.4) and, considering the sex, females presented a higher average (3.2) for this characteristic. Regarding the proportion of leg meat, an effect was observed for genotype and sex (P < 0.05) with the highest values observed for the hybrid IG × JBG and females (66.3 and 66.0%, respectively). For meat to leg bone ratio, the genotypes NHS, JBG, RIR, and IG × NHS presented the highest values (2.6, 2.7, 2.6, and 2.6, respectively), with females presenting the highest value (P < 0.05) (2.7). The genotypes IG, IG × NHS and IG × JBG presented the best growth and carcass characteristics, being recommended to be reared under an alternative system. Females presented the highest breast yield and, proportionally, the highest amount of leg meat, which are important attributes in a chicken meat production system.


The pattern and role of brain plasticity in stroke recovery has been incompletely characterized. Both ipsilesional and contralesional changes have been described, but it remains unclear how these relate to functional recovery. Our goal was to correlate brain activation patterns with tissue damage, hemodynamics, and neurologic status after temporary stroke, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Transverse relaxation time (T2)-weighted, diffusion-weighted, and perfusion MRI were performed at days 1 (n = 7), 3 (n = 7), and 14 (n = 7) after 2 hr unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. Functional activation and cerebrovascular reactivity maps were generated from contrast-enhanced fMRI during forelimb stimulation and hypercapnia, respectively. Before MRI, rats were examined neurologically. We detected loss of activation responses in the ipsilesional sensorimotor cortex, which was related to T2 lesion size (r = −0.858 on day 3,r = −0.979 on day 14; p < 0.05). Significant activation responses in the contralesional hemisphere were detected at days 1 and 3. The degree of shift in balance of activation between the ipsilesional and contralesional hemispheres, characterized by the laterality index, was linked to the T2 and apparent diffusion coefficient in the ipsilesional contralesional forelimb region of the primary somatosensory cortex and primary motor cortex at day 1 (r = −0.807 and 0.782, respectively; p < 0.05) and day 14 (r = −0.898 and −0.970, respectively;p < 0.05). There was no correlation between activation parameters and perfusion status or cerebrovascular reactivity. Finally, we found that the laterality index and neurologic status changed in parallel over time after stroke, so that when all time points were grouped together, neurologic status was inversely correlated with the laterality index (r = −0.571;p = 0.016). This study suggests that the degree of shift of activation balance toward the contralesional hemisphere early after stroke increases with the extent of tissue injury and that functional recovery is associated mainly with preservation or restoration of activation in the ipsilesional hemisphere.


We report a novel synthesis approach for the growth of core/shell FeO/Fe3O4 nanoparticles with controlled shape and size. FeO particles were partially oxidized to form core/shell FeO/Fe3O4 structures, as evidenced from transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and magnetometry analysis. We find that the molar ratios and concentrations of surfactants are the key parameters in controlling the particle size. The particles can grow in either isotropic or anisotropic shapes, depending upon a chemical reaction scheme that is controlled kinetically or thermodynamically. The competitive growth rates of {111} and {100} facets can be used to tune the final shape of nanoparticles to spherical, cubic, octahedral, octopod, and cuboctahedral geometries. FeO particles can also be oxidized chemically or thermally to form Fe3O4 nanoparticles. By following the same synthesis technique, it is possible to synthesize rods and triangles of Fe3O4 by introducing twinnings and defects into the crystal structure of the seed. The thermally activated first-order Verwey transition at ~120 K has been observed in all the synthesized FeO/Fe3O4 nanoparticles, indicating its independence from the particle shape. These core/shell nanoparticles exhibit a strong shift in field-cooled hysteresis loops accompanied by an increase in coercivity (the so-called exchange bias effect), but the low field-switching behavior appears to vary with the particle shape.


In the expanding field of ethical leadership research, little attention has been paid to the association between ethical leaders' ethical characteristics (beyond personality) and perceived ethical leadership, and, more importantly, the potential influence of ethical leadership on followers' ethical characteristics. In this study, we tested a theoretical model based upon social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986) to examine leaders' moral identity and moral attentiveness as antecedents of perceived ethical leadership, and follower moral identity and moral attentiveness as outcomes of ethical leadership. Based upon data from 89 leaders and 460 followers in China, collected at two points in time, we found that leaders' moral identity and moral attentiveness are associated with follower's perceptions of ethical leadership. Ethical leadership is, in turn, associated with their followers' moral identity and moral attentiveness. We found furthermore that ethical leadership mediates the effect of leaders' moral identity on followers' moral identity, but not the effect of leaders' moral attentiveness on followers' moral attentiveness. We discuss the findings, theoretical contributions, practical implications, and future research.


A small number of mouse embryos and embryonal carcinoma cells were pressed by mica sheet; then the extruded DNA complexes were adsorbed to mica and processed for electron microscopy. Extrachromosomal circular DNA complexes longer than 1 μm emerged during the compaction process of mouse embryos and during the differentiation of embryonal carcinoma cells induced with retinoic acid. These DNA molecules are discussed as possible products of developmental gene rearrangements occurring in the chromosomal DNA.


Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is one of life-threatening complications in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The gold standard of diagnosing PH is using right heart catheterization. Recently, DETECT study (1) was published and showed the first evidence-based detection algorithm for PAH in SSc. This algorithm was composed by eight parameters including anti-centromere antibody, telangiectasia, %FVC/%DLco, uric acid, NT-proBNP and right axis deviation of ECG. However, anti-centromere antibody and telangiectasia have not been associated with PAH with SSc in the Japanese population. It would be necessary to establish an algorithm for detecting early stage PAH in Japan. In the treatment of SSc-associated PAH, the survival rate is still low compared to idiopathic PAH and non-SSc-PAH. Objectives Our aim is to determine a new method for the detection of early PAH in patients with SSc in Japan. And then, we investigate the predicative values of a new algorithm using the results of right heart catheterization. The second aim is to determine the efficacy of PAH-specific therapy for borderline PAH. Methods We enrolled 118 consecutive patients with SSc in this study, who were admitted to our University Hospital between 2005 and 2014. At first, echocardiography was performed in all patients, and if estimated right ventricular systolic pressure (eRVSP) was more than 40 mmHg, serum levels of NT-pro BNP and %DLco were estimated. If NT-proBNP was more than 250 pg/ml or %DLco was less than 60%, we recommended the patient should be performed by right heart catheterization. Results As a result of screening 118 patients by the algorithm, 29 patients (25%) were recommended to undergo right heart catheterization and they were accepted to the examination. Consequently, mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of 10 patients was 25 mmHg or more, and they were diagnosed as a PAH. Eleven patients showed less than 20 mmHg of mPAP which was normal mPAP. And then, 8 patients showed a borderline mPAP between 21 and 24 mmHg of mPAP. We treated them with PAH-specific drugs; bosentan, sildenafil, tadalafil, and beraprost. After 1 year from treatment, all 8 patients underwent the second right heart catheterization. The levels of mPAP were less than 20 mmHg in all of 8 patients. In addition, the levels of NT-pro BNP decreased to the normal levels. Conclusions A new algorithm for the early detection of PAH in patients with SSc could detect 35% of manifest PAH, and 28% of borderline PAH. If patients with borderline PAH were started to be treated with PAH-specific therapy, their mPAP could be improved to the normal range. References Coghlan JG, Denton CP, Grunig E, et al. Evidence-based detection of pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis: the DETECT study. Ann Rheum Dis 2014;73:1340-1349 Disclosure of Interest None declared


Levosimendan increases the sensitivity of the cardiac fibrils to calcium, favorably affects hemodynamics in patients with heart failure. It is a positive inotrope and a peripheral vasodilator. The elimination half-life of the compound is about 1 hour. The drug decreases pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, increases cardiac output with the improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction leading to symptomatic improvement which includes decreased dyspnea and fatigue. Levosimendan can be used safely with diuretics, nitrates, beta-blockers, digoxin, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The most common adverse effects of levosimendan are headache and hypotension. Prolongation of the QTc interval does not appear to increase the incidence of arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and torsades de pointes. Levosimendan is a novel agent in the treatment of decompensated heart failure, representing a newer class of medications aimed at increasing calcium sensitivity. Its properties holds promise for the treatment of heart failure but further large-scale studies will be needed to determine its precise efficacy, safety, as well as the compound's long-term impact on mortality.


&NA; The purpose of this study was to determine if needs assessment surveys are useful in supporting course directors' decision‐making processes and if the benefits are worth the costs involved. Course directors reported that the survey provided useful data for course planning. The results discriminated topic preferences by specialty, and if topics of interest to prospective audiences were actually scheduled. It is unclear whether the survey data merely confirm course directors' own perceptions or actually provide new insights and altered programming. Expenses for this needs assessment tool, averaging $1300 per course, were reasonable. Continuing education departments should encourage the development of mechanisms to share data among course directors, and thereby enhance the usefulness of this needs assessment process as an essential, continuous, and integrated component of course design.


This paper reports the architecture of a five-port receiver without vector base circuit generators in which three antennas provide three phase-shifted copies of the received signal. A 2.4 GHz prototype was implemented for concept proofing and the measurements point to a 6 dB higher sensibility with respect to comparable classic five-port receivers.


A new architecture of video combiner for multipoint video conferencing is proposed. The proposed video combiner is wavelet-based which extracts the motion activities information from the video bitstreams produced by a wavelet-based video coder. Using the progressive properties of wavelet transform, the encoded bitstream become scalable. Hence, the video quality of inactive sub-sequences can be easily adjusted in the video combiner by discarding the fine detail information bitstreams. In other words, more bits can be reallocated to the active sub-sequences to achieve a good visual quality with smooth motion. In addition, the video coder is region-based so that different wavelet kernels can be used for the foreground and the background. This setting can on one hand reduce the computational complexity significantly. On the other hand, by considering the unequal importance of various regions, a high video quality in foreground can always be guaranteed and an acceptable quality in background can be maintained even under low bitrate environments. Since the video combiner only needs to rearrange the video quality level according to their motion activities, no re-encoding process is required. Therefore, a significant computational complexity saving can be achieved as compared to the conventional video combiner using a transcoding approach. The new video combiner is then used to realize a multipoint video conferencing and some results are presented to show the improvement in performance due to our proposed architecture.


Kabul the capital city of Afghanistan is located at elevation of 18, 00 m a s l. with the current population of 4.2 millions. The constructed areas have been encircled by urban fields. Climate is highly continental; rainfall always contributes water as a supplemental irrigation to agricultural crops. Sedimentations in streams, water courses, and in Kabul River are often observed. Urban fields have been regularly used for fresh vegetables and cereals in the rotation for food and feed production. Agricultural productions rely on fertilizers, but use of night soil and city bio-wastes are in abundance. Torrential rainfall is observed as a main source of soil erosion. The run-off degrades environment by contamination of surface water, underground water, Kabul River and other low laying water bodies. A study on "Organic matter and nutrient (NPKC) losses via run-off in the Urban Agriculture (UA) of Kabul" was conducted on 2012-2015 to quantify NPK and Co losses via run-off in the urban areas of Kabul. Four endemic crops of Kabul Province were planted in the rotation. The results showed neglect erosion according to the universal soil losses equation. The total average soil in two farms (n= 27) in the duration of four years were 248.48 kg ha -1 . Wheat and millet had 14.46 and 15.11%, barley and maize had 21.55, and 21.02% soil, respectively. In control plots of college farm 23.89%, Guzargah farm 30.86% and combined losses in both farms were (27.86%). The average total N, P, K losses were 0.19 Kg ha -1 , 0.013 kg ha -1 , 0.27 kg ha -1 , and Co 2.61kg ha -1 , respectively. Statistically the variation showed significant differences (p<0.05). Finally, based on our findings, few recommendations have been suggested to scientists, farmers and policy makers.


Project portfolio selection is a crucial decision in many organizations, which must make informed decisions on investment, where the appropriate distribution of investment is complex, due to varying levels of risk, resource requirements, and interaction among the proposed projects. In this paper, we present a mathemat- ical model of investment for a set of projects under uncertainty of future returns. The model addresses the problem of an investor with access to a limited pool of capital, who makes decisions on investments. The problem is to decide how much to invest in each project so as to maximize the total expected return by the end of the horizon in relation to a given utility function. We discuss optimal investment decisions for the cases where the return from investment is a random variable. The single-period and multi period cases of investment decisions are considered. The paper presents closed form solutions for commonly adopted utility functions.


Rehabilitation in broad terms is a process aimed at restoring a person's functional capacity particularly in relation to activities of daily living. Studies have shown that hospitalization of older patients is a major risk factor for an often irreversible decline in function, and that functional decline from baseline occurs as early as day two of admission. Rehabilitation is therefore often required for older patients following an admission to an acute hospital. Older patients admitted for rehabilitation are more likely to be functionally impaired and are more medically complex than younger patients.


The purpose of this study is to examine how internal audit procedures and responsibility perceptions of the auditors impact the audit decisions of independent external auditors. The questions of the research are answered by the certified public accountants (CPA) operating in Turkey and the establishments that audit companies independently. The results of the study show that the procedural efficiency of internal auditors in auditing and their taking responsibility have a positive impact on the decisions of independent external auditors. Another result of the study was that in the absence of internal audit elements in the company or in the case that internal auditors do not function properly, the audit result of the independent auditor will be more ineffective. In this respect, in order to get objective and reliable data from the independent external auditors, internal procedures should be streamlined and internal auditors should be willing to cooperate with external auditors more.


Allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) is a known complication of asthma and can result in progressive lung damage, respiratory failure and death. Asthma is a common disease in Saudi Arabia and until now the prevalence of ABPM has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to estimate the period prevalence of ABPM due to Aspergillus and Candida in patients with asthma. The setting was an outpatient pulmonary clinic at a university hospital in the central region of Saudi Arabia. Two hundred and sixty-four consecutive patients with asthma (150 or 57% females) were evaluated. All patients were screened for ABPM with skin prick test (SPT) using a panel of fungal antigens. Those with positive skin reactions had further clinical, immunological, respiratory and radiological assessment. ABPM was diagnosed by the presence of a minimum of five of the major criteria suggested by Rosenberg in 1977. Of the 264 patients, 62 (23%) had a positive SPT for at least one fungal allergen, of whom 44 (71%) were females (P=0.01). Seven patients (six females) were diagnosed with ABPM due to Aspergillus and (or) Candida species. Therefore, we estimate the period prevalence of ABPM to be 2.7% (95% confidence interval 1.3-5.4%). A. niger was the commonest fungal species isolated in our group. In conclusion, ABPM is not uncommon in Saudi Arabia and females seem to be more at risk. Because asthma is common, physicians need to have high index of suspicion for this disease and pursue the diagnosis with the appropriate tests.


Here we present comparative studies of: (i) the formation of ZnO thin films via the sol-gel method using zinc acetate dihydrate (ZAD), 2-methoxyethanol (ME) as solvent, and the aminoalcohols (AA): ethanolamine, (S)-(+)-2-amino-1-propanol, (S)-(+)-2-amino-3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-aminophenol, and aminobenzyl alcohol, and (ii) elemental analyses, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, absorption and emission spectra of films obtained after deposition by drop coating on glass surface, and thermal treatments at 300, 400, 500 and 600 °C. The results obtained provide conclusive evidences of the influence of the AA used (aliphatic vs. aromatic) on the ink stability (prior to deposition), and on the composition, structures, morphologies, and properties of films after calcination, in particular, those due to the different substituents, H, Me, or iPr, and to the presence or the absence of a –CH2 unit. Aliphatic films, more stable and purer than aromatic ones, contained the ZnO wurtzite form for all annealing temperatures, while the cubic sphalerite (zinc-blende) form was also detected after using aromatic AAs. Films having frayed fibers or quartered layers or uniform yarns evolved to "neuron-like" patterns. UV and photoluminescence studies revealed that these AAs also affect the optical band gap, the structural defects, and photo-optical properties of the films.


Dr Dean Warren was born in 1924 and died prematurely from cancer in 1989. He was a man of uncommon intelligence, wit, collegiality, integrity, honesty, and a true leader in American surgery. In 1966, he and his colleagues (Drs Zeppa and Fomon) presented a new concept for surgical shunts to control variceal hemorrhage while maintaining portal perfusion or hepatopetal blood flow. He termed this new shunt the distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS), which was the first selective shunt invented. The DSRS selective shunt was a brilliant improvement over the total shunt concept proposed by Nicolai Eck and was practiced worldwide during the 1980s. In a space of 2 decades, Dr Warren's pioneering work would show that the selective DSRS was superior to total shunts for treatment of portal hypertension, but that endoscopic sclerotherapy was a better first-line treatment for variceal hemorrhage than his own creation. His absolute adherence to the principles he espoused in his presidential address to the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract in 1973 were employed in his research and treatment of patients. This paper details Dr Warren's extraordinary research accomplishments and sets a lesson for us that well-designed clinical trials including randomization are essential in the advancement of the care of surgical patients.


While nonpsychiatrist physicians account for the majority of prescriptions written for psychotropic drugs, little is known about the quality of their drug management strategy. We studied this issue using data from 16 academic internal medicine group practices. Data on treatment, abstracted from medical records, were compared to criteria for quality care. Eighteen percent of patients used minor tranquilizers or antidepressants. The only individual factor independently associated with use of minor tranquilizers was mental health status. Nonwhites were less likely than whites to be diagnosed as depressed or receive antidepressants, even after controlling for baseline mental and physical health status. Mental and physical health status were also independently associated with antidepressant drug use. Quality of care was low for formulating a treatment plan for either drug group and for follow-up plans for antidepressants. Documentation of an adequate treatment plan for minor tranquilizers was poorest for patients who visited a house staff or nonphysician rather than a faculty member. For antidepressants, the patients with the poorest general health status tended to have the best documentation of treatment plans.


Motion detection is very important in image processing. When we look at our surrounding, our brain can immediately figure out the motion in it. Weather it be an animal running, a human walking on the street or a sports car flash on the track. These activities are noting to the computer. That is because it simply receives several frames of continuously changing pixel values, which does not make any sense of motion to it. But with the help of Image processing for motion detection, the computer can have the ability to detect motion, identify different objects in motion, and can also perform various predefined functions for it.


Pipes of wear-resistant steels are produced by centrifugal metal cast method. Structural investigation of the steels is carried out. It is established that radial laying macrostructure and formed microstructure guarantees high operating live-time of the products. It is proved that heat and thermo mechanical treatments additionally improve on the hardness, the wear-resistant and the resistant to chemical aggressive mediums. Optimum regimes for heat and thermo mechanical treatments (ionic nitriding) of the investigated alloys guaranteed reliable work in the operating conditions are defined.


Non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation is an effective strategy to reduce the incidence of acute (a) GVHD, a major risk factor for the development of chronic (c) GVHD. However, in NST there is evidence of at least a similar incidence of cGVHD compared with myeloablative transplants despite the lower incidence of aGVHD. Objective: To evaluate the incidence, natural history and outcome of cGVHD following NST in patients (pts) with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Methods: All pts were treated with NST with Fludarabine/Cyclophosphamide/Rituximab conditioning regimen (I. Khouri. Blood 2001), and tacrolimus/methotrexate for GVHD prophylaxis. Risk factors for the occurrence of de novo cGVHD were evaluated using Cox regression analysis. Results: 78 pts were treated: follicular lymphoma (n=47; 60%), diffuse large cell (n=16; 21%), and mantel cell lymphoma (n=15; 19%). Median age was 53 years (21–68). Donors were matched sibling (69/78; 88%), other related (n=3; 4%) and matched unrelated (n=6; 8%). Stem cell source was peripheral blood for related transplants and bone marrow for unrelated donor transplants. Median number of prior chemotherapy regimens was 3 (1–10). All pts but 5 (6%) had chemo-sensitive disease prior to transplant. Median follow up among survivors was 35 months (3–70). Grade I–IV aGVHD occurred in 25 pts (32%), II–IV in 15 (19%), and III–IV in 5 pts. There were 30 cases of cGVHD (3-yr cumulative incidence of 46%; 95% CI 35–60) including 20 de novo (3 yr cumulative incidence of 39%; 95% CI 27–56) and 10 with relapsing/progressive disease. Median time of onset of de novo GVHD was 277 days (126–798). Overall survival since the diagnosis of cGVHD was 92% (95% CI 54–99) in the novo group compared with 43% (95% CI 11–72) in the relapsing/progressive group. cGVHD was the primary cause for the only death in the de novo group and for 4 of 5 deaths in the relapsing/progressive group. Patients' characteristics (age, gender, donor-recipient histocompatibility, diagnosis, prior autologous transplantation, number of prior chemotherapy regimens, disease status prior to transplant (CR/PR), B2microglobulin, LDH, IPI, and patient/donor CMV serostatus), graft characteristics (CD34 and CD3 positive cells dose) and post-transplant course (CMV reactivation within 100 days post NST, chimerism at day 30 and day 90 post NST, time to tacrolimus taper, and use of DLI) were not significantly associated with the occurrence of de novo cGVHD. Conclusions: Despite a reduction in aGVHD, the incidence of cGVHD was comparable to that described after myeloablative regimens. Furthermore, there was a high incidence of de novo cGVHD, but a low cGVHD-related mortality. The lack of conclusive risk factors, including those traditionally associated with acute GVHD, emphasizes the potentially different pathophysiology and epidemiology of these 2 diseases.


Objectives: Anxiety is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is associated with neurocognitive outcomes. The effect of anxiety on brain perfusion in a CVD population has yet to be examined, and no study has investigated the interactive effects of anxiety and cerebral perfusion on cognition. Methods: A total of 55 older adults with CVD completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and underwent arterial spin labeling to quantify cortical perfusion and thickness. Participants were administered the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. Results: Reduced perfusion predicted poorer cognition and decreased cortical thickness. Higher anxiety score predicted worse memory performance and decreased frontal perfusion. Frontal lobe hypoperfusion combined with increased BAI scores exacerbated poorer MMSE performance. Conclusions: Higher anxiety may exacerbate the effects of cerebral hypoperfusion on cognitive impairment. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our findings and determine whether anxiety treatment improves neurocognitive outcomes in CVD.


The aim of this book is to provide an overview of classic as well as new research results on optimization problems and algorithms. Beside the theoretical basis, the book contains a number of chapters describing the application of the theory in practice, that is, reports on successfully solving real-world engineering challenges by means of optimization algorithms. These case studies are collected from a wide range of application domains within computer engineering. The diversity of the presented approaches offers a number of practical tips and insights into the practical application of optimization algorithms, highlighting real-world challenges and solutions. Researchers, practitioners and graduate students will find the book equally useful.


We report the feasibility of multistage fragmentation in combination with a fast background subtraction method, yielding the equivalent of MS3. The first quadrupole selects an ion of interest, and the ion is axially accelerated into Q2 to generate fragment ions. Subsequent stages of mass selection and fragmentation are obtained by quadrupolar resonant excitation within the Q2 collision cell. The fragments are analyzed downstream by either a resolving quadrupole or a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer, and multistage spectra are obtained by subtraction (MS(n) - MS(n-1)) for n = 3 or 4. We discuss the characterization of this method, including product ion arrival times, fragmentation efficiencies, and ion selectivity. We report accurate TOF mass spectra of background-subtracted MS3 for protonated molecules reserpine (m/z 609), bosentan (m/z 1552), and taxol (m/z 854).


ABSTRACT The nasal cavity is a part of the respiratory tract which humidifies, filters, and warms the air we breathe, as well as being the organ of olfaction. It is easily accessible in terms of morphological and histopathological evaluation for clinical and research purposes. There have been many studies and textbooks showing the histological evaluation of the nasal cavity's three functional regions: the vestibule, respiratory, and olfactory. The present study aimed to examine the nasal mucosa in a detailed manner in 11 predetermined anatomic areas. Specimens were collected from six fresh-frozen cadavers using a standard punch biopsy procedure. Microscopic evaluation was done on the nasal mucosa, glands, blood vessels, muscles, connective tissue, and neural anatomy. Also, examined and described were the epithelial cell and glandular transitions in the mucosal lining. The microscopic investigation of these features in the nasal cavity provided important information for both clinical and research purposes.


type="main"> Large-scale waterfront redevelopment projects, an urban development phenomenon that originated in the 1970s, are attractive to a growing suite of cities worldwide. But why? These mega-projects are full of pitfalls, broken promises, cost overruns, disappointments and are often accused of promoting inequality. In this article, we consider the specific case of Melbourne's Docklands, which local popular opinion has roundly judged a failure despite the countervailing judgment of success in the revival of 'liveability' of the adjacent Melbourne central business district. We use the Docklands case to illustrate the utility of a 'critical pragmatic' framework of analysis to get behind dominant explanations of the demands of the urban growth machine and postmodern neoliberal capitalism. Without denying the existence of these dynamics, nor their hegemony, we nevertheless explicate how a critical pragmatic analysis can reveal the social dynamics driving the judgments and justifications offered by actors in urban redevelopment. A pragmatic analysis of these dynamics of argument and action at critical moments in the long process of an urban redevelopment can reveal new kinds of compromises and tests by which these projects are judged. In other words, what counts as failure and as success in the work of city building will shift, depending on what actors do and how they talk about it, and on how well these actions and justifications hold up to public challenges about the true character of a successful city. By gauging how these challenges are constituted and settled, we can better understand the evolution of the urban value proposition, and the new notion of justice grounded in urbanity that is emerging at the urban redevelopment frontier.


It is generally accepted that collocational problems are present in the process of language learning, and they play an important role in the process of second language learning as well as translation. In spite of the fact that a majority of EFL learners have a good knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in English, they lack necessary knowledge of the collocational patterns. Moreover, collocations and restrictions related to their use are not considered important by teachers and learners. This study is a two-process study in which concerning the importance of linguistic issues in translation, the matter of collocational clashes in translation is investigated. The focus of the research is on how and to what extent SL collocations affect TL collocations and in what areas of translation we observe clashes between the two languages of English and Persian as we consider the choice of collocations. How selection of collocations in TL is affected by SL? Are natives and non-natives aware of the collocations in their language? In order to answer these questions six Persian translations of two English novels were studied. The clashes of collocations were collected. They were used in two multiple-choice tests that were prepared to show the fundamental factors which result in unacceptable collocations. They were given to the students of Persian literature and students of English language. The results were analyzed for further study. During this study it was found out that some causes for collocational clashes were more frequent as compared to other causes. The most frequent ones were as follows: type-setting errors mistranslation non-observance of collocational possibilities in TL


Abstract We investigated the rearing of drone larvae grafted in queen cells. From the 1200 drone larvae that were grafted during spring and autumn, 875 were accepted (72.9%) and reared as queens. Drone larvae in false queen cells received royal jelly of the same composition and of the same amounts as queen larvae. Workers capped the queen cells as if they were drones, 9-10 days after the egg laying. Out of 60 accepted false queen cells, 21 (35%) were capped. The shape of false queen cells with drone larvae is unusually long with a characteristically elongate tip which is probably due to the falling of larvae. Bees start the destruction of the cells when the larvae were 3 days old and maximised it before and after capping. Protecting false queen cells in the colony by wrapping, reversing them upside down, or placing in a horizontal position, did not help. The only adult drones that emerged from the false queen cells were those protected in an incubator and in push-in cages. Adult drones from false queen cells had smaller wings, legs, and proboscis than regular drones. The results of this study verify previous reports that the bees do not recognise the different sex of the larvae at least at the early stage of larval development. The late destruction of false queen cells, the similarity in quality and quantity of the produced royal jelly, and the bigger drone cells, allow for the use of drone larvae in cups for the production of royal jelly.


The use of nanoparticles with high atomic (Z) number have been known to attenuate X-rays and gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have established themselves as potent radiosensitizer to significantly enhance Radiotherapy (RT) treatment. The understanding of the biochemical pathways accompanying GNPs radiation amplification can provide information on the molecular pathways relevant to therapeutic efficacy and thus will pave the way for designing novel therapeutic platforms by targeting these pathways. However, there are significant limitations in the ability to deliver sufficiently potent concentration of GNPs to tumor cells and currently there is very limited understanding of the biology of the radiosensitization using GNPs. Thus, to improve the efficacy of radiosensitization and subsequently study the impact of radiosensitization on biochemical pathways, we have fabricated a new generation of targeted GNPs formulation. These ultrasmall 2-3 nm gold nanoparticles were functionalized with hetero-bifunctional PEG, imaging agent- AlexaFlour 647 and targeting peptide- RGD. The in vitro studies showed a robust uptake of these GNPs in different cancer cells lines and clonogenic survival assays have demonstrated a 2.8-fold cell kill enhancement with X-rays in HeLa cell line. To evaluate that these GNPs are targeted to the tumor site, we have injected these nanoparticles via different routes in two different tumor animal models and studied the uptake using in vivo optical imaging. The imaging studies showed highly specific tumor uptake in tumor endothelial cells in orthotopic pancreatic tumor mice model injected intravenously with RGD targeted GNPs. The administration of same RGD targeted GNPs formulation via inhalation/instillation (INH) route as opposed to customary intravenous (i.v) route was studied in transgenic lung cancer mice model. Fluorescence imaging and ex-vivo electron microcopy results showed a significantly higher concentration of GNPs (4.7 times) in the lung tumors of mice when using INH delivery compared to i.v. approach. Further, to understand the radiobiology of GNPs in vitro, we have studied the protein expression of γH2aX and RAD51 using western blots. The studies involving the radiation induced alterations in presence of GNPs to study the impact on cell cycle and DNA damage/repair are currently underway. The studies will help identify the specific pathways that are critical to GNP radiotherapy which can be targeted subsequently to further boost the efficacy of GNP radiotherapy. This work is supported by ARMY/ W81XWH-12-1-0154, NSF DGE 0965843, HHS/5U54CA151881-02, NCI R03CA164645, NCI1 K01CA17247801, the Electronics Materials Research Institute at Northeastern University, and Brigham and Women9s Hospital. Citation Format: Rajiv Kumar, Jodi Belz, Ilanchezhian Shanmugam, Wilfred Ngwa, Ross Berbeco, Mike Makrigiorgos, Srinivas Sridhar. Radiosensitization using gold nanoparticles for effectively targeting molecular pathways in cancer radiation therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr C147.


Nowadays, mobile devices host many applications that are directly downloaded and installed from a store. The existence of such a large amount of apps for a myriad of purposes imposes a huge overhead on users, who are in charge of selecting, installing, executing the appropriate apps and deleting them when no longer needed. These applications have mostly neglected to take into account the user's context by proposing static non evolving scenarios of use. In order to address these concerns, comes the idea of a single application constantly executed on the mobile device while automatically handling software components according to the users' needs. Long Life Application is new way to respond to the user's needs in a dynamic and intelligent way. It evolves at run time (include/exclude business functionalities, update interactions mode, migrate executions) according to the user's need. While he/she moves in his/her surroundings, the app understands the occurring events and builds contextually described situations. Thus, context awareness and contextual formulation are the main issues discussed in this paper.


Background: Sodium imbalance is common in the first week of life in very low-birthweight infants (VLBWI) and may be associated with poor outcome.

Objective: To determine the incidence and outcomes of both hypo- and hypernatraemia in VLBWI (500–1500 g birthweight) in the first week of life.

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study evaluating sodium abnormalities in VLBWI in the first week of life. Subjects included all VLBWI born at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital between 1 January 2013 and 31 July 2013. The causes and complications associated with sodium abnormalities and their outcomes were reviewed.

Results: Sodium imbalances were found in 29.1% (85/292) VLBWI. Hypernatraemia was present in 27.1% (79/292) and hyponatraemia in 2.0% (6/292). There was no difference in birthweight or gestational age between hyponatraemic and hypernatraemic VLBWI. Within the hypernatraemic VLBWI, mortality was significantly increased in much smaller and more preterm infants (p < 0.001) and in infants with higher sodium levels (p < 0.005). The main causes of hypernatraemia were insensible water loss through the skin (73.9% of babies born via normal vaginal delivery) and respiratory system (60% of babies were on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)).

Conclusion: Hypernatraemia is common in the first week of life in VLBWI. Prevention of prematurity and measures to prevent sodium abnormalities should be implemented at birth, especially in very small preterm infants to decrease the mortality and morbidity.


Remifentanil is a short acting opioid frequently used to supplement general anesthesia for brief procedures. Narcotic agents are known for their ability to blunt autonomic responses to stimuli such as laryngoscopy and intubation and do not alter seizure threshold. We hypothesized that the combination of remifentanil and methohexital for induction would produce favorable suppression of sympathetic response during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). With Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent, patients were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, crossover study of methohexital alone versus remifentanil with an adjuvant of low-dose methohexital. One hundred ten ECT treatments were evaluated and subjects were treated in an alternating fashion with one of two induction protocols: Methohexital alone in an 80-100 mg IV bolus or remifentanil 500 mcg IV bolus combined with methohexital 40 mg IV. Bilateral ECT was performed in standard fashion and systolic blood pressure and heart rate were recorded throughout the procedure. No significant differences were found in baseline hemodynamic values between the two groups. Heart rate was significantly lower in the remifentanil group versus methohexital group at one minute post-induction and just prior to ECT stimulus. Pre-ECT systolic blood pressure was not significantly different between the two groups. Heart rate remained lower in the remifentanil group at all measured timepoints during the treatment and continuously for five minutes after the seizure. Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower at one minute following the end of seizure and five minutes after end of seizure. Remifentanil's short duration of action, favorable side effect profile, potential proconvulsant activity and ability to suppress hemodynamic response make it a potential novel drug for ECT induction.


Both a transmission-line model and its simpler variant, a lumped-element model, can be used to predict the responses of a thickness-shear-mode quartz resonator sensor. Relative deviations in the parameters computed by the two models (shifts in resonant frequency and motional resistance) do not exceed 3% for most practical sensor configurations operating at the fundamental resonance. If the ratio of the load surface mechanical impedance to the quartz shear characteristic impedance does not exceed 0.1, the lumped-element model always predicts responses within 1% of those for the transmission-line model.


The different types of mathematical models which are physically based models or the models based on laboratory experimental and/or field measurements are considered to estimate the runoff depth and runoff coefficient relating rainfall to runoff especially for the non-measured watersheds. Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was applied to estimate the surface runoff depth of Al-Khoser River watershed, 696km 2 . The model was calibrated based on measured single storms data at the watershed outlet, while data measured at the outlet of sub watershed (36km 2) are considered for model verification. For model calibration, the resultant values are 0.99, 0.95, 0.73 and 0.19 for determination coefficient, index of agreement, model efficiency, and t-test respectively, while verification of the model revealed values of 0.97, 0.89, 0.72 and 0.32 for the same parameters considered respectively. The model was applied as a daily continuous simulation for the period 1991-2011. Relationships between the accumulated daily runoff depths and accumulated daily rainfall depths have been obtained, additionally the yearly runoff depth related to the yearly rainfall depth was also derived. Those relations can be used to estimate the runoff depth and runoff coefficient for different studies of the watershed


Agreement is approached from the analytical decisions required for constructing a typological database. The Surrey Database of Agreement provides detailed, highly structured information on the agreement systems of fifteen genetically diverse languages. The range of material included and the criteria for inclusion are set out here. There is then detailed discussion of the difficult cases, in particular the dividing line between agreement markers and pronominal affixes. The criteria relevant to this distinction are in part drawn from the literature and in part new. The aim is that the criteria adopted should be fully clear, so that linguists of different persuasions can use the database for their varying purposes.


OBJECTIVES
This study examined the effect of working conditions, occupational stress, and antenatal leave on risk of small-for-gestational age and premature births in Mexico City.

METHODS
Over a 3-month period, 2663 (96.2%) of 2767 women who gave birth at three major hospitals and worked at least 3 months during pregnancy were interviewed shortly after delivery. After the exclusion of multiple gestations and birth defects, 261 (10.0%) small-for-gestational-age and 288 (11.0%) preterm births were identified.

RESULTS
For small-for-gestational-age births, working more than 50 hours a week (odds ratio [OR] = 1.59), standing more than 7 hours a day (OR = 1.40), and no antenatal leave (OR = 1.55) were associated with an increased risk. Women with no antenatal leave were also much more likely to give birth prematurely (OR = 3.04).

CONCLUSIONS
In this study, arduous working conditions and lack of antenatal leave benefits were found to increase the risk of poor birth outcome in Mexican women. Enforcement of existing antenatal leave laws and provision of comparable benefits for the uninsured may reduce the incidence of small-for-gestational-age births and prematurity.


Background: Malignant glioma represents one of the most aggressive and devastating forms of human cancer. At present, there exists no successful treatment for this disease. Gene therapy, or vector therapy, has emerged as a viable experimental treatment method for intracranial malignancies. Objective: Vector therapy paradigms that have entered the clinical arena have shown adequate safety; however, the majority of the studies failed to observe significant clinical benefits. As such, researchers have refocused their efforts on developing novel vectors as well as new delivery methods to enhance the therapeutic effect of a particular vector. In this review, we discuss common vector therapy approaches used in clinical trials, their drawbacks and potential ways of overcoming these challenges. Methods: We focus on the experimental evaluation of cell-based vector therapies and adenoviral and herpes simplex virus type 1 vectors in the treatment of malignant glioma. Conclusion: Vector therapy remains a promising treatment strategy for malignant glioma. Although significant questions remain to be answered, early clinical data suggest safety of this approach and future studies will likely address the efficacy of the proposed therapy.


Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory disease that can lead to systemic involvement especially related to significant joint pain and disability. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) has a pivotal role in its pathogenesis. TNF also has effects on the formation of granuloma and the defensive mechanisms against the intracellular injuries. While a case with RA has been evaluated before the TNF alpha antagonist treatment, the presence of respiratory symptoms and bilateral cavitary lung lesions led to further investigations and was diagnosed as accompanying Wegener granulomatosis. The effect of that coincidence on treatment decision was aimed at discussing a case report as being a rare condition. (Tur Toraks Der 2011; 12: 72-5)


The study of history dates back to the classical times and its contributions to the development of human society have generated a lot of scholarly debate. The spectacular inventions which scientists had made by the late 18 th century had not only contributed significantly to man's knowledge of the universe and natural phenomena but also to the improvement of the material lot of humanity. Scientific and technological advances fired the imagination of historians to such a high degree that they began to question whether the scientific method would not be applied to better understand the human past. The attempt by historians to assert the scientific status of their discipline was the genesis of the heated debate as to whether history is a science, an art or both. This paper argued that scientific method is not peculiar to the sciences; it is also applicable to history. Scientific and historical methods are systematic, sequential, logical and progress in clearly defined steps.


QUESTIONS: The change in the frequencies of invasive higher plant species in different habitat types was investigated using Danish monitoring data from 2004 to 2014. LOCATION: Denmark. METHODS: The occurrence data were collected in circles with a radius of 5 m at a number of plots within 923 sites. The sampling intensity was irregular with sampling intervals ranging from one to three years. The hierarchical occurrence data were fitted in a hierarchical model, where the site‐specific occurrence probabilities were modelled by latent variables. RESULTS: The overall frequency of invasive higher plant species increased significantly in this 11‐year period in two of the seventeen habitat types, i.e. on coastal dunes and on dry heathland. The frequency of the dominating invasive species, Rosa rugosa, Pinus contorta, and Prunus serotina, was observed to increase significantly in three, two, and one out of the seventeen habitat types, respectively, whereas the frequency of Pinus mugo was found to decrease significantly in one habitat type. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of invasive higher plant species has not stabilized and is still increasing in some or several Danish habitat types. Furthermore, trend analyses of a selected subset of invasive plant species may serve as an important early warning signal that may be used in the management of ecosystems.


What about students use your strengths and the creation of teaching. Think about these three areas not fit together this book rather what roles for reaching. What you know for future teachers must students to digital media. And disability or are you use digitized text. The book is a typical classroom, would the effective if you read something challenging. Explain the concord nh schools what you place yourself stressed. What brought the questions provided are, creation of universal. What aspects that I il will enable specific suggestions will. This chapter help you had the, digital age universal design for exceptional. However a rich array of text udl principles. Why you define goals before had the popularity. If you had to instructional model, why or succeed as they have had. Our society has four classroom and three areas not.


In this paper, some foundations of a decision support model for a full-service e-commerce provider, providing a SAAS (software as a service) business model, are presented. The decision model is targeted to explicitly address interoperability issues, to provide a simple but powerful communication aid for the negotiations between service provider and customer, and to aim in automatically composing reliable software systems from service components.


Since Morales's election, rural movements have become the new protagonists of Bolivian politics. Previous analyses have emphasised their active role in shaping national politics, often focusing on those organisations as a compact block. However, their relationship is marked by both cooperation and fragmentation. This article provides a narrative of Bolivian socio-political history over the last 60 years, establishing four main phases of identitarian articulations/disarticulations. It demonstrates the high degree of interdependence and fluidity of ethnic and class identities, as well as their interconnections with the broader socio-political context and the national legal and institutional changes.


Isotropic cosmology built in the framework of the Poincaré gauge theory of gravity based on sufficiently general expression of gravitational Lagrangian is considered. The derivation of cosmological equations and equations for torsion functions in the case of the most general homogeneous isotropic models is given. Physical aspects of isotropic cosmology connected with possible solution of dark energy problem and problem of cosmological singularity are discussed.


An equivalent electric circuit has been developed which describes the charge transfer in DNA molecule. A computer simulation of the charge carrier transfer dynamics in the molecule has been performed based on this circuit. It was found that the switching time of a molecular junction lies in the femtosecond range and depends on the frequency of the input electric signal. An increase in the frequency of the input signal in the range from 1 GHz to 4 THz and a reduction of temperature lead to a decrease in the current passing through the DNA molecule. It has been shown that the sequence of the DNA base pairs defines the rate of localization and delocalization of holes and controls the signal propagation rate in the DNA molecule.