Childhood asthma represents a worldwide problem, involving genetic, immune defense and environmental components. MicroRNAs (miRs) are non-coding, single-stranded RNAs involved in immune regulation. The aim was to evaluate clinical potential of plasma miR-21 and miR-146a involved in T helper differentiation in childhood asthma and non-asthmatic controls. Group 1 consisted of 27 asthmatic children receiving inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), which was compared to group 2 with 21 healthy control children. All patients were assessed by pulmonary function tests. miR-21 and miR-146a expression levels were determined by real-time quantitative PCR, and IL-13 was measured using ELISA. Group 1 showed significant up-regulation of plasma miR-21 and miR-146a levels with mean values 42.6-fold and 4.7-fold higher than average expression, respectively, in group 2. miR-21 levels positively correlated with IL-13 levels and eosinophil percentage, while miR-146a only correlated to eosinophil percentage. There was a linear association between each of miR-21 and miR-146a expression and FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in the first second), miR-21 and miR-146a are up-regulated in asthmatic children. miR-21 served as a better asthma biomarker. Association between both markers and FEV1 points to their role in determining asthma outcome following ICS treatment. miR-21 and miR-146a play a role in eosinophilic endotypic classification of asthma.


Conventional spatial queries such as vary search and nearest neighbor retrieval, involve solely conditions on objects' geometric properties. Today, several trendy applications call for novel varieties of queries that aim to seek out objects satisfying both a spatial predicate, and a predicate on their associated texts. As an example, rather than considering all the restaurants, a nearest neighbor query would instead invite the restaurant that is the nearest among those whose menus contain ―steak, spaghetti, brandy‖ all at identical time. Presently the simplest solution to such queries relies on the IR2-tree, which, as shown in this paper, includes a few deficiencies that seriously impact its efficiency. Impelled by this, we have a tendency to develop a brand new access methodology called the spatial inverted index that extends the standard inverted index to address multidimensional information, and comes with algorithms which will answer nearest neighbour queries with keywords in real time. As verified by experiments, the projected techniques outperform the IR2- tree in query reaction time significantly, typically by an element of orders of magnitude. Spatial queries, such as range search and nearest neighbour retrieval, involve only conditions on objects geometric properties. A spatial database manages multidimensional objects (such as points, rectangles, etc.), and provides fast access to those objects based on different selection criteria. Now-a-days many applications call a new form of queries to find the objects that satisfying both a spatial predicate, and a predicate on their associated texts. For example, instead of considering all the restaurants, a nearest neighbour query would instead ask for the restaurant that is the closest among those whose menus contain the specified keywords all at the sametime.IR2-tree is used in the existing system for providing best solution for finding nearest neighbour. This method has few deficiencies. So we implement the new method called spatial inverted index to improve the space and query efficiency. And enhanced search is used to search the required objects based on the user priority level. Thus the proposed algorithm is scalable to find the required objects.


Aim: This study was conducted with aim of investigating stigmatisation towards HIV/AIDS diagnosed patients in healthcarestaff , the factors aff ecting the stigmatisation and eff ects on care giving processes. Method: The data consists of survey responses by 95 nurses that work in a public hospital and match predermined participant criteria. Survey questions were devised to inquire into stigmatisation of HIV/AIDS diagnosed patient and to collect demographic information from the participants. Results: The data was conducted on 95 nurses, %88,4 of people in the study women, %11,6 were males. %69,5 of nurses on HIV/AIDS have in sufficient knowledge and %63,2 of nurses didn't stigmastise HIV/AIDS diagnosed patients. It was determined that majority of the nurses didn't want to share the same room and work at the same place with HIV/AIDS diagnosed patients, further more that they were hesitant to be a friend with them. It was found that the majority of the nurses in the study didn't have any HIV/AIDS diagnosed family members or friends and that they were volunteer to give care when one of the relatives were diagnosed HIV/AIDS. Besides %53.7 nurses stated that there was no diff erence between the care they gave HIV/AIDS diagnosed patients and the other patients at the service. Conclusion: As in this study it was found that a large number of the nurses didn't treat the patient diagnosed with HIV/ AIDS, this result concluded that need more research investiagting stigmatisation towards HIV/AIDS diagnosed patients with a larger sample group giving care HIV/AIDS diagnosed patients. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, stigmatization, social isolation.


Objective: A postprocessing method of rank filtering inhomogeneity correction using nonlinear rank filtering of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans is described. The method addresses some of the problems of homomorphic unsharp masking (HUM) using mean or median filtering. Methods: Maximum rank filtering was used to estimate the bias image, which was then smoothed and used to normalize the original image. The coefficient of variation within and between tissue classes before and after inhomogeneity correction was calculated in simulated brain phantom images and clinical T1-weighted MRI images. Comparison was made with mean filter-based and median filter-based HUM. Results: Maximum rank filtering reduced within and between class coefficients of variation. Performance of median filtering was inferior to that of mean filtering, and both were inferior to performance of maximum rank filtering. Conclusion: The method is easy to implement and is effective against different bias types. It is less prone to edge effects than mean and median filtering.


The effect of reservoir design and long-term use with inhaled metered dose inhaler (MDI) corticosteroids on aerosol dose availability was examined. Beclomethasone dipropionate (Vanceril) was delivered by MDI with three brands of available reservoir devices: the AeroChamber, the OptiHaler, and the Aerosol Cloud Enhancer (ACE). An in vitro lung model simulated inspiration. Long-term use was simulated by exhausting five MDI canisters of beclomethasone through each sample of reservoir tested. Each canister exhausted through a reservoir represented approximately 1 month of use with one drug. Total inhaled dose was collected at the reservoir mouthpiece and measured using a spectrophotometric assay. Dose delivery was measured before simulated use and after each MDI canister was exhausted through the reservoir. Three samples of each brand were tested with cleaning and three samples were tested without cleaning. With cleaning, the AeroChamber, OptiHaler, and ACE delivered significantly different average doses of 16.6, 10.3, and 8.7 micrograms per MDI actuation, respectively, (P = 0.0017) over time of use. Changes in dose delivery over time of use were not significant (P = 0.2011). Without cleaning, the same three brands averaged 21.1, 9.7, and 7.8 micrograms per MDI actuation, respectively, (P = 0.0019), and changes in dose delivery over time were not significant (P = 0.3265). Reservoir design can affect the delivery of an inhaled corticosteroid, although the delivery over 4 to 5 months remained stable.


The key objectives of this pragmatic investigation are the significant relationship between the broad money and macroeconomic factors import and export. utilized time series annual data set from 1995 to 2019, to find the significant relation. Augmented Dickey fuller test were applied for the stationary of variables. Regression model is used to observe the variables significance with M2. Heteroskedasity and serial correlation valuation technique were employed to examine the accuracy and as well as the normality of the variables. The outcomes of this empirical analysis expressed that coefficient of import is significant positive at 1% level, the export coefficient value are negative significant at level 1%. It is clearly mentioned that significant negative and positive relation are exist with M2. This analysis appreciates the exporters, importer and fiscal and monetary policy makers.


This paper presents a package of user-oriented computer programs for power cable thermal analysis using the finite element technique. Special features of the programs include: automatic grid generation routine, user friendly input and output structures, sensitivity analysis, combined heat/moisture analysis, and a new, exact method of modeling the heat flux distribution in the region between the cables and the retaining duct in the underground power transmission system. The analysis reveals that the heat flux on the inside surface of the retaining duct is not uniform, as generally assumed in cable ampacity calculations. In fact, the heat flux is maximum at the top where the convection induced flux is much stronger than at the bottom or elsewhere around the duct. Laboratory experimental verification of the heat flux model is presented. A full scale test of a 12 cable system in a concrete duct bank is described and the temperatures measured over a 42-day period are compared with those obtained using the new computer program.


A dialogue between psychiatry and religion is still not easy to conduct despite the awareness that religion (and spirituality) can play an important role in the way patients cope with their mental disorder. In this contribution the goal is to pave the path in the hope that it will promote dialogue. To achieve this goal, we take three steps. We will start with describing science and religion as social practices characterized by epistemic, practical, collective and individual goals. The next step is some analysis of what we mean by commitment. Based on what we have found we will be able to describe what we mean by a stance, followed by what in our view characterizes mostly the stance "psychiatry and religion". Holism, values, a certain conception of the professional role, and inclusiveness are the essential issues.


Design of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes suitable for all channels which exhibit a given capacity C is investigated. Such codes are referred to as universal LDPC codes. First, based on numerous observations, a conjecture is put forth that a code working on N equal-capacity channels, also works on any convex combination of these N channels. As a supporting evidence, we prove that a code satisfying the stability condition on N channels, also satisfies the stability condition on the convex hull of these N channels. Then, a channel decomposition method is suggested which spans any given channel with capacity C in terms of a number of identical-capacity basis channels. We expect codes that work on the basis channels to be suitable for any convex combination of the bases, i.e., all channels with capacity C. Such codes are found over a wide range of rates. An upper bound on the achievable rate of universal LDPC codes is suggested. Through examples, it is shown that our codes achieve rates extremely close to this upper bound. In comparison with existing LDPC codes designed for a given channel, significant performance gain is reported when codes are used over various channels of equal capacity.


We consider scalar semilinear elliptic PDEs where the nonlinearity is strongly monotone, but only locally Lipschitz continuous. We formulate an adaptive iterative linearized finite element method (AILFEM) which steers the local mesh refinement as well as the iterative linearization of the arising nonlinear discrete equations. To this end, we employ a damped Zarantonello iteration so that, in each step of the algorithm, only a linear Poisson-type equation has to be solved. We prove that the proposed AILFEM strategy guarantees convergence with optimal rates, where rates are understood with respect to the overall computational complexity (i.e., the computational time). Moreover, we formulate and test an adaptive algorithm where also the damping parameter of the Zarantonello iteration is adaptively adjusted. Numerical experiments underline the theoretical findings.


As a result of several studies examining the relationship between identity and music subcultures, sociologists have developed a framework for analyzing those relationships. I apply this framework to the filk community, using the question "Is wizard rock filk?" as a vehicle for exploring slippery questions: What is filk? What is the filk community? What does it mean to be a filker? Part of the difficulty with defining these terms rests with the fact that people approach filk in different ways; it can be one of many activities at a convention, a genre of music, a subculture, or some or all of these. Although both wizard rock and filk are musical movements within fandom, I conclude that the answer to the question "Is wizard rock filk?" depends on the context of who is answering the question and what perspective that person holds with respect to the filk community. This dependence on perspectives is particularly important in the filk community and has repercussions for the larger fan community because one of the hallmarks of these fan communities is a tolerance of differing perspectives.


The authors report a numerical analysis for the combined action of multi-photon ionisation and cascade ionisation processes in producing ionisation and breakdown of molecular oxygen. The calculations were carried out at two different laser pulses of wavelengths 0.6943 and 0.53 mu m with pulse durations of 18 and 25 ps, respectively, over a pressure range of 102-5*104 Torr. A reasonably good agreement has been obtained between the computed threshold intensities and the measured ones. Computations for nitrogen irradiated with 0.53 mu m laser pulses are also given. This analysis shows that the model is capable of interpreting gas breakdown experiments with short flashes of laser radiation.


We describe a new type of ferromagnetic resonance ~FMR! spectroscopy that is based on a calorimeter sensor. We use an atomic force microscopy cantilever coated with a ferromagnetic thin film as a bimaterial sensor to measure absorption of microwaves at 9.17 GHz. The spectra show a peak in the cantilever deflection as a function of applied magnetic field corresponding to a peak in the absorbed microwave power that occurs at the FMR resonance of the ferromagnetic film. The saturation magnetization Meff and the damping factor a were determined from the FMR microwave absorption spectra for Co, NiFe, and Ni thin films. The data correlate well with conventional FMR spectra taken with a tuned cavity spectrometer. Our instrument can detect magnetic moments as small as 1.3 10A m (1.3310 emu) with prospects for sensitivity improvements to the 1 310A m (1310emu) level. The technique provides a potentially superior way to make quantitative measurements of saturation magnetization of thin-film samples with very small total magnetic moments. @S0034-6748 ~00!02908-7#


The aim of this paper is to present briefly the most spectacular karstic regions in the northern Vietnam referred to their geoturistic potential and to provide some proposals of better logistic and scientific promotions of their values. On the other hand, this region is a perfect field-work site suitable for studying geological and geomorphological processes. In the future it can provide one of the best educational platforms for people (especially children) interested in recognizing natural processes, which have been changing our planet through millions of years. Karst of Vietnam closely relates to the other tropical karst areas well-known throughout Southeastern Asia and, particularly, to the humid, monsoon, tropical karst prevailing in Southern China.


Background: The prognostic significance of the lymph node (LN) classification for small bowel neuroendocrine tumors (SBNETs) remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the prognostic assessment of different LN staging systems. Methods: Patients with SBNETs were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The X-tile program was used to determine the cutoff value of the resected lymph nodes (RLNs), negative lymph nodes (NLNs), lymph node ratio (LNR), and the log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS). Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan–Meier curves with log-rank test. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the differences between different periods. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the prognostic value of different LN staging systems on cause-specific survival (CSS). The relative discriminative abilities of the different LN staging systems were assessed using the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and the Harrell consistency index (HCI). Result: A total of 3,680 patients were diagnosed with SBNETs between 1988 and 2014 from the SEER database. A significant difference over time (1988–1999 vs. 2000–2014) was seen in age (P <0.001), tumor differentiation (P <0.001), T stage (P <0.001), and RLN (P <0.001) subgroups. Multivariate Cox survival analysis identified that LN status stratified by the number of RLNs, NLNs, LNR, and LODDS all predicted CSS in patients with SBNETs (all P <0.05), whereas the number of positive lymph nodes (PLNs) failed (P = 0.452). When assessed using categorical variables, LODDS staging systems showed the best prognostic performance (HCI: 0.766, AIC: 7,575.154) in the whole population. Further analysis based on different RLNs after eliminating the missing data showed that when the RLNs are <12, the LODDS (HCI: 0.769, AIC: 1,088.731) maintained the best prognostic performance as well when the RLNs are ≥12 (HCI: 0.835, AIC: 825.692). Among patients with LNR scores of 0 or 1, there was a residual heterogeneity of outcomes that were better stratified and characterized by the LODDS. Conclusion: LODDS was a better predicator of survival when LN status was stratified as a categorical variable and should be considered when assessing the prognosis of patients with SBNETs to allow a more reliable means to stratify patient survival.


The results of research presented at the 15th Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference (15PBNC) directly challenge the assumption, made for the purposes of radiation protection, that risks observed at acute doses of 500–1000 mGy can be extrapolated reliably down to zero dose and to low dose rates (the LNT model). The research shows that different biological responses to radiation predominate at doses and dose rates that are substantially lower than those at which risks have been observed. Hence, the dose-response relationship is non-linear and risk is not as predicted from the LNT model. If anything, there is health benefit instead of risk at low levels of exposure.

It is extremely important that these matters should be understood and put into proper perspective –

• to assist society in making technological choices that involve the use of radiation, radioactive materials and nuclear power;
• to ensure that appropriate decisions are reached concerning regulation of human-caused radiation; and
• to assure the public that these choices and decisions are being made on the best possible scientific basis.

We are all exposed to low levels of ionising radiation from natural sources. In the vast majority of cases, this is at less than 10 mSv/y. Most of us are exposed occasionally to additional diagnostic doses from medical sources, ranging from less than our annual dose due to natural background radiation up to about 10 mGy for a typical CAT scan and 100 mGy for some whole body scans. Doses to both cancer cells and normal tissues from medical therapy may be several orders of magnitude higher than diagnostic doses. Some workers in the nuclear industry are occupationally exposed at additional levels which can be comparable to, but are usually less than, natural exposures. Members of the public may be exposed, at very much lower levels (generally much less than 1 mSv/y), to radionuclides that are in their environment due to the operations of the nuclear industry.

For doses of β, γ and x-radiation up to a few hundred mGy, there are essentially two biological effects that have potential health consequences:

Damage to living cells, which could initiate the development of adverse delayed health effects, such as cancer. However, this effect is minute compared with the on-going amount of cell damage from endogenous causes, such as the reactive oxygen species produced by our oxygen-based metabolism.

Induction or activation of cellular protective capacity, additional to that which exists normally to protect against damage from all causes. This "adaptive response" to radiation involves prevention, repair and removal of damage. It reduces the effects of damage from other causes, as well as from radiation.

At low doses, typical of public and occupational exposures, not all cells are hit by a radiation track. A cell which is hit may interact with neighbouring cells by intercellular communication systems—the "bystander effect"—thus causing damage to appear and possibly stimulating protective capacity in the unirradiated cells, tissues and organs.

Experiments with irradiation of animals have shown that the enhancement of protective capacity, described in 2 above, predominates over detrimental effects at low levels of radiation exposure, with beneficial net health consequences. Such an effect, sometimes called "radiation hormesis", has been observed experimentally in cells from virtually all types of organisms, in whole plants and animal species other than humans, and in human cells. For doses greater than about 100 to 300 mGy in animals, it has been observed that detrimental effects dominate, i.e. there are dose thresholds for harm. As the rate of accrual of the dose decreases, the protective effect of radiation increases and the detrimental effects decrease.

Hormetic effects occur widely in nature, including the human species, and relate to most substances that are usually regarded as toxic, e.g. heavy metals, arsenic and various naturally-occurring chemical compounds in food and water, as well as to naturally-occurring radiation. It is a fundamental tenet of evolutionary biology that organisms and species adapt to their environment. Hence, the hormetic model also applies to oxygen, sunlight and many other familiar agents.

The effect of radiation on human health could be expected to vary from person to person, based on individual genetic make up. Currently, individual genetic sensitivity or susceptibility to low dose exposure cannot be predicted for any specific person. The net effect is measurable only on an exposed group or population by epidemiology, as an average probability of benefit or harm for members of the exposed population.

However, the carcinogenic effect of radiation is quite weak, compared with natural and other causes, and the symptoms and physical forms of cancer are not distinguishable as being caused by radiation. Hence, in humans, this effect is discernible only by an increased incidence of cases that correlates with exposure to radiation. This has been demonstrated for high doses by data from studies of the survivors of atomic bomb explosions in Japan. These studies have shown small but statistically significant increases in the incidences of leukaemia (with latency periods mainly in the range 5 to 10 years) and solid tumours (with latency periods generally more than about 10 to 20 years) for exposures that exceed about 200 mGy.

Effects on the health of human populations which have been accidentally exposed to low levels of ionising radiation, and atomic bomb survivors with low levels of exposure, have not been demonstrated using epi-demiological techniques.

Both increases and decreases in the incidences of cancers have been reported from medical exposures greater than 100 mGy, depending on the rate and total accrual of dose and the conditions of irradiation. These data were not discussed comprehensively at 15PBNC and require further consideration.

For acute doses less than about 100 mGy in humans, there is not clear evidence of any health effect, either because the evidence is not statistically significant or because there are no health effects – this is genuinely uncertain. Changes and effects in the body may be observed at the cellular and molecular levels but there is no discernible link to clinical harm or benefit.

There is no evidence to support the LNT model for chronic exposures, such as those due to natural background radiation—which ranges around the world from less than 1 to more than 200 mSv per year, with an average of about 2. Cancer incidences are, if anything, lower in areas of high background radiation than in areas of low background radiation. However, epi-demiological studies are confounded by many factors, particularly tobacco smoking, and populations living with very high background dose rates may be too small for reliable statistically based conclusions to be drawn.

In summary, research reported at the 15PBNC showed that the popular concept of radiation being harmful at any level of dose or dose rate (no matter how small) is not supportable, viz:

• The risk of cancer generation is trivial or zero up to more than a hundred times the average of natural background radiation.
• There are adaptive responses to low levels of radiation exposure which reduce the effects of damage from all causes, including those from radiation, thus reducing risk to levels lower than those observed in the absence of the radiation exposure.
• Because of this adaptive or hormetic effect, the dose and dose rate effectiveness factor (assumed to be 2 in the application of the LNT model for the purposes of radiological protection) becomes very large and can be assumed to be infinite at low doses and low dose rates.

Claims that the LNT model underestimates risks from low level radiation by orders of magnitude have been vigorously expounded elsewhere and used as the basis for attacks on the nuclear industry. There is no credible, consistent evidence to support these claims.

Challenges to the assumptions used in our current system of radiological protection, and their policy implications, are to be outlined in an OECD Nuclear Energy Agency report "Implication of Sciences and Technology on the Radiological Protection System", which was presented in draft form at the 15PBNC.


Xanthomonas citri subsp citri (Xac) is the bacterium responsible for citrus canker disease in citrus plants. The aim of this study was to describe the recombinant expression, purification, and characterization of a cysteine peptidase from Xac strain 306, which is a candidate for involvement in the pathogenicity of this bacterium. The gene was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris, and the cysteine peptidase was successfully expressed, secreted, and purified using affinity chromatography with a yield of approximately 10 mg/L. A polyclonal antibody produced against cysteine peptidase from X. citri subsp citri fused with HIS tag ((HIS)CPXAC) recognized the purified recombinant cysteine peptidase (HIS)CPXAC, confirming the correct production of this protein in P. pastoris. The same antibody detected the protein in the culture supernatant of Xac grown in pathogenicity-inducing medium. Kinetic analysis revealed that (HIS)CPXAC hydrolyzed the carbobenzoxy-Leu-Arg-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin substrate with a catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(m)) of 47 μM(-1)∙s(-1). The purified ((HIS))CPXAC displayed maximal catalytic activity at pH 5.5 and 30°C. The recombinant enzyme was inhibited by the specific cysteine peptidase inhibitor E-64, as well as by the recombinant cysteine peptidase inhibitors CaneCPI-1, CaneCPI-2, CaneCPI-3, and CaneCPI-4, with K(i) values of 1.214, 84.64, 0.09, 0.09, and 0.012 nM, respectively. Finally, the N-terminal sequencing of the purified protein enabled the identification of the first 5 amino acid residues (AVHGM) immediately after the putative signal peptide, thereby enabling the identification of the cleavage point and corroborating previous studies that have identified this sequence in a secreted protein from Xanthomonas spp.


At present, liver transplantation remains the only curative option for the patients with cirrhosis and end-stage liver diseases. The survival rate and recurrent diseases remain the major issues in the patient post-transplantation. Unani medicine is one of the oldest traditional systems of medicine which has been treating chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis (Talayyaful-Kabid) for centuries. The current study aimed to assess the impact of Unani treatment on decompensated cirrhosis and collect data to warrant further clini- cal trials. Authors conducted a case series on five patients with decompensated cirrhosis and portal hypertension. The disease was confirmed through FibroScan and ultrasound and treated with Unani treatment orally for seven months. Results were evaluated based on FibroScan, liver function test (LFT), EuroQol-5D (EQ5D), Child-Pugh and TTO-TIME (trade-o question). Significant improve- ments in LFT, fibrosis and quality of life were achieved in the studied patients. The literature related to the herbal constituents of chief medicines used to treat in this case was reviewed. The herbs proved their potential anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, hepato- protective, immuno-modulator and antiviral activities, suggesting plausible mechanisms of action in the cases. The preliminary findings indicated the potential therapeutic role of Unani treatment in decompensated cirrhosis. Clinical trials should be con- ducted to explore further therapeutic potential of Unani treatment in decompensated cirrhosis.


The L-shell x-ray intensity ratios I(L1)/I(Lα), I(Lβ)/I(Lα) and I(Lγ)/I(Lα) for Au and Pb have been measured at the excitation energies 36.82, 43.95, 48.60, 50.20 and 53.50 keV with a HP Ge(Li) detector. Measurements have been performed using an x-ray tube with a secondary exciter system as the excitation source. The x-ray tube with a secondary target arrangement was used to obtain high intensity with high degree of monochromatisation. A comparison is made of the experimental results with the calculated values obtained by using theoretical x-ray emission rates, sub shell ionisation cross-sections sub shell fluorescence yields and Coster-Kronig transition probabilities. A fairly good agreement is observed between experimental and theoretical values. The intensity ratios for intense transitions ILβ/ILα are in good agreement with the theoretical values.


For more than 30 years, John Gardner has elevated the discussion about the importance of student success in the first-year of college, with a heightened emphasis on first-year seminar courses and their value. Many colleges and universities offer some version of a first-year experience seminar, which is true for the Midwestern MAC School discussed in this research study. The purpose of this seven-year retention study was: to assess the impact first-year seminar had on retention rates for students enrolled in thematic and non-thematic sections; to assess student leader post-perceptions about the course; and to examine the extent to which first-year students' perceptions changed over a seven-year period. Overall, findings are positive and encouraging based on analysis of the data. Specifically, findings illustrate that the first-year seminar course has positively impacted student retention for both groups of students in the study, but more significantly for students enrolled in the thematic sections of the course. Additionally, the researcher's findings also indicated that student leaders have positive post-perceptions about the course, and lastly, the First-Year Initiative survey findings show that over a seven-year period, students' perceptions about the course have improved.


Communication is fundamental to the therapeutic relationship through which individuals define common objectives and the means to achieve them (King, 1999)
This is a challenge due to the increase in language disorders caused by brain injury (BI). These are a barrier to the understanding and knowledge of the person and their needs by the nurse specialist in rehabilitation (NSR). They have difficulties in family, professional and social integration; worse quality of life (Menoita, 2012); depression, a sense of disconnection, disintegration and alienation due to the obstacle that the lack of communication capacity adds to the management of daily life (Sundin & Jansson, 2003).
The communication should be a priority research area for the NSR, whose results contribute to the participation of the person with BI in their rehabilitation process.
This scoping review aimed to examine and map the existing literature on nonverbal communication (NVC) in the person with BI, in the context of rehabilitation. The CINAHL Plus® and MEDLINE databases were used. The time limit was extended to 14 years due to lack of studies in the area. Eight articles were used.
The NVC is more involved in the rehabilitation phase than in the chronic one, with a disturbance in the understanding of gestures but not in its production (Rousseaux, et al., 2010b). It is urgent to encourage the participation and interaction of the person with BI in the process of rehabilitation with a view to its success.
The scarcity of evaluation tools makes it subjective. The Lille communication test is the only concrete instrument, but not validated in Portugal. The application of the Rancho Los Amigos Scale reveals that people have a better NVC when they are in more advanced stages of it (Buhl & Pallesen, 2015).
However, the NVC systems are well defined, and the classification of Knapp (1980) is the one that has the greatest consensus: paralanguage, proxemics, tactics, environmental factors, kinesis and physical characteristics. There is also reference to affective intonation and silence / eye contact (Rousseaux, Daveluy & Kozlowski, 2010a; Sundin & Jansson, 2003).
These, associated with close observation, become fundamental weapons through strategies such as: attractive, enthusiastic and humorous approaches (Buhl & Pallesen, 2015); creation of relaxed and supported atmosphere; silent dialogue; understanding and mediation through bodily actions and interpretation of body language associated with the understanding of the situation in which the person is; forced cooperation (Sundin & Jansson, 2003). The GRIP model suggests an intervention based on four phases: contact establishment; recording responses to reformulation of care plans; intentional interaction and partial participation (Buhl & Pallesen, 2015).
We believe that there is a gap in the evaluation tools which leads to an urgent need for development, as it shows a lower participation of the person with language impairment in their rehabilitation process. The NVC systems are well defined as well as the strategies to be implemented, and their adequacy to the systems preserved after BI is necessary.


The writer does not accept an immunologic basis as the cause of gran ulomatous mastitis clinically simulating carcinoma as previously published in the Journal. In 3 similar cases seen recently patients had been using oral contraceptives. Areas of metoplasia of ductular or acinar epithelium have been observed. These cells block the ducts. Ductular epithelium becomes distended and eventually denuded so that luminal contents come in contact with stroma. This evokes a chronic granulomatous reaction on a chemical rather than an immunological basis which the author calls "lipogranuloma." This term differentiates the lesion from tubuculous or fungal granuloma. The effects of oral contraceptives are thought to be related. Reply by Doctor Kessler author of the original article follows. He distinguishes the lesions d escribed by him from lipogranuloma. His patients had not been using oral contraceptives.


Despite the usefulness of VCT service as an entry point to prevention for the HIV-uninfected people and care, treatment and support for those who test HIV positive, VCT service remains poorly utilized among the fishing communities. The aim of the study was to identify factors influencing VCT service delivery and utilisation among fishing communities in Uganda and consequently, formulated a strategic framework for improving VCT service delivery and utilisation in the fishing communities. The study followed a 3-phased approach, collecting and analyzing quantitative data from Kasenyi fishing community under phase I, collecting and analyzing qualitative data from hospital managers and VCT counselors in phases II and III, respectively. Results indicate that VCT services delivery and utilisation is affected by factors at government (macro) level, the institution (meso) level, and at the individual (micro) level. Based on this, a strategic framework was designed, expected to increase VCT service availability, accessibility, and acceptability if applied. The researcher recommends the use of this useful tool in the design of VCT programs.


We apply the Ising model with nearest-neighbor correlations (INNC) in the problem of interpolation of spatially correlated data on regular grids. The correlations are captured by short-range interactions between "Ising spins". The INNC algorithm can be used with label data (classification) as well as discrete and continuous real-valued data (regression). In the regression problem, INNC approximates continuous variables by means of a user-specified number of classes. INNC predicts the class identity at unmeasured points by using the Monte Carlo simulation conditioned on the observed data (partial sample). The algorithm locally respects the sample values and globally aims to minimize the deviation between an energy measure of the partial sample and that of the entire grid. INNC is non-parametric and, thus, is suitable for non-Gaussian data. The method is found to be very competitive with respect to interpolation accuracy and computational efficiency compared to some standard methods. Thus, this method provides a useful tool for filling gaps in gridded data such as satellite images.


The dispersion of inorganic particles within polymeric materials is an extensively used method to enhance their mechanical properties. One of the major challenges in the simulation of polymer composites is to model the uneven surface of the fillers which strongly affects the dynamics of the adsorbed polymers and consequently the macroscopic mechanical properties of the final composite. Here we propose a new multiscale approach that, using experimental adsorption data, constructs the filler surface to statistically reproduce the surface defects. We use this approach to analyse the structure and dynamics of highly entangled polyisoprene melt in contact with different realistic carbon black samples. We show that the presence of the heterogeneous surface has a negligible influence on the structure of the polymer chains but a major effect on their dynamics and the surface wettability.


An ion exchange method for measuring concentrations of free (ionized) metal ions and its application to the determination of [Mg2+] is described. A surface sulfonated polystyrene material is used as the "twodimensional" cation exchanger. The sample-volume is 1 ml. About 50 determinations can be performed within 1 hr having a standard error of +/- (2-4)% in the optimal range of measurement. Advantages and disadvantages of the method compared with other ones are demonstrated and discussed. Free Mg2+ ion concentrations were measured in solutions containing pyrophosphate as well as haemoglobin and compared with those which were determined by equilibrium calculation or ultrafiltration.


Various problems in atomic physics can be formulated in terms of two bands of potential curves which cross each other. Each band consists of parallel (non-interacting) diabatic potential curves equally spaced on the energy axis. The bands with infinite number of states are considered under the assumption of 'translational' symmetry along the energy axis. The adiabatic potential curves are constructed explicitly. The system of avoided crossings appears not only in the weak coupling case (which is obvious), but also in the strong coupling limit. This feature also holds in the generalized model where the bands are finite and non-equidistant. In the case of an infinite number of states in each band the dynamic description (i.e. evolution in time) is reduced to the two-state problem which contains an additional continuous parameter (analogue of the quasimomentum). Some peculiarities of the time propagation are discussed. The present model generalizes the famous Landau-Zener two-state case and Demkov-Osherov model (one level interacting with a band of levels).


Introduction Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. We report a confirmed case of early Lyme disease presenting with meningitis and encephalopathic changes, an uncommon finding. Case Report This 16-year-old Puerto Rican male from New Jersey was on summer vacation visiting the Grand Canyon when he developed a 2-week history of intermittent headaches, nausea, bilateral facial weakness, and facial paresthesias for 6 days. He denied diplopia, hearing deficits, ataxia, rash, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or illicit drug use. Physical examination revealed that he was afebrile, with neurologic findings of bilateral facial weakness and upward gaze nystagmus. His CBC was normal, but his ESR was 77 mm/hr and his CRP was 35 mg/dL. CSF results were WBC 125/mm3 with 95% mononuclear cells, RBC 90/mm3, protein 63 mg/dL, and glucose 51 mg/dL CT scan and MRI with and without contrast of the brain were normal. IV acyclovir and ceftriaxone were given. After 2 days a maculopapular rash over lower extremities developed. CSF Lyme IgM and IgG titers confirmed the diagnosis. The facial paralysis partially resolved after 6 days, and his panencephalitis panel was negative for other etiologies. He was discharged home to complete 4 weeks of IV ceftriaxone. Discussion Lyme disease is caused by the transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi, a spirochete, through the bite of the Ixodes tick. Even though the majority of cases reported in the United States occur in the Atlantic and Pacific Coast states, Lyme disease has been reported in 49 of the 50 states. Neurologic presentations include headache, aseptic meningitis, papilloedema (25-30%) and facial nerve paralysis. Conclusion This patient presented with disseminated Lyme disease with meningoencephalitis and facial nerve paralysis as the presenting features prior to the appearance of cutaneous manifestations. The diagnosis of Lyme disease should be considered in patients who present with a combination of meningoencephalitis and facial nerve paralysis.


This paper presents the underlying assumptions and results for the Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender (APEX) model, which was applied within an integrated modeling system for the National Polio Program (NPP) environmental baseline simulations for the Upper North Bosque River Watershed area in Texas. The system consists of an economic model linked to an environmental component comprising the field-scale APEX and watershed-scale Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) models. The results are edge-of-field environmental indicators obtained from the APEX model.


By applying the fractional Lyapunov direct method, we investigate the robust consensus tracking problem for a class of uncertain fractional-order multiagent systems with a leader whose input is unknown and bounded. More specifically, multiple fractional-order systems with heterogeneous unknown nonlinearities and external disturbances are considered in this paper, which include the second-order multiagent systems as its special cases. First, a discontinuous neural network-based (NN-based) distributed robust adaptive algorithm is designed to guarantee the consensus tracking error exponentially converges to zero under a fixed topology. Also the derived results are further extended to the case of switching topology by appropriately choosing multiple Lyapunov functions. Second, a continuous NN-based distributed robust adaptive algorithm is further proposed to eliminate the undesirable chattering phenomenon of the discontinuous controller, where the consensus tacking error is uniformly ultimately bounded and can be reduced as small as desired. It is worth noting that all the proposed NN-based robust adaptive algorithms are independent of any global information and thus are fully distributed. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to validate the correctness of the proposed algorithms.


Research into the phenomena of social innovation has long focused on what it is and why people become engaged in this form of behaviour. Another piece of the theoretical jigsaw however, requires understanding how this type of innovation is enacted by organizations. This article therefore looks at the means in which Not-for-Profit (NFP) social ventures pursuing socially innovative activities develop the necessary capabilities to innovate. We use the multidimensional theoretical construct of absorptive capacity (ACAP) and the evolutionary economics concept of organizational routines to analyse 16 case studies of innovative NFP ventures in the UK and Australia. Our results show that these organizations have a unique mediating function in the social innovation process by configuring internal and external ACAP routines to combine user and technological knowledge flows. Other key findings highlight the emergence of internal tensions as established routines are supplanted in order to 'professionalize' the socially innovative NFP venture, and between routines underpinning knowledge sharing and resource allocation. We conclude by proposing some research directions for those taking forward the study of social innovation.


Adams–Oliver syndrome (AOS; OMIM 100300) typically comprises a combination of congenital scalp defects and terminal transverse limb defects. Recently, mutations in ARHGAP31 and RBPJ have been found causing autosomal dominant forms of AOS. We describe a four‐generation pedigree with isolated terminal limb defects and a truncating mutation in ARHGAP31. This finding underscores the relevance of sequencing ARHGAP31 in similar cases of isolated limb defects, irrespective of the presence of a complete AOS phenotype. We also highlight the variability of clinical features among mutation carriers, ranging from severe reduction defects to mild as well as clinically unaffected cases suggesting reduced penetrance. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Lyme borreliosis is caused by bacteria belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, which belongs to the family Spirochaetaceae. The disease was described in humans for the first time in 1977 near the town Lyme (Connecticut, USA), from which the name of the disease is derived. In Europe and Asia, there are several pathogenic genospecies (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. bavariensis, B. garinii and B. afzelii), which can cause Lyme disease. Borrelia have a low tenacity, and are therefore dependent on hosts for survival. Borrelia are generally extracellular pathogens, which reproduce in a multiannual enzootic cycle in ticks (Ixodes spp.) and mammals. A manifestation of Lyme borreliosis is always dependent on its transmission by the carrier ticks. During the life cycle of ticks in Europe, its prevalence rate in the population nearly doubles. Epidemiological data regarding the prevalence of the disease in horses in Germany are not yet available. A manifestation of Lyme borreliosis occurs rarely in horses, and the clinical signs of the disease are not pathognomonic. The diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis should be confirmed only if the following criteria apply to the given patient: The horse has experienced tick exposure, shows manifestation of clinical signs and detection of the infectious organism or specific host antibody response was proved. Important differential diagnoses have been eliminated. Clinical signs might progress or recur despite antibiotic treatment. Due to the possible persistence of the pathogen, the prevention of the disease should be granted highest priority. Prophylactic measures available include the earliest possible mechanical removal of ticks, the use of repellents and vaccination.


The present study aimed to verify the factors that interfere with the success of endodontic treatment of traumatized primary teeth as well as to determine the success level of the proposed treatment, through survival analysis. The research was conducted through the analysis of dental traumatism records and attached radiological exams of patients assisted by the Assistance Program for the Traumatized Patient at UFSC (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina). Fifty-one dental records of patients aged between 10 and 60 months were analyzed. These patients had their traumatized teeth endodontically treated (n = 51), according to the indications of the UFSC protocol. In order to evaluate possible interference factors affecting the success of the endodontic treatment, the following items were analyzed: age of the child at the beginning of the endodontic treatment (over or below 36 months), trauma type (mild or severe) pathological root resorption type (replacement or inflammatory), localization of the pathological root resorption (in the apical third or in the middle third), bone resorption (absent or present), alteration of the soft tissue (absent or present), condition of the pulp tissue (vitality or necrosis) and trauma recurrence (absent or present). Through the chi-squared test (chi(2) = 9.594, P < 0.05) and survival analysis, it was verified that trauma recurrence in the same tooth is a factor that interferes in the success of endodontic treatment. It was also observed, through survival analysis, that levels of success of endodontic treatments are stabilized in the 19th month. A period of 48 months of follow up was observed. It was also verified that most failures occurred between the 7th and 12th months counting from the beginning of the endodontic treatment. It was concluded that endodontic treatment of traumatized primary teeth, performed according to the UFSC protocol, enables the maintenance of the traumatized tooth in acceptable conditions in the buccal cavity up to its physiological resorption, and that trauma recurrence is a factor that leads to treatment failure.


In the development of superior high strength high toughness welding steel materials, a balance between strength and toughness is necessary. A numerical study is carried out to clarify the influence of micro structure on strength and toughness and to establish a concept of strength toughness balance. The effect of phase transformation, yielding behavior and crack growth on maximum strength of a plate with initial cracks is investigated. It is shown that expansion during phase transformation may increase brittle fracture strength. Two failure modes are distinguished, a plastic deformation dominant failure mode associated with low plastic strength, and a crack growth dominant failure mode associated with high plastic strength. A concept of strength toughness balance is proposed in which plastic strength and surface energy have values in the transition between these two failure modes where maximum joint strength is observed.


Abstract–Statistical process control (SPC) charts are critically important for quality control and management in manufacturing industries, environmental monitoring, disease surveillance, and many other applications. Conventional SPC charts are designed for cases when process observations are independent at different observation times. In practice, however, serial data correlation almost always exists in sequential data. It has been well demonstrated in the literature that control charts designed for independent data are unstable for monitoring serially correlated data. Thus, it is important to develop control charts specifically for monitoring serially correlated data. To this end, there is some existing discussion in the SPC literature. Most existing methods are based on parametric time series modeling and residual monitoring, where the data are often assumed to be normally distributed. In applications, however, the assumed parametric time series model with a given order and the normality assumption are often invalid, resulting in unstable process monitoring. Although there is some nice discussion on robust design of such residual monitoring control charts, the suggested designs can only handle certain special cases well. In this article, we try to make another effort by proposing a novel control chart that makes use of the restarting mechanism of a CUSUM chart and the related spring length concept. Our proposed chart uses observations within the spring length of the current time point and ignores all history data that are beyond the spring length. It does not require any parametric time series model and/or a parametric process distribution. It only requires the assumption that process observation at a given time point is associated with nearby observations and independent of observations that are far away in observation times, which should be reasonable for many applications. Numerical studies show that it performs well in different cases.


The dissolution of flow-induced nucleation precursors in isotactic polypropylene is investigated indirectly by means of in situ rheo-SAXS measurements. The progress of crystallization and the evolution of crystal orientation are recorded in isothermal conditions after a controlled shear step followed by an annealing step of different duration at various melt temperatures. The results confirm that the survival time of shear-induced nucleation precursors is extremely large compared to typical rheological relaxation times and it is longer for the precursors originated at higher shear rate. Most important, we show that the effect of flow on the development of oriented morphologies is lost much earlier than that on the overall crystallization kinetics. A schematic model for precursors' dissolution involving gradual transformation from row into point-like nuclei is proposed.


Grigorios Kotronoulas 1 Mark Cooper 1,2 Bridget Johnston 1School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, College of Medicine, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; 2NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, UK Purpose: Problematic polypharmacy can exaggerate "medicine burden" for the patient. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are key indicators of medicine burden, and PRO measures (PROMs) can help patients articulate their perceptions of medicine burden. We aimed to: (a) evaluate what PROMs currently exist that assess medicine burden, and what PROs they target, and (b) understand patients' experiences with using multiple medicines to establish a core set of most meaningful and relevant PROs for assessment in polypharmacy medicines reviews. Patients and Methods: We conducted a prospective, sequential mixed-methods study in two consecutive work phases. Phase 1 involved a rapid review of PROMs, informed by the published PRISMA and COSMIN initiative guidelines. We integrated all evidence in a thematic narrative synthesis. Phase 2 involved cross-sectional, one-to-one, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, including members of the public and healthcare professionals (HCPs). We conducted thematic content analysis to identify and classify emerging PROs. Results: In Phase 1, 13 studies described the development and/or validation of 12 PROMs. The PROMs targeted 14 content domains of adult patients' experiences with prescribed medicines. PROMs varied widely in terms of length, comprehensiveness and psychometric robustness. In Phase 2, all participants (seven members of the public; eight HCPs) agreed on the clinical relevance of PROMs, providing a rich account of justifications. We identified four core PROs: 'Knowledge, information and communication about own medicines'; "Perceptions, views and attitudes about (own) medicines"; "Impact on daily living: Sideeffects and practicalities", and "Medicine usage: 'as planned', misuse, abuse, no use". Conclusion: We suggest combining psychometrically robust PROMs or domains across PROMs into a bespoke PROM that addresses comprehensively and succinctly the four core PROs. We recommend a careful implementation process that must involve consultation with all relevant stakeholders, while establishing a clear purpose for collecting a PROM and realistic and ongoing collection at key time-points.


The aim of this paper is to study the hygro-mechanical behaviour of "vegetable concrete" materials taking into account their mixture proportions and their microstructural features. Flexural and compression tests have been performed for two cases (autogenous and desiccations conditions) and shrinkage strains have been measured during drying. It is shown that the hygro-mechanical behaviour depends in particular on the inter-particular porosity. On the one hand the shrinkage strains due to drying of wood decrease with increasing inter-particular porosity and on the other hand the compressive and flexural strengths decrease with increasing inter-particular porosity and drying.


Fluoride has been used as the most effective anti-caries agent for over five decades. It functions not only on the dental hard tissues, but also as an antimicrobial agent. It is known that oral bacteria are able to develop resistance to fluoride, which may affect the effectiveness of fluoride in caries prevention. This thesis describes a number of experiments focusing on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of fluoride-resistant strains of Streptococcus mutans, which is the most studied cariogenic bacterial species. By using the up-to-date whole-genome shotgun sequencing and molecular microbiology technique, Ying Liao discovered novel mechanisms of bacterial fluoride resistance. Genomic mutations and resulting altered regulations in physiological processes, including fluoride transport and the carbohydrate metabolism, are involved in the occurrence of fluoride resistance. Upon acquiring fluoride resistance, bacteria exhibit phenotypic changes. They show differences in abilities to grow, produce acid, form biofilms and tolerate environmental challenges. These changes may lead to differed capacity of fluoride-resistant S. mutans to cause caries in the oral cavity. The investigation of fluoride resistance in oral bacteria is important to the evaluation of the role of fluoride in caries prevention, and beneficial to our understanding of the "drug-bug" interaction.


The eastern Betics shear zone comprises one of the most seismically active areas in Iberia, due to the presence of large active faults loaded by the oblique convergence between Eurasia and Africa plates. We focus our study on the sector of the eastern Betic Cordillera affected by the Alhama de Murcia fault (AMF) and other nearby faults that are the source of large paleoseismic events and some damaging historical earthquakes. This study aims to give more accurate locations to the hypocenters in the region around these faults, using a model that accounts for lateral variations of P-wave velocity. This task was accomplished, developing a new 3D velocity crustal model of the region, by combining recent regional and local geological and geophysical data, such as geological mapping, gravimetry, seismic-wave tomography, and seismic exploration surveys. Afterward, as a preliminary test of performance, we compared the hypocenters obtained with this model against the ones computed with other 1D velocity models, using NonLinLoc with a seismic dataset of the highest possible quality (i.e., filtered by a minimum magnitude) in this area within the period January 2015–December 2018. Then, for comparing the reliability of the new 3D local model against a larger 3D regional model, we carried out a final relocation with all the earthquakes of the Spanish Seismic Catalog in the study area for the period April 2011–October 2019. New locations obtained with the local model, which show better clustering near active structures and lower epicentral uncertainty in comparison with the regional model, allow us to observe possible genetic relation between seismicity and specific faults after the inversion, in particular, the AMF.


The rapid increase in the usage of multimedia content and transmission over the internet demands data securing techniques. In this work, a data encryption technique using a three-dimensional chaotic map and highly nonlinear substitution boxes for the encryption of secret images, followed by a data hiding scheme based on Lah transformation i-e the secret image is first encrypted and then hide in the cover image. For data hiding, integer's polynomial sequence is generated using addition and multiplication in coefficient form by evaluating pixels of images, secret bits of Lah transformed encrypted image are embedded in the LhTs coefficient of cover image partitioned into the cluster of four bits. To ensure minimum distortion coefficient adjustment is done before the embedding process. To obtain the stego image inverse Lah transformation is applied after the embedding process. The security analysis of the proposed dual layer data security scheme is performed, the result shows that the proposed system bearing strong immunity against various cryptographic attacks.


AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To identify current evidence on the role of nurses and allied health professionals in the oral health management of stroke patients, detailing their current knowledge, attitudes and practices and the potential benefits of an integrated oral care programme.

BACKGROUND
Stroke has disabling oral health effects, such as dysphagia and hindered brushing due to upper limb hemiparesis. Together, these can increase bacterial load, increasing risk of pneumonia. In general management of stroke, nurses play a key role in early identification, assessment and referral, while occupational therapists, dieticians and speech pathologists are important in rehabilitation. While this should logically apply to the oral care of stroke patients, there is currently limited information, especially in Australia.

DESIGN
Scoping review.

METHOD
A literature search was conducted using multiple databases regarding the oral health management of stroke patients by nondental professionals, and 26 articles were reviewed.

RESULTS
The Australian National Clinical Guidelines for Stroke accentuate the need for oral care following stroke and suggest how hospital staff need to be involved. Currently, there are no Australian studies. However, international literature suggests that lack of oral health knowledge by nurses and poor patient attitude are reflected in infrequent assistance with stroke patient oral hygiene. There is limited information regarding the benefits of nursing-driven oral hygiene programme in reducing pneumonia incidence, and only few studies show that involving nurses in assisted oral care reduces plaque. There are some suggestions that involving nurses and speech pathologists in oral rehabilitation can improve dysphagia outcomes.

CONCLUSION
Managing oral health poststroke is vital, and there is a need for an appropriate integrated oral care service in Australia.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
Nondental professionals, especially nurses, can play a key role in the poststroke oral health management of stroke patients to reduce complications, especially pneumonia.


A new technique for reducing the effect of finite amplifier gain in switched-capacitor circuits is described. The principle is to perform a preliminary charge transfer operation preceding every desired charge transfer operation, thus obtaining a close approximation of the finite gain error which is stored and subsequently used for correction. This provides excellent suppression of the finite gain effect, independent of the relationship between the clock rate and the signal frequencies. The technique is quite general in nature and can be applied in a wide variety of switchedcapacitor circuits. Its major applications will be in precision analog signal processing circuits like precision amplifiers, A/D and D/A converters, and analog arithmetic building blocks. Simulation studies indicate that this technique has the potential to reduce the amplifier gain requirements in such circuits by one to two orders of magnitude. This would simplify amplifier design and increase the high-frequency capability of these circuits.


Background Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is a common sexually transmitted infection worldwide, and its prevalence has increased significantly over the last 2 decades in many developed countries. The prevalence rates of HSV-2 infection differ between populations; however, HSV-2 seropositivity is uniformly higher in women than in men and increases with age. However, HSV-1 has been recently identified as a genital infection. Objectives Aim of the present study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of HSV-1, and HSV-2 infections among various population groups in Siberia, Russia. Methods A sample of 1014 persons aged 14–64 years (47% males) were randomly selected from the general population in urban Novosibirsk (predominantly Caucasians) and rural regions of Tyva and Altai Republic (predominantly persons of Asian origin). The study includes data obtained in 1994–2005. The current investigation was performed as an optional fragment of international WHO MONICA study, and HAPIEE study (Wellcome Trust Fund 064947/Z/01/Z and 081081/Z/06/Z). Sera were tested for IgG antibodies to HSV infections with type-specific ELISA (VectoHSV-1 IgG, VectoHSV-2 IgG, Vector-Best, Novosibirsk, Russia). Results The overall prevalence of HSV-2 positivity was 21% being higher in females (26.4%) compared to males (17.0%, p=0.01). Seroprevalence rates increased with age from 0% at 14–17 years to 22.8% at 55–64 years in males and from 1.8% at 14–17 years to 31.6% at 55–64 years in females. Neither difference was observed between urban and rural population, nor in surveyed persons of Caucasian and Asian origin. Ten-year trend showed a decrease in the frequency of HSV-2 detection equally in different populations by 20%. HSV-1 seroprevalence was uniformly high in each population group (99–100%). In conclusion, HSV-2 is common in Russia with the prevalence rates close to USA and Scandinavian countries. The sex and age distribution of the infection in Russia is similar to other populations. In Siberia, ethnicity and standard of living do not influence HSV-2 prevalence. However, HSV-1 infection rates may influence HSV-2 infection distribution by cross-reactive immunity patterns.


A method has been developed to automatically correct for the dead time losses in a 4?s and 4?s-? coincidence calibration facility. Since radioactive disintegrations occur at random in a manner described by the Poisson distribution, the probability of observing exactly "0" counts in an interval in which the average number of counts is "vT', is: Po = e-vT. By measuring "Po" in the interval "T", the true counting rate "v" can be calculated. This counting rate, as thus determined, is independent of any model for dead time behavior of the detector and substantially independent of secondary pulses. A simple three-channel instrument which measures "Po" is described. This analysis is applied to Geiger, proportional, and scintillation detectors. Comparison of the true counting rate from this analysis to the conventional output can be used as a simple, accurate determination of resolving time.


A widening performance gap is separating CPU performance and IO bandwidth on large scale systems. In some fields such as weather forecast and nuclear fusion, numerical models generate such amounts of data that classical post hoc processing is not feasible anymore due to the limits in both storage capacity and IO performance. In situ approaches are attractive to bypass disk accesses in these cases and fully leverage the HPC platform. They are however often complex to set up and can require to re-develop parallel versions of the analysis from scratch. In this paper we propose a hybrid model that is well suited for in situ workflows that combine regular simulations and irregular analytics. Our model couples the bulk synchronous parallel paradigm for simulation with a distributed task-based one for analysis. This reduces complexity and leverages the best of each of these two powerful paradigms. We validate the model with a prototype, called DEISA, that supports coupling MPI parallel codes with analyses written using Dask. This implementation requires minimal modifications of both the simulation and analysis codes compared to their post hoc counterpart. It give access to an already existing rich ecosystem to be used in situ such as the parallel versions of Numpy, Pandas and scikit-learn. Experiments in configurations up to 1024 cores show that DEISA can improve the simulation wallclock time (excluding analysis) by a factor up to 3 and the total experiment (including analysis) hour. core cost by a factor of up to 5 compared to parallel post hoc with plain Dask while requiring the modification of only two lines of python code, three of YAML, and none at all in a C simulation code already instrumented with PDI Data Interface.


Objective. To describe cases of development of pulmonary nodulosis or aseptic granulomatous lung disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) therapy. Methods. A call for observation of such cases was sent to members of the French "Club Rhumatismes et Inflammation." The cases had to occur after introduction of TNF-α-blocking therapy. Results. Eleven cases were examined: 6 patients were treated with etanercept, 2 with infliximab, and 3 with adalimumab. Pulmonary nodular lesions were observed after a mean treatment period of 23.3 ± 15.3 months. Clinical symptoms were observed in 5 cases. Radiographs or computed tomography of the chest showed single or multiple nodular lesions in 10 cases and hilar adenopathies in 1 case. Biopsy of the nodular chest lesions or mediastinal lymphadenopathies were performed in 8 patients, and revealed typical rheumatoid nodules in 4 cases and noncaseating granulomatous lesions in 4 cases. Mycobacterial or opportunistic infections were excluded for all cases. Outcome was favorable for all the patients, with either discontinuation or maintenance of anti-TNF-α treatment. Conclusion. Aseptic pulmonary nodular inflammation corresponding to rheumatoid nodules or noncaseating granulomatous inflammation can occur during anti-TNF-α therapy for RA, mainly etanercept. The mechanism explaining such a reaction is not clear but certainly includes different processes. These cases of pulmonary nodular inflammation generally have a benign course and do not systematically require withdrawal of treatment.


South Africa continues to grapple with water insecurity, especially regarding access to rural household water. Access to water in rural areas is communal, yet its distribution remains uneven. A mixed-methods approach was used to elicit data for this study. Quantitative data were collected from 211 households using the survey method where a questionnaire was administered. Qualitative data were collected using key-informant interviews with 20 participants. Quantitative data were analysed using the SPSS software. Qualitative data were analysed using the thematic content analysis technique. The findings indicate that water resource management is intertwined with water allocation. Evidence from Goboti and Khubvi reflect structural inequities and the lack of equalisation of opportunities, especially considering the absence of socially inclusive policy interventions, including the Water Services Act (No. 108 of 1997), which has arguably failed to address the challenges impeding rural household water provision. Further, findings unveiled the fallacy that rural households have a greater acceptance of communal water. This study reflects on how the mandate for transformation has been ignored, prompting the need to understand the implications of lack of water in resource-constrained rural settings. Thus, it is imperative to focus on representation and inclusion within rural communities. More importantly, a commensurable allotment of water resources in South Africa's post-apartheid extractive political economy and political power of water management remains necessary if water access must be attained.


ABSTRACT Within a Mycobacterium tuberculosis-induced granuloma, lymphocytes and macrophages work together to control bacterial growth and limit the spread of infection. Chemokines and chemokine receptors are involved in cell migration and are logical candidates for a role in granuloma formation. In the present study we addressed the role of CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) in M. tuberculosis infection. In previous studies (W. Peters et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98:7958-7963, 2001), CCR2−/− mice were found to be highly susceptible to a moderate or high dose of H37Rv administered intravenously (i.v.). We have expanded those studies to demonstrate that the susceptibility of CCR2−/− mice is dose dependent. After low-dose aerosol or i.v. infection of CCR2−/− mice with M. tuberculosis, there was a substantial delay in cell migration to the lungs and delayed expression of gamma interferon and inducible nitric oxide synthase. The CCR2−/− mice had a severe and prolonged deficiency in the number of macrophages in the lungs and an early increase in the number of neutrophils. Despite these deficiencies in cell migration, the CCR2−/− mice did not have increased bacterial loads in the lungs compared to wild-type (C57BL/6) mice and successfully formed granulomas. This finding is in contrast to CCR2−/− mice infected with a high dose of M. tuberculosis administered i.v. These results indicate that with low-dose infection, a delay in immune response in the lungs does not necessarily have detrimental long-term effects on the progression of the disease. The fact that CCR2−/− mice survive with substantially fewer macrophages in the low-dose models implies that the immune response to low-dose M. tuberculosis infection in mice is more robust than necessary to control the infection. Finally, these data demonstrate that, in cases of infectious disease in knockout models, clear phenotypes may not be evident when one is solely evaluating bacterial numbers and survival. Functional assays may be necessary to reveal roles for components of the multifactorial immune system.


Narcissism has been conceptualized as a set of coherent, mutually reinforcing attributes that orients individuals toward self-enhancement and positive self-feelings. In this view, reducing one element of narcissism—such as a greater concern for agency than communion—may situationally reduce narcissism in a state-like manner. Across five studies, we found that increasing communal focus toward others decreases state narcissism. In Study 1, participants induced to feel empathy reported less state narcissism. In Studies 2 to 4, participants primed with interdependent self-construal reported less state narcissism than control participants and those primed with independent self-construal. Furthermore, in Study 4, changes in state narcissism mediated changes in desire for fame and perceptions that others deserve help. Thus, changes in one element of narcissism may situationally reduce narcissistic tendencies. These findings suggest that narcissism is more state-like and context-dependent than previously assumed.


The key ideas of, "The Container, Contained and the In-Between" is an encapsulation of the motivations in my design. The poetic suggestion of each word constitutes the philosophical essence that overlaps the field of architecture. This overlap resonates with the ideals that philosophy and etymology bring richness to architectural language. To create a play on words, the linguistic slippage of the world of holding, containers, and luggage is the baseline of architecture when designing for children. The etymology of the terms 'suitcases' and 'baggage' are enforced to create a dynamic paradigm for understanding a hospital and the ways in which they are occupied. By recognising the linguistic associations of 'Baggage', the semantics of the word can be understood and the figurative connotations of the form can be reflected in architecture. The commonality across all of these words - trunk, suitcase, baggage, luggage, valise, container - is they are all spaces in which we can find a deeper connection and place our own identity.


Vendor managed inventory (VMI) is a management policy in which the supplier implements the responsibility of maintaining the inventory at the retailers while confirming that they will not run out of stock. Under the VMI policy, the supplier will take a responsibility for managing the retailers. Moreover, the delivery times to the retailers are no longer agreed in response to retailers' orders; instead the supplier indicates when each delivery takes place. Therefore, this study reviews the main papers on the single item related to deterministic inventory routing problem (DIRP). Under this approach, the delivery of order emphases with deterministic demand rates. The objective of the DIRP is to resolve a flow strategy that can minimizes operational cost and inventory holding costs without having a stock-out according to a planning schedule. In this study, we have also focused on the single-warehouse, multiple-retailer vendor managed inventory (SWMR-VMI) where all retailers face a deterministic and constant demand rate.


With the purpose of improving the ice physics underpinning time–dependent glacier flowline models, three independent approaches for solving longitudinal stresses in glaciers are discussed and verified by application to Haut Glacier d'Arolla. To highlight any shortcomings, the reduced and much utilised driving stress approximation is also applied and compared. Modelled velocity patterns using the three full stress schemes exhibit consistency with one another and good coincidence with observed velocities for the 1991 summer melt season. Furthermore, these stress patterns indicate that longitudinal stresses are significant and of a similar order of magnitude as the basal shear stress components. However, the driving stress approximation yields erratic fluctuations in the stress and velocity fields which are neither realistic in terms of mass continuity nor agree with observations. Basal decoupling experiments indicate a complex relationship between basal velocity and englacial stresses with considerable dampening of any basal perturbation occurring as it is dissipated towards the surface and transferred throughout the ice mass. The driving stress approximation fails to account at all for any such coupling. Experiments to identify the length scale over which longitudinal effects operate indicate that they are significant even up to 10 ice thicknesses. The implication here is that longitudinal stresses play a significant role in determining glacier dynamics on length scales up to at least 2 km and that the predictive power of models of glacier flow based purely on the driving stress approximation is therefore subject to significant limitations. Inclusion of longitudinal stresses overcomes one of the main limitations imposed on such models and, given the potential ease of incorporation of the schemes described here, this deficiency may readily be resolved.


In this paper, a practicable simulation-free model order reduction method by nonlinear moment matching is developed. Based on the steady-state interpretation of linear moment matching, we comprehensively explain the extension of this reduction concept to nonlinear systems presented in [1], provide some new insights and propose some simplifications to achieve a feasible and numerically efficient nonlinear model reduction algorithm. This algorithm relies on the solution of nonlinear systems of equations rather than on the expensive simulation of the original model or the difficult solution of a nonlinear partial differential equation.


We have characterized several polypyrrole–quartz and polyaniline–quartz composites over a range of conducting-polymer loading levels by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and conductivity measurements. It is shown that the conducting polymer overlayers are remarkably thin and uniform; film thicknesses were determined independently by TG and RBS and are in close agreement. The film thickness of one of the polypyrrole–quartz samples was used to obtain the first direct measurement of the conductivity of the polypyrrole component (ca. 35 Ω–1 cm–1).


Human comfort in cars is of prime importance nowadays, in which thermal comfort plays an important role. With the rapid development of technology and increasing demands by customers, the climate control of the passenger cabin has to be taken into account in any vehicle development process. Duct is used to carry the air in air conditioning. This air conditioning is divided in to 1. Summer air conditioning, 2. Winter air conditioning, 3. Year round air conditioning. Usage of A.C type is dependent on the atmosphere condition. For this air conditioning duct design is very important. This design depends on the amount of air carrying through ducts, shape of the duct In this project the AC is to be designed for Summer Air Conditioning type. Because in our city conditions throughout the year, the temperature doesn't fall below 15oC. In this project, we are introduced nano fluid magnesium oxide at different volume fraction(0.1,0.2,0.3 and 0.4%)  In this project, nano fluid  load calculations, duct design, CFD and Thermal analysis for main duct are to be done. For thermal analysis, materials of duct are Galvanized Iron and carbon fiber and  Glass Fiber. Duct design is done in 3D modeling software CREO parametric software  and CFD analysis in ANSYS.


BACKGROUND
Healthcare workers' (HCWs) uniforms become contaminated with bacteria during normal use, and this may contribute to hospital-acquired infections. Antimicrobial uniforms are currently marketed as a means of reducing this contamination.

OBJECTIVE
To compare the extent of bacterial contamination of uniforms and skin when HCWs wear 1 of 2 antimicrobial scrubs or standard scrubs.

DESIGN
Prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

SETTING
University-affiliated, public safety net hospital

PARTICIPANTS
Hospitalist physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, housestaff, and nurses (total N = 105) working on internal medicine units.

INTERVENTION
Subjects were randomized to wear standard scrubs or 1 of 2 antimicrobial scrubs.

MEASUREMENTS
Bacterial colony counts in cultures taken from the HCWs' scrubs and wrists after an 8-hour workday.

RESULTS
The median (interquartile range) total colony counts was 99 (66-182) for standard scrubs, 137 (84-289) for antimicrobial scrub type A, and 138 (62-274) for antimicrobial scrub type B (P = 0.36). Colony counts from participants' wrists were 16 (5-40) when they wore standard scrubs and 23 (4-42) and 15 (6-54) when they wore antimicrobial scrubs A and B, respectively (P = 0.92). Resistant organisms were cultured from 3 HCWs (4.3%) randomized to antimicrobial scrubs and none randomized to standard scrubs (P = 0.55). Six participants (5.7%) reported side effects to wearing scrubs, all of whom wore antimicrobial scrubs (P = 0.18).

CONCLUSIONS
We found no evidence that either antimicrobial scrub product decreased bacterial contamination of HCWs' uniforms or skin after an 8-hour workday.


This paper proposes a tracking architecture that finds a trade-off between accuracy and efficiency, via a combined solution of motion and appearance information. We explore the use of color features into a tracking pipeline based on Kalman filtering. The devised architecture is made of simple modules, combined to reach a robust final result, while keeping the computation cost low (we perform $20$ fps). The method has been evaluated on three benchmark datasets and is currently under use on real video-surveillance systems, reporting very good tracking results.


increased the quality of the user experience and almost eradicated VRISE. The results substantially support the feasibility of the development of effective VR research and clinical software without the presence of VRISE during a 60-min VR session.


Data collection by multiple sinks is a fundamental problem in wireless-sensor networks. Existing works focused on designing the optimal offline methods provided that the number and positions of sensors and sinks (or trajectories of mobile sinks) are predetermined. This may not be practical, because although sensors are cheap, sinks are quite expensive in reality. A more practical scenario is that sinks are deployed step by step during the network operation due budget constraints, and we do not know the number, positions, and capacities of sinks a priori. In this paper, we investigate the problem of data collection with multiple sinks, and design a suboptimal online algorithm via a primal-dual approach, requiring very little priori knowledge. We theoretically derive the competitive ratio of the online algorithm, and further improve it by finding the optimal sink location with an approximation ratio. We also analyze the computational complexity of the improved approach. Extensive simulations are conducted to demonstrate the performance of the proposed online algorithm and performance-complexity tradeoff.


Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), lacking expression of the hormone receptors (estrogen/ER, progesterone/PR) and without amplification or overexpression of HER2, is defined by what it isn't, which fails to reflect the potential for targetability and improved outcomes now emerging. In spite of recent advances, TNBC continues to carry the worst prognosis of all the clinical subtypes, has the fewest therapeutic options, and affects young women and women of color most, so improving therapy in this subtype is among the biggest challenges in breast cancer oncology. Epidemiologic studies confirm the unique biology of the basal-like subtype, which comprises the majority of TNBC, its unique risk factors and metastatic patterns. However, TNBC (and the basal-like intrinsic subtype) molecular and immunologic heterogeneity is becoming clearer, as are the implications of this heterogeneity on treatment response and outcome. For example, the presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILS) is consistently associated with better outcomes in nonmetastatic TNBC. Prognosis in this subtype, as with all other subtypes, is driven not only by biology but also by clinical variables. Unlike hormone receptor-positive, there are no effective genomic prognostic assays for TNBC, however as with all breast cancer clinical subtypes, small node-negative breast cancers do well and may not need chemotherapy. However these are the minority; in the remainder of early TNBC, standard chemotherapy includes both anthracyclines and taxanes, with some evidence of benefit of the incorporation of platinums. There have been advances for patients with nonmetastastic TNBC in the past few years. For example, in all but the smallest node-negative tumors, the use of the neoadjuvant, or preoperative, approach improves surgical outcomes and allows risk stratification based on pathologic response. In patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy with residual disease at surgery, adjuvant capecitabine improves relapse and survival. In those with germline mutations of BRCA1 or 2, the addition of adjuvant PARP inhibition in intermediate and high risk TNBC improved outcomes. Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) added to neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves pathologic response to therapy, and more recently the ICI pembrolizumab has also been shown to improve relapse-free survival. In metastatic disease, ICI improves outcome when added to chemotherapy in first-line treatment of PDL1-positive TNBC, and the PARP inhibitors olaparib and talazoparib offer a non-chemotherapy option for those with germline BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2. However it remains true that metastatic TNBC remains dependent on chemotherapy-based treatment options. The antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) sacituzumab govitecan is an example of ways to deliver cytotoxic chemotherapy more safely and effectively, and has become a standard 2nd line or later option with examination of this ADC and others in earlier settings ongoing. Efforts to define TNBC in therapeutically targetable ways have not yet resulted in the goal of redefining this entity according to tumor and immune targets, but with greater biologic understanding and ongoing clinical and translational efforts, it is likely the term "triple negative" will become obsolete in the future.
 Citation Format: LA Carey. Triple Negative Breast Cancer - Pitfalls and Progress [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PL2.


The use of statistics in quality management has a long history. Pioneers in this field, such as Walter A. Shewhart and W. Edwards Deming, refer to themselves as industrial statisticians. Statistical thinking in industry means that all work is regarded as a series of interconnected processes, that all processes show variation, and that a reduction in variation is the key for continuous improvement. In literature we find several quantitative quality programs to achieve this. We may mention Statistical Process Control (SPC) and the Six Sigma quality program, among others. We have implemented Statistical Process Control and Six Sigma in several industries. In this paper we briefly describe the philosophies of both programs and the steps needed for a successful implementation. Based on practical experience with both programs we describe the role that a statistician can play in industry. We shall also give an overview of research initiated by the projects we have carried out.


This paper, written by his son-in-law of 37 years, is a collection of anecdotal "folklore" about a man who had a very significant impact on the development of the accounting profession during the "Golden Age of Accounting". Paul Grady's greatness arose from his enormous dedication, strength and character, coupled with his complete honesty and relentless ruthlessness in seeking to have his views prevail. The only purpose in the paper is to provide a glimpse of the nature of this truly remarkable person. If the paper fails in this, then perhaps the reader will at least find the stories mildly amusing.


BACKGROUND
The minimum effective volume of local anaesthetic needed to provide effective analgesia of the four main branches of the axillary brachial plexus is unknown. This study was performed to determine the minimum volume of local anaesthetic required to surround the nerves of the axillary brachial plexus and document onset and duration of sensory and motor effects.

METHODS
We enrolled 19 ASA I-II patients undergoing hand or forearm surgery. The four nerves of the axillary plexus were identified with ultrasound guidance. Lidocaine 1.5% with epinephrine 1:200 000 was loaded into a syringe driver. A 22 G needle was inserted in the long axis to each nerve and injection commenced using the bolus function (600 ml h(-1)). The needle was repositioned until the nerve was completely surrounded. The bolus dose in millilitres displayed on the syringe driver was recorded. This was repeated for each nerve. The degree of sensory and motor block was recorded as secondary outcomes.

RESULTS
The mean (95% CI) volume to surround each nerve was: radial 3.42 (2.84-3.99) ml, median 2.75 (2.31-3.19) ml, ulnar 2.58 (2.14-3.03) ml, and musculocutaneous 2.30 (1.96-2.64) ml. The mean (95% CI) onset time for complete sensory block was: radial 22.5 (13.5-31.5) min, median 26.8 (18.5-35.0) min, ulnar 26.6 (17.8-35.4) min, and musculocutaneous 15.8 (7.45-24.2) min. The mean (95% CI) last recorded time with complete block was: radial 137.1 (105.6-168.7) min, median 144.7 (123.4-166.0) min, ulnar 183.2 (158.1-208.2) min, and musculocutaneous 158.3 (131.8-184.9) min. Seven patients required additional local anaesthetic infiltration and two required i.v. analgesia. No patient required conversion to general anaesthesia for surgery.

CONCLUSIONS
We found that it is possible to surround each nerve of the axillary brachial plexus with 2-4 ml of local anaesthetic. We speculate that increasing this volume would produce blocks of quicker onset and longer duration while still using smaller volumes than previously thought.


Planetary hub systems offer desired speed and torque variation with a lighter, compact and coaxial construction than the traditional gear trains. Frictional losses are one of the main concerns. Generated friction between the mating teeth flanks of vehicular planetary hubs under varying load-speed conditions is one of the main sources of power loss. Modification of gear tooth geometry as well as controlling the surface topography are the remedial actions to reduce friction and hence the power loss.
The paper studies the effect of tooth crowning and tip relief upon system efficiency. It includes an analytical elastohydrodynamic analysis of elliptical point contact of crowned spur gear teeth, also including the effect of direct contact of asperities on the opposing surfaces. Tooth contact analysis (TCA) is performed to obtain contact footprint shape as well as contact kinematics and load distribution. A parametric study is carried out with the expounded model to observe the effect of gear crowning and tip relief with different levels of gear surface finish upon planetary hubs' power loss.


The most effective and durable treatment for obesity is bariatric surgery. However, less than 2% of eligible patients who fulfill the criteria for bariatric surgery undergo the procedure. As a result, there is a drive to develop less invasive therapies to combat obesity. Endoscopic bariatric therapies (EBT) for weight loss are important since they are more effective than pharmacological treatments and lifestyle changes and present lower adverse event rates compared to bariatric surgery. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a minimally invasive EBT that involves remodeling of the greater curvature. ESG demonstrated favorable outcomes in several centers, with up to 20.9% total body weight loss and 60.4% excess weight loss (EWL) on 2-year follow-up, with a low rate of severe adverse events (SAE). As such, it could be considered safe and effective in light of ASGE/ASMBS thresholds of > 25% EWL and ≤ 5% SAE, although there are no comparative trials to support this. Additionally, ESG showed improvement in diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, and other obesity-related comorbidities. As this procedure continues to develop there are several areas that can be addressed to improve outcomes, including device improvements, technique standardization, patient selection, personalized medicine, combination therapies, and training standardization. In this editorial we discuss the origins of the ESG, current data, and future developments.


Tomato is one of the most widely cultivated horticultural plants in the world, while the key volatile compounds of tomato fruits generally derive from fatty acid, carotenoid, phenylalanine, and branched-chain amino acid pathways. As an important endogenous signal molecule, methyl salicylate (MeSA) plays a crucial role in the fruit ripening process of plant. Recently, it has been demonstrated that MeSA can maintain the flavor quality of full ripe tomatoes after cold-storage preservation. However, few research teams attempted to investigate the effects of MeSA plus low temperature treatment on the different volatile biosynthetic pathways of tomatoes previously. Therefore, in this study, the effects of methyl salicylate pre-treatment (0.05 mM MeSA, 24 h) on the volatile profile and flavor-related key gene expressions of tomato fruits stored at 10°C were evaluated for the first time. Our results showed that the loss of volatile compounds in low temperature-treated tomato fruits could be effectively alleviated by MeSA pre-treatment. Although MeSA had no remarkable effect on the formation of carotenoid pathway- and branched-chain amino acid pathway-related volatiles in tomatoes subjected to low temperature, the content of fatty acid pathway-related volatiles (including cis-3-hexenal, hexanal, and trans-2-hexenal) in full red fruits of 10°C MeSA group was remarkably higher than that of 10°C control group. Furthermore, MeSA pre-treatment significantly up-regulated the expression of LOXC or LOXD gene in low temperature-treated fruits at breaker or full red stage, respectively. In conclusion, pre-treatment with MeSA might avoid the loss of aromatic compounds in tomato fruits stored at low temperature by activating the fatty acid pathway.


The outermost surfaces and subsurface layers of the orthorhombic (M1) Mo-V-O catalysts promoted with Te, Nb, and Sb oxide species at submonolayer surface coverage were examined by low-energy ion scattering (LEIS). This study indicated that the Nb oxide species was preferentially located at the topmost surface, while the subsurface Te and Sb concentrations declined gradually into the bulk. Although the original Mo-V-O catalyst was essentially unselective in propane oxidation to acrylic acid, significant improvement in the selectivity to acrylic acid was observed when Te, Nb, and Sb oxides were present as the surface species at submonolayer coverage. These findings further suggested that the formation of the surface V-O-M bonds (M = Nb, Te, or Sb) was highly beneficial for both the activity and selectivity of the orthorhombic Mo-V-O catalysts in propane oxidation to acrylic acid. The highest selectivity was observed when both Nb and Te (or Sb) oxide species were present at the surface. The selectivity trends established for the surface-promoted Mo-V-O catalyst parallel those found previously for the corresponding bulk Mo-V-M-O catalysts. These results further indicated that the introduction of surface metal oxide species is a highly promising method to prepare well-defined model catalysts for studies of the structure-activity/selectivity relationships as well as optimize the catalytic performance of the bulk mixed Mo-V-M-O catalysts for selective (amm)oxidation of propane.