ABSTRACT Atrial fibrosis plays a significant role in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Previously, we showed that mitsugumin 53 (MG53) regulates TGF-β1 signaling pathway-induced atrial fibrosis. Recent studies have shown that caveolin-1 (CAV1) is an important anti-fibrosis signaling mediator that inhibits the TGF-β1 signaling pathway. Here, we further study the mechanism underlying the related action of MG53 and CAV1. We demonstrate that CAV1 expression was decreased while MG53 expression was increased in atrial tissue from AF patients. In cultured atrial fibroblasts, MG53 depletion by siRNA caused CAV1 upregulation and TGF-β1/SMAD2 signaling pathway downregulation, while MG53 overexpression via adenovirus had the opposite effect. CAV1 inactivated the TGF-β1/SMAD2 signaling pathway. In addition, using an Ang II–induced fibrosis model, we show that MG53 regulates TGF-β1 signaling via CAV1. Therefore, CAV1 is critical for the MG53 regulation of TGF-β1 signaling pathway-induced atrial fibrosis in AF. These findings reveal the related underlying mechanism of action of MG53 and CAV1 and provide a potential therapeutic target for fibrosis and AF.


The inferior temporal cortex (IT) of the monkey, a final stage in the ventral visual pathway, has been known to process information on two-dimensional (2-D) shape, color, and texture. On the other hand, the dorsal visual pathway leading to the posterior parietal cortex has been known to process information on location in space. Likewise, neurons selective for binocular disparity, which convey information on depth, have been found mainly in areas along the dorsal visual pathway. Here, we report that many neurons in the IT are also selective for binocular disparity. We recorded extracellular activity from IT neurons and found that more than half of the neurons changed their response depending on the disparity added. The change was not attributed to monocular responses or eye movements. Most neurons selective for disparity were "near" or "far" cells; they preferred either crossed or uncrossed disparity, and only a small population was tuned to zero disparity. Disparity-selective neurons were also selective for shape. Most preferred the same type of disparity irrespective of the shape presented. Disparity preference was also invariant for the fronto-parallel translation of the stimuli in most of the neurons. Finally, nearby neurons exhibited similar disparity selectivity, suggesting the existence of a functional module for processing of binocular disparity in the IT. From the above and our recent findings, we suggest that the IT integrates shape and binocular disparity information, and plays an important role in the reconstruction of three-dimensional (3-D) surfaces.


The recent collapse of certain Arab regimes and the subsequent rise to power of Islamic parties that call for the general application of Islamic law (sharia) will certainly generate debates about the compatibility of sharia with modern principles of justice. The uncertainty surrounding the seriousness of these politicians' calls and the general lack of knowledge about sharia among western lawyers and investors increase the worries of foreign companies regarding their projects in the Middle East. This article provides its readers with information about the principles of contract law under sharia, and demonstrates how investors who are forced to accept sharia as the law governing their disputes - either in the context of an international arbitration or a regular state court - will likely receive equal, if not more, protection than the safeguards offered by international law. The article starts by demonstrating how the sources of Islamic law sanction arbitration. It further explores some of the unique rules of contract law under sharia (e.g., lack of procedural formalities, and the negation of state immunity), that give certain privileges to foreign investors. Such particular rules allow investors to resort to legal tricks - known as hiyal - to circumvent certain prohibitions pertaining to the charging of interest. The article's main conclusion is that should the principles of sharia be properly applied to investment disputes in the Middle East, foreign investors will likely receive more protection against abusive nationalization than they would under international law. Having said that, the possible application of Islamic law to state contracts remains uncertain at this stage, albeit not unlikely.


When beam-foil experiments on ions of the iron group were done at the Bochum Dynamitron tandem accelerator, line identifications of intercombination lines in Mg- and Al-like Fe matched previously unclassified lines that appear in the EUV spectrum of the solar corona. Beam-foil work continued on Si- to Cl-like Fe ions, identifying in particular decays of high-J levels with nanosecond lifetimes. Millisecond lifetimes in the same ions were then measured at a heavy-ion storage ring and at an electron beam ion trap. Remaining problems and prospects for solutions are discussed.


The process of domestication leads to acquisition of traits that are often similar between plant species that belong to the same family but have different breeding systems. Hence domestication is a useful model for studying evolutionary responses to selection in plants with contrasting breeding systems. We consider a stochastic model simulating gene flow between a natural population and an initial population containing mutants with domesticated phenotypes at low frequency. We assume that a large number of loci contribute equally to the cultivated phenotype. Our results indicate that the number of loci for which the mutant ('domestication') allele is maintained is larger in autogamous plants than in allogamous ones and that domestication can lead to the selection of tightly linked combinations of genes in allogamous plants. This work provides a general model for the selection of gene clusters through a sieve effect and it is discussed in comparison with models proposed to explain the evolution of linkage of genes determining wing patterns in butterflies exhibiting Batesian mimicry.


Extracellular neuritic plaques composed of amyloid‑β (Aβ) protein and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles containing phosphorylated tau protein are the two hallmark proteins of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the separate neurotoxicity of these proteins in AD has been extensively studied. However, interventions that target Aβ or tau individually have not yielded substantial breakthroughs. The interest in the interactions between Aβ and tau in AD is increasing, but related drug investigations are in their infancy. This review discusses how Aβ accelerates tau phosphorylation and the possible mechanisms and pathways by which tau mediates Aβ toxicity. This review also describes the possible synergistic effects between Aβ and tau on microglial cells and astrocytes. Studies suggest that the coexistence of Aβ plaques and phosphorylated tau is related to the mechanism by which Aβ facilitates the propagation of tau aggregation in neuritic plaques. The interactions between Aβ and tau mediate cognitive dysfunction in patients with AD. In summary, this review summarizes recent data on the interplay between Aβ and tau to promote a better understanding of the roles of these proteins in the pathological process of AD and provide new insights into interventions against AD.


The study has established that during a progressive tuberculous process, immunological changes appear as significant increased proinflammatory cytokine production that leads to progressive destructive processes in the lung parenchymal lesion areas. Inclusion of lymphotrophic chemoimmunotherapy with roncoleukin into the complex therapy of patients with progressive pulmonary tuberculosis permits the optimization of the results of treatment in patients with progressive pulmonary tuberculosis due to the target delivery of antituberculous and immunoactive agents.


This paper presents a free vibration analysis of functionally graded (FG) polymer composite curved nanobeams reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets resting on a Pasternak foundation. The size-dependent governing equations of motion are derived by applying the Hamilton's principle and the differential law consequent (but not equivalent) to Eringen's strain-driven nonlocal integral elasticity model equipped with the special bi-exponential averaging kernel. The displacement field of the problem is here described in polar coordinates, according to the first order shear deformation theory. A large parametric investigation is performed, which includes different FG patterns, different boundary conditions, but also different geometrical parameters, number of layers, weight fractions, and Pasternak parameters.


Clearances are important parameters in pharmacokinetic (PK) models. All clearances in PK models are either process clearances that include diffusion, transport, and metabolism clearances or system clearances that include organ and systemic clearance. Clearance and volume of distribution are two independent parameters that characterize drug disposition in both individual compartments and systems of compartments. In this minireview, we show that systemic and organ clearances are net clearances that can be easily derived by partition analysis. When drugs are eliminated from the central compartment by first-order processes, systemic clearance is constant. When drugs are eliminated from a peripheral compartment, instantaneous systemic clearance will vary with time. However, average clearance and clearance at steady state will be constant and will equal dose divided by area under the curve. We show that peripheral elimination will not have a large impact on most pharmacokinetic analyses and that standard models of organ and systemic clearance are useful and appropriate. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT There are two basic kinds of clearances used in pharmacokinetic models, process and system clearances. We show that organ and systemic clearances are net clearances with blood or plasma as the driving concentration. For linear pharmacokinetics, clearance is constant for elimination from the central compartment but varies with time for peripheral elimination. Despite the different kinds of clearance parameters and models, standard clearance models and concepts remain valid.


The aim of this research study was to determine the physical characteristics of some commercial wheat varieties of dry land and wet land grown in Sindh province. Four irrigated land (Inqulab, TD-1, Kherman, and Sarsabz) wheat varieties and four drought tolerant (TK-3, Marvi, PK-85, Sassi) wheat varieties were collected from their respective areas and subjected to physical analysis. The physical characteristics of dry land and wet land wheat varieties differed significantly. It was observed that dry land wheat varieties higher in length (7.29mm) as compared to wet land wheat varieties (7.05mm). Whereas, wet land wheat varieties higher in breadth (4.97mm), thickness(3.86mm), volume (59.7mm 3 ), geometric mean (10.66mm) and sphericity (1.72%) than those of dry land wheat varieties with breadth (4.15mm), thickness (3.25mm), volume (45.3mm 3 ), geometric mean (9.34mm) and sphericity (1.35%). It is also observed that TKW (47g) of wet land wheat varieties were higher than those of dry land wheat varieties TKW (40.2g). Moreover, falling number (419sec) were recorded higher in wet land wheat varieties than those of dry land wheat varieties falling number (387sec). While, dry land wheat varieties increased in its hardness (55.3%) than those of wet land wheat varieties hardness (51.3%). This study reveals that availability of water and environmental factors are directly related with the nutritional characteristics of wheat varieties. This study revealed that due to more moisture content in wet land wheat varieties TKW, breadth, thickness, volume, geometric mean, falling number and sphericity were recorded as higher than dry land wheat varieties. However, Length and hardness were observed higher in dry land wheat varieties which resulted in better yield of flour as compared with wet land wheat varieties.


Abstract Ni-based superalloys are well established in various industrial applications, because of their excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance at high temperatures. Despite the high development stage and a common industrial use of these alloys, hot cracking remains a major challenge limiting the weldability of the materials. As commonly known, the hot cracking susceptibility during welding increases with the amount of precipitation phases. Hence, a large amount of highstrength Ni-Alloys is rated as non-weldable. A new approach based on electron beam welding at low feed rates shows great potential for reducing the hot cracking tendency of precipitation-hardened alloys. However, geometry and properties of the weld seam differ significantly in comparison to the common process range for practical uses. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of welding parameters on the seam geometry at low feed rates between 1 mm/s and 10 mm/s. For this purpose, 25 bead on plate welds on a 12 mm thick sheet made of Inconel 718 are carried out. First, the relevant parameters are identified by performing a screening. Then the effects discovered are further studied by using a central composite design. The results show a significant difference between the analyzed weld seam geometry in comparison to the well-known appearance of electron beam welded seams.


Dyspnea, cyanosis and other signs and symptoms are, of course, evidence of want of oxygen and are usually abated in a patient who is benefited by oxygen therapy. Clinical experience, however, has led us to believe that reduction of the pulse rate is by far the most reliable single guide by which to judge benefit, or failure of benefit, from the administration of oxygen-rich atmosphere. It is therefore desirable that when oxygen therapy is instituted, as high a concentration as is mechanically available should be first begun. Meanwhile a careful charting of the pulse rate should be made at least every fifteen minutes. With high concentrations, approaching 100 per cent, the pulse rate will probably be reduced during the first few hours. If such an effect is not secured, careful adjustment of the method of administration having been made to assure the operator that an extremely high percentage of oxygen


Fairness and equity are key concerns in modern liberal democracies. In step with this general trend, academics and practitioners have long been concerned with the fairness of procedures utilized by the criminal justice system. Definitions vary, but procedural justice is loosely defined as fair treatment and fair decision-making by authorities. In the criminal justice system, the procedural justice of authorities such as police officers, judicial officers, and correctional officers is evaluated by members of the public. Procedural justice in the criminal justice system is viewed as an end in and of itself, but it is also an opportunity to yield various outcomes including legitimacy, public compliance with the law, cooperation with criminal justice officials, and satisfaction with criminal justice proceedings and outcomes.


Increasingly, the UK's Private Finance Initiative has created a demand for construction companies to transfer knowledge from one organization or project to another. Knowledge transfer processes in such contexts face many challenges, due to the many resulting
discontinuities in the involvement of organisations, personnel and information flow. This paper empirically identifies the barriers and enablers that hinder or enhance the transfer of knowledge in PFI contexts, drawing upon a questionnaire survey of construction firms. The
main findings show that knowledge transfer processes in PFIs are hindered by time constraints, lack of trust, and policies, procedures, rules and regulations attached to the
projects. Nevertheless, the processes of knowledge transfer are enhanced by emphasising the value and importance of a supportive leadership, participation/commitment from the relevant parties, and good communication between the relevant parties. The findings have considerable relevance to understanding the mechanism of knowledge transfer between
organizations, projects and individuals within the PFI contexts in overcoming the barriers and enhancing the enablers. Furthermore, practitioners and managers can use the findings to efficiently design knowledge transfer frameworks that can be used to overcome the barriers
encountered while enhancing the enablers to improve knowledge transfer processes.


Introduction
Digital transformation has influenced the variety of IT projects and is being actively implemented in airport operations. New technological solutions and information systems are used at airports in different directions: tracking passenger and cargo traffic, aircraft maintenance, flight loading, financial transactions, document flow, contract logistics and other processes. Regardless of which traffic flows are served by the airport, international or regional, which airlines provide communication, the infrastructure must meet modern safety and technical requirements.
Purpose. Research of technological solutions for airports development during the digital transformation period and their impact on improving the security and capacity of airports, as well as the efficient and smooth operation of the provided customer service in the aviation service chain.
Method (methodology). The theoretical and scientific-methodological basis of the research is the provisions of the concept of digital and information economy. In the process of research, the following methods and approaches were used as a logical generalization and synthesis to form the main conclusions and proposals of the research; graphic – visualization of the results of identification of the main technological trends of the airports development.
Results. The article determines that the use of modern technologies at airports is a consequence of the dynamic development of the aviation industry and the growing demand for processing a large amount of information and ensuring security. Factors such as COVID-19 are presented, leading to faster changes regarding the latest innovations in aviation, automation and digitalization, accelerating the digitalization of the region for years. Many solutions that were initially perceived as revolutionary in the aviation industry have yet to reach their full potential. A classification of the main trends in the airports development has been formed with a description of technological solutions in the period of digital transformation, which can become a dynamic and strategic tool for forecasting and implementing future projects in the development of airport infrastructure.


The idea of Corporate Social Responsibility is one of the most inspiring ideas in modern business, also even in financial business. CSR, already widely implemented in economy, contains significant ecological components. Nowadays, around the world many leading banks, investment funds, pension funds, insurance companies and public companies, use environmental aspects in their business. The growing and diversified ecological engagement of different financial institutions could be even called ecological evolution of financial business. The same process has started also in Poland. The financial institutions support natural environment in many ways: saving resources, financing proecological organizations, maintaining adequate PR and IR communication and even offering special financial products such as: deposits, payment cards, shares, bonds, investment funds and specialized stock index Respect. Especially, the new investment possibilities are clear evidence of positive changes of the Polish financial market. The aim of the elaboration is to indicate the phenomenon of environmental rules implementation in Polish financial business. The considerations in the article are focused on financial offer related to natural environment protection. The issue is presented in two aspects: theoretical and empirical. In the article, critical analysis of literature and reports, analysis of financial market data, induction method and comparison method have been used. Especially, selected financial products offered on Polish financial market were analysed in the period of 2008–2014 in respect to ecological criteria. The problem of financial market "ecologization" is a very important subject of scientific research. The process is not only very inspiring, but also controversial.


Objectives The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of total cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) on early-onset depression after acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and to develop a new nomogram including total CSVD burden to predict early-onset post-stroke depression (PSD). Methods We continuously enrolled patients with AIS who were hospitalized at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between October 2017 and June 2019. All patients were assessed for depressive symptoms using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17) at 14 ± 2 days after the onset of AIS. The diagnosis for depression was made according to the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Version 5 (DSM-5). The demographic and clinical data were collected including total CSVD burden. On the basis of a multivariate logistic model, the independent factors of early-onset PSD were identified and the predictive nomogram was generated. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated by Harrell's concordance index (C-index) and calibration plot. Results A total of 346 patients were enrolled. When contrasted to a 0 score of total CSVD burden, the score ≥2 (moderate to severe total CSVD burden) was an independent risk factor for early-onset PSD. Besides, gender, cognitive impairments, baseline Barthel Index (BI), and plasma fibrinogen were independently associated with early-onset PSD. The nomogram based on all these five independent risk factors was developed and validated with an Area Under Curve (AUC) of 0.780. In addition, the calibration plot revealed an adequate fit of the nomogram in predicting the risk of early-onset depression in patients with AIS. Conclusions Our study found the total CSVD burden score of 2–4 points was an independent risk factor of early-onset PSD. The proposed nomogram based on total CSVD burden, gender, cognitive impairments, baseline BI, and plasma fibrinogen concentration gave rise to a more accurate and more comprehensive prediction for early-onset PSD.


The detailed process of bubble generation in laser-plasma interaction has been studied by particle simulation. During the interaction between laser and plasma, a strong electrostatic field caused by charge separation is observed, whose structure looks like a potential well. Electrons are accelerated to 10 MeV within some tens of femtoseconds when the laser intensity is 5×1018W/cm2. After many electrons escape from the potential-well-like structure, electron cavitons are generated. Because of laser filamentation, the intensity of the laser becomes very asymmetric, the caviton structure is squeezed and deformed, and then electron bubbles are generated, which finally results in ion bubble formation. It is the electron caviton and laser beam filamentation that cause bubble generation. The 10 MeV superthermal electron generation accompanied by the electron caviton is attributed to E∇·E heating, which is a locally oscillating electron heating mechanism.


We demonstrate the appearance of unexpected reflection resonances in corrugated dielectric waveguides. These are due to the curvature of the boundary. The effect is as strong as the ordinary Bragg resonances, and reduces the transmission through our waveguide by 20%. It is thus of high relevance for the design of optimized waveguiding structures. We validate our analytical predictions based on coupled mode theory by a comparison to numerical simulations.


Gender inequality affects gender relations with untold individual and national consequences and specifically constitutes significant obstacles against women's efforts towards socioeconomic opportunities and development in Nigeria. Women have been subjected to domination by men due to persistent cultural stereotype, abusive traditional practices and patriarchal structures culminating in women historically related as the followers of men in the Nigerian society. This pattern of gender relations has for many years undermined women's ability and capacity to pursue their interests, careers and economic development. However, this situation is gradually changing due to the increasing number of women acquiring education and competences with attendant socio-economic benefits. Despite this status quo, gender inequality continues to impede women's pursuit of economic transformation in Nigeria. The paper explicates the practice of gender inequality and its implications on the dynamic roles of women in contemporary Nigeria. It posits that gender inequality undermines the pace of women's economic development, demonstrates gender issues that propel this untoward socio-economic disequilibrium and considers as imperative the dismantling of inequalities for increased women's productivity. The paper recommends that all Nigerians need to uphold all-round equality and eschew discrimination against women in order to enhance women's economic development and sustainable development in Nigeria.


Background: P. huashanica ( Psathyrostachys huashanica ), known as an important resistance resource reservoir, is a rare and endangered plant growing suitably in Huashan mount region and would be urgently exploited in wheat genetic improvements sooner. During the utilization process, different IRGs (internal reference genes) need to be appropriately selected as standards based on biotic and abiotic stress conditions. It is crucial that Real-time RT-qPCR with combination of bioinformatics were adopted to explore the reliable IRGs from transcriptome of P . huashanica.Results: The present work reported new 3 species of IRGs, UBC2 , UBC17, 18S rRNA , which were screened from transcriptome of P. huashanica under biotic and abiotic stress conditions, using RT-qPCR and four algorithms, including geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder, to analyse expression of sixteen candidate reference genes. These genes appear as following 18S rRNA (18S ribosomal RNA), EF1-α (eukaryotic elongation factor 1 alpha), UBC2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2-2), UBC17 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2-17), α-TUB2A (alpha tubulin-2A), β-TUB3 (beta tubulin 3), ADF4 (Actin-depolymerising factor 4), ACTIN (actin), GAPDH (Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase), 60SARP (60S acidic ribosomal protein), UBQ (polyubiquitin), SamDC (S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase), EIF4A (eukaryotic initiation factor 4A), ARF (ADP-ribosylation factor), HIS1 (histone H1), and HIS2B (histone H2B). Analysis of gene expression demonstrated that the expression of UBC2 gene was most stable under ABA hormone stress, low temperature stress and high temperature stress, similarly, UBC17 gene under IAA hormone stress, salinity stress and drought stress, both UBC17 genes and 18S rRNA genes under abiotic and biotic stress, respectively. The most stable gene was UBC2 gene in the root, UBC17 gene in stem and leaf. In this study, α-TUB2A , UBC and ACTIN genes were verified as the suitable reference genes across all tested samples. To further validate the suitability of the selected reference genes, we evaluated the relative expression of PsaCPK3 (Calcium-dependent protein kinase) and PsaHSP70-1 (heat shock protein 70-1), which are stress-related genes that may be involved in response to adversity.Conclusions: This study has identified a set of the most stable IRGs suiting for RT-qPCR detection of a few target gene expressions from P . huashanica in different experimental conditions. In addition, this study should provide the accuracy information for gene expression analysis in P . huashanica .


The hemodynamic theory of progressive renal disease with glomerular hyperfiltration has been proposed as common final pathway of kidney disease progression. The evaluation of renal functional reserve is an useful approach to point out glomerular hyperfiltration. First the author describes the meaning of renal functional reserve, mechanisms of glomerular hemodynamic regulation and renal reaction to proteic load and finally explains the practical application of renal functional reserve in clinical nephrology.


Abstract Debates on nation, self-determination, and nationalism tend to ignore the gender dimension, women's experiences, and feminist proposals on such issues. In turn, feminist discussions on the intersection of oppressions generally avoid the national identity of stateless nations as a source of oppression. In this article, I relate feminism and nationalism through an intersectional framework in the context of the Catalan pro-independence movement. Since the 1970s, Catalan feminists have been developing theories and practices that relate gender and nationality from an intersectional perspective, which may challenge hegemonic genealogies of intersectionality and general assumptions about the relation between nationalism and gender. Focusing on developments made by feminist activists from past and present times, I argue that women are key agents in national construction and that situated intersectional frameworks may provide new insights into relations among axes of inequalities beyond the Anglocentric perspective.


Hypothyroid rats show reduced secretion of biliary lipids, especially cholesterol. Secretion of biliary cholesterol is markedly augmented to levels above euthryroid beginning 12-24 h after administration of thyroid hormone. In the current studies, bile from hypothyroid and triiodothyronine-treated chronic bile-fistula rats was analyzed for vesicles and mixed micelles by metrizamide gradient ultracentrifugation. For euthryoid and hypothyroid animals, less than 12% of biliary cholesterol was in a vesicle gradient fraction. After treatment with triiodothyronine, biliary cholesterol increased markedly, and 50% of total cholesterol, 60% of excess cholesterol secreted, appeared in the vesicle fraction. Triiodothyronine stimulation of vesicle secretion resulted in cholesterol-rich vesicles (cholesterol:phospholipid ratio rose from less than 0.1 to 0.56), but no change in the distinct fatty acid composition of vesicle phospholipids. The microtubule inhibitor colchicine, given 12 h after triiodothyronine, prevented subsequent increase in cholesterol secretion in the form of vesicles. These studies, in a model that allows rapid changes in biliary lipid secretion, support the hypothesis that an important component of cholesterol and phospholipid secretion into bile involves microtubules and may involve a vesicle pathway.


We overview the benefits that extended depth of focus technology may provide for three-dimensional imaging and profilometry. The approaches for which the extended depth of focus benefits are being examined include stereoscopy, light coherence, pattern projection, scanning line, speckles projection, and projection of axially varied shapes.


Under the postulation that the double Ruiz procedure could increase the effect of radial keratotomy (RK), RK combined with horizontal and vertical Ruiz procedure was performed in three groups of 22 rabbit eyes. In the group A of six eyes, RK with vertical Ruiz procedure was performed, and eight weeks later horizontal Ruiz procedure was added. In the group B of eight eyes, RK with horizontal Ruiz procedure was performed, and four weeks later vertical Ruiz procedure was added. In the group C of eight eyes, RK with horizontal and vertical Ruiz procedure was performed simultaneously. As a control, in the group D of eight eyes, RK without Ruiz procedure performed. Changes in keratometry for four weeks and eight weeks postoperatively were analyzed. The results were as follows: 1. At eight weeks postoperatively, mean changes in keratometry were 6.434D, 3.663D, 4.030D and 1.585D in groups A, B, C and D, respectively. 2. Mean changes in keratometry of groups A, B and C were significantly higher than that of group D. 3. Mean changes in keratometry of 6.434D in group A was significantly the highest of the three groups in which double Ruiz procedure was performed. For the above results, it was concluded that double Ruiz procedure increased the effect of RK, and the procedure was more effective when the secondary Ruiz procedure was added eight weeks later.


The operation of coal liquefaction pilot plant has been carried out for 269 days, including 3 kinds of coal and the stable operation being continued 1920 h, since December 1996 to September 1998, in Kashima, Japan. Through the coal-in-operation, the high oil yield and long-term consecutive operability have been confirmed.Nevertheless after a long operation, a variety of solid deposits have been found in several locations of the plant such as liquefaction reactors and hot high pressure separator. These were characterized using proximate, ultimate, ash component, optical microscopic, so on, and EDX analyses.The deposit was found to consist of coal minerals, catalyst, inert and unliquified active macerals which were dispersed in carbonized pitch matrix.The mineral particles containing catalyst and coal minerals are found to be agglomerated in several layers as found as the reactors. Such a feature of deposit suggests that the viscous slurry of high density was trapped on the bottom surface of the separator.The pitch matrix is carbonized slowly around 400°C, to form composite solid of high densities, while the light fraction is washed out by the coal liquid during the operation.Low temperature and solid particles dispersed in the pitch prohibit development of large anisotropy.From these results, some ideas to prevent such depositing are proposed.


The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic effects of 12-week honey consumption on patients suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). This was a randomized crossover clinical trial done in the National Institute for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Cairo, Egypt. Twenty patients of both sexes aged 4-18 years with type 1 DM and HbA1C<10% participated in the study. They were randomized into two equal groups (intervention to control and control to intervention). The dietary intervention was 12-week honey consumption in a dose of 0.5 mL/kg body weight per day. The main outcome measures were serum glucose, lipids, and C-peptide, and anthropometric measurements. None of participants were lost in follow-up. The intervention resulted in significant decreases in subscapular skin fold thickness (SSFT; P=.002), fasting serum glucose (FSG; P=.001), total cholesterol (P=.0001), serum triglycerides (TG; P=.0001), and low-density lipoprotein (P=.0009), and significant increases in fasting C-peptide (FCP; P=.0004) and 2-h postprandial C-peptide (PCP; P=.002). As possible long-term effects of honey after its withdrawal, statistically significant reductions in midarm circumference (P=.000), triceps skin fold thickness (P=.006), SSFT (P=.003), FSG (P=.005), 2-h postprandial serum glucose (P=.000), TG (P=.003), and HbA1C (P=.043), and significant increases in FCP (P=.002) and PCP (P=.003) were observed. This small clinical trial suggests that long-term consumption of honey might have positive effects on the metabolic derangements of type 1 DM.


Description of Topic: In settling trade disputes, members of the World Trade Organization use a dispute settlement mechanism setfonh in the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations. This multilateral system of settling disputes is implemented if a member believes other members are violating trade rules. Disputes arise when countries adopt policies that break the WTO agreements or that cause them to fail to fulfill obligations. Dispute settlement procedures have existed under many different trade agreements. While current processes are more effective than those of past agreements, they still lack credibility and effectiveness. Research and Results: The United States and the European Union have used the WTO dispute settlement processes in settling many trade disputes over the past decade. Currently, the United States and European Union are involved in several disputes, including the trade of meat treated with growth honnones, the use of the U.S. Foreign Sales Corporation tax exemption, and state subsidization of the steel industry. Recent resolution of the long-standing dispute over the European Union banana regime is a positive indicator of progress in trade relations between the United States and the European Union. These cases will be used to illustrate the point that current WTO recommendations are not the most authoritative means of settling international trade disputes and to suggest improvements, such as increased use of negotiation and arbitration, to the dispute settlement process. The mutually benefiting trade relationships among independent nations can be greatly enhanced by cooperation in and resolution of trade issues. Improvements to the dispute settlement system would facilitate the edification of the global economic environment.


Epigenetics refers to the change in gene expression without the change in the sequence of the gene. Epigenetics includes alternate phenotypic states th at are not based on differences in genotype, but ar e generally stably maintained during cell division an d are potentially reversible. A much more expanded view of epigenetics involves multiple mechanisms in teracting to collectively establish alternate state s of chromatin structure, histone modification, assoc iated protein composition and transcriptional activity. Chromatin structure is not fixed. Instead , chromatin is a dynamic identity and is subject to extensive developmental, environmental and age-asso ciated remodeling. In some cases, this remodeling appears to counter the ageing and age-as sociated diseases, such as cancer, and extend organismal lifespan. Advances in our understanding of chromatin structure, histone modification, transcriptional activity, promoter hypermethylation and global hypomethylation resulted in an increasingly integrated and expanded view of epigen etics. The study of epigenetics reveals how patterns of gene expression are passed from one cel l to its descendants, how gene expression changes during the differentiation of one cell type into another, and how environmental factors can change the way genes are expressed. There are far-r eaching implications of epigenetic research for human biology and diseases, including our understan ding of cancer and ageing. Due to these developments, epigenetic therapy is expanding to in clude combinations of histone deacetylase inhibitors and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors. Th is review encompasses the different types of epigenetic changes, the interplay among them and th e implications of these epigenetic changes in relation to cancer and ageing. Besides this, the de velopment and perspective of epigenetic therapy has also been discussed in brief.


Numerous Arctic Ocean circulation and geochemical studies suggest that ice growth in polynyas over the Alaskan, Siberian, and Canadian continental shelves is a source of cold, saline water which contributes to the maintenance of the Arctic Ocean halocline. The purpose of this study is to estimate for the 1978–1987 winters the contributions of Arctic coastal polynyas to the cold halocline layer of the Arctic Ocean. The study uses a combination of satellite, oceanographic, and weather data to calculate the brine fluxes from the polynyas; then an oceanic box model is used to calculate their contributions to the cold halocline layer of the Arctic Ocean. This study complements and corrects a previous study of dense water production by coastal polynyas in the Barents, Kara, and Laptev Seas. Recurrent polynyas form on the Canadian and Alaskan coasts from Banks Island to the Bering Strait and on the Siberian coast from the Bering Strait to the New Siberian Islands. In the Bering Sea, polynyas form in Norton Sound, south and west of St. Lawrence Island, and in the Gulf of Anadyr. Two regions that account for almost 50% of the total dense water production are the Siberian coastal polynyas in the adjacent regions of the Gulf of Anadyr and Anadyr Strait and the Alaskan coastal polynyas which occur along the coast from Cape Lisburne to Point Barrow. For all of the western Arctic coastal regions examined, the mean annual total brine flux is 0.5±0.2 Sv. Combination of this flux with the contribution from the Barents, Kara, and Laptev Seas, which is recalculated from data in the earlier study, shows that over the entire Arctic, coastal polynyas generate about 0.7–1.2 Sv of dense water. This compares well with the theoretical estimates of 1–1.5 Sv. Because an unknown fraction of the Barents, Kara, and Laptev brine flux must go to the Eurasian Basin deep water, the coastal polynyas alone cannot renew the halocline layer. Other potential brine generation mechanisms include overall freezing on the shelves and the response of the ice to infrequent violent storms. For example, during February 1982 an intense storm generated a large region of low ice concentration in the eastern Chukchi Sea over Barrow Canyon. The refreezing of the region was followed by the flow of a dense plume down Barrow Canyon. Although the ocean dynamical response to this refreezing needs to be established, the possible response of a Barrow Canyon flow to this refreezing event suggests that the overall refreezing in response to infrequent violent storms may be a potential source of the additional brine needed to maintain the Arctic Ocean halocline.


Gemcitabine (2,2′-difluoro-2′-deoxycytidine, dFdC) is an established chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of various carcinomas such as lung, breast, bladder and especially pancreatic cancer (1)]. However, its general application and bioavailability is compromised due to both poor cell uptake and rapid metabolism by gut and liver cytidine deaminase (CD)(2). An 18F-gemcitabine positron emission tomography (PET) probe would allow tracking of this important drug on its biomolecular pathways in vivo. Treatment improvement and a deeper understanding of cancer biochemistry are some possible beneficial outcomes. The half-life of 18F (110 minutes) and GMP regulations restrict synthetic and purification procedures to a short period of time. Thus, the main focus of this project is the development of new powerful strategies to introduce fluorine at the latest stage of the chemical synthesis into appropriate nucleoside precursors. In order to approach the synthetic target molecule dFdC, proof-of-principle studies on more straightforward synthetic targets including 1-(2′-deoxy-2′-[18F]fluoro-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)uracil (18F-FAU) and 1-(2′-deoxy-2′-[18F]fluoro-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)cytidine (18F-FAC) are carried out first. An appropriate precursor synthesis for 2′-stereoselective radiofluorination is followed by the introduction of the 18F-isotope under recently developed conditions (3,4). Radiochemical syntheses are carried out using an Eckert & Ziegler module system. The obtained radio-nucleosides are confirmed by radio-HPLC and subsequent radio-ESI-MS at the Wales Research & Diagnostic Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Centre (PETIC) located at Heath Hospital in Cardiff. Several fluorination methods and nucleoside precursors were tested under different conditions. The 2′-fluorinated arabinonucleoside 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorouracil (FAU), which was considered as a rapidly accessible 2′-fluorinated uracil-based dFdC analogue was successfully synthesized in our laboratory. Here, a protected mesylate precursor was treated with tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) under anhydrous conditions at reflux temperatures in acetonitrile to give the fluorinated nucleoside FAU in acceptable overall yields after subsequent deprotection. This procedure was successfully used as a template method to obtain 18F-FAU and 18F-FIAU in a new and efficient way in good radiochemical yields (14-17%, decay-corrected). This knowledge is now being transferred to the late-stage synthesis of the more challenging and biologically relevant cytidine-based radiotracer 18F-FAC at PETIC which has potential application in the imaging of neurogenesis. Additionally, the successful radiochemical synthesis of the PET probe FIAU will enable its potential applications in reporter-gene imaging developments. Considering the final target, the development of an appropriate fluorination precursor for the radiosynthesis of 18F-Gemcitabine will be investigated mainly based on the results obtained from the mono-fluoro model studies. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):B32. Citation Format: Jan-Philip Meyer. Synthetic routes to 18F-labeled gemcitabine and related 29-fluoronucleosides. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B32.


Objective
to identify and analyse children's voices in healthcare decision making in the discourse of Brazil's child protection laws.

Method
Documentary normative analysis of Brazil's child protection legislation (1988-2012) based on the content analysis of nine texts, conducted in 2015.

Results
The legislation acknowledges and stresses the voice of children in the decision-making process in research and healthcare. Any recognition of the right to dignity, liberty, information, and protection depends on what the adult decision-maker (with parental authority) believes is the child's capacity for discernment and whether the situation will cause self-harm.

Conclusions
the normative child protection discourse grants children a voice, although with restrictions and under the authority of the adult with parental authority.


Recent studies have demonstrated that β-cell replication plays a central role in maintaining adult β-cell mass. β-cell proliferative activity changes dynamically to meet systemic needs throughout life. One condition in which β-cell proliferation is enhanced is obesity-related insulin resistance. However, the mechanism underlying this compensatory β-cell response is not well understood. We have identified a neuronal relay, originating in the liver, which enhances both insulin secretion and pancreatic β-cell proliferation. Blockade of this neural relay in murine obesity models inhibited pancreatic islet expansion during obesity development, showing this inter-organ communication system to be physiologically involved in compensatory β-cell proliferation. While there is controversy about which mechanism, proliferation of pre-existing β-cells or production of new β cells from progenitor cells, plays the dominant role in maintaining or regulating β-cell mass, we herein provide an example that proliferation of pre-existing β-cells contributes to a β-cell increment in obesity-related insulin resistance. Furthermore, we have shown the potential for clinical application of this inter-organ system as a therapeutic target for insulin-deficient diabetes.


Spider mites (family Tetranychidae) are important pests of many agricultural, medicinal and ornamental plants worldwide. They possess needle-like chelicerae which pierce plant cells, often feeding on chloroplasts on the under surface of the leaf and cause upper leaf surfaces develop whitish or yellowish stippling. Additionally spider mites produce silk webbing which covers the leaves. In this chapter we present common control methods of these mites including biological control with emphasizing on the prey preference, switching behavior and mutual interference of a biological control agent, Phytoseius plumifer (Canestrini and Fanzago). Additionally the side effects of two acaricides, abamectin and fenpyroxymate, on this predator will be discussed.


Immune checkpoint-inhibitory antibodies (ICIs) are wellestablished immunotherapies. Despite this, the impact of ICI therapy on non-T cell intratumoral immune cells is ill-defined, restraining the improvement of ICI efficacy. Preclinical murine models of human disease are infrequently validated in clinical trials, impairing the identification of novel biological factors impacting clinical ICI response. To address this barrier, we used our previously described computational approach that integrates high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing datasets to identify known and novel cellular alterations induced by ICIs that are conserved in mice and humans. We found a signature of intratumoral natural killer (NK) cell activation that is enriched in anti-CTLA-4 treated mouse tumors and correlates with longer overall survival and is predictive of anti-CTLA-4 (ipilimumab) response in melanoma patients. We demonstrate that human NK cells express CTLA-4, which directly binds anti-CTLA-4. These data reveal a novel role for NK cells in anti-CTLA-4 treatment and present opportunities to enhance ICI efficacy. Importantly, we provide a new computational tool for onco-immunology that can identify and validate biological observations across species.


Avian influenza (AIV) outbreaks can induce fatal human pulmonary infections in addition to economic losses to the poultry industry. In this study, we aimed to develop a rapid and sensitive point-of-care AIV test using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technology. We designed three sets of reverse transcription LAMP (RT-LAMP) primers targeting the matrix (M) and hemagglutinin (HA) genes of the H5 and H9 subtypes. RT-LAMP targeting the universal M gene was designed to screen for the presence of AIV and RT-LAMP assays targeting H5-HA and H9-HA were designed to discriminate between the H5 and H9 subtypes. All three RT-LAMP assays showed specific amplification results without nonspecific reactions. In terms of sensitivity, the detection limits of our RT-LAMP assays were 100 to 1,000 RNA copies per reaction, which were 10 times more sensitive than the detection limits of the reference reverse‒transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (1,000 to 10,000 RNA copies per reaction). The reaction time of our RT-LAMP assays was less than 30 min, which was approximately four times quicker than that of conventional RT-PCR. Altogether, these assays successfully detected the existence of AIV and discriminated between the H5 or H9 subtypes with higher sensitivity and less time than the conventional RT-PCR assay.


This paper presents an impact analysis of distributed generation high insertion in a microgrid connected to an electric power distribution system, focusing on the short-circuit levels. The study is conducted considering four distributed generator technologies: DFIG, photovoltaic generator, synchronous generator, and induction generator. The investigation was carried out by applying solid three-phase faults in different system buses and considering different scenarios of generators connection, allowing to evaluate the increase of network short-circuit levels due to the individual and collective operation of the distributed generators. The influence of the generators in voltage sags in the system is also analyzed. Simulations were carried out in Simulink® software using a distribution system based on a real feeder. Only the grid-connected mode of the microgrid was considered. The results allowed to evaluate key factors related to the different contributions of each type of distributed generator in the system short-circuit levels and the possible impacts caused by the massive insertion of such technologies.


This paper present an alternative approach of High performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) online data storage method using XML for pharmaceutical research applications. XCS (XML for Chromatogram Storage) is presented, which is a module of AMCS (Automated Measurement for Chromatogram Storage), a management system designed for acquiring measured chromatography results by automated measurement and storage of multiple HPLC instruments on a centralized database. XCS is accessible through the Local Area Network (LAN) in a laboratory which is suitable for storing data. The XCS can produce XLS and CSV file formats, and can convert HPLC measurements into XML file format for centralized database storage; instead of using the proprietary software provided by the vendor or manufacturer which user can only save the measured file into the proprietary software format and unable to read it without the applications.


In the automotive industry many parts are connected with different types of clips. One of them
is studied in this Master Thesis. The studied clip is of metal and used to connect plastic parts to
each other in the interior of the cars. The aim is to find the mechanical properties of this clip joint
at room temperature and 80 C and to implement in a simple connector element representing the
clip joint.
The properties in the clip connection are determined by use of a combination of component
tests and simulations. The tests are performed by fastening one part in the clip connection and
applying a displacement at the other part and measuring the force to get a force vs displacement
relation. In the finite element simulations are the same loading case used. In the numerical
simulations is also a sensitivity analysis performed to investigate what parameters affects the
properties of the clip joint the most.
The study gives linear stiffnesses perpendicular to the hole and around all axes. The frictional
force when sliding along the hole occurs is determined. The forces needed to assemble and
dis-assemble the clip joint are also determined. All these properties are determined both for room
temperature and for 80 C. The determined properties are only valid until a specific displacement
when the plastic parts come in contact. From the sensitivity study is concluded that the most
important parameters are the hole size and thickness of the clip.
The determined properties make it possible to include a more realistic behavior of the clip joint
in simulations with clips. It is possible because the representation in the connector element still
is simple but more realistic and prevents the number of degrees of freedom to increase drastically.
Keywords: Clip joint, Clip connection, Finite element simulation, Connector element, Parameter
study, Friction, Stiffness, Temperature loading, Displacement test


We consider clustering games in which the players are embedded into a network and want to coordinate (or anti-coordinate) their strategy with their neighbors. The goal of a player is to choose a strategy that maximizes her utility given the strategies of her neighbors. Recent studies show that even very basic variants of these games exhibit a large Price of Anarchy: A large inefficiency between the total utility generated in centralized outcomes and equilibrium outcomes in which players selfishly maximize their utility. Our main goal is to understand how structural properties of the network topology impact the inefficiency of these games. We derive topological bounds on the Price of Anarchy for different classes of clustering games. These topological bounds provide a more informative assessment of the inefficiency of these games than the corresponding worst-case Price of Anarchy bounds. More specifically, depending on the type of clustering game, our bounds reveal that the Price of Anarchy depends on the maximum subgraph density or the maximum degree of the graph. Among others, these bounds enable us to derive bounds on the Price of Anarchy for clustering games on Erdős-Rényi random graphs. Depending on the graph density, these bounds stand in stark contrast to the known worst-case Price of Anarchy bounds. Additionally, we also characterize the set of distribution rules that guarantee the existence of a pure Nash equilibrium or the convergence of best-response dynamics. These results are of a similar spirit as the work of Gopalakrishnan et al. [19] and complement work of Anshelevich and Sekar [4].


OBJECTIVES
Online weight control technologies could reduce barriers to treatment, including increased ease and convenience of self-monitoring. Self-monitoring consistently predicts outcomes in behavioral weight loss programs; however, little is known about patterns of self-monitoring associated with success.

METHOD
The current study examines 161 participants (92% women; 31% African American; mean body mass index = 35.7 ± 5.7) randomized to a 6-month online behavioral weight control program that offered weekly group "chat" sessions and online self-monitoring. Self-monitoring log-ins were continuously monitored electronically during treatment and examined in association with weight change and demographics. Weekend and weekday log-ins were examined separately and length of periods of continuous self-monitoring were examined.

RESULTS
We found that 91% of participants logged in to the self-monitoring webpage at least once. Over 6 months, these participants monitored on an average of 28% of weekdays and 17% of weekend days, with most log-ins earlier in the program. Women were less likely to log-in, and there were trends for greater self-monitoring by older participants. Race, education, and marital status were not significant predictors of self-monitoring. Both weekday and weekend log-ins were significant independent predictors of weight loss. Patterns of consistent self-monitoring emerged early for participants who went on to achieve greater than a 5% weight loss.

CONCLUSIONS
Patterns of online self-monitoring were strongly associated with weight loss outcomes. These results suggest a specific focus on consistent self-monitoring early in a behavioral weight control program might be beneficial for achieving clinically significant weight losses.


Purpose: the aim of this paper is to perform a thorough, in-depth and current literature review on Mergers & Acquisitions. The emphasis is on the current global theories, global trends and developments within the last 10 years and so in the valuation of a potential takeover of a target company. Discussion: mergers and acquisitions are considered as one of the tools for improving business efficiency. At the same time, a merger and acquisition transaction is justified if there is a synergistic effect. However, recent studies have shown that the most common reasons for an inefficient acquisition are the overestimation of the target company and the synergy effect associated with this acquisition. Thus, the valuation of the target company is the most important aspect at the planning stage of the mergers and acquisitions process. Results: the paper provides a critical review of the literature examining the synergy theory and the development of Tobin's Q-theory, current global trends in mergers and acquisitions, discounted cash flow analysis, and market multipliers in order to improve the valuation of the acquired company.


Improving perceptions of graduate utility is fundamental to Higher Education's employability and skills agenda. However, utility enhancement is a ubiquitous consequence of all learning. Therefore, motivating students to engage in deep learning to improve their utility is problematic. Using the student voice, in this article, I explain how prompts endorsing marginalism as a benefit of attaining superior utility with higher subjective value informed and motivated meta-learning approaches. Drawing on data from an ethnography and interpretive phenomenology situated in the unique learning environment of the COVID-19 pandemic, findings reveal students were motivated to seek utility attainment opportunities that marginally enhanced self-perceptions, transferability of learning, and employability. This article is among the first to explain why the attainment of knowledge and can-do competencies associated with marginalism, superior utility, and higher subjective value, motivates learners' present and future time perspectives.


A data set consisting of DNA sequences from a large-scale shotgun DNA cloning and sequencing project has been collected and posted for public release. The purpose is to propose a standard genomic DNA sequencing data set by which various algorithms and implementations can be tested. This set of data is divided into two subsets, one containing raw DNA sequence data (1023 clones) and the other consisting of the corresponding partially refined or edited DNA sequence data (820 clones). Suggested criteria or guidelines for this data refinement are presented so that algorithms for preprocessing and screening raw sequences may be developed. Development of such preprocessing, screening, aligning, and assembling algorithms will expedite large-scale DNA sequencing projects so that the complete unambiguous consensus DNA sequences will be made available to the general research community in a quicker manner. Smaller scale routine DNA sequencing projects will also be greatly aided by such computational efforts.


In this letter, we apply the Kikuchi approximation method to the problem of joint decoding of a low-density parity-check code and a partial-response channel. The Kikuchi method is, in general, more powerful than the conventional loopy belief propagation (BP) algorithm, and can produce better approximations to an underlying inference problem. We will first review the Kikuchi approximation method and the generalized BP algorithm, which is an iterative message-passing algorithm based on this method. We will then report simulation results which show that the Kikuchi method outperforms the best conventional iterative method


We provide a unified analysis of the predictive risk of ridge regression and regularized discriminant analysis in a dense random effects model. We work in a high-dimensional asymptotic regime where $p, n \to \infty$ and $p/n \to \gamma \in (0, \, \infty)$, and allow for arbitrary covariance among the features. For both methods, we provide an explicit and efficiently computable expression for the limiting predictive risk, which depends only on the spectrum of the feature-covariance matrix, the signal strength, and the aspect ratio $\gamma$. Especially in the case of regularized discriminant analysis, we find that predictive accuracy has a nuanced dependence on the eigenvalue distribution of the covariance matrix, suggesting that analyses based on the operator norm of the covariance matrix may not be sharp. Our results also uncover several qualitative insights about both methods: for example, with ridge regression, there is an exact inverse relation between the limiting predictive risk and the limiting estimation risk given a fixed signal strength. Our analysis builds on recent advances in random matrix theory.


The resistance of indigenous elm species to Dutch Elm Disease (DED) has been studied since 1991 with emphasis on natural forests. The situation varies with altitude, local conditions, species and with stand origin. The variability in morphological characteristics is important and some varieties are described. The taxonomy of elms in Romania, as in the whole of Europe, seems to be confusing (Ulmus ambigua was described in 1952 by Beldie in Flora of Romania). Natural hybrids between field elm and mountain elm were observed both in natural and artificial stands, especially in border zones for the altitudinal distribution of the species. Seedlings from the natural provenances and open pollinated seedlings from hybrids produced in the Dutch breeding programme were artificially inoculated with Ophiostoma ulmi- Buism.. Most of the seedlings died, but results show an important number of surviving individuals from natural provenances. In some natural and artificial stands, it was observed that beside transmission of the disease by insects (Scolytus spp.), it was spread through root sprouts especially in field elms, from the dead «mother tree» within a few years, as well as by root grafts to proximal healthy trees («biogroups»). Because of the genetic incompatibility of individuals in some cases, the grafting cannot succeed and neither can infection. In the natural forest where the ecosystem is in equilibrium and functions normally, DED is present but its damages are not so important. The study of elms in natural forests provides valuable information for the problems caused by DED.


Sprint interval training, a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) modality, is associated with improved plasma antioxidant capacity, which suggests that sprint interval training may have potential positive effects on health promotion. However, because its strenuous nature, sprint interval training may intimidate sedentary individuals. This study investigated the acute and chronic effects of HIIT on blood redox homeostasis, using a training protocol based on a higher number of bouts, of increased duration, performed at 90‒110% of aerobic peak power. Seventeen healthy physically active young men performed a single HIIT session, in cycle ergometer, composed of eight bouts of 1 min at 90% of peak power, intercalated with 75 s-intervals of active recovery at 30 W. The plasma total antioxidant capacity was lower immediately after exercise (p = 0.05), an indicative of increased generation of reactive species in response to HIIT, and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity was increased (p = 0.03). No effect of acute HIIT session on blood thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content was observed. Nine of the initial seventeen volunteers engaged in a four-week progressive HIIT program, 3 days per week, totaling 12 training sessions. Each training session involved 8–12 cycling exercise bouts, at 90‒110 % peak power for 60 s with active recovery intervals of 75 s at 30 W. The plasma total antioxidant capacity as well as erythrocyte catalase activity were increased in response to training (p < 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively), which may have contributed to the reduced TBARS content observed with erythrocytes (p = 0.05). Because HIIT improves blood redox homeostasis, it may have a potential therapeutic effect on the treatment of diseases related to redox imbalance, besides its health promotion effects.


The combinatorial theory of rotor-routers has connections with problems of statistical mechanics, graph theory, chaos theory, and computer science. A rotor-router network defines a deterministic walk on a digraph G in which a particle walks from a source vertex until it reaches one of several target vertices. Motivated by recent results due to Giacaglia et al., we study rotor-router networks in which all non-target vertices have the same type. A rotor type r is universal if every hitting sequence can be achieved by a homogeneous rotor-router network consisting entirely of rotors of type r. We give a conjecture that completely classifies universal rotor types. Then, this problem is simplified by a theorem we call the Reduction Theorem that allows us to consider only two-state rotors. A rotor-router network called the compressor, because it tends to shorten rotor periods, is introduced along with an associated algorithm that determines the universality of almost all rotors. New rotor classes, including boppy rotors, balanced rotors, and BURD rotors, are defined to study this algorithm rigorously. Using the compressor the universality of new rotor classes is proved, and empirical computer results are presented to support our conclusions. Prior to these results, less than 100 of the roughly 260,000 possible two-state rotor types of length up to 17 were known to be universal, while the compressor algorithm proves the universality of all but 272 of these rotor types.


In the last decade, agent-based modelling (ABM) became a popular modelling technique in social sciences, medicine, biology, and ecology. ABM was designed to simulate systems that are highly dynamic and sensitive to small variations in their composition and their state. As hydrological systems, and natural systems in general, often show dynamic and non-linear behaviour, ABM can be an appropriate way to model these systems. Nevertheless, only a few studies have utilized the ABM method for process-based modelling in hydrology. The percolation of water through the unsaturated soil is highly responsive to the current state of the soil system; small variations in composition lead to major changes in the transport system. Hence, we present a new approach for modelling the movement of water through a soil column: autonomous water agents that transport water through the soil while interacting with their environment as well as with other agents under physical laws.


Teachers in Korea have recently confronted new challenges as the population of linguistically and culturally diverse students increases. Ethnically diverse students as well as Korea-born students returning from long residences in foreign countries have great difficulties orienting themselves within Korean schools due to lack of Korean language proficiency and cultural differences. We named this student group as Korean language learners (KLLs) and investigated teacher perspectives on effective mathematics pedagogy for KLLs. Using two educational models for English language learners (ELLs)—Cummins' Quadrant Model and the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) Model—we examined survey results of a small group of elementary teachers in South Korea in terms of effectiveness and feasibility of the ELL models.


High velocity oxygen fuel(HVOF) thermal spray coating of WC-Co powder is one of the most promising candidate for the replacement of the traditional hard chrome plating and ceramics coating because of the environmental problem of the very toxic Cr6+ known as carcinogen and the brittleness of ceramics coating. WC-Co micron and nano powder were coated by HVOF thermal spraying method for the study of durability improvement of the high speed spindle. Coatings were planned by Taguchi program for the four spray parameters of spray distance, flow rates of hydrogen, oxygen and powder feed rate. Optimal coating process was obtained by the studies of coating properties such as porosity, surface roughness, micro hardness, and microstructure. WC-Co micron and nano powder were coated on the Inconel 718 substrate by the optimal coating process obtained in this study. The wear behaviors were studied by the sliding wear tester at room temperature and at an elevated temperature of 500°C for the application to high speed spindle. Sliding wear test was carried out for four most promising hard coatings of chrome coating, ceramics coatings such as Al₂O₃, Cr₂O₃ and HVOF Co-alloy T800 for the comparison of their wear behaviors. HVOF WC-Co coating was better than other coatings showing highest micro hardness of 1400 Hv and comparable friction coefficients with others. HVOF WC-Co coating is a strong candidate for the replacement of the traditional hard chrome plating for the high speed spindle.


While congruency as a way of behaving has received wide acceptance, many criticize it as (a) giving way to license, (b) not allowing for change, and (c) not really being practical. If we recognize that congruence is not the only value we hold, perhaps we can respond to a range of feelings stemming from a more complex value system. Simple, impulsive behaviors may not represent the range of feelings induced by a complex set of values; to be truly congruent one must be aware of both his values and the range of his feelings. Neither does congruence mean the maintaining of one's behavioral status quo. Congruence would require that a person who has behaviors he does not like should declare these to others and engage in a process of change. Being congruent may not only represent a value but requires skill in performance, and this skill can perhaps be learned. Since certain social systems may not initially support congruent behaviors, it may mean introducing change into the system before congruence is recognized as a practical way of living with others.


Background: The formation of biomolecular condensates via phase separation has emerged as a fundamental principle underlying the spatiotemporal coordination of biological activities in cells. Aberrant biomolecular condensates often directly regulate key cellular process involved in the pathogenesis of human diseases, including kidney diseases. Summary: In this review, we summarize the physiological roles of phase separation and methodologies for phase separation studies. Taking autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease as an example, we discuss recent advances toward elucidating the multiple mechanisms involved in kidney pathology arising from aberrant phase separation. We suggest that dysregulation of phase separation contributes to the pathogenesis of other important kidney diseases, including kidney injury and fibrosis. Key Messages: Phase separation provides a useful new concept to understand the mechanisms underlying kidney disease development. Targeting aberrant phase-separated condensates offers new therapeutic avenues for combating kidney diseases.


PURPOSE
To investigate the potential associations between keratoconus and catalase rs1001179, superoxide dismutase 2 rs4880, and glutathione peroxidase 1 rs1050450 gene polymorphisms in a Turkish population.

METHODS
The study group included 121 unrelated keratoconus patients and 94 unrelated healthy controls. Blood samples (200 ml) were collected from all patients and controls to isolate genomic DNA. Genotyping was performed to identify rs1001179, rs4880, and rs1050450 using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Genotype and allele frequencies were calculated; their associations with keratoconus risk were assayed, and the association with keratoconus risk and demographic factors was examined.

RESULTS
Glutathione peroxidase 1 rs1050450 polymorphism was present in 41% cases compared with 29% controls (OR=1.66; 95% CI=1.11-2.50; p=0.014). No association was observed between catalase rs1001179 and SOD2 rs4880 polymorphisms and keratoconus (for all, p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
This study evaluated possible relationships between rs1050450, rs1001179, and rs4880 polymorphisms and keratoconus susceptibility. We found a possible association between glutathione peroxidase 1 rs1050450 polymorphism and an increased risk of keratoconus. However, the genotype and allele frequencies were identical in the catalase rs1001179 and superoxide dismutase 2 rs4880 polymorphisms. Further studies are needed to analyze the effect of such variations in identifying keratoconus susceptibility.


With the continuous growth of computer hardware and software performance, and the increasing advance of high-speed bandwidth of computer networking, data acquired from complex simulation, experiment and internet continues to increase and outpace hardware advantages. Visualization and analysis of such large size of data sets remains a significant challenge to the visualization community. Over the past years, various data reduction techniques that deal with large data sets have been proposed to solve the problem. However, these proposed data reduction techniques lead to another issue with regard to integrity of the data. In this paper we address this issue by presenting two new uncertainty visualization methods using volume ray casting-based iso-surface rendering. We apply them to the multi-resolution (MR) data sets from the medical domain to visualize both the data and error information. The results have proved that our methods are promising.


We propose model-driven development as a good choice for developing a simulator with decreased development time and increased stability and maintainability compared to traditional development techniques. Although the meta-model for the simulation model is not always known or well defined in most commercial or academic simulation software packages, all simulators use such a meta-model throughout different components of the simulator like the model editor or the simulation core. Model-driven development uses a clearly defined meta-model as a basis for generating different artifacts, ranging from executable source code to documentation files. In this paper, we present a software architecture based on the Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF) in combination with the Graphical Modeling Framework (GMF) as basic model-driven frameworks for data-layer and graphical user interface of a simulation software package.


Swarming and modular robotic locomotion are two disconnected behaviours that a group of small homogeneous robots can be used to achieve. The use of these two behaviours is a popular subject in robotics research involving search, rescue and exploration. However, they are rarely addressed as two behaviours that can coexist within a single robotic system. Here, we present a bio-inspired decision mechanism, which provides a convenient way for evolution to configure the conditions and timing of behaving as a swarm or a modular robot in an exploration scenario. The decision mechanism switches among two behaviours that are previously developed (a pheromone-based swarm control and a sinusoidal rectilinear modular robot movement). We use Genetic Programming (GP) to evolve the controller for these decisions, which acts without a centralized mechanism and with limited inter-robot communication. The results show that the proposed bio-inspired decision mechanism provides an evolvable medium for the GP to utilize in evolving an effective decision-making mechanism.


In this study, the influence of the temperature dependence of yield stress on the stress distribution in a heat generating elastic-plastic cylinder with fixed ends in investigated. The analysis is based on Tresca's yield condition and the associated flow rule.


It has been well established in the literature that inverter nonlinearity effects afflict saliency-based sensorless drives. The inverter nonlinearity leads to the generation of signals that corrupt the useful position information. The resulting effect differs depending on the injection approach utilized in the drive. Various compensation techniques to overcome this effect have been published in the literature. This paper is concerned with the zero-vector current-derivative technique. The effect of the varying ON-state resistance of the inverter power devices on the position signal is investigated in detail. Knowledge of the source of the corrupting signals facilitates compensation and determines its applicability. Two approaches for inverter nonlinearity compensation are compared. The first approach utilizes a lookup table from offline-processed data, while the second one is a simpler approach based on the current-dependent resistance characteristic of the inverter switching devices. Experimental performance under sensorless condition is shown for both approaches.


In this chemical reaction, a section of the steel material act as Anode. This means that steel loses electrons; On the other hand, another portion of reinforcing mesh acts as cathode. In the cathode, oxygen combines with water and the electrons to release hydroxide ions. This shows that the reactions require both water and oxygen to occur. We know that the availability of these three elements are essential for corrosion to happen. The reaction requires Water, Oxygen. However, experiments, and real case scenarios show that chloride plays a key role in the onset of corrosion reactions.


Background Myopia is the most common form of uncorrected refractive error with a growing burden worldwide. It is the principal complaint of most women during pregnancy. Although myopia has led to several consequences across the standard life of pregnant women, there is no previous study in Ethiopia regarding this topic. Thus, this study determined the prevalence of myopia and identifies its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care units at governmental health institutions in Gondar City District, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from 08 February to 08 April 2021. From the selected health centres, study participants were recruited by systematic random sampling technique. A pre-tested, structured-interviewer-administered questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic variables, obstetric and clinical-related variables was used to collect the required data. Non-cycloplegic refraction was performed using trial lenses, trial frames, and retinoscopy in a semi-dark examination room. EpiData 3 and STATA 14 were used for data entry and statistical analysis respectively. Both bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were executed to identify associated factors of myopia. Variables with a p-value ≤0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression analysis were declared as statistically significant with myopia. Model fitness was checked by Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness of test (at p > 0.05) Results A total of four-hundred and twenty-three pregnant women participated with a 100% response rate in this study. The overall prevalence of myopia among pregnant women was 26.48% (95% CI: 22.48–30.91). Eighty-Eight (20.81%) and Eighty-Four (19.85%) of the study participants had myopia in their right and left eyes respectively. The prevalence of myopia was significantly associated with age (AOR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.09–1.28), the third trimester of gestation (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.08–3.90), multi & grand multipara (AOR = 3.15; 95% CI: 1.59–6.25), and history of contraceptive use (AOR = 3.30; 95% CI: 1. 50–7.28). Conclusion The finding of our study shows that there is a higher prevalence of myopia among pregnant women in our study area. Further prospective analytical studies regarding visual systems among pregnant women, particularly as a result of pregnancy, are strongly recommended.


OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to review the literature regarding image-guided breast procedures, including helpful tips and tricks to guide the practicing interventional breast radiologist. CONCLUSION. The successful diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer involves coordination of the multidisciplinary breast team. Optimal procedural skills for image-guided biopsy and preoperative lesion localization are paramount to the radiologists' success.


Fluid media such as Cohen-Wheeler medium and semi-synthetic media containing charcoal are niow replacing the classical Bordet-Gengou medium in the productionl of pertussis vaccine. But since pertussis vaccine made by the Michigan Department of Health Laboratories from growth on Bordet-Gengou medium has been repeatedly demonstrated in field trials to give a high degree of protection, most recently by the Medical Research Council Inivestigation (1951) of England, we, in this laboratory, continiue to use BordetGengou medium. Normally, sheep blood is added to the Bordet-Gengou agar base. Owing to the difficulty of obtaining such large amounts of sheep blood needed for the preparation of vaccine media in Formosa, our attention has been directed to findinig other animal blood as a suitable substitute. Cow's blood was selected for study because it is easily obtainiable from local markets and calves previously used for the productioni of small pox vaccinie might serv,e as a source. Because the results of preliminiary experiments were quite gratifyinig, we niow routinely use (ow's blood for the preparation of Bordet-Geingou medium. The authors are unaware of any previous report in the literature conicerning the use of cow's blood in Bordet-Gengou medium.


The agricultural sector has leading position in the Ukrainian economy. In recent years the intensifying competition among producers has been noticed also on territories far from the conventional agricultural centers. It is connected with the expansion of national and foreign agro-industrial enterprises that caused a fierce struggle for the distribution networks which can lead effectively to final consumer, as well as an increasing of the sensitivity of marketing (sales) to the company policy in the sphere of its own economic security. The latest trends of falling effective demand of Ukrainian end-consumer are forcing us to approach more carefully to forecasting and planning "food basket". Also, this is due to simultaneous drop in exports of food to the Customs Union countries, especially to the Russian Federation – within 6 months of 2014 the export of Ukrainian agricultural products to Russia amounted USD 655,5 million, which is on 31.4% or USD 299,5 million less than in the same period in 2013. Furthermore, there is change in Ukrainian consumer's preferences under the influence of economic factors (including crises), as well as under impact of changes in lifestyle of the modern person under the influence of the pro-European culture of consumption goods. As a consequence, the rational reaction of the population on sharp rise in prices was the increase of the average propensity to consume only in the period before 1995. But In relatively stable price period (1995-2006) this phenomenon was not observed which has led to increasing requirements to reliability and reasonableness of prognoses concerning of sown areas, based on typologization of consumer behavior during the analyzed period (1966-1991 and 1991-2006) with subsequent approximation on the economic security of agribusinesses.


If you're trying to balance a medical career with a home life, you've undoubtedly got your hands full. Yet there's one important thing that many women neglect in the course of the everyday grind—life insurance.


Objective: to study the efficacy of paxil in the treatment of depression of varying severity in elderly male. Patients and methods. Thirty-five males aged 50—78 years with depressive symptoms of varying severity in the framework of a depressive episode [n = 14 (40%)], recurrent depressive disorder [n = 12 (34.3%)], and bipolar affective disorder [n = 9 (25.7%)] were examined. The efficacy of paxil 20—40 mg/day was clinically evaluated using psychometric scales (CGI, HDRS, and UKU) on days 7, 14, 28, and 42. Results. Paxil was found to be highly effective in treating depressions in elderly males. The mean HDRS scores decreased from 24.7±0.3 to 4.9±1.1. By day 42, the reduction in depressive symptoms was 80.2%. 74.3% of the patients achieved recovery and a borderline state according to the CGI-S scale. There was cessation of asthenic symptoms and adynamia at week 1 of therapy, hypothymia at week 2, and anxiety caused by the consecutive manifestations of stimulating, antidepressant, and anxiolytic effects.


Farida Anwari 1), Melawati Olevianingrum 2), Umi Fatmawati 3) (Times New Roman, 11pt, bold)STIKES RS. Anwar Medika Sidoarjo, Jl. Bypass Krian KM 33 Balongbendo, email@example.com Hp. 08123248102 ABSTRACT           Polluted air and contaminated seeds can cause various lung diseases, one of which is indicated by cough changes. Coughing into body shape, occurs as a response from the body to irritation in the throat due to mucus, dust, smoke and air outside the body. Nebulizer is an alternative tool to relieve the cough response to the presence of mucus which is an inflammatory reaction due to infection in the respiratory tract. Mint oil in the form of extracts has a variety of esters, especially menthyl acetate and monoterpenes which produce a distinctive aroma that is beneficial for breathing. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of adding mint oil as a result of distillation on the liquid with the nebulizer in cough handling.       This study was a pre-experimental study with nonrandomized design pre test and post test with control group design which was used to determine the effect of the addition of mint oil as a result of distillation on the liquid with nebulizer to reduce the coughing status of the patient which included (cough frequency, onset of inflammation, wheezing, and ease of expectoration of phlegm).      The results showed that the cough frequency status is known to have decreased from 44.4% of patients to 23.5% of patients. Similarly, the status of inflammation decreased from 41.7% to 21.7%; wheezing status which was originally 58.3% decreased to 39.1%; easy  expectoration status also shows that mint oil can reduce the level of difficulty of phlegm to go out to 13% from 36.1%.


Corrosive behavior of austenitic chromium-nickel steels from the magnetic state (parameter χ0) of austenite, pre-formed to interact with aggressive media are research. Correlation between the rate K of pitting corrosion and the specific magnetic susceptibility χ0 of austenite was experimentally established. It is experimentally established that the corrosion resistance of austenitic steels AISI304, 08Cr18Ni10, AISI 321, 08Cr18Ni10Тi (containing a low amount of δ-ferrite 0.005...0.5%) depends on the magnetic state of austenite: the corrosion rate of steel decreases with increases χ0 austenite. The tendency of change in the corrosion rate of austenitic alloy with a high nickel content 06Crh28NiMoCuTi (not contain δ-ferrite) has the opposite character: with increasing χ0, the corrosion rate of the alloy increases is revealed. For austenitic chromium-nickel steels, the corrosion rates of the individual (austenite (A), δ-ferrite (F), strain-induced α-martensite (M)) and total (A + F, A + M and A + F + M) phases are determined. It is proposed to predict corrosion according to the specific magnetic susceptibility χ0 of austenite and the amount δ-ferrite.


Abstract Animal welfare has many varied understandings reflecting social concerns for, and the scientific assessments of, the way animals are treated. They range from the absence of suffering, to where the animal is in a state of complete mental and physical health and in harmony with its environment, to an economic or socio-political understanding reflecting human preferences. Animal welfare thus has both empirical (scientific) and moral components. It is suggested that the term should be considered as a judgement to be undertaken by combining varied understandings. Furthermore, it may be more important to acknowledge underlying values and assumptions, both moral and scientific, than to risk excluding valid viewpoints through pursuing a prescriptive definition.


Episcleral venous pressure was measured by a noninvasive method with a modified force-displacement transducer in six laboratory-quality normotensive and 12 glaucomatous beagles. The dogs were anesthetized by ketamine-xylazine, acepromazine-ketamine, and halothane. Simultaneous intraocular pressure (IOP) and blood pressure were recorded. The mean episcleral venous pressures in normotensive beagles were 11.4 to 11.6 mm Hg with the three methods of anesthesia; in the glaucomatous beagles the mean episcleral pressures were 10.6 to 12.5 mm Hg. There were no significant differences in episcleral venous pressure (p less than 0.19 and greater) and blood pressure (p less than 0.53 and greater) between the normotensive and glaucomatous beagles. IOP was significantly different between the normotensive and glaucomatous beagles anesthetized with acepromazine-ketamine (mean IOP, 23.4 and 34.2 mm Hg, respectively; p less than 0.02) and halothane (mean IOP, 19.9 and 27.4 mm Hg, respectively; p less than 0.001) but not significant with anesthesia with ketamine-xylazine (mean IOP, 26.0 and 37.8 mm Hg, respectively; p less than 0.12). Episcleral venous pressure is unchanged as the disease progresses in the glaucomatous beagle.


The mean height of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmanni Parry) advance growth 21 years after release by overstorey harvesting and residual tree felling, was eight times that of natural regeneration established following brush blade scarification. Subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) advance growth was nine times taller than natural regeneration established on scarified soil. Mean current annual height increment of Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir advance growth was 39 and 34 cm, respectively, compared with only 7 cm for natural regeneration on scarified soil. The performance gap does not appear to be narrowing. The poor performance of natural regeneration on mineral soil exposed by blade scarification is attributed to removal of organic and top mineral soil horizons beyond the immediate reach of seedlings. These soil layers remained available to the advance growth. Consideration should be given to preserving advance growth when scarification may be inappropriate.


Abstract Large tributaries may help sustain large-river fish populations by mitigating fish-habitat losses within the highly modified great rivers of the Mississippi River basin. These tributaries are likely most beneficial for fish species specializing on non-degraded large-river habitat for some portion of their life histories. Few great-river tributaries, however, have been surveyed using methods that comprehensively target all fish species, resulting in uncertainty or bias in the reported composition of many tributary fish assemblages. We report important distributional records, including 23 new accounts, for 12 large-river specialist fishes in Missouri—Alosa alabamae (Alabama Shad), Cycleptus elongatus (Blue Sucker), Pimephales vigilax (Bullhead Minnow), Notropis wickliffi (Channel Shiner), Polyodon spathula (Paddlefish), Hybognathus placitus (Plains Minnow), N. blennius (River Shiner), Macrhybopsis hyostoma (Shoal Chub), Scaphirhynchus platorynchus (Shovelnose Sturgeon), M. storeriana (Silver Chub), Ichthyomyzon unicuspis (Silver Lamprey), and Alosa chrysochloris (Skipjack Herring)—following 38 comprehensive fish surveys in tributaries of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. New accounts collectively demonstrate tributaries support more large-river specialists than historically documented and thus may be currently undervalued sources of habitat for large-river fishes.


Duplex coating consisting of an inner cerium-based layer and polypyrrole (PPy) film topcoat was electrodeposited onto AISI 304 stainless steel. The cerium-based coating was electrodeposited in solutions containing cerium nitrate at 50 ºC. The polymeric outer layer was electropolymerized in the presence of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT). The electrosynthesis was done under potentiostat conditions. The coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDX). The morphology of the double-layered cerium polypyrrole film shows a granular structure with the presence of agglomerates of small grains.
The anticorrosive performance of the coatings was evaluated in sodium chloride solution by linear polarization, open circuit measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Single films, cerium layer and PPy coating, and the duplex film all reduce the corrosion rate of AISI 304 stainless steel in NaCl solution. The duplex coating presents an improved corrosion resistance concerning the single films. The combination of the characteristics of the single layers is responsible for the superior corrosion protection efficiency of the double-layered cerium polypyrrole coating.


Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune disease for which multiple immunomodulatory therapies are available. Nevertheless, MG has a significant impact on patient quality of life. In recent years, experts' main efforts have focused on optimizing treatment strategies, since disease burden is considerably affected by their safety and tolerability profiles, especially in patients with refractory phenotypes. This article aims to offer neurologists caring for MG patients an overview of the most innovative targeted drugs specifically designed for this disease and summarizes the recent literature and more recent evidence on agents targeting B cells and plasmablasts, complement inhibitors, and neonatal fragment crystallizable receptor (FcRn) antagonists. Positive clinical trial results have been reported, and other studies are ongoing. Finally, we briefly discuss how the introduction of these novel targeted immunological therapies in a changing management paradigm would affect not only clinical outcomes, disease burden, safety, and tolerability, but also health spending in a condition that is increasingly managed based on a patient-centred model.


Abstract The aim of the present article is to report on a study undertaken to inquire two physical education (PE) teachers′ effort to learn and implement the student-centered pedagogy of the Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) approach, by using the Action Research (AR) framework as a research methodology. Two in-service PE teachers, each being responsible for a different class of Grade three and four students, from a primary school in Athens, Greece, participated in the study. During a period of two months, the two teachers used an AR cyclical process of planning, applying, observing and reflecting on the TGfU approach, with the purpose of bringing change in their professional practice and in their students' learning. Data was generated through the use reflective journals, survey questions, document analyses and non-participant observations. An inductive analysis and a constant comparative method (Denzin & Lincoln 1994) were used for data analysis and three major themes emerged: teaching PE with TGfU, student learning within TGfU, and teacher's acting and researching on TGfU. From the results, it was found that AR, although initially a difficult undertaking, is an appropriate framework for enhancing PE teachers' capacity to design non-hierarchical lesson activities that are dedicated to students' understanding and development, as the ones suggested by the TGfU approach.