This paper will attempt to illuminate what was meant by Linyi and Champa. If it can be shown that there were polities on the lower middle coast of today's Vietnam before the words 'Cham' or 'Champa' appear in inscriptions and we should be able to clarify the precise birthdate of 'Champa'. We must rely on Chinese texts and archaeological and epigraphic traces. Researching these sources tends to define the Cham area as a mosaic of different territories rather than a unified territory strung along the coast. Thus Linyi and Champapura were distinct territories, among others, which had existed since Austronesians first settled the coastal valleys of Vietnam.


Context: Sleep quality affects health and self-management in chronic illness. Limited research has examined patterns and predictors of sleep quality and its impact on self-management and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among lung transplant recipients (LTRs). Objective: The aims of this study were to identify the patterns, predictors, and impact of poor sleep quality on self-management behaviors and HRQOL the first year after lung transplantation. Methods: Secondary analysis of 75 LTRs who participated in a randomized controlled trial. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was administered at baseline, 2, 6, and 12 months after transplant; 12-month PSQI was dichotomized categorizing good versus poor sleepers. Predictors were measured at the time of transplant; self-management and HRQOL were measured at 12 months. Logistic regression identified predictors of poor sleep. Correlations examined poor sleep quality, self-management behaviors, and HRQOL. Results: Sleep quality was relatively stable during the first year, and 24 of the 75 (32%) of the sample met criteria for poor sleep quality at 12 months. The only multivariate predictor of poor sleep was female gender (odds ratio = 3.421; P = .026); the mental component of HRQOL was the only outcome associated with poor sleep (r = −.348; P < .01). Conclusion: Nearly one-third of LTRs reported persistent poor sleep through year 1. More females reported poor sleep quality, and sleep quality was inversely related to mental HRQOL by 12 months. Knowledge of these relationships may help identify LTRs at the greatest risk for poor sleep and guide strategies to promote sleep and optimize HRQOL.


The Hanford Site has 28 double-shell tanks (DSTs) and 149 single-shell tanks (SSTs) containing radioactive wastes that are complex mixes of radioactive and chemical products. The mission of the Department of Energy's River Protection Project is to retrieve and treat the Hanford tank waste for disposal and close the tank farms. A key aspect of the mission is to retrieve and transfer waste from the SSTs, which are at greater risk for leaking, into DSTs for interim storage until the waste is transferred to and treated in the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant. There is, however, limited space in the existing DSTs to accept waste transfers from the SSTs, and approaches to overcoming the limited DST space will benefit the overall mission. The purpose of this study is to summarize and analyze the key previous experiment that forms the basis for the relaxed controls and to summarize progress and results on new experiments focused on understanding the conditions that result in low gas retention. The previous large-scale test used about 50 m3 of sediment, which would be unwieldy for doing multiple parametric experiments. Accordingly, experiments began with smaller-scale tests to determine whether the desired mechanisms can be studied without the difficulty of conducting very large experiments. The most significant results from the current experiments are that progressively lower gas retention occurs in tests with progressively deeper sediment layers and that the method of gas generation also affects the maximum retention. Based on the results of this study, it is plausible that relatively low gas retention could occur in sufficiently deep tank waste in DSTs. The current studies and previous work, however, have not explored how gas retention and release will behave when two or more layers with different properties are present.


BACKGROUND/AIM
There is no information on the dose-response relationship of curcumin on the hemodynamic variables of the heart at the organ level in isolated perfused rat hearts. We aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of curcumin on the hemodynamic variables of isolated perfused rat hearts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Rats were randomly divided into 9 groups. The isolated rat heart was retrogradely perfused with modified Krebs-Henseleit solution. After the stabilization period, each group was administered one of the following treatments for 25 min: saline, dimethyl sulfoxide, and curcumin (0.2 µM, 1 µM, and 5 µM); atropine (1 µM); atropine (1 µM) + curcumin (1 µM); L-NAME (100 µM); or L-NAME (100 µM) + curcumin (1 µM). Hemodynamic variables of the heart were measured.

RESULTS
Curcumin at dose of 1 µM decreased the heart rate (from 271 ± 11.1 to 200.4 ± 14.3 beats/min, P = 0.011) but increased end-diastolic pressure (from 7.0 ± 0.4 to 54.6 ± 7.9 mmHg, P = 0.0008). A dose of 5 µM curcumin caused a decrease in the developed pressure (from 87.58 ± 9.0 to 65.40 ± 7.0 mmHg, P = 0.047) but an increase in the end-diastolic pressure (from 6.8 ± 0.6 to 48.9 ± 7.7 mmHg, P = 0.005). Atropine (1 µM) reversed the effects of curcumin on the heart.

CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that curcumin produces dose-dependent negative chronotropic and inotropic effects in isolated perfused rat hearts.


Currently, clinical probing and intraoral radiography are the main diagnostic tools for periodontal diseases. However, studies have shown limitations for both techniques in assessment of periodontal bone loss1-11. The major limitation or drawback is that neither technique provides valid three-dimensional (3D) information for assessment as well as classification of periodontal bone defects, especially infrabony defects and furcation involvements. The infrabony defects are also referred to as bony craters*, which are usually saucer-


The following paper argues that Jack Burnham's antipathy for kineticism in "Systems Esthetics" and Beyond Modern Sculpture has contributed to an assumption that kineticism is an obsolete practice "rooted in another age." Contrary to Burnham, I argue that a focus on the kinetic movement in Hans Haacke's sculptures is productive for establishing key understandings of systems theory in art. My interpretation of Haacke's art emphasizes that movement in time is a key aspect of the artist's approach to sytems theory, and is useful for making viewers conscious of the systems of perception at play when confronted with ontologically unstable works of art.


Acromegaly is usually caused by a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. Somatic growth and metabolic dysfunction occur subsequent to unrestrained GH secretion and elevated insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-3 levels (1) (Fig 1). Classic clinical features of acromegaly include acral overgrowth, sweating, headaches, menstrual disturbances, and glucose intolerance (Table 1) (2). Well-documented clinical risks of long-term tissue exposure to uncontrolled GH hypersecretion include cardiac disease and hypertension, diabetes, respiratory disorders, joint disease, and neuropathy (Table 2) (3). The degree of risk for malignancy in these patients is unresolved; and acromegaly, representing an experiment of nature, could answer the question of whether or not elevated GH and IGF levels provide a permissive growth advantage for neoplasms, resulting in more aggressive malignant disease and/or increased cancer-associated mortality (4). Analysis of the determinants for mortality outcome in acromegaly indicates that approximately 60% of patients succumb to cardiovascular disease; 25% from respiratory disease; and in 15% of patients, the cause of death is attributed to malignancy (Table 2). Nevertheless, absolute circulating GH values seem to constitute the most significant single determinant of survival, regardless of the cause of death (5–14). Several recent compelling studies support the critical role of GH, suggesting that GH control is associated with reversal of adverse mortality rates, regardless of the nature of associated comorbidity (13). Thus, suppression of GH to less than 1 ng/mL, during an oral glucose tolerance test, and normalization of IGF-I levels portend a favorable mortality outcome (15).


Abstract Phytic acid is an inhibitor of iron bioavailability, but it has been suggested that individuals may adapt to phytic acid over time, and that the salivary protein, cystatin SN, may be involved. This study evaluated the relationship between human cystatin SN levels and iron bioavailability after a phytic acid rich meal. Three groups of ten women consumed meals with: (1) 500 mg phytate sprinkles, (2) 500 mg phytate capsules, or (3) no phytic acid. Iron bioavailability was measured by the mealtime percentage of maximum iron recovery; cystatin SN was measured pre-and post-meal by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pre-to-post meal cystatin SN was positively correlated with improved iron bioavailability in group 1. Pre-to-post meal cystatin SN was correlated with improved iron absorption in groups 1 and 2. Cystatin SN recovery after phytic acid rich meals may be a physiological factor predicting iron bioavailability.


ABSTRACT Side effects from hormonal therapy (HT) for breast cancer treatment occur frequently and are associated with worse quality of life and HT non-adherence. Whether improved patient-physician communication is associated with patients' reporting of side effects is unknown. We undertook this study to assess factors associated with women's reports of HT side effects. Between December 2012 and April 2013, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of breast cancer patients undergoing HT in an urban medical center. Descriptive statistics, univariate analyses, and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate associations. Of the 100 participants, 67% reported having HT side effects. However, when prompted, an additional 9% reported experiencing specific HT-related symptoms. Despite very high communication scores, one-third of participants reported they had not discussed side effects with providers. Multivariate analysis showed that after controlling for age, education, race, and medication beliefs, women who had difficulty asking providers for more information were more likely to report side effects (odds ratio 8.27, 95% confidence interval 1.01–69.88). Although HT side effects often occur and are bothersome, patient-provider discussions about side effects remain suboptimal. Providers should actively ask patients about medication side effects so that they can be addressed to improve quality of life and potentially, medication adherence.


Quantitative analysis of gene expression is a fundamental experimental approach in many fields of plant biology, but it requires the use of internal controls representing constitutively expressed genes for reliable transcript quantification. In this study, we identified fifteen putative reference genes from an A. angustifolia transcriptome database. Variation in transcript levels was first evaluated in silico by comparing read counts and then by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), resulting in the identification of six candidate genes. The consistency of transcript abundance was also calculated applying geNorm and NormFinder software packages followed by a validation approach using four target genes. The results presented here indicate that a diverse set of samples should ideally be used in order to identify constitutively expressed genes, and that the use of any two reference genes in combination, of the six tested genes, is sufficient for effective expression normalization. Finally, in agreement with the in silico prediction, a comprehensive analysis of the qRT-PCR data combined with validation analysis revealed that AaEIF4B-L and AaPP2A are the most suitable reference genes for comparative studies of A. angustifolia gene expression.


Background International evidence documents that experiencing racial discrimination is associated with poor physical and mental health among ethnic minority people, but there is a gap in our understanding of how the accumulation of exposure to racial discrimination, over time and across domains of exposure, is associated with increased morbidity. In this study we examined the longitudinal association between cumulative exposure to racial discrimination and changes in the mental health of ethnic minority people in the UK. Methods We apply linear regression models to data from four waves (2009 to 2013) of the United Kingdom (UK) Household Longitudinal Study. Models adjusted for sex, age, household income, and previous psychological distress, which we measured with the mental component of the Short-Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12). Results Ethnic minority people who reported exposure to racial discrimination at one time point had SF-12 scores 1.93 (CI = −3.31, −0.56) points lower than those who reported no exposure to racial discrimination, whereas those who had been exposed to two or more domains of racial discrimination, at two different time points, had SF-12 scores 8.26 (CI = −13.33, −3.18) points lower than those who had reported no experiences of racial discrimination. Controlling for racial discrimination and other socioeconomic factors reduced ethnic inequalities in mental health. Conclusion Cumulative exposure to racial discrimination has incremental negative long-term effects on the mental health of ethnic minority people in the UK. Studies that examine exposure of racial discrimination at one point in time underestimate the contribution of racism on health.


OBJECTIVE
To summarize our experience in adult-to-infant living donor liver transplantation (A-ILDLT) and to analyze the efficacy and complications of A-ILDLT.

METHODS
The clinical data, surgical strategies and complications of 28 adult donors and infantile recipients who underwent A-ILDLT from April 2006 to December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. These 28 patients (14 boys and 14 girls) aged from 80 days to 11.5 months with body weights of 3.08 to 10.3 kg at the time of operation . They suffered from biliary atresia with decompensated cirrhosis. The living donors were 15 mothers, 9 fathers, 3 grandma and 1 elder brother with ABO compatible with the infantile recipients. 27 Donor organs were the left lateral lobe grafts (segment II, III) and 1 graft was segment II. All patients were followed up for 5 to 24 months.

RESULTS
These grafts were orthotopically transplanted into the infantile recipients. The average length of stay was 9.3 days for the donor group without any complications. Postoperative immunosuppression included prednisone, Cyclosporin and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). A total of 24 postoperative complications occurred in 20 recipients, including 5 vascular complications, 4 bleeding, 7 pneumonia, 2 bowel obstruction, 4 intestinal perforation and 3 rejection. Three recipients died of hepatic arterial thrombosis (HAT). The perioperative mortality rate of recipients was 10.7% (3/28) and the survival rate was 89.3% in peroperative period. One died of stricture of hepatic vein and 1 of accidental asphyxia during follow-up term. At present, 23 cases are still alive.

CONCLUSION
A-ILDLT has become an effective method to infants with end-stage liver disease. The postoperative vascular complication is the predominant cause of death.


To improve care, one must measure it. In the US, electronic medical record systems have been installed in many institutions to support health care management, quality improvement, and research. Developing countries lack such systems and thus have difficulties managing scarce resources and investigating means of improving health care delivery and outcomes. We describe the implementation and use of the first documented electronic medical record system in ambulatory care in sub-Saharan Africa. After one year, it has captured data for more than 13,000 patients making more than 26,000 visits. We present lessons learned and modifications made to this system to improve its capture of data and ability to support a comprehensive clinical care and research agenda.


The paper presents some considerations regarding the date of the altar apse frescoes in the church of Nativity of the Virgin in Betania. The article also discusses the architecture of Betania church, in connection with a possible reconstruction of the church in the 12th century. Corroboration of this probable rebuilding can help us to define the dating of different parts of Betania wall painting. The altar apse frescoes of Betania are compared with a group of Georgian church frescoes relating to the reign of David IV the Builder (1073-1125). The author concludes that the available historical information and stylistic analysis confirm the dating of the altar apse frescoes of Betania to the end of the 11th - early 12th century.


Childhood cancer is fast becoming an important pediatric problem in several parts of Africa, with the progressive decline of infectious and nutritional diseases. The present study analyzes 1325 Nigerian children with neoplasms diagnosed over a 13‐year period (1960‐1972). It accounted for 12.5% of all tumors registered in our Cancer Registery over the period of study. The commonest type of malignant tumor in the Nigerian child was solid lymphoma, of which Burkitt's tumor predominated. The overall pattern of tumors in these children was strikingly different in certain aspects from what obtains in the Caucasian child. When four main groups of tumors were considered, the ratio frequency pattern in Nigerian children was one of high lymphoma, high orbital, low leukemia, low glioma type. In the Caucasian child, the ratio frequency pattern is usually one of high leukemia, high glioma, low lymphoma, low orbital type. The observed differences in frequencies of childhood tumors between population groups require further studies.


The recent study demonstrated the existence of a systematical narrow bias in the simulated El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) meridional width of surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) of ENSO by the models participating in Phase 3 of the Coupled Model Inter‐comparison Project (CMIP3). The current models developed for Phase 5 of the CMIP (CMIP5) still have this narrow bias in ENSO width relative to the observation, but with a modest improvement over previous models. The improvement can partly be attributed to a better simulation in trade wind, and partly to a better simulation in ENSO period. It has also been demonstrated that the models with a better performance in ENSO width tend to simulate the precipitation response to ENSO over the off‐equatorial eastern Pacific more realistically.


Abstract Four bentonites from various sources were exposed to batch adsorption testing, selective sequential extraction and consolidation tests to investigate their metal retention capacity and hydraulic conductivity for geoenvironmental application such as in clay barrier materials. The Japanese bentonites (JB1–JB3) contain ∼2–4% of carbonate and trace amount of zeolite (JB2 and JB3), whereas the US bentonite has <1% carbonate and no zeolite. The rank of smectite content in the bentonites are USB > JB1 > JB3 > JB2. The materials ranked as JB2 ≈ JB3 > JB1 > USB, according to retention capacity, while after the removal of carbonate the retention capacity order was JB1 ≈ JB2 ≈ JB3 > USB. SSE results indicate that carbonate plays a major role at low Pb solution concentration and precipitate as PbCO3. Once the carbonate is exhausted, the clay composition dominates the sorption process. The hydraulic conductivity of the bentonite mixtures (basalt+10% bentonite) using water was kUSB < kJB1 < kJB3 < kJB2, consistent with the smectite content and swelling power, with USB having the highest proportion of smectite. Among the Japanese bentonites studied, JB1 is the best candidate for barrier material, comparable to the widely used USB.


The chemical and photochemical decolorization of Rhodamine B (RhB) in water has been carried out by Fenton, Fenton-like and photo-Fenton-like process. The effect of applied H₂O₂, Fe²? dosage (Fenton process), H₂O₂, Feo dosage (Fenton-like and photo-Fenton-like process), UV light power (photo-Fenton-like process) pH (all processes) have been studied. The results obtained showed that more than 98% of color removal was obtained for the RhB solutions in every process. However, Fenton-like process was not suitable for the color removal of RhB because Fenton-like process was required much more reagents than Fenton and photo-Fenton-like process. The Fenton and photo-Fenton-like process showed similar reagents need. Optimum pH for three processes in this study is about pH 3. The relative order of sensitivity for pH of each process was: Fenton-like > photo-Fenton-like > Fenton.


Background: The efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among kidney transplant recipients (KTR) is low. The main goal of this study was to analyze factors that may influence the humoral response to vaccination. Methods: We analyzed the titer magnitude of IgG antibodies directed against spike (S)-SARS-CoV-2 antigen after the second dose of the mRNA vaccine in 142 infection naïve KTR (83 men, i.e., 58.4%) with a median age (IQR) of 54 (41–63), and 36 respective controls without chronic kidney disease. mRNA-1273 or BNT162b2 were applied in 26% and 74% of KTR, respectively. Results: S-specific immune response (seroconversion) was seen in 73 (51.41%) of KTR, and in all controls 36 (100%). Independent predictors of no response were elder age, shorter transplantation vintage, and a more than two-drug immunosuppressive protocol. In subgroup analyses, the seroconversion rate was highest among KTR without MMF/MPS treatment (70%), treated with no more than two immunosuppressants (69.2%), treated without corticosteroid (66.7%), younger patients aged <54 years (63.2%), and those vaccinated with the mRNA-1273 vaccine (62.16%). The independent predictors of higher S-antibody titer among responders were younger age, treatment with no more than two immunosuppressants, and the mRNA-1273 vaccination. Conclusions: Our study confirmed a low rate of seroconversion after vaccination with the mRNA vaccine in KTR. The major modifiable determinants of humoral response were the composition of the immunosuppressive protocol, as well as the type of vaccine. The latter could be taken into consideration when initial vaccination as well as booster vaccination is considered in KTR.


The phenomenal popularity of the 802.11 network stems from its promise of easy and convenient tetherless connections. The recent identification of security risks in the operation of an 802.11 network led to announcement of the 802.11i protocol to alleviate them. Nevertheless, a number of security issues remain that prevent the 802.11 network from being the best protocol to be chosen for use in a wireless local area network (WLAN). We have dealt with three popular such remaining issues, namely, the potential loss of personal information, the implicit trust relation, and rogue access point attacks. These risks exist for two reasons: (1) unsafe key distribution and (2) imperfect mutual authentication. We propose a new authentication mechanism in extensible authentication protocol (EAP), called EAP-Kerberos II, by adapting a ticket in Kerberos. The proposed mechanism uses mutual authentication to resolve all these security issues. Moreover, the proposed mechanism improves performance of the 802.11i protocol. First, the key is downloaded from the server rather than derived in the client side. As a result, the key is available earlier than it is in the 802.11i protocol; consequently, protection of messages begins earlier. Second, authentication is much more efficient. The number of messages required to complete the entire authentication procedure is decreased by 55 percent compared with the popular authentication mechanism now used in 802.11i. Furthermore, the simulation result indicates that the improvement in efficiency can be as high as 71 percent.


The goal of this study was to determine the effect of angiotensin type 1 (AT(1)) receptor antagonism on vasodilator responses in isolated skeletal muscle resistance arteries. Normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats were fed normal rat chow with the AT(1) receptor antagonist losartan (1mg/ml) in the drinking water for 7 days and compared with untreated control rats. Changes in the diameter of isolated resistance arteries supplying the gracilis muscle were assessed with a video micrometer. Arteriolar responses to acetylcholine, iloprost, and sodium nitroprusside were unaffected by losartan administration, whereas dilation to reduced Po(2) was converted into a constriction. Hypoxia-induced constriction of vessels from losartan-treated rats was inhibited by endothelium removal or indomethacin (1 microM). Blockade of the PGH(2)-thromboxane A(2) receptor with SQ-29548 (10 microM), thromboxane synthase inhibition with dazoxiben (10 microM), or the addition of the superoxide dismutase mimetic 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPOL, 100 microM) converted hypoxic vasoconstriction to a dilation that was blocked by inhibiting nitric oxide synthase with N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (100 microM). These data suggest that AT(1) receptor activation has an important role in maintaining the vascular release of prostaglandins responsible for mediating hypoxic dilation in skeletal muscle microvessels.


Neutrophils are a significant population of infiltrated immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are implicated in the biological behavior of many malignant tumors. NETs can be degraded into soluble nucleosomes, leading to the release of fragments containing DNA and granule proteins into the peripheral blood (PB). Using human gastric cancer (GC) biopsies and PB samples, we investigated the specific value of NETs in GC from a clinical perspective. In summary, the formation of NETs was discovered in the tissue microenvironment and PB of GC patients. The amounts of NETs and neutrophil accumulation decreased from tumor tissue to paratumor tissue. In addition, the level of NETs in the PB gradually declined through the following patient populations: advanced disease patients, preoperative patients, postoperative patients, benign disease patients, and healthy controls. The levels of NETs in the plasma and serum were significantly correlated. As a serum biomarker, NETs had a better diagnostic value than carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) in GC. The neutrophil count and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were significantly associated with the level of NETs in the PB. The existence of lymph node metastasis indicated a high level of NETs in the serum. Moreover, the level of NETs in the PB was inversely correlated with short-term efficacy in GC patients who had received advanced first-line treatment. The higher baseline level of NETs in the PB of patients with negative HER2 status was correlated with worse progression-free survival (PFS). And the level of NETs in the PB was a unfavorable independent prognostic factor for PFS in patients with advanced GC who had received first-line treatment. Thus, NETs have novel diagnostic, therapeutic predictive, and prognostic value in GC patients.


Abstract Background Deficits in motor impulsivity, that is, the inability to inhibit a prepotent response, are frequently observed in psychiatric conditions. Several studies suggest that stress often correlates with higher impulsivity. Among the brain areas affected by stress, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is notable because of its role in impulse control. OFC subregions with unique afferent and efferent circuitry play distinct roles in impulse control, yet it is not clear what OFC subregions are engaged during motor impulsivity tasks. Methods In this study we used a rodent test of motor impulsivity, the 1-choice serial reaction time test, to explore activation of OFC subregions either during a well-learned motor impulsivity task or in a challenge task with a longer wait time that increases premature responding. We also examined the effects of acute inescapable stress, chronic intermittent cold stress and chronic unpredictable stress on motor impulsivity. Results Fos expression increased in the lateral OFC and agranular insular cortex during performance in both the mastered and challenge conditions. In the ventral OFC, Fos expression increased only during challenge, and within the medial OFC, Fos was not induced in either condition. Inescapable stress produced a transient effect on premature responses in the mastered task, whereas chronic intermittent cold stress and chronic unpredictable stress altered premature responses in both conditions in ways specific to each stressor. Conclusions These results suggest that different OFC subregions have different roles in motor impulse control, and the effects of stress vary depending on the nature and duration of the stressor.


The research was conducted in Peuniti Banda Aceh, with the objective of identifying and assessing the realization of social integration and social conflicts that occurred among migrants, and among migrant populations "original" Peuniti which is urban slum village (slum areas). To find and assess the influence of regional origin of heterogeneous circular migrants to the possibility of social integration and social conflicts that took place in the process of social interaction. The aim of this study is to know and study the process of adaptation among migrants and between migrants with local residents, furthermore, to know and assess the social and demographic characteristics, education and economic migrants circular. Social and demographic characteristics include: age, sex, marital status and religion. Educational characteristics include: education and skills. Economic characteristics include: type of job, income, working hours and work location. Another important reason for conducting this research is to find and examine the reasons for living in Peuniti circular migrant. The selected respondents are 107 people. Methods of data analysis used method of frequency tabulation and cross tabulation. In addition, to the use of cross tabulation method is to determine the size of the effect caused by the size of the frequency and percentage. The results allegedly embodiment of social interaction is more dominant than the conflict social have a positive relationship between fellow migrants from the same area. There is also a positive relationship between bonds of different areas. Most migrants have education and low skills, age and productive work in the sector informal. Migrant prefers residing in Peuniti for reasons closer to the workplace and ease of transportation and the rent is relatively cheap hostels


The study of the control of aldosterone synthesis and secretion by the rat adrenal gland has over the past thirty years involved the application of many different in vivo and in vitro techniques. In this review the relationship between the data that each of these methods has produced is compared. There are striking differences in overall steroid production rates, and in the qualitative nature of the steroid profile which the various methods produce. In particular, aldosterone is secreted at higher rates in vivo, and when whole tissue preparations are used in vitro, than in incubations of isolated glomerulosa cells. In addition, while corticosterone is a major product of glomerulosa tissue in vitro, the available evidence suggests that it is not a major glomerulosa product in vivo.


Different environmental illumination has a great impact on face detection and recognition. Automatic detection and radiant correction of highlighted regions on face images is helpful to identify human faces correctly in a color image. In this paper we present a novel approach based on dichromatic reflection model to detect and remove highlights in the face region. After inspecting the distribution configuration of skin pixels in various color models, we perform the highlight analysis on a critical two-dimensional plane instead of in a three-dimensional chromatic space. This brings forth some advantages: computational complexity is reduced, a ratio between eigenvalues is proposed in a stepwise PCA to detect automatically the existence of highlighted face region and estimate the skin dichromatic reflection vectors, by which highlight in the face region can be removed.


Abstract The properties and geometry of bone in the mandible play a key role in mandible behaviour during a person's lifetime, and attention needs to be paid to the influence of bone properties. We analysed the effect of bone geometry, size and bone properties in mandible behaviour, experimenting on cadaveric mandibles and FE models. The study was developed using the geometry of a cadaveric mandible without teeth. Three models of cadaveric condyles were experimentally tested with instrumented with four rosettes, and a condyle reaction of 300 N. Four finite element models were considered to validate the experiments and analyse mandible behaviour. One numeric model was simulated with 10 muscles in a quasi-static condition. The experimental results present different condyle stiffness's, of 448, 215 and 254 N/mm. The values presented in the rosettes are influenced by bone geometry and bone thickness; maximum value was −600 με in rosette #4, and the maximum strain difference between mandibles was 111%. The numerical results show that bone density decreases and strain distribution increases in the thinner mandible regions. Nevertheless, the global behaviour of the structure remains similar, but presents different strain magnitudes. The study shows the need to take into account bone characteristics and their evolutions in order to improve implant design and fixation throughout the patient life. The change in bone stiffness promotes a change in maximum strain distribution with same global behaviour.


The tools of mathematical morphology developed within the framework of the image processing, require of big capacity of data and the very high costs of execution. So today, the limits of the sequential machines are not to be any more to show, the passage in the new parallel machines of type Simd, Mimd, clusters or grids is imperative. This paper deals with problems related to the parallelisation of the algorithm of mathematical morphology and highlights the resources influencing over the computing time. This study leans on the various levels of parallelisable calculation to evaluate the awaited profits then in term of processing time. An implementation of a whole of algorithms of reference is carried out on a cluster and a simd computer.


The chapter presents the methods for determining the rate movement of the slope, which is based on an evaluation of a distortion of the tree trunk. The distortion develops during the growth period of the tree, and its conditions are trajectory and speed of material movement, which takes away the root system of a tree. The distortion of the tree trunk explains kinematics of the root system movement. The distortion curve is constructed from the results of measurements carried out on several horizontal levels of the tree trunk. The speed of movement of the slope is calculated from the age of the tree and the length of the path of movement of the tree, which is derived from the distortion curve of the tree trunk. The length of the track of tree movement is drawn from horizontal position of the gravity point of the curve corresponding with the longitudinal axis of the tree trunk. This method is documented in one example. The method is appropriate to quantify the movement of the latent long slope.


A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary lipid sources on the reproductive performances of Hy-line Silver-Brown cockerels. Five different lipid sources namely fish oil, sunflower oil, high oleic acid sunflower oil, tallow and an equal (50:50) proportion of linseed and fish oil (representing the control diet), were used in formulating five isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets (30g/kg inclusion level). The experimental cockerels (n = 10/treatment) were randomly allocated to the 5 experimental diets at 32 weeks of age, and measurements were taken from week 35 to 46 of age. The parameters recorded were: feed intake, body weight, semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility and sperm viability. Semen ejaculation rate was al so calculated for the cockerels from which semen was collected. While a lower (P<0.05) feed intake (78.75g/bird/day), body weight (2499g), sperm motility (48.1%) and ejaculation rate (79.2%) was recorded in the cockerels fed a fish oil supplemented diet during this period, a higher ( P<0.05) semen volume (0.42mL) was recorded in the tallow fed cockerels. Results indicate dietary fatty acid supplementation from the various sources to have distinct effects on certain semen quality (semen volume, sperm output, sperm motility) and reproductive (ejaculation rate) parameters in the cockerels tested.


Due to the limited energy budget for sensor nodes in the Internet of Things (IoT), it is crucial to develop energy efficient communications amongst others. This need leads to the development of various energy-efficient protocols that consider different aspects of the energy status of a node. However, a single protocol covers only one part of the whole stack and savings on one level might not be as efficient for the overall system, if other levels are considered as well. In this paper, we analyze the energy required for an end device to maintain connectivity to the network as well as perform application specific tasks. By integrating the complete stack perspective, we build a more holistic view on the energy consumption and overhead for a wireless sensor node. For better understanding, we compare three different stack variants in a base scenario and add an extended study to evaluate the impact of retransmissions as a robustness mechanism. Our results show, that the overhead introduced by the complete stack has an significant impact on the nodes energy consumption especially if retransmissions are required.


This paper empirically investigates the relationship between the board diversity and corporate technological innovation on the relevant data of Hi-tech industrial listed firms in China from the year 2007-2009. Main findings and conclusions of this paper are as follows: there is a positive correlation between board's functional background diversity and technological innovation, there is a positive correlation between board's educational level diversity and technological innovation, but there is no significant influence between board industrial background diversity and technological innovation.


Diabetic cardiomyopathy is the myocardium disorders caused by diabetes mellitus, which has become a key concern bringing heavy burden to the public health. Autophagy is one of activities involving in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Sphk1 gene plays a crucial role in cell survival and growth, and regulation of many diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy remains poorly understood. To this aim, the study established adenovirus vectors expressing Sphk1 and shSphk1 to investigate the effects of Sphk1 on autophagy and cell survival in myocardial cells under high glucose conditions (25 mM). It was found that overexpression of Sphk1 promoted autophagy activity in H9c2 cells under high glucose treatment measured by various methodologies including qRT-PCR, western blot, fluorescence microscope, and so on. Inhibition of autophagy decreased cell vitality under high glucose condition. A broadly used medicine silibinin was demonstrated to induce autophagy in a dose-dependent manner. Herein, the findings in the present study may provide useful reference for unveiling the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy and developing novel therapies treating diabetic cardiomyopathy.


The objective of this study was to investigate if increasing maternal dietary linolenic aid (18:3n-3) content, by decreasing the 18:2n-6 to 18:3n-3 ratio, could increase the docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) content in phospholipids of neuronal cells of rat pups at 2 weeks of age. Sprague-Dawley dams at parturition were fed semipurified diets containing decreasing ratios of 18:2n-6 to 18:3n-3 from 21.6:1 to 1:1. During the first 2 weeks of life, the rat pups received only their dam's milk. The fatty acid composition of the pups stomach contents (dam's milk) and the phospholipids from neuronal cells were identified and quantitated by gas-liquid chromatography. The stomach 22:6n-3 content analyzed from the rat pups at 2 weeks of age was altered by the maternal diet. Fatty acid analysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylserine (PS) in neuronal cells of the rat pups showed no significant increase in 22:6n-3 content with increasing 18:3n-3 in the maternal diet (p > 0.05). In contrast, the content of 22:6n-3 in phosphatidylinositol (PI) was significantly increased by change in dietary 18:3n-3 intake from a dietary 18:2n-6 to 18:3n-3 ratio of 7.8:1 to 4.4:1. It is concluded that increasing maternal dietary 18:3n-3 by decreasing the 18:2n-6 to 18:3n-3 ratio does not significantly increase the 22:6n-3 content in PC, PE, and PS in neuronal cells of rat pups at 2 weeks of age.


ABSTRACT Adaptation is an essential part of climate change policy. In areas where impacts are likely to be severe, migration is considered to be an adaptation option. In Bangladesh coastal areas migration due to climate change is contingent on people's freedom of choice at individual and household level. Following Amartya Sen's capability approach, we argue that there should be a line drawn between migrations by free choice versus forced migration. Sen's capability approach focuses on the importance of people's freedom of choice to act, and the ability to achieve what they consider valuable in their life. In this paper, we use an extensive empirical work engaging 22 focus groups discussions (8–12 individuals in each group) and 14 Key Informants Interviews in South-West Bangladesh to elicit how freedom of choice changes with the economic class and social status of an individual. Using these data we apply Sen's capability approach to understand the role of the freedom of choice when considering migration as an adaptation option. We argue that the capability approach is essential in revealing a thin border between migration as a (planned) adaptation option and forced migration.


This study examines determinants of health-care demand in Uganda, by estimating mixed-effects logistic regressions using data from the Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) - 2016/17. The study firstly compares the 2012/13 and 2016/17 UNHS data and finds that the demand for health care in Uganda has decreased, except for the sub-regions of Busoga, Central I, and Kigezi. Secondly, the results from a mixed-effects regression on the entire sample show that health-care demand at an individual level is associated with individual's age, smoking habits, and non-communicable disease (NCD) status, whereas household size and poverty status determine health-care demand at the household level. Running separate models for each region to investigate regional peculiarities, the results show disparities in health-care demand among regions in Uganda. Therefore, to improve efficacy and health-care seeking behaviours of Ugandans, policies should recognize and be tailored to address individual, household as well as regional peculiarities.
JEL Codes: A10, I11, I19


Motile cilia on the cell surface generate movement and directional fluid flow that is crucial for various biological processes. Dysfunction of these cilia causes human diseases such as sinopulmonary disease and infertility. Here, we show that Ccdc108, a protein linked to male infertility, has an evolutionarily conserved requirement in motile multiciliation. Using Xenopus laevis embryos, Ccdc108 is shown to be required for the migration and docking of basal bodies to the apical membrane in epidermal multiciliated cells (MCCs). We demonstrate that Ccdc108 interacts with the IFT‐B complex, and the ciliation requirement for Ift74 overlaps with Ccdc108 in MCCs. Both Ccdc108 and IFT‐B proteins localize to migrating centrioles, basal bodies, and cilia in MCCs. Importantly, Ccdc108 governs the centriolar recruitment of IFT while IFT licenses the targeting of Ccdc108 to the cilium. Moreover, Ccdc108 is required for the centriolar recruitment of Drg1 and activated RhoA, factors that help establish the apical actin network in MCCs. Together, our studies indicate that Ccdc108 and IFT‐B complex components cooperate in multiciliogenesis.


One of the most important problems in heart signal processing is the extraction of fetal electrocardiogram (FECG). One of the reasons that we are interested in FECG extraction is that this signal consists of important characteristics about healthy conditions of fetus. Based on available conditions, Blind Source Separation is a suitable method for this problem. Existence of noise in observed signals from electrodes on the mother's body, can affect the separation performance. Therefore signal de-noising is an important stage in this problem. In this study, using wavelet transform and optimum selection of its parameters in FECG extraction has been investigated. The first reason for using wavelet transform is to remove noise from the observed signals and the second reason is to apply it into BBS algorithms. Depending to the noise level in signals, wavelet transform can be used before or after signal separation, also it can be used both before and after signal separation. Simulation results show the performance of each method in different conditions for obtaining the desired signal at the presence of noise.


The characteristics of highly integrated high-speed data-transmission-systems for near future communication standards are high mobility, low power, reliability, high performance, low cost and short development time. Recent available RF development tools do not allow the efficient design of tailored, well partitioned, highly integrated, high data rate communication systems targeting up to 6 GHz carrier frequency. Reasons for this are the missing flexibility and accuracy in the hierarchical design process from system down to physical level. In this paper, representatives of system houses, a leading EDA provider, and a silicon foundry introduce and discuss the challenges related to the specific areas. Considering the market relevance of high data rate wireless communication systems, the missing overall design technology today is a real hot topic. Suggestions on how to improve the existing situation, addressing the design technology as a whole, is discussed. Depending on the representatives perspective, converging requirements are worked out and non-converging requirements are debated in a controversial manner.


A systematic higher-order FDTD-PML methodology for the accurate simulation of complex curvilinear 3-D EMC problems is presented in this paper. Developing an efficient covariant-contravariant vector classification, the novel technique introduces a parametric family of higher-order non-standard schemes for the suppression of the critical dispersion errors. The wider spatial stencils near boundary walls are treated by self-adaptive compact operators, while for the temporal variable a multi-stage leapfrog integration is utilized. Moreover, this optimal formulation leads to enhanced curvilinear PMLs that significantly annihilate outgoing waves. Numerical validation indicates the benefits of the proposed algorithm via several demanding and practical EMC applications.


BACKGROUND
The community medical center is the first barrier for lipid control. We aimed to survey the residents' cholesterol condition in the community, and pursue the reasons for the upsetting results from various aspects.

METHODS
Residents and physicians were recruited from four community centers. Residents completed questionnaires and a physical examination as well as biochemical analysis. Physicians were also asked to complete a questionnaire, some of which were about basic knowledge of lipids.

RESULTS
About 37.0% male and 48.1% female had elevated cholesterol levels. Residents' blood pressure (BP), fasting glucose (FG), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) were positively associated with their low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC). Framingham risk scoring (FRS) was strongly related to cholesterol (P < 0.001 for LDL-C and TC). Residents' higher education grade was positively related to a normal cholesterol condition (P < 0.001), while personal income was negatively related to it. Rural residents had higher percent of population with normal cholesterol level (normal cholesterol rate) than their city counterpart (P < 0.001). Although physicians with college education had a much higher lipid knowledge level themselves, the physicians' factors had almost no relationship with the residents' cholesterol levels.

CONCLUSIONS
Management of hypercholesterolemia should be an important component of health strategy in Beijing. Education is imperative for residents as well as for physicians.


The syntheses and antiinflammatory assays of some dibenztroponeacetic and -propionic acids and derivatives are described. The most potent compound, d-2-(5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5-on-2-yl)propionic acid, has a potency of ca, 70 times phenylbutazone in the rat carrageenan paw assay and two to three times indomethacin in long-term animal assays. Some beta-dialkylaminoethyl esters of this compound also show high antiinflammatory activity.


Chromosomes undergo extensive structural rearrangements during the cell cycle, from the most open chromatin state required for DNA replication to the highest level of compaction and condensation essential for mitotic segregation of sister chromatids. It is now widely accepted that chromatin is a highly dynamic structure that participates in all DNA-related functions, including transcription, DNA replication, repair, and mitosis; hence, histones have emerged as key players in these cellular processes. We review here the studies that implicate histones in functions that affect the chromosome cycle, defined as the cellular processes involved in the maintenance, replication, and segregation of chromosomal DNA. Disruption of the chromosome cycle affects the integrity of the cellular genome, leading to aneuploidy, polyploidy or cell death. Histone stoichiometry, mutations that affect the structure of the nucleosome core particle, and mutations that affect the structure and/or modifications of the histone tails, all have a direct impact on the fidelity of chromosome transmission and the integrity of the genome.


The stages in the closure of the growth plate after percutaneous epiphyseodesis were studied in fourteen patients (eight girls and six boys) with coronal T1-weighted spin-echo images and coronal field-echo images of the knee. A total of thirty-three magnetic-resonance imaging studies of the knee were made the first week, the fourth month, the eighth month, or one year after the epiphyseodesis. A mature bridge of bone was seen at the operative sites approximately eight months after the operation. In the central undisturbed area between the operative sites, there was a progressive decrease in the width of the physeal cartilage that remained visible eight months after the operation. Growth recovery lines were not seen postoperatively in any patient, and the physis closed in all of the patients. The physis of the adjacent untreated bone served as a control bone and showed neither a change in width nor any growth recovery lines. Magnetic resonance-imaging studies provide excellent visualization of the anatomical changes that lead to closure of the physis after an epiphyseodesis, and we believe that these studies provide a method of assessment of the physis after an injury.


Abstract Context: Intentional overdose is a leading method of self-harm and suicide, and repeat attempts strongly predict eventual death by suicide. Objectives: To determine the risk of recurrence after a first intentional overdose. Secondary objectives included characterization of the temporal course and potential predictors of repeat overdose, a strong risk factor for death from suicide. Methods: Design: Population-based cohort study. Setting: Ontario, Canada, from 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2013. Participants: All Ontario residents presenting to an emergency department after a first intentional overdose. Main outcome measures: The incidence and timing of recurrent overdose. Results: We followed 81,675 patients discharged from hospital after a first intentional overdose. Overall, 13,903 (17.0%) returned with a repeat overdose after a median interval of 288 (inter-quartile range: 62 to 834) days. Of these, 4493 (5.5%) had multiple repeat episodes. Factors associated with repeat self-poisoning included psychiatric care in the preceding year (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.50 to 1.61), alcohol dependence (aHR 1.41; 95% CI 1.35 to 1.46) and documented depression (aHR 1.39; 95% CI 1.34 to 1.44). Female sex, rural residence, lower socioeconomic status, ingestion of psychoactive drugs and younger age were also weakly associated with repeat overdose. Discussion: Hospital presentation for repetition of intentional overdose is common, with recurrent episodes often far removed from the first. While several factors predict overdose repetition, none is particularly strong. Conclusion: Secondary prevention initiatives should be implemented for all individuals who present to the emergency department and survive intentional overdose.


The authors employ a self-consistent Green's function approach to investigate the spin-wave relaxation Γ(p) in diluted magnetic semiconductors. They find that the trend of the spin-wave relaxation strongly depends on the ratio of the itinerant and impurity spin densities. For density ratios in the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida phase, Γ(p) decreases even though thermal fluctuations increase. On the other hand, in the strong coupling phase, an interesting peak structure appears. They discuss the implications of their numerical results for experiments.


Abstract Statin-related myopathy is an important adverse effect of statin which is classically unpredictable. The evidence of association between solute carrier organic anion transporter 1B1 (SLCO1B1) gene T521C polymorphism and statin-related myopathy risk remained controversial. This study aimed to investigate this genetic association. Databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journals Database, and Wanfang Data were searched till June 17, 2015. Case-control studies investigating the association between SLCO1B1 gene T521C polymorphism and statin-related myopathy risk were included. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used for assessing the quality of included studies. Data were pooled by odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Nine studies with 1360 cases and 3082 controls were included. Cases of statin-related myopathy were found to be significantly associated with the variant C allele (TC + CC vs TT: OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.27–3.43, P = 0.003; C vs T: OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.43–3.09, P < 0.001), especially when statin-related myopathy was defined as an elevation of creatine kinase (CK) >10 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) or rhabdomyolysis (TC + CC vs TT: OR = 3.83, 95% CI = 1.41–10.39, P = 0.008; C vs T: OR = 2.94, 95% CI = 1.47–5.89, P = 0.002). When stratified by statin type, the association was significant in individuals receiving simvastatin (TC + CC vs TT: OR = 3.09, 95% CI = 1.64–5.85, P = 0.001; C vs T: OR = 3.00, 95% CI = 1.38–6.49, P = 0.005), but not in those receiving atorvastatin (TC + CC vs TT: OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 0.74–2.30, P = 0.35; C vs T: OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 0.57–3.12, P = 0.52). The available evidence suggests that SLCO1B1 gene T521C polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of statin-related myopathy, especially in individuals receiving simvastatin. Thus, a genetic test before initiation of statins may be meaningful for personalizing the treatment.


Skin ageing has been widely associated with the formation and presence of increasing quantities of senescent cells, the presence of which are thought to reduce cell renewal. This study aimed to identify key factors influencing fibroblast and skin aging in European males using RNA-seq data. Key differences in study designs included known sources of biological differences (sex, age, ethnicity), experimental differences, and environmental factors known to accelerate skin ageing (smoking, UV exposure) as well as study specific batch effects which complicated the analysis. To overcome these complications samples were stratified by these factors and differential expression assessed using Salmon and CuffDiff. Functional enrichment and consistency across studies, stratification's and tools identified age related alterations in the transcriptomes of fibroblasts and skin. Functional enrichment of results identified alterations in protein targeting to membranes and the ER, and altered calcium homeostasis in aged fibroblasts. Extension to skin controlled for differences in fibroblast culturing methods confirming transient age related alterations in intracellular calcium homeostasis. In middle aged males (40-65) increased keratinisation, skin, epithelial and epidermal development was seen in conjunction with alterations to ER Ca2+ uptake, leading to the identification of related processes including; an unfolded protein response, altered metabolism, increased MMP expression, and altered Ca2+ handling, which were further exacerbated by UV-exposure. Interestingly the genes and processes subsequently decreased in old males (> 65), which exhibited signs of increased senescence. Extension to Illumina 450k array data from ageing skin uncovered evidence of epigenetic regulation; genes and isoforms with overlapping differentially methylated CpGs were differentially expressed. Smoking led to additional enrichment of genes relating to tissue development, cell adhesion, vasculature development, peptide cross-linking, calcium homeostasis, cancer and senescence. The results consistently identified alterations in ER and golgi Ca2+ uptake, which disrupt intracellular and extracellular calcium gradients that regulate metabolic and differentiation signalling in skin and fibroblasts, leading to age related declines skin structure and function. Interestingly many diseases and infections with overlapping molecular consequences, (ER Ca2+ stress, reduced protein targeting to membranes) including COVID-19 are identified by the analysis, suggesting that COVID-19 infection compounds pre-existing cellular stresses in aged males, which could help explain higher COVID-19 mortality rates in aged males, as well as highlighting potential ways to reduce them.


Africa Writes Back: The African Writers Series & the Launch of African Literature by James Currey. James Currey Ltd/ Wits University Press/ Ohio University Press/ Weaver. Press/ East African Educational Publishers Ltd/ HEBN Ltd/. Mkuki na Nyota, 2008, paperback, 318 pp. ISBN: 978-1-84701-502-0
In Africa Writes Back: The African Writers Series & The Launch of African Literature, Currey provides a rich narrative of the emergence of the African Writers Series as part of Heinemann Educational Books and of the authors that were published in the series. In addition, he provides insight into the historical contexts of the works, brief synopses of the contents of the works themselves, excerpts from reports by readers, pre- and post-publication correspondence with authors and, even more interestingly, descriptions of the active literary scene of 1960s and 70s London, where it all began. Readers of Africa Writes Back have the opportunity to revisit imaginatively the times in which the bulk of what is called African literature today was conceived and produced...


Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor occurring in early childhood and has a survival rate less than 40% for the most aggressive subset. We have recently reported several common genetic variations associated with this human cancer (NEJM 2008, Nat Genet 2008, Nature 2009). Here, we describe an integrative analysis of matched germline and somatic tumor data identifying NME7 (non-metastatic cells 7) as both a predisposition gene and candidate oncogene in neuroblastoma. We first performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of copy number variations (CNVs) in a total of 1,440 Caucasian neuroblastoma patients and 4,436 healthy Caucasian controls genotyped at ∼550,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In addition to confirming the 1q21.1 CNV association we previously reported (Nature 2009), we identified a new under-represented deletion associated with neuroblastoma at chromosome 1q24.2 within the non-metastatic cells 7 (NME7) gene (PCMH = 2.22 × 10−15; OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.43-0.62). To evaluate whether somatically acquired alterations of NME7 in tumor DNA may also be important to tumorigenesis, we analyzed tumor DNA copy number in 591 primary tumors and matched mRNA expression in a subset of 100 samples. We observed somatic gain of the NME7 locus in 24% of neuroblastomas (PGISTIC = 3.3 × 10−9). Tumor acquired somatic gain correlated with increased NME7 mRNA expression (P = 0.007), and Western blot analysis of six neuroblastoma cell lines confirmed a strict correlation between mRNA and protein levels (R2 = 0.90). To investigate the functional significance of NME7, we transiently transfected siRNA targeting NME7 in a panel of eight neuroblastoma cell lines and monitored cell growth using the RTces system. We observed significant growth inhibition (G.I.) with siRNA targeting NME7 compared to transfection with non-targeting siRNA control in all neuroblastoma cell lines (G.I.range = 23.0 − 55.0%; Prange = < 0.0001 − 0.03). Percent growth inhibition was significantly higher in lines harboring somatic gain of the locus (P = 0.05; G.I.median = 44%). Importantly, no difference in cell growth was observed in control RPE1 (non-neuroblastoma) cells after transfection with siRNA targeting NME7 (P = 0.44). Finally, we performed a chamber-based in vitro cell migration assay to determine if NME7 may also affect cell motility in neuroblastoma. We observed a significant decrease in cell migration in the neuroblastoma cell line IMR5 after siRNA silencing of NME7 (P = 0.02), while no difference in cell migration was observed in RPE1 cells (P = 0.43). Together these data demonstrate the utility of combining germline and somatic data in assessing GWAS signals in cancer, and identify NME7 as both a predisposition locus and candidate oncogene in neuroblastoma. Ongoing efforts are focused on expanding our in vitro cell migration assay to additional cell lines and determining if NME7 influences colony formation in soft agar.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3866.


Accurate, reliable and adaptive data form the foundation stone of large-scale simulation system and data quality becomes one of the most important measures weighing the reliability of simulation system. This paper firstly establishes an index system of data quality evaluation for large-scale simulation system which uses the six-grade scale method to mark and calculate weights of indexes, then draws out the curve between investments and quality index values by Pearl forecasting model, and lastly gets the optimized outlay distribution based on GA upon the condition of fixed total investment, realizing the continuous improvement of data quality and helping to the promotion of reliability for large-scale simulation system.


Critical examination of herbarium specimens (including type materials) has shown that Stranvaesia microphylla described from Vietnam is conspecific with Photinia davidiana var. undulata (≡Stranvaesia davidiana var. undulata), which is widely distributed in China. Therefore, S. microphylla is reduced as a synonymy of P. davidiana var. undulata. Additionally, one new combination has been proposed and one lectotype has been designated here.


To examine the physiological role of hexose transporters in determining the sink strength of individual fruits, the regulation of hexose transporters gene expression was studied when the sink/source ratio was artificially altered under the greenhouse condition; this was done in two cultivars of tomato, i.e., 'Grandella' and 'Isabella'. The sink/source ratio treatments included: saving one fruit per truss (1F), two fruits per truss (2F), three fruits per truss (3F), and no fruit pruning (control). The results showed that fruit thinning could increase starch, sucrose and hexose contents in the fruits; it could also modulate the activity of the key enzymes and the expression of tomato hexose transporter genes (LeHTs). Based on the relative transcript levels, all examined LeHTs were unregulated at the end of cell division and the cell expansion stage of fruit development, but the strongest expression level observed at the onset of ripening was related to LeHT1 and LeHT2. Given the concomitancy of cell wall invertase (EC 18.104.22.168) activity and the LeHTs relative expression cell wall, invertase activity seemed to be involved in the expression level of LeHTs. The increased trends of the LeHTs expression with the decrease of the sink/source ratio confirmed the role of hexose transporters in determining the sink strength of the tomato fruits. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


This study analyzes the outcome of human normal and hyperfunctioning thyroid tissue transplanted to the nude mouse. Thyroid fragments from 7 patients with Graves' disease were transplanted to nude mice (nu/nu). Before surgery, the patients had been treated with propranolol and iodine; none had received antithyroid therapy. The transplants were removed on the 12th day following transplantation and were studied by light microscopy and autohistoradiography. At this time, all immunologic disorders found on the operative samples had disappeared, and the tissue had lost its hyperfunctioning characteristics. In contrast, transplants from toxic adenoma remained hyperfunctioning, with elevated serum T3 and T4 levels. Similarly, transplants from normal thyroid tissue remained unchanged, and serum T3 and T4 levels remained within the normal range, as if under the influence of the hypothalamic and pituitary regulation of the mice. These findings emphasize the role of the extrathyroid immunologic environment in the regulation of Graves' disease, whereas toxic adenoma remains autonomous.


Direct prolactin (PRL) effects on dopamine (DA) release from fragments of rat striatal tissues were studied by the in vitro superfusion technique. The DA collected in the superfusates was quantified by a radio-enzymatic assay. In the present experiments, intact and one-week gonadectomized adult male and female rats were used. The spontaneous release of DA from male and female rat striatal tissues was relatively stable after a 60 min equilibration period. The basal release rate of DA from striatal tissues from intact males infused only with medium over a 76 min period was 22.5 +/- 0.7 pg/mg/min (X +/- SE of 4 experiments). Infusion of highly purified PRL (NIAMDD-rPRL-I-5) at a concentration of 1 microgram/ml for 24 min significantly augmented DA release from striatal tissues from intact and castrated males (167 +/- 15% (n=6) and 203 +/- 32% (n=4), respectively) over pre-infusion basal levels. Infusion with heat-denatured PRL or other proteins had no effect on DA release from intact male striatal tissues. In parallel experiments, infusion of PRL at 0.1, 1 or 10 micrograms/ml concentrations for 24 min had no effect on the basal release of DA from striatal tissues from intact and ovariectomized females. These results demonstrate that an absolute sexual difference exists in the responsiveness of rat striatal tissues to PRL infused in vitro. Interestingly, this sexual difference was not modified by short-term castration.


Abstract We present a case of acute Candida epiglottitis in an otherwise healthy and Haemophilus influenzae type B–immunized 4-year-old child. A query of the literature reveals this disease to be commonly found in patients who are immunocompromised by problems including human immunodeficiency virus disease and lymphoma and leukemia. However, there are no published reports of acute Candida epiglottitis in immunocompetent and vaccinated patients. Our case should emphasize to the emergency physician the need to remain vigilant for subtle and atypical presentations of airway-destabilizing diseases.


Background Heat shock proteins (Hsp) act as intracellular chaperones and in addition are used as adjuvant in vaccines of peptides complexed with recombinant Hsp. By interacting with autologous peptides, Hsp may promote the induction of autoimmune reactivity. Objective Here, we analysed whether the effect of Hsp on macrophages is modulated by insulin peptides known to interact with Hsp. Results Combinations of the 70 kDa Hsp DnaK with peptide B11-23 from the core region of the proinsulin B-chain induced the release of the inflammatory mediators interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin-1β from cells of human and murine macrophage lines. In parallel, there was high-affinity binding of B11-23 to DnaK. DnaK mixed with peptides from other regions of the insulin molecule did not stimulate cytokine secretion. DnaK alone induced little cytokine production, and peptides alone induced none. Conclusion The macrophage-stimulating potential of Hsp70 family proteins when combined with the proinsulin B-chain peptide B11-23 may contribute to the immunodominance of this peptide in the development of beta cell-directed autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes.


ABSTRACT The purpose of this research is to investigate institutional investment behavior regarding lodging firms and their brand equity. If these investors favor firms with higher brand equity, then this could influence the management of lodging firms to pay closer attention to increasing the brand equity of their firm. Our study showed there is a positive and significant relationship between advertising expenditures and the percentage of lodging stocks owned by institutional investors. There is a highly significant difference in the institutional investor percentage between firms that make advertising expenditures and those that don't.


Bacteriophage φ105 is a temperate phage for the transformable Bacillus subtilis 168. The infectivity of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from mature φ105 phage particles, from bacteria lysogenic for φ105 (prophage DNA), and from induced lysogenic bacteria (vegetative DNA) was examined in the B. subtilis transformation system. About one infectious center was formed per 108 mature DNA molecules added to competent cells, but single markers could be rescued from mature DNA by a superinfecting phage at a 103- to 104-fold higher frequency. Single markers in mature DNA were inactivated at an exponential rate after uptake by a competent cell. Prophage and vegetative DNA gave about one infectious center per 103 molecules added to competent cells. Infectious prophage DNA entered competent cells as a single molecule; it gave a majority of lytic responses. Single markers in sheared prophage DNA were inactivated at the same rate as markers in mature DNA. Prophage DNA was dependent on the bacterial rec-1 function for its infectivity, whereas vegetative DNA was not. The mechanism of transfection of B. subtilis with viral DNA is discussed, and a model for transfection with φ105 DNA is proposed.


The credit rating agencies that dominated the ratings of mortgage-backed securities were Moody's and Standard & Poor's. The two agencies rated some 4.3 trillion dollars of bonds as triple AAA, yet within a period of 18 months these same rating agencies downgraded these bonds to below investment grade. This paper seeks to show that the ratings agencies business model, the issuer pays approach, led to major conflicts of interest with both the ratings agencies unable to walk away from a rating. The evidence given by analysts to Congressional Inquiries confirms a cultural revolution within the rating agencies, with analysts feeling unable to question the quality of a rating. Analysts who were described as being awkward by issuers were removed from the rating process. In the meantime, the income for the rating agencies increased from 3 billion dollars to 6 billion dollars, with the CEOs of the rating agencies receiving incomes comparable to the incomes to the CEOs of investment banks.


The project IS2 of Inria Rhône-Alpes is concerned with statistical modelling. Emphasis is placed on incomplete data models. Its main areas of applications are biomedical statistic and failure time models. In 1996, IS2 developed activities statistical modelling through a maximum entropy principle, generalized linear models with random effects, stochastic algorithms, Bayesian statistical analysis of industrial failure times, competing risk models, tails of distributions, and medical applications (diagnosis of hae-morragic infarct, models for thrombose's increase, and analysis of hospital length of stays via a mixture of exponential distributions).


Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is highly resistant to chemotherapy, partly due to the presence of a dense-fibrotic stroma and adaptive metabolism. Telmisartan is an angiotensin II type receptor 1 (AT1) antagonist with partial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonistic activity used for treatment of hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of telmisartan on the viability of PDAC cells and tumor progression. In panels of 4 murine and 8 human PDAC cells, the telmisartan IC50 was lower in cells with a low steady-state expression of PPARγ and a mesenchymal cell morphology. In contrast, losartan—a selective AT1 inhibitor—did not affect the viability of PDAC cells. The siRNA knockdown of PPARγ enhanced the sensitivity of telmisartan and stimulated epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which was accompanied by an increase in Wnt signaling. PPARγ regulates glucose metabolism and autophagy. We thus assessed effects of telmisartan on bioenergetics and autophagy of PDAC cells. In PPARγ-knockdown and -scrambled cells telmisartan significantly reduced glucose uptake, without affecting ATP production, but increased respiratory capacity, which can maintain the production of ATP during hypoglycemia. Immunoblotting revealed that PPARγ knockdown compared to scramble cells had increased levels of phosphorylated-AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) and increased expression of LC3A/B—structural proteins of autophagosomal membranes—which implies higher levels of autophagy. We also compared effects of telmisartan treatment on LC3A/B expression to well-established autophagy modulators, chloroquine and verapamil. Under nutrient-rich conditions and as expected, chloroquine and verapamil treatment induced LC3A/B accumulation, consistent with active autophagic flux in these cells. Telmisartan treatment decreased the levels of LC3A/B in both scramble and PPARγ knockdown cells and decreased the formation of LC3A/B positive granules in other PDAC cell lines. Telmisartan can also induce the accumulation of the signal adaptor protein p62 (SQSTM1), even in the presence of verapamil, which is also consistent with autophagy inhibition. Telmisartan did not prevent the accumulation LC3A/B in the presence of chloroquine, implying that telmisartan acts after the autophagosome-lysosome fusion step. To assess the effects of telmisartan in vivo, we used an orthotopic PDAC model. Telmisartan monotherapy inhibited the growth of primary tumors, decreased the incidence of liver metastasis, and significantly improved the survival of mice. Hence, telmisartan can reduce autophagy and the viability of PDAC cells, and PDAC progression. Because telmisartan is an FDA-approved drug, our findings provide the scientific rationale for testing its efficacy in the prevention of PDAC progression. Citation Format: Jelena Grahovac, Shiwei Han, Hao Liu, Mark Duquette, Alba Luengo, Daniel Schanne, Andrew S. Liss, Matthew G. Vander Heiden, Rakesh K. Jain, Yves Boucher. The angiotensin receptor blocker and partial PPARγ agonist telmisartan inhibits the growth of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Advances in Science and Clinical Care; 2019 Sept 6-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(24 Suppl):Abstract nr B06.


PURPOSE
Despite evidence supporting interconnectivity of oropharyngeal and esophageal swallowing, evaluation and treatment are dichotomized. When the videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) only considers oropharyngeal swallowing, the full scope of swallowing impairment may be missed. A lower rate of esophageal screening in an outpatient hospital setting may result from lack of speech-language pathologist (SLP) training and understanding of screening feasibility. This project was an internal quality improvement project (QIP) at Mayo Clinic in Arizona to (a) educate and train SLPs on conducting the Robust Esophageal Screening Test (REST) and (b) determine the feasibility of REST protocol implementation in a multidisciplinary swallow clinic.

METHOD
Fishbone analysis was used to identify potential causes of the gap in quality. Six Sigma methodology was used to outline the QIP. SLPs were trained in the REST protocol. To ensure adequate training, reliability ratings were assessed with the Cohen's kappa statistic. Esophageal screening via REST was implemented as an adjunct to the standard protocol during VFSS over a 3-month period for referred patients with dysphagia. Clinical findings were recorded.

RESULTS
All clinical rater SLPs reached the threshold of κ = .8 to ensure adequate rater reliability. Among 136 outpatients who underwent esophageal screening via REST, 100 patients completed the full REST screening and 36 completed a partial REST screening. Of the 100 full screenings, 80 patients had a failed screening, which indicated a potential esophageal swallowing impairment. Findings were discussed by members of the multidisciplinary dysphagia care team.

CONCLUSIONS
The results of this QIP show that focusing on assessment of dysfunction and interplay across the swallowing continuum can substantially improve patient care by expediting and specifying next steps of the multidisciplinary dysphagia care team.


The brassinosteroid pathway promotes a variety of physiological processes in plants and the brassinosteroid insensitive1-ethylmethane sulfonate suppressor (BES)/brassinazole-resistant (BZR) functions as one of its key regulators. We previously showed that the BES/BZR-type transcription factor TaBZR2 mediates the drought stress response in wheat (Triticum aestivum) by directly upregulating the transcriptional activity of glutathione S-transferase 1. However, the function of TaBZR2 in plants under biotic stresses is unknown. In this study, we found that transcript levels of TaBZR2 were upregulated in response to inoculation with wheat stripe rust fungus (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, Pst) and treatment with flg22 or an elicitor-like protein of Pst, Pst322. Wheat lines overexpressing TaBZR2 conferred increased resistance, whereas TaBZR2-RNAi lines exhibited decreased resistance to multiple races of Pst. TaBZR2 targeted the promoter of the chitinase gene TaCht20.2, activating its transcription. Knockdown of TaCht20.2 in wheat resulted in enhanced susceptibility to Pst, indicating the positive role of TaCht20.2 in wheat resistance. Upon Pst infection in vivo, the overexpression of TaBZR2 increased total chitinase activity, whereas RNAi-mediated silencing of TaBZR2 reduced total chitinase activity. Taken together, our results suggest that TaBZR2 confers broad-spectrum resistance to the stripe rust fungus by increasing total chitinase activity in wheat.


Social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter provide an unprecedented amount of qualitative data about organizations and collective behavior. Yet these new data sources lack critical information about the broader social context of collective behavior—or protect it behind strict privacy barriers. In this article, I introduce social media survey apps (SMSAs) that adjoin computational social science methods with conventional survey techniques in order to enable more comprehensive analysis of collective behavior online. SMSAs (1) request large amounts of public and non-public data from organizations that maintain social media pages, (2) survey these organizations to collect additional data of interest to a researcher, and (3) return the results of a scholarly analysis back to these organizations as incentive for them to participate in social science research. SMSAs thus provide a highly efficient, cost-effective, and secure method for extracting detailed data from very large samples of organizations that use social media sites. This article describes how to design and implement SMSAs and discusses an application of this new method to study how nonprofit organizations attract public attention to their cause on Facebook. I conclude by evaluating the quality of the sample derived from this application of SMSAs and discussing the potential of this new method to study non-organizational populations on social media sites as well.


Purpose: To focus on clinical manifestations and epidemiology of thyroid eye disease (TED) in Central Iran's population. Methods: In this retrospective case study, we analyzed all patients with TED who were referred to our oculoplastic clinic from 2015 to 2019. The patients' epidemiological characteristics and clinical presentation were compared between different thyroid disease groups and genders. Results: Overall, 383 patients (155 male; 40.5% and 228 female; 59.5%) were included. The mean age was 39.55 years (standard deviation ± 13.45, range 10–72). Most patients (89%) were hyperthyroid with the highest duration of ocular involvement among all categories (25.6 months). The most common signs on ophthalmic examinations were proptosis (80.4%), followed by eyelid retraction (72.3.0%). TED was classified as mild in 24.5%, moderate to severe in 67.6%, and sight-threatening in 7.9%. Thirty patients (7.8%) had active TED. Conclusions: This series with a relatively more significant number of TED cases in Central Iran found similar epidemiological and clinical characteristics of TED compared to other studies from Iran. Most of our patients were hyperthyroid, with more females compared to males. Proptosis and eyelid retraction were the most common manifestations. Most TED patients were classified as moderate to severe.


Managers need to periodically evaluate any exchange partner to decide whether to continue or dissolve the exchange tie, but doing so can be challenging because of causal ambiguity: it can be difficult to attribute organizational performance to any specific underlying factor. One way managers may evaluate their exchange partners is by observing the performance trajectories of competitors who rely on the same exchange partners. We propose a theory of vicarious performance feedback and test it in the context of Formula One motor racing. We find that a firm building a Formula One racing car is more likely to end an exchange relationship with an engine supplier after that supplier's other customers experience an episode of poor performance relative to their historic track record. In line with an attention-based view of the firm, this behavior occurs when the firm's own performance is below its aspiration level. This work extends our understanding of how managers use vicarious learning to supplement their direct experience when evaluating their exchange partners, expands our thinking about network dynamics by showing how network neighbors' experiences can influence tie decisions made within a dyad, and contributes to the cognitive foundations of problemistic search by showing how external information is integrated into managers' responses to their own firm's underperformance.


Purpose: Despite increased understanding about 'what works' for people with personality disorder, there remains a significant gap in knowledge about how these interventions work. This systematic review summarises and critiques the existing literature about mechanisms of change in psychotherapies for people with personality disorder.
Method: Relevant literature was identified through systematic electronic searches of online databases and key journals.
Results: Twenty one empirical papers were identified which indicated that the therapeutic alliance, rupture resolution, therapist interpretations, reflective functioning (mentalizing), skills use, emotion regulation, experiential avoidance, personality organisation, and cognitive change are possible mechanisms of change in individual psychotherapeutic interventions for people with personality disorder.
Conclusions: There is greater evidence for the role of the therapeutic alliance and resolution of its rupture in change processes compared to other potential mechanisms of change. Identifying mechanisms of change has implications for clinical practice, and these are discussed. Further research into change processes for people with personality disorder is required.


The design of a 90-nm virtually addressed cache subsystem with separate 32-kB instruction and data caches is described. The circuits and microarchitecture are illustrated, including architecture level trace data validating low-power features and provisions to support snooping while maintaining the latency and power of virtual addressing. Low-power memory management unit design including a translation lookaside buffer with process identifier mapping is also described. Level 1 caches with support for high bandwidth, single cycle 256 bit fill and evict, as well as features for low power are also described. The design approaches are validated through both simulation and experimental results.


On the principle that the spatial distribution of the refractive index produced by a small applied temperature difference is changed due to an electromechanical force created by the field resulting from the spatial variation of the dielectric constant, the electric field distributions in a dielectric system can be determined using the schlieren method. Some experimental results for benzene and n-hexane between two spherical electrodes obtained with this method show the essential features predicted from the space charge effects. This method can be used to study electric field and space charge distributions under both steady and transient conditions.


In 1996, Parrondo's games were first constructed using a simple coin tossing scenario, demonstrating the paradoxical situation where individually losing games combine to win. Parrondo's principle has become paradigmatic for situations where losing strategies or deleterious effects can combine to win. Intriguingly, there are deep connections between the Parrondo effect and a range of physical phenomena, as it turns out that Parrondo's original games are a discrete-time and discrete-space version of a flashing Brownian ratchet. This has been formally established via discretization of the Fokker–Planck equation. Over the past decade, many examples ranging from physics to population genetics have been reported in the literature pointing to the generality of Parrondo's principle. In general terms, the Parrondo effect occurs where there is a nonlinear interaction of random behavior with an asymmetry, and can be mathematically understood in terms of a convex linear combination. Many effects, where randomness plays a constructive role, such as stochastic resonance, volatility pumping, the Brazil nut paradox, etc., can be viewed as being in the class of Parrondian phenomena. We will briefly review the history of Parrondo's paradox, recent developments, and connections to related phenomena.


South Norfolk residents have been praised for being the best recyclers after checks showed the lowest rates of contamination with rubbish of any Norfolk district.


Magnetic admixtures distort distribution of magnetic field and virtual current in active zone of electromagnetic flowmeter therefore information signal of electromagnetic flowmeter is changed. By analogy between electrostatic, magnetic and electric current fields the error of measurement is calculated. The error of measurement depend on the form and the conductivity of admixtures. If the conductivity of admixtures is good and they form is near of sphere the error of measurement may amount to 6c (c – relative volume concentration of admixtures). There is can to decrease the error of measurement if the magnetic stream is stabilized in active zone of electromagnetic flowmeter.


Asthma is a chronic airway disease characterized by significant exacerbation of bronchial spasm (bronchospasm) and airway inflammation. Asthma symptoms become more severe by oral infectious due to exposure of Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The essential oils (EO) of the canary sap ( Canarium indicum L.) contained linalool, p-cymene and γ-terpinene as an anti-inflammatory agent. The aim of this study to determine the potency EO canary therapy toward level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and lung histopathology of asthmatic rats. The asthmatic rats were prepared by sensitization of allergent conducted by intraperitonial injection and nebulized of ovalbumin (OVA) also intrasulcular injection of Lipopolysaccaride from Phorphyromonas gingivalis bacteria. Five groups of rats ( Rattus norvegicus ) were used in this research; ie the control group, the asthmatic group, and three groups with therapy of EO canary the dose of 25 mg/kg BW, 50 mg/kg BW and 100 mg/kg BW for 7 days. The contain of EO canary were analyzed by Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GCMS). The MDA levels were measured using the Thiobarbituric Acid (TBA) technique and histopatology of bronchial stained using  Hematoxilin-Eosin (HE) and observed microscopically. The data were analyzed by One Way ANOVA with Tukey test (α = 0.05). The result showed that EO canary significantly (p < 0.05) decrease MDA levels and repair lung histopatology of asthmatic rats. The analysis EO canary performed by GCMS composed of l-phellandrene; p-cymene; γ-terpinene; linalool; camphor; limonene and 1,8-cineole. It can be concluded EO canary has potency as anti-inflammatory agent of asthmatic condition. The most effective dose therapy was obtained as high as 100 mg/kgBW that decreased 46.56 % level of MDA.


The Hilton daisy, Gerbera aurantiaca, is a rare and endangered perennial herb endemic to the KwaZulu-Natal mistbelt grasslands. From August to October, its stark orange to crimson daisy-like flowers and glossy green leaves are conspicuous in the grasslands. But for how much longer? Progressive fragmentation and degradation of their natural grassland habitat - the result of agricultural and urban expansion - as well as pillaging of plants and flowers from the wild, selective grazing by domestic livestock and inappropriate fire management of habitat, have played a significant role in the plant's demise. The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that the species is extremely difficult to propagate and transplant.


Non-neutral wrist postures have been reported to cause decreased carpal tunnel volume (CTV) contributing to impingement of the median nerve and development of carpal tunnel syndrome. Recent analysis found CTV did not change with ±20° flexion-extension (FE), however, CTV decreased with ulnar deviation over the range of -5° to 15° radial-ulnar deviation (RUD). These findings suggest CTV may be too coarse of a measure to reflect the effects of slight non-neutral postures, or that volume is conserved and redistributed due to changes in tunnel morphology with posture. The objective of this study was to assess volume distribution along the length of the carpal tunnel and to quantify regional morphology changes with deviated wrist postures in both FE and RUD. Analysis was performed on a dataset of computed tomography scans collected on ten cadaveric specimens (5 male, 5 female, mean age = 80.7 ± 10.9 years) over a range of FE and RUD postures. The carpal tunnel of each scan was divided into four quartiles of equal length along the tunnel to quantify volume distribution. Volume within the carpal tunnel was seen to redistribute with both FE and RUD. Decreased volume in the distal aspect of the tunnel with flexion and proximal aspect of the tunnel with ulnar deviation may contribute to localized compression of the medial nerve. Measures of mean cross-sectional area, width and depth by quartile provided an indication of the morphology changes associated volume redistribution. Morphology analysis also revealed twisting between the proximal and distal aspects of the tunnel which increased with flexion and ulnar deviation and may further contribute to strain on the median nerve.


This paper describes measurements and experiences with remote procedure call (RPC) over different network technologies, and with different levels of functionality. The major basis is the RPC of the OSF Distributed Computing Environment. We first discuss performance based on local area networks; also including secure RPC features. We then present performance results over WAN connections via the Internet and compare them with our findings in LAN settings. Another major focus area is the investigation of the RPC behavior using an ATM network as a basis for transmission. Major limitations and further requirements of client/server interactions in high performance networks are illustrated. The RPC is also evaluated in mobile environments using a cellular, GSM-based WAN. In this domain, various additional requirements have to be considered as discussed in the paper. Finally, steps towards a new integrated and enhanced request-response protocol are pointed out as a conclusion.


One of the advantages of spectral computed tomography (CT) is it can achieve accurate material components using the material decomposition methods. The image-based material decomposition is a common method to obtain specific material components, and it can be divided into two steps: image reconstruction and post material decomposition. To obtain accurate material maps, the image reconstruction method mainly focuses on improving image quality by incorporating regularization priors. Very recently, the regularization priors are introduced into the post material decomposition procedure in the iterative image-based methods. Since the regularization priors can be incorporated into image reconstruction and post image-domain material decomposition, the performance of regularization by combining these two cases is still an open problem. To realize this goal, the material accuracy from those steps are first analyzed and compared. Then, to further improve the accuracy of decomposition materials, a two-step regularization based method is developed by incorporating priors into image reconstruction and post material decomposition. Both numerical simulation and preclinical mouse experiments are performed to demonstrate the advantages of the two-step regularization based method in improving material accuracy.


HCV has been recognized as the cause of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) since 1990. CHC is associated with progressive liver damage and extrahepatic conditions. Direct antiviral agents (DAAs), approved in 2014, have shown effectiveness in eradicating HCV in most patients. However, little is known about the effect of viral eradication on hepatic and extra-hepatic damage. We performed a historical cohort study of patients with HCV-related liver diseases who achieved SVR from March 2015 to October 2016 at INMI Lazzaro Spallanzani liver Unit in Rome (Italy). Repeated measures of glycaemia were analysed through a multilevel analysis framework to assess short time kinetics of blood glucose level at different times after therapy and for different levels of HCV viremia. The analysis included 205 patients. A model assessing temporal kinetics and variation of glycaemia according to HCV viremia provided evidence that blood glucose levels significantly dropped in patients with diabetes achieving SVR. Most of the variations occurred at 3-5 weeks of therapy (-17.96 mg/dL; p<0.001) and in coincidence with HCV clearance (-13.92 mg/dL; p<0.001). A weak, non-statistically significant reduction was observed in normoglycemic patients. Our study provides evidence that DAAs therapy may significantly improve glycaemic control in patients with CHC achieving SVR even when liver diseases are already established.


Sepsis and septic shock is a disease process that carries a high mortality rate and is responsible for a large portion of healthcare expenditures in the United States. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign has been working to decrease the mortality of sepsis since 2001. Their mission is two-fold; providing evidence based guidelines to help direct treatment, and raising awareness to healthcare providers and patients about sepsis. A main goal in treating sepsis is to reverse the hypoperfused state by giving crystalloid fluids and administering vasopressors, specifically norepinephrine, after patients have received adequate fluids. Would modifying this treatment by giving a combination of vasopressors, instead of the current recommendation of just norepinephrine, earlier decrease the mortality of patients in septic shock? After performing a literature search on PubMed and Google Scholar, 80 articles were found and narrowed down to a total of 32, including randomized control trials, animal trials, retrospective and prospective cohort studies and meta-analyses, were reviewed. Articles looked at norepinephrine, vasopressin, terlipressin, dobutamine, and early vasopressor use. This literature review found that there is some evidence supporting the early use of combination vasopressor therapy, though more in-depth trials should be performed before making stronger recommendations or changing guidelines. Different patient subgroups appear to have better outcomes based on the different combinations of vasopressors. Norepinephrine continues to be a mainstay of treatment, and patients need to receive crystalloid fluids before and during administration of vasopressors.