Background: Statins are recognised as the most effective lipid-lowering drugs. The main mechanism of action is the inhibition of 3-hydroxy- 3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, which is a key enzyme in the cholesterol synthesis pathway. Statins also have additional effects, known as pleiotropic effects, which are mostly due to the inhibition of the formation of non-steroidal isoprenoids. The latter have important functions in the activation of many intracellular signalling pathways. Consequently, statins improve endothelial function, have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity, act as antioxidants, stabilize atherosclerotic plaques and influence haemostasis and thrombosis. The described mechanisms are particularly relevant in the protective activity of statins on the cardiovascular system, central nervous system, kidneys and many other organs.
Conclusions: In the current article we review the pharmacological mechanisms of action, which contribute to the beneficial pleiotropic effects of statins. Described mechanisms are supported by the evidence obtained from clinical trials in the last decade.


The indistinguishability of quantum particles is widely used as a resource for the generation of entanglement. Linear quantum networks (LQNs), in which identical particles linearly evolve to arrive at multimode detectors, exploit the indistinguishability to generate various multipartite entangled states by the proper control of transformation operators. However, it is challenging to devise a suitable LQN that carries a specific entangled state or compute the possible entangled state in a given LQN as the particle and mode number increase. This research presents a mapping process of arbitrary LQNs to graphs, which provides a powerful tool for analyzing and designing LQNs to generate multipartite entanglement. We also introduce the perfect matching diagram (PM diagram), which is a refined directed graph that includes all the essential information on the entanglement generation by an LQN. The PM diagram furnishes rigorous criteria for the entanglement of an LQN and solid guidelines for designing suitable LQNs for the genuine entanglement. Based on the structure of PM diagrams, we compose LQNs for fundamental N-partite genuinely entangled states.


To minimize climate risks of agricultural price hikes during meteorological disasters, this study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of forecasting agricultural prices several months ahead and evaluates the reproducibility of annual price fluctuations. We use the crop yields forecasted by the crop model and apply the quasi-dynamic large-scale global computable general equilibrium (CGE) model with 88 countries/regions to evaluate as many countries as possible worldwide. From the simulation results, the model's accuracy to trace actual crop price fluctuations, which was measured by the regional average correlation coefficient data during 1995-2015, ranged from 0.13 to 0.26 per crop, and almost 30% of targeted countries marked statistically significant traceability. Such accuracy was higher in the developed liberal countries. Regarding forecasting 3-6 months ahead of the harvest, in approximately 20% of the targeted countries, the CGE model can reproduce actual price fluctuations, and a 3-month extension of the forecast period reduces the reproducibility by 16.7% for the correlation coefficient on average of four crops. Thus, the reproducibility of the model was not high, but in countries with statistically significant reproducibility, forecasting price fluctuations several months ahead can be used to prepare for meteorological disasters.


Effects of the mismatch between pre- and post-processing matrices in MIMO systems employing singular value decomposition are studied and quantified for the case of conventional, single-description video transmission. Results that justify the use of multiple-description coding to combat errors are presented. In addition, a simple way to mitigate the loss of orthogonality is investigated which restores performance levels to those obtained with a full CSI approach.


PURPOSE
This study was done to evaluate the formal education program provided by the Korean government for care workers for frail elderly people.

METHODS
This study was a cross-sectional survey in which 438 certified care workers who had completed the education program participated. Data were collected from June to October 2009, using a self-report questionnaire consisting of satisfaction with, and understanding of the education program.

RESULTS
The participants had a mean age of 46.7 yr, 87.9% were female and 58.2% were high school graduates. For the theory part of the education, the highest score for understanding was for'supporting household & activities of daily living' while the lowest score for understanding was for'care for death and dying'. For the practical education, the highest score for understanding was for'talking with the client' and the lowest score was for'first aid & basic life support'. There was a significant difference in satisfaction and understanding of the theoretical and practical parts according to educational level.

CONCLUSION
Continuing education programs are needed for care workers for elders, both in the theoretical and practical areas. Also the content of programs should address the weak points of this formal education program.


Tapeworms of the genus Spirometra are pseudophyllidean cestodes endemic in Korea. At present, it is unclear which Spirometra species are responsible for causing human infections, and little information is available on the epidemiological profiles of Spirometra species infecting humans in Korea. Between 1979 and 2009, a total of 50 spargana from human patients and 2 adult specimens obtained from experimentally infected carnivorous animals were analyzed according to genetic and taxonomic criteria and classified as Spirometra erinaceieuropaei or Spirometra decipiens depending on the morphology. Morphologically, S. erinaceieuropaei and S. decipiens are different in that the spirally coiled uterus in S. erinaceieuropaei has 5-7 complete coils, while in S. decipiens it has only 4.5 coils. In addition, there is a 9.3% (146/1,566) sequence different between S. erinaceieuropaei and S. decipiens in the cox1 gene. Partial cox1 sequences (390 bp) from 35 Korean isolates showed 99.4% (388/390) similarity with the reference sequence of S. erinaceieuropaei from Korea (G1724; GenBank KJ599680) and an additional 15 Korean isolates revealed 99.2% (387/390) similarity with the reference sequences of S. decipiens from Korea (G1657; GenBank KJ599679). Based on morphologic and molecular databases, the estimated population ratio of S. erinaceieuropaei to S. decipiens was 35: 15. Our results indicate that both S. erinaceieuropaei and S. decipiens found in Korea infect humans, with S. erinaceieuropaei being 2 times more prevalent than S. decipiens. This study is the first to report human sparganosis caused by S. decipiens in humans in Korea.


The destructive and deadly nature of debris flows has motivated research into empirical rainfall thresholds to provide situational awareness, inform early warning systems, and reduce loss of life and property. Disturbances such as wildfire and land-cover change can influence the hydrological processes of infiltration and runoff generation; in steep terrain this typically lowers empirical thresholds for debris-flow initiation. However, disturbance impacts, and the post-disturbance recovery may differ, depending on the severity, nature, extent, and duration of the disturbance, as well as on the prevailing hydroclimatic conditions. Thus, it can be difficult to predict impacts on debris-flows hazards in regions where historically such disturbances have been less frequent or severe. Given the increasing magnitude and incidence of wildfires, among other disturbances, we seek to develop a conceptual framework for assessing their impacts on debris-flow hazards across geographic regions. We characterize the severity of disturbances in terms of changes from undisturbed hydrologic functioning, including hillslope drainage and available unsaturated storage capacity, which can have contrasting influences on debris-flow initiation mechanisms in different hydroclimatic settings. We compare the timescale of disturbance-recovery cycles relative to the return period of threshold exceeding storms to describe vulnerability to post-disturbance debris flows. Similarly, we quantify resilience by comparing the timescales of disturbancerecovery cycles with those of disturbance-recurrence intervals. We illustrate the utility of these concepts using information from U.S. Geological Survey landslide monitoring sites in burned and unburned areas across the United States. Increasing severity of disturbance may influence both recovery timescales and lower the return period for debris-flow inducing storms, thus increasing the vulnerability to disturbance-related hazards while also decreasing system resilience. The proposed conceptual framework can inform future data acquisition and model development to improve debris-flow initiation thresholds in areas experiencing increasingly frequent, severe, and even overlapping landscape disturbances.


The last several years have seen dramatic clinical advances in the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Most of this success has been due to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and T cell checkpoint inhibitors, agents which have revolutionized the treatment of some cancers, including the RCC. As a consequence, approximately 20–30% of patients with mRCC developed bone metastases (BMs) [1] with a probability that was parallel to greater survival related to the introduction of new therapies [2]. Unfortunately, in presence of BMs the expected survival is poor, and in most cases, only palliative care is indicated. Generally, this conduct seems to be justified. BMs are mainly osteolytic and lead to skeletal-related events (SREs), including pathologic fractures, spinal cord compression and hypercalcemia, all associated with an impairment of quality of life [3]. Specifically, BMs have been identified as an independent prognostic variable predicting poor overall survival (OS) irrespective of prognostic factors by the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (time from diagnosis to systemic therapy, Karnofsky Performance Status, levels of hemoglobin, corrected calcium, neutrophils and platelets) [4]. In addition, the International Kidney Cancer Working Group identified BMs treated with TKI as conferring significantly poorer OS than other metastatic sites but equally to hepatic metastases [5]. Nevertheless, median OS after diagnosis of RCC BM's ranges from 12 to 40 months [1, 6] and subgroups of patients surviving longer have been identified. This optimistic view is supported by our and other works which found out prognostic features associated with BMs. In the Kume cohort analyzing 94 patients with BMs from RCC [7], 5 factors are defined as right associated with the unfortunate prognosis: sarcomatoid differentiation, spinal involvement, extraosseous metastasis, increased alkaline phosphatase and C-reactive protein levels. Similarly, Santoni et al. determined patients' age, ECOG performance status, histology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) score, time to BMs and the presence of concomitant metastases to be significant related with poor OS [6]. In order to identify patients with the lessaggressive BMs from RCC, we analyzed 1750 patients with a diagnosis of RCC and treated at Gustave Roussy, estimating 300 (17%) patients with BMs [1]. Risk factors associated with a poorer prognosis were three: MSKCC risk group, presence of more than 5 BMs, and other sites of disease. Inversely, patients presenting with a single solitary bone lesion (SSBM) at the diagnosis of metastatic disease had longer OS (40 vs. 20 months, p < 0.001). Although this represented a small subgroup (7%) of patients, the increased likelihood to having undergone radical resection could explain this prognosis. Indeed, independently from other factors, radical surgical resection of BMs was associated with improved survival whereas palliative surgery, radiotherapy and other local or systemic treatments were not. Decisively in our work, a patient with diagnosis of BMs and favorable prognosis was characterized by a SSBM subjected to radical resection, good MSKCC score and no visceral metastases. In short, the presence or absence of metastases, including BMs, is crucial for the choice of treatment as advised by a recent Expert Consensus regarding whether wide resection with curative intent in solitary or oligometastatic BMs patients is recommended [2]. The role of other local treatment of metastases such as radiotherapy, cryotherapy, radiofrequency remains controversial. For these reasons, we strongly support a multidisciplinary team approach in order to personalize treatment planning and prolong survival of these patients. Finally, we encourage a better understanding of the mechanistic links involved in regulation of mRCC, immune system and skeletal metastases. Several pathways are involved including transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs), bone sialoproteins (BSP), calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), insuline – like growth factor (IGF) mRNA binding protein-3, cadherin-11, AKT/ integrin-5 signaling system, parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and matriptase [6] but still we are in need of further improvement in the pathophysiology of RCC metastatic spread to bone. This will allow the optimal design of therapies for BMs in RCC patients.


The Biological Carbon Pump (BCP) is a major feature of the global carbon transporting approximately 10GT C yr-1 from the ocean surface to the interior mainly via the sinking of particles with an organic component. The scale of the BCP requires good year-round measurements of its functioning. Moreover, the BCP's susceptibility to global change means that we need better information on how its climate sensitive elements function and how its poorly parameterised elements operate. These three requirements map directly onto the objectives of this cruise, which will be undertaken using Oceans 2025 funding at the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) site. The PAP site (47oN, 16.5oW) is the location of a time series of observations from surface to seafloor compiled by IOS, GDD and now NOCS over the last 20 years (Lampitt et al., 2001). A summary of these observations, together with descriptions of surface water biogeochemistry in the region from a cruise in 2005, is currently being published as a special issue of Deep-Sea Research II. The PAP site is close to the site of the JGOFS north Atlantic Bloom experiment and the French POMME programme and is a waypoint on the Atlantic Meridional Transect programme (SO1 in Oceans 2025). There is therefore a rich wealth of previous observations in which our 2009 observations can be grounded.
Objectives:
1) To recover and redeploy the PAP site observatory (Theme 10 of Oceans 2025)
2) To compile a vertical carbon budget for the PAP site with particular focus on the process of remineralisation in the mesopelagic (100 – 1000 m) and on the mechanisms leading to export from the upper ocean (Themes 2, 5 of Oceans 2025)
3) To quantify climate sensitive elements of the BCP at the PAP site, particularly the physical processes responsible for introducing nutrients to the upper water column, which combine to set the maximum level of export (Theme 2 of Oceans 2025)
Of these, 1) was partially successful, 2) was successful, 3) was unsuccessful.


It is shown that scalar particle creation in the gravitational field of a massive object could occur even if the radius of the object is larger than the Schwarzschild radius. Scalar field condensation could change the metric drastically, and decrease the observable mass of the system.


The authors present an introductory overview of the principal groups of ectoparasites (flukes, leeches, crustaceans, insects, arachnids, lampreys and vampire bats) associated with domestic animals. Currently-accepted higher-level classifications are outlined for these parasites. Almost all significant ectoparasites of domestic animals are invertebrates, the majority being arthropods (crustaceans, insects and arachnids). Some of these ectoparasites are of particular importance as vectors of pathogens. Many ectoparasite species are host-specific, and vector species typically transmit characteristic pathogens.


Along with the developments of the high-speed railway, higher and higher technical requirements for the high-speed railway mobile communication system are raised. Since the "Global System for Mobile Communications Railways" (GSM-R) implemented today is based on GSM, the new technology in GSM evolution can be used in the highspeed railway mobile communication system to adapt to the new requirements. This paper introduces a high-speed railway mobile communication system based on "Long Term Evolution" (LTE), describes its network architecture, and especially analyzes the technical advantages and application value of the system in the high-speed railway wireless communication comparing with the existing GSM-R system. It also discusses feasibility of the GSM-R system's evolution to this high-speed railway mobile communication system and proposes the possible evolution model.


Observations show the presence of localized regions in the atmosphere with diminished potential vorticity gradients, an example being the tropical upper troposphere where convective heating plays an important role. The present work investigates the effect of forcing on the evolution of Rossby waves in a zero potential vorticity gradient environment. As a preliminary investigation, the barotropic case is studied, where the analog of potential vorticity is absolute vorticity. A forcing term is employed to model thermal forcing in the real atmosphere. The analytic solution of the linearized problem shows that the streamfunction grows in time and eventually develops a nonlinear critical layer. The presence of forcing within the critical layer is found to drive the dynamics. The numerical solution of the nonlinear problem within the critical layer shows that the nonlinearity and the forcing act together to halt the growth as coherent vortices develop in a nonlinear oscillatory regime. At long times, the critical layer solution settles down to a quasi steady state consisting of relatively large amplitude stationary vortices with a set of small amplitude steadily propagating vortices superimposed. These results are contrasted with the results of previous unforced problems.


Abstract A new taxon Biscutella laevigata subsp. woycickii (Brassicaceae) is described from southern Poland. The taxon is similar to B. laevigata subsp. gracilis, but differs in having thin, light-green rosette leaves very densely covered by simple non-glandular trichomes, smaller seeds and the ability to tolerate and accumulate high amounts of heavy metals. This new taxon is supported by results of cultivation experiments, as well as genetic and paleobotanical evidence.


Water mobility and distribution in cream cheeses with variations in fat (4, 15, and 26%), added salt (0, 0.625, and 1.25%), and pH (4.2, 4.7, and 5.2) were studied using (1)H NMR relaxometry. The cheese samples were inoculated with a mixture of Listeria innocua, Escherichia coli O157 and Staphylococcus aureus, and partial least-squares regression revealed that (1)H T(2) relaxation decay data were able to explain a large part of the variation in the survival of E. coli O157 (64-83%). However, the predictions of L. innocua and S. aureus survival were strongly dependent on the fat/water content of the samples. Consequently, the present results indicate that NMR relaxometry is a promising technique for predicting the survival of these bacteria; however, the characteristics of the sample matrix are substantial.


The ages at attainment of 12 gross motor milestones were obtained prospectively during well‐baby visits in the first two years of life for 381 children. All had been born at term and were judged to be normal at one year. A longitudinal analysis, using an index summarising each chilďs progress for eight selected milestones, is reported for the 284 children for whom data were complete. A high percentage of parents were able to report the age at attaining milestones with an acceptable degree of variability. The children attained milestones at earlier ages than traditionally reported. There were only minor sex differences in age at attainment, but black children attained milestones earlier than white children.


The transformation S = jomega, omega = -cotphi of the interference phase angle phi = 2pinhlambda(-1) is applied to the matrix of a thin dielectric film. This brings the complex coefficients of reflection and transmission to the form of rational functions, whose coefficients are built up from the refractive indices. Matching to a given spectral characteristic may be performed by any of the approximation methods of network theory. An algorithm is derived for the computation of the refractive indices from the coefficients of these rational functions. Connection with other synthetic methods for thin films is also indicated. Illustrative examples are included.


In the Roman world, slavery played a crucial role. Besides private slaves, owned by individual masters, and—from the beginning of the Principate—imperial slaves, who were the property of the emperors, there were also the so-called public slaves: non-free individuals who were owned by a community, such as the Roman people as a whole in Rome (serui publici populi Romani), or the citizen body of a colony or a municipium in Italy or in the provinces (serui ciuitatum). Public slaves in Rome were employed for numerous public services and acted under the authority of the Senate as assistants to public magistrates, officers or priests. Similarly, in Italian and in provincial cities, they juridically depended on the decisions of local councils and performed various activities within the civic administration, beholden to the magistrates.


The 27th Congress of the Surgeons of the U.S.S.R. (The All-Union Scientific Society of Surgeons) met in Moscow from May 23 to 28 under the acting chairmanship of Prof. P. A. Kupriyanov, one of the vice-presidents. Prof. Kupriayanov, who was in uniform, is a Lieutenant General in the Russian Army and Surgeon of the Leningrad Military Academy of Medicine. Among the other vice-presidents were Professors B. A. Petrov of Moscow and B. V. Petrovsky and A. G. Savinich of Tomsk. Professors Petrov and Osipov of Moscow and Prof. Uglov of Leningrad visited the Mayo Clinic last year. I met them again in Munich last September at the meeting of the International Society of Surgery and with them were Professors Petrovsky and Savinich. I believe they were responsible for my receiving an invitation to attend and participate in the Congress. In his opening address at the Congress, Prof. Kupriyanov said that


Тhe creation and development of the digital economy in the regions of Russia is a new factor in their socio-economic development. This should be reflected in near future in the strategies of socio-economic development of regions. In the Russian Federation, at present, for developing and evaluating the implementation of the socio-economic development strategy of the region, a universal methodology has not been developed, and the standard approaches for implementing strategic planning have been adapted from the management of corporate structures. The purpose of the article is to test the methodology of statistical evaluation of the socio-economic development of the region in the digital environment. The methodological basis of the study are: the general statistical method of dynamic standards, index and coefficient analysis, the method of pairwise comparisons. The scientific novelty of the presented results are the author's methodological developments: the system of indicators of the socio-economic development of the region in the digital environment and the regulatory assessment model. The practical significance of the research results lies in the possibility of applying the author's assessment methodology for monitoring regional development strategies. The creation of integral statistical measures (models) for monitoring traditional and new factors of the region's development will provide solutions to their quantitative assessment, allow clarify both the planning and implementation stages of the region's shortcomings and problems, ensure the implementation of the principle of integrated socioeconomic development of the region, contribute to enhancing the consistency of the objectives of regional development strategies, it will allow diagnostics of the development of the digital economy and develop new strategic orientations at the regional level, which in turn will make it possible to develop organizational mechanisms for involving people in the region in resolving issues of territorial strategic development.


This paper was selected for presentation by an ARMA Technical Program Committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted earlier by the author(s).


We show that there exists a maximal possible accretion rate, beyond which global slim disk solutions cannot be constructed because in the vertical direction the gravitational force would be unable to balance the pressure force to gather the accreted matter. The principle for this restriction is the same as that for the Eddington luminosity and the corresponding critical accretion rate, which were derived for spherical accretion by considering the same force balance in the radial direction. If the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium is waived and vertical motion is included, this restriction may become even more serious as the value of the maximal possible accretion rate becomes smaller. Previous understanding in the literature that global slim disk solutions could stand for any large accretion rates is due to the overestimation of the vertical gravitational force by using an approximate potential. For accretion flows with large accretion rates at large radii, outflows seem unavoidable in order for the accretion flow to reduce the accretion rate and follow a global solution till the central black hole.


In chronic viral infections of humans and experimental animals, virus-specific CD4+ T cell function is believed to be critical for induction and maintenance of host immunity that mediates effective restriction of viral replication. Because in vitro proliferation of HIV-specific memory CD4+ T cells is only rarely demonstrable in HIV-infected individuals, it is presumed that HIV-specific CD4+ T cells are killed upon encountering the virus, and maintenance of CD4+ T cell responses in some patients causes the restriction of virus replication. In this study, proliferative responses were absent in patients with poorly restricted virus replication although HIV-specific CD4+ T cells capable of producing IFN-γ were detected. In a separate cohort, interruption of antiretroviral therapy resulted in the rapid and complete abrogation of virus-specific proliferation although HIV-1-specific CD4+ T cells were present. HIV-specific proliferation returned when therapy was resumed and virus replication was controlled. Further, HIV-specific CD4+ T cells of viremic patients could be induced to proliferate in response to HIV antigens when costimulation was provided by anti-CD28 antibody in vitro. Thus, HIV-1-specific CD4+ T cells persist but remain poorly responsive (produce IFN-γ but do not proliferate) in viremic patients. Unrestricted virus replication causes diminished proliferation of virus-specific CD4+ T cells. Suppression of proliferation of HIV-specific CD4+ T cells in the context of high levels of antigen may be a mechanism by which HIV or other persistently replicating viruses limit the precursor frequency of virus-specific CD4+ T cells and disrupt the development of effective virus-specific immune responses.


Purpose
This paper aims to offer a comprehensive examination of the various solutions currently accessible for addressing the challenge of semantic interoperability in cyber physical systems (CPS). CPS is a new generation of systems composed of physical assets with computation capabilities, connected with software systems in a network, exchanging data collected from the physical asset, models (physics-based, data-driven, . . .) and services (reconfiguration, monitoring, . . .). The physical asset and its software system are connected, and they exchange data to be interpreted in a certain context. The heterogeneous nature of the collected data together with different types of models rise interoperability problems. Modeling the digital space of the CPS and integrating information models that support cyber physical interoperability together are required.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper aims to identify the most relevant points in the development of semantic models and machine learning solutions to the interoperability problem, and how these solutions are implemented in CPS. The research analyzes recent papers related to the topic of semantic interoperability in Industry 4.0 (I4.0) systems.

Findings
Semantic models are key enabler technologies that provide a common understanding of data, and they can be used to solve interoperability problems in Industry by using a common vocabulary when defining these models.

Originality/value
This paper provides an overview of the different available solutions to the semantic interoperability problem in CPS.


The identification of key factors that influence the non-success of experiments conducted under microgravity conditions will aid in the planning, design and implementation of future space shuttle experiments, as well as other microgravity experiments (i.e., experiments conducted on the Space Station). Similarly, knowledge of the experiments' reliability will assist in forecasting the success of forthcoming experiments. Since a relatively large number of Space Shuttle experiments have been conducted to date, a substantial pool of data exists for assessing the possible causes or factors which influence experiment non-successes. This report details the task being undertaken at NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) to measure the Space Shuttle experiments non-success trends and identify causes that significantly affect their performance. It addresses the activities associated with correlating experiment macro-factors with experiment non-successes. The development and implementation of a microgravity database to be used for tracking and correlating experiment non-success factors, as well as the criteria for measuring experiment success and non-success is also discussed.


The loop or ring-type data networks using full duplex-communication links between the nodes have been investigated. The results presented in the paper concern two specific modes for handling the messages. These are termed 'store and forward' and 'check and forward'. Both modes have been analysed using extensions of the single-server queueing theory and also simulated extensively using GPSS software.The message traffic is Poisson distributed and can arise from any node with equal probability. The destination is selected to be any other node again with equal probability. The study has also considered the performance of the two modes for traffic having priorities. One conclusion arrived at in this investigation is that the traffic with priorities can be better handled by a network which handles messages in either store and forward or check and forward mode depending on the priority of the message.


In 1879, Japan annexed the Ryūkyū Islands, dissolving the nominally independent Ryūkyū Kingdom and establishing Okinawa Prefecture. This helped inaugurate Imperial Japan'sexpansion beyond the historical naichi or "inner lands." It also set in motion a structural transformation of Okinawan society, marked by the end of tribute trade with China, the abolitionof a centuries-old status system, and the gradual modernization of the economy. This process was painful, pitting the interests of the traditional Okinawan elite against those of Japanese administrators, with Okinawan peasants and laborers caught in the middle. The epicenter of this process was the prefectural capital of Naha – and for many Okinawans, particularly working class women, the soul of Naha was its commercial theater. This dissertation approaches prewar Okinawan commercial theater both as an institution and as a space of experience and expression. Its main focus is vernacular musical drama or kageki, which was created by classical performing artists disenfranchised by the dissolution of the court. Musical dramas such as A Peony of the Deep Mountains (Okuyama no botan) and Iejima Romance (Iejima Handō-gwa) draw selectively on both courtly and popular traditions, fusing the poetic sophistication of kumiodori dance-drama with the mass appeal of folk song and dance. After introducing early modern courtly and popular performing arts, I trace the emergence of commercial theater as an effect of contradictory social forces set in motion by annexation. Cross-reading actors' memoirs and newspaper reviews with writings by period scholars such as Okinawan cultural historian Iha Fuyū and Japanese critical theorist Tosaka Jun, I situate commercial performance in its socioeconomic and ideological context. I then turn from a social scientific to a hermeneutic mode of critique, offering close readings of four influential musical dramas. Unlike coeval Okinawan elite literature, these dramas do not explicitly challenge the dominant order. I will argue, however, that by representing low-status female protagonists as self-constant and morally competent agents, they invite working class female spectators to reimagine the horizons of their social experience.


This paper documents some of the main features of price setting behaviour by retail outlets in Lesotho over the period March 2002 to December 2009. The sample of data covers 229 product items for 345 retail outlets. The paper has three main objectives. Firstly, it presents key indicators of price setting behaviour such as the frequency of price changes, the average size of price changes and the probability of price changes at the retail outlet level. Secondly, it identifies some of the dynamic features of price changes, including the synchronization of price changes and the relationship between the frequency and size of price changes and the duration of the existing price. Finally, the paper compares the stylised facts on price setting behaviour in Lesotho to other countries and South Africa in particular. The findings of the paper corroborate those in the international empirical literature. Substantial heterogeneity in price setting behaviour is found across products, outlets and time. Variations in inflation are strongly correlated with the average size of price changes, but rising inflation raises the frequency of price increases and reduces the frequency of price decreases. Surprisingly, the frequency and size of price changes in Lesotho differ substantially from those in South Africa, despite the presence of common retail chains and their joint membership in a customs union and common monetary area. Further research is required to unpack the sources of heterogeneity in the setting of prices and the stark differences in price setting behaviour in Lesotho and South Africa.


This essay uses a Žižekian concept of parallax view to examine the connection between the formation of Taiwanese identity and the imposed meanings on suffering caused by Japanese colonial history. Taiwanese politicians from different ideological spectra have "parallactically" imposed meanings on this history of suffering to serve their own interests. This has contributed to keeping alive the division between Taiwanese and mainlanders. These two groups, initially divided on a vague and problematic notion of ethnicity, have lived together for six decades on the same island.


Involving students in research projects can be seen as a form of inductive teaching. However, the few studies the authors could find regarding the benefits of incorporating research in undergraduate classes show mixed results and opinions. This paper discusses preliminary results of introducing faculty on-going research to undergraduate students, in a form of multidisciplinary projects and team environments, focusing on student-centered approaches, such as active cooperative learning. In the summer of 2011, a small informal team of students was assembled and presented them with an open-ended multidisciplinary problem. The students were from the Electronics and Telecommunications and Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology program within the Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution Department at Texas A&M University. The challenge was to develop a low-cost "standardized" vehicle, capable of supporting customization and adaptation to meet a number of divergent needs. The students were required to come up with a collective solution. The instructors from both programs provided weekly discussions in response to the students' efforts while offering little direction. Students' involvement in the faculty on-going research, the minimum guidance provided by the instructors and the trial and error consequently required by the students, were used as tools in the learning process. The current paper is based on our preliminary experience and aims to address the need for combining multidisciplinary theoretical knowledge with practical hands-on experience, with a particular focus on integration of research and education. The main goal was to try to assess how well students work under that model and share our experiences. The strategy further strengthened faculty beliefs in the future of the research-teaching nexus.


The phase behavior of mixtures containing carbon dioxide, n-alkanes andn-perfluoroalkanes is studied using the statistical associating fluid theory for potentials of variable attractive range (SAFT-VR). The molecules are modeled as fully flexible chains of tangentially bonded attractive spherical segments of hard-core diameter σ. The attractive interactions are treated via square-well potentials of depth ε and range λ. The pure component intermolecular parameters for carbon dioxide and the n-alkane molecules were determined in previous works by fitting to vapor pressures and saturated liquid densities; the same procedure is followed in this work to determine the parameters for the n-perfluoroalkane molecules. The optimized conformal parameters ( σ andε) are rescaled with the experimental critical point of each of the pure components. A set of transferable mixture parameters is presented, which provide a good description of the mixtures phase behavior, and additionally offer an insight into the higher solubility of n-perfluoroalkanes in carbon dioxide as compared to the solubility of n-alkanes. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


A Digital Pulse Width Modulation technique based on the counter has been considered for analysis and simulation. It utilizes one of the many functions due to the advanced characteristics already present on the field-programmable gate array (FPGA) which is a huge advantage. Delay Locked Loop (DLL) is one of those features on the FPGA that is used. This architecture merged a counter-comparator-based synchronous block with an asynchronous block that uses the Delay Locked Loop (DLL). This action helps to achieve a better or higher resolution. The architecture proposed is to be executed on an inexpensive but lower-speed FPGA. This FPGA is given a 32 MHz clock externally that helps us to get a time resolution under 2ns. To use the DLL on FPGA, the Digital Clock Manager (DCM) block is used.


Infrastructure plays a major role in the economic development of countries, especially in Asia which has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. The procurement of infrastructure continues to be characterized by cost overruns resulting in significant academic interest and theoretical propositions on the influential factors. This study contributes to this issue through adoption of pragmatic research methodology involving deterministic statistical analysis of real project data from reports as well as a qualitative analysis of these reports to unearth underlying issues from a thematic analysis. Furthermore, the study design takes a multi-country view towards establishing the role of contextual and geographical influences on cost overrun. An evaluation of 102 major infrastructure projects was performed covering railways, roadways and energy sectors in different regions in Asia. Findings reveal that differences in the propensity for cost overrun are mostly dependent on a type of infrastructure with rail projects being the most likely to overrun budget. Theoretically, propositions on the influence of project contextual factors are tested highlighting the influence of project size, project type, geographical locations, and the length of implementation period of a project as well as factors related to political, economic, strategic, and competence in infrastructure delivery which vary across countries.


Background B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) determination is routinely used to evaluate the severity of congestive heart failure, a possible consequence of coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD originates from vascular atherosclerotic processes and is stimulated by inflammatory events, which may also be triggered by chronic bacterial infections. Aim To explore the effect of Helicobacter pylori infection upon systemic BNP, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and linear homology between cardiac peptides and H pylori. Methods A group of 103 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of non-ST elevation acute CAD (ACAD) and no other concomitant pathology was examined. BNP was measured by a commercial solid-phase sandwich immunoradiometric assay. H pylori infection, CagA serological status and circulating levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, were determined by ELISA assays. Amino acid sequence homology between human cardiac and H pylori peptides was investigated by Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) analysis. Results Circulating levels of BNP and IL-6, in pg/mL (interquartile difference), among infected patients with anti-CagA serum antibodies, respectively 781 (1899) and 37.7 (137.6), were significantly increased in respect to those measured in uninfected patients, respectively 325 (655) and 7.7 (23.5), (p<0.01 and p=0.025), and, with regard to BNP alone, also in patients infected by CagA negative H pylori strains, 305 (593), (p<0.01). TNF-α levels were raised in CagA positive in respect to uninfected patients. Tropomyosin and Ca2+ transporting ATPases showed strong similarities to H pylori proteins, suggesting the existence of molecular mimicry phenomena. Conclusions Chronic infection by H pylori expressing CagA correlates with high circulating levels of BNP and IL-6 in patients with ACAD.


Records of 33 cases of coccidioidomycosis occurring during pregnancy were reviewed. In this group the incidence of dissemination of the disease was considerably greater than the reported incidence of dissemination in all cases of coccidioidomycosis. The incidence of dissemination was higher in the patients who contracted coccidioidomycosis late in pregnancy than it was in those in whom onset of the disease occurred earlier in gestation; but dissemination occurred in all Negro patients in the group, regardless of the time of onset during pregnancy. The chief complicating effect when onset was in the first trimester of pregnancy was a tendency to abortion. In cases in which onset was in the third trimester, the incidence of premature labor was extremely high. There was no evidence of congenital infection in any of the babies, but in one case invasion of the placenta by coccidioidal spherules was observed.


Abstract. Optical barcodes have demonstrated a great potential in multiplexed bioassays and cell tracking for their distinctive spectral fingerprints. The vast majority of optical barcodes were designed to identify a specific target by fluorescence emission spectra, without being able to characterize dynamic changes in response to analytes through time. To overcome these limitations, the concept of the bioresponsive dynamic photonic barcode was proposed by exploiting interfacial energy transfer between a microdroplet cavity and binding molecules. Whispering-gallery modes resulting from cavity-enhanced energy transfer were therefore converted into photonic barcodes to identify binding activities, in which more than trillions of distinctive barcodes could be generated by a single droplet. Dynamic spectral barcoding was achieved by a significant improvement in terms of signal-to-noise ratio upon binding to target molecules. Theoretical studies and experiments were conducted to elucidate the effect of different cavity sizes and analyte concentrations. Time-resolved fluorescence lifetime was implemented to investigate the role of radiative and non-radiative energy transfer. Finally, microdroplet photonic barcodes were employed in biodetection to exhibit great potential in fulfilling biomedical applications.


Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is more common as people age and have a higher body mass index (BMI). We must know the role of various factors in pain and physical functions in patients with KOA. Therefore, the present study sought to examine the factors associated with pain and physical functions in individuals with KOA. This cross-sectional observational study included patients with KOA (n = 125; 57 men, 68 women; mean age 52.9 years). Using the visual analogue scale and a reduced version of the Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, pain severity and physical functions were assessed. Demographic factors such as age, BMI, sex, and Kellgren-Lawrence (K/L) radiographic grade of KOA were analyzed. Age (R = 0.263, P < .001), BMI (R = 0.379, P < .001), and K/L grade (R = 0.844, P < .001) were significantly associated with knee pain. Similarly, age (R = 0.310, P < .001), BMI (R = 0.374, P < .001), and K/L grade (R = 0.862, P < .001) were associated with physical functions. No significant association of sex with pain (R = 0.071, P = .440) and physical functions (R = 0.055, P = .545) was observed. Age, BMI, and K/L grade explained 71% and 74% of knee pain and physical functions, respectively. Age, BMI, and radiographic (K/L) grades were associated with pain and physical functions in patients with KOA. K/L grade was the most significant predictor of pain and physical functions in KOA.


Abstract This article argues that postmodernist theory is something which students of social policy should neither accept uncritically nor dismiss out of hand. Firstly, the article takes issue with the responses made to postmodernist theory by Ramesh Mishra and Peter Taylor-Gooby. Secondly, it argues that the ideas loosely known as 'reflexive modernisation' constitute a more measured and critical response, though such ideas are likely to be of little use to social policy research in the absence of any reference to a left-right spectrum. Thirdly, it argues that by combining reflexive modernisation with a left-right spectrum, a decentred conception of welfare emerges which could be of value to a radical left politics. Finally, it argues for a Citizen's Income as a reform proposal which has the potential to establish such a system of decentred welfare.


Public participation geographic information systems (PPGIS) are an increasingly important tool for collecting spatial information about the social attributes of place. The availability of Internet‐based options for implementing PPGIS presents new opportunities for increased efficiency and new modes of access. Here we used a mixed‐mode approach to evaluate paper versus Internet mapping methods for the same PPGIS survey in Wyoming. We compared participant characteristics, mapping participation, and the spatial distribution of mapped attributes between participants who responded to the paper versus Internet option. The response rate for those who completed the paper version of the survey was nearly 2.5 times the response rate of the Internet version. Paper participants also mapped significantly more places than did Internet participants (43 vs. 18). Internet participants tended to be younger, more likely to have a college degree, and had lived in the region for less time than paper participants. For all but one attribute there was no difference in the spatial distribution of places mapped between Internet and paper methods. Using a paper‐based PPGIS survey resulted in a higher response rate, reduced participant bias, and greater mapping participation. However, survey mode did not influence the spatial distribution of the PPGIS data.


The study aimed to scrutinize social networking effects on Iranian EFL learners' vocabulary acquisition. Eighty Iranian EFL learners at the intermediate level participated in a pretest-posttest study after taking the placement test. They were then divided into an experimental group whose participants were supposed to equip their mobile phones or tablet PCs with a social networking application, that is, Line and form an online group to take part in eighteen virtual instructional sessions. Participants of the control group, however, underwent classroom learning during which target words were presented through routine classroom activities. Results of the independent-samples t-test in the posttest indicated that participants of the experimental group outperformed those of the control group. Results have important implications for both pedagogy and theory, especially socio-cultural theories of second language development.


In 1934 a fourteen-day-old embryo was discovered during a postmortem examination and became famous for being the youngest known human embryo specimen at the time. The embryo was coined "the Yale Embryo," named after the location where it was discovered, Yale University [4] in New Haven, Connecticut. During the early twentieth century, the rush to collect embryos as well as to find younger and younger embryos was at an all time high, and the Yale Embryo is representative of the this enthusiasm. The young embryo had a significant impact on human embryo collection and developmental studies as well as on the career of its discoverer.


AIM: To examine the effect of resveratrol (RSV) on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) under hyperglycemic conditions and on BMSCs transplantation in diabetic rats with myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: In vitro, BMSCs were isolated from 3-week-old male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats and cultured under hyperglycemic conditions for up to 28 days. Cell viability was analyzed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays. The expression of miR-34a was measured by RT-qPCR. Western blotting was used to examine the protein expression of SIRT1, P21, P16, VEGF and HIF-1α. A senescence-associated β-galactosidase assay was used to examine the senescence level of each group. In vivo, a diabetes model was established by feeding rats a high-sugar and high-fat diet for 8 weeks, injecting the animals with streptozotocin (STZ) and continuing high-sugar and high-fat feeding for 4 additional weeks. Then, left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) cessation was used to established the myocardial infarction (MI) models. Each group of rats was transplanted with differentially preconditioned BMSCs after myocardial infarction. Ultrasound was used to analyze cardiac function 1 and 3 weeks after the operation, and frozen heart sections were used for immunohistochemical analysis, Masson staining and CD31 measurement. In addition, ELISA analysis of serum cytokine levels was performed. RESULTS: This study showed that the viability of BMSCs cultured under hyperglycemic conditions was decreased, the cells became senescent. Besides, an obviously increased in the expression of miR-34a was detected. Moreover, RSV preconditioning reduced the expression of miR-34a in BMSCs after high glucose stimulation and rejuvenated BMSCs under hyperglycemic conditions. Further analysis showed that the transplantation of RSV-BMSCs were benefit to heart recovery following infarction in diabetic rats, promoted proangiogenic factor release and increased arteriole and capillary densities. CONCLUSION: RSV rejuvenated BMSCs after chronic hyperglycemia-induced senescence by interacting with miR-34a and optimized the therapeutic effect of BMSCs on diabetes with myocardial infarction.


Background: The present century has been called the century of the person, especially in the field of health. In line with this, a programmatic movement has emerged on person-centered medicine, developed in collaboration with the World Medical Association, the World Health Organization, the International Council of Nurses, and the International Alliance of Patient Organizations, among others. This programmatic movement represents a theoretical principle, as well as a practical strategy both in the clinical care and in public health. Its key concepts include ethical commitment based on Kantian imperatives and human rights and an education centered on the person, among several others.


Literary critics have paid little attention to the similar artistic goals of Bernard Shaw and Seamus Heaney, who were both critical of the state of humanity. This article examines various aspects of their work, focusing specifically on the employment of the classical form in Shaw's Saint Joan and Heaney's The Burial at Thebes. Since the essential action in Greek drama relies on discourse and verbal interaction, its form appealed to both Shaw and Heaney, who are remembered today as masters of the spoken word. This article shows that their use of classical forms and themes sheds light on the power politics of their respective times. While the two plays significantly differ, one being a bona fide history play and the other an adaptation of the famous classic, their authors share a common focal point: they want to cure humanity of a disease whose main symptom is the repetition of History's mistakes.


Symptomatic lacunar ischemic stroke (25% of all brain infarctions) results from occlusion of a single penetrating artery by microatheromas or lipohyalinosis and rarely from an intracranial atheromatous branch disease. Recurrent lacunar stroke may be associated with more severe clinical features and has been involved in producing lacunar state and vascular subcortical dementia. In the first multicenter randomized clinical trial (SPS3) focused on stroke prevention among patients with recent lacunar stroke, the addition of clopidogrel to aspirin not only did not reduced significantly the risk of recurrent stroke, but also increased significantly the likelihood of hemorrhage and fatal outcome. If lacunar stroke is primarily non-atherothromboembolic, secondary prevention aimed at preventing atheroma progression may not be very effective. The efficacy of drugs that improve endothelial function in lacunar stroke patients remains to be studied in the future.


The orthogonal group acts on the space of several n × n matrices by simultaneous conjugation. For an infinite field of characteristic different from two, relations between generators for the algebra of invariants are described. As an application, the maximal degree of elements of a minimal system of generators is described with deviation 3.


We present a method designed to estimate the noise power spectrum in the time domain for CMB experiments. The noise power spectrum is extracted from the time ordered data avoiding the contamination coming from sky signal and accounting the pixellisation of the signal and the projection of the noise when making intermediate sky projections. This method is simple to implement and relies on Monte-Carlo simulations, it runs on a simple desk computer. We also propose a trick for filtering data before making coadded maps in order to avoid ringing due to the presence of signal in the timelines. These algorithms were succesfully tested on Archeops data.


Abstract Invasive aquatic weeds negatively affect biodiversity, fluvial dynamics, water quality, and water storage and conveyance for a variety of human resource demands. In California's Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, one submersed species—Brazilian egeria—and one floating species—waterhyacinth—are actively managed to maintain navigable waterways. We monitored the spatial and temporal dynamics of these species and their communities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta using airborne hyperspectral data and assessed the effect of herbicide treatments used to manage these species from 2003 to 2007. Each year, submersed aquatic plant species occupied about 12% of the surface area of the Delta in early summer and floating invasive plant species occupied 2 to 3%. Since 2003, the coverage of submersed aquatic plants expanded about 500 ha, whereas the coverage of waterhyacinth was reduced. Although local treatments have reduced the coverage of submersed aquatic plants, Delta-wide cover has not been significantly reduced. Locally, multiyear treatments could decrease submersed aquatic plants spread, given that no residual plants outside the treated area were present. In contrast, the spread of waterhyacinth either has been constant or has decreased over time. These results show that (1) the objectives of the Egeria densa Control Program (EDCP) have been hindered until 2007 by restrictions imposed on the timing of herbicide applications; (2) submersed aquatic plants appeared to function as ecosystem engineers by enabling spread to adjacent areas typically subject to scouring action; (3) repeated herbicide treatment of waterhyacinth has resulted in control of the spread of this species, which also appears to have facilitated the spread of waterprimrose and floating pennywort. These results suggest that management of the Delta aquatic macrophytes may benefit by an ecosystem-level implementation of an Integrated Delta Vegetation Management and Monitoring Program, rather than targeting only two problematic species. Nomenclature: Brazilian egeria, Egeria densa Planch.; floating pennywort, Hydrocotyle ranunculoides L. f.; waterhyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms.; waterprimrose, Ludwigia L. spp.


This writeup is an introduction to some of the experimental issues involved in performing electroweak and b physics measurements at the Fermilab Tevatron. In the electroweak sector, we discuss W and Z boson cross section measurements as well as the measurement of the mass of the W boson. For b physics, we discuss measurements of B{sup 0}/{bar B}{sup 0} mixing and CP violation. This paper is geared towards nonexperts who are interested in understanding some of the issues and motivations for these measurements and how the measurements are carried out.


The hope is that photoactive compounds acting as potential insecticides will have reduced environmental risk, but that is not necessarily the case. In an attempt to elucidate the risk by which photoactivated alpha-terthienyl (alpha-T) affects human health, the effects of exposure of human 293 cells and insect Tn-5B1-4 cells to photoactivated alpha-T at certain doses were characterized. Photoactivated alpha-T exhibited dose dependence of toxicity and time kinetics of phototoxic activation on the growth of 293 cells (EC(50) = 6.23 microg/mL) and Tn-5B1-4 cells (EC(50) = 3.36 microg/mL). 293 cells appeared to be anchorage-independent, inflated, and broken; Tn-5B1-4 cells showed significant necrosis. ROS productions and lipid peroxidation of 293 cells were always lower than that of Tn-5B1-4 cells in the treatments of alpha-T at the same dose. Moreover, photoactivated alpha-T caused nonselective DNA damage in 293 and Tn-5B1-4 cells at a 10 microg/mL dose and induced cell-cycle progression of 293 cells to increase apoptosis of cells and G1 arrest and decrease in S phase cell population, whereas Tn-5B1-4 cells showed S arrest accompanied by a dose-dependent decrease in G1 and G2 phase cells at a 5 microg/mL dose. These observations suggest that Tn-5B1-4 cells are more susceptible to the action of photoactivated alpha-T than 293 cells, but photoactivated alpha-T as an efficient insecticide might be a potential factor in human mutagenic progression.


An aeroderivative gas turbine (102) is disclosed, comprising: an air intake plenum (103); a compressor with a compressor air intake in fluid communication with the air intake plenum(103); a combustor; a high pressure turbine; a power turbine. A forced air-stream generator (111) is arranged in fluid communication with the air intake plenum (103). A shutter arrangement (123) is provided in a combustion-air flow path (105), arranged and controlled to close the combustion-air flow path for pressurizing said air intake plenum by means of the forced air-stream generator (111) to a pressure sufficient to cause pressurized air to flow through the aeroderivative air turbine (102).


Objectives: The objective of this derivation and validation study was to develop and validate a search strategy algorithm to detect patients who used professional interpreter services. Methods: We identified all adults who had at least one intensive care unit admission during their hospital stay across the Mayo Clinic Enterprise between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2020. Three random subsets of 100 patients were extracted from 60,268 patients to develop the search strategy algorithm. Two physician reviewers conducted gold standard manual chart review and any discrepancies were resolved by a third reviewer. These results were compared with the search strategy algorithm each time it was refined. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated during each phase by comparing the search strategy results to the reference gold standard for both derivation cohorts and the final validation cohort. Results: The first search strategy resulted in a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 89%. The second revised search strategy achieved a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 87%. The final version of the search strategy was applied to the validation subset and sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 89%, respectively. Conclusion: We derived and validated a search strategy algorithm to assess interpreter use among hospitalized patients. Using a search strategy algorithm with high sensitivity and specificity can reduce the time required to abstract data from the electronic medical records compared with manual data abstraction.


Two cases are presented of basilar artery insufficiency with reversal of flow in the left vertebral artery secondary to obstruction of the subclavian artery at its origin. The symptoms have been relieved by restoration of pressure in the subclavian artery. The hemodynamics are reviewed, and the value of arteriography in cerebral vascular insufficiency is supported.


Background: The aim of this review was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of antibiotic agents in children with COVID-19, as well as to introduce the present situation of antibiotics use and bacterial coinfections in COVID-19 patients. Methods: We searched Cochrane library, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CBM, Wanfang Data and CNKI from their inception to March 31, 2020. In addition, we searched related studies on COVID-19 published before March 31, 2020 through Google Scholar. We evaluated the risk of bias of included studies, and synthesized the results using a qualitative synthesis. Results: Six studies met our inclusion criteria. Five studies on SARS showed an overall risk of death of 7.2% to 20.0%. One study of SARS patients who used macrolides, quinolones or beta lactamases showed that the mean duration of hospital stay was 14.2, 13.8 and 16.2 days, respectively, and their average duration of fever was 14.3, 14.0 and 16.2 days, respectively. One cohort study on MERS indicated that macrolide therapy was not associated with a significant reduction in 90-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47-1.51, P = 0.56) and improvement in MERS-CoV RNA clearance (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.88, 95% CI 0.47, -1.64], P = 0.68). According to the findings of 33 studies, the proportion of antibiotics use ranged from 19.4% to 100.0% in children and 13.2% to 100.0% in adults, despite the lack of etiological evidence. The most commonly used antibiotics in adults were quinolones, cephalosporins and macrolides and in children meropenem and linezolid. Conclusions: The benefits of antibiotic agents for adults with SARS or MERS were questionable in the absence of bacterial coinfections. There is no evidence to support the use of antibiotic agents for children with COVID-19 in the absence of bacterial coinfection.


Consider a foliation in the projective plane admitting a projective line as the unique invariant algebraic curve. Assume that the foliation is generic in the sense that its singular points are hyperbolic. We show that there is a unique positive dd c -closed ( 1 , 1 ) -current of mass 1 which is directed by the foliation and this is the current of integration on the invariant line. A unique ergodicity theorem for the distribution of leaves follows: for any leaf L , appro-priate averages of L converge to the current of integration on the invariant line. The result uses an extension of our theory of densities for currents. Foliations on compact Kähler surface with one or more invariant curves are also considered.


Problem statement: The chemical surfactants have some disadvantages; especially, toxicity and no biodegradability. Approach: Biosurfactants were the structurally diverse group of surface-active molecules synthesize by micro-organisms. The microbial surfactants were interesting, because of the biodegradable and have many applications in industry, agriculture, medicine. Results: In the present study, the production of biosurfactant by three strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PTCC 1074, 1310 and 1430) was investigated. The hemolytic and foam forming activity of different strains were studied and consequently, P. aeruginosa PTCC 1074 was selected as the suitable strain. P. aeruginosa PTCC 1074 was grown in the nutrient broth medium and biosurfactant production was evaluated every 24 h by emulsification index and surface tension for the best of production time. After that, in order to get maximum production of biosurfactant, the selected strain was grown with different additives in nutrient broth and the best culture medium was found. The biosurfactant was isolated from the supernatant and its amphipathic structure was confirmed by chemical methods. Conclusion: Biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PTCC 1074 would be considered as a suitable surfactant in industries due to its low toxicity.


Brands are facing heightened pressure from consumers to address social justice issues via social media channels. However, little guidance has been provided about whether and how a brand should engage in such conversations online. We use a multi-discipline, multi-data, and multi-method approach to clarify the conditions under which social justice activism impacts consumers' brand evaluations, as well as the effective social media response strategies that brands can use. Through secondary data analysis on Twitter and two randomized experiments, we find that social justice activism and brand type (low communal, high communal) interact to affect consumers' brand evaluations. In online contexts that feature social justice activism, consumers evaluate high (vs. low) communal brands less favorably. Yet, in online contexts devoid of social justice activism, these evaluation differences are attenuated. We attribute these findings to differences in the extent to which high versus low communal brands are perceived to comply with relationship norms in a social justice activism context. We show that such differences can be attenuated when brands utilize a high empathy response on social media to engage in social justice conversations. Our findings contribute to the literature on social justice and IS, brand relationships, and crisis communication.


Aim: Different animals are used as experimental models for the hepatic IschemiaReperfusion (IR) injury investigations and for each one of these animal models, many different surgical approaches have been performed. The aim of our study was to establish a new surgical pig model in which a hemi-liver is used to study the pathophysiology of hepatic IR injury. Contro-lateral hemiliver is used as an internal control in the same animal. Methods: Liver ischemia was performed in six pigs by clamping the hepatic artery and vein and the portal vein to isolate the left hepatic lobe. Four hours of warm ischemia were followed by 4-hourrs of reperfusion. Biochemical and hematological analyses were performed throughout the experiments. Needle biopsies were obtained prior to ischemia and then hourly during the reperfusion for evaluation of tissue damage. To assess local temperature gradients on the liver surface a focal plane array detector camera was used. Results: Four hours ischemia induced mild signs of hepatic damage on the left ischemic lobe while more dramatic changes were evidenced after 2-hours reperfusion. Absence of tissue damage was detected on the right lobe. The liver functional test reached their maximum value at 2-4 hours after reperfusion. Conclusion: Our model is easy to perform, feasible and reproducible. This surgical model minimizes biases dependent on the individual response of different animals under the same conditions. In this IR model the new technology of an infrared thermocamera was used to control temperature changes and provide clinically important real-time information during surgery. Abbreviations: IR: Ischemia/Reperfusion; IV: Intravenous; ALP: Alkaline Phosphatase; ALT: Serum Alanine Aminotrasferase; AST: Aspartate Aminotransferase; LDH: Lactate Dehydrogenase; ROI: Region of Interest Citation: Gringeri E, Vadori M, De Benedictis GM, Gatto M, Stefani A, et al. (2019) A Pig Model of Hemivascular Liver Occlusion for The Study of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: Use of an Infrared System for Detecting Ischemic Areas. J Surg 12: 1226. DOI: 10.29011/2575-9760.001226 2 Volume 12; Issue 03 J Surg, an open access journal ISSN: 2575-9760


It is essential to recognize certain laryngeal and hypopharyngeal landmarks in order to choose the most appropriate surgical approach for excision of a tumor in any given site: that the larynx has two embryological origins, branchial and non-branchial, separated by the glottis, that the cartilaginous skeleton and the ossification of the thyroid cartilage provide a means for the spread of endolaryngeal cancer, that the pre-epiglottic region is divided in two by a medial wall and is closely connected to the endolarynx through the hollow vascular channels of the fibro-cartilage of the epiglottis, that the connective intralaryngeal tissue - conus elasticus, anterior commissure ligament, conoid ligament, and the articular capsule of the crico-arytenoid joint - must be taken into consideration to explain the spread of the tumor, that there exists the concept of arytenoid unity, that element of the branchial larynx which must be conserved in any functional oncologic surgery to the larynx and pharynx.


The aim of current study is to measurement and investigate the toxic metals levels in plant-based food collected in Markazi province and human health risk by using inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The levels of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) in all samples were lower than LOD, while level of Cd in potato samples were lower than permitted limit of European commission (EC). The highest mean of toxic metals were observed for lead (Pb) in legume samples (562.17 µg kg− 1). Mercury (Hg) and Pb levels in all samples were higher than LOD, while Pb level in wheat samples were lower than of EC. The rank order of Hg and Pb levels in all samples based on target hazard quotient (THQ) value was wheat > potato > legume. The 95% THQ index of Hg and Pb for adults in wheat samples were 2.59E + 00 and 7.19E-01, in potato samples were 2.07E-01 and 1.64E-01; in legume samples were1.41E-01 and 6.61E-02respectively, while in the case of children, the 95% THQ index of Hg and Pb in wheat samples were 8.90E + 00 and 2.44E + 00; in potato samples were 1.17E + 00 and 5.81E-01; in legume samples were4.77E-01 and 2.20E-01 respectively. The high hazard index values were estimated, indicating a high health risk from consumption of wheat and potato.


Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is a common age-related disease characterized by active calcification of the leaflets of the aortic valve. How innate immune cells are involved in disease pathogenesis is not clear. In this study we investigate the role of the pattern recognition receptor Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) in CAVS, especially in relation to macrophage subtype. Human aortic valves were used for mRNA expression analysis, immunofluorescence staining, or ex vivo tissue assays. Response to TLR7 agonist in primary macrophages and valvular interstitial cells (VICs) were investigated in vitro. In the aortic valve, TLR7 correlated with M2 macrophage markers on mRNA levels. Expression was higher in the calcified part compared with the intermediate and healthy parts. TLR7+ cells were co-stained with M2-type macrophage receptors CD163 and CD206. Ex vivo stimulation of valve tissue with the TLR7 ligand imiquimod significantly increased secretion of IL-10, TNF-α, and GM-CSF. Primary macrophages responded to imiquimod with increased secretion of IL-10 while isolated VICs did not respond. In summary, in human aortic valves TLR7 expression is associated with M2 macrophages markers. Ex vivo tissue challenge with TLR7 ligand led to secretion of immunomodulatory cytokine IL-10. These results connect TLR7 activation in CAVS to reduced inflammation and improved clearance.


The concurrent combination therapy of radiation and chemotherapy was performed in a total of 134 cases of stomach cancer. Radiation response of tumor was remarkable in 35 (37%) of 95 cases, irradiated more than 5,000 rad. Yearly survival rates in 81 cases, in which the scheduled curative treatment was completed, were 63% in one, 31% in two, 21% in three, 17% in four and 13% in five years. These rates were intimately correlated to tumor size and cancer type. However, this combination therapy accompanied some fatal complications in a few percent. From the results, it was concluded that this combination therapy should be valuable to prolong the life of patients high gastric cancer, and that the curable indications for this treatment should be T1-T3: M0 cases with radio-responsive tumor.


ABSTRACT A number of international conservation donors support efforts to encourage conservation indirectly by subsidizing commercial activities. Such plans beg two questions. First, if commercial ventures are expected to be profitable, why is external financing necessary for their initiation? Second, if commercial ventures are not expected to be profitable, could not greater incentives for conservation be generated by making direct payments? We examine these questions in detail. While we find that the practical impediments to instituting a direct payment programme may be substantial, the practical impediments to instituting any effective conservation programme may be substantial. On balance, there is a strong case to be made for greater experimentation with direct payment schemes than heretofore.


Pulmonary artery catheters are frequently used to measure pulmonary vascular pressures, particularly the pulmonary wedge pressure (Pw), which reflects pulmonary venous and ideally left atrial pressures. However, the pulmonary capillary pressure (Pc) is the major force in the formation of pulmonary edema. Unfortunately, Pw has been interpreted as being identical to Pc. In this study we used 7-Fr pulmonary artery catheters to measure effective Pc in closed-chest animals and patients. The decreasing pressure profile after pulmonary artery occlusion was separated into fast and slow components, with the inflection point between them representing Pc. Pc was also estimated by mathematically analyzing the curves in terms of a precapillary resistance, a large pulmonary capillary capacitor, and a postcapillary resistance.In dogs, Pc was determined after pulmonary vascular resistance had been increased by infusing serotonin and histamine. While Pw remained unchanged, serotonin increased pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) 52% and Pc 16%, whereas histamine increased Ppa only 25%, but increased Pc by 35%. This is consistent with studies showing that serotonin primarily elevates precapillary resistance, and histamine increases postcapillary resistance.In thoracic surgery patients, Pc was not consistently related to Pw. This measurement was simple, reproducible, and provided a more precise capillary filtration pressure than Pw. It should be clinically useful in monitoring patients with pulmonary hypertension and adult respiratory distress syndrome, especially those with pulmonary artery catheters.


Abstract Isomorphic pressures are thought to stimulate change and adoption of best practice in risk management (RM). Although this certainly occurs in most industries, it is not occurring in the construction industry. This research investigates institutional isomorphism in the Australian construction industry. In-depth interviews and surveys about the use of current risk tools and techniques (RT&T) by 25 experienced construction project managers (CPMs) were used to examine existing practice. A Delphi survey was conducted to validate these interviews using 11 experienced CPMs. These CPM reconfirmed that coercive and normative pressures created institutional isomorphism and a common approach in managing occupational health and safety (OH&S) risks. In contrast, for other categories of risk, CPMs have decoupled their practice from stipulations in standards by adopting a limited range of predominantly qualitative risk tools and techniques. CPMs, consider it more efficient and effective to rely on accrued experience, teams and external experts because of the unique constraints in construction projects. This research challenges the notion that CPMs are deficient in adopting new paradigms and opens an academic discourse on whether industry-specific project RM standards should be developed.


An in situ single-crystal high-pressure x-ray diffraction study of decagonal Al–Co–Cu up to 19.1 GPa has been performed using diamond anvil cells and synchrotron radiation. Quantitative reciprocal space reconstruction from image plate data was used for data analysis. No significant variations with pressure were observed in Bragg as well as diffuse scattering, indicating the high stability of the quasiperiodic structure in the investigated pressure range. The bulk modulus at zero pressure was determined from fitting a second-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state as K0 = 131(8) GPa. The influence of different crystal orientations on the accessible amount of reciprocal space data is discussed.


Purpose

From social network theory, this study aims to understand how trust is built in a coopetition relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study of a qualitative nature was carried out using several semi-structured interviews with managers of two Brazilian firms involved in a dyadic coopetition relationship.

Findings

Based on the empirical evidence, five categories/themes resulted for understanding trust-building mechanisms: mutual dependence, previous experience and reputation, awareness of the risks of opportunistic behaviour, contractual agreement and dynamic process. The juridical sphere, contractual agreement, was the only one identified in the study where firm representatives presented discordant positions, referring specifically to contractual relations of the terms of the agreement.

Practical implications

The results of this study provide some suggestions for managers. First, before beginning interaction in a coopetition relationship, it is necessary to assess whether the coopetition relation meets the required conditions for interaction to take place. Second, the results suggest that firms should make provision against members of both organizations making the relationship vulnerable to acts of opportunism.

Originality/value

This case study is innovative because it reveals manifestations that could help to enhance knowledge of how organizations build trust in dyadic coopetition relationships.


The current rate of oil palm embryogenesis in the industry ranges from 3 % to 6 %,and is an acknowledged obstacle in scaling up tissue culture production. Isolation of
cDNA candidates that may have potential involvement in the oil palm somatic embryogenesis has been carried out in previous studies. In this study, four oil palm cDNA candidates (EgPER1, EgHOX1, OPSC10 and EgPK1) were chosen for functional analysis studies. Construction of RNAi vectors and rice transformation using the overexpression vectors were performed. The PCR products were amplified
 from full length cDNA candidates that were previously cloned into the intermediate vector, pDONR221 and cloned into pANDA vector with LR clonase enzyme. The positive clones obtained from the LR reaction were screened with PCR in the sense and antisense direction and verified by sequencing. All four cDNA candidates which have been cloned into the overexpression vector, pMDC32 driven by a double
cauliflower mosaic virus (CAMV) were transformed into Taipei 309 rice. The calli transformed with pMDC32/OPSC10 failed to regenerate on normal regeneration medium. The calli had slow growth rate and was stunted, leading to phenotypic aberrations. Modifications of the regeneration medium by completely removing sucrose and adding high cobalt concentration (100 μM) promoted regeneration of
the stunted calli. Although several calli were obtained from the transformation, only one plantlet survived while others displayed albinism and failed to revert to normal
growth on the modified regeneration medium. The plantlet had a drastic increase in height in 14 days once transferred onto the modified regeneration medium. However,
it did not survive outside the tissue culture environment. The putative transformants obtained from the subsequent transformation were screened with PCR using four different sets of primers (nosT, hygromycin, 35 S and gene specific forward). Only one line transformed with pMDC32/EgPK1 showed consistent results with all four primers. Southern blot analysis of PCR products generated using gene specific
primers confirmed that the EgPK1 was successfully integrated into the rice genome. This transformant was phenotypically normal. The results obtained were preliminary but will provide guidance for further analysis of EgPK1 and OPSC10 to verify their functions in oil palm somatic embryogenesis.


In this work, we have designed and synthesized two new non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) based on a thiophene-fused benzothiadiazole (BTT) unit as a π-bridge to connect an indacenodithiophene (IDT) as the central core and 3-otcylrhodanine (A1) or 3-otcyl-2-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)rhodanine (A2) as the terminal group. Compared with the analogous structure of IDT-2BR, which possesses a benzothiadiazole (BT) unit as a π-bridge, the fusion of an aromatic thiophene ring onto the BT unit not only extends the conjugation length, but also stabilizes the quiniod conjugation system, which greatly strengthens the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) effect. Meanwhile, the introduction of an electron-withdrawing ester group at the fused thiophene ring also intensifies the ICT effect, thus leading to more red-shifted absorption and a reduction in the bandgap. Moreover, because the 3-otcyl-2-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)rhodanine unit with a strong electron-withdrawing malononitrile group further strengthens ICT and stabilizes the quinoid structure more than the 3-otcylrhodanine unit, A2 shows a deeper red-shifted absorption compared with A1, which is favourable for improving the light-harvesting efficiency and enhancing the short-circuit current density (Jsc). The photovoltaic performances of organic solar cell (OSC) devices based on A1 or A2 as the acceptor and PTB7-Th as the donor have been investigated in detail. It was found that the device based on A1:PTB7-Th only displays a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.79%, whereas the PCE of the A2:PTB7-Th-based device with 1% DIO reaches 9.07% with a Jsc of over 20.33 mA cm−2, which is one of the highest Jsc values among IDT-2BR-type NFA-based OSCs. This work provides further insight into the structural design of new deep narrow bandgap NFAs with high efficiency in OSCs.


Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral vesicular disease of cloven hoofed animals and poses major constraints to international trade in livestock production. Methods available for detection of FMD virus (FMDV) require specialized laboratory facilities and equipment. In this study, targeted laboratorybased experiments studies were conducted using reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) for detection and serotyping of FMDV under field conditions. Pan-serotypic RT-LAMP utilizing labeled and unlabeled primers was used for detection of the virus. Serotype-specific primers for FMDV serotypes A and O were used to type the positive samples using RT-LAMP. Amplification was observed in real-time for unlabeled primers and by molecular lateral flow devices for labeled primers. Also, gel electrophoresis was used for examination of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) bands. A total of 35 samples (n = 35) were examined using RT-LAMP. Of these, 40% (n=14) were positive from different regions in Tanzania. The positive samples were from Iringa with 29% (n=4), Morogoro with 14.2% (n=2), as well Kilimanjaro, Mara, Tanga, Tabora, Mtwara, Kagera Dar es Salaam and Mwanza with 7.1% (n=1) each. All the panserotypic RT-LAMP positive samples revealed time for positivity ranging from 12-30 minutes. These findings indicate that the standardized RT-LAMP assay reported in this study can be used for field detection of FMDV in suspected FMD outbreaks in Tanzania. These findings suggest a potential use of serotype-specific RT-LAMP for typing FMDV field strains.


This paper presents the comparison results between two new generator configurations. These generator units are namely a field assisted switched reluctance generator (SRG) and a brushless dc (BLDC) generator. No permanent magnets are used in either unit. The field assisted SR generator consists of two magnetically dependent stator and rotor sets (layers), where each stator set includes twelve salient poles with windings wrapped around them, while the rotor comprises of eight salient poles without any winding or permanent magnet. There is a stationary reel, which has the field coil wrapped around it and is placed between the two-stator sets. The BLDC generator is also made up of two magnetically dependent stator and rotor sets, but each stator set includes nine salient poles with windings wrapped around them while, the rotor comprises of six salient poles without any windings or permanent magnets. There is also a stationary reel between the two layers to produce the magnetic field through the motor assembly. This magnetic field travels through a guide to the rotor then the stator and finally completes its path via the generator housing. The generator phase windings for each layer are connect such that all the stator poles in that set can have either north or south pole configuration while the stator poles in the other layer have the opposite pole arrangement. This type of connection can be used in motoring mode as well. To evaluate the performance of the generators, two types of analysis, namely, numerical technique and experimental study have been utilized. In the numerical analysis, three dimensional finite element analysis is employed, whereas in the experimental study, proto-types have been built and tested. Received 8 June 2010, Accepted 19 July 2010, Scheduled 25 July 2010 Corresponding author: H. Torkaman (h firstname.lastname@example.com). 294 Afjei and Torkaman


In this investigation 72 Arbor Acres genotype broiler chickens were subjected to CT examination at the ages of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 weeks. Tried slaughter was then performed and the weight of the filleted breast muscle was recorded. In the evaluation of the CT images produced (6-11 images per broiler) the volume of the breast muscle was determined. The largest muscle area was measured in the plane intersecting the second or the third rib (2nd and 8th week, 6.3 and 34 cm2 respectively). The values obtained for the volume of the breast muscle increased from 21.9 cm3 at 2 weeks to 194 cm3 by the 8th week of life. When the weight of the filleted breast muscle was estimated on the basis of the CT images r values ranging between 0.46 and 0.88 were calculated. The results obtained indicate that the spatial configuration of the breast muscle changes with age. In the first weeks of life muscle growth in the plane intersecting the second and third rib, taken with birds examined lying in a prone position, is characteristic; with advancing age this growth shifts along the longitudinal axis of the animal in the caudal direction.


leviathan, but with the hospital constellation I have described why should not the governors of this constellation be the supreme authority responsible for the whole of the personal health services of their area; domiciliary as well as institutional, nursing as well as medical ? General practitioners could be in contract with them instead of the executive councils, which together with the present regional boards and boards of governors could link arms and descend together, unlamented, into the limbo.-I am, etc.,


The activity of G6PD was examined by spectrophotometric and electrophoretic assays in cell fractions from the testes of mice at different ages (5-62 days). (1) The G6PD activity of the cells of the seminiferous tubule was as high or higher than that of the interstitial tissue. (2) The high G6PD activity of the testis of the immature mouse was mainly due to a high specific activity of the Sertoli cells which declined with age. (3) The G6PD activity was more easily lost during culture from the germinal cells than from the interstitial or Sertoli cells. (4) All the cell types of the testis contained G6PD and hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The functional significance of the high G6PD activity in the Sertoli cells of immature mice is not at present understood.


Abstract Objective: To systematically review evidence from systematic reviews of interventions to improve dietary behaviours and reduce food wastage in secondary school pupils. Design: CINAHL, Cochrane Reviews, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsychINFO and Web of Science were searched for systematic reviews of school-based dietary interventions from 2000 to 2020 published in a peer-reviewed journal in English. Articles were reviewed independently by two authors. AMSTAR-2 was used for quality assessment. Setting: Secondary school dietary interventions. Participants: Adolescents (aged 11–18). Results: In total, thirteen systematic reviews of dietary interventions in secondary schools met the inclusion criteria. A number of key characteristics of interventions that contributed to improvements in food choices in secondary school pupils were identified. These included the combination of education and environmental restructuring, incorporation of computer-based feedback, media or messaging, peer and/or parent involvement, an increase in the availability of healthy foods and the use of behavioural theory as a basis to the intervention. Intervention components that contributed specifically to a reduction in sugar-sweetened beverage intake or an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption, which are particularly relevant to adolescents, could not be determined. Similarly, evidence for interventions that improve nutritional knowledge and attitudes was limited. Conclusions: This systematic review of systematic reviews has identified a number of components of dietary interventions that can be explored to improve dietary behaviours in secondary school environments and, if demonstrated to be effective, be considered for inclusion in policies and strategies to improve the school food environment and promote dietary change.


A series of 21 insecticidal treatments were applied to a blue grass lawn at the Federated Church in West Lafayette on June 9 and 10. At that time adult moths were flying and egg deposition had begun. Plots were 7 ft x 14 ft and the experiment was replicated five times. At the time of application there was a slight breeze from the North. Sprays were applied with boom mounted on bicycle wheel type frame. The sprays were applied at 30 psi. Pressure supplied by a CO2 cylinder. Granules were applied with 7 ft wide John Deere granular applicator. A one inch rainfall occurred 48 hours after the first application. Counts of the number larvae per plot were made on 1/2 of each plot on July 3, August 15 and September 6. A mixture of "Diagnostic Aid" was applied with a sprinkling can and the number of larvae that emerged from the plots were counted.


We present new, high angular resolution (~0.″22) MERLIN observations of neutral hydrogen (H I) absorption and λ21 cm radio continuum emission across the central ~900 pc of the ultraluminous infrared galaxy Arp 220. Spatially resolved H I absorption is detected against the morphologically complex and extended λ21 cm radio continuum emission, consistent with two counterrotating disks of neutral hydrogen, with a small bridge of gas connecting the two. Column densities across the two nuclei are high, lying in the range 8 × 1019Ts(K) ≲ NH ≲ 2.4 × 1020Ts(K) cm-2 (Ts is spin temperature) and corresponding to optical extinctions of 0.052Ts(K) ≲ AV ≲ 0.155Ts(K) mag, with the higher column densities in the eastern nucleus. Velocity gradients are clearly visible across each nucleus, reaching 1010 ± 20 km s-1 kpc-1 in P.A. ~ 55° and 830 ± 20 km s-1 kpc-1 in P.A. ~ 270° for eastern and western nuclei, respectively. These gradients imply dynamical masses MD = 1.1 × 109( i) (E) and 1.7 × 108( i) M☉ (W), assuming that the neutral gas is distributed in two thin circularly rotating disks. We propose a merger model in which the two nuclei represent the galaxy cores that have survived the initial encounter and are now in the final stages of merging, similar to conclusions drawn from previous CO studies. However, we suggest that instead of being coplanar with the main CO disk (in which the eastern nucleus is embedded), the western nucleus lies above it and, as suggested by the bridge of H I connecting the two nuclei, will soon complete its final merger with the main disk. We suggest that the collection of radio supernovae (RSNe) detected in VLBA studies in the more compact western nucleus represents the second burst of star formation associated with this final merger stage and that free-free absorption due to ionized gas in the bulgelike component can account for the observed RSN distribution.


Stereoselective isomerisations of rel-(2R,4S,5R)-4-(2′,5′-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane 1 and the 2∶1 epimeric mixture of rel-(2S,4R,5R)- and rel-(2R,4R,5R)-4-(2′,5′-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolanes 2 and 3 with titanium tetrachloride at –78 °C afford rel-(1R,3R,4S)- and rel-(1S,3R,4R)-4-hydroxy-5,8-dimethoxy-1,3-dimethylisochromanes 25 and 30, respectively. The yields are only moderate owing to the competing influence of the 2′-methoxy group in the starting dioxolanes, and are improved significantly when this group is replaced by a 2′-chloro substituent. rel-(2R,4S,5R)-4-(2′-Chloro-5′-methoxyphenyl)-2,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane 13 under similar conditions is isomerised smoothly to rel-(1R,3R,4S)-5-chloro-4-hydroxy-8-methoxy-1,3-dimethylisochromane 34 as the sole reaction product. In contrast the C-2 epimers rel-(2R,4R,5R)- and rel-(2S,4R,5R)-4-(2′-chloro-5′-methoxyphenyl)-2,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolanes 14 and 15 each favour the formation of rel-(1R,3R,4R)-5-chloro-4-hydroxy-8-methoxy-1,3-dimethylisochromane 36 at –78 °C, while at –95 °C the 1S product 35 predominates. Dioxolane 14 isomerises more rapidly than its C-2 epimer 15, and both these reactions are under kinetic not thermodynamic control.


Propagation of the shock wave generated during pulsed laser ablation in cavities was measured using laser shadowgraph imaging and compared with laser ablation on a flat surface. The cavities were fabricated in fused silica with the same diameter and variable depths to provide aspect ratios (depth/diameter) of 3 and 6. It was found that outside the cavity, after ~30 ns the radius of the expanding shock wave was proportional to t2/5, corresponding to a spherical blast wave as predicted by the Sedov–Taylor solution. The calculated pressures and temperatures of the shocked air outside of the cavities were higher than on the flat surface. The incident energy driving the shock wave outside the cavity was smaller than that on the flat surface; the greater the cavity aspect ratio, the smaller the energy supporting the shock wave. Plasma–wall interactions are discussed to explain the sharp decrease of the energy driving the shock wave outside the cavity.