Leukemia is one type of blood cancer. It mainly attacks the blood, bone marrow etc. One of the subtype of acute leukemia is Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Leukemia is detected by the microscopic analysis of peripheral blood smear. But this microscopic assessment is time consuming and is governed by haematologists. To overcome this drawback automatic screening system for leukemia detection arises. For automatic detection of leukemia in peripheral blood samples, an efficient methodology such as pre-processing, nuclei segmentation, feature extraction, classification is proposed. The advantage of this technique is its simplicity, classification of complete blood smear images and helps to segment and detect nucleated cells. Fourty microscopic blood images were tested and the proposed method obtains 97.56 percentage accuracy for the localization of cells and to separate it from the complete images.


We present the structuring of different graded-index materials in the form of one-dimensional (1D) photonic crystals (PCs) for highly efficient light trapping and controlling photonic devices in terms of tuned and controlled photonic bandgap (PBG) performance. We consider hyperbolic, exponential, and linear refractive index variation in the graded-index layer. We systematically study the influence of structural and grading parameters on the bandgap performance for two different graded photonic crystal (GPC) structures formed by stacking different graded-index layers. Compared with conventional PCs, the GPC bandgaps can be changed and tuned by the refractive index profile of the graded-index layer. We show that the number of bandgaps increases with the graded-index layer thickness and the bandgap frequencies can be tuned by the grading profiles. We observe the sequential increment in bandwidth for the complete PBGs in the GPC structures with linear, exponential, and hyperbolic graded-index materials. We also study the influence of the stacking pattern and grading profiles on the bandgap, phase shift, group velocity, delay time, and field distribution. The proposed GPC configurations facilitate the design of reflectors, multi-channel filters, detectors, and other photonic devices. The study may also provide the basis of understanding of the influence of graded-index materials on the PBG characteristics in the GPCs.


The authors propose TripNet as method for calculating similarities between striated toolmark images. The objective for this system is detecting and comparing characteristics of the tools while being invariant to varying parameters like angle of attack, substrate material, and lighting conditions. Instead of designing a handcrafted feature extractor customised for this task, the authors propose the use of a convolutional neural network. With the proposed system, one-dimensional profiles extracted from images of striated toolmarks are mapped into an embedding. The system is trained by minimising a triplet loss function, so that a similarity measure is defined by the L 2 distance in this embedding. The performance is evaluated on the NFI Toolmark database containing 300 striated toolmarks of screwdrivers published by the Netherlands Forensic Institute. The system proposed is able to adapt to a large range of angles of attack, achieving a mean average precision of 0.95 for toolmark comparisons with differences in angle of attack of 15 ∘ – 45 ∘ . Furthermore, four different triplet selection approaches are proposed and their effect on the retrieval of toolmarks from a database of unseen tools is evaluated in detail.


[1] The University of Southern California (USC) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have jointly developed the Global Assimilative Ionospheric Model (GAIM) to monitor space weather, study storm effects, and provide ionospheric calibration for space weather applications. JPL/USC GAIM is a physics-based 3-D data assimilation model that uses both four-dimensional variational analysis and Kalman-filter techniques to solve for the ion and electron density state and key drivers such as equatorial electrodynamics, neutral winds, and production terms. Here we report on GAIM Kalman filter-based assimilation results using ground-based GPS and COSMIC-derived total electron count (TEC) measurements. We find that assimilating COSMIC measurements into GAIM improves critical ionospheric parameters such as NmF2 and HmF2. Assimilating COSMIC data produces higher-accuracy vertical electron density profile "shapes," as verified by comparisons to independent electron density profiles measured at Arecibo, Jicamarca, and Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar (ISR). We also find significant improvement in global vertical TEC (VTEC) maps when assimilating COSMIC measurements, verified by comparing GAIM output with VTEC measurements from the Jason ocean altimeter. For 3 days in June 2006, improvement in accuracy compared to ground-data-only assimilation is found to be 30%, 28%, and 44%, respectively.


This study examined the extent of cuspal flexure caused by progressively larger cavity preparations, including endodontic access, and progressive simulated occlusal loading with 50N, 100N and 150N. Ten intact extracted maxillary premolars were embedded in acrylic resin, and a small ball was attached to each cuspal tip as a reference point for intercuspal distance measurements. The teeth were subjected sequentially to the following procedures: conservative MO cavity preparation, extensive MO cavity preparation, endodontic access step and MOD cavity preparation. After each cavity preparation procedure, the specimens were subjected to increasing loads of 50, 100 and 150 N, and the intercuspal distance was recorded by means of a digital caliper. The extension of cavity preparation and the magnitude of occlusal load significantly influenced cuspal deflection. After 50 and 100 N loading, a similar cuspal deflection was exhibited by conservative and extensive MO preparations with or without the endodontic access step. With 150 N loading, the endodontic access step was related to a statistically larger cuspal deflection versus the deflection recorded for conservative and extensive MO preparations. The removal of both marginal ridges in MOD cavity preparation with endodontic access produced a dramatic increase in cuspal deflection for the three loads tested.


This paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue the link between organizational cultures on the job performance in the Gulf Council countries companies. The main goal of the paper is to examine empirically the determinants of organizational cultures (structure, strategy, leadership, and high-performance work), and their impacts on job performance. The relevance of the decision of this scientific problem is that organizational cultures are a relevant problem for the companies in the Gulf Council countries. The Investigation of the topic of organizational cultures and the job performance in the paper is carried out in the following logical sequence: The methodological tool of this contribution tries to measure the effect of organizational cultures, structure, strategy, leadership, and high-performance work on job performance. The main purpose of the research is focused on the empirical approach justified by the use of the structural equations. The paper presents the results of an empirical analysis which showed that the effect of organizational cultures, structure, strategy, leadership, and high-performance work exerts positive relationships on job performance. The results found suggest that structure and strategy as indicators of organizational cultures, job performance with a high-performance work practice. The results showed a positive impact between the variables and implied that organizational cultures in the Gulf Council countries companies have a positive and significant relationship with job performance. The results confirm the existence of positive relationship as significant between structure, strategy and job performance in the Gulf Council countries companies. The research empirically confirms and theoretically proves that organizational cultures are significant relationships with job performance. The results of the research can be useful for the Gulf Council countries companies to promote the organizational cultures for good job performance.
Keywords: organizational cultures, strategy, leadership, high-performance work, job performance.


We present results of adsorption measurements for Xe and Ar which confirm experimentally the formation of one-dimensional phases for these gases when adsorbed on the outer surfaces of close-ended single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) bundles. The existence of such phases had been predicted in recent computer simulations, but had remained, until the present work, unconfirmed. Experimental results for Xe and Ar on close-ended bundles of SWNT's are compared to, and found in substantial quantitative agreement with, those obtained in the computer simulation studies. The characteristics of the phases formed appear to be strongly influenced by steric effects.


ABSTRACT IMPACT: The existing literature describing immune-related adverse events (irAE) has predominantly focused on clinical trial populations, which may not be representative of the broader population receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), so we sought to perform a comprehensive evaluation of irAE in a real-world population of cancer patients being treated with ICI. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: With a cohort of patients with malignancy treated with ICI, we characterized incidence, severity, timecourse of ir-AE. We sought to inform providers who prescribe ICI to recognize the clinical burden of irAE in an effort to more effectively communicate the benefits and risks of ICI with patients. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: After obtaining approval from the institutional review board, we used a pharmacy database to identify adult cancer patients treated with an ICI between January 2014 and October 2018. We used electronic medical records to obtain baseline variables. Each patient was followed at each clinic visit for 12 months for development of a physician-reported irAE. For irAE, site and grade were recorded as documented by the provider. At diagnosis and each follow-up visit, we collected: 1) adjustments to ICI, immunosuppression, and hormone therapy. Continuous variables were summarized using mean and standard deviation (SD) or median and interquartile range (IQR). Categorical variables were summarized using frequencies and percentages. Time to development and resolution of irAE were calculated using Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Among 131 patients, two-thirds were men, and 60% were Caucasian with a mean age was 65 years. Nearly 40% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score of 2 or higher. A small proportion (3.1%) had an autoimmune disorder. Nearly half had lung cancer (49.6%), and several had received radiation (33.6%). Over 70% were former or current smokers. In total, 57 patients (43.5%) developed an irAE, resultng in a total of 95 irAE, at a median of 208 days (126 days, not reached). The most common irAE included dermatitis, thyroiditis, pneumonitis, and hepatitis. Of 95 irAE, half were grade 1, 30% were grade 2, and nearly 20% were grade 3 or higher. Median time to resolution was 85 days (56-183 days). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: This study demonstrates that irAE are clinically impactful in this relatively unfit, medically complex population, which may be a more accurate reflection of patients receiving ICI in everyday practice. This study showcases that this population is susceptible to irAE, although this needs to be examined in larger, prospective trials.


Forty-seven extremities with recurrent venous ulceration were treated by subfascial ligation of incompetent perforating veins. The limbs were observed for an average of 8.5 years (range, 0.5 to 13 years). The risk for recurrence was 22%, 41%, and 51% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Patients with bilateral ulceration or prior venous ligation were at the highest risk for recurrence, while those with prior excision of prominent varicose veins had a reduced risk. There has been no loss of limbs or life secondary to this venous problem during the 398 cumulative years of observation.


Summary.  Nattrassia mangiferae is a plant pathogen that is also known as a cause of skin infection in humans. Reports of invasive human infection are extremely rare. A 60‐year‐old‐immunocompetent patient presented with endophthalmitis one week after the left eye was injured by a piece of grass. Cultures of an aqueous tap grew N. mangiferae. The patient responded to oral ketoconazole. This suggests that N. mangiferae may be an invasive pathogen in plant penetration injuries and that ketoconazole may be an alternative treatment, especially in countries with poor resources.


The suitability of Mugil liza for cold smoking was evaluated and the effect of four different salting treatments on physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory characteristics was assessed. The addition of sucrose (3%) and acetic acid (0.5%) to the brine lead to fillet dehydration with lower NaCl penetration, combined with higher reduction of pH. Brining at refrigerated temperature (5 ± 1 ℃) instead of room temperature (16 ± 2 ℃) was more effective in preventing microbial growth. Loads of bacterial groups assessed in all smoked samples were below 100 CFU/g and the aw, moisture, NaCl, and pH values achieved were within the typical stability range of smoked fish products. The obtained products were characterized by the smoked aroma and salty taste, differing in 7 of the 21 evaluated descriptors. The use of acetic acid in brine formulation showed an effect over color and texture descriptors. The affective test indicated the overall acceptability of products, being preferred the samples treated in the lowest NaCl concentration (5%).


The article focusses on the work performed in preparation for an experimental trial aimed at evaluating the impact of a culturally competent robot for care home assistance. Indeed, it has been estabilished that the user's cultural identity plays an important role during the interaction with a robotic system and cultural competence may be one of the key elements for increasing capabilities of socially assistive robots. Specifically, the paper describes part of the work carried out for the definition and implementation of two different robotic systems for the care of older adults: a culturally competent robot, that shows its awareness of the user's cultural identity, and a reference robot, non culturally competent, but with the same functionalities of the former. The design of both robots is here described in detail, together with the key elements that make a socially assistive robot culturally competent, which should be absent in the non-culturally competent counterpart. Examples of the experimental phase of the CARESSES project, with a fictional user are reported, giving a hint of the validness of the proposed approach.


On the cover of this issue is an image taken from the Wellcome Collection. Titled "Dance of death: death and the pedlar", the image shows a skeletal personification of Death picking through a basket of goods. In the basket are included masks, crosses, a deck of cards, swords, and a variety of other items. Published in the 18th Century, it is based on, and an interpretation of a piece in Basel on the Dance of Death. It is black and white and a print produced via etching a plate and using this to print the image.


The postulates of the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH) expresses that the thermalization occurs due to the individual eigenstate of the system's Hamiltonian. But the ETH sheds no light on the dynamics that lead toward the thermalization. In this paper, we observe the thermalization of a Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) confined in an optical lattice potential that is embedded on the harmonic trap. Such optical lattice potential offers local friction to the oscillating BEC. The spread in the temporal density plot of BEC shows the thermalization of the BEC. Moreover, we observe that the presence of a parity–time (PT)-symmetric potential greatly influences the BEC dynamics and the thermalization of the system. The presence of a PT-symmetric potential offers a way to manipulate the mean position of the BEC to a desired location and for a desired length of time.


Background Depression is a growing global problem with significant individual and societal costs. Despite their consequences, depressive symptoms are poorly recognized and undertreated because wide variation in symptom presentation limits clinical identification—particularly among African American (AA) women—an understudied population at an increased risk of health inequity. Objectives The aims of this study were to explore depressive symptom phenotypes among AA women and examine associations with epigenetic, cardiometabolic, and psychosocial factors. Methods This cross-sectional, retrospective analysis included self-reported Black/AA mothers from the Intergenerational Impact of Genetic and Psychological Factors on Blood Pressure study (data collected in 2015–2020). Clinical phenotypes were identified using latent class analysis. Bivariate logistic regression examined epigenetic age, cardiometabolic traits (i.e., body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2, hypertension, or diabetes), and psychosocial variables as predictors of class membership. Results All participants were Black/AA and predominantly non-Hispanic. Over half of the sample had one or more cardiometabolic traits. Two latent classes were identified (low vs. moderate depressive symptoms). Somatic and self-critical symptoms characterized the moderate symptom class. Higher stress overload scores significantly predicted moderate-symptom class membership. Discussion In this sample of AA women with increased cardiometabolic burden, increased stress was associated with depressive symptoms that standard screening tools may not capture. Research examining the effect of specific stressors and the efficacy of tools to identify at-risk AA women are urgently needed to address disparities and mental health burdens.


Panda-X is a liquid xenon dual-phase detector for the Dark Matter Search. The first modestly-sized module will soon be installed in the China JinPing Deep Underground Laboratory in Sichuan province, P.R. China. The cryogenic system is designed to handle much larger detectors, even the final version in the ton scale. Special attention has been paid to the reliability, serviceability, and adaptability to the requirements of a growing experiment. The system is cooled by a single Iwatani PC150 Pulse Tube Refrigerator. After subtracting all thermal losses, the remaining cooling power is still 82 W. The fill speed was 0.75 g/s, but could be boosted by LN2 assisted cooling to 3.3 g/s. For the continuous recirculation and purification through a hot getter, a heat exchanger was employed to reduce the required cooling power. The recirculation speed is limited to 2.9 g/s by the gas pump. At this speed, recirculation only adds 18.5 W to the heat load of the system, corresponding to a 95.2 % efficiency of the heat exchanger.


ewidths are very narrow indicating a high degree of magnetic homogeneity. The films are easily magnetized in-plane since the shape anisotropy is much larger than any other anisotropy, even for small Fe-thickness (n =3ML). The temperature dependence of the second and fourth order magnetic anisotropies' has been studied for a specific sample, Fe4V4. The special interest for this sample is that its Fe-thickness is very close to the critical thickness of n=3 ML where an isotropic in-plane behavior has been recently reported.' A reorientation of the easy axis from the [IOO] to the [ I I O ] in-plane direction as a result of competition between volume K4V// and surface K4S// fourfold anisotropies favoring the [ 1001 or [ 1 IO], respectively, is expected to occur at T=450 K. Finally. a very small stepinduced in-plane uniaxial anisotropy K2// is recorded indicating the existence of very large atomically flat terraces on the sample, supporting the XRD data.


Dietary intake of selenium has been implicated in a wide range of health issues, including aging, heart disease and cancer. Selenium deficiency, which can reduce selenoprotein levels, has been associated with several striated muscle pathologies. To investigate the role of selenoproteins in skeletal muscle biology, we used a transgenic mouse (referred to as i6A-) that has reduced levels of selenoproteins due to the introduction and expression of a dominantly acting mutant form of selenocysteine transfer RNA (tRNA[Ser]Sec). As a consequence, each organ contains reduced levels of most selenoproteins, yet these mice are normal with regard to fertility, overall health, behavior and blood chemistries. In the present study, although skeletal muscles from i6A- mice were phenotypically indistinguishable from those of wild-type mice, plantaris muscles were approximately 50% heavier after synergist ablation, a model of exercise overload. Like muscle in wild-type mice, the enhanced growth in the i6A- mice was completely blocked by inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Muscles of transgenic mice exhibited increased site-specific phosphorylation on both Akt and p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6k) (P < 0.05) before ablation, perhaps accounting for the enhanced response to synergist ablation. Thus, a single genetic alteration resulted in enhanced skeletal muscle adaptation after exercise, and this is likely through subtle changes in the resting phosphorylation state of growth-related kinases.


Using five-laser resonance excitation via the intermediate state 5d6d 1P1, the La+ Rydberg states with n from 23 to 62 have been measured. Based on the eigenchannel quantum defects µα and transformation matrices Uiα, which are calculated from first principles by relativistic multichannel theory, the energy levels of the La+ Rydberg series are calculated within the framework of multichannel quantum defect theory and are in good agreement with the experimental values. With the calculated results we provide clear assignments for the experimental spectra.


The history and activities of the National Technological University (NTU), a consortium of 28 universities that have instructional television (ITV) systems serving educational needs of practicing engineers, are summarized. Then a description is given of how two introductory microwave courses are taught on the NTU network. The production and distribution systems that facilitate the delivery of microwave course material to industrial employees are described, and the methods used to assign homework and conduct examinations are discussed. >


The new Schiff base ligand has been prepared viacondensation reaction of o-aminoacetophenonoximeand3-Ethoxysalicylaldehyde. This ligand has been characterized by different techniques such as, (IR, U.V-Vis) spectroscopy, (1H, 13C) NMR spectra, GC-Mass spectrum and micro-elemental analysis. Its Cr(III), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes prepared and characterized by (IR, U.V-Vis) spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, conductivity measurements and atomic absorption. The ligand acts as monobasic bidentate with (N,O) set donar and coordinates through phenolic group oxygen atom and imine azomethine nitrogen atom. Octahedral geometry structure proposed to Cr(III), Mn(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II) show, while tetrahedral and square planar structures were proposed to complexes of Co(II) and Ni(II), respectively


Cattleya walkeriana, one of the most improved Brazilian Cattleyas, is a popular tropical orchid endemic from Brazil and currently endangered. In the present study, for the first time microsatellite markers were developed for C. walkeriana and their transferability was tested for the species C. loddigesii and C. nobilior. The markers were used for genotyping 26 C. walkeriana specimens from different growers and from different levels of improvement. The transferability was successful, with five polymorphic loci transferred to C. loddigesii and six polymorphic loci to C. nobilior. Eight loci were polymorphic, revealing a maximum of two to ten alleles per locus in C. walkeriana and two to four and two to five in C. loddigesii and C. nobilior, respectively. There was no significant linkage disequilibrium in the studied loci. For C. walkeriana, the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0 to 0.963 and from 0.138 to 0.841, respectively. These markers identified polymorphisms and may be used to study the genetic diversity, gene flow or hybridization of these species.


In this paper it is proposed that relevant information systems which support the activities of planning and decisionmaking must be based upon a thorough and clear analysis of the planning processes adopted. To this end, a general schema which identifies four key elements of a planning problem—opportunities, policies, options, and decisions—is introduced and various alternative planning processes are shown to be particular combinations of these elements and the links between them. Information relevant to the planning problem is influenced by the uncertainty pertaining to factual data and to knowledge concerning the problem in hand. Putting together the elements of the planning process with these various types of information leads to a threefold hierarchy of information systems: those at the bottom level concerned with source-related information; those based on intermediate-level routinised operation, such as diagnostic and scanning systems; and those at the top level which incorporate models and high-level intelligence in the form of decision support. An important implication of this paper is that for the successful design and application of information systems, planners should examine the wider context of their problem, process, and context in which planning takes place before selecting and developing such systems.


Abusive language is a growing concern in many social media platforms. Repeated exposure to abusive speech has created physiological effects on the target users. Thus, the problem of abusive language should be addressed in all forms for online peace and safety. While extensive research exists in abusive speech detection, most studies focus on English. Recently, many smearing incidents have occurred in India, which provoked diverse forms of abusive speech in online space in various languages based on the geographic location. Therefore it is essential to deal with such malicious content. In this paper, to bridge the gap, we demonstrate a large-scale analysis of multilingual abusive speech in Indic languages. We examine different interlingual transfer mechanisms and observe the performance of various multilingual models for abusive speech detection for eight different Indic languages. We also experiment to show how robust these models are on adversarial attacks. Finally, we conduct an in-depth error analysis by looking into the models' misclassified posts across various settings. We have made our code and models public for other researchers1.


Digital cameras are widely used on research vessels to ascertain ice conditions in ice-infested seas. However, geometric distortion of images cannot be avoided if the camera is tilted relative to the sea surface. In this study, the geometric distortion induced by oblique photography was quantitatively estimated based on photogrammetric theory to enable accurate measurement of sea ice features. One accurate method of calculating the ice concentration and floe size was developed, and a corresponding simplified method was also tested. Proper selection of camera system parameters (camera height, tilt, and focal length) cannot only avoid possible errors induced by geometric distortion but also make full use of the image information. Additionally, oblique sea ice images obtained during the 2006 Winter Weddell Outflow Study were investigated using the methods developed here. The results revealed that the geometric distortion of oblique images could be accurately corrected by analyzing each image pixel and that the simplified method could be applied to ensure the precision and efficiency of calculating ice features.


Genomic characterization of recurrent breast and lung tumors developed over the course of 10 years in a 29-year-old patient with a germline p53 mutation (Li-Fraumeni Syndrome) identified oncogenic alterations in the HER2 and EGFR genes across all tumors, including HER2 amplifications, an EGFR-exon 20 insertion, and the first-in-human HER2-V659E mutation showing a phenotypic convergent evolution towards HER2 and EGFR alterations. Following the identification of HER2-activating events in the most recent lung carcinoma and in circulating tumor cells, we treated the reminiscent metastatic lesions with a lapatinib-based therapy. A clinical response both symptomatic and radiologic was achieved. HER2-V659E sensitivity to lapatinib was confirmed in the laboratory.

Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):C114.

Citation Format: Violeta Serra, Ana Vivancos, Xose Puente, Enriqueta Felip, Daniel Silberschmidt, Ginevra Caratu, Josep-Lluis Parra, Leticia De Mattos-Arruda, Judit Grueso, Javier Hernandez-Losa, Joaquin Arribas, Ludmila Prudkin, Paolo Nuciforo, Maurizio Scaltriti, Joan Seoane, Jose Baselga. Clinical response to a lapatinib-based therapy of a Li-Fraumeni Syndrome patient with a novel HER2-V659E mutation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C114.


The dairy chain in Italy experienced substantial structural changes during the past years. Since the introduction of milk quotas in 1984, structural changes caused by consistent reduction of dairy farms, growing brand concentration at wholesale level, and diffusion of private labels at retail level may have altered the competitive market conditions, with increasing price asymmetry and inefficiencies in price transmission. We tested this hypothesis using the McCorriston and Sheldon's successive oligopoly model, and we gave evidences of altered price transmission and consumer's surplus distribution along the vertical chain in the examined period.


Physiological parameters were studied over 4.5 months in normal high-school girls. One group frequently practised autogenic training (AT) whereas the other (control) did not. After 4.5 months the physiology of the AT, but not the control group had changed to some extent. The mean increase in finger skin temperature in the final session was significantly greater in the AT group than in the control group, especially in subjects who experienced hand warmth during AT. No significant differenced between groups were apparent for finger blood flow, but within the AT group the girls who experienced hand warmth showed a significantly greater blood flow than those who did not experience hand warmth. The electroencephalogram (EEG) of the AT group showed significantly more 'slow' (delta and theta) and less fast (alpha and beta) activity than at the beginning of the project. Microvibration (MV) of the thumb did not differ significantly in any comparisons. Both in the AT and control group means there were no significant differences between the periods before, during and after AT although significant changes did occur in some individuals of the AT group in the final session. In particular, in 3 of 14 AT subjects respiration rate decreases markedly even though weekly training had not included any breathing exercies. The results suggest that the effects of AT are predominantly long-term, resulting in gradual physiological changes that are maintained to some extent between practice periods.


During a controlled trial of fibrinolytic therapy in unstable angina, 20 patients were treated in the acute phase with streptokinase (Streptase). A rise in the serum AST and ALT, occurring from 12 to 96 hours after starting treatment, was found in eight of these patients. All eight patients had received a loading dose of 250 000 units of streptokinase, administered intravenously over 30 minutes, as a solution in physiological saline. This was followed by the infusion of 100 000 units per hour for 24 hours. This regimen produced adequate fibrinolysis as assessed by a thrombin time of 2-4 times normal at four hours after the start of treatment in all eight patients. Serum transaminases were estimated by the Boehringer optimised 37°C method for AST and ALT. (Normal levels with this method are 13-42 IU/l for AST and 11-55 IU/l for ALT.) The results in individual patients are summarised below.


Context
Of the 26-million people suffering from heart failure worldwide, 80% require hospitalization for treatment every year. Biomarkers for clinical diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of heart failure may include: (1) growth-stimulating expression gene 2 protein (sST2), (2) blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr), (3) cardiac troponin I (CTnI), and (4) brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNP). At present, few studies have occurred on the expression of those biomarkers in patients with heart failure.

Objective
The study intended to investigate the expression and clinical significance of serum- soluble sST2, BDNF, CTnI, and BUN/Cr in patients with heart failure.

Design
The research team designed a prospective controlled study.

Setting
The study took place at Renmin Hospital at the Hubei University of Medicine in Shiyan, Hubei, China.

Participants
Participants were 108 patients with heart failure who had been admitted to the hospital between March 2020 and March 2021 and 115 healthy individuals who received physical examinations during the same period.

Intervention
The intervention group included the 108 participants with heart failure, and the control group included the healthy individuals. The research team further divided the intervention group into stage II, III, and IV groups, with 23, 65, and 20 patients, respectively.

Outcome Measures
The research team collected and compared the serum levels of sST2, BDNF, CTnI, BUN/Cr, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between the groups. The team used the Pearson correlation analysis to analyze the correlation between each parameter and participants' cardiac function and multivariate logistic regression analysis to analyze the factors influencing heart failure.

Results
No significant differences existed in age, gender, or disease course between the combined intervention groups and the control group at baseline (P > .05). The sST2, CTnI, and BUN/Cr levels of the combined intervention groups were significantly higher than those of the control group postintervention. In addition, the sST2, CTnI, and BUN/Cr levels significantly increased as the disease stage progressed (all P < .05). The levels of BDNF and LVEF in the combined intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group postintervention, with the two parameters having significantly decreased in the intervention groups as the disease stage progressed (all P < .05). The Pearson correlation analysis found that the sST2, CTnI, and BUN/Cr were positively correlated with cardiac function, with r = 0.483, P = .017; r = .521, P = .011; r = 0.321, P = .021; r = 0.271, = .032; and r = 0.632, P = .007, respectively. The BDNF and LVEF were negatively correlated with cardiac function, with r = -0.43, P < .001 and r = -0.39, P < .001, respectively. With heart failure as the dependent variable, the logistic regression analysis showed that the sST2, CTnI, BUN, Cr, and BUN/Cr were the risk factors for heart failure, and the BDNF and LVEF were the protective factors against heart failure.

Conclusions
The serum sST2, CTnI, and BUN/Cr were highly expressed in patients with heart failure, while the expression of BDNF was low. Medical practitioners should pay attention to the risk factors sST2, CTnI, and BUN/Cr, and a higher BNDF indicates a better condition in patients with heart failure.


Is This Art? Fringe Exhibitions began in 1999 as an independent curatorial practice. My primary area of research was the intersection of art, science, and technology. I decided go this route because I was interested in finding a way to engage the contemporary art audience. I was inspired by Eduardo Kac, an artist I first worked with as a curator on an exhibition featuring his "Holopoems". I continued working for several more years organizing exhibitions in university art museums and galleries where support for this type of interdisciplinary work and experimentation was well received and encouraged. The research I conducted for a wide assortment of various projects would dramatically and directly influence the direction and trajectory of my curatorial vision. I wanted to branch out and start something new and different from what was already out there. Fringe Exhibitions opened in the beginning of 2006 as an experimental art gallery in Los Angeles as a project space for cutting edge experiential art. A range of ambitious exhibits were presented along with related programs and events featuring commissioned works, site-specific installations, performance art, robotics, bioart, nanotechnology, sound, light, video, holography, and virtual reality shows that created memorable experiences. To this day I have not come across anything quite like it. http://fringexhibitions.com At the end of 2008 the gallery in Los Angeles closed and I relocated to the Seattle area in Washington. During this transition I began to work completely outside the box with D. V. Rogers an artist from Australia on LAMoves: A Seismic Disaster Machine Action that was a socially driven, art-science installation comprised of a temporary disaster relief camp assembled around an earthquake shake table machine planned for an eight day performance in Pershing Square, Los Angeles during October 2010. Employing social awareness techniques, the project was a cultural engineering exercise attempting to create attention within the downtown Los Angeles community towards encouraging greater earthquake awareness and preparedness as part of the Californian, 'Great ShakeOut'. At the eleventh hour a $21,021 city permit fee prevented the project from happening. http://allshookup.org Another continuous project I am involved with is Lightning on Demand. The goal is to construct the world's largest lightning generator. The project proposes to build two 10 story high Tesla coils that arc 200 feet of lightning. Currently operational, a 1:12 scale model has been built for a series of artistic directed energy projects. http://lod.org Since the beginning of my career I continue to work with Mark Pauline and Survival Research Labs (SRL) producing large-scale robotic performances that rival major popular cultural events. SRL attempts to create new levels of sensory and emotional intensity in concert with artistic expression, ideas are transformed into visceral experiences. http://srl.org For the next Fringe phase perhaps another space with a similar agenda but instead of a store front, a warehouse that holds exhibits for longer runs such as museum length shows of 3-4 months instead of the 5 week run that are routine gallery shows. Currently I am in the process of building an apartment, gallery, and workshop in the basement of my house for artists residencies that will be ready this fall. Collaborations between artists, architects, engineers, scientists, mathematicians, writers, performers, and musical composers inspire creativity and are the wave of the future. This field note is available in The STEAM Journal: http://scholarship.claremont.edu/steam/vol2/iss1/23 Author/Artist Bio Susan Joyce is director of Fringe Exhibitions, an independent curatorial practice dedicated to the support of cutting edge experiential art by creative minds working at the intersection of art, science, and technology. She is also a principal member of Survival Research Laboratories producing exhibits and large-scale mechanical performances. Fringe Exhibitions was an experimental gallery located in Los Angeles; it featured dynamic and challenging projects of an interdisciplinary nature. Now relocated in the Seattle area, Fringe will begin an artist residency and exhibit program this fall. Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. This field note is available in The STEAM Journal: http://scholarship.claremont.edu/steam/vol2/iss1/23


Self-organizing teams are a hallmark of Agile software development, directly a ecting team e ectiveness and project success. Agile software development, and in particular the Scrum method, emphasizes self-organizing teams but does not provide clear guidelines on how teams should become and remain self-organizing. Based on Grounded Theory research involving 58 Agile prac- titioners from 23 di erent software organizations in New Zealand and In- dia, this thesis presents a grounded theory of self-organizing Agile teams. The theory of self-organizing Agile teams explains how software development teams take on informal, implicit, transient, and spontaneous roles and per- form balanced practices while facing critical environmental factors, in order to become self-organizing. The roles are: Mentor, Co-ordinator, Translator, Champion, Promoter, and Terminator. The practices involve balancing free- dom and responsibility, cross-functionality and specialization, and continuous learning and iteration pressure. The factors are senior management support and level of customer involvement. This thesis will help teams and their coaches better understand their roles and responsibilities as a self-organizing Agile team. This thesis will also serve to educate senior management and customers about the importance of supporting these teams


Owing to recent advanced techniques in information and communication technology(ICT), our daily life has been changing very quickly and our life style has also been affected greatly. In the current knowledge and information society, the disabled can have a right to enjoy benefits of advanced ICT technologies. However, there is a barrier called digital divide so that the disabled have some difficulties to communicate to the world with ICT technologies. In this sense, our job is to close digital divide and let the disabled enjoy benefits of ICT technologies. Recently there have been some research works to close digital divide between the disabled and the non-disabled. Among various attempts to close digital divide, improving web accessibility for the disabled is the biggest concern since web is a still representative tool among ICT tools. The purpose of this paper is to propose some practical guidelines for improving web accessibility for the disabled. The proposed improvement guidelines are developed based on the existing web accessibility guidelines and are upgraded for more adaptable to the disabled. Our principles are based on the following philosophy. First, any input transmission must be more confirmed. Second, prevent any instant request. Third, allow the disabled to record or store the contents if necessary. Fourth, reduce physical movement for the disabled. Fifth, provide more interaction tools for the disabled. ☞ keyword : Web Accessibility, the Disabled, Digital Divide


We report on the fabrication of organic-based flexible displays using an amorphous IZO anode grown at room temperature. The IZO anode films were grown by a conventional DC reactive sputtering on the polycarbonate (PC) substrate at room temperature using a synthesized IZO target in a ambient. Both x-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution electron microscope (HREM) examination results show that the IZO anode film grown at room temperature Is complete amorphous structure due to low substrate temperature. A sheet resistance of , average transmittance above 90 % in visible range, and root mean spare roughness of were obtained even in the IZO anode film grown on PC substrate at room temperature. It is shown that the doped flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) fabricated on the IZO anode exhibit comparable current-voltage-luminance characteristics as well as external quantum efficiency and power efficiency to OLED fabricated on conventional ITO/Glass substrate. These findings indicate that the IZO anode film grown on PC substrate is a promising anode materials for the fabrication of organic based flexible displays.


In this article I argue that a desirable future direction for political psychology would be to pay more attention to social-psychological processes involved in the response to innovative laws, in particular those devised with sustainability and environmental protection aims. This involves taking into account the following premises: (1) innovation and change are not unitary phenomena; instead there are different types of innovation; (2) legal and policy innovation is a specific type and is highly central in an era when global challenges are increasingly dealt with by global treaties which are then translated into national laws with a call to transform local practices; (3) offering attention to the reception of such innovation involves developing specific conceptual tools; (4) devising a typology of legal innovation is one step in this direction; (5) furthering our comprehension of how people, groups, and institutions receive--i.e., accept, contest--legal innovation for sustainability is important for helping to push forward sustainability goals, which are legislated but far from attained.The present article outlines theoretical tools for addressing psychosocial processes involved in the reception of legal innovation, drawing mostly on the approach of social representations and the literature of environmental psychology, and offers three criteria for a typology of laws. Finally I present some examples of responses to subtypes of legal innovation from the sustainability domain, taken as an illustrative case, and discuss differences and commonalities in the processes of acceptance and resistance that each mobilizes. Language: en


The efficacy of arsenic trioxide (ATO) against acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and relapsed APL has been well‐documented. ATO may cause DNA damage through the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates. Histone deacetylase inhibitor, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), modulates gene or protein expression via histone dependent or independent pathway that may result in chromatin decondensation, cell cycle arrest, differentiation, and apoptosis. The objective of this study is to investigate whether ATO and SAHA could synergistically enhanced cell killing to cancer cells. The present studies showed that combined treatment with ATO and SAHA results in synergistic cytotoxicity in non‐small cell lung carcinoma H1299 cells. By analyzing the annexin V positive cells, apoptotic cell death is significantly enhanced in combined treatment. By aid of Comet assay, we demonstrated that ATO induces DNA breaks in H1299 cells, but not SAHA. However, co‐treatment with SAHA and ATO significantly increases ATO‐induced DNA damage. At the doses used, ATO does not interfere with the cell cycle progression, whereas SAHA induces the expression of p21WAF1/CIP1 and leads to G1 arrest. Our present results suggest that SAHA may result in G1 arrest, which becomes more susceptible to ATO for causing DNA damage. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):C178.


We prove for a wide class of saturated weakly branch group (including the (first) Grigorchuk group and the Gupta-Sidki group) that the Reidemeister number of any automorphism is infinite.


In an overview of the evolving debates on gender and irrigation in the past two decades, this paper argues that the success of today's policy attention on a blanket policy on gender and irrigation is at the same time its weakness. Two key variations need to be specified for any gender policy to become sufficiently specific to have any teeth. First, gender issues critically differ in female/dual farming systems and male farming systems. Second, water for productive and domestic uses need to be recognized and developed in an integrated way, for both men and women. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Context: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Department of Pathology, Dhaka Medical Collage, Dhaka and Immunology Laboratory, Laboratory Sciences Division of ICDDR,B, Dhaka during a period of 1 year from July, 2007 to June, 2008 to determine the efficacy of endoscopic crush cytology in the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection in gastroduodenal diseases. Clinically suspected cases of gastro-duodenal lesions and who had not taken antibiotics, omeprazole or bismuth salts for at least three weeks prior to endoscopy were selected. Patients who were clinically and endoscopically suspected of having malignancy were excluded from the study. A total of 110 such subjects were consecutively included in the study. The statistics used to analyze the data were descriptive statistics and components of accuracy test. Results: The sensitivity of crush cytology in correctly diagnosing H. pylori of those who had the disease was 89.3%, while the specificity of the test in correctly differentiating those who did not have H. pylori was 92.6% when compared against histopathological examination using Giemsa stain. However, a slightly low sensitivity (86.2%) without compromising with specificity (92.3%) was obtained when the crush cytology diagnosis was compared against histopathological examination using haematoxylin-eosin (H & E) stain. Conclusion: The study concludes that the diagnostic accuracy of crush smear cytology (sensitivity and specificity) for detection of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsy material is comparable to histopathology. Moreover, the technique is very simple, less expensive and less time consuming which gives clinicians added advantage in making a quicker decision. Key words: Cytology; Helicobacter pylori ; Gastroduodenal disease. DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v17i2.6589 J Dhaka Med Coll. 2008; 17(2) : 88-93


The aim of the paper is to compare healthcare-related costs of a 5-day course with fludarabine phosphate i.v. vs a 5-day course with oral fludarabine phosphate in Italian patients with chronic leukemia. A cost-minimization analysis was performed from both Italian National Healthcare Service (INHS) and hospital perspectives. Healthcare-related costs were collected from 2 out of a sample of 28 Ematology wards and included those of drug acquisition, drug preparation, drug administration, reception and discharge of patient before and after drug administration; hospital overheads were calculated as a percentage of the total healthcare-related costs. The reimbursement schemes for acquisition and administration of fludarabine phosphate i.v. were gathered from the whole sample of 28 Ematology wards taken into account. Costs were expressed in euros 2004. When compared to fludarabine phosphate i.v., oral fludarabine phosphate allowed savings ranging from 223,47 euros (hospital perspective) to 477,05 euros (INHS perspective) per patient. As far as hospital perspective was concerned, savings associated with oral fludarabine phosphate were due to hospital overheads (115.1%), drug preparation (19.6%), drug administration (17.3%), reception and discharge of patient before and after drug administration (2.9%), whereas costs for drug acquisition was higher for oral formulation (-54.8%). When INHS perspective was taken into account, 3 out of 28 Ematology wards (11%) were reimbursed on a drug-plus-outpatient-drug-administration-basis, whereas 25 out of 28 Ematology wards (89%) were reimbursed on a day-hospital-stay-basis. Savings associated with oral fludarabine phosphate were due to day-hospital stay (253.4%), outpatient drug administration (1.1%), whereas cost for drug acquisition were higher for oral formulation (-154.5%). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of basecase results. Savings associated with oral fludarabine phosphate may be of relevant interest for INHS policies aimed at reducing public expenditure for drugs in Italy.


In this article, I explore two contending claims in the literature on LGBTQ organizing in the Global South. Whereas some theorists argue that LGBTQ groups in the Global South uncritically apply "Western" understandings of sexuality in their LGBTQ organizing, others claim that a global LGBTQ identity and community truly exists, which despite taking on different forms, follows one similar "developmental" trajectory. Drawing on the cases of the two Lebanese LGBTQ social movement organizations (SMOs) Helem and Meem, I argue that the present literature homogenizes such organizations and does not account for the complexities, differences and diversities in their activism. By analyzing their respective websites, online publications and published online speeches from 2004 to 2011, I argue that Meem and Helem's different strategic choices and definitions of collective queer identities both simultaneously contest and engage with dominant models of Euro-American LGBTQ organizing. I illustrate that, despite their different organizing strategies, both Helem and Meem attempt to remain rooted in a local context by highlighting their multiple positions and intersectional struggles. In addition, I show that geopolitical context plays a central role in their collective identity deployment since the two groups highlight different aspects of themselves in relation to local and global audiences. Finally, I use this case to point out the limitations of the present literature and the need for research that operates with a more complex sense of LGBTQ groups in the Global South.


OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether an individualized cyclic pressure-relief protocol accelerates wound healing in wheelchair users with established pressure ulcers (PrUs). DESIGN: Randomized controlled study. SETTING: Spinal cord injury clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-four subjects, aged 18-79 years, with a Stage II or Stage III PrU, were randomly assigned to the control (n = 22) or treatment (n = 22) groups. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects in the treatment group used wheelchairs equipped with an individually adjusted automated seat that provided cyclic pressure relief, and those in the control group used a standard wheelchair. All subjects sat in wheelchairs for a minimum of 4 hours per day for 30 days during their PrU treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Wound characteristics were assessed using the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) tool and wound dimensions recorded with digital photographs twice a week. Median healing time for a 30% healing relative to initial measurements, the percentage reduction in wound area, and the percentage improvement in PUSH score achieved at the end of the trial were compared between groups. RESULTS: At the end of 30 days, both groups demonstrated a general trend of healing. However, the treatment group was found to take significantly less time to achieve 30% healing for the wound measurement compared with the control group. The percentage improvement of the wound area and PUSH scores were greater in using cyclic seating (45.0 ± 21.0, P < .003; 29.9 ± 24. 6, P < .003) compared with standard seating (10.2 ± 34.9, 5.8 ± 9.2). CONCLUSIONS: The authors' findings show that cyclically relieving pressure in the area of a wound for seated individuals can greatly aid wound healing. The current study provides evidence that the individualized cyclic pressure-relief protocol helps promote pressure wound healing in a clinical setting. The authors concluded that the individualized cyclic pressure relief may have substantial benefits in accelerating the healing process in wheelchair users with existing PrUs, while maintaining the mobility of individuals with SCI during the PrU treatment.


Slow cortex responses to several frequencies were recorded in guinea pigs before and after intense impulse noise exposure. Guinea pigs were decapitated 90 minutes after the exposure. Besides scanning electron microscopic analysis of cochleas, activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and SDH in the stria vascularis (SV) corresponding to 4 kHz were studied with histochemical methods under light microscope. Densities of histochemical reaction products and cross sections of the SV were measured with image analysis system. Activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and SDH in the SV decreased significantly in PTS group (P less than 0.01, P less than 0.05). There was no significant change in TTS group. It revealed that decrease of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and SDH in the SV may contribute to remarkable hearing threshold shift besides mechanical destruction by noise. Metabolic disturbance may aggravate hair cell damage. Direct damage of the SV caused by intense impulse noise may be one of the causes of PTS.


Three fatal cases of infections that followed total joint replacement are repoarted, in each of which a hematogenous source of infection was identified. There also were five non-fatal cases presumable arising hematogenously which were reported in the literature. It is emphasized that concomitant disease, including active rheumatoid arthritis, may predispose to this complication.


The research project presented in this study aimed to study the effect of bolt numbers and patterns on protected and unprotected concealed steel-glulam hybrid connections. Fifteen full-scale wood-steel-wood (WSW) connections were experimentally examined: five ambient and ten fire resistance experiments. Four and six steel bolts in two different patterns were arranged to form four different connection configurations that were experimentally examined. Also, each connection configuration was tested with and without fire protection of the steel components using wood plugs. Ambient specimens were tested under gradually increased monotonic loads until failure; whereas the other specimens were subjected to elevated temperatures that followed CAN/ULC-S101 standard fire, while being loaded to 100% of the ultimate design load capacity of the weakest connection configuration. The experimental results revealed that, the protected connections exhibited a failure time that is about 20 minutes more than that of the unprotected connections.


Pulmonary alveolar echinococcosis (AE) caused by the metacestode of Echinococcus multilocularis is a lethal zoonosis and is a lesion secondarily induced by hematogenous dissemination from hepatic AE lesions. In the present study, a hematogenous pulmonary AE model was experimentally induced in rats by the injection of echinococcal larval tissue homogenate to the tail vein, and then the pathological and diagnostic aspects of pulmonary AE were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Histological primary, mature and degenerated AE lesions were observed 5, 18 and 50 weeks after injection, respectively. These lesions were discriminated as signal-void, hypointense and hyperintense regions in T1-weighted MRI (T1WI), respectively. The change in signal intensity in T1WI might reflect the content of proteinaceous fluid as a result of AE cyst degeneration. Western blot analysis of sera with antibodies of two epitopes (Em18 and Em16) of E. multilocularis provided evidence for AE infection in the early stage. T1WI in combination with Western blot analysis could possibility become definitive and early signs of hematogenous pulmonary AE infection.


This is a commentary on Preis et al.'s (2020) article "Improving Assessment, Treatment, and Understanding of Pregnant Women With Opioid Use Disorder: The Importance of Life Context," which I have w...


This paper argues that many exact and heuristic methods have common structure that permits some degree of unification. It interprets solution algorithms as primal–dual methods in which the primal component searches over problem restrictions, and the dual component obtains bounds on the optimal value. In particular, the concept of an inference dual provides the basis for constraint-directed search, which is a feature of many exact and heuristic methods. The motivations for unification are (a) to encourage the exchange of algorithmic techniques between exact and heuristic methods and (b) to design solution methods that transition gracefully from exact to heuristic modes as problem instances scale up.


BACKGROUND
Laparoscopic splenectomy has been demonstrated to be technically feasible and safe for the treatment of hematologic diseases.

METHODS
The study comprised 64 consecutive patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) who were admitted to our hospital from 1992 to 2000 and underwent laparoscopic splenectomy. Forty-one consecutive patients with ITP who underwent open splenectomy performed at the same hospital by the same surgical team between 1986 and 2000 were selected as the control group.

RESULTS
We performed laparoscopic splenectomies for ITP, hereditary spherocytosis (HS), malignant lymphoma, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and cryoglobulinemia. Laparoscopic surgery as compared with open surgery in ITP revealed a significantly lower pain medication requirement, an earlier resumption of oral intake, and a shorter hospital stay, but a longer operative time. During the present study (range: 3.8-80 months), the cumulative rate of nonrecurrence was 67.9% at 5 years after surgery, which was similar to the rate for the previous open splenectomy.

CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic splenectomy is considered to be a suitable alternative therapeutic modality in the treatment of hematologic diseases.


Introduction: Previous studies highlighted the importance of phosphate depletion in COPD patients and the association between correction of hypophosphatemia and improvement in respiratory muscle function. Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23) is a recently discovered circulating protein that plays a crucial role in renal phosphate reabsorption and body phosphate regulation. FGF23 has been investigated in several diseases but there is currently no published data about FGF23 in COPD.

Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether FGF23 levels correlate with serum phosphate levels and disease severity in COPD patients.

Methods: 70 COPD patients aged 63.0±4.6 years and 34 age and sex matched randomly selected controls were studied. Criteria for diagnosing COPD and assessing severity were according to GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) guidelines. Serum samples were analyzed for routine tests including calcium, phosphate, renal/lytes, and FGF23 levels were measured by a commercially available Eliza kit.

Results: There were no differences in serum calcium and Vitamin D levels in COPD patients and controls (P > 0.05). COPD patients had significantly lower serum phosphate levels compared to controls (P< 0.01). Plasma FGF23 was significantly higher in patients compared to controls: 280 (51-968) versus 140 (21-200) RU/ml (P < 0.001). As expected plasma FGF23 levels correlated negatively with serum phosphate (r = -0.799 & P< 0.001). Furthermore plasma FGF23 correlated negatively with FEV1 (r = -0.352 & P = 0.003)

Conclusion: This study illustrates a significant increase in plasma FGF23 levels that may contribute to low phosphate levels and disease severity in COPD patients.


This article gives a new approach to aggregating assuming that there is an indistinguishability operator or similarity defined on the universe of discourse. The very simple idea is that when we want to aggregate two values a and b we are looking for a value l that is as similar to a as to b or, in a more logical language, the degrees of equivalence of l with a and b must coincide. Interesting aggregation operators on the unit interval are obtained from natural indistinguishability operators associated to t-norms that are ordinal sums. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 21: 857–873, 2006.


Zirconium (Zr)-based porphyrinic metal-organic frameworks (PCN-223-M) were employed as the electrocatalysts to explore the effect of uncoordinated Zr sites on the performance of the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). PCN-223-AA with the lowest uncoordinated number of 0.79 exhibited the highest FE(CO) of 90.7%. It was demonstrated that the catalytic performance of PCN-223-M showed negative correlation to the uncoordinated Zr sites. This research provided a rational strategy to design efficient MOF electrocatalysts with few uncoordinated metal sites for highly selective CO2RR.


Host innate immunity can affect the clinical outcomes of Helicobacter pylori infection, including gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastric adenocarcinoma, and MALT lymphoma. Nucleotide binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-1 and -2 are two molecules of innate immunity which are involved in the host defense against H. pylori. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the expression level of NOD1 and NOD2 on the susceptibility to gastric cancer as well as peptic ulcer in individuals with H. pylori infection. The gene expression levels of these molecules were compared in three groups of non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) as a control group (n=52); peptic ulcer disease (PUD), (n=53); and gastric cancer (GC), (n=39). Relative expression levels of NOD1 in patients with GC were higher than those of NUD and PUD (p<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). Similarly in case of NOD1, PUD group showed higher level of expression than NUD group (p<0.01). However, there was no significant difference between H. pylori -positive and -negative patients in NUD, PUD, or GC groups. Moreover, the expression levels of NOD2 showed no significant difference among NUD, PUD, or GC groups, while among H. pylori-positive patients, it was higher in GC group than NUD  and PUD groups (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). In addition, positive correlation coefficients were attained between NOD1 and NOD2 expressions in patients with NUD (R2 Linear=0.349, p<0.001), PUD (R2 Linear=0.695, p<0.001), and GC (R2 Linear=0.385, p<0.001). Collectively, the results suggest that the chronic activation of NOD1 and NOD2 receptors might play a role in the development of gastric cancer.


Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal chronic lung disease. Heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1/HO-1) is an enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of heme. The role of HO-1 in the pathogenesis of IPF has been studied; however, the molecular regulation of HO-1 and its role in IPF are still unclear. In this study, we found that HO-1 protein levels significantly increased in lung myofibroblasts in IPF patients and in lungs in a murine model of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. In addition, we observed that administration of a E2F transcription factor inhibitor elevated HO-1 mRNA and protein levels in lung fibroblasts. Downregulation of E2F2 by siRNA transfection increased HO-1 mRNA and protein levels, while overexpression of E2F2 reduced HO-1 levels. However, overexpression of E2F2 did not alter hemin-induced HO-1 protein levels. Furthermore, modulation of HO-1 levels regulated TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast differentiation without altering the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 in lung fibroblast cells. Moreover, the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) was significantly upregulated in HO-1-depleted lung fibroblast cells. In summary, this study demonstrated that E2F2 regulates the baseline expression of HO-1, but has no effect on modulating HO-1 expression by hemin. Finally, elevated HO-1 expression contributes to the TGF-β1-induced lung myofibroblast differentiation through the activation of the serine/threonine kinase AKT pathway. Overall, our findings suggest that targeting E2F2/HO-1 might be a new therapeutic strategy to treat fibrotic diseases such as IPF.


After the rollout of Space Shuttle Discovery in April 2005 in preparation for return-to-flight, there was a failure of the Orbiter (OV-103) helium signature leak test in the gaseous hydrogen (GH2) system. Leakage was attributed to the Flow Control Valve (FCV) in Main Engine 3. The FCV determined to be the source of the leak for OV-103 is designated as LV-58. The nitrile/Buna N rubber O-ring seal was removed from LV-58, and failure analysis indicated radial cracks providing leak paths in one quadrant. Cracks were eventually found in 6 of 9 FCV O-rings among the three Shuttle Orbiters, though none were as severe as those for LV-58, OV-103. Testing by EM10 at MSFC on all 9 FCV O- rings included: laser dimensional, Shore A hardness and properties from a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) and an Instron tensile machine. The following test data was obtained on the cracked quadrant of the LV-58, OV-103 O-ring: (1) the estimated compression set was only 9.5%, compared to none for the rest of the O-ring; (2) Shore A hardness for the O.D. was higher by almost 4 durometer points than for the rest of the O-ring; and (3) DMA data showed that the storage/elastic modulus E was almost 25% lower than for the rest of the O-ring. Of the 8 FCV O-rings tested on an Instron, 4 yielded tensile strengths that were below the MIL spec requirement of 1350 psi-a likely influence of rubber cracking. Comparisons were made between values of modulus determined by DNA (elastic) and Instron (Young s). Each nitrile/Buna N O-ring used in the FCV conforms to the MIL-P-25732C specification. A number of such O-rings taken from shelf storage at MSFC and Kennedy Space Center (KSC) were used to generate a reference curve of DMA glass transition temperature (Tg) vs. shelf storage time ranging from 8 to 26 years. A similar reference curve of TGA onset temperature (of rubber weight loss) vs. shelf storage time was also generated. The DMA and TGA data for the used FCV O-rings were compared to the reference curves. Correlations were also made between the DMA modulus (at 22 C) and Shore A hardness for all 9 of the FCV O-rings used among the three Shuttle Orbiters. The radial cracking in the FCV O-rings was determined to be due to ozone attack, as nitrile/Buna N rubber is susceptible to such attack. Nitrile/Buna N material under MIL-P25732C should be used in a hydraulic fluid environment to help protect it from cracking. However, the FCV O-rings were used in an air only environment. The FCV design has as much as a 9-mil gap that allows the O.D. of the O-ring to be directly exposed to ozone, pressurized air and some elevated temperatures, accelerating the weathering process that leads to O-ring cracking. Space Shuttle flights will likely not continue past 2010. Therefore, Shuttle management decided to continue using the nitrile/Buna N material for the FCVs, but have each O-ring replaced after 3 years to minimize any chances for crack initiation.


An hybrid membranes based on functional GO nanosheet for selective adsorption lithium from compound was great potential. Here, a simple and efficient methodology was reported to obtain high stability, selectivity, and antifouling properties. More importantly, we studied the selective adsorption capacity of the fabricated membranes to lithium under a high magnesium and low lithium environment. The results showed that the fabricated membrane exhibited excellent lithium adsorption and highly selective adsorption efficiency. The fabricated membranes presented a relatively lower contact angle (67.226°) and a higher membrane flux (13.62 mL cm−2 min−1), which indicated that the fabricated membrane had a high hydrophilicity because the presence of carboxylic and hydroxyl groups of GO could enhance the interaction between the membrane and water. Moreover, the perm-selectivity results (β values were greater than 7) and regeneration ability (90.9% of the maximum adsorption capacity was retained after 10 cycles) were shown. The overall results suggested that functional GO can be considered as an effective additive for inorganic–organic composite membranes for the selective adsorption of lithium. It is worth mentioning that this methodology can be applied to selectively identify and adsorb lithium and is environmentally friendly, as it does not lead to secondary pollution.


Introduction. There is limited data evaluating physician transfusion practices in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Methods. A web-based survey was sent to 500 gastroenterologists and hepatologists across Canada. The survey included clinical vignettes where physicians were asked to choose transfusion thresholds. Results. The response rate was 41% (N = 203). The reported hemoglobin (Hgb) transfusion trigger differed by up to 50 g/L. Transfusions were more liberal in hemodynamically unstable patients compared to stable patients (mean Hgb of 86.7 g/L versus 71.0 g/L; p < 0.001). Many clinicians (24%) reported transfusing a hemodynamically unstable patient at a Hgb threshold of 100 g/L and the majority (57%) are transfusing two units of RBCs as initial management. Patients with coronary artery disease (mean Hgb of 84.0 g/L versus 71.0 g/L; p < 0.01) or cirrhosis (mean Hgb of 74.4 g/L versus 71.0 g/L; p < 0.01) were transfused more liberally than healthy patients. Fewer than 15% would prescribe iron to patients with UGIB who are anemic upon discharge. Conclusions. The transfusion practices of gastroenterologists in the management of UGIB vary widely and more high-quality evidence is needed to help assess the efficacy and safety of selected transfusion thresholds in varying patients presenting with UGIB.


The formation of the liver cirrhosis (LC) is an unfavorable event of the natural history of chronic liver diseases being accompanied by complications that often cause a fatal outcome. The study of the effectiveness of drugs that affect various etiopathogenetic mechanisms of this condition is an urgent problem of modern hepatology.The aim of the review was to show the role of antiviral therapy (AVT) in the management of patients with LC associated with chronic HBV (hepatitis B virus) and HCV (hepatitis C virus) infection.PubMed database, Google Scholar search engine, Cochrane Systematic Reviews, eLIBRARY.RU electronic scientific library, as well as the reference lists of articles were used to search for scientific articles. The relevant objectives of the review of the publications were identified for the period since 2000 up to 2021 by the search queries as following: «liver cirrhosis», «liver fibrosis», «chronic HBV infection», «chronic HCV infection», «portal hypertension», «treatment». The inclusion criteria were restricted to the management of patients with LC associated with chronic HBV and HCV infection.Current guidelines recommend indefinite treatment of patients with HBV-associated LC with nucleos(t)ide analogues regardless of serum HBV DNA levels, while the modern concept of using direct-acting antiviral drug combinations has become the standard treatment for HCV-associated cirrhosis. Studies have shown the ability of AVT to inhibit and reverse fibrotic processes in LC associated with chronic HBV and HCV infection. It has also been reported that HBV/HCV eradication prior to orthotopic liver transplantation improves long-term overall survival.This, in turn, can reduce the severity of portal hypertension and decrease the risk of associated complications, as well as normalize liver function. Thus, ensuring the availability of drugs for those in need of AVT will not only help prevent the development of LC, but also improve the quality of life and increase its expectancy of patients suffering from this disease.


Abstract. The Gray Fossil Site is a rich Hemphillian (North American Land Mammal Age) locality in northeastern Tennessee, USA, and has produced tens of thousands of fossils of multiple taxa including hundreds of individual snake skeletal remains. One of only five sites of similar age east of the Mississippi River, the Gray Fossil Site is crucial to our understanding of snake evolution and diversity. Microfauna were collected by screenwashing sediment and picking under a microscope. Specimens were identified using a suite of measurements and characters. Analyzed here are vertebral fossils identified as belonging to various colubrid taxa including Worm Snakes (Carphophis sp.), Ring-Necked Snakes (Diadophis sp.), Hook-Nosed Snakes (Gyalopion sp.), and Hognose Snakes (Heterodon meadi sp. nov.). Carphophis sp. and Gyalopion sp. represent first occurrences in the Mio-Pliocene and dramatically extend their temporal range from the Pleistocene. The four snakes, including one new species, are in accordance with the previously identified taxa by Jasinski and Moscato (2017; Journal of Herpetology 5:245–257), represent a modern assemblage of advanced snakes by the Mio-Pliocene and support a forested environment in northeastern Tennessee.


This thesis explores the subjective experiences of patients and carers living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a degenerative respiratory condition. It aims to improve understanding of the illness trajectory experienced by sufferers as they respond to the physical and psychological impact of COPD on their body, selfidentity, relationships and daily living. The illness COPD is poorly recognised by health policy makers, the media, health professionals and patients alike, despite being predicted to become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2020. Even less is known about the lived experience of COPD as perceived by the individuals themselves. A qualitative approach based on symbolic interactionism was employed to collect and analyse narrative data obtained from a purposive sample of 53 patients with moderate to severe COPD and 15 family carers. Exploration of the illness trajectory through narratives recounted by patients and carers highlighted the impact of COPD on their lives. The study identified conceptual illness phases experienced by patients as: the early days, adapting to changes in self and lifestyle, the daily struggle and living with severe COPD: fears and facing the future. Individuals revealed how they perceived their disabled body, dependency on others, and the cumulative life losses they experienced, together with feelings of vulnerability, as contributing to a sense of altered self and identity. The illness phases were reflected in the role of the relative who moved through the transitional phases from being a caring relative to a care-giving relative, caring through crisis periods, and eventually becoming a full-time carer. The study provides insights into the perceived issues and concerns of patients and carers living with the consequences of COPD. It may provide lessons for health professionals, which will contribute to more appropriate and acceptable healthcare to support patients with COPD and their carers.


Almost all empirical research reveals that social capital is a factor that enhances public goods, but scholars are divided into two strands of thought. According to the first strand, the enhancement of public goods does not need any network of social relations while, according to the second, enhancement depends on the existence and good functioning of relational networks, to the point that it consists in the creation of social networks. Which one is right? In order to clarify the issue, one should ask: can a social relation have any added social value? If so, how can we conceive of the added social value of social relations, and how can we measure it? The Author claims that the added social value of social relations can be observed in those processes through which social capital and public (relational) goods (re)generate or elide each other. These processes can be analyzed as morphogenetic cycles that work in temporal sequences and are not circular or recursive. By adopting this perspective, we can see and measure the added social value of social relations in primary and secondary networks, leading to the emergence of public goods. The relational approach can give abundant evidence as to how and why different public goods are produced and/or enhanced depending on the different added social value of the social relations that constitute them.


Development
in adolescence puts youth in direct contact with social systems, thereby
increasing exposure to systemic traumas. The present article aims to advance systemic
trauma theory as part of a new development-based trauma framework (DBTF). It
examines discrimination and backlash against Muslim Americans as an example of
a multi-systemic trauma to investigate its mental health ramifications. Measures
of cumulative trauma, backlash trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder,
Adolescent Psychopathy Scales (APS), annihilation anxiety, and cumulative
trauma disorders were administered to 224 Iraqi refugee adolescents. Partial
correlation and hierarchical multiple regression results indicated that
backlash was associated with the most negative mental health outcomes as compared
to other trauma type seven after controlling for overall life trauma. The
validity and utility of the proposed theoretical framework and the clinical
implications of negative mental health effects of multi-systemic traumas on
refugee adolescents were discussed.


Arterial blood pressure regulation is controlled by nerval, hormonal and myogene processes. Short term blood pressure regulation is dominated by nerval regulations, mainly circulatory reflexes. The carotid sinus reflex can be experimentally influenced by the application of neck pressure or suction. thereby it is possible to investigate baroreceptor function with non- pharmacological interventions. We designed a computer controlled system which allows a heart beat triggered application of positive and negative neck cuff pressures for the investigation of blood pressure control during sleep. The new system was optimized to apply multiple user defined steps of external pressure. The system was used with young healthy students to show whether it was possible to determine baroreceptor function during sleep without causing sleep fragmentation and proved to be successful.


In this paper, we introduce a design framework for variable gain integral controllers with the aim to improve transient performance of linear motion systems. In particular, we focus on the well-known tradeoff introduced by integral action, which removes steady-state errors caused by constant external disturbances, but may deteriorate transient performance in terms of increased overshoot. We propose a class of variable gain integral controllers (VGICs), which limits the amount of integral action if the error exceeds a certain threshold, in order to balance this tradeoff in a more desirable manner. The resulting nonlinear controller consists of a loop-shaped linear controller with a variable gain element. The utilization of linear controllers as a basis for the control design appeals to the intuition of motion control engineers therewith enhancing the applicability. For the add-on part of the nonlinear variable gain part of the controller, we propose an optimization strategy, which enables performance-optimal tuning of the variable gain based on measurement data. The effectiveness of VGIC is demonstrated in practice on a high-precision industrial scanning motion system.


This letter presents the study of integrating meshed patch antennas directly onto the solar cells of a small satellite to save valuable surface real estate. The cover glass of the solar cell is used as the substrate for the antennas. The integrated patch antennas are designed to have sufficient optical transparency to ensure the proper functionality of the solar cells. A prototype meshed patch antenna is designed and integrated on after-market solar cells. The antenna has an optical transparency of 93%, and the measurements agree well with the design.


Budding speciation involves isolation of marginal populations at the periphery of a species range and is thought to be a prominent mode of speciation in organisms with low dispersal and/or strong local adaptation among populations. Budding speciation is typically evidenced by abutting, asymmetric ranges of ecologically divergent sister species and low genetic diversity in putative budded species. Yet these indirect patterns may be unreliable, instead caused by postspeciation processes such as range or demographic shifts. Nested phylogenetic relationships provide the most conclusive evidence of budding speciation. A putative case of budding speciation in the serpentine endemic Clarkia franciscana and two closely related widespread congeners was studied by Harlan Lewis, Peter Raven, Leslie Gottlieb, and others over a 20‐year period, yet the origin of C. franciscana remains controversial. Here, we reinvestigate this system with phylogenomic analyses to determine whether C. franciscana is a recently derived budded species, phylogenetically nested within one of the other two putative progenitor species. In contrast to the hypothesized pattern of relatedness among the three Clarkia species, we find no evidence for recent budding speciation. Instead, the data suggest the three species diverged simultaneously. We urge caution in using contemporary range patterns to infer geographic modes of speciation.


ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to describe and analyze how school leaders as key actors in policy enactment understand, talk about and act in relation to Newly Arrived Migrant Students (NAMSs) enrolled in a separate Language Introduction Program in Sweden. Drawing on the work of Stephen J. Ball and colleagues, we argue that a particular discursive formation of NAMSs, operating within constrains of various contextual factors, has a decisive impact on how policy as text is interpreted and enacted. Discursively formulating NAMSs as having multiple challenges, beyond Swedish language and insufficient grades, introduces various barriers. Policy flexibility in combination with power disparities thus allows school leaders, framed within legitimacy of 'rational explanations' and 'affirmative intentions', to negotiate policy meanings which are not always working in the students' best interests. Our empirically grounded and theoretically informed discussions showcase why there can be no inclusive education if NAMSs, during a protracted period, are physically, pedagogically and socially separated from mainstream structures. Consequently, and with the support in international research, we call for the overhaul of organizational approaches that allocate Newly Arrived Migrant Students to separate educational forms.


A plane probe acting simultaneously as an RF impedance probe and a DC probe has been used for studying the collision-dominated plasma of a glow discharge. The conventional probe methods are suitably modified so as to take into account the effect of the presheath lying between the probe sheath and the undisturbed plasma. Measurements of the electron temperature and electron density have been carried out under different discharge conditions. It is found that the electron temperatures, as given by the RF and DC methods, are in excellent agreement, while the corresponding electron densities differ by a factor of 2-3. The thickness of the positive-ion sheath formed in front of the probe has been determined by the impedance method; the variation of the thickness with sheath voltage, discharge current or operating pressure is as expected.


A conceptual design is proposed for an effective mine countermeasure (MCM) system, which consists of three unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and 10-20 small charged deliverable vehicles. New underwater optical communication systems are introduced to improve onboard mine reconnaissance and decision making with the key technologies focused on system and communication efficiency, capability of data processing, and cost-effectiveness of MCM systems. The proposed UUV MCM system is cost-effective due to adapting disposable mine neutralization instruments, upgrading data process units, and configuring optical communication systems between heterogeneous underwater and surface vehicle units in operations. At the same time, efficient and reliable underwater optical and electromagnetic wave communication systems are also introduced and analyzed for future system applications.


xsmle is a new user-written command for spatial analysis. We consider the quasi–maximum likelihood estimation of a wide set of both fixed- and random-effects spatial models for balanced panel data. xsmle allows users to handle unbalanced panels using its full compatibility with the mi suite of commands, use spatial weight matrices in the form of both Stata matrices and spmat objects, compute direct, indirect, and total marginal effects and related standard errors for linear (in variables) specifications, and exploit a wide range of postestimation features, including the panel-data case predictors of Kelejian and Prucha (2007, Regional Science and Urban Economics 37: 363–374). Moreover, xsmle allows the use of margins to compute total marginal effects in the presence of nonlinear specifications obtained using factor variables. In this article, we describe the command and all of its functionalities using simulated and real data.


AbstractThe study aims, based on Butler's (2006) concept referring to tourism area life cycle, to define on which stage (exploration, involvement, development, consolidation, stagnation, decline or rejuvenation) the polarizing spas from the Hajdu-Bihar (Hungary)-Bihor (Romania) Euroregion are found. In this scope statistical data such as the tourist flow, overnights, origin market, length of stay were tracked, collected, analyzed and interpreted on a period stretching from 1990-2012 thus highlighting the spas' life cycle trend. The parallel life cycle analysis of the surveyed spas from the euroregion reveals a great dynamism; Hajduszoboszlo being a newer spa (85 year-spa culture) has reached a redevelopment stage whereas its older counterparts, i.e. Baile Felix (16th century) and 1 Mai spas have undergone more stages along the axis of their life cycle and reached a stagnation stage.Keywords: Crossborder tourism, Hajuszoboszlo-Baile Felix/1 Mai spas, tourism life cycle of spasIntroductionCrossborder cooperation in Central and Eastern European former communist countries comes to the forefront in the economic, social and political shpere as a modem trend of changing the borders' role from divergent separation into convergent connecting lines (flies, 2003), one of its stated objectives being to prevent the isolation of border areas (Czimre, 2010). Tourism relies on the movement of people and it does not stop at borders, on the contrary the latter act as convergent lines as in the case of the Hajdu-BiharBihor Euroregion (the analyzed spas, i.e. Hajduszoboszlo from Hungary - Baile Felix/1 Mai from Romania belong to the latter euroregion). Tourism as the tertiary sector of the economy is a source of revenue and most tourist destinations will attempt to capture tourist flows, which are not oriented randomly toward certain destinations but as a consequence of the effort of certain states' policies and planning strategies (Hall 2008). Many resorts were not often initially planned as integrated developments nor were any planning strategies carried out. Many of these places are now undergoing redevelopment and applying controls in order to improve their environmental quality and economic viability. One method which is included in tourism planning strategies is Butler's (2006) tourism area life cycle which allows a tourist product/destination to determine the stage in which it is found since its early consumption trends. Revealing certain stages (i.e. stagnation) on the evolutionary time line of tourist products/destinations can prompt stakeholders and predict its future direction (i.e. rejuvenation or decline), therefore setting the right diagnosis of a spa (certain stage on the life span) can help its future development.Research PurposeThe study aims, based on Butler's (2006) concept referring to tourism area life cycle, to define on which stage (exploration, involvement, development, consolidation, stagnation, decline or rejuvenation) the spas from the Hajdu-Bihar-Bihor Euroregion are found. The study results may serve future potential investors in tourism in the two resorts so that they can have an image on past and present visitation trends and their interpretation. Within the newly-created euroregion (i.e. 1997) (Ilies, 2004) which comprise the two spas, local authorities have implemented and are also currently unfolding many mutual projects.The determination of the analyzed resorts' life span will allow the elaboration of conclusions and recommendation for the spas' tourist consumption and production trends. It is important to carry out such analysis as at a global scale most resorts were not often initially planned as integrated developments and at present many are facing environmental and economic problems. Seen in this integrative perspective tourism consumption trends in the spas of the Hajdu-Bihar-Bihor Euroregion are analyzed (by the determination of their stage on the life cycle) and recommendations are formulated so as to make them more economically and environmentally viable. …


Adaptation at actively receding coastal areas requires swift and long-term solutions that build resilience for both people and the environment. Nature-based solutions are increasingly being promoted over hard defences, but there is a lack of empirical research on the effectiveness of novel approaches, including those deployed at different scales. Sandscaping, a one-off large-scale deposition of sand (1.8 M m3) on a beach frontage, was implemented for the first time in the UK at a section of beach between Bacton and Walcott villages, in North Norfolk, in 2019. The purpose of sandscaping in this location was primarily to protect the nationally important gas terminal, and neighbouring villages from coastal erosion and flooding. This study investigates the perceived effectiveness and impacts of sandscaping on coastal residents, by eliciting views of residents in the two closest villages to the scheme, and comparing findings to geomorphological observations (using LiDAR data). A survey of Bacton and Walcott residents was distributed in January 2022, with n=77 responses. Results reveal wide differences in perceptions, and notable levels of doubt, on the 'effectiveness' of sandscaping at present and in the future, alongside different lived experiences of the scheme and prevailing distrust by some residents about coastal management. Keeping residents updated on changes to sandscaping with environmental data and communicating the advantages of nature-based solutions appear relevant in this context, but the diversity and contrast of resident perceptions illustrates deeper challenges for future coastal management planning. There is a need to think through how future coastal change can be planned for, drawing upon multiple social perspectives. This paper also illustrates that 'effectiveness' of sandscaping should be more widely examined in relation to the experiences and perspectives of those impacted by the scheme, and beyond evaluations of geomorphological change.


The anesthesiologic community is a very busy and active group in creating new and interesting Internet sites. In order to keep up with the daily upgraded and newly added anesthesia sites on the Net we surf again and again through the same and through new sites as soon we hear about them. In this section we would like to point out some outstanding sites. You might already know them. If not, just surf by and enjoy them as we did. We will update this section every 3 months. If you have a new site you would like to tell us about, just send us a little note with the URL of the site. Send it to firstname.lastname@example.com.


Weakly bonded pairs of water molecules (H2O)2, or water dimers (WDs), may play an important role in photochemistry and climate, but the overlap of most of its spectral features with the water monomer (WM) has made detection difficult. We report on WD absorption measurements by means of atmospheric long-path (18.34 kilometers) differential optical absorption spectroscopy of the near-infrared OH stretching mode |0>f|4>b overtone transition predicted to be located near 746 nanometers. Our observation is in reasonable agreement with the known thermochemistry, calculated and measured structure, and spectroscopy (band strength, shape, and width) of the WD. The observation implies that the WD |0>f|4>b band is located at 749.5 nanometers, with a full width at half maximum of ∼19.4 wave numbers, and that its band strength ranges between 1.23 × 10–22 and 5.25 × 10–22 centimeters per molecule.


Some depressive symptoms may be mitigated early in psychoanalytic treatment, apparently as the consequence of the free association process itself. We may account for these changes by considering possible modification of the self as the container of hitherto unavailable signifying chains, now expressed in the analytic discourse. At the same time, it is useful to consider how similar favorable changes may arise in other forms of treatment, and also in experiences of ordinary life.