Since most accelerator control system circuit boards reside in a commercial bus architecture, such as CAMAC or VMEbus, a computerized test station is needed for exercising the boards. This test station is needed for the development of newly designed prototypes, for commissioning newly manufactured boards, for diagnosing boards which have failed in service, and for long term testing of boards with intermittent failure problems. WindoWorks was created to address these needs. It is a flexible program which runs on a PC compatible computer and uses a PC to bus crate interface. WindoWorks was designed to give the user a flexible way to test circuit boards. Each test is incapsulated into a window. By bringing up several different windows the user can run several different tests simultaneously. The windows are sizable, and moveable. They have data entry boxes so that the test can be customized to the users preference. The windows can be used in conjunction with each other in order to create supertests. There are several windows which are generic. They can be used to test basic functions on any VME (or CAMAC) board. There are other windows which have been created to test specific boards. New windows for testing specific boards can be easily created by a Pascal programmer using the WindoWorks framework.<<ETX>>


This paper describes a collaborative university seminar, CollabU, involving five North-American universities in its first implementation in the Winter of 1999. In this report we emphasize the design process, the role of reflective practice, and the implications of the seminar for understanding emerging transformations in university learning, teaching, and scholarship.


We evaluated the effects of an educational intervention and telephone reminders on compliance with medication-taking and appointment-keeping for children with otitis media. During an initial interview we examined parents' health beliefs and other factors associated with compliance in our outpatient setting. The children were then systematically assigned to one of five study groups (G1-5). Parents in G1 received an educational session with a nurse and two follow-up telephone reminders. Parents in G2 received only two telephone reminders. Parents in G 3 met with the nurse for an educational session only. Parents in G4 were exempted from interventions, while parents in G5 were exempted from the interventions and the initial interview. The telephone reminder significantly increased the return rate for follow-up appointments (p < 0.05). This effect was not enhanced by combining it with an educational intervention focusing more on medication compliance. Relatively simple and inexpensive interventions such as the ones described here improve follow-up appointment-keeping for children with otitis media. This enhanced compliance behavior is important in obtaining better health outcomes for children with acute illnesses.


This article deals with the development of an interactive up-to-date Pacific Islands Web GIS Atlas. It focuses on the compilation of spatial data from the twelve member countries of the University of the South Pacific (Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, Kiribati Islands, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Tonga, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Western Samoa). A previous bitmap web Atlas was created in 1996, and was a pilot activity investigating the potential for using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in the South Pacific. The objective of the new atlas is to provide sets of spatial and attributive data and maps for use of educators, students, researchers, policy makers and other relevant user groups and the public. GIS is a highly flexible and dynamic technology that allows the construction and analysis of maps and data sets from a variety of sources and formats. Nowadays, GIS application has moved from local and client-server applications to a three-tier architecture: Client (Web Browser) -- Application Web Map Server -- Spatial Data Warehouses. The objective of this project is to produce an Atlas that will include interactive maps and data on an Application Web Map Server. Intergraph products such as GeoMedia Professional, Web Map and Web Publisher have been selected for the web atlas production and design. In an interactive environment, an atlas will be composed from a series of maps and data profiles, which will be based on legend entries, queries, hot spots and cartographic tools. Only the first stage of development of the atlas and related technological solutions are outlined in this article.


Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a neuroendocrine tumor with a high degree of malignancy. Due to limited treatment options, patients with SCLC have a poor prognosis. We have found, however, that intravenously administered octreotide (Oct) armed with astatine-211 ([211At]SAB-Oct) is effective against a somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2)-positive SCLC tumor in SCLC tumor-bearing BALB/c nude mice. In biodistribution analysis, [211At]SAB-Oct achieved the highest concentration in the SCLC tumors up to 3 h after injection as time proceeded. A single intravenous injection of [211At]SAB-Oct (370 kBq) was sufficient to suppress SSTR2-positive SCLC tumor growth in treated mice by inducing DNA double-strand breaks. Additionally, a multitreatment course (370 kBq followed by twice doses of 370 kBq for a total of 1110 kBq) inhibited the growth of the tumor compared to the untreated control group without significant off-target toxicity. Surprisingly, we found that [211At]SAB-Oct could up-regulate the expressions of calreticulin and major histocompatibility complex I (MHC-I) on the tumor cell membrane surface, suggesting that α-particle internal irradiation may activate an endogenous antitumor immune response through the regulation of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, which could synergically enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. We conclude that [211At]SAB-Oct is a potential new therapeutic option for SSTR2-positive SCLC.


The study of the external influences from environmental disturbances is a fundamental issue in interferometric detection of gravitational wave, both in locking and in normal operation. Virgo is continuously monitored by a large number of environmental sensors, ranging from seismometers to microphones to electromagnetic probes, up to a weather station. Using data collected during the engineering runs, we have studied the features of the main external noise sources, and the way they interfere with Virgo operation and expected sensitivity. In this paper we present the preliminary results obtained.


MANTLE DYNAMICSMany researchers have thought that mantle plumes--narrow columns of rising hot rock that feed volcanoes at hot spots like Hawaii and Iceland--tap the deep mantle, but they had no hard evidence, and others argued that plumes have shallower roots. Now, by using new tricks to process earthquake waves into a seismic image, two seismologists have produced an image of a plume rising from near the bottom of the mantle, 2900 kilometers down, all the way up to Iceland's surface, as they report in a recent issue of Earth and Planetary Science Letters .


BACKGROUND/AIM
Recurrent triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients have poor prognoses and limited treatment options, especially after progression during prior chemotherapy. The present study aimed to determine the impact of itraconazole with chemotherapy in these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Medical records of recurrent TNBC patients receiving itraconazole with chemotherapy between 2008 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS
Thirteen patients who progressed during prior chemotherapy (12 with visceral organ metastases) were enrolled. All patients had received docetaxel, carboplatin, and gemcitabine with itraconazole. Additionally, 3 patients with pleural effusion and 2 with inflammatory breast cancer received bevacizumab. No febrile neutropenia, platelet transfusion, or chemotherapy-related death was observed during treatment with itraconazole. The response rate, median progression-free survival, and median overall survival were 62% (95% confidence interval (CI): 35-88%), 10.8 months (95%CI: 7.6-15.3 months), and 20.4 months (95%CI: 13.1-41.4 months), respectively.

CONCLUSION
Chemotherapy with itraconazole is promising for heavily pre-treated TNBC patients.


The performance of a cellular network can be significantly improved by employing many base stations (BSs), which shortens transmission distances. However, there exist no known results on quantifying the performance gains from deploying many BSs. To address this issue, we adopt a stochastic-geometry model of the downlink cellular network and analyze the mobile outage probability. Specifically, given Poisson distributed BSs, the outage probability is shown to diminish inversely with the increasing ratio between the BS and mobile densities. Furthermore, we analyze the optimal tradeoff between the performance gain from increasing the BS density and the resultant network cost accounting for energy consumption, BS hardware and backhaul cables. The optimal BS density is proved to be proportional to the square root of the mobile density and the inverse of the square root of the cost factors considered.


In this paper, we propose a new texture segmentation method based on joint time frequency representation and unsupervised neural network classifier. The proposed method uses a filter bank with variable parameters to sample the frequency plane. Since the outputs of these filters are believed to reflect the frequency distribution of pixels, they can be treated as texture features. A multiresolution frequency sampling technique is developed to help determine the filter bank parameters, so that the extracted features are optimal under a certain information cost function. A self-organizing neural network is also adopted to implement unsupervised classification of pixels according to their texture features. Some experimental results show that the presented method is efficient and robust especially in the case of natural text ure .


The pH in the aqueous pores of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) matrix, also referred to as microclimate pH (μpH), is often uncontrolled, ranging from highly acidic to neutral pH range. The μpH distribution inside protein-encapsulated PLGA microspheres was quantitatively evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The fluorescent response of Lysosensor yellow/blue dextran used to map μpH in PLGA was influenced by the presence of encapsulated protein. The nonprotonated form of pyridyl group on the fluorescence probe at neutral pH was responsible for the interference, which was dependent on the type and concentration of protein. A method for correction of this interference based on estimating protein concentration inside the microspheres was established and validated. After correction of the influence, the μpH distribution kinetics inside microspheres was evaluated for different PLGA 50/50 microsphere formulations under physiological conditions for 4 weeks. Generally, the μpH acidity increased with the progression of incubation time. The coincorporation of poorly soluble base, magnesium carbonate, in the microspheres prolonged the appearance of detectable acidity for up to 3 weeks. Co-addition of an acetate buffer was able to control the μpH over a slightly acidic range (around pH 4.7) after two week incubation. Microspheres prepared from a lower polymer concentration exhibited a higher μpH, likely owing to reduced diffusional resistance to acidic degradation products. The stability of protein was enhanced by addition of MgCO(3), acetate buffer, or by reduced polymer concentration in the preparation, as evidenced by more soluble protein recovered after incubation. Hence, the μpH imaging technique developed can be employed in the future for optimization of formulation strategies for controlling μpH and stabilizing encapsulated proteins.


We present a geometry compression scheme for restricted quadtree meshes and use this scheme for the compression of adaptively triangulated digital elevation models (DEMs). A compression factor of 8–9 is achieved by employing a generalized strip representation of quadtree meshes to incrementally encode vertex positions. In combination with adaptive error‐controlled triangulation, this allows us to significantly reduce bandwidth requirements in the rendering of large DEMs that have to be paged from disk. The compression scheme is specifically tailored for GPU‐based decoding, since it minimizes dependent memory access operations. We can thus trade CPU operations and CPU–GPU data transfer for GPU processing, resulting in twice faster streaming of DEMs from main memory into GPU memory. A novel storage format for decoded DEMs on the GPU facilitates a sustained rendering throughput of about 300 million triangles per second. Due to these properties, the proposed scheme enables scalable rendering with respect to the display resolution independent of the data size. For a maximum screen‐space error below 1 pixel it achieves frame rates of over 100 fps, even on high‐resolution displays. We validate the efficiency of the proposed method by presenting experimental results on scanned elevation models of several hundred gigabytes.


In this paper we investigate the usefulness of preprocessing part of the input of a given problem to improve the efficiency. We extend the results of [Cadoli et al., 1996] by giving sufficient conditions to prove the unfeasibility of reducing the on-line complexity via an offline preprocessing. We analyze the problems of diagnosis [Peng and Reggia, 1986], planning [Bylander, 1991], reasoning about actions [Gelfond and Lifschitz, 1993], and belief revision [Williams, 1994]. We analyze other problems from various fields.


OBJECTIVES
To examine the presence of an ATXN2 mutation in patients with parkinsonism in the Korean population and to find the difference in the ATXN2 mutation between ataxic and parkinsonian phenotypes.

DESIGN
Survey.

SETTING
Seoul National University Hospital (a referral center). Patients Patients with Parkinson disease (PD) (n = 468) and the Parkinson variant of multiple system atrophy (MSA-P) (n = 135) who were seen at our Department of Neurology during the past 3 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
CAG expansion in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) alleles was assessed by polymerase chain reaction amplification and fragment analysis, and its size and interruption were verified by cloning and sequencing. SCA2 was tested also in the family members of the probands. Striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) and D(2) receptor status were evaluated in the probands and their SCA2-positive family members using iodine I 123 [(123)I]-radiolabeled fluoropropyl (FP) 2-carbomethoxy-3-(4-iodophenyl) tropane (CIT) with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and carbon C 11 [(11)C]-radiolabeled raclopride positron emission tomography (PET).

RESULTS
We found 3 patients with apparently sporadic disease with expanded CAG repeats in the ATXN2 locus. Two patients had a PD phenotype. The third patient showed an MSA-P phenotype. The CAG repeats in the ATXN2 locus of the patients were 35/22, 34/22, and 32/22, respectively (range in normal population, 19-27). The size of repeats was lower than the CAG repeats (38-51) in ataxic SCA2 in our population. The sequence of expanded CAG repeats was interrupted by CAA as (CAG)(n)(CAA)(CAG)(8) in all the patients. DNA analyses in 2 families showed 2 asymptomatic carriers in each family. In the patient with the PD phenotype, striatal DAT loss was more severe in the putamen than the caudate, and [(11)C]raclopride PET showed an increased relative putamen-caudate binding ratio. The patient with the MSA-P phenotype had severe DAT loss throughout the striatum. Two of 3 asymptomatic carriers had striatal DAT loss.

CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that SCA2 is one of the genetic causes of PD and MSA-P. All 3 patients had apparently sporadic disease, emphasizing the need to screen even in patients with nonfamilial disease. CAG repeats were in the low expansion range and interrupted by CAA in all patients in the low-range expansion. Therefore, accurate determination of CAG expansion and ATXN2 sequencing are warranted. [(123)I]FP-CIT SPECT and [(11)C]raclopride PET provide a useful way to evaluate the degree of nigrostriatal dopaminergic damage in SCA2-related parkinsonism and gene carriers.


Problem: We have found it very challenging to integrate images from our radiology digital imaging repository into the curriculum of our local medical school. Thus, it has been difficult to convey important knowledge related to viewing and interpreting diagnostic radiology images. We sought to determine if we could create a solution for this problem and evaluate whether students exposed to this solution were able to learn imaging concepts pertinent to medical practice. Intervention: We developed University of Saskatchewan Radiology Courseware (USRC), a novel interactive web application that enables preclinical medical students to acquire image interpretation skills fundamental to clinical practice. This web application reformats content stored in Medical Imaging Resource Center teaching cases for BlackBoard Learn™, a popular learning management system. We have deployed this solution for 2 successive years in a 1st-year basic sciences medical school course at the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. The "courseware" content covers both normal anatomy and common clinical pathologies in five distinct modules. We created two cohorts of learners consisting of an intervention cohort of students who had used USRC for their 1st academic year, whereas the nonintervention cohort was students who had not been exposed to this learning opportunity. Context: To assess the learning experience of the users we designed an online questionnaire and image review quiz delivered to both of the student groups. Outcome: Comparisons between the groups revealed statistically significant differences in both confidence with image interpretation and the ability to answer knowledge-based questions. Students were satisfied with the overall usability, functions, and capabilities of USRC. Lessons Learned: USRC is an innovative technology that provides integration between Medical Imaging Resource Center, a teaching solution used in radiology, and a Learning Management System.


An important analytical lens for considering future trajectories and research issues for social computing is the perspective of positive design, that is, the perspective that asks how collaborative technologies like wikis, e-mail, instant messaging, blogging, microblogging, tagging, social bookmarking, collaborative filtering, social networking services, and online communities of various sorts could support social endeavor in ways never before possible, how they can strengthen the extant strengths of human social interaction. This perspective contrasts with the approach of investigating how inherent limitations of collaborative technology can be ameliorated. This article describes recent design work addressing the challenge of supporting activity awareness in new ways with social computing


We present a new approach for built-in pattern generation based on the reseeding of twisted-ring counters (TRCs). The proposed technique embeds a precomputed deterministic test set for the circuit under test (CUT) in a short test sequence produced by a TRC. The TRC is designed using existing circuit flip-flops and does not add to hardware overhead beyond what is required for basic scan design. The test control logic is simple, uniform for all circuits, and can be shared among multiple CUTs. Furthermore, the proposed method requires no mapping logic between the TGC and the CUT; it imposes no additional performance penalty. Experimental results for the ISCAS benchmark circuits show that it is indeed possible to embed the entire precomputed test set in a TRC sequence using only a small number of seeds, especially if the test set contains many don't-cares.


In this work, the binder jetting 3D printing of boron carbide was combined with a subsequent liquid silicon infiltration procedure to produce reaction-bonded boron carbide (RBBC)-based structures. After printing, the samples were isostatically pressed to obtain more homogeneous and denser microstructures while maintaining their complex shapes. The RBBC bodies were successfully fabricated, and the influence of the binder content on the amount of residual silicon was studied. By increasing the binder content from 10 to 22.5 vol.%, the Si content decreased from ~28 to ~12 vol.%. The mechanical properties dependent on the Si content were additionally investigated. The measured average values for the bending strength (~355 MPa), Young's modulus (~348 GPa), and hardness (~20 GPa) are comparable to those reported in the literature for RBBC-based materials.


Recently, variety of products and services has become diverse, and it is getting more difficult to produce innovative product which matches user needs. For the reason, idea generation which is expected to produce methods of generating creative idea is getting more necessary. In idea generation, numeral methods of generating idea are proposed, some of which are brainstorming, KJ method, user observation and design ethnography. However, most of the processes are dependent on designers themselves, and this is because most part of idea generation process is still remained to be unexplained. We propose idea generation model from the cognitive psychological point of view. With the model, we propose that by activating nonverbal memory which is abundant information resource compared to verbal memory, creative idea is expected to be generated. On the other hand, there is attention: the system which controls the visual information processing is suppressing nonverbal memory activation. In this paper, we propose that dispersing attention makes nonverbal memory system more activated. We created attention dispersion system using eye tracker, and attempted an experiment to access effect on idea processing. From the experiment, participants gave more terms when their attention was dispersed, compared to trail without support on attention dispersion.


MRP1 is an ABC (or ATP binding cassette) membrane transport protein shown to confer resistance to structurally dissimilar drugs. Studies of MRP1 topology suggested the presence of a hydrophobic N-domain with five potential membrane-spanning domains linked to an MDR1-like core (MSD1-NBD1-L1-MSD2-NBD2) by an intracellular linker domain (L0). MRP1-mediated multidrug resistance is thought to be due to enhanced drug efflux. However, little is known about MRP1-drug interaction and its drug binding site(s). We previously developed several photoreactive probes to study MRP1-drug interactions. In this report, we have used eight MRP1-HA variants that were modified to have hemagglutinin A (HA) epitopes inserted at different sites in MRP1 sequence. Exhaustive in-gel digestion of all IAARh123 photoaffinity-labeled MRP1-HA variants revealed the same profile of photolabeled peptides as seen for wild type MRP1. Photolabeling of the different MRP1-HA variants followed by digestion with increasing concentrations of trypsin or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease (1:800 to 1:5 w/w) and immunoprecipitation with anti-HA mAb identified two small photolabeled peptides (∼6–7 kDa) from MRP1-HA(574) and MRP1-HA(1222). Based on the location of the HA epitopes in the latter variants together with molecular masses of the two peptides, the photolabeled amino acid residues were localized to MRP1 sequences encoding transmembranes 10 and 11 of MSD1 (Ser542-Arg593) and transmembranes 16 and 17 of MSD2 (Cys1205-Glu1253). Interestingly, the same sequences in MRP1 were also photolabeled with a structurally different photoreactive drug, IACI, confirming the significance of transmembranes 10, 11, 16 and 17 in MRP1 drug binding. Taken together, the results in this study provide the first delineation of the drug binding site(s) of MRP1. Furthermore, our findings suggest the presence of common drug binding site(s) for structurally dissimilar drugs.


The mirrors flown in the Chandra Observatory are, without doubt, some of the most exquisite optics ever flown on a space mission. Their angular resolution is matched by no other X-ray observatory, existing or planned. The promise of that performance, along with a goal of achieving 1% calibration of the optics' characteristics, led to a decision early in the construction and assembly phase of the mission to develop an accurate and detailed model of the optics and their support structure. This model has served in both engineering and scientific capacities; as a cross-check of the design and a predictor of scientific performance; as a driver of the ground calibration effort; and as a diagnostic of the as-built performance. Finally, it serves, directly and indirectly, as the primary vehicle with which Chandra observers interpret the contribution of the optics' characteristics to their data. We present the underlying concepts in the model, as well the mechanical, engineering and metrology inputs. We discuss its use during ground calibration and as a characterization of on-orbit performance. Finally, we present measures of the model's accuracy, where further improvements may be made, and its applicability to other missions.


Sensor nodes with energy harvesting sources are gaining popularity due to their ability to improve the network life time and are becoming a preferred choice supporting 'green communication'. We study such a sensor node with an energy harvesting source and compare various architectures by which the harvested energy is used. We find its Shannon capacity when it is transmitting its observations over an AWGN channel and show that the capacity achieving energy management policies are related to the throughput optimal policies. We also obtain the capacity when energy conserving sleep-wake modes are supported and an achievable rate for the system with inefficiencies in energy storage.


We present a dynamic and thermodynamic study of the orientational glass former Freon 113 (1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, CCl_{2}F-CClF_{2}) in order to analyze its kinetic and thermodynamic fragilities. Freon 113 displays internal molecular degrees of freedom that promote a complex energy landscape. Experimental specific heat and its microscopic origin, the vibrational density of states from inelastic neutron scattering, together with the orientational dynamics obtained by means of dielectric spectroscopy have revealed the highest fragility value, both thermodynamic and kinetic, found for this orientational glass former. The excess in both Debye-reduced specific heat and density of states (boson peak) evidences the existence of glassy low-energy excitations. We demonstrate that early proposed correlations between the boson peak and the Debye specific heat value are elusive as revealed by the clear counterexample of the studied case.


Yeast is the simplest eukaryotic organism of our days. They are unicellular microorganisms classified in the kingdom Fungi. Nevertheless, yeasts were probably the first microorganism to be domesticated and since early in human history have been used on a daily basis in bread making and in alcoholic beverages. Nowadays, yeast has become a key microorgan‐ ism for many types of industrial and food processing manufactures, including the produc‐ tion of beer, wine, cheese and bread. In particular, its use in baking industry is quite relevant due to the central role of bread as a dietary product all over the world. Moreover, yeasts are regarded with reasonably interest as nutrients and health provider sources both for humans as well as for animals. We dare to appoint yeast as the one of the world finest chefs.


Background: Asthma is characterized by airway inflammation and remodeling. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor nilotinib was developed to inhibit BCR-ABL kinase activity; however, it also has potent inhibitory activity against the c-Kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFR). The present study aimed to determine whether nilotinib suppresses airway smooth muscle (ASM) remodeling and whether its effect is associated with c-Kit and PDGFR pathways. Methods: We developed a mouse model of airway remodeling, which includes smooth muscle thickening, in which ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice were repeatedly exposed to intranasal OVA administration twice a week for 3 months. Mice were treated with nilotinib during the OVA challenge. Results: Mice chronically exposed to OVA developed sustained eosinophilic airway inflammation compared with control mice. In addition, the mice chronically exposed to OVA developed features of airway remodeling, including thickening of the peribronchial smooth muscle layer. Administration of nilotinib significantly inhibited eosinophilic inflammation and ASM remodeling in mice chronically exposed to OVA. Nilotinib treatment significantly reduced the expression of p-c-Kit, p-PDGFRβ, and p-ERK1/2. The expression levels of genes encoding c-Kit and PDGFRβ were also reduced by nilotinib treatment. Conclusions: These results suggest that nilotinib administration can prevent not only airway inflammation, but also airway remodeling associated with chronic allergen challenge. Nilotinib may provide a clinically attractive therapy for chronic severe asthma.


Large area detectors capable of operating with high detection efficiency at energies above 30 keV are required in many contemporary X-ray imaging applications. The properties of high Z compound semiconductors, such as CdTe, make them ideally suitable to these applications. The STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory has developed a small pixel CdTe detector with 80 × 80 pixels on a 250 μm pitch. Historically, these detectors have included a 200 μm wide guard band around the pixelated anode to reduce the effect of defects in the crystal edge. The latest version of the detector ASIC is capable of four-side butting that allows the tiling of N × N flat panel arrays. To limit the dead space between modules to the width of one pixel, edgeless detector geometries have been developed where the active volume of the detector extends to the physical edge of the crystal. The spectroscopic performance of an edgeless CdTe detector bump bonded to the HEXITEC ASIC was tested with sealed radiation sources and compared with a monochromatic X-ray micro-beam mapping measurements made at the Diamond Light Source, U.K. The average energy resolution at 59.54 keV of bulk and edge pixels was 1.23 keV and 1.58 keV, respectively. 87% of the edge pixels present fully spectroscopic performance demonstrating that edgeless CdTe detectors are a promising technology for the production of large panel radiation detectors for X-ray imaging.


Dental implants have become a widely accepted and successful treatment for fully and partially edentulous patients. Simvastatin has been applied to improve and accelerate the osseointegration of implants by increasing the quantity and quality of bone tissue. However, its potential mechanism has not been elucidated completely. Here, we found that simvastatin significantly enhanced the autophagy level of jaw‐derived bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and alleviated production of reactive oxygen species under unfavourable conditions. Simvastatin promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs via enhanced autophagy. Furthermore, simvastatin inhibited the bone resorption activity of osteoclasts. With the use of a rat model of oral implant osseointegration, we found local injection of simvastatin displayed more new bone formation at the interface of the bone and implant compared with that of oral administration. Fluorochrome labelling histomorphometrical analysis and micro‐CT also showed that simvastatin promoted the osseointegration of implants. Notably, fewer activated osteoclasts were observed in the region of osseointegration of implants from the simvastatin treatment groups, especially the local delivery of simvastatin. Collectively, our results revealed that simvastatin can increase osteoblastic differentiation of BMSCs via enhanced autophagy and decreased osteoclast activity. Thus, simvastatin could be a viable and promising drug to improve and even accelerate the osseointegration of a dental implant.


Paired, parallel, or profile plots showing the values of two variables may be constructed readily using a combination of graph twoway commands. This column explores the principles and practice of such plot-making, considering both wide and long (panel or longitudinal) data structures in which such data may appear. Applications include analysis of change over time or space and indeed any kind of correlation or comparison between variables. Such plots may be extended to show numeric values and associated name information.


Four percent of 2,446 patients with malignant melanoma did not have a known site of primary origin. More than half were admitted with nodal disease only, and were treated with regional node dissections. Thirty-three percent of this group lived five years, and 22 percent lived ten years following treatment. One third were admitted with visceral metastases, many of which were amenable to surgery, and this group experienced a 5 percent five-year survival rate. Cutaneous dissemination carried a lethal prognosis. Recurrences following treatment tended toward the same region of the body as the original metastasis, and 50 percent of these recurrences occurred within six months of therapy. The sex ratio, age incidence, family history, and survival rates in these patients with unknown primary tumors are consistent with an unnoticed cutaneous lesion as the site of origin for the metastatic disease. It must be supposed that this lesion had undergone spontaneous regression.


The decline of mango productivity has been attributed to various factors. The most of the problems are due to faulty management i.e. unsuitable site and climate, cultivation of intercrops, inadequate nutrition, improper planting, undesirable planting materials, incidence of insect, pest and disease and other biotic and abiotic stress. Rejuvenation of mango trees makes them more manageable and facilitates the adoption of appropriate package of practices, resulting in improved vigor and yield. This involves adopting suitable pruning methods, providing adequate nutrients and plant protection management, developing an appropriate canopy, and implementing other holistic management operations. To conduct a study on mango rejuvenation, a multistage, purposive, and random sampling technique was employed. The study was carried out in Gir Somnath district of the Saurashtra region, with Talala, Kodinar, Una, and Sutrapada selected purposively as the four talukas, and three villages randomly selected from each of these talukas, resulting in a total of 12 villages being selected for the study. Ten mango growers were then randomly selected from each of these villages as respondents, totaling 120 mango growers. The respondents were interviewed using a specially designed schedule, and the results showed that the majority (53.33 percent) of the respondents had a medium level of perception about the recommended mango rejuvenation technology, followed by 27.50 percent of respondents who had a high level of perception about the recommended mango rejuvenation technology, while 19.17 percent had a low level of perception about the recommended mango rejuvenation technology. It is essential to adopt and promote scientific practices that can enhance mango productivity and rejuvenation to address these issues.


Let $N_\infty(F)$ be the ring of infinite strictly upper triangular matrices with entries in an infinite field. The description of the commuting maps defined on $N_\infty(F)$, i.e. the maps $f\colon N_\infty(F)\rightarrow N_\infty(F)$ such that $[f(X),X]=0$ for every $X\in N_\infty(F)$, is presented. With the use of this result, the form of $m$-commuting maps defined on $T_\infty(F)$ -- the ring of infinite upper triangular matrices, i.e. the maps $f\colon T_\infty(F)\rightarrow T_\infty(F)$ such that $[f(X),X^m]=0$ for every $X\in T_\infty(F)$, is found.


1. In field and in laboratory experiments bees were offered equal volumes of sugar solutions, of different composition but the same total concentration. It was found that sugars which occur in nectar were not equally attractive to bees. 2. Consistent preferences were shown for solutions of single sugars in the following descending order: sucrose, glucose, maltose, fructose. 3. The acceptances of some mixtures differed from those predicted on the basis of an additive effect of the constituent sugars. Anomalous high preferences were shown for sucrose-glucose-fructose solutions. 4. The concentration of the solution appeared to influence the observed preferences, the relative acceptances of solutions at normal threshold level differing from those at higher levels in the series of laboratory experiments. 5. No direct relationship appeared to exist between the chemical constitution of the sugars offered and their acceptance by bees; and no evidence was found to explain the observed differences in preferences for solutions of either single or mixed sugars. 6. Attention is drawn to the possible biological significance of such selective responses by bees--it appears that the sugar composition of nectar may be a contributory factor influencing the visits of bees to flowers.


Dietary restriction is known to pro]ong life in laboratory animals. However, litt]c is known about the effects of dietary restriction on physical perforrnance. fo evaluate physica] performance, we measured four iteni indices: time to clirnb out of obstacles, time to escapc rcstraint by gummed tapc, time hanging from a bar, and ability to resjst slipping eyery w'cck. The diets of ICR mice were restrictcd frorn the age of 7 wccks through 24 weeks, Body weight of thc dietrestricted mice decreased uring the 7th to 9th wccks of age. After thc 10th week, weight gajn resumed. In rcsponse to ass{gned tasks. the diet-restricted micc pcrtbrmed better in all activities: they c]imbed eut of obstacLes faster, freed thcmsclves sooner from restraint by gummed tape, hung ftoin a bur ]onger, and better esisted slipping down a s]ope. These rcsults suggest that diet-restricted mice have supcrior physica] abilities, such as those required to overcome or uvoid risks to life, than do ad-}ibitum-fed mice. J Physiol Anthmpol Ampl Hitman Sci 24(3): 209-213, 2005 http:1!www.jstage,jst,go.jp/ browsetjpa [DOI: 10.2114,jpa.24,209]


The aim of this study is to analyze the current morphological changes and to predict the potential future trends of a critical reach of the upper Hungarian Danube River. In this section of the river the morphological features have undergone significant changes, mainly due to human impacts, such as the construction of the Gabcikovo hydropower plant close to the Slovakian border, or the river regulation measures with groin fields along the Hungarian reach. The morphological changes of the river inherently led to river management issues, e.g. the developed gravel bars caused problems for inland navigation. In order to reveal and understand the characteristic morphodynamic processes, results from past bed geometry surveys were assessed, moreover, extensive field measurement campaigns were carried out, including bathymetry survey, flow survey with fixed and moving Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), bed material sampling and bedload measurements. The utilization of up-to-date field data processing methods provided essential information on the current dominant morphological processes and finally, suggestions were made on the stability of the river planform.


This essay appears in a book entitled the Nordic Corporate Governance Model (Per Lekvall ed. 2014). It presents the Nordic country's governance pattern as an ownership model, in contrast to the Anglo-Saxon model of dispersed shareholders. An ownership model contemplates an active controlling owner who addresses the agency problem confronting public corporations with dispersed shareholders, and a larger role for minority shareholders and courts in constraining the potential for self-dealing by the controlling owner. The essay concludes by noting the great increase in institutional ownership in the Nordic countries, especially Sweden, and raises the question of the role of minority institutional blockholders in corporations with a controlling owner.


UNLABELLED
The diagnostic probability of pulmonary embolic disease is based on the recognition of unmatched segmental perfusion defects. Although interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility have been studied, accuracy has been an elusive goal due to the lack of a gold standard. We investigated the accuracy and reproducibility of reporting in a virtual scintigraphic model of the lungs, with and without the use of a lung segmental reference chart.

METHODS
A Monte Carlo package was used to model lung scintigraphy from a digital phantom of the human lungs. An ideal lung segmental reference chart was created from the phantom. Five experienced nuclear medicine physicians reported a set of all possible defects involving 100% of a segment, without and with the chart. A further set of defects involving 45%-55% of a segment in the lower lobes was investigated using the chart.

RESULTS
There was a significant improvement in accuracy (from 48% to 72%) and intraobserver agreement (from 61% to 77%) with the chart. The accuracy of reporting defects in the upper and middle lobes was consistently better than that in the lower lobes. There was no significant difference between the accuracy of reporting large defects and that of reporting moderate defects in the lower lobes.

CONCLUSION
The lung segmental reference chart significantly improves both the accuracy and reproducibility of reporting lung scintigrams; however, although reporting in the lung bases is improved, absolute accuracy is substantially less than that in the upper and middle lobes. This emphasizes the need for caution because the lung bases are the most common site of embolic disease.


CONTEXT
Dietary fat and protein impact postprandial hyperglycaemia in people with type 1 diabetes, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Glucoregulatory hormones are also known to modulate gastric emptying and may contribute to this effect.

OBJECTIVE
Investigate the effects of fat and protein on glucagon like peptide (GLP-1), glucagon-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon secretion.

DESIGN
Two cross-over euglycaemic insulin clamp clinical trials.

SETTING
Two Australian paediatric diabetes centres.

PARTICIPANTS
12-21years (n=21) with type 1 diabetes for ≥1year.

INTERVENTION(S)
Participants consumed a low protein (LP) or high protein (HP) meal in Study 1, and low protein/low fat (LPLF) or high protein/high fat (HPHF) meal in Study 2, all containing 30g carbohydrate. An insulin clamp was used to maintain postprandial euglycaemia and plasma glucoregulatory hormones were measured every 30 minutes for 5-hours. Data from both cohorts (n=11,10) were analysed separately.

MAIN OUTCOME
Area under the curve of GLP-1, GIP and glucagon.

RESULTS
Meals low in fat and protein had minimal effect on GLP-1, while there was sustained elevation after the HP (80.3±16.8pmol/L) vs LP (56.9±18.6), P=0.016, and HPHF (103.0±26.9) vs LPLF (69.5±31.9) meals, P=0.002. The prompt rise in GIP after all meals was greater after the HP (190.2±35.7pmol/L) vs LP (152.3±23.3), P=0.003, and HPHF (258.6±31.0) vs LPLF (151.7±29.4), P<0.001. A rise in glucagon was also seen in response to protein, HP (292.5±88.1pg/mL) vs LP (182.8±48.5), P=0.010.

CONCLUSIONS
The impact of fat and protein on postprandial glucose excursions may be mediated by the differential secretion of glucoregulatory hormones. Further studies to better understand these mechanisms may lead to improved personalised postprandial glucose management.


I n a previous article in this journal, we simultaneously measured shear modulus, density, and crystallinity for linear polyethylenes as a function of temperature in samples subjected t o various annealing procedures. A t sufficiently high temperatures, the degree of amorphicity becomes appreciable and the modulus becomes lower than 7 X 10s dynes/cni2. Under these conditions one can interpret the modulus as a rubber elasticity modulus I n the sample, under these conditions, the crystallites have a dual role: they a c t as cross-links and also as filler particles. An equation has been proposed for the shear modulus [2]:


Green hydrogen production is essential to meeting the conference of the parties' (COP) decarbonization goals; however, this method of producing hydrogen is not as cost-effective as hydrogen production from fossil fuels. This study analyses an off-grid photovoltaic energy system designed to feed a proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzer for hydrogen production to evaluate the optimal electrolyzer size. The system has been analyzed in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, using experimental meteorological data. The 12 kWp photovoltaic array is positioned at the optimal annual tilt angle for the selected site. The temperature effect on photovoltaic modules is taken into consideration. Several electrolyzers with capacities in the range of 2–14 kW were investigated to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the system. The simulation process was conducted using MATLAB and considering the project life span from 2021 to 2035. The results indicate that various potentially cost-competitive alternatives exist for systems with market combinations resembling renewable hydrogen wholesale. It has been found that the annual energy generated by the analyzed photovoltaic system is 18,892 kWh at 4313 operating hours, and the obtained hydrogen production cost ranges from USD 5.39/kg to USD 3.23/kg. The optimal electrolyzer capacity matches a 12 kWp PV system equal to 8 kW, producing 37.5 kg/year/kWp of hydrogen for USD 3.23/kg.


We propose a conservative extension of HM(X), a generic constraint-based type inference framework, with bounded existential (a.k.a. abstract) and universal (a.k.a. polymorphic) data-types. In the first part of the article, which remains abstract of the type and constraint language (i.e. the logic X), we introduce the type system, prove its safety and define a type inference algorithm which computes principal typing judgments. In the second part, we propose a realistic constraint solving algorithm for the case of structural sub-typing, which handles the non-standard construct of the constraint language generated by type inference: a form of bounded universal quantification.


The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in combination with Internet of Things (IoT) drastically reduces the need to test the COVID samples manually, saving not only time but money and ultimately lives. In this paper, the authors have proposed a novel methodology to identify the COVID-19 patients with an annotated stage to enable the medical staff to manually activate a geo-fence around the subject thus ensuring early detection and isolation. The use of radiography images with pathology data used for COVID-19 identification forms the first-ever contribution by any research group globally. The novelty lies in the correct stage classification of COVID-19 subjects as well. The present analysis would bring this AI Model on the edge to make the facility an IoT-enabled unit. The developed system has been compared and extensively verified thoroughly with those of clinical observations. The significance of radiography imaging for detecting and identification of COVID-19 subjects with severity score tag for stage classification is mathematically established. In a Nutshell, this entire algorithmic workflow can be used not only for predictive analytics but also for prescriptive analytics to complete the entire pipeline from the diagnostic viewpoint of a doctor. As a matter of fact, the authors have used a supervised based learning approach aided by a multiple hypothesis based decision fusion based technique to increase the overall system's accuracy and prediction. The end to end value chain has been put under an IoT based ecosystem to leverage the combined power of AI and IoT to not only detect but also to isolate the coronavirus affected individuals. To emphasize further, the developed AI model predicts the respective categories of a coronavirus affected patients and the IoT system helps the point of care facilities to isolate and prescribe the need of hospitalization for the COVID patients.


The study describes development and subsequent validation of an RP-HPLC-PDA method for the simultaneous estimation of Tamsulosin (TAM) and Finasteride (FIN) in bulk and tablet dosage form. The chromatographic conditions comprised of a reversed-phase C18 column (150 x 4.6 mm, 5 μ) with a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of methanol and formic acid (0.02% v/v in water) at a flow rate of 1 mL/min and ran in gradient mode. Detection was carried out at 230 nm. The retention times were 2.7 min and 10.08 min respectively for TAM and FIN. A good linear relationship in the concentration range 0.4-20μg/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9981 for TAM and in the range of 5-50μg/mL a correlation coefficient of 0.9987 was observed. Limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 0.16μg/mL for TAM and 0.6μg/mL for FIN. The method was validated for accuracy, precision, robustness and assay. The percent recovery values were in the ranges of 99.15-100.8 for TAM and 99.21-101.83 for FIN. The results of all the validation parameters were well within their acceptance values.


Korl:ICR mice, established by the Korean National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS), are characterized based on their genetic variation, response to gastric injury, and response to constipation inducers. To compare the inhibitory responses of ICR stocks obtained from three different sources to the anticancer drug cisplatin (Cis), alterations in tumor volume, histopathological structure, and toxicity were examined in Sarcoma 180 tumor-bearing Korl:ICR, A:ICR (USA source), and B:ICR (Japan source) mice treated with low and high concentrations of Cis (L-Cis and H-Cis, respectively). Tumor size and volume were lower in H-Cis-treated mice than in L-Cis-treated mice in all three ICR stocks with no significant differences among stocks. There was a significant enhancement of the necrotizing areas in the histological structures in the L-Cis- and H-Cis-treated groups relative to that in the untreated group. The necrotizing area changes were similar in the Sarcoma 180 tumor-bearing Korl:ICR, A:ICR, and B:ICR mice. However, there were stock-bases differences in the serum biomarkers for liver and kidney toxic effects. In particular, the levels of AST, ALT and BUN increased differently in the three H-Cis-treated ICR stocks, whereas the levels of ALP and CRE were constant. Taken together, the results of the present study indicate that Korl:ICR, A:ICR, and B:ICR mice have similar overall inhibitory responses following Cis treatment of Sarcoma 180-derived solid tumors, although there were some differences in the magnitude of the toxic effects in the three ICR stocks.


In this paper, the Weierstrass technique for harmonic maps S → CP N−1 is employed in order to obtain surfaces immersed in multidimensional Euclidean spaces. It is proved that if the CP N−1 model equations are defined on the sphere S and the associated action functional of this model is finite, then a specific holomorphic function (corresponding to a component of the energy-momentum tensor of a CP N−1 sigma model) vanishes. In particular it is shown that for any holomorphic or antiholomorphic solutions of this model, the Weierstrass formula for immersion X of a surface lies in the su(N) algebra and can be expressed in terms of an orthogonal projector of rank (N −1). The implementation of this method is presented for two-dimensional conformally parametrized surfaces immersed in the su(3) algebra. The usefulness of the proposed approach is illustrated with examples, including the dilation-invariant meron-type solutions and the Veronese solutions for the CP 2 model. Depending on the location of the critical points (zeros and poles) of the first fundamental form associated with the meron solution, it is shown that the associated surfaces are semi-infinite cylinders. It is also demonstrated that surfaces related to holomorphic and mixed Veronese solutions are immersed in R and R, respectively.


Background: The stagnant breast cancer mortality rates and the increased number of younger American Indian (AI) women who are being diagnosed with breast cancer indicate that breast cancer remains an important public health issue among the AI community. This 4-year study is a continuation of two preliminary studies at a rural tribal clinic in Oklahoma. In the first study, we developed a culturally-sensitive survey of mammography screening practices and beliefs, entitled Women9s Health Survey (WHS), based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. In the second study, we identified the salient mammography screening beliefs held by AI women. The results led to the development of a Logic Model of mammography screening behavior, involving both clinical and community components, which guided intervention development. In the current study, we implemented the intervention and evaluated its efficacy via Community-based Participatory Research. Methods: A Community Steering Committee (CSC) was formed. The priority population consisted of AI women without a history of breast cancer who lived in the target region between the ages of 52-74 years, and who have not had a screening mammogram within the last 2 years. The study had four aims: 1) Conduct a needs and resource assessment of the priority population, 2) Utilize the needs and resource assessment data to develop a community-driven intervention program, 3) Pilot-test and refine the intervention, and 4) Evaluate the intervention using a one-group pre- and post-evaluation design and mixed research methodology. A modified version of the WHS was used as the evaluation tool. Results: The results of the formative research (Aim 1) indicated that: a) AI women lack knowledge of mammograms, b) Fatalistic attitudes toward breast cancer exist among AI women, c) Many AI women prefer a holistic approach to their health, d) Physicians influence women9s screening mammography decisions, and e) Social modeling is an important motivating factor. Using a prioritization process through the CSC and data triangulation, we concluded that the intervention would center on the concepts of social modeling, physician recommendation, breast cancer fatalism, and lack of knowledge about mammography screening. The Logic Model was finalized, educational intervention materials were developed, and alliances were built with regional grassroots initiatives (Aim 2). The intervention included four main strategies: a) Structured communication between medical practitioner and patient about screening mammography; b) Receipt of a breast cancer brochure and subsequent follow-up letter from the medical provider; c) Participation in a breast cancer discussion group at a community setting by using the Freire (raising consciousness) approach; and d) Receipt of a congratulatory bracelet upon receipt of a mammogram. Based on the evaluation results (Aim 4), the intervention is feasible despite its complexity; however, process evaluation revealed a shallow implementation of the clinic component. Almost half of the research participants (N=21) received a future mammogram, indicating moderate program success. Focus group research (N=4) showed that the participants became more conscious of their health and more vocal in discussing breast cancer with their friends and family. Moreover, sustainable environmental changes were introduced at the tribal clinic including a bulletin board poster on mammography and a screening mammography algorithm located in the exam rooms. Conclusions: Designing, implementing and evaluating a theory-based culturally-sensitive multi-component intervention on mammography screening within a Native American community is an exciting, yet challenging process. Replications of the current study with a bigger sample size and a controlled, comparative evaluation design are needed to further establish the efficacy of the intervention. Citation Format: Eleni L. Tolma, Kimberly Engelman, Cara Thomas, Stephanie Joseph, Julie Stoner, Ji Li, Norma Neely. Promoting screening mammography in an American Indian community in Oklahoma: The Native Women9s Health Project. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr A33.


Non-intrusive load monitoring addresses the challenging task of decomposing the aggregate signal of a household's electricity consumption into appliance-level data without installing dedicated meters. By detecting load malfunction and recommending energy reduction programs, cost-effective non-intrusive load monitoring provides intelligent demand-side management for utilities and end users. In this paper, we boost the accuracy of energy disaggregation with a novel neural network structure named scale- and context-aware network, which exploits multi-scale features and contextual information. Specifically, we develop a multi-branch architecture with multiple receptive field sizes and branch-wise gates that connect the branches in the sub-networks. We build a self-attention module to facilitate the integration of global context, and we incorporate an adversarial loss and on-state augmentation to further improve the model's performance. Extensive simulation results tested on open datasets corroborate the merits of the proposed approach, which significantly outperforms state-of-the-art methods.


Web 2.0 technologies are empowering consumers to co-produce online brand communications and thereby co-create brand meaning. As both consumers and marketers are increasingly using video-sharing websites to showcase their brand communication efforts, viewers of these ads are inadvertently becoming part of the co-production process as they create context around the ads (in the forms of reviews, comments and ratings). The environment in which such online advertisements are viewed has significant effects on consumer perceptions of the ad message, and ultimately impacts the persuasive properties and efficacy of the ad. This study reports on research conducted to test the source effects of consumer-generated advertising. Schlinger's Viewer Response Profile (VRP) is used to assess the impact of three source variables: ad creator, ad popularity and motivation for creation of the ad. Findings confirm the importance of popularity ratings on consumer ad evaluation, and also suggest that certain source effects result in consumers being more critical in their evaluation of the ads.


The influence of ambient conditions on the optical absorption has been investigated for the porous silica dispersed with silver nano-particles (about 3 nm) within its pores. It has been shown that in the process of alternative exposure to the ambience and annealing, this new material assumes the optical memory effect and the reversible transition between the transparency and opacity in the visible wave band.


An energy optimization model is presented that includes nuclear energy and water management into the oil sands industry. The proposed model determines the most suitable configuration of energy commodities and oil producers for a given oil production scenario at minimum cost while meeting environmental constraints. The proposed model was validated using data reported in the literature for the future oil sands operations in 2030. Likewise, the proposed integrated energy optimization model was used to determine the 2030 oil sands operations using recent information reported in the literature. The results show that the energy model is a practical tool that can be used to evaluate future oil production scenarios, identify the key parameters that affect the oil sands operations, and can also be used for planning and scheduling of the energy and oil producers for this industry. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012


OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to investigate the correlations of insulin resistance and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) with cytokines [insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] in the aqueous humor of patients with diabetic cataract.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
59 patients with diabetic cataract and 58 patients with simple cataract treated in Jining No. 1 People´s Hospital (Jining, China) from January 2017 to February 2018, were selected randomly. The levels of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and HbAlc, as well as IGF-1, bFGF and IL-6 in the aqueous humor were compared between the two groups. The correlations of HOMA-IR and HbAlc with IGF-1, bFGF and IL-6 were analyzed. In control group, the levels of HOMA-IR and HbAlc, as well as IGF-1, bFGF and IL-6 in the aqueous humor were significantly lower than those in observation group (p<0.05).

RESULTS
Compared with the group with HbAlc ≤ 7%, the groups with HbAlc ≥ 9% and 7% <HbAlc< 9% had increased relevant indexes. HbAlc was positively correlated with IGF-1, bFGF and IL-6 (r=0.8309, p<0.001; r=0.8968, p<0.001; r=0.8205, p<0.001). HOMA-IR had positive correlations with IGF-1, bFGF and IL-6 (r=0.9091, p<0.001; r=0.9605, p<0.001; r=0.8118, p<0.001). IGF-1 was positively related to bFGF and IL-6 (r=0.9475, p<0.001; r=0.9112, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
For patients with diabetic cataract, HOMA-IR and HbAlc were associated with IGF-1, bFGF and IL-6 in the aqueous humor. The measurement of those indexes can help to judge the disease conditions accurately, having good predictive value.


Stringent emission regulations (e.g., Euro-6) force automotive manufacturers to equip DPF (diesel particulate filter) on diesel cars. Generally, post injection is used as a method to regenerate DPF. However, it is known that post injection deteriorates specific fuel consumption and causes oil dilution for some operating conditions. Thus, an injection strategy for regeneration becomes one of key technologies for diesel powertrain equipped with a DPF.This paper presents correlations between fuel injection strategy and exhaust gas temperature for DPF regeneration. Experimental apparatus consists of a single cylinder diesel engine, a DC dynamometer, an emission test bench, and an engine control system. In the present study, post injection timing covers from 40 deg aTDC to 110 deg aTDC and double post injection was considered. In addition, effects of injection pressures were investigated. The engine load was varied from low-load to mid-load and fuel amount of post injection was increased up to 10mg/stk.Oil dilution during fuel injection and combustion processes were estimated by diesel loss measured by comparing two global equivalences ratios; one is measured from Lambda sensor installed at exhaust port, the other one is estimated from intake air mass and injected fuel mass. In the present study, the differences in global equivalence ratios were mainly caused from oil dilution during post injection.The experimental results of the present study suggest an optimal engine operating conditions including fuel injection strategy to get appropriate exhaust gas temperature for DPF regeneration. Experimental results of exhaust gas temperature distributions for various engine operating conditions were summarized.In addition, it was revealed that amounts of oil dilution were reduced by splitting post injection (i.e., double post injection). Effects of injection pressure on exhaust gas temperature were dependent on combustion phasing and injection strategies.Copyright © 2015 by ASME


The relative spectral radiance of the low-current carbon arc, which includes contributions from both the incandescent anode and the arc stream through which it is viewed, was measured from 1900 A to 2500 A and placed on an absolute scale by comparison with measurements made at longer wavelengths. The curve bears no resemblance to a blackbody curve in this spectral region, but has a minimum near 2400 A, increasing slowly to shorter wavelengths. The values near 2000 A are a little higher than those near 2500 A. The spectral radiance of the arc stream alone was also measured. A grating monochromator was used in the work, and the speed of the diffraction grating was measured separately by placing it in the exit beam of another grating monochromator. The receiver was a 1P21 photomultiplier sensitized for the ultraviolet by placing on its envelope a thick coating of sodium salicylate, a fluorescent material which possesses constant quantum efficiency for exciting wavelengths throughout this region.


Protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated phosphorylation of α-tubulin at Ser165 or expression of phosphomimetic (S165D)-α-tubulin stimulates microtubule (MT) polymerization (Cytoskeleton 2014, 71, 257-272). Ser165 lies near the interface between adjacent αβ-tubulin heterodimers and helix H8, which contains Glu254, the catalytic residue in α-tubulin that hydrolyzes the exchangeable GTP in β-tubulin (β:GTP) and triggers MT depolymerization. It was hypothesized that S165D, a phosphomimetic variant of α-tubulin, perturbs the alignment of α:Glu254 with respect to β:GTP, thereby impairing its hydrolysis. Molecular simulations were performed with cryoEM structures of MTs (PDB ID: 3J6E) in which phosphomimetic S165D or control S165N had been substituted. Unlike native and S165N structures, the distance between S165D and α:Glu254 increased by 0.6 Å, while the distance between α:Glu254 and β:GTP decreased by 0.4 Å. Rotation of β:GTP by 4 Å occurred in the S165D variant, whereas β:GTP in the S165N control was unchanged from the native structure. Additionally, the S165D variant exhibited an altered pattern of H-bonding to β:GTP, including the loss of three H-bonds. The significance of these findings to β:GTP hydrolysis was analyzed in MCF-10A human breast cells treated with an antibody that detects GTP-bound tubulin. Compared with controls, GTP-tubulin signals were at higher levels in cells that ectopically expressed S165D-α-tubulin (TUBA1C) or had been treated with PKC activator DAG-lactone to induce phosphorylation of Ser165 in native α-tubulin. These findings support a model whereby conformational changes induced by Ser165 phosphorylation alter the spatial relationship between β:GTP and α:Glu254, thereby slowing GTP hydrolysis and promoting GTP caps.


Highly efficient electron stimulated desorption of O+ from gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) surfaces annealed at 850 K in ultrahigh vacuum is observed and investigated. O+ desorption has a major threshold of approximately 40 eV and an intrinsic kinetic energy of approximately 5.6 eV. Since the threshold energy is close to Ce 5s and Gd 5s core levels, Auger decay of core holes is likely associated with O+ desorption from sites related to oxygen vacancies. The interactions of water and molecular oxygen with GDC surfaces result in a decrease in O+ desorption, suggesting that water and oxygen molecules adsorb mainly to oxygen vacancies. The dependence of O+ kinetic energies on the incident electron energy and temperature reveals surface charging as a result of electron trapping, hole trapping, and electron-hole recombination. The activation energy for surface charge dissipation is found to be 0.43 eV, close to the activation energy for ionic conduction (0.47 to 0.6 eV) in the same material.


The Allende matrix is dominated by micron‐sized lath‐shaped fayalitic olivine grains with a narrow compositional range (Fa40–50). Fayalitic olivines also occur as rims around forsterite grains in chondrules and isolated forsterite fragments in the matrix or as veins cross‐cutting the grains. Allende is a type 3 CV carbonaceous chondrite having experienced a moderate thermal metamorphism. There is therefore a strong chemical disequilibrium between the large forsterite grains and the fayalite‐rich fine‐grained matrix. Chemical gradients at interfaces are poorly developed and thus not accessible using conventional techniques. Here, we used analytical transmission electron microscopy to study the microstructure of the fayalite‐rich matrix grains and interfaces with forsterite fragments. We confirm that fayalitic grains in the matrix and fayalitic rims around forsterite fragments have the same properties, suggesting a common origin after the accretion of the parent body of Allende. Composition profiles at the rim/forsterite interfaces exhibit a plateau in the rim (typically Fa45), a compositional jump of 10 Fa% at the interface, and a concentration gradient in the forsterite grain. Whatever the studied forsterite grain or whatever the nature of the interface, the Fe‐Mg profiles in forsterite grains have the same length of about 1.5 μm. This strongly suggests that the composition profiles were formed by solid‐state diffusion during the thermal metamorphism episode. Time–temperature couples associated with the diffusion process during thermal metamorphism are deduced from profile modeling. Considering the uncertainties on the diffusion coefficient value, we found that the peak temperature in Allende is ranging from 425 to 505 °C.


Most land plants associate with mycorrhizal fungi that can connect roots of neighboring plants in common mycelial networks (CMNs). Recent evidence shows that CMNs transfer warning signals of pathogen and aphid attack between plants. However, we do not know how defence‐related signaling via CMNs operates or how ubiquitous it is. Nor do we know what the ecological relevance and fitness consequences are, particularly from the perspective of the mycorrhizal fungus. Here, we focus on the potential fitness benefits for mycorrhizal fungi and outline hypothetical scenarios in which signal transfer via CMNs is modulated in order to acquire the most benefit for the fungus (i.e. acquisition of carbon) for minimal cost. We speculate that the signal may be quantitative and may elicit plant defence responses on different levels depending on the distance the signal is transferred. Finally, we discuss the possibility of practical applications of this phenomenon for crop protection.


Japanese, British English and American English listeners were presented with spoken words in their native language, and asked to mark on a written transcript of each word the first natural division point in the word. The results showed clear and strong patterns of consensus, indicating that listeners have available to them conscious representations of within-word structure. Orthography did not play a strongly deciding role in the results. The patterns of response were at variance with results from on-line studies of speech segmentation, suggesting that the present task taps not those representations used in on-line listening, but levels of representation which may involve much richer knowledge of word-internal structure.


Recent scientific studies have demonstrated the efficacy of various forms of immunotherapy for the treatment of allergic diseases. Traditional subcutaneous immunotherapy, sublingual, oral, and intranasal immunotherapy have been shown to significantly reduce symptoms and favorably modulate the immune response. Outcome studies that use patient response data from standardized surveys represent the next challenge to all practicing allergists.


This study draws on role theory and the life course perspective to examine how sleep health (duration, quality, and latency) is shaped by social role accumulation (number of roles), role repertoires (role combinations), and role contexts among middle-aged adults. We also examine how the relationships between social roles and sleep health are gendered. We use data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 Cohort (N = 7,628). Results show that role accumulation is associated with less sleep and decreased insomnia symptoms, and that role repertoires also impact sleep (e.g., parenthood leads to diminished sleep quantity and quality). There is also evidence that contextual factors related to employment history, marital quality, and parenthood affect sleep health. Furthermore, results reveal that several of the relationships between social roles and sleep are gendered. Taken together, findings demonstrate the utility of examining links between multiple dimensions of social roles and sleep health.


A non-native nematode Ashworthius sidemi has emerged in captive fallow deer in Central and Eastern Europe over the last decade. Although this parasite has been spreading in the wild outside it's native distributional range and colonising local European host species since the middle of the last century, limited information has been published on the seasonality of A. sidemi and its susceptibility to anthelmintics. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a study to investigate seasonal dynamics of the non-native parasite in the current Central European climate conditions. We collected freshly voided faecal pellets at four-week intervals from February 2018 to February 2020 at a fallow deer reserve with a known history of A. sidemi presence. The faecal pellets obtained were pooled after each site visit (n = 25) and coprocultured to obtain the third stage larvae of trichostrongylid nematodes at monthly intervals. Total genomic DNA was extracted from the recovered larvae. Using real-time multiplex PCR, A. sidemi DNA was detected in 17 out of 25 larval samples (68% prevalence). During the monitoring period, the annual administration of ivermectin based premix (Cermix) took place in January 2018, 2019, and 2020, and additionally a mixture of rafoxanide and mebendazole (Rafendazol) was administered once in spring 2019. The probability of parasite presence was significantly influenced by the time since the drug administration (p = 0.048) and the mean temperature at the location (p = 0.013). Larval samples negative for A. sidemi were always identified shortly after the drug administration. However, rapid pasture contamination by the parasite eggs from two to three months after Cermix administration and within one month after Rafendazol administration suggest only a short-lived efficacy of both administered drugs. The abundance of A. sidemi DNA was positively affected by mean temperature (p = 0.044) and remained relatively stable throughout the monitoring period, with the highest peak in August 2018 and 2019. Pasture contamination with A. sidemi eggs occurred almost all year round, with the exception of the beginning of 2018, 2019, and 2020. These findings indicate adaptation of a non-native parasite to the current climatic conditions of the Czech Republic resulted in negligible seasonal patterns of parasite egg shedding.


The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from rubber seed kernel (RSK) on growth performance and reproductive performance in dairy heifers. Twelve healthy and cycling Holstein Friesian dairy heifers were randomly divided into two dietary treatments as control group (TMR without RSK; (mean±SD) 31.82±4.25% PUFAs out of 2.65% total fatty acids) and RSK group (TMR containing RSK at 6.16%; 43.93±1.26% PUFAs out of 3.55% total fatty acids). TMR in both treatments consisted of roughage to concentrate ratio of 70:30 and each dietary treatment was formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. PUFA intake in the RSK group was significantly higher (p<0.01). Results showed that heifers in the RSK group significantly increased total dry matter (DM) intake, crude protein (CP) intake and ether extract (EE) intake, and also body weight (BW) (p<0.01). However, the concentrations of PUFAs in serum were not different between the groups while the concentrations of serum cholesterol were significantly higher in the RSK group (p<0.01). Serum urea nitrogen (SUN) concentrations and βhydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations in both groups were in optimal range. During the estrous period, estradiol and progesterone concentrations were not different. In addition, progesterone concentrations during estrous cycles were similar between the groups. No difference between the groups was found on estrous behavior and conception rate. In conclusion, the level of RSK in this study can be used as feedstuff in heifer diet with positive effect on feed intake, nutrient and fatty acid intake, without any effect on reproductive performance.


Electron beam melting (EBM) is one of the powder-bed fusion additive manufacturing technologies. This technology is very suitable for producing near-net-shape small to medium volume metallic parts with complex geometries. However, layer-by-layer fusion step introduces rapid thermal cycles, which results in a different microstructure as compared to their cast or wrought counterparts. Therefore, the microstructure and mechanical properties produced by EBM must be better understood and in turn to control the microstructure for requirements of some specific applications. Accordingly, in this paper, an insight will be provided on the effort of understanding the microstructure and mechanical properties from atomic scale to real complex big-sized industrial components. The spatialand geometrical-based microstructure and mechanical properties of EBM Ti-6Al-4V as well as the effect of heat treatment on them were investigated using atom probe tomography, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray computed tomography, nanohardness testing, microhardness testing, tensile testing and finite element simulations. The microstructure and deformation mode depend on both the build thickness and build height which are closely linked to the heat input and the cooling rate in EBM process. Furthermore, the control of microstructure by varying the process parameters and heat treatment schemes was also proposed. By using these findings, an impeller prototype with a base diameter of 100 mm, a height of 53 mm and thinnest sections of ~0.7 mm and a turbine blade prototype with dimensions of 180×70×360 mm were successfully fabricated by EBM. These components exhibited an overall improved combination of strength and ductility as compared to the counterparts fabricated by conventional methods. These results revealed that EBM is a promising method for fabricating complex-shaped industrial components with superior mechanical performance for practical application.


Thermionic emission and tunneling are found to be the dominant transport mechanisms under the forward and reverse bias conditions, respectively, in a single-walled carbon nanotube based intermolecular p-n junction. At a reverse bias, the kink point on the plot of ln(I/V2) vs 1/V indicates that the transport mechanism experiences a transition from direct tunneling to the Fowler-Nordheim tunneling through the junction barrier. In contrast, the Arrhenius plot of the I-V curve at forward biases shows that tunneling dominates over the thermionic emission below 50 K.


In recent literature numerous papers have been published concerning the accuracy of scintigraphic detection of liver metastases. Unfortunately however, the problem of false positive results is not particularly discussed in these papers. Because of the lack of information it was our aim to compare our own scintigraphic results with postmortem histopathological findings. Our investigations were carried out in 139 patients with various types of malignancy. Included in the investigations were 20 patients with primary liver tumor. The interval between scintigraphic examination and the histological verification ranged from 3 days to 1 year. In 62 of the patients with liver metastases, histopathology revealed liver metastases, while 77 patients showed no liver involvement. We arrived at the correct diagnosis "liver metastasis" in 50 out of 62 patients (80.6%). False negative scintigrams (19.4%) were found in most of the respective cases when diffuse malignant involvement such as leukemia and Hodgkin's disease was present, and also when the size of the metastases was less than 2 cm in diameter. Fifty six out of 77 patients (72.7%) without histopathological evidence of liver metastases revealed negative scintigrams. Twenty one (27.3%) false positive scintigrams were mostly due to (diffuse) nonmalignant disease e.g. fibrosis and cirrhosis. The overall accuracy of liver scintigraphy in our study was 76.2%. In 18 of 20 (90%) patients with focal liver disease correct diagnosis was established. 7 patients with benign liver tumors and 11 of 13 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma showed focal defects. Considering the fact that liver scintigraphy is a non-invasive procedure, it can be recommended as screening method. In connection with sonography and computer tomography liver scintigraphy can undoubtedly improve the diagnostic accuracy in detecting liver metastases and primary liver tumors.


Today, at a time when unprecedented structural and reformative changes are taking place in the Indian Taxation paradigm, the recent amendment in section 6(3)(ii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 through Finance Act, 2015 acquires critical importance. Section 6(3)(ii) determines 'residence' of a company i.e. if the company is found to be resident in India, Income Tax would be levied upon its worldwide income. By amendment, the 'control and management' test has been replaced by 'place of effective management' test which would be effective from the assessment year of 2017–2018. In December 2015, draft guidelines regarding the aforementioned were released by the Central Board of Direct Taxes. The authors in the present article attempt to distinguish between source and residence based taxations along with an elaborate discussion of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's interpretation of the 'place of effective management' test. After a detailed study of the US, UK, and South Africa's variations of the same test and the Double Taxation Agreements entered into by India with the said three countries, the authors argue that the test has to be applied on a case by case basis depending upon the peculiarities in the factual scenario. The authors highlight the drawbacks in the old test and analyse as to what extent the new test remedies the anomalies with a critical analysis the draft guidelines. The possible implications of the test have been discussed sector wise which is followed by recommendations/suggestions of the authors. In the conclusion, the authors assert that it is necessary to remedy the loopholes before releasing the final draft of the test.


The application of receding horizon control (RHC) with the linear parameter varying (LPV) design methodology to a high fidelity, nonlinear F-16 aircraft model is demonstrated. The highlights of the paper are: i) use of RHC to improve upon the performance of a LPV regulator; ii) discussion on details of implementation such as control space formulation, tuning of RHC parameters, computation time and numerical properties of the algorithms; and iii) simulated response of nonlinear RHC and LPV regulator.


A method allowing simultaneous genotyping of two loci: ryanodine receptor 1 (RYR1) and estrogen receptor (ESR) is presented. In multiplex PCR amplification, two amplicons were simultaneously produced: a 272 bp fragment of RYR1 gene and a 185 bp fragment of ESR gene and were then subjected to "one-tube" restriction enzyme digestion with Hin6 I and Ava I, respectively. A total of 122 Polish Large White and Polish Landrace pigs were genotyped by this method, demonstrating its reliability, convenience and lower costs. This method may be useful in the wide-scale genotyping of both loci in pig breeding programmes.


This paper presents a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test setup used for studying the dynamics of an elastomer supported machine bed. The setup uses real elastomer dampers and modeled machine dynamics (process model) connected together via real-time interface. The HIL approach was chosen since the elastomers are a critical part of the system, however, determining their properties for engineering needs can be a challenging task. Accurate elastomer models include many parameters that can only be determined by experimentally, and even then their implementation for real-life applications is not always practical.Using real elastomers supports in the simulation removes uncertainties associated with classic elastomer models, while simulated process makes it possible to test different scenarios fast and with good repeatability. The process model includes a description of the machine body, a rotating unbalanced drive mechanism creating cyclic loading and external excitation forces acting on the machine. The method enables testing of machine bed supports in a realistic operating environment.A test rig was built for housing the elastomers incorporating a hydraulic actuator for producing the process movement. The hydraulic circuit was designed for good dynamic performance with predictive control to minimize delays in the real-time interface. It was found that the HIL-setup can provide fast and accurate information about the plant model behavior in different operating scenarios using the elastomer supports.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


A simple and rapid detection of nine amphetamines co-existing in urine was described. In the test, the method of solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) by GC technique was used. Urine (1.0 ml), NaCl (0.3 g) and 4-phenylbutylamine (internal standard) were added into a vial (1.5 ml), then the sample was adjusted to pH 12 with 10% NaOH and sealed with a teflon-coated septum. After immersion of the SPME fiber (100 PDME) in the sample for 15 min, the SPME needle was inserted into the injection port of the GC and extruded for 3 min. The result showed that each peak from nine amphetamines compounds and internal standard was clearly separated. The calibration curves were linear from 0.2 to 15 micrograms/ml for most of five amphetamines with r between 0.9928-0.9995. The CV were less 10%. It is concluded that the method is simple, quick, accurate and useful for the practical detection of urine concentration of amphetamines.


Statutory marketing boards that have exclusive authority to purchase domestic production, sell for export, and set purchase and sales prices of commodities are a type of state trading enterprise that is subject to World Trade Organization disciplines. This paper assesses a recent dispute brought by the United States against Canada, alleging that WTO rules require state trading enterprises to operate solely in accordance with commercial considerations and that the Canadian government did not require the Canadian Wheat Board to do so. The panel and Appellate Body found that the primary discipline of the WTO regarding state trading enterprises was nondiscrimination, and that operating on the basis of"commercial considerations"was not an independent obligation. Instead, WTO disciplines regarding the pricing behavior of state trading enterprises use a"commercial considerations"test as a possible indicator of discrimination. Although a significant degree of price discrimination is observed in the case of Canadian wheat exports, there are economic arguments why this might also be pursued by a private, profit maximizing firm.


The distribution of scarce healthcare resources is an increasingly important issue due to factors such as expensive 'high tech' medicine, longer life expectancies and the rising prevalence of chronic illness. Furthermore, in the current healthcare context lifestyle-related factors such as high blood pressure, tobacco use and obesity are believed to contribute significantly to the global burden of disease. As such, this paper focuses on an ongoing debate in the academic literature regarding the role of responsibility for illness in healthcare resource allocation: should patients with self-caused illness receive lower priority in access to healthcare resources? This paper critically describes the lower priority debate's 12 key arguments and maps out their relationships. This analysis reveals that most arguments have been refuted and that the debate has stalled and remains unresolved. In conclusion, we suggest progression could be achieved by inviting multidisciplinary input from a range of stakeholders for the development of evidence-based critical evaluations of existing arguments and the development of novel arguments, including the outstanding rebuttals.


Macular holes occur most commonly in predominantly healthy women in their seventh decade of life.1We followed up a young patient for 6 years who developed a full-thickness macular hole following an episode of hypertensive retinopathy. We propose a multifactorial cause of this macular hole. Report of a Case. A 21-year-old black Haitian woman presented with decreased visual acuity and floaters of 4 months' duration. She was receiving hemodialysis support three times per week for chronic renal failure with biopsy-proven membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and seronegative systemic lupus erythematosus. Her visual acuity was 20/400 OU. The slit-lamp examination findings were normal. She had a minor vitreous hemorrhage in her left eye. Her fundus showed bilateral disc edema with diffuse retinal edema and hard exudates (Figure 1). There was no retinal neovascularization or serous retinal detachment. Cystoid macular edema was not noted and fluorescein angiography was not performed. The patient's blood pressure


Using the principle of detailed balance and the evolution of entropy, the stability of a two-level system coupled to a squeezed vacuum via degenerate two-photon processes is investigated. We find that the stability of the system depends on the squeezing parameter M of squeezed vacuum. When |M| is small, the system is unstable, but when M is a very large real number, the system is driven to a stable state but far from equilibrium.


Abstract One approach to defining sampling requirements for precipitation measurement networks is through statistical correlation methods. Data from three dense raingage networks in Illinois were used with this method on rainfall measurements ranging from 1-min rates to total storm, monthly and seasonal amounts. Effects of rain type, synoptic storm type, and other factors on spatial correlations were studied. Correlation decay with distance, used to indicate sampling requirements, was greatest in thunderstorms, rainshowers and air mass storms. Conversely, minimum decay occurred with steady rain and the passage of low pressure centers. Seasonally, the decay rate is much greater in May–September storms than in cold season precipitation. Sampling requirements are extreme in measuring rainfall rates; thus, assuming a minimum acceptance of 75% explained variance between sampling points, a gage spacing of 0.3 mi is needed for 1-min rain rates compared with 7.5 mi for total storm rainfall in summer storms.


Peace journalism (PJ), originally proposed by Johan Galtung as a set of ideational distinctions in representations of conflict, has served as the organizing principle for both scholarly research and practical application. Much of the latter has come through media development aid, generally taking the form of professional training courses for editors and reporters. The effectiveness of such schemes depends on activating and galvanizing journalistic agency to change the content of reporting. This highlights a paradox: PJ is the policy response to Galtung's landmark 1965 essay, published with Mari Holmboe Ruge, 'The structure of foreign news', which, instead, attributed the chief influences on news content to the political economy of media. This article presents and considers two sets of data. One comes from interviews with sixteen alumni of PJ training courses, in which they disclose which aspects proved most readily applicable in their work. The other is based on a survey of 55 articles from The Peace Journalist, a biannual magazine published by the Global Peace Journalism Center at Park University, Missouri, which, between them, report on training courses in 33 countries over ten years. It shows which aspects of PJ are most often emphasized in such initiatives, and in what kind of conflict contexts. The two data sets are then compared and cross-referenced to show how both trainers and trainees set out to supplement and circumvent structural constraints and thus overcome the PJ paradox.


ABSTRACT Despite the fact that temozolomide (TMZ) has been widely accepted as the key chemotherapeutic agent to prolong the survival of patients with glioblastoma, failure and recurrence cases can still be observed in clinics. Glioma stem-like cells (GSCs) are thought to be responsible for the drug resistance. In this study, we investigate whether endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide-II (EMAP-II), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, can enhance TMZ cytotoxicity on U87MG and GSCs or not. As described in prior research, GSCs have been isolated from U87MG and maintained in the serum-free DMEM/F12 medium containing EGF, b-FGF, and B27. TMZ and/or EMAP-II administration were performed for 72 h, respectively. The results showed that TMZ combined with EMAP-II inhibit the proliferation of U87MG and GSCs by a larger measure than TMZ single treatment by decreasing the IC50. EMAP-II also enhanced TMZ-induced autophagy-mediated cell death and G2/M arrest. Moreover, we found that EMAP-II functioned a targeted suppression on mTOR, which may involve in the anti-neoplasm mechanism. The results suggest that EMAP-II could be considered as a combined chemotherapeutic agent against glioblastoma by sensitizing U87MG and GSCs to TMZ.


Fiduciary duties, once an Anglo-American concept, was codified in China's Company Law in 2005, which made China one of the very few jurisdictions which introduced fiduciary duties through statutory provisions. Between successful or unsuccessful cases of legal transplant, China offers a third possibility on how the transplant of fiduciary duties may work in a civil law jurisdiction. It appears to be a rather simple model: the concept – or name – of fiduciary duties has been used by the courts to apply the doctrine of torts in civil law to the wrongdoings of corporate insiders such as the directors, officers and supervisors. In other words, the codification of fiduciary duties by China's Company Law offers a room for the courts to use this concept as an authorisation by the law to impost tort liability on corporate wrongdoers, which they were not able to do before the codification. In this sense, the adoption of fiduciary duties in China's corporate law plays an instrumental role in improving investor protection in China, although the judicial understanding and interpretation of fiduciary duties are probably far different from what the duties are understood in the origin countries.


The state-family community is a pillar in the Chinese civilization and core value,but it is also challenged many times by individualism and society of great harmony and in addition by its inner components.Chinese history shows that keeping this state-family community has been the key to advancing soundly in a stable way,overcoming various crises and having prosperity.