Due to the ever rising competition in nearly all industrial sectors, there is a strong need for integrated information systems (ISs) that will store, retrieve, manipulate and exchange information efficiently to support all activities in an enterprise. Moreover, such an IS should not be a one-size-fit-all or a permanent solution, rather, the adaptability must be pursued so that the system can deal with all possible changes resulting from new technologies or new application demands. We present our first experience with developing such an integrated IS for a technical application domain. From the data processing point of view, the environment to be managed consists of distributed client/server systems embodied by heterogeneous hardware and software components; unconventional data types such as multimedia data and HTML statements are to be managed, and effective and robust database (DB) support should be provided. To meet the challenges posed by these advanced applications, new information techniques, such as World Wide Web (WWW or Web) and object-relational database management systems (ORDBMSs), are employed to facilitate a platform-independent DB access via a versatile user interface, as well as powerful DB services with high extensibility.


Background: Topical diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, has proven efficacy and safety in the management of osteoarthritis pain. We investigated penetration of topical diclofenac into knee synovial tissue and fluid (primary objective) and evaluated relative exposure in the knee versus plasma (secondary objective). Methods: In this phase I, double-blind, multicenter study, patients scheduled for arthroplasty for end-stage knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned 2:1 to 4 g diclofenac diethylamine 2.32% w/w gel (92.8 mg diclofenac diethylamine, equivalent to 74.4 mg diclofenac, per application) or placebo gel, applied to the affected knee by a trained nurse/designee every 12 h for 7 days before surgery. Diclofenac concentrations were measured in synovial tissue, synovial fluid and plasma from samples obtained during surgery ⩾12 h after last application. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were evaluated. Results: Evaluable synovial tissue or fluid samples were obtained from 45 (diclofenac n = 29; placebo n = 16) of 47 patients. All diclofenac-treated participants had measurable diclofenac concentrations in synovial tissue [geometric mean 1.57 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12, 2.20) ng/g] and fluid [geometric mean 2.27 (95% CI 1.87, 2.76) ng/ml] ⩾12 h after the last dose. Geometric mean (95% CI) ratio of diclofenac in synovial tissue:plasma was 0.32 (0.23, 0.45) and in synovial fluid:plasma was 0.46 (0.40, 0.54). TEAE rates were similar for diclofenac (55.2%) and placebo (58.8%); none were treatment related. Conclusions: Topical diclofenac diethylamine 2.32% w/w gel penetrated into the osteoarthritic knee after repeated application and remained detectable in synovial tissue and fluid at the end of the final 12 h dosing cycle.


Norcyclizine is eliminated by the rat, dog and human much more rapidly than is the structurally similar compound, norchlorcyclizine. The finding that norchiorcyclizine is more extensively bound to tissue and plasma protein than is norcycizine offers a possible explanation for the slow elimination of norchiorcycizine. Extrapolation of the data obtained by equilibrium dialysis indicates that an undiluted lung homogenate binds 98% of the added norchlorcyclizine but binds only 91.7% of the added norcyclizine. Thus, the free concentration of norcyclizine is about 4 times that of norchlorcycizine. Similarly, norchlorcyclizine is bound to kidney, liver, brain and heart more extensively than is norcyclizine. The binding to tissue of both compounds, however, is greater than the binding to plasma. Undiluted plasma binds only 88% of the added norchlorcyclizine and 59% of the added norcyclizine. Because of this extensive binding to tissue only small amounts of the administered drug are found in the plasma. The studies on the disappearance of norchlorcychzine and norcyclizine from human plasma therefore necessitated the use of an extremely sensitive method for the assay of secondary amines. After termination of chlorcyclizine treatment (50 t.i.d. for 6 days), norchiorcyclizine disappeared slowly from plasma with a half-life of 6 days, whereas the levels of norcycizine found after similar cyclizine administration were lower and disappeared from the plasma much more rapidly. The long persistence of norchlorcyclizine in the tissues following chlorcycizine administration can be seen in experiments which show that tissue levels as high as 120 µg/g of norchlorcyclizine are still found 10 days after the termination of chlorcyclizine administration to dogs.


In recent decades, several methods significantly different from the classic method of the Cavendish torsion balance have been developed and used for measuring the gravitational constant G. Unfortunately, the new de-terminations of G have not reduced significantly its uncertainty. It seems that in recent times, the accuracy prob-lem for the gravitational constant has not been the focus. This paper presents a new type gravity experiment used a big and heavy physical pendulum, not for a newest gravitational constant measure, but for the study of special gravitational effects encountered accidentally. Surprisingly strong gravitational effects have been observed between moving masses. We have named the whole new group of gravitational phenomena by "dynamic gravity". Despite the simplicity of our gravity experiment, the observed extraordinary results could lead to an unexpected revolution in gravity science.


e234 www.ccmjournal.org March 2014 • Volume 42 • Number 3 Objective: Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome with motor and behavioral symptoms occurring in patients with or without a history of psychiatric illness. Although it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, the prevalence of catatonia in the ICU setting is unknown. The diagnosis and management of catatonia in the critically ill patient raises unique challenges. Furthermore, the diagnosis and management are not included in most critical care curricula. The objective of this retrospective study is to increase the awareness of this clinically important condition among critical care providers. Design: Retrospective case series study. Setting: Multiple critical care units at a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital. Patients: Five critically ill patients with catatonia, aged 17 to 78. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: All notes, laboratory data, imaging results, other diagnostic studies, therapeutic interventions, and responses to treatment were reviewed for five critically ill patients with catatonia. No unifying cause of catatonia or predisposing conditions were identified for these patients. Currently available diagnostic criteria for catatonia were found to be nonspecific in the ICU setting. New diagnostic criteria for catatonia specific to the critically ill patient are proposed. Conclusions: Catatonia can occur in a wide variety of critical care settings, with or without precedent psychiatric illness, and it may be exacerbated or induced by common intensive care practices. Psychomotor findings are imperative in examination of critically ill patients with altered mental status in order to diagnose catatonia. (Crit Care Med 2013; 42:e234–e241)


This study aims to identify cellular phone users' shopping motivating factors towards online shopping. 100 university students located in Klang Valley, Malaysia were involved as the respondents. They were required to complete a set of questionnaire and had to own a cellular phone in order to be selected as sample in this study. Three from five proposed hypotheses were supported: purchasing information, shopping utilities and service quality. As a result, marketers and retailers should concentrate more on the less important factors in order to encourage and create willingness of the consumers to purchase online. Recommendation for future research is also presented.


AIM
To define optimal time for transplantation of bone marrow (TBM) in children with hematological malignancies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
20 allogenic TBMs were performed in children with acute myeloblastic leukemia (6 patients, 2 of them in recurrence), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (7 patients, 4 of them in recurrence), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in a chronic stage (3 patients), severe aplastic anemia (3 patients), generalized neuroblastoma (1 patient). Pretransplantation preparation included cyclophosphamide and busulphane or cyclophosphamide, busulphane and vepezide. The graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR) was prevented with cyclosporin A plus methotrexate or cyclosporin A plus urbazone. Engrafting was recognized by change of karyotype and blood group.

RESULTS
From 13 children with acute leukemia subjected to TBM in a complete remission 4(33%) are alive, 5 died within 100 days after TBM (TBM was made in recurrence in 4 children), 3 patients died of recurrence 12 months after TBM. One patient with CML and one with severe aplastic anemia remain in remission. The main complications and causes of death in early posttransplantation period were hemorrhagic syndrome, infectious complications, GVHR. According to a one-year follow-up, the recurrent disease caused death most frequently.

CONCLUSION
Positive result of TBM is related to the disease stage at transplantation.


Bioconjugates based on a redox protein and iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles were employed in the catalytic polymerization of ortho-, meta- and para-substituted phenylenediamines at room temperature for the synthesis of carbon-based fluorescent polymers. UV-Vis absorption measurements of the three obtained products showed a red shift compared to the starting materials. These results together with the FT-IR and XPS analyses confirm the successful formation of the polymers. In particular, the component quantification in the C 1s XPS spectra revealed the high proportion of C–N bonds, associated with the oxidative polymerization of the precursors. MALDI-TOF MS analysis was performed in order to determine the molecular weights of the products. The synthesized poly-oPDA, poly-mPDA and poly-pPDA resulted to have a highly green, blue and red fluorescence, respectively. The reusability of the biocatalyst and the effect of the pH were investigated in the reaction for the ortho isomer. The biocatalytic system showed optimum results when the pH was below the enzyme isoelectric point (pI).


2015 dissertation for Master of Business Administration. Selected by academic staff as a good example of a masters level dissertation.

This study is an exploratory research to critically evaluate the relationship between green marketing and luxury brands from the luxury consumer perspective. The focus of the study is on the knowledge, preference and support of luxury users for the 'responsible' and 'environment friendly' luxury products.

Qualitative data was collected by carrying out face to face interviews, as the views, opinions and the way consumers give meaning to luxury are important. Primary data was collected, by conducting eight in-depth interviews with luxury consumers in London. The sample was selected by 'puposive sampling'.

The research findings highlighted the non-existent knowledge in the luxury consumer segment of any philanthropic activities or green marketing by luxury brands. Luxury consumers generally do not see a relationship between green marketing and luxury, but there is also a recognisable lack of support for environment friendly luxury. The utilitarian, hedonic and symbolic value of luxury is at the top of consumer's mind while purchasing, whereas luxury are not significantly influenced by the environment, ethics and the societal well being. Consequences of overconsumption and their actions are not usually at the forefront of consumer's minds when making purchasing decisions.

Imparting education and awareness is seen to be crucial for the success of green marketing by luxury brands. The consumers should feel capable of bringing a change as well as understanding the impact of their purchase decisions.

Further Research is required around luxury brands and how they operate, as there is very little literature that specifically looks at luxury marketing, luxury brands in combination with green marketing, pro environmental behaviours and corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaigns by major luxury brands.


Yersiniosis is an important zoonosis, causing disease to humans and animals. The available culture methods for detecting Y. enterocolitica in the samples prelevated from different categories of biological products need more time for performing and sometimes they offer satisfying results. By using methods based on DNA detection, as molecular techniques, this pathogenic agent can be detected quickly and with a higher accuracy. The purpose of this study was to establish a quicker and more veracious PCR method for the detection of this microorganism in biological product samples. There has been used a nucleotide target sequence for the PCR test, 5' nuclease, the chromosomal gene ail, present in pathogenic strains of Y. enterocolitica. The sample was marked at 5' end with a report dyeing substance and at 3' end with an extinction substance. The reading was performed by RT-PCR, using a 2 stage-work protocolem consisting of 45 cycles. This qualitative PCR method demonstrated the procurement of specific results and with a high sensitivity, the detection rate of ail positive gene of Y. enterocolitica in 140 samples of biological products being of 86 % by using PCR and 37 % for culture methods.


The aim of this study is to investigate the perception of taxpayers towards the implementation of good and services tax (GST) in Malaysia. Theory of reasoned action proposed by Fishbein and Ajzen (1975) was used as the underlying theory for the study. One hundred and three respondents in Kedah and Perlis participated in the study. Multiple regressions were employed to examine the relationship between attitude and subjective norms on behavioural intention to comply with GST. Results showedthat attitude and subjective norms variables were significantly and positively related to behavioural intention. All these independent variables were able to explain 28% of the variance in behavioural intention to comply with GST. Implications and recommendations for policy makers are discussed.


Progress towards the total synthesis of the marine natural product diazonamide A is described. The synthesis was conceived around an iminium-catalyzed alkylation/cyclization cascade that stereoselectively installs the central C(10) quaternary carbon stereocenter and the complete furanoindoline core of the natural product in an asymmetric, organocatalytic manner. The manner in which this idea was brought to bear is illustrated, with the remainder of the work focused on devising and executing strategies toward the synthesis of the two twelve-membered macrocycles of the target structure. Considerable efforts were made in this regard, and highlights include execution of a Witkop photo-annulation, development of a novel and highly selective magnesium-mediated macroaldolization reaction to close a thirteen-membered ring, a Suzuki biaryl macrocyclization, an unusual oxidative ring contraction, and the development of a new DAST-mediated method for the synthesis of 4-acyl oxazoles. Five distinct approaches towards the endgame of the synthesis are described. In all cases these approaches came only a single synthetic operation from the assured completion of the natural product, but none proved ultimately viable. Also described is work focused on replacing a late-stage auxiliary-based aldol reaction in a previously completed MacMillan group synthesis of the macrolide antibiotic erythronolide B, with a substrate-controlled, diastereoselective variant. The overarching synthetic strategy and forward synthesis will be described along with a detailed discussion of the aforementioned, late stage aldol reaction to install the C(1)-C(2) portion of the seco acid.


AIM
This study aimed to assess convergent validity of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) interview (long form, last seven days), and to examine differences in reported physical activity and sedentary time between the self-administered and interview versions of the long IPAQ (last seven days); and whether these differences depend on gender, age, educational level and weight status.

METHODS
In total, 542 Belgian adults (45.3% male, 43.8±12.1 years) completed the IPAQ self-administered version. Data of these adults were compared with data of 542 adults (45.2% male, 43.5±12.3 years) who completed the IPAQ interview version and wore an accelerometer for seven consecutive days. Samples were matched on gender, age, education, neighborhood characteristics and time of data collection.

RESULTS
Convergent validity of the IPAQ interview version was moderate for total physical activity (Spearman ρ=0.37, P<0.001) and high for sedentary time (Spearman ρ=0.67; P<0.001). Bland-Altman plots showed that systematic and proportional biases were present for total physical activity; for sedentary time only systematic bias was present. Adults who completed the self-administered IPAQ reported higher means for most types of physical activity and less sedentary time than those who completed the IPAQ interview version. Differences between the two IPAQ versions were larger in males, lower-educated, older and overweight/obese adults.

CONCLUSION
Convergent validity of assessing total physical activity using IPAQ interview was similar to previous studies examining validity of the IPAQ, but stronger results were found for sedentary time. In general, and especially in males, lower-educated, older and overweight/obese adults, the use of the IPAQ interview version assessed by trained researchers, should be recommended to collect self-reported data on physical activity and sedentary time.


A program developed by the University of California at San Diego Medical Center to curb over-prescribing of cimetidine is described. Guidelines for cimetidine use were approved in September 1985. Pharmacists undertook physician education and enforced the guidelines by monitoring patients through a specially designed documentation form. When use of cimetidine was not in compliance with the guidelines, the pharmacists contacted the physicians to recommend changes. Use of cimetidine hydrochloride injection declined 49% between September 30 and December 6, 1985. Extrapolated to an entire year, this reduction would result in cost savings of +12,000 to +16,000. However, after pharmacists stopped enforcing the guidelines in December 1985, use of cimetidine hydrochloride injection gradually increased to near control levels. In February 1986, the review of patients receiving cimetidine was reinstituted, resulting in another decline in use. Periodic review and reinforcement by pharmacists appear necessary to ensure that cimetidine continues to be prescribed appropriately.


A 10-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimum feeding rate of two extruded pellets (EP1 and EP2) and raw fish-based moist pellet (MP) for juvenile flounder. Two replicate groups of the fish (average weight of 27 g) were fed EP and MP three times daily at different feeding rate (satiation and 85% satiation). Weight gain of fish was not affected by diet, but affected by feeding rate. Weight gain with satiation feeding group showed a tendency to higher compared to that of fish with 85% satiation feeding at the same diet. Feed efficiency of fish was affected by diet, but not feeding rate. Feed efficiency of fish fed the EP1 and EP2 was higher than that of fish fed the MP at the same feeding rate. Daily feed intake was affected by diet and feeding rate. Daily feed intake of fish fed with satiation was higher than that of fish with 85% satiation at same diet, and this variable of fish fed the MP was higher than that of fish fed the EP1 and EP2. Protein efficiency ratio of fish fed the MP was significantly lower than that of fish fed the EP1 and EP2 regardless of feeding rate. Lipid content of whole body was affected by diet, and that of fish fed the EP2 and MP at satiation feeding was the highest. It can be concluded that satiation feeding will be good and EP is better than MP for growth of juvenile flounder grown from 27 g to 51 g.


The supernatant fluid of axenically grown Entamoeba histolytica-HM1 significantly modifies the ultrastructural features associated with monocyte chemotaxis as assayed in Boyden chambers. This morphological evidence supports the existence of a factor, monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor (MLIF), produced by E. histolytica that inhibits the in vitro locomotion of human monocytes. None of the leucocyte-locomotion modifying drugs included in this study (i.e., cytochalasin-B, colchicine, vinblastine, and hydrocortisone) caused changes totally comparable with those induced by MLIF. The most striking feature was the increase of centriole-associated microtubules induced by MLIF and by cytochalasin-B. MLIF may inhibit monocyte locomotion by directly inducing excessive microtubule assembly, although a direct, if somewhat weak effect upon microfilaments cannot be excluded. The increase in microtubules could then represent a perhaps futile attempt of the microtubule organizing center to overcome the locomotion blockade that has occurred elsewhere in the cell. If active in vivo, MLIF may contribute to the paucity of inflammation in the advanced stages of invasive amebiasis, and consequently to the lack of scar tissue formation upon recovery from such lesions, as monocytes constitute an essential link to the healing process.


Flux-ratio anomalies in quasar lenses can be attributed to dark matter substructure surrounding the lensing galaxy and thus used to constrain the substructure mass fraction. Previous applications of this approach infer a substructure abundance that is potentially in tension with the predictions of Λ cold dark matter cosmology. However, the assumption that all flux-ratio anomalies are due to substructure is a strong one and alternative explanations have not been fully investigated. Here, we use new high-resolution near-IR Keck II adaptive optics imaging for the lens system CLASS B0712+472 to perform pixel-based lens modelling for this system and, in combination with the new Very Long Baseline Array radio observations, show that the inclusion of the disc in the lens model can explain the flux-ratio anomalies without the need for dark matter substructures. The projected disc mass comprises 16 per cent of the total lensing mass within the Einstein radius and the total disc mass is 1.79 × 1010 M⊙. The case of B0712+472 adds to the evidence that not all flux-ratio anomalies are due to dark subhaloes and highlights the importance of taking the effects of baryonic structures more fully into account in order to obtain an accurate measure of the substructure mass fraction.


Although researchers have investigated the impact of social isolation on well-being, the recent quarantines due to COVID-19 resulted in a social isolation environment that was unique to any examined in the past. Because sleep is one of the endogenous drives that impacts short and long-term health and well-being, it is important to consider how social isolation during the COVID-19 government-mandated quarantines affected sleep and sleep habits. A number of researchers have addressed this question during the last 2 years by examining several concepts related to possible changes in sleep during the quarantines. To best understand these recent results, the current mini review provides a background on the pre-pandemic literature on the effects of social isolation and loneliness with a focus on sleep and then summarizes the recent literature on sleep and sleep habits. In general, sleep was negatively impacted for many people during the pandemics but not all. One group that seemed to benefit from the pandemic in terms of sleep patterns, were younger people who could more easily adapt their sleep times to match their internal chronobiology. Given the potential broad impact of sleep on health and well-being, better understanding how social isolation impacts sleep is an important consideration for individuals, work organizations, and governments.


This study examines the relation between employees perceived Quality of Work Life (QWL) with life domains using spillover theory. For this study the subjects were employees from chemical industries at Cuddalore (SIPCOT). The QWL was measured using need satisfaction variables. The questionnaire was developed as to capture the needed information of the study variables. The sample size for this study was 227. The questionnaire was administered and reliability test was used to validate it. The regression analysis was done to find the level of influence on the dependent variables. The results showed that the employees who sensing higher level of QWL were sensing high level of job satisfaction, life satisfaction and general well-being. Fulfilling the needs of the employees by the organization can achieve higher level of QWL and organizational commitment from the employees.


We present an area- and power-efficient application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for a miniaturized 3-D ultrasound system. The ASIC is designed to transmit pulse and receive echo through a 36-channel 2-D piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasound Transducer (pMUT) array. The 36-channel ASIC integrates a transmitter (TX), a receiver (RX), and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) within the 250-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> pitch channel while consuming low-power and supporting calibration to compensate for the process variation of the pMUT. The charge-recycling high-voltage TX (CRHV-TX) in standard CMOS generates up to 13.2-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{V}_{\mathrm {PP}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> pulse while reducing 42.2% peak TX power consumption. Also, each CRHV-TX automatically calibrates excitation voltage according to acoustic pressure of pMUT. The dynamic-bit-shared ADC (DBS-ADC) shares the most significant bits (MSBs) among four channels based on the signal similarity between adjacent channels. The analog front end (AFE) with a received signal sensitivity indicator (RSSI) changes its gain adaptively in real time depending on input signal strength. The ASIC consumes 1.14-mW/channel average power with 1-kHz pulse repetition frequency (PRF) and three TX pulses per cycle. The ASIC in 0.18-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> 1P6M Standard CMOS has been verified with both electrical and acoustic experiments with a <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$6\times 6$ </tex-math></inline-formula> pMUT array.


A new nickel zinc chromate with the composition of (NH4OH)3/2NiZn2Cr2O9⋅2H2O was synthesized by hydrothermal method. The compound was characterized by XRD, TGA, and XRF. X-ray powder diffraction data show that the crystal system of the title compound is hexagonal with space group R-3m, z=3, and unit-cell parameters: a=5.9794 and c=21.4875 Å.


An absorption technique for determining the temperature in a circularly symmetric discharge has been developed by Elder, Jerrick and Birkeland, and applied by them to a low-temperature discharge using a tungsten ribbon background source. This technique has been extended here to a higher temperature radio-frequency discharge in argon at atmospheric pressure using a condenser discharge background source. The measured off-axis temperature maximum of 9200°K is in agreement with previous measurements. The error introduced by the finite resolution of the spectrograph used is discussed.


In this paper, a novel high resolution time of arrival (TOA) technique is proposed for multipath wireless environments. The technique is based on frequency domain independent component analysis (ICA). The proposed technique has applications in radar, sonar, wireless local positioning system, and, mobile adhoc networks (MANETS). The proposed algorithm is compared to the traditional techniques such as delay lock loop (DLL) and super-resolution multiple signal classification (MUSIC). Simulations are conducted to compare performance measures that include: (1) sensitivity to bandwidth, (2) resolution: Capability of resolving closely spaced reflections in a multi-path environment, (3) sensitivity to number-of-observations, and (4) sensitivity to signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Simulation results confirm that the proposed algorithm leads to lower sensitivity to SNR, number-of-observations, and, bandwidth. In addition, the technique possesses a high resolution and can be simply implemented via FPGA (field programmable gate array) and DSP (digital signal processor).


In this digital age, the means of journalism are being drastically reinvented and the character of news is being constantly reconstructed. This study examines the nature of podcast journalism recently emerging in South Korea, based on two unique concepts—"carnivalism" and "engaging journalism". A carnival creates an arena where free expression of non-legitimate voices could resist and mock the dominant power. This study finds that Korean podcasts tend to subvert a range of authoritative discourses and provide a journalism venue for comic criticism and emotional catharsis. Podcasts not only serve to lampoon the establishment, but also re-engage people who have been left largely disillusioned from mainstream news into the democratic process. This research argues that the discourse in the current affairs podcasts takes on the nature of "engaging journalism", which motivates ordinary individuals to engage in elite-challenging political action.


The purpose of the study was the research of the influence of rats father's excessive consumption of phytoestrogens on somato-sexual development and reproductive function of male offspring. Materials and methods. Male parents were fed with a mixture of phytoestrogens before mating with intact females at a dose of 20 mg/kg of body weight for 30 days. In reproductive animals, reproductive function was studied for such characteristics as sexual behavior, fertility, spermogram, the mass of androgen-dependent organs was determined, and the level of sex hormones was determined. Experimental parents were divided into two groups: 1) intact, 2) males who received excess phytoestrogens. After the birth of male offspring from these parents, their reproductive system was examined. Results and discussion. Prolonged administration of phytoestrogens to mature male parents (parents) causes absolute and relative hyperestrogenism (five-fold increase in E2 and vice versa reduction of T/E2 three-fold), which leads to a decrease in copulatory activity (reduction of the number of nurseries and intromissions by 28%), violation of spermatogenesis (reduction of sperm concentration by 39%, doubling the proportion of abnormal forms), at the same time does not affect the reproductive potential of male who were born to fathers who received an excess consumption of phytoestrogens. The presence of excess compounds with estrogenic activity in the diet of adult males in the preconsumption period leads to the birth of male offspring, which have reduced testosterone levels (25%) in the critical period of sexual differentiation of the brain (5 days of life). Descendants of the male sex of the phytoestrogenized father have a normal course of somatic development but are characterized by impaired sexual development (less anogenital distance by 13%) and delayed lowering of the testicles into the scrotum, lower body weight in adulthood (28.2% in 150 day rats). Reproductive function of the offspring of phytoestrogenized father is characterized by differences in sexual behavior: less copulatory activity – 50%, less number intromission, the number of males with ejaculation is 10%; delayed sexual reactions; and lower reproductive potential (two-fold reduction of the integrated indicator of potential fertility of animals). Decreased reproductive potential of the offspring, who were born to fathers who received an excess consumption of phytoestrogens, occurs due to a decrease in the proportion of effective fertilization (pregnant females among those fertilized only 60%), indicating negative changes in sperm, the development of which, starting from the stage of spermatocytes, occurred in conditions of absolute and relative hyperestrogenism. Conclusion. The male who were born to fathers who received an excess consumption of phytoestrogens, have complications in the functioning of the reproductive system


The mirror image (MI) rain echo, received through the double reflection of the radar pulse from the surface, may provide useful information in estimating the rainfall rate from airborne and spaceborne weather radars. However, because of the complicated scattering mechanisms involving the surface and rain and the relatively small amount of measured data, studies of the MI effect have been few. In this paper, a more rigorous model of the MI return power has been constructed that yields the co-and cross-polarized components of the MI and bistatic returns as a functions of the radar parameters (antenna beamwidth and radar altitude) and the scattering properties of the rain and surface. As a test of the model, the mirror image return, as estimated from theory, is compared with the measured MI range profile, and reasonably good agreement is obtained. For meteorological applications, algorithms for estimation of the rain path attenuation are developed based on the difference of the direct and MI returns at the same distance from the surface. The accuracies of the algorithms are analyzed and compared with those of the surface reference technique (SRT) through the simulations for airborne and spaceborne [the case of the Tropical Rain Measuring Mission (TRRM)] geometries.


310 infertile couples have been studied retrospectively over a 15-year period from the andrological and gynaecological view. Teratozoospermia in men and tubal disturbances in women respectively turned out to be the most common causes. Isolated male infertility was found in 33%, that of the female partner in 19%. Both partners were involved in 40%. 93 women (30%) finally gave birth to a child after successful treatment.


Lateral and vertical variabilities in the bulk and mechanical properties of silicic volcanic tuff at the potential nuclear waste repository site in Yucca Mountain, NV have been evaluated. Laboratory measurements have been performed on tuff specimens recovered from boreholes located to support the design of the Exploratory Studies Facility/North Ramp. The data include dry and saturated bulk densities, average grain density, porosity, compressional and shear wave velocities, elastic moduli, and compressional and tensional fracture strengths. Data from eight boreholes aligned in a northwest-southeast direction have been collected under the required quality assurance program. Three boreholes have penetrated the potential repository horizon. The information collected provides for an accurate appraisal of the variability of rock properties in the vicinity of the boreholes. As expected, there is substantial variability in the bulk and mechanical properties of the tuff with depth (lithology). This is due to variations in gross characteristics of the tuffs (e.g., cooling units, mode of deposition, etc.), as well as smaller scale features (welding, porosity, and internal structures) that have developed as a result of depositional and post-depositional mechanisms. An evaluation of the lateral variability in bulk and mechanical properties is somewhat limited, at this time, due to a lack of borehole control to the north and south (parallel to the depositional flow direction). Initial observations indicate that there is minimal lateral variability within lithologic units. There are observable differences however, that can be related to variability in specific properties (e.g., porosity, and internal structures).


abstract The Chinese earthquake catalog is used to evaluate the adequacy of simple methods for calculating seismic hazards. These simple methods use a time-stationary model for seismicity and an exponential distribution for earthquake size. Earthquake occurrences in five provinces of North China (the area with the most complete history) during time segments of three lengths (50, 100, and 200 years) are used as input to the hazard analysis. The probabilities of felt shaking in 62 cities in North China are calculated for the 50-year period following each time segment, and are compared to the observed occurrences of felt shaking during the 50-year period. Data intervals of 50 and 100 years suffice for accurate estimation of probabilities of felt shaking; 200 years of earthquake history lead to poorer estimates of these probabilities if the rate of earthquake occurrence is averaged over the entire 200 years. This inaccuracy results from the apparent periodicity of activity in North China, which has a cycle of about 300 years. The implication is that, at a specific time, the most recent seismic activity is the best data base to use for calculation of probabilities of felt shaking in the near future.


In this paper, we construct a viable model for a GeV scale self-interacting dark matter (DM), where the DM was thermally produced in the early universe. In this model, a new vector-like fermion with a dark charge under the $U(1)_{D}$ gauge symmetry serves as a secluded WIMP DM and it can dominantly annihilate into the light dark gauge boson and singlet scalar through the dark gauge interaction. Also, the self-interaction of DM is induced by the light dark gauge boson via the same gauge interaction. In addition to these particles, we further introduce two Weyl fermions and a doublet scalar, by which the dark gauge boson produced from $s$-wave DM annihilations can mostly decay into active neutrinos after the dark symmetry breaking such that the CMB bound on the DM with low masses can be eluded. In order to have a common parameter region to explain the observed relic abundance and self-interaction of DM, we also study this model in a non-standard cosmological evolution, where the cosmic expansion driven by a new field species is faster than the standard radiation-dominated universe during the frozen time of DM. Reversely, one can also use the self-interacting nature of light thermal DM to examine the non-standard cosmological history of the universe.


Spreadsheets are one of the most widely used programming environments, and are widely deployed in domains like finance where errors can have catastrophic consequences. We present a static analysis specifically designed to find spreadsheet formula errors. Our analysis directly leverages the rectangular character of spreadsheets. It uses an information-theoretic approach to identify formulas that are especially surprising disruptions to nearby rectangular regions. We present ExceLint, an implementation of our static analysis for Microsoft Excel. We demonstrate that ExceLint is fast and effective: across a corpus of 70 spreadsheets, ExceLint takes a median of 8 seconds per spreadsheet, and it significantly outperforms the state of the art analysis.


Older adults returning home from the hospital may encounter health issues that cause anxiety about their ability to obtain enough food. Home-delivered meal (HDM) programs support nutritional needs and improve food security of those who cannot provide for themselves. A study conducted in six states examined feelings of anxiety about getting enough food in older adults (aged 60 years and older), comparing three time points: prior to hospitalization, at hospitalization (n = 566) and after receiving HDMs for two months posthospitalization (n = 377). Food anxiety during hospitalization was significantly higher among Hispanic ethnicity, current and former smokers, diabetics, and those who eat alone or have difficulty shopping. Food anxiety was significantly lower from baseline to two months follow-up (P < 0.0001), and participants showed improvements in certain coping strategies they used to get their meals. Indicators of food anxiety can help the health care system and community nutrition programs target those at highest risk of negative health outcomes.


In recent years, the theory of numerical range, developed in [3], has provided techniques which have considerably simplified the proofs of certain results in the theory of B*-algebras. The following question, posed by G. Lumer at the North British Functional Analysis Seminar held at Edinburgh in April 1968, is, therefore, natural: Can one prove the above theorem of Kadison using the techniques of the theory of numerical range? Lumer showed that such a proof can be given when the algebras concerned are commutative. In this paper, we give a simple, intrinsic proof of Kadison's result, using certain elementary notions from the theory of numerical range. We note that if A is a B*-algebra with identity 1, the set


In this paper, we consider the use of multi-level wireless sensor networks (WSN) in an urban environment for scenarios such as disaster recovery or a military mission in a battlefield. The quick deployment of WSN, comprised of ground sensors and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) flying above building height, enables a new communication network to be formed instantly. However, due to the obstruction of buildings and movement of sensor nodes, communications among the sensor nodes is intermittent resulting in frequent partitioning of the network. The epidemic routing protocol, with its simple and robust flooding nature has made communication in a partitioned network possible, exploiting the mobility of the network nodes and based on pair-wise communication. However, due to the broadcast nature of this protocol, problems such as redundancy rebroadcast, contention and collisions, collectively known as the broadcast storm problem, have been observed. We first recommend a more detailed radio propagation modelling approach for the urban environment for more realistic simulation studies. Further, we propose an adaptive probabilistic epidemic protocol for WSN in the urban environment that adapts to the network topology over time. Through simulation studies, we show that this protocol improves the performance of the WSN in terms of data packet delivery probability compared to the case without probabilistic transmission in epidemic protocol.


Since the mid 80's, compiler writers for functional languages (especially lazy ones) have been writing papers about identifying and exploiting thunks and lambdas that are used only once. However it has proved difficult to achieve both power and simplicity. We describe a new, modular analysis for a higher-order language, which is both simple and effective, and present measurements of its use in a full-scale, state of the art optimising compiler. The analysis indeed finds many single-entry thunks and one-shot lambdas, although the wall-clock speedups are modest.


This thesis contains several studies of the properties of neutron noise, primarily in Molten Salt Reactors and other reactors with propagating perturbations. Both one- and two-group diffusion theory are employed to investigate the differences that arise from the movement of the fuel. Data corresponding to a thorium-fuelled thermal reactor is used to investigate the properties of a more realistic possible
realisation of an MSR system, as well as data corresponding to more traditional systems for contrast. Furthermore, the properties of the neutron noise from a vibrating absorber or fuel rod in a traditional reactor is investigated in a two-group, multi-region system.

For the MSR, the Green's functions and the dynamic adjoint functions are investigated in the general case of arbitrary fuel recirculation velocity and in the limiting case of infinite fuel velocity which permits simplified solutions both in the static and dynamic case. It is found that the amplitude of the induced noise is generally higher and the domain of the point kinetic behaviour valid up to higher frequencies than in a corresponding traditional system. This
is due to the differing behaviour of the delayed neutron precursors as compared to the traditional case.

The MSR equations are not self-adjoint and the adjoint equations and adjoint functions have to be constructed, which is also done here. Finally, the space-dependent
neutron noise, induced by propagating perturbations of the
absorption cross section is calculated. A number of interesting properties that are relevant to full size MSRs are found and interpreted. The results are consistent with those in traditional systems but the domains of various behaviour regimes (point kinetic, space dependent etc.) are shifted to higher frequencies or system sizes.


Neuroblastoma (NB) is a tumor of infancy that accounts for 15% of all pediatric cancer mortality. NB bares striking similarity to undifferentiated neuroblasts of the sympathetic nervous system in gene expression profiles and histological appearance. In most neuroblastoma tumors, the cell cycle is hyperactive due to overexpression of cyclin D1 and amplification of MYCN. However, retinoic acid (RA) induces differentiation and cell cycle exit of some NB cell lines in vitro and provides significant benefit to patients in the clinic. As neuroblastoma appears to result from sustained proliferation and inhibition of differentiation, we sought to understand how cell cycle and differentiation are linked within NB. We focused our efforts on Ascl1, a proneural transcription factor that is both necessary and sufficient for neural differentiation of noradrenergic neurons and has been shown to be regulated by the cell cycle. Paradoxically, Ascl1 is both highly expressed and associated with poor prognosis in NB. However, we hypothesized that Ascl1 phosphostatus critically regulates its ability to induce differentiation. We show that Ascl1 is highly expressed and phosphorylated across multiple NB cell lines and is largely phosphorylated by CDKs. Phosphorylated Ascl1 actively promotes the G1-S transition by upregulating E2f, Skp2, and Cdk2. These targets all promote CDK activity, further maintaining Ascl1 phosphorylation. However, a phosphomutant form of Ascl1, where putative CDK sites are mutated, arrests cells in the G1 phase by preferentially upregulating Ebf3 and p27. These targets inhibit CDK activity promoting Ascl1 dephosphorylation and further upregulation of Ebf3 and p27. We propose a model whereby Ascl1 sits between two positive feedback loops, both forming a critical link between cell cycle and differentiation, but also as an agent to commit cells to either a self-renewing undifferentiated state or a postmitotic differentiated state. Given this model, we hypothesized that pharmacologic inhibition of CDK activity when combined with a pro-differentiation agent such as RA would synergistically cause differentiation in neuroblastoma. Indeed, CDK inhibitor and RA combination treatment causes increased differentiation in RA-susceptible cell lines and induces differentiation in RA-resistant cell lines. Given that most neuroblastoma tumors have an overactive cell cycle and also highly express Ascl1, combination therapy of CDK inhibitor and RA may provide generalized benefit to NB patients. Citation Format: Luke A. Wylie, Carol J. Thiele, Anna Philpott. Phosphorylation status of Ascl1 regulates neuroblastoma self-renewal and differentiation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5447. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5447


Background: The 6-Min Walking Test (6MWT) has been proposed to assess functional aerobic capacity in patients with heart failure, but many older adults with heart failure cannot complete it. The adequacy of the 5-repetition Sit-To-Stand (5-STS), a simpler test than 6MWT, to assess the functional aerobic capacity in older adults with heart failure has not been evaluated. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the usefulness of 5-STS in estimating maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) in older adults with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out. Patients 70 years and older with HFpEF were included. A bivariant Pearson correlation and subsequent multivariate linear regression analysis were used to analyze the correlations between the 5-STS and the estimated VO2 peak. Results: Seventy-six patients (80.74 (5.89) years) were recruited. The 5-STS showed a moderate and inversely correlation with the estimated VO2 peak (r = −0.555, p < 0.001). The 5-STS explained 40.4% of the variance in the estimated VO2 peak, adjusted by age, sex, and BMI. When older adults were stratified by BMI, the 5-STS explained 70% and 31.4% of the variance in the estimated VO2 peak in older adults with normal weight and overweight/obesity, respectively. Conclusions: The 5-STS may be an easy tool to assess functional aerobic capacity in older adults with HFpEF, especially for those with normal weight.


Assimilating the solid-liquid interface to a binary domain described by a set of coupled equations, one studies the solidification process. The numerical solutions of the thermal breather, the thermal breather pair and the thermal cluster type are associated to a virtual crystallization germ, a stable crystallization germ and a crystalline grain, respectively. The fractal characteristics of the solidification process are analyzed by means of fractal dimension dynamics.


The ratio of intensities of the first negative system and the second positive system of nitrogen as a function of the electric field strength was experimentally determined in atmospheric-pressure air. The non-self-sustained discharge was excited in a parallel-plane gap using the radiation of a pulsed laser. The field strength was varied in the range of 135–285 Td. The peculiarities of the measurement and data processing of signals of very low intensity are described. The results are compared with the theoretical predictions of other authors.


The tenth and latest edition of Willard and Spackman's Occupational Therapy is divided into twelve units: occupational therapy and occupational science, persons seeking occupational therapy, occupational therapy practitioners, therapeutic alliances, analyzing occupation, conceptual basis, occupational therapy evaluation and intervention, diagnostic considerations, issues in service provision and professional issues. Appendices include a comprehensive table of occupational therapy assessments, core values, code of ethics, standards of practice and additional web site resources. This 1056 page volume expands on previous versions with additional and updated chapters, including spirituality, neuromuscular intervention techniques, the environment as a component of self, research and practice, and facility-based practice. Current and evolving issues in the areas of consultation, wellness and prevention, and protection of vulnerable clients are included, along with new features such as integration of new AOTA Practice Framework with the International Classification of Function, Health and Disability introduced by the World Health Organization in 2001. Other features include unit introductions and learning objectives, chapter outlines, summaries, ethics boxes, and practical examples and dilemmas. All of these serve to make the text more engaging and to encourage independent thought. A human touch is added as Mary Feldhaus-Weber continues a poignant narrative of her life after a head injury. She provides a first-hand experience as a recipient of occupational therapy.A six-page full-color insert of her art is included. In summary, this newest version of a classic occupational therapy textbook continues to provide a comprehensive and allinclusive resource to occupational therapy students as well as seasoned practitioners.


The paper presents the possible relationship of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and Technological Innovations (TI) to poverty alleviation in Tanzania. It also, identifies the types of Indigenous Knowledge exist in rural areas; the mechanisms through which IK and TI are exchanged and diffused; the challenges of IK and TI adoption and application to poverty alleviation. Finally, recommends the strategies in improving IK and TI adoption and application for sustainable development and poverty alleviation.


This research was conducted to determine the liquidity issues and profitability index of small-scale businesses operating in the Second District of Sorsogon Province, Philippines as well as to establish the relationship of these two variables. This study used mixed design. A total of 223 small-scale business owners engaged in trading in the Second District of Sorsogon Province, Philippines were the primary respondents of this research. Vertical analyses and stepwise linear regression analyses were utilized. This study concludes that small-scale business entities in the Province of Sorsogon are highly liquid and profitable depicting their ability to pay short-term maturing obligation. Limited and unavailability of capitalization, Absence of Credit Policy, High Finance cost for debt financing, Inventory obsolescence, Shortage of resources and Lack of markets of measure and scope are the identified liquidity issues by small-scale business owners. To address the issues, the Use equity financing than debt financing, Strengthen the company's policy of extending loan, Minimize the purchase of inventory or stocks, financial suffering by staying well-informed of your finances and Hiring Bookkeepers are highly recommended by the respondents.


Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), as documented in 77 patients by computerized tomographic (CT) scans, was studied with regard to presentation, neurological features and outcome. Death occurred in 34%, a lower figure than was thought in the pre-CT scan era, and comparable to reported series in the last 10 years. Survival was more common in patients with intralobar haemorrhage, in which there was a less close association with hypertension or with coma. Intraventricular haemorrhages carried a bad prognosis with 14 deaths out of the 24 patients thus diagnosed. Eighty-eight percent of the survivors returned home, and nearly half of them had almost normal function. The main negative prognostic factors as determined by discriminant analysis were: presentation with coma over several hours, abnormalities of pupils or eye movements, inability to be mobilized after an average of 4 days, large volume of haematoma as measured in CT scan and intraventricular bleeding. It is important to make the diagnosis in order not to give anticoagulant treatment inappropriately, and there should be awareness that ICH is more common than was previously thought.


English has many ways of expressing directives. This paper attempts to classify the examples of directives based on their linguistic forms, which then will be given some comments. These comments, despite being subjective, are based on observation and inquiries to native speakers of English. Finally, this paper discusses other possible ways which can be used to classify the directives and the implications for learners and teachers of English to speakers of other languages. Austin (quoted by Coulthard, 1985) makes the distinction between locutionary and illocutionary acts, and he says further that "the interpretation of the locutionary act concerns with meaning, the interpretation of the illocutionary act with force." Searle (cited by Coulthard, 1985 ) proposes five microclasses of illocutionary act: representatives, directives, commissives, expressives and declarations. Directives (Coulthard, 1985:24) may be defined as all attempts by the speaker to get the hearer to do something- in this class the speaker is wanting to achieve a future situation in which the world will match his words and thus this class includes no (simply 'order' and 'request' but, more subtly, "invite", 'dare' and 'challenge'.


Background and Objectives : To study the pattern of hearing loss among patients visiting ENT OPD in Janaki medical college teaching hospital. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in department of ENT- head and neck surgery in Janaki medical college teaching hospital from June to December 2016. All the clinically diagnosed cases Demographic data and PTA assessment were taken. with hearing impairment were enrolled in the study and hearing assessment done. Results : Total of 119 patients were enrolled. Among them, male were 58(48.7%) and female 61(51.3%). In age distribution, commonly affected age group was 21-30 years followed by 31-40 years group.On comparing hearing level between both the ears, right ear was having mean hearing threshold of 45.4454 dB and left ear having 47.3277 dB with standard deviation 16.54665, 15.98363 respectively. The difference between both the values is statistically not significant (p value- 0.165). On evaluating type of hearing loss between both the ears, there were almost similar frequencies of hearing loss pattern (p value- 0.190).Out of 119 patients, 20(8.4%) were having unilateral hearing loss. So total of 218(91.6%) ears were affected out of 238 ears. Among them 116(48.8%) ears had conductive hearing loss, 30(12.6%) ears had sensori-neural hearing loss and 48(20.2%) ears had mixed hearing loss.On evaluating degree of hearing loss, patients were mostly having mild hearing loss (41.2%) followed by severe hearing loss (25.2%), moderate hearing loss (24.4%). There was almost similar degree of hearing loss in both the ears with statistically insignificant (p value- 0.379). Conclusion: Hearing impairment commonly involved female with younger population involvement. Hearing impairment was mostly conductive type. Hearing loss was mostly mild degree and bilateralism is common.


Hot springs had been of interest to religion, society, biology, and geology in past. The multi-faceted research on the hot spring is now expanded to extremophilic, microbial, metagenomic, water chemistry, food nutrition, agriculture and metallurgical investigations. Hot springs manifests at active places of past volcanism, tectonic activities, areas near shear zones, faults, fractures and fissures. The pressure gradient created between the crust and the atmosphere pipes out hot water.Hot springs (340numbers in India) has been identified in different fault /shear zones of India fromwestern/eastern Himalayas, SONATA zones in Peninsular India up toWestern ghats and Godavari garben. The State Odisha has 3, 3, 1 and 1 numbers of perrinial/intermitentsulphurous hot springs in it MSZ (Atri, Tarabalo&Deulajhari), NOBL(magarmunha, Banakhola&Badaberena), VSZ (Taptapani) and NSZ(Boden) respectively discharging <10cumec having temperature <70 C which are less scientifically explored. Three hydrothermal springs Tarabalo, Deulajhari and Badaberena are multiple outlets clustered in a patch of area. Elemental Analysis by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) with EPSLON software bynon-destructive methods was employed to assess the quantity of element present in the water of the hot springs at Atri, Tarabalo lying in an iso fault zone MSZ and compared with similar results of hydrothermal units of Odisha and India. The baleneopathic and pelotherapic uses for health, wellness and ecotourism has been discussed for developing fitness and spa resorts as the water is not upto drinking standard.


The fluoride in successive layers of dentin (from 3-6 μm were removed per etch) has been measured following topical or iontophoretic application of 2% aqueous sodium fluoride to coronal exposed dentin of freshly extracted human third molar teeth. The fluoride contents of the topical and iontophoresed first etches were, respectively, 12 and 22-31 times greater than that of control (untreated) teeth. Similarly, the fourth etches were 12 and 50-70 times greater, and the seventh (last sampled) etches were 5 and 28-41 times greater. There was no apparent change in acid solubility of the dentin as its fluoride content varied under the conditions of this study. This is the first report studying the fluoride content of extremely thin layers of dentin successively removed by acid etch and relating topical to iontophoretic uptake.


Objectives To investigate the association of the serum leukotrienes (LT) B4 level with the ALOX5AP gene SG13S114T/A polymorphism in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Chinese Han population of Sunan region. Methods The ALOX5AP gene SG13S114T/A polymorphism was genotyped by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, and the serum LTB4 level (M/IQR) was measured by ELISA in 262 AMI patients (AMI group) and 132 subjects without coronary heart disease (CHD) (control group). Results Serum LTB4 level in AMI group was significantly higher than the one in control group (477.97/370.52 pg/ml vs 200.57/236.65 pg/ml, p<0.001). In AMI patients, no significant difference in the serum LTB4 level was found among any genotypes (AA, AT and TT) of ALOX5AP gene SG13S114T/A (517.98/392.00 pg/ml vs 492.31/427.55 pg/ml vs 495.29/398.54 pg/ml, all p>0.05), and there was also no significant difference in serum LTB4 level among any genotypes in this locus within the same gender (p>0.05). The serum LTB4 level was positively correlated with the smoking, and unrelated with the gender, age, hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidaemia in AMI patients. Conclusions In Chinese Han population of Sunan region, there are polymorphisms of ALOX5AP gene SG13S114 in patients with AMI and subjects without CHD. The serum LTB4 level in AMI patients is higher than those in subjects without CHD, but unrelated with ALOX5AP gene SG13S114 polymorphism.


To demonstrate rhizospheric effect on the mechanism of (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) PAH degradation, and to establish a proper joint phyto-microbial remediation mode, microcosms containing microorganisms and PAHs (pyrene and benzo[a]Pyrene) were added with clover (Trifolium repens) root exudates to study their effects on PAH degradation. Dioxygenase gene and 16S rDNA gene copy number changes during the biodegradation process were analyzed, and the microorganism with a good ability for degrading PAHs was identified. The results showed that Mycobacterium M1 had the capability to degrade PAHs. When total organic carbon (TOC) concentration of clover root exudates was 35.5 mg · L(-1), pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene degradation rates increased significantly, and the proportion of dioxygenase gene to 16S rDNA of Mycobacterium M1 increased. In the biodegradation process, dioxygenase gene copy number increased significantly, whereas 16S rDNA copy number increase was not so obvious, showing that the former was related to degradation process, but the latter was related to microbial numbers. It was concluded that the clover root exudates promoted the dioxygenase gene copy number of Mycobacterium M1, which contributed to the degradation of PAHs.


Objective: Conventional measurement of blood pressure (BP) in office in individual patient has several limitations, so some patients delayed drug treatment. As the masked hypertension (MHT), the BP in the office was < 140/90 mmHg, while daytime average BP was ≥ 135/85 mmHg in ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) detection. And MHT carries an adverse prognosis, both in terms of increased target organ damage and cardiovascular events. So we performed this study to estimate the prevalence of masked hypertension in rural sites and its determinants and association. Design and Method: A total of 257 subjects were selected from Yeojoo and Yangpyeong in two rural sites in Korea. All participants didn't take antihypertensive medication. Those subjects both measurement casual BP and daytime average BP. The casual BP measurement using automatic device Omron 907 HEM and daytime average BP using TM2430, A&D. And we defined MHT as a normal casual BP < 140/90 mmHg and a daytime average BP ≥ 135/85 mmHg by ABPM device. The normal BP (NBP) was defined normal casual BP < 140/90 mmHg and daytime average BP < 135/85 mmHg. The sustained hypertension (SHT) was defined a causal BP > 140/90 mmHg  and a daytime average BP ≥ 135/85 mmHg. Results: The NBP was 117 people (45.5%), MHT was 81 people (31.5%) and SHT is 47 people (18.2%). In the age, NBP group was 50.32 ± 9.13; MHT group was 53.81 ± 11.11 and SHT group was 52.81 ± 9.61. In the body mass index (BMI) distribution (p = 0.065), NBP group was 24.0 ± 3.0; 24.3 ± 2.8, and 25.2 ± 2.9 kg/m2 for NBP, MHT, and SHT, respectively. The pulse pressure (PP) were 40.7 ± 8.4, 42.5 ± 7.9, and 54.7 ± 13.4 mmHg, for NBP, MHT, and SHT groups respectively (p < 0.001). In a multiple logistic regression analysis for MHT versus SHT, age (OR = 0.930[0.877, 0.986], p = 0.015), sex (OR = 0.274[0.098,0.767], p = 0.014), PP (OR = 1.171[1.103,1.243], p < 0.0001) and metabolic syndrome (OR = 3.057[1.021,9.153], p = 0.046) were statistically significant factors. Conclusions: In two rural sites population, approximately one-third of participants with MHT. Younger male, wider pulse pressure and metabolic syndrome as an independent risk factor for MHT.


The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems are suffered from the growing of security vulnerabilities. In the RFID Applications, an attackers may exploit these vulnerabilities to break the tag holder privacy and desynchronize the communication messages between system components. The majority of the proposed solutions fail to solve the existing vulnerabilities. Therefore, the authentication protocol is the main challenge in such systems. This paper proposes a secure and efficient hash authentication (SE-H) protocol for RFID system to support attractive security features. Compared with the recent RFID authentication protocols, the SE-H protocol cannot only perform strong security features including mutual authentication and the data secrecy features, but also perform the user anonymity and untraceability features with low cost performance. The security analysis proves that the SE-H protocol is resistant to the current vulnerabilities. Furthermore, the performance analysis in term of the authentication operations cost illustrates that SE-H protocol is more efficient than the recent RFID protocols.


BACKGROUND
Studies showed that pharmacists have little experience with adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reporting due to insufficient knowledge of the concept of ADR and pharmacovigilance (PV). There is an urge to assess hospital pharmacists' knowledge in medication safety practices.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice, among hospital pharmacists in Lebanon concerning ADRs and PV concepts.

METHODS
A cross-sectional study, conducted between March and July 2016, enrolled 187 hospital pharmacists in all Lebanese districts.

RESULTS
Concerning knowledge, 60.8% of the pharmacists said that ADR is an injury caused by appropriate and suboptimal care, while 74.6% of them said it can be preventable and nonpreventable. Moreover, 47.5% of them defined PV as being the study that detects, assesses, understands, and prevents adverse effects. Furthermore, 55.1% believed that PV concerns drug, herbal, medical devices, and vaccine problems. Concerning attitude, 61% of the pharmacists said they do not support direct ADR reporting by the patient. Of them, 78.6% confessed that ADR reporting is a professional obligation to them while 88.2% admitted that it is time-consuming with no outcome. When it comes to practice, 64.2% had been trained to report ADRs. Only 20.8% and 24.2% confessed reporting ADRs more than once a week, respectively. More than half (54.5%) said that they report the ADR to the patient's prescriber.

CONCLUSION
Lebanese hospital pharmacists have little knowledge about the concept and process of PV and spontaneous ADRs reporting system. However, these pharmacists have positive attitudes, but very little practice with reporting systems. Educational programs are urgently needed to emphasize the role and responsibility of pharmacists in PV practices and to raise awareness towards ADR reporting process.


Abstract In this paper we will look into different conceptual frames for the comparative study of courtrooms - interactional and epistemic. Accordingly, we offer two rounds of comparing English Crown Courts and German Landgerichte (translated here as District Courts) - with an emphasis on the last round. We will argue that courts appear in greater diversity once we take into account their roles in processes of knowing. The comparisons are grounded in two ethnographic studies on the micro-formation of criminal cases, conducted in England and in Germany.


The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of learning media of Indonesian Gastronomy and Culinary Studies and to describe the responses of media and material experts on learning media developed. This research method used research and development with a 4-D model including define, design, develop and disseminate. Data collection techniques used observation, interview and questionnaire involving media experts, material experts and hospitality study program students. The data analysis technique used qualitative and quantitative analysis which described the quality of the media and material based on the questionnaire assessment of the expert team. The results of the study showed that the media expert produced an average value of 4.31 with an average validation result of the material expert of 4.73 and an average value for the results of the feasibility test questionnaire of 4.06. These results indicated that the value of the validation test from media and material experts stated that it was feasible and there was no need for a temporary revision of the feasibility test conducted on students in the Indonesian Gastronomy and Culinary class, showing a significant increase in terms of understanding the learning. These results were obtained after carrying out the second test. It can be concluded that the use of more varied learning media such as videos can improve learning outcomes.


Internet communities are moving to the Cloud, but in addition to the advantages regarding cost and convenience, this also means that cloud service providers are increasingly in a position to aggregate large amounts of personal data, which means that it is becoming prudent to develop mechanisms that can contribute to limiting the information available to providers. In this paper we present a prototype cloud security solution for protection against an "honest but curious" cloud provider. The solution is based on splitting up data and distributing it to multiple cloud providers, without encrypting the individual pieces. Our initial tests indicate that our solution is sufficiently efficient for normal use.


Past issues of the Journal have presented news and editorial comment concerning national budget cuts which impinge upon thermal insulation research. Many of our readers wrote to their congressional representatives explaining the need for research that is directed to energy conservation. This effort, combined with others, appears to have been effective. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy reported the following :


This paper presents a single-stage isolated current rectifier with power factor correction, based on full bridge and flyback topologies. The proposed converter can operate as a step-down or a step-up converter, according to the input and output voltage levels. This paper presents the theoretical analysis of the converter as well as experimental results based on a 3.5 kW prototype.


Calcitonin gene–related peptide (CGRP) is a neuropeptide that is regionally regulated following peripheral insult and in central nervous system (CNS) damage models targeting limbic structures. Functional studies have shown this neuropeptide to be involved in neuronal protection and remodeling, vasodilation, immunomodulation, and apoptosis, thus making it an important constituent of the acute phase response. In the present study, we characterized the anatomic expression and distribution of CGRP immunoreactivity (CGRP‐IR) after exposure to the toxin, trimethyltin (TMT). We chose this model because TMT causes dramatic changes in the endocrine system, the limbic system, particularly the hippocampus, as well as in the immune response. We have specifically focused on comparing the changes in CGRP‐IR with the pattern of apoptosis (via TUNEL staining), cell‐cycle activation (Ki67‐IR), and in alteration in microglia (OX‐42‐IR) and astrocyte (gGFAP‐IR) immunocytochemistry in TMT‐treated hippocampus. Our results show a marked change in CGRP‐IR in regions of the hippocampus that are temporally and anatomically correlated with the induction of apoptosis and activation of microglia, astrocyte, and the cell‐cycle marker. Given the known effects of CGRP on these cell types and on programmed cell death elsewhere, these findings are consistent with a regional immunoregulatory/injury response role for CGRP following organotin poisoning. J. Neurosci. Res. 55:441–457, 1999.  © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Background This systematic review with meta-analysis sought to determine the efficacy and safety of intramyocardial transplantation of bone marrow stem cells during coronary artery bypass graft surgery on postoperative cardiac functional parameters such as left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular end-diastolic volume. Methods Medline/PubMed, Embase, Elsevier, Sciences online database, and Google Scholar literature search were searched. The effect sizes measured were risk ratio for categorical variables and weighted mean difference with 95% confidence interval for calculating differences between mean values of baseline and follow-up cardiac functional parameters. A value of p < 0.1 for Q test, or I2 > 50%, indicated significant heterogeneity among studies. The literature search retrieved 2900 studies from screened databases, of which 2866 (98.6%) were excluded and 34 (619 patients) were included for scoping review. The final analysis included 9 studies (335 patients). Results Pooled effects estimates of left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular end-diastolic volume showed that bone marrow stem cell transplantation had a weighted mean difference of 4.06 (95% confidence interval: 0.41–7.72; p = 0.02) and 7.06 (95% confidence interval: −8.58–22.7; p = 0.3), respectively. Conclusions Intramyocardial transplantation of bone marrow stem cells improves cardiac functional parameters, significantly increasing left ventricular ejection fraction with a nonsignificant reduction in left ventricular end-diastolic volume. Also, this therapeutic method has no life-threatening complications and was therefore found to be an effective and safe method.


According to the decision information of multi-attribute decision-making problem with fuzzy and temporal characteristics, a dynamic intuitionistic fuzzy decision making method based on time preference and VIKOR is proposed. First, we determined the attribute weights under different time sequence based on intuitionistic fuzzy entropy minimization; secondly, we introduced the time degree function reflecting the decision makers' subjective time preference, and established a multi-objective programming model to obtain time weights; then we used dynamic intuitionistic fuzzy weighted geometric (DIFWG) operator to integrate different time periods of the intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrices; the VIKOR method is used in ranking solutions that takes account of group effectiveness maximization and individual regret minimization, and obtained the optimal scheme that is closet to ideal solution; finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by the example of a technology innovation alliance partner selection.


Lessons from the pharmaceutical industry's commercialization successes can be identified and applied to the U.S. battery industry to potentially improve its discouragingly low startup success rates. A carbon-neutral and sustainable society of the future necessitates the widespread use of battery technologies that are efficient, effective, and economical. Lower-cost and more energy-dense battery technology can help solve many of our energy challenges, such as balancing the intermittency problems of renewables and making possible electric transportation fleets. New advanced materials are crucial to such battery advances. However, bringing advanced energy materials to market in the United States remains a formidable challenge. Hurdles include high upfront capital requirements, long timelines to success, and few opportunities for technology risk-reduction. Such challenges impede startups from developing financially viable technologies. Consequently, recent advances in battery performance have come from incremental changes implemented by large companies. By contrast, the pharmaceutical industry has many similar technical challenges, yet has an established pipeline of U.S. startup successes. We review and compare the current market structures of battery and pharma innovation. We propose an updated model of U.S. battery commercialization, informed by the pharma model's successes. The new approach's benefits and potential pitfalls are discussed. We provide recommendations for entrepreneurs, investors, manufacturers, and policy makers to improve the battery innovation ecosystem. We hope that these ideas spur the battery community to more successfully commercialize and deploy transformative technologies.


It is shown that the local density of states (LDOS), measured in an Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) experiment, at a single tip position contains oscillations as a function of Energy, due to quasiparticle interference, which is related to the positions of nearby scatterers. We propose a method of STM data analysis based on this idea, which can be used to locate the scatterers. In the case of a superconductor, the method can potentially distinguish the nature of the scattering by a particular impurity.


The foodborne illness is the important public health concerns, and the livestock feces are known to be one of the major reservoirs of foodborne pathogens. Also, it was reported that 45.5% of foodborne illness outbreaks have been associated with the animal products contaminated with the livestock feces. In addition, it has been known that the persistence of a pathogens depends on many potential virulent factors including the various virulent genes. Therefore, the first step to understanding the public health risk of livestock feces is to identify and describe microbial communities and potential virulent genes that contribute to bacterial pathogenicity. We used the whole metagenome shotgun sequencing to evaluate the prevalence of foodborne pathogens and to characterize the virulence associated genes in pig and chicken feces. Our data showed that the relative abundance of potential foodborne pathogens, such as Bacillus cereus was higher in chickens than pigs at the species level while the relative abundance of foodborne pathogens including Campylobacter coli was only detected in pigs. Also, the microbial functional characteristics of livestock feces revealed that the gene families related to "Biofilm formation and quorum sensing" were highly enriched in pigs than chicken. Moreover, the variety of gene families associated with "Resistance to antibiotics and toxic compounds" were detected in both animals. These results will help us to prepare the scientific action plans to improve awareness and understanding of the public health risks of livestock feces.


Among fungi, Curvularia inaequalis is a rare pathogen. We report the first case of non‐invasive fungal rhinosinusitis caused by this species. Endoscopic sinus surgery revealed massive polyposis and the presence of viscous eosinophilic mucus that allowed the growth of the fungus. We diagnosed eosinophilic fungal rhinosinusitis based on the histological findings of fungal hyphae in association with degranulating eosinophils in the sinus mucus. After polypectomy and clearance of the affected sinuses, oral itraconazole was administered to prevent the recurrence. Given the ever‐increasing list of opportunistic fungi that cause human infection, the case reported here provides further evidence that proper identification of the infective agents remains crucial for the patient's management.


: Contents of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+ and Cl- in gastric mucosa of normal and retinol-deficient rats were determined by X-ray spectroscopic analysis. Diet free of retinol was established to increase content of cations Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+ as well as of Cl- anion in rats' gastric mucosa. Accumulation of Ca2+ and K+ ions in gastric mucosa promotes secretion of HCl under the condition of retinol deficiency in the body. Raised content of Cl- anions in gastric mucosa may be a proof of activated hydrochloric acid secretion.


The Unified Parallel C (UPC) programming language offers parallelism via logically partitioned shared memory, which typically spans physically disjoint memory subsystems. One convenient feature of UPC is its ability to automatically execute between-thread data movement, such that the entire content of a shared data array appears to be freely accessible by all the threads. The programmer friendliness, however, can come at the cost of substantial performance penalties. This is especially true when indirectly indexing the elements of a shared array, for which the induced between-thread data communication can be irregular and have a fine-grained pattern. In this paper, we study performance enhancement strategies specifically targeting such fine-grained irregular communication in UPC. Starting from explicit thread privatization, continuing with block-wise communication, and arriving at message condensing and consolidation, we obtained considerable performance improvement of UPC programs that originally require fine-grained irregular communication. Besides the performance enhancement strategies, the main contribution of the present paper is to propose performance models for the different scenarios, in the form of quantifiable formulas that hinge on the actual volumes of various data movements plus a small number of easily obtainable hardware characteristic parameters. These performance models help to verify the enhancements obtained, while also providing insightful predictions of similar parallel implementations, not limited to UPC, that also involve between-thread or between-process irregular communication. As a further validation, we also apply our performance modeling methodology and hardware characteristic parameters to an existing UPC code for solving a 2D heat equation on a uniform mesh.


Nanostructured Pd-based electrocatalysts have a large impact on cost, performance, and durability in the development of fuel cells. This review article provides an overview of recent advances in Pd-based electrocatalysts with a well-defined structure that can be applied for alcohol oxidation and oxygen reduction in an alkaline medium in direct alcohol fuel cells. These Pd-based catalytic materials include Pd electrocatalysts with different morphologies, monodisperse bimetallic Pd-based nanoparticles with different compositions and Pd-based nanoparticles with a well-controlled shape. Emphasis is placed on the atomic-level design of the nanoparticles' structure, and the origin of their electrochemical activity. The ways to enhance the electrocatalytic performance and design principles for Pd-based catalysts are discussed. This will help to shed light on the future development of non-Pt catalysts for fuel cells and accelerate the commercialization of fuel cell technology.


Preface Part I. Phylogenetic Perspectives: 1. Comparing plants and connecting traits J. Silvertown, and M. Dodd 2. Phylogenetic uncertainties and sensitivity analyses in comparative biology M. Donoghue, and D. Ackerly 3. Comparative ecology of the native and alien floras of the British Isles M. J. Crawley, P. H. Harvey, and A. Purvis Part II. Reproductive Traits: 4. The comparative biology of pollination and mating in flowering plants S. C. H. Barrett, L. D. Harder, and A. C. Worley 5. How does self-pollination evolve? Inferences from floral ecology and molecular genetic variation S. C. H. Barrett, L. D. Harder, and A. C. Worley 6. Effects of life history traits on genetic diversity in plant species J. L. Hamrick, and M. J. W. Godt Part III. Evolutionary Ecology of Seed Dormancy and Seed Size: 7. Evolutionary ecology of seed dormancy and seed size J. L. Hamrick, and M. J. W. Godt 8. Comparative ecology of seed size and dispersal M. Westoby, M. Leishman, and J. Lord 9. Packaging and provisioning on plant reproduction D. L. Venable Part IV. Recruitment and Growth: 10. Comparative ecology of clonal plants J. M. van Groenendael, L. Klimes, J. Klimesova, and R. J. J. Hendriks 11. Life history variation in plants: an exploration of the fast-slow continuum hypothesis M. Franco and J. Silvertown 12. Life history evolution in heterogenous environments: a review of theory R. M. Sibly Part V. Interaction: 13. Plant-insect feeding associations D. Futuyma, and C. Mitter 14. Trends in the evolution of root-microbe symbioses A. H. Fitter, and B. Moyersoen 15. Competitive ability: definitions, contingency and correlated traits D. Goldberg Index.


Purpose: The mitochondrion, like the cell nucleus, contains genetic material and plays several critical roles that determine the cell viability, including neutralization of free radicals within the cell. Studies have shown that irradiated cells with impaired mitochondria will incur more damage to the cell nucleus. This study investigates the potential use of GNPs to enhance radiation-induced damage to the organelle. Methods: The compositions of the organelles of a JURKAT cell were determined experimentally. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we investigate the significance of dose enhancement in a monoenergetic (10–50 keV and 6 MeV) x-ray irradiated cell cytoplasm, consisting of the experimentally determined composition. We also investigate the track structure of secondary electrons in the mitochondria using Geant4-DNA in the presence and absence of GNPs for incident protons and photons. The biological effect was determined using an approach based on the local effect model, assuming the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was the primary target. Results: Adding 0.01% of gold to the cell cytoplasm material can cause substantial dose enhancement, dependent on the incident x-ray energy. Track structure Monte Carlo (MC) simulations show an increased number of ionization events within the mitochondrion structure. The close proximity of GNPs to the mtDNA storing nucleoid may cause the mtDNA to receive doses above ∼100 Gy for keV x-rays, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. Conclusion: A substantial increase in ionization events can occur in the mitochondria in the presence of GNPs. If GNPs can be delivered to tumors and attached to a sufficient number of mitochondria inside the tumor cells, mitochondrial induced cell death could be a prevalent cause of cell death. The biological structures developed here will be included in the biological MC toolkit, TOPAS-nBio.


This paper develops a price model with a product cycle. Through a frictional product market with search and matching frictions, an endogenous product cycle is accompanied with a price cycle where a price for a new good and a price for an existing good are set in a different manner. This model nests a New Keynesian Phillips curve with the Calvo's price adjustment as a special case and generates several new phenomena. Our simple model captures observed facts in Japanese product level data such as the pro-cyclicality among product entry, demand, and price. In a general equilibrium model, an endogenous product entry increases variation of the inflation rate by 20 percent in Japan. This number increases to 72 percent with a price discounting after a first price.


This study is descriptive research which employs qualitative approach, aims at describingMathematics reasoning ability in solving story questions based on cognitive style and initial ability of students. The cognitive styles examined are Field Independent (FI) and Field Dependent(FD). Whereas, initial ability of students arecategorized as high and low. The research site was at MtsN 1 Makassar City with 8 students of grade VIII as the research subjects. The research subjects represented four categories, namely (1) FI with high initial ability, (2) FI with low initial ability, (3) FD with high initial ability and (4) FD with low initial ability. Data collection techniques were conducted through interview based on mathematics reasoning ability test. Theresearch instruments were Group Embedded Figure Test (GEFT), initial ability test, mathematics reasoning ability test, and interview guidance which were valid and reliable.
The results of the study reveal that: (1) FI subjects with high initial ability has a good reasoning level in understanding the structure in solving mathematics problems, (2) FDsubjects with high initial ability has minor problems in understanding the structure when solving rectangular story questions but still able to arise his reasoning ability, (3 ) FI subjects with low initial ability has reasoning ability but inaccurate in conducting solution plan, and (4) FDsubjects with low initial ability has less reasoning ability so that they need guidance in solving rectangular story questions.

Keywords: reasoning ability, cognitive style, initial ability, rectangular story questions.


Southeastern Utah, lying within the Colorado Plateau, is characterized by several types of structural features, including (a) huge asymmetrical upwarps, (b) domes associated with laccolithic intrusions, (c) the southern edge of the Uinta Basin structural depression, (d) a north-trending zone of normal faults at the west edge of the plateau, and (e) a group of numerous folds, faults, and faulted folds that are found in a limited area near Moab. Folding has occurred in the region several times since the end of the Mississippian, but the principal deformation that is reflected in the structure of the surface rocks took place at the end of the Cretaceous or early in the Tertiary and was therefore related to the Laramide orogeny. The large domical uplifts have a northerly tren and are strongly asymmetric, with the steep limb toward the east; they were formed at the end of the Cretaceous, possibly as a reflection in the surface rocks of more or less vertical uplifting along deep-seated reverse faults. The group of numerous smaller folds, faults, and faulted anticlines in the part of the region near Moab also is believed to have been formed near the end of the Cretaceous; the deformation is obviously related to the presence of the plastic salt-bearing beds of the Pennsylvanian Paradox formation beneath the surface rocks, because the structural features of this type near Moab are typically developed only within the area underlain by the Paradox formation and because the salt-bearing beds have been intruded into the overlying rocks at the crests of some of the fo ds. Events in the Tertiary structural history of the region include the intrusion of igneous rocks in four isolated mountain groups, the downwarping of the Uinta Basin, and the development of the zone of normal faults at the west edge of the plateau; it is not possible to determine the order of these events, or to determine whether they represent different modes of expression of one period of crustal disturbance.


This brief review illustrates on a few typical applications fully fledged dynamical simulations of finite electronic systems (atoms, molecules, clusters) using time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT). It concentrates on aspects which are different from nuclear applications. These are: the correct handling of electron emission, the self-interaction correction, the enormous versatility of laser excitation to probe systems properties, and with it the exploitation of detailed observables of electron emission as photo-electron angular distributions and photo-electron spectra (PES). Finally, we demonstrate the impact of electronic dissipation putting question marks on the reliability of TDDFT simulations over long times.


Magnaporthe grisea is one of the most destructive pathogen that encounters a challenge to rice production around the worldwide. The unique properties of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), have high attractiveness as nanofungicide. In the present study, the response of fungi to ZnO NPs was evaluated using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Two different aligners (STAR and Hisat2) were used for aligning the clean reads, and the DEseq2 package was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In total, 1,438 and 761 fungal genes were significantly up- and down-regulated in response to ZnO NPs, respectively. The DEGs were subjected to functional enrichment analysis to identify significantly enriched biological pathways. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that "cell membrane components," "ion (calcium) transmembrane transporter activity," "steroid biosynthesis pathway" and "catalytic activity" were the contributed terms to fungal response mechanisms. The genes involved in aflatoxin efflux pumps and ribosome maturation were among the genes showing significant up- and down-regulation after ZnO NPs application. To confirm the obtained RNA-seq results, the expression of six randomly selected genes were evaluated using q-RT-PCR. Overall, the RNA-seq results suggest that ZnO NPs primarily act on the fungal cell membrane, but accumulation of ROS inside the cell induces oxidative stress, the fungal catalytic system is disrupted, resulting into the inhibition of ROS scavenging and eventually, to the death of fungal cells. Our findings provide novel insights into the effect of ZnO NPs as a promising nanofungicide for effective control of rice blast disease.


The sustainable building approach in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has encountered impediments, as it is a new practice for society in UAE. Here, traditional construction methods are still adopted without considering environmental issues and growing concern over climate change. To overcome these problems, the Ras Al Khaimah Municipality launched new green building regulations called Barjeel in 2018. It is set to reduce 30% of energy and water consumption for new buildings. Based on the survey and interview results from 38 residents, consultants, and contractors, this study aims to identify the adaptability of Barjeel and the reasons behind the denunciation of these new regulations, and ultimately proposing some solutions to overcome the barriers. The findings from this study reveal that the surveyed population is aware of the concepts of green building practice but are also cognizant of the constraints that prevent its application such as high costs, availability of green and sustainable materials as well as expert personnel and skilled labour. Additionally, there are valid technical constraints and supply chain issues that should be addressed so that the basic infrastructure required to establish green building practices and help them flourish is in place and can be used for widespread green and sustainable building in the UAE


In the field of ultra-high field MRI, T2* mapping is a promising technique for the non-invasive assessment of myocardial pathophysiology. Preclinical studies have already shown the potential to detect structural changes in infarcted myocardial tissue. Quantitative T2* imaging is very demanding with regard to measurement- and postprocessing time. Hence, we compared in this study the simpler and faster grayscale analysis of T2*-weighted images with quantitative T2* techniques. This was done in early and late acute infarct healing stages in a large animal model by comparing T2* maps with grayscale T2*-weighted images.


Here we seek to test the extent to which laboratory enrichments mimic natural community processes and the degree to which the initial structure of a community determines its response to a press disturbance via the addition of environmentally-relevant carbon compounds. By utilizing aerobic substrate arrays to examine the effect of carbon amendment on microbial communities taken from six distinct environments (soil from a temperate prairie and forest, tropical forest soil, subalpine forest soil, and surface water and soil from a palustrine emergent wetland), we examined how carbon amendment and inoculum source shape the composition of the community in each enrichment. Dilute subsamples from each environment were used to inoculate 96-well microtiter plates containing triplicate wells amended with one of 31 carbon sources from 6 different classes of organic compound (phenols, polymers, carbohydrates, carboxylic acids, amines, amino acids). After incubating each well aerobically in the dark for 72 hours, we analyzed the composition of the microbial communities on the substrate arrays as well as the initial inocula by sequencing 16S rRNA gene amplicons using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Comparisons of alpha and beta diversity in these systems showed that, while the composition of the communities that grow to inhabit the wells in each substrate array diverges sharply from that of the original community in the inoculum, these enrichment communities are still is strongly affected by the inoculum source. We found most enrichments were dominated by one or several OTUs most closely related to aerobes or facultative anaerobes from the Proteobacteria (e.g. Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, and Ralstonia) or Bacteroidetes (e.g. Chryseobacterium). Comparisons within each substrate array based on the class of carbon source further show that the communities inhabiting wells amended with a carbohydrate differ significantly from those enriched with a phenolic compound. Niche selection therefore seems to play a strong role in shaping the communities in the substrate arrays, although some stochasticity is seen whereby several replicate wells within a single substrate array display strongly divergent community compositions. Overall, the use of highly parallel substrate arrays offers a promising path forward to study the response of microbial communities to a changing environment.