The chemical stage of the Monte Carlo track-structure simulation code Geant4-DNA has been revised and validated. The root-mean-square (RMS) empirical parameter that dictates the displacement of water molecules after an ionization and excitation event in Geant4-DNA has been shortened to better fit experimental data. The pre-defined dissociation channels and branching ratios were not modified, but the reaction rate coefficients for simulating the chemical stage of water radiolysis were updated. The evaluation of Geant4-DNA was accomplished with TOPAS-nBio. For that, we compared predicted time-dependent G values in pure liquid water for ·OH, e– aq, and H2 with published experimental data. For H2O2 and H·, simulation of added scavengers at different concentrations resulted in better agreement with measurements. In addition, DNA geometry information was integrated with chemistry simulation in TOPAS-nBio to realize reactions between radiolytic chemical species and DNA. This was used in the estimation of the yield of single-strand breaks (SSB) induced by 137Cs γ-ray radiolysis of supercoiled pUC18 plasmids dissolved in aerated solutions containing DMSO. The efficiency of SSB induction by reaction between radiolytic species and DNA used in the simulation was chosen to provide the best agreement with published measurements. An RMS displacement of 1.24 nm provided agreement with measured data within experimental uncertainties for time-dependent G values and under the presence of scavengers. SSB efficiencies of 24% and 0.5% for ·OH and H·, respectively, led to an overall agreement of TOPAS-nBio results within experimental uncertainties. The efficiencies obtained agreed with values obtained with published non-homogeneous kinetic model and step-by-step Monte Carlo simulations but disagreed by 12% with published direct measurements. Improvement of the spatial resolution of the DNA damage model might mitigate such disagreement. In conclusion, with these improvements, Geant4-DNA/TOPAS-nBio provides a fast, accurate, and user-friendly tool for simulating DNA damage under low linear energy transfer irradiation.


The cognitive domains of a communication scheme for learning physics are related to a framework based on epistemology, and the planning of an introductory calculus textbook in classical mechanics is shown as an example of application.


The objectives of the present study were to evaluate whether a schedule-dependent pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic interaction exists between two sequences of docetaxel and doxorubicin administration and to determine the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of this combination. Patients with chemotherapy-naïve metastatic or recurrent advanced breast cancer were enrolled. In the crossover design, tandem dose escalation of docetaxel and doxorubicin was performed. Docetaxel, in doses ranging from 50-70 mg/m2, was administered for 1 h by drip infusion either just before or after a 5-min bolus i.v. injection of doxorubicin at dosages from 40-50 mg/ m2. The sequence of drug administration was switched after the first course in each patient, and the sequence of drug administration thereafter depended on the patient's choice. Twenty-five patients were initially assessable for toxicity. The MTD in the sequence of doxorubicin after docetaxel was 40 and 50 mg/m2, respectively, with the dose-limiting toxicity of neutropenia. On the other hand, the MTD of the sequence of docetaxel after doxorubicin was 70 and 50 mg/m2, respectively. The dose-limiting toxicities in this sequence were neutropenia and diarrhea. Duration of grade 4 neutropenia in the sequence of docetaxel followed by doxorubicin was significantly longer than that in the alternate sequence (P = 0.0062). However, there was no difference in pharmacokinetic parameters of docetaxel, doxorubicin, and doxorubicinol between the two sequences. The sequence of 50 mg/m2 doxorubicin followed by 60 mg/m2 docetaxel is recommended for subsequent clinical trials for practical reasons.


Summary
1. Life-history theory predicts a trade-off between costs of current reproduction and future survival of individuals. Studies of short-lived animals in general support this prediction. However, the effect of nutritional stress during reproduction on survival of long-lived animals is poorly understood.

2. We examined the link between nutritional stress, fecundity and return to a breeding colony (hereafter 'survival') of black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) at two colonies with contrasting patterns in adult survival, fecundity, and numerical trends.

3. We tested the observational (at Duck and Gull Is., Cook Inlet, Northern Gulf of Alaska) and experimental (at Middleton I., Gulf of Alaska) relationships between variations in the secretion of the stress hormone corticosterone (CORT) and food abundance. Then, we examined the relationships between nutritional stress (as reflected in CORT), reproduction, and survival of individuals.

4. On average, CORT was higher in kittiwakes breeding on Duck I. (declining, low fecundity, high survival) compared to those breeding on Gull I. (increasing, high fecundity, low survival).

5. At both colonies, CORT was directly negatively correlated with food abundance quantified at sea. Experimental feeding of individuals ad libitum resulted in a reduction of CORT in birds breeding on Middleton I. These results suggest that CORT is a reliable measure of food availability and defines nutritional stress (stress) in kittiwakes.

6. On Gull I., where survival is low (86%), production of young declined as stress increased. On Duck I., where survival is high (93%), parents always failed in raising young, though they experienced a wide range of stress levels.

7. Survival of individuals is linked to their CORT levels during reproduction. High levels of CORT predicted disappearance of individuals from both colonies.

8. The results support the hypothesis that nutritional stress during reproduction affects both survival and reproduction in long-lived animals. However, even within a species the ways in which survival and reproduction trade-off against each other may vary among populations. Results suggest that reproductive consequences of nutritional stress might differ between declining and increasing populations, which should be tested. We conclude that severity of nutritional stress during reproduction is one of the major factors defining population processes in kittiwakes.


In this paper, we introduce and study some of the topological properties of oD-mset, o−∆ mset by using the concept of open msets. Also, we present new separation axioms by using the notions of open msets, oD-mset, o−∆ mset, pre-open mset and semi-open mset and study some of its properties.


Abstract Large parts of the Arctic are covered by water bodies. Ice covers on lakes and rivers prohibit the exchange of heat and water vapor between the water body and the atmosphere. With melt onset, the ecosystem is subjected to changes, making it important to monitor the ice decay. As ground-based monitoring of these vast uninhabited areas is expensive and thus restricted to a few locations, remote-sensing techniques need to be applied. Here we evaluate the performance of the unsupervised k-means classification for dividing ice and water fractions on lakes and river channels from spaceborne radar data in comparison to threshold-based methods. The analysis is based on six TerraSAR-X and three RADARSAT-2 images, obtained during spring 2011 over the central Lena Delta in northern Siberia. The performance of the k-means classification is found to be similar to a fixed-threshold approach. As the k-means classification does not need prior statistical backscatter analyses to account for the radar configuration and ice conditions, it is easier to use than the threshold method. In addition, we found that the application of a low-pass filter prior to the classification of river channels and a closing filter on the classification results of lakes strongly improves the overall classification results.


Neurodevelopmental disorders represent a challenging biological and medical problem due to their genetic and phenotypic complexity. In many cases, we lack the comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms necessary for targeted therapeutic development. One key component that could improve both mechanistic understanding and clinical trial design is reliable molecular biomarkers. Presently, no objective biological markers exist to evaluate most neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we discuss how systems biology and "omic" approaches can address the mechanistic and biomarker limitations in these afflictions. We present heuristic principles for testing the potential of systems biology to identify mechanisms and biomarkers of disease in the example of Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a well-defined monogenic defect in methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). We propose that such an approach can not only aid in monitoring clinical disease severity but also provide a measure of target engagement in clinical trials. By deepening our understanding of the "big picture" of systems biology, this approach could even help generate hypotheses for drug development programs, hopefully resulting in new treatments for these devastating conditions.


Project evaluation and selection is a complex multi-attribute decision-making problem. With the information uncertainty and inaccuracy considered, a new model for project evaluation and selection is proposed, which combines the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The hybrid method is based on interval-valued triangular fuzzy numbers. An index system for selecting the optimal project is established. The weights of criteria and sub-criteria are derived by fuzzy AHP. The relative closeness is drawn from the calculation of the distance between the alternatives and positive ideal solutions or negative ones. Also, the ranking of alternatives can be based on their relative closeness. Finally, a case study is given adopting the proposed method.


ABSTRACT Mainland Portugal is not renowned for having been a whaling nation of significance. However, preliminary studies have brought to light enough historical references to suggest that whaling occurred from at least the 13th century, and the present work identifies 38 historical sources documenting whale use or whaling on the Portuguese coast between 1201 and 1728. A peak of whale-related sources occurred during the 13th and 14th centuries, and almost all Portuguese accounts are contemporary to those found from the French and Spanish Basque countries, such that the beginning of the whaling activity seems to be coeval. No geographical cluster of whaling activities can be established—they seem to have been unevenly scattered along the entire coastline. Nor can a chronological north–south movement of coastal whaling activities be discerned. The geographical and chronological patterns give support to the assumption that whaling was not introduced to Portugal by the Basques, who are known to have spread westward from the French Labourd (11th century), via Golf of Biscay, to Asturias, and southward to Galicia (14th century). Rather, Portuguese whale use seems to have originated independently of Basque influence. Several of the sources specify "black whales" as the target species. This is consistent with modern knowledge about the distribution and migration patterns of North Atlantic right whales during Basque medieval and early modern whaling. The Portuguese sources are not clear as to numbers of whales taken, nor to the whaling technology used, but the activity was sufficiently well organized and developed to warrant the levying of tithes in the feudal system of 13th-century Portugal.


We monitored faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) in 53 western quolls following capture. Using this stressor, we validated an assay for monitoring FGM in quolls. On average, FGM peak 24 hours after capture. Females exhibit higher baseline and peak FGM levels than males. Individuals vary in their physiological response to capture.


The need for a verification method for aggregation techniques for passive electrical systems is necessary as power systems increase in complexity. Model reduction is crucial to increase the number of simulations necessary to ensure a stable and reliable design of power systems. This paper presents a novel modal domain-based technique to identify the best aggregation technique for a given system and to indicate the validity of the aggregation. This is done by benchmarking different aggregation techniques and using the dominant contribution factor ratio as a validity parameter. The different aggregation techniques are compared via time-domain simulations against the full detailed model. It is found that (1) the power loss aggregation technique is the most precise when it weighs the equivalent impedances of the parallel feeders, (2) unequal current generation does not impact the aggregation accuracy, (3) individual string aggregation provides the best results for dynamic simulations, and (4) the validity of aggregation decreases as frequency or cable length increases.


Much of the recent literature concerned with the impacts of factory closure refers to closures occurring in the 1980s and 1990s and affecting heavy industry – coal, steel and shipbuilding. It also tends to focus on employment and labour market impacts assessed through the subsequent experience of workers made redundant following closures. It also tends to assume that these impacts are localized. Because of this much of the discussion of policy implications relates to the workers made redundant and to a very local economy. This paper refers to the closure of the MG Rover factory in Longbridge, Birmingham, UK. This closure was regarded as presenting a crisis for government and the local community. The paper responds to arguments in the research literature and explores the spatial and economic impact of the MG Rover closure in more detail. It complements other research which has focused on the experience of those made redundant in 2005 by referring to the loss of employment over a longer time period and identifying a wider impact spatially and socially. The paper draws upon different sources of evidence and concludes with a discussion of implications for policy and research.


The endolymph flow inside the semicircular ducts is analytically investigated by considering a system of two hydrodynamically interconnected ducts. Rotation of this system adds an amount of motion (momentum) to parts of it. This results in an endolymph flow in generally all vestibular parts. The "external impulses" are the impulses which emerge by rotation of exclusively a particular vestibular part. The real impulses can be calculated from a set of equations which contain the external impulses. Analytical expressions are derived for the initial velocities in the ducts and for the maximum endolymph displacements. These formulae contain the external impulses and the ratios of: (1) the radii of crus commune and ducts (gamma), (2) the lengths of crus commune and ducts (lambda). It was proven that an interconnected system composed of two ducts, and also a system composed of two such semicircular duct systems, behaves as a pure rotation transducer (like a single duct does), also when it is rotated excentrically. Duct systems with polygonal and circular geometries were used to evaluate whether an optimal value of lambda would exist (gamma was already considered elsewhere). Optimum values of lambda in a range of about 0.10-0.52 were found. This rather wide range of values agrees with values from measurements. Optimization of an interconnected duct system appeared to be equal to optimization of a system composed of separate ducts.


The Analysis on Conducting Beethoven Sympony No. 5 Done By Indonesian Conductor. This paper discusses the weaknesses of Indonesian music conductors with Javanese cultural background Indonesian conductors need to understand the characteristics of the Western and Eastern culture that deal with thinking patterns, customs, and attitudes. Beethoven No. 5 is loud, serious, dramatic, and heartrending. To be able to perform those expressions, good conducting techniques and analysis on the composition are needed. Keywords: Conducting, music conductor, performing arts.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of Podoplanin in lesional epithelia of oral leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma and its correlation with lymph vessels density.

METHODS
The expression of Podoplanin in 40 cases of oral leukoplakia, 27 cases of early stage of squamous cell carcinoma and 32 cases of infiltrated stage of squamous cell carcinoma was examined by immunohistochemistry. Meanwhile, the correlation between podoplanin expression in lesional epithelia and its corresponding lymph vessels density was also analysed.

RESULTS
Podoplanin expression in epithelia was increased with the exacerbated epithelial proliferation. High expression of Podoplanin in lesional epithelia accounted for 45% in oral leukoplakia, 81% and 78% in early and infiltrated stage of squamous cell carcinoma respectively. Moreover, the lymph vessels density was also increased with the enhanced expression of Podoplanin in oral leukoplakia and early stage of squamous cell carcinoma (P < 0.05). Podoplanin expression in infiltrated stage of squamous cell carcinoma was positively correlated with the lymph vessels density (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
Podoplanin expression in different proliferative oral epithelia may be related to oral carcinogenesis, invasion and metastasis.


In the anterior pituitary gland, five distinct hormone producing cell types are generated from common epithelial progenitor cells. This process of cellular determination is controlled by signaling molecules acting on transcription factors, which in turn regulate genes critical for the appearance of hormone producing cells. Two pituitary specific transcription factors, Pit-1 and Prop-1, which are required for generation of hormone producing cells in the anterior pituitary gland, have proved to be important in the cause of hypopituitarism in humans. Mutations in the human PIT-1 gene lead to a combined pituitary hormone deficiency characterized by lack of GH, PRL and TSH. Mutations in the PROP-1 gene, which are a more common cause of hypopituitarism, lead to a clinical phenotype characterized by GH, PRL, TSH, LH and FSH deficiency, and sometimes ACTH deficiency as well.


Recognition of the value of deferred tax expense and tax planning subjective gives management the opportunity to practice earnings management. This study aims to determine how much influence tax planning and tax burden in conducting earnings management in manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the period 2014-2017. The method used in this research is descriptive method. Data collection techniques are carried out through secondary data. The population in this study were manufacturing companies of the Food and Beverages Sector listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the 2014-2017 period totaling 43 companies. The sample research method used was purposive sampling. The type of data used is secondary data obtained from the financial statements of company publications in www.idx.co.id. Data is processed through multiple linear regression statistical test methods using SPSS software. Based on the results of statistical tests, concluded that (1) Tax planning has a positive and not significant effect on earnings management, (2) The burden of deferred tax has a positive and not significant effect on the probability of companies making earnings management. The study also found that earnings management did occur with the aim of avoiding reporting losses on companies listed on the Stock Exchange in 2014 2017.


Gingival Recession (GR) appears in periodontal diseases or in isolation due to traumatic tooth brushing, occlusal traumas or oral piercing. Objective: The study was designed to establish the prevalence of gingival recession in young people, the intensity and the severity of the disease, as well as the existence of some links and correlations between the investigated parameters. Material and method: We examined 106 students (4th year students at the Faculty of Psychology in ClujNapoca), for which we determined the existence of GR, the height of GR, the height of the keratinized gum, the Miller class. Results: The GR prevalence was of 50.95%. 17 persons (31.47%) suffered from single tooth GR, 22 persons (40.72%) from two gingival recessions, 11 persons (20.4%) from three gingival recessions, and multiple gingival recessions were identified in 4 persons (7.4%). As concerns the height of the GR, 67.15% were of 1-2 mm, and 32.85% of the GR were over 3 mm. Conclusions: The obtained prevalence matches the data in specialized literature. The high percentage of GR with root coverage recommendations underlines the importance of early identification.


Abstract The purpose of the present study was to convey to the reader the method and application of the Finnish Multi-Source National Forest Inventory (MS-NFI) that was devised in the Finnish Forest Research Institute. The study area concerned is Stołowe Mountains National Park, which is located in the south-western Poland, near the border with the Czech Republic. To accomplish the above mentioned aim, the following data have been applied: timber volume derived from field sample plots, satellite image, digital map data and digital elevation model. The Pearson correlation coefficient between independent and dependent variables has been verified. Furthermore, the non-parametric k-nearest neighbours (k-NN) technique and genetic algorithm have been used in order to estimate forest stands biomass at the pixel level. The error estimates have been obtained by leave-one-out cross-validation method. The main computed forest stands features were total and mean timber volume as well as maximum and minimum biomass occurring in the examined area. In the final step, timber volume map of the growing stock has been created.


ABSTRACT Poor saddle-fitting is one of the main causes of back pain in horses. Mangalarga Marchador is a popular breed in Brazil, being used mainly for pleasure riding and sports. This study aimed to thermographically assess saddles used in horses of this breed. Thermographic images were obtained from 18 saddles of animals from different categories during a Mangalarga Marchador National Exposition. The evaluation was based on three parameters: contact area symmetry, dorsal midline interaction and total skin contact area (25%, 50%, 75% or 100%). Contact area asymmetry was observed in 83.3% of saddles. Dorsal midline interaction was observed with the same frequency. Only 22.2% of saddles assessed in the present study had panels with contact areas greater than 50%. Based on the results of this essay it can be concluded that thermography is a useful tool for the evaluation of saddle contact area with the back of horses and that there is a high frequency of fitting unconformities in saddles used in Mangalarga Marchador horses.


Writers and critics participating in a Znamia journal roundtable offer various evaluations of the place of Russian prose in world literature.


The hypotenuses of all right triangles inscribed into a fixed conic $C$ with fixed right-angle vertex $p$ are incident with the Fr\'egier point $f$ to $p$ and $C$. As $p$ varies on the conic, the locus of the Fr\'egier point is, in general, a conic as well. We study conics $C$ whose Fr\'egier locus is singular in Euclidean, elliptic and hyperbolic geometry. The richest variety of conics with this property is obtained in hyperbolic plane while in elliptic geometry only three families of conics have a singular Fr\'egier locus.


In 2007, the author examined existing academic libraries in the United States to determine best practices for the design, implementation and service of learning commons facilities. A primary objective of this study was to discover how to create a higher education learning environment that sustains scholarship, encourages collaboration and empowers student learning. This article explains how to plan for a modern learning commons and presents the various components that comprise the space.


Palmaria palmata (Linnaeus) O. Kuntze (Rhodophyta, Palmariaceae) is a seaweed commercially harvested for human consumption. Its population density, size structure, and frond dynamics were investigated from May 1999 to May 2001 at one intertidal locality in the northern coast of Spain, which is within the southern distributional boundary of the species in the eastern Atlantic coasts. The effect of size, age, and the life‐history phase (haploid vs. diploid) on frond growth and mortality were also evaluated. The study was carried out by mapping and monitoring fronds in the field. New fronds (macroscopic recruits or sprouts) appeared in spring, but subsequent mortality of these young fronds and detachment of the host plant led to lower density values in January. Palmaria palmata exhibited a distinctive seasonal growth cycle, with positive net growth from March to August and breakage from August to March. Interannual differences were also detected, with higher net growth in 2000 than in 1999. Net growth was apparently independent of age, reproductive status (fertile vs. reproductive), and life‐history phase (haploid vs. diploid) but was dependent on size, as longer fronds showed minor growth or greater breakage than small ones. Mortality, on the other hand, was more dependent on age than on size in the period analyzed (March–May 2000). Results of the study indicate that both size and age should be included as state variables and temporal changes in transition probabilities considered in the development of demographic models of the species.


BACKGROUND
Very little is known about the identity of genetic factors involved in the complex etiology of nonsyndromic neural tube defects (NTD). Potential susceptibility genes have emerged from the vast number of mutant mouse strains displaying NTD. Reasonable candidates are the human homologues of mice exencephaly genes Tfap2alpha and Msx2, which are expressed in the developing neural tube.

METHODS
A single-strand conformation analysis (SSCA) mutation screen of the coding sequences of TFAP2alpha and MSX2 was performed for 204 nonsyndromic NTD patients including cases of anencephaly (n = 10), encephalocele (n = 8), and spina bifida aperta, SBA (n = 183). A selected number of SBA patients was additionally tested for specific mutations in MTHFD, FRalpha, and PAX1 already shown to be related to NTD.

RESULTS
Two TFAP2alpha point mutations in individual SBA patients were silent on the amino acid level (C308C, T396T). On nucleic acid level, these mutations change evolutionary conserved codons and thus may influence mRNA processing and translation efficiency. One SBA patient displayed an exonic 9-bp deletion in MSX2 leading to a shortened and possibly less functional protein. None of these mutations was found in 222 controls. Seven polymorphisms detected in TFAP2alpha and MSX2 were equally distributed in patients and controls. Patients with combined heterozygosity of an exonic MSX2 and an intronic TFAP2alpha polymorphism were at a slightly increased risk of NTD (OR 1.71; 95% CI 0.57-5.39).

CONCLUSIONS
Although several new genetic variants were found in TFAP2 and MSX2, no statistically significant association was found between NTD cases and the new alleles or their combinations. Further studies are necessary to finally decide if these gene variants may have acted as susceptibility factors in our individual cases.


Extensive research in evolutionary psychology has explored the role that altruism plays in mate preference. This research aims to investigate whether altruism is desired for long-term and short term relationships among females and males, as well as to determine potential sex differences within this preference among Thai nationals. To that end, a self-administered online Thai language-based survey was distributed for data collection; 138 Thai respondents (mean age = 22.5, SD = 4.37) completed the survey. The respondents were asked to read nine hypothetical scenarios and rate their preferences for different individuals in the scenarios for long-term and shortterm relationships. In each scenario, if one person displayed high levels of altruism, another person in the same scenario would display a lower level of altruism. A 2 × 2 × 2 mixed ANOVA indicated that both men and women significantly favoured altruistic partners for long-term relationships; whereas, when displays of altruism was low, there was only a slight difference in preference for a short-term or longterm relationship. Moreover, there was no significant difference between men and women's desirability for altruistic partners. This study provides further support for previous altruism based research which emphasises the importance of altruism regarding long term mate selection.


An assessment of the turnover process was undertaken with subjects of railway track maintenance crews. The differences between the responses of workers who left the crews and others who retained membership for the study were partially explained by the met-unmet expectations framework, and there was some evidence to suggest a variety of work related factors are a source of employee perceptions. However, to obtain a fuller understanding of the processes of employee reactions further theoretical articulation is required.


The anomalous features in diffraction patterns first observed by Wood over a century ago have been the subject of many investigations, both experimental and theoretical. The sharp, narrow structures - and the large resonances with which they are sometimes associated - arise in numerous studies in optics and photonics. In this paper we present an analytical method to study diffracted fields of optically thin gratings that highlights the nonanalyticities associated with the anomalies. Using this approach we can immediately derive diffracted fields for any polarization in a compact notation. While our equations are approximate, they fully respect energy conservation in the electromagnetic field, and describe the large exchanges of energy between incident and diffracted fields that can arise even for thin gratings.


Modeling various aspects that make a music piece unique is a challenging task, requiring the combination of multiple sources of information. Deep learning is commonly used to obtain representations using various sources of information, such as the audio, interactions between users and songs, or associated genre metadata. Recently, contrastive learning has led to representations that generalize better compared to traditional supervised methods. In this paper, we present a novel approach that combines multiple types of information related to music using cross-modal contrastive learning, allowing us to learn an audio feature from heterogeneous data simultaneously. We align the latent representations obtained from playlists-track interactions, genre metadata, and the tracks' audio, by maximizing the agreement between these modality representations using a contrastive loss. We evaluate our approach in three tasks, namely, genre classification, playlist continuation and automatic tagging. We compare the performances with a baseline audio-based CNN trained to predict these modalities. We also study the importance of including multiple sources of information when training our embedding model. The results suggest that the proposed method outperforms the baseline in all the three downstream tasks and achieves comparable performance to the state-of-the-art.


Anthocyanin pigments occurring in the flowers of Iris germanica were investigated in five varieties: Rota, Wedgewood, Empress of India, Deputate Nomblot and Joanna. The relation between the colour of the flower and the amount of the pigment was studied. The pigments were extracted from the dry plant material with 1% hydrochloric acid in methanol. Paper chromatography and colorimetric determinations were used for identification of the pigments and their quantitative determination. The results allow the following conclusions: 1. The varieties investigated were characterized toy the occurrence of delphinidine glycoside; 2. The colour intensity is dependent on the anthocyanin pigments; 3. The colour spectrum of Iris sp. flowersis greatly extended by yellow copigments.


The aim of the study was the detection of spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and left atrial thrombus by transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in patients who had undergone orthotopic heart transplantation. TEE was prospectively performed in 64 heart transplant recipients (53 males, 11 females, mean age 51 years). Since surgery (mean time: 31 months), all heart transplant recipients had received either aspirin (39), or dipyridamole (22), or both (3). Despite the antiplatelet treatment, an acute arterial embolism (two strokes, one popliteal and one mesenteric ischaemia) occurred in four patients who subsequently received an oral anticoagulant therapy. TEE was performed with a biplane high-frequency transducer after lidocaine pharyngeal anaesthesia, midazolam intravenous injection and antibiotic prophylaxis. Mean ejection fraction was 63 +/- 10%. None had evidence of rejection at endomyocardial biopsy performed on the same day as TEE and analysed in a blinded fashion. All were in sinus rhythm. Left atrial SEC was found in 35 patients (55%) and was associated with left atrial thrombus in 18 patients (28%). These thrombi were localized in the donor left atrial appendage in 10 cases, on the posterior wall of the left atrium in six cases, on the donor part of inter-atrial septum in one case and on the suture line in one case. They were not detected by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). When compared with patients without thrombus, no difference was found concerning left atrial size, left ventricular ejection fraction, pulmonary artery pressure and number of previous episodes of rejection. However, cardiac index was significantly lower in patients with left atrial thrombus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


"Gestures of Healing" shows how the dominant novelists of American and British modernism - James, Conrad, Ford, Forster, Joyce, Woolf, Lawrence, Fitzgerald, Hemingway and Faulkner - express a common condition of pain: anxiety produced by the experience of chaos in the self. John J. Clayton seeks the source of this condition not in reference to "modern society" nor in philosophical trends, but rather in the families of these writers. Clayton argues that although their situations were very different, these writers had in common certain patterns (particularly a weak or absent father and a central, strong-willed mother) that, in the absence of coherent grounding in the community, shaped a fragmented, incomplete self. After tracing the often tragic effects of modernist anxiety on the writers' lives, Clayton explores how the fiction created by each author gestures toward healing. He shows how the writers "use" the reader, much as a patient "uses" an analyst, and how the culture that enthroned modernism looked to it for the same healing. "Gestures of Healing" concludes with extended studies of James, Lawrence and Woolf.


Abstract : This report examines the potential for, and range of issues associated with, establishing national health outcomes data bases to help patients and their physicians evaluate tradeoffs among various treatment options. Patients are frequently faced with more than one treatment option and often those treatments have multiple outcomes that need to be understood and evaluated in terms of their risks and benefits to the patient. This work builds on previous Agency for Health care Research and Quality (AHRQ) - sponsored expert meetings funded by the Kanter Family Foundation-which focused on the possibility of developing data systems that would allow patients to share information with other patients about the decisions they had made when confronted with alternative treatment choices and the outcomes they had experienced.


An arc channel tends to shrink due to its conductivity increasing with the increase of temperature. In this study, to generate large area arc plasma, we construct a magnetically rotating arc plasma generator, which mainly consists of a lanthanide tungsten cathode (13 mm in diameter), a concentric cylindrical graphite anode chamber (60 mm in diameter) and a solenoid coil for producing an axial magnet field. By controlling the cold gas flow, the magnetically rotating arc evolves from constricted mode to diffuse mode, which almost fills the whole arc chamber cross section. Results show that the diffuse arc plasma has better uniformity and stability. The formation mechanism of large area arc plasma is discussed in this paper.


This prospective, randomized study compares the treatment of an interdigital neuroma (IDN) by the standard resection operation with a technique in which the IDN is transposed into the inter-muscular space between the adductor hallucis and the interossei muscles after division of the digital nerves distal to the IDN. The resection group contained 22 patients and 22 neuromas and the transposition group contained 22 patients and 23 neuromas. An interviewer, blinded as to the operative technique used, telephoned each patient preoperatively, and at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 36–48 months postoperatively. The interviewer recorded the patient's reported pain level on a numerical rating scale of 0 to 100. In the resection group the average pain level was slightly lower through the first 6 month period, but at the 12 month review the resection group had a slightly higher average pain level. At the 36–48 month survey the resection group again reported a greater average pain level and fewer asymptomatic patients. It was concluded that it is unnecessary to excise the IDN to obtain excellent relief of pain. It was also concluded that transposition of the IDN into an intermuscular position between the adductor hallucis and the interossei muscles produced significantly better long term results than did the standard resection operation.


The disease prompted a total of 40,000 medical consultations per year (4.4 per 1,000 inhabitants), generated 5,000 hospital admissions per year (54.5 per 100,000 inhabitants), and gave rise to 160 disability pensions per year (10.9 per 100,000 eligible persons). It also caused 790 deaths, giving Chile a mortality of 8.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants-the highest recorded mortality from this cause in Latin America. The disease affected mainly younger age groups; 54% of the hospitahzed patients were under 25 years of age, and the average age of those dying from this cause was 43 years. Some 40% of the hospitalized fatal cases occurred in Santiago. In all, the risk of hospitalization and death from this cause was 29% higher among women than among men. A definite as-


This paper attempts to resolve some of the controversy between advocates of predicate calculus and users of other knowledge representation languages by demonstrating that it is possible to have the key features of both in a hybrid system. An example is given of a recently implemented hybrid system in which a specialized planning language coexists with its translation into predicate calculus. In this system, various kinds of reasoning required for a program understanding task are implemented at either the predicate calculus level or the planning language level, depending on which is more natural.


Has one of the most vexing problems of mathematical finance been solved? In The Free Boundary of the American Put, from the Winter 2020 issue of The Journal of Derivatives, author Thomas Little (of Hard Analytics in Houston) says he has done exactly that, presenting an analytic formula to determine the early expiry boundary curve for American put options more quickly and accurately than has been possible in the past. Unlike European-style put options, which may be exercised only on or near their expiration dates, American puts may be exercised at any time prior to expiration. Most American puts are, in fact, held until expiration, but traders may exercise a put early for any of a number of reasons. If the early expiry boundary curve could be accurately calculated, thus determining the critical asset price at or below which a put should be exercised to avoid arbitrage, traders could more confidently make early expiry decisions and time their trades. Little says that his formula provides that curve accurately along the full time line of the option. The next step will be to back test a portfolio of American put options during several market cycles to see whether the use of Little's formula would have produced better outcomes than those achieved with current practices. TOPICS: Options, fundamental equity analysis, statistical methods


A classification method is presented that detects the presence of speech embedded in a real acoustic background of non-speech sounds. Features used for classification are modulation components extracted by computation of the amplitude modulation spectrogram. Feature selection techniques and support vector classification are employed to identify modulation components most salient for the classification task and therefore considered as highly characteristic for speech. Results show that reliable detection of speech can be performed with less than 10 optimally selected modulation features, the most important ones are located in the modulation frequency range below 10 Hz. Detection of speech in a background of non-speech signals is performed with about 90% test-data accuracy at a signal-to-noise level of 0 dB. Compared to standard ITU G729.B voice activity detection, the proposed method results in increased true positive and reduced false positive rates induced by a real acoustic background.


Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely studied for bio-sensing applications, where suspended and immobilized MNPs can be magnetically distinguished using their different magnetic properties. We study magnetic properties of suspended and immobilized MNPs when the Neel relaxation time is much shorter than the Brownian. We show in both numerical simulation and experiment that they have different magnetic properties such as AC magnetization curves and harmonic spectra even though the dynamic behavior of both MNP types is primarily dominated by Neel relaxation. This difference is caused by the partial alignment of the easy axes in suspended MNPs when an AC magnetic field is applied. We introduce a distribution function for the angle of easy axis alignment. We also show a method to evaluate the distribution function from the measured AC magnetization curve and clarify the relationship between easy axis alignment and the AC field strength. Using the distribution function, we can quantitatively discuss the effect of easy axis alignment on the magnetic properties of suspended MNPs. The obtained results provide a basis for using MNPs in bio-sensing.


Abstract— Membranes from Rhodobacter (formerly Rhodopseudomonas) sphaeroides mutant strains that lack one or more of the bacteriochlorophyll a (BChl)‐protein complexes were used to obtain spectra and molar extinction coefficients of the near‐IR absorption bands. The strains examined were NF57 which lacks the B875 light‐harvesting and reaction center complexes, and M21 which lacks the B800–850light‐harvesting complex. The extinction coefficients obtained for the B800, B850 and B875 bands were 226 ± 10, 170 ± 5, and 118 ± 5 mM‐1cm‐1, respectively, in reasonable agreement with values reported for detergent‐isolated complexes (Clayton, R. K. and B. J. Clayton, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA78,5583–5587, 1981). The results also demonstrated that detergent solubilization altered the spectra, causing a band broadening on the blue side of the B875 and B800 peaks. The data obtained from the analysis of the mutant strains were used for deconvolution of the BChl species in membranes of the wild‐type. A short BASIC computer program for performing this deconvolution is included.


This article tackles the issue of interconnectedness between the global economic crisis in 2008 and the "For Fair Elections" movement in Russia in 2011-2012. Studies have shown that the 2008 crisis has affected political attitudes of Russian citizens that might have contributed to the mass mobilization in 2011-2012. To test this hypothesis, a dataset covering public protest events from 2008 to 2012 in Perm krai and Tyumen oblast' has been developed. The comparison between the cases demonstrates different dynamics of contention, however, a similar composition of  protests: local/urban governance issues are the most frequent, closely followed by political/civil rights and economic demands. The comparison indicates that the connections between the 2008 crisis and the 2011-2012 movement are mostly indirect: economic misfortunes caused some groups to protest; it helped some political parties to create broad coalitions based on these grievances, which later became the pillars of the 2011-2012 movement.


The effect of induced Riemann geometry in nonlinear electrodynamics is considered. The possibility for description of real gravitation by this effect is discussed.


The Medium and Small Enterprises (MSE) sector in Ethiopia is faced with many challenges and constraints including business linkages with large enterprises. Business linkages give MSEs the opportunity to participate as suppliers, distributors or retailers in commercial value chains which can help increase local job and wealth creation, enhance skills and capacity, add purchasing power and generally stimulate economic activity and development-contributing in the process, to quality of life. Despite the critical roles played by the business linkages in distributor MSEs in the textile sub-sector, they have been experiencing determinants leading to low- performance or limited linkage with large enterprises. This study was conducted in Amhara region, south wollo zone, Kombolcha city. The main purpose of this study was to explore the basic determinant factors of business linkages between MSEs and large firms in textile sub-sector in Kombolcha town. The population of this study was 71 MSEs and 1 large enterprise. Census method was used to conduct the research throughout enterprises in textile sub-sector and primary data was collected with the use of Self-administered questionnaire and key informant interview. The researcher had used mixed approach that was both qualitative and quantitative methods to identify and analyze determinants. Descriptive statistical methods and logit regression model supported by qualitative analysis had been employed SPSS and STATA software to analyses the collected data. The result showed that the business linkage between small and large business in Kombolcha city particularly in textile sub-sector was found limited. MSEs in Kombolcha city are facing a lot of problems that hinder their business linkage; lack of raw materials is the most series problem. Determinants such as education levels, raw materials, technology, training, and leadership were found significant that affect business linkage positively. Therefore  the study suggest that improving educational levels of MSEs owners, availability of raw materials, training like technical and managerial skills, giving attention to assure capable and committed leadership and for the future intervention strategies aimed at the mutual benefit between MSEs and large enterprises and technological transformation to strengthen business linkage . The government and private sectors are expected to exert strong effort to create business linkage between MSEs and large businesses in textile sub-sector. Keywords : - Business linkage, Determinants, MSEs, Large, Enterprises DOI : 10.7176/JESD/10-3-08


Static magnetic fields (SMFs) have shown therapeutic outcomes for different wounds including diabetic chronic wounds. High penetration into the wound bed, highly steering and focusable and not approved harmful effects are the main advantages of SMF therapy for wounds. In addition to antimicrobial effects, triggering wound healing physiological mechanisms are among the mechanisms of action of SMF in wound healing. Despite of rigorous evidence on the therapeutic efficiency of SMFs in different chronic wounds particularly chronic wounds, no definite frequency-response existed on the clinical trials applications of this technique. This paper reviews the applications and therapeutic outcomes of SMFs on wound especially diabetic wounds.


This paper has attempted to investigate the absurdist voices in Harold Pinter's selected poems written from 1951to1953. These poems belonging to his early phase of writing as the poet deals with the major obsessions of post-Modern man depicting his anxiety of identity aggravated by his existential condition. Pinter's early poetry characterizes him as an absurdist poet and expresses his world view through distinctive images and tones. The selected poems appear to be a blending of his absurdist insights with his poetic art. His early poems predominantly portray existential anxiety, absurdity and pessimism. The study seeks to reflect on Pinter as a practitioner of the 'Literature of the Absurd' who tries to depict how different people act and react when they confront different aspects of absurdity and existential dilemma.


Mobile applications and other integration of information and communication technology (ICT) have become well-known in education to monitor teaching and learning activities. The analysis of student learning through evaluation is a growing area of interest for teachers in higher education aiming to enhance students learning experience. This paper describes a development of student outcomes monitoring tool that applies analytics to provide feedback to students as they progress in the ladder of achieving the intended learning outcomes. The student outcomes focus on the core elements of the curriculum; it offers detailed student outcomes where the result in courses evaluations and recordings are tracked and analyzed. The data revealed that the student outcomes monitoring and analytics tool is adequate in providing constant feedback to students on the achievement of the desired learning outcomes as well as support teachers in planning the teaching and learning activities, enhance feedback system, academic planning and improvement.


The performances of two Algerian local genotypes: Mohamed Ben Bachir and Oued Zenati, tested under NaCl stress showed an ability to withstand moderate salt concentrations. It appeared that salinity affected normal physiological functions of these wheat genotypes, expressed by the imbalance in water relations, mineral balance and proline accumulation in the two genotypes. It was noted that these genotypes showed a low leaf water potential (Ψw) associated with suitable relative water content (RWC), which maintained tissue hydration. It appears the decline in water potential is not due to water loss but to significant accumulation of Na+ and proline which can satisfactorily supply tissues with water. This is possible through osmorégulation mechanism sealed by the fundamental role of membrane integrity to regulate cellular permeability. Physiologically, this is a quantitative rather than a qualitative difference of physiological behavior between these genotypes. The physiological mechanisms associated with less affect on water relation and Na+ afflux probably contributed for the higher salt tolerance in M.B. Bachir than in the O. Zenati genotype. Therefore, these genotypes could be considered salt tolerant and are suitable in improving durum wheat's salt tolerance.


Since ultra-high performance cementitious composites (UHPCC) not only represents high early age shrinkage strain due to its low water-to-binder ratio (W/B) and high fineness admixture usage but also reduces the cross section of structure from the higher mechanical properties, it generally has more shrinkage cracks from the restraints of formwork and reinforcing bars. In this study, free and restrained shrinkage experiments were conducted to evaluate the suitability of incorporating both expansive admixture (EA) and shrinkage reducing agent (SRA). The test results indi-cated that approximately 40~44% of free shrinkage strain was decreased. Also, the results showed that 35% and 47% of residual tensile stresses were relieved by synergetic effect of SRA and EA, respectively. Residual tensile stresses from ringtest were relaxed by approximately 61% and 64% of elastic shrinkage stresses due to SRA and EA, respectively, because of the tensile creep effect. Therefore, the creep effect should be considered to precisely estimate the restrained shrinkage behavior of concrete structures. The degree of restraint of UHPCC was approximately in the range of 0.78~0.85. The addition of combined EA and SRA showed minute influence on the degree of restraint. However, the effect decreased when thicker concrete ring was used. Tensile creep strains were measured and compared to the predicted values from 4-parametric prediction model considering time dependent restrained forces.


The Watchdog Role of Journalism: A Study on the perception of Ethiopian Journalists Befrdu Woldeamanuel Addis Ababa University, 2012 This study was an inquiry into the perception of Ethiopian journalists with regard to the watchdog role of journalism. In this regard, the researcher has employed Western model of journalism, Development model journalism and propaganda model as theoretical underpinnings to answer the designed research questions. To come up with a seeming finding, qualitative research methodology was employed with an individual in-depth interview and focus group discussion as instruments for data collection. Hence, using a purposive sampling, a total of six practicing journalists were interviewed in the in-depth interview category, of which two were editors-in-chief, the other two, deputy editors-inchiefs, one assistant editor and finally a producer. In the focus group discussion domain, six journalists were interviewed from one media house. The participants for the individual in-depth interview were also drawn from both government and private media institutions. In the findings, journalists from both individual and focus group fronts have the orientation toward watchdog journalism as the Western literature portrays it; "to be the public"s eye in monitoring and exposing power abuse and misuse, maladministration, and corruption, to serve as a check and balance on the government or a fourth estate to monitor the three branches of government." Except one who learned it at school, the rest were informed about it through reading and actual practice. When it comes to our context, the government media has espoused development journalism, while the private media claimed to exercise watchdog journalism with all its challenges. At last, it was found out that since the practice of the Western model of journalism was not compatible to our situation, development journalism seems to be the available option that works in our condition. Moreover, it was also shown that watchdog journalism has a part to play in the realm of development journalism. Furthermore, it was suggested that the practice of watchdog journalism needs a redefinition in our context.


In this report we give a short overview of aspects on parallel deflated conjugate gradient method which is applied on large, sparse, symmetric and semi-positive definite linear systems obtained from moving boundary problems. Moreover, we present some results of small numerical experiments. After introducing the Navier-Stokes equations for multiphase flows, the pressure correction method is described shortly. In this method the Poisson equation dominates and leads to an ill-conditioned and huge linear sytem. This system is solved with the conjugate gradient method preconditioned with incomplete Cholesky or block-Jacobi. To accelerate the convergence of the iterative method a deflation technique is incorporated. We end with some aspects on implementing the whole technique in a parallel environment.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hormonal changes are known to affect quality of life of women and may interfere in pain tolerance and cardiorespiratory exercise performance. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare pressure pain tolerance threshold and cardiorespiratory fitness in women in luteal and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle. METHODS: University students aged 18-30 years old with a regular menstrual cycle were evaluated for cardiorespiratory fitness (ergospirometry), pain perception through the visual analog scale and pressure pain tolerance (algometry). RESULTS: When evaluated in follicular phase, the 13 participants exhibited a significant increase (p<0.001) in pain perception. Follicular phase also resulted in a significant reduction in pressure pain tolerance in all sites evaluated (p<0.05). At rest, follicular phase resulted in a significant increase (p<0.05) in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but no effect was observed in heart rate. At peak exercise, follicular phase caused a significant reduction (p<0.05) in heart rate and peak VO2, without significantly affecting speed, test duration and indicators of metabolism efficiency. CONCLUSION: Healthy women with dysmenorrhea show higher pain perception in follicular phase, which results in increased pain sensitivity and prejudice in hemodynamic aspects at rest and during exercise, as well as in cardiorespiratory fitness, without significant alterations in metabolism.


In real world applications, complex objects are usually with multiple labels, and can be represented as multiple modal representations, e.g., the complex articles contain text and image information as well as are with multiple annotations. Previous methods assume that the homogeneous multi-modal data are consistent, while in real applications, the raw data are disordered, i.e., the article is constituted with variable number of inconsistent text and image instances. To solve this problem, Multi-modal Multi-instance Multi-label (M3) learning provides a framework for handling such task and has exhibited excellent performance. Besides, how to effectively utilize label correlation is also a challenging issue. In this paper, we propose a novel Multi-modal Multi-instance Multi-label Deep Network (M3DN), which learns the label prediction and exploits label correlation simultaneously based on the Optimal Transport, by considering the consistency principle between different modal bag-level prediction and the learned latent ground label metric. Experiments on benchmark datasets and real world WKG Game-Hub dataset validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.


This article shows how the pooled-variance two-sample t statistic arises from a Bayesian formulation of the two-sided point null testing problem, with emphasis on teaching. We identify a reasonable and useful prior giving a closed-form Bayes factor that can be written in terms of the distribution of the two-sample t statistic under the null and alternative hypotheses, respectively. This provides a Bayesian motivation for the two-sample t statistic, which has heretofore been buried as a special case of more complex linear models, or given only roughly via analytic or Monte Carlo approximations. The resulting formulation of the Bayesian test is easy to apply in practice, and also easy to teach in an introductory course that emphasizes Bayesian methods. The priors are easy to use and simple to elicit, and the posterior probabilities are easily computed using available software, in some cases using spreadsheets.


Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with wide-ranging symptoms, including deficits in social communication and social interaction, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities. Recent research suggests that antibiotics may have therapeutic effects on patients presenting with ritualistic and/or repetitive behaviors. In this study, we present a case report of a 34 month old boy with ASD with repetitive and ritualistic behaviors. The child's repetitive and ritualistic behaviors were significantly reduced after taking the antibiotics amoxicillin, cefazolin, and bactrim for several infections across a six- month period. Short-term improvements were observed during multiple concurrent and short- term post-therapy evaluations. Shortly after antibiotic discontinuation, behavioral deterioration was reported. We conclude that in this case study, a child with ASD experienced improvements in ritualistic behaviors during antibiotic therapy. Evidence of improvements in symptomatic behavior warrants further research.


This study describes the experiences of doctoral students in education at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The study focused only on the 14 HBCUs that offer doctoral degrees in education. Twelve of the 14 eligible institutions agreed to participate in the study. A total of 47 doctoral students who were in their third year of study or close to completion participated in the study. These doctoral students completed a survey that was utilized in a national study of doctoral students at predominately white institutions and Ivy League institutions conducted by Golde and Dore in 2001. The purpose of this study was to determine if doctoral students in education at HBCUs are receiving a quality education and if they are being adequately prepared for their careers. This study offers 368 findings from which the doctoral experience in education at HBCUs can be comprehensively evaluated. It was determined that doctoral students in education at HBCUs do receive a quality education and are being effectively prepared for their careers.


The records of 666 casualty collared doves examined at a wildlife hospital in south-west England over a period of five years were reviewed. Signs of metabolic bone disease were recorded in 51·2 per cent of the juvenile birds but in only 9·6 per cent of the adults. The incidence of the condition was highest between December and February and decreased almost to zero between June and August. Histological lesions in 11 of the juvenile doves were consistent with vitamin D deficiency, possibly as a result of inadequate exposure to uvb light during the short winter days.


A major challenge in materials science is dynamically adjusting material properties using sensors and control systems. This contribution develops a new approach using a self‐oscillating copolymer to autonomously change material surface properties in response to environmental changes. A redox‐sensitive terpolymer of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), dimethylacrylamide (DMAc), and an iron‐based comonomer ([(phen)2(phen‐5‐yl‐acrylamide)FeII](PF6)2) is synthesized via Reversible Addition‐Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) polymerization, catalyzing an oscillating redox reaction (Belousov‐Zhabotinsky, BZ). The terpolymer oscillates from soluble to insoluble around 35 °C based on the iron's oxidation state. A catechol unit is incorporated to enhance versatility, enabling grafting onto different surfaces. Optimal BZ reagent concentrations are explored for maximum oscillation amplitude and frequency. By selecting a working temperature between redox transition points, the copolymer's oscillation from coil to globular conformation is observed due to redox oscillations. The self‐oscillating copolymer is grafted onto an ultrafiltration membrane, where conformational changes cause variations in pore size, leading to rapid negative flux peaks that disrupt the flux and reduce membrane fouling during protein filtration. This study highlights self‐oscillating polymers' ability to impart dynamic properties to inert materials, paving the way for smart materials with self‐regulating properties to adapt to changing conditions.


Wild reindeer and caribou (Rangifer) are among the most widespread members of the deer family. They are found in the polar deserts on high arctic islands, the circumpolar tundra and boreal forest and into the mountain forests and alpine tundra. Those extensive and diverse habitats across national boundaries correspond with a diversity of sub-species and ecotypes that add complexity and uncertainty to status assessment and monitoring. We describe a recent international collaboration to establish a circumpolar network and monitor one of the most widespread forms of Rangifer – the migratory tundra caribou and wild reindeer. Range contractions and declining abundances are general themes as well as the importance and pivotal role of indigenous people's knowledge and experience.


As a common constituent of metamorphic assemblages, rutile provides constraints on the timing and conditions of rock transformation at high resolution. However, very little is known about the links between trace element mobility and rutile microstructures that result from synmetamorphic deformation. To address this issue, here we combine in situ LA‐ICP‐MS and sensitive high‐resolution ion microprobe trace element data with electron back‐scatter diffraction microstructural analyses to investigate the links between rutile lattice distortions and Zr and U–Pb systematics. Furthermore, we apply this integrated approach to constrain further the temperature and timing of amphibolite facies metamorphism and deformation in the Bergen Arcs of southwestern Norway. In outcrop, the formation of porphyroblastic rutile in dynamically hydrated leucocratic domains of otherwise rutile‐poor statically hydrated amphibolite provides key contextual information on both the ambient conditions of hydration and deformation and the composition of the reactive fluid. Rutile in amphibolite recorded ambient metamorphic temperatures of ~590–730°C during static hydration of the granulitic precursor. By contrast, rutile from leucocratic domains in the directly adjacent shear zone indicates that deformation was accompanied by a localized increase in temperature. These higher temperatures are recorded in strain‐free rutile (~600–860°C) and by Zr concentration measurements on low‐angle boundaries and shear bands (620–820°C). In addition, we also observe slight depletions of Zr and U along rutile low‐angle boundaries relative to strain‐free areas in deformed grains from the shear zone. This indicates that crystal–plastic deformation facilitated the compositional re‐equilibration of rutile upon cooling to slightly below the peak temperature of deformation. Cessation of deformation at mid‐crustal conditions near ~600°C is recorded by late stage growth of small (<150 µm) rutile in the high‐strain zones. U–Pb age data obtained from the strain‐free and distorted rutile grains cluster in distinct populations of 437.4 ± 2.7 Ma and c. 405–410 Ma, respectively. These different ages are interpreted to reflect the difference in closure for thermally induced Pb diffusion between undeformed and deformed rutile during post‐deformation exhumation and cooling. Thus, our results provide a reconstruction of the thermochronological history of the amphibolite facies rocks of the Lindås Nappe and highlight the importance of integration of microstructural data during application of thermometers and geochronometers.


The degradation of waste polymers is one of the possible routes of utilization. Various cracking processes are suggested for different waste polymers, when long alkyl chains are degraded and transformed into lighter hydrocarbons. Yields of the liquid and gas reaction products can be increased and composition thereof can be modified by catalysts. Catalytic cracking of polyolefin waste polymers was studied in a batch reactor without and with Y, FAU (FCC), H-ZSM5 and natural clinoptilolite zeolite catalysts. The additives of the feed polymers did not significantly affect the yields and properties of the products but the type of the catalysts did. Both the gas and liquid yields increased with the catalyst concentration. The activity of the catalysts influenced the yields and the molecular weight of the volatile compounds. In the presence of catalysts both double bond and carbon chain isomerization were observed, but the latter was less significant than the former. The minimum temperature of cracking is lower with catalyst than without catalyst. The grain size of catalyst affects the yields, but less significantly the composition of products.


Recent advances in permanent magnet technology have led to the development of a new generation of permanent rare earth industrial magnetic separators. The excellent separation efficiency of these rare earth magnetic separators has reselted in them superceeding conventional electromagnetic high-intensity magnetic separators for many applications. One example of this technology is the Boxmag-Rapid Magnaroll magnetic separator which has been successfully installed for mineral processing applications. Research work is also presented, utilizing the Magnaroll in a novel application of removing ash and pyritic sulphur from coal samples.


Security protocols are often difficult to specify formally and hard to prove correct, because of the potentially complex patterns of interaction between processes executing in parallel. Many people have proposed the use of formal methods in such applications (cf. [13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 23, 24]). For example, Roscoe and his colleagues have used the model checker FDR [10], based on the failures-divergences semantics of CSP, to discover bugs in various key-exchange protocols [21]. Schneider and Sidiropoulos [25] used FDR to specify and verify an "anonymity" property of a security protocol known as the "dining cryptographers" [8]. Semantically-based tools and methodologies such as these have tended to be paradigm-specific, based on a particular choice of programming or specification language. It is difficult to adapt tools embedded in one parallel paradigm (like CSP) to problems concerning other parallel paradigms (such as shared-variable programs); at a more abstract level, semantic models for shared-variable programming languages have so far had little in common with semantic models for CSP-like languages. Yet we might want to prove the correctness of a security protocol concerning protection of private data, couched in terms of shared variable parallelism, with respect to a specification phrased in terms of communication patterns and written in CSP. It would be difficult even to say precisely what such a correctness criterion means if the underlying semantic models for the two paradigms differ. This motivates the


Studied temporary lake existed in the proglacial zone of Nordenskioldbreen in the north coast of Adolfbukta between the early 90th of the 20th century up to the year 2012. The lake itself filled depression in mica schist bedrock and was bounded by the margin of the glacier. The lake can be divided into two parts separated by basement elevation ("intrabasinal high") - east elongated depression and circular west depression. Proglacial stream entered into the east depression and continuously delivered sediment. Due to that fact, lake was almost completely filled by gravels, sands and occasionally also silts. Coarse grained Gilbert-type delta formed at the stream entry. Water from the east depression freely continued into the west depression, which was filled with thin blanket of fine grained deposits. Delta in the east depression has tripartite structure of topset, foreset, bottomset. Topset is represented by braided alluvium. Foreset beds are formed by deposits of turbidity currents and debris flows. Deposits of bottomset reflect suspension deposition, deposition from low-density turbidity currents and occasional debris flows. Deltaic deposits create four morphologically terraces. Whereas the highest and also the oldest terrace is located close to margin of the east depression, the youngest and lowest terrace is situated near the centre of the east depression. Each sedimentary terrace follows morphology of the bedrock surface, which reveals several morphological steps. Evolution of the delta was directed by bedrock morphology. Reconstruction of the lake history is possible based on sedimentary properties and results of satellite images, which delta and bedrock morphology and their areal distribution. Water level in the lake was generally stable, because the incoming water lake was drained through the gorges in the bedrock. The lake partially entered also under the glacier, which caused calving of the glacier. Especially steep - bounded concave shape of the glacier margin proclaims the lake on satellite images. Continued calving of the glacier enlarged rock depression, which was available for inundation by the lake. The lake did not grow in volume, but shifted laterally following the retreating glacier. Stepped deepening of the lake bottom towards the glacier was responsible for every decrease of the lake level (terrace) as each rock step was exposed by the retreating glacier. The lake disappeared by the complex decrease of glacier barrier. Water drained by subglacial gorge in the bedrock to Adolfbukta. Development of the lake was driven by three main factors: morphology of bedrock, stability of glacier barrier and clastic sediment delivery.


Everything in nature and life is occurring in a rhythmic manner. The major "Zeitgeber" is the change of light and dark during a 24 h day. This circadian rhythm is besides others reflected in circadian rhythms of behaviors or different biochemical parameters. A disruption of the circadian rhythm has a high pathophysiological potential. In this article a few basic issues about the role of circadian rhythms and the pathophysiological importance of desynchronisation are reviewed.


The Eu(III) tetraazamacrocyclic complexes [Eu.1] and [Eu.2], and the Tb(III) and Yb(III) complexes [Tb.1] and [Yb.2], have been synthesized as luminescent molecular-level devices. The Eu complexes exhibit unique dual pH switching behavior in water under ambient conditions. The delayed Eu emission is reversibly switched on in acid, with an enhancement factor of several hundred for [Eu.1]. These observations are consistent with the protonation of the quinoline aryl nitrogen moiety (pK(a) approximately equal to 5.9 for [Eu.1]). The fluorescence emission spectra of these complexes are unaffected by acid, but pronounced changes occur in alkaline solution due to the deprotonation of the aryl amide nitrogen (pK(a) approximately 9.4 for [Eu.1]). [Tb.1] shows a more intriguing pH dependence; Tb emission is switched "on" only in the presence of H+ and in the absence of molecular oxygen, whereas the fluorescence emission properties are similar to those observed with [Eu.1]. This behavior can be conveniently described as a molecular-level logic gate, corresponding to a two-input INHIBIT function, A wedge B'. The analogous [Yb.2] complex shows no such pH or O(2) dependence.


Mobile edge computing (MEC) is an emerging paradigm where users offload computationally intensive jobs to the Access Point (AP). Given that the AP's resources are shared by selfish mobile users, pricing is a useful tool for incentivising users to internalize the negative externality of delay they cause to other users. Different users have different negative valuations towards delay as some are more delay sensitive. To serve heterogeneous users, we propose a priority pricing scheme where users can get served first for a higher price. Our goal is to find the prices such that in decision making, users will choose the class and the offloading frequency that jointly maximize social welfare. With the assumption that the AP knows users' profit functions, we derive in semi-closed form the optimal prices. However in practice, the reporting of users's profit information incurs a large signalling overhead. Besides, in reality users might falsely report their private profit information. To overcome this, we further propose learning-based pricing mechanisms where no knowledge of individual user profit functions is required. At equilibrium, the optimal prices and average edge delays are learnt, and users have chosen the correct priority class and offload at the socially optimal frequency.


Line pipe for transporting gas from Arctic fields is subjected to the conditions of an extremely hostile environment. Bethlehem Steel has been conducting an extensive program to evaluate the materials and processes that can produce the property requirements for Arctic-grade line pipe. In the course of the program, several alloy combinations were evaluated. The paper describes each of these, but concentrates on the vanadium-columbium (V-Cb) alloy grade, which we feel is the most practical and economical to produce. The critical aspects, from steelmaking to plate rolling and testing, are described. A regression analysis correlation of chemistry and processing to microstructure and properties is presented. This correlation permits the prediction of plate and pipe properties on the basis of the chemistry and processing. The dependence of properties on a number of specific microstructural features is illustrated by metallographic studies.


Background A new clinical syndrome has been recognized following the COVID-19 vaccine, termed thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). The following systematic review focuses on extrapolating thrombotic risk factors, clinical manifestations, and outcomes of patients diagnosed with TTS following the COVID-19 vaccine. Methods We utilized the World Health Organization's criteria for a confirmed and probable case of TTS following COVID-19 vaccination and conducted a systematic review and posthoc analysis using the PRISMA 2020 statement. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS V25 for factors associated with mortality, including age, gender, anti-PF4/heparin antibodies, platelet nadir, D-dimer peak, time to event diagnosis, arterial or venous thrombi. Results Of the 175 studies identified, a total of 25 studies with 69 patients were included in this systematic review and post hoc analysis. Platelet nadir (P < .001), arterial or venous thrombi (χ2 = 41.911, P = .05), and chronic medical conditions (χ2 = 25.507, P = .041) were statistically associated with death. The ROC curve analysis yielded D-dimer (AUC = .646) and platelet nadir (AUC = .604) as excellent models for death prediction. Conclusion Adenoviral COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to trigger TTS, however, reports of patients having received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are also present. Healthcare providers are recommended to maintain a high degree of suspicion among individuals who have received the COVID-19 vaccine within the last 4 weeks.


OBJECTIVES
To assess the relation between changes in pulmonary shunt and minute volume induced by blood loss, using an animal model with anesthetic maintenance by isoflurane CAM 1.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Eight dogs were given balanced anesthesia with pancuronium and isoflurane. Variables monitored were systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures, central venous and pulmonary capillary pressures and minute volume. Arterial and mixed venous blood gas measurements were taken from the pulmonary artery catheter, and blood samples were analyzed for hemoglobin in order to calculate pulmonary shunt (Qs/Qt). Two levels or stages of hypovolemia were studied: a) level I = loss of 20% blood volume and b) level II = loss of 30%.

RESULTS
A significant decrease of 35% (139 +/- 43 to 90 +/- 24 ml/min-1/kg-1; p < 0.001) in minute volume was observed at the first level of hypovolemia; a 52% (139 +/- 43 to 69 +/- 23 ml/min-1/kg-1; p < 0.001) decrease was found at the second. This decrease was accompanied by similar drops in Qs/Qt of 34% (18.2 +/- 5% to 12.1 +/- 5%; p < 0.01) and 47% (18.2 +/- 5% to 9.2 +/- 5%; p < 0.01) at the first and second levels, respectively. Linear regression analysis showed a direct relation between changes in Qs/Qt with changes in minute volume.

CONCLUSIONS
The data reported in this study indicate that changes in Qs/Qt are directly related to those of minute volume in the presence of isoflurane.


Integration position-independent expression of human globin transgenes in transgenic mice requires the presence of regulatory elements from the beta-globin locus control region (LCR) in the transgene construct. However, several recent studies have suggested that, while clearly necessary, such elements are not by themselves sufficient to realize this effect. In the case of the human fetal gamma-globin genes, previous results have indicated that additional regulatory information required for sheltering of gamma-globin transgene expression from position effects may reside downstream from the A gamma gene. To investigate this possibility, we established 17 lines of transgenic mice carrying constructs comprising a micro-LCR (microLCR) element, an A gamma-globin gene fragment, and a variable length of 3' sequence information beyond the A gamma 3' HindIII site. gamma-Globin expression during development was studied in 170 individual F2 progeny from these lines. We find that gamma-globin expression becomes sheltered from position effects when the normally position-sensitive microLCR-A gamma construct is extended by 600 bp beyond the 3' HindIII site to include a previously identified regulatory sequence (the A gamma-globin enhancer), the functional significance of which in vivo had heretofore been unclear. The results suggest that the mechanism whereby an upstream LCR achieves sheltering of globin gene expression from position effects involves cooperation with a gene-proximal regulatory element distinct from the promoter region.


A study is made of uniform boundedness of a family of weakly regular nonadditive set functions (§2) and of continuity of a regular set function (§4). §3 contains applications of the results to the study of set functions taking values in a topological group. Bibliography: 14 titles.


We implement a viewing angle enhanced integral imaging system by the use of more than one lenslet arrays placed in a curve-like manner. The curve effect providing widened viewing angle is achieved, from the nature that we approximate a curved lenslet array using three flat lenslet arrays. To confirm the feasibility of pickup in real time, a digital reconstruction is carried out. It is revealed that the viewing point range of view images is improved considerably compared with that of the conventional integral imaging system.


We study the implications of two historical institutions, direct British rule, and the heterogeneous land tenure institutions implemented by the British, on the disparity in present-day development using district-level data from India. Using nightlights per capita as a proxy for district-level per capita income, we find that modern districts that were historically under direct British rule had significantly less nightlights per capita in 1993 relative to modern districts that were historically under indirect British rule. The large gap persists even after including correlates of development such as educational attainment, health, and physical and financial infrastructure. Looking at the growth pattern from 1993 to 2013, directly ruled districts had a lower annual growth rate compared to indirectly ruled districts. Much of the development gap between areas under the indirect rule and direct rule can be accounted for by the adverse effect of landlord-based revenue collection systems in the directly ruled areas. JEL Codes: O11, O43, P16, P51


This chapter summarizes many targets for orthopoxviruses that might be exploited in the discovery of additional agents for potential diseases and indicates the mechanisms of action of a number of compounds. The viral DNA polymerase performs a critical role in viral replication, and its susceptibility to nucleoside analogs has made it the dominant target for the development of antiviral drugs. The synthesis of deoxynucleotides is also catalyzed by the heterodimeric ribonucleotide reductase encoded by F4L and I4L. Ribonucleotide reductase converts ribonucleotides to the corresponding deoxyribonucleotides at the level of the diphosphate and supplies deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates to support DNA replication in the cytoplasm. A number of small molecules are known to broadly target protein kinases, and it is possible that medicinal chemistry efforts could identify selective inhibitors. Immature virions containing genomic DNA undergo complex maturation that leads to the condensation of virus cores and involves proteolytic events, the loss of D13, and the formation of new disulfide linkage catalyzed by the viral redox system. The complex replication cycle of the orthopoxviruses requires the concerted activities of numerous viral proteins. The chapter also summarizes each of the stages of viral replication, notes the viral proteins that perform critical functions, and identifies specific inhibitors that affect these processes.


B51 Background: Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody to the ligand-binding domain of the EGFR used in treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Despite this apparently clear mechanism of action, neither levels of EGFR in tumors nor EGFR mutations predict clinical efficacy of cetuximab, suggesting that other factors may determine sensitivity to this agent. One potential mediator of colon cancer chemoresistance is activation of Src, a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase. Increased Src activity in colorectal cancer has been shown to correlate with poor prognosis. Combined inhibition of Src and EGFR may provide clinical benefit in metastatic colorectal cancer.Methods: In this report, we investigated the effects of cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody to EGFR, in combination with dasatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with activity against Src, in human HT29 and LS174T metastatic colorectal cell lines. EGFR is not mutated in these cell lines, which have moderate (LS174T) and low (HT29) levels of EGFR protein expression. MTT assays were performed after 48 h of drug exposure. Clonogenic assays were analyzed after 14 days of continuous drug treatment.Results: In the MTT assay, HT29 cells are not responsive to cetuximab alone at clinically relevant doses, while LS174T cells show minimal inhibitory effects without reaching an IC50. Likewise, both LS174T and HT29 cells are minimally sensitive to dasatinib, with an IC50 outside a clinically relevant range. The combination of cetuximab and dasatinib resulted in supra-additive growth inhibition for both cell lines. This effect was confirmed with clonogenic assays that demonstrated significant augmentation in the inhibition of clone formation with the combination. Initial results suggest that combination treatment is associated with an increase in apoptosis. Molecular studies to elucidate the mechanism of the interaction of EGFR and Src inhibition are currently in progress and will be presented.Conclusions: Cetuximab and dasatinib have at least supra-additive effects in vitro . Based on these findings, the ability of combination therapy with cetuximab and dasatinib in colorectal cancer xenografts is planned. These results suggest that combined inhibition with cetuximab and dasatinib is a promising strategy in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.


The automated immunoassay analyser, IMMULITE, developed by DPC, was evaluated. IMMULITE is an automated system that allows random access in combination with immediate and continuous access. In this study we evaluated the IMMULITE on four panels of analytes: thyroid, fertility, tumour and "non-routine" markers. We observed good within-rum reproducibility (ranging from 2.3-15.9% CV, for low controls, to 2.7-8.7% CV for high controls) as well as between-day imprecision (ranging from 3.7-24.6% CV for low controls, to 2.5-11.8% cv for high controls). The analytical sensitivity of the assays ranged generally from very sensitive to acceptable. The dilution curves for all assays were nearly linear i.e. the maximum deviation of the observed from the expected recovery was 8%. Correlation between IMMULITE and other assays (AxSYM, IMx, TDx, AIA-1200, DPC-c. a. c., Medgenix) varied from r = 0.931 to r = 0.994, except for lutropin and parathyrin with coefficients of correlation of r = 0.594 and r = 0.591. The slopes of the regression lines ranged from 0.745 to 1.327, except for parathyrin where a slope of 2.389 was found. Inter-laboratory correlation was very good between the two locations (Sittard and Apeldoorn) and varied from r = 0.984 to r = 0.999; slopes of the regression lines varied from 0.924 to 1.086. We conclude that the DPC-IMMULITE system is suitable for testing routine analytes in random access mode as well as for testing "non-routine" analytes on an automated immunoassay analyser.


Segments and subsegments are the smallest unit of synchrony thus far described within longitudinal sections of seminiferous tubules. It is known that cells in a clone joined by intercellular bridges are at the same phase of development and are also thought to be units of synchrony. This study was designed to determine if it is possible that the synchrony seen in cells joined by intercellular bridges is the same as that cataloged along the long axis of the seminiferous tubule. In the present study, the maximum number of rat spermatids joined by intercellular bridges (a clone) was obtained. It was hypothesized that if the clone size were larger than the smallest known units of synchrony (segments or subsegments) in the long axis of the seminiferous tubule, then intercellular bridges would most likely govern the synchronous development of segments or subsegments (or finer subdivisions thereof). If the clone size is smaller than the number of cells present in a segment or subsegment, then other factors must govern synchrony in the longitudinal aspect of the tubule. In the determination of spermatid clone size, rat testes were injected with cytochalasin D which opens intercellular bridges of a spermatid clone to produce large symplasts. The number of nuclei in the symplasts was determined from serially sectioned tissue, by drawing nuclei with a camera-lucida, and by counting nuclei. After extensive examination of tubules, the number of spermatids found in the suspected five largest clones observed was determined to be 650, 607, 338, 240, and 177.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) typically cause the strongest geomagnetic storms so a major focus of space weather research has been predicting the arrival time of CMEs. Most arrival time models fall into two categories: (1) drag-based models that integrate the drag force between a simplified CME structure and the background solar wind and (2) full magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models. Drag-based models typically are much more computationally efficient than MHD models, allowing for ensemble modeling. While arrival time predictions have improved since the earliest attempts,both types of models currently have difficulty achieving mean absolute errors below 10 hours. Here we use a drag-based model ANTEATR to explore the sensitivity of arrival times to various input parameters. We consider CMEs of different strengths from average to extreme size, speed, and mass (kinetic energies between 9x10^29 and 6x10^32 erg). For each scale CME we vary the input parameters to reflect the current observational uncertainty in each and determine how accurately each must be known to achieve predictions that are accurate within 5 hours. We find that different scale CMEs are the most sensitive to different parameters. The transit time of average strength CMEs depends most strongly on the CME speed whereas an extreme strength CME is the most sensitive to the angular width. A precise CME direction is critical for impacts near the flanks, but not near the CME nose. We also show that the Drag Based Model has similar sensitivities, suggesting that these results are representative for all drag-based models.


The Cas9/CRISPR system is a powerful tool for studying gene function. Here we describe a method that allows temporal control of Cas9/CRISPER activity based on conditional Cas9 destabilization. We demonstrate that fusing an FKBP12-derived destabilizing domain to Cas9 (DD-CAS9) enables conditional Cas9 expression in vitro in the presence of an FKBP12 synthetic ligand and temporal control of gene-editing. Further, we show that this strategy can be easily adapted to co-express, from the same promoter, DD-Cas9 with any other gene of interest, without the latter being co-modulated. In particular, when co-expressed with inducible Cre-ERT2, our system enables parallel, independent manipulation of alleles targeted by Cas9 and traditional recombinase with single-cell specificity. We anticipate this platform will be used for the systematic identification of essential genes and the interrogation of genes functional interactions.


The antimutagenic effect of aloe vera gelR was investigated using the Drosophila sex-linked recessive lethal test (or SLRL test). In this assay, 3-day-old adults were treated with a direct-acting mutagen - ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), which was the positive control. The other group of individuals of the same age was firstly treated with EMS, and then with aloe vera gelR (co-treatment). When co-treatment experiments with aloe were carried out, it was effective in reducing genotoxicity of the direct-acting mutagen. .


Background Clinically relevant interstitial lung disease (ILD) is present in approximately 5% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Traditionally, oral steroids have been used to treat this manifestation of RA, but no evidence base exists to support this. Indeed, concern has been raised that such an approach might be associated with increased mortality in ILD [1]. Objectives We have examined the effect of oral steroid therapy on mortality in a large multi centre group of patients retrospectively to assess the effect of these agents on survival. Methods For the purposes of this study, we collected data from multiple centres across the UK on patients with both RA and ILD (proven on HRCT) identified over a 25 year period from 1987 to 2012 using a standard proforma. We analysed the age, duration of both RA and ILD, outcome and, where appropriate, cause of death. Equivalent data were obtained from a control group of RA patients from one centre without lung disease, matched for age, sex and disease duration. We recorded the number of patients with RA-ILD who had received oral prednisone therapy for 3 months or more. We used Chi squared tests to assess the significance of any differences in disease characteristics between those who had steroids and those who had not. We calculated relative risk (RR) of all cause and respiratory mortality in all patients with RA-ILD, and in those treated with steroids. Results A total of 260 patients were identified from across the UK with proven RA-ILD. Steroids had been used in 154 (59%) RA-ILD patients, but only 36 (14%) controls, p=0.01. There were no differences between RA-ILD patients on steroids and those not on steroids with regard to age, gender, disease duration and extent of ILD, smoking, serology and lung function. However, steroid treated patients were significantly more likely to have usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), p=0.02. The RR of death from any cause was significantly increased in steroid treated RA-ILD patients [1.65 (1.2-2.3)], p=0.002, but was normal in those who had not received steroids [1.07 (0.7-1.6)]. The RR of respiratory death was more significantly increased in those who had been on steroids [2.75 (1.6-4.7)], p=0.0002, than in those who had not received steroids [2.06 (1.1-3.8)], p=0.02. Conclusions Patients with RA-ILD have increased mortality over controls, and over half have been treated with oral steroids. These patients are at increased relative risk of death, especially from respiratory causes. The excess of UIP in the steroid treated group is likely to account for some of the excess mortality. This large retrospective multi centre study suggests long term oral steroids should be avoided where possible in patients with RA-ILD, and reflects earlier findings in patients with ILD alone. Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.1247


Taxonomy and spore morphology of 12 taxa of Cheilanthoideae and Pteridoideae (Pteridaceae, Polypodiales) from Pakistan is illustrated with scanning electron microscopy images based upon the specimens collected from various localities. A total of six genera belong to 12 taxa viz. Actiniopteris radiata, Aleuritopteris albomarginata, A. ancepes, Notholaena himalaica, Oeosporangium nitidulum, O. pteridioides subsp. acrosticum, Onychium cryptogrammoides subsp. cryptogrammoides, O. vermae, Pteris cretica subsp. cretica, P. cretica subsp. laeta, P. vittata subsp. emodi, and P. vittata subsp. vittata were reported. Spore morphology of the taxa was trilete, triangular in proximal and distal view, ellipsoidal and hemicircular in equatorial view, polar proximal and distal surface with cristate, granulose, reticulate, perforate and tuberculate ornamentation.


Moleculer recognition and self-assembling peptides can fabricate diverse supramolecular architectures like supramolecular helix, supramolecular sheets and others, which have potential importance in biological as well as material sciences. Previous studies suggested that isomeric peptides can adopt different structures. In this regards, three isomeric hybrid peptides have been designed and synthesized which can self-assemble to form various supramolecular architectures.
The chapter 3 entitled "Structure and function of isomeric hybrid dipeptides" represents synthesis of a series of hybrid dipeptides containing N-terminal L-tyrosine and C-terminal rigid aromatic β/ γ/ δ amino acids by solution phase methods, their characterization by NMR, FTIR and Mass spectroscopy, their morphological studies by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy. The solution study exhibits that the peptides have different backbone conformations and aggregation pattern. The solid state FTIR exhibits that the peptides are extensively hydrogen bonded. The CD study shows that peptide 1 adopt a sheet-like structure. But Peptide 2 and 3 adopt helical structures. Moreover, the peptide 1 binds with an anti cancer drug nicotinamide. The peptide 2 forms organogel in cyclohexane at low temperature. The xerogel exhibits nano crystal entangled morphology.