The early detection of children with mental retardation is based on the close collaboration of a neonatologist, the pediatric services and a psychologist. The main methods are the following up of children who are carrying by themselves factors from birth, systematic six-months controls in the first three years of life, and collaboration with institutions taking care of youngsters. The analysis is based on the opinion of the neonatologist, an anamnesis taken from the parents, on following the child's development by a pediatrician and psychologist, as well as on the application of psychological tests according to the age of the child. At the moment, this method of working could be elaborated through developmental counseling departments located in municipal health institutions. The fact is that early detection has its value only if there are conditions for early treatment. This fact obliges developmental counseling departments to include in its team, besides a pediatrician and a psychologist, also defectologist who has adequate methods for the stimulation of the development and early treatment of mentally retarded children.


Snakebite envenoming is a public health problem among rural communities in Nigeria. In June, 2016, an outbreak of snakebites in Donga Local Government Area, Taraba State, north-east Nigeria, was reported. We investigated the outbreak to identify risk factors for snakebites and to institute appropriate control measures. We conducted an unmatched case control study to identify risk factors for snakebite in the communities involved. We conducted key informant interviews and Focus Group Discussions with stakeholders in the communities to obtain information on the community´s perspective of the outbreak. There were Sixty-one (61) snakebite cases with Fifteen (15) deaths [CFR 24.6%]. Majority of the mortalities [37(60.3%)] were males. Median age was 27 years (Range: 5-58). Kadarko ward had the highest [26 (42.6%)] number of cases. Most snakebites 12 (44.4%) occurred in the farm, 27 (96.4%) vipers Echis spp were responsible for most of the bite and most [26 (92.9%)] victims sought care from traditional healers. Residing in Kadarko ward and having a history of snakebite in the past were risk factors [Odds ratio of 2.9 (95% CI 1.1-7.4) and 5.9 (95% CI 1.1-32.5)] respectively. Abandonment of homes for two years due to communal clashes has been thought to have allowed snake populations to grow. The snakebite outbreak in Donga, Taraba State affected predominantly male farmers in the rural wards. Residing in Kadarko ward and having a previous history of snakebite were risk factors.


CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs (Hydrochlorofluorocarbons) that are chemically stable were proven to be a greenhouse gases that can destroy ozone layer. On the other hand, HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons) was developed as an alternative refrigerant for them, but HFCs still have a relatively higher radiative forcing, resulting in a large Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1,300. Current regulations prohibit production and use of these chemicals. In addition, obligatory removal of existing material is in progress. Methods for the decomposition of these material can be listed as thermal cracking, catalytic decomposition and plasma process. This study reports the development of low cost and high efficiency plasma scrubber. Stability of steam plasma generation and effect of plasma parameters such as frequency of power supply and reactor geometry have been investigated in the course of the development. Method for effective removal of by-product also has been investigated. In this study, elongated rotating arc was proven to be efficient in decomposition of HFCs above 99% and to be able to generate stable steam plasma with steam contents of about 20%.


GABAergic presynaptic inhibition has been investigated in primary afferents using an in vitro preparation of the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. Presynaptic terminals of a leg proprioceptor, the coxo‐basal (CB) chordotonal organ, were impaled in the neuorpil of the 5th thoracic ganglion. Pressure ejection of small volumes of the GABAA or GABAB receptor agonists, muscimol and 3‐aminopropylphosphinic acid (3‐APA), both induce depolarizing responses in the impaled CB sensory terminal. These depolarizations are not blocked by the specific GABAA and GABAB receptor antagonists, SR‐95531 and phaclofen, but they are abolished by picrotoxin. Both muscimol‐ and 3‐APA‐induced depolarizations are carried by an increase in conductance to Cl‐. The presynaptic increase in conductance to C1‐ by GABA receptor activation leads to a depression of sensory synaptic transmission through a shunting of the incoming spikes. Monosynaptic EPSPs elicited in motor neurons by CB sensory nerve stimulation are depressed by muscimol and 3‐APA. GABA‐mediated presynaptic modulation occurs in crayfish primary afferents which can adjust the gain of reflexes. These results show that GABA‐activated Cl‐ channels can induce a modulation of synaptic transmission, but also that the distinction between GABAA and GABAB receptors, as in vertebrates, is not applicable to the crustacean primary afferents.


The rational design and development of cost-effective and high-efficiency bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting is of prime significance for advancing large-scale commercial hydrogen production. Herein, a novel nanoporous NiAl layered double hydroxide nanosheet array with optimized Ni active sites on nickel foam (np-NiAl-LDH/NF) is prepared by a facile and simple metal-defect engineering strategy. We demonstrate that the partial leaking of catalytically inactive Al sites in NiAl-LDH nanosheets during anodic electrochemical etching can not only trigger the generation of a nanoporous structure and electron-rich Ni2+ sites, but can also increase the content of Ni3+ active sites accompanied by abundant oxygen defects, resulting in the synchronously increased density and intrinsic activity of Ni active sites and also enhanced mass and electron transport, thus greatly promoting the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics. As expected, the as-obtained np-NiAl-LDH/NF electrode needs extremely small overpotentials of 90 and 180 mV to deliver the 10 mA cm−2 current density for the HER and OER in alkaline media, respectively. Moreover, an alkaline electrolyzer assembled with np-NiAl-LDH/NF functioning as both the anode and cathode can yield 10 and 100 mA cm−2 at quite low voltages of ∼1.5 and 1.7 V, respectively, far outperforming the Pt/C/NF–IrO2/NF-coupled electrolyzer, and can give durable stability for at least 60 h. This work provides new insights for creating highly efficient Ni-based electrocatalysts toward overall water splitting via engineering on catalytically active Ni sites.


There are a variety of ventilator options available to the emergency clinician, and decisions on choosing optimal settings will depend on the clinical circumstances. Understanding the latest literature in ventilator management can improve patient outcomes by ensuring optimal oxygenation and ventilation and reducing the potential for ventilator-induced lung injury. This article reviews the most appropriate ventilator settings for a variety of conditions in intubated adult patients presenting to the emergency department, and gives recommendations on monitoring the ventilated patient and making ventilator adjustments. An update on managing COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome is also included.


The destabilizing role of neutrino beams on the Trivelpiece-Gould modes is considered, assuming electrostatic perturbations in a magnetized plasma composed by electrons in a neutralizing ionic background, coupled to a neutrino species by means of an effective neutrino force arising from the electro-weak interaction. The magnetic field is found to significantly improve the linear instability growth rate, as calculated for Supernova type II environments. On the formal level, for wave vector parallel or perpendicular to the magnetic field the instability growth rate is found from the unmagnetized case replacing the plasma frequency by the appropriated Trivelpiece-Gould frequency. The growth rate associated with oblique propagation is also obtained.


Rumble strip was introduced in highway pavement for driver's safety in Korea on 2000. With proving its effectiveness, total length of highway with rumble strip has increased. This research team suggested a modified form of the existing rumble strip, which was placed on new concrete pavement during construction. The modified construction equipment was applied on test section at PyungTeak ~ EumSung highway with some performance experiments. Through the equation of stopping sight distance proposed AASHTO, the modified form is safer than the existing one due to 0.65m of extra width. The indoor noise test showed that the modified form 3.5 ~ 9 ㏈(A) noisier than the main pavement, which wasn't applied by rumble method. Therefore, it was one of alternatives to prevent sleeping. The modified form made the frequency effected on man's eye. There were no differences of the noise and vibration between modified form and existing one. However, that driver who participated on operating test on that section felt that the former was safer than the latter. It can be concluded that modified form can be applied to the new concrete pavement, that will decrease traffic accident.


Assessing sampling uncertainty in extremum estimation can be challenging when the asymptotic variance is not analytically tractable. Bootstrap inference offers a feasible solution but can be computationally costly especially when the model is complex. This paper uses iterates of a specially designed stochastic optimization algorithm as draws from which both point estimates and bootstrap standard errors can be computed in a single run. The draws are generated by the gradient and Hessian computed from batches of data that are resampled at each iteration. We show that these draws yield consistent estimates and asymptotically valid frequentist inference for a large class of regular problems. The algorithm provides accurate standard errors in simulation examples and empirical applications at low computational costs. The draws from the algorithm also provide a convenient way to detect data irregularities.


Although Alardus of Amsterdam's commentary to the Latin translation of the Greek rhetorician Aphtonius' Progymnasmata by Rodolphus Agricola did not have the influence of the one by Reinhardus Lorichius, who used the partim Agricola, partim Catanaeo translation, it was published previously and served as amodel to later commentaries. Thus, Lorichius and Juan de Mal Lara's commentaries exhibit many similarities with the one by Alardus as regards commented expressions and contents. However, we cannot talk of servile imitation as, in spite of the clear coincidences, we also find important differences, and every commentator shows a personal view and presents his own contributions.


This paper makes an information theoretical analysis of the intrinsic secrecy level of M-QAM and M-PSK modulation schemes considering the use of equal gain transmission and maximum ratio transmission precoding techniques. In addition to the analysis of the conventional proper M-QAM and M-PSK constellations, a recently proposed family of improper versions of the M-QAM and M-PSK modulation schemes is also evaluated. With the exception of proper M-PSK, which verifies always full secrecy for the considered precoders, the main results show that for low order constellations, the amount of intrinsic secrecy provided by the combination of the precoder and modulation scheme is significant and, therefore, can be exploited in the design of a full secrecy solution. The theoretical derivations provided in this paper can be directly applied to quantify the minimal entropy that a secret key must have to fully secure the exchange of information for these transmission schemes.


The persistence of many seemingly metastable mineral assemblages in sediments and soils is commonly attributed to their sluggish transformation to the stable-phase assemblage. Although undoubtedly kinetics plays a major role, this study shows that thermodynamic factors, particularly surface energy, significantly influence the free energy. Enthalpies of formation of boehmite samples with variable surface area were derived using high-temperature oxide-melt calorimetry. The average surface enthalpy for all faces terminating boehmite particles was calculated at +0.52 ± 0.12 J/m2. This value represents the surface enthalpy for surfaces exposed to vacuum assuming that H2O adsorbed on the surface of boehmite is loosely bound. These results show that the enthalpy of formation of boehmite may vary by ≤8 kJ/mol as a function of particle size. An overview of published values of surface energies of gibbsite, γ-Al2O3, corundum, and the results here indicates that the hydrated phases (boehmite, gibbsite) have lower surface energies than the anhydrous phases (corundum, γ-Al2O3). Lower surface energies allow the hydrated phases to maintain high surface area, i.e., small particle size. Similar surface energies of boehmite and gibbsite suggest kinetic control favoring the crystallization of boehmite or gibbsite from aqueous solution. The enthalpy of formation of bulk boehmite from the elements was calculated at −994.0 ±1.1 kJ/mol. Combining this result with the data in existing thermodynamic databases, we confirm that bulk boehmite is metastable with respect to bulk diaspore at ambient conditions.


In this paper we introduce new and review existing performance models for synchronous bufferless optical packet switched networks employing full wavelength conversion. In particular, we present a novel asymmetric arrival model, which is suitable for studying the effects of non-uniform traffic. We also present an arrival model suitable for networks where looping should not occur. Numerical evaluations and a comparison study of the presented arrival models are reported.


This paper extends the applicability of a balancing-based reduction method to power system models that are structured into a study area, a buffer area, and a linear parameter-varying (LPV) external area. The latter is represented by a network of linear time-invariant (LTI) and LPV models and forms the target of the reduction phase. Every LPV model is built to depict a region of the power system with a variable number of active generators. The various LTI and LPV models are simplified while accounting for the presence of their respective neighbors. The adequacy of the reduction process is verified on the IEEE 118-bus system model by comparing the dynamic behavior of the reduced model and the full nonlinear model for different sets of disconnected generators.


Economic growth has been sustained for many years pre-crisis in the region, but this has not resulted in the creation of an adequate number of jobs and has succeeded, at best, in generating low-quality, informal jobs. The report addresses one margin of exclusion: informal employment and the vulnerabilities and lack of opportunities associated with it. The report analyzes the constraints that prevent informal workers from becoming formal and discusses policy options to effectively address these constraints. This report looks at informality through a human development angle and focuses particularly on informal employment. Informality is a complex phenomenon, comprising unpaid workers and workers without social security or health insurance coverage, small or micro-firms that operate outside the regulatory framework and large registered firms that may partially evade corporate taxes and social security contributions. The first section provides a detailed profile of informal workers in the region. The second section describes the characteristics of informality in micro-firms that operate outside the regulatory framework and in larger firms that do not fully comply with social security contribution requirements and tax obligations. The third section presents informality and the firm. The fourth section focuses on informality: choice or exclusion? The fifth section discusses policy options for effectively expanding coverage of health insurance and pension systems and promoting the creation of better quality jobs.


AbstractLipstick is a non-sterile pharmaceutical product that is used for make-up on the lips. Liquid lipstick used by makeup artists may have a high level of microbial contamination because they are applied to different clients in turn. This study aims to determine the microbiological quality of liquid lipstick used by makeup artists based on the result of the Bacterial Total Plate Count (TPC), Yeast and Mold Count (YMC), and the presence of pathogenic microbes. Three samples of liquid lipstick were taken from three different makeup artists and one sample was a new liquid lipstick product. The Bacterial TPC test was carried out on TSA media and the YMC test was carried out on SDA with the spread plate technique. The presence of microbial pathogens P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and C. albicans were carried out on selective media. The results of bacterial TPC was 9.0 × 103 to 3.0 × 104 CFU/mL, while the YMC was 1.1 × 103 to 3.1 × 103 CFU/mL. The pathogenic microbes detected were S. aureus in 2 samples and C. albicans in 1 sample. The bacterial TPC and YMC values exceed the contamination limit based on BPOM Regulation No. 12/2019.


Christine Imms and her co-authors are to be commended on their study examining the stability of caregiver reported classification of function of children with cerebral palsy (CP) using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS). Communication among clinicians and researchers has been augmented immensely with the use of the GMFCS, and a similar benefit appears to be emerging for manual ability with the uptake of the MACS. This topical and clinically relevant study found that parental rating of the GMFCS and the MACS was generally stable over 12 months in a group of children aged 11 to 12 years. The paper raises a number of important issues with respect to the properties and uses of classification systems. The GMFCS is now widely recognized and used as a means of categorizing motor function in children with CP. It is reliable, valid, and stable over time. The MACS is a recently developed classification tool describing children's ability to handle objects in daily life. There is some evidence for the reliability and validity of the MACS, however, the paper by Imms et al. is the first to examine its stability, as well as adding to previous work on the stability of the GMFCS. Classification systems can be used to provide a common language for communication among clinicians, researchers, and caregivers, and may guide treatment decisions and assist with goal setting. Rather than being prescriptive they can be used to guide clinicians to ensure children receive treatment appropriate for their age and level of function. The development of the motor growth curves allows for realistic goal setting with the child and family. The GMFCS and MACS both have five levels and are designed to be simple yet reliable. At times it may be difficult to categorize children because they appear to fit between two levels. The answer is not to add more levels because the potential trade-off with added complexity is reduced reliability. The GMFCS and the MACS are not outcome measures and neither is designed or meant to measure change. Consequently they require a level of stability, i.e. the expectation that the characteristic in question will not change significantly and the child will remain in the same category over time. By contrast, reliability concerns the consistency of measurement, with potential sources of error coming from the tool or the user. However, for a tool to be stable it first needs to be reliable. The study by Imms et al. found greater stability for the GMFCS than for the MACS, stating as a possible explanation that 'the content of the GMFCS is simpler to understand'. As noted by the authors, stability of the GMFCS was higher in a recent study compared with an earlier study. Is it that clinicians and parents require some familiarization of these classification systems over time to enhance stability? And does their reliability improve with increased familiarization? Another point to consider is that this study uses parental report only. Reliability and ⁄ or stability for the MACS may be different for parents compared with clinicians. Another threat to stability is that children truly do change. For example, children may be classified down one GMFCS level following major surgical interventions or when they have significant musculoskeletal deformities left untreated. This is particularly relevant for the age group studied in the Imms et al. paper. These exceptions do not undermine the overall stability of the tool but may explain some of the disparity observed in selected age groups. Imms et al. correctly state that the main limitations of their study included looking only at children aged 11 to 12 years and assessing them only twice, 12 months apart. Further work examining the stability of the MACS in a wider range of age groups and over longer periods of time with more assessment points is required, as has been carried out with the GMFCS. This of course begs the question, what is an appropriate length of time to examine 'stability' of a characteristic in question? The GMFCS and MACS provide complementary information on motor function in children with CP, as seen by their high but not perfect correlation in this study. We


Since a direct drive motor (DDM) does not require a reduction gear, the drive system can be made simple, and therefore it is used in high-precision robot and machine tool applications. However, without reduction gear, a disturbance torque is directly reflected to the motor shaft, and a torque ripple generated by the motor is directly transmitted to the load, causing poor speed control characteristics. An improved torque control system for DDM with a permanent magnet rotor, equipped with a torque observer implemented by digital signal software, is proposed. The speed fluctuation can be fully removed with a torque feedforward loop. >


It's less possible to promote health behaviors without theory-based studies and it's better to use health education and promotion theories for more effective health education and promotion interventions. Theories are able to change the behavior of individuals at the personal, interpersonal, organizational, social, and policymaking levels. Organizations play an important role in the daily life of people, and any changes in these organizations can affect people's health. The Community Coalition Action Theory (CCAT) is a form of theories for the change across organizations. A community coalition is a structured arrangement where all members can work together on a common goal and objective. The current article focuses on applications of the CCAT to provide a framework for the development of activities and interventions related to confronting Covid-19. Forming a coalition is very significant and can increase the effectiveness of interventional programs. CCAT is one of the best practices that can be achieved through joint activities of multiple organizations that lead to improved health behaviors


We expand here the study of the type of identity which has been successfully used to prove the necessity of spherical symmetry in static black holes and uniform density stellar models. We show how the system of partial differential equations, whose solutions correspond to these identities, can be decoupled and partially integrated for fluids with an arbitrary equation of state. The problem of finding such identities is reduced thereby to the problem of finding the solutions to a single ordinary differential equation, plus quadratures.


The development of precious-metal-free catalysts to promote the sustainable production of fuels and chemicals from biomass remains an important and challenging target. Here, we report the efficient hydrogenolysis of biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-dimethylfuran over a unique core-shell structured catalyst Co@CoO that affords the highest productivity among all catalysts reported to date. Surprisingly, we found that the catalytically active sites reside on the shell of CoO with oxygen vacancies rather than the metallic Co. The combination of various spectroscopic experiments and computational modelling reveals that the CoO shell incorporating oxygen vacancies drives the heterolytic and homolytic cleavage of dihydrogen to yield active Hδ- species, resulting in the exceptional catalytic activity. Co@CoO also exhibits excellent activity toward the direct hydrodeoxygenation of lignin model compounds. This study unlocks, for the first time, the potential of metal-oxide catalysts for the production of renewable biomass-derived fuels.


Laser plasma interaction with ultraintense pulses present exciting schemes for accelerating ions. One of the advantages conferred by using a gaseous laser and target is the potential for a fast (several Hz) repetition rate. This requires diagnostics which are not only suited for a single shot configuration, but also for repeated use. We consider several scintillators as candidates for an imaging diagnostic for protons accelerated to MeV energies by a CO2 laser focused on a gas jet target. We have measured the response of chromium-doped alumina (chromox) and polyvinyl toluene (PVT) screens to protons in the 2–8 MeV range. We have calibrated the luminescent yield in terms of photons emitted per incident proton for each scintillator. We also discuss how light scattering and material properties affect detector resolution. Furthermore, we consider material damage and the presence of an afterglow under intense exposures. Our analysis reveals a near order of magnitude greater yield from chromox in response to proton beams at > 8 MeV energies, while scattering effects favor PVT-based scintillators at lower energies.


Diabetic retinopathy remains a major worldwide cause of preventable blindness. The beta isoform of protein kinase C (PKC) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Ruboxistaurin mesylate hydrate is an orally bioavailable, highly-specific inhibitor of PKC beta, which has shown some efficacy in several large, multicenter, randomized clinical trials. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an approvable letter for ruboxistaurin in 2006, but at this time the medication is not available for routine clinical use.


BACKGROUND
The compliance of hospital staff with guidelines for the active surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Israel has not been determined.

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the compliance of hospital staff with guidelines for the active surveillance of MRSA and assess its impact on the incidence of nosocomial MRSA bacteremia.

METHODS
We assessed compliance with MRSA surveillance guidelines by assessing adherence to the screening protocol and reviewing medical and nursing charts of patients colonized with MRSA, and observed hand hygiene opportunities among health care workers and colonized patients. Rates of nosocomial MRSA bacteremia and of adherence with hand hygiene among overall hospital staff were obtained from archived data for the period 2001-2010.

RESULTS
Only 32.4% of eligible patients were screened for MRSA carriage on admission, and 69.9% of MRSA carriers did not receive any eradication treatment. The mean rate of adherence to glove use among nurses and doctors was 69% and 31% respectively (P<0.01) and to hand hygiene 59% and 41% respectively (P<0.01). The hospital overall rate of adherence to hand hygiene increased from 42.3% in 2005 to 68.1% in 2010. Rates of nosocomial MRSA bacteremia decreased by 79.2%, from 0.48 (in 2001) to 0.1 (in 2010) per 1000 admissions (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
The compliance of medical and nursing staff with guidelines for active MRSA surveillance was poor. The encouraging increase in adherence to hand hygiene and concomitant decrease in nosocomial MRSA bacteremia is gratifying. The deficiencies in compliance with MRSA infection control policy warrant an adjusted strategy based on the hospital resources.


The acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory process of the pancreas, resulting from the action of enzymes activated inappropriately, causing swelling, bleeding and even pancreatic necrosis and peripancreática. The acinar cells in the pancreas and stellar cells pancreatic has been the study as participants in shaping the inflammatory process along with other inflammatory cells. Several cytokines are released during pancreatitis, and thus, the local inflammatory process initially, may have an important systemic impact, and the patient may present hypovolemia, involvement of multiple organs and systems and the possibility of death. The clinical condition of pancreatitis as mild or severe depends on the length of the process and the complications that may arise.


s: It is best-known that in rats and humans, the metallic element markedly inhibits the absorption of iron once each mineral is present within the little intestine. The interaction between iron and Ca was studied in two species, rats and dogs. feminine rats were orally treated with six mg calcium as metallic element citrate-malate followed by seventy ug iron as metal sulfate labeled with [59]Fe. Doses were separated by zero to a hundred and eighty min. Iron absorption was measured by the victimization of the whole-body atom retention technique. we have a tendency to determined that iron and calcium should be separated by a minimum of one hour to forestall a negative impact of calcium on iron absorption. This info was wont to style tablets containing iron (radiolabeled with [59]Fe) and Ca. Iron tablets were created by enteric coating iron with or while not ascorbic acid (attention of non-heme iron absorption). The enteric coat delayed the discharge of iron into the little internal organ by preventing iron dissolution within the abdomen for a minimum of one hour. Iron absorption from these tablets and uncoated tablets was measured in dogs victimization an assay of [59]Fe incorporation into hemoproteins. Calcium inhibited the absorption of uncoated iron-ascorbic acid by concerning 50~. However, once the enteric-coated iron-ascorbic acid tablets were dosed with metallic element tablets, iron absorption wasn't inhibited. We conclude that Ca inhibits iron absorption in rats and dogs and that this inhibition may be overcome once the 2 minerals square measure separated by a minimum of one hour, which can be achieved by enteric coating the iron supply.


Thermal injury is prevalent and a burdensome critical care problem due to inadequate safety measures. A severe burn is associated with release of inflammatory mediators including reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS, RNS), which are implicated in pathophysiological events in burn patients. Excessive productions of free radicals are harmful and implicated in tissue damage and multiple organ failure. Supplementation of antioxidants has proven beneficial in decreasing free radicals in burns. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on biochemical alterations during the post-burn stage in scalded rats. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and dorsum was shaved. Second-degree skin burn was induced by immersing an iron mold (1.0 cm 2 in diameter) in boiling (100°C) water for 5 min and placed on the back of the rats for 20 sec without applying pressure. Rats were divided into three groups; control group, burn injury group, burn injury + NAC group. Wound size and histopathological changes of epidermis were evaluated for the various groups. Hydroxyproline was estimated in wound tissue. Wounded skin tissues were cut off and stored at − 20°C for PCR and ELISA analysis. The therapeutic effects of a NAC supplementation for a short period of time on rat skin wound healing were investigated. The NAC treatment promoted an improvement of wound healing by reducing the oxidative stress, improving wound closure, reducing tissue inflammation with no significant change in blood parameters. There were no significant differences in weekly and final body weights and no significant changes observed in hematological and biochemical markers. A significant increase in collagen synthesis was observed in the NAC treated group with up-regulation of VEGF, IGF-1, PCNA, SDF-1 and CXCR-4 and down regulation of caspase3, P53 and CRP. The study showed that NAC is totally safe to use on rats. Hence for the future it is suggested that more experiments should be conducted for use in humans in conjugation medication for healing burn wounds. aminotransferase aspartate aminotransferase bilirubin): Renal profile


1. We have used multiple, simultaneous intra- and extracellular recordings as well as Lucifer yellow dye-fills to identify modulatory commissural neuron 5 (MCN5) and characterize its effects in the stomatogastric nervous system (STNS) of the crab, Cancer borealis. MCN5 has a soma and neuropilar arborization in the commissural ganglion (CoG; Figs. 1 and 2), and it projects through the inferior esophageal nerve (ion) and stomatogastric nerve (stn) to the stomatogastric ganglion (STG; Figs. 1-3). 2. Within the CoGs, MCN5 receives esophageal rhythm-timed excitation and pyloric rhythm-timed inhibition (Fig. 4). Additionally, during the lateral teeth protractor phase of the gastric mill rhythm, the pyloric-timed inhibition of MCN5 is reduced or eliminated. 3. Intracellular stimulation of MCN5 excites the pyloric pacemaker ensemble, including the anterior burster (AB), pyloric dilator (PD), and lateral posterior gastric (LPG) neurons. This produces a faster pyloric rhythm. MCN5 stimulation also inhibits all nonpacemaker pyloric neurons, reducing or eliminating their activity (Figs. 5 and 6A; Tables 1 and 2). After MCN5 stimulation, bursting is enhanced for several cycles in some pyloric neurons when compared with their prestimulus activity (Figs. 5 and 6A; Tables 1 and 2). 4. MCN5 evokes distinct responses from each pyloric pacemaker neuron (Figs. 6-8). The AB and LPG neurons respond with increased activity. The AB response includes the presence of large amplitude excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) that contribute to a depolarization of the trough of its rhythmic oscillations (Fig. 6). LPG responds by exhibiting increased activity that prolongs the duration of its burst beyond that of AB and PD (Fig. 7). In contrast, MCN5 stimulation initially produces decreased PD neuron activity, followed by a slight enhancement of each PD burst (Figs. 7 and 8). PD activity is further enhanced after MCN5 stimulation (Figs. 7 and 8). 5. MCN5-elicited action potentials evoke discrete, constant latency inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) in all nonpacemaker pyloric neurons, including the inferior cardiac (IC), lateral pyloric (LP), pyloric (PY), and ventricular dilator (VD) neurons (Fig. 9). MCN5 activity also inhibits these neurons indirectly, via its excitation of the pacemaker neurons. The pyloric pacemaker neurons synaptically inhibit all four nonpacemaker neurons. 6. The increased activity in the VD neuron, after MCN5 stimulation, is not mimicked by either direct hyperpolarization or by synaptically inhibiting VD via another pathway (Fig. 10). The poststimulation increase in IC neuron activity is stronger than that after hyperpolarizing current injection but is comparable with that resulting from stimulation of another inhibitory pathway (Fig. 10). The enhanced PY neuron activity is comparable with that resulting from either direct current injection or synaptic inhibition from another pathway (Fig. 10). 7. MCN5 activity increases the pyloric cycle frequency of both slow (< 1 Hz) and fast (1-2 Hz) rhythms (Fig. 11), and it significantly alters the phase relationships that define this motor pattern (Fig. 12). These phase relationships change again after MCN5 stimulation (Fig. 12). 8. MCN5 acts in concert with the pyloric pacemaker ensemble to elicit a pyloric rhythm that exhibits enhanced pacemaker neuron activity and reduced activity in all nonpacemaker neurons. Additionally, despite their electrical coupling, the three types of pacemaker neurons exhibit distinct responses to MCN5 stimulation. This partially uncouples their normally coactive bursts. The resulting motor pattern is distinct from all previously characterized pyloric rhythms.


Abstract : Understanding sound wave propagation through a curved shell geometry is essential for a wide variety of underwater applications. The objective of this study was to use physics-based modeling (PBM) to investigate wave propagations through curved shells that are subjected to acoustic excitation. An improved understanding of the absorption and reflection properties of materials, such as fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, will enhance the design methods for a variety of Navy products such as acoustic sensors, acoustic windows, and unmanned underwater vehicles. The research documented in this report investigates the reflection and transmission coefficients of both flat plates and curved shells for steel and composite materials. Results show that the finite element computational models accurately match analytical calculations, and that the composite material studied in this report has more desirable reflection and absorption properties than steel for typical Navy applications. This research also explores the use of coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) and smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) modeling approaches in place of the current, traditional Lagrangian approach. Unfortunately, these approaches were found to be unsuitable for the type of acoustic analyses performed throughout this research. However, results from the traditional Lagrangian approach confirmed the validity of current modeling techniques and allowed for the study of the acoustic properties of various geometries and materials. This can help drive future research on composite material applications and enhance design methods for future Navy products.


Bi-phase complementary codes are commonly used in radar application to achieve high resolution spatial and temporal measurements with suppressed range sidelobes. In this paper, a user friendly interactive graphical user interface (GUI) based tool capable of generating and analyzing a pair of complementary sequences of length upto 512 is presented. The effect of code length on key code parameters like merit factor, discrimination etc were evaluated and presented. In addition, ninety-six basic sets of 16-bit complementary pair searched through Monte-Carlo based search routine are tabulated. An empirical relation between code length and maximum possible set of basic complementary pairs is also established.


The methods of the theory of the functional of electron density and pseudopotential from the first principles obtained the characteristics of an electronic subsystem of the RRAM (Resistive Random Access Memory) layer constructed on the basis of epitaxial films Si 0.9 Ge 0.1 with dislocations and embedded in them silver atoms. The spatial distributions of the density of valence electrons and their cross sections within the cell, the distribution of the density of electronic states, and electric charges in the vicinity of the silicon atoms in different atomic environments are calculated. It is investigated how changes in the electronic subsystem of investigated objects influence the change of their properties from non-conducting to conducting ones.


The aim of this study was to report a clinical case of extravasation of 1% sodium hypochlorite into the periapical tissues during endodontic treatment. During apical debridement, absence of reflux of the irrigating solution was observed, followed by root canal hemorrhage. The patient immediately complained of intense pain, and a profuse edema and hyperemia was observed on the left side of her face compatible with extravasation of hypochlorite to the periapex. The patient was treated with ibuprofen 600 mg three times per day for three days, a single dose of dexamethasone 4 mg, amoxicillin 500 mg three times per day for seven days, and a cold compress for two days. Regression of the condition began on the fourth day, and normal tissue aspect and absence of sequelae were observed on the 14th day.


Vergence ability is an important visual behavior observed on living creatures when they use vision to interact with the environment. The notion of active observer is equally useful for robotic vision systems on tasks like object tracking, fixation and 3D environment structure recovery. Humanoid robotics are a potential playground for such behaviors. This paper describes the implementation of a real time binocular vergence behavior using cepstral filtering to estimate stereo disparities. By implementing the cepstral filter on a graphics processing unit (GPU) using Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) we demonstrate that robust parallel algorithms that used to require dedicated hardware are now available on common computers. The cepstral filtering algorithm speed up is more than sixteen times than on a current CPU. The overall system is implemented in the binocular vision system IMPEP (IMPEP Integrated Multimodal Perception Experimental Platform) to illustrate the system performance experimentally.


Germ granules are protein-RNA condensates that segregate with the embryonic germline. In Caenorhabditis elegans embryos, germ (P) granule assembly requires MEG-3, an intrinsically disordered protein that forms RNA-rich condensates on the surface of PGL condensates at the core of P granules. MEG-3 is related to the GCNA family and contains an N-terminal disordered region (IDR) and a predicted ordered C-terminus featuring an HMG-like motif (HMGL). We find that MEG-3 is a modular protein that uses its IDR to bind RNA and its C-terminus to drive condensation. The HMGL motif mediates binding to PGL-3 and is required for co-assembly of MEG-3 and PGL-3 condensates in vivo. Mutations in HMGL cause MEG-3 and PGL-3 to form separate condensates that no longer co-segregate to the germline or recruit RNA. Our findings highlight the importance of protein-based condensation mechanisms and condensate-condensate interactions in the assembly of RNA-rich germ granules.


Based on the prevalent son preference in China, this paper proposes a new measure of relative bargaining power within the household. Using data from China Health and Nutrition Survey, we show that a woman with a first-born son has a 3.9 percentage points' greater role in household decision-making than a woman with a first-born daughter. Having a first-born son improves the mother's nutrition intakes and reduces her likelihood of being underweight. While thinking of these impacts as being channeled through intrahousehold bargaining power, we cannot fully rule out other possible direct effects of a first-born son on the outcomes.


This study focused on the arrangement of working permit for foreign workers in Indonesia. It's aimed to find out legal protection arrangement for foreign workers and legal actions and sanctions can be given to the work permit violations committed by foreign workers working in companies in Indonesia. This study concluded that legal protection arrangements for foreign workers in Indonesia should obtain a work permit from the Indonesian government through authorized or designated officials. Moreover, protection afforded to the foreign workers by granting rights and obeying obligations in accordance with Indonesian labour legislation should also be adjusted to the provisions of International Labour Organization. However, when the rights of the foreign workers are violated by the company or other parties, the foreign worker concerned can make legal remedies, dispute settlement either non litigation or litigation. Furthermore, legal actions and legal sanctions that may be imposed on foreign workers who violate the working permit in Indonesia are by preventive action and repressive action.


A low power PRAM using a data-comparison write (DCW) scheme is proposed. The PRAM consumes large write power because large write currents are required during long time. At first, the DCW scheme reads a stored data during write operation. And then, it writes an input data only when the input and stored data are different. Therefore, it can reduce the write power consumption to a half. The 1K-bit PRAM test chip with 128times8bits is implemented with a 0.8mum CMOS technology with a 0.5mum GST cell.


One of the leading problems in the Earth Sciences, and particularly in metamorphic mineralogy and petrology, is the application of thermodynamics to systems subjected to non-hydrostatic stress. Such problems relate not only to one-component phase transformations but also to reaction between mineral phases under stress conditions. The necessary extensions to classical thermodynamics in such circumstances are dealt with in rigorous mathematical terms in this new book. The result can hardly be described as light bedtime reading for petrologists! It is interesting to note that the author became interested in this topic through contact and discussion with Professor W. S. Fyfe, FRS. The book is divided into two main parts which deal respectively with the mathematical foundations of finite strain theory, and with the development of non-hydrostatic thermodynamics. Although this development is simple in principle, it is difficult in practice since it involves, necessarily, the full tensor treatment of classical crystal physics. Each chapter in this book is prefaced by a short summary of contents, and ends with a list of all the important definitions and equations introduced, and a set of practical examples to be worked by diligent students. Difficult mathematical concepts are clearly explained and presented in logical sequence. The text begins with an Introduction, Chapter 1, in which the author states clearly the case for studying the thermodynamics of crystalline systems under non-hydrostatic conditions, and quotes, as examples of relevant problems, some of the more important phase transformations in minerals. Unfortunately for the mineralogist most of these interesting examples do not reappear in the text, and practical examples of the application of the theory are restricted to a detailed and elegant account of the non-hydrostatic behaviour of quartz in the ~-fl transition, and the ferroelectric transition in barium titanate, in the concluding chapters of the book. While it is abundantly clear that the author is extremely competent in crystal physics, it is not nearly so obvious that he is equally well acquainted with the vast literature which exists on the mechanisms of solid-state transformations. This is particularly evident in Chapter 4 where the author uses a very over-simplified treatment of all such transformations in terms, simply, of coherent and incoherent transformation processes. Indeed throughout the book it is clear that incoherent phase transformations do not fit at all easily into the mathematical formalism. Thus on p. 254, where the author sets up a model for solid-state transformations under stress, and at equilibrium, he is forced to postulate an interfacial zone which 'would link and accommodate' different structural forms, i.e. two polymorphs. There is certainly no good experimental evidence for such a transition zone, nor is such a zone normally possible during the equilibrium interconversion of two polymorphs. From a purely practical mineralogical viewpoint the theory developed in this book is directly applicable to the case of coherent phase transformations and in particular martensitic transformations. It is unlikely, as it stands, to be of direct use in many of the more complex situations existing in nature where first-order incoherent transformation and reaction processes are involved. The solution of such problems, apart from requiring many more experimental and physical data, must await a treatment which combines the formal equilibrium approach with considerable insights on the real mechanisms of solid-state transformations. Unfortunately such treatment, in order to be at all successful, must also deal with the real world, i.e. irreversibility, and the kinetics of such natural processes. Thus, in the final analysis, this treatment of thermodynamics under stress is likely to form only a part of the total body of theory necessary for the solution of stress transformation, and reaction, problems in nature. This volume may be regarded as an important initial step in the right general direction.


PURPOSE
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer creates new possibilities for the analysis of biological factors in the tumor and/or host, which may play a role in the response to treatment. In this study we analyzed whether changes in local antitumor immunity take place after neoadjuvant paclitaxel therapy and if they correlate with response to treatment.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (paclitaxel, 200 mg/m2 q2w, 4 treatments) was followed by definitive surgical management. Histological sections from the pre- and post-treatment surgical specimens of 25 patients were analyzed for the extent of lymphocytic infiltration and presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). The cumulative apoptotic response in the tumor after the first dose of paclitaxel was also studied in 10 of 25 patients.

RESULTS
Pretreatment lymphocytic infiltrate in the tumor was minimal in the majority of patients and showed no relationship with clinical response. In the patients without TILs before treatment, development of TILs after treatment was noted in 0/3 (0%) patients with stable disease, 3/12 (25%) patients with clinical partial response, and 4/6 (67%) patients with clinical complete response and pathological residual disease. These correlated with the tumor cell apoptotic response to the first dose of paclitaxel.

CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that development of TILs after treatment correlates with clinical response to neoadjuvant paclitaxel therapy. The possible mechanism(s) whereby neoadjuvant chemotherapy may lead to induction of antitumor T cells is discussed. Immunological processes may influence the response of breast cancer patients to neoadjuvant treatment.


This book explores the role of television in the 1950s and early 1960s, with a focus on the relationship between Tories and TV. The early 1950s were characterized by recovery from war and high politics. Television was a new medium that eventually came to dominate mass media and political culture. But what impact did this transition have on political organization and elite power structures? Winston Churchill avoided it; Anthony Eden wanted to control it; Harold Macmillan tried to master it; and Alec Douglas-Home was not Prime Minister long enough to fully utilize it. The Conservative Party's relationship with the new medium of television is a topic rich with scholarly questions and interesting quirks that were characteristic of the period. This exploration examines the changing dynamics between politics and the media, at grassroots and elite levels. Through analysing rich and diverse source materials from the Conservative Party Archive, Anthony Ridge-Newman takes a case study approach to comparing the impact of television at different points in the party's history. In mapping changes across a thirteen year period of continual Conservative governance, this book argues that the advent of television contributed to the party's transition from a membership-focused party to a television-centric professionalized elite.


Two types of susceptible, exposed, infectious, vaccinated/recovered, susceptible (SEIVS) epidemic models with saturation incidence and temporary immunity, driven by higher order white noise and telegraph noise, are investigated. The key aim of this work is to explore and obtain the existence of the unique ergodic stationary distribution for the above two models, which reveals whether the disease will be prevalent and persistent under some noise intensity assumptions. We also use meticulous numerical examples to validate the feasibility of the analytical findings. Finally, a brief biological discussion shows that the intensities of noises play a significant role in the stationary distributions of the two models.


In the development of a L band three dimensional ESR imaging system, a software package of application programs was written with MATLAB (version 6.1), which handles auto-processing of spectral data, and reconstruction of ESR spatial (1D-, 2D-, 3D-) imaging and spectral-spatial imaging. The software can display different types of images reconstructed from the spectral data and distribution of spin density in the paramagnetic samples. In addition, this software is capable of generating useful visible information, which can be applied in the characterization of the spin density distribution of paramagnetic species, as well as in the oxygen diffusion process in chemical reactions.


NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) has been considered to play a crucial role in triggering the host's immune and inflammatory responses. Genetic variants are critical determinants of interindividual variances in inflammatory responses and clinical outcomes. The role of NLRP3 gene variations in bipolar I (BPI) disorder, which is known to include genetic factors in its aetiology, has not been previously reported, at least to the best of our knowledge. The present study aimed to determine the role and frequency ofta exon 2 and exon 3 variants of NLRP3 in BPI disorder and to evaluate the association between different phenotypic traits. A case-control study with 123 patients and 107 healthy controls was conducted to investigate the association of variants identified in the exon 2 and exon 3 regions of NLRP3, with the risk of BPI. Regions of interest were sequenced using a PCR-based Sanger sequencing method. Three BPI-related variants were identified. The genotype Q705K CA was detected more frequently in BPI patients, as compared to the control group [P<0.001; odds ratio (OR), 0.202; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.080-0.508]. In addition, two novel splice-site variants (c.393G>A and c.278_2A>G) that, to the best of our knowledge, have not been previously reported in any database, were detected only in the BPI patient group [P<0.001; OR, 0.846; 95% CI, 0.784-0.912; P<0.001; OR, 0.886; 95% CI, 0.832-0.944, respectively]. There was no significant association between the Q795K variant and phenotypic traits (P>0.05). However, there was a significant association between those carrying the heterozygous c.393G>A variant and a positive family history (P=0.043). It was also observed that those with the heterozygous c.278-2A>G variant presented with a significantly early-onset (P=0.003). On the whole, the data of the present study suggested that NLRP3 plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of BPI and may be a potential risk factor. However, further functional studies and repeated studies in other populations are required to properly comprehend the roles of the NLRP3 variants in the risk of developing BPI.


The clay samples taken from studied area Nigde-Dikilitas located place in the northeast part of Nigde province in the Central Anatolian region have been investigated by means of FTIR spectroscopy. Firstly, the FTIR spectra of beidellite, illite, illite-smectite mixed layer, kaolinite, chlorite (ripidolite), nontronite, montmorillonite, Ca-montmorillonite, Na-montmorillonite known as standard natural clays and then anhydrite, gypsum, quartz+feldspar, illite+quartz+feldspar clays to be found in clays with the standard clays have been also taken, respectively. The minerals have been determined by comparing the spectrum of every sample with the spectra of the standard clays and combined clays. It has been observed that the existence of the O-H, Al-Al-OH, Al-Mg-OH, and Si-O-Si groups in the FTIR spectrum measurements of the samples belonging to the lower, middle and upper levels of Dikilitas clay profiles (D1), (D2, D3), and (D4), respectively. In addition, it has been found that these samples including quartz, amorphous silica, feldspar, and Na-montmorillonite and these silicate samples have a T-O-T (tetrahedral-octahedral-tetrahedral) smectite structure.


Background Digital health technology can be useful to improve the health of patients with diabetes and to support patient-centered care and self-management. In this cross-sectional study, we described the eHealth profile of patients with diabetes, based on their use of digital health technology, and its association with sociodemographic characteristics. Methods We used data from the "Qualité Diabète Valais" cohort study, conducted in one region of Switzerland (Canton Valais) since 2019. Participants with type 1 or type 2 diabetes completed questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics and on the use of digital health technology. We defined eHealth profiles based on three features, i.e., ownership or use of (1) internet-connected devices (smartphone, tablet, or computer), (2) mHealth applications, and (3) connected health tools (activity sensor, smart weight scale, or connected blood glucose meter). We assessed the association between sociodemographic characteristics and participants' eHealth profiles using stratified analyses and logistic regression models. Results Some 398 participants (38% women) with a mean age of 65 years (min: 25, max: 92) were included. The vast majority (94%) were Swiss citizens or bi-national and 68% were economically inactive; 14% had a primary level education, 51% a secondary level, and 32% a tertiary level. Some 75% of participants had type 2 diabetes. Some 90% of the participants owned internet-connected devices, 43% used mHealth applications, and 44% owned a connected health tool. Older age and a lower educational level were associated with lower odds of all features of the eHealth profile. To a lesser extent, having type 2 diabetes or not being a Swiss citizen were also associated with a lower use of digital health technology. There was no association with sex. Conclusion While most participants owned internet-connected devices, only about half of them used mHealth applications or owned connected health tools. Older participants and those with a lower educational level were less likely to use digital health technology. eHealth implementation strategies need to consider these sociodemographic patterns among patients with diabetes.


The [2 + 2] photoaddition of 2-cyclopentenones with derivatives of the cyclic β-keto ester 1 was investigated. The resultant adducts then underwent fragmentation to 5/8 fused ring systems present in terpenoid natural products such as asteriscanolide (3). For example, photoaddition of 2-cyclopentenone with the trimethylsilyl derivative 13 gave the head-to-head cis-anti-cis adduct 14. Monomethylation and borohydride reduction of the adduct yielded lactone 19. Cleavage of the silyl ether in 19 with fluoride ion followed by spontaneous fragmentation gave norasteriscanolide (20). Substrate 20, which possesses all the stereochemical features of the natural product 3 but lacks two methyl groups, was synthesized in only four steps using this methodology.


Background Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM) is a novel technique enabling the in-vivo visualisation of the skin at a quasi histologic resolution. In CSLM, contrast is provided by differences in refraction index of organelles and other microstructures, that appear bright, with respect to the background. Since pigment melanin is a strong source of contrast in CSLM, the employment of this technique for the identification of melanocytic lesions appears of particular interest. Aim of the study Our purpose was to identify structures and descriptors useful for the in-vivo identification and characterization of pigmented skin lesions. Methods 30 pigmented skin lesions were examined employing CSLM (Vivascope 1000) and epiluminescence microscopy (Videocap 200). All lesions were excised and underwent histological examination. A bidimensional automatic reconstruction of the images was implemented in order to evaluate the architectural pattern at the dermo-epidermal junction. The CSLM images were described and their patterns were correlated both with epiluminescence structures and routine histology. Results In melanocytic nevi, regularly round to oval darker areas corresponding to dermal papillae intercalated by homogeneous lines of reflecting cells were usually observed. From a cytologic point of view, melanocytes appeared usually round to oval, mainly located in the basal layers or clustered into nests within the papillary dermis. Moreover, the epidermal layers and the papillary dermis appeared unaltered in respect of normal skin. In melanomas a disarray of the epidermal pattern was observable, leading to the disappearance of the normal honeycomb aspect in superficial layers and to the disarrangement of the normal architecture of the rete ridges, resulting in sparse papillae of small diameter, separated by numerous lines of irregularly shaped cells, corresponding to the epidermal flattening observed by histology. Polymorphic in size and shape cells, occasionally with branching dendritic-like structures, were seen as solitary cells mainly located in the basal layer, but also spreading upward, suggesting a pagetoid fashion. Spitz nevi were characterised by numerous and highly refractive nests of different size, usually round to oval in shape, constituted by monomorphous cells and located at the dermal-epidermal junction and in the papillary dermis. The nests, that corresponds to the well demarcated globules at the epiluminescence observation, were particularly evident at the periphery, contrasting with the normal skin. Moreover, within the papillary dermis melanophages could be also identified as bright, oval to stellate structures with indistinct borders. Conclusions Although preliminary and based on limited number of cases, these findings show the potential of this technique for the non invasive diagnosis of clinically difficult lesions in dermatology.


Particular fibrinogen γ chain mutations occurring in the γ-module induce changes that hamper γ-γ dimerization and provoke intracellular aggregation of the mutant fibrinogen, defective export and plasma deficiency. The hepatic storage predisposes to the development of liver disease. This condition has been termed hereditary hypofibrinogenemia with hepatic storage (HHHS). So far, seven of such mutations in the fibrinogen γ chain have been detected. We are reporting on an additional mutation occurring in a 3.5-year-old Turkish child undergoing a needle liver biopsy because of the concomitance of transaminase elevation of unknown origin and low plasma fibrinogen level. The liver biopsy showed an intra-hepatocytic storage of fibrinogen. The molecular analysis of the three fibrinogen genes revealed a mutation (Fibrinogen Trabzon Thr371Ile) at exon 9 of the γ chain in the child and his father, while the mother and the brother were normal. Fibrinogen Trabzon represents a new fibrinogen γ chain mutation fulfilling the criteria for HHHS. Its occurrence in a Turkish child confirms that HHHS can present in early childhood and provides relevant epidemiological information on the worldwide distribution of the fibrinogen γ chain mutations causing this disease. By analyzing fibrinogen crystal structures and calculating the folding free energy change (ΔΔG) to infer how the variants can affect the conformation and function, we propose a mechanism for the intracellular aggregation of Fibrinogen Trabzon and other γ-module mutations causing HHHS.


On-board embedded software developed for spaceflight systems (space software) must adhere to stringent software quality assurance procedures. For example, verification and validation activities are typically performed and assessed by third party organizations. To further minimize the risk of human mistakes, space agencies, such as the European Space Agency (ESA), are looking for automated solutions for the assessment of software testing activities, which play a crucial role in this context. Though space software is our focus here, it should be noted that such software shares the above considerations, to a large extent, with embedded software in many other types of cyber-physical systems. Over the years, mutation analysis has shown to be a promising solution for the automated assessment of test suites; it consists of measuring the quality of a test suite in terms of the percentage of injected faults leading to a test failure. A number of optimization techniques, addressing scalability and accuracy problems, have been proposed to facilitate the industrial adoption of mutation analysis. However, to date, two major problems prevent space agencies from enforcing mutation analysis in space software development. First, there is uncertainty regarding the feasibility of applying mutation analysis optimization techniques in their context. Second, most of the existing techniques either can break the real-time requirements common in embedded software or cannot be applied when the software is tested in Software Validation Facilities, including CPU emulators and sensor simulators. In this paper, we enhance mutation analysis optimization techniques to enable their applicability to embedded software and propose a pipeline that successfully integrates them to address scalability and accuracy issues in this context, as described above. Further, we report on the largest study involving embedded software systems in the mutation analysis literature. Our research is part of a research project funded by ESA ESTEC involving private companies (GomSpace Luxembourg and LuxSpace) in the space sector. These industry partners provided the case studies reported in this paper; they include an on-board software system managing a microsatellite currently on-orbit, a set of libraries used in deployed cubesats, and a mathematical library certified by ESA.


We present here the first comprehensive study on the lipophilicity of ruthenium anticancer agents encompassing compounds with broad structural diversity, ranging from octahedral RuIII(azole) through to RuII(arene) complexes. MEEKC was used to determine the capacity factors of the Ru complexes, and after a complex peak was unambiguously assigned using MEEKC–ICP‐MS, the results were validated through comparison with the log P determined by octanol/water partitioning experiments. Correlation of the two data sets demonstrated a close relationship despite the limited structural overlap of the compounds studied. The capacity factors found by MEEKC allowed for the clustering of complexes based on their structure and this could be used to rationalize the observed cytotoxicity in the human colon carcinoma HCT116 cell line. It was demonstrated that rather than modification of the mono‐ or bidentate coordinated ligands much tighter control over a complexes lipophilic properties could be achieved through modification of the Ru(arene) ligand, with minimal detriment to cytotoxicity. This demonstrates the flexibility and potential of the Ru piano‐stool scaffold. MEEKC proved to be a highly efficient means of screening the anticancer potential of preclinical ruthenium complex candidates for their lipophilic properties and correlate them with their biological activity and structural properties.


This research study explores the dynamics between leisure behavior and conditions arising from poverty. In particular, it focuses on the roles played by leisure for mothers living in poverty. The effects of a specific fee assistance program are then discussed within the context of these mothers' lives. Seven individuals, recruited through a local not-for-profit agency, took part in semi-structured interviews that focused on their leisure behaviors. They were then asked about the fee assistance subsidy program (FAP) offered by the local city leisure agency. Two recurring themes emerged. The first was that of scarcity. Dealing with scarcity proved an ongoing challenge for these mothers. It crept into virtually every aspect of their lives. The second (and related) theme was that of chronic isolation. This isolation was both physical and social. For example, the women all expressed how they were constantly with their children and had little opportunity to interact with other adults on a regular basis. Within this context, we found that leisure played three fundamental roles in their daily lives. The first was that of bonding and companionship. Given the predominance of children in their lives, most of these mothers' energies were directed toward their children. The second role was that of escape. Although these individuals often viewed leisure as a way to enhance family time, they also sought leisure as an outlet to escape the pressures of family life. The third role assigned to leisure was that of advancement. These mothers wanted to use leisure as a means of improving their own life conditions. In particular, they hoped to learn new skills through leisure participation. We were then interested in the ways in which these families were able to utilize the local FAP. This program provided leisure access cards to those who lived in poverty. Once applicants had established their level of need (through an application process), city staff assigned each family member an access card worth $50. Few of these mothers reported using the FAP card. One fundamental problem was its focus on program costs. Given that these women were all living in low-income settings, it was difficult for them to pay costs associated with participation in many leisure programs (babysitters, transportation, etc.). It helped little, for example, to offer free admission to a program that was too distant to reach or that required equipment one could not afford. This suggests that FAPs might be better envisioned as participation assistance programs. Their mandate might be expanded to ameliorate the effects of fees but also of transportation and any other constraints the individual must negotiate.?


A new Zhang and McFarlane (ZM) cumulus scheme includes a two‐moment cloud microphysics parameterization for convective clouds. This allows aerosol effects to be investigated more comprehensively by linking aerosols with microphysical processes in both stratiform clouds that are explicitly resolved and convective clouds that are parameterized in climate models. This new scheme is implemented in the Weather Research and Forecasting model, coupled with the physics and aerosol packages from the Community Atmospheric Model version 5. A case of July 2008 during the East Asian summer monsoon is selected to evaluate the performance of the new ZM and to investigate aerosol effects on monsoon precipitation. The precipitation and radiative fluxes simulated by the new ZM show a better agreement with observations compared to simulations with the original ZM that does not include convective cloud microphysics and aerosol‐convective cloud interactions. Detailed analysis suggests that an increase in detrained cloud water and ice mass by the new ZM is responsible for this improvement. Aerosol impacts on cloud properties, precipitation, and radiation are examined by reducing the primary aerosols and anthropogenic emissions to 30% of those in the present (polluted) condition. The simulated surface precipitation is reduced by 9.8% from clean to polluted environment, and the reduction is less significant when microphysics processes are excluded from the cumulus clouds. Cloud fraction is reduced by the increased aerosols due to suppressed convection, except during some heavy precipitation periods when cloud fraction, cloud top height, and rain rate are increased due to enhanced convection.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to perfect the axiom systems of buffer operator via adding the axiom of invariable trend. Design/methodology/approach – Based on the three axioms of buffer operator, for any given data sequence of system behavior and any set of data satisfying the axiom of fixed point, it is proved that there always exists a buffer operator satisfying that the set of data is the buffer sequence of the given data sequence, and a specific constructor method of buffer operator is provided. Finally, the axiom of invariable trend is proposed to add in the axiom systems of buffer operator. Findings – The results are convincing that although the raw sequence suffered from certain disturbance may be enlarged or reduced, the trend is in line with the original law. All predictions must be on the premise of this trend to forecast, or prediction will be considered invalid. Practical implications – The method exposed in the paper can be used to construct a specific buffer operator between two sequences satisfying the axiom of fixed point. Originality/value – The paper succeeds in providing a kind of universal constructor method for buffer operator, and adding the axiom of invariable trend to perfect the axiom systems of buffer operator and ensure the consistency of variation trend between the predicted values and the actual values.


This study is to see the level of acculturation of Javanese and Malay Islams in Javanese community wedding at Selangor Malaysia. According to the theory of culture, each culture has a uniqueness, as a individual uniqueness. The unique culture of Javanese ethnic wedding in Selangor is believed to be a process of negotiation between Malay and Javanese culture.. Acculturation theory is used in this research to explain and understand the reality of that culture. The study concluded that ethnic wedding traditions of Javanese Islam in Selangor pointed to the high level of acculturation. The acculturation leads to a "substitution" and "syncretism". The substitution refers to the meaning that the Javanese tradition for the most replaced with new cultures (Malay). Acculturation can also be said as a cultural syncretism, the mixing of these two cultures into a new culture that are distinctive.Copyright (c) 2016 by KARSA. All right reserved DOI: 10.19105/karsa.v24i1.1008


This paper describes different conceptions of the past presented in a retrospect ive analysis of organizational change. One day in 1993, an Australian subsidi ary of a United States manufacturing organization introduced changes includ ing product-based production teams, a three-shift factory operation, and employee redundancy packages. Eighteen months later, the teams were dis solved. In this paper, talk about change is interpreted through the concept of loss; loss as regret for what has been in the past, return to the past and loss of what might have been, loss as relief to move on to what can be in the future, and loss as release from constraints of the past. It is suggested that analysis of loss and absence can increase the complexity of representations of emotion in situations of organizational change, and that there are additional senses of loss which can supplement those associated with death and mourning. The association between loss and resistance is discussed, and a comparison is made between 'lo...


A green and robust high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method has been developed for the simultaneous estimation of sildenafil citrate and dapoxetine hydrochloride. A fractional factorial design was applied for analytical quality risk assessment of potential analytical risk factors. The identified critical analytical risk factors were optimized using the design of experiment-based response surface analysis by full factorial design. The analytical design space was navigated for the optimization of the method and the control strategy was framed for low-risk life-cycle management of the chromatographic method. The chromatographic analysis of sildenafil and dapoxetine was carried out on a TLC plate coated with silica gel G60 F254 using n-butanol:ethyl acetate:ethanol (8.0 + 2.0 + 0.5, v/v) as mobile phase. The chromatographic peaks of sildenafil and dapoxetine were found to be at Rf 0.29 and 0.69, respectively. The method was found to be accurate, precise, robust, specific and sensitive. The fixed-dose combinations of sildenafil and dapoxetine were assayed and results were found in compliance with their labeled claim. The present method was developed using safe and eco-friendly organic solvents for the safety of analysts and the protection of the environment. The greenness profiles of developed and reported methods were evaluated using the NEMI scale and AGREE software.


Recently the Italian Supreme Court has sentenced that garrets not suitable for common usage belong to the owners of the dwellings positioned below. These spaces may be transformed into living areas, which is particularly convenient in this moment of housing shortage. In this study the authors analyze the minimum hygienic requirements for transformed garrets established by each regional law, and underline the considerable differences authorized by the laws. For example, there is a tolerated difference of +/-0,4 m for the the minimum height, and therefore there is a large variability accepted for the volumes of the rooms, namely a tolerated range of 3,6 m3 per capita in single rooms and 2,8 m3 per capita in double rooms; such accepted values are very close to (and sometimes below) the limits for living spaces that have been recommended by the international community. Finally, the authors stress the importance of planning sanitary interventions to protect the health of the inhabitants of those dwellings.


Study Design. Upregulation of the viability of nucleus pulposus cells by coculture with bone marrow-derived stromal cells using a novel culture system. Objectives. The objective was to apply a novel coculture system having direct cell-to-cell contact between nucleus pulposus cells and bone marrow-derived stromal cells for stimulation of nucleus pulposus cells. Summary of Background Data. Reinsertion of nucleus pulposus cells was effective for treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration. However, obtaining highly viable nucleus pulposus cells was necessary to achieve successful results. Thus, an alternative method to upregulate the biologic and metabolic viabilities of nucleus pulposus cells was desired. Methods. Nucleus pulposus cells and bone marrow-derived stromal cells were isolated from New Zealand white rabbits. A 6-well culture plate and insert with track-etched membrane having 0.4 &mgr;m pores at the bottom were used for coculture. Nucleus pulposus cells were monocultured, cocultured conventionally (having no direct cell-to-cell contact) with bone marrow-derived stromal cells, or cocultured having direct cell-to-cell contact with bone marrow-derived stromal cells. On day 4 of coculture, nucleus pulposus cells were evaluated for proliferation using WST-8 assay, deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis by measuring [3H]-thymidine uptake, and proteoglycan synthesis by measuring [35S]-sulfate uptake. We also quantified cytokines in supernatants from the culture system. Results. Cell proliferation, deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, and proteoglycan synthesis of nucleus pulposus cells were significantly upregulated in samples cocultured having direct cell-to-cell contact. Moreover, evaluations of supernatants revealed that growth factors associated with proliferation and cellular metabolism of nucleus pulposus cells were increased. Conclusions. Direct cell-to-cell contact in coculture system between nucleus pulposus cells and bone marrow-derived stromal cells accomplished significant upregulation in viability of nucleus pulposus cells.


Evidence-based nursing is about applying the best available evidence to a specific clinical question. Different clinical questions require evidence from different research designs. No single design has precedence over another, rather the design chosen must fit the particular research question. Questions focused on the cause, prognosis (course), diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or economics of health problems are best answered using quantitative designs, whereas questions about the meaning or experience of illness are best answered using qualitative designs. Many different quantitative and qualitative research designs exist, each with a specific purpose and with strengths and limitations. In this editorial, the most rigorous quantitative designs to address questions of prevention or treatment, causation, and prognosis will be outlined. The next editorial will describe the use of qualitative designs to address questions of meaning or experience.


One of the government's efforts in empowering the community to reduce infant and under-five mortality rates, and improve health status in the community is to optimize the role of cadres in society. Thus, it is necessary to have activities that can increase the knowledge, attitudes and actions of cadres in monitoring infant growth, especially in filling out the Towards Healthy Card (KMS) chart. The purpose of this community service activity is to increase the knowledge, attitudes, and actions of cadres in filling out KMS charts for early detection of malnutrition and stunting. The target of this community service activity was posyandu cadres in the Kayamanya Health Center Work Area, Poso Kota District. The service method was carried out in several stages (1) pre-test before mentoring; (2) presentation of material on anthropometric measurements and filling out KMS charts; (3) exercise and practice of anthropometric measurements and chart filling; and (4) post-test after mentoring. This activity resulted in an increase in the average score of knowledge, attitudes and actions of cadres after being given assistance to cadres.


Future multimedia communication systems have to support the user's needs, the terminal capabilities, the content specification and the underlying networking technologies. The related protocols and applications must be designed from this integration perspective in a cross-layer centric manner. In this paper, we propose an implementation of a streaming service (e.g., Television over IP service) with a unified QoS management concept that enables an IP driven integration of different system components (terminal, user, content, and network). The MPEG-21 framework is used to provide a common support for implementing and managing the end-to-end QoS. The main focus of this paper is on the architecture design, protocols specification and implementation evaluation. Performance evaluations using PSNR and SSIM objective video quality metrics show the benefit of the proposed MPEG-21-enabled cross-layer adaptation.


The motion of free test particles in the flat Friedmann and de Sitter spacetimes is investigated. The authors find that the world lines of the particles converge toward the geodesic congruence normal to the homogeneous 3-spaces of these models. The relevance of this result to the physical significance of various proofs of the so-called 'no-hair theorem' is pointed out.


A brief description of how Library of Congress (LC) numbers work for music A presentation describing how to read and find LC call numbers


Implementing a Quality Management System highly contributes to the effectiveness, efficiency and effectiveness of the organization to meet the needs of stakeholders, so it was a challenge laid out by the National Police and certified to implement it; making it a pioneer in the defense sector which has helped to locate the pair of cutting-edge companies, this is the work and commitment of men and women who made present it in a very satisfactory range in evaluating implementation of the QMS; also it is noteworthy based on the premise contained on the statement recognizing continuous improvement as a dead end, it is necessary to restate the lessons learned that have the time and improve those seen successes in order to create value and continue implementation of system in police units operational level.


The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), originally designed for contraception, has since been applied to various gynecologic diseases. This article summarizes the current status of clinical applications of LNG-IUS to the treatment of gynecologic diseases such as heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, leiomyoma, adenomyosis, endometrial hyperplasia, and early-stage endometrial cancer.


York: Free Press, 1977); "Jainism," in the Handbook of Living Religions (Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Viking Penguin, 1984); and "The Jain Stupa at Ancient Mathura," in a forthcoming volume on ancient Mathura edited by Doris Srinivasan. Although Folkert's most important work was unfinished at his death, many Asianists and religionists will know him from the stimulating papers that he often delivered at meetings of the American Oriental Society and the American Academy of Religion. His leadership in the life of his community, university, and the scholarly world will be sorely missed. Among South Asianists and religionists, the loss of his highly promising work in Gujarat will be especially felt by the many of us who saw in it a new perspective on Jaina practice and piety. We mourn the death of an irreplaceable friend, colleague, and scholar.


The investigations reported here represent an effort to explore the possibilities of obtaining quantitative data on the mechanical properties of the lumbosacral spine by applying to fresh autopsy specimens of the spine testing techniques used in civil or mechanical engineering. Few tests have been made and the data are insufficient. However, the findings to date are of interest and encourage us to continue these investigations.

With the exception of the markedly osteoporotic spines which failed at relatively low axial loads, the ultimate axial compressive load for the lumbar discs teste ranged from 1,000 to 1,300 pounds. Stiffness values for these discs ranged from 470 to 8,250 pounds per inch initially but increased to 12,000 to 20,000 pounds per inch after the applied load reached 200 to 400 pounds. Failure under axial compression took place in the vertebral end-plates even when well developed ruptures of the annulus were present. Failure of the plate ranged from imperceptible cracks to more or less complete collapse of the endplate depending on the condition of the bone (presence or absence of osteoporosis) and on the size of the load applied.

Under the experimental conditions employed here, which involved a gradually increasing load over periods ranging from ten to thirty minutes, the volumes of five discs decreased under axial compression by from 1.0 to 2.5 cubic centimeters before failure occurred due to fracture of one of the vertebral end-plates and collapse of the underlying vertebral body. This decrease in volume is thought to be due both to collapse of the fissures and spaces ordinarily present within all adult discs and to the passage of fluid across the vertebral end-plates into the medullary spaces of the adjacent vertebral bodies.

Tests of the tensile strength of various portions of two intervertebral discs revealed that the tensile strength ranged from 0 to 700 pounds per square inch. In general, the weakest areas in both discs were the central and lateral portions. The tensile strength of three specimens of ligamentum flavum ranged from 226 to 373 pounds per square inch.

Two discs (the fourth lumbar) were subjected to combined axial loading and bending while the expansion and contraction of the discs were recorded at various points about the circumference of the annulus. During bending the discs expanded on the concave side and contracted on the convex side of the curve, while at points located at 90 degrees to the plane of motion little or no expansion or contraction occurred. The only exceptions to this general pattern of behavior were in the posterolateral portions of the discs, where annular ruptures are most frequently found. The greatest expansion and contraction occurred On the anterior aspect of these discs during straight flexion and extension.

One fatigue test was performed in which cyclic bending and compression stresses were imposed on a single disc. For technical reasons the test was not satisfactory. It is of interest, however, that rapid failure of the annulus occurred under the conditions of this experiment characterized by a horizontal tear of all but the most peripheral fibers of the annulus. The resulting picture was not unlike that seen in some extensively degenerated dises.

The findings of particular interest in the work presented here are as follows:

1. Under axial compressive stress, failure of the disc complex invariably took place in the cartilaginous plate. In the few specimens tested the type of failure varied according to the condition of the bone rather than according to the condition of the disc. In the spines from younger individuals small cracks occurred, while in the old spines with osteoporosis, there was more or less total collapse of the plate. The similarity of the small cracks produced in these specimens to those found in the autopsy material studied by Beadle and by Coventry, Ghormley, and Kernohan was quite striking. 13, 27 have been inclined to assume that these defects were of little clinical significance due to their small size. However, the findings presented here suggest that such an assumption may not be valid. Failures of the end-plate may play a role in the causation of pain in some back injuries when the roentgenograms show no abnormality. In fact, Hirsch 23 reported one case in which failure of the plate was demonstrated in a man in whom sudden low-back pain developed after a strenuous effort to right an overturned car. However, the special technique of tomography was required to visualize the defect. The relief of back pain resulting from the intradiscal injection of a local anaesthetic or the anti-inflammatory hormone, hydrocortisone, might be explained by this mechanism also.

2. In these tests failure of the annulus fibrosus occurred only as the result of extremely rapid cyclic bending combined with mild axial compression. However, no protrusion of disc material was produced in this short period but rather a linear horizontal tear through all but the most peripheral fibers which still remained intact. In the one specimen in which failure was induced by flexion, the inferior posterior margin of the superior vertebra was avulsed, but the annulus remained intact.

3. It is commonly stated that the nucleus pulposus is the structure by which stresses are distributed uniformly to the annulus fibrosus and cartilaginous plates 40. It is furthermore stated in the literature that the nucleus pulposus moves toward the convex side of the curve when the spine bends to either side or forward and backward 36. The behavior of the two specimens subjected to combined axial loading and bending in this investigation did not seem consistent with this concept. The annulus invariably bulged on the concave side, apparently as the result of compression between the opposing vertebral surfaces. The thickest and strongest portion of the annulus, that is its anterior third, bulged the most. This would be more consistent with direct compression of the annulus than with bulging caused by deformation of the nucleus pulposus or displacement of the nucleus toward the opposite side. If there were a significant amount of displacement of the nucleus toward the convex side, it would not be anticipated that the annulus would retract on this side, as was observed in these specimens. Therefore during bending the annulus in these rather aged discs would appear to be subjected primarily to direct compression rather than to hoop tension as would be the case if its only function were to resist deformation of the nucleus pulposus. Friberg, as the result of his studies of fresh specimens of the spine, also concluded that the annulus had a weight-bearing function.

This behavior of the disc may well vary with age. The more fluid nucleus of the child may displace more during bending than the relatively fibrotic and fragmented nucleus of the adult.

4. Under axial compressive loads the volume losses of the intervertebral discs before failure in the four specimens tested were 1.0, 1.5, 2.5, and 2.5 cubic centimeters, respectively, during time intervals ranging from ten to thirty minutes. Previous clinical observations on the disappearance of water-soluble radiopaque solutions after injection into the disc space11 have suggested that fluid transfer across the cartilaginous plates occurs quite rapidly during life even in the recumbent position when compression forces are minimal. It remains to be determined how such factors as age and degeneration of the cartilaginous plates effect. the rate and amount of this transfer. Degenerative changes which occur within the disc with advancing age may be related in some way to alterations in this fluid transfer.

The experimental methods reported here are thought to show sufficient promise to warrant a more extensive testing program on specimens from different age groups and in sufficient numbers to obtain data of statistical significance.

Furthermore, other tests would be desirable. For instance, impact tests might furnish quantitative data on the mechanism of injuries associated with falls and other sudden movements. The effect of other types of stress including shear and axial torsion would also be of interest.


Background: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory gynecologic disease. Problems associated with endometriosis include dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and infertility. While endometriosis does not generally cause complications during pregnancy, endometriosis clearly causes complications before pregnancy. Cases: We report four patients with endometriosis who developed a hemoperitoneum during pregnancy, suggesting that endometriosis may be involved in the development of a hemoperitoneum. The patients were diagnosed with endometriosis during surgery or underwent laparoscopic resection of endometriosis. There were one hemoperitoneum that occurred in the second trimester and one hemoperitoneum occurred in the third trimester. Two hemoperitoneums occurred at the time of vaginal delivery. Conclusion: A spontaneous hemoperitoneum during pregnancy is a rare and lifethreatening condition because of the high maternal and fetal mortality rates. The presence of surgical scar tissue and deep infiltrated endometriotic lesions located under dense adhesions in the cul-de-sac could have been avulsed by uterine contractions and pushing in labor.


Mononuclear cells (MNC) from the blood of healthy individuals cannot be stimulated in vitro with the soluble autoantigen thyroglobulin (Tg). However, when Tg or pepsin fragments of Tg were coupled with a carrier protein, tetanus toxoid (TT), MNC from four healthy TT vaccinated individuals responded to the carrier-autoantigen conjugates by generating anti-Tg antibody forming cells (AFC), as shown in a spot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Generation of anti-TT and anti-Tg AFC after stimulation with the conjugates required the donors to be boostered with TT. The autoantibodies were exclusively of the IgM class, in contrast to the carrier-specific anti-TT antibodies, which were predominantly of the IgG isotype. Activation of normal B cells to anti-Tg production was dependent on the presence of T cells in the cultures and required physical linkage of carrier and autoantigen: no anti-Tg AFC could be detected when MNC were stimulated with uncoupled combinations of Tg and TT. The autoreactive and the carrier-reactive B cells exhibited almost identical conjugate dose-response profiles, which suggest that they responded in a similar way to regulatory signals. These findings indicate that normal blood B cells are competent to respond to the autoantigen Tg in conjunction with signals originating from xeno-antigen-stimulated T cells.


The macula is extremely vulnerable to trauma. Acute trauma originates from three general categories of injury: blunt, remote, and photic. In all these types of trauma, minor injury may yield little or no permanent damage. The more severe cases of macular edema and tissue disorganization, however, can result in macular holes and scarring, which command the clinician's attention. Careful observation of the signs and symptoms involved in the natural history of macular trauma is needed.


This paper claims that Onemli's results published i n "Access Pricing under Imperfect Competition", Review of Economic Perspectives, 2012, are incorrect. Contrary to Onemli, we claim that in an industry, w here a monopoly incumbent produces a key input used by itself and its competi tors on a downstream market which is Cournot oligopoly, the regulator should set the second-best access charge such that the incumbent's total profit is zero if the first-b est access charge is not feasible. The competitors' ability to produce the key input thems elves does not change the outcome since no competitor chooses to use this option unde r this regulation. We also discuss some limitations of the Onemli's model.


We demonstrate new method for the synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles from pineapple extract. Fur- thermore, we have studied interactions between nanoparticles (gold and silver) with aminoglycosides such as Kanamycin A, Neomycin. Both nanoparticles were prepared by reducing AuCl4 and AgNO3 using pineapple extract, kanamycin A and neomycin as both reducing and stabilizing agents respectively. Our new approach shows a clean method of synthesizing gold and silver nanoparticles that exhibit promising morphologies and stability under physiological conditions for several months in powder or aqueous form. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to visualize the diameters of nanoparticles.