An extended-release capsule formulation of carbamazepine (Equetro™; Shire, PA, USA) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in December 2004 for the treatment of acute manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder. Extended-release capsule formulation of carbamazepine offers several advantages to immediate-release carbamazepine formulations such as decreased dosing frequency and lowered plasma carbamazepine fluctuations. These important considerations combine to enhance patient compliance and tolerability, which is essential for the success of any therapeutic treatment regimen. The efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the extended-release capsule formulation of carbamazepine was demonstrated in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials and an open-label extension study in patients with bipolar I disorder experiencing either manic or mixed episodes. Although further study is required, the data garnered in these studies, along with the agent's recent approval by the ...


In this work, an artificial neural network (ANN) model is developed and used to predict the presence of ducting phenomena for a specific time, taking into account ground values of atmospheric pressure, relative humidity and temperature. A feed forward backpropagation ANN is implemented, which is trained, validated and tested using atmospheric radiosonde data from the Helliniko airport, for the period from 1991 to 2004. The network's quality and generality is assessed using the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) Curves (AUC), which resulted to a mean value of about 0.86 to 0.90, depending on the observation time. In order to validate the ANN results and to evaluate any further improvement options of the proposed method, the problem was additionally treated using Least Squares Support Vector Machine (LS-SVM) classifiers, trained and tested with identical data sets for direct performance comparison with the ANN. Furthermore, time series prediction and the effect of surface wind to the presence of tropospheric ducts appearance are discussed. The results show that the ANN model presented here performs efficiently and gives successful tropospheric ducts predictions.


Reading as one of the four language skills in teaching English as a foreign language has the biggest portion in the learning teaching activities. In college students will find more kinds of reading materials such as reports, journal, articles, essays, advertisements, and editorials. Therefore, the skill of reading in college doesn't only consists of an ability to understand the written text, but it also requires the capabilities to understand the unwritten ideas, to infer the meaning, to judge or to evaluate opinions, and also to solve the stated problem.
Realizing the various skills that students should have in reading, the writer therefore thinks that good techniques in reading are required by teachers and students to get good reading achievements. In this study, the writer suggests a reading technique namely Critical Reading, which is considered as a good way of helping students to understand a text better. The writer has objectives to compare the students reading achievements and the students reading achievements connected to the types of questions which are taught using Critical Reading Technique to the ones which are taught using Traditional Reading Technique, a common reading technique which is generally used by teachers.
In this Critical Reading Technique, students are given authentic materials that contain arguments and opinions. In reading the text, students do not specifically discuss the difficult words or the sentence pattern they find in text, but they directly discuss the content of the text or the author's implied meanings and ideas. The students should also have to give comments and direct responses to the author's ideas. While in Traditional Reading Technique, the students are allowed to discuss the difficult words or sentence patter they find in text. They have to understand the literal meaning of the author's words. After the reading process is done, the students then are given questions that will measure their understanding and comprehension in reading the text.
In conducting this experiment, the writer uses the fifth semester English Department students at Widya Mandala University at the academic year of 1996-1997 as the samples of her study. Based on the three reading passages given during the treatment and the post test, the data show that there is a significant difference in the students' reading comprehension achievement between the two classes. The students who are taught using Critical Reading Technique have better reading comprehension achievement than the ones who are taught using Traditional Reading Technique especially in argumentative reading text.
The writer also calculates the effect of Critical Reading technique on the six questions of Bloom Taxonomy. The results show that for the first and the second types of questions, knowledge question and comprehension question, both Critical Reading and Traditional Reading Technique can improve the students' reading achievement. However in answering the other types of questions, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation question, the results show that Critical Reading Technique can improve the students' reading comprehension achievement better than Traditional Reading.


ABSTRACT The concept of smart tourism destinations has gained increased interest in tourism research. In this study, we show how previous research has shaped the current discourse on smart tourism destinations. By analysing meta-narratives, we outline how the use of language has influenced the research domain of smart tourism destinations. When the scope of a research field is broad and still unclear, a systematic meta-narrative analysis of the literature is recommended, to provide a holistic view and an understanding of how narratives unfold over time. Our findings highlight that there are certain words that dominate the contemporary discourse in this research field, presented as meta-narratives of smart tourism destinations. Our study shows how language plays an important role in providing frameworks for the research discourse and offers a legitimation of master ideas. By analysing the language used in published scientific texts for describing and defining smart tourism destinations, we identify the meta-narratives that build major language-based concepts and how these have formed the research field of smart tourism destinations.


Vessel strike is recognized as a major modern threat to the recovery of large whale populations globally, but the issue is notoriously difficult to assess. Vessel strikes by large ships frequently go unnoticed, and those involving smaller vessels are rarely reported. Interpreting global patterns of vessel strikes is further hindered by underlying reporting biases caused by differences in countries' research efforts, legislation, reporting structures and enforcement. This leaves global strike data "patchy" and typically scarce outside of developed countries, where resources are more limited. To explore this we investigated vessel strikes with large whales in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), a coastal region of ten developing countries where heavy shipping and high cetacean densities overlap. Although this is characteristic of vessel strike "hotspots" worldwide, only 11 ETP strike reports from just four countries (∼2% of total reports) existed in the International Whaling Commission's Global Ship Strike Database (2010). This contrasts greatly with abundant reports from the neighboring state of California (United States), and the greater United States/Canadian west coast, making it a compelling case study for investigating underreporting. By reviewing online media databases and articles, peer review publications and requesting information from government agencies, scientists, and tourism companies, we compiled a regional ETP vessel strike database. We found over three times as many strike reports (n = 40), from twice as many countries (n = 8), identifying the geographic extent and severity of the threat, although likely still underestimating the true number of strikes. Reports were found from 1905 until 2017, showing that strikes are a regional, historic, and present threat to large whales. The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) was the most commonly hit species, and whale-watch industries involving small vessels in areas of high whale densities were recognized as a conservation and management concern. Industrial fishing fleets and shipping were suggested to be underrepresented sectors in the database, and are likely high-risk vessels for strikes with whales. We demonstrate the implications of known vessel strike reporting biases and conclude a more rapid assessment of global vessel strikes would substantially benefit from prioritized research efforts in developing regions, with known vessel strike "hotspot" characteristics, but few strike reports.


It is crucial to distinguish mislabeled samples for dealing with noisy labels. Previous methods such as Coteaching and JoCoR introduce two different networks to select clean samples out of the noisy ones and only use these clean ones to train the deep models. Different from these methods which require to train two networks simultaneously, we propose a simple and effective method to identify clean samples only using one single network. We discover that the clean samples prefer to reach consistent predictions for the original images and the transformed images while noisy samples usually suffer from inconsistent predictions. Motivated by this observation, we introduce to constrain the transform consistency between the original images and the transformed images for network training, and then select small-loss samples to update the parameters of the network. Furthermore, in order to mitigate the negative influence of noisy labels, we design a classification loss by using the off-line hard labels and on-line soft labels to provide more reliable supervisions for training a robust model. We conduct comprehensive experiments on CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100 and Clothing1M datasets. Compared with the baselines, we achieve the state-of-the-art performance. Especially, in most cases, our proposed method outperforms the baselines by a large margin.


The arching of the back is impaired in the patient Nefeli (A). In the four-year-old brother the arch of the back is physiologic (B).


Questions: Which are the factors that influence forest and shrubland loss and regeneration and their underlying drivers? Location: Central Chile, a world biodiversity hotspot. Methods: Using land-cover data from the years 1975, 1985, 1999 and 2008, we fitted classification trees and multiple logistic regression models to account for the relationship between different trajectories of vegetation change and a range of biophysical and socio-economic factors. Results: The variables that most consistently showed significant effects on vegetation change across all time-intervals were slope and distance to primary roads. We found that forest and shrubland loss on one side and regeneration on the other often displayed opposite patterns in relation to the different explanatory variables. Deforestation was positively related to distance to primary roads and to distance within forest edges and was favoured by a low insolation and a low slope. In turn, forest regeneration was negatively related to the distance to primary roads and positively to the distance to the nearest forest patch, insolation and slope. Shrubland loss was positively influenced by slope and distance to cities and primary roads and negatively influenced by distance to rivers. Conversely, shrubland regeneration was negatively related to slope, distance to cities and distance to primary roads and positively related to distance from existing forest patches and distance to rivers. Conclusions: This article reveals how biophysical and socioeconomic factors influence vegetation cover change and the underlying social, political and economical drivers. This assessment provides a basis for management decisions, considering the crucial role of perennial vegetation cover for sustaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.


We have demonstrated the interaction of the capital femoral epiphysis and the greater trochanteric epiphysis in rats to give length and shape to the proximal femur. These findings have practical applications in the treatment of congenital coxa vara and other disease entities of the femoral head.


The study explores a novel design of wave energy converter (WEC) that utilizes the interaction between an inside heaving vertical cylinder with an outside fixed hollow cylinder. This design originates from the oscillating water column (OWC) type WEC but replaces the pneumatic power take off (PTO) through the Wells turbine with the hydrodynamic PTO through the inside heaving cylinder. To effectively evaluate the maximum power output, the system has been modeled in the hydrodynamic software AQWA (developed by ANSYS Inc) that has accumulated extensive offshore industry users. Ranges of the PTO parameters have been examined to make sure that proper linear damping can be implemented to simulate the PTO force. Comparing the efficiency of the pneumatic PTO with the hydrodynamic PTO, it appears that the hydrodynamic PTO is more promising than the traditional Wells turbine for an OWC system.


Abstract This essay proposes that Kant′s unjust enemy has a central place within his conception of international law. The first part rejects the assumption that the unjust enemy is part of Kant′s law of war and primarily a domestic problem. Instead, it is argued that this figure is best understood as a spoiler of the building process of international law. Several forms of the unjust enemy are distinguished in order to show that the theorem has also positive functions within Kant′s theory. These positive features could be used within Kant′s evolutionary conception of international law to point to some internal deficiencies.


This essay is based on findings of my longitudinal phenomenological research study conducted from 2006 to 2009. The aim of my study was to understand the manga drawings produced by young adolescents in Hong Kong. Based on my findings, I present the argument that these adolescents have derived a conception of beauty from the manga images they have seen in popular visual culture, and that they have the ability to connect this concept with their life experiences. I also argue that their manga productions assist these students in making sense of the world around them.


In a comparative perspective, this article analyses the doctrinal debates that arose in Sunni and Shi'ite Islam after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. During a couple of decades this text hardly brought about any response in Islam. From the 1980s onwards, an increasing number of prominent thinkers started confronting their legal tradition to that from which human rights derive. While comparing both legal systems, they contribute to major and contrasting developments in contemporary Islamic legal thought.


Collaborative effort is necessary to achieve value when input from multiple stakeholders is required. In order to deal with the complexity of information shared in collaborative efforts, groups need to organize the information they process. In this paper we present a frame of reference in terms of key concepts of organizing in order to spark thinking which will answer key questions about the nature of organizing. We link organizing to modeling by defining it as an essential modeling activity. We investigate this link approaches in collaborative modeling. Through the definition of modeling we are able to discuss a research agenda for the organize pattern in terms of model syntax and semantics, and organizing processes, outcomes, and measurement.


The continued spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis is one of the most pressing and complex challenges facing tuberculosis management worldwide. Therefore, developing a new class of drugs is necessary and urgently needed to cope with the increasing threat of drug-resistant tuberculosis. This study aims to discover a potential new class of tuberculosis drug candidates different from existing tuberculosis drugs. By screening a library of compounds, methyl (S)-1-((3-alkoxy-6,7-dimethoxyphenanthren-9-yl)methyl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (PP) derivatives with antitubercular activity were discovered. MIC ranges for PP1S, PP2S, and PP3S against clinically isolated drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains were 0.78 to 3.13, 0.19 to 1.56, and 0.78 to 6.25 μg/ml, respectively. PPs demonstrated antitubercular activities in macrophage and tuberculosis mouse models, showing no detectable toxicity in all assays tested. PPs specifically inhibited M. tuberculosis without significantly changing the intestinal microbiome in mice. Mutants selected in vitro suggest that the drug targets the PE-PGRS57, which has been found only in the genomes of the M. tuberculosis complex, highlighting the specificity and safety potency of this compound. As PPs show an excellent safety profile and highly selective toxicity specific to M. tuberculosis, PPs are considered a promising new candidate for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis while maintaining microbiome homeostasis.


Beamformers which use only the constant modulus algorithm (CMA) are unable to track properly time-variant signals in fast-fading channels. The Kalman kilter (KF), however, has significant advantage in time-varying channels but needs a training sequence to operate. A combined CMA and KF algorithm is therefore proposed in order to utilise the advantages of both algorithms. The associated stepsize of the combination is also varied in accordance with the magnitude of the output. Simulations are presented to demonstrate the potential of this new approach.


Therapeutic cancer vaccine efficacy is reliant on tumor-specific neoantigens. Empirical methods to identify relevant neoantigens may overcome poor predictive values of current in silico approaches. The ATLAS™ platform is a personalized bioassay that uses high-throughput screening of autologous APCs and T cells against a patient's mutanome to identify neoantigens that are characterized as stimulatory or inhibitory (inhibigens) based on changes in T cell cytokine secretion. In a B16F10 murine model, therapeutic vaccination with ATLAS-identified neoantigens resulted in arrested tumor growth with durable immune responses that protected mice from re-challenge. Mice that were vaccinated with an inhibigen and neoantigen combination had significantly abrogated tumor protection relative to controls. IFNγ ELISpot analysis revealed that inhibigen vaccination suppressed all antigen-specific immune responses, suggesting that inhibigens can be immunodominant. Inhibigen vaccinated mice had multiple tumor microenvironment changes including reduced T cell infiltration, altered CD8+/CD4+ T cell ratios and increased inhibitory marker expression relative to controls. These results indicate that the presence of inhibigens in an otherwise protective vaccine can alter the tumor microenvironment and abolish T cell-mediated protection. Epitope mapping of neoantigens and inhibigens and tetramer design for differential gene signature analysis of inhibigen-specific T cells is being performed. These data suggest that identification and exclusion of inhibigens from cancer vaccines is critical to prevent unintended pro-tumor responses.


MRI is unique in its ability to non-invasively and selectively alter tissue magnetization, and create grid patterns on a soft, deforming body such as the heart muscle. We track motion of myocardial tag lines with energy. minimizing B-spline snakes. Oriented tag templates are first constructed by simulating the MR imaging process. The templates are subsequently correlated with the image data, giving rise to an energy landscape, which is optimized over with dynamic programming. Tracking the valleys of the energy landscape with snakes allows for measurement of MR tag deformations due to tissue motion. Tissue deformation parameters corresponding to strain, vorticity, and compression/expansion of myocardial regions are also derived. The latter two quantities are computed from a modified thin-plate spline reconstruction of a dense motion field.


Scientific evidence shows that each place/environment generates specific conditions with associated impacts on the mental health and well-being of the population. A holistic, multilevel and integrated environmental approach to mental health enhances the understanding of this phenomena, supporting the local decision-making processes to improve spatial planning of neighbourhood environments. The aim of this study is to develop a strategic assessment framework, based on four municipalities in the Lisbon Region (Portugal), that explores policy and planning initiatives capable of generating favourable neighbourhood environmental conditions for mental health while also detecting risks. Using baseline results of significant statistical associations between individuals' perceptions of their neighbourhood environment and their mental health in the Lisbon Region, a Strategic Focus on Environmental and Mental Health Assessment framework (SEmHA) was built, by applying the methodology 'Strategic Thinking for Sustainability' in Strategic Environmental Assessment, developed by Partidário in 2012. Taking into account the promotion of the population's mental health, four critical decision factors of neighbourhood environments were identified: (1) public space quality (e.g., improving sense of place), (2) physical environment quality (e.g., low levels of noise exposure), (3) professional qualification and creation of economic activities (e.g., attracting new economic activities), and (4) services and facilities (e.g., improving access to health and education services). The proposed strategic focus and assessment framework contributes to ensuring that interventions in neighbourhood environments truly achieve community mental health benefits and reduce inequalities, thus helping policy makers to assess impacts at the local level.


The bronchial epithelium has a number of mechanical functions including mucociliary clearance and protection against noxious agents. However, there is increasing evidence that it is a metabolically active tissue that may modulate the function of the underlying smooth muscle by metabolism and regulation of mediators and the production of relaxant, constrictor, or chemotactic factors. It is therefore possible that the epithelial abnormalities observed in asthmatics may lead, via several different mechanisms, to increased bronchial hyperresponsiveness (figure 2), which is a fundamental feature of asthma. However, it may not be necessary to invoke structural damage to explain derangement of epithelial function. It is possible that functional biochemical abnormalities may be present in epithelial cells, thereby producing bronchial hyperresponsiveness in the absence of histologic abnormalities. Further studies with bronchial epithelium, similar to those with vascular endothelium, are needed to clarify its role in the pathogenesis of asthma.


The objective of this research was to determine the current consumer interest toward Korean Kimchi and identify the preferred sensory characteristics of Kimchi using qualitative consumer studies on Chinese consumers. Five different sessions of focus group interview (FGI) were conducted (n=39). The FGI session was designed to determine 1) current knowledge and interest as well as usage level of Korean-style Kimchi, 2) interests toward different Korean Kimchi based on appearance and tasting evaluation. Based on the results, radish was the most accepted ingredient for Kimchi among Chinese consumers, as it resembles the sensory characteristics of Chinese-style Kimchi. The sensory characteristics driving consumer preferences towards radish-based Kimchi included crunchy texture, and just-about-right sweet and spicy flavor. Thinly sliced radish was the most accepted shape of radish-based Kimchi. The current study provides practical information for product development of Kimchi targeted for Chinese.


OBJECTIVE--To evaluate the medical impact of reactive pharmacy intervention. DESIGN--Analysis of all interventions during 28 days by all 35 pharmacists in hospitals in Nottingham. SETTING--All (six) hospitals in the Nottingham health authority (a teaching district), representing 2530 mainly acute beds, 781 mental illness beds, and 633 mainly health care of the elderly beds. PATIENTS--Hospital inpatients and outpatients. INTERVENTIONS--Recording of every important intervention made by pharmacists to prescriptions for both inpatients and outpatients when they perceived inadequacies of drug prescription or administration, including characterisation of the problem, coding of outcome, recording of time taken to initiate and resolve intervention, and grade of prescribing doctor. The problems were independently assessed for their potential to cause medical harm. RESULTS--769 Interventions (about 2.9% of prescriptions) were made, of which 60 concerned prescriptions rated as having a major potential for medical harm. The commonest problems concerned dosage, which was wrong in 280 prescriptions (102 for antibiotics) and not stated in 50 (one for antibiotics), especially those associated with a major potential for medical harm (32 prescriptions). These concerned sedatives; analgesics; cardiovascular drugs or diuretics; and iron, vitamin, or mineral preparations. Also common were overprolonged prescription of antibiotics (48 prescriptions), confusion of drug names (nine), and inadvertent coprescription of excessive quantities of aspirin or paracetamol in plain and compound preparations (seven). The pharmacist's recommendation was accepted in 639 instances (86%), and the prescription was altered in 575, leading to an appreciable (246 cases) or minor (231 cases) improvement. Interventions had little effect on costs; 427/646 had no effect and 130 produced savings less than 50p. Pharmacy intervention (730/769 interventions) occupied on average 41 minutes per pharmacist per week. CONCLUSIONS--Most reactive pharmacy interventions concerned prescribing errors with a limited potential for medical harm, but a small number of detected errors with a major potential for medical harm; cost savings were not appreciable.


The paper generally relates to the field of wireless local area networks (WLANs), and, more particularly, to AP selection and association methods for the performance of a station. IEEE 802.11 WLAN is widely deployed and used as an emerging service to connect to the high-speed Internet in the public wireless environment. However, if there are many users in a hot spot area, they suffer a severe decrease of performance. Thus it needs an association and access control mechanism, especially when it is used in the public environment. We suggest an efficient association method using beacon or probe response frames based IEEE 802.11 and analyze the performance of stations. A station selects an AP using the information of the capability region in a beacon or a probe response frame. An association method for a public WLAN service, which includes a WLAN user terminal and an AP for relaying WLAN communications to and from the user terminal, includes the steps of the user terminal asking the AP's states to access with a radio channel; the station then selects and associates with the AP. Further, it is possible to improve the efficiency of network management.


Endotoxins, part of the outer membrane of Gram negative bacteria, are a potent inducer of neutrophilic airway inflammation. A large number of studies in occupational epidemiology has shown that exposure to endotoxins increases the likelihood of organic dust toxic syndrome, chronic bronchitis, and asthma-like syndrome. In contrast, it has been shown that exposure to endotoxins in the occupational and environmental setting protects from respiratory allergies and sensitisation to allergens.

With respect to asthma, the evidence is conflicting at first glance. While some studies indicated an increased risk of asthma after endotoxin exposure, others have shown that endotoxin exposure protects from asthma. However, these differences can be explained when different asthma phenotypes are taken into account. The risk of atopic asthma, mainly dominated by eosinophilic response, is decreased in those exposed to endotoxins. In contrast, the risk of non-atopic asthma, characterised by neutrophilic response, is enhanced in subjects with higher endotoxin exposure. These data are in accordance with the so-called hygiene hypothesis and have been supported by animal studies and at the cellular level.

At the workplace, measures should therefore be taken in order to reduce endotoxin exposure. The effectiveness of such measures with respect to the incidence of diseases associated with a chronic neutrophilic inflammation in the airways should be assessed in intervention studies. At the same time we need to learn whether the evidence from epidemiological studies in farming environments might help us to obtain effective intervention strategies against allergies.

In contrast to Gram positive bacteria, Gram negative bacteria are surrounded by an inner and an outer membrane.1 Endotoxins are parts of the outer membrane. Their purified derivatives are called lipopolysaccharides (LPS).2

Endotoxins and LPS are present in the oral and nasal cavities of humans and animals. They can also be found ubiquitously in occupational and environmental …


Both genetic and non-genetic factors can predispose individuals to cardiovascular risk. Finding ways to alter these predispositions is important for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Here, we use a novel whole-genome framework to estimate genetic and non-genetic effects on—hence their predispositions to—cardiovascular risk and determine whether they vary with respect to lifestyle factors. We performed analyses on the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC, N=6,896-7,180) and validated findings using the UK Biobank (UKBB, N=14,076-34,538). Cardiovascular risk was measured using 23 traits in the ARIC and eight traits in the UKBB, such as body mass index (BMI), resting heart rate, white blood cell count and blood pressure; and lifestyle factors included information on physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption and dietary intake. Physical activity altered both genetic and non-genetic effects on heart rate and BMI, genetic effects on HDL cholesterol level, and non-genetic effects on waist-to-hip ratio. Alcohol consumption altered both genetic and non-genetic effects on BMI, while smoking altered non-genetic effects on heart rate, pulse pressure, and white blood cell count. In addition, saturated fat intake modified genetic effects on BMI, and total daily energy intake modified non-genetic effects on waist-to-hip ratio. These results highlight the relevance of lifestyle changes for CVD prevention. We also stratified individuals according to their genetic predispositions and showed notable differences in the effects of lifestyle on cardiovascular risk across stratified groups, implying the need for individualizing lifestyle changes for CVD prevention. Finally, we showed that neglecting lifestyle modulation of genetic and non-genetic effects will on average reduce SNP heritability estimates of cardiovascular traits by a small yet significant amount, primarily owing to overestimation of residual variance. Thus, current SNP heritability estimates for cardiovascular traits, which commonly do not consider modulating effects of lifestyle covariates, are likely underestimated.


Powerful radio galaxies and radio-loud quasars at high redshifts are frequently associated with extended emission-line regions (EELRs). Here we investigate the [O ii] EELR around the quasar 3C 196 at z = 0.871 using integral field spectroscopy. We also detect extended [Ne ii] emission at a distance of about 30 kpc from the core. The emission is aligned with the radio hot spots and shows a redshifted and a blueshifted component with a velocity difference of ∼800 km s −1 . The alignment effect and large velocities support the hypothesis that the EELR is caused by a jet-cloud interaction, which is furthermore indicated by the presence of a pronounced bend in the radio emission at the location of the radio hot spots. We also report observations of two other systems which do not show as clear indications of interactions. We find a weaker alignment of an [O ii] EELR from the z = 0.927 quasar 3C 336, while no EELR is found around the core-dominated quasar OI 363 at z = 0.63.


Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a chronic and progressive cerebrovascular occlusion disease, the precise etiology of which is poorly understood. Ring finger protein 213 (RNF213) has been previously identified as a susceptibility gene that serves an important role in angiogenesis, where it has been shown to be closely associated with the onset of MMD. Patients with MMD exhibit increased expression levels of various pro-inflammatory molecules and angiogenic factors. Under certain conditions, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have the ability to differentiate to form neuron-like and microglia-like cells. In the present study, a total of 40 MMD patients and 40 healthy individuals were enrolled. ELISA assays revealed that the expression of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) were higher than that in healthy controls. Furthermore, rat BMSCs (rBMSCs) were isolated and cultured using the whole bone marrow adherence method, which were then phenotyped using flow cytometry. Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation were determined by using Alizarin red and oil red O staining, respectively. RNF213 was knocked-down using a lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA system in passage three rBMSCs, and successful transfection of the RNF213 was confirmed by RT-qPCR and fluorescence imaging. The expression levels of VEGF and TGF-β1 in these rBMSCs were measured on days 7 and 14, respectively. The results demonstrated that RNF213 knockdown upregulated TGF-β1 at both protein and mRNA levels, but did not exert any effect on VEGF gene expression. In conclusion, these findings suggested that that RNF213 knockdown may contribute to aberrant TGF-β1 expression via a pathway that remains to be unidentified, indicating that quantitative changes in RNF213 gene expression may serve an important role in the pathogenesis of MMD.


This paper studies distributed averaging of arbitrary vectors in the presence of network interference by casting an algebraic structure over the interference. While communicating locally with its neighbors for consensus, each agent causes an additive interference, lying on a low-dimensional subspace, in other communication links. We consider a particular case when this interference subspace depends only on the inter-ferer, referred to as uniform outgoing interference. We show that consensus is possible in a low-dimensional subspace of the initial conditions whose dimension is complimentary to the largest interference subspace across all of the agents. In this context, we derive a global information alignment and a local pre-conditioning, followed by local consensus iterations to ensure subspace consensus. We further provide the conditions under which this subspace consensus recovers the exact average. The analytical results are illustrated graphically to describe the setup and the information alignment scheme.


. Objectives: Malign mesothelioma arises from pleura, peritoneum, pericardium and tunica vaginalis of testis. It is a primary malignant tumor that originates from mesothelial cells. It is seen relatively low but has a high mortality rate. Methods: In this study, we reviewed 41 (Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma) MPM patients who were admitted to Kocaeli University Department of Oncology between 2008 and 2014 retrospectively. Patient data were reviewed from medical records. We retrospectively analyzed the correlation between the clinical characteristics, complete blood count parameters and survival in patients with MPM. Results: Overall survival (OS) of the entire population was 11.5 months (%95 CI; 5.86-17.19) In multivariate analysis we found a statistically significant correlation with platelet count and progression free survival (p=0.001). In our study overall survival was better in left pleura localized primary tumors, early staged tumors and patients with platelet count lower than 400.000 μl. Conclusion: Early stage disease and low platelet count have a significant prognostic importance at the time of diagnosis.


Over the years, the issues surrounding the division of zero by itself remained a mystery until year 2018 when the mystery was solved in numerous ways. Afterwards, the same solutions provided opened many other doors in academic space and one of the applications is in sure probabilities. This research is all about the sure probabilities computed from the zero divided by itself point of view. The solutions obtained in the computations are in harmony with logic and basic knowledge. A wide range of already existing probability distribution functions has been applied in different scenarios to compute the sure probabilities unanimously and new findings have also been encountered along the way. Some of the discrete and continuous probability distribution functions involved are the binomial, hypergeometric, negative binomial, Poisson, normal and exponential among others. It has been found in this work that sure probabilities can be evaluated from the division of zero by itself perspective. Another new finding is that in case of combinatorial, if the numerator is smaller than the denominator, then the solutions tend to zero when knowledge in gamma functions, integrations and factorials is applied. Again, if the case of continuous pdf involves integration and random variable specified in the direction of the parameter, then indirect computation of such probabilities should be applied. Finally, it has been found that the expansion of the domains of some of the parameters in some existing probability distribution functions can be considered and the restriction in conditional probabilities can be revised.


Three field experiments, each for a 2-yr duration, were initiated to evaluate the efficacy of TCA (trichloroacetic acid) and dalapon (2,2 - dichloropropionic acid), alone or in combination, for the selective control of alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum L.) and red clover (T. pratense L.) during the establishment of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.). TCA at 6.7 kg/ha gave 95% control of alsike control. TCA at 13.5 kg/ha gave 92% control of red clover and the combination treatment of 6.7 kg/ha of TCA plus 9.0 kg/ha of dalapon gave 95% control of red clover. Birdsfoot trefoil tolerated TCA and dalapon alone or in combination.


Anti-Leishmania antibodies may be detectable in patients with leishmaniasis. Here, we compared a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of anti-Leishmania antibodies, with an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) that is no longer commercially available. Eighty-six serum samples from 73 patients were tested. The results obtained by the NovaLisa™ Leishmania infantum IgG ELISA, interpreted according to the instructions of the manufacturer, but with a modified cut-off for borderline positive values, were compared with the IFAT results that were already available. Moreover, Leishmania Western blot IgG results were available for 43 of the samples. The overall concordance of ELISA and IFAT was 67%. The ELISA and IFAT tests scored as 24% and 15% of the samples being positive, respectively, while 13% and 33% scored as borderline-positive, respectively. Using a Western blot (WB) as the reference, the sensitivities and specificities for the positive plus borderline-positive samples combined was 95.5% (95% confidence interval (CI), 77.2–99.9%) and 81.0% (95% CI, 58.1–94.6%) for ELISA, and 95.5% (95% CI, 77.2–99.9%) and 42.9% (95% CI, 21.8–66.0%) for IFAT, respectively. Overall, the ELISA proved to be a cost-effective alternative to the IFAT, due to its higher accuracy and specificity, and with a consequently lower number of confirmatory WB tests being required. Lastly, we also present data on the associations between seroconversion and the type of leishmaniasis.


The study of defective surface sites on many oxides has received considerable interest in recent years as these sites are coordinatively unsaturated and quite often exhibit enhanced activity in many catalytic reactions. Despite this importance, the influence of the defect sites on the chemical natur...


The future for all people in Africa lies in the provision of quality education, promotion and sustaining of lifelong learning. This chapter critically examines quality education, lifelong learning, and a learning society for Africa's sustainable development. Issues pertaining to quality education and lifelong learning are ever evolving and may not be completely addressed at any one time, hence the need for win-win solutions from within and without Africa. The chapter provides evidence-based guidance on how to implement rigorous approaches to quality education as an effective lifelong learning strategy to advance Education 2030 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG4).


instrument. There is little interest in the human body; figures are almost universally frontal and often isocephalic, and their stiff poses lack motion or emotion. The third dimension evokes no interest; perspective is mishandled. The sources of iconography are complex: Durene art, itself a hybrid of earlier Mesopotamian, Greek, Parthian, and occasionally Roman and local elements, has doubtless acquired most through other hybrid arts. And from where did frontality arrive? Parthia? In sum, the art emerges as fundamentally Asiatic, with an admixture of western elements locally adapted. This useful monograph presents a clear, balanced, and up-to-date review of Durene art. This updating includes the renaming of the 'Temple of the Palmyrene Gods' as the Temple of Bel, and the attractive redatings of the Konon fresco to the second century A.D. and of the Otes painting to the third (pp. 41, 47). The plates are mediocre and the price disquieting. But with this book the elucidation of the complex phenomenon of 'Parthian' art is further assisted.


Release of materials from regulatory control is an important process; it reduces the amounts of radioactive waste requiring disposal and serves to conserve resources. This paper discusses the radiological protection principles and criteria that apply to the release of materials and land from regulatory control. Comparisons are drawn between materials containing artificial radionuclides and those containing natural radionuclides. Materials within regulated practices are subject to controls. Stringent requirements are placed on the disposal of radioactive wastes in order to protect man and the environment from the effects of ionising radiation. These requirements are generally linked to the hazard posed by the waste and may include disposal at defined locations, environmental monitoring around the point of disposal and assessment of the doses or risks to exposed individuals for comparison with protection criteria (eg, dose limits and constraints). Logically, there should come a point where the radiological hazard posed by the material is such that regulatory controls can be removed and the materials can be released into the general environment without further consideration. Release of materials from regulatory controls has a number of advantages. For example, it allows regulatory effort to be focussed on areas of significant potential hazard and would help to avoid expensive disposal space being needlessly occupied by materials of very low activity content. Recycling of economically valuable materials would also contribute to sustainable development. Nevertheless, it is important to avoid the connotation that radioactive waste is being dumped on the public; the process for release from regulatory controls should be transparent and soundly based on radiological protection considerations. This paper considers both the release of materials from regulatory controls from licensed nuclear sites and the release of land previously occupied by a licensed nuclear site. Comparisons are made with land and materials contaminated with natural radionuclides. It owes much to discussions with staff at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and draws heavily on the conclusions of the International Conference on 'Safe Decommissioning for Nuclear Activities' held in Berlin in 2002. The opinions, however, are those of the author.Copyright © 2003 by ASME


Electrical stimulation of the rostral fastigial nucleus (FN) in anesthetized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated rats with a 10-s stimulus train elicited a stimulus-locked elevation of arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR) (the fastigial pressor response, FPR) and elevated plasma catecholamines (CA) within 20 s from the onset of stimulus. Norepinephrine (NE) increased from 139 +/- 24 to 280 +/- 43 pg/ml (P less than 0.05, n = 8) and epinephrine (E) from 70 +/- 26 to 360 +/- 107 pg/ml (P less than 0.02, n = 8). Acute adrenalectomy increased basal plasma NE (362 +/- 108 pg/ml, P less than 0.05, n = 6) and reduced E (9 +/- 4 pg/ml, P less than 0.02, n = 6). The magnitude and duration of the FPR and the relative increase of NE were unchanged; however, the elevation of E was abolished. Chemosympathectomy, produced by 6-hydroxydopamine hydrobromide (100 mg/kg iv, 24 h before the experiment), lowered resting AP (from 122 +/- 2 to 77 +/- 1 mmHg, P less than 0.001) and NE (16 +/- 5 pg/ml, P less than 0.01), but not E. After chemosympathectomy, FN stimulation induced a pressor response of greater magnitude and longer latency and duration than in controls, increased NE 3.5-fold (from 16 +/- 5 to 56 +/- 14 pg/ml, P less than 0.05, n = 5) and E 9-fold (from 38 +/- 11 to 336 +/- 88, P less than 0.05, n = 5). The increases in CA were abolished by adrenalectomy. Chemosympathectomy shifted the pressor-dose-response curves of NE and E to the left; thus, the enhanced pressor response to FN stimulation after chemosympathectomy was possibly a consequence of supersensitivity to circulatory CA. Stimulation of cerebellar FN increased plasma CA, as a consequence of coexcitation of both neural and adrenomedullary components of the autonomic nervous system. However, in rats with intact sympathetic nerves the release of adrenomedullary CA did not contribute to the elevation in AP.


Since September 2015 a project in Milan has been binding the Library of the Universita Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore to the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana. The aim of the project is to enhance both the person of the German writer and artist Wolfgang Hildesheimer (19161991) and the 5.199 texts of his private library that the Ambrosiana has been given by his heirs. The volumes owned by the cultural institute are temporarily stored at the Universita Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, at the moment, where they are available for study and research to both students and scholars.


Educational equity in medicine cannot be achieved without addressing assessment bias. Assessment bias in health professions education is prevalent and has extensive implications for learners and, ultimately, the health care system. Medical schools and educators desire to minimize assessment bias, but there is no current consensus on effective approaches. Frontline teaching faculty have the opportunity to mitigate bias in clinical assessment in real time. Based on their experiences as educators, the authors created a case study about a student to illustrate ways bias affects learner assessment. In this paper, the authors use their case study to provide faculty with evidence-based approaches to mitigate bias and promote equity in clinical assessment. They focus on 3 components of equity in assessment: contextual equity, intrinsic equity, and instrumental equity. To address contextual equity, or the environment in which learners are assessed, the authors recommend building a learning environment that promotes equity and psychological safety, understanding the learners' contexts, and undertaking implicit bias training. Intrinsic equity, centered on the tools and practices used during assessment, can be promoted by using competency-based, structured assessment methods and employing frequent, direct observation to assess multiple domains. Instrumental equity, focused on communication and how assessments are used, includes specific, actionable feedback to support growth and use of competency-based narrative descriptors in assessments. Using these strategies, frontline clinical faculty members can actively promote equity in assessment and support the growth of a diverse health care workforce.


Emitter identification has been widely recognized
as one crucial issue for communication, electronic
reconnaissance, and radar intelligence analysis.
However, the measurements of emitter signal parameters
typically take the form of uncertain intervals
rather than precise values. In addition, the
measurements are generally accumulated dynamically
and continuously. As a result, one imminent
task has become how to carry out discriminant
analysis of interval-valued parameters incrementally
for emitter identification. Existing machine
learning approaches for interval-valued data analysis
are unfit for this purpose as they generally assume
a uniform distribution and are usually restricted
to static data analysis. To address the above
problems, we bring forward an incremental discriminant
analysis method on interval-valued parameters
(IDAIP) for emitter identification. Extensive
experiments on both synthetic and real-life data
sets have validated the efficiency and effectiveness
of our method.


A transfer transistor structure achieving complete charge transfer in a CMOS image sensor pixel is proposed to eliminate image lag. This structure adopted double N implants for photodiode to ensure a wide channel of charge transfer, a surface P type preventing from dark current and especially a non-uniform doped poly-silicon gate to adjust the potential profile in channel. The simulation results show that if a light pulse of 10000lux illuminates for one integration cycle, the signal voltage of the following frame drops to 1/50000 of the first one. The electron density in N buried layer after charge transfer is around 108/cm3, far below the intrinsic value.


The security of drinking water is a serious issue in China and worldwide. As the backup source of drinking water for the Changde City in China, the Huangshi Reservoir suffers from the threat of eutrophication due to the water quality of the reservoir ecosystem being affected by the tributaries that carry Non-Point Source (NPS) pollutants. The calculation of the water environmental capacity (WEC) can provide a scientific basis for water pollution control, which refers to the maximum amount of pollutants that the water can accommodate. In this paper, according to the hydrological characteristics of the river–reservoir combination system, a one-dimensional (1-D) water quality model and the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) model were chosen to calculate the water environmental capacity of each functional zone in this basin. The quantity control of pollution from the tributaries was conducted based on the combined results of the water environmental capacity calculation from the EFDC model and a one-dimensional (1-D) river water quality model. The results show that total water environmental capacity of the tributaries included a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 421.97 tons; ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) of 40.99 tons; total nitrogen (TN) of 35.94 tons; and total phosphorus (TP) of 9.54 tons. The water environmental capacity of the Huangshi Reservoir region accounts for more than 93% of the total capacity. The reduction targets of the major pollutants in the Huangshi Reservoir and its four major input rivers, which are, namely, the Bamao River, the Longtan River, the Fanjiafang River, and the Dongtan River, have been determined to achieve the water quality objectives for the reservoir in 2020 and 2025. The results will be helpful for the local water quality management and will provide a valuable example for other similar water source reservoirs.


THE AM8ITIONS OF THE SLUM CHILD The influence oi environment on ambition is curious. What are the ambitions "i a child raised in . the sordid, poverty-stricken -ect ionoi our cities? How do the children brought up in afamily where liie is one perpetual -trngg-Ie ior food, ior clothing, and ior shelter ieel about their own future? ;\ teacher in one oi the -chools oi the London slums asked her hig-he;;t class, averaging about thirteen years of a~e. to write a cornpo-rtion on "\\hat I Should Like to Be and Why.' Thiwas i"II"wc,1 up by other di-like-. The rea« in I have chosen this occupation ibecau-e r -hould like to gain a higher po... it ion in life," It i", evident that their powers of imagination arc verv small, but, though slum life tends to -: title and dwarf imagination, it dtll':o' also tend, says thc writer, to create a very deep <ympathy and a sublime unselfishness which striveto express it-eli in ,;"mc practical way. "These children cannot iorget the limitation-, oi their real world, Their ima~ination ,):ill not suffer them ior long tn rr-e above them.


PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
To investigate the relationship between anxiety and directed attention (the ability to focus and concentrate) in women awaiting breast cancer surgery and the potential influence of age and extent of anticipated surgery (breast conservation versus mastectomy) on attentional functioning and anxiety.

DESIGN
Descriptive, cross-sectional.

SAMPLE AND SETTING
Convenience sample of 45 women newly diagnosed with localized breast cancer at a Midwestern university medical center.

METHODS
Subjects were assessed approximately 11 days before surgery using objective measures of attention: Digit Span, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, the Necker Cube Pattern Control Test, the Attentional Function Index (a subjective measure of effectiveness of attentional functioning), and the Tension-Anxiety subscale of the Profile of Mood States.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES
Capacity to direct attention, perceived attentional functioning, anxiety level, age, and extent of anticipated breast surgery.

FINDINGS
Level of anxiety was related inversely (r = -0.63, p < 0.01) to perceptions of attentional functioning but not to performance on any objective measures of attention in the pretreatment period. No differences in anxiety level existed in regard to age or extent of anticipated surgery. However, older women (> or = 55 years) showed overall significantly lowered (p < 0.001) performance on the attentional measures than younger women.

CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative anxiety is a clinically significant issue in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer regardless of age and extent of anticipated surgery. Higher anxiety requires use of attentional resources and initially may act to reduce perceptions of effectiveness in attentional functioning. Older women who have high anxiety combined with both subjective and objective decline in attentional functioning may be at particularly high risk for attentional fatigue.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE
Women newly diagnosed with breast cancer may experience not only increased anxiety and associated perceptions of decreased attentional functioning but also a subsequent depletion of attentional reserves as a result of the onset of attentional fatigue. Nurses can assess anxiety in women during the preoperative period and assist them in coping with the psychological and cognitive demands associated with this highly stressful period.


Cutaneous malignant melanoma is a significant public health problem in Western countries, and the probability that patients with one melanoma will develop a second one is high. This study is an attempt to assess and understand sun-related behavior in patients subsequent to a melanoma diagnosis. We recruited 35 melanoma patients diagnosed in 2001 or 2002, who resided in the Greater Vancouver Regional District of British Columbia, Canada, and 35 controls frequency matched by broad age-group, sex, ethnicity, and area of residence to patients. All participants were interviewed over the telephone in the autumn of 2003 to ascertain their outdoor activities for the previous summer months (June–August) of 2003, along with their clothing preferences, sunscreen use, sunburn frequency, and knowledge and attitudes regarding sun exposure and tanning. Patients were less involved in outdoor recreational activities than controls (mean monthly hours 23.0 vs. 31.0, P=0.023). In addition, patients protected themselves from sun exposure using clothing and sunscreen more often than controls. However, the data also revealed that patients still engaged in outdoor activities to a substantial degree, often without sun protection. Furthermore, 27% still had a positive or neutral attitude toward tanning, even after melanoma diagnosis. The continuing presence of unprotected episodes of summer sun exposure in patients with melanoma, coupled with sunburn prevalence similar to normal controls, suggests that better education and behavior modification programs are needed for patients with melanoma. The results may indicate the need for more emphasis on post-treatment counseling by physicians.


Summary The aim of this study was to compare the quality of reduction and the position of the fixating screws with the rate of union in 72 femoral neck fractures. The degree of fracture displacement after reduction and the position of the two fixating screws were determined with a new computerized measuring method that compensates for the variations in hip rotation in routine radiographs. All 13 nondisplaced fractures united. Sixteen of 18 fractures healed in the group of displaced fractures where both the fixating screws were placed within 3 mm from the femoral neck cortex, compared with 13 of 22 healed fractures in the group where only one screw had the same close contact with the femoral neck cortex (p < 0.05). Nonunion developed in all five displaced fractures where none of the two fixating screws were placed within 3 mm from the femoral neck cortex. The quality of reduction did not affect the healing rate; however, the number of poorly reduced fractures was only 10%. The results of this study underline the importance of achieving cortical support for the fixating screws in femoral neck fracture surgery.


In this study, in order to investigate the characteristics of shear and volumetric strain and development of excess pore water pressure for compacted tire chips specimen, a series of drained and undrained monotonic and undrained cyclic triaxial tests were performed. From the results of the monotonic tests, linear development of volumetric strains and excess pore water pressure were observed during loading up to 20% axial strain. It was further observed that the volumetric strain and excess pore water pressure induced by shear loading recovered to zero during unloading. In cyclic triaxial tests of tire chips, there was no marked development of pore water pressure, resulting in non-liquefaction. The on-line pseudo-dynamic response tests were performed aimed at clarifying the earthquake response characteristics of tire chips. The experimental results confirmed the quake-absorbing excess pore water pressure control and seismic isolation effects of tire chips as a geomaterial.


Previous work with the mechanical properties of step and flash imprint lithography etch barrier materials has shown bulk volumetric shrinkage trends that could impact imprinted feature dimensions and profile. This article uses mesoscopic and finite element modeling techniques to model the behavior of the etch barrier during polymerization. Model results are then compared to cross section images of template and etch barrier. Volumetric shrinkage is seen to impact imprinted feature profiles largely as a change in feature height.


The complexity of the CMS tracker (more than 50 million channels to monitor) now in construction in ten laboratories worldwide with hundreds of interested people, will require new tools for monitoring both the hardware and the software. In our approach we use both visualization tools and Grid services to make this monitoring possible. The use of visualization enables us to represent in a single computer screen all those million channels at once. The Grid will make it possible to get enough data and computing power in order to check every channel and also to reach the experts everywhere in the world allowing the early discovery of problems. We report here on a first prototype developed using the Grid environment already available now in CMS i.e. LCG2. This prototype consists on a Java client which implements the GUI for tracker visualization and two data servers connected to the tracker construction database and to Grid catalogs of event datasets. All the communication between client and servers is done using data encoded in XML and standard Internet protocols.


Owing to their unique mechanical performance for both seismic and non‐seismic applications, carbon nanofiber (CNF)‐reinforced engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) and CNF‐reinforced lightweight ECCs (LWECCs) have been received great attentions since their introduction. Due to the crucial roles of material selection and environmental conditions on the mechanical performance of cementitious composites, and thus, the structural performance during the service life of civil engineering structures, analytical studies establishing the constitutive relationships for the mechanical properties of any cementitious composite are of great importance. In this study, the constitutive relationships for the mechanical properties of CNF‐reinforced ECC, as well as, hollow glass microsphere (HGM)‐based LWECC and CNF‐reinforced HGM‐based LWECC have been developed. The proposed models include compressive strength, flexural strength, and compressive stress–strain relationships at both ambient and elevated temperatures. Furthermore, the available experimental results have been applied so that the generality and workability of the established models can be evaluated. The results indicated that to establish more reliable and accurate constitutive relationships, more researches and experimental data for CNF‐reinforced ECC and LWECC with and without CNF reinforcements are essential.


Using cross-correlation networks to identify and visualize patterns in disease transmission T-C Lu and N Abernethy Biomedical and Health Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA E-mail: email@example.com Objective Time series of influenza-like illness (ILI) events are often used to depict case rates in different regions. We explore the suitability of network visualization to highlight geographic patterns in this data on the basis of cross-correlation of the time series data. Introduction Syndromic surveillance data such as the incidence of influenza-like illness (ILI) is broadly monitored to provide awareness of respiratory disease epidemiology. Diverse algorithms have been employed to find geospatial trends in surveillance data, however, these methods often do not point to a route of transmission. We seek to use correlations between regions in time series data to identify patterns that point to transmission trends and routes. Toward this aim, we employ network analysis to summarize the correlation structure between regions, whereas also providing an interpretation based on infectious disease transmission. Cross-correlation has been used to quantify associations between climate variables and disease transmission. The related method of autocorrelation has been widely used to identify patterns in time series surveillance data. This research seeks to improve interpretation of time series data and shed light on the spatial–temporal transmission of respiratory infections based on cross-correlation of ILI case rates. Methods For this pilot study, we analyzed patient visits to health care providers for ILI, collected through the US Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet). Aggregate data for the 27-week period from the 35th week of 2009 to the 9th week of 2010 were used. The model involves the 10 Human and Health Services (HHS) regions for which ILI data are publicly available through the CDC. The data consist of the weighted percentage of all patient visits to healthcare providers for ILI reported each week. Additional networks were generated using confirmed cases from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and city-level data from Google Flu Trends. Using the cross-correlation function to measure maximal correlation and the corresponding latency This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Figure 1 Cross-correlation network representing fraction of ILI cases in the 10 HHS regions during the 2009–2010 influenza season. The corresponding latency between time series is represented by directed ties in the graph. Gray (bidirectional) edges represent regions correlated with no time lag. Emerging Health Threats Journal 2011, 4:s8. doi: 10.3134/ehtj.10.008 & 2011 T-C Lu and N Abernethy.; licensee Emerging Health Threats Journal.


Foil excitation of 31P ions at 19 MeV has been used to produce singly and doubly excited states of highly ionized phosphorus atoms. The EUV spectrum in the wavelength range 10 nm < λ < 55 nm has been observed and analyzed by means of a 2.2 m grazing incidence monochromator. General agreement with tabulations based on observations with other light sources has been found. Decay curves of 22 n = 2, Δn = 0 transitions in P IX-P XII have been taken. The evaluation procedure accounts for the spatial resolution function. As in the case of silicon, the decays of singly excited states appear to be strongly fed by cascades from doubly excited states in the n = 2 shell. The lifetime results are in general agreement with theoretical predictions.


Background Valvular involvement is the most common cardiac manifestation in the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and has been associated to high risk of arterial thrombotic events, presence of cardiovascular risk factors, livedo reticularis and migraine. Objectives To describe the prevalence, clinical features and evolution of APS patients with heart valvular involvement followed in a single center. In addition, we determined the association between heart valve disease and different demographic, clinical and laboratory features in patients with APS. Methods A retrospective longitudinal and observational study of all patients diagnosed according to current classification criteria of APS in which at least, one transthoracic echocardiographic study was performed. Descriptive analysis of echocardiographic findings, demographic, previous clinical characteristics, laboratory features and evolution was considered. Results 128 APS patients were included. 66 of them (51.6%) presented valvular involvement. Among them, 57 (86.4%) were women and the mean age at the onset of symptoms was 38.8±16 years (range 18-71). 45 (68.2%) had primary APS whereas 21 (31,8%) presented an associated-SLE APS. 35 (53%) presented with at least one cardiovascular risk factor. 58 (87.9%) pacients have had a thrombotic event, of which 19 (32.8%) were venous, 37 (63.8%) arterial, and 2 (3.4%) both. Main findings found in echocardiographic study were mitral thickening in 48 (72.7%) cases, mitral insufficiency in 46 (69.7%), mitral regurgitation in 43 (65.1%), tricuspid regurgitation and tricuspid insufficiency in 26 (39.4%), nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis in 25 (36.2%) (20 (80%) on mitral valve and 5 (20%) on aortic valve), aortic thickening in 17 (25.8%), aortic insufficiency in 15 (22.7%) and tricuspid thickening, mitral stenosis and aortic stenosis in 1 (1.5%) each. 10 (15.1%) required valve replacement surgery, 8 (80%) on mitral valve and 2 (20%) on aortic valve. Lupus anticoagulant was the antiphospholipid antibody most frequent, present in 56 (84.8%) pacients, followed by anticardiolipin antibodies in 52 (78.8%), having double positivity 42 (63.6%). 9 (13.6%) patients died during follow-up. Multivariate analysis identified a significant statistically differences in heart valve involvement group in a greater proportion of women (p=0.002), the presence arterial hypertension (p=0.018), arterial thrombosis (p=0.007), stroke (p=006) and livedo reticularis (p=0.017), and a less number of venous thrombosis (p=0.018), as well as fewer episodes of deep venous thrombosis in lower extremities (p=0.035). The presence of lupus anticoagulant (p=0.014) and the absence of antinuclear antibodies (p=0.011) were the significant differences in laboratory features. Also, the valve involvement group was associated with higher mortality (p=0.018). Conclusions Heart valve disease is a frequent manifestation in our cohort of patients with APS, and is associated with demographic, clinical and laboratory features and increased mortality. More studies are needed, but our results support the hypothesis that there may be a subgroup of patients with APS and valve involvement with its own characteristics that differentiated the rest of patients with APS. Disclosure of Interest None declared


Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (Anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is one of the most commonly emerging autoimmune encephalitis in children and young adults in recent years. Clinical manifestations range from prodromal symptoms to seizures, movement disorder, psychiatric manifestations, cognitive/speech impairment, and autonomic dysfunction. Our case presented with initial symptoms of severe episodic hypertension, sweating, agitation, and tachycardia. She received early care for pheochromocytoma and panic disorder in Qatar, but there was no relief. Three weeks later, she presented in our emergency room with seizures, cognitive/speech impairment, and orofacial dyskinesia. Electroencephalography EEG revealed right hemispheric delta activity and cerebrospinal fluid CSF anti-NMDA Receptor IgG was positive. Magnetic resonance imaging MRI brain and CSF studies were normal. She was treated symptomatically for hypertension and psychiatric manifestations. She received high dosage pulse intravenous methylprednisolone, followed by intravenous immunoglobulin, which significantly alleviated her cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and autonomic features. Severe Hypertension is an uncommon presentation of Anti- NMDAR encephalitis.  Early recognition and prompt management improves prognosis and long term sequelae.


Abundance, community composition, diversity and density of zooplankton were analysed in Tercan, Kuzgun and Demirdoven Dam Lakes between January-December 2014 seasonally. During the study period a total of 38 zooplankton species have been observed, with 25 species of Rotifera, and 8 species of Cladocera and 5 species of Copepoda. 28 species in Tercan Dam Lake, 26 species in Kuzgun Dam Lake and 27 species in Demirdoven Dam Lake were identified. Rotifers were the dominant group among zooplankton community, constituting 65.7% of the total zooplankton population. The highest (H′=2.75) and the lowest (H′=0.68) Shannon diversity index values were recorded at Demirdoven Dam Lake. And also the highest value of Simpson index (D=11.63) was recorded in Demirdoven Dam Lake indicating low species dominance in spring. Pielou evenness (J) index value was showed its maximum value with 0.98 indicating uniformity in zooplankton community.


This article explores the social representation of Information Technology and Network Society from Barthes' semiology, using his ideas about myth creation and the connotation of ideological discourses through naturalization. Supplemented with some concepts from Peirce and Santaella, we try to identify and understand these mystification mechanisms and how they affect the creation of an information order; in this case, a digital order. We conclude that we are before an evangelizing discursive alignment based on mythical elements arisen from our aversion to uncertainty, the energy-saving principle, and an engineering discourse guided by the urgency of profit and power. We highlight the presence of a reckless narrative that permanently repeats the urgent need for information technology and digitalization without considering side effects or costs.


This report provides an overview of evidence regarding evidence-based risk factors and pre-surgical screening tools or assessments that may help identify individuals at risk for developing chronic post-surgical pain. This is not a systematic review and a formal critical appraisal was not performed.
Our review identified 19 evidence-based risk factors for chronic post-surgical pain from published systematic reviews.

The most commonly reported chronic post-surgical pain risk factors were anxiety (7 studies), catastrophizing (pain or general) (catastrophizing is the tendency to exaggerate a situation in a negative manner [e.g., imagine the worst possible outcome]) (6 studies); depression (5 studies); and psychological distress (non-specific symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress), kinesiophobia (fear of movement), and age (3 studies each). These risk factors were reported among various surgical procedures (e.g., mixed surgery types, total knee and hip replacements, spine surgery) and age populations (adult, pediatric, adult plus pediatric).
Definitive conclusions cannot be made regarding particular risk factors and their association with chronic post-surgical pain. The evidence was either mixed and/or associated with limitations in the methodology of the study and unclear whether the results may apply in groups other than those included in the studies.

Our review identified 11 pre-surgical screening tools or assessments that were studied for their ability to predict chronic post-surgical pain. These included various quantitative sensory testing measures (e.g., mechanical, heat or cold, electrical), validated scales of other conditions, and screening tools.

Four of the identified screening tools or assessments were found to predict chronic post-surgical pain but their it is unknown whether they can be applied to broader clinical practice (i.e., various surgery types among different age groups). These were only investigated in 1 study among specific populations.
These 4 tools or assessments included a pain threshold evaluation performed with a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure monitor comprised of an inflatable cuff) in adults who underwent total knee replacement; the modified Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia with 13-items (i.e., only the positively scored items) in pediatric patients who underwent orthopedic or general surgery; the Presurgical Psychological Screening algorithm in adults who underwent spine surgery; and the Pediatric Pain Screening tool in pediatric patients who underwent major musculoskeletal surgery.
The remaining screening tools or assessments that were identified reported either mixed findings or no association with chronic post-surgical pain in various surgical populations.
Definitive conclusions cannot be made for the use of pre-surgical screening tools or assessments to identify risk of developing chronic post-surgical pain.


Traditional HRM consists of people and profit management. In the recent decades, HRM has transitioned into human capital management (HCM), focusing on people, planet and profit management. HCM views employees as assets who should be talent managed and supported to innovatively produce and perform through talent opportunities. HCM and talent management strategies promote multiple intelligences and enable multitalented potential to meet individual, organisational, economic and societal needs. Since 21st century humans seek meaningful employment that purposefully contribute to all sectors of society, businesses need to go beyond HR, innovatively exploring how all employees can be developed, thus transforming their high potential into entrepreneurship ventures. Can organisations transition HRM to HCM providing talent creation opportunities, while strategically aiming towards transforming employees into self-managing talent entrepreneurs? The proposed HRM-HSM Transitioning Model with five key steps and roles for HR, line managers and employees may hold the answer to this question, as explored in this conceptual chapter.


The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of aerial parts of Sonchus asper L. in normotensive, glucose and egg feed diet induced hypertensive rats. Aqueous-methanolic extract of Sonchus asper in 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg doses was studied in normotensive and glucose induced hypertensive rats using the non-invasive technique. The results obtained showed that the extract has significantly (p < 0.5 - p < 0.001) decreased the blood pressure and heart rate in dose dependent manner. The dose 1000 mg/kg of the extract produced the maximum antihypertensive effect and was selected for further experiments. The extract was found to prevent the rise in blood pressure of egg and glucose fed rats as compared to control group in 21 days study. The LD50 of the plant extract was 3500 mg/kg b.w. in mice and sub-chronic toxicity study showed that there was no significant alteration in the blood chemistry of the extract treated rats. It is conceivable, therefore, that the aqueous-methanolic extract of Sonchus asper has exerted considerable antihypertensive activity in rats and has duly supported traditional medicinal use of plant in hypertension.


Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are promising candidates for scaled transistors because they are immune to mobility degradation at the monolayer limit. However, sub-10 nm scaling of 2D semiconductors, such as MoS2, is limited by the contact resistance. In this work, we show for the first time a statistical study of Au contacts to chemical vapor deposited monolayer MoS2 using transmission line model (TLM) structures, before and after dielectric encapsulation. We report contact resistance values as low as 330 ohm-um, which is the lowest value reported to date. We further study the effect of Al2O3 encapsulation on variability in contact resistance and other device metrics. Finally, we note some deviations in the TLM model for short-channel devices in the back-gated configuration and discuss possible modifications to improve the model accuracy.


Electrocatalytic upgrading of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) provides a promising way to obtain both high-value-added biomass-derived chemicals and clean energy. However, development of efficient electrocatalysts for oxidizing HMF with depressed side reactions remains a challenge. Herein, we report a nickel-phytic acid hybrid (Ni-PA) using natural phytic acid as building block for highly efficient electrocatalytic oxidation of HMF to 2, 5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). Due to the coordination of nickel ion and phosphate groups of phytic acid molecule, high selectivity and yield of FDCA were achieved at 1.6 V vs. RHE. Besides, Ni-PA has a higher electrochemical surface area and lower charge-transfer resistance than Cu/Fe-PA, which significantly promotes the oxidation of HMF to FDCA. This work demonstrates the potential of metal-phytic acid hybrids as effective electrocatalysts for biomass valorization.


Steel cables are an attractive means of retrofit with various engineering applications. They have been extensively used to strengthen deficient buildings against gravitational or earthquake-induced loads. This work investigates the use of steel cables as a means of retrofitting steel-concrete composite buildings against progressive collapse. The effect of the building's characteristics on the total retrofit cost is studied. A fair assessment of designs defined for different requirements is achieved by definition of the most cost-effective solution for each scenario. This is achieved by an optimization algorithm, i.e. the Evolution Strategies, which is employed to define the solution with the desired performance and, at the same time, the minimum cost. For this purpose, a total number of 144 optimizations have been performed. The results yielded reveal the different properties of each retrofit scenario.


Background: Although breast cancer (BC) may occur at any age, its prevalence is greater postmenopause. Greater than 75 % of postmenopausal BCs are hormone dependent. Aromatase inhibitors suppress postmenopausal estrogen biosynthesis. Letrozole has demonstrated efficacy against BC in the adjuvant and metastatic setting at the treatment dose of 2.5 mg daily. Its potential role in BC prevention has been inferred from reductions in contralateral BCs. Its side effect profile, similar to other AIs, includes exacerbation of menopausal symptoms that negatively impact quality of life (QOL) and may result in discontinuation of the drug. Both anastrazole and exemestane have been demonstrated to reduce BC in high-risk women. Hypothesis: Lower and intermittent doses of letrozole effectively suppress estrogen in the high-risk postmenopausal woman and provide a better side effect profile. Methods: A randomized, double-blind study comparing the impact of varying letrozole doses (2.5 mg daily, 2.5 mg MWF, 1.0 mg MWF, or 0.25 mg MWF) on estrogen suppression and side effects--lipids, bone resorption, menopause, and QOL-- was conducted. Participants randomized to intermittent dosing received placebo on nontreatment days. Results: 112 participants were enrolled at 2 clinical sites. Mean patient age was 62.8 years, and average BMI was 29.8. Analysis of available data after 24 weeks of therapy revealed statistically significant increase in triglycerides (N=94): 114.67±48.39 to 125.79±54.31 (p Conclusions: De-escalating doses of letrozole suppress postmenopausal estrogen effectively and result in statistically significant increases in triglycerides, C-telopeptide and vasomotor symptoms without impact on QOL. Presentation will include unblinded intervention arm outcomes. Citation Format: Ana Maria Lopez, Hsiao Hui Sherry Chow, Denise Frank, Sandhya Puthi, Judy Boughey, Paul Hsu, Jose Guillen, Marjorie Perloff, Michelle Ley, Julie E Lang. De-escalating doses of letrozole in post menopausal women at high risk for breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-12-04.


In order to obtain the better understanding for bias effects under irradiation computer simulation was made and the basic view for the dislocation bias was presented from the formation energy of radiation induced defects. It was shown that the difference of the formation energy between a self-interstitial atom and a vacancy is the most basic origin for the dislocation bias. On the other hand, for the production bias the detailed information on interstitial clusters is required and it was found in Fe model lattice that the edge dislocation line has a special character, i.e., a periodicity of b/3, but in the case of dislocation loops these stable positions distributed with a periodicity b/3 diffuse out with decreasing loop size and tend to have a periodicity of nearly b in the smaller limit of loop size. This behavior suggests that Peierls potentials which dislocation loops must overcome depend upon the loop size, and smaller Peierls stress can be expected for larger loops and an edge dislocation line probably because of finer periodicity b/3. But at finite temperatures small clusters of crowdions easily tend to have a rather loose coupling structure of composing crowdions, and slip motion as a whole cluster is not well defined, and the diffusion process as a whole might be better to represent the motion of small clusters at high temperatures.


An interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) is characterized by high efficiency in a wide range of applications. However, when operating at high speeds, torque ripple and rotor loss occur because of the spatial harmonics generated by fluctuations in the airgap permeance. This study demonstrates the suppression of torque ripple and harmonic loss by magnetic wedges using finite element analysis (FEA). First, the authors examined the torque and loss characteristics by varying the slot opening width and relative permeability of the magnetic wedge. Results indicate that the torque ripple can be suppressed even if the opening width is widened to half the slot pitch. However, this improvement effect saturates when the relative permeability of the magnetic wedge becomes larger than r = 10. Furthermore, the authors confirmed the effect of the magnetic wedge by visualizing the harmonic components of the eddy current loss. The findings reveal that the eddy current loss represents a trade-off between the stator and rotor when using the magnetic wedge.


Hiroshima City is surrounded by mountains on its three sides, the east, north, and west, except the south facing the sea, and besides, its urban area places delta region. The capacity of the urban area in Hiroshima City is limited, so its land prices are exceedingly higher than other areas. Due to these conditions, most of the citizens live in residential estates at the slope of these mountains surrounding the city. However, the living environment of the suburban slope residential estates doesn't seem so suitable for elderly people who are unable to go shopping usually called as ``vulnerable road users''. Our previous study showed the concept of information sharing system to support the transportation of residents living in a place where public transportation is not sufficiently developed. In this paper, based on the investigation results on residents' traffic attitude in the slope residential estates at Itsukaichi District, Hiroshima City, and also our previous work, we design and develop a web service to support vulnerable road user's daily life in suburban residential estates.


In this paper it is argued that it is legitimate to talk about mental imagery, and thus, to claim that spatial information is coded in an analogue mode. Evidence from research with blind people indicate that they can perform mental rotation and that analogue spatial cognition does not depend on visual information. It is therefore proposed that, if the blind can perform mental rotation in an analogue mode, there exists a common mode, for processing spatial information, which is not modality specific. The results of the presented study, which was conducted on eight blind subjects, and was intended to extend previous findings, was not conclusive. Reaction time of a haptic mental rotation task could not directly be shown to be a linear function of angular disparity. An alternative theory, based on two different cognitive strategies, is considered as an alternative explanation of the experimental results. (Less)


The intermediates of the proinsulin-insulin conversion were separated by cation exchange. The circular dichroism spectra of the intermediates showed less alpha-helix than insulin and proinsulin. It is suggested that the C-peptide interacts with the section of alpha-helix contained between residues 2 and 8 in the A-chain of the insulin moieties and unwinds the alpha-helix. The in vivo activities of the intermediates were found to be in the order of 50% relative to insulin. In the fat cell assay, the A-chain-substituted form is weaker (9%) than the B-chain-substituted form (19%). The C-peptide segments of the two forms reacted with C-peptide-specific antibodies as fully as the free C-peptide, on a molar basis. In contrast, the insulin segments were hindered from reacting with insulin-specific antibodies as fully as the insulin.


In this study the author compares the broad outlines of Blake's and Dickinson's thought, pointing out evidence of decisive Biblical influence not only on the content of their thought but on their attitude toward language as well. the author argues that both poets assumed the philosophical position of Job as they interpreted the Bible independently and as they explored many dimensions of experience in the fallen world. The author represents their thought not as a fixed system but as a faith-based pattern of Christian/Platonic questing for truth.


INTRODUCTIONBecause of their desire for competition, college student athletes may be highly susceptible to the excitement of gambling. In fact, Cullen and Latessa (1996) found 25% of Division I football and basketball players indicated they had bet on college sports and Cross and Vollano (1999) found over 45% gambled on sports while attending college. Although the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has rules strictly prohibiting athletes from participating in gambling, cases of reported gambling by athletes continues to increase.More opportunities to gamble may exasperate this problem (Kassinove, 1998). In fact, research suggests a positive link between proximity of gambling opportunities and problem gambling (Eadington, 1989; Lesieur, 1992; National Gambling Impact Study, 1999; Shaffer and Hall, 1997; Whyte, 1997). Moreover, Volberg (1994) and others (Gerstein, Volberg, Toce, and Howard, 1999: Shaffer, LaBrie, and LaPlante, 2004) have found that proximity or accessibility (Gilliland, 2003; Marshall, 2004) of gambling activities is linked to higher rates of pathological gambling. Therefore, it is very important to determine if proximity to a gambling venue affects college student athletes. Understanding the potential link between proximity and gambling among athletes is key for colleges and universities across the United States.REVIEW OF THE LITERATUREDefinition of GamblingGambling, especially problem or pathological gambling, is of major concern in the United States. Pathological gambling was formally recognized as a mental disorder in 1980 (American Psychiatric Association, 1980). In 1994, the American Psychiatric Association published a new set of criteria for evaluating excessive gambling habits in its Diagnostic Statistical Manual IV (DSM-IV). A person was diagnosed as a "compulsive gambler" with five "yes" responses to 10 items, which together indicate a persistent and recurrent maladaptive behavior. The DSM-IV also classifies gamblers as:1. Recreational gamblers or those who can gamble merely for recreational purposes and do not develop problem gambling habits,2. At-Risk gamblers or those who gamble more than once a week and use the means of gambling as a money making opportunity, and3. Pathological gamblers or those who gamble continuously with hopes of hitting the big one. They risk personal relationships, employment opportunities, and other life conditions in order to gamble.College Student Athletes and GamblingWhile student athletes are not the only students involved in gambling on college campuses, and not all are pathological or even at-risk gamblers, more attention is given when they get caught. This can have a negative impact on the players, the athletic department, and the image of the university. Over the years, there have been highly publicized incidents involving athletes at major universities, including the University of Maryland, Boston College, Northwestern University, and Arizona State University. The issue of gambling, and especially sports wagering, has been of significant importance to the NCAA membership for the entire existence of the Association (NCAA, 2004). Even an isolated incident can undermine the integrity of a sport. Thus, there remains a strong commitment by NCAA institutions to educate those associated with college sports about the dangers of gambling (NCAA, 2004). The NCAA has a no tolerance policy, whereby the athlete is removed from competition as a result of gambling involvement.In addition, to the negative impact on the athlete, the concern about gambling by college athletes also stems from the substantial economic investment of colleges and universities and associated businesses in intercollegiate athletics (Cross, Basten, Hendrick, Kristofic, and Schaffer, 1998) and the potential of a negative impact. The integrity of college sports and the continuation of the associated economic rewards depend on the assurance the games are being played straight (Cross et al. …


The term terrorism, its definition, its subject matter and its scope is the greatest challenge to Social Science. Our study is focused in sociological, legal and international perspective. So far there has been no universally acceptable definition. Therefore there is confusion as to who are the terrorists. Terrorists attempt to gain attention of the media, the public and the decision makers of modern states, be they individuals or organizations. They use violent means to achieve their objectives. They must be differentiated from the idealists who regard themselves as dedicated patriots or as the defender of the people's rights or religious instructions. Terrorism must also be differentiated from the acts of violence undertaken by the colonized people to advance the cause of independence of their country from their colonial powers. We have drawn examples from the PLO, the Hammas, the Kashmiri Resistance Movement, the struggle of the Iraqi and Afghani people to substantiate our arguments. We have also discussed some theories that cause or motivate terrorists to undertake violent activities. In the end we have also thrown some lights on the state sponsored terrorism.


We consider the absorption and scattering of X-rays observed from the Galac-tic center. One objective is to characterize the intrinsic X-ray emission from the central black hole, Sgr A * , in its quiescent and flaring states — crucial for our understanding of the accretion physics of supermassive black holes. We correct the fluxes observed by the Chandra and XMM telescopes for absorption and scattering, but limited knowledge about the properties of the intervening gas and dust causes large uncertainties. We use realistic models for the dust grain size distribution, consistent with many other observational constraints, as well as reasonable models for the gas and dust abundances and spatial distributions. Since much of the intervening dust is relatively close to Sgr A * , the scattered halo of X-ray photons is very concentrated: its intensity can dominate the point spread function of Chandra inside 1 ′′ , and so affects estimates of the point source flux. It also causes an apparent broadening of the radial intensity profiles of Galactic center sources, and observations of this broadening can therefore help constrain models of the line of sight distribution of the dust. We estimate that the combined scattering halos from observed Galactic center sources within 10 ′′ of Sgr A * contribute up to ∼ 10% of the observed diffuse emission in this region. Unresolved sources may make an additional contribution. Dust-scattered pho-tons suffer a time delay relative to the photons that arrive directly. For dust that is 100 pc towards us from the Galactic center, this delay is about 1000 s at angles of 1 ′′ and 100 ks at 10 ′′. We illustrate how the evolution of the scattering halo following X-ray flares from Sgr A * or other sources can also help to constrain the dust's line of sight distribution. We discuss the implications of X-ray scattering halos for the intensity of diffuse emission that has been reported within a few arcseconds of Sgr A * : in the most extreme, yet viable, model we consider, ∼ 1/3 of it is due to dust scattering of an unresolved source. The remainder results from an extended source of emission.


Abstract Understanding the relationship between mechanobiology and the biosynthetic activities of the valve interstitial cells (VICs) in health and disease under severe dynamic loading conditions is of particular interest. The purpose of this study is to further understand the mechanobiology of heart valve leaflet tissue and the VICs under impact forces. Two novel computational and experimental platforms were developed to study the effect of impact load on the VICs to monitor for apoptosis. The first objective was to design and develop an apparatus to experimentally study viability (apoptosis) of the porcine heart valve leaflet tissue VICs in the aortic position under controlled impact forces. Apoptosis was assessed based on terminal transferase dUTP nick end-labelling (TUNEL) assay. The second objective was to develop a computational platform to estimate the stress and strain fields in the vicinity of VICs when the tissue experiences impact forces. A nonlinear finite element (FE) model with an anisotropic, hyperelastic and heterogeneous material model for the matrix and cells was developed. Preliminary results confirm that interstitial cells are successfully resistant to impact loads up to 30 times more than normal physiological conditions. Additionally, the structure and composition of heart valve leaflet tissue provides a mechanical shield for VICs protecting them from excessive mechanical forces such as impact loads. Although, the entire tissue may experience excessive stresses, which may lead to structural damage, the stresses around and near VICs remain consistency low. Results of this study may be used for heart valve leaflet tissue-engineering, as well as further understanding the mechanobiology of the VICs in health and disease.


ABSTRACT Pseudoaneurysmogastric fistula is a rare consequence of pseudoaneurysms occurring in the vicinity of stomach. They are the result of pseudoaneurysms eroding into the stomach, and represent a life threatening emergency. Urgent surgical intervention is often necessary to salvage the patient. Data regarding the presentation and management of this condition is sparse. Herein, we present our experience with four cases of pseudoaneurysmogastric fistula, their clinical context, presentation, management and outcomes. We attempt to outline an algorithm for the diagnosis and management of this unusual complication.