6033 Many cancers overexpress transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), a protein that plays a major role in tumor progression by regulating cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis and immunosupression. Glioblastoma multiformae (GBM) is one such cancer. TGF-β secretion may play a role in the highly invasive nature of the disease and appears to be responsible for the suppressed immune system in GBM patients. The therapeutic potential of SX-007, an orally bioavailable small molecule TGF-β RI kinase inhibitor (IC50=33 nM), was investigated in the SMA560 model, a syngeneic murine model of glioma. SMA560 cells were implanted into the right striatum of male VM/Dk mice. Dosing began three days after implanting tumor cells and continued until the end of the study. The efficacy of SX-007 was assessed at 5, 20 and 40 mg/kg po qd in the SMA560 model. Maximal efficacy was observed at 20 mg/kg (median survival=24 days). Increasing dosing from 20 mg/kg once to twice daily did not result in improved survival benefit. From each study, approximately 20% of animals from the groups dosed with 20 mg/kg SX-007 remained alive at the end of the study (Day 35). These long-term survivors appear to be disease-free. In a separate study, the animals were sacrificed at Day 15 and brain tissue removed to verify that SX-007 reached the site of action. The levels of phosphorylated Smad 2/3 and transcription of TGF-β related genes (most notable, PAI-1) were reduced in tumors from compound-treated animals confirming an inhibition of TGF-β signaling. In addition, there was increased CD3+ T-cell infiltration into the tumor and a concomitant increase in caspase-3 staining in the brain tissue of compound-treated animals as measured by immunohistochemistry demonstrating a functional consequence of inhibiting TGF-β signaling. SX-007 can modulate TGF-β signaling pathway in vivo and treatment with SX-007 is associated with an improvement in animal survival. Survival benefit is due, at least in part, to a reversal of the immune suppressed state allowing for rejection of the tumor. Thus SX-007 may be useful in the treatment of glioblastoma.


The presence of waIn ter in asphalt pavements deteriorates their condition and causes distresses that result in high maintenance costs to state and federal agencies. The objective of this research was to execute dynamic and relaxation tests and evaluate their effectiveness in assessing moisture susceptibility of asphalt mixture specimens with different air void structures determined using X-ray computed tomography (CT) and conditioned using the modified Lottman procedure. The dynamic test consisted of the application of a sinusoidal cyclic compressive load on the specimen while maintaining the strain within a specified range. The relaxation test, performed in both direct tension and compression, consisted of the application of a constant static strain. A statistical analysis was used to study the effectiveness of the tests in evaluating the moisture susceptibility of the asphalt mixtures. The results showed that none of the tests (dynamic or relaxation) were consistent in differentiating between the moisture conditioned and unconditioned specimens or between the responses of the different mixtures within each condition. In addition, the results of the dynamic and relaxation tests were compared after applying different methods to convert frequency-domain data to time-domain data.


This paper mainly analysis the driving force to the development of low carbon city in optimization and upgrading of the industrial structure, lists the practical experience and effects of implementing low carbon economy and making operating mechanism of industrial structure adjustment in developed countries, and then put forward the strategies on how to develop the operating mechanism of city's low carbon industrial structure adjustment of Hebei province. Keywords-low carbon city; industrial structure; operating mechanism; Heibei province


Rather spotty but excellent exposures of the Cretaceous-age Turkana Grits occur near the western shore of Lake Turkana, northern Kenya. These very coarse to pebbly arkosic sandstones and sandy conglomerates were derived from and rest unconformably upon Precambrian metamorphic basement; they are overlain by late Tertiary basaltic flows that comprise much of the volcanics in the East African Rift Zone. The formation ranges up to 2000 ft thick in the Laburr Range. Several outcrops contain sauropod, crocodile, and tortoise remains as well as abundant trunks of petrified wood (Dryoxylon). Five major facies make up the Turkana Grits and record a major episode of continental fluvial deposition in basins flanked by Precambrian basement. Facies 1 is crudely stratified, cobble and boulder conglomerate (clast-supported); Facies 2 is crudely stratified pebble-cobble conglomerate and pebbly sandstone; Facies 3 is trough cross-bedded, very coarse sandstones containing fossils wood and vertebrate remains; Facies 4 is crudely stratified to massive sandstones with ironstone nodules; and Facies 5 is red, purple, and gray mudstone and mud shale with carbonate nodules. Facies 1 through 3 record deposition in proximal to medial braided-stream channel, longitudinal bar and dune complexes. Facies 4 is a lowland, hydromorphic paleosol, and Facies 5 representsmore » overbank and abandoned channel-fill sedimentation in an alluvial plain.« less


OBJECTIVE
To identify the frequency and maternal and neonatal factors associated with meconium-stained amniotic fluid at birth.

METHODS
Cross-sectional study carried out with 2,441 births at an in-hospital birth center in the city of São Paulo (Southeastern Brazil) in March and April, 2005. The association between meconium-stained amniotic fluid and the independent variables (maternal age, parity, previous c-section or not, gestational age, obstetric history, oxytocin use in the labor, cervical dilation at admission, mode of current delivery, newborn weight, Apgar score at the 1st and 5th minute) was expressed as prevalence ratio (PR).

RESULTS
Meconium-stained amniotic fluid was verified in 11.9% of the births; 68.2% of these were normal births and 38.8% c-sections. Meconium was associated with: primiparity (PR=1.49, 95%CI 1.29; 1.73), gestational age ≥ 41 weeks (PR = 5.05, 95%CI 1.93;13.25), oxytocin in labor (PR = 1.83, 95%CI 1.60; 2.10), c- section (PR = 2.65, 95%CI 2.17; 3.24) and Apgar scores < 7 at the 5th minute (PR = 2.96, 95%CI 2,94;2,99). Neonatal mortality was 1.6/1,000 live births. Meconium-stained amniotic fluid was found in 50% of neonatal deaths and it was associated with higher rates of surgical deliveries.

CONCLUSIONS
Oxytocin use, worse conditions of the newborn after the delivery and increased c-section rates were factors associated with meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Routine use of oxytocin in the intrapartum period could be evaluated due to its association with meconium-stained amniotic fluid.


Controlled actuation of superparamagnetic beads (SPBs) within a microfluidic environment using tailored dynamic magnetic field landscapes (MFLs) is a potent approach for the realization of point-of-care diagnostics within Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) systems. Making use of an engineered magnetic domain pattern as the MFL source, a functional LOC-element with combined magnetophoretic "funnel", concentrator, and "valve" functions for micron-sized SPBs is presented. A parallel-stripe domain pattern design with periodically decreasing/increasing stripe lengths is fabricated in a topographically flat continuous exchange biased (EB) thin film system by ion bombardment induced magnetic patterning (IBMP). It is demonstrated that, upon application of external magnetic field pulses, a fully reversible concentration of SPBs at the domain pattern's focal point occurs. In addition, it is shown that this functionality may be used as an SPB "funnel", allowing only a maximum number of particles to pass through the focal point. Adjusting the pulse time length, the focal point can be clogged up for incoming SPBs, resembling an on/off switchable particle "valve". The observations are supported by quantitative theoretical force considerations.


Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) provide a significant contribution to tumor growth and metastasis. We demonstrated the existence of two main TAM subsets, differing in activation state and localization. Of these, M2-like TAMs reside in hypoxic regions of the tumor mass and can be used as targets for hypoxia tracers. This said, hypoxia does not regulate the differentiation of TAMs but finely tunes the activity of the M2-like population.


The electronic subband structure of carriers in bismuth-like cylindrical nanowires is investigated analytically, using an anisotropic effective mass model. Quantum confinement effects are found to be significantly enhanced over the results of a quasi-isotropic approach, due to the correct consideration of both the mass anisotropy and the boundary shape of the wire. The size quantization problem for a carrier with anisotropic effective mass parameters in a cylindrical well is shown to be equivalent to that of a carrier with some isotropic effective mass in an elliptical well. Detailed study of the energy levels reveals their orbital degeneracy is lifted by the elliptic symmetry, where the degree of ellipticity corresponds to the mass anisotropy. Carrier motion is analysed by analogy to the geometrical optics of elliptic waveguides, with bounding caustic curves defining two groups inside the wire that correspond to 'whispering gallery' and 'jumping ball' modes. The additional confinement, arising from the mass anisotropy, leads to larger critical wire diameters for the semimetal-to-semiconductor transition, which is investigated for wires of different crystallographic orientation.


Variations in ground surface temperatures for different regions of the USSR were studied using the basic principles of Milankovitch global climate-change theory and harmonic analysis with cycle periods of 200, 100, 41, 21, and 11 thousand years (ka). The amplitude of these cycles has been calculated based on the following assumptions: (1) Climatic rhythms are represented as sinusoidal variations of temperature with periods of 200 (T), 100 (T 1), 41 (T2), 21 (T3) and 11 (T4) ka. (2) Minima of harmonics T1 and T2 occurred between 25 and 26 ka ago, while minima of period T3 occurred between 22 and 23 ka ago; in addition, maxima of periods TI and T4 were 5 ka ago. (3) Northern hemisphere deviations from present day temperatures during the last cold epoch were up to 9 deg C in high latitudes, ice-free areas and 5 deg C for lower latitudes; during the last warm epoch, these values were 4 and 2 deg C, respectively. Harmonics T2, T3 and T4 were combined in an attempt to refine the paleotemperature variations in different regions of the USSR from the late Pleistocene to the present. This long-term model is tested with a series of computer simulations ofmore » perennial freezing that show good agreement with reconstructions of paleopermafrost distribution and with its present vertical structure.« less


In-feed native ads have become a major social media advertising format. The purpose of this paper is to investigate strategies for leveraging native advertising in terms of content creation and platform selection on social media, proposing that variations in content and platform reduce the intrusiveness of native ads, thereby resulting in enhanced brand attitude and purchase intent.,Two experiments were conducted with online samples, employing a 2 (content strategy: repeated ads vs varied ads) × 2 (platform strategy: single platform vs multiple platforms) between-subject factorial design. ANCOVA and structural equation modeling were used to test the hypotheses.,When repeated ads were used, the use of multiple platforms reduced ad intrusiveness, resulting in more favorable brand attitude and greater purchase intent as opposed to the use of a single platform. In contrast, when varied ads were used, there were no significant differences in the outcome variables between a single platform and multiple platforms. The results were largely consistent across the two experiments.,This study contributes to theory advancement by unpacking the underlying mechanisms of processing native advertising and shedding light on which content and platform strategies are the most effective on social media.


Manes is used by Vergil in two senses : (1) general —the ' Benign Powers' of the lower world, e.g. Georg. iv. 489 ignoscenda quidem, scirent si ignoscere Manes ; Aen. xii. 646 vos, o mini Manes | este boni quoniam Superis aversa voluntas: (2) individual— the ghost or spirit of a dead man. Probably the general meaning is earlier than the other : the plural name applied to the individual being best explained by supposing that, as in the idiomatic 'plural of respect' the individual is as it were merged in the class to which he belongs, so here the influence of the single spirit is reverentially and with a sense of mystery associated and identified with all those influences of the spirit world, or of its rulers, which are denoted by the collective title of deprecation, Manes or 'Benign Powers.' We have to do in this passage with the first of these meanings. In no sense could it be said that we endure each of us his own shade (or ghost); and there is no ground for saying that ' shade' is put for ' life' or ' doom ' as a shade. Whereas ' We suffer each for himself the Powers of the other world' means plainly ' The treatment of the Manes is different for each of us' : suos Manes = ' the Manes in their relation to him,' i.e. their treatment of him. It is impossible to say patimur regem ; but patimur superbum regem = patimur superbiam regis. Ruptae lectore columnae would not be Latin : but in assiduo ruptae lectore cohimnae 'assiduo lectore'=assiduitate lectoris. Curatus inaequali tonsore capillos ' trimmed with a barber cutting awry' is possible because 'inaequali tonsore' = inaequalitate (or inaequali cultello) tonsoris. Scriberis Vario fortis... .Maeonii carminis alite, ' you shall have the epic genius of Varius to record your valour.' In all these cases, the adjective makes the expression impersonal, as ademptus Sector = the loss of Hector. So here : ' each has his own experience of the Benign Powers of the world beyond the grave, who plague us for our good'; ' the Manes deal with each of us according to our need, and we abide their dealings.' So Statins Theb. viii. 84 (quoted by Conington) At tibi quos, inquit, Manes ? (sc. attribuam) ' How are you to be punished ?'


The two morphologically different constituents of the mature elastic fiber, the central amorphous and the peripheral microfibrillar components, have been separated and partially characterized. A pure preparation of elastic fibers was obtained from fetal bovine ligamentum nuchae by extraction of the homogenized ligament with 5 M guanidine followed by digestion with collagenase. The resultant preparation consisted of elastic fibers which were morphologically identical with those seen in vivo. The microfibrillar components of these elastic fibers were removed either by proteolytic enzymes or by reduction of disulfide bonds with dithioerythritol in 5 M guanidine. The microfibrils solubilized by both methods were rich in polar, hydroxy, and sulfur-containing amino acids and contained less glycine, valine, and proline than the amorphous component of the elastic fiber. In contrast, the amino acid composition of the amorphous component was identical with that previously described for elastin. This component demonstrated selective susceptibility to elastase digestion, but was relatively resistant to the action of other proteolytic enzymes and to reduction. These observations establish that the microfibrils consist of a different connective tissue protein (or proteins) that is neither collagen nor elastin. During embryologic development the microfibrils form an aggregate structure before the amorphous component is secreted. These microfibrils may therefore play a primary role in the morphogenesis of the elastic fiber.


This paper is presented as an overview of the pathogen detection industry. The review
includes pathogen detection markets and their prospects for the future. Potential markets include the
medical, military, food, and environmental industries. Those industries combined have a market size
of $563 million for pathogen detecting biosensors and are expected to grow at a compounded annual
growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5%. The food market is further segmented into different food product
industries. The overall food pathogen testing market is expected to grow to $192 million and 34
million tests by 2005. The trend in pathogen testing emphasizes the need to commercialize
biosensors for the food safety industry as legislation creates new standards for microbial monitoring.
With quicker detection time and reusable features, biosensors will be important to those interested in
real time diagnostics of disease causing pathogens. As the world becomes more concerned with a
safe food and water supply, the demand for rapid detecting biosensors only increases.


Many Libyan authorities proposed to investigate the possibility of utilizing a suitable terrain in Libya to add generation capacity of large-scale photovoltaic power plants. In this paper, the first grid-connected PV plant of 14 MWp which will be executed in Hoon city and supported by the Renewable Energy Authority of Libya (REAOL) is presented. To understand and improve the operational behavior of PV system, a comprehensive study including the plant design and detailed performance analysis under a local climate conditions is performed. Using polycrystalline silicon technology, the first year energy yield is estimated and the monthly system output for this plant is calculated. The performance ratio and various power losses (temperature, irradiance, power electronics, interconnection, etc.) are determined. The PV system supplied 24964 MWh to the grid during the first year giving an average annual overall yield factor 1783 kWh/kWp and average annual performance ratio of the system of 76.9%.


Background: Serum periostin levels are significantly increased in asthmatic patients with evidence of eosinophilic airway inflammation relative to those with minimal eosinophilic airway inflammation. Exercise-induced asthma (EIA) is important for the treatment of asthmatic patients because of exercise is important and common in actual daily life in childhood. So, we evaluated serum periostin in asthmatic patients with or without EIA and symptoms. Objective: 527 children aged 7 ∼ 12, were studied to clarify the relationship between the serum periostin and bronchial asthma especially about EIA. Subjects and methods: We studied the periostin in the patients with asthma in the 5 elementary school in Fukuoka city Japan. 2868 children were recruited to answer the ISAAC questionnaire and 527 children were diagnosed asthma and taken the lung function (flow-volume curve) and serum periostin, and serum IgE. Results: In the patients with EIA, there was a tendency of increasing in the serum periostin level with the aging, but there was not such a tendency in the patients without neither EIA nor asthmatic symptoms in the last one year. Serum periostin level is higher than that in non-asthma patients. There were no difference in periostin level between the patients with asthma and asthma ever. Conclusions: Serum periostin might be increasing in the patients with asthma and with intermittent symptoms.


A three-inch business card may seem like a minor tool in a nurse's pocket. But it can be a powerful means of developing respect for the profession inside and outside the hospital.


The paper discusses extending the use of the Frequency Adjusted Measured Effectiveness (FAME) methodology (SPE-190633) to the operational, organisational and cultural levels in bowties. The method enables risk management functions to steer senior management toward effective management actions at the middle management level, allows greater understanding of the cultural and regulatory factors impacting those management activities, and provides a clearer understanding of where the most important impact can be achieved through organisational change.
 This paper develops Bowtie concepts by applying FAME (SPE-190633) to the bowtie 'levels analysis' (SPE 127180). The 'levels analysis' defines the barriers at the levels of a bowtie as the workplace (Level 1, L1), organisational (Level 2, L2), and cultural and regulatory factors (Level 3, L3). FAME quantifies the relative importance of barriers within bowtie systems as a whole. The paper uses these concepts to provide simple ways of providing middle and senior managers with understanding about how well their risks are being managed.
 The disconnect between what management does and what actually needs to be done has been shown to contribute strongly to accidents. Without the support of analytical tools to steer decision-making, management activities are generally prioritised on an ad-hoc basis, usually guided by an individual manager's experience as well as senior management pressures. This can lead to important management activities not being conducted as rigorously as they require. The Levels Analysis improves understanding of the middle and senior management roles involved in the management of the risks of the operation, while the FAME methodology supports the understanding of the relative importance of those activities, allowing prioritisation. When applied this allows risk-based decision-making to be applied not only to frontline tasks but also to higher-level management functions. This approach, by looking at all the management functions controlling barriers, allows risk managers to communicate clearly the priority safety critical management functions require to senior managers.
 This allows the conversation to change from "why wasn't he wearing his gloves?" to "how did we not have a start-up audit on this contract?" The emphasis is moved from immediate causes that are hard to control to factors that are within the span of control of middle and senior managers. This paper introduces a method for clearly communicating to middle and senior management what their own critical management functions are, which are most important and what they can and should be held accountable for.


Abstract : This report presents an informative, inclusive and concise process which indoor air quality problems can be assessed in the field. It demonstrates the importance of team concepts for investigating problems and performing surveys. A history of indoor air quality is reviewed, including survey results by the indoor air quality survey team from Armstrong Laboratory. Recommendations are made that will improve the quality and efficiency of field investigations.


Pretreatment serum total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was measured in 341 adult patients (greater than 15 years old) with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in order to assess its prognostic value. Failure, death during induction and remission were not related to LDH. In contrast, a negative and continuous relationship was found between LDH and relapse-free survival. Though LDH activity was significantly higher in cases with already established risk factors such as high WBC count, FAB L3 cytotype, mature B-cell phenotype, and central nervous system involvement, LDH was confirmed to be the strongest predictor of remission duration by multivariate analysis. This study provides a definitive confirmation of the negative prognostic value of LDH in adult ALL.


Five species of Cypria 1 new), 2 species of Physocypria, 5 species of Cyclocypris (1 new), the monotypic Reticulocypris n. gen. , of the Cyprinae, 4 species (1 new), 4 species of Ilyocypris (2 new), 13 species of Cytheridae (8 new) and Darwinula aurea are described in detail. For the first time, Cytherissa is recorded from the Americas. The assemblages from each locality are discussed with regard to stratigraphic and geographic position. Confirmation of the stratigraphic value of certain species confined to stages of the Pleistocene epoch must await detailed studies of the assemblages of other areas. Part I considered the subfamilies Candoninae and Cyprinae, and synthesized ecologic data on assemblages and critical species.


Communities of nonvascular plants called bryophytes grow on limestone and basalt on Mo'orea, French Polynesia. The abiotic properties associated with living on each substrate is not well known, however. This study looks at the soil pH, buffering capacity, phosphate levels and substrate water holding ability associated with each substrate. In general, limestone has greater water holding capacity than basalt and its soils are more basic, have higher phosphate levels and have a greater pH buffering capacity than soils on basalt. This study also looks at the biological impact of these substrate abiotic differences by using multivariate discriminate analysis to compare bryophyte communities on each substrate. Five species are tightly correlated with a particular substrate. Ectropothecium sandwichense and Floribundaria aerunginosa prefer limestone whereas Calymperes aongstroemii, Taxithelium vernieri, and Ectropothecium sodale, prefer basalt. Because the distribution of these species is highly correlated with substrate in nature, a reciprocal transplant experiment was designed to see if substrate directly affected a specie's growth. Ectropothecium sodale and Ectropothecium sandwichense can, physiologically, grow on either substrate. This suggests that other factors like elevation, predation and community effects might be contributing to the segregated bryophyte communities observed in nature. Understanding the abiotic and potential biotic factors that influence the distributions of bryophytes enables locals, scientists and developers to use these plants as bioindicators of habitat change.


We present a microscopic quantum theory of intersubband polarons, quasiparticles originated from the coupling between intersubband transitions and longitudinal optical phonons. To this aim, we develop a second quantized theory taking into account both the Fr\"ohlich interaction between phonons and intersubband transitions and the Coulomb interaction between the intersubband transitions themselves. Our results show that the coupling between the phonons and the intersubband transitions is extremely intense, thanks both to the collective nature of the intersubband excitations and to the natural tight confinement of optical phonons. Not only is the coupling strong enough to spectroscopically resolve the resonant splitting between the modes (strong-coupling regime), but it can become comparable to the bare frequency of the excitations (ultrastrong-coupling regime). We thus predict the possibility to exploit intersubband polarons both for applied optoelectronic research, where a precise control of the phonon resonances is needed, and also to observe fundamental quantum vacuum physics, typical of the ultrastrong-coupling regime.


AGR16/H218/EDG5 and EDG1 are functional receptors for lysosphingolipids, whereas EDG2 and EGD4 are receptors for lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). The present study demonstrates that EDG3, the yet poorly defined member of the EDG family G protein-coupled receptors, shows identical agonist specificity, but distinct signaling characteristics, compared to AGR16 and EDG1. Overexpression of EDG3 conferred a specific [32P]S1P binding, which was displaced by S1P and sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC), but not by LPA or other related lipids. In cells overexpressing EDG3, S1P induced inositol phosphate production and [Ca2+]i increase in a manner only partially sensitive to pertussis toxin (PTX), which was similar to the case of AGR16, but quite different from the case of EDG1, in which the S1P-induced responses were totally abolished by PTX. EDG3 also mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in PTX-sensitive and Ras-dependent manners, as in the cases of EDG1 and AGR16, although EDG3 and EDG1 were more effectively coupled to activation of MAPK, compared to AGR16. Additionally, EDG3 mediated a decrease in cellular cyclic AMP content, like EDG1, but contrasting with AGR16 which mediated an increase in cyclic AMP. These and previous results establish that EDG1, AGR16 and EDG3 comprise the lysosphingolipid receptor subfamily, each showing distinct signaling characteristics.


The overall objective of the "Minority Gifted Children" project is to promote the cognitive and educational development of kindergarten through second grade economically disadvantaged minority gifted children from Newark, New Jersey. Prior to the inception of this project, no Newark public chools provided gifted services for kindergarten students, and the programs for first and second graders were serving a disproportionately small number of children. The current report presents data on a screening and assessment procedure being developed to identify gifted inner city minority kindergarten students. Before the project began, only 0.2% of children entering first grade were identified as gifted, in contras to the 2% found in this sample. The method of identification used in this project appears to hold promise as a relatively cost efficient method of finding young minority children who are gifted in cognitive skill areas. This work indicates that young inner city minority gifted children exist. Therefore, it is imperative that educational programs be provided to nurture potential excellence and achievement in this population.


A method for producing a spring of constant spring-rate versus temperature up to the range of 1000 deg F is presented by series stacking of Belleville spring washers. Several different materials possessing the correct combinations of positive and negative thermoelastic coefficients may be utilized. Materials investigated in this study are types 304 and 430 stainless steels, and 31, 42, 49 Ni-balance Fe alloys. Experimental results for several material combinations are given along with the theoretical predicted results.


C242 Clinical trials on TRAIL and death receptor (TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2) agonist antibodies are being carried out through out the world. Until today, there are no small organic molecules that bind to TRAIL-death receptors, and induce apoptosis mainly in cancer cells. Through molecular and biological approaches, we have identified a novel death receptor agonist (small molecular weight organic compound). Death receptor agonist termed as "DRA11" inhibited cell viability and colony formation, and induced apoptosis in androgen-dependent (LNCaP) and -independent (PC-3) human prostate cancer cell lines, but had no effect on human normal prostate epithelial cells and hepatocytes. The combination of DRA11 with TRAIL had an additive effect on apoptosis of prostate cancer cells. DRA11 recruited FADD and activated caspase-8, and thus formed active TRAIL-DISC (death-inducing signaling complex) similar to that of TRAIL. DRA11 inhibited the growth of PC-3 and LNCaP xenografts in nude mice. In vivo, DRA11 inhibited tumor cells proliferation (Ki67 staining) and induced caspase-3 activity and apoptosis (TUNEL staining). Our data suggest, for the first time, that DRA11 is a specific activator of death receptor pathway of apoptosis, and can be used to treat human prostate cancer. Clinical trials are needed to demonstrate its clinical utility for prostate cancer.


Dynamics of the icosahedral phase AlPdMn has been investigated with a centimetre size single grain and using inelastic neutron scattering measurements. Well defined acoustic modes have been observed close to strong Bragg reflections. Phonons broaden significantly as wavevectors exceed 0.35 A−1. Broad (1 THz) dispersionles excitations also show up with energies close to 1.8, 3.4 and 5.8 THz, some of them being associated to crossing with quasi-Brillouin zone boundaries.


The millipede genus Stygiochiropus is endemic to Cape Range in the arid tropics of northwestern Australia. The genus is restricted to caves throughout the range and is highly troglomorphic. Millipedes collected from 36 caves were examined for genetic variation at up to 27 allozyme loci. The allozyme data reveal the existence of three genetic provinces within Stygiochiropus communis. Between provinces there is an average of 25% fixed differences, indicating that no short-term gene flow occurs between any of the three. The provinces are loosely concordant with the geomorphological structure of Cape Range, namely with the gorges which cut through the cavernous limestone into a non-cavernous limestone below. The three genetic provinces have different characteristics; the southern province is genetically much more homogeneous that the northern or central provinces. There are also a large number of statistically significant differences in allele frequency, involving 10 loci, between caves within each province, with the number increasing from south to north. The loci involved in any province differ entirely from those exhibiting differences in the other provinces. Within provinces, distant caves may exhibit no significant differences in allele frequency from one another whereas caves spatially much closer may show substantial allozymic differences. This result suggests that the genetic structuring within provinces is associated with surface drainage basins as well as with deep gorges within the provinces and mdicates that the discrete sub-population model should be applied to the population structure in this species between and, in some cases, within genetic provinces. The general concordance of the major provinces with those found in other terrestrial and aquatic troglobitic taxa suggests that the overall management of the Cape Range karst should take cognisance of these genetic patterns. It suggests also that the northern part of the range, which is a more immature karst development, is likely to contain a diversity of distinct species across many taxa. The clear differentiation of the three genetic provinces, plus the northern area outside the range of S. communis where several additional species of Stygiochiropus occur, suggest that each area is likely to contain a suite of troglobitic species restricted to these areas. In addition, the absent or severely restricted gene flow between many caves within the karst provinces is likely to be reflected in other members of the rich troglobitic fauna of Cape Range. Comprehensive conservation of the troglobitic fauna requires that populations are maintained throughout the extent of Cape Range. INTRODUCTION The caves in Cape Range, north-western Australia (Figure I), contain a rich troglobitic fauna obligate inhabitants of caves and other subterranean voids (Hurnphreys, 1993b, 2000). The region has long been arid, supporting a vegetation mainly of tussock grass and Acacia, and is separated by thousands of kilometres across the Great Sandy Desert from the nearest rainforest. Despite this the composition of the troglobitic fauna indicates that it is, in part, a relict rainforest litter fauna (Hurnphreys, 1989, 1993a, 1993c; Harvey et al., 1993) having affinities with both tropical and temperate rainforest faunas. The community includes a wide variety of arthropod troglobites including insects, arachnids, crustacea and myriapods (Humphreys, 1993a, 1993b, 2000). A dominant member of the troglobitic fauna is a genus of highly cave-adapted (troglomorphic) millipedes, Stygiochiropus Hurnphreys and Shear, 1993 (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae: Australiosomatinae: Antichiropodini), DOI: 10.18195/issn.0313-122x.64.2001.015-036


For a class of continuous-time Markovian jump linear uncertain systems with partly known transition rates and input quantization, the H-2 state-feedback control design is considered. The elements in the transition rates matrix include completely known, boundary known, and completely unknown ones. First, an H-2 cost index for Markovian jump linear uncertain systems is introduced; then by introducing a new matrix inequality condition, sufficient conditions are formulated in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) for the H-2 control of the Markovian jump linear uncertain systems. Less conservativeness is achieved than the result obtained with the existing technique. Finally, a numerical example is given to verify the validity of the theoretical results.


The diagnosis of Chiari malformation type I (CMI) relies on MRI identification of a tonsillar descent (TD) through the foramen magnum, reflecting the overcrowding of an underdeveloped posterior cranial fossa (PCF). However, TD occurs in some patients with normal‐sized PCF and, conversely, some patients with borderline or no TD have small PCF. We thus sought to identify a set of prototypic PCF measures for the diagnosis of CMI.


Understanding language teachers' mental lives (Walberg, 1972), and how these shape and are shaped by the activity of language teaching in diverse sociocultural contexts, has been at the forefront of the sub discipline of applied linguistics that has become known as language teacher cognition. Although the collective research efforts within this domain have contributed critical insights into what language teachers know, believe, and think in relation to their work (cf. Borg, 2006), limited progress has been achieved in addressing some of the most pertinent questions asked by applied linguists, policy makers, and the general public alike: How do language teachers create meaningful learning environments for their students? How can teacher education and continuing professional development facilitate such learning in language teachers? By revisiting the domain's epistemological, conceptual, and ethical foundations, this special issue sets an agenda for reinvigorated inquiry into language teacher cognition that aims to redraw its current boundaries and thus reclaim its relevance to the wider domain of applied linguistics and to the real-world concerns of language teachers, language teacher educators, and language learners around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]


The single-vehicle cyclic inventory routing problem (SV-CIRP) is concerned with a cyclic distribution of a product from a single depot to a selected subset of retailers facing stable demands. If a retailer is selected for replenishment, the supplier collects a retailer-related reward. The objective is to select a subset of retailers to replenish, quantities to be delivered to each, and design delivery routes that minimise the expected total distribution and inventory costs while maximising the total collected rewards. The resulting distribution plan must prevent stockouts from occurring at each retailer. The underlying optimisation model for the SV-CIRP is formulated as a mixed integer program with linear constraints and a nonlinear objective function. An effective iterated local search based algorithm is developed to solve the problem. Various instances are generated to test the proposed algorithm. Numerical results show that it is very competitive and can find good quality solutions for the SV-CIRP in reasonable computational time.


Objective: To reduce the incidence and death due to post-partum Hemorrhage (PPH) and capacity building of health service providers by using PPH Emergency response using Bundle Approach.
Method: Planning and implementation of WHO formulated PPH Bundles [Active Management of Third Stage of Labour (AMTSL), First response Bundle and Refractory PPH Bundle] by Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh (OGSB) in 14 different levels of public and private hospitals in Bangladesh. After discussion with International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (SAFOG) team, a Memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed; permission from Ministry of Health and Family welfare (MOHFW) was obtained through Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and also from all the institutions. The project period was from November 2019 to September 2022 in a spoke-and-hub fashion. A group of master trainers and a technical advisory group were developed comprising of senior obstetricians and gynecologist of Bangladesh. Data were obtained through record keeping of the respective hospitals and Management Information System (MIS) of DGHS, monitoring was done by OGSB and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)-FIGO team.
Results: Consultative and planning meetings were organized among OGSB, FIGO, SAFOG and MGH: 16 master trainers, 74 trainers were produced and 740 health service providers (Doctor, Nurses, midwives) and 450 non clinical staffs were trained. All clinical and nonclinical bundles were implemented in 14 facilities in spoke-and-hub fashion. Occurrence of PPH, detection rate of PPH, filling up PPH checklist and debrief forms were improved. Data collection system, understanding about data improved a lot. Facility readiness, team work, data monitoring & supervision, network integration and leadership skills were instituted and shown excellent positive changes. Regular simulations were continued which helped old & new service providers to learn and continue proper use of the clinical and non-clinical interventions. Scale up was planned and continued.
Conclusion: PPH emergency response using bundle approach was found to be an important practical way to reduce occurrence, death and disability related to PPH. Needs for surgery has reduced also. Quality of services improved in terms of providing standard care, record keeping and reporting. Regular supervision and monitoring; data management and personal motivation are the challenges.
Bangladesh J Obstet Gynaecol, 2022; Vol. 37(2): 98-108


Abstract
 Platanthera yadongensis , a new species of orchid from Yadong, Tibet, China, is described and illustrated. This new species is close to P. deflexilabella in sharing ciliate sepals, two long and outstretching stigmatic lobes, and naked and involute viscidia, but it differs from the latter in having bracts much longer than the ovaries in lower flowers, lips shorter than the sepals, spurs longer than the lips but much shorter than the ovaries and pedicels, and anther thecae slightly divergent towards the base. A key to all known species with two outstretching stigmatic lobes from China is provided.


Aims: To investigate the potential protective role of montelukast (Mont) in the pre-eclampsia rat model induced by L-NG-Nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Methods and materials: Thirty-two pregnant female albino Wistar rats were assigned to four groups: the control group: pregnant rats received vehicles; the Mont group: pregnant rats received Mont (10 mg/kg/day, p.o.) from the 6th to the 18th day of gestation; the L-NAME group: pregnant rats received L-NAME (50 mg/kg/day, i.p.) from the 9th to the 18th day of gestation; the Mont/L-NAME group: pregnant rats received Mont (10 mg/kg/day, p.o.) from the 6th to the 18th day of gestation and L-NAME (50 mg/kg/day, i.p.) from the 9th to the 18th day of gestation. Placental, hepatic, and renal malondialdehyde (MDA), total nitrites (NOx), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were determined. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), creatinine, urea, 24-h urinary protein, and the placental growth factor (PGF) were measured. Histopathological examinations of the placental, hepatic, and renal tissues were also performed. In addition, placental, hepatic, and renal Janus kinase 2 (Jak2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) immunoblotting were performed. Key findings: Mont improves oxidative stress, IL-6, TNF-α, ALT, AST, creatinine, urea, 24-h urinary protein, PGF, Jak2, and STAT3 which were all affected by L-NAME. Moreover, the histopathological assessment indicated that Mont restored the normal architecture that was markedly disturbed by L-NAME. Significance: Mont exerted the biochemical and histopathological amelioration of L-NAME-caused pre-eclampsia through its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant function and suppression of the IL-6/Jak2/STAT3 signaling pathway.


A fast and sensitive method for detecting biotinylated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probes was used for sex determination of cells and tissues by in situ hybridisation of a probe "specific" for the Y chromosome (pHY 2.1). Within 24 hours this procedure visualizes the Y chromosome in fetal and adult cells and tissue, without background noise. This procedure should facilitate antenatal determination of sex on small numbers of uncultured cells. The sensitivity of the procedure also permits the chromosomal assignment of genes present in low copy number.


Influenza A virus (IAV) is a single-stranded, negative-sense RNA virus and a common cause of seasonal flu in humans. Its genome comprises eight RNA segments that facilitate reassortment, resulting in a great variety of IAV strains. To study these processes, the genetic code of each segment should be unraveled. Fortunately, new third-generation sequencing approaches allow for cost-efficient sequencing of IAV segments. Sequencing success depends on various factors, including proper sample storage and processing. Hence, this work focused on the effect of storage of oral fluids and swIAV sequencing. Oral fluids (n = 13) from 2017 were stored at −22 °C and later transferred to −80 °C. Other samples (n = 21) were immediately stored at −80 °C. A reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) pre- and post-storage was conducted to assess IAV viral loads. Next, samples were subjected to two IAV long-read nanopore sequencing methods to evaluate success in this complex matrix. A significant storage-associated loss of swIAV loads was observed. Still, a total of 17 complete and 6 near-complete Polish swIAV genomes were obtained. Genotype T, (H1avN2, seven herds), P (H1N1pdm09, two herds), U (H1avN1, three herds), and A (H1avN1, 1 herd) were circulated on Polish farms. In conclusion, oral fluids can be used for long-read swIAV sequencing when considering appropriate storage and segment amplification protocols, which allows us to monitor swIAV in an animal-friendly and cost-efficient manner.


Background: 90 Y ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin ®) has been shown to be an effective therapy for patients with both follicular lymphoma (FL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We have previously reported the feasibility of adding high-dose 90 Y ibritumomab tiuxetan to high-dose VP-16 and CY followed by AHSCT without additional toxicity. Herein, we reported longer follow-up results of this high-dose regimen. Methods: Patients undergo dosimetry study (day-21) with 5 mCi 111 In-ibritumomab tiuxetan following 250 mg/m 2 of rituximab, followed by 90 Y ibritumomab tiuxetan (day-14) to deliver a target dose of 1000 cGy to highest normal organ and then VP-16 (day-4), and CY (day-2). Bone marrow biopsy is done on day-7 to estimate the radiation dose. Stem cells are re-infused when the radiation dose to re-infused stem cells is estimated to be Results: Between 5/00 and 7/05, 53 patients were enrolled; 11 had an imaging study but did not proceed to treatment due to dosimetry ineligibility (7), progressive disease (2), reaction to 111 In-ibritumomab tiuxetan (1) and reaction to rituximab (1). 42 patients (25 M: 17F), median age 51 yrs (range 25–59.6) with FL (n=13), DLBCL (n=20), mantle cell (MCL) (n=8) and transformed lymphoma (n=1) were treated. Disease status at AHSCT: 1 st CR/PR=11, ≥2 nd CR=13, REL=9 and IF=9. Twenty-three (55%) had prior BM involvement. Median number of prior chemo regimens was 2 (range 1–6). All but two had received rituximab. As part of phase I/II trial, 6 received VP-16 40mg/kg and the rest received 60 mg/kg. The median 90 Y ibritumomab tiuxetan dose delivered was 70.8 mCi (range 37–105). The treatment was well tolerated with mucositis and neutropenic fever being the most common acute toxicities. All but one patient engrafted. The median time to reach ANC>500/μl and platelet>20,000/μl was 10 days (range 8–17) and 12.5days (range 8–123), respectively. The transplant-related mortality (TRM) at day 100 was 2%. There were 8 deaths due to relapse (3), second malignancies (2), graft failure (1), alcohol induced liver failure (1) and sudden death (1). Secondary malignancies occurred in 3 (7%) heavily pre-treated FL: pancreatic cancer at 3.8 yrs, acute myeloid leukemia at 5 years and one with abnormal chromosome but without morphologic evidence of MDS at 1 year. At a median follow-up of 55 months (range, 25–84) for the surviving patients, the 4-year estimated overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) is 81% (95% CI, 67–89%), and 65% (95% CI, 54–74%), respectively (figure.1). The 4-year estimated DFS for FL, DLBCL and MCL is 71% (95% CI, 51–85%), 67% (95% CI, 49–79%) and 47% (95% CI, 29–63%), respectively. Conclusion: Our long-term results suggest that the combination of high-dose 90 Y ibritumomab tiuxetan and high-dose VP-16 and CY is an effective high-dose regimen, especially for FL and DLBCL. Short term toxicities appear comparable to other conventional high-dose regimens. Further prospective studies are ongoing to determine the curability and long term toxicities of this preparative regimen.


Background and Objectives: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common cause of intra-hospital morbidity and mortality, and its most severe complication is pulmonary thromboembolism. The risk factors that influence the apparition of DVT are generally derived from Virchow's triad. Since the most severe complications of DVT occur in proximal rather than distal deep vein thrombosis, the aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing the apparition of proximal DVT. Materials and Methods: This was a transversal, cohort study. The study included 167 consecutive patients with lower limb DVT over a two-year period. The following data were recorded or determined: general data, conditions that are known to influence DVT, medical history and coagulation or thrombophilia-related genetic variations. Results: In the univariate analysis, male gender, neoplasia, previous DVT and mutated factor V Leiden were all associated with proximal DVT, while bed rest was associated with distal DVT. In the multivariate analysis, male gender, previous DVT and factor V Leiden mutation were independently correlated with proximal DVT, while bed rest was independently associated with distal deep vein thrombosis. Conclusion: Our observations point out that the factors indicating a systemic involvement of coagulation were correlated with proximal DVT, while local factors were associated with distal DVT.


A new amphipod species of the genus Elasmopus Costa, 1853 is described based on material collected from intertidal rocky shore, near the Suape Harbor, coast of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. The new species may be recognized by the propodus of gnathopod 2 suboval, slightly tapering distally, palmar margin not defined by a stout seta, spine, or palmar corner, with a subdistal blunt tubercle, posterior margin covered by a dense fringe of plumose setae, and posterior margin of basis of pereopod 7 castelloserrate. This is the ninety-fifth species of the genus Elasmopus described worldwide, the most diverse genus in the family Maeridae Krapp-Schickel, 2008, and the eighth species recorded from Brazilian waters. An identification key to Brazilian species of Elasmopusis also provided.


Improving the mechanical properties of a pristine system is the main target of developing nanocomposites. The nanocomposites systems were first prepared via intercalation technique with different organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) loading. Two types of cross-linking techniques were applied, namely, as maleic anhydride polyethylene (MAPE) and electron beam (EB) irradiated system. The effectiveness of these systems was then compared with the control one and analyzed based on the mechanical tests and morphological examination. The mechanical tests revealed that control, MAPE, and EB irradiated systems had attained the optimum mechanical properties at 4 vol% OMMT content. EB irradiated unit of a dose of 100 kGy showed excellent mechanical properties with higher crosslinking degree which were proved by gel content analysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the existence of delamination structure with MAPE and EB irradiation techniques based on the disappearance of characteristic peak. The degree of delamination was further investigated by transmission electron microscope (TEM).


Thoth is a real-time operating system which is designed to be portable over a large set of machines. It is currently running on two minicomputers with quite different architectures. Both the system and application programs which use it are written in a high-level language. Because the system is implemented by the same software on different hardware, it has the same interface to user programs. Hence, application programs which use Thoth are highly portable. Thoth encourages structuring programs as networks of communicating processes by providing efficient interprocess communication primitives.


This study addresses the issue of v. 15 in 1 Cor 11:2-16 from the perspective of a veiling custom. If veiling is in view (the position adopted here), then how does one confront the difficulty of reconciling the overall context with the exceptional statement in v. 15 that long hair for a woman is a glory. If, as the text argues, long hair is to be taken as a "glory," by what logic could a woman understand that she should place a veil upon her head? This article provides a way out of the dilemma by showing how a veil can serve the double function of reflecting the hair's beauty while at the same time preserving a symbol of female modesty.


The probability o((E) that a neutral or Tonic atomic hydrogen particle impinging with a kinetic energy E sticks onto the surface or penetrates into subsurface layers is discussed using potential energy diagrams ; [1 o( (E)) is the reflexion coefficient. At low E (-1 eV) and high E (>500 eV) practically all impinging particles are absorbed . It is concluded that o( (E) should present a minimum in the intermediate energy domain, probably of the order of 0 .3 0 .6.


Objectives: The primary objective of this investigation is to make a systematic study on the impact of thickness on optical properties, such as energy gap, absorption coefficient, optical density etc., for selenium thin films. Understanding of the band gap energy and its influence on film thickness is of utmost importance in acquiring the intended electrical characterization of semiconducting films. Materials and methods: Ultra-purity selenium (99.99 %) was deposited on glass substrates. During deposition, the glass substrate with its holder were rotated with constant speed to have a smooth coating. Results and discussions: The XRD findings indicate that selenium is amorphous in nature. The optical band gap energy is found to be decreasing form (2.3 to 2eV) with the rise of film thickness in interval (200 to 1000 nm). The band gap energy obeys inverse square law with respect to thickness. Conclusion: We have properly grown thin films of Se below the De Broglie wavelength limit by thermal evaporation in vacuum. The optical density varies directly with film thickness. The absorption coefficients were in the interval (0.5 to 4) × 107m-1. The AFM results confirmed that the Se nano-size increases with the increase in thickness. Both the grain boundaries and sub-grain regions are clearly visible in the SEM micrographs


An approximate maximum likelihood (ML) method for joint estimation of time delays and directions-of-arrivals (DOAs) for the direct-sequence code-division multiple-access (DS-CDMA) systems over the multipath Rayleigh fading channels is developed. The proposed estimation scheme is developed by modeling the known training sequence of the desired user as the desired signal and the multiple access interference (MAI)-plus-AWGN as unknown colored Gaussian noise uncorrelated with the desired signal. An efficient iterative algorithm for estimating channel parameters (the time delays and DOAs of multipath signals) is proposed to reduce the computational complexity. The algorithm transforms the multi-dimensional maximization problem into two simple one-dimensional (1-D) maximization problems based on an iterative scheme. Analytical and simulation results are presented to illustrate the performance in comparison with the Cramer-Rao bounds (CRBs). It is shown that the proposed algorithm is near-far resistant for both time delay and DOA estimation and little performance loss is observed in comparison with the CRBs at reasonable SNRs.


By chance in 1970, we conjectured the possibility of the football-shaped C 60 molecule, now known as buckminsterfullerene, while considering superaromatic molecules having three-dimensional π-electron delocalization. A translation of the original description, initially written in Japanese, is given. The processes leading to scientific discoveries are analysed in the light of our missed opportunity.


OBJECTIVE
To characterize the structure of polysaccharide LTC-II obtained from Pyrola corbieri.

METHOD
The polysaccharide was extracted from P. corbieri by hot water and ethanol precipitation. Crude polysaccharide was purified by DEAE-Cellulose chromatography and Sephacryl S-300 HR column chromatography. The purity and molecular weight of polysaccharide was determined by gel permeation chromatography. UV, IR, optical rotation, complete acid hydrolysis, periodate oxydation, Smith degradation, partial acid hydrolysis and methylation analysis were applied to determine the structural features.

RESULT
A homogeneous fraction LTC-II was obtained and its relative molecular mass was 22 000 Da. It consisted of arabinose, mannose, glucose, galactose in the molar ratio of 35. 2: 1.0: 13. 4: 4. 2. LTC-II had a backbone consisting glucose, mannose, galactose and mainly contained (1 --> 6)-linkaged glucose. The side chain possessed arabinose, glucose, galactose and mainly contained (1 --> 5)-linkaged arabinose. The terminal sugar were mainly glucose and galactose.

CONCLUSION
Studies on the preliminary characterization of polysaccharide LTC-II from P. corbieri for the first time.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the traditional hotel industry and Airbnb in nine major European cities. The author examines differences between the two business models and analyses various strategies of Airbnb hosts to cope with the crisis.

Design/methodology/approach
A detailed empirical analysis is presented based on data from STR and Inside Airbnb for the period January 2018–September 2020. To assess the impact of the pandemic on the hotel industry, year-to-year changes in various performance metrics are presented. The author also investigates the impact of the pandemic on Airbnb prices with panel data regression analysis. Using text-mining methods, signs for new use-cases are explored, including renting flats for home-office or quarantine.

Findings
The results support that Airbnb supply is more flexible. While hotel supply quickly returned to a level close to 2019, the average number of Airbnb listings was lower by more than 15%. Furthermore, the price analysis showed that Airbnb rates decreased more moderately than hotel prices. These findings suggest that a significant share of hosts pivoted from short-term accommodation provision and used their property differently, e.g. rented on a long-term basis. The analysis of listing characteristics revealed that the role of longer stays increased; however, the results do not support a shift towards advertising listings for home-office or quarantine purposes.

Originality/value
This paper presents the impact of the pandemic on the hospitality sector in a wide sample of European cities, explores the adjustment of hotels and Airbnb and provides new evidence on the differences between the business models.


This article looks at the ways in which a number of charities are leading the United Kingdom's 'Third Sector' in their use of ICT/IS capabilities to deliver innovations in a range of business critical activities. It shows that new ICT/IS capabilities afforded opportunities within different types of charities to deliver change. In the older charities established in the 'pre-Internet' era, these shifts tend to work with and reflect the existing 'enterprise logic' or established 'ways of doing'. In the younger 'Net generation' organisations, the shifts tend to be more fluid in nature, enabling the delivery of new ways of doing and denoting the more flexible model of organisation upon which they were founded. Our research also shows that, in all of the charities, information and data capture and interrogation are intensifying.


Purpose: This study investigated the connection among HER-2 gene amplification, HER-2 protein expression, and markers of tumor angiogenesis and oxygenation in patients with operable, invasive breast tumors. Experimental Design: From 1988 to 1995, 425 patients with metastatic breast cancer were enrolled in a study of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous transplant. Primary tumor blocks were obtained and evaluated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of vessels with von Willebrand factor antibody. Mean microvessel densities (MVD) were determined by counting von Willebrand factor stained cells in three separate "vascular hot spots" using image analysis. Tumor samples were also stained for HER-2 by IHC, HER-2 gene amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization, carbonic anhydrase 9 by IHC, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by IHC. Plasma from 36 patients with primary tumor samples had VEGF (R&D Systems, MN) and d-dimer (American Diagnostica, Greenwich, CT) levels determined. Results: There was a significant positive correlation between HER-2 gene amplification and both maximum and average MVD (Spearman coefficient = 0.51 and 0.50; P = 0.03 and 0.05, respectively). There was an inverse correlation with HER-2 gene amplification and expression of the tumor hypoxia marker CA-9 (χ2 P = 0.02). The level of HER-2 gene amplification correlated with plasma d-dimer levels (Spearman coefficient = 0.43; P = 0.021). Interestingly, tumors with HER-2 by IHC had decreased amounts of VEGF staining (χ2 = 5.81; P = 0.01). There was no correlation between HER-2 by IHC and MVD or d-dimer. Of all of the variables examined, only average (P = 0.0016) and maximum MVD (P = 0.0128) predicted disease-free survival (Cox univariate model). Conclusions: HER-2-amplified breast cancers have increased amounts of angiogenesis, decreased amounts of hypoxia, and increased markers of fibrin degradation. These findings have prognostic, predictive, and therapeutic implications in breast cancer treatment.


As the urbanization process, urban planning business are more complex and need more GIS functions, at the same time, spatial data and property data are the increase in geometric progression‥ When facing those, a highly scalable, extensible urban planning management information system is needed urgently. In this paper, such a system called PM2006 is introduced which can be seen as business-oriented workflow extensibility, scalability of DLL-based architecture, flexibility on platforms of GIS and database, scalability of data updating and maintenance and so on. PM2006 has been used in urban planning bureau of more than 100 cities and is proved as a mature GIS application system. Especially, PM2006 is a tool-like information system which can meet the requirements of all levels of administrative divisions and can adapt to ever-growing changes in urban planning business.


Abstract Target drug deliveries using nanotechnology are a novel consideration in the treatment of cancer. We present herein an in vitro mouse model for the preliminary investigation of the efficacy of an iron oxide nanoparticle complex conjugated to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody and ligand cluster of differentiation 80 (CD80) for the purpose of eventual translational applications in the treatment of human osteosarcoma (OSA). The 35 nm diameter iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles are functionalized with an n-hydroxysuccinimide biocompatible coating and are conjugated on the surface to proteins VEGF antibody and ligand CD80. Combined, these proteins have the ability to target OSA cells and induce apoptosis. The proposed system was tested on a cancerous rodent osteoblast cell line (ATCCTMNPO CRL-2836) at four different concentrations (0.1, 1.0, 10.0, and 100.0 μg/mL) of ligand CD80 alone, VEGF antibody alone, and a combination thereof (CD80+VEGF). Systems were implemented every 24 h over different sequential treatment timelines: 24, 48, and 72 h, to find the optimal protein concentration required for a reduction in cell proliferation. Results demonstrated that a combination of ligand CD80 and VEGF antibody was consistently most effective at reducing aberrant osteoblastic proliferation for both the 24- and 72-h timelines. At 48 h, however, an increase in cell proliferation was documented for the 0.1 and 1 μg/mL groups. For the 24- and 72-h tests, concentrations of 1.0 μg/mL of CD80+VEGF and 0.1 μg/mL of VEGF antibody were most effective. Concentrations of 10.0 and 100.0 μg/mL of CD80+VEGF reduced cell proliferation, but not as remarkably as the 1.0 μg/mL concentration. In addition, cell proliferation data showed that multiple treatments (72-h test) induced cell death in the osteoblasts better than a single treatment. Future targeted drug delivery system research includes trials in OSA cell lines from greater phylum species having spontaneous OSA, such as the dog, and on a human OSA cell line model.


In this study, the solubility properties of a given ternary blend set, with two donors (poly(4,8‐bis(5‐(2‐ethylhexyl)thiophen‐2‐yl)benzo[1,2‐b;4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐2,6‐diyl‐alt‐(4‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐3‐fluorothieno[3,4‐b]thiophene‐)‐2‐carboxylate‐2‐6‐diyl (PTB7‐Th) and benzo[1,2‐b;4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐based small molecule (DR3TSBDT)) and one acceptor ([6,6]‐phenyl‐C71‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM)), in a series of solvents are determined, and active material–solvent interactions are used as an aid for finding suitable nonchlorinated solvents to achieve effective ternary organic solar cells (OSCs) based on PTB7‐Th:DR3TSBDT:PC71BM. An exceptional power conversion efficiency (PCE) as high as 12.3% (certified 11.94%) is obtained using the developed nonhalogenated processing system. In‐depth investigations (morphology, charge mobility, recombination dynamics, and OSC characteristics) uncover the underlying structure–property relationships as a function of the chosen nonhalogenated systems. Another intriguing finding of this study is the formation of a cubic bimolecular crystal structure of PTB7‐Th:PC71BM in a nonhalogenated system, which is the first such demonstration in blend films. This sheds light upon the fact that the physical properties of a material applied from different solutions may surpass the variation in the properties between two material having totally different molecular structure. Therefore, this work not only offers important scientific insights into developing highly efficient and eco‐friendly OSCs but also improves our understanding of achievable bimolecular crystals with an intercalated structure.


Rifamycins are supposed to bind to, and inhibit the bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (DDRP) by the formation of hydrogen bonds through O (1), O (2), O (9), O (10). Therefore, with the aim of increasing the intrinsic activity of rifamycin S (1), the 25-deacetoxy-25-epi-hydroxyrifamycin S (8), was synthesized, which displays an additional hydroxyl available for the inhibiting interaction with the bacterial enzyme. The configuration and conformation of the new compound were as expected, but the biological evaluation did not confirm the hypothesis.


The electrodeposition mechanism of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin films on ITO substrates was examined by using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The CV study was performed in unitary In, binary In-Se, ternary Cu-In-Se, and quaternary Cu-In-Ga-Se systems. CV of the Cu-In-Ga-Se system revealed a reduction peak at −0.6 V with the addition of GaCl3 and showed that the current density was affected significantly by the concentrations of GaCl3 and InCl3. This is probably due to the adsorption-site competition between In3+ and Ga3+ on the electrode surface. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the CV results. The composition of Ga in the CIGS films increased with increasing concentration of GaCl3 in the electrolyte whereas the composition of In decreased sharply. The as-deposited films were annealed at 500 °C in a N2 atmosphere for crystallization. XRD revealed three major peaks corresponding to the (112), (220) and (312) planes of CIGS chalcopyrite respectively. On the other hand, a secondary phase, such as In4Se3, was observed in the CIGS films containing a high In composition.


Nowadays, reinforced plastic composites are replacing metals which are being used for many years. This is due to the fact that reinforced plastics have high strength to weigh ratio, low cost compared to metals, and high resistance to corrosion. However, the production of the composites nowadays is very challenging to meet the market requirement. Though natural sand is abundant in the world and very cheap, there are not many studies regarding the mechanical properties of natural sand particle reinforced composites. The objective for this thesis is to determine the tensile properties of natural-sand particle reinforced polymer composite and to validate the experimental results against theoretically calculations. To perform this, first we needed to prepare samples. The samples were prepared with mix and heat method. A few samples were produced by varying the sand weight percentage in the composites. Six samples were produced with 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 30% sand percentage by weight. Next, the samples were tested with 3-Point Bending Testing Machine and Universal Tensile Testing Machine to obtain the respective value of flexural and tensile properties of the composite samples. After that, the values obtained were compared against theoretical values which were obtained from calculation. The results obtained were in fair agreement with the experimental values. Both experimental values of the elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength were relatively low compared to theoretical ones. There may have a lot of reason for this, but we believe that the primary reason is due to the fact that there is a critical point where the elastic modulus or ultimate tensile strength is at its lowest. In conclusion, the result is satisfying as the trend is similar although the values between theoretical and experimental are not exactly same.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the immunoprotective effect of active immunization with recombinant peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase from Babesia microti against B. microti infection in mice.

METHODS
Female BALB/c mice at 6 weeks of age, each weighing approximately 20 g, were divided into the recombinant protein immunization group, the infection control group and the normal control group, of 25, 18, 15 mice in each group, respectively. Mice in the recombinant protein immunization group were given active immunization with recombinant BmPPIase protein, and 18 mice with the highest antibody titers were intraperitoneally injected with 100 μL of B. microti-infected whole blood 2 weeks after the last immunization. Mice in the infection control group were intraperitoneally injected with 100 μL of B. microti-infected whole blood, while 15 mice in the normal control group received no treatment. Blood samples were collected from mice in the recombinant protein immunization group and the infection control group on days 0 to 30 post-immunization for detection of B. microti infection, and blood samples were collected on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 post-immunization for routine blood tests with a blood cell analyzer and for detection of serum cytokines using cytometric bead array.

RESULTS
Anti-BmPPIase antibodies were detected in 25 mice in the recombinant protein immunization group 2 weeks after the last immunization, with titers of 5 × 103 to 8 × 104. B. microti infection rate peaked in mice in both the recombinant protein immunization and the infection control group on day 7 post-immunization, with positive infection rates of 13.3% and 50.0%, and there were significant differences between the two groups in terms of B. microti infection rate on days 3 (χ2= 113.18, P < 0.01), 5 (χ2 = 475.22, P < 0.01), 7 (χ2 = 465.98, P < 0.01) and 9 post-infection (χ2= 18.71, P < 0.01), while the B. microti infection rate tended to be 0 in both groups on day 11 post-immunization. Routine blood tests showed higher red blood cell counts [(5.30 ± 0.50) × 1012 to (9.87 ± 0.24) × 1012 counts/L)] and hemoglobin levels [(89.67 ± 22.80) to (148.60 ± 3.05) g/L)] in the recombinant protein immunization group than in the infection control group on days 0 to 28 post-immunization. Cytometric bead array detected higher serum interferon-γ [(748.59 ± 17.56) to (3 858.28 ± 1 049.10) fg/mL], tumor necrosis factor-α [(6 687.34 ± 1 016.64) to (12 708.13 ± 1 629.79) fg/mL], interleukin (IL)-6 [(611.05 ± 75.60) to (6 852.68 ± 1 554.00) fg/mL] and IL-17a [(167.68 ± 185.00) to (10 849.27 ± 355.40) fg/mL] and lower IL-10 levels [(247.65 ± 138.00) to (18 787.20 ± 2 830.22) fg/mL] in the recombinant protein immunization group than in the infection control group during the study period.

CONCLUSIONS
Recombinant BmPPIase protein induces up-regulation of interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α and presents a high immunoprotective activity against B. microti infection in mice, which is a potential vaccine candidate protein.


Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that is commonly referred to as the "great imitator" because of its ability to mimic a variety of systemic and ocular diseases. This elusive characteristic of syphilis has often led to a delay in diagnosis or an incorrect diagnosis, particularly with respect to ocular manifestations. Ocular involvement in syphilis usually occurs in the secondary or tertiary stages of the disease; it is typically manifested as a nonspecific inflammatory response.1A frequently overlooked ocular manifestation of syphilis is scleritis. When present in isolation, syphilitic scleritis often produces a diagnostic dilemma. We describe a patient with ocular syphilis who displayed the symptoms of isolated, anterior nodular scleritis when first seen. Report of a Case. We examined a 67-year-old woman at a community health fair; she complained of pain in her right eye, which she had experienced for several weeks. We referred her to the General


Chinese outward foreign direct investments (OFDI) have increased dramatically in the 2000s. Strategic asset seeking OFDI to developed economies have become a more prevalent characteristic of overseas investments by Chinese enterprises. This form of OFDI is being used as an instrument to access strategic assets such as knowledge and technology. The thesis attempts to assess the success of Chinese outgoing foreign direct investments as an innovation strategy. This is done by analyzing China's preconditions for increasing its innovativeness through OFDI. The assessment is conducted through the development of an analytical framework that draws on the innovation system literature. This framework is structured around the concepts of absorption and diffusion and focuses on the Chinese innovation system's capacity to absorb and diffuse knowledge and technologies acquired through OFDI. This analysis shows that China has good preconditions to absorb foreign technology and knowledge by having a developed technical human capital base. Furthermore, China's ability to diffuse foreign knowledge and technology is facilitated by interactions between the business sector and public research institutions. However, a weak intellectual property rights regime, a poorly functioning judicial system and low levels of labor mobility impede China's diffusive capacity. Furthermore, a general shortage of management skills hampers China's absorptive capabilities. High costs associated with conducting OFDI are recognized to constitute a major stumbling block for using OFDI as an innovation strategy. The assessment further suggests that a revision of the active use of industrial policies, and a reformation of the federalist system could enhance OFDI as an innovation strategy.


We reported the case of a 33‐year‐old male who presented a dengue infection complicated by spontaneous coronary artery intramural hematoma associated with acute myocarditis. The initial presentation was a typical acute coronary syndrome with ST‐segment elevation. Coronary angiography and endocoronary optical coherence tomography confirmed the diagnosis of left anterior descending artery intramural hematoma. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed not only typical ischaemic injury but also lesions of acute myocarditis confirmed by native T1‐ and T2‐mapping, sub‐epicardial late gadolinium enhancement and pericardial effusion. This case highlights the multiple cardiac damages caused by dengue virus, their possible association (coincidental or linked?), and the impact of multimodal imaging on diagnosis and management.


Sadr al-Din Muhammad Shirazi (1572-1640), more commonly called Mulla Sadra was one of the grand scholars of later-period Islamic philosophy and has grown to become one of the best-known Muslim philosophers. "Iksir al-Arifin" or "Elixir of the Gnostics", is unique among Sadra's writings in that it reworks and amplifies an earlier Persian work, the "Jawidan-nama" ("Book of the Everlasting") by Afdal al-Din Kashani, or Baba Afdal. The underlying theme of Sadra's amplification is emblematic of Muslim philosophy: the importance of self-knowledge is an individual's journey of "Origin and Return", the soul's origins with God and its eventual return to Him. Everything, Sadra says, is on such a path, gradually disengaging from the material world and returning to a transdencent essence - all leading to a final fruition in which everything in the universe returns to God and finds permanent happiness. Philosophy, Sadra argues, is the most direct means to self-knowledge - and thus the best tool for navigating this journey.


Noise-induced escape from the domain of attraction of a nonhyperbolic chaotic attractor in a periodically excited nonlinear oscillator is further investigated. Deviations are found to be amplified at the primary homoclinic tangency from which the optimal force begins to fluctuate dramatically. Escaping trajectories turn out to possess several modes to pass through the saddle cycle on the basin boundary, and each mode corresponds to a certain type of value of the action plot, respectively. A subset of the pattern of fluctuational paths from the chaotic attractor is obtained, showing the existence of complicated singularities.


Ulnar neuropathy at the cubital tunnel is common. However, a rare form of ulnar neuropathy here is due to compression from an accessory muscle, the anconeus epitrochlearis. Reports in the literature regarding the details of this muscle's innervation are vague, so the aim of the present study was to characterize this anatomy more clearly. This was a combined review of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from patients with an anconeus epitrochlearis and ulnar neuropathy and cadaveric dissections to characterize the innervation of this variant muscle. A review of 11 patients and three reports of ulnar neuropathy and an anconeus epitrochlearis in the literature revealed no MRI changes consistent with acute denervation of this muscle. However, in two cases, there were signs of chronic denervation of the muscle. Dissection of five cadavers revealed that the nerve supply to the anconeus epitrochlearis originated proximal to the medial epicondyle, traveled parallel to the ulnar nerve, terminated on the deep aspect of this muscle, and had a mean length of 60 mm. This clinicoanatomical study provides evidence that the innervation of the anconeus epitrochlearis is proximal to the muscle and on its deep aspect. Clin. Anat. 32:218–223, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


In this paper, we discuss the contact behavior between the stator and the lining material that sticks to the rotor of an ultrasonic motor. The ultrasonic motor is powered by the vibration of the stator and operates with a frictional force between the stator and the lining material. Therefore, it is important to examine the mechanism of the contact behavior to improve the energy efficiency and durability of the ultrasonic motor. We propose a numerical technique using the finite element method to examine the contact behavior between the stator and the lining material. Then, we compare the numerical example with the theoretical solution proposed by L. A. Galin and confirm the validity of our technique. Moreover, on the basis of incremental theory, we use our technique to numerically examine the complex contact behavior of the non-contact zone, slip zone and stick zone in a non-rotating rotor.


GIFs are enjoying increasing popularity on social media as a format for data-driven storytelling with visualization; simple visual messages are embedded in short animations that usually last less than 15 seconds and are played in automatic repetition. In this paper, we ask the question, "What makes a data-GIF understandable?" While other storytelling formats such as data videos, infographics, or data comics are relatively well studied, we have little knowledge about the design factors and principles for "data-GIFs". To close this gap, we provide results from semi-structured interviews and an online study with a total of 118 participants investigating the impact of design decisions on the understandability of data-GIFs. The study and our consequent analysis are informed by a systematic review and structured design space of 108 data-GIFs that we found online. Our results show the impact of design dimensions from our design space such as animation encoding, context preservation, or repetition on viewers understanding of the GIF's core message. The paper concludes with a list of suggestions for creating more effective Data-GIFs.


Scaled analogue sandbox models have been used to simulate the growth of Coulomb thrust wedges that include syntectonic sedimentation during thrusting. Increases in the syncontractional sedimentation rate dramatically change the shape of the Coulomb thrust wedge, decreasing the number of thrust slices, the internal shortening, and the critical taper of the wedge. Thrust trajectories change from ramp-flat to sigmoidal with increased syncontractional sedimentation. The analogue models show many similarities to thrust-fault geometries in accretionary prisms and foreland fold-and-thrust belts in which thrust slices prograded into basins with active sedimentation.


ABSTRACT This paper explores the scope for system-level agency in new path creation. We identify the roles and challenges for state-led path creation and illustrate them through a case study of a novel and ongoing set of institutional entrepreneurship and system-building activities in the Galicia region of Spain, looking at the practices, relational processes, multilevel lobbying and regulatory change associated with an ambitious initiative to grow a new industry around uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) through anchoring knowledge and legitimacy-building.


Abstract Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra were recorded for copper(II) ions in cellulose, lignin and pine sapwood impregnated with a water based formulation containing CuSO4·5 H2O, tannic acid and animal protein SOLUTEIN. EPR parameters were derived from computer-simulated spectra. The parameters were interpreted in terms of molecular orbital theory giving coefficients of spin delocalization onto ligands. Five different spectra of chemically fixed complexes were identified. The complexes were octahedral with a different degree of elongation. For a copper concentration higher than approximately 0.5%, the additional EPR signal from the precipitated CuSO4·5 H2O salt appears. Two possible coordination sites are proposed for fixed copper complexes in cellulose structure and a single site is proposed for copper in a lignin. These complexes are different from the copper complex in wood, where Cu(H2O)4O2 octahedral complex exists with apical coordination to two oxygen atoms of deprotonated hydroxyl groups of polymeric units. When tannic acid is added to the impregnating solution, copper ions are strongly coordinated in a square-planar geometry of CuO4 and are easily leached. The copper-SOLUTEIN complex yields a distinguished EPR spectrum only in the impregnating solution, but not in the wood. Except for the copper(II) EPR spectra, where the signals from free radicals were detected in wood and lignin with a concentration in the order of magnitude of 1017 g-1 dependent on wood treatment.


A modulation free Electron Spin Resonance spectrometer was used for the registration of spectral absorption lines of a spin-labeled Escherichia coli phenylalanine tRNA in solution with low (less than 0.1%) line shape distortion. The analysis of line shape of two different spin-labels introduced into position 8 revealed that phenylalanine tRNA in solution exists as a mixture of two conformers, the equilibria between conformers being dependent on pH, concentration of magnesium and functional state of tRNA (deacylated, aminoacylated or peptidylated). There are no overall structural rearrangements upon aminoacylation or peptidylation of tRNA. The observed small changes of spectral line shape can be assigned to shifts in conformational equilibria.


Mutants of Aerobacter aerogenes incapable of utilizing citrate (C −) were discovered in glucose cultures by a modification of the mutant-concentrating penicillin technique. These C− mutants utilize glucose as efficiently as does the wild-type (C +), despite their inability to utilize a wide range of other metabolites as carbon sources for growth, including compounds that would be oxidized if glucose were aerobically dissimilated via the Krebs cycle. The compounds that the C − mutants cannot utilize are citrate, α-ketoglutarate, glutamate, succinate, fumarate, aspartate and acetate, which are all substrates to which glucose-grown C + cells slowly adapt. A non-genetic loss of ability to grow in media containing these substrates also occurs in glucose-grown populations under certain conditions. The C − mutant can revert to the prototrophic condition directly, or indirectly by first mutating to a stable state (C− F +) in which fumarate and aspartate can be utilized whereas the other compounds cannot.


In the linear couple-stress theory, three-dimensional elastic stress analysis of a plate is carried out, in order to evaluate the thin-plate theory. The problem treated here is the axisymmetric bending of a clamped circular plate subjected to an annularly distributed load. For this analysis, the use is made of the indirect fictitious-boundary integral method. From the results, the applicability of the thin-plate theory is investigated, and further, the effects of various parameters, such as the characteristic length and the bending-twisting modulus, on the behaviour of a plate are made clear.


For several years my colleagues, J. Bellanti and M. Artenstein, and I have studied the occurrence of specific antibodies in secretions of the respiratory tract, and have attempted to evaluate their biological significance (2, 3, 3a). This interest stemmed from the need for a simple biological marker to identify persons most likely to resist overt respiratory infection with any of several viruses. As with respiratory tularemia, the presence or titer of humoral antibodies to respiratory viruses is not synonymous with resistance to clinical disease upon infection. When these investigations were begun, it was our purpose to identify such markers. We chose to reinvestigate the occurrence of local antibody in respiratory secretions by use of more modem virological and immunological methods. Such antibodies were indeed found in nasal secretions of normal individuals. Not every individual possesses antibody to each respiratory virus; rather, detectable antibodies occur in patterns which varied from person to person (2, 3). Although there is no doubt that local antibody exists in the respiratory tract, little is known of its influence upon the pathogenesis of respiratory infections. Recently, we studied respiratory antibody to Francisella tularensis in man; these observations are pertinent to the questions raised by Drs. Hornick and Eigelsbach concerning effectiveness of aerosol immunization against respiratory tularemia. Last year, with H. Dangerfield and D. Crozier of the Medical Unit, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md., we studied respiratory antibody in 14 volunteers before and after aerosol infection with virulent F. tularensis (SCHU-S4 strain); this investigation will be reported in detail elsewhere. Eight volunteers were immunized percutaneously 3 months previously with LVS (tularemia vaccine, live attenuated) vaccine containing approximately 108 viable LVS cells per 0.1 ml. Six served as susceptible controls. One-half of each group


Energy cogeneration is a way to improve global efficiency of energy production systems since it consumes a unique resource in order to supply heat and electrical power through optimal use of heat fluxes associated to power production. Energy trigeneration enlarges the concept to the production of cold also. It consumes a unique resource to produce electricity, heat and cold. Nevertheless, we could go more ahead by substituting a part of the primary fuel resource by renewable energy as solar energy in order to reduce the carbon impact. This is conducted through the use of adsorption refrigeration which needs hot water to produce cold water. However, even if energy utilities are provided with the best efficient way, the final use of energy could make all the efforts fall. Cooling ceilings present one of the best solutions to be coupled to solar cooling since it needs a medium range cold temperature of the fluid in order to avoid condensation if the wall ceiling temperature drops below the ambient air dew point temperature. All these constraints need to be checked experimentally and confronted to numerical simulation. For this purpose, an experimental platform has been developed combining an internal combustion gas engine (cogenerator), a refrigerating adsorption machine, thermal solar collectors and wooden construction split in two compartment, a cold one conditioned by cooling ceilings and a hot one conditioned by heating floors. The platform is completely instrumented. In this paper we focus only on the refrigeration machine for which we developed a simulation model that is confronted to experimental measurements.


This book investigates the epigraphic habit of the Eastern Mediterranean in antiquity, from the inception of alphabetic writing to the seventh c. CE, aiming to identify whether there was one universal epigraphic culture in this area or a number of discrete epigraphic cultures. Chapters examine epigraphic culture(s) through the quantitative analysis of 32,062 inscriptions sampled from ten areas in the Eastern Mediterranean, from the Black Sea coast to Greece, western to central Asia Minor, Phoenicia to Egypt. They show that the shapes of the epigraphic curves are due to different factors occurring in different geographical areas and in various epochs, including the pre-Greek epigraphic habit, the moment of urbanization and Hellenization, and the organized Roman presence. Two epigraphic maxima are identified in the Eastern Mediterranean: in the third c. BCE and in the second c. CE. This book differs from previous studies of ancient epigraphic culture by taking into account all categories of inscriptions, not just epitaphs, and investigating a much broader area over the broadly defined classical antiquity. This volume is a valuable resource for anyone working on ancient epigraphy, history or the cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean.


The progesterone receptor (PR) with its isoforms and ligands are involved in breast tumorigenesis and prognosis. We aimed at analyzing the respective contribution of PR isoforms, PRA and PRB, in breast cancer cell proliferation in a new estrogen-independent cell based-model, allowing independent PR isoforms analysis. We used the bi-inducible human breast cancer cell system MDA-iPRAB. We studied the effects and molecular mechanisms of action of progesterone (P4) and ulipristal acetate (UPA), a new selective progesterone receptor modulator, alone or in combination. P4 significantly stimulated MDA-iPRA expressing cells proliferation. This was associated with P4-stimulated expression of the anti-apoptotic factor BCL2-L1 and enhanced recruitment of PRA, SRC-1 and RNA Pol II onto the +58 kb PR binding motif of the BCL 2 -L 1 gene. UPA decreased cell proliferation and repressed BCL2-L1 expression in the presence of PRA, correlating with PRA and SRC1 but not RNA Pol II recruitment. These results bring new information on the mechanism of action of PR ligands in controlling breast cancer cell proliferation through PRA in an estrogen independent model. Evaluation of PR isoforms ratio, as well as molecular signature studies based on PRA target genes could be proposed to facilitate personalized breast cancer therapy. In this context, UPA could be of interest in endocrine therapy. Further confirmation in the clinical setting is required.


We investigate the energy-time efficiency of two reactive route discovery protocols (BERS and DTC) with chase packets in the expanding ring search (ERS). BERS introduces deliberately waiting time in broadcasts of RREQs. DTC uses a threshold to switch between two different channel speeds to allow the chase packets to catch up with fulfilled RREQs. Taking an analytical approach, we gain the insight into these protocols and explore the trade-off nature of the energy and time efficiency. An optimal threshold for DTC is identified, and the performance of DTC under this optimal condition is used to compare with the performance of BERS in the light of ERS. Our results have practical values and implications as well as theoretical interests. We found that BERS has achieved the best overall performance in terms of energy-time efficiency, while DTC achieved the least overall performance despite the reduction of latency.


The sports industry is an emerging industry with broad development prospects, and it is also full of competition. The sports industry has the characteristics of fluctuation, intermittence, and randomness, which are suitable for the analysis of chaos theory in order to find out the internal development law of the sports industry. In order to solve the above problems, an improved chaos theory method is proposed in this paper and the K-cluster analysis method is integrated into chaos calculation, in order to reduce the occurrence rate of the "local extreme value" and improve the accuracy of calculation results. The model uses nonlinear and irregular chaos theory to analyze the aggregation degree of sports industry, industrial spatial distribution, and the spatial governance effect and find out the best optimization decision. When selecting the optimization indicators, not only the European distance of each indicator cluster but also the spatial correlation of the indicators are considered to realize the comprehensive analysis of the sports industry and improve the accuracy of optimization. In the simulation analysis of optimization decision-making, the decision-making model based on chaos theory is compared with the previous first-order decision-making model. The results show that the improved chaos theory can control the data aggregation range of sports industry between (0∼3), the data fusion degree of industrial space between 95 and 99%, and the variation range between 0 and 0.2%, which is significantly better than (0∼9), 90∼95%, and 0∼0.4% of the genetic algorithm. Therefore, the aggregation degree, spatial governance, and decision optimization of the optimization decision-making model proposed in this paper are better than those of the previous genetic algorithm.


. In the modern world, issues of personnel security management are getting more popular and significant in order to protect companies from internal and external threats. The article analyses modern approaches and models of personnel security management in the structure of economic security. The aim of the paper is to develop recommendations for the use of modern information systems and models of personnel security management for Ukrainian enterprises of strategic importance to the national economy. It is determined that the most general and broad approach to the definition of personnel security involves not only prevention of violations of the norms and principles of confidentiality of information by the personnel but also the organization of the security of the personnel itself, therefore, there is a need for the formation of an integrated system of personnel security management at the corporate level. The author's analysis of modern systems of personnel security management has shown the importance of researching the psychological and behavioural characteristics of employees not only in the corporate environment but also beyond its borders. It has been proved that the introduction of modern modelling techniques (in particular, the Bayesian model, the nonlinear model of the neural net with feedback, linear regression, k-mean algorithms, etc.) will contribute to the strengthening of the system in the practice of providing personal security under the influence of external and internal threats. It is recommended that domestic enterprises introduce a comprehensive and integrated personnel security system to improve the practice of psychological diagnosis and monitoring of employees' actions, in particular, improving the systems for collecting information on employee behavioural indicators in the corporate environment and beyond. The necessity of using the modern toolkit of the technical component of information security and certification system using the international standard ISO 27001 is proved, which significantly improves personnel security management in the structure of economic security of enterprises, reduces operational risk and increases the awareness of managers and ordinary employees. It is recommended to introduce improved technical systems in those types of activities and industries that are strategic for the economic growth of Ukraine's national economy and ensuring the country's defence and competitiveness.