Hematological tumors are a group of diseases defined as the clonal proliferation of blood-forming cells. In recent years, incidences of hematological malignancies have increased. Traditional methods of diagnosing hematological tumors are primarily based on observing morphological features under light microscopy, and molecular diagnostics and immunological indicators are powerful auxiliary diagnostic methods. However, traditional methods cannot efficiently identify tumor markers and limit the efficiency and accuracy of diagnosis. Although treatment methods have been improved continuously, chemotherapy remains a primary technique for the treatment of hematological tumors. Traditional chemotherapy exhibits poor drug selectivity and lacks good biocompatibility and pharmacokinetic properties. The therapeutic effect is not ideal and the risk of toxic side effects is high. The nanosize and surface charge properties of nanodrugs are effective in improving drug delivery efficiency. The high load and rich surface modification methods of nanomaterials provide various possibilities for improving the biocompatibility and pharmacokinetics of drugs, as well as the targeting of drugs. In addition, a nanomedicine loading platform can load multiple drugs simultaneously and design the optimal proportion of combined drug schemes, which can improve the efficacy of drugs and reduce the occurrence of drug resistance. With their unique physical and chemical properties and biological characteristics, the application of nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of hematological tumors has received considerable attention. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the application of various types of nanostructures for the diagnosis and treatment of hematological malignancies, investigate the advantages of nanomedicine compared with the traditional diagnosis and treatment of hematological tumors, and discuss their biological security and application prospects.


Anemia associated with end stage renal disease can diminish quality of life substantially. Maintaining a stable hematocrit and stable hemoglobin levels affords many advantages. Improvement of anemia management is possible with the implementation of continuous quality improvement (CQI). Our review of the literature motivated us to switch from iron dextran injection, which can induce anaphylactic reactions and has other associated problems, to sodium ferric gluconate complex injection. This enables us to safely provide iron supplementation without the precautions that were in place for iron dextran. Our methods for creating and implementing CQI in the dialysis program at our university hospital are described.


: Background: Considering progressive increase in the senile population and increasing number of Parkinson patients (PP) and their movement disorders, researchers are searching for some non-medicinal strategies (i.e. corrective exercises) to promote the efficiency of physical performance and quality of life (QOL) among PP. The aim of this study was to assess the fear of falling (FOF) and QOL following a functional movement protocol in PP. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was done on PP using a purposeful available sampling. After taking an informed consent, participants (no=44) referring to the neurology clinics of Kashan (2014) were divided into three groups. A ten-week training protocol was performed for Experimental groups (with or without foam pad) in stable and unstable surfaces. During pre-/post-test followed by one-month follow-up, the FOF and the QOL variables were measured and analyzed using repeated-measure ANOVA. Results: A significant difference was found for FOF and QOL parameters in Foam pad group compared to Non-foam pad group. So as the mean for FOF in Experimental group with and without Foam pad was changed from 42.00±6.44 to 26.87±6.41 and from 43.21±5.61 to 40.07±3.66, respectively. In addition, the mean for QOL parameters in experimental group with and without Foam pad was changed from 114.20±15.53 to 154.33±12.03 and from 115.36±19.86 to 141.36±13.44, respectively. Conclusion: Under the influence of corrective exercises on unstable surfaces, the PP can benefit a better functional performance and a decreased FOF and progress towards some optimal stable controlling patterns for preventing the falling.


This paper presents the preliminary findings from a cross sectional, trend design study over three years (2007-2009). The sample (n=187) includes cohorts of international Master of Business Administration (MBA) students enrolled each year in a 'leadership' subject. The study aims to measure human dimensions known to be significant to leadership effectiveness including behaviour, personality, cultural and emotional dimensions. The research raises questions in reference to the future challenges for leadership development by comparing data from this cohort of students studying leadership with current global leaders. This paper reports the initial data for several self diagnostic instruments including: the [Myers-Briggs Type Indicator] MBTI; measures for emotional intelligence and; personality style. The results of these assessments are to be compared with similar assessments on known effective global leaders. The ultimate aim of the research is to discover similarities and discrepancies between the two groups in order to gain a deeper comprehension of the behavioural and cultural backgrounds and experiences that future leaders will need to lead successfully. The study will provide useful information to those responsible for developing future leaders.


Investigation of the spatial pattern to retailing is a standard topic in geographical research. Less common are studies that specifically differentiate all-night establishments from those open during daytime hours. This paper analyzes the form, function, and location patterns of day-time and night-time commercial establishments. Specifically, it asks the following questions: 1.         What are the patterns of form, function, and location of the commercial establishments that are open during normal business hours in eastern Boca Raton? 2. What are the patterns of form, function, and location of the commercial establishments in eastern Boca Raton that a reopen twenty-four hours? 3. Are the patterns for the day-only and for the all-night establishments similar, or are there significant differences?


Respiratory symptoms, spirometry, and transfer factor were measured in 208 non-smoking Western Australian underground goldminers (mean age 32) to identify the presence of respiratory abnormalities resulting from underground work. These subjects were part of a larger group of 771 subjects attending for statutory periodic chest x ray examinations in the industry. They had worked underground for a median of three years. The prevalence odds ratios of bronchitis, dyspnoea, wheeze, and asthma all tended to be related to duration of underground employment, even after adjusting for age, those for wheeze and asthma reaching statistical significance. After adjusting for age and height the duration of employment also had a significant effect on TL/VA but not on FEV1, FVC, or TL. These changes are consistent with the presence of airway narrowing and non-specific lung fibrosis or emphysema in non-smoking underground goldminers.


The performance of a large alphabet handwriting recognition system based on a probabilistic framework is critically tied to the quality of the prototype distributions that are established in the relevant feature space. To better account for handwriting variability, we describe a supervised strategy for the construction of prototype distributions which are more robust to allograph deformations. The idea is to incorporate supervision to relate the allographic models to their manifestations in the feature space. This makes for a better utilization of the available training data, while at the same time allowing for a short design time turn around. The performance of this method is illustrated on a discrete handwriting recognition task with an alphabet of 81 characters.<<ETX>>


For the last 20 years, in vitro xylogenic cultures of Zinnia elegans have been routinely used to study tracheary element (TE) formation. That said, the precise anatomical relationship between in vitro and in planta xylogenesis in Zinnia has been completely ignored. In order to make this comparison, we provide herein a much needed description of xylem tissue of the Zinnia plant. Based on the proportions of secondary wall thickenings, the in vitro TE system most closely resembles hypocotyl vasculature. Moreover, we have shown by confocal microscopy that vessel-like structures of up to five individual TEs are produced in vitro, suggesting that the formation of multicellular structures and cell-cell communication during in vitro TE formation are far more extensive than previously suspected. Finally, as more and more genes become available through genomic approaches of Zinnia TEs, it will be necessary to precisely localize them in planta as a first step in elucidating gene function. Our results provide the histological groundwork for this very purpose.


OBJECTIVETo study the occurrence of secondary insults during neurointensive care of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage using a computerized multimodality monitoring system and to study the impact of secondary insults on clinical deterioration and functional outcome. METHODSPatients with subarachnoid hemorrhage who were admitted to the neurointensive care unit between January 1999 and December 2002 with at least 120 hours of multimodality monitoring data within the first 240 hours of neurointensive care were included. Data were continuously recorded for intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), mean arterial blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and temperature. Secondary insult levels were defined as ICP of 20 or greater or 25 or greater; CPP of 60 or lower, 55 or lower, greater than 100, or greater than 110; mean arterial blood pressure of 80 or lower, 70 or lower, 120 or greater, or 130 or greater; systolic blood pressure of 110 or lower, 100 or lower, 180 or greater, or 200 or greater; temperature of 38°C or higher or 39°C or higher; and oxygen saturation of less than 95 or less than 90. Secondary insults were quantified as the proportion of good monitoring time at the insult level. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed with admission and secondary insult variables as explanatory variables and clinical deterioration and independent outcome as the dependent variable, respectively. RESULTSNinety-nine patients (67 women; mean age, 57.8 yr) met the inclusion criteria. In the univariate analysis, ICP of 20 or greater, ICP of 25 or greater, CPP of 60 or less, and CPP of 55 or less increased the risk of clinical deterioration, whereas CPP greater than 100 and systolic blood pressure greater than 180 decreased the risk of clinical deterioration. In the multivariate logistic regression, ICP of 25 or greater and CPP of greater than 100 had an independent effect on clinical deterioration. The occurrence of secondary insults had no significant effect on functional outcome. CONCLUSIONElevated ICP not responding to treatment is predictive of clinical deterioration, whereas high CPP decreases the risk of clinical deterioration. It may be beneficial to not lower spontaneous high CPP in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.


A thorough histologic examination of the pancreas was performed on autopsy material from 83 military veterans aged 35-88 years. Hyperplastic, preneoplastic and neoplastic alterations were recorded by severity, multiplicity, location and age. From this material, two patients had clinically known primary, and three had secondary (metastatic), pancreatic cancer. The following occult malignant lesions were found: two early cancers (one adenocarcinoma and one adenosquamous cell carcinoma), one ductal carcinoma in situ and seven ductular carcinomas in situ. Among patients with ductular carcinoma in situ, three had pancreatic caner and the remaining four had cancers of other sites (ethmoid, ear, colon, prostate). One patient who was clinically diagnosed as having lung cancer with selective metastases to the pancreas was found to have pancreatic adenosquamous cell carcinoma with lung metastases. Hence, the incidence of neoplastic exocrine lesions was around 10%. In addition, hyperplasia of the ductal and ductular epithelium (in 57% and 39% of the patients, respectively), squamous cell metaplasia of the ductules (in 48% of the cases), as well as endocrine tumors (islet cell adenoma, 10%; mixed ductular-insular adenoma, 3%) were found. Most lesions occurred in the pancreatic head, a few in the tail. These data and other reports led to the conclusion that, first, the overall incidence of pancreatic cancer appears to be higher than previously reported. Malignant lesions seem to remain clinically occult, either because patients die of other diseases or because of the significantly long latency between premalignant lesions and clinically recognizable invasive cancer. Second, the ductular cells appear to be the progenitor cells of a variety of tumor types, including squamous cell cancer and islet cell tumors, as in the authors' experimental model.


What explains the location of industrial innovation? Economists have traditionally attempted to answer this question by studying firm-external knowledge spillovers. This paper shows that firm-internal linkages between production and R&D play an equally important role. I estimate an R&D location choice model that predicts patents by a firm in a location from R&D productivity and costs. Focusing on large R&D-performing firms in the chemical industry, an average-sized plant raises the firm's R&D productivity in the metropolitan area by about 2.5 times. The elasticity of R&D productivity with respect to the firm's production workers is almost as large as the elasticity with respect to total patents in the MSA, while proximity to academic R&D has no significant effect on R&D productivity in this sample. Other manufacturing industries exhibit similar results. My results cast doubt on the frequently-held view that a country can divest itself of manufacturing and specialize in innovation alone.


Abstract This article explores the intersections between Afropolitanism and the speculative fiction of Afro-Caribbean Canadian writer Nalo Hopkinson. Interpreting her work under the theories of Afropolitanism brings to the foreground and problematises the disjunction between the modern African diaspora (Afro-American/Afro-Caribbean) and the contemporary African diaspora, the one Taiye Selasi addresses in her conceptualisation of Afropolitanism. In aligning the Afro-Caribbean fantastic context with the figure of the Afropolitan, the author addresses some of the incompatibilities that may arise between them, as well as the productive and creative possibilities of their conjunction for the definition of emerging, transnational African identities.


The Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) gives impetus to educational reform. Education experts have recently recognised the benefits of using technology in learning and teaching. They believe that innovations will shape Education 4.0 and that teachers will need to be prepared to build creative learning environments that support student creativity. Thus, the main purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between teamwork, principal support, humor, and innovative work behaviour (IWB) among teachers. This study was conducted using a questionnaire, with a sample size of 354 school teachers in Malaysia. Multiple linear regression analysis has shown that teachers with high quality of teamwork and principal support were more likely to report innovative work behaviour. The findings indicated that teachers who frequently use humour can create more innovative behaviour. This paper can help managers and policymakers in the education sector, to develop a better understanding of these aspects, and their influence on teachers' innovative behaviour at work. In doing so, it would be helpful if teachers learnt effective procedures for innovative behaviour in class, via means of teamwork, humor, and principal support, to enhance their educational efforts. It is, therefore useful to establish university courses for pre-service teachers, focusing on new collaborative innovation strategies to encourage creativity and innovation in educational settings, and to apply collaborative creativity exercises in the classroom.


Abstract Single ventricular myocytes of guinea pig heart were distended by applying a positive pressure of 5 to 20 mm Hg in the pipette during the whole-cell voltage clamp. The amplitude of delayed rectifier K+ current (IK) was increased by ≈1.5 times, whereas the inward rectifier K+ current was scarcely affected. The increase of IK was reversible by applying a negative pressure of −10 to −30 mm Hg accompanied by shrinkage of the inflated cell. This response of IK was largely attributed to the E-4031–insensitive component of IK. The fully activated current amplitude, measured using long-lasting depolarizing pulses (>30 seconds) to +60 mV, was increased by the cell distension. The activation time course of IK during the long pulse consisted of more than three exponential components, and the slowest time constant was decreased by the distension from control 20.2±7.7 seconds (n=4) to 7.6±1.6 seconds (n=5). We failed to detect an involvement of microtubules or microfilaments, protein kinase C, and Ca2+ in the...


We envision PDS2, a decentralized data marketplace in which consumers submit their tasks to be run within the platform, on the data of willing providers. The goal of PDS2 is to ensure that users maintain full control on their data and do not compromise their privacy, while being rewarded for the value that their data generates. In order to achieve this, our marketplace architecture employs blockchain technology, privacy-preserving computation and decentralized machine learning.We then compare different potential solutions and identify the Ethereum blockchain, trusted execution environments and gossip learning as the most suitable for the implementation of PDS2. We also discuss the main open challenges that are left to tackle and possible directions for future work.


This article revisits Bernard Williams's influential argument that an immortal human life would be meaningless and argues for a shift in focus. There's good reason to keep Williams's framework for evaluating the prospects of meaning in continued life. But there's also good reason to abandon the conception of human psychology that he, and most of the vast literature in response, uses to fill in that framework. Focusing on values, as opposed to desires, reveals that the most pressing threats to a meaningful immortal human life are not repetition or satisfaction, but rather changes in what the world has to offer.


5458 Objective: Determine whether p53 missense mutations that occur within the HLA-A2.1-restricted epitopes, p53149-157, p53 217-225 and p53264-272, in HLA-A2.1+ squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN) are capable of being targeted with tumor specific p53 vaccines. Methods: Sequence analysis of p53 expressed in 53 HLA-A2+ SCCHN tumors identified 5 distinct mutations, V157F, S149C, T150R, Y220C and E271K, occurring in three HLA-A2.1-restricted p53 epitopes in 10/53 tumors. The Y220C mutation was detected in 6/53 tumors. Synthetic mutant p53 peptides were tested for HLA-A2.1-binding in MHC stabilization assays and induction of anti-mutant peptide CTL from normal donor PBMC. The anti-mutant peptide reactivity of PBMC following in vitro stimulation (IVS) with peptide-pulsed autologous dendritic cells was determined in cytotoxic and ELISPOT IFNγ assays using T2 target cells and HLA-A2+ SCCHN cell lines. Results: All mutant p53 peptides tested, with the exception of Y220C peptide, displayed little to no binding to HLA-A2.1 molecules and failed to induce anti-mutant peptide CTL in IVS cultures. In contrast, the Y220C mutant peptide yielded bulk and cloned populations of CD8+ T cells specific for the mutant peptide and reactive against an HLA-A2+ SCCHN cell line expressing the Y220C mutation, UD-SCC6, but not PCI-13, an HLA-A2+ SCCHN cell line expressing a p53 mutation at codon 286. Conclusion: Most of the mutant p53 peptides tested involved non-conserved amino acid exchanges at anchor positions of the epitope that abrogated HLA-A2.1 binding. In contrast, Y220C represents a mutation that can be naturally presented and targeted to induce a potentially robust immune response. We are currently evaluating the immunogenicity of this mutant peptide in the autologous UD-SCC6 system. The notable frequency of the "hot spot" p53 Y220C mutation in HLA-A2+ SCCHN tumors makes development of vaccines targeting it a more practical approach than previously considered for p53 missense mutations


The present case report describes a stray cat with a female appearance. The new owners requested to neuter the animal. During surgery the veterinarian could not find any gonadal tissue. After puberty the cat showed more and more male behaviour. The owners of the cat were interested to know the cause of the abnormal behaviour, but forbid any further clinical tests or surgery. Based upon cytogenetic and molecular genetic experiments a diagnosis became possible. The uniform karyotype (38,XY) was in accordance with the karyotype of a male cat and it was possible to amplify the SR Y gene by PCR. The cat represents a case of SRYpositive sex reversal.


Shape setting Nitinol tubes and wires in a typical laboratory setting for use in superelastic robots is challenging. Obtaining samples that remain superelastic and exhibit desired precurvatures currently requires many iterations, which is time consuming and consumes a substantial amount of Nitinol. To provide a more accurate and reliable method of shape setting, in this paper we propose an electrical technique that uses Joule heating to attain the necessary shape setting temperatures. The resulting high power heating prevents unintended aging of the material and yields consistent and accurate results for the rapid creation of prototypes. We present a complete algorithm and system together with an experimental analysis of temperature regulation. We experimentally validate the approach on Nitinol tubes that are shape set into planar curves. We also demonstrate the feasibility of creating general space curves by shape setting a helical tube. The system demonstrates a mean absolute temperature error of 10 °C.


Stress transfer between separate magma bodies is evaluated by considering how pressure changes related to magma accumulation/propagation influence the stability of a separate nearby magma body. Three‐dimensional numerical models are used to evaluate the stability evolution of a magma body through the calculation of two variables: (i) the variation of the threshold pressure needed to cause failure around the magma body and (ii) the magma pressure change. A parametric study indicates that stress interactions are strongly dependent on the distance between magma bodies as well as the body's shape. Such models are then applied to evaluate stress influence of intrusive activity in 1994, 1999, and 2010 at Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which preceded two eruptions there in 2010. Two cases are considered: influence of these intrusions on (i) a magma reservoir at 20 km distance under the Katla volcano and (ii) a silicic magma body under Eyjafjallajökull. The distance between the Eyjafjallajökull intrusions and the Katla reservoir is sufficiently long to reduce the stress interaction to insignificant levels, with an amplitude of the same order as Earth tides (a few kilopascals). However, cumulative stress transfer due to the intrusions to a remnant silicic shallow body situated below the Eyjafjallajökull is much larger (0.5–2.5 MPa). This mechanical transfer could have contributed to the failure of the silicic body and promoted the chemical mixing/mingling between different magma types, which is commonly interpreted as the main cause of the 2010 explosive eruption of Eyjafjallajökull.


Acylation of methyl 3-aminocrotonate 1a in benzene with a variety of aliphatic and aromatic acid chlorides including α , β -unsaturated acid chloride in the presence of an added organic base, (either pyridine or triethylamine) is reported. The preferred N, C-site selectivity in these reactions has been compared with the terminal selectivity of the products obtained previously on acylation of methyl 3-aminocrotononitrile 1b . A strong preference either for N- or C- selectivity in N, C-acylation has been observed for both 1a and 1b based on the choice of acid chlorides and added organic base. Interestingly, irrespective of the enamine 1a or 1b , acylation with α , β -unsaturated acid chlorides in the presence of triethylamine afforded 3,4-dihydropyridin-(2 H )-one via [3.3] sigmatropic rearrangement of the corresponding intermediary N(E)-enamide. Accrued results show methyl 3-aminocrotonate to be a better precursor for preparation of enamides (N-acylated products) whereas 3-aminocrotononitrile is found to be a preferred choice for preparation of enaminones (C-acylated products). An attempt is made to offer a preliminary theoretical interpretation for observed site selectivity.


Software reliability is one of the most important characteristics of software quality. Its measurement and management technologies employed during the software life-cycle are essential for producing and maintaining quality/reliable software systems. Herein, we discuss a modified approach to calculating the delivery cost of a software product, when warranty is to be provided, with an imperfect debugging phenomenon. Unlike existing cost models, here the strategy was to consider maintenance support given to the customer with an imperfect debugging phenomenon. The optimal release time can be calculated for various reliability levels by minimizing the cost. The delivery cost, reliability of the software system, and the optimal release time were calculated by using an imperfect debugging software reliability growth model. Numerical illustration supports the optimal release policies.


A transient model for nozzle clogging has been developed and successfully validated against a laboratory experiment. Key steps of clogging are considered: transport of particles by turbulent flow towards the nozzle wall; interactions between fluid flow and nozzle wall, and the adhesion of the particle on the wall; the growth of the clog layer and its interaction with the flow. The current paper is to investigate the mesh (size and type) sensitivity of the model in both two and three dimensions. It is found that the algorithm for clog growth alone excluding the flow effect is insensitive to the mesh type and size, but the calculation including flow becomes sensitive to the mesh quality. The use of 2D meshes leads to overestimation of the clog growth because the 3D nature of flow in the boundary layer cannot be properly solved by 2D calculation. 3D simulation with tetrahedron mesh can also lead to an error estimation of the clog growth. A mesh-independent result can be achieved with hexahedral mesh, or at least with triangular prism (inflation layer) for near-wall regions. Keywords—Clogging, nozzle, numerical model, simulation.


The spatial pattern of energy depositions is crucial for understanding the mechanisms that modify the relative biological effectiveness of different radiation qualities. In this paper, we present data on energy-deposition properties of mono-energetic protons (1–20 MeV) and their secondary electrons in liquid water. Proton-impact ionization was described by means of the Hansen–Kocbach–Stolterfoht doubly differential cross section (DDCS), thus modelling both the initial energy and angle of the emitted electron. Excitation by proton impact was included to account for the contribution of this interaction channel to the electronic stopping power of the projectile. Proton transport was implemented assuming track-segment conditions, whereas electrons were followed down to 50 eV by the Monte Carlo code PENELOPE. Electron intra-track energy-deposition properties, such as slowing-down and energy-imparted spectra of electrons, were calculated. Furthermore, the use of DDCSs enabled the scoring of electron inter-track properties. We present novel results for 1, 5 and 20 MeV single-proton-track frequencies of distances between the nearest inter- (e−–e−, e−–H+) and intra-track (e−–e−, e−–H+, H+–H+) energy-deposition events. By setting a threshold energy of 17.5 eV, commonly employed as a surrogate to discriminate for elementary damage in the DNA, the variation in these frequencies was studied as well. The energy deposited directly by the proton represents a large amount of the total energy deposited along the track, but when an energy threshold is adopted the relative contribution of the secondary electrons becomes larger for increasing energy of the projectile. We found that the frequencies of closest energy-deposition events per nanometre decrease with proton energy, i.e. for lower proton energies a denser ionization occurs, following the trend of the characteristic LET curves. In conclusion, considering the energy depositions due to the delta electrons and at the core of the track, 1 MeV protons have an intrinsic capability of generating about five times more dual depositions within the characteristic 2 nm of the DNA-chain structure than 20 MeV protons.


ABSTRACT This paper reviews school-based (n = 212) and clinically-based (n = 68) positive psychological interventions (PPIs) for children and adolescents. A new 3 × 3 classification of PPIs was developed based on the processes and content of the PPI and the outcomes measured. This classification involves 9 different types of interventions depending on whether the intervention focuses on positive, remedial, or both positive and remedial processes and content, and whether the intervention aims to evade or address challenges, deficits, or disorders or improve or elicit positive outcomes. Positive content-balanced outcomes interventions were the most common type used in schools (38%) and clinical settings (63%). Mindfulness was the most common approach used (49% in schools and 71% in clinical settings). Surprisingly, relatively few studies focused on well-established positive psychological constructs, such as strengths, hope, and gratitude. Overall, the results suggest strong support for the use of PPIs in school and clinical contexts.


Women with a history of early life stress (ELS) have a higher risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In addition, chronic stress in adulthood can exacerbate IBS symptoms such as abdominal pain due to visceral hypersensitivity. We previously showed that sex and the predictability of ELS determine whether rats develop visceral hypersensitivity in adulthood. In female rats, unpredictable ELS confers vulnerability and results in visceral hypersensitivity, whereas predictable ELS induces resilience and does not induce visceral hypersensitivity in adulthood. However, this resilience is lost after exposure to chronic stress in adulthood leading to an exacerbation of visceral hypersensitivity. Evidence suggests that changes in histone acetylation at the promoter regions of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and corticotrophin‐releasing factor (CRF) in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) underlie stress‐induced visceral hypersensitivity. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of histone acetylation in the CeA on visceral hypersensitivity in a two‐hit model of ELS followed by chronic stress in adulthood.


Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy for bladder cancer has been used since 1976 when the first evidence of its ability to lower recurrence and progression rates was published. Today, BCG immunotherapy is the choice of care for high‐grade non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) after transurethral resection. This article presents indications and procedure of BCG instillations, and outlines the effects on recurrence and progression of NMIBC. The BCG‐induced immunity in NMIBC is not yet fully understood. Animal studies point towards BCG inducing specific tumour immunity. We describe the current knowledge of how this immunity is induced, from internalization of BCG bacilli in urothelial cells, to cytokine‐ and chemokine‐mediated recruitment of neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, T cells, B cells and natural killer cells. In addition, we describe the process of trained immunity, the non‐specific protective effects of BCG. Recent studies also indicate that dysbiosis of the urinary microbiome may cause lower urinary tract dysfunction. Side effects of BCG bladder instillations range from common, mild and transient symptoms, such as dysuria and flu‐like symptoms, to more severe and rarely occurring life‐threatening complications. We review the literature and give an overview of reported incidences and management of BCG infections after intravesical instillation.


Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) is an important research topic. One important function of ITS is to broadcast emergent traffic information to vehicles so that they can avoid a dangerous or congested zone in time. This paper investigates the use of inter-vehicle communication to assist roadside wireless access points to provide a lower-cost message broadcasting service on highways


Thermodynamic and nucleation behaviour of the Y2O3-Al2O3-Y3Al5O12 system has been studied. The change in free energy on the formation of a single YAG molecule from a stoichiometric melt of the Y2O3-Al2O3 system at equilibrium is evaluated numerically as a function of temperature. The chemical potentials of the species in the system are evaluated using the regular solution model. The interfacial tension between YAG(S) and Y2O3-Al2O3(L) is determined by calculating the excess energy associated with the interface. The thermodynamic data investigated are used to determine the nucleation parameters such as size, the free energy of formation of a critical nucleus for various possible shapes of clusters as a function of supercooling for different values of interfacial tension, and the shape factors which lead to the understanding of the nucleation phenomena of YAG.


The dynamic rate adaptation was initially proposed to improve the operational flexibility of networked control systems at a global level. In a system with several control loops the sampling rate of each loop would be decreased in order to free bandwidth that will be used to schedule pending messages or to overcome possible overload situations during a short period of time. This paper proposes the use of dynamic rate adaptation to improve the control performance of individual loops when these loops are subject to long sampling to actuation delays. This paper presents preliminary simulation results obtained for different plants. It shows that, although counter intuitive, the decrease of the sampling rate of the loops can improve the control performance and the usefulness of the dynamic rate adaptation in this context.


We analyze three different sources of noise in a sampling mixer working at radio frequency (RF) or intermediate frequency. External RF and intrinsic noise are analyzed using conventional frequency domain methods. External local oscillator (LO) noise is analyzed in the time domain by solving a stochastic differential equation. We are able to take into account the time varying aspect of the LO noise coupling, and show that LO noise becomes important at high frequencies. An analytical expression for LO noise is obtained, which can be used to guide mixer design. LO noise is in addition to LO jitter, which should be combined with noise analysis to give a complete picture.


An analytical study is made of simple models of steady fronts in the atmosphere in which the temperature field is subjected to deformation as the fluid moves downstream in a large-scale horizontal flow. One fundamental approximation is made and then a Lagrangian method, in which fluid particles are identified by conservation of entropy and potential vorticity, and by Bernoulli's theorem, enables the steady problem to be solved. Solutions for models of surface fronts and upper tropospheric fronts are compared with those obtained from a model in which there is no variation along the front and the frontogenesis proceeds in time. If the thermal wind is comparable with the basic wind, and the potential vorticity is not negligible in some sense, the frontogenesis is increased where the thermal wind opposes the basic flow but, decreased where it reinforces the flow.


The so-called Codice de Roda (Madrid, RAH 78), a 10th century manuscript containing material wich deals with Iberian history, also includes a short text whose main character is Alexander the Great. This text derives from the Pseudo-Methodius, a Syriac original translated into Greek by the seventh century, and again into Latin in Merovingian Gaul. However, the Spanish version is a different one. The purpose of muy work is to elucidate the role played both by Alexander in this text, and by the text itself in the section of the manuscript most concerned with Islamic polemics and doctrine. Al the same time, I try to discover the way in wich the Syriac and Grek texts worked in their original literary, political, and religious contexts, to obtain some interpretative keys which could be applied to the Spanish kingdoms and their propaganda in Early Medieval Iberia.


Trajectory forecasting plays a pivotal role in the field of intelligent vehicles or social robots. Recent works focus on modeling spatial social impacts or temporal motion attentions, but neglect inherent properties of motions, i.e. moving trends and driving intentions. This paper proposes a context-free Hierarchical Motion Encoder-Decoder Network (HMNet) for vehicle trajectory prediction. HMNet first infers the hierarchical difference on motions to encode physically compliant patterns with high expressivity of moving trends and driving intentions. Then, a goal (endpoint)-embedded decoder hierarchically constructs multimodal predictions depending on the location-velocity-acceleration-related patterns. Besides, we present a modified social pooling module which considers certain motion properties to represent social interactions. HMNet enables to make the accurate, unimodal/multimodal and physically-socially-compliant prediction. Experiments on three public trajectory prediction datasets, i.e. NGSIM, HighD and Interaction show that our model achieves the state-of-the-art performance both quantitatively and qualitatively. We will release our code here: https://github.com/xuedashuai/HMNet.


OBJECTIVES
To describe a rare developmental disorder of the femoral capital epiphysis in infants and children that is often misdiagnosed and to suggest an evaluation protocol to differentiate it from other hip problems.

DESIGN
Case series.

SETTING
Tertiary care center.

SUBJECTS
Five consecutive patients referred for evaluation of acute onset of limping between January 1990 and December 1997.

INTERVENTION
All clinical and imaging data were collected.

RESULTS
Two of the 5 patients were initially diagnosed as having osteomyelitis and 3 as having Perthes disease. The diagnosis of Meyer dysplasia was confirmed by plain film of the pelvis, a negative bone scan, or normal bone marrow findings on magnetic resonance imaging. The limping resolved without treatment in all patients within 1 to 3 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS
Meyer dysplasia is a benign condition that should be included in the differential diagnosis of hip disease in infants and children. Awareness of this condition may prevent unnecessary hospitalization and treatment.


A selective-filling technique was demonstrated to improve the optical properties of photonic crystal fibres (PCFs). Such a technique can be used to fill one or more fluid samples selectively into desired air holes. The technique is based on drilling a hole or carving a groove on the surface of a PCF to expose selected air holes to atmosphere by the use of a micromachining system comprising of a femtosecond infrared laser and a microscope. The exposed section was immersed into a fluid and the air holes are then filled through the well-known capillarity action [1, 2]. Provided two or more grooves are fabricated on different locations and different orientation along the fibre surface, different fluids may be filled into different air-holes to form a hybrid fibre. As an example, we filled half of a pure-silica PCF by a fluid with n=1.480 by carving a rectangular groove on the fibre (Figure 1). Consequently, the half-filled PCF became a bandgap-guiding structure (upper half), resulted from a higher refractive index in the fluid rods than in the fibre core [3], and three bandgaps were observed within the wavelength range from 600 to 1700 nm. Whereas, the lower half (unfilled holes) of the fibre remains an air/silica index-guiding structure (Figure 1(b)). When the hybrid PCF is bent, its bandgaps gradually narrowed, resulted from the shifts of the bandgap edges. The bandgap edges had distinct bend-sensitivities when the hybrid PCF was bent toward different directions. Especially, the bandgaps are hardly affected when the half-filled PCF was bent toward the fluid-filled region. Such unique bend properties could be used to monitor simultaneously the bend directions and the curvature of the engineering structures.


Bovine fertility is subject of extensive research in animal sciences, especially since a decline in dairy cow fertility has been observed during the last decades. One factor is reduced expression of estrous behavior. Fertility is a complex process, regulated by interactions between brain and reproductive organs. The objective of this thesis was to improve insight in the regulation of dairy cow fertility by developing and using a mechanistic mathematical model of the bovine estrous cycle. The model that was developed describes the dynamics of the bovine estrous cycle on individual cow level. It simulates follicle and CL development and the periodic changes in hormone levels that control these processes by a set of linked differential equations. The model captures a number of key physiological processes of the bovine estrous cycle, and serves as a starting point for further simulation studies, model validation, and extended models. The model was used to find candidate mechanisms that regulate follicular development. A normal estrous cycle contains 2 or 3 waves of follicular development, but why some cycles consist of 3 and others of 2 waves is unknown. Results showed that variation of (combinations of) model parameters regulating follicle growth rate or time point of CL regression can change the model output from 3 to 2 waves of follicular growth in a cycle. Several factors may perturb the regular oscillatory behavior of a normal estrous cycle. Such perturbations are likely the effect of simultaneous changes in multiple parameters. It was investigated how multiple parameter perturbation changes the behavior of the estrous cycle model, so as to identify biological mechanisms that could play a role in the development of cystic ovaries, a common reason for reproductive failure in dairy cows. Simulation results indicated that CL functioning, luteolytic signals, and GnRH synthesis are likely involved in the development of cystic ovaries. Empirical data of individual cows was used to identify mechanisms that explain individual differences in cycle characteristics by fitting the model to the data. Finding specific parameter configurations for individual cows shows the capability of the model to simulate 'real' data. Certain combinations of estimated parameter values induced a clear qualitative shift in model behavior (e.g. a different number of follicular waves), suggesting possible routes how environmental or genetic influences could affect estrous cycle characteristics. Experimental data to verify simulation results are not always available, but hypotheses based on the model predictions could be investigated in future animal experimen


The National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) is currently coordinating a Phase III randomised study (LY05) comparing fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC) with or without rituximab (R) for previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The combination of FC is well-recognised as significantly immunosuppressive and there are concerns that adding rituximab may increase infection risk further. The impact of rituximab on other markers of toxicity is also unclear. We analysed the toxicity data on 139 patients treated within the NCRN LY05 trial. Non-hematological toxicity was similar between the two treatment arms. The only difference in hematological toxicity was a higher rate of lymphocytopenia with fludarabine cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR), which did not translate into increased febrile episodes or infections. In conclusion, the addition of rituximab to FC for previously untreated MCL has no significant impact on toxicity.


Seventy natural and synthetic compounds were tested for potential to inhibit mutation induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) in Salmonella typhimurium strain TM677. Results were compared with their ability to inhibit DMBA-induced preneoplastic lesions in a mouse mammary gland organ culture system. The response mediated by fifty-five of the test compounds was either positive or negative in both test systems, indicating that the combined use of these assays should aid in the discovery of antimutagenic agents that have cancer chemopreventive potential.


Abstract U.S. welfare and tax policies targeting single mothers were transformed over a decade ago. What was the impact on single mothers' happiness? Using data from the General Social Survey, difference in difference estimators are calculated. The results appear to indicate that the package of welfare and tax policy changes increased happiness. The results are largely consistent across three comparison groups and robust to various specification checks. This research nicely complements the literature by examining the impact of the welfare and tax policy changes on a novel outcome measure, self-reported happiness.


The main purpose and aim of the present study was to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of the methanolic extract of bark of Cassia alata (MECG). The analgesic activity of the extract was evaluated for its central and peripheral pharmacological actions using Eddy's hotplate method and acetic acid-induced writhing respectively. The anti flammatory activity was evaluated by using Digital plethysmometer . The study was carried out using dose of 100 mg/kg p.o. The pharmacological screening of the extract showed significant analgesic activity with good anti-inflammatory profile


There are a number of international initiatives that have the goal of improving or maintaining financial stability by strengthening financial infrastructure. The Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems (CPSS) contributed to this process through its work on developing Core Principles for systemically important payment systems (Core Principles). The paper outlines the rationale for the Core Principles, describes the process that led to their publication, describes the scope of the Principles, and offers some thoughts on their implementation. (article taken from a conference volume. The papers published in this volume are based on an IMF seminar held in 2000 that covered a broad range of topics on monetary and financial law, such as the liberalization of capital movements, data dissemination, responsibilities of central banks, and the IMF's goals in financial surveillance and architecture)


Initially identified as a T lymphocyte-elicited inhibitor of macrophage motility, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has since been found to be expressed by nearly every immune cell type examined and overexpressed in most solid and hematogenous malignant cancers. It is localized to both extracellular and intracellular compartments and physically interacts with more than a dozen different cell surface and intracellular proteins. Although classically associated with and characterized as a mediator of pro-inflammatory innate immune responses, more recent studies demonstrate that, in malignant disease settings, MIF contributes to anti-inflammatory, immune evasive, and immune tolerant phenotypes in both innate and adaptive immune cell types. This review will summarize the studies describing MIF in tumor-specific innate and adaptive immune responses and attempt to reconcile these various pleiotropic functions in normal physiology.


Male sterility induced by a chemical hybridization agent (CHA) is an important tool for utilizing crop heterosis. Monosulphuron ester sodium (MES), a new acetolactate synthase-inhibitor herbicide belonging to the sulphonylurea family, has been developed as an effective CHA to induce male sterility in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). To understand MES-induced male sterility in rapeseed better, comparative cytological and proteomic analyses were conducted in this study. Cytological analysis indicated that defective tapetal cells and abnormal microspores were gradually generated in the developing anthers of MES-treated plants at various development stages, resulting in unviable microspores and male sterility. A total of 141 differentially expressed proteins between the MES-treated and control plants were revealed, and 131 of them were further identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. Most of these proteins decreased in abundance in tissues of MES-treated rapeseed plants, and only a few increased. Notably, some proteins were absent or induced in developing anthers after MES treatment. These proteins were involved in several processes that may be crucial for tapetum and microspore development. Down-regulation of these proteins may disrupt the coordination of developmental and metabolic processes, resulting in defective tapetum and abnormal microspores that lead to male sterility in MES-treated plants. Accordingly, a simple model of CHA-MES-induced male sterility in rapeseed was established. This study is the first cytological and dynamic proteomic investigation on CHA-MES-induced male sterility in rapeseed, and the results provide new insights into the molecular events of male sterility.


Male CD-1 mice, 4 to 6 months of age, were used to establish a reproducible model to study the stages of fracture repair. A custom-designed fracture apparatus was constructed, and trials with it demonstrated its capacity to reliably reproduce a closed fracture of the tibia. Dietary and sleep habits in the treated mice were the same as unfractured control mice. Four stages of fracture repair were documented and the duration of each stage was quantifiable and reproducible. The last stage of fracture repair was completed by 21 days postfracture. The reproducibility of the fracture, the reproducibility of the times and stages of fracture repair, the relatively short time to complete the fracture repair process, and the minimal discomfort which allowed the mice to maintain a normal daily routine, suggest that this is an ideal animal model for studying the fracture repair process.


While quantum computers enable significant performance improvements for certain classes of applications, building a well-defined programming model has been a pressing issue. In this paper, we address some of the key limitations to realizing a generic heterogeneous parallel programming model for quantum-classical heterogeneous platforms. We discuss our experience in enabling user-level multi-threading in QCOR [1] as well as challenges that need to be addressed for programming future quantum-classical systems. Specifically, we discuss our design and implementation of introducing C++-based parallel constructs to enable 1) parallel execution of a quantum kernel with std::thread and 2) asynchronous execution with std::async. To do so, we provide a detailed overview of the current implementation of the QCOR programming model and runtime, and discuss how we add 1) thread-safety to some of its user-facing API routines, and 2) increase parallelism in QCOR by removing data races that inhibit multi-threading so as to better utilize available computing resources. We also present preliminary performance results with the Quantum++ [2] back end on a single-node Ryzen9 3900X machine that has 12 physical cores (24 hardware threads) with 128GB of RAM. The results show that running two Bell kernels with 12 threads per kernel in parallel outperforms running the kernels one after the other each with 24 threads (1.63× improvement). In addition, we observe the same trend when running two Shor's algorthm kernels in parallel (1.22× faster than executing the kernels one after the other). Furthermore, the parallel version is better in terms of strong scalability. We believe that our design, implementation, and results will open up an opportunity not only for 1) enabling quicker prototyping of parallel-aware quantum-classical algorithms on quantum circuit simulators in the short-term, but also for 2) realizing a generic parallel programming model for quantum-classical heterogeneous platforms in the long-term.


Inorganic phosphate coating exhibits great potential applications in extreme environments, it is regrettable that its poor mechanical flexibility limited their scope of application. This paper aims to provide a new way to improve the flexibility of phosphate coating by using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as the dopant. The influence of atomic oxygen (AO) irradiation on microstructure and tribological properties of the coatings were then investigated. Results indicated that PTFE molecules embedded into the phosphate networks homogeneously could not only improve the flexibility of the coatings from grade 3 to 1 but also exhibit excellent friction and wear properties under air and vacuum conditions after a long-term AO irradiation. These are due to a continuous phosphate binder phase itself had a good resistance to AO irradiation. Thus, this study is expected to provide a new idea for designing and applying self-lubrication coating materials in extreme space environments. Graphical abstract


In this work, we report the TMtopo data set containing optimized geometries, quantum calculated properties, and quantum topological descriptors for 1110 first row TM complexes. Properties were computed at the TPSSh/Def2-TZVP level of theory and the quantum topological descriptors were collected under the framework of the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM), including a systematic topological survey of the Laplacian of the electron density, ∇2ρ(r). This survey yielded novel insights on the proliferation of inner Valence Shell Charge Concentrations (iVSCCs, local minima of ∇2ρ(r)) in the metal center, suggesting that their number is determinant for the stabilization of the metal center in a more intense manner than their arrangement opposing each of the metal's ligands (Inorg. Chem. 2016, 55, 3653). Pairwise representation of the collected properties revealed overall low correlation, although some structure could be perceived in the data (specially when considering the topological features of ∇ 2 ρ(r)). This suggests that the TMtopo data set could be usefully exploited in the data-driven discovery of new TM complexes with interesting properties for applications in as catalysis, opto-electronics and sustainable energy production and storage.


Advances in embedded systems have enabled integration of many lightweight sensory devices within our daily life. In particular, this trend has given rise to continuous expansion of wearable sensors in a broad range of applications from health and fitness monitoring to social networking and military surveillance. Wearables leverage machine learning techniques to profile behavioral routine of their end-users through activity recognition algorithms. Current research assumes that such machine learning algorithms are trained offline. In reality, however, wearables demand continuous reconfiguration of their computational algorithms due to their highly dynamic operation. Developing a personalized and adaptive machine learning model requires real-time reconfiguration of the model. Due to stringent computation and memory constraints of these embedded sensors, the training/re-training of the computational algorithms need to be memory- and computation-efficient. In this paper, we propose a framework, based on the notion of online learning, for real-time and on-device machine learning training. We propose to transform the activity recognition problem from a multi-class classification problem to a hierarchical model of binary decisions using cascading online binary classifiers. Our results, based on Pegasos online learning, demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves 97% accuracy in detecting activities of varying intensities using a limited memory while power usages of the system is reduced by more than 40%.


Presently available fiberoptic instruments are flexible, versatile, relatively safe, can be introduced with comparative ease into various parts of the gut, and are being sold, to both trained and untrained endoscopists, to a degree far beyond the wildest dreams of manufacturers in years gone by. The "endoscopic revolution" is the subject ofGastrointestinal Pan-Endoscopy, a book written by skilled endoscopists about an important and timely subject. The topics considered cover the gamut of endoscopy. They include the history of gastrointestinal endoscopy; the merits and demerits of various instruments; "how to do it" chapters concerning instrument selection, preparation of the patient, passage of the instrument, and orientation; recommendations concerning indications and contraindications; sections about each of the "endos" (esophagoscopy, gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and others), and discussions of gastrointestinal disease from an endoscopic point of view. The illustrations are helpful and the endoscopic photographs are of good quality. The book's value is somewhat


This prospective randomized pilot study aimed to test the hypotheses that partial liquid ventilation combined with a high positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and a moderate tidal volume results in improved gas exchange and lung mechanics without negative hemodynamic influences compared with conventional mechanical ventilation in acute lung injury in piglets. Acute lung injury was induced in 12 piglets weighing 9.0 ± 2.4 kg by repeated i.v. injections of oleic acid and repeated lung lavages. Thereafter, the animals were randomly assigned either to partial liquid ventilation (n = 6) or conventional mechanical ventilation (n = 6) at a fractional concentration of inspired O2 of 1.0, a PEEP of 1.2 kPa, a tidal volume < 10 mL/kg body weight (bw), a respiratory rate of 24 breaths/min, and an inspiratory/expiratory ratio of 1:2. Perfluorocarbon liquid 30 mL/kg bw was instilled into the endotracheal tube over 10 min followed by 5 mL/kg bw/h. Continuous monitoring included ECG, mean right atrial, pulmonary artery, pulmonary capillary, and arterial pressures, arterial blood gas, and partial pressure of end-tidal CO2 measurements. When compared with control animals, partial liquid ventilation resulted in significantly better oxygenation with improved cardiac output and oxygen delivery. Dead space ventilation appeared to be lower during partial liquid ventilation compared with conventional mechanical ventilation. No significant differences were observed in airway pressures, pulmonary compliance, and airway resistance between both groups. The results of this pilot study suggest that partial liquid ventilation combined with high PEEP and moderate tidal volume improves oxygenation, dead space ventilation, cardiac output, and oxygen delivery compared with conventional mechanical ventilation in acute lung injury in piglets but has no significant influence on lung mechanics.


An Open-Ended Working Group (WG) on the Leipzig Declaration (LD) met all day and into the evening on the fourth day of the Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture(ITCPGR-4), while the WG on the Global Programme of Action (GPA) completed its work in a late session the previous night. The Plenary met briefly in the afternoon to hear country statements. Contact Groups (CG) on Farmers'Rights (FR) and implementation and financing of the Global Programme ofAction (GPA) met, as did informal groups on unresolved text of the LD and GPA.


Background: To compare the perinatal outcome between explained and unexplained (idiopathic) polyhydramnios. Methods: In this descriptive study, 50 women with singleton pregnancies with idiopathic polyhydramnios, delivered in a period of one year, were compared with 45 pregnant women with known causes of polyhydramnios. Outcome measures studied were preterm delivery (<37 weeks gestation), low birth weight (<2.5 kg), macrosomia (>4.0 kg), malpresentations, APGAR score at 5 minutes <7, rate of caesarean section, neonatal hospitalization, congenital anomalies and perinatal death. Results: Incidence of polyhydramnios was found to be 1.36%. In 52.63% of cases no cause of polyhydramnios was found, while 47.37% of cases were found to have underlying causes of polyhydramnios. There was a statistically significant increased incidence of preterm delivery (31%, p-value < 0.05), caesarean section (44.4%, pvalue<0.05), NICU admission (33%, p-value < 0.05), congenital anomalies (22%, p-Value < 0.05) and perinatal death (20%, p-value < 0.05) in explained polyhydramnios group as compared to unexplained polyhydramnios group. There was also an increased incidence of malpresentations (24.4%) and low APGAR score (33%) in explained polyhydramnios group. Conclusion: Antenatal diagnosis of polyhydramnios requires careful search for associated underlying maternal and fetal conditions. Idiopathic Polyhydramnios is not associated with adverse perinatal outcome.


The problem of charged particles added to a perfect insulator is analysed with the use of time-independent many-electron perturbation theory. It is shown that all added particles, both classical (static point charges) and quantum (electrons and holes), interact via a screened coulomb potential provided the particles are sufficiently far apart. This screening may be regarded as renormalization of the charges according to the intuitively appealing prescription q ->qk-1/2, where k is interpreted as the static dielectric constant, as originally conjectured by Kohn. When dynamical particles are involved the results establish the general validity of the well-known effective-mass equation which describes the motion of the quasiparticles and hence equivalently, the low-lying excitations of the whole many-electron system.


We present an analysis of isozyme variability in natural populations of the plant species Hippocrepis valentina (Leguminosae), which is endemic to the eastern Mediterranean coast of Spain and currently has endangered species status. Our results, obtained by starch-gel electrophoresis of 15 loci, show normal levels of variability for species with similar biology. The comparison with the patterns of genetic variability of two closely related species, H. balearica and H. grosii, confirms the taxonomic status of H. valentina as a proper species, independent of H. balearica, as previously suggested. The analysis of population subdivision shows that substantial variation among populations is present, and a hierarchical analysis demonstrates that when zones are defined according to their geographic location, a higher differentiation among populations within zones than among zones is found. Indirect estimates of gene flow indicate that levels of migration per generation are relatively low, except for a group composed of four populations, three of which are in close proximity. For the remaining populations, there is evidence of substantial differentiation. These results have implications for the design of a conservation strategy for this species.


Groundwater is the main domestic water supply of the population of the Yogyakarta Special Region, both in the urban and as well as in the rural area due to its quantity and quality advantages. The rapid population growth has caused an increase of groundwater demand, consequently it is facing some problems to the sustainability of groundwater supply. Lowering of groundwater level has been observed in some places, as well as the degradation of groundwater quality. Earthquake which stroke Yogyakarta on 27 May 2006, damaged buildings and other infrastructures in the area, including roads and bridges. It might also damage the underground structures such as septic tanks, and pipes underneath the earth surface. It might cause cracking of the geologic structures. Furthermore, the damage of underneath infrastructures might create groundwater quality changes in the area. Some complains of local community on lowering and increasing groundwater level and groundwater quality changes were noted. Field observation and investigation were conducted, including collection of groundwater samples close to (the) pollution sources. Laboratory analyses indicated that some parameters increased to exceed the drinking water quality standards. The high content of Coli form bacteria possibly was caused by contamination of nearby septic tanks or other pollution sources to the observed groundwater in the dug well.


Time course studies of rho-nitroanisole O-demethylation revealed formaldehyde production in excess of rho-nitrophenol (PNP) and 4-nitrocatechol (NTC) formation by rat liver microsomes. This indicated that these products (PNP, NTC) were metabolised further. The hydroxylation reaction PNP yields NTC showed substrate and product inhibition and a requirement for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and O2 and was localized in liver microsomes. It was strongly activated by ascorbic acid, cysteine, adenosine triphosphate or hydroxylamine in vitro and enhanced by phenobarbital treatment in vivo. Mercapturic derivatives were metabolized to the corresponding hydroxy compounds with the same speed as their parent compounds. Both PNP and NTC were metabolized to the corresponding glucuronide and sulfate conjugates. On the other hand, the PNP or NTC glucuronides and sulfates were metabolized with liver microsomes to PNP and NTC.


Every basketball player has an appetite to increase the free throw shooting performance. Sometimes the game depends upon their success shots. But it is difficult for basketball players to improve their own performance because, to do so, there are some factors such as good timing of muscle activity and mechanical efficiency. Especially relating to mechanical efficiency, it was investigated in various physical movements. As a result, previous study indicated that mechanical efficiency was an important index to "skill". However, it has not been reported about its improvement in conjunction with training. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the mechanical efficiency of free throw shooting exercise in basketball, and assess the improvement of mechanical efficiency and performance through an eight week training program.


JiST/SWANS is a wireless network simulator gaining increasing popularity for ad-hoc wireless, wireless sensor network, and vehicular network evaluations. Typical published results using this tool show node counts on the order of hundreds of nodes. However, realistic sensor and vehicular networks may contain many more nodes than that. One reason for this discrepancy is the computational cost of evaluation via simulation. Currently, cluster computers are becoming preferred over expensive multi-processor supercomputers for improving computational output. We present the design and implementation of a parallelization of JiST, the discrete event simulator core of JiST/SWANS. JiST uses unique dynamic byte-code rewriting to simplify the development of applications and has been shown to perform well running small- or medium-scale wireless network simulations on single processor systems. We propose an optimistic cluster-based architecture and apply it to JiST. Simulation entity memory is distributed evenly across all nodes in the cluster, resulting in linear memory growth. Details of the simulation engine including the complex event execution synchronization are hidden entirely from the application, easing development and debug time. Since JiST is the simulation backend of the SWANS wireless network simulator, this result is the first step in simulating large networks using SWANS in reasonable periods of time. Results presented show the performance of our parallelization of JiST is in line with the performance of other existing parallel discrete event simulators.


The focus of this article is the cross-cultural translation space of bicultural bilingual performance of Inma, traditional Pitjantjatjara song and dance. The article structure reflects the two languages and cultural concepts of storytelling, song and dance in which the Kungkarangkalpa Inma—Seven Sisters performance was presented at the Centenary of Canberra Indigenous Festival in 2013. This method of bilingual bicultural translation of words, song, dance and choreography was intrinsic to the many acts of translation involved in communicating the power, passion and meaning of a traditional Indigenous Inma performance to a western city audience. Inma song and dance conveys the connectivity of people to their Tjukurpa, the Law and Dreaming of their country. The performance space of translation is one in which people choose to share their culture by performing it in language, written or spoken, song, dance or mime, and translation occurs through intermediaries with some knowledge of both cultures who translate each to the other. The authors acknowledge that the acts of translation involved in translocating the desert Inma to the Canberra stage and the presentation of this in the secondary formats of a dialogue at an academic conference and now in a written article are all abstractions from the real performance of meaning in country of the Tjukurpa. Translation is but a reflection of meaning, a narrowing of the breadth of cultural referends of language, time and place. In this case, through several portals: a condensed city performance, a film of this performance, an oral bilingual conference dialogue and now a written account. This article references these portals and incorporates direct and indirect bilingual speech and reflection in an attempt to convey the importance of Inma song and dance in the cross-cultural communication of Indigenous knowledge of country.


Candidiasis is the fungal infection caused by Candida albicans. It causes different type of candidiasis infections in the blood, heart, eyes, brain, bones also other parts of our body. Different types of candidiasis are vaginal candidiasis, pulmonary candidiasis, oral candidiasis. It may be acute or chronic. It can be cured by using natural compounds or synthetic compounds or semisynthetic compounds. Apergillosis is the fungal infections in human caused by Aspergillus niger. Aspergillosis infections are classified into allergic pulmonary sinusitis, cutaneous aspergillosis, invasive aspergillosis, chronic necrotising pulmonary aspergillosis can be cured by using synthetic compounds like intravenous injections, oral medicines of capsules, tropical medicines like creams and some other natural products from plants. Natural products like saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, xanthones, lectins and polypeptides, quinones, terpenoids, coumarins, essential oils and other compounds are the secondary metabolites extracted from the plants. Those plants are effective against fungal infections. Synthetic drugs like Azole group of drugs composed of imidazoles which includes miconazole, clotrimazole, ketoconazole, and triazoles include itraconazole, Posaconazole, isavuconazole are used to inhibit the ergosterol synthesis of cell membrane of fungi. Echinocandins are antifungal agent and it is used to disrupt the cell wall of fungi and inhibiting the synthesis of beta- 1,3 glucan fungal cell wall. Echinocandins are classified into caspofungin, anidulafungin, micafungin which having antifungal activity and amphotericin B used to treat both candidiasis and aspergillosis. Combination of drugs like synthetic drugs and natural compounds used to treat Candidiasis and Aspergillosis. Comparison and effectiveness of drugs depends upon the infections they are getting affected. Amphotericin B and azole group of drugs are commonly more effective than other group of drugs, but ketoconazole is widely used. Adverse effects of antifungal agents include, skin rashes, irritation, itching, nausea and vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, muscle and joint pain, etc.


Scalars, arrays, and records, together with associated operations and syntax, have been introduced as special cases of relations into the relational programming system, relix. This permits all of these data types, as well as relations, to be stored persistently. The requirement in most languages that array elements and record fields can be assigned to leads in this case to the general implementation of QT-selectors as l-expressions, with, in particular, systematic interpretations of assignment to projections and selections of relations. The authors discuss the principles and the implementation of this extension to the relational algebra. They take advantage of the very specialized syntax of array access to build a tuned access method, using B-trees and Z-order. The performance results show the advantage of this implementation over the slower implementation required for general QT-selectors. >


Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has wrought havoc on healthcare systems worldwide. Age, chronic diseases, use of drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), male sex and genetic predisposition have been postulated as risk factors for adverse outcomes in COVID-19 cases. A retrospective drug-utilisation study was carried out using information collected routinely in a healthcare database (CaReDB) in Campania (Southern Italy). We wished to discover the prevalence of drug utilisation (monotherapy and polytherapy) in COVID-19 vs. non-COVID-19 patients in Campania (~6 million inhabitants). The study cohort was 1,532 individuals who tested positive for COVID-19. Drugs were grouped according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system. We noted a higher prevalence of use of drugs in the ATC category C01, B01 and M04, and this was probably linked to related comorbidities (i.e., cardiovascular, metabolic). Nevertheless, the prevalence of use of drugs acting on the RAS, such as antihypertensive drugs, was not higher among COVID-19 patients compared with that in non-COVID-19 patients. These results highlight the need for further case–control studies to define the effect of medications and comorbidities on susceptibility to, and associated mortality from, COVID-19.


A novel nitride passivation of 0.1 /spl mu/m InGaAs/InAlAs/InP HEMTs using high-density inductively coupled plasma CVD (HD-ICP-CVD) is reported. The nitride films deposited by HD-ICP-CVD have a lower wet HF etch rate (high density) and lower hydrogen concentration than those deposited by PECVD. A reduction of surface leakage current after passivation was observed; resulting in an approximate 40% improvement of off-state reverse breakdown voltage over that of PECVD passivated devices. The increase in breakdown voltage implies a potential improvement in power performance at millimeter wave frequency. A successful demonstration of HD-ICP-CVD passivated InP HEMTs promises adoption of HD-ICP-CVD nitride deposition for the next-generation InP HEMT passivation technique.


In this paper, two types of fiber surface treatment methods, namely heat treatment and chemical coupling, were used to improve the basalt fiber surface properties. The basalt fiber surface was heated under 250Celsius degree for 30minites, and then was treated by silane coupling agent ethanol solution with different concentrations. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was utilized to study the surface chemical compositions of basalt fiber after treatments. The XPS analysis indicated that chemical bonds between basalt fiber and KH-550 have occurred, and silanols were adsorbed to the surface of basalt fibers by an ether linkage between the silanols and the hydroxyl groups of the fibers. When the concentration of KH-550 is 0.8wt%, the optimal bonding condition is formed between basalt fiber and silane coupling agent.


Hemodynamic assessment is a key component of the evaluation of the critically ill patients and has both diagnostic and prognostic utility. This review outlines a general approach to assessment of hemodynamics and perfusion, and then discusses various hemodynamic parameters: heart rate, BP, intravascular (central venous and pulmonary artery) pressures, cardiac output, and myocardial performance, within the context not only of how they are best measured but also how they should be used in a clinical context. Hemodynamics are best assessed using a combination of not only different hemodynamic parameters but also those with the inclusion of clinical indices of perfusion. The benefits of these techniques, as with all medical testing and interventions, must be weighed against any potential risks. Although what to measure and how to measure it is important, what is most important is how to use the information. Evaluating the response to therapeutic interventions is frequently the most useful way to employ hemodynamic monitoring techniques. For the practitioner, learning how to select from a robust set of hemodynamic tools and how to tailor their use to individual clinical settings will allow for optimal patient care.


Purpose of review In animals, both skeletal myoblasts and stem cells partially restore myocardial function after MI. This review provides a critical analysis of the initial clinical trials of these two therapeutic strategies. Recent findings Direct injection of autologous skeletal myoblasts into the peri-infarct area has been performed at bypass surgery and by subendocardial injection in the catheterization laboratory. Both approaches appear to improve function significantly. Nonetheless, ventricular arrhythmias occur quite frequently in the first week after myoblast injection. In contrast, stem cells can be delivered to the injured myocardium by direct injection, by IV injection, or by bone marrow stimulation. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmia does not seem to increase. The magnitude of absolute improvement in cardiac ejection fraction, however, is only about 7%. The potential limitations of stem cell therapy are cell fusion, creating genetically abnormal cells, and the ability to deliver sufficient numbers of cells to have an important biologic effect. Summary Cell replacement therapy after MI has considerable promise for restoration of cardiac function. Nonetheless because important theoretical and practical questions remain unanswered, the methodology is not yet ready for widespread clinical application.


Globalization now have impact on the competition between Indonesian and Foreign Accountants. More foreign accountants now have  their  jobs in Indonesia which makes the competition  even fiercer. With the situation at hand, the Indonesian accountants must up-grade their competencies to the same quality or level with those of foreigners, in order that they be able to win the competition. Certainly, this duty- to standardize the qualification of graduate-is assumed by the Accountant Bodies / Institution,  and  the university role here  is to meet  the minimum qualification of graduates.  For that reason, the draft of Accounting Education Standard (2008), has been established by The Indonesian Accountant Institution  (lAl),  Accounting Lecturer Compartment.  This draft is also the answer for the globalization competition. The further explanation will contain the elaboration of several key points of the draft, and analysis of the impact on education institution, especially on the quality assessment in the future.


For different values of the decay constant in the Modified Transmission Line Model with Exponential Decay (MTLE) and for different channel heights the results for lightning electromagnetic field (LEMF) at different distances from the channel-base are presented in this paper, so as for the spatial and temporal current distribution along the channel. The decay constant influence on LEMF above perfectly conducting ground is analyzed using new lightning channel-base current function and MTLE as an engineering model for a lightning return stroke. The proper choice of this constant can be made based on experimental results but also on the analysis of its influence on electric and magnetic field values and their shape characteristics.


An on-line BCI system is designed to control self-designed robot for photo-taking. The simulated experiment of BCI's application outside space-ship in aerospace is included in this paper. The P300-based BCI system includes three modules: visual stimulus, EEG sampling and signal processing, external robot controlling. A robot acts as the carrier for the camera. The robot is developed with the ability of six-direction-free moving and simple two-direction operation. The robot can move forward and backward, go up and down, turn to left and right. Also the robot can grasp and release a shuttle of a camera. In the experiment, the subject chooses the right oddball on a CRT/LCD displayer with eight blocks which are corresponding to the directions and operations, and gazes at it. The EEG is sampled by a DSP-based device to extract the P300 characteristic. The robot is controlled to move or operate by the subject's EEG with wire or wireless communication. The classical visual oddball paradigm is designed on LabVIEW platform. Simple wavelet analysis and statistics algorithm are embedded in DSP to do EEG processing. Plenty of experiments in laboratory shows that the system accomplishes the real-time controlling of the external robot successfully.


Surveys were made of the seed systems used in Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda and to investigate the reasons underlying them. Along the equator in Uganda, where rainy seasons are evenly spaced and occur twice a year, vine cuttings from mature plants only are used as planting material. Where there is a long dry season, the seed system includes a diversity of means of conservation: the passive production of volunteer plants from groundkeeper roots sprouting when the rains come; small-scale propagation of plants in the shade or backyard production using waste domestic water; and relatively large-scale propagation in wetlands or irrigated land. The last is the only means of obtaining sufficient quantity for sales, but is also the most expensive. Volunteers only produce planting material one or two months after the start of the rains and tend to be regarded as common property; nevertheless, they are an important source of planting material for poorer farmers. Although farmers perceive multiple benefits from planting early, planting material is in short supply at the beginning of the rains and mainly larger scale farmers gain these benefits. Farmers select carefully to avoid using plants with symptoms of virus disease as planting material and may also remove any diseased plants from crops.


We present Painlevé VI sigma form equations for the general Ising low and high temperature two-point correlation functions C(M,N) with M ≤ N in the special case ν = −k where ν = sinh2Eh/kBT/ sinh 2Ev/kBT . More specifically four different non-linear ODEs depending explicitly on the two integers M and N emerge: these four non-linear ODEs correspond to distinguish respectively low and high temperature, together with M + N even or odd. These four different non-linear ODEs are also valid for M ≥ N when ν = −1/k. For the lowtemperature row correlation functions C(0, N) with N odd, we exhibit again for this selected ν = −k condition, a remarkable phenomenon of a Painlevé VI sigma function being the sum of four Painlevé VI sigma functions having the same Okamoto parameters. We show in this ν = −k case for T < Tc and also T > Tc, that C(M,N) with M ≤ N is given as an N × N Toeplitz determinant. PACS: 05.50.+q, 05.10.-a, 02.30.Hq, 02.30.Gp, 02.40.Xx AMS Classification scheme numbers: 34M55, 47E05, 81Qxx, 32G34, 34Lxx, 34Mxx, 14Kxx Key-words: Ising correlation functions, sigma form of Painlevé VI, Okamoto parameters, Toeplitz determinants.


1,2,3 Abstract: Data mining is a process of searching through large amounts of data for patterns recognition. It is a relatively new concept which is directly related to computer science. It can be used with a number of older computer techniques such as pattern recognition and statistics. The goal of data mining is to extract important information from data that was not previously known. This paper make use of data mining concept for collecting patient details in hospital management .We use a new algorithm called RENOVATE algorithm to cluster the patient record for citation the disease of the patient. This algorithm cluster the data based on everyday update and produce the better result for the doctor to understand the state of affairs of the patient. The renovate algorithm provide the result by clustering the record on the core of labels. And also gives how the clustering process carried to place them in labeled order.


This article develops a decision-making framework that highlights how display of numeric attribute information (e.g., display of calorie information) and shoppers' goals (i.e., having a diet focus vs. a taste focus) jointly influence shoppers' choices and preferences. Across two sets of studies, including a field study involving the launch of a new Coca-Cola product, the authors show that when food items are displayed in an aligned manner (i.e., when food items with lower-value calorie information are displayed below food items with higher calorie values), shoppers assign more importance weight to calorie gap information. In turn, higher importance weight assigned to calorie gap information leads diet-focused shoppers to relatively prefer low-calorie food items but leads taste-focused shoppers to relatively prefer higher-calorie food items. The third set of studies shows that this decision-making framework has widespread applicability and is relevant in any domain in which advertising, retail, and online displays show comparisons of numeric attribute information.


Rat growth hormone releasing factor (rGRF)- and somatostatin (SRIF)-like immunoreactivities (LI) were determined by radioimmunoassay in the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) of the rat with either complete deafferentation (CD) or a sham operation. Two weeks after the surgery the mean amount of SRIF-LI in the isolated MBH was about 70% less than that in the sham-operated animals. On the other hand, the mean rGRF-LI in the MBH decreased only approximately 30% as compared to the levels in the sham-operated animals, the difference being statistically insignificant. These findings are consistent with anatomical evidence that the majority of the GRF perikarya are located in the arcuate nucleus, but a few are found outside the MBH, whereas the majority of the SRIF perikarya are located outside the MBH.


T hirteen years ago, a colleague of mine did a labiaplasty on my 18-year-old daughter for medical reasons. What was supposed to be routine has become a nightmare for her. Not only did he remove all of her labia minora, but he also denervated her clitoris. When he saw her postoperatively, he told her she was fine, maybe a little "atrophied." Because of this obfuscation, years went by before she really understood how damaged she was. By then, the statute of limitations had lapsed and she had no recourse. Still seeking closure on this disaster, my daughter recently went to one of his peers who confirmed the extent of her injury and even called the initial ob-gyn to let him know what he had done. Despite this evidence, he refuses to admit he caused it. In the most pathetic of excuses, he proposed to me that she either had additional surgery or mutilated herself. How does a physician get this deep into denial? This doctor is a leading ob-gyn in the state and universally respected. Certainly, he has helped thousands of women and children. So why can't he admit he has made such a serious mistake? Somewhere in our careers, we lose touch with our emotions and our patients' tribulations. We suppress our natural responses, deny our feelings, and unlearn how to say "sorry" when a patient is suffering. We learn to lean heavily on denial. We see perfectly healthy people with catastrophic illness and compartmentalize it so we don't have to worry it can happen to us. In the hope of treating disease, we cause tremendous suffering with medicines and surgeries that have horrendous side effects and complications. We employ denial to shield ourselves emotionally from the misery we cause, but it only tends to make us more callous. Our lab coats make us "different," enforce our denial and allow us to not identify too closely with our patients, lest we constantly be faced with the reality that we will all end up as patients with some lethal disease. The constant threat medical malpractice creates more distance between our emotions and our patients. Rather than surrender to our compassion and acknowledge a patient's misfortune, we remain silent for fear of implying our guilt. For want of an "I'm sorry," a lawsuit becomes more likely. Having said that, I still don't know how my daughter's doctor could be so devoid of compassion and honesty that he could still deny he mutilated her, especially when he knows the acknowledgment would give her some closure. How could he be in such denial? Somehow our generation of doctors has to be better. We have to admit things go wrong and we contribute to patient suffering. For our profession, for our patients, and for ourselves, we need to reject denial in favor of truth. We need to face our patients sympathetically with honesty, not denial.


Many studies have attempted to define the state of differentiation of melanoma cells and to correlate it with other critical parameters of malignancy such as the tumorigenic and metastatic nature of the cells. In the present paper we focused on the possible relationships between the novel protein kinase C isoform nPKCδ, melanin synthesis and proliferative capacity in a primary human melanoma cell line WM115. Cells were transfected to produce overexpression of this isoform and the effects on melanin synthesis, cyclin-E dependent kinase (cdk2) activity and cyclin E expression were studied. It was shown that translocation of nPKCδ into the nucleus affects melanin synthesis and inhibits cdk2 activity. As a compensatory effect, the level of cyclin E increases. In view of these results we suggest a model for the role of nPKCδ in melanoma cells that may offer a new therapeutic perspective.


EnglishThis article focuses on changes in the European banks strategies and on the major transformations in corporate governance occurred in the period 1997 -2007. In this perspective, and in contrast with the tenets of a part of the literature on varieties of capitalisms, we argue that there is limited convergence between coordinated and non-coordinated market economies. In the first part the empirical analysis emphasizes the persistence of a multiple equilibria state at the national level, although trading assets gradually took the place of traditional activities of intermediation in all banks induded in the sample. The second part of the paper addresses the Italian case. In particular, our aim is to describe some of the socially driven forces that influence the change in the strategic decisions-making of three major national banks (Unicredit, Intesa-San Paolo and Monte dei Paschi). According to a neo-institutionalist approach within the theoretical perspective of new economic sociology, we describe the process of social construction behind the change of the Italian bank strategies. The process of growth of financial assets does not only depend on rational economic decisions but it is also influenced by social factors like culture, power and social networks. italianoIntroduzione. - Strategie bancarie nei differenti modelli di capitalismo. - Il radicamento sociale dell'azione economica: il contributo teorico del neoistituzionalismo sociologico. - Verso la convergenza dei diversi capitalismi? - Il contesto istituzionale italiano: le ragioni sociali della trasformazione. - Conclusioni.


Networks are one of the essential building blocks of society. Not only do firms cooperate in R&D networks, but firms themselves may be seen as networks of information-exchanging workers. Social movements increasingly make use of networks to exchange information, just as on the negative side criminal and terrorist networks use them. However, the literature on networks has mainly focused on the cooperative side of networks and has so far neglected the competition side of networks. Networks themselves may face competition from actors with opposing interests to theirs. Several R&D networks may compete with one another. The firm as a network of employees obviously faces competition. In particular, given the importance of connectivity for networks, competing networks may try to disrupt each other, by trying to convince key players in competing networks to defect, or to stop sponsoring key links (strategic network disruption). In response, networks that face competition will adapt their structure, and will avoid vulnerable network structures. Such network competition is what our paper is concerned with.


This study aimed to examine the association between control over practice in work environments and stigma toward people with schizophrenia among mental health professionals. We conducted secondary analyses on data from a self-administered questionnaire survey. The sample in the initial study included mental health professionals from two psychiatric hospitals, 56 psychiatric clinics, and community service agencies in Japan. The Ethics Committee of the University of Tokyo, approved this study. Data from 279 participants were used for secondary analyses (valid response rate = 58.7%). The hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to determine the association between control over practice and stigma. We performed subgroup analyses among nurses (n = 121) and psychiatric social workers (n = 92). Control over practice was negatively associated with stigma among mental health professionals (β = −0.162, p < 0.01). The subgroup analyses among nurses indicated that control over practice, educational history and recovery knowledge were associated with stigma. However, these variables were not associated with stigma among psychiatric social workers. Control over practice might help to reduce stigma among mental health professionals. Factors related to stigma might differ by occupation. Therefore, further comprehensive studies among various professionals would further our understanding of these factors.


Using Boettger's new two-phase treatment of hysteretic phase changes, calculations were done to observe the effect of the silicate phase change in the hydrodynamic region and seismic region of an underground nuclear explosion. The results indicate a small effect on shock time of arrival, a moderate effect on peak particle velocities, peak pressures in the hydrodynamic region, and negligible effect on seismic signals in the seismic region. ________________________


DETERMINATION OF Andrographis paniculata Nees EXTRACT
CHROMATOGRAM PROFILE
BY TLC-DENSITOMETRY METHOD
Fesha Febbiyanti
The purpose of this study was to determine chromatogram profile of
Andrographis paniculata extract for quality control process. The samples
were collected from Materia Medika Batu and Genteng Baru Market. The
samples were extracted with ethanol 70% using maceration method. The
chromatogram profile of both extracts were obtained using thin layer
chromatography, with silica gel 60F 254 as stationary phase and
chloroform-methanol (9:1) as development solvent. Spotting was done
using Linomat V and Camag TLC Scanner 4 was used for peak analysis and
scanned at wavelenght of 230 nm. As the result, this method fulfilled the
requirement of stability, selectivity and precision. Peak with retention factor
0,13, 0,16, 0,47 and 0,63 were chosen as characteristics peak for
Andrograhis paniculata extract.
Keyword : Andrographis paniculata Nees extract, chromatogram profile,
TLC-Densitometry.


Background: Revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains a significant challenge when there is severe femoral bone loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of revision THA in patients with femoral bone loss treated with Zweymüller SLR-Plus stem. Methods: A retrospective review of 82 patients who underwent revision THA using tapered rectangular femoral stem between 1997 and 2007 was undertaken. Of the 82 patients, 9 patients were lost to follow-up and were excluded from the study. The most common reason for revision was aseptic loosening (92%), periprosthetic femur fracture (5%), and infection (3%). Bone loss was categorised preoperatively according to the Paprosky classification. The mean clinical follow-up was 14 years (range 10–19 years). Their mean age at the time of index surgery was 54.7 ± 15.3 (range 30–82) years. Results: The mean Harris Hip Score was significantly improved at final follow-up (68.1 ±10.3) compared with that before the revision surgery (30.4 ± 7.7) (p < 0.0001). Of the 75 stems, 69 (92%) stems were radiographically stable at the last evaluation. Among the 69 stems, 64 hips (85%) had radiographic evidence of bone ingrowth and 5 (5%) had stable fibrous fixation of the stem. Among the 7 hips that were re-revised, 5 hips were re-revised for aseptic loosening, whereas 2 were re-revised for an infection. Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis, with removal of the stem for any cause as the endpoint, revealed that the 15-year rate of survival of the components was 90% (95% CI, 0.83–0.97). Conclusion: Revision THA in patients with proximal femoral bone loss using Zweymüller SLR-Plus stem led to a high rate of osseointegration of the stem and good clinical results at long-term follow-up.