In studying the effect of X-irradiation of rats with a dose of 4 Gy at different dose rates (96 and 4.6 cGy/min) the authors have revealed an increase in 5'-nucleotidase activity at a high dose rate (the first 24 h following irradiation) and a decrease in protein-kinase activity at a low dose rate (on days 3 and 7). The preinjection of alpha-tocopherol prevents the changes observed.


Right ventricular failure (RVF) is a major risk factor for end organ morbidity and mortality following cardiac surgery. Perioperative RVF is difficult to predict and detect, and to date, no convenient, accurate, or reproducible measure of right ventricular (RV) function is available. Few studies have examined the use of biomarkers in RVF, and even fewer have examined their utility in the perioperative setting of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Of the available classes of biomarkers, this review focuses on biomarkers of (1) inflammation and (2) myocyte injury/stress, due to their superior potential in perioperative RV assessment, including Galectin 3, ST2/sST2, CRP, cTN/hs-cTn, and BNP/NT-proBNP. This review was performed to help highlight the importance of perioperative RV function in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, to review the current modalities of RV assessment, and to provide a review of RV specific biomarkers and their potential utilization in the clinical and perioperative setting in cardiac surgery. Based on current evidence, we suggest the potential utility of ST2, sST2, Gal-3, CRP, hs-cTn, and NT-proBNP in predicting and detecting RVF in cardiac surgery patients, as they encompass the multifaceted nature of perioperative RVF and warrant further investigation to establish their clinical utility.


This paper investigates the parameters affecting the roughness of surfaces produced in the turning process for the various materials studied by researchers. Design of experiments were conducted for the analysis of the influence of the turning parameters such as cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut on the surface roughness. The results of the machining experiments were used to characterize the main factors affecting surface roughness by the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) method Taguchi"s parametric design is the effective tool for robust design it offers a simple and systematic qualitative optimal design to a relatively low cost. The Taguchi method of off-line (Engineering) quality control encompasses all stages of product/process development. However the key element for achieving high quality at low cost is Design of Experiments (DOE). In this paper Taguchi"s (DOE) approach used by many researchers to analyze the effect of process parameters like cutting speed, feed, and depth of cut on Surface Roughness and to obtain an optimal setting of these parameters that may result in good surface finish, has been discussed.


The concept of the transboundary water resource management is extremely relevant to Kazakhstan as almost 45% of country's water resources come from neighbouring countries. At the same time, the country faces environmental challenges such as water scarcity, desertification and climate change. However, legislative and institutional ineffectiveness have caused an unsustainable water resource use and threaten the long-term sustainability of water security in Kazakhstan. Specifically, poorly framed piece of legislation including national Water code have led to under-investment in water efficiency measures, leading to extensive water losses, soil salinity, as well as degradation of agricultural land. This study aims to review and discuss the current water sector in Kazakhstan with focus on legislative and institutional framework for transboundary water resources management in Kazakhstan.


In this paper we develop in all dimensions an existence theory for the Efros energy–domain self–consistent equation governing the density of single–electron states. When the energy domain extends to infinity, we prove that solutions exist except in dimension one. When the energy domain is finite, we prove that solutions exist in all dimensions. The boundary condition near the Fermi level makes the integral diverge. Such a difficulty can be overcome by using a perturbed equation as an approximation and then passing to the zero perturbation limit.


The design and experimental verification of a 75-GHz phase-locked loop (PLL) fabricated in 90-nm CMOS technology is presented. The circuit incorporates a three-quarter wavelength oscillator to achieve high-frequency operation and a novel phase-frequency detector (PFD) based on SSB mixers to suppress the reference feedthrough. The PLL demonstrates an operation range of 320 MHz and reference sidebands of less than -72 dBc while consuming 88 mW from a 1.45-V supply.


Transition metal sulfides are important candidates of battery-type electrode materials for advanced supercapatteries due to their high electric conductivity and electrochemical activity. The Co9S8@Ni3S2/ZnS composite microplate array was prepared by a metal-organic framework-assisted strategy because the electrochemical properties of composite arrays are governed by the synergistic effects of their diverse structures and compositions. As a battery-type material, the Co9S8@Ni3S2/ZnS electrode expressed an ultrahigh areal specific capacity of 8192 C cm-2 at the current density of 2 mA cm-2, and excellent cycling stability of 79.7% capacitance retention after 4000 cycles. An assembled supercapattery device using the Co9S8@Ni3S2/ZnS microplate array as a positive electrode and active carbon as the negative electrode delivered a high energy density of 0.377 mW h cm-2 at a high power density of 1.517 mW cm-2, and outstanding retention of 95.2% after 5000 cycles. As a result, the obtained Co9S8@Ni3S2/ZnS shows potential for applications in high-performance supercapattery.


This paper discusses the design and optimization of high-Q Bulk-Acoustic-Wave resonators using a Pt/Ta2O5/SiO2 reflector stack. It can be shown that by properly designing the reflector stack and boundary conditions, large performance improvements can be realized. In this paper the characterization and design of the reflector stack is described and its results are presented.


This article describe questions of creation specialized authorities for the construction of modern system of mortgage lending, the status, powers, tasks and mechanisms of interaction.


In the NGD process, TEG dehydration is commonly employed to prevent corrosion and blockage of equipment, valves, and piping systems. TEG is frequently lost in the system during this procedure owing to vaporization and carryover. Therefore, it is necessary to study the affection of variables of the dehydration process the process was simulated with ASPEN-HYSYSV8.8 and the thermodynamic model was glycol-package; the process was validated by comparing the Plant results with the simulation results and demonstrating good acceptance. ASPEN-HYSYS conducted a sensitivity study to investigate the impact of variables on the main objectives. , as this study showed that not all of these variables have a strong effect, some of them have a weak effect, for example (wet gas pressure and same case of solvent pressure) and the rest of the variables have a strong effect on this process, so it must be taken into consideration by the station operators where this The changes were targeted because they are subject to change within the plant, and the highest value and the smallest value were taken according to the factory's parameters. As these variables are taken into account and the requisite improvements are made, the natural gas drying process will improve, and the dry gas requirements needed will improve, resulting in increased benefit.


Background: Emerging research has demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) attach great importance to the progression of cervical cancer (CC). LncRNA ARAP1-AS1 was involved in the development of several cancers; however, its role in CC is far from being elucidated. Methods: Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was employed to detect ARAP1-AS1 and miR-149-3p expression in CC samples. CC cell lines (HeLa and C33A cells) were regarded as the cell models. The biological effect of ARAP1-AS1 on cancer cells was measured using CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, Transwell assay and wound healing assay in vitro, and subcutaneous xenotransplanted tumor model and tail vein injection model in vivo. Furthermore, interactions between ARAP1-AS1 and miR-149-3p, miR-149-3p and POU class 2 homeobox 2 (POU2F2) were determined by bioinformatics analysis, qRT-PCR, Western blot, luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assay, respectively. Results: The expression of ARAP1-AS1 was enhanced in CC samples, while miR-149-3p was markedly suppressed. Additionally, ARAP1-AS1 overexpression enhanced the viability, migration, and invasion of CC cells. ARAP1-AS1 downregulated miR-149-3p via sponging it. ARAP1-AS1 and miR-149-3p exhibited a negative correlation in CC samples. On the other hand, ARAP1-AS1 enhanced the expression of POU2F2, which was validated as a target gene of miR-149-3p. Conclusion: ARAP1-AS1 was abnormally upregulated in CC tissues and indirectly modulated the POU2F2 expression via reducing miR-149-3p expression. Our study identified a novel axis, ARAP1-AS1/miR-149-3p/POU2F2, in CC tumorigenesis.


Typically, smooth solid surfaces of reservoir rocks are assumed in formation evaluation, such as nuclear-magnetic-resonance (NMR) petrophysics and reservoir-wettability characterization through contact-angle measurements. Measuring the degree of surface roughness (R), or smoothness, and evaluating its effects on formation evaluation are topics of much research. In this paper, we primarily focus on details in characterizing solid-surface roughness and its applications in NMR pore-sizeanalysis.
 R can be measured by contact techniques and noncontact techniques, such as stylus profilometer, atomic-force microscopy, and different kinds of optical measurements. Each technique has different sensitivities, measurement artifacts, resolutions, and field of view (FOV). Intuitively, although a finer resolution measurement provides the closest account of all surface details, the correspondingly small FOV might compromise the representativeness of the measurement, which is particularly challenging for charactering heterogeneous samples such as carbonates. To balance the FOV and measurement representativeness, and to minimize artifacts, laser scanner confocal microscopy (LSCM) is selected in this study.
 Results for the more than 27 rock samples tested indicate that rocks of similar rock types have similar R-values. Grainy limestones have relatively higher R-values compared with dolostones, consistent with the dolostone's crystallization surface features. Muddy limestones have smoother surfaces, resulting in the lowest R-values among the rocks studied. For sandstones, R varies with clay types and content. For rocks containing two distinct minerals, two R-values are observed from the R profiles, which for these rock types justifies the use of two NMR surface relaxivity (ρ2) parameters for determining the pore-size distribution (PSD) from the NMR T2distribution.
 The novelty here is the integration of LSCM and NMR to obtain an NMR PSD relevant for permeability, capillary pressure, and other petrophysical parameters. Typically, ρ2 is calibrated using the total surface area from Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET; Brunauer et al. 1938) gas adsorption, but this underestimates the NMR pore size because of surface-roughness effects. In our novel approach, we use R measured from LSCM to correct ρ2 for surface-roughness effects, and thereby obtain the NMR pore size more relevant for permeability and other petrophysical parameters. We then compare the roughness-corrected NMR PSD against pore size from microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) scanning (which is roughness independent). The good agreement between roughness-corrected NMR and micro-CT pore sizes in the micropore region validates our new technique, and highlights the importance of surface-roughness characterization in NMR petrophysics.


which is conspicuously successful, and which has attracted a very wide range of visitors. One would like to feel (I) that this book was going to reach a very wide range of readers: (2) that it was going to promote discussion of the role of the police in our modern society, together with an appreciation of the problems which confront a modern police force; and (3) that it would prove to be the first of a series of volumes, equally easy to read, on particular topics affecting police work, including the operation of police forces outside the British Isles. For example, the operation of British police forces in British colonies before they became independent, and also since independence, is one of particular interest, not least in that it places the inter-relationship between police work and public approbation in an environment quite different from that of the British Isles. G. W. KEETON


Gout is a condition that commonly affects the foot and ankle, and practitioners who treat these structures should be aware of the methods to diagnose and treat this form of arthritis. Practitioners also need to recognize extra-articular manifestations of the disease. Although the acutely red, hot, swollen joint is a common presentation, chronic tophaceous gout can be associated with pain, nodule formation, and cutaneous compromise. Since the underlying causes that lead to excessive monosodium urate deposition may be treatable, early and accurate diagnosis can be very beneficial and may even prevent articular degeneration.


As validity pertains to test use rather than the test itself, using a test for unintended purposes requires a new validation program using additional evidence from relevant sources. This small-scale study contributes to the validation of the use of originally academic language tests—the International English Language Testing System and the Test of English as a Foreign Language—for assessing skilled immigration eligibility. Data were collected from 39 immigration-seeking test-takers, who are arguably under-represented in validation research. Analysis was informed by contemporary validity theory, which treats validity as a unitary concept incorporating score reliability, score interpretation, score-based decisions and their consequences. Results showed that the test-takers' perceptions varied widely. The evidence supporting this use included generally positive perceptions of the scores' reliability, washback effect, and fairness of score-based decisions. The refuting evidence concerned factors perceived to interfere with test-takers' performance and the complex consequences for the test-takers in aspects other than washback. However, overwhelmingly, as test-takers found the score-based decisions as fair, the validity judgement appeared tilted towards the positive side from the perspectives of these key stakeholders. Although the ultimate validity judgement requires the examination of evidence from other significant stakeholders as well, the present study has contributed valuable and unique evidence and bears important implications for research, practice, and policy particularly in high-stakes contexts such as immigration.


Objective
Umbilical hernia and paraumbilical hernia are ventral herniae that occur in infants and adults. According to current evidence, mesh repair is the treatment of choice to avoid recurrence. The aim of this study is to analyze the surgical methods, the types of meshes used, and their benefits.

Material and Methods
A retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with umbilical hernia and paraumbilical hernia was performed. The patients' consent was obtained retrospectively. The various surgical techniques and different meshes used were analyzed. Forty-three patients were selected for the study. Of these, 23 patients underwent open mesh repair, 12 patients underwent laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair repair, and eight patients underwent open intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair repair. The duration of the surgery, mesh used, number of days of hospital stay, type of anesthesia, and postoperative complications were analyzed.

Results
Of the 43 patients, the patients who underwent open intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair had shorter postoperative hospital stays compared to other methods (median=1 day; range=1 to 2 days). The duration of surgery was longer for laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair and open mesh repair compared to the open intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair technique (p<0.05).

Conclusion
The open intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair technique had advantages over the other methods for small-defect umbilical hernia and paraumbilical hernia. The duration of surgery was long for laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair compared to open mesh repair and the open intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair technique. Postoperative complications were insignificant for all three methods. Another advantage of the open intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair technique was a shorter postoperative hospital stay.


Distributed text-based communications (e.g., chat, instant-messaging) are facing the growing problem of malicious "chatbots" or "chatterbots" (automated communication programs posing as humans) attempting social engineering, gathering intelligence, mounting phishing attacks, spreading malware and spam, and threatening the usability and security of collaborative communication platforms. We provide supporting evidence for the suggestion that gross communication and behavioral patterns (e.g., message size, inter-message delays) can be used to passively distinguish between humans and chatbots. Further, we discuss several potential interrogation strategies for users and chat room administrators who may need to actively distinguish between a human and a chatbot, quickly and reliably, during distributed communication sessions. Interestingly, these issues are in many ways analogous to the identification problem faced by interrogators in a Turing Test, and the proposed methods and strategies might find application to and inspiration from this topic as well.


Extravascular coagulation leading to fibrin deposition accompanies many immune and inflammatory responses. Although recognized by pathologists for decades, and probably pathologic under certain conditions, the physiologic functions of extravascular coagulation remain to be fully defined. This study demonstrates that thrombin can activate macrophage adhesion and prompt interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) production in vivo. Peritoneal macrophages were elicited with thioglycollate (TG) and then activated in situ, either by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or by injection of antigen into mice bearing antigen-primed T cells. Others previously established that such treatments stimulate macrophage adhesion to the mesothelial lining of the peritoneal cavity. The present study demonstrates that thrombin functions in this process, as macrophage adhesion was suppressed by Refludan, a highly specific thrombin antagonist, and induced by direct peritoneal administration of purified thrombin. Although recent studies established that protease activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) mediates some of thrombin's proinflammatory activities macrophage adhesion occurred normally in PAR-1-deficient mice. However, adhesion was suppressed in fibrin(ogen)-deficient mice, suggesting that fibrin formation stimulates macrophage adhesion in vivo. This study also suggests that fibrin regulates chemokine/cytokine production in vivo, as direct injection of thrombin stimulated peritoneal accumulation of IL-6 and MCP-1 in a fibrin(ogen)-dependent manner. Given that prior studies have clearly established inflammatory roles for PAR-1, thrombin probably has pleiotropic functions during inflammation, stimulating vasodilation and mast cell degranulation via PAR-1, and activating cytokine/chemokine production and macrophage adhesion via fibrin(ogen).


The Selenga River delta (Russia) is a large (>600 km2) fluvially dominated fresh water system that transfers water and sediment from an undammed drainage basin into Lake Baikal, a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site. Through sedimentation processes, the delta and its wetlands provide important environmental services, such as storage of sediment‐bound pollutants (e.g., metals), thereby reducing their input to Lake Baikal. However, in the Selenga River delta and many other deltas of the world, there is a lack of knowledge regarding impacts of potential shifts in the flow regime (e.g., due to climate change and other anthropogenic impacts) on sedimentation processes, including sediment exchanges between deltaic channels and adjacent wetlands. This study uses field measurements of water velocities and sediment characteristics in the Selenga River delta, investigating conditions of moderate discharge, which have become more frequent over the past decades (at the expense of peak flows, Q > 1,350 m3 s−1). The aims are to determine if the river system under moderate flow conditions is capable of supporting sediment export from the main distributary channels of the delta to the adjacent wetlands. The results show that most of the deposited sediment outside of the deltaic channels is characterized by a large proportion of silt and clay material (i.e., <63 μm). For example, floodplain lakes function as sinks of very fine sediment (e.g., 97% of sediment by weight < 63 μm). Additionally, bed material sediment is found to be transported outside of the channel margins during conditions of moderate and high water discharge conditions (Q ≥ 1,000 m3 s−1). Submerged banks and marshlands located in the backwater zone of the delta accumulate sediment during such discharges, supporting wetland development. Thus, these regions likely sequester various metals bound to Selenga River sediment.


The non-destructive testing for detecting structural damage at the earliest possible stage is significant in the safe and long life operation of large marine structure such as ships. In the non-destructive testing, the variation in structural characteristics from the original one to the damaged one is used to identify the damage. Vibration characteristic is one of the most popular criteria used for it due to its sensitivity for the structural damage. In this paper, a damage identification method used in non-destructive testing is proposed based on topology optimization focusing on the difference of eigenfrequency between the original structure and the damaged one. Eigenfrequency analysis of a structure is considered. A minimization of the least squared error between the eigenfrequency of the damaged structure and the target eigenfrequency is set as an objective function. An optimization algorithm is constructed based on the topology optimization and the method of moving asymptotes (MMA). The validity and the usefulness of the proposed method is confirmed by several numerical examples.


A very intense flux of electrons, evident in the magnetosphere earlier this year, may have caused a satellite failure (or at least exacerbated the situation) leading to the loss of pager service to 45 million customers, research has shown. The electrons, known as highly relativistic electrons (HREs), were especially numerous in the weeks preceding the failure. Researchers say HREs have triggered spacecraft anomalies in the past through a process of deep dielectric charging when fluxes are elevated. They therefore believe this energetic electron environment could have been behind the failure in the attitude control system of the Galaxy 4 spacecraft at 2200 UT on May 19,1998. A backup system also failed, either at the same time or earlier, so operators were unable to maintain a stable Earth link [Silverstein, 1998].


The Pacific region is part of a larger world, far from being as isolated from centres of global power as a glance at the map might imply, but instead caught up in a web of multilateral relations with binding effects on its future progress and prosperity. This article considers such connections, in regard to both governmental and non-government agencies, referring in particular to the proliferation of highly influential non-governmental organisations in the region, as in the world at large. It treats the European Union handling of the December 2006 Fijian coup d'etat and its aftermath as a case study in government-to-government relations, and it provides secondly a detailed case study on the operations of one outstanding example of a non-governmental organisation, the International Crisis Group.


This thesis considers the task of spatial motion reconstruction from image sequences using a stereoscopic camera setup. In a variety of fields, such as flow analysis in physics or the measurement of oscillation characteristics and damping behavior in mechanical engineering, efficient and accurate methods for motion analysis are of great importance. This work discusses each algorithmic step of the motion reconstruction problem using a set of freely available image sequences. The presented concepts and evaluation results are of a generic nature and may thus be applied to a multitude of applications in various fields, where motion can be observed by two calibrated cameras. The first step in the processing chain of a motion reconstruction algorithm is concerned with the automated detection of salient locations (=features or regions) within each image of a given sequence. In this thesis, detection is directly performed on the natural texture of the observed objects instead of using artificial marker elements (as with many currently available methods). As one of the major contributions of this work, five well-known detection methods from the contemporary literature are compared to each other with regard to several performance measures, such as localization accuracy or the robustness under perspective distortions. The given results extend the available literature on the topic and facilitate the well-founded selection of appropriate detectors according to the requirements of specific target applications. In the second step, both spatial and temporal correspondences have to be established between features extracted from different images. With the former, two images taken at the same time instant but with different cameras are considered (stereo reconstruction) while with the latter, correspondences are sought between temporally adjacent images from the same camera instead (monocular feature tracking). With most classical methods, an observed object is either spatially reconstructed at a single time instant yielding a set of three-dimensional coordinates, or its motion is analyzed separately within each camera yielding a set of two-dimensional trajectories. A major contribution of this thesis is a concept for the unification of both stereo reconstruction and monocular tracking. Based on sets of two-dimensional trajectories from each camera of a stereo setup, the proposed method uses a graph-based approach to find correspondences not between single features but between entire trajectories instead. Thereby, the influence of locally ambiguous correspondences is mitigated significantly. The resulting spatial trajectories contain both the three-dimensional structure and the motion of the observed objects at the same time. To the best knowledge of the author, a similar concept does not yet exist in the literature. In a detailed evaluation, the superiority of the new method is demonstrated.


Lesions denominated fibro-osseous lesions of the jaw constitute a diversified group of disorders, in which the normal bone architecture is replaced by fibroblasts, collagen fibers and immature bone. At present, the World Health Organization recognizes four variants of these lesions, namely: bone-cement dysplasia, fibrous dysplasia, ossifying fibroma and Familial gigantiform cementoma. Fibrous dysplasia may present in the monostotic form, affecting one single bone or an isolated craniofacial region; and in the Polyostotic form, involving two or more bones of the skeleton, and eventual association with syndromic conditions. The patient, C.P.G., 43 years old, sought attendance due to symptomatic increase in the region of the mandibular body on the right side. Imaging exams revealed craniofacial areas with ground-glass aspect, beyond the extensive mandibular radiolucent lesion. During the physical exam, spots of the Café au lait type disposed on the right side of the body were identified, in addition to uncoordinated gait with distinct shortening of the right leg. Additional radiographic exams showed evidence of skeletal dissemination of the disease. The patient denied any sexual precocity, and the final diagnosis was fibrous dysplasia, expressed by means of the Jaffe-Lichtenstein syndrome, in association with a simple bone cyst.


Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of blindness. Earliest signs of diabetic retinopathy are damage to blood vessels in the eye and then the formation of lesions in the retina. This paper presents an automated method for the detection of exudates in retinal images with high accuracy. First, the image is converted to HSI model. After pre processing possible regions containing exudates using gray scale morphology are identified. Then descriptors for each candidate pixel to classify them are extracted. Using Naive-Bayes classifier, Diabetic retinopathy is classified.


Noncommutative Chern–Simons (NCCS) theory is a workable description for the fractional quantum Hall fluid. We apply and generalize the NCCS theory to the physically important case with an edge. From relabeling symmetry of electrons and incompressibility of the fluid, we obtain a constraint and reduce the two-dimensional NCCS theory to a one-dimensional chiral Tomonaga–Luttinger liquid theory, which contains additional interaction terms. Further, we calculate one-loop corrections to the boson and electron propagators and obtain a new tunneling exponent, which agrees with experiments.


Objective The study aimed to evaluate sugarcane bagasse as roughage in lactating cow on feed intake, digestibility, ingestive behavior, milk production and composition, and microbial protein synthesis. Methods Ten Girolando cows at initial body weight of 450±25.6 kg and at 143.7±30.7 days in milk were assigned in two 5×5 Latin square designs. Five 21-day experimental periods were adopted (1° to 14-day: diets adaptation period; 15° to 21-day: data collection and sampling period). The diets consisted of four different levels of sugarcane bagasse (45%, 50%, 55%, and 60%) and a control diet, commonly adopted in the region, based on spineless cactus (25% sugarcane bagasse), formulated to meet 12 kg/d milk yield. Results The dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and total digestible nutrients intakes and DM and OM digestibilities observed for 45% and 50% bagasse inclusion were similar to control diet, while that 55% and 60% bagasse inclusion were lower. Cows fed control diet, and bagasse diets of 45%, and 50% levels had the nutritional requirements attended, that guaranteed 12 kg/d of milk yield. The crude protein intake and digestibility of cows fed 45%, 50%, and 55% of bagasse inclusion were similar to control diet. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake and digestibility differ for all bagasse diets related to control diet, while the non-fiber carbohydrates intake and digestibility for cows fed 45% of bagasse were similar for control diet. The intakes and digestibilities of nutrients decreased linearly in function of bagasse inclusion; NDF and indigestible NDF intakes did not vary. The ruminating time, feeding and rumination efficiency, microbial protein synthesis and milk yield decreased linearly with sugarcane bagasse inclusion. Conclusion Sugarcane bagasse decreases milk production; however, its inclusion level in between 45% to 50% associated to concentrate could replace diets based on spineless cactus for crossbred dairy cow's producing 12 kg/d of milk.


The spread of COVID-19 has had a signifi cant impact on economic and social activities, with the agri-food sector being no exception. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, numerous studies investigating its sectoral infl uence have been carried out, putting emphasis on demand and supply shocks and changes in trade volumes. However, there has not been much research into the implications of the pandemic for prices. To fi ll the research gap, this paper is an attempt to examine the impact of COVID-19 on producer prices in the EU-27 in Q2 and Q3 of 2020. The study is based on monthly data on trade in agri-food commodities according to the SITC classifi cation in 2015-2020 and the monthly producer prices index of food (2015 = 100) in the EU countries. It was assumed that the agri-food trade balance is the key factor determining the level and changes of domestic prices. The theoretical background for empirical research is provided by a spatial partial equilibrium model and the concept of spatial market integration. The results of the study reveal that there is a negative and statistically signifi cant relationship between an export-import ratio (which illustrates the country's self-suffi ciency level) in the pre-COVID-19 period and price changes in Q2 of 2020 as well as Q3 of 2020. However, no statistically signifi cant results were obtained for the regression models explaining the relationship between changes in the export/import ratio and price changes in second and third quarters of 2020.


hCDKL5 refers to the human cyclin-dependent kinase that is primarily expressed in the brain where it exerts its function in several neuron districts. Mutations in its coding sequence are often causative of hCDKL5 deficiency disorder. The large-scale recombinant production of hCDKL5 is desirable to boost the translation of current therapeutic approaches into the clinic. However, this is hampered by the following features: i) almost two-thirds of hCDKL5 sequence are predicted to be intrinsically disordered, making this region more susceptible to proteolytic attack; ii) the cytoplasmic accumulation of the enzyme in eukaryotic host cells is associated to toxicity. The bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125 (PhTAC125) is the only prokaryotic host in which the full-length production of hCDKL5 has been demonstrated. To date, a system-level understanding of the metabolic burden imposed by hCDKL5 production is missing, although it would be crucial for the upscaling of the production process. Here, we have combined experimental data on protein production and nutrients assimilation with metabolic modelling to infer the global consequences of hCDKL5 production in PhTAC125 and to identify potential overproduction targets. Our analyses showed a remarkable accuracy of the model in simulating the recombinant strain phenotype and also identified priority targets for optimized protein production.


The knowledge of the area and spatial distribution of paddy rice fields is important for water resource management. However, accurate map of paddy rice is a long-term challenge because of its spatiotemporal discontinuity and short duration. To solve this problem, this study proposed a paddy rice area extraction approach by using the combination of optical vegetation indices and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. This method is designed to overcome the data-missing problem due to cloud contamination and spatiotemporal discontinuities of the traditional optical remote sensing method. More specifically, the Sentinel-1A SAR and the Sentinel-2 multispectral imager (MSI) Level-2A imagery are used to identify paddy rice with a high temporal and spatial resolution. Three vegetation indices, namely normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI), and land surface water index (LSWI), are estimated from optical bands. Two polarization bands (VH (vertical-horizontal) and VV (vertical-vertical)) are used to overcome the cloud contamination problem. This approach was applied with the random forest machine learning algorithm on the Google Earth Engine platform for the Jianghan Plain in China as an experimental area. The results of 39 experiments uncovered the effect of different factors. The results indicated that the combination of VV and VH band showed a better performance compared with other polarization bands; the average producer's accuracy of paddy rice (PA) is 72.79%, 1.58% higher than the second one VH. Secondly, the combination of three indices also showed a better result than others, with average PA 73.82%, 1.42% higher than using NDVI alone. The classification result presented the best combination is EVI, VV, and VH polarization band. The producer's accuracy of paddy rice was 76.67%, with the overall accuracy (OA) of 66.07%, and Kappa statistics of 0.45. However, NDVI, EVI, and VH showed better performance in mapping the morphology. The results demonstrated the method developed in this study can be successfully applied to the cloud-prone area for mapping paddy rice to overcome the data missing caused by cloud and rain during the paddy growing season. Remote Sens. 2020, 12, 2992; doi:10.3390/rs12182992 www.mdpi.com/journal/remotesensing Remote Sens. 2020, 12, 2992 2 of 17


As advances in neurotechnology allow us to access the ensemble activity of multiple neurons simultaneously, many neurophysiologic studies have investigated how to decode neuronal ensemble activity. Neuronal ensemble activity from different brain regions exhibits a variety of characteristics, requiring substantially different decoding approaches. Among various models, a maximum entropy decoder is known to exploit not only individual firing activity but also interactions between neurons, extracting information more accurately for the cases with persistent neuronal activity and/or low-frequency firing activity. However, it does not consider temporal changes in neuronal states and therefore would be susceptible to poor performance for nonstationary neuronal information processing. To address this issue, we develop a novel decoder that extends a maximum entropy decoder to take time-varying neural information into account. This decoder blends a dynamical system model of neural networks into the maximum entropy model to better suit for nonstationary circumstances. From two simulation studies, we demonstrate that the proposed dynamic maximum entropy decoder could cope well with time-varying information, which the conventional maximum entropy decoder could not achieve. The results suggest that the proposed decoder may be able to infer neural information more effectively as it exploits dynamical properties of underlying neural networks.


Effects of urethane on lower urinary tract function were examined in decerebrate unanesthetized rats. During single slow infusion (0.04 ml/min) cystometrograms (CMGs), urethane (0.3 g/kg) increased micturition pressure threshold (PT) by 73%, postvoid residual volume (RV) by 425%, and decreased voiding efficiency (VE) by 57%, but did not change maximal voiding pressure (MVP), closing peak pressure (CPP), bladder compliance, bladder contraction duration (BCD), or volume threshold (VT) for inducing micturition. Lower doses (0.01-0.1 g/kg) did not alter any parameter. During continuous fast infusion (0.21 ml/min) CMGs, urethane at doses of 0.6-1.2 g/kg (iv) markedly decreased CPP by 69-85%, whereas only the largest dose (1.2 g/kg iv) decreased MVP and external urethral sphincter electromyogram activity by 42 and by 80%, respectively. Doses of 0.001-0.6 g/kg did not alter the intercontraction interval and BCD. Taken together, these results suggest that urethral activity, which is essential for efficient voiding, is more sensitive to the suppressive effect of urethane than afferent or efferent mechanisms controlling the bladder. The threshold dose of MK-801 (0.3 mg/kg), an NMDA antagonist, required to decrease MVP and increase VT in urethane (1.2 g/kg)-anesthetized rats, only increased VT in rats treated with a subanesthetic dose of urethane (0.3 g/kg), suggesting a higher sensitivity of the afferent vs. efferent limb of the micturition reflex pathway to urethane-MK-801 interactions. Because effects of urethane persisted after removal of the forebrain, they must be mediated by actions on the brain stem, spinal cord, or peripheral nervous system.


This paper discusses the potential value of local, partnership-based employability training and job guarantee programmes, focusing on one example—the 'Alloa Initiative'. The Initiative involved an employability training and job guarantee scheme developed in partnership with Tesco, a major retailer, in preparation for the opening of one of the company's new stores. This paper reports on the outputs from this project, which placed 109 disadvantaged job seekers into positions at the store, and proved particularly effective at targeting the long-term unemployed and those with limited experience of the retail sector. The analysis is based on the findings of survey research undertaken with 86 of the 109 training course completers (a 79 per cent response rate) and all the main partners involved in the Initiative. Innovative elements of the training programme that contributed to its positive outcomes are discussed, and a model for 'managing successful partnerships' is applied, in order to identify critical factors explaining the apparent success of the Initiative. In particular, the importance of employers providing job guarantees is noted.


Through the experiments of leaching and melting on the fly ash of medical wastes, the influence of leaching time, L/S, pH and grain size on the leaching characteristics of heavy metal and the effect of melting on the stabilization of fly ash are studied. Results show that, following the leaching time extending, the leaching concentrations of heavy metals and lixiviate toxicity of heavy metals increase in the fly ash. When the ratio of liquid and solid add, the leaching concentrations of heavy metals obviously become big, and the Cd's leaching concentration is the biggest, when the ratio of liquid and solid is 90, the Cd' s leaching ratio exceed the percent of 70. At the time pH is about 7, the leaching concentrations of heavy metals are the lowest. When the grain size is the bigger or little, the leaching concentrations of heavy metals are lower, however when the grain size is 250-900 microm, the concentrations are higher. After fly ash melt in the high temperature, the lixiviate toxicity of heavy metals greatly reduce, which explains that the effect of melting on heavy metals' stabilization is very good.


Objective Airborne agents including cigarette smoke associate with an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We analysed to which extent occupational exposure to asbestos and silica confers an increased risk of developing serologically defined subsets of RA. Methods This Swedish population-based case-control study enrolled incident RA cases between 1996 and 2013 (n=11 285), identified through national public authority and quality registers, as well as from the Epidemiological Investigation of Rheumatoid Arthritis (EIRA) Study. Controls (n=1 15 249) were randomly selected from Sweden's population register and matched on sex, age, index year and county. Occupational histories were obtained from national censuses. Exposure to asbestos and silica was assessed by job-exposure matrices. Logistic regression was used to calculate ORs adjusted for age, sex, county, index year, alcohol use and smoking. Results Results showed that male workers exposed to asbestos had higher risk of seropositive RA (OR=1.2, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.4) and seronegative RA (OR=1.2, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.5) compared with unexposed workers. The risk was highest among workers exposed to asbestos from 1970, before a national ban was introduced. Male workers exposed to silica also had higher risk of RA (seropositive RA: OR=1.4, 95% CI 1.2 to 1.6; seronegative RA: OR=1.3, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.5). For the largest subset, seropositive RA, the OR increased with the number of years exposed to silica, up to OR=2.3 (95% CI 1.4 to 3.8, p for trend <0.0001). Women overall had lower ORs than men, but the duration and intensity of their exposure were lower. Conclusions In conclusion, we observed an association between asbestos exposure and risk of developing RA and extended previous findings of an association between silica exposure and RA risk, where a dose-response relationship was observed.


Purpose: To describe the multimodal imaging findings of posterior polar annular choroidal dystrophy (PPACD). Methods: Retrospective case series of 2 patients diagnosed with PPACD. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, and fluorescein angiography findings of PPACD are described. Electroretinography results are also presented. Results: Both patients presented with bilateral peripapillary atrophy extending to involve the temporal arcades in an annular, foveal sparing pattern. Both cases demonstrated outer retinal atrophy with foveal sparing on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography illustrated corresponding window defects with late staining. Fundus autofluorescence showed hypoautofluorescence in the center of atrophic areas but hyperautofluorescence at the leading edge. Electroretinography findings included cone loss with rod preservation. Inflammatory and infectious workup was unremarkable in both cases. Conclusion: This report describes the multimodal imaging findings of a rare and poorly described chorioretinal disorder, PPACD, and will serve to guide clinicians regarding the evaluation and management of this elusive condition.


We present a method for the automatic detection of vanishing points in urban scenes based on finding point alignments in a dual space, where converging lines in the image are mapped to aligned points. To compute this mapping the recently introduced PClines transformation is used. A robust point alignment detector is run to detect clusters of aligned points in the dual space. Finally, a post-processing step discriminates relevant from spurious vanishing point detections with two options: using a simple hypothesis of three orthogonal vanishing points (Manhattan-world) or the hypothesis that one vertical and multiple horizontal vanishing points exist. Qualitative and quantitative experimental results are shown. On two public standard datasets, the method achieves state-of-the-art performances. Finally, an optional procedure for accelerating the method is presented.


The populations most afflicted by burn injuries have limited abilities to support the significant specialized requirements and costs for acute and long-term burn injury care. This article describes the results of optimizing the use of readily absorbed small molecular weight soybean protein enzymolysis-derived peptide to attenuate rat burn injury-induced inflammation and accelerate wound healing. A major full-thickness 30% total body surface area burn-injury rat model was utilized and the systemic white blood cell (WBC) counts, the relative level of stimulation index of respiratory burst, and the inflammatory markers procalcitonin (PCT), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 3 (CCL-3), chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 11 (CCL-11) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were assessed. The burn injury-induced neutrophil and macrophage immune cell infiltration of the cutaneous tissues was detected by immunohistochemical analysis of the protein markers myeloperoxidase (MPO) and cluster of differentiation 68 (CD-68). The local induction of the burn injury-induced toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B (TLR4/NF-κB) signaling pathway in the effected cutaneous tissues was determined by the quantification of the protein expression of TLR4 and phosphorylated NF-κB/p65 using Western blots. In addition, burn wound size and healing rate were assessed biweekly for 8 weeks by imaging and measuring the burn wound surface area, and the angiogenesis protein marker of cluster of differentiation 31 (CD-31) expression in cutaneous tissues was also detected by immunohistochemical analysis. The results showed that nutrient supplementation with optimized readily absorbed small molecular weight soybean protein-derived peptide resulted in a dramatic anti-inflammatory effect as evidenced by the significant increase in the burn injury-induced systemic white blood cell counts and their relative level of stimulation index of respiratory burst, reduction in the burn injury-induced activation of NF-κB transcriptional signaling pathways, significant reduction in the local burn injury-induced cutaneous infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages at all measured time points, reduction in wound size and improved rate of burn injury wound healing with increased CD-31 protein expression. These results indicated that dietary supplementation with small molecular weight soybean-derived peptides could be used as an adjunct therapy in burn injury management to reduce inflammation and improve overall patient outcomes.


Through the auspices of federal legislation, students with disabilities are gaining access to higher education. Still for many students with disabilities, the paramount barriers facing them in their transition to postsecondary education are overwhelming. This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study of 59 postsecondary students with disabilities on factors students perceived to inhibit or contribute to their successful transition into college. The study examines support services and access to reasonable accommodations available to students with disabilities. Students reported the major barriers to accessing college and succeeding in college were societal attitudes, lack of preparation, and financial constraints. The students also identified self-determination and families as necessary supports that propelled their transition into postsecondary education.  Recommendations and suggestions for teachers, students, and families are presented by the study's participants to support students' with disabilities access and retention in postsecondary institutions.


I compare two one-state-variable, rate-dependent, and state-dependent friction laws, that is, the slip law and slowness law, through the analyses of stability conditions based on a dynamic one-degree-of-freedom spring-slider model, subjected to such two kinds of friction. Results show that at low velocities, the stability criteria for the two laws are equal and similar to the steady-state criteria deduced by Ruina (1983). On the other hand, at higher velocities, the stability criterion for the slip law depends not only on the parameters of the friction law, but also on the sliding velocity and state variable of the system, whereas the stability criterion for the slowness law is the same as that at low velocities.


Two experiments were carried out with organised displays in order to examine the role of similarity between global and local orientation in visual search. In both experiments, distractors were organised to form a diagonal line of plus or minus 45°. In experiment 1, target displays were presented tachistoscopically. Participants searched for a target letter 'Q' among distractor letters 'O'. In experiment 2, participants performed a heterogeneity task with target line segments that could have an orientation of either plus or minus 45°. The target appeared partly or completely inside a distractor circle. In both experiments, the target was more difficult to detect when the critical feature aligned with the slope of the global diagonal than when the feature did not align. Taken together, the two experiments suggested a sequential global-to-local processing in which the orientation of the global figure disrupts the detection of a similar local orientation.


Abstract Background. Non-invasive visualization of tumor biological and molecular processes of importance to diagnosis and treatment response is likely to be critical in individualized cancer therapy. Since conventional static 18F-FDG PET with calculation of the semi-quantitative parameter standardized uptake value (SUV) may be subject to many sources of variability, we here present an approach of quantifying the 18F-FDG uptake by analytic two-tissue compartment modeling, extracting kinetic tumor parameters from dynamic 18F-FDG PET. Further, we evaluate the potential of such parameters in radiotherapy response assessment. Material and methods. Male, athymic mice with prostate carcinoma xenografts were subjected to dynamic PET either untreated (n=8) or 24 h post-irradiation (7.5 Gy single dose, n=8). After 10 h of fasting, intravenous bolus injections of 10–15 MBq 18F-FDG were administered and a 1 h dynamic PET scan was performed. 4D emission data were reconstructed using OSEM-MAP, before remote post-processing. Individual arterial input functions were extracted from the image series. Subsequently, tumor 18F-FDG uptake was fitted voxel-by-voxel to a compartment model, producing kinetic parameter maps. Results. The kinetic model separated the 18F-FDG uptake into free and bound tracer and quantified three parameters; forward tracer diffusion (k1), backward tracer diffusion (k2), and rate of 18F-FDG phosphorylation, i.e. the glucose metabolism (k3). The fitted kinetic model gave a goodness of fit (r2) to the observed data ranging from 0.91 to 0.99, and produced parametrical images of all tumors included in the study. Untreated tumors showed homogeneous intra-group median values of all three parameters (k1, k2 and k3), whereas the parameters significantly increased in the tumors irradiated 24 h prior to 18F-FDG PET. Conclusions. This study demonstrates the feasibility of a two-tissue compartment kinetic analysis of dynamic 18F-FDG PET images. If validated, extracted parametrical maps might contribute to tumor biological characterization and radiotherapy response assessment.


[40138-16-7] C7H7BO3 (MW 149.94)

InChI = 1S/C7H7BO3/c9-5-6-3-1-2-4-7(6)8(10)11/h1-5,10-11H

InChIKey = DGUWACLYDSWXRZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N

(a reagent and substrate that participates in palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions2-9 as well as other metal-catalyzed reactions,10-14 is commonly employed in reductive amination reactions15-18 and certain three-component reactions,19, 20 and as a precursor for other boron derivatives21-24)

Physical Data: mp 115–120 °C (contains varying amounts of the anhydride).

Solubility: soluble in water (sparingly) and in most of the organic solvents.

Form Supplied in: white crystalline solid.

Analysis of Reagent Purity: HPLC, IR, NMR.

Preparative Methods: refluxing 2-bromobenzaldehyde, ethylene glycol and p-toluenesulfonic acid in toluene for 6 h provides the protected aldehyde. Addition of the aryl bromide to Mg in THF, followed by transfer of the resulting Grignard reagent to a solution of trimethyl borate in THF (−78 °C to room temperature), and subsequent hydrolysis provides the product.25 2-Formylphenylboronic acid can also be prepared by reaction of o-tolylboronic acid with N-bromosuccinimide followed by reaction at reflux with benzoyl peroxide for 6 h.26

Purification: recrystallization from water26 or CH2Cl2/hexane.27

Handling, Storage, and Precautions: the compound should be handled with protective gloves and eyewear in a ventilated area. The compound is stable, but care should be taken to avoid contact with strong oxidizing agents. Hazardous decomposition products include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and boron oxides.


Introduction Metastatic oesophageal squamous cell Ca (ESCC) is incurable due to chemoresistance caused by cancer stem cells due to overexpression of oncomirs which upregulate oncogenes and hypermethylation in CpG islands which inactivates tumour suppressor genes. Methods We obtained metastatic ESCC and CSCs from patients and we injected them in xenograft animal models which were treated with LNA oligonucleotides targeting DICER where the 2'-oxygen is bridged to the 4' position via a methylene linker leading to formation of a rigid bicycle locked into a C3 endo (RNA) sugar conformation encapsulated in PEG colloidal nanoparticles with linked Abs targeting CD44. Microarray, RT-PCR, IHC, flow cytometry, MTT, BrdU, TUNEL and TEM were used. Results There was inhibition of Dicer RNAIII endonuclease which blocked exportin5 cleavage blocking formation of mature oncogenic miRNA segments. This inhibition of oncomirs led to silencing of oncogenes such as transcription factors, apoptotic inhibitors, chromatin modifiers, growth factors (tyrosine kinases-integral membrane proteins), signal transducers (cytoplasmic regulators, membrane associated G-proteins, GTPase exchange factors and serine/threonine kinases). Dicer silencing led to inhibition of angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, ESCC and CSC proliferation by inhibiting stem cell pathways Bmi-1, Notch, SHH and Wnt. There was inhibition of hypermethylation of CpG islands reactivating apoptotic tumour suppressor genes inducing irreversible D2 stage of type I PCD/apoptosis which led to a bystander killing effect. BrdU and MTT exhibited inhibition of DNA synthesis and metabolic activity of ESCC and CSCs. Conclusion Silencing of DICER exerted a synergistic apoptotic effect by activation of tumour suppressor genes after demethylation and inhibition of oncomirs and linked oncogenes leading to eradication of chemoresistant CSCs and ESCCs.


Abstract : Borane-amine and tetrahydrofuran-borane adducts reduce 10-undecenoic acid ozonide and derivatives to 1,10-decanediol. Insufficient reagent allows selective reduction at the ozonide function, giving 10-hydroxydecanoic acid and derivatives through aldehyde intermediates. The reagents are not as selective as sodium borohydride. Thermochemical study shows an initial reaction step involving one molecule each of substrate and borane. (Author)


The conjugate addition of carbonyl anions catalyzed by thiazolium salts that is fully operative under neutral aqueous conditions has been accomplished. The combination of alpha-keto carboxylates and thiazolium-derived zwitterions produces reactive carbonyl anions in a buffered protic environment that readily undergo conjugate additions to substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles. The scope of the reaction has been examined and found to accommodate various alpha-keto carboxylates and beta-aryl substituted unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles. The optimal precatalyst for this process is the commercially available thiazolium salt 5, a simple analogue of thiamin diphosphate. In this process, no benzoin products from carbonyl anion dimerization are observed. The corresponding 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds can be efficiently converted into esters and amides by way of activation of the N-methylimidazole ring via alkylation.


India is the highest producing country in the world and contributes one fourth in total pulse production. The Karnataka state is one of the leading pigeonpea growing states, with Gulbarga district contributing about 56 per cent of the total pigeonpea area of the state. The present study investigates the adoption pattern of improved varieties of pigeonpea. A sample size of farmers each of adopters and non-adopters of improved varieties of pigeonpea were selected randomly from four villages in two blocks of Gulbarga district. The result indicates that more than 45 years age group with higher education background was the adopters of improved varieties. WRP-1variety released by University of agricultural Sciences, Dharwad was the leading improved cultivar's among the sample farmers which has higher net return over ICP-8863 and local varieties. The short duration of the crop, more grain yield and high market price were found to be the main reasons for adoption of the improved varieties. The logit analysis interpret that size of operational holding, education and age of farmers were found significant and positive factors influencing adoption decisions of farmers. It was suggested that greater agricultural research efforts are needed towards varietal improvement in pigeonpea crop in order to improve their yield. Emphasis may be given for improvement in the development of infrastructural facilities for quality and timely availability of inputs including credit facilities.


A large variety of proenkephalin-A-derived peptides (PEAPs) are present in bovine adrenal medulla secretory granules that are cosecreted with catecholamines upon stimulation of chromaffin cells. In the present paper, after reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography of intragranular soluble material, PEAPs were immunodetected with antisera raised against specific proenkephalin-A (PEA) sequences (PEA63–70 and PEA224–237) and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Thirty PEAPs were characterized in addition to enkephalins and whole PEA, indicating that preferential proteolytic attacks occurred at both N- and C-terminal regions. A similar approach was used to characterize PEA-derived fragments exocytotically released into the extracellular space that showed five additional minor PEAPs. Among all these naturally generated peptides, enkelytin, the antibacterial bisphos- phorylated C-terminal peptide (PEA209–237), was predominantly generated, as shown by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis, which constituted an efficient method for its identification. Finally, the data on PEA intragranular and extracellular processing in adrenal medulla are discussed in regard to the known enzymatic processing mechanisms. We note the high conservation of the cleavage points in evolutionarily diverse organisms, highlighting an important biological function for the released PEAPs.


Important pronouncements of legal principle were recently made by the Competition Appeal Court and Constitutional Court on the determination of predatory pricing under section 8 of the Competition Act 89 of 1998. These pronouncements must now be seen in the context of the subsequent commencement of the Competition Amendment Act 18 of 2018. In light of these developments, this three-part series of articles evaluate the law relating to the economic concept of predatory pricing under the Competition Act. In this context, the crucial elements of dominance and abuse are also discussed. The first in this series of three articles critically evaluated the law on the determination of single-firm dominance under section 7 of the Competition Act. The second article discussed the basic forms of abuse, the meaning of abuse, tests that have been developed to identify exclusionary conduct, the criticism of the traditional theory of predatory pricing, the main strategic economic theories of predatory pricing and non-pricing theories of predation. This article focuses on the law of predatory prices under section 8(1)(c) and 8(1)(d)(iv) of the Competition Act. Pursuant to section 1(3) of the Competition Act, when interpreting or applying the Competition Act, appropriate foreign and international law may be considered. This is complementary to section 1(2)(a), which directs that the Competition Act must be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with the Constitution and which gives effect to the purposes set out in section 2. In light hereof and where appropriate, the South African position is mainly compared with the position in the European Union and the United States.


Sarcoma diagnosis continues to evolve as new information is discovered. Certain tumors have been downgraded (dermal leiomyosarcoma) and an atypical category designed for others. Recently entities include myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma, myoepithelioma, and pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma. The terms malignant fibrous histiocytoma and hemangiopericytoma are outdated. New immunostains (STAT6, SOX10, ERG) add diagnostic specificity, and new risk assessment models are described for sarcomas where grading and staging has failed to provide adequate prognosis. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015 111:513–519. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


A decentralized model reference adaptive scheme is developed for digital control of robot manipulators. The adaptation laws are derived using hyperstability theory, which guarantees asymptotic trajectory tracking despite gross robot parameter variations. The control scheme has a decentralized structure in the sense that each local controller receives only its joint angle measurement to produce its joint torque. The independent joint controllers have simple structures and can be programmed using a very simple and computationally fast algorithm. As a result, the scheme is suitable for real-time motion control.<<ETX>>


In this paper, the cell innovation and the remote correspondence innovation is creating and enhancing quickly. The reception apparatus goes about as the scaffold between the client terminal and the base station controller. Being a key segment of the remote correspondence framework, the reception apparatus' fundamental capacity is to communicate and to get electromagnetic waves. It will, to an expansive degree, influence the quality and the speed of the correspondence. With the advancing of the reception apparatus innovation, the versatile terminal gadgets have developed from the unique specialized devices to exceptionally intellectualized types of gear. The imparted content was likewise expanded, as there are presently FM programs, TV shows and web. All these, be that as it may, conveys requesting benchmarks to the reception apparatus. For instance, it requires a considerably higher data transmission and best exhibitions from the reception apparatus to help the complex applications and correspondence capacity of the versatile terminals. Furthermore, the correspondence system's convenient terminal has almost bolted the position of the recieving wire, which requests that the span of the radio wire must be downscaled. The control of the wave speed, shape and its directivity can be typically streamlined by enhancing the radiation qualities of the recieving wires, which will help the general execution of a framework. In along these lines, additionally enhanced are the channel limit and the recurrence use proportion. This paper, starting with the presentation of the improvement status of the remote correspondence framework and the radio wires, contemplates a portion of the plans of new reception apparatuses. With that review, this paper likewise breaks down the advancement heading fitting to current correspondence framework and the important gadgets, and in addition the structure adjustment and pattern of reception apparatuses.


This descriptive study aimed to explore acute exacerbation symptoms among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), triggering factors, and management strategies. A total of 115 patients with COPD who were admitted to Thasala Hospital or experienced acute exacerbation symptoms during the last one week were participated, using a purposive sampling technique. The research instrument, developed by the researcher, was questionnaires related to the perceptions of acute exacerbation symptoms in patients with COPD, the triggering factors, and management strategies. The content validity of the questionnaires was approved by five experts, and test for readable and undersatandable of the questionnaire with five patients with COPD who were similar to the target participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. The results showed that the participants perceived acute exacerbation symptoms, i.e., deteriorated dyspnea/hard time breathing (99.1%). The strategies used to manage acute exacerbation symptoms were selfmanagement with non-pharmacological methods and management by others (100%), followed by using pharmacological methods (98.3%). According to the non-pharmacological method, the results showed that most participants came to the hospital immediately after acute exacerbations (92.2%), followed by taking a rest/stopping activities immediately (89.6%). The triggering factors perceived by participants included an infection of the upper airways and the environmental pollution (100%). The strategies used to manage the infection of the upper airways included drinking much water when coughing and having secretion (92.2%). For environmental pollution, most participants kept their houses tidy and clean, free from dust (91.3%).The results of this study are beneficial for healthcare providers in order to manage acute exacerbation symptoms and triggering factors in patients with COPD and their relatives.


Aim. To evaluate results of panretinal laser coagulation (PLC) for severe non-proliferative and early proliferetaive diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patientswith type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). Materials and methods. 58 patients with DM1 were observed. All of them were treated by panretinal laser coagulation after subtenon administrationof triamcinolone (40 mg) under ultrasonic control. Results. PLC at the stage of severe non-proliferative DR stabilized its development in 35% of the patients and caused its reverse development withresolution of oedema and intraretinal hemorrhage, normalization of vein diameter, and improvement of visual acuity in 30%. In 35% of these casesPLC caused neovascularization within 1.6?0.9 years after treatment. Reverse development of DR after PLC was documented in 46.3% cases withearly proliferative DR but stabilization of DR occurred rarer than in the previous group (14.6%) and hemorrhage into the vitreous body more frequently(12 cases in 41 and 2 in 40 respectively, p = 0.0007). Patients with severe non-proliferative DR tended to have reduced requirement for vitrectomyafter PLC compared with those having early proliferative DR (1 case of 40 and 6 of 41, p = 0.052).Conclusion: The above results suggest the necessity of early PLC in DM1 patients.


More than 50 million Americans display blood pressures outside the safe physiological range. Unfortunately for most individuals, the molecular basis of hypertension is unknown, in part because pathological elevations of blood pressure are the result of abnormal expression of multiple genes. This review identifies a number of important blood pressure regulatory genes including their loci in the human, mouse, and rat genome. Phenotypes of gene deletions and overexpression in mice are summarized. More detailed discussion of selected gene products follows, beginning with proteins involved in ion transport, specifically the epithelial sodium channel and sodium proton exchangers. Next, proteins involved in vasodilation/natriuresis are discussed with emphasis on natriuretic peptides, guanylin/uroguanylin, and nitric oxide. The renin angiotensin aldosterone system has an important role antagonizing the vasodilatory cyclic GMP system.


ABSTRACT Latin American governments have recently implemented race conscious policies to provide resources to stigmatized groups like indigenous people. Nevertheless, critics have questioned the legitimacy of these policies and argued that they could artificially induce indigenous identification. Such claim, however, has never been tested. We use a causal inference approach based on nationally-representative survey experiments applied door-to-door in Mexico and Peru to examine whether material incentives can indeed encourage indigenous identification. Our results are counterintuitive. Reminding respondents of potential material benefits of indigenous identification does not increase such identification. It reduces it. We theorize this negative effect may be driven by the fact that receiving social benefits is stigmatized. Our findings call into question critics' concerns that ethnic-based redistributive policies necessarily incentivize ethnic identification. These results not only provide compelling evidence of the social construction of ethnic identities, but they also seemingly challenge purely instrumentalist models of ethnic identification.


A placebo controlled, double-blind, cross-over study was carried out to examine both the bronchodilator properties and the effect on lung mucociliary clearance of terbutaline (Bricanyl), a beta agonist, and ipratropium (Atrovent), a synthetic anticholinergic drug. Both were given regularly (two puffs four times a day for 1 week) from pressurised metered dose inhalers to patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis. A total of 10 patients completed the terbutaline study and 12 patients the ipratropium study; of these, seven patients were common to both studies. Measurements of the pulmonary function indices, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow rate and the flow rate at 50% of FVC measured from maximal expiratory flow-volume curves, confirmed the bronchodilator action of both drugs in these patients. Clearance of lung secretions was measured by the non-invasive, radioaerosol technique. No evidence was found that either drug had any effect on the rate of mucociliary clearance. The radioaerosol tracer particles used for measuring lung clearance, although inhaled under strictly controlled conditions, were deposited significantly more towards the lung periphery after treatment with ipratropium only. This suggested that ipratropium reduced the resistance to the entry of inhaled aerosols in the small airways.


Platinum nanoparticles were fabricated on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by using supercritical fluid deposition. In this technique, deposition was carried out in a supercritical carbon dioxide fluid via hydrogen reduction of a dissolved platinum complex. The deposition temperature and deposition‐time dependences on the particle size and density were investigated. The obtained metallic nanoparticles/MWCNT nanocomposites were characterized by using transmission electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy. Crystalline pure platinum nanoparticles were clearly observed on the surfaces of MWCNTs. Most of the particles observed were smaller than 5 nm in diameter. The density of the particles increased with temperature between 393 and 423 K and decreased above 423 K. The nucleation of the nanoparticles took place within a deposition time of 60 min, and then agglomeration and coarsening occurred, resulting in an increase of the particle size. It was found that the surface topography of the carbon support greatly influences the platinum nucleation density. Indeed, when the MWCNTs were treated with hydrogen plasma prior to platinum deposition, the density of the nanoparticles markedly increased. The impact of the hydrogen plasma treatment on the particle‐size dependences was also investigated.


Bethe-Goldstone continuum equations for the scattering of electrons from helium are solved variationally in the energy range between the $n=2$ and $n=3$ thresholds. Polarization and correlation effects are included in the calculations by allowing for virtual excitation of the $2s$ electron. Shape resonances are found above the $2^{3}S$ threshold, in substantial agreement with close-coupling calculations of Burke, Cooper, and Ormonde. Structures observed immediately below the $3^{3}S$ threshold in experimental cross sections for metastable formation are attributed to several Feshbach resonances whose energies and widths are computed. Cross sections are presented for elastic and inelastic scattering involving the ground state and $n=2$ states of helium. Cusp behavior, expected at various inelastic thresholds and found in the variational calculations, accounts for several prominent structural features in the scattering cross sections. The present computed results are compared with previous theoretical studies and, wherever possible, with experimental data.


ABSTRACT Objectives: Enhanced Recovery Pathways (ERPs) are an increasingly popular, evidenced-based approach to surgery, designed to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. Despite evidence demonstrating the benefits of these pathways, implementation and adherence have been inconsistent. Methods: Using realist synthesis, this review explored the current literature surrounding the implementation of ERPs in the UK. Knowledge consolidation between authors and consulting with field experts helped to guide the search strategy. Relevant medical and social science databases were searched from 2000 to 2016, as well as a general web search. A total of 17 papers were identified, including original research, reviews, case studies and guideline documents. Full texts were analysed, cross-examined, and data extracted and synthesised. Results: Several implementation strategies were identified, including the contexts in which these operated, the subsequent mechanisms of action that were triggered, and the outcome patterns they produced. Context-Mechanism-Outcome (CMO) configurations were generated, tested, and refined. These were grouped to develop two programme theories concerning ERP implementation, one related to the strategy of consulting with staff, the other with appointing a change agent to coordinate and drive the implementation process. These theories highlight instances in which implementation could be improved. Conclusion: Current literature in ERP research is primarily focussed on measuring patient outcomes and cost effectiveness, and as a result, important detail regarding the implementation process is often not reported or described robustly. This review not only provides recommendations for future improvements in ERP implementation, but also highlights specific areas of focus for furthering ERP implementation research.


The question of whether to impose tort liability in cases of increased risk is an evidentiary issue that has been of concern to legal scholars, particularly in the field of tort law, for thousands of years. In contemporary Western tort law, the issue is most often of concern in medical malpractice cases and in cases of environmental pollution and exposure to toxins, such as radiation or asbestos. This issue, which is subsumed under the topic of uncertain or probabilistic causation, was also of great interest to Jewish legal scholars and courts already many years ago. We present four models for uncertain causation, derived from the literature and from court rulings, both in contemporary tort law and in Talmudic law, and examine each case vis-a-vis the goals of tort law. Although at times we tend to think that portions of Talmudic law are outdated and incapable of shedding light on contemporary law, at least not directly, one should note that a school of thought within Talmudic law devised an approach to the problem of tort liability under uncertainty that contemporary tort law began to consider as a possibility only in the last twenty years. Can contemporary tort law learn from Talmudic law in this issue? We argue that although it seems that both Talmudic law and contemporary tort law favored the same four models and reached similar results in some of the models, one should be careful in comparing solutions from different legal systems — religious and secular — facing similar problems but dealing with them with different means. We also show how specifics of legal cultures shape their analysis even where their results are similar. There is a significant conceptual difference between Talmudic law and contemporary tort law regarding both the theory of torts and the goals of adjudication. The difference between the legal systems is revealed by careful analysis of the various models within Talmudic law, in their legal, economic, and cultural context.


summary:While the Iliad is dominated by towering characters and elaborate artifacts, it is a world equally filled with tiny matter: the dust and sand that form the backdrop of heroic exploits. This paper illuminates the powerful role that these substances occupy in human life. Boundless in quantity and infinitely mutable, this material serves to visualize the limits of the human body and intellect. Equally important is the connection between these substances and human destruction: contact with dust and sand is tantamount to contact with death, a disintegration that epic language works to assuage through its own weightiness and perpetual preservation.


We describe the optical properties of gold island films embedded between SiO2 and/or TiO2 layers. Plasmonic properties of gold films have been characterized using spectrometry and variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry for various combinations of the embedding media. The obtained refractive indices of embedded gold island films have been used in the design of several types of multilayer reflectors.


Compressed sensing (CS) of color images can be formulated as a group-sparsity promoting inverse problem. In the past, group-sparsity constraint was imposed on the CS synthesis prior formulation with an orthogonal transform to solve the inverse problem. The objective of this work is to empirically show that better results can be obtained if a group-sparsity constraint is imposed on the CS analysis prior formulation with a redundant transform. This problem requires solving a group-sparsity promoting inverse problem which has not been addressed earlier. Therefore we derive a new algorithm for solving it based on the Majorization-Minimization approach. Experimental results corroborate that analysis prior with a redundant transform gives far superior (about 1.5dB) improvement compared to synthesis prior with orthogonal transform.


Sheikh Ishragh philosophy is language of symbols and codes. He has vast understanding, correct interpretation of Quran and understand the wisdom of Iranian recognition of the centrality of "light formation", he was the cause of great movement in physiology and wisdom of the world. The present research also introduce the ideas and interpretation and explanation of Sheikh Ishraqi's seeking the answer of what is wisdom latent semantic in philosophy and illumination (Ishragh wisdom)? This research is a descriptive analysis that is done by collecting the dates in library and documental information and the written source


In this paper, we develop a dynamic supernetwork framework for the modelling and analysis of supply chains with electronic commerce that also includes the role that relationships play. Manufacturers are assumed to produce homogeneous products and to sell them either through physical or electronic links to retailers and/or directly to consumers through electronic links. Retailers, in turn, can sell the products through physical links to consumers. Increasing relationship levels in our framework are assumed to reduce transaction costs as well as risk and to have some additional value for both sellers and buyers. Establishing those relationship levels incurs some costs that have to be borne by the decisionmakers in the supernetwork, which is multilevel in structure and consists of the supply chain and the social network. The decision-makers, who are located at distinct tiers in the supernetwork, try to optimize their objective functions and are faced with multiple criteria including relationship-related ones and weight them according to their preferences. We establish the optimality conditions for the manufacturers, retailers, and consumers, derive the equilibrium conditions, and provide the variational inequality formulation. We then present the projected dynamical system, which describes the disequilibrium dynamics of the product transactions, relationship levels, and prices on the supernetwork, and whose set of stationary points coincides with the set of solutions of the variational inequality problem. We also illustrate the dynamic supernetwork model through several numerical examples, for which the explicit equilibrium patterns are computed.


Microservice architectures rely on the development of modular and independent software units, which typically address a single task and communicate with other microservices via well-defined interfaces. This has several benefits such as easier maintenance and update of services. However, deploying a microservice-based application is often more complicated than a monolithic application. While a monolithic application can be deployed one at a time on a group of similar servers behind a load balancer, a microservice-based application consists of different microservices and each microservice usually has more than one runtime instance that needs to be configured and deployed. For a small number of microservices and applications, the deployment could be done manually. However, a large number of microservices are frequently observed in practice. In such cases, the deployment becomes cumbersome and error-prone and does not scale with the increased number of services. To cope with this problem, we present a systematic approach and the corresponding tool support for enabling the deployment of microservices to resources that have limited capacity. Hereby, we model and define the design space given the deployment parameters and automatically derive the feasible deployment solution. The approach is validated using a taxi-hailing system case study inspired by Uber which has spread all over the world in recent years.


Biomimicry is the concept of mimicking nature and is efficient in terms of its performance, sustainable and innovative in terms of solving a problem in a unique way rather than the conventional method and has future scope. In the field of architecture, the concept can be used to improve the design of the structure, its construction techniques and to reduce its impact on the environment. This knowledge makes us think in an innovative way for creating improved civil engineering and architectural structures. Human Skeleton is the highest evolving species. The human leg bone (Femur) carries the total weight of the body and the human hand bone (Humerus) acts as a tension member. Similar to the natural human skeletal elements, the column which is a structural element plays the major role in the building by transferring the total weight of the body to the earth surface. This key idea of nature is mimicking to the composite columns of the framed structures, which should withstand both vertical and horizontal loading of structure. Research is carried out to model a column similar to the stress pattern of the human leg bone and a tie member similar to the stress pattern of human hand bone. By which the human skeletal system is being mimicked to form a structural system for building construction. In this paper some of the bio inspired structures and the literatures related to biomimics and the femur and humerus bone analysiswere discussed.


The direction and degree of relationship between government spending and reduction in unemployment has continued to generate series of debate among scholars. To empirically establish this relationship in the context of Nigeria, motivated this study. Secondary data sourced from the CBN Statistical bulletin were used to experiment on the disaggregated impact of government expenditure on administration, economic services, social community services and transfers have on the rate of unemployment in Nigeria. The Error Correction econometric model (ECM), the Johansen cointegration and the Granger causality tests were the central analytical tools used in the study. Our stationary test showed that the variables were non-stationary at levels but all were stationary at first difference. In the short-run, a positive relationship was observed. The short-run coefficient of economic services and unemployment was observed to be negative and the direction of causality was from government expenditure on economic services. Expenditure on social community service observed negative and statistically and observed a weak causal influence on unemployment. This highlights the unique case of underdeveloped nature of Nigerian economy. Interestingly, government expenditure on Administration were found to be positive and statistically significant and the direction of causality was from government expenditure on administrative expenses. However, there was no causal relationship between government expenditure on transfers and unemployment. There is, therefore, the need for policy makers to keep an eye on the trend and effects of changes in expenditure on administration and economic services, given that the result indicates that expenditure on them explains the employment behavior in Nigeria. Keywords: Government expenditure, disaggregated impact, employment generation DOI : 10.7176/JESD/10-16-01 Publication date : August 31 st 2019


Increasingly, academic and lay discussion of children's nutrition has focused on the role of the media, and marketing more generally, in influencing children's food choices. While numerous studies have focused on the direct effects of chidlren's exposure to advertisng on their food preferences and choices, there have been fewer studies on the role of marketing in influencing parent's decisions about what foods they give to their child. We surveyed parents about their children's food requests and the perceived influences on their food choices; and found that parents experience, or perceive, a number of external pressures on them in making food choices for their children.


Interest in the photodynamic inactivation of bacteria as an alternative method to antibiotic treatment continues to grow. Based on this approach, light-activated anti-infective interfaces could be fabricated via incorporation of photosensitizers into the polymer-based materials. In order to combine photobactericidal and antifouling functions, the choice of the carrier polymer is of particular significance: it should enable fast and effective conjugation of photosensitizer and reduce the formation of bioburden on the artificial material in a biological environment. This study reports one-pot fabrication and characterization of two silicon(IV)phthalocyanine /poly(vinyl alcohol)-based electrospun mats. The method relies on the thermal cross-linking of components by esterification using sebacic acid as a cross-linking agent. Fabricated flexible mats showed photosensitizer-dependent antibacterial photoactivity against different Gram-positive bacteria with low cytotoxic effects on human fibroblasts and were effective against bacterial attachment, as an early step toward future biofilm formation. This work provides practical guidelines in developing photoactive materials and interfaces that can be used in nonadhesive wound dressings, food packaging, water, and air filtration.


The positions of the tetrahydrofuran (THF) ring moieties of annonacin (a mono-THF ring Annonaceous acetogenin) and sylvaticin (a non-adjacent bis-THF ring Annonaceous acetogenin) within liposomal membranes made of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) were determined by proton (1H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Based on 1H intermolecular nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs), the THF rings of both acetogenins studied reside near the polar interfacial head group region of the DMPC. Recently, we have reported that the THF rings of a series of asimicin type of Annonaceous acetogenins (with adjacent bis-THF rings) also reside near the interfacial head group of DMPC. We can now conclude that the Annonaceous acetogenins, containing either mono-, adjacent bis-, or non-adjacent bis-THF ring moieties, have their THF ring moieties at the interfacial region of membranes, i.e., the THF ring moiety seems to serve a role as an anchor in the lipid membranes. This may be related to the uniquely potent bioactivities that Annonaceous acetogenins exhibit at their enzyme-inhibitory sites within mitochondrial and plasma membranes.


There have been significant advances in treatment of metastatic melanoma over the past several years through the use of targeted therapy and immune checkpoint blockade. Oncogenic mutations in the BRAF gene occur in over half of melanoma tumors, and treatment with agents targeting this mutation results in objective responses in the majority of patients. However significant limitations exist as responses are not durable, with the majority of patients progressing on therapy within 6-10 months. Another area of significant progress involves the use of immune checkpoint blockade, such as with monoclonal antibodies blocking CTLA-4 and the PD-1 pathway. In contrast, treatment of patients with immune checkpoint inhibitors results in a lower response rate than those observed with targeted therapy, but ones that tend to be more durable. With these advances, we are posed with therapeutic dilemmas with regard to timing and sequence of therapy. Namely, there is significant debate as to whether to begin treatment with targeted therapy versus immune checkpoint blockade upfront, and at which point to change treatment strategy. There is growing evidence of potential synergy in combining treatment with BRAF-targeted therapy and immune checkpoint blockade, and this concept is being empirically tested in clinical trials. There a strong scientific rationale for combining these therapies, as treatment with BRAF inhibitors is associated with increased immunogenicity of melanoma tumors within 2 weeks of therapy - with increased melanoma antigens and CD8+ T cell infiltrate, and decreased immunosuppressive cytokines and VEGF. BRAF inhibitors may also directly activate T cells through paradoxical activation of the MAPK pathway. However there is a concurrent increase in expression of immunomodulatory molecules (such as PD-L1) within 2 weeks of therapy which is likely related to T cell infiltrate, though also suggest a possible immune mechanism of resistance. Clinical trials and studies in murine models are currently underway to explore synergy between these therapies, and insights gained will be discussed herein. It is becoming increasingly apparent that complexities exist regarding appropriate timing and sequence in these combination strategies to optimize responses and minimize toxicity. Ultimately, ideal approaches using combined BRAF-targeted therapy and immune checkpoint blockade will be built on a deep understanding of the molecular and immune effects of each of these therapies in isolation, as well as in combination. Citation Format: Jennifer A. Wargo. Combining targeted therapy and immune checkpoint blockade to improve responses. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Melanoma: From Biology to Therapy; Sep 20-23, 2014; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(14 Suppl):Abstract nr IA31.


Evolution in the world of work has led to the adoption of outsourcing. These evolutions have not being without challenges hence indicating the need for greater attention to be paid to the complexities surrounding the potential impact of outsourcing on employees. This study focused on the effects of outsourcing on the employees' perception of the psychological contract. The study explored whether applying a relational content analysis model will give better insight into the complexity of the psychological contract and provide in-depth understanding of what influences the psychological contract. Key relational content analysis concepts and tools such as; reactions and coping strategies, diagrammatic representations and tabular mapping were used. Thirty (30) interviews from five departments (Property management, IT and Administration, Brokerage, Marketing and Valuation) of two estate management organisations were conducted. Data gathered from these interviews were analysed to draw out the reactions and their resulting responses between employees and the organisation. The findings showed that the outsourcing experience was perceived as a violation of the psychological contract by a majority of employees and an in-depth analysis model indeed provides in-depth understanding of the effects of outsourcing on the employees' perception of the psychological contract and experience of violation. Through the implementation of research approaches the study fully addressed the research questions meeting the requirements for the research objectives.


Academic contributions to debates on migration policy tend to focus on the sovereign state controlling borders and managing cross-border movements to vouchsafe the nation's economic, social and security interests. Irregular migrants contest this fundamental aspect of sovereignty, and states respond by defending their borders ever more fiercely as more people move in search of safety and livelihood. This article shifts the attention to the borders inside the sovereign state, where substate level of government exercise significant devolved powers and responsibilities. Once the irregular migrant has arrived, it is largely the sub-state governments' responsibility to manage and integrate them, and sub-state economic, social and political interests come into play. This article examines some sub-state political institutions that have shown a willingness and capacity to challenge the territorial exclusivity of sovereign states in regard to migration. They do this variously by portraying irregular migrants as assets to the regional society and economy; invoking international human rights agreements and conventions; and asserting their devolved responsibilities in policy areas that enable irregular migrants to remain. This argument is supported by two Australian and two European case studies based on an analysis of parliamentary discourses and policy documents.


OBJECTIVE
To discuss the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) including indications for referral to medical evaluation and/or comanagement.

DATA SOURCE
More than 200 articles published in the health care literature from 1963 to 1997 and indexed on Medline concerning conservative and surgical intervention for CTS. Indexing terms used were "Carpal Tunnel," combined with keywords "Conservative" and "Surgery."

STUDY SELECTION
Reports involving either conservative or non-conservative treatment for CTS or original descriptive reports of surgical techniques of carpal tunnel release.

DATA EXTRACTION
Indications and contraindications for each conservative and surgical option. Concise and general descriptions of manual, medical and surgical interventions in current use, including summaries of the benefits and risks of each treatment.

DATA SYNTHESIS
The review is presented as a discussion of diagnostic technique and conservative and surgical treatments for CTS currently used in North America.

CONCLUSIONS
Recommendations are that CTS, accompanied by demyelination but without axonal degeneration, can be treated initially with conservative medical or manual procedures.