Teaching in virtual environments demands mastery of several teaching competencies. Although the most accepted ones are pedagogical, in order to successfully teach online it becomes necessary to acquire and develop some other competencies, sometimes referred to as peripheral roles (Denis et al., 2004). The aim of this study is to analyse perceptions on the level of proficiency that online teachers have regarding these peripheral roles (social, evaluator, manager, technologist, advisor/counsellor, personal, and researcher), and their professional development needs required to improve their online teaching competencies. A questionnaire was specifically created and validated by experts, and data was gathered from 166 university teachers. The findings show that teachers highlight the importance of the peripheral roles for quality teaching, and thus, professional development programmes should be based on a balance between central and peripheral roles to better train online teachers and increase the quality of their teaching.


A formal methodology for automatic hardware-software partitioning and co-scheduling between the P and the FPGA has not yet been established. Current work in automatic task partitioning and scheduling for the reconfigurable systems strictly addresses the FPGA hardware, and does not take advantage of the synergy between the microprocessor and the FPGA. In this work, we consider the problem of co-scheduling task graphs on reconfigurable systems. The target systems have an execution model which allows any subtask that can run on the FPGA to also run on the microprocessor, and allows reconfigurability of the FPGA (subject to area, performance, resource, and timing constraints). In this paper, we introduce a new heuristic algorithm for such hardware/software co-scheduling, ReCoS. It will be shown that the proposed algorithm provides up to an order of magnitude improvement in scheduling and execution times when compared with hardware/software co-schedulers found in the embedded systems area, after adapting them for reconfigurable computing.


Rate (k) and equilibrium (K) constants for the reaction of tetrahydrofuranol with a series of Mg2+ complexes of methyl triphosphate analogues, CH3O-P(O2)-O-P(O2)-X-PO34–, X = O, CH2, CHCH3, C(CH3)2, CFCH3, CHF, CHCl, CHBr, CFCl, CF2, CCl2, and CBr2, forming phosphate diester and pyrophosphate or bisphosphonate in aqueous solution were evaluated by B3LYP/TZVP//HF/6-31G* quantum chemical calculations and Langevin dipoles and polarized continuum solvation models. The calculated log k and log K values were found to depend linearly on the experimental pKa4 of the conjugate acid of the corresponding pyrophosphate or bisphosphonate leaving group. The calculated slopes of these Brønsted linear free energy relationships were βlg = −0.89 and βeq = −0.93, respectively. The studied compounds also followed the linear relationship Δlog k = 0.8Δlog K, which became less steep, Δlog k = 0.6Δlog K, after the range of studied compounds was extended to include analogues that were doubly protonated on γ-phosphate, CH3O-P(O2)-O-P(O2)-X-PO3H22–. The scissile Pα–Olg bond length in studied methyl triphosphate analogues slightly increases with decreasing pKa of the leaving group; concomitantly, the CH3OPα(O2) moiety becomes more positive. These structural effects indicate that substituents with low pKa can facilitate both Pα–Olg bond breaking and the Pα–Onuc bond forming process, thus explaining the large negative βlg calculated for the transition state geometry that has significantly longer Pα–Onuc distance than the Pα–Olg distance.


Abstract #4082 Background: Past studies have indicated that mammographic density is associated with not only breast cancer risk but also breast cancer risk factors in women living in western nations. However, to data, no such association has been shown among native Chinese women. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the effects of age, body mass index (BMI), age at menarche, parity, and menopausal status on mammographic patterns in women from a province of Northern China.
 Methods: Seven hundred and two women9s mammograms and information of the breast cancer risk factors were obtained from Shanxi province cancer hospital in Northern China. Mammograms were assessed according to the Wolfe classification.
 Results: Age, BMI, parity, and menopause were inversely and independently related to high-risk mammographic parenchymal patterns. However, there was no statistically significant association between age at menarche and high mammographic density. Relative to subjects aged less than or equal to 35 years, subjects aged greater than 55 years had reduced 62% (OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.14 – 1.00) odds of having a high-risk pattern. In comparison to women whose BMI was less than or equal to 25, there was a 51% and 72% reduction in the odds of having high-risk mammographic patterns for those with BMI 25 to 30 and larger than or equal to 30 respectively (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.32 - 0.74; OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.12 - 0.68 respectively). Women with more than three children had decreased 68% risk to have high mammographic density compared to those who were nulliparous (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.1 – 1.0). Premenopausal women were more than four times likely to have a high-risk pattern than postmenopausal women (OR = 4.12, 95% CI: 2.17 – 7.87).
 Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that mammographic parenchymal patterns are also associated with some risk factors of breast cancer in native Chinese women. This is consistent with most studies carried out in Western countries. Further studies are needed to determine the relationship between quantitative percentage density and breast cancer risk factors. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 4082.


This paper presents the results and findings of a study carried out in a public college in Oman. The overarching aim of the study is to explore the views of Omani students majoring in English about their undergraduate translation course in terms of content, methods of delivery, modes of assessment, challenges, and what could be done to improve the course in question. The study is significant due to the fact that the results would potentially help translation teachers and practitioners to improve the content, delivery and assessment of their undergraduate translation courses. Additionally, there was a lack of information about students' views on their undergraduate translation courses in this particular context. A questionnaire with open-ended questions was administered to 44 Omani students majoring in English and who were at their final semester of their B. Ed programme. The quantitative data was analyzed using frequencies, percentages and thematic analysis was utilized for the open-ended questions. The results showed that students have mixed opinions and views about the course but the vast majority believed that the course content, objectives, teaching methodology and modes of assessment need to be reviewed and aligned with other courses. As a result, key findings, conclusions, recommendations, and pedagogical implications were presented. It is hoped that the findings will be of a great value to undergraduate translation teachers in this particular college.


Investigates the robust adaptive control problem of linear systems with uncertain parameters in the system matrix A and control coefficient matrix B. A minimax dynamic programming approach is used to derive a measurement based control strategy in the presence of both plant and measurement disturbances. The paper generalizes previously proposed approaches, and investigates a simple numerical algorithm to solve for the robust control strategy. The algorithm is demonstrated on a lightly damped second order spring-mass system to show the feasibility of the proposed control strategy and the subsequent implementation scheme. The performance of the controller and its main features are compared to a H/sub /spl infin// design.


Cutaneous myiasis in Australian sheep became an increasing problem in the early years of the 20th century after the import of the wrinkly Vermont Merinos and the introduction of Lucillia cuprina. WE Abbott, a successful pastoralist in New South Wales at that time, wrote a little-known and unusual description of early methods of control: a parody based on an episode in Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. The plight of struck sheep and the lives and times of Abbott, several other pastoralists and the entomologists of the New South Wales Department of Agriculture are illuminated as the Walrus and the Carpenter walk again across the hills and pastures of New South Wales.


In the present work, we have developed a method to achieve self-assembly of Au nanoparticles (NPs) on graphene sheets through chemical functionalization. Transmission electron microscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy results indicate that the grafting density of Au NPs on graphene sheets can be controlled by changing the types of functional groups. The ability to control the density of Au NPs cannot be overestimated, because it provides tunable catalytic activity. These graphene/Au composites display good stability against agglomeration and show excellent catalytic activity in a model reduction reaction of 4-nitrophenol into 4-aminophenol. This study demonstrates a general approach to the preparation of tunable and reusable catalysts containing densely loaded and well dispersed Au NPs.


Iotrolan 280, the first water-soluble, nonionic, blood-isotonic, dimeric contrast medium, was administered intravenously to 12 healthy male volunteers. In a Phase I study with an intraindividual design in comparison with placebo, four doses between 0.15 and a maximum of 0.9 g I/kg body weight were administered in accordance with the principle of dose titration. The highest volume administered was 270.6 ml. The injection rate was 10 ml/min. The observation period was 5 days, with the exception of thyroid parameters (14 days). Iotrolan displayed good general and local tolerance. The typical side effects known from x-ray contrast media either did not occur or were minor after administration of iotrolan. No allergy-like reactions and no effects on hemodynamic parameters were observed. Although one observation is under discussion no effects of iotrolan on impulse generation and propagation in the myocardium could be confirmed. The blood and laboratory and chemical parameters analyzed showed no differences in comparison with placebo. In the treatment group with the highest dose (= 0.9 g I/kg body weight) there was one subject who showed a transient increase of the urinary glucose concentration and one case of a slight transient increase of the serum chloride concentration. No such side effects were seen in the subjects of the treatment groups with lower doses. All renal functions tests were normal. In this study iotrolan showed excellent tolerance after intravenous injection up to 0.9 g I/kg body weight.


A qualitative study of social work in hospitals area is presented. Forty five interviews weremade to social workers from nine hospitals in Catalonia, who are working with children, older people and their families in vulnerable situation. The main purpose was identifying how professionals perceive their own actions, relating to information, decision making and self-determination of patients and their families. It was considered important to focus research on these groups considered most vulnerable in relation to their right to self-determination and autonomy in decision making. In childhood by parental consent, in older people because the decisions about their health might involve conflict between them and their families and between own relatives. These situations involving ethical dilemmas in decision-making and cause suffering in families and in children and older, whom social workers should be able to inform, advice, assist and offer support. The results show that the notion of self-determination isinherent in the discipline to social work, which is respected and promoted in current practice. The patient will is preserved through comprehensive information, providing understandable language, which allows making a decision. The research highlights that social workers are prepared to intervene about self-determination of patients and families. These interventions intended to inform on rights, guidance, help, and enabling make decisions.


The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of whole milk microfiltration at low temperatures on bacterial counts and on its shelf life. The microfiltration process was evaluated at two temperatures (30 and 50oC) and compared with the slow pasteurization process. Both slow pasteurization and microfiltration reduced the initial counts of aerobic mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria, as well as total coliforms in whole milk. Microfiltration at 50oC was as effective as the pasteurization process, since it reduced the initial count of aerobic mesophilic bacteria in 4.4 log cycles; increased the product's shelf life, which reached 30 days without exceeding 1,000 CFU mL ‑1 ; and eliminated coliform counts at the temperatures of 35 and 45oC, established by the Brazilian legislation. Microfiltration at 30°C reduced the aerobic mesophilic bacteria counts by 2.2 log cycles; however, Escherichia coli was found in the product, which exhibited a shelf life of less than five days. Therefore, microfiltration at 30oC can be associated with thermal treatments, but, when applied alone, it shows unsatisfactory results.


In 2016 and 2017, we characterized outbreaks caused by Streptococcus agalactiae serotype III sequence type (ST) 283 in Nile tilapia farms in Brazil. Whole-genome multilocus sequence typing clustered the fish isolates together with the zoonotic ST283 and other STs related to cases in humans, frogs, dogs, cattle, and dolphins.


Load flow analysis is undoubtedly one of the most useful methods of designing and operating power systems in current competitive environment. The paper presents a new methodology for load flow analysis using Powerworld, based on a probabilistic approach of load modeling. The South-West side of the Romanian Power System is utilized to evaluate the proposed method.


Background: Theories regarding the cause of craniosynostosis that are more than 15 years old cite the role that tensional forces play in the normal and abnormal development of the cranial suture. These theories highlight the effect of stress bands originating from the skull base to the vertex, guiding sutural development. Methods: In this study, the normally fusing posterior intrafrontal suture of the rat was subjected to 3 mN of tensional force for 30 minutes per day. The suture was then assessed for patency, proliferation, apoptosis, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-&bgr; signaling components. Results: Sutures that were subjected to tensional force were histologically patent at the end of 14 days. This was in contrast to sutures that were maintained without force. Proliferative and apoptotic activity was increased also in sutures maintained open artificially. Interestingly, levels of active TGF-&bgr;-signaling components were also increased in force-maintained sutures. Conclusions: Sutural maintenance by mechanical force is concurrent with modulation of cellular activity and protein expression reminiscent of the open suture. This study demonstrates the dynamic reciprocity existing between biochemical activity and morphologic state. Although it is known that changes in TGF-&bgr;s and fibroblast growth factors can cause sutural fusion, this is the first study to demonstrate that abrogation of sutural closure is responsible for growth factor signaling modulation.


Botanicals have become the focus for discovery of novel bioinsecticides for protection of crops most especially because of their biodegradability, non-toxicity, target organism specificity and environmental friendliness. Partitioned extracts of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides were investigated for biopesticidal effect on Callosobruchus maculatus with aim of identifying the most active components and increase ease of handling when compared to bulk crude plant material used by farmers. Crude powder of rootbark of Z. zanthoxyloides was made as well as partitioned extracts using Kupchan partition extraction methods with methanol, acetone, ethyl acetate and n-hexane as solvents. Analysis of the rootbark of the plant showed 19.87% ash content, 24% crude protein, 24.85% crude fibre, 3.13% oil extract, 15.42mg/100g alkaloids, 45.90mg/100g tannins, 1039.14mg/100g saponins, 26.47mg/100g flavonoids, 150.0mg/100g iron, 244.70mg/100g calcium, 36.65mg/100g magnesium, 449.00mg/100g potassium and 128.30mg/100g of phosphorus. The crude powder and extracts were bioassayed on C. maculatus in stored cowpea. Insecticidal activities of the partitioned extracts increased with increasing concentration; toxicity test revealed that n-hexane at 1%, 2% and 3%, acetone extract at 3%, and crude powder at 1.5g all have same effect on the insect as the positive control, achieving 100% mortality at 24 hours post treatment, number of adult emergence of 63.57 was recorded with 1% methanol extract against 28 in 3% of the extract. There was a significant difference in weight loss by the cowpea in the different fractional treatments while positive and negative controls also differed significantly (P>0.05) with all the partitioned treatments. Partition extracts from Z. zanthoxyloides were more bioactive than the crude powder, and n-hexane fractions contain the most active compounds against C. maculatus. n-hexane extract contain most active biomolecules to be explored for bioinsecticide formulation with high potency for development of new biopesticide, eliminate toxic components and increase ease of handling when compared to bulk crude plant material used by farmers.


This paper describes a novel technique to generate test vectors for single stuck-at faults using the behavioral description of the circuit function and the mapping from the behavior into the hardware that implements it. The test vector generation problem is formulated as a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem, and the test vectors are obtained by solving a series of MINLPs. The technique has been implemented and results from this approach show an order of magnitude speed up in test generation compared to existing gate-level sequential test generation tools.


The aim of the present work is to determine the influence of technologically produced boron surface layers on the friction parameters in the sliding pairs under the conditions of mixed friction. The tribological evaluation included ion nitrided, pack borided, laser borided, quenched and tempered surface layers and TiB2 coating deposited on 38CrAlMo5-10, 46Cr2 and 30MnB4 steels. Modified surface layers of annular samples were matched under test conditions with counter-sample made from AlSn20 bearing alloy. Tested sliding pairs were lubricated with 15W/40 Lotos mineral engine oil. The tribological tests were conducted on a T-05 block-on-ring tester. The applied steel surface layer modification with boron allow creating surface layers with pre-determined tribological characteristics required for the elements of kinematic pairs operating in the conditions of sliding friction. Pack boronizing reduces the friction coefficient during the start-up of the frictional pair and the maximum start-up resistance level is similar to the levels of pairs with nitrided surface layers


Abstract Pediatric surgeons deal with inguinal hernias on a regular basis. While most of these are straightforward in terms of diagnosis and therapy, occasionally what initially sounds like a routine case turns out to be a perplexing conundrum. This review discusses rare and unusual findings in the groin area that may mimic an indirect inguinal hernia, but are not. To provide good and effective care, pediatric surgeons should be readily familiar with the possible differential diagnosis of these entities, along with their specific management. In general, laparoscopy is one of the most useful interventions to discern unusual groin pathology from standard indirect inguinal hernias and in many cases provides an effective treatment option at the same time.


Bloom syndrome (BS) was diagnosed in a 7-year-old boy during hospitalization for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The patient had most of the signs of BS along with some atypical manifestations: absence of telangiectases, obesity, and moderate mental retardation. Results of the cytogenetic studies were fully consistent with the diagnosis of BS: the occurrence of quadriradial figures and a very high incidence of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE). This child's ALL was of non-B, non-T type with the presence, at the time of diagnosis, of a marrow clone including two markers. A Yq - chromosome was detected in about 10% of PHA-stimulated lymphocytes but neither in bone marrow cells nor in skin fibroblasts. This case is the fifth instance of ALL out of 104 registered cases of BS.


AIM
pain and pulmonary morbidity in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using left internal thoracic artery (LITA) grafting.

MATERIAL AND METHOD
The study was prospective and included 40 patients who underwent elective isolated CABG with pedicled LITA grafts. Patients were divided into two groups according to the method used to place chest drainage tubes. Group 1 (n=20) had the left chest drain tube inserted through the sixth intercostal space along the anterior axillary line (mid-axillary approach), and Group 2 (n=20) had the left chest drain tube inserted through the midline inferior to the xiphoid process (subxiphoid approach). We evaluated the groups in terms of postoperative pain, pulmonary morbidity, amount of chest tube drainage, need for analgesic agents, and length of hospital stay.

RESULTS
In group 1, the pain was significantly higher during mobilization and drain removal (p<0.05) but was similar at rest. In Group 1 and Group 2, pulmonary morbidity rates were statistically similar for pleural effusion (2 vs. 5; p=0.40), atelectasis (2 vs. 5; p=0.40), and pneumothorax after drain removal (1 vs. 0; p=1.00). Two of the patients with pleural effusion in Group 2 underwent thoracentesis. There was no difference between the two groups regarding the amount of chest tube drainage, cumulative doses of an analgesic agent, and length of hospital stay (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION
According to these results, both procedures can be used safely for chest drainage tube placement after CABG.

KEY WORDS
Chest Pain, Chest Tubes, Coronary Artery Bypass, Complications, Drainage, Postoperative.


This article is a diachronic study of the fall of the Berlin Wall as it has been represented in German fiction films from 1989 until 2010. The focus is on the formal features of the inclusion of the event in filmic narratives and on the reactions by film critics to the representations. By studying the aesthetics of representation and the reactions and expectations expressed by critics, it is possible to trace the ways in which the event has changed from a sacrosanct experience, vividly remembered, to a historical affair of little controversy. At the same time, the article also depicts a change in the representations themselves. Starting with gritty realism, the films turn to ironic hyperbole in their depictions of the fall from around 1999. After 2003, however, the unreal representations give way to generic dramas that adhere to strictly conventional narratives and aesthetics. This, the article concludes, coincided with the transformation of the memories of the event from communicative to cultural.


Objective: To achieve glycemic control, a combination of drugs is eventually necessary, especially the dual therapy of SGLT2 inhibitors with metformin. Despite the value of combination therapy, understanding the pharmacokinetic properties is critical. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct the combined and isolated administration of hypoglycemic drugs to understand their pharmacokinetic properties. Methodology: The study was performed by gavage in twenty-five rats that were divided into five groups: metformin alone (60 mg/kg), canagliflozin alone 20 mg/kg, canagliflozin and metformin (20 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg, respectively), dapagliflozin alone 2 mg/kg, and dapagliflozin and metformin (2 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg, respectively). Blood samples were collected between 0.25 and 36 hours postdose and quantified by an HPLC-MS/MS method. Results: The metformin pharmacokinetics showed values lower than those from literature, but the most relevant result was a significant change in Cmax (3400 ng/mL), AUC (872.4 ng.min/L) and CL/F (72 mL/min/kg) in the metformin with dapagliflozin group compared to metformin alone Cmax (523 ng/mL), AUC (106.8 ng.min/L) and CL/F (752 mL/min/kg). For canagliflozin, the Cmax of 6116.7 ng/mL observed in our study was similar to that observed in literature, while the clearance (5.1 mL/min/kg) was higher than that of literature, which was 3.5 mL/min/kg. Clearance of dapagliflozin CL/F was reported as 3.33 mL/min/kg, while our result was 4.6 mL/min/kg. The same study also published dapagliflozin half-life and MRT, which were slightly lower than our findings. In general, the parameters of canagliflozin and dapagliflozin were similar to the literature and did not change with simultaneous administration with metformin. Conclusion: Dapagliflozin significantly changed the pharmacokinetic disposition of metformin, while metformin coadministration had no influence on the pharmacokinetics of SGLT2 inhibitors


Relative abundance of proteins localised in the nuclear-enriched, total cell membrane and cytosolic fractions of the semitendinosus muscle was compared between lambs bred from control (C), high muscling (M), and high growth rate (G) sires. In total, 31 proteins were identified whose abundance was differentially regulated between sire type. Differences in hind-limb muscle development between M lambs and C and G lambs were reflected in levels of proteins that regulate or function in cellular mechanisms of protein and energy metabolism. Despite no apparent difference in hind-limb muscle growth in G lambs compared to C, G lambs exhibited marked differences in proteins involved in regulation and function of energy metabolism. These results detail pathways that can be specifically targeted to enhance muscle accretion and growth in lambs. The development of means to manipulate these cellular mechanisms may yield greater gains in muscle accretion and growth rate than breeding on the basis for genetic capacity alone.


This paper presents an efficient, small-sized and cost-effective power factor correction (PFC) scheme for high-frequency series-resonant electronic ballasts. The proposed scheme introduces additional small energy tanks processing partial power and thus can perform the function of input current shaping. Theoretical and experimental results prove that the electronic ballast incorporating with only few reactive components can achieve nearly unity power factor and very low harmonic distortion.


The research was conducted in March 2017 by collecting samples of blood cockles (Anadara granosa) from Gemuruh Village Island coastal waters of Kundur Island, Karimun Regencyof Riau Islands Province. The study used survey method and the samples were collected from the intertidal area directly by hand. The resultsof this study showed that Cr content was found to be highest in medium size of the cockle in Station 1(0,7850μg/g), the highest Cu content was found in small size in Station 1(1,4983μg/g), and the highest Zn content was found in medium size in Station 2(24,9517μg/g). The results also showed that MPI values obtained from Gemuruh Village coastal waters was 2,0472. PTWI calculation derived from stations for Cr was 15,3374 mg/kg of body weight per week, Cu amounted to 1045,2839 mg/kg of body weight per week, whilst for Zn amounted to 2203,2374 mg/kg of body weight per week for the average of 70kg body weight. The concentrations of heavy metals in cockles from Gemuruh Village coastal waters can be considered as safe and accordingly there is no risk for the human consumption of these species as long as it does not exceed the suggested limit.


In this work, we present a nonlinear dynamics perspective on generating and connecting gaits for energetically conservative models of legged systems. In particular, we show that the set of conservative gaits constitutes a connected space of locally defined 1D submanifolds in the gait space. These manifolds are coordinate-free parameterized by energy level. We present algorithms for identifying such families of gaits through the use of numerical continuation methods, generating sets and bifurcation points. To this end, we also introduce several details for the numerical implementation. Most importantly, we establish the necessary condition for the Delassus' matrix to preserve energy across impacts. An important application of our work is with simple models of legged locomotion that are often able to capture the complexity of legged locomotion with just a few degrees of freedom and a small number of physical parameters. We demonstrate the efficacy of our framework on a one-legged hopper with four degrees of freedom.


A comparative study of O3 alone and O3/H2O2 was made to evaluate their respective effectiveness for removal of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from water with 4, 4'-dibro minated biphenyl (4, 4'-DBB) as the model pollutant, and UV254 was used as the surrogate parameter for TOC and DOC. It was found that both processes enhanced the removal rate. Especially, it has been made a further enhancement of the removal of 4, 4'-DBB as H2O2 was added under the alkaline-condition. The final removal rate of 4 mg/L 4, 4'-DBB solution reached 78.0% after reacting for 270 min, while the UV254 value varies with the removal rate and reached 76.9%-77.8% ultimately. It means that the total organic carbon has been removed obviously. Two kinds of solution of different concentration with the same amount of oxidant reacting for the same time have been compared with each other and the results showed that the higher the initial concentration was, the smaller the removal rate was, however, the more the absolute amount could be removed. It was also found that 4, 4'-DBB's removal followed pseudo-first order reaction and the promoted factor f for 4, 4'-DBB removal rate constant was about 1.54.


L-carnitine is suggested as a potential therapeutic agent in metabolic encephalopathies, such as ammonia-precipitated hepatic encephalopathy (HE). In humans, ammonia is produced mainly by the metabolism of proteins and amino acids. Most of the ammonia is detoxified by the urea cycle which is located in the liver. Thus, disturbances of the urea cycle in the liver lead to higher ammonia levels in blood. In humans, hyperammonemia (HA) arises mainly from liver diseases and is in most cases associated with HE. There are currently only a few therapeutic strategies, and outcome expectations for patients with HE are poor. Lcarnitine and its acyl-derivates are suggested as potential and low-cost therapeutic agents. In animal models, L-carnitine has been shown to counteract neurotoxic effects of ammonia, increase energy metabolism and decrease mortality. A protective effect against ammoniaprecipitated HE has also been observed in cirrhotic patients. A review of the literature offers in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as human trials with promising results. This chapter provides a comprehensive summary and a summarized discussion of the literature data concerning the effects of L-carnitine, with special emphasis on hyperammonemic syndromes and HE.


The creation of knowledge and the processing power used to classify such generated data have a close relation which make it vital for us to look at it on the basis of its fundamentals. This fundamental includes the ways of processing using artificial intelligence and evolutionary computation which can change your view on data. Another approach is statistical approach in which the data are analyzed based on statistical properties which this one might let to reformation and classification at the same time. The new approaches usually are based on several optimization parameters, however the formulation of such problems are not studied in this wok. This paper generally looks into the main aspects of knowledge creation and processing by providing the related understandings without further qualifications. The main part of this survey article is related to the theoretical and practical aspects of data and information processing.


A 27-year-old Iranian, previously healthy male presented with sub-cutaneous necrotic lesions with a localized dermatosis affecting the anterior chest, neck and face. These lesions consisted of singular, well-defined verrucous plaques which gradually developed and disseminated over time. The dermatosis was followed by the development of necrotic swollen lesions localized on the hard palate. The patient did not recall any history of trauma or puncture at any of the sites of infection. While histopathological examination of periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stained material revealed irregular, unbranched, septate hyphae, direct examination (KOH 10%) of lesion samples demonstrated the presence of septate indistinct brownish hyphae. Alternaria malorum was isolated (CBS 126589) and its identity was confirmed by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS rDNA). Since the palate lesion reoccurred after 10 years and the patient's condition did not improve with amphotericin B combination therapy, the lesion was surgical excised and he underwent antifungal therapy with amphotericin B and itraconazole. There was no dehiscence or fistula formation or any evidence of relapse of fungal infection during a one year follow-up and the patient was successfully cured. In vitro antifungal susceptibility tests revealed that the MIC values for those antifungals employed in this case were amphotericin B (0.125 μg/ml), fluconazole (32 μg/ml), itraconazole (0.125 μg/ml), voriconazole (1 μg/ml), and posaconazole (0.063 μg/ml). The MECs for caspofungin and anidulafungin were 0.25 μg/ml and 0.016 μg/ml, respectively. However, treatment of A. malorum infections with the latter agents remains to be evaluated.


Background. Cisplatin is widely used in modern oncological practice. Despite high efficacy treatment with cisplatin is conjugated with high risk of nephrotoxicity. Approximately one third of patients develop renal disfunction after first injection of cisplatin. In clinical practice serum creatinine elevation is used as a marker of renal damage, which is observed after failure of 50% of kidney function. That is why the finding of early biomarker of nephrotoxicity is still an issue. NGAL and KIM-1 are markers of renal damage, the predictive value of which has been described in cardiac surgery and resuscitation practice: an increase in the concentration of these markers in urine precedes the development of renal damage, both ischemic and direct toxic.
Aim. To evaluate the role of NGAL and KIM-1 in urine as early markers of cisplatin nephrotoxicity.
Materials and methods. The study included 50 patients treated with cisplatin in combination with fluoropyrimidines or paclitaxel. Prior to treatment and over a period of 8 weeks, the Friedman test was used to assess blood pressure, plasma creatinine, potassium, urea levels, daily proteinuria, urine NGAL and KIM-1 levels, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). ROC analysis was used to assess the prognostic significance of NGAL and KIM-1 in the development of nephrotoxicity.
Results. There was a statistically significant increase in the level of urea (=17.7; df 4, p=0.001), potassium (=42; df 4, p0.001), a decrease in GFR (=32.3; df 4, p0.001), the appearance of proteinuria (=50.4; df 4, p0.001). The concentration of NGAL and KIM-1 increased already one week after the start of cisplatin therapy, reaching a maximum by 8 weeks (=200; df 4, p0.001). The appearance of NGAL at a concentration of 10.743 ng/ml and KIM-1 at a concentration of 182.4 pg/ml in the first week after administration of cisplatin allows predicting the development of nephrotoxicity by the 8th week with high sensitivity (90.91%) and specificity (94.87%), AUC 0.96.
Conclusion. The appearance of NGAL and KIM-1 in urine already in the first week of treatment allows predicting the development of nephrotoxicity a decrease in GFR of less than 60 ml/min by the 8th week of therapy with high sensitivity and specificity. Both biomarkers can be considered early prognostically significant.


This thesis is divided into 6 parts. In the 1st part, there are some general remarks concerning the rationale for the choice of topic and the methods used for researching and delimiting it. In the 2nd part, various systems of international and national legislation regulating trade marks are introduced. There is also a very short introduction to some general trade mark issues. The notion of trade mark functionality is considered in the 3rd part. Here, based mainly on US statute and case law, which are considered as the origin of this notion, functionality is seen through two features: utilitarian features and competitive features. In this part, I also give some differences between the purposes of patents and trade marks to ground the reason for the role of the border between them in the functionality doctrine. The content of the 3rd part is to be considered as background to parts 4 and 5. In the former of these, the main contents of functionality and some disputes about this topic in the EU are covered through an analysis of EU trade mark legislation, EU cases and some articles. In Vietnam, my country, this issue is quite new. So, the concern of part 5 is to see how functionality would operate within existing Vietnamese trade mark legislations in order to try and 'foresee' its future. Part 6 is a conclusion that consists of a general summary and my views concerning the issues I have written about.


In this work, we test a recently developed method to enhance classical auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo (AFQMC) calculations with quantum computers against examples from chemistry and material science, representative of classes of industry-relevant systems. As molecular test cases, we calculate the energy curve of H4 and the relative energies of ozone and singlet molecular oxygen with respect to triplet molecular oxygen, which is industrially relevant in organic oxidation reactions. We find that trial wave functions beyond single Slater determinants improve the performance of AFQMC and allow it to generate energies close to chemical accuracy compared to full configuration interaction or experimental results. In the field of material science, we study the electronic structure properties of cuprates through the quasi-1D Fermi-Hubbard model derived from CuBr2, where we find that trial wave functions with both significantly larger fidelities and lower energies over a mean-field solution do not necessarily lead to AFQMC results closer to the exact ground state energy.


Urban search and rescue (USAR) is the rescue of people trapped by disasters involving the collapse of man-made structures. Introducing robots to USAR has the potential to increase the speed and effectiveness of rescue operations considerably and make them safer for rescuers. Robots have been used in recent rescue operations, including the WTC terrorist attack, leading to the identification of several problems in robot-assisted search and rescue. This paper proposes a solution to one such problem that has been encountered repeatedly in the use of robots for USAR: the determination of the scale of unrecognizable objects in the camera views from the robot. We describe a procedure that would allow the extraction of size and orientation information using a laser pointer and camera mounted on a robot, and experiments that verify the effectiveness of this procedure have been shown.


Historically, exchange rate forecasting models have exhibited poor out-of-sample performances and were inferior to the random walk model. Monthly panel data from 1973 to 2014 for ten currency pairs of OECD countries are used to make out-of sample forecasts with artificial neural networks and XGBoost models. Most approaches show significant and substantial predictive power in directional forecasts. Moreover, the evidence suggests that information regarding prediction timing is a key component in the forecasting performance.


The nightside auroral region is known to be the most powerful source of radiation from Earth to space. Emitted radiation reaches up to 109 watt, with frequencies ranging 100 600 kHz, and is known as Auroral Kilometric radiation (AKR)Parks [2004]. AKR is generated through coherent emission by highly energetic electrons. In order to understand how these electrons are energized, a 1D test particle code has been written to study wave-particle interactions at the inertial regime. The computational model reproduces particle dynamics and wave properties in uniform and non-uniform conditions of magnetic field and plasma density. Simulations of wave-particle interactions have also been performed and resulting observations were compared with similar publications. The model is intended to be used to obtain unstable particle distributions that are characteristic of the auroral region, and will be utilized in future studies of generation mechanisms of AKR.


We developed a competitive chemiluminescent (CL) enzyme immunoassay for rapid, sensitive analysis of 19-nortestosterone (19-NT) in bovine urine. Anti-19-NT polyclonal antibodies were raised in rabbits using a 19-NT-hemisuccinate derivative conjugated with ovalbumin; the derivative was also conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a label. Antibodies were immobilized on 384-well black polystyrene microtitre plates and HRP-labelled 19-NT activity was measured using an efficient chemiluminescent substrate (SuperSignal ELISA Femto) after 3 min incubation. Emitted light was recorded using a conventional, photomultiplier-tube-based microtitre plate reader or a sensitive back-illuminated, cooled CCD camera. The developed method fulfils all the requirements of precision (intra- and inter-assay CV < 10%) and accuracy (mean recovery 94-112%), with a detection limit of 0.03 ppb (1.1 x 10(-9) mol/L) in a urine matrix. Chemiluminescence enhances detectability of the HRP-labelled tracer (thus lowering the limit of detection with respect to colorimetry) and reduces analysis time. The 384-well microtitre plate cuts the sample/reagent volume (20 microL), a five-fold reduction with respect to the conventional 96-well microtitre plate. The developed method is suitable for high-throughput screening of 19-NT in urine samples, with reduced costs as compared with conventional colorimetric enzyme immunoassays.


Does attention have relevance for visual recognition and if so, under what circumstances? Is there a particular role (or roles) for attentive processes? These are not so simple to answer. Attention, if used at all in computer vision, has traditionally played one or both of the following roles: where to look next (or selection of region of interest), or top-down task influence on visual computation. In this paper, I argue that these are only two of the possible roles. Attention is also closely linked to binding and it is the triad of attention, binding and recognition that go hand in hand for non-trivial visual recognition tasks. This paper describes a set of four novel binding processes that employ a variety of attentive mechanisms to achieve recognition beyond the first feed-forward pass. The description is at a conceptual level with many pointers to papers where details may be found.


Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. PCOS is also a leading cause of infertility. It occurs 20- 30% more frequently in young people of childbearing age. According to Ayurveda, PCOS is related to Nastartava or Anartava. Nashtartava or Anartava is the main characteristic of Bandhya Yonivapada and Pushpgni Jatharini. The word Aartava is used in the Samhita in connection with menstrual blood, ovum, and ovarian hormones. PCOS is mainly due to Avrana of Vata and Kapha so Vatanulomak, Kapha Shaman, and Pitta Vardhan, Aamapachana, Artava Janana Chikitsa, are effective. Main observations: A 31 Years Old Female Patient, Housewife by Occupation. With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Was Arrived to OPD of Prasuti Tantra and Stri Rog for Ayurvedic Treatment. Chief Complaint Was Irregular Menses, Scanty Menses, Backache, Hair falls and Constipation in the last 4 Years. Physical Examination Revealed Pulse, Blood Pressure, Temperature Within Normal Limits. No History of Any Chronic Disease or Any Other Medical or Surgical History. Result: This patient was treated with ayurvedic formulations like Punarnava Mandoor, Panchkol Churna, Chaturbeej Churna, Panchtikt Ghrit Guggulu, Triphala Guggulu, Dashmool Kwath, Haridrakhand. Only traditional Ayurvedic medicines were used during the treatment. So, Patient's condition was assessed through improvement in symptoms. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate one of the treatment regimens for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Conclusion: The study reached the conclusion that ayurvedic treatment was significantly effective in the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).


Using ab initio calculations we reveal the nature of the insulating phase recently found experimentally in monolayer 1T-NbSe2. We find soft phonon modes in a large part of the Brillouin zone indicating the strong-coupling nature of a charge-density-wave instability. Structural relaxation of a supercell reveals a Star-of-David reconstruction with an energy gain of 60 meV per primitive unit cell. The band structure of the distorted phase exhibits a half-filled flat band which is associated with orbitals that are delocalized over several atoms in each Star of David. By including many-body corrections through a combined GW, hybrid-functional, and DMFT treatment, we find the flat band to split into narrow Hubbard bands. The lowest energy excitation across the gap turns out to be between itinerant Se-p states and the upper Hubbard band, determining the system to be a charge-transfer insulator. Combined hybrid-functional and GW calculations show that long-range interactions shift the Se-p states to lower energies. Thus, a delicate interplay of local and long-range correlations determines the gap nature and its size in this distorted phase of the monolayer 1T-NbSe2.


The subsolidus phase diagram of the system Bi2O3–ZnO–Nb2O5 in the region of the cubic pyrochlore phase has been determined at 950 °C. This phase forms a solid solution area that does not include the so-called ideal composition P, Bi3Zn2Nb3O14. It may be described in terms of two compositional variables: ZnO deficiency compared to P together with variable Bi : Nb ratio. Density measurements, preliminary crystallographic studies and the phase diagram indicate the solid solutions to have general formula, Bi3+yZn2−xNb3−yO14−x−y: −0.11(1)
 ≤
 y
 ≤ 0.14(1) and −0.03(1)
 ≤
 x
 ≤ 0.31(1).


This article takes stock of the current state of research on the connections between prosody and the organisation of social interaction. An overview is given of central studies of prosodic and phonetic design and its procedural relevance for interaction, along three lines of inquiry: the management of turns, sequence organisation, and action formation. For each of these issues, illustrative analyses based on French data are also presented.


Mechanical fastening techniques are used extensively in different industry fields for joining various materials in the assembly of components and structures. The use of mechanical clinching is of interest to different industries such as aerospace, automotive, packaging and domestic appliance. This, together with increasing use of light-weight materials, has produced a significant increase in the use of mechanical clinching in light-weight structures in recent years. This paper deals with the mechanical properties and fracture analysis of extensible die clinched joints in the dissimilar metal sheets combinations of titanium sheet material and aluminum sheet material. Tensile-shear tests were carried out to characterize the mechanical properties of different clinched joints made of the dissimilar metal sheets combinations. The normal hypothesis tests were performed to examine the rationality of the test data. The load-bearing capacity and failure modes of different titanium sheets clinched joints were studied. Results showed that most titanium sheets clinched joints failed in the neck fracture mode. Results also showed that the load-bearing capacity of clinch joints with titanium as upper sheets is higher than that of the clinched joints with titanium as lower sheets.


Objective: Rift valley fever virus (RVFV) is the cause of devastating outbreaks among domestic ruminants and humans in most African countries and in the Arabian Peninsula. Current efforts to develop and evaluate an improved veterinary vaccine to prevent RVF disease among domestic ruminants includes a live attenuated RVFV MP-12 candidate and a recombinant vaccine referred to as arMP12ΔNsm21/384 that was derived from the RVF MP-12 vaccine candidate. The aim of this study was to evaluate these RVFV vaccine candidates in domestic ruminants in Tanzania.

Methods: Six to nine months old goats (Capra aegagrus hircus), calves (Bos taurus indicus) and sheep (Ovis aries) were vaccinated subcutaneously with one ml each of 1 × 105 plaque forming units (PFU)/ml of the RVF MP-12 and/or the arMP-12ΔNSm21/384 candidate vaccines. The controls included six animals, two of each species which received 1 ml of Eagle's Minimum Essential Medium as a placebo. Blood samples were collected on day 2 before vaccination, and on the day (0) immediately before vaccination were tested for RVFV antibody to insure that only antibody negative animals were used in the vaccine trials. Samples collected on days, 3, 4, 5, 7 post-vaccination (PV) to determine the possibility of a vaccine induced viremia, and on days 4, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 67 to determine the immune response of the vaccinated animals. Sera samples were tested for RVFV RNA by RT-PCR and for infectious virus in Vero E6 cells. The immune response was determined by testing sera samples for antibody using a commercial IDVERT ELISA kit (Montpellier-France) as well as a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Animals were observed daily for adverse effects and rectal temperature was recorded at the time of blood collection.

Results: All vaccinated animals developed RVFV neutralizing antibodies with titers ranging from 1:10 in some animals as early as day 4 and 5 PV to as high as 1:160-1:2560 over the 67 day study period with no adverse effect observed in any of the animals. The antibody titers of goats to both MP-12 and arMP-12ΔNSm21/384 vaccines was significantly higher than the response observed for sheep and cattle. A viremia was not detected in any of the vaccinated and control animals.

Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrated that the RVFV MP-12 and arMP12ΔNsm21/384 vaccine candidates administered by the SC route elicited RVFV neutralizing antibodies in indigenous species of cattle, sheep, and goats in Tanzania, and therefore warrants further studies to assess the safety and protective efficacy of these vaccine candidates in domestic ruminants.


Particular and timely unified information along with quick and effective query response times is the basic fundamental requirement for the success of any collection of independent data marts (data warehouse) which forms Fact Constellation Schema or Galaxy Schema. Because of the materialized view storage area, the materialization of all views is practically impossible thus suitable materialized views (MVs) picking is one of the intelligent decisions in designing a Fact Constellation Schema to get optimal efficiency. This study presents a framework for picking best-materialized view using Quantum Particle Swarm Optimization (QPSO) algorithm where it is one of the stochastic algorithm in order to achieve the effective combination of good query response time, low query handling cost and low view maintenance cost. The results reveals that the proposed method for picking best-materialized view using QPSO algorithm is better than other techniques via computing the ratio of query response time and compare it to the response time of the same queries on the materialized views. Ratio of implementing the query on the base table takes five times more time than the query implementation on the materialized views. Where the response time of queries through MVs access were found 0.084 seconds while by direct access queries were found 0.422 seconds. This outlines that the performance of query through materialized views access is 402.38% better than those directly access via data warehouse-logical.


Objective
Sediment bacteria are the important biological factors for remediating of eutrophic environments. To enrich our understanding of the bacteria communities in eutrophic urban lake sediments for better environment protection and pollution control in urban lake eco-systems, we resolved the composition of bacteria communities and their spatial variation in the sediments of a middle-size eutrophic urban lake, East Lake.

Methods
We used 16S rRNA gene RFLP and sequencing methods to generate the phylogeny information of the bacteria community, used principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) methods to resolve the relationship between East Lake and other lakes, and the relationship between environmental factors and the bacteria communities.

Results
Sediments inhabited 13 phyla and 2 unclassified clusters. PCoA further revealed that the bacteria communities in three sub-lakes of East Lake sediments were closely related to the communities in similar eutropic lake environments, and divergent from the hypereutrophic sub-lake Miao Lake, which was also found to inhabit a relative abundant amount of Thermogymnomonas-type archaea. CCA further revealed that the distribution of bacteria was closely correlated with the carbon, nitrogen and phosphate contents in the sediments.

Conclusion
The environment factors regulated the bacteria community composition and distribution. The results of this study providereference to the research, protection and pollution control on urban lake eco-systems.


Summary A specialised 3D- printed scaffold, combined with fillers and bioactive molecules, can be designed and characterised to demonstrate the efficacy of synthetic, off-the-shelf and custom fabricated scaffolds for the repair of long bone defects. Introduction Using specialised three-dimensional (3-D) printing technology, combined with fillers and bioactive molecules, 3-D scaffolds for bone repair of sizable defects can be manufactured with a level of design customization that other methods lack. Hydroxyapatite (HA)/Beta-Tri-Calcium Phosphate (β -TCP) scaffold components may be created that provide mechanical strength, guide osseo- conduction and integration, and remodel over time. Additionally, research suggests that bone morphogenic protein (BMP) stimulates growth and differentiation of new bone. Therefore, we hypothesise that with the addition of BMP, HA- β -TCP scaffolds will show improved regeneration of bone over critical sized bone defects in an in vivo model. Patients & Methods Scaffolds were implanted in six New Zealand White rabbits with a 10mm radial defect for 2 and 8 weeks. The scaffolds, made from 15% HA: 85% β-TCP, were designed using ROBOCAD design software and fabricated using a 3-D printing Robocast machine. Scaffolds were sintered at 1100°C for 4 hours with a final composition of 5% HA: ∼95% β-TCP. Micro-CT, histological analysis, and nanoindentation were conducted to determine the degree of new bone formation and remodeling. Results Reconstructed microCT images show increased bone formation, remodeling, and integration in HA/ β -TCP-BMP scaffolds compared to virgin HA/ β -TCP scaffolds. Histological analysis showed increased bone formation but decreased osteoconduction in HA/ β -TCP-BMP scaffolds. Nanoindentation showed no effect of BMP on hardness nor elastic modulus of bone formed on the scaffolds. Discussion/Conclusions HA/ β -TCP scaffolds with/without BMP are highly biocompatible and can successfully augment and accelerate the regeneration and remodeling of bone in critically sized long bone defects in a rabbit model. However, the data in this study show both improvement and detriment with the addition of BMP. Therefore, further studies must be performed. Ideally, eventual translation of this research to humans would eliminate the need for allograft and/or autograft in large bony defects and allow for a customizable 3D scaffold material relative to patient needs.


AbstractThe nasal septum plays an important role in nose development. East Asians are believed to have inherent hypoplasia of the nasal septum because East Asians have smaller noses than whites do. However, there have been no studies of nasal septum differences between whites and East Asians. We compared the nasal septum and its components in Koreans and whites using computed tomographic scan data. Twenty-seven patients of white origin and 64 patients of Korean origin older than 20 years were enrolled in this study between 2008 and 2012. We evaluated a total of 9 measurement items (5 for the nasal bones and septa as well as 4 for the external nose morphology). Sex differences in whites were the same as those in Koreans. Nasal bridge length and cartilaginous nasal bridge length were significantly longer in whites than in Koreans. However, there were no significant differences in nasal height, nasal tip projection, nasal bone length, total septal area, or most components of the nasal septum between the samples. The relative proportions of the cartilaginous septum divided by the total septal area were negatively correlated with the relative proportions of the perpendicular plate in both groups. Differences in the external nasal morphology between whites and Koreans are not caused by differences in the nasal septum.


Sternotomy in giant (10 cm and more in diameter) aneurysms is highly dangerous due to possibility of injury of aneurysmatic wall with fatal bleeding. That is why sternotomy in condition of artificial circulation (AC) and cooling of patients to 29-30 degrees C are preferred. Two cases of successful surgical treatment of critical patients with giant aneurysms of ascending parts and arch of the aorta in condition of femoro-femoral AC, hypothermia (20 degrees C) and circulatory arrest are presented. One of the patients had a giant false posttraumatic aneurysm of an ascending part of the thoracic aorta with fistula between aneurysm and pulmonary artery. Suturing of defects of ascending aorta and pulmonary artery wall, aneurysmorrhaphia of pulmonary artery were performed. The other patient with acute disruption of a giant dissected aortal aneurysm and hemomediastinum underwent prosthesis of ascending part and arch of the aorta.


Abstract Digital Storytelling is over 20 years old, its roots in citizen activism, its techniques evolving from radical theatre and media arts and its primary driver an unwavering commitment to enabling people to find and share their stories, as well as to the valuing of each and every one of those stories. This paper builds upon a presentation given at "Digital Storytelling in a Time of Crisis", an international Digital Storytelling conference that took place in Athens in May 2014. It sets out to map some of the territory around Digital Storytelling and older people – ageing and the old (specifically the costs associated with a growing older population) being the 'crises' in question. The paper discusses questions concerning the benefits of Digital Storytelling with older people – both active older people and those who have dependency needs associated with ageing, such as dementia. The questions focus on the measurement of value, both in terms of participation in Digital Storytelling as a process and in the stories themselves. The paper is also self-reflective, as the writer embarks upon the formal route of PhD research, questioning the assumed benefits of the practice that has dominated the last eight years of over thirty years as a teacher and avid promoter of participatory media as a means to effect positive change. The paper is in 6 parts: (1) The Ageing Agenda; (2) Why Am I Doing This?; (3) What are the Benefits of Digital Storytelling with Older People? (4) The Pros and Cons of Digital Storytelling Projects (5) Extending Creative Practice and Silver Stories – Two Transnational Projects Linking Digital Storytelling and Older people – a sustainable model? (6) Ever Decreasing (Story) Circles.


A virtual reality (VR) technique has been developed to allow user immersion (stereo-graphic rendering, user tracking and object interactivity) in generic unsteady three-dimensional multi-phase flow data sets. This article describes the structure and logic used to design and construct a VR technique that employs a multi-phase flow-field computed a priori as an input (i.e. simulations are conducted beforehand with a researcher's multi-phase CFD code). The input field for this flow visualization is divided into two parts: the Eulerian three-dimensional grid nodes and velocities for the continuous fluid properties (specified using conventional TECLOT data format) and the Lagrangian time-history trajectory files for the dispersed fluid. While tracking the dispersed phase trajectories as animated spheres of adjustable size and number, the continuous-phase flow can be simultaneously rendered with velocity vectors, iso-contour surfaces and planar flood-contour maps of different variables. The geometric and notional view of the combined visualization of both phases is interactively controlled throughout a user session. The resulting technique is demonstrated with a 3-D unsteady data set of Lagrangian particles dispersing in a Eulerian description of a turbulent boundary layer, stemming from a direct numerical simulation of the Navier-Stokes equations.


The terrestrial slug Limax has been used as a model animal for studying the neural mechanisms underlying associative olfactory learning. The slug also innately exhibits negative phototactic behavior using its eyes. In the present study, we developed an experimental paradigm for quantification of slug's negative phototaxis behavior, and investigated whether the nature of the negative phototaxis can be modified by learning experience. The experimental set-up consists of light and dark compartments, between which the slug can move freely. During conditioning, the slug was placed in the light compartment, and an aversive stimulus (quinidine sulfate solution) was applied when it reached the dark compartment. After a single conditioning session, the time to reach the dark compartment significantly increased when it was tested following 24 hr or one week. Protein synthesis inhibition immediately following the conditioning impaired the memory retention at one week but not at 24 hr. The retrieval of the memory was context-dependent, as the time to reach the dark compartment did not significantly increase if the slug was placed on a floor with a different texture in the memory retention test. If the aversive stimulus was applied when the slug was in the light compartment, the time to reach the dark compartment did not increase after 24 hr. This is the first report demonstrating the capability of the slug to form context-dependent passive avoidance memory that can be established in a single conditioning session.


The objective of this study is to assess the protective eff ect of chrysin (CH) against ovarian torsion-detorsion injury. Thirty-two female albino rats were divided into 4 groups as Control, Torsion/Detorsion (T/D), TD-CH, and CH. Ovarian torsion was done for 3 hours on TD and TD-CH groups and then detorsion was performed. 50 mg/kg of CH was administered to the TD-CH group via oral gavage half an hour before the detorsion. Subsequently, 50 mg/kg of CH was administered via oral gavage to TD-CH and CH groups for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected and ovarian tissue were taken. SOD and GPx activities and GSH and 8-OHdG levels were studied in serum and ovarian tissue. Also, IL-18, KIM-1, NGAL, Cys-C levels were studied in serum samples. GSH levels and GPx, SOD activities in both serum and ovarian tissue were significantly lower in TD group compared to the control and TD-CH groups (P<0.05), whereas the 8-OHdG level was significantly higher (P<0.05). Treatment with CH resulted in a decrease in 8-OHdG level and an increase in GSH level, GPx and SOD activities in both serum and ovarian tissue in the TD-CH group compared to TD group (P<0.05). Chrysin could ameliorate ovarian injury. Essentially, this outcome is thanks to the antioxidant, anti-infl ammatory, and antiapoptotic eff ects of chrysin. Furthermore, it also has significant eff ects on DNA oxidative damage.


Across two experimental studies, the present research explores how media images depicting counterstereotypical roles for women, compared to those that depict stereotypical roles for women, affect women's gender role beliefs (Study 1) and responses to a leadership situation (Study 2). Study 1 predicted and found that women exposed to images depicting counterstereotypical roles subsequently reported stronger nontraditional gender role beliefs than women exposed to images depicting stereotypical roles. Study 2 then directly assessed the effect of media images of women on female participants' self-reported responses following a leadership task. Women exposed to media images of women in counterstereotypical roles reported less negative self-perceptions and greater leadership aspirations than women exposed to images of women in stereotypical roles. Moreover, negative selfperceptions mediated the relationship between media images and leadership aspirations. Implications for increasing women's representation in the leadership domain are discussed.


Nanjing University is hosting the 5-th in a row of NanoSPD conferences, which continues a series of the preceding conferences: in Moscow (1999), Vienna (2002), Fukuoka (2005) and Goslar (2008). This paper highlights the major landmarks of NanoSPD activity for the past years from the standpoint of the International NanoSPD Steering Committee. Special attention is given to topics relating to nanostructuring of metals by SPD processing for advanced properties as well as new trends in developing SPD techniques for practical application. Another concern of the committee is in introduction and discussion of the terminology applied in this new field of science and engineering.


The traditional class approach to politics maintains that the working class 'natu- rally' votes for left-wing parties because they represent its economic interests. Such tradi- tional voting patterns have, however, become less typical, giving rise to the 'Death of Class Debate' in political sociology. Against this background, using data collected in the Nether- lands in 1997, this article examines why so many people, working and middle class alike, vote for parties that do not represent their 'real class interests'. Critically elaborating Lipset's work on working-class authoritarianism and Inglehart's on postmaterialism, the article confirms that 'natural' voting complies with the logic of class analysis. 'Unnatural' voting, however, is not driven by economic cues and class. Right-wing working-class voting behaviour is caused by cultural conservatism that stems from limited cultural capital. The pattern of voting for the two small leftist parties in Dutch politics underscores the signifi- cance of this cultural explanation: those with limited cultural capital and culturally conser- vative values vote for the Socialist Party ('Old Left') rather than the Greens ('New Left'). Breaking the traditional monopoly of the one-sided class approach and using a more eclec- tic and open theoretical approach enables political sociologists once again to appreciate the explanatory power of the class perspective.


Tooth-coloured adhesive inserted fiber posts are used to restore endodontically treated teeth. In this investigation, the tensile bond strength of two different fiber posts systems (ER DentinPost and DT Light Post) in combination with five different resin cements was tested. The posts were inserted into artificial root canals in bovine dentin using Clearfil Core, RelyX Unicem, Panavia 21ex, Panavia F2.0 und Calibra. Titan posts (ER-Kopfstift), inserted with zincphosphate cement served as control group. ER DentinPost inserted with Clearfil Core had significantly higher tensile bond strengths than in combination with Panavia F2.0 (221.70 +/- 17.99 N) or Calibra (212.37 +/- 45.20 N). DT Light Post in combination with Calibra (338.20 +/- 46.40 N), Panavia F2.0 (321.69 +/- 40.11 N) and Panavia 21ex (290.41 +/- 55.28 N) showed significantly higher tensile bond strengths compared to adhesive cementation with RelyX Unicem (211.57 +/- 32.35 N) and Clearfil Core (131.67 +/- 51.72 N). The tensile bond strength of the control group was in the upper third of the values (315.43 +/- 51.38 N). Optical analysis of the post surface after decementation demonstrated in all cases adhesive-cohesive mixed fractures. The adhesion of resin cement to the fiber posts and resin cement to root canal dentin is influenced by different factors. The combination of fiber post systems with the type of resin cement has a great influence on the tensile bond strength.


Sea piracy, a centuries old practice, has been portrayed as a phenomenon that rewards its perpetrators while decaying the states where it thrives. Fueled by its unsustainable criminal economies that erode and weaken the fibre of the state, the deterioration has over the centuries and millennia prompted states to inconclusively counter the menace. This fight against piracy has been a teeter-totter of sorts whose common thread has been the rise, decline and recurrence of piracy throughout history. Yet, despite this incongruous reality, states have continued to roll out strategies with hopes of ending piratical vagaries and reforming its attendant criminal economies. While anti-piracy interventions of yore abound, their descriptions have not attracted deserving scholarly scrutiny, an aberration that can be redeemed by contextualizing initiatives taken to curb the fabled Somali piracy. This article interrogates the international, regional and national Somali anti-piracy strategies whose deficiencies shed light on why piracy remains a recurring scourge. Capitalizing on Somalia's instability and location, the article identifies the intricacies of the selfish considerations that underlie leading world powers and regional agencies 'humanitarian' decision to join the Somali anti-piracy campaign.


In this study, swarming tendency and defensive behavior of Yığılca local honeybee were determined and compared with other commonly used honeybee genotypes in Turkey. Colonies were headed by naturally mated queens and 10 colonies of Yığılca local honeybee, 12 colonies of of Apis mellifera caucasica cross and 12 colonies of of Apis mellifera anatoliaca cross were used in the experiment. In swarming season, Yığılca honeybee colonies constructed more queen cells (49.86±18.00) than both A.m. anatoliaca cross (13.00±7.00) and A.m. caucasica (8.00±1.15) cross colonies. Similarly, according to results of sting test, the highest number of stings was determined in Yığılca honeybee colonies (18.38±4.24), followed by A.m. anatoliaca (5.50±2.15) and A.m. caucasica (3.75±0.62) crosses. Results showed that Yığılca local honeybee genotype has a more swarming tendency and is more defensive than A.m. anatoliaca and A.m. caucasica crosses.


Aldrich brand products are sold through Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. Purchaser must determine the suitability of the product for its particular use. See product information on the Sigma-Aldrich website at sigma-aldrich.com and/or on the reverse side of invoice or packing slip for additional terms and conditions of sale. All prices are subject to change without notice. Introduction Welcome to the first issue of Material Matters™ for 2012, focused on high-performance organic optoelectronic devices. Since their discovery, devices such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic photovoltaic solar cells (OPVs), and organic field effect transistors (OFETs) have triggered enormous scientific interest, as well as skepticism regarding their potential for commercial application. As of today, there are several notable examples that have made their high-performance future much brighter: organic solar cells based on conjugated polymers and fullerene derivatives blends have achieved nearly a 10-fold improvement of power conversion efficiency as compared to a decade ago; optimized OLEDs are approaching their theoretical limit in internal quantum efficiency; OFETs comprised of conjugated polymers have demonstrated carrier mobilities competitive with amorphous silicon. Moreover, OLEDs are now integrated in commercial display and lighting products. Researchers continue to make significant advances in materials chemistry and device engineering of organic semiconductors that will further the potential for commercial success of OLED, OFET, and OPV devices. In this issue, we discuss a variety of innovative materials, including both organic/polymeric molecules and inorganic nanomaterials, which have made superior optoelectronic devices become reality. In the first article, Asanga B. Padmaperuma and Evgueni Polikarpov (Applied Materials Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) describe a process to design functional OLED materials by correlating theoretical predictions and experimental measurements. This approach enables researchers to identify novel host and charge carrier materials with predicted electronic properties for optimized OLED performance. In the next article, Professor Thuc-Quyen Nguyen (University of California, Santa Barbara) illustrates her group's recent developments in conjugated small molecules containing a series of diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based chromophores for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices. They demonstrate the benefit of small molecules over their polymeric counterparts in terms of precise control over material properties. In the following article, Professor Alejandro L. Briseño and his group at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst summarize the synthetic history of thiophene-based materials for organic electronics and emphasize the importance of new processing techniques to increase crystallinity, which further improves device performance. Finally, Benny Pacheco and Scott Kordyban (Cytodiagnostics, Inc.) highlight some of the …


Background There are no biomarkers to facilitate the identification of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) who are at high risk for developing colorectal cancer (CRC). In our current study, we used rectal tissues from UC patients to identify aberrant DNA methylations and evaluated whether they could be used to identify UC patients with coexisting colorectal neoplasia. Results Using a training set, we identified 484 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) with absolute delta beta-values > 0.1 in rectal mucosa by using the ChAMP algorithm. Next, pathway enrichment analysis was performed using 484 DMRs to select coordinately methylated DMRs, resulting in the selection of 187 aberrant DMRs in rectal tissues from UC-CRC. Then, the Elastic Net classification algorithm was performed to narrow down optimal aberrant DMRs, and we finally selected 11 DMRs as biomarkers for identification of UC-CRC patients. The 11 chosen DMRs could discriminate UC patients with or without CRC in a training set (area under the curve, 0.96) and the validation set (area under the curve, 0.81). Conclusions In conclusion, we identified 11 DMRs that could identify UC patients with CRC complications. Prospective studies should further confirm the validity of these biomarkers. Methods We performed genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in rectal mucosal tissues (n = 48) from 24 UC-CRC and 24 UC patients in a training set. Next, we performed comprehensive DNA methylation analysis using rectal mucosal tissues (n = 16) from 8 UC-CRC and 8 UC patients for validation.


Modification of TiO2 by using fullerenes is an efficient strategy to further improve the device efficiency and enhance the cell stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the intrinsic issues of low electron mobility and electrical conductivity of fullerene materials may restrict their potential application in PSCs. Here, we demonstrated an n-doped electron-transporting layer by doping bis(1-[3-(methoxycarbonyl)propyl]-1-phenyl)-[6,6]C62 (bis-PCBM) with decamethylcobaltocene (DMC) to fabricate n–i–p structure PSCs. We successfully realized an n-type doping of bis-PCBM via a solution-processed doping process. DMC doping played a series of roles in adjusting the energy levels, improving the electron mobility and enhancing the film conductivity of bis-PCBM. A bis-PCBM:DMC composite film could act as an underlay for the deposition and growth of a subsequent perovskite layer owing to its smooth morphology. In addition, the bis-PCBM:DMC composite film also presented good solvent resistance, which coul...


Myocardial contusion is a rare and potentially fatal complication of chest trauma. There is no unique definition for this entity: some authors define myocardial contusion as a mild increase in cardiac biomarkers in the context of chest trauma, while for others the diagnosis requires evidence of pathologic findings at cardiac imaging. Consequently, the real incidence of myocardial contusion remains unknown, varying in reports between 8% and 71%. We describe a case of cardiac contusion secondary to a low-energy blunt chest trauma, manifesting as persistent ST-elevation associated with elevation of myocardial necrosis markers, with consequent myocardial stunning of the right ventricular free wall. As there is no consensus regarding the diagnostic pathway, it is essential to integrate first-level exams (ECG and laboratory findings) with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, to define the presence of cardiac contusion and its extent, particularly if the echocardiographic data are unconclusive.


Staphylococcal infections in neonates might be associated with skin blistering since early antibiotic therapy has been shown to limit infection spread and positively influence outcomes; therefore, neonatologists should be aware of these conditions. This review examines the recent literature on the management of Staphylococcal infections that involve neonatal skin, discussing the most appropriate clinical approach to four cases of neonatal blistering diseases with Staphylococcal infections: a case of Staphylococcal bullous impetigo, a case of Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS), a case of epidermolysis bullosa with overlapping Staphylococcal infection, and a case of burns with overlapping Staphylococcal infection. In treating Staphylococcal infections involving skin in neonates, the presence or absence of systemic symptoms should be considered. In the lack of evidence-based guidelines in this age category, treatment should be individualized according to several factors including the extension of the disease or further skin comorbidities (such as skin fragility), with a multidisciplinary approach.


This paper establishes a product rule for fractional derivatives of a realvalued function defined on a finite dimensional Euclidean vector space. The proof uses Fourier transforms.


Experimental and clinical data indicate that dentin mineralization is vitamin D-dependent. This calcium-regulating steroid controls protein synthesis, for instance that of osteocalcin in osteoblasts. This protein also elaborated by odontoblasts was used as a molecular marker for vitamin D action on odontoblasts. Since the most characteristic protein synthesized by odontoblasts is the dentin phosphoprotein which is thought to regulate hydroxyapatite growth, its cellular and extracellular distribution was also studied. Tooth formation in the molars and incisors of successive generations of vitamin D-deficient animals (-D) and in controls (+D) was compared by microadiography, toluidine blue histochemistry, and immunocytochemistry. In -D samples, the presence of dentin phosphoprotein in odontoblasts indicated that their differentiation occurred despite major morphological disturbances at the cusp tips. In contralateral teeth, osteocalcin was depleted in odontoblasts and dentin, suggesting an inhibition of protein synthesis induced by vitamin D-deficiency. In the extracellular matrix of +D animals, phosphoprotein distribution was associated with dentin, especially within actively forming calcospherites at the mineralization front. In contrast, in -D dentin, the mineralization defects corresponded to irregular absence of histochemically detectable phosphoprotein. This protein indeed appeared either absent or uniformly sparse in -D dentin by immunocytochemistry. These data suggest that vitamin D acts directly on odontogenic cells at various synthetic (osteocalcin) or secretory (phosphoprotein) levels indicating that odontoblasts are target-cells for vitamin D. Therefore, this hormone could contribute to the regulation of extracellular mineralization during dentinogenesis, via different mechanisms in the processing of matrix protein.


A series of novel hybrid pyrazolotriazolopyramidine derivatives was designed and synthesized in synthetically useful yields. All the new synthesized compounds were biologically evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxic activities against a panel of three cancer cell lines namely, HepG-2, MCF-7, and HCT-116. The results of cytotoxic evaluation indicated that compounds 12, and 11 exhibited the most prominent cytotoxic effect against all tested cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 12.41 to 22.18 μM comparable to that of doxorubicin as a control drug (IC50 values of 8.17 and 9.27 μM). Moreover, the most potent compound was further evaluated for its topoisomerase II inhibitory activities and DNA intercalating affinities as potential mechanisms for its anti-proliferative activities. In particular, compound 12 exhibited higher intercalative activity with IC50 value of 30 μM than doxorubicin (31 μM). Interestingly, compound 12 displayed a significant topoisomerase II inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 0.055 μM. Furthermore, molecular docking study was also performed in order to understand the binding mode in the active site and explain the anti-cancer results with prospective target.


Memorial Hospital is located in-North Conway, New Hampshire. Year round, the 35-bed hospital serves mainly tourists and retirees to the area. The imaging department wanted to integrate its services within an existing community network, meet the needs of a transient population and resolve staff utilization and storage problems. Conversion from film to digital in the radiology department took advantage of digital x-ray and PACS. Since the hospital was already using digital technology for CT, MR, ultrasound and fluoroscopy, it made sense to include plain film imaging in the digitization process Memorial Hospital faced a number of challenges. Those in decision-making positions lacked a general knowledge about PACS, and, in particular, about PACS in similarly sized facilities. The hospital also lacked experience working with vendors. A timeline was critical as Memorial Hospital prepared for winter, its busiest season. The facility decided on a phased-in project with no immediate HIS/RIS interface, and computerized radiography with hard-copy films was implemented immediately. The facility has made the transition from a conventional imaging department to a PACS environment. It attributes its success to the way it involved those who would be affected by any future changes in the planning and decision-making processes. Memorial Hospital expects to expand its services and streamline its archival capabilities in the near future.


Ilhabela municipality, located in the north coast of Sao Paulo, is passing through an intense process of real estate speculation. The south coast of the municipality is still an unspoiled region, with a rich biodiversity that owns various endangered and endemic species. One of the projects that can bring an impact significant to the local biodiversity is the possible building of a road that intends to connect Ponta da Sepituba to Bonete Beach in a distance of 12 km. The current project subsidizes the Public Ministry (Brazil) in Public Civil Action that follows legal channels in Ilhabela, selecting destroyer actions in the trail and choosing not to build the road. It is being developed some researches in this region, among them the survey of the avifauna emphasizing the endangered species. The Brazilian territory has one of the richest avifauna in the world. The Atlantic Forest Biome owns the biggest amount of endangered fowls constituting a priority area to actions that intend to avoid the extinction  of species. The researchers have to indicate which species are under a great risk of extinction, what the environmental necessities are to maintain viable population, what the impact of this extinction is and in what areas can be found species, habitats and endangered community. Until now, 143 fowl species were found; among them 15 are endangered and 2 new occurrences for Ilhabela list, observed between March, 2012 and October, 2013. Key words: endangered fowls, conservation, ecology, real estate speculation.


A cultural situation of people with mental disorders obliges specialists to collaborate and to share their personal and professional resources in order to change the situation and to avoid the risk of the Soviet heritage. Team work is a vital prerequisite for the better quality of client empowerment, it means a newly forming system and tradition, and therefore, it requires continuous learning and openness of professionals in the situation of changes. The exploration of social workers' opportunities in mental health centres is significant for the development and improvement of help to the users of mental health services; moreover, it contributes to the effectiveness of the performance of a multidisciplinary team members. The aim of the article is to explore the opportunities of social workers' activity in a multidisciplinary team of a mental health centre. The methodological basis of the research included the social capital, humanist, and social exchange theories. Quantitative reseach was conducted: 93 social workers employed in Lithuanian mental health centres were surveyed. The data of the research were processed by means of SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences), version 16.0, and Spearman's correlation coefficient methodology. The research revealed that a hierarchical system prevalent in interdisciplinary teams reduced the opportunities of social workers' activity in the team; the absence of an effective work model in the team prevented its members, including social workers, from precise understanding of the boundaries of their competences and opportunities, an analysis of users' needs, the assessment of its outcomes, and building purposeful strategies of professional activities. Social workers experienced clients' trust, however, a passive role of client as a member of the team and the level of the multidisciplinary collaboration culture limited the opportunities of client empowerment.


This study employed Nigeria's household data from the RIGA database to examine the effect of off-farm income on rural poverty and income distribution. Specifically, the study employs the Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) poverty measurement indices to examining the effect of off-farm income on rural poverty and Gini decomposition techniques for the effect of off-farm income on rural income distribution. Our findings suggest that offfarm income as a part of total household income significantly contributed towards reducing the incidence, depth and severity of poverty as evident in the outcomes of the poverty measures for the wage and self employment activities. Same cannot be said for rural income inequality, as off-farm income on aggregate level is observed to increase rural income inequality. Results of the decomposition by income sources revealed that with the exception of self-employment income, other off-farm incomes have unequalising effect on income distribution, an outcome attributed to entry barriers which prevents poor households from undertaken the lucrative kind of off-farm work. Programmes of government and nongovernmental organisations aimed at growth and development of the off-farm sector needs to have an aspect well targeted at the poor rural households to assist them in removing the entry barriers, placing them in a better position to maximise the opportunities in the off-farm sector.


strengthening of democratic reforms and practices in society is crucial for democratic consolidation (p. 29). In addition, the chapter on violence would have benefited from additional revision. The motivating empirical example is Rwanda, but the genocide was not squarely a product of democratization. Linking democratic reform to violence requires distinctions between civil war, genocide, electoral violence and exclusion. The chapter blurs these distinctions. There are also some minor flaws, such as the misspelling of the name of South Sudan's president, Salva Kiir (p. 203). Despite these concerns, Cheeseman's book is a major achievement. The work is an excellent resource for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, policy makers and scholars who seek an efficient, nuanced, analytical introduction to democratization in Africa.


Purpose— Literature on the chemopreventive role of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UC) is conflicting. A recent pooled analysis of three cohorts reported regular use of non-aspirin NSAIDs was associated with reduced risk of UC among non-smokers only; however, non-smokers are a group with a low risk of UC. We examine the association between NSAID use and UC risk. Materials and Methods— Study participants were members of the VITamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) cohort of 77,048 Washington State residents aged 50–76 years who completed a baseline questionnaire in 2000–2002 on NSAID use and cancer risk factors. Ten-year use of aspirin and other NSAIDs was categorized as none, low-use (1–3 days/week or <4 years), or high-use (≥4 days/week and ≥4 years). Incident UC cases were prospectively identified via linkage to a local cancer registry. Hazard ratios (HR) were estimated by multivariate Cox regression. Results— 385 incident cases of UC were diagnosed over a mean follow-up of 7 years. There was no association with NSAID use and risk of UC. However, the association of use of non-aspirin NSAIDs with UC risk differed by smoking status (p for interaction = 0.02). Specifically, among long-term former smokers (quit ≥10 years), non-aspirin NSAID use was associated with a 31% reduction in risk of UC in low-users (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.46–1.04), and 48% reduction in risk for high-users (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.24–1.11, p for trend=0.02). Conclusions— Our results show a risk reduction with non-aspirin NSAID use among long-term quitters, a group with significant risk of UC.


We consider a model where particles are described as localized concentrations of energy, with fixed rest mass and structure, which are not significantly affected by their self-induced gravitational field. We show that the volume average of the on-shell matter Lagrangian ${\mathcal L_m}$ describing such particles, in the proper frame, is equal to the volume average of the trace $T$ of the energy-momentum tensor in the same frame, independently of the particle's structure and constitution. Since both ${\mathcal L_m}$ and $T$ are scalars, and thus independent of the reference frame, this result is also applicable to collections of moving particles and, in particular, to those which can be described by a perfect fluid. Our results are expected to be particularly relevant in the case of modified theories of gravity with non-minimal coupling to matter where the matter Lagrangian appears explicitly in the equations of motion of the gravitational and matter fields, such as $f(R,{\mathcal L_m})$ and $f(R,T)$ gravity. In particular, they indicate that, in this context, $f(R,{\mathcal L_m})$ theories may be regarded as a subclass of $f(R,T)$ gravity.


Laryngeal dystonia is a condition characterized by involuntary spasms of the laryngeal muscles. In most patients this involves the adductor laryngeal muscles (adductor laryngeal dystonia). Treatment with a variety of therapies, including speech therapy and pharmacotherapy, have led to minimal improvement. Injections of botulinum-toxin (Botox) bilaterally into the vocalis muscles is a new treatment for adductor laryngeal dystonia. Since May 1991 we have treated 23 patients with adductor laryngeal dystonia with botulinum-toxin. In 74% of the patients the voice improved within 24-72 hours, and effect lasted for 2-14 months (average four months). Most of the patients got a breathy voice and a mild sensation of dysphagia during the first week after the injection.


High serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels are associated with cardiovascular events. We aimed to evaluate the association between total IgE levels during the first trimester of pregnancy and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) development in a large Japanese cohort. We analysed data pertaining to singleton primipara pregnancies recorded in the Japan Environment and Children's Study involving births in 2011–2014. First trimester's serum IgE levels were determined using the immunonephelometric technique. High serum IgE was defined as IgE levels ≥170 IU/ml. A multiple logistic regression model was used to estimate the risk of high serum IgE levels on HDP, comprising early-onset and late-onset hypertension. A total of 32,518 participants were enrolled. The prevalence of total, early-onset, and late-onset HDP was 3.2%, 0.6%, and 2.3%, respectively. Patients with high serum IgE levels had an increased risk of late-onset hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.19, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.40). No correlation was found with either HDP (total) or early-onset hypertension (aOR: 1.15 and 0.85, 95% confidence interval: 0.99–1.32 and 0.60–1.21, respectively). High serum IgE levels during the first trimester are associated with late-onset hypertension. Our results could influence and shape further research regarding the pathogenesis of late-onset hypertension.


A study was conducted to investigate the effect of Centella asiatica extract and powder on dietary intake, body weight, organ weights and blood lipid peroxidation of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )-treated male Sprague-Dawley rats. The experimental rats were fed with 0.3% (w/w) C. asiatica extract, 1.5% (w/w) C. asiatica powder, 5.0% (w/w) C. asiatica powder and 0.3% (w/w) a-tocopherol for 6 weeks. To induce oxidative stress, the rats were given drinking water spiked with 0.03% (v/v) H 2 O 2 . The amount of dietary intake, organ and body weight, and malonaldehyde (MDA) level throughout the study were monitored. Histopathological examination of selected organs was done at the end of the study. The results showed that MDA level was significantly (p <0.05) higher in the normal rats compared to treated rats. Dietary supplementation of C. asiatica (extract and powder) and a-tocopherol significantly (p <0.05) reduced lipid peroxidation in the experimental rats. However, there were no significant differences in dietary intake and histopathology observations of the organs of the rats.


It is theorized that charcoal hemoperfusion and hemodialysis with a highly permeable membrane should be synergistic in the management of fulminant hepatic failure. Previous studies have shown marked differences between these two treatments in their effects in the various biochemical abnormalities of this serious clinical problem. Survival rates in patients treated with charcoal hemoperfusion approximate the rates in those treated with hemodialysis with a highly permeable membrane but are only slightly better than in untreated cases. The excellent recovery of two patients with fulminant viral hepatitis in stage III and IV coma treated with this combined regimen indicates that further studies should be done to confirm this thesis.


The influence of hydrogen fluoride fumigation on water economy was studied using soybean (Glycine max [L] Merr.). Fumigation caused partial stomatal closure in 1 hour and practically complete closure within 4 hours. The transpiration rate was greatly reduced by fumigation, while the leaf temperature was increased. Water potential increased after 1 day but fell drastically when necrosis occurred. Effects of interrupted fumigation during the day were somewhat less severe in all respects than those of continuous fumigation; nighttime fumigation caused only minor effects. Fluoride uptake was also much less from nighttime than from daytime fumigations.


In this paper, we present a universal totally self-checking (TSC) module and show that it can be used as a TSC AND, OR, NAND or NOR gate by performing appropriate routing at its input and/or output. We use the two-rail code to encode the signals and consider the multiple unidirectional stuck-at-fault model. We study the utility of such TSC modules in obtaining the TSC realization of a given circuit from its gate level description. We show that it is possible to obtain the SFS realization of a given circuit by replacing each gate in it with its respective TSC version. We discuss the properties that a circuit must have in order to obtain its TSC realization in this manner using the TSC gate.