ABSTRACT A novel category of variable tandem repeats (VNTR) called mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units (MIRUs) has been identified for Mycobacterium ulcerans (n = 39), M. marinum (n = 27), and one related organism. Fifteen MIRU loci were identified in the genome of M. marinum and were used to genotype M. ulcerans, M. marinum, and an M. marinum-like organism that is considered a possible missing link between M. marinum and M. ulcerans. Seven MIRU loci were polymorphic, and locus-specific PCRs for four of these loci differentiated seven M. ulcerans genotypes, four M. marinum genotypes, and a unique genotype for the missing link organism. The seven M. ulcerans genotypes were related to six different geographic origins of isolates. All isolates from West and Central Africa, including old and recent isolates, belonged to the same genotype, emphasizing the great spatiotemporal homogeneity among African isolates. Unlike the M. ulcerans genotypes, the four M. marinum genotypes could not be clearly related to the geographic origins of the isolates. According to MIRU-VNTR typing, all M. ulcerans and M. marinum isolates of American origin were closely related, suggesting a common American ancestor for these two pathogenic species on the American continents. MIRU typing has significant potential value for discriminating between reoccurrence and reinfection for M. ulcerans disease.


In this age of ultraspecialization, it is often most rewarding and gratifying to read the writings of colleagues in related fields who are attempting to study and deal with the same problems with which one is vitally concerned in one's day-to-day labors, albeit with a different perspective. The authors, a sociologist-anthropologist and a police lieutenant, offer a comprehensive and scholarly dissertation that covers in a most ambitious fashion the general subject of adolescence and, more specifically, the adolescent group and gang behavior. They present a thorough study of adolescent behavior in a variety of primitive and modern cultures, with an extremely interesting correlation of puberty rites and gang-initiation rituals. Finally, they reveal the intimate picture of a typical big-city gang structure, with an analysis of its key members, their roles and their interreactions. Ascribing to the period of adolescence "the social necessity to confront the demands of the new adult


Height predicts normal spirometry and Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) values. Its measurement can be difficult with mobility or joint problems. Prediction equations from ulna length to height and spirometry exist for 7-18 year olds. 1 For young children, use of existing prediction equations have not been assessed. Aim: To assess if published height prediction equations are appropriate in children 2-6 years, and develop new equations where appropriate. Methods: Children (2-6 years) were recruited from childcare, excluding those with medical conditions. Height was measured with a Harpenden Stadiometer and ulna length with Harpenden callipers. Regression analysis devised prediction equations from ulna length to height. Student t test assessed differences between actual height, and the value predicted by the published prediction equation. Results: 234 children were recruited, mean age: males 3.73 ±1.09, females 3.70 ±1.09 years. 34 (12.82%) were excluded. A linear relationship exists between ulna length and height 2-18 years. The prediction equation for males is: 4.629*ulna + 1.340*age +26.974 (R 2 0.97, RMSE 3.84); for females: 4.577*ulna + 1.343*age + 28.345 (R 2 0.96, RMSE 3.78). The published prediction equation overestimates height in males (mean +1.11cm ±1.72, p Conclusion: In children aged 2-6 years in whom height measurement is difficult, new prediction equations for height from ulna length should be used as published prediction equations overestimate height in young children. 1. Gauld et al. Devel Med Child Neurol 2004:46;475-480.


For better management of patients with febrile neutropenia, our study investigated the epidemiologic, microbiologic, and clinical characteristics of adult inpatients with febrile neutropenia and their mortality-associated factors. To this end, we carried out a prospective, observational, multicenter study in 28 Argentinian hospitals between 2007 and 2012. We included 515 episodes of febrile neutropenia from 346 patients, median age 49 years. Neutropenia followed chemotherapy in 77% of cases, half of the cases due to hematological malignancies. Most episodes were classified as high-risk according to MASCC criteria, and 53.6% of patients were already hospitalized at the onset of febrile neutropenia. Bloodstream infections were detected in 14% episodes; whereas an infectious source of fever was identified in 80% of cases. Mortality rate achieved to 14.95%. The binary regression analysis showed that persistence of fever at day 7, or neutropenia at day 14, dehydration and tachycardia at the onset of febrile neutropenia as well as prior infections were significantly associated with mortality. In addition to expanding our current knowledge on the features of adult patients with febrile neutropenia, present findings provide useful information for better management of them in Argentina, given the appropriate representativeness of centers participating in the study.


Purpose of the study . To determine the quantitative parameters of the molecular markers Ki‑67 and p16/INK4a at CIN 1–3 and to establish the possibility of using them to improve the quality of diagnosis by histological samples. Patients and methods. Biopsy material of the cervix was studied in 71 patients who were carriers of HPV infection. Immunohistochemical method (IHC) in biopsy specimens determined the expression of Ki‑67 and p16/INK4a markers. Results . According to the results of a standard histological examination, the distribution of patientsinto groups occurred as follows: CIN 1–18, in CIN 2–39, in CIN 3–14 patients. It was found that the expression of the studied markers is associated with the severity of dysplastic changes in the tissue of the cervix. By the studied marker, the most characteristic molecular profiles for the degrees of dysplasia were determined: CIN1 – Ki‑67–15–25%, p16/INK4a 10–15%; CIN2 – Ki‑67–70–80%, p16/INK4a – 65–70%; CIN3 – Ki‑67–85–90%, p16/INK4a – 90–95%. Heterogeneity was revealed in the expression of these markersin the CIN 2 group: in 7 cases (22,6%), the molecular profile corresponded to CIN 1, in 1 case (3,6%) to CIN 3. Clinical examples of using the IHC profile to clarify the degree of CIN are given. Conclusion. The use of an IHC study with Ki‑67 and p16/INK4a, in addition to the standard histological examination, makes it possible to objectify the initial diagnosis of the degree of CIN, as well as to identify patients with a high and low risk of developing severe injuries. This is especially true for the CIN2 group, the most problematic in terms of histological evaluation and tactics of clinical management of patients. The use of IHC in the initial diagnosis will contribute to: improving the information content of multiple aimed and loop excisional biopsies; reduction in relapse due to inadequate treatment; eliminating the unreasonable use of such a traumatic method as conization (especially in women of childbearing age).


In the liver, glucokinase (GK) regulatory protein (GKRP) negatively modulates the metabolic enzyme GK by locking it in an inactive state in the nucleus. Here, the authors established a high content screening assay in the 384-well microplate format to measure the nucleus-to-cytoplasm translocation of GK by reagents that destabilize the interaction between GK and GKRP. As a cellular model system, primary rat hepatocytes endogenously expressing both GK and GKRP at physiological levels were used. The GK translocation assay was robust, displayed limited day-to-day variability, and delivered good Z′ statistics. The increase of the glucose concentration in the extracellular medium from a low glucose situation (2.8 mM) to beyond its physiological set point value of 5 mM was found to drive GK from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. Likewise, both fructose (converted intracellularly into fructose-1-phosphate) and a known allosteric GK activator were found to induce the export of GK from the nucleus and to synergistically enhance the effects of medium or high glucose concentrations with respect to GK translocation. Transfer of the high content screening format to a semiautomated medium throughput screening platform enabled the profiling of large compound numbers with respect to allosteric activation of GK. (Journal of Biomolecular Screening 2008:837-846)


Laurasic outcrops with plant fossils from the Jurassic are well known in Europe and Asia, but in North America, toward the Mesoa- merican region, oristic Jurassic outcrops are poorly known. This is due to the fact that samples were taken with the goal of geological and/or mining exploration, without a rigorous paleontological approach. This inconsistency in sampling in the region has limited the knowledge of its Jurassic ora. Recently, we initiated a campaign on standardized sampling in the Zorrillo-Taberna Indiferenciadas Formation with the aim of advancing the knowledge of the oristic composition of this formation. The methodology we employ con - sists of maintaining the stratigraphic control of the fossil origin and sampling in average constant conditions with regard to time and personnel. Taxonomic determination was based on diagnostic characters of each fossil-taxon. The oristic composition is dominated by Bennettitales, but Cycadales, Podozamitales and others are also present. The results show an increase in the oristic diversity of almost 50 % distributed in three stratigraphic zones. It is noteworthy to point out that the oristic association contains one genus and 14 species endemic to the region. In addition, we contribute with new fossil-taxa records of Cycadales, Caytoniales, Podozamitales and some genera of Bennettitales for both formation and region. Thus, we conclude that the application of the sampling method in other localities would consolidate a comprehensive paleo oristic list for the region, and we believe that the paleo ora of the region would set the groundwork for new Jurassic biogeographic analysis.


This paper studies the relative efficiency of two kinds of regulations, quantity restrictions (quotas) and output subsidies, in an imperfectly competitive market in the presence of two sources of uncertainty, costs and prices. We find that when these two sources of uncertainty are independently distributed, the output subsidy instrument has a comparative advantage over the quantity instrument. However, when we take into account the possibility of correlation between the random components and across firms' marginal costs, we find that a positive (negative) correlation tends to favor the quantity (subsidy) instrument. Finally, we show that when the correlation is positive, it is possible to find situations in which the quantity instrument has comparative advantages over the subsidy instrument.


The free market forces infrastructure operators to increase their operational efficiency. To achieve this, among other things personnel costs have to be reduced. This implicates the reduction of the number of train station inspectors. Since they were also responsible for checking the passing trains for fault states, the higher distances of unobserved movement of trains result in higher risks of heavy accidents. On the other hand, there were numerous developments of new sensor-systems for checking the mentioned train fault states. Unfortunately, all of these systems focus only on singular or at least on several particular deviations from normal and are completely stand-alone solutions. At higher passing speeds the accuracy and the reliability of these systems varies in a wide range. This is an important reason why today's fault-checking sensor systems are only used for alarming manned train guidance stations. Taking these trends into account, the demand for an overall train inspection system is obvious and resulted in a research project called "Checkpoint", which is funded by the Austrian government. Our approach is based on the acquisition of all relevant train properties to get knowledge of the complete train condition for better failure estimation. Thus, a concept for efficient integration of commercially available sensor systems and for universal data treatment was developed. It enables easy configuration of the data analysis and definition of fail-states by a rule based mechanism. The main technical innovation of the system comes from the direct connection to the interlocking system via the control system, which offers the ability to intervene automatically in case of a detected failure (e.g. stopping the train). To determine the reliability of new sensor systems under realistic conditions a prototype of a Checkpoint was built up and the most relevant sensor systems (hot box detector, flat wheel detector, dynamic scale and loading gauge detector) were integrated. Extensive testing would be performed to prove the functionality of the system.


A hypothesis concerning the initiation phase of electrical treeing suggests that a space charge is at the origin of radiative phenomena. The authors detect the light emission at the tip of a needle electrode inserted in a polymer by using a photomultiplier, cooled to -20 degrees C, placed at the eyepiece of an optical microscope. The polymers studied are low density polyethylene (LDPE) and cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) and they are maintained at room temperature. The important role played by trapped gases in the detection of the phenomenon is shown. This work confirms the existence of radiative phenomena in insulating materials used for cables.


Mitral valve replacement with 19 mm St. Jude Medical mechanical valve was successfully performed for congenital mitral regurgitation in an infant aged 3 months. The infant had undergone ligation of ductus arteriosus at the first month of age. Ten days after the operation, he was discharged, though having systolic murmurs. One month later, however, he was re-admitted for progressive heart failure. After hospitalization, he had to be supported mechanical ventilation. The second operation was needed for intractable heart failure, that was considered to be caused by mitral regurgitation, on an emergency basis without cardiac catheterization. The mitral valve was hypoplastic and the leaflet and chordae were gelatinous. Therefore, mitral valvuloplasty was considered to be impossible, and consequently mitral valve replacement was chosen. Postoperatively the patient's condition remarkably improved. Anticoagulation therapy with sodium warfarin and dipyridamole was maintained after operation. At present the patient is growing without any symptom.


The inundation of the Ziltendorfer Lowland, a farmland polder with some villages, during the major flooding event in July 1997 in the Odra watershed, is simulated with the two-dimensional hydrodynamic model TRIM2D. Inflow and outflow through three consecutive embankment breaches make up a complex flow regime which governs the inundation and the water level in the Odra river. With reasonable assumptions for the dam breach genesis the inundation and depletion are simulated in good agreement with the observed flooding front positions. Simulations with a one-dimensional hydrodynamic model for "dam breach" and "no dam breach" scenarios confirm analytical considerations of an increase of the water level downstream in the main river for the "dam breach" scenario because of an outflow from the Ziltendorfer Lowland into the Odra river during the peak flooding period.


With the rapid growth of Internet video data amounts and types, a unified Video Quality Assessment (VQA) is needed to inspire video communication with perceptual quality. To meet the real-time and universal requirements in providing such inspiration, this study proposes a VQA model from a classification of User Generated Content (UGC), Professionally Generated Content (PGC), and Occupationally Generated Content (OGC). In the time domain, this study utilizes non-uniform sampling, as each content type has varying temporal importance based on its perceptual quality. In the spatial domain, centralized downsampling is performed before the VQA process by utilizing a patch splicing/sampling mechanism to lower complexity for real-time assessment. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves a median correlation of 0.7 while limiting the computation time below 5s for three content types, which ensures that the communication experience of UGC, PGC, and OGC can be optimized altogether.


This paper highlights the problems associated with the outlets in the irrigation system of Pakistan, leading to the design of outlets, to trace the gradual evolution of various outlets types and to describe most of the types that have been evolved so far. The advantages and limitations of each type have been examined critically so that the selection of a type for any particular set of conditions may be rendered easy. An outlet is a flow measuring and controlling device between farmer's land and an irrigation system. In Punjab about fifty thousand outlets irrigate an area of approximately 25.5 million acres annually. Improperly designed outlets may cause a number of problems such as variation in their coefficients of discharge, inequitable distribution of water, silting of canals, inadequate availability water at the lowest outlets, lack of incentives for saving of water and poor drainage. Field calibration of the irrigation outlets proved that their calibrated Cd. vary from the designed Cd. (0.6 for OF & 0.9 for AOSM), as outlets were not designed according to their designed parameters. Defective outlets were also the main cause of silting in canals. The pipe-cum-semi module was very helpful to draw silt from the bed of the parent channel in a case if we want a higher setting of outlet. 20% of canal water in Rabi season and 40% water in Kharif season were snatched by illegally Theft problem. In order to prevent theft, the outlets should be tamper proof and the irrigation department should adopt the legal procedure strictly. All over the world, the engineers and farmers designed and installed various kinds of farm outlets suiting their local conditions. Work is being carried out to make them structurally, hydraulically and economically fit. An attempt is made to bring all the information together leading to economical and efficient design of outlets and to look upon their possibility of adaptability in Pakistan.


Soybean seeds were germinated on an industrial scale after soaking for 0–56 h to produce a special additive for food industrial use. The germination process of three soybean varieties was monitored with near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy based on changes in the amount, status, or character of the water. This paper evaluates the "waterless" NIR spectra of sound, germinated, and heat treated seeds to try to follow the fine details of the germination process. The germination process was analysed with the help of cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA), and polar qualification system (PQS) as statistical and chemometric methods. PCA proved to be the most sensitive spectrum evaluation method to follow the fine details of germination. The applied NIR method is suitable for non-destructively, real-time monitoring of the non-linear nature of germination.


It is shown that the volume of trade can be decomposed into proportional proxies for stochastic flows of good news and bad news into the market. Positive (good) information flows are assumed to increase the price of a financial vehicle while negative (bad) information flows decrease the price. For the majority of a sample of ten split-stocks it is shown that the proposed decomposition explains more GARCH than volume itself. Using the proposed decomposition, the variance of returns for younger split stocks reacts asymmetrically to good news flowing into the market, while the variance for older split-stocks reacts symmetrically to good news and bad news.


This paper presents a method to solve the vector optimization problem that determines both the noninferior solution set and the best compromise solution employing a modified genetic algorithm. The algorithm differs from the conventional one in the definition of fitness value and convergence criterion. Some parameters of the algorithm are adjusted to the vector optimization. The algorithm also contains the additional routine for searching the best compromise solution. This method is applied to the optimal design of the permanent magnet synchronous motor for which two objective functions regarding motor efficiency and weight are used.


Photonic crystal (PC) films were fabricated by self-assembly of colloidal crystals using a vertical deposition method at invariant temperature and humidity. Organic dyes, whose emission wavelengths overlap the photonic stopbands of selected PCs, were deposited on the surface of PC films by thermal evaporation under vacuum. The fluorescence of organic dyes deposited on PCs is obviously enhanced in comparison with that on aluminium films and glass surfaces. There were 41-fold and 20-fold fluorescence enhancements when Rhodamine B base was deposited on the surface of a yellow PC film, compared with that on glass surface and aluminium film respectively, where PCs were utilized as a Bragg reflection mirror. The results show that the PCs are more effective and selective reflection mirrors than aluminium, and have potential applications in optoelectronic and lighting devices.


This report contains analytical data for samples taken during Second Quarter 1999 from wells of the LFW series located at the Sanitary Landfill at the Savannah River Site. The data are submitted in reference to the Sanitary Landfill Operating Permit. The report presents monitoring results that equaled or exceeded the Safe Drinking Water Act final Primary Drinking Water Standards or screening levels, established by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the South Carolina final Primary Drinking Water Standard for lead, or the SRS flagging criteria.


Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive method that can be used as an interventional technique to investigate causality in the brain-behavior relationship, through depolarization or hyperpolarization in the neurons of the brain. Different techniques of TMS can be used to investigate causality in the brain-behavior relationship. The behavioral effects induced by TMS are complex since it has been shown that the performance in the same cognitive task can be either facilitated or inhibited depending on the area being stimulated. To date, most studies involving TMS are focused mainly on the facilitation properties of this technique. It is used to treat a wide-range of neurological and psychiatric conditions such as depression, ischemia, Alzheimer's disease, or motor impairment. Interestingly, TMS can be used to induce a virtual lesion that could provide a valuable and much needed model of cognitive impairments in early preclinical development. This review describes the existing TMS paradigms in rodents and the major challenges that were encountered by the researchers as the method was translated from clinical to preclinical applications. In summary, the existing knowledge gained in animal research emphasizes the necessity to investigate new TMS paradigms in the preclinical setting and its effects.


The subject matter of this paper is the external syntax of adjectival synthetic compounds in Polish (e.g. czasochłonny, ciepłolubny, opiniotwórczy, etc.) and English (life-giving, sleep-inducing, far-reaching, etc.). The primary objective of the study is to determine whether -ny/-czy/-ły compounds in Polish and adjectival -ing compounds in English, whose heads appear to be derived from verbs, are deverbal in the sense of Distributed Morphology; that is, whether their external syntax points to the presence of complex verbal structure in their syntactic representation. It is shown that adjectival synthetic compounds in Polish and English behave in a way typical of underived adjectives, being unrestricted in the predicative position and allowing degree modification with very; as such they are not deverbal in the morphosyntactic sense with their syntactic representation lacking the functional heads vP and VoiceP found in deverbal structures. The limited productivity of adjectival synthetic compounds further contributes to their non-eventive status.


This experiment was to study the effects of dietary energy level on laying performance,egg quality and egg component of Arbor Acres(AA) broiler breeders during the early laying period.A single factor design was adopted,and 300 AA broiler breeders(20 weeks of age) with similar body weight were randomly divided into 3 groups with 5 replicates per group and 20 birds in each replicate.The experiment was conducted from 27 weeks of age(defined as laying rate reached 5%),and lasted for 98 days.The broilers breeder in the control group were fed a corn-soybean meal based diet,and those in high energy group and low energy group were fed the diets with 120% and 80% energy levels of the basal diet,respectively.During the experiment period,feed intake in each group was restricted and in the same set.The results showed as follows: 1) compared with the control group,laying rate and egg weight in high energy group and low energy group were found to be lower(P0.05),the qualified egg rate in low energy group was significantly higher than that in the control group and high energy group(P0.05),and with the decrease of dietary energy level,the cracked egg rate was significantly lower(P0.05).2) No effects of dietary energy level on egg quality were found(P0.05) except that yolk color score in high energy group was significantly increased at 35 and 40 weeks of age compared with the control group(P0.05).3) Compared with the control group,at 35 weeks of age,the relative weight of yolk and the contents of crude fat and total cholesterol in yolk in high energy group were significantly increased(P0.05),but the contents of crude protein,crude fat in egg white and crude protein in yolk were found to be lower(P0.05);the relative weight of egg white and total cholesterol content in yolk in low energy group were significantly higher(P0.05),but crude protein content in egg white was significantly decreased(P0.05);there were no significant differences in the relative weight of eggshell and dry matter content in egg white and yolk among all groups(P0.05).At 40 weeks of age,the relative weight of egg white and eggshell and crude fat content in yolk in high energy group were significantly higher(P0.05),but the relative weight of yolk and crude protein content in yolk were significantly lower(P0.05);the relative weight of egg white in low energy group was significantly higher(P0.05),thus the relative weight of yolk was significantly lower(P0.05);there were no significant differences in the contents of dry matter,crude protein and crude fat in egg white and dry matter and total cholesterol in yolk among all groups(P0.05).In conclusion,during the early laying period,dietary high energy level results in higher cost and worse laying performance of broiler breeders,but dietary lower energy level may improve the qualified egg rate,with no effects on egg quality and egg component.These findings indicate that low-energy diets may be more beneficial in practice than other diets.


We present HipHop.js, a synchronous reactive language that adds synchronous concurrency and preemption to JavaScript. Inspired from Esterel, HipHop.js simplifies the programming of non-trivial temporal behaviors as found in complex web interfaces or IoT controllers and the cooperation between synchronous and asynchronous activities. HipHop.js is compiled into plain sequential JavaScript and executes on unmodified runtime environments. We use three examples to present and discuss HipHop.js: a simple web login form to introduce the language and show how it differs from JavaScript, and two real life examples, a medical prescription pillbox and an interactive music system that show why concurrency and preemption help programming such temporal applications.


Daylight is essential to the experience of an architectural space. Nevertheless, amongst the handful of predominantly scientific methods available to assess daylight in architecture, there are only a few considering the spatial and form-giving characteristics of daylight. This paper investigates light-zone(s) as concept and tool, which can be taken as a point of departure for a new method to perceive, consider and analyse daylight in architecture. As concept, light-zone(s) are areas, fields or zones of light. It is a way of considering a space's daylight as (forms of) bubbles or spheres of light, which as light-zones can be compressed, expanded, combined, exploded, etc., all according to the character of 'the meeting' between the light-zone(s) and the space itself (inclusive of the space'scontent). Thus, the daylight in a space can be regarded asa composition of light-zones.As tool, light-zone(s) are (spatial) groupings of the lightingvariables (intensity, direction, distribution and colour), whichare significant to the space and form-giving characteristicsof light. That is to say, the light-zone(s) tool is the point ofdeparture for a method of creating a spatial 'grasp' on daylighting variables in a given space. The relation between the light-zone(s) concept and tool respectively can be described as follows: On the one level light-zone(s) can be explored as an architectural idea or notion, thus belonging more to the field of architectural theory. On another more practice-driven level, light-zone(s) can be articulated and specified in relation to lighting technology.


A general and efficient nonlinear/linear analysis technique for MESFET drain mixers is presented. The study of conversion gain and matching impedances of the mixer is based on the Z-parameter conversion matrix. Using the approach, all the nonlinearities in the FET large-signal equivalent circuit can be included and any number of local oscillator (LO) harmonics and mixing products can be considered. LO level and DC bias conditions for maximum gain are predicted. The proposed program set, MIXAN (mixer analysis), is based on the output results of SPICE transient analysis. This tool was used for the design and optimization of X-band drain mixers. An example is presented for which the experimental and simulated results are in close agreement. >


It is a common belief that Tikhonov scheme with || · ||L2-penalty fails in sparse reconstruction. We are going to show, however, that this standard regularization can help if the stability measured in L1 -norm will be properly taken into account in the choice of the regularization parameter. The crucial point is that now a stability bound may depend on the bases with respect to which the solution of the problem is assumed to be sparse. We discuss how such a stability can be estimated numerically and present the results of computational experiments giving the evidence of the reliability of our approach.


As essential personnel, United States farmworkers have continued working in-person throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We undertook prospective surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection and antibody prevalence among farmworkers in California's Salinas Valley from 15 June to 30 November, 2020. Over this period, we observed 22.1% (1514/6864) positivity for current SARS-CoV-2 by nucleic acid detection among farmworkers tested at federally-qualified migrant and community health clinics, as compared to 17.2% (1255/7305) among other adults from the same communities (risk ratio, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-1.37). In a nested study enrolling 1,115 farmworkers, prevalence of current infection was 27.7% among farmworkers reporting [≥]1 potential COVID-19 symptom, and 7.2% among farmworkers without symptoms (adjusted odds ratio 4.17; 2.86-6.09). Prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies increased from 10.5% (6.0-18.4%) between 16 July-31 August to 21.2% (16.6-27.4%) between 1-30 November. The high observed prevalence of infection among farmworkers underscores the need for vaccination and other preventive interventions.


Optical properties of metallic nanoparticles are mainly dominated by the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) at optical frequencies. At this specific frequency, nano-particles exhibit intense absorption and light scattering attribute to the LSPR. Moreover, metal nanoparticles are able to transform absorbed light into heat. This photothermal conversion effect has been used for many applications. In particular, it has been used in the development of photothermal therapies (hyperthermia) for cancer treatment [1, 2], as well as laser ablation as a means of malignant cell destruction [3]. More recently, plasmonic heating has been used to promote drug release through polymer phase change [4], hybrid DNA cleavage [5], or enhanced diffusion [6]. One of the challenges is to control the temperature in the vicinity of nanoparticles. In order to address this issue, a method called fluorescence polarization anisotropy, is developed and used to measure the temperature in the near field of a metal nanoparticle. Here, we propose a new approach based on nanopolymerization thermally initiated to characterize the heat pattern in the vicinity of photoexcited gold nanoparticles (GNPs). For this we developed thermopolymerizable formulations that are characterized by a controlled threshold temperature (T th ) of polymerization (fig. 1-a). Below this threshold temperature the polymerization can not occur. As shown in fig 1-b, the T th of polymerization could be controlled by simply adjusting the weight percentage of the initiator system. This sharp control allows us to use such material as thermal nanoprobe to measure the local temperature around the particle as well as to print the heat distribution around the nanoparticule. Figure 1-a) Illustration of our approach of nanopolymerization induced by photothermal conversion; b) Variation of the threshold temperature of polymerization as a function of the percentage weight of the initiator system The first experiments have been done using GNPs dispersed in a polymerizable solution characterized by a threshold temperature of 36°C. Different GNP sizes were studied in order to probe the sensitivity of our polymer and thus to validate our approach. As shown in fig. 2, the polymerization time of the solution decreases as well as the maximum of plasmon resonance approaches the wavelength of the laser used for the photothermal excitation (647 nm). Figure 2: polymerization induced by photothermal conversion during 647 nm excitation of GNPs. In parallel, we studied the Plasmon heating of gold nanoroads and nanospheres in solution at different wavelengths. Experiments have been done using GNPs dispersed in water and in our polymerisable solution. The measurements showed that the thermal heating spectrum is very close to the absorption spectrum of the GNPs as shown in fig 3. Experiments are underway in order to get both the absorption and the thermal signature of single gold nanoparticle at different wavelengths. New insights into the local plasmon heating in the vicinity of a single GNP are expected using our approach. Figure 3- Absorption and plasmonic heating spectra of metallic nanoparticles dispersed in water (a) and polymerizable solution (b). REFERENCES 1. Nedyalkov, N. N.; Imamova, S. E.; Atanasov, P. A.; Toshkova, R. A.; Gardeva, E. G.; Yossifova, L. S.; Alexandrov, M. T.; Obara, M. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2011, 257 (12), 5456−5459. 2. Ungureanu, C.; Kroes, R.; Petersen, W.; Groothuis, T. A. M.; Ungureanu, F.; Janssen, H.; van Leeuwen, F. W. B.; Kooyman, R. P. H.; Manohar, S.; van Leeuwen, T. G. Nano Lett. 2011, 11 (5), 1887−1894. 3. Bartczak, D.; Muskens, O. L.; Millar, T. M.; Sanchez-Elsner, T.; Kanaras, A. G. Nano Lett. 2011, 11 (3), 1358−1363. 4. Zhao, X.-q.; Wang, T.-x.; Liu, W.; Wang, C.-d.; Wang, D.; Shang, T.; Shen, L.-h.; Ren, L. J. Mater. Chem. 2011, 21 (20), 7240−7247. 5. Dhar, S.; Daniel, W. L.; Giljohann, D. A.; Mirkin, C. A.; Lippard, S. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131 (41), 14652−14653. 6. You, J.; Zhang, G.; Li, C. ACS Nano 2010, 4 (2), 1033−1041.


Atomic layer deposition (ALD) appears to be uniquely suited for coating substrates with ultrahigh aspect ratios (> or similar 10(3)), including nanoporous solids. Here, we study the ALD of Cu and Cu3N on the inner surfaces of low-density nanoporous silica aerogel monoliths. Results show that Cu depth profiles in nanoporous monoliths are limited not only by Knudsen diffusion of heavier precursor molecules into the pores, as currently believed, but also by other processes such as the interaction of precursor and reaction product molecules with pore walls. Similar behavior has also been observed for Fe, Ru, and Pt ALD on aerogels. On the basis of these results, we discuss design rules for ALD precursors specifically geared for coating nanoporous solids.


One of the challenging issues in homeland security area is the early detection and successful processing of potential terrorist threats, which demands effective team collaboration. In this research, we investigate the way of incorporating naturalistic decision making models for supporting distributed team decision making. By extending Klein's Recognition-Primed Decision model, we propose a Collaborative RPD model (CRPD), which encourages proactive information seeking, linking, and sharing in distributed teamwork settings. This model establishes a basis for developing agent architectures that support both agent-agent and agent-human collaborations in developing shared situation awareness and in making decisions based on progressively refined recognitions.


Ultrastructural renal lesions of a sporadic case of nail-patella syndrome are described. Although the patient, an 8-year-old Japanese boy, had no clinical renal syndrome, electron microscopy disclosed the presence of collagen fibrils and electron lucent areas within glomerular basement membrane. Comparative observation of glomeruli in sections stained by uranyl-acetate and lead-citrate and those by PTAH-uranyl revealed evidence of many collagen fibrils in mesangial matrix, as well as glomerular basement membrane. At the follow-up study 3 years after the biopsy, he still showed normal urinalysis and no renal dysfunction. Characteristic ultrastructure of glomerulus of this disease can be present even in cases without any apparent clinical renal involvement. It is concluded that the glomerular lesions in nail-patella syndrome may be caused by abnormal metabolic processes of collagen in glomeruli rather than entrapment of circulating collagen precursors.


FromAIDS: Understanding Molecular Biology: Characterization of HIV Genome, by P. Z. Taussig, 75+ pp, with illus, ISBN 1-889167-01-0, Angleton, Tex, Doctor Press (firstname.lastname@example.com; 409-848-2704), 1997 (story book with college level glossary). Reproduced by permission. War It is axiomatic that war involves killing. But war also leaves wounds, infections, and suffering lingering for years, poisoning relationships, psyches, soils, forests, and underground water systems.War and Public Healthaddresses all these issues in a handsomely crafted text, replete with photographs, tables, and charts, and delivers an overwhelming indictment of war and its devastating impact on populations and public health. Beginning with a foreword by Jimmy Carter and stage-setting introductions by William Foege and the late James Grant, Barry S. Levy and Victor W. Sidel have organized a tightly edited text, encompassing the civilian consequences of modern conflicts (90% of the deaths are now noncombatants) (Garfield and Neugut); the impacts of diverting


In this study, contaminated water was purified by ceramic purifieres produced from a mixture of Iraqi raw materials. These raw materials were activated kaolinite, Porcelanite, and Limestone. They were mixed with two different mixing pertcentages to produce two types of ceramic (AKP1 and AKP2). Ceramic filters were evaluated based on anumber of parameters that were: hydraulic conductivity, purified water properties, and adsorption ability. Results indicated that ceramics hydraulic conductivity have values 0.0024, and 0.0032 m/hr, respectively. The filtered water were tested for  water quality parameters that the ceramic filters could remove, as an average percentages of removal, 99.9%   to 3.26% by AKP1 and 100% to 64.67%  by AKP2. The adsorption ability of the ceramics for solutes of seven heavy metals, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cd, Co, Cu and Zn,  were measured. Results showed that most of the heavy metals ions were removed by the both types of filters that the removal varies between 98.18 and 100% of the initial concentration of each metal.  The adsorption capacities of each filter to adsorb the heavy metals were computed according to Langmuir model and Freundlich models. The results showed The data were most fitted to Freundlich model.


Lichtheimia ramosa (L. ramosa) is an opportunistic fungal pathogen of the order Mucorales that may result in a rare but serious mucormycosis infection. Mucormycosis could be angioinvasive, causing thrombosis and necrosis in the nose, brain, digestive tract, and respiratory tract. The infection is highly lethal, especially in immunocompromised hosts, and the incidence has been on the rise. However, due to its relatively low incidence in pediatric population and the challenges with diagnosis, the awareness and management experience for pediatric mucormycosis are extremely limited, which might lead to poor outcomes. In this study, we comprehensively reviewed the course of a fatal rhinocerebral mucormycosis case in a pediatric neuroblastoma patient receiving chemotherapy. Due to a lack of awareness of the infection, the standard care of amphotericin B treatment was delayed and not administered until the identification of L. ramosa by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS)-based pan-pathogen detection of the patient's peripheral blood sample. We also reviewed the literature on L. ramosa infection cases reported worldwide between 2010 and 2022, with an analysis of clinical manifestation, prognosis, and epidemiological data. Our study not only highlighted the clinical value of comprehensive mNGS in rapid pathogen detection but also raised awareness of recognizing lethal fungal infection early in immunocompromised hosts including pediatric cancer patients.


Mineral fertilizers are often used by agriculture, all around Europe. Crops require nitrogen for their metabolism and these fertilizers may strongly increase the yields. However, mineral fertilizers, when they are used excessively, may be the cause of several environmental problems. For instance, nitrates, that are seeping into the ground, until groundwaters or steams, can deplete the quality of water. Nitrous oxide, a powerfull green-house gas, which may contribute significtancly to global warming. For these reasons, public authorities need to have tools to controle better the quantity of fertilizers that is spread. Through AROPAj, a technico-economic model of the supply side of the European Agriculture, an increase of the price of mineral fertilizers (until 200 % of the initial price) was implemented in 6 years, from 2007 to 2012. The purpose of this study is to analyse farmers' behaviour, concerning mineral fertilizing demand, land use or green-house gas emissions when they face the introduction of a tax on fertilizers price, other things being equal. Results show that an increase in fertilizers price may reduce their consumption but also reduce the green-house gas emission from the agricultural sector in the European Union. More precise simulations for France, in 2009, show that some regions are more affected by a tax on nitrogen fertilizers price than others. These simulations also show that the part of land allocated for cereal crops may decrease, in favor of permanent pasture and Email address: email@example.com (Pierre-Alain Jayet) Preprint submitted to Elsevier April 27, 2018 wasteland.


Catalogue published on the occasion of the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver's 20th anniversary exhibition. Contains colour reproductions of 41 stone sculptures with descriptive captions, and a brief introduction by director/curator Zavediuk. Selected list of the gallery's Inuit and Northwest Coast exhibitions and publications (1979-1999).


The paper examines the influence of central government on the police response to serious public disorder; the effectiveness or otherwise of the law and the way in which it is used by the police in their response to such disorder, and searches for sone principles which need to be followed if the police are to maintain the general support of the communities in which they are required to act. Some comparisons are made, and differences highlighted, between the police commander in his response to serious public disorder, once it has broken out, and the military commander in battle. But, guided by lessons from history, the paper principally concentrates on the environment in which the operational police commander is required to act in responding to actual or potential serious public disorder, pointing out that he is dependant for his success on firstly, an effective system of command and control; secondly, on an intelligence system which feeds relevant and accurate information on which he can make sound and informed decisions; and thirdly, the physical resources, e.g. personnel and equipment, and the approved tactics which enable him to restore public tranquility once disorder has broken out. But before he can use the physical resources effectively, he must have a sound strategy for dealing with actual or potential disorder.


Results are presented for a series of 29 patients, 14 males and 15 females, with serious respiratory infections, in which fosfomycin proved effective. In all cases the study was completed by bacteriological, clinical, radiological and analytical controls. The average dose was 6 g/day (3 g orally and 3 g intramuscularly) for 1 or 2 weeks. The four isolated were P. aeruginosa, E. coli, Klebsiella-Enterobacter and D. pneumoniae. Overall sensitivity percentages were best for fosfomycin, gentamicin and colistin. Of the 29 germs isolated, only one strain of P. aeruginosa became resistant: this represents 3% resistance development. No side effects of intolerance or signs of hepatorenal insufficiency were observed during the treatment. Of the 29 patients treated, 22 were clinically cured, denoting 76% success.


This paper describes recent efforts of the Mars Technology Program (MTP) to develop, integrate, and validate new rover technologies for upcoming missions. Missions planned after the current Mars Exploration Rovers require increased autonomy in several usage scenarios: long traverse, instrument placement, sampling, and onboard science data processing. To ensure improvements over current systems, MTP is funding component technology development toward these ends, as well as integration efforts that unify the components to address the larger scenarios. This unified software is expanding a developing infrastructure of common tools for operations, control, and hardware interfacing or system simulation. Using these, validation efforts are underway to quantify the performance of the scenario solutions, and document these for subsequent presentation to the upcoming flight projects.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the genetic distributions of salt-sensitivity of four ethnic populations in Hapmap database.

METHODS
The frequencies data (395 subjects) of salt-sensitivity polymorphisms (AGT/M235T, ACE/ID, CYP11B2/C-344T, ADDI/Gly460Trp, GNB3/C825 and CYP3A5/A6986G)of Utah residents with ancestry from northern and western Europe (CEU), Han Chinese in Beijing (CHB), Japanese in Tokyo (JPT) and Yoruba mother-father-child trios in Ibadan, Nigeria (YRI) were obtained from International HapMap Project. The good-fit χ(2) test was performed to test whether the frequencies of each genotype reached Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The differences of the genotype and allele distribution and trend analysis were detected via χ(2) test. Furthermore, multiple comparisons between two populations were analyzed by Lancaster's partition of chi-squares.

RESULTS
There were significant differences of each genotype distribution among four ethnic populations (P < 0.05). The distribution of genotype frequencies and susceptible allele frequencies of salt sensitive candidate genes were similar between CHB and JPT. Excepted for GNB3/825T allele (38.8% vs.34.4%, P = 0.521), susceptible allele frequencies in AGT/235T (79.2% vs. 41.2%, P < 0.001), ACE/I (56.5% vs. 43.5%, P < 0.001), CYP11B2/-344T (74.1% vs. 56.7%, P = 0.001), ADDI/460Trp (51.8% vs. 20.4%, P < 0.001) and CYP3A5/A6986 (30.1% vs. 3.6%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in CHB than in CEU. There distribution of ADDI/460Trp allele was significant lower in YRI (4%) than in CHB (51.8%, P < 0.001). However frequencies of AGT/235T, CYP11B2/-334T, GNB3/825T and CYP3A5/6986A in CHB were significantly lower than those in YRI (P < 0.05). Trend analyses showed significantly increased trend in AGT/235T (41.2% < 79.2% < 92.0%, P < 0.001), CYP11B2/-334T (56.7% < 74.1% < 84.8%, P < 0.001) and CYP3A5/6986A (3.6% < 30.1% < 84.5%, P < 0.001) in CEU, CHB and YRI.

CONCLUSIONS
There are significant discrepancy of salt-sensitivity variant distributions among four ethnic populations in Hapmap database. The frequencies of the susceptible polymorphisms related to salt-sensitivity in Beijing Han population was similar with JPT, higher than in CEU but lower than in YRI, suggesting high salt-sensitive and risk for hypertension in Beijing Han population. Prevention and individual therapy for high-risk population will help to reduce the prevalence of salt-sensitive hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.


In this paper, an indirect adaptive controller using fuzzy systems is presented for a class of uncertain single-input single-output nonlinear systems with input magnitude and rate saturation. The unknown system's nonlinearities are approximated by fuzzy systems whose parameters update laws are resulting from the standard Lyapunov synthesis method. Control law and adaptation algorithms are mainly modified to avoid the problems generally caused by saturation such as performance degrading and closed-loop instability. The stability analysis of the overall closed-loop system is performed using the Lyapunov direct method. A numerical simulation example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive control approach.


Rapid reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton underlies morphological changes and motility of cells. WASP family proteins have received a great deal of attention as the signal-regulated molecular switches that initiate actin polymerization. The first member, WASP, was identified as the product of a gene of which dysfunction causes the human hereditary disease Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. There are now five members in this protein family, namely WASP, N-WASP, WAVE/Scar1, 2, and 3. WASP and N-WASP have functional and physical associations with Cdc42, a Rho family small GTPase involved in filopodium formation. In contrast, there is evidence that links the WAVE/Scar proteins with another Rho family protein, Rac, which is a regulator of membrane ruffling. All WASP family members have a VCA domain at the C-terminus through which Arp2/3 complex is activated to nucleate actin polymerization. Analyses of model organisms have just begun to reveal unexpected functions of WASP family proteins in multicellular organisms.


The religious responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Hindu India were manifold and, at times, publicly contested, which raises the question of which societal differences became visible and were augmented as the pandemic unfolded. Based on observations mainly from the first coronavirus wave in 2020, this article argues that the limited religious innovation that ensued gave rise to a lively public debate that revealed marked differences within the Hindu community, that the pandemic offered new possibilities for affirming Hindu identities while othering Muslims, and that it accelerated the transition to online religious services in prominent temples while pausing the activities in others, thus augmenting a marked digital divide that may well outlast the pandemic. Pandemic religious changes notwithstanding, the article concludes that most of the changes were ephemeral and produced minor jolts rather than major transformations.


The optimization of correlation weights scheme was applied to model lipid-water partition coefficient (log P) of two sets of diverse functional aliphatic and aromatic compounds. In both cases, the optimized descriptors formulated based on the data of training sets generated statistically acceptable relations for the corresponding training sets, test sets, and combined sets. When the relations of log P values with the optimized molecular descriptors formulated based on the data of the training sets were used for calculation of log P values of the corresponding training sets, rpred2 values were found to be satisfactory (above 0.99) in both cases, which is indicative of the predictive potential of the scheme. The results indicate promising potential of the optimization of a correlation weights scheme in modeling studies.


The precise contribution(s) of skin dendritic cells (DCs) (epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) and dermal dendritic cells (dDCs)) to graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) in the skin has not been well delineated. We therefore developed an intradermal (id) injection model whereby CD8+ T (OT-I) cells that express ovalbumin (OVA)-peptide-specific T-cell receptors (Vα2/Vβ5) are delivered directly to the dermis of transgenic (Tg) mice expressing OVA targeted to the epidermis under a keratin 14 (K14) promoter. To determine the relative contribution of LCs to the GvHD reaction, we have generated K14-OVA x Langerin-diphtheria-toxin-receptor (Langerin-DTR) Tg mice to conditionally ablate LCs in the epidermis. Additionally, to identify the role of dDCs in the reaction we generated K14-OVA Tg chimeras using β2-microglobulin-deficient (b2m) congenic donor bone marrow cells. These mice were chimerized with donor b2m-derived MHC II high cells in the spleen (> 98%), LN (> 98%), and dermis (> 90%), whereas the majority of epidermal LCs remained recipient derived (> 95%). The dDCs in these mice do not have the capacity to present OVA to OT-I cells, whereas the LCs maintain their antigen-presenting functions, as previously reported. Following id injection of OT-I cells, the K14-OVA Tg mice developed localized skin GvHD on day 7 regardless of the level of OVA expression in the epidermis. Local injection of OT-I cells into the b2m→K14-OVA chimeric mice and LC-depleted K14-OVA x Langerin-DTR double Tg mice resulted in skin GvHD by day 7, comparable to normal K14-OVA Tg mice. Unexpectedly, OT-I cell injection into diptheria toxin (DT)-treated b2m→K14-OVA x Langerin-DTR Tg mice also resulted in skin GvHD. Thus, in vivo, even in the absence of both LCs in the epidermis and dDCs that can present OVA peptide in association with MHC I molecules, GvHD ensued. Furthermore, in vitro, OVA-expressing epidermal cells depleted of LCs (> 98% depletion) induced OT-I cell priming but did not induce a detectable allogeneic epidermal lymphocyte reaction. These results indicate that keratinocytes can function as accessory cells to induce the priming of naive autoreactive T cells in the skin.


Single-particle catalysis aims at determining factors that dictate the nanoparticle activity and selectivity. Existing methods often use fluorescent model reactions at low reactant concentrations, operate at low pressures, or rely on plasmonic enhancement effects. Hence, methods to measure single-nanoparticle activity under technically relevant conditions and without fluorescence or other enhancement mechanisms are still lacking. Here, we introduce nanofluidic scattering microscopy of catalytic reactions on single colloidal nanoparticles trapped inside nanofluidic channels to fill this gap. By detecting minuscule refractive index changes in a liquid flushed trough a nanochannel, we demonstrate that local H2O2 concentration changes in water can be accurately measured. Applying this principle, we analyze the H2O2 concentration profiles adjacent to single colloidal Pt nanoparticles during catalytic H2O2 decomposition into O2 and H2O and derive the particles' individual turnover frequencies from the growth rate of the O2 gas bubbles formed in their respective nanochannel during reaction.


Abstract Heterotopic abdominal rat heart transplantation has been extensively used to investigate ischemic-reperfusion injury, immunological consequences during heart transplantations and also to study remodeling of the myocardium due to volume unloading. We provide a unique review on the latter and present a summary of the experimental studies on rat heart transplantation to illustrate changes that occur to the myocardium due to volume unloading. We divided the literature based on whether normal or failing rat heart models were used. This analysis may provide a basis to understand the physiological effects of mechanical circulatory support therapy.


Introduction Therapeutic hypothermia is a standard of care in the UK for neonates with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. Meeting neurological criteria are essential for recruitment of neonates for treatment. Neurological symptomatology may be subtle and the role of cerebral function monitoring (CFM) though not essential for starting treatment has been endorsed by the BAPM in its position statement. Method An audit to review the management of neonates with suspected hypoxia ischaemia who underwent therapeutic hypothermia was carried out in a tertiary neonatal centre. Information was taken from the patient record and TOBY forms regarding recruitment as per standard criteria, and neurological symptoms. A confidential review of the CFM traces was performed where available and they were classified as being continuous normal voltage, discontinuous normal voltage, burst suppression, low voltage or inactive. Results 29 cases underwent therapeutic hypothermia during the period August 2009-August 2011 with a total of 1979 cooling hours provided. Traces were reviewed in 28 out of 29 cases with one not obtainable. 4 cases had continuous normal voltages, 14 cases had discontinuous normal voltage, 3 had burst suppression, 6 were low voltage or inactive. 2 cases had only seizures. Of 29 cases 2 had neonatal encephalopathy which may have been attributable to other causes. All the cases with burst suppression, low voltage or inactive trace that normalised their CFM records within 72 hours were discharged feeding orally. Cases with burst suppression, low voltage, or inactive trace that didn't normalise their trace all died. Conclusion All neonates undergoing therapeutic hypothermia should have cerebral function monitoring initiated if available. Used adjunctively with the presentation, clinical course and neuroimaging it may be a prognostic indicator of survival and outcomes in such neonates. Cerebral function monitor traces need cautious interpretation for artefacts. Background and improvement of the trace in neonates may be affected by antiepileptic medication. It is important to investigate other causes for neonatal encephalopathy in neonates undergoing therapeutic hypothermia. It is inevitable that some neonates with borderline neurology and continuous normal voltage appearance will be cooled. This work highlights the pitfalls of interpreting CFM traces of neonates being cooled for trainees.


On the basis of an abundance of elemental plasmonic nanocrystals identifiable by their unique morphology and intrinsic optoelectronic properties, it is necessary to rationally tailor the structural parameters to optimize the functionalities of nanoassemblies for application as plasmonic circuits/devices. Among them, the plasmonic superlattice membrane has emerged as a novel optically active metamaterial, which is constructed by nanocrystals at a two-dimensional (2D) plane with a highly ordered structure and strong plasmonic coupling interactions. Here, we report on the fabrication of a novel plasmonic superlattice membrane using bimetallic core-shell nano-sea urchins (Nano-SEUs) as meta-atoms. Under the guidance of soft-ligand balancing in conjugation with drying-mediated self-assembly at the air/water interface, well-defined giant 2D superlattices with total lateral dimensions of up to 5 mm wide and 80 nm thick have been synthesized, corresponding to an aspect ratio of 62 500. Programmable morphology control over the Nano-SEUs has been achieved in high yield by rationally tuning the spiky branches as well as the thickness of the silver shell, allowing systematic variation of the plasmonic properties of the membrane. Such superlattice membranes exhibited a strong and reproducible surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) signal that originates from interparticle coupling and electric (E)-field enhancement, enabling an enhancement factor of up to 106. We also demonstrated that the fabricated membrane allows the label-free SERS detection of dopamine from 0.1 nM to 1 μM. Thus, this giant Nano-SEU assembled superlattice membrane can be used as a SERS substrate for on-spot biomarker detection, which paves a robust and inexpensive avenue for highly sensitive and reliable biomedical sensing and diagnostics.


We demonstrate how the formulation of a nonlinear scale-space filter can be used for edge detection and junction analysis. By casting edge-preserving filtering in terms of maximizing information content subject to an average cost function, the computed cost at each pixel location becomes a local measure of edgeness. This computation depends on a single scale parameter and the given image data. Unlike previous approaches which require careful tuning of the filter kernels for various types of edges, our scheme is general enough to be able to handle different edges, such as lines, step edges, corners and junctions. Anisotropy in the data is handled automatically by the nonlinear dynamics.


The properties of higher-order Riccati equations are investigated. The second-order equation is a Lagrangian system and can be studied by using the symplectic formalism. The second-, third- and fourth-order cases are studied by proving the existence of Darboux functions. The corresponding cofactors are obtained and some related properties are discussed. The existence of generators of t-dependent constants of motion is also proved and then the expressions of the associated time-dependent first integrals are explicitly obtained. The connection of these time-dependent first integrals with the so-called master symmetries, characterizing some particular Hamiltonian systems, is also discussed. Finally the general n-th-order case is analyzed.


Spermatogenesis is a series of events that constitute programmed cell differentiation, with dramatic changes in morphology, biochemistry and gene expression which are regulated by temporal and especially endocrine, paracrine and autocrine mechanisms. During the various stages of spermatogenesis and particularly during the differentiation of spermatids, there is massive degradation of cytosolic proteins, nuclear and membrane due to the elimination of much of the cytoplasm which has round spermatid. This protein degradation occurs within the seminiferous epithelium and is mediated by cellular systems described for this purpose. The proteasome is a multienzyme complex responsible for degrading the majority of nuclear and cytosolic proteins, after they are marked for destruction by covalent attachment of ubiquitin molecules. This selective destruction of cellular proteins is a key mechanism in the process of spermatogenesis. This article discusses the basics of male gonadal physiological process and the current understanding of the role of the ubiquitin proteasome system in the functional maintenance of spermatogenesis are reviewed.


Abstract Purpose: Temporal-structure discrimination is an essential dimension of tactile processing. Exploring object surface by touch generates vibrotactile input with various temporal dynamics, which gives diversity to tactile percepts. Here, we examined whether slow cortical potential shifts (SCPs) (<1 Hz) evoked by long vibrotactile stimuli can reflect active temporal-structure processing. Materials and methods: Vibrotactile-evoked magnetic brain responses were recorded in 10 right-handed healthy volunteers using a piezoelectric-based stimulator and whole-head magnetoencephalography. A series of vibrotactile train stimuli with various temporal structures were delivered to the right index finger. While all trains consisted of identical number (15) of stimuli delivered within a fixed duration (1500 ms), temporal structures were varied by modulating inter-stimulus intervals (ISIs). Participants judged regularity/irregularity of ISI for each train in the active condition, whereas they ignored the stimuli while performing a visual distraction task in the passive condition. We analysed the spatiotemporal features of SCPs and their behaviour using the minimum norm estimates with the dynamic statistical parametric mapping. Results: SCPs were localized to contralateral primary somatosensory area (S1), contralateral superior temporal gyrus, and contralateral as well as ipsilateral secondary somatosensory areas (S2). A significant enhancement of SCPs was observed in the ipsilateral S2 (S2i) in the active condition, whereas such effects were absent in the other regions. We also found a significant larger amplitude difference between the regular- and irregular-stimulus evoked S2i responses during the active condition than during the passive condition. Conclusions: This study suggests that S2 subserves the temporal dimension of vibrotactile processing.


Background To evaluate the association of clinical outcomes with posttreatment changes in the relative eosinophil count (REC) and neutrophil-to-eosinophil ratio (NER) in patients with advanced urothelial cancer (UC) treated with pembrolizumab. Materials and Methods We retrospectively analyzed 105 patients with advanced UC who received pembrolizumab after the failure of platinum-based chemotherapy. The REC and NER before and three weeks after pembrolizumab were recorded. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off values for analyzing the risk. Results There were no significant differences in the overall survival (OS) between the REC ≥4.8% and <4.8% groups and the NER ≥13.7 and <13.7 groups before pembrolizumab (p=0.997 and 0.669, respectively). However, a significant difference in the OS was confirmed between the increased and decreased REC groups and between the decreased and increased NER groups at 3 weeks after pembrolizumab (p<0.001 and 0.002, respectively). Multivariate analyses revealed that an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status ≥2 (P=0.003), albumin <3.7 g/dl (p=0.002), LDH >246 U/L (p=0.011), disease site ≥3 organs (p=0.019), decreased posttreatment REC (3 weeks later) (p=0.002) and increased posttreatment NER (3 weeks later) (p=0.022) were independent prognostic factors for a worse OS. Conclusion An increased REC and decreased NER after pembrolizumab may be significant early predictive markers of improved clinical outcomes in patients with advanced UC receiving pembrolizumab.


The notch-bend strength of four titanium, eight aluminum, and eight copper-base alloys was measured. Specimen sizes ranged from 0.4 to 4 in. in section thickness. All materials showed a geometrical size effect on notch strength. Only the high-strength aluminum alloys were found to be prone to brittle fracture. In general, 7Al-2Cb-1Ta titanium, 5456-H321 and 6061-T6 aluminum, and the copper alloys can be considered as notch-tough materials. The titanium alloys exhibited maximum notch toughness with 6–7 percent aluminum content. Determination of plane-strain fracture toughness (KIc ) values for the aluminum alloys is briefly discussed.


In file compression, especially image files, it is expected that the results obtained using a compression method will be smaller than before, because usually storage for image files uses a lot of memory capacity. To get better results, a combination of compression methods is used, namely BWT with RLE. To produce a better compression ratio, 2 scenarios are used, the first using the results from the second and third stages of the BWT algorithm. From the RLE algorithm, it was found that the size increased by 10%, with the results of the second stage of the BWT algorithm, the size ratio decreased by 58.33% and with the results of the third stage of the BWT algorithm, the size ratio increased by 44.44%.


Abstract Apolipoprotein B (apoB) is the main protein component of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and is necessary for the assembly and secretion of these triglyceride (TG)-rich particles. Following release from the liver, VLDL is converted to low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the plasma and increased production of VLDL can therefore play a detrimental role in cardiovascular disease. Increasing evidence has helped to establish VLDL assembly as a target for the treatment of dyslipidemias. Multiple factors are involved in the folding of the apoB protein and the formation of a secretion-competent VLDL particle. Failed VLDL assembly can initiate quality control mechanisms in the hepatocyte that target apoB for degradation. ApoB is a substrate for endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation (ERAD) by the ubiquitin proteasome system and for autophagy. Efficient targeting and disposal of apoB is a regulated process that modulates VLDL secretion and partitioning of TG. Emerging evidence suggests that significant overlap exists between these degradative pathways. For example, the insulin-mediated targeting of apoB to autophagy and postprandial activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) may employ the same cellular machinery and regulatory cues. Changes in the quality control mechanisms for apoB impact hepatic physiology and pathology states, including insulin resistance and fatty liver. Insulin signaling, lipid metabolism and the hepatic UPR may impact VLDL production, particularly during the postprandial state. In this review we summarize our current understanding of VLDL assembly, apoB degradation, quality control mechanisms and the role of these processes in liver physiology and in pathologic states.


A female child had multiple anomalies and a long B-group chromosome. Her normal mother was a carrier of a reciprocal translocation, presumably between chromosomes No. 5 and No. 14. The proband's karyotype cannot be interpreted on the basis of usual meiotic events in the mother. The simplest explanation involves meiotic pairing of maternal translocation chromosomes in a quadriradial configuration, and two breaks to form the long B-group chromosome observed in the proband. As a result, the proband was trisomic for a segment of the long arm of chromosome No. 5. Unusual meiotic events in carriers of reciprocal translocations have important implications with respect to genetic risks for offsprings with congenital defects and prenatal diagnosis from cytogenetic analysis of cultured amniotic cells. Many questions concerning the behavior of human translocation chromosomes at meiosis still remain to be answered.


The challenge of composing both sound and moving image within a coherent computer-mediated framework is addressed, and some of the aesthetic issues highlighted. A conceptual model for an audiovisual delivery system is proposed, and this model acts as a guide for detailed discussion of some illustrative examples of audiovisual composition. Options for types of score generated as graphical output of the system are outlined. The need for extensive algorithmic control of compositional decisions within an interactive framework is proposed. The combination of Tabula Vigilans Audio Interactive (TVAI), an algorithmic composition language for electroacoustic music and realtime image generation, with MIDAS, a multiprocessor audiovisual system platform, is shown to have the features desired for the conceptual outline given earlier, and examples are given of work achieved using these resources. It is shown that ultimately delivery of new work may be efficiently distributed via the World Wide Web, with composers' interactive scripts delivered remotely but rendered locally by means of a user's 'rendering black box'.


We realize an optical phase-conjugating mirror by coupling a χ(2) nonlinear crystal, performing difference-frequency generation, with a plane mirror. We use the device to recover the wavefronts upon transmission through multimode fibers and discuss the application to large-core amplifying fibers.


In order to clarify the endocrine control over the egg yolk formation, the effects of estrogenic substance (diethylstilbestrol), androgenic substance (methyltestosterone), thyroid hormone (powdered mammalian thyroid gland), and adrenocorticotropin on plasma lipid and lipoprotein in rainbow trout were examined. Levels of total lipid and lipoprotein in plasma were raised by estrogen treatment. The liver of estrogen-treated fish was hypertro phic, and contained more lipid, protein and nucleic acids. It is concluded that the lipoporo tein is synthesized in liver and released into the blood under the influence of ovarian steroid hormone. On the contrary, the levels of lipid and lipoprotein were reduced by thyroid powder administration. From these results it is suspected that an endocrine correlation mechanism affects the metabolism of lipoproteins that are deposited in the oocytes.


The Wongan Hills hotel was built in 1914, at the jnsistence of the local progress association, by the State government, and is an example of John Scaddan's State enterprises. Forty five years later, the Wongan Hills community bought the hotel from the State government. It was then run as a co-operative, with profits benefiting the district, until 1980, when it was sold to private ownership. A study of this hotel allows exploration of the power of State developmentalism, co-operation and local interest, in a growing wheat belt locality. State developmentalism has in the past received critical analysis, but the example of State hotels has been largely ignored. Similarly, while examples of the power of local interest abound in local histories, they are seldom recognised as a common trend. Historical literature is particularly sparse on the subject of co-operation.

The dissertation argues that the story of the Wongan Hills hotel to 1980, with its unusual combination of State government and community ownership, reflects much of the history, not only of that town, but also of significant aspects of the development of Western Australia's wheat belt. It highlights the State government's changing role in wheat belt communities, with its early provision of loan finance, infrastructure such as rail, technology through agricultural research stations, and State trading concerns such as hotels; and its subsequent shift to providing grants which enabled local residents to provide their own infrastructure. Central to the narrative is the generally overlooked, powerful thrust of co-operation that existed in wheat belt communities, allowing them to achieve a variety of successes which included businesses such as the community-owned Wongan Hills Civic Hotel, and the provision of modern, well-equipped sporting facilities. This study adds to the understanding of local history by demonstrating that both State government and co-operative ventures were driven by the power of local interests, which strongly influenced where State government developments would be placed, and determined the focus of co-operation. Oral histories have been used to explore individual experiences and attitudes, and examples of local co-operation.


This paper presents an analysis of simultaneous temperature and electrical parameters measurements in a three phase induction motor (TIM). The electrical parameters, namely voltage and current in the motor windings, were measured with Hall effect sensors and the temperature in the stator slots were monitored using fiber Bragg grating sensors (FBG). In the performed temperature analysis, two sets of sensors were used, containing four FBG in each fiber. Eight FBG sensors were uniformly distributed in the TIM stator. A special encapsulation of the sensor was elaborated to minimize mechanical disturbances in the fiber due to motor operation. Tests were performed with motor running at no load and with intentional voltage disturbances in the windings produced at every 15 minutes periods. It was observed that the temperature distribution is not uniform in the TIM stator either with or without a balanced voltage in the windings. A mean level increase of 0.5°C in temperature was registered in all of the sensors when there is a lack of balance in the voltage windings.


The purpose of this paper is to clarify the endocranial and postorbital morphologies of the terminal Pleistocene Minatogawa people, and obtain insights into their evolutionary background and genealogical relationships. The Minatogawa I and IV crania were compared with 83 Homo sapiens specimens (including 19 prehistoric Jomon). Metric comparative analyses and observational evaluations revealed that the two Minatogawa endocrania are characterized by a common suite of features (or tendency), including a small endocranial volume, relatively low endocranial shape, distinctly broad temporal region (qualitatively associated with the strong temporal bulge), weak parietal boss, and weakly swollen frontal bulge. Postorbital constriction was confirmed to be strong, relative to both upper facial breadth and maximum cranial breadth. Partial correlation analysis and bivariate comparisons were performed to examine the possible associations of Minatogawa's strong postorbital constriction. The results suggest that constriction relative to the face is predominantly due to a large facial breadth (frontal endocranium not so narrow in Minatogawa I), and also in part to strong neuro-orbital disjunction, while constriction relative to the posterior cranium is largely attributable to endocranial shape. Comparisons with modern/recent H. sapiens materials and limited but informative outgroup specimens (Skhul V, and an example of Homo erectus, Daka) suggests that some of the features characteristic of Minatogawa are possibly ancestral retentions of early H. sapiens (e.g. strong temporal bulge, marked postorbital constriction relative to the face), while others are probably derived population features (e.g. a small endocranial volume, weakly swollen frontal bulge, marked postorbital constriction relative to the posterior cranium). In overall endocranial proportions, the Jomon tend to lie closer to Minatogawa than does the modern Japanese, but such morphologies were also found in individuals of other populations, and thus the similarity does not necessarily support the hypothesis of Minatogawa–Jomon genealogical closeness.


* List of Figures and Tables * Acknowledgements * Introduction *1 The Demise of Globalization? : Current Controversies * * Part One - The Globalization Controversy *2 The Recon?guration of Political Power? *3 The Fate of National Culture *4 Global Insecurities: Military Threats and Environmental Catastrophe *5 A New World Economic Order ? : Global Markets and State Power *6 The Great Divergence? Global Inequality and Development *7 (Mis)Managing the World? * Part Two - Remaking Globalization *8 Beyond Globalization / Antiglobalization *9 World Orders, Ethical Foundations *10 The Contentious Politics of Globalization: Mapping Ideals * and Theories *11 Reconstructing World Order: Towards Cosmopolitan * Social Democracy *12 Testing Cosmopolitan Social Democracy the challenge of 9/11 and global economic governance * References * Index *


Introduction: ArteetherTM, a derivative of artemisinin, is among the recent drugs that have given renewed hope for combating malarial menace. The present study investigated the effects of arteetherTM on the histology of the retina and cerebellum of Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty adult albino Wistar rats weighing 150-200 g, were randomly divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of five animals each and used for this study. Group A rats were given intramuscular (i.m.) arteetherTM (3 mg/kg b.w.) daily for 3 days. Group B rats were given i.m. arteetherTM (6 mg/kg b.w.) daily for 3 days. Group C rats were also given i. m. of arteetherTM (3 mg/kg b. w.) daily for 3 days, and the same dose was repeated at two-weekly intervals for 4 further weeks; while Group D rats which received normal saline (0.9 % w/v, 3 ml/kg b.w.), served as controls. At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The retina and cerebellum were excised and processed routinely for histopathology changes, using haematoxylin and eosin stain (H & E), as well as Nissl stain. Results: Results obtained showed normal cellular components of the retina and cerebellum in all groups, and no cyto-pathological changes were observed. Conclusion: Thus, this study showed that under light microscopic examination, therapeutic doses of arteetherTM caused no significant cyto-pathologic changes in the retina and cerebellum of Wistar rats.


Abstract Newly proposed legislation that aims to protect the well-being of transgender people in India offers hope of greater recognition of human rights and improved access to entitlements for these marginalised groups. However, social welfare and health institutions have a long way to go in translating proposed legislation into policies that can concretely address the social suffering of transgender people. Drawing on ethnographic field research in northern Karnataka among a highly understudied transgender group known as the jogappas, we describe the effects of overlapping forms of structural violence surrounding education, subsistence, family life and attempts to access social and health services. Findings reveal how social inequities are implicated in the emergence of transgender subjectivities along the road to becoming a jogappa. Our findings alert policy makers to the diverse needs of transgender people in India, which continually evolve while rooted in moral histories of religiosity.


The study was undertaken to determine diagnostic accuracy of Haemoglobin Colour Scale (HCS) in hands of village-based community health workers (CHWs) in real-life community setting in India. Participants (501 women) were randomly selected from 8 villages belonging to a project area of SEWA-Rural, a voluntary organization located in India. After receiving a brief training, CHWs and a research assistant obtained haemoglobin readings using HCS and HemoCueTM (reference) respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive-values, and likelihood ratios were calculated. Bland-Altman plot was constructed. Mean haemoglobin value, using HCS and HemoCueTM were 11.02 g/dL (CI 10.9-11.2) and 11.07 g/dL (CI 10.9-11.2) respectively. Mean difference between haemoglobin readings was 0.95 g/dL. Sensitivity of HCS was 0.74 (CI 0.65-0.81) and 0.84 (CI 0.8-0.87) whereas specificity was 0.84 (CI:0.51-0.98) and 0.99 (CI:0.97-0.99) using haemoglobin cutoff limits of 10 g/dL and 7 g/dL respectively. CHWs can accurately diagnose severe and moderately-severe anaemia by using HCS in real-life field condition after a brief training.


This work takes us to three remote rural areas in the USA to hear the tales of the residents - the poor, the rich, and those in between - as they talk about their families, work, hard times, and their hopes. It provides an insight into the dynamics of poverty, politics and community change.


Based on the TM remote sensing image data and the field survey and county statistical data, this article researched the relativity between land use and agricultural non-point source pollution of four counties (Xiaotangshan, Shahe, Beiqijia and Houshayu) located in upstream of the Wenyu River by using export coefficient model. The results indicated that agricultural land had the biggest contribution on source of agricultural non-point pollution, next order was built-up land. The trend of pollution load of TN and TP from agricultural land decreased from1999 to 2005; while the trend of pollution load of TN and TP from built-up land were the contrary phenomena. From 1999 to 2005, the total trend of pollution load of TN and TP sourced by land use structure was decreased: the pollution load of TN was dropped from 1999 (253.74t per year) to 2005 (212.65t per year); pollution load of TP decreased from 1999 to 2005 were 15.13t per year and 9.11t per year, respectively. The pollution load of TN and TP had the unbalanced distribution among four counties, within; the Xiaotangshan County had the maximum pollution load of TN and TP.


This paper describes an update of the H mode confinement database that has been assembled for the ITER project. Data were collected from six machines of different sizes and shapes: ASDEX, DIII-D, JET, JFT-2M, PBX-M and PDX. The updated database contains better estimates of fast ion energy content and thermal energy confinement times, discharges with RF heating, data using boronization, beryllium and pellets, more systematic parameter scans, and other features. The list of variables in the database has been expanded, and the selection criteria for the standard dataset have been modified. We also present simple scalings of the total and thermal energy confinement time to the new dataset


We are deeply appreciative of the initiative of the editor, Marina Vanucci, in commissioning a discussion of our paper, and extremely grateful to all the discussants for their insightful and thought-provoking comments. We respond to the discussions in alphabetical order.


A simple protocol for obtaining pure, restrictable and amplifiable megabase genomic DNA from oil-free seed residue of Brassica napus, an important oil seed plant, has been developed. Oil from the dry seeds was completely recovered in an organic solvent and quantified gravimetrically followed by processing of the residual biomass (defatted seed residue) for genomic DNA isolation. The isolated DNA can be cut by a range of restriction enzymes. The method enables simultaneous isolation and recovery of lipids and genomic DNA from the same test sample, thus allowing two independent analyses from a single sample. Multiple micro-scale oil extraction from the commercial seeds gave approximately 39% oil, which is close to the usual oil recovery from standard oil seed. Most of the amplified fragments were scored in the range of 2.5 to 0.5 kb, best suited for scoring as molecular diagnostics.


Bidirectional variants of stochastic many particle models for transport by molecular motors show a strong tendency to form macroscopic clusters on static lattices. Inspired by the fact that the microscopic tracks for molecular motors are dynamical, we study the influence of different types of lattice dynamics on stochastic bidirectional transport. We observe a transition toward efficient transport (corresponding to the dissolution of large clusters) controlled by the lattice dynamics.


The statistical nature of the protein folding process requires the use of equally detailed yet simple models that lend themselves to characterize experiments. One such model is the Wako-Saitô-Muñoz-Eaton model, that we extend here to include solvation effects (WSME-S), introduced via empirical terms. We employ the novel version to analyze the folding of two proteins, gpW and SH3, that have similar size and thermodynamic stability but with the former folding 3 orders of magnitude faster than SH3. A quantitative analysis reveals that gpW presents at most marginal barriers, in contrast to SH3 that folds following a simple two-state approximation. We reproduce the observed experimental differences in melting temperature in gpW as seen by different experimental spectroscopic probes and the shape of the rate-temperature plot. In parallel, we predict the folding complexity expected in gpW from the analysis of both the residue-level thermodynamics and kinetics. SH3 serves as a stringent control with neither folding complexity nor dispersion in melting temperatures being observed. The extended model presented here serves as an ideal tool not only to characterize folding data but also to make experimentally testable predictions.


Abstract Adenotonsillectomy is one of the most performed surgical procedures in otorhinolaryngology. When it comes to hospitalization duration, there are no general available truths. Every patient is unique and only the physician should decide for how long he/she has to remain in the hospital after adenotonsillectomy, taking into consideration the used technique, the intraoperatory evolution and also the associated risk factors. The authors present some general aspects of this theme and their own point of view in what adenotonsillectomy is concerned in terms of ethics and moral responsibility of the surgeon, hospital and government for the hospitalization after the surgical intervention.


Application of human and animal waste to fields and water sources and on-farm antimicrobial usage are documented contributors to the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in agricultural domains. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the prevalence of resistance to tetracycline (TET) and third generation cephalosporins (3GC) in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from food crops. TET was selected in view of its wide use in agriculture, whereas 3GC were selected because of the public health concerns of reported resistance to these critically important antibiotics in the environment. Forty-two studies from all six world regions published between 2010 and 2022 met the eligibility criteria. A random effects model estimated that 4.63% (95% CI: 2.57%, 7.18%; p-value: <0.0001) and 3.75% (95%CI: 2.13%, 5.74%; p-value: <0.0001) of surveyed food crops harboured Enterobacteriaceae resistant to TET and 3GC, respectively. No significant differences were observed between pre- and post-harvest stages of the value chain. 3GC resistance prevalence estimates in food crops were highest for the African region (6.59%; 95% CI: 2.41%, 12.40%; p-value: <0.0001) and lowest for Europe (1.84%; 95% CI: 0.00%, 6.02%; p-value: <0.0001). Considering the rare use of 3GC in agriculture, these results support its inclusion for AMR surveillance in food crops. Integrating food crops into One Health AMR surveillance using harmonized sampling methods could confirm trends highlighted here.


A lattice Boltzmann model for compressible flows on standard lattices is developed and analyzed. A consistent two-population thermal lattice Boltzmann is used which allows a variable Prandtl number and a variable adiabatic exponent, and appropriate correction terms are introduced into the kinetic equations to compensate for deviations in the hydrodynamic limit. Using the concept of a shifted lattice, the model is extended to supersonic flows involving shock waves, and the shock-vortex interaction problem is simulated to show the accuracy of the proposed model. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed model is a viable candidate for compressible flow simulations.


Some commonly understood and generally accepted aspects of the chrome tanning reaction are analysed, with a view to correcting misapprehensions. They are: chromium(III) as a solo tannage, the role of sulphate in the chrome tanning mechanism, the size and shape of the chrome species, basicity of bound chrome, crosslinking, reaction sites on collagen, the roles of pH and temperature, reactivity at high basicity, the role of ethanolamine, the masking reaction, multidentate masking, the roles of masking agents, the stability of chrome tanned leather, semi chrome leather.


Objective: This study investigates the relationship between antidepressant response to escitalopram and polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene promoter region (5-HTTLPR) in multi ethnic Malaysian patients with Major Depressive Disorder. Methods: An eight weeks prospective study of treatment response to escitalopram was conducted on 29 Malaysian patients with Major Depressive Disorder. The severity and improvement of depression were assessed with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Patients were also genotyped for long (L) and short (S) polymorphisms in 5-HTTLPR using polymerase chain reaction. Results: Response to escitalopram treatment was more frequent in patients with 5-HTTLPR SS genotype than in those with LL or LS genotypes (p = 0.04, OR = 10.0, 95% CI = 1.05-95.2). The favourable allelic variant for response was S allele (p <0.01, OR = 4.73, CI = 2.60-8.59). However, there was no difference in the adverse effects rates between the 5-HTTLPR genotype groups (p = 0.39, OR = 2.44, 95% CI = 0.41-14.75). Conclusion: Polymorphism of 5-HTTLPR was associated with antidepressant response to escitalopram treatment but not to its adverse effects in the Malaysian depressed patients.


The distribution and gene frequencies of ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood groups and haemoglobin variants for samples of the Nigerian population at Ogbomoso, was determined. Data consisting of records of blood groups and haemoglobin types of different ages ranging from infants to adults for a period of 4 to 6 years (1995 – 2000) was collected from Baptist Medical Centre (BMC), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Health Centre (LAUTHC) and Oyo State General Hospital (OSGH), all in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. Overall, a total number of 7653, 7053 and 14,845 individuals were typed for ABO and Rh blood groups; and haemoglobin genotypes, respectively. 3824 (50 %) were blood group O, 1750 (22.9 %) were blood group A, 1629 (21.3 %) were blood group B and 450 (5.9 %) were blood group AB. This distribution differs significantly (P 0.05). The gene frequencies of D and d alleles were 0.82 and 0.18, respectively. Six haemoglobin genotypes were recorded in the order of AA (68.1 %) > AS (21.0 %) > AC (5.7 %) >SS (3.0 %) >SC (2.0 %) >CC (0.3 %). The gene frequencies were 0.81, 0.14 and 0.04 for A, S and C alleles, respectively. Our results are representative of the distribution of these genetic variants in Nigeria.
(Global Journal of Medical Science, 2004, 3 (1&2): 17-22)


determined. However, from changes made to the design of this product over the years it can be ascertained that this product was produced more than 3 years ago. Since this product was manufactured we have made extensive modifications to the printing operation. This is now a fully automated process which has eliminated the risk of this defect recurring. I would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and fully endorse Dr Pritchard's recommendations for checking all anaesthetic equipment before use.


The Russell effect was discovered in 1897 when it was found that some types of photographic plate could form an image in the dark when placed in contact with certain organic materials or freshly abraded metals. The technique was largely forgotten for several decades. It is now thought that image formation is due to hydrogen peroxide evolution caused by the autooxidation of the objects under examination. The peroxide reduces the silver halide in the photographic emulsion. Several interesting results have been obtained in the non-destructive testing of materials including the detection of recent abrasions of watermarks, areas of objects exposed to daylight, cracks in paint films and the enhancement of writing. A method for studying the Russell effect with modern materials is described.


Atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of druglike molecules embedded in lipid bilayers are of considerable interest as models for drug penetration and positioning in biological membranes. Here we analyze partitioning of coumarin in dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) bilayer, based on both multiple, unbiased 3 μs MD simulations (total length) and free energy profiles along the bilayer normal calculated by biased MD simulations (∼7 μs in total). The convergences in time of free energy profiles calculated by both umbrella sampling and z-constraint techniques are thoroughly analyzed. Two sets of starting structures are also considered, one from unbiased MD simulation and the other from "pulling" coumarin along the bilayer normal. The structures obtained by pulling simulation contain water defects on the lipid bilayer surface, while those acquired from unbiased simulation have no membrane defects. The free energy profiles converge more rapidly when starting frames from unbiased simulations are used. In addition, z-constraint simulation leads to more rapid convergence than umbrella sampling, due to quicker relaxation of membrane defects. Furthermore, we show that the choice of RESP, PRODRG, or Mulliken charges considerably affects the resulting free energy profile of our model drug along the bilayer normal. We recommend using z-constraint biased MD simulations based on starting geometries acquired from unbiased MD simulations for efficient calculation of convergent free energy profiles of druglike molecules along bilayer normals. The calculation of free energy profile should start with an unbiased simulation, though the polar molecules might need a slow pulling afterward. Results obtained with the recommended simulation protocol agree well with available experimental data for two coumarin derivatives.