Background AA has become an important adjunct to alcoholism treatment worldwide. As well, many persons turn to AA as a first (sometimes only) source of help for a drinking problem. Thus, these groups represent a significant resource for the handling of alcohol problems, both at the system level and the individual level. The primary aim of this thesis is to further the knowledge on who benefits from AA (and similar selfhelp group) affiliation, both proximally and distally. This research is framed by a widely utilized behavioral help-seeking model of health care utilization (as adapted to alcohol treatment research) that considers the roles of contextual (aggregate or system wide) and individual factors that act to either facilitate or impede help-seeking. Method A two-pronged analytical stategy is used. First, a cross-cultural comparative study of the role and impact of self-help groups under two different treatment systems (Swedish and U.S.) was conducted using treatment samples interviewed at baseline and 1 year later (proximal outcomes) to assess who attends and who benefits. The Swedish and U.S. studies, which collected data at the countywide level, used tha same research methodolgies and collected comparable measures. Next, long-term trajectories analyses were conducted to explore more specific aspects of AA as a program and the relationship of these aspects to distal drinking outcomes (with follow-ups at 1, 3, 5, and 7 years) using a U.S. sample of treated and untreated problem drinkers. Gender was considered in all Papers. Results Some differences were found between the two samples at treatment entry. In general, the Swedish sample was older, more male, and with denser using social networks relative to the U.S. sample. In contrast, the U.S. sample reported greater drug and psychiatric severity. In terms of gender, both Swedish and U.S. women were more likely than their male counterparts were to be in a marital-like relationship and to have care of children under the age of 18 years at treatment initiation, and they presented with higher family/social, medical, and psychiatric problem severity. Males in both samples initiated treatment with greater legal severity. Though male-to-female ASI severity scores were in the same direction in the both samples, the magnitude of most ASI scores was noticeably greater for the U.S. sample (except ASI alcohol severity scores which were similar). Paper I showed that even though mutual help played a more significant role in post-treatment help seeking in the U.S. than in Sweden, for the most, similar factors predicted attendance at year 1. In both samples having an abstinence goal, having a high self-perceived need of treatment, being both alcohol and drug dependent, having prior self-help, and getting employment suggestions to seek treatment predicted 1-year self-help attendance. Factors predicting drinking outcomes in Paper II revealed younger age, female gender, abstinence goal, and less prior treatment predicted either abstinence or moderate (vs. heavy) drinking for both samples. Non-using social networks and drink severity predicted drinking outcomes in the Swedish sample. Paper III revealed a greater proportion of marginalized persons are found in the Swedish than U.S. treatment. In both countries, these individuals used more inpatient treatment and more social services and community mental-health services. However, the role of the Swedish social service system as a referral or social pressure institution was more apparent than in the U.S., as was the role of police. Paper IV found that gender did not differentiate practice of specific AA behaviors. For both genders, greater problem severity and a greater number of negative consequences predicted greater AA affiliation over time, as did having an abstinence goal and more social network support to not drink. Though higher AA affiliation was a predictor of abstinence for both genders, males were less likely than women to be abstinent over time. Men were also more likely to reduce their AA participation across time. Latent class analyses in Paper V results found heterogeneity in patterns of AA attendance and sponsorship (supporting the value of using clustering analyses). Any pattern of AA attendance, even if it declined or was never high for a particular 12-month period, was better than little or no attendance in terms of abstinence. Having a sponsor had added value above the positive value of attendance in increasing abstinence, suggesting there is a benefit for maintaining a sponsor over time above that found for attendance. Conclusion AA (similar self-help) groups can play a legitimate role in the handling of alcohol-dependent individuals seeking help for their problem. They provide a social context and recovery assistance at no cost in any system. Contextual factors (i.e., aggregate level or countrywide variables were not empirically tested) suggest that these groups are relied upon more in the U.S. than Sweden (consistent with the history of treatment/handling of alcohol problems in the two countries). Individual level predisposing, enabling, and need variables differentiated who initiates and who stays involved over time (especially severity and social factors), and these were influenced by contextual characteristics in the comparative analyses. Women use AA at least equal to men and their outcomes are as good (or better) as for men who affiliate with these groups (U.S. results). While heterogeneity was found in how U.S. individuals use self-help groups over time, any level of affiliation was better than little or no attendance in terms of increasing the changes of abstinence over 7 years. Still, some individuals with little or no affiliation reported abstinence at all follow-ups. These results are worth consideration when making referrals to self-help groups. It is advised that these groups not replace but instead complement an array of services within an overall system of care for problem drinkers. LIST OF PUBLICATIONS I. Witbrodt, Jane & Romelsjö, Anders (2010). Gender differences in mutualhelp attendance 1-year after treatment: Swedish and U.S. samples. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 71(1): 125-135. II. Witbrodt, Jane & Romelsjö, Anders. Correlates of 1-year Drinking Outcomes among Swedish and U.S. Treatment Clients: A cross-cultural comparison. Manuscript. III. Stenius, Kerstin, Witbrodt, Jane, Engdahl, Barbro & Weisner, Constance (2010). For the marginalized, or for the integrated? A comparative study of the treatment systems in Sweden and the U.S. Contemporary Drug Problems, 37(3): 417-448. IV. Witbrodt, Jane & Delucchi, Kevin (in press). Do women differ from men on Alcoholics Anonymous participation and abstinence? A multi-wave analysis of treatment seekers. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental


Obtained results of molecular genetics testing of workers' groups exposed to dust show the elimination of carriers of defective variants in the CFTR gene among workers exposed to dust. We can establish a fact that in spite of law frequency of detected major mutations of the CFTR gene in explored selections they have big importance as individual factors in the stage of preliminary medical examinations in terms of prediction of possible occupational development risk and progression of productionally mediated visceropathies and diseases, as well as a conscious choice of occupation by an individual.


In the past decade, information and network technology had been widely utilized in learning activities. Therefore, much research was conducted on web-based learning. Most of them focused on improving functions of web-based learning platform, including multimedia interface, web-based self-exam, intelligent tutor etc. Some focused on the learning performance of web-based learning by comparing with the traditional classroom. However, rare research focused on improving students' web learning performance according to their needs, learning behaviors' records, and personal characteristics. The purpose of the research was to construct the web-based learning environment based on students' needs and develop suitable teaching strategies for each individual. In the research, the concept of customer relationship management (CRM) was applied to provide a satisfied learning experience. Kano's (1984) evaluation table for classifying the students' needs into three types (must-be, one-dimensional, and attractive) was first applied to conduct functional or dysfunctional form of questions on students of a Cyber University in southern Taiwan. Then, according to students' needs, learning behaviors' records, and personal characteristics, teaching strategy reasoning was utilized to select more suitable materials for each student. Ultimately not only students' learning efficiency, but also their learning satisfactions were measured Therefore, more clues were provided to improve the web-based learning environment, and enhance the students' satisfaction.


There is substantial evidence to indicate that CD8 + T cells specific for epitopes derived from overexpressed antigens form part of the immune response to leukemia in patients both prior to and after stem cell transplantation (SCT) and following adoptive immunotherapy with donor leukocyte infusion. However, the immunobiology of these CD8 + T cell populations has proven difficult to study directly ex vivo due to technical obstacles that preclude the reliable detection of low frequency CD8 + T cells that bind antigen poorly. We engineered a mutation (Q115E) in the heavy chain a2 domain of HLA-A*0201 that moderately enhances monomeric CD8 binding without impacting the TCR binding platform. Combined flow cytometric studies and biophysical analysis of recombinant TCR/peptide-major histocompatibility complex class I (pMHCI) interactions showed that tetrameric complexes of these coreceptor-enhanced HLA-A*0201 molecules were more sensitive reagents for the detection of specific CD8 + T cells at the clonal level compared to corresponding tetramers produced with wildtype HLA-A*0201 complexes; thus, the threshold of detection was enhanced approximately twofold relative to the monomeric TCR/pMHCI cut-off (K D =80mM) observed with the wildtype tetramer. These novel reagents were incorporated in a polychromatic flow cytometric panel to detect CD8 + T cell populations specific for HLA-A*0201-restricted epitopes derived from Wilm's tumor-1 (WT1) and proteinase 3 (PR1) in the bone marrow and peripheral blood of patients with acute myeloid leukemia before SCT. The HLA-A*0201-restricted CMV pp65-derived epitope NLVPMVATV, which induces high avidity cognate CD8 + T cell populations, was used as a control. Both wildtype and coreceptor-enhanced tetramers consistently identified populations of NLVPMVATV-specific CD8 + T cells that were identical in magnitude; molecular analysis of TCR usage in these populations after high resolution flow cytometric sorting confirmed the equivalent cognate binding properties of these reagents. In contrast, coreceptor-enhanced tetramers enabled the visualization and simultaneous immunophenotyping of CD8 + T cell populations specific for PR1 and WT1 in patients with AML that were not detectable with the corresponding wildtype reagent. These results provide the first validation of a novel approach to the physical detection of low avidity antigen-specific CD8 + T cell populations by flow cytometry; such coreceptor-enhanced tetrameric reagents are likely to be useful in a multitude of settings for the detection of tumor-specific and autoreactive CD8 + T cells.


The design of distributed amplifiers in a CMOS process is investigated. In particular, the impact of parasitic elements from the transistors and from interstage inductors is studied. A methodology for determining an optimum design, including the number of stages, without needing a complete inductor model at the outset, is presented. This proposed methodology reduces the time and complexity of a distributed amplifier design while at the same time allowing the designer to gain more insight into the circuit's behavior.


A design of a radiation facility for very small specimens used in radiobiology is presented. This micro-irradiator has been primarily designed to irradiate partial bodies in zebrafish embryos 3–4 mm in length. A miniature x-ray, 50 kV photon beam, is used as a radiation source. The source is inserted in a cylindrical brass collimator that has a pinhole of 1.0 mm in diameter along the central axis to produce a pencil photon beam. The collimator with the source is attached underneath a computer-controlled movable table which holds the specimens. Using a 45° tilted mirror, a digital camera, connected to the computer, takes pictures of the specimen and the pinhole collimator. From the image provided by the camera, the relative distance from the specimen to the pinhole axis is calculated and coordinates are sent to the movable table to properly position the samples in the beam path. Due to its monitoring system, characteristic of the radiation beam, accuracy and precision of specimen positioning, and automatic image-based specimen recognition, this radiation facility is a suitable tool to irradiate partial bodies in zebrafish embryos, cell cultures or any other small specimen used in radiobiology research.


In this paper the dimming and frequency effects on stability, current crest factor (CCF) and power factor (PF) of high intensity discharge (HID) lamps fed with square waveforms are experimentally evaluated. For this evaluation the lamp was stabilized using resistances. The resistances were varied in function of the impedance of the lamp. The effects of dimming and frequency variation were observed for two types of lamps of different nominal power. The results indicate the ranges in which the lamp is stable and the frontier values in which the lamp becomes unstable. The CCF and PF remain close to unity and no acoustic resonances (AR) were observed during the applied tests.


Following An Empirical Study on Problems Involved in CET4 Communicative Listening Test and Teaching. This article also selects two representative classes of sophomores coming from Hubei University of Education as the sample to complete the empirical research on what necessary renovations should be taken place in New-CET4 communicative listening test in the methods of quantitative and qualitative comparative analysis with the help of the instrument SPSS (Statistics Planning of Social Science). The research findings prove that such reformations should be employed in the traditional New-CET4 listening test as to enlarge the length of conversations step by step and involve conversational situations in Section A (Conversation Listening Part), to add short audio-news and video-episodes as well as subjective questions to Section B (Passage Listening Part), and to change traditional word and sentence gap filling into title filling, partial topic sentence filling and key words filling in Section C (Compound Dictation Part). Key word: Empirical reforms; CET-4 (College English Test Band 4); Communicative listening test


The Environmental Health System (EHS), a subsystem of the Space Station Freedom (SSF) Crew Health Care System, was established to ensure that crewmembers will have a safe and healthy environment in which to live and work. EHS is comprised of six subsystems: Microbiology, Toxicology, Water Quality, Radiological Health, Vibroacoustics, and Barothermal Physiology. Each subsystem contributes to the overall functions of the EHS including environmental planning, environmental monitoring, environmental monitoring, environmental health assessments, and operations support. The EHS will provide hardware for monitoring the air, water, and internal surfaces of Freedom, including capabilities for inflight sample collection, processing, and analysis. The closed environment of SSF, and its dependence on recycled air and water, will necessitate a reliable monitoring system to alert crewmembers if contamination levels exceed the maximum allowable limits established to ensure crew health and safety. This paper describes the functions and hardware design status of the EHS.


The aim of this study was the adaptation to Colombia of O'Kelly Women's Beliefs Scales (OWBS), an instrument that measures the irrational thinking on the traditional female role. The Colombian version of the scale was prepared using the reverse translation method and administered to 931 women aged between 17 and 70. Exploratory factor analysis with Varimax rotation yielded five factors that accounted for 45.57% of the total variance, based on 37 reactive with factor loadings above. 30. As in previous studies, the existence of a dominant factor that explains 30% of the variance is confirmed. The internal consistency of the scale and the derived factors was adequate, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients between .79 and .94. In general, these results establish equivalence between the Colombian version of the OWBS and the original Australian version. However, given the theoretical foundation of the scale and the magnitude of the correlation between derived factors, a grouping of items in two main factors is proposed- General irrational beliefs about the traditional female role (made up of four derived factors) and Irrational beliefs about the traditional female role in the couple (based on the remaining factor)-. This hypothetical structure should be confirmed empirically in future research.


The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in International Journal of Cancer (2004) 111(2) 293–297 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.20253


I have written many times about the central role of institutional choice and comparative institutional analysis in analyzing law and public policy. In this paper, I focus on an approach to comparative institutional analysis and the analysis of law and public policy that bridges analytical and ideological gaps. The central feature of this approach is participation. Participation provides important links between economic, non-economic and even anti-economic analyses. It should be comfortable both to those interested in law and economics and to those interested in civic republicanism. It provides a way for law and economics to return to the basic instincts of economics and to explore areas of law and public policy previously foreign to law and economics. It also provides a way for non-economists to gain from valuable economic insights while remaining consistent with their primary intuitions. In the first two sections, I will clear the ground for analysis by showing why institutional choice and comparative institutional analysis are the essence of economics and the core of law. In the process, issues of participation and the dynamics of participation will begin to surface. In the third section, I will focus directly on participation and show its place in the intuitions of both economics and law. In the fourth section, I will use these insights to explore the character of the courts and the interaction between goal choice and institutional choice.


CONTEXT
Burnout, a state of physical or emotional exhaustion, is a concern within athletic training, as between 17 and 40% of athletic trainers (ATs) report high levels of burnout. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked with higher levels of burnout in other health professions.

OBJECTIVE
To compare burnout to ACEs in athletic trainers.

DESIGN
Cross-sectional study.

SETTING
Web-based survey.

PARTICIPANTS
1000 ATs were selected at random to participate in the study. 78 ATs started the survey, with 75 ATs completing the survey.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Burnout as measured by the Copenhagen Burnout Index (CBI) overall and subscale scores were compared across groups based on number of adverse experiences as measures by the ACES survey. Multiple ANOVAs were used to determine the association between ACE score and overall, personal, work, and patient-related burnout. Bonferroni post hoc corrections were used, and the a priori alpha level was p≤.05. The study protocol was approved by the IRB.

RESULTS
At least one adverse experience was reported in 37 (49.33%) participants. Those with 4 or more ACEs had higher odds of reporting overall, personal and work-related burnout than those with 0-3 ACEs. Moderate burnout (CBI≥50.00) was reported in 27 (36%; overall), 44 (58.67%, personal), 34 (45.3% work-related), and 15 (20.00%, patient-related) ATs. Participants with 4 ACEs had significantly higher overall burnout (67.11±19.89; ANOVA F6, 68=2.59, p=.03) than those with 0 (40.53 ±17.12, p=.04), 1 (38.42±20.99, p=.04), and 7 (19.08±12.09, p=.03) ACEs. The same pattern existed with personal burnout as participants with 4 ACES (76.67 ±17.33) had significantly higher scores (ANOVA F6, 68=3.40 p=.00) than those with 0 (46.60 ±17.49, p=.02), 1 (42.78±21.48, p=.01), and 7 (27.08±20.62, p=.03) ACEs. No other significant differences existed.

CONCLUSION
Between 20.00% and 58.67% of ATs surveyed reported some form of burnout. Higher levels of overall and personal burnout were found in those with 4 ACEs. While it was expected to see lower levels of burnout in those with lower ACEs, it was surprising to see that those with 7 reported some of the lowest CBI scores. It might be beneficial for ATs with childhood trauma to engage in self-regulation exercises to reduce limit triggers and burnout. Additionally, employers should explore becoming trauma-informed workplaces to better support employees.


The subject of the article is deliberations on the impact of public-private partnership on the implementation of the principle of sustainable development in local government units. The legislator imposes the obligation to perform public tasks on the local government units. They include duties that fall into the category of spatial and ecological order. The statutory obligation results in the necessity to undertake activities dependent on the currently binding law on the one hand, and on the capabilities and needs of a specific local government unit on the other hand. The potential of the local government unit determines the scope and speed of changes. Public-private partnership, as a form of cooperation between a public entity and a private partner, allows a division of tasks and risks between the parties, and thus uses the potential of a private partner and relieves the public body in the field of activities taken over by the private partner. Cooperation in performing public tasks allows to implement the assumptions of sustainable development based on the cooperation of socio-economic and ecological solutions, also in relation to the quality and economic conditions.


A copper-catalyzed diastereo- and enantioselective decarboxylative [3 + 2] cyclization reaction of alkyne-substituted cyclic carbamates with azlactones has been established. A range of optically pure γ-butyrolactams bearing two vicinal tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenters were obtained in high yields with good to excellent stereoselectivities (up to 99% yield, 99:1 dr, and 99% ee). This is the first example of asymmetric synthesis γ-butyrolactams containing sterically congested vicinal tetrasubstituted stereocenters via a decarboxylative cyclization pathway.


The production of sound by scattering of the near field of low Mach number boundary-layer turbulence by a rough, rigid wall is examined on the basis of Lighthill's theory (Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 211, 564 (1952)) of aerodynamic noise. The radiation is expressed in terms of the turbulence pressure spectrum on a control surface that is parallel to the mean plane of the wall and at a stand-off distance equal to the height of the wall roughness elements, the surface irregularities being modelled by a distribution of hemispherical bosses on an otherwise plane wall. The intensity of the sound produced by unit area of the wall varies as the sixth power of the main stream velocity and, for given wall roughness, increases as the boundary-layer thickness decreases. These conclusions are in accord with experimental observations reported by Hersh {AIAA paper no. 83-0786) of the generation of high frequency sound by turbulent flow from sand-roughened pipes, and it is shown how, for moderately rough pipes, the theory reproduces the spectral characteristics of Hersh's data.


The authors present a series of planar shock-wave experiments in which the longitudinal strain-gauge technique is extended to measure residual strains and tension strains in shocked polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). They also show that the residual strains can be simply related to residual temperatures which prevail in the specimen after complete release, through the thermal expansion coefficient. Uniaxial tension can be created if two rarefactions interact and they use the impedance mismatch of the copper impactors and PMMA to cause controlled tensions in it. They also obtained the maximum tensile strain in the uniaxial configuration which PMMA withstands, from which we get a value of 0.18+or-0.02 GPa for the spall strength of this material.


Objectives: To identify and appraise all studies relating to and instruments developed to measure quality of life (QOL) in children with gastrointestinal or liver diseases. Methods: A literature search was undertaken using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO to identify relevant articles published up to the end of 2005. These were reviewed by both authors and data were extracted using a standardised form. Articles were excluded if no attempt was made to measure QOL, they did not relate to children ages <17 years, they did not relate to gastrointestinal or liver diseases, or they were review articles. Quality of life instruments identified were rated according to proposed criteria. Results: From a total of 2379 articles identified in the initial search, a total of 2309 were excluded, leaving 70 included studies. These were assigned to the following categories: inflammatory bowel disease, n = 17; cystic fibrosis, n = 20; liver disease, n = 11; surgery, n = 15; and miscellaneous, n = 7. These studies describe the impact that these diseases have on the QOL of affected children. A total of 11 disease-specific QOL instruments and 1 generic instrument with a chronic disease module were identified, but only 5 of these fulfilled the proposed quality criteria and can be recommended for future use. Conclusions: Chronic gastrointestinal and liver diseases can have an enormous effect on the QOL of affected individuals and their families. A number of disease-specific paediatric QOL instruments have been developed and validated. Quality of life is an important outcome that should be incorporated into clinical practice and measured when treatments are evaluated. Future research should explore how QOL can best be improved in children in whom it is severely impaired.


The study was conducted at two institutions (The International School and The College of Education) Thai Nguyen University. The total number of participants was 92. The study employs a quasi-experimental research design to evaluate the effectiveness of a listening strategy instruction invention towards the listening comprehension. The findings reveals that students use listening strategies at a low level (M=2.1). The results also confirmed that the listening intervention really helped students in their listening ability. The mean of pre-test was M=3.72. After four weeks of intervention the mean scores were M=4.96 for the experimental group and M= 3.83 for the control group. After another four weeks, the improvement of the experimental group was M=5.6 compared to M=4.54 in the control group. At the end of the intervention the improvement the mean scores for experimental group and control group were M=6.41 and M=5.45 respectively. From the findings, it is concluded that the listening strategy intervention really improve students' listening comprehension.


The thermally modulated reflectance spectrum of gold has been measured over the range 1.8-3.2 eV, at 107 and 323K. A shift of +0.050+or-0.004 eV in the position of the principal peak at 2.5 eV in the Delta epsilon i spectrum has been observed as the temperature decreases, which is in agreement with the shift observed in wavelength modulated spectra. A corresponding shift of -0.075 eV in the subsidiary peak at 2.95 eV has also been observed. The results are discussed in the light of Christensen and Seraphin's (1971) band calculations and a possible alternative transition assignment suggested for the peak at 2.95 eV.


Since snow load is one of the loads of designing the industrial shed roof, this research presents a new system to reduce the industrial sheds roof design. In this system, sensitive units of moisture and temperature, which can be adjusted with different areas, are installed on the shed's roof. The mechanism of system is that the sensors in the units detect the presence of snow on the shed roof and send an order to connect electricity to the elements; therefore, the snow on the roof melts by the heat generated. In this system, solar panels are used to supply electricity. As with the help of this mechanism, snow does not remain on the roof, it is possible to eliminate the snow load in the calculations of the shed and apply at least the live load of the sixth regulation (Due to having a one-story shed, minimum live load applied and it used only for the foundation design of the structure.), this issue will create an economic plan in shed designing. According to the study conducted in this research, it is shown that the dimensions of the sheet beam used in the shed are reduced, which will significantly reduce the cost of construction and installation to some extent. In the following, two samples of sheds with a span of 20 meters in the presence of snow and the absence of snow in the software were modelled, and the results were compared with each other.


We report on the growth and characterization of self-assembled InGaN columnar nanostructures grown by gas source molecular beam epitaxy (GSMBE) on Si(111) substrates. At a zero concentration of Ga, InN nanocolumns (NCs) were successfully grown. In the case of InGaN, the surface morphology is dependent on composition; however, in general, InGaN samples exhibit columnar features. At concentrations near 50%, the samples show phase separation; this result is explained in terms of solid phase immiscibility.


Age at onset is one of the most important factors that affects the clinical course in Alzheimer disease (AD), whereas other factors such as apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype may also play a major role. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of age at onset and apoE genotype on white-matter changes in AD using diffusion tensor imaging. About 213 patients with AD and 66 normal individuals underwent diffusion tensor imaging, and apoE genotype was obtained in all AD patients and in 24 normal individuals. When multiple regression analysis was conducted, a younger age at onset was associated with lower fractional anisotropy in both deep-located long-range limbic and association fibers and superficial-located short-range association fibers in the frontal, the temporal, and the parietal lobes, and with a higher mean diffusivity in deep-located fibers and the bilateral medial thalamus. When analyzed separately in apoE e4 carriers and noncarriers, e4 carriers showed an association between a younger age at onset and lower fractional anisotropy, mainly in deep-located fibers, whereas noncarriers showed this association in both deep-located and superficial-located fibers. There was no difference in the spatial distribution between carriers and noncarriers in the association between the age at onset and mean diffusivity. Our results suggest that the topographical distribution of white-matter changes in AD is significantly affected by the interaction between age at onset and apoE genotype.


Although regimens of harvesting peripheric stem cell vary from one center to another, the most common ones are chemotherapy plus growth factor or growth factor alone. We aimed to determine which variables of harvesting peripheral stem cells are effective on the number of harvested CD34+ cells and successfull mobilisation defined as "the collection of >2.0 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg b.w. with a maximum of three leukaphereres". From August 2008 to January 2011, the documents of 56 patients included in the autolo- gous peripheral stem cell harvesting program were retrieved retrospectively. Regarding harvesting regimens, 28 patients (50.0%) we- re administered filgrastim 10 µg/kg/day (filgrastim group), 18 patients (32.1%) were administered a standard regime with ifosphami- de + etoposide + epirubicin + filgrastim 5 µg/kg/day or cyclophosphamide + etoposide + filgrastim 5 µg/kg/day (standard group), and 10 patients (17.9%) were administered a salvage regime + filgrastim 5 µg/kg/day (salvage group). Rituximab was added if the disease was CD20 positive. The median number of CD34+ cells and the number of inadequate collection did not differ between the- se 3 groups. Transplantation before mobilization was found to have a negative effect on the harvesting success. The transplantated patients had a lower number of harvested CD34+ cells than the patients without transplantation history. But no clear relationship was seen between harvest success and the diagnosis of the patients, pretransplant response, radiotherapy history before mobiliza- tion, or mobilization with a standard regimen. Finally, the number of standard CT cycles before mobilization were found to have a borderline negative effect on the harvested CD34+ cells.


Signals delivered by Ig receptors guide the development of functional B lymphocytes. For example, clonal expansion of early mu heavy chain ( mu HC)-positive pre-B cells requires the assembly of a signal-competent pre-B cell receptor complex (pre-BCR) consisting of a mu HC, a surrogate L chain, and the signal dimer Ig alpha beta. However, only a small fraction of the pre-BCR is transported to the cell surface, suggesting that pre-BCR signaling initiates already from an intracellular compartment, e.g., the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The finding that differentiation of pre-B cells and allelic exclusion at the IgH locus take place in surrogate L chain-deficient mice further supports the presence of a mu HC-mediated intracellular signal pathway. To determine whether a signal-competent Ig complex can already be assembled in the ER, we analyzed the consequence of pervanadate on tyrosine phosphorylation of Ig alpha in J558L plasmacytoma and 38B9 pre-B cells transfected with either a transport-competent IgL chain-pairing or an ER-retained nonpairing micro HC. Flow cytometry, combined Western blot-immunoprecipitation-kinase assays, and confocal microscopy revealed that both the nonpairing and pairing mu HC assembled with the Ig alpha beta dimer; however, in contrast to a pairing mu HC, the nonpairing mu HC was retained in the ER-cis-Golgi compartment, and neither colocalized with the src kinase lyn nor induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Ig alpha after pervanadate treatment of cells. On the basis of these findings, we propose that a signal-competent Ig complex consisting of mu HC, Ig alpha beta, and associated kinases is assembled in a post-ER compartment, thereby supporting the idea that a pre-BCR must be transported to the cell surface to initiate pre-BCR signaling.


Activated leukocytes are thought to contribute to respiratory dysfunction, alterations in microvascular permeability, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and thrombosis, all of which can complicate cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We have measured the levels of circulating proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, 8), polymorphonuclear leukocytes elastase (PMNL-E), and vascular endthelial factors (ET-1, TM, sICAM-1) in patients undergoing open heart surgery with CPB. Patients were divided into a control group and a ulinastatin group. We have examined the effects of ulinastatin on these humoral mediators and postoperative pulmonary function. Every factor except IL-8 increased after CBP in control group. IL-6 and PMNL-E declined sharply to normal level in a few hours, but it took several days after surgery for ET-1, TM, and sICAM-1 to return to preoperative levels. Ulinastatin significantly suppressed the elevation of PMNL-E after CPB, indirectly suppressing the increase of other factors. There was no significant relationship between levels of humoral mediators and postoperative pulmonary function between the two groups. Our results suggest that ulinastatin alleviates the damage of vascular endothelium due to CPB (first attack), and this may be beneficial to reduce excessive inflammatory reaction against secondary insults.


Abstract In the Northern Apennines, the External Liguride (EL) units are interpreted as derived from the domain that joined the Ligure–Piemontese oceanic basin to the Adriatic plate continental margin. The EL units can be divided into two different groups according to the lithostratigraphic features of the basal complexes underlying the Upper Cretaceous–Lower Tertiary carbonate flysch (e.g. Helminthoid flysch). The first group includes the western successions characterized by Santonian–Campanian sedimentary melanges where slide blocks of lherzolitic mantle, gabbros, basalts, granulites, continental granitoids are represented. The second group is represented by the eastern successions where the Cenomanian–Campanian basal complexes mainly consist of sandstones and conglomerates where the mafic and ultramafic rocks are scarce or completely lacking. Their original substrate is represented by the Middle Triassic to Lower Cretaceous, mainly platform carbonate deposits, found as slices at the base of the eastern successions. The stratigraphic features shown by the basal complexes allow the reconstruction of their source area that is assumed to be also representative for the pre-Upper Cretaceous setting. The proposed reconstruction suggests the occurrence in the EL domain of two distinct domains. The eastern domain was characterized by a thinned and faulted continental crust belonging to the Adriatic continental margin. The western domain was instead floored by subcontinental mantle associated with lower and upper continental crust, representing the ocean–continent transition. This setting is interpreted as the result of the opening of the Ligure–Piemontese oceanic basin by passive rifting, mainly developed by simple shear, asymmetric extension of the continental crust. © 2001 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS


Distance & open education mainly focuses on students by employing large number of ICT, especially the web technology. In terms of time and space, the learners and tutors are in the state of asynchronous as well as quasi-separated state. In distance & open education, the educational administration plays a key role throughout the process from the students' registration to their graduation. So the strength of educational administration represents the overall standard of management system and the whole school. Also, the teaching quality is directly determined by its quality and performance of the administration in distance & open education. With the research methods of educational systems engineering, the paper reveals the systems analysis and systems thinking in a logical way. Based on the integration of all kinds of resources of educational administration, it can also strengthen the quality and level of educational administration and give full play to the overall advantages of the system and then optimize the results of the system.


The realization of image processing algorithms in a hybrid optoelectronic device is discussed. The linear part of the algorithm is carried out in the optical block, and the nonlinear part of the algorithm in the electronic processing block of the device. These studies indicate the expediency of using the optical methods for processing the images of medico-biological objects to facilitate their visual analysis.


Pulmonary hypertension is defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure of more than 25 mmHg. There are many possible causes of pulmonary hypertension; pulmonary hypertension has a poor prognosis, irrespective of the underlying cause. The most frequent causes of pulmonary hypertension are left heart failure and lung disease. The diagnostic work up of pulmonary hypertension starts with investigations into left heart failure and lung disease. If these reveal no cause, ventilation perfusion scintigraphy should be carried out so that chronic thrombo-embolic pulmonary hypertension can be demonstrated or excluded. In most cases, chronic thrombo-embolic pulmonary hypertension can be treated curatively by means of pulmonary endarterectomy. If chronic thrombo-embolic pulmonary hypertension is also ruled out, then we speak of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Prostacyclins, endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, and soluble guanylyl cyclase stimulators have been shown to be effective in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. This condition should be treated at specialist centres.


Abstract This study is aimed at identifying and refining a method suitable to estimate the surface roughness length (z0) and the universal similarity function of the wind speed profile (ΨM) based on ultrasonic anemometer measurements carried out at only one measurement height. This method does not require experimental knowledge of wind speed vertical profiles. It permits the use of experimental data obtained from a single sonic anemometer placed in the surface layer in any stability condition, thereby simplifying experimental campaigns and cost reduction. In a fixed station equipped with a sonic anemometer, it is also possible to obtain a periodic estimate of z0 without additional ad hoc experimental campaigns; thus one can correlate the evolution of this parameter to changes that could be found over the area being studied. To prove its feasibility, the method was applied to data obtained in an experimental campaign carried out in Mexico near the northeast side of Mexico City. An ultrasonic anemometer ope...


SUMMARY Slip inversions of geodetic data from several large (magnitude ∼7) strike-slip earthquakes point to coseismic slip deficit at shallow depths (<3–4 km), that is, coseismic slip appears to decrease towards the Earth surface. While the inferred slip distribution may be consistent with laboratory-derived rate and state friction laws suggesting that the uppermost brittle crust may be velocity strengthening, there remains a question of how the coseismic slip deficit is accommodated throughout the earthquake cycle. The consequence of velocity-strengthening fault friction at shallow depths is that the deficit of coseismic slip is relieved by post-seismic afterslip and interseismic creep. However, many seismic events with inferred shallow slip deficit were not associated with either resolvable shallow interseismic creep or robust shallow afterslip. Hence, the origin of shallow 'slip deficit' remains uncertain. In this study, we investigate whether inelastic failure in the shallow crust due to dynamic earthquake rupture can explain the inferred deficit of shallow slip. Evidence for such failure is emerging from geologic, seismic and geodetic observations. We find that the amount of shallow slip deficit is proportional to the amount of inelastic deformation near the Earth surface. Such deformation occurs under a wide range of parameters that characterize rock strength in the upper crust. However, the largest magnitude of slip deficit in models accounting for off-fault yielding is 2–4 times smaller than that inferred from kinematic inversions of geodetic data. To explain this discrepancy, we further explore to what extent assumptions in the kinematic inversions may bias the inferred slip distributions. Inelastic deformation in the shallow crust reduces coseismic strain near the fault, introducing an additional 'artificial' deficit of up to 10 per cent of the maximum slip in inversions of geodetic data that are based on purely elastic models. The largest magnitude of slip deficit in our models combined with the bias in inversions accounts for up to 25 per cent of shallow slip deficit, which is comparable, but still smaller than 30– 60 per cent deficit inferred from kinematic inversions. We discuss potential mechanisms that may account for the remaining discrepancy between slip deficit predicted by elasto-plastic rupture models and that inferred from inversions of space geodetic data.


An enzymatic activity in crude extracts of macronuclei from the hypotrichous ciliate Oxytricha nova catalyzes the synthesis of RNA consisting of (C4A4)n using an oligodeoxynucleotide template of the telomeric sequence (dG4T4)n. Single-stranded (dG4T4)n is an effective template if it has a random sequence at its 5' end. The enzyme will not use a (dG4T4)n template of any length (up to 64 bases) if it lacks a random sequence at the 5' end. With a random, single-stranded sequence at the 5' end, the (dG4T4)n oligodeoxynucleotide must be at least 36 bases long to work as a template. A 16-base, single-stranded region of (dG4T4)2 is an effective template when joined to a 20-base double-stranded region of (dG4T4)n/(dA4dC4)n, a structural arrangement that is the same as the native telomere of Oxytricha macronuclear DNA. The RNA-synthesizing activity is unaffected by 1.0 mg/ml of alpha-amanitin. Macronuclear extracts have an alpha-amanitin-insensitive, RNA-polymerizing activity that can use a random 55mer oligodeoxynucleotide as a template. This enzyme activity may be the same one that uses (dG4T4)n templates to make (C4A4)n RNA. The (C4A4)n RNA made in the reaction can prime DNA synthesis by the E. coli DNA polymerase I Klenow fragment. Therefore, the RNA polymerase activity fulfills the requirements of the telomere DNA primase that we postulated for replication of telomeres in hypotrichs (Zahler and Prescott, 1988, Nucleic Acids Research 16, 6953-6972).


Siegel (2018) suggests that language can be used as an identity marker for an individual. This seems to be the case on 4chan, an anonymous image board where certain users are labelled as 'ESL' even though there are no information regarding their ethnicity, nationality, or languages spoken. Users who are perceived to be incompetent in English are labelled with the term and are usually discriminated against through the use of impoliteness. Analysis of the data shows that different categories of impoliteness are used against perceived ESL users to isolate, exclude and mock them. It is also shown that the phenomenon studied could be regarded as a form of language based discrimination, as perceived ESL users are identified and singled out by 4chan users based on language.


Cameroon has been producing palm oil for centuries but industrial scale production started around 1907 under the German colonisation with the development of estates and mills around the Littoral region (Sanaga-Maritime). The country's production of palm oil can be grouped into traditional (artisanal) and industrial milling. The production is stratified in three groups: an agro-industrial sector, smallholders in contract with agro-industries and traditional independent smallholders also called artisanal sector. Smallholders with less than 5 ha of oil palm represent more than 75% of oil palm growers but provide only half of the production due to very low yields. Despite the presence of these three groups, the national production is not sufficient to cover the domestic consumption. The government considers the oil palm sector (both artisanal and industrial) as an important tool to alleviate poverty and to generate national revenues. This paper analyses the operation of smallholding oil palm value chain in the Department of Sanaga-Maritime. Data were collected trough field survey that involved distribution of pre-structured questionnaires to a sample of 60 actors purposively selected. The data collected through these questionnaires were analysed using Olympe software. The study reveals that, oil palm smallholding value chain is made up of three categories of farmers: family farms, rural and urban investors. The average margins of farmers are higher for the plantation of urban investors, followed by those of the rural investor and the family farms. Family farmers are the actors who process all their produce into red palm oil, whereas, the rural investor and urban elites do not process their produce. They rather sell their nuts, either to local artisanal millers or to the local agro industry. Two types of artisanal millers have been identified: manual vertical press users and combined motorized horizontal press users. In general, the motorized horizontal presses have a higher production capacity (tons/day) than the manuals presses. The study also reveals that the extraction rate slightly differs according to the type of press used. (Resume d'auteur)


The main objective of this study was to synthesize V-shaped liquid crystals materials containing azo chromophores. The starting material, methyl-4-aminobenzoate, was used to undergo diazonium salt coupling reaction with phenol to obtain methyl-4-(4- hydroxyphenylazo)benzoate. The next step of the reaction was Williamson's ether synthesis, whereby hexadecyl bromide was added to the diazonium salt to give
methyl-4-(4-hexadecyloxyphenylazo)benzoate. The ester functional group (benzoate) of this compound was then hydrolyzed with sodium hydroxide, yielding 4-(4-
hexadecyloxyphenylazo)benzoic acid. Lastly, the benzoic acid was reacted with catechol in the presence of DCC and DMAP for the Fischer esterification reaction. As the result, 15.78 % of yellow V-shaped liquid crystals, 1,2-phenylene-bis[4-(4- hexadecyloxyphenylazo)benzoate], with a melting point ranging from 198 - 202 °C was obtained. The molecular structures and characteristics of the intermediates and
target compound were further confirmed by spectroscopic methods and thermal analysis including FT-IR, ¹H-NMR and DSC. From the FT-IR spectra of all intermediates and the final compound, the functional groups that present in each
compound were shown and were identified as alkyl, aryl, ether, ester, carboxylic acid, etc. for each spectrum. 'H-NMR spectrum of the final compound showed the types of
protons as in the projected molecular structure of the V-shaped target molecule with the presence of some impurities. DSC thermogram showed the phase transition temperatures of crystalline to isotropic (Cr-I) at 198.39 °C for endothermic while for exothermic, isotropic to crystal (I-Cr) phase appeared at 148.53 °C. However, from the DSC thermogram analysis, the synthesized compound did not show liquid crystal mesophase but crystalline phase.


We survey the recent work on phase transition and distances in various random graph models with general degree sequences. We focus on inhomogeneous random graphs, the configuration model, and affine preferential attachment models, and pay special attention to the setting where these random graphs have a power-law degree sequence. This means that the proportion of vertices with degree k in large graphs is approximately proportional to k−τ for some τ>1. Since many real networks have been empirically shown to have power-law degree sequences, these random graphs can be seen as more realistic models for real complex networks than classical random graphs such as the Erdős–Renyi random graph. It is often suggested that the behavior of random graphs should have a large amount of universality, meaning, in this case, that random graphs with similar degree sequences share similar behavior. We survey the available results on graph distances in power-law random graphs that are consistent with this prediction.


In most of the cases spontaneaously uttered units of speech (e.g. in face-to-face dialogues) contain performance phenomena like repairs, breaking offs, omissions and others that motivate a restructuring procedure which allows storage or further processing of the input. In our view, this restructuring procedure is based on the segmentation of the input into a set of functional (i.e. meaningful) units. These functional units should be cleared from redundant parts of the source text, non-overlapping in most of the cases, ordered hierarchically according to the importance of the content, consist of a comparable size. Segmentation above word boundary is no problem for written texts. Amtrup and Jekat 1995, p.298:Written language offers conventionalized methods for segmentation, e.g. splitting into sentences, phrases or — based on structural analysis — constituents. As for spoken texts , functional units seem to be an important basis for processing but there are no criteria for segmentation which are as evident as to written language. Nevertheless, the restructuring of the spoken input has to be carried out very fast especially in the case of interpretation when more than one language is processed. Recordings of dialogue interpreting give insight to the output of the restructuring procedure. Our hypothesis is that prosodic cues are very important for speech segmentation and help to identify meaningful functional units. In this paper we will demonstrate some effects of the restructuring procedure and draw up evidence for the importance of prosodic cues within the process of restructuring. 1. THE USE OF FUNCTIONAL UNITS Functional units of spoken texts are often corresponding to speech acts (cf. Austin 1962) and may be adapted to a certain domain like e.g. dialogue acts in the VERBMOBIL project. One example is the dialogue act Accept, cf. Jekat et al. 1995, p.13: Accept Illocution: A Topic Of Negotiation (TON) is being accepted.


In order to part address the problem of drug-resistant pathogens, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been proposed as alternatives to traditional antibiotics. Herein, a novel phylloseptin peptide, named phylloseptin-PV1 (PPV1), is described from the defensive skin secretion of the Neotropical white-lined leaf frog, Phyllomedusa vaillantii. The peptide was synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and purified by RP-HPLC, prior to assessment of its biological activities. PPV1 not only demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against planktonic ESKAPE microorganisms and the yeast, Candida albicans, but also inhibited and eradicated Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA biofilms. The antimicrobial mechanism was shown to include permeabilization of target cell membranes. The in vivo antimicrobial activity of the peptide was then evaluated using mice. PPV1 also exhibited antiproliferative activity against the cancer cell lines, H157, MCF-7, and U251MG, but had a lower potency against the normal cell line, HMEC-1. Although, the peptide possessed a moderate hemolytic action on mammalian red blood cells in vitro, it did not induce significant hepatic or renal toxicity in injected infected mice. These studies have thus found PPV1 to be a potent phylloseptin group AMP, which can effectively inhibit staphylococci, both in vitro and in vivo, without eliciting toxicity. These data thus provide support for further evaluation of PPV1 as a novel antimicrobial agent with therapeutic potential.


In this paper we give review of discrete PI and PID control have found high applications in most of the nonlinear systems like the electric motor drives. Proportional, Integral and Derivative (PID) parameters controller for vector control of induction motor. The l parameters for current loop, flux loop, and speed loop as functioned required settling time and motor parameters will be computed by the proposed method of reliability & performance of the AC drive increases. This paper presents a discrete PI and PID control based speed controller and its design for vector controlled induction motor drive.


Priest and Klein argued in 1984 that, because of selection effects, the percentage of litigated cases won by plaintiffs will not vary with the legal standard. Many researchers thereafter concluded that one could not make valid inferences about the character of the law from the percentage of cases plaintiffs won, nor could one measure legal change by observing changes in that percentage. This article argues that, even taking selection effects into account, one may be able to make valid inferences from the percentage of plaintiff trial victories, because selection effects are partial. Therefore, although selection mutes changes in the plaintiff trial win rate, it does not make the win rate completely invariant to legal change. This article shows that inferences from litigated cases may be possible under the standard screening and signaling models of settlement, as well as under Priest and Klein's original divergent-expectations model.


The Auxiliary Power Unit on Airbus aircraft will keep the aircraft comfortable both in the air and on the ground, so customers feel happy. High oil temperature at the Auxiliary Power Unit is a loss and will be dangerous if repair is not done immediately. The contributing factors are: 1) Blockage in the air intake duct or inlate duck; 2) blockages in the ducting oil cooler, ECB electronic control box (59KD), oil temperature sensor (8092KM), oil cooler (8079KM), cooling fan assembly (8053KM) and APU generator (8XS); and 3) oil quality degradation. Preventive maintenance methods that can be carried out so that high oil temperatures do not occur in the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), such as: 1) always maintaining the quantity and quality of the APU oil, namely by always checking the oil on time and according to the checking schedule; 2) change the APU oil filter according to schedule; and 3) always keep the APU cooling ducts / ducts clean from dust or other contamination, so that the APU oil cooling system can maintain the APU oil temperature always below 162.780C (3250F).


Ayurveda is the most ancient living system of healthcare. The modern quest for healthy life style has led to the fast growing acceptance of Ayurvedic and Herbal products and has created a good market conditions for the Herbal sector, world over. India's share in the export of herbals is 2. 5% of the total global herbal market. While with the same bio-diversity and ancient culture the China has 13% share of the global herbal market. So there is obviously vast scope for Indian manufacturers for entering the growing worldwide opportunities of business in Herbal Pharmaceutical field. WHO predicts the overall pharmaceutical market to reach US $ 5 trillion by 2050. The major objective of this study is to critically appraise the potential for herbal Ayurvedic products and identify the problems and prospects of this sector.Â


Estimates of attenuation computed from seismic data are inherently composed of two parts: a local intrinsic effect, and a nonlocal stratigraphic effect. The former is a property of the rock that the wave is transiting through and represents actual loss of wave energy to heat. The latter is a wave interference due to the cumulative effect of short path multiples occurring along the transmission path. It is often desirable to estimate intrinsic attenuation as a reservoir parameter as it may indicate reservoir quality. However, attenuation measurements from seismic data will always consist of both intrinsic and stratigraphic effects so the isolation of the former requires the estimation of the latter. We investigate the possibility of using a visco-acoustic 1D synthetic VSP driven by finely sampled well information to estimate the stratigraphic attenuation. We then use these estimates to isolate the intrinsic attenuation from a zero offset VSP. We show that well-log sampling of 0.3048m in depth is sufficient to estimate the stratigraphic effect; however, the unavoidable occurrence of an unlogged overburden means that the magnitude of the estimate will always be too small. The estimates of total attenuation on a real VSP are made on the separated downgoing wavefield. Intrinsic attenuation then follows by subtracting the stratigraphic component, estimated from the synthetic VSP, from the measured total attenuation. Our estimates of intrinsic attenuation fail to show the theoretically expected monotonically increasing behaviour. Among the possible reasons for this are the imperfect nature of VSP wavefield separation, problems with receiver and sonic coupling in the borehole, the aforementioned unlogged overburden, and mode-converted scattered waves that are not included in the visco-acoustic approximation. These are topics for future research.


1.1. Phase space, phase flows and Liouville's Theorem 1.2. Equilibrium points, linear stability and the phase portrait 1.3. Nonlinear stability 1.4. Bifurcations and change of stability 1.5. A conservative system showing bifurcations from integrable to conservative behavior 1.6. Theory of integrable conservative systems 1.7. Stability of driven systems: Arnol'd tongues


Objective: We found the hypomethylation status of CYP11B2 gene in the aldosterone-producing adenomas compared with normal adrenal glands or non-functioning adrenal adenomas and reported that the methylation of promoter region of this gene influenced the mRNA expression in the adrenal cells. Angiotensin II or potassium influenced the methylation status of CYP11B2 gene. In order to clarify the effect of salt intake on the methylation status of CYP11B2 gene, rats were fed with high or low salt diet and the methylation status of CYP11B2 gene in the adrenal gland was examined. Design and Method: Five Wister rats were fed with high, normal and low salt diet for 8 weeks. Plasma and urinary aldosterone, PRA were measured by RIA. The gene expression of CYP11B2 was measured by real time quantitative PCR in the adrenal glands. Isolated DNAs from rat adrenal glands were treated with bisulfite and amplified using primers specific for the human CYP11B2 promoter regions. Results: Plasma and urinary aldosterone and PRA were significantly decreased by high salt diet compared with normal or low salt diet (p < 0.05). High salt diet significantly decreased mRNA levels of CYP11B2 gene and increased metylation ratio of this gene (p < 0.05). Conclusions: High salt diet may influence the methylation ratio of CYP11B2 gene and regulate aldosterone biosynthesis.


The problem of matching the results of hospital design to needs and expectations of its staff has become exceedingly complex. Although it is easy to classify staff needs and preferences, we must go further than that; we must examine if and how they are incorporated in the processes of creating the appropriate hospital environment. All too often these processes--the ever-turning cycle of identifying problems, needs-briefing-designing and evaluating--deviate from the pathways of comprehensive, logical and sensible tactics. The author discusses the reasons for this.


Today's smartphone apps are regularly updated and enhanced through software updates. The case at hand is the popular social multimedia messaging app Snapchat that released a design overhaul in February 2018. While the update neither changed any features nor caused any relevant bugs or crashes, it led to an uproar of Snapchat's users and significantly decreased its app store ratings and consequently revenue. As a result, Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat, was forced to reverse design changes to appease their users. The initial adverse effects of the update were surprising; however, after using difference-in-difference tests in combination with sentiment analysis, our results indicate that design updates can be perceived negatively by users. We contribute to IS literature by evaluating the effect of design changes and the role of perceived ease of use in the post-adoption stage.


Recently, TOBB University of Economics and Technology was awarded a grant for a project on "Design, Construction and Test of Hydraulic Turbines" from Turkish Ministry of Development. The project includes Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) aided hydraulic and structural design, geometry optimization, manufacturing and testing of hydraulic turbines. The main objective of the research presented here is to design a hydro turbine test stand which tests the performance and cavitation characteristics of turbine models according to standards. The paper describes the characteristics of the designed test stand.


Sanad mutawatir is one of the most important in terms of determining a month as qiraat qiraat it was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. When a qira'at have a chain that reaches the level of mutawatir, then it is recognized as one of al-Qur'an qiraat authentic and valid read it counted as worship either in prayer or outside prayer. With the elements consecutively in a qiraat, qiraat position can be confirmed as one qiraat mutawatirah. The concept of mutawatir in this Qiraat views can be used in scientific research studies nowadays. Hence, this paper aims to identify the concept of mutawatir in the next Qiraat mutawatir analyze the suitability of the concept in the context of determining the validity of research data. The question is whether the elements in the concept of mutawatir? How does this concept mutawatir capable and suitable to be used in determining the validity of the data? To answer both of these questions, this paper uses the method library and textual analysis. This paper finds that there are at least two elements in this concept of the nature of the narrator and the number of transmitters at each stage of data collection. Both of these elements lead to a strengthening of data provided


Decrease in species diversity by overgrazing is one of the crucial indicators for ecosystem deterioration. Sika deer ( Cervus nippon Tamminck) has grazed various plants on Nakajima Island, Hokkaido, Japan, for a few decades, due to low food availability. We examined if diverse microtopography supported high species diversity by conserving specific plants on the grassland of the island where overgrazing by deer occurred. Based on TWINSPAN analysis, three plant community types were classified: grasslands represented by short seed plants, ferns, and unpalatable forbs. Grasslands dominated by short and/or unpalatable seed plants established on the flat ground, while fern species except Equisetum arvense did not establish there. Soil hardiness was higher on short-plant grasslands than on unpalatable-forb grasslands, suggesting that palatability on plants was related to plant community differentiation on the flat ground. Of 10 fern species recorded, 9 species established mostly in deep pits. Pit depth was more important than pit area to maintain high fern diversity. Those results indicated that diverse microtopography, i.e., pit development, supports fern diversity, because of the multiplier effects of predator avoidance and preferable sites for fern establishment. Diverse and/or specific microtopography must be a prerequisite to conserve rare species and high diversity in such disturbed areas.


PURPOSE
Technological advancements in dental radiography have improved oral care on many fronts, yet diagnostic efficacy for some of the most common oral conditions, such as caries, dental cracks and fractures, and periodontal disease, remains relatively low. Driven by the clinical need for a better diagnostic yield for these and other dental conditions, we initiated the development of a stationary intraoral tomosynthesis (s-IOT) imaging system using carbon nanotube (CNT) x-ray source array technology. Here, we report the system characterization and preliminary imaging evaluation of a clinical prototype s-IOT system approved for human use.

METHODS
The clinical prototype s-IOT system is comprised of a multibeam CNT x-ray source array, high voltage generator, control electronics, collimator cone, and dynamic digital intraoral detector. During a tomosynthesis scan, each x-ray source is operated sequentially at fixed, nominal tube current of 7 mA and user-specified pulse width. Images are acquired by a digital intraoral detector and the reconstruction algorithm generates slice information in real time for operator review. In this study, the s-IOT system was characterized for tube output, dosimetry, and spatial resolution. Manufacturer specifications were validated, such as tube current, kVp, and pulse width. Tube current was measured with an oscilloscope on the analog output of the anode power supply. Pulse width, kVp, and peak skin dose were measured with a dosimeter with ion chamber and high voltage accessory. In-plane spatial resolution was evaluated via measurement of MTF and imaging of a line pair phantom. Spatial resolution in the depth direction was evaluated via artifact spread measurement. The size of the collimated radiation field was evaluated for compliance with FDA regulations. A dental phantom and human specimens of varying pathologies were imaged on a clinical 2D intraoral imaging system as well as s-IOT for comparison and to explore potential clinical applications.

RESULTS
The measured tube current, kVp, and pulse width values were within 3% of the set values. A cumulative peak skin dose of 1.12 mGy was measured for one complete tomosynthesis scan using a 50-ms pulse per projection view. Projection images and reconstruction slices revealed MTF values ranging from 8.1 to 9.3 cycles/mm. Line pair imaging verified this result. The radiation field was found to meet the FDA requirements for intraoral imaging devices. Tomosynthesis reconstruction slice images of the dental phantom and human specimens provided depth resolution, allowing visibility of anatomical features that cannot be seen in the 2D intraoral images.

CONCLUSIONS
The clinical prototype s-IOT device was evaluated and found to meet all manufacturer specifications. Though the system capability is higher, initial investigations are targeting a low-dose range comparable to a single 2D radiograph. Preliminary studies indicated that s-IOT provides increased image quality and feature conspicuity at a dose comparable to a single 2D intraoral radiograph.


Vertical jump is a valuable training, testing, and readiness monitoring tool used across a multitude of sport settings. However, accurate field analysis has not always been readily available or affordable. For this study, two-dimensional motion capture (Mo-Cap), G-Flight micro-sensor, and PUSH accelerometer technologies were compared to a research-grade force-plate. Twelve healthy university students (7 males, 5 females) volunteered for this study. Each participant performed squat jumps, countermovement jumps, and drop jumps on three separate occasions. Between-device differences were determined using a one-way repeated measures ANOVA. Systematic bias was determined by limits of agreement using Bland–Altman analysis. Variability was examined via the coefficient of variation, interclass correlation coefficient, and typical error of measure. Dependent variables included jump height, contact-time, and reactive strength index (RSI). Mo-Cap held the greatest statistical similarity to force-plates, only overestimating contact-time (+12 ms). G-Flight (+1.3–4 cm) and PUSH (+4.1–4.5 cm) consistently overestimate jump height, while PUSH underestimates contact-time (−24 ms). Correspondingly, RSI was the most valid metric across all technologies. All technologies held small to moderate variably; however, variability was greatest with the G-Flight. While all technologies are practically implementable, practitioners may want to consider budget, athlete characteristics, exercise demands, set-up, and processing time before purchasing the most appropriate equipment.


A flexible stretch forming process is useful for small quantity batch production because various shape changes of the flexible die can be achieved conveniently. In this study, the design variables, namely, the punch size, curvature radius and elastic pad thickness, were quantitatively evaluated to understand their influence on sheet formability using statistical methods such as the correlation and regression analyses. Forming simulations were designed and conducted by a three-way factorial design to obtain numerical values of a shape error. Linear relationships between the design variables and the shape error resulted from the Pearson correlation analysis. Subsequently, a regression analysis was also conducted between the design variables and the shape error. A regression equation was derived and used in the flexible die design stage to estimate the shape error.


Cloud computing offers on-demand, scalable computing and storage, and has become an essential resource for the analyses of big biomedical data. The usual approach to cloud computing requires users to reserve and provision virtual servers. An emerging alternative is to have the provider allocate machine resources dynamically. This type of serverless computing has tremendous potential for biomedical research in terms of ease-of-use, instantaneous scalability and cost effectiveness. In our proof of concept example, we demonstrate how serverless computing provides low cost access to hundreds of CPUs, on demand, with little or no setup. In particular, we illustrate that the all-against-all pairwise comparison among all unique human proteins can be accomplished in approximately 2 minutes, at a cost of less than $1, using Amazon Web Services Lambda. This is a 250x speedup compared to running the same task on a typical laptop computer.


The object of the present investigation, was to compare the supplemental value of the microbial proteins in dried brewers' yeast with the animal proteins in white-fish meal when incorporated in a barley meal-fine bran diet containing a little lucerne meal and suitably adjusted as regards minerals. The investigation was carried out both by the nitrogen-balance method and by the statistically controlled growth method, using the individual-feeding technique. The main problem was to find the minimum percentage of yeast that had to be included in the cereal diet so as to sustain the same rate of growth and economy of food conversion, and to enable retention of nitrogen to take place at the same rate, as is obtained on a standard diet containing 7% of white-fish meal, the total digestible nutrients in all diets being kept approximately constant. In the first nitrogen-balance trial a comparison was made between the standard diet containing 7% of white-fish meal and a similar basal diet supplemented with 15% of dried brewers' yeast. The percentage crude protein in the yeast diet was 15·39 as compared with 15·12 in the standard treatment, the total digestible crude protein being 12·34 and 12·29, respectively. The supply of total digestible nutrients was almost alike on both treatments. After about 6 weeks on experiment, the two hogs on the yeast diet became subject to vomiting at rather frequent intervals, although they were always eager for their food and their faeces remained normal. It is unlikely that vomiting was caused by the presence in the yeast of any toxic substance and the possibility that it was due to the presence of live yeast cells is also remote for reasons given. The most likely hypothesis is that it was due to the animals 'bolting' their food with great avidity, since the pigs found the yeast diet to be highly palatable and they always appeared to be hungry. The two hogs on the yeast diet made average daily live-weight gains of 0·85 and 0·80 lb., the figures over a corresponding period for the hogs on the standard treatment being 0·67 and 0·71 lb. Economy of food conversion was also better on the yeast treatment. The average daily retention of nitrogen was also higher on the yeast treatment the figures being 9·28 and 9·01 g. as compared with 8·07 and 8·90 g. on the standard diet. It is evident therefore that when yeast is incorporated in a cereal diet so as to bring the digestible crude protein content to the same level as in the standard treatment containing white-fish meal, maximum storage of nitrogen takes place, even with young pigs. In the second nitrogen-balance trial the amount of yeast in the diet was reduced to 12% so as to investigate whether this amount would also support maximum retention of nitrogen and maximum growth. The percentage of digestible crude protein in the diet was 12·56 on the standard treatment and 11·29 on the yeast treatment, the total digestible nutrients being 64·47 and 64·18%, respectively. Over the 63 days that the pigs were in the metabolism crates the two hogs on the standard treatment made slightly higher live-weight gains and retained rather more protein in their tissues, the average retention of nitrogen being 9·43 g. on the standard diet and 8·3 g. on the yeast diet. It appeared from these results that a cereal diet supplemented with dried brewers' yeast so as to bring the crude protein content to 14·18% (15·95% on the basis of dry matter) does not supply quite enough protein to support maximum retention of nitrogen. In the first experiment, however, when the yeast diet contained 15·39% of crude protein (17·37% on the basis of dry matter) the results were fully equal to the standard treatment containing 15·12% of crude protein (17·21% on the basis of dry matter). These conclusions were tested further by means of a growth trial with ten individually-fedpigs on each treatment. In the growth trial the ten pigs on treatment A received a supplement of 9% of dried brewers' yeast, those on treatment B were on the standard diet containing 7% of white-fish meal and those on treatment C received a supplement of 12% yeast. The percentage of crude protein on the mean moisture basis was 14·62 in treatment A, 16·15 in treatment B and 15·4% in treatment C. It was concluded from the results of this growth trial that when approximately one-third of the total crude protein in the diet comes from either dried brewers' yeast or white-fish meal, complete supplementation of the proteins in the basal diet of barley meal and fine bran occurs, so as to enable maximum retention of nitrogen or maximum growth to take place without wastage of aminoacids. The results for treatment A suggest that the proteins in yeast may even be superior in supplemental value to the proteins in white-fish meal. The deductions made from both methods of experimentation are therefore in close agreement and the results show that a basal diet of 2 parts of barley meal and 1 part of fine bran with a little lucerne meal and minerals when supplemented with dried brewers' yeast so as to bring the crude protein content of the mixture to about 15·5% enables the young pig to store the maximum amount of protein in its tissues and to grow at a maximum rate in conformity with the net energy content of the diet. The distribution of essential amino -acids in the proteins of yeast and in the proteins of whitefish meal, when based on equal weight of crude protein, is not significantly different, any differences being slightly in favour of the yeast proteins. A comparison is also made between the results obtained with dried brewers' yeast and those obtained with extracted decorticated ground-nut meal used in previous trials.


Obtained by imaging through the imaging optical section giving the distortion of an optical image from an object, the image processing for processing image data including a distortion of the image pickup optical section, use a convenient easy image processing apparatus for the user, the image processing method, to provide a recording medium m the imaging device which records the program and the program. Display data output section (13d) is subject image selected areas of a portion of the field of view represented by the image data and can be identified, and, by using the distortion-corrected image of the selected area, in accordance with the display mode and it outputs the image data of the image. Display mode setting section (13c) is to set the display mode. Control unit (13e), in response to the switched selection region, the first display mode in which a subject image can be identified and selected area is not used in the display image, and can be identified selection area subject image is changed to the second display mode used in the display image.


The goal of this project was to characterize the growth and UV resistance of four unique halophilic strains, JOR-1, BOL 4-2, BOL 6-1 and BOL 5-4. Halophilic archaea are interesting to study in part because of their notably high UV resistance. Four previously uncharacterized halophilic archaea, JOR-1, a Salararchaeum from the Dead Sea sediments, BOL 4-2, a high altitude Halorubrum from the Salar de Uyuni, and BOL 6-1 and BOL 5-4, both Natrinema from a salt mine in Bolivia, were cultured, their growth rates were measured, and their relative resistance to ultraviolet light exposure was determined. It was found that JOR-1, BOL 4-2, and BOL 6-1 had very similar doubling times (~3.5-5 hours) while BOL 5-4 grew significantly slower with a doubling time of 5.2 days. JOR-1 and BOL 4-2 each exhibited the high UV resistance typical of halophiles despite their different origins and genetic backgrounds. However, BOL 6-1 and BOL 5-4, isolated from the same location and found to be members of the same genus, showed unusual UV resistance profiles. BOL 6-1 is a relatively UV sensitive halophile while BOL 5-4, which lacks the typical halophilic red/orange pigmentation, showed a notable defect in its ability to perform photoreactivation, a key DNA repair process active only in the presence of blue light wavelengths. This work helps us better understand these four previously uncharacterized strains and adds to our understanding of the natural diversity of halophilic archaea, particularly pertaining to pigmentation and UV resistance.


Is it reasonable and useful to perform surgery on carotid lesions after 75 years? ("old man" according to the W.H.O. classification). To answer this question, we re-examined 66 patients aged 75 to 87 years, who underwent 76 carotid thromboendarteriectomies with one post-operative death. The results study showed that morbidity and general complications were not more important than in younger patients. Late results from 2 to 94 months showed a very low percentage of secondary neurologic complications even if patients had a vascular or general surgical intervention in a second period: 13 cases. There were only 2 re-stenoses. Indications were defined, but it was above all the asymptomatic patients or patients who had a TIA who could benefit from them.


In a population‐based study of 2,982 bladder cancer patients and 5,782 controls in 10 geographic areas of the United States which was designed to assess the role of environmental risk factors, information was also obtained on the history of urinary tract cancer in first‐degree relatives. A family history of urinary tract cancer significantly elevated the risk of bladder cancer [relative risk (RR) = 1.45], with higher risks observed among patients under age 45. The risks of bladder cancer associated with positive family history were generally higher among persons with suspected environmental exposures, particularly heavy cigarette smoking (RR = 10.7 among those who smoked 3 or more packs per day). Further studies of bladder cancer should incorporate biochemical and genetic probes to assess mechanisms of familial susceptibility and interactions with environmental factors.


Clinical application of the polyvinylalcohol (PVA) sponge in the extirpation of maxillary bone cyst is presented.PVA sponge material is now widely employed industrial products, household utensils, and medical instruments. PVA sponge is highly hydrophilic and water-absorbant due to its continuous microporous structure. Because of this, we considered that PVA sponge might possess both tamponade and drainage functions. Thus, we used PVA sponge in the extirpation of maxillay bone cyst when radical surgery of the maxillary sinuses was simultaneously performed.PVA sponge was introduced into the antral cavity and brought out through the nose. PVA sponge was usually removed on the second day after operation.The result was satisfactory: little pain and bleeding was noted when the PVA sponge was removed. In addition, postoperative buccal swelling was considerably reduced.


With this paper we try to intend to contribute to the reconciliation with the studies about Art History and Archaeology of Architecture, often confronted because methodological differences. Therefore, we present the archaeologic and artistic studies undertaken by Francisco M.a Tubino in 1885 in the Alcázar of Seville. This work was the first been made supported by a methodological practice in this monumental site, and it marks a turning point about artistic and archaeologic historiography. Tubino's work is a reflection of a t ime when there wasn't any difference between the art historian and the archaeologist and it may illustrate about teamwork between archaeologic and historical artistic methodology.


A processor-based electronic system includes several memory modules arranged in first and second ranks. The memory modules in the first rank are directly accessed by any of several processors, and the memory modules in the second rank are accessed by the processors through the memory modules in the first rank. The data bandwidth between the processors and the memory modules in the second rank is varied by varying the number of memory modules in the first rank that are used to access the memory module in the second set. Each of the memory modules includes several memory devices coupled to a memory hub. The memory hub includes a memory controller coupled to each memory device, a link interface coupled to a respective processor or memory module, and a cross bar switch coupling any of the memory controllers to any of the link interfaces.


Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a peripheral neuropathy presenting with distal weakness and sensory loss. This thesis examines the role that proximal activity plays in compensating for distal weakness to maintain functional walking. Comparative 3D gait analysis showed reduced range of ankle motion kinetics in people with CMT. Additionally, swing phase hip flexion increased, moments and power around the knee altered during preswing and trunk motion increased. These changes were related to the degree of distal weakness. Proximal adaptations were also observed in healthy control subjects following isolated bilateral fatigue of the plantarflexors but did not resemble those of people with CMT. The role the hip flexors play in compensating for plantarflexor weakness to maintain walking was examined in two studies. When walking on a treadmill people with CMT took an average of 48 minutes to reach level 17 on the Borg perceived exertion scale whereas matched control subjects reached level 8 while walking at the same speed and cadence. After prolonged walking the maximum voluntary contraction of the hip flexors reduced by 20% in the CMT group. Additionally, hip flexor velocity reduced during swing phase and trunk motion increased. A separate study specifically fatigued the hip flexors by 20% resulting in similar kinematic changes to the first study, plus a reduction in walking time to reach Borg level 17 in people with CMT. The effect of ankle foot orthoses (AFO) was investigated in people with CMT. A variation in the stiffness of the three splints was observed when worn with footwear. During walking all AFOs reduced footdrop during swing phase but did not reduce hip flexion. One of the more rigid devices also reduced the total ankle power generation during preswing. These studies suggest that proximal compensations are present, they maintain functional walking and may be influenced by orthotics intervention.


Background: Abemaciclib is the first and only cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 inhibitor approved for adjuvant treatment of hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−), node-positive, and high-risk early breast cancer (EBC), with indications varying by geography. Premenopausal patients with HR+, HER2− tumors may have different tumor biology and treatment response compared to postmenopausal patients. Objectives: We describe the efficacy and safety of abemaciclib plus endocrine therapy (ET) for the large subgroup of premenopausal patients with HR+, HER2− EBC in monarchE. Design: Randomized patients (1:1) received adjuvant ET with or without abemaciclib for 2 years plus at least 3 additional years of ET as clinically indicated. Methods: Patients were stratified by menopausal status (premenopausal versus postmenopausal) at diagnosis. Standard ET (tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor) with or without gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist was determined by physician's choice. Invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) and distant relapse-free survival (DRFS) by menopausal status were assessed at data cutoff on 1 April 2021 (median follow-up of 27 months). Results: Among randomized patients, 2451 (43.5%) were premenopausal and 3181 (56.4%) were postmenopausal. The choice of ET for premenopausal patients varied considerably between countries. Treatment benefit was consistent across menopausal status, with a numerically greater effect size in premenopausal patients. For premenopausal patients, abemaciclib with ET resulted in a 42.2% and 40.3% reduction in the risk of developing IDFS and DRFS events, respectively. Absolute improvement at 3 years was 5.7% for IDFS and 4.4% for DRFS rates. Safety profile for premenopausal patients was consistent with the overall safety population. Conclusion: Abemaciclib with ET demonstrated clinically meaningful treatment benefit for IDFS and DRFS versus ET alone regardless of menopausal status and first ET, with a numerically greater benefit in the premenopausal compared to the postmenopausal population. Safety data in premenopausal patients are consistent with the overall safety profile of abemaciclib.


The use of Teepol, Lysol and sodium hypochlorite are frequent in reusing of specimen collection tubes by the state hospitals in Sri Lanka. Detergent residue in collection tubes is thought to be the reason for uncertain results in the recent past. This raised a concern to evaluate the effect of washing of the specimen collection tubes by various detergents on serum creatinine, aspartate transaminase (AST), Na + and K + . Three sets of newly purchased glass Khan tubes were washed using Teepol, Lysol (concentration of 1%), and sodium hypochlorite (0.1 %) adhering to World Health Organization protocol. Blood from a single donor was aliquoted to a detergent washed tubes (test) and to a newly purchased plain glass Khan tube (control). Both were tested for serum creatinine, AST, Na + and K + . A sample size of 20 was analyzed for each detergent-washed tube. There was no significant difference in serum creatinine, AST and K + when Teepol, Lysol or sodium hypochlorite washed tubes were used in sequence (p>0.05). Na + concentrations measured in serum was significantly different in specimens collected to Lysol-washed tubes (p<0.05). The Lysol-washed tubes were significantly contaminated with detergent residues. In conclusion, domestic detergents (Teepol, Lysol and sodium hypochlorite) don't impart a significant effect on tested analytes if the cleansing is done according to guidelines by World Health Organization. However, newly purchased tubes are recommended in critical investigations such as serum electrolytes to improve the accuracy of laboratory reports.


Abstract:This article pertains to the relationship between exclusion and ministry. In it, I suggest that the vulnerability entailed by the threat and actuality of exclusion can act as common ground between those who experience different, more tangible, vulnerabilities (relating, for example, to gender, sexuality, or disability). Furthermore, I want to argue for the value in ministry undertaken by the excluded themselves: not for the institutional sanctioning of individuals deemed unfit for ministry but, rather, for the sacredness of ministerial endeavours outside of the institutional church (where selective inclusivity alienates the marginalized and vulnerable). To illustrate this, I discuss the public life and work of Sinéad O'Connor, the controversial Irish musician and priest. O'Connor advocates for an "alternative," broadly Christian "church," attempting to destabilize the relationship between unfamiliarity and vulnerability, for example, through her self-identification as a female Catholic priest and her active ministry. Drawing from René Girard's mimetic theory, Michel de Certeau's account of necessary boundaries, and Judith Butler's discussion of alterity between the self and the other, I contend that vulnerability to exclusion, modelled in community, can engender radical openness to difference, thereby facilitating inclusivity, even within complex, intersectional communities. This openness to difference can render contentious figures like O'Connor more, and not less, suitable for ministry, able as they are to minister where the church cannot.


This article was originally part of a panel at the Toronto Parliament of the World's Religions on the legacy of Wilfred Cantwell Smith (1916–2000). A Toronto native, Professor Smith was the most important Canadian scholar of religion in the twentieth century. He founded the Institute of Islamic Studies at McGill University and directed the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard University. In this article, I examine his legacy with respect to the study of Islam and Muslims, and how that work helps us to move forward in the twenty-first century.


No-take marine reserves (NTRs), i.e. areas with total fishing restrictions, have been established worldwide aiming to provide biodiversity and ecosystem conservation. Brazil has established NTRs, but currently lacks scientific knowledge and understanding of their ecological role, particularly regarding rocky reefs in subtropical regions. Consequently, this study aimed to contrast NTR, from the 30 year old Tupinambás Ecological Station, and comparable fished sites across a coastal biogeographic gradient to investigate the effect of fishing and habitat variability on the abundance and body-size of rocky reef fish. We used Baited Remote Underwater stereo-Video (stereo-BRUVs) and Diver Operated stereo-Video (stereo-DOVs) systems to simultaneously sample reef fish and habitat. Model selection and results identified habitat and biogeographic variables, such as distance from shore, as important predictor variables, explaining several aspects of the fish assemblage. The effect of protection was important in determining the abundance and body-size of targeted species, in particular for epinephelids and carangids. Conversely, species richness was correlated with habitat complexity and not with protection status. This is the first study to publish data using these novel survey methods in the Southeastern Atlantic and demonstrate their utility, in combination with an established network of NTR's, to provide benchmarks for conservation and fisheries management.


Changes in receptor density are often associated with pathological conditions. For example, high levels of the G protein-coupled somatostatin receptor, sst2, have been detected in a number of malignant cell types, a characteristic feature that is routinely utilised as a diagnostic tool. However, how the increased receptor expression affects cellular function through alterations in G protein-coupling or changes in the intensity or duration of activated signalling pathways is poorly understood. The current report details the use of an ecdysone-inducible expression system in CHO-K1 cells, whereby the consequence of modulating the level of human sst2 receptor expression on specific transduction events can be examined. A time- and concentration-dependent induction of sst2 receptor expression was attained by exposure of cells to the ecdysteroid-inducing agent, muristerone A (MuA). Increases in sst2 receptor expression were determined by immunoassay, immunoblotting and immunocytochemical analysis. Maximal sst2 receptor expression was obtained after treatment of cells with 7 microM MuA for 24 h. Functionality of the sst2 receptor was assessed by immunoblot analysis of phosphorylated forms of MAP kinase. Following receptor activation, time-dependent increases in the level of MAP kinase phosphorylation were shown to correlate with the degree of sst2 receptor induction. Confirmation of receptor activation was determined by visualisation of ligand-induced redistribution of sst2 receptors from the plasma membrane to discrete intracellular compartments. However, in a series of further studies, both immunocytochemical and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analyses demonstrated that over a prolonged period, stable receptor expression could not be maintained in CHO-K1 cells using this expression system. Thus, routine analysis of the sst2 receptor expressing cell population is required to derive comparable results between assays, especially when some assays provide information from the whole cell population whilst others are based at the single cell level. On the basis of these observations we conclude that, providing such quality control measurements are taken, the ecdysone inducible expression system is a useful tool to modulate functional sst2 receptor expression in an in vitro environment over short time periods.


A new adaptive fuzzy sliding mode control scheme is proposed, which combines the fuzzy logic with sliding-mode control together using fuzzy logic system to approximate the difference of the equivalent control between the nominal and the real system. Lyapunov stability theorem is used to prove the stability of the system and the adaptive laws are deduced which possess the characteristics of sliding-mode control. In addition, for better control performance, the upper bound of the uncertainty is estimated. Finally, the correctness and effectiveness of the method have been verified by simulation using nonlinear overload model of pitch channel of some BTT missile.