The introduction of eculizumab, a human monoclonal antibody against the C5 component of complement, has changed radically the management of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). The blockade of the terminal complement pathway by eculizumab abrogates intravascular hemolysis, reduces the transfusion requirement and the risk of thrombosis in most of hemolytic PNH patients. However, in almost all PNH patients on eculizumab arises a fraction of PNH red cells that bind fragments of C3 and become a potential target of phagocytosis by macrophages. Eventually, this phagocytosis results in a variable degree of extravascular hemolysis that may reduce clinical benefits of eculizumab and, in fact, about one-fourth of patients remain transfusion-dependent. The treatment of the few PNH patients in which this de novo extravascular hemolysis become clinically relevant is still unsatisfactory. Nevertheless, the investigations of the mechanisms responsible of the extravascular hemolysis on eculizumab have resulted in the development of novel strategies for complement blockade that could overcome this condition.


The photophysical properties of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic moxifloxacin (MOX) were investigated in aqueous media. MOX in water, at pH 7.4, shows two intense absorption bands at 287 and 338 nm (ɛ = 44 000 and 17 000 dm3 mol−1 cm−1, respectively). The absorption and emission properties of MOX are pH‐dependent, pKa values for the protonation equilibria of both the ground (6.1 and 9.6) and excited singlet states (6.8 and 9.1) of MOX were determined spectroscopically. MOX fluoresces weakly, the quantum yield for fluorescence emission being maximum (0.07) at pH 8. Phosphorescence from the excited triplet state in frozen ethanol solution has a quantum yield of 0.046. Laser flash photolysis and pulse radiolysis studies have been carried out to characterize the transient species of MOX in aqueous solution. On laser excitation, MOX undergoes monophotonic photoionization with a quantum yield of 0.14. This leads to the formation of a long‐lived cation radical whose absorption is maximum at 470 nm (ɛ470 = 3400 dm3 mol−1 cm−1). The photoionization process releases hydrated electron which rapidly reacts (k = 2.8 × 1010 dm3 mol−1 s−1) with ground state MOX, yielding a long‐lived anion radical with maximum absorption at 390 nm (ɛ390 = 2400 dm3 mol−1 cm−1). The cation radical of MOX is able to oxidize protein components tryptophan and tyrosine. The bimolecular rate constants for these reactions are 2.3 × 108 dm3 mol−1 s−1 and 1.3 × 108 dm3 mol−1 s−1, respectively. Singlet oxygen sensitized by the MOX triplet state was also detected only in oxygen‐saturated D2O solutions, with a quantum yield of 0.075.


The mobility of molecules on a solid surface plays a key role in diverse phenomena such as friction and self-assembly and in surface-based technologies like heterogeneous catalysis and molecular targeting. To understand and control these surface processes, a universally applicable model of surface transport at solid-liquid interfaces is needed. However, unlike diffusion at a solid-gas interface, little is known about the mechanisms of diffusion at a solid-liquid interface. Using single-molecule tracking at a solid-liquid interface, we found that a diverse set of molecules underwent intermittent random walks with non-Gaussian displacements. This contrasts with the normal random walk and Gaussian statistics that are commonly assumed for molecular surface diffusion. The molecules became temporarily immobilized for random waiting times between surface displacements produced by excursions through the bulk fluid. A common power-law distribution of waiting times indicated a spectrum of binding energies. We propose that intermittent hopping is universal to molecular surface diffusion at a solid-liquid interface.


Objective In bioelectronic medicine, neuromodulation therapies induce neural signals to the brain or organs modifying their function. Stimulation devices, capable of triggering exogenous neural signals using electrical wave forms, require a complex and multi-dimensional parameter space in order to control such wave forms. Determining the best combination of parameters (wave form optimization, or dosing) for treating a particular patient's illness is therefore challenging. Comprehensive parameter searching for an optimal stimulation effect is often infeasible in a clinical setting, due to the size of the parameter space. Restricting this space, however, may lead to sub-optimal therapeutic results, reduced responder rates, and adverse effects. Approach As an alternative to a full parameter search, we present a flexible machine learning, data acquisition and processing framework for optimizing neural stimulation parameters requiring as few steps as possible using Bayesian optimization. Such optimization builds a model of the neural and physiological responses to stimulations enabling it to optimize stimulation parameters and to provide estimates of the accuracy of the response model. The vagus nerve innervates, among other thoracic and visceral organs, the heart, thus controlling heart rate and is therefore ideal for demonstrating the effectiveness of our approach. Main results. The efficacy of our optimization approach was first evaluated on simulated neural responses, then applied to vagus nerve stimulation intraoperatively in porcine subjects. Optimization converged quickly on parameters achieving target heart rates and optimizing neural B-fibre activations despite high intersubject variability. Significance An optimized stimulation waveform was achieved in real time with far fewer stimulations than required by alternative optimization strategies, thus minimizing exposure to side effects. Uncertainty estimates helped avoiding stimulations outside a safe range. Our approach shows that a complex set of neural stimulation parameters can be optimized in real-time for a patient to achieve a personalized precision dosing.


The article discusses the controversy between Pope John XXII and the Franciscan Order concerning Franciscan poverty. It examines the concept of factual use and its relationships to natural law in the writings of Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, John Duns Scotus and Tractatus de paupertate Christi et apostolorum by Bonagratia of Bergamo. The article then studies the Papal Bulls of John XXII concerning Franciscan poverty, expecially Quia vir reprobus, which introduces the theme of Christ's regality. This is discussed in two Franciscan studies, Improbatio by Francis of Esculo, and Appellatio magna monacensis, attributed to Bonagratia.


Limitations of beam steering in Risley prisms, induced by total internal reflection, are investigated for the four typical configurations. The incident angles at the exit surfaces of double prisms are calculated by nonparaxial ray tracing and compared with the critical angle. On this basis, the limitations of the opening angle, relative orientation of the prisms, and ray deviation power of the system are derived. It is shown that the ray deviation power reaches its extreme value when the opening angles increase to a certain limit value for a given prism material. As the opening angles exceed the limit value, the prisms' relative orientation is limited. With the increase in refractive index, the limit value of opening angles decreases, while the extreme value of deviation power increases. In comparison to a 21-12, 12-12 configuration, a 21-21, 12-21 configuration has a larger limit value of opening angles and also a larger extreme value (90°) of deviation power, so that it leaves a wider margin for the design of wide-angle beam steering system. The research can afford guidance for prism material and geometry choices in the design of a wide-angle Risley-prism-based beam steering system.


In an attempt to disposal from nuclear waste which threats our health and environments. Therefore we have to find appropriate method to immobilize nuclear waste. So, in this research the nuclear waste (Strontium hydroxide) was immobilized by Carbon nanotubes (CNTs).  The Nd-YAG laser with wave length 1064 nm, energy 750 mJ and 100 pulses used to prepare CNTs. After that adding Sr(HO)2 powder to the CNTs colloidal in calculated rate to get homogenous mixing of CNTs-Sr(OH)2. The Sr(HO)2 absorbs carbon dioxide from the air to form strontium carbonate so, the  new solution is CNTs-SrCO3. To dry solution putting three drops from the new solution on the glass slides. To investigate the radiation damage on CNTs structure, the sample was irradiation by Beta source (90Sr/90Y) for different period of time. The structure properties were measured using X-ray diffraction XRD while the shape and size property was measured by scanning electron microscope SEM.
The result shows homogenous distribution of nanoparticles with average particle size about 20nm. The XRD spectra for all sample before and after irradiation shows the higher peaks that it's almost appearance at 2  = 25 degree and when compared the XRD phase with Standard card the resultant nanomaterial is Strontium carbonite (SrCo3). From SEM micrograph, CNTs-SrCO3 were well decorated on the surface of CNTs and there was not any remarkable difference in the corresponding due to Beta radiation exposure.


Solid-state direct diffusion bonding of commercially pure Titanium (Cp-Ti) and precipitation hardening stainless steel (PHSS) has been carried out in the temperature range of 800°C to 1000°C with an interval of 50°C for 3.6 ks under 3.5 Mpa uniaxial load in (4 to 6)×10 Pa vacuum. The effects of temperatures have been investigated with reference to bond strength. The examination revealed that the transition joints achieve tensile strength 108% and shear strength 87.6% higher compared to pure titanium. And the ductility of the joint has been found to be 12.8% when processed at 950°C. The joint structure and intermetallic phases like Fe2Ti, FeTi, Cr2Ti, λ ( solid solution of Fe2Ti and Cr2Ti ), χ ( Fe17Cr7Ti5 ), α-Fe, α-Ti and β-Ti were predicted by optical microscope, SEM-BSE, EPMA and subsequently the presence of intermetallic phases including σ phase (compound of Fe and Cr ) were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. EPMA also revealed substantial diffusion of Fe, Cr and Ni into the titanium base-metal and titanium traveled a less distance towards PHSS side. Bond strength and hardness of the interface layers were measured by tensile testing and micro-hardness testing respectively. The activation energy Q and growth velocity k of the reacting layers in the diffusion bonded joints were also calculated. The bond strength has been found to be satisfactory at 950°C. Bond strength drops as the volume fraction of intermetallics increased with the rise in bonding temperature (1000°C).


Discussions of the evolution of sexual dimorphism in torso shape and the pectoral region assume that this dimorphism exists independently of body size. We test this assumption in two human populations and further examine what is needed to understand sexual dimorphism in the pectoral region. Modern human males have broad shoulders and narrow hips relative to females, lending males a more triangular torso. The wider female pelvis is commonly attributed to obstetric pressures while the broader male pectoral girdle has been argued to be an adaptation that improves hunting or intrasexual competition. While sexual dimorphism in the pelvic girdle is known to exist after adjusting for body size across human populations, most studies of sexual dimorphism in the pectoral girdle have not adjusted the data to account for sexual size dimorphism or compared different ancestral groups. The aforementioned hypotheses explaining sexual dimorphism in the clavicle and scapula as products of natural selection are predicated on the untested assumption that sex differences do not scale with body size. This study tests this assumption by comparing various measurements of the pectoral girdle, the pelvic girdle, and six pectoral-pelvic indices of black and white South Africans of known sex and height to test whether the sexes and ancestral groups will differ in these values after adjusting for differences in body size. Comparisons of ancestral groups reveal that white South Africans have larger pectoral and pelvic dimensions than black South Africans, but that blacks have larger index values than whites. Regardless of differences in ancestry and body size, males have significantly broader pectoral regions as indicated by comparisons of both individual pectoral measurements and pectoral-pelvic indices. This pattern of sexual dimorphism is reversed in the pelvic region where females have larger skeletal elements. In addition to finding both absolute and relative differences in mean values for the pectoral and pelvic skeleton, females and males and blacks and whites differ in the scaling relationship of these traits, suggesting different allometric trajectories for these bones that may be explained by their distinct evolutionary functions, their adaptations to specific environments, or by changes in lengths due to age. These results suggest that sexual dimorphism in the pectoral region is not a product of scaling and that differences in this region reflect adaptive forces acting in unique ways on each sex, consistent with the assumptions of earlier evolutionary explanations.


A programmable and portable multi-pattern transcutaneous neuromuscular stimulator was developed and evaluated for correction of foot drop in stroke subjects. The stimulator unit was designed to optimize functionality while keeping its size and power consumption to a minimum. It had two channels of biphasic stimulation (charge-balanced and constant current), and all parameters were programmable to accommodate a range of stimulation profiles. The 'natural' electromyographic (EMG) pattern of tibialis anterior (TA) muscle stimulation envelope algorithms and constant amplitude stimulation envelope was provided for foot drop corrections in stroke patients. A foot-switch sensor was used to trigger the device in the swing phase of gait cycle. Various tests on prototype units were performed, including output power characteristics with a skin model, and tested with a stroke subject to validate the results. This paper provides a detailed description of the hardware and block-level functional electrical stimulation (FES) system design for applications in stroke rehabilitation.


Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are an aquatic invasive species that plague much of North America and are difficult to impossible to eradicate once they become established. Therefore, prevention and monitoring are key elements in the control of these organisms. Traditional microscopy is commonly used in monitoring but requires the presence of larval veligers. This limits the times when resource managers can monitor for the presence in northern lakes. A new monitoring tool, environmental DNA (eDNA), may allow for a more efficient and cost-effective monitoring program for zebra mussels. We developed and tested an environmental DNA assay in the fall and spring for zebra mussels in two Minnesota lakes, one heavily infested and another newly infested. We found that DNA copy numbers tended to be higher near the lake bottom and DNA was more concentrated in softer substrates. We also found that the amount of zebra mussel DNA sampling in winter resulted in similar results to when sampled in fall. This suggests that one could collect and analyze eDNA for zebra mussels during winter months to help inform future efforts in monitoring and control.


The ability to efficiently query genomic variants from thousands of samples is critical to achieving the full potential of many medical and scientific applications such as personalized medicine. Performing variant queries based on coordinates in the reference or sample sequences is at the core of these applications. Efficiently supporting variant queries across thousands of samples is computationally challenging. Most solutions only support queries based on the reference coordinates and the ones that support queries based on coordinates across multiple samples do not scale to data containing more than a few thousand samples. We present VariantStore, a system for efficiently indexing and querying genomic variants and their sequences in either the reference or sample-specific coordinate systems. We show the scalability of VariantStore by indexing genomic variants from the TCGA-BRCA project containing 8640 samples and 5M variants in 4 Hrs and the 1000 genomes project containing 2500 samples and 924M variants in 3 Hrs. Querying for variants in a gene takes between 0.002 – 3 seconds using memory only 10% of the size of the full representation.


Traditional meat products, dry fermented sausages, which are coming from particular geographic areas of Serbia, are mainly produced in rural households, according to experience and traditional technology. The quality of final products is under the influence of numerous factors. Variability of this quality restricts the possibility for achieving higher production rates and availability of these products on foreign markets. This paper presents the specific ness of the production process and requirements for traditional dry-fermented sausages (Petrovska klobasa) which have to be accomplished during standardization of production in controlled conditions, aiming to preserve specific properties and superior quality. In order to achieve this goal it is necessary to fully understand physical-chemical, biochemical and microbiological changes occurring during spontaneous fermentation of these products in traditional manufacturing process and to transfer the perceived models of fermentation, drying and ripening to controlled production conditions.


: The results of experimental investigations to evaluate the adverse effects of metal-containing industrial waste on warm-blooded animals are presented. Acute experiments assessing the toxicity of industrial waste were not shown to be informative. Long-term exposure to different industrial wastes was found to have varying toxicity at the cell, organ, and body levels.


Abstract : This report contains charts of Cruise 11 of the CHAIN in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. There are 41 charts (approx. scale 1:972,600) showing the track of the entire cruise except for special surveys. All types of observations made during the cruise are noted by suitable symbols or legends along the ship's track. The location of special surveys are shown. Soundings are read at equal time intervals, usually every five minutes, and at each break in slope. They are written along the ship's track as often as space permits. (Author)


Mental health outcomes of road traffic accidents (RTAs) are always investigated in assessments of those involved. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological consequences and associated factors in all RTA survivors, irrelevant of their injury status. A cohort of 155 people was assessed one month after experiencing a RTA using self-reported measures for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Associations between mental health outcomes and sociodemographic factors, pre-RTA health status, injury-related factors, and RTA details were analyzed. RTA survivors reported substantial rates of PTSD (32.3%) and depression (17.4%) symptoms, and low rates of anxiety (5.8%). Symptoms of depression were associated with below-average self-perceived economic status, irreligiousness, medication use, psychiatric medication use, and injury-related factors. PTSD symptoms were associated with female gender, below-average self-perceived economic status, previous psychiatric illness, medication use, psychiatric medication use, not being at fault in the relevant RTA, claiming compensation, and injury-related factors. Anxiety symptoms were associated with previous chronic or psychiatric illness, previous permanent pain, psychiatric medication use, and self-perceived threat to life, but not with sustaining injury. Along with the evaluation and treatment of RTA injuries, health care providers should evaluate the pre-RTA health status of all RTA victims. Psychological support to those at risk may prevent psychological disorders after RTAs.


Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is the therapy used for the rehabilitation of lost movement function by applying electrical stimulation (ES) to paralyzed extremities. To realize ES, we adapted the implanted direct feeding method (DFM). In this method, small implanted stimulators are placed under the skin at a depth of 10–20 mm and stimulus energy and signals for controlling devices are applied to them by a mounted system using magnetic coupling. This method has the merits of having no percutaneous points and high-precision stimulation. However, since the mounted system and implanted elements are separated, it is necessary to add feedback information from inside the body to confirm the system operation for safety therapy or to rehabilitate motor function smoothly. Satisfying both restrictions, we propose the magnetic connective dual resonance (MCDR) antenna, which has two resonance circuits. Adding the LC serial circuit to the LC parallel circuit gives the sending function. In this paper, we report...


A suburban metropolis is created over the course of a day, but, in the end, is shown to be nothing more than a two-dimensional representation of itself. The werewolves in this work are completely computer generated, as well as the water which is shaken off in the fountain scene. Digital hair technology was developed in-house at Santa Barbara Studios. Werewolf animation was done using SoftImage. Particle animation done in Dynamation. Werewolf model was done by Viewpoint. Additional facial modelling was done in-house using Alias. Skin renders were done in Mental Ray, then motion blurred using in-house utilities. Dust and other particle rendering done with in-house utility. Skins were motion blurred using an in-house utility outside of Mental Ray.


We present a new and fast way of computing the projection matrices serving high-order Volterra transfer functions in the context of (weakly and strongly) nonlinear model order reduction. The novelty is to perform, for the first time, the association of multivariate (Laplace) variables in high-order multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transfer functions to generate the standard single-s transfer functions. The consequence is obvious: instead of finding projection subspaces about every si, only that about a single s is required. This translates into drastic saving in computation and memory, and much more compact reduced-order nonlinear models, without compromising any accuracy.


Pressure transients are observed in absorbing gases at low pressure in a non-resonant spectrophone. At very low pressure (transition saturated) the transient is negative on irradiation. Interpretation is given in terms of thermodynamics of laser driven systems. The local value of the partition function depends exponentially on the incident radiation's intensity. The observed depression on irradiation is the consequence of the law of mass action applied to inhomogeneously irradiated systems.


Effects of methanol and urea on enantiomeric resolution of phenylthiohydantoin (PTH)‐DL‐amino acids by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with sodium N‐dodecanoyl‐L‐valinate (SDVal) were investigated. PTH‐DL‐Met that could not be optically resolved with an SDVal solution alone was resolved by using an SDVal/methanol solution. Four PTH‐DL‐amino acids were separated from each other and each pair of enantiomers was also optically resolved, although seriously tailed peaks were observed for each solute. The addition of urea to SDVal/methanol solutions improved these peak shapes.


Trend analyses indicate that the union movement is becoming less white and more female. In this research, the author examines the transitions of persons in and out of the union movement in order to understand whether diversification is due to behavior or structure. Results indicate that African Americans transitioned comparatively faster than others from nonunion to union employment, even after controlling for industry and occupation. Latina/os also display evidence of an above-average preference for union representation, with transitions into unions suppressed by immigrant status. For women, the growing demographic numbers appear to be due to the relative stability of the industry or occupation in which persons are employed. In general, the findings for part-time workers, education, and annual trends point to an increasingly challenging environment for unionizing over the decade.


Acute cerebral vascular diseases are of social as well as clinical interest, since, together with myocardial infarct, they constitute the prime cause of death. Yet their treatment is still confined to the combatting the collateral factors of cerebral damage, since drugs of an aetiological type cannot be employed. The study of the aetiopathogenetic factors of cerebral infarct is thus of considerable importance in the establishment of its prophylactic management. An epidemiological assessment was made of prior risk factors: arterial hypertension, heart disease, and changes in fat and sugar metabolism in 1748 cases of acute cerebral vasculopathy. The data obtained are compared with those in the literature.


A modified front‐tracking method was proposed for the simulation of fluid‐flexible body interactions with large deformations. A large deformable body was modeled by restructuring the body using a grid adaptation. Discontinuities in the viscosity at the fluid‐structure interface were incorporated by distributing the viscosity across the interface using an indicator function. A viscosity gradient field was created near the interface, and a smooth transition occurred between the structure and the fluid. The fluid motion was defined on the Eulerian domain and was solved using the fractional step method on a staggered Cartesian grid system. The solid motion was described by Lagrangian variables and was solved by the finite element method on an unstructured triangular mesh. The fluid motion and the structure motion were independently solved, and their interaction force was calculated using a feedback law. The interaction force was the restoring force of a stiff spring with damping, and spread from the Lagrangian coordinates to the Eulerian grid by a smoothed approximation of the Dirac delta function. In the numerical simulations, we validated the effect of the grid adaptation on the solid solver using a vibrating circular ring. The effects of the viscosity gradient field were verified by solving the deformation of a circular disk in a linear shear flow, including an elastic ring moving through a channel with constriction, deformation of a suspended catenary, and a swimming jellyfish. A comparison of the numerical results with the theoretical solutions was presented. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The effect of roofing material on hemato-biochemical, hormonal and antioxident parameters of sheared and non-sheared sheep was invastigated. Twenty four adult dry indigenous sheep were distributed randomly on the basis of body weight (20-35 kg) into two roof treatment groups, i.e., T1: asbestos roof and T2: agronet roof. Each treatment comprised of six sheared and six non-sheared animals. Hemoglobin (g/dL) and PCV (%) concentrations of sheep were comparable between roof treatments and between shearing practices. Serum glucose level was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in sheared and non sheared sheep reared under asbestose roof (44.76 ± 0.31, 45.29 ± 0.31 mg/dl) than the agronet roof shelter (43.78 ± 0.31, 43.46 ± 0.33 mg/dl). Serum uric acid level was significantly (p less than 0.05) decreased in sheared animals reared under agronet roofed shelter as compared to non-sheared animals reared under abstestos roofed shelter (0.41 ± 0.05 vs. 0.55 ± 0.06 mg/dL). Serum urea and creatinine levels of sheared sheep were lower than non-sheared ones under both the roofing materials with significant difference only in creatinine. The serum levels of hormone T3 and cortisol were statistically similar between roof treatments and shearing practices, whereas serum T4 was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in sheared animals (37.19 ± 3.17 ng/ml) reared under asbestos roofed shelter compared to agronet. Glutathione peroxidase activity was increased significantly (p less than 0.05) in sheared and non-sheared animals reared under asbestos roofed shelter, whereas superoxide dismutase activity decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) in sheared animals under agronet roof (5.73 ± 0.27 U/ml). However, lipid hydroperoxide, catalase and heat shock protein 70 activity were neither influenced significantly by roofing materials nor by shearing practices. The results indicated the role of effective roofing material of shelter and shearing plans in reducing the effect of heat stress on sheared and unsheared sheep.


This paper presents a model for the static synchronous series compensator (SSSC) taking into account its real aspects and internal dynamics, and incorporates it into both the power flow formulation and the power sensitivity model for small-signal stability analysis. For the small-signal stability analysis, the power system stabilizer and power oscillation damping supplementary controllers are coupled to the generators and the SSSC, respectively, to damp the electromechanical oscillations present in the power system. The parameters of the supplementary controllers are tuned using the residue method. Simulations are performed using the New England 39-bus test system and the results indicate that the proposed formulation for the SSSC is effective for both power flow and small-signal stability analyses. Besides that, it is verified that the supplementary controllers, together with the SSSC, are efficient to damp the low-frequency oscillating modes present in the power system.


An elevated level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in a cultural system of bone marrow erythroblastic islands was found. It was associated with the suppressed formation of erythroblastic islands de repeto in 24-hr cultures. In 48-hr cultures, an increased level of erythropoietin and intensive formation of erythroblastic islands de repeto and de novo was found. In 72-hr cultures, further elevation of TNF-alpha was accompanied by a decrease of erythroblastic islands in culture.


This article shows first that, despite significant trade gains expected from the Euro-Mediterranean Agreements, especially the Barcelona Agreement, actual gains are positive but small. The reasons for such small effects are investigated. They include delays in the implementation of the tariff schedule, the lack of European Union (EU) market access for agricultural products, the persistence of non-tariff barriers, the lack of regional integration in terms of services and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the role of rules of origins, the impact of inappropriate specialization, etc. This appraisal makes it possible to suggest several policy options which are necessary to optimize the effects of the Euromed partnership. In this regard, the Arab Spring creates new opportunities to reinforce trade integration in this area.


The efficacy of long-term interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection with symptomatic mixed cryoglobulinemia has not clearly been defined. We describe a patient with chronic hepatitis C, symptomatic mixed cryoglobulinemia (cutaneous vasculitis), and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) who responded clinically, biochemically, and virologically to a 1-year course of interferon therapy. Interferon side effects were minimal. Relapse occurred when interferon was discontinued, and suppressive maintenance interferon therapy was required for clinical, biochemical, and virologic remission. During the 5th year of maintenance therapy, she developed potential side effects that necessitated discontinuation of interferon treatment. After treatment stoppage, a clinical, biochemical, and virologic remission was maintained for more than 1 year. However, the potential side effects, which included eye irritation, arthralgias, myalgias, fatigue, insomnia, memory loss, and depression, persisted. Ophthalmologic, rheumatologic, and neurologic evaluations were nondiagnostic. Psychometric testing revealed dementia and mood disorder. Because the disabling symptoms persisted after 9 months, a health-related quality of life assessment was carried out with the SF-36 survey. Compared with healthy individuals and patients with chronic hepatitis C, our case had a lower health-related quality of life assessment on six out of seven scales and on four out of seven scales of the SF-36 survey, respectively. This case report indicates that long-term maintenance interferon therapy was effective in the treatment of symptomatic mixed cryoglobulinemia and its renal complications and resulted in a clinical, biochemical, and virologic sustained response. It is postulated that the side effects of long-term interferon therapy in this setting may be problematic.


These notes have been finished at INRIA during my visit of the project ONDES in January-February 2003. They correspond to a one-term course given at the University of Vienna in 2002 year. The aim of the notes is to give an introduction to Classical Field Theory and Quantum Mechanics for mathematicians. We start with the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Theory of finite-dimensional systems and general nonlinear wave equations. Next we prove the Noether Theory of Invariants for the Fields and expose the Lagrangian form of the Maxwell Electrodynamics. Then we give a concise introduction of the Schrodinger Equation for the electron in the Maxwell Field: the equation describes the particle-like properties of cathode rays through the short-wave WKB-asymptotics. Finally, we apply the Schrodinger Equation to the derivation of spectrum of Hydrogen atom, dipole radiation and selection rules in a uniform magnetic field.


The primary objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (Cfv) and Tritrichomonas foetus in breeding bulls from a sentinel cohort of cow-calf herds in western Canada and to estimate the association between positive test status and non-pregnancy. The final objective was to evaluate the application of these tests when: i) screening bulls in the absence of a recognized problem with reproductive performance, and ii) testing for diagnosis of poor pregnancy rates. The crude apparent bull prevalence for Cfv was 1.1% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.5% to 2.1%; 8/735] and herd prevalence was 2.6% (95% CI: 0.3% to 9.0%; 2/78). The crude apparent bull prevalence for T. foetus was < 0.001% (95% CI: 0.0% to 0.5%; 0/735) and herd prevalence was < 0.001% (95% CI: 0.0% to 4.6%; 0/78). Cows from herds where at least 1 bull was test positive for Cfv were 2.35 times more likely (95% CI: 1.01% to 5.48%; P = 0.047) to not be pregnant than those with no positive bulls. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of preputial material collected into phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was recommended for screening for T. foetus when the pre-test probability of infection was > 1%. The same test for Cfv was not recommended for screening moderate- and low-risk herds due to the high risk of false positives. Tests for both T. foetus and Cfv can be used to investigate herds with reproductive problems when also ruling out other risk factors. Regardless of the type of test used, however, 3 negative tests are required to rule out infection in high-risk situations.


INTRODUCTION
The pandemic spread of a new coronavirus infection, COVID-19, has caused a global emergency and attracted the attention of public health professionals and the population of all countries. A significant increase in the number of new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection demonstrates the urgency of finding drugs effective against this pathogen.The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro antiviral efficacy of human recombinant alpha-2b interferon (IFN-α2b) against SARS-CoV-2 virus.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The experiments had been carried out on Vero Cl008, the continuous line of African green monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus) kidney cells. The effectiveness of the drugs was assessed by the suppression of viral reproduction in vitro. The biological activity was determined using titration of a virus-containing suspension in a Vero Cl008 cell culture by the formation of negative colonies.

RESULTS
The antiviral efficacy of the IFN-α2b-based medications, which have a high safety profile and proven efficacy in the prevention and treatment of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI), has been studied against the new pandemic SARS-CoV-2 virus in vitro experiments in Vero C1008 cell culture. IFN-α2b effectively inhibits the reproduction of the virus when applied both 24 hrs before and 2 hrs after infection. In the IFN-α2b concentration range 102-106 IU/ml a complete suppression of the reproduction of the SARS-CoV-2 virus had been demonstrated.

DISCUSSION
IFN-α2b demonstrated in vitro high antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. In addition, the substance has a high chemotherapeutic index (>1000).

CONCLUSION
Medications for intranasal use based on IFN-α2b have high antiviral activity and are promising drugs for in vivo study in terms of prevention and treatment of COVID-19.


The purpose of this article is to analyze the use of hybridization of the animated and filmed image in the creation of a narrative that propitiates the empathy of the public. The work in question is the short film Fragments (2016), by the Portuguese animator José Miguel Ribeiro. The questions of variation of visual information and how the spectator receives these images are developed for the analyzes — through the works of George Sifanos (2012), of André Gaudreault and François Jost (1995) and of Marie-José Mondzaim (2015).


The transformation-associated recombination (TAR) cloning technique allows selective isolation of chromosome regions or genes from complex genome. The procedure requires knowledge of relatively small genomic sequences that reside adjacent to the chromosome region of interest. This method involves homologous recombination during spheroplast transformation between genomic DNA and a TAR vector that has 5` and 3` gene targeting sequences (hooks). To examine whether TAR cloning can be applied to the isolation of gene homologues, we chose the HPRT genes from human and mouse genome. As results, the yield of positive clones for HPRT gene from human and mouse genome when using a TAR vector containing mHPRT hook or hHPRT hook was almost same level. Analysis of the gap regions in mHPRT revealed that they contain abnormalities that could result in instability of the sequences. In conclusion, we were able to use the TAR cloning technology to isolate gene homologue (orthologue) from nonidentical genome. Moreover, the use of the TAR cloning system may accelerate work on closing the remaining gaps in mammalian genome to achieve the goal of annotation of all mammalian genes.


The main aim of this paper is to present the relation between the state of the natural environment and the food quality produced on a given area. The two groups of analysed business activities are ecological farms and eco-friendly food processing plants. In the work, the author conducted a comparative analysis of the Polish voivodships with large and small shares of valuable natural areas in the total area of the voivodship in relation to the ecological farms and eco-friendly food processing plants.


This work presents an experimental and numerical investigation of the effects of pre-existing core damage on aluminum honeycomb core composite sandwich structures. Quasi static flexural and compression experiments were performed, where the effects of core damage on the shear modulus and Young's modulus were quantified. In addition, finite element analysis was performed on the sandwich structures to elucidate the effects of the core damage on the structural response. Comparisons of experimental and finite element responses are presented for sandwich structures consisting of carbon fiber facesheets and an aluminum honeycomb core. The pre-existing core damage is observed to cause up to an 8% reduction in shear modulus and a 9% reduction in elastic modulus. It is also determined that the presence of pre-existing core damage results in an asymmetrical compressive load distribution in the composite structures.


The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the roughening effects of different surface treatments on different exposed surfaces of metal and ceramic restorations (porcelain, metal and metal/porcelain surfaces). 135 specimens were prepared for three surface groups; having 45 specimens for each group. Surface treatments were air abrasion alone or in combination with hydrofluoric acid, or phosphoric acid, burs alone or in combination with hydrofluoric acid, or phosphoric acid, hydrofluoric acid alone, and phosphoric acid alone. Statistical analysis showed significant differences between some of the different surface treatments on the same exposed surface of metal ceramic (MC) restoration as well as among the three exposed surfaces of MC restoration.


The importance of the early field experience in the curriculum of teacher education is often underappreciated. Ostensibly, the early field experience provides teacher candidates with the first opportunity to look closely at teaching and learning from the perspective of a classroom educator. Yet, little is know about what kinds of early field experiences facilitate teacher learning. In this study, the authors examined the use of video representations during an early field experience to advance preservice social studies teachers' skills as careful observers of classroom practice. Findings suggest that video representations helped preservice teachers in an early field experience isolate elements of teaching and learning; contrast classroom practices with existing beliefs about classroom practice; and prime their situational and pedagogical imaginations.


ABSTRACT In the spring of 1854, rumours of an impending Mfengu revolt swept through the Cape Colony of South Africa. Twenty years prior, Mfengu people had entered the Colony in hopes of securing land and wealth. In the ensuing two decades, Mfengu farmers, labourers, and soldiers had established a reputation as allies of the Colony. Although rumours of the rebellion quickly subsided, they were reinvigorated by the arrival of a new governor, Sir George Grey. Grey amplified the rumours of a Mfengu revolt to justify sweeping changes to colonial policy. In his response to the Mfengu crisis, Grey proposed to subjugate African people by absorbing them into expanding colonial institutions. Correspondence between colonial officials from September to December 1854 demonstrates how the Mfengu crisis served as a vehicle for the implementation of Grey's policies. The extension of these policies ultimately contributed to the loss of African autonomy in the Cape Colony.


Research in strategy has identified and tried to explain four types of rents: monopolistic rents, efficiency rents, quasi-rents, and Schumpeterian rents. Building on previous work on political and institutional strategies, we add a fifth type of rent, influence rents. Influence rents are the extra profits earned by a firm because the rules of the game (laws, regulations, and informal rules) are designed or changed to suit it. To aid the analysis of the relationship between institutional context and firm performance and to provide a structure to guide research, we develop a framework with five key components: a) an identification of the five fundamental problems of a market economy, b) a typology that describes the five different types of institutions that emerge to solve these problems, c) the market-ordering mechanisms used by institutions to solve these problems, d) the common causes of weak institutional performance, and e) generic strategies used by firms to exploit these weaknesses of an institutional context to enhance firm performance. We highlight potential applications of the framework as well as an illustrative research agenda that can advance the development of theory to explain the emergence and persistence of influence rents.


Introduction: Head and neck cancer constitutes about one third of all the cancers in India. Head and neck squamous carcinoma is an important cause of morbidity and mortality with variability in geographical location, age, gender, habits, socio-economic status. Aim: To identify changing trends in age, gender, sites involved and histopathological grades of malignant and analyse potentially malignant lesions in head and neck region in Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India. Materials and Methods: This observational retrospective descriptive study was carried out in tertiary cancer hospital in Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India, over a period of two years which included 1008 cases. All the biopsy cases and biopsies obtained under ultrasound and also to computed tomography guidance showing invasive squamous carcinoma and potentially malignant lesions of head and neck region with their histological analysis were studied. Relevant clinical and demographic details were noted and statistical analysis was done and results were explained in tables and percentage. Results: Total 1008 cases were studied. The maximum number of cases were in the age group of 51-60 years. Males were more affected than females. The buccal mucosa (29.5%) was most common site affected and maxilla (0.8%) the least. Histologically invasive tumour were well differentiated (17.65%), moderately differentiated (79.93%) and poorly differentiated (2.42%). Rest lesions were distributed in following categories: carcinoma- in-situ, verrucous neoplasm, dysplasia, atypical squamous proliferation, leukoplakia, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia. Age wise, site wise, gender wise distribution of cases and association between site of lesions and gender and grade of tumour were studied. Conclusion: The associated risk factors, lifestyle patterns, habits, addictions and geographic and demographic factors, socio-economic status and evolving Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) association and pathogenesis are still topic of debate where much progress is still to be made. It deserves closer study. Apart from invasive squamous malignancies, precursor lesions if investigated at an earliest along with increasing awareness among population in relation to healthy lifestyle changes, habits followed by thorough clinical examination and histopathology and HPV association, possibility of planning specific strategies of prevention, diagnosis and treatment help reduce morbidity and mortality.


Although cavernous hemangiomas occur frequently in the intracranial structures, they are rare in the spine. Most of spinal hemangiomas are vertebral origin and "pure" epidural hemangiomas not originating from the vertebral bone are very rare. Our spinal hemangioma case is extremely rare because of its "pure" epidural involvement and intralesional hemorrhage. A 64-year-old man presented with progressive paraparesis from two months ago. His motor weakness was rated as grade 4/5 in bilateral lower extremities. He also complained of decreased sensation below the T4 sensory dermatome, which continuously progressed to the higher dermatome level. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated thoracic spinal tumor at T3-T4 level. The tumor was located epidural space compressing thoracic spinal cord ventrally. The tumor was not involved with the thoracic vertebral bone. We performed T3-5 laminectomy and removed the tumor completely. The tumor was not infiltrating into intradural space or vertebral bone. The histopathologic study confirmed the epidural tumor as cavernous hemangioma. Postoperatively, his weakness improved gradually. Four months later, his paraparesis recovered completely. Here, we present a case of pure spinal epidural cavernous hemangioma, which has intralesional hemorrhage. We believe cavernous hemangioma should be included in the differential diagnosis of the spinal epidural tumors.


In this research, the possibility of using capability of Rapid Eye satellite imagery for mapping the crown distribution of oak trees in Zagros forests was investigated in the Dashtebarm forest area of Kazeroun, Fars province. In this study, data quality was investigated geometrically and radiometrically and geometric correction of the images was done using a linear method and using precision ground control points. In order to investigate the use of artificial bands obtained from appropriate processes in the classification process, images of appropriate plant spectrum indices were created by mapping the bands and images of the main components using the principal components analysis (PCA index). The vegetation map of crowns of trees was measured by measuring the crowns of trees in square sample samples with an area of square meters in a randomized way. of samples were selected as educational sample and of the rest were randomly selected. Two-point and polygonal classifications with two maximum likelihood algorithms and support vector machines were was performed on the original image, the processed bands, and the main image composition of the processed bands. The results of the accuracy assessment of the maps in this study showed that the highest overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient were and , respectively, in the point of processing with processed bands and maximum likelihood algorithms, as well as by composition of with the original image composition The original is with processed bands and support vector machines algorithm (SVM). Also, in the polygonal classification, the highest overall accuracy and kappa coefficient of the maps classified using the processed bands were and . with the maximum likelihood algorithm and and coefficient Kappa has been supported by the car engine algorithm. In general, the results of this study showed that Rapid Eye images are suitable for preparing the crown distribution map of forest trees in Zagros forests.


We have studied the effect of thermal annealing on electron dephasing times τφ in three-dimensional polycrystalline metals. Measurements are performed on as-sputtered and annealed AuPd and Sb thick films, using the weak-localization method. In all samples, we find that τφ possesses an extremely weak temperature dependence as T → 0. Our results show that the effect of annealing is non-universal, and it depends strongly on the amount of disorder quenched in the microstructures during deposition. The observed "saturation" behavior of τφ cannot be easily explained by magnetic scattering. We suggest that the issue of saturation can be better addressed in three-dimensional, rather than lower-dimensional, structures.


This research rests on the premise that sketching in paper and pencil is crucial for typographic designers when designing documents. The aim has been to derive a characterisation of the salient aspects of sketching, through an ethnographically-oriented study of designers' use of paper and pencil. The people studied were professional typographic designers, but both the motivations for the research and the characterisation deriving from it relate to other design disciplines, notably industrial and engineering design and architecture. The goal was to identify the underlying functionality supported by sketching, in order to inform the design of future tools for document creation. The characterisation is presented as a framework, with seven main categories: visual characteristics of marks; basic semantic units of design; visual features of sketches; visual and tactile features of sheets of sketches; affordances of sketching; functionality required to support sketching; capacities of the traditional medium. The first four categories deal with the visual qualities of sketches, such as image quality within the line and recurring features in sketches such as different scale, closure, and degree of detail. The functions supported by sketching are suggested to be: interpretability, focus, comparison, simulation of experience, ideas capture and record making. The functionality identified as necessary to support sketching includes the appropriate speed of image generation, image emergence, image manipulation, and image capture and record making. Also necessary are high speed and ease of switching between all the strands mentioned above, and singularity of focus. The supportive capacities of the traditional medium include a rich vocabulary of marks, high image definition, and the continuum-of-activity through the continuity-at-medium, i.e. the natural progression from sketching on paper to making simulations out of paper. In recognition of the respective strengths of the traditional and electronic media, integration between the two is recommended for the design of optimal document creation systems.


Replication of web content in the Internet has been found to improve service response time, performance and reliability offered by web services. When working with such distributed server systems, the location of servers with respect to client nodes is found to affect service response time perceived by clients in addition to server load conditions. This is due to the characteristics of the network path segments through which client requests get routed. Hence, a number of researchers have advocated making server selection decisions at the client-side of the network. In this paper, we present a transparent approach for client-side server selection in the Internet using Netlet services. Netlets are autonomous, nomadic mobile software components which persist and roam in the network independently, providing predefined network services. In this application, Netlet based services embedded with intelligence to support server selection are deployed by servers close to potential client communities to setup dynamic service decision points within the network. An anycast address is used to identify available distributed decision points in the network. Each service decision point transparently directs client requests to the best performing server based on its in-built intelligence supported by real-time measurements from probes sent by the Netlet to each server. It is shown that the resulting system provides a client-side server selection solution which is server-customisable, scalable and fault transparent.


Fundulus luciae was collected for a year at Fox Creek Marsh and, occasionally, at other salt marshes along the York River, Virginia. It occurred in high intertidal areas in brackish, sometimes oxygen deficient shallow ditches, mudholes and tidal rivulets located in stands ofSpartina alterniflora. Preserved specimens were examined to determine the reproductive season, fecundity, diet and associated metazoan parasites of the species. Developing ova were present from mid-April to mid-August and exhibited a broad size range; the number of large ova (>1.6 mm diameter) never exceeded 16 per female. Stomach contents consisted mainly of detritus, diatoms, ostracods, dipterans and copepods. All major metazoan parasite groups except Cestoda were represented onF. luciae; Monogenea were most numerous, with 57.2% incidence. Eggs and larvae were described. Preserved larvae ofF. luciae were distinguished from those ofF. heteroclitus by their dorsal pigmentation pattern. It was concluded thatF. luciae, a purportedly rare species, is not rare, but probably restricted to high intertidal salt marshes where it may have been previously overlooked.


Vital statistics and hospital discharge data were analyzed to provide a detailed epidemiologic profile of injury among Hartford residents 0 to 19 years of age. During 1980-86, 76 death certificates identified injury as the cause of death, resulting in an annual age-specific death rate of 2.3 per 10,000 persons. Injuries caused more deaths among one to 19 year olds (58%) than all other diseases combined. During 1982-86 injury was listed as the principal diagnosis leading to hospitalization for 2,220 Hartford residents 0 to 19 years. The hospitalization rate was 95 per 10,000 persons. Injuries accounted for 16% of all hospital discharges. For ages 0 to 19, homicide was the leading injury-related cause of death accounting for 43% of fatalities. Falls were the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations accounting for 22% if all discharges. Clay-Arsenal (23%) and the Northeast (17%) neighborhoods accounted for the largest proportion of injury deaths. Actual inpatient hospital charges for 1986 were reviewed. The total cost for 420 injury discharges utilizing 2,208 hospital days exceeded $1.4 million dollars. Fifty-one percent of the injury discharges listed Medicaid as the primary expected payment source for acute care injury-related discharges. The statistical patterns identified in this report will help public health professionals establish goals for injury control efforts such as a reduction in morbidity, mortality, severity, and/or medical costs.


AIM
To find a safe and effective method of culturing dendritic cells (DCs) for clinical application by comparing the phenotype and functions of DCs in different culture mediums which are supplemented with 100 mL/L fetal bovine serum (FBS), 20 mL/L human AB serum and 10 mL/L autologous plasma.

METHODS
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were induced to DCs in 100 mL/L FBS, 20 mL/L human AB serum, and 10 mL/L autologous plasma, respectively. On day 8, the purity, phenotype and antigen uptake capability of DCs were examined by flow cytometry. The mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was detected by MTT assay.

RESULTS
Focused on DC aggregates, DC yield, DC purity, antigen uptake capability and ability of stimulating lymphocyte proliferation, the experiments showed that those of 100 mL/L FBS culture group were better than those of 20 mL/L human AB serum and 10 mL/L autologous plasma culture groups. There was no significant difference among these three culture groups (P>0.05) except DC yield (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION
Autologous plasma is the best choice for DC cultivation among these three culture ways. It is a safe and efficient way for culturing DCs for clinical purpose.


A case study on drainage from polymetallic vein deposits in the world-class Coeur d'Alene mining district in northern Idaho is presented. The initial discussion focuses on our conceptual geoenvironmental model for these deposits, and then proceeds to examine the composition of waters, particularly those draining from adits and tailings piles within the district. The relative importance of the amount of reacting pyrite and carbonate minerals on drainage composition is discussed from a theoretical viewpoint and then compared with observed compositions from the district. Comparisons of drainage composition and reacting pyrite to carbonate ratios are made with diverse types of ore deposits, including polymetallic vein deposits, in Colorado and with polymetallic vein deposits in Nevada. The results indicate that drainage from polymetallic vein deposits has highly variable pH (i.e., acidic to basic) and concentrations of sulfate, metals, and arsenic. These observations are largely due to variable amounts and types of sulfide minerals and predicted ratios of reacting pyrite to carbonate minerals that range from near zero to just under 20/1. The dominant dissolved base metal in these waters is zinc (Zn). INTRODUCTION Initial mineral deposit models classified ore deposits based on their geological, geophysical, geochemical, and genetic characteristics (Cox and Singer, 1986; Bliss, 1992). The next generation of models, defined as geoenvironmental models and discussed in du Bray (1995), built upon and expanded the definition of mineral deposit models to include their environmental signature or environmental behavior. Plumlee and Nash (1995) define this signature to be "the suites, concentrations, residences, and availabilities of chemical elements in soil, sediment, airborne particulates, and water at a site that result from the natural weathering of mineral deposits and from mining, mineral processing, and smelting". Our development of a geoenvironmental model for polymetallic vein deposits in the Coeur d'Alene (CdA) mining district has been strongly influenced by the impact of these deposits on the overall health of the ecosystem. Examples include high concentrations of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in sediments not only in the mining district, but also 150+ miles downstream of the district, higher than recommended levels of Pb in the blood of children living outside of the Superfund site, poisoning of migrating, endangered water fowl in the lower valley by ingestion of Pbenriched sediment during feeding, and the absence of a viable fisheries in the upper CdA River and its tributaries due to high dissolved Zn concentrations. Therefore, our conceptual geoenvironmental model has components similar to mineral deposit and geoenvironmental models, but expands the definition to include impacts on bioreceptors. Our geoenvironmental model has three basic components: 1) sources of elements (primarily metals and metalloids) from mineralized deposits and associated mine wastes, 2) zones of reaction and transport including identification of the reservoirs or residences of metals and the pathways or processes that transfer elements between reservoirs, and 3) impacts on the health of humans and other biota. The source component of our geoenvironmental model entails characterization of minerals deposits and mine wastes to define such things as the geologic structure of the deposits, mineralogy of the deposits and host phases, and solid phase speciation of toxic elements. The second component includes identifying and describing all of the physical, chemical, and biological processes that act to transform or re-distribute elements between dissolved and particulate phases or between locations within the system and the parameters that force those transformations (e.g., hydrologic transport, pH, redox state, or microbial activity). This component also includes determining the concentration and locations of elements in different parts of the eco-system. For example, defining whether Zn and Pb reside primarily in sediment or in water or identifying how much Pb exists in riverbed sediments, in over bank deposits, or in marshes within the floodplain. The third


: In this study, we analyzed the human's moving trajectories in the encounter scene based on a proposed model. The model of agent possesses preferences for a relationship with a target. The model associates the intensity of aggressive and passive involvements based on the relative distance and the relative angle of the partner. In the scenario of the experiment, the participants approached the target (mannequin) to ask the way. As the results, the participants showed trajectories of a curve deviating from the front direction of the target rather than straight trajectories. The participants also showed adjustment of timing to start speaking based on the assumption of the internal state of the target set by experimental suggestion. The trajectory of human curved approach behavior can be generated approximately by the proposed model. We discuss the reason of these approaching behavior based on the internal state of the model. It can be said that the behavior generation of the proposed model and the estimation of the internal state are useful for designing human-robot interaction in encounter scene.


An ab initio method for the direct calculation of NMR shieldings for selected nuclei at the Hartree-Fock and density-functional theory level is presented. Our method shows a computational effort scaling only sublinearly with molecular size, as it is motivated by the physical consideration that the chemical shielding is dominated by its local environment. The key feature of our method is to avoid the conventionally performed calculation of all NMR shieldings but instead to solve directly for specific nuclear shieldings. This has important implications not only for the study of large molecules, but also for the simulation of solvent effects and molecular dynamics, since often just a few shieldings are of interest. Our theory relies on two major aspects both necessary to provide a sublinear scaling behavior: First, an alternative expression for the shielding tensor is derived, which involves the response density matrix with respect to the nuclear magnetic moment instead of the response to the external magnetic field. Second, as unphysical long-range contributions occur within the description of distributed gauge origin methods that do not influence the final expectation value, we present a screening procedure to truncate the B-field dependent basis set, which is crucial in order to ensure an early onset of the sublinear scaling. The screening is in line with the r(-2) distance decay of Biot-Savarts law for induced magnetic fields. Our present truncation relies on the introduced concept of "individual gauge shielding contributions" applied to a reformulated shielding tensor, the latter consisting of gauge-invariant terms. The presented method is generally applicable and shows typical speed-ups of about one order of magnitude; moreover, due to the reduced scaling behavior of O(1) as compared to O(N), the wins become larger with increasing system size. We illustrate the validity of our method for several test systems, including ring-current dominated systems and biomolecules with more than 1000 atoms.


Thirty-nine patiens with alkaptonuria diagnosed in childhood were studied with repeated detailed clinical and biochemical examinations. Darkening of the urine, although varying from time to time, was present in all. Pigmentary changes in axillary regions began to appear at 8--10 years with concomitant staining of underwear. Ear cartilage staining occurred in only 1, and none had scleral involvement or anthropathy. Dark brown to black staining of ear cerumen is present even in earliest childhood. This distinctive symptom in a child with no other ochronotic manifestations and even normal urine colour should alert one to possible alkaptonnuria. Other findings are described in detail.


Young sexual minority males are among those at highest risk for HIV infection, yet we know relatively little about the impact of sexual identity development on HIV risk. This study used cross-sectional data to investigate factors associated with HIV-related sexual risk among a sample of sexual minority males (n = 156), ages 14 to 21 years, using an extended version of the information–motivation–behavioral skills (IMB) model tailored for this population. Path analysis results indicated that the extended model predicted a sizable amount of primary and secondary sexual risk (r2 = .35 and .42). In addition to increasing HIV prevention information and motivation and decreasing substance use, study findings suggest that interventions with young sexual minority males should focus on sexual identity development factors including youths' attitudes toward LBGT people, sex-centered versus identity-centered development, and with specific emphasis on youth with non–male exclusive sexual orientations.


Indonesia's converted peatland areas have a well-established fire problem, but limited studies have examined the frequency with which they are burning. Here, we quantify fire frequency in Indonesia's two largest peatland regions, Sumatra and Kalimantan, during 2001–2018. We report, annual areas burned, total peatland area affected by fires, amount of recurrent burning and associations with land-use and land-cover (LULC) change. We based these analyses on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra/Aqua combined burned area and three Landsat-derived LULC maps (1990, 2007, and 2015) and explored relationships between burning and land-cover types. Cumulative areas burned amounted nearly half of the surface areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan but were concentrated in only ~25% of the land areas. Although peatlands cover only 13% of Sumatra and Kalimantan, annual percentage of area burning in these areas was almost five times greater than in non-peatlands (2.8% vs. 0.6%) from 2001 to 2018. Recurrent burning was more prominent in Kalimantan than Sumatra. Average fire-return intervals (FRI) in peatlands of both regions were short, 28 and 45 years for Kalimantan and Sumatra, respectively. On average, forest FRI were less than 50 years. In non-forest areas, Kalimantan had shorter average FRI than Sumatra (13 years vs. 40 years), with ferns/low shrub areas burning most frequently. Our findings highlight the significant influence of LULC change in altering fire regimes. If prevalent rates of burning in Indonesia's peatlands are not greatly reduced, peat swamp forest will disappear from Sumatra and Kalimantan in the coming decades.


The so-called "Needham"s Grand Question" (NGQ) can be formulated as why modern science was developed in Europe despite the earlier successes of science and technology in ancient China. Numerous answers have been proposed. In this review, it will be pointed out that traditional Chinese natural philosophy (TCNP) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are in fact dealing with problems of highly complex dynamical systems of Nature and human beings. Due to the lack of mathematical machinery in dealing with such complex phenomena, a holistic approach was taken by ancient Chinese instead. It was very successful for the first eighteen centuries. In the recent three centuries, however, the reductionist and mechanistic viewpoints of Western natural philosophy, sciences, and medicine have been prevalent all over the world up to now. The main obstacle in preventing the advancement of TCM, TCNP and its sciences is actually the lacking of proper mathematical tools in dealing with complex dynamical systems. Fortunately, the tools are now available and a "chaotic wave theory of fractal continuum" has been proposed recently. To give the theory an operational meaning, three basic laws of TCNP are outlined. These three laws of wave/field interactions contrast readily with those of Newton's particle collisions. Via the proposed three laws, TCM, TCNP and its sciences can be unified under the same principles. Finally, an answer to NGQ can be accurately given. It is hoped that this review will help promoting a genuine understanding of natural philosophy, sciences, and medicine in an ecumenical way.


The central focus of this study concerns the impact in Korea of an in-service teacher
training (INSET) course on teachers' classroom practice and their perception change. A
qualitative case study involving observation and interviews was carried out during a
period of six months before and after an INSET course. The three-week INSET course itself
was observed. This was followed by the observation of five consecutive English lessons
given by the two teachers. The teachers also took part in four semi-structured interviews.
While the observations shed light on how the teachers implemented what they had learnt
from the INSET into their teaching practice, the interviews explored a range of issues.
These included their general expectations and outcomes of the INSET course, their
perception changes and difficulties in putting new ideas into practice. Interviews also
explored their perceptions of longer-term outcomes.
The main finding in this study indicated that the two teachers faced some difficulties and
challenges in implementing new ideas or knowledge obtained from the INSET course into
their classroom practice, and did not do so to the same extent. The contextual differences
between the INSET and real practice, the content of the INSET, and lack of school support
were identified as constraining factors that limit implementation. The analysis also
showed that the teachers' confidence and motivation resulting from the INSET led to their
better career prospects and affected their professional identity. Some important
implications from the study for language teacher training are discussed to highlight how
the potential impact of INSET could be optimised: (i) INSET should provide ongoing
support to promote developmental continuity after the course; (ii) INSET should consider
teaching contexts sensitively, especially large classes and limited materials; and (iii)
trainees continue their professional development under their own initiative even after
the INSET course.


2402 Monoclonal IgG1 antibodies cetuximab and trastuzumab have become standard of care for the treatment of patients with advanced colon and breast cancer, respectively. Mode of action of these antibodies includes inhibition of signalling and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Numerous efforts are ongoing to increase the anti-tumor activity of therapeutic antibodies, which typically require weekly doses of 2-8 mg/kg and show only limited efficacy as monotherapy in metastatic disease. Conventional antibodies such as cetuximab and trastuzumab cannot directly engage T cells, which are considered the most potent cytotoxic cells in the organism. This is because T cells lack antibody-binding Fcγ receptors. We have developed so called BiTE antibodies that can redirect T cells --irrespective of T cell receptor specificity and peptide antigen presentation-- to tumor cells expressing a particular surface antigen.
 Here, we have converted both cetuximab and trastuzumab into T cell-engaging BiTE antibodies. Respective single-chain antibodies were crafted from the variable domains of cetuximab and trastuzumab and genetically linked to anti-CD3 single-chain antibodies that confer the particular T cell-engaging properties of BiTE antibodies. The resulting EGFR- and HER-2-specific BiTE antibodies were stable 55 kDa proteins with binding specificity to EGFR and HER-2 on tumor cells, respectively, and to CD3 on T cells. Both showed potent redirected lysis of EGFR- and HER-2-expressing target cell lines by peripheral human T cells at half maximal concentrations of 0.1-0.2 ng/ml (ca. 2-4 picomolar). Redirected lysis was highly specific for target antigens. Concomitant T cell activation was only observed in the presence of target cells but not when cetuximab- and trastuzumab-based BiTE antibodies were incubated with T cells alone.
 The anti-tumor activity of cetuximab and trastuzumab was directly compared with that of the corresponding BiTE antibodies in cytotoxicity assays using identical assay conditions and the same donors as source for peripheral mononuclear effector cells (PBMC). BiTE antibodies consistently showed a higher activity than the conventional antibodies. In contrast to the IgG1 antibodies, the BiTE antibodies led to a complete lysis of target cells during the assay period. Data from animal models will be presented that compare the efficacy of cetuximab and trastuzumab side-by-side with that of respective BiTE antibodies.
 Our data show that established therapeutic monoclonal antibodies can be successfully converted into BiTE antibodies, with the potential to engage T cells for highly potent and strictly target-dependent tumor cell elimination.


The conflict between the federal government and the state of Sabah has occurred since 1963 stemming from the dissatisfaction of the people of Sabah towards the implementation of their autonomy rights as contained in the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63). This dissatisfaction led to an anti-federal sentiment among the people of Sabah towards the federal government, which threatened the stability of the Federation of Malaysia. Hence, this study examines the factors leading to the emergence of anti-federal sentiment in Sabah and assesses the impact of such sentiment on Malaysian politics utilising the concept of federalism as an analytical tools. The primary source of this artile comprised interviews, whereas books, journals, official government reports, articles and news portals were used as its secondary sources. Findings revealed that the factors promoting the anti-federal sentiment among Sabahans are the dissatisfaction with the implementation of autonomy rights and MA63, the imbalance in infrastructure development, the socio-economic gap between Sabah and the states in the Peninsula, distribution of oil royalties and the presence of illegal immigrants. This anti-federal sentiment has createda strained relationship between the federal government and Sabah, the demand for self-government, the fading of patriotism, the threat to national harmony and unity, the rise of state nationalism and the decline of the people's nationalism. Consequently, this sentiment threatens the stability of the federation and therefore requires an immediate solution to maintain national unity and sovereignty. Keywords: Federation of Malaysia; Malaysia Agreement 1963; Sabah; state nationalism; anti-federal


Recently, relevant changes have made organizational boundaries more fluid and dynamic in response to the rapid pace of knowledge diffusion and innovation and international competition. This helps to reconsider how to succeed with informaiton technology (IT). The IT has moved beyond the implementation of IT applications to an age of IT-enabled change. The trend towards increasing use of IT continues and the challenge remains how to better manage IT projects in order to maximise their economic benefits. This paper presents a diagnostic use in traditional and agile software project management practices in Brazil. To be able to assess the use of such methodologies in the light of experience, multiple case studies were conducted in three Brazilian organizations, who claimed to manage their software projects adopting practices of both approaches. At the end of the survey, it was found that the project management software in Brazil is done by combining traditional and agile practices. The results were satisfactory, validating the present proposal.


A mechanistic plunger lift tool was developed to estimate cycle mechanics, liquid unloading, and avoid well integrity issues. The study focuses on the plunger-assisted gas lift (PAGL) wells operated with the two-piece plunger under low tubing wellhead pressure conditions.
 The fall and upstroke stages of two-piece plungers were analyzed for eleven wells from San Juan Basin. The fall velocity estimation for plunger parts was modeled for; shut-in, transitional and multiphase flow conditions. Fall and upstroke velocities were estimated using drag-based models that feature drag coefficient, wall factor, and two-phase correction. The field data up to three years from each well was compared with the PAGL Tool estimations. The downhole pressure gauge data was analyzed and compared with plunger liquid slug estimations for two wells. Plunger inspection data and shut-in, afterflow time effects on liquid loading and plunger cycle time were investigated.
 The PAGL Tool estimations for full-cycle times were in fair agreement with daily production and plunger lift data of 10 of the 11 wells. The field data and tools estimations for 2- 7/8 in tubing show that two-piece plungers can fall against 600 STB/d liquid and 2 mmscf/d gas production rates with little to no shut-in times, and lower operational boundary for surfacing can be as low as 300 mscf/d without requiring a pressure buildup. The lower gas production being sufficient for upstroke movement increases the operational range of PAGL. The main reason was the low wellhead pressure, which causes gas expansion and higher gas velocity along the well to increase drag force hence the upstroke capability of PAGL with lower gas production rates. The downhole pressure data was compared with multiphase flow simulation with plunger hydrostatic pressure removal. Higher afterflow time settings were shown to be increasing the arrival time data, which suggests a growth of the liquid accumulation at the bottom hole.
 Field data shows that plunger lift operation is not limited to wells with marginal production, and it can be used before liquid loading conditions. The hydrostatic pressure removal with plunger lift is shown with field data analysis and plunger lift tool estimations. The study presents that the continuous flow plunger lift operational range can be extended to lower production rates if lower wellhead pressure is achieved.


The yearly incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection among 73 consecutive bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients was 68%. Recipients with negative CMV serology prior to transplantation had a yearly incidence of CMV infection of 35% compared to 87% in CMV seropositive patients (p = 0.0001). When the ages of donors and recipients were analysed as continuous variables, both recipients with a younger donor and young recipients had a lower incidence of CMV infection (p = 0.04; p = 0.05). White cell transfusions were significantly associated with an increased incidence of CMV infection (p = 0.03). If white cell transfusions were controlled for, lower marrow cell doses were significantly associated with an increased risk of CMV infection, compared to higher cell doses (p = 0.035). In multivariate analyses, the impact of negative recipient serology was so strong that the other analysed factors did not affect the prognosis for CMV infection, when taken together or separately. 14 patients had symptomatic CMV infection and 13 of those were seropositive prior to BMT. The one-year incidence of symptomatic CMV infection was 33%. None of 12 clinical factors analysed were significantly associated with symptomatic CMV infection. The CMV antibody titer level prior to BMT was not correlated to the risk for symptomatic CMV infection and/or death. The ability to respond with a significant titer rise after BMT was lowered for patients with interstitial pneumonitis compared to patients with other clinical symptoms of CMV infection.


In this report the main focuses are geostatistical Gaussian Markov random field (GMRF) models and parallel exact sampling of GMRFs. There are also brief overviews of parallel computing and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods, and a literature review of parallel MCMC. The geostatistical GMRF models are constructed by discretising the domain region using a lattice. Instead of giving this lattice a Gaussian random field prior, that corresponds to a Gaussian process, a GMRF that is an approximation to the GRF is chosen. More computational benefits are achieved through the nice parallelisation possibilities of GMRF sampling end evaluation. The computationally expensive part of GMRF sampling is Choleskey decomposition of the precision matrix. Parallelisation is done with parallel algorithms from linear algebra for sparse symmetric positive definite matrices. The parallel GMRF sampler is tested for graphs and lattices, and gives both good speed-up and good scalability. A parallel one-block updating scheme Metropolis-Hastings sampler for latent GMRF models is constructed using a GMRF approximation to π(x|y, θ) as proposal for the latent field. It is used for a geostatistical GMRF model with binomial likelihood, and shows good mixing for both the latent field and the hyper-parameters, as well as good speed-up from the parallelisation.


Some locally ordered arrangements of the lithium-lanthanum-vacancy distribution were devised, within the disordered perovskite superstructure of the LixLa2/3−x/3 1/3−2x/3TiO3 ion conductors. By consideration of the Li1/8La5/8 1/4TiO3 composition, two ordered superstructures are built up on the basis of 8 formula units/primitive cell (with monoclinic Pm space group symmetry). Periodic quantum-mechanical calculations were carried out at the B3LYP level by the CRYSTAL06 code, using ECP for lanthanum and all-electron basis sets for all other atoms. For each ordered model the complete structure was fully relaxed by energy minimization, finding that the 4La/1La+1Li+2 arrangement is more stable than 3La+1 /2La+1Li+1. Hence the average disordered Cmmm structures of Li0.16La0.613TiO3 and Li0.18La0.607TiO3 (neutron diffraction data) can be rationalized. The optimized Li positions were found to lie in peripheral sites within the A-type cavities, close to separating windows and in flattened square-pyramidal coordination. Some ambiguous aspects of the corresponding results of diffraction experiments can then be clarified.


Summary The report shows the results of geochemical studies of oil and gas source of the Cenozoic age of the western Ciscaucasia. The geochemical characteristics of the organic matter of the Kumsky rocks show a high oil source potential. Qualitative and quantitative changes reflect not only the new formation of hydrocarbons, but also their emigration. A comprehensive study of the organic matter of Khadum rocks using the methods of bituminology, pyrolysis, and chromatography showed that all types of kerogen are developed in them, but organic matter dominates with moderate source potential. The maximum concentrations of TOC and genetic potential are noted within the West Kuban downwarp, as well as in the outcrops in the area of the Adygei protrusion. The improvement of geochemical parameters in these areas is explained by a decrease in the same direction of the terrigenous component in the original organic matter.


This is an empirical study on the inluences of moon on seven stock markets, which are Indonesia, Malaysia, United Kingdom, United States, Philippines, Japan, and Thailand. The period is from January 1999 until December 2009 in daily basis. This study investigates the relationship  between  moon  phase  and  market  returns.  We  divided  moon  phases  into  new moon  and  full  moon.  While  literature  mention  the  relationship  between  moon  phase  and market returns, our research reject the null hypothesis in regression analysis. However, the descriptive  catches  the  indication  and  conirmed  previous  research.  It  also  proposes  that the market is still rational and not moon-mood inluenced. This result is not contending the EMH theorem. Further research is needed in term of investigating the relationship between psychology  factors  (heuristic  bias,  information  ignorance,  and  other  factors)  and  investor behavior. The effect of moon on certain anomalies has to examine speciically. ");}
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It was investigated whether toxicity of lead (Pb) is so high that its effect on Nippostrongylus brasiliensis larvae could be transferred into subsequent (3) generations of the nematode. Wistar rats were infected with a dose of 1000 N. brasiliensis larvae contaminated with Pb (9 days at 200 ppm in solution). The number of larvae in lungs after 24 and 42 hours and the number of adult nematodes in the small intestine after 90, 114 and 236 hours after infection were examined. To determine reproduction of the N. brasiliensis the number of eggs was determined. Eggs of the first generation subjected to Pb (P generation) were used to culture a subsequent generation of invasive larvae (F1) which were used to infect rats. Eggs from that generation were used to culture the next invasive larvae generation (F2) used again to infect rats. Lungs dissection after 24 hours has shown that the P generation produced 12 times less larvae than the control, while generations F1 and F2 produced 4,9-5 times less larvae than the control. Dissection data for the small intestine show the highest loss in invasive capability of this nematode in generation F1. The dynamics of eggs excretion is the lowest in F1 and excretion period is shorter by 1 day. In F2, the number of eggs excreted is 5.8 times higher than in the control group. It seems that in F2 generation mechanisms enabling the species to survive under unfavorable environmental conditions were started.


Objective To compare recent and long-term physical activity levels as predictors of cardiometabolic risk in a risk factor-free adult population. Design A 12-year prospective cohort study. Setting The Finnish Public Sector study with surveys conducted in four waves at 4-year intervals. Participants 19 230 participants (mean age 50.2 (SD 9.1) years, 84% women) with no prevalent cardiometabolic risk factors at wave 3 were included. Physical activity was assessed at waves 1, 2 and 3. The long-term physical activity level was determined as the mean of activity from wave 1 to 3 (over 8 years). Outcome measure 4-year incidence of cardiometabolic risk factors (obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes) after wave 3, measured individually and as a sum (accumulation of two or more risk factors vs none). Logistic and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used for the analysis. Results Graded associations between higher physical activity levels and lower odds of all risk factors were observed (p for trend <0.01). In comparison with the persistently vigorously active participants (≥60 metabolic equivalent (MET)-hours/week), those who were persistently inactive (<7 MET-hours/week) were about four times more likely to develop obesity (OR=4.24, 95% CI=2.83 to 6.36), two times more likely to develop hypertension (OR=2.02, 95% CI=1.45 to 2.82) and dyslipidaemia (OR=1.82, 95% CI=1.03 to 3.22) and eight times more likely to develop diabetes (OR=7.84, 95% CI=1.78 to 34.6). The corresponding OR for accumulating two or more risk factors was 5.24-fold (95% CI=2.39 to 11.47). For recently inactive versus recently vigorously active, the estimates were weaker (OR=2.36, 95% CI=1.71 to 3.25 for obesity; 1.78, 95% CI=1.35 to 2.35 for hypertension; 1.71, 95% CI=1.04 to 2.82 for dyslipidaemia; 3.56, 95% CI=1.06 to 11.96 for diabetes and 2.66, 95% CI=1.48 to 4.78 for ≥2 risk factors). Conclusion Cardiometabolic risk associated with physical inactivity is better captured by repeated measurements of physical activity than by a single measurement of the most recent activity level.


High‐concentration topical capsaicin is used as a second‐line treatment for neuropathic pain. Transient, mild burning sensation and erythema are expected adverse drug reactions. Here, we report the first case of second degree burn after the application of a high‐concentration topical capsaicin patch with secondary mobility sequelae. Nine months after the application, neuropathic pain still remained and the patient described mobility difficulties in daily activities, preventing her from returning to work. This report aims to raise the question of the benefit/risk ratio of high concentration topical capsaicin.


Abstract objects have been a central topic in philosophy since antiquity. Philosophers have defended various views about abstract objects by appealing to metaphysical considerations, considerations regarding mathematics or science, and, not infrequently, intuitions about natural language. This book pursues the question of how and whether natural language allows for reference to abstract objects in a fully systematic way. By making full use of contemporary linguistic semantics, it presents a much greater range of linguistic generalizations than has previously been taken into consideration in philosophical discussions, and it argues for an ontological picture is very different from that generally taken for granted by philosophers and semanticists alike. Reference to abstract objects such as properties, numbers, propositions, and degrees is considerably more marginal than generally held. Instead, natural language is rather generous in allowing reference to particularized properties (tropes), the use of nonreferential expressions in apparent referential position, and the use of 'nominalizing expressions', such as quantifiers like 'something'. Reference to abstract objects is achieved generally only by the use of 'reifying terms', such as 'the number eight'.


The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the development of parental leave in the Nordic countries in the last decade or so and explain the different approaches taken by individual countries in this regard. Focusing on recent developments, though mainly on the provision of a father's quota, we discuss whether we are actually witnessing a paradigm shift in some of these countries, i.e. a movement away from an emphasis on the dual earner/dual carer model and a reverting back to a more traditional family model approach where the mother is seen as the main parent. This change is commonly presented under the guise of it respecting the 'free choice' of individual families. Furthermore, the article asks why the changes in question have taken place and examines the positions of different political parties towards the issue. The article shows that the Nordic countries are developing somewhat different policies and the intra-Nordic gap in both policies and politics seems to be increasing rather than narrowing.


Understanding the effect of variation of the coefficient matrix in linear optimization problem on the optimal solution and the optimal value function has its own importance in practice. However, most of the published results are on the effect of this variation when the current optimal solution is a basic one. There is only a study of the problem for special perturbation on the coefficient matrix, when the given optimal solution is strictly complementary and the optimal partition (in some sense) is known. Here, we consider an arbitrary direction for perturbation of the coefficient matrix and present an effective method based on generalized inverse and singular values to detect invariancy intervals and corresponding transition points.


Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) remain a common and major problem in healthcare. Severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (SCARs), such as Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) with mortality rate ranges from 10% to more than 30%, can be life threatening. A number of recent studies demonstrated that ADRs possess strong genetic predisposition. ADRs induced by several drugs have been shown to have significant associations with specific alleles of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes. For example, hypersensitivity to abacavir, a drug used for treating of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, has been proposed to be associated with allele 57:01 of HLA-B gene (terms HLA-B∗57:01). The incidences of abacavir hypersensitivity are much higher in Caucasians compared to other populations due to various allele frequencies in different ethnic populations. The antithyroid drug- (ATDs- ) induced agranulocytosis are strongly associated with two alleles: HLA-B∗38:02 and HLA-DRB1∗08:03. In addition, HLA-B∗15:02 allele was reported to be related to carbamazepine-induced SJS/TEN, and HLA-B∗57:01 in abacavir hypersensitivity and flucloxacillin induced drug-induced liver injury (DILI). In this review, we summarized the alleles of HLA genes which have been proposed to have association with ADRs caused by different drugs.


Ignition timing control is of great importance in homogeneous charge compression ignition engines. The effect of hydrogen addition on methane combustion was investigated using a CHEMKIN multi-zone model. Results show that hydrogen addition advances ignition timing and enhances peak pressure and temperature. A brief analysis of chemical kinetics of methane blending hydrogen is also performed in order to investigate the scope of its application, and the analysis suggests that OH radical plays an important role in the oxidation. Hydrogen addition increases NOx while decreasing HC and CO emissions. Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) also advances ignition timing; however, its effects on emissions are generally the opposite. By adjusting the hydrogen addition and EGR rate, the ignition timing can be regulated with a low emission level. Investigation into zones suggests that NOx is mostly formed in core zones while HC and CO mostly originate in the crevice and the quench layer.


The paper addressed the influence of Globalization on human resource development in Nigeria. It traced the origin of human resource development in Nigeria to the coming of the missionaries who spiritually colonized Africa and also educated their adherents. The human resource produced from the education offered were mainly evangelical teachers, as the curriculum comprised mainly of reading, writing, arithmetic and singing. This situation continued upto 1882 when there was state intervention in education which led to the education ordinances of 1882 and 1887. The National Policy on Education of 1981 introduced a new impetus in education vis a vis human resource development. It was seen as a panacea for the training of marketable, self employed individuals in technical and vocational education. The positive influences of globalization on human resource
development in Nigeria include; international transfer of curricular among nation states,
shaping of policies for the production of human resources especially in the area of
delocalization of human resources, growth in the trans-national corporate presence in human resource development, international transfer of technology. The Negative influences include; neocolonization attitude of developed nations especially by using markets in developing world as dumping grounds for untreated factory waste, dependence by developing nations on imported technology, one sided flow of technology - only from the developed nations, brain drain in the health and education sectors of the economy, importation of worst practices of human resource management. In conclusion, the benefits of Globalization can only be reaped with proper educational, human resource planning based on the cost benefit analysis of education. Otherwise globalization would be regarded as neo-colonialism, imperialism or another instrument for underdeveloping Nigeria and Africa. Keywords : Globalization, human resource development Journal of Technology and Education in Nigeria Vol. 10 (1) 2005: pp. 27-31