Metamorphosis and regeneration represent two familiar examples of developmental processes. In Western thought, their conceptual link with broader issues of generation or animal reproduction, including "spontaneous generation," began with the ancient Greeks. Their ideas dominated scientific discourse on these topics until William Harvey, in the mid‐17th century, redefined and distinguished between epigenesis and metamorphosis as fundamentally different modes of reproduction. However, preformation theories, formulated in response to perceived threats of epigenetic concepts to religious doctrine, eclipsed epigenesis for much of the 18th century. Abraham Trembley's 1740 discovery of hydra regeneration helped to fuel the "epigenesis‐preformation debate" at that time. During that period, an exchange between C.F. Wolff, a young epigenesist, and A. von Haller, the reformed preformationist, saw robust models erected to comprehend generation, metamorphosis, and regeneration under each world view. Subsequent elaboration of experimental zoology and the incremental advance of biological knowledge saw the birth of divergent research traditions in pursuit of specialized problems. Embryology, regeneration, and metamorphosis, like genetics, identified independent study topics and elaborated new techniques, thereby creating their own research trajectories. Conceptual reintegration has slowly emerged with the evolution of current biotechnology. We have now begun to discern common molecular mechanisms underlying and reuniting metamorphosis and regeneration, as revealed in the accompanying symposium papers.


We report a case of a lady with systemic symptoms, a spastic paraparesis and an atrophic rash, whose eventual unifying diagnosis was unusual in that most cases are diagnosed postmortem.


With 37 zoysia seed samples with different germination rates ranging from 58.5% to 92%, harvested in different years from 2009 to 2011 and from different locations of China, a model for determining germination rate of zoysia seeds was tried to be built by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy with quantitative partial least squares (QPLS). All the seeds samples were divided into two groups: calibration set (including 28 samples) and validation set (including 9 samples). The results showed that with the spectral range from 6 000 to 7 000 cm(-1) and 6 main components, there was a better fitting between the predictive value and true value. Determination coefficients (R2) of calibration and validation sets are 90.73% and 91.80%, the coefficients of correlation are 0.986 6 and 0.987 2, the standard errors are 9.80 and 9.47, and the average absolute errors are 7.64% and 6.98% respectively. Even with different calibration samples, the models have a high determination coefficient (R2 over building of NIR model for determining 90%), low standard errors (about 10.00) and low absolute errors (about 8.00%). The building of NIR model for determining germination rate of zoysia seeds could promote the application of high quality seeds in production.


The objective of this study is in investigating the research for more accurately quantify the information on mountain forest by using the data on high density LiDAR. For the quantitative analysis of mountain forest resources, we investigated the method to acquire the data on high density LiDAR and extract mountain forest resources. Consequently, the height and girth of a tree each mountain forest resources could be extracted by using the data on high density LiDAR. When using the data on low density LiDAR of 2.5points/m² in average used to produce digital map, it was difficult to extract the exact height and girth of mountain forest resources. If using the data on high density LiDAR of 7points/m² by considering topography, the property of mountain forest resources, data capacity and process velocity, etc, it was found that multitudinous entities could be extracted. It was found that mountain topography and mixed topography were generally denser than plane topography and multitudinous mountain forest resources could be extracted. Furthermore, it was also found that the entity at the border could not be extracted, when each partition was individually processed and the area should be subdivided and extracted by considering the process time and property of target area rather than processing wide area at once. We expect to be studied more profoundly the absorption quantity of greenhouse gas later by using information on mountain forest resources in the future.


This study represents a systematic investigation of the communicative repertoire of Sumatran orangutans ( Pongo pygmaeus abelii ), with a focus on intentional signals in two groups of captive orangutans. The goal was to analyze the signal repertoire with respect to (1) the number and frequency of signals (gestures, facial expressions, and actions), (2) the variability of individual repertoires as a function of group, age class, and sex, and (3) the flexibility of use in terms of 'means-end dissociation' and 'audience effects' and to interpret the findings in terms of the ecology, social structure and socio-cognitive skills of orangutans. The results show that orangutans use a remarkable number of signals including tactile and visual gestures as well as several more complex actions, though few facial expressions and no auditory gestures were observed. One third of signals were used within a play context, followed by one fourth of interactions in the context of ingestion. Although the repertoire included several visual gestures, most of the signals produced were tactile gestures and they were used particularly in the contexts of affiliation and agonism, whereas visual gestures dominated in the context of grooming, ingestion and sexual behavior. Individual repertoires showed a remarkable degree of variability as a function of age and group affiliation. Orangutans used their signals flexibly in several functional contexts and adjusted the signal they used depending on the attentional state of the recipient, similar to findings of other great ape species and gibbons. Thus, the communicative behavior of orangutans is characterized by a variable and flexible use of signals possibly reflecting their highly variable social structure and their sophisticated socio-cognitive skills, with the dominance of tactile gestures corresponding to the arboreal nature of this species.


The aim of the study was to establish if haemagglutination of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) affects haematological picture of peripheral blood in rabbits and the pathogenicity of the virus. The study analyzed white and red blood cell picture in rabbits experimentally infected with two non-haemagglutinating (HA-) RHDV strains (Frankfurt and Asturias) and one strain with variable haemagglutination capacity (HA+/-) (Hagenow). Studies with HA- and HA +/- are rare and relate only to 4 HA- strains (2 RHDV: BLA and Rainham; 2 RHDVa: Pv97 and 9905) and 1 HA+/- RHDV strain: ŻD, where less changes in haematological indices and less pathogenicity were observed. We found that changes caused by HA- Frankfurt strain were related to the number of neutrophils and thrombocytes, while in HA- strain Asturias, in thrombocytes and leukocytes. Changes evoked by HA+/- Hagenow strain pertained to the number of eosinophils, thrombocytes, leukocytes, monocytes, and concentration of hemoglobin. Mortality caused by the Frankfurt strain was 100% between 36 and 48 h post infection (p.i.), while that caused by Asturias strain was 100% between 24 and 36 h p.i., and that observed in case of Hagenow strain was 90% between 36 and 48 h p.i. The changes in haematological picture caused by the HA- and HA+/- RHDV strains were less intensive than those found in case of the HA+ RHDV strains, which cannot be confirmed for pathogenicity, and is not in line with the existing hypothesis suggesting higher pathogenicity in HA+ viruses.


Epigenetic changes occurring during the development of organisms can be altered by the presence of synthetic substances in the environment, resulting in developmental reprogramming and disease. The occurrence of such changes supports the theory that diseases might be cured by altering the epigenetic regulation of gene expression, either directly by modifying the control of the misregulated genes that cause a disease, or indirectly by 'reprogramming' cells toward a 'normal' gene expression pattern. Launched drugs that inhibit DNA methyltransferases or histone deacetylases and lead to epigenetic changes are currently in use for the treatment of cancer. In addition, recent advancements in the understanding of epigenetic mechanisms involved in tumor development and neurodisorders have enabled new approaches for the development of specific epigenetic therapies.


This article investigates the emergence of a growing demand in the Netherlands: the wish of organ donor families and organ recipients to establish contact. Such direct contact transgresses both the anonymity and privacy long considered by many to be fundamental to organ donation. Legislation prescribes that privacy should be safeguarded, but the parties involved increasingly manage to find each other. Research is needed to provide insight into the ramifications of direct contact, which may inform mourning counseling and psychosocial support. Drawing on qualitative interviews with donor's relatives, we analyze the reasons for the desire to have direct contact. We seek to understand how meanings are constructed and contested through organs at the margins of life and death in the individualized and secularized society of the Netherlands. We find that relatives struggle with persistent restless feelings after postmortem organ donation and may develop a level of personal attachment and assign inalienability to human body parts.


In the context of public debates on teacher quality, both media and education policy texts construct deficit discourses about teachers, discourses that work together to inform public, commonsense understandings of teacher quality. This paper explores the interrelationships between discourses on teachers constructed on television and in policies in the Australian policy context. Critical discourse analysis was employed to trace the links between the discourses on teachers constructed in a television situation comedy and discourses in the policy documents that inform the Australian Government Quality Teacher Programme. The paper demonstrates the interdiscursivity of media and policy discourses on teacher quality by analysing the ways that the television sitcom constructed a particular version of teachers within the quality policy context. The analysis highlights the need for teachers to challenge these deficit discourses. The paper concludes by arguing for a rethinking of teacher professionalism in ways that include active engagement in public debates on education.


It is generally accepted that bacteria in or outside the root canal are the reason for apical periodontitis and endodontic failures. This case report presents a 60-year-old woman with a periapical lesion and a fistulous tract which did not respond to conventional root canal treatment. During periapical surgery, granulomatous tissue was removed and a calculus-like deposit was observed on the root surface. A radicular cyst was diagnosed. Nine months after this calculus-like deposit had been removed and the cyst enucleated, complete recovery of the bone had occurred. It is suggested that the presence of the calculus-like deposit at the apex of the tooth or its effects may in part have delayed the healing of the periapical inflammation in spite of apparently adequate endodontic treatment.


Purpose: To report the clinical, histopathologic, microbiologic, and confocal microscopic features of Candida keratitis after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). Methods: We performed clinical, confocal scan, microbiologic and histopathologic examinations on two corneas from 2 young patients who underwent DALK for keratoconus. Results: The first patient presented with asymptomatic white to cream-colored interface deposits 2 months after DALK. The confocal scan disclosed clusters of hyperreflective, fine granular deposits at the region of interface, with no evidence of inflammation or hyphaelike structures. The clinical presumption of possible "epithelial downgrowth" was suggested, and because of the progression of these lesions, irrigation of the interface was considered. Finally, penetrating keratoplasty was performed because of a rupture in the Descemet membrane. Histopathologic examination of the cornea disclosed yeastlike structures within the interface area. The microbiologic results of the irrigation fluid showed Candida glabrata. The second patient presented with a symptomatic infiltration of the inferior interface close to the suture site 2.5 months after DALK. The confocal scan showed foci of inflammation with clusters of hyperreflective round-shaped structures that resembled epithelial cells. Clinically, there was a suggestion of epithelial downgrowth, and subsequently, penetrating keratoplasty was performed because of the progression of the lesion. Histopathologic examination of the cornea disclosed an acute and chronic granulomatous keratitis caused by yeastlike structures. The microbiologic results revealed infection with Candida albicans. Conclusions: These are the first reported occurrences of interface Candida keratitis after DALK and with different confocal features. The clinical and the confocal features of interface Candida keratitis may be similar to those seen in epithelial downgrowth, which may postpone correct diagnosis and treatment. Candida keratitis should be considered in cases of interface deposits after any form of lamellar keratoplasty.


Author(s): Tiffany, Matthew | Advisor(s): Szoka, Francis C | Abstract: The large molecular weight, poly-anionic, and labile nature of small interfering RNA (siRNA) necessitate that these macromolecules are associated with carriers for cellular delivery. Lipid-based particles (LNPs) are very efficient at both cellular internalization and contents delivery; however, the cell has evolved mechanisms to efficiently degrade exogenous macromolecules and prevent the alteration of cellular function by foreign nucleic acids. An important aspect to understand is how cells differentially traffic LNPs so that more efficacious formulations can be designed for therapeutic purposes.The majority of this dissertations presents a series of investigations into how cells endocytosis and sort LNPs encapsulating siRNA. First, I developed a set of fluorescently tagged endosomal marker proteins for clathrin-, caveolin-, and flotillin-dependent internalization pathways. In addition, I prepared markers for early and late endosomes (Rab5a and Rab7a), recycling endosomes (Rab11a), multivesicular bodies (CD82), and lysosomes (LAMP1). Second, I utilized the technique of ratiometric fluorescence microscopy to measure endosomal pH. Third, I developed an image-processing program built into ImageJ/Fiji to accurately colocalize the lipid, siRNA, and endosomal marker or pH probe signals. I then used these techniques to determine the pathway cells employ to internalize three different LNP formulations comprised of cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHEMS), 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP), and 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-3-dimethylaminopropane (DLinDMA). I present evidence that DOTAP LNPs are more potent at delivering siRNA compared to CHEMS or DLinDMA LNPs. I also demonstrate that cells endocytose the LNPs in measurably different ways, specifically, DOTAP exhibits at 0.62 pH unit increase in endosomal pH, pH dependent delivery, 30% colocalization with Rab11a and CD82 during the first 30 minutes of transfection, and a slow accumulation into LAMP1 positive lysosomes over a 4 hour transfection ending at 25% colocalization. In contrast, CHEMS is the least efficient LNP at delivering siRNA and colocalizes with LAMP1 at 25% during a 4 hour transfection. DLinDMA shows a 0.4 pH unit increase in endosomal pH and low colocalization (10 - 15%) with the Rab11a, CD82, and LAMP1 markers tested, despite being present at similar levels as the other formulations, and is presumably trafficked into compartments I did not label. Correlations between cellular trafficking and siRNA delivery efficiency are discussed that may aid in the design of potent LNP formulations.Finally, I also investigated the human dsRNA transporter SIDT-1, and present evidence that high expression levels are required for cellular siRNA uptake, and the that extracellular domain does not bind directly to dsRNA. In the appendix, I present efforts to use site directed mutagenesis to convert human cytidine deaminase into an enzyme with cytosine deaminase activity.


Imperfect detection methods make it difficult to tell whether an invasive species has been successfully eradicated. However, management cannot continue indefinitely when individuals are no longer detected – at some point, efforts must be reduced or ceased entirely. The risks of mistakenly inferring that an eradication attempt has been successful can be high: the species can bounce back and even expand its range, causing environmental and economic damage, and rendering the initial eradication campaign redundant. This decision problem, balancing the risks of declaring eradication prematurely with the costs of continued management, is currently being contemplated by managers of the fox eradication programme on Phillip Island, in Victoria, Australia. We used a Bayesian catch‐effort model to analyse data on the number of foxes removed and sighted using different methods. We estimate that there were 11 foxes remaining on Phillip Island as of end of June 2012. Baiting was the most effective method for removing foxes per person‐hour invested, and spotlighting was the most effective method for sighting foxes without removal. We then projected forward into the future, assuming management effort continues at current levels, but no further foxes are detected (removed or sighted). Under this scenario, the mean estimate for the number of foxes remaining drops below a single fox after three years with no detections, and the probability that eradication has been successful is 0.69. This is the optimal time to declare eradication, given our estimated cost of declaring eradication prematurely. This framework indicates the minimum number of years for which management of foxes on the island must continue and allows decision makers to assess the trade‐offs involved in any decision to declare eradication.


This paper outlines the results of the experimental study aiming to explore the impact of using machine translation engines on the performance of translation students. Machine translation engines refer to the software developed to translate source texts into target languages in a fully automatic mode which can be classified according to the algorithm (example-based, rule-based, statistical, pragmatics-based, neural, hybrid) and the level of customisation (generic, customised, adaptive). The study was carried out in the form of a translation test held during the first semester of 2019/2020 academic year (September). The subjects included 48 undergraduate students of the School of Foreign Languages of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (42 women and 6 men aged from 19 to 22) majoring in translation. They were subdivided into two sample groups: sample group 1 performed translation from English into Ukrainian with the help of the MT engine while sample group 2 translated the same text from English into Ukrainian by hand. The MT engine chosen for conducting the research was Microsoft Translator for personal use. The research was arranged into the following stages: preliminary (designing the experiment), main (implementing the experiment into life), conclusive (processing the results and interpreting them). The comparison of the students' average results allowed us to come to the conclusion that the hypothesis preconceived in the beginning of the study was confirmed: the quality of the text translated by the students who received no previous training in post-editing with the use of a modern machine translation engine was of a poorer quality compared to the translation of the same text made by the students without the use of a machine translation engine. The students using the machine translation engine showed the tendency not to treat critically the output of the machine translation engine, thus scoring more penal points than the students translating on their own. The evidence from this study implies the necessity of teaching students to use machine translation in their work and to post-edit texts by means of developing the appropriate cross-curricular methodology of teaching.


Sea surface salinity as an ocean variable plays an important role in various components of the water and energy cycle. Recently a Chinese space mission using a new concept of Microwave Imager Combined Active and Passive (MICAP) at L-band is proposed for the ocean salinity measurement. MICAP uses interferometric techniques for both the radiometer and the scatterometer, which adopt two kinds of linear array feeds sharing one 3×4.5 m parabolic cylinder reflector. This paper is focused on the microwave interferometric radiometer (MIR) aboard the MICAP, and discusses the imaging simulation, imaging algorithm, and instrument performance.


We aim to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding Galactic Faraday rotation in an all-sky map of the Galactic Faraday depth. For this we have assembled the most extensive catalog of Faraday rotation data of compact extragalactic polarized radio sources to date. In the map-making procedure we used a recently developed algorithm that reconstructs the map and the power spectrum of a statistically isotropic and homogeneous field while taking into account uncertainties in the noise statistics. This procedure is able to identify some rotation angles that are offset by an integer multiple of π. The resulting map can be seen as an improved version of earlier such maps and is made publicly available, along with a map of its uncertainty. For the angular power spectrum we find a power law behavior C� ∝ � −2.17 for a Faraday sky where an overall variance profile as a function of Galactic latitude has been removed, in agreement with earlier work. We show that this is in accordance with a 3D Fourier power spectrum P(k) ∝ k −2.17 of the underlying


This paper deals with a numerical modeling of the thermal transition of the sliding contacts of solid armatures to liquid and vapor state. The transient electromagnetic and thermal behavior of the rail-to-armature contact zone is analyzed by means of suitable equivalent networks. Either frictional and Ohmic heating or radiation and conduction heat exchange are taken into account. The numerical model presented is used to predict and to compare the transition velocities in traditional and muzzle-fed railguns.


Received 2 September 2019; Accepted 22 October, 2019 The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of environmental roles on students' academic performance in agricultural science in secondary schools in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Methods and techniques of data collection were through the use of structured questionnaires. Descriptive survey research design was used in which data from 300 students respondents were collected. The information collected were analyzed using frequency, t-test, likert scale and ANOVA. Analysis of data revealed that 90.67% of the students fathers were educated and about 85.67% of the mothers were also educated. The Pearson correlation analysis results showed that the estimated correlation coefficient ® was 0.7727 for fathers' education level significant at 5% and 0.6104 for mothers' education level, meaning that parents' education levels significantly influenced students' academic performance in agricultural science in secondary schools in Emohua LGA. Also, the coefficient of correlation for fathers' occupational background was significant at 1% with R = 0.9671 and 0.8413 for mothers' occupational background significant at 5%, i.e. that occupation of the parents positively influenced the academic performance of students in agricultural science. The results from the ANOVA showed that environmental roles were statistically significant at 5% level with the students' academic performance. Conclusively, there is positive family and parental influence on students' academic performance in agricultural science. Therefore, family background, parents and peer group played vital roles in students' academic performance.


This paper studies control of load frequency in single and two area power systems with fuzzy like PID controller. In this study, multi-objective genetic algorithm is used to determine the parameters of the fuzzy like PID controller according to the system dynamics. The proposed controller has been compared with the conventional PID controllers tuned by Ziegler-Nicholasmethod and Particle Swarm Optimization technique. The overshoots and settling times with the proposed Genetic-PID controller are superior to the outputs of the same characteristics of the conventional PID controllers. The effectiveness of the proposed schemes is confirmed via extensive study using single area and two areas load frequency control examples through the application of MATLAB-Simulink software.


We propose practical guidelines to predict biome-specific potential evapotranspiration (ETp) from the knowledge of grass-reference evapotranspiration (ET0) and a crop coefficient (Kc) in Mongolia. A paucity of land-based weather data hampers use of the Penman–Monteith equation (FAO-56 PM) based on the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines to predict daily ET0. We found that the application of the Hargreaves equation provides ET0 estimates very similar to those from the FAO-56 PM approach. The Kc value is tabulated only for crops in the FAO-56 guidelines but is unavailable for steppe grasslands. Therefore, we proposed a new crop coefficient, Kc adj defined by (a) net solar radiation in the Gobi Desert (Kc adjD) or (b) leaf area index in the steppe region (Kc adjS) in Mongolia. The mean annual ETp obtained using our approach was compared to that obtained by FAO-56 guidelines for forages (not steppe) based on tabulated Kc values in 41 locations in Mongolia. We found the differences are acceptable (RMSE of 0.40 mm d−1) in northern Mongolia under high vegetation cover but rather high (RMSE of 1.69 and 2.65 mm d−1) in central and southern Mongolia. The FAO aridity index (AI) is empirically related to the ETp/ET0 ratio. Approximately 80% and 54% reduction of ET0 was reported in the Gobi Desert and in the steppe locations, respectively. Our proposed Kc adj can be further improved by considering local weather data and plant phenological characteristics.


The aim of this research work is to investigate the mechanical properties of corrugated-core sandwich structures under quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions and to determine the failure mechanisms and energy-absorbing characteristics of the corrugated-cores with different cell wall thickness and filled with a foam core. Triangular corrugation structures were made from an aluminium alloy (AL), a glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) and a carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). The composite corrugations were fabricated using a hot press moulding technique and then adhesively bonded to skins based on the same material, to produce a range of lightweight sandwich structures. The role of the number of unit cells, the thickness of the cell walls and the width in determining the mechanical behaviour of the structures was investigated. Buckling of the struts was identified as the initial failure mode in these corrugated systems. Continued loading resulted in plastic deformation in the aluminium system, in contrast, fibre .fracture, matrix cracking and localised delamination in the composite systems, as well as debonding between the skins and the core were observed in the composites. The compression strength and modulus were shown to be dependent on the number of unit cells and the cell wall thickness, but independent of specimen width. Subsequent mechanical testing was undertaken using an Arcan rig capable of generating a range of loading conditions between pure shear and pure compression. The failure strength in the aluminium system was accurately represented using a two dimensional quadratic failure criterion. In contrast, due to the initation of delamination within the composite struts, the composite corrugated-cores were accurately predicted using a modified failure criterion. Low velocity compression loading was subsequently performed on the sandwich structures, where the dynamic strength enhancement factor was shown to increase for all the corrugation systems. This was attributed to both a material strain-rate sensitivity and inertial stabilisation effects. The failure mechanisms in the sandwich structures were found to be similar under both quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions, where damage initiated due to buckling of the struts. To simulate the mechanical response of the corrugation systems, FE models have been developed using the Abaqus finite element package. The FE results were compared to measured responses, and good agreement was achieved. The failure modes predicted by the FE models show reasonably good agreement with the experimental observations. Finally, foam filling the composite corrugation systems significantly improved the specific strength as well as specific energy-absorbing characteristics of the structures. The compression properties of the corrugated structures have been compared to those of other core materials, where the evidence suggests that these systems compare favourably with other cellular core materials.


Abstract Background Gambling disorder is associated with increased suicidality, especially in women who also are more likely to have psychiatric comorbid disorders and more often have experiences of traumatic life events. Although suicidality is increased and several risk factors have been identified, knowledge of the suicidal process is lacking, especially for women. Aim To explore the lived experiences of suicidality in women with gambling disorder and to investigate potential factors involved in the development of suicidality. Method Semi-structured interviews were held with seven women with experiences of gambling disorder and suicidality in Malmö, Sweden between November 2021 and June 2022, when saturation was reached. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded in NVivo. Qualitative content analysis was used to build categories and themes. Results Several women had experienced suicidality before developing gambling disorder and gambling-related suicidality. However, for some, suicidality had appeared seemingly only due to the gambling disorder. Suicidality ranged from ideation to severe suicide attempts. Three themes of factors modulating suicidality related to gambling were found; a) guilt shame and self-stigmatization, b) loss of control/chaotic life circumstances, and c) social consequences/fear of guilt and shame from others. Conclusion More research on the experience of suicidality in women with gambling disorder is needed. Attempts to address self-stigmatization, guilt, and shame in women with gambling disorder and society at large as well as aiding women to regain a sense of control over their economy and gambling may be ways to reduce suicidality.


A B S T R A C T In order to determine the effect of iron chlorosis on fruit size and oil content of avocado (Persea americana Mill.), a trial was conducted on a 22-year-old orchard cv. Hass located at Quillota, Chile (32o51' S lat., 71o6' W long.). Twelve trees with different degrees of iron chlorosis were selected, some with normal green foliage and others highly chlorotic. Fifteen fruit and 30 leaves per tree were taken on August 30. In this samples iron concentration was determined by spectrophotometry. Color by tri-stimulus colorimetry and chlorophyll concentration by ethanol extraction and spectrophotometer absorbance were measured on leaves and fruit peels. Fruit weight and oil content were measured by petroleum ether extraction. Fruit from normal trees had an iron concentration of 13.8 mg kg -1 (P ≤ 0,05) higher than that of chlorotic trees. A high correlation between the chlorophyll level of leaves and fruit peels was found (R 2 = 0.74). The leaf chlorophyll concentration was also highly associated with the fruit weight (R 2 = 0.93) and oil content (R 2 = 0.68).A similar relation was found between the fruit peel chlorophyll concentration and the fruit weight (R 2 = 0.70) and its oil content (R 2 = 0.86). It is concluded that iron chlorosis diminished fruit size and oil concentration in avocados.


Oxysterols are oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol that have been shown to influence a wide variety of cellular processes including sterol metabolism, lipid trafficking, apoptosis and more recently, cell differentiation. The oxysterol binding proteins (OSBPs) comprise a large conserved family of proteins in eukaryotes with high affinity for oxysterols, but their precise function has not been defined yet. One member of this family in humans, HLM/OSBP2 protein, has recently been reported as a potential marker for solid tumor dissemination and worse prognosis in these cases. In this study we focused on the evaluation of HLM/OSBP2 expression in malignant cell lines from different origins (blood and solid tumors) and we also evaluated its expression in chronic myeloid leukemia patients, correlating the molecular findings with clinical outcome. Our results showed that HLM/OSBP2 was expressed in 80% of the analysed CML patients, suggesting that this protein could constitute a helpful tool for disease monitoring and reinforces recent findings that HLM/OSBP2 protein could be involved in the maintenance of the undifferentiated state necessary for leukemogenesis.


Problems tackled by researchers and data scientists in aviation and air traffic management (ATM) require manipulating large amounts of data representing trajectories, flight parameters and geographical descriptions of the airspace they fly through. The traffic library for the Python programming language defines an interface to usual processing and data analysis methods to be applied on aircraft trajectories and airspaces. This paper presents how traffic accesses different sources of data, leverages processing methods to clean, filter, clip or resample trajectories, and compares trajectory clustering methods on a sample dataset of trajectories above Switzerland.


This paper presents a new mechanism for circular flexture traveling wave excitation, which is based on a shear-shear mode in a single piezoelectric disc with a center hole was poled along its radial direction. Its bottom electrode was divided into four parts, and the top electrode acted as common ground. By use of a pair of alternating current (AC) voltage signals (sine and cosine), at the disc's resonance frequency, a flexural traveling wave was generated circumferentially. Both finite element modeling (FEM) analysis of transducers by integration of Laplace equations (ATILA) analysis and experimental results demonstrate the concept. As an application example, a shear-shear mode prototype was constructed and characterized.


Although an increase in the prices of academic journals across several decades has been a crucial issue for research institutions, few studies using individual journal prices have been carried out on the introduction of a bundling service called Big Deal. The present study empirically examines the determinants of the prices of 409 economic journals using the latest data. The results found that publishers set higher prices for more frequently cited journals, implying that the demand factor influences the price level in addition to cost factors. Furthermore, prices of journals published by large commercial publishers are higher than those published by professional associations and university presses. However, the prices differ among large commercial publishers, and further investigation is needed to conclude whether they set higher prices by exercising market power. On the other hand, an increase in the number of pages in individual journals caused by an increase in the number of submitted articles certainly leads to a corresponding rise in journal subscription prices. The healthy development of open access journals to ensure that everyone can read articles for free is needed to restrict an increase in the prices of traditional subscription journals.


KASCADE and KASCADE-Grande were multi-detector installations to measure individual air showers of cosmic rays at ultra-high energy. Based on data sets measured by KASCADE and KASCADE-Grande, 90% C.L. upper limits to the flux of gamma-rays in the primary cosmic ray flux are determined in an energy range of eV. The analysis is performed by selecting air showers with a low muon content as expected for gamma-ray-induced showers compared to air showers induced by energetic nuclei. The best upper limit of the fraction of gamma-rays to the total cosmic ray flux is obtained at eV with . Translated to an absolute gamma-ray flux this sets constraints on some fundamental astrophysical models, such as the distance of sources for at least one of the IceCube neutrino excess models.


We investigate the representation of diffeomorphisms in Connes' Spectral Triples formalism. By encoding the metric and spin structure in a moving frame, it is shown on the paradigmatic example of spin semi-Riemannian manifolds that the bimodule of noncommutative 1-forms $\Omega^1$ is an invariant structure in addition to the chirality, real structure and Krein product. Adding $\Omega^1$ and removing the Dirac operator from an indefinite Spectral Triple we obtain a structure which we call an \emph{algebraic background}. All the Dirac operators compatible with this structure then form the configuration space of a noncommutative Kaluza-Klein theory. In the case of the Standard Model, this configuration space is stricty larger than the one obtained from the fluctuations of the metric, and contains in addition to the usual gauge fields the $Z_{B-L}'$-boson, a complex scalar field $\sigma$, which is known to be required in order to obtain the correct Higgs mass in the Spectral Standard Model, and flavour changing fields. The latter are invariant under automorphisms and can be removed without breaking the symmetries. It is remarkable that, starting from the conventional Standard Model algebra ${\mathbb C}\oplus {\mathbb H}\oplus M_3({\mathbb C})$, the "accidental" $B-L$ symmetry is necessarily gauged in this framework.


Despite advances in the development of novel methods to improve treatment, ovarian carcinoma is still the leading cause of gynecologic cancer death in the United States and other industrialized nations. Improvements in the clinical outcome of ovarian cancer will be achieved if methods can be developed to enable the detection of these tumors at the earliest possible stage. Thus, it is critically important to identify and validate new biomarkers of ovarian cancer. HE4 expression was defined by immunohistochemical analysis of a wide range of benign, borderline, and malignant ovarian lesions, including serous, endometrioid, mucinous, and clear cell lesions of the ovary and in primary tubal carcinomas and the normal fallopian tube. At the cellular level, HE4 was highly expressed in malignant ovarian tumors and in a wide range of benign and borderline ovarian lesions. In addition, HE4 was highly expressed in primary fallopian tube carcinomas and benign fallopian tubal epithelial cells. These results support the conclusion that HE4 is widely expressed in most benign, borderline, and malignant lesions of the ovary and the fallopian tube. The detection of HE4 expression at high levels in some benign lesions and normal tissues suggests that HE4 could have limited specificity as a marker of ovarian or tubal carcinoma. Furthermore, the relatively weak expression that was observed in many ovarian carcinomas indicates that HE4 could fail to detect some cases of primary or recurrent disease.


The concept of a representative elementary volume (REV) provides an effective means of developing macroscopic measures in the description of granular materials. However, due to the difficulties associated with the measurement and characterization of granular microstructure the existence and size of an REV has remained largely conjectural. This study presents a systematic method to examine the characteristics of the REV using X-ray computed tomography images. The 3-D images of Silica sand, and Ottawa sand have been characterized using advanced image processing techniques. The porosity variation of Silica sand and Ottawa sand showed three characteristic regions: an initial fluctuation region due to microscopic variations, a constant plateau region, and a region with a monotonic increase/decrease due to heterogeneity. The results show that for Silica sand composed mainly of elongated particles the REV is between 5 to 11 times of D50 and for Ottawa sand composed mainly of subrounded particles is between 9 to 16 times of D50.


Livin, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP), and Survivin are three well-known inhibitors of apoptosis almost exclusively over-expressed in cancer cells and are considered potent targets for cancer treatment. In the present study, we found that Livin, XIAP, and Survivin were simultaneously expressed in bladder cancer cells. We speculated that Livin, XIAP, and Survivin might have synergistic effects on cell growth and apoptosis. Our results confirmed that combined knockdown of all these three genes can synergistically inhibit the proliferation and transformation ability of high-grade bladder cancer T24 cells and promote the cell apoptotic sensitivity to chemotherapy. Furthermore, combined knockdown of Livin, XIAP, and Survivin can markedly increase the abundance of active caspase-3, active caspase-7, active caspase-9, and cytosolic Smac. Our findings imply that combined silencing of Livin, XIAP, and Survivin may be a potent multitargeted gene therapy for bladder cancer.


A close contact between melanocytes and nerve fibers in the epidermis has been demonstrated in normal human skin. The interactions between the neural and immune systems play an important role in the pathophysiology of certain dermatoses. In this study, we investigated the intraepidermal nerve fibers and their contacts with melanocytes in the lesions of melasma using double labeled immunofluorescency and confocal laser scanning microscopy. We found that the percentage of contacts between intraepidermal nerve fibers and melanocytes in the lesion of melasma were 74%, significantly more than the 42% in the normal controls (p<0.05). The percentage of melasma lesions was also more than the 69% in the normal-appearing skin of the melasma patients (p<0.05). Our results of the increased contacts between the nerve fibers and melanocytes in the lesions of melasma suggest a potential coordination between the neural and cutaneous immune systems.


Tissue culture and genetic transformation in maize are very laborious. The existing regeneration methods, which mainly use immature embryos as starting material, are highly genotype-dependent. Leaf segments can be used as an alternative explant source to produce embryogenic calli. Although a reliable leafbased regeneration and transformation system has been recently reported for maize, however, the genotype-dependency of this method has not been described yet. To this end, we evaluated the production of embryogenic calli from young leaves of several maize genotypes. The results showed that, overall callus induction potential as well as embryogenic callus induction rate is significantly different among the tested genotypes, demonstrating the genotypedependency of this system. However, induced embryogenic calli from different genotypes remained their embryogenic capability during several callus multiplication rounds. In addition, embryogenic calli showed high potential for biolistic-based genetic transformation, as revealed by transient GUS expression.
Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 28(2): 261-268, 2018 (December)


The Gaussian data assumption is sometimes criticized as being unrealistic in certain applications. While this is a valid criticism, it is also true that the Gaussian assumption is a natural choice when nothing is known about the exact data distribution. The argument typically used to motivate this choice relies on the fact that the Gaussian distribution leads to the largest Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) in quite a general class of data distributions and for a significant set of parameter estimation problems. Consequently, the Gaussian CRB (i.e., the CRB that holds under the Gaussian assumption) is the worst-case one (over the distribution class), and therefore any optimal design based on attaining or minimizing it, including the parameter estimation operation itself, can be inter preted as being min-max optimal. In this lecture note, we provide a simple and yet quite general proof of the aforesaid fact that the Gaussian assump tion yields the largest CRB. This fact, which is sometimes considered to be a "folk theorem," is possibly known to many (see the cited works); however finding a proof of it in the literature, of comparable generality to that presented here, has eluded us.


Spatially embedded networks have attracted increasing attention in the past decade. In this context, network characteristics have been introduced which explicitly take spatial information into account. Among others, edge directionality properties have recently gained particular interest. In this work, we investigate the applicability of mean edge direction, anisotropy, and local mean angle as geometric characteristics in complex spherical networks. By studying these measures, both analytically and numerically, we demonstrate the existence of a systematic bias in spatial networks where individual nodes represent different shares on a spherical surface, and we describe a strategy for correcting for this effect. Moreover, we illustrate the application of the mentioned edge directionality properties to different examples of real-world spatial networks in spherical geometry (with or without the geometric correction depending on each specific case), including functional climate networks, transportation, and trade networks. In climate networks, our approach highlights relevant patterns, such as large-scale circulation cells, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, and the Atlantic Niño. In an air transportation network, we are able to characterize distinct air transportation zones, while we confirm the important role of the European Union for the global economy by identifying convergent edge directionality patterns in the world trade network.


Arnold M. Faden is Professor of Economics, Iowa State University. This book represents his continued probing in spatial economics since completion of his dissertation in 1967 at Columbia University. Location theory provides the theoretical underpinning for urban and regional economics, regional scien.ce, geography, and human ecology. Faden argues that if one compares the early standard treatises of the 1930s on location with those of the present, the general impression is that not much progress has been made-at least in relation to the rest of economic theory. This is not from lack of interest but because the algebraic and geometric language commonly used by location theorists is not adequate to formulate location problems. The "snarls" in traditional approaches in spatial economics involve inadequacies of descriptive and analytical power. The author proposes the framework of measure theory to formulate the problems of spatial economics. The book has two objectives. The first is to introduce and develop the mathematics of measure theory itself. ("This book, taken as a whole, may fairly be said to found a new branch of mathematics-one that might be called the measure theory of optimization," p. 1.) The second objective is to reformulate classic location theory via measure-theoretic formulation. ("The book takes a quantum jump over existing location theory in generalizing existing results [and] covers the bulk of mainstream tradition of von Thiinen, Launhardt, Weber, Palander, Hoover, Losch; Ponsard, Isard,


OBJECTIVE
We retrospectively analyzed patients with spinal ependymomas who were treated in our institute. We correlated outcome and recurrence with clinical and pathological features.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between January 2000 and January 2010, we treated 14 patients with spinal ependymoma (10 males, 4 females; mean age: 48.3 ± 18 years, range: 18-79 years). All patients were operated and received standard postoperative care. The outcome was estimated based on Frankel scale.

RESULTS
The most common presenting symptom was pain. All tumors were operated through a posterior approach and gross total resection was performed in 13/14 cases. Histopathological examination revealed the presence of one anaplastic ependymoma, nine grade II ependymomas, and four myxopapillary ependymomas. The mean Ki-67 index was 1.5%. All the patients were followed up postoperatively for an average of 5.1 years. One patient was reoperated because of recurrent disease and another received radiotherapy due to dissemination of disease. No association was found between extent of resection, tumor location, Ki-67 index, and recurrence of disease. There was a trend toward a higher risk of recurrence in myxopapillary ependymomas. Eight patients improved postoperatively. Interestingly, during the follow-up period, four patients developed a secondary neoplasia.

CONCLUSION
Early intervention and gross total resection of spinal ependymomas are associated with a favorable outcome. Further studies are needed to clarify the incidence of the development of a second cancer in these patients.


Silicon neurons are of importance both to implement hybrid electronic-biological system as well as to develop fundamental understanding of the neurobiological systems they emulate. We have implemented a hardware version of the quadratic integrate and fire neural model. The quadratic integrate and fire neuron differs from the more common integrate and fire neuron in that the model, and thus the hardware, intrinsically generate spikes. Readily available discrete surface mount components are used to make the hardware available to a wider audience and facilitate experimentation.


Abstract. Land cover map is widely used in urban planning, environmental monitoring and monitoring of the changing world. This paper proposes a framework with convolutional neural network (CNN), object-based voting and conditional random field (CRF) for land cover classification. Both very-high-resolution (VHR) remote sensing images and digital surface model (DSM) are inputs of this CNN model. To solve the "salt and pepper" effect caused by pixel-based classification, an object-based voting classification is performed. And to capture accurate boundary of ground objects, a CRF optimization using spectral information, DSM and deep features extracted through CNN is applied. Area one of Vaihingen datasets is used for experiment. The experimental results show that method proposed in this paper achieve an overall accuracy of 95.57%, which demonstrate the effectiveness of proposed method.


The Asylum Procedures Directive stipulates that asylum applications are examined 'impartially' by the national authorities. This paper explores the meaning of the term impartiality in administrative settings in EU asylum law focussing on three levels: the Common European Asylum System, the administrative organisational level and the level of the individual immigration officer. CEAS does not provide for a definition of impartiality. The article connects impartiality to the right to good administration as in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. It includes jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights as well as the approach of the EU Ombudsman and EASO in its scope. These sources provide more concrete aspects of impartiality. The article is finalized with recommendations for a code of conduct.


: The aim of this study is to identify the basis of civil liability arising from the electrocution of electricity companies as guardians of their electrical installations, which are among the things that require special attention according to the Jordanian Civil Law. A distinction is made between responsibility for personal action, responsibility for things and the burden of proving responsibility. There are many and many cases of stunting, and the forms of error and the responsibility are also mixed. Whereas, the Jordanian legislator did not deal with this case and left it to the general rules, which makes it difficult to deduce its elements. Therefore, the study found that the Jordanian legislator established responsibility for the personal act on the basis of the damages, and did not base it on the fault. And that the Jordanian judiciary took the principle of actual guarding of something and not the principle of legal guarding. The study recommended the necessity of individuals with special provisions dealing with the civil liability of things with the General Electricity Law and amending the provisions of the Jordanian Civil Law to include a special standard to distinguish between responsibility for personal action and responsibility for things.


This paper describes and explains why image fusion, what is image fusion, and the current research status mainly on wavelet based pixel-based image fusion. Pixel-based image fusion defines the fusion process of original images or the images after pre-processing. Preliminary results of many researches show that the advantages of high-resolution panchromatic image and low-resolution multi-spectral image can be combined by image fusion and the information extraction capability can be improved. The fusion methods evolutes from traditional fusion methods, pyramid based fusion methods to nowadays wavelet based fusion methods. The popular wavelet theory based Mallat algorithm and a Trous algorithm are explained. In order to overcome some shortcomings of Mallat algorithm and a Trous algorithm, MRAIM algorithm is designed, which is based on the image formation principle and multi-resolution analysis theory. It formulates the Mallat algorithm and a Trous algorithm from the theoretical point of view. It can improve the spatial resolution while preserve the hue and saturation unchanged.


The chemistry of trinuclear osmium carbonyl hydrides is a rich area with the three H2Os3(CO)n derivatives (n = 12, 11, 10) all being known stable compounds ultimately obtained from Os3(CO)12 and hydrogen under various conditions. Density functional theory studies on the H2Os3(CO)n systems (n = 12, 11, 10, 9, 8) correctly predict the structures previously reported experimentally for n = 12, 11, and 10. These include a linear structure for H2Os3(CO)12 and triangular structures for H2Os3(CO)11 and H2Os3(CO)10. However, the H2Os3(CO)11 system is predicted to be a fluxional system with the four low energy isomers lying within 2 kcal mol−1 of energy. Three of these H2Os3(CO)11 isomers, all with one terminal hydrogen and one bridging hydrogen, have been observed experimentally by NMR. In addition, the lowest energy isomer has been isolated and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. In contrast to H2Os3(CO)11, the lowest energy H2Os3(CO)10 structure, namely the known structure with an OsOs edge bridged by both hydrogen atoms and all terminal CO groups, lies ∼10 kcal mol−1 below the next lowest energy isomer. The predicted CO dissociation energies of the H2Os3(CO)n derivatives (n = 12, 11, 10) suggest this H2Os3(CO)10 structure to be the "thermodynamic sink" in the H2Os3(CO)n systems, consistent with its synthesis from Os3(CO)12 and H2 at 120 °C and atmospheric pressure. The lowest energy structures of the more highly unsaturated H2Os3(CO)n (n = 9, 8) can be derived from this (μ-H)2Os3(CO)10 structure by removal of CO groups from the osmium atom remote to the doubly bridged OsOs edge of the Os3 triangle, with relatively little change in the central (μ-H)2Os3 triangle geometry.


Due to its favorable structural properties and biocompatibility, alginate is recognized as a suitable versatile biopolymer for use in a broad range of applications ranging from drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, and food formulations such as nanodispersions. Rheological analysis plays a crucial role in the design of suitable nanoemulsion based coatings. Different essential oil and alginate nanodispersion compositions stabilized by Tween 80 were analyzed for rheological and conductometric properties. The results confirmed that the nanoformulations shared a pseudoplastic non-Newtonian behavior that was more evident with higher alginate concentrations (2%). Nanodispersions made of alginate and essential oil exhibited a slight thixotropic behavior, demonstrating the aptitude to instantaneously recover from the applied stress or strain. Oscillatory frequency sweep tests showed a similar fluid-like behavior for 1% and 2% alginate nanodispersions. Finally, it was demonstrated that advantages coming with the use of the essential oil are added to the positive aspects of alginate with no dramatic modification on the flow behavior.


Background South Asians with asthma experience much higher morbidity than whites with asthma in the UK. They also experience worse follow-up in primary care after hospitalisation compared to the white population. Previous trials in mixed ethnicity populations in the US and Europe suggest that: (a) an asthma specialist nurse intervention can reduce unscheduled asthma care; (b) education for physicians can lead to improvements in their patients' asthma control; (c) lay-led self-management programmes can improve asthma. We used adaptations of these interventions in an effort to reduce unscheduled care for South Asians with asthma living in London. Objectives To test a multifaceted educational intervention for South Asians with asthma and their primary and secondary care physicians aimed at reducing unscheduled care. Setting Eighty-seven general practices from two adjacent inner London boroughs were recruited and randomised to education (45 practices) or usual care (42 practices). Participants We recruited South Asian patients with asthma from these practices attending two large nearby acute hospitals with unscheduled care. Methods We adapted the Michigan Physician Asthma Care Education (PACE) Asthma Programme to educate specialist nurses and physicians from intervention practices in better consulting skills for ethnic minority patients. Patients recruited to the study from intervention practices were seen in outpatient care by PACE-trained specialist nurses who provided education and self-management advice, referred them for follow-up by their PACE-trained practices, and invited them to participate in an asthma adaptation of an anglicised version of the Stanford Chronic Disease Self Management Programme. Patients from control practices were seen in outpatient care by specialist nurses providing usual care. Patients were followed up for 1 year. Main outcomes The primary outcome variable was time to first exacerbation with cough resulting in unscheduled primary and secondary care, and the secondary outcome variable was time to first asthma review in general practice. Statistical method Cox's proportional hazards regression. Results 375 patients participated: 183 from intervention, 192 from control practices. There was no evidence that the intervention increased time to first exacerbation with cough: median 171 days versus 189 days, adjusted HR (AHR)=1.08, 95% CI: 0.85 to 1.36. There was evidence that it reduced time to first asthma review: median 72 days versus 339 days in controls, AHR=2.04, 95% CI: 1.55 to 2.68. Conclusion This multifaceted intervention failed to reduce unscheduled care for South Asians with asthma but did improve follow-up in primary care. Further efforts are needed to reduce unscheduled care in South Asians with asthma.


Recently, unconventional bright magnetic dipole (MD) radiation was observed from two-dimensional (2D) hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs). According to commonly accepted HOIP band structure calculations, such MD light emission from the ground-state exciton should be strictly symmetry forbidden. These results suggest that MD emission arises in conjunction with an as-yet unidentified symmetry-breaking mechanism. In this paper, we show that MD light emission originates from a self-trapped p-like exciton stabilized at energies below the primary electric dipole (ED)-emitting 1s exciton. Using suitable combinations of sample and collection geometries, we isolate the distinct temperature-dependent properties of the ED and MD photoluminescence (PL). We show that the ED emission wavelength is nearly constant with temperature, whereas the MD emission wavelength exhibits substantial red shifts with heating. To explain these results, we derive a microscopic model comprising two distinct parity exciton states coupled to lattice distortions. The model explains many experimental observations, including the thermal red shift, the difference in emission wavelengths, and the relative intensities of the ED and MD emission. Thermodynamic analysis of temperature-dependent PL reveals that the MD emission originates from a locally distorted structure. Finally, we demonstrate unusual hysteresis effects of the MD-emitting state near structural phase transitions. We hypothesize that this is another manifestation of the local distortions, indicating that they are insensitive to phase changes in the equilibrium lattice structure.


Objective: The aim of the present study was to develop and assess validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Facebook Jealousy Questionnaire. Methods: A Turkish version of the Facebook Jealousy Questionnaire was translated to Turkish from English, and then translated back to English. The sample consisted of 307 students from two different universities in Ankara. In order to determine criterion validity of the scale, its correlation with the Turkish version of Romantic Jealousy Scale's subscale 'triggers of jealousy' was used. Results: For determining the reliability and validity of the scale, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), test-retest and corrected item-total correlations, criterion validity were used. Gender, age and some relational differences such as relational satisfaction and attractiveness of the partner were examined. There were only a significant negative correlation between age and Facebook jealousy score. Conclusions: This study supports the one-factor model of the Facebook Jealousy Questionnaire indicated by the original study. Findings demonstrate that the Turkish version of the Facebook Jealousy Questionnaire is a highly reliable and valid instrument to measure Facebook jealousy.


This unique collection of beautiful and intriguing objects, more than 700 pieces of British and European silver, was put together over the past forty years by a discerning English enthusiast. It is striking for its great variety of types, the five centuries represented and the widespread places of making, from Finland to Italy, offering an unparalleled overview of design and technique, as well as a social history of silver for eating, drinking, around the house and as accessories to daily life. Selected with a keen eye for their excellent condition, their historical interest, and their inherent quality, most objects are of museum standard, although no single museum holds so many examples of flatware, from England and France and drinking vessels from Spain, Germany, France and Britain, of such diverse designs and dates. Tableware ranges in scale and date from a bread basket by Paul Crespin to an elegant modern caviar spoon. Great names from the story of English silver are present, from Paul Storr and the royal goldsmiths Robert Garrard, Philip Rundell and Benjamin Pyne, to leading Huguenots, such as John Hugh le Sage, David Willaume and Edward Feline. A caster from Charles Kandler's service for the Duke of Norfolk, spoons by Hester Bateman, mustard pots by the Hennells, and small wares by Joseph Willmore and other specialist Birmingham makers of 'toys' tell the story of polite dining. Regional rarities from Plymouth, Liverpool, Norwich, Exeter, Chester and Scottish-made drinking vessels round out the coverage. Royal associations appealed to the collector, explaining the presence of a beaker from the Battle of Culloden, a set of two-handled cups are among half a dozen items from the Duke of Cumberland's famous collection and the badges worn by King's Messengers. Plaques by Simon de Passe depict Elizabeth I and other royal successors. Rarities include an early Stuart royal bell and a varvel for a hawk. A strong category is the engaging personal accessories, from a calendar to a shoe horn, with striking and varied boxes for patches, tobacco and snuff. Many boxes combine semi-precious stones or organic materials such as mulberry wood, turtle shell and mother of pearl. A history of changing taste emerges through the chinoiseries of a late seventeenth-century perfume flask, the pique work or allusive baroque engraving on snuff boxes, rococo chasing of cream jugs, chaste neoclassical teawares, flamboyant Regency wine labels and inventive and eclectic Victorian tableware. Each object has been catalogued and specially photographed, often with details, for this publication, making it a significant work of reference, as well as a handsome record of the ingenious art of the silversmith. Grouped by their purpose, each section is introduced with a brief summary of social and design history and supplementary illustrations such as the sources for engraving.


During the Mesozoic and Tertiary, these mountains were largely worn down and overlapped by younger sediments, and the southern end of the mountain range was downwarped as' the Gulf Coast geosyncline began to form. To study the stratigraphy and structure of this great mountain system we have only several relatively small windows through which the old mountains are exposed, and data obtained from sample study of somewhat less than 400 wells which have been drilled into thes'e rocks along the buried portion of the mountain system. The largest and best-known exposure of this mighty mountain range is in the Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas, where an area about 200 miles long and 50 miles wide is exposed. In Texas, the mountain system is' buried for almost its entire length, coming to view only in the relatively small windows of the Marathon and Solitario uplifts of extreme southwest Texas, and in tiny exposures at Persimmon Gap and Dog Canyon near the entrance to Big Bend National Park. The rocks exposed in the Ouachita Mountains and in the Marathon and Solitario uplifts are weakly metamorphosed to unmetamorphosed sediments of geosynclinal facies1; structurally these areas are quite similar, being characterized by abundant folding and numerous overriding or superposed thrust faults. Most of the wells have been drilled along the frontal zone of the buried portion of the mountain sys'tem and they have penetrated weakly metamorphosed to unmetamorphos ed rocks similar to those exposed in the Marathon and Solitario uplifts and in the Ouachita Mountains. However, enough have been drilled at a considerable distance gulfward from the frontal zone to indicate that the Luling-Mexia-Talco fault system may mark the inner boundary of a more highly metamorphosed structural and stratigraphic unit, gulfward from the Luling-Mexia-Talco fault system there is" a phyllite-slate metaquartzite sequence with imposed slaty and fracture cleavages. Metamorphic grade in these rocks clearly exceeds that of rocks exposed in the Ouachita Mountains or in the Marathon and Solitario uplifts. Surface outcrops and wells furnish information only about the outer 60-70 miles of the width of the buried mountain system. Reasoning by analogy to the Appalachian Mountain System, we deduce that the entire mountain system may be from 140-200 miles wide. We would expect to encounter more numerous igneous intrusives and more highly metamorphosed sediments as deeper wells are drilled farther gulfward.


The AC dipole is a device to study beam optics of hadron synchrotrons. It can produce sustained large amplitude oscillations with virtually no emittance growth. A vertical AC dipole for the Tevatron is recently implemented and a maximum oscillation amplitude of 2sigma (4sigma) at 980 GeV (150 GeV) is achieved [1]. When such large oscillations are measured with the BPM system of the Tevatron (20 mum resolution), not only linear but even nonlinear optics can be directly measured. This paper shows how to measure beta function using an AC dipole and the result is compared to the other measurement. The paper also shows a test to detect optics changes when small changes are made in the Tevatron. Since an AC dipole is nondestructive, it allows frequent measurements of the optics which is necessary for such an test.


than that of most radiographic methods.7 H. Bossart and B. Delaloye8 have described a promising technique that uses "'2I-labelled serum albumin, but such methods require specialized apparatus and, at best, merely indicate the approximate position of the placenta. As Dr. R. J. Young points out on p. 978 of this week's B.A.7., all radiological methods for determining the site of the placenta involve the use of ionizing radiations. Though in competent hands the risks to the mother and foetus are small, any procedure that would avoid the hazards of radiation is to be welcomed. The detection of variations between different sites in the body in infra-red emissions resulting from increased vascularity and metabolism9 10 is a technique that is still in its infancy but has been used successfully in the diagnosis of diseases of the breast, in bums, and in rheumatoid arthritis. In his preliminary communication Dr. Young shows that thermography enabled the site of the placenta to be determined with accuracy in all cases except one (where infarction of the placenta had occurred). Thermography, and possibly the use of ultrasonics," appear to be most promising methods of localizing the placenta, but it must be emphasized that all these methods of diagnosis must be restricted to well-equipped hospitals. In a patient with placenta praevia vaginal examination, however gentle, outside the operating theatre may result in a catastrophe.


Purpose of reviewParenteral nutrition enables long-term survival in patients with intestinal failure; however, it is associated with life-threatening complications necessitating alternative techniques of management to enable weaning parenteral nutrition and minimizing parenteral nutrition-associated comorbidities. This review aims at discussing the indications and techniques most commonly utilized for surgical management in a short gut. Recent findingsSurgical therapy for short gut has evolved and undergone refinement in the past 30–40 years with the older procedures being largely abandoned and replaced by newer and refined techniques. Lengthening surgeries (longitudinal intestinal lengthening and tapering and serial transverse enteroplasty) are the most commonly applied procedures in a dilated bowel with intestinal transplantation option reserved as a last resort for recurrent life-threatening central venous line infections, progressive loss of central venous access, and development of progressive liver disease. SummaryManagement of intestinal failure requires a multidisciplinary approach to optimize intestinal rehabilitation and overall patient outcome. Although intestinal transplantation remains an excellent option for patients with severe life-threatening complications, autologous intestinal reconstruction appears to remain the better overall option.


The results of calculating the spectral profiles of aerosol extinction coefficients ε(λ), performed using MaexPro software for total and partial size spectra of sea salt aerosol (SSA) particles, are presented. The ε(λ) spectra are shown to substantially differ between partial and total size spectra of particles with Δr = 0.01 – 100 μm. The conditions for use of partial size spectra of SSA particles are determined. For instance, in the calculations of energetics of the optical signal in the wavelength range Δλ = 0.2 – 12 μm, it is expedient to use the ε(λ) data, calculated on the basis of particle size distribution functions for the total size spectrum of SSA particles Δr = 0.01-100 μm. The usability of partial spectra Δr = 0.05 – 50 μm, Δr = 0.1 – 50 μm should be decided depending upon specific problems and prescribed accuracy of estimating the attenuation of optical radiation in the atmosphere.


Route recommendation is significant in navigation service. Two major challenges for route recommendation are route representation and user representation. Different from items that can be identified by unique IDs in traditional recommendation, routes are combinations of links (i.e., a road segment and its following action like turning left) and the number of combinations could be close to infinite. Besides, the representation of a route changes under different scenarios. These facts result in severe sparsity of routes, which increases the difficulty of route representation. Moreover, link attribute deficiencies and errors affect preciseness of route representation. Because of the sparsity of routes, the interaction data between users and routes are also sparse. This makes it not easy to acquire user representation from historical user-item interactions as traditional recommendations do. To address these issues, we propose a novel learning framework R4. In R4, we design a sparse & dense network to obtain representations of routes. The sparse unit learns link ID embeddings and aggregates them to represent a route, which captures implicit route characteristics and subsequently alleviates problems caused by link attribute deficiencies and errors. The dense unit extracts implicit local features of routes from link attributes. For user representation, we utilize a series of historical navigation to extract user preference. R4 achieves remarkable performance in both offline and online experiments.


BACKGROUND
With the exception of Down syndrome the association between congenital anomalies and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is presently unclear. We investigated this association in a population-based case-control study carried out in the province of Québec, CANADA:

METHODS
A total of 491 incident cases diagnosed between 1980 and 1993 and aged 0-9 years were included in the study. Healthy controls (n = 491) matched on age, sex, and region of residence at the time of diagnosis were selected from government family allowance files. Using a structured questionnaire and the International Classification of Diseases (Ninth Revision) list of congenital anomalies, presence of an anomaly was determined by interviewing the parents of the study subjects; mothers gave information on anomalies in the study subject, their siblings and her family, whereas fathers provided information on anomalies in their family.

RESULTS
The adjusted risk for ALL was not increased in children who had any anomaly (odds ratio [OR] = 1.07 [95% CI : 0.70-1.65]) whereas compared to control siblings, case siblings had a higher risk of anomalies (OR = 1.54, 95% CI : 0.99- 2.42). This increase was likely due to excesses in anomalies of the heart (OR = 2.49, 95% CI : 1.23-5.04). Risk for ALL was elevated in children with a history of a congenital anomaly in their mother (OR = 1.61, 95% CI : 0.80-3.22) or her family (OR = 1.45, 95% CI : 0.94-2.25).

CONCLUSIONS
Although based on small numbers for specific anomalies, these findings suggest that congenital anomalies are more prevalent in siblings and maternal family of ALL cases than in controls.


Background: Adolescence has been identified as a priority for health monitoring. Adolescents constitute one-fifth of the world's population. According to the 2006 census in Nigeria, adolescents comprised 31.7% of the population. Underweight and obesity coexist in developing countries. Adolescent obesity is a global epidemic with major implications for healthcare now and in the future. Many chronic diseases in adulthood have their roots in adolescence. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of adolescent underweight, overweight, and obesity thereby improving adolescent health. Objective: The general objective was to determine the pattern of BMI among adolescents with a view of raising awareness and ultimately reducing the morbidities/mortalities associated with an abnormal BMI. Methods: This was a cross-sectional school based study carried out in both public and private secondary schools in Kaduna South. Simple random sampling was used to select the schools and systematic sampling to recruit the participants. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. BMI was classified using the CDC gender- specific growth charts in percentiles. Results: A total of 150 adolescents participated in the study. The mean age was 14.1 ±  2.3 years, and constituted 56.7% (85) girls and 43.3% (65) boys. The prevalence of underweight was 2.7%, overweight was 21.3% and obesity was 14.0%. Being a girl (x 2 = 17.97, p=0.01) and increasing age (x 2 =13.71, p=0.03) were significantly associated with the development of obesity. Thirty out of the fifty-three overweight/obese adolescents were in senior classes and this was significant x 2 =8.75, p=0.03. All except one of the obese adolescents belonged to the upper socioeconomic group, though this was not statistically significant (x 2 =10.48, p=0.57). Conclusion: This study has shown that adolescent obesity is on the increase in this part of the world, in line with the global trend. There is the need for preventive measures to be adopted in order to curtail this menace thereby securing the future. Keywords: Adolescents, secondary school, underweight, overweight, obesity, Kaduna


Alkaptonuria is an inherited disease that is caused by homogenticate accumulation. Deficiency or mutation in Homogentisate 1,2 dioxygenase gene (chromosome 3q21-q23) leads to production of incorrectly folded or truncated enzyme. Several studies indicated that competitive inhibitors of Homogentisate 1,2 dioxygenase like Nitisinone could be used for Alkaptonuria treatment. Therefore, it is of interest to design better inhibitors of the enzyme. We used subset 3_p.0.5 from Zinc database as the virtual screening library by PyRx software relaying on Lamarckian genetics algorithm. Top 10 hits with more efficient binding affinity were analyzed and hit No#5 and No# 7 was selected for further design. In Lig No#5, we decreased the hydrophobicity by adding oxygen in the hydrophobic tail of the molecule at positions C5 and C10. The new compound of (2Z, 5Z, 8Z)-6,9-Dihydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-5-oxo-1,3-cyclohexadien-1-yl)-2,5,8-decatrienoic acid satisfied Lipinski rules as well as PhysChem and FafDrugs filters. Moreover, the modified version of Lig No# 7 with the IUPAC name of [2-(Carboxymethyl)-3,5-dihydroxyphenyl] acetic acid satisfies the Lipisnki, FafDrugs and Physchem.


This paper shows how to implement Kalman estimation (including filtering and prediction) and control, and system identification, within a neural network (NN) whose only input is a stream of noisy measurement data. The operation of the fully-integrated algorithm is illustrated by a numerical example. The resulting network is a multilayer recurrent NN that may be useful for engineering applications. The algorithm is found to impose constraints on the NN circuitry and architecture. It is of interest that the derived circuit bears certain resemblances to the putative 'local circuit' of mammalian cerebral cortex. These similarities are discussed with reference to speculations on the possible fundamental operations of cerebral cortex.


Filters are the crucial element of many modern electronic systems used in control engineering, wireless communication systems, and embedded systems designs. Filters in one form or another, are considered an important subsystem in developing communication systems. The ideal filter cannot be designed through any electronic circuit and the only way is to realize using simulations tools like MATLAB. In this paper, the simulation and analysis of the ideal low pass filter is presented. The MATLAB software is used to generate and perform analysis of the step response of ideal low-pass filter (Si function) and impulse response of ideal low-pass filter (Sinc function) in time and frequency domains. The aim of the work is to provide engineering students an easier understanding of the filter design process in an appropriate way with the help of simple programming. Where, it is easy to generate signals and analyze the ideal low pass filter response. To verify achievement of learning objectives, a survey is conducted from 45 engineering students of electronic and telecommunication which elicited students' observations and interest in the learning process. Overall about 75% of students gave positive feedback, which indicates that such type of experimentation had a significant impact on the student academic outcomes.


Local anesthetics are commonly used in surgical procedures, they are able to promote a reversible blockade of nerve conduction, with loss of sensation in circumscribed area of the body without changing the individual's level of consciousness. The aim of this study was to review the literature that can compose the body of evidence on efficacy and safety of Lipid Emulsion (ELI) for use as an antidote in the treatment of intoxication by local anesthetics and other lipofílicos. Trata is a review drugs literature that we used the Fat Emulsions terms Intravenous AND Antidotes for the search in the following databases: Pubmed; Cochrane Library and Trip Database and were raised studies found in these bases until November 2015. The review conducted showed that the use of ELI as an antidote seems to be a possible alternative for the treatment of poisoning caused by local anesthetics and other lipophilic drugs. Recently the ELI have been used also as an antidote against cardiovascular collapse induced by bupivacaine and other local anesthetics lipophilic. Early studies reported more frequently the use of Intralipid®, intravenously, which is sold in formulations containing soybean oil at different concentrations (10, 20 or 30%) in admixture with other lipids and phospholipids. The effects produced by Intralipid® have also been attributed to other lipid emulsions of formulations composed of different extracts of oils. However, current evidence supporting this use are scarce and uncertain, pointing to the need for additional studies. With respect to this fact, recently the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology.


The purpose of this chapter is to report a case study examining the benefits and challenges of iPad use to help ELLs develop language proficiency. Based on the differentiated instruction framework, the author integrated iPads into a grade 4-5 ELL classroom and investigated learning impacts through classroom observations and interviews with the teacher and students. The findings of the study presented that iPad integration helped make learning engaging, provided various options appropriate for leaners' needs, and promoted learning outside of the classroom. Although important learning benefits were observed, several challenges were also reported such as a lack of appropriate ELL educational apps, a limitation of multitasking, and difficulties of monitoring students' learning progresses.


Young and different. Research on the attention paid to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth and young people with an intersex condition in the youth field  Because young LGBT people tend to have worse mental health and become suicidal more often (Kuyper, 2015; Van Bergen & Van Lisdonk, 2010; Kuyper 2015; Collier, Bos & Sandfort 2013; Van Beusekom, Collier, Bos & Sandfort, 2014; Keuzenkamp, 2012), it is to be expected that they are in touch with professionals in the field of youth care more regularly. Hitherto, no research has been conducted into the question of whether LGBT individuals are overrepresented in the field of youth care, so it is unclear whether this is indeed the case. It is also unknown how many individuals with an intersex condition are treated through youth care channels. We do know, however, that there are issues with regard to this target group that are relevant for youth care. These young people are not always registered as such by professionals (Abdallah, De Boer, Bouwens & Bos, 2007; De Boer, Sonneveld, Abdallah, Manesh & Bos, 2009; Felten & Boote, 2012), LGBTi feelings or identity are rarely discussed (Van Denzel, Van Driel & Vondel, 2014), and few professionals take action in the sense of providing for the specific needs, questions and problems on the part of LGBT young people. At the same time, professionals do have questions and learning needs with regard to discussing LGBT issues with individual young people and in groups (Abdallah et al., 2007; JoU, 2013). In 2014, research first took place in the Netherlands into the extent to which professionals working with young people are aware of the existence of, and the specific risks, needs and problems associated with LGBT young people and young people with an intersex condition (Rossenberg, 2013; Van Lisdonk, 2014), and the nature of this awareness. This took the form of a descriptive questionnaire study among 421 professionals, in addition to qualitative input from an expert meeting. The questionnaire was divided into separate questions about lesbian, gay and bisexual young people, questions on transgender youth, and questions on young people with an intersex condition. The questions about the first two groups of young people concern the four themes: registration, discussion, action and learning needs and questions. The questions regarding young people with an intersex condition focus exclusively on registration, since it was expected that professionals do not distinguish between these young people and may even be unaware of the existence of an intersex condition. In the analysis, a chi-squared test was used to look for indications that respondents with specific characteristics would respond differently to the questions. The group of respondents who consider themselves as heterosexual, and the group who indicated that they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender or different, showed significant [1] differences in their responses to parts of the questionnaire. This study shows that professionals' awareness of and sensitivity to the sexual preferences and gender identity of young people in the youth field is not self-evident. There is a lack of knowledge about these young people: professionals do register LGBT feelings, but do so less often than may be assumed on the basis of figures on the number of LGBTi young people [2] . Nine percent of respondents have never consciously met an LGB young person and 47% have never registered transgender feelings. None of the respondents are familiar with young people with an intersex condition. Some 60% of professionals do not or only rarely discuss assumptions of LGB feelings, while for transgender young people the figure is 71%. Only a minority of professionals act on the LGBT identity of the young person, for instance by focusing on specific LGBT objectives or by referring to specialist care, and 70% never do so with transgender young people. Professionals do not connect LGBT feelings with the other mental and social problems these young people may have: "I find it unnecessary (to discuss LGBT feelings) if it's not a problem". They do not see LGBT feelings as something special and do not consider that they have a role in supporting young people in discovering and learning to deal with their LGBT feelings. The lack of information on the difficulties experienced by LGBT young people, in combination with an inability to provide adequate support and a lack of direction, cause LGBT young people in the youth field to be overlooked. However, most professionals, 81%, do have questions in this area and need to learn more about the field of LGBTi issues. The fact that professionals see no role for themselves in supporting LGBT young people may be related to the fact that they see an LGBT orientation as "nothing special". Professionals do not realize that the young people themselves do find it special to discover their own LGB feelings. Usually it takes them a few years before they dare to discuss it with someone else (Kuyper, 2015a; Van Lisdonk & Van Bergen, 2010). It is the same for transgender young people, whose physical gender is not in line with the gender they identify with: that is indeed something special. Professionals tend to reason on the basis of their own tolerant adult perspective and avoid discussing LGBT orientations as something special. This study shows that LGBTi young people very often do not receive the right kind of support. We would like their care to include an acknowledgement of their "being different" and of their specific needs, wishes and problems. This leads us to recommendations on three levels: to municipalities, to organizations in the youth field and to professionals. At the municipal level, it is important to incorporate LGBTi in local policy and in the requirements for calls for tender. Organizations in the field of youth care should include the theme of LGBTi in their diversity policies, and operationalize the issue into suggestions for questions concerning sexual and gender diversity in the intake. At the level of professionals, further research would be useful: action research to determine what kinds of specific competences are needed to support LGBTi young people. Incorporating these competences into the curriculums of universities of applied science will ensure that future professionals know how to support LGBTi young people. SAMENVATTING Jong en anders. Onderzoek naar de aandacht voor lesbische, homo, bi-jongeren, transgenderjongeren en jongeren met een intersekse conditie in de jeugdsector Omdat LHBT-jongeren een slechtere psychische gezondheid hebben en vaker suicidaal zijn (Kuyper, 2015; Van Bergen & Van Lisdonk, 2010; Kuyper 2015; Collier, Bos & Sandfort, 2013; Van Beusekom, Collier, Bos & Sandfort, 2014; Keuzenkamp, 2012) ligt het voor de hand dat zij vaker in aanraking komen met professionals in de jeugdsector. In 2014 is voor het eerst in Nederland een onderzoek uitgevoerd naar de mate waarin en op welke manier er onder professionals die werken met jongeren aandacht is voor het bestaan, de specifieke risico's, behoeften en problemen van LHBT-jongeren en jongeren met een intersekse conditie (Rossenberg, 2013; Van Lisdonk, 2014). Het gaat om een beschrijvend vragenlijstonderzoek onder 421 professionals, aangevuld met kwalitatieve input uit een expertmeeting. Uit de resultaten blijkt dat aandacht van professionals voor seksuele voorkeur en genderidentiteit niet vanzelfsprekend is. Er is sprake van een gebrek aan kennis over deze jongeren: 41% weet niet hoe te signaleren dat een jongere worstelt met LHB-gevoelens en voor transgenderjongeren is dat 64%. Geen van de respondenten ontmoette ooit bewust een jongere met een intersekse conditie. Professionals brengen LHBT-gevoelens niet in verband met andere psychische en sociale problemen die deze jongeren hebben. Zij ervaren LHBT-gevoelens zelf niet als iets bijzonders en zien geen rol voor zichzelf in het ondersteunen van de betreffende jongeren. De combinatie van een gebrek aan kennis van de moeilijkheden die LHBTi-jongeren ervaren en het bestaan van handelingsverlegenheid en een gebrek aan handelingsperspectief zorgt ervoor dat aandacht voor LHBTi-jongeren in de jeugdsector niet vanzelfsprekend is.


This paper presents a various paradigms for estimating a single latent sharp image given multiple blurry and/or noisy observations. Whether employing it to make an unusable image good, a good image better or giving a great image that extra edge, it produces unparalleled sharpening and deblurring results that add distinction and definition. From a blurred image to recover a sharp version is a long-standing inverse problem. We point out the weaknesses of the deterministic filter and unify the limitation. Theoretically and experimentally we analyze image deblurring through three paradigms are: 1) The filter determination 2) Estimation by Bayesian 3) Alpha tonal correction methods. The resulting paradigms, which require no essential tuning parameters, can recover a high quality image from a set of observations containing potentially both blurry and noisy examples, without knowing a priori the degradation type of each observation. Our goal is to reveal the limitations and potentials of recent methods when dealing with quite large blurs and severe noise. Experimental results on both synthetic and real-world test images clearly demonstrate the ability to produce a desired or intended result of the proposed method.


Diffuse esophageal leiomyomatosis (DEL) is a rare disorder that was first described in 1916. It is characterized by a circumferential thickening of the muscular layer of the esophageal wall and is known to be associated with nonspecific dysphagia. The causes of its incidence are unknown. While some cases of DEL are sporadic, two-third of the cases are reported in patients diagnosed with Alport Syndrome. DEL is also characterized by sensorineural loss of hearing, early cataract formation, and glomerulonephritis. The recommended treatment regimen for DEL generally consists of total esophagectomy, depending on the severity of the symptoms. Here, we describe the case of a 33-year-old Caucasian male patient with a 10-year history of intermittent solid-food dysphagia. The reported case was not associated with significant weight loss or anorexia. The subject did not report of other symptoms such as regurgitation or chest pain. Due to his deteriorating condition, the patient sought consultation with a gastroenterologist in the previous year. Physical examination did not reveal anything abnormal and laboratory studies were also within the normal range. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed a submucosal bulge of more than 5 cm, in the fundus of the stomach. This was suggestive of a subepithelial lesion or extrinsic compression and biopsies revealed no alterations. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest and abdomen showed marked irregular parietal thickening of the esophagus and cardia with about 12 cm of cranio-caudal extension and 6.2 cm in thickness. There was also dilatation of the upper regions of the esophagus. In the middle and proximal esophagus, another area with an enhanced degree of irregular parietal thickening was identified (Fig. 1A, B). The patient missed the subsequent consultations, and returned a year later with progressive worsening of symptoms. An EGD was repeated which mirrored findings of the previous one, indicating dilatation and tortuosity of the esophagus with several submucosal bulge areas (Fig. 2A, B). The patient underwent another CT that confirmed the previous findings. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) (Fig. 2C-E) showed a marked parietal thickening of almost the entire length of the esophagus, circumferential although asymmetrical, at the expense of the muscular layer itself, reaching a maximum of 25 mm in the axial view. This thickening extended to the cardia and gastric fundus, taking a nodular, hypoechogenic configuration, with a slightly heterogeneous echostructure, measuring 72×40 mm. EUS-guided biopsy from the cardiac and fundus lesion described it as a leiomyoma in the context of DEL that extended to the cardia and fundus of the stomach (Fig. 2F). BRIEF REPORT


Ephemeral intermediates often hold the key to a more detailed understanding of chemical reaction pathways. Online methods to unambiguously identify the structure of such molecular entities, in particular in the presence of multiple isomers, are scarce. This paper presents a methodology that allows real-time monitoring of isomeric solution-phase reaction intermediates of continuous-flow reactions by coupling a microfluidic chip-reactor to a cryogenic ion trap triple mass spectrometer. The technique combines the excellent reaction control associated with microfluidic chips with the unique specificity and sensitivity of infrared photodissociation (IRPD) spectroscopy, which allows for an unambiguous structural assignment of gaseous ions based on their IR fingerprint. It represents a valuable extension to the instrumentation for online-analysis of reactive intermediates and proves particularly valuable whenever the sensitivity of NMR is not sufficient. After a brief description of the experimental approach, illustrative examples are provided to highlight the application of the chip-IRPD setup for mechanistic studies, particularly for stereoselective processes. The article concludes with an outlook on future challenges and perspectives.


Purpose: Therapies to target prostate cancer bone metastases have only limited effects. New treatments are focused on the interaction between cancer cells, bone marrow cells and the bone matrix. Osteoclasts play an important role in the development of bone tumors caused by prostate cancer. Since Src kinase has been shown to be necessary for osteoclast function, we hypothesized that dasatinib, a Src family kinase inhibitor, would reduce osteoclast activity and prostate cancer (PC-3) cell-induced osteoclast formation. Experimental Design: We performed in vitro experiments utilizing the Src family kinase inhibitor dasatinib to target osteoclast activation as a means of inhibiting prostate cancer bone metastases. Results: Dasatinib inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation of bone marrow-derived monocytes with an EC50 of 7.5 nM. PC-3 cells, a human prostate cancer cell line, were able to differentiate RAW 264.7 cells, a murine monocytic cell line, into osteoclasts, and dasatinib inhibited this differentiation. In addition, conditioned medium from PC-3 cell cultures was able to differentiate RAW 264.7 cells into osteoclasts and this too, was inhibited by dasatinib. Even the lowest concentration of dasatinib, 1.25 nmol, inhibited osteoclast differentiation by 29%. Moreover, dasatinib inhibited osteoclast activity by 58% as measured by collagen 1 release. Conclusion: Dasatinib inhibits osteoclast differentiation of mouse primary bone marrow-derived monocytes and PC-3 cell-induced osteoclast differentiation. Dasatinib also inhibits osteoclast degradation activity. Inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and activity may be an effective targeted therapy in patients with prostate cancer bone metastases.