Gönpa Gang is an example of the traditional Buddhist architecture of Upper Mustang. It is also the first monument in Upper Mustang to be studied using the dendrochronological dating method. The gönpa is a two-story building of imposing size, made from simple elements of Tibetan architecture, namely masonry walls, timber posts, and beams. A total of 14 samples were collected from elements on both the ground and the first floor. The limited number of samples results from the cultural and religious character of the object under study. Only the elements consistent with the structure and the space arrangement, interpreted as original features, were examined. Microscopic observation and the analysis of the anatomical features of all 14 samples resulted in the identification of Himalayan pine (blue pine), Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jacks. Intra-annual density fluctuation, false rings, and missing rings were detected. From 14 samples collected in Gönpa Gang, 18 series were worked out. Thus, 15 series from 12 samples were synchronized and used for the development of the mean chronology, UMGG_m, with a total length of 160 rings. The chronology covers the period from 1524 to 1683. Examination of the Gang Gönpa wood resulted in the age determination of 13 elements. The results were compared with architectural stratification by Harrison and historical data from written sources. The timber used in the gönpa comes from the Southern Mustang area. The examined wood demonstrates a correlation with the timber used in the Upper Mustang historical buildings further north.


Atherectomy specimens offer an opportunity to study the biology of coronary artery lesions. We cultured smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from specimens obtained from 24 patients with coronary restenosis after angioplasty to study the relationship between activity of SMCs (in vitro outgrowth) and the time course of restenosis. We also examined expression of a Kruppel-like zinc-finger transcription factor 5 (KLF; also known as BTEB2 and IKLF), which is markedly induced in activated SMCs, in the same specimens. SMC outgrowth was observed in 9 of 24 specimens (37.5%). Restenosis occurred sooner (p < 0.01) in patients whose specimens showed outgrowth compared to those whose specimens showed no outgrowth. Immunostaining for KLF5 was more common in specimens with outgrowth (89 vs. 20%, p < 0.01). These data suggest that the number of activated SMCs in lesions may determine in vitro outgrowth and also affect the time to restenosis.


Shigella is one of the leading pathogens contributing to the vast pediatric diarrheal disease burden in low-income countries. No licensed vaccine is available, and the existing candidates are only partially effective and serotype specific. Shigella type III secretion system proteins IpaB and IpaD, which are conserved across Shigella spp., are candidates for a broadly protective, subunit-based vaccine. In this study, we investigated the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of IpaB and IpaD administered intradermally (i.d.) with a double-mutant of the Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (dmLT) adjuvant using microneedles. Different dosage levels of IpaB and IpaD, with or without dmLT, were tested in mice. Vaccine delivery into the dermis, recruitment of neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, and Langerhans cells, and colocalization of vaccine Ag within skin-activated APC were demonstrated through histology and immunofluorescence microscopy. Ag-loaded neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, and Langerhans cells remained in the tissue at least 1 wk. IpaB, IpaD, and dmLT-specific serum IgG- and IgG-secreting cells were produced following i.d. immunization. The protective efficacy was 70% against Shigella flexneri and 50% against Shigella sonnei. Similar results were obtained when the vaccine was administered intranasally, with the i.d. route requiring 25–40 times lower doses. Distinctively, IgG was detected in mucosal secretions; secretory IgA, as well as mucosal and systemic IgA Ab-secreting cells, were seemingly absent. Vaccine-induced T cells produced IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α, IL-17, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10. These results demonstrate the potential of i.d. vaccination with IpaB and IpaD to prevent Shigella infection and support further studies in humans.


Communications traffic over photonic networks is exponentially increasing due to the spread of broadband applications. To cope with the rapid growth, novel 100-Gb/s digital coherent systems have been deployed recently in optical core networks. Further research and development of digital coherent technologies with channel rates of beyond 100Gb/s is now being conducted. Optical transceivers for such high-speed communications systems need high-performance analog and mixed-signal electronic circuits such as optical modulator drivers, transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs), analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and digital-to-analog converters (DACs). Compound-semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) have played key roles in this technical field. This paper reviews recent trends in compound-semiconductor ICs for such advanced digital coherent optical communications systems and presents our latest results based on InP heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) technology.


Abstract. Cell cycle models that allow multiple random transitions and asymmetric cell division may exhibit a property that has been used to support the transition probability model of the cell cycle: that the absolute value of the difference between sibling cell inter‐mitotic times varies from one sibling pair to another and is described by an exponential statistical distribution. Three models that show this property are described, each of which postulates the existence of objects that are partitioned between daughter cells during cell division and whose number influences the duration of the subsequent cell cycle, e.g., surface receptors for growth factors or transcriptional complexes that are carried by sister chromatids. In the first model, sibling cells receive identical numbers of the objects, which are used to perform multiple random transitions that constitute part of the cell cycle. the second model is like the first, except that the partitioning of objects between the newly‐formed sibling cells is random. the third model is also like the first, except that all of the objects are passed to one of the sibling cells. These results show that the general mechanisms that are responsible for the dispersion of inter‐mitotic times, the correlation between sibling generation times and the apparently exponentially distributed difference between sibling generation times, could be a combination of unequal cell division, multiple random cell cycle transitions and heterogeneity of mitotic cells.


Flume experiments are conducted to investigate the intrinsic links between time‐varying bed load transport properties for uniform sediments and bed surface morphology under unsteady hydrograph flows, in the absence of upstream sediment supply. These conditions are representative of regulated river reaches (e.g., downstream of a dam) that are subject to natural flood discharges or managed water releases, resulting in net degradation of the river bed. The results demonstrate that the hydrograph magnitude and unsteadiness have significant impacts on sediment transport rates and yields, as well as hysteresis patterns and yield ratios generated during the rising and falling limbs. A new hydrograph descriptor combining the influence of total water work and unsteadiness on bed load transport is shown to delineate these hysteresis patterns and yield ratios while correlating strongly with overall sediment yields. This provides an important parametric link between unsteady hydrograph flow conditions, bed load transport, and bed surface degradation under imposed zero sediment feed conditions. As such, maximum bed erosion depths and the longitudinal bed degradation profiles along the flume are strongly dependent on the magnitude of this new hydrograph descriptor. Similarly, nonequilibrium bedforms generated along the flume indicate that formative conditions for alternate bars, mixed bar/dunes, or dunes are defined reasonably well by an existing morphological model and the new hydrograph descriptor. These findings provide a new framework for improved predictive capabilities for sediment transport and morphodynamic response in regulated rivers to natural or imposed unsteady flows, while their wider application to graded sediments is also considered.


The most of waste foundry sands(WFS) have been discarded. It is very urgent for our country to make a study on recycling of WFS. The one of recycling method of WFS is using them as fine aggregate for concrete. This study provided the optimum amount of WFS and flyash when WFS and flyash were used together in concrete. The concrete made with 60% WFS fine aggregate replacement showed higher compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and modulus of elasticity than normal concrete. In the case that the flyash and WFS are replaced together, the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength were improved at flyash replacement ratio 10%~20% and WFS replacement ratio 40%~60%. The increase of WFS and flyash replacement led lower air content. While the increase of WFS replacement led lower slump, the increase of flyash replacement led higher slump.


Insufficient wellbore cleaning prior the cementing job is considered to be the biggest single factor leading to poor zonal isolation results. A mud-spacer-cement program with suitable fluid needs to be carefully engineered for the given wellbore conditions to improve cementing quality. We discuss optimum spacer design features which are critical for the successful cementation of deep deviated HPHT wells containing heavy oil based muds and review a simulated scenario. Advanced lab test methodologies beyond industry standards are utilized to model more accurately the given complex downhole conditions.
 A simulated >20,000 ft highly deviated wellbore was characterized by HPHT bottomhole conditions and the rheological performance of the cement spacer was critical to job success. The well needed a stable cement spacer that would not settle-out on the low side of the >14,000 ft horizontal section, which would potentially put the well at risk. The 16.17 ppg mud required an even higher-density spacer system to clean it effectively. But conventional high-density spacer systems only compound the settling challenge and the well's anticipated bottomhole temperature of 350°F was expected to compromise any additives that might stabilize the fluid systems. Therefore a lab study about spacer stability was performed using a HPHT rheometer and the dynamic settling test – an industry standard which was actually established for cement slurries but not for spacer fluids. We found that a conventional spacer failed at 350°F by showing a rapid decline in rheology to almost zero viscosity and severe settling. To overcome the settling issue, provide stability, and maintain a sufficiently high rheology profile at given 350°F, we re-designed the spacer by using a modified biopolymer which shows a delayed hydration and viscosification over time successfully counteracting the destructive thermal effects.
 The mud-spacer-cement fluid train was eventually optimized showing good fluid compatibility and maintaining within the narrow, 1.6 ppg margin that separated the pore pressure from the fracture gradient. The cementing job was designed using an advanced fluid displacement software, which predicted high mud removal efficiency under these challenging conditions. In order to enable proper mud displacement, the Friction Hierarchy—a key design factor that is often difficult to achieve under the extreme HPHT well conditions—was achieved with the new spacer concept.


The 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) induced somatic embryogenesis of Tunisian date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivar, Deglet Nour and analysis of the true-to-type conformity of the derived plantlets were investigated in this study. For this purpose, two polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods namely, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were used. Data proved that the modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) media including 1, 10 and 100 mg.l-1 2,4-D have permitted an intensive callogenesis when leaves are incubated in dark. Subcultures on MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg.l-1 2,4-D stimulated a rapid maturation of somatic embryos in light. A mean of 120 somatic embryos were developed from 0.5 mg callus within 3 months. Embryos germination and conversion to plantlets were successfully achieved after transfer to free plant growth regulators MS medium. On the whole, 75% plantlets survival was established in soil. In addition, RAPD and AFLP analysis were performed in 180 randomly selected plantlets. The resultant DNA banding profiles exhibited a genetic stability of regenerated plantlets compared to the plants of origin. This result strongly supported the true-to-type nature of the in vitro derived plants in date palm.


Patterns of ciliary currents of 35 species of Atlantic reef corals are described and compared with currents of Pacific corals. Observations were made during the day and at night, during feeding and without food. There is a basic pattern of ciliary currents common to both Atlantic and Pacific species. In all but the family Agaricidae currents flow off the oral disk and up or out between the tentacles. In the centre of the disk region currents flow towards the mouth or the peristome. On the polyp stalk or column there was considerable variation between species in both Atlantic and Pacific forms. In some species currents flow downwards toward the coenosarc while in others, current pass up the stalk towards the tentacles.

In the Atlantic Agaricidae there may be an inward flow towards the mouth, an outward flow or a unidirectional flow across the corallum. The patterns of flow depend upon the state of contraction of the polyps or the shape and proximity of adjacent polyps.

No ciliary current reversal was observed in Atlantic species. Ciliary currents are functional as a cleansing mechanism and facilitated the ability of mucus nets and strands to gather particles.


Analogue memory-based Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) provide energy-efficiency and per-area throughput gains relative to state-of-the-art digital counterparts such as graphic processing units (GPUs). Recent advances focus largely on hardware-aware algorithmic training and improvements in circuits, architectures, and memory device characteristics. Optimal translation of software-trained weights into analogue hardware weights---given the plethora of complex memory non-idealities---represents an equally important goal in realizing the full potential of this technology. We report a generalized computational framework that automates the process of crafting complex weight programming strategies for analogue memory-based DNNs, in order to minimize accuracy degradations during inference, particularly over time. This framework is agnostic to DNN structure and is shown to generalize well across Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Convolution Neural Networks (CNNs), and Transformer networks. Being a highly-flexible numerical heuristic, our approach can accommodate arbitrary device-level complexity, and is thus broadly applicable to a variety of analogue memories and their continually evolving device characteristics. Interestingly, this computational technique is capable of optimizing inference accuracy without the need to run inference simulations or evaluate large training, validation, or test datasets. Lastly, by quantifying the limit of achievable inference accuracy given imperfections in analogue memory, weight programming optimization represents a unique and foundational tool for enabling analogue memory-based DNN accelerators to reach their full inference potential.


Background Gout prevalence is increasing mainly due to an increase in the overall longevity and in the prevalence of risk factors such as obesity, alcohol, high intake of purines, hypertension, and renal disease1. Patients commonly experience ongoing clinical manifestations of the disease due to failure to reduce serum urate (sUr) below the therapeutic target, despite access to treatment, and therefore represent "treatment failure gout"2. Chronic refractory gout is the persistent of clinical manifestations despite implementation of treatments and procedures to optimally reduce sUr to target therapeutic levels3. These patients commonly show the highest prevalence of comorbid conditions. Objectives Analyze the long term impact of autoinflammation of gout in the comorbidities. Methods Observational, retrospective, multicenter and national study. Data were collected retrospectively in 34 centres for all patients aged ≥18 years, with diagnosis of gout (≥10 years previous). Comorbidities were assessed at diagnosis and at the last available data previous to inclusion, including renal function impairment, hypercholesterolemia, cerebrovascular diseases, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, hyperlipidaemia and other cardiovascular diseases. The number of hospitalizations and emergency room (ER) visits was also evaluated. Results 394 patients were included, mean age (SD) of 63.6 (11.5), mostly men (90.6%). The mean age at diagnosis was 49.6 (13.3) years. Most patients had a diagnosis based on monosodium urate crystals (89.5%) and 33.5% showed subcutaneous tophi [5.3 (5.9)]. In the last year, the mean number of hospitalizations was 1.3 (0.8) [35.1% due to comorbilities, 18.9% to gout flares] and the mean number of ER visits was 1.8 (1.6) [53.1% due to gout attack and 23.9% to comorbidities]. Overweight and obesity were present in 45.7% and 39.6% respectively. After a mean period of 14 years the comorbidities rates increases were (diagnosis vs study): hyperlipidaemia (37.8% vs 58.8%), hypertension (18.3% vs 50.9%), hypercholesterolemia (13.2% vs 34.8%), diabetes mellitus (5.6% vs 14.3%), gastrointestinal disorders (3.1% vs 6.0%), cerebrovascular diseases (2.0% vs 4.9%) and renal impairment (6.4% vs 19.8%). The most common treatments in the last year were allopurinol (85.3%), colchicine (56.4%) and NSAIDs (41.4%), the first two most commonly used for maintenance therapy (86.9% and 61.7%) and NSAIDs for the acute treatment (68.7%). Conclusions Results from this study display a substantial increase of comorbidities from the onset of gout in patients with longstanding gout. Comorbidities (one in three), but also gout (one in five) were common causes for hospital admission and ER visits. References Edwards LN. Treatment-failure gout: a moving target. Arthritis Rheum 2008;58:2587-90. Brook RA, Forsythe A, Smeeding JE, Edwards LN. Chronicgout: epidemiology, disease progression, treatment and disease burden. Cur Med Res Opin 2010; 26(12):2813-21. Wu EQ, Forsythe A, Guérin A, Yu AP, Latremouille-Viau D, Tsaneva M. Comorbidity burden, healthcare resource utilization, and costs in chronic gout patients refractory to conventional urate-lowering therapy. Am J Ther 2012; 19(6): e157-66. Disclosure of Interest F. Pérez-Ruiz : None Declared, R. Viana Employee of: Novartis, J. Galera Employee of: Novartis


ABSTRACT Centrality of regions in R&D networks: a new measurement approach using the concept of bridging paths. Regional Studies. This paper introduces a novel measure of regional centrality in the context of research and development (R&D) networks. It first demonstrates some substantial problems of social network analysis (SNA)-based centrality measures to cope with regional R&D networks in a meaningful way. It then proposes a new measurement approach of regional network centrality based on the concept of interregional bridging paths (indirect connections at the regional level). The paper shows that the formal definition of the regional bridging centrality measure can be expressed in terms of three simple components: the participation intensity of a region in interregional R&D collaborations; its relative outward orientation in terms of all established links; and its diversification of R&D collaborations among partner regions. The measure and its behaviour with respect to other conventional centrality measures are illustrated by its application to the European co-patent network at the NUTS-2 level.


Formation in 90th years of the general educational space of the state-participants CIS became the major humanitarian problem for them. On January, 17th, 1997 Advice of chapters of the governments of Commonwealth has approved the Concept of formation of common (general) educational space of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Work of the state bodies of the CIS had the positive results, despite of dependence of many important problems in this sphere. And the basis of this problem during this period has been incorporated. In 21st century cooperation of the countries-participants CIS in the field of education considerably became more active, there are capacious enough facts and examples of the decision of this problem.


The high share of electric vehicles (EVs) in the transportation sector is one of the main pillars of sustainable development. Availability of a suitable charging infrastructure and an affordable electricity cost for battery charging are the main factors affecting the increased adoption of EVs. The installation location of fixed charging stations (FCSs) may not be completely compatible with the changing pattern of EV accumulation. Besides, their power withdrawal location in the network is fixed, and also, the time of receiving the power follows the EVs' charging demand. The EV charging demand pattern conflicts with the network peak period and causes several technical challenges besides high electricity prices for charging. A mobile battery energy storage (MBES) equipped with charging piles can constitute a mobile charging station (MCS). The MCS has the potential to target the challenges mentioned above through a spatio-temporal transfer in the required energy for EV charging. Accordingly, in this paper, a new method for modeling and optimal management of mobile charging stations in power distribution networks in the presence of fixed stations is presented. The MCS is powered through its internal battery utilizing a self-powered mechanism. Besides, it employs a self-driving mechanism for lowering transportation costs. The MCS battery can receive the required energy at a different time and location regarding EVs accumulation and charging demand pattern. In other words, the mobile station will be charged at the most appropriate location and time by moving between the network buses. The stored energy will then be used to charge the EVs in the fixed stations' vicinity at peak EV charging periods. In this way, the energy required for EV charging will be stored during off-peak periods, without stress on the network and at the lowest cost. Implementing the proposed method on a test case demonstrates its benefits for both EV owners and network operator.


Convolutional neural network (CNN) models have demonstrated great success in various computer vision tasks including image classification and object detection. However, some equally important tasks such as visual tracking remain relatively unexplored. We believe that a major hurdle that hinders the application of CNN to visual tracking is the lack of properly labeled training data. While existing applications that liberate the power of CNN often need an enormous amount of training data in the order of millions, visual tracking applications typically have only one labeled example in the first frame of each video. We address this research issue here by pre-training a CNN offline and then transferring the rich feature hierarchies learned to online tracking. The CNN is also fine-tuned during online tracking to adapt to the appearance of the tracked target specified in the first video frame. To fit the characteristics of object tracking, we first pre-train the CNN to recognize what is an object, and then propose to generate a probability map instead of producing a simple class label. Using two challenging open benchmarks for performance evaluation, our proposed tracker has demonstrated substantial improvement over other state-of-the-art trackers.


The mitogenic response of peripheral blood lymphocytes to various anti-immunoglobulin reagents has been studied by measuring incorporation of a radioactive thymidine into macromolecules. Coupling of anti-F(ab')2 or anti-light chain antibodies to Sepharose beads leads to a 5-fold increase in their mitogenic capacity with 50-fold less antibodies per culture. Pepsin-digested F(ab')2 fragments had a mitogenic capacity similar to intact antibody molecules. Anti-F(ab')2 antibodies purified by immunoabsorbent columns were found to be more effective as mitogen than unpurified antibody fractions. Antibodies to kappa- or lambda-light chains were found to be mitogenic, whereas antibodies specific to various heavy chain classes failed to induce a significant response. Isolated light chains were much more effective in inhibiting the reaction than isolated mu-chains. It is concluded that insolubilized anti-light chain antibodies are mitogenic to human peripheral blood lymphocytes.


Adiponectin is an insulin sensitizer that exerts antidiabetes and anti-inflammation functions. Adiponectin signaling is negatively regulated by the adaptor protein APPL2 in cells, yet the in vivo roles of APPL2 remains largely unknown. In this study, we show that liver-specific knockout of APPL2 improved insulin sensitivity and enhanced adiponectin signaling in high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. The liver-specific APPL2 knockout mice (APPL2LKO) had less macrophage infiltration in liver tissues compared with their wild type controls and were resistant to LPS-induced expression of inflammatory genes such as IL-6, IL-1α, MCP-1, and TNF-α. Pretreatment of macrophage Raw264.7 cells with conditioned media from primary hepatocytes of APPL2LKO mice attenuated LPS-stimulated expression of inflammatory genes and the migration of the cells. The anti-inflammatory effect of APPL2 knockout was significantly reduced in adiponectin and liver-specific APPL2 double knockout mice (AdiponectinKO/APPL2LKO). Taken together, our results show that APPL2 promotes inflammation in mouse liver and the protein exerts a pro-inflammatory role by antagonizing adiponectin signaling. Disclosure J. Ryu: None.


This study describes the ostracode faunal composition and distribution on the continental shelf of the southern Marmara Sea in Turkey. Twenty‐three bottom samples were collected from the shelf. These samples are characterized by silt‐clay (mud), sand and gravel in the studied area. A total of 46 species belonging to 32 genera were determined from these samples. Seven species were dominant from 46 ostracode species. Three assemblages were identified by their dominant species. These are characterized by: Costa edwardsii (Roemer); a mixed assemblage which consists of Cytheridea neapolitana Kollmann, Pterygocythereis ceratoptera (Bosquet), Tegmenia rugosa (Costa), Acanthocythereis hystrix (Reuss) and Xestoleberis communis (G.W. Müller); and Aurila convexa (Baird). The relations between the dominant species, lithology and CaCO3 concentration have been investigated, and the results are compared with other shelf environments within the Mediterranean and Aegean regions. Pterygocythereis, Costa, Tegmenia and Cytheridea are abundant in muddy substrates; Aurila and Acanthocythereis are abundant in sandy substrates. Acanthocythereis hystrix (Reuss), Aurila convexa (Baird), Buntonia subulata Ruggieri, Carinocythereis antiquata (Baird), Carinocythereis carinata (Roemer), Costa batei (Brady), Costa edwardsii (Roemer), Cytheridea neapolitana Kollmann, Celtia quadridentata (Baird), Loxoconcha rhomboidea (Fischer), Pterygocythereis jonesii (Baird) and Semicytherura acuticostata (Sars) are common, and similar species are recorded from other continental shelves of the Mediterranean. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Historical Mechanisms allow rational analysis of world history under Unitarian views in its complexities and dialectical differences especially power structures and their conflicts. Apparent specialties relate themselves, after modifications of space and time without losing anything of their fascination. Following Goethe, the general exists out of many peculiarities but within peculiarities is always the general. Exceptions can be explained easier. Historical Mechanisms represent the unity of world historical processes which usually would fall apart with the enormous chaos of details. Naturally a Unitarian and absolute formula for world history still cannot be found. But the categories and metaphors from the natural sciences allow a better overview of historical processes. Detailed research is important as well, however, it needs to be located within world historical lines, and otherwise specific events cannot be understood in their full extent. In the article several metaphors and pictures will be presented which only serve for a better understanding of such processes and simplify them.


The last 5 years have seen major shifts in defining whom to test and how to treat Helicobacter pylori infection. Peptic ulcer has changed from a chronic disease to a one-off condition, and countries with a high incidence of gastric cancer have begun implementing population-wide screening and treatment. A proactive approach to testing and treatment of H. pylori is now recommended, including outreach to family members of individuals diagnosed with active infection as well as high-risk local populations such as immigrants from high-risk countries. Increasing antimicrobial resistance has resulted in an overall decline in treatment success, causing a rethinking of the approach to development of treatment guidelines as well as the need to adopt the principles of antibiotic usage and antimicrobial stewardship. Required changes include abandoning empiric use of clarithromycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin triple therapies. Here, we discuss these transformations and give guidance regarding testing and use of therapies that are effective when given empirically.


Describes two custom integrated circuits which were developed for an implantable pulsed Doppler ultrasonic blood flowmeter. Prime design goals were a minimum circuit volume, minimum power consumption, and operation at low supply voltages. The first of the two IC's performs system timing functions and produces the ultrasonic transmit burst. It can deliver up to 40 mW of peak output power at 50 percent efficiency and requires 3.7 mW standby power. The second IC, containing an RF amplifier, mixer and output amplifier, provides 54 dB conversion voltage gain for an 0.8 MHz bandwidth centered at 5.8 MHz, <3 dB noise figure, a dynamic range of 40 dB, and 1 /spl mu/s recovery time from a 1 V overload. This chip requires 2.7 mW power input.


Significant advances in wound dressing technology have resulted in a myriad of dressing choices for wound-care clinicians, providing more than just an inert wound cover. The establishment of a moist wound environment under modern wound dressings and the optimisation of the healing response are now the goals expected of these dressings. However, the use of wound dressings, particularly traditional dressings such as gauze, frequently results in wound and peri-wound tissue damage that impairs the wound healing response, counteracting any of the dressings' healing benefits. Therefore, in order to maximise the healing benefits wounds covered by today's wound dressings must minimise tissue disturbance (physical as well as chemical). This review aims to consider the ways traditional, as well as modern, wound dressings may disturb wounds, summarising the potential areas of wound disturbance, and suggesting how best to address this aspect of the use of wound dressings to treat acute as well as chronic wounds.


We have examined the interrelationship between Interleukin 2 (IL 2) and Interferon gamma (IFN gamma) for the induction of cytolytic activity from inactivated cloned cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). In previous work we showed that treatment of cloned CTL with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) inactivated their cytolytic function and that these inactivated cells provided an experimental approach to define the cytokines necessary for the induction of cytolysis. We further showed that IL 2 could provide a sufficient signal to restore cytolytic activity to inactivated cells by a process that was independent of cellular proliferation. Here we report that reactivation of the lytic response by IL 2 did not correlate with IFN production. IL 2 had the ability to restore lytic activity to PMA-treated cells but did not induce IFN gamma production. Similarly, IL 2 augmented the preexisting lytic response of non-PMA-treated cloned cells without stimulating IFN gamma production. However, PMA-treated and untreated cells had the capacity to produce IFN gamma when cultured with mitogen. These results suggest that IL 2 mediated reactivation of the cytolytic response and IFN gamma production by a cloned CTL appear to be regulated independently.


Communities need motivation in order to effectively participate in environmental conservation. However, potential socio-economic incentives for improving environmental conservation and livelihoods of communities surrounding Kondoa Rehabilitated Areas (KRA) are poorly known. The aim of this study was to analyze potential socio-economic incentives for effectively and sustainably improving environmental conservation and livelihoods of the communities surrounding KRA. The cross-sectional research design was employed. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 30 respondents from each of the four study villages, making a total of 120 respondent households. The study villages were Mafai, Ntomoko, Kalamba-Juu and Kalamba-Chini. Data were collected using questionnaires, focus group discussion and interviews. Ms-Excel and SPSS 20.0 computer programs were used to analyze data. Both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were carried out. The findings revealed that 91% of respondents reported main socio-economic incentives available in KRA being provision of tree seedlings, fertilizer, improved seeds, beekeeping inputs and education programs. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that statistically significant factors influencing adoption of socio-economic incentives in KRA are awareness (P < 0.01), land size owned (P < 0.05) and education level (P < 0.05). Roles of socio-economic incentives in improving conservation were improved afforestation, source of energy, controlled human activities and increased awareness. The study further revealed that 61% of the total annual household income was accrued from practicing activities related to socio-economic incentives. Chi-square test revealed that contribution of socio-economic incentive to total household income was statistically significant at P < 0.05. It was concluded that identified socio-economic incentives had a great potential of adoption in KRA. Beekeeping, tree seedlings and education programs were found to be statistically useful in both improving environmental conservation and livelihoods of KRA surrounding communities. The study iii recommends capacity building interventions and incorporation of socio-economic incentives in national biodiversity strategies and environmental conservation policy frameworks.


With the Lisbon Treaty, the European Commission (Commission) gained a prominent role in antidumping, being empowered to adopt antidumping measures with little interference by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. This raises questions on rulemaking accountability and efficacy when sensitive issues are at stake. The controversy underlying antidumping rulemaking is emphasized by the recent surge in antidumping litigation before the courts of the European Union. Through an analysis of the historical evolution of comitology in antidumping, this article identifies the weaknesses of the current mechanisms for securing scrutiny over the Commission's action in this field. It then considers reform options to address and remedy these weaknesses, including strengthening the legislature's right of scrutiny, granting observer status to parliamentary representatives and shifting from implementing to delegated acts.


Co/Au(001) superlattices were prepared using an ultra-high-vacuum deposition technique. When the Co layer thickness is above 7 AA or when the Au layer thickness is below 12 AA, a drastic increase is found in the interface roughness parameter, indicating the change from a coherent to an incoherent structure of the interface. From magnetization measurements at 5 K, the magnetic moment for the Co layers in the Co/Au(100) superlattices is found to be 1.7 mu B per atom. The easy magnetization direction lies in the film plane for all the samples. A strong in-plane magnetic anisotropy is observed for the samples with small Co layer thickness and highly ordered interface structure.


The outside vapor phase oxidation and deposition process, commonly called the OVD process, has been shown to be a very flexible and economic process for the fabrication of optical fibers. Because of the numerous layers of glass deposited in a radial manner, excellent profile control is possible. Since no substrate tube is required, the entire cross section of the fiber is core quality having uniform geometry and very low hydroxyl content. Very large blanks can be fabricated at high rates because an external tube is not required.


Abstract Critical, and in particular Bourdieusian, sociology of education is often suspicious about educators when they describe their ideal students. It tends to see these descriptions as euphemisations, so that apparently intellectual assessments are really elitist evaluations about students' class positions. However, this way of thinking about educators can lead to reductive accounts in which actors are completely blind to the real meaning of their beliefs, which must be unveiled by sociologists. In this article I utilise Luc Boltanski's pragmatic sociology to offer an alternative model of educators' accounts, in which there is no real meaning to be unveiled, but rather a complex mix of meanings held in educators' minds at once. Analysing interview data with those teaching on new liberal arts degrees in English universities, I demonstrate what can be gained by staying with the complexity of participants' own accounts, rather than mining them for one fundamental truth.


An early masterwork among American literary treatments of miscegenation, Chesnutt s story is of two young African Americans who decide to pass for white in order to claim their share of the American dream. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust theseries to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-datetranslations by award-winning translators."


The previous paper provided a comparison of the biomedical sectors in Australia and Canada based heavily on an analysis of biomedical alliances as well as a broader
range of indicators. The analysis suggested that the industry in Canada is much larger and more substantially integrated into the global biomedical industry than is simply explained by the relative size of the two countries. While there were significant issues of data definition in comparing the size of the industries in the two countries, the differences across the range of indicators are sufficient to suggest that the industry in Canada is 3 to 4 times the size of its Australian counterpart. This was supported by the data on alliances, which indicated that the degree of global integration of Canadian companies is substantially greater than is reflected in the differences of size between the two national industries. It showed significant differences in alliance patterns between the two countries. In particular Canadian biotechs had much greater success in forming high value later stage alliances with large pharma than Australian biotechs. In discussing a framework to explore the reasons for these differences it was agreed that a national innovation systems approach might be helpful. It would provide a framework within which to compare the essential features of the sectors in the two
countries and identify the role of policy in these differences. While the framework provided by national innovation systems has been used to research a range of industries, it is of particular relevance to RD Nelson 1988; Bartholomew 1997). This paper will firstly provide an outline of the major theoretical concepts discussed in the literature on national innovation systems, secondly review related empirical work on biomedical sector and finally begin to develop some explanations for the
differences between Australia and Canada.


This study corresponds to a project of a teaching research group, which analyzed the authorship of textual works of eleven students. These studies were developed throughout the subject of Biological Sciences of the stricto sensu graduate course of a private university in the state of San Pablo, Brazil. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the existence of plagiarism to answer the research question: Do postgraduate students commit plagiarism during the courses? Thus, the results of plagiarism verification were analyzed and compared using various software available online in paid or free versions. During this study, we observed that most academic studies of postgraduate students presented some plagiarism characteristic and we still found that the amount of plagiarism identified is different depending on the analysis characteristics of the program used. Despite the limitations of the softwares, their regular use to verify the authorship of a text is essential to identify plagiarism and to take educational measures that guide students on the creation process and the impact plagiarism has on learning. We therefore concluded that new pedagogical strategies must be developed and implemented to discourage plagiarism and thus reduce the impoverishment of education. At the same time, we showed that the choice of plagiarism verification software should not be made in a frivolous manner, but consciously and responsibly, because it may lead to different results.


This paper proposes a pulse width modulation-pulse skipping modulation (PWM-PSM) dual mode control and high efficiency buck dc-dc converter with 91.7% peak efficiency. A simple but steady PWM-PSM automatic switching module is proposed to improve the conversion efficiency when the load is light and synchronous rectifier is used to boost the conversion efficiency when the load is heavy. At the same time, a new saw tooth waveform generator is proposed to suit both the PWM and PSM. The dc-dc converter has been realized with a 0.18µm TSMC mixed-signal CMOS process and operates at 100 KHz with supply voltage from 4.5V to 5.5V which is the voltage range of USB interface. Measured conversion efficiency is over 80% for load current from 10mA to 600mA when the input voltage is 5V and output voltage is 3.3V.


Chromatic visual evoked potential (cVEPs) and psychophysics are often used to characterize isolated color or cone-opponent systems for various purposes. Retinal inhomogeneities across the visual field can introduce color shifts and luminance artifacts to uniform, large-field stimuli. It may be useful, therefore, to design customized stimuli that correct for the retinal inhomogeneities of observers. We created large-field stimuli equated across the visual field for luminance and hue shifts using psychophysical methods. We also evaluated the effects of applying corrected stimuli on the waveform of the cVEP. Five subjects viewed full-field onset stimuli. Stimuli comprised a field of gabor patches composed of colors modulated along nominal LM- and S-axes; in some conditions, colors of the gabor patches were customized using psychophysical settings made by the observer, such that axis contrasts were perceptually equated by suprathreshold contrast matching, and individuals' tritan axes were determined using the minimally distinct border technique. Stimuli were equated for luminance by flicker photometry. Isoluminance and tritan directions were determined across five levels of retinal eccentricity, including foveal and extrafoveal regions. cVEPs were recorded using both nominal and customized stimuli. Equating stimuli for perceptual salience and adjusting S-axis stimuli to modulate along an individual's tritan axis did not have a strong effect on the waveform of the chromatic VEP. Compared to responses using normal tritan stimuli, responses for "individual" tritan stimuli differed little in latency and only moderately in amplitude. Nonetheless, waveforms for both types of S-cone stimuli were different from those of LM-cone stimuli in latency and amplitude. Many psychophysical techniques (e.g. threshold measurement) are sensitive to small changes in luminance and chromaticity and would benefit from utilizing an observer-specific color space and stimuli adjusted for retinal inhomogeneity. However, the cVEP appears to be robust to retinal inhomogeneity, likely due in part to cortical magnification. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015.


Single-electron devices (SEDs) are attracting a lot of attention because of their capability of manipulating just one electron. For their operation, they utilize the Coulomb blockade (CB), which occurs in tiny structures made from conductive material due to the electrostatic interactions of confined electrons. Metals or III–V compound semiconductors have so far been used to investigate the CB and related phenomena from the physical point of view. However, silicon is preferable from the viewpoint of applications to integrated circuits because, on a silicon substrate, SEDs can be used in combination with conventional complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) circuits. In addition, the well established fabrication technologies for CMOS large-scale integrated circuits (LSIs) can be applied to making such small structures. LSI applications of the silicon SEDs can be categorized into two fields: memory and logic. Many kinds of device structure and fabrication process have been proposed and tested for these purposes. This paper introduces the current status of silicon-based SED studies for LSI applications.


Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) including aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor is the cornerstone for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The introduction of more potent drugs significantly reduced ischemic events, but with an associated increased risk of bleeding. Although appropriate estimation of bleeding risk by comparing the single drugs is challenging, mainly because of differences in definitions, it has been consistently shown that bleeding events are associated with an adverse outcome, both at short and long-term follow-up.Current guidelines recommend a short DAPT in patients at high bleeding risk, making appropriate risk estimation of crucial importance. Several numerical scores have been proposed for use in daily clinical practice. Although an objective risk assessment provides superior risk discrimination compared to physician's estimation, none of these scores appear free from limitations, nor have been obtained from cohorts of patients on short-tern treatment with prasugrel or ticagrelor. In the present review, we report the rates of major bleeding observed in the main randomized clinical trials and registries, their association with mortality, differences in definitions when used as safety endpoint, and finally the scores currently used for evaluation in daily clinical practice.


The alterations of the electroretinogram (ERG) induced by elevations of the intraocular pressure were not due to pressure alone but secondary to alterations of the blood flow into the eye because (1) consistent changes could be obtained only when the intraocular pressure was related to the blood pressure, (2) significant depression of the ERG did not occur until the intraocular pressure exceeded the diastolic pressure, and (3) the time course of the alterations was similar to that observed when the blood flow to the eye is blocked.


Space, geography and territorial organization have gained importance in recent studies on economical and political development. This reveals a (re)territorialization of the theoretical approaches of development. This paper systematically studies new theories of economic growth, analysis of State transformation, neoinstitutionalist approaches and the environmental perspective. Though these theories come from different disciplines, they converge in a new paradigm of development. In this new approach, the territory is not considered a receptacle-perimeter of productive activities and sociopolitical process, but as an explanatory element of development.


This work is motivated by ship identification from a sequence of ISAR images. Maximum likelihood classification, based on point matching, is formulated when the observed images are subject to missing points and phantoms. The 3-D to 2-D transformation is assumed to be known only in a certain parametric form. Proper weights, based on the noise levels for all images, are derived for the classification formula. The new formulation simplifies the computation of matching and makes its extension to object identification from multiple images feasible. Moreover, some theoretical properties of the identification procedure can now be investigated. Guidelines on which groups of objects are easier to distinguish are found from statistical theory followed by intuitive explanation. This method is then applied to ship identification with simulated ISAR images. >


Dr. Cynthia Bertelsen, Advisor The purpose of this study was to analyze the portrayal of race in the illustrations and text of Caldecott Award and Honor books beginning with the year 2003 through 2008. Books with solely animal characters were discarded due to the inability to determine their race resulting in 14 books to be analyzed. The races of the main and supporting characters, how those characters were portrayed, and whether the books were either racially neutral or racially specific were examined. In a racially neutral book, race plays very little role in the story whereas in a racially specific book the race plays a major role. After the books were analyzed, a matrix listing the books with all races that were present was created. Bar graphs comparing the number of characters for each race in all of the 14 books were created. Lastly, a pie chart showing the percentage of books that were racially neutral versus racially specific was created. This investigation found that only White, African American, and Asians were present in the 14 most recent Caldecott Award and Honor books. Alaskan Natives, American Indians, Hispanics, or Native Hawaiians (defined by the U.S census) were not present in any of the books analyzed. Of the 14 books, 64% of the books contained white characters, 42% percent contained black characters, and less than 1% contained Asian characters. Some books contained more than one race making the total more than 100%. Lastly, 29% of the books were racially specific whereas 71% were racially neutral.


In this study, high resolution melting analysis was found to be a rapid, sensitive and high-throughput technique for screening for JAK2 exon 12 mutations. Diverse JAK2 exon 12 mutations have been described in patients with V617F-negative polycythemia vera. Development of a sensitive detection assay capable of identifying any of these mutations is required for medium-throughput diagnostic screens. Non-mutated and mutant JAK2 exon 12 alleles were amplified from patient samples and cloned into plasmid vectors, then used to determine the sensitivity of a novel high-resolution melting-curve assay designed to detect all mutant JAK2 exon 12 alleles tested. High resolution melting analysis was more sensitive than direct sequencing and capable of detecting exon 12 mutations in granulocytes at moderate levels. In a blinded analysis of DNAs from V617F-negative erythrocytosis patients, with direct sequencing and allele-specific PCR used in one laboratory and high resolution melting analysis in another, high resolution melting successfully identified JAK2 exon 12 mutations in all 4 mutation-positive patients. High resolution melting analysis is a rapid, sensitive and high-throughput technique that is suitable for screening for JAK2 exon 12 mutations.


For patients undergoing radioiodine therapy of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), TSH stimulation prior to radioiodine therapy (RIT) can be achieved using thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) or administration of recombinant human TSH (rhTSH). As THW can lead to nausea, headaches, vomiting, fatigue and dizziness secondary to transient acute hypothyroidism, rhTSH could be a good alternative. rhTSH has been administered in patients in order to stimulate TSH for RIT since 2005. According to the Martinique criteria formulated by the leading professional societies involved in care of patients with DTC, rhTSH can be applied in three settings: for remnant ablation, adjuvant treatment and treatment of known disease. Numerous studies have investigated the effects of rhTSH as a method of TSH stimulation on the thyroid cell, the systemic effects, biokinetics and clinical outcomes, however no consensus has been reached about many aspects of its potential use. rhTSH is able to stimulate sufficient TSH-levels (>30 mIU/L) and is hypothesized to decrease risks of tumor cell proliferation. As rhTSH-use avoids the transiently-impaired renal function associated with THW, radioiodine excretion is faster with the former, leading to to a lower iodine-131(I-131) uptake and a difference in fractional remnant uptake, effective half-life, mean residence time, and dose to the blood. Differences between rhTSH and THW were observed in radioiodine genotoxic effects and endothelial-dependent vasodilation and inflammation. For thyroid remnant ablation, THW and rhTSH lead to similar remnant ablation rates. For adjuvant therapy and treatment of known disease, insufficient trials have been conducted and future prospective studies are recommended.


Summary form only given. The majority of studies of quantum optical processes occurring in atoms interacting with modified reservoirs, such as microcavities and photonic band gap materials, have concentrated on spontaneous emission dynamics. In this paper we report our recent theoretical results on absorption and dispersion dynamics of a A-type system where one transition spontaneously decays in a two band photonic reservoir. The coupling to this modified reservoir leads to a non-Markovian spontaneous decay of the atomic state, which in return influences the dispersion and absorption properties of a probe laser pulse coupling to the other atomic transition.


This essay aims to provide some reflections on feminist theory and practice in a post September 11th environment. Specifically, it aims to address whether some dominant and popular strands of "global feminism" are able to analyze and offer alternatives to an understanding of global relations between women specifically, and First World/Third World relations in general, in the aftermath of September 11th. Feminist reflections on this question are needed not only because of the enormity of events and developments that beg a feminist perspective, among others, to respond thoughtfully and sensibly to what is going on. Feminist reflections are also needed, specifically, as the war waged in Afghanistan is being presented as a humanitarian war which is about saving women. While there is some diversity among feminist responses to the US political response to September 11th there is as yet little challenge to this image of the war. The fact that the Taliban regime which the war in Afghanistan aimed to overthrow had a horrendous record for status and treatment of women is an issue which has caused feminist responses in Canada and the US to the war to range from uncritical celebration of the end of the Taliban regime to confusion and ambiguity regarding the nature of developments. It is interesting that celebration or ambiguity characterize the most typical responses among feminists even though the response of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), one of the most prominent and outspoken women's groups in Afghanistan, has repeatedly and unambiguously expressed its concerns about the US bombing and the choice of the Northern Alliance as allies in war and the choice for government. While some feminists who have expressed ambiguity on US responses to September 11th still take an anti-war position, others are cautiously optimistic about the potential for change in the post-war period asking for Afghan women's participation in the "peace process."


Aim: The aim of this study is to get an overview of users' experiences of Quantified Self apps (research question). The increase in supply and demand of Quantified Self apps as well as the use of these apps for enhancement or maintenance of the own health gave reason for research about user's experiences with these apps. There have been quantitative research studies about Quantified Self apps with regard to the enhancement or maintain one's health. By doing qualitative research as well as to focus on the users' experiences, it is possible to get new insights in this research area. This study could contribute to the improvement and optimization of Quantified Self apps by getting insight in users' experiences. By improving Quantified Self apps, the apps become more efficient and they can contribute to the health of Dutch people. Method: In this study, 16 respondents between 14 and 64 years who make use of at least one Quantified Self app, took part in an interview. This interview dealt with the participants' opinion about Quantified Self apps. Questions were asked about both positive and negative aspects of these apps. Furthermore, the influence of Quantified Self apps on the participant's life was examined. The interviews were analyzed by a content analysis. Results: User's experiences with Quantified Self apps were mainly positive. The life of the participants was influenced by the use of Quantified Self apps. On the basis of user's experiences it was found that apps that give insight in the behavior of the participant and those that provide feedback about the behavior were rated most positive. A long-term overview of one's behavior was important for participants. Moreover, it was found that the participants positively evaluated a clearly structured app. Participants did however report feeling that measurements taken by the app were unclear. Conclusion and discussion: Overall, participants had positive opinions about Quantified Self apps. The content of the apps well as the construction were important for participants. The users' experiences with regard to aspects of content of Quantified Self apps were mainly positive. Insights as well as feedback on one's behavior were important for participants and influenced their behavior. This could also have a positive impact on health. With regard to the construction of Quantified Self apps there were positive as well as negative experiences. In conclusion, clearly structured and user-friendly designs, as well as alternatives were crucial for participants.


Using the large amount of data collected by mobile operators to evaluate network performance and capacity is a promising approach developed in the recent last years. One of the challenge is to study network accessibility, based on statistical models and analytics. In particular, one aim is to identify when mobile network becomes congested, reducing accessibility performance for users. In this paper, a new analytic methodology to evaluate wireless network accessibility performance through traffic measurements is provided. The procedure is based on ensemble clustering of network cells and on regression models. It leads to identification of zones where the accessibility remains high. Numerical results show efficiency and relevance of the suggested methodology.


White matter in the brain exhibits strong anisotropic conductivity. Modeling studies on electroen-cephalography have found that such anisotropic conductivity greatly influences the estimated dipole source. In this study, we made a detailed comparison of the effects of conductivity anisotropy using a computational model of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The human head model was a high resolution finite element model generated from MRI scans, implemented with tissue heterogeneity and an excitable neural model incorporated in the brain. Results showed that anisotropy in conductivity had minimal effects on the location of the brain region that was maximally activated, but it had relatively large effects on deep brain structures.


A reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) incorporates a probabilistic analysis with an optimization technique to find a best design within a reliable design space. However, the computational cost of an RBDO task is often expensive compared to a deterministic optimization, which is mainly due to the reliability analysis performed inside the optimization loop. Theoretically, the reliability of a given design point can be obtained through a multidimensional integration. Integration with multiple variables over the safety domain is, unfortunately, formidable in most cases. Monte- Carlo simulation (MCS) is often used to solve this difficulty. However, the inherit statistic uncertainty associated with MCS sometimes causes an unstable RBDO solution. To avoid this unstable solution, this study transforms a multi-variable constraint into a single variable constraint using an exponential function with a polynomial coefficient (EPM). The adaptive Gauss-Kronrod quadrature is used to compute the constraint reliability. The calculated reliability and its derivative are incorporated with an optimizer such as sequential quadratic programming (SQP) or most probable point particle swarm optimization (MPP-based PSO) to conduct the RBDO task. To ensure the design accuracy, the stability of the RBDO algorithm with respect to the initial point is investigated through several numerical examples.


Raloxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) which is used for the treatment of osteoporosis. The major mechanism of action is the suppression of bone resorption. Evidences for the increase of bone mineral density and the decrease of vertebral fractures have been confirmed, while the effects on non-vertebral fractures may need more evidences. There is no doubt for that this drug is one of the major medicines for osteoporosis. On the other hand, extra-skeletal effects including those on cardiovascular systems should be studied further.


Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of prescribing vitamin D on improving the symptoms of patients diagnosed with urosepsis. The participants were randomly divided into two equal groups (each consisting of 50 patients). The patients in the first group received standard treatment with 300 000 units of injected vitamin with a volume of 1 cc. As for the patients in the second group, they received standard treatment along with 1 cc normal saline injected to them as placebo. Vital signs of the patients were checked every 6 h, while their CBC, EXR, CRP, creatinine, urea, and uric acid were checked 0, 24, 48, and 72 h following the interventions. Calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D levels were measured 72 h following injection of the medicine. A significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of the number of WBC's in 24th, 48th, and 72nd hours. A similarly significant difference was reported between the case and control group in terms of the average BUN within 24th, 48th, and 72nd hours. The difference observed between the two groups in terms of average Cr within the 0th, 24th, 48th, and 72nd hours and in terms of days of hospitalization was also significant. Considering these results and keeping in mind the fact that no particular side effects were reported as a result of utilizing muscular injections of vitamin D and the easy and cheap use of this medicine, it can be used in auxiliary treatment of patients with urosepsis.


Abstract Background Understanding the longitudinal trajectory of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies is crucial for diagnosis of prior infection and predicting future immunity. Methods We conducted a longitudinal analysis of coronavirus disease 2019 convalescent patients, with neutralizing antibody assays and SARS-CoV-2 serological assay platforms using SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) or nucleocapsid (N) antigens. Results Sensitivities of serological assays in diagnosing prior SARS-CoV-2 infection changed with time. One widely used commercial platform that had an initial sensitivity of >95% declined to 71% at 81–100 days after diagnosis. The trajectories of median binding antibody titers measured over approximately 3–4 months were not dependent on the use of SARS-CoV-2 N or S proteins as antigen. The median neutralization titer decreased by approximately 45% per month. Each serological assay gave quantitative antibody titers that were correlated with SARS-CoV-2 neutralization titers, but S-based serological assay measurements better predicted neutralization potency. Correlation between S-binding and neutralization titers deteriorated with time, and decreases in neutralization titers were not predicted by changes in S-binding antibody titers. Conclusions Different SARS-CoV-2 serological assays are more or less well suited for surveillance versus prediction of serum neutralization potency. Extended follow-up should facilitate the establishment of appropriate serological correlates of protection against SARS-CoV-2 reinfection.


One of the reasons that terrorism is unconventional and viewed as beyond the pale is because it adopts an arbitrary stance. War is the predictable and directed waging of armed conflict against an enemy, where as terrorism can not be anticipated or calculated because it's ominous and malevolent actions do not discriminate between the enemy and civilians. In deed the greater the number of civilian casualties the greater the prominence they bring to their political cause. The distinction here is that we can seek to place limits on war because both sides agree to the terms under which they fight and both stand to gain from the benefits of limitation. But acts of terror rely upon the absence of limitation (including the absence distinction, proportionality, military necessity) for psychological impact such that there is no mutual benefit of placing constraints or confines on actions taken. Thus terrorism has passed over the parameters of warfare and into the realm of criminal conduct or alternatively it is employing the methods of warfare with a criminal intent. It seems therefore that terrorists should either be thought of as criminal behavior, in which case they might be accused of violating criminal law, or they should be thought of as acting within the scope of war and peace, in which case they might be accused of violating either the law of war or the law of peace. However, they do not seem to fall clearly in either scenario thus despite being law violators, they have situated themselves in an impossible place, located somewhere outside of the law.


Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) glomerulonephritis, which was among the earliest recognized human autoimmune diseases, is characterized by the presence of anti-GBM antibody. It has been a prototypical example of autoantibody-mediated autoimmune disease. However, decades of research on this disease, based either on clinical observations or experimental models, have revealed that T cell-mediated cellular immunity may potentially be a more important mediator of glomerulonephritis. We have made several breakthroughs in understanding the T cell-mediated mechanism causing this disease in a rat model based on Goodpasture's antigen, non-collagen domain 1 of alpha3 chain of type IV collagen (Col4alpha3NC1). We demonstrated that anti-GBM glomerulonephritis was induced by either passive transfer of Col4 alpha3NC1-specific T cells or active immunization with the nephritogenic T cell epitope of Col4alpha3NC1. Immunization with the T cell epitope also triggered production of anti-GBM antibodies to diversified GBM antigens. Thus, a single nephritogenic T cell epitope alone is sufficient to induce the clinical spectrum of anti-GBM glomerulonephritis, including proteinuria, glomerular injury, and anti-GBM antibody. A possible T cell-mediated mechanism for causing human anti-GBM disease is proposed.


Determining the causality of abnormalities in a network is the prerequisite for developing countermeasures. In this paper, we focus on infection detection in heterogeneous networks. Given a snapshot of the network which demonstrates the condition of the nodes, the goal is to distinguish between random failures and epidemic scenarios. We model the network situation as a graph signal based on the nodes' status. Detection metrics motivated by graph signal processing are introduced for the infection detection problem in hand, and an effective algorithm is proposed to solve it. Simulation results indicate a dramatic improvement in terms of detection probability compared to the current state-of-the-art.


Purpose: Among the methods of comprehensive analysis for a product or an enterprise, there exist defects and deficiencies in traditional standard cost analyses and life cycle assessment methods. For example, some methods only emphasize one dimension (such as economic or environmental factors) while neglecting other relevant dimensions. This paper builds a factor analysis model of resource value flow, based on full life cycle assessment and eco-design theory, in order to expose the relevant internal logic between these two factors. Design/methodology/approach: The model considers the efficient multiplication of resources, economic efficiency, and environmental efficiency as its core objectives. The model studies the status of resource value flow during the entire life cycle of a product, and gives an in-depth analysis on the mutual logical relationship of product performance, value, resource consumption, and environmental load to reveal the symptoms and potentials in different dimensions. Originality/value: This provides comprehensive, accurate and timely decision-making information for enterprise managers regarding product eco-design, as well as production and management activities. To conclude, it verifies the availability of this evaluation and analysis model using a Chinese SUV manufacturer as an example.


Summary

Research has shown that the tendency for emotional affect to fade more over time for unpleasant events than for pleasant events, known as the Fading Affect Bias (FAB), increased across 3-month, 9-month and 4.5-year intervals. The current study attempted to determine the temporal locus of the FAB using the data set by Walker et al. as well as two additional data sets. All three data sets showed that the FAB was present after 1 day and persisted for 3 months, even though the affective fading for initially pleasant events slightly increased over time. Moreover, the third data set showed that the FAB was present for events occurring on the test day. Although the results challenge traditional conceptions of the FAB as a healthy coping mechanism that takes place across long periods, they fit well with the Broaden and Build Theory of positive emotions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Several large-scale trials have demonstrated improved survival with the administration of ACE-inhibitors to patients with a recent myocardial infarction. Many ACE-inhibitors with different pharmacological properties have been shown to be safe and effective. More recently the data provided by the Survival of Myocardial Infarction Long-term Evaluation (SMILE) program indicate that zofenopril may favorably affect the prognosis of patients with a recent myocardial infarction and, according to the results of the SMILE-4 study, it may be superior to ramipril with respect to some variables (cardiovascular hospitalizations) when both these ACE-inhibitors are administered combined with acetylsalicylic acid.


A TiO2 film was deposited onto alumite using an electrochemical technique, where the initial electrodeposition was carried out by ac electrolysis in (NH4)2[TiO(C2O4)2] solution, followed by pulse electrolysis in TiCl3. This is a new method to prepare a mesoporous TiO2 photocatalyst film consisting of nanosized particles and to directly fix them onto the alumite substrate (Al/Al2O3). The sizes of the TiO2 particles in the prepared film were about 5 nm, and they consisted of mixtures of the anatase, rutile, and amorphous phases. This film had a high catalytic activity for the decomposition of acetaldehyde even under fluorescent lamp illumination. Moreover, the preparation cost is very low compared with other methods. Therefore, the prepared Al/Al2O3/TiO2 plate is very useful for the practical photodecomposition of chemical contaminants in the atmosphere. The mechanisms of the TiO2 deposition and the photocatalysis are discussed.


The interferon (IFN)-induced protein kinase (PKR) functions as a gatekeeper of mRNA translation initiation and is, therefore, a key mediator of the host IFN-induced antiviral defense system. Many viruses have invested countermeasures against PKR. Some apparently use more than one mechanism. The influenza virus can repress PKR activity through the use of at least two factors, the cellular P58IPK protein and the viral NS1 protein. The exact mode of action of the latter has not been established. Here, using a coprecipitation assay, we found that PKR could form a complex with NS1 in crude cell extracts prepared from influenza virus-infected HeLa cells. The NS1-PKR interaction was verified by using the yeast two-hybrid system and an in vitro binding assay. Deletion analysis mapped the NS1 binding site to the N-terminal 98 residues of PKR regulatory region. Furthermore, an NS1 mutant, which lacks PKR inhibitory activity, did not bind PKR. Finally, the functional role of NS1 in PKR inhibition was substantiated using an in vivo assay for PKR activity. These results support the role of NS1 in PKR modulation during viral infection that is mediated through a complex formation between the two proteins.


Most abandoned and inactive mines in the Philippines pose high risks to human health and the environment due to the disturbed and exposed heavy metal-laden soils and sediments and water-filled open pit mines. Establishing these mines' environmental conditions remains a challenge as it requires time, effort, resources, and faces a lack of funding as the economic phase of the mine has already ceased. In order to contribute to the solution on the assessment of abandoned and inactive mines, integrated methods with combined essential testing, sampling, and analyses of different environmental media present in the mine site are suggested in this paper. On-site and laboratory methods include analyses for water (surface water and groundwater characterization, quality assessment, and environmental isotope tracers), soils and sediments (heavy and trace metals, anomalous elements, erosion, and nutrient availability), air quality, and radiometric survey. These methods can be classified as rapid with complete data, and information can be gathered to support a health risk assessment in the area, as well as used as a guide for rehabilitation prioritization of the abandoned mines.


In this article, we present an ultrasonic method based on diffuse ultrasound with successive excitation amplitudes. This method provides amplitude-dependent parameters of diffuse ultrasound using coda wave interferometry, and these parameters can be used to characterize mechanical change in metallic materials. The localized mechanical change caused by an instantaneous 400°C thermal shock in a meter-scale aluminum alloy slab was characterized by measuring the diffuse-wave velocity change and decorrelation coefficient as functions of the excitation amplitude. The potential mechanisms and spatial distribution that cause the observed amplitude-dependent diffuse waveform modification are discussed. Combining the method presented here with complementary approaches will enhance the ability to nondestructively detect early-stage damage in the laboratory or in the field.


Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. The nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway regulates NO synthase–independent vasodilation and NO signaling. Ingestion of inorganic nitrite has vasodilatory and blood pressure–lowering effects. Preclinical studies in rodent models suggest there may be a benefit of nitrite in lowering serum triglyceride levels and improving the metabolic syndrome. In a phase 2 study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of chronic oral nitrite therapy in patients with hypertension and the metabolic syndrome. Twenty adult subjects with stage 1 or 2 hypertension and the metabolic syndrome were enrolled in an open-label safety and efficacy study. The primary efficacy end point was blood pressure reduction; secondary end points included insulin-dependent glucose disposal and endothelial function measured by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery and intima-media diameter of the carotid artery. Chronic oral nitrite therapy (40 mg/3× daily) was well tolerated. Oral nitrite significantly lowered systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures, but tolerance was observed after 10 to 12 weeks of therapy. There was significant improvement in the intima-media thickness of the carotid artery and trends toward improvements in flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery and insulin sensitivity. Chronic oral nitrite therapy is safe in patients with hypertension and the metabolic syndrome. Despite an apparent lack of enzymatic tolerance to nitrite, we observed tolerance after 10 weeks of chronic therapy, which requires additional mechanistic studies and possible therapeutic dose titration in clinical trials. Nitrite may be a safe therapy to concominantly improve multiple features of the metabolic syndrome including hypertension, insulin resistance, and endothelial dysfunction. Registration— URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01681810.


Importance In early 2018, durvalumab became the first immunotherapy to be approved for adjuvant treatment of patients with unresectable stage III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose cancer has not progressed after definitive chemoradiotherapy. However, the cost-effectiveness and potential economic implications of using this high-priced therapy in this indication are unknown to date. Objective To explore the cost-effectiveness and potential budgetary consequences of durvalumab consolidation therapy vs no consolidation therapy after chemoradiotherapy in stage III NSCLC in the context of the US health care system. Design, Setting, and Participants A decision analytic microsimulation model was developed in an academic medical setting to compare the following 2 postchemoradiotherapy strategies: all patients receive no consolidation therapy until progression vs all patients receive durvalumab consolidation therapy until progression or for a maximum of 1 year. The potential budgetary consequence was calculated by applying the proportion of patients with NSCLC who were diagnosed in stage III and received chemoradiotherapy to the projected number of annual new cases for 2018 to 2022 to find total eligible patients and then multiplied by the mean difference in annual cost between the strategies over this 5-year period. Simulated conditions were matched to those of the PACIFIC phase 3 randomized clinical trial and reasonable treatment strategies for metastatic NSCLC. All simulated patients begin disease free after having received radical treatment with chemoradiotherapy and are followed up as they progress to metastatic disease first-line treatment, metastatic disease second-line treatment, end-stage progressive disease, and death. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome of this study was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of durvalumab consolidation therapy vs no consolidation therapy, given as aggregate cost of treatment per quality-adjusted life-year gained. Results Among 2 million simulated patients, durvalumab consolidation therapy was cost-effective compared with no consolidation therapy at a $100 000 per quality-adjusted life-year willingness-to-pay threshold, with an estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $67 421 per quality-adjusted life-year, and would contribute an additional $768 million to national cancer spending in year 1. The annual budgetary consequence would then decrease to $241 million in year 5. Conclusions and Relevance Durvalumab consolidation therapy represents an indication where expensive immunotherapies can be cost-effective. Treating with immunotherapy earlier in the course of cancer progression can provide significant value, despite having a substantial budgetary consequence.


Built-in self-test test registers must segment a circuit such that there exists a feasible test schedule. If a register transfer description is used for selecting the positions of test registers, the space for optimizations is small. In this paper, 1-bit test cells are inserted at gate level, and an initial test schedule is constructed. Based on the information of this schedule, test cells that can be controlled in the same way are assembled to test registers. Finally, a test schedule at RT level is constructed and a minimal set of test control signals is determined. The presented approach can reduce both BIST hardware overhead and test application time. It is applicable to control units and circuits produced by control oriented synthesis where an RT description is not available. Considerable gains can also be obtained if existing RT structures are reconfigured for self-testing in the described way.


Because the nature and magnitude of species interactions are functions of the traits that species possess, understanding how individual traits affect performance is important to our understanding of community structure. To examine the relation between species traits and performance, we first assessed behavioral responses of two larval anurans to three predator species in the laboratory. We then correlated these responses with growth performance of the two anurans when they competed in the field. In the laboratory experiment, larval bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) and green frogs (R. clamitans) exhibited no reduction in activity or spatial avoidance to bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), moderate reductions in activity and spatial avoidance of mudminnows (Umbra limi), and large reductions in activity and spatial avoidance of larval dragonflies (Anax spp.). In the field experiment, these behavioral responses were directly related to corresponding reductions in growth of the anuran larvae. Thus, for both species, changes in growth in the field could be correlated to the behavioral responses observed in the laboratory. Further, proportional changes in behavior in the presence of the different predators appeared to be related to changes in competitive relations in the field.


Research objective: to evaluate the influence of the form, fetal age and weight on a birth date, comorbidity on the severity of the Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), calculated in points due to the results of the Computer Tomography (CT) of the chest organs. Mild disease scored 1–5 points, moderately – 6–10 points and severely – 11–15 points. Examined 65 patients with BPD from 2 month old to 3 years included, who had points from 2,0 to 15,0, which is in average 8,2±0,35 points. Children with classic form of BPD (n=25) have total points certain more than the same for the children with the new form of BPD (n=40): 9,0±0,6 vs 7,7±0,4 points, p<0,05. Course of BPD for the children with the gestational age at the date of birth less than 28 weeks (n=39) was more hard than in the group of children with the gestational age 28–32 weeks (n=15): 9,0±0,4 vs 7,4±0,6 points, p<0,05. Course of BPD for the children with the weight status at the date of birth less than 1000g (n=34) was more hard (8,8±0,5 points) than for children with the weight status from 1000 to 1500g (n=17) (7,2±0,6 points), p<0, 05. Course of BPD for the children with coexisting Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) (n=13) was more hard than in the group without the disease (n=39): 9,6±0,9 vs 7,3±0,35 points, p<0,02. In the group of patients with BPD complicated by pulmonary hypertension (PH) (n=15) severe course of BPD was more frequent vs the group without PH (n=39) and was 9,8±0,8 points, p<0005. Separated analysis of the morbidity of BPD for the children with the classic and new form of the disease confirmed the links clinically defined for BPD in general. The morbidity of BPD was higher during the CT in the age before 6 month old in comparison with the morbidity defined for the children scan by CT after 2 years old. Conclusions: Have been discovered to date that moderate form of BPD dominates each for classic and new forms of BPD. Course of the classic for of BPD staying to be more severe. Factors which are making the course of BPD more severe are the fetal age less than 28 weeks at the birth date, weight less than 1000 g at the birth date, coexisting PDA and PH. For the identification of the maximum BPD severity is reasonable to use the method of the numerical score of the CT results of the chest organs in the age before 6 month.


The New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale is the most frequently used measure of environmental concern, but it has not been placed in the context of a social-psychological theory of attitude formation or attitude-behavior relationships. Using data from a northern Virginia sample, this study examines NEP in relation to the variables in a theoretical model of environmental concern. We found that the NEP is indistinguishable from a scale of awareness of consequences (AC) of general environmental conditions, both psychometrically and in terms of its relations to behavioral intentions, but somewhat different in its relations to basic value orientations and sociodemographic variables. We conclude that both NEP and AC measure generalized beliefs about the nature of human-environment interactions-or "folk ecology"—a set of beliefs that may be influenced by social structure and values and that influence attitudes, beliefs, and behavioral intentions regarding specific environmental conditions.


This study characterizes carbon and nitrogen abundances and isotopic compositions in ureilitic fragments of Almahata Sitta. Ureilites are carbon‐rich (containing up to 7 wt% C) and were formed early in solar system history, thus the origin of carbon in ureilites has significance for the origin of solar system carbon. These samples were collected soon after they fell, so they are among the freshest ureilite samples available and were analyzed using stepped combustion mass spectrometry. They contained 1.2–2.3 wt% carbon; most showed the major carbon release at temperatures of 600–700 °C with peak values of δ13C from −7.3 to +0.4‰, similar to literature values for unbrecciated ("monomict") ureilites. They also contained a minor low temperature (≤500 °C) component (δ13C = ca −25‰). Bulk nitrogen contents (9.4–27 ppm) resemble those of unbrecciated ureilites, with major releases mostly occurring at 600–750 °C. A significant lower temperature release of nitrogen occurred in all samples. Main release δ15N values of −53 to −94‰ fall within the range reported for diamond separates and acid residues from ureilites, and identify an isotopically primordial nitrogen component. However, they differ from common polymict ureilites which are more nitrogen‐rich and isotopically heavier. Thus, although the parent asteroid 2008TC3 was undoubtedly a polymict ureilite breccia, this cannot be deduced from an isotopic study of individual ureilite fragments. The combined main release δ13C and δ15N values do not overlap the fields for carbonaceous or enstatite chondrites, suggesting that carbon in ureilites was not derived from these sources.


The primary goal of a universal smart transducer interface is the provision of a framework that helps to reduce the complexity of large distributed real-time systems by introducing precisely specified (in the value domain and in the temporal domain) and small interfaces between smart transducers and their users. This paper presents a universal smart transducer interface that can be implemented on top of different real-time communication systems. It integrates a time-triggered communication protocol with an interface file system that provides the sources and sinks for the exchanged information. The final section discusses an implementation of this interface on a low cost (less than 1 $) commercial off the shelf microcontroller.


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine relation between marketing expenses and bank's financial position. Factor and cluster analyses were applied to unify different financial variables into financial clusters. Each cluster has specific long-term and short-term financial position and is allocated to appropriate rating position of new rating system. Using rating positions, it is possible to determine whether overall bank position is fragile or stable, and which financial position is vulnerable. Comparing marketing expenses with financial positions, it is possible to evaluate how effectively banks manage their financial resources, and what impact marketing activity has on the financial position.

Design/methodology/approach

Financial statements of Ukrainian banks for last five years are analyzed. Database of financial documents are reviewed. Coefficient, principal components, and hierarchical cluster analyzes are applied to elaborate new rating system. "Bartlett's Test of Sphericity" and "Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy Test" validate input data. Box-and-whisker plots are used to describe graphically interaction between marketing expenses and bank financial positions.

Findings

The new rating system describes short-term and long-term bank financial positions. In their marketing activity, Ukrainian banks mostly have uneven distribution of marketing expenses in context of financial positions. Such pattern disrupts long-term stability of Ukrainian banking system. Each financial variable has different impact on marketing activity; however, the correlation level is insignificant. In general, Ukrainian banks do not consider financial positions in marketing planning.

Practical implications

New rating system can be used by the National Bank of Ukraine, the main supervisory bank of Ukraine, to determine fragile banks and to predict their bankruptcy. Banks may use findings to analyze their financial positions and to find optimal marketing expenses.

Originality/value

This paper contributes into the scientific literature in novelty of marketing-finance interaction in the Ukrainian banking system. New rating system of Ukrainian banks considers different aspects of bank financial stability: liquidity level, credit risks, deposit portfolio, and bank's ability to attract additional financial resources on financial markets. Cluster analysis helps to allocate similar financial factors to different clusters and to evaluate financial risks in conjunction. As legal regulations concerning banking market, are also considered, the rating system can be adjusted to different countries. In addition, marketing expenses are analyzed in context of banks' financial positions.


UNLABELLED
We report the characterization and analyses of organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) using microstructured composite transparent electrodes consisting of the high-index ITO (indium tin oxide) micromesh and the low-index conducting polymer

PEDOT
PSS [poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)], that are fabricated by the facile and convenient microsphere lithography and are useful for enhancing light extraction. The rigorous electromagnetic simulation based on the three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method was conducted to study optical properties and mechanisms in such devices. It provides a different but consistent viewpoint/insight of how this microstructured electrode enhances optical out-coupling of OLEDs, compared to that provided by ray optics simulation in previous works. Both experimental and simulation studies indicate such a microstructured electrode effectively enhances coupling of internal radiation into the substrate, compared to devices with the typical planar ITO electrode. By combining this internal extraction structure and the external extraction scheme (e.g. by attaching extraction lens) to further extract radiation into the substrate, a rather high external quantum efficiency of 46.8% was achieved with green phosphorescent OLEDs, clearly manifesting its high potential.


Electrochemical energy plays a key role in direct conversion into value-added products by using renewable electricity. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) can maximize the efficiency of metal-atom utilization, thus achieving high activity, stability, and selectivity in electrocatalytic reactions. SACs can overcome some limitations of bulk materials in electrocatalytic applications. In this review, we introduce SACs consisting of various single metal atoms, including noble and transition metals, anchored on various supports, such as metals, metal oxides, porous carbon, graphene, and g-C3N4. These catalysts possessed various binding modes between the single atoms and anchoring sites. We also review and highlight novel and promising methods to obtain SACs. Such methods include wet chemistry, metal etching, electrodeposition, and metal–organic-framework-derived methods. We also focused on the electrocatalytic applications of SACs in representative electrochemical applications such as oxygen reduction, hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution, carbon dioxide reduction, and nitrogen reduction reactions. Significantly, the electrocatalytic performance can be tuned by engineering the structure of SACs in terms of binding mode, coordination number, and dispersion tendencies. Finally, we provide perspectives on the design of SACs for future applications in various electrocatalytic processes in energy conversion.


Theft of an Idol: Text and Context in the Representation of Collective Violence. Paul R. Brass. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1997. xvi +298 pp., figures, tables, notes, index.

The Colors of Violence: Cultural Identities, Religion, Conflict. Sudhir Kakar. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. xiv. 217 pp., appendixes, notes, index.

Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants. Cynthia Keppley Mahmood. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1996. xii. 314 pp., illustrations, notes, glossary, bibliography, index.

Charred Lullabies: Chapters in an Anthropography of Violence. E. Valentine Daniel. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1997. xii. 252 pp., maps, figures, tables, notes, references, index


Objective—Endothelial cells provide a barrier between the blood and tissues, which is reduced during inflammation to allow selective passage of molecules and cells. Adherens junctions (AJ) play a central role in regulating this barrier. We aim to investigate the role of a distinctive 3-dimensional reticular network of AJ found in the endothelium. Methods and Results—In endothelial AJ, vascular endothelial-cadherin recruits the cytoplasmic proteins &bgr;-catenin and p120-catenin. &bgr;-catenin binds to &agr;-catenin, which links AJ to actin filaments. AJ are usually described as linear structures along the actin-rich intercellular contacts. Here, we show that these AJ components can also be organized in reticular domains that contain low levels of actin. Reticular AJ are localized in areas where neighboring cells overlap and encompass the cell adhesion receptor platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1). Superresolution microscopy revealed that PECAM-1 forms discrete structures distinct from and distributed along AJ, within the voids of reticular domains. Inflammatory tumor necrosis factor-&agr; increases permeability by mechanisms that are independent of actomyosin-mediated tension and remain incompletely understood. Reticular AJ, but not actin-rich linear AJ, were disorganized by tumor necrosis factor-&agr;. This correlated with PECAM-1 dispersal from cell borders. PECAM-1 inhibition with blocking antibodies or small interfering RNA specifically disrupted reticular AJ, leaving linear AJ intact. This disruption recapitulated typical tumor necrosis factor-&agr;–induced alterations of barrier function, including increased &bgr;-catenin phosphorylation, without altering the actomyosin cytoskeleton. Conclusion—We propose that reticular AJ act coordinately with PECAM-1 to maintain endothelial barrier function in regions of low actomyosin-mediated tension. Selective disruption of reticular AJ contributes to permeability increase in response to tumor necrosis factor-&agr;.