Introduction We assessed outcomes in PaH adolescents transitioning from paediatric to adult care within a regional HIV clinic. Methods Retrospective case-note review 10/02/04–31/12/15. Data collected: demographics, CDC stage, viral loads (VL), CD4 counts, antiretroviral therapy (ART), resistance and loss to follow up; using a standardised database. Pre- and post-transition outcomes were compared using paired T-tests for means and McNemar's Exact tests for proportions. Results 57 patients; 29(51%) male, 34(60%) born outside UK, 51(89%) black African. Median age at diagnosis 3 years [range 0–18]; at transition 18 years [15–20]. Median time since transition 5 years [1 month–13 years]. At transition CDC B 27/57(47%), CDC C 18/57(32%), post transition 28/57(49%), 20/57(35%), respectively, including one suicide. Of those with ≥2 years data post-transition, 31/48(65%) had two consecutive VL>40c/mL or one VL>10,000c/mL in the 2 years pre-transition, compared with 22/48(46%) post-transition (p=0.035). Mean CD4 count 12 months pre/post-transition 520 c/mm3, 500 c/mm3, respectively (p=0.4). At transition 52/57(91%) on ART (vs. 55(96%) at last visit, p=0.1), 10/46(22%) 1st line (5/55(9%) last visit), median duration of ART 7 years [0–18]. Resistance: 18/46(39%) nil, 13/46(28%) ≥1, 13/46(28%) ≥2, 1/46(2%) ≥3 drug classes. 4 patients were lost to follow-up (LTFU), all returning within 5 years [1-5]. Discussion There was no difference in mean CD4 pre or post-transition, but the proportion who were suppressed improved post-transition. CDC stage progressed in 3 adolescents. All patients had options for suppressive ART although few were on 1st line. There was no long-term LTFU.


The 9th Workshop on Frontiers in Low Temperature Plasma Diagnostics (FLTPD) was held in Zinnowitz, near Greifswald, Germany. FLTPD is a biennial European event in which scientists working on low-temperature plasmas present their recent results, pointing out in particular the originality of the diagnostic techniques used. The idea of starting this series of workshops was born in a discussion between Frieder Dobele, Bill Graham and myself when travelling together from Bar Harbor, USA (after the 6th LAPD) to Montreal, Canada in October 1993. It became evident that we had been lacking a European meeting that could bring together experts in the field of low-temperature plasma diagnostics and create the possibility to share the knowledge of these diagnostics with new generations of scientists. The first FLTPD was held in Les Houches, France, in February 1995 and since then it has been organized in the spring of all odd-numbered years in different European countries, as shown in the following table. YearLocationChair of LOC 1995Les Houches, FranceJ Derouard 1997Bad Honnef, GermanyF Dobele 1999Saillon, SwitzerlandCh Hollenstein 2001Rolduc, NetherlandsR van de Sanden 2003Speccia, ItalyS De Benedictis 2005Les Houches, FranceN Sadeghi 2007Cumbria, UKM Bowden 2009Blansko, Czech RepublicF Krcma 2011Zinnowitz, GermanyJ Ropke To encourage brainstorming and extended discussions among participants, FLTPD meetings have always been organized in isolated locations with the number of attendees limited to about 70. Workshops extend over three and a half days with about 10 expert presentations by invited speakers (a few from overseas) and short oral or poster contributions. This special issue of Plasma Sources Science and Technology contains 11 articles representative of contributions to the last FLTPD in Zinnowitz. These peer-reviewed articles, which bring the 9th FLTPD to a wider audience, represent a snapshot of current topics in low-temperature plasma diagnostics. However, no attempt is made to give a full review of the field, which is in fact much wider and still rapidly developing. I hope, nevertheless, that readers will find this compilation useful and stimulating for their research and that the special edition will serve as a convenient reference source. My special thanks go to the Scientific Committee for their important contributions to the success of the workshop in selecting invited speakers. I also am particularly grateful to the Editorial Board of Plasma Sources Science and Technology for the publication of this special issue.


By promoting noncanonical NF-κB signaling, SMAC mimetics can reprogram CD4+ T helper cell differentiation and curb autoimmunity. SMACing down TH17 cells Currently in clinical trials for cancer therapy, second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (SMAC) mimetics (SMs) target inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) for degradation and sensitize tumors to tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF-α)–dependent cell death (see the Focus by Dougan and Dougan). In addition, SMs synergize with immune checkpoint inhibitors to promote durable tumor immunity in mice. Using a multiomics approach, Rizk et al. found that SMs altered CD4+ T helper (TH) cell differentiation. In vitro, SMs reduced TH17 cell differentiation in an NF-κB–inducing kinase (NIK)–dependent manner and increased the differentiation of TH9 and TH2 cells producing IL-9 and IL-13. SMs reduced the production of IL-17 and disease severity in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. This study defines how these targeted agents alter T cell function and suggests that they may have therapeutic activity in TH17 cell–driven autoimmune diseases. Second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (SMAC) mimetics (SMs) are selective antagonists of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs), which activate noncanonical NF-κB signaling and promote tumor cell death. Through gene expression analysis, we found that treatment of CD4+ T cells with SMs during T helper 17 (TH17) cell differentiation disrupted the balance between two antagonistic transcription factor modules. Moreover, proteomics analysis revealed that SMs altered the abundance of proteins associated with cell cycle, mitochondrial activity, and the balance between canonical and noncanonical NF-κB signaling. Whereas SMs inhibited interleukin-17 (IL-17) production and ameliorated TH17 cell–driven inflammation, they stimulated IL-22 secretion. Mechanistically, SM-mediated activation of NF-κB–inducing kinase (NIK) and the transcription factors RelB and p52 directly suppressed Il17a expression and IL-17A protein production, as well as the expression of a number of other immune genes. Induction of IL-22 production correlated with the NIK-dependent reduction in cMAF protein abundance and the enhanced activity of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Last, SMs also increased IL-9 and IL-13 production and, under competing conditions, favored the differentiation of naïve CD4+ T cells into TH2 cells rather than TH17 cells. These results demonstrate that SMs shape the gene expression and protein profiles of TH17 cells and inhibit TH17 cell–driven autoimmunity.


This report describes a new model for parallel discrete event simulation based on the notions of processes and gates and on the rendezvous mechanism deflned in the the basic Lotos process algebra[1]. The model presented in this report requires a statically determined flxed number of processes and gates. Whereas it may be possible to simulate many Lotos speciflcations using this model, no claim is made regarding the ability of the model to simulate all Lotos speciflcations in general. An execution algorithm is presented that allows optimistic gate activations (i.e., speculative computation). This increases the available parallelism while ensuring correct execution of the simulation. An implementation approach that makes extensive use of bit vectors and bitwise logical operations is described. Finally, a partitioning of the computation for parallel execution is given.


The classic Lagrangian mechanics approach allows for solving virtually any physical problem only for a chosen set of generalized coordinates, thus eliminating unnecessary computations. With certain approximations, this approach yields a system of first-order non-linear ordinary differential equations. Such a system can be solved numerically relatively fast (less than 1 s per run for a single CPU). We show the application of Lagrangian mechanics to problems of asymmetric fracture growth in length due to a lateral confining stress gradient and in height due to vertical confining stress contrasts. In both cases, we build a model and solve model equations. We demonstrate the flexibility of this approach and its potential for creating ultrafast semi-analytical models of hydraulic fracture propagation.


A new species of Gobioid fish, Callogobius trifasciatus is described from Mayabunder, Middle Andamans. The present species is closely related to C. hasseltii and C. selateri, but can be distinguished by the number of scales in the longitudinal series and by the nature of caudal fin. The three distinct bands found in C. trifasciatus, further distinguishes it from the other two species


Application of structures of flow pattern modification is one of the erosion control methods in bends. Triangular vanes are among these structures which provide less scour depth compared to the other techniques such as spur dike. Since little information on erosion and sedimentation pattern around triangular vanes are available, this study was conducted to study the effect of structure effective length variations on erosion and sedimentation pattern. Therefore a triangular vane with different effective lengths (23.3, 17.5, 14 and 10 cm) was tested under different hydraulic conditions (Froude numbers 0.194, 0.214, 0.233 and 0.253). For all experiments, single triangular vane was installed with an angle of 30° relative to the upper bank and outside bend of flume in the 72° location which maximum scour depth is usually occurs. For all tests, flow depth was kept constant equal to 13 cm. At the end of each test bed topography was measured and from that the geometry of scour hole and point bar was measured. The results showed that maximum scour depth has been reduced by reducing of vane effective length. Variations of scour depth for low Froude numbers (0.194 and 0.214) was found to be more than high Froude numbers (0.233 and 0.253). Eroded sediments were transported downstream of vane and accumulated closed to the outer bank. The results showed that, in effective length 10 cm point bar distance from the beginning of vane was almost 0.8 times the effective length of vane for Froude number 0.233 and in effective lengths 14 and 10 cm was respectively, 1 and 2 times the effective length of vane for Froude number 0.253. In addition, minimum point bar distance from the outer bank has been reduced by reducing of vane effective length. For effective lengths of 14 and 10cm the point bar distance from the outer bank was almost 1.5-2 percent width of the flume.


The relative significance and influence of a variety of measures of urban form on household vehicle kilometers traveled, automobile ownership, and mode choice were investigated. The travel data came from the 1990 San Francisco Bay Area travel surveys, and the land use data were largely constructed from hectare-level descriptions provided by the Association of Bay Area Governments. After demographic characteristics were controlled for, the measures of accessibility, land use mixing, and land use balance—computed for trip-makers' home neighborhoods and at trip ends—proved to be highly statistically significant and influential in their impact on all measures of travel behavior. In many cases, balance, mix, and accessibility were found to be more relevant (as measured by elasticities) than several household and traveler characteristics that often form a basis for travel behavior prediction. In contrast, under all but the vehicle ownership models, the impact of density was negligible after accessibility was co...


Electrophysiological studies were performed in Lewis rats with chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by inoculation with guinea-pig spinal cord and adjuvants and treatment with low dose cyclosporin A. During clinical episodes there was conduction failure in the central nervous system (CNS), namely the spinal cord dorsal columns, and in the afferent fibres in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The following observations indicated that the conduction failure was mainly due to demyelination-induced conduction block: (1) rate-dependent conduction block in the CNS and PNS; (2) temporal dispersion due to slowing of PNS conduction; (3) restoration of PNS conduction by cooling; (4) restoration of CNS conduction by ouabain; (5) previously demonstrated histological evidence of primary demyelination in the dorsal columns, dorsal root ganglia and dorsal roots; and (6) the temporal association of restoration of conduction with remyelination. However, it is likely that CNS and PNS axonal degeneration, which occurs in this disease, also contributed to the conduction failure. In clinical remissions there was restoration of conduction in the CNS and PNS which can be explained by ensheathment/remyelination by oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells, respectively. In most rats during clinical episodes the cerebral somatosensory evoked potential was reduced in amplitude and prolonged in latency, which can be accounted for by demyelination and axonal degeneration in the CNS and PNS components of the afferent pathway. In 2 rats with episodes of EAE, however, this potential was markedly increased in amplitude, which might have been due to demyelination-induced conduction block of descending pathways that normally inhibit synaptic transmission in the afferent pathway. In well-established remission there was residual conduction failure in the CNS and PNS which can be mainly accounted for by axonal degeneration.


Sir .—We read with interest the article by Thoele and colleagues 1 relating their experience in the prereferral diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta (CoA). We agree with them that in the asymptomatic child, the most important reason for a lack of diagnosis is an incomplete physical examination. Several recommendations were made. Palpation of the peripheral pulses and measurement of blood pressures were the most important of these suggestions. However, in our opinion, misleading emphasis was placed on palpation and blood pressure measurement in the right arm, almost to the exclusion of palpation and measurement on both upper extremities. Although Thoele and colleagues are correct in emphasizing that a left subclavian artery arising near or distal to the site of coarctation is not uncommon, an aberrant right subclavian artery can and does occur in a similar fashion. We recently encountered a child first referred at 5½ years of age (the


In conclusion, several trends are observed in regard to the phylogenetic development of the pineal organ, which are relevant for our understanding of the evolution of biological clock mechanisms. 1. The pineal organ of all vertebrates investigated thus far is capable of producing and releasing melatonin. Melatonin is rhythmically produced and released during darkness and, thus, represents an important neuroendocrine information on the ambient photoperiod. 2. The rhythmic production of melatonin is under control of endogenous oscillators and photoreceptor cells. In several nonmammalian species, these endogenous oscillators and photoreceptors are located within the pineal organ itself. In some avian species, the inherent rhythmicity of the pineal organ appears to be influenced by pacemakers located in other parts of the central nervous system. Their information may be transmitted to the pineal organ via the sympathetic innervation. This innervation develops progressively in the course of phylogeny. In mammals certain pinealocytes express proteins which are specific of retinal and pineal photoreceptors, but these proteins are obviously not involved in photoreception and phototransduction. The mammalian pineal organ lacks not only functioning photoreceptors, but also endogenous oscillators. The photoreceptor cells involved in regulation of the melatonin biosynthesis are located in the retina; the major endogenous oscillator is the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. Information from the retina and the SCN is transmitted to the mammalian pineal organ via a complex neuronal chain, whose last member is the sympathetic innervation originating from the superior cervical ganglion. This innervation is mandatory to maintain the rhythm of the melatonin biosynthesis in the mammalian pineal organ. Interestingly, the effects of noradrenaline, the major neurotransmitter in the sympathetic nerve fibers, displays opposite effects on the melatonin biosynthesis in birds and mammals: it stimulates the melatonin biosynthesis in the mammalian pineal organ, but inhibits the melatonin formation in the chicken. This conversion occurs at the level of the adrenoreceptors. 3. The intrapineal nerve cells giving rise to pinealofugal neuronal projections are reduced in the course of phylogeny. Nevertheless, direct neuronlike connections appear to exist between the pineal organ and the central nervous system of mammals. These projections originate from a population of pinealocytes. Whether such projections are involved in biological clock mechanisms remains an issue not yet resolved. The ontogenetic data reviewed support the notion that, in lower vertebrates, melatonin biosynthesis is primarily controlled by intrapineal photoreceptors, whereas, in mammals, it depends on retinal photoreceptors and the sympathetic innervation of the pineal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


The Inflammatory Bowel Disease International Genetic Consortium was formed in Oxford in 1997. Since then it has grown to include twelve groups from around the world that are each actively involved in identifying the genes that are involved in susceptibility to IBD. The approach of the IBDIGC is to attempt to overcome one of the major issues in complex disease analysis—that of obtaining sufficient power to analyze successfully the inheritance of IBD—by collaboratively studying large numbers of well documented families with multiple affected individuals. This strategy has been marked by considerable success with the publication of a paper authored by the IBDIGC substantiating the localization of IBD1 to chromosome 16. This publication served to encourage researchers and eventually resulted in the identification by several groups simultaneously of risk alleles in the NOD2 gene that cosegregate with disease. The IBDIGC provides a model for studies in complex disease genetics, showing that research groups both large and small can participate equally in complex disease gene identification through the formation of large international consortia.


Aerial photography has been the leading method for collecting and mapping information via remote sensing from the environments such as cities. Usually the qualitative analysis of the images is performed by human observation in a form of descriptive pattern recognition and manual spatial associations. These techniques for many years have created unique means of remote sensing whether through software analysis of photographic or satellite data, however, they have always been recorded from high-altitudes using predominantly airplane, helicopter or satellite information where the resulting graphical product such as Google map is disembodied and detached from the real visible qualities which are evident in human scale. These maps reduce the city spaces into densities and statistics (Penz 2010). The purpose of this study is to reuse this already established technology in a way to reintroduction visualisation techniques that can be useful in the perception of the city and its architectural spaces. Using cinematic mode of representation, particularly the use of moving image and still image to recognize their aesthetics, the density and other qualitative information from specifically a low level altitude where the images can be embodied revealing their sensory such as haptic and other modality qualities.


Abstract There is limited research available in the area of science education for deaf children. In the twenty-first century, the importance of science and specifically scientific argumentation cannot be overlooked as a vital aspect of the curriculum. Current science teaching presents a range of difficulties for deaf students particularly when abstract concepts are delivered using a didactic approach with a reliance on text books. Research also identifies that inferencing skills and the language needed to articulate findings are often underdeveloped in deaf students. This review discusses the need for teaching and testing methods to be adapted to suit the learning needs of deaf students to provide them with the opportunity to learn and demonstrate their knowledge in a manner which is not solely dependent on their literacy skills. In the concluding paragraphs it is suggested that by using analogy-based role play in science teaching, teachers are able to create a learning environment which allows participation with the abstract and enables students to explore scientific concepts which ordinarily could not be seen. It is further suggested that this teaching approach could equip deaf students with the knowledge and skills needed to develop scientific argumentation by allowing them to visualize and make links between concepts and ultimately raise their engagement and attainment in science.


Extensive studies on the IL-2 and IL-2 receptor system have established fundamental principles of immune responses and signal transducing mechanisms of hematopoietic cell proliferation and survival. IL-2Rb and IL-2Rg chains are associated with multiple tyrosine kinases including JAK1, JAK3 and other tyrosine kinases such a p56lck. IL-2 binding to these receptors leads to conformational changes of the receptors followed by the recruitment of several kinases leading to their activation. The JAKs and activated tyrosine kinases appear to be a trigger for the downstream signal cascades. Other downstream messenger molecules such as the STATs, Shc, PI3K-Akt, Ras-ERK1/2 and so on, cross talk with this cascades. The interplay however leading to the regulation of target genes still remain largely obscure. For example, although phosphorylation of tyrosine 338 of IL-2Rb is required for both signal transduction to Shc and PI3K, how it regulates further signals from Shc to the Grb2-Sos-Ras pathway or to the PI3K-Akt pathway is unknown. There are also conflicting reports on the functional roles of STAT5, STAT1 and STAT3 on IL-2 signaling. Further work is needed to clarify how the multiple kinases trigger multiple signaling cascades and cooperate with each other in the regulation of gene induction for cell growth, survival or differentiation in different cell types and conditions in vitro and also in vivo.


The fast measurement of furrows or wrinkles requires the use of a non-contact device. We have chosen a laser detector based on a triangulation principle, using position-sensitive detectors. This apparatus has a sensitivity of about 2-3 microns for a vertical range > 1 mm; this vertical range can reach 8 mm. There is no contact between the detector and the surface and this reduces the measurement time because, while data are being transmitted, there is no decrease in the scanning speed as with earlier methods. We describe the device and its technical characteristics. The limits of use are shown in the measurement of low-amplitude defects (> 3-4 microns) and of wide defects of < or = 8 mm. Examples of software possibilities and practical applications related to skin microrelief, wrinkles and pathological cases, are also described.


We report a case of a chronic mesotympanic otitis media with a smelly purulent secretion from both ears and recurrent otalgia over the last five years in a six-year-old girl after swimming in the German Baltic Sea. Besides Staphylococcus aureus a non-01/non-0139 Vibrio cholerae strain could be isolated from patient samples. An antibiotic therapy with ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone was administered followed by atticotomy combined with tympanoplasty. We conclude that V. cholerae should not be overlooked as a differential diagnosis to otitis infections, especially when patients present with extraintestinal infections after contact with brackish- or saltwater aquatic environments.


Summary Arterial endothelial cells were obtained from bovine aortae by mild treatment with collagenase and medium perfusion. These cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium containing 15 mM Hepes buffer and 35% fetal calf serum at pH 7.35. Essentially ah (90–95%) the effluent cells were viable and 80% of these cells attached to the substratum within 1 hour. Small patches of attached cells coalesced to form confluent monolayers in 3–5 days. Confluent monolayers of endothelial cells consisted of a homogeneous population of tightly packed, polygonal cells. Selected cultures were serially subcultured (trypsin-EDTA) for 12–14 months (30–35 passages) without any apparent change in morphology or loss of growth characteristics. Primary and three-month old (15 passages) cultures had population doubling times of 32–34 hours and 29–31 hours, respectively. These cells (primary and subcultures) did not require a minimum cell number to become established in culture. Bovine endothelial cells (primary, first, fifth and thirteenth passages) were characterized ultrastructurally by the presence of Weibel-Palade bodies, pinocytotic vesicles and microfilaments and immunologically by the presence of thrombosthenin-like contractile proteins and Factor VIII antigen. The intercellular junctions of post-confluent cultures stained specifically with silver nitrate. From these data, we concluded that identifiable endothelial cells could be obtained from bovine aortae and cultured and maintained for prolonged periods of time.


With the progress of low-power research on real-time systems, the estimation and analysis of energy consumption of real-time systems becomes a hot topic. Process Algebra is a formal method fit for analyzing the functional properties of real-time systems, but it can not analyze the energy consumption properties. This paper proposes a formal method support for modeling and analyzing energy consumption of real-time software. Resource Timed Communicating Sequential Process (RTCSP) is proposed in this paper can handle it efficiently by extending resource information on Timed Communicating Sequential Process (TCSP). In this paper, the power consumption of instructions in real-time systems is mapped into the resource of RTCSP, the energy consumption of real-time software can be modeled and optimized by using RTCSP, the optimal path algorithm is proposed to calculate the minimum energy consumption reachability path of real-time systems. This formal method improves the accuracy and efficiency of energy calculation, the calculation results can be used to quantitatively analyze and optimize the energy consumption of real-time systems.


Objective To compare surgical outcomes in patients undergoing bilateral salpingectomy (salpingectomy group) with those who had partial salpingectomy (partial salpingectomy group) during cesarean delivery. Materials and methods A chart review from July 2015 to November 2016 was performed. We included women who had sterilization during cesarean delivery. We excluded sterilization by occlusive methods. Our primary outcomes were total operative time and a composite score of transfusion rate, internal organ injury, hospital readmission, and endometritis. Secondary outcomes included menstrual abnormalities, pelvic pain, quality of life assessment, and regrets rate. We compared these outcomes between women in the salpingectomy and partial salpingectomy groups. Chi-squared, Fisher's exact, t-test, and Mann–Whitney U were utilized for statistical analysis where appropriate. A P<0.05 was considered significant. Results We included a total of 160 pregnancies. Of these, 41 were in the salpingectomy and 119 in the partial salpingectomy group. The median total operative time was longer for the salpingectomy group (62 [IQR 54, 71] vs 60 minutes [IQR 46, 72]; P=0.03). The composite of surgical complications (19.5% vs 12.6%; P=0.28) was not significantly different between our study groups. Menstrual irregularities (P≥0.99), quality of life (P≥0.99), dyspareunia (P≥0.99), dysmenorrhea (P=0.36), and regrets (P≥0.99) were not different between groups. Conclusion Salpingectomy during cesarean delivery increased the median operative time by 2 minutes and may not be associated with an increased risk of surgical complications. We acknowledge the need for larger multi-center trials to corroborate our outcomes.


Visual query of spatiotemporal data is becoming an increasingly important function in visual analytics applications. Various works have been presented for querying large spatiotemporal data in real time. However, the real-time query of spatiotemporal data distribution is still an open challenge. As spatiotemporal data become larger, methods of aggregation, storage and querying become critical. We propose a new visual query system that creates a low-memory storage component and provides real-time visual interactions of spatiotemporal data. We first present a peak-based kernel density estimation method to produce the data distribution for the spatiotemporal data. Then a novel density dictionary learning approach is proposed to compress temporal density maps and accelerate the query calculation. Moreover, various intuitive query interactions are presented to interactively gain patterns. The experimental results obtained on three datasets demonstrate that the presented system offers an effective query for visual analytics of spatiotemporal data.


Measuring the duration of a time interval is a discretization process in which an input signal is sampled at discrete time steps. Most digital systems generate these time steps by active components, such as a generator, flip-flops, dedicated delay elements, gates, inverters, and the like, whose signal propagation time determine the system's resolution. This paper presents a new time-interval measurement architecture, called BOUNCE, in which the delays are realized by the simplest elements possible: the (metal) wires between the logic elements within the chip. Standard RS latches serve as the sampling units. Even though the requirements with respect to setup and hold times of these latches are not met, the architecture operates quite reliably: on an Altera Stratix II field-programmable gate array, BOUNCE yields a time resolution better than 4 ps. Due to its architecture, BOUNCE is ideally suited to be implemented on field-programmable gate arrays and can thus be realized as an embedded system on its own or as part of an existing one.


This study was carried out to examine the influence of indigenous radio programmes on the cultural orientation of Igbos in three states in South-east Nigeria.  The survey research method was adopted for the study. The residents of nine select local government areas of Anambra, Enugu and Imo states constitute the population of the study. A sample size of 385 was drawn using the Australian calculator, while the Cultural Imperialism and Agenda Setting theories served as its theoretical framework. Findings revealed that improper scheduling affects listenership of indigenous programmes on radio and that the knowledge of Igbo culture has also been improved among the people of the region. It was concluded that indigenous radio programmes have helped in propagating the Igbo cultural values among the residents. To this end, the study recommends that more interesting indigenous programmes should be created in order to capture and attract more listeners to them even those who are not natives but reside in the South-east among others.


Here are the folk tales of the Cheyenne--stories of their heroes, their wars, their relationships with supernatural powers--as told to George Bird Grinnell during the winter months in Cheyenne tipis. "Of all the books written about Indians," say Margaret Mead and Ruth L. Benzel in The Golden Age of American Anthropology, "none comes closer to their everyday life than Grinnell's classic monograph on the Cheyenne. Reading it, one can smell the buffalo grass and the wood fires, feel the heavy morning dew on the prairie."


In the wake of the latest round of abortion dinic violence, health care providers, politicians, and activists are debating new measures to protect health workers from further attacks and to increase the number of physicians trained and willing to perform abortions. After the fatal shooting of two clinic workers in Brookline, Massachusetts, in December 1994, the Department of Justice @On pledged to step up its enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE), which is intended to stop "violent, threatening, obstructive and destructive conduct that is intended to injure, intimidate or interfere with persons seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health services."' The act prescribes civil and criminal penalties for nonviolent offenses regarding clinic access. Abortion opponents said they would continue their court battle, challenging the FACE provisions as unconstitutional restraints on their right to free speech? Meanwhile, the Accreditation Council for GraduateMedical Education (ACGME) voted to require hospitals that offer obstetrics andgynecology residency programs to include abortion training in their curriculum. Institutions with moral objections may arrange for their residents to receive training elsewhere, and individual residents who object do not have to participate in the training? Abortion opponents characterized the decision as a "moral outrage" and "coercive," and, with some hospitals refusing to comply, the issue is likely to end up in court4 In 1990, the ACGME won a lawsuit on a similar issue? Abortion rights supporters and major medical groups praised the ACGME's latest move, saying it would heip integrate abortion into mainstream women's health care and make physicians who provide abortions less vulnerable.6 This note examines developments in the wake of increased FACE enforcement and the ACGME's decision to require abortion training.


We report a case of acute pancreatitis caused by a metallic foreign body located in the pancreatic head in a 38-Year-old woman. Only 15 cases of acute pancreatitis due to foreign bodies, metallic in five cases, have been published to date. In our case, diagnosis was established by the computed tomography scan. The patient declined surgery.


OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a comprehensive school physical activity program (CSPAP) on physical activity enjoyment in children from low-income schools.

METHODS
Participants were 758 children recruited from the 3rd-6th grade (mean age = 10.1 ± 0.5 years; 376 girls and 382 boys) from 3 schools receiving governmental financial assistance in the US. CSPAP was implemented over one semester during the 2014-2015 school year. We assessed physical activity enjoyment at baseline and at a 12-week follow-up using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale. We used a mixed-design 4 × 2 × 2 analysis of covariance test with repeated measures to examine the effect of grade, sex, and time (baseline, follow-up) on enjoyment scores, adjusting for the clustering of students within classrooms and schools.

RESULTS
There were greater enjoyment scores at follow-up compared to baseline (Mean Difference = 7%, p < .001); however, the increase only represented a small sized effect (d = 0.26). Post hoc tests revealed that greater improvements in enjoyment were seen in older children compared to third graders (p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS
The CSPAP marginally improved enjoyment levels in children from low-income schools and we found greater improvements in older children.


In this paper, we show that a universe with a dynamical cosmological constant approaching pure de Sitter at timelike infinity, enjoys an infinite dimensional symmetry group at its horizon. This group is larger than the usual SO(4, 1) of pure de Sitter. The charges associated with the asymptotic symmetry generators are non-integrable, and we demonstrate that they promote an extended version of the first law of thermodynamics. This contains four pairs of conjugate variables. The pair (Θ,Λ) corresponds to the change in the cosmological constant and its conjugate volume Θ. The contribution of the surface tension of the horizon and its conjugate parameter surface area make a pair (σ, A). The usual conjugate variables (T, S), (Ω, J) and a term ∂vδS corresponding to entropy production, are included. In addition, this extended first law describes the non-conservative behaviour of the asymptotic charges in non-equilibrium.


Background: Glyphaea brevis (Spreng) Monachino (Tiliaceae) have traditional uses in the management of conditions characterized by infections, inflammatory disorders and oxidative stress. The paper aims to report the comparative data on the leaves and stem bark of Glyphaea brevis with respect to their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Materials and Methods: The antibacterial effects of the 70% ethanol extracts of the leaves and stem bark were determined using the agar well diffusion and micro dilution assays. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using the carrageenan-induced oedema model in 7-day old cockerels. Using the DPPH free radical scavenging, total antioxidant and total phenol content assays, the antioxidant potential of the extract was assessed. Results: The bark extract had the higher antibacterial effect against 6 of the 8 microorganisms used. Noteworthy are its activity against Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecalis with lowest MIC value of 500 μg/mL respectively. In doses of 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg, both extracts reduced the carrageenan-induced oedema in 7-day old cockerels. Based on the ED50 values, both extracts demonstrated similar potencies (ED50 =21.00 mg/kg). The stem bark extract exhibited higher free radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 1.392 mg/mL) compared to the leaf extract (IC50 = 9.509 mg/mL). In the total phenol content, the bark extract showed higher content (15.91 mg/g of dry mass) compared to the leaf extract (2.68 mg/g dry mass). Both extracts demonstrated equal potencies in the total antioxidant capacity determinations (0.60 mg/g dry weight of extract). Conclusions: The results of this work provide scientific evidence for the traditional uses of Glyphaea brevis.


The Service-Learning Student Facilitator Program originated from the first author who was engaged in service learning and sought to transform her ideas into a sustainable project that could be reproduced annually. The purpose of this program was to train and certify students as facilitators so that they could assist faculty members in implementing service-learning experiences in their courses in various disciplines across the campus. Student participants became effective leaders of service-learning projects, developed great respect for the methods of service-learning, and expressed a desire for a deeper understanding of its theoretical basis. Their feedback, along with lessons learned, helped shape training in subsequent semesters. These lessons, which are shared, are valuable to those planning to develop similar programs in their universities.


The system of Estonian newspapers and newspaper-like publications in 2004-2008
The compilation of the list of newspapers is based on the list of publications submitted by the National Library of Estonia (NLE). To distinguish periodical publications, the characteristics to define newspapers from newspaper-like publications have not been taken into account. Hence, it was needed to select newspapers which would correspond to the characteristics of a newspaper.
In current thesis, the basis of classifying newspapers is the criteria given in the book "Media Systems and Media Use" (Vihalemm 2004).
The most important criterion to define newspapers from newspaper-like publications was that the publication must be issued at least once a week. Although, considering some other criterion a publication may be considered as a newspaper, the frequency of publication was determining.
Similarly to the list of newspapers, the given thesis has brought out as annexes the rural municipality and town newspapers, party publications, school newspapers, agency and organisation publications, also, the newsletters and advertisement newspapers and television guides.
The most thorough overview is made about rural municipality and town newspapers.
While compiling the referenced lists, in addition to NLE lists, their electronic database, county websites, phone calls to rural municipality governments, schools, editorial offices, etc, were used.
While defining local newspapers from national publications, a question was raised if it would be more correct to name the local newspapers as community newspapers. Naming a newspaper communal gives a broader meaning, while the definition as a local newspaper may be too narrow.
The study showed that some publications have disappeared and that on the following reasons: changing the names of publications; due to the merger of local governments
the publications have concentrated; smaller newspapers join the bigger; moving to the web.
Comparing the state of newspapers with data of five years ago, 8 new publications have emerged. In the given thesis, comparing newspaper-like publications with the previous
period was not possible due to the lack of adequate list. Therefore, only the period of 2004-2008 has been dealt.
The biggest downfall of the circulation of newspapers may be seen since 2009. To January in 2010, even the circulation of relatively stable newspapers had dropped.
The readership study results were relatively expected.
It is logical that the older generation reads more newspapers and the young; nevertheless, tend to concentrate on the information from the internet. Comparing reading to the situation in 2004, the biggest increase was in the age group of 60-74. Yet, there is a tendency to the increase of the web usage amongst the middle-aged and older people, too.
The good state of Estonian newspapers is also shown in the comparisons with other countries. The landscape of newspapers in Estonia is various even comparing to other rich European powers.
The conclusion based on the results of given study is that there are no cardinal changes in Estonian media landscape during the last 5 years.
Studying different systems of newspapers is impaired by the circumstance that the classifications differ internationally and internally. While National Library of Estonia considers all publications, including newspaper-like publications, as newspapers (Vihalemm 2004), the Estonian Newspaper Association only gives an overview about the members of its union.
Therefore, the data collected in different international studies is often imprecise.


The growth of function in vehicle needs complex display and control system, the In-Vehicle Information System(IVIS). Although current IVISs are widely implemented in commercial vehicles, a new form of IVIS has been recently studied in order to reduce drivers` workloads. The purpose of this study is to suggest an appropriate menu structure of a new type IVIS, to be implemented on the instrument cluster panel, using Taguchi`s parameter design. In the research, firstly, functions were selected that are appropriate to control through the instrument cluster among existing functions of current IVISs by quantitative evaluation of ergonomic principles. Then, menu structure alternatives were extracted by investigating priorities to those functions selected. Finally, menu structure alternatives were evaluated through an experiment and suggest the most appropriate one by applying Taguchi`s parameter design. Taguchi method was used not only for planning an experiment but also evaluating alternatives. SN ratios were a key value to evaluate the alternatives and to find the most proper one. Through the research, the most appropriate menu structure for the instrument cluster IVIS was finally suggested among the alternatives and it is expected that the results of this research could provide a guideline to the instrument cluster IVIS.


We suggest an approach to probing intermittency corrections to the Kolmogorov law in turbulent flows based on the autoregressive moving-average modeling of turbulent time series. We introduce an index Υ that measures the distance from a Kolmogorov-Obukhov model in the autoregressive moving-average model space. Applying our analysis to particle image velocimetry and laser Doppler velocimetry measurements in a von Kármán swirling flow, we show that Υ is proportional to traditional intermittency corrections computed from structure functions. Therefore, it provides the same information, using much shorter time series. We conclude that Υ is a suitable index to reconstruct intermittency in experimental turbulent fields.


A solvable Anderson lattice model is formulated. The exact eigenstates of model Hamiltonian are constructed by using the Bethe ansatz. The Bethe ansatz equations are obtained from the periodic boundary conditions.


We study expressivity of Markov logic networks (MLNs). We introduce complex MLNs, which use complex-valued weights, and we show that, unlike standard MLNs with real-valued weights, complex MLNs are fully expressive. We then observe that discrete Fourier transform can be computed using weighted first order model counting (WFOMC) with complex weights and use this observation to design an algorithm for computing relational marginal polytopes which needs substantially less calls to a WFOMC oracle than a recent algorithm.


34 Abstract: The present study investigated how polyols (sugar alcohols) affect the formation of calcium fluoride (CaF2) in the presence of fl uoride on synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) as a model of tooth enamel. HA plates were immersed in sugar alcohol solutions containing 10-60 (w/w)% xylitol, D-sorbitol, or glycerol and 1000 ppm fl uoride at room temperature to analyze CaF2 formation on the surfaces. Only glycerol enhanced fl uoride incorporation signifi cantly and induced a nanoscale spherical deposition on the HA surface composed of calcium, fluoride, and a small amount of phosphorous according to energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analysis. Overall results suggest that glycerol is capable of dissolving HA surfaces and enhancing phosphorous-containing CaF2 deposition, which can potentially prevent dental caries through the enhanced remineralization of enamel surfaces. Thus, fl uoride may be involved in controlling the entire process of CaF2 deposition, dissolution, and remineralization of enamel.


Many courses are transitioning from offline to online instruction in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Landscape architecture conservation courses face problems such as reduced interest in learning, poor learning attitudes and low learning efficiency among students. At the same time, due to the nature of landscape architecture conservation courses, students need more experience to learn well, and many landscape architecture courses do not meet this requirement. Online education also lacks the necessary education scenarios and is not very immersive, making it difficult to meet students' learning needs. Continued advances in technology have provided new ways for people to connect with nature, increasing awareness and adoption of sustainable landscape architecture practices. To solve the above problems, this study uses multisensory spherical video-based immersive virtual reality technology to develop a VR learning system for landscape architecture conservation courses based on the senses of sight, sound and smell. This system is simple to operate, but interactive and immersive. A quasi-experimental study was also conducted to test the effectiveness of the system. Analyzing the results of the study, students in the experimental group outperformed students in the control group in terms of learning achievements, learning model satisfaction, technology acceptance, flow experience and learning attitudes, which suggests that the use of multisensory spherical video-based immersive virtual reality technology in a landscape architecture conservation course is effective in improving students' learning performances, and that the study can provide input for the development of other courses.


Executive Overview Although few in number, rapidly growing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make a disproportionate contribution to employment and wealth creation in the North American economy. Unfortunately, periods of rapid growth are usually short-lived. The strains associated with managing a fast growing venture often produce performance problems. This article explains how these management challenges can be addressed by coupling complex systems thinking with illustrative examples from a series of interviews with CEOs of high growth companies. I identify five management practices that are built on the concept of self-organizing that can help firms cope with the continuous and unpredictable change that characterizes daily life in a fast-growing enterprise.


The harvesting of data about people, organizations, and things and their transformation into a form of capital is often described as a process of "accumulation by dispossession," a pervasive loss of rights buttressed by predatory practices and legal violence. Yet this argument does not square well with the fact that enrollment into digital systems is often experienced (and presented by companies) as a much more benign process: signing up for a "free" service, responding to a "friend's" invitation, or being encouraged to "share" content. In this paper, we focus on the centrality of gifting and reciprocity to the business model and cultural imagination of digital capitalism. Relying on historical narratives and in-depth interviews with the designers and critics of digital systems, we explain the cultural genesis of these "give-to-get" relationships and analyze the socio-technical channels that structure them in practice. We suggest that the economic relation that develops as a result of a digital gift offering not only masks the structural asymmetry between giver and gifted but also permits the creation of the new commodity of personal data, obfuscates its true value, and naturalizes its private appropriation. We call this unique regime "accumulation by gift."


Electrospun nanofibrous meshes were surface-modified for selective capturing of specific cells from a continuous flow in PDMS microchannels. We electrospun nanofibrous mats composed of poly(ε-carprolactone) (PCL) and amine-functionalized block copolymers composed of PCL and poly(ethylenimine) (PEI). A mixture of biotinylated PEG and blunt PEG was chemically tethered to the nanofibrous mats via the surface-exposed amines on the mat. The degree of biotinylation was fluorescently and quantitatively assayed for confirming the surface-biotinylation levels for avidin-specific binding. The incorporation level of avidin gradually increased when the blend ratio of biotinylated PEG on the mat increased, confirming the manipulated surfaces with various degree of biotinylation. Biotinylated cells were incubated with avidin-coated biotinylated mats and the specific binding of biotinylated cells was monitored in a microfluidic channel with a continuous flow of culture medium, which suggests efficient and selective capturing of the biotinylated cells on the nanofibrous mat.


Consumer culture has been inextricably bound up with two parallel transformations: the growing emphasis on self-actualization or individualization in late modernity and the rise of a particularly disengaged and predatory capitalism during the last 40 years. Wide academic and public understanding exists concerning the separate ways in which each of these forces have played out in societies, cultures and politics especially since the late 1970s. Arguably, though, there has been less attempt to plot the interconnections between them or to grasp the implications of these for a potentially radical critique of consumerism. This neglect is unsatisfactory and ignores the grounding of both consumer culture and the pursuit of self-actualization in the underlying and changing structures of the capitalist economy such that the seductiveness of both serves to either conceal, beautify or seemingly de-fang the wolf underneath. At the same time, the article explores some of the main ways in which these overwhelmingly prevalent preoccupations isolate and disempower consumers by, for example, encouraging personal debt and competitive consumption, fostering the belief that self-branding processes will liberate individuals from unsatisfactory lives or because of the social fragmentation and humiliation that result when citizens' poverty excludes them from joining the dominant game. All this, in turn, leaves consumer-citizens socially and culturally ill-equipped to challenge the new capitalism through collective rather than purely individual action.


Rising titers of IgM antibodies to red blood cells were found in 56 patients following infection with Plasmodium falciparum parasites. These antibodies, detected by indirect immunofluorescence using fluorescein-conjugated monospecific antisera, were not present in the sera of 23 non-malaria patients with high IgM concentration, 9 patients with infectious, malignant, and autoimmune diseases, and 16 normal subjects. Rising titers of IgM erythrocyte antibodies were associated with an increase of mean IgM from 100 to 500 mg/100 ml and a decrease of mean C3 from 150 to 75 mg/lOO ml over 24 days. Mean concentrations of serum IgA, IgG, IgD, IgE, albumin, globulin, and total protein were not significantly different in patients and controls throughout the study. IgM erythrocyte antibody titers and serum IgM levels were highest, and serum C3 were lowest in the most anemic patients. Survival time of 51Cr-tagged normal red cells was reduced in 10 of 11 patients studied following the clearance of malarial parasitemia and was the shortest in the most anemic patients.


A study of 510 patients in Scotland and northeastern England with histological evidence of alcohol-induced liver disease showed no difference in the age of presentation between males and females. Single men and widowed females were particularly susceptible to alcoholic liver disease. The social class distribution was similar to the population in general. Women were more reluctant to volunteer a history of alcoholism than men, they had a higher incidence of previous psychiatric illness (usually due to alcohol abuse) and they developed liver disease at lower consumption thresholds of alcohol than men. Patients under 40 years of age were more likely to have alcoholic fatty liver and less likely to have active cirrhosis than those over 40. Most often, the presenting symptoms were non-specific and tended to be related to the gastrointestinal system, particularly in women. Five per cent of patients were asymptomatic and 14% came to hospital for conditions other than alcoholic liver disease. Important clues to asymptomatic alcoholic liver disease included hepatomegaly, clubbing of the fingers and abnormal liver function tests. Gastro-oesophageal varices accounted for 40% of instances of haemorrhage and the mortality from upper gastrointestinal bleeding was 17%. Anaemia was the most common haematological abnormality. Alcoholic hepatitis was observed more frequently in the Glasgow area then elsewhere.


Details recent research carried out into the needs of new parents. Details the findings, and discusses the broad recommendations, which are that there is a need to review parent education and develop a strategy for change so that the benefits from contact with, and expenditure on these clients can be maximized.


Primary colic linitis is a rare tumor .colonic biopsies are frequently negative. The search for a primitive is imperative, because only its negativity affirms the primary character of the tumor. The endoscopic exploration shows the integrity of the mucosa, with a narrowing lumen or impassable stenosis. The diagnosis is based on particular pathological criteria: submucosal spread and a scirrhous carcinoma with diffuse thickening and hardening of the bowel wall consisted of independent signet ring cells. Immunohistochemistry could help in the differential diagnosis between primary colonic ADK (CK7-; CK20+) and colonic metastasis from gastric linitis (CK 7+, CK 20). In our case, tumor cells were positive for CDX2 (intensive and diffuse marking). Primary colic linitis is a rare but extremely aggressive, diagnosed at a late stage. Lymphatic metastases often found at the time of the diagnosis makes the prognosis very pejorative.


The paper gives a comparative analysis of Philip K. Dick's novel The Man in the High Castle (1962) and Philip Roth's novel The Plot Against America (2004) focusing on the role of the US national cultural mythology, primarily the American Dream, in the time of trials. Both works belong to the genre of alternative history with elements of dystopia and autobiography. The genre, plot and narrative peculiarities of these novels and the TV series The Man in the High Castle (2015–2019) are compared, namely: the alternative historical background of events, the subjective and objective factors of possibility of the World War II alternative retrospective suggested by the authors, the plot and narration in the novels. The alternative background (the success of a totalitarian Nazi project in the USA) is detailed in both novels, but Dick's reality (the US occupation by the Axis countries and loss of national dignity) is more tragic than Roth's reality, which shows a temporary deviation from the right course of his country that does not lead to the loss of independence. The structure of these works differs: multicultural polyphony with three worlds, six storylines and seven focalizers in Dick's novel and linearity with a single focalizer and a focus on "The Jewish question" in Roth's book, but both authors succeed in showing a convincing picture of a possible decline of humanistic and democratic projects. On the basis of such analysis, the problems of novels, in particular, the pitfalls of the American Dream are considered: mass consciousness, lack of critical thinking, consumerism, populism, pursuit of success, anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, over-enthusiasm for the "melting pot" concept, etc. The main method of restoring the American Dream for both authors is the proof by contradiction: by displaying global history through the local, they are gradually debunking totalitarian projects, which at first may seem very attractive, because they are based on the best myths and expectations of the mass society.


In this paper we characterize the sensitivity of two speaker-dependent isolated word recognizers toward several kinds of variability and distortions; namely noise, channels, distance to microphone and target language. Both recognizers use a phoneme similarity acoustic front-end as a rich representation for speech from which reliable features are extracted. A cross-correlation test showed that a phoneme similarity front-end is more robust to variability and distortions (especially intra-speaker variability) than a LPC cepstral front-end. The first recognizer ( Condor ) uses a frame-based approach while the second ( Pasha ) uses the phoneme similarity information contained in a small number of speech segments. The two recognition methods are presented with a special emphasis on the robustness improvements and computational trade-offs that have been made. Experimental results are reported for car noise at different speeds, speakerphone versus handset input in an office environment and several target languages. Recognition accuracy greater than 94% was achieved in a car environment at 60 mph ( Condor ) and recognition accuracy greater than 95% was achieved for speakerphone input at a distance of 50 cm. in an office environment.


Dynamics of dorsal hippocampal EEG changes were traced in cats during the short-term memory loads under conditions of the time deficit between the separate delayed reactions. Shortening the intervals between the tests from 3-5 min to 15-20 s led to an expressed ECoG desynchronization accompanied by an initial increase and later blockade of the hippocampal theta-rhythm. Hippocampal theta-activity changes under conditions of the time deficit was a result of emotional stress. The long emotional stress impaired the short-term image memory, and this was manifested in hippocampal theta-rhythm disappearance.


One key aspect to the responsibilities of a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) is to make decisions in ethical dilemmas. RCPs are often placed in situations where ethical dilemmas will arise and morals will be challenged. The purpose of this study is to understand how Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCPs) learn to make decisions when presented with ethical dilemmas in their practice. The study was guided by the following research questions: (1) under what circumstances do RCPs engage in decisions involving ethical dilemmas, (2) what is the learning process for RCPs who engage in ethical decision making, and (3) how do contextual factors influence decision making in ethical dilemmas for RCPs? This qualitative study used interviews to explore ways RCPs learned to make decisions in ethical dilemmas. A purposeful sample was used to determine the fifteen RCPs with at least three years of experience. Criteria were used to reflect the diversity of in the field of Respiratory Care. The categories that emerged from the data included (1) the ethical dilemmas faced by RCPs and where they occurred, (2) the steps and influences in ethical decision making, and (3) the learning processes of the RCP in making decisions in ethical dilemmas. Three conclusions were made from data. The first conclusion suggests that RCPs view life and death situations as a prominent ethical dilemma in their practice. The second conclusion found that RCPs did identify a process for making decisions in ethical dilemmas that had commonalities with the literature. The last conclusion suggested that RCPs learn to make decisions in ethical dilemmas from aspects of informal learning such as colleagues and the RCPs' experiences in the clinical environment. Implications for practice included structured educational endeavors to strengthen the RCPs ethical decision making process. Recommendations for future research included the extent formal learning played a part in the RCPs decision making process, the extent hospital administrators view the importance of ethics in the healthcare environment, ethical decisions made in places with excellent reputations, the other ethical dilemmas RCPs face in their practice, and the decision making process in ethical dilemmas of RCPs with less than three years' experience. INDEX WORDS: Respiratory Care Practitioner, Informal Learning, Ethical Dilemma, Continuing Professional Education, Adult Education HOW DO RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS LEARN TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT ETHICAL DILEMMAS


In the article are described the procedures and materials used at a medium-sized Danish central laboratory, vis-à-vis current trends in quality assurance. There is a tendency toward stricter control procedures. The development of bedside and office tests will entail a shift in the onus of quality assurance to individual physicians in the future.


The mechanisms of phase destabilization upon aging of the metastable t′ phase of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) are poorly understood, despite its broad application in thermal barrier coatings. To provide insight, synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) with a quadrupole lamp furnace is used to examine the temperature response, including thermal expansion and phase evolution, of a 9 mol% (8 wt%) YO1.5 t′-8YSZ. The thermal expansion of equilibrated YSZ powders ranging from 0 to 18.4 mol% YO1.5 is also investigated to better understand the effect of composition on the thermal expansion anisotropy. The T0(c/t) temperature for t′-8YSZ is estimated to be 1640°C. Full decomposition of the t′ phase into a coherent mixture of a Y-lean tetragonal phase (t) and a Y-rich cubic phase (c) that coarsen over time is observed at elevated temperatures; however, upon quenching, the t′ phase reappears in the diffraction profile. This supports our evolving understanding that the t′ phase observed by XRD in aged samples is a microstructural artifact due to the coherency strain between the t and c phases.


Modern diesel engines for vehicular applications such as buses and other commercial vehicles are increasingly using technological resources in order to meet the pollutant emissions regulations. Among these features, the turbocharger fulfills an essential function of providing a higher air flow to the engine intake, providing a cleaner and more efficient combustion. During the application process of a turbocharger, calculations are performed to estimate the life of the compressor impeller, which takes into account the maximum shaft speed and the number of cycles that cause fatigue damage. Among these parameters, the maximum speed affects directly in the fatigue life of the impeller. Due to the different material options for the compressor impeller, the mass properties of each type of rotor may result in differences in their inertias thus impacting the maximum speed and the fatigue life calculation. The objective of this study is to provide a comparison of inertias influence for two choices of materials and check the maximum speed behavior with the variation of altitude during experimental tests. The experimental data were gathered in a delivery truck with a GVW of 8 tons, equipped with 4-cylinder engine, while traveling on a route from Guarulhos (ca. 650m alt.) up to Campos de Jordao (ca. 1700m alt.) in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.


BACKGROUND
State regulations have decreased prescribed opioids with more than 25% of patients abstaining from opioids. Despite this, 2 distinct populations of patients exist who consume "high" or "low" amounts of opioids. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with postoperative opioid use after common surgical procedures and develop an opioid risk score.

STUDY DESIGN
Patients undergoing 35 surgical procedures from 7 surgical specialties were identified at a 620-bed tertiary care academic center and surveyed 1 week after discharge regarding opioid use and adequacy of analgesia. Electronic medical record data were used to characterize postdischarge opioids, complications, demographics, medical history, and social factors. High opioid use was defined as >75th percentile morphine milligram equivalents for each procedure. An opioid risk score was calculated from factors associated with opioid use identified by backward multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS
A total of 1,185 patients were enrolled between September 2017 and February 2019. Bivariate analyses revealed patient factors associated with opioid use including earlier substance use (p < 0.001), depression (p = 0.003), anxiety (p < 0.001), asthma (p = 0.006), obesity (p = 0.03), migraine (p = 0.004), opioid use in the 7 days before surgery (p < 0.001), and 31 Clinical Classifications Software Refined classifications (p < 0.05). Significant multivariates included: insurance (p = 0.005), employment status (p = 0.005), earlier opioid use (odds ratio [OR] 2.38 [95% CI 1.21 to 4.68], p = 0.01), coronary artery disease (OR 0.38 [95% CI 0.16 to 0.86], p = 0.02), acute pulmonary embolism (OR 9.81 [95% CI 3.01 to 32.04], p < 0.001), benign breast conditions (OR 3.42 [95% CI 1.76 to 6.64], p < 0.001), opioid-related disorders (OR 6.67 [95% CI 1.87 to 23.75], p = 0.003), mental and substance use disorders (OR 3.80 [95% CI 1.47 to 9.83], p = 0.006), headache (OR 1.82 [95% CI 1.24 to 2.67], p = 0.002), and previous cesarean section (OR 5.10 [95% CI 1.33 to 19.56], p = 0.02). An opioid risk score base was developed with an area under the curve of 0.696 for the prediction of high opioid use.

CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative patient characteristics associated with high opioid use postoperatively were identified and an opioid risk score was derived. Identification of patients with a higher need for opioids presents an opportunity for improved preoperative interventions, the use of nonopioid analgesic therapies, and alternative therapies.


The aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been found in various types of cancer and is associated with tumorigenesis and metastasis. However, the expression and function of miR-223 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remain unclear. The present study demonstrated that miR-223 was downregulated in NPC cell lines. The ectopic expression of miR-223 dramatically suppressed cell proliferation, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, a luciferase reporter assay identified the structure-specific recognition protein (SSRP1) as a novel direct target of miR-223. SSRP1 expression was upregulated in NPC cell lines and the overexpression of miR-233 markedly reduced the expression of SSRP1. Furthermore, SSRP1 was involved in miR-223-regulated NPC cell proliferation, invasion, and EMT. Taken together, these results indicate that miR-223 functions as a tumor suppressor miRNA in NPC and that its suppressive effects are primarily mediated by repressing SSRP1 expression and inhibiting EMT.


With the rapid development and wide application of nuclear technology, radiation hazards present an enormous challenge for biological and medical safety. Currently, one of the major challenges in radiation protection is the discovery of more effective and less toxic radioprotectant agents. Herein, we present a strategy for high radioprotective activity via the assembly of the PprI protein with a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive polymeric carrier. The graft copolymer CS-CP5K-PEG is synthesized via the reaction of PEG-CP5K-NHS and CS, which is used for the assembly of the PprI protein. The assembly complex is less toxic to human cells and more stable to enzymatic cleavage than the PprI protein. The ROS degradability of the CS-CP5K-PEG polymer is confirmed via the SIN-1 mediated cleavage of CP5K peptide linkers through the shift in their GPC chromatogram. The radioprotection activity of the assembly complex is remarkably improved both in HUVECs and C57BL/6 mice compared to that of the PprI protein, showing more beneficial effects than the PprI protein. Thus, this work may provide a new approach for highly effective radioprotection.


In this study, ready-to-cook (RTC) pork bulgogi was investigated microbiologically to determine contamination levels. The investigation was conducted because of an increasing trend in the consumption of RTC meat products in Korea. Ninety marinated RTC pork bulgogi samples were collected from major retail outlets (M), department stores (D), and local markets (L) in Seoul, Korea from March to June 2011. This study examined total plate counts (TPC), Escherichia coli, and coliform bacterial counts, and the presence of Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and E. coli O157:H7. The mean TPC values were 5.89, 6.08, and 5.89 Log CFU/g for M, D, and L, respectively. E. coli was not detected in any sample, but coliforms were present in 72 (80%) of the 90 samples collected. B. cereus, E. coli O157:H7, and Salmonella spp. were not detected; however, S. aureus and L. monocytogenes were detected in five (5.5%) and one (1.1%) of the 90 samples. Samples collected from M and D were contaminated with S. aureus and those from L with L. monocytogenes. These results demonstrate that the conditions under which RTC pork bulgogis are handled and processed are unsanitary.


AIM
The aim of the study was to explore how families' perceptions of dying patients' prognosis awareness influence families' grief.

DESIGN
A cross-sectional design was adopted.

METHOD
Data were collected from a survey of family caregivers of deceased patients through a tertiary hospital in Mainland China between October 2018 and April 2021. One question asked about families' perceptions of patients' awareness of their prognosis, and the Chinese Grief Reaction Assessment Form was used to measure grief. A multiple linear regression with control variables was run to test the link. Missing data were handled with multiple imputation.

RESULTS
A total of 181 participants were involved in the analyses. After whether the patient received professional end-of-life care in the last days, the place of death and several basic information variables were controlled, families' grief was more intense when they were sure that patients were unaware of the terminal prognosis compared to when they believed that patients were aware or not sure about the patient's awareness. The latter two groups did not differ significantly in grief intensity.

CONCLUSION
For Chinese family caregivers in the present study, terminal patients' awareness of their prognosis is more beneficial than harmful to their bereavement adaptation. This raises empirical concerns over the assumption that truth is harmful and the nondisclosure pattern on such a basis.

IMPACT
The findings extend knowledge on the outcomes of information disclosure from the perspective of bereaved family caregivers. Meanwhile, it informs services for the dying and the bereaved: When making decisions about prognosis disclosure to terminally ill patients, potential impacts on not only patients but also families need to be fully considered. For families who are sure that the patient was never aware of the prognosis, additional support ought to be provided to address their intense grief reactions.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION
Several professional caregivers helped revise the questionnaire.


The Simplified Access Metric (SAM) is a new approach for characterizing emergency shelter access patterns as a measure of shelter client vulnerability. The goal of SAM is to provide shelter operators with an intuitive way to understand access patterns that can be implemented by non-technical staff using spreadsheet operations. Client data from a large North American shelter will be used to demonstrate that SAM produces similar results to traditional transitional, episodic and chronic client cluster analysis. Since SAM requires less data than cluster analysis, it is also able to generate a real time picture of how shelter access patterns are affected by external factors. Timelines generated from nine years of shelter client data using SAM demonstrate the impact of Housing First programming and the COVID-19 lockdown on how people access shelter. Finally, SAM allows shelter staff to move beyond assigning transitional, episodic and chronic labels and instead use the "soft" output of SAM directly as a measure of vulnerability.


Objectives: This paper models costs and benefits of a population screening programme for pregnant women to detect fragile X syndrome. Given the high lifetime costs of fragile X and the high sensitivity and specificity of testing, such a programme may seem attractive. Methods: Economic evaluation. Results: Our base case results indicate that such a programme seems close to cost neutral, so may indeed seem attractive for this reason. However, sensitivity analysis shows that assumptions regarding lifetime costs are crucial to results; our results suggest if lifetime costs are under AUD 2.5 million, costs of screening will exceed future costs avoided. Conclusions: Economic modelling of screening programmes reveals valuable information which might have an influence on the debate on the social value of a population screening programme for fragile X in pregnant women.


If one patient is diagnosed with epilepsy, the first treatment line is represented by medications, which allow a seizure control in at least 2/3 of patients. Following the steady development of new compounds, there are currently more than 20 antiepileptic agents on the market, and several more will appear in the near future. This review, focusing on the indications and pitfalls of the most used drugs, with a particular attention to the new ones, aims at improving the orientation among this multitude of options. Since there is almost no difference regarding the efficacy on seizures, it is rather the profile of comorbidities and possible (positive and negative) side effects that will allow to select the best antiepileptic drug for each specific clinical situation, permitting a patient-tailored approach.


Small noncoding RNAs are regulatory molecules that play important roles in several aspects of cellular biology. They vary from 18 to 30 nucleotides in length and often act through the inactivation of complementary sequences. A variety of small RNA classes have been identified to date and the list is constantly growing, owing to the advent of new sequencing technologies. Among these molecules, microRNAs are the most extensively studied. They are known to play important roles in human diseases, including cancer. More recently, genome-wide analyses have showed that changes in the expression levels of other small noncoding RNAs are also associated with cancer, with correlations between RNA abundance and disease status. Oral squamous cell carcinoma, associated with chronic tobacco and alcohol consumption, is among the leading cancers in the world. The presence of cervical lymph node metastases is currently its strongest prognostic factor. The possibility to evaluate its metastatic potential is relevant to the clinical and molecular oncologist due to frequent asymptomatic development of such cancer in its early stages. In this study small RNA libraries from 30 oral squamous cell carcinoma samples were sequenced for the identification and quantification of known small RNAs. Samples were divided in two groups: those presenting lymph node metastasis at the time of diagnosis and those that did not present this characteristic. Additionally, plasma of 30 patients was accessed for the presence of microRNAs identified as differentially expressed between metastatic and non-metastatic tumor samples as a means to identify circulating molecules that could be considered potential biomarkers for lymph node metastasis. Global expression patterns of small RNA molecules were not associated with cervical metastases. MiR-21, miR-203 and miR-205 were highly expressed throughout samples, in agreement with their role in epithelial cell biology, but disagreeing with studies correlating these molecules with cancer invasion. Nineteen microRNAs, but no other small RNA class, varied consistently between metastatic and non-metastatic cancer samples, some of which were also detected at corresponding levels in plasma. MiR-31 and miR-130b, known to inhibit several steps in the metastatic process, were over-expressed in non-metastatic samples and the expression of miR-130b was confirmed in plasma of patients presenting non-metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma. MiR-181 and miR-296 were associated with metastasis but were not detected in plasma. In conclusion, we identified microRNAs linked to the metastatic status in a group of patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma, both in tissue and plasma samples. We also demonstrate that other small RNA classes are expressed and should, therefore, be involved and contribute to the metastatic phenotype of this disease. Citation Format: Patricia Severino, Liliane Santana Oliveira, Flavia Maziero Andreghetto, Natalia Torres, Otavio Curioni, Patricia Maluf Cury, Tatiana Natasha Toporcov, Alexandre Rossi Paschoal, Alan Mitchell Durham. MicroRNAs and other small RNA molecules expressed in metastatic and non-metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3983. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3983


A brief summary is given of the initial performance of an automated computerized plate-measuring machine, and it is seen that the machine is working entirely satisfactorily.


We present observations of the emission of XUV continua in the 20-37-eV region by high-harmonic generation with 4-7-fs pulses focused onto a Kr gas jet. The underlying mechanism relies on coherent control of the relative delays and phases between individually generated attosecond pulses, achievable by adjusting the chirp of the driving pulses and the interaction geometry. Under adequate negative chirp and phase-matching conditions, the resulting interpulse interference yields a continuum XUV spectrum, which is due to both microscopic and macroscopic (propagation) contributions. This technique opens the route for modifying the phase of individual attosecond pulses and for the coherent synthesis of XUV continua from multicycle driving laser pulses without the need of an isolated attosecond burst. (Less)


Formation of hydrogen ion beams with high intensity and low transverse emittance is one of the key challenges in accelerator technology. Present work is devoted to experimental investigation of proton beam production from dense plasma (Ne > 1013 cm−3) of an ECR discharge sustained by 37.5 GHz, 100 kW gyrotron radiation at SMIS 37 facility at IAP RAS. The anticipated advantages of the SMIS 37 gasdynamic ion source over the current state-of-the-art proton source technology based on 2.45 GHz hydrogen discharges are described. Experimental result obtained with different extraction configurations i.e. single- and multi-aperture systems are presented. It was demonstrated that ultra bright proton beam with approximately 4.5 mA current and 0.03 π·mm·mrad normalized emittance can be produced with the single-aperture (1 mm in diameter) extraction, the corresponding brightness being 5 A/(π·mm·mrad)2. For production of high current beams a multi-aperture extractor was used resulting to a record of 200 mA / 1.1 π·mm·mrad normalized emittance proton beam. The species fraction i.e. the ratio of H+ to H2+ current was recorded to be > 90 % for all extraction systems. A possibility of further enhancement of the beam parameters by improvements of the extraction system and its power supply is discussed.


Andries van Wesele, Andreas Vesalius's father and a court pharmacist of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles the fifth, was an illegitimate son of Everard van Wesele, a court physician of the Hapsburgs. In the year of 1531, Andries was legitimated by the Emperor. The legitimation letter was written in French. The author tried to translate and analyze the letter. By this legitimation, not only Andries himself was legitimated but also his successors were approved to succeed Andries. By this letter, Andreas Vesalius obtained his position as a hereditary member of a family serving the court of the Hapsburgs, and as a result, he started his career as a physician of the court.


Rock varnish is a coating composed of clay minerals cemented to rock surfaces by oxides of manganese and iron. Although this dark brown-to-black accretion is most noticeable in arid regions, it occurs in all terrestrial weathering environments. Scholarly varnish research started with Alexander von Humboldt, when he asked how this external accretion forms and why manganese concentrations in varnish are 10 1 ‐10 2 greater than in potential source materials. In the ensuing two centuries, investigations into rock varnish have been characterized by researchers studying only a handful of samples who have often used limited data to draw general conclusions. In contrast, nearly two decades of work by Tanzhuo Liu of Columbia University has yielded more than 10,000 varnish microstratigraphies obtained from rock depressions, analyses of which have provided new insights into the origin of rock varnish and the nature of climatic change in deserts, in addition to opening new research avenues in geomorphology and geoarchaeology.


Background: The use of clinical signs may not be reliable to measure the hypnotic component of anaesthesia. Bispectral Index monitoring provides a direct measurement of the hypnotic effect of the anaesthetic agent used and it may have certain clinical advantages over clinical signs. Objective: This study consists of dose requirement of propofol with bispectral Index monitoring and without bispectral Index monitoring. Material and Methods: In the present study, 100 patients were randomly divided into two groups (50 in each group), one group received Standard dose of propofol while the other received propofol infusion with BIS monitoring. Results: Mean amount of propofol for induction used was 1.6 vs 2.24 mg/kg in bispectral index group and standard group respectively. The inference was that the induction dose of propofol by Bispectral index and by standard practice was statistically highly significant with P


The adsorption of NO molecules on Pd(n) clusters of varying size (n=1-6) located in the main channel of mordenite and the interaction of the metallic clusters with the zeolitic framework were investigated using ab initio density-functional calculations under periodic boundary conditions. The supported clusters are created by binding Pd(n) (2+) cations to the inner cavity of a deprotonated Al-exchanged zeolite with an Al/Si ratio of 1/11, such that a charge-neutral system is created. Compared to the highly symmetric structures of the gas-phase clusters, the clusters bound to the zeolitic framework undergo appreciable geometric distortions lowering their symmetry. The distortions are induced by strong interactions with "activated" framework oxygens located close to the charge-compensating Al/Si substitution sites, but the cluster forms also weaker bonds to "nonactivated" oxygen atoms. The interaction with the framework also affects the electronic and magnetic properties of the clusters. While in the gas phase all clusters (except the isolated Pd atom with a closed d(10) ground state) have a paramagnetic moment of 2mu(B), in the zeolite clusters with two to four atoms have zero magnetic moment, while the Pd(5) cluster has a magnetic moment of 2mu(B) and for the Pd(6) cluster, it is even enhanced to 4 mu(B) (but the magnetic energy differences relative to low-spin configurations are modest). Analysis of the magnetization densities shows that in all clusters with zero total moment (singlet ground state), there are sites with excess spin densities of opposite sign. The influence of the cluster-support interaction on the chemical properties of the clusters has been tested by the adsorption of NO molecules. The results demonstrate the interplay between the molecule-cluster and cluster-framework interactions, which can lead to an increase or decrease in the adsorption energy compared to NO on a gas-phase cluster. While on the gas-phase cluster adsorption in low-coordination sites (vertex or bridge) is preferred, for the cluster in the zeolite adsorption in threefold coordinated hollow or twofold bridge sites is preferred. The magnetic properties of the clusters and of the paramagnetic NO molecule play an important role. For the supported clusters with zero magnetic moment, upon adsorption the spin of the molecule is transferred to the cluster (and induces also a modest polarization of the framework). For magnetic clusters, spin pairing induces a reduced magnetic moment of the NO-Pd(n) complex. The redshift of the NO stretching frequencies is reduced compared to the free clusters by the cluster-support interaction for the smaller clusters, while it remains essentially unchanged for the larger clusters. A detailed electronic analysis of the cluster-support interactions and of the adsorption properties is presented.


Background: Many of the voltage-gated potassium channels (KV1–KV12) are expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), and play important roles in neuronal excitability and neurotransmitter release. KCNA2 gene encodes an α-subunit of the Kv1.2 channel, and dysfunction of this gene causes epileptic encephalopathy. We herein report a case of epileptic encephalopathy caused by KCNA2 mutation that is characterized by intractable epilepsy, and severe mental retardation, and various involuntary movements. Case Report: Patient is a 12-year-old boy who had been seen at our hospital soon after birth because of erratic myoclonus without EEG changes. After that, he developed severe psychomotor retardation and various involuntary movements such as dystonia, chorea, ballismus and abnormal ocular movement. He has been suffering from intractable epilepsy since thirteen months of age. Also, he developed pyramidal signs and disturbance of sleep cycle. His blood examinations showed no abnormality. A sequence of his brain magnetic resonance imaging showed progression of diffuse brain atrophy, including basal ganglia, cerebellum, and brainstem. We identified a novel de novo heterozygous missense mutation in the KCNA2 gene, c.1121C>G(p.Thr374Ser) by whole exome sequencing. Discussion: The present case is characterized by neonatal onset of various involuntary movements and neurodevelopmental delay, diffuse brain atrophy involving basal ganglia, cerebellum and brainstem, and disturbance of sleep cycle that implies autonomic nervous system dysfunction. These findings expand a phenotypic spectrum of epileptic encephalopathy caused by KCNA2 mutation.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the relationship between cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation and leukemia relapse after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT).

METHODS
A total of 61 patients diagnosed as hematological malignancies undergoing haplo-HSCT were analyzed retrospectively in our center.

RESULTS
In the cohort, 36 patients had CMV reactivation after haplo-HSCT. The 100-day cumulative incidence of CMV reactivation was 59%. Compared with that in patients without CMV reactivation after transplantation, the incidence of leukemia relapse was lower in patients with CMV reactivation (16.9% vs 40.0%, P=0.034). The correlation of CMV reactivation and decreased relapse rate was only found in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (P=0.019). In multivariate analysis, relapsed disease status before transplant was a significant negative predictor of overall survival (OS) and relapse after transplant (RR was 2.866 and 3.331 respectively). CMV reactivation after transplant had a protective effect on disease relapse (RR=0.300, P=0.047).

CONCLUSIONS
The rate of CMV reactivation after haplo-HSCT is high. CMV reactivation may reduce risk of relapse in patients diagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia undergoing haplo-HSCT. However, CMV reactivation is one of the important predictors of non-relapse death after transplant, active anti-viral treatment is still needed.


Procedures for preparation of immobilized photocatalytic layers on various technical surfaces, stable in aqueous solutions, were developed and optimized. The degradation efficiency of the layers was tested with organic dyestuffs and other pollutants, such as caramel dyes, herbicides, toluene, and hydroponics solutions. Laboratory equipment for testing photocatalytic processes, possibly in combination with membrane separation, was developed. Basic chemical-engineering data for photocatalytic as well as membrane separation - photocatalytic processes were obtained and evaluated for technological applications.


OBJECTIVE
To compare women's acceptability ratings of 2 different intimate partner violence screening methods, an audiotape questionnaire and a written questionnaire, in a pediatric emergency department.

DESIGN
Randomized clinical trial.

SETTING
An urban, pediatric, tertiary care center emergency department.

PARTICIPANTS
Female caregivers of children.

MAIN EXPOSURE
Intimate partner violence screening by either an audiotape or written questionnaire method.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Perceptions of each screening method's safety, acceptability, and ease of use.

RESULTS
Fifty (10%) of 497 participants reported intimate partner violence, 30 (11%) of 266 in the audiotape group and 20 (9%) of 231 in the written questionnaire group (P = .30). Women in the audiotape group were significantly more likely to report that the audiotape method did not put them at risk and was private. Women in both groups were satisfied with their screening method and were willing to use it again. Women in both groups preferred their given method over the idea of direct emergency department provider screening.

CONCLUSIONS
Screening for intimate partner violence with an audiotape method appears to have several advantages compared with screening by a written questionnaire, and the audiotape method may be associated with slightly higher rates of disclosing intimate partner violence.

TRIAL REGISTRATION
http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00122395.


Nowadays, there is an increasing interest in multi-point models and their applications in Earth sciences. However, users not only ask for multi-point methods able to capture the uncertainties of complex structures and to reproduce the properties of a training image, but also they need quantitative tools for assessing whether a set of realizations have the properties required. Moreover, it is crucial to study the sensitivity of the realizations to the size of the data template and to analyze how fast realization-based statistics converge on average toward training-based statistics. In this paper, some similarity measures and convergence indexes, based on some physically measurable quantities and cumulants of high-order, are presented. In the case study, multi-point simulations of the spatial distribution of coarse-grained limestone and calcareous rock, generated by using three templates of different sizes, are compared and convergence toward training-based statistics is analyzed by taking into account incr...


[sstructure: see text] A novel, fused-tetracyclic Lycopodium alkaloid, nankakurine A (1), consisting of a cyclohexane ring and a 3-aza-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ring connected to a piperidine ring through a spiro carbon, was isolated from the club moss Lycopodium hamiltonii. The structure and relative stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data.


By means of fluorescence in situ hybridization with 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes (FISH), it has been shown that members of the phylum Planctomycetes represent a numerically significant bacterial group in boreal Sphagnum peat bogs. The population size of planctomycetes in oxic layers of the peat bog profile was in the range of 0.4-2.0 x 10(7) cells per g of wet peat, comprising 4 to 13% of the total bacterial cell number. A novel effective approach that combined a traditional cultivation technique with FISH-mediated monitoring of the target organism during the isolation procedure has been developed for the isolation of planctomycetes. Using this approach, we succeeded in isolating several peat-inhabiting planctomycetes in a pure culture. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes from two of these isolates, strains A10 and MPL7, showed that they belonged to the planctomycete lineages defined by the genera Gemmata and Planctomyces, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strains A10 and MPL7 and the phylogenetically closest organisms, namely, Gemmata obscuriglobus and Planctomyces limnophilus, was only 90%. These results suggest that the indigenous planctomycetes inhabiting Sphagnum peat bogs are so far unknown organisms.


We report a comparative polarized Raman study of Weyl semimetals TaAs, NbAs, TaP and NbP. The evolution of the phonon frequencies with the sample composition allows us to determine experimentally which atoms are mainly involved for each vibration mode. Our results confirm previous first-principles calculations indicating that the A1, B1(2), E(2) and E(3) modes involve mainly the As(P) atoms, the B1(1) mode is mainly related to Ta(Nb) atoms, and the E(1) mode involves both kinds of atoms. By comparing the energy of the different modes, we establish that the B1(1), B1(2), E(2) and E(3) become harder with increasing chemical pressure. This behaviour differs from our observation on the A1 mode, which decreases in energy, in contrast to its behaviour under external pressure.


MESS is an expert system to support a decision at the American StockExchange to open an investigation of insider trading. The system was developedwith three experts and extensive prototyping. MESS illustrates multiple roles for anexpert system; it contributes to decision making by seeing that all relevant factorsare considered, stimulating discussion of important criteria, and providing an audittrail for regulatory review The system also serves a training role for a position withhistorically high turnover.


TAF(II)250, the largest subunit of the general transcription factor TFIID, is expressed from the human X chromosome, at least in somatic cells. In male meiosis, however, the sex chromosomes are transcriptionally silenced, while the autosomes remain active. How then are protein-encoding genes transcribed during human male meiosis? Here we present a novel autosomal human gene, TAF1L, which is homologous to TAF(II)250 and is expressed specifically in the testis, apparently in germ cells. We hypothesize that during male meiosis, transcription of protein-encoding genes relies upon TAF1L as a functional substitute for TAF(II)250. Like TAF(II)250, the human TAF1L protein can bind directly to TATA-binding protein, an essential component of TFIID. Most importantly, transfection with human TAF1L rescued the temperature-sensitive lethality of a hamster cell line mutant in TAF(II)250. TAF1L lacks introns and evidently arose by retroposition of a processed TAF(II)250 mRNA during primate evolution. The observation that TAF1L can functionally replace TAF(II)250 provides experimental support for the hypothesis that during male meiosis, autosomes provide cellular functions usually supplied by the X chromosome in somatic cells.