Major performance enhancements in large commercial systems are best achieved when advances in hardware technology are matched with advances in software technology. This article connects recent AS/400 hardware advances with the corresponding approaches used to tune the system performance for large online transaction processing (OLTP) workloads. We particularly emphasize those tuning efforts that affect the memory system. OLTP workloads are large and complex, stressing many parts of both the software and hardware. These workloads quickly expose software bottlenecks caused by contention on software locks. They also have large working sets, populated with hard-to-predict access patterns that make cache miss rates high. This causes the processor to spend a significant part of its execution time waiting for memory accesses. In multiprocessor systems, compilers alone have minimal effect on cycles spent in storage latency. Other optimizations are needed to affect this portion of the execution time, and many of those require direct involvement of the system software.


Optical networks carrying traffic belonging to different survivability classes must ensure not only the proper survivability differentiation but also the efficient network resource utilization. Current approaches improve network resource utilization by carrying low-class preemptable traffic along high-class spare resources, which are idle (i.e., unutilized) during failure-free conditions. In this paper, the proposed idle protection capacity reuse (IR) framework generalizes the practice of reutilizing idle spare resources to both failure-free and failure conditions. The IR framework is based on the idea of exploiting idle high-class lightpath protection resources not only for routing low-class lightpaths during the provisioning phase (i.e., provisioning-phase IR, P-IR) but also for dynamically restoring low-class lightpaths during the recovery phase (i.e., recovery-phase IR, R-IR). Both P-IR and R-IR have the potential to improve network utilization while providing multiclass lightpaths with the required survivability differentiation. The numerical evaluation shows that the utilization of R-IR in dynamic restoration results in an improved low-class lightpath survivability with respect to the utilization of stub release. Moreover, if P-IR and R-IR are alternatively exploited, then the former improves the provisioning performance, while the latter guarantees a higher survivability. In the end, if P-IR and R-IR are concurrently employed in the provisioning and in the dynamic restoration of two different low classes of lightpaths, respectively, an inherent survivability differentiation is achieved


The synthesis, structures and physical characterizations of the first radical ion salts of the organic donor BET-TTF1 with polyoxometalate clusters ([M6O19 ]2– ; M=WVI , MoVI , 2) are reported. The 2:1 salts (BET-TTF+)2 [M6O19 ]2– are formed by pairs of the BET-TTF+ radical cations surrounded by polyanions so as to form a 3D packing of anions and cations with short intermolecular contacts between the cation pairs. The synthesis, physical properties and main structural features of the first radical ion salts of the organic donor BET-TTF 1 with the polyoxometalate cluster [SiW12O40 ]4–3 are also reported. The 4:1 salt (BET-TTF+)4 [SiW12O40 ]4– is formed by a 2D hexagonal packing of anions and by isolated BET-TTF+ pairs. The compounds are insulators and diamagnetic.


Today's society is in a critical situation: the prevailing linear model of the economy has led to an overexploitation of natural resources, and it has generated environmental impacts that affect the health of all living beings. An economic model of a cyclical nature, or circular economy, is presented as a solution in this situation. This form of economy facilitates the optimization of the useful life of materials, reducing the environmental impact, allowing products and materials to retain their value throughout the production and use cycle. The main purpose of this work is to identify urban strategies carried out by local experiences in pioneering cities that are actively committed to the development of a circular economy as an economic model of society. Cases such as Amsterdam, London, Paris or Milan stand out. The ultimate goal is to show examples that can inspire other cities and local governments to implement measures towards this new model of economy and urban development. The study of local cases throughout the strategies carried out has made possible to establish relationships between the different experiences analysed and to identify the areas with the greatest development and those in which there is less experience. Efficient waste management is one of the most explored areas and where a greater number of local initiatives have been identified. But alongside this, there are other areas that need to be explored: the efficient management of water resources, energy, or food in the city. In response to these, some urban strategies stand out: regeneration of public spaces, sustainable mobility infrastructures, renaturation of urban environments, urban limits, integration of pre-existences, citizen participation and governance are some of them. The contribution of the work focuses on the identification and classification of a whole series of urban strategies already implemented for their possible transfer to other environments.


of the United States on-line. Table no. HS-11. Marital status of the population by sex: 1900 to 2002. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/statab/hist/HS-11.pdf Veroff, J., Douvan, E., & Kulka, R. A. (1981) The inner American. New York: Basic Books. Waite, L., & Gallagher, M. (2001). The case for marriage: Why married people are happier, healthier and better off financially. New York: Broadway Books. Walker, A. (2004). A symposium on marriage and its future. Journal of Marriage and Family, 66, 843–847. Watkins, S. C. (Ed.). (1984). Spinster. Journal of Family History, 9,


Historically, body ties have been designed using removal of DC floating-body (FB) effects (e.g., kink, breakdown voltage) as the main criteria. It has been implicitly assumed that the transient FB effects would be minimized too with such a tie. However, such body ties while "suppressing" DC effects, may not necessarily be effective in AC/transient conditions, since the body (dis)charging time constants may be much larger than desired. For example, in a digital SOI CMOS circuit, with the gate switching at a few tens of ps, the efficacy of the body tie may be little or none at all, depending on the response time /spl tau//sub B/(=R/sub B/C/sub B/) of the body. Hence, in order to design effective body ties in transients, dynamic (dis)charging effects due to R/sub B/ and C/sub B/ in the body must be included.


The crisis poses a specific practice of representation of consciousness. The current situation in the Russian media is characterized by a lack of freedom of speech where the traditional media is controlled by the state. It has made the Internet the only platform where there is a possibility to implement the various forms of expression of the crisis of consciousness. Russian authorities use the crisis in order to demonstrate the correctness of their strategy of social and economic policies. This appears to be a very specific way of constructing social and cultural reality being developed. The Russian Internet provides space for the regularly produced animated film "Mr. Freeman," which is focused on Russian crisis of consciousness. The video shorts were analyzed as "description of discursive events"(Foucault). Discourse analysis provides an opportunity to highlight the discursive elements of two types; these are the symbolic and the semantic, which form the two levels of the crisis consciousness.The symbolic level the series includes images of Napoleon, the Little Prince, a meat grinder, the thinker, Caesar, and finally, a spider. On the semantic level this includes a free man, multiple "fluid" identities", the negation of cultural stereotypes typical of popular culture, the denial of the basic principles of the consumer society, anarchism as a reaction to the totalitarian state penetration into all spheres of social life and anti-hierarchy. The predominance of these images shows the current crisis of consciousness of Russian Internet users, which is expressed and oriented towards symbolic forms of protest. The crisis generates the specific practices of representation of the consciousness (it can be characterised as crisis consciousness), on the one hand, which are hardly revealed by the classic methods of sociology, and, on the other hand, are expressed in particular ways through the unconventional media and the forms of arts. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n11p186


A better knowledge of the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (IDDM) may open the road to the prevention of the diseases. Primary prevention is meant to identify susceptible subjects, either soon after birth or before the immunological aggression of beta cells. The practical approach in this respect is very difficult because multiple obstacles must be overcome. Secondary prevention involves subjects who already show immunological or metabolic alterations, as the presence of ICA, antiinsulin antibodies, GAD antibodies and a defect of the first phase of insulin secretion. Most authors attach great interest to trials with insulin and nicotinamide. Insulin seems to reduce antigen expression when beta cells are damaged. Nicotinamide exerts a protection toward diabetes in animals, and, as scavanger of free radicals, facilitates beta cell regeneration. Research is going on, all over the world, and special multicenter trials are in progress both in the USA and Europe.


Although the stratosphere can scarcely be regarded as part of the biosphere, it is quite vitally important to biospheric stability. Consequently it is a source of profound relief that continuing efforts in a few remaining quarters to develop large numbers of supersonic transport aircraft (SSTs) have run into so many problems that they seem bound to fail. Indeed it has long been the conviction of many of us that it would be sheer folly of the most dangerous kind to continue with uncontrolled multiplication of Tupolev, Concorde, or any other SSTs, before it has been scientifically demonstrated that their use would not lead to a serious reduction of the ozone in the stratosphere—remote though this may seem. It is also a relief to note that the threat to stratospheric ozone posed by the chlorine-containing fluorocarbons (fluorochlorohydrocarbons or 'freons') used as aerosol propellants and in refrigeration and air-conditioning, is now becoming so widely recognized that their production may soon cease. Thus it was high time for the establishment recently of a U.S. Federal Interagency Task-force on Inadvertent Modification of the Stratosphere, while the reputedly largest-by-far manufacturer of these substances has undertaken, 'If . . . creditable scientific data show that any fluorocarbons cannot be used without a threat to health, [to] stop production of the products in question' (Du Pont Management Bulletin, 4(1), p. 4, February 1975). This refers to human health; but what of the other biota on which Man, though generally the world's pandominant, is dependent for the wherewithal of life? To a remarkable extent it has been the ozone 'shield' in the stratosphere that has allowed life to develop on Earth, and enabled plants and animals to evolve and nourish. For the ozone absorbs in its own formation, before they can reach the surface of the Earth, most of the ultraviolet rays emanating from the sun. These rays are lethal to many microorganisms, which in evolution must have preceded more complex organisms—including, ultimately, Man, who is himself adversely affected by certain wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation, which, for example, are authoritatively reported to accelerate ageing and increase the incidence of skin cancer. Indeed it seems quite likely that, were it not for the ozone shield, life on Earth would not have evolved, at least in anything like its present vast range of forms, while drastic reduction of the ozone shield could conceivably jeopardize life on Earth. Consequently any threat to the ozone shield should be viewed with the gravest possible concern, and to go on perpetrating the means of its possible destruction would seem to us the height of irresponsible folly pending scientific demonstration that specialists' warnings are unfounded—see, for instance, Professor Harold S. Johnston's 'Pollution of the Stratosphere', published in our Autumn 1974 issue (pp. 163-76). Other threats to the ozone shield intlude nuclear attacks, which produce large amounts of nitric oxide, and it has been calculated that a major event of this kind could lead to a 50 % reduction in stratospheric ozone (Paul J. Crutzen in Ambio, 3(6), pp. 201-10, 1974). There are quite numerous ways in which the destruction of ozone is known to be catalyzed by such substances as water vapour and oxides of nitrogen, which are emitted in large amounts by SSTs, and by chlorine which is allegedly released from freons decomposed by ultraviolet radiation in the stratosphere. Moreover, as we pointed out in our Autumn 1974 issue ('Thoughts on Some Conceivable Ecodisasters', Environmental Conservation, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 177-89), 'SSTs are apt to fly largely at an altitude not so very far below that of maximum concentration of ozone in the stratosphere!' Surely we should, in such grave and controversial matters, pursue a safety-first policy of 'guilty until proven innocent'—rather than the reverse, as has been suggested most frighteningly in some interested circles. N. P.


Background Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), however, it is not clear if specific biomarkers related to ED are associated with radiological progression of SVD. Methods A single-center, prospective cohort study was conducted among consecutive, adult patients with SVD. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association of each baseline biomarker (highest vs lowest tertile) and the MRI radiological outcome after 2 years. The mean Z-score for vascular inflammation (VI) combined soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble platelet selectin (sP-selectin), CD40 ligand (sCD40 L), platelet factor-4 (PF-4) and homocysteine; Z-score for systemic inflammation (SI) combined high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-1α and -6 (IL-1α and IL-6, respectively) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Results The study group comprised 123 patients (age, mean±SD: 72.2±8 years, 49% females), with lacunar stroke (n=49), vascular dementia (n=48), and vascular parkinsonism (n=26). Moreover, 34.9% patients experienced radiological progression, 43% had progression of isolated white matter lesions (WMLs), 23.2% had new lacunes, and 34.8% had both WMLs progression and new lacunes. After adjustment for confounders (age, sex, blood pressure, MRI lesions load), the PF-4 (OR; 95% CI 5.5; 1.5–21), sCD40L (4.6; 1.1–18.6), IL-6 (7.4; 1.48–37), Z-score for VI (4.5; 1.1–18.6), and, marginally, homocysteine (4.1; 0.99–17) were associated with the risk of any radiological progression; further, homocysteine (2.4; 1.4–14), Z-score for SI (2.1; 1.2–14) and, marginally, IL-6 (6.0; 0.95 -38) were related to the development of new lacunes; PF-4 (7.9; 1.6–38) and, marginally, the Z-score for VI (4.2; 0.9–19.5) were correlated with the risk of WMLs progression. Additional adjustment for clinical SVD manifestations did not significantly alter the results. Conclusion The data supports the concept that ED modulates the radiological progression of SVD and WMLs and lacunes are associated with different inflammatory markers.


: Functional state of genetic apparatus was studied in leukocytes of patients with carcinoma of mammary gland at the III-IV stage by measuring incorporation of 3H-thymidine into DNA as well as by monitoring impairment of DNA structure using immunofluorescent procedure and antibodies to DNA. The studies were carried out before, in the middle period and at the end of the antitumour chemotherapy. The structure-functional state of genetic apparatus was injured in circulating leukocytes in blood of oncological patients.


The RNA polymerase inhibitor tiacumicin B is currently undergoing phase III clinical trial for treatment of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea with great promise. To understand the biosynthetic logic and to lay a foundation for generating structural analogues via pathway engineering, the tiacumicin B biosynthetic gene cluster was identified and characterized from the producer Dactylosporangium aurantiacum subsp. hamdenensis NRRL 18085. Sequence analysis of a 110,633 bp DNA region revealed the presence of 50 open reading frames (orfs). Functional investigations of 11 orfs by in vivo inactivation experiments, preliminarily outlined the boundaries of the tia-gene cluster and suggested that 31 orfs were putatively involved in tiacumicin B biosynthesis. Functions of a halogenase (TiaM), two glycosyltransferases (TiaG1 and TiaG2), a sugar C-methyltransferase (TiaS2), an acyltransferase (TiaS6), and two cytochrome P450s (TiaP1 and TiaP2) were elucidated by isolation and structural characterization of the metabolites from the corresponding gene-inactivation mutants. Accumulation of 18 tiacumicin B analogues from 7 mutants not only provided experimental evidence to confirm the proposed functions of individual biosynthetic enzymes, but also set an example of accessing microbial natural product diversity via genetic approach. More importantly, biochemical characterization of the FAD-dependent halogenase TiaM reveals a sequentially acting dihalogenation step tailoring tiacumicin B biosynthesis.


Recently, there has been renewed interest in modeling of electrical machines for the electro-magnetic transient program (EMTP)-type programs, with the goal of improving the machine- network interface. In this paper, we present a new voltage-behind- reactance induction machine model for the EMTP-type solution and power system transients. In the proposed model, the stator circuit is represented in abc phase coordinates and the rotor subsystem is expressed in qd arbitrary reference frame. Similar to the recently proposed synchronous-machine voltage-behind-reactance model and the established phase-domain model, simultaneous solution of the machine-network electrical variables is achieved. Efficient numerical implementation of the proposed model is presented, in which one time-step requires as little as 108 flops, taking 1.6 mus of CPU time. Case studies of induction machine start-up transients demonstrate that the proposed model is more accurate and efficient than several existing EMTP machine models.


Background: Hypertensive disorders are the most common complication in pregnancy which can even lead to maternal mortality. Hydralazine hydrochloride (HHC), a direct-acting vasodilator, is intravenously used as the first-line therapy in controlling hypertension in pregnancy (preeclampsia). It suffers poor oral bioavailability (26%–50%) due to first-pass metabolism. Objective: This work aims for the preparation of HHC rapidly disintegrating sublingual tablets of higher absorption rate, short onset of action, and higher bioavailability for rapid control on blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive emergencies especially preeclampsia. Methods: HHC sublingual tablet mixtures were prepared using starch sodium glycolate and Pharmaburst as super disintegrants at three different levels by direct compression and were subjected to full in vitro evaluation; the drug bioavailability from the optimized sublingual tablet formula was assessed in comparison to conventional oral tablets in rabbits, and the clinical efficacy on controlling BP in induced preeclampsia like mouse model was also studied. Results: The results indicated compatibility of the prepared tablet mixtures, good flow, and acceptable mechanical strength. Sublingual tablet formula containing Pharmaburst (7%) that showed fastest disintegration (21 seconds) and 100% drug release within 5 minutes was selected for further bioavailability and pharmacodynamic studies. The drug bioavailability was significantly increased with C max = 28.2767 ± 4.61 µ g/mL, AUC (0– α ) = 52.85 ± 3.18 µ g.h/mL, and T max = 0.33 ± 0.011 hour in comparison to 18.0633 ± 23.2 µ g/mL, 33.18 ± 5.18 µ g ⋅ h/mL, and 0.75 ± 0.025 hour for conventional oral tablets. Results of pharmacodynamic studies proved significant rapid control on both systolic and diastolic BP to normal values within only 30 minutes without any significant difference from intravenous data. Conclusion: These results confirm the suitability of the prepared HHC sublingual tablets for use in rapid control on hypertensive crisis especially in pregnant women as an alternate to parenteral administration.


The application of a single-wall carbon-nanotube (SWCNT) and polyimide (PI) composite thin film on an indium tin-oxide (ITO) glass substrate, working as the command surface in a twisted nematic liquid crystal display (LCD), is described. SWCNTs were chopped and oxidized in a strong acid medium to make them more miscible in a polyimide solution. A film of this newly-developed PISWCNT composite was rubbed to determine the director direction for the LC molecules. The newlyfabricated command surface was examined using a laser beam profiler and atomic force microscopy. Sizes of shortened SWCNTs were characterized by using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Finally, small-sized test panels were fabricated from this composite-coated ITO glass, and their electro-optic performances were measured. Although the operating voltage to switch a cell was increased by around 41%, the switching speed was improved remarkably. The rise time of the test cells was found to be improved by around 10.12% and the decay time by around 29.77%. Thus, an overall improvement of around 16.12% in the total switching time was achieved. The change in the surface morphology of the newly-developed composite materials was found to be one of the factors responsible for the faster switching of the device. Detailed discussions are given in this report to explain the faster switching of the newly-developed twisted nematic liquid crystal display (TN-LCD). The device can be useful for practical applications.


Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of genetically and clinically heterogeneous retinopathies, some of which have been shown to result from mutations in two different known retinal genes, rhodopsin (3q) and peripherin-rds (6p). Three additional anonymous loci at 7p, 7q and pericentric 8 have been implicated by linkage studies. There are still, however, a few families in which all known loci have been excluded. In this report we present data indicating a location, on the short arm of chromosome 17, for the autosomal dominant RP (ADRP) locus in a large South African (SA) family of British ancestry. Positive two-point lod scores have been obtained for nine markers (D17S938, Z = 5.43; D17S796, Z = 4.82; D17S849, Z = 3.6; D17S786, Z = 3.55; TP53, Z = 3.55; D17S578, Z = 3.29; D17S960, Z = 3.16; D17S926, Z = 1.51; D17S804, Z = 0.47 all at theta = 0.10 except D17S804 and D17S926, theta = 0.20). These data provide definitive evidence for the localization of an ADRP gene on chromosome 17p. The human recoverin gene has been localized to 17p13.1 and was consequently a prime candidate for ADRP in the family studied. However, mutation screening of the three exons of this gene failed to produce any evidence of recoverin being the gene involved in the pathogenesis of ADRP in this SA family.


On the occasion of the International Year of Disabled Persons, postage stamps have been issued by almost all countries in the world, individual ones, arranged in series or as commemorative sheets. Hardly an aspect of rehabilitation having been omitted, a wide range of stamps is available. This article, therefore, gives an overview of the 73 stamps before the author, organizing them into major rehabilitational categories. Many countries have used the emblem of the Year, depicting a disabled and a non-disabled person joining hands in mutual support, surrounded by the United Nations laurels. Other frequent themes are a country's most pressing rehabilitation problems, tasks ahead, or integration-related subjects. Noteworthy is the frequency of symbols representing certain disabilities, such as wheelchairs, crutches, eye/white cane, or ear/hearing aid, being used by countries around the world to advocate understanding and helpfulness towards disabled persons. Commemorative medals issued for the International Year are also mentioned.


AACR Centennial Conference: Translational Cancer Medicine-- Nov 4-8, 2007; Singapore

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Based on the recent studies using in vitro and in vivo models, it is suggested that natural plant products could be used as anti-cancer agents in chemotherapy. However, detailed molecular mechanism(s) of action of these drugs remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we have investigated the anti-proliferative activity, cytotoxic effect and telomere-telomerase regulation of two potential anti-cancer drugs, genistein and curcumin, on human glioblastoma and medulloblastoma cells. Using appropriate assays, we have determined the effect of curcumin and genistein on cell viability, cell cycle arrest, DNA damage, telomere length, and telomerase expression following treatment. Using superarray, we have analysed gene expression patterns of selected signal transduction pathways in human tumour cells following drug treatment. There was a dose-dependent effect on the cell viability following drug treatments. Increased levels of DNA damage was detected in cells treated with curcumin which might have resulted in G2/M arrest and apoptosis. On the contrary, Genistein induced G2/M arrest without apparent increase in cell death or DNA damage. Both the drugs seem to have telomerase inhibitory function in the cancer cell lines studied which was accompanied by telomere shortening. Our data suggests that curcumin exhibits higher growth inhibitory effect in the cancer cells with long telomeres. Gene expression studies have revealed the down-regulation of cell cycle regulated genes and genes that involve in signalling pathways such as NFKB, MAP kinase, AKT, and TNF receptor superfamily in drug treated cells. Genes that regulate metastasis such as MMP1, 2 and NME1, 4 were also found to be suppressed after drug treatments. As telomerase is expressed in more than 90% of human tumours, telomerase inhibition is projected as an attractive target for anti-cancer therapy. We propose that curcumin and genistein may elicit their anti-cancer properties on the telomere-telomerase pathway thereby inducing DNA damage, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. These results may have implications in cancer therapy by preventing recurrence of tumours. *This research is supported by Academic Research Fund, Ministry of Education, Singapore.


Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is characterised by acute and specific pain affecting the piriformis, iliopsoas or scalenus anterior muscles. Tension‐type headache (TH) is a common pathological condition, which can be chronic or episodic. Based on its muscle‐relaxant properties, botulinum toxin type A (BTX‐A) has demonstrated efficacy in a variety of conditions involving dysregulated muscle contractions. Patients with MPS (n= 40) or TH (n = 20) were recruited to two randomised, single‐blind studies, respectively. Each patient received either BTX‐A or methylprednisolone, injected into the affected muscles after administration of a local anaesthetic. Pain was assessed at baseline, and 30 and 60 days post‐treatment using a standard visual analogue scale. At 30 days post‐injection, the mean pain score in all treatment groups was reduced compared with baseline in both studies, although the difference between treatment groups was not significant at this time in either study. However, by 60 days post‐injection, the mean pain score has continued to fall in the BTX‐A treatment groups, compared with a waning of the steroid therapeutic activity in the controls. The net effect was a highly significant difference between the two treatments in both the MPS (P < 0.0001) and TH (P < 0.0005) studies. No major adverse events were reported. In conclusion, BTX‐A produces a more prolonged pain relief than methylprednisolone in patients suffering from MPS or TH.


Enhancement of anti-tumor mAb immunological mechanisms for tumor destruction may be obtained by promoting complement activation. However, complement activation components, such as C5a, trigger inflammation and chronic inflammation promotes tumor growth. Recently, it has been shown that C5a in the tumor could recruit and activate myeloid-derived suppressor cells to inhibit the anti-tumor CD8 T cell response. However, this effect was observed in only one tumor model. We chose to address the role of C5a on tumor growth by transfecting tumor cells with C5a. A human ovarian carcinoma, SKOV-3, and a murine lymphoma, RMA, were transfected which allows us to study C5a in an immunocompromised xenograft model and an immunocompetent syngeneic model. In vitro growth kinetics observed revealed no significant difference between C5a, control vector (CV), or wild-type cells. In both models, tumor-bearing mice with C5a-transfected tumor cells have significantly less tumor burden as compared to CV tumors. In the xenograft model, CD11b+DX5+ NK cells were significantly more and VEGF and arginase levels were significantly less in C5a expressing tumors. The syngeneic lymphoma model revealed C5a modulates tumor-infiltrating CD11b+ cells to produce more IL-12 and there is a greater influx of NK and CD4 T cells. Thus our studies demonstrate C5a chemoattracts innate NK cells and downregulates negative mediators in the xenograft model while in the syngeneic model C5a promotes shift to a Th1 response.


In the current study, the solid waste characterisation that belongs to Artvin city centre, which is located in East Black Sea Region of Turkey, were searched. The study has the feature of being the first study for the country of Artvin in terms of study. The field of study is composed of 7 neighborhoods and those can be separated into 3 groups as low, middle and high level of income. In this study, 11 kind of waste were examined, which are organic, paper, plastic, glass, metal, ash, electronic, textile, garden waste, hazardous and others. The effect of seasons on the amount of waste was examined; also, the relationship between the amount of waste and the level of income was also examined by using the two-way ANOVA analysis. Furthermore, all ratios of wastes that are located in Artvin city centre were searched. According to that, the waste ratios, occurs in one year, of all neighborhoods in the Artvin city centre are found as 61.06% organic, 10.28% paper, 9% plastic, 3.20% glass, 2.29% metal, 3.87% ash, 0.037% electronic, 1.58% textile, 1.35% garden waste, 0.51 % hazardous and 7.23% others. Those obtained values were compared with other similar studies in the literature. Moreover, for collecting recyclable wastes for the city centre 3 different methods are proposed named as methods collection from households, collection from buildings and collection from neighborhoods. These methods have been studied economically and the collection from buildings method is the most appropriate among these three methods.


We report the result of eclipse timing variation (ETV) analyses of OGLE-IV eclipsing binaries (EBs). We have identified around 1000 potential triple (or multiple) system candidates and, in addition, we determined the orbital parameters and we carried out statistical analyses of the properties of the candidates. We found that (i) the distribution of the outer eccentricity has a maximum around e2 = 0.3; (ii) in most cases the estimated outer mass ratio is lower than q2 ∼ 0.5. Besides, we also present some systems that deserve special attention.


Like that of any other disease, the management of cancer requires a logical approach. Unfortunately much of the immunotherapy of malignant disease has escaped this dictum, since the wilder concepts were already in vogue early in this century. The rationale for immunotherapy had to await the identification of tumour-specific antigens in transplantable tumours in syngeneic animal populations.1' Although the protective effects of immunising these animals against their own tumours has been shown time and again, the application of these findings to tumours arising spontaneously in animals and man is far less clear. In such cases investigations have failed to show tumour-specific antigens; and their existence would be irrelevant to treatment if once identified they proved to be non-immunogenic. Nevertheless, specific active immunotherapy has been often given on the presumption that such antigens do exist. Frequently this has been combined with BCG in the belief that this gives a non-specific boost to the specific anti-tumour response. Just how useful the specific immune response is in terms of treatment is difficult to assess, but many studies now suggest that some benefit is attributable to the activity of BCG. Bacterial toxins have been used in treating cancer for many years with sporadic success.4 BCG was found to have a potent immuno-stimulatory effect on responses to heterologous antigens5and is known to evoke a wide range of changes in the host. These include non-specific stimulation of activity of the reticuloendothelial system8-and a concomitant increase in the numbers of macrophages in the spleen, liver, and lungs"; localised changes in tissue at the site of injection'0; activation of macrophages'1; release of interferon'2; increased phagocytosis; and enhanced homograft rejection.13 Many workers have found that direct injection of BCG into established tumours may cause regression of tumours and elimination of tumour cells from regional lymph nodes, while injection at a distant site is far less effective. Animal studies of the latter have shown enhancement, reduction, or no change in growth after injection of BCG. It has been presumed that when there is minimal residual disease inoculating BCG may lead to increased tumour-directed immune reactivity. If a tumour-specific immune response exists, this may exert a controlling effect on the tumour-but immune manipulation may also facilitate its growth. The relevance of an intact immune response to therapeutic benefit in malignant disease treated with BCG is not yet clear. Nevertheless, nearly all responses in patients treated in this way have occurred where crudely tested delayed hypersensitivity mechanisms have been intact. The crucial question seems to be whether tumour-specific antigens are present, important, or even relevant to the response seen after treatment with BCG. A recent review'4 has suggested that for BCG to be effective there must be few tumour cells; the host must be able to develop an immune response to microbial antigens; and adequate numbers of BCG organisms must be injectedand that these are most effective when closely associated with the tumour cells. Whether or not tumour cells need to be immunogenic is still not clear.'-7 Animal studies have shown that pretreatment with BCG may delay the appearance of tumours induced by carcinogens and viruses. Once the tumours have developed its influence on growth is variable. A comparable variation may exist in man: possibly BCG vaccination in childhood may reduce the incidence of acute leukaemia.18 Other reports present conflicting interpretations, however, so that we do not know whether vaccination in childhood with BCG does in fact reduce the risk of mortality from acute leukaemia. Again, while immunotherapy with BCG or with BCG together with allogeneic leukaemic cells was reported to prolong disease-free survival in patients in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia,19 subsequent trials have failed to substantiate this. In acute myelogenous leukaemia various trials suggest that survival may be prolonged.20 21 Probably one of the most important effects of BCG is to activate macrophages non-specifically. There is now good evidence of non-immunologic recognition and destruction of malignant cells by activated macrophages, while normal contact-inhibited cells remain undamaged.22 Meanwhile the relative harmlessness of BCG, its ready availability, and its theoretical capability for potentiating the host's antitumour response have encouraged its widespread and uncritical use. Recent reports23 24 have added to an ever-growing number of studies in which BCG given regionally was cast in the crucial role of scavenger of minimal residual disease. Nevertheless, if the potential benefits of BCG used in malignant disease are to be fully realised, further carefully controlled trials must be carried out in conjunction with laboratory studies aimed at elucidating the mechanisms by which it might act.


Dionysos had to jump into the sea in order to escape from Lycurgos; in another episode, the god was attacked by Tyrrhenian pirates who were transformed into dolphins. These two little known episodes of the myth of the god are depicted, directly or indirectly, on the pavements of reception halls. We will first study this iconography on the mosaics of the Hellenistic period, and then on those of the Imperial period, and pay particular attention to the scenes of the marine triumph of Dionysos (Dion, Corinth) and on the depiction of black swimmers (Pompeii, North Italy, the Narbonnaise). In line with the works of Jean-Pierre Darmon, we will inquire into the transmission of iconographic schemes through the ages, first in the Greek koine and then in the Roman Empire; and, finally, into their meaning according to architectural contexts in which they are found.


Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PPD) refers to the group of disorders characterised by delayed or inappropriate development of multiple basic functions including socialisation, communication, behaviour and cognitive functioning. The term,,autistic spectrum disorders" was established as a result of the magnitude of the intensity of symptoms and their proportions observed in all types of pervasive developmental disorders. Asperger's Syndrome (AS) remains the most controversial diagnosis in terms of its place within autism spectrum disorders. AS if often described as an equivalent of High Functioning Autism (HFA) or as a separate spectrum-related disorder with unique diagnostic criteria. Another important issue is the relationship between AS and speech disorders. Although it is relatively easy to draw a line between children with classical autism and speech disorders, the clear cut frontiers between them still remain to be found. The main distinguishing feature is the lack of stereotypic interests and unimpaired social interaction observed in children with speech disorders, such as semantic-pragmatic disorder.


Accurate measurement of the free metal ion is difficult, especially for trace metals present in very small concentrations (less than micromolar) in natural systems. The recently developed Donnan membrane technique can measure the concentrations in solution in the presence of inorganic and organic complexing agents. We have developed this method further to make it applicable for analysing soil samples. The major development is the linkage of a soil column with the Donnan cell. The operational aspects of the method, including equilibrium time, buffering capacity and correction for differences in ionic strength, were investigated and optimized. The method was applied to determine concentrations of free Cu2+, Cd2+, Pb2+ and Zn2+ in the soil solution of 15 soil samples (pH 2.9–7.1, organic C < 2.9–137.4 g kg−1, clay 0.2–51.6%). Compared with other speciation methods, the Donnan membrane technique has the advantage of allowing the measurement of several elements simultaneously and it minimizes the disturbance of substrate. The detection limit of the technique is about 10−9 m. This method can be applied to study the biogeochemical behaviour of metals in soils, sediments and other solid materials.


Diabetes mellitus, specifically type 2, is often associated with disorders in lipid metabolism. Elevated levels of plasma free fatty acids play a pivotal role by contributing significantly to insulin resistance. In addition free fatty acids promote diabetic dyslipidemia through increasing VLDL synthesis in the liver, and by virtue of cholesterylester transfer protein, modifying LDL to increase small-dense LDL subfractions and to decrease HDL cholesterol. This atherogenic lipoprotein profile (elevated triglycerides, increased small-dense low-density lipoproteins, and decreased high-density lipoproteins), contributes to the development of atherosclerosis and increases the risk of experiencing cardiovascular events, the most common cause of death in type 2 diabetes. To decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease events in diabetics, dyslipidemia needs to be treated, as evidenced from epidemiology, from intervention trials, and from subgroup analyses of large intervention trials initiated to evaluate effects of lipid lowering treatment that also included patients with type 2 diabetes. Most measures used to counteract hyperglycemia, are also prone to ameliorate dyslipidemia: dietary intervention (medical nutrition) including omega-3 fatty acids as part of lifestyle changes that also comprise cessation of smoking, increases in physical activity and reduction in body weight. In addition insulin, biguanides, acarbose and glitazones applied for glycemic control also improve diabetic dyslipidemia. Additional pharmacological treatment of dyslipidemia if persisting after glycemic control relies on different drug classes. Fibrates effectively reduce free fatty acids, fasting and postprandial lipemia, shift the distribution of LDL particles towards less dense subfractions and increase HDL cholesterol, thus particularly addressing key components of diabetic dyslipidemia. For LDL cholesterol lowering statins are mainly used that decrease LDL cholesterol levels by competitive inhibition of the HMG-CoA reductase. As type 2 diabetes is found to be associated with a two- to fourfold increase in coronary heart disease risk and as the degree of glycemia is more related to microvascular complications, correcting dyslipidemia appears to be a major task in order to reduce macrovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes.


Dame Rosalyn Higgins DBE QC delivered the Keynote Address at the Cambridge Journal of International and Comparative Law Fourth Annual Conference, 'Developing Democracy: Conversations on Democratic Governance in International, European and Comparative Law', on Friday 8 May at the Divinity School of St John's College at the University of Cambridge. This address examines the place of democracy in international law, focusing on instruments from the Charter of the United Nations to the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States. These instruments illustrate that democracy has never been a critical element for recognition of statehood. Rather, the promotion of democracy as a significant value is evident in human rights instruments which suggest that democracy, rather than being a free-standing legal concept, is intertwined with concepts of human rights and the rule of law. The address concludes by reflecting on the most recent trajectory of democracy as a concept amongst the international law community.


Excessive apoptosis hinders the process of brain maturation and is regarded as one of the principal risk factors for the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the methylation of six apoptosis‑associated genes [transforming growth factor β 1 (TGFB1), BCL2 associated X, apoptosis regulator, insulin like growth factor binding protein 3, protein kinase C β 1, presenilin 2 and C‑C motif chemokine ligand 2] and ASD. Using quantitative methylation‑specific polymerase chain reaction technology, DNA methylation levels were detected in 42 autistic and 26 control subjects. The logistic regression analysis results demonstrated that of the six genes, only TGFB1 was significantly hypomethylated in peripheral blood samples from children with autism compared with control samples (mean percentage of methylated reference, 0.011% vs. 0.019%; age‑adjusted P=0.028). In addition, TGFB1 methylation was identified to be positively associated with the interaction ability score from the Autism Behavior Checklist (r=0.452; P=0.035). These data suggested that decreased TGFB1 methylation may contribute to the development of ASD.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the protection effects of acupuncture on glaucomatous optic nerve damage and its mechanism.

METHODS
Experimental glaucoma model was induced by intracameral injection of compound Carbomer solution in rabbits. After 28 days, ocular tension returned to normal by filtration surgery. Twenty rabbits (40 eyes) were randomly divided into a model group, an acupuncture group, a neurotrophy group and a nomal control group, 5 cases in each group. The acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at bilateral "Qiuhou" (EX-HN 7),"Fengchi" (GB 20) and "Xingjian" (LR 2), twice a day. The neurotrophy group was treated with intramuscular injection of Vitamin B1 (100 mg) and Vitamin B12 (500 microg), once a day, and the other groups with no treatment. The expressions of Bcl-xl and BDNF in rabbits retina were observed after 4 weeks.

RESULTS
At the end of the experiment, the positive expression cells of Bcl-xl and BDNF were (31.20 +/- 5.97) per mm2 and (6.3 +/- 1.89) per mm2 in the acupuncture group, being significantly higer than (26.70 +/- 4.32) per mm2 and (4.0 +/- 1.89) per mm2 in the model group (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSION
Acupuncture can raise the expression of Bcl-xl and BDNF of retina, so as to prevent optic nerve damage caused by intraocular hypertension.


The present paper realizes multiband spectral imaging with high spatial resolution for omnidirectional estimation of scene illuminant in a simple measuring system. To overcome the mirrored ball problems, we propose a multiband omnidirectional imaging system using a high-resolution trichromatic digital camera, a fisheye lens, and two color filters of commercial use. The spatial resolution of omnidirectional imaging systems is analyzed based on an optics model in detail. We describe a practical spectral imaging system. Use of the RGB camera with each of the two color filters allows two different sets of trichromatic spectral sensitivity functions via spectral multiplication, resulting in six spectral bands after two image captures with each color filter. An algorithm is developed on the statistical estimation theory for estimating illuminant spectra from noisy observations of the sensor outputs. The feasibility of the proposed method is examined from the viewpoints of spatial resolution and omnidirectional illuminant estimation.


1) With the advent of the new political regime of Jong Un Kim, North Korea is undergoing many changes, with its main motivation being economic growth. This study aims to identify the changes in clothing in North Korea under the new political climate. The research conducted a review on literature and empirical study. For literature review, books and papers from studies related to North Korea have been reviewed. For the empirical part, interviews with diverse class of North Korean refugees including Hanawon, videos on TV, 1,100 pictures and related articles from newspapers and Internet have been collected. Through this analysis, the study found that subtle changes in North Korean fashion started prior to the Jong Un Kim's regime, but has be-come full-blown since Kim's assumption of power. This proves that the country is not yet in-dependent from its political situation. The results are as follows: First, the appearance of Ri Sol-ju has liberalized the fashion concept of North Korean women, and the popularity of her trademark style has actually contributed to a more amicable image for Kim. Second, the "Hallyu" style has spread to North Korea through various channels, and has started new trends. Third, the diversification of fashion styles has been greatly accelerated in accordance with the expansion of market, resulting from the economic revitalization policy. Last of all, Jong Un Kim's direct or-ders concerning fashion have resulted in some significant changes. The sophisticated uniforms of flight attendants and the development of luxury cosmetics being prime examples. As studies on this subject are extremely rare, this research is significant to identify the changes on the clothing culture under Jong Un Kim's regime, and to present an expanded view, as the two countries work towards an united Korea.


Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC

The difference in glucose metabolism between malignant and normal tissues has called attention to the importance of understanding the molecular mechanisms by which tumor metabolism is regulated. Inhibition of tyrosine kinase receptor (RTK) has been demonstrated as an effective strategy to target tumor growth, but whether RTKs can directly regulate glucose metabolism independent of its role in proliferation is not known. To explore the relationship between RTK function, glucose metabolism and proliferation, we developed primary cell cultures enriched for stem and progenitor populations from our mouse glioma model in which doxycycline inhibition of PDGF expression abolished tumor cell proliferation. We observed in primary glioma-derived tumor stem-like cells (TSCs) changes consistent with the Warburg Effect: enhanced glycolysis compared to the levels observed in normal neural stem cells (NSCs) determined by increased glucose consumption, lactate production, glycolytic rate, and intracellular ATP. We further differentiated glycolysis from mitochondrial activity as the source of increased intracellular ATP, as we observed a yet greater difference in intracellular ATP between NSCs and TSCs when they were exposed to uncoupling agents to inhibit oxidative phosphorylation. Modulation of PDGF expression by doxycycline indicated that PDGF was required to maintain enhanced glycolysis in glioma-derived TSCs. We additionally demonstrated that PDGF expression is strongly associated with the mRNA expression of regulatory enzymes in glycolytic pathway, indicating a possibility of direct regulation of glycolysis by PDGF signaling. To determine whether PDGF regulates glioma glycolysis by altering cellular proliferation, we first cell-cycle arrested TSCs and examined the effect of PDGF modulation on glycolysis. We found that loss of PDGF expression significantly reduced lactate production and glucose consumption, despite cell-cycle arrest. To further dissect whether PDGF directly regulates glycolysis independent of proliferation, we modulated levels of PDGF signaling in TSCs derived from doxycycline-resistant gliomas. In these TSCs, doxycycline regulated segments of PDGF signaling but no longer modified tumor cell proliferation, although glycolysis remained sensitive to modulation by PDGF signaling. These findings indicated that PDGF modulated glycolysis was independent of the well-described regulatory pathways that mediate the regulation of proliferation. We next determined that AKT, a known regulator of tumor glycolysis, mediated the metabolic effects of PDGF. These findings demonstrate that RTK can directly modulate glycolysis in glioma, which rely on glucose metabolism for energy. PDGFR inhibition can be used as strategy to modulate glioma glucose metabolism in the setting of other anti-proliferative strategies.

Citation Format: Cong Ran, Huan Liu, Mark A. Israel. Proliferation-independent regulation of tumor glycolysis by platelet-derived growth factor-mediated activation of AKT. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5401. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5401

Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 because the presenter was unable to attend.


Abstract: In this chapter, the comparison between bio-inert materials and bio-active materials is introduced, in order to understand the definition of bioactive materials. The current definition extends well beyond the original, and bioactive materials are now considered to be those materials which exhibit biological activities to stimulate the response of the biological system, when the materials are required to have clinical effects. The bioactive materials in this book range from traditional bioactive glass, bioactive ceramics in different forms for hard tissue repair to bioactive molecules–materials combination. In order to develop the clinical applications, assessment of the specific bioactivities is required. The principle of designing bioactive materials is required to take into account basic industrial safety and clinical efficacy. In addition, a bioactive material as the key element of a biomatrix in tissue engineering, utilised in conjunction with stem cells, offers future promise in regenerative medicine.


The goal of the project was to design a low-cost digital oscilloscope targeted at students, hobbyists, and researchers. The requirements of the oscilloscope were three-fold: 1) cost less than $100, 2) capture frequencies over the range 20Hz–20kHz, and 3) constructable with a basic soldering iron and limited soldering skills. The primary parts of the oscilloscope are two Atmel ATmega644 microcontrollers, an Analog Device AD7825 ADC, and an NTSC television. One of the microcontrollers is used to generate an NTSC television signal, and the other is responsible for acquiring and processing samples from the ADC. The oscilloscope implements many of the same operations as a commercial oscilloscope. The user can start/stop the display, arm a single sequence, adjust the time division, adjust the voltage division, and adjust the trigger value. When the display is stopped, the user can also control a cursor which has time and voltage readouts. The supported time divisions are 0.5ms–5s, and the supported voltage divisions are 156mV–5V. All the specified requirements were met satisfactorily. The total cost of parts required for the oscilloscope was only $65.51, well within the specified budget. The oscilloscope can display signals up to 40kHz with at least 10 samples per cycle, which is better than the requirement of 20Hz–20kHz. Finally, the oscilloscope was designed entirely with parts that could be soldered by hand. Report Approved by Project Advisor: Date:


Increased prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and changes in serum immunoglobulin concentrations have been reported in patients with epilepsy. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of aCL, ANA, anti-B2 glycoprotein I antibodies (anti-B2-GPI), antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA), immunoglobulin A, G and M serum concentrations and the presence of IgA and IgG class antigliadin antibodies (AGAbA and AGAbG), transglutaminase antibodies (tTGAbA) and antiendomysial antibodies (EMA) in a cohort of 1386 adult patients treated for epilepsy in the Oulu University Central Hospital during the years 1996–7 and in a reference population obtained from the Population Register Centre and matched for age, gender and municipality of residence. The effects of co-morbidity, medications, age, gender and different epilepsy attributes on the occurrence of the immunological parameters studied as well as the possible interrelations of these parameters were studied. There was no difference in the presence of aCL or ANA between the patients and the reference subjects. In patients, aCL were associated with long duration of epilepsy and poor seizure control. Low IgA serum concentrations were more common in patients with epilepsy, particularly those using phenytoin. Unspecific AMA were more common among the epilepsy patients. The prevalence of coeliac disease (CD)-related antibodies was similar in patients with epilepsy and in the reference population. AGAbA were associated with primary generalised epilepsy. No significant interrelations between the immunological markers were found. These findings suggest that patients with epilepsy do not have an increased prevalence of autoantibodies as a result of their disease. Various factors such as genetic traits and epilepsy attributes may independently affect the presence of each individual immunological marker.


Here theoretical analysis of heat, mass and motile microorganisms transfer rates in Casson fluid flow over stretched permeable surface of cylinder is studied. Investigated is carried out in the presence of suspended nanoparticles and self-propelled gyrotactic microorganisms. The effects of buoyancy forces, magnetic field and thermal radiation are considered. The nanoparticles with suitable suspension are stabilized through mutual effects of buoyancy forces and bioconvection. Furthermore, activation energy and Darcy- Forchheimer effects on bio nanofluid flow are accounted. The constitutive theories are executed to develop the model formulation. The obtained model is made dimensionless trough appropriate transformations. The dimensionless flow model is tackled by built-in algorithm of shooting technique. Impact of flow controlling constraints parameters is physically elaborated by making graphical illustrations. The outcomes based on numerical data against essential engineering formulations like surface drag force, Nusselt, density and Sherwood numbers are tabulated. Main outcomes are successfully summarized in terms of closing remarks.


Cluster system provides attractive scalability in terms of compution power and memory size. With the advances in high speed computer network technology, cluster systems are becoming increasingly competitive compared to expensive MPPs (massively parallel processors). Load balancing is very important issue since an inappropriate scheduling of tasks cannot exploit the true potential of the system and can offset the gain from parallelization. In parallel processing program, it is difficult to predict the load of each task before running the program. Furthermore, tasks are interdependent each other in many ways. The dynamic load balancing algorithm, which evaluates each processor's load in runtime, partitions each task into the appropriate granularity and assigns them to processors in proportion to their performance in cluster systems. However, if the communication cost between processing nodes is expensive, it is not efficient for all nodes to attend load balancing process. In this paper, we restrict a processor that attend load balancing by the communication cost and the deviation of its load from the average. We simulate various models of the cluster system with parameters such as communication cost, node number, and range of workload value to compare existing load balancing methods with the proposed dynamic algorithms.


Watch the VIDEO.The big story in scholarly publishing of the last years was the preprint revolution. Researchers demanded a faster channel for the early communication of their results, journal editors revised their policies to accept manuscripts also published as preprints, there was an explosion of new platforms and infrastructure, and Crossref gave the old/new species of not-really published articles a DOI. Funders even jumped into the fray, allowing researchers to use their preprints in grant proposals. The non-profit Center of Open Science launched a platform for new preprint servers, and publishers are jumping into the arena with preprint repositories like Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press's bioRxiv, PeerJ Preprints, ACS's ChemRxiv, MDPI's Preprint.org and Elsevier's acquisition of SSRN. These developments create new challenges for content aggregators and discovery platforms, librarians, publishers, and readers, including persistent identification of the version of record, aggregation of citations and metrics across article versions, and questions around copyright. The wide proliferation of preprint repositories across different sources also makes it difficult for researchers to reach their peers with their early results. As an aggregator and interactive discovery platform, ScienceOpen has been working to place preprints in the context of the published literature with quick preprint-filters on keyword searches and first efforts to aggregate metrics. We further provide a framework to peer review preprints in a portable system with a Crossref DOI for each peer review report, as well as editorial management of preprints in thematic collections. By showing how preprints fit in to the academic record in a broad discovery database, we are able to bring them to the attention of those searching for the newest research and more clearly highlight their status as open for peer review. Increased visibility through contextualization is our value proposition for publishers, authors and readers of preprints in 2018. We explore the disruptive potential of preprints from our experience with ScienceOpen's discovery platform.


Quantum defects (QDs) have always been a key factor of the thermal effect in high-power fiber lasers. Much research on low-QD fiber lasers has been reported in the past decades, but most of it is based on active fibers. Besides, Raman fiber lasers based on the stimulated Raman scattering effect in passive fiber are also becoming an important kind of high-power fiber laser for their unique advantages, such as their significantly broader wavelength-tuning range and being free of photon darkening. In this paper, we demonstrate an ultralow-QD Raman fiber laser based on phosphosilicate fiber. There is a strong boson peak located at a frequency shift of 3.65 THz in the Raman gain spectrum of the phosphosilicate fiber we employed. By utilizing this boson peak to provide Raman gain and adopting an amplified spontaneous emission source at 1066 nm as the pump source, 1080 nm Stokes light is generated, corresponding to a QD of 1.3%. The spectral purity at 1080 nm can be up to 96.03%, and the output power is 12.5 W, corresponding to a conversion efficiency of 67.2%. Moreover, by increasing the pump wavelength to 1072 nm, the QD is reduced to 0.74%, and the output power at 1080 nm is 10.7 W, with a spectral purity of 82.82%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the lowest QD ever reported for Raman fiber lasers. This work proposes a promising way of achieving high-power, high-efficiency Raman fiber lasers.


An analysis of Marxist conceptions of the good and the beautiful and their relationship to alienation, "Ugly and Monstrous" argues that Marxism was ultimately a set of aesthetic beliefs, one that paradoxically called for the temporary cessation of all attempts to create beautiful artwork. Marx understood beauty as Kant had – that it is the result of the harmonization of the faculties that occurs when a disinterested observer encounters a work of art. Capitalism gives to all works (art included) monetary value, and all observers become interested con-sumers, debasing art appreciation and killing the human desire (and need) to experience the beautiful. Th e work of later Marxists, particularly Walter Benjamin and Herbert Marcuse, take the Marxist position to its logical conclusion, that any art in the age of capitalist exploitation and worker alienation must, by its nature, be political. Th e best way to judge art, according to these twentieth century Marxist aesthe-ticians, is to measure the level of alienation the work contains. Th e more alienated the artist and the work are , the more correct the political statement is. Th e work, which can never be pleasant and must always and ever agitate, is thus judged good. It cannot, however, be beautiful because the work retains utility – it encourages political action on the behalf of the community and the individual and is not a whole in and of itself. Beautiful art, cannot exist until a commu-nism has been established. Th us Marxist (and neoMarxist) aesthetics mandate the impoverishment of the senses and the death of beauty.


The buildup of fat in the liver (hepatic steatosis) is the first step in a series of incidents that may drive hepatic disease. Obesity is the leading cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), in which hepatic steatosis progresses to liver disease. Chronic alcohol exposure also induces fat accumulation in the liver and shares numerous similarities to obesity-induced NAFLD. Regardless of whether hepatic steatosis is due to obesity or long-term alcohol use, it still may lead to hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, or possibly hepatocellular carcinoma. The antioxidant bilirubin and the enzyme that generates it, biliverdin reductase A (BVRA), are components of the heme catabolic pathway that have been shown to reduce hepatic steatosis. This review discusses the roles for bilirubin and BVRA in the prevention of steatosis, their functions in the later stages of liver disease, and their potential therapeutic application.


We applied a receiver function technique to investigate the crustal structure beneath the KTAS seismic station in the Salt Range area of Pakistan. The station was installed in 2010 and is a constituent station of the Pak-China Seismic Network of Pakistan Meteorological Department. The teleseismic broadband waveform data recorded by this seismic station were used for this research. We calculated receiver functions using the source equalization technique to obtain good receiver functions for three events. Then, we compared the observed receiver functions to synthetic receiver functions computed for the four crust models taken from the global crust model CRUST 2.0 to find significant differences. Since in the study area, the Salt Range, there exist salt reservoirs (halite i.e. rock salt), and since such a halite layer is not included in these four models, we modified one of the four models so that the modified models have the shallowest layer with physical properties (density, and shear wave velocity etc.) with halite beds. Then, we calculated synthetic receiver functions for these modified models. Comparison between the synthetic and observed receiver functions suggested the existence of a possible halite layer. We carried out inversion of the observed receiver functions for crust structure using genetic algorithm including a parameter range of a halite layer. Two selected teleseismic events were stacked for inversion. The obtained model contains a top layer whose physical property is consistent with halite, and the synthetic receiver function computed for this model explained the earlier part of the receiver functions. This result suggested the existence of halite in the study region. The depth of Moho was estimated to be about 55 km, which is consistent with previous studies.


Although the production of an effective curative serum for typhoid fever would be a great addition to therapeutics, yet the accomplishment of this result is beset by several difficulties. It is well known that the typhoid bacillus is usually present in the blood and tissues, and that it increases in the tissues. The destruction of the bacilli in the circulation and tissues depends on the successful interaction of two distinct bodies. The body which actually destroys the typhoid bacillus is the complement and is present as a ferment-like body in the serum or cells of the body. The second substance is usually the product of artificial immunity, though it too may be normally present in the body. It is well known as the intermediary body. Following out the theories of Ehrlich as so clearly explained by Welch. 1 in the Huxley lecture for 1902, this intermediary body is produced in an immune serum by means of certain so-called haptophore groups which are possessed by the typhoid bacilli themselves. These groups of atoms have a special affinity for corresponding haptophorous groups in the cells of the body. The continued appropriation of these receptors by the body cells causes an excessive production of similar receptors on the part of these body cells. Many of


This study aimed to investigate civil engineering students ' English language learning needs and perceptions of their English for Specific Purposes ( ESP ) course based on the past students ' perspectives ( Brown, 2016 ). The study sample comprised 85 third - year Thai students, majoring in civil engineering at University of Phayao, Thailand in the academic year 2018 . A mixed - methods research design was employed . A questionnaire on civil engineering students ' needs for ESP course was used to investigate the students ' perceived needs on their ESP course . Subsequently, a focus group interview was conducted to explore the students ' overall perceptions of the ESP course they had finished . Data from the questionnaire were analyzed by means of frequency, mean, and standard deviation . Interview data were analyzed using content analysis . The findings revealed students ' high demand of communicative topics particularly speaking and listening in work - related situations . A combination of pair and group work for in - class activities and out - of class assignments was preferred over working individually . A mixture of Thai and English as a language of instruction was also needed . Pedagogical implications for ESP course designers and teachers of other fields of engineering are put forward to highlight the crucial role of needs analysis in ESP course development .


Background: Despite its positive impact in reducing maternal and child mortality and morbidity, the utilization rate of contraceptives is unacceptably low in many developing countries including Ethiopia. This warrants the investigation of the contributing factors of this low utilization for appropriate interventions. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the magnitude and associated factors of contraceptive use in Arba Minch Zuria Woreda, Gamo Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 2010 in 9 kebeles of Arba Minch Demographic and Health Development Program. Results: In this study, 28.3% of all women & 32.7% currently married were using any contraceptive methods during the time of the survey. Almost all current users were using modern methods; the most widely used method was injectable (24.2%) followed by implants (2.4%) and pills (1.3%). Current marital status, ethnicity, age, education, presence of radio set in the house hold and discussion about family planning in the last 6 month before the study with their partner were the independent predictors of contraceptive use. Conclusion: The contraceptive prevalence rate is promising but efforts should continue to further increase the contraceptive coverage especially on kebeles with low coverage by targeting men and misconceptions about family planning.


The combined production of sand and gravel is the most economically important industrial mineral resource in Mississippi. In central Mississippi, including the Jackson metropolitan area, most gravel used in construction projects comes from pre-loess (Pleistocene) terrace deposits of the ancestral Mississippi River. Shallow drilling has been the primary method used to investigate depth to (and thickness of) gravel deposits in the region. A field test was conducted in Yazoo County, Mississippi, near an active gravel mine to test the feasibility of using shear-wave (S-wave) seismic reflection and downhole seismic data to characterize the gravel resources in the area. The shear-wave seismic reflection data were acquired along fixed spreads (1-m station spacing) using single-component (horizontal) geophones, a 1.8kg sledgehammer/I-beam seismic energy source, and a 24-channel engineering seismograph, near the location of a test well at the site. Field records showed a strong shallow reflection arrival correlating with the top of gravel at ~9 m depth and the downhole data confirmed a strong S-wave velocity contrast at the loess-gravel boundary. Additional seismic reflection tests, conducted at other locations in the area, were used to detect the presence of local gravel deposits and characterize its occurrence.


Long-term studies were used to examine (1) contrasting time scales and mechanisms of structural variations within two benthic communities and (2) the usefulness of long data sets for evaluating human impact. A 10-year study of a San Francisco Bay mudflat, the details of which are reported elsewhere, has revealed large short-term (on the order of months) variations in species abundances within a community composed predominantly of opportunistic species. The study site, located in a highly urbanized estuary, is subject to the influence of a nearby sewage-treatment facility. However, rapid changes in population size of the common species, in part due to periodic natural habitat disturbance, impedes the detection of anthropogenic influences on community composition. Only a very long-term data set may provide evidence of progressive change. Data collected for a 20-year period on the benthic community at 200 m depth in the main basin of Puget Sound, an environment subject to little apparent habitat disturbance show that numerical abundance of the common species can also change markedly. Here, however, numerical dominance shifts from one species to another at irregular, multiyear intervals. Recent increases in two heretofore rare species, and a significant increase in total numbers of individuals suggest that long-term changes may be occurring in this community. These two long-term data sets demonstrate the importance of measuring both the amplitude and the periodicity of fluctuations in population size of aquatic species as well as long-term fluctuations and patterns in environmental factors before attempting to demonstrate the effect of anthropogenic influences on aquatic communities. The results of these studies also demonstrate the usefulness of long-term data sets for revealing the potential importance of interactions among species in determining abundance patterns in the soft-bottom benthos.


Cancer incidence in the Falkland Islands, 1989–2000, was compared with rates in England and Wales, from which most Islanders originate. Colon and rectum cancer incidence was significantly raised 1989–93 but greatly reduced after 1994, when colonoscopic screening in high-risk families and sigmoidoscopic screening in the general population were introduced. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com


The artistic development of children goes through different developmental stages. The age when each stage appears is set roughly, as children pass through them differently - some faster than the others. Furthermore, some children develop more substages within each stage, while some of them do not. This means that the artistic development occurs in a similar manner in all children, but each child experiences it differently. Children's genes, environment and one's own activity influence how each child passes through stages. Therefore, it is interesting to observe the differences and similarities of the artistic development of children who come from the same environment and those who share a similar genetic basis, like siblings and especially twins, triplets, etc. Even though there are many researches concerning the field of artistic development, not many researches were published that deal with identical and fraternal twins or triplets, because there lacks a sufficient sample. Therefore, a comparison of the artistic development of triplets was the main topic of this dissertation. In theoretical part the stages of children's artistic development were analysed based on the existing studies. Then, previous findings of the researches of the artistic development in identical twins were presented. The empirical part focused on a case study of triplets (aged from 1 to 12 years). Two of them are identical, one fraternal. All triplets are from the same family and live in the same environment. The identical twins have the same genes, while the third sister shares approximately 50% of the same genes. The drawings by them, which have the same theme and were drawn at the same time, were artistically analysed and compared according to the parameters of visual language. Based on that the similarities and differences were determined according to each stage of artistic development. We were especially curious how the identical triplets' artistic creativity differs in relation to the fraternal triplet's creativity. The identical twins have the same genes and the same environment, but also each their own will, while the fraternal triplet has partly different genes, shares the same environment as they do, but her own will. According to the existing research and literature, a study was made on how differences and similarities in the artistic development of triplets can be contributed to genes, environment, and one's own activity.


Background Biomarkers are needed that identify patients with antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). The goal of this study was to evaluate the utility of urinary metabolomics for early noninvasive detection of AMR in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. Methods Urine samples (n = 396) from a prospective, observational cohort of 59 renal transplant patients with surveillance or indication biopsies were assayed for 133 unique metabolites by quantitative mass spectrometry. Samples were classified according to Banff criteria for AMR and partial least squares discriminant analysis was used to identify associated changes in metabolite patterns by creating a composite index based on all 133 metabolites. Results Urine samples of patients with (n = 40) and without AMR (n = 278) were analyzed and a classifier for AMR was identified (area under receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.77-0.91; P = 0.006). Application of the classifier to "indeterminate" samples (samples that partially fulfilled Banff criteria for AMR; n = 65) yielded an AMR score of 0.19 ± 0.15, intermediate between scores for AMR and No AMR (0.28 ± 0.14 and 0.10 ± 0.13 respectively, P ⩽ 0.001). The AMR score was associated with the presence of donor-specific antibodies, biopsy indication, Banff ct, t, ah and cg scores, and retained accuracy when applied to subclinical cases (creatinine, <25% increase from baseline) or had minimal or no transplant glomerulopathy (Banff cg0-1). Exploratory classifiers that segregated samples based on concurrent T cell–mediated rejection (TCMR) identified overlapping metabolite signatures between AMR and TCMR, suggesting similar pathophysiology of tissue injury. Conclusions These preliminary findings identify a urine metabolic classifier for AMR. Independent validation is needed to verify its utility for accurate, noninvasive AMR detection.


Background & Objectives: Thyroid malignancy constitutes about 1 % of all organ malignancies and approximately 1530 people die of thyroid cancer each year1. This study was conducted with aim of clinical evaluation of thyroid swellings in Rajasthan(North India). Results: The highest incidences (62%) of thyroid enlargements were found in age group of 20-40 years. The extremes of ages comprises of a few cases only. Females predominated in this study 87%, ratio being 7:1. Majority (40%) of patients came with complaint of swelling of duration less than 6 months. Most common site of pathology was seen in right lobe 48%. Grave's disease was found in 4% patients.


In high-magnetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems (7 T and above), the radio frequency (RF) field shows greater inhomogeneity compared with clinical MRI systems (1.5 and 3.0 T). In multi-channel RF coils, driving each coil element with convex optimisation can reduce non-uniformity of the RF field in a region of interest. In this Letter, a periodic compressed method (PCM) and a PCM after averaging are proposed in order to reduce RF coil control time at high fields. Simulation results were obtained using a human head model in 7 and 9.4 T systems, and the results are discussed in detail.


We elucidate here the impact of multiaxial forging of Mg-2Zn-2Gd alloy on grain refinement to sub-micron regime and relate the structure to mechanical properties. As-cast and annealed samples were multiaxial forged (MAF) for a total number of two passes with a true strain of ~2/pass. Using only two passes, multiaxial forging successfully reduced the average grain size to less than a ~1 μm. When the annealed samples were forged, the yield strength increased to ~227 MPa as compared to the as-cast alloy with yield strength of ~54 MPa. The improvement in mechanical properties is attributed to the homogeneous structure obtained on annealing, which led to high degree of grain fragmentation. Annealing also led to fine distribution of precipitates, which significantly improved strength and hardness. The Rockwell hardness (HRE) was ~88 for annealed and forged alloy in relation to ~55 for the as-cast alloy.


The effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the capacity for anchorage-independent growth of chemically treated rat hepatic epithelial cells has been investigated. We have performed the studies using 16 clonally derived cell strains which represented single cell-derived subpopulations of a heterogeneous rat hepatic epithelial cell line that had been tumorigenically transformed by 11 repeated treatments with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. The results can be summarized as follows. (a) Secondary clonal subpopulations isolated from the colonies formed by these strains in soft agar subsequently and invariably acquired markedly enhanced colony-forming efficiencies as compared to their parental strains. (b) EGF could enhance or induce colony-forming ability in soft agar in all of these cell strains. (c) The magnitudes of enhancement of the colony-forming efficiencies by EGF in soft agar could not be correlated with the absolute EGF-binding capacity of these cell strains. (d) The enhancement or induction of the colony-forming ability by EGF was either reversible or irreversible, partially correlating with the expression of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity by the strains. These findings indicate that the cellular capacity of liver epithelial cells to grow anchorage independently in soft agar medium can be graded according to the pattern of response of EGF induction of colony-forming ability. These grades may reflect the level of neoplastic transformation of these cells. Moreover during the multistep transformation of rat hepatic epithelial cells by a chemical carcinogen, EGF can be used to reveal the presence of altered cells which have acquired partial capacity for the anchor-age-independent growth property. This property may constitute an additional identifiable early step of the neoplastic transformation of these cells.


As of 2016, 1.6 billion people around the globe lacked proper shelter and of these, one billion lived in informal settlements, also called slums, according to data collected by the United Nations (UN-Habitat 2016). Investigative journalist Katherine Boo spent four years, between 2007 and 2011, interviewing and shadowing the residents of one such slum on the outskirts of Mumbai. Her goal was to draw attention to socio-economic inequality (Boo, 2014 pp. 247-248), but in the course of collecting data about the consequences of poverty and residents' attempts to rise out of it, she also recorded information about their moral choices, actions and motivations. This paper examines the evidence that Boo provided in her 2014 nonfiction book about this slum, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, and codifies the complex moral system of its inhabitants – a morality that puts to shame those from the higher echelons of society who interact with them.


Group theory of the Morse potential.- Four Euclidean conformal group approach to the multiphoton processes in the H-atom.- Landau theory, symmetry breaking and the chain criterion.- The configuration dN in cubic symmetry: A symmetry adapted weak field approach.- Group theory of the effective potential.- Bloch theorem for crystals with structural distortions.- Global symmetries of spin systems defined on abelian manifolds.- Phases and conjugacy classes.- The probability density in non relativistic quantum mechanics and the (extended) Galilei group.- Quaternionic quantum mechanics and Adler's chromostatics.- Coherent angular momentum states for the isotropic oscillator.- How to measure the canonical momentum p and operators p + f(q).- A uniqueness result for the segal quantization of a classical system with symmetries.- On the singular points of the matrix elements of the resolvent operator.- Limitations on quantum measuring processes.- Classical and quantum physics on phase space: The state spaces.- Quantum dynamical semigroups and complete positivity. An application to isotropic spin relaxation.- On geometric quantization of the rigid body.- A unified theory of simple dynamical systems.- Geometry of the time-dependent variational principle in quantum mechanics.- Variational characterization of Hamiltonian vectorfields as lie algebra of canonical diffeomorphisms.- The lie theory of extended groups in classical mechanics - Is it of relevance to quantum mechanics?.- On the structure of phase space.- Quantization as mapping and as deformation.- Metric and group structures from quantum physics.- Spontaneous symmetry breaking and restricted superposition principle.- Many-body quantum mechanics as symplectic dynamics.- A nonlinear superposition principle for Riccati equations of the conformal type.- Backlund transformations, conservation laws and lie symmetries for the generalized nonlinear Schrodinger equation.- Killing tensors and variable separation for Hamilton-Jacobi equations.- Lie pseudogroups and gauge theory.- Conformal invariance and symmetry breaking for the one-dimensional wave equation.- The flavour sequence and superselection rules.- The Zitterbewegung of the electron and its compact phase space.- New experimental evidence for a new interpretation of flavor SU(3).- Baryon magnetic moments in broken SU(6).- The Racah-Wigner algebra and the masses of exotic hadrons.- Simple construction of a relativistic wave equation with arbitrary mass and spin and belinfante's 1/S-conjecture.- Poincare group, symplectic group, and relativistic extended hadrons consisting of spin 1/2 quarks.- An operator S matrix theory of the strongly interacting particles.- Generalized Galilei invariant partial wave expansions of the scattering amplitude for collisions between two particles with arbitrary spin.- Ternary algebras as the basis of a dynamical theory of subconstituents.- Solitons as sections in non trivial bundles.- Effects of heavy colored higgs scalars in grand unified theories.- Categories of nonlinear group realizations: A possible explanation for the multiple states of charge.- Classical solutions of non-linear ?-models and their quantum fluctuations.- Higgs representations for SO(n) gauges theories.- Multivortex configurations in the Abelian Higgs model.- Quark confinement in field theories with discrete gauge symmetry Z(3).- Proliferation of effective fields by spontaneous symmetry breakdown.- Explicit solutions for the scalar coupled Yang-Mills system in Minkowski space.- Dynamical supersymmetry SU(6/4) in nuclei.- Group theory of the IBA and its applications.- Bases for irreps of U(6) and three body problems.- Intrinsic sphape of nuclei.- Group theory and nuclear high spin phenomena.- SU3 symmetry in resonating group calculations. Toward a microscopic theory of 12C + 12C molecular resonances.- Collective motion, composite particle structure, and symplectic groups in nuclei.- Group theory and confrontation of nuclear collective models.- Matrix elements of generators of U(6) in a U(6)?U(3)?U(2) basis.- Hartree-Fock one-body dynamics and U(n) co-adjoint orbits.- Group-theoretical aspects of the many-body problem in nuclear theory.- The continuing quest for exact solutions of Einstein's field eouations - - new goals for the eighties.- All non-twisting N's with cosmological constant.- Can quantum effects prevent spacetime collapse?.- Complex plane representation of the Geroch group and a proof of a geroch conjecture.- The Geroch group and soliton solutions of the stationary axially symmetric Einstein's equations.- Geometry of projective asymptotic twistor space.- A truly relativistic approach of the concept of time.- Bases in Sp(2n) representation space.- Semiunitary projective representations of non-connected lie groups: A criterion for the choice of the unitary subgroup.- SU(mn) ? SU(m) x SU(n) isoscalar factors and S(f1+f2) ? S(f1) x S(f2) isoscalar factors.- Structure of enveloping algebras of low-rank groups.- Computer programs for the reduction of symmetrised nth powers of space group irreducible representations using gard's subgroup method.- Some remarks on the uniqueness and reality of Clebsch-Gordan coefficients for corepresentations.- On some special relations involving 3-jm symbols.- Two problems related to the Stone-von Neumann-Mackey uniqueness theorem.- Non-complex representations and their relation to antiunitary symmetry.- Representation theory of compact groups.- Representation theory of compact groups / Shift operators for discrete unitary representations of O(p,q).- Representation theory of compact groups / Maximal Abelian subalgebras of sp(2n,?) and their applications in physics.- Representation theory of compact groups / Polynomial space group tensors.- A permutation for SUn consistent with duality.- Integral transform representation of SL (2,R).- The theory of G? supermanifolds.- Casimir operations and the relations of the simplest supersymmetric superalgebra.- On realizations of graded lie algebras and on properties of d-polynomials.- On gauge formulations of gravitation theories.- Lagrangian formalism for superfields with internal symmetry.- Causal propagation in second order Lorentz-invariant wave equations.- The exceptional group E8 for grand unification.- Completely integrable N-body problems in three-dimension and their relativistic generalization.- Ward-Takashi identities as a necessary and sufficient condition for gauce invariance.- Supersymmetric generalization of Riemannian symmetric pairs.- Composite gauge fields and Riemannian geometry.- Gauge-theory ghosts and unitarity - Progress in the geometrical treatment.- Color in internal supersymmetry unification.- Canonical (possibly Lagrangian) realizations of the Poincare' group with increasing mass-spin trajectories.- Similarity analysis of wave propagation in axially nonlinear nonhomogeneous systems.


Mark Gillem has produced a compelling study of the planning and execution of the American empire's diasporic communities the sprawling military bases that have mushroomed in response to the imperial reach of the United States. The intrusive nature of these military outposts, tempered by the occasional fitful desire to address the concerns of the host society, are in Gillem's mind, an incisive reflection of the more problematic aspects of the American empire. Much like the foreign policy that has engendered the presence of troops across the globe, the nation's America towns are introspective re-creations of problematic American social and political arrangements. The America towns of his study are auto-focused, segregated and imperiously oblivious to local surroundings; they are dominated by franchises and banally standardized. A fundamental addiction to sprawl has been exacerbated in recent years by fears of terrorism. Buffer zones surround variations of these Green Zones, all of which vacillate between obliviousness and ignorance in their inevitable clash with host societies. Avoidance rather than interaction is the most salient quality of these domineering outposts. Goodwin begins his study with a survey of empires past, implying that despite periodic nods toward American exceptionalism, the American empire is mostly a modern version of prior practices. Gillem judiciously shares the blames for the pathological aspects of these outposts. Ambitious politicians, officious military commanders, as well the pervasive economic entities that have accompanied America's global reach in the civilian realm are all culpable in his mind. In fact, Gillem sees the malignant spread of such military outposts as a dialogue in which powerful forces in the host society willfully collaborate in the creation of these sprawling, wasteful enclaves. Occasionally there are erratic attempts to produce harmony with local mores and customs. But for the most part, America towns induce avoidance rather than interaction, extravagance rather than prudence. A variety of political and economic forces in host societies collude with, and profit off, these sprawling enclaves of America. Much like the dystopic exemplars of American suburbia, these military facsimiles have produced widespread environmental problems, crime, and blight, all of which are construed by host societies as affronts to local cultural mores. The sordid communities of camp followers that grow in the shadow of these outposts provide examples for some of the most troubling aspect of the uneven relationship between the military-suburban complex and its surroundings. It is here that power relations are expressed in a particularly unsavory gendered manner. Prostitution appears to be most the most sought-after commodity in the uneven exchange between host societies and American interlopers. Goodwin's study vacillates between an academic inquest and a journalistic expose'. Some might find this vacillation between different genres to be a weakness. I personally find it to be the major strength of his work as it supplies multiple angles for understanding the cultural and political impact of these outposts of the American empire. New York University Ron Robin


To examine how fibers from functionally distinct cortical zones interrelate within their target areas of the superior temporal sulcus (STS) in the rhesus monkey, separate anterograde tracers were injected in two different regions of the same hemisphere known to project to the STS. Paired injections were placed in dorsal prearcuate cortex and the caudal inferior parietal lobule (IPL), interconnected regions that are part of a hypothesized distributed network concerned with visuospatial analysis or directed attention; in a presumed auditory region of the superior temporal gyrus (STG) and in extrastriate visual cortex, the caudal IPL and lower rim of the intraparietal sulcus; and in dorsal prearcuate cortex and the STG. Overlapping and nonoverlapping projections were then examined in STS visual and polysensory areas. Prefrontal and parietal fibers directly overlapped extensively in area MST and all subdivisions of presumed polysensory cortex (areas TPOc, TPOi, and TPOr), although nonoverlapping connections were also found. Although STG and IPL fibers targeted all TPO subdivisions, connections were to nonoverlapping, but often adjacent, columns. Paired prefrontal and STG injections revealed largely nonoverlapping vertical columns of connections but substantial overlap within layers VI and I or areas TPOc and TPOi. The findings suggest that area TPO contains differently connected modules that may maintain at least initial segregation of visual versus auditory inputs. Other modules within area TPO receive directly converging input from the posterior parietal and the prefrontal cortices and may participate in a distributed cortical network concerned with visuospatial functions.


Nanosized Au/TiO2 catalysts were prepared by the deposition-precipitation method. These catalysts were evaluated by a liquid phase hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde to crotyl alcohol and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). By changing the activation atmosphere, the Au loading, and the reduction temperature we found that the dimension of the Au particles and the metal-support interaction were readily adjustable. For the Au/TiO2 catalyst reduced at 673 K with an optimal Au mass fraction of 9.2%, the mean particle size of Au was 2 nm and the initial hydrogenation rate was as high as 13.7×10-5 mol·s-1·g-1, while the maximum yield of crotyl alcohol was 69.9%. Combined with the characterization results, the superior performance of this catalyst was attributed to it having an optimal size and to its electronic modification effects on the Au nanoparticles. This was due to oxygen defects generated on the TiO2 during the reduction process.


Purpose. The purpose of this research is exploring the role of altruism, moral norm, donor's knowledge, and perceived risk in influencing the willingness of people in donating blood.Design/methodology/approach. Data is collected through survey that is guided by questionnaire. Data consists of 200 people who has intention to donate blood at Surakarta. Structural equation modeling is an approach used to examine the hypothesis.Findings. The results found that altruism, moral norm, donor's knowledge and perceived risk were variables considered important by the people in influencing the intention to donat blood. While altruism and donor's knowledge were found no relationship with the perceived risk.Implication. Findings give some recommendation to Indonesian Red Cross how to get the blood donors effectively. Implications for further research are also recommended in order to get the wider generalization.Keywords:  Blood Donor's  Intention,  Altruism,  Donor's  Knowledge,  Social Marketing.


BackgroundTo investigate the effect and possible mechanisms of total saponins from Trillium Tschonoskii Maxim. (TST) on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in rat.Methods and ResultsRats were pre-treated with TST in 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. After 14 days intragastric administration, the model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was established by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 30 min and then releasing the ligated artery for 120 min. The hemodynamic indexes, anti-oxidation index, and the anti-inflammation factors were detected. Pathological changes in myocardia tissue were observed by H&E staining. Apoptosis protein expression of caspase 3, 9, 12, AMPK, phosphorylation AMPK (p-AMPK) and Sirt1 was detected by Western blot. Pretreating the rats with TST dramatically decreased the levels of MDA, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, increased the levels of SOD and GSH-Px, and the apoptosis protein expression were all significantly decreased. In addition, the protein expression of p-AMPK and Sirt1 were markedly increased in TST pre-treated group. Furthermore, TST pre-treatment also improved the histopathological changes.ConclusionTST protect the myocardium by reducing the levels of inflammation factors, peroxides and cell apoptosis, increasing the anti-oxidase, and improving the pathological changes. The possible mechanism maybe through the activating of the AMPK/Sirt1 signaling pathway.