Coordination polymers have recently emerged as very fascinating materials due to their tunable nature. In this work, we develop a lanthanide coordination polymer (CPNP)-based turn on sensor for Hg2+ detection by employing the strategy of inner filter effect (IFE). This kind of CPNP is composed of europium ions (Eu3+) as metal centers and isophthalic acid (IPA) as bridging ligands that can sensitize the fluorescence of Eu3+. Because the excitation spectrum of Eu/IPA CPNPs greatly overlaps with the absorbance band of imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid (Im), the presence of Im can significantly quench the fluorescence of Eu/IPA CPNPs through a process of IFE. Upon the addition of Hg2+, however, the Im-quenched fluorescence of Eu/IPA CPNPs can be recovered due to the suppression of the IFE of Im through the formation of a Hg/Im complex. As a fluorescent sensor for Hg2+ detection, Eu/IPA CPNPs not only show high sensitivity up to a detection limit of 2 nM and excellent selectivity, but also possess the advantages of fast response, simple preparation procedure and flexible sensing performance. More importantly, interference from the background fluorescence of biological fluids can be efficiently eliminated via a time-resolved detection mode. The presence of the sensing strategy would be beneficial to the design of other lanthanide coordination polymer-based fluorescent sensors.


This paper discusses some of the long term objectives of cognitive robotics and some of the requirements for meeting those objectives that are still a very long way off. These include requirements for visual perception, for architectures, for kinds of learning, and for innate competences needed to drive learning and development in a variety of different environments. The work arises mainly out of research on requirements for forms of representation and architectures within the PlayMate scenario, which is a scenario concerned with a robot that perceives, interacts with and talks about 3-D objects on a tabletop, one of the scenarios in the EC-funded CoSy Robotics project.


Background Trypanosoma brucei does not respond transcriptionally to several endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress conditions, including tunicamycin or dithiothreitol, indicating the absence of a conventional unfolded protein response. This suggests divergent mechanisms for quality control (QC) of ER protein folding and export may be present in trypanosomes. As the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) represents ∼90% of trypanosome plasma membrane protein, it is possible that VSG has evolved to fold efficiently to minimize ER folding burden. Methodology/Principal Findings We demonstrate the presence of a QC system by pharmacological inhibition of the trypanosome 26S proteasome. This indicates active proteasome-mediated VSG turnover as ∼2.5 fold more VSG is recovered from cell lysates following MG132 inhibition. An in silico scan of the trypanosome genome identified 28 open reading frames likely to encode polypeptides participating in ER nascent chain maturation. By RNA interference we monitored the importance of these gene products to proliferation, VSG abundance and cell morphology. 68% of the cohort were required for normal proliferation, and depletion of most of these factors resulted in increased VSG abundance, suggesting involvement in ERQC and degradation. Conclusions/Significance The retention of genes for, and the involvement of many gene products in, VSG folding indicates a substantial complexity within the pathways required to perform this role. Counterintuitively, for a super-abundant antigen VSG is apparently made in excess. The biosynthetic excess VSG appears to be turned over efficiently by the proteasome, implying that considerable VSG is rejected by the trypanosome ERQC mechanism. Accordingly, the VSG polypeptide is not well optimized for folding, as only ∼30% attains the native state. Finally as much of the core ERQC system is functionally conserved in trypanosomes, the pathway has an ancient evolutionary origin, and was present in the last common eukaryotic ancestor.


In August 2005, Dale Coln, MD, retired from his position as medical director of pediatric surgery at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas after 18 years of service (Figure). Dr. Coln has been recognized throughout his career for his compassionate care of children and their families. He was awarded the American Academy of Pediatrics Special Achievement Award in 2001; was named "Best Doctor for Your Kids" by D Magazine for 4 years; and received the distinguished service award from Children's Medical Center of Dallas in 2002. Here, some friends from Baylor and the Dallas medical community offer their tributes.

Figure

Dr. Dale Coln in the operating room.


Focus on energy and environmental sustainability policy has put automotive research & development directed to developing high efficiency and low pollutant power train. Diffused flame controlled diesel combustion has reach its limitation and has driven R&D to explore other modes of combustions. Known effective mode of combustion to reduce emission are Low temperature combustion (LTC) and homogeneous charge combustion ignition by suppressing Nitrogen Oxide(NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM) formation. The key control to meet this requirement are chemical composition and distribution of fuel and gas during a combustion process. Most research to accomplish this goal is done by manipulating injected mass flow rate and varying indirect EGR through intake manifold. This research paper shows viable alternative direct combustion control via co-axial direct EGR injection with fuel injection process. A simulation study with OpenFOAM is conducted by varying EGR injection velocity and direct EGR injector diameter performed with under two conditions with non-combustion and combustion. n-heptane (C7H16) is used as surrogate fuel together with 57 species 290 semi-detailed chemical kinetic model developed by Chalmers University is used for combustion simulation. Simulation result indicates viability of co-axial EGR injection as a method for low temperature combustion control.


Multiple location-dependent applications of wireless sensor networks have been proposed, such as wildlife monitoring and instruction detection. A reliable and low-cost localization scheme is essential for such sensor applications. In this paper, we propose a signal-strength-based cooperative localization algorithm. Any wireless node monitors all other neighbor nodes' signals, not only from beacon nodes but also from unknown nodes. The signal strength from beacons can be used to limit the position region of the unknown node, and the signal strength from other unknown nodes is iteratively used to refine the node's position by applying greedy method. This scheme does not need labored prior training. Simulation results show that the localization precision is satisfied, and the localization error is reduced greatly compared with the traditional beacon-only-based algorithm


Recently, Pomeranz and Reddy (1994), presented a test point insertion method to improve path delay fault testability in large combinational circuits. A test application scheme was developed that allows test points to be utilized as primary inputs and primary outputs during testing. The placement of test points was guided by the number of paths and was aimed at reducing this number. Indirectly, this approach achieved complete robust path delay fault testability in very low computation times. In this paper, we use their test application scheme, however, we use more exact measures for guiding test point insertion like test generation and RD fault identification. Thus, we reduce the number of test points needed to achieve complete testability by ensuring that test points are inserted only on paths associated with path delay faults that are necessary to be tested and that are not robustly testable. Experimental results show that an average reduction of about 70% in the number of test points over the approach of Pomeranz and Reddy can be obtained.


Recently published analyses for four smoking-related diseases show that the declining excess relative risk by time quit is well fitted by the negative exponential model. These analyses estimated the half-life of this excess, that is, the time after quitting when the excess relative risk reaches half that for continuing smokers. We describe extensions of the simple model. One quantifies the decline following an exposure reduction. We show that this extension satisfactorily predicts results from studies investigating the effect of reducing cigarette consumption. It may also be relevant to exposure reductions following product-switching. Another extension predicts changes in excess relative risk occurring following multiple exposure changes over time. Suitable published epidemiological data are unavailable to test this, and we recommend its validity to be investigated using large studies with data recorded on smoking habits at multiple time points in life. The basic formulae described assume that the excess relative risk for a continuing smoker is linearly related to exposure and that the half-life is invariant of age. We describe model adaptations to allow for nonlinear dose-response and for age-dependence of the half-life. The negative exponential model, though relatively simple, appears to have many potential uses in epidemiological research for summarizing variations in risk with exposure changes.


Various aspects of immunity in cystic fibrosis were studied in 24 children and compared with the results in 13 children with other types of chronic bronchial infection. The complement was not significantly altered: number of lymphocytes, delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions, number of T (an B) cells, phytohaemagglutinin lymphocyte stimulation were virtually normal. Only the phagocytic activities (chemotaxis, phagocytosis, bacteridal activity) were altered in 20 out of 24 patients with cystic fibrosis and in a comparable percentage of patients with other types of chronic bronchial infection. No serum inhibitory factor was found and leukocyte enzyme activities were normal. This deficiency of phagocytic functions seems to be, at least in part, secondary to infection.


Generally speaking, the mainstream viewpoint regarding the compilation date of "Seven Major Discourses" in the Plain Questions infers them being compiled in the Eastern Han Dynasty according to the application of Gan Zhi Ji Nian (the way of numbering the years based on heavenly stems and earthly branches) in those works. This paper attempts to prove that Gan Zhi Ji Nian began its application in the 5th century B.C. from three aspects of evidence, i.e., history, chronology, and poetry. Therefore, the upper limit of the compilation date of the "Seven Major Discourses" may be traced back to the period of the Warring States.


The North Atlantic deep-water polynoid worm Neopolynoe chondrocladiae is involved in an exceptional symbiotic relationship with two hosts: the carnivorous sponges Chondrocladia robertballardi and Chondrocladia virgata. While this is an obligate symbiotic relationship, its real nature is unclear. We used a multidisciplinary approach to narrow down the type of symbiotic relationship between symbiont and hosts. Molecular connectivity analyses using COI and 16S suggest that N. chondrocladiae has high potential for dispersal, connecting sites hundreds of kilometres apart, likely aided by oceanographic currents. Microbial analyses on different anatomical parts of five Chondrocladia species suggest that the presence of the worm in C. robertballardi does not affect the microbiome of the sponge. MicroCT analysis on N. chondrocladiae show that it has dorsally oriented parapodia, which might prevent the worm from getting trapped in the sponge. A faecal pellet recovered from the worm suggests that the polynoid feeds on the crustacean prey captured by the sponge, something corroborated by our stable isotope analysis. Light and confocal microscopy images suggest that N. chondrocladiae elytra produce bioluminescence. We propose that the worm might use bioluminescence as a lure for prey (increasing the food available for both the sponge and the polynoid) and thus fuelling a mutualistic relationship.


In a previous work we showed that large non-Gaussianities and nonscale-invariant distortions in the cosmic microwave background power spectrum can be generated in hybrid inflation models, due to the contributions of the tachyon (waterfall) field to the second order curvature perturbation. Here we clarify, correct, and extend those results. We show that large non-Gaussianity occurs only when the tachyon remains light throughout inflation, whereas n=4 contamination to the spectrum is the dominant effect when the tachyon is heavy. We find constraints on the parameters of warped-throat brane-antibrane inflation from non-Gaussianity. For F-term and D-term inflation models from supergravity, we obtain nontrivial constraints from the spectral distortion effect. We also establish that our analysis applies to complex tachyon fields.


"This paper has examined the fertility of immigrants who arrived in Canada at various periods in the recent past. Cumulative and current fertility measures derived from 1961, 1971, 1981 and 1986 censuses have indicated that immigrants tend to have children at a lower rate during the periods when they are immigrating, but at a higher rate after immigrating. However, once they have resided in the host country for a certain length of time, their fertility may either converge with that of the native-born population or may become even lower." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND SPA)


Human-robot interaction (HRI) is an important topic in robotics, especially in assistive robotics. Here we propose a smart assisted living (SAIL) system to help elderly people, patients, and the disabled. In this paper, we address the human intention recognition problem and design a hidden Markov models (HMM) based online recognition algorithm to classify hand gestures. The data is collected by a single inertial sensor worn on a finger of the subject. We implemented a dynamic duration segmentation method based on the FFT and investigated the training method related to the recognition decisions and accuracy. Several hand movements are performed to represent different commands. The obtained results prove the effectiveness of our method.


Disability is a major public health problem, particularly in developing countries, where there is a close link between poverty and disability. The complex nature of disability allows it to be addressed from a number of different perspectives. Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is a holistic approach towards disability which is currently being supported in many parts of the world, including Papua New Guinea (PNG). Unfortunately CBR is frequently implemented in resource-poor contexts, which limits the scope for research. As a result little effort is put into determining a need before CBR programs are established, or into evaluating CBR programs following implementation. This research in the Middle Ramu, Madang Province, tested a method for acquiring information for the purposes of CBR planning in PNG. The method used an adapted form of the Ten Questions Screen for Childhood Disability. Quantitative and qualitative methods were further utilized to determine the types of disability presenting, the biomedical and perceived causes of the various disabilities, help-seeking behaviours, the disabled individual's participation in village activities, and the needs of both disabled individuals and their caregivers. A total of 158 disabled individuals were identified in a population of 4946 people and 20 in-depth interviews were conducted. The data obtained were analyzed to formulate an appropriate 'CBR package' that would cater for the specific needs of this population in the Middle Ramu. Evaluation of the basic survey method revealed that it was more sensitive than other methods previously tried in PNG, with an overall disability prevalence of 3.2% obtained. Qualitative methods allowed the fieldworkers to get a much deeper insight into the feelings and perceptions of disabled individuals. The methods tested for this research in the Middle Ramu could have application for CBR workers in other parts of PNG.


A-Level Game Programming is designed to help students who wish to create a game for the coursework of their A-Level Computing qualification. However, it is suitable for anyone who wishes to learn game programming! Using this book, you will get a short introduction to the Visual Basic programming language. Next, you will refine your new-found skills by creating three cool games/applications following the examples in the book. By the end, you should feel confident as a programmer, and ready to tackle more advanced material! And the best part? No experience of programming is required! The final section of the book is concerned with the A-Level Computing qualification. It provides helpful tips to ensure you get the best possible grade for your code.


The methods for the investigation of audiocontrollers converters without measuring devices and special stands are proposed. The computer and plugged in investigative audiocontroller offer to use for these purpose. The investigation methods well-founded of the MATLAB package are used for the modeling ideal analog to digital converter (ADC) work and calculating the effective number of bits (ENOB) of real ADC, and evaluating audiocontroller noise characteristics. The signal recording level and digital to analog converter (DAC) influence for ADC ENOB is also investigated in this article.Possible errors of ADC ENOB calculations are analysed. Adjusting of the methods examples are presented.


Purpose Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common condition in the aging population. However, limited information exists on discrepancies between LSS symptoms and imaging findings and/or prognostic factors of LSS, as well as the relationship between changes in LSS symptoms and quality of life (QoL) during the natural course of LSS. The purpose of the current study was to clarify any changes in clinically diagnosed LSS at a one-year follow-up, and identify its prognostic factors, using a community-dwelling cohort. Participants and methods In this study, the presence of LSS, its associated comorbidities, and the status of QoL pertaining to general health and low-back pain were assessed in 1,080 community-dwelling volunteers. The same assessment was carried out a year after the initial survey. Clinically diagnosis as LSS (LSS-positive) was determined by a validated diagnostic support tool in the form of a self-administered, self-reported history questionnaire. QoL was assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and the Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire. Results Among subjects who were LSS-positive in the initial assessment, 54% were clinically diagnosed as negative for LSS (LSS-negative) after the one-year period, whereas 10% of those who were initially diagnosed as LSS-negative changed to LSS-positive during the same period. With the improvement or deterioration of LSS-positive/negative status, low-back pain-related QoL and some components of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey similarly improved or deteriorated. Decisive prognostic factors of LSS-positive status were not determined at the one-year follow-up. Conclusion Approximately half of the subjects who had initially been diagnosed as LSS-positive converted to LSS-negative after one year. Prognostic factors of LSS-positive diagnosis after one-year follow-up were not detected.


Subarctic wetlands that exist as bogs, fens, swamps, marshes and shallow water, comprise 3% of the Canadian landscape. They have been recognized as important ecotones between the arctic tundra and boreal forest. Recently, there has been growing research interest in the hydrological characteristics of arctic and subarctic wetland systems in the need for more efficiently conserving wetlands and assessing climate change related impacts. This research targets the Deer River watershed near Churchill, Manitoba, which represents a typical subarctic wetland system in the Hudson Bay Lowlands. An extensive field investigation was first conducted during the summer from 2006 to 2008 to facilitate in-depth understanding of the wetland hydrology. The results provided evidence to indicate a strong relationship between air temperature and evapotranspiration. Permafrost table, soil moisture and streamflow were monitored and analyzed to advance the acknowledgement of the climatic, geographical and hydrological characteristics of subarctic wetlands. To quantify the water cycle and further validate the findings from field investigation, a Canadian distributed hydrological model, WATFLOOD, was employed to simulate the hydrologic processes in the targeted watershed. The results demonstrated that snowmelt in the spring season (April-June) was the major source of water supplement of subarctic wetlands. Most light and moderate rainfall events in summer (July-September) generated relatively small amounts of runoff which can be related to canopy interception, depression storage, porous soil layers, impermeable permafrost and intensive evapotranspiration. A lag of 2-8 days between the peaks of rainfall and stream runoff was observed in both summer and fall. This study is expected to benefit wetland conservation and the assessment of climate change related impacts in the Canadian northern regions.


The recent successful launch of the Orbital Micro Systems GEMS-1 IOD (Global Environmental Monitoring System In-orbit Demonstrator) satellite carrying the University of Colorado’s MiniRad 118-GHz imager/sounder instrument provides the basis for a new means of observing atmospheric precipitation, temperature, and related state variables. GEMS-1 supports an 8-channel passive microwave radiometer operating at the 118.7503 GHz oxygen resonance with cross-track scanning imaging system providing cross- and along track Nyquist sampling at 17 km 3dB spatial resolution. It is precisely calibrated using cold space views along with and an on board reference, yielding the first low-cost commercial weather satellite imagery. GEMS is the first of a constellation of approximately 50 such satellites of progressively improving resolution and spectral coverage that will collectively provide Nyquist time-sampling of precipitation and related weather variables on a global basis, and using microwave frequencies will provide such information probing through most cloud cover. Presented will be first light imagery and on-orbit performance data from the GEMS-1 mission, including validation data on the satellite brightness temperatures. Products will include calibrated multispectral imagery, temperature profiles, retrieved rain rate, and precipitation cell top altitude. The expansion of the GEMS-1 mission to the full GEMS constellation will be outlined.


The teleology of our research is to propose a solution to the request of " innovative, creative teaching " , proposing a methodology to educate creative Students in a society characterized by multiple reference points and hyper dynamic knowledge, continuously subject to reviews and discussions. We apply a multi-prospective Instructional Design Model (PENTHA ID Model), defined and developed by our research group, which adopts a hybrid pedagogical approach, consisting of elements of didactical connectivism intertwined with aspects of social constructivism and enactivism. The contribution proposes an e-course structure and approach, applying the theoretical design principles of the above mentioned ID Model, describing methods, techniques, technologies and assessment criteria for the definition of lesson modes in an e-course.


Over the years, before the invention of software, some experiments especially direct base experiments had minimum limits to conduct compared to now, due to some possible issues surrounding the process, such as high cost, hazard, and time waste, even some experiments are impossible to run due to complex data involved, which then gave rise to the invention of software that aims in making some of these experiments flexible and safe. This research involved thermal experimentation, mathematical analyses in a MATLAB environment, and data comparison of the experiment and mathematical analysis results of an epoxy-reinforced composite. Five samples were developed (E, S1, S2, S3, and S4) using epoxy reinforced with coconut shell fiber, silicon carbide (SiC), and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) in different proportions and compositions, applying hand-layup and compression molding. Thermal conductivity, diffusivity, degradation, and specific heat capacity tests were conducted using suitable apparatus and ASTM standard methods. The results indicated the minimum thermal properties of polymer material seen in sample 'E', due to no reinforced composite. Polymer material in sample E was improved in sample S1, where coconut shell fiber as municipal solid waste was used as reinforcement, possessing satisfactory thermal strength. Natural synthetic fibers (Al2O3 and SiC) used in this research indicated maximum thermal strength seen from samples S2 - S4, due to ceramic properties and close bond microstructural formation of synthetic fibers. 2020 Commercial License Model (CLM) MATLAB software was used to develop mathematical analyses from the experimental data, which when compared, the mathematical analysis results indicated 95% confident bounds on the root mean square error (RMSE) result having the same graphical trend as the experimental result.


This is the final report of a series on our study of the equilibrium function of school children in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Standard values on four kinds of screening tests were proposed as boundaries dividing well developed and underdeveloped equilibrium functions.As screening tests, the one foot standing test in the air plain position with eyes open, the walking test with eyes closed, the twice-rotating stepping test with eyes closed, and the railwalking test with eyes open were carried out. In the fifth report, it was reported that there was no significant correlation between the values of the above mentioned screening tests and those of selective equilibration tests such as the blind-folded vertical writing test, statokinesimetry test while standing erect, or the spontaneous, positional and positioning nystagmus test, in the same test subject.Both sets of these screening tests were examined in 225 school children in one primary school, Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa. The relationship between the value of the selective tests in the normal group, whose results on all screening test remained within the standard value, and those of the other group, which showed a worse value than the standard value in the screening tests in school was reexamined in this study. The matching of sex and grade was tried.No correlation between the result of the screening tests and that of the selective tests was statistically confirmed.It was the conclusion of our study that the results of the screening tests should be used to detect children with underdeveloped equilibrium functions and to encourage them to improve their equilibrium functions in physical education class.


E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Department of Specialist Health Services The Norwegian Board of Health Supervision He contributed to the conception and design of the study and to the analysis and interpretation of the data and had the main responsibility for drafting the manuscript. Lars T. Johansen (born 1958) is a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology and a senior adviser. The author has completed the ICMJE form and reports no conflicts of interest.


It is difficult to think of another area of literary discourse in which a critic has brought such a profound influence to bear, as Theodor W. Adorno has, in the area of literature concerning the Shoah. It is also difficult to think of another area of literary discourse in which a critic's pronouncements have been misinterpreted so often and to such a degree as have Adorno's reflections concerning the status of art after the Shoah. Reference here is of course being made to Adorno's (supposed) 'dictum' concerning the barbarity of poetry after Auschwitz. The principle aims of this paper are to restore his reflections to their argumentative context and to restore the dialectical tension conferred on them in the original text. I will examine what I have termed the "after-Auschwitz" aporia, so evident in Adorno's reflections on post-Shoah art and yet overlooked all too frequently in the research literature. Defined as an irresolvable impasse as a result of equally plausible yet inconsistent premises the term "aporia" succinctly captures the essence of Adorno's deliberations on post-Shoah art: the imperative to represent the egregious crimes and the impossibility of doing so. I will demonstrate that Adorno's pronouncements were never meant as silence-inducing taboos, but rather as concrete theoretical reflections upon the moral status of art in the aftermath of the Shoah and as warnings of the moral peril involved in the artistic rendering of mass extermination.


This short review deals with the role of the pathologist in a liver transplant program and summarizes the main histopathologic features of liver graft injury. The role of the pathologist is pivotal, first, during diagnostic work-up of patients prior to liver transplantation and then after transplantation in the differential diagnosis of liver graft dysfunction. The histologic features of early graft dysfunction, acute and chronic rejection, viral and bacterial infection and toxic injury are briefly described. The frequency of simultaneous pathologic processes in the transplant patient is emphasized in regard to the need of information exchange between the physician and the pathologist.


The scientific, technological, and application challenges that arise from the mutual interaction of developmental robotics and computational human behavior understanding give rise to two different perspectives. Robots need to be capable to learn dynamically and incrementally how to interpret, and thus understand multimodal human behavior, which means behavior analysis can be performed for developmental robotics. On the other hand, behavior analysis can also be performed through developmental robotics, since developmental social robots can offer stimulating opportunities for improving scientific understanding of human behavior, and especially to allow a deeper analysis of the semantics and structure of human behavior. The contributions to the Special Issue explore these two perspectives.


BACKGROUND
Procathepsin D (pCD) secreted by cancer cells, increases proliferation, metastasis and progression of breast cancer, however its role in lung cancer is still unclear. The purified pCD and its synthetic activation peptide (AP) have shown similar proliferative effect on various cancer cell lines. The aim of this study is to clarify the role ofpCD and its AP in lung cancer by stable expression of pCD and pCD lacking its AP, in NCI-H23 lung cancer cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The stable transfected clones were tested for cell proliferation, invasion and growth in nude mice. The effect of exogenous addition of purified pCD and its mutant proteins was also analyzed by proliferation assay.

RESULTS
The invasion and proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, demonstrated that the expression of pCD enhances the carcinogenic properties of NCI-H23 cells and that the AP is essential for these activities. Exogenous addition of purified proteins on various lung cancer cell lines showed that neither catalytic activity nor glycosylation are involved in the growth-promoting activity.

CONCLUSION
This is the first report of pCD cDNA expression in lung cancer cells that enhances the growth and invasion of these cells both in vitro and in vivo.


Photosystems I and II drive oxygenic photosynthesis. This requires biochemical systems with remarkable properties, allowing these membrane-bound pigment-protein complexes to oxidise water and produce NAD(P)H. The protein environment provides a scaffold in the membrane on which cofactors are placed at optimum distance and orientation, ensuring a rapid, efficient trapping and conversion of light energy. The polypeptide core also tunes the redox potentials of cofactors and provides for unidirectional progress of various reaction steps. The electron transfer pathways use a variety of inorganic and organic cofactors, including amino acids. This review sets out some of the current ideas and data on the cofactors and polypeptides of photosystems I and II.


This work presents an approach to compute dryer energy efficiency using air flowrate step responses and establish a link between drying energy efficiency and process controllability. The approach is based on the temperature drop between the dryer inlet and outlet air under adiabatic conditions and so decouples water evaporation from heat loss and product heating effects on dryer temperature drop. As such, the computation is accurate even for dryers with significant heat losses where the traditional use of actual temperature drop measurements is grossly inaccurate. The approach is tested and verified on two experimental case studies involving significant heat losses: the first, a continuous fluidized-bed dryer (from literature); the second, a conventional and zeolite wheel-assisted batch dryer designed in the current study.


A novel label-free amplified fluorescent sensing scheme based on target-responsive dumbbell probe-mediated rolling circle amplification (D-RCA) has been developed for sensitive and selective detection of mercuric ions. In this strategy, we reported an ingeniously designed dumbbell-shaped DNA probe (D-DNA) that integrates target-binding, amplification and signaling within one multifunctional design. An Hg2+–primer DNA (Hg2+–p-DNA) was designed to be complementary to the region of D-DNA but with T–T mismatches. The mismatched Hg2+–primer cannot initiate the RCA reaction in the absence of Hg2+. Stable T–Hg2+–T can be formed in the presence of target Hg2+, thus it induces the elongation and amplification reaction by a RCA mechanism, resulting in numerous cascade dumbbell probes forming duplex G-rich quadruplex oligomeric structures . Upon addition of N-methyl mesoporphyrin IX (NMM), the signal reporter, a strong interaction between the G-quadruplex and NMM brings about a great fluorescence enhancement. In this way, we successfully converted each Hg2+-triggered D-RCA reaction event into detectable fluorescent signals, which were significantly amplified by RCA in an isothermal fashion. This approach can detect 80 fM of mercuric ions, much lower levels than previously reported biosensors, and exhibits high discrimination ability. More significantly, the dynamic range of D-RCA is extremely large, covering 5 orders of magnitude. We also demonstrate Hg2+ quantification with this highly sensitive and selective D-RCA strategy in real samples.


Communications officer of library is to represent an interaction process among one with others in the effort to change attide, opinion, behavior between communicator (officer of library) with communicant (consumer of library) by using verbal and nonverbal communications. The research method of the thesis is descriptive or qualitative research. Research place in done at library of private collage In Banjarmasin City those are Library Of UNISKA, STIE PANCASETIA, and STMIK Indonesia Banjarmasin. The goals of this research is to know communications form of any kind of which in using by provider that is librarian, and officer of library to consumer library. The form of communication any kind of which dominating in order to make consumer of libray can exploit amenity of library exsistensi maximaly, any kind of able to make library in order to yield the library which goes forward on continuing. As for informan which in obtaining from the head of library, librarian, officer of library, consumer of library that exist in library of college of private sector in Banjarmasin. Result of research shows that librarians use communications verbal and nonverbal communications. The form of communications officers of library in doing activity everyday using nonverbal communications. The form of communication of library in doing activity everyday using nonverbal communications. Observations, interviu, documentations (triangulation) . The activity everyday dominating comminacations which being used in verbal and nonverbal communications. In fact, library activity yield developed lbrary in continuing with the of library, librarian, officer of library, consumer of library is done continously.


The Brf1 subunit of the central RNA polymerase (pol) III transcription initiation factor TFIIIB is bipartite; its N-terminal TFIIB-related half is principally responsible for recruiting pol III to the promoter and for promoter opening near the transcriptional start site, whereas its pol III-specific C-terminal half contributes most of the affinities that hold the three subunits of TFIIIB together. Here, the principal attachment site of Brf1 for the Bdp1 subunit of TFIIIB has been mapped by a combination of structure-informed, site-directed mutagenesis and photochemical protein-DNA cross-linking. A 66-amino acid segment of Brf1 is shown to serve as a two-sided adhesive surface, with the side chains projecting away from its extended interface with TATA-binding protein anchoring Bdp1 binding. An extensive collection of N-terminal, C-terminal, and internal deletion proteins has been used to demarcate the interacting Bdp1 domain to a 66-amino acid segment that includes the SANT domain of this subunit and is phylogenetically the most conserved region of Bdp1.


Understanding creativity from a decolonial perspective means removing the focus from the individual as innovator (as well as its profit-oriented goal), and instead highlighting the ongoing networked relationships among people, technologies, and spaces that often occur with creative practices. This creative process is not concerned with the creation of new things. Rather, it is about the mobility and networking of resources that can improve lives and facilitate survival strategies. In order to understand how creative practices occur in non-traditional contexts outside the colonial Global North perspective, we have developed a PubPub repository to crowdsource examples of creativity. PubPub is an open-source, web publishing platform that prioritizes community-generated and knowledge sharing. It is a low-barrier entry method to share information and knowledge within one's community of learners—in our case, individuals interested in creative practices that occur outside traditional corporate and profit-oriented domains.

In this presentation, we will describe the conceptualization and development of our online repository, focusing on how open science knowledge and crowdsourced information can help decolonize creative processes. Our project will accomplish four main goals: (1) explain this concept of creativity for a broad and non-academic audience, (2) share previous research and materials about this topic, (3) ask the audience to contribute to the collection, and (4) display the crowdsourced examples from the audience. In building our PubPub housing, we were especially interested in collecting publicly-identified instances of creativity to support the development and accessibility of a broad collection of examples found across the world.


Phenoxy radicals are expected to play an important role in the thermal decomposition of lignin. At high enough temperatures, the dissociation to cyclopentadienyl radicals plus carbon monoxide dominates over bimolecular channels. While earlier experimental and theoretical studies agree on the mechanism, the experimental data suggest a substantially lower overall barrier than that found in theoretical studies. To address this discrepancy, we performed electronic structure calculations at the CBS-QB3 level of theory and at a modified version of it to construct the relevant portion of the C6H5O potential energy surface (PES). The new results are in good agreement with previous studies. We then used the molecular information to calculate thermodynamic properties of the reactants and activated complexes, the high-pressure rate constants, and the pressure dependence. Three different methods were employed for the last step: the quantum version of the Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel/modified strong collision theory approach by Dean (J Phys Chem 1985, 89, 4600–4608), the stochastic treatment by Barker (Int J Chem Kinet 2001, 33, 232–245) using the MultiWell package, and the master equation program Unimol by Gilbert and coworkers. Theory of Unimolecular and Recombination Reactions. Oxford, Blackwell Scientific Publications. All methods predict the experimentally determined phenoxy decomposition rate constant to be in the falloff region. This explains the almost 10 kcal mol−1 difference between reported activation energies and calculated barriers. Both the Lin and Lin (J Phys Chem 1986, 90, 425–431) and Frank et al. (Proc Combust Inst 1994, 25, 833–840) data can be reproduced within the assumed uncertainty limits without any adjustments of the PES. We also report on falloff behavior in the CO elimination from methyl-, hydroxy-, and methoxy-substituted phenoxy radicals in the para position and compare it to that of the unsubstituted phenoxy radical. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 75–89, 2012


The present invention even after the high temperature and humidity, exposure to the environment, to provide a circuit board, a display device and an electronic apparatus comprising a thin film transistor, a thin film transistor capable of maintaining the high properties as a challenge. The transistor of the present invention is in contact with the source and drain electrodes 3 and 4 and, source and drain electrodes 3 and the organic semiconductor layer provided in contact with (4) (5) and an organic semiconductor layer (5) and provided the gate insulating layer 6 and, with the gate insulating layer 6 provided with a gate electrode (7) isolated with respect to the source and drain electrodes 3 and 4, a gate electrode 7, a source electrode, with at least one of the 3 and the drain electrode 4 is composed of a porous film composed mainly of a conductive material. A thin film transistor, circuit board, a display device, an electronic apparatus, a source electrode, a drain electrode, an organic semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer, a gate electrode, a porous membrane


In this paper we investigate the influence of motion sensor errors on the derivation of the MTF and its implementation in image restoration. We present an analytical approach for estimating the vibration MTF from the measured system MTF by the frequency response of the sensor and their noise data. The goal of this research is to describe an automatic system of restoration of pictures blurred by vibration, and to consider its possible disadvantages. Our method is based on point-spread function verification by the data of motion sensor characteristics. We build an analytical model of the sensor and compare the MTF after sensor errors caused by noise of the system and wrong axis direction of the restoration device. Here, we assume that noise and signal are independent and noise of the system is white Gaussian noise. Some image restoration of degraded images is presented based on improvements of the original wiener filter. We compare performance of inverse and wiener filter operations and consider the dependence of restoration quality on the signal to noise ratio and angel between restoration axis and true vibration direction. There is an interesting and useful relationship in the final graphs. This article brings us to improvement of the initial method, as seen from our simulation. Some restorations of degraded images are presented based on improvements of the original wiener filter. The key to the restoration is determination of the improved optical transfer function unique to the image vibration and sensor characteristics.


In the last 20 years, several countries in Latin America have sought uneven and disparate legal transformations affecting the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals and collectives. These new legal measures have taken place simultaneously, with deepening structures of social, gender, and sexual injustice challenging their view as indicators of progressive change. In this contradictory context, LGBT social policies have emerged as a specialized field of state action because of two parallel trends: the macro political politics affecting the region, and the accumulated experience of gender and sexual social mobilizations in their interactions with the state. There are many variations of this emerging field of social policies because it is shaped by the meaning provided by local actors such as interest groups, activists, and policy makers, and their translation into policy lobbying, policymaking, and policy negotiation. As result of these innovations, gender identity and sexual orientation have nowadays entered into the language of policymaking and policy implementation. These legal measures have opened spaces for social and political participation that were not there before. Nevertheless, LGBT policies are new regimes of governmentality that control the inclusion of gender and sexual social mobilizations into citizenship and democracy.


Objectives
Fiber-rich foods such as pinto beans (PB) may exhibit prebiotic effects by preventing early immunosuppression and gut permeability associated with the onset of insulin resistance (IR). Thus, this study evaluated the early protective effects of PB supplementation on the cecal gut microflora, tight-junction protein abundances, gut inflammatory markers and glucose homeostasis in mice fed either a control (C) or a high-fat, high sucrose (HFS).

Methods
Six-wk-old, male C57BL/6 J mice were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 12/group) and fed a control (C, 10% kcal fat, 10% kcal sucrose) or HFS (45% kcal fat, 20% kcal sucrose) diet with or without 10% (wt/wt) freeze-dried PB for 30 d. Measures include fasting blood glucose (FBG), cecal bacteria analyses by 16 S rDNA sequencing, gene expression of gut antimicrobial peptides and markers of inflammation in the distal ileum by qPCR, and expression of tight junction proteins, STAT3 and MHC II in the distal ileum by immunoblotting. Statistical analyses include the Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn's post-hoc test, and a 2-way ANOVA using factors of HFS and PB.

Results
FBG was increased by HFS (main effect, P = 0.0070) while PB decreased FBG by at least 13% (main effect, P = 0.046). In the cecum, the sulfide-producing bacteria family Desulfovibrionaceae (genus Bilophilia) was decreased (≤49%, P ≤ 0.022) in the PB-fed mice compared to their controls. In contrast, the short chain fatty acid-producing family Lachnospiraceae, was elevated by at least 47% (P ≤ 0.0043) in the PB-fed groups compared to their controls. We also observed a 3-fold decrease (P = 0.012) in Ifng gene expression in the HFS group compared to control, together with a decrease in the phosphorylation of STAT3 in the distal ileum (P = 0.045). On the other hand, PB supplementation increased pSTAT3 (main effect, P = 0.022), MHC II (≥66%, main effect, P = 0.0040), with a trend to upregulate occludin (P = 0.055). Moreover, antimicrobial peptide genes, Reg3β and Reg3γ, and Il10 were upregulated by PB (main effect, P < 0.0094). Finally, a negative correlation between the genus Bilophilia and MHC II (Spearman, ρ = -0.5747, P = 0.0033) was observed.

Conclusions
PB supplementation modulated the gut microbiome regardless of dietary fat content, and upregulated MHC II in the distal ileum. These effects may be central to its potential to protect against diet-induced IR.

Funding Sources
Northarvest Bean Growers Association.


According to a widely shared notion, foreign affairs are exempted from democratic politics, i.e., party-political divisions are overcome—and should be overcome—for the sake of a common national interest. This book shows that this is not the case. Examining votes in the US Congress and several European parliaments, the book demonstrates that contestation over foreign affairs is barely different from contestation over domestic politics. Analyses of a new collection of deployment votes, of party manifestos, and of expert survey data show that political parties differ systematically over foreign policy and military interventions in particular. The left/right divide is the best guide to the pattern of party-political contestation: support is weakest at the far left of the spectrum and increases as one moves along the left/right axis to green, social democratic, liberal, and conservative parties; amongst parties of the far right, support is again weaker than amongst parties of the centre. An analysis of parliamentary debates in Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom about the interventions in Afghanistan and against Daesh in Iraq and Syria shows that political parties also differ systematically in how they frame the use of force abroad. For example, parties on the right tend to frame their country's participation in the US-led missions in terms of national security and national interests whereas parties on the left tend to engage in 'spiral model thinking', i.e., they critically reflect on the unintended consequences of the use of force in fuelling the conflicts with the Taliban and Daesh.


We carried out an audit on the result of achieving early walking in total knee replacement after instituting a new rehabilitation protocol, and assessed its influence on the development of deep-vein thrombosis as determined by Doppler ultrasound scanning on the fifth post-operative day. Early mobilisation was defined as beginning to walk less than 24 hours after knee replacement. Between April 1997 and July 2002, 98 patients underwent a total of 125 total knee replacements. They began walking on the second post-operative day unless there was a medical contraindication. They formed a retrospective control group. A protocol which allowed patients to start walking at less than 24 hours after surgery was instituted in August 2002. Between August 2002 and November 2004, 97 patients underwent a total of 122 total knee replacements. They formed the early mobilisation group, in which data were prospectively gathered. The two groups were of similar age, gender and had similar medical comorbidities. The surgical technique and tourniquet times were similar and the same instrumentation was used in nearly all cases. All the patients received low-molecular-weight heparin thromboprophylaxis and wore compression stockings post-operatively. In the early mobilisation group 90 patients (92.8%) began walking successfully within 24 hours of their operation. The incidence of deep-vein thrombosis fell from 27.6% in the control group to 1.0% in the early mobilisation group (chi-squared test, p < 0.001). There was a difference in the incidence of risk factors for deep-vein thrombosis between the two groups. However, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the institution of an early mobilisation protocol resulted in a 30-fold reduction in the risk of post-operative deep-vein thrombosis when we adjusted for other risk factors.


A Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirement for the Award of the Degree of Master of Education
in Early Childhood Education


Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 To determine the extent of influence of the organization's context and structure factors on the perceived effectiveness of labor unions in the banking, hotel, and manufacturing industries in the National Capital Region, 88 local unions consisting of 772 rank-and-file and supervisory union members from 82 firms were covered. It is evident from the results that the level of union effectiveness as perceived by the members is a function of two major organizational factors, namely, context and structure. Moreover, there are significant differences in the average level of effectiveness rating of unions per industry.


The lack of high heatflow values at hotspots has been interpreted as showing that the mechanism forming the associated swells is not reheating of the lower half of oceanic lithosphere. Alternatively, it has recently been proposed that the hotspot surface heatflow signature is obscured by fluid circulation. We re-examine closely spaced heatflow measurements near the Hawaii, Réunion, Crozet, Cape Verde, and Bermuda hotspots. We conclude that hydrothermal circulation may redistribute heat near the swell axes, but it does not mask a large and spatially broad heatflow anomaly. There may, however, be heatflow perturbations associated with the cooling of igneous intrusions emplaced during hotspot formation. Although such effects may raise heatflow at a few sites, the small heatflow anomalies indicate that the mechanisms producing hotspots do not significantly perturb the thermal state of the lithosphere.


Five wells have been drilled in the Basker/Manta Block of VIC/P19, Gippsland Basin, resulting in sub-economic Intra-Latrobe Group oil and gas discoveries at Basker-1 and Manta-!. A total of 21 individual hydrocarbon bearing sandstones were intersected by the two wells. These reservoir sand bodies were deposited by fluvial processes in a lower coastal plain environment. The modelling of sand body orientation and geometry is a critical component in the evaluation of the two accumulations. Seismic resolution of the thin (average 2m to 5 m) sand bodies is inadequate for mapping their orientation and distribution. Dipmeter data has been successfully applied to the problem of orienting the sand bodies using FMS images acquired during the drilling of Gummy-! and reprocessed HDT data from Basker-1 and Manta-!. Prediction of lateral extensiveness (geometry) of individual sand bodies has also been attempted. Interpreted palaeocurrent direction from all three wells is dominantly from the NW to the SE. Reservoirs in the Manta-1/Gummy-1 area are interpreted to be predominantly channel sands, deposited by relatively low sinuosity streams. As such they would tend to have a laterally extensive, elongate geometry. Sand bodies deposited in the Basker-1 area show a predominance of laterally accreted cycles deposited by meandering streams. Channel geometry may then be limited in the downstream/upstream direction by internal permeability barriers such as clay plugs.


In this work, we demonstrate a new density modulated multilayered silicon thin film anode approach that can provide a robust high capacity electrode for Li-ion batteries. These films have the ability to tolerate large volume changes due to their controlled microstructure. Silicon films with alternating layers of high/low material density were deposited using a DC sputtering system. Density of the individual layers was controlled by simply changing the working gas pressure during sputtering. Samples of Si films having thicknesses of 460 nm with different number of high/low density layers have been deposited on Cu current collectors. The electrochemical performance of the multilayered anode material was evaluated using a galvanostatic battery testing system at C/10 rate. After reaching a stabilized phase the battery cell showed a high coulombic efficiency of 96% to 99% and reversible specific capacity of 666 mAh g (after 100 cycles). Low-density layers are believed to be acting as compliant sheets during volume expansion making the films more durable compared to conventional Si film anodes. The results indicate that density modulated multilayer Si thin films can be used to improve the mechanical properties of Li-ion battery anodes leading to high reversible capacity values even after high number of cycles.


OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of multimodal sensorimotor training on the stereotypical behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 60 children with autism were taken in the study who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were grouped into two groups using simple random sampling. Group 1 was the interventional group with 30 participants and Group 2 was control group with 30 participants. A 12-week multi-modal sensorimotor training program was given to Group 1. The control group (Group 2) was also given a 12-week conventional physiotherapy intervention. The outcome measure used was the Indian Scale for Autism Assessment (ISAA). Pretest and posttest findings on ISAA were noted for both groups. RESULTS: Multimodal sensorimotor training program has good results compared to the control group in improving the stereotypical behavior in children with ASD. Children who were given conventional physiotherapy programs also showed improvement in their posttest results. On comparing the two groups, multimodal sensorimotor training was found to be more effective in children with ASD. CONCLUSION: There is a significant improvement in stereotype behavior, such as head banging, hand flapping, and repetitive behavior. Multimodal sensorimotor training helps to improve the stereotypic behavior in children with ASD. The present study gives a promising intervention program for children with ASD.


Central pattern generators are cell‐ or network-driven oscillators that underlie motor rhythmicity. The existence and identity of C. elegans CPGs remain unknown. Through cell ablation, electrophysiology, and calcium imaging, we identified oscillators for reverse locomotion. We show that the cholinergic and excitatory class A motor neurons exhibit intrinsic and oscillatory activity, and such an activity can drive reverse locomotion without premotor interneurons. Regulation of their oscillatory activity, either through effecting an endogenous constituent of oscillation, the P/Q/N high voltage-activated calcium channel UNC-2, or, via dual regulation – inhibition and activation ‐ by the descending premotor interneurons AVA, determines the propensity, velocity, and sustention of reverse locomotion. Thus, the reversal motor executors themselves serve as oscillators; regulation of their intrinsic activity controls the reversal motor state. These findings exemplify anatomic and functional compression: motor executors integrate the role of rhythm generation in a locomotor network that is constrained by small cell numbers.


Heat shock proteins (Hsp) are induced by various stressors such as heat, cold, toxins, and oxygen deprivation. Our objective was to determine the relationship among polymorphisms in the Hsp70 gene, forage system, and calving rates. Genomic DNA for 77 cows was purified from the buffy coats of EDTA-treated whole blood. The cows were Angus (n = 20), Brahman (n = 26), and reciprocal crosses (n = 31). Cows were assigned to and remained on their respective forage system for the duration of the experiment (8 years). Forage systems were endophyte-infected toxic tall fescue (E+) or common bermudagrass (CB). Specific primers for bovine Hsp70 (HSP1778F: CGCTGGAGTCGTACGCCTTC; HSP2326R: CTTGGAAGTAAACAGAAACGGG) were used for PCR amplification of a 523-base segment (based on GenBank accession number U09861). The PCR product was sequenced in both directions. Seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were identified, and they were located at base positions 1851 (n = 6), 1902 (n = 4), 1917 (n = 4), 1926 (n =4), 2033 (n = 20), 2087 (n = 6), and 2098 (n =4). Concentrations of Hsp70, Julian date, and lifetime calving rate were analyzed by ANOVA, with each SNP represented as the main effect in the model. Two SNP resulted in altered peptide sequences, also known as mis-sense mutations (1926, aspartic acid to glutamic acid, and 2033, glycine to alanine). Five unique haplotypes were deduced based on the SNP profile (GCGCGCT, GCGCCCT, ACGCGCT, GCGCGGT, GTTGGCA, respectively, for haplotype 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). Plasma concentrations of Hsp70 were affected by an interaction (P < 0.05) between Hsp70 haplotype and forage system. Cows with haplotypes 4 and 5 consuming fescue had higher plasma Hsp70 concentrations than other cows (5.4, 5.1, 3.8, 5.1, 5.2, 5.1, 5.7, 4.2, 22.4, and 9 MSE 1.5 ng mL-1, respectively, for 1-5 CB and 1-5 E+). That same interaction tended (P < 0.09) to be associated with lifetime calving percentage. Cows with haplotype 4 consuming bermudagrass had the lowest calving rate (58%). These results suggest that the Hsp70 gene in cattle is polymorphic, and those polymorphisms are related to cattle fertility.


A new two series of liquid crystal compounds containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole were synthesized and characterized by melting points, elemental analysis FTIR and 1HNMR spectroscopy. The liquid crystal properties of the synthesized compounds were verified by using hot-stage polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimeter. All of the compounds in both two series show mesomorphic properties. All members of those two series exhibit smectic A, smectic C and/ or nematic phases. Continually, to improve the physical study, Silver nanoparticles were prepared by reduction method and identified by mostly analysis XRD, SEM and AFM. From all of these techniques the particle size of nano seemed less than (50) nm. A theoretical investigating of core geometry by doing the conformational search over its affective torsion angles with PM3 and RM1 methods in order to include the effect of quantum mechanical factors that effect on the core geometry. Dielectric properties and other physical properties such as electrical conductivity (AC) and relaxation time or activation energy have been studied for two systems pure liquid crystals and their doped with silver nano particles.


Strongylosis is a pressing equine health problem. This study determined the prevalence and risk factors associated with strongylosis in horses in Baybay City, Leyte, based on its egg morphology. A total of 263 horse fecal samples were collected and examined. Nematode eggs were identified using Modified McMaster technique. Other relevant epidemiological data associated with strongyle infections were also collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with strongylosis in horses.
Results showed an overall prevalence of 97.72% (257/263; 95% CI=95.10-99.16); of which, 92.78% (244/263; 95% CI=91.18-94.37) were cyathostomins and 67.30% (177/263; 95% CI=64.41-70.19) were Strongylus sp. Logistic regression analyses revealed a significant association between Strongylus sp. infection and moderate body condition score (p-value=0.0006), housing in a shed (p-value=0.0255), and tethering of the horse (p-value=0.0116).
The high prevalence rate of equine strongyle infection in Baybay City, Leyte, could indicate the neglect and underestimation of the disease for a considerable period of time. Thus, active clinico-epidemiological investigations are warranted in order to design and establish cost-effective and sustainable control and preventive approaches.


A series of complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Mn(II) and Cd(II) with Isonicotinoylhydrazone-4-diphenylaminobenzaldehyde (INHDAB) has been reported. The complexes have been characterized by analytical data, IR, UV-Vis, NMR spectra, magnetic susceptibility values, thermal analysis and for the Cu(II) complex the ESR spectrum has been registered. The biological activity of these complexes were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis and Shigella flexneri bacteria. The INHDAB ligand is coordinate at the metallic ions by oxygen amide (O=C) and the azomethine nitrogen.


Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the world's unconquered diseases, with 370 million chronically infected globally. HBV replicates in hepatocytes within the liver that exist under a range of oxygen tensions from 11% in the peri-portal area to 3% in the peri-central lobules. HBV transgenic mice show a zonal pattern of' viral antigen with expression in the peri-central areas supporting a hypothesis that low oxygen regulates HBV replication. We investigated this hypothesis using a recently developed in vitro model system that supports HBV replication. We demonstrate that low oxygen significantly increases covalently closed circular viral DNA (cccDNA), viral promoter activity and pre-genomic RNA (pgRNA) level, consistent with low oxygen boosting viral transcription. Hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) regulate cellular responses to low oxygen and we investigated a role for HIF-1\(\alpha\) or HIF-2\(\alpha\) on viral transcription. A combination of HIF inhibitors and silencing of HIF-l\(\alpha\) and HIF-2\(\alpha\) ablated the effect of low oxygen on cccDNA and pgRNA, suggesting a role in regulating HBV transcription. This study highlights a new role for hepatic oxygen levels to regulate multiple steps in the HBV life cycle and this may impact on future treatments for viral associated pathologies.


Heterosis has a significant position in rapeseed breeding. To assess the heterosis for seed yield and quality traits, three Brassica napus L. testers and five lines were crossed using line × tester design in RCBD with three replications to obtain cross seeds of fifteen hybrids. Data of fifteen characters were recorded. Mean sum of squares of analysis of variances for genotypes were significant or highly significant for all of the fifteen traits. Low to High degree of desirable heterosis over mid, better and commercial parents were observed. Cross 13 showed maximum values of siliqua length (14.3%, 11.1%), seed yield/plant (45.3%, 35.9%) and LnicC (-43.7%, -37.6%) for MPH and BPH as well as LnicC (-38.3%) for CH . Cross 3 revealed highest PC (5.5%, 4.4%), Cross 4 for NSP (28.4%, 25.3%), Cross 10 for GLC (-13.5%, -33.2%) and Cross 15 for NSS (22.8%, 10.8%) over MPH and BPH . Maximum OC (9.3%, 6.9%) was revealed by Cross 8 for BPH and CH . Cross No. 1 possessed highest heterosis over commercial variety 'Punjab Sarson' for PC (21.2%), OAC (10.8%), LeicC (46.8%), DM (-6.8%), EAC (-36.9%) and GLC (-29.3%). Cross 6 revealed maximum CH for SY (73.3%) and DF (-10.8%). The present study provides valuable facts of noble hybrids with improved traits related to nutrition and yield, as well as valuable information for further molecular and genetic studies of heterosis for these agronomic traits in B. napus . Keywords: Brassica napus L., Line × Tester, Heterosis, Morphological, Seed quality


5-HT is considered to play a role in the migraine mechanism; its decrease in the midbrain during migraine attacks has been postulated. CSF TP and plasma and platelet 5-HT levels in migraine and cluster headache sufferers have been evaluated; the values registered were compared to those of neurological and carcinoid patients, respectively. The following results were obtained: (a) no significant difference in the time course of free and total TP after l-TP intravenous loading, (b) increased levels of CSF TP during migraine and cluster headache attacks, (c) impressively increased levels of plasma 5-HT only in carcinoid patients. These findings suggest the existence of a positive 5-HT central feedback mechanism during attacks of migraine and cluster headache and thus exclude peripheral 5-HT effects in the generation of pain.


The author revisits his contemporary review of The Authoritarian Personality (TAP) in the light of subsequent developments in research and theory. In spite of warranted criticism of the F-Scale, the major substantive findings of TAP have held up well. Whether they are better understood in terms of psychoanalytic psychodynamics or Bandura's social learning theory remains controversial. The role of the four authors is briefly examined.


Bonneville power administration is developing and demonstrating a wide-area stability and voltage control system (WACS). WACS uses phasor measurements as input to a real-time controller. Controller outputs initiate discontinuous actions: generator or load tripping and capacitor/reactor bank switching. Dynamic simulations that approximate the real-world control system are required to design and to verify reliable operation of the proposed control WACS. Dynamic simulations were used to evaluate proposed algorithms, optimize the values of algorithms parameters and provide data to play into the real time controller. We made great efforts to model filtering and time delay effects of measurement equipment, time delays associated with communications, central-site control computers, power circuit breakers, and supervising circuits located in individual substations.


Direct laser acceleration (DLA) of electrons in a plasma of near-critical electron density (NCD) and the associated synchrotron-like radiation are discussed for moderate relativistic laser intensity (normalized laser amplitude a0 ≤ 4.3) and ps length pulse. This regime is typical of kJ PW-class laser facilities designed for high-energy-density (HED) research. In experiments at the PHELIX facility, it has been demonstrated that interaction of a 1019 W/cm2 sub-ps laser pulse with a sub-mm length NCD plasma results in the generation of high-current well-directed super-ponderomotive electrons with an effective temperature ten times higher than the ponderomotive potential [Rosmej et al., Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 62, 115024 (2020)]. Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations provide good agreement with the measured electron energy distribution and are used in the current work to study synchrotron radiation from the DLA-accelerated electrons. The resulting x-ray spectrum with a critical energy of 5 keV reveals an ultrahigh photon number of 7 × 1011 in the 1–30 keV photon energy range at the focused laser energy of 20 J. Numerical simulations of betatron x-ray phase contrast imaging based on the DLA process for the parameters of a PHELIX laser are presented. The results are of interest for applications in HED experiments, which require a ps x-ray pulse and a high photon flux.


We find one way to improve the robustness of principal component analysis (PCA) based on a reconstruction error model. First, we discuss and compare the methods to analyze the robustness of the PCA algorithm. A new adaptive algorithm of robust PCA based on the structure of a single-layer neural network (NN) is developed with the modification of the cost function which can be acquired through modeling of the error function. The new nonlinear robust PCA algorithm can reduce the effects of outliers on the accuracy and convergence of the PCA algorithm through proper processing of them. Simple comparison simulations are designed for verify the theoretical results.


I. Introduction Written in Latin, around the base of the big dome in the interior of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, are the following words: Tu es Petrus et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum. This phrase is an extract from Mt. 16:17-19, which presents Jesus' words to the apostle Peter: "I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.... I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven." (1) It is clear that this inscription is indicative of the mission entrusted to Peter. Very often in Roman Catholic circles--and not without criticism--reference has been made to this text in support of papal primacy. (2) Papal ministry, which is considered a symbol and instrument of the church's unity, has paradoxically turned out to be a stumbling block on the road toward such unity. (3) This is so partly because of the manner in which papal ministry understands itself and has exercised its authority down through the centuries. (4) Orthodox theologians such as Mesrob Krikorian, emeritus archbishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church, have consistently criticized the traditional Catholic understanding and the practice of primacy as having evolved from being a ministry of service to an instrument of power and authority. (5) The many criticisms levied against this ministry indicate the need for thoroughgoing revision of its understanding and exercise. Traditionally speaking, papal primacy has often been linked with the primacy of the city of Rome as the head of the world (caput mundi). Rome was considered to be caput mundi because of a number of factors, such as "the dignity of Rome as the only apostolic church in the West, the tradition that both Peter and Paul had been martyred there, the long history of Rome as capital of the Empire, and its continuing position as the chief center of commerce and communications." (6) Consequently, up until today, the Church of Rome and its bishop are considered as representing the unity and universality of the church. According to Francis Dvornik, there are two principles that shaped the understanding of primacy in the Western and Oriental churches. While the Western Church stresses the "principle of apostolicity," the Oriental Church emphasizes the "principle of accommodation" in the organization of the church. (7) This means that whereas the church Fathers in the West stressed the primacy of the see of Rome on the basis of the apostolic and Petrine origin of the see, the Oriental Fathers emphasized the significance of the sees of Constantinople, Antioch, and Alexandria based on modeling the ecclesiastical organization after the political system of the imperial provinces. Therefore, in the West, the "principle of apostolicity" gave popes uncontested authority to govern, judge, and issue decrees to all holy churches of God throughout the world. (8) Historians believe that not only Christ but also holy councils bestowed such prerogative on the Holy See. This essay, therefore, undertakes a critical examination of the Orthodox understanding of primacy, in view of proposing a model of papal primacy befitting the contemporary ecumenical situation. I will argue that the model of primacy fitting for the third millennium is the "primacy in communion." In view of this, I shall proceed in four steps: first, I shall present the Roman Catholic understanding of papal primacy. Second, I shall present the Orthodox understanding of authority in general and primacy in particular. Third, I shall examine the Orthodox understanding of papal primacy in order to propose a new way for papal primacy to be understood and exercised. Finally, I shall offer an alternative model of exercising papal ministry. The question that lurks in the background of this study is: In the light of Orthodox criticisms regarding papal primacy, what could be the most appropriate model of papal primacy in the contemporary ecumenical situation? (9) Let us begin with the Roman Catholic view of papal primacy. …


Introduction: Kummell disease is also known as vertebral fracture nonunion, delayed vertebral collapse and vertebral ischemic necrosis. It often occurs in a delayed manner after spinal injury, and is a complex and rare spinal disease. This study, aimed to report a case of stage 3 Kummell disease, diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine.Methods: The subject underwent a short-segment fixation of the pedicle screw combined with kyphoplasty.Results: The patient was satisfied with the relief of back pain after the surgery, but the surgery was found to cause screw cutting vertebrae in the second lumbar vertebra (L2).Conclusion: Short-segment fixation of the pedicle screw combined with kyphoplasty can reconstruct spinal stability, maintain stability of bone cement mass in vertebrae, correct kyphosis deformity, and relieve pain. However, Kummell disease in elderly patients is always accompanied by severe osteoporosis. The common fixation of the pedicle screw is prone to cause screw cutting, loosening, and pulling out. Therefore, we advocate using cement-augmented pedicle screws.


Chromosomal translocations involving the MYB and NFIB (t(6;9)) genes are the sole recurrent cytogenetic aberration in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC), a rare cancer that frequently manifests as salivary gland tumors. Since ACC has poor prognosis and treatment is accompanied by high morbidity, there is a need for additional investigation of this cancer with the goal of improving patient outcomes. Recurrent translocations create fusions involving the N-terminus of MYB, located on chromosome 6, and the C-terminus of NFIB, located on chromosome 9. Our lab also recently identified translocations involving the related MYBL1 gene fusing it to NFIB t(8;9) and RAD51B t(8;14) genes. Further, recent work in our lab demonstrated tumors with MYB or MYBL1 translocations have similar gene expression (1). The presence of recurrent translocations involving both the MYB proto-oncogene and the related MYBL1 gene suggests that the resulting novel fusion proteins are likely oncogenic drivers in these tumors. In order to directly address the transcriptional activities of the resulting fusion proteins MYB and MYBL1 fusion genes, identified in primary ACC tumors, were cloned and expressed in vitro. The fusion proteins transcriptional activities were examined using reporter gene assays and trancriptomics. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) was performed to interrogate promoters bound by these proteins. Reporter genes specific for normal vs. oncogenic MYB variants have been constructed. These data demonstrate that the proteins predicted to be produced by MYB fusion genes after chromosomal translocation are transcriptionally active. Further, Myb fusion proteins bind and activate gene sets distinct from their wild type c-Myb and A-Myb counterparts. These data indicate Myb fusion proteins have unique transcriptional activities, perhaps underlying their ability to drive tumorigensis in ACC. 1. Brayer et al. Recurrent Fusions in MYB and MYBL1 Define a Common, Transcription Factor-Driven Oncogenic Pathway in Salivary Gland Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. Cancer Discovery. In press. Citation Format: Candace A. Frerich, Scott A. Ness. Unique in vitro transcriptional activities of oncogenic Myb fusions identified in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1990.


In this article, we introduce an intrateam longitudinal approach to study the temporal dynamics of team processes and its relations to antecedent and consequence variables. We compare this approach with the conventional interteam longitudinal approach (e.g., repeated-measures [M]ANOVA, random coefficient modelling, latent growth modelling) and discuss the conceptual and methodological differences between the two approaches. Whereas the interteam approach follows a sample-to-cases order of inference and assumes random deviances of individual teams' change patterns from the sample-level pattern, the intrateam approach follows a cases-to-sample order of inference and allows for qualitative differences in individual teams' change patterns. In the intrateam approach, each team's change trajectory is directly measured and then used in the next-step multivariate analyses. We argue that the intrateam approach is more compatible with the current conceptualization of team processes as team members' interactions over time (Marks, Mathieu, & Zaccaro, 2001) and with the reasoning underlying the Input–Process–Output (IPO) framework. Next, we illustrate the intrateam approach and apply both approaches in an empirical longitudinal study of team conflict and team satisfaction (N = 42). The results show the contrast between the two approaches and added value of the intrateam approach in the study of team process dynamics.


In the article the author discusses the various methods and principles of poetic translation, specifies the conditions for choosing a particular method of translation. The author also deals with the translation transformations and their types from the point of view of various linguists, their classification is also given. The importance of studying this issue is substantiated by the changes occurring in the structure of poetical compositions during translation that are caused by different grammatical systems of French and Russian languages. Translation transformations occurring during the translation of French poetry into Russian is shown through the example of translation of the poem by Gerard de Nerval Notre-Dame de Paris. There is also a table showing the frequency of use of different types of translation transformation.


Online social networks (OSNs) have been built as platforms for information sharing, with their concomitant potential for misuse of information and unsafe sharing practices. The frontline of defense against such threats is the "privacy settings" controls provided by OSNs such as Facebook. However, the efficacy of these settings is often undermined by their poor design. The current design fatigues users with information overload and fails to provide them with a more integrative and global understanding of their information‐sharing practices. In this article, we develop a more efficacious design for the display of OSNs' privacy settings by following recommendations for appropriate use of visualization techniques. The new "wheel" interface simplifies the presentation of privacy settings to reduce information overload. It also incorporates an additional layer of information, indicating the safety of users' settings. A within‐subject experiment with 67 students suggests that this interface is more versatile than the current tabular interfaces typically used on OSNs. More important, it allows users to easily comprehend complex information and provides them with a more integrative, higher level understanding of their privacy settings. This research focuses on an important niche at the intersection of information representation, interface design, and OSN privacy.


Is there a D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) alAƒÂele that predisposes to substance abuse? Following the report by Blum and colleagues1 of an association between the AlalAƒÂele of the DRD2 gene and alcoholism, a number of laboratories have attempted to replicate and extend studies of this association in substance abusing and control populations.2"6 On September 19 and 20, 1991, the National Institute on Drug Abuse held a conference in Baltimore, Md, entitled "D2 Receptor AlAƒÂeles in Substance Abuse: Have We Identified a Relevant Gene?" Workers from laboratories involved in this exciting research area were invited to present their methods and data, assess current knowledge, and discuss future directions. We summarize the findings, interpretations, and recommendations for improving the heuristic potential of future studies on the role of DRD2 gene variants in substanceabuse. GENETIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO INTERINDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE VULNERABILITY Individuals differ in their susceptibility to substance abuse. These interindividual differences in vulnerability to alcohol and drugs appear to arise from both genetic and environmental sources. Adoption studies indicate increased frequency of alcoholism and drug abuse among


The authors report on 11 cases of congenital cholesteatomas, treated between 1979 and 1988. In all cases, there was a long-standing history of deafness. The diagnosis revealed 6 cophoses, 5 cases of mixed deafness, 9 cases of impairment of the facial nerve (7 cases of paralysis including 4 with sudden onset and 2 hemispasms), 2 facial neuralgias with facial hypesthesia, one Gradenigo-Lannois syndrome, 2 leaks of the C.S.F. (1 nasal, 1 very abundant auricular leak). In 6 cases, the surgical approach route was trans-cochlear, and in 5 cases surpa-petrosal, two of which were extended to a petrectomy. Of the 5 cases of partial deafness, only one was preserved. In 5 cases, the facial nerve was destroyed at the level of the ganglion of the facial nerve, a region where a frankly epidermal tissue is always found. In 4 cases the facial nerve was repaired (three hypo-glosso-facial anastomoses and one end-to-end suture, after re-routing). The authors share the opinion of Fisch that the origin of the intra-petrosal congenital cholesteatoma always occurs at the level of the ganglion of the facial nerve.


Purpose of review This review aims to summarize the latest evidence for the use of salvage ablation of localized prostate cancer recurrences after primary therapy radiotherapy or prostatectomy. Recent findings Savage ablation represents a treatment option in select patients with localized recurrences following primary therapy of prostate cancer. Following radiotherapy, salvage cryotherapy and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) demonstrate encouraging oncologic outcomes. Biochemical recurrence-free survival ranged from 71% at 2 years to 44.2% at 10 years for cryotherapy and from 51% at 5 years to 28.7% at 10 years for HIFU. Rates of adverse effects appear to be more favorable with ablation compared to salvage surgery. Focal salvage ablation may offer a further balance between oncologic control and adverse effects. Following radical prostatectomy, recent data on the use of salvage ablation of local recurrences are less robust with only a few small studies published in the last 2 years. Summary Salvage ablation is an option for localized disease recurrences following primary treatment. Its role is most established for postradiation recurrence. It can also be utilized in postprostatectomy recurrence, although published data is more limited. Future studies are needed to further explore the role of ablation in both cohorts.


Within the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) the Section XI Working Group on Flaw Evaluation (WGFE) is currently working to develop a revision to Code Case N-830. This revision incorporates a complete and self-consistent suite of models that describe completely the temperature dependence, scatter, and interdependencies between all the fracture metrics (i.e., KJc, KIa, JIc, J0.1, and J-R) from the lower shelf through the upper shelf. A paper presented at the 2014 ASME Pressure Vessel and Piping Conference described most of these models; a companion paper at this conference describes the J-R model. This paper also supports the WGFE effort by performing an assessment of the appropriateness of Wallin's Master Curve model to represent toughness data on the lower shelf, and by comparing the Master Curve with the current Code KIc curve on the lower shelf.The work presented in this paper supports the following conclusions:1. The Master Curve provides a reasonable representation of cleavage fracture toughness (KJc) data at lower shelf temperatures. A statistical evaluation of a large database demonstrates that the Master Curve works well to temperatures approximately 140 °C below To or, equivalently, approximately 160 °C below RTTo.2. The percentile of cleavage fracture toughness data falling below a KIc curve indexed to RTTo varies considerably with temperature. At lower shelf temperatures as much as half of the data lie below the KIc curve, while at temperatures close to RTTo this percentage falls to approximately ≈ 1.5%. The current guidance of Nonmandatory Appendix A to Section XI to use structural factors of √10 or √2 is one means of addressing this inconsistency.3. The inconsistent degree to which the KIc curve, with or without structural factors, bounds fracture toughness data cannot be fixed within the current Code framework for two reasons: the KIc curve does not reflect the actual temperature dependence shown by the fracture toughness of ferritic RPV steels, and the ratio of a mean or median toughness curve to a fixed percentile bound is not a constant value. It is for these reasons that in the next revision of Code Case N-830 the ASME WGFE is moving away from use of the KIc curve coupled with structural factors and, instead, is adopting models of fracture toughness that represent both the temperature trends and the scatter in the data with high accuracy.Copyright © 2015 by ASME


The present invention relates to a centrifugal vortex system for processing liquids, such as fuel, and includes a chamber housing defining a vortex chamber. There are all in the direction of the line array of holes in the housing chamber, the fluid turbulence into the vortex chamber to create a swirling fluid through the vortex chamber. In one embodiment, a plurality of vortex chambers arranged in series, so that several fluid through the vortex chamber. In another embodiment, the chamber housing may be stepped to have both textured or have to increase the turbulence of the flow through the vortex chamber. In another embodiment, there is provided a pressure source sets, the position is corrected by tangential flow hole to hole. Further comprising a centrifuge chamber, a bottom surface thereof a plurality of output conduits. And a projecting member extending from a lower tapered top surface, to enhance the centrifugal flow of fluid. Further, a bypass conduit is provided to selectively bypass one or more fluid vortex chamber.


ENDANGERED SPECIESHONOLULU-- At the Hawaii Conservation Conference here last week, an advisory group of government and university scientists and land managers unveiled a draft plan for a $200 million, 5-year initiative to preserve Hawaii's unique native habitats, now under siege from alien species and development. The plan, called Legacy 2000, gets a warm reception from conservationists. But the challenge will be to convince people on the U.S. mainland that tackling Hawaii's ecological woes is just as important as, say, fixing the Everglades, a multibillion-dollar job that Florida and the federal government are about to embark on.


This study investigates the optimum section properties of newly developed steel-concrete composite beam. For that purpose we developed computer program calculating section properties. The suggested new beam section highly contribute to save inter-story height and reduce construction duration and cost compared with conventional steel works such as H-beam and column + RC slab system. But the section shape have different section modulus with upper and lower fiber because of the unsymmetric cross section. Therefore the parametric study on thickness-ratio of top and bottom flange plate is needed. In this paper the change of neutral axis and section modulus for thickness-ratio of up and down flage plate is analysed and discussed.


Extremely low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (ELF-PEMF) therapy is proposed to support bone healing after injuries and surgical procedures, being of special interest for elderly patients. This study aimed at investigating the effect of a specific ELF-PEMF, recently identified to support osteoblast function in vitro, on bone healing after high tibial osteotomy (HTO). Patients who underwent HTO were randomized to ELF-PEMF or placebo treatment, both applied by optically identical external devices 7 min per day for 30 days following surgery. Osseous consolidation was evaluated by post-surgical X-rays (7 and 14 weeks). Serum markers were quantified by ELISA. Data were compared by a two-sided t-test (α = 0.05). Device readouts showed excellent therapy compliance. Baseline parameters, including age, sex, body mass index, wedge height and blood cell count, were comparable between both groups. X-rays revealed faster osseous consolidation for ELF-PEMF compared to placebo treatment, which was significant in patients ≥50 years (∆mean = 0.68%/week; p = 0.003). Findings are supported by post-surgically increased bone-specific alkaline phosphatase serum levels following ELF-PEMF, compared to placebo (∆mean = 2.2 µg/L; p = 0.029) treatment. Adverse device effects were not reported. ELF-PEMF treatment showed a tendency to accelerate osseous consolidation after HTO. This effect was stronger and more significant for patients ≥50 years. This ELF-PEMF treatment might represent a promising adjunct to conventional therapy supporting osseous consolidation in elderly patients. Level of Evidence: I.


Well log data are a common source of information for characterizing subsurface environments. A statistical methodology is developed and applied for the interpretation of such data in terms of a multi-state depositional sequence. The well log data is classified into a discrete set of states (e.g., sand, silt, clay) and stratigraphic transitions between these states are described as a continuous parameter, nonhomogeneous semi-Markov process. The state by state transitions at any vertical horizon are modeled using a transition intensity matrix. Transition intensity is defined as the number of transitions from one state to another per unit depth. This procedure does not require a discretization of the deposition axis as is done with a Markov Chain model. The transition intensities are allowed to vary by position in the stratigraphic sequence to account for nonstationarities in the deposition process. A kernel estimator is used to estimate the transition intensity at any depth as a weighted moving average of the number of transitions from one soil type to another and of the associated bed thicknesses. A simulation strategy for simulating pseudo-well logs that have the same statistical properties as the sampled well logs is also developed. An application of the methodology to data from Lake Bonneville sediments in Utah is provided.


Linear Complementarity Problems (LCPs) belong to the class of NP-complete problems. Therefore we can not expect a polynomial time solution method for LCPs without requiring some special property of the coefficient matrix. Following our recently published ideas we generalize affine scaling and predictor-corrector interior point algorithms to solve LCPs with general matrices in EP-sense, namely, our generalized interior point algorithms either solve the problems with rational coefficient matrix in polynomial time or give a polynomial size certificate that our matrix does not belong to the set of P * (~κ) matrices, with arbitrary large, but apriori fixed, rational, positive ~κ.


Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists modulate lipid metabolism, apart from controlling glucose homeostasis. We investigated the role of central GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonism in regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism in cholesterol-fed hamsters. Cholesterol-fed hamsters were treated by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) route with exendin-4, as acute or repeated dose regimen and compared with hamsters pair-fed to the exendin-treated hamsters and with hamsters co-treated with GLP-1 antagonist exendin-9. Effect of acute treatment was observed on food intake, tyloxapol-induced hypertriglyceridemia, and corn oil induced post prandial lipemia. Plasma and hepatic lipids and changes in the expression of hepatic genes involved in lipid metabolism were assessed after chronic administration. Acute, as well as repeated dose, treatment of exendin-4 showed significant changes in hepatic lipids, circulating fatty acids, triglycerides, LDL, and cholesterol. Expression of SREBP-1c was reduced while that of LDLR and CYP7A1 was increased after the repeated dose treatment, and there was no change in HMG CoA reductase. These changes were blocked by co-treatment of exendin-9, and not replicated by pair feeding to the significant extent. Central GLP-1 receptor activation showed profound effects on peripheral lipid metabolism, which were partially independent of its effect on food intake.


BiVO3F was prepared, characterized, and identified as a unique example of bismuth vanadyl oxyhalide with paramagnetic V4+ centers. Its crystal structure shows 1D magnetic units with rare alternation of edge-sharing O-O and F-F μ2 bridges along the octahedral chains. Structural pairing across the O2 edges induces antiferromagnetic spin dimers (S = 0) with J/Kb ≈ 300 K, ∼15 times greater than the exchange across the F2 bridges, within a non-ordered magnetic ground state. Despite multiple compositional, structural, and electronic analogies with the BiVO4 scheelite compound, one of the most promising photoanodes for solar water splitting, the photoactivity of BiVO3F is relatively modest, partially due to this electronic pairing benefitting fast electron-hole recombination. Similar to monoclinic VO2, the V4+ spin dimerization deters the singlet → triplet electronic photoexcitation, but results in potential carrier lifetime benefits. The reduction of the bandgap from an Eg of ∼2.4 eV to ∼1.7 eV after incorporation of d1 cations in BiVO4 makes BiVO3F an inspiring compound for local modifications toward an enhanced photoactive material. The direct d → d transition provides a significant enhancement of the visible light capture range and opens a prospective route for the chemical design of performant photoanodes with a mixed anionic sublattice.


Tumor metastasis is a main cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Thus, a number of medicinal herbs and phytochemicals have been investigated as possible candidates for the inhibition of cancer metastasis. Sorbus commixta Hedl. (SC) is a traditional medicinal plant used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, as it has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic and anti-hepatotoxic activities. In this study, we demonstrate that the water extract of SC exerts inhibitory effect on the invasion and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells. The activity and expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, which is responsible for the invasion of cancer cells, was decreased by SC treatment. The invasive and migratory potentials of the Hep3B cells were also decreased, as evidence by in vitro assay using the Boyden chamber system. In addition, the expression of the chemokine receptors, C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR)4 and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 6 (CXCR6), were inhibited by SC in Hep3B cells. Furthermore, actin fiber organization was markedly suppressed by SC treatment. Taken together, the findings of this study suggest for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that SC suppresses the invasion and migration of highly metastatic Hep3B cells.