To evaluate the effectiveness of chloroquine (CQ) plus chlorpheniramine (CP) combination in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in the community outside the strict followup and compliance of hospital-based studies. In an open randomized study, patients with symptomatic acute uncomplicated malaria in a rural community in Southwestern Nigeria were allocated to receive supervised (Group1) or unsupervised (Group2) chloroquine plus chlorpheniramine (CQ-CP) using the 14daymodification of theWHOfield test. One hundred and sixty of 196 enrolled patients completed the study. Children in both groups received CQ (25mg/kg) over three days plus CP 6mg (patients 5years) followed by 4mg 8 hourly for 7days. Adults received 1500mg over 3 days in combination withCP, 8mg stat followed by 6mg 8 hourly for 7days. D7 and D14 cure rates were 95.5% and 91.4% in Group 1 versus 87.7% and 77.14% for Group 2 (p=>0.05). Mean PCT and FCT were 2.27±0.84d and 2.56±1.4d versus 2.62±1.36d and 2.7±0.82d in Groups 1 and 2 respectively (p=>0.05). Six patients who earlier failed unsupervised therapy responded to the combination under supervision. CQ-CP is effective in the treatment of acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria in the community. However, poor compliance may compromise this cheap and effective regimen. Keywords: Effectiveness chloroquine chlorpheniramine malaria.


A stability-indicating reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) method was validated for the assessment of recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11), based on the ICH guidelines. The method was carried out on a Jupiter C4 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm i.d.), maintained at 25°C. The mobile phase A consisted of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and the mobile phase B was acetonitrile with 0.1% TFA, run at a flow rate of 1 mL/min, and using a photodiode array (PDA) detection at 214 nm. Separation was obtained with a retention time of 27.6 min, and was linear over the concentration range of 1 – 200 µg/mL ( r ^2 = 0.9995). Specificity was established in degradation studies, which also showed that there was no interference of the excipients. The accuracy was 100.22% with bias lower than 1.25%. Moreover, the in vitro cytotoxicity test of the degraded products showed non-significant differences ( p > 0.05). The method was applied to the assessment of rhIL-11 and related proteins in biopharmaceutical dosage forms, and the results were correlated to those of a bioassay.


Objectives: To outline the knowledge gaps and research priorities identified by a broad base of stakeholders involved in the planning and participation of an international conference and research agenda workshop on isocyanates and human health held in Potomac, Maryland, in April 2013. Methods: A multimodal iterative approach was used for data collection including preconference surveys, review of a 2001 consensus conference on isocyanates, oral and poster presentations, focused break-out sessions, panel discussions, and postconference research agenda workshop. Results: Participants included representatives of consumer and worker health, health professionals, regulatory agencies, academic and industry scientists, labor, and trade associations. Conclusions: Recommendations were summarized regarding knowledge gaps and research priorities in the following areas: worker and consumer exposures; toxicology, animal models, and biomarkers; human cancer risk; environmental exposure and monitoring; and respiratory epidemiology and disease, and occupational health surveillance.


Despite the prevalence of works on 'discourses of danger' in the Ferghana Valley, which re-invented Central Asia as a site of intervention, the literature on conflict potential in the cross-border areas of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan is fairly limited. Yet, the number of small scale clashes and tensions on the borders of the Batken and Isfara regions has been growing steadily. Accordingly, this work seeks to contribute to the understanding of the conflict escalations in the area and identify factors that aggravate tensions between the communities. In particular, this article focuses on four variables, which exacerbate tensions and hinder the restoration of a peaceful social fabric in the Batken-Isfara region: the unresolved legacies of the Soviet past, inefficient use of natural resources, militarisation of borders and lack of evidence-based policymaking.


Composite membranes comprising NH2-MIL-125(Ti)/PEBAX coated on PDMS/PSf were prepared in this work, and their gas separation performance for high CO2 feed gas was investigated under various operating circumstances, such as pressure and CO2 concentration, in mixed gas conditions. The functional groups and morphology of the prepared membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). CO2 concentration and feed gas pressure were demonstrated to have a considerable impact on the CO2 and CH4 permeance, as well as the CO2/CH4 mixed gas selectivity of the resultant membrane. As CO2 concentration was raised from 14.5 vol % to 70 vol %, a trade-off between permeance and selectivity was found, as CO2 permeance increased by 136% and CO2/CH4 selectivity reduced by 42.17%. The membrane produced in this work exhibited pressure durability up to 9 bar and adequate gas separation performance at feed gas conditions consisting of high CO2 content.


A nonlinear characterization based on modern methods of nonlinear dynamics is performed to identify the effects of a multi-segmented nonlinearity on the response of an aeroelastic system. This system consists of a plunging and pitching rigid airfoil supported by a linear spring in the plunge degree of freedom and a nonlinear spring in the pitch degree of freedom. The multi-segmented nonlinearity is associated with the pitch degree of freedom and contains two different boundaries. The results show that the presence of this multi-segmented nonlinearity results in the presence of a subcritical instability. It is also shown that there are four main transitions or sudden jumps in the system's response when increasing the freestream velocity. It is demonstrated that the first and second sudden jumps are accompanied by the appearance and disappearance of quadratic nonlinearity induced by discontinuity and static positions. The results show that the first transition is due to a near grazing bifurcation that occurs near the first boundary of the multi-segmented nonlinearity. As for the second transition, it is demonstrated that the sudden jump at this transition is associated with a tangential contact between the trajectory and the first boundary of the multi-segmented nonlinearity and with a zero-pitch velocity incidence which is a characteristic of a grazing bifurcation. In the third and fourth transitions, it is demonstrated that there are changes in the response of the system from simply periodic to two periods having the main oscillating frequency and its superharmonic of order 3 and from chaotic to two periods having the main oscillating frequency and its superharmonic of order 3. Using modern methods of nonlinear dynamics, it is shown that this transition is due to a grazing bifurcation at the second boundary of the multi-segmented nonlinearity.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


It is well established that cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) using biventricular pacing prolongs survival by its effects on pump failure. The rate of sudden cardiac death in patients undergoing CRT, however, remains high. Animal and human studies have shown that reversal of normal sequence of myocardial activation during epicardial pacing, as applied during CRT, increases the transmural dispersion of repolarisation (TDR), a substrate for ventricular arrhythmias. Cohort studies in humans suggest that CRT has a differential effect on the arrhythmogenic substrate, antiarrhythmic in some and proarrhythmic in others. This review the focuses on the possibility that CRT may, under certain circumstances, promote arrhythmogenesis.


LibKey Nomad. Third Iron, P.O. Box 270400, St. Paul, MN 55127; https://thirdiron.com/libkey-nomad/; pricing: extension is free for users; institutional subscription to Third Iron products required; requirements: Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser (Firefox version currently under development).


The purpose of this paper is to provide a qualitative, computationally assisted examination of prominent content patterns in the 2001–2016 National Audit Office of Finland (NAOF) performance audit reports and foremost changes in these patterns.,Without ex ante researcher decisions on which content elements are important, the authors use computational content analysis of topic modelling for detecting content patterns and their changes in the performance audit reports.,In the content patterns, professional effectiveness auditing stands out, whereas efficiency auditing is more weakly present. Other content patterns correspond to the NAOF institutional position and its audit mandate, the institutional characteristics of Finland's public sector, and independent NAOF decisions in orienting its work. The authors can discern both ascendant, ascendant and stabler content patterns.,As the paper emphasises textual analysis, examining from where changes in the content patterns derive is secondary. Implications for both more intensive and extensive future research are drawn.,The authors argue that together with other approaches the approach has potential in monitoring Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) performance auditing in the level of its contents.,Knowing how an SAI orients its performance auditing has potential to support SAI monitoring by stakeholders – Parliament, the government, the citizens and others.,This is a comprehensive examination of the content patterns of the performance audit reports of an SAI since the 2001 introduction of its present institutional position.


During requirement specification process of software development activities, many existing systems or business process requirements have been captured using natural language or specialized tools such as UML. However, the capturing of informal requirements into formalized properties has not been taken into attention by software developers due to time and budget constraints. It is critical for the informally captured requirements to be formally specified in order to perform system verification. Formal verification checks whether a system model meets the formal specifications while validation checks whether the developed system fulfills its intended purpose. Therefore, in this paper, we present our studies of formal verification of multi agent system using model checking approach. We have utilized model checking tool in order to execute the formal verification procedures based on a particular basic theory to verify certain kind of properties of requirement specifications. We show an example of how model checking tool could support the verification of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) multi agent online application system and conclude that the propose model checking approach will benefit multi agent system.


We report the X-ray detection of the low-mass K7V star WASP-43, which is orbited by a hot Jupiter in one of the closest exoplanet orbits known to date. The high mean density of the planet implies a massive core with ≈130 M⊕, yielding a heavy-element massfraction of 20%. From an 18 ks long XMM-Newton observation, we derive an X-ray luminosity of 6.7 +3.5 −3.3 × 1027 ergs s−1, which puts WASP-43 among the active K-stars, which is compatible with its relatively young age derived in previous studies. The X-ray luminosity translates into a soft X-ray flux of (10.2 ± 5.4) × 103 erg cm−2 s−1 at the substellar point. According to our modeling, the combined X-ray and extreme ultraviolet flux may trigger mass-loss at a rate of up to ≈1012 g s−1 via energy-limited atmospheric escape. We infer that it is unlikely that the planet has lost more than 2.5% of its current mass through that channel and that activityinduced mass-loss has not substantially altered its evolution.


Operation training is the basic training of acupuncture, which includes practicing finger force and finger feeling. During practicing, it is essential to comprehend that needle is the carrier of force, and the force should be exerted through the needle, meaning the finger force should be put into the needle. There are four basic skills, including practicing qi, practicing finger, practicing spirit and practicing technique. Besides, there are three combinations, which are combination of spirit and finger, combination of force and qi and combination of qi and spirit. It is required to seek movement from peace and achieve fast from stable, also it needs to be swift through being steady, be dynamic through being static and be ingenious through being subtle. The techniques in the 24-type simplex manipulation are recorded in the ancient literature, and some arrangement and supplement is added and then summarized to classify this manipulation into six groups, including (1) search and pinch acupoint, activate meridian by finger and by nail; (2) swing, hover, twist and rub the needle; (3) insert, withdraw, lift and thrust the needle; (4) scrape, flip, fly and rub needle handle; (5) pull, push, vibrate and bend the needle; (6) press meridian and acupoint, seek meridian qi and stir the needle. It could provide positive effect on distinguishing and comprehending the manipulation.


Some estimations and inequalities are given for the higher order central moments of a random variable taking values on a finite interval. An application is considered for estimating the moments of a truncated exponential distribution.


This article presents a linguistic analysis of the prayers in the five major Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles. In the first part, the prayers are described in terms of form and structural elements. The second part offers a comparison with direct speech in the same works and Christian prayers and Greek prayers from other sources. The results suggest that this relatively uncharacterised discourse, closer to colloquial speech than any religious model, offers an authentic example of early Christian prayer1.


Transition-metal catalyzed allylic substitution reaction is an important approach for constructing carbon-carbon bond and carbon-heteroatom bond. Due to its cheapness, easy access, and wide applicability in organic synthesis, nickel has attracted intense attention. Over the past 50 years, nickel-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions have been extensively studied. The progresses on nickel-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions and their applications in organic synthesis are summarized according to bond formation and nucleophilic reagent.


BACKGROUND
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine which mediates many aspects of the acute phase response. Although known to be produced by macrophages and other proinflammatory cells, IL-6 is also released by many types of epithelial cells. The present studies were performed to determine if endotoxin and proinflammatory cytokines stimulate the release of IL-6 from native murine hepatocytes.

METHODS
Cultured hepatocytes were treated with various concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin-1 (IL-1), or tumor necrosis factor (TNF), in the presence or absence of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 RA), an anti-TNF antibody, or dexamethasone. Culture supernatants were assayed for murine IL-6 using an ELISA. The cellular source of IL-6 was investigated using immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS
Hepatocyte IL-6 production was significantly increased following treatment with LPS, IL-1, and TNF. Combinations of LPS and these cytokines were synergistic in stimulating IL-6 release. Dexamethasone, but not IL-1 RA or an anti-TNF antibody, inhibited hepatocyte production of IL-6 in response to LPS. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the hepatocytes, and not contaminating nonparenchymal cells, were the principal source of the IL-6 produced in these cultures.

CONCLUSIONS
Murine hepatocytes release significant amounts of IL-6 when exposed to endotoxin or proinflammatory cytokines. LPS appears to stimulate hepatocyte IL-6 production directly, and this effect does not appear to be mediated by IL-1 or TNF.


Life may have started in connection with early plate tectonic processes coupled to alkaline hydrothermal activity. Pyrophosphate (PPi) and Na+ transport may have preceded ATP and H+ transport through primitive membranes in association with the dominant geochemistry of the Earth at the time of the origin and early evolution of life. A hydrothermal environment in which Na+ is abundant and H+ is rare exists in sediment-starved subduction zones, like the Mariana forearc in the W Pacific Ocean. It is considered to mimic the Archean Earth (Pons et al., 2011). There, the forearc pore fluids have a pH up to 12.6 and a Na+-concentration of 0.7 mol/kg seawater. PPi could have been formed during early subduction of oceanic lithosphere by dehydration of protonated orthophosphates. A key to PPi formation in these geological environments is a low local activity of water. Magnesium, on the other hand, is a common element on Earth, particularly in oceanic crust and the upper mantle (as well as on the other terrestrial planets) and plays a special role in biochemistry due to its ability to coordinate six oxygen atoms efficiently in its first coordination shell. Such oxygen atoms may be part of one or two charged oxyanions, which means that Mg2+can, for instance, tie together two different phosphate groups that are located at distance from each other in a macromolecule, and in this way be responsible for the folding of large molecules like RNA. This property of Mg2+ also helps the stabilization of diphosphate and triphosphate groups of nucleotides, as well as promoting the condensation of orthophosphate to oligophosphates, like PPi and trimetaphosphate. According to the 'RNA World' hypothesis the first enzymes – the ribozymes – consisted of RNA, which depended on Mg2+ for its self-cleavage (Gilbert, 1986). Mg2+ is also present in all DNA and RNA activation processes. The central role of Mg2+ in the function of ribozymes and its 'archaic' position in ribosomes (the protein making machinery in all cells), and the fact that magnesium generally has coordination properties different from other cations, suggests that the inorganic chemistry of magnesium, together with that of sodium and phosphate, had a key position in the first chemical processes leading to the origin and early evolution of life.


That the returns on financial assets and insurance claims are not well described by the multivariate normal distribution is generally acknowledged in the literature. This paper presents a review of the use of the skew-normal distribution and its extensions in finance and actuarial science, highlighting known results as well as potential directions for future research. When skewness and kurtosis are present in asset returns, the skew-normal and skew-Student distributions are natural candidates in both theoretical and empirical work. Their parameterisation is parsimonious and they are mathematically tractable. In finance, the distributions are interpretable in terms of the efficient markets hypothesis. Furthermore, they lead to theoretical results that are useful for portfolio selection and asset pricing. In actuarial science, the presence of skewness and kurtosis in insurance claims data is the main motivation for using the skew-normal distribution and its extensions. The skew-normal has been used in studies on risk measurement and capital allocation, which are two important research fields in actuarial science. Empirical studies consider the skew-normal distribution because of its flexibility, interpretability, and tractability. This paper is comprised of four main sections: an overview of skew-normal distributions; a review of skewness in finance, including asset pricing, portfolio selection, time series modeling, and a review of its applications in insurance, in which the use of alternative distribution functions is widespread. The final section summarizes some of the challenges associated with the use of skew-elliptical distributions and points out some directions for future research.


Until now no studies evaluating the position of Kampung chickens in chicken clade of Asia. Thus studies based on molecular DNA sequence hipervariable-I on Kampung chicken is needed. Molecular studies based on DNA sequences hyper variable-I of Kampong chicken was done to confirm the results of previous evaluations conducted on 15 families of local chickens of Indonesia. An analysis of 210 individuals Kampung chicken (Aceh, North Sumatra, Lampung, Banten, Central Java, Lombok, Sulawesi, Ternate, Morotai and Halmahera) resulted in 51 haplotypes derived from 62 polymorphic sites. Polymorphic sites among the highest seen at 112-397 (93.22%). The highest haplotype frequencies contained in the haplotype H-4 (36.19%), followed by H-1 (18.57%) and H-5 (10, 95%). Kampung chicken phylogeny analysis formed four haplogroups/clade from 7 references of Asian chicken clade. Four haplogroups are clade II = 84.31% (43 haplotypes), clade IIIC = 1.96% (1 haplotype), clade IIID = 3.92% (2 haplotypes), clade IV = 7.84% (4 haplotypes). The results prove of that Indonesian local and indigenous chickens were equally dominated clade II. Analysis of genetic diversity showed haplotype diversity of 0.825 ± 0.021, nucleotide diversity of 0.00600 on average, the genetic distance between populations ranged from 0.003 to 0.011, and the genetic distance within populations ranged from 0.00395 to 0.01031. Genetic distance between individuals in all populations of Kampung chickens was significantly different (P < 0.01). Fu's Fs values was negative, indicating high genetic diversity and population expansion on native chicken in Indonesia. Other important result was shown with the major haplotype spread from western to eastern Indonesia, and had strengthened the position of Indonesia as one of the centers of domestication of the chicken. Key Words : Kampung Chicken, Hypervariable-I, Control Region, Mitochondrial DNA, Haplotype, Clade


Describing the 3D geometry of geological surfaces is a fundamental step to infer their structural history, especially when they have recorded successive deformation phases. This study aims at testing the contribution of 3D modelling to the understanding of orogenic domains. It focuses on the cover/basement contact of an External Crystalline Massif of the French Alps considered as a marker of the finite deformation at orogen scale. This contact is observable in outliers of Mesozoic cover in the test area located in the Massif de Morges (Pelvoux Massif).

A 3D geometric model has been built from map and cross-section data derived from field structural and kinematic observations using STRIM software (Matra Datavision). 3D modelling ensures geometric consistency of geological interpretation. Moreover, the model has been unfolded to restore surfaces and to quantify shortening. Together with field analyses, those results show that two sub-perpendicular phases of deformation related to the Alpine cycle have occurred. The first and main one consisted of the NNE-SSW inversion of previous extensional paleo-faults that controlled the geometry of the Tethyan margin. The second one was an E-W compression of post-Early Oligocene age.


For the operation of Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) in unknown environments, accurate estimation of internal parameters and consequently precise prediction of the battery state of charge (SoC) are critical issues for power management. Battery performance can be affected by factors such as temperature deviation, discharge/charge current, Coulombic efficiency losses, and aging. Thus, in order to increase the model accuracy, it is important to update the model parameters online. In this paper, the Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) is employed for the online estimation of the Lithium-Ion battery model parameters and the battery SoC based on the updated model. The proposed method is evaluated experimentally, and the results are compared with that of the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). The comparison with the EKF shows that UKF provides better accuracy both in battery parameters estimation and the battery SoC estimation.


The rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) continue to increase at epidemic proportions. It has become clear that these disease states are not independent but are frequently interrelated. By addressing conditions such as obesity, insulin resistance, stress hyperglycemia, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes mellitus, with its micro- and macrovascular complications, a specific treatment strategy can be developed. These conditions can be addressed by early identification of patients at high risk for type 2 diabetes, prompt and aggressive treatment of their hyperglycemia, recognition of the pleiotropic and synergistic benefits of certain antidiabetes agents on CVD, and thus, avoiding potential complications including hypoglycemia and weight gain. Incretin-based therapies, which include glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors, have the potential to alter the course of type 2 diabetes and associated CVD complications. Advantages of these therapies include glucose-dependent enhancement of insulin secretion, infrequent instances of hypoglycemia, weight loss with GLP-1 receptor agonists, weight maintenance with DPP-IV inhibitors, decreased blood pressure, improvements in dyslipidemia, and potential beneficial effects on CV function.


To attach a fuel tank to an excavator, two sets of mounting plates on which three bosses are attached are welded onto the tank. In this study, the welding process of a fuel tank for an excavator was modeled using a finite element numerical method. The tank was modeled as a simple plate to which the mounting plate or bosses were attached by fillet welding. Thermal and thermo-elasto-plastic analyses of the welding process were carried out to predict the temperature distribution and material distortion during welding, respectively. Three different welding sequences for the tank were also modelled to compare the deformation that occurred due to each welding sequence. The results of the analysis predicted that changing the welding sequence around the mounting plate could not position the boss within the allowable dimensional range. The results also revealed the sequence in which the maximum distortion of the bosses welded onto the tank was 30% less than the maximum distortion due to the other sequences.


Wireless networking and multimedia contents are two rapidly emerging technological trends. From among which ad-hoc networks can be mentioned With the development of ad-hoc networks, we can anticipate the extensive of the multimedia application in personal networks or other collaborative scenarios. Ad-hoc network is also mainly constrained the bandwidth. Propose of scheduling in this research is to service the flows by both selecting the fixed or minimally mobile nodes that provide network backbone access and dynamically adopting the contention window size of flows. This model is robust to mobility and variances in channel capacity and imposes no control message overhead on the network, in calculating CW size, attenting to collision rate and flow's current QoS.


Defined as the union of the most striking opposites and associated with Platonic perfection, the term hermaphrodite has a fondness for elevated places. The constellation of the hermaphrodite through the union of the male subject and the female object is a recurrent motif in Percy Bysshe Shelley's poems. Such a hermaphrodite in Shelley's repository usually leads to a sort of Platonic perfection in a paradisiacal realm or Elysium. The hermaphrodite in Shelley's Alastor, or The Spirit of Solitude, though constellated, does not lead to such a Platonic perfection but a purgatorial state for the visionary Poet as the Shelleyan hero. Focusing on the first part of the poem and using the concept of the hermaphrodite, this article strives to bring under scrutiny the destruction of Shelley's hero and his fall into the depth of a purgatorial state when the hermaphrodite is broken apart leading to the release of its either aggressive male or poisonous female energies which results in the transformation of the hero to a worm-like phallus at the end of the poem.


INTRODUCTION: Neurological complications (NC) are frequently reported after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), but their incidence, characteristics and impact on the overall survival are not well defined. For this reason, we retrospectively analyzed our experience. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 506 allo-HSCTs performed in our center from January 2000 to September 2013, including 336 myeloablative and 170 non-myeloablative, 280 sibling and 226 unrelated, and 397 matched and 109 mismatched. All neurological complications, according to NCCN classification, were included. RESULTS: Seventy seven patients developed neurological complications. Their median age was 48 years (5-70) and 43 (56%) were male. Underlying diseases were Acute Leukemia (34), Myelodysplastic Syndrome (11), Multiple Myeloma (9), Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (7), Myeloproliferative disease (7), Bone marrow Aplasia (5), Hodgkin Lymphoma (2) and other (2). Thirty eight patients (49.4%) were in CR, 14 (18.2%) in PR, 16 (20.8%) had a refractory disease and 9 (11.7%) had a stable disease. Median preceding treatments were 2 (0-10), including in 24 (31.2%) a preceding HSCT (19 autologous and 5 allogeneic). Fifty seven patients (74%) had received a myeloablative (MA) regimen (14 TBI and 43 chemotherapy). Stem cell source was bone marrow, peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood in 53, 20 and 4 patients, respectively. The donor was unrelated in 47 patients (61%) and mismatched in 25 (32.5%). A calcineurin inhibitor (Cyclosporine or Tacrolimus) was included in all cases as GVHD prophylaxis, combined with Methotrexate (37), Mycophenolate (35) and Prednisone (5). Seventy seven patients developed 81 NC (74 central and 7 peripheral). The global incidence was 16%, being more frequently reported in unrelated (21.4% vs. 11.4%, p=0.002) or mismatched (24.5% vs. 13.5%, p=0.007) allo-HSCT. Within the group who developed central NC, 48 patients (65%) had an early onset (less than 100 days after HSCT), which consisted of impairment of consciousness (36 patients), focal syndrome (22 patients) or seizures (16 patients). The etiology was toxic-metabolic in 32 patients (posterior encephalopathy in 10 cases), infectious in 21 (viral 10, fungal 6, bacterial 5), vascular in 12 (Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura 6, hemorrhagic 4, ischemic 2) and relapse in 9. Within the group who developed peripheral NC, 5 patients (71.5%) had a late onset, which consisted of polyneuropathy. The etiology was infectious in 2 cases (viral) and immune in 5 cases. Twenty four patients are alive (31.2%) with a median follow-up of 10 months (0-110). Excluding relapses, NC was a direct or indirect cause of death in 24 patients (54.5%), due to viral (9) and fungal (8) infections, above all. The development of a NC, specially in the central nervous system, had a negative impact on the overall survival (17 months vs. 40 months; p=0.001) (figure 1) CONCLUSIONS: In our series, the incidence of NC in the setting of allo-HSCT was 16%, being more frequently found with unrelated and mismatched donor. They were associated with high mortality, having a negative impact on the overall survival and becoming a direct or indirect cause of death in more than half of cases. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Background: The students' ability to withstand the effect of stress is significantly determined by their coping ability. Their inability to cope effectively with stress may lead to low academic performance. This study aimed to investigate academic pressure and coping style as predictors of the academic performance of nursing undergraduates. Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive research design. The target population was nursing undergraduates at the Federal University of Birnin-Kebbi. A sample size of 118 was selected as respondents. Data were collected and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 26. Frequencies and percentages, Pearson product moment correlation, and multiple linear regression were used in data analysis. Results: The respondents' mean age was 25.09 (SD=4.53). Females were 55.9%. There was a weak negative correlation between cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and mean academic stress (AS) (r=-0.141, P=0.065), a weak positive correlation between CGPA and mean stress coping style (SCS) (r=0.237, P=0.005), and a weak positive correlation between mean AS and mean SCS was 0.008 (P=0.466). Mean AS was not a significant predictor of academic performance t (115)=-1.589, P=0.115. Mean SCS was a significant predictor of academic performance t (115)=2.656, P=0.009. Conclusion: The mean AS was not a significant predictor of academic performance. However, the mean SCS was a significant predictor of academic performance with a positive and significant correlation.


The aim of the study is to provide insights to the new generation of translators on the importance of using the descriptive and approximate method and the use of the individual method to adapt to the secular and sacred creative texts to avoid the mistakes of their predecessors. The study highlights the need to modernize education and training in the field of creative translation. The research discusses the concept of linguistic equivalence، which constitutes a major problem in theorizing the science of translation and in the creative translation process، especially in poetic texts and in sacred texts، due to the presence of context، melody and poetic taste in poetic texts and the presence of rhetorical and semantic differences in the sacred texts. The research deals with the importance of studying the structure of the two languages and knowing the analysis of the syntax in the translation process، as well as the importance of dissecting the linguistic structure of each language، taking into account the multiplicity of meanings in one word، and also the importance of translating the text from its original language، due to the difficulties of delving deep into the words without knowledge of the original language، and the psychological، cultural and environmental factors of the creator of the original text، which constitutes an effective element to determine the success rate of the translator's work.


The stratigraphic record preserved in the retreat path of Mississippi delta barrier-island arcs is controlled by erosional shoreface retreat processes, relative sea level rise, and sediment supply. Marine reworking combined with subsidence of the abandoned delta generate a characteristic sequence of facies from flanking barrier islands, barrier-island arcs to inner-shelf shoals depending on age. The preservation of any part of these sequences is a function of the rate of relative sea level rise and the depth at which individual barrier environments accumulate below the base of the advancing shoreface. More than 500 km (300 mi) of high resolution shallow seismic profiles correlated with vibracores from retreat paths fronting the Isles Dernieres and Chandeleur barrier-islan arcs, show contrasting stratigraphic sequences preserved on the inner continental shelf (Mississippi delta). The Isles Dernieres barrier-island arc developed as a consequence of the Caillou Headland abandonment in the early Lafourche delta approximately 800 years B.P. The base of the advancing shoreface lies 3 to 4 m (10 to 13 ft) below sea level and truncates the entire Isles Denieres barrier-lagoonal sequence and the upper part of the Caillou delta plain. On the lower shoreface, channels can be seen projecting seaward under the central part of the island arc; associated with it is a beach-ridge plain extending eastward. On the inner shelf, a sand sheet up to 60 cm (2 ft) thick marks the retreat path of the Isles Dernieres. The Chandeleur barrier-island arc was generated by abandonment of the St. Bernard delta complex 1,500 years ago. The base of shoreface erosion lies 6 to 8 m (20 to 26 ft) below sea level, and truncates the entire barrier-lagoonal sequence in the central part of the system. On the downdrift flanks only the upper portion of tidal inlet and recurved spit complexes are truncated. Scattered outcrops of shell reefs and lagoonal deposits occur on the lower shoreface. Beyond the shoreface, a 1 to 5 m (3 to 16 ft) thick sand sheet, with gently seaward dipping interval reflectors, caps tidal inlet scars up to 10 m (33 ft) thick, as well as the basal portions of migrating barrier-island sequences associated with earlier shoreline positions. Differences seen in the two stratigraphic sequences are a function of distributary size and depositional history of each barrier-island arc. The Isles Dernieres developed from a series of small sand-deficient distributaries in the Lafourche delta complex, whereas the Chandeleur Islands developed from large sand-rich distributaries of the St. Bernard delta complex. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1470------------


: Introduction: tracts of many from Some of these have been linked to a range of human diseases including chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and gastric adenocarcinoma. Objectives: The main objective of the study is to analyse the prevalence of non-Helicobacter pylori duodenal ulcer. Material and methods: This descriptive study was conducted in Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Lahore during 2019. The data was collected from those patients who visited the OPD of the hospital. H pylori infection was confirmed by rapid urease test and histopathology, which was later used as the gold standard for the diagnosis. Results: Patients with NSAID-related duodenal ulcers had a higher male: female ratio of 4:1 with mean age of 62±16 years. Abdominal pain was common in H pylori infection 54% however, symptoms of abdominal pain, hematemesis and melena were relatively more in those with NSAID related duodenal ulcer covering 36%. H pylori and non- H pylori non-NSAID duodenal ulcer had a similar male:female ratio and mean age. Conclusion: It is concluded that H pylori infection-related duodenal ulcer is still common while NSAID-related duodenal ulcers occur in older age


This paper presents a method for compiling a large-scale bilingual corpus from a database of movie subtitles. To create the corpus, we propose an algorithm based on Gale and Church's sentence alignment algorithm(1993). However, our algorithm not only relies on character length information, but also uses subtitle-timing information, which is encoded in the subtitle files. Timing is highly correlated between subtitles in different versions (for the same movie), since subtitles that match should be displayed at the same time. However, the absolute time values can't be used for alignment, since the timing is usually specified by frame numbers and not by real time, and converting it to real time values is not always possible, hence we use normalized subtitle duration instead. This results in a significant reduction in the alignment error rate.


Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), an important prolyl-specific peptidase in the serine hydrolase family, hydrolyzes a large number of endogenous oligopeptides. In clinical studies, the detection of DPP-IV, especially the detection of its activity, is particularly important. We previously reported a specific fluorescent two-photon probe for DPP-IV. In this study, to further verify that our probe can be used for DPP-IV activity detection, we developed an accurate and sensitive method for the determination of DPP-IV activity in human tissue microsomes, cell homogenates or cell supernatants by liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (LC-FD). This method is based on the fluorescence generated from BAN obtained from the hydrolysis of GP-BAN by detecting DPP-IV. The linearity, sensitivity, recovery, precision and stability of the method were fully validated. The method based on LC-FD has a lower limit of quantitation for BAN (product of DPP-IV), as low as 5 nM (only needs 2 μL), which is much lower than that of the others. This method also demonstrated good accuracy and precision; variances of both were less than 15% between the intra- and inter-assay. In addition, the method was successfully applied to the determination of DPP-IV activity in various cell homogenates and cell supernatants. The development of the LC-FD method will help to understand the expression and function of DPP-IV in different biological samples in humans for future studies.


Purpose: Eye trauma is an important cause of monocular visual loss worldwide. This study aimed to describe the structural and functional characteristics and outcomes of 281 globe ruptures. Methods: Medical records of all patients undergoing surgery for a ruptured globe at Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto in the last 17 years were retrospectively reviewed. Results: 281 eyes of 277 patients were included. The majority of them were males (71%) with a mean age of 59.7 ± 20.5. In 38.8% of the cases, the cause was a fall. At the time of admission, 29.5% of the eyes had a visual acuity (VA) greater than 20/200 and 12.5% had no light perception. The median time between trauma and primary repair was less than 8 h (interquartile range 5–12 h). A primary reconstruction was always attempted. Primary evisceration was performed in 14 cases (5%). In multivariable analysis, independent predictors of vision survival were male gender, shorter wound size, and absence of vitreous hemorrhage. Conclusion: In this large, retrospective study on globe ruptures, we identified male gender, short wound length, and the absence of vitreous hemorrhage or retinal detachment as predictors of improved functional outcome. We found a correlation between the presenting and final VAs. The Ocular Trauma Score predicted the outcome well. Our determination to reconstruct the traumatized eyes as early and as completely as possible was justified by the functional results: despite the severity of the injuries, one out of four eyes reached a final VA greater than 20/200.


Evidence from electrophysiological and ion flux studies has established that dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channels are subject to regulation by neurotransmitter-mediated phosphorylation and dephosphorylation reactions. In the present study, we have further characterized the phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and a multifunctional Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase of the membrane-associated form of the 165-kDa polypeptide identified as the skeletal muscle dihydropyridine receptor. The initial rates of phosphorylation of the 165-kDa peptide by both protein kinases were found to be relatively good compared to the rates of phosphorylation of established substrates of the enzymes. Phosphorylation of the 165-kDa peptide by both protein kinases was additive. Prior phosphorylation by either one of the kinases alone did not preclude phosphorylation by the second kinase. The cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylated the 165-kDa peptide preferentially at serine residues, although a small amount of phosphothreonine was also formed. In contrast, after phosphorylation of the 165-kDa peptide by the Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, slightly more phosphothreonine than phosphoserine was recovered. Phosphopeptide mapping indicated that the two kinases phosphorylated the peptide at distinct as well as similar sites. Notably, one major site phosphorylated by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase was not phosphorylated by the Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, while other sites were phosphorylated to a high degree by the Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, but to a much lesser degree by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The results show that the 165-kDa dihydropyridine receptor from skeletal muscle can be multiply phosphorylated at distinct sites by the cAMP- and Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases. As the 165-kDa peptide may be the major functional unit of the dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca channel, the results suggest that the phosphorylation-dependent modulation of Ca channel activity by neurotransmitters may involve phosphorylation of the 165-kDa peptide at multiple sites.


Nutritional supplements can be useful when the diet alone cannot provide adequate nutrition. They can also be used to manage certain clinical conditions. Once a decision is made to use them it is important to consider patient choice and cultural beliefs as well as which nutrients to supply.


Study Design. Retrospective observational and case-control study. Objective. To determine the risk factors for progression of degenerative listhesis by comparing patients with and without progression at greater than 5-year follow-up. Summary of Background Data. The previous study with 2- to 7-year follow-up showed that degenerative spondylolisthesis of the cervical spine did not progress. Longer-term follow-up may reveal that these patients actually do progress over time. Methods. We identified 218 patients with greater than 5-year follow-up without surgery. They were categorized as either having or not having cervical spondylolisthesis. We defined spondylolisthesis as the presence of greater than 2 mm of translation in standing neutral lateral radiographs of the cervical spine at the initial evaluation. The control group at baseline was those without spondylolisthesis. Progression of translation was defined as greater than 2 mm of additional translation on the final standing neutral radiograph. Results. The mean follow-up duration was 6.4 ± 1.0 years (range: 5–9.4 yr). Progression of translation was found in 20 patients (9.2%), including 4 patients in the spondylolisthesis group and 16 patients in the control group. Progression of translation was not related to the presence of spondylolisthesis or the severity of translation at the initial evaluation, but was more common in the elderly and in the patients with anterior translation than those with posterior translation at the initial evaluation. In addition, progression of spondylolisthesis was not correlated with any change of symptoms. Conclusion. Progression of cervical spondylolisthesis is not related to the presence of spondylolisthesis at baseline. Level of Evidence: 4


A strategy for the production of side-chain-to-tail cyclic peptides from ribosomally derived polypeptide precursors is reported. Two genetically encodable unnatural amino acids, bearing either an aryl or alkyl amino group, were investigated for their efficiency toward promoting the formation of medium to large-sized peptide macrocycles via intein-mediated side-chain-to-C-terminus cyclization. While only partial cyclization was observed with precursor proteins containing para-amino-phenylalanine, efficient peptide macrocyclization could be achieved using O-2-aminoethyl-tyrosine as the reactive moiety. Conveniently, the latter was generated upon quantitative, post-translational reduction of the azido-containing counterpart, O-2-azidoethyl-tyrosine, directly in E. coli cells. This methodology could be successfully applied for the production of a 12 mer cyclic peptide with enhanced binding affinity for the model target protein streptavidin as compared to the acyclic counterpart (KD: 5.1 μM vs. 22.4 μM), thus demonstrating its utility toward the creation and investigation of novel, functional macrocyclic peptides.


We investigate the optimal policy response to the possibility of abrupt, irreversible shifts in system dynamics. The welfare cost of a tipping point emerges from the policymaker's response to altered system dynamics. Our policymaker also learns about a threshold's location by observing the system's response in each period. Simulations with a recursive, numerical climate-economy model show that tipping possibilities raise the optimal carbon tax more strongly over time. The resulting policy paths ultimately lower optimal peak warming by up to 0.5°C. Different types of posttipping shifts in dynamics generate qualitatively different optimal pretipping policy paths.


We are proud to introduce the Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery supplement, "Italian Society of Microsurgery: Current Concepts on Lower Extremity Reconstruction." This is the inaugural issueofa seriesof supplements thatwill be published by the Italian Society of Microsurgery (SIM), an initiative introduced by our current President, Prof Francesco Moschella and the executive committee of the society. Each supplement will follow our biannual symposium that is held during the year between two meetings and concentrates on a single topic. The supplement is published the year after the symposium and delivered to the members of the Society during the national meeting. The topic described and discussed in the inaugural issue is lower limb reconstruction, a subject that can be well representative of the orthoplastic concept that joins together several members of the society. This particular issue comes after 2016 Trieste's symposium, organized by Prof Arnez on lower limb reconstruction, with the contribution of Prof Tos, Prof Innocenti, Dr Cherubino, Dr Toia, Dr Caiozzo, and all other coauthors. We sincerely appreciate their efforts. Selected aspects have been covered in this issue that reflect the attitude of the SIM towards modern lower limb reconstruction and its position on controversial issues. The issue begins with the emergency treatment of open tibial fractures and the modern concept of negative pressure therapy in damage control surgery. The use of vascular, arterial, and venous grafts, and flowthrough flaps is described in the third article. The fourth article discusses the spare parts concept in unsalvageable lower extremities and the technique and clinical applications of the foot fillet flap. The fifth and sixth articles analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the use of muscle flaps versus fasciocutaneous flaps and propeller perforator flaps versus free flaps. In the seventh article, an algorithm for reconstruction of the challenging Achilles region is described that provides useful indication on the use of free and pedicled flaps. Lastly, the very modern concept of propeller perforator flaps harvested on free flaps to increase the surface to be covered is presented, together with a simple nomenclature proposal. This issue is the result of a joint effort of the whole society. We are honored to serve as the Editors andwould like to thank all the authors and the production team for their efforts. Enjoy reading.


Molecular communications is a new paradigm that enables nanomachines to communicate within a biological environment. One form of molecular communications is calcium (Ca2+) signaling, which occurs naturally in living biological cells. Ca2+ signaling enables cells in a tightly packed tissue structure to communicate at short ranges with neighboring cells. The achievable mutual information of Caa2+ signaling between tissue embedded nanomachines is investigated in this paper, focusing in particular on the impact that the deformation of the tissue structure has on the communication channel. Based on this analysis, a number of transmission protocols are proposed; nanomachines can utilize these to communicate using Ca2+ signaling. These protocols are static time-slot configuration, dynamic time-slot configuration, dynamic time-slot configuration with silent communication, and improved dynamic time-slot configuration with silent communication (IDTC-SC). The results of a simulation study show that IDTC-SC provides the maximum data rate when tissues experience frequent deformation.


In this article, we describe the production of single polymer composites from polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) multifilaments by using the hot compaction process. In this process, developed at Leeds University, highly oriented tapes or fibers are processed at a critical temperature such that a small fraction of the surface of each oriented element is melted, which on cooling recrystallizes to form the matrix of the composite. This process is, therefore, a way to produce novel high-volume fraction polymer/polymer composites where the two phases are chemically the same material. A variety of experimental techniques, including mechanical tests and differential scanning calorimetry, were used to examine the mechanical properties and morphology of the compacted PEN sheets. Bidirectional (0/90) samples were made at a range of compaction temperatures chosen to span the melting range of the PEN multifilaments (268–276°C). Measurement of the mechanical properties of these samples, specifically the in-plane modulus and strength, allowed the optimum compaction temperature to be ascertained (∼ 271°C), and hence, the optimum mechanical properties. The optimum compacted PEN sheets were found to have an initial modulus close to 10 GPa and a strength of just over 200 MPa. The glass transition temperature of the optimum compacted sheets was measured to be 150°C, nearly 40°C higher than compacted poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) sheets. In previous work on polypropylene and PET hot compacted materials, it proved instructive to envisage these materials as a composite where the original oriented multifilaments are regarded as the reinforcing phase, and the melted and recrystallized material are regarded as the matrix phase. Dynamic mechanical bending tests (DMTA) were used here to confirm this for PEN. DMTA tests were carried out on the original fibers and on a sample of completely melted material to determine the fiber and matrix properties, respectively. The composite properties were then predicted by using a simple rule of mixtures and this was found to be in excellent agreement with the magnitude and measured temperature dependence of the hot compacted PEN material. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 796–802, 2004


In the past 30 years, China has reached the target of lifting 500 million people out of poverty. The rate of increase in human development indicators has become the second fastest in the world, allowing China to enter the ranks of middle-income countries. As the most populous country, accounting for one-fifth of the world's population, its transformation has been unprecedented in human history. Scientific evidence and international experience in the past 10 years have found that early child development (ECD) is key to human development, as it lays the foundation for the rest of life. Early child development includes physical, psychological, emotional, language, behavioral, and social development. Experience in the early years of life will determine healthy development and happiness in the rest of life. Research has found that investment in ECD is the most cost effective strategy to improve human development. In China's demographic transition, the population of children and youth is declining in absolute numbers, and the investment of raising them can increase on a per capita basis. This study has been in the making since 2009. It was prepared during a time when China was charting its course of development under the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015). The study began with an agreement between the World Bank and China's National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC) for a collaborative study on ECD. Concurrently, China's Ministry of Education invited the World Bank to conduct an overall review of the education sector, in order to provide it with inputs and suggestions as it prepared China's national plan for medium- and long-term education reform and development (2010-2020). In reviewing achievements and challenges in the education sector, the Bank found that there was much room for expanding and improving preprimary education for children ages 3-6. The Ministry of Education appreciated the Bank's identification of this need and set ambitious goals for preprimary education in the national education plan.


We have recently developed an automated technique using noise-based level-set methods and non-rigid registration for endocardial and epicardial border detection as a basis for perfusion quantification from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images. The goal of the present work was to validate this technique against conventional manual analysis both directly and using quantitative coronary angiography as reference for significant disease (stenosis >50%). We studied 27 patients undergoing contrast-enhanced CMR imaging (1.5T) at rest and during adenosine stress. Contrast enhancement time-curves were constructed and used to calculate a number of perfusion indices. Measured segmental pixel intensities in each frame correlated highly with manual analysis (r=0.95). Bland-Altman analysis showed small biases (1.3 at rest; 0.0 at stress) and narrow limits of agreement (±13 at rest; ±14 at stress). The derived perfusion indices showed the same diagnostic accuracy as manual analysis (AUC up to 0.72 vs. 0.73). These results indicate that our automated technique allows fast detection of myocardial ROIs and quantification of stress-induced perfusion abnormalities as accurately as manual analysis.


A sugarcane (Saccharum sinensis Roxb.) cell line R932 resistant to growth inhibition by the proline analogue hydroxyproline was selected. R932 showed greater tolerance to PEG and low temperature stress than the donor. The line R932 showed larger accumulation of proline (x3.2) than the sensitive donor. In vitro enzymic analysis of gamma-glutamyl kinase involved in the proline biosynthesis showed that the enzyme in the R932 was less sensitive to inhibition by 50-mM exogenous proline than that in the donor. The results suggested that the change in gamma-glutamyl kinase properties might lead to excessive accumulation of proline, and the elevated proline contents might in turn lead to an increase in tolerance to environmental stress.


The optical klystron, previously successfully optimized for the realization of a FEL on the ACO storage ring at Orsay, has been used as a nonlinear medium for producing harmonics of an external 1.06 μm Nd:YAG laser focused into it. Detailed experimental data are reported. A comparison with theoretical calculations shows very good qualitative and quantitative agreement between the experimental data and the theory.


Recently (2010), South Korea's aging rate is 11%. and expected to be 32.3% in 2040, and Japan's aging rate in 2010 is 23%, and in 2040 is expected to be 34.5%. As aging progresses, it is increasing with the elderly person with dementia. However, elderly welfare facilities are insufficient. To take care stability of elderly people with mental and physical disabilities, we need to prepare a lot of welfare facilities for the elderly. Whenever physical conditions and service needs change of the disability elderly, Elderly are forced to move to the other facility. They move from familiar places, beloved local base to unfamiliar places. They are under a lot of stress in order to adapt to new environment. This research is to check out the possibility of the systems and the effectiveness of various services and the flexibility of management in Japan. Takurosyo is responsible for a variety function of elderly medical welfare facilities. Within a short time, our country, has entered into a super-aged society, elderly health and welfare facilities are needed. However, because it requires enormous financial, it is difficult to build a new building in reality, However, if remodeling existing buildings, We can build many low-cost small-scale multi-functional welfare facilities such as the takurosyo. Such that facility would be available to us.


Association of Accelerometer-Assessed Sedentary Behavior With Diabetic Retinopathy in the United States Physical activity (PA) is inversely associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR) prevalence among adults in the United States.1,2 Sedentary behavior (SB), independent of PA, is also detrimentally associated with risk factors (eg, hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] level)3 linked with DR incidence.4 To my knowledge, no study has evaluated the association of SB with DR, which was this study's purpose.


The Espinaso Formation (Oligocene) primarily consists of 430 m of water-laid, immature, volcaniclastic sandstones, conglomerates, and bounder conglomerates interbedded with matrix-supported pebble to boulder conglomerates that represent debris-flow deposits. Isolated occurrences of poorly welded, lithic- to crystal-rich deposits with pumic swarms represent pyroclastic-flow deposits. The geographic position, lithologic similarity with respect to intrusive rocks, coarseness of sediments, and lithofacies types suggest that the Espinaso was deposited by alluvial fans which radiated from magmatic centers in the Ortiz Mountains and Cerrillos Hills of north-central New Mexico (Fig. 1). Exposures of the Espinaso occur as isolated outcrops near the Cerrillos Hills, Galisteo Creek and Santa Fe River, and in the Hagan basin. The largest and least deformed exposure of the formation crops out in the type area along Espinaso Ridge within the Hagan basin (Figs. 1, 2). Espinaso Ridge is the principle area of study for this investigation.


Microtubule self-repair has been studied both in vitro and in vivo as an underlying mechanism of microtubule stability. The turnover of tubulin dimers along the microtubule network has challenged the pre-existing dogma that only growing ends are dynamic. However, although there is clear evidence of tubulin incorporation into the shaft of polymerized microtubules in vitro, the possibility of such events taking place in living cells remains uncertain. In this study, we investigated this possibility by microinjecting purified tubulin dimers labeled with a red fluorophore into the cytoplasm of cells expressing GFP-tubulin. We observed the appearance of red dots along pre-existing green microtubule network within minutes. We found that the fluorescence intensities of these red dots were inversely correlated with the green signal, suggesting that the red dimers were incorporated into the microtubules and replaced the pre-existing green dimers. We then characterized the size and spatial frequency of these incorporations as a function of injected tubulin concentration and post-injection delay. The saturation of these measurements contradicted the hypothesis of nonspecific adsorption along microtubules and suggested that the injected dimers incorporated into a finite number of damaged sites. By our low estimate, within a few minutes of the injections, free dimers incorporated into major repair sites every 70 micrometers of microtubules. Finally, we mapped the location of these sites in micropatterned cells and found that they were more concentrated in regions where the actin filament network was less dense and where microtubules exhibited greater lateral fluctuations. These results provide evidences that microtubules do self-repair in living cells, and they provide a quantitative characterization of the temporal and spatial dynamics of this process in PtK2 cells.


In this paper we are presenting high performance GPU implementations of the 2-opt and 3-opt local search algorithms used to solve the Traveling Salesman Problem. The main idea behind them is to take a route that crosses over itself and reorder it so that it does not. It is a very important local search technique. GPU usage greatly decreases the time needed to find the best edges to be swapped in a route. Our results show that at least 90% of the time during Iterated Local Search is spent on the local search itself. We used 13 TSPLIB problem instances with sizes ranging from 100 to 4461 cities for testing. Our results show that by using our GPU algorithm, the time needed to find optimal swaps can be decreased approximately 3 to 26 times compared to parallel CPU code using 32 cores. Additionally, we are pointing out the memory bandwidth limitation problem in current parallel architectures. We are showing that re-computing data is usually faster than reading it from memory in case of multi-core systems and we are proposing this approach as a solution.


As the performance of HTS DC SQUIDs continues to improve, their utilization in RF devices (e.g., amplifiers, nuclear magnetic resonance detectors) having complex circuitry becomes more attractive. To fully realize their potential in this application, accurate and efficient analysis techniques are required to assist the circuit designer. Beginning with measured V-phi and I-V data for the device, we have used the small-signal model to optimize the design of a two-stage low-noise amplifier (LNA) comprised of DC SQUIDs. Optimization criteria were maximum gain and minimum noise figure at the upper band edge. We have shown that the small signal model is an invaluable design tool which provides the analytical performance data needed to optimize the SQUID and its attendant RF circuitry.<<ETX>>


This study explores the relationship between gender and veganism through a critical analysis of food-based discourse on three vegan blogs. As many researchers note, there is a strong association between meat and masculinity in North American society (Nath, 2011; Rothgerber, 2013; Rozin, Hormes, Faith & Wansink, 2012; Ruby & Heine, 2011; Sumpter, 2015). While some researchers argue that the practice of veganism inherently challenges traditional gender norms (Adams, 2015; Potts and Parry, 2010), in these blog posts there is little room for alternative gender performativity. Drawing upon critical feminist and vegan studies literature, and previous discourse analysis of food blogs, this research examines the intersections of gender and food through the practice of veganism. Furthermore, it analyses how the association between meat and masculinity is applied in the gendering of vegan food. I argue that the gendered discourse of vegan food on these blogs reinforces, rather than challenges, traditional gender norms through the use of tropes describing "carnivorous men" and "manly meals" with hopes of satiating male appetites.


Background: Progress in echographic techniques, particularly, high-resolution echography and color Doppler, as well the higher deep on knowledge and systematization in fetal anatomy exploration, are the main responsible of the increased number of cardiovascular anomalies diagnosed prenatally. Objective: To describe the sonographic findings and perinatal outcomes in cases with prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of intra-abdominal umbilical vein varix. Material and methods: A descriptive and retrospective study of cases with prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of umbilical vein varix. The diagnosis is performed at the level of the abdominal circumference when the diameter of the vessel is above the established parameters for a certain gestational age. Variables concerning maternal-fetal features, ultrasound findings and perinatal outcomes of affected cases are described. Results: From August 2008 to August 2012 14 cases of intraabdominal umbilical vein varix were diagnosed in our center with a mean gestational age at diagnosis of 29 weeks. Of the 14 cases, 35% had associated anomalies, mostly cardiovascular anomalies. No chromosomal defects were detected. Perinatal outcomes in newborns were favorable, with mean gestational age at delivery of 38 weeks. Only one case of monochorionic-monoamniotic twin pregnancy required preterm elective termination secondary to a twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Conclusion: Prenatal diagnosis of intra-abdominal umbilical vein varix should be followed by further studies given its possible association with other anomalies, chromosomal defects and cases of stillbirth. However, isolated cases of umbilical vein varix, representing a majority, often evolve favorably with few complications.


After relocation, refugees may experience significant difficulty adjusting to a host culture, and this difficulty may persist even after many years following resettlement. However, the influence of time on postmigration living difficulties (PMLD) and psychological distress has not been extensively investigated. In this investigation, we used regression analyses to examine whether length of residence in the United States would moderate the relationship between psychological symptoms and PMLD in a sample of 52 adult East African refugees. The sample was predominantly male (female n = 13) with a mean age of ∼37 years ( SD = 20.91) and mean length of residence in the United States of 9.9 years ( SD = 5.85). The moderating effect of years living in the United States on the depression–PMLD relationship was significant, and explained an additional 9% of variance in PMLD. The relationship between depressive symptoms and PMLD became significantly related at ∼7 years of residence in the United States, and became more positive as values in the sample approached the longest duration in the United States (30 years). No such moderating effect was found for the association between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and PMLD. These results highlight the risk of marginalization as well as the need for early and sustained psychosocial interventions for refugee populations in the United States.


In the Electronic Design Automation (EDA) flow, signoff checks, such as timing analysis, are performed only after physical synthesis. Encountered timing violations cause re-iterations of the design flow. Hence, timing estimations at initial design stages, such as Register Transfer Level (RTL), would increase the quality of the results and lower the flow iterations. Machine learning has been used to estimate the timing behavior of chip components. However, existing solutions map EDA objects to Euclidean data without considering that EDA objects are represented naturally as graphs. Recent advances in Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) motivate the mapping from EDA objects to graphs for design metric prediction tasks at different stages. This paper maps RTL designs to directed, featured graphs with multidimensional node and edge features. These are the input to GNNs for estimating component delays and slews. An in-house hardware generation framework and open-source EDA tools for ASIC synthesis are employed for collecting training data. Experiments over unseen circuits show that GNN-based models are promising for timing estimation, even when the features come from early RTL implementations. Based on estimated delays, critical areas of the design can be detected, and proper RTL micro-architectures can be chosen without running long design iterations.


Introduction: Gualou (Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim)–Xiebai (Allium macrostemon Bunge) (GLXB) is a well-known herb pair against atherosclerosis (AS). However, the combination mechanisms of GLXB herb pair against AS remain unclear. Objective: To compare the difference in efficacy between GLXB herb pair and the single herbs and to explore the combination mechanisms of GLXB against AS in terms of compounds, targets, and signaling pathways. Methods: The combined effects of GLXB were evaluated in AS mice. The main compounds of GLXB were identified via quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and UNIFI informatics platforms. The united mechanisms of GLXB in terms of nodes, key interactions, and functional clusters were realized by network pharmacology. At last, the anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms of GLXB were validated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot in AS mice. Results: The anti-atherosclerotic effects of the GLXB herb pair (6 g/kg) were more significant than those of Gualou (4 g/kg) and Xiebai (2 g/kg) alone. From the GLXB herb pair, 48 main components were identified. In addition, the GLXB herb pair handled more anti-atherosclerotic targets and more signaling pathways than Gualou or Xiebai alone, whereas 10 key targets of GLXB were found using topological analysis. Furthermore, the GLXB herb pair (6 g/kg) could suppress the inflammatory target levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, ALOX5, PTGS2, and p-p38 in AS mice. GLXB herb pair (6 g/kg) could also ameliorate endothelial growth and function by regulating the levels of VEGFA, eNOS, p-AKT, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 and reducing macrophage adhesion to vascular wall in AS mice. GLXB herb pair (6 g/kg) could improve the blood lipid levels in AS mice. In addition, the regulating effects of GLXB herb pair (6 g/kg) on levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, ALOX5, VEGFA, eNOS, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and blood lipids were more significant than those of Gualou (4 g/kg) or Xiebai alone (2 g/kg). Conclusion: The combination mechanisms of the GLXB herb pair were elucidated in terms of components, targets, and signaling pathways, which may be related to suppressing inflammation, regulating vascular endothelial growth/function, and improving blood lipid levels. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


Adopting a problem-centred approach helps students to learn Geography more effectively as they are able to identify and generalize about where different resources or activities are spatially located and they learn to associate certain patterns and processes with geographical changes. In an era where web-based student-centred inquiry is gaining popularity as a mode of learning Geography, the role of digital libraries as delivery trucks (in Clark's terminology, 1983) needs to be better understood. An obvious affordance of the digital library is that it organizes information around themes for problems to be solved. This paper describes a developmental project to build a digital library for Geographical assets. This digital library (G-Portal) serves an active role in collaborative learning activity in which students conduct a field study of an environmental problem, within a geospatial context – in this case, beach erosion and sea level rise. G-Portal not only functions as a digital library of information resources, it also provides manipulation and analytical tools that can operate on the information provided. This study examined two specific case studies as part of a larger study which explored the possible the ways the students can use the G-portal find information, create learning artefacts, construct arguments and explore their awarness of the modality of information sources and in the learning artefacts they created. G-portal was sucessful in providing resources which supported the students in finding information and supporting multimodality in the construction their artefacts.


This paper proposes a probabilistic approach for obtaining the security region that combines Reliability Evaluation with Voltage Security Assessment. The approach takes into consideration the probability of occurrence of the network contingencies using Monte Carlo simulation and provides visual information by means of nomograms of the security regions associated with different levels of risk of voltage violation. The computational details are presented for a parallel computing based implementation for on-line application. Results for the IEEE Reliability Test System under heavy and light loads are presented and compared with the deterministic nomograms.


Hemorrhoidal disease represents a prevalent benign condition of the lower gastrointestinal tract. As a common and early symptom of hemorrhoids, patients present with painless rectal bleeding during or after defecation. For the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease, a large variety of operative and non-operative therapeutic options exists. In the present article, the authors aim to provide guidance for stage-directed therapy of hemorrhoidal disease based on up-to-date knowledge and the authors' own clinical experience.


This study investigated three-dimensional propagation behavior of hydrogen-related intergranular crack in martensitic steel by X-ray computed tomography and FIB-SEM serial sectioning. Macroscopic analysis using X-ray computed tomography revealed that the crack morphology exhibited more continuous in the hydrogen-charged specimen. Through FIB-SEM serial sectioning, we found that the crack-tip blunting and ductile rupture of un-cracked ligaments were associated with a certain grain boundary segment in the uncharged specimen. In the case of hydrogen-related intergranular crack propagation, even very fine low-angle grain boundary segments (sub micro-meter size) could act as obstacles to crack propagation. Based on the results, we can propose that misorientation of each grain boundary segment has a large influence on local crack arrestability of intergranular crack propagation.


Rectal submucosal lesions encompass a wide variety of benign and malignant tumors involving the rectum. With optical colonoscopy, any mass-like protrusion covered by normal mucosa, whether the underlying process is intramural or extramural in origin, may be reported as a submucosal lesion. Whereas the assessment of submucosal lesions may be limited with performing optical colonoscopy, cross-sectional imaging such as CT, transrectal ultrasonography and MRI allows the evaluation of perirectal tissues and pelvic organs in addition to the entire thickness of the rectum, and so this is advantageous for the assessment of rectal submucosal tumors. Among these, MRI is the best investigative modality for soft tissue characterization. Therefore, knowledge of the MRI features of rectal submucosal tumors can help achieve accurate preoperative diagnoses and facilitate the appropriate management.


Background Mechanochemical ablation is an innovative non-thermal method of treating symptomatic axial superficial venous incompetence. This is a single-centre cohort study aiming to investigate the technical efficacy and clinical effectiveness at one year. Methods Patients with primary, unilateral, symptomatic axial incompetence were offered treatment with mechanochemical ablation using ClariVein® with 1.5% sodium tetradecyl sulphate. Assessments including clinical examination, duplex ultrasound and patient-reported health-related quality of life were performed at baseline and weeks 1, 6, 26 and 52. Results Thirty-two patients were recruited to the study. Complete target vein occlusion at one year was found in 21 (75%) patients. Six patients (21.4%) required secondary procedures, of which three had axial endovenous thermal ablation and three required ambulatory phlebectomy with perforator ligation. There was a significant improvement in the median (interquartile range) Venous Clinical Severity Score from baseline 6 (5–8) to a score of 1 (0–2) at one year (p < 0.001). There was also a significant improvement in health-related quality of life, both generic (p = 0.001) and disease specific (p < 0.001). One patient (3.1%) had a post-procedural non-fatal pulmonary embolus. Conclusions Mechanochemical ablation is a feasible and effective treatment for superficial venous incompetence. When using consensus definitions for anatomical closure, results for mechanochemical ablation may be less favourable than previously reported. Further studies are required to compare clinical and technical outcomes following mechanochemical ablation to other methods of endovenous ablation.


In this paper we propose an architecture for specifying the interaction of non-player characters (NPCs) in the game-world in a way that abstracts common tasks in four main conceptual components, namely perception, deliberation, control, action. We argue that this architecture, inspired by AI research on autonomous agents and robots, can offer a number of benefits in the form of abstraction, modularity, re-usability and higher degrees of personalization for the behavior of each NPC. We also show how this architecture can be used to tackle a simple scenario related to the navigation of NPCs under incomplete information about the obstacles that may obstruct the various way-points in the game, in a simple and effective way.


INTRODUCTION
The relation between type of ventilation used in the operating theatre and surgical site infection has drawn considerable attention. It has been reported that there is a possible relationship between the type of ventilation used in the operation theatre and surgical site infection. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate this relationship.

METHODS
Through a systematic literature search up to May 2020, 14 studies describing 590,121 operations, 328,183 were performed under laminar airflow ventilation and 2,611,938 were performed under conventional ventilation. Studies were identified that reported relationships between type of ventilation with its different categories and surgical site infection (10 studies were related to surgical site infection in total hip replacement, 7 in total knee arthroplasties and 3 in different abdominal and open vascular surgery). Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated comparing surgical site infection prevalence and type of theatre ventilation using the dichotomous method with a random or fixed-effect model.

FINDINGS
No significant difference was found between surgery performed under laminar airflow ventilation and conventional ventilation in total hip replacement (OR 1.23; 95% CI 0.97-1.56, p = 0.09), total knee arthroplasties (OR 1.14; 95% CI 0.62-2.09, p = 0.67) or different abdominal and open vascular surgery (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.43-1.33, p = 0.33). The impact of the type of theatre ventilation may have no influence on surgical site infection as a tool for decreasing its occurrence.

CONCLUSIONS
Based on this meta-analysis, operating under laminar airflow or conventional ventilation may have no independent relationship with the risk of surgical site infection. This relationship forces us not to recommend the use of laminar airflow ventilation since it has a much higher cost compared with conventional ventilation.


ABSTRACT Perspectives from the recent and ancient past are largely underutilized in modern sustainability or food systems studies. However, information about regional crop histories and land use systems through time can add essential value and context to debates concerning future agricultural strategies and food security. In particular, archaeological and anthropological research can provide long-term perspectives on adaptive solutions and agricultural resilience that could support strategies for sustainable agriculture, especially in developing countries. This paper explores this debate within a food systems framework and highlights the need for researchers to work across disciplines and sectors to share knowledge, exchange ideas and create solutions in order to meet the challenges of feeding the world in a healthy, equitable, sustainable and resilient way.


In order to clarify the main purpose of the study, we put a green phosphor layer SrBaSiO4:Eu2+ on the yellow phosphorus layer YAG:Ce3+ through using only one WLEDs structure in different color temperatures like 5600 K, 6600 K, 7700K. Then, we find the suitable SrBaSiO4:Eu2+ concentration in order that the luminous flux could get the highest value. The results show that SrBaSiO4:Eu2+ brings great benefits to increase not only optical gain but also color uniformity. Specifically, the greater the SrBaSiO4:Eu2+ concentration, the greater the output of WLEDs because of the development of green light component in WLEDs. However, only if the SrBaSiO4:Eu2+ concentration exceeds the level, a slight decrease in color rendering index (CRI) can occur, which based on Monte Carlo simulation. In addition, the results of this paper have contributed significantly to the creation of higher-powered WLEDs.


Soil and aquifer materials have a finite capacity for colloid retention. Blocking of the limited number of available retention sites further decreases the rate of retention with time and enhances risks (e.g., pathogens or colloid-associated contaminants) or benefits (e.g., remediation by microorganisms or nanoparticles) of colloid migration. Our objective was to use a straightforward procedure, based on variable transformation and Laplace transform, to solve the problem of advective colloid transport with irreversible retention and Langmuirian blocking for a pulse-type condition. Formulas for the mean breakthrough time and retardation factor were obtained using zero- and first-order time moments of the breakthrough curves. Equations for the time and position (setback distance) for a particular colloid concentration were obtained from this information. D21 g breakthrough curves and retention profiles in fine sand at four ionic strengths were well described by the model when parameters were optimized. Illustrative simulations demonstrated that blocking becomes more important for smaller retention capacity () and for larger retention rate coefficient (), input concentration (), and pulse duration. Blocking tended to delay colloid arrival time at a particular location relative to a conservative tracer, and produced larger setback distances for smaller and /.


The nanostructured film composed of the Co-ferrite embedded in the metal Co matrix was fabricated by the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of Co-ferrite particles and electroplating of metal Co in combination. Metal Co as the soft magnetic material and Co-ferrite nanoparticle (10-40 nm) as the hard magnetic material were utilized. In this film, the small clusters of the Co-ferrite nanoparticles deposited by the EPD on the Cu sputtered substrate are embedded in electroplating the metal Co. The structure, like the granular, composed of Co-ferrite nanoparticles and metal Co was observed in the cross-section image of the nanostructured film. The nanostructured film barely exhibited the magnetic properties given the saturation magnetization from metal Co and the coercivity from Co-ferrite nanoparticles.


Circulating lymphocytes may home to lymph nodes (LNs) via paracortical postcapillary venules, high-endothelial venules (HEVs) that recognize circulating lymphocytes, enabling them to migrate into nodal cortical/paracortical regions. Our goal was to find any histologic, immunohistochemical, or in vitro evidence to support the hypothesis that squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) may gain access to LNs via an alternative venolymphatic pathway. Slides from 67 neck dissections with SCC were studied. Standard criteria for lymphatic-mediated metastasis were used; criteria for evidence ofvenolymphatic metastasis were tumor nests localized to the paracortical regions, directly contiguous to HEVs but not marginal sinuses. Cases in which LN architecture was obliterated by metastases were excluded. A modified Stamper-Woodruff assay, which assesses HEV binding, incubated cell lines from oral carcinomas and lung adenocarcinomas with fresh frozen LN sections. Double-blinded cell counts were performed by two observers and analyzed by Student's t test. Immunohistochemical examination was undertaken on 19 paraffin-embedded cases with the monoclonal antibody, MoAb CD44v6, to discover whether expression of this adhesion molecule correlated with metastatic pattern. Twenty-nine cases (66%) revealed evidence only for the LN route of metastasis; 4 cases (9%) were classified as venolymphatic metastasis; 11 cases (25%) showed evidence for both pathways. The Stamper-Woodruff assay confirmed that SCC cells preferentially bound to HEV within cervical LN sections more than did adenocarcinoma cells (P = .02). Strong staining to MoAb CD44v6 was seen in 18 (95%) of 19 SCCs with a membranous pattern. Occasionally, CD44v6 highlighted tumor emboli adjacent to HEVs, but no overall correlation could be made between CD44v6 expression and pattern of spread. Tumor metastasis via lymphatic channels is the predominant mode of metastatic spread, but the venolymphatic route is a plausible alternative pathway. The preferential attachment of SCC cells to HEVs supports this theory.


In addition to the usual valuation methods applied to a stock, analysts should consider its velocity. The velocity statistic is a technical factor in the stock's price volatility that measures the percentage rise and fall of a stock price against an average—preferably the industry group. The measure is reliable for certain groups of stocks, so the analyst needs to know the stock's velocity record. Portfolio velocity also can be measured, and surprising results may be obtained by measuring the percentage of market value of a stock (weighted to reflect its velocity) relative to the whole portfolio (weighted to reflect its velocity). Analysts must keep in mind the limitations of the velocity measure, however, in projecting the future.


This work is part of a wider research programme tha t aims at producing alternatives to conventional building materials. The aim of this pr oject is to investigate several physical properties of a sustainable, carbon-negati ve, lime-hemp biocomposites which can partially replace existing, non-biodegradable, non-sustainable, building materials of high embodied energy and high CO 2 emissions. The shrinkage, flexural and compressive strengths of these lime-hemp concretes, made with either calcium lime or a commercial binder with a cement content and varying lime:hemp proportions (1:9, 1:1 and 3:1), were investigated according to the re levant European standards. The shrinkage and strength development at 7, 28 and 90 days were monitored. The relationship between shrinkage and binder type, hem p content and water content was observed. The development of the flexural and compressive str engths shared several characteristics but their behaviour departed in rel ation to increasing hemp content with compressive strength continuously decreasing while flexural strength varied little between 50% and 75% hemp content.


In recent years, SunSmart campaigns have emphasized the importance of the use of shade as a strategy in the reduction of human exposure to solar UV radiation (UVR), particularly in early life with the provision of shade in schools. Trees can play an important role in shade provision, either as the main shade provider or to augment shade structures and increase UVR protection provided to the general population. A study to measure the protection provided by a range of trees common in Australian urban environments was undertaken during the summers of 2004/2005 and 2005/2006. Solar UVR beneath the trees was measured using UVR sensitive polysulphone badges positioned horizontally within the shaded area and were compared with those in full sunshine to give an indication of the protection provided. Measurements made on sunny days during the months of October to April indicated that the shade cover provided by the trees depended upon the tree species and changed with season as a result of changing foliage and sun angles. Measured protection factors ranged from 5 to 10 and were generally a maximum in the height of summer when the sun was highest in the sky and the foliage was densest.


This paper studies the behaviour of a first-come-first-served queueing network with arrivals in batches of variable size and a certain service time distribution. The arrivals and departures of customers can take place only at the transition time marks and the intertransition time obeys a general distribution. The Laplace transforms of the probability generating functions for the queue length are obtained in the two cases; (i) when departures are correlated; (ii) when departures are uncorrelated; and the steady state results are derived therefrom. It has also been shown that the steady state continuous time solution is the same as the steady state discrete time solution.


The spreading behavior of non-polar polymers in the nanometer thickness range is revisited. By incorporating a distance of closest approach d0 corresponding to the unbonded atom-atom distance, to the classical London slab-slab interaction energy, we demonstrate that the spreading profiles of a non-polar perfluoropolyether molecule perfectly obeys a Poiseuille flow driven by a disjoining pressure gradient. The dynamics of the thin film is entirely defined by d0, the polymer bulk viscosity, and the composite Hamaker constant of the polymer/surface system.


In this work we determined a vortex dynamics equation in a temperature gradient in the frame of the time dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation. In this sense, we derived a local solvability condition, which governs the vortex dynamics. Also, we calculated the explicit form for the force coefficients, which are the keys for the understanding of the balance equation due to vortex interactions with the environment.


The construction principles for a complete denture were discussed in terms of the jaw relation and the masticatory surface complex with special reference to the conservation and preservation of the prosthetic support material. The habitual, neuromuscularly determined, position is recommended as a starting position of the mandible for the construction of this alignment; intraoral, central rod analysis of the support is helpful for the determination. When the lateral teeth are aligned, masticatory stability should be considered. The occluding surfaces therefore should be reduced, and the occlusal cusps determined according to the transversal interval of the crests for the maxilla and the mandible. In terms of the occlusion (articulation) concept, the biomechanical demands shold be determined on the basis of unobstructed sliding movements; a completely balanced occlusion seems to be the most advantageous in spite of certain disadvantages. The desired goal may be achieved with a unilaterally balanced occlusion. Based on previous experience, canine guidance as articulation concept has proved to be less suitable since symmetrical stress is unobtainable with at least one crest.


The oral mucosa remains an understudied barrier tissue rich in exposure to antigens, commensals and pathogens. Moreover, it is the tissue where one of the most prevalent human microbe-triggered inflammatory diseases, periodontitis, occurs. To understand this complex environment at the cellular level, we assemble herein a human single-cell transcriptome atlas of oral mucosal tissues in health and periodontitis. Our work reveals transcriptional diversity of stromal and immune cell populations, predicts intercellular communication and uncovers an altered immune responsiveness of stromal cells participating in tissue homeostasis and disease at the gingival mucosa. In health, we define unique populations of CXCL1,2,8-expressing epithelial cells and fibroblasts mediating immune homeostasis primarily through the recruitment of neutrophils. In disease, we further observe stromal, particularly fibroblast hyper-responsiveness linked to recruitment of leukocytes and neutrophil populations. Ultimately, a stromal-neutrophil axis emerges as a key regulator of mucosal immunity. Pursuant to these findings, most Mendelian forms of periodontitis were shown to be linked to genetic mutations in neutrophil and select fibroblast-expressed genes. Moreover, we document previously unappreciated expression of known pattern- and damage-recognition receptors on stromal cell populations in the setting of periodontitis, suggesting avenues for triggering stromal responses. This comprehensive atlas offers an important reference for in-depth understanding of oral mucosal homeostasis and inflammation and reveals unique stromal–immune interactions implicated in tissue immunity.


In cancer cells, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) participates in aberrant growth, survival, angiogenesis, and invasion signals and is a validated target for anticancer drug design. We are targeting its SH2 domain to prevent docking to cytokine and growth factor receptors and subsequent signaling. One of the important elements of the recognition sequence, pTyr-Xxx-Xxx-Gln, is glutamine. We incorporated novel Gln mimics into a lead peptide, pCinn-Leu-Pro-Gln-NHBn, and found that a linear, unconstrained side chain and carboxamide are necessary for high affinity, and the benzamide can be eliminated. Replacement of Gln-NHBn with (R)-4-aminopentanamide or 2-aminoethylurea produced inhibitors with equal or greater potency than that of the lead, as judged by fluorescence polarization (IC(50) values were 110 and 130 nM, respectively). When Pro was replaced with cis-3,4-methanoproline, the glutamine mimic, (4R,5S)-4-amino-5-benzyloxyhexanamide resulted in an IC(50) of 69 nM, the highest affinity Stat3 inhibitor reported to date.


Airborne surveillance radars must detect and localize targets in diverse interference environments consisting of ground clutter, conventional jamming, and terrain scattered jammer multipath. Multidimensional adaptive filtering techniques have been proposed to adaptively cancel this interference. However, a detailed analysis that includes the effects of multipath nonstationarity has been elusive. This work addresses the nonstationary nature of the jammer multipath and its impact on clutter cancellation and target localization. It is shown that the weight updating needed to track this interference will also modulate sidelobe signals. At the very least, this complicates the localization of targets. At the worst, it also greatly complicates the rejection of clutter. Several techniques for improving cancellation of jammer multipath and clutter are proposed, including 1) weight vector interpolation, extrapolation, and updating; 2) filter architecture, constraint, and beamspace selection; 3) prefilters; 4) 3-D STAP architectures; 5) multidimensional sidelobe target editing.


The effects of substituting wheat flour using fractions of blanched or nonblanched sweet potato flour on produced pasta functional characteristics were investigated. The use of sweet potato flour to replace fractions of wheat flour, regardless of blanching treatment, resulted in significant (p < .05) increase in water holding capacity (WHC), cooked pasta water uptake and solid leaching out and freeze-thaw stability of produced pasta. For instance, treatment containing 40% of nonblanched sweet potato flour and held at 55C resulted in 27% point increase in WHC compared to the control. Sweet potato flour was also contributed to the decrease in treatments pasting viscosities and in cooked pasta hardness. Cooked pasta hardness was significantly (p < .05) decreased from 255.6 N to 187.5, and 152.6 N when using 15% blanched and 40% nonblanched sweet potato flour replacements, respectively. Flow behavior index of wheat flour treatments containing fractions of sweet potato flour were fitted in a shear thinning model. Quality indices of pasta made using fractions of sweet potato were equivalent to or sometimes superior to that of the control sample. Results indicated the possible enhancement of pasta nutritional quality including firmness, cooking loss, and water uptake without impairing consumer acceptability.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
The use of sweet potato flour in pasta would enhance the nutritional and physicochemical properties of developed pasta and pasta products. Furthermore, since sweet potato is not cultivated most of the year; sweet potato flour pasta would be better utilized in food processing and is expected to enhance sweet potato consumption year around.