We generalize the football shaped extra dimensions scenario to an arbitrary number of branes. The problem is related to the solution of the Liouville equation with singularities, and explicit solutions are presented for the case of three branes. The tensions of the branes do not need to be tuned with each other but only satisfy mild global constraints.


The outsourcing of manufacturing to low-wage countries in concert with the rise of fast fashion business models has resulted in an abundance of low-cost and low-quality textile products. This has led to increased consumption and shortened product lifecycles, the consequence of which is increased textile waste. This waste stream generates environmental, economic, and social consequences in countries of both production and consumption. As such, it is necessary for municipalities, like the City of Toronto, to adopt a comprehensive textile recycling strategy to divert these materials from landfills. The 3R Waste Hierarchy provides a framework on which to model such a strategy. Strategies based on the 3R components of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle help to minimize the amount of waste disposed while conserving natural resources and extracting the maximum value out of already produced products. The first component, Reduce, focuses on changing consumption habits to prevent the creation of waste, and in the context of textile waste aim to move consumers away from the purchase of fast fashion products. The fast fashion retail model is premised on introducing new products to stores as quickly as possible. In this model, clothing quickly becomes outdated or falls apart, leading to disposal. The second component, Reuse, focuses on using an item again and prolonging its life. Textiles can be sold or donated to second-hand retailers to be used by a new owner. Thrift stores comprise the largest portion of the second-hand market. They accept donations of used clothing, which are then sold in their retail stores or to for-profit recyclers to generate revenue. Lack of information is a major barrier to the success of reuse strategies. Consumers generally do not understand what can be donated, choosing instead to throw away items they thought donation centres would not accept. The final component, Recycle, involves recovering the valuable raw materials from a product and utilizing these as inputs into a new product. Mechanical and chemical textile recycling processes are used to break down textiles and produce new fibres. Depending on the process, the resulting fibres are either of lower or same quality as the original fibres, and can be utilized for a variety of applications. For each 3R component, strategies to address textile waste are identified and evaluated according to their potential efficiency, effectiveness, and feasibility. Textile handling and collection strategies are also analyzed using the same criteria. Accordingly, to address its textile waste, the City of Toronto is recommended to introduce voluntary reduction strategies, such as textile collection boxes and green procurement, and education campaigns. Over time the City should move towards full compliance using by-laws mandating building diversion levels and landfill bans. By implementing such a strategy, the City of Toronto can address the impact of its textile waste, and serve as a model for other Canadian municipalities looking to do the same.


This paper proposes a novel 3-D modeling technique of an object. The existent 3-D modeling techniques such as stereo vision or factorization recovers 3-D shapes of part of an object observed commonly from multiple orientations. This is followed by registration among recovered partial shapes in order to obtain an entire 3-D model of the object, resulting in some geometrical errors in the linked shape. The proposed technique creates entire shape of an object simultaneously without partial shape registration by the employment of virtual see-through cameras that surround the object and observes its rear part as well as the frontal part. All the surrounding cameras are calibrated initially using the captured images. The frontal side of an object concerned recovers its 3-D shape by the factorization method applied to the image data obtained from the frontal cameras. The recovered frontal shape is virtually projected onto the image planes of the rear cameras. This procedure realizes that all the surrounding cameras observe all the shape of the object, irrespective of frontal or rear. Then the factorization method is applied again to this situation to yield an entire 3-D model of the object. A nonlinear optimization method is employed in the technique to achieve the modeling of higher precision. The proposed technique is applied to the 3-D modeling of a mini basket ball match and their activity is successfully modeled in a 3-D way.


The crystal structures of the title compounds, [Ru(C(7)H(9)Si)(2)(C(26)H(24)P(2))(2)] and [Ru(C(4)H)(2)(C(26)H(24)P(2))(2)], are described. The metal centre in both complexes has an octahedral coordination geometry, with mutually trans buta-1,3-diynyl ligands forming pseudo-linear ruthenium-centred polyyne chains.


Study of Patients with Blunt Trauma in Emergency Department Objective: This study aims to describe the characteristics of blunt trauma patients admitted to Emergency Medicine. Materials and Methods: During a year the trauma cases admitted to emergency department of Firat University were analyzed prospectively. Patients' age, gender, occurrence time of the trauma, vital signs, site of injury, type of injury, injury severity score, Glasgow Coma Scale, during his stay in the emergency department, the patient lies, clinic, hospital stay, and the results were recorded. Results: 2407 blunt trauma patients admitted to the emergency department were included. 1609 of cases (66.9%) were male and 798 of cases (33.1%) were female. The mean age was 25.53±21,60. While 0-16 age group was found to be most exposed to blunt trauma (43.2%), the number of male gender in all age groups were significantly higher than in women. According to the shape of hospitalization of other patients brought by ambulance, died in the emergency room and died in the other service rate was found to be statistically significantly better. The summer months (37.5%), and time interval from 13:00 to 16:59 (31.5%) were the most common exposure time. Head and brain regions were the most commonly injured body regions (39.2%). Conclusion: This study is important in terms of its contributions to Turkey's epidemiological blunt trauma data, and so, we are of the opinion that more studies are needed to be done in this area.


A novel substrate-mode grating pair structure for polarization and leaky beam splitting is presented for application to magnetooptic heads. These light weight and compact elements provide better flexibility and easier alignment for system applications. Optimum designs for these two types of beam splitters and theoretical evaluation of the system performance are discussed in detail. Preliminary experimental results are also given to demonstrate the feasibility of application of these substrate-mode grating pairs in a magnetooptic head.


This study aimed at exploring the potentials of mixed cultures of bacteria isolated from crude oil polluted sites for the biodegradation of crude oil. Mixed cultures of five bacterial isolates: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. putida, P. fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus luteus were used for the crude oil biodegradation study. The degrading ability of the mixed cultures were assessed for duration of 28 days on a shaker at 300 rpm and at ambient temperatures (28±2 o C) in a mineral salt broth amended with 1% crude oil. Parameters used to assess the degradative abilities were pH, bacterial load, and residual crude oil contents. The result showed a significant increase in the bacterial count as the biodegradative study progressed while the pH and residual crude oil content decreased. The consortium of P. aeruginosa, P. putida, P. fluorescens, B. subtilis and M. luteus (CB1) was able to achieve reduction of crude oil to 92.4% followed by P. aeruginosa, P. putida, and P. fluorescens (CB2) with reduction of 89.5% in 28 days of biodegradative study. It is concluded from this study that the consortium CB1 were effective crude oil degraders. Thus, they are recommended for use in the bioremediation of polluted soils. Key words: Polluted soils, Crude oil, Consortia, Bacteria, Biodegradation


Topoisomerases are nuclear enzymes that play essential roles in DNA replication, transcription, chromosome segregation, and recombination. All cells have two major forms of topoisomerases: type I enzymes, which make single-stranded cuts in DNA, and type II enzymes, which cut and pass double-stranded DNA. DNA topoisomerases are important targets of approved and experimental anti-cancer agents. The protocols described in this unit are for assays used to assess new chemical entities for their ability to inhibit both forms of DNA topoisomerase. Included are an in vitro assay for topoisomerase I activity based on relaxation of supercoiled DNA, and an assay for topoisomerase II based on the decatenation of double-stranded DNA. The preparation of mammalian cell extracts for assaying topoisomerase activity is described, along with a protocol for an ICE assay to examine topoisomerase covalent complexes in vivo, and an assay for measuring DNA cleavage in vitro. Curr. Protoc. Pharmacol. 57:3.3.1-3.3.27. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Keywords:

topoisomerase;
topoisomerase I;
topoisomerase II;
camptothecin;
etoposide;
topoisomerase poison


The wide acceptance of object oriented environments and proposals has renewed interest in all the class inheritance related issues; in particular its implementation in distributed architectures. The paper focuses on how the inheritance relationship could impact on (possibly heterogeneous) distributed systems that do not assume co-residence of objects and their classes/superclasses. In these systems, the object computation requires either to move/copy the (class) inheritance graph or to move the objects themselves. Several policies are feasible, depending on the decisions about moving/copying the data/code part of objects, and also depending on when these actions should take place. The paper presents MODE, an environment that, other than being very useful in promoting collaborative work, allows one to assess and compare different mobility policies. Java has been adopted as a common underlying language, able to confer portability to all modern and widely used architectures.


Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) cultivated in China is regarded as an important vegetable crop and is of considerable economic importance. However, it is susceptible to fusarium wilt, which causes heavy economic losses. Forty-eight isolates were isolated from diseased bitter gourd plants that displayed typical fusarium wilt symptoms. Based on the morphological features, the rDNA internal transcribed space (ITS) sequences, pathogenicity and host biotypes, all of the isolates tested were pathogenic to the susceptible bitter gourd plants species (cv. 'Guinongke No. 2') and were identified as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. momordicae (FOM). Our results classified different isolates as slightly, moderately or highly virulent. Among the isolates tested, 43 isolates slightly infected bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria var. clavata), whereas they did not infect other species from the family Cucurbitaceae. Genetic diversity among 48 isolates was characterized using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. The number of bands amplified by each primer pairs ranged from 41 to 66, with sizes ranging from 200 to 500 bp. A total of 366 bands were observed, out of which 363 were polymorphic (99.14%). The Nei's genetic identity of the six geographical populations varied from 0.7362 to 0.9707. The mean Nei's gene diversity index (H = 0.2644) and the mean Shannon's information index (I = 0.4071) at species level were higher than ones at populations level, indicated that the variation within populations was greater than that among populations. The Nei's GST (0.5103) and gene flow (Nm = 0.4923) revealed that genetic differentiation was mainly among populations and few gene exchanges. The dendrogram obtained from AFLP marker showed that there was a good correlation between isolates from different geographical locations and their pathogenicity. The AFLP marker effectively distinguished the high virulent isolates from the less virulent isolates. The highly virulent isolates were distinctly separated in different clusters, which indicated a significantly high correlation with the geographical origin in the AFLP dendrogram. The pathogenicity and molecular marker analysis confirmed the presence of variation in virulence as well as genetic diversity among the FOM isolates studied.


During studies on the regulation of rat ovarian steroidogenic enzymes by interleukin-1β (IL-1β), we observed substantial metabolism of 25-hydroxycholesterol to two unusual polar products. This unexpected effect was observed both in isolated granulosa cells and in whole ovarian dispersates and was also induced by tumor necrosis factor α, but not by insulin-like growth factor I or follicle-stimulating hormone. The effect was dependent on time and the dose of IL-1β and was blocked by an IL-1 receptor antagonist. The formation of the polar metabolites was inhibited by ketoconazole and trilostane, but not by aminoglutethimide. Subsequent purification of these novel metabolites and analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, NMR, and high performance liquid chromatography revealed them to be related 7α-hydroxylated hydroxycholesterols (cholest-4-ene-7α,25-diol-3-one and cholest-5-ene-3β,7α,25-triol). IL-1β-stimulated ovarian 7α-hydroxylase activity (3-10 pmol/min/mg of cellular protein) was nearly 4-fold that of control levels using 25-hydroxycholesterol as substrate. Activities at or below control levels were observed when IL-1β-treated cell sonicates were boiled or assayed in the presence of NADH (rather than NADPH), indicating that involvement of a nonenzymatic process was unlikely. IL-1β-stimulated 7α-hydroxylase activity was inhibited to basal levels by a 10-fold excess of unlabeled 25- or 27-hydroxycholesterol, but not by cholesterol, pregnenolone, progesterone, testosterone, or dehydroepiandrosterone, suggesting that ovarian 7α-hydroxylase is specific for hydroxycholesterols. Furthermore, when IL-1β-treated ovarian cultures were incubated with radiolabeled cholesterol or testosterone, no 7α-hydroxylated products were observed. We were also unable to detect any mRNA transcripts for liver cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase in IL-1β-stimulated ovarian cultures. This study describes an ovarian hydroxycholesterol 7α-hydroxylase that differs from liver cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase and from other nonhepatic progestin/androgen 7α-hydroxylases. The novel finding of the regulation of a 7α-hydroxylase by IL-1β (and tumor necrosis factor α) suggests a unique role for cytokines in the regulation of cholesterol metabolism in the ovary and possibly other tissues.


Recently, Biggers, Whittingham & Donahue (1967) demonstrated that cells liberated from mouse ovarian follicles can support oocyte maturation in vitro. This maturation involves progression from late prophase (germinal vesicle stage) of the first meiotic division to metaphase of the second meiotic division (metaphase II). Oocyte maturation occurred in vitro when cultured either with follicular cells in a glucose medium or without the cells but in the presence of pyruvate or oxaloacetate. These observations suggest that follicular cells cultured in a glucose medium may be forming pyruvate and/or oxaloacetate. In this paper we have measured the amount of pyruvate produced by these cells.


We seek to semantically describe a set of images, capturing both the attributes of single images and the variations within the set. Our procedure is analogous to Principle Component Analysis, in which the role of projection vectors is replaced with generated phrases. First, a centroid phrase that has the largest average semantic similarity to the images in the set is generated, where both the computation of the similarity and the generation are based on pretrained vision-language models. Then, the phrase that generates the highest variation among the similarity scores is generated, using the same models. The next phrase maximizes the variance subject to being orthogonal, in the latent space, to the highest-variance phrase, and the process continues. Our experiments show that our method is able to convincingly capture the essence of image sets and describe the individual elements in a semantically meaningful way within the context of the entire set. Our code is available at: https://github.com/OdedH/textual-pca.


The mycobacterial enzyme Rv1284 is a member of the β‐carbonic anhydrase family that is considered essential for survival of the pathogen. The active site cavity of this dimeric protein is characterized by an exceptionally small volume and harbours a catalytic zinc ion coordinated by two cysteine and one histidine residue side chains. Using the natural products polycarpine and emodin as chemical probes in crystallographic experiments and stopped‐flow enzyme assays, we report that the catalytic activity can be reversibly inhibited by oxidation. Oxidative conditions lead to the removal of one of the active site cysteine residues from the coordination sphere of the catalytic metal ion by engagement in a disulfide bond with another cysteine residue close by. The subsequent loss of the metal ion, which is supported by crystallographic analysis, may thus render the protein catalytically inactive. The oxidative inhibition of Rv1284 can be reversed by exposing the protein to reducing conditions. Because the physical size of the chemical probes used in the present study substantially exceeds the active site volume, we hypothesized that these compounds exert their effects from a surface‐bound location and identified Tyr120 as a critical residue for oxidative inactivation. These findings link conditions of oxidative stress to pH homeostasis of the pathogen. Because oxidative stress and acidification are defence mechanisms employed by the innate immune system of the host, we suggest that Rv1284 may be a component of the mycobacterial survival strategy.


The clustering of four food choice motives (health, weight concern, pleasure and ideological reasons) and the relationship between personality and the food choice motives were analysed among young and middle-aged women in two studies. The personality variables included personal strivings, magical beliefs about food, awareness and internalization of thinness pressures, appearance and weight dissatisfaction, depression, self-esteem and symptoms of eating disorders. Study 1 was done with 171 young and middle-aged women. In Study 2, with data provided by 118 senior high-school girls, one cluster of girls who did not regard any of the food choice motives as important was found, otherwise the food choice clusters were fairly similar in both studies. They were labelled as health fosterers, gourmets, ideological eaters, health dieters and distressed dieters. Only the second dieter group, distressed dieters, showed low psychological well-being and symptoms of disordered eating. The results also indicated that ideological food choice motives (i.e. expression of one's identity via food) were best predicted by vegetarianism, magical beliefs about food and health, and personal strivings for ecological welfare and for understanding self and the world.


Boletus spp. is a wild edible Gelam mushroom, which is only available at coastal area of Bachok, Kelantan. Locals have used this mushroom as a food source and as a traditional medicine. In this study, antioxidants were extracted using Mili-Q water and methanol. Extraction of 1.0 g of Boletus spp. mushroom pileus and stipe by water produced 0.22 ± 0.09 g and 0.3 ± 0.07 g of total aqueous soluble extracts, respectively. Methanol extraction of 1.0 g Boletus spp. mushroom pileus and stipe produced 0.31 ± 0.08 mg and 0.37 ± 0.05 mg of total methanol soluble extracts, respectively. DPPH assay has been used to determine the value of antioxidant efficiency of each extracts. DPPH assay revealed that the EC50 value of pileus aqueous soluble extract and both pileus and stipe methanol soluble extracts were 1.2 mg/ml. The EC50 value of stipe aqueous soluble extracts was 1.4 mg/ml. The EC50 value of ascorbic acid, an antioxidant control was 0.5 mg/ml. Liquid chromatography- DPPH (LC-DPPH) assay combined with Quadrupole Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (QTOF-MS) analysis of 3:2 ratio methanol and water extract has detected 43 antioxidant compounds that were involved in the reduction of DPPH. To identify these compounds, SIMCA 3.0 software that consists of PCA, OPLS-DA and s-plot analyses had been used. PCA analysis had shown the antioxidant activity from sample on DPPH as 73.6%. This antioxidant activity confirmed by OPLS-DA analysis had shown the variability between sample and control as 99.6% with 99.3% prediction. S-plot selection had shown ten antioxidant compounds significantly involved in the DPPH assay. Four of these compounds were identified by the METLIN and NIST databases. The antioxidant metabolites were 2,4,6-trimethylacetophenone imine, glutamyl tryptophan, azatadine and lithocholic acid glycine conjugate. In conclusion, this study revealed that Boletus spp. mushroom is rich with natural antioxidants, which are potentially useful for multiple nutritional and health applications.


The design and experimental results of a 40-stage distributed energy store (DES) plasma arc railgun are presented. The railgun drives a free running hypervelocity plasma arc, one that is not pushing a payload, to velocities in excess of 10 km/s. These high velocities are of interest as they are required to successfully launch payloads into low earth orbit (LEO). The ability to launch payloads into LEO using a hypervelocity electromagnetic launcher has many financial benefits over the more conventional chemical combustion launchers. In collaboration on an Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) funded Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) project, the Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics (P3E) at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. Texas has been responsible for developing and investigating a functional scale model of a multi-stage DES railgun to determine its effectiveness to suppress restrike phenomenon and increase plasma armature railgun performance. The distributed energy scheme is theorized to suppress restrike arc formation because the back emf voltage is localized to active stage regions. B-dot sensors positioned along the length of the launcher provide data to measure the plasma arc velocity and detect restrike, arc splitting, or additional secondary arc formation phenomena.


We propose a novel injection-locked OptoElectronic Oscillator (OEO) with ultralow phase noise based on two cascaded phase modulators, which is further applied to construct a frequency synthesizer. Thanks to the phase modulation, the output optical spectrum expands and the optical power keeps constant while passing through the optical fiber, which dramatically reduces the intensity noise induced by the nonlinear effects of the optical fiber. A dual-output MZI together with a balanced optical detector realizes the phase modulation to intensity modulation conversion and improves the signal to noise ratio of the OEO. The output frequency of the proposed OEO is 9.9999914 GHz with its sidemode suppression ratio larger than 85 dB, and the phase noise reaches –153.1 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz frequency offset which is 38.7 dB lower than that of Keysight E8257D. Moreover, a broadband, high performance frequency synthesizer is established based on the proposed OEO. Combining the DDS and PLL technologies, the proposed frequency synthesizer can cover 5.9~12.9 GHz range. The phase noise is around –130 dBc/Hz@10 kHz, the spur suppression ratio is better than 65 dB, and the frequency hopping time is less than 1.48 μs.


In this paper we present MAR (Mobile Augmented Reality) Toolkit as an easy-to-use augmented reality toolset for building multi-user mobile phone games. It is built on top of MUPE - Nokia-developed open source mobile platform based on Java - which considers the special qualities of mobile technology. MAR Toolkit contains four components, map interface (MAP), physical object tagger (POT), public display (PUD) and silent communicator (SIC).We have successfully demonstrated MAR Toolkit by implementing a game named as Mupeland Yard based on classical board game Scotland Yard. In user testing we found that common usability issues related to mobile technology and MUPE-platform troubled the tests. However, especially POT component raised interest among developers. We found that using graphical 2D-tags for providing location information for augmented reality games is a simple and robust alternative for more technology intensive GPS and cell-ID information.


This thesis deals with the study of the properties of bispidine iron(IV)-oxo complexes.
These are biomimetic model compounds for non-heme iron enzymes.
The first part describes the thermal spin crossover behavior of the tetradentate bispidine
ligands' iron(II) complexes. These compounds were precisely characterized using
UV-vis-NIR and Mosbauer spectroscopy as well as Evans NMR spectroscopy and SQUID
measurements. The tetradentate bispidine ligands' iron(IV)-oxo complexes were
characterized using UV-vis-NIR and Mosbauer spectroscopy. They were also analyzed
computationally with DFT calculations. In addition, it was possible to characterize a high
spin iron(IV)-oxo species by Mosbauer spectroscopy. This species' electron transfer
properties were analyzed.
The second part of this study is about the photocatalytic generation of an iron(IV) oxo
species with water as oxygen source. [RuII(bpy)3] 2+ was used as a photosensitizer. After
irradiating it with visible light it was oxidized with [CoIII(NH3)5(MeCN)] 3+ to
[RuIII(bpy)3] 3+, which catalytically generates in situ an iron(IV)-oxo species with water as
source of oxygen. This reaction is also interesting with regard to environmental issues as it
seems promising to use solar energy to produce highly energetic species.
The third part of this study covers the redox properties of the pentadentate bispidine
ligands' ferryl complexes when the redox inactive metal ion Sc3+ is present. The presence
of Sc3+ shifts the redox potential of the ferryl complex to higher potentials. This effect can
be used to manipulate the electron transfer properties of the ferryl compound. This FeIV(O)-
Sc3+ complex can serve as a model compound for the Mn4CaO5 cluster in the
photosystem II.
The last part of this study is about the non heme iron-oxo-catalyzed methanogenesis. The
ferryl complexes of the tetra- and pentadentate bispidine ligands produce methane from
methionine and other thioethers. In the first step of the process, methionine is oxidized to
methionine sulfoxide. A bifurcation of the reaction pathway to a sulfone or methyl radical
production marks the second step of the process. The generation of methyl radicals was
confirmed by spin trapping experiments. By way of detailed DFT calculations it was
possible to shed light on the mechanism of methane formation in a highly oxidative
environment.


The re-energizers of the civic republican tradition claim that its ideas can enhance contemporary political theory as well as politics. This essay focuses on the benchmark of the republican tradition, the notion of citizenship, and explores the viability of such claims. I argue that serious limitations make the republican conception of citizenship unable to satisfy the stipulations of the ongoing global transition. The models of "the republican citizen" and "the citizen of the world" are essentially inconsistent. Some traditional ideas of civic republicanism—the high demands of public service and strong patriotic identity, the rhetorical approach to individual rights, and the multiple functions of the republican state—are not adjustable to the global reality. When new republicans attempt to incorporate the elements of contemporary political theory into republican thought, their hybrid concepts fly in the face of the old tradition.


PURPOSE
To test a peer group intervention to address personal HIV prevention needs of rural health workers in Malawi.

DESIGN
Using a quasi-experimental design, we compared district health workers in two districts of Malawi that were randomly assigned to either the intervention or delayed control condition. We used independent sample surveys at baseline, 15 months, and 30 months postintervention. Intervention district workers received a peer group intervention after the baseline; control district workers received the delayed intervention after final data collection.

METHODS
The 10-session intervention for primary prevention of HIV infection was based on the primary healthcare model, behavioral change theory, and contextual tailoring based on formative evaluation. Differences in HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and behaviors were analyzed using t tests and multiple regression controlling for baseline differences.

FINDINGS
Health workers in the intervention district had higher general HIV knowledge, more positive attitudes about condoms, higher self-efficacy for safer sex, and more involvement in community HIV prevention at both the 15-month and 30-month postintervention survey. At 30 months, intervention district workers also reported less stigmatizing attitudes toward persons living with AIDS, more HIV tests, and lower risky sexual behaviors.

CONCLUSION
The intervention should be sustained in current sites and scaled up for health workers throughout Malawi as part of a multisectoral response to HIV prevention.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Incorporating a peer group intervention focused on personal as well as work-related HIV prevention can reduce health workers' risky behaviors in their personal lives, potentially reducing morbidity and mortality and enhancing workforce retention. Reducing stigmatizing attitudes may also improve the quality of health services.


Objectives: In Nigeria, the number of professional midwives available for care of pregnant women and their babies is inadequate; hence, most pregnant women are attended to by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). Studies show that TBAs have poor knowledge of how to identify obstetrics complications. Aim: To determine the effectiveness of a training program on enhancing the knowledge of TBAs in the identification of some selected labor emergencies. Materials and Methods: An experimental research design was conducted with probability sampling to select sample size (n = 111 TBAs). A modified, structured questionnaire from TBAs knowledge on identification of labor emergencies (TBAs-TPKI) was used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Packages for the Social Science (SPSS) software. Descriptive statistics were used to provide answers to the six research questions of the study while inferential statistics of paired t-test was used to test the hypothesis of the study at 0.05 level of significance. Results: The results show that the mean score on knowledge identification on prolonged labor increased from 4.88±2.54 to 11.56±1.48; obstructed labor from 4.18±2.18 to 5.73±1.26, cord presentation from 2.44 ±1.27 to 5.78 ± 0.74, cord prolapse from 2.79±1.45 to 6.60±0.84, placenta abruptio from3.83±1.99 to 9.08±1.16 and postpartum hemorrhage from 3.48±1.82 to 8.26±1.05. The overall mean score of TBAs on knowledge of identification increased from 21.59 ± 11.26 to 51.19 ± 6.54 post-intervention. There was a significant difference between pre- and post-intervention mean scores of knowledge of TBAs on the identification of all the selected labor emergencies (t = 32.208, p = 0.00). Conclusions: The Ministry of Health in each state should organize regular training for TBAs to target early identification of obstetrics emergencies in order to reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria.


Stroke is a catastrophic disease with the second-highest mortality rate in the world. It is also the leading cause of disability in many countries. A stroke rehabilitation program is crucial for the recovery process of post-stroke patients. It must be supported by measurable monitoring. Rehabilitation monitoring is currently still carried out through visual and manual observation, so the measurement results have not been well presented and subjective. Monitoring using EEG can provide solutions to these needs. During the monitoring process, significant parameters of EEG need to be explored. This study aims to find the most stable parameters that could be applied as a basis for measuring progress in stroke rehabilitation monitoring. The parameters are searched by calculating the difference between the value of the features of healthy hand movements with affected hand movements in the same individual stroke patients. The hypothesis in this study is that the difference between the healthy hand and the affected hand in stroke patients is positive because the healthy side movement has a higher amplitude value than the affected side movement. The data in this study is obtained from EEG of 10 stroke patients during a designed task motion on C3 and C4 channels. Participants performed three movements, namely shoulder flexion-extension, elbow flexion-extension, and grasping. Motions are carried out on both sides of the hand, both the healthy and the affected side. For preprocessing the EEG, this study applies IIR at the bandpass filter stages. Followed by ASR and ICA algorithm to remove the artifact. The clean EEG is segmented into 20 ms before calculating the Mean, Mav, and STD features. The difference between the healthy side feature (HFV) and the stroke side feature (AFV) then will be calculated and analyzed. The results show that STD, during shoulder movements, and in low alpha frequencies is the best feature with the most positive HFV and AFV differences. From this study, it can be concluded that the STD feature, during shoulder movements, and in low alpha frequency band showed a high potential to be used as a crucial parameter to monitor the stroke rehabilitation progress.


Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States accounting for approximately 160,000 deaths per year. Emerging data from sequencing efforts has emphasized the importance of identifying molecular subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and matching patients with appropriate targeted therapies for the most effective treatment of this disease. Although significant progress has been made to develop novel, molecularly-targeted therapeutics, challenges still remain in targeting commonly occurring mutations in NSCLC, such as KRAS. Overcoming these challenges will require strategies to identify and inhibit novel targets required for the suppression of cell viability in these subtypes of lung cancer. To this end, we have shown that the EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase plays a unique role in the maintenance of cell viability in NSCLC, especially those with activating KRAS mutations. EphA2 is generally overexpressed in NSCLC and even further overexpressed in KRAS mutant NSCLC. Preliminary data from our lab has shown that silencing of EphA2 expression dramatically inhibits cell viability in human NSCLC cell lines bearing KRAS mutations. To further understand this phenotype, we are working to define the molecular mechanism downstream of EphA2 that is critical for maintaining cell viability in KRAS mutant NSCLC. Additionally, we have created a transgenic mouse model of KRAS mutant NSCLC with EphA2 depletion to study the role of EphA2 in KRAS driven lung tumorigenesis . Based on our preliminary data, we propose that EphA2 provides a novel target for modulating cell viability in lung cancers with KRAS mutations which are currently associated with limited therapeutic options. Citation Format: Katherine Amato, Shan Wang, Andrew Hastings, Haiying Chen, Daniel Colvin, Fei Ye, Jin Chen. The role of EphA2 in KRAS mutant non-small cell lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on RAS Oncogenes: From Biology to Therapy; Feb 24-27, 2014; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A01. doi: 10.1158/1557-3125.RASONC14-A01


The sensor node position estimation is essential in wireless sensor networks. Among many localization schemes, the position estimations based on Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) are mostly used in various systems and applications. However, RSSI data are highly affected from multipath propagation caused by the reflections from walls or objects. These reasons conduct the improper phenomena to radio signals. The significant variation of RSSI influences to the position estimation error especially in industrial environments. In this paper, we present a sensor node position estimation method in industrial environments and its optimization to reduce the error from multipath propagation by using neural networks. An experiment was performed in an electrical machine laboratory to evaluate the designed system in the real environment. The experimental results show that the average position error was reduced to 0.5 m.


Camptocormia—either a central disorder or an outcome of peripheral mechanism

Of the several axial deformities, stooped posture is the most common postural abnormality. Other more extreme forms include drop head, Pisa syndrome and camptocormia (bent spine). The first two are usually related to multisystem atrophy, but camptocormia is now known as one of the extreme posture impairments in patients with Parkinson's disease. Although early reports often attributed this symptom to a conversion disorder or malingering, it is now accepted also as one of the axial features of Parkinson's disease. Since the first description,1 many case reports and series have been published, further …


Background: Given the diminishing presence of hand surgeons trained in plastic surgery, we evaluated the associated trends in annual hand meeting educational content and postgraduate job offerings, and analyzed the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on trainees in hand surgery. Methods: Hand meeting registration and educational content were analyzed over the past 10 years. Current hand surgery job offerings were evaluated for training requirements, and the annual rates of subspecialty certificate in surgery of the hand board certifications were compared across training backgrounds. Results: Top categories of annual meeting educational content were "bone/joint," "other," and "professional development." A majority of American Society for Surgery of the Hand presidents had training backgrounds in orthopedics (55%), followed by plastics (23%) and general surgery (22%). The job offerings on the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and Association for Surgery of the Hand websites specified more training requirements in orthopedics than in plastics. Additionally, there were two to three times as many examinees taking the surgery of the hand examination from orthopedic surgery compared with plastics, with an overall higher pass rate. Hand fellowship programs were also predominantly offered for orthopedic surgery (80.8%). Conclusions: Optimization of training, society membership, and clinical practice profiles may increase the presence of plastic surgery–trained hand surgeons. The extent of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is yet to be fully determined, but our analysis suggests that a lucrative market for reconstructive/hand surgery may exist in the face of economic downturn.


This chapter explores leadership processes within SMEs emphasized as a unique opportunity to observe the genesis of collective cognition and its transformation into collective competence. We argue that a close examination of SMEs' interactions between leaders and employees reveals that these interactions strongly contribute to building collective cognition and competences that further impact strategic business outcomes (Kozlowski, 1998). Collective competences significantly contribute to strategic management in SMEs contexts. SME leaders build a strategy coordination system on the basis of collective cognition and competences that articulates three different phases: the communication of the leader's vision and its evolution/transformation, the assessment of the structure, processes, business model and functioning of the enterprise, and the development of internal and external interpersonal and business interactions. We examine bricolage leaders, experimental leaders and entrepreneurial leaders in the context of this strategy coordination system.


In France, it is planned to manage high-level radioactive waste via deep geological disposal. The carbon steel overpacks containing the waste will face corrosion processes specific to the unusual environment of the disposal. To protect these overpacks against corrosion, the use of metallic sacrificial coatings was considered as a possible solution. Therefore, the corrosion behavior of thermally sprayed Zn and Zn-15wt.%Al coatings (500 µm thick) was studied in a solution simulating the specific environment of the disposal. Galvanic corrosion experiments were performed with a coated steel electrode connected to a bare steel one, which simulated a coating defect. First, it was observed that the Zn coating had lost its sacrificial properties after ~2 months of coupling. XRD and µ-Raman analysis carried out after the experiment demonstrated that the coating was covered with a protective hemimorphite (Zn4Si2O7(OH)2·H2O)-rich layer. In contrast, the Zn-15 wt.%Al coating kept its sacrificial properties all along the 6-month experiment. It proved to be covered with a layer mainly composed of Zn and Zn-Al hydroxysulfates, which did not contain hemimorphite. However, SEM cross-sectional observations showed that the electrolyte had seeped into the coating and had even reached the steel surface. This infiltration led to the oxidation of the splats inside the coating, even close to the steel surface, and induced a large swelling of the coating. Its thickness was increased by 50%.


Metathetical exchange reactions of (i) boron tribromide with anhydrous chlorides of AlIII, TlI, SnIV, AsIII, SbIII, SbV, BiIII, TiIII, TiIV, ZrIV, HfIV, VIII, NbV, TaV, MoV, WVI, FeIII, CoII, NiII, PtIV, CuII, and CdII; (ii) BBr3 and oxychlorides of SVI and VV; and (iii) Bl3 with anhydrous chlorides of SnIV, SbIII, and TiIV, provide a general method of synthesising anhydrous bromides and iodides. Boron tribromide reacts with the cluster chloride Pt6Cl12 forming the new mixed halide (PtBrCl)n. The exchange reactions are essentially quantitative, and separation of pure products is readily achieved.The general reaction between boron tribromide and metal, metalloid, and non-metal oxides for preparing anhydrous bromides and oxybromides has been extended. Thus the reactions of BBr3 with oxides of GaIII, InIII, TlIII, SnIV, BiIII, TeIV, ZrIV, NbV, TaV, MoIV, MoVI, FeIII, LaIII, UIV, ZnII, HgI, and HgII, and of Bl3 with oxides of SnIV and TaV, are reported.Vibrational spectra for the halides NbOBr3, NbBr5, TaBr5, and Pt6Br6Cl6 are described.


A 2 chip digital multi-rate FIR filter implemented in 2 micron CMOS performs 10 million multiplications and 20 million accumulations per second. The filter has 48 programmable bandwidths in a 1-2-5 sequence, and can either interpolate or decimate. This paper describes the design and implementation of the filter.


Neuropsychiatric symptoms in 65 welders exposed to aluminium and 217 railroad track welders were studied with the aid of a previously validated questionnaire. Semiquantitative data on exposure to the metals aluminium, chromium, lead, manganese, and nickel were also recorded by questionnaire. Logistic regression was employed to study the relation between exposure and the prevalence of symptoms. Welders exposed to aluminium, lead, or manganese for a long period had significantly more neuropsychiatric symptoms than welders not exposed to these metals. The results indicate that detailed psychometric studies should be performed on welders exposed long term to specific metals as such exposures might affect their nervous system.


Within the UK bridge engineering sector, fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) decks have been increasingly used in deck replacement applications. However, study on its environmental performance is limited. This paper examines the environmental credentials of this relatively new decking system by way of a case study comparing its life cycle environmental performance – in carbon terms – with that of conventional concrete decks. In order for the findings to be more general and informative, the bridge is assumed to carry an 'average' volume of traffic across the highway network where it is most likely to be present. Based on the results, areas for improvement are identified in order for this decking system to be more environmentally competitive. Uncertainties and limitations of the results are also discussed.


Background: Pumpless interventional lung assist (iLA) uses an extracorporeal gas exchange system without any complex blood pumping technology, and has been shown to reduce CO2 tension and permit protective lung ventilation. The feasibility and safety of iLA were demonstrated in previous studies, but there has been no experience with iLA in Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the iLA device in terms of physiologic efficacy and safety in Korean patients with acute respiratory failure. Methods: iLA was implemented in patients with acute respiratory failure who satisfied the predefined criteria of our study. Initiation of iLA followed an algorithm for implementation, ventilator care, and monitoring. Following insertion of arterial and venous cannulas under ultrasound guidance, the physiologic and respiratory variables and incidence of adverse events were monitored. Results: iLA was implemented in 5 patients and the duration of iLA ranged from 7 hours to 171 hours. At 24 hours after implementation, the mean changes in pH, PaCO 2, and PaO2/FiO2 ranged from 7.204 to 7.393, from 68.4 mm Hg to 33 mm Hg, and from 128.7 mm Hg to 165 mm Hg, respectively. During iLA therapy, one adverse event was observed, which presented with hematochezia without hemodynamic change. Conclusions: iLA treatment produced effective removal of carbon dioxide and allowed for protective ventilation in severe respiratory failure. An iLA system can easily be installed by percutaneous cannulation, without procedural complications, and without significant adverse events necessitating discontinuation of iLA after implementation.


BACKGROUND
Biomarkers that can advance precision neurorehabilitation of the traumatic brain injury (TBI) are needed. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have biological properties that could make them well suited for playing key roles in differential diagnoses and prognoses and informing likelihood of responsiveness to specific treatments.

OBJECTIVE
To review the evidence of miRNA alterations after TBI and evaluate the state of science relative to potential neurorehabilitation applications of TBI-specific miRNAs.

METHODS
This scoping review includes 57 animal and human studies evaluating miRNAs after TBI. PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar search engines were used.

RESULTS
Gold standard analytic steps for miRNA biomarker assessment are presented. Published studies evaluating the evidence for miRNAs as potential biomarkers for TBI diagnosis, severity, natural recovery, and treatment-induced outcomes were reviewed including statistical evaluation. Growing evidence for specific miRNAs, including miR21, as TBI biomarkers is presented.

CONCLUSIONS
There is evidence of differential miRNA expression in TBI in both human and animal models; however, gaps need to be filled in terms of replication using rigorous, standardized methods to isolate a consistent set of miRNA changes. Longitudinal studies in TBI are needed to understand how miRNAs could be implemented as biomarkers in clinical practice.


Continued deployment of renewable and distributed energy resources is fundamentally changing the way that electric distribution systems are controlled and operated; more sophisticated active system control and greater situational awareness are needed. Real-time measurements and distribution system state estimation (DSSE) techniques enable more sophisticated system control and, when combined with visualization applications, greater situational awareness. This paper presents a novel demonstration of a high-speed, real-time DSSE platform and related control and visualization functionalities, implemented using existing open-source software and distribution system monitoring hardware. Live scrolling strip charts of meter data and intuitive annotated map visualizations of the entire state (obtained via DSSE) of a real-world distribution circuit are shown. The DSSE implementation is validated to demonstrate provision of accurate voltage data. This platform allows for enhanced control and situational awareness using only a minimum quantity of distribution system measurement units and modest data and software infrastructure.


Based on the relationship between the power-law exponent and relaxation time ν(τ) recently established in Ryabov et al (2002 J. Chem. Phys. 116 8610) for non-exponential relaxation in disordered systems and conventional Arrhenius temperature dependence for relaxation time, it becomes possible to derive the empirical Vogel–Fulcher–Tamman (VFT) equation ωp (T) = ω0 exp [−DTVF /(T − TVF)], connecting the maximum of the loss peak with temperature. The fitting parameters D and TVF of this equation are related accordingly with parameters (ν0, τs τ0), entering to ν(τ) = ν0 [ln (τ/τs)/ ln (τ/τ0)] and (τA, E) figuring in the Arrhenius formula τ(T) = τA exp (E/T). It has been shown that, in order to establish the loss peak VFT dependence, a complex permittivity function should contain at least two relaxation times obeying the Arrhenius formula with two different set of parameters τA1,A2 and E1,2. It has been shown that (1) at a certain combination of initial parameters the parameter TVF can be negative or even accept complex valued (2). The temperature dependence of the minimum frequency formed by the two nearest peaks also obeys the VFT equation with another set of fitting parameters. The available experimental data obtained for different substances confirm the validity and specific 'universality' of the VFT equation. It has been shown that the empirical VFT equation is approximate and possible corrections to this equation are found. As a main consequence, which follows from the correct 'reading' of the VFT equation and interpretation of complex permittivity functions with two or more characteristic relaxation times, we suggest a new type of kinetic equation containing non-integer (fractional) integrals and derivatives. We suppose that this kinetic equation describes a wide class of dielectric relaxation phenomena taking place in heterogeneous substances.


By Lauren Hoyt, Communication Sciences and Disorders
 Advisor: Amy Hobek
 Presentation ID: AM_C12
 Abstract: The interdependence theory of second language acquisition indicates that instruction in a child's first language will transfer to proficiency in the child's second language for language and literacy related academic outcomes (Cummins, 2007). The purpose of this study is to compare the language outcomes of dual language learning children when presented with dual language books versus English only books. Six children were presented with dual language and English-only video adapted preschool books 2 times a week for six weeks. Throughout the presentation, the videos were paused and the children were asked scripted, open-ended questions. The responses to the questions were video recorded, transcribed and analyzed for language outcomes of number of communication units (CU), mean length of utterance in words (MLUw), total number of words (TNW) and number of different words (NDW). Paired sample t tests for all outcomes measures revealed that there were no significant difference between the English only books and the dual language books. Calculated effect sizes indicated that there was a large effect for the Hungry Caterpillar book responses for CU, TNW, and NDW, and a medium effect for MLU; a large effect for the Brown Bear book responses for MLUw; and only small effects in all measures for the Where's Spot? book. Implications will be discussed.


We study a model in which managers' disclosure and investment decisions are both endogenous and managers can manipulate their voluntary reports through (suboptimal) investment, financing, or operating decisions. Managers are privately informed about the value of their firm and have incentives to voluntarily disclose information and manipulate their reports in order to obtain more favorable terms when issuing equity to finance a new profitable investment opportunity. The model shows that treating managers' disclosure and investment decisions both as endogenous and allowing managers to manipulate their voluntary reports yields qualitatively different predictions from when the disclosure and investment decisions are considered separately and managers cannot engage in manipulation. The model predicts that managers' disclosure strategy is sometimes characterized by two distinct nondisclosure intervals (contrary to traditional threshold equilibria of voluntary disclosure models) and that managers with intermediate news sometimes forego the new profitable investment opportunity. As such, the paper highlights the importance of considering the interdependencies between firms' disclosure and investment decisions and provides new empirical predictions.


Background. Sediments pose problems at their deposition sites when there is too little sediment (e.g. wetlands) or too much sediment (e.g. navigable waterways) and, additionally, when they are contaminated. These problems often have their origin upstream in the river catchment. Objective. Global aspects of changes concerning sediment quantity and quality, as they affect downstream areas, are reviewed. A case study of estuarine sediments demonstrates how a holistic approach helps in understanding and predicting their present and future quality. Results and Conclusions. Globally, large reservoirs intercept between 25 and 30% of the sediment and consequently supply the coast with impacts on wetlands and coastal morphology. In estuaries, the composition of sediments is determined by the mixing of marine sediments supplied from the coast and the supply by rivers. Natural tracers can be used to predict mixing ratios of marine to fluvial sediments in estuaries, and hence their contamination. Scenarios on implementation of pollution abatement, the implementation of regulations as well as climate change are needed to predict future sediment quality in downstream areas. The results show, even for a 'green' scenario, that sediment quality in the Rhine catchment will pose future problems due to the temporal storage of contaminants in soils and sediments. Recommendations and Outlook. The current methods applied make use of existing models linking sediment transport with point and diffuse sources in the river catchments and scenarios on the development of strength of point and diffuse sources. However, more effort is needed to come to a uniform framework which includes land use changes and links with more advanced scenario methodology for long to medium-term management of sediment quality and quantity in river catchments.


Studies demonstrating the linkage to separate chromosomal locations of Alzheimer's disease, manic depression, and schizophrenia require re-evaluation of our ideas of their genetic aetiology. This article reviews the findings, and explores the increasing contribution of the 'new genetics' to our understanding of the organic and functional psychoses.


Abstract A numerical simulation of the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, in which discharge from Ice Streams A-E is changed suddenly between extreme states, is used to investigate ice-shelf thickness and flow anomalies generated by ice-stream transience. At one extreme, ice-stream discharge rates specified as model boundary conditions are balanced individually with snow accumulation in the ice-stream catchment areas. At the other, discharge rates are fixed at current observed values which widely depart from mass balance. The simulated ice-shelf evolution between initial and final steady states suggests that ice-thickness and velocity fields adjust to new ice-stream conditions over a relatively short time span (approximately 500 years). In contrast, transitory geometrics of medial moraines and relict-crevasse bands persist over a longer time span (up to 2000 years). Contortions of medial moraines and relict-crevasse bands thus may provide a useful long-term history of past ice-stream activity. The past stoppage of Ice Stream C, for example, should be evident today in some medial moraine trajectories even if the stoppage occurred over 1000 years ago. Ice-shelf thickness fluctuations induced by ice-stream activity are generally restricted to the neighborhood of the grounding line. These fluctuations may constitute a trigger for ice-rise formation near ice-stream outlets.


Data analysis and machine learning are the backbones of the current era. Human society has entered machine learning and data science that increases the data capacity. It has been widely acknowledged that not only does the number of information increase exponentially, but also the way of human information management and processing is completed to be changed from manual to computer, mainly depending on the transformation of information technology including a computer, network, and communication. 'is paper is aimed at a solution to the lag of the methods and means of volleyball technique prediction in China. 'rough field visits, it is found that the way of analysis and research of techniques and tactics in Chinese volleyball practice is relatively backward, which to a certain extent affected the rapid development of Chinese volleyball. 'erefore, it is a necessary and urgent task to realize the reform of the methods and means of volleyball technical and tactical analysis in China. 'e data analysis and prediction are based on the machine learning and data mining algorithm applied to volleyball in this paper is an inevitable trend. 'e proposed model is applied to the data produced at the edges of the systems and thoroughly analyzed. 'e Apriori algorithm of the machine learning algorithm is utilized to process the data and provide a prediction about the strategies of a volleyball match.'e Apriori algorithm of machine learning is also optimized to perform better data analysis. 'e effectiveness of the proposed model is also highlighted.


Pseudobinary alloys of the type AxB1-xC are expected to obey the Vegard's law that states a linear relationship between the chemical parameter x and the lattice parameter. However, in many cases, deviations from the Vegard's are found, and the calculation of x requires compositional characterization, often complicated in the presence of secondary phases of the same material. In the present work, 𝐵𝑎𝑥𝑆𝑟(1−𝑥)𝑇𝑖𝑂3 (BSTO) films were deposited by RF co-sputtering from 𝐵𝑎𝑇𝑖𝑂3 and 𝑆𝑟𝑇𝑖𝑂3 targets to obtain differently 𝐵𝑎⁄𝑆𝑟 ratios considering the different RF-power applied to each target. We describe a mathematical model based on the Boltzmann equation to calculate the 𝑥 parameter of the cubic phase of the BSTO films in the 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1 range. That was made by following the 2𝜃 diffraction angular shift of the plane (111) upon the increase of substitutional Ba2+ in the pseudobinary alloy, as a function of the RF applied power and fitting the interplanar distances and lattice parameter in the alloys were calculated onto the fitted sigmoid trajectory. The model showed the region where the lattice parameter a vs x obeys the Vegard's law and correctly fitted "a" in the entire 0<x<1 range. The model can be applicable to other pseudobinary systems with deviations from the Vegard's law, from a simple X-ray diffraction analysis, providing fast chemical information, complementary with further compositional characterization.


Chromatin modification is considered to be a fundamental mechanism of regulating gene expression to generate coordinated responses to environmental changes, however, whether it could be directly regulated by signals mediated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest surface receptor family, is not known. Here, we show that stimulation of delta-opioid receptor, a member of the GPCR family, induces nuclear translocation of beta-arrestin 1 (betaarr1), which was previously known as a cytosolic regulator and scaffold of GPCR signaling. In response to receptor activation, betaarr1 translocates to the nucleus and is selectively enriched at specific promoters such as that of p27 and c-fos, where it facilitates the recruitment of histone acetyltransferase p300, resulting in enhanced local histone H4 acetylation and transcription of these genes. Our results reveal a novel function of betaarr1 as a cytoplasm-nucleus messenger in GPCR signaling and elucidate an epigenetic mechanism for direct GPCR signaling from cell membrane to the nucleus through signal-dependent histone modification.


Background: A patient-engagement and pathway-management program for patients undergoing primary total hip and knee replacement was evaluated. Health-service and multimedia features supported by technology were integrated with existing enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) practices. The primary objective was to demonstrate the impact on length of stay. The secondary objective was to assess the impact on clinical, patient-focused, and financial outcomes. Methods: Two thousand and eighty consecutive patients undergoing primary total hip replacement (n = 1,034) and total knee replacement (n = 1,046) were classified into "pre-program" (retrospectively assessed [n = 1,038]) and "program" (prospectively assessed [n = 1,042]) cohorts. Patients in the program cohort were subdivided according to those who were eligible for criteria-based outreach support (OS) (n = 401) and those who were ineligible for this service (NOS) (n = 641). Clinical outcomes were assessed for all patients, and patient-focused outcomes were assessed for a subset (n = 223). Results: The mean reduction in length of stay ranged from 20% (1.2 days) to 42% (2.5 days) following total hip replacement and from 9% (0.6 day) to 31% (2 days) following total knee replacement (p < 0.001). Clinical outcomes (readmissions, complications, emergency department re-attendance rates) were not significantly negatively impacted. The Oxford Hip Score had numerically larger improvement after total hip replacement in the OS group than in the pre-program group (4.1-point increase), and the Oxford Knee Score had numerically larger improvement after total knee replacement in the NOS group than in the pre-program group (0.8-point increase). The patients in the program cohort (either OS or NOS) rated overall health gain as higher than those in the pre-program cohort (gain in numerical rating scale, 1.4 points for patients managed with total hip replacement, 0.6 points for patients managed with total knee replacement). Older patients and those with higher comorbidity indices benefited most with respect to length of stay and multiple clinical outcomes. Patient experience was significantly improved across domains (p < 0.001 to p = 0.003). Potential savings for patients managed with total hip replacement (£401.64 [$267.76] per patient) exceeded estimated program charges of £50 [$33.33] to £60 [$40] per patient, whereas the potential savings for patients managed with total knee replacement (£76.67 [$51.11] per patient) were sufficient to achieve a reduction of total system costs. Conclusions: Technology-enabled programs may deliver enhanced care at lower costs for patients undergoing lower-limb arthroplasty. Shorter durations of inpatient stay without a negative impact on clinical outcomes and improved patient-focused outcomes and experience can deliver substantial value that can be especially beneficial for older patients and those with greater medical complexity. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.


DNA replication inhibitors are commonly used as anticancer and antiviral agents (see Appendix, Table VII). This review focuses on their molecular pharmacology. Drugs inhibit DNA synthesis by two mechanisms that are generally associated: (1) direct interference with molecules required for DNA polymerization or/and initiation of replication and (2) checkpoint response(s). The direct sites of drug action ("pharmacological targets": nucleotide precursor pools, chain elongation, DNA polymerases, the DNA template, and cyclin-dependent kinases) are outlined in Figure 1. Structures of the corresponding drugs and detailed molecular mechanisms of actions are summarized in Figures 2–7. Checkpoint response ("intra S-phase checkpoint") was first identified by its deficiency in cells from patients with ataxia telangiectasia (A-T). Checkpoints allow the repair of the drug-induced DNA lesions. Checkpoints can also activate programmed cell death (also referred to as apoptosis). Functionally, checkpoint response can be differentiated from direct replication block when replication inhibition can be alleviated by checkpoint inhibitors such as ATM/ATR or Chk1 or Chk2 inhibitors. NUCLEOTIDE TRIPHOSPHATE INHIBITORS Historically, there have been several approaches in developing cancer therapeutics that bear chemical similarity to the various "building blocks" of nucleic acids and inhibit the formation of functional nucleotide triphosphates needed to synthesize either DNA or RNA. Many of these agents have been labeled "antimetabolites" because of their structural similarities to naturally occurring metabolites (Daher et al. 1994; Pizzorno et al. 2003). These include the antifolates (e.g., methotrexate), pyrimidines like 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and purines like 6-mercaptopurine and 6-thioguanine (Fig. 2). Other drugs like hydroxyurea (HU) are not...


Industrial microalgae are promising photosynthetic cell factories, yet tools for targeted genome engineering are limited. Here for the model industrial oleaginous microalgaNannochloropsis oceanicawe established a method to precisely and serially delete large genome fragments of ~100 kb from its 30.01-Mb nuclear genome. We started by identifying the "non-essential" chromosomal regions (i.e., low-expression region or LER) based on minimal gene expression under N-replete and N-depleted conditions. The largest such LER (LER1) is ~98 kb in size, located near the telomere of the 502.09 kb-long Chromosome 30 (Chr 30). We deleted 81 kb and further distal and proximal deletions of up to 110 kb (21.9% of Chr 30) in LER1 by dual targeting the boundaries with the episome-based CRISPR/Cas9 system. The telomere-deletion mutants showed normal telomeres consisting of CCCTAA repeats, revealing telomere regeneration capability after losing distal part of Chr 30. Interestingly, the deletions caused no significant alteration in growth, lipid production or photosynthesis (transcript-abundance change for < 3% genes under N depletion). We also performed double-deletion of both LER1 and LER2 (from Chr 9) that totals ~214 kb, and phenotypes are essentially normal. Therefore, loss of the large yet "non-essential" regions does not necessarily sacrifice important traits. Such serial targeted deletions of large genomic regions have not been reported in plants or microalgae, and will accelerate crafting minimal genomes as chassis for photosynthetic production.


Gauteng Province, South Africa will have a shortfall of 400 ML/d of fresh water by 2014. This shortfall can be made up either by purchasing additional expensive water from the Lesotho Highlands Scheme or by; treating acid mine water. The CSIR ABC (alkalibarium-carbonate) Process is a most cost-effective process as the sludge produced is processed back to the process raw materials and valuable by-products, such as sulphur. Coal is the main material used in processing the sludge.
The chemical processing of barium sulphide into barium carbonate and elemental sulphur has been demonstrated on a pilot scale in batch mode. The barium sulphide was reacted with carbon dioxide at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure to produce BaCO3 and H2S. The H2S generated, was contacted and oxidized with ferric iron solution to form elemental sulphur. Over 80% of the barium reacted during the carbonation process while all the sulphide was converted to H2S. The reaction rate of barium carbonation was found to increase with increase in CO2 flowrate. The pilot plant has produced BaCO3 and sulphur of high quality compared with commercial products in terms of reactivity and purity, respectively. The BaCO3 produced was used in acid mine drainage treatment and lowered sulphate concentration from around 2500 mg/L to 415 mg/L. The outcome of this project will assist in solving the problem of economic acid mine drainage treatment, using regenerated barium carbonate. Moreover, the project also aims to enable the generation of income through recovery of valuable by-products.


The pathological inflammatory process in the Eustachian tube, as well as the catarrhal stage of acute otitis media, are the most common conditions in the practice of a pediatric otolaryngologist. The article presents literature data on acute pathology of the middle ear, epidemiology, etiology and standard conservative therapy. The fact of the influence of persistence of herpes virus infection on the development of hyperplastic processes in the lymphoid ring of the pharynx in children is described. It was noted that there are few data on the conduct of etiotropic and pathogenetic therapy in patients with acute middle ear pathology infected with pathogens of latent infections in the literature. The article presents a clinical case of successful treatment of the patient with acute otitis media and timely identified markers of an active infection process. Also the determination of clear indications and the timing of the specific conservative treatment of acute otitis media in children, based on an analysis of the etiological aspects of the development of this disease, the duration and somatic condition of the patient allowed to reduce the percentage of complications and relapses in the development of acute otitis media. When selecting adequate therapy for acute otitis media in children, it is necessary to consider the etiology of the disease in each individual patient. In the presence of acute lymphoproliferative syndrome in combination with middle ear inflammation, it is necessary to verify the causative factor with a laboratory examination (diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with antibody detection) for herpes virus infection (Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalavirus, herpes simplex virus 6 type), with further selection of specific therapy and observation of an otolaryngologist and infectious disease specialist.


Introduction: Blood cultures are fundamental in diagnosing and treating sepsis in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), but practices vary widely. Overuse can lead to false positive results and unnecessary antibiotics. Specific factors underlying decisions about blood culture use and overuse are unknown. Therefore, we aimed to identify perceived determinants of blood culture use in the PICU. Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews of clinicians (M.D., D.O., R.N., N.P., P.A.) from 6 PICUs who had participated in a quality improvement collaborative about blood culture practices. We developed interview questions by combining elements of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and behavioral economics. We conducted telephone interviews, open-coded the transcripts, and used modified content analysis to determine key themes and mapped themes to elements of Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and behavioral economics. Results: We reached thematic saturation in 24 interviews. Seven core themes emerged across 3 Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains: individual characteristics [personal belief in the importance of blood cultures, the perception that blood cultures are a low-risk test]; inner setting [adherence to site-specific usual practices, site-specific overall approach to PICU care (collaborative versus hierarchical), influence of non-PICU clinicians on blood culture decisions]; and outer setting [patient-specific risk factors, sepsis guidelines]. In addition, outcome bias, default bias, and loss aversion emerged as salient behavioral economics concepts. Conclusions: Determinants of blood culture use include individual clinician characteristics, inner setting, and outer setting, as well as default bias, outcome bias, and loss aversion. These determinants will now inform the development of candidate strategies to optimize culture practices.


When the discussions about bringing changes and innovations to colleges is invoked, administrators and academicians often either refer to curriculum and program reforms or updating the Information technology (IT) resources and labs to address the needs of industry and government agencies. But there is another area equally important where changes are needed to take place in order to create a more innovative and engaging learning environment. It is the classroom design and infrastructure. Currently, classrooms are designed in such a way to provide face-to-face and group work learning experiences to students. Though most of them use laptops and hand-held devices including iPads as computing devices and enjoy a multitude of apps to interact with teachers and peers, all of this is still happening in the cyberspace. There is a need to move to the physical world of smart spaces in order to create smart classrooms. Our learning environments including our desks, whiteboards, classroom walls are all expected to come alive with technology. This can happen by integrating smart boards and walls, interactive projectors, new input and output devices, and sensors. This paper proposes a framework for modeling and understanding smart classrooms that are effectively and flexibly designed as spaces, student-centered, integrated for collaboration and information capture and sharing, and which take advantage of social networking.


An optimization procedure for the allocation of program and data files in a computer network is presented. This algorithm takes into account the dependencies between files and programs such as occur in real heterogeneous computer networks. Insights into whether or not to convert programs from one computer to another can also be gained from the model. A search procedure for the file location problem is described, along with an example and a possible application of the model.


Given the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, it is useful to understand the lessons learned from recent natural disasters in Ha'apai, Tonga, and Christchurch, New Zealand. Despite vastly different circumstances, the two experiences demonstrate that power outages can be shortened through access to adequate human resources, immediate and frequent communication with the public, good pre-disaster maintenance, and standardized equipment. By attending to these factors, utilities can become more resilient and help communities recover more quickly.


Nonuniform distribution of velocity of cooling air over the front surface of a radiator increases its drag. The paper analyzes the factors affecting the increase of aerodynamic drag under the influence of unsteady air flow. The degree of drag change depends on aerodynamic properties of radiator core, namely, the curvature of the graph of aerodynamic characteristics of a radiator and nonuniform air velocity field over the front of a radiator. In actual use, increase of drag of a radiator can be more than 20%.


In this paper, we summarize the initial results with regard to the question to what extent driving simulators can be used to serve as cheap and easy realizable environments forsimulating on-the-road behavior. The aim of these first studies was to determine whether or not it is possible to replace real driving studies with experiments and furthermore, to identify parameters and/or restrictions for a second experimental series with improved settings. We have conducted two studies comparing the driver's reaction time in real and simulated environments with the final goal to provide a universal metric describing the differences in reaction time. The events were, in the case of simulation, triggered trace-driven or, in the real driving experiment, manually activated by the experimenter and notifications were forwarded to the driver using either a visual, auditory, or haptic sensory channel. The comparison of the two studies showed that (i) both settings provide similar results for the order of average response using the three feedback modalities and (ii) the experiment using a simulator performed, for the measure of reaction time, better in the range of 13% compared to the real driving study (the reason for this result is most likely caused by the fact that driving in a real world environment is much more challenging than in a driving simulator).


We present 4 cases of talus dislocation. In one case we had open total lateral dislocation of the talus and in 3 other cases we had closed subtalar dislocation (disruption of the talocalcaneal and talonavicular joints). Reposition of the dislocation was made and talocalcaneal transfixation completed with 3 Kirschner wires, placed like a spread fan, under fluoroscopic control. Reoccurring dislocations were not experienced nor were there signs of avascular necrosis in these 4 cases.


The mechanism of the enantioselective Mannich reaction catalyzed by a hydrogen-bond (HB)-donor bifunctional organocatalyst has been fully investigated using experimental evidence and computational analysis. Several binary complexes have been designed as models of a catalyst and a nucleophile, where the urea moieties were linked to a 1,3-dicarbonyl compound through the diphenylacetylene motif. X-ray analysis of models 9 and 10 showed that the two N-H protons of the ureas interacted with the same carbonyl group via a double HB interaction. Further investigation of the crystallographic structure of 11 allowed for the direct observation of the labile ammonium-enolate intermediate formed between a bifunctional amino urea and 1,3-diketone. The β-keto ester-amino urea complex 12 reacted with several electrophiles at a remarkably fast rate to provide the corresponding adducts 15 and 17 as single diastereomers in excellent yields, respectively. A density functional theory calculation disclosed the details of the deprotonation and C-C bond-forming steps of the enantioselective Mannich reaction. The deprotonation of the 1,3-dicarbonyl moiety occurred predominantly via the enol form to give the ammonium--enolate intermediate. These results should provide a deeper and more accurate understanding of the functional roles of the HB-donor and Brønsted base moieties of the catalyst.


Grey-box fuzzing is a practically effective approach to test real-world programs. However, most existing grey-box fuzzers lack directedness, i.e. the capability of executing towards user-specified target sites in the program. To emphasize existing challenges in directed fuzzing, we propose Hawkeye to feature four desired properties of directed grey-box fuzzers. Owing to a novel static analysis on the program under test and the target sites, Hawkeye precisely collects the information such as the call graph, function and basic block level distances to the targets. During fuzzing, Hawkeye evaluates exercised seeds based on both static information and the execution traces to generate the dynamic metrics, which are then used for seed prioritization, power scheduling and adaptive mutating. These strategies help Hawkeye to achieve better directedness and gravitate towards the target sites. We implemented Hawkeye as a fuzzing framework and evaluated it on various real-world programs under different scenarios. The experimental results showed that Hawkeye can reach the target sites and reproduce the crashes much faster than state-of-the-art grey-box fuzzers such as AFL and AFLGo. Specially, Hawkeye can reduce the time to exposure for certain vulnerabilities from about 3.5 hours to 0.5 hour. By now, Hawkeye has detected more than 41 previously unknown crashes in projects such as Oniguruma, MJS with the target sites provided by vulnerability prediction tools; all these crashes are confirmed and 15 of them have been assigned CVE IDs.


Examination of colonic enterocytes inoculate with pure culture of S. hyodysenteriae by phase-contrast microscopy revealed that only few spirochaetes adhere to epithelial cells. S. hyodysenteriae was observed to be highly motile, showed corkscrew-like movement which might suggest that bacteria were trying to penetrate and damaged the host cells. The pattern of motility provide evidence of a chemotaxis. Supernatant of S.hyodysenteriae lysate were found to cause CTE in CHO, Vero and PK-15 culture. This support the hypothesis that damage is consistent with the presence of toxin. Inhibition activity of serpulinas hemolysin preparation with streptolysin S inhibitors confirms the suggestion that the mechanism by which S. hyodysenteriae toxin effects the cells seems to be similar to the action of streptococcal toxin S.


Juvenile Terebratalia transversa (Brachiopoda) metabolize carbohydrates in the anterior-most marginal mantle at a rate of 0.46 μM glucose/g/hr (in vitro incubation of mantle in C14-glucose in a carrying medium of 10-3 M non-radioactive glucose). The rate declines to 0.18μM glucose/g/hr in full-grown specimens. Carbohydrate metabolism in the marginal (anterior-most) mantle averages approximately 3.7 times greater than metabolism in (a portion of the 'posterior') mantle situated between the coelomic canals and the marginal mantle. This ratio remains constant in specimens of all sizes (i.e. an ontogenetic trend in the ratio is absent at p≤ 0.05). Organic acids are not detectable within the mantle (HPLC techniques) even after simulated anoxia (N2 bubbling during mantle incubation). Glucose metabolism in vitro declines in both the marginal and 'posterior' mantles during anoxia and the metabolic ratio between marginal/'posterior' mantles becomes 1/1. We found no difference (at p≤ 0.05) in mean metabolic activity or in sue-related metabolic trends among populations from depths ranging between mean sea level and 70 m. However, the activity within the 'posterior' mantle was more variable in specimens from 70 m than in those from shallower habitats (10 m - mean sea level). The size of the specimens analyzed was most variable in the groups obtained from the shallowest habitats and least variable at 70 m depth. Our results may help define the energetics of fossil as well as living brachiopod shell growth. Brachiopod shell growth is known to be very slow relative to that of bivalves and our results indicate that this is a result of the animals' slow metabolism. The inflation of the valves in T. transversa is, in part, a function of the high ratio of intermediary metabolism in the marginal vs'posterior' mantle (i.e. parallels the relative growth rates at the shell margin vs'posterior' areas). We found that the bivalve, Chlamys hastata, which is commonly associated with T. transversa, has a lower ratio of metabolic activities in the ventral/dorsal mantle areas than the brachiopod has in the anterior/posterior. The difference produces a flatter shell in the bivalve in accord with allometric principles. The higher metabolic rate in the marginal vs'posterior' brachiopod mantle and its more pronounced decline with anaerobiosis is reflected in the greater definition of growth increments in the outer shell layer. Our results do not support recent generalizations that correlate shell thickness of a wide variety of invertebrates inversely with metabolic rate. Growth rate as determined from width of shell growth increments is a better index of metabolic rate. Although the genetic basis of glucose metabolism is unknown, the observed metabolic variability is consistent with suggestions that populations of marine organisms living in stable offshore environments are genetically more variable but morphologically more uniform than populations from shallow water. Furthermore, our results support suggestions that bivalved molluscs and brachiopods are very different metabolically, but the data are neutral with respect to theories of competitive exclusion of the two taxa throughout geologic history.


© 2000 International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. All rights reserved. The LANDMAP project will provide an intergrated set of mosaiced SPOT and Landsat-TM images of the British Isles, orthorectified to be easily accessible in a geographical co-ordinate system. In order to orthorectify the imagery (which comed from an archive held for UK academic use), a digital elevation model (DEM) is first needed. A stated aim of the LANDMAP project is that its products should be free of onward copyright or licensing issues. This means that most usual elevation data sources were unsuitable. A first stage of the project is therefore to create a new DEM of the British Isles using the remote sensing technique of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry (IfSAR). This is to be accomplished in two passes; firstly creating an initial DEM from a minimal coverage of the British Isles by ERS SAR data for initial quality checking (presented here), followed by full DEM creation from three coverages. Full DEM creation involves the interferometric processing, phase unwrapping and orthorectification of pairs of acquisition strips of SAR data. It is then necessary to average together the individual DEMs from seperate pairs to provide an optimum DEM for each strips. The strips are them fitted together across the British Isles using a block-adjustment scheme. A range of kinematic GPS profiles were acquired across the British Isles in September 1999 for quility assessment of intermediate and final DEMs. We demostrate good agreement in planimetric positions without the use of control points and elevation differences standard deviations of the order of 10m.


This annotated bibliography is primarily a selection of works addressed to the neophyte interested in discovering some of the basic sources in the various areas which belong to the field of Pragmatics.' The goal is to provide an introduction to those books and articles which are and have been influential in shaping current research concerns. This way the beginner can go back to the origins of the Pragmatic enterprise and appreciate how in the past specific kinds of questions have more recently been framed in wider contexts as exemplified by the Handbook ofPragrnatics or by cognitive approaches as Relevante Tbeory. The entries included are intended to provide readers with the primary sources for accomplishing this. It will be helpful for the amateur to accompany the reading of these books and articles in this bibliography with one of the handbooks listed in the first section. There are several reasons why the task of writing this bibliography was complex. Firstly, it was difficult to decide which parts or perspectives to include. Not al1 the sections correspond to a different approach to Pragmatics: section one provides a commentary on the major handbooks available in the field and section nine ends the bibliography with information about several of the major journals and periodicals that publish topics on or related to Pragmatics. The remaining sections -in betweeninclude some of the more


The multi-pass photoacoustic spectrometer (PAS) is an important tool for the
direct measurement of light absorption by atmospheric aerosol. Accurate PAS
measurements heavily rely on accurate calibration of their signal. Ozone is
often used for calibrating PAS instruments by relating the photoacoustic
signal to the absorption coefficient measured by an independent method such
as cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRD-S), cavity-enhanced spectroscopy (CES)
or an ozone monitor. We report here a calibration method that uses measured
absorption coefficients of aerosolized, light-absorbing organic materials
and offer an alternative approach to calibrate photoacoustic aerosol
spectrometers at 404 nm. To implement this method, we first determined the
complex refractive index of nigrosin, an organic dye, using spectroscopic
ellipsometry and then used this well-characterized material as a standard
material for PAS calibration.


The serine protease α‐thrombin is a powerful mediator of cellular responses, not only playing a key regulatory role in the maintenance of normal hemostasis, but also contributing more broadly to a range of physiological and potentially pathological conditions. Most of the cellular actions attributed to α‐thrombin have been linked to the activation of a family of seven‐transmembrane G‐protein‐coupled protease‐activated receptors, termed PARs. Of the four family members identified, PAR1 has received recognition as the most significant receptor for mediating thrombin's cellular actions. Thus, the development of a potent, selective antagonist of PAR1 would be an important and essential tool to probe the physiological and potential pathological roles of PAR1. In this review, we provide a synopsis of our de novo design approach to the discovery of selective PAR1 antagonists, exemplified by RWJ‐58259, along with the in vitro and in vivo studies performed to demonstrate the important role of this receptor in thrombosis and vascular injury. RWJ‐58259 demonstrated antithrombotic activity in a model of vascular injury‐induced thrombosis in cynomolgus monkeys and prevented neointimal proliferation in a rat balloon angioplasty model. These seminal studies clearly lay the groundwork for more detailed preclinical in vivo studies and ultimately, advancing PAR1 antagonists into human clinical studies. Expanded chemical synthetic efforts and other novel technologies targeted to PAR1 and its intracellular signaling pathways are already on the horizon in an effort to further modulate thrombin's biological actions. Drug Dev. Res. 59:355–366, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


This paper has argued that over some four decades the Catholic charismatics have been pulled in different directions regarding their political views and allegiances and that this is a result of contrasting dynamics and competing loyalties which renders conclusions as to their political orientations difficult to reach. To some degree such dynamics and competing loyalties result from the relationship of the charismatics in the Roman Church and the juxtaposition of the Church within USA politico-religious culture. In the early days of the Charismatic Renewal movement in the Roman Catholic Church the 'spirit-filled' Catholics appeared to show an indifference to secular political issues. Concern with spiritually renewing the Church, ecumenism and deep involvement with a variety of ecstatic Christianity drove this apolitical stance. If anything, as the academic works showed, the Catholic charismatics seemed in some respects more liberal than their non-charismatic counterparts in the Church. To some extent this reflected their middle-class and more educated demographic features. More broadly they adopted mainstream cultural changes while remaining largely politically inactive. As they grew closer to their Protestant brethren in the Renewal movement Catholic neo-Pentecostals tended to express more conservative views that were then part of the embryonic New Christian Right - the broad Charismatic movement becoming more overtly politicised in the 1980s. Somewhat later the Catholics were being pulled towards the traditional core Catholicism at a time the Renewal movement found itself well beyond its peak and influence in the mainstream denominations including the Roman Church. The Catholic charismatics were 'returning to the fold'. During this period too the New Christian Right increased its attempt to marshal a broad coalition of conservative minded Protestants and Catholics. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s this proved to be largely ineffectual. The 2004 American Presidential election saw the initiation of the second office of George Bush. It seems clear that without the support of the New Christian Right - fundamentalist, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, charismatics - the victory would not have been secured. Based on research in South Carolina, however, suggests that the CR continues to be inwardly split and quarrels with other wings of the Republican Stephen J. Hunt: BETWIXT AND BETWEEN: THE POLITICAL ORIENTATIONS OF ROMAN CATHOLIC NEO-PENTECOSTALS • (pp. 27-51) THE CONTEMPORARY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND POLITICS 49 Party, particularly business interests are evident.59 It is also apparent that into the twenty-first century there has proved to be an uneasy alliance in the New Christian Right, threatening to split along lines already observable in the 1970s and 1980s. For one thing the some of the political and social, if not moral teachings of the Catholic Church are at variant with such organizations as the Christian Coalition. The re-invention of the New Christian Right has not fully incorporated conservative Catholics nor Catholic charismatics. A further dynamic is that lay Catholics, charismatics or otherwise, have increasingly adopted a 'pick and choose' Catholicism in which there is a tendency to exercise personal views over a range of political issues irrespective of the formal teachings of the Church. To conclude, we might take a broader sweep in our understanding of the role of Catholicism in USA politics, in which the Catholic charismatics are merely one constituency. Recent scholarly work has pointed to the often under-estimated political influence of Roman Catholics in the USA. Genovese et al.60 show how today, as well as historically, Catholics and the Catholic Church has played a remarkably complex and diverse role in US politics. Dismissing notions of a cohesive 'Catholic vote,' Genovese et al. show how Catholics, Catholic institutions, and Catholic ideas permeate nearly every facet of contemporary American politics. Swelling with the influx of Latino, Asian, and African immigrants, and with former waves of European ethnics now fully assimilated in education and wealth, Catholics have never enjoyed such an influence in American political life. However, this Catholic political identity and engagement defy categorization, being evident in both left-wing and right-wing causes. It is fragmented and complex identity, a complexity to which the charismatics within the ranks of the Catholic Church continue to contribute.


Naltrexone hydrochloride, an opioid antagonist, is a synthetic congener of oxymorphone with no opioid agonist properties. Naltrexone hydrochloride differs in structure from oxymorphone in that the methyl group on the nitrogen atom is replaced by a cyclopropylmethyl group. Naltrexone hydrochloride is also related to the potent opioid antagonist, naloxone, or n-allylnoroxymorphone. The chemical name for naltrexone hydrochloride is Morphinan-6-one, 17-(cyclopropylmethyl)-4,5-epoxy-3,14-dihydroxy-, hydrochloride, (5a)-. The structural formula is as follows:


Arthritis is an acute or chronic inflammation of joint, often accompanied by pain, swelling and stiffness and resulting from infection, injury. Pain is the most common symptom and is associated with bad functional outcomes. Different kinds of arthritis are, widely spread among the population that make them a clinical problem. Among those osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, degenerative disorder of multifactorial aetiology, characterized by loss of articular cartilage and periarticular bone remodelling. OA causes joint pain, typically worse with weight bearing and activity, and stiffness after inactivity. There is no cure, and gradual, although slow, progression is most common. Whereas, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder of unknown etiology characterized by symmetric, erosive synovitis and, in some cases, extraarticular involvement


The air-breathing Brayton cycle is widespread throughout power generation and propulsion systems, making it a staple in every mechanical or aerospace engineering student's repertoire. Students are typically introduced to cycle analysis in a thermodynamics course and may see more in-depth coverage of gas turbines in advanced technical elective courses. In the Air-Breathing Propulsion course at The Ohio State University, students perform thermodynamic analysis on Brayton cycle engines among other topics. Pedagogy research has shown active learning to be a potent tool for enhancing student learning, and it was decided to incorporate a new active learning module into the existing course. For the module to be successful, students must achieve the learning objectives, positively accept the experience, and the module must have a minimal impact on the course structure. One lecture and one homework assignment were devoted to the use of this tool to allow students to explore gas turbine cycle analysis. A new tool, Brayton Cycle Compare & Solve, has been developed for this module. The tool can accurately perform thermodynamic design point analysis of three types of Brayton cycle engines and allow users to graphically compare the results of their analyses.
 This study is done to present the tool and active learning experience to educators, capture the effectiveness of the tool in an educational setting, and determine whether students enjoy the new tool. The program is evaluated through an Institutional Review Board approved study consisting of two parts. First, students participate in a survey based on the Student Response to Instruction Practices tool to determine how the students react to and accept the active learning experience. Second, a detailed analysis of their homework responses is conducted to determine the extent to which they satisfied the learning objectives. Students unanimously felt that the learning experience with Brayton Cycle Compare & Solve is a valuable addition to the course, and homework analysis shows that their understanding of Brayton cycle analysis improved.