Singly hydrated clusters of lithiated arginine, sodiated arginine, and lithiated arginine methyl ester are investigated using infrared action spectroscopy and computational chemistry. Whereas unsolvated lithiated arginine is nonzwitterionic, these results provide compelling evidence that attachment of a single water molecule to this ion makes the zwitterionic form of arginine, in which the side chain is protonated, more stable. The experimental spectra of lithiated and sodiated arginine with one water molecule are very similar and contain spectral signatures for protonated side chains, whereas those of lithiated arginine and singly hydrated lithiated arginine methyl ester are different and contain spectral signatures for neutral side chains. Calculations at the B3LYP/6-31++G** level of theory indicate that solvating lithiated arginine with a single water molecule preferentially stabilizes the zwitterionic forms of this ion by 25-32 kJ/mol and two essentially isoenergetic zwitterionic structure are most stable. In these structures, the metal ion either coordinates with the N-terminal amino group and an oxygen atom of the carboxylate group (NO coordinated) or with both oxygen atoms of the carboxylate group (OO coordinated). In contrast, the OO-coordinated zwitterionic structure of sodiated arginine, both with and without a water molecule, is clearly lowest in energy for both ions. Hydration of the metal ion in these clusters weakens the interactions between the metal ion and the amino acid, whereas hydrogen-bond strengths are largely unaffected. Thus, hydration preferentially stabilizes the zwitterionic structures, all of which contain strong hydrogen bonds. Metal ion size strongly affects the relative propensity for these ions to form NO or OO coordinated structures and results in different zwitterionic structures for lithiated and sodiated arginine clusters containing one water molecule.


The component concentration limits that most influence the predicted Hanford life-cycle HLW glass volume by HTWOS were re-evaluated. It was assumed that additional research and development work in glass formulation and melter testing would be performed to improve the understanding of component effects on the processability and product quality of these HLW glasses. Recommendations were made to better estimate the potential component concentration limits that could be applied today while technology development is underway to best estimate the volume of HLW glass that will eventually be produced at Hanford. The limits for concentrations of P2O5, Bi2O3, and SO3 were evaluated along with the constraint used to avoid nepheline formation in glass. Recommended concentration limits were made based on the current HLW glass property models being used by HTWOS (Vienna et al. 2009). These revised limits are: 1) The current ND should be augmented by the OB limit of OB ≤ 0.575 so that either the normalized silica (NSi) is less that the 62% limit or the OB is below the 0.575 limit. 2) The mass fraction of P2O5 limit should be revised to allow for up to 4.5 wt%, depending on CaO concentrations. 3) A Bi2O3 concentration limit of 7 wt% should be used. 4) The salt accumulation limit of 0.5 wt% SO3 may be increased to 0.6 wt%. Again, these revised limits do not obviate the need for further testing, but make it possible to more accurately predict the impact of that testing on ultimate HLW glass volumes.


Abstract The lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) is an ancient, octoploid fish faced with conservation challenges across its range in North America, but a lack of genomic resources has hindered molecular research in the species. To support such research, we created a transcriptomic database from 13 tissues: brain, esophagus, gill, head kidney, heart, white muscle, liver, glandular stomach, muscular stomach, anterior intestine, pyloric cecum, spiral valve and rectum. The transcriptomes for each tissue were sequenced and assembled individually from a mean of 98.3 million (±38.9 million SD) reads each. In addition, an overall transcriptome was assembled and annotated with all data used for each tissue-specific transcriptome. All assembled transcriptomes and their annotations were made publicly available as a scientific resource. The non-gut transcriptomes provide important resources for many research avenues. However, we focused our analysis on messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) observations in the gut because the gut represents a compartmentalized organ system with compartmentalized functions, and seven of the sequenced tissues were from each of these portions. These gut-specific analyses were used to probe evidence of microbiome regulation by studying heterogeneity in microbial genes and genera identified from mRNA annotations. Gene set enrichment analyses were used to reveal the presence of photoperiod and circadian-related transcripts in the pyloric cecum, which may support periodicity in lake sturgeon digestion. Similar analyses were used to identify different types of innate immune regulation across the gut, while analyses of unique transcripts annotated to microbes revealed heterogeneous genera and genes among different gut tissues. The present results provide a scientific resource and information about the mechanisms of compartmentalized function across gut tissues in a phylogenetically ancient vertebrate. Database URL: https://figshare.com/projects/Lake_Sturgeon_Transcriptomes/133143


In order to attain high track density, track-edge noise was studied in conjunction with the fine magnetic structure of perpendicular media. The track-edge noise was increased in media with stronger exchange coupling. The down-track correlation length was measured and compared with the cross-track correlation length. The track-edge noise and correlation length depended upon the inter-granular exchange coupling of the media. Magnetic isolation of grains and steep head field gradient along the cross-track direction is expected to improve the write resolution at the track-edges


Family house is more than a physical structure. It is a symbol of life. Family house evolves as family moves from birth, maturity, adulthood and death; therefore house structure change according to the stages. Since social and cultural change occurs in urban and rural areas, so do family houses in both areas. Changes in family houses are not specific to it's size but the internal and external structure change as well. This paper shall discuss evolution of the house which is very much related to changes in the family. The writer believes that theoretical perspectives on family and kinship were focused more on it's social organization and discussion on "the house" from it's physical and symbolic structure together with rules related to its social organizations is important as well. This article attempts to discuss the idea of family house which 248 Fatimah Abdullah experience "life" and "death" as what happen to the family who lives in it and how social organizations and relations in a contemporary urban family is determine by it's house structure. Discussion in this paper was based on studies on family done by the writer and other literatures on the family especially Malay families.


Introduction: A cryoprobe can harvest larger, higher-quality lung biopsy samples than conventional forceps. Such samples could prove ideal for diagnosing diffuse interstitial lung diseases (DILD). We compared the safety and efficacy of transbronchial biopsy with cryoprobe and conventional-forceps sampling of the lung. Patients and methods: This randomised clinical trial analysed data for 77 patients undergoing transbronchial lung biopsy for evaluation of DILD; patients were assigned to either a conventional-forceps group or a cryoprobe group. Two blinded pathologists assessed the tissue samples and agreed on histologic diagnoses. We recorded the duration of procedures, complications and sample-quality variables. Results: The mean area of tissue samples harvested by cryoprobe and conventional forceps, respectively, were 14.7 ± 11 mm 2 and 3.3 ± 4.1 mm 2 (p The pathologists reached a histologic diagnosis in more cases in the cryoprobe group (74.4.%) than in the conventional-forceps group (34.2%) (p Nonsignificantly more moderate bleeding occurred in the cryoprobe group (56.4% versus 34.2% in the conventional-forceps group). Pneumothorax was also slightly more common in the cryoprobe group (7.7% versus 5.2%). Conclusions: Transbronchial cryobiopsy is a new bronchoscopic technique that may prove useful in the diagnosis of DILD.


The paper studies fatherhood as a problem of social philosophy, viewed through the realization of the social and historic circumstances and peculiarities of fathers and childrens relations building. Philosophic analyses of the category brings to the surface the sources of fatherhood based in the human social existence. The analyses reveals a specific way of fatherhood institution transformation in Russia and gives reasons for its crisis in the context of the social risky power environment.


Conventionally raised chickens were inoculated with a local isolate of serotype 8 of avian adenovirus by an oral or intraperitoneal route, or were exposed to the infection by contact. Fatal hepatitis, resembling inclusion body hepatitis, occurred in 30% and 45% of the birds inoculated by the oral and intraperitoneal routes respectively, and severe growth depression was recorded in survivors and in birds in contact. Birds which had maternally derived virus neutralising antibody titres of 64 or greater at the time of viral exposure did not succumb to fatal infection, but their growth rates were significantly depressed.


1. Long-term studies allow the outcomes of repeated selection events to be monitored. Here, we investigate phenotypic selection in successive winter mortality events in the Soay sheep of St Kilda, Scotland, between 1985 and 1996. Selection of three quantitative morphometric traits, body weight, hindleg length and incisor arcade breadth, was investigated in different sectors of the population.

2. Evidence from fitness differentials of positive directional selection for large size was repeatedly found in lambs and adult females. Selection in the opposing direction was only found in one year in lambs.

3. Selection gradients showed that in most years when significant selection occurred, body weight was the focus of direct selection, whereas selection of hindleg length and incisor breadth was indirect, arising from their correlation with body weight.

4. Selection was strongest in years of low over-winter survival and almost absent in years when survival was high. Intensity of selection was greatest in lambs, emphasizing the differences in selection pressure experienced by different sectors of the population, in addition to the temporal variation in selection pressure due to population density and environmental conditions.

5. Despite repeated positive selection of body weight, no evidence of a change in the population mean was found over the course of the study.


INTRODUCTION
The goal of the present study was to characterize behavioral health rates, behavioral health care utilization, loneliness, and perceived prejudice and support among sexual minority soldiers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Cross-sectional survey data were obtained from 640 active-duty U.S. soldiers enrolled in an academic training institute who provided information on their sexual orientation. Survey topics included demographics, behavioral health, behavioral health care utilization, and mitigating factors (eg, perceived prejudice, perceived support, and loneliness). Chi-square analyses were utilized to determine any differences between groups for behavioral health rates and behavioral health care utilization. Robust regression was used for analysis of self-reported loneliness.

RESULTS
A higher proportion of lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) soldiers than heterosexual soldiers screened positive for anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidality. No between-group differences in behavioral health care utilization were found; however, a higher proportion of LGB soldiers sought help from military family life counselors. No between-group differences for loneliness were found. Finally, perceived prejudice was higher for LGB soldiers and perceived support was lower.

CONCLUSION
Organizational barriers, such as perceived prejudice and lack of support, appear to still exist for sexual minority soldiers. Increasing organizational support and implementing training and education for health care providers in order to better support the LGB soldier community may mitigate these barriers.


Many of the species that recolonized previously glaciated areas in the Great Lakes basin of North America over the past 10–12 000 years exhibit genetic evidence of multiple invasion routes and present‐day secondary contact between deeply divergent lineages. With this in mind, we investigated the phylogeographical structure of genetic variability in Fowler's toads (Bufo fowleri) at the northern edge of its distribution where its range encircles the Lake Erie basin. Because B. fowleri is so closely tied to habitats along the Lake Erie shoreline, we would expect to find clear evidence of the number of invasions leading to the species' colonization of the northern shore. A 540 bp sequence from the mitochondrial control region was amplified and analysed for 158 individuals from 21 populations. Interpopulation sequence variation ranged from 0% to 6%. Phylogenetic analysis of p‐distance using the neighbor‐joining method revealed two deeply divergent (6% sequence divergence) mtDNA lineages (Phylogroup 1 and 2), possibly arising as a result of secondary contact of populations that entered the region from two separate glacial refugia. However, the phylogeographical pattern was not simple. The populations at Long Point, on the north shore of Lake Erie, clustered with the population from Indiana Dunes on Lake Michigan to form Phylogroup 2 whereas all other B. fowleri populations examined from both sides of Lake Erie constituted Phylogroup 1. Furthermore, mtDNA sequences from the related species Bufo americanus, obtained from populations outside the range of B. fowleri, clustered with mtDNA haplotypes of B. fowleri Phylogroup 1, indicating the possibility of partial introgression of mitochondria from one species to the other.


This research was entitled: "Analisis Pengaruh Brand Image, Vanity Seeking Dan Materialisme Terhadap Minat Beli Ulang Jasa Klinik Kecantikan (Studi Kasus Pada Kimly Aesthetic Clinic di Pangkalpinang)".
The background of this research is based on existing phenomena showing that the competition among face and beauty clinic during the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to determine and examine the effect of brand image, vanity seeking, materialism on repurchase intention, both simultaneously and partially.
The method of research is a descriptive quantitative study with a sample size of 51 respondents. This study has three independent variables; brand image, vanity seeking, and materialism. The dependent variable was labeled as a repurchase intention.
Testing instruments are using validity and reliability tests. The data analysis method used in this study is Multiple Linear Regression Analysis using the F-test along with Simple Linear Regression with T-test. Also the researcher use an analysis of the Coefficient of Determination (R2) in order to provide empirically  the ability to explaining the dependent by three independence variables simultaneously.
The results of the research on the independent variable brand image (X1) obtained t-count 1,485 < t-table 1.677, vanity seeking variable (X2) with t-count 2,672 > t-table 1.677 and materialism variable (X3) with t-count 3,904 > t-table 1.677. Therefore, a brand image does not have a partial effect towards a repurchase intention,, a vanity seeking has a partial effect towards repurchased intention. Also, the study stated if digital materialsim also has a partial a partial effect towards repurchase order.
The results of the F-test show that F-count 52.758 > F-table 2.80. This means that the independent variables (brand image, vanity seeking and materialism) simultaneously have an affect towards the dependent variable (repurchase intention). The test results of the Coefficient of Determination (R2) show Adjusted R-Square 0.756 or in other word, that repurchase intention variable can be explained by variables brand image, vanity seeking and materialism by 75.6%. While the remaining 0.244 or 24.4% can be explained by other variables outside the research variables.


Engineering geologists and geotechnical engineers will welcome Graham West's review of the current practices in the site investigations for tunnels, and their effectiveness. West points out some discrepancies between the computer-predicted model of the geology along the route of the Jubilee Line extension and the results of the site investigation boreholes. Those discrepancies were a necessary consequence of simplifications needed to design a computer model used by Sir William Halcrow & Partners and Mott, Hay & Anderson (1973). The model was based mainly on logs of water boreholes from the London area which generally contained simple descriptions of lithology without giving stratigraphic provenance of the formation. Therefore, a deliberate decision has been made to treat the Blackheath Beds and Woolwich and Reading Beds as a single lithological unit. My recent Australasian experience prompts me to comment on two other points made by West. Where, on mountainous sites like Dinorvic, access to borehole positions is difficult, helicopters can be used to advantage; the whole operation of dismantling the rig into air-portable parts, moving it and reassembling it ready to drill on a new site can be carried out in a single day. In difficult strata, such as very weak friable Pliocene sandstone or volcanic rock with clay-filled joints, full core recovery can often be achieved using large diameter (PQ3) triple tube wireline core barrels. Cores of firm to stiff clays obtained in this way are considered (when sealed on site) to be more suited for triaxial testing than samples from normal


Using a simulation model, experiments were conducted on various directory organization schemes and their performance implications. In particular we tested the effects of a multiprogrammed environment on system throughput for retrieval operations. Analysis of the results shows that different factors are relevant to performance for the various systems, and that under some circumstances ISAM and hash-coding may lose the advantages they possess over B-trees in a stand-alone environment when multiprogramming is used. Some results of sharing data among simultaneous users are also presented.


Deep underground in Kolar Gold Fields, in southern India, an experiment to detect proton decay had been carried out since the end of 1980. Analysis of data yielded the following results; (l) the life time of proton is about 1 x 10 31 years, (2) it decays into wide spectrum of decay modes, p e + 0 , p K + and so on, and (3) the life time and the distribution of decay modes are close to the predictions of SU(5) SUSY GUT. Four events representing possibly neutron oscillation are also seen.


Abstract This paper extends standard consumer theory to account for endogenous moral motivation. Building on cognitive dissonance theory, I show how moral values are affected by changes in prices and income. The key insight is that changes in prices and income that lead to higher consumption of an immoral good also affect the moral values held by the consumer so that the good is considered less immoral. A preliminary empirical analysis based on the World Values Survey is consistent with the model's predictions with respect to income.


AIMS
To investigate the safety and efficacy of everolimus-eluting stents (EES) in a real world population, including those with high-risk characteristics and complex lesions.

METHODS
In this report, we analyze 2-year outcomes in 500 consecutive unselected patients treated with EES between April 2007 and March 2008. All patients were followed for 2 years for adverse events.

RESULTS
There were 995 EES deployed in 792 lesions. The indication for the coronary procedure was acute coronary syndrome in 94.2% of patients. Bifurcations were involved in 21% of lesions, 3.5% degenerated vein grafts, 2.7% left main stem stenoses, 33% multivessel disease, 4.5% in-stent restenosis, and 79.1% AHA/ACC classification B2/C lesions. The major adverse cardiac event rate (composite of cardiovascular death, acute myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization) was 10.6%. Target lesion revascularization was required in 4.0% patients, 1.4% for in-stent thrombosis. These event rates are comparable with studies involving lower risk patients and less complex coronary lesions.

CONCLUSION
The use of EES, even in this real world, high-risk population, continues to demonstrate safety and efficacy rates comparable with current studies in more selected patient groups and, therefore, may justify current practice to utilize EES in "off label" situations.


Historically, migrant health care services have always been in a precarious position for funding. The government currently proposes major cuts in federally and state-funded programs for indigent and underserved populations, making this state of precariousness the rule, rather than the exception. The primary care practitioner, therefore, must provide quality, cost-effective care with minimal resources. Case studies illustrate how services can be provided using creativity and community resources.


With seven cases drawn from both personal experience and informal interviews with colleagues from other research-intensive universities, we attempt to demonstrate the forms institutionalized discrimination and systemic oppression can take and if it is supported by policies or procedures encoded into an institution's rules and regulations. We suggest heuristics for reexamining such procedures to more fully address such inherent biases. We proffer a qualitative methodological approach not only to explore the lived experiences of faculty of color but also to explore the latent as well as manifest meanings of these experiences for the faculty involved, which are frequently neither obvious nor transparent to both non-minority faculty and those responsible for carrying out institutional policies and regulations. Finally, we offer some criticisms of qualitative research in this arena to which organizational researchers must attend.


The enhancement of the longitudinal proton relaxation rate of solvent water protons which occurs when Mn(II) is bound to the "tight" metal ion site of unadenylylated glutamine synthetase (GS) was used to determine the binding constant of L-methionine (SR)-sulfoximine to GS-Mn(II) complexes. The binary enhancement for GS-Mn(II) is 22 at 24 MHz, 25 degrees C. The enhancement is lowered in the presence of the sulfoximine and the computed dissociation constant is 30 muM with epsilont, the enhancement for the ternary complex, equal to 3.0. Titration curves for the sulfoximine were also obtained in the presence of Mg-ADP, Mg-ADP plus Pi, and Mg-ATP. The dissociation constants were 9, 5, and 0.8 muM, respectively. The progressive tightening of the dissociation constants is symptomatic of conformational changes at the active site as the total subsite occupied by ATP is filled. The number of rapidly exchanging water molecules drops from 2 to approximately 0.1 when saturating concentrations of L-methionine (SR)-sulfoximine and nucleotide are present. The kinetically determined KI value of approximately 4 muM for the sulfoximine is about three orders of magnitude tighter than thee Km' value of approximately 3 mM for L-glutamate. The previously mentioned dissociation constants obtained by enhancement titrations are also orders of magnitude tighter than Km'. These data suggest that L-methionine (SR)-sulfoximine is a "transition-state" analogue for the glutamine synthetase reaction. ...


Methane mitigation strategies have a two-sided benefit for both environment and efficient livestock production. This preliminary short-term in vitro trial using Mootral (garlic and citrus extracts), a novel natural feed supplement, was conducted to evaluate its efficacy on rumen fermentation characteristics, methane production, and the bacterial and archaeal community. The experiment was performed as a batch culture using rumen fluid collected from sheep, and Mootral was supplemented in three concentrations: 0% (Control), 10%, and 20% of the substrate (50% Grass:50% Concentrate). The rumen fermentation data and alpha diversity of microbial community were analyzed by ordinary one-way analysis of variance. The relative abundance and statistical significance of families and operational taxonomic units (OTUs) among the groups were compared by Kruskal–Wallis H test using Calypso software. After 24-h incubation at 39°C, Mootral in a dose-dependent manner improved the production of total volatile fatty acids and propionate while it reduced the acetate proportion and acetate/propionate ratio. The total produced gas was two times higher in the Mootral-supplemented groups than control (P < 0.01), while the proportion of methane in the produced gas was reduced by 22% (P < 0.05) and 54% (P < 0.01) for 10 and 20% Mootral, respectively. Mootral did not change pH, digestibility, and ammonia-nitrogen. Microbial community analyses showed that Mootral effectively changed the ruminal microbiome. The bacterial community showed an increase of the relative abundance of the propionate-producing family such as Prevotellaceae (P = 0.014) and Veillonellaceae (P = 0.030), while there was a decrease in the relative abundance of some hydrogen-producing bacteria by Mootral supplementation. In the archaeal community, Methanobacteriaceae was decreased by Mootral supplementation compared with control (P = 0.032), while the Methanomassiliicoccaceae family increased in a dose-dependent effect (P = 0.038). The results of the study showed the efficacy of the new mixture to alter the ruminal microbial community, produce more propionate, and reduce microbial groups associated with methane production, thus suggesting that Mootral is a promising natural mixture for methane reduction from ruminants.


A total of 125 random meat products samples (25of each of locally processed beef luncheon, locally processed chicken luncheon, imported canned beef luncheon, imported canned chicken luncheon, imported corned beef) collected from different supermarkets distributed in Mansoura City, Egypt were analyzed for determination of nitrite content (ppm) using spectrophotometer. The nitrite was detected in all (100%) examined samples with higher levels occurred in imported canned chicken luncheon followed imported corned beef. The mean±SE values of the different metal detected in locally processed beef luncheon, locally processed chicken luncheon, imported canned beef luncheon, imported canned chicken luncheon and imported corned beef 23.80±2.44 ppm, 37.82±4.24 ppm, 19.74±1.05 ppm, 56.94±5.47 ppm and 61.93±8.09 ppm, respectively. Interestingly, the levels of nitrite detected in all tested samples were within the maximum permissible limits except 8 % of canned chicken luncheon and 32% of imported corned beef samples had nitrite by levels exceeded the maximum permissible limits set by the Egyptian government. The estimated daily intakes (EDI) of detected nitrite were lower than their acceptable daily intake (ADI) stated for it in all tested samples except for imported canned chicken luncheon and imported corned beef, their EDI exceeded the ADI. Target hazard quotient together with hazard index values of nitrite were below 1.0 in all examined samples. Health risk assessment based on EDI suggesting that there were significant health risks on public from the consumption of some meat products like imported canned chicken luncheon and imported corned beef marketed in Mansoura City, Egypt.


This paper reports the occurrence of Tsumoite (a bismuth telluride) in the Heti Cu-Ni-PGM prospect, Gondpipri mafic-ultramafic complex, Central India. The Gondpipri complex consists of several tectonically dismembered gabbronorite-gabbro-anorthositic gabbro — olivine gabbro -websterite disposed in ∼10 km long tonalite-trondhjemitegranodiorite (TTG) and charnockite-enderbite suite of rocks. The mineralization occurs in the sulphide zone hosted by gabbro variants. The host rocks have been deformed and metamorphosed to granulite grade and subjected to various degrees of hydrothermal alteration. The mineralization comprises chalcopyrite, pentlandite, pyrrhotite, cubanite, millerite, and pyrite. In addition to these, occur (1) tsumoite (2) PGM in the form of moncheite, merenskyite, Pd-mellonite, and Pt-Pd-Te-Bi-Fe-S alloy.The present study indicates that the mineralization occurs in two stages related to: (i) magmatic and (ii) hydrothermal remobilization and transport of Cu-rich sulphides, tsumoite and PGM, and their re-deposition in hydrosilicate alteration zones. It is possible that the mineralization at Heti formed at different stages of bismuth activity under variable fS2, T, and fTe2 conditions due to change in total concentration of Te and S and /or cooling. Since the role of S is limited, Te and cooling are important factor influencing mineralogy and composition of tsumoite and associated mineralization. Mineralization occurs in two different modes of occurrences. The early mineralisation occur as blebs, specks and dissemination of sulphides, viz. pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, pentlandite and minor pyrite ± PGM, whereas later mineralisation occur as stringers, minor veins of sulphides viz. pyrite, millerite, cubanite, sijenite, tsumoite and ± PGM.Mineral assemblages and textural relationships at Heti has indicated precipitation of tsumoite and associated PGM along fractures and secondary silicates, which confirms their hydrothermal origin.


Several small emerging bipolar regions have been observed with the Advanced Stokes Polarimeter (ASP), including extensive time series measurements of one small region. Both new and previously recognized properties of the actual site of first emergence, where the magnetic field is nearly horizontal to the surface, are revealed by these observations. They provide the most complete and accurate observational description to date of newly emerging vector magnetic fields. We find that: 1) the strength of the magnetic field at the site of the emergence (where the vector field is nearly parallel to the solar surface) ranges from about 200 to 600 G, 2) as individual flux elements migrate rapidly away from the emergence zone, they attain kiloGauss strengths only after becoming oriented nearly vertically, 3) the emergence zone is dotted by small, transient, upward rising (∼ 1 km s−1) horizontal magnetic elements as indicated by the Doppler shift of the polarized spectral profiles, 4) the leading polarity flux coalesces immediately into a compact region which forms a pore, but the emerging following polarity flux is spatially much less compact, 5) some "moving magnetic features" having the same magnetic polarity as the growing pore, but on the opposite side of the pore from the emergence zone, coalesce with the pore during the observation period, and 6) the observations suggest a low canopy of weak horizontal magnetic fields arches over the emergence zone. These observations support a widely accepted picture of emerging bipolar flux: the buoyantly rising flux transports mass from the photosphere into the chromosphere, where it then may drain downward along arched magnetic loops. The observed formation of a pore suggests that emergence of subsurface structure, not organized flows near the surface, is largely responsible for the apparent coalescence of sunspots from more diffuse fields viewed at the solar surface. These observations neither confirm nor refute the operation of convective collapse of flux tubes.


Expression of the neuropeptide neurotensin (NT) and its high affinity receptor (NTR1) is increased during the course of Clostridium difficile toxin A-induced acute colitis, and NTR1 antagonism attenuates the severity of toxin A-induced inflammation. We recently demonstrated in non-transformed human colonic epithelial NCM460 cells that NT treatment caused activation of a Ras-mediated MAP kinase pathway that significantly contributes to NT-induced interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion. Here we used NCM460 cells, which normally express low levels of NTR1, and NCM460 cells stably transfected with NTR1 to identify the upstream signaling molecules involved in NT-NTR1-mediated MAP kinase activation. We found that inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by either an EGFR neutralizing antibody or by its specific inhibitor AG1478 (0.2 μm) blocked NT-induced MAP kinase activation. Moreover, NT stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGFR, and pretreatment with a broad spectrum metalloproteinase inhibitor batimastat reduced NT-induced MAP kinase activation. Using neutralizing antibodies against the EGFR ligands EGF, heparin-binding-EGF, transforming growth factor-α (TGFα), or amphiregulin we have shown that only the anti-TGFα antibody significantly decreases NT-induced phosphorylation of EGFR and MAP kinases. Furthermore, inhibition of the EGF receptor by AG1478 significantly reduced NT-induced IL-8 promoter activity and IL-8 secretion. This is the first report demonstrating that NT binding to NTR1 transactivates the EGFR and that this response is linked to NT-mediated proinflammatory signaling. Our findings indicate that matrix metalloproteinase-mediated release of TGFα and subsequent EGFR transactivation triggers a NT-mediated MAP kinase pathway that leads to IL-8 gene expression in human colonic epithelial cells.


Many of the approaches for recovering links between e-mails and software artifacts are based on text search or text retrieval. They reformulate the link recovery as a document retrieval problem. We refine and improve such solutions by leveraging the parts of which an e-mail is composed of: header, current message, and previous messages. The relevance of these parts is weighted by a probabilistic approach based on text retrieval. We implemented our novel solution exploiting the BM25F model. The approach has been implemented in an Eclipse plug-in named LASCO (Linking e-mAils and Source Code). We present that plug-in in this tool demonstration paper.


This article reports a study on subjectivity and objectivity of arguments in university-level debating. This study aims to identify the level of subjectivity and objectivity of arguments in debating. Employing mainly a qualitative method focusing on discourse, the study took a recorded 2015 National University Debating Championship in Kopertis 3 Jakarta with British Parliamentary debating system as the source of data. Hallidayan's modality analysis was the basis of the analysis. The use of orientation and manifestation of modality and modality metaphor were analyzed to reveal the level of subjectivity and objectivity among debaters in university-level debating. At last, the study shows the dominant use of explicit subjective modality in delivering arguments. This tendency implies that debaters prominently express their points of view to the debate.


Viral infections are one of the major causes of mortality and economic losses worldwide. Consequently, efficient virus detection methods are crucial to determine the infection prevalence. However, most detection methods face challenges related to false-negative or false-positive results, long response times, high costs, and/or the need for specialized equipment and staff. Such issues can be overcome by access to low-cost and fast response point-of-care detection systems, and two-dimensional materials (2DMs) can play a critical role in this regard. Indeed, the unique and tunable physicochemical properties of 2DMs provide many advantages for developing biosensors for viral infections with high sensitivity and selectivity. Fast, accurate, and reliable detection, even at early infection stages by the virus, can be potentially enabled by highly accessible surface interactions between the 2DMs and the analytes. High selectivity can be obtained by functionalization of the 2DMs with antibodies, nucleic acids, proteins, peptides, or aptamers, allowing for specific binding to a particular virus, viral fingerprints, or proteins released by the host organism. Multiplexed detection and discrimination between different virus strains are also feasible. In this Review, we present a comprehensive overview of the major advances of 2DM-based biosensors for the detection of viruses. We describe the main factors governing the efficient interactions between viruses and 2DMs, making them ideal candidates for the detection of viral infections. We also critically detail their advantages and drawbacks, providing insights for the development of future biosensors for virus detection. Lastly, we provide suggestions to stimulate research in the fast expanding field of 2DMs that could help in designing advanced systems for preventing virus-related pandemics.


This paper examines the intradaily behaviour of the Swedish OMX stock index during the time period January 02 to December 30 1992. Daily 24-hour returns are calculated in 18 different time intervals during the day: open-to-open, intraday- to-intraday and close-to-close. Evidence of different OMX-return generating distributions is found. It is most striking when the distributions from the beginning and the end of the day are compared with the distributions terminating during the middle of the day. The evidence of differences in the variances and autocorrelations is supported by robust significance tests within a simplified setting of the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation. The variances show a V-shaped pattern when they are plotted against the terminal time of the returns as international studies also have shown, whereas the autocorrelations behave almost in an opposite fashion, which is inconsistent with previous research. Since the series of interval returns are exposed to the same flow of information the differences must be due to microstructure effects. The friction in the market prices seems to be more severe at the beginning and at the end of the trading day than at times in between. This implies that there is comparatively more noise in the pricing process just after the opening and prior to the closing of the exchange.


In partial response to the demand for evidence-based practice, there is an increasing interest in the use of music therapy as procedural support for both invasive and non-invasive medical procedures. Clinicians and researchers are attempting to define how music therapy functions as procedural support in order to advance clinical practice and research, but concepts remain inadequately specified in the literature. The current philosophical inquiry used qualitative document analysis to critically examine the extant literature in music therapy as procedural support during invasive medical procedures. The aims of the analysis were to identify key concepts, provide definitions of those concepts, and begin to explicate the interrelationships among concepts related to music therapy as procedural support. A total of 19 clinical practice articles, clinical practice book chapters, and research articles met the criteria for inclusion in the analysis. Data analysis and synthesis resulted in a working model of music therapy as procedural support, in which the music therapist engages in a reflexive process of continually assessing the patient's responses in order to refocus the intervention lens (e.g., altering aspects of the music, of focus of attention, and of patient/therapist interaction) to positively influence outcomes. It is hoped that the working model of music therapy as procedural support may stimulate clinical dialogue and serve as an initial systematic step toward theory construction in this area.


Pathogenic Leptospira species causes millions of leptospirosis cases around the world and is an urgent public health issue that needs to be properly addressed. The infection leads to clinical manifestations ranging from self-limiting febrile illness to severe life-threatening symptoms. Currently, there is a lack of sensitive assay for early diagnosis of leptospirosis, and there is no FDA-approved vaccine for human use in the United States. Despite the worldwide occurrence of this zoonotic disease, low and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by it. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of Leptospira is a crucial step for the development of better diagnostic assays and effective vaccines. Currently, leptospiral research is highly dependent on animal models, which increases the cost and time of research, and can't eliminate the lack of reproducibility among different species, especially humans, while raising ethical issues. In this study, we evaluated and compared the gene expression of Leptospira on the transcriptome level. We compared different growth media with the hamster model to identify a medium that can be used as an in vitro surrogate for the host environment in key steps of leptospiral research. The results show that among different media tested, EMEM and DMEM are better choices to mimic the host environment.


This phenomenological qualitative research had as its object the feeling of
the mother with preterm infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit. Participants were eight mothers whose ages ranged from 20 to 35
years with children hospitalized in the Neonatology Service of Belen
Hospital in Trujillo with a minimum of 7 days of hospitalization, data were
obtained through interviews and participant observation based on the
guiding question: What do you feel as a mother of the newborn premature
hospital on this Neonatal Intensive Care Unit? The categories obtained
from the study include: Sadness, Grief, faith in God, hope, suffering,
helplessness, strength, fear, love, joy, economic concern, dissatisfaction
with nursing care, loneliness, depression, frustration and guilt. Determining
the following conceptual approaches: Grieving the child's condition real
dilemma between life and death, negative perception of nursing care,
spirituality and setting new expectations for the real child. This experience
of the mothers interviewed revealed the phenomenon: "Show me and
destroys the soul" ... Annie's being a mother. The findings suggest that
nursing should place greater emphasis on guidance and counseling to
these mothers, and implement training programs in service about home
care for these children.


Abstract. We reconstructed oxygenation changes in the upwelling ecosystem off Concepcion (36° S), Chile, using inorganic and organic proxies in a sediment core covering the last ca. 110 years of sedimentation in this area. Authigenic enrichments of Mo, U and Cd were observed between ca. 1935 and 1971 CE, implying a prolonged period with predominantly more reduced conditions in bottom waters and surface sediments. Significant positive correlations between redox-sensitive metals, algal sterols, biomarkers of micro-aerophilic and anaerobic microorganisms, and archaeal glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers point to a tight coupling among bottom water O2 depletion and increased primary and export production. The time interval with low O2 of ca. 35 years seems to follow low-frequency interdecadal variation of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and it may have resulted in O2 depletion over the entire continental shelf off Concepcion. Taking this together with the concurrent increase in sedimentary molecular indicators of micro-aerophilic and anaerobic microbes, we can suggest that changes in oxygenation of the water column are reflected by changes in microbial community. This study can inform our understanding of ecological consequences to projected trends in ocean deoxygenation.


The complexity of domain problem can slow or even hinder the learning process of neural networks. It is rather difficult to overcome such an obstacle because neural networks, as cited today in the literature, lack the interpretability of their internal structures. In this paper, we present a visualization approach capable of enhancing the understanding of neural networks. Our approach visualizes input and weight contributions, sensitivity analysis, and provides guidance in pruning less influential features and consequently reducing the complexity of domain problem while maintaining acceptable error rates. We conduct experiments on various datasets to show the effectiveness of our approach.

 Key words: Neural network, visualization, input contribution, sensitivity analysis


A few months ago I was beaten about by a patient. Outside the hospital I was shouted at, screamed at, kicked, and punched. I had my spectacles on and my hands were full. This young woman had been threatening my life for some days. Luckily, she was not carrying a weapon. Eventually I retreated between cars into the road and she came at me again. I did not retaliate. After a few more blows I was able to make my escape.

The young woman (I will call her Carol) had been difficult through childhood, and a pattern of self destructive behaviour began in earnest after puberty. There had been occasional violence, mainly towards inanimate objects. She abused solvents, took alcohol to excess, smoked cannabis, cut her wrists, and took overdoses.

She had managed to achieve one or two GCSEs. She was keen on art, particularly drawing. Nevertheless, by school leaving age she had exhausted the patience of her family, who evicted her. Long term outpatient contact and one or two admissions under the child and adolescent psychiatry service probably reduced the extent of her acting out, but also left in Carol a potent residue of antipathy to authority figures and institutions.

Her acts of deliberate self harm tended to be public and demonstrative: the police were often involved. Her appearances in the accident department were frequent. When she turned 17 she came to the adult services …


Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a commonly performed procedure for which the indications, technical aspects, and potential patient complications have been well described. However, limited information is available regarding damage to the instrument itself. In order to better describe the types and causes of bronchoscope damage, repair costs, and time out of service, we performed a postal survey of hospital bronchoscopy laboratories in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. We received 43 completed surveys from laboratories that perform an average of 233 bronchoscopies per year. The respondents reported 103 episodes of bronchoscope damage, the majority of which consisted of damage to the bronchoscope cover, broken fiber bundles, malfunction of the bending apparatus, and suction channel damage. The respondents attributed 62% of all the damage to one of the three following categories: unknown, improper handling, and damage caused by biopsy forceps, brushes, or needles. Of the 103 episodes of bronchoscope damage, 66 (64%) were judged to be preventable, 13.6% not preventable, and 17.5% to be indeterminant. The average time out of service (mean, SD) for each damaged bronchoscope was 3.5 (3.9) weeks, and the average repair cost per episode of bronchoscope damage was $2,726.13 ($1,391.21). At least 19 episodes of bronchoscope damage occurred during cleaning and disinfecting procedures. We conclude that the majority of bronchoscope damage and repair costs should be potentially preventable and suggest that a program to familiarize all personnel handling bronchoscopes with proper maintenance and handling procedures should decrease the risk of bronchoscope damage.


Background/Aim: Intravitreal drug injection cause an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP). The increase in IOP is directly proportional to the volume of drug injected into the eye and inversely to the vitreal reflux. The mixture of fluid, presents as a subconjunctival bleb, composed of vitreous and injected drug is called vitreal reflux. In this study changes in IOP after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in relation to the vitreous regurgitation were observed. Methods: This prospective study involved 50 patients (57 injections). Bevacizumab was administered intravitreally at a dose of 1.25 mg/0.05 mL. According to the type of disease, patients with diabetic macular oedema, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion, choroidal neovascularisation and central serous chorioretinopathy were included. They were divided into two groups – the first one without vitreal reflux and the second one with vitreal reflux. IOP values were measured at baseline, right after drug application and 20 min thereafter. Results: The reference value range of IOP values were 10-21 mmHg and so were the average baseline values in both experimental groups of patients (15.81 ± 3.50 mmHg). In the experimental group without reflux post application mean values of IOP at 0 and 20 min were 50 ± 9.65 and 18.54 ± 5.06 mmHg, respectively. In the experimental group with reflux post application mean IOP values after 0 and 20 min were 36 ± 8.68 mmHg and 18.91 ± 4.82 mmHg, respectively. Conclusions: Following intravitreal bevacizumab application, a significant increase in IOP occurs. After 20 minutes the IOP values spontaneously decreased below 25 mmHg in both groups and there was no significant difference in comparison with the baseline values. Vitreus reflux is a major factor in short-term post-injection IOP elevation, but not from the longer-term perspective.


The papers presents developments of the department "Engineering ecology of the urban economy" of Moscow State University of Mechanical Engineering (MAMI) of the methods of processing different types of waste. Non-waste gasification technology in the molten metal can process municipal waste to produce synthesis gas and electricity in a gas turbine. The technology has been standardized by type of feedstock, processing possible local fuel resources, including peat, coal, production waste, household waste and other carbon-bearing fuels. Encouraged to use the synthesis gas in cogeneration power plants and power technology complexes. Developed technology for processing and utilization of polymeric materials using new-generation catalysts by low-temperature catalytic pyrolysis. Developed technology for processing food waste to produce feed additives by bioconversion.


After more than one year of deploying 3G mobile services with huge investment from telecoms operators, 3G services do not develop as expectation in Vietnam. The new policy for promoting 3G services in Vietnam is proposed. This policy concentrates not only to promote nation-wide mobile broadband in general but also focuses to promote 3G services in rural and remote areas in particular.


Historical (mainly 1930s) and contemporary records of 482 vascular plant species or genera of non-littoral areas of 464 islands in the archipelago of SW Finland are compared, to visualise changes in distribution patterns, and to identify environmental variables that affect the distribution of the species. The environmental variables were measured in a GIS. Logistic regression analysis was used to find variables that affect the probability of species occurrences. Results, with distribution maps, are presented for each species. The families Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Onagraceae, Sapindaceae, Oxalidaceae, Geraniaceae, Polygalaceae, Cornaceae, Apiaceae, Rhamnaceae and Rubiaceae are presented in this fourth part of the series. A synthesis of the study will be presented in the last part of this article series.


Brinjal fruits damaged by the brinjal shoot and fruit borer were collected from ten locations representing North Karnataka during Kharif 2009 and 2010. The adults emerging from the collected damaged fruits were allowed to mate using standardized rearing techniques in the laboratory. Eggs collected from mating cages were allowed to hatch and neonate larvae of these field -collected parents were used in bioassays to determine susceptibility to the Cry1Ac protein. Bioassays involved exposure of neonate larvae to various concentrations of diet incorporated with the Cry1Ac protein that produced 0-100% mortality. A stock solution (250 ig/ml) of Cry1Ac was made in 0.2% agar solution and dilutions were made in deionized water. MVP II® (Mycogen Corp., USA), which contained 19.7% (by weight) Cry1Ac protein. Neonates exposed to Cry1Ac concentrations were kept in dark at a temperature of 26±1°C and 55 -65% RH. Larval mortality and instar stage of surviving larvae were recorded on 7 th day in dietincorporation assays. Larvae that did not move when disturbed were considered to be dead. The probit analysis (Finney 1971) of mortality data from Cry1Ac bioassays was done using EPA Probit Programme version 1.5. It is observed that the populations have 1-4 fold variability (0.026-0.104 ppm) in their level of susceptibility across the locations. Of the populations studied, Bijapur population recorded highest LC50 value of 0.104 ppm followed by Bellary and Belgaum. Whereas, Koppal recorded the lowest LC50 value of 0.026 ppm. The results were found to be consistent for both the years. The susceptibility to Cry1Ac among ten populations of the fruit and shoot borer observed in this study indicates limited variability.


Objectives Evaluate the differences with densitometry after 2 years of treatment in patients with breast cancer and a high risk fracture. Methods A 2 year duration longitudinal study was done in patients diagnosed with breast cancer sent to the Rheumatology Osteoporosis Unit in Hosptial d'Ontinyent, and required supplements of calcium and vitamin D ± bisphosphonates after a risk fracture study. A register and description of the socio-demographic data was done, as well as the characteristics of the breast tumor, the risk factors of osteoporosis and fragile fractures, the definite diagnosis and the treatment initiated in these patients. Differences between the mean values obtained in the mineral bone density of lumbar, total femoral, and femoral neck, were evaluated with the t-student study. The statistic system employed was SPSS 17.0. Results 41 patients were studied, with an average age of 59 years old (37 - 79 years).All of them had a unilateral breast cancer, while none had metastases.The treatments received were: radical mastectomy (61%), radiotherapy (61%), chemotherapy (78%), hormonotherapy (29%), tamoxifen (51%), GnRH analogues (12%) and aromatase inhibitors (88%). Risk factors for osteoporosis are shown on table 1. High risk osteoporosis was diagnosed in 3 patients (7.3%), osteoporosis in 15 patients (36.6%) and osteopenia in 23 patients (56.1%).In spinal x-rays, 49 patients had ≥1 vertebral collapse and 7 of them ≥1 vertebral fracture.Treatment with supplements of calcium and vitamin D was initiated in all patients, and bisphosphonates (either oral or i.v.) in 34 patients, as follow: ibandronate (in 13), risedronate (in 15), alendronate (in 5) and zoledronate (in the remaining one).After 2 years of follow-up, no patient had developed metastases and 82.9% continued with aromatase inhibitors. No patient suffered new vertebral collapse or fracture, and only 1 patient suffered from other fractures. After a 2 year treatment of osteoporosis, 95.1% of the patients continued with the same treatment, and only 2 patients had abandoned it. Results obtained from densitometry pre-treatment and after 2 year treatment, as well as statistical differences by applying t-student test, are shown on table 2. Conclusions Patients with breast cancer that require initiating treatment for fragile risk fracture present good treatment compliance. Treatment including supplements of calcium and vitamin D and bisphosphonates during 2 years improves the mineral bone density in all localizations. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


Acute exercise enhances circulating stem and precursor cells (CPCs) in the peripheral blood. The responsible mechanisms and molecular pathways, however, have not been fully identified. The aim of the present study was to investigate a pathway related to elevated levels of apoptotic peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) and their secretome. An increased uptake of miRNA126 in MNCs was suggested to lead to reduced levels of RGS16 mRNA and, in turn, an enhanced translation and secretion of CXCL12. Eighteen healthy, young men underwent two identical incremental cycling exercises of which the first served as control while the second was preceded by a 7-day-long antioxidative supplementation. Blood samples were collected at baseline (−10min) and several time points after exercise (0, 30, 90, 180, and 270min). Relative concentrations of miRNA126 in MNCs and CXCL12 levels in plasma were determined at all time points while RGS16 mRNA was assessed in MNCs at baseline and 30min after exercise. CXCL12 increased after exercise and strongly correlated with CPC numbers. MiRNA126 increased 30min and, to a lesser extent, also 180 and 270min after exercise but only with supplementation. RGS16 mRNA decreased 30min after exercise independent of the intervention. The amount of RGS16 mRNA inversely correlated with levels of miRNA126, but not with plasma CXCL12. In conclusion, even though plasma CXCL12 correlated with CPC numbers, the increase in CXCL12 cannot be explained by the increased concentration of miRNA126 and lower RGS16 mRNA in MNCs that would have allowed for an enhanced translation of CXCL12. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03747913. Registered 20 November 2018, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03747913.


This paper surveys the approaches to video representation, focusing on semantic analysis for content-based indexing and retrieval. A problem of adaptive representation of digital multimedia is critically assessed and some novel ideas are presented. Furthermore, the concept of video multimodality is reevaluated and redefined in order to introduce modalities such as editing technique or affect to the audience


Results of a study on microstructural evolution of eutectic Sn-57 wt.% Bi processed with cooling rates of 10−2, 1 K s−1 and approximately 105 K s−1 are presented. In order to distinguish different mechanisms of microstructure formation, a comparison with microstructures of different hypoeutectic alloys with compositions down to below the maximum solubility of Bi in Sn–Bi is undertaken. It is found that at the cooling rates of 10−2 and 1 K s−1, coupled eutectic growth occurs, leading to lamellar structures with different length scales. At the rapid quenching rates of approximately 105 K s−1, structure formation in the eutectic alloy is qualitatively different. Partitionless solidification resulting in a supersaturated solid solution with the initial composition is observed in both eutectic and hypoeutectic alloys. It is shown that the observed microstructure of the rapidly solidified alloys forms by the decomposition of the supersaturated solid solution. This article is part of the theme issue 'Heterogeneous materials: metastable and non-ergodic internal structures'.


A review concerns characterization of the catalysts based on polymers and compares them with inorganic catalysts. Characterization of microporous polymer catalysts exploited in liquid-phase systems is mainly discussed. Special attention is paid to the combination of methods for the description of mobilities molecules inside the polymer, e.g., to the evaluation of "nanoscopic" morphology from ISEC data, rotational mobility calculated from EPR measurements of a probe confined in the swollen polymer, and self-diffusion coefficients estimated from spin-echo NMR with a steady-state gradient of the superposed magnetic field. The consistency of obtained quantities with the catalytic activity is also discussed.


The optimal reconstruction method after radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer has been under debate. For avoiding an anastomotic stricture, we developed a novel method of circular-stapled esophagogastrostomy by employing the keyhole procedure, which uses a linear stapler (LS) to enlarge the anastomotic opening made with a circular stapler (CS). We report the technique and the clinical outcomes.

 We retrospectively reviewed 70 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy and reconstruction via cervical CS-mediated anastomosis with or without the keyhole procedure between 2018 and 2020. The primary outcome was postoperative anastomotic stricture incidence within 180 days after surgery.
 Surgical procedures: After a 3.5 cm-wide gastric conduit was created, the blood supply was examined via indocyanine green fluorescence imaging. Usually, anastomosis was made at the site which was dominated by the last branch of the right epiploic artery owing to Kocher's maneuver. The CS was inserted through the anterior wall of the gastric conduit, and the end-to-side anastomosis was established on the greater curvature side of the gastric conduit. Then, a 45-mm long LS was used to create a keyhole over the circular staples, and the entry hole was closed with a 60-mm long LS.

 Among 70 patients, 22 underwent the keyhole procedure (CS + K group) and the remaining did not (CS group). A smaller CS was used in the CS + K group (p < 0.001). The incidence of anastomotic stricture was significantly different (CS vs. CS + K, 18.8 vs. 0%, p = 0.049), especially when a 21 or 23 mm CS was used (CS vs. CS + K, 50.0 vs. 0%, p = 0.005). The univariate analysis confirmed that CS ≤ 23 without a keyhole was a significant risk factor (p = 0.001).

 The keyhole procedure could be a simple and useful alternative technique that reduces the risk of stricture formation in the cervical esophagogastric anastomosis, especially when using the smaller-sized CS.


Background: There are very few well-established risk factors for prostate cancer. Metabolomic profiling of blood represents an agnostic approach with the potential to identify biomarkers associated with risk. We previously identified several circulating lipid and energy metabolism-related compounds (e.g., alpha-ketoglutarate; AKG) that were altered in men who later developed prostate cancer. Our aim here was to determine the extent to which those findings replicated in a larger study, and whether new metabolite signals could be uncovered. Methods: We conducted a prospective prostate cancer case-control analysis nested within the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study cohort, and sampled 200 cases (100 aggressive and 100 non-aggressive), matching one control to each based on age and date of baseline fasting serum collection. Median time from serum collection to prostate cancer diagnosis was 10 years (range, 1-20). Sera were analyzed on a high resolution accurate mass (HRAM) platform of ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) (Metabolon, Inc.) that identified 654 known metabolites. Over- and under-representation of metabolite classes among our top metabolite signals was tested using the Fisher9s exact test for metabolites jointly classified as having a p-value Results: Of the 32 metabolites associated with aggressive prostate cancer at p −4 and p = 0.10, respectively) (20 of the 22 lipids were inversely associated with aggressive disease risk). Inositol-1-phosphate and oleoyl-linoleoyl-glycerophosphoinositol-1 were the two strongest metabolite signals for aggressive prostate cancer (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.37-0.80, p = 0.002; and, OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.47-0.87, p = 0.004, respectively). The AKG association of our earlier study was replicated in the present analysis (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.47-0.91, p = 0.011). Some steroid and thyroid hormones were positively associated with both aggressive and non-aggressive prostate cancer. Conclusion: In this prospective study, serum lipid metabolites were inversely associated with risk of aggressive prostate cancer, including particularly inositol-1-phosphate and oleoyl-linoleoyl-glycerophosphoinositol-1, and the data confirm our previous finding that men with higher AKG were less likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer. A role for altered energy and lipid metabolism in the pathogenesis of aggressive prostate cancer is implicated. Citation Format: Alison Mondul, Steven Moore, Joshua Sampson, Stephanie Weinstein, Demetrius Albanes. Serum lipid metabolites and alpha-ketoglutarate are inversely associated with aggressive prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 936. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-936


The extraction of bitumen from oil sands produces fluid fine tailings (FFT) consisting mainly of water, sands, clay, and residual bitumen. Generally, devices with radioactive sources are used to measure the variation of FFT density or solids concentration inline, but to date there is no suitable device for in situ monitoring in tailings storage facilities such as large tailings ponds. In this study, an alternative method using high-resolution spectrometry based on a low radiation intensity source and a Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) detector was used to measure the solids content in tailings samples based on X-ray attenuation. The radiation source used in the experiment was a 1 μCi 133 Ba. GEANT4, a Monte Carlo based simulation code which calculates the transmission of radiation through matter, was used to simulate the results of this study, and build calibration curves that can determine the solids content concentration based on measured sample composition. Experiments and simulations were performed on various concentrations of both actual FFT samples from tailings facilities and kaolin as a model material. Good agreement between the experimental and simulation results was observed, paving the way for a potential real-time solids content measurement system that could be deployed over large areas to measure the settling of FFT in tailings ponds. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


Our Earth is a living Planet in which rocks are exhumed at the surface, and subjected to erosion, transport and deposition. Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) concentrate all these steps in a single phenomenon. During explosive volcanic eruptions, rock fragments known as pyroclasts are ejected from the inside of the Earth to the surface. They can then be transported as a mixture of gas and particles, the PDC, possibly entraining air and eroding their bed until they lack kinetic energy and dissipate as sediment.
PDCs are thus a fundamental transport mode associated with explosive eruptions, and belong to the class of particulate density currents. Those are mixtures of particles and ambient fluid, which behave, as a whole, as a fluid, and where the agent of excess density driving the momentum is the particles. Particles forming PDCs thus combine the roles of driving the momentum and be the resulting deposit when momentum comes to lack.
With the improvements of technology, models and experiments become more and more sophisticated. Numerical simulations benefit from greater calculation capacities, whereas analogue models and experiments can be recorded at high speed and resolution in 4D. These tools are fundamental to the understanding of the otherwise inaccessible internal dynamics of PDCs. Yet the question remains, what to model? How to know which effects are acting, if a model is accurate, and what should be the input parameters? The answers must be entirely based on observations of the natural phenomenon, and the field sedimentologist has the role to answer these questions.
This study investigates deposited PDCs, with the goal of understanding their former flow dynamics. Whereas others have made the link between the eruption and the parti- cle transport, the present target is to understand the particle transport from the study of the sediment. The field examples are predominantly based on the deposits of the Au- gust 17. 2006 eruption of Tungurahua volcano (Ecuador). This small volume eruption deposited sediments that present a great variety of sedimentary characteristics including dune bedforms in an well-preserved state. A combination of methods are used: direct field observation benefit from laboratory instruments and sedimentary peel techniques. Ground Penetrating Radar and Terrestrial Laser Scanner record the 3D architecture of bedforms. Unfortunately, the latter results, acquired in collaboration with the Ecole et Observatoire
des Sciences de la Terre -EOST, Strasbourg, France- (and financed by THESIS and LMU for this PhD), cannot be detailed in this work since they are present in the PhD dissertation from Jean Remi Dujardin (2014, EOST).
The structure of the dissertation is a a voyage through the scales, from the eruption scale to the particle scale. The mapping of the deposits highlights the large-scale behavior driven by the whole flow. The formation of dilute PDCs is linked to flow stripping pro- cesses at cliffs and curves of valleys confining the main flows.The lower density of dilute PDCs permitted them to overflow valley-walles on outer overbanks of curves and rapidly deposit. At the meter scale, pristine dune bedforms shape the surface of these deposits, and show an evolution in their dimension, form as well as internal patterns. Beyond the usual interpretation as antidunes, those bedforms are found to contain a great richness of information. Antidunes are indeed almost systematically evoked for the formation of PDC bedforms. However, this type of structures represents anecdotic phenomena related to transcritical, stationary gravity waves developing at density interfaces. Several alterna- tives to the antidune interpretation are presented throughout the dissertation. Finally, the scale of the basal boundary interaction between the flow and substrate is scoped. Wind tunnel measurements of the saltation threshold permit to derive quantitative flow param- eters from the recognition of the transport mechanism and grain size of involved particles. The basal flow processes and sediment state are approached from the study of soft sed- iment deformation. Sedimentary peels (lacquer peels of undisturbed deposits) enlighten levels of details that permit to recognize features previously only suspected from analogue experiments. The variation of deposit grain size between laminae with sub-mm thickness can be linked with the wind tunnel measurements and tell about levels of turbulence in dilute PDCs. The answer is blowing in the wind.
All these results represent but a prime in volcanic sedimentology. Whereas under- standing eruption mechanisms helps to forecast these events in time, the study of the deposit permit to constrain their dispersion in space. As particulate density currents, many of the mechanisms evidenced from PDCs are also valid for economically relevant sedimentary targets such as glacial hyperpycnal flows or turbidity currents.


Product development organizations face
increasing uncertainty and in a response
to that, they strive to improve their information processing capability. In this endeavour, visualization has proven to be a viable strategy; efforts to visualize products and concepts are increasing along
with improving visualization technology.
However, visualization has not gotten the
same traction when it comes to task communication within development teams.
In this study, Visual planning, a method
for visual task communication, has been
studied through a survey. The purpose is
to contrast the different goals and effects
of using the method. 321 product development managers were asked to participate in the survey, and 160 did so. Through statistical analysis of the responses, we
could conclude that our hypotheses that increased communication within the team would be a significantly more important goal and be significantly more affected by the implementation of Visual planning
than other aspects of the method can both
be partly confirmed. The analysis also
shows that the respondents perceive that
Visual planning affects all the potential
goals of Visual planning that have been
tested in this study positively. This means
that Visual planning seems to enhance
certain aspects related to communication and coordination such as increased communication, team alignment, earlier problem solving, resource allocation and follow up on activities, but none of these
aspects stand out as significantly more
or less important than the other aspects.


Objective: To investigate the predictive value of quality of life on changes in disability measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Background: There are few good prognostic factors for disease development in MS. Quality of life and self-rated health have been shown to be highly predictive of morbidity and disease development in heart disease and cancer. Methods: Data on quality of life (SF-36 Health Survey) were ascertained at baseline for 97 relapsing-remitting patients with MS participating in a short-term clinical trial on interferon α-2a. These scores were correlated with change in EDSS scores 1 year later, 6 months after treatment ended. Results: Low scores on the SF-36 mental health scale were correlated with increased (worsened) EDSS scores 1 year later (r = −0.29, p = 0.006). The results were not altered by adjusting for disease activity at baseline, which was measured by the number gadolinium-enhanced MRI lesions, relapse rate for the preceding 2 years, and baseline EDSS score. Similar results were found for self-rated health (according to the first question of the SF-36). Conclusions: These findings reinforce the importance of incorporating the patients' evaluation of their quality of life during treatment. Further, assessing such measures is important in evaluating effects in treatment trials in MS.


Vascular calcification (VC) is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and atherosclerotic plaque rupture. It is a cell-active process regulated by vascular cells rather than pure passive calcium (Ca) deposition. In recent years, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have attracted extensive attention because of their essential role in the process of VC. Matrix vesicles (MVs), one type of EVs, are especially critical in extracellular matrix mineralization and the early stages of the development of VC. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) have the potential to undergo phenotypic transformation and to serve as a nucleation site for hydroxyapatite crystals upon extracellular stimulation. However, it is not clear what underlying mechanism that MVs drive the VSMCs phenotype switching and to result in calcification. This article aims to review the detailed role of MVs in the progression of VC and compare the difference with other major drivers of calcification, including aging, uremia, mechanical stress, oxidative stress, and inflammation. We will also bring attention to the novel findings in the isolation and characterization of MVs, and the therapeutic application of MVs in VC.


From early in the history of psychology, theorists have argued about whether insights are initially unconscious or whether they are conscious from the start. Empirically identifying unconscious insights has proven difficult, however: How can we tell if people have had an insight if they do not tell us they have had one? Fortunately, although obtaining evidence of unconscious insights is difficult, it is not impossible. The present article describes an experiment in which evidence of unconscious insights was obtained. Almost 90% of second graders generated an arithmetic insight at an unconscious level before they were able to report it. Within five trials of the unconscious discovery, 80% of the children made the discovery consciously, as indicated by their verbal reports. Thus, the initial failure to report the insight could not be attributed to the children lacking the verbal facility to describe it. The results indicate that at least in some cases, insights arise first at an unconscious level, and only later become conscious. Rising activation of the new strategy may be the mechanism that leads children to become conscious of using it.


Abnormal myoinositol metabolism has been implicated as a contributor to the development of diabetic neuropathy. Furthermore, in vitro glucose inhibits animal and human myoinositol transporters. To investigate whether myoinositol transport is abnormal in diabetic subjects with and without neuropathy, we used a triple-isotope technique to measure [14C]myoinositol uptake in leucocytes from 23 insulin-dependent diabetic subjects and 13 matched nondiabetic subjects. All subjects with diabetes underwent neurophysiological studies, and subjects without neuropathy were compared with those with various degrees of neuropathy. The relationship between glycemia and flux was also studied. Diabetic subjects had similar intracellular and plasma myoinositol concentrations but had higher rates of uptake of myoinositol over the extracellular concentrations of myoinositol studied. Although the derived Km, Vmax, and passive components were not significantly different, the Vmax:Km ratio was significantly higher in diabetic subjects compared with nondiabetic subjects (0.25 [0.17–0.32] vs. 0.16 [0.13–0.19], respectively (P = 0.006). In diabetic subjects, the rate of myoinositol uptake correlated with HbA1c, particularly at 3 μM extracellular myoinositol where active uptake was a high proportion of the total influx (P < 0.005). No difference in myoinositol uptake was found among diabetic subjects with various degrees of neuropathy. We conclude that although myoinositol transport is abnormal in diabetes, it is not specifically abnormal in diabetic neuropathy. Prolonged hyperglycemia is associated with higher myoinositol flux.


Dr. Gary Gibson of Cambridge, Ont., went many years without identifying a single gay patient in his practice. When he "came out" about his homosexuality in 1981, about 15 of his patients revealed they were gay. Gibson, a professor of family medicine at the University of Western Ontario who is active in the College of Family Physicians of Canada, says such information is useful, because "if they don't identify, they may not get the medical advice they need." He wants medical students to receive more education in gay and lesbian issues, and recently drafted a gay and lesbian curriculum for postgraduate family medicine, which has been endorsed by the CMA.


If protective performance of apron cannot be good, radiation exposure of an guardian or a patient, a person engaged in radiation related industry cannot rise. Therefore, It will be evaluated protection performance to radiation protection aprons by manufacturers and lead equivalent more than 0.25mm lead equivalent. And, will show in the direction of application to clinic. The new aprons by manufacturers(H, X, I, J company) and lead equivalent(0.50mmPb, 0.35mmPb, 0.25mmPb) measured transmitted dose rate and shielding rate, uniformity under fluoroscopy and general radiography using to fluoroscopy system and digital radiography system, x-ray multifunction meter. The shielding rate measurement results, 0.5mmPb apron was Shielding rate of apron of a I company(fluoroscopy : 97.96%) was the best under six companies, and shielding rate of apron of a J company(fluoroscopy : 96.25%) was worst. 0.35mmPb Apron was Shielding rate of a I company(fluoroscopy : 96.79%) was the best under the three companies, and shielding rate of an H company(fluoroscopy : 95.81%) was the worst. 0.25mmPb Apron was Shielding rate of X company apron(fluoroscopy : 90.908%) was better than H company apron(fluoroscopy : 88.82%) than two companies. The uniformity measurement results, 0.5mmPb Aprons of X company(fluoroscopy : 0.13) and I company(fluoroscopy : 0.19) was the best under the six companies, and J company apron(fluoroscopy : 0.45) was the worst. 0.35mmPb. Along a manufacturer and lead equivalent performance of apron protection is distinguished certainly. Therefore, a patient, guardian or a person engaged in radiation related industry shall enforce experiment of a lot of ways defined or evaluation so that the maximum reduces radiation exposure. Buy the apron that protective performance is good, It will be performed through experiment and evaluation.


Apoptosis, a programmed cell death, can be observed in the tissues of viral or autoimmune hepatitis and of hepatocellular carcinoma. Fas antigen (Fas) was proposed as a protein that triggers apoptosis. To elucidate the relationship between Fas expression and its location in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, we histochemically examined Fas expression by using 25 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and their corresponding noncancerous tissues, which were surgically obtained from the same patients. In addition, the relationship between Fas expression and apoptotic cell numbers was examined in the hematoxylin-and-eosin-stained specimens obtained from 23 of the 25 patients. Hepatocellular carcinoma tissues expressed Fas less frequently and more weakly than noncancerous tissues. The majority of noncancerous specimens expressed Fas both on the surface and in the cytoplasm, whereas the majority of hepatocellular carcinoma expressed Fas only in the cytoplasm. Apoptotic cell counts were significantly higher in Fas-expressing tissues than in Fas-negative tissues. Among Fas-expressing tissues, the counts were higher in surface Fas-expressing tissues than in tissues that expressed only cytoplasmic Fas (P < 0.01 to 0.05). Our findings indicate that the development of apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues relates to not only Fas expression but also its location.


Uneven level of regional development is something that has characterized Croatia for a long time, with Eastern Croatia lagging behind significantly. There are many indicators that substantiate such a condition as well as the expected trends (e.g. GDP per capita in counties that belong to Eastern Croatia, huge population drain in the region, development index calculated by the Ministry of regional development and many others). As the development level of counties in Eastern Croatia is far from comparable to the most developed ones (especially the City of Zagreb), it is necessary to identify areas for possible improvements in those lagging regions. In the context of the European Union, the development level of counties in Eastern Croatia is particularly low. Other EU members have also failed to achieve convergence towards total homogeneity, but this paper focuses on chosen examples of countries and their regional policies that aimed to decrease existing regional differences. Decentralization level is one of the important prerequisites to decrease existing regional differences and adequately apply regional policies. This paper will theoretically examine the research on experiences of selected EU lagging regions and note the importance of the relationship between regional and national economy. As all five counties in Eastern Croatia can be characterized as lagging counties, one of the goals of this paper is, in accordance with theoretical insights into European experiences, to compare the situation and trends in the lagging regions and counties in Eastern Croatia, going beyond economic considerations to include a much broader context.


Variations of the anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve for cubital tunnel syndrome include subcutaneous, submuscular, intramuscular, and subfascial methods. We introduce a modification of subfascial transposition, which is designed to facilitate nerve gliding by wrapping the nerve with fascia. Twenty patients with wrapping surgery following the diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome were reviewed retrospectively. Preoperative electrodiagnostic studies were performed in all patients and all of them were rechecked postoperatively. The preoperative mean value of motor conduction velocity (MCV) was 37.1 ± 6.7 m/s within the elbow segment and this result showed a decrease compared to the result of MCV with 53.9 ± 6.9 m/s in the below the elbow-wrist segment with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Postoperative mean values of MCV were improved in all of 20 patients to 47.6 ± 5.5 m/s (P < 0.05). 19 patients of 20 (95%) reported good or excellent clinical outcomes according to a modified Bishop scoring system. The surgical treatment methods for cubital tunnel syndrome have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the preferred method differs depending on the surgeon. The wrapping method of anterior transposition is a newly designed alternative method modified from subfascial transposition. This method could be an alternative option to treat cubital tunnel syndrome.


Based on the spatial Fourier analysis, a statistical model of the individualized interaural time difference (ITD) is derived from the head-related transfer function database for a Chinese subject. The model reflects the spatial left–right symmetry and front–back asymmetry of ITD. Moreover, by using three anatomical parameters of head and pinna, the model is able to predict individualized ITD in the horizontal plane. Performance of the four subjects outside the database demonstrates that the mean of the total error is less than 20 μs, while the lateral performance is inferior to that at other directions.


A siren is a robust fast-valve that generates effective flow pulsations and powerful noise levels under well-controlled conditions. It operates under the inlet flow conditions of a gas turbine combustor. Its principle is based on a sonic air jet periodically sheared by a cogged wheel rotating at a given speed. It is used as an alternative to loudspeakers in combustion laboratories when the use of these is made difficult by aggressive flow conditions, such as hot air under pressure, possibly containing impurities. It is also a serious candidate as an effective flow actuator to be deployed on power gas turbine fleets. The authors have gathered more than twenty years of knowledge on siren technology. This pulsator was originally developed for research on thermoacoustics. By scanning through a given frequency range, one detects the acoustic resonance of specific parts of the combustor assembly, or possibly triggers a combustion instability during a sensitivity analysis of a flame to small perturbations. In 2010, Giuliani et al. developed a novel siren model with the capacity to vary the amplitude of pulsation independently from the frequency. In this contribution, the physics, the metrics, and the resulting parameters of the pulsator are discussed. Technical solutions are unveiled about visiting large frequency ranges (currently 6 kHz) and achieving elevated pressure fluctuations (150 dB SPL proven, possibly up to 155 dB SPL) with a compact device. A multimodal excitation is available with this technology, one idea being to dissipate the acoustic energy on nearby peaks. The contribution ends with a summary of the applications performed so far and the perspective of an industrial application.


ABSTRACT The invasion of exotic grasses is a potential threat to the winter habitat of migratory grassland birds by reducing native sources of seed food. We compared seed preferences among 3 native (blue grama [Bouteloua gracilis], sideoats grama [Bouteloua curtipendula], and green sprangletop [Leptochloa dubia]), and 3 exotic (Lehmann lovegrass [Eragrostis lehmanniana], buffelgrass [Pennisetum ciliare], and natal grass [Melinis repens]) grass seeds in captive Baird's (Ammodramus bairdii), Grasshopper (A. savannarum), and Savannah (Passerculus sandwichensis) sparrows to investigate factors that determine vulnerability of grassland passerines to exotic grasses in the Chihuahuan Desert. We hypothesized that seed handling time would determine the ability of sparrows to exploit exotic grass seeds, and that larger-billed birds would be able to better exploit a larger variety of seeds, including exotic seeds. We offered seeds in choice and nonchoice trials and determined handling times for the different seed and bird species. The results indicate that handling time in relation to seed size determined seed preferences. Sparrows preferred seeds they could handle more efficiently to maximize energy intake over time. Baird's and Savannah sparrows, with intermediate and small bill sizes, respectively, preferred natal grass seeds of intermediate size and short handling time, and Grasshopper Sparrows, with the largest bill, preferred the larger sideoats grama seeds. Lehmann lovegrass, the smallest seed with intermediate handling time, was avoided by the 3 sparrows. Buffelgrass, the largest seed with the longest handling time, was avoided by Baird's and Savannah sparrows. Blue grama, the second-smallest seed with relative short handling time, was neither preferred nor avoided, and green sprangletop, an intermediate-sized seed with a relatively longer handling time, was avoided in the choice trials but consumed in the nonchoice trials. These results indicate that exotic grass seeds may be a source of food for 3 sparrows wintering in the Chihuahuan Desert, provided they can be handled efficiently. Our results also show, however, that wintering grassland sparrows are probably unable to consume sufficient buffelgrass and Lehmann lovegrass seeds to meet daily energy requirements, indicating that these grasses may be a threat by reducing exploitable sources of seed food.


Summary Economic theory has attempted to identify the conditions under which corruption has particularly harmful effects. This article evaluates these theories and argues that the classifications offered are misleading. Very successful interventionist states have suffered from corruption just as much as very unsuccessful ones. Policy responses to corruption require an understanding of the effects of corruption and the determinants of these effects. The fact which appears to have a strong effect in determining the harmfulness of corruption is the balance of power between the state and its clients. An alternative classification of the effects of corruption is suggested on this basis.


It is anticipated that 6G wireless networks will accelerate the convergence of the physical and cyber worlds and enable a paradigm-shift in the way we deploy and exploit communication networks. Machine learning, in particular deep learning (DL), is expected to be one of the key technological enablers of 6G by offering a new paradigm for the design and optimization of networks with a high level of intelligence. In this article, we introduce an emerging DL architecture, known as the transformer, and discuss its potential impact on 6G network design. We first discuss the differences between the transformer and classical DL architectures, and emphasize the transformer's self-attention mechanism and strong representation capabilities, which make it particularly appealing for tackling various challenges in wireless network design. Specifically, we propose transformer-based solutions for various massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and semantic communication problems, and show their superiority compared to other architectures. Finally, we discuss key challenges and open issues in transformer-based solutions, and identify future research directions for their deployment in intelligent 6G networks.


This note proposes a modification of gradient-dependent plasticity to improve convergence. In gradient-dependent plasticity, the consistency condition, which results in a differential equation with respect to the plastic multiplier, is solved simultaneously with the equilibrium equation. In each iteration, the consistency condition is not really satisfied and the stress is generally not on the yield surface; this results in poor convergence. A modification is proposed, in which gradient-dependent plasticity is recast into the classical plasticity framework and a strict stress mapping strategy is established. Instead of solving a differential equation simultaneously with the equilibrium equation, the plastic multiplier is solved by minimizing a functional separately. The consistency condition can be satisfied and the stress is mapped back to the yield surface.


Using citric acid and chitosan as hardening liquid, and calcium phosphate cement (CPC) as powder, gum-like adhesive bone cement is obtained after mixing the powder and liquid components together, which can be used as calcium phosphate cement bone adhesive (CPCBA). The effect of citric acid concentration on compressive strength, setting time and hydration products were investigated. In vitro cytocompatibility of the cements was also researched through cell culture on the cement surface. The results show that setting time is shorten and anti-washout is improved by introducing citric acid. Cohesion strength increases owing to chitosan chelated with calcium ion of CPC. The cements are transformed to hydroxyapatite after incubation 3 d in SBF and osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) can attach and proliferate on the surface. Results indicate that the calcium phosphate cement bone adhesive is a suitable adhesive material for comminuted fracture.


This article offers an interpretation of Greek-Orthodox responses to globality. During globalization's modern period, relativization and de-territorialization led to a modern synthesis between Orthodoxy and nationality. During globalization's contemporary period, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has adopted a relatively open perspective toward globalization, which offers an opportunity to empower the Patriarchate's status as a supra-territorial institution. In contrast, many national churches-like the Orthodox Church of Greece-cling to a defense of the modern synthesis and view contemporary globalization as a threat to their vision of re-territorialized religiosity. These institutional perspectives are closely aligned to theological responses to contemporary globality, which are also polarized between Orthodox globalists and defenders of the modern synthesis. The 2003-04 dispute between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Greece over the issue of ecclesiastical governance exemplifies these contrasting perspectives. The dispute was fueled in large part by the endorsement of opposite religious responses toward globality by the two institutions.


This paper examines the implications of structural performance design method and techniques on agent-based architecture, through the example of a cantilevered large span culturalcomplex project. The high level of form complexity of agent-based design posed a great challenge for construction and gave rise to an alternate solution: customization and optimization of the prerationalized supporting steel structure through a Multi-dimensional structural optimization process output a standard steel structure which allowed for accurate and relatively constructible method for agentbased structure, therefore minimizing costs, maximizing the design features, reduce construction technical difficulty and most importantly to create an articulated spatial-structural relationship. Therefore, the agentbased orientated structural performance design towards material computation was developed to optimize the overall design. This research helps support our methodology for control complexity in non-standard geometries produced by agent-based design process, which is based on adapting the design approach to customized construction methods.


As the well-being of maternal and child health occupies a paramount place in the healthcare delivery system, caesarean section (CS) has become the most common intervention in obstetrics care, in many countries. Although the indicated and timely CS has tremendous advantages for the mother and the baby, there are several consequences of caesarean delivery in comparison to normal delivery. Being one of the major abdominal surgeries, it also carries the risk associated with general surgeries. Non-probability sampling design was used to recruit 500 participants, who were allotted to experimental and control groups. With the routine post-caesarean care as per hospital routine, the planned structured exercise session was initiated for the experimental group on the day of lower segment caesarean section and was followed twice a day for the first 5 post-caesarean days. The study participants of the control group were given the routine care only. At the end of each day, the selected data for the presence of post-operative complications were collected by structured observation and self-report techniques. It was evident that the selected post-operative problems related to immobility were less in the experimental group as compared to that of the control group. The study concluded that structured post-operative exercise sessions are effective in reducing the potential post-operative problems associated with immobility in post-caesarean period. It can be implemented effectively to enhance the recovery of women after CS.