Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of serum heparin-binding protein (HBP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell count (WBC) in an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods A prospective research model was used to select 63 patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who were hospitalized in Xuzhou First People's Hospital from January 2020 to June 2020, and among the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients who were followed up in our hospital during the same period, 18 patients were in the stable phase, and 43 healthy patients in our hospital during the same period were selected as the healthy control group. 18 patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were selected as the observation group, and 43 healthy people who underwent examination at the same time as the control group. For patients with acute COPD recombination, 5 ml of venous blood was collected according to whether the condition of COPD patients with acute exacerbation was stable or not. 5 ml of venous blood was collected for acute exacerbation. According to their clinical symptoms (such as cough, sputum, and asthma), dyspnea score (MRC score), and pulmonary function (FEV1 and FEV1/FVC), it is determined whether the patient's condition is stable. Patients in the stable COPD group will collect 5 ml of venous blood during the outpatient follow-up, and those in the healthy physical examination group will collect veins on the day of the physical examination. In 5 ml of blood, the levels of HBP and CRP in the blood were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent method and the immunoturbidimetric method, respectively, and the peripheral blood WBC was measured by a blood cell analyzer and its supporting reagents. The differences of the three indicators in each group were statistically analyzed. Normally distributed measurement data were compared using t-test, homogeneity of variance of nonnormally distributed measurement data were compared using one-way analysis of variance, uneven variance of nonnormally distributed measurement data were compared using a rank-sum test, and Pearson linear analysis was used for correlation test. Subject working characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn, P < 0.05 means the difference is statistically significant, the receiver working characteristic curve was established, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to analyze blood HBP. The value of blood CRP and peripheral blood WBC counts alone or in combination in the diagnosis of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Results The level of blood heparin-binding protein in the acute exacerbation phase was significantly higher than that in the stable phase and healthy controls (P < 0.05). In the acute exacerbation stage and stable stage group, the blood heparin binding protein, the percentage of leukocytes, neutrophils, and CRP were detected. There is a correlation between (P < 0.05) and a correlation with lung function (FEV1) (P < 0.05). The predictive value of heparin-binding protein, white blood cells, neutrophil percentage, CRP, etc. for the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with the area under the heparin-binding protein curve, is the largest, and compared with the stable phase, the comparison of heparin-binding protein, white blood cells, and CRP is statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion Heparin-binding protein increases in the stable phase and acute exacerbation phase and is related to other inflammatory factors. It is one of the important inflammatory factors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Heparin-binding protein, white blood cells, CRP, etc. have diagnostic and predictive value for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Heparin-binding protein has the best predictive result, and the combined index test has a better diagnostic predictive value, which is better than single index detection.


Cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) is a highly sensitive and specific marker of myocardial injury and can be detected in plasma by immunoassay techniques. The purpose of this study was to establish a reference range for plasma cTnI in a population of healthy dogs using a human immunoassay system and to determine whether plasma cTnI concentrations were high in dogs with acquired or congenital heart disease, specifically cardiomyopathy (CM), degenerative mitral valve disease (MVD), and subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS). In total, 269 dogs were examined by physical examination, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and plasma cTnI assay. In 176 healthy dogs, median cTnI was 0.03 ng/mL (upper 95th percentile = 0.11 ng/mL). Compared with the healthy population, median plasma cTnI was increased in dogs with CM (0.14 ng/mL; range, 0.03-1.88 ng/mL; P < .001; n = 26), in dogs with MVD (0.11 ng/mL; range, 0.01-9.53 ng/mL; P < .001; n = 37), and in dogs with SAS (0.08 ng/mL; range, 0.01-0.94 ng/mL; P < .001; n = 30). In dogs with CM and MVD, plasma cTnI was correlated with left ventricular and left atrial size. In dogs with SAS, cTnI demonstrated a modest correlation with ventricular wall thickness. In dogs with CM, the median survival time of those with cTnI >0.20 ng/mL was significantly shorter than median survival time of those with cTnI <0.20 ng/mL (112 days versus 357 days; P = .006). Plasma cTnI is high in dogs with cardiac disease, correlates with heart size and survival, and can be used as a blood-based biomarker of cardiac disease.


Outliers are eccentric data points with anomalous nature. Clustering with outliers has received a lot of attention in the data processing community. But, they inordinately affect the quality of the results obtained in case of popular clustering algorithms during the process of finding an optimal solution. In this work, we propose a novel method to classify the data points with grouping characteristics as either an outlier or not. We use both distance and density of a particular data point with respect to the rest of the data points for this process. Distances are used to find the points at the extremities while the densities are used to identify the data points at the sparsest spaces. Further, every data model has to take into account the aspect of generalization in order to work robustly even in out of the box situations. Hence, our approach provides a generalization aspect to the model. The accuracy of the proposed work is measured using area under curve (AUC) was found the highest for cardioto data set -AUC value-0.90 and second highest AUC value was obtained for Spambase data set -0.52 and several other datasets are used to demonstrate the usage of the model proposed.


Monokine induced by interferon gamma (MIG) is an important biomarker for early monitoring of transplant rejection. This letter presents a novel technique for detecting human MIG by using immunologically-modified field effect transistors. Detection of MIG with anti-MIG antibody in high concentration phosphate buffer saline solution was achieved for the first time. To provide specific MIG detection capability, anti-MIG IgG molecular affinity interface receptors were formed on a short self-assembled monolayer on a floating gold sensing gate of a biochemically modified AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor device.


Beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2-GPI) is a plasma glycoprotein primarily synthesized in the liver. The interindividual variability of beta2-GPI expression in subjects with various metabolic syndromes and disease states suggests that it may have clinical importance. However, the regulation of beta2-GPI gene expression has not been clarified. To gain more insight into the control of beta2-GPI gene expression, we cloned the 4.1-kb 5'-flanking region and characterized the proximal promoter of the beta2- GPI gene in this study. Cis -acting elements required for beta2-GPI promoter activity were identified with transient transfection assays in the hepatoma cell lines HepG2 and Huh7 and in non-hepatic HeLa cells. Serial deletion analyses of the beta2-GPI 5'-flanking sequence revealed that the region from -197 to +7 had strong promoter activity in hepatoma cells but not in HeLa cells. Truncation and site-directed mutagenesis of putative cis -elements within this region showing an atypical TATA box and a HNF-1 (hepatic nuclear factor-1) element were both essential for the beta2-GPI promoter activity. Subsequent gel mobility shift assays confirmed the interaction of HNF-1alpha with the HNF-1 site residing downstream of the TATA box. Co-transfection of beta2-GPI promoter-luciferase vector with HNF-1alpha expression vector in Huh7 and HNF-1-deficient HeLa cells demonstrated the transactivation effect of HNF-1alpha on beta2-GPI promoter activity. In addition, overexpression of HNF-1alpha enhanced the endogenous beta2-GPI expression. These results suggest that the atypical TATA box and HNF-1 cis-element are critical for beta2-GPI transcription and HNF-1alpha may play an important role in cell-specific regulation of beta2-GPI gene expression.


Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, citizens of the United Kingdom were required to stay at home for many months in 2020. In the weeks before and months following lockdown, including when it was not being enforced, citizens were advised to stay at home where possible. As a result, in a megacity such as London, where long-distance commuting is common, spatial and temporal changes to patterns of water demand are inevitable. This, in turn, may change where people's waste is treated and ultimately impact the in-river quality of effluent receiving waters. To assess large scale impacts, such as COVID-19, at the city scale, an integrated modelling approach that captures everything between households and rivers is needed. A framework to achieve this is presented in this study and used to explore changes in water use and the associated impacts on wastewater treatment and in-river quality as a result of government and societal responses to COVID-19. Our modelling results revealed significant changes to household water consumption under a range of impact scenarios, however, they only showed significant impacts on pollutant concentrations in household wastewater in central London. Pollutant concentrations in rivers simulated by the model were most sensitive in the tributaries of the River Thames, highlighting the vulnerability of smaller rivers and the important role that they play in diluting pollution. Modelled ammonia and phosphates were found to be the pollutants that rivers were most sensitive to because their main source in urban rivers is domestic wastewater that was significantly altered during the imposed mobility restrictions. A model evaluation showed that we can accurately validate individual model components (i.e., water demand generator) and emphasised need for continuous water quality measurements. Ultimatly, the work provides a basis for further developments of water systems integration approaches to project changes under never-before seen scenarios.


We construct a self-consistent nonperturbative theory for the structure and thermodynamics of a classical system of particles that goes beyond the usual approaches based on perturbation theory. Our theory, which gives accurate predictions for the phase diagram, is based on two ingredients: first, use is made of an exact expression for the free energy of a many-body system in terms of a reference system and a coupling integral connecting the latter to the final system; second, correlation functions may be very accurately approximated using a number of sum rules relating the radial distribution function with thermodynamic quantities. Consistency between the coupling integral expression and the sum rules may be achieved by means of a self-consistent process.


The power spectrum S of linear transects of the earth's topography is often observed to be a power-law function of wave number k with exponent close to -2: S(k) is proportional to k^-2. In addition, river networks are fractal trees that satisfy many power-law or fractal relationships between their morphologic components. A model equation for the evolution of the earth's topography by erosional processes which produces fractal topography and fractal river networks is presented and its solutions compared in detail to real topography. The model is the diffusion equation for sediment transport on hillslopes and channels with the local diffusivity proportional to the square of the discharge. The dependence of diffusivity on discharge follows from fundamental equations of sediment transport. We study the model in two ways. In the first analysis the diffusivity is parameterized as a function of relief and a Taylor expansion procedure is carried out to obtain a differential equation for the landform elevation which includes the spatially-variable diffusivity to first order in the elevation. The solution to this equation is a self-affine or fractal surface with linear transects that have power spectra S(k) is proportional to k^-1.8, independent of the age of the topography, consistent with observations. The hypsometry produced by the model is skewed such that lowlands make up a larger area than highlands as in real topography. In the second analysis we include river networks explicitly in a numerical simulation by calculating... Abstract continued in paper.


Angioedema is defined as edema of the skin or mucosa, including the respiratory and the gastrointestinal mucosa, which is self-limiting, and in most cases is completely resolved in less than 72 hours. It occurs due to increased permeability of the mucosal and submucosal capillaries and postcapillary venules, with resulting plasma extravasation. There are different types of angioedema: histaminergic (which may be mediated by immunoglobulin E), hereditary, from acquired C1 inhibitor deficiency, from angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, bradykinin-mediated, and non-histaminergic idiopathic angioedema. Treatment depends on the cause of angioedema, age, and the frequency and severity of manifestations. The main measures are avoiding external triggers or causes, giving antihistamines, steroids, or adrenaline for histaminergic angioedema; replacing the deficient protein or blocking the action of bradykinin in C1 inhibitor deficiency and angioedema from angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor.


In Lower Priamurje in summer of 1977-1979 Microtus evoronensis was parasitized mainly by fleas of Ceratophyllus calcarifer. Other seven species of fleas recorded from this animal are very rare. They are connected, in general, with other small mammals and birds.


Summary We present an application of time domain early arrival acoustic waveform inversion to 3D seismic land data in Saudi Arabia for the purpose of constructing a near-surface velocity model. Traditional traveltime methods for velocity estimation can be inadequate in arid environments where karst, low velocity layers, outcropping refractors, and strong velocity contrasts are common. We compare nearsurface velocity models derived from 3D traveltime tomography and 3D waveform inversion.


Salmonella enterica is a highly important foodborne pathogen worldwide. We report the complete genome sequence of a sequence type 14 Salmonella enterica serotype Senftenberg strain carrying the mcr-9 gene in a plasmid isolated from broken chicken eggshells in Trinidad and Tobago, obtained by using a combination of long- and short-read sequencing. ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica is a highly important foodborne pathogen worldwide. We report the complete genome sequence of a sequence type 14 Salmonella enterica serotype Senftenberg strain carrying the mcr-9 gene in a plasmid isolated from broken chicken eggshells in Trinidad and Tobago, obtained by using a combination of long- and short-read sequencing.


Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and its β sub‐unit (hCGβ) are secreted by trophoblast cells during pregnancy, and by tumoral cells of trophoblastic and non‐trophoblastic origin. In contrast to hCG, the free hCGβ sub‐unit is consistently undetectable in healthy non‐pregnant subjects. With this in mind, we sought to determine whether an immune response to hCGβ can be detected in patients with bladder or germ‐cell testis cancers. Peripheral‐blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 31% of patients with hCGβ‐productive bladder cancers and 33% of testis‐tumor‐bearing patients displayed an hCGβ‐specific proliferative response, whereas no patients with non‐hCGβ‐productive cancers had a proliferative response. PBMC from pregnant women and healthy controls did not elicit significant reactivity. By the use of overlapping synthetic peptides, the immunogenic regions of hCGβ were delineated within the central 20–65 portion. Moreover, in 2 bladder‐cancer patients with the HLA DR7, DQ2 haplotype, the T‐cell response to hCGβ was focused on the hCGβ(20–47) peptide. Taken together, these results indicate that hCGβ is a tumor‐associated antigen capable of inducing a cell‐mediated immune response in patients with productive tumors. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Our real world is incondensably complex: many aspects cannot be summarized or abbreviated. How can a philosopher cope with this innate and necessary richness? What types of explanations are available to him? And then, how can we humans live comfortably without always having simple and complete explanations? With the Socratic format and the Socratic times - with the direct human philosophy of Socrates, a philosophy that has not yet been separated from people by the fabricated concepts of relativity and multidimensional spaces and genomic sequences - with only his hands and his feet and with only the trees and hills and clouds about him, Socrates talks with his companions about the simplicities and the complexities of our chocolaty-thick world.


The paths via which childhood experiences influence well-being in adulthood are not well defined because most research relies on retrospective reports. This study examined the influence of demographic characteristics and current mood states on the reliability of reports of childhood experiences. The Child Experiences Scale (CES) was administered in 1996 and 2001 to participants in the Davis Longitudinal Study (N = 571; age range 22-61 years). Responses showed moderate to high cross-time reliability. Males were slightly more likely to change their responses. The influence of mood states was weak and more evident for global ratings of childhood than for specific experiences. These findings support the use of retrospective reports of childhood.


Separating microbes and cancers The role of microorganisms in causing and sustaining cancers has been in dispute for centuries. Through the lens of gut- and tumor-associated microbes, Sepich-Poore et al. review our current understanding of the microbiota in cancer, building a "microbially conscious" framework. The authors argue that humans should be considered as a meta-organism, but how our microbiota influences cancer is still not well understood mechanistically. Nevertheless, advances in microbiome research are improving our understanding of immuno-oncology and driving new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Science, this issue p. eabc4552 BACKGROUND Historical accounts linking cancer and microbes date as early as four millennia ago. After establishment of the germ theory of infectious diseases, clinical research of microbial influences on cancer began in 1868, when William Busch reported spontaneous tumor regressions in patients with Streptococcus pyogenes infections. Over the next century, poor reproducibility, erroneous microbiological claims, and severe toxicity led many to discount the role of bacteria in carcinogenesis and cancer therapy. However, these studies provided the first crude demonstrations of cancer immunotherapy. Contemporaneously, the viral theory of cancer flourished, spurred by the 1911 discovery of Rous sarcoma virus, which transformed benign tissue into malignant tumors in chickens. The decades-long search to find viruses behind every human cancer ultimately failed, and many cancers have been linked to somatic mutations. Now the field is encountering intriguing claims of the importance of microbes, including bacteria and fungi, in cancer and cancer therapy. This Review critically evaluates this evidence in light of modern cancer biology and immunology, delineating roles for microbes in cancer by examining advances in proposed mechanisms, diagnostics, and modulation strategies. ADVANCES Few microbes directly cause cancer, but many seem complicit in its growth, often acting through the host's immune system; conversely, several have immunostimulatory properties. Mechanistic analyses of gut microbiota–immune system interactions reveal powerful effects on antitumor immunity by modulating primary and secondary lymphoid tissue activities. Many of these pathways invoke Toll-like receptor–initiated cytokine signaling, but microbial metabolic effects and antigenic mimicry with cancer cells are also important. In preclinical models, microbial metabolites also regulate phenotypes of tumor somatic mutations and modulate immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy. Emerging evidence suggests that intratumoral bacteria exist and are active, with overlapping immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, and sequencing data in ~10 cancer types. Preliminary studies further suggest that fungi and bacteriophages contribute to gastrointestinal cancers. However, the abundance of intratumoral microbial cells is low relative to cancer cells, and knowledge of their functional repertoire and potency remains limited. Further validation of their prevalence and impact is needed in diverse cohorts and therapeutic contexts. The immunomodulatory effects of host microbiota have reinvigorated efforts to change their composition as a form of immunotherapy. Despite extensive preclinical evidence, translation of microbiota modulation approaches into humans has not yet materialized into commercialized therapies. Synthetic biology approaches are also gaining traction, with engineered bacterial cancer therapies in preclinical and clinical trial settings. OUTLOOK A better understanding of the roles of microbes in cancer provides an opportunity to improve each stage of the cancer care cycle, but major challenges remain. Concerted efforts to characterize cancer-associated microbiota among tumor, stool, and blood samples with gold-standard contamination controls would tremendously aid this progress. This would be analogous to The Cancer Genome Atlas's role in characterizing the cancer somatic mutation landscape. Large-scale clinical trials are currently testing the efficacy of microbiota modulation approaches, ranging from dietary modifications to intratumorally injected, engineered bacteria. These bacterial cancer therapies, if safe and effective, could tremendously expand the cancer therapy armamentarium. Altogether, integrating the host-centric and microbial viewpoints of cancer may improve patient outcomes while providing a nuanced understanding of cancer-host-microbial evolution. Opportunities for microbes to affect cancer care. Diagnosis: Cancer-specific, blood-borne microbial DNA may complement cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA). Prognosis: Gut and intratumoral microbiota may stratify patient outcomes (NR, nonresponder; R, responder; TME, tumor microenvironment). Therapy: Intratumor injection of CD47 nanobody (CD47nb)–producing Escherichia coli may create systemic antitumor immunity by enhancing dendritic cell (DC) phagocytosis, lymph node (LN) antigen (Ag) presentation, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity. Microbial roles in cancer formation, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment have been disputed for centuries. Recent studies have provocatively claimed that bacteria, viruses, and/or fungi are pervasive among cancers, key actors in cancer immunotherapy, and engineerable to treat metastases. Despite these findings, the number of microbes known to directly cause carcinogenesis remains small. Critically evaluating and building frameworks for such evidence in light of modern cancer biology is an important task. In this Review, we delineate between causal and complicit roles of microbes in cancer and trace common themes of their influence through the host's immune system, herein defined as the immuno-oncology-microbiome axis. We further review evidence for intratumoral microbes and approaches that manipulate the host's gut or tumor microbiome while projecting the next phase of experimental discovery.


This report describes the clinical signs, diagnosis, and therapy of demodicosis in ferrets. Two ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) were presented with a history of local alopecia and pruritus after repeated treatment with a glucocorticoid-containing ointment for recurrent ear mite infections. Skin scrapings and biopsies revealed adult mites and larvae of Demodex spp., which were measured according to current classification techniques. Treatment with amitraz was effective and did not cause noticeable side effects. To the authors' knowledge this is the first report of demodicosis in ferrets.


Cardiac troponin I (cTnI), the inhibitory subunit of cardiac troponin (cTn), is phosphorylated by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A at two adjacently located serine residues within the heart-specific N-terminal elongation. Four different phosphorylation states can be formed. To investigate each monophosphorylated form cTnI mutants, in which each of the two serine residues is replaced by an alanine, were generated. These mutants, as well as the wild-type cardiac troponin I (cTnI-WT) have been expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and characterized by isoelectric focusing, MS and CD-spectroscopy. Monophosphorylation induces conformational changes within cTnI that are different from those induced by bisphosphorylation. Functionality was assessed by measuring the calcium dependence of myosin S1 binding to thin filaments containing reconstituted native, wild-type and mutant cTn complexes. In all cases a functional holotroponin complex was obtained. Upon bisphosphorylation of cTnI-WT the pCa curve was shifted to the right to the same extent as that observed with bisphosphosphorylated native cTnI. However, the absolute values for the midpoints were higher when recombinant cTn subunits were used for reconstitution. Reconstitution itself changed the calcium affinity of cTnC: pCa50-values were higher than those obtained with the native cardiac holotroponin complex. Apparently only bisphosphorylation of cTnI influences the calcium sensitivity of the thin filament, thus monophosphorylation has a function different from that of bisphosphorylation; this function has not yet been identified.


Abstract : Since hepatitis virus has the propensity in vivo to infect human hepatocytes it seemed appropriate to undertake attempts at hepatitis virus cultivation using hepatocyte cultures. Early studies led to technology for the cultivation of fetal hepatocytes with the exclusion of fibroblastic cells. Similar approaches were used to cultivate adult hepatocytes and most recently these recent studies have demonstrated the successful long-term cultivation of adult hepatocytes for periods in excess of 10 weeks. The conditions for growth have been delineated and the methods are now reproducible. In the past twelve months, attempts were made to use hepatocyte cultures as a substrate for hepatitis B and hepatitis A cultivation. The inocula used have been hepatitis B antigen positive sera known to be rich in Dane particles, filtrates of stools from patients with hepatitis A and liver biopsies obtained from patients with hepatitis B surface antigen positive chronic aggressive hepatitis. Inoculation of cultures with Dane particle-rich hepatitis B sera has not resulted in cytopathogenic change (CPE) in monolayer cultures. Efforts have been devoted at attempts at cultivation of hepatitis B virus by using 'slow virus techniques'. By means of cocultivation, mixed monolayers of normal hepatocytes were co-cultivated with hepatocytes obtained from liver biopsies of patients with hepatitis B surface antigen positive chronic aggressive hepatitis. The cell layers which resulted were maintained and were sub-cultured but did not yield evidence of either CPE or evidence of multiplication of hepatitis B surface antigen.


The neighbor-exclusion principle is one of the most general and interesting rules describing intercalative DNA binding by small molecules. It suggests that such binding can only occur at every other base-pair site, reflecting a very large negative cooperativity in the binding process. We have carried out molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics simulations to study intercalation complexes between 9-amino acridine and the base-paired heptanucleotide d(CGCGCGC) X d(GCGCGCG), in which the neighbor-exclusion principle was both obeyed and violated. Our studies find no stereochemical preference that favors the neighbor-exclusion-obeying structures over the neighbor-exclusion-violating structures. Alternative explanations for the existence of the neighbor-exclusion principle are vibrational entropy effects that we calculate to favor the more flexible neighbor-exclusion models over the more rigid neighbor-exclusion-violating models and polyelectrolyte (counterion release) effects.


Abstract Tarsonemids are mites that can damage coconut fruits, leading to losses in crop yield and quality. In this study, a survey of tarsonemid species and associated predatory mites underneath the perianth of coconut was carried out on palms cultivated along the coast of northeastern Brazil, and their spatial distribution was studied in one of the cultivations, on fruits of different ages, to subsidize monitoring and management of pest species. Samples of fruits of different ages were collected from cultivation sites of 9 states, with sites ranging from a few km to a maximum of 100 km apart from one another. Three coconut palms were selected from each site, collecting 10 fruits with necrotic lesions similar to those caused by Steneotarsonemus species from each palm. The mites were collected, mounted and identified. For the analysis, a re-evaluation was done of the tarsonemids collected in similar surveys for mites in general on coconut fruits, as reported previously in the literature. Subsequently, a field in Igarassu (Pernambuco, Brazil) bearing fruits with symptoms caused by Steneotarsonemus species was selected, and a total of 943 fruits from 2–8-month-old bunches were collected for mite quantification and identification. Consequently, Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum Lofego and Gondim Jr., Steneotarsonemus furcatus De Leon, and four morphospecies of Tarsonemus were found under the perianths of coconut fruits growing along the coast of northeastern Brazil. In Igarassu, the most abundant tarsonemid was S. concavuscutum, representing 98.4% of all quantified mites. Populations of S. concavuscutum were observed in all fruit bunches, regardless of age (ranging from 19 to 167 mites/fruit), with the highest numbers occurring in the 6-month-old bunches. In this same geographic location, Neoseiulus baraki (Athias-Henriot) represented 99.0% of the predaceous phytoseiid mites, with a population ranging from 0.04 to 5.3 mites/fruit that attained the highest population levels on 7-month-old fruit bunches. The N. baraki population densities were positively correlated with the mean S. concavuscutum numbers.


Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a leading complication in type 2 diabetes patients. Recently, we have shown that the reticulum-mitochondria Ca2+ uncoupling is an early and reversible trigger of the cardiac dysfunction in a diet-induced mouse model of DCM. Metformin is a first-line antidiabetic drug with recognized cardioprotective effect in myocardial infarction. Whether metformin could prevent the progression of DCM remains not well understood. We therefore investigated the effect of a chronic 6-week metformin treatment on the reticulum-mitochondria Ca2+ coupling and the cardiac function in our high-fat high-sucrose diet (HFHSD) mouse model of DCM. Although metformin rescued the glycemic regulation in the HFHSD mice, it did not preserve the reticulum-mitochondria Ca2+ coupling either structurally or functionally. Metformin also did not prevent the progression towards cardiac dysfunction, i.e., cardiac hypertrophy and strain dysfunction. In summary, despite its cardioprotective role, metformin is not sufficient to delay the progression to early DCM.


Predicting vulnerableroad user behavior is an essential prerequisite for deploying Automated Driving Systems (ADS) in the real-world. Pedestrian crossing intention should be recognized in real-time, especially for urban driving. Recent works have shown the potential of using vision-based deep neural network models for this task. However, these models are not robust and certain issues still need to be resolved. First, the global spatio-temporal context that accounts for the interaction between the target pedestrian and the scene has not been properly utilized. Second, the optimal strategy for fusing different sensor data has not been thoroughly investigated. This work addresses the above limitations by introducing a novel neural network architecture to fuse inherently different spatio-temporal features for pedestrian crossing intention prediction. We fuse different phenomena such as sequences of RGB imagery, semantic segmentation masks, and ego-vehicle speed in an optimal way using attention mechanisms and a stack of recurrent neural networks. The optimal architecture was obtained through exhaustive ablation and comparison studies. Extensive comparative experiments on the JAAD and PIE pedestrian action prediction benchmarks demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, where state-of-the-art performance was achieved. Our code is open-source and publicly available: https://github.com/OSU-Haolin/Pedestrian_Crossing_Intention_Prediction.


Energy-saving LIDAR camera for short distances estimates an object's distance using temporally intensity-coded laser light pulses and calculates the maximum correlation with the back-scattered pulse.
Though on low power, the backs-scattered pulse is noisy and unstable, which leads to inaccurate and unreliable depth estimation.
To address this problem, we use GANs (Generative Adversarial Networks), which are two neural networks that can learn complicated class distributions through an adversarial process. We learn the LIDAR camera's hidden properties and behavior, creating a novel, fully unsupervised forward model that simulates the camera. Then, we use the model's differentiability to explore the camera parameter space and optimize those parameters in terms of depth, accuracy, and stability. To achieve this goal, we also propose a new custom loss function designated to the back-scattered code distribution's weaknesses and its circular behavior. The results are demonstrated on both synthetic and real data.


The era of globalization make the move into tourism industry's largest and strongest in the financing of the global economy. The development of tourism has three functions Promote the economy; Maintaining the national identity and preservation of function and quality of the environment; foster a love for the homeland and the nation. Rapid technological advances that make more rapid dissemination of information. The purpose of the study is to examine the promotion of e-commerce can increase the number of tourist visits in the tourist area of Mount Ijen and through the increase in traffic would improve the welfare of local communities. The study population was a tourist visitor Mount Ijen by taking the sampling method using a random sampling of 350 samples, data collection techniques using questionnaires and interviews. Methods of qualitative and descriptive analysis using bivariate analysis. The results of this study indicate that the tourism promotion Ijen crater through e-commerce can increase the number of tourist visits. Ijen crater tourism information through the Internet easier and cheaper to obtain travel information. With the increasing number of tourist visits Ijen crater members positive impact on the welfare of local communities, especially sulfur miners who were around tourist sites Mount Ijen . Keyword : E-commerce, Tourism, local economic


We estimated the abundance of Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) through a large-scale project conducted in 2010 in north-eastern Brazil and evaluated the efficacy of an aerial survey for conservation purposes. Two observers conducted the survey via flights that maintained an altitude of 150 m and an air speed of 140 km h−1, covering over 2590.2 km2 of the coastline. Strip transects were flown in a zigzag pattern. A total of 67 manatees (on- and off-effort) were recorded in 55 sightings. Historical published records of occurrence were formally incorporated using a Bayesian approach. We estimated the manatee population for north-eastern Brazil in the form of a posterior distribution with a mean of 1104 individuals and a 95% posterior probability interval ranging from 485 to 2221 individuals, which indicates high uncertainty. More large-scale studies in the region are warranted to understand temporal trends, in addition to further studies in hotspot areas, with smaller spatial scales, to reduce the coefficient of variation and to allow the use of improved techniques for monitoring the manatees. A greater emphasis on species-specific characteristics and methods to enhance detection probability (e.g. dual observers) are also recommended. The conditions prevailing along the study area were not conducive to aerial surveillance; thus, the results are not a precise estimate of the manatee population. However, these highlight the importance of conservation efforts for the Antillean manatee, considered the most endangered aquatic mammal in Brazil.


In order to examine the genetic substrate of the dopamine hypothesis in restless legs syndrome, we analyzed eight genes coding for receptors and enzymes related to dopaminergic transmission, using a population of 92 patients with restless legs syndrome and 182 controls matched for ethnic background. No significant differences were found in the genotypic or allelic distributions between groups. Furthermore, no effect of the loci examined was observed with stratification using clinical parameters such as age at onset or periodic leg movements during sleep index.


This work aims to apply the Short Diagnosis in a sawmill in Amazonia. The originality of this work lies in the application of an ergonomic intervention method that allows the identification of initial ergonomic demands, as well as aspects related to the improvement of the production process, work systems and the organization as a whole. Regarding the approach to the problem, this study is characterized as qualitative and exploratory in terms of objectives. From the standpoint of technical procedures, action research was used in this study in the form of a case study. The sample used in the study was intentional non-probabilistic. The main results stand out, the application of the Short Diagnosis approach that allowed the enterprise's knowledge in a short period of time; providing insights for future projects due to the identification of points of improvement related to production and management factors; recognition of ergonomic aspects in the observed activities; improved the enterprise's internal communication, and recommendations for organizational and ergonomic projects. Considering the theoretical and practical implications, the work enriches the literature related to the application of ergonomic intervention methods, in addition to pointing out the relevance of the Short Diagnosis as a practical tool for organizations of different sizes.


We begin a new tradition with this 20th anniversary issue. In an annual feature called RIPE Reads, we will review up to five of the IPE books published in the previous calendar year that we believe will be of the greatest interest to our readership. For 2012, we have chosen the five books below from among the many outstanding nominations received from our International Advisory Board members. We highly recommend these books to you, and hope that you find them as useful and thought provoking as we did.


In the peritoneal fluid, macrophages and their secretory cytokines are essential for endometriosis, but the factors that favor their involvement in the endometriosis-associated inflammatory response are still elusive. Given the anomalous expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) and its potentially important roles in immune modulation, we aimed to determine the effects of IDO1 in ESCs on macrophages and the mechanism of those effects. Normal ESCs and ectopic ESCs transfected with the SD11-IDO1 shRNA (short hairpin RNA) or vector-only plasmid SD11 were subsequently co-cultured with peripheral blood (PB)-derived monocytes (PBMC)-driven macrophages directly and indirectly. Cytokine production was determined by analyzing the supernatant of the co-culture unit by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The phenotypes and the phagocytic ability of the macrophages were determined by flow cytometry. Compared to normal ESCs, the PBMC-driven macrophages co-cultured with ectopic ESCs displayed lower phagocytic ability. Additionally, macrophages co-cultured with ectopic ESCs exhibited higher levels of CD163 and CD209 and lower levels of HLA-DR and CD11c. Moreover, both the intracellular expression and extracellular secretion of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were significantly increased, while that of IL-12p70 was decreased in macrophages after being co-cultured with ectopic ESCs. However, there was no significant difference in macrophage phagocytic ability, immunophenotype or cytokine secretion between the direct and indirect co-culture units. Reversely, SD11-IDO1 shRNA transfection of ectopic ESCs could abrogate the decreased phagocytic ability and alternative activation of macrophages in ectopic ESC-macrophage co-culture unit, suggesting that higher IDO1 in ectopic ESCs was indispensable for the induction of macrophage tolerance. Furthermore, the decrease in phagocytic macrophages and alternatively activated macrophages induced by IDO1 in ectopic ESCs was reversed by the addition of an IL-33 inhibitor, that is, soluble ST2 (sST2). Therefore, through the activation of IL-33, the increased expression of IDO1 in ectopic ESCs contributed to the truncated phagocytic ability of macrophages in endometriosis.


Diet studies have traditionally been used to determine prey use and food web dynamics, while stable isotope analysis provides for a time-integrated approach to evaluate food web dynamics and characterize energy flow in aquatic systems. Direct comparison of the two techniques is rare and difficult to conduct in large, species rich systems. We compared changes in walleye Sander vitreus trophic position (TP) derived from paired diet content and stable isotope analysis. Individual diet-derived TP estimates were dissimilar to stable isotope-derived TP estimates. However, cumulative diet-derived TP estimates integrated from May 2001 to May 2002 corresponded to May 2002 isotope-derived estimates of TP. Average walleye TP estimates from the spring season appear representative of feeding throughout the entire previous year.


We present a new approximation scheme to solve the Non-Perturbative Renormalization Group equations and obtain the full momentum dependence of n-point functions. The core of the method consists in deriving approximate flow equations that are then solved exactly. The results thus obtained can next be improved through an iteration procedure. The approximations proposed in this paper lead to approximate equations that are accurate both in the perturbative and the scaling regimes. The scheme is tested with the calculation of the shift ΔTc in the transition temperature of the weakly repulsive Bose gas, a quantity which is very sensitive to all momentum scales. The leading-order result is in agreement with lattice calculations, albeit with a theoretical uncertainty of about 25%. The next-to-leading order differs by about 10% from the best accepted result.


The African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation (ANDI) has selected a group of 32 centres of excellence in health innovation to facilitate the discovery, development, manufacture, and registration of drugs, diagnostics, vaccines, and medical devices in the continent.

The move was announced at the network's fourth stakeholders' meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 24 to 27 October, which was attended by about 500 participants, including ministers of health and of science and technology from across Africa and by scientists, researchers, drug manufacturers, and other stakeholders from more than 40 countries.

The network was established in 2008 "to promote and sustain African led health product innovation to address African public health needs through the assembly of research …


The South Eastern Piedmont Region of Mount Cameroon is getting in-creasingly populated. Groundwater is the main resource for drinking in this area; hence, the quantification of trace metals, suitability and quality of the groundwater resources for drinking, domestic and agro-industrial uses is of public and scientific concern. In this study, 10 samples were collected from 10 sites in September 2017. Field measurement of physicochemical parameters and investigation of the levels of trace metal content in groundwater was determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy ICP-MS. R-mode statistical analysis has been done and traces metals elements correlated with the physicochemical parameters and cluster analysis PCA carried out. The paper also highlights and determines the average daily dose ADD, the carcinogenic risks CR and the non-carcinogenic risk hazard quotient HQ which yields the hazard indices HI. The general trend of mean trace metal concentration in the sampled groundwater was in the order of: Zn > Fe > Al > V > Mn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > As > Co > Cd > Sb. All the groundwater risk indices; ADD, CR, HQ and HI were less than 1 in categories of insignificant health risk. The severity of metal toxicity is governed by several factors, such as dose, nutrition, age, and even life style. Therefore, this low trend might not guarantee the complete absence of human health risk. Generally, from risk assessment on trace metals using risk indices, the analyzed water samples might not be at an alarming health risk. However, due to an increasing level of environmental pollution that might be imposed by increasing human activity in this region, water sources might become a potential sink of contaminants; this is significant reason that makes constant monitoring, implementation and treatment of groundwater for drinking purposes obligatory.


Using the UK as the base country, this study investigates the nature of the inherent non-stationarity of the major bilateral real exchange rates for the post Bretton Woods era. Non-linearity is shown to be pervasive in both the changes in the real exchange rates and the residuals of the ADF model. The study proposes that misalignments of nominal exchange rates may work as signals in the export market and the financial market. The study, intuitively, argues that the dynamic motions of misalignments cause confusion to exporters as they take it as price changing positions by their foreign competitors, to the extent that exporters find it easier in some situations to resort to habits or routines in setting up their international prices rather than to attempts at optimization to reach a Stackelberg price position. The study uses a non-linear three-regime SETAR model as a parsimonious representation of this asymmetric pricing behaviour. Fluctuations in a bilateral real exchange rate, in excess and beyond fluctuations in relative prices, which give rise to non-linearity in the second moment of real exchange rate, are attributed to the dynamic motions of speculation on the nominal exchange rate in the financial market triggered continuously by signals of misalignments. This non-linearity is proved to be non-detectable but a second-generation SETAR-IGARCH model seems to be capable of capturing this type of non-linearity, implying that signals in the financial market are fully anticipated by rational agents.


Summary During the decomposition of terrestrial leaf litter, the concentrations of lignin, tannin, cellulose, hemicellulose, nitrogen, and carbon are known to change. These chemical changes have been associated with subsequent colonization and activity of decomposer flora and fauna. Here, we report that chemical changes in litter during the first twelve months of decomposition are affected by macroinvertebrate activity. Moreover, chemical changes are associated most closely with the activities of invertebrate predators. Using litter bags that either excluded (fine mesh) or allowed access by (coarse mesh) macroinvertebrates, we followed the concentrations of lignin, tannin, cellulose, hemicellulose, nitrogen, and carbon in the litter of Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus prinus and Rhododendron maximum in a North Carolina forest ecosystem. We also compared chemical changes in these litters at a riparian site and an upland site within the forest. The exclusion of macroinvertebrates decreased concentrations of nitrogen and total phenolics in the litter of L. tulipifera, increased concentrations of cellulose and condensed tannin in Q. prinus litter, and increased the concentrations of condensed tannin in R. maximum litter in the riparian zone. Although fine mesh bags excluded most macroinvertebrates, the greatest effects of exclusion were upon ants and spiders, not macroinvertebrate decomposers. Our data therefore suggest that predator-mediated changes in the decomposer communities were responsible for observed shifts in litter chemistry. Predator effects on litter chemistry were likely mediated by their interactions with fungivorous and bacterivorous fauna. For example, Collembola populations were 34% higher in litter bags from which macroinvertebrates were excluded. Litter chemistries also differed between the riparian and upland sites. For both L. tulipifera and R. maximum, effects of habitat were limited to higher concentrations of condensed tannin in the upland site. In contrast, habitat effects upon the litter chemistry of Q. prinus were pervasive. Specifically, Q. prinus litter in the upland habitat exhibited slower increases in lignin, more stable concentrations of cellulose, slower increases in hemicellulose, higher concentrations of total phenolics, and higher concentrations of hydrolysable tannins than did litter in the riparian habitat. Overall, our data provide the first evidence that predators in the litter of deciduous forests can influence the chemistry of litter during the decomposition process.


Although a great deal of work has been carried out on structural dynamic systems under random excitation, there has been a comparatively small amount of this work concentrating on the calculation of the quantities commonly measured in structural dynamic tests. Among the existing work, the Volterra series, a means of predicting nonlinear system response for weakly nonlinear systems, has allowed the computation of various measurable quantities of interest for structural dynamics, including: auto- and cross-spectra, FRFs, coherences and higher-order spectra. These calculations are quite intensive and are typically only possible using computer algebra. A previous calculation by the authors for the coherence for a Duffing oscillator yielded results which showed some qualitatitive disagreement with numerical simulation; the object of the current paper is simply to extend the calculation in order to see if better agreement can be achieved.


OBJECTIVES
To characterize emergency medicine (EM) program directors (PDs) and compare the data, where possible, with those from other related published studies.

METHODS
An online survey was e-mailed in 2002 to all EM PDs of programs that were approved by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education. The survey included questions concerning demographics, work hours, support staff, potential problems and solutions, salary and expenses, and satisfaction.

RESULTS
One hundred nine of 124 (88%) PDs (69.7% university, 27.5% community, and 2.8% military) completed the survey; 85.3% were male. Mean age was 43.6 years (95% confidence interval [CI] = 42.6 to 44.7 yr). The mean time as a PD was 5.7 years (95% CI = 4.9 to 6.5 yr), with 56% serving five years or less. The mean time expected to remain as PD is an additional 6.0 years (95% CI = 5.2 to 6.8). A 1995 study noted that 50% of EM PDs had been in the position for less than three years, and 68% anticipated continuing in their position for less than five years. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), the mean satisfaction with the position of PD was 8.0 (95% CI = 7.2 to 8.3). Those PDs who stated that the previous PD had mentored them planned to stay a mean of 2.0 years longer than did those who were not mentored (95% CI of difference of means = 0.53 to 3.53). Sixty-five percent of PDs had served previously as an associate PD. Most PDs (92%) have an associate or assistant PD, with 54% reporting one; 25%, two; and 9%, three associate or assistant PDs. A 1995 study noted that 62% had an associate PD. Ninety-two percent have a program coordinator, and 35% stated that they have both a residency secretary and a program coordinator. Program directors worked a median of 195 hours per month: clinical, 75 hours; scholarly activity, 20 hours; administrative, 80 hours; and teaching and residency conferences, 20 hours; compared with a median total hours of 220 previously reported. Lack of adequate time to do the job required, career needs interfering with family needs, and lack of adequate faculty help with residency matters were identified as the most important problems (means of 3.5 [95% CI = 3.2 to 3.7], 3.4 [95% CI = 3.2 to 3.6], and 3.1 [95% CI = 2.9 to 3.3], respectively, on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 as maximum). This study identified multiple resources that were found to be useful by >50% of PDs, including national meetings, lectures, advice from others, and self-study.

CONCLUSIONS
Emergency medicine PDs generally are very satisfied with the position of PD, perhaps because of increased support and resources. Although PD turnover remains an issue, PDs intend to remain in the position for a longer period of time than noted before this study. This may reflect the overall satisfaction with the position as well as the increased resources and support now available to the PD. PDs have greater satisfaction if they have been mentored for the position.


Transmission spectra of PZN-0.12PT were measured from near UV to IR for both poled sample and unpoled sample. Transmission rates were improved significantly after poling. By analyzing the transmission spectra in the visible range, optical band gap and lattice phonon were determined. The existence of hydrogen in PZN-0.12PT single crystal grown by flux method was postulated based on evidence obtained by FTIR.


Based on the experiences from an ongoing IT implementation project, this paper illustrates the complexity of large scale projects through the concept of diversity. The analysis shows how, no matter how mature the project becomes at coping with local diversity, it is still vulnerable to contextual diversity; especially when this is politicized. The paper concludes by pointing to the special responsibilities this puts on higher level decision makers.


Chronic cough affects approximately 10% of general population, is highest amongst people aged 50-60, and is twice as common in women than men. It is described to last 8 weeks or longer in adults and not treated effectively with most over-the-counter medications. This is a debilitating condition with physical, social, and psychological consequences. The purpose of this review is to highlight the key messages from the task force commissioned by The European Respiratory Society on the management of chronic cough. The assessment of chronic cough should include a thorough detailed history and examination to identify potential causes. The impact and severity can be assessed in clinic using questionnaires. Potential causes of the condition vary; ACE inhibitor induced, smoking, asthma, non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease and upper airways cough syndrome. In many patients, coughing is persistent despite optimum medical therapy of the underlying medical condition and is hence referred to as refractory chronic cough. In some cases, no cause is found and is classified as unexplained chronic cough. If treatment of any underlying disease is unsuccessful at controlling cough, then neuromodulatory treatment such as low dose opioid, gabapentin, pregabalin or speech and language therapy may be considered. There is no licensed treatment for chronic cough, but a new class of treatment targeting the purinergic P2X3 receptor are currently in phase 2 and phase 3 development.


Empowerment is a concept of growing importance in cancer care, but little is known about cancer patients' experiences of empowerment during follow up. To explore this area, a qualitative systematic literature review was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL and PsychINFO. A total of 2,292 papers were identified and 38 articles selected and included in the review. The thematic synthesis of the papers resulted in seven analytical themes being identified: empowerment as an on-going process, knowledge is power, having an active role,


Background: This is the first case report of a stepped novel anti-inflammatory treatment plan for a complicated, markedly disabling neuropsychiatric condition with multiple comorbidities. The treatment consisted of 1) hyperbaric oxygen therapy, 2) combination therapy of infused ketamine applied concurrent with transcranial magnetic stimulation, 3) administration of perispinal etanercept, and finally 4) non-invasive transnasal Sphenopalatine Ganglion block.
Methods and findings: The patient was a 34-year-old Caucasian unemployed female who presented with lifelong symptoms of a regulatory disorder of childhood, epilepsy, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and multiple concussions that ultimately led to marked disability in activities of daily living. Following the sequential treatment, the patient showed marked clinical improvement and progressed from major incapacitation to an independent life, resuming school and taking a parttime job. Indeed, successive improvements occurred after hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the realms of distress tolerance, resilience, and social interaction and then continued after downward titration of oral medications (which required the use of the ketamine/transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment), and further improved after administration of perispinal etanercept. Finally, a Sphenopalatine Ganglion block provided migraine relief. Single-photon emission computer tomography imaging was done before the beginning of treatment, one month later (after hyperbaric oxygen therapy), and at the conclusion of the perispinal etanercept injections. Results from both follow-up SPECT scans validated the clinical impression by showing substantial and additive blood flow increases in previously deficient brain areas.
Conclusions: We provide evidence of successful treatment of a disabling neuropsychiatric condition via the sequential application of a novel anti-inflammatory treatment plan including four procedures, all known for their anti-inflammatory effects. The use of functional imaging provided a useful biomarker for the efficacy of this sequential treatment.


We study the surface brightness profiles of a sample of brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) with 0.3 < z < 0.9. The BCGs are selected from the first Red-sequence Cluster Survey and an X-ray cluster survey. The surface brightness profiles of the BCGs are measured using HST ACS images, and the majority of them can be well modeled by a single Sérsic profile with a typical Sérsic index n  ∼  6 and a half-light radius ∼30 kpc. Although the single Sérsic model fits the profiles well, we argue that the systematics in the sky background measurement and the coupling between the model parameters make the comparison of the best-fit model parameters ambiguous. Direct comparison of the BCG profiles, on the other hand, has revealed an inside-out growth for these most massive galaxies: as the mass of a BCG increases, the central mass density of the galaxy increases slowly (), while the slope of the outer profile grows continuously shallower (). Such a fashion of growth continues down to the less massive early-type galaxies (ETGs) as a smooth function of galaxy mass, without apparent distinction between BCGs and non-BCGs. For the very massive ETGs and BCGs, the slope of the Kormendy relation starts to trace the slope of the surface brightness profiles and becomes insensitive to subtle profile evolution. These results are generally consistent with dry mergers being the major driver of the mass growth for BCGs and massive ETGs. We also find strong correlations between the richness of clusters and the properties of BCGs: the more massive the clusters are, the more massive the BCGs () and the shallower their surface brightness profiles. After taking into account the bias in the cluster samples, we find the masses of the BCGs have grown by at least a factor of 1.5 from z = 0.5 to z = 0, in contrast to the previous findings of no evolution. Such an evolution validates the expectation from the ΛCDM model.


Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a critical role in angiogenesis. Several VEGF polymorphisms were associated with development of different diseases in human. More commonly studied VEGF single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are -2578C/A, - 1154G/A, +936C/T. Our aim was to develop an asymmetric PCR on Light Cycler melting curve analyses for VEGF +936C/T to remove hook effect which is commonly observed in routine real-Time PCR with melting curve analyses. Real–time PCR with equimolar and asymmetric primer concentration and hybridization probes in LightCycler was performed and melting peaks for hook effects were compared. Melting curve was used for the genotyping. Asymmetric primer concentration (sense: antisense=3:1) neutralized the hook effect and resulted in the easy genotyping for the detection of VEGF SNP +936C>T. An asymmetric real-time PCR with melting curve analysis could be applied when hook effect is observed with common real-time PCR protocol.


The first book is a tribute to Harry Slochower, journal editor, author of the 1970 Mythopoesis and, in 1952, a victim in the U.S.A. of discrimination against academics suspected of leftist sympathies. In an unusual step, several of the first essays are devoted to biographical reminiscences of Slochower's activities-especially his gifted teaching-and these provide an interesting aspect to the book, since such books so often have so little about the person they honor. There are 20 essays on a variety of themes, for instance the artist as an audacious world-maker, Nietzsche as an example of a psychopathological creative personality, the symbolism in Shakespeare's 'Othello', Of particular interest to those concerned with the visual arts are an essay by Morris Dorsky on the reception of Ben Shabo's 'Sacco and Vanzetti' (1932) sequence of pictures on their noted trial in the U.S.A. and an essay by Richard and Editha Sterba on the shaping of Michelangelo's personality and its expression in his work. Two classic concerns of psychoanalysts as they bear on creativity and the arts appear at various points throughout the essays. The relationship between creativity and psychopathology receives several mentions, some writers espousing a strong.. link, while others decrying the psychoanalytic tradition for too often picking cases. The latter view, the sounder one in my judgment, suggests that no systematic relationship between creativity and psychopathology exists but that, in many significant individual cases, it is illuminating to map the ways individual makers' pathologies have influenced their work. The second concern often explicitly addressed is the risk of 'reading in' a psychoanalytic interpretation without sufficient evidence. Here, several practitioners criticize their discipline for going too far. Although some readers may feel that certain of the interpretations presented in this book still go too far, on the whole the articles are clear and reasonably prudent. One gains the impression of thoughtful people applying a tradition of inquiry with some care. While the psychoanalytic perspective may not be the best source of illumination concerning the intricacies of art and artistic creativity, readers can find in this book reasonable and readable examples of what it has to offer. The second book takes as its mission the bridging of two cultures and two perspectives on psychoanalysis in relation to creativity. The beginning articles provide a useful context with sketches of French and USAmerican psychoanalysis that underscore the limitations of each. The French tradition, readers learn, is orthodox, theoretical, intellectually aware and somewhat detached from patients. The tradition in the U.S.A. is medically oriented and largely controlled by and limited to the medical establishment, with comparatively little room for individuals from other disciplines to receive psychoanalytic training and attempt cross-fertilizations. The 16 articles range over a variety of themes, as in the first book, but some differences can be noted. First of all, as the title suggests, only the literary arts are addressed, including works and personalities of such authors as Clifford Odets, Proust, Sartre and Pirandello. For another contrast, the range of sensibleness in this book is much larger. While some authors of the articles are cautious and probing, others are virtually unintelligible in their jargon and elevated 'literary' styles. Still other authors risk the worst excesses of unfounded psychoanalytic speculating. It should not be thought that most of the offerings deserve this negative judgment, but the mix is fairly even and the contrast of judicious and injudicious thinking within the same cover remarkable. In summary, readers curious about what contemporary psychoanalysts have to say concerning creativity and its products will find an informative range of examples and view-


The present study was undertaken to estimate the approximate size of nuclear regions occupied by nucleolar bodies during the cell differentiation and maturation. The differentiation and maturation of human leukemic granulocytic cells in patients suffering from the chronic phase of the chronic granulocytic leukemia (CML) represented a convenient model for such study because of the large number of cells for the diameter measurements at the single cell level. Early and advanced differentiation or maturation stages of these cells are well defined and nucleolar bodies and nuclear outlines are easily seen by simple cytochemical methods for the visualization of RNA and silver stained proteins in smear preparations. During the cell differentiation and maturation the estimated size of the nuclear region occupied by nucleolar bodies decreased in both untreated and treated patients with the anti-leukemic therapy. However, the size reduction of nucleolar bodies in differentiated and mature cells was larger than that of the nucleus. In addition, the results also indicated that the nuclear region occupied by nucleolar bodies was characteristic for each differentiation and maturation stage of the granulocytic cell lineage and was not substantially influenced by the anti-leukemic therapy of CML patients.


This is the first study to systematically investigate key cryptocurrency industry sectors by collecting empirical, non-public data. The study gathered survey data from nearly 150 cryptocurrency companies and individuals, and it covers 38 countries from five world regions. The study details the key industry sectors that have emerged and the different entities that inhabit them.


Background: The general population might expose to Hg through various pathways. Prenatal or postnatal exposure to mercury might affect the fetus's neurodevelopment and then further affect the growth and development of the children. There are many reports on mercury exposure, but systematic reviews to conclude the result are still limited, particularly concerning pregnancy. Previous studies focus on one exposure path to Hg and biomarker. The objective is to systematically summarize the relevant records from systematic studies on the relationship between the exposure pattern during pregnancy to pregnant women's Hg concentration and neurodevelopmental disorder that occurred in the children.Method: We will search online databases (Google Schoolar, PUBMED, Sciencedirect, Proquest, Web of Science, Springerlink, DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) and EBSCO MEDLINE) and reference lists of included articles. Two reviewers will independently screen the titles and abstracts and select the research involving pregnant women with mercury exposure and neurodevelopmental disorder fetus or children. These reviewers will also independently extract and manage the obtained data using a data extraction form that will cover information on characteristic, exposure, and outcomes. Meta-analysis will also be applied when homogeneous group of studies found.Discussion: This study will describe the available epidemiological evidence and summarise prevalence and incidence rates of mercury exposure and neurodevelopmental disorder. Mean difference of mercury level will be also presented. A better understanding of the relationship between mercury exposure and any neurodevelopmental disorder form will be helpful in the development of guidelines for mercury exposure management.Systematic review registration: It has been submitted to PROSPERO on February, 10th 2021.


The German company Audi (Volkswagen group) continues to be very successful, notably in international markets. In 2014, it has thus accomplished its twentieth consecutive year of growth to achieve the threshold of 1.74 million cars sold. The company has the ambition to become the global leader in the "premium" segment, getting ahead of its two main competitors BMW and Mercedes. It intends to pursue the international development of its activities and to produce 2.4 million vehicles in 2020. Prepared in close cooperation with the French subsidiary of Audi, this case-study presents the strategy developed by Audi to conquer international markets. It provides detailed information about the Volkswagen group, the Audi company and recent changes in the global automobile industry. Students are asked to analyse the choices made by Audi for the internationalisation of its activities and to propose a strategic development plan for 2020. This case-study is the updated version of the case G1684 (GB) "Audi: Conquering International Markets" that has received the Prize "Top Case in Strategy" of CCMP in 2010 and 2011.


The Berau Continental Shelf is located close to the Equator in the Indonesian Archipelago, hosting a complex of coral reefs along its oceanic edge. The Berau coral reefs have a very high biodiversity, but the area is under serious risk due to river-derived nutrients and sediments. The region is characterized by weak winds, moderate tides, and almost absent Coriolis forcing. Existing knowledge about river plume behavior in tropical environments is limited. The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of the subtle physical forcing on the dynamics of the Berau river plume. A three-dimensional model (ECOMSED) was calibrated with observational data. The model was forced by freshwater input from the Berau river distributaries, tides at the open boundaries, and measured hourly wind. The model reproduces the freshwater dynamics on the shelf adequately and highlights that the river plume spreads symmetrically for river forcing only. Tides cause vertical mixing and suppress the cross-shelf spreading of the river plume. However, the spreading of the river plume over the shelf is mainly controlled by the weak monsoonal winds, resulting in a seasonal development. During the Southeast Monsoon, the southerly winds push the plume northeastward and cause a stratified water column in the northern part of the continental shelf. Northerly winds during the Northwest Monsoon disperse the plume to the south, promoting a vertically well-mixed water column. The results can be used to predict the possible impact of land-use changes in the steadily developing Berau region on coral reef health.


Silicone rubber insulators undergo degradation when they are exposed to corona discharges. The present study explores the surface degradation behavior of silicone rubber alumina nanocomposites due to corona aging using high-frequency ac voltage. The electric field distribution on the sample surface during corona aging is simulated using COMSOL. The change in silicone rubber functional group is studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis. The influence of corona aging time on the surface roughness recovery of silicone rubber nano alumina composites is studied using an atomic force microscopy (AFM). The elemental distribution behavior and change in the emission spectra persistence time are analyzed during recovery period of corona-aged silicone rubber nanocomposites using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique. The addition of alumina nanofiller to the silicone rubber improves the resistance to aging due to corona discharge. Loss and recovery of hydrophobic property of silicone rubber due to corona aging were determined using static contact angle measurement. The results show a direct correlation between the contact angle and the surface roughness recovery characteristics. They indicate that the nanocomposite having a 5 wt% alumina content exhibits the highest resistance to corona discharge with least surface damage. Furthermore, fast recovery was observed in the first few hours after corona aging, and most samples eventually regained their properties after about 8 h of recovery time.


This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a new photodynamic protocol (ALAD-PDT), consisting of 5% 5-aminolevulinic acid-gel and 630 nm-LED, already used for antibacterial effects in the treatment of periodontitis, on human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) and primary human osteoblasts (HOB). HGF and HOB were incubated with different ALAD concentrations for 45 min, and subsequently irradiated with 630 nm-LED for 7 min. Firstly, the cytotoxicity at 24 h and proliferation at 48 and 72 h were assessed. Then the intracellular content of the protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) of the ROS and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were investigated at different times. Each result was compared with untreated and unirradiated cells as the control. Viable and metabolic active cells were revealed at any concentrations of ALAD-PDT, but only 100-ALAD-PDT significantly enhanced the proliferation rate. The PpIX fluorescence significantly increased after the addition of 100-ALAD, and decreased after the irradiation. Higher ROS generation was detected at 10 min in HGF, and at 30 min in HOB. The activity of the SOD enzyme augmented at 30 min in both cell types. In conclusion, ALAD-PDT not only showed no cytotoxic effects, but had pro-proliferative effects on HGF and HOB, probably via ROS generation.


Governance has been an explicit part of the Bank's developmental agenda since the latter part of the 1990s, though elements of good governance have always played a role in the institution's work on development. These ranged from project focused work on financial management and procurement to the various sector governance components embedded in many of the Bank's adjustment and sector operations since the 1980s. More recently, the Bank has evolved towards a more explicit acknowledgment that inefficiencies and weaknesses in the institutional environment have a direct impact on the achievement and the quality of development results.


High-definition metal-oxide-metal (MOM) heterojunction nanowires in the Au-NiO-Au system have been synthesized using a template-based method. These nanowires are 70 nm in diameter and in total length, with a 100 to 300 nm wide NiO segment sandwiched between the Au nanowires axially. Detailed electron-microscopy characterization studies of these nanowires show that the oxide segment is primarily cubic NiO and nanocrystalline, and that both the Au-NiO interfaces are well-defined. These Au-NiO-Au nanowires have been incorporated into high-quality single-nanowire devices, fabricated using a direct-write method. The current-voltage responses of individual Au-NiO-Au nanowires have been measured as a function of temperature in the range 298 to 573 K. While the - response at room temperature has been found to be nonlinear, it becomes more linear and less resistive with increasing temperature. These types of MOM nanowires are likely to offer certain advantages over all-oxide nanowires in fundamental size-effect studies, and they could be potentially useful as nanoscale building blocks for multifunctional nanoelectronics of the future.


We design a regulation-triggered adaptive controller for robot manipulators to efficiently estimate unknown parameters and to achieve asymptotic stability in the presence of coupled uncertainties. Robot manipulators are widely used in telemanipulation systems where they are subject to model and environmental uncertainties. Using conventional control algorithms on such systems can cause not only poor control performance, but also expensive computational costs and catastrophic instabilities. Therefore, system uncertainties need to be estimated through designing a computationally efficient adaptive control law. We focus on robot manipulators as an example of a highly nonlinear system. As a case study, a 2-DOF manipulator subject to four parametric uncertainties is investigated. First, the dynamic equations of the manipulator are derived, and the corresponding regressor matrix is constructed for the unknown parameters. For a general nonlinear system, a theorem is presented to guarantee the asymptotic stability of the system and the convergence of parameters' estimations. Finally, simulation results are discussed for a two-link manipulator, and the performance of the proposed scheme is thoroughly evaluated.


Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary liver cancer, with a 5-year survival rate of <10%; effective drug treatment for ICC is currently lacking. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is upregulated in ICC; however, the functions of GLP-1R in ICC remain unknown. In this study, the upregulation of GLP-1R was confirmed in ICC cells using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, and GLP-1R was determined to promote the migration and invasion of ICC cells using Transwell assays. This tumor-promoting effect depended on the upregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation-associated proteins, which was mediated by the FoxO1 signaling pathway. It was also indicated that following oxaliplatin treatment, the effects of GLP-1R on EMT and invasion were reversed. This functional reversion was associated with the reduced phosphorylation of S256 in forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) and an increase in the levels of unphosphorylated FoxO1. These findings suggest that incretin-based therapies may increase the risk of ICC metastasis and should not be used solely for the treatment of patients with ICC.


Chronic inflammation and metabolic reprogramming have been proposed as hallmarks of cancer development. Currently, many of the functional clues between these two phenomena are studied under the integrative view of functional stroma–epithelia interaction. It has been proposed that stromal cells, due to their abundance and avidity for glucose, are able to modify the metabolic behavior of an entire solid tumor. In the present study, using a mammary stromal cell line derived from healthy tissue subjected to long‐term culture in low (5 mM) or high (25 mM) glucose, we found that the hyperglycemic condition favors the establishment of a pro‐inflammatory and pro‐oxidant environment characterized by the induction of the COX‐2/PGE2 axis. In this condition, epithelial migration was stimulated. Moreover, we also found that stromal‐derived PGE2, acting as a stimulator of IL‐1 epithelial expression was one of the factors that promote the acquisition of motile properties by epithelial cells and the maintenance of a COX‐2/PGE2‐dependent inflammatory condition. Overall, our work provides experimental evidence that glucose stimulates a tumor inflammatory environment that, as a result of a functional cross‐talk between stroma and epithelia, may be responsible for tumor progression. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 994–1002, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Background and Objectives
Anecdotal evidence and references to boredom appear frequently in mass media, but only a few studies directly examine the phenomenon of boredom, and existing literature within the context of leisure has primarily focused on adolescents. Social isolation and loneliness often intertwine with boredom, and chronic conditions are major factors that increase the risk of experiencing boredom in later life. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the significance of boredom among older adults and assess the existing literature to gain a more holistic understanding of boredom and how it has been studied among older adults in the context of leisure.

Research Design and Methods
Following the PRISMA guidelines, this study gathered literature from 5 electronic databases through December 2022. This systematic review investigated both qualitative and quantitative evidence, and standardized data extraction and study quality assessments were conducted.

Results
A comprehensive search initially revealed 2,757 potentially relevant articles, 8 of which met the full inclusion criteria. Three studies investigated the phenomenon of leisure-boredom, and 5 studies assessed the experience of boredom in general and its relationship with leisure engagement. A majority of the studies, especially ones that examined older adults' experience of overall boredom experience, lacked a thorough description of the phenomenon and did not use reliable and/or valid measurements.

Discussion and Implications
Findings from 8 articles offer insights into boredom; however, the discussion examines the limitations of these studies and reasons why studying boredom is important. We also speculate as to why little research has addressed leisure boredom among older adults and propose a research agenda for increasing our understanding of the ways older adults experience boredom, the effects boredom has on health and well-being, and how boredom can be alleviated and/or managed in the context of leisure.


Decorating behavior is common in various animal taxa and serves a variety of functions from camouflage to communication. One predominant function cited for decoration is to avoid predators. Conspicuous, disc-like (discoid) silk decorations spun by orb-web Argiope juvenile spiders are hypothesized, among others, to defend spiders against visual predators by concealing spider outlines on the web, deflecting attacks, shielding them from view, or masquerading as bird-droppings. However, the direct evidence is limited for a specific mechanism by which discoid decorations may deter predators. Here we evaluate the mechanisms by which discoid decorations may defend Argiope juveniles against naïve chicks. Using visual modeling, we show that avian predators are able to distinguish spiders from discoid decorations. Using chick predation experiments, we found that the naïve chicks readily pecked any objects, ruling out the possibility of their neophobia. Significantly more chicks attacked spiders when they were exposed to chicks, regardless of whether their webs had discoid decorations, but few chicks attacked spiders when they were behind the decorations. We also found that significantly few chicks attacked decorations when spiders were absent or behind the decorations. We thus conclude that discoid decorations function to deter avian predators by shielding the spider from view or distracting, not by deflecting attacks, concealing the spider's outline, or masquerading as bird-droppings. This study sheds light on the study of other similar anti-predator strategies, in a wide range of spider species and other animals that use decorating strategies.


We introduce a generalization of the method of S. P. Zaitsev. This generalization allows us to prove omega-theorems for the Riemann zeta function and its derivatives in some regions near the line $\mathrm{Re}\,s=1$.


PURPOSE
This study was performed to assess the corneal penetration of three topically applied fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin, norfloxacin and lomefloxacin) in corneal buttons obtained from patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty.

METHODS
Fourteen patients received three drops each of 0.5% levofloxacin, 0.3% norfloxacin and 0.3% lomefloxacin (the standard clinically available preparations) over a 30-min interval beginning 90 mins before their scheduled keratoplasty. Corneal samples obtained from excised buttons at the time of surgery were stored at - 80 degrees until analysis. The concentration of the administered fluoroquinolones was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS
The mean corneal concentration of levofloxacin (4.6 +/- 3.5 microg/g, mean +/- standard deviation) was significantly higher than that of lomefloxacin (2.7 +/- 1.8 microg/g, p = 0.0018) and norfloxacin (1.3 +/- 1.2 microg/g, p = 0.00012).

CONCLUSION
Levofloxacin achieves a higher mean corneal concentration than norfloxacin and lomefloxacin in the human cornea.


In the framework of studies on nasality, we have attempted to develop a 3-D articulatory model of velum. Sets of 25 sagittal MRI images have been collected for one French subject sustaining 46 articulations. Contours of the velum have been manually drawn from these images; a common 3-D triangular mesh has then been fitted to these contours in order to constitute 3-D representations of the velum outline. This resulted in 46 meshes of 5239 vertices defined by their 3-D coordinates. In order to develop a velum model free of the influence of the tongue, the analysis was first limited to the 28 articulations where no tongue - velum contact occurs: it was found that the first component extracted from these data by Principal Component Analysis can explain as much as 79% of the variance of the complete 3-D shape of the velum, while the second component was meaningless in terms of articulatory movements. It was also found that the same model could explain 71% of the variance for the corpus of the 18 articulations where tongue - velum contact occurs. It was finally shown that the vertical coordinate of a single flesh point attached to the downward face of the velum is enough to predict the complete 3-D shape of the free velum.


The behaviour of n- and p-type crystalline silicon wafers in quiescent concentrated aqueous HF solutions has been studied for immersion times up to 205 days. The etch rate, as determined from weighing experiments, decreased with time to values as low as after prolonged etching. The experimental findings are consistent with the view that the oxidation of the hydrogenated Si surface is the rate-limiting step, which is most likely carried out via a hydroxyl ion until the defect-poor surface becomes predominantly oxidized by direct attack of HF molecules. The formation of a new type of etch pit has been observed in weakly doped p-type Czochralski-grown material.


In the context of software startups, project failure is embraced actively and considered crucial to obtain validated learning that can lead to pivots. A pivot is the strategic change of a business concept, product or the different elements of a business model. A better understanding is needed on different types of pivots and different factors that lead to failures and trigger pivots, for software entrepreneurial teams to make better decisions under chaotic and unpredictable environment. Due to the nascent nature of the topic, the existing research and knowledge on the pivots of software startups are very limited. In this study, we aimed at identifying the major types of pivots that software startups make during their startup processes, and highlighting the factors that fail software projects and trigger pivots. To achieve this, we conducted a case survey study based on the secondary data of the major pivots happened in 49 software startups. 10 pivot types and 14 triggering factors were identified. The findings show that customer need pivot is the most common among all pivot types. Together with customer segment pivot, they are common market related pivots. The major product related pivots are zoom-in and technology pivots. Several new pivot types were identified, including market zoom-in, complete and side project pivots. Our study also demonstrates that negative customer reaction and flawed business model are the most common factors that trigger pivots in software startups. Our study extends the research knowledge on software startup pivot types and pivot triggering factors. Meanwhile it provides practical knowledge to software startups, which they can utilize to guide their effective decisions on pivoting.


(2S)-Naringenin is an important flavonoid precursor, with multiple nutritional and pharmacological activities. Both (2S)-naringenin and other flavonoid production are hindered by poor water solubility and inhibited cell growth. To address this, we increased solubility and improved cell growth by partially glycosylating (2S)-naringenin to naringenin-7-O-glucoside, which facilitated increased extracellular secretion, by knocking out endogenous glycosyl hydrolase genes, EXG1 and SPR1, and expressing the glycosyltransferase gene (UGT733C6). Naringenin-7-O-glucoside synthesis was further improved by optimizing UDP-glucose and shikimate pathways. Then, hydrochloric acid was used to hydrolyze naringenin-7-O-glucoside to (2S)-naringenin outside the cell. Thus, our optimized Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain E32T19 produced 1184.1 mg/L (2S)-naringenin, a 7.9-fold increase on the starting strain. Therefore. we propose that glycosylation modification is a useful strategy for the efficient heterologous biosynthesis of (2S)-naringenin in S. cerevisiae.


This study examined the speech intelligibility of profoundly, prelingually or congenitally deaf children who use hearing aids. Children were one to fifteen years old and they were classified into subgroups according to residual hearing (PTA between 90 and 100, 100 and 110 or greater than 110 dB HL) and communication mode (either oral or total communication). They read lists of standard sentences which were played back to panels of three "naive" listeners who were not familiar with the speech of the deaf and who did not know which subgroup the children belonged to. The data revealed a strong significant trend toward higher intelligibility for children with more residual hearing, and a significant trend toward higher intelligibility for users of oral communication than for total communication users. However, the latter trend was much more pronounced for some ranges of residual hearing than for others, and it may have been partly due to a sampling effect. A third trend showed significantly higher intelligibility levels at older ages, but this was particularly pronounced for children with PTA's between 90-100 dB HL, and for the majority of oral communication users (and only a few total communication users) with PTA's between 100-110 dB. These results suggest that the amount of residual hearing (possibly in interaction with the communication mode used by the child) may be an important factor in the development of intelligible speech.


Background: Several factors govern the retentiveness of endodontic posts, the shape of the post and its length are among the essential factors. This invitro study formulated to compare the retentive values of stainless steel, parallel sided, serrated posts (Euro post) to fiber reinforced, tapered ,smooth posts (Easy post) at two embedment depth (5and 10 mm). Materials and methods: Thirty two intact human mandibular second premolars were selected for this study. These samples were endodonticlly treated, and randomly divided in to four groups of eight teeth each: Group Ι: teeth restored with Easy post at embedment depth 10mm. Group ΙΙ: teeth restored with Easy post at embedment depth 5mm. Group ΙΙΙ: teeth restored with Euro post at embedment depth 10mm. Group ΙV: teeth restored with Euro post at embedment depth 5mm. Tensile failure loads were measured in the absence of crowns using an instron test machine at across head speed of 5 mm/min .Values were recorded in Newton Mean values and standard deviations were analyzed with one way ANOVA test and the least significant differences test. Results: retentive failure loads were recorded for all test specimens; the means and standard deviation for each group were as follows: group Ι: 65.75±23.6 ; group ΙΙ: 64.25 ±22.2, group: 189.5±25.9,and group ΙV: 221.1±27. Conclusion: Endodontically treated teeth restored with Euro post (stainless steel/parallel sided /serrated posts) showed significantly greater retentive values than Easy post (fiber reinforced composite /tapered/smooth posts), also there was no significant difference in retentive values are achieved with both systems at 5mm and 10mm post


OBJECTIVE
To explore the expression of Blimp1, ATF4 and CHOP in bone marrow mononuclear cells from patients with multiple myeloma as well as the effect of aspirin on their expression.

METHODS
Sixty untreated patients with multiple myeloma and 30 patients with relatively normal bone marrow were selected. Mononuclear cells from the bone marrow fluid were separated using Ficoll separation solution. CD138+ plasma cells were sorted by immunomagnetic beads method. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of Blimp1, ATF4 and CHOP mRNA in U266 cells cultured in vitro. The cells were divided into blank control group, negative control group (no-loaded virus transfection) and positive experimental group [LV-Blimp1-RNAi (40051-2) transfection] by lentivirus transfection. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of Blimp1, ATF4 and CHOP mRNA in cells of different groups. U266 cells were stimulated in vitro with different concentrations of aspirin solution (0, 0.5 mmol/L, 2.5 mmol/L, 5.0 mmol/L) for 24, 48 h and 72 h, respectively. The ability of cell proliferation in different groups was measured by CCK-8. U266 cells were stimulated with different concentrations of aspirin for 48 hours. And the mRNA expression of Blimp1, ATF4 and CHOP was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTS
Compared with plasma cells in normal group, the expression of Blimp1 mRNA in CD138+ plasma cells of MM patients significantly increased (8.040±1.878), and the mRNA expression levels of ATF4 and CHOP significantly decreased (0.735±0.089; 0.837±0.062) (P<0.05). U266 cells were cultured in vitro. Compared with the blank control group and the negative control group, the mRNA expression level of Blimp in the positive experimental group was significantly down-regulated after infection with LV-Blimp1-RNAi (40051-2) lentiviral expression vector (0.637±0.021). ATF4 and CHOP mRNA expression levels were significantly increased (1.452 ± 0.027; 1.721 ± 0.038) (P<0.05). The proliferation of U266 cells decreased after stimulation with aspirin. In the range of (0.5-5) mmol/L, aspirin could significantly inhibit the proliferation of U266 cells. The inhibition effect of aspirin was increased along with prolongation of time and increase of concentrations. After aspirin stimulation of different concentrations for 48 hours, the expression level of Blimp1 in U266 cells decreased with increasing of drug concentration, while the expression levels of ATF4 and CHOP increased with increasing of drug concentration.

CONCLUSION
Inhibition of Blimp1 expression in multiple myeloma cells can promote the expression of ATF4 and CHOP. Aspirin can inhibit the proliferation activity of myeloma cells by down-regulating Blimp1 expression in myeloma cells and up-regulating ATF4 and CHOP expression, therefore plays an anti-tumor rote.


Complexation of the Tl(+), Pb(2+) and Cd(2+) ions with macrocyclic ligand 18-crown-6 (18C6) was studied in various binary solvent mixtures of propylencarbonate (PC)/dimethylformamide (DMF) and acetonitrile (AN)/dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) systems at 22 degrees C using the differential pulse polarographic technique. The stoichiometry of the complexes was found to be 1:1 and the complexation constants increased with decreasing amounts of dimethylsulfoxide and dimethylformamide in these binary systems. In all cases, the variation of the stability constant with composition of the solvents was monotonic and showed good correlation with the inherent solvation ability of the neat solvents which form the mixture. In all of the solvent systems, the selectivity order for 18C6 complexes is Tl(+) > Pb(2+) > Cd(2+).


Rab7 is a GTPase that controls late endosome and lysosome trafficking. Recent studies have demonstrated that Rab7 is ubiquitinated, a post-translational modification mediated by an enzymatic cascade. To date, only one ubiquitin E3 ligase and one deubiquitinase have been identified in regulating Rab7 ubiquitination. Here, we report that RNF167, a transmembrane endolysosomal ubiquitin ligase, can ubiquitinate Rab7. Using immunoprecipitation and in vitro ubiquitination assays, we demonstrate that Rab7 is a direct substrate of RNF167. Subcellular fractionation indicates that RNF167 activity maintains Rab7′s membrane localization. Epifluorescence microscopy in HeLa cells shows that Rab7-positive vesicles are larger under conditions enabling Rab7 ubiquitination by RNF167. Characterization of its ubiquitination reveals that Rab7 must be in its GTP-bound active form for membrane anchoring and, thus, accessible for RNF167-mediated ubiquitin attachment. Cellular distribution analyses of lysosome marker Lamp1 show that vesicle positioning is independent of Rab7 and RNF167 expression and that Rab7 endosomal localization is not affected by RNF167 knockdown. However, both Rab7 and RNF167 depletion affect each other's lysosomal localization. Finally, this study demonstrates that the RNF167-mediated ubiquitination of Rab7 GTPase is impaired by variants of Charcot–Marie–Tooth Type 2B disease. This study identified RNF167 as a new ubiquitin ligase for Rab7 while expanding our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the ubiquitination of Rab7.