Improving productivity to reduce the cost of biologics manufacturing and ensure that therapeutics can reach more patients remains a major challenge faced by the biopharmaceutical industry. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines are commonly prepared for biomanufacturing by single cell cloning post-transfection and recovery, followed by lead clone screening, generation of a research cell bank (RCB), cell culture process development, and manufacturing of a master cell bank (MCB) to be used in early phase clinical manufacturing. In this study, it was found that an additional round of cloning and clone selection from an established monoclonal RCB or MCB (i.e., re-cloning) significantly improved titer for multiple late phase monoclonal antibody upstream processes. Quality attributes remained comparable between the processes using the parental clones and the re-clones. For two CHO cells expressing different antibodies, the re-clone performance was successfully scaled up at 500-L or at 2000-L bioreactor scales, demonstrating for the first time that the re-clone is suitable for late phase and commercial manufacturing processes for improvement of titer while maintaining comparable product quality to the early phase process.


In the Nigerian Agricultural Transformation Agenda, Agro-dealers are strategically positioned as in-built mechanism through which farmers are to get requisite inputs to improve their production and productivity. However, the distribution network has been hampered by under-capitalization of actors in the distribution chain Thus, the . study seeks to; ascertain the extent to which agro-dealers are credit rationed, identify factors influencing credit rationing scenarios and suggest measures to combat challenges of credit rationing and stimulate demand for credit among agro-dealers. Credit rationing was modelled in the study using three categories of rationing namely, quantity, price and risk rationing. Primary data generated through structured questionnaire from 200 agro-dealers from Agrodealers' Trade Association from Four (4) states namely, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Oyo respectively. Seemingly Unrelated Regression model was used for the analysis. Credit rationing in terms of quantity is significantly depended on agro-dealers' income, value of asset, membership of trading association, borrowing status and level of education. Risk rationing is significantly dependent on borrowing status, value of assets and educational attainment, while price rationing is positively influenced by savings, borrowing status, membership of trade association and business experience. Agro-dealer need to strengthen their cooperation and develop their skills in the area of record keeping and maintain robust saving profile so as to enhance their credit rationing.


A study was made of the influence of suramin and of a combination of suramin and CCl4 on the ultrastructure of hepatocytes, structural and functional state of lysosomes and functional activity of the rat's liver. The latter was characterized by alanine aminotransferase level in blood. Increasing amounts of autophagosomes as well as lysosomal fusion disturbances were registered 24 and 48 hours after a single suramin administration. The combined suramin and CCl4 administration resulted even in a higher damage of hepatocytes. A decrease in the intralysosomal rate of proteolysis in hepatocytes, was also shown in addition to the impairment of liver functional activity. Some ultrastructural features of compensation of the insufficiency of the hepatocyte vacuolar apparatus were noted during suramin and CCl4 administration. Changes in the nucleolar structure were noticed in hepatocytes administered both suramin and CCl4. It is suggested that these changes may involve a compensatory increase in nucleologenesis due to the decrease in the activity of the protein-synthesizing apparatus in hepatocytes.


PURPOSE
The study sought to first confirm the mediating role of self-efficacy (SE) in the link between hearing loss and reduced quality of life (QOL) and introduce the construct of illness behavior (IB) as a further correlate of self-reported QOL that may itself be mediated by SE.

METHOD
Cross-sectional data were attained using a questionnaire that was completed by 61 adults with self-reported acquired hearing loss.

RESULTS
Support was provided for low SE being a barrier to QOL, with hearing loss only predictive of emotional QOL when SE was an intermediary (mediating) variable. Cognitive and affective indices of IB also predicted QOL. Those participants with elevated emotional distress and, to a lesser extent, exaggerated concerns for their health, were found to have both lower SE and poorer QOL.

CONCLUSIONS
Attempts to replicate these findings longitudinally and with larger and more diverse samples (e.g., congenital or illness-derived hearing loss) are encouraged. A more objective assessment of hearing loss may also reduce the potential for spurious associations that may arise from the use of self-reported data. Nevertheless, the analytical results provide encouragement for the continued consideration of IB in the evaluation of the well-being of individuals with hearing loss. It is proposed that IB could be a useful supplement to the study of motivation among this cohort, such as an addition to the commonly used Health Belief Model, to improve the predictive validity of appropriate health behaviors.


Heat‐sensitive transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels are expressed in various epithelial tissues regulating, among else, barrier functions. Their expression is well established in the distal nephron; however, we have no data about their presence in podocytes. As podocytes are indispensable in the formation of the glomerular filtration barrier, we investigated the presence and function of Ca2+‐permeable TRPV1–4 channels in human podocyte cultures.


There are many techniques using sensors and wearable devices for detecting and monitoring patients with Parkinson' s disease ( PD ). A recent development is the utilization of human interaction with computer keyboards for analyzing and identifying motor signs in the early stages of the disease. Current designs for classification of time series of computer-key hold durations recorded from healthy control and PD subjects require the time series of length to be considerably long. With an attempt to avoid discomfort to participants in performing long physical tasks for data recording, this paper introduces the use of fuzzy recurrence plots of very short time series as input data for the machine training and classification with long short-term memory ( LSTM ) neural networks. Being an original approach that is able to both significantly increase the feature dimensions and provides the property of deterministic dynamical systems of very short time series for information processing carried out by an LSTM layer architecture, fuzzy recurrence plots provide promising results and outperform the direct input of the time series for the classification of healthy control and early PD subjects.


Monoclonal gammopathies result from an overproduction of a single abnormal clone of a plasma cell or B lymphocyte. The purpose of the laboratory protocols in these situations is to demonstrate the presence, the characterization and the concentration of an abnormal protein detected in serum and/or urine samples. The laboratory investigation is based on the electrophoretic protein profile, quantification of immunoglobulins, free light chains and proteinuria. This paper describes the major available laboratory methods as well their indications and limitations.


Abstract This paper establishes upper and lower bounds on the speed of approximation in a wide range of natural Diophantine approximation problems. The upper and lower bounds coincide in many cases, giving rise to optimal results in Diophantine approximation which were inaccessible previously. Our approach proceeds by establishing, more generally, upper and lower bounds for the rate of distribution of dense orbits of a lattice subgroup Γ in a connected Lie (or algebraic) group G, acting on suitable homogeneous spaces G/H. The upper bound is derived using a quantitative duality principle for homogeneous spaces, reducing it to a rate of convergence in the mean ergodic theorem for a family of averaging operators supported on H and acting on G/Γ. In particular, the quality of the upper bound on the rate of distribution we obtain is determined explicitly by the spectrum of H in the automorphic representation on L 2 L^{2} (Γ ∖ \setminus G). We show that the rate is best possible when the representation in question is tempered, and show that the latter condition holds in a wide range of examples.


Abstract
 Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) have experienced significant population declines over the last 100 years in parts of the United States and Canada. This decline may be associated with increasing urbanization and land-cover change; however, owls can occupy urbanized environments. To determine habitat selection in the southeast valley of Phoenix, Arizona, we conducted visual surveys for owls during summer 2011 and measured microhabitat and landscape characteristics in 23 agricultural fields (fields) and along 15 canal right-of-ways (trails). We estimated occupancy rate and detectability using Program MARK. We identified microhabitat selection to relate owl occurrence to landscape variables. Occupancy rate was 32% in both fields and trails and owls had greater detectability along trails. Burrowing Owl occurrence was similar in fields with varying agricultural stages (from undisturbed to harvested) and moisture conditions. Owl occupancy was positively associated with soil type and canal water presence, and occupancy decreased when developed landscape cover (e.g., roads and buildings) increased. These findings suggest that Burrowing Owls are able to live in urbanized environments below 40% developed land cover provided that water and suitable soils are available.


High school education is central to adolescent socialization and has important downstream consequences for adult life. However, scholars examining schooling's political effects have struggled to reconcile education's correlation with both more liberal social attitudes and greater income. To disentangle this relationship, I exploit a major school leaving age reform in Great Britain that caused almost half the population to remain at high school for at least an additional year. Using a fuzzy regression discontinuity design, I find that each additional year of late high school increases the probability of voting Conservative in later life by 12 percentage points. A similar relationship holds when pooling all cohorts, suggesting that high school education is a key determinant of voting behavior and that the reform could have significantly altered electoral outcomes. I provide evidence suggesting that, by increasing an individual's income, education increases support for right-wing economic policies and, ultimately, the Conservative Party.


All possible A-ring diastereomers of 2-methyl-1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (2) and 20-epi-2-methyl-1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (3) were synthesized by palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of A-ring 'enyne' synthons with CD-ring portions. The A-ring synthons were rationally synthesized via a novel and practical route, starting with methyl (R)-(+)- and (S)-(-)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-propionate, in good yields. X-ray crystallographic analysis of 2alpha-methyl-1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (2b) and conformational analysis of the A-ring of 2alpha-methyl-(2b) and 2beta-methyl-1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (2f) were carried out, and the results are described. All A-ring diastereomers (2 and 3), thus synthesized, were biologically evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The biologic potency was highly dependent on the stereochemistry of the A-ring substituents. In particular, 2b showed 4-fold higher vitamin D receptor [VDR] binding activity than the natural hormone, and its 20-epimer (3b) exhibited exceptionally high activity, 12-fold more potent in VDR binding, 7-fold in calcium mobilization, and 590-fold in induction of human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cell differentiation as compared with the natural hormone. Further, the 20-epi-2beta-Me-1beta, 3alpha(OH)(2) isomer (3g) had significant biologic potencies compared to the natural hormone despite having 1beta-OH configuration. The transcriptional activities on human osteocalcin gene promoter, including VDRE in transfected mammalian cells, were also evaluated. Finally, there was a clear contrast between the effects of the 2-methyl group on the HL-60 cell differentiation- and apoptosis-inducing activities of 2 and 3.


Road transport has been the dominant modality for hinterland freight transport in the last two decades. This has resulted in congestion, air pollution and other external effects such as noise nuisance. Intermodal Freight Transport (IFT) as an alternative to road transport has been stimulated by the European Commission. In particular, there is a target of shifting more than 50% of freight being transported further than 300 km by road to IFT by 2050. However, despite all efforts, and running different programs, the market share of IFT is still quite limited. Assuming that having a competitive market, and improving the performance of the IFT service will result in higher market share for IFT service, this thesis analyzes the market structure and the performance of the IFT service at the network-level.


Background Repeat surgery and the percutaneous approach (transcatheter closure (TCC)) have been used for the management of postoperative left-to-right shunts. In this study, we described our 15 years of experience in treating postoperative left-to-right shunts with these two approaches. Methods From February 2002 to February 2017, 50 patients with residual left-to-right shunts, following cardiac surgery, were treated using TCC or repeat surgery. Clinical examination, standard 12-lead electrocardiography, chest X-ray, and a transthoracic echocardiogram were performed before hospital discharge and at all follow-ups. Results The closure rate was 100% in both groups and there was no procedure-related mortality. Patients with TCC had few complications. The procedure time and duration of hospital stay for TCC patients were 58.9 ± 27.7 min and 6.1 ± 0.8 days, respectively. Eleven out of 19 patients receiving reoperation suffered serious complications after surgery, e.g., bleeding and nosocomial infections. The operation time and duration of hospital stay for reoperation patients were 256.7 ± 60.5 min and 17.0 ± 4.0 days, respectively. No other serious complications were seen at all follow-up visits for both groups. Conclusions In conclusions, TCC is safe and effective for the management of postoperative left-to-right shunts, and is associated with few complications, which can be the favored closure strategy over repeat surgery for the management of postoperative left-to-right shunts.


Background Chemoresistance is problematic and its mechanisms are unclear in breast cancer. More predictive markers are urgently required. Methods GSE32646, GSE34138, and GSE20271 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between chemosensitive and chemoresistant tumors. LinkedOmics was used to analyze ADAM-like Decysin-1 (ADAMDEC1) expression among patients with different clinical characteristics and detect co-expression genes for functional analysis. Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and an integrated repository portal for tumor-immune system interactions (TISIDB) were used to investigate the association between the target gene and the immune response. Gene Set Cancer Analysis (GSCA) was utilized to explore the related pathways of ADAMDEC1 and evaluate the correlation between the expression of ADAMDEC1 and drug sensitivity. RNA22, miRWalk, and miRmap were used to predict the upstream micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) regulating ADAMDEC1 expression, while DIANA-LncBase v2 was applied to predict the upstream long non-coding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs). Kaplan-Meier curve analysis was applied to determine the survival time. Results We identified that ADAMDEC1 was upregulated among chemosensitive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) tissues in GSE32646, GSE34138, and GSE20271. Higher expression of ADAMDEC1 indicated longer survival in breast cancer. Next, we found that ADAMDEC1 was significantly related to the immune response in breast cancer through functional enrichment analysis and further meta-data validation. Moreover, we recognized that hsa-miR-4534 was the potential upstream miRNA regulating ADAMDEC1 expression and Taurine Up-Regulated 1 (TUG1) was the most likely upstream lncRNA of ADAMDEC1 and hsa-miR-4534. Finally, the correlation between ADAMDEC1 and chemosensitivity was confirmed through drug database analysis. Conclusions Elevated ADAMDEC1 expression is associated with increased chemosensitivity and better prognosis in breast cancer patients.


Abstract The authors present a comparative analysis of presentation of build-up areas with conventional symbols on 60 civil European topographic maps. The above-mentioned maps are in different scales, from 1:10,000 to 1:100,000, and have been published in nineteen European countries and the autonomous community of Catalonia. The analysis has proved that the scope of characteristics of build-up areas presented on the analysed maps was very diverse, from qualitative and quantitative point of view (e.g. there were between 2 and 25 different categories on 1:10,000 maps). The 1:10,000 and 1:50,000 maps generally contain more information on the characteristics of build-up areas than 1:25,000 maps. The characteristics themselves are also very diversified (e.g. only 6 of them appear on more than half of the analysed maps – most often churches). Polish maps stand out due to the fact that they contain particularly rich and consistent representation of both physiognomic characteristics and general functional characteristics of buildings and build-up areas at all the analysed scales.


In this report, we show how to implement direct ray tracing of B´ezier surfaces on graphics processing units (GPUs), in particular bicubic rectangular Bezier surfaces and nonparametric cubic Bezier triangles. We use Newton's method for the rectangular case and show how to use this method to find the ray-surface intersection. For Newton's method to work we must build a spatial partitioning hierarchy around each surface patch, and in general, hierarchies are essential to speed up the process of ray tracing. We have chosen to use bounding box hierarchies and show how to implement stackless traversal of such a structure on a GPU. For the nonparametric triangular case, we show how to find the wanted intersection by simply solving a cubic polynomial. Because of the limited precision of current GPUs, we also propose a numerical approach to solve the problem, using a one-dimensional Newton search.


By using GHZ-like states and entanglement swapping, Kang et al. [Chin. Phys. B 24 (2015) 090306] proposed a controlled mutual quantum entity authentication protocol. We find that the proposed protocol is not secure, that is, the center, Charlie can eavesdrop the secret keys shared between Alice and Bob without being detected.


Approximately 10% of Parkinson disease (PD) has a monogenic basis. PARK7 is a rare recessive form of early-onset PD caused by mutations in the gene PARK7 (formerly DJ1).1 As expected for a recessive disorder, PARK7 patients usually inherit 1 mutant allele from each parent; in fact, most reported cases have occurred in consanguineous families. We report an adult with early onset PD who inherited 2 identical pathogenic PARK7 variants from her asymptomatic father, a carrier for the same variant, via complete uniparental isodisomy (UPD) of chromosome 1.


Statistical taboos have always existed, but vary according to the country and the time. In France, the controversy around so-called "ethnical" statistics is particularly intense. Revived by the set-up of a study by the Ined, "trajectories and origins", about life paths of immigrants and immigrants' children, debates also gained strength as a law was prepared by the ministry in charge of immigration and became very harsh. On the one hand, some are persuaded that measuring and identifying origins would reveal discriminations and enable to fight unequal treatment linked to these differences (eventually by encouraging positive discrimination). On the other hand, some perceive "ethno-racial" identification to be contrary to the Republican principle of non-discrimination. They highlight the risk of reinforcing racist stereotypes by presenting an ethnical vision of society as banal. Such an approach would furthermore play against an in-depth analysis of social inequalities. Statistical categories remain social constructions that are particularly difficult when it comes to physical or personal criteria, as blurred and disputable as ethnic origin and/or color of skin. Can any question be asked in a statistical enquiry? This is similar to the humorists' dilemma: can one laugh about everything?


A central characteristic of social networks is that it facilitates rapid dissemination of information between large groups of individuals. This paper will examine the problem of determination of information flow representatives, a small group of authoritative representatives to whom the dissemination of a piece of information leads to the maximum spread. Clearly, information flow is affected by a number of different structural factors such as the node degree, connectivity, intensity of information flow interaction and the global structural behavior of the underlying network. We will propose a stochastic information flow model, and use it to determine the authoritative representatives in the underlying social network. We will first design an accurate RankedReplace algorithm, and then use a Bayes probabilistic model in order to approximate the effectiveness of this algorithm with the use of a fast algorithm. We will examine the results on a number of real social network data sets, and show that the method is more effective than state-of-the-art methods.


A current demonstration in the greenhouses of Wageningen UR in Bleiswijk (the Netherlands) shows positive results of LED light on the quality and production of strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa). In this demonstration two strawberry cultivars, Elsanta and Sonata, are exposed to three different light treatments. The first treatment consists of top LED light only (90 μmol m-2 s-1), the second of top LED light with additional LED light on the leaves (200 μmol m-2 s-1) and the last of top LED light with additional LED lighting on the fruits (90 μmol m-2 s-1). Strawberries were harvested two times per week from October till December and each time total production was determined. Repeated measurements on refraction, titratable acid and vitamin C content were conducted in addition to flavour testing by a consumer panel and a sensory expert panel. Results point out that treatment with additional LED light on leaves and the treatment with LED light on fruits results in a significant increase in production, flavour, refraction, titratable acid and vitamin C content. Lighting on fruits causes an even higher increase in vitamin C content than lighting on leaves. The observed effect of additional LED lighting on the fruits is surprising, since only 90 μmol m-2 s-1 was available to the plant compared to 200 μmol m-2 s-1 in the other treatment. Our findings indicate that LED lighting is a promising technique in greenhouse horticulture to optimize flavour, nutritional value and production of strawberries.


Socioscientific controversies are "extended argumentative engagements over socially significant issues ... comprising communicative events and practices in and from both scientific and nonscientific spheres" (Stewart, 2009, p. 125). While global warming is not controversial among the vast majority of climate scientists, socioscientific controversies over global warming abound in various media, as citizens, politicians, journalists, and others discuss and weigh the scientific evidence for and appropriate policy responses to global warming. In this chapter, the authors investigate the lexical choices used in the New York Times in straight news articles reporting on controversies about global warming from 2001-2006, as partisan differences on this issue became more pronounced. Specifically, using DICTION 5.0, the authors analyze 87 news reports, comparing those focused on science issues with those focused on policy issues. These statistical lexical comparisons are supplemented with qualitative discourse analyses.


The management literature has extensively studied viral marketing in the last decade; however, there is a lack of research in understanding network structures and the role of influencers within popular cultural consumption, such as on-demand digital media and binge-watching. In this article, we investigate the role of social media in popularising the East Asian dystopian cultural drama Squid Game. We studied this phenomenon by analysing social network structures, dynamics and influencer characteristics that transformed Squid Game into a popular global digital cultural consumption sensation. Stemming from the foundational theories of popular culture binge-watching, network theory and the social media echo chamber effect, we demonstrate how careful 'seeding' and 'broadcasting' behaviour adopted by Netflix and key influencers helped the 'reciprocal merging' of creative media content within the broader social media space. Our study found that 13,727 Twitter users were tweeting or mentioned on the day show was released. Our research findings further present the characteristic of individual group-based echo chambers and their role in value co-creation towards expanding the network boundary through e-WOM. This phenomenon led to the show's unprecedented popularity amongst a global audience within a short period. Contributions of our work expand viral marketing and echo-chamber concepts into the binge-watching and popular digital culture realm, where the interplay between dramatized Asian and Western dystopian social norms provided the very fabric of user-led promotion and value co-creation.


This article describes a personal perception of a promising way forward for the discipline of geomorphology. Four challenges and potential solutions are identified. First, the intellectual rationale and philosophical basis of geomorphology could benefit by exploring the framework of critical realism, a framework which recognizes that human experience is as real as the existence of elementary particles. Second, greater effort should perhaps be given to defining the 'natural kinds' which are the objects of geomorphological study. Third, the balance between geomorphological geohistory and process geomorphology requires constant attention. And fourth, the increasingly anthropogenic nature of landscape requires that geomorphologists reinforce their commitment to environmental conservation and social justice. The net effect of these trends might well increase informed geomorphological commentary on ethical implications of global landform and landscape changes.


Microdilution susceptibility test panels were independently read by two different technologists. One or more discrepancies between readers occurred with 5% of the 25,022 recorded minimal inhibitory concentrations, but only 0.4% of the tests varied by greater than or equal to 2 dilution intervals.


Readers of fiction follow the plot of a novel as though walking a labyrinth, with no actual opportunity of turning from the written path, unless one is reading a novel such as Chris Ware's Building Stories (2012), a graphic novel that defies the conventional reading expectations. However, fiction also has the effect of evoking a fuller gardenlike world as the reader imaginatively fills in gaps left by the narrative. In George MacDonald's Lilith, the protagonist Mr. Vane enters a fantastical world where he must often define things in terms of what they are not. The word not signals forks in the narrative labyrinth as Vane chooses to do one thing and not another, often frustrating reader. His poor choices lead us to desire greater agency in choosing paths. The two worlds MacDonald describes are not separate but exist in the same space with a different set of dimensions, with Vane's personal labyrinth of choices mediating between the mundane world in which he still lives and the spiritual, allegorical world he strives to comprehend. Through the labyrinth of his text, MacDonald suggests a similar relationship exists for readers between the labyrinth of their lives and the garden he encourages us to believe in and begin to see by reading his novel. MacDonald's relationship to Lewis Carroll highlights the relation between the labyrinthine nature of fiction and the gardenlike rendering that readers of a text produce. While the gardenlike and labyrinthine could be analyzed in any narrative, they are particularly apt modes for analyzing MacDonald's fantasy, which is both deeply rooted in the historical, Christian concepts of labyrinth and garden, and didactic, seeking to change the way its readers perceive their world.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze and characterize the separation effectiveness of self-constructed asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation system on proteins and lipoproteins, to achieve the optimization of the experimental conditions when separating lipoproteins by orthogonal design test and to investigate the carrier viscosity's influence on separation effectiveness.

METHODS
The evaluation of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation separation capacity was conducted by using two standard proteins (carbonic anhydrase and thyroglobulin). Under the optimized separation conditions of carbonic anhydrase and thyroglobulin, the channel actual thickness (after assembling, the actual thickness of separation channel was less than initial thickness) was calculated by the analytes' elution time based on the hydrokinetic theory. With orthogonal design test the optimized experimental conditions were studied and statistical analysis was carried on to find out the factors with statistical significance which needed further exploration.

RESULTS
According to the hydrodynamics principle and Stoke's function, the channel actual thickness was measured to be 164 μm by separating the two standard proteins, carbonic anhydrase and thyroglobulin, under proper experimental conditions. By the optimization based on orthogonal design test, base-line separation (the resolution had to be higher than 1.50) was achieved. The resolutions of the two experiments were 1.61 and 1.58. According to previous study/ pre-study and supporting theory, in the orthogonal design test, the total 5 factors were integrated for comprehensive investigation: the total flow rate (3.00, 3.50, 4.00, 4.50 mL/min), focus time (3.00, 3.50, 4.00, 4.50 min), transition time (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 min), pH of the carrier fluid(6.8, 7.00, 7.20, 7.40) and viscosity of the carrier fluid hydroxypropylmethylcellulose concentration: 0.00%, 0.03%, 0.06%, 1.00%). Among the 5 factors, viscosity was found to have the statistical significance on separation effectiveness which was further investigated. The resolution of high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein was increased by the increasing viscosity which also caused more obvious negative spikes.

CONCLUSION
The separating capacities of self-constructed asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation system on lipoproteins were verified to be effective and an optimized experimental condition was found to achieve the base-line separation of high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein. Viscosity of the carrier fluid was proved to have the statistical significance on lipoprotein separation.


We provide a basic, step-by-step introduction to the core concepts and mathematical fundamentals of dynamic systems modeling through applying the Change as Outcome model, a simple dynamical systems model, to personality state data. This model characterizes changes in personality states with respect to equilibrium points, estimating attractors and their strength in time series data. Using data from the Personality and Interpersonal Roles (PAIRS) study, we find that mean state is highly correlated with attractor position but weakly correlated with attractor strength, suggesting strength provides added information not captured by summaries of the distribution. We then discuss how taking a dynamic systems approach to personality states also entails a theoretical shift. Instead of emphasizing partitioning trait and state variance, dynamic systems analyses of personality states emphasize characterizing patterns generated by mutual, ongoing interactions. Change as outcome modeling also allows for the effects of personality development after significant life changes to be conceptualized in more nuanced ways, separating effects on characteristic states after the significant change and how people are drawn towards those states (an aspect of resiliency). Estimating this model demonstrates core dynamics principles and provides quantitative grounding for measures of "repulsive" personality states and "ambivert" personality structures. Supplementary materials: https://osf.io/dps4w.


The effects of irradiation on microbial populations in ground beef patties vacuum package and irradiated frozen at target doses of 0.0, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0, and 7.0 kGy were determined. Irradiated samples were stored at 4 or -18 degrees C for 42 days, and mesophilic aerobic plate counts (APCs) were periodically determined. Fresh ground beef (initial APC of 10(2) CFU/g) treated with 3.0, 5.0, and 7.0 kGy was acceptable (< 10(7) CFU/g) for 42 days at 4 degrees C. The 1.0 kGy-treated beef samples were acceptable microbiologically (< 10(7) CFU/g) after 42 days but developed an unacceptable off-odor after 21 days. Shelf life diminished in fresh ground beef patties with an initial APC of 10(4) CFU/g. Only beef patties treated with 7.0 kGy were found to be acceptable at 42 days. Beef patties treated at 1.0 and 3.0 kGy reached spoilage APC levels (> 10(7) CFU/g) by day 14 and 21, respectively, whereas patties treated at 5.0 kGy did not spoil until 42 days. The nonirradiated control samples for both batches of ground beef spoiled within 7 days. Microbial counts in ground beef patties stored at -18 degrees C did not change over the 42-day period. Shelf life of ground beef patties stored at 4 degrees C may be extended with gamma radiation, especially at 5.0 and 7.0 kGy. Initial microbial load in ground beef samples was an important shelf life factor.


Aims: Turnip is one of the most consumed medicinal plants that seem to have advantageous efficacy on hyperlipidemia. The present work was undertaken to evaluate the hypolipidemic activity of aqueous extract of Brassica rapa root on hyperlipidemic rats. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study 40 male Wistar rats were divided into 5 equal groups; normal control, hyperlipidemic control (1ml normal saline once a day), Atorvastatin (10mg/kg of body weight per day) and aqueous extract of Brassica rapa root groups (200 and 400mg/kg of body weight per day) were treated for 10 days. After 18h fasting in 11th day, hyperlipidemia was induced by a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of triton WR1339 (300mg/kg of body weight) in all groups except normal control. 24 hours after injection, blood collection was done and plasma analyzed for lipid profiles. Data was compared between group s by ANOVA and Tukey tests in SPSS 18 software. Findings: Aqueous extract of Brassica rapa root inhibited the elevation of plasma total cholesterol level at the dose of 200mg/kg of body weight. The extract also decreased LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in hyperlipidemic rats significantly but in compare to normal control group these levels were significantly high (p<0.05). Conclusion: The consumption of turnip may act as a potent antihyperlipidemic nutrient for patients with dyslipidemia, cardiovascular and diabetes diseases.


A new edition of documentary sources, entitled "Documents of Severin municipality (1911-1915)" has recently been published at Alma Publishing House of Craiova, Romania. This is the fourth volume of a vast collection of documents about the administration of the Drobeta Turnu Severin city, which began to be published since 2005. The authors, Nicolae Chipurici and Tudor Ratoi, are two Romanian historians well known for their efforts to present important subjects concerning the heritage of the Romanian national archives to the scientific community.


A woman, aged 51, was investigated because of nausea, vomiting and dysphagia. She had a psychiatric disorder and, 3 weeks previously, had swallowed a significant volume of concentrated hydrochloric acid. Investigations included upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and a barium meal radiograph. Endoscopy revealed an abnormal antral mucosa with pale and red areas, irregular ulceration and exudate formation (Fig. 1). In addition, there was narrowing in the region of the pylorus that prevented passage of the endoscope into the duodenal cap. A barium meal radiograph showed a stricture (arrow) involving the pylorus and lower antrum of the stomach (Fig. 2). The patient was subsequently treated surgically with a gastrojejunostomy. Caustic injuries to the upper gastrointestinal tract continue to be a significant problem in most parts of the world. Two-thirds of these events occur because of accidental ingestion by children under the age of 6 years. The remainder occur in older children and adults and sometimes reflect intentional injury associated with various psychiatric disorders. Although both the esophagus and stomach can be damaged by acid and alkalies, acids tend to cause more damage in the stomach and alkalies more damage to the esophagus. The mechanism of damage also varies with the different agents; liquefaction necrosis for alkalies and coagulation necrosis for acids. The degree and extent of caustic injury is closely associated with mortality and with subsequent risks for stricture formation. In the presence of antral stenosis, endoscopic dilatation has been successful in at least some patients. Those with persistent strictures usually require surgery, either a partial gastrectomy or a gastroenterostomy. Although corticosteroids and antibiotics appear to be helpful for acute caustic injuries in animals, there is no persuasive evidence of benefit in humans.


The aim of this study was to evaluate the detection of fetal structural abnormalities by the 11–14 week scan. 2853 pregnant women were submitted to a routine ultrasound scan between the 11th and 14th week and the fetal skull, brain, spine, abdominal wall, limbs, stomach and bladder were examined. Following the scans the patientes were examined in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. An isolated increased nuchal translucency was not considered an abnormality. However, these patients had an early echocardiography assessment. Fetal structural abnormalities were classified as major or minor and of early or late onset. A total of 130 (4.6%) defects were identified and 29 (22.3%) of these were diagnosed at the 11–14 week scan, including nine cardiac defects associated with increased nuchal translucency. The antenatal ultrasound detection rate was 71.5%, and 31.2% were detected in the first‐trimester assessment. 78.8% of the major defects were diagnosed by the prenatal scan and 37.8% by the 11–14 week scan. Fetal structural abnormalities at the 11–14 week scan were detected in approximately 22.3% of the cases, therefore, a second‐trimester anomaly scan is important in routine antenatal care to increase the prenatal detection of fetal defects. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Aim: To investigate the co-existence of cholelithiasis in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer both in preoperative and postoperative periods. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients who underwent GI tract cancer surgery in the general surgery clinic of a university hospital between January 2013 and December 2019 for the presence of 'cholelithiasis' in the preoperative and postoperative periods. Age, gender, tumor type and localization and presence of the cholelithiasis in the patients were determined. In addition, the cases were divided into two as upper GI tract and lower GI tract according to tumor location and the relationship with cholelithiasis was evaluated. Results: A total of 680 GI cancer patients were included in the study. Localization of GI cancers were; colon in 211 cases (31%), rectum in 195 cases (28.7%), gastric in 187 cases (27.5%), periampullary region in 55 cases (8.1%), and small intestine in 32 cases (4.7%). In the preoperative period, 69 (10.1%) patients were associated with cholelithiasis. Thirty-one (5.1%) patients had accompanying cholelithiasis in the postoperative period. Coexistence of cholelithiasis according to cancer location was not statistically significant in the preoperative and postoperative periods. Conclusions: Our available data make it difficult to distinguish the roles of cholelithiasis on gastrointestinal cancers, because no statistically causal relationship was found between cholelithiasis and gastrointestinal cancers. However, the role of asymptomatic and symptomatic stones, which may or may not require cholecystectomy, in the development of GI tract cancers should not be ignored.


The transient grounding impedance of a gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substation was investigated through measurements on a commercial 300-kV underground substation. Based on the results, the macroscopic transient impedance of the grounding grid was clarified to be the inductance component and estimated at approximately 0.2 μ H. In the low-frequency region where the frequency is almost zero or so, the impedance is shown to be lower than the general concrete resistance value by one digit due to the complexity of grounding systems specific to underground substations. Hence, the simple model of the grounding grid can be expressed mainly by inductance. The detailed model was expressed by using a π-type equivalent circuit, where each circuit constant was calculated using the specific low resistivity of concrete. In addition, the validity of both models was confirmed by comparing the measurement results. The proposal models are applicable to the Electromagnetic Transients Program analysis on the surge phenomena within the GIS grounding system.


Extended x‐ray absorption fine structure analysis was employed to obtain insight into the influence of structural change on the magnetic and magneto‐optical properties of Tb‐Fe amorphous films. Films made by bias sputtering show a 20% lower density and a lower apparent coordination number of Fe atoms around an Fe atom than those made by nonbias sputtering. However, their interatomic distances are unaffected by the sputtering methods. After samples made by nonbias sputtering have been annealed, the atomic distances of Fe‐Fe and Tb‐Fe tend to increase and decrease, respectively, while the apparent coordination number, N*, and the structural disorder parameter, σ, increase and decrease, respectively, in association with a large deterioration in magnetic and magneto‐optical properties. On the other hand, in the case of bias‐sputtering films, samples annealed at 200 °C show a large decrease in magnetic anisotropy, Ku, but no significant change in individual atomic distances and apparent coordination number. Ho...


Recently, rapid observational and theoretical progress has established that black holes (BHs) play a decisive role in the formation and evolution of individual galaxies as well as galaxy groups and clusters. In particular, there is compelling evidence that BHs vigorously interact with their surroundings in the central regions of galaxy clusters, indicating that any realistic model of cluster formation needs to account for these processes. This is also suggested by the failure of previous generations of hydrodynamical simulations without BH physics to simultaneously account for the paucity of strong cooling flows in clusters, the slope and amplitude of the observed cluster scaling relations, and the high-luminosity cutoff of central cluster galaxies. Here we use high-resolution cosmological simulations of a large cluster and group sample to study how BHs affect their host systems. We focus on two specific properties, the halo gas fraction and the X-ray luminosity-temperature scaling relation, both of which are notoriously difficult to reproduce in self-consistent hydrodynamical simulations. We show that BH feedback can solve both of these issues, bringing them in excellent agreement with observations, without alluding to the "cooling only" solution that produces unphysically bright central galaxies. By comparing a large sample of simulated AGN-heated clusters with observations, our new simulation technique should make it possible to reliably calibrate observational biases in cluster surveys, thereby enabling various high-precision cosmological studies of the dark matter and dark energy content of the universe.


Ruthenium is generally used as a property-promoter rather than as the main catalyst for the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) because of the preferential formation of Ru–O(H) at a relatively low anode potential (0.1–0.3 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE), which leads to few oxide-free Ru atoms remaining for bonding to H intermediates. Here, we report an uncommon finding that sub-2 nm Ru clusters can efficiently catalyze the HOR at a potential of up to 0.9 V (vs. RHE) without being oxidized, when the Ru clusters are interphase-oxidized by TiO2 to yield nearly half-filled 4d-orbitals (IO-Ru–TiO2/C). The X-ray absorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results confirmed that the Ru clusters in IO-Ru–TiO2/C are preoxidized close to a level of RuIV and maintain a metallic surface with abundant metallic Ru–Ru bonds. These features decrease the adsorption of oxygen species during the HOR and greatly promote HOR activity and inoxidizability under alkaline conditions. As a result, a mass activity of 907 A g−1 Ru @ 0.05 V is achieved for the IO-Ru–TiO2/C catalyst, which is 17.5 and 1.5 times greater than those of Ru/C and PtRu/C catalysts, respectively, ranking it among the most active HOR catalysts in alkaline media reported to date.


Health promotion (HP) is a relatively recent field that stems from, notably, public health, sociology, political science, psychology and education. This multidisciplinarity has contributed to HP's challenged institutionalization. Scholars have so far predominately explored HP's multidisciplinarity using anecdotal approaches, limiting our understanding of the breadth and interplay of the disciplines constituting HP research. The overall aim of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of HP's multidisciplinarity using a bibliometric approach. We developed a three-pronged approach: (i) we examined the most cited journals within Health Promotion International; (ii) we asked an international panel of HP scholars (n = 27) to vote on the journals most relevant to their work; (iii) we examined the most common words in article abstracts among journals which received the highest number of votes. We used multiple correspondence analyses to examine similarities between HPI references, scholars' votes and abstracts' words. We found evidence that HP research reached across numerous disciplines but segregated into distinct subgroups with conflicting perspectives. We found that HPI was the only journal that was identified as relevant by a majority (81% of participants). Multidisciplinarity is a key feature of HP. It can strengthen HP by enriching our understanding of health and social issues from a variety of perspectives, but it may also divide experts into disciplinary silos. This may ultimately weaken its institutional pathways and its contribution to public health. More academic venues and institutions should be developed to facilitate collaboration among HP scholars and practitioners.


Alzheimer's disease is a multifactorial, neurodegenerative disease which is considered the most common cause of dementia. It is divided into two subtypes based on the age of onset: early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) and late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD).

In this study, we aimed to analyse the polymorphisms of APOE2/E3/E4, ACE I/D, PICALM rs3851179, which are thought to increase the risk of disease, and CYP2D6 rs1080985, that affects the therapy response.

102 early onset and 99 late onset Alzheimer's patients diagnosed according to DSM-IV and NINCDS-ADRDA diagnostic criteria were included in the study. MMSE test was applied at the time of diagnosis and the control examination was performed after 6 months. We analysed the polymorphisms of APOE2/E3/E4 by fragment analysis and ACE I/D, PICALM rs3851179, CYP2D6 rs1080985 by Real Time- PCR. The response of the therapy and effects on prognosis were compared between groups by Mini-Mental State Exam test scores.

 The score differences of the women were significantly lower than men's score differences. The score differences of the EOAD group were significantly lower than the LOAD group in women. Family history situation was higher in men compared to women. The score differences were higher at CC genotype for PICALM rs3851179 in the EOAD group; the score differences were higher at E3/E4 genotype than E2/E2 genotype in LOAD. Also, the score differences were significantly higher at PICALM rs3851179 in the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor+antidepressant therapy group.

The relationship between the treatment groups and related gene regions was investigated extensively for the first time in the literature. As a result, it will be a guide in the clinic in light of the findings of the prognosis and pharmacogenetic interactions of the disease obtained from the study.


Alendronate is a potent bisphosphonate that is effective in preventing osteoporotic fractures. Clinical trial data involving over 17,000 women provide a large, placebo-controlled experience from which alendronate has been demonstrated to be safe and well tolerated. We review the safety profile of alendronate in the context of its pharmacology, preclinical information and published literature on bisphosphonates. The clinical data include information from 1) the two primary Phase III osteoporosis treatment studies involving 994 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis treated with alendronate for up to 3 years; 2) upper gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability data (including special subgroup analyses) from the Fracture Intervention Trial (FIT), involving 2027 women with prior vertebral fractures; 3) an endoscopy study, and 4) postmarketing experience. Because all bisphosphonates have the potential to irritate the upper GI mucosa, we specifically investigated the safety and tolerability profile with respect to the upper GI tract. In the Phase III trials, alendronate 5 or 10 mg/day was well tolerated, with no increase relative to placebo in the incidence of overall adverse experiences (ie, inclusive of all events, not just those related to the GI tract). In the Phase III trials, alendronate 5 mg/day or 10 mg/day was well tolerated, with no increase relative to placebo in the incidence of overall adverse experiences. The incidence of upper gastrointestinal adverse experiences, overall, was similar among alendronate 5 mg or 10 mg and placebo, with abdominal pain and dysphagia being the only individual adverse experiences that were significantly increased (with alendronate 10 mg). Esophageal adverse experiences were uncommon, being reported in 8 (2.0%) patients receiving placebo and 9 (4.6%) patients taking alendronate 10 mg. None of the events occuring on alendronate therapy were serious or resulted in discontinuation. Tolerability was not affected by a wide range of concomitant medications including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Additional analyses of the 2027 postmenopausal women with vertebral fractures enrolled in FIT demonstrated that alendronate use was not associated with a significant increase in upper GI events, esophageal events, or gastroduodenal adverse events, even among women at high risk for upper GI complications (those older than 75 yr, those with previous upper GI disease, or those using NSAIDs). Esophageal adverse experiences (including esophagitis and esophageal ulcers) have been reported with alendronate in postmarketed use. A high proportion of these reports involved patients who did not follow the dosing instructions and probably relate to the irritant potential of refluxed gastric acid containing alendronate. Consistent with the antiresorptive mechanism of action of alendronate, asymptomatic decreases in serum calcium and phosphate were observed with alendronate treatment in the clinical trials. There were no other laboratory changes noted with alendronate. Now marketed in 78 countries and used by over 3 million women, the safety profile of alendronate, when dosed appropriately, has been consistent with that of the clinical trial experience. In view of the increased morbidity and mortality associated with fractures, and the proven efficacy of alendronate to reduce fracture risk, the benefit/risk ratio of alendronate remains highly favourable.


Genome-wide RNA structure maps have recently become available through the coupling of in vivo chemical probing reagents with next-generation sequencing. Initial analyses relied on the identification of truncated reverse transcription reads to identify the chemically modified nucleotides, but recent studies have shown that mutational signatures can also be used. While these two methods have been employed interchangeably, here we show that they actually provide complementary information. Consequently, analyses using exclusively one of the two methodologies may disregard a significant portion of the structural information. We find that the identity and sequence environment of the modified nucleotide greatly affects the odds of introducing a mismatch or causing reverse transcriptase drop-off. Finally, we identify specific mismatch signatures generated by dimethyl sulfate probing that can be used to remove false positives typically produced in RNA structurome analyses, and how these signatures vary depending on the reverse transcription enzyme used.


Research synthesis, using techniques such as meta-analysis to combine the results of a number of studies, is a particularly useful technique when there are multiple studies with conflicting results, or where there may be conflicting interests, and can serve to extract the maximum information from animal experiments. The effect of conventional cages and alternative housing systems on measures of production, behaviour, physical and physiological condition in laying hens is an important question that would benefit from research synthesis. We found that statistical constraints did not allow the usual methods of meta-analysis, so as a first step towards quantitative comparison, we used a simple vote-counting approach based on the treatment means. We counted the number of papers in which conventional cages or alternative systems had a higher weighted mean for various response variables. Egg production was higher in conventional cages than in alternative systems, though this effect was probably mostly confined to the comparison with multi-level indoor systems. Bones were stronger from hens kept in alternative systems than those kept in conventional cages. We confirmed previous reviews that birds show more comfort behaviour and possibly dustbathing (or vacuum dustbathing) behaviour in alternative systems, but aggressive pecking did not differ between systems. Perhaps surprisingly, mortality, feather pecking and body wounds were not found to differ between systems. The latter findings suggest that the chance of a mortality or cannibalism outbreak may be no greater in alternative systems than in cage systems, but it should be noted that our analysis did not consider the magnitude of the difference in mortality. In conclusion, the meta-comparison undertaken here supports some but contradicts other conclusions reached in qualitative reviews.


The theme of the 4 International Workshop on Ontologies and Conceptual Modeling is foundational ontologies and their meta-ontological choices. Expert representatives of major foundational ontologies have been invited to discuss and compare their meta-ontological choices within the context of a common case study. The workshop is aimed at exploring the ways in which different metaontological choices impact conceptual modelling in information systems.


Despite the tax coordination and harmonisation, as the tax burden convergence processes, the corporate taxation systems differ among EU Member States, which can affect the development of economies to various degrees. The main objective of the paper is to assess whether the EU-27 countries are competitive in the field of corporate taxation and to verify whether "new Member States" are considered more competitive than the "old Member States". Empirical research from 2004 to 2014 used traditional quantitative indicators and specific quantitative methods in the form of tax rate relations, cluster analysis and constant market shares method, the application of which in the tax field is one of the main benefits of the research. Empirical results have highlighted the significant and positive impact of tax competitiveness on growth of corporate earnings growth. It has also shown that tax competition among countries is not clearly associated with a decrease in tax rates and will persist unless harmonization efforts are successful.


Several advanced battery technologies tailored for utility applications have doffed their white coats and donned hard hats. These new bulk energy storage devices, which can almost instantly shave peaks and shift loads, are the answer to the dreams of T&D system designers and operators. Finally, years of R&D in electrochemistry are beginning to pay dividends in the field.


RADA16 is a self-assembling peptide material with good bioactivity. To improve the bioactivity of a material, some specific functional motifs can be added to its peptide sequence. Here, we report a self-assembling peptide nanogel, RADA16-RGD, that has better bioactivity than RADA16 and can simultaneously carry and control the release of two growth factors, VEGF and BMP-2, which have synergistic effects on bone formation. The peptide materials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties of the peptides were evaluated by the rheology test. The biocompatibility of the materials was evaluated via the use of the CCK-8 test, live/dead staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Osteogenesis capability in vitro was evaluated by means of ALP staining, extracellular matrix mineralization and detection of osteogenic markers. The controlled release of growth factors was examined by ELISA. The results showed that RADA16-RGD exhibited a better ability than RADA16 to promote cell proliferation, adhesion and bone formation. In addition, RADA16-RGD had good biocompatibility and exhibited effective controlled release of VEGF and BMP-2. More importantly, compared with RADA16-RGD loaded with single growth factor or without growth factors, RADA16-RGD loaded with two growth factors exhibited a stronger ability to promote cell proliferation and osteogenesis. This study provides a promising strategy for the application of self-assembling peptides to promote osteogenesis and controlled release of proteins.


The methods by which the U.S. health care system pays for prescription drugs have faced increasing scrutiny in recent years. Two key developments have emerged: (a) congressional enactment of important changes in the basis for payments for prescription drugs in the Medicare and Medicaid programs; and (b) a March 2009 decision in a federal class action lawsuit that alleged fraudulent manipulation of the dominant pricing benchmark (average wholesale price, AWP), used primarily as the basis for payment for brand-name prescription drugs. The debate about prescription drug payment methods centers on determining the most appropriate basis for calculating how payers, including patients, government agencies, employers, and health plans, should pay pharmacies and other providers for drugs. Historically, payment for prescription drugs has been based on published prices that do not necessarily reflect the actual acquisition costs paid by providers, primarily pharmacies, physicians, and hospitals. This has led policymakers to believe that Medicare and Medicaid programs have paid more than is necessary for prescription drugs. Thus, in an effort to reform the payment system and reduce drug expenditures, policymakers have made significant changes to the benchmarks used by public programs to pay for drugs, and in some instances have created new benchmarks. Private payers have followed the government's lead and begun to change their own payment methods and benchmarks. They can be expected to accelerate the change as a result of the settlement agreement approved in the March 2009 federal court decision. The settlement will result in the lowering of the AWP for more than 400 generic and brand-name drugs. In addition - and technically unrelated to the litigation and any appeals that may be taken - 2 major price data reporting companies, First DataBank and Medi-Span, announced their intent to discontinue publication of AWP within 2 years of September 26, 2009. (At the time this report was prepared, there have been no similar announcements from Thomson Healthcare for Redbook or from Elsevier for Gold Standard [ProspectoRx], who are 2 other publishers of prescription drug prices). Furthermore, several manufacturers have announced that they will no longer provide either an AWP or a markup percentage on certain pharmaceuticals.3 Thus, by 2011, the AWP benchmark as we know it will no longer be widely available for use by public or commercial payers for payment of pharmaceutical products.


Thrombocytopenia has been shown to have significant mortality if ignored. Platelet indices have been reported to be useful prognostic indicators. The objectives of this study was to determine the diagnostic importance of the platelet indices in diagnosis of hyperdestructive thrombocytopenia i.e ITP. Study Design: Cross sectional observational study. Setting: Department of Pathology (MTI) Qazi Hussain Ahmed Medical Comeplex Nowshera Medical College. Period: Aug 2017 to Jan 2018. Materials and Methods: These blood samples were analyzed in clinical Pathology laboratory of QHAMC. Required information's were recorded on predesigned proforrma as per objectives of the study. Results: The peripheral smears of 139 cases were reported in the study. Detailed history and Thorough clinical examination was conducted. Mean age of the study population of the patients with standard deviation was 30.90(±6.4) years. Mean platelet count was 27. 37(±12.8) x109/. Mean platelet volume MPV was 11.4(±1.4) fl. Mean platelet distribution width (PDW) was 15.4(±3.3) fl. Mean platelet large cell ratio (PLCR) was 39.6(±8.9) %. Eight cases with MPV lower than 11fl and cases with PDW more than 15fl that were also having pancytopenia or bycytopenic picture were advised bone marrow aspiration for further diagnosis if clinically indicated. Six cases out of eight to whom bone marrow was advised were sent for bone marrow examination by the clinicians and we found that three of them were idiopathic thrombocytopenia and one Megaloblastic anemia, one case with pancytopenia due to hyperspleenism and one with acute leukemia with eosinophilia. Conclusion: From the above we concluded that all cases with MPV>11fl and PDW>14fl are sensitive and specific indicators for ITP and These indices help to distinguish hyper-destructive thrombocytopenia and hypo-productive thrombocytopenia very easily and it is also cost effective on a very simple test that is special smear. We must look for platelet indices very keenly while reporting a case with bi-cytopenia and pancytopenia.


Exercise, an important component of good diabetic control, is often associated with hypoglycemia in insulin-treated patients. Understanding the mechanism of exercise-induced hypoglycemia and its relationship to the insulin injection site will be helpful in the management of diabetes.


Abstract The present paper investigates the wettability–microstructure–mechanical property relationships in wide gap transient liquid phase (TLP) bonds between the single crystal nickel base superalloy CMSX-4 and two polycrystalline superalloys, IN 738 and IN 939, using wide gap style composite interlayers Niflex-110 and Niflex-115 in comparison with conventional BNi-3 brazing foils. Microstructural studies using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) showed the preferential flow of the liquid along the grain boundaries of the Niflex core, rather than the wetting of the faying surfaces, leaving non-bonded regions at the latter. This problem was overcome by increasing the boron content of the Niflex foils to form additional liquid. Suppression of bondline boride formation was achieved with the wide gap composite interlayers. Two factors were of potential importance in the room temperature mechanical properties of the wide gap bonds. The first was the extent of γ' formation at the bondline and the second was the presence of second phases in the diffusion zone of the polycrystalline substrate. This second phase formation resulted in brittle secondary cracks in the polycrystalline substrate. However, the extent of γ' formation was the dominant factor in the room temperature shear strength of the bonds.


Chemokine receptors are seven-transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). For most GPCRs, agonist-induced receptor phosphorylation at C-terminus leads to the recruitment of β-arrestins, resulting in receptor desensitization and internalization. CCR6 is a CC chemokine receptor whose ligand is CCL20. The role of site-specific phosphorylation of CCR6 at C-terminus in CCR6 biological function has not been investigated yet. In this study, we have intended to identify the specific serine/threonine residues at C-terminus of CCR6, and studied their role in the regulation of CCR6 biological function. We have generated a series of site-specific mutants in which specific serine/threonine residues at C-terminal tail of CCR6 were mutated into alanine as well as deletion mutants in which progressive truncation of C-terminus of CCR6 were generated. We have used these CCR6 mutants to characterize the role of site-specific serine/threonine residues in the regulation of CCR6 biology including the association of β-arrestins with CCR6, the internalization and desensitization of CCR6, the intracellular signaling of CCR6, the intracellular trafficking of CCR6, and the CCR6-mediated cell migration. We found that site-specific phosphorylation of threonine/serine residues at C-terminus of CCR6 differentially regulates CCR6 biological functions. The results will be presented and discussed.


Jujube witches' broom (JWB) disease is a high-risk plant disease that occurred on and devastated jujube or- chards throughout South Korea in the 1950s. Recently, as the jujube cultivation area has been significantly in- creased nationwide, we investigated the disease in jujube orchards in the Boeun region to obtain basic infor- mation for proactively evaluating the risk of JWB outbreaks from 2017 to 2019. A field trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of the trunk injection of Sungbocycline (a. i. oxytetracycline calcium alkyl trimethyl ammo- nium 17%, OTC). The incidence of JWB disease was very low in Boeun, but it was gradually increased mainly in the area and on the farms where it had occurred previously. The trunk injection with OTC was most effective in the early stages of growth. However, even though the trees were treated with OTC, disease symptoms ap- peared in other healthy branches in severely affected trees. When the tree was first injected with OTC in June, the control efficacy of second injection was higher one month after the first injection than five months. These results suggest that early diagnosis based on various symptoms and early control based on them can be very effective in preventing JWB disease in advance and increasing control efficacy.


Using expectation conformation theory, this study theorized and empirically tested the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and customer-based brand equity via customer satisfaction. Data were collected from 225 customers of well-known brands of consumer goods and services using survey questionnaire consisting of standardized scales. Regression analysis using Baron and Kenney (1986) approach via SPSS was utilized to test the proposed hypotheses. Results confirm direct relationship between CSR and customer satisfaction and CSR and customer-based brand equity as well as direct effect of customer satisfaction on customer-based brand equity. In addition, the study also found support for mediating effect of customer satisfaction in relationship of CSR and customer-based brand equity. Importance of CSR activities, its awareness and communication are some of managerial implications of this study. Limitations of the study coupled with future directions have been highlighted


The present study determined the effect of body mass and acclimation temperature (15-28°C) on oxygen consumption rate (ṀO2 ) and the size dependency of preferred temperature in European perch Perca fluviatilis. Standard metabolic rate (SMR) scaled allometrically with body mass by an exponent of 0.86. Temperature influenced SMR with a Q10 of 1.9 regardless of size. Maximum metabolic rate (MMR) and aerobic scope (MMR-SMR) scaled allometrically with body mass by exponents of 0.75-0.88. The mass scaling exponents of MMR and aerobic scope changed with temperature, and were lowest at the highest temperature. Consequently, The optimal temperature for aerobic scope decreased with increasing body mass. Notably, fish <40 g did not show a decrease aerobic scope with increasing temperature. Factorial aerobic scope (MMR ∙ SMR-1 ) generally decreased with increasing temperatures, was unaffected by size at the lower temperatures, and scaled negatively with body mass at the highest temperature. Similar to the optimal temperature for aerobic scope, preferred temperature declined with increasing body mass, unaffectedly by acclimation temperature. The present study indicates a limitation in the capacity for oxygen uptake in larger fish, while smaller fish do not appear oxygen limited. A constraint in oxygen uptake at high temperature may restrict growth of larger fish with environmental warming, at least if food availability is not limited. Furthermore, behavioural thermoregulation may be contributing to changes in size distribution of fish in the wild caused by global warming as larger individuals will prefer colder water at higher latitudes and at larger depths than smaller conspecifics with increasing environmental temperatures. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


Dosimetric studies are necessary for all patients treated with targeted radiotherapy. In order to attain the precision required, we have developed Oedipe, a dosimetric tool based on the MCNPX Monte Carlo code. The anatomy of each patient is considered in the form of a voxel-based geometry created using computed tomography (CT) images or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Oedipe enables dosimetry studies to be carried out at the voxel scale. Validation of the results obtained by comparison with existing methods is complex because there are multiple sources of variation: calculation methods (different Monte Carlo codes, point kernel), patient representations (model or specific) and geometry definitions (mathematical or voxel-based). In this paper, we validate Oedipe by taking each of these parameters into account independently. Monte Carlo methodology requires long calculation times, particularly in the case of voxel-based geometries, and this is one of the limits of personalized dosimetric methods. However, our results show that the use of voxel-based geometry as opposed to a mathematically defined geometry decreases the calculation time two-fold, due to an optimization of the MCNPX2.5e code. It is therefore possible to envisage the use of Oedipe for personalized dosimetry in the clinical context of targeted radiotherapy.


Development of CAD/CAM systems for workpiece jig and fixture has to rely on a generalpurpose
CAD system, such as an AutoCAD system comprising the needed standard interfaces.
So it is relatively easy to change types of the underlying CAD system and the computer. The design
process is helped by a 3D functional model. This so-called Jig & Fix CAD system is an open system
constructed of a modular (unified) set of 3D elements, permitting to change the set of elements,
the database and the manipulation set. This CAD system may be of help in factories in the design
and manufacture of NC, CNC machine tools and production cells, as well as in concluding contracts,
and in tender transactions.


In this paper, the freezing process of the water supply pipe in the exterior wall of an apartment house was analyzed by numerical method. The thickness of the pipe insulation and the percentage of insulation damage were considered as parameters in this paper. In the cases of the 0%, 8% and 20% damaged of the 5 ㎜ thickness insulation, the freezing was completed after 13 hours, 10 hours and 7 hours respectively. And in cases of the 10 ㎜ thickness insulation, the freezing was completed after 18 hours, 10.5 hours and 8 hours respectively. As a result, it is predicted that the water freezing would occurred when the water supply pipe with 8% or 20% damaged insulation are installed in the exterior wall. However, the water freezing would not occurred when the water supply pipe with 10 ㎜ thickness insulation of 0% damage is installed in the exterior wall.


Objective. To examine the relationship between eHealth literacy, perceived risk, and COVID-19 phobia among Chinese university students studying in Korea (the international group) and China mainland (the mainland group). Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online questionnaire. With 1,107 student samples, structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to examine the relationship between eHealth, perceived risk, and COVID-19 phobia among the two groups. Results. These Chinese university students had a COVID-19-related eHealth literacy of 30.23 (SD 6.65), with scores of the mainland group higher than those of the international group. The international group students (56.47 ± 17.64) reported a higher level of COVID-19 phobia than the mainland group students (48.89 ± 17.76). The findings indicated that use frequency and information trust were higher when students possessed a higher level of COVID-19 eHealth literacy. Information trust would not have a significantly positive relationship with COVID-19 phobia, while higher levels of information use and perceived risk were positively associated with COVID-19 phobia. Conclusion. eHealth literacy, information factors, and perceived risk were associated with Chinese university students' phobia status. There may be substantial feasibility and practicality in conducting relevant interventions that consider the university students' psychological status and risk perception based on eHealth literacy and information factors.


OBJECTIVE: To identify this vagal reflex using bronchial provocation tests in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. METHODS: The study group was composed of 10 patients presenting endoscopic evidence of hiatal hernia or gastroesophageal reflux disease, and the control group consisted of 11 patients presenting no evidence of either condition. All subjects were submitted to bronchial provocation with carbachol. RESULTS: The provocation test was positive in 5 (50%) of the study group patients and 3 (27%) of the control group patients (p = 0.64). CONCLUSION: The hypothesis that the airways of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (and no history of asthma-like respiratory symptoms) might be more responsive than those of individuals without the disease remains unproven.


Research on assistive technology, rehabilitation, and prosthetics requires the understanding of human machine interaction, in which human muscular properties play a pivotal role. This paper studies a nonlinear agonistic‐antagonistic muscle system based on the Hill muscle model. To investigate the characteristics of the muscle model, the problem of estimating the state variables and activation signals of the dual muscle system is considered. In this work, parameter uncertainty and unknown inputs are taken into account for the estimation problem. Three observers are presented: a high gain observer, a sliding mode observer, and an adaptive sliding mode observer. Theoretical analysis shows the convergence of the three observers. Numerical simulations reveal that the three observers are comparable and provide reliable estimates.


HIV+ patients fail antiretroviral therapy due to inadequate drug concentrations reaching the site of viral replication and/or the development of viral resistance to the antiretroviral agents. Adequate drug concentrations may not be reaching the virus due to poor compliance, poor absorption, or other pharmacokinetic factors such as metabolism, elimination, and drug interactions. The most important and most common pharmacokinetic drug interactions involve inhibition of metabolism, induction of metabolism, altered drug absorption, inhibition of renal excretion, and displacement from plasma protein binding sites. If a patient is failing antiretroviral therapy, TDM of antiretroviral agents could help in determining both adequacy of drug concentrations and patients' adherence. Ongoing studies will determine whether total drug concentration or free drug concentration of the protease inhibitors is the best predictor of response. Trough concentrations could prove to be the most important predictor of response, but additional studies are needed to compare trough, peak, and AUC concentrations with response to treatment. Finally, if some patients fail therapy due to inadequate drug concentrations, then increasing the dose could benefit patients' outcome and increase longevity. Clinical trials are needed that compare patients who receive a fixed-dosage regimen with patients who have adjusted dose regimens. Such a study is the best way to determine the true value of TDM of the antiretrovirals.


In an election campaign, candidates must decide how to optimally allocate their efforts/resources optimally among the regions of a country. As a result, the outcome of the election will depend on the players' strategies and the voters' preferences. In this work, we present a zero-sum game where two candidates decide how to invest a fixed resource in a set of regions, while considering their sizes and biases. We explore the Majority System (MS) as well as the Electoral College (EC) voting systems. We prove equilibrium existence and uniqueness under MS in a deterministic model; in addition, their closed form expressions are provided when fixing the subset of regions and relaxing the non-negative investing constraint. For the stochastic case, we use Monte Carlo simulations to compute the players' payoffs, together with its gradient and hessian. For the EC, given the lack of Equilibrium in pure strategies, we propose an iterative algorithm to find Equilibrium in mixed strategies in a subset of the simplex lattice. We illustrate numerical instances under both election systems, and contrast players' equilibrium strategies. Finally, we show that polarization induces candidates to focus on larger regions with negative biases under MS, whereas candidates concentrate on swing states under EC.


ABSTRACT Lactobacillus plantarum displays a substrate-inducible padA gene encoding a phenolic acid decarboxylase enzyme (PadA) that is considered a specific chemical stress response to the inducing substrate. The putative regulator of padA was located in the padA locus based on its 52% identity with PadR, the padA gene transcriptional regulator of Pediococcus pentosaceus (L. Barthelmebs, B. Lecomte, C. Diviès, and J.-F. Cavin, J. Bacteriol. 182:6724-6731, 2000). Deletion of the L. plantarum padR gene clearly demonstrates that the protein it encodes is the transcriptional repressor of divergently oriented padA. The padR gene is cotranscribed with a downstream open reading frame (ORF1), the product of which may belong to a group of universal stress proteins (Usp). The padR deletion mutant overexpressed padA constitutively, and the padA promoter appears to be tightly regulated in this bacterium. Gel mobility shift assays using the padA gene promoter region and purified PadR expressed in Escherichia coli indicated that operator DNA binding by PadR was not eliminated by addition of p-coumarate. Gel mobility shift assays using partially purified extracts of native PadR protein from both phenolic acid-induced and noninduced L. plantarum cells demonstrate that inactivation of PadR by phenolic acids requires the integrity of L. plantarum and mediation by a specific protein absent in E. coli.


In climate change policy, forestry carbon sequestration has emerged as a potential mitigation strategy. While implementation of land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) projects into the framework of the Kyoto Protocol is still underway, a market for voluntary emission reductions (VERs) has evolved. Though generally VER-producing projects try to combine carbon sequestration with rural, sustainable development objectives, relatively little research exists on possible trade-offs between these two policy goals. This paper undertakes a cost-benefit analysis of the financial incentives in a forestry carbon projects in Mozambique. The Net Present Values (NPVs) of seven, different eligible land-use systems are calculated. While some systems focus on carbon sequestration, others combine sequestration with the cultivation of cash crops. The results show that, compared with the potential income from cash crop sales, the income generated by carbon sequestration during the early years of the project is relatively small. For all but one option, the benefits do not outweigh the costs over the first nine years, resulting in negative NPVs over this time horizon. Over 15 years, systems combining sequestration and fruit production produce high potential returns, while land-use systems based on carbon sequestration alone are hardly viable. This is particularly true for the environmentally most favourable reforestation system. Thus, the predicted trade-off can also be seen at a project-scale. Regarding payments' role in poverty alleviation, they do contribute significantly to cash income, but are too little in magnitude to substitute income from other land-uses. Nevertheless, they might play a key role by enabling smallholders to afford the investment costs of agricultural income sources. During the early years, additional non-financial incentives are important to turn the NPVs into a positive range. In the long-run, a major task for project developers will be to create land-use systems that combine both carbon sequestration and other products on the same plots, which are attractive for smallholders while ensuring permanence of carbon storage.


This study attempts to evaluate the monetary policy of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) based on an investigation of the policy statements. The analysis based on text mining of the central bank's monetary policy statements seeks to unravel the information considered by the central bank and the processes followed in making its inflation forecasts. The findings indicate that although the RBI examined high-frequency economic indicators, its inflation forecasts have generally been off the mark. Specifically, the monetary policy committee failed to foresee the sharp disinflation that followed the demonetization announced on November 8, 2016. This failure resulted in a high real interest rate regime that dealt a blow to the economy staggering under the effects of demonetization. Our research findings show that the monetary policy governance practices need to be refined and better aligned to economic realities, particularly under the RBI's new monetary policy framework.


A steady-state approach is proposed to examine the contribution that the lung makes to the total body elimination of medium- to high-clearance drugs. Carbamazepine, a potential candidate of pulmonary metabolism, was investigated by infusion into the femoral vein in seven unrestrained Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g). Blood samples (0.45 ml), taken simultaneously from the jugular vein and carotid artery in each rat during the infusion (2-5 days), were assayed in duplicate for carbamazepine by GLC/CI/MS. Venous blood concentrations were used to calculate the total body clearance of carbamazepine, 440 +/- 38 ml/hr (mean +/- SEM), and the difference between simultaneous venous and arterial blood concentrations were used to calculate the extraction ratio of carbamazepine by the lung. The mean extraction ratio of 0.0058 (n = 28) suggests that the lung only contributes approximately 5% to the total body clearance of carbamazepine. It is proposed that this technique could be useful in examining the importance of the lung in the total body clearance of other drugs, and that it has several advantages over some currently used techniques.


Do politicians perceive scandals differently when they implicate members of their own party rather than another party? We address this question using a between-subject survey experiment, whereby we randomly assign UK local councillors (N = 2133) to vignettes describing a major national-level scandal in their own party versus another party. Our results show that local politicians perceive a significantly larger impact of this national scandal on the national party image when it concerns their own party (relative to another party). When evaluating the same scandal's impact on the local party image, no similar effect is observed. This suggests that local politicians tone down the local impact of a national scandal more when thinking about their own party. We suggest this derives from a form of motivated reasoning whereby politicians selectively focus on information allowing a more negative view of direct electoral opponents. These findings arise independent of the type of scandal under consideration.


Low-dimensional and computationally less-expensive reduced-order models (ROMs) have been widely used to capture the dominant behaviors of high-4dimensional systems. An ROM can be obtained, using the well-known proper orthogonal decomposition (POD), by projecting the full-order model to a subspace spanned by modal basis modes that are learned from experimental, simulated, or observational data, i.e., training data. However, the optimal basis can change with the parameter settings. When an ROM, constructed using the POD basis obtained from training data, is applied to new parameter settings, the model often lacks robustness against the change of parameters in design, control, and other real-time operation problems. This paper proposes to use regression trees on Grassmann manifold to learn the mapping between parameters and POD bases that span the low-dimensional subspaces onto which full-order models are projected. Motivated by the observation that a subspace spanned by a POD basis can be viewed as a point in the Grassmann manifold, we propose to grow a tree by repeatedly splitting the tree node to maximize the Riemannian distance between the two subspaces spanned by the predicted POD bases on the left and right daughter nodes. Five numerical examples are presented to comprehensively demonstrate the performance of the proposed method, and compare the proposed tree-based method to the existing interpolation method for POD basis and the use of global POD basis. The results show that the proposed tree-based method is capable of establishing the mapping between parameters and POD bases, and thus adapt ROMs for new parameters.


New methacrylamide monomer, containing pendant benzofuran chalcone moiety, was synthesized by starting from 1-(3-amino-1-benzofuran-2-yl)-3-phenyl prop-2-en-1-one and methacryloyl chloride in the presence of triethyl amine. The polymer was characterized by UV, FT-IR, H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectra and gel permeation chromatography. The photosensitive properties of the polymer were characterized by using UV-visible spectroscopy. In UV-VIS spectra of the polymer, two absorption peaks at 325. 67 and 395.95 nm are observed due to π*-π transition related to >C=C C=C< bond is decreased significantly with the irradiation in less than a few minutes at room temperature. The disappearance of the C=C bond in the chalcone moiety suggests that a photo-reaction is taking place in the polymer. This behaviour is very much dependent on the chain length of the chalcone moiety. The thermogravimetric analysis result indicates that the polymer undergoes single thermal state decomposition. The thermal stability temperature of the polymer is 270 °C. The glass transition temperature of the polymer was found to be 160 °C. This high T g value of the polymer may be due to the presence of bulky and rigid pendant chalcone units and the short side chains which facilitate chain entanglement.


AIMS
Cyclophosphamide, the precursor to the active 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide, is used in active glomerulonephritis despite limited pharmacokinetics data. The pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide and 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide were evaluated. The influence of laboratory and pharmacogenomic covariates on pharmacokinetics was evaluated as a secondary aim.

METHODS
Glomerulonephritis patients (n = 23) participated in a pharmacokinetic evaluation. Blood was serially collected and assayed for cyclophosphamide and 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide by LC/MS methods. Kidney function, serum albumin and polymorphisms in drug metabolism or transport genes were evaluated. Analyses included non-compartmental pharmacokinetics and parametric and non-parametric statistics.

RESULTS
The mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC(0,∞)) data were 110,100 ± 42,900 ng ml(-1) h and 5388 ± 2841 ng ml(-1) h for cyclophosphamide and 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide, respectively. The mean metabolic ratio was 0.06 ± 0.04. A statistically significant relationship was found between increased serum albumin and increased half-life (0.584, P = 0.007, 95% CI 0.176, 0.820) and a borderline relationship with AUC(0,∞) (0.402, P = 0.079, 95% CI -0.064, 0.724) for 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide. Covariate relationships that trended toward significance for cyclophosphamide included decreased serum albumin and increased elimination rate constant (-0.427, P = 0.061, 95% CI 0.738, 0.034), increased urinary protein excretion and increased AUC(0,∞) (-0.392, P = 0.064, 95% CI -0.699 to 0.037), decreased C(max) (0.367, P = 0.085, 95% CI -0.067, 0.684) and decreased plasma clearance (-0.392, P = 0.064, 95% CI -0.699, 0.037). CYP2B6*9 variants vs. wildtype were found to have decreased elimination rate constant (P = 0.0005, 95% CI 0.033, 0.103), increased V(d) (P = 0.0271, 95% CI -57.5, -4.2) and decreased C(max) (P = 0.0176, 95% CI 0.696, 6179) for cyclophosphamide. ABCB1 C3435T variants had a borderline decrease in cyclophosphamide elimination rate constant (P = 0.0858; 95% CI -0.005, 0.102).

CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide and 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide in patients with lupus nephritis and small vessel vasculitis are similar. Clinical and pharmacogenetic covariates alter disposition of cyclophosphamide and 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide. Clinical findings of worsened glomerulonephritis lead to increased exposure to cyclophosphamide vs. the active 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide, which could have relevance in terms of clinical efficacy. The CYP2B6*9 and ABCB1 C3435T polymorphisms alter the pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide and 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide in glomerulonephritis.


OBJECTIVE
A case of papillary polypoid cystitis with bilateral hydronephrosis and an intravesical mass is presented.

METHODS/RESULTS
A routine ultrasound evaluation performed in a 64-year-old diabetic female revealed an intravesical mass and bilateral hydronephrosis. There was extensive bladder involvement and the ureteral orifices could not be visualized during endoscopy. Transurethral resection of the lesion was performed. The histological examination showed papillary polypoid cystitis. The urinary cultures were positive, antibiotic therapy was instituted and the hydronephrosis, disappeared.

CONCLUSIONS
Papillary polypoid cystitis, although a benign and superficial lesion, can be diffuse, involve both ureteral orifices and cause hydronephrosis.


This paper describes the first material to show the well-known light-induced excited spin-state trapping (LIESST) effect, the metastable excited state of which relaxes at a temperature approaching its thermal spin-crossover. Cooling polycrystalline [FeL(2)][BF(4)](2).x H(2)O (L=2,6-bis[3-methylpyrazol-1-yl]pyridine; x=0-1/3) at 1 K min(-1) leads to a cooperative spin transition, taking place in two steps centered at 147 and 105 K, that is only 54 % complete by magnetic susceptibility. Annealing the sample at 100 K for 2 h results in a slow decrease in chi(M)T to zero, showing that the remainder of the spin-crossover can proceed, but is kinetically slow. The crystalline high- and fully low-spin phases of [FeL(2)][BF(4)](2).x H(2)O are isostructural (C2/c, Z=8), but the spin-crossover proceeds via a mixed-spin intermediate phase that has a triple unit cell (C2/c, Z=24). The water content of the crystals is slowly lost on exposure to air without causing decomposition. However, the high-spin/mixed-spin transition in the crystal proceeds at 110+/-20 K when x=1/3 and 155+/-5 K when x=0, which correspond to the two spin-crossover steps seen in the bulk material. The high-spin state of the compound is generated quantitatively by irradiation of the low-spin or the mixed-spin phase at 10 K, and in approximately 70 % yield by rapidly quenching the sample to 10 K. This metastable high-spin state relaxes back to the low-spin ground state at 87+/-1 K in one, not two, steps, and without passing through the intermediate phase. This implies that thermal spin-crossover and thermally activated high-spin-low-spin relaxation in this material become decoupled, thus avoiding the physical impossibility of T(LIESST) being greater than T(1/2).


Summary
Enzymatic hydrolysis of soybean protein isolate by the extracellular proteases from Actinomucor elegans and Rhizopus oligosporus at pH 3.0, 3.5, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0 was investigated. The activity of the A. elegans protease is lower than that of R. oligosporus, but both proteases exhibit considerable degradation of soybean protein at pH 5.5 and 6.0. The water-soluble protein content and the degree of hydrolysis of the hydrolysates are increased significantly, and bitterness values are very low. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) reveals that these proteases have different cutting sites on peptide polymers. At pH 5.5, there is a lower content of total free amino acids (39.20 mg per 100 mL; 62.68% hydrophobic amino acids) in the R. oligosporus protease hydrolysate. In conclusion, treatment with R. oligosporus protease at pH 5.5 achieves efficient degradation of soybean protein, suggesting a promising industrial process for making bitterless protein hydrolysates.


Throughout most of the history of radio interferometry studies of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) using VLBI, attempts to extract physically meaningful information from VLBI observations have been dominated by visibility-based approaches to analysis, such as model fitting of the self-calibrated visibility data. This approach has been extremely valuable in multi-epoch studies of superluminal motion, for example; however, as polarization-sensitive and multi-frequency studies of the parsec-scale jets of AGN have become more common, it has often proven difficult to unambiguously relate features observed in total intensity and polarization, or at multiple frequencies. This has necessitated the development of new image-based analysis techniques, as well as studies aimed at improving our understanding of the uncertainties in quantities derived from images. These new techniques have provided a wide range of key information about the relativisitic jets of AGN on parsec scales, including measurements of typical magnetic-field strengths in the VLBI core components and information about the three-dimensional magnetic-field structures of the jets. These properties of the jets are, in turn, intrinsically related to fundamental questions such as the formation, launching and collimation of the jet structures.


The objective of this study was to investigate the factors associated with overweight in adults and the frequencies of these factors. The sample comprised 101 adults, all aged ≥ 18 years, 75 (74.0%) females and 26 (26.0%) males, registered at a Family Health Center (FHC) in the town of Jequie, and distributed proportionally throughout the FHC's seven sub-areas. Patients were defined as overweight if their body mass index (BMI) was ≥ 25kg/m². The proportion of overweight people was calculated for the whole sample and for each of the associated variables (age, sex, occupation, educational level, number of meals per day, smoking, alcoholism, arterial hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and habitual level of physical activity). The chi-square test was applied to test associations between the variables and the proportion of overweight to a significance level of 5% (p ≤ 0.05). the overall frequency of overweight was 28.0%, and this was more prevalent only among individuals who do not consume alcoholic beverages, although the comparison between those with and without hypertension was borderline (p = 0.052). The results of this study suggest a need for further investigation into the effect of alcoholic beverages on the nutritional status of adults and for implementation of nutritional vigilance strategies at this FHC, with special attention given to hypertense patients.