Human rhinoviruses (RVs) are the major cause of the common cold worldwide. They cause asthmatic exacerbations and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Despite recent advances, the development of antivirals and vaccines has proven difficult due to the high number and variability of RV types. The identification of critical host factors and their interactions with viral proteins and membrane lipids for the establishment of viral replication is a basis for drug development strategies. Our findings here shed new light on the interactions between nonstructural viral membrane proteins and class III phosphatidylinositol 4 kinases from the host and highlight the importance of phosphatidylinositol 4 phosphate for RV replication. ABSTRACT Rhinoviruses (RVs) replicate on cytoplasmic membranes derived from the Golgi apparatus. They encode membrane-targeted proteins 2B, 2C, and 3A, which control trafficking and lipid composition of the replication membrane. The virus recruits host factors for replication, such as phosphatidylinositol 4 (PI4)-kinase 3beta (PI4K3b), which boosts PI4-phosphate (PI4P) levels and drives lipid countercurrent exchange of PI4P against cholesterol at endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi membrane contact sites through the lipid shuttling protein oxysterol binding protein 1 (OSBP1). We identified a PI4K3b inhibitor-resistant RV-A16 variant with a single point mutation in the conserved 2B protein near the cytosolic carboxy terminus, isoleucine 92 to threonine (termed 2B[I92T]). The mutation did not confer resistance to cholesterol-sequestering compounds or OSBP1 inhibition, suggesting invariant dependency on the PI4P/cholesterol lipid countercurrents. In the presence of PI4K3b inhibitor, Golgi reorganization and PI4P lipid induction occurred in RV-A16 2B[I92] but not in wild-type infection. The knockout of PI4K3b abolished the replication of both the 2B[I92T] mutant and the wild type. Doxycycline-inducible expression of PI4K3b in PI4K3b knockout cells efficiently rescued the 2B[I92T] mutant and, less effectively, wild-type virus infection. Ectopic expression of 2B[I92T] or 2B was less efficient than that of 3A in recruiting PI4K3b to perinuclear membranes, suggesting a supportive rather than decisive role of 2B in recruiting PI4K3b. The data suggest that 2B tunes the recruitment of PI4K3b to the replication membrane and allows the virus to adapt to cells with low levels of PI4K3b while still maintaining the PI4P/cholesterol countercurrent for establishing Golgi-derived RV replication membranes. IMPORTANCE Human rhinoviruses (RVs) are the major cause of the common cold worldwide. They cause asthmatic exacerbations and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Despite recent advances, the development of antivirals and vaccines has proven difficult due to the high number and variability of RV types. The identification of critical host factors and their interactions with viral proteins and membrane lipids for the establishment of viral replication is a basis for drug development strategies. Our findings here shed new light on the interactions between nonstructural viral membrane proteins and class III phosphatidylinositol 4 kinases from the host and highlight the importance of phosphatidylinositol 4 phosphate for RV replication.


A 68-year-old woman with liver dysfunction was diagnosed with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) stage 1. Three years later, she showed massive ascites and jaundice. A trans-jugular liver biopsy confirmed advanced cirrhosis, suggesting that her liver fibrosis had progressed rapidly. At the same time, she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM). In this case, the plasma levels of osteopontin (OPN), a proinflammatory cytokine that promotes liver fibrosis progression through the hedgehog pathway and is increased in patients with MM, were increased. This increased OPN expression was accompanied by the upregulation of the hedgehog pathway in this patient, suggesting that the MM-associated increase in OPN had promoted the progression of liver fibrosis through the hedgehog pathway. The progression of liver fibrosis should be monitored in patients with NASH if other diseases, such as MM, are present.


Energetics and possible stable structures of CO2–Arn (n = 1–21) clusters are investigated by performing molecular-dynamics simulations. The pairwise-additive approximation is tested to construct the potential energy function for describing the non-rigid particle interactions in the system. A potential model by Pariseau et al. (Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 42, p. 2335, 1965) is used for the internal motion of the CO2 molecule and the Billing form potential (Chemical Physics, Vol. 185, p. 199, 1994) is used for all other pair interactions. The stable configurations are determined for the ground state of CO2–Arn clusters, and the growing pattern process of the clusters is determined via rearrangement collisions. Ar atoms tend to surround the CO2 molecule, and the clusters prefer to form three-dimensional compact structures. Obtained structures and energetics are in quantitative agreement with previous results (Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 109, p. 1343, 1998) that have used split-repulsion and ab in...


Multicarrier code-division multiple access (MC-CDMA) combines multicarrier transmission with direct-sequence (DS) spread spectrum techniques. In this study, several possible channel models of MC-CDMA systems are considered as a multi-state switching Markov process to match the time-varying multipath fading channel. A novel multiple channel estimator, which consists of several possible channel models and can be self-adjusted to fit different channel uncertain conditions, is proposed for MC-CDMA systems to effectively estimate channel coefficients in the frequency domain over time-varying multipath fading channels. Based on the proposed channel estimation, an enhanced minimum mean-square error (MMSE) equalizer is employed for symbol detection of MC-CDMA systems. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed multiple channel estimator can track the channel more accurately than the conventional channel estimators. With the consideration of channel estimation error as a channel noise to improve symbol detection, the enhanced equalizer based on the proposed multiple channel estimator performs much better than those based on the conventional channel estimators in bit error rate (BER).


Even though floating point (FP) numbers have been adopted as a de facto standard data format for deep learning computing, the complexity of FP arithmetic impedes a broader deployment of Deep Neural Networks (DNNs). Recent works such as quantization have attempted to replace the FP matrix multiplication (MatMul) of DNNs with simple integer MatMul by transforming the datatypes of both weights and activations into integers. Unfortunately, unlike weight values that are static, it is challenging to represent dynamic activations with integers. In this paper, to simultaneously achieve the accuracy of FP activation and the simplicity of integer arithmetic, we present a method for replacing FP arithmetic with integer one without changing FP activations in the storage format while weights are quantized. The proposed method pre-aligns the significands of FP activations just ahead of the MatMul on-the-fly so that the aligned significands (integers) can be used for the computation. Inspired by an observation that conventional FP arithmetic does not produce precise results due to rounding, we demonstrate that our proposed integer arithmetic-based scheme can produce the same level of errors as that of the FP arithmetic in case DNNs use FP activations and quantized weights. Experimental results show that the hardware based on the proposed scheme shows significant improvement over FP arithmetic-based designs in terms of energy efficiency and throughput-per-area while maintaining a similar level of accuracy.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of Kuntai Capsules on endometrial thickness and the expressions of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in mouse after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

METHODS
Healthy Sprague-Dawley mice were randomly allocated into 4 groups of control (group A), controlled ovarian hyperstimulation [COH (group B)], COH plus low-dose Kuntai Capsules (group C) and COH plus large-dose Kuntai Capsules [2x low-dose (group D)]. The controlled ovarian hyperstimulation model was established. The endometrial thickness was measured by computerized multi-functional image analyzer. And the expressions of LIF and EGF in proliferating endometrium were examined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS
The endometrial thickness of groups C and D were higher than that of groups A and B. And there were significant differences (P < 0.05). The expression levels of LIF protein in proliferating endometrium was weaker than implantation window phase, the expression levels of EGF and LIF in group B was weaker than group A, groups C and D stronger than groups B and D was stronger than group C. And there were significant differences (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION
Kuntai Capsules can promote the growth of endometrium and enhance the expression levels of EGF and LIF in mice. And it may improve the ability of endometrial receptivity through optimized microenvironment. And a larger dose of Kuntai Capsules yields better outcomes.


Background and Aims Obesity represents a major, global health problem, continuously increasing all over the world, including Romania. We carried out an epidemiological study on the alimentary behavior and physical activity in overweight and obese school children. Methods The target population was represented by 41 overweight school children, 68 obese and 57 normal weight, from Craiova, in 2008–2011. Inclusion criteria: children aged 6–14 years with BMI≥95 percentile/sex/age for obesity, 85≤BMI< 95 percentile/sex/age for overweight and 85< IMC≤5 percentile/sex/age for normal weight. For every child in our group we followed the alimentary inquiry, the physical activity inquiry, the connection between physical activity and food intake. Results The overweight prevalence was 7.1% and that of obesity 12.2%. The overweight and obese children, as compared to the normal weight ones eat, daily, sweets (57.7%, 62.1% vs. 12.3%), soft drinks (23.9%, 39.9% vs. 5.2%), fast-food (22.8%, 36.7% vs. 9.4%), meat products (54.6%, 76.1% vs. 43.8%), fruits (16.8%, 7.3% vs. 48.5%), vegetables (41.3%, 13.9% vs. 84.5%), cereals (31.1%, 24.7% vs. 49.8%), milk products (18.1%, 32.2% vs. 62.3%). 54.7% of the overweight children and 60.1% of the obese do not perform any physical activity in their spare time, as compared to the normal weight (29.8%). The food consumption while watching TV or playing on the computer was associated with overweight and obesity in children. Conclusions Following the nutritional and physical activity investigation in the school children, I noticed an alimentary abuse, both quantitative and qualitative, associated with a physical activity decrease.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the process and the effect of pre-service teacher`s scaffolding in environmental camp program about global climate change. For this study, developed the environmental camp program based pre-service teacher`s scaffolding and applied to 78 5th students. We analyzed the role of pre-service teacher in the process of scaffolding. In the result, the pre-service teachers conducted cognitive scaffolding like as "Focus", "Hint", "Tell or Summarize" and "Technical Help". They carried out the emotional scaffolding like as "Create Cheerful Atmosphere", "Encourage", and "Help in Living". Teaching and learning about global climate change, the theme of the camp, was regarded uncertain and complex. So, pre-service teacher`s scaffolding was effective to promote environmental literacy about climate change of primary students (<0.05). The student teachers understanded the characteristics of the children through emotionally close relationships. The primary students were learned easier about global climate change through cognitive and emotional scaffolding. They experienced environmental practice with communal living in camp.


We find an explicit example of a Markov odometer action which is not orbit-equivalent to any product odometer action. We make use of some techniques from Krieger's construction of an action of non-product type arising from a flow. However, his example is not realized as an odometer action with an explicit measure, nor does it arise from a Markov measure.


Transition metals and their reactions are in general important in the environment, in technical processes (catalysis, extraction and purification of metal complexes) and in biology and medicine (biological electron transfer, toxicology and use of metal complexes as drugs). Moreover, nonessential metal ions are very often used in biological systems either for therapeutic application or as diagnostic aids. For instance, metal complexes have been used for the treatment of many diseases (cancer, arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer, etc.), but with little understanding of their mechanism of action in biological systems.(Ronconi & Sadler, 2007; Bruijnincx & Sadler, 2009) Biochemical studies have not clearly established the molecular basis for the activity and mechanism of action. The growing field of bioinorganic chemistry is presently dealing with the clarification of the mechanisms of action of metal complexes in biological systems.(Ronconi & Sadler,2007; Bruijnincx & Sadler, 2009; Jakupec et al., 2008)


Background In December 2017, the Australian cervical screening program implemented changes, which women have shown significant concerns about. One of the main changes was from a two-yearly Pap test to a five-yearly human papillomavirus (HPV) test. Previous research has shown women to overlook the change in the screening test, which is the basis for many of the changes made to the program. Due to the change in screening test, women now receive different results from the previous program. This study aimed to examine after 12 months, the psychosocial impact of HPV test results and understanding of these results in a sample of women residing in Australia who have undergone screening under the renewed cervical screening program. Methods Participants were women residing in Australia aged 25 – 74 years who received cervical screening since December 2017 under the new guidelines. Participants were recruited through a market research company panel, Dynata and completed an online survey. Primary outcome measures were anxiety and general distress. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a sub-sample (n=26) of these women with different test results (HPV+, HPV-, don't know). Results 1004 women completed the online survey, with the majority testing HPV negative (81%) and only 47% of these knew that they were to screen again in five years' time. 6% tested HPV positive and 13% did not know their test result. HPV positive women were significantly more anxious (53.03 vs 43.58, p<0.001), distressed (3.94 vs 2.52, p=0.004) and concerned about their test result (5.02 vs 2.37, p<0.001) than HPV negative women. Concern regarding test results was also significantly higher in women who did not know their test result (3.20 vs 2.37, p<0.001) compared with HPV negative women. HPV positive women expressed greater distress about their test result (7.06 vs 4.74, p<0.001) and cancer worry (2.28 vs 1.73, p<0.001) than HPV negative women. HPV positive women also had greater knowledge of HPV (9.25 vs 6.62, p<0.001) and HPV testing (2.44 vs 1.30, p<0.001). Qualitative findings showed some women understood the HPV test is earlier detection and that HPV is common. A number of women said they had not been told about the changes when they went for their cervical screen. A greater understanding of the program changes was shown in HPV positive women. A degree of trust in the changes was demonstrated by some women by expressing faith in the rationale behind the renewal and in their doctor. Conclusion Receiving an HPV positive test result as part of the revised cervical screening program, was associated with significantly higher anxiety, general distress, concern about test results and distress about test results in women. Although qualitative findings showed HPV positive women had a greater understanding of the program changes, this may not suffice in mitigating this impact in these women. Not all women were told their results, which was also associated with concern about test results. Ensuring all women receive their results and information about what their results mean, could go some way to mitigate distress and concern in these women.


The implementation of a Quality Management System (QMS) in any organization requires efforts, planning, and everyone's involvement. The selection of consultancy services (if needed), and certification services through an Accredited Certification Body (ACB) has an important role in this process. This study aims to propose a structured model to support these two decisions by using a multicriteria focus (MCDA) to guide the design of a methodological framework. In addition, this study considers the maturity level of the organization, and the importance of continuous improvement after implementing ISO 9001. One of the differential points in this study is the detailed scientific technical foundation of the qualifying and selection criteria, of the consultancy and ACB by using ISO standards (9001, 10019, 17021, 19011), and the guidance document CB-25, which is related to quality. Finally, an application was made in a pharmaceutical industry using the PROMETHEE II method, and the GAIA plan. We adopted three scenarios.


For HTS (high-temperature superconductor) applications to electric power devices, superconductors are subjected to short-circuit fault currents 10 to 30 times the normal operating current. These over-currents will drive the HTS conductors normal and degrade or burn-out the HTS conductors. Therefore it is important to establish a novel thermal stability criterion for over-current pulse drive. In this study, we carried out preliminary experiments on the damage caused by over-current pulse drive focusing on the limitation of the temperature rise without degradation. We prepared five YBCO sample tapes fabricated with IBAD/PLD and IBAD/ MOCVD methods. Measurements were performed at 60 K and 80 K (conduction cooling with Gifford-McMahon cryocooler was adopted) in self-field. The experimental results indicated that the degradation of the sample tapes for the over-current pulse with a duration of 1 second depended on not the initial critical current Ic, but the peak temperature Tpeak. The permissible peak temperature without degradation existed at about 400-600 K. The sample tapes were also observed before and after the experiments by magneto-optic (MO) imaging to find the distribution of degradation area.


Long-term breastfeeding has been shown to exhibit several environmental benefits and health benefits for both the mother and baby. Despite the known advantages, several mothers choose not to maintain breastfeeding long-term. How long a mother breastfeeds is heavily influenced by lactation and latching, and so the mother's critical point of support is the lactation consultant (LC), who guides and provides instruction for creating a more positive breastfeeding experience. Empowering lactation consultants with methods to deliver instruction and support remotely is essential for advancing telehealth and wide-scale adoption. This paper presents findings from a need-finding study of 6 LC's that sheds light on ways to address some of the challenges faced by the LC community when providing remote lactation support. Based on the interviews, a number of potential technologies were identified around wearable sensing, annotation tools, and digital repository for virtual education.


Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder clinically characterized by cognitive impairment, abnormal behavior, and social deficits, which is intimately linked with excessive β-amyloid (Aβ) protein deposition along with many other misfolded proteins, neurofibrillary tangles formed by hyperphosphorylated tau protein aggregates, and mitochondrial damage in neurons, leading to neuron loss. Currently, research on the pathological mechanism of AD has been elucidated for decades, still no effective treatment for this complex disease was developed, and the existing therapeutic strategies are extremely erratic, thereby leading to irreversible and progressive cognitive decline in AD patients. Due to gradually mental dyscapacitating of AD patients, AD not only brings serious physical and psychological suffering to patients themselves, but also imposes huge economic burdens on family and society. Accordingly, it is very imperative to recapitulate the progress of gene editing-based precision medicine in the emerging fields. In this review, we will mainly focus on the application of CRISPR/Cas9 technique in the fields of AD research and gene therapy, and summarize the application of CRISPR/Cas9 in the aspects of AD model construction, screening of pathogenic genes, and target therapy. Finally, the development of delivery systems, which is a major challenge that hinders the clinical application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology will also be discussed.


The research tries to give response to a question that all Venezuelan people constantly ask: are economic resources of the nation well administered? Based on this question, we realize a study on the efficiency and the productivity of the State in the use of the gross domestic product (GDP) for generating social welfare, to increase the economic levels of the country and to cancel the foreign debt. The method used for the measurement of efficiency and productivity is the data envolvent analysis (DEA) and the Malmquist's Index, respectively. A certain period of the administration of the State was assumed and the variables of input certain were the GDP, the public and social expenses and, as output, macroeconomic variables and social indicators, among which are: education rate, life expectancy, etc. The results show that, during the last decade in Venezuela, there has been an inequitable distribution of money, because the state has not achieved the balance between generation of social welfare, the increase of the national economic development and payment of debts. Finally, the percentage of inefficiency in the use of social spending was proposed as a measure of all the vices affecting the government institutions.


In-situ resistivity (T) measurements have been used in air ambient to study the phase behavior above room temperature of the La2 CuO4+ system, in samples thermically treated in order to obtain oxygenated and deoxygenated samples. Our results in oxygenated samples have shown an anomaly at around 600 K corresponding to the orthorhombic to tetragonal structural phase transition. However, this anomaly was observed  with higher intensity in he first heating sweep in deoxygenated samples,  which we have attributed to the fast oxygen in-diffusion into the sample at around this temperature.


Although there has been an increase in research considering the positive effects of music with prosocial lyrics on people's behavior, little is known about the process by which this happens or about the factors that influence the effect of listening to songs with prosocial content. This study focused on the interaction between attention level and familiarity, two factors that, to some degree, determine the effect of this kind of music. Based on the general learning model, the reciprocal feedback model of music perception, and the elaboration likelihood model, an online experiment (n = 220) was conducted to test how people listening attentively to familiar or unfamiliar music with prosocial lyrics are affected, in comparison with those listening inattentively. The results yielded a significant interaction effect between attention and familiarity on prosocial behavior, indicating that only familiar songs with prosocial lyrics affect inattentive listeners, whereas attentive listeners are affected similarly by familiar and unfamiliar songs. Effects on emotions and an indirect effect of familiarity on prosocial behavior via activated pre-knowledge and positive emotions were also found. The results are discussed regarding their role in understanding the music reception process and their meaning for listeners' prosocial behavior.


High‐throughput sequencing makes it possible to evaluate thousands of genetic markers across genomes and populations. Reduced‐representation sequencing approaches, like double‐digest restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq), are frequently applied to screen for genetic variation. In particular in nonmodel organisms where whole‐genome sequencing is not yet feasible, ddRADseq has become popular as it allows genomewide assessment of variation patterns even in the absence of other genomic resources. However, while many tools are available for the analysis of ddRADseq data, few options exist to simulate ddRADseq data in order to evaluate the accuracy of downstream tools. The available tools either focus on the optimization of ddRAD experiment design or do not provide the information necessary for a detailed evaluation of different ddRAD analysis tools. For this task, a ground truth, that is, the underlying information of all effects in the data set, is required. Therefore, we here present ddrage, the ddRAD Data Set Generator, that allows both developers and users to evaluate their ddRAD analysis software. ddrage allows the user to adjust many parameters such as coverage and rates of mutations, sequencing errors or allelic dropouts, in order to generate a realistic simulated ddRADseq data set for given experimental scenarios and organisms. The simulated reads can be easily processed with available analysis software such as stacks or pyrad and evaluated against the underlying parameters used to generate the data to gauge the impact of different parameter values used during downstream data processing.


The process of identifying and performance forecasting of the remaining, feasible, and actionable field development opportunities (FDOs) is the core component of optimum field development planning and management. In the present work, we introduce a multiscale data-driven forecasting framework that applies a series of novel technologies to provide short- and long-term production forecast and optimization for both field and well level performance. Our workflow can be applied to a comprehensive FDO inventory including behind-pipe recompletion, infill drilling, and sidetrack opportunities. Using smart spatio-temporal clustering, we automatically divide the reservoir into a specific number of compartments with distinct static and dynamic properties, in which the direction-dependent multiphase flow communication is a function of nonlocal phase potential differences. The reservoir connectivity structure is encoded in an adjacency matrix describing the neighbor and non-neighbor connections of comprising compartments. We then apply a recently proposed robust Ensemble Smoother Levenberg-Marquardt (rES-LM) method to generate plausible model realizations which replicate the reservoir energy by adjusting first-order model parameters such as pore volumes, fault transmissibilities, aquifer strength, and matrix-fracture split. These calibrated upscaled network models serve as pre-conditioner for a detailed model calibration step. We carry out a second round of full-scale reservoir simulation model calibration, anchoring updates on large-scale model parameters estimated from the network model. Representative models are further improved in a sensitivity-based local inversion step to match multiphase production data at the well-level. This structured, multiscale approach offers improved stability in reservoir model calibration. Finally, calibrated models are directly passed to the forecasting and optimization engine to assess and optimize field opportunities and development scenarios. The proposed workflow is applied to a major fractured offshore field in South America. Leveraging the fast forward model, an efficient ensemble-based history matching framework was applied to reduce the uncertainty of the global reservoir parameters, such as inter-blocks and aquifer-reservoir communications, and fault transmissibilities. The ensemble of history-matched models was then used to provide a probabilistic forecast and optimization for different field development scenarios. A novel hybrid approach is presented in which we couple a physics-based nonlocal modeling framework with data-driven clustering techniques to provide a fast and accurate multiscale modeling of compartmentalized reservoirs. Our approach facilitates a flexible framework to rapidly generate reliable forecasts and quantify associated uncertainties in a robust manner. This advantage in flexibility and robustness is tied to our fast and automated two-stage model calibration workflow that leads to substantial saving in computational time. This research also adds to the literature by presenting a comprehensive work on spatio-temporal clustering for reservoir studies' applications that consider the clustering complexities, the intrinsic sparse and noisy nature of the data, and the interpretability of the outcome.


Due to the development of electric and hybrid vehicles, the trend has changed from hydraulic power steering system to electric power steering system (EPS). In this paper, design parameters are deduced through the structural analysis based on the finite element analysis for the intermediate shaft of the EPS on the market. By analyzing the design parameters, the structure design is improved to support the required high torque on the EPS. The numerical analysis is performed to obtain the improved design of the intermediate shaft model and the analysis results are compared with the existing model. It is noted through this numerical approach that the improved design of the intermediate shaft can be acquired the structural safety and high stiffness than existing model.


Advances in semiconductor technology have made it possible to build miniature but reliable biosensors. A network of such biosensors can be implanted in humans for health monitoring and prosthesis. However, such networks are fundamentally different from other wireless networks. They have a continuous but very small source of power. This energy constraint necessitates the use of highly energy-efficient communications protocols. We present two such protocols in the context of a biomedical application we are working on, namely, retinal prosthesis. Our first approach is a cluster-based protocol in which only a small fraction of the nodes make expensive long distance transmits to the external base station. Our second approach is a tree-based protocol. We also analyse the energy efficiency of these protocols while varying parameters such as number of nodes in the system and distance between nodes. Our analysis shows that the cluster-based protocol has better energy performance.


Background Conventional breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including dynamic contrast-enhanced MR mammography (DCE-MRM), may lead to ambiguous diagnosis and unnecessary biopsies. Purpose To investigate the contribution of proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) combined with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics in the discrimination between benign and malignant breast lesions. Material and Methods Fifty-one women with known breast abnormalities from conventional imaging were examined on a 3T MR scanner. DTI was performed during breast MRI, and fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were measured in the breast lesions and the contralateral normal breast. FA and ADC were compared between malignant lesions, benign lesions, and normal tissue. 1H-MRS was performed after gadolinium administration and choline peak was qualitatively evaluated. Results In our study 1H-MRS showed a sensitivity of 93.5%, specificity 80%, and accuracy 88.2%. FA was significantly higher in breast carcinomas compared to benign lesions. However, no significant difference was observed in ADC between benign and malignant lesions. The combination of Cho presence and FA achieved higher levels of accuracy and specificity in discriminating malignant from benign lesions over Cho presence or FA alone. Conclusion In conclusion, applying DTI and 1H-MRS together, adds incremental diagnostic value in the characterization of breast lesions and may sufficiently improve the low specificity of conventional breast MRI.


In order to assess the incidence of HIV mixed infection as well as to clarify the molecular epidemiology of HIV in central Africa, we investigated 43 HIVs obtained from 211 Cameroonian AC, ARC, and AIDS patients in 1994 and 1995. Part of the pol region and part of the env region were phylogenetically analyzed. The genotypes observed were varied: of 43 specimens, 28 (65%) were subtype A, 1 (2%) was subtype B, 2 (5%) were subtype D, 3 (7%) were subtype F, and 2 (5%) were group O. Of the remaining 7 specimens, 3 were mixed infections with HIV-1 subtypes A and C, HIV-1 subtypes C and F, and HIV-2 subtype A and HIV-1 subtype A; 1 was a mixed infection with HIV-1 subtypes A and D and the highly divergent group O (triple infection); another 3 appeared to consist of mosaic genomes (A/G, A/E, and B/A recombinant). These data show that various types of mixed infection, such as between different subtypes of HIV-1 group M, between HIV-1 and HIV-2, and even between HIV-1 groups O and M, were confirmed at a rather high frequency (approximately 10%). The mixed infection is particularly significant where there is a greater variety of HIV-1 subtypes circulating, since it results in new genetic diversity generated by intersubtype recombination.


We report a novel high-performance terahertz (THz) switch using photoconductivity modulation. By using a Ge or Si thin film capacitively coupled across a coplanar waveguide (CPW), a non-contact shunt switch configuration offering extremely low insertion loss and superior isolation at THz frequencies can be achieved. Physics-based modeling and HFSS full wave simulation from 110-220 GHz for a Ge-based switch show that an insertion loss (IL)<0.3 dB and isolation (Iso)>70 dB can be achieved with an illumination light intensity of 100 W/cm2. As a prototype to validate the approach, a micromachined Si chip of 73 μm thickness was mounted on top of D- and G-band CPWs on alumina substrates. To control the switch, an 808 nm wavelength fiber-coupled laser diode was used for illumination. On-wafer measurements over D- and G-bands agree with the simulations. At 170 GHz, the measured on-state IL was 0.4 dB, and the off-state isolation exceeded 32 dB. This outperforms most reported THz switches, across a range of technologies. The proposed THz switching is promising for developing high performance reconfigurable circuits required for more advanced THz sensing, imaging and communication applications.


Impulsivity in intertemporal choice has been operationalized as "delay discounting", referring to the preference for a sooner, smaller reward. FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) is a co‐chaperone of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). FKBP5 overexpression causes GR resistance, resulting in increased plasma cortisol levels. High cortisol levels are associated with low impulsivity in intertemporal choice. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FKBP5 on delay discounting.


Abstract We compared systematic and random survey techniques to estimate breeding population sizes of burrow-nesting petrel species on Marion Island. White-chinned (Procellaria aequinoctialis) and blue (Halobaena caerulea) petrel population sizes were estimated in systematic surveys (which attempt to count every colony) in 2009 and 2012, respectively. In 2015, we counted burrows of white-chinned, blue and great-winged (Pterodroma macroptera) petrels within 52 randomized strip transects (25 m wide, total 144 km). Burrow densities were extrapolated by Geographic Information System-derived habitat attributes (geology, vegetation, slope, elevation, aspect) to generate island-wide burrow estimates. Great-winged petrel burrows were found singly or in small groups at low densities (2 burrows ha−1); white-chinned petrel burrows were in loose clusters at moderate densities (3 burrows ha−1); and blue petrel burrows were in tight clusters at high densities (13 burrows ha−1). The random survey estimated 58% more white-chinned petrels but 42% fewer blue petrels than the systematic surveys. The results suggest that random transects are best suited for species that are widely distributed at low densities, but become increasingly poor for estimating population sizes of species with clustered distributions. Repeated fixed transects provide a robust way to monitor changes in colony density and area, but might fail to detect the formation/disappearance of new colonies.


A 74-year-old hypertensive presented with recurrent vitreous haemorrhage. Examination showed a ruptured retinal arterial macroaneurysm. Control of systemic hypertension was associated with resolution. Risk factors and management are discussed. Ruptured retinal arterial macroaneurysm should be considered in elderly hypertensive patients presenting with vitreous haemorrhage. Keywords: retinal arterial macroaneurysm; vitreous haemorrhage; systemic hypertension


The location, morphology and function of male internal reproductive organs in insects have been extensively studied, but the relative positioning of those organs is less understood. Position and morphology of the testis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle, accessory gland and ejaculatory duct determine the migration or ejaculation of sperm and other substances. In species where the testis is connected with the seminal vesicle directly or the seminal vesicle is lacking, males usually store complete sperm in the testis and thus can use them immediately for mating. In contrast, the testis of lepidopteran insects is separated from the duplex (sperm storage organ) via the vas deferens, and the sperm are not mature, requiring morphological development in the vas deferens. Here, we discuss the significance of various positional relationships of male reproductive organs and how this relates to their morphology and function with a focus on sperm.


In highly fractured heterogeneous reservoirs, such as found in the Monterey Formation of California, routine logging runs are commonly inconclusive as to delineation of the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir intervals. Organic geochemical well logging provides a means to identify and estimate the producibility of such intervals throughout the penetrated section. Various geochemical indices used in source rock assessment can be used to identify the presence of anomalously high levels of free hydrocarbons downhole. Many can be derived from Rock-Eval pyrolysis data of cuttings and core samples which is traditionally used as a screening tool for source rock assessment. The data from Rock-Eval can be used to identify potentially productive horizons. Well profiles of the S{sub 1}/TOC and KTR ratios highlight intervals that contain reservoired hydrocarbons, while depressed values of T{sub max} can be used to indicate high concentrations of asphaltenes. Estimations of the producibility (API gravity) of the reservoired crude may also be made by analyzing the cuttings samples using a modified pyrolysis gas chromatographic technique. Resolution of oils with API gravities of approximately 20-25{degree} or less is possible. The recognition of these heavy and extra-heavy oils prior to drill-stem testing is economically important. The application of these techniques to studies frommore » offshore California will be presented.« less


Infertile women who receive in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) often present psychological distress such as anxiety, depression and perceived stress. This adverse psychological state can affect the immune homeostasis at the mother-fetus interface, the incubation of blastula and the receptivity of the maternal endometrium through the psycho-neuro-immuno-endocrine network, which in turns affect the proliferation, invasion and vascular remodeling of the embryo trophoblast, and reduces the success rate of embryo transfer. This adverse outcome of embryo transfer will further aggravate the psychological pain of patients, forming a vicious circle. The positive partner effect between husband and wife or the use of cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, yoga and other measures for psychological intervention before and after IVF-ET, may break the vicious cycle and improve clinical pregnancy rate, continuous pregnancy rate and live birth rate after IVF-ET by alleviating anxiety and depression. This article reviews the research progress on anxiety and depression states in women receiving IVF-ET and the impact on outcome of IVF-ET and related mechanisms, as well as the application of psychological intervention for alleviating anxiety and depression, so as to provide insights in improving the outcome of IVF-ET.


Temperate forests represent a major ecological and economic resource across much of the globe. As in many ecosystems, belowground ecology in temperate forests is poorly understood and quantification of many biogeochemical fluxes belowground may be weakly constrained. Fine roots control plant uptake of soil resources such as water and nutrients as well as a major flux of carbon from plants into soil through production and turnover. However, basic patterns of fine root dynamics across species remain elusive and model incorporation of these processes may be inadequate. We address these limitations through both field observations and modeling activities. In Chapter 2 we identified relationships between fine root lifespan with plant growth rate, stem wood density, root diameter, and root nitrogen to carbon ratios across 12 temperate species grown in a common garden in central Pennsylvania, USA. We then further explored the relationships between timing and interannual variation in the amount of root production with different measures of fine root turnover in Chapter 3. Here, results indicated that despite relatively little attention previously given to patterns of root phenology and production, both may have strong effects on root turnover rates in temperate forests and potentially across most perennial plant ecosystems. We then conducted a sensitivity test of four different models of terrestrial biogeochemistry to adjustments in fine root turnover rates and discovered that reasonable adjustments of root turnover rate resulted in substantial changes in total systems carbon (i.e. all live and dead plant carbon plus all soil carbon) that were greater than 30% in some cases (Chapter 4). Finally, given the uncertainty in model parameterizations of fine root dynamics, in Chapter 5 we developed a method to describe fine root lifespan and turnover at broad spatial scales using known distributions of temperate tree species combined with species-specific estimates of root dynamics estimated using direct observations and patterns discovered in Chapters 2 and 3. Future efforts should expand to better appreciate how climate and edaphic factors drive variation in fine root dynamics within species and broadly across sites.


Navigation problems in a hypertext might be reduced, if multiple, coherent views of the hypertext were available. Document outlines help readers appreciate the structure and meaning of the document. We propose measures of syntactic and lexical balance in an outline and show in a sample of documents the degree to which these balances occur. Based on balance in an outline, a method for semi‐automatically generating an alternative outline is applied to one textbook. The textbook with both its original and its alternative outline is available in hypertext, and subjects who were asked to evaluate this hypertext noted that the alternative outline would help readers compare concepts in the textbook. The computer programs for generating outlines have been used in several writing tasks, including the writing of this paper.


Steel structure modular residence is the outstanding residential industrialization. It has many advantages, such as the low whole cost, high resource recovery, a high degree of industrialization. This paper compares the comprehensive benefits of steel structural in modular buildings with prefabricated reinforced concrete residential from economic benefits, environmental benefits, social benefits and technical benefits by the method of entropy evaluation. Finally, it is concluded that the comprehensive benefits of steel structural in modular buildings is better than that of prefabricated reinforced concrete residential. The conclusion of this study will provide certain reference significance to the development of steel structural in modular buildings in China.


BACKGROUND
A rotary blood pump with a passively levitated impeller and a large bearing gap between housing and impeller in the range of 0.6 mm has been developed for Left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study is to determine the optimal injection angle of the impeller to improve its radial stability by increasing the radial suspension force.

MTEHODS
Since the radial and axial suspension forces generated by an injection channel were equal, the axial suspension force obtained from numerical simulation was chosen as the evaluation parameter. First, the impellers with different injection angles were calculated with numerical simulation to obtain the maximum axial suspension force. Second, the radial motion of the impeller was experimentally measured for the evaluation of the radial stability.

RESULTS
The numerical analysis revealed that the axial suspension force acting on the impeller reached the maximum value at the injection angle of 60 degrees. In the measurement test, the impeller with injection angle of 60 degrees achieved the most stable radial movement. Therefore, the effectiveness of the numerical analysis was validated.

CONCLUSIONS
The injection angle of impeller could be optimized to improve its radial stability, and the optimal injection angle was 60 degrees.


In December 1774, seventeen-year-old Carl August, Prince of Saxe Weimar, met the celebrated young author Johann Wolfgang Goethe in a Frankfurt hotel room. The meeting was cordial, indeed the two men got along together so splendidly that, less than a year later, Goethe accepted the prince's invitation to move to Weimar, where he would spend the rest of his long and incredibly productive life. I begin with this familiar scene – so beautifully rendered and analysed in Nicholas Boyle's distinguished biography of the poet – because it neatly captures several of the motifs in the complex relationship between culture and power in the eighteenth century.1 First and most obvious is the persistent significance of the court, whose seductive blend of artistic possibilities and political influence led Goethe to disregard his father's opposition and take up residence in Carl August's small Thuringian state. Second, there is the new significance of public culture, reflected here in Goethe's position as literary celebrity, which had caused a member of the prince's entourage to seek out the author of The Sorrows of Young Werther and which would make Goethe such an attractive presence in Carl August's entourage. Both prince and poet needed one another, both acquired prestige and a kind of power from the other's presence. Court and public were not just alternative sites of cultural practice, they often worked together, each reinforcing the other. Just behind the surface of this meeting of poet and prince, court and public, we can see some of the difficulties involved in understanding the relationship between eighteenth-century culture and power. Consider, for example, how difficult it is to fit Goethe into any of the usual social categories – he remains a Bürger among courtiers, a courtier among Bürger, a civil servant, a 'favourite' and, most of all, a citizen of the republic of letters. Goethe's relationship to German nationalism is no


From the analysis of the electronic specific heat Ces and the entropy Ss of the superconducting phase of nine samples of high temperature superconductor (HTS) La2-xSrxCuO4 (La:214) of Sr doping rates (0.03≤x≤0.24), it is shown that the normal state pseudogap opens abruptly in the weakly overdoped region at the critical doping pcrit (Where x=0.20 and the hole concentration in CuO2 planes is 0.19 holes/CuO2) and increases as Eg(p)~1500(1-p/pcrit.)(K) at lower doping . The condensation energy Ec(0) peaks strongly at the optimal doping dopt (where x=0.17 and the hole concentration in CuO2 planes is 0.16 holes/CuO2), exhibiting strong BSC like superconductivity (Ec(0)/γnTc~ 0.52 for p>popt) and weak superconductivity below pdopt . It can be concluded that the pseudogap is a property of the normal state NS density of state DOS and is not related to precursor superconducting fluctuations.


Additionally, a recent theoretical model on the evolution of cooperation (which was modelled as respect for resource possession) found that cooperation was stabilised when resource holders (or other individuals) responded to 'raiding' (attempts to steal the resource) with retaliation (i.e. punishment). Nevertheless, when the level of inequality between resource-holders and resource-seekers exceeds a critical threshold (which can be thought of as akin to variation in payoff differences among players in a laboratory game), then cooperation collapses and raiding strategies come to dominate the population until this inequality is reduced. This model, although not explicitly framed in terms of cooperation and punishment, illustrates the evolutionary logic of considering relative payoff differences in understanding the evolution of cooperation and punishment in nature. (Hare et al. 2016).


Almost three hundred absorption lines of the v1 fundamental band of NF2(X͂2B1) have been assigned by using high resolution infrared spectroscopy with tunable diode lasers. The spectrum resembles a perpendicular band of a prolate symmetric top with Q-branches which have high Ka quantum numbers presenting the most distinguishable features. A combined fit of nearly one hundred infrared lines and eighteen microwave transitions yields a new set of rotational, distortion and spin-rotation parameters for the v1 = 1 level. The band centre is 1074.9897(8) cm-1. A preliminary analysis of the v1 - v3 Coriolis interaction through the inertial defect is presented.


Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a sophisticated technique of all-weather radar imaging capable of producing fine detailed images from a moving platform. When such a radar is placed on-board a satellite, compression of the raw SAR signal is necessary to reduce the large amount of collected data for downlink to a ground station within the bandwidth constraints. We present a transform-based compression system using Haar wavelet, Battle-Lemarie wavelets (linear and quadratic) and Daubechies wavelets (D-4 and D-20). The transformed data are then quantized using a bit allocation strategy. We take advantage of the multiresolution analysis to use different quantizers in each frequency band of wavelet coefficients. Since the wavelets considered here form orthonormal bases, the reconstruction is guaranteed in each case. Experimental results point out the advantages and drawbacks of this approach.


This study was designed to evaluate the anticancer Effects of the beta glucan (ß- glucan ) extract of the Saccharomyces cerevieses on cancer cell lines . In vitro study was performed on two cancer cell lines (murine mammary adenocarcinoma AMN-3 cell line) and rat emberyogenic fibroblast (Ref) as normal cell line. Periods of exposure of cell lines were measured at 24-hours, 48-hr, and 72-hr in a microtitration plate under complete sterile conditions. Different concentrations starting from (5,50,500, 1000) µg/ml of two fold dilution for extract were prepared and tested on each cell lines, The extract showed concentration and time dependence growth inhibitory effects, and the highest effect was obtained from beta glucan extract at higher concentrations after 48 hr. of exposures on AMN3, that the higher concentrations gave a significantly (P<0.05) and the higher inhibition growth rate of cells were increased at 24 hours.


The capacity of the optical communication infrastructure in backbone networks has increased 1000-fold over the last 20 years. Despite this rapid progress, internet traffic is continuing to grow at an annual rate of 40%. This means that in 20 years, we will need petabit/s or even exabit/s optical communication. In this paper, we present recent challenges and efforts toward achieving a hardware paradigm shift to overcome the capacity limitation imposed by the current optical communication infrastructure. We will overview the latest advances on the three "multi" technologies, i.e., multi-level transmission with ultrahigh spectral efficiency, space division multiplexing in multi-core fibers, and mode division multiplexing with multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO).


This technical note proposes a novel output-feedback control law based on a finite impulse response (FIR)-type quasi-deadbeat observer for linear systems. For nominal systems without disturbances, this technical note first establishes the deadbeat condition that reduces the state estimation error to zero within a finite time and verifies that all the hidden poles of the closed-loop system under the quasi-deadbeat observer-based control law are zero and that the separation principle holds true. In order to enhance the disturbance rejection capability for systems with random-work disturbances, on the structural merit of the FIR-type observer, we have proposed the conditions for an H infin quasi-deadbeat observer and an H infin stabilizer based on the predetermined observer, respectively.


Photodynamic therapy (PDT) can be defined as a kind of intracellular photocatalysis. Inspired by the design of photocatalysts, the construction of the heterojunction also is expected to improve the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for PDT. Herein, the Cu2-xSe/Bi2Se3@PEG (CB3@PEG) nano-heterostructure has been prepared by a cation-exchange process, where the interaction between the host and exchange agent is vital. CB3@PEG exhibits the near-infrared (NIR)-triggered hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen (˙OH and 1O2) generation, which is more than 6 times in contrast with that of pure Cu2-xSe@PEG, attributed to the Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism with the high redox ability and great charge separation. Moreover, with the narrower band gap of Bi2Se3, CB3@PEG exhibits enhanced NIR harvest as well as high photothermal conversion efficiency (60.4%). Due to the Fenton reaction caused by the Cu ion, CB3@PEG is endowed with the chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and signal-enhanced T1-weight magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) capacity. In addition, the great photothermal ability and X-ray absorption coefficient provide outstanding contrast in photothermal imaging (PTI) and computerized tomography (CT) imaging. Finally, the multi-imaging combined with the synergistic treatment (PTT/CDT/PDT) makes CB3@PEG achieve enhanced efficiency in anticancer therapy.


WEST GERMANY A Coalition of Weakness A G Noorani IN a year of elections in Europe it is tempting to draw conclusions from the results and detect a "wave'' sweeping all the countries. But as the CDU leader Helmut Kohl has discovered to his chagrin the exercise, though fascinating, is hazardous. His telegram to the Swedish Conservatives leader Gosta Bohman on the morrow of the poll in Sweden read "your election victory is a signal for Europe not to turn over our continent to the socialist international". The West German electorate was not impressed. It returned the governing]: SPD-FDP coalition to power on October 3 though by a reduced majority. The pundits may well debate on what the election results portend for the continent in the light of the elections to the first parliament in Portugal after more than sixty years and the general election in Italy. The consequence of the electoral verdict of October 3 seems far more clear and it was spelt out by Helmut Kohl himself with greater realism than his earlier prediction. It is a "coalition of weakness'' which will govern West Germany, which some will see as a "disturbing" development in a country which more than any other in Western Europe had seemed a model of "stability".


Methods have been developed for the preparation of radioiodinated N-substituted 2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-chlorophenyl)tropanes. The syntheses, physical properties, radiolabeling, and characterization of the pharmacological properties of N-(3(Z)-iodopropen-1-yl)-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-chlorophenyl)tropane (12) and N-(3(E)-iodopropen-1-yl)-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-chlorophenyl)tropane (13) are described. 2 beta-Carbomethoxy-3 beta-(p-substituted-phenyl)tropanes are potent ligands for the dopamine transporter. The radioiodinated derivatives are of interest because of the high uptake and prolonged striatal retention that may result from specific binding to low-capacity, high-affinity, dopamine reuptake sites. Radioiodine was introduced into the 3Z and 3E-position of N-(3-iodopropen-1-yl)-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-chlorophenyl)tropane by iododemetalation of the corresponding 3-(tri-n-butylstannyl) derivatives. Competition binding data of various dopamine reuptake ligands with rat striatal tissue preparation for either [125I]-12 or [125I]-13 exhibited the following order of potency: E-13 > Z-12 > GBR 12909 >> mazindol >>> (-)-cocaine. Tissue distribution studies in rats showed that the E-13 was the best analogue. E-13 showed high striatal uptake (60 min, 1.23% dose/g; 120 min, 0.61% dose/g) and high striatal to cerebellum ratios (60 min, 15.9/1; 120 min, 16.5/1). These studies indicate that iodine-123-labeled E-13 is a potentially useful agent for imaging the dopamine reuptake sites by single-photon-emission computerized tomography.


From the early twentieth century, many Australian farm products have had their prices set by some form of intervention, often administered by a statutory marketing board. Wool was different: intervention, other than war-related exigencies, came much later and in a different mechanism, a reserve price scheme (hereafter RPS). The RPS that operated from 1970 until its collapse in 1991 has been roundly criticised. Four key elements explain the belated emergence and particular form of price controls: the specific characteristics of wool its importance to the economy, its export orientation, and its non-perishability; the shifting locus of economic and political power in favour of small farmers; the declining influence of the wool-selling brokers and their associations; and the rise of statutory bodies and their capture by key figures supporting increased government participation.


The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry recently introduced a new subject matter category titled "Bioactive Constituents" to cover investigations of the composition of natural compounds and their biological activity in crops and foods. It is recognized by the Editors that a number of other journals specialize in various aspects of the chemistry of natural products, but the intent of this classification is to emphasize and stimulate submission of manuscripts in such areas of agricultural and food chemistry that have so far been neglected or under-represented. Selected topics dealing with bioactive constituents are given as representative examples of the types of investigations that would be appropriate to the scope of the Journal.


The longitudinal instability in the long-wavelength range is observed experimentally at GSI. Two different simulation schemes (Particle-In-Cell and direct integration on a grid) are employed to understand the long time evolution of the instability.


The development of a synthetic model of a pregnant woman abdomen with amniotic fluid and a fetus is discussed comprehensively in this paper. The model is intended to be used for studying the light propagation through physical 3D model of pregnant woman in reflectance mode. To construct the model, reported dimension values of body curvature in 26 and 28 weeks of pregnant woman are being used as main references. Although slightly adjustments have been made to the body dimensions, the values are still within the range of reference values. Optical simulation has been performed in order to test the model capability. Given the reasonable computational time and encouraging preliminary results, the developed model will be beneficial in biomedical optic studies related to pregnant woman.


Examination of new data of the Mexican government securities primary auctions shows, not only that there exists underpricing with respect to the secondary market in CETES, the zero coupon Treasury bonds, of 28, 91, 182, and 365 days maturity, but also that such underpricing tends to increase over time, especially during the period of 1996-2000. This study also finds that changes to the auction format employed by the Mexican Treasury do not fully account for this pattern because in spite that since 1995 the discriminatory format is in place, some modifications have been adopted with the purpose of improving sales conditions in the primary auctions, like setting common maximum bidding limits for all participants or reopening securities issues with high observed interest rates. Usual factors assumed to affect auction prices by existing models, like competition level, bidder participation and market uncertainty seem to play a role. However, evidence is also found that some factors related to secondary market features suggested by the finance microstructure literature, like liquidity, inventory and adverse selection costs may be playing an even more important role. Overall, these findings provide confirmation of the relevance of resale markets and suggests that: 1) it may be fruitful to add some of these latter features in future theoretical models about government securities markets and 2) to improve secondary market conditions may be important to enhance efficiency in the primary market.


Abstract The Strathspey Field was the first sub-sea development in the North Sea to be tied back to a third party operator, the Ninian Field now operated by Canadian Natural Resources (CNR). The field was discovered in 1975 by well 3/4-4 and lies wholly within Block 3/4a. The field is a tilted fault block, unconformity trap and consists of two separate reservoirs, a volatile oil and a gas condensate reservoir: the Middle Jurassic, Brent Group and the Lower Jurassic/Upper Triassic, Banks Group respectively. Two 3D seismic surveys cover the field, the most recent being a Vertical Cable Seismic survey recorded in 1996. The Banks Group reservoir is produced under depletion drive by five wells and the Brent Group reservoir by water flooding with 3 water injectors and 6 producing wells. In place volumes are 290 BCF and 90MMSTB for the Banks Group and 120MMSTR in the Brent Group Reservoir. Ultimate recoveries are estimated to be 230BSCF, 22MMBBL and 70MMSTB, 88 BSCF respectively. Oil export is via the Ninian pipeline system to Sullom Voe, while gas export is through the Far North Liquids and Gas System (FLAGS) pipeline system to St Fergus.]


Background and Objectives: Probiotic yeasts are used in production of functional foods and pharmaceutical products. They play an important role in promoting and maintaining human health. Until now, little work has been published on improving the survival of Saccharomyces in stimulated gastrointestinal condition. Material and Methods: In this study the exposure of the yeast in the capsulate and free forms to artificial gastrointestinal conditions was assessed and the number of viable Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells during 0 to 120 mines in these conditions was evaluated by a pour plate method using sabouraud dextrose agar. Results: Results showed the shape of the beads was generally spherical, sometimes elliptical with a mean diameter of about 50–90 μm. Also count of viable probiotic cells obtained for all the microcapsules were above the recommended levels for a probiotic food. Also decrease of approximately 4 logs was noted in the number of free cells after 2 h of incubation at pH 2 and 8, when compared to decreases of about 2 logs in the all microencapsulated S. cerevisiae under similar conditions. Conclusion: It is concluded that microencapsulation process was significantly able to increase the survival rate of Saccharomyces in a simulated gastrointestinal condition (p<0.05)..


Grooming is an important factor on animal resistance to ticks. Rhipicephalus microplus is the most pathogenic cattle tick in Brazil causing death in susceptible animals. Cortisol is the hormone of stress. The influence of grooming on tick infestation and serum cortisol level was studied in 16 Holstein heifers from fifth to eight-month-old. They were infested with 10,000 larvae in June/20/2011. Half of them used a necklace made of wood strips and had an infestation chamber made by cotton cloth covering about 50 cm diameter of the shaved flank, fixed at the skin in both sides with adhesive to prevent larvae to escape from the infestation chamber and the amount of larvae was divided into the two chambers. Such artifacts had the purpose to avoid grooming. The heifers remained all the tick parasitic life cycle in individual pens inside a closed shed at Instituto de Zootecnia, in Nova Odessa, Sao Paulo State. Tick females bigger than 4.5 mm were counted in the right side from day 20 to 22 after the artificial infestation. The tick recovery rate was calculated by adding and multiplying by two the number of ticks counted, assuming that 5,000 female larvae had infested the cattle. Immediately before infestation (day 0) and in day2, day8, and day17 after infestation, blood samples were collected using vacuum tubes, in the morning (8:30 – 10:00 A.M.). Cortisol was measured by immunoassay (EIA) and the D.O. (optical density) at 420 nm was converted in ng of cortisol/mL of serum sample. The experimental design was randomized with 8 replications. Data from serum cortisol were analyzed using the General linear models of the SPSS® statistical package (version 12.0) using the presence of the artifacts (necklace and chamber) and sampling day as independent variables and serum cortisol as the dependent variable. In the analyse of tick recovery rate, the presence of artifacts was the independent variable and tick recovery rate the dependent variable. The presence of chamber and necklace did not affect the cortisol level, although they had prevented grooming. Consequently, animals with the artifacts had more ticks than the ones with no artifacts (34.56% versus 14.9% tick recovery rate, P< 0.05). The last blood sample collection had revealed an increase on the cortisol level, coinciding with the final parasitic life cycle of R. microplus (Table 1). No significant correlation were detected between cortisol levels and the tick recovery rate. Grooming is important to decrease the cattle tick infestation, but its limitation presented in this study, did not elevate the serum cortisol level, related to animal stress.


In this book, you will find algebraic exercises and problems,grouped by chapters, intended for higher grades in high schools or middle schools of general education. Its purpose is to facilitate training in mathematics for students in all high school categories, but can be equally helpful in a standalone work. The book can also be used as an extracurricular source, as the reader shall find enclosed important theorems and formulas, standard definitions and notions that are not always included in school textbooks.


Genome-scale metabolic models for new organisms include thousands of reactions. In most cases these reactions are automatically inferred by methods that combine databases of re- actions and pathways with genomic information and existing models for similar organisms [1]. Genomic data for the new organism is compared to the data of the reference organism, to find genomic evidence such as the presence of catalysing enzymes for the reactions conserved in the new organism. Starting from the inference of a draft model, the model refinement process includes several iterations of model analysis, error detection, and improvement [2]. The models produced at each iteration are intended for computer simulation, and so describe all the reactions thought to participate in the organism's metabolism. Although automatic model inference tools and genome comparison methods are becoming more and more advanced, they still may leave gaps in the model or add erroneous reactions. Thus, model evaluation by human experts remains important at all the iteration steps. However, because of their completeness, genome-scale models are too detailed and complicated to be easily understood by a human. The abundance of reactions in the model may hide errors. For example, if in a genome-scale model of an yeast Yarrowia lypolitica (MODEL1111190000 [3]) the enzyme EC 126.96.36.199 were missing, the whole group of Acyl-CoA:acetyl-CoA C-acyltransferase reactions participating in the Beta-oxidation of fatty acids pathway [4] would be eliminated: one for each of the six 3-oxoacyl-CoA species (3-oxodecanoyl-CoA, 3-oxohexacosanoyl-CoA, 3-oxolauroyl-CoA, 3-oxooctadecanoyl-CoA, 3-oxopalmitoyl-CoA, and 3-oxotetradecanoyl-CoA) present in the model. However, the absence of these six reactions would be hidden by the other 59 reactions in the constitutive peroxisome of Yarrowia lypolitica, and a human expert may have difficulty noticing the error. To aid human understanding of these complete models, we developed a method for knowledge- based zooming that provides a higher-level view of a model while keeping its essential structure. The zooming process groups chemical species present in the model into semantically equivalent classes, and merges them into a generalized chemical species. The ubiquitous species, that partici- pate in many reactions and are common to most of the models, e.g. water, ATP, oxygen, do not need to be generalized: Each of them forms a trivial equivalence class. The other species are divided into non-trivial equivalence classes, based on their hierarchical relationships in the ChEBI on- tology [5], and generalized accordingly. For example, 3-oxodecanoyl-CoA, 3-oxohexacosanoyl- CoA, and 3-oxolauroyl-CoA can be all generalized into 3-oxoacyl-CoA. Reactions that involve same generalized chemical species are then factored together into a generalized reaction. The zooming process is represented on figure Fig. 1. By applying this process, we can build a simplified model that focusses on the high level relation- ships. Our method obeys several consistency restrictions, such as conserving the number of dis- tinct species participating in each reaction (i.e. preserving reaction stoichiometry); and preserv- ing connectivity, i.e. for every pair of reactions sharing a reactant/product in the initial model, the "zoomed out" reactions share the "zoomed out" reactant/product. We implemented our method (in Python) and applied it to several genome-scale metabolic models.


INTRODUCTION
The influence of adolescent obesity on weight loss following bariatric surgery in adults has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of prior adolescent obesity on long-term weight changes following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in adulthood.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
This single centre retrospective cohort study evaluated changes in body mass index (BMI) after RYGB within 9-13 years. Questionnaires were sent by post to patients (n = 147) operated on between January 1999 and December 2003 in the Department of General and Transplant Surgery of Medical University, Lodz, Poland. Long-term data was obtained from 33.33% (n = 49, mean age 46.1 ± 10.7 years). Preoperative, nadir and actual BMI and differences between these values were calculated. Data was analysed with a cut-off BMI at 18 years old of 30 and 35 units (U).

RESULTS
Patients with a BMI of more than 30 and 35 U in adulthood regained more weight after initial achievement of nadir total weight loss compared to their only adult obese counterparts. Preoperative BMI varied by weight at 18 years old (p = 0.02), while value and time to nadir postoperative BMI and actual BMI were comparable.

CONCLUSION
Adolescent obesity may be a risk factor for long-term RYGB failure. Surgery cannot be definitively curative in this group of patients, and continued active conservative treatment is required.


Functional and perfusion imaging modalities are closely related since they both measure, directly or indirectly, blood flow in the brain. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) using the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast exploits the magnetic properties of blood (oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin) to measure local changes in blood oxygen concentration in the brain. The neurovascular coupling allows us to infer brain function from fMRI images. Perfusion MRI images the cerebral vascular system by directly measuring blood flow. In particular, Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) does not need contrast agents; it uses spins of endogenous water protons as a tracer instead. Usually ASL is used to probe the basal perfusion at rest. However, in the recent years, it has also been used as a functional imaging modality (as fASL) by tracking task-related perfusion changes. In contrast to the standard BOLD fMRI, results are quantitative, making this type of data attractive for use in clinical research.This thesis focuses on the investigation of the fASL modality and the development of new methods to analyze it. As previously done for BOLD data, a Bayesian framework is proposed for the analysis of fASL data. It provides a way of modeling activation values and both hemodynamic and perfusion response functions as probabilistic variables in the so-called joint detection estimation (JDE) framework. Bayesian models use a priori knowledge in the estimation of unknown parameters through the specification of probability distributions. In this work, we exploit this feature to incorporate physiological information to make the estimation more robust. In particular, we use physiological models based on the balloon model to derive a link between hemodynamic and perfusion responses and we turn this link into a prior distribution to regularize the estimation of the responses. A Markov Chain Monte Carlo solution with prior physiological knowledge has been first proposed for the estimation of the quantities contained in the fMRI signal. Since the computational cost of this algorithm is very high, we then reformulate the problem to use a variational expectation maximization approach that provides a much faster algorithm with similar results. The use of priors and constraints in this setting is also more straightforward.These methods have been evaluated on two different datasets using event-related and block designs with very simple experimental tasks. We show the performance of the methods investigated in comparison to standard methods at the subject and group levels. Experimental results show the utility of using physiological priors for improving the recovery of a perfusion response function. They also demonstrate that BOLD fMRI achieves better sensitivity to detect evoked brain activity as compared to fASL although fASL gives a more localized activation, which is in line with the existing literature. From the results, we discuss the impact of the modelling of spatial correlation, as well as the impact of the estimation of temporal responses.This work proposes new methodological contributions in the study of a relatively new fMRI modality that is functional ASL, and puts it into perspective with the existing techniques. Thus, we provide new tools for the neuroscientific community to study and understand brain function. These tools have been implemented in python in the PyHRF package.


Arteries are heterogeneous, composite structures that undergo large cyclic deformations
during blood transport. Presence, build-up and consequent rupture of blockages in blood
vessels, called atherosclerotic plaques, lead to disruption in the blood flow that can eventually
be fatal. Abnormal lipid profile and hypertension are the main risk factors for plaque
progression. Treatments span from pharmacological methods, to minimally invasive balloon
angioplasty and stent procedures, and finally to surgical alternatives. There is a need to
understand arterial disease progression and devise methods to detect, control, treat and
manage arterial disease through early intervention. Local delivery through drug eluting stents
also provide an attractive option for maintaining vessel integrity and restoring blood flow
while releasing controlled amount of drug to reduce and alleviate symptoms. Development of
drug eluting stents is hence interesting albeit challenging because it requires an integration of
knowledge of mechanical properties with material transport of drug through the arterial wall
to produce a desired biochemical effect. Although experimental models are useful in studying
such complex multivariate phenomena, numerical models of mass transport in the vessel have proved immensely useful to understand and delineate complex interactions between chemical species, physical parameters and biological variables. The goals of this review are to summarize literature based on studies of mass transport involving low density lipoproteins in the arterial wall. We also discuss numerical models of drug elution from stents in layered and porous arterial walls that provide a unique platform that can be exploited for the design of novel drug eluting stents.


Introduction: NK cells are currently being explored as a treatment modality for many oncologic diseases. However, the small number of NK cells in the circulation, approximately 5-15%, may limit the effectiveness of host NK cell immunity against cancer. Several methods to expand NK cells for subsequent adoptive infusion in cancer patients have been explored, including culturing NK cells in vitro with interleukin-2 (IL-2). Unfortunately, IL-2 stimulation alone results in only a small increase in NK cell proliferation. Recently, a novel in vitro method for large scale NK cell expansions using irradiated EBV-LCL feeder cells has been developed and is currently being utilized in an NHLBI clinical trial. Purpose: The aims of this study included: a) to identify differences in susceptibility to apoptotic pathways between fresh, overnight IL-2 activated, and expanded NK cells by comparing the death receptors DR4, DR5, and Fas; b) to determine when Fas expression is acquired on IL-2 activated NK cells; and c) to determine if Fas expression differs on NK cells expanded with different feeder cell populations. Methods: NK cells from healthy donors were isolated using CD56+ magnetic selection beads. Using flow cytometry, we examined Fas, DR4, and DR5 expression on fresh, overnight IL-2 activated, and NK cells expanded with either EBV-LCL or K562 41bb ligand transfected feeder cells for 7-14 days. To assess susceptibility to Fas mediated apoptosis, each NK cell group was cultured with recombinant FasL (rhFasL) for 12 hours with Annexin V expression by flow cytometry used to measure apoptosis. In addition, Fas expression was examined over multiple days for both IL-2 activated NK cells and expanded NK cells. Results: Fas expression was similar on overnight IL-2 activated NK cells compared to fresh NK cells. In contrast, NK cells maintained in IL-2 for more than 2 days and expanded NK cells had a substantial increase in Fas expression. Similar increases in Fas expression were seen in NK cells expanded with either EBV-LCL or K562 41bb ligand transfected feeder cells. Enhanced Fas expression was associated with increased susceptibility to rhFasL mediated apoptosis; the fold increase in Annexin V induced by rhFasL at 12 hours was significantly higher amongst expanded NK cells (5.6 fold increase; p = 0.0001) compared to either fresh NK cells (1.2 fold increase; p = 0.32) or overnight IL-2 activated NK cells (1.0 fold increase; p = 0.62). In contrast to Fas, surface expression of the TRAIL death receptors DR4 and DR5 were similar amongst all NK cell populations analyzed. Conclusion: These data show for the first time that expanded NK cells are more susceptible to Fas mediated apoptosis compared to fresh and overnight IL-2 activated NK cells. Whether expanded NK cells are more susceptible to apoptosis mediated by tumor cells expressing Fas Ligand in vitro and in vivo is currently being investigated. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1271.


This article shows that governments have no incentive to introduce nontariff barriers (NTBs) when they are free to set tariffs but they do when tariffs are determined cooperatively. Quotas are preferred to antidumping restrictions so that the model is consistent with a progression from using tariffs only to quotas and then to antidumping constraints (when quotas are eliminated). There is a corresponding narrowing of the range of industries affected by trade restrictions. Simulating the model, the degree of tariff liberalization and of replacement of tariffs by NTBs are shown to depend on industry characteristics in line with stylized facts. Copyright 2003, Oxford University Press.


: The Philadelphia Women's Health Sister Studies examined protective options against HIV and sexually transmitted diseases with women. A total of 292 women participating in the study were subdivided into a male condom arm, a female condom arm, and a hierarchy arm. Findings showed that the percentage of women retained in the study was poorest for the single message arm; about 51% for the female condom arm, 58% for the male condom arm, and 75% for the hierarchy arm. Moreover, most women were satisfied using the female condom. Well-liked aspects were high level of protection, natural feel, and female control; dislikes were related to insertion, appearance, and the inner ring. This study has important implications for women's prevention interventions.


We present periodicity search analyses on long-term radio light curves at 4.8, 8, and 14.5 GHz of blazar PKS 0607–157 observed by the University of Michigan Radio Astronomical Observatory telescope. The highly variable radio emissions are approximately distributed as a log-normal probability distribution function. The Power Spectral Density for the radio light curves can be well characterized by a power-law model. Using the Weighted Wavelet Z-transform and Lomb-Scargle periodogram methods, significant Quasi-periodic Oscillation (QPO) of ∼4.6 yr in the radio light curve has been observed above the 3σ confidence level, which presents an interesting case among blazar QPO phenomena. We explore three plausible physical models to explain the observed QPOs: a supermassive binary black hole system, Lense-Thirring precession of the disk, and helical motion of plasma blobs within the jet.


The thesis examines the operations and outcomes of the Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Matetsi ward. It examines the causes of conflicts and consequences of the conflicts in the SHGs. This is achieved by adopting the conflict transformation approach. Succinctly, the theory views conflict as not necessarily destructive, but as a vehicle for change. This therefore, has implications for one's understanding of the causes of conflicts. SHGs have been adopted by rural women so that they can work collectively to address their socio-economic problems. The study was conducted in Matetsi ward, Hwange District where conflicts within the groups were broadly detected. The information used in the study were produced from face-to-face interviews, focus group discussions, minute books and testimonials throughout field work in the designated ward. The study exposed that conflicts in the study location emanated from delays in loan repayments by SHG members. Individuals' failure to fulfil their obligations of saving and returning loans on time created tensions which in turn resulted in conflict among the group members. The conflicts became complex and recurred due to unaddressed animosity, fear and anger, resulting in frustrations in the groups. Conflicts in the groups also led to the collapse of some of the groups. The research findings indicated that SHGs were not only sources of income for rural women, but also represented a yearning for self-sufficiency among rural women in spite of the socio-economic strife in Hwange District.


This study aims to determine e-banking usage level among retail banking clients' and to identify the factors that influence the adoption of e-banking in Sudan. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and distributed to a sample size of 400 clients using convenience-sampling method. Data analysis was then based on 269 valid responses. The study results indicate that the majority of retail banking industry clients use at least one of the e-banking services. Among all e-banking channels, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is the most popular channel. The results show that high-income clients and those who have current account and computer and internet literate are more likely to use e-banking services. However, the results show that there are no enough evidence of significant associations between e-banking usage with gender, marital status, education, and occupation. Moreover, the study identified eleven factors that affect the adoption of e-banking in Sudan. These factors include frequent breakdown of ATMs, inconvenient locations of ATMs and Electronic Points of Sale (EPOS), inaccessible internet, lack of means reporting technical problems, unclear legislations protecting e-transactions, slow banks response for correcting erroneous transactions, weak banks' role in raising clients awareness, unclear e-banking guidelines and instructions, frequent power cut offs, and high e-banking services' fees.


The asymptotic growth in forward-link sum capacity is characterized as a function of the number of users and transmit antennas with linear receivers. We assume a single cell with frequency-selective fading channels, which are known at the cellular base station transmitter, and a single receive antenna at each mobile. We first show that when the channel matrices are circulant, multicarrier transmission maximizes the sum mutual information. A particular subchannel is allocated to the user with the largest channel gain with maximum-ratio combining at the transmitter, and the optimal power allocation across subchannels is determined by water pouring over those gains. By applying results from extreme value theory, we then show that when the channel consists of a large number of i.d.d. Rayleigh fading subchannels, the sum capacity grows as O(log(/spl radic/(N log U )+N)) where N is the number of transmit antennas, and U is the number of users. Numerical results are presented, which show that the asymptotic results are valid for moderately sized systems.


Effects of a newly introduced modified hemoglobin, pyridoxalated hemoglobin polyoxyethylene conjugate (PHP), and stroma-free hemoglobin (SFH) on cardiac rhythm and contractility were examined in isolated rat hearts. Hearts were perfused with HEPES-buffered Krebs solution containing 6% PHP, 6% SFH, or 6% hydroxyethylstarch (HES). Arrhythmia was not observed in PHP-perfused hearts, but marked sinus bradycardia occurred in SFH-perfused hearts. Ventricular contractility assessed by left ventricular pressure and pressure-volume relationship in both PHP and SFH-perfused hearts were well maintained during perfusion. There was no significant difference to the coronary flow resistance between hearts perfused with PHP and HES solutions, indicating that PHP has little vasoactive effect. The flow resistance in SFH-perfused hearts decreased significantly when compared with other groups. Results demonstrate that PHP solution can preserve cardiac function and have no toxic effects in isolated rat hearts.


COVID-19 has caused extensive human casualties with significant economic impacts around the globe, and has imposed new challenges on health systems worldwide. Over the past decade, SARS, Ebola, and Zika also led to significant concerns among the scientific community. Interestingly, the SARS and Zika epidemics ended before vaccine development; however, the scholarly community and the pharmaceutical companies responded very quickly at that time. Similarly, when the genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 was revealed, global vaccine companies and scientists have stepped forward to develop a vaccine, triggering a race toward vaccine development that the whole world is relying on. Similarly, an effective and safe vaccine could play a pivotal role in eradicating COVID-19. However, few important questions regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development are explored in this review.


. Improving the efficiency and energy saving of energy complexes and heat supply systems is one the most important fields of the Russian economy modernization. In the field of industrial heat and power engineering, the increasing energy efficiency is an urgent task both at the design stage and at the equipment operation stage. For these purposes, numerical modeling methods are actively used. The paper presents the developed mathematical model of the pipeline located in the soil, which allows improving efficiency of energy systems and heat supply systems at the stage of operation. Also this paper presents the results of laboratory studies, namely, the informative frequency ranges of the investigated pipeline for further assessment of its technical condition.


In switched current circuits, the clock frequency is limited by the maximum tolerable error. This paper presents a simple but accurate model for the settling behaviour of current memory cells. It is suitable for implementation in discrete-time simulators or synthesis tools, and requires far less computing time than a complete SPICE simulation, while giving comparable accuracy. The proposed model relies on a piece-wise linear description of the memory transistor's transconductance, and a precise modelling of the cell behaviour during the non-overlap of the sampling clocks. Both SPICE simulation and experimental results are compared to the new model.<<ETX>>


Significant efforts have been directed toward the identification of carbonaceous materials that can be utilized for hydrogen uptake in order to develop on-board automotive systems with a gravimetric capacity of 5.5 wt.%, thus meeting the U.S. Department of Energy technical targets. However, the capacity of hydrogen storage is limited by the weak interaction between hydrogen molecules and the carbon surface. Cigarette butts, which are the most abundant form of primary plastic waste, remain an intractable environmental pollution problem. To transform this source of waste into a valuable adsorbent for hydrogen uptake, we prepared several forms of oxygen-rich cigarette butt-derived porous carbon (CGB-AC, with the activation temperature range of 600 and 900 °C). Our experimental investigation revealed that the specific surface area increased from 600 to 700 °C and then decreased as the temperature rose to 900 °C. In contrast, the oxygen contents gradually decreased with increasing activation temperature. CGB-AC700 had the highest H2 excess uptake (QExcess) of 8.54 wt.% at 77 K and 20 bar, which was much higher than that of porous carbon reported in the previous studies. We found that the dynamic interaction between the porosity and the oxygen content determined the hydrogen storage capacity. The underlying mechanisms proposed in the present study would be useful in the design of efficient hydrogen storage because they explain the interaction between positive carbonaceous materials and negative hydrogen molecules in quadrupole orbitals.


Segue 1 is the current best candidate for a "first galaxy," a system that experienced only a single, short burst of star formation and has since remained unchanged. Here we present possible star formation scenarios that can explain Segue 1's unique metallicity distribution. While the majority of stars in all other ultra-faint dwarfs are within 0.5 dex of the mean [Fe/H] for the galaxy, five of the seven stars in Segue 1 have a spread of Δ[Fe/H] > 0.8 dex. We show that this distribution of metallicities cannot be explained by a gradual buildup of stars, but instead requires clustered star formation. Chemical tagging allows the separate unresolved delta functions in abundance space to be associated with discrete events in space and time. This provides an opportunity to put the enrichment events into a time sequence and unravel the history of the system. We investigate two possible scenarios for the star formation history of Segue 1 using Fyris Alpha simulations of gas in a 107 M⊙ dark matter halo. The lack of stars with intermediate metallicities −3 < [Fe/H] < −2 can be explained either by a pause in star formation caused by supernova feedback or by the spread of metallicities resulting from one or two supernovae in a low-mass dark matter halo. Either possibility can reproduce the metallicity distribution function (MDF) as well as the other observed elemental abundances. The unusual MDF and the low luminosity of Segue 1 can be explained by it being a first galaxy that originated with Mvir ∼ 107M⊙ at z ∼ 10.


The study of pregnancy and motherhood in women living with HIV (WLWH) has concentrated on the health of the unborn baby and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, whereas consideration of the broader aspects of women's reproductive health has been largely overlooked. The rights of WLWH with respect to their reproductive health should be exactly the same as non-HIV-positive women, however, inequalities exist due to discrimination and also because the treatment guidelines used in the care of women are often based on insufficient evidence. The purpose of this article is to review the available literature on reproductive health issues for WLWH and to identify gaps requiring further investigation. Our review indicates that further research is warranted into a number of aspects of reproductive health among WLWH. Currently, access to the relevant reproductive health resources and services, such as advice on contraception and fertility services, for WLWH is far from optimal in many developed countries and most developing countries. More data are needed on the most appropriate family planning options with the consideration of drug interactions between contraceptives and antiretroviral therapy and the risk of HIV transmission. Also, more research is needed to improve understanding of the maternal health challenges facing WLWH. Similarly, our understanding of the impact of HIV on the physical and emotional health of pregnant women and new mothers is far from complete. Answering these questions and countering these inequalities will help to ensure the reproductive health and child-bearing intentions of WLWH become an integral part of HIV medicine.


— Cancer classification to their corresponding cohorts has been key area of research in bioinformatics aiming better prognosis of the disease. High dimensionality of gene data has been makes it a complex task and requires significance data identification technique in order to reducing the dimensionality and identification of significant information. In this paper, we have proposed a novel approach for classification of oral cancer into metastasis positive and negative patients. We have used significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) for identifying significant genes which constitutes gene signature. 3 different gene signatures were identified using SAM from 3 different combination of training datasets and their classification accuracy was calculated on corresponding testing datasets using k-Nearest Neighbour (kNN), Fuzzy C-Means Clustering (FCM), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Backpropagation Neural Network (BPNN). A final gene signature of only 9 genes was obtained from above 3 individual gene signatures. 9 gene signature's classification capability was compared using same classifiers on same testing datasets. Results obtained from experimentation shows that 9 gene signature classified all samples in testing dataset accurately while individual genes could not classify all accurately.


In 1978 the statement was made that if any more infectious disease specialists were trained they would be culturing one another. The increase in infectious disease consultants continues unabated. The number of training programs in infectious disease is rising in proportion to the number of fellows being trained; one-third of these training programs are in New York, California, and Texas, and a number of them are not associated directly with medical schools. It is often argued that there is no reason to restrict the number of infectious disease consultants because there is plenty for them to do. There are an equal number of arguments against unbridled growth, including the fact that the existence of specialists in most community hospitals with lead to fewer referrals to the teaching centers and the resulting lack of patients will lead training programs to atrophy. Infectious disease is destined to function best as an academic specialty whose trainees should pursue careers primarily as investigators. The number of clinicians leaving training should be reduced and not further glut the marketplace; they should be based in academic divisions and devote their clinical time and effort to the care of complex referral and to indigent patients.