We probe the dusty environment of the archetypical Type 1 active galactic nucleus (AGN) in NGC 4151 with comprehensive IR reverberation mapping over several decades, in the J (∼1.22 μm), H (∼1.63 μm), K (∼2.19 μm), L (∼3.45 μm), and N bands (∼10.6 μm), plus multiple measurements at 20–40 μm. At 1–4 μm, the hot dust reverberation signals come from two distinct dust populations at separate radii (∼0.033 pc and ∼0.076 pc), with temperatures of ∼1500–2500 K and ∼900–1000 K, consistent with the expected properties of sublimating graphite and silicate dust grains. The domination of the torus infrared output by carbon and silicate grains near their sublimation temperatures and radii may account for the general similarity of AGN near-IR spectral energy distributions. The torus inner edge defined by the hottest dust remains at roughly the same radius independent of the AGN optical luminosity over ∼25 yr. The emission by hot dust warmed directly by the optical/UV AGN output has increased gradually by ∼4% yr−1, indicating a possibly growing torus. A third dust component at ∼700 K does not seem to participate directly in the IR reverberation behavior, and its emission may originate deep in the circumnuclear torus. We find a reverberation signal at ∼10 μm with an inferred radius for the warm dust of ∼2.2–3.1 pc. The lack of variability at 20–40 μm indicates that the far-IR emission comes from even more extended regions. The torus properties revealed by dust reverberation analysis are inconsistent with predictions from pure clumpy torus models. Instead, the longer-wavelength emission possibly originates in a flared torus or the polar wind.


We are confronted with data every day, constantly. Daily newspapers contain information on stock prices, economic figures, quarterly business reports on earnings and revenues and much more. These data offer observed values of given quantities. The basic data types can be qualitative, ordinal, or quantitative.

Keywords:

qualitative data;
quantitative data;
ordinal data;
univariate data;
nominally scaled data;
ordinally scaled data;
interval scale;
ratio scale;
absolute data;
cross-sectional data;
time series data;
frequency distributions;
Freedman-Diaconis rule;
inner quartile range (IQR);
empirical cumulative relative frequency distribution


A procedure for determination of the residual content of N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (DMAPA) during synthesis of N,N-dimethylaminopropylamides of fatty acids (DMAPA FA) from coconut oil has been developed. The analysis was performed using high performance liquid chromatography on a Shimadzu LC-20 Prominence device equipped with a diode array detector and reversed phase column GL Sciences Inertsil ODS-3. Precolumn derivatization was carried out with a 13% — dansyl chloride (5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonyl chloride) solution in acetone to increase the analyte response. The selected composition of the mobile phase — acetonitrile and triethylamine phosphate buffer solution (pH 3.0) in a volume ratio of 2:3 and optimized chromatographic conditions provided a clear peak of DMAPA with a retention time of 8.7 – 8.9 min. The proposed method provides determination of 0.02 – 10% DMAPA in DMAPAFA samples. Correctness of the procedure was confirmed in spike tests. The results obtained can be used for assessing the degree of conversion of starting materials in the synthesis of N,N-dimethylaminopropylamides of fatty acids, as well as for forecasting the content of N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine in the products on their base.


Terrorism is a phenomenon that develops over time, always bringing about gradual change of form and activity. Terrorist groups organize terrorist attacks based on ideologies. Terrorism is one of the biggest problems facing the world today. Terrorists are always at odds with the rule of law, with the norms and ideals of civilization itself. Terrorism is the use of fear or violence to overthrow a government and society in accepting a radical political or social change. It is geographically widespread and ideologically selected.The process of globalization, which includes the technological, economic boom, cultural boundaries between countries around the world has fostered a culture corrupt market in traditional communities. Many places consider this as a threat to their country. Globalization has somewhat helped terrorism, moreover has brought the involvement of the latest and latest technologies


The presences of clouds significantly influence the accuracy of ozone retrievals from satellite measurements. This study focuses on the influence of clouds on Ozone Monitoring instrument (OMI) ozone profile retrieval based on an optimal estimation. There are two operational OMI cloud products; OMCLDO2, based on absorption in O₂-O₂ at 477 nm, and OMCLDRR, based on filling in Fraunhofer lines by rotational Raman scattering (RRS) at 350 nm. Firstly, we characterize differences between O₂-O₂ and RRS effective cloud pressures using MODIS cloud optical thickness (COT), and then compare ozone profile retrievals with different cloud input data. O₂-O₂ cloud pressures are significantly smaller than RRS by ~200 hPa in thin clouds, which corresponds to either low COT or cloud fraction (CF). On the other hand, the effect of Optical centroid pressure (OCP) on ozone retrievals becomes significant at high CF. Tropospheric ozone retrievals could differ by up to ± 10 DU with the different cloud inputs. The layer column ozone below 300 hPa shows the cloud-induced ozone retrieval error of more than 20%. Finally, OMI total ozone is validated with respect to Brewer ground-based total ozone. A better agreement is observed when O2-O2 cloud data are used in OMI ozone profile retrieval algorithm. This is distinctly observed at low OCP and high CF.


A strong wind event under clear‐air conditions during the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic games in Pyeongchang, Korea, was examined using various datasets. High spatiotemporal resolution wind information was obtained by Doppler lidars, automatic weather stations, wind profiler, sounding observations, reanalysis datasets under the International Collaborative Experiments for Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic winter games (ICE‐POP 2018). This study aimed to understand the possible mechanisms of localized strong winds across a high mountainous area and on the leeside associated with the underlying large‐scale pattern of a low‐pressure system (LPS). The evolution of surface winds shows quite different patterns, exhibiting intensification of strong winds in the leeside and periodically persistent strong winds in upstream mountainous areas with the approaching LPS. The surface wind speed was intensified from ∼3 to ∼12 m s−1 (gusts were stronger than 20 m s−1 above the ground) at a surface station in the leeside. A budget analysis of the horizontal momentum equation suggested that the pressure gradient force (PGF) contributed from adiabatic warming and the passage of LPS was the main factor in the acceleration of the surface wind in the leeward side of the mountains. The detailed 3D winds revealed that the PGF also modulated the background winds at the mountainous station, which caused persistent strong and periodic winds (range of ∼7 to ∼12 m s−1) related to the channeling effect. The evidence showed that under the same synoptic condition of a LPS, different mechanisms are important for strong winds in determining the strength and persistence of orographic‐induced strong winds under clear‐air conditions.


Problems of access to physician services have arisen in Canada at a time when physician hours of work have been undergoing important changes. This study investigates the relationship between physicians' hours of dir ect patient care and physicians' service supply using individual-level data from a random sample of Ontario general/family physicians. The empirical findings reveal that the variation across physicians in total billing is dominated by the variation in physicians' billings per hour rather than by the variation in physicians' working hours. There is also negative correlation between average billing per hour and average number of hours of patient care. This pattern is shown in analyses of subgroups defined by the gender of the physician, by practice location, by practice type, and by years since graduation.


A pathologic finding about one or more characteristics of colon or rectum neuroendocrine tumor, following the rules of the TNM AJCC v7 classification system as they pertain to staging of regional lymph nodes.


The theoretical analysis presented in this article links the social and institutional conditions of democratization by looking at two rarely associated concepts, civic unity and the rule of law. It attempts to bring a novel approach to the study of democratization in a divided society such as Ukraine, building on a selection of the existing literature on the subject and focusing on the civic dimension of the process. It follows the approach of those political scientists who have challenged the "no precondition' line in democratization research by looking precisely at context specific conditions that may sustain democracy. It is argued that the common sense of citizenship and belonging to a political community, supported by legal and institutional mechanisms and conscious effort of political elites, would contribute to the development of civil society and perhaps even democratic consolidation in the long run. Thus the civic and institutional dimensions of democratization should not be separated, especially in case of some post-communist societies such as Ukraine. The relationship between these two dimensions, however, is problematic at least from a methodological point of view and requires careful examination.


Abstract Recent acts of terrorism have ranged from the dissemination of anthrax spores to intentional contamination of food to the release of chemical weapons to suicide attacks using explosives. The prediction of such events is difficult, if not impossible. The recent attacks that have generated massive numbers of injured and dead may signal the crossing of a new threshold from multi-casualty events to the use of weapons of mass destruction. Consequently, the medical and healthcare infrastructure must be able to prevent and treat illness and injury resulting from such events. Thus, a first step in improving the preparation for and responses to such events must include a sustained commitment to training physicians, nurses, identification specialists, pathologists, and other first responders. The rapid spread of SARS gives reason to believe that the distribution of such agents has potential advantages over the use of other weapons. Investments in the public health and healthcare systems provide the best defense against terrorism.


Background: The benefits of procalcitonin measurement in neonatal bacteremia/septicemia with suspected nosocomial infection are unclear and unresearched. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess procalcitonin value as an early or first line diagnosis/prognosis for bacterial neonatal septicemic infection in selected critically ill neonates. Patients and Methods: An observational cohort study in a 10-bed intensive care unit was performed. Sixty neonates, with either proven or clinically suspected, but not confirmed, bacterial neonatal septicemic infection were included. Procalcitonin measurements were obtained on the day when the infection was suspected. Neonates with proven septicemic infection were compared to those without. The diagnostic value of procalcitonin was determined through the area under the corresponding receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCC). In addition, the predictive value of procalcitonin variations preceding the clinical suspicion of infection was also assessed. Results: Procalcitonin was the best early predictor of proven infection in this population of neonates with a clinical suspicion of septicemia (AUROCC = 0.80; 91.6% CI, 0.68–0.91). In contrast, CRP elevation, leukocyte count and fever had a poor predictive value in our population. Conclusion: PCT monitoring could be helpful in the early diagnosis of neonatal septicemic infection in the intensive care unit. Both absolute values and variations should be considered and evaluated in further studies.


Salt marshes are ecosystems with extreme environmental conditions such as regular tidal inundation, mechanical disturbances, salinity, waterlogged and anoxic soils, and potentially toxic compounds in the soil. This adverse abiotic environment requires a high degree of adaptation of inhabiting plants and animals and results in a highly specialized community in this ecosystem. The gradual elevation from sea level from the lowermost pioneer zone, where the establishment of salt marshes begins, to the upper salt marsh is characterized by a gradient of these abiotic factors leading to a distinct zonation of salt marsh communities.
The presented PhD thesis is part of the joint research project BEFmate (Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning across marine and terrestrial ecosystems) with the aim to study BEF relations during the succession from marine (tidal flat) to semi-terrestrial (salt marsh) ecosystems. As part of this project, the thesis investigated different root system functions and their relation to the abiotic conditions across the salt marsh flooding gradient. It thereby contributes to the understanding of ecological processes involved in the development of salt marsh zonation as well as their sensitivity to environmental change. To fulfill these objectives, the study included in situ investigations at two natural salt marsh sites on the German North Sea coast, investigations of communities transplanted to experimental islands, as well as an additional greenhouse experiment.
Under the controlled conditions of a greenhouse experiment, we investigated effects of waterlogged sediments on seedlings of three saltmarsh species characteristic for the three zones in NW European salt marshes (Salicornia europaea from the pioneer zone, Atriplex portulacoides from the lower salt marsh, Elytrigia atherica from the upper salt marsh). Seedlings of these species were grown under different sediment waterlogging treatments within mesocosms simulating tidal inundation and subsequently subjected to an erosion treatment. The upper marsh species E. atherica showed fastest root and shoot growth under drained conditions but suffered strongest in the waterlogged sediment compared to A. portulacoides and S. europaea from the lower salt marsh and pioneer zone, respectively. Resistance against erosion decreased in all three species from drained to completely waterlogged soil conditions with the strongest negative impact of waterlogging on the otherwise strongly competitive species E. atherica. We found that resistance towards erosion was strongly influenced by root growth of the seedlings. This indicates that species-specific responses of root growth of seedlings under waterlogged soil conditions may be a first determinant of the distribution of species across the saltmarsh elevational and flooding gradient.
In our second study we conducted an inventory of fine root mass across the saltmarsh gradient and across two geomorphologically different sites. Fine root biomass was dependent on soil texture and plant-available nutrient concentrations in soil: we found higher fine root biomass at the sandy (and nutrient poorer) site on the back-barrier island of Spiekeroog compared to the clayey mainland salt marsh near Westerhever. According to the optimal resource partitioning theory, fewer nutrients in the soil require increased investments in fine root growth for nutrient uptake. Furthermore, the more erosion-prone sandy sediment may require increased root biomass for plant stability under mechanical disturbances. However, the most important predictor variable for fine root biomass was species diversity. At both sites, fine root mass was greatest in communities with highest plant species richness (in the intermediate lower salt marsh), potentially caused by root space partitioning in this community. With this study we could demonstrate that salt marsh plants have adapted their below-ground organs to the harsh environmental conditions which allows them to successfully develop extensive root systems and ensures survival. Furthermore, their high below-ground biomass is an important contribution to the carbon and nitrogen pools in salt marshes.
In our third study we used stable isotope measurements (δ18O) to investigate plant water use patterns (i.e. the use of saline vs. freshwater) across the saltmarsh flooding gradient. We found a marked gradient in plant water use from the pioneer zone (79-98 % seawater uptake by Spartina anglica) to the lower marsh (61-95 % in A. portulacoides) and the upper marsh (25-39 % in E. atherica) reflecting the predominant inundation regime at the three elevational levels. Only minor seasonal differences in water use patterns were detected, likely due to the absence of longer dry periods during summer in these temperate salt marshes. A. portulacoides significantly increased its uptake of seawater following transplantation to lower elevations with higher inundation frequencies on experimental islands which were set up within the BEFmate project. This indicates that certain species are able to show a flexible water use strategy under changing inundation frequencies which may enable long-term adaptation to rising sea levels. Integrating the data on vertical fine root distribution and the soil depth of water uptake, we found that fine root mass distribution correlated positively with water uptake across the soil profile. However, contradicting our expectations, the physiological activity of fine roots (determined by the water uptake/root mass ratio) did not decrease with soil depth demonstrating a good functionality of roots in deep and anoxic sediment layers in this habitat.
In conclusion, this thesis demonstrates that saltmarsh plants have developed various species-specific adaptations of their below-ground organs enabling their survival under the harsh environmental conditions prevailing in salt marshes. Interspecific differences particularly corresponded to the gradient of inundation frequency and associated salinity, waterlogging and mechanical disturbance in all three studies. Supporting previous studies, it was underlined that the initial establishment as well as further ecological processes in salt marshes are driven by the gradient of abiotic conditions.


Objective To investigate the relationship between treatment modality and chronic opioid use in a large cohort of patients with head and neck cancer. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Single academic center. Methods There were 388 patients with head and neck cancer treated between January 2011 and December 2017 who met inclusion criteria. Clinical risk factors for opioid use at 3 and 6 months were determined with univariate and multivariate analyses. Results The prevalence of opioid use was 43.0% at 3 months and 33.2% at 6 months. On multivariate analysis, primary chemoradiation (odds ratio [OR], 4.04; 95% CI, 1.91-8.55) and surgery with adjuvant chemoradiation (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.09-5.26) were associated with opioid use at 3 months. Additional risk factors at that time point included pretreatment opioid use (OR, 7.63; 95% CI, 4.09-14.21) and decreasing age (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06). At 6 months, primary chemoradiation (OR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.34-4.28), pretreatment opioid use (OR, 5.86; 95% CI, 3.30-10.38), current tobacco use (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.18-3.40), and psychiatric disorder (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.02-3.14) were associated with opioid use. Conclusion Of the patients who receive different treatment modalities, those receiving primary chemoradiation are independently at highest risk for chronic opioid use. Other risk factors include pretreatment opioid use, tobacco use, and a psychiatric disorder. In an effort to reduce their risk of chronic opioid use, preventative strategies should be especially directed to these patients.


Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to characterize the dynamic alterations of bone composition parameters and mechanical properties to disuse and mechanical intervention. Methods: A tail suspension hindlimb unloading model and an in vivo axial tibia loading model in rats were used. A moderate mechanical loading that was capable of engendering 800 µε tibia strain was applied to the right tibia of rats in both control and hindlimb unloading group across 28 days of the experimental period. The contralateral tibia served as control. Results: Hindlimb unloading led to bone loss in tibia from day 14. Bone mineral density, mineral content and mechanical properties responded differently with microstructure to disuse in timing course. Mechanical loading of 800 µε tibia strain failed to alter the bone of the control group, but minimized the detrimental effects of unloading by completely prohibiting the decrease of bone mineral content and main mechanical properties after 28 days. Less obvious influence of mechanical loading on bone microstructure was found. Conclusions: The moderate mechanical loading is not able to stimulate the mechanical response of healthy tibia, but indeed lead to discordant recovery of bone composition parameters and mechanical properties.


Background: Up to date, genomic and microgenomic changes have been identified in nuclear genome whereas, there is no available data about the mitochondrial genome alterations in paired ovarian tumors. Additionally, genomic factors that involve in the progression to advanced stages of ovarian malignancy is still largely unknown. Current work suggest that the mitochondrial alterations have importance in the progress of carcinogenesis in spesific cell populations at clinical, pathological and molecular pathological levels. Methods and Findings: We analyzed subtypes of 41 ovarian carcinoma samples including normal and tumor (benign, borderline and malignant) using laser captured microdissection technology. Out of 41 ovarian cases, 19 serous papillary carcinoma, 6 mucinous adenomcarcinoma, 9 endometrioid adenocarcinoma, 5 mixed type ovarian carcinoma, 1 undifferentiated carcinoma and 1 clear cell adenocarcinoma were included in the study. All samples were screened for 5.5kb (MT-D-Loop, MT-CytB, MT-ATPaz6-8, MT-12SrRNA, MT-16SrRNA) of mitochondrial genome by PCR-based sequencing analysis. A total of 91 variations were found. Sixty six percent (60/91) of these variations is shown in MITOMAP and 34% (31/91) is observed as novel variations. Overall, we did not find any correlation in D-Loop variations between pathological prognostic and molecular pathological prognostic factors (CD34,ER,PR,c-erbB-2,p53,MDR1,MDR3). However, the expression of a key component of drug resistance, protein GST (gluthatione S transferase), was detected as 270 in samples with instability; and 165 (median 25-75 percentile) in samples with stability in D-Loop position at 309 for C7TC6 repeats, (p Conclusion: Our results suggest that our findings will add clinical value for the spesific/novel genetic variations detected in 34% of ovarian tumors. The results of microsatellite analysis in ovarian tumors showed changes of 26% for D310 (C) 7-9 , 37% for position 16184 (C) 8-14 . Our data supports the idea that, the variations spesifically in MT-D Loop and MT-CytB gene regions would reflect the preliminary transitional changes in progression of tumorigenesis. The functional use of LCM system and the microgenomic profiles will be definetely helpful for prognostic and therapeutic approaches in the field of mitochondrial oncology . Citation Format: Ozgul Alper, Gulgun Erdogan, Elif Pestereli, Tayup Simsek, Mualla O. Caliskan, Hakan Gulkesen, Durkadin Demir, Gokhan Gorgisen, Seyda Karaveli, Guven Luleci. Clinopathologic correlation with the LCM based instability profiles for the mitochondrial microsatellite regions in the benign to metastatic transitions of surface epithelium ovarian tumor subtypes. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3166. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3166


Mineral exploration is becoming more challenging with most visible and near-surface deposits already discovered. With our increasingly metal- and resource-dependent global society, the demand for all mineral resources is escalating. Of particular note, because of concern about supply security, are the 'critical metals' such as the platinum-group elements, the rare earth elements, lithium, indium, tellurium, selenium and chromium, to name but a few. In addition, the expanding populations of 'BRICS' countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) will lead to greater urban and infrastructure development, requiring more base metals, iron ores, aluminium, and bulk commodities. Advances in mineral exploration, mining and mineral processing are more important than ever, and have progressed so far that they are becoming unrecognizable when compared with methods practiced during the last century. Furthermore, with increasing environmental awareness, many aspects of economic geology and mineralogy remain at the core of environmental remediation and this has facilitated the cultivation of environmental responsibility as operational practice.

As exploration models are developed, the importance of a terrane-specific approach to mineral exploration has been recognized. Some of the world's most prospective zones are in Archaean cratons, which have a long and complex geological history. The North Atlantic Craton Conference (NAC 2014) dealt with the mineral potential of the North Atlantic Craton in its entirety and was aimed at initiating and furthering trans-Atlantic collaboration in the understanding of Archaean cratonic …


A legendary trader shares his market savvy with you in this insightful and engaging new book. It's like having dinner with a veteran trader and having him share his experience and knowledge with you. Among the topics addressed and discussed: -- importance of a viable strategy and sound money management -- How to develop a successful strategy -- Creating and using a trading system -- Identifying and trading the trend -- Effective approaches to self-discipline.


Comorbidities cause psychological distress to patients on hemodialysis and cause their physical function to deteriorate. This study aims to examine whether physical patterns are associated with anxiety, depression and fatigue among patients with and without comorbidities who are on hemodialysis. To this end, a cross-sectional survey was administered to 120 patients on hemodialysis. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form, Beck Depression Inventory—Second Edition, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Brief Fatigue Inventory—Taiwan Version. An independent sample t test and generalized linear model analyses were conducted. The results revealed that patients with comorbidities exhibited more severe levels of depression (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), and fatigue (p = 0.010) than patients without comorbidities. Additionally, patients on hemodialysis with a high physical activity level (≥600 metabolic equivalent of task per min/week) exhibited less depression (B = −4.03; p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval [CI] = −6.04, −2.03) and anxiety (B = −2.64; p = 0.002; 95% CI = −4.27, −1.00) severity than those with a low physical activity level; those who engaged in weekly physical activities exhibited less fatigue severity (B = −1.17; p = 0.001; 95% CI = −1.84, −0.49) and fatigue interference (B = −0.61; p = 0.015; 95% CI = −1.10, −0.12). For patients on hemodialysis, having comorbidities was correlated with more severe levels of depression, anxiety, and fatigue. Weekly moderate-intensity physical activities were revealed to be correlated with less severity levels of depression, anxiety, and fatigue. The study findings aid the development of interventions for promoting physical activity among patients on hemodialysis to prevent the exacerbation of complications caused by comorbidities and psychological distress.


The 26S proteasome, a molecular machine responsible for regulated protein degradation, consists of a proteolytic core particle (20S CP) associated with 19S regulatory particles (19S RPs) subdivided into base and lid subcomplexes. The assembly of 19S RP base subcomplex is mediated by multiple dedicated chaperones. Among these, Hsm3 is important for normal growth and directly targets the carboxyl-terminal (C-terminal) domain of Rpt1 of the Rpt1–Rpt2–Rpn1 assembly intermediate. Here, we report crystal structures of the yeast Hsm3 chaperone free and bound to the C-terminal domain of Rpt1. Unexpectedly, the structure of the complex suggests that within the Hsm3–Rpt1–Rpt2 module, Hsm3 also contacts Rpt2. We show that in both yeast and mammals, Hsm3 actually directly binds the AAA domain of Rpt2. The Hsm3 C-terminal region involved in this interaction is required in vivo for base assembly, although it is dispensable for binding Rpt1. Although Rpt1 and Rpt2 exhibit weak affinity for each other, Hsm3 unexpectedly acts as an essential matchmaker for the Rpt1-Rpt2-Rpn1 assembly by bridging both Rpt1 and Rpt2. In addition, we provide structural and biochemical evidence on how Hsm3/S5b may regulate the 19S RP association to the 20S CP proteasome. Our data point out the diverse functions of assembly chaperones.


This paper evaluates the performance of different polling systems used in wireless local networks where the transmission channel exhibits a nonstationary behavior. Many spatially dispersed data user terminals have been assumed to share a common short-range radio uplink channel to access a hub station. We have specifically considered cyclic polling systems with M queues (terminals), having the same general packet arrival process and general switchover period. The gated and exhaustive disciplines have been considered in ordering the transmission of the packets buffered at each terminal. By appropriately modeling the uplink channel, we propose analytical approaches to derive the average packet waiting time and the average cycle length for gated polling systems, combined with stop-and-wait (SW) and go-back-N (GBN) automatic repeat request (ARQ) techniques to control errors. A gated cyclic polling scheme combined with the selective-repeated (SR) stutter ARQ technique as well as an exhaustive cyclic polling scheme combined with SW, GBN, or SR stutter ARQ techniques, respectively, have also been considered In order to give an in-depth knowledge of the behavior of suitable polling alternatives for applications in wireless local communication networks.


A Pseudomonas monteilli strain (designated C11) that uses the phosphotriester coroxon as its sole phosphorus source has been isolated. Native PAGE and activity staining identified a single isozyme with significant phosphotriesterase activity in the soluble fraction of the cell. This phosphotriesterase could hydrolyse both coumaphos and coroxon. The hydrolysis product of coroxon, diethylphosphate, and the thion analogue, coumaphos, could not serve as phosphorus sources when added to the growth medium. The majority of the phosphotriesterase and phosphatase activity was contained in the soluble fraction of the cell. Phosphatase activity was inhibited by vanadate as well as by dialysis against the metal chelator, EDTA. Phosphotriesterase activity was not affected by either vanadate or dialysis with EDTA or 1,10-phenanthroline. Phosphotriesterase activity was regulated by the amounts of both phosphate and coroxon in the medium, whereas total phosphatase activity was regulated by phosphate but not coroxon. A lack of hybridisation using a probe against the opd (organophosphate degradation) gene encoding a phosphotriesterase from Flavobacterium sp. ATCC27551 against bulk DNA from P. monteilli C11 suggested that this strain does not contain opd. The work presented here indicates the presence of a novel phosphotriesterase in P. monteilli C11.


Abstract The ratio of hatch-year (HY) to after-hatch-year (AHY) individuals (HY:AHY ratio) can be a valuable metric for estimating avian productivity because it does not require monitoring individual breeding sites and can often be estimated across large geographic and temporal scales. However, rigorous estimation of age ratios requires that both young and adult age classes are sampled in an unbiased manner, an assumption that is rarely tested. We estimated HY:AHY ratios for Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus), a threatened seabird, using at-sea surveys and captures to assess whether age-specific differences in behavior and distribution result in biased productivity estimates in central California. AHY and HY Marbled Murrelets were distributed similarly at sea, and HY individuals did not congregate in nursery areas. Moreover, dispersal by radiomarked AHY Marbled Murrelets out of our survey area occurred at a low rate, and AHY densities were constant over the survey period, which suggests that AHY immigration and emigration did not significantly bias productivity estimates. HY density increased linearly over the survey period as expected if little dispersal occurred, which suggests that productivity estimates were not significantly biased by HY dispersal. Finally, simulation analyses indicated that annual variation in the timing of breeding resulted in only small biases in HY:AHY ratios. HY:AHY ratios were corrected for the proportion of AHY Marbled Murrelets that were incubating and the proportion of HY individuals that had not fledged at the time of sampling. Mean corrected HY:AHY ratios were low on the basis of both at-sea surveys conducted from 1996 to 2003 (0.032; SE = 0.011) and captures conducted from 1999 to 2003 (0.037; SE = 0.028), implying that productivity was poor in central California. Estimating age ratios may be an effective way of monitoring changes in reproductive success and identifying environmental factors that affect Marbled Murrelet populations, though tests of assumptions are needed in other regions. Le Rapport des Âges comme Estimateur de la Productivité: Tester les Hypothèses avec un Oiseau de Mer Menacé, Brachyramphus marmoratus


Physical properties of several fluorinated diphenyl-diacetylene and tolane liquid crystals are evaluated. These liquid crystals exhibit a high resistivity, high birefringence, low viscosity and modest dielectric anisotropy. Some difluoro compounds show a relatively low melting temperature and small heat fusion enthalpy, and are useful for formulating eutectic mixtures. The mixtures consisting of these fluorinated compounds are particularly useful for active matrix, photoactivated light valve, and polymer-dispersed liquid crystal displays.


This study was designed to investigate the presence of bacterial species in Friesian Holstein (FH) bovine semen at the time of collection, processing and to assess the efficacy of two types of antibiotics combinations; penicillin and streptomycin (PS) and gentamycin, tylosin, lincomycin and spectinomycin (GTLS) in semen extender on bacterial control and quality of semen.  For this purpose, three experiments were conducted.  In experiment 1, identification of bacterial content in fresh semen which collected from 5 bovine ejaculates.  In experiment 2, identification of bacterial content in skimmilk-eggyolk extender which were prepared in artificial insemination center, Lembang, Bandung. In experiment 3, identification of bacterial content in frozen thawed semen.  In the result, some of bacterial species were isolated from the bovine semen.  The GTLS combination of antibiotics may be incorporated into a freezing extender or protocol without compromising the post-thawed semen quality of FH bull spermatozoa.  Three types of bacteria were found in fresh semen; Klebsiella sp., Micrococcus sp., and Pediococcus sp..  Three types of bacteria were found in semen extender; Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas diminuta and Serratia plymutica.  Two types of bacteria were found in frozen semen; Enterobacter cloacae and Serratia plymutica.  In conclusion, antibiotics PS and GTLS were effective for controlling the growth of bacteria in frozen semen.


In this experimental study of conditioned reflex to simultaneous and successive complex stimuli, three age groups (9, 12, 15) of children were studied. The results show the age characteristics in the analytical synthetic activities of children's higher central nervous system:1) In the process of formation of conditioned reflexes to the complex stimuli, it was found that the younger the child, the easier it reacted in motor reactions toward the presented single element of a complex stimulus (especially to the last element of successive complex stimuli). In other Words, the synthetic activities of these children are not fully developed.2) The formation of differential inhibition has an active influence on the synthetic activities of the cerebral cortex, and in the two older groups the active influence is clearer than that in the 9 year old age group, in which the process of inhibition is not so concentrated.3) The older the children, the more correctly they can react to the complex stimuli, as regards both motor reactions and their relationship in the second signal system.The formation of differentiation in active influence on the synthetic process is also reflected in the second signal system.


Arguably New Zealand's best loved picturebook author/illustrator, Gavin Bishop invariably challenges populist power structures in his fiction and non-fiction. As such, his books are ideal vehicles for teaching children about such broad topics as race relations, colonisation, migration, class conflicts, gender relationships, environmental issues and spiritual beliefs. The fact that Bishop often addresses several of these simultaneously, and draws on found texts to do so, paves the way for the teacher to encourage the child to read not only the lines and images but between and beyond these in order to construct a fuller meaning.
This article will discuss Bishop's (2018a) picturebook, Cook's Cook: The Cook Who Cooked for Captain Cook, which qualifies as "faction", a genre that mixes fact and fiction, with Bishop reproducing historical events and characters whilst investing them with an imaginative dimension. Most obviously, the selected book portrays migration, including the colonisation of New Zealand and the Pacific, and its longer-term effects. Hence, it focuses on the subjugation of the indigenous people, culture, flora and fauna to those that are imported, as well as the domination of the working class by the upper class. However, Bishop is too skilful an author/artist to suggest that everything is black and white. Rather, through paralleling and fusing the aforementioned foci, and in the ways in which the print and pictures work separately, together, sometimes against each other, and in interaction with fore texts, he suggests that dichotomies are mixed.
The article will examine those portrayed as minions and masters (whether human or non-human), their conflicts and conflations, and Bishop's use of verbal and visual techniques and fore texts to challenge dominant power structures. It will also argue that, while emphasising dichotomies, Bishop, the master storyteller and artist, creates structures that ensure his picturebook is balanced and whole and that, rather than treating the reader as a minion, allow him or her to become a master of meaning making.


In Brazil, the degradation of soil and landscape by urban and agricultural frontiers expansion leads to the need for comprehensive studies and consider the diverse biological activities generated from different interventions in the landscape, becoming an instrument for assessing the impacts and the decision for its environmental management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different forms of occupation of the landscape, considering ecological elements and their interactions. The work was carried out on the Instituto Agronomico in the county of Jundiai, in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The area under study has been subjected to different use and occupancy for a period of about 40 years. During this period the landscape has been transformed, with the current scenario can be classified as a degraded area mining; grassy area; Araucaria forest and pasture. These areas were evaluated by means of a transect, from which ten sampling sites were selected for the description of diverse biological activities, which included: evaluation and description of ground cover, identifying the presence of fungus and insect species. Furthermore, we evaluated in these points the pH, fertility and porosity of the topsoil (0-0.10 m). The results showed a variation of the elements analyzed and a relationship between the use and occupation of land in the different scenarios of Environmental Impact 129 www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3541 (on-line) WIT Transactions on Ecology and The Environment, Vol 162, © 201 WIT Press 2 doi:10.2495/EID120121 the current landscape. The biological activity was more diverse in the Araucaria forest, reflected by the abundance of litter, higher content of organic matter and soil nutrients, demonstrating the effectiveness of the technique for assessing the level of degradation of the landscape used, which is expeditious and inexpensive.


Strategies of the integrated multiplexing and bandwidth allocation based on the virtual path (VP) is realized and simulated. Effects of different virtual channel (VC) grouping policies are explored to derive the best efforts for the traffic multiplexing within a VP. According to the simulation results, a two level multiplexing structure is proposed to reduce the complexities of handling a large number of VCs in one transmission link. Finally, we derive the design tradeoffs among different performance impacts, and develop some design guidelines by pointing out key parameters that influence the system performance.<<ETX>>


In recent years, the agile Scrum methodology has become a popular software development approach. It significantly differs from traditional approaches as it promotes communication, self-organization, flexibility, and innovation instead of extensive planning and codified processes. While such a paradigm shift promises to better support the timely delivery of high-quality software in turbulent business environments, its success considerably depends on the willingness of developers to adopt the agile methodology. In this paper, we present a framework with drivers and inhibitors to the developer acceptance of Scrum. It combines analytical with empirical findings and can be used as a theoretical basis to empirically evaluate the actual support of Scrum in concrete scenarios. The introduced framework is based on the extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which has been proven to be also applicable to describe the intention of developers to use a methodology. Building upon results from qualitative in-depth interviews with six experienced Scrum experts of a German DAX-30 company, we refine the general determinants of adoption contained in the TAM with several observed factors that influence the willingness of developers to use Scrum in practice.


We present herein studies carried out in 17 patients with essential thrombocythemia before treatment with anagrelide and on remission. Ten patients had symptoms related to thrombocythemia, 8 of them at the time of starting treatment. The plasmatic levels of TXB2 and PDGF were measured by ELISA technique. Before treatment, PDGF values corrected for the platelet count were lower than controls, 0.48 ng/10(5) platelets (0.13-1.93) and 0.92 ng/10(5) platelets (0.33-1.16) respectively (p = 0.02), and they were not different from the results obtained during remission. Count-corrected TXB2 levels before treatment were higher than the control group, 1.0 ng/10(5) platelets (0.04-14.4) and 0.25 ng/10(5) platelets (0.13-0.39) respectively (p = 0.04); these values decreased during remission 0.86 ng/10(5) platelets (0.07-9.8) (p = 0.04), although they were still above normal values (p = 0.008). Symptoms disappeared with the normalization of platelet counts in all cases. These results show that patients with essential thrombocythemia during remission have a tendency to normalize the count-corrected TXB2 values.


The experiment is investigate on the application of Cu2ZnSn(SSe)4 for solar cell absorber layer materials. First of all, copper, tin, selenium the three elements, prepared by melting into the ternary mixture, and adding a binary synthesis (ZnS)compound to mix, the ink is prepared using wet-ball milling , Cu/Zn+Sn atomic ratio were 0.6、0.8、1、1.5,by spin coating. The precursor layer is placed in RTP furnace, and then heated at the temperature between 300 oC to 500oC,respectively, for 10minutes,prepared Cu2ZnSn(SSe)4 2-3μm thick film.In passing a high purity nitrogen gas under high temperature by diffusion。 The compositions of the films were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer(ICP)measurements,Surface and cross-section morphologies were observed by scanning electron microscopy.The crystal structure of the films was analyzed by X-ray diffraction .Optical properties were recorded by UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer. Based on the results of the experiments, the thin films (Cu/Zn+Sn atomic ratio = 0.8) with Better crystalline were obtained by RTA 500 oC , 10 minutes. It also showed higher crystallinity with larger grain size, and the band gap was 1.44eV.


: The aim of the research is to know the correlation between the conscious leadership and proactive sustainability strategy as well as the impact of that relationship in enhancing the reputation of the organization. The research was conducting in a number of private banks (Economy, Baghdad, Asia) , and the descriptive analytical approach was adopted for the practical side by choosing a random sample of (55) individuals who represented the senior leaders in the surveyed community. The questionnaire was used as a tool for measuring and collecting data and information. Moreover, a number of statistical tools and and statistical program (SPSS) as well as the descriptive statistical methods such as (Spearman's correlation coefficient, simple linear regression, relative importance, and others) were used in order to analyze and process the dataand also for the purpose of proving the validity of the hypotheses or not, and the most important of which is the existence of a correlation between the conscious leadership and proactive sustainability strategy and the impact of that relationship in enhancing the organization's strategic reputation. The research concluded to a set of results, the most important of which is that the conscious leadership contributes significantly in achieving the reputation of the organization, in addition to adopt a proactive sustainability strategy. The research also came out with a number of recommendations that serve the goal for which the research has seeked.


Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the human gastric mucosa and can lead to gastric inflammation, ulcers, and stomach cancer. Due to the increase in H. pylori antimicrobial resistance new methods to identify the molecular mechanisms of H. pylori-induced pathology are urgently needed. Here we utilized a computational biology approach, harnessing genome-wide association and gene expression studies to identify genes and pathways determining disease development. We mined gene expression data related to H. pylori-infection and its complications from publicly available databases to identify four human datasets as discovery datasets and used two different multi-cohort analysis pipelines to define a H. pylori-induced gene signature. An initial Helicobacter-signature was curated using the MetaIntegrator pipeline and validated in cell line model datasets. With this approach we identified cell line models that best match gene regulation in human pathology. A second analysis pipeline through NetworkAnalyst was used to refine our initial signature. This approach defined a 55-gene signature that is stably deregulated in disease conditions. The 55-gene signature was validated in datasets from human gastric adenocarcinomas and could separate tumor from normal tissue. As only a small number of H. pylori patients develop cancer, this gene-signature must interact with other host and environmental factors to initiate tumorigenesis. We tested for possible interactions between our curated gene signature and host genomic background mutations and polymorphisms by integrating genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and known oncogenes. We analyzed public databases to identify genes harboring single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with gastric pathologies and driver genes in gastric cancers. Using this approach, we identified 37 genes from GWA studies and 61 oncogenes, which were used with our 55-gene signature to map gene-gene interaction networks. In conclusion, our analysis defines a unique gene signature driven by H. pylori-infection at early phases and that remains relevant through different stages of pathology up to gastric cancer, a stage where H. pylori itself is rarely detectable. Furthermore, this signature elucidates many factors of host gene and pathway regulation in infection and can be used as a target for drug repurposing and testing of infection models suitability to investigate human infection.


Insulators surface doped with Ti and a Mn/Ti mix were studied. The results always show an exponential relationship between resistance and the reciprocal temperature. At high voltages, a 'self-heating effect' of the insulator was observed, because the ohmic loss across the doped insulator surface is larger than the heat transport away from the insulator. The onset voltage of this effect is dependent on the temperature. It was found that the pure Ti dopant has the highest onset voltage. Therefore, alumina insulators doped with Ti have higher operating temperatures than those doped with a Mn/Ti mix. However, all the doped insulators have significantly lower flashover rates than plain insulators in the temperature range studied, from room temperature up to about 300 degrees C. >


Background: Environmental endocrine disruptors, which have a profound impact on the reproductive system, can cause endocrine and reproductive disorders, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a common endocrine disruptor which can affect the function of the reproductive system under low-dose conditions. However, the mechanism by which this molecule disrupts normal reproduction is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of BPA on the RNA methyltransferase METTL3 in adolescent female rats which may be a possible mode of action of BPA. Methods: 4-week-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were intragastrically treated for 10 weeks, which were divided into blank group (n = 8), control group (soybean oil, n = 8), three BPA-treatment groups (0.5 mg/kg BPA + soybean oil, 5 mg/kg BPA + soybean oil, 50 mg/kg BPA + soybean oil, n = 8). Results: The results showed that low-dose BPA (0.5 mg/kg) increased the coefficient of uteri and ovaries, and promoted the growth of uteri in rats without causing hyperandrogenism and ovarian polycystic changes. Oral BPA disturbed the expression of CYP17A1, CYP11A1 and METTL3 in ovaries and effected the level of serum testosterone. Conclusions: Our results suggested that oral BPA might interfere uterine and ovarian morphology and the level of hormone with RNA methylation by disturbing the expression level of METTL3. RNA methylation will be a new way to explain the interference mechanism of BPA.


Background: Due to the increase of HIV patients' survival, rheumatologic symptoms associated with HIV such as septic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and other manifestations have increased. Also, diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) can be intensified during AIDS. Objectives: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence and nature of rheumatologic manifestations in HIV positive patients, Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional investigation was done on 200 HIV infected patients from 2009 to 2010. Demographic characteristics (age and sex), the route of HIV transmission and the duration of infection, existence of any concurrent infection such as hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) infections, last CD4 count, regimen and duration of the anti-retroviral therapy, presence of any musculoskeletal manifestation and joint disease and their quantity and quality were obtained. Patients were also examined by a clinician and information was recorded via checklists. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and reported as means and percentages. Results: Two hundred HIV patients including 153 male and 47 female participated in the study. Sixty three patients (31.5%) had musculoskeletal manifestations. The most prevalent complaints were arthralgia in 25 patients (39.7%), myalgia in seven patients (11.1%) and unspecified spondyloarthritis in four patients (6.3%). Also, a borderline association was observed between HBV-HIV co-infection and presence of musculoskeletal findings (P = 0.047). Conclusions: Considering the high prevalence of rheumatologic manifestations in patients with HIV/AIDS and its probable relation to the quality of life of patients, there is a pressing need for evaluating patients in this regard, especially among patients who are receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) and experience better clinical responses.


A 65-year-old female smoker was admitted due to haemoptysis and a pulmonary infiltrate in the right lower lung lobe. Tumour was suspected, but there was also a history of 2 years spent in Arizona, known to be endemic for the dimorphic fungus Coccidioides immitis. IgG antibodies and airway culture for C. immitis were negative, and surgery was performed for suspected lung cancer. No malignancy was detected at histopathological investigation, but typical coccidioidal spherulae were observed by silver stain. Coccidioidoma may be a differential diagnosis to malignant tumour in individuals visiting endemic areas.


Empirical models specially event-based versions for estimating erosion are site specific, so calibration is essential for designing soil conservation practices measures. In this study, the efficiency of Universal soil Loss Equation and other event-based versions include USLEM, MUSLE-S and AUSLE evaluated in semi-arid region of khorasan Razavi. Because of small plot size (20 m2 area with annual shrubs cover), The amount of estimated soil loss equaled with measured sediment. Result showed that in addition to overestimation of USLEM and MUSLE-S, models showed temporal variation of sediment significantly. With respect to high and negative values of RMSE and ME of Nash-Shatklyf, models have no significant efficiency. Also, because of the same model structure of AUSLE and USLE models, thay have not significantly efficiency.


Let G be a graph and let c : V (G) → {1,...,5} 2 be an assignment of 2-element subsets of the set {1,. .. , 5} to the vertices of G such that for every edge vw, the sets c(v) and c(w) are disjoint. We call such an assignment a (5, 2)-coloring. A graph is (5,2)-colorable if and only if it has a homomorphism to the Petersen graph. The odd-girth of a graph G is the length of the shortest odd cycle in G (∞ if G is bipartite). We prove that every planar graph of odd-girth at least 9 is (5, 2)-colorable, and thus it is homomorphic to the Petersen graph. Also, this implies that such graphs have fractional chromatic number at most 5 2. As a special case, this result holds for planar graphs of girth at least 8.


SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) system was widely used in the long-distance pipelines and city's gas system. Real-time transmission of long-range, medium and low speed, low-volume data was achieved through SCADA system. This paper introduced structure and function of DNP3.0. According to the gas system in Lanzhou, it did researches on the DNP3 protocol application in SCADA system. A practical and reliable communication protocol was chooseed for historical data backfill and events restoration. And communication protocol testing was also realized in this paper.


Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA

Bladder cancer is a major public health problem and affects more than 72,570 Americans with more than 15,000 estimated deaths in 2013. The majority of deaths is due to metastatic spread. Understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating bladder tumor cell invasion and progression toward metastases is essential for developing better therapies to treat bladder cancer patients. The insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) system and its two major receptors, the IGF-IR and IR, play a central role in a variety of physiological processes including growth, motility and glucose homeostasis. The IGF-IR is also critical for tumorigenesis through its ability to promote cell growth and protect cancer cells from apoptosis. We have recently shown that the IGF-IR and the Proline-rich tyrosine-kinase 2 (Pyk2) are critical for bladder cancer cell motility and invasion. However, IGF-IR depletion in metastatic bladder cancer cells only partially inhibits anchorage-independent growth. Significantly, metastatic bladder cancer cells have decreased IGF-IR levels but overexpress the IR-A isoform, suggesting that the latter may play a more prevalent role than the IGF-IR in promoting metastasis. It has been recently demonstrated that another receptor tyrosine kinase, the discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) is a substrate for the IR-A. DDR1, the receptor for fibrillar collagens, plays a broad role in adhesion and motility in many cellular models.

Here we show that DDR1 was expressed in invasive and metastatic but not in papillary non-invasive bladder cancer cells. DDR1 was phosphorylated upon stimulation with IGF-I, IGF-II and insulin and co-precipitated with the IGF-IR and the IR-A in invasive and metastatic bladder cancer cells respectively. Significantly, DDR1 depletion severely inhibited IGF-I-induced motility of invasive 5637 cells indicating an essential role of DDR1 in modulating IGF-IR action. Additionally, DDR1 interacted with Pyk2 and non-muscle myosin IIA in ligand-dependent fashion suggesting that DDR1 may modulate IGF-IR and IR-A-dependent bladder cancer cell motility by linking the IGF-IR and IR-A to the regulation of F-actin cytoskeleton dynamics. Furthermore, DDR1 is upregulated in bladder cancer tissues compared to normal tissue controls.

The characterization of the cross-talk between the IGF-I system and DDR1 will greatly contribute to the identification of novel targets for therapeutic intervention in bladder tumors. In addition, the IGF-IR, IR-A, DDR1 and downstream effectors Pyk2 and myosin IIA may serve as novel biomarkers with diagnostic and prognostic significance in bladder cancer.

Citation Format: Alaide Morcavallo, Simone Buraschi, Shi-Qiong Xu, Leonard G. Gomella, Antonino Belfiore, Renato V. Iozzo, Andrea Morrione. Discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) and IGF-I system crosstalk in bladder cancer progression. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4415. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4415


Abstract The paper focuses on development of a multifunctional material which allows conducting of electrical current and simultaneously holds mechanical properties of a polymeric composite. Such material could be applied for exterior fuselage elements of an aircraft in order to minimize damage occurring during lightning strikes. The concept introduced in this paper is presented from the points of view of various scientific disciplines including materials science, chemistry, structural physics and mechanical engineering with a discussion on results achieved to-date and further plans of research.


A13 Mutations of the human BRAF gene are detected in approximately 8% of cancer samples, primarily in cutaneous melanomas (70%). The most common mutation (90%) is a valine-to-glutamic acid mutation at residue 600 (V600E), which mimics the phosphorylation of the kinase domain activation segment that is thought to destabilize a hydrophobic interaction of V600 in the inactive state. PLX4032 is a novel small molecule selected for its specific inhibitory activity to the mutant B-Raf protein. This compound showed strong specificity for and potency against melanoma and colorectal cell lines bearing the V600E mutation. In addition, it demonstrated robust efficacy in xenograft models using a once-daily low oral dose, with evidence of tumor shrinkage and prolonged delay of tumor growth for a significant post-dosing period. The development of PLX4032 as a cancer therapy will be expedited by a companion diagnostic test to detect the BRAF V600E mutation as a biomarker for patient selection. For this important biomarker, we have initiated development of a real-time PCR assay on the Roche Molecular Diagnostics COBAS® TaqMan® 48. The assay, which can be used with fresh frozen or paraffin-embedded tissue, is based on the amplification of a short DNA fragment. We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the test with cell line DNA samples containing the V600E mutation, showing that it can detect the V600E mutation when it is present in only 10% of the mixture with the wild-type BRAF gene. We also validated the analytical performance of this test with clinical samples of melanomas. The development of our assay as a companion diagnostic test to select patients with the BRAF V600E mutation for treatment with PLX4032 is a compelling example of personalized medicine in cancer management.


The technique of blind source separation (BSS) has been well studied. In this paper, we apply the BSS technique, particularly based on independent component analysis (ICA), to a meeting situation. The goal is to enhance the spoken utterances and to estimate the location of each speaker by means of multiple microphones. The technique may help us to take the minutes of a meeting.


For waterworks the most fundamental subject is to maintain the safety of drinking water. It has become important every year to monitor the concentrations of trihalomethanes (THM). We developed a new automatic THM analyzer based on fluorometry with membrane separation, and investigated a correlation between the gas Chromatographic method and our THM analyzing method on drinking waters at 10 cities in Japan. The investigation resulted in good correlation (r=0.9807) between both methods. Good results were obtained when continuous measurements of THM in drinking water were performed by the analyzer. Consequently, it was found that the present analyzer could measure THM in drinking waters simply, rapidly, with good precision and could be applied to continuous monitoring of THM.


A series of tosylhydrazone derivatives of exo-6-substituted bicylo[2.2.2]octan-2-ones have been prepared. Thermal decomposition of the sodium salts of these tosylhydrazones gives carbene-derived products from 1,3-migration of either the C6 hydrogen (perturbed) or the C7 hydrogen (unperturbed), along with smaller amounts of alkenes derived from 1,2-hydrogen migration. The exo-6-substituent strongly activates 1,3-hydrogen migration in the case of SiMe(3) and weakly activates it in the case of CH(3) substitution. Thiomethoxy and carbomethoxy are weakly deactivating, while cyano and methoxy groups are strongly deactivating. B3LYP/6-31G* calculations on these substituted carbenes and transition states are in qualitative agreement with the ease of 1,3-hydrogen migration of perturbed vs unperturbed hydrogen. These experimental results and computational studies suggest carbene stabilization due to the exo-6-silyl group. They also suggest a reactant-like transition state for 1,3-hydrogen migration in which the inductive effect influences ease of migration. In the case of the exo-6-methoxy group, the inductive effect overwhelms any potential resonance-stabilizing effects.


A protein component derived from bacterial protoplasm, called Protodyne, increases the non-specific resistance to infections by bacteria and viruses. Here we show that Protodyne can be prepared not only from Gram-negative bacteria, but also from Gram-positive bacilli. Several preparations of Protodyne, prepared from Bacillus subtilis by phenol extraction or by ammonium sulfate precipitation, were evaluated for immunomodulatory activities in a variety of assays. Protodyne had a marked mitogenic activity on mouse spleen cells; it was a potent inducer of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and stimulated production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells; it increased the capacity of activated macrophages to undergo a respiratory burst, to produce intracellular killing of leishmanial parasite and extracellular lysis of mastocytoma cells; it also stimulated phagocytosis of latex particles, and prolonged survival of immunosuppressed mice infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These activities were not inhibited by polymyxin B, indicating that the activity of Protodyne is not the result of contamination with exogenous lipopolysaccharide. It appears that Protodyne exerts its many immunomodulatory actions by inducing the release of soluble mediators, including TNF and IL-1.


Purpose: In this paper, the mechanical properties of welded joints of 6061 T6 and 5083 O aluminium alloy obtained using friction stir welding (FSW) with four rotation speed (450, 560, 710 and 900 rpm) and conventional fusion welding are studied. Design/methodology/approach: FSW welds were carried out on a milling machine. The performance of FSW and Fusion welded joints were identified using tensile, hardness and microstructure. Findings: Better tensile strength was obtained with FSW welded joints. The width of the heat affected zone of FSW was narrower than Fusion welded joints welded joints Research limitations/implications: Properties FSW and Fusion Welded processes were also compared with each other to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the processes for welding applications of the Al


Rice husk is one of the most abundant biomass wastes in Indonesia. One way to convert it into an alternative source of energy is biomass gasification. This is a thermochemical process which converts biomass feedstock into fuel gas or chemical feedstock gas (producer gas). The gasification type which is developed in this study is fixed bed downdraft type due to its low tar content and compatibility in microscale implementation. One major problem with the implemented biomass gasification reactor was ruggedness of the partial oxidation process due to the absence of air in the reactor's middle section, which consequently affected the pyrolysis zone. Several experiments were conducted previously using coconut shells and rice husks as solid feedstock, where an equivalence ratio (ER) of 0.4 was obtained. Therefore, in order to optimize the pyrolysis zone, the modification conducted involves adding a circular air intake into the gasifier. Experiments were conducted in a pyrolysis temperature range of 300–700 o C with ER variation of 0.19, 0.24, 0.27 and 0.31. The results show that a good quality producer gas is produced at an ER value of 0.24. This value shows a promising result because the ER value of biomass gasification standard is 0.25.


Strange attractor can be constructed from time series data such as heart sound. In the areas of the recognition and diagnosis of abnormal heart sounds, signal presentation method is very useful because good features can be detected from good presentation. This paper examines efficiency in diagnosing abnormal heart sounds of the two different methods for constructing attractor. Nine different heart sounds from typical clinical conditions were used for this study. The first method was constructing attractors using original heart sounds, and the second was modifying the original sounds by autocorrelation and they were then applied to the orignal sounds as to cross correlation checks. Attractors could be constructed using signals generated by these methods, and values of fractal dimensions would then be calculated which has been a well known method to measure characteristics of attractors. The results showed that the second method appeared to provide more efficient way to correctly classify abnormal heart sounds.


To examine the association of plant-based food intakes with CVD and total mortality among Japanese. In the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risk, 25 206 men and 34 279 women aged 40–79 years, whose fruit, vegetable and bean intakes were assessed by questionnaire at baseline in 1988–90, were followed for 13 years. Deaths from total stroke, stroke subtypes, CHD and total CVD, according to the International Classification for Diseases 10th Revision, were registered. During 756 054 person-years of follow-up, there were 559 deaths from total stroke, 258 from CHD, 1207 from total CVD and 4514 from total mortality for men, and for women, 494, 194, 1036 and 3092, respectively. Fruit intake was inversely associated with mortality from total stroke (the multivariable hazard ratio (HR (95 % CI)) in the highest v. lowest quartiles = 0·67 (0·55, 0·81)), total CVD (HR = 0·75 (0·66, 0·85)) and total mortality (HR = 0·86 (0·80, 0·92)). Vegetable intake was inversely associated with total CVD (HR = 0·88 (0·78, 0·99)). Bean intake was inversely associated with other CVD (HR = 0·79 (0·64, 0·98)), total CVD (HR = 0·84 (0·74, 0·95)) and total mortality (HR = 0·90 (0·84, 0·96)). Further adjustment for other plant-based foods did not alter the association of fruit intake with mortality from total stroke, total CVD and total mortality, but attenuated the associations of vegetables and beans with mortality risk. In conclusion, intakes of plant-based foods, particularly fruit intake, were associated with reduced mortality from CVD and all causes among Japanese men and women.


Evaluating and commercializing low-resistivity, low-contrast (LRLC) reservoirs are increasingly at the forefront of the industry's concern in diverse geological settings ranging from deep water laminated formations, high conductive formations and heterolithic and silty formations within coastal plain. Current scenario of plunging oil prices and cost optimization practice makes such reservoirs even more interesting as LRLC pay zones are examined via behind casing and no new wells needs to be drilled for production. Traditionally, low-resistivity formation is defined as having an apparent deep resistivity value of less than 5.0 ohm-m. Major challenges in these reservoirs include identification of the hydrocarbon interval, which is usually masked by the lack of resistivity contrast between the hydrocarbon and water zones and evaluation of their commercial-quality. To unlock the hidden potential of LRLC pay sands in the offshore Sarawak Malaysia, the effective integration of subsurface disciplines including petrophysics, geology and quantitative derivatives from seismic analysis is vital. This study covers geological perspective of low contrast reservoirs from an offshore oil field deposited in a lower coastal plain settings located within offshore Sarawak Malaysia. An improved understanding of the geological, petrophysical and geophysical parameters was achieved by adopting a holistic and multidisciplinary approach. This includes the integration of core, logs, rock physics modelled parameters, stratigraphic, depositional and lithofacies information along with stochastic inversion derivatives. The paper quantifies rock physics parameter uncertainties for LRLC pay zones and establishes a framework for LRLC reservoir characterization. Stochastic inversion derived P-Impedance and Vp/Vs ratio are used to predict fluid and facies probabilities for LRLC reservoirs, which then further integrated with stratigraphic information. The results offered an effective way of establishing analogues of producing and non-producing LRLC zones. Analysis of fluid and facies probabilities derivatives driven surface attributes is a way seismic can potentially contribute in indicating areas of relatively better or worse LRLC reservoir continuity. Identified LRLC reservoirs proved to be of commercial-quality and increased oil production to the extent of several hundred thousands of barrels over the years and currently producing.


Most scholars agree that "pagans" did not read Christian scripture. This critical consensus, however, places inordinate weight on a decontextualized quotation from Tertullian and neglects a body of evidence to the contrary. In particular, the role of books in early autobiographical conversion narratives suggests that early Christian authors and copyists could sometimes work with a reasonable expectation of pagan readership. Against traditional notions of the restricted appeal and circulation of Christian literature, pagan and Christian sources alike indicate that Christian writings found an audience among philo-barbarian thinkers and that certain Christians promoted their books in pagan circles.


Background and purpose The COVID‐19 epidemic is affecting almost all individuals worldwide, and patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amnesic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are particularly at risk due to their characteristics and age. We analysed the impact of the pandemic on these patients' neuropsychiatric symptoms and their quality of life after 5 weeks of lockdown in Spain. Methods A total of 40 patients with a diagnosis of MCI (n = 20) or mild AD (n = 20) from the Cognitive Stimulation Program of the Cognitive Disorders Unit were evaluated. All patients had undergone a previous evaluation during the month before the lockdown, and were re‐evaluated after 5 weeks of lockdown. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and EuroQol‐5D questionnaire (EQ‐5D) were used to assess neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients and the quality of life in patients as well in caregivers. Results The mean (SD) total baseline NPI score was 33.75 (22.28), compared with 39.05 (27.96) after confinement (P = 0.028). The most frequently affected neuropsychiatric symptoms were apathy [4.15 (3.78) vs. 5.75 (4.02); P = 0.002] and anxiety [3.95 (3.73) vs. 5.30 (4.01); P = 0.006] in patients with MCI, and apathy [2.35 (2.70) vs. 3.75 (3.78); P = 0.036], agitation [0.45 (1.14) vs. 1.50 (2.66); P = 0.029] and aberrant motor behaviour [1.25 (2.86) vs. 2.00 (2.93); P = 0.044] in patients with AD. We did not observe differences in EQ‐5D scores during the re‐evaluation. The 30% of patients and 40% of caregivers reported a worsening of the patients' health status during confinement. Conclusions The results of this study show the worsening of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with AD and MCI during 5 weeks of lockdown, with agitation, apathy and aberrant motor activity being the most affected symptoms.


Agents that can enhance tumor cell apoptosis and inhibit inva- sion have potential for the treatment of cancer. Here, we report the identification of escin, a pentacyclic triterpenoid from horse chestnut that exhibits antitumor potential against leukemia and multiple myeloma. Whether examined by esterase staining, phosphatidyl-serine staining, DNA breakage, or caspase-medi-ated poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, escin potentiated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced apoptosis but inhibited tumor cell invasion. This correlated with the down-regulation of bcl-2, cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-2, cyclin D1, cyclo-oxygenase-2, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, matrix metal- loproteinase-9, and vascular endothelial growth factor, which are all regulated by the activation of the transcription factor NF- (cid:1) B. When examined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, the triterpenoid suppressed nuclear factor- (cid:1) B (NF- (cid:1) B) activation induced by TNF and other inflammatory agents, and this correlated with the inhibition of I (cid:1) B (cid:2) phosphorylation and degradation, inhibition of I (cid:1) B kinase complex (IKK) activation, suppression of p65 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, and abrogation of NF- (cid:1) B-dependent reporter activity. Overall, our results demonstrate that escin inhibits activation of NF- (cid:1) B through inhibition of IKK, leading to down-regulation of NF- (cid:1) B-regulated cell survival and metastatic gene products and thus resulting in sensitization of cells to cytokines and chemothera-peutic agents. transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, which uses the in situ Cell Death Detection reagent (Roche Molecular Biochemical, Indianapolis, IN). In brief, 5 (cid:4) 10 5 cells were coincubated with 30 (cid:4) M escin and 1 nM TNF for 16 h and then incubated with a reaction mixture. Stained cells were analyzed using a flow cytometer (FACSCalibur; BD Biosciences). Invasion Assay. Invasion through the extracellular matrix is a crucial step in tumor cell metastasis. To determine the effect of escin on TNF-induced invasion, we used the BD BioCoat tumor invasion system (BD Biosciences) and followed protocol similar to that de- scribed earlier (Ahn et al., 2007). In brief, H1299 cells (2.5 (cid:4) 10 4 cells) were resuspended in serum-free medium and seeded into the upper wells. After incubation overnight, the cells were treated with 30 (cid:4) M escin for 2 h and then stimulated with 1 nM TNF for 24 h in the presence of 1% FBS. After incubation, the cells were stained with 4 (cid:4) g/ml calcein acetoxymethyl ester (Invitrogen) in PBS for 30 min at 37°C to detect the invaded cells through the Matrigel. The fluores- cence intensity was measured with the use of Victor 3 (PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences).


In the last two decades, many inherited and acquired thrombophilias predisposing venous thromboembolism (VTE) became known. The aim of this real life study is to analyze the frequencies of some thrombophilias in patients with acute VTE, in whom no underlying diseases or triggering-VTE factors are present ("idiopathic"). 60 ethnic Bulgarians (34 men and 26 women, mean age 34.47) with VTE (39 with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) only, 12 with pulmonary embolism (PE) only and 9 with both) were examined for: Leiden mutation (FVL), prothrombin factor II mutation (G20210A), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 mutation (PAI-1), C677T and A1298C of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutations; deficiency of protein C (pr.C), deficiency of protein S (pr.S), deficiency of antithrombin III (AT III) and antiphospholipid antibodies syndrome (APLS). In 48 (80%) of patients (79.48% in DVT, 80.95% in PE patients) were found in total 79 abnormalities. FVL heterogeneous mutation was found in 15 (25% of all patients) and homogeneous in 2 (3.3%) patients. FVL represents 21.51% of all found abnormalities. PAI-1 was found in 17 patients and represents 21.51% of all abnormalities. 11 (18.3%) were homogeneous and 6 (10%) were heterogeneous in combination with other abnormalities. 6 (10%) had G20210A mutation and 14 (23%)- deficiency of AT III. We also found deficiency of Pr.S in 6, Pr.C in 3; mutations C677T in 4, A1298 in 7 patients. APLS was found in 5 patients. We conclude that most of the patients with "idiopathic" VTE have one or more thrombophilias. In addition to the known role of FVL as a thrombophilic factor, the PAI-1 mutation has a prominent frequency in our group.


The purpose of the present study is to clarify the effects of hypoxia on the activity of the dopaminergic neurons in the brain and its mechanism of action. For this purpose, the effects of hypoxia on the extracellular levels of 3,4‐dihy‐droxyphenylethylamine (dopamine) were examined in the rat Striatum using in vivo brain microdialysis in the presence or absence of pretreatment with either tetrodotoxin (a blocker of voltage‐dependent sodium channels) or nomifensine (a blocker of dopamine reuptake). Exposure to various degrees of hypoxia (15, 10, and 8% O2 in N2) increased dopamine levels in striatal dialysates to 200, 400, and 1,100%, respectively, of the control value. On reoxygenation, dopamine levels in the dialysates rapidly returned to the control level. Reexposure to hypoxia increased the dopamine levels to the same extent as during the first exposure. After addition of tetrodotoxin (40 mUM) to the perfusion fluid or pretreatment with nomifensine (100 mg/kg, i.p.), exposure to hypoxia no longer increased the dopamine levels. These results suggest that although hypoxia induces an increase in the extracellular dopamine levels (hence, an apparent increase in the activity of the dopaminergic neurons), this increase is not the result of an increase in dopamine release itself, but rather the result of inhibition of the dopamine reuptake mechanism.


Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA

Prostate cancer (PCa) continues to be a major health problem in the United States. Despite the general effectiveness of androgen deprivation therapy, nearly all cases will progress to become resistant to this first-line treatment. The standard of care for castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) includes a regimen of chemotherapy with taxane-based agents. Patients with CRPC commonly make dietary modifications and/or use nutritional supplements in addition to their standard of care therapy. Soy products are commonly used by men with PCa, but there are only few publications addressing either the safety or efficacy of soy products in combination with chemotherapy. Previously published studies (Prostate 2013;73:1681-9) suggest that the soy isoflavone genistein has synergistic activity when combined the taxane drug cabazitaxel. We studied the effects of the combination of taxane chemotherapy with genistein. PC-3, 22Rv1, and C4-2 prostate cancer cells were treated with genistein (1, 10, and 100 μM) in combination with docetaxel or cabazitaxel (0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 nM); after 72 hours proliferation was measured using the SRB assay and combination index (CI) analysis was performed to identify synergistic or antagonistic activity. Similar dose response curves were observed for docetaxel and cabazitaxel as expected since both drugs have the same mechanism of action. Compared to cells treated only with taxanes (either docetaxel or cabazitaxel), treatment with physiologically relevant concentrations genistein (1 μM and 10 μM) did not yield additional inhibition or enhancement of proliferation in any of the cell lines studied. There was slight synergistic activity at 100 μM in combination with 1 nM docetaxel in C4-2 (CI = 0.03), PC-3 (CI = 0.60), and 22Rv1 (CI = 0.20) cells. Similarly, slight synergism with 1 nM cabazitaxel was observed in all cell lines: C4-2 (CI = 0.29), PC-3 (CI = 0.40), and 22Rv1 (CI = 0.53). We did not observe any antagonism at clinically relevant concentration combinations of genistein and taxanes. These findings suggest that genistein supplementation is not harmful for PCa patients undergoing chemotherapy, but do not fully support findings of others that demonstrate synergistic activity. Although we did observe an enhancement of growth inhibition, it only occurred at the highest concentration of genistein (100 μM) tested, which is beyond what is achievable through dietary consumption of soy products. Quantities of genistein consumed in the diet or by supplementation are likely not sufficient to enhance the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy, but can be used without reducing the effectiveness of taxane drugs.

Citation Format: Jillian N. Eskra, Alaina Dodge, Maarten C. Bosland. Genistein does not alter the effectiveness of taxane chemotherapeutics on human prostate cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 910. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-910


Brazil covers a large surface area and about 6 436 000 km2, including the continental margin, are covered by sediments. The onshore portion, 4 885 000 km2, is divided into more than 20 Proterozoic, Paleozoic, and Tertiary basins (Figure 1)—most being virtually unexplored or underexplored for oil and gas. Petroleum exploration began in 1954 with the creation of Petrobras (Brazilian State Oil Company) and implementation of the state monopoly. Exploration has mainly focused on the offshore continental margin. Two major exceptions are Reconcavo and Sergipe-Alagoas basins which have been explored since the 1960s. Figure 1.
Distribution of onshore sedimentary basins in Brazil.

In 1997 a new petroleum law opened the country to all segments of the oil industry and created a new government agency—ANP (Agencia Nacional de Petroleo)—which is responsible, among other things, for awarding exploration and producing licenses. Since the end of the state monopoly, more than 34 companies have operated in Brazil. In 1999-2002, ANP held four licensing rounds that offered several areas for exploration in almost all onshore sedimentary basins.

The 1997 law requires that all submitted bids be preceded by geologic and geophysical studies. The high cost of onshore exploration justifies the use of shallow geophysical and geochemical methods to reduce the inherent risk and focus the exploration efforts. Recent work has shown that oil reservoirs can be overlain by alteration plumes that can be mapped with geochemistry and/or shallow geophysical surveys. Geochemical prospecting, which has been around since the 1930s, can provide evidence of migration of hydrocarbons because that migration often changed some physical properties of the capping rocks. These changes can, in some cases, be detected by geophysical methods.

The motivation for the work described in this article was to study the near-surface electromagnetic response of hydrocarbon …


The genus Legionella currently comprises 24 species and multiple serogroups. Despite the continuing development and increasing availability of new and improved laboratory tests for diagnosing legionella infections, the incidence of such infections remains poorly defined. The most frequently cited estimate of 25,000 to 50,000 cases of legionella pneumonia per year in the United States is based on a single study with a number of methodologic limitations. While numerous studies of the etiology of pneumonia have been published, it is usually not possible to calculate incidence from these investigations. The proportion of pneumonia cases attributable to legionella species has ranged from less than 1% to greater than 30%. Differences in the diagnostic methods employed in various studies and questions concerning the representativeness of the patients studied make it difficult to determine how much of the observed variation is due to true geographic and temporal differences in the incidence of legionella pneumonia. Further studies are needed to define the incidence of acute lower respiratory tract infections due to Legionella.


Torsion of an accessory spleen is recognized as a rare cause of acute abdominal pain in childhood. A case is reported which, however, is unusual in that it occurred in a patient of 75, who had had no previous symptoms which might have suggested the presence of an accessory spleen.


We propose a framework for novel view synthesis for a cartoon face given two images of key views such as front and side views. Due to the structure inconsistency of cartoon faces in manually drawn images, matching region detection between different views is a challenging task. We propose a local complexity based segmentation that grabs facial components such as eyes, eyebrows and mouth that are not clearly separated by contour in cartoon faces. We automatically find the matching region in the two input key images and morph them to create intermediate views.


Background: Tobacco smoking and pulmonary tuberculosis combined is two preventable public health concerns. They put the annual global death rates from these two diseases at over six million. There is tangible evidence from studies conducted on more than forty thousand patients regarding nicotine therapy for tobacco smokers enhances likelihood of success when compared to support without nicotine replacement. This study determines the effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapy among tuberculosis patients.Methods: This protocol study determines the effectiveness of tobacco smoking cessation rates among pulmonary tuberculosis patients on nicotine replacement treatment. The secondary objectives are to determine the relationship between smoking cessation and tuberculosis treatment outcome and the determinants of smoking cessation. This CONSORT 2010 checklist-based, placebo controlled, block- randomized, double-arm, single blind trial will be experimented between March 2019 and August 2022 in Mangaluru, India, with a sample size of 300 in both the arms. The intervention group will be prescribed with nicotine polacrilex chewing gums along with brief advice and the control group with brief advice and sugar-free chewing gum as a placebo for three months in a tapered dose with 3 months of follow-up. The binary outcome of reported status of smoking the participants will be confirmed by urine cotinine qualitative test at the start and end of the trial apart from monthly carbon monoxide monitoring and Fagerstorm scoring. Ethical clearance is obtained from Nitte University.Discussion: The collected information will be summarized by using frequencies and percentages for qualitative data, mean and standard deviation for quantitative data. To compare the outcome measures, quantitative, before and after intervention, paired-t test will be used. If the study has missing data more than 10% of the total sample size as expected during sample size calculation, Pattern-Mixture Model within a mixed-effects logistic regression model for longitudinal dichotomous data will be used. The significance of this study is to gather further evidence nicotine replacement therapy as an appropriate technology in primary care settings and further upwards by conducting the trial in actual healthcare settings. Trial registration: The trial is registered prospectively with the Clinical Trials Registry of India vide CTRI/2018/11/016457 dated 28/11/2018.


An enterprise today deploys multiple security middleboxes such as firewalls, IDS, IPS, etc. in its network to collect different kinds of events related to threats and attacks. These events are streamed into a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) system for analysts to investigate and respond quickly with appropriate actions. However, the number of events collected for a single enterprise can easily run into hundreds of thousands per day, much more than what analysts can investigate under a given budget constraint (time). In this work, we look into the problem of prioritizing suspicious events or anomalies to analysts for further investigation. We develop SIERRA, a system that processes event logs from multiple and diverse middleboxes to detect and rank anomalous activities. SIERRA takes an unsupervised approach and therefore has no dependence on ground truth data. Different from other works, SIERRA defines contexts, that help it to provide visual explanations of highly-ranked anomalous points to analysts, despite employing unsupervised models. We evaluate SIERRA using months of logs from multiple security middleboxes of an enterprise network. The evaluations demonstrate the capability of SIERRA to detect top anomalies in a network while outperforming naive application of existing anomaly detection algorithms as well as a state-of-the-art SIEM-based anomaly detection solution.


I'm writing this editorial in the middle of a scientific meeting that I'm attending; and it's a cracking meeting by any scientific standards. But it has reminded me, again, of standards that speakers often unthinkingly apply to their presentation; and some of them could be improved. Powerpoint can be a wonderful tool, if used wisely; equally, as I once heard, it can turn an inspiring scientific talk into a ''glorified shopping list''. Now I have the impression that that problem of overuse of bullet point lists is being replaced by another, particularly in cell biology: it's the continuously running movie – e.g. fluorescence or phasecontrast microscopy – that loops incessantly in the background whilst the speaker is explaining what it means. This starts as a justified and scientifically important glorification, but ends up just irritating the audience. Images grab attention; moving images doubly so. Maybe I was the only one in the audience affected in this way – I doubt it – but I find it very hard to concentrate on the scientific messages with such cinematography running continuously. And suddenly, another little cinema opens in a new panel on the same slide – by the end there can be several little science cinemas running simultaneously on the same slide. It's beautiful and impressive, but please stop the looping! A few times is enough. On the other hand, I am, on the whole, impressed by the skill with which presenters depict their models via pictures drawn in Powerpoint; but here, the animation functions of the Microsoft product are mostly underused: most of the time a complicated model is presented in total. A step-wise appearance of the various components would aid understanding, I believe. Another common practice continues to be the presentation of large quantities of primary data (gels; micrographs; sequence comparisons; panels with combinations of images, symbols, and numerical values – you name it). Yes, science does need to be presented with reference to results obtained in the lab. However, I feel that the larger the amount of primary data on a slide, the less the audience engages with and tries to understand it. I've observed that at the end of the vast majority of talks there are no questions about how the results in slide so-and-so were obtained, or what the Ca2þ concentration was in a particular experiment. That also means that there is less audience engagement with the experimental work: possibly a missed potential for useful input? I believe that primary data should be presented in a quantity necessary to communicate crucial examples, and no more. Striving for completeness of data is likely to make the audience less curious about what exactly was done. Isn't such curiosity part and parcel of a scientific meeting? Finally, what's the ''message'' in the header text of the slides? Is there a message? Many speakers do entitle their slides with statements of the biological process or the finding that they are presenting, e.g. ''Lis1 is required for dynein to function in yeast and man''. But many still have titles such as ''The role of. . .'' or ''The mechanism of. . .'', despite the fact that they have, in truth, something much more specific to say. With the chronic lack of time to present a full picture during a talk, stating a finding or biological phenomenon in a slide title – i.e. containing subject, object and verb – is invaluable: it immediately gives viewers a piece of information, regardless of whether they then have the time to digest the rest of the slide. Most presenters do make wise use of bullet points these days, restricting them to summary slides – particularly the main take-home messages at the end of the presentation. But for greatest clarity, their entry should be animated. I can't animate my conclusions here, but here are some closing bullet points:


In assisted reproductive technology, medications and ovarian stimulation play a crucial role. The availability of gonadotrophins and GnRH analogues has allowed the tailoring of several stimulation schemes. The two most commonly used gonadotrophin forms are urinary hMG and recombinant FSH in combination with GnRH agonists or GnRH antagonists. Cycles stimulate with recombinant FSH appear to have a higher risk of premature progesterone rise in the late follicular phase, if not triggered on time. Recently, corifollitropin alfa, a new long acting recombinant FSH was introduced which sustain multiple follicular growth for 7 days in women undergoing ovarian stimulation using GnRH antagonists. GnRH antagonist and agonist do have similar live birthrate. However, GnRH antagonists reduce significantly the risk of OHSS. Moreover, with the introduction of GnRH antagonists, it became possible to trigger ovulation with a bolus of a GnRH agonist as an alternative to hCG. The early OHSS is eliminated completely with the GnRH agonist trigger. However, due to an uncorrectable luteal phase deficiency, a poor clinical outcome is present, when GnRHa is used to trigger final oocyte maturation in IVF/ICSI antagonist protocols. Therefore, it has been suggested to cryopreserve the embryos and transfer in consecutive natural cycles. Future trials should aim to eliminate OHSS and multiple pregnancy rates by performing a single stimulation in a simplified corifolitropin alfa/GnRH antagonist cycle triggered by a GnRH agonist followed by Cryo-thawed SET in consecutive natural cycles. With this approach, the two major complications of COH for IVF could be eliminated without jeopardizing the outcome.