INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Gender confirming surgery (GCS), also known as transgender or gender reassignment surgery, has gained prominence in society at large in recent years. The evolution of GCS over the past millennia will be reviewed, with a discussion of the current aspects relevant to practitioners. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review (PubMed, Clinical Key, Google Scholar) was performed to elucidate relevant historical and clinical information. RESULTS: Transsexualism, gender dysphoria, and non-gender conforming identities have existed throughout history. Historical recordings of cross-dressing date as far back as Ancient Egypt in 1500 BC, with Queen Hatshepsut ascending to the throne wearing male clothing and a beard. In Ancient Rome in 220 AD, Emperor Elagabalus, known for his bisexual encounters, reportedly offered a reward for any doctor who could provide him female genitalia. In 1922, Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, widely considered to be the father of transgender health care, performed the first modern GCS for Dora Richter, the first transwoman to undergo vaginoplasty. His most famous patient was Lili Elbe, a Danish painter, who underwent multi-staged surgeries including penectomy, orchiectomy, attempted ovarian transplant, and vaginoplasty. Lili ultimately died from complications 3 months after her last surgery. She was the inspiration for the movie "The Danish Girl". The first male to female GCS in the United States was performed in 1966 by an American urologist, Dr. Elmer Belt. Soon thereafter, Dr. John Money founded the first gender identity clinic at Johns Hopkins University, which closed in 1979. That same year, Dr. Harry Benjamin formed the organization that would become the World Profession Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which provides uniform standards of care for the medical and surgical management of the transgender patient. In 1980 the diagnosis "Gender Identity Disorder" was added to the DSM-5. Although at the time controversial, this provided a diagnosis that helped transgender patients gain access to the medical community with a defined condition. This term was subsequently replaced in 2013 with the term "Gender Dysphoria". CONCLUSIONS: Currently, about 1000 GCS are performed in the US yearly. GCS is now covered by Medicare, Medicaid in 9 states, and certain private insurance companies. With its increasing insurance coverage, GCS is more accessible than ever before. With an estimated 1.4 million transgender people in the US, there is a growing need for practitioners trained to perform GCS. Source of Funding: None


Introduction: Pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID) is caused by infections in the female reproductive tract that includes pelvic peritoneum, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the endometrium. These infections are commonly caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhea, or other sexually transmitted infections. 800,000 women get a diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease annually in the United States. PID usually causes irreversible damage to the reproductive tract, and treatment mainly depends on preventing further scarring or complications. Immediate broad spectrum antibiotics are indicated. Treatment can include hospitalization as well as surgery. Methodology: We conducted this review using a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE, from January 1985 to February 2017. The following search terms were used: pelvic inflammatory diseases, pathogens causing pelvic inflammatory diseases, causes of infertility, treatment and diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory diseases. Aim: In this review, we aim to study the pathophysiology and etiology of pelvic inflammatory diseases, as well as to study the diagnosis, treatment, and possible complications of this condition. Conclusion: It is essential to raise the awareness and knowledge of females in general regarding PID and its symptoms, as early detection will significantly decrease the likelihood of severe complications. Other than infertility, complications of pelvic inflammatory disease include chronic pain. More research is needed in this field to improve management and care of patients suffering from this condition.


For MIMO-OFDM system, expectation maximum (EM) is used to decrease the complexity of maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) channel estimation algorithm. However, EM-based MAP algorithm generates the low mean square error (MSE) performance at high signal noise rate (SNR) because of the convergent feature of EM algorithm. According to this issue, a modified EM-based MAP (MEM-MAP) channel estimation algorithm is proposed. The proposed algorithm improves convergent property of EM algorithm at high SNR by introducing an equivalent model. Then, according to the idea that MIMO channels in angle domain can be assumed to be independent, most significant taps (MST) technique in angle domain is used to improve the MSE performance of MEM-MAP algorithm. Simulation results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.


Persian Buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus L.; 2x=2n=16; estimated genome size: 7.6Gb) is an ornamental and perennial crop native of Asia Minor and Mediterranean basin, marketed both as cut flower or potted plant. Currently new varieties are developed by selecting plants carrying desirable traits in segregating progenies obtained by controlled mating, which are propagated through rhizomes or micro-propagated in vitro. In order to escalate selection efficiency and respond to market requests, more knowledge of buttercup genetics would facilitate the identification of markers associated with loci and genes controlling key ornamental traits, opening the way for molecular assisted breeding programs. Reduced-representation sequencing (RRS) represents a powerful tool for plant genotyping, especially in case of large genomes such as the one of buttercup, and have been applied for the development of high-density genetic maps in several species. We report on the development of the first molecular-genetic maps in R. asiaticus based on of a two-way pseudo-testcross strategy. A double digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD) approach was applied for genotyping two F1 mapping populations, whose female parents were a genotype of a so called 'ponpon' and of a 'double flower' varieties, while the common male parental ('Cipro') was a genotype producing a simple flower. The ddRAD generated a total of ~2Gb demultiplexed reads, resulting in an average of 8,3M reads per line. The sstacks pipeline was applied for the construction of a mock reference genome based on sequencing data, and SNP markers segregating in only one of the parents were retained for map construction by treating the F1 population as a backcross. The four parental maps (two of the female parents and two of the common male parent) were aligned with 106 common markers and 8 linkage groups were identified, corresponding to the haploid chromosome number of the species. An average of 586 markers were associated with each parental map, with a marker density ranging from 1 marker/cM to 4.4 markers/cM. The developed maps were used for QTL analysis for flower color, leading to the identification of major QTLs for purple pigmentation. These results contribute to dissect on the genetics of Persian buttercup, enabling the development of new approaches for future varietal development.


Many additional considerations go into the anesthetic management of an otolaryngologic case involving laser surgery. All these considerations involve techniques for facilitating cooperation between the anesthesiologist and the surgeon, while at the same time doing what's best for the patient. The additional risk of fire and inadvertent injury to either the patient or medical personnel should receive high-priority attention by both the surgeon and the anesthesiologist. In short, "vigilance" takes on additional and special meanings when a laser is in use.


Attention involves three functionally and neuroanatomically distinct neural networks: alerting, orienting, and executive control. This study aimed to assess the attentional networks and vigilance in adolescents aged between 10 and 19 years using the attentional network test for interaction and vigilance (ANTI-V). One hundred and eighty-two adolescents divided into three groups (early adolescents, middle adolescents, late adolescents) participated in the study. The results indicate that after age 15, adolescents adopt a more conservative response strategy and increase the monitoring of self-errors. All the attentional networks seem to continue to develop during the age range considered in this study (10–19 y). Performance improved from early adolescence to middle adolescence and began to stabilize in late adolescence. Moreover, a low level of vigilance seems to harm alerting and orienting abilities.


Practical uses of trichogrammatid egg parasites occur world-wide against many lepidopterous pests on several key crops. Although several million hectares are treated annually, most of these remain at research and plantation scale, and there are relatively few commercial insectaries producing these organisms as crop protection agents. With few exceptions, trichogrammatids are produced by small, specialized industries with low technology and high labour inputs.

Increases in the commercial uses of these naturally occurring ovicides, particularly in intensive agricultural systems with high per-capita output, have been limited by problems in the scale and economy of production, together with variability in control effect. To become more widely acceptable as plant protection products, trichogrammatids should compete with established methods in cost, availability, efficacy and reliability.

Using a specific example from the forest resources of Canada, this paper focuses on an industrial approach to developing a Trichogrammma sp. as a viable component for insect pest management. In particular, it addresses the problems of production economy and scale, quality control, storage, and application technology.


Abstract While a germline heterozygous mutation in the Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) gene predisposes tumor formation in specific tissues such as the endocrine pancreas, parathyroid glands and anterior pituitary, this tissue-specific tumorigenesis is not dependent on MEN1 mutations alone. In fact, a homozygous deletion of Men1 in mouse pancreatic exocrine tissue does not result in tumor formation, suggesting a tissue-specific mechanism. Loss of menin activates a menin-interacting protein retinoblastoma-binding-protein 5 (RBBP5). Since RBBP5 transcriptionally regulates DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), this causes global DNA hypermethylation and subsequent tumorigenesis in MEN1-target endocrine tissues. We hypothesize that while RBBP5 is ubiquitously expressed, it exclusively binds to the DNMT1 promoter in MEN1-target-tissues through its recruitment by tissue-specific factors. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we demonstrated that Rbbp5 is bound to the Dnmt1 promoter in MEN1-target-tissues, while not in non-target tissues. Following a high-throughput genome-wide approach, we identified two candidate factors that may recruit Rbbp5 to the Dnmt1 promoter. Immunohistochemistry showed MEN1-target-tissue-specific expression of these target factors. Co-immunoprecipitation revealed MEN1-target-tissue-specific binding of Rbbp5 to the factors. In conclusion, Rbbp5 binds the Dnmt1 promoter in MEN1-target-tissues and we have identified candidates for Rbbp5 recruitment to the Dnmt1 promoter that must be tested further to determine their role in the observed tissue specificity of MEN1-related tumorigenesis.


We propose fully discrete, implicit-in-time finite volume schemes for general nonlinear nonlocal Fokker-Planck type equations with a gradient flow structure, usually referred to as aggregation-diffusion equations, in any dimension. The schemes enjoy the positivity-preserving and energy-decaying properties, essential for their practical use. The first order in time and space scheme unconditionally verifies these properties for general nonlinear diffusion and interaction potentials while the second order scheme does so provided a CFL condition holds. Dimensional splitting allows for the construction of these schemes with the same properties and a reduced computational cost in higher dimensions. Numerical experiments validate the schemes and show their ability to handle complicated phenomena in aggregation-diffusion equations such as free boundaries, metastability, merging and phase transitions.


An optimum route to synthesize composite powders with homogeneous dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was investigated. nanocomposite powders were fabricated by thermal chemical vapor deposition of gas over nanocomposite catalyst prepared by selective reduction of metal powders. The FT-Raman spectroscopy analysis revealed that the CNTs have single- and multi-walled structure. The CNTs with the diameter of 25-43 nm were homogeneously distributed in the powders, and their characteristics were strongly affected by a kind of metal catalyst and catalyst size. The experimental results show that the composite powder with required size and dispersion of CNTs can be realized by control of synthesis condition


NHS Nightingale Hospital North West (NNW) was a new temporary hospital within the NHS designed to rapidly expand capacity to care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Within 2 weeks, Manchester Central Convention Centre was converted into a potential 648 bed facility, capable of providing step-down care to patients from the north west. Junior doctors had the opportunity to witness the creation of a field hospital, shape systems and processes, and work with a diverse team coming together for a common cause. To capture their experiences, interviews were conducted using a semi-structured format and the responses summarised into transcripts. Consensus coding was performed using domains/themes. When exploring successes, there was consistent mention of a strong team; in particular the feeling of being individually valued within a flattened hierarchy. Staff wellbeing and education were also regularly mentioned and helped contribute to this overall feeling. When asked what they would take forward, doctors focussed on the importance of a strong team that values multi-disciplinary working. But the hospital was not without challenges, with processes changing from one shift to the next and leading to potential errors. In addition, system issues (such as with medication and documentation) lead to a sometimes-chaotic work environment. Staff identification was a significant challenge, and potentially contributed to communication breakdowns. To rectify this, doctors undertook QI projects which formed the basis for re-activation plans. Perhaps more important than material improvements were feelings of empowerment they identified to achieve actionable change within the hospital. Junior doctors were overwhelmingly positive about their NNW experience. Their power to act as agents of change was showcased at NNW, where senior management encouraged them to take ownership of challenges identified and seek ways to improve the system in which they worked.


The effect of the solid support on thermally activated delayed fluorescece (TADF) was investigated. Comparison of the molecular structures of supports and consideration of the energy levels of the absorption band and the fluorescence, and of lifetimes of emissions allowed the postulation of certain molecular criteria for the supports of TADF. The interactions of Tin-protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester (Sn-PPDE) with a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were considered in detail. The hydrogen bonds (-OH--it-electron systems of Sn-PPDE) were found to contribute to fix Sn-PPDE rigidly in the PVA matrix, thereby minimizing non-radiative decay of the excited molecule in the triplet state.


This paper proposes a simulated annealing algorithm for multiobjective optimizations of electromagnetic devices to find the Pareto solutions in a relatively simple manner. The algorithm is based on the successful introductions of the Pareto set as well as the parameter and objective space strings. The new rank formula and fitness-sharing functions together with the stop criterion and other improvements are investigated in the proposed method. Two numerical examples for validating the robustness of the proposed method are also reported.


The scholars, who followed Norden often express their reluctance in view of unexpected composition features in medieval Latin, so as the neolatin literary production. The reader could find a report on the valuable norm, which pretended to be useful for Latin texts composition. The claim for language correction is the main concept required, but it is followed by some traditional requirements, and on the other hand, the peculiar kind of excellence, that is selected each time according to cultural movements. The sign of a literary text is the difference from colloquial language. The tradition of «schemata» enclose comparative literature studies and language philosophy, and in advance, any special language selection, as a sign of literary form, is not required. Our purpose is the analysis of the elements, we know by medieval and renaissance companions, which conditioned literary texts composition.


Abstract A much debated question with respect to referential expressions is under what conditions speakers and writers produce overspecified expressions, i.e. expressions that contain more information than what is necessary for unique identification. In an earlier study we found that overspecifications facilitate the identification process for the understander, in particular if they contain complete object information and/or complete location information. In the present study, a production experiment is discussed in which the importance (high, low) of the instructed referential task was manipulated. In the high-importance condition more overspecifications were produced than in the low-importance condition, and this was particularly the case for overspecifications that facilitate identification for the understander.


The current understanding of the kidney development in the pelvis and then a subsequent migration to the lumbar region is disputed. A total of 96 embryos were examined after they were obtained from 24 pregnant rats. A group of 4 pregnant rats were sacrificed at each day over the period from 12 to 17 successive days of pregnancy. An almost equal number of embryos were histologically investigated at each day using the paraffin technique. This was fulfilled by taking serial sections throughout the entire length of the trunk. The 13 days old embryo presented the appearance of the definitive kidney as indicated by the microscopical display of the ureteric bud invading the nephrogenic cord. This microscopic event took place at the lower lumbar region of all examined embryos. Therefore, the present work gives a microscopic evidence that the definitive kidney develops in the lumbar region.


For a start, as a preamble, here are some excerpts from various sources on the problem of Tuberculosis (TB), which are quite strange to read at the beginning of the third millennium, since many people confidently believed that there has been enough time to solve this problem during the past two millennia: Tuberculosis symptoms and signs: cough, loss of weight, chest pain, fever, night sweats. If untreated, 50 percent of patients die within five years. More than any other infectious disease, TB kills approximately 1 million women per year. Each year, TB kills 100 000 children. Tuberculosis is the most common cause of orphanage. Untreatable bacteria can destroy the progress of TB control achieved in the last 50 years. There are no drugs to combat some resistant TB bacteria (in developed countries 50 million people may be infected).


Here we present an investigation into the phase change mechanism and detection methods of the metal-insulator transition of vanadium dioxide (VO_2). We are able to detect the onset of the phase transition, and track it to completion using both the mechanical and electrical response by depositing VO_2/TiO_2 layers onto microcantilever devices by pulsed laser deposition. The resonance frequency of v-shaped cantilevers was shown to increase by up to 41 % upon deposition of VO_2 as detected by laser Doppler vibrometry. Such a large increase in resonance frequency is ascribed to high tensile stress imparted onto the cantilever during the deposition process. The insulator-metal transition manifested as a 5 % increase in the resonance frequency as a result of lattice compression, resulting in additional tensile stress in the more ordered metallic phase. Electrically, the transition was confirmed by over three orders magnitude decrease in resistance upon heating past the transition. The metal-insulator transition was measured with an accuracy of a few °C when comparing the two methods, however, the transition was much sharper in the mechanical response.


It is well known that index funds are popular passively managed portfolios and have been used very extensively for investment. Index funds consist of a certain number of stocks of listed companies on a stock market such that the fund's return rates follow a similar path to the changing rates of the market indices. However it is hard to make a perfect index fund consisting of all companies included in the market. Thus, the index fund optimization can be viewed as a combinatorial optimization for portfolio managements. In this paper, we propose a method that consists of a genetic algorithm and a heuristic local search algorithm to maximize the correlation between the fund's return rates and the changing rates of the market index. We then apply the method to the Tokyo Stock Exchange and compare it with a GA method and a hybrid GA method. The results show that our proposed method is effective for the index fund optimization.


Book synopsis: The book aims to counter the normative functioning of creativity in contemporary capitalism with a plethora of alternatives to radical creative practices. In the first part, titled "Creative Capitalism", five authors analyze the forms of contemporary capitalism: on the one hand, there are new ways of working which include flexibility, mobility, and especially precarity; on the other, there are new forms of recovery and accumulation.
In the second part, titled "Multitudinous Creativities: Radicalities and Alterities", the book reflects on more autonomous creative experiments in the world.
The third part, titled "Creativity, New Technologies, and Networks", analyses the issues related to the work of creative capitalism and the possible resistance within the digital and collaborative platforms.


Examines the information processes that support organisational sense‐making, knowledge creation and decision making. Sense‐making involves interpreting the raw data of the environment by enactment, selection and retention. New knowledge is created by knowledge conversion, knowledge building, and knowledge linking. Completely rational decision making would involve identifying alternatives, projecting the outcomes of each alternative and evaluating the alternatives and their outcomes according to known preferences and objectives. In the organisational knowing cycle, a continuous flow of information is maintained between sensemaking, knowledge creating, and decision making, and the outcome of information use in one mode provides the elaborated context and the expanded resources for information use in other modes. An illustration is given of a knowledge cycle in the World Health Organisation Smallpox Eradication Programme in which continuous cycles of interpretation, innovation and adaptive action underpinned the success of the project.


AIM To assess the value of contrast versus plain radiography in determining radio-opaque long line tip position in neonates. METHODS In a prospective study, plain radiography was performed after insertion of radio-opaque long lines. If the line tip was not visible on the plain film, a second film with contrast was obtained in an attempt to visualise the tip. RESULTS Sixty eight lines were inserted during the study period, 62 of which were included in the study. In 31, a second radiographic examination with contrast was necessary to determine position of the tip. In 29 of these, the line tip was clearly visualised with contrast. On two occasions, the line tip could not be seen because the contrast had filled the vein and obscured the tip from view. Eight of the lines that required a second radiograph with contrast were repositioned. CONCLUSION Intravenous contrast should be routinely used in the assessment of long line position in the neonate.


Renal cell carcinoma is rare in adolescents. Observation of a 16-year-old girl with a clear-cell carcinoma prompted us to review 372 published cases in adolescents. The tumor affects the sexes indifferently and has no side predominance. The incidence is higher in white races. The most frequent presenting sign is a palpable mass (52.7%). X-ray films typically show renal calcifications (25%). The most common histotype is the clear cell carcinoma (76.8%) and at diagnosis 59.5% of these tumors already extended beyond the kidney. The overall 5-year actuarial survival rate is 60.4%.


Introduction : Foot disorders such as ulceration, infection and gangrene are the most common, complex and costly sequelae of diabetes mellitus. [1],[2],[3] Even for the most superficial wounds, treatment is often difficult with poor healing responses and high rates of complications. The purpose of this study is to compare the rate of ulcer healing with the negative pressure dressing technique to conventional moist dressings in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Materials and Methods : The study was conducted on 30 patients, which were divided into two groups. One group received negative pressure dressing while other group received conventional saline moistened gauze dressing. Results were compared for rate of wound healing. Results : There was a statistically significant difference in the rate of appearance of granulation tissue between the two groups; with granulation tissue appearing earlier in the study group. The study group promised a better outcome (80% complete responders) as compared to the control group (60% complete responders). Conclusions : Negative pressure wound therapy has a definitive role in healing of diabetic foot ulcers.


Objective To investigate the features of pathologically confirmed gliosarcomas using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the cross-sectional CT and MR images of 54 patients (37 males and 17 females; mean age, 44.5 years; range, 13–74 years) with gliosarcomas confirmed by histopathology. Results Across all patients, there were 59 lesions. On nonenhanced CT and MR images, tumors were predominantly inhomogeneous. On the postcontrast CT and MR images, 50 (84.7%) irregular lesions had thick walls with a strong rim- and ringlike enhancement, whereas the remaining 9 (15.3%) round or oval lesions had even thin walls with an enhanced peripheral ring. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed increased choline and lactate values, along with decreased N-acetylaspartate and creatine values. On diffusion-weighted imaging, the tumor was slightly or markedly hyperintense compared with the white matter. Conclusion A well-demarcated mass located peripherally, with rimlike or ring enhancement, is a common presentation of gliosarcoma on CT and MR images. In addition, magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted imaging can be used to make a differential diagnosis.


Thyroid disorder and kidney function were once thought by specialists to be clinically negligible and spontaneous, but there have been many reports of elevated serum creatinine. hyperthyroidism patients.The present study was conducted through a number of hospitals in different regions of Iraq including Baghdad, Babylon, Najaf, Samawa and Maysan. The present study was conducted in the period from August Dec 2018. Samples were collected as 90 thyroid patients and 70 from CKD patients; A set of laboratory analyzes was conducted for the collected samples such as TSH hormon,Cr,urea,T3, andT4 hormone. Data of age, sex and chronic diseases was considered. The results showed there is a strong inverse relationship between TSH hormone and Cr at r=-0.5,p<0.01 for males categories 20-29Y, and40-49y. Moreover, it was found that there is a strong inverse relationship between TSH hormone and Cr at p<0.01 in hyperthyroidism male patients, and no significant correlation in hypothyroidism patients additionally, there is a strong inverse relationship between T4 hormone and Cr at r=-0.3 ,r=- 0.5 ,p<0.001 for males and females respectively in hypothyroidism patients in CKD patients. Forthermore, the results showed that there is a strong inverse relationship between TSH hormone and Cr at p<0.01 for males for ( 20-29,30-39,50-59)Y. This study recommends the need to perform kidney function tests for thyroid patients and treatment in the event of detect.


The United States of America (USA) experiences the most tornadoes of any nation in the world, with these extreme weather events causing many deaths and billions of dollars of damage each year. With the recent warming of the climate due to human activity, it is likely that the occurrence of USA tornadoes will be affected. However, exactly how the spatial and temporal distribution of tornadoes in the USA will be affected by climate change is still an area of active research. The trends in the literature show that as the climate has warmed, there has been an observed clustering of USA tornadoes onto fewer, more active tornado days, as well as an eastward movement of the average centre of USA tornado activity. This review shows that these observed changes could be explained by shifts in environmental parameters related to tornado formation due to anthropogenic climate change. This research will allow for better tornado preparedness and prediction in tornado-affected areas as the climate warms. Future research may focus on more precisely modelling the impacts of global warming on USA tornado occurrence by using higher-resolution climate models.


A process is described that produces horizontal size segregation in a vertically vibrated layer of granular material. The behavior is a consequence of two distinct phenomena that are unique to excited granular media: vibration, which causes the large particles to rise to the top of the layer, and a vibrating base with a sawtooth surface profile, which can produce stratified flows in opposite directions at different heights within the layer. The result of combining these effects is that large and small particles are horizontally driven in opposite directions. The observations reported here are based on computer simulations of granular models in two and three dimensions.


The role of the conducting glass substrate (fluorine doped tin oxide, FTO) on the performance of dye sensitized solar cells was investigated using a new technique. In most techniques used today it is impossible to isolate the source of the recombination process. This process can occur simultaneously via the nanocrystalline TiO2 particles and via the conductive glass that are in contact with the redox electrolyte. The new technique enabled us to measure the photovoltaic performance losses of the solar cell, only via the conducting glass under stationary and working conditions at different light intensities and electrolyte concentrations. The principal idea of this new technique was to change systematically the ratio between the areas of the particle matrix and the conductive glass that are in contact with the electrolyte. The method involved gradual increment of the glass area and thereby enabled extraction of the influence of the conducting glass only. The results obtained show that, under standard cell w...


This paper presents a cartographic framework based on algorithms of GMT codes for mapping seismically active areas in Venezuela. The data included raster grids from GEBCO, EGM-2008, and vector geological layers from the USGS. The data were iteratively processed in the console of GMT, converted by GDAL, formatted, and mapped for geophysical data visualisation; the QGIS was applied for geological mapping. We analyzed 2000 samples of the earthquake events obtained from the IRIS seismic database with a 25-year time span (1997–2021) in order to map the seismicity. The approach to linking geological, topographic, and geophysical data using GMT scripts aimed to map correlations among the geophysical phenomena, tectonic processes, geological setting, seismicity, and earthquakes. The practical application of the GMT scripts consists in automated mapping for the visualization of geological risks and hazards in the mountainous region of the Venezuelan Andes. The proposed method integrates the approach of GMT scripts with state-of-the-art GIS techniques, which demonstrated its effectiveness as a tool for mapping spatial datasets and rapid data processing in an iterative regime. In this context, using GMT and GIS to find similarities between the regional earthquake distribution and the geological and topographic setting is essential for hazard risk assessment. This study can serve as a basis for predictive seismic analysis in geologically vulnerable regions of Venezuela. In addition to a technical demonstration of GMT algorithms, this study also contributes to geological and geophysical mapping and seismic hazard assessments in South America. We present the full scripts used for mapping in a GitHub repository.


The prevalence of herpetic and chlamydial genital infections was studied in 309 women attending an outpatient gynecology clinic (Algiers, Algeria). Cell culture, IF on smears and Papanicolaou staining were the methods used for HSV diagnosis, serology by the MIF method and Papanicolaou staining were used for Chlamydia trachomatis diagnosis. The prevalence of herpetic genital infection was estimated at 7.2% by cell culture, 89% by IF method, and 3.9% using the Papanicolaou staining. Specific anti-Chlamydia trachomatis IgG with a titer greater than or equal to 16 were found in 35.7% out of 95 sera, and 18% out of the 95 women had an IgG titer greater than or equal to 64. If we consider IgG titer greater than or equal to 64 as significant for an active chlamydial genital infection, the concordance rate between the Papanicolaou staining and the MIF method is of 48%. However, the Papanicolaou method appears as insensitive for both the HSV and Chlamydia trachomatis diagnosis. The relative specificity of this method for HSV diagnosis accounts for its use as a screening test.


The effect of oil refining processes-degumming, alkali-refining, bleaching and deodorizing-on oil characteristics and oxidation stability of sesame oil were investigated. The colors(L, a, b) of samples were markedly changed and their peroxide and acid values were decreased, while the other characteristics of samples were not changed during refining stages. The L values of alkali-refined, bleached and deodorized sesame oils were largely decreased and their a values were increased due to browning reaction during the storage at . The colors of crude and degmmed sesame oils were very stable and their peroxide, free fatty acid and conjugated dienoic acid values were slowly increased. Volatile carbonyl compounds formed by oxidation were increased during the storage at . The results indicated that refining processes did not affect the sesame oil characteristics but decreased the oxidation stability of sesame oil.


A study of the balance effect of the leg muscles plyometric training in aerobics dance. 1. To increase the balance in aerobic dance of Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University students. 2. To compare the results of the balance ability of students before training. 3. To compare the results of balance ability of students after being trained.The population of this study was 30 male students of Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, age between 18 - 21 years, divided into 2 groups: control group (15 trainees) and experimental group (15 trainees trained). Pilot Metric training was designed for participants in the group. Training is a method. Squat sample is to point the toes a little bit, knees pointing to the front. Minimize and spring up for 40 seconds in 3 sets during play to complete set to a 3-minute break with the Squat Jump is knee angle 90 degrees, always two consecutive alternates. For the duration of 40 minutes, 3 sets were used during the play to complete a 3-minute break. Practice 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The statistics used for data analysis were the mean and the baseline. Ben The differences between the groups were tested by independent t-test and paired t-test.The results showed that the physical characteristics of the sample group include Age, Weight, Height and Body mass index between two groups were no statistically significant difference at .05 levels. The comparison of balance in aerobic dance of students in spending time in balance found that the experimental group has balance ability more than the control group was significantly at the .05 level.Conclusion the plyometric training of leg muscles for 8 weeks, which able to improve the strength of the leg muscles, power and balance ability of Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University students.


Spherical microphone arrays have been paid increasing attention for their ability to locate a sound source with arbitrary incident angle in three-dimensional space. Low-frequency sound sources are usually located by using spherical near-field acoustic holography. The reconstruction surface and holography surface are conformal surfaces in the conventional sound field transformation based on generalized Fourier transform. When the sound source is on the cylindrical surface, it is difficult to locate by using spherical surface conformal transform. The non-conformal sound field transformation by making a transfer matrix based on spherical harmonic wave decomposition is proposed in this paper, which can achieve the transformation of a spherical surface into a cylindrical surface by using spherical array data. The theoretical expressions of the proposed method are deduced, and the performance of the method is simulated. Moreover, the experiment of sound source localization by using a spherical array with randomly and uniformly distributed elements is carried out. Results show that the non-conformal surface sound field transformation from a spherical surface to a cylindrical surface is realized by using the proposed method. The localization deviation is around 0.01 m, and the resolution is around 0.3 m. The application of the spherical array is extended, and the localization ability of the spherical array is improved.


CD44 is a polymorphic transmembrane glycoprotein that exists as multiple isoforms resulting from alternative splicing and posttranslational modifications. Enhanced expression of CD44 has been correlated to the tumorigenicity and metastatic behavior in different malignant tumors. In contrast, human neuroblastomas exhibit an inverse correlation between CD44 expression and tumor malignancy. To determine whether there is a CD44 silencing in sympatho-adrenal precursors as a possible explanation for the down-regulation of CD44 in neuroblastomas, the expression of standard CD44H and v6, v7, v7v8, or v10 isoforms was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in human adrenal glands of 14-to 20-week-old gestational age fetuses. All of the fetal neuroblasts localized in the adrenal gland parenchyma and migrating from the sympathetic nerve chain into the fetal adrenal cortex strongly expressed CD44H but none of the CD44 isoforms could be detected in these cells. In contrast, a strong expression of CD44v7 and v6 was detected in the fetal adrenal cells. These results indicate that, as for many other cell types, the CD44H expressed by fetal neuroblasts may contribute to controlling their migration into the adrenal medulla and that the down-regulation of CD44H in neuroblastoma cells should be explained by mechanisms other than the fetal suppression of CD44H expression in their normal counterparts.


S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) is synthesized in vitro by SAM synthetase, which is coded for by the metK gene of Escherichia coli. Since E. coli cells are impermeable to SAM it has been impossible to obtain mutants which require SAM for growth. The finding that SAM is required for regulating methionine biosynthesis was used to select metK mutants which have the phenotype of resistance to methionine analogues. These mutants show reduced SAM synthesis in vitro, and a lower level of intracellular SAM. However, as all these mutants can grow, without added SAM, the block in SAM synthesis must be incomplete. To try to block SAM synthesis more completely we combined temperature-sensitive metK mutation with a block in the synthesis of cystathionine (metA), a precursor that supports only slow growth because of slow entry. At the non-permissive temperature for metK these double mutants could grow on methionine but not on cystathionine, in correlation with the greatly reduced intracellular level of SAM. This result indicates that it is possible to reduced intracellular SAM concentrations to levels which are low enough to prevent growth of E. coli. Moreover, since the mutation responsible for the reduction in SAM level is in the metK gene, it is suggested that SAM synthetase is the enzyme which catalyses SAM biosynthesis in E. coli cells.


PURPOSE
It is desirable to increase CT soft-tissue contrast to improve delineation of tumor target and/or surrounding organs at risk (OAR) in RT planning and delivery guidance. The purpose of this work is to investigate the use of monoenergetic decompositions obtained from dual energy (DE) CT to improve soft-tissue contrast.

METHODS
CT data were acquired for 5 prostate and 5 pancreas patients and a phantom with a CT Scanner (Definition AS Open, Siemens) using both sequential DE protocols and standard protocols. For the DE protocols, the scanner rapidly performs two acquisitions at 80 kVp and 140 kVp. The CT numbers of soft tissue inserts in the phantom (CTED/Gammex) were measured across the spectrum of available monoenergetic decompositions (40 to 140 keV) and compared to the standard protocol (120 kVp, 0.6 pitch, 18 mGy CTDIvol). Contrast, defined as the difference in the average CT number between target and OAR, was measured for all subjects and compared between the DE and standard protocols.

RESULTS
Mono-energetic decompositions of the phantom demonstrate an enhancement of soft-tissue contrast as the energy is decreased. For instance, relative to the 120 kVp scans the Liver ED insert increased in CT number by 25 HU while the adipose ED insert decreased by 50 HU. The lowest energy decompositions featured the highest contrast between target and OAR. For every patient, the contrast increased by decomposing at 40 keV. The average increase in contrast relative to a 120 kVp scan for prostate patients at 40 keV was 25.05±17.28 HU while for pancreas patients it was 19.21±17.39 HU.

CONCLUSION
Low energy monoenergetic decompositions from dual-energy CT substantially increase soft-tissue contrast. At the lowest achievable monoenergetic decompositions the maximum soft-tissue contrast is achieved and the delineation of target and OAR is improved. Thus it is beneficial to use DECT in radiation oncology. Supported by Siemens.


The research objectives were to find out 1) Availability of clean water for the people in Tunikamaseang Village, Bontoa District, Maros Regency. 2) Access to clean water for the community in Tunikamaseang Village, Bontoa District, Maros Regency. 3) The efforts of the local government and the community in overcoming clean water problems in Tunikamaseang Village, Bontoa District, Maros Regency. The type of research used is descriptive qualitative. Data collection techniques are observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis was carried out, namely preparing data, reflecting on data, coding data, dividing coding results, interpreting and interpreting data. The results of the study show that: 1) The availability of clean water in Tunikamaseang village is minimal, the community only relies on rainwater and PDAM water as a source of clean water. As for other water sources used, but the quality is not clean enough, such as drilled wells, dug wells, pond water, and reservoir water. The constraints are the lack of available clean water, namely the provision of clean water has not been a priority, community sanitation facilities and behavior are still lacking and the factor of low rainfall. 2) The level of access to clean water for the people in Tunikamaseang village is at the basic level of access. Distance and travel time to get clean water between 100-1000m or 5-30 minutes. Meanwhile, the price of clean water is relatively expensive, namely Rp. 50,000,-/m3 or about 18 times the price of PDAM clean water. The difficulty of access to clean water is due to the very minimum available facilities and the poor financial condition of the people. 3) The efforts of the local government in overcoming clean water problems in Tunikamaseang village are distributing reservoirs and making proposals for the procurement of clean water assistance aimed at the Regional Government. While the community's efforts are making piped connections to clean water, maintaining water sources, saving on the use of clean water, making rainwater reservoirs and private boreholes.Keywords: Clean Water; Access; Availability


We study the interplay between basic and applied research intensities in a simple model of creative destruction with research complementarities. Basic research intensity is chosen by the government and applied research intensity by the private sector. We find that the closer the country is to the world's technological frontier the more the government should invest in basic research and the more the private sector will react with higher R&D expenditures. If innovation steps are small, a higher degree of openness triggers higher basic research and higher applied research investments in leading sectors. If innovation steps are larger, the government invests less in basic research, while firms in leading sectors tend to increase R&D investments, and those in lagging sectors reduce them. In the light of these findings, we discuss the available empirical evidence on basic-research expenditures across countries.


In recognition of the successful applications of high-resistance grounding of industrial power systems primarily in the continuous process industries, an attempt is made to identify the broad application areas as well as to offer qualifications regarding the application of the high-resistance grounding concept. High-resistance grounding (arranged to alarm only) has proven to be a viable grounding mode for 600-V and 5-kV systems with an inherent total system charging current to ground (3 Ico) of about 5.5 A or less. Beyond this current limit and in applications at 13.8 kV, high-resistance gounding appears to require direct tripping to prevent fault escalation prior to fault locating and removal. The original objective¿avoidance of unscheduled shutdowns¿could not be realized. The subsequent solution of direct tripping, rather than alarming only, is shown to result in a grounding scheme which is considered to be subordinate to the low-resistance (about 400 A) grounding scheme. In discussing the probable failure mode of motor windings, it is suggested that a ground fault in a motor winding, operating on a high- resistance grounded system, may be caused by an escalated tum-to-turn insulation failure. An indefinite prolongation of the resultant ground fault is likely to result in a further escalation to a phase-to-phase fault which increases the probability of unscheduled shutdowns and excessive motor damage. A precautionary note is included regarding the effect of static conversion equipment on high-resistance grounding.


This work presents the novel binary and ternary composite materials, based on a low-density polyethylene, metal alloy, which have a melting point close to those of polyethylene and carbon black. Oriented structures were obtained when high-viscosity polyethylene was used as a matrix material. Resistivity of the composite was investigated and nonohmic behavior of the ternary composites was revealed. Temperature dependence of the thermal capacity was studied. The IR (infrared) spectra of the composites were studied using an FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared) spectrophotometer. The presence of the alloy caused intensive oxidation of carbon black in the ternary composites as well.


This paper develops a tractable framework for exploiting the potential benefits of physical layer security in three-tier wireless sensor networks. In such networks, the sensing data from the remote sensors are collected by sinks with the help of access points, and the external eavesdroppers intercept the data transmissions. We adopt the stochastic geometry approach to model the random locations and spatial densities of the sensors, access points, sinks, and eavesdroppers. We focus on the secure transmission in two scenarios: i) the active sensors transmit their sensing data to the access points, and ii) the active access points forward the data to the sinks. We derive new compact expressions for the overall average secrecy rate in such networks. Numerical results corroborate our analysis and show that multiple- antenna technique at the access points can enhance the security. Our results show that the overall average secrecy rate first increases with increasing the number of access points, and there exists a critical value beyond which the overall average secrecy rate decreases with increasing the number of access points. When adding the number of active sensors, the overall average secrecy rate decreases. In contrast, increasing the number of sinks improves the overall average secrecy rate.


Mining method selection is the first and most important problem in mine design. In this selection some of the parameters such as geological and geotechnical properties, economic parameters and geographical factors are involved. The mining engineer must balance the input parameters and select the method that appears to be the most suitable; mining method selection is both an art and a science. Distinguishing all parameters that have an effect in mining method selection and in the determination of weighting factors of any parameter is a difficult task in an ordinary environment. This paper attempts to determine important parameters that impact on the mining method selection and demonstrates the calculation of the weighting factors for each selected parameter. This study has been directed to the research of a methodology for the selection of an optimal mining method. Different fuzzy methods are presented as an innovative tool for criteria aggregation in mining decision problems. Two methods of fuzzy multiple criteria decision making are used for selecting the optimal method with which to mine anomaly No. 3 of the Gol-Gohar iron mine. This paper finally presents a comparison of the selection methodologies and further discusses the most appropriate method investigated.


Over the last decade, the classic concept of three-step bonding to dental tissues has developed rapidly to more user-friendly, simplified adhesive systems. These comprise the two-step total etch and the two step self-etch systems. The latter, initially avaible in two steps, were further reduced to a one step procedure for simpler and faster application. However, despite the user-friendly features of this category of adhesives, bring about a certain disadvantage. The gold standart for evaluating the performance of dental materials are the controlled clinical trial. The constand, rapid evolution of adhesive materials increases the number of long-term clinical trials needed. However, due to increasing costs and the immediate demand for information, there is a need for surrogate methods. The establishment of an in vitro methodology capable of reproducing some in vivo challenges is crucial for better understanding of restorative materials behavior. The use of some methodologies in laboratory studies of dental materials has been considered potantial methods to simulate in vivo challenges. The aim of this study was to review the mechanism of the durability of adhesive interface, the in vitro aging methods in order to simulate the bonding degradation that occurred in the oral environment and the current information and research on dentin adhesives durability.


A study of 80 patients with spinal osteochondrosis and 27 patients with osteochondrosis deformans revealed high efficacy of treatment at the "Marcial Waters" health results (Karelian SSR). The authors developed methods of analgesiometry permitting to evaluate objectively treatment results.


The United States and the European Union share a common desire to provide a safe food supply and credible regulatory systems. However, they have adopted two very different regulatory approaches to deal with the increasing numbers of GM (genetically modified) food and feed products coming to market. Consequently, the transatlantic relationship has become fraught with conflict over the issue of GM foods. This paper explores the nature of the two regulatory systems and the underlying social, political, and institutional factors that contributed to the development of these systems. It then explores the potential impact of these two regulatory systems on international trade. We distinguish between producer protectionism, a commonly recognized trade impediment, and overprotection of consumers that can also have trade implications. Because the potential for trade conflicts over GM foods could result in serious consequences for both the transatlantic relationship and the multilateral system of trade rules, various attempts at bilateral and multilateral reconciliation have been made. Unfortunately, most of these attempts have stalled or failed. Finally, the paper explores product labeling as a possible solution to the conflict. We distinguish between positive and negative labeling and positive and negative attributes. The paper concludes that leaving the labeling to producers and retailers of food would allow the market to work effectively and could allow the EU and the US to reach consensus without resulting in major trade disruptions.


Due to the drastically increasing food prices during the last few years in Europe and also in Hungary, good and medium quality winter wheat varieties produced at low costs with high yield potential came to the front. Although food overproduction is characteristic to one part, while shortage of food to the other part of the world, the newest tendencies show an increasing role of the production and consumption of high quality food that can be produced only from high quality raw materials. When a new variety is certified, the qualitative parameters are more and more important beyond the quantitative ones. Several programmes were started to breed and produce winter wheat varieties with excellent qualitative parameters including the determination of the adequate, variety- and habitat specific agrotechniques and plant nutrition. In Karcag Research Institute plant breeding and long-term fertilization experiments have been carried out separately from one another for several decades. In the vegetation period of 2012/2013 a new series of experiments was started that includes the determination of the fertilizer doses optimal for our high quality winter wheat varieties with high yield potential. The determination of the adequate and optimal fertilizer doses are essential not only from economic point of view and lower environmental loads, but also for the most effective utilization of the genetic potential of our winter wheat varieties without the degradation of the qualitative parameters. After the assessment of the data we established that extreme high doses of fertilizers are needed for the spectacular improvement of the parameters we examined. As the financial possibilities of farmers are limited, the fertilizer cost is a determining factor: they have to consider if the yield or the quality of a given variety can be increased at an affordable fertilizer input. Our goal is to determine the often empiric hence not so accurate fertilizer doses more precisely providing the producers a proper production technology and plant nutrition recipe adequate to the varieties bred by us. Due to the complexity of this topic high number of further examinations is required.


The development of 3 dimensional (3D) display technologies led to the widespread 3D designs and applications in construction industry. The major developments that offer visual presentation for the construction projects are 4D CAD, BIM and nD modeling. In addition, 3D GIS applications that use visualization features of GIS are also available. Unlike CAD tools, GIS software provide spatial data about construction for project participants. According to the previous studies, converting 2D CAD drawings into 3D data layers that refer to each construction activity is an efficient method. It is possible to transfer and edit them in GIS through data interoperability. Besides, 3D modeling and editing tools such as 3D Studio Max and SketchUp enables the realistic design with their material library and texture features. These modeling software can transfer data directly into GIS. In this study, two available 3D building visualization methods to provide visual support in GIS environment for the construction projects were compared. AutoCAD, SketchUp and ArcGIS were utilized for modeling, data transfer, editing and 3D visualization. 3D data transfer processes between these software were also discussed and multipatch geometry type that is supported by ArcGIS was emphasized. A reinforced concrete construction in Eskisehir, Turkey was determined as the study area for the case study. In consequence of the study, it was discovered that while the feature class objects that were transferred from CAD to GIS have 2D geometry, multipatch objects are in 3D geometrically thereby more realistic. Irregular 3D objects cannot be defined in feature class but they can be created in SketchUp and transferred into GIS as multipatch. On the other hand, each layers corresponding to the construction activities should be drawn individually in SketchUp.


Demographics are such that the number of people over 65 will increase by 11% by the year 2011. The
needs of this section of the United Kingdom population are not currently catered for in the design of
food packaging. This paper discusses a project which aims to highlight the needs and aspirations of a
sample of the UK population when opening food packaging. In an initial focus group, six people
discussed the issues that they perceived as being important when purchasing packaged food. Their
physical ability was profiled before opening five types of foodstuff packaging, and their performance
was recorded via video and through focus groups. The physical properties of the packaging were also
defined.
The perceived ability or inability of the participants to open packaging, and their subsequent success
in this task performance, is discussed in relation to a model of hand object interaction and packaging
semantics.
It was found that the participants could not open all of the packaging tested. The forces required to
open the packaging did not appear to be too high in relation to the participants' abilities, demonstrated
through grip and pinch strengths. The problems users experienced were with their ability to apply the
forces to the packaging and their pre-conceptions of the packaging. The participants choice of food
was influenced by their confidence in being able to prepare it, which included opening the packaging
or who was available to help them. Easy to open food packaging enables elderly people to be more
confident in leading independent lives for longer and provides improved convenience for all.


An estimation method of system cost, associated revenue and estimated profitability that applies to the broadcasting standards used in digital terrestrial networks is presented. The purpose of this research is to support and promote the adoption of innovative technologies that improve spectrum efficiency and flexible usage. The model presented should help key players to make choice on digital terrestrial broadcasting technologies driven by optimal investment cost and the techno-economic analysis. The results clearly show the early (in realistic multiple-multiplex cases even immediate) profitability of broadcast network if MPEG-4 and DVB-T2 standards are used. Ill. 6, bibl. 6, tabl. 1 (in English; abstracts in English and Lithuanian). http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eee.109.3.183


Ejection from a motor vehicle has been considered a hazardous event with the belief that occupant impacts outside of the car are the injury causing event. Analysis of NCSS data, and of Washtenaw County, Michigan crashes indicates, that more than half of the more serious injuries (greater than or equal to AIS 3) occurred within the car prior to the ejection. Also in rollover crashes, side glass areas are the main portals of ejection, with the major injury being sustained within the car prior to ejection, occurring more often in far side down rollovers.


Blood loss at sites of vascular rupture is controlled by the adhesion and aggregation of platelets and the formation of an insoluble fibrin matrix. Fibrinogen is considered to be critical in these processes by both providing an abundant dimeric ligand for alpha IIb beta 3‐mediated platelet aggregation, and serving as the fundamental building block of the fibrin polymer. To establish an in vivo model system to examine in detail the importance of alpha IIb beta 3‐fibrinogen interactions in platelet function, hemostasis, response to injury and vasoocclusive disease, and to test the prevailing hypothesis that the C‐terminal segment of the fibrinogen gamma chain is essential for alpha IIb beta 3 binding, we have used gene‐targeting technology in mice to eliminate the last five residues (QAGDV) from the gamma chain. Mice homozygous for the modified gamma chain gene (gamma delta 5/gamma delta 5) displayed a generally normal hematological profile, including normal platelet count, plasma fibrinogen level, clotting time and fibrin crosslinking. However, both gamma delta 5‐fibrinogen binding to alpha IIb beta 3 and platelet aggregation were highly defective. Remarkably, another alpha IIb beta 3‐dependent process, clot retraction, was unaffected by the gamma delta 5 mutation. Despite the preservation of clotting function, gamma delta 5/gamma delta 5 mice were unable to control blood loss following a surgical challenge and occasionally developed fatal neonatal bleeding events.


Aim of this study was to evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy, tolerability, drug plasma levels and hemodynamic effects after long-term treatment with the slow release (SR) formulation of verapamil (240 mg od). After a wash-out period of two weeks, 96 subjects (39 M, 57 F; mean age: 55 +/- 8.4 years; recruited in 9 centers) with mild to moderate, uncomplicated hypertension received verapamil 240 mg SR od for 24 weeks. The following parameters were considered: systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, heart rate (HR), ECG, echocardiogram, routine blood and urine chemistries, drug plasma levels. In addition, hemodynamic parameters were assessed in 30 subjects. A significant decrease in SBP and DBP (p < 0.01) was observed already after 1 week of treatment and was evident during all the study. HR was significantly reduced after 4 weeks (p < 0.01). No changes of ECG and echocardiographic parameters occurred. A significant increase in drug plasma levels was measured after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment (p < 0.05), when compared to the values recorded after 1 week. After 24 weeks drug levels were slightly decreases, even if not significantly, when compared to the values observed at the 12th week. No significant changes of cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), stroke volume (SV) were evident. Total vascular resistances (TVR) decreases significantly (p < 0.001) 80 subjects completed the study. These results confirm the antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of SR formulation of verapamil and suggest that the effective mechanism by which it reduces blood pressure is the progressive reduction of TVR without a sympathetic reflex stimulation. This hemodynamic effect is achieved by small drug concentrations. In conclusion, SR formulation of verapamil allows a good therapeutic control in hypertensive subjects when it is administered od and, therefore, it can be considered a drug of first choice in the treatment of arterial hypertension.


Microstrip-line structures with arbitrary dimensions are simulated using subsectional basis functions on nonuniform grids in a Galerkin approach. The system matrices are compressed with especially designed wavelets on these grids and solved by a fast iterative algorithm. To further enhance accuracy and convergence, the knot sequences are optimised. Several numerical examples are presented.


The pro-apoptotic ability of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been partly accounted for its anticarcinogenic effect although the precise mechanism of action remains elusive. In this study we characterized the biochemical events governing CLA-mediated apoptosis in Jurkat T cells. CLA induced a time-and dose-dependent activation of caspase-3. Pre-treatment with antioxidant molecules (trolox and quercetin), antioxidant enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase) metal chelator (EDTA), reducing agent (N-acetyl-L-cysteine), NADPH oxidase or protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor (diphenyleneiodinium and Gö 6976, respectively) suppressed CLA-mediated caspase-3 activation. Moreover, CLA treatment increased the NADPH oxidase activity and depleted the intracellular pool of reduced glutathione. These results suggested that CLA can trigger apoptosis through an oxidative stress mediated by the PKC/NADPH oxidase pathway. The proposed mechanism provides a new insight into the anticancer activity of CLA.


Abstract Two theoretical evaluations of 57mFe quadrupole moment (Q), based on different formalisms, namely the Hartree-Fock theory and the Linearized Augmented Plane Wave method have yielded results differing by a factor of two. In both cases, Q was obtained from experimental quadrupole interaction frequencies through investigation of the Electric Field Gradients at the nuclear site of the 57mFe probe. It is the purpose of the present work to reexamine the earlier Hartree-Fock approach. In particular, the earlier model is extended through a more realistic description of the environment of 57mFe in the respective experiments, as well as through inclusion of electron correlation effects.


DNA molecules were revealed in the glomerular wall of lupus nephritis patients by applying two specific colloidal gold cytochemical approaches at the electron microscope level: immunocytochemistry using a monoclonal anti-DNA antibody in conjunction with protein A-gold and enzyme-gold cytochemistry using DNAse-gold complexes. Application of both techniques has demonstrated that DNA molecules are preferentially located over the electron-dense deposits found in the glomerular basement membrane and mesangial matrix of SLE patients, as well as over the nuclei. Their distribution within the glomerular wall was correlated with electron-dense immune deposits revealed by anti-light chain antibodies. In normal control kidney, DNA labeling was restricted to the cell nuclei. Several control experiments have demonstrated the high specificity of the results. These data thus suggest a possible role for DNA as an antigenic component in the formation of immune complexes.


Natural substances are potential compounds for green electronic devices. So, scientists have to explore and optimize their properties to insert them as active layers in electronic heterostructures. In this study, microstructural, optical, and electrical properties of thin layers of the propolis are investigated. Propolis is a biological organic bioactive material produced by honeybees. A stable, bioactive, green, and low-cost thin layer of this biocompatible material was deposited on different substrates using a propolis alcohol solution. The morphological studies show that the propolis thin film is dense and well covers the substrate surfaces. Transmittance spectra show that propolis film cuts off blue and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which are responsible for food oxidation, nutrient losses, flavor degradation, and discoloration. Therefore, to prevent food deterioration, a propolis film can be used in food packaging. For red and near-infrared radiation (∼600–2700 nm), a propolis film is transparent. Between near-infrared and mid-infrared radiation (∼2700–3200 nm), a propolis film reveals significant photosensitivity and so can be used as a photosensor. The propolis film reveals an energy gap of 2.88 eV at room temperature, which enables potential optoelectronic applications in the UV and blue ranges. The electrical study shows that the propolis layer has semiconductor behavior and can be a potential active layer in biocompatible temperature sensors. In addition to its medical, pharmaceutical, and food industry applications, in light of this study, propolis presents amazing optical and electrical properties and is a promising candidate for food packaging, optoelectronics, transparent electronics, and bioelectronics.


Between the period of the Toledan reforms and the mid-nineteenth century, one of the most important institutions among indigenous communities in the Andean region was the cofradia or religious brotherhood. Its origins were primarily ecclesiastical and European but, as the present study indicates, its practical importance during the colonial period extended beyond the narrowly religious sphere into indigenous social, economic and cultural life. Although both Celestino and Meyers are anthropologists, they construct their theoretical discussion within a chronological framework, and draw heavily upon historical sources. They present a persuasive picture of the development of the cofradia from a feature of outside control of native society in the sixteenth century into an instrument of defence of native cultural identity and communal economic interests against the encroachment of Spanish values and Spanish landowners in the later colonial period. Like other Socio-economic features of colonial Peru, the cofradia offered the native community a degree of protection, the importance of which emerged more clearly with hindsight in the context of the deliberate attack upon communities which was unleashed inthe mid-nineteenth century by successive Republican governments. Whether motivated by altruism or by cynical contempt for the Indian, the attack upon communal values and institutions embraced in the legislation of the 1820s, the 1839 Constitution, and the 1865 creation of juntas de Beneficencia Publica was tempered only by administrative inefficiency. But by the early twentieth century the rapid penetration of capitalist values into rural areas and the growth of state power led to the communities being 'submerged in the universe of the monetary market' and the cofradia, like other communal institutions, whilst managing to survive, lost much of its traditional authority. The present study is tentative in its conclusions on a number of important issues. It is limited geographically to the Mantaro Valley, which, precisely because it has been an area of both relative prosperity and racial mixing, is perhaps untypical of the Andean region as a whole. The analysis is concerned almost exclusively with the indigenous cofradia, although as Pablo Macera points out in his lucid introduction, there were and are several other types of religious brotherhood in Peru. Nevertheless despite or, as Macer insists, because of the fact that it provokes more questions than it resolves, this pioneering study genuinely breaks new ground in the study of the socio-economic history of the rural Andean world.


In this paper, we constrain dark energy models using a compendium of observations at low redshifts. We consider the dark energy as a barotropic fluid, with the equation of state a constant as well the case where dark energy equation of state is a function of time. The observations considered here are Supernova Type Ia data, Baryonic Acoustic Oscillation data and Hubble parameter measurements. We compare constraints obtained from these data and also do a combined analysis. The combined observational constraints put strong limits on variation of dark energy energy density with redshift. For varying dark energy models, the range of parameters preferred by the supernova type Ia data is in tension with the other low redshift distance measurements.


Although our ability to predict climate conditions has improved significantly, farmers` use of climate information and forecasts in farming decisions and practices has changed a little. Part of the reasons is the lack of communication of innovations like the seasonal climate forecasts (SCFs). Today, efforts are being initiated to motivate farmers to integrate SCF into their farm decisionmaking. This study was conducted to serve as basis in designing a communication campaign on SCF. Data were gathered in Malaybalay, Bukidnon through focus group discussions, decisionmaking workshops, and interviews with farmers cultivating at least a hectare of corn. In the decisionmaking workshop, farmers were asked to assume hypothetical situations, given a climate forecast for the current years` cropping season, and requested to decide their farming activities based on the climate forecasts. Results showed the popularity of SCF among the farmers. However, farmers depended more on their indigenous climate forecasting than on the SCF. Farmers considered climate forecasts as nonprobabilistic and said that they find it difficult to understand these forecasts. For better understanding, they suggested that climate forecasts use simple words and be downscaled to their locality. Utilizing description-based decisions, their decisions were aimed at maximizing profits and minimizing cost.


This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. For more information, please contact email@example.com. Recommended Citation Heinrich, Anne Terese, "A comparative study of perceptual ratings and fundamental frequency in female and male esophageal voices" (1978). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 2848.


In this paper, we study two quasi-one-dimensional (1D) Kitaev models with ladder-like and tube-like spatial structures, respectively. Our results provide the phase diagrams and explicit expressions of the Majorana zero modes. The topological phase diagrams are obtained by decomposing the topological invariants and the topological conditions for topologically nontrivial phases are given precisely. For systems which belongs to topological class BDI, we obtain the regions in the phase diagrams where the topological numbers show even-odd effect. For the Kitaev tube model a phase factor induced by the magnetic flux in the axial direction of the tube is introduced to alter the classification of the tube Hamiltonian from class BDI to D. The Kitaev tube of class D is characterized by the Z 2 index when the number of chains is odd while 0, 1, 2 when the number of chains is even. The phase diagrams show periodic behaviors with respect to the magnetic flux. The bulk-boundary correspondence is demonstrated by the observations that the topological conditions for the bulk topological invariant to take nontrivial values are precisely those for the existence of the Majorana zero modes.


Neonauclea sessilifolia belongs to Rubiaceae and its chemical constituents and pharmacological investigations were seldom reported. To search the active constituents of the plant, the ethanol of the dried stem of Neonauclea sessilifolia was separated via reflux with ethanol, then the crude product was extracted with ethyl acetate and n-butanol in sequence. The ethyl acetate extract was further isolated by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. A new triterpene was obtained, and the structure was identified as 3β, 7β, 21β, 23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-ene-28-oic acid via 1D, 2D NMR techniques and HR-EI-MS analysis.


gel or Sephadex LH-20. The structures of each isolate were elucidated by application of spectroscopic techniques such as 1H-and 13C-NMR, and FAB-MS, and were identified as monotropitin, /3-sitosteryl-3-O-/3-D-glucopy-ranoside, and (+)-catechin by comparison of their spectra with those of reported ones. This is a first report of monotropitin isolated from Filipendula species.


To mine the medication rules of herbal prescriptions for gout caused by heat-damp accumulation syndrome, and explore the possible mechanism of the core herbs, we collected the relevant literature of gout caused by heat-damp accumulation syndrome in CNKI, medication rules of herbal prescriptions are analyzed by using TCMISS(V2.5) software, and the compatibility of core drugs and new prescriptions were mined.KEGG pathway analysis was performed by BATMAN-TCM, an online analysis tool, and the potential signaling pathways of core drugs compatibility to treat gout caused by heat-damp accumulation syndrome were revealed. The results showed that six core drugs and three new prescriptions were found out of the 136 prescriptions. The core compatibility herbs in clinical treament of gout caused by heat-damp accumulation syndrome, Phellodendri Chinrnsis Cortex, Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix and Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, which potential signaling pathways were purine metabolic pathway and neura activity ligand receptor interaction signaling pathway. Therefore, for gout caused by heat-damp accumulation syndrome, the mainly used therapies of TCM were clearing heat and drying dampness,inducing diuresis for removing edema, dispeling wind and eliminating dampness. The mechnisms of core compatibility herbs may be achieved through the intervention of purine metabolic pathway and neural activity ligand receptor interaction signaling pathway.


To investigate the anti-tumor efficacy and safety of adoptive cell therapy for the treatment of relapsed, refractory or chemotherapy-resistant lymphoma, we conducted a pilot clinical study using autologous anti-CD3 expanded T cells derived from patients with the diseases. A total of 12 patients, who were pathologically diagnosed with malignant lymphoma at various stages were enrolled in the study. PBMCs from the immunotherapy group were collected and expanded by anti-CD3 in the presence of IFNγ and IL2. The expanded T cells were then infused back to the patients, who were assessed for changes in lymphocyte subgroups, tumor-related biological parameters, imaging characteristics, and the condition of remission and survival. The overall response rate (ORR) to the therapy was 66.7% of the treated patients achieving the complete response (CR) and partial response (PR), with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 43 months and median overall survival (OS) of 54 months separately. No severe toxicity or side effects were observed. Also, we found new factors influencing the clinical outcomes. The higher percentages of CD4+ T cells and CD4+HLA DR+ T cells, but the lower CD8+HLA DR+ T cells in the blood was positively correlated to the therapeutic outcomes achieving CR as compared to the patients still having stable disease (SD) or partial disease (PD). Precis: The early form of adoptive T cell therapy still provides a valuable option in the treatment of relapsed, refractory, or chemotherapy-resistant lymphoma by improving progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).


The solid state amorphization reaction in Ni50Mo50 alloys has been investigated by neutron diffraction and neutron small-angle scattering. A series of specimens has been mechanically alloyed for 2,4,8,16 and 32 hours in a high-energy ball mill. The initial stages of the reaction are characterized by the deformation of the parent crystalline phases. After 8 hours of treatment a change in the samples is observed and those treated for 16 and 32 hours consist of an amorphous NiMo phase with some free molybdenum. The intensity of the small-angle scattering is much greater for the 2 hour specimen than for the parent, but decreases regularly for longer milling times. The Guinier plots show considerable curvature indicative of particles with a range of sizes. Graphs of log I(Q) versus log Q show a sequence of changes which correspond to the sequence of changes seen in the diffraction data. The graphs for the 2 and 4 hour samples are linear over an extended range of scattering vector Q. The slope of these graphs is about -3.4, which is indicative of a rough surface having the fractal dimension of 2.6. The authors tentatively associate this with the convoluted surfaces between the nickel and molybdenum particles which are drawn into an interpenetrating filamentary structure in the early stages of the mechanical alloying process.


A new in-situ thermal piezocone penetration test (T-CPTU) system is developed to determine the thermal properties of soil. It is expected to overcome most of the shortcomings observed in existing in-situ test techniques. Based on Fourier's heat conduction equation and pore pressure dissipation theoretical equation, a method for calculating the thermal conductivity, namely the predicted temperature method, was proposed. The accuracy of T-CPTU probe testing process and thermal conductivity calculation results were verified by numerical simulation, laboratory large-scale model tank tests and thermal needle tests. Finally, the field data of T-CPTU at three sites in Nanjing, China were collected and compared with the laboratory thermal needle tests. The results indicated that the thermal conductivities obtained using T-CPTU were accurate and closer to those of laboratory thermal needle tests for most soils. The thermal conductivities of the undisturbed soil samples measured in the laboratory were lower than those obtained by T-CPTU.


This study examined the effects of early social deprivation in rats on 2 dissociable forms of inhibitory control of behavior that operate at 2 different levels of response selection: reversing the assignment of stimulus-reward associations within perceptual dimensions (affective shifts) and switching selective attention from 1 perceptual dimension to another (attentional shifts). Isolated subjects (isolates) and social controls (socials) were individually trained to spatial and nonspatial visual discrimination criteria on a radial arm maze. Whereas isolates and socials differed in neither acquisition nor reversal of both versions of the task, isolates were selectively impaired in shifting from spatial to nonspatial discrimination and vice versa. These findings demonstrate that isolation rearing selectively disrupts inhibitory control in attentional selection but leaves inhibitory control in affective processing intact.


Objectives: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is one of the most important diagnostic tools for investigation of suspected pancreatic masses, although the interpretation of the results is controversial. In recent decades, digital image analysis (DIA) has been considered in pathology. The aim of this study was to assess the DIA in the evaluation of EUS-FNA based cytopathological specimens of pancreatic masses and comparing it with conventional cytology analysis by pathologist. Material and Methods: This study was performed using cytological slides related to EUS-FNA samples of pancreatic lesions. The digital images were prepared and then analyzed by ImageJ software. Factors such as perimeter, circularity, area, minimum, maximum, mean, median of gray value, and integrated chromatin density of cell nucleus were extracted by software ImageJ and sensitivity, specificity, and cutoff point were evaluated in the diagnosis of malignant and benign lesions. Results: In this retrospective study, 115 cytology samples were examined. Each specimen was reviewed by a pathologist and 150 images were prepared from the benign and malignant lesions and then analyzed by ImageJ software and a cut point was established by SPSS 26. The cutoff points for perimeter, integrated density, and the sum of three factors of perimeter, integrated density, and circularity to differentiate between malignant and benign lesions were reported to be 204.56, 131953, and 24643077, respectively. At this cutting point, the accuracy of estimation is based on the factors of perimeter, integrated density, and the sum of the three factors of perimeter, integrated density, and circularity were 92%, 92%, and 94%, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that digital analysis of images has a high accuracy in diagnosing malignant and benign lesions in the cytology of EUS-FNA in patients with suspected pancreatic malignancy and by obtaining cutoff points by software output factors; digital imaging can be used to differentiate between benign and malignant pancreatic tumors.


Optical pump-terahertz probe spectroscopy has become a widely used experimental tool for the investigation of the ultrafast far-infrared response of polar systems. In this paper the authors present an analytical method of calculating the propagation of ultrashort terahertz pulses in photoexcited media. The transient terahertz wave form transmitted through the sample is equal to a product of the incident terahertz field (at a mixed frequency), transient susceptibility, and a so called transfer function which depends on the properties of the sample in equilibrium. The form of the transfer function is derived for general layered systems and for specific cases including one-dimensional photonic crystals, thin films, and bulk samples. Simplified expressions directly applicable to the analysis of the experimental results related to the most common sample geometries are shown and discussed.


Purpose: This study compared the effects of forced air warming and radiant heating on body temperature and shivering of patients with postoperative hypothermia. Methods: The quasi-experimental study was conducted with two experimental groups who had surgery under general anesthesia; 20 patients of group 1 experimented with the Bair Hugger as a forced air warming and 20 patients of group 2 experimented with the Radiant heater. The study was performed from July 3 to August 31, 2006 in a recovery room of an university hospital in a city. The effects of the experiment were measured by postoperative body temperature and chilling score at arrival and after every 10 minutes. The data were analyzed by t-test or χ²-test, repeated measures ANCOVA using SPSS/WIN 12.0. Results: The mean body temperature showed differences between the Bair Hugger group and Radiant Heater group at 40 minutes(F=-2.579, p=.034), 50minutes(F=-2.752, p=.027), and 60 minutes(F=-2.470, p=.047) after arrival to the recovery room. So, hypothesis 1 was partially accepted. The mean score of shivering showed differences between the Bair Hugger group and the Radiant Heater group, but it had no significant meaning. Hypothesis 2 was not accepted. Conclusion: We need more study to explore the effects and side effects of heating modalities to select a more effective heat treatment. The efficiency of heat modalities with regards to cost benefit, time consumption, and patients' discomfort such as burns should be considered.


Author(s): Ou, Horng Der | Advisor(s): Minor, Jr, Daniel L | Abstract: The identification of many homologs and paralogs of the most famous tumor suppressor, p53, has expanded its role from tumor suppression to epidermal development, neuronal development, and protection of germ cells. Of all the members in the p53 protein family, the DNA binding domain (DBD) is the most conserved domain. In contrast, the C-terminal region is diverse in sequence and composition of protein domains that include the oligomerization domain (OD), the sterile alpha motif (SAM) domain, and the transcription inhibitory domain (TID). While the function of each domain has been delineated, the SAM domain is the least functionally characterized, yet it is conserved between vertebrate and invertebrate p53. Furthermore, mutations of this domain in p63, a homolog of p53, cause defects in epidermal development in human.The diversity of the C-terminus is most apparent in two p53 like proteins in C. elegans (CEP-1) and Drosophila (Dmp53). Neither of these proteins have any domains in the C-terminus found in other p53 protein family members, yet the DBD in both proteins recognize the DNA consensus motif in vitro. Interestingly, CEP-1 and Dmp53 could only elicit an apoptotic response, but not both cell cycle arrest and apoptosis like in human. The variation of the C-terminal end by each member of the p53 protein family may account for the discrepancy between identical in vitro DNA specificity, and distinct promoter specificity in vivo. By using bioinformatics and structural determination by nuclear magnetic resonance, the domain architecture of the C-termini of CEP-1 and Dmp53 was revealed. In CEP-1, an OD and a SAM domain were identified, in which the stability of the OD depends on its interaction with the SAM domain, thus suggesting an early function for the SAM domain. In Dmp53, the OD displays an unconventional fold that requires an additional helix to stabilize the OD. Structural and biochemical investigations into the human SAM domain in p63 also reveal that the SAM domain has interactions with the OD. Mutations in the SAM domain may disrupt this interaction and cause a change in the conformation of p63 that results in its abnormal function.


Following a consequent outline of his communication, the author subsequently describes his experiences, the possibilities of managing and personal techniques available in case of operative problems or postoperative complications such as bleeding, haematoma, dermal necrosis or scar formation or infection. The nasal physiology and its relation to the operative treatment, and the importance of a thoroughly preoperative evaluation of certain tissue characteristics are discussed. Postoperative skeletal alterations, such as insufficient or excessive removal of humps, cartilages and soft tissues as well as their surgical management are pointed out. Remarks about nasal tip correction conclude the presentation of the subject.


The non-intrusive nature and high accuracy of face recognition algorithms have led to their successful deployment across multiple applications ranging from border access to mobile unlocking and digital payments. However, their vulnerability against sophisticated and cost-effective presentation attack mediums raises essential questions regarding its reliability. In the literature, several presentation attack detection algorithms are presented; however, they are still far behind from reality. The major problem with existing work is the generalizability against multiple attacks both in the seen and unseen setting. The algorithms which are useful for one kind of attack (such as print) perform unsatisfactorily for another type of attack (such as silicone masks). In this research, we have proposed a deep learning-based network termed as MixNet to detect presentation attacks in cross-database and unseen attack settings. The proposed algorithm utilizes state-of-the-art convolutional neural network architectures and learns the feature mapping for each attack category. Experiments are performed using multiple challenging face presentation attack databases such as SMAD and Spoof In the Wild (SiW-M) databases. Extensive experiments and comparison with existing state of the art algorithms show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.


Leveraging synthetically rendered data offers great potential to improve monocular depth estimation and other geometric estimation tasks, but closing the synthetic-real domain gap is a non-trivial and important task. While much recent work has focused on unsupervised domain adaptation, we consider a more realistic scenario where a large amount of synthetic training data is supplemented by a small set of real images with ground-truth. In this setting, we find that existing domain translation approaches are difficult to train and offer little advantage over simple baselines that use a mix of real and synthetic data. A key failure mode is that real-world images contain novel objects and clutter not present in synthetic training. This high-level domain shift isn't handled by existing image translation models. Based on these observations, we develop an attention module that learns to identify and remove difficult out-of-domain regions in real images in order to improve depth prediction for a model trained primarily on synthetic data. We carry out extensive experiments to validate our attend-remove-complete approach (ARC) and find that it significantly outperforms state-of-the-art domain adaptation methods for depth prediction. Visualizing the removed regions provides interpretable insights into the synthetic-real domain gap.


Introduction Diabetes-associated endothelial barrier function impairment might be linked to disturbances in Ca2+ homeostasis. To study the role and molecular mechanism of Orais–vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin signaling complex and its downstream signaling pathway in diabetic endothelial injury using mouse aortic endothelial cells (MAECs). Research design and methods The activity of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) was detected by calcium imaging after 7 days of high-glucose (HG) or normal-glucose (NG) exposure, the expression levels of Orais after HG treatment was detected by western blot analysis. The effect of HG exposure on the expression of phosphorylated (p)-VE-cadherin and VE-cadherin on cell membrane was observed by immunofluorescence assay. HG-induced transendothelial electrical resistance was examined in vitro after MAECs were cultured in HG medium. FD-20 permeability was tested in monolayer aortic endothelial cells through transwell permeability assay. The interactions between Orais and VE-cadherin were detected by co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence technologies. Immunohistochemical experiment was used to detect the expression changes of Orais, VE-cadherin and p-VE-cadherin in aortic endothelium of mice with diabetes. Results (1) The expression levels of Orais and activity of SOCE were significantly increased in MAECs cultured in HG for 7 days. (2) In MAECs cultured in HG for 7 days, the ratio of p-VE-cadherin to VE-cadherin expressed on the cell membrane and the FD-20 permeability in monolayer endothelial cells increased, indicating that intercellular permeability increased. (3) Orais and VE-cadherin can interact and enhance the interaction ratio through HG stimulation. (4) In MAECs cultured with HG, the SOCE activator ATP enhanced the expression level of p-VE-cadherin, and the SOCE inhibitor BTP2 decreased the expression level of p-VE-cadherin. (5) Significantly increased expression of p-VE-cadherin and Orais in the aortic endothelium of mice with diabetes. Conclusion HG exposure stimulated increased expression of Orais in endothelial cells, and increased VE-cadherin phosphorylation through Orais–VE-cadherin complex and a series of downstream signaling pathways, resulting in disruption of endothelial cell junctions and initiation of atherosclerosis.


The intrinsic connection between lattice theory and topology is fairly well established, For instance, the collection of open subsets of a topological subspace always forms a distributive lattice. Persistent homology has been one of the most prominent areas of research in computational topology in the past 20 years. In this paper we will introduce an alternative interpretation of persistence based on the study of the order structure of its correspondent lattice. Its algorithmic construction leads to two operations on homology groups which describe a diagram of spaces as a complete Heyting algebra, which is a generalization of a Boolean algebra. We investigate some of the properties of this lattice, the algorithmic implications of it, and some possible applications.


The advent of high water content, oxygen permeable contact lens materials has made the intracorneal implants more feasible. A major obstacle encountered is the regrowth of a stable epithelium over the implant. Therefore, ammonia gaseous plasma modification technique was used to modify the surface chemical properties of soft contact lens material such as poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid), PHEMA-MAA copolymer, in an attempt to enhance the cell attachment and growth of rabbit corneal epithelial cells.


During the exhibition of the rest and protection treatment of infantile paralysis at the last session of the American Medical Association, many physicians requested that we report in detail the method of making molded plaster shells and covering them with a water-proof material which increases the life of a cast threefold. The principle employed by us in the treatment of anterior poliomyelitis is chiefly that of constantly maintaining the physiologic rest position for paralyzed muscles by means of protective supports. As muscle power returns, the weaker of two opposing groups is favored by the protection position; that is, the origin and insertion of the weaker muscles are brought as close as possible without injuring the opposing muscles or producing a permanent deformity by permitting bony or ligamentous changes. At the same time it is desirable that the protected parts may be bathed and given heat and light massage twice or three