The coming intersection between a growing electrified vehicle fleet and desired growth in renewable electricity generation presents an opportunity for synergistic value. Some types of renewable electricity generation are variable and intermittent, and rarely coincident with utility load pattern. Vehicles are typically parked 90% of the time, and the batteries are a significant capital investment. In this paper we discuss the intersection of these two growth areas, the technology needed for integration, and several potential scenarios highlighting the limitations and opportunities for renewable energy resources to fuel electrified vehicles of the future.


Human cytolytic fusion proteins (hCFPs) are therapeutically efficacious recombinant polypeptides comprising a target cell-specific binding component and a human effector domain that induces apoptosis. Compared with former generations of immunotoxins, which contain immunogenic cytotoxic domains derived from bacteria or plants, hCFPs contain solely human proteins that do not induce an immune response, thus avoiding the development of neutralizing antibodies. Here, we investigated the suitability of human angiogenin (Ang) mutants as effector domains. We engineered 3 different Ang variants that outperformed the wild-type enzyme by replacing amino acid residues with key roles in the protein's catalytic activity and its interaction with the ribonuclease inhibitor RNH1. The cytotoxic potential of these mutants was compared with wild-type Ang by fusing each to the CD64-specific single-chain variable fragment H22. All hCFPs were successfully expressed in HEK293T cells and purified from the cell culture supernatant by immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography. The Ang mutant-based hCFPs showed normal binding activity towards human interferon-&ggr;-stimulated CD64+ HL-60 cells and activated human macrophages isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but increased cytotoxicity based on reduced affinity towards RNH1 and higher ribonucleolytic activity.


Traditional STAP processors for radar target detection, such as the GLRT and AMF, require an estimate of the noise covariance matrix. In practice, this estimate is obtained from a training data set that is usually constructed from range gates surrounding the test gate. The training data must be target free and statistically homogeneous with the test data. In heterogeneous and target rich environments, these assumptions do not necessarily hold and degradation in the detection performance results. In this paper, we propose a new detection algorithm, which we call the maximum likelihood estimation detector (MLED), and that operates only on the test data. We show that the new detector has the highly desirable CFAR property. We give the expressions for its probabilities of false alarm and detection and show that it has a performance that is comparable with the traditional algorithms


We analyzed archival spectra acquired with the Hubble Space Telescope for a study of interstellar C 2 . Absorption from the electronic transitions, D 1 Σ +u – X 1 Σ +g (0,0) as well as F 1 Π u – X 1 Σ +g (0,0) and (1,0), was the focus of the study. Our profile syntheses revealed that the lines of the F − X bands were broadened as a result of a perturbation involving the upper levels. Further evidence for the perturbation came from anomalies in line strength and position for the F − X (0,0) band. The perturbation likely arises from a combination of triplet–singlet interactions involving spin–orbit mixing between 3 Π u states and F 1 Π u and an avoided crossing between the 3 Π u states. Tunneling through a potential barrier caused by the 3 and 4 1 Π u states and spin–orbit mixing with other close-lying triplet states of ungerade symmetry are less likely. Except for the broadening, lines in the F − X (1,0) band appear free from anomalies and can be used to study interstellar C 2 ; new results for 10 sight lines are presented.


This article offers a description of negation marking in the two Ethio-Semitic languages: Amharic and Ezha. The description has been made from the perspective of synchronic comparison. The article discloses that both Amharic and Ezha make use of negative prefixes in order to reverse the truth condition of an affirmative expression. The negative morphemes employed by each of the two languages have two allomorphic variants whose alternation is grammatically conditioned. The two allomorphs of the negative marker in Amharic are alwhich occurs with perfective and imperative verbs, and athat surfaces with imperfective and jussive verbal conjugations. Similarly, the Ezha negative prefix appears as anwith perfective verbal bases, and as awith imperfective, jussive and imperative verb forms. In both languages, the negative prefixes attach to verbs preceding person prefixes and following subordinators in negative subordinate clauses. When it comes to copular and existential verbs, as compared to prototypical verbs, negation in both languages can be expressed in two ways: in some cases, the aforementioned negative prefixes are employed; and in some other cases, completely different verb forms rendering negative readings are introduced, hence, lexical negation via suppletion.


Objective Mortality rates for patients with SLE have not been reported in Australia. This study determined the association between a hospitalisation for SLE with mortality. Methods Population-level cohort study of patients with SLE (n=2112; 25 710 person-years) and general population comparators (controls) (n=21, 120; 280 637 person-years) identified from hospital records contained within the WA Rheumatic Disease Epidemiological Registry from 1980 to 2013. SLE was identified by ICD-9-CM: 695.4, 710.0, ICD-10-AM: L93.0, M32.0. Controls were nearest matched (10:1) for age, sex, Aboriginality and temporality. Using longitudinal linked health data, we assessed the association between a hospitalisation for SLE mortality and mortality with univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards and competing risks regression models. Results At timezero, patients with SLE were similar in age (43.96 years), with higher representation of females (85.1% vs 83.4%, p=0.038), Aboriginal Australians (7.8% vs 6.0%) and smokers (20.5% vs 13.2%). Before study entry, patients with SLE (mean lookback 9 years) had higher comorbidity accrual (Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥1 item (42.0% vs 20.5%)), especially cardiovascular disease (CVD) (44.7% vs 21.0%) and nephritis (16.4% vs 0.5%), all p<0.001. During follow-up (mean 12.5 years), 548 (26.0%) patients with SLE and 2450 (11.6%) comparators died. A hospitalisation for SLE increased the unadjusted (HR 2.42, 95% CI 2.20 to 2.65) and multivariate-adjusted risk of mortality (aHR 2.03, 95% CI 1.84 to 2.23), which reduced from 1980 to 1999 (aHR 1.42) to 2000–2014 (aHR 1.27). Females (aHR 2.11), Aboriginal Australians (aHR 3.32), socioeconomically disadvantaged (aHR 2.49), and those <40 years old (aHR 7.46) were most vulnerable. At death, patients with SLE had a higher burden of infection (aHR 4.38), CVD (aHR 2.09) and renal disease (aHR 3.43), all p<0.001. Conclusions A hospitalisation for SLE associated with an increased risk of mortality over the 1980–2014 period compared with the general population. The risk was especially high in younger (<40 years old), socioeconomically disadvantaged and Aboriginal Australians.


BACKGROUND Duration of intravenous fat emulsion (IVFE) infusions, precise method of administration (manufactured bottle vs repackaged syringe), and interval for administration set change continue to be debated. OBJECTIVE To determine the contamination rate associated with replacing IVFE administration sets every 24 hours in newborn infants receiving fat emulsion repackaged into unit-of-use syringes. METHODS This was a prospective, microbiologic study of 90 administration sets used in 19 neonates. IVFE samples were obtained from administration sets at the end of a 19– to 23–hour infusion and prior to daily tubing set change from infants who received repackaged IVFE. Samples of IVFE (1–3 mL) were aseptically removed at the catheter connection site proximal to the patient, transferred into BACTEC PEDSPlus culture media, and continuously monitored for 5 days to detect gram-positive and gram-negative organisms, as well as yeast. RESULTS Two samples (2.27%) grew coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Both samples were from the same asymptomatic patient and were obtained on consecutive days. A blood sample obtained through this infant's central catheter grew the same organism and suggested catheter hub colonization as the primary site of microbe origin. CONCLUSIONS Microbial contamination of IVFE infusion sets changed at 24–hour intervals, using unit-of-use syringes in neonates, was low at 2.2%.


Measurement of soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, Ks, is normally affected by flow patterns such as macro pore; however, most current techniques do  not differentiate flow types, causing major problems in describing water and chemical flows within the soil matrix. This study compares eight models for scaling Ks and predicted matrix and macro pore Ks, using a database composed of 50 datasets. The database includes data regarding Ks, soil bulk density, particle size distribution, with textures ranging from sandy loam to clay. The results showed that among the models tested, the Saxton and Kozeny Carman models performed best for estimating soil Ks using scaling techniques. In contrast, Campbell and Cosby models were not suitable for similar Ks scaling method. Generally, Saxton, Kozeny Carman, Poulsen Saxton, Vereecken, and the Brakensiek models gave the best estimation of soil Ks. Furthermore, all models had smaller estimation deviations for loam soils than for clay loam soils. The results also showed that a sample with the average characteristics of all samples should be taken as a reference point when scaling Ks is used. Overally, the Saxton and Kozeny Carman models are recommended for scaling Ks. The performance of a simple fractal model was not suitable neither for matrix nor for macro pore hydraulic conductivity.


Hairdressers are frequently exposed to bleaching powder containing persulfates, a group of compounds that may induce hypersensitivity in the airways. The mechanism causing this reaction is not clear. The aim of this study was to identify changes in the nasal lavage fluid proteome after challenge with potassium persulfate in hairdressers with bleaching powder-associated rhinitis. Furthermore, we aimed to compare their response to that of hairdressers without nasal symptoms, and atopic subjects with pollen-associated nasal symptoms. To study the pathogenesis of persulfate-associated rhinitis, the response in protein expression from the upper airway was assessed by time-dependent proteomic expression analysis of nasal lavage fluids. Samples were prepared by pooling nasal lavage fluids from the groups at different time points after challenge. Samples were depleted of high-abundant proteins, labeled with iTRAQ and analyzed by online 2D-nanoLC-MS/MS. Differences in the protein pattern between the three groups were observed. Most proteins with differentially expressed levels were involved in pathways of lipid transportation and antimicrobial activities. The major finding was increased abundance of apolipoprotein A-1, 20 min postchallenge, detected solely in the group of symptomatic hairdressers. Our results suggest there may be differences between the mechanisms responsible for the rhinitis in the symptomatic and atopic group.


This paper reports the results of a study of a water–gas shift reaction over nickel–ceria catalysts with different metal loading. Within this study, the overall CO conversion and observed kinetic behavior were investigated over the temperature range of 250–550 °C in different reactor configurations (fixed-bed and microchannel reactors). The quasi-steady state kinetics of the CO water–gas shift reaction was studied for fractions of Ni-containing cerium oxide catalysts in fixed-bed experiments at lab-scale level using a very dilute gas (1% CO + 1.8% H2O in Не). A set of experiments with a microchannel reactor was performed using the feed composition (CO:H2O:H2:N2 = 1:2:2:2), representing a product gas from methane partial oxidation. The results were interpreted using computational models. The kinetic parameters were determined by regression analysis, while mechanistic aspects were considered only briefly. Simulation of the WGS reaction in the microreactor was also carried out by using the COMSOL Multiphysics program.


The B-A transition caused by high ethanol concentrations has been studied by the multi-dimensional spectrophotometer equipped with the computer-controlled microbullet. When ethanol concentration is increased, the CD signal at 270 nm of linearized ColEl DNA exhibits a biphasic transition; the first broad one and the second sharp one. The B-A transition of the ColEl DNA is much broader than that of alternative copolymers with shorter lengths. In addition, each PvuII restriction fragment of ColEl DNA has a different transition curve. Therefore the stability of the B-A transition varies along a long DNA molecule. The second transition is speculated to be caused by aggregation. When ethanol concentration is decreased, on the other hand, only a single transition shifted to lower ethanol concentration is observed. Thus the B-A transition curve has a hysteresis. A slow dissociation rate of the aggregation seems to cause the hysteresis.


It has become commonplace to observe frequent multiple disk failures in big data centers in which thousands of drives operate simultaneously. Disks are typically protected by replication or erasure coding to guarantee a predetermined reliability. However, in order to optimize data protection, real life disk failure trends need to be modeled appropriately. The classical approach to modeling is to estimate the probability density function of failures using nonparametric estimation techniques such as kernel density estimation (KDE). However, these techniques are suboptimal in the absence of the true underlying density function. Moreover, insufficient data may lead to overfitting. In this article, we propose to use a set of transformations to the collected failure data for almost perfect regression in the transform domain. Then, by inverse transformation, we analytically estimated the failure density through the efficient computation of moment generating functions, and hence, the density functions. Moreover, we developed a visualization platform to extract useful statistical information such as model-based mean time to failure. Our results indicate that for other heavy-tailed data, the complex Gaussian hypergeometric distribution and classical KDE approach can perform best if the overfitting problem can be avoided and the complexity burden is overtaken. On the other hand, we show that the failure distribution exhibits less complex Argus-like distribution after performing the Box–Cox transformation up to appropriate scaling and shifting operations.


Smart implants enable the wireless transfer of physiological parameters gathered inside the human body. In this research work two broadband antennas for implanted smart central venous catheters (SCVC) are designed, implemented and characterized using a novel characterization procedure. The design of implanted antennas involves several challenging aspects such as miniaturization because of the very limited space, high efficiency despite the highly lossy environment in the near field of the antenna, adaptability to the given shape of the implant as well as insulation from the surrounding tissue. These constraints in mind, the electromagnetic specifics of body tissues are studied. This knowledge is required for a profound simulation and analysis of antenna topologies suitable for smart implants. According to two different scenarios for SCVC applications, two different antenna topologies are proposed. A planar round-shaped broadband UHF antenna for passive RFID is designed for mounting on the top of a smart CVC reservoir placed in a subcutaneous position in the chest. This printed monopole-strip antenna operated at 868 MHz is suitable for near field applications. Alongside a virtual body phantom of the chest, near field simulations as well as simulations in the close far field up to 1 meter distance are run. Since the actual working range turns out to be narrower than anticipated, another topology is projected answering the purpose of higher performance in the far field. This dual-band CVC antenna is 3-D conformal to a truncated cone and scheduled for 402-405 MHz MICS band and 2.4 GHz ISM band. The corresponding smart CVC is battery powered to provide a wide working range. Measurement environments imitating the properties of the human body are prepared and the antenna prototypes are implemented in a test bed. Measurements inside a body phantom are carried out, yet, the results do not reveal conclusive data. Simulations of the antenna in the test bed detect an influence of the test bed feeding cables on the radiation properties. This observation anticipates the insight that simulation and measurement cannot be regarded separately, but need to be interpreted in common. Only a procedure that comprehends a combination of both is a viable way to accurately characterize antenna properties for a selected application despite all manipulating factors. In order to resolve the observed mismatch, an uncertainty factor is calculated taking into account the measured and the simulated maximum gain. The obtained results, again, are used to adapt the dual-band UHF antenna to the smart implant prototype. Finally, the performance of the system is examined by running functional tests. These prove that the link budget calculation reliably enables the evaluation of possible application scenarios and, in particular, the maximum operating distance of the future system in certain positions even before a working smart implant prototype is manufactured. The results of the study state that the presented novel characterization procedure is suitable to verify obtained property data. Consequently, the limits of measurement set ups can be compensated and realistic and comparable antenna characterization can be assured


A new comprehensive wide-band compact-modeling methodology for on-chip spiral inductors is presented. The new modeling methodology creates an equivalent-circuit model consisting of frequency-independent circuit elements. A fast automated extraction procedure is developed for determining the circuit element values from two-port S-parameter measurement data. The methodology is extremely flexible in allowing for accurate modeling of general classes of spiral inductors on high- or low-resistivity substrate and for large spirals exhibiting distributed trends. The new modeling methodology is applied to general classes of spirals with various sizes and substrate parameters. The extracted models show excellent agreement with the measured data sets over the frequency range of 0.1-10 GHz.


Physiological motion induces signal loss in diffusion-weighted imaging of the liver even when respiratory triggering is employed. Cardiac motion mostly affects the left liver lobe resulting in an inhomogeneous signal appearance and overestimation of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Spatial scaling is an algorithm that handles the intrinsic weighting of signal by rejecting bad acquisitions and voxels with subsequent calculation of a spatially dependent scaling factor for the final averaging. The present work shows that by adding such a spatial scaling postprocessing step, liver signal homogeneity can be increased, and overestimation of the ADC can be reduced.


Previous observations on the swelling of fibrous tissues and fibres (Kaye and Jordan-Lloyd, 1924, a ; Marriott, 1932; Jordan-Lloyd, Marriott, and Pleass, 1933; Jordan-Lloyd and Marriott, 1933, 1934) have shown that the swelling of biological material is largely influenced by its structure. Even a fibre that is histologically structureless, as, for example, a fibre of silk-fibroin (silk-gut), can be shown to consist of a number of fine fibrils held together by lateral cohesive forces. Both with silk fibres and keratin fibres (horsehair), the evidence suggests that the structure of the fibre is maintained by what may be described as an equivalent of a system of internal girders, these girders being the lateral cohesive forces between the molecules. Keratin fibres (hairs) are of cellular origin, though a fibrous rather than a cellular structure exists in the hair shaft. Collagen fibres are also of cellular origin, though in their fully developed form they are by no means such rigid structures as silk fibres or hairs, and swell much more freely. It has been shown already that the swelling of collagen fibres, while woven together to form the tissue of the skin, depends both on the structure of the fibres and on the pattern of the weave, skin pieces where the weave is loose swelling more freely under the same conditions than skin pieces where the weave is more compact (Kaye and Jordan-Lloyd, 1924). Moreover, it has also been shown that if the fibres were invested with a film of coagulated protein, swelling was less than under fresh conditions. Swelling is, therefore, also a function of the external stresses exerted on the fibre, a generalization confirmed by Marriott (1932) in a study of the behaviour of single collagen fibre bundles teased out of the skin tissue. Collagen fibres cannot be obtained free from all other tissues. They are invested and held together throughout the skin by another fibrous protein, the reticular tissue (Kaye, 1929; Kuntzel and Prakke, 1933). This tissue forms the equivalent of a system of external girders round the actual collagen fibres and influences their behaviour. Collagen fibres from skin which were used in the earlier work are not a suitable material for the study of the influence of the reticular tissue on the swelling of collagen owing to the difficulty of teasing out a good supply of undamaged, suitable single fibres in a reasonably short space of time from fresh skin. For this reason the tendons from rats' tails were selected for study. Previous work on the swelling of tendons has been recorded by Kuntzel (1926) and of their structure by Kuntzel and Prakke (1933).


The article is devoted to the comparison of poetical and advertising discourses and to the exposure of the communicative strategies specific of these types of texts (the category of 'addressness', the grammatical and semantic manner of a deictic expression, etc.).


Modifications to a 7 T nano-LC micro-ESI FT-ICR mass spectrometer, including a shorter octopole, approximately 100% duty cycle, improved nano-LC micro-ESI emitter tips, and reverse-phase HPLC resins that require no ion-pairing agent, combine to achieve attomole detection limit. Three peptides in a mixture totaling 500 attomoles (amol) each in water (10 microL, 50 amol/microL) are separated and detected, demonstrating detection from a mixture at low endogenous biological concentration. Two peptides in a mixture totaling 500 amol each in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (1 microL, 500 amol/microL) are separated and detected, demonstrating detection from a mixture at a biological concentration in a biological solvent. The highest sensitivity is attained with arg8-vasotocin, in which a total of 300 amol is detected in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (1 microL, 300 amol/microL) and a total of 100 amol in water (1 microL, 100 amol/microL). Arg8-vasotocin isolated from the pineal gland of rainbow trout is detected, demonstrating the ability of FT-ICR to detect and identify a true endogenous biological analyte.


Purpose To share our experience with pediatric orbital expansion using eye conformers for anophthalmia and microphthalmia and parental feedback on outcomes. Methods Cases of congenital anophthalmia and severe microphthalmia were managed with eye conformers for orbital expansion and formation of lid fornices at the anaplastology clinic of King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected on the globe adaptation process and the perceived achievements by the parents at different follow-up visits. Parental feedback was collected on their acceptance of eye conformer use to address anophthalmia and microphthalmia. Results The anophthalmia/microphthalmia annual prevalence was 1.7 per 10,000 live births in Saudi Arabia. Of the 45 sockets treated for orbital expansion since 2014, 15 children were managed by using eye conformers. Six children had a bilateral birth defect. Severe microphthalmia was in seven children while eight children had anophthalmos. At the first visit, small eye conformers (nine), stem eye conformer (four), symblepharon ring (one), and hydrogel eye conformer (one) were fitted. After multiple visits and follow-ups, at the two-year follow-up, seven (46.7%) children were fitted while three (20%) were under the process of prosthesis fitting, as volume expansion was satisfactory. Parents of these children replied that they prefer this method over others and would recommend others to follow the same. Conclusions Orbital expansion and lid fornices formation by using an eye conformer is effective, easy, and acceptable to parents. It can be initiated in the early months of a child's life.


The enhanced paced of development activities and rapid urbanization has resulted in stress on natural resources and quality of life. Humans are responsible for depletion of the natural resources. Environment can be seen to consist of two major components: natural - atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere environments and social or man-made environments. As a result of human intelligence, man has great influence on her biological and physical environment. Often time the influence is detrimental to the environment causing soil degradation and erosion, deforestation and desertification, and pollution. Other effects are adverse climate change such as ozone layer depletion, global warming and acid rain. The importance of environment and the complex nature of its components as well as the benefits that could accrue to mankind based in its awareness has given birth to the discipline of environmental education. The tremendous signification of the message of environmental education for the survival of man has made the relatively new academic discipline to attract great attention. The involvement of public in the implementation of environmental education programmes and campaigns cannot be over-emphasized but this is not the case. Air, water and soil pollution is on the increase. To minimize these problems, environmental awareness is imperative. Lack of adequate environmental knowledge is an obstacle in achieving a sustainable future for humankind at both global and local levels. Measuring the level of environmental awareness in a population can be difficult but environmental awareness programme can help reduce the impacts of human activities on the environment. Use of press media, awareness raising campaigns, incorporation in mainstream education (basic, secondary and tertiary), public participation in environmental matters, celebrities in media campaigns and civic education are some of the ways by which environmental education can be heralded. Educating adult, community, traditional and religious leaders on the importance of environmental health and on the well use of the natural environment is also very critical to sustainable development. This paper is an attempt to review the meaning of environment education, its aims and objectives, and ways of promoting environmental awareness in the society. It also considered how environmental education can be implemented in many contexts. The paper concluded with recommendations of ways of sensitizing the public on the need to be environmental conscious. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014.v4n3p333


Mobile IP encapsulation mechanism is used for mobile nodes and communication nodes to communicate. Communication of Mobile nodes and communication nodes have two possible ways. The first method is a two-way tunnel mode. Another way is to use route optimization. Two-way tunnel mode is not require the another communication end to support mobile IP. When the mobile node not to register to the other communicate side, which is in communication side not has the mobile node's binding information, they can communicate in this way. Communication sent to the mobile node to the end of the data reported by transmitted to home agent, and then transferred through the tunnel by the home agent to mobile node. Mobile node sent to communications data reported on the side of the first through the tunnel (known as reverse tunneling) to the home agent, then forwarded to the communication from the home agent on the side. Where the tunnel is achieved through the encapsulation mechanism.


Congestion in the landside air cargo supply chain occurs for different concurring reasons. Lack of coordination between freight forwarders, as example, might create truck congestion on the ground handler side. Horizontal collaboration between forwarders can be introduced and modeled via mathematical programming to mitigate congestion. Resulting models, which are generally variations of Pickup and Delivery Problem with Time Windows (PDPTW), can be solved to optimality only for small-size instances, and the computation is generally time consuming. We therefore propose a simulated annealing (SA)-embedded adaptive large neighborhood search (ALNS) heuristic to address truck route planning in the landside air cargo supply chain. In this work, we allow the search to visit infeasible time-dependent solutions. Accordingly, the objective function minimizes the feasible solution, where total travel distance cost, total travel time cost and unassigned shipments cost, and the time-dependent violation costs. Computational results are reported for 10 instances that were also solved with a mathematical programming approach. Results shows that the meta-heuristic method performs equally or better than the mathematical model given a computational limit for the latter of 2 hours. In addition, the meta-heuristic method was able to find a feasible solution for those cases where the exact model failed to identify a feasible solution.


Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say mosquitoes from a laboratory colony were exposed to artificial blood meals containing West Nile virus (WNV) and held at incubation temperatures approximating average daily temperatures that occur during Florida arboviral periods. Mosquitoes fed blood meals containing 6.2 logs plaque-forming units (pfu) WNV/mL and held at 25 degrees C, 28 degrees C, or 30 degrees C for 13 days exhibited significantly different rates of infection (30%, 52%, 93%) and dissemination (33%, 22%, 81%) across temperatures. In a separate experiment, Cx. p. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were provided artificial blood meals with graded doses of WNV from 3.7 to 5.8 logs pfu/mL and maintained at 28 degrees C for 13 days. Rates of infection increased as a function of virus dose, but neither body titers nor dissemination rates were significantly different for mosquitoes that were infected by ingesting different amounts of WNV. Our findings indicate that efficiency of WNV infection and dissemination, and thereby transmission, in Cx. p. quinquefasciatus populations similar to our tested colony may also be diminished when fed blood meals containing less than 5.8 logs pfu WNV/mL and when environmental temperature falls below 30 degrees C. The relationship between the infection rate and dissemination rate changed at different temperatures. This relationship is likely complex and dependent on diverse interactions between factors such as incubation temperature and viremia, which should also be assessed for field populations.


Aims and background In patients with localized gastrointestinal stromal tumors, surgery remains the elective treatment. Nowadays, imatinib therapy has been standardized in advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors, showing continuous improvements in progression-free and overall survival. A combination of imatinib therapy and surgery may also be effective in a subset of patients with metastatic or unresectable gastrointestinal stromal tumors. In this review, the authors analyzed the role of imatinib mesylate associated to surgery in unresectable and/or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Methods and study design We searched for all published and unpublished randomized controlled clinical trials and controlled clinical trials. We conducted the review according to the recommendations of The Cochrane Collaboration. We used Review Manager 5 software for the statistical analysis. Results There are currently no randomized controlled clinical trials or controlled clinical trials on this issue. We performed a subgroup analysis in the patients pre-operatively treated with imatinib mesylate. This subgroup revealed a minor incidence of recurrent or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors and a greater incidence of locally unresectable gastrointestinal stromal tumors in the responsive disease group (P = 0.001). In this patient group, more complete resections were observed (P = 0.00001). Furthermore, in the same patient group we observed a more significant 12 and 24-month disease-free survival after imatinib treatment and complete resection (respectively P = 0.06 and P = 0.003) and also a better 24-month overall survival (P = 0.004). Conclusions There is actually only one ongoing European randomized study evaluating surgery of residual disease in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors responding to imatinib mesylate. Imatinib mesylate represents the standard treatment as preoperative supplement for locally unresectable and/or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and a trial to compare the approach versus surgery alone is not necessary. For patients responding to imatinib or patients with prolonged stable disease, resection of residual disease should be considered. A phase III randomized study evaluating surgery of residual disease in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor responding to imatinib mesylate, EORTC 62063, has been opened. Moreover, surgery should be considered for patients at higher risk of complications during pharmacological debulking. In advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors, the advantages of the integrated treatment are significant in the complete or partial response disease group in terms of more complete resections and better disease-free and overall survival.


Large amounts of pulp suspensions are handled in the pulp and paper industry daily. In order to produce the final product, paper, a lot of energy is required, e.g. for pumping, mixing and screening the suspensions. A lack of knowledge about the flow and fluid properties of pulp suspensions, however, aggravates the optimization of the design and the operation of process equipment.

The aim of this research is to advance the understanding of the nature of fiber flow and fiber interaction by experimentally studying pulp suspensions at a consistency of 0.5 to 3%. These pulp suspensions were studied in flows through a sudden expansion, over a backward-facing step and along a flat plate. These simple flow geometries were chosen because of their potential to generate complex flow structures, including several flow regimes. Flow structures were studied with Ultrasonic Velocity Profiling technique (UVP) and Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA). The experimental data was later used to develop a model that describes the local yield stress of the pulp suspension.

The results show that jet dimensions are influenced by the consistency and velocity of the pulp suspension. In simulations, it was found that the size of the yield stress, i.e. fiber network strength, is the main parameter that affects the jet length. From these findings, a model that describes the local yield stress of pulp suspensions at a consistency higher than 1% was derived and connected to a single-phase rheology model. Validation of the model shows that it captures the trends in the experimental data. In studies of pulp suspensions after a backward-facing step, it was found that the reattachment length decreased with an increase in suspension consistency or a decrease in flow rate, except at the lowest consistency. It was also found that the reattachment length may be affected by the fluid regime at the separation point at the end of the step. In the study of the development of the near-wall boundary layer, width was found to increase with a decrease in consistency or an increase in velocity. An additional finding was that a constant boundary layer thickness was reached after 20 mm, regardless of the consistency or the velocity of the pulp suspension in the flow pipe.


Statement of Purpose In the U.S., death by suicide is a leading cause of death and was the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 15 to 24 in 2017. Though incomplete, much of the scientific literature has found associations between cannabis use and death by suicide. As 8 states and the District of Columbia now permit recreational sale of cannabis, we sought to evaluate whether cannabis legalization has impacted suicide rates in Washington State and Colorado, the earliest states to legalize. Methods We used a quasi-experimental research design with annual, state-level deaths by suicide data to evaluate the legalization of cannabis in Washington State and Colorado. Outcome data was from the National Center for Health Statistics-Restricted Vital Statistics. We used synthetic control models to construct policy counterfactuals, controlling for time-invariant and time-variant factors as our primary method of estimating the effect of legalization, stratified by age, gender, and mechanism. Results Preliminary results suggest that 3-years post-implementation of recreational sale of cannabis, Washington state saw 2.8% increase in suicides, while Colorado saw a 6.5% reduction in suicides. However, both states saw increases in deaths by suicide among youth age 15 to 24 years (WA=20.2%; CO=14.9%). Additional results will discuss suicide completion stratified by mechanism and gender. Conclusion Preliminary results suggest that the overall effect of recreational cannabis on deaths by suicide is heterogenous. However, as deaths by suicides among 15 to 24-year olds increased post-implementation in both states, states with legalized cannabis, and states considering similar legislation, may need to consider the mental health implications of cannabis legalization for younger users


Background: The SARS-CoV-2 virus disease has caused numerous changes in sports routines in the last two years, showing the influence on an increase in sports injuries. The aim of this study was to prospectively analyze the incidence and characteristics of injuries in male professional football players diagnosed with COVID-19 when they return to play after recovering from this illness. Methods: Injury characteristics of professional male football players were recorded for the 2020–2021 season following the international consensus statement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). SARS-CoV-2 infection in the football players was certified by PCR analysis. Injury epidemiology was compared in players infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus before and after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Results: 14 players (53.8%) were diagnosed with COVID-19 during 2020–2021 season and 12 (46.2%) were not infected (controls). Only three (21.4%) had suffered an injury before being diagnosed with COVID-19. Eleven players (78.6%) had injuries after being diagnosed with COVID-19 (p < 0.001). Among the players diagnosed with COVID-19, injury incidence increased on their return to play after the infection (3.8 to 12.4 injuries/1000 h of exposure, p < 0.001). Additionally, injury incidence during training (10.6 vs. 5.1 injuries/1000 h of exposure, p < 0.001) and matches (56.3 vs. 17.6 injuries/1000 h of exposure, p < 0.001) was ~two-fold higher on return to play after COVID-19 compared to controls (33.4 vs. 17.6 injuries/1000 h of exposure, respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Injury incidence in professional football players who had been infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus significantly increased compared to the injury rates that these same players had prior to the illness. Additionally, the injury incidence was higher when compared to players who were not infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the season, especially during matches.


In response to environmental changes, the connections ("arrows") in gene regulatory networks determine which genes modulate their expression, but the quantitative parameters of the network ("the numbers on the arrows") are equally important in determining the resulting phenotype. What are the objectives and constraints by which evolution determines these parameters? We explore these issues by analyzing gene expression changes in a number of yeast metabolic pathways in response to nutrient depletion. We find that a striking pattern emerges that couples the regulatory architecture of the pathway to the gene expression response. In particular, we find that pathways controlled by the intermediate metabolite activation (IMA) architecture, in which an intermediate metabolite activates transcription of pathway genes, exhibit the following response: the enzyme immediately downstream of the regulatory metabolite is under the strongest transcriptional control, whereas the induction of the enzymes upstream of the regulatory intermediate is relatively weak. This pattern of responses is absent in pathways not controlled by an IMA architecture. The observation can be explained by the constraint imposed by the fundamental feedback structure of the network, which places downstream enzymes under a negative feedback loop and upstream ones under a positive feedback loop. This general design principle for transcriptional control of a metabolic pathway can be derived from a simple cost/benefit model of gene expression, in which the observed pattern is an optimal solution. Our results suggest that the parameters regulating metabolic enzyme expression are optimized by evolution, under the strong constraint of the underlying regulatory architecture.


The Alingsas dry-cleaning facility is one of the heavily halogenated hydrocarbon contaminated sites in Sweden. The source of contamination dates back to the 1970s when a large scale tetrachloroethylene leakage outbroke inside the dry-cleaning building. After years of propagation and dissemination, the tetrachloroethylene together with its degradation products was widely found in soil and groundwater at the site. Although no drinking water source is located in the contaminated zone, the potential risk due to the spreading plume cannot be neglected in a long run. Albeit, the natural self-cleaning potential was demonstrated by the previous investigations, the whole process can be enhanced and accelerated by the engineered biological remediation. Funded by Formas, SGU, and Tyrens, the "MIRACHL" project is set up to realize the monitoring of in-situ bio-geochemical remediation process with electrical imaging tomography. The first pilot injection of remediation products was conducted in November 2017. This master's thesis work serves as a part of the "MIRACHL" project. In this thesis work, a refined three-dimensional conceptual model was built up via GeoScene3D, a 3D geological modelling software. The three-dimensional model consists of terrain surface, interpolated bedrock surface, interpolated groundwater surface, soil and groundwater chemistry data, borehole logs, as well as geophysical data. Of them, the geophysical data came from the 2D inversion results of electrical resistivity and induced polarization (DCIP) measurements along four buried horizontal arrays. The DCIP measurements data were collected before the first pilot injection. Through the visualization in GeoScene3D, it can be clearly seen that most halogenated hydrocarbons concentrate on the lower part of the unconsolidated layer, closely situated to the bedrock surface. In the latest set of measurement, the highest tetrachloroethylene concentration body was found nearby the source of leakage. The highest concentration bodies of trichloroethylene and cis-1,2-dichloroethene are situated at the same location with a slight difference in elevation. Vinyl chloride generally has a relatively low concentration level at the site, but a zone with extremely high concentration level was found at the northern edge of the measurement zone. Also, the concentration of halogenated hydrocarbons in groundwater samples is much lower than that measured via Membrane Interface Probe soundings (MIP-Soundings). Three possible reasons were assumed for such phenomenon: diffusional limitation, temperature factor, and contaminants multi-phase pattern. The DCIP inversion results were also correlated with the superposed geological and geochemistry reference data. However, no strong correlations were found between halogenated hydrocarbons and the DCIP responses due to the varieties of factors such as the phase pattern of the contaminants. In spite of this, several changes are expected to be seen in the inversion results after a couple of time steps, due to the boosted biological degradation process after the first pilot injection as well as the injection itself. However, due to the limited information provided, it is not possible to predict these changes at this stage.


Sociologist E. Franklyn Frazier published Black Bourgeoisie in 1957 noting that the African American press, particularly Ebony magazine, drastically overplayed the accomplishments of the black middle class. "The Negro Forum," which emerged 11 years earlier in 1946, did similarly, but it could not be convincingly argued that the Forum overstated black accomplishments. Frazier suggested blacks were serving their own need for attention, while Taylor provided his listeners models of black excellence and achievement. He became somewhat Afrocentric before the theory's rise in the 1980s. Afrocentricity places African Americans at the center, as the main focus of analysis of social phenomena. Nevertheless, this thick historiography of pioneering broadcasters noted that early advertisers used innovative techniques to push beer into the black communities. Future studies should consider the effects contemporary black radio announcers might have if they organized concerted efforts to broadcast conscious messages such as those intended to stop black-on-black murder.


Natural convection of suspension was studied experimentally using both Laser Induced Fluorescent (LIF) technique and Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV). Glass beads of 50 μm diameter were dispersed in a refractive index matching fluid of a tetralin and silicone oil mixture. A rectangular test section was filled with the suspension and was heated from a horizontal bottom, and two facing vertical walls were kept at the constant temperature. Argon ion laser light sheet was used for excitation light for the tracer particles dyed with fluorescence color. The images of the fluorescent particles were captured by a CCD camera through a sharp cut filter which separates emitted fluorescence from scattered excitation light. The flow velocity fields were analyzed quantitatively using PTV. The formation and breakdown of convection cells have been clarified.


A single crystalline Si 1-x Ge x overlayer on insulator is realised by the implantation of germanium into a SIMOX (Separation by IMplantation of OXygen) substrate. Two SIMOX samples were implanted with 74 Ge+ at elevated temperature (≈600°C), and subsequently annealed at different temperatures and anneal ambients. The microstructure, stoichiometry, and conductivity of the Si 1-x Ge x over-layer were studied using transmission electron microscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry/ion channelling and two-probe conductivity measurements. As a result of lattice reordering after final heat treatment, and despite high defect density observed in the XTEM microstructure, the measured conductivity of the over-layer is higher than of the starting SIMOX material. These results suggest a possibility of band-gap engineering by synthesis of Si 1-x Ge x -on-insulator.


Leishmania promastigotes interact with macrophages through the association of multiple membrane surface receptors. Macrophage complement receptor CR3 (CD11b/CD18 or Mac-1) has been implicated in the interaction of both human and murine macrophages with serum-opsonized promastigotes. The aim of this study was to determine CR3 expression in the livers and spleens of dogs naturally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi. CR3 expression in liver was higher in asymptomatic than in symptomatic animals. Moreover, the hepatic parasitism load determined by immunocytochemical analysis was lower in parallel with higher numbers of granulomas. In contrast, in spleens, CR3 expression was higher in symptomatic animals than in asymptomatic ones. However, the tissue parasite load was greater in spleens of symptomatic dogs. There was a strict correlation between the parasite load and cellular CR3 expression in the spleens of dogs naturally infected with L. chagasi. CR3 macrophage integrins could be essential receptors for Leishmania survival. Considering that the symptomatic animals showed higher parasite loads and higher CD11b/CD18 expression in their spleens, we can conclude that these splenic cells (monocyte-macrophages) might serve to perpetuate intracellular infection. # 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


The Trenton Group (Late Ordovician), the youngest carbonate unit in the Taconic foreland basin of southern Quebec, is a tripartite unit with a distinctive coarse-grained middle part, the Deschambault Formation.

Lithofacies of the Deschambault Formation are dominated by coarse-grained bioclastic/intraclastic limestones; finer-grained lithofacies are ubiquitous but subordinate. The complete spectrum of lithofacies indicates sedimentation ranging from above fairweather- to below storm-wave base. Skeletal components are indicative of the modern temperate-water bryomol association. Non-skeletal elements are represented by peloids and intraclasts. Accretion rates from areas of continuous sedimentation were low (<14 cm/103 years). From sedimentological and faunal evidence, it is proposed that the Late Ordovician Deschambault ramp was bathed by temperate waters. The model compares favourably with modern cool-water shelves rimming the southern edge of the Australian continent.

Palaeomagnetic data locate southern Quebec in a low latitudinal setting during the Late Ordovician. Upper Ordovician facies distribution in eastern Canada and progressive disappearance of some faunal provinces through Late Ordovician time are used to conclude that the initiation of the Late Ordovician glaciation that covered most of Gondwana was instrumental in easing northward movement of cold oceanic currents. This resulted in the rapid contraction of the southern hemisphere warm-water tropical belt from a 30° latitudinal-wide zone in the early Caradoc to a 15° zone in the late Caradoc.


The activity of brotizolam (0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mg) was studied in normal subjects using quantitative pharmaco-EEG, psychometric and clinical evaluation. Power spectral density analysis showed no changes after placebo, while brotizolam increased beta-activity, decreased alpha-activity and increased the average frequency (anxiolytic pharmaco-EEG profile). In addition, 0.3 and 0.5 mg brotizolam augmented delta-activity indicating hypnotic activity. The highest dose (0.5 mg) of brotizolam decreased attention, concentration, psychomotor performance and affectivity, and increased reaction time. The lower doses of brotizolam also caused a decrease in attention and concentration, but tended to improve psychomotor performance, shorten reaction time, and did not influence mood or affectivity. Brotizolam (0.1 mg) is the minimal effective psychoactive dose with a tranquillizing effect, while 0.5 mg and to some extent 0.3 mg induce a sedative effect and may be regarded as hypnotic doses.


Objectives: In Korea, cancer is one of the most important causes of death. Cancer patients have sought alternative methods, like complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) together with Western medicine, to treat cancer. Also, there are many kinds of providers of CAM therapy, including providers of Korean oriental medicine therapy. The purpose of this study is to identify the behaviors of Korean oriental medicine therapy and CAM therapy providers who treat cancer patients and to provide background knowledge for establishing a new policy with the management and quality control of CAM. Methods: Structured and well organized questionnaires were made, and 350 persons were surveyed concerning the providers of CAM or Korean oriental medicine. The questionnaires were collected and analyzed. Results: The questionnaires (182) were collected. The questionnaires identified a total of 73 known providers, such as medicinal professionals or other providers of CAM suppliers, 35.6% of whom had had experience with treating cancer patients (52.6% vs. 29.6%). The treatment methods were a little different: alternative therapy and nutritional therapy being preferred by medicinal professionals and mind body modulation therapy and alternative therapy being preferred by other CAM providers. Four patients (7.4%) experienced side effects, and 6 patients (12.5%) experienced legal problems. As the method for managing the therapy, CAM providers, medicinal professionals, and other CAM providers had different viewpoints. For example, some CAM providers stated that both legislation and an official education on CAM or a national examination were needed as a first step to establish the provider's qualifications and that as a second step, a license test was needed for quality control. To the contrary, medicinal professionals stated that a license test was needed before legislation. Conclusion: Adequate management and quality control of CAM providers is thought to involve both education and legislation.


After an international merger and acquisition, two or more national cultures and organizational cultures coexist in the newly-created company. Facing the multiplied cultural settings, the company consciously or unconsciously adopts some crosscultural integration strategy. Prior research shows that under different cultural cross-cultural integrations, the communication behaviours of newly-created company's management and staff may display some variations along with their cultural backgrounds. This study aims to examine: 1) The respective impact of strategic leadership type and organizational culture upon the acquiring company's adoption of cross-cultural integration strategy; 2) Multiplied cultures' impacts upon market information behaviours under two different cross-cultural integration strategies. Drawing on prior studies by Choo (1998), Hofstede (1980, 1997), and Nahavandi and Malekzadeh(1988), among many others, this study formulated its own theoretical framework and proposed 18 hypotheses. In the hypothesized relationships, the independent variables are national culture, strategic leadership type and organizational culture, and the dependent variables include cross-cultural integration strategies and four market information communication behaviours. To operationalize these independent and dependent variables, this study selected power distance, uncertainty avoidance and high-/lowcontext to represent national culture, and chose organizational strength and organizational adaptability to represent organizational culture Cross-cultural integration strategy was operationalized as composing of two alternatives—centralization and decentralization. Market information communication behaviours were specified as information needs, information acquisition, information use and information sharing. To test the 18 pairs of hypothesized relationship, both quantitative and qualitative methods were applied. The data came from two cases of merger and acquisition between one indigenous Chinese company SBK and two French multinationals Rhomson and Alcotol.The quantitative data was collected through a survey to 800 respondents working at the two newly-created companies and their parent company SBK Group. The qualitative data was obtained through interviews, media coverage, SBK website information, corporate documents and observation. After a data screening process, 386 questionnaires were identified as valid and put into calculation with SPSS. The statistical techniques that were employed include: Logistic Regression, MANOVA, t-test and Bi-Variate Correlation. With a comprehensive analysis of the quantitative results and qualitative information, this study achieved nine findings. The three major ones include: Firstly, the role of either strategic leadership type or organizational culture is limited in the acquiring company's choice of cross-cultural integration strategy; Secondly, there is an influence pattern of multiplied cultures upon communication behaviours under two different cross-cultural integration strategies. That is, organizational culture prevails over national culture in affecting market information communication behaviours under a centralized cross-cultural integration strategy, whereas national culture prevails over organizational culture under a decentralized cross-cultural integration strategy. Thirdly, under a centralized cross-cultural integration strategy, organizational culture is sometimes the most salient cultural factor in exercising its influence upon each of the four communication behaviours, whereas under a decentralized integration strategy, national culture is always the most salient cultural influence factor. Besides the aforementioned findings, this study also identified two missing links between culture and company performance after international mergers and acquisitions. These two links are: market information communication behaviours and decision quality or saleability of products/services developed. In conclusion, this study discussed both the academic and business implication of this research. The potential limitations of this study and suggested future research are also discussed.


Objective This study was performed to compare the clinical outcomes and performance of the collum femoris-preserving (CFP) stem (Waldemar Link GmbH & Co., Hamburg, Germany) and the Tri-Lock stem (DePuy Orthopaedics, Warsaw, IN, USA) in terms of femoral offset (FO) and leg length reconstruction. Methods Clinical and radiographic data of patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty with either a CFP stem or Tri-Lock stem from January 2016 to March 2017 were compared (65 and 57 patients, respectively). The Harris hip score and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index were recorded. The FO, femoral vertical offset, and neck–shaft angle were measured at the last follow-up. The occurrence of dislocation and periprosthetic fracture during the follow-up period was recorded. Results The CFP stem induced significantly more FO than did the Tri-Lock stem on the operated side than contralateral side (3.63 ± 4.28 vs. 0.83 ± 5.46 mm). Significantly fewer patients had a >5-mm decrease in FO on the unaffected side in the CFP stem group (n = 1) than Tri-Lock stem group (n = 10). Conclusion Both stems similarly improved hip function and reconstructed the leg length, but the CFP stem was superior to the Tri-Lock stem in reconstructing FO.


184 cases of aplastic anemia were treated by various immunosuppressive agents. 25.1% of the 35 patients with moderately severe aplastic anemia showed a hematological response to bolus methylprednisolone m PSL treatment. 9.6% of 73, 16.9% of 65 and 42.9% of 14 cases with severe aplastic anemia responded to m PSL, anti-lymphocyte globulin and anti-thymocyte globulin treatment, respectively. There was no difference in the survival of these severe aplastic anemia patients, however, which were prolonged invariably by treatment with each of these immunosuppressive agents. No correlation was observed between the in vitro increase of hematopoietic cell colony growth of the patient's bone marrow and clinical response to the immunosuppressive agents.


Swedish National Data Service (SND) has during 2016 run a national pilot project with the purpose of looking at possibilities to establish a national infrastructure with the purpose of making research data more accessible. The project introduces the collaboration between SND, university archives and university libraries, where SND works as a back office knowledge center and university librarians functioning as a front office towards researchers. An online form for general descriptions of research data has been developed where researchers, with the help of university librarians, describe their data. The metadata produced is described in DDI and will be packaged with all data when it's archived as well as being the basis of a potential national search portal for research data produced at Swedish universities.


Cushing paraneoplasic syndrome is a rare cause of hypercorticism. We report a case of 35 year-old man presenting with Cushing's syndrome characterized by severe signs of hypercorticism and hypokalemia. Endocrine investigations were suggestive of an hypercortisolism linked to an ectopic adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) secretion, both at baseline (mean ACTH levels=275 pg/ml, urinary free cortisol excretion=3.898 mmol/24 h) and after pharmacodynamic testing (lack of inhibition of ACTH by dexamethasone). Thoracic tomodensitometric examination revealed a 15 mm tumor corresponding to a neuroendocrine pulmonary carcinoid with positive immunostaining for chromogranin A. Postoperative ACTH measurement was undetectable, plasma cortisol and free urinary cortisol were also decreased after tumor resection suggesting complete tumor removal. This case report illustrates the characteristics of paraneoplasic Cushing syndrome due to ACTH secreting pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoid.


Fish and other aquatic organisms are important source of dietary proteins for the human population. Fish meat, however, is contaminated with methyl mercury (MeHg), a potent neurotoxin. The well known Minamata and Niigata epidemic outcomes in Japan have raised the awareness of the health risk resulting from consumption of fish (and shellfish) from water basins polluted with industrial wastes containing mercury. In the present study, pregnant rat dams were exposed to environmental toxic elements--methyl mercury, 1000-1200 h, daily from the fifth gestation day (GD5) till parturition. Three groups of animals were given, by gavages, MeHg (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg/day) and control group received 0.9% saline at the same time. All animals were allowed to deliver and wean their offspring. Pups were evaluated for early development effects. There was a significant effect of treatment on somatic growth such as reduction in percentage of maternal weight gain (20.62%) at higher dose level whereas there was no change in percentage of live birth (100.00%) with 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg dose treatment groups. There was a significant increase in the percentage of resorption (100.00%) per litter with 2.0 mg/kg/day MeHg dose. Average gestation length (days) and percentage resorption per litter or percentage foetuses/malformations per litter were not affected at 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg/day dose level. The results of the study confirmed the high-teratogenic potential of MeHg and the need of payng increased attention to MeHg concerning its exogenous use during pregnancy.


Purpose. To determine the features of reparative osteogenesis in 6-9-year-old patients with achondroplasia during tibial distraction.
Materials and Methods. Complex dynamic ultrasound examination (Voluson - 730 PRO, Austria) performed in 25 patients at the age of 6-9 years with achondroplasia after 10, 20, 30, 60 days of distraction. Qualitative and quantitative criteria presented which reflects a rapid course of osteogenesis in children. Vascularization features in the zone of lengthening demonstrated in CDS and ED modes.
Results. Reparative osteogenesis of high level established to be characteristic of children at the age of 6-9 years with achondroplasia requiring to perform dynamic USE and timely adjustments of distraction rate.
Conclusion. USE technique in patients at the age of 6-9 years with achondroplasia allows timely identification of qualitative and quantitative echo-signs of rapid osteogenesis throughout the period of distraction and adjusting treatment tactics thereby promoting favorable osteogenesis process and achievement of required lengthening amount.


The foundations of U.S. civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King Jr.'s thought are as varied and diverse as his vision for a new American society. As a Baptist minister his ideas were of course shaped by the Christian ideals of that faith. He was also influenced, however, by religious and secular ideals from other traditions. In this article I discuss the effect of the work of the Jewish theologian and social philosopher Martin Buber on King's philosophy. In particular, I examine how Buber's notion of "the other" crept into King's theories on social change and nonviolent action. This influence, while noted by King himself, is not often discussed in the context of where King's mature philosophical vision came from. Consequently, an examination of this connection is vital to understanding both the genesis and importance of King's thought.


BACKGROUND
Whether drug-eluting stents with biodegradable polymers (BP-DES) improve safety, especially with respect to stent thrombosis (ST) compared with permanent polymers DES (PP-DES), remains uncertain. We aimed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes and the ST risk in patients treated with BP-DES vs.

PP-DES METHODS
We searched Medline, Embase, Web of science, CENTRAL databases, and conferenceproceedings/abstracts for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing BP-DES with PP-DES. The primary endpoint was to compare the risks of overall and different temporalc ategories of definite/probable ST. Other clinical outcomes were target lesion revascularization (TLR), myocardial infarction (MI), and all-cause death in short-term (≤ 1 year) and long-term follow-up. The meta-analyses were performed by computing odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model.

RESULTS
Nineteen RCTs including 20,229 patients were analyzed. Overall, BP-DES significantly decreased the risks of very late definite/probable ST (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.16-0.70), and TLR in long-term follow-up (OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.52-0.95) compared with PP-DES. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding MI incidence and mortality during both short and long follow-up periods. In stratified analyses, the long-term superiority of BP-DES was maintained only by using first-generation DES as the comparators.

CONCLUSIONS
The present meta-analysis indicated that BP-DES were more efficacious than PP-DES at reducing the risks of very late ST and long-term TLR, but it could vary by heterogeneities in the use of PP-DES comparators. Additional rigorous RCTs with longer follow-up periods are warranted to verify these very promising long-term endpoints.


Chemiluminescence is an established method for the in vitro serum monitoring of human tumors. Chemiluminescence may have additional utility for the in vivo detection of tumors. During carcinogenesis, tumors change their phenotype and the proteins they express. Specifically, in carcinogenesis of the esophagus and stomach, enzymes that are normally only expressed in the small intestine brush border become ectopically expressed in precancerous and cancerous lesions. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase and lactase are among the small intestine brush border enzymes that are ectopically expressed. We have found that specific chemiluminescent substrates for alkaline phosphatase and lactase may be used for the in situ detection of intestinal alkaline phosphatase and lactase in unprocessed tissue. In this study, we demonstrate that chemiluminescent 1,2-dioxetane substrates may be used for the detection of precancerous and cancerous lesions from the esophagus and stomach.


Accurate ring strain energies (RSEs) for three-membered symmetric inorganic rings El3 and organic dihetero-monocycles El2C and their silicon El2Si and germanium El2Ge analogues have been computed for group 14–16 "El" heteroatoms using appropriate homodesmotic reactions and calculated at the DLPNO-CCSD-(T)/def2-TZVPP//B3LYP-D4/def2-TZVP(ecp) level. Rings containing triels and Sn/Pb heteroatoms are studied as exceptions to the RSE calculation as they either do not constitute genuine rings or cannot use the general homodesmotic reaction scheme due to uncompensated interactions. Some remarkable concepts already related to the RSE such as aromaticity or strain relaxation by increasing the s-character in the lone pair (LP) of the group 15–16 elements are analyzed extensively. An appealing alternative procedure for the rapid estimation of RSEs using additive rules, based on contributions of ring atoms or endocyclic bonds, is disclosed.


Inspired by the global research project WVS, this paper builds on the assumption that attitudes and opinions are guided by underlying value patterns which vary from one country to another (Rokeach, 1979). As those are consistent through several contexts, they can be inferred from questions concerning several life domains (Halman & de Moor, 1994). Operationalizing them as latent variables, the present paper strives to connect the concept of value patterns with national habitus as an attempt to measure acculturation process.
For this purpose, the German city of Russelsheim was selected as its population is made up of a distinctively high number of residents with a migration background from Turkey and Morocco (Stadt Russelsheim, 2017) and the country of Germany can be located on the opposite side of the Inglehart-Welzel cultural map compared to Islamic countries (WVS, 2018). Similar to the EVS, a survey was chosen as a method with the main part being adapted from this large-scale study but also a list of TV consumption questions and specific demographic items in addition. As the EVS data is so far mainly limited to native respondents, one aim of this work was to further the current knowledge of those value patterns and gather data about respondents with a bicultural background. In a first step a comparative analysis was performed, situating the population´s results between the EVS data of Germany and Turkey by means of frequency tables. With the completion of this step, a principal factor analysis had been used in order to extract consistent value patterns.
In Germany the migrants´ media consumption is primarily made up of television (Zambonini & Simon, 2008) which can be seen as objectified cultural capital (Yoon et al., 2011). Through active consumption it enables one to acquire cultural competence and incorporate a country´s habitus which might be distinct from the rules of the society the person experienced so far and might thus cause the person to assimilate its habitus (Bonnewitz, 2002). With this in mind, this paper also calls into question if local TV content is capable of transmitting cultural value patterns to such an extent that it accelerates an individual´s acculturation process. To this end, several regression analyses were conducted, investigating whether there is a linear relationship between local TV consumption and the adoption of German value patterns as well as the educational background and the time of residence in the country.
The results of this study move for the most part in the middle of the two native EVS samples. The evidence suggests that the population is well integrated and adopted more or less the German value patterns. Whereas educational attainment, language skills and nativeness have a positive effect on the acculturation process, religious adherence decelerates the adoption of modern values. Furthermore, the regression analyses could reveal a correlation between the consumption of German TV content and the intensity of secular-rational as well as self-expression values. Also, a longer time of residence in Germany promoted those orientations as well as emancipative values.


In a recent issue of this journal it has been suggested that the relatively low level of living of the Indonesian peasantry can be explained in terms of an "ethic of indolence". Such a view of the Indonesian subsistence farmer as being lazy and indolent would be somewhat understandable if the writer were a Dutch colonialist of the nineteenth century. However, that such a view could be expressed by an American scholar in the last quarter of the twentieth century is very difficult to comprehend; and it cannot be permitted to go unchallenged. Several elements of the "ethic of indolence" are disturbing; primarily the clearly ethnocentric bias which underlies the concept. An entire group of people are essentially characterized as lazy and hedonistic on the basis of Seavoy's superficial impressions of work patterns. He seems to be reacting or rather overreacting to one currently popular perspective which explains some problems of developing nations in terms of the colonial legacy, that is, dependency theory, or even the concept of the "dual society", which is less radical than the former but still takes into account the influence of colonialism. Perhaps the colonizing nations have taken too much of the blame in explaining problems of development. Dependency theorists are guilty to some extent of relying excessively on historical arguments and explaining underdevelopment solely in terms of international relationships. At this point in time one must go beyond these explanations, valid as they are, and start to attack the existing problems rather than simply criticizing colonial and neo-colonialist powers. Solutions must be found; they do not lie in rhetoric. Yet to ignore historical and political realities is also equivalent to blinding oneself to sources of solutions. As a professor of history, Ronald Seavoy's interpretation of Indonesia's history — not only under Dutch rule, but the present — leaves much to be desired. Professor Seavoy in effect dismisses Dutch colonial rule as a detrimental influence and as a causal factor in some of Indonesia's current problems. Indeed he goes so far to claim that the Dutch actually helped Indonesia; one gets the distinct impression that he mourns the passing of Dutch rule and if the Indonesians had not been so hasty in throwing out their rulers in 1945, Indonesia would be much better off today. Some of the "beneficial aspects" of Dutch rule were, according to Seavoy: (1) the building of infrastructure, and (2) the introduction of the Chinese as merchants (which purportedly came about because the Indonesians were reluctant to take on certain non-agricultural roles). First, with regard to the claim that the Dutch "built" up any kind of infrastructure, it is difficult for one who lived in Indonesia during the 1950s and 1960s to figure out what infrastructure he is discussing. The Dutch did not move very far away from the cities (one might in fact suggest that the "ethic of indolence" applies more to the Dutch than to the Indonesians; they were the ones who led the comfortable lives). Indeed, one of the reasons Chinese merchants moved into


This research investigated the performance of a dynamic portfolio that consists of sustainable/ethical stocks and gold. The main purpose of this study is to prove that the inclusion of gold in sustainable/ethical stocks portfolios could produce better performance. Therefore, the method used in this research, DCC-GARCH, was relaxing the basic assumptions in the theory of modern portfolio that is under the assumption of the normality of stock return and securities would have constant correlation. This research used data such as SRI-KEHATI Index (SKI) and Jakarta Islamic Index (JII) in Indonesia as a proxy for sustainable investments. Additionally, this research used gold from 2013 to 2019. This study is able to provide evidence regarding the ability of a dynamic portfolio to minimize the level of portfolio risk. However, this led a lower rate of return. Based on the OLS regression, gold is also proven as a weak safe haven for sustainable investment in Indonesia. Investors who believe in ethical investment may include gold in this time-varying approach when formulating the portfolio to reduce risk significantly. The inclusion of gold in portfolios could produce hedging effectiveness. Overall, this study supports some previous findings regarding the ability of gold as an instrument, which could reduce investment risk if involved in a portfolio.


The physiological role of two types of autoreceptors, alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors, located on the somadendritic membranes of locus coeruleus neurons, was studied in the developing and adult rat brain. Animals from birth to adulthood were anesthetized with urethan, and single-unit activity was recorded extracellularly in the locus coeruleus. The spontaneous firing of most locus coeruleus neurons was inhibited by iontophoretic application of noradrenaline at a high concentration, while noradrenaline at a low concentration frequently caused excitation of the neurons, predominantly in the developing brain. A similar excitation was also produced by iontophoretic application of the alpha 1-agonist phenylephrine. These excitations were antagonized by the alpha 1-antagonist, 2-beta [4-hydroxyphenylethylaminomethyl]-tetralone, while this antagonist had little effect on glutamate-induced excitation. The noradrenaline- and phenylephrine-induced excitation occurred more frequently in the neurons having little or no spontaneous activity. Electrical stimulation of the dorsal noradrenergic bundle arising in the locus coeruleus produced both inhibition and excitation. The excitatory responses were manifest primarily in early developmental stages, and occurred predominantly when the neurons had little or no spontaneous activity. When the neurons began firing at relatively high rates, the effects of dorsal noradrenergic bundle stimulation became principally inhibitory. Since the excitation evoked by dorsal noradrenergic bundle of stimulation was blocked by the alpha 1-antagonist, the excitation was thought to result from activation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors by noradrenaline released from the terminals of recurrent axon collaterals of locus coeruleus neurons themselves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


This paper investigates the relationships between carbon emissions, health outcomes, and economic growth. It has been argued that carbon emissions negatively affect health outcomes, which influences the aggregate productivity of countries. A general equilibrium model is constructed, with health and educational outcomes presented as inputs of human capital. The empirical part assesses the impact of health on economic development using carbon emissions and employs the IV model (2SLS) to avoid potential endogeneity. The analysis uses the data of 178 worldwide countries from 2010 to 2016. The findings suggest substantial effects of health as an input of human capital on per capita income. The results form the basis of important policy recommendations for policy- and decision-makers to increase the stock of human capital and sustainable economic growth.


Terrestrial Tertiary vertebrate remains are very scarce in the lower Gulf Coastal Plain, except in Florida. This report of a Miocene (?) gomphotherid is but the second such report from Louisiana;  the only other is the unique recovery of a Paleocene condylarth in an oil well core from Caddo Parish at a depth of 2460 feet (Simpson, 1932).


I offer a defence of individualism by critically examining the preconditions of Tyler Burge's famous thought-experiment involving the concept of arthritis. I argue that the thought-experiment relies on a problematic notion of conceptual error, one of which Burge himself should be critical, given his Quinean commitments. Once this misstep in the experiment is made explicit, individualism emerges as a much stronger position than it is usually taken to be. Questioning the assumption that the patient uttering 'I have arthritis in my thigh' makes a conceptual error makes it possible for the individualist to grant Burge the claim that the patient has the standard concept of arthritis, rather than his own deviant concept, and yet avoid the social externalist conclusions.


Runoff and erosion are the most important transport pathways of water, sediment, and associated pesticides from sloped agricultural fields. This results in the loss of fertile topsoil material, nutrients, irrigation water, and plant protection products (PPP) into adjacent surface water bodies. In the European and US risk assessment for the registration of PPP, runoff and erosion are numerically calculated with the simulation Pesticide Root Zone Model (PRZM) using the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) runoff curve number (CN) concept for the water movement and the MUSS equation to quantify the sediment transfer. This work presents an evaluation of maize field trials conducted in three seasons that considered micro‐dams (i.e., small earthen dams between the rows; also known as "furrow diking," "furrow damming," etc.) and/or conservation tillage (via subsoiling) as mitigation measures to investigate the effects on the reduction in runoff and erosion. Measured quantitative reductions and event‐wise calculated CN are presented. Furthermore, the trials were simulated using the PRZM over the complete vegetation period and runoff CN as well as parameter values of the MUSS erosion equation (a relative adaptation of the C‐factor) were inversely estimated. Compared with the control plots (i.e., conventional tillage), micro‐dams or conservation tillage reduced runoff by 24%–71% or 69%–89%, and erosion by 54%–81% or 91%–98%. Based on these data, a robust case can be made to lower CN or parameters in the MUSS equation for surface water exposure scenarios to consider the effects on predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) and estimated environmental concentrations (EECs). Mean resulting CN reductions by micro‐dams or conservation tillage were ascertained to be 6% (±2.5%) or 12% (±3.0%), the C‐factor was reduced by a factor of 0.1 (±0.15) or 0.48 (±0.19). Example calculations show reductions in the ranges of 11%–100% for PECs and 30%–98% for EECs. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:1348–1363. © 2021 Bayer AG Crop Science. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).


Riboflavin depletion has been identified in women on oral contraceptives (OC) but change in riboflavin nutriture has not been consistently demonstrated in all OC user groups studied. Discrepant findings in reports have been attributed to differences of pill formulation or riboflavin intake. Aims of this study were to compare the riboflavin requirements of healthy OC users and nonusers on diets prepared in a metabolic unit. A single daily menu and meal pattern was used. The basic diet providing riboflavin at a level of 0.6 mg/1000 kcal was used in the period of acclimation and period 1. In periods 2 and 3, the riboflavin content of the diet was increased to 0.8 and 1.0 mg/1000 kcal, respectively. The riboflavin status of subjects was monitored by erythrocyte glutathione reductase assay and urinary riboflavin excretion. Eight women on OC and 10 nonusers participated. Erythrocyte glutathione reductase assay values and urinary riboflavin excretion showed intersubject and interperiod differences but no significant group differences (OC versus non-OC) in erythrocyte glutathione reductase values or in urinary riboflavin per g creatinine. It was concluded that when dietary intake is controlled, OC do not significantly influence riboflavin status. Riboflavin needs were related to energy requirements of the subjects.


Deep Bayesian latent variable models have enabled new approaches to both model and data compression. Here, we propose a new algorithm for compressing latent representations in deep probabilistic models, such as variational autoencoders, in post-processing. The approach thus separates model design and training from the compression task. Our algorithm generalizes arithmetic coding to the continuous domain, using adaptive discretization accuracy that exploits estimates of posterior uncertainty. A consequence of the "plug and play" nature of our approach is that various rate-distortion trade-offs can be achieved with a single trained model, eliminating the need to train multiple models for different bit rates. Our experimental results demonstrate the importance of taking into account posterior uncertainties, and show that image compression with the proposed algorithm outperforms JPEG over a wide range of bit rates using only a single machine learning model. Further experiments on Bayesian neural word embeddings demonstrate the versatility of the proposed method.


Insulin sensitivity has been implicated in the variation of fat accumulation in early gestation by as-yet-unknown mechanisms. In the present study, we analyzed the insulin sensitivity of lipolysis and lipogenesis in lumbar adipocytes from rats at 0, 7, 14, and 20 days of gestation. In adipocytes of 7-day pregnant rats, we found a twofold decrease in both beta-agonist (isoproterenol and BRL-37344)-stimulated lipolysis and beta3-adrenoceptor protein but not in lipolysis initiated by forskolin or isobutylmethylxanthine, suggesting a modification of the lipolytic pathway at the receptor level. Whereas adipocytes from 7-day pregnant rats showed a twofold increase in fatty acid synthesis from glucose, those from 20-day pregnant animals displayed a decreased lipogenic activity. Insulin responsiveness of the lipolytic and lipogenic pathways was analyzed by dose-response experiments, giving evidence for the involvement of improved insulin responsiveness in the enhanced lipogenic and reduced lipolytic activities of adipocytes in early pregnancy. In contrast, insulin resistance is responsible for lower antilipolytic and lipogenic actions of insulin in late pregnant animals. In conclusion, the present study shows that enhanced adipose tissue insulin responsiveness during early pregnancy contributes to maternal fat accumulation, whereas decreased insulin responsiveness during late gestation modulates fat breakdown.


The Hoarding Rating Scale-Interview (HRS-I) is a brief semi-structured interview that assesses five aspects of hoarding disorder: difficulty discarding, clutter, excessive acquisition, distress, and impairment. The aim of this study was to develop an Italian version of the HRS-I and examine its psychometric properties, in terms of reliability and construct validity. The HRS-I was administered to a sample of non-clinical adults (N= 491) along with a battery of selected self-report measures. The reliability was evaluated in terms of internal consistency. Cronbach's alpha and corrected item-total correlations indicated satisfactory scale homogeneity. The construct validity was addressed by providing evidence of both criterion and construct validity. In this direction, the relationships between HRS-I and other measures of the same or related constructs were investigated. In line with the findings of the original study, the general pattern of results was of a stronger association for like subscales than for unlike subscales. On the whole, empirical results indicated promising psychometric properties of the HRS Italian version in a nonclinical sample. Limitations of the study and the utility of the HRS-I in clinical and research settings are discussed.


BACKGROUND
In the Netherlands therewereseveralreports on needlespiking: people have found themselvessubjectedtosurreptitiousinjections.

CASE DESCRIPTION
A 23-year-old female was seenafterbeingsurroundedby a group of men andfeltwhatshethought was a jab. She was abletoevadethegroup. Several minutes later sheexperienceddizziness, nausea andvomiting. On physical examination, a bleedingpuncturewound was seen on her upper arm withaccompanying erythema. Toxicology on bloodand urine didnot show evidenceforintoxicationotherthan alcohol which was higherthanwouldbesuspectedbythenumber of drinks thevictimreported.

CONCLUSION
There is evidencethatpeople are puncturedwithneedles in busy surroundings like thenightlife. Possiblealso drugs are injected. Experiencedsymptomsbyvictims (n=19) wereheterogeneousandnotlikelyattributedtooneandthesamecausal drug. Toxicologydidnotrevealanysubstanceuntilnow.


Traumatic dental injuries in children and adolescents are a common problem, and several studies have shown that the prevalence of these injuries is increasing. The aim of this study was to make a cross-sectional investigation of all traumatized permanent teeth in children living in a rural area and to estimate the time required for each treatment. Patient records from all children aged between 7 and 17 years living in the district of Boxholm were examined. Patients with documentation concerning any traumatic injury were invited to an examination and interview. The following variables were examined: age, sex, etiology, organized sport activity, type of injury, treatment, number of dental visits, and time utilized for dental care. Dental injuries were recorded in 11.7% (88) of children (63% boys, 37% girls) and prevalence was highest in the 8-12 year-old age group for boys (75%) and the 7-9 year-old age group for girls (63%). The most frequent etiological factors were collision during play, and falling over. In boys, 10% of all dental injuries were caused by violence. Simple enamel fractures of maxillary central incisors were the most common type of injury. The mean treatment time was 74 minutes for each trauma incident, and in 35% of cases, only one dental visit was required. It was concluded that the frequency of traumatic dental injuries in a rural area is lower than in urban areas.


- This Paper is an attempt to design, develop and validation of vision based autonomous robotic system for intrusion detection in predefined area under surveillance for military application. This system can also work in adverse environmental conditions where it is hard for a human soldier to reach. Entry restricted areas such as line of control must be safe from intrusion, so this system is used in such areas. Background subtraction algorithm is used for the implementation of the proposed image processing algorithm. The developed algorithm is validated in real time by using moving object detection method. Validation of developed algorithm is done both in offline using MATLAB simulation and in real time using an experiment. Developed algorithm is coded in to the microcontroller based hardware.


Guided ultrasonic waves (GUW) have the potential to be an efficient and cost-effective method for rapid damage detection and quantification of large structures. Attractive features include sensitivity to a variety of damage types and the capability of traveling relatively long distances. They have proven to be an efficient approach for crack detection and localization in isotropic materials. However, techniques must be pushed beyond isotropic materials in order to be valid for composite aircraft components.This paper presents our study on GUW propagation and interaction with delamination damage in composite structures using wavenumber array data processing, together with advanced wave propagation simulations. Parallel elastodynamic finite integration technique (EFIT) is used for the example simulations. Multi-dimensional Fourier transform is used to convert time-space wavefield data into frequency-wavenumber domain. Wave propagation in the wavenumber-frequency domain shows clear distinction among the guided wave modes that are present. This allows for extracting a guided wave mode through filtering and reconstruction techniques. Presence of delamination causes spectral change accordingly. Results from 3D CFRP guided wave simulations with delamination damage in flat-plate specimens are used for wave interaction with structural defect study.Copyright © 2013 by ASME


Animal welfare concerns are having dramatic impacts on food and livestock markets. Here we examine consumer preferences for pork products with a focus on use of gestation crates. We examine underlying consumer valuations of pork attributes while considering preference heterogeneity as well as voluntary and legislative alternatives in producing gestation crate-free pork. Our results suggest that prohibiting swine producers from using gestation crates fails to improve consumer welfare in the presence of a labeling scheme documenting voluntary disadoption of gestation crates. Consumers are found to implicitly associate animal welfare attributes with smaller farms. Preference heterogeneity drives notably diverse consumer welfare impacts when pork produced with use of gestation crates is no longer available for consumption.


In the paper authors presented issues concerning clinical manifestation of primary immunodeficiency diseases in children. Considering the frequently recognized changes in the respiratory tract in this group of disorders, particular attention was paid to the chronic bronchopulmonary disease taking into consideration it's clinical course and radiographic presentation in selected cases.


ORION is an interactive program that serves as a postprocessor for the analysis programs NIKE2D, DYNA2D, TOPAZ2D, and CHEMICAL TOPAZ2D. ORION reads binary plot files generated by the two-dimensional finite element codes currently used by the Methods Development Group at LLNL. Contour and color fringe plots of a large number of quantities may be displayed on meshes consisting of triangular and quadrilateral elements. ORION can compute strain measures, interface pressures along slide lines, reaction forces along constrained boundaries, and momentum. ORION has been applied to study the response of two-dimensional solids and structures undergoing finite deformations under a wide variety of large deformation transient dynamic and static problems and heat transfer analyses.


Montmorillonite-filled nanocomposites were prepared by the thermal copolymerization of tung oil (TUNG), styrene (ST), and divinylbenzene (DVB). These nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and their mechanical properties. The XRD of the modified montmorillonite exhibited a peak that vanished completely in the nanocomposites. Thus, the XRD results apparently indicate a distortion of the platy layers of the nanofiller in the TUNG–ST–DVB polymers. A platy nanolayered structure of the modified montmorillonite in the TUNG–ST–DVB polymers was observed by TEM. The extent of separation of the platy layers as observed by the TEM reached a maximum for the 5% modified nanofiller (at a fixed polymer composition), 50%-oil-containing polymer (at a fixed nanofiller concentration of 5%), and TUNG intragallery nanocomposites (at both fixed polymer and nanofiller concentrations). The DMA results show a broadened glass-transition temperature along with a hump for these nanofilled polymers, indicating the presence as a majority constituent of a copolymer consisting of TUNG and aromatics, along with a grafted TUNG polymer, respectively. The improvements in the Young's modulus and compressive strength upon incorporation of the nanofiller indicated the presence of a partially intercalated and distorted platy-layered structure of the nanofiller. However, from the results of all of these studies, it was tough to estimate the exact level of delamination/exfoliation in these TUNG nanocomoposites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011


AIMS
Efforts to harmonise dental education in Europe have been put into action by the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE). The aim of the study was to explore graduating dentists' perceptions about their professional readiness for clinical work in Finland and in Lithuania.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The survey targeted 5th year dental students at the University of Oulu and the University of Turku in Finland, and at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania (Lithuanian and international students) in 2016-2017. The competences were evaluated in the questionnaire in 21 dental procedures based on ADEE competences by options: "I'd manage well", "I'd need more training" or "It would not quite succeed". The option "I'd manage well" was chosen in the analyses.

RESULTS
Students felt that they were most competent in producing and maintaining accurate patient records (91.9%), implementing sterilisation and hygiene in dental practice (91.3%) and working with other members of dental team and health profession (90.0%). The largest differences between Finnish and Lithuanian students were in designing and adjusting occlusal splints (87.0% vs. 14.3%) and in undertaking subgingival scaling (95.7% vs. 57.1%). The biggest differences between Lithuanian and international students were in identifying (and treating) abnormal and anxiety-related patient (73.1% vs. 25.5%) and implementing tobacco cessation (65.3% vs. 31.9%).

CONCLUSIONS
The graduating dental students in Finland and in Lithuania manage well in most of the clinical procedures based on the ADEE competences. The students were most confident when dealing with tasks that are common in dental practice.


The present study was done to show the prevalence of parasitic infection in some species of wild birds and describe the morphology of collected parasites.in this study 7 Cattle egret (Bubulucus ibis), 16 Moorhen (Gallinula ch. Choloropus), 6 migrant quail (coturnix coturnix coturnix),1 King fisher ( Alcedo atthis) and 8 House sparrow (Passer domesticus) were examined for parasitic infection from March 2014 to June 2015. After parasitological examination to gastrointestinal tract of each bird found 3 (18.75 %) out of 16 moorhen infected by Cyclocelum microstomum, 5 (71.42 %) out of 7 cattle egret infected by Desportesius invaginatus, 6 ( 85.71 %) out of 7 cattle egret infected by Apatemon gracilis, 2 (33.3 %) out of 6 Migrant quail infected by Heterakis gallinurm and Spiniglans microsoma. and 3 (37.5 %) out of 8 house sparrow infected by Cyathocotyle sp.1 (12.5 %) out of 8 house sparrow infected by Monopylidium musculosum. the highest infection found in cattle egret (100%) but low infection occur in king fisher 0%.