Disulfide bonds play an important role in stabilizing protein structure and regulating protein function. Therefore, the ability to infer disulfide connectivity from protein sequences will be valuable in structural modeling and functional analysis. However, to predict disulfide connectivity directly from sequences presents a challenge to computational biologists due to the nonlocal nature of disulfide bonds, i.e., the close spatial proximity of the cysteine pair that forms the disulfide bond does not necessarily imply the short sequence separation of the cysteine residues. Recently, Chen and Hwang (Proteins 2005;61:507–512) treated this problem as a multiple class classification by defining each distinct disulfide pattern as a class. They used multiple support vector machines based on a variety of sequence features to predict the disulfide patterns. Their results compare favorably with those in the literature for a benchmark dataset sharing less than 30% sequence identity. However, since the number of disulfide patterns grows rapidly when the number of disulfide bonds increases, their method performs unsatisfactorily for the cases of large number of disulfide bonds. In this work, we propose a novel method to represent disulfide connectivity in terms of cysteine pairs, instead of disulfide patterns. Since the number of bonding states of the cysteine pairs is independent of that of disulfide bonds, the problem of class explosion is avoided. The bonding states of the cysteine pairs are predicted using the support vector machines together with the genetic algorithm optimization for feature selection. The complete disulfide patterns are then determined from the connectivity matrices that are constructed from the predicted bonding states of the cysteine pairs. Our approach outperforms the current approaches in the literature. Proteins 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


As a direct test for a role of androgens, compensatory renal hypertrophy was studied in normal male mice, in androgen-insensitive Tfm/Y mice, and in sibling normal female mice. Fifteen days after unilateral nephrectomy, although the kidneys of the normal male mice were larger, relative increases in renal weight were similar in all groups (33-43%). The magnitude of the increase and the contents of protein, RNA, and DNA were the same in the Tfm/Y mice and the female mice. Androgens are not essential to compensatory renal hypertrophy, but they promote larger mice with larger kidneys.


This article seeks to spark a conversation about shifting conceptualizations of disaster under modernizing states. It employs case studies of two major disasters, the North China Famine of 1876–79 and the Yellow River flood of 1938–47, to map changes and continuities in Chinese responses to disaster. State approaches to the late-Qing famine both drew on a millennium of Chinese thinking about disaster causation and anticipated new issues that would become increasingly important in twentieth-century China. The catastrophic Yellow River flood occurred when China's Nationalist government deliberately breached a major dike in a desperate attempt to "use water instead of soldiers" to slow the brutal Japanese invasion. The Nationalist state's technologization of disaster, its rejection of cosmological interpretations of calamity, and its depiction of flood victims as heroes sacrificing for the nation mark departures from late-imperial responses to disaster, but foreshadow features of the devastating Mao-era Great Leap Famine of 1958–62.


Aim: This report was aimed to investigate both the chemical composition and the antioxidant activity of two extracts from Mentha rotundifolia aerial parts. Methods: Aqueous and acetonic extracts were obtained by decoction and Soxhlet apparatus, respectively. Total polyphenols contents were determined using FolinCiocalteu reagent whereas flavonoids were evaluated by AlCl3 method. LC-MS/MS method was carried out to reveal the phytochemical composition of extracts. Some tests were used to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity of extracts such as DPPH free radical scavenging assay, ABTS+ radical cation decolorization assay, OH• radical scavenging assay, ferrous ion chelating, reducing power and β-caroten/linoleic acid bleaching assay. Results: The results showed that the aqueous extract was richer on polyphenols and flavonoids comparing to the acetonic extract. The analysis by LC-MS/MS allowed to identify many phenolic compounds in extracts, predominated by rosmarinic acid. In addition, the extracts were found to possess a significant antioxidant activity. Conclusion: Accordingly, it can be concluded that M. rotundifolia is quite rich in phenolic compounds and has a good antioxidant activity.


Study of thermo-fluid flow has its significance in energy analysis of a building. Various thermo-fluid analyses are performed in heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for energy efficient buildings by scientists and engineers to save energy consumption during the life of a building. In order to achieve energy conservation for different HVAC systems, determination of air flow pattern and flow physics are vital parameters. In case of fluid flow postprocessing techniques such as streamlines, vector plots and contours are often employed. These techniques help in understanding the nature of flow and its properties. Each of these postprocessing techniques mentioned are based on Eulerian methods and have certain inherent deficiencies pertaining to the amount of information they can convey about certain aspects of fluid flow. Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS) on the other hand use Lagrangian data for analysis purposes. LCS are generated using finite time Lyapunov exponent fields which in turn depict the rate of expansion or contraction of the trajectories around a certain point. LCS act as the transport barriers across which there is approximately zero mass flux. This property means that LCS can be applied to problems related to separation and reattachment in fluid flow and find virtual boundaries inside flows. In the current study, we focused on the application of LCS for efficient placement of sensors for HVAC systems. We computed LCS using velocity data extracted from the CFD simulations of a 2D room model. Thus, LCS can be used to identify the virtual boundaries in fluid flow. This helps in indication of regions where mixing of particles occurs and also where particles are stagnated. Inlet angles of 0, 15, 22, and 30 degrees are used and analysis shows that manifolds with 30 degree angles provide better ventilation. The outcome of this study can be used to improve the energy efficiency as well as predict the accurate location of HVAC sensor and control units.


Cloud computing is a latest new computing paradigm where applications, data and IT services are provided over the Internet. Cloud computing has become a main medium for Software as a Service (SaaS) providers to host their SaaS as it can provide the scalability a SaaS requires. The challenges in the composite SaaS placement process rely on several factors including the large size of the Cloud network, SaaS competing resource requirements, SaaS interactions between its components and SaaS interactions with its data components. However, existing applications' placement methods in data centres are not concerned with the placement of the component's data. In addition, a Cloud network is much larger than data center networks that have been discussed in existing studies. This paper proposes a penalty-based genetic algorithm (GA) to the composite SaaS placement problem in the Cloud. We believe this is the first attempt to the SaaS placement with its data in Cloud provider's servers. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and the scalability of the GA.


OBJECTIVE To assess the clinical efficacy of nutritional amounts of grape polyphenols (PPs) in counteracting the metabolic alterations of high-fructose diet, including oxidative stress and insulin resistance (IR), in healthy volunteers with high metabolic risk. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Thirty-eight healthy overweight/obese first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients (18 men and 20 women) were randomized in a double-blind controlled trial between a grape PP (2 g/day) and a placebo (PCB) group. Subjects were investigated at baseline and after 8 and 9 weeks of supplementation, the last 6 days of which they all received 3 g/kg fat-free mass/day of fructose. The primary end point was the protective effect of grape PPs on fructose-induced IR. RESULTS In the PCB group, fructose induced 1) a 20% decrease in hepatic insulin sensitivity index (P < 0.05) and an 11% decrease in glucose infusion rate (P < 0.05) as evaluated during a two-step hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, 2) an increase in systemic (urinary F2-isoprostanes) and muscle (thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances and protein carbonylation) oxidative stress (P < 0.05), and 3) a downregulation of mitochondrial genes and decreased mitochondrial respiration (P < 0.05). All the deleterious effects of fructose were fully blunted by grape PP supplementation. Antioxidative defenses, inflammatory markers, and main adipokines were affected neither by fructose nor by grape PPs. CONCLUSIONS A natural mixture of grape PPs at nutritional doses efficiently prevents fructose-induced oxidative stress and IR. The current interest in grape PP ingredients and products by the global food and nutrition industries could well make them a stepping-stone of preventive nutrition.


SIR, Therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is thought to be a safe treatment for a number of immunemediated neurological diseases. Cutaneous adverse reactions are rare in patients receiving high doses of IVIG for immunomodulation. Anecdotal reports of eczema, alopecia, lichenoid dermatitis and erythema multiforme in association with IVIG have been reported but remain unsubstantiated. Whereas erythema multiforme is often associated with immune complex formation, which is likely after high-dose IVIG therapy, possible explanations for alopecia and eczema remain obscure. We report the occurrence of complement consumption at the time of an eczematous skin reaction following IVIG infusions in a patient with a neuromuscular disease that was later found to be a dysferlinopathy. A 39-year-old man with a progressive myopathy showing features of inclusion body myositis received two courses of high-dose IVIG (0Æ4 g kg daily for five consecutive days; infusion rate 5 g h). An erythrodermic eczematous eruption developed during the first course of IVIG therapy. Physical examination revealed an eczematous eruption involving the neck, trunk and upper and lower extremities with pompholix lesions of the hands. Recurrence of the same eruption was observed during the following course of IVIG. Serial measurements of complement factors and of total haemolytic complement (CH100) showed evidence of complement consumption (baseline determinations: C4 12Æ5 mg dL, CH100 91 U mL; during the skin reaction: C4 5Æ35 mg dL, CH100 35 U mL; after IVIG therapy: C4 13Æ4 mg dL, CH100 74 U mL). Routine laboratory tests including full blood count were normal. Rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies, antiextractable nuclear antigens and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were negative. A sterile cellular culture was negative. The patient had no serological evidence of acute viral infection. No signs of renal disease could be demonstrated at follow-up. Lesional skin biopsy demonstrated epidermal vesiculation and a perivascular dermal lymphocytic infiltrate. There was no personal history of eczema, and no other drug was implicated in the aetiology of the eruption. Two years earlier he had received similar treatment with two courses of the same immunoglobulin preparation, and had exhibited a less severe, more localized eruption. After all the infusions the eruption settled rapidly without treatment. The temporal relationship between the administration of IVIG and development of the eruption, in the absence of other probable causes along with the recurrent character of the symptoms further support an adverse reaction to IVIG. Infusion of high concentrations of IVIG directly into the vascular system may result in immune complex formation, and C4 hypocomplementaemia, along with low CH100, may thus reflect the activity of circulating immune complexes in this patient. C4 and CH100 approached normal values after treatment. Induction of classical complement pathway activation by IVIG therapy could be the immunological mechanism underlying this unusual cutaneous adverse reaction to IVIG.


While western countries are coping with the challenges arising from globalization, a key question being asked is whether the same or similar challenges are dominating a country that is trying to become westernized but regarded as a Muslim-European-Asian country. This study, therefore, attempts to explore academics' perceptions regarding the impact of the globalization process on higher education institutions in a country like Turkey that has a different culture, history, language, and so on, compared to other European communities. Analyses are based on qualitative interviews with 19 academics working at two foundation universities in Turkey. Findings of the study reveal that globalization has affected university policies in the areas of goals, marketing policies and the professional development opportunities provided for academics.


The response to hypoxia modulates the expression of multiple genes. The tumor microenvironment of transplanted and spontaneous mouse tumors is profoundly deprived of oxygenation as confirmed by PET imaging. CD8 and CD4 tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TILs) of transplanted colon carcinomas, melanomas and spontaneous breast adenocarcinomas are CD137 (4-1BB) positive, as opposed to their counterparts in tumor draining lymph nodes and spleen. Expression of CD137 on activated T lymphocytes is markedly enhanced by hypoxia and the prolyl-hydroxilase inhibitor DMOG. Importantly, hypoxia does not up-regulate CD137 in inducible HIF-1α knock-out T cells, and such HIF-1α-deficient T cells remain CD137-negative even when becoming TILs, in clear contrast to co-infiltrating HIF-1α-sufficient T cells. The fact that CD137 is selectively expressed on TILs was exploited to confine the effects of immunotherapy with agonist anti-CD137 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to the tumor tissue, thereby avoiding liver inflammation, while still permitting synergistic therapeutic effects with PD-L1/B7-H1 blockade. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3538. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3538


A nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of alkenyl methyl ethers with Grignard reagents, under mild conditions, is described. These conditions allowed access to various stilbenes and heterocyclic stilbenic derivatives as well as to a potential anticancer agent DMU-212.


Sputum is a liquid substance or mucus produced in the lungs and in the airways leading to the lungs. Sputum can be categorized in a type of bloody that often found in tuberculosis (hemoptysis), rusty colored where it can be found in pneumonia, purulent, foamy white and frothy pink. A patient suspected having respiratory infection could be examined by sputum diagnosis. Pulmonary infection is the most cases for the respiratory infection and it can cause of morbidity and mortality. Sputum sample that contain of pus cells, squamous cells, gram-positive and gram-negative organisms are usually examines by microbiology technologist using visualize inspection through microscope image. It is less practical to examine the huge sample of sputum by manually visualizing image under the microscope. Hence, it is crucial to introduce an automatic system using image processing technique where it can overcome the inefficient practice of examine the sputum sample. In this paper we proposed an image processing technique to detect the types of cells in sputum smear. The image processing methods used to analyze the cells are color, morphology, image arithmetic operation, K-Mean clustering and thresholding technique. The sputum image has been tested for the cell detection where we obtained more than 95% detection of squamous cell.


Background Fetal supraventricular tachycardia is most often treated by maternal application of digoxin. A drug used for second-choice therapy is flecainide acetate. Case For a case in which maternal digoxin therapy failed, flecainide caused a lowering of the fetal heart rate (FHR) but, simultaneously, variability and accelerations nearly disappeared. The fetus demonstrated a normal movement pattern. Fetal well-being during delivery was assessed by regular ultrasound observations of fetal movements. Flecainide was not continued after birth, and digoxin therapy was started when tachycardia reappeared. The heart rate changed into a reactive pattern 5 days after birth. Around that time, flecainide levels in the neonatal serum were below the limit of detection. Conclusion Flecainide use can cause the absence of accelerations and poor variability in the FHR.


Purpose: This article draws on a study of best practices in work-integrated learning (WIL) identified in the Middlesex University Degree Apprenticeships Development Fund (DADF) Project, which examined their application for four public sector degree apprenticeships (DAs) The authors suggest that WIL pedagogical practices deployed to deliver DAs can bridge traditional pedagogical and occupational divisions while building institutional resilience in a post-viral world The paper is intended to contribute to both practitioner and policy-level discourse regarding the best practice in WIL for DAs Design/methodology/approach: A literature review of key texts was used to identify "success characteristics" in WIL "signature" pedagogies, with potential applicability for DA design and delivery These characteristics were used to frame interrogation of best pedagogical practices, using the best practice matrix developed Semi-structured interviews were conducted with selected expert practitioners to examine their matrix responses and to discuss the researcher's initial "read-across" analysis of best practices and possible implications for pedagogical practice in WIL for DAs across other sectors This paper also draws on feedback from employer groups who were consulted on the project report recommendations and further feedback from a national project dissemination conference in 2018 The findings from the research project have also been re-evaluated with reference to further literature in the context of the challenges presented by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Findings: The findings from the study indicate that pedagogical best practices were to a significant degree transferable across professions and sectors;success characteristics in one pedagogical area (for example, mentoring/practice education) underpin success in another (recognition of prior learning [RPL] and practice-based assessment of achievement);success characteristics in WIL can also be applied and operated across professions and sectors to demonstrate how the best practice in WIL should be applied in the design of DAs more generally Research limitations/implications: The original project research study focussed on WIL pedagogical practices in four specified professions across four public sectors within one institution This approach, though limited, enabled the research study to focus on in-depth qualitative interactions with practitioners from different sectors rather than institutional differences As a consequence, the research study was able to focus on in-depth and dynamic interrelationships in pedagogical practice from the perspective of the professions, which facilitated productive examination of similarities and differences across these professions Originality/value: The research study provided evidence of the potential value of a more explicit recognition of WIL practice in the higher education sector and how consistent approaches to WIL should inform programme design This has potential to improve the quality of curriculum design and pedagogy across DA programmes and provide a valuable reference point for quality assuring this provision © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited


Since the early days of bacteriology it has been common knowledge that partial or complete inhibition of growth of some microorganisms may occur when a reducing sugar is autoclaved in certain culture media, particularly those of simple composition. Such inhibition generally is attributed to the production of "toxic caramelization products of glucose" (Doudoroff, 1942; Stanier, 1942; Gould et al., 1944; Corper and Clark, 1946), although Lewis (1930) suggested that products of thermal degradation of reducing sugars may not be toxic per se. According to Lewis, growth may be inhibited indirectly due to binding of essential nitrogenous components of the medium by certain products of phosphate-mediated degradation of the sugar, probably carbonyl compounds. Lankford et al. (1947), Hill and Patton (1947) and others (Patton and Hill, 1948; Lankford and Lacy, 1949; Lankford, 1950) provided additional evidence for the operation of this mechanism of growth inhibition. They found the total final growth of lactic acid bacteria to be suppressed to a degree related directly to the extent of glucose degradation and inversely to the concentration of the limiting nutrient. No adverse effect upon growth initiation or upon growth rate was observed under the test conditions (Lankford et al., 1947; Lankford and Lacy, 1949). Some recent observations, however, indicate that a substance or substances with primary, intrinsic bacteriotoxicity may be formed when media containing glucose and phosphate are autoclaved.


The myoepithelium in human parotid, unlike that in other species, is not limited to the acinar-intercalated ductal system but extends to the intra- and extralobular striated ducts. Myoepithelial cells of the striated ducts are smaller, fewer, and different in shape but they are similar in their relationships and ultrastructural morphology to the acinar-intercalated system. Distribution of myoepithelium is discussed with respect to its role and participation in the histogenesis of salivary gland tumours, especially those of intermediate and large duct cell origin.


OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that the capability of two-dimensional lateral cephalogram in recognizing pharyngeal obstruction is poor compared with the capability of three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical observation of tonsillar size.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study participants were 36 prepubertal children (19 male, 17 female; mean age 7.3 ± 1.43 years, range 4.8-9.8 years) with sleep-disordered breathing diagnosed by nocturnal polygraphy. Pharyngeal airway was imaged with a low-field open-configuration MRI scanner. Tonsillar size was clinically determined and lateral skull radiographs were taken and measured. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between the clinical, cephalometric, and MRI variables.

RESULTS
Nasopharyngeal and retropalatal cephalometric variables had a significant positive correlation with the MRI findings. Both techniques showed the narrowest measurement to be located in the retropalatal region. Clinical assessment of tonsillar size correlated inversely with MRI findings such as minimal retropalatal cross-sectional airway area (P  =  .000), minimal retroglossal cross-sectional airway area (P  =  .015), and intertonsillar airway width (P  =  .000). Cephalometric soft palate and tonsillar area correlated with clinical tonsillar size (P  =  .001).

CONCLUSIONS
The hypothesis is rejected. The findings confirm that the lateral cephalogram is a valid method for measuring dimensions of the nasopharyngeal and retropalatal region. When evaluating oropharyngeal size, clinical assessment of tonsillar size is a relatively reliable method.


The study of inner ear morphology has been substantially augmented by the development of the surface preparation technique and the scanning electron microscope. The former represents an old technique revitalized, while the latter is a new method providing dramatic stereoscopic images at the cellular level. More precise knowledge of inner ear sensory cells and their innervation is now being obtained and hence better understanding of function continues to evolve. The early fixation of human postmortem material circumvents many artefacts; however, there are legal and ethical questions to be settled before this is done routinely. The photomicrographs are from specimens prepared by the author.


Indices of CPUE are presented for skipjack tuna ( K tsuwonus pelamis) for the Indian Ocean over the period 1980-2013. The analysis was initiated under the framework of the E.U. research project CECOFAD, whose objectives are to enhance our understanding of fishing effort units and improve the accuracy of purse-seine CPUE estimates. Skipjack stock assessments mainly depend on abundance indices derived from purse-seine fleets, thus standardisation of purse seiner CPUEs for this species is a priority. We follow a CPUE definition framework where three different types of CPUE are calculated to describe trends in number of schools, school detectability and catchability and school size. CPUE standardization is typically achieved with the development of GLM models; these estimates are often biased because the range of the fishing area changes from one year to the next. We compare CPUE trends derived from conventional GLMs with trends based on GLMMs, where the spatial explanatory variables are treated as a random effect. According to a definition, a variable is random when it constitutes only a part of the entire population: spatial variables can be considered random since each year fishing vessels sample only a part of the historically fished area. Exploratory analyses revealed issues of heterogeneity and autocorrelation, supporting the use of mixed models and the shift towards a Bayesian approach to CPUE standardization modeling. Our analysis uses fishing sets targeting free swimming tuna schools for the French purse seiners operating in the western Indian Ocean. Future work will address the problem of accounting for the major changes in purse seine fishing strategies and the implementation of new technology on board (mainly the use of FAD technology) under a Bayesian framework.


PURPOSE: Specific catalyst is used to reduce NOx which is generated from internal combustion engine. Thereby, the discharging amount of NOx from vehicles can be decreased. CONSTITUTION: For the reduction of NOx, in particular in burner gases, a catalyst is used consisting of: (a) 20-97 wt.% Al2O3, (b) 1-40 wt.% CuO, (c) 1-50 wt.% ZnO, (d) 1-40 wt.% Ag, (e) 0-2 wt.% Pt, (f) 0-20 wt.% oxides of rare earth metals, elements of the third subgroup of the periodic system or their mixtures, with relation to the total weight of components (a) to (e), which is 100 wt.% In this catalyst, up to half the weight of component (a) can be replaced by FE2O3, Cr2O3, Ga2O3 or their mixtures; up to half the weight of component (b) can be replaced by CoO; up to half the weight of component (c) can be replaced by MgO; up to half the weight of component (d) can be replaced by Au, and up to half the weight of component (e) can be replaced by Pd, Ru, Os, Ir, Rh, Re or their mixtures. Components (a), (b) and (c) form a spinel which can be doped with the components (d), (e) and (f).


7-Dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) is the direct precursor to manufacture vitamin D3. Our previous study has achieved 7-DHC synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae based on the endogenous post-squalene pathway. However, the distribution of post-squalene enzymes between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and lipid bodies (LD) might raise difficulties for ERG proteins to catalyze and deliver sterol intermediates, resulting in unbalanced metabolic flow and low product yield. Herein, we intended to rearrange the subcellular location of post-squalene enzymes to alleviate metabolic bottleneck and boost 7-DHC production. After identifying the location of DHCR24 (C-24 reductase, the only heterologous protein for 7-DHC biosynthesis) on ER, all the ER-located enzymes were grouped into four modules: ERG1/11/24, ERG25/26/27, ERG2/3, and DHCR24. These modules attempted to be overexpressed either on ER or on LDs. As a result, expression of LD-targeted DHCR24 and ER-located ERG1/11/24 could promote the conversion efficiency among the sterol intermediates to 7-DHC, while locating module ERG2/3 into LDs improved the whole metabolic flux of the post-squalene pathway. Coexpressing LD-targeted ERG2/3 and DHCR24 (generating strain SyBE_Sc01250035) improved 7-DHC production from 187.7 to 308.2 mg/L at shake-flask level. Further expressing ER-targeted module ERG1/11/24 in strain SyBE_Sc01250035 dramatically reduced squalene accumulation from 620.2 mg/L to the lowest level (by 93.8%) as well as improved 7-DHC production to the highest level (to 342.2 mg/L). Then targeting module ERG25/26/27 to LDs further increased 7-DHC titer to 360.6 mg/L, which is the highest shake-flask level production for 7-DHC ever reported. Our study not only proposes and further proves the concept of pathway compartmentalized reconstitution to regulate metabolic flux but also provides a promising chassis to produce other steroidal compounds through the post-squalene pathway.


On-site mortality in crush syndrome remains high due to lack of effective drugs based on definite diagnosis. Anisodamine (Ani) is widely used in China for treatment of shock, and activation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) mediates such antishock effect. The present work was designed to test whether activation of α7nAChR with Ani decreased mortality in crush syndrome shortly after decompression. Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6 mice with crush syndrome were injected with Ani (20 mg/kg and 28 mg/kg respectively, i.p.) 30 min before decompression. Survival time, serum potassium, insulin, and glucose levels were observed shortly after decompression. Involvement of α7nAChR was verified with methyllycaconitine (selective α7nAChR antagonist) and PNU282987 (selective α7nAChR agonist), or in α7nAChR knockout mice. Effect of Ani was also appraised in C2C12 myotubes. Ani reduced mortality and serum potassium and enhanced insulin sensitivity shortly after decompression in animals with crush syndrome, and PNU282987 exerted similar effects. Such effects were counteracted by methyllycaconitine or in α7nAChR knockout mice. Mortality and serum potassium in rats with hyperkalemia were also reduced by Ani. Phosphorylation of Na/K-ATPase was enhanced by Ani in C2C12 myotubes. Inhibition of tyrosine kinase on insulin receptor, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and Na/K-ATPase counteracted the effect of Ani on extracellular potassium. These findings demonstrated that activation of α7nAChR could decrease on-site mortality in crush syndrome, at least in part based on the decline of serum potassium through insulin signaling-Na/K-ATPase pathway.


Do neighborhood demographics, crime rates, and alcohol outlet density predict incidence, severity, and outcome of hospitalization for traumatic injury? A cross-sectional study of Abstract Background: Unintentional injury leads all other causes of death for those 1 to 45 years old. The expense of medical care for injured people is estimated to exceed $406 billion annually. Given this burden on the population, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consistently refers to injury prevention as a national priority. We postulated that exposure to crime and the density of alcohol outlets in one's neighborhood will be positively associated with the incidence of hospitalization for and mortality from traumatic injuries, independent of other neighborhood characteristics. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with ecological and individual analyses. Patient-level data for traumatic injury, injury severity, and hospital mortality due to traumatic injury in 2010 were gathered from the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council Foundation. Each case of traumatic injury or death was geospatially linked with neighborhood of origin information from the 2010 U.S. Census within Dallas County, Texas. This information was subsequently linked with crime data gathered from 20 local police departments and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission alcohol outlet dataset. The crime data are the Part One crimes reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Results: The proportion of persons 65 years old or older was the strongest predictor of the incidence of hospitalization for traumatic injury (b = 12.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.73 to 16.55). In turn, the incidence of traumatic injury most strongly predicted the severity of traumatic injury (b = 0.008, 95% CI 0.0003 – 0.0012). The tract-level unemployment rate was associated with a 5% increase in the odds of hospital mortality among hospitalized trauma patients.


The controlled and sustained delivery of drugs to a specific location within the body is vitally important for effective treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer. One route in achieving this is to develop drug carrying systems from which release of the drug molecules can be controlled. In this study, the authors present characterisation measurements on such a system – porous silicon microparticles. The kinetic of release of the anti-cancer agent, doxorubicin is tracked in live, endothelial cells over a period of 24 h. The results are consistent with a release process of molecular diffusion from a fixed supply reservoir, with a characteristic release lifetime of 2 h. Detailed stochastic modelling of the diffusion process, mimicking the random walk of drug molecules within a heterogeneous size distribution of pores, provides an excellent fit to the data and indicates a doxorubicin diffusion constant of 2 × 10−11 m2s−1.


Nutrition is a key environmental factor influencing the incidence of chronic age related free radical induced diseases. The better antioxidant status by a sufficient consumption of food commodities with antioxidant compounds helps to minimize oxidative damage, and thus can delay or prevent pathological changes. In three groups of adult apparently healthy non-smoking population of different nutritional habits (93 persons of general population, non-vegetarians, NV; 77 semi-vegetarians, V-S; 64 lacto-ovo-vegetarians, V-LO) plasma concentrations of vitamins B9, C, E and β-carotene, potential prooxidant homocysteine and products of oxidative damage of lipids (total peroxides, malondialdehyde, oxidized LDL) as well as and oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes (strand breaks, oxidized purines, oxidized pyrimidines) were measured. Vegetarian (V-S, V-LO) vs NV plasma concentrations of vitamin C, vitamin E, lipid standardized vitamin E, β-carotene and vitamin B9 were significantly higher. Plasma total homocysteine values are significantly higher in both vegetarian groups as a consequence of deficient vitamin B12 concentrations. Hyperhomocysteinemia, a marker of systemic or endothelial oxidative stress may promote the production of hydroxyl radicals which are the initiators of lipid oxidation. In spite of 28.5% and 40.6% incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia in V-S and V-LO, the concentrations of total peroxides, malondialdehyde as well as values of oxidized LDL were significantly reduced as a consequence of a better antioxidant status. Parameters of DNA damage as biomarkers of cancer risk in epidemiological studies are significantly reduced in two groups of vegetarians. The findings suggest that dominant consumption of plant food in vegetarians, higher intake of dietary antioxidants and their higher plasma concentrations in comparison to general population may have protective effects against oxidative damage of molecules and a preventive effect on incidence of chronic age related diseases.


The dominant consensus in modern moral theory suggests that comparative judgments concerning moral values can be adequately made apart from theism. Building on the thought of Charles Hartshorne and other process thinkers, I hold that values such as good, desirability, or importance are meaningless unless we posit God, properly understood in a metaphysical theory, as real and the basis or telos according to which moral values are established and measured. INDEX WORDS: Process, Process Theology, Neoclassical, Moral Theory, Theistic Arguments, Global Argument, Charles Hartshorne, Immanuel Kant MODERN MORAL THEORY: A PROCESS RESPONSE


The compressive strength of concrete is the important property that should be known in the construction of reinforced concrete structures. The cube test is the method to determine the compressive strength of the concrete. The 28th -day test result shows the characteristic strength of the concrete to be prepared and used in the construction work. It is obvious to have delays in casting after the completion of preparing the concrete for several reasons beyond the existing ability on the site. The present investigation was to find the effect on the compressive strength of M25 grade concrete due to time delay in casting and re-mixing. The concrete mixtures were left after completion of the mixing process for a different period of time for 30 minutes, 1:30 hour, and 2 hours then returned the mixing process and placed in its molds. Results were compared to those samples cast in the mold with time delay of 30 minutes and analyzed. Some 45 standard cubes were cast to measure the concrete compressive strengths at 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The results thus obtained showed that the compressive strength of re-mixing concrete with 1.30 hr and 2 hr time delay was lower than concrete prepared with a time delay of 30 minutes. The reduction in 28 days compressive strength was up to 28.28% when compared with the concrete prepared with 30 minutes delay in time.


BACKGROUND
Information regarding the determinants of successful vocational rehabilitation (VR) is scarce.

OBJECTIVE
Investigate whether sex, duration, quality of life and financial circumstances influence the success of VR.

METHODS
The study group consisted of 519 participants (293 women, 56%), who finished VR in the period 2000-2014. The group was divided into the following subgroups: dropouts, unsuccessful and successful VR. Data were collected by questionnaire.

RESULTS
Income had the most impact on whether the outcome was successful. Having supplemental income when entering the VR program increased the likelihood of a successful conclusion, odds ratio (OR) 5.60 (95% CI; 2.43-13.59) (p < 0.001), being on sick leave OR 5.02 (95% CI 1.93-13.79) (p < 0.001) or rehabilitation pension OR 1.93 (95% CI 1.07-3.52) (p < 0.03). The participants in the successful sub-group were older (p < 0.06) and stayed in rehabilitation longer (p < 0.001), compared to those who were unsuccessful. However, the effect on OR was limited: 1.03 (95% CI 1.01-1.06) and 1.04 (95% CI 1.02-1.07), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
For this sample, supplemental income appears to be the most important factor for a successful rehabilitation outcome. Checking financial status at the beginning of the rehabilitation process could minimize financial strain and increase the likelihood of success.


Background Reducing harm associated with selling and purchasing sex is an important public health priority in China, yet there are few examples of sustainable, successful programs to promote sexual health among female sex workers. Programs focusing on empowering sex workers using a rights-based framework have been effective in India and other regions, but have been challenging to replicate in China. The limited civil society and scope of nongovernmental organizations circumscribe the local capacity of female sex workers to collectively organise, advocate for their rights, and implement STI/HIV prevention programs. The purpose of this study was to examine social networks among low-income female sex workers in South China to determine their potential for sexual health promotion. Methods Semi-structured interviews with 34 low-income female sex workers and 28 outreach members were used to examine how social relationships affected condom use and negotiation, STI/HIV testing and health-seeking behaviours, and dealing with violent clients. Results These data showed that sex worker's hometown social connections were more powerful than relationships between women selling sex at the same venue in establishing the terms and risk of commercial sex. Female sex workers from the same hometown often migrated to the city with their hometown sisters and these social connections fulfilled many of the functions of non-governmental organizations, including collective mobilisation, condom promotion, violence mitigation, and promotion of health-seeking behaviours. Outreach members observed that sex workers accompanied by their hometown sisters were often more willing to accept STI/HIV testing and trust local sexual health services. Conclusions Organising STI/HIV prevention services around an explicitly defined hometown social network may provide a strong foundation for sex worker health programs. Further research on dyadic interpersonal relationships between low-income female sex workers, group dynamics and norm establishment, and the social network characteristics are needed. Hometown social networks may represent a powerful force for organising STI/HIV prevention among low-income sex workers in China and other regions with limited civil society.


Energy efficiency is one of the major concerns in wireless sensor networks, since it impacts the network lifetime. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between sensor network performance, particularly its lifetime, and the number of active reporting nodes N by using both analytical and simulation approaches. We first demonstrate that decreasing the number of reporting nodes increases the number of reports that need to be sent to the sink in order to achieve the desired information reliability regarding a detected event. On one side, we show that reducing the number of reporting nodes reduces the probability of collision occurrence. Based on these results and as the first main contribution, we derive the optimal number of reporting nodes Nopt energy that minimizes the energy consumed to report reliably the occurrence of an event. In other words, we prove that limiting the reporting tasks of a detected event to a small subset of sensor nodes (i.e., Nopt energy), instead of using all the sensor nodes in the event area, enables significant energy conservation. Furthermore, with regard to the latency properties, we show that the average time required to reliably report an event is a convex function of the number of reporting nodes, where the minimum is obtained for a given Nopt latency Nopt energy. Consequently and as the second main contribution, we demonstrate that the fastest way to reliably report an event does not correspond to the optimal way of consuming the scarce network energy. The trade-off between these two requirements is sensor application specific, depending on this one particular need in terms of quality of service. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to tackle the energy efficiency problem from this perspective while considering the energy-reliability-latency trade-off.


Elude, remain uncomfortable, refuse when necessary, and NEVER SETTLE!

Bad Feelings aims itself towards existing discussions on negation, negativity, and a bottomless catalogue of negative emotions.

Assembled therein is a set of materials for conflict and commonality. Despite some clear thematic concerns and constellations around which the contributions coalesce – hate, struggle, rage, anger, revenge, resistance, destruction, and so on – it forgoes asserting any coherent narrative, manifesto, or position on the subjects. Authors, whether collective, individual, or transmutable identities, flow from start to finish in a sequence determined by their emotion and subject of contestation. The texts, the contributors, the ideas, the aesthetics, and the arguments disagree, and so do we. Ordered against order, Bad Feelings attempts to manifest an experimental negativity, pushing beyond a mimetic economy bound to the targets it seeks to oppose. It may not work as intended, though no more sleep will be lost over it.


Abstract Tumors around the elbow are infrequent, and delayed diagnosis is a common theme because of the low incidence and lack of familiarity. However, just like any other site, the radiologic work-up of musculoskeletal tumors around the elbow remains the same, with plain films the first investigation in a patient with a suspected bone tumor and ultrasound the first modality to evaluate a soft tissue lump. The management of both bone and soft tissue tumors around the elbow is unique because of a large number of important structures in an anatomically confined space and little normal tissue to spare without severely compromising the joint's function. Many benign nonneoplastic entities can mimic bone and soft tissue tumors on imaging. It is important to keep the characteristic imaging appearance in mind while formulating a differential diagnosis to avoid an unnecessary additional work-up. This article reviews the most common benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors around the elbow, mimickers, imaging features, and current therapeutic concepts.


A preliminary hybrid particle‐continuum computational framework for simulating hypersonic interacting flows is proposed. The framework consists of the direct simulation Monte Carlo‐Information Preservation (DSMC‐IP) method coupled with a Navier‐Stokes solver. Since the DSMC‐IP method provides the macroscopic information in each time step, determination of the continuum fluxes across the interface between the particle and continuum domains becomes straightforward. A hypersonic flow over a two‐dimensional wedge is considered as an example and compared with pure particle calculations. The results show that this preliminary hybrid framework is promising but several issues are yet to be resolved.


Background: The mechanisms triggering nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remain poorly defined. Results: Kupffer cells are the first responding cells to hepatocyte injuries, leading to TNFα production, chemokine induction, and monocyte recruitment. The silencing of TNFα in myeloid cells reduces NASH progression. Conclusion: Increase of TNFα-producing Kupffer cells is crucial for triggering NASH via monocyte recruitment. Significance: Myeloid cells-targeted silencing of TNFα might be a tenable therapeutic approach. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), characterized by lipid deposits within hepatocytes (steatosis), is associated with hepatic injury and inflammation and leads to the development of fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocarcinoma. However, the pathogenic mechanism of NASH is not well understood. To determine the role of distinct innate myeloid subsets in the development of NASH, we examined the contribution of liver resident macrophages (i.e. Kupffer cells) and blood-derived monocytes in triggering liver inflammation and hepatic damage. Employing a murine model of NASH, we discovered a previously unappreciated role for TNFα and Kupffer cells in the initiation and progression of NASH. Sequential depletion of Kupffer cells reduced the incidence of liver injury, steatosis, and proinflammatory monocyte infiltration. Furthermore, our data show a differential contribution of Kupffer cells and blood monocytes during the development of NASH; Kupffer cells increased their production of TNFα, followed by infiltration of CD11bintLy6Chi monocytes, 2 and 10 days, respectively, after starting the methionine/choline-deficient (MCD) diet. Importantly, targeted knockdown of TNFα expression in myeloid cells decreased the incidence of NASH development by decreasing steatosis, liver damage, monocyte infiltration, and the production of inflammatory chemokines. Our findings suggest that the increase of TNFα-producing Kupffer cells in the liver is crucial for the early phase of NASH development by promoting blood monocyte infiltration through the production of IP-10 and MCP-1.


The vibrational density of states and electronic spectra in the relaxation processes of the 2D Penrose pattern were calculated. The fractal-like spectra due to the self-similarity of the Penrose pattern drastically changed into the continuous spectra without gaps which reflects the FCC(111) crystal structure. At the critical stages defined as the intermediate states between the quasi-crystal and the crystal, the number of localised modes of phonons and electrons increased, indicating the structural transition.


The concentration of most image processing courses is on the various algorithms used to alter an input image or data to produce a desired output image. Little effort is expended on teaching the appropriate display methods that are required to accurately demonstrate the effectiveness of the processing algorithms under investigation. This paper reviews the fundamentals of image display that every student should know before displaying the homework and project results that are assigned in those courses.


Background: In dental practical classes, the acoustic environment is characterized by high noise levels in relation to other teaching areas. The aims of this study were to measure noise levels produced during the different dental learning clinics, by equipments used in dental learning areas under different working conditions and by used and brand new handpieces under different working conditions. Materials and Methods: The noise levels were measured by using a noise level meter with a microphone, which was placed at a distance of 15 cm from a main noise source in pre-clinical and clinical areas. In laboratories, the microphone was placed at a distance of 15 cm and another reading was taken 2 m away. Noise levels of dental learning clinics were measured by placing noise level meter at clinic center. The data were collected, tabulated and statistically analyzed using t-tests. Significance level was set at 5%. Results: In dental clinics, the highest noise was produced by micro motor handpiece while cutting on acrylic (92.2 dB) and lowest noise (51.7 dB) was created by ultrasonic scaler without suction pump. The highest noise in laboratories was caused by sandblaster (96 dB at a distance of 15 cm) and lowest noise by stone trimmer when only turned on (61.8 dB at a distance of 2 m). There was significant differences in noise levels of the equipment's used in dental laboratories and dental learning clinics (P = 0.007). The highest noise level recorded in clinics was at pedodontic clinic (67.37 dB). Conclusions: Noise levels detected in this study were considered to be close to the limit of risk of hearing loss 85 dB.


The extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan plays a key role in the development and pathogenesis of malignant disease. Reflecting its functional importance, the molecule is expressed at greatly elevated levels within many solid tumors. Although little explored, differences in the level of hyaluronan present in normal and malignant tissues could potentially be exploited to more effectively target gene therapy to tumor sites in vivo. As a first step toward this goal, we describe here a family of chimeric proteins in which the extracellular ligand-binding domain of the hyaluronan receptor CD44 is fused in-frame to the cytoplasmic "death domain" of the pro-apoptotic protein Fas. Although these chimeric proteins can be stably expressed on the surface of transduced tumor cells in the absence of hyaluronan, upon interaction with the ligand, apoptosis is rapidly induced. Both exogenous and endogenous tumor- produced hyaluronan can function as triggers, dramatically reducing clonogenic potential. Together, these studies help validate a broadly applicable gene therapy approach in which the presence of particular multivalent ligands within the tumor microenvironment can be exploited for therapeutic gain.


Background The scienti�c literature is anticipated to self-correct with time. An integral part of this self-correction is the retraction notices identifying �awed scienti�c papers. Prevalence of retractions has been investigated in different countries and different scholarly disciplines, including surgery, biomedical sciences, and engineering. Reportedly retractions have increased with increasing number of papers from Iran. However, reasons underlying retractions of papers authored by the Iran-a�liated highly cited researchers (HCRs) have not been documented. Result Here, we report that 229 of the Iran-a�liated researchers were listed by the Clarivate Analytics as HCRs. In total, 51 retracted papers were authored by the HCRs as documented by the Retraction Watch Database interrogated from 2006 to 2019. Twenty-three of the 229 HCRs (10%) had at least one paper retracted. One of the listed HCRs had 22 papers retracted; 14 of the 23 (60.8%) had only one paper retracted. Of the 51 papers, 43 (84%) had a single retraction reason, whereas eight had multiple reasons. Among the 43 papers, 23 (53%) were retracted due to fake peer-review, eight (19%) were duplications, six (14%) had errors, four (9%) had plagiarism, and two (5%) were labelled as "limited or no information." Duplication of data, which is easily preventable, amounted to 27%. The time from publication to retraction of the 51 papers ranged from one to 2,483 (mean 856.6) days. Conclusion Any publishing oversight committed by an HCR should not be tolerated because they represent the stakeholders of the scienti�c literature and stand as role-models for other peer researchers. Future policies supporting the Iranian academia should radically change by implementation of educational and awareness programs on publishing ethics to reduce the retraction rate.


PURPOSE
To document the adult medicine experiences of family practice residents training in a small rural hospital.

METHOD
The authors tracked all inpatient admissions and consults for the first year of a newly accredited family practice residency program, located in a small-town, 80-bed hospital. They analyzed the data for volume of admissions, sources of admissions, diagnoses, lengths of stay, and ICU experience.

RESULTS
The residents saw a significant volume of patients, encountered a wide variety of diagnoses, and had ample opportunities for learning, in spite of the small number of occupied beds.

CONCLUSION
Family practice residents in small hospitals can have sufficient inpatient training experiences in adult medicine. The authors believe that the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education should encourage the development of residency programs in rural communities by simplifying the accreditation documentation requirements for smaller hospitals.


Background: The use of ultralight manual wheelchairs has been shown to benefit wheelchair users when compared to other types. New aluminum alloy frame materials coming to the market have not been independently evaluated for durability and cost benefit. Methods: Three 70XX aluminum ultralight wheelchair models were tested and compared based on dimensions, stability, and durability using the ANSI/RESNA standards. The results were also compared to previous manual wheelchair studies. Results: This study found that there were no significant cost benefit or durability differences between the wheelchairs tested and previous aluminum or titanium ultralight rigid models. Additionally, 5 of the 9 wheelchairs tested failed to meet the minimum ANSI/RESNA requirements for durability. Conclusion: These results are similar to results from previous rigid ultralight wheelchair studies and indicate that the quality of wheelchairs of this type has not improved and better requirements are necessary for wheelchairs marketed in the United States.


Mucormycosis has emerged as an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients, but contemporary data in children are lacking. We conducted a nationwide multicentre study to investigate the characteristics of mucormycosis in children with haematological malignancies. The cohort included 39 children with mucormycosis: 25 of 1136 children (incidence 2·2%) with acute leukaemias prospectively enrolled in a centralized clinical registry in 2004–2017, and an additional 14 children with haematological malignancies identified by retrospective search of the databases of seven paediatric haematology centres. Ninety‐two percent of mucormycosis cases occurred in patients with acute leukaemias. Mucormycosis was significantly associated with high‐risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (OR 3·75; 95% CI 1·51–9·37; P = 0·004) and with increasing age (OR 3·58; 95% CI 1·24–9·77; P = 0·01). Fifteen patients (38%) died of mucormycosis. Rhinocerebral pattern was independently associated with improved 12‐week survival (OR 9·43; 95% CI 1·47–60·66; P = 0·02) and relapsed underlying malignancy was associated with increased 12‐week mortality (OR 6·42; 95% CI, 1·01–40·94; P = 0·05). In patients receiving frontline therapy for their malignancy (n = 24), one‐year cumulative mucormycosis‐related mortality was 21 ± 8% and five‐year overall survival was 70 ± 8%. This largest paediatric population‐based study of mucormycosis demonstrates that children receiving frontline therapy for their haematological malignancy are often salvageable.


In 2013, inflows of foreign direct investment ("FDI") to the People's Republic of China ("PRC") amounted to US$127 billion, making the PRC the world's second largest recipient of inward FDI after the United States. Slightly behind the PRC were the British Virgin Islands ("BVI") which had received FDI inflows of US$92 billion, making the BVI fourth in the world. It is noteworthy that not only are the PRC and the BVI among the top four recipients of FDI, there is also a strong relationship between the two jurisdictions in terms of FDI flows. For instance, the BVI is frequently cited as one of the top three sources of FDI into the PRC (together with the Cayman Islands ("Cayman") and Hong Kong). In 2010, the BVI was the second-largest investor in the PRC, providing US$10.4 billion (9.1%) of total inward FDI into the PRC.The question then arises as to why a small island located in the Caribbean should be both a significant recipient of global FDI and a leading contributor of FDI into the PRC. This paper will look at the reasons behind this phenomenon, by examining the role of the BVI in structuring inward investment into the PRC and considering how the BVI is used to structure outward investment by PRC enterprises. This paper will also consider other offshore jurisdictions, as well as the role of Hong Kong and Macau (which are often considered to be quasi-offshore jurisdictions) in Chinese FDI. This article will focus on the use of offshore jurisdictions from a legal perspective and consider the interplay of offshore structures with PRC law. This paper is divided into seven parts. Part I provides an overall introduction. Part II examines key definitions and perspectives. Part III looks at the economic development of the PRC and the context in which the use of offshore structures has emerged. Part IV looks at how offshore structures are used to finance PRC enterprises. Part V looks at how offshore jurisdictions have been used by PRC enterprises to structure their outward investment. Part VI will look at the future role of offshore jurisdictions in the PRC. Lastly, Part VII will make some concluding remarks.


The purpose of this paper is to find an answer to the question: does the prohibition of non-audit services affect the audit quality and audit fees in Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire survey was used to pick-up opinions from a sample of auditors who are working at Big-4 and non Big-4 audit firms. The results suggest that preventing joint NAS and audit services will lead to the decrease in the number of auditors who provide audit services and hence audit fees would increase. Furthermore, auditors select NAS on the account of audit services due to the less effort required and the higher income gained. It is expected that audit services will be carried out by small audit firms of less experienced and unqualified staff. Demographics as auditors' academic degree and experience have influenced the respondent auditors' perceptions on some of the questions. It was found that type of audit firm has no impact on auditors' perceptions, where all auditors expressed the same views on the impact of the NAS on the audit fees and the audit quality.  It is hope that the findings of this study would pave the way for policy setters to find out the mechanisms that would help in controlling audit fees and ensure a high level of audit quality in the audit market of Saudi Arabia. Keywords: Auditing, non-audit services, audit quality, audit fees, Saudi Arabia


Support vector machine (SVM) based on statistical learning theory has shown its advantage in regression and prediction. This paper presents the future prediction of the solar irradiance using least square support vector machine (LSSVM) which is a kind of SVM with quadric loss function. SVM has greater generalization ability and guarantee global minima for given training data set which will give good performance for solar irradiance with time series prediction. In order to improve the prediction performance of the LSSVM, the experimental data have to be normalized and appropriate parameters are selected by generic algorithm. In this research, solar irradiance data are collected daily at monitoring station located at Green Energy Research Centre (GERC) UiTM, Shah Alam. This related information will be used in prediction of the future data which useful for designing new PV systems and monitoring existing systems performance. The results show good agreement between the predicted against the actual values measured.  The proposed solar irradiance time series prediction method is considerable practical value which can be used in other datasets.


The paper presents an empirical investigation of the supply of maize and tobacco for commercial agriculture in Zimbabwe. The error correction model, which employs the concept of cointegration to avoid spurious regressions, is used in the analysis. The factors affecting percentage area planted to maize were shown to be expected real maize price, real price of tobacco, real price of fertilizer and government intervention. The factors affecting percentage area planted to tobacco were shown to be real price of tobacco, expected real price of maize and institutional factors. The own price elasticity for maize was 1.44 and 1.76 in the short and the long run, respectively, for tobacco these were 0.28 and 1.36 in the short and long run respectively.


The relaxation processes in the excited state of phenylsiloxanes and related compounds have been studied by measurements of fluorescence decay, quantum yields, time-resolved fluorescence spectra and intersystem-crossing yields. The absorption and emission spectra of the phenylsiloxanes used correspond to the π,π* transition (1B2u–1A1g) in benzene. The local (1Lb) emissions for the silicon compounds used are very weak: the quantum yields are less than 0.033. For the compounds 2–4 with phenyl groups, very weak intramolecular excimer emissions (ΦfE < 0.017) are observed together with weak local (1Lb) emissions (ΦfM < 0.025) at 298 K. The intersystem-crossing quantum yields of the siloxane compounds obtained by the thermal lensing method are very small (ΦISC < 0.1) at 298 K. The fluorescence decay kinetics of the compounds 1–4, and 6 and 7 with an Si—O bond give double-exponential decay functions. The decay rates of the siloxane compounds are significantly faster than those of the carbon analogues. The siloxane compounds are photochemically stable (the reaction quantum yields at 254 nm are less than 1 × 10–3). On the basis of these results, it can be said that the main channel of the deactivation processes in the excited singlet states (local and excimer states) at room temperature is internal conversion to the ground state. The fast decay rate (i.e. the rate of internal conversion) of the siloxane compounds may be due to the perturbation of a pseudo-π system of the Si—O bond to the S1(1Lb) state.


The effectiveness of enzymatic hydrolysis is dependent on various factors such as temperature and moisture content which influence the stability and functionality of enzymes. In this study, parameters influencing the enzymatic fermentation of palm kernel expeller (PKE) were optimized employing response surface methodology (RSM). In addition, the effectiveness of enzymatic treatment of PKE in improving its inclusion level in broiler diets was evaluated. The results showed that temperature, enzyme concentration and hydrolysis time had significant (P< 0.01) effect on the enzymatic hydrolysis of PKE. Using the crude enzyme produced by Aspergillus terreus K1, maximum reduction of crude fiber (40%) were achieved by fermenting the PKE at 60% initial moisture with 9.0 U/g PKE mannanase at 51 °C for 18 h. Results of the growth performance study showed an increase in FCR with increase in PKE inclusion level. However, increasing the inclusion rate of enzyme-treated PKE to 30% did not affect FCR of broilers as compared to those fed 20% PKE. Overall result of this study indicates that birds can be fed with 5% of PKE during the starter period and the PKE inclusion level can increase to 20% PKE in the finisher diet.


Determining the minimum number of clues that must be present in a Sudoku puzzle in order to uniquely complete the puzzle is known as the minimum number of clues problem. For a 9 9 Sudoku board, it has been conjectured that one needs 17 clues. We apply the polynomial method to the analogous problem for the 4 4 Shidoku board to illustrate how one might approach the more general problem.


Behind every successful online creative collaboration, from Wikipedia to Linux, is at least one effective project leader. Yet, we know little about what such leaders do and how technology supports or inhibits their work. My thesis investigates leadership in online creative collaboration, focusing on the novel context of animated movie-making. I first conducted an empirical study of existing leadership practices in this context. I am now designing a Web-based collaborative system, Sandbox, to understand the impact of technological support for centralized versus decentralized leadership in this context. My expected contributions include a comparative investigation of the effects of different types of leadership on online creative collaboration, and a set of empirically validated design principles for supporting leadership in online creative collaboration.


For a period of 12 years, 539 patients with shoe and dye contact dermatitis, were studied in 2 out-patient clinics in Lisbon. 75% of the patients had a bilateral recurrent dermatitis confined to the dorsa of the feet. PTBP resin and chromium proved to be the 2 principal allergens, but when lesions were localized to the soles, rubber additives, chiefly mercaptobenzothiazole, were the predominant ones. Allergy to dyes was found in 54 patients, most patients being allergic to PPD, p-aminoazobenzene and disperse orange 3. No patient was found to be allergic to the anthraquinone dye, disperse blue 3.


Elevated concentrations of an organic compound, 24‐isopropylcholestane, found in the Precambrian Huqf Supergroup of Oman may provide the oldest known sponge 'fossil'. This evidence is of critical importance for a properly balanced understanding of the origin of animals. Several different pelagophyte (Class Pelagophyceae part of the Stramenopiles within the Chromaveolata) algae are also capable of producing these exact compounds, and may similarly have done so in deep time. Modern marine algae are also reported to produce structural isomers that are compositionally identical to the sponge marker; they do this in copious quantities. Further, 24‐isopropylcholestane can be produced by diagenetic alteration of compounds produced in large quantities by algae. It is also possible that contamination by petroleum derived lubricating oil used when coring while extracting these compounds from subsurface layers, has affected the data. All extinct organisms that may have produced this compounds are unavailable for analysis by the modern organic chemist and cannot be eliminated from the list of possible producers of the sponge marker. There are also significant uncertainties regarding the dating of the strata from which these ancient compounds are found. Although the compounds are widely reported as c. 751 Ma, they are younger than 645 Ma. It seems more likely that these compounds represent algal biochemical evolution at a time when algal burial occurred in great quantity with well known coeval algal fossils but no sponge fossils. The macroalgal biomass may have declined during the agronomic revolution at the base of the Cambrian Period owing to processing by metazoans, accounting for the comparative scarcity of these sponge markers in Phanerozoic sediments, after which time sponge spicules and body fossils become evident.


BACKGROUND
Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) may be a valuable tool for detection of malignant proceedings. The aim of our study was to investigate LOH in the serum of patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal oesophagus and the cardia for diagnostic and prognostic utility.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Matched tumour and serum samples from 46 surgically treated patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma and cardia carcinoma divided in two groups were analysed. Twelve markers were examined with a PCR-based microsatellite analysis.

RESULTS
A similar high frequency of LOH (range from 77% to 96%) was detected in the tumour and serum of both groups, whereas no LOH was detected in 20 healthy individuals. However, no significant correlation between LOH incidence and clinicopathological characteristics and survival was found.

CONCLUSION
The results indicate that DNA alterations in tumours of the oesophagus and cardia are uniform. The high frequency of LOH in tumour patients underlines the utility of this molecular approach as a diagnostic tool.


Background: The purpose of the study was to test the moderating role of self-control in the relationship between daily stress and online social networking addiction of adolescents. Methods: The daily stress scale, online social networking addiction scale, and self-control scale were administered to a sample of 225 adolescents. The data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and SPSS PROCESS macro. Results: The results were as follows: First, correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationship among daily stress, self-control, and online social networking addiction. Daily stress was significantly positively correlated with online social networking addiction. In contrast, self-control was significantly negatively correlated with daily stress. Second, the interaction between self-control and daily stress played a more prominent role in protecting against online social networking addiction in adolescents who reported lower daily stress than those who reported higher daily stress. Conclusion: This result suggested that it is necessary to strengthen the positive aspects of selfcontrol to adolescents who have difficulty managing their online social networking addiction.


In order to find suitable diagnostic procedures to use in an epidemiologic survey for the detection of animals infected with the bovine leukemia virus (BLV), the authors conducted an investigation on 262 Friesian dairy cattle. The results of hematologic, serologic, and electron microscopic examinations are reported. Evaluation of the results demonstrated the validity of the immunodiffusion and immunofluorescence tests and the opportunity for their use in conjunction with examination of the blood picture. From the data reported it would appear useful to extend the investigation to the herds without history of lymphosarcoma.


The fact of our society is that if people have good feeling about a special work, they will definitely succeed in it. Organizations are also not exempted from this. Because if organizations have higher self confidence, they will get more energy for working and the chance of their success will be greater. Employees are the worthy assets of each organization. Achieving the objectives of any organization depends on intelligent management of these worthy resources. In this article, definitions, significance of productivity and also affective factors in enhancement of required condition for improvement of labor productivity and affective factors in decrease of labor productivity are briefly expressed.


In this paper, we deal with the support in the search for appropriate textual sources. Users ask for an atomic concept that is explicated using machine learning methods applied to different textual sources. Next, we deal with the so-obtained explications to provide even more useful information. To this end, we apply the method of computing association rules. The method is one of the data-mining methods used for information retrieval. Our background theory is the system of Transparent Intensional Logic (TIL); all the concepts are formalised as TIL constructions.


Neurogenesis is a complex and multi-step process of generating completely functional neurons. This process in adult brain is based on pluripotentional neuronal stem cells (NSC), which are able to proliferation and differentiation into mature neurons or glial cells. NSC are located in subgranular zone inside hippocampus and in subventricular zone. The new neurons formation depends on many endo- and exogenous factors which modulate each step of neurogenesis. This article describes the most important regulators of adult neurogenesis, mainly: neurotrophins, growth factors, hormones, neurotransmitters and microenvironment of NSC. Some drugs, especially antipsychotics, antidepressants and normothymics may affect the neurogenic properties of adult brain. Moreover pathological processes such as neuroinflammation, stroke or epilepsy are able to induce proliferation of NSC. The proneurogenic effects of psychotropic drugs and pathological processes are associated with their ability to increase some hormones and neurotrophins level, as well as with rising the expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein and metalloproteinase MMP-2. Additionaly, some drugs, for example haloperidol, are able to block prolactin and dopaminergic neuroblasts receptors. Down-regulation of adult neurogenesis is associated with alcohol abuse and high stress level. Negative effect of many drugs, such as cytostatics, COX-2 inhibitors and opioides was also observed. The proneurogenic effect of described factors suggest their broad therapeutic potential and gives a new perspective on an effective and modern treatment of many neuropsychiatric disorders. This effect can also help to clarify the pathogenesis of disorders associated with proliferation and degeneration of adult brain cells.


In the context of emergence or re-emergence of vector-borne diseases, several species of Culicoides Latreille are involved in the transmission of viruses and parasites, affecting animals and humans (respectively) in the Afrotropical Region. Rapid and reliable identification of vector species is required, but morphology based identification requires scarce taxonomic expertise. In addition, systematic and taxonomic classifications are problematic, as authors disagree on placement of certain species into specific subgenera or informal species-groups. Morphological identification of Culicoides larvae is also not possible. This study applied an integrative approach, applying both morphological and molecular criteria to revise the systematics and taxonomy of Culicoides species occurring in the Afrotropics, using a multi-marker molecular phylogeny and species delineation. DNA barcodes were also established for Afrotropical species and the DNA barcoding was tested for species identifications at the larval stage on a large number of samples collected from the Niayes area, Senegal. Results revealed: 1) a new species for science (provisionally named Culicoides sp. # 22) and affiliated to the subgenus Avaritia Fox; 2) the affiliation of the C. similis and C. neavei species-groups to the subgenus Synhelea Kieffer; and 3) the existence of cryptic species within C. oxystoma Kieffer in the subgenus Remmia Glukhova. This study proves the efficiency of DNA barcoding for studying Culicoides larval diversity. This offers opportunities for the monitoring of Culicoides and implementation of in-depth eco-epidemiological studies to better control Culicoides-borne diseases, such as African horse sickness in the Niayes Region, Senegal and in sub-Saharan Africa.


Utilizing the quantum statistical operator algebra technique, we derive a new absorption coefficient formula for the optical transition in a system of electrons interacting with longitudinal optical phonons in a quantum well. The electron and phonon distribution functions are included in the lineshape function. So we can explain the phonon absorptions and emissions in an organized way for all the electron transition processes. The numerical results show that the width decreases with the well width and increases with the temperature.


Abstract. The Thirulamai-Mountain (TM) metric was first developed to study ergodicity in fluids and glasses (Thirumalai and Mountain, 1993) using the concept of effective ergodicity, where a large but finite time interval is considered. Tiampo et al. (2007) employed the TM metric to earthquake systems to search for effective ergodic periods, which are considered to be metastable equilibrium states that are disrupted by large events. The physical meaning of the TM metric for seismicity is addressed here in terms of the clustering of earthquakes in both time and space for different sets of data. It is shown that the TM metric is highly dependent not only on spatial/temporal seismicity clustering, but on the past seismic activity of the region and the time intervals considered as well, and that saturation occurs over time, resulting in a lower sensitivity to local clustering. These results confirm that the TM metric can be used to quantify seismicity clustering from both spatial and temporal perspectives, in which the disruption of effective ergodic periods are caused by the agglomeration of events.


In view of severe restriction of total ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters and therapeutic agents in poultry industry, the search for alternatives to replace antibiotics has gained increasing interest in animal nutrition. Gut micro flora appears to be the target for IFAs and alternatives to exert health benefits and some growth-promoting effects. Subsequent to banning of use of antibiotics as growth promoter sin poultry nutrition, numerous studies turned to finding of alternative solutions, that is, other natural substances, which would have positive effect on chicken growth and feed conversion. Today, several groups of these additives are in use and most often probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotic, acidifiers and phytobiotics additives. Considering that each of the stated groups has its own specificities, the objective of this work was to present main mechanism of their action and to present their effect on production results in fattening of broiler chickens through review of research published in this field.


DOI:10.31629/jit.v1i2.3168 Abstract Flats for rent need to be designed so that residents move comfortably and can save themselves in times of disaster. This research was conducted with the aim of knowing the spaces needed by the occupants by taking into account the reliability of the building-safety and comfort. Some aspects of building reliability are motion comfort and safety. Data was collected by an online questionnaire, which was distributed to residents using non-random sampling. The collected text data was analyzed by content analysis. From the results of the analysis revealed that residents tend to be comfortable moving in rental residential units. Residents need a secondary space that is a shelf and work space. Storage space represents the meaning of storage of small items. Work, study and storage of equipment represent the meaning of workspace needs. Residents need some secondary space in a residential unit that has aspects of motion comfort and security during disaster evacuation. Motion comfort mainly represents a little furniture, has storage space, and doesn't interfere with activities like sitting and watching television. The number of residents felt safe moving when disaster evacuation in vertical housing was almost the same as the number of residents who felt the evacuation route was not ideal. Easy access is achieved, wide circulation room, near the emergency stairs is represented by the meaning of feeling safe moving during a disaster evacuation. There is no special emergency ladder, narrow circulation space, the condition of a damaged staircase at the time of disaster evacuation is represented by meaning not ideal. This study found a significant relationship between the reasons for motion comfort and the presence of space requirements. There is no significant relationship between disaster evacuation security and secondary space requirements.


In this paper, a fluid-based analytical model for General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) traffic in uplink direction is presented. This model is a generalized form of the previous proposed fluid-based models for TCP/IP traffic. It is shown that the capacity of the uplink direction in GPRS is a time varying parameter which depends on some parameters such as channel model and mobile station (MS) speed. This capacity is formulated analytically and then calculated numerically by simulation.


Objective This study aimed to use qualitative interviews with surgical providers to explore challenges and solutions to providing surgical and anaesthesia care in Sierra Leone's hospitals. Design Data were collected through anonymous, semistructured interviews. We used a qualitative framework approach to analyse interview data and determine themes relating to challenges that were reported. Setting A purposive sample of 12 hospitals was selected throughout Sierra Leone to include district and referral hospitals of varying ownership (private, non-governmental organisation and government). Participants The most senior surgical provider available during each hospital site visit participated in a semistructured interview. A total of 12 interviews were conducted. Results Providers described both challenges and solutions relating to the following categories: equipment and supplies, access to services, human resources, infrastructure, management and patient factors. These challenges were found to affect surgical care in hospitals by delaying surgical care, decreasing operative capacity and decreasing quality of care. Providers identified not only the root causes of these challenges, but also the varied workarounds and solutions they employ to overcome them. Conclusion Surgical providers can offer important insights into challenges affecting surgical services in hospitals. Despite working in challenging environments with limited resources, providers have developed innovative solutions to improve surgical and anaesthesia care in hospitals in Sierra Leone. Qualitative research has an important role to play in improving understanding of the challenges facing surgeons in low-income countries.


The Turkic nomads of the Mongol successor states in Central Asia and the Qipchaq Steppe arose from the merging of various Turkic groups and the Mongols. The former had consisted of heterogeneous elements that did not coalesce into a single entity sharing a common identity and historical consciousness. They thus did not constitute a uniform majority in relation to the more cohesive Mongols. In terms of tribal and genetic compositions, the Turkic nomads of the Mongol successor states were closer to the Mongols than to the pre-Mongol Turkic groups. Naturally, they held on to a predominantly Mongol orientation rather than reverting to pre-Mongol identities.


Background : Bowel anastomosis is successful when there is accurate union with no tension. Previous literature has compared between hand suturing and stapling devices in retrospective and prospective designs with varying outcomes. In this study a comparison between hand suturing and surgical stapling in patients undergoing bowel surgery is done. Methods: A prospective study design over a period of 12 months was conducted in 40 patients undergoing elective resection and anastomosis. Different time parameters for anastomisis procedure, time taken for bowel sounds to return, resumption of oral feeds, postoperative hospital stay were collected. Follow up for 30 days post-operative was done. Results: In total forty patients were studied out of which twenty patients underwent hand sewn and twenty patients underwent stapler anastomosis. Main group analysis in mean time durations between hand sewn and stapler anastomosis were respectively; 35.25 minutes and 12 minutes for anastomosis, 3.4 days and 3.35 days for return of bowel sounds, 4.08 days and 4 days for resumotion of oral feeds, 9.35 days and 8.50 days for post-operative hospital stay. A subgroup analysis was also done. Conclusion: Stapler anastomosis had shorter anastomosis time and total duration of operation compared to hand sewn anastomosis. However no difference was seen in return of bowel activity, resumption of oral feeds and duration of hospital stay.


Aim: The exact immunopathogenesis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-
associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear. The aim
of the present study was to assess the expression of CD4, CD8, and
MHC class I molecules in NPC.
Method: Biopsies were obtained from patients with NPC as well
as the Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-seronegative patients as a control.
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were classified using the World
Health Organization (WHO) pathological assessment and clinical stag-
ing of NPC. The expression of CD4, CD8, and MHC class I in the biop-
sies were assessed immunohistochemically.
Result: The results showed that the number of CD4 positive, CD8 pos-
itive, and MHC class I positive cells in NPC patients were higher than
those in EBV-negative subjects (p<0.05). The number of these positive
cells in NPC patients with WHO Type II or early clinical stage was not
significantly differences with those with WHO Type III or late clinical
stage, respectively (p>0.05). No statistical differences between the
number of CD4 positive and CD8 positive cells in NPC patients could
be found (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest, therefore, that
the expression of CD4, CD8 and MHC class I molecules may not be as-
sociated with the pathologic classification and clinical staging of NPC
and that the CD4:CD8 ratio in nasopharyngeal carcinoma may indicate
decreased functions of these infiltrating T cell subsets.
Key words: CD4; CD8; MHC class I; NPC


We propose a novel kind of wavelength-selective coupling for the terahertz range based on solid five-core fiber (FCF). The performances of coupling, propagation characteristics, and confinement loss properties are numerically investigated by using a full vector beam propagation method (BPM). Simulation results show that it is possible to realize a broadband wavelength-selective coupling. The coupling length can reach 1.913 cm, and the confinement loss is better than 1.965 ? 10?4 cm?1. Furthermore, a parameter, the power difference, is defined, and it numerically demonstrates the working performance of the wavelength-selective coupler; that is, when the power difference is better than ? 15 dB, the frequency located in the range of 0.76 THz?1.00 THz is separated relatively well from the frequency of 0.3 THz. Finally, the effect of the structural parameter on the working performance of the coupler is also investigated. We show that the performance optimization is possible by appropriately tuning the core diameter, and the tunabilities of frequency and bandwidth are possible by appropriately tuning the pitch. The wavelength-selective coupler is of potential application for optical fiber sensing and communication in terahertz wavelength division multiplexer fields.


In this paper the concept of the Minimum Universal Cost Flow (MUCF) for an infeasible flow network is introduced. A new mathematical model in which the objective function includes the total costs of changing arc capacities and sending flow is built and analyzed. A polynomial time algorithm is presented to find the MUCF.


Abstract We outline how securing the community tenure rights of forest peoples can create a rapid, rights-based route to the effective and sustainable conservation of their forests. We draw on the different skillsets and experiences of the authors (long-term fieldwork, mapping and monitoring, and a lifetime of experience) to identify the conditions that enable the Ogiek of Chepkitale, Mount Elgon, Kenya, to sustain and be sustained by their lands. We also identify the conditions that drive the disruption of this sustainable relationship through an appropriation of Ogiek resources by external interests that threaten to degrade, alienate and destroy their ecosystem. It is increasingly recognized that securing sustainable conservation outcomes can be best achieved through the deep knowledge, connection and commitment that ancestral communities have regarding their lands. Evidence from Mount Elgon and more broadly shows that Indigenous Peoples are better guardians of their forests than international or state protection agencies. This challenges the idea that evicting forest peoples is the best way to protect forests. Other studies, including those conducted by the Kenyan governmental Taskforce on Illegal Logging, highlight the way Kenyan state agencies such as the Kenya Forest Service have been responsible for the severe depletion of Indigenous forests. We examine how de facto collective community control can enable decisions to be made in line with taking care of community lands over the long term, but also highlight how this ability is under constant threat until and unless national law and practice recognizes the collective tenure rights of such communities.


A fixed-bed process to convert light paraffins to aromatics was completed, test operated in a demonstration plant. Normally, this reaction is conducted in a continuous or swing type regeneration system to prevent carbon build-up on the catalyst. The new light naphtha aromatization (LNA) process is catalyzed by zinco-aluminosilicate, that has higher activity and extended stability. In a 2250 barrels per day demonstration plant, the process was operated continuously for more than 1000h, attaining over 95wt% conversion and over 50wt% aromatics yield.The demonstration unit consists of two sections, reaction and separation. The former includes three fixed bed reactors arranged with preheaters in series, replacing the conventional heavy naphtha reforming unit. Catalyst regeneration is semi regenerative.The catalyst was discharged from the reactor after regeneration and analyzed for properties and activity. The results indicated that the catalyst is stable, after cyclic operation of reaction and regeneration.


Background Although several prior works reported that apathy is associated with conversion to Alzheimer's disease in individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), effects of apathy on the functional connectivity (FC) of the brain remain unclear. In this study, we assessed the pattern of association between apathy and default mode network (DMN), salience network and central executive network (CEN) in aMCI subjects. Methods Fifty subjects with aMCI and 50 controls (CONs) participated in this study. They underwent clinical assessments and magnetic resonance imaging for the structural and resting-state scan. We explored the patterns of association between apathy inventory (IA) total score and the whole-brain voxel-wise FCs of the DMN, salience network and CEN in aMCI subjects. Results We observed that the FCs of the DMN were less and those of CEN were more in the aMCI group than the CON group. Total IA score was negatively correlated with FCs of the anterior cingulate within the DMN, and positively correlated with FCs of the middle frontal, inferior frontal, and supramarginal gyrus within the CEN in the aMCI group. Conclusion Our findings suggest that distinctive patterns of association between apathy and FCs in the DMN and CEN in the aMCI group might reflect the putative role of functional network change in the development of apathy in aMCI.


Bubble breakup at a microfluidic T-junction by taking into consideration the hydrodynamic feedback at the downstream channels is presented. Experiments are conducted in square microchannels with 400 μm in width. The splitting ratio of the bubble size in the bifurcations varies nonmonotonically with the flow rate ratio of gas/liquid phases, and it is also affected by the liquid viscosity. A critical size of the mother bubble determines the variation trend of the splitting ratio of bubble size with flow rates of both phases and the liquid viscosity, which is related to the different breakup mechanisms for long and short bubbles at the junction and the different additional resistances induced by long and short bubbles in downstream channels. A theoretical model is proposed to predict the tailoring size of bubbles at the T-junction by taking into account of the additional resistance in the presence of bubbles in downstream channels. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 1920–1929, 2014


Introduction: Since the ESPAC-1 and CONKO-001 studies were published, sixmonths of adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-FU or gemcitabine, respectively, are givenpost-operatively to improve disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).Capecitabine (5-FU pro-drug) is widely employed as an oral alternative to infusional5-FU, reducing cannulations and hospital visits. However, no quality data supports its use in this setting.Methods: In this single-centre, retrospective study, eligible patients had resectedpancreatic or periampullary adenocarcinoma treated with adjuvant chemotherapy with availability of outcome and toxicity data (Aug?08-Aug?14; data cut-off: 25/Feb/2015). Kaplan-Meier, Cox regression and ROC analyses were employed, as appropriate. Uni-/multivariable analysis was performed (Stata v.12 Package). Ampullary malignancies were excluded from analysis for the identification of prognostic factors.Results: Sixty-two of 76 screened patients were eligible; median age at diagnosis 65.9 years (41.8-84.3); male (61%); none/mild comorbidities (89%); ECOG performance status (PS) 0 (34%), 1 (65%), 2 (1%); primary pancreas (n = 48 (77%); 85% head) and ampulla (n = 14 (23%)). Capecitabine or gemcitabine were given to 28 (45%) and 34 (55%) patients; 23(37%) within and 11(18%) outside a clinical trial, respectively. Pathological characteristics: differentiation [moderate (57%); poor (42%)]; lymphovascular (59%) and perineural (85%) invasion; resection [R0 (34%); R1 (66%)]; median involved/resected lymph node ratio (LNR) 0.1 (0-0.8); median tumour size (T) 30mm (4-80); stage IIa (11%) and stage IIb (77%); with no differences in baseline characteristics between capecitabine and gemcitabine cohorts. Median time between surgery and chemotherapy was 2.4 months (1.6-3.8). Median dose-intensity received was 87.6% (20.5-102.6); [capecitabine (79.3%; grade3/4 toxicity rate 32%); gemcitabine (98.5%; grade3/4 toxicity rate 50%)]. With a median follow-up of 19.6 months (range 6-69.8), 74% of patients have relapsed (45% distant metastases) and 60% died. Estimated median DFS and OS were 13.3 (95%CI 11.6-16) and 25.1 (95%CI 19.4-31.9) months, respectively. With ampullary malignancies excluded; N1 (vs. N0; p = 0.03), high LNR ( p = 0.03) and moderate comorbidities (vs. none; p = 0.025) were independent factors associated with shorter DFS when adjusted for other prognostic factors (ECOG PS, T, comorbidities, R0/R1, dose-intensity, baseline CA19-9, trial/non-trial and type of adjuvant treatment) in the multivariable analysis. A LNR cut-off of 0.2 provided a sensitivity of 61.9% and specificity of 80.8% for identification of patients with high risk of relapse within 12 months of surgery. Shorter OS was shown in patients with ECOG PS2 (vs. PS0; p = 0.016), N1 (vs. N0; p 17U/ml prior to starting adjuvant treatment identified patients with higher 1-year death rate (sensitivity 85.7%; specificity 70.6%). There were no significant differences between the cohort of gemcitabine and capecitabine for DFS(HR 3.5; 95% CI 0.9-14.3; p = 0.074) or OS (HR 0.6; 95% CI 0.1-3.2; p = 0.58).Conclusion: Within the limitations of this retrospective study and the small samplesize, adjuvant capecitabine may be an option for patients with resected pancreaticadenocarcinoma, with no differences in DFS or OS demonstrated when compared topatients receiving adjuvant gemcitabine. This would require validation in a prospective study


Traditionally, programmers and software tools have focused on mapping a single data-parallel kernel onto a heterogeneous computing system consisting of multiple general-purpose processors (CPUS) and graphics processing units (GPUs). These methodologies break down as application complexity grows to contain multiple communicating data-parallel kernels. This paper introduces MKMD, an automatic system for mapping multiple kernels across multiple computing devices in a seamless manner. MKMD is a two phased approach that combines coarse grain scheduling of indivisible kernels followed by opportunistic fine-grained workgroup-level partitioning to exploit idle resources. During this process, MKMD considers kernel dependencies and the underlying systems along with the execution time model built with a few sets of profile data. With the scheduling decision, MKMD transparently manages the order of executions and data transfers for each device. On a real machine with one CPU and two different GPUs, MKMD achieves a mean speedup of 1.89x compared to the in-order execution on the fastest device for a set of applications with multiple kernels. 53% of this speedup comes from the coarse-grained scheduling and the other 47% is the result of the fine-grained partitioning.