Introduction: To detail the extent and pattern of axon cytoskeleton alterations in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).Methods: Nerve biopsies from 7 cases of CIDP, including 4 cases with severe fiber loss, were compared with 5 controls by morphometric transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Results: Despite demyelination of single fibers, myelin ultrastructure was otherwise normal. Contrary to immunolabeling, TEM revealed a decrease in neurofilament (NF) density in every case, although there were pronounced variations among fibers even in the same sample. The NF decrease reached the same extent in large‐ and small‐diameter fibers. It was observed in normally myelinated fibers, suggesting they were demyelinated at a distance from the section. Minimal inter‐NF distance increased roughly inversely to NF density. Microtubules increased in 3 cases previously characterized by increased growth‐associated protein (GAP‐43) immunolabeling.Conclusion:These data demonstrate the severity and constancy of axonal lesions, and especially of NF, in residual fibers in our cases of CIDP. Muscle Nerve 44: 332–339, 2011


The 'long nineteenth century' (1776–1914) was a period of political, economic, military and cultural revolutions that re-forged both domestic and international societies. Neither existing international histories nor international relations texts sufficiently register the scale and impact of this 'global transformation', yet it is the consequences of these multiple revolutions that provide the material and ideational foundations of modern international relations. Global modernity reconstituted the mode of power that underpinned international order and opened a power gap between those who harnessed the revolutions of modernity and those who were denied access to them. This gap dominated international relations for two centuries and is only now being closed. By taking the global transformation as the starting point for international relations, this book repositions the roots of the discipline and establishes a new way of both understanding and teaching the relationship between world history and international relations.


Plans usually try to address problems at a certain scale— neighborhood, city, region, or beyond. The field of planning has not engaged in geography's extensive debates on scale, perhaps since the relevance to planning has not been apparent. I argue planning should attend to scale, based on the literature that describes frames. Frames powerfully direct attention to some problems and solutions, while overlooking others. I illustrate how scale can be part of planning problem definition and solutions with qualitative analysis of a regional transportation plan from the San Francisco Bay Area. The plan contains two distinct, scaled frames: one addresses mobility and economic vitality at the regional scale and the other concerns itself with accessibility from a neighborhood perspective. I call for critical reflection on the use of scale to help the field of planning see problems and possibilities in new ways.


Market transformations in Russia became foundations for formation and development of a new scientific and practical field in economics – logistics. Out of more than 30 existing definitions of logistics the authors according to their opinion have chosen the most appropriate. Logistics of mineral resources should be attributed to production (industrial) logistics. It is a proven fact that processes of supply chain management in mining industry and its infrastructure in the framework of mineral resources chain have some fundamental distinctions. Importance of material resources recycling in theory and practice of mineral resources logistics has been highlighted. Special features of merchandise assortment and classifications in the mining industry have been examined in conjunction with substantial contents of material flow. Special consideration has been given to relevant issues in the field of price formation for mining produce, in the view of specific relations between its costs and logistic procurement of the industry. Moreover, questions of inventory control in the mining industry, activity of commodity exchanges, management of mining logistics system have been addressed.


The authors report a case of Wegener's granulomatosis unusual for its initial signs. The first evidence of disease consisted in pains in the lower limbs, probably caused by inflammatory processes involving the fascia. Biochemical, radiological and histological examinations allowed the diagnosis to be made.


Low-barrier hydrogen bonds have recently been proposed as a major factor in enzyme catalysis. Here we evaluate the feasibility of transition state (TS) stabilization by low-barrier hydrogen bonds in enzymes. Our analysis focuses on the facts that (i) a low-barrier hydrogen bond is less stable than a regular hydrogen bond in water, (ii) TSs are more stable in the enzyme active sites than in water, and (iii) a nonpolar active site would destabilize the TS relative to its energy in water. Combining these points and other experimental and theoretical facts in a physically consistent frame-work shows that a low-barrier hydrogen bond cannot stabilize the TS more than an ordinary hydrogen bond. The reason for the large catalytic effect of active site hydrogen bonds is that their formation entails a lower reorganization energy than their solution counterparts, due to the preorganized enzyme environment.


The life prospects of patients grew parallel with the improving possibilities of the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In 36 insulin-treated patients with diabetes existing longer than 25 years, obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption were infrequent, microangiopathic complications were moderate and displayed protracted course. Lability of carbon hydrate metabolism does not characterize the long lasting diabetes. Higher insulin requirement was found only with patients whose sulphonylurea resistance made later necessary the insulin therapy. Organic manifestations of macroangiopathy, hypertension and hypercholesterinemia were often observed. Two patients remained free of complications even after 28- and 31 years long diabetes. Long-term insulin dependent or after oral administration insulin treated diabetes mellitus continuing even in old age is a relatively benign slowly progressing disease.


The clinically most obvious response to cardiac failure is the formation of edema on the basis of fluid and sodium retention by the kidney. This phenomenon, which up to a point subserves the restoration of cardiac performance, often overshoots its apparent teleological purpose. The mechanisms are partly simple (determined by hydraulics and haemodynamics), partly complex, involving a host of neurohumoral ancillary systems. The present review attempts to put some of the phenomena related to renal function in congestive heart failure into perspective. The time does not yet appear to be ripe for a complete picture or unifying concept, there being a need for more quantitative and comparative data on the roles of ancillary hormonal systems in different stages of congestive heart failure.


This study proposes to apply the trade liberalization evaluation methodology (TLE-Methodology) by Ruiz Estrada (2004) to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) twelve members. The TLE-Methodology offer new indexes. There are four basic phases in the implementation of TLE-Methodology. The first phase is the design of a multi-input tariff database table by production sector (agriculture, heavy industry1, light industry2 and services) for each TPP member. The second is the measurement of the trade liberalization index by production sector (αi). It is divided by the agriculture trade liberalization index (α1), heavy industry trade liberalization index (α2), light industry trade liberalization index (α3), and services trade liberalization index (α4). The third phase is the measurement of the trade liberalization coverage (TLC) Index. The last phase is the measurement of the trade liberalization stage (TLS) index for each TPP member. The general objective to apply the TLE-Methodology is to evaluate how each member of TPP its trade liberalization coverage and stage. The TLE-Methodology is not intended to be a forecasting model in any case. TLE-Methodology, in effect, is a simple and flexible scheme, which can be applied to any case of trade liberalization in our case is the TPP twelve members.


Substantial cost reduction for cast TiAl automotive parts could be achieved by eliminating hot isostatic pressing (HIPing) procedure during the material processing. In this respect, a cast Ti-48Al (at %) intermetallic alloy is evaluated in the non-HIPed condition with the objective to establish the fatigue crack growth response and identify the fracture mechanisms. For this purpose, a series of fatigue crack growth tests were performed on the alloy with three different microstructures, with a load ratio, R=0.1, in both air and vacuum environment. Environment effect is manifested in the threshold AK levels of 9.6 and 13 MPaVm for crack growth response in air and vacuum, respectively. In the intermediate range of crack growth rates between 10"^ to 10"^ mm/cycle, crack bridging by shear ligament formation describes the crack growth process, with AK varying from 13 to 35 MPaVm. Extensive crack bridging effect in the duplex microstructure is reflected in the crack growth retardation which reaches the lowest minimum crack growth rate at 2x10"^ mm/cycle in each of the three crack bridging stages observed. Other fatigue damage mechanisms observed are crack deflection, crack branching, stepped crack growth and microcracks initiation in the crack tip plastic zone, particularly at near threshold crack growth.


In recent years, there has been an increasingly critical public debate about the utility of health and safety legislation in the UK, with some parts of the media promoting the idea that this branch of law is excessively protective leading to undue restrictions on businesses. This is summed up in the popular expression: 'health and safety gone mad'. The Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition that took office in May 2010 acted swiftly to establish a review of health and safety law in order to combat the perceived 'compensation culture' and to ensure that the law did not 'overwhelm businesses with red tape'. In contrast, trade unions point to regular statistics showing that hundreds of thousands of people continue to be injured at work annually, as well as those who develop work-related illnesses. Moreover, data also show a dramatic decline in workplace health and safety inspections and prosecutions in recent years.This paper considers both the role of statute and the role of common law as regards the protection of workers' health and safety. It commences with an introduction to the main facets of the British legal framework. It then examines core concepts in health and safety law, before turning to examine the duties imposed on various actors, such as employers and employees. The role of workers' representatives is analysed and the chapter concludes with an overview of the remedies for breach of health and safety law. In keeping with the general theme of the collection in which it is published, particular attention is paid to the rules applying to the construction industry.


Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental illness that can have devastating long-term consequences if untreated. Studies have shown that untreated individuals have worse outcomes than treated patients in academic, occupational, and social functioning; antisocial behavior; driving; substance use; and use of services. Family functioning is also highly affected by the child's ADHD and should be addressed by physicians. Recognition and management of ADHD in children is important so that their long-term outcomes can be improved. Differential diagnosis should include the possibility of comorbid psychiatric disorders and other developmental disorders. Neuropsychological testing may be valuable for both diagnosis and the assessment of treatment response.


OBJECTIVES
This study was performed to identify the socioeconomic factors, health behavior factors and dietary patterns that have an influence on the fasting blood glucose in adults.

METHODS
This study used data collected from the 2007, 2008, 2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The final sample included 4163 subjects who were 30-59 years old and who had completed the necessary health examinations, the health behaviors survey and nutrition survey.

RESULTS
Eleven dietary patterns emerged from the factor analysis with different factor loading. After controlling for potential confounders, multiple regression analysis of the dietary patterns showed that 'fruits', 'alcohols', and 'starchy foods' affected the fasting blood. Lower consumption of 'fruits' and higher consumption of 'alcohols' and 'starch foods' were significantly associated only with an increased risk of high blood glucose.

CONCLUSIONS
In the light of the results of this study, it appears pretty likely that the risk of developing high blood glucose can be reduced by changing a person's dietary patterns.


Excitation conditions for spectra of highly ionized atoms in the low inductance vacuum spark and laser produced plasma are discussed in this review from the view-point of obtaining accurate numerical data on energy structure of electron shells. Some optimum observation conditions and data acquisition methods are suggested.


This article reviews the basic principles of contrast-enhanced MR angiography, including methods used for sequence optimization and bolus timing, and describes clinical applications of contrast-enhanced MR angiography in the aortic, abdominal, and peripheral arteries. Novel MR angiography imaging techniques also are described, including moving table-top MR angiography, MR fluoroscopy, and time-resolved MR angiography.


Basti therapy in Ayurveda is defined as one of the most effective treatment procedure of Panchakarma . Basti therapy is considered as Chikitsardha among all the therapeutic measures, because Basti has vast field of action. Basti eliminates the Ama that has accumulated in the colon from all over the body and normalises functioning of Vata , which is a very active principle in pathogenesis of Vata disorders (Vatavyadhis). In Upastambhit Sandhigata Vata , Strotorodh is due to Ama . This Ama taken along with vitiated Vata to Shleshmasthan Sandhi (joints) and Sandhigata Vata (Upastambhit) is produced. There are several types of Basti therapies mentioned in Ayurveda . Vaitaran Basti is a Pakvashaygata Niruha basti. It is a type of Kshar basti. It is helpful for the elimination of waste due to its irritant property. Vaitaran Basti works by the virtue of action of ingredients present in it. Present clinical study was designed to assess the efficacy of Vaitaran Basti in reducing the sign & symptoms of Sandhigata Vata (Upastambhit) (Inflammatory Arthritis). Total 10 patients of S andhigata Vata ( Upstambhit ) were registered in the OPD & IPD of Samadhan Ayurved Panchakarma Hospital & Research Centre, Nagpur, India. They were subjected to the treatment schedule of 15 days. During this period Vaitaran Basti was prepared by the mixture of Chincha (Tamarind), Guda (Jaggery), Saindhava (Rock Salt), Gomutra (cow's urine) & Tila taila . Assessment were done with regards to pain in joints, morning stiffness, swelling and local tenderness, these were done before and after treatment. The results were assessed on the basis of symptomatic improvement. The study reveals that Vaitaran Basti was effective in Upastambhit Sandhigata Vata (Inflammatory Arthritis).


We present experimental constraints on the insertion of oxygen atoms into methane to form methanol in astrophysical ice analogs. In gas-phase and theoretical studies this process has previously been demonstrated to have a very low or nonexistent energy barrier, but the energetics and mechanisms have not yet been characterized in the solid state. We use a deuterium UV lamp filtered by a sapphire window to selectively dissociate O2 within a mixture of O2:CH4 and observe efficient production of CH3OH via O(1D) insertion. CH3OH growth curves are fit with a kinetic model, and we observe no temperature dependence of the reaction rate constant at temperatures below the oxygen desorption temperature of 25 K. Through an analysis of side products we determine the branching ratio of ice-phase oxygen insertion into CH4: ∼65% of insertions lead to CH3OH, with the remainder leading instead to H2CO formation. There is no evidence for CH3 or OH radical formation, indicating that the fragmentation is not an important channel and that insertions typically lead to increased chemical complexity. CH3OH formation from O2 and CH4 diluted in a CO-dominated ice similarly shows no temperature dependence, consistent with expectations that insertion proceeds with a small or nonexistent barrier. Oxygen insertion chemistry in ices should therefore be efficient under low-temperature ISM-like conditions and could provide an important channel to complex organic molecule formation on grain surfaces in cold interstellar regions such as cloud cores and protoplanetary disk midplanes.


OBJECTIVE
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness associated with substantial impairment in quality of life and function. Although there has been tremendous growth in understanding bipolar disorder with respect to treatments, very little study has focused on the viewpoint of affected individuals. The purpose of this study was to examine the subjective experience of illness among 19 men and women with rapid cycling bipolar disorder receiving treatment at an academic psychiatry clinic.

METHODS
Personal constructs of illness with respect to life-trajectory and societal reaction to the individual, specifically the issue of stigma, were evaluated using a semistructured, open-ended anthropological interview.

RESULTS
Participants perceived bipolar disorder as a disease with biologic underpinnings. Stigma was a major issue for all individuals. In common with individuals without serious mental illness, individuals with bipolar disorder work at mastering developmental tasks appropriate for their life stage. At times, younger individuals appeared to have difficulty separating their own identity from the effects of illness. For older individuals with bipolar disorder, life was perceived to be disrupted by bipolar disorder, with early plans and dreams often "derailed."

CONCLUSION
Although bipolar disorder may severely alter an individual's planned life trajectory, accomplishment of life goals can at least partially offset the sense of loss that is often seen in bipolar illness.


Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the Tuition-Free and Paid Medical and Dental Students in terms of assessment based on multiple-choice test statistics. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted at Golestan University of Medical Sciences in Iran in 2020. The study population included students of medicine and dentistry. A total of 56 exams were selected in two student groups of free and tuition-paying admission in the physiology course. The results of quantitative evaluation of tests were used as the data of this study. The variables included di�culty index, discrimination index, the degree of di�culty, score variance, and Kuder-Richardson correlation coe�cient. Results: There were 32 medical and 24 dentistry exams. The cumulative total number of questions in these exams was 437 and 330 multiple choice questions, respectively. The number of medical students participating in the free-tuition and paying-tuition admissions was 1336 and 1076, and for dental students, these numbers were 395 and 235, respectively. There were no signi�cant differences in normalized adjusted exams scores between two admission groups in both medical and dentistry tests. The mean of discrimination index in the free-tuition group was higher than in the paying-tuition group. The interaction between the type of admission and the �eld of study was signi�cant for the discrimination index. This difference was more in tuition-free dental students than tuition-free medical students and tuition-paying dental students. Conclusion: The type of student admission has no signi�cant effect on student assessments in multiple-choice exams in matched educational conditions.


The detection of degraded soil distribution areas is an urgent task. It is difficult and very time consuming to solve this problem using ground methods. The modeling of degradation processes based on digital elevation models makes it possible to construct maps of potential degradation, which may differ from the actual spatial distribution of degradation. The use of remote sensing data (RSD) for soil degradation detection is very widespread. Most often, vegetation indices (indicative botany) have been used for this purpose. In this paper, we propose a method for constructing soil maps based on a multi-temporal analysis of the bare soil surface (BSS). It is an alternative method to the use of vegetation indices. The detection of the bare soil surface was carried out using the spectral neighborhood of the soil line (SNSL) technology. For the automatic recognition of BSS on each RSD image, computer vision based on deep machine learning (neural networks) was used. A dataset of 244 BSS distribution masks on 244 Landsat 4, 5, 7, and 8 scenes over 37 years was developed. Half of the dataset was used as a training sample (Landsat path/row 173/028). The other half was used as a test sample (Landsat path/row 174/027). Binary masks were sufficient for recognition. For each RSD pixel, value "1" was set when determining the BSS. In the absence of BSS, value "0" was set. The accuracy of the machine prediction of the presence of BSS was 75%. The detection of degradation was based on the average long-term spectral characteristics of the RED and NIR bands. The coefficient Cmean, which is the distance of the point with the average long-term values of RED and NIR from the origin of the spectral plane RED/NIR, was calculated as an integral characteristic of the mean long-term values. Higher long-term average values of spectral brightness served as indicators of the spread of soil degradation. To test the method of constructing soil degradation maps based on deep machine learning, an acceptance sample of 133 Landsat scenes of path/row 173/026 was used. On the territory of the acceptance sample, ground verifications of the maps of the coefficient Cmean were carried out. Ground verification showed that the values of this coefficient make it possible to estimate the content of organic matter in the plow horizon (R2 = 0.841) and the thickness of the humus horizon (R2 = 0.8599). In total, 80 soil pits were analyzed on an area of 649 ha on eight agricultural fields. Type I error (false positive) of degradation detection was 17.5%, and type II error (false negative) was 2.5%. During the determination of the presence of degradation by ground methods, 90% of the ground data coincided with the detection of degradation from RSD. Thus, the quality of machine learning for BSS recognition is sufficient for the construction of soil degradation maps. The SNSL technology allows us to create maps of soil degradation based on the long-term average spectral characteristics of the BSS.


Combined liver and kidney transplantation (CLKT) is indicated in patients with failure of both organs, or for the treatment of end-stage chronic kidney disease (ESKD) caused by a genetic defect in the liver. The aim of the present review is to provide the most up-to-date overview of the rare conditions as indications for CLKT. They are major indications for CLKT in children. However, in some of them (e.g., atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome or primary hyperoxaluria), CLKT may be required in adults as well. Primary hyperoxaluria is divided into three types, of which type 1 and 2 lead to ESKD. CLKT has been proven effective in renal function replacement, at the same time preventing recurrence of the disease. Nephronophthisis is associated with liver fibrosis in 5% of cases and these patients are candidates for CLKT. In alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, hereditary C3 deficiency, lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency and glycogen storage diseases, glomerular or tubulointerstitial disease can lead to chronic kidney disease. Liver transplantation as a part of CLKT corrects underlying genetic and consequent metabolic abnormality. In atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome caused by mutations in the genes for factor H, successful CLKT has been reported in a small number of patients. However, for this indication, CLKT has been largely replaced by eculizumab, an anti-C5 antibody. CLKT has been well established to provide immune protection of the transplanted kidney against donor-specific antibodies against class I HLA, facilitating transplantation in a highly sensitized recipient.


Introduction Treatment candidates for emerging small molecule therapy in hepatitis C virus (HCV) have yet to be defined. Treatment naive patients who have opted to delay standard of care therapy will compete with treatment failures for these novel agents. For this reason, disease progression needs to be clearly defined. While the role of liver biopsy in the management of HCV remains contentious, data on the progression of fibrosis can only be ascertained from sequential liver biopsy. Thus, patients in our unit who underwent interval biopsies were studied to identify the factors which determine disease progression. Methods A total of 242 mono-infected HCV patients underwent a repeat liver biopsy. Patients who declined treatment and opted for a strategy of watchful waiting and those who failed combination antiviral therapy were offered an interval biopsy. Demographic data, viral parameters, ALT level, necro-inflammatory (NI) score and the presence of co-factors were collated to investigate their impact on progression of disease. Statistical analysis was performed using a Linear Mixed Model with SPSS 16 and the level of significance used was 5%. Results 121/242 patients had evidence of disease progression on interval biopsy. The median interval between biopsies was 50 months (range 11–133). Age, ALT level and necro-inflammatory score were all predictors of progressive fibrosis, p<0.002, p<0.001, p<0.0001, respectively. The presence of a co-factor, defined as features of concurrent alcohol ingestion, steatosis or iron on liver biopsy lead to a doubling of the rate of fibrosis when compared with no co-factor. Neither genotype nor gender had a significant impact on fibrosis progression. Conclusion Liver biopsy benchmarks the extent of fibrosis in chronic HCV infection. This is critical in determining treatment response; moreover it provides an insight into future disease progression in those who decline treatment. This study demonstrates age. ALT and NI score as factors associated with accelerated disease, while the presence of a co-factor can have a synergistic effect, doubling the rate of fibrosis progression in HCV infection.


We investigated the frequency of Lewy-related pathology (LRP) in the amygdala among the population-based Vantaa 85+ study. Data of amygdala samples (N = 304) immunostained with two α-synuclein antibodies (clone 42 and clone 5G4) was compared with the previously analyzed LRP and AD pathologies from other brain regions. The amygdala LRP was present in one third (33%) of subjects. Only 5% of pure AD subjects, but 85% of pure DLB subjects had LRP in the amygdala. The amygdala LRP was associated with dementia; however, the association was dependent on LRP on other brain regions, and thus was not an independent risk factor. The amygdala-predominant category was a rare (4%) and heterogeneous group.


Intuitively, the integration of energy storage technologies such as pumped hydro and batteries into vertically integrated utility and independent system operator/regional transmission operator (ISO/RTO)-scale systems should confer significant benefits to operations, ranging from mitigation of renewables generation variability to peak shaving. However, the realized benefits of such integration are highly dependent upon the environment in which the integration occurs. Further, integration of storage requires careful modeling extensions of existing market management systems (MMSs), which are currently responsible for market and reliability operations in the grid. In this paper, we outline the core issues that arise when integrating storage devices into an MMS system, ranging from high-level modeling of storage devices for purposes of unit comment and economic dispatch to the potential need for new mechanisms to more efficiently allow for storage to participate in market environments. We observe that the outcomes of cost-benefit analyses of storage integration are sensitive to system-specific details, e.g., wind penetration levels. Finally, we provide an illustrative case study showing significant positive impacts of storage integration.


An outbreak of acute histoplasmosis occurring in 4 members of the same family, two women, a girl and a male, is reported. The index case presented acute respiratory symptoms, severe enough to require hospitalization. In the remaining persons, the infection was asymptomatic but was evidenced by reactive histoplasmin serologic tests. Search for the common source of infection led to an enriched soil obtained in a local nursery for growing in-door plants. BALB/c mice were inoculated with suspensions of soils from the potted plants. Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum was isolated from various internal organs of the mice. Although histoplasmosis is observed more frequently in persons with occupations implying risk of exposure and is connected to rural areas, outbreaks and intra-family cases are now common in urban areas. This is due to massive urbanization, deforestation, demolitions and the use of soils enriched with organic compounds, mainly bird/bat excrements. This report calls the attention on the danger involved in using such enriched soils for plant nutrition.


This study investigates the role of green human resource management (GHRM) practices on environmental performance (EP) of manufacturing organizations in Bangladesh. The study utilized a questionnaire survey among 328 manufacturing organizations selected conveniently from a population of 5608 firms located in Dhaka and Chattogram. PLS-SEM (partial least squares) was employed to assess the proposed research model. Out of six, three hypotheses were supported. Particularly, green job analysis and job description, green training and development, and green reward and compensation practices significantly influence environmental performance of manufacturing organizations. This study provides valuable insights for organizations on the GHRM-EP link in a unique South-Asian context with high level of environmental degradation. This research also contributes to fill the research gap as few studies have investigated the under-researched area. The findings are of important to scholars, decision makers, and practitioners. Further, the study explains the limitations and directions for future studies.


This article shows that the set of HK constraints correspond to projecting the intersection of two multiple access channels on its sup-spaces. A key property of HK constraints is that the private message of user 1 (or of user 2) is the last layer in superposition coding for the MAC formed at receiver 2 (or at receiver 1) and will be treated as noise in the decoding operations at receiver 2 (or at receiver 1). This property is used in this article to show that, in a HK rate region based on an additive Gaussian noise model, Gaussian distribution is optimum for enlarging the region. It is known that the HK rate region is achievable in an interference channel. On the other hand, reference [Khandani-arXiv:2011.12981] presents a method for code-book construction in a 2-users weak GIC, using Gaussian inputs, based on covering the boundary of the capacity region in infinitesimal steps. The region constructed in [Khandani-arXiv:2011.12981] coincides with the intersection of the same two multiple access channels that surface in the HK rate region. Reference [Khandani-arXiv:2011.12981] also shows that, due to the aforementioned key property, 2-users GIC capacity region cannot extend beyond the HK rate region. This means, using Gaussian code-books, the HK rate region is optimally enlarged and the same Gaussian code-books achieve the capacity region of the 2-users GIC.


Highly charged ions, in particular hydrogen‐like ions, are simple systems which allow to observe a number of fundamental processes and quantities within physics at low energies. This comprises electromagnetic transitions in the fine and hyperfine structures, magnetic moments of bound electrons and ionic nuclei as well as the atomic mass of the electron and the value of the fine structure constant. In highly charged ions, the bound electrons are subjected to extreme fields which generate a number of interesting features. High precision is achieved by ion confinement in Penning traps where cooling of the ion motion and trap‐specific manipulation and measurement techniques can be applied. This work reports on spectroscopy experiments for precision studies of highly charged ions in Penning traps and their connection to fundamental symmetries and constants.


We report on the first measurement of the liquid flow rate utilizing the variation in junction voltage across a laser due to the self-mixing effect. A packaged single-mode VCSEL with integrated photodiode is used as the self-mixing sensor. Signal was acquired from both the photodiode and the laser junction voltage. With appropriate signal processing, both detection methods produced comparable results despite voltage signal exhibiting marginally lower signal-to-noise ratio. The voltage detection scheme leads to a more compact and reduced-cost measuring system eliminating the need for the monitoring photodiode and will have significant manufacturing advantages in the future applications based on two-dimensional VCSEL sensor arrays.


Service customizing in Web-based educational systems aims at directing content and teaching strategies towards studentspsila individual and group needs. This paper presents a virtual learning community forming approach, which helps knowledge exchange among its members. The approach here presented uses implicit and explicit information collection of userspsila interests and preferences and relates the values in a correlation among the users. The correlation measuring ends up in groups with distinct characteristics. The proposal presented is validated by case study and it shows that from correlation values among the users in the interest and preference items, a group algorithm results in the formation of the intended groups. The results among interest and preference correlation were compared and assessed.


Background and Objectives Cigarette smoking is common among cancer patients and is associated with negative outcomes. Electronic nicotine delivery systems ("e-cigarettes") are rapidly growing in popularity and use, but there is limited information on their safety or effectiveness in helping individuals quit smoking. Data Sources The authors searched PubMed, Web of Science, and additional sources for published empirical data on safety and use of electronic cigarettes as an aid to quit smoking. Review Methods We conducted a structured search of the current literature up to and including November 2013. Results E-cigarettes currently vary widely in their contents and are sometimes inconsistent with labeling. Compared to tobacco cigarettes, available evidence suggests that e-cigarettes are often substantially lower in toxic content, cytotoxicity, associated adverse effects, and secondhand toxicity exposure. Data on the use of e-cigarettes for quitting smoking are suggestive but ultimately inconclusive. Conclusions Clinicians are advised to be aware that the use of e-cigarettes, especially among cigarette smokers, is growing rapidly. These devices are unregulated, of unknown safety, and of uncertain benefit in quitting smoking. Implications for Practice In the absence of further data or regulation, oncologists are advised to discuss the known and unknown safety and efficacy information on e-cigarettes with interested patients and to encourage patients to first try FDA-approved pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation.


Few countries in sub-Saharan Africa make systematic searches for antigens C, c, E, and e of the Rh and Kell system antigens in the donor and recipient, thereby exposing transfused patients. Purpose and Objectives. In this paper, we propose to determine the red cell Rh and Kell blood groups among blood donors from traditional techniques to improve medical care of transfused patients. This study will allow us to assess the frequency of blood group antigens in these systems. Study Design and Methods. We carried out a study on the red cell typing in the blood donor population of the National Blood Transfusion Center in Abidjan. This study was performed on 651 blood donors. Results. For the Rh system, the antigen frequencies of D, c, e, C, and E are, respectively, 92.93%, 99.85%, 99.85%, 21.97%, and 13.82%. K antigen is found in 0.77% of donors. Discussion and Conclusion. Although the frequencies of the most immunogenic antigens are lower than in the white race, lack of preventive measures makes the immunological risk high in Africa. Furthermore, Africa is full of specificities that are important to note for a better care of our patients.


Background: Blood for activated clotting time (ACT) measurement to verify the effect of the initial dose of heparin before cannulation in heart surgery has traditionally been drawn 5 minutes (min) after injection of the heparin. However, there has been an increasing demand to reduce the waiting time. The aim of this study was to investigate if ACT measured 1, 2, 3 and 4 min after heparin injection is as reliable as ACT measured 5 min after heparin injection. Materials and methods: Fifty adult patients undergoing routine cardiac surgery with a heart-lung machine. Heparinization was obtained with unfractioned porcine heparin. The ACT was measured with 5 Hemochron® Jr. machines 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min after the heparin injection. Full heparinization was defined as an ACT >400 seconds. Results: At 1 and 2 min, 94% (n=47) of the ACTs were > 400. All ACTs >400 seconds after 2 min remained >400 seconds at 3, 4 and 5 min. Mean values declined from 533 to 498. ANOVA analysis showed statistically significantly higher values at 1, 2 and 3 min, compared to 5 min, but not at 4 min. However, the estimated differences were small: 3.7-36 seconds. There was no significant difference between variances for the five sample times. Standard deviation declined from 123 to 100. Values at 2 min correlated as well as those at 5 min with mean 1-5 min values. Conclusion: The range of the ACT values tends to diminish over time and, consequently, the reliability of the results increases. However, the difference is small and has little or no clinical relevance. Giving time for the circulation to distribute the heparin in the bloodstream, we recommend measuring the ACT two min after heparin administration.


We report six patients with clinically diagnosed and electrophysiologically confirmed motor neurone disease (MND), in whom communication problems were an early and dominant feature. All patients developed a progressive non-fluent aphasia culminating in some cases in complete mutism. In five cases, formal testing revealed deficits in syntactic comprehension. Comprehension and production of verbs were consistently more affected those that of nouns and this effect remained stable upon subsequent testing, despite overall deterioration. The classical signs of MND, including wasting, fasciculations and severe bulbar symptoms, occurred over the following 6-12 months. The behavioural symptoms ranged from mild anosognosia to personality change implicating frontal-lobe dementia. In three cases, post-mortem examination has confirmed the clinical diagnosis of MND-dementia. In addition to the typical involvement of motor and premotor cortex, particularly pronounced pathological changes were observed in the Brodmann areas 44 (Broca's area) and 45. The finding of a selective impairment of verb/action processing in association with the dementia/aphasia syndrome of MND suggests that the neural substrate underlying verb representation is strongly connected to anterior cortical motor systems.


Introduction. The throwing phase is the period from the moment both feet make contact with the ground to the delivery of the javelin. The majority of the authors - are in according with this phase can be divided en two parts. The second is the acceleration phase. Miller (1981) measured that the javelin gains the 50% of the his speed during the last 50 ms before the release. Ikegami (1981) considered the beginning of the acceleration phase in the named archedposition. It seems that arched position is one of the most important factor in the javelin throwing (Koltai, 1985). However, the definition of the beginning of the throwing phase -arched position- is no clear in the literature reviewed about javelin throwing. The aim of this work is to develop a quantitative way for determining the arched position Methodology. An upper arm model is used which considered the elbow joint with one degree of freedom. A Local Reference System fixed with the segment is determined for calculating the angular velocity of the upper arm. The arched position -beginning of acceleratiun phase- is defined like the instant of beginning of internal rotation of the upper arm. The experimental technique was the 3D-Cinematography with high speed cameras. The sampling frequency was 200 Hz. The DLT algoritm was used for determining the 3D coordinates of the markers. The coordinates was smoothed with Quintic Splines functions. The two best spanish thowers were the subjects of the study. 36 throwings were analyzed. Conclusions. The existence of one starting instant for the internal rotation upper arm has been confirmed. This instant determines the beginning of throwing phasearch position-. Subject A had an acceleration phase duration of 41.2 % (SD = 2. 8 %, n= 20) in relation to the throwing phase. Subject B had 45% (SD= 3.7%, n=16).


Stochastic gradient descent (SGD) is a cornerstone of machine learning. When the number N of data items is large, SGD relies on constructing an unbiased estimator of the gradient of the empirical risk using a small subset of the original dataset, called a minibatch. Default minibatch construction involves uniformly sampling a subset of the desired size, but alternatives have been explored for variance reduction. In particular, experimental evidence suggests drawing minibatches from determinantal point processes (DPPs), distributions over minibatches that favour diversity among selected items. However, like in recent work on DPPs for coresets, providing a systematic and principled understanding of how and why DPPs help has been difficult. In this work, we contribute an orthogonal polynomial-based DPP paradigm for minibatch sampling in SGD. Our approach leverages the specific data distribution at hand, which endows it with greater sensitivity and power over existing data-agnostic methods. We substantiate our method via a detailed theoretical analysis of its convergence properties, interweaving between the discrete data set and the underlying continuous domain. In particular, we show how specific DPPs and a string of controlled approximations can lead to gradient estimators with a variance that decays faster with the batchsize than under uniform sampling. Coupled with existing finite-time guarantees for SGD on convex objectives, this entails that, DPP minibatches lead to a smaller bound on the mean square approximation error than uniform minibatches. Moreover, our estimators are amenable to a recent algorithm that directly samples linear statistics of DPPs (i.e., the gradient estimator) without sampling the underlying DPP (i.e., the minibatch), thereby reducing computational overhead. We provide detailed synthetic as well as real data experiments to substantiate our theoretical claims.


Seed dispersal and establishment are critical stages for plants in arid environments, where vegetation is spatially organized in patches with suitable and unsuitable sites for establishment. Theoretical studies suggest that the ability of vegetation to self-organize in patchy spatial patterns is a critical property for plant survival in arid environments, and is a consequence of a scale-dependent feedback between plants and resource availability. Field observations show that plants of arid environments evolved towards short dispersal distance (proxichory) and that the investment in reproduction increases along an aridity gradient. Here, we investigated how plant dispersal strategies affect spatial organization and associated scale-dependent feedback in arid ecosystems. We addressed this research question using a model where the spatio-temporal vegetation patterns were driven by scale-dependent feedbacks between plants and soil water availability. In the model, water availability limited vegetation growth, seed production and establishment ability. Seed dispersal was modelled with an integrodifferential equation that mimicked important plant dispersal characteristics (i.e. fecundity, mean dispersal distance and establishment ability). Results showed that, when the investment in fecundity was relatively high, short seed dispersal helped maintaining higher mean biomass in the system, improving the vegetation efficiency in water use. However, higher fecundity induced a large cost, and high mean biomass could be sustained only with high establishment ability. Considering low establishment ability, intermediate fecundity was more efficient than low fecundity in maintaining high plant biomass under the most arid conditions. Consistently, plant dispersal strategies that maintained more biomass were related to a vegetation spatial organization that allowed the most efficient soil water redistribution, through the strengthening of the scale-dependent feedback. The efficient dispersal strategies and spatial patterns in the model are commonly observed in plants of arid environments. Thus, dispersal strategies in arid environments might contribute to a favourable spatial organization and associated scale-dependent feedback.


Affordable housing has remained a major challenge in Nigeria, as housing costs have continued to rise beyond the reach of the low income population. This paper explores the use of waste products like rice husk as alternative materials for housing construction. Rice husk is abundant as a waste product in areas where rice is processed commercially in Southeast Nigeria. The aim of the study is to create rice husk blocks that are cheap, lightweight, and appropriate for use in low income housing construction. The study was conducted through experimentation in the Building Technology workshop of Federal Polytechnic Nekede. A series of trial mixes were done involving a wide range of materials and mix proportions. Rice husk, Portland cement, and cassava starch, were found to be the most appropriate components for the blocks. The blocks produced were of good appearance, and lightweight. Five samples of solid core blocks measuring 150x150x150mm were tested in Strength of Materials laboratory of the Federal University of Technology Owerri. The average compressive strength of the blocks was 0.26N/mm2, which is below the Nigerian Industrial Standard NIS 87:2007. The blocks produced were considered appropriate for use as non-load bearing partitions and not structural walls. The result of the study is promising because the rice husk blocks help address the waste management problem in affected areas, and could also be an important component of a potentially useful material. This paper recommends further research in the area of improving the strength of the blocks, to make them usable as structural components in low rise buildings.


Improved understanding of the complex dynamics associated with spatially and temporally variable runoff response is needed to better understand the hydrology component of interdisciplinary problems. The objective of this study was to quantitatively characterize the environmental controls on runoff generation for the range of different streamflow‐generation mechanisms illustrated in the classic Dunne diagram. The comprehensive physics‐based model of coupled surface‐subsurface flow, InHM, is employed in a heuristic mode. InHM has been employed previously to successfully simulate the observed hydrologic response at four diverse, well‐characterized catchments, which provides the foundation for this study. The C3 and CB catchments are located within steep, forested terrain; the TW and R5 catchments are located in gently sloping rangeland. The InHM boundary‐value problems for these four catchments provide the corner‐stones for alternative simulation scenarios designed to address the question of how runoff begins (and ends). Simulated rainfall‐runoff events are used to systematically explore the impact of soil‐hydraulic properties and rainfall characteristics. This approach facilitates quantitative analysis of both integrated and distributed hydrologic responses at high‐spatial and temporal resolution over the wide range of environmental conditions represented by the four catchments. The results from 140 unique simulation scenarios illustrate how rainfall intensity/depth, subsurface permeability contrasts, characteristic curve shapes, and topography provide important controls on the hydrologic‐response dynamics. The processes by which runoff begins (and ends) are shown, in large part, to be defined by the relative rates of rainfall, infiltration, lateral flow convergence, and storage dynamics within the variably saturated soil layers.


Most catfish farmers do not make efforts to manage water quality. This causes high organic matter. Therefore, water management is carried out through the Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS). Continuous use of water in the RAS system causes filter performance to decrease, so technological improvements are needed with the addition of probiotics. The research was conducted on 22 February – 23 March 2021 at the Chemistry and Analysis Laboratory, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine, Universitas Airlangga to determine the influence of probiotic additions on the RAS system total organic matter and the survival rate of catfish.The study was conducted experimentally using RAL by adding different doses of probiotics, namely P0 (Control), P1 (0.5 ml/L), P2 (1 ml/L), P3 (1.5 ml/L) and P4 (2 ml/L ) with four replays. Data analysis using ANOVA and DMRT showed that the addition of probiotics in the RAS system has an effect (p<0.05) on total organic matter and survival rate. Organic matter was highest at P2 (46.89 mg/L) and lowest at P2 (34.07 mg/L). Survival rates were highest at P2 (85%) and lowest at P0 (71.25%).


: The Mosinger Villa in Zagreb (1930 - 1931, Pantovčak 112) was Vladimir Šterk's first villa built with undecorated facades. This confirms Šterk's commitment to modernism. Until the Second World War the villa was owned by Jewish families Mosinger and Mayer. After the founding of the Independent State of Croatia the villa was requisitioned and after the communist rule had been established it was divided into three apartments. A garage was added to the villa in 1966, and a second floor in 1982. The renovation and reconstruction project of the derelict villa, commissioned by its new owner, was commenced in 2019. The geotechnical and structural engineering surveys determined that the villa needed to be demolished. The conservation and restoration survey determined the original, first and oldest layer from 1930 - 1931 as the basis for reconstruction and presentation. The method of partial facsimile restoration was chosen, while the second floor will be designed in a contemporary manner. The external dimensions were retained in the existing condition in accordance with the set preservation measures for the Historical Ensemble of the City of Zagreb which the villa is part of.


An inventory of land-cover conditions throughout Mexico was performed using North American Landscape Characterization (NALC) Landsat Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) 'triplicate' images, corresponding to the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s epoch periods. The equivalent of 300 image scenes were analysed using an unsupervised classification approach by a consortium of 13 universities and institutes across Mexico. Accuracy assessments were conducted to validate the 1970s and 1990s results using independent land-cover classifications (reference data) developed from the interpretation of 1:100 000-scale aerial photography collected in 1973, and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery collected between 1990 and 1993. The 1980s epoch classifications were compared with both reference datasets, collectively. The relative accuracy of the classifications results were 60% for both the 1970s and 1990s epoch and 67% for the 1980s epoch. The significantly ( p =0.05) higher accuracy for the 1980s epoch (67%) was thought to be an aberration resulting from the combined application of two reference datasets, resulting in a random compensation of reference data error. Significantly different ( p =0.05) results were documented for a subset of Mexico's major habitat regions. Desert and xeric shrublands were most accurate (74%), followed by conifer and xeric dominated habitats (64%) and other mixed habitats (54%). Scenes representing the highest accuracies (15 percentile) almost exclusively represented desert and xeric shrub habitat regions, and the lowest (17 percentile) represented predominantly mixed habitat regions. Significant differences among the 13 member consortium universities and institutes were attributed to habitat region assignments. Results indicated that large area spectral based land-cover categorizations should be stratified and processed on a habitat or ecoregion basis. Results also suggested that any future land-cover conversion analysis for Mexico would probably best be accomplished using a post-classification approach, based on major habitat regions, rather than on a scene-by-scene or pixel-wise basis.


Objective The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of high-risk pregnancy among women attending a rural, family healthcare unit to evaluate different risk factors for high-risk pregnancy. Background High-risk pregnancy is considered to be a major worldwide health problem with an increased risk of perinatal and maternal mortality. Although only 10–30% of the mothers seen in the antenatal period can be classified as high risk, they account for 70–80% of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Patients and methods The present study was cross-sectional study carried out in a rural village in El-Mehalla city in Gharbia governorate. It included all pregnant women attending a family healthcare unit for antenatal care (Bolkina Family Health Care Unit) during the period of data collection. A predesigned questionnaire was used for interviewing the study participants for data collection – the first part included socioeconomic data, and the second part included obstetric history, present pregnancy history, and associated disease history. The Dutta and Das Scoring System was used for classification of risk factors and identification of high-risk pregnancies. Results The results revealed that 51.3% of the sample had risky pregnancies and 48.7% had no-risk pregnancies. High-risk pregnancy was found in 9.6% and mild risk was found in 41.8% of the sample according to the Dutta and Das Scoring System. The most significant risk factors in the risky group were abortion, anemia, hypertension, edema, albuminuria, cardiac disease, diabetes, and multiple pregnancies. Conclusion Early identification and prompt treatment of high-risk pregnancy can prevent the development of both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.


Spatially varying coefficient models (SVCMs) are a classical tool to explore the spatial nonstationarity of a regression relationship for spatial data. In this paper, we study the estimation and inference in SVCMs for data distributed over complex domains. We use bivariate splines over triangulations to represent the coefficient functions. The estimators of the coefficient functions are consistent, and rates of convergence of the proposed estimators are established. A penalized bivariate spline estimation method is also introduced, in which a roughness penalty is incorporated to balance the goodness-of-fit and smoothness. In addition, we propose hypothesis tests to examine if the coefficient function is really varying over space or admits a certain parametric form. The proposed method is much more computationally efficient than the well-known geographically weighted regression technique and thus usable for analyzing massive datasets. The performance of the estimators and the proposed tests are evaluated by simulation experiments. An environmental data example is used to illustrate the application of the proposed method.


This paper describes an implemented computational model of lexical development for the case of action verbs. A simulated agent is trained by an informant labeling the agent's actions (here hand motions), and the system learns to both label and carry out similar actions. The verb learning model is placed in the broader context of the NTL project on embodied natural language and its acquisition. Based on experimental results and projections to the full range of early lexemes, a signi cantly enriched model is proposed and its properties discussed.


SCOPE
Intestinal fibrosis, a complication of inflammatory bowel disease, is currently being addressed by surgery alone, with no adequate alternative therapy available for patients. We propose that anti-inflammatory plant substances like cinnamon extract (CE) or its main compound cinnamaldeyde (CA) could aid in therapy. We recently found CE reducing inflammation in murine colitis. Here, we analyzed effects of CE on fibrosis in IL-10-/- colitis.

METHODS AND RESULTS
IL-10-/- and wild-type (WT) mice were orally treated with/without vehicle or CE. Colonic tissue was analyzed for collagen deposition and expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Influence of CE or CA on expression and release of cytokines, and phosphorylation of IκB in LPS-activated fibroblasts was assessed. Fibrosis score and mRNA expression of MMPs were down-regulated in colonic tissue of CE-treated IL-10-/- mice. Fibroblasts treated with CE or CA showed reduced expression and release of IL-6, KC/C-X-C motif ligand (CXCL) 8, and C-C motif ligand (CCL) 2 in response to LPS-treatment. CE and CA appear to act via reducing phosphorylation of IκB.

CONCLUSIONS
Cinnamon decreases fibrotic symptoms and markers in murine colitis, and expression of inflammatory and fibrotic markers in hiFB. Thus, CE and CA could be potential anti-fibrotic agents in chronic colitis.


High-energy neutrinos are expected to be produced during gamma-ray flares of blazars through the interaction of high-energy cosmic rays in the jet with photons. As a matter of fact, a highenergy neutrino event, IC-170922A, was detected at the time of a gamma-ray flare from blazar TXS 0506+056 at the level of 3 sigma significance. In this work, we present a statistical study of blazar gamma-ray flares aiming to constrain their contribution to the blazar neutrino output. We selected 145 gamma-ray bright blazars listed in the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) monitored list and constructed their weekly binned light curves. Using a Bayesian Blocks algorithm to the light curves, we determined the fraction of time spent in the flaring state (flare duty cycle) and the fraction of energy released during each flare. Furthermore, we estimated the neutrino energy flux of each gamma-ray flare by using the general scaling relation Lν ∝ (Lγ), γ = 1.0 − 2.0, normalized to the quiescent X-ray or gamma-ray flux of each blazar. Comparison of the estimated neutrino energy flux with the declination-dependent IceCube sensitivity enables us to constrain the standard neutrino emission models of gamma-ray flares. We also provide the upper-limit contribution of flares of gamma-ray bright blazars to the isotropic diffuse neutrino flux.


This study raised the theme of evaluating the Bidikmisi scholarship program at State Islamic Universities in Indonesia with the CIPP Model approach. The Bidikmisi scholarship program is the government's flagship program for outstanding students who are less able to meet the costs of higher education. This research is evaluation research focusing on four areas: context, input, process, and product evaluation. The research subjects were one managing director, three universities within the Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia, and 15 student informants who received the Bidikmisi scholarship. The results of the research on the evaluation of the Bidikmisi scholarship program show that (1) the context of the program is carried out in accordance with the technical instructions issued by the directorate of Islamic higher education related to the evaluation of the Bidikmisi scholarship program. (2) Evaluation of inputs is carried out by meeting the criteria considering starting from setting evaluation goals to the results of program evaluation, and program targets are high school graduates who have academic and non-academic achievements. (3) In the current process, the Bidikmisi scholarship program has been running for ten years with satisfactory results, and the selection is made openly and transparently. (4) The product of this program evaluation is policy improvement and service improvement to prospective scholarship recipients. The program manager must maintain its performance by improving program quality, achievement process, and control. Programs should focus on increasing resources by strengthening program recipients' academic skills and knowledge.


This collection explores male sex work from an array of perspectives and disciplines. It aims to help enrich the ways in which we view both male sex work as a field of commerce and male sex workers themselves. Leading contributors examine the field both historically and cross-culturally from fields including public health, sociology, psychology, social services, history, filmography, economics, mental health, criminal justice, geography, and migration studies, and more. Synthesizing introductions by the editors help the reader understand the implications of the findings and conclusions for scholars, practitioners, students, and members of the interested/concerned public.


Previously, we developed a data-centric approach to concurrency control in which programmers specify synchronization constraints declaratively, by grouping shared locations into atomic sets. We implemented our ideas in a Java extension called AJ, using Java locks to implement synchronization. We proved that atomicity violations are prevented by construction, and demonstrated that realistic Java programs can be refactored into AJ without significant loss of performance. This paper presents an algorithm for detecting possible deadlock in AJ programs by ordering the locks associated with atomic sets. In our approach, a type-based static analysis is extended to handle recursive data structures by considering programmer-supplied, compiler-verified lock ordering annotations. In an evaluation of the algorithm, all 10 AJ programs under consideration were shown to be deadlock-free. One program needed 4 ordering annotations and 2 others required minor refactorings. For the remaining 7 programs, no programmer intervention of any kind was required.


The purpose of this study is to extract the major factors related to the deterioration mechanism of white organic light-emitting diodes (WOLED) by performing accelerated testing of temperature, voltage, time, etc., and to develop an accelerated life test (ALT) model. The measurement results of the brightness of the WOLED exhibited that their average brightness tended to increase as the operating voltage increased and that the half-life period of the brightness appeared after approximately 400 hours when the operating voltage was 20V and the ambient temperature was 85˚C. It could be seen that although the WOLED showed comparatively the same brightness when the initial acceleration began after the operating voltage was applied to it, its brightness changed excessively after the WOLED`s thermal storage had been made. In addition, it was observed that the half-life period was reduced as the ambient temperature and applied voltage increased. The strength of the WOLED which had been maintained in the range of visible light at the maximum load was reduced by the deterioration of the organic light emitting material due to the influence of the operating voltage and temperature, and the reduction of emitted light was small at low voltage and temperature. It could be seen that the failure of the WOLED during the ALT was caused by wear due to load accumulation over time, and that Weibull distribution was appropriate for the life distribution and acceleration was established between test conditions. From the WOLED analysis, it is thought that factors influencing the brightness deterioration are voltage, temperature, etc. and that comprehensive analysis considering discharge control, dielectric tangent margin, etc., would further increase the reliability.


Background: Paradoxical hypertension after repair of coarctation of the aorta is a well-known phenomenon. The pathogenesis involves the activation of the sympathetic nervous system (first phase) and renin–angiotensin system (second phase). Only a limited number of different treatment strategies have been published in the literature, without any comparative studies. Methods: Our aim was to describe the current international practice variation surrounding pharmacological treatment currently being employed to treat paradoxical hypertension following the repair of coarctation of the aorta in children. We performed an online survey among 197 members of the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society. We also conducted a systematic review of the literature regarding the treatment of paradoxical hypertension. Results: Eighty-eight people (45%), from 62 different centers, responded and answered the questions regarding blood pressure control. Nitroprusside is the first drug of choice for initial blood pressure control in 66% of respondents, esmolol in 11%, labetalol in 11%, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) are used by 3% of respondents. For oral blood pressure control after discharge from the pediatric intensive care unit, 75% of respondents use ACEIs, 18% use labetalol, and 12% use other beta-blockers (propranolol, carvedilol, atenolol, metoprolol). The systematic review identified 14 articles reporting pharmacological treatment of direct postoperative hypertension following coarctation repair. Conclusion: There is wide practice variability, due to the lack of sufficient compelling evidence. The majority (66%) of caregivers use nitroprusside to control blood pressure in the acute postoperative phase. The ACEIs are the drug of choice for chronic blood pressure control.


The ecosystem approach to value creation is becoming increasingly popular in industry, but the body of empirical work in this area is still limited. As a result, it remains unclear how ecosystems add value to value creation processes at the company level. Moreover, most ecosystem research suffers from the divide between academia and management practice. In this study, we therefore adopt a design science perspective on value creation in (campus-based) ecosystems, to explore how residents assess value sources available within the ecosystem as well as how ecosystem managers can enable value creation for different types of residents. We first develop a system-theoretic perspective on value sources of business ecosystems. Drawing on a multi-level framework, we define a set of ecosystem properties and link these to value creation sources. Subsequently, based on a case study of a Dutch high-tech campus, we develop a set of design principles for enabling and supporting value creation in this type of campus-based ecosystem. As such, our study demonstrates how individual residents perceive and value a campus-based ecosystem, as well as provides evidence-based principles for enabling value creation from this ecosystem.


Sir: Cases of inability to close the eyes voluntarily (apraxia of eye closure') and cases of inability to maintain the eyes closed (eyelid motor impersistence2 3) are known. We report a patient in whom the acquired inability to close the eyes affected alternatively either one or the other eye. A 70 year old man was investigated for epileptic Jacksonian seizures of the left upper limb. The seizures began in the left eyelid and then spread to the entire left side of the body. A CT scan showed a right parietal tumour (fig). The patient underwent operation and the tumour proved to be a glioblastoma. A month after surgery clinical examination revealed no motor or sensory deficits or lateral homonymous hemianopia. On the other hand, there he had a constructional apraxia and a mild left spatial hemineglect. A disorder ofeyelid control was also noted. The patient was able to open and to close his eyes when requested but when asked to keep his eyes closed any attempt to communicate or any mental effort such as calculating was accompanied by instantaneous opening of the two eyes, in spite of repeated orders by the examiner. Often, the left eye opened first, followed after a few seconds by the right one. If the patient was asked again to close his eyes, he did it easily, but any attempt at verbal contact resulted in the re-opening of the two eyes, simultaneously or with the left one first. A month later the constructional apraxia and neglect disappeared and the patient was


Glucagon (gcg) regulates hepatic glucose and amino acid (AA) metabolism, and increased gcg levels (hyperglucagonemia) contribute to hyperglycemia in diabetes. We hypothesized that the enzyme neprilysin (NEP) contributes to gcg degradation. We measured plasma gcg levels during a mixed meal in nine healthy men after a single dose of the NEP-inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker (194 mg sacubitril/206 mg valsartan, 30 min prior to meal), a DPP-4 inhibitor (sitagliptin, 2x100mg), these combined, or the meal alone. Postprandial gcg levels were 2.7-fold higher in sacubitril/valsartan treated individuals compared to controls (P=0.005) and this was not significantly altered by the addition of sitagliptin (P=0.28). Sacubitril/valsartan also lowered postprandial plasma AA levels (P=0.01), but glucose levels were unaffected (P=0.76). In obese individuals (n=7), eight weeks sacubitril/valsartan treatment increased fasting gcg levels (P=0.02). To test whether NEP degrades gcg and diminishes its signaling, we performed mass-spectrometry and assessed cells transfected with the gcg receptor (gcgr). We found that NEP cleaves gcg and that the gcg fragments produced were unable to activate the gcgr. In non-sedated C57BL/6JRj female mice (n=8) NEP inhibition (sacubitril, 0.7 nmol/g) increased gcg levels (P=0.02) and tended to increase AA disappearance (P=0.076) and urea formation (P=0.08) during an AA challenge. A gcgr antagonist (Novo Nordisk; 25-2648, 100 mg/kg) abolished the increase in urea formation observed with sacubitril alone. Gcg levels were increased 1.9-fold (P Disclosure S. Kjeldsen: None. S. Zraika: Research Support; Self; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. S.M. Mongovin: None. L.H. Hansen: None. D. Terzic: None. P.D. Mark: None. P. Plomgaard: None. J.P. Gotze: None. M. Winther-Soerensen: None. J. Hunt: None. K.D. Galsgaard: None. M.M. Rosenkilde: Board Member; Self; Synklino. Consultant; Self; Antag Therapeutics, Bainan Biotech. G.H. Goossens: None. E.E. Blaak: None. J.J. Holst: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk A/S, Zealand Pharma A/S. Other Relationship; Spouse/Partner; Antag Therapeutics. N.J. Wewer Albrechtsen: Research Support; Self; Mercodia, Novo Nordisk A/S, Novo Nordisk Foundation. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. Funding Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF19OC0055001)


A novel polymer-bound 1,2-diol, 3-polystyrylsulfonyl-1,2-propanediol (6) had been prepared by the reaction of sodium polystyrylsulfinate with allyl bromide, followed by oxidation and. hydrolysis or directly with 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst, n-tetrabutylammonium iodide. The capacity of resin 6 for terephthaidehyde reached 1.43 mmol/g. The aldehydic groups attached to polymer 6 reacted with hydroxylamine hydrochloride or reduced by sodium borohydride giving p-formylbenzaldoxime (yield: 89%)and p-formyl-benzalcohol (yield: 734%), respectively. The high yields of these polymer-supported reactions showed that the polymer 6 possessed the effective isolation of its reactive sites.


A method that enables a robot system to learn how to grasp an object is presented. The method combines an automatic grasp discovery process with a visual recognition technique. When an object is seen the first time, the system experiments with it, seeking a way of grasping and lifting the object by trial and error, using visual information and input from the robot gripper. A discovered grasp configuration is saved along with the object's shape. When the same object is presented again in a different position and orientation, and the system recognizes its shape, the grasp information is retrieved and transformed to match the position and orientation of the object, so it can be picked in the first trial. The approach makes fewer assumptions, and requires less prior information about objects, than nonlearning grasp-determination methods. The presented method was implemented in a system with a robot and a servo-controlled two-finger gripper. Several examples of its operation are reported.<<ETX>>


Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) is a potent tumor promoter and highly inflammatory in nature. Here, we investigated the toxic effects of PMA on different model system. PMA (10 μg) caused chromosomal aberrations on the Allium cepa root tip and induced mitotic dysfunction. Similarly, PMA caused embryonic and larval deformities and a plummeted survivability rate on zebrafish embryo in a dose-dependent manner. Persistently, PMA treatment on immortalized human keratinocyte human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells caused massive inflammatory rush at 4 h and a drop in cell survivability at 24 h. Concomitantly, we replicated a cutaneous inflammation similar to human psoriasis induced by PMA. Herein, we used tangeretin (TAN), as an antagonist to counteract the inflammatory response. Results from an in vivo experiment indicated that TAN (10 and 30 mg/kg) significantly inhibited PMA stimulated epidermal hyperplasia and intra-epidermal neutrophilic abscesses. In addition, its treatment effectively neutralized PMA induced elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation on in vitro and in vivo systems, promoting antioxidant response. The association of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α)-nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated b cells (NF-κB) crosstalk triggered by PMA enhanced PKCα-ERK1/2-NF-κB pathway; its activation was also significantly counteracted after TAN treatment. Conclusively, we demonstrated TAN inhibited the nuclear translocation of HIF-1α and NF-κB p65. Collectively, TAN treatment ameliorated PMA incited malignant inflammatory response by remodeling the cutaneous microenvironment.


The efficiency of antigen (Ag) processing by dendritic cells (DCs) is vital for the strength of the ensuing T‐cell responses. Previously, we and others have shown that in comparison to protein vaccines, vaccination with synthetic long peptides (SLPs) has shown more promising (pre‐)clinical results. Here, we studied the unknown mechanisms underlying the observed vaccine efficacy of SLPs. We report an in vitro processing analysis of SLPs for MHC class I and class II presentation by murine DCs and human monocyte‐derived DCs. Compared to protein, SLPs were rapidly and much more efficiently processed by DCs, resulting in an increased presentation to CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The mechanism of access to MHC class I loading appeared to differ between the two forms of Ag. Whereas whole soluble protein Ag ended up largely in endolysosomes, SLPs were detected very rapidly outside the endolysosomes after internalization by DCs, followed by proteasome‐ and transporter associated with Ag processing‐dependent MHC class I presentation. Compared to the slower processing route taken by whole protein Ags, our results indicate that the efficient internalization of SLPs, accomplished by DCs but not by B or T cells and characterized by a different and faster intracellular routing, leads to enhanced CD8+ T‐cell activation.


Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most frequent disabilities in industrialized countries. It has been demonstrated that hair cell loss in the auditory end organ may account for the majority of ear pathological conditions. Previous studies have indicated that histone deacetylases (HDACs) play an important role in neurodegenerative diseases, including hearing impairment, in older persons. Thus, we hypothesized that the inhibition of HDACs would prevent hair cell loss and, consequently, NIHL. In the present study, a CBA/J mouse model of NIHL was established. Following an injection with the HDAC inhibitor, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), the expression levels of HDAC1, HDAC4 and acetyl-histone H3 (Lys9) (H3-AcK9) were measured. The number of hair cells was quantified and their morphology was observed. The results revealed that 1 h following exposure to 110 dB SPL broadband noise, there was a significant increase in HDAC1 and HDAC4 expression, and a marked decrease in the H3-AcK9 protein levels, as shown by western blot analysis. Pre-treatment with SAHA significantly inhibited these effects. Two weeks following exposure to noise, the mice exhibited significant hearing impairment and an obvious loss in the number of outer hair cells. An abnormal cell morphology with cilia damage was also observed. Pre-treatment with SAHA markedly attenuated these noise-induced effects. Taken together, the findings of our study suggest that HDAC expression is associated with outer hair cell function and plays a significant role in NIHL. Our data indicate that SAHA may be a potential therapeutic agent for the prevention of NIHL.


A quantitative assessment of the microstructure parameters is necessary for making informed decisions on the development and adjustment of technological parameters for the production of cast metal matrix composites. This study gives an estimate of the size and distribution of the reinforcing phases in the structure of in-situ Al-Mg2Si aluminum matrix composites using an automated technique for analyzing metallographic images realized in the ImageJ open-source software with developed macros. A comparison of the quantitative parameters of the microstructure of composites in different parts of the ingot is carried out. The central regions of the ingot are distinguished by higher values of the average quantity of particles per unit of the microsection surface area in comparison with the peripheral regions. The average size of the synthesized Mg2Si reinforcing particles was 16 μm and practically did not vary in different areas.


In the last decades, modern technological and research developments of textile-reinforced concrete have led to extensive applications in building and civil engineering structures all over the world. Examples of textile-reinforced concrete can be found in retrofitting of existing buildings, facade slabs or bridges. Despite its potential, the widespread use of textile-reinforced concrete remains still limited. This is partly explained by the lack of a consistent design framework since conventional design methods used for other materials (e.g., steel reinforced concrete) cannot be directly applicable to textile-reinforced concrete. Thus, procedures to derive partial safety factors for textile-reinforced concrete would be a major step forward towards a regular procedure for the design of structural members made of this material.This paper offers a general procedure to determine safety factors. The approach is illustrated with a bending design example of a textile-reinforced concrete facade slab. The example is calculated in a recently developed software package for structural reliability analysis built in the statistical programming language R. For the derivation of safety factors, initial data is required, which can be obtained from experimental or numerical tests or from literature. The paper includes the basics of data evaluation as well as the statistical characterisation of data extracted from literature.


Stand-up comedy is a sub-genre of oral literature or orality. It involves a comedian standing in front of an audience to crack jokes and tell funny stories in order to make people laugh. It is also a therapeutic tool used to heal wounds through humour and comedy and this eventually leads to mental balance, happiness, peace and tranquility among the people. In line with the above, this paper attempts to explicate the various ways selected Niger Delta stand-up comedians have achieved this therapeutic or healing function among the people of that region. It also studies the psychological effects this brand of comedy has on the audience especially Niger Deltans of Nigeria. The selected stand-up comedians used in this study include I Go Dye, Gordons and Liki Liki Mouth. It is discovered that in relation to the basic functions of the arts generally and literature in particular, the selected Niger Delta stand-up comedians have, in no small measure, contributed their quota in bringing peace, harmony and a stable mental health to the people of the region.KEYWORDS: Orality, Stand-up Comedy, Niger-Delta, Healing, Performance


Non-specific lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) constitute a large protein family in plants characterized by having a tunnel-like hydrophobic cavity, which allows them to transfer different lipid molecules. LTPs have been studied in various model plants including those of agronomic interest. Recent studies have demonstrated that LTPs play key functions in both biotic and abiotic stress. In plants-pathogen interaction, they act as either positive or negative regulators of defense responses. However, little is known about the roles of LTPs in symbiotic interactions, especially in root nodule symbiosis. Here, we performed a broad genome analysis of LTP family members in legumes and other important model plants, focusing on their possible roles in legume-rhizobium symbiosis. In silico analysis showed that legumes contain large LTP families, with at least 70 LTP members clustered into four clades. Although the structures of LTP genes and proteins are conserved among species, differences were observed between clades from different species. LTPs are widely expressed in different plant tissues. In general, genes of the LTP1 and LTP2 classes are highly expressed in shoot and reproductive tissues in all analyzed species. Furthermore, genes of the different classes are also expressed in roots inoculated with rhizobia and nodules of legumes. RT-qPCR expression profile analysis of seven PvLTP genes in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) revealed that these genes are differentially expressed during the early and late stages of nodulation and they are genetically regulated by PvRbohA. These findings provide insight into the putative roles of LTP family members in legume-rhizobium symbiosis and their possible interactions with RBOH-dependent ROS production.


1. Abstract A rapid view to the evolution of the legal context at the national European and international level shows a need to introduce both more "visibility" and more "legibility" on the 'way the decisions in risk analysis and risk management are taken. This can be introduced by: ft) giving an image ofwhat the scientific and the experts agree to be the technical "state of the Art" in there respective discipline to reduce and control hazardous activities; (ii) improving the way the population and the other stakeholders are involved and participate to the risk management process. In France, the Toulouse disaster has revealed a real need to improve the way decisions are taken in the risk prevention processes. In this paper, we will show how the establish concept of "risks acceptability" can induce bias on the way risk analysis are performed in the context of the hazard induced by industrial activities. We will show that there is a need to distinguish the acceptability known as "technical" from the one known as "social". We will then propose a new enlightenment on the way risk analysis are performed in Safety Studies and then discuss about the issue of land-use planning in France using "Risk prevention plans" (TRPP) around SEVESO sites.


Ink-jet printing technique is used to prepare porous (ZnO)_1− x (TiO_2)_x composite films on indium tin oxide-coated glass substrates. Dye-sensitized solar cells were fabricated using well-characterized printed films of thickness ∼20 and 30 μm, respectively. It is found that the photovoltaic performance of the cells is dependent on the film thickness and the concentrations of ZnO. The obtained results are compared with those of pure ZnO- and TiO_2-based cells prepared by the same route to optimize the device efficiency. This study suggests that ink-jet printers promise an inexpensive and simple technology for manufacturing solar cell composite films.


The Texas High Plains has a semi-arid, hot, windy climate that features high evapotranspiration (ET) demands for crop production. Irrigation is essential for vegetable production in the region, but it is constrained by depleting groundwater from the Ogallala Aquifer. High-tunnel (HT) production systems may reduce irrigation water demand and protect crops from severe weather events (e.g., hail, high wind, freezing) common to the region. The objective of this study was to compare yields, fruit quality, crop water use, and crop water use efficiency (WUE) of jalapeno pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in HT and open field (OF) production systems. We hypothesized that the protection from dry and high winds by HT would improve yields and quality of fruits and reduce water use of peppers and tomatoes. During the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons, peppers and tomatoes were transplanted on two HT plots and two identical OF plots. Plastic mulch was used in combination with a surface drip irrigation system. Micrometeorological variables (incoming solar irradiance, air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed) and soil physical variables (soil temperature and volumetric soil water) were measured. Air temperatures were significantly higher during the daytime, and wind speed and light intensity were significantly lower in HT compared with OF. Despite the lower light intensity, yields were greater in HT compared with OF. The fruits grown in HT did not show significant differences in chemical quality attributes, such as ascorbic acid and lycopene contents, compared with those grown in OF. Because of protection from dry, high winds, plants in HT required less total water over the growing seasons compared with OF, resulting in increased WUE. The 2018 and 2019 data showed that HT production is advantageous as compared to conventional OF production in terms of increased WUE and severe weather risk mitigation for high-value vegetable production in the Texas High Plains.


This report considers a broad range of emerging transportation technologies that have potential for enhancing travel on and operations of the Texas transportation system. It provides an overview of technology classifications and assesses the policy implications of emerging vehicle and infrastructure technology classifications—namely, connected, autonomous, and electric vehicle technologies—as well as cloud computing and crowdsourcing in the context of transportation systems and services. The researchers assessed these technologies in terms of their ability to further state and national transportation goals. Also assessed were barriers to adoption and promotion at various development stages. Research is presented on new policies and institutional changes that are being implemented outside of Texas. Finally, policy implications for Texas are discussed.


Shirisha is an important Ayurvedic plant. It is a temperate zone plant that grows well on neutral to slight acidic soil. With optimum agro climatic conditions, use of good quality seed is also required to ensure the establishment of this tree. So it is very much important to maintain the physiological health of seed for the development of healthy seedlings. The physiological quality of the seed is deteriorated mainly due to high temperature, relative humidity and oxygen pressure. In our country availability of good quality seed as a planting material is a major problem for seedling development. Shirisha seed generally harvested in pre-monsoon month and absorb lots of moisture during monsoon month with high temperature resulting in rapid decline of vigour and viability of seeds. Hydration-dehydration treatments are effectively control the deterioration of medium vigour seed. During the present study Shirisha seeds were hydrated with water as well as 10 M solution of Salicylic acid, Benzoic acid, KNO3 and NaCl followed by dehydration. KNO3and NaCl solutions showed better results for the maintenance of germinability of Shirisha seed.


We present V0LVER, an AMM protocol which solves an incentivization trilemma between users, passive liquidity providers, and block producers. V0LVER enables users and passive liquidity providers to interact without paying MEV or incurring uncontrolled loss-versus-rebalancing to the block producer. V0LVER is an AMM protocol built on an encrypted transaction mempool, where transactions are decrypted after being allocated liquidity by the AMM. V0LVER ensures this liquidity, given some external market price, is provided at that price in expectancy. This is done by incentivizing the block producer to move the pool price to the external market price. With this, users transact in expectancy at the external market price in exchange for a fee, with AMMs providing liquidity in expectancy at the external market price. Under block producer and liquidity provider competition, all of the fees in V0LVER approach zero. Without block producer arbitrage, V0LVER guarantees fall back to those of an AMM, albeit free from loss-versus-rebalancing and user-level MEV.


This demo paper describes the technical architecture and features of IndustryPortal (http://industryportal. enit.fr), a dedicated open-source platform designed to develop, publish, and maintain FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) ontologies –and more largely semantic artefacts– in the industrial domain. The primary objective of this semantic catalogue is to enhance the interoperability of ontologies, increase their reusability, and ensure that theymeet the high-quality standards demanded by the industrial community. IndustryPortal has been developed in the context of the H2020 OntoCommons project, released in March, 2022 with a robust plan for long-term support. The portal is based on the open source and shared OntoPortal technology.


1. Secondary position-vestibular-pause (PVP) neurons in the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) pathway of adult rhesus monkeys were studied during combined semicircular canal and otolith stimulation. The head was rotated at 0.5 Hz with the axis of rotation centered between the otolith organs (on-axis, ON) and with the axis of rotation 23 cm in front of the otoliths (off-axis, OFF). Both conditions were tested with two different vergence angles by the use of 14-cm (near target, NT) and 100-cm (far target, FT) targets. 2. The tangential translational stimulus to the otoliths in the OFF trials should result in a compensatory eye movement that is opposite in direction to that resulting from the angular stimulus to the canals. The otolith stimulus should be great enough to reverse the eye movement response in the NT OFF trials according to geometric calculations. This reversal in eye movement direction occurred as expected although the latency of the reversal (70 ms) was somewhat greater than expected and the magnitude of the reversal was less than predicted solely on the basis of geometric considerations. 3. The responses of the PVP neurons were corrected for eye position sensitivity to investigate the head movement response components. The amplitude of the response in 22 of 24 PVP cells was reduced in the NT OFF condition compared with the FT OFF condition. This difference was not sufficient in itself to explain the observed reversal in eye movement response. 4. The average sensitivities of the neurons to rotation during the FT and NT ON trials were 1.38 and 1.41 spikes.s-1.deg-1.s-1, respectively. This is too small an increase to account for the increase in the angular VOR gain with near targets (approximately 25%); therefore cells other than PVP neurons must be responsible. 5. The average sensitivities of the PVP neurons to translational accelerations obtained from the FT and NT OFF trials were 305 and 484 spikes.s-1.g-1, respectively, which is higher than most otolith afferent sensitivities reported for 0.5-Hz stimuli in the literature. The otolith component is modified by ocular convergence (59% increase in sensitivity), but this increase is too small to account for the change in the translational VOR gain between the two conditions. 6. Although recordings were only obtained from seven eye-head-velocity cells, the results indicate that these neurons may provide the additional signals not present in the PVP cells. These neurons exhibited large differences between ON and OFF rotations and were found to substantially increase their modulation during the NT conditions compared with that observed during the FT conditions.


Statistical testing remains one of the main challenges for high-confidence detection of differentially regulated proteins or peptides in large-scale quantitative proteomics experiments. PolySTest provides a user-friendly web service for statistical testing, data browsing and visualization, including a new method that simultaneously tests for missingness and feature abundance, thereby complementing common statistical tests by rescuing otherwise discarded data features. By combining different statistical tests, PolySTest improves robustness and confidence for simulated, experimental ground truth, and biological data. Graphical Abstract Highlights Novel statistical test combining missingness and quantitative profiles. Unification of different statistical tests into a PolySTest FDR provides higher robustness and confidence. PolySTest provides higher coverage of relevant biological pathways. User-friendly interactive web service for statistical analysis and visualization. Statistical testing remains one of the main challenges for high-confidence detection of differentially regulated proteins or peptides in large-scale quantitative proteomics experiments by mass spectrometry. Statistical tests need to be sufficiently robust to deal with experiment intrinsic data structures and variations and often also reduced feature coverage across different biological samples due to ubiquitous missing values. A robust statistical test provides accurate confidence scores of large-scale proteomics results, regardless of instrument platform, experimental protocol and software tools. However, the multitude of different combinations of experimental strategies, mass spectrometry techniques and informatics methods complicate the decision of choosing appropriate statistical approaches. We address this challenge by introducing PolySTest, a user-friendly web service for statistical testing, data browsing and data visualization. We introduce a new method, Miss test, that simultaneously tests for missingness and feature abundance, thereby complementing common statistical tests by rescuing otherwise discarded data features. We demonstrate that PolySTest with integrated Miss test achieves higher confidence and higher sensitivity for artificial and experimental proteomics data sets with known ground truth. Application of PolySTest to mass spectrometry based large-scale proteomics data obtained from differentiating muscle cells resulted in the rescue of 10–20% additional proteins in the identified molecular networks relevant to muscle differentiation. We conclude that PolySTest is a valuable addition to existing tools and instrument enhancements that improve coverage and depth of large-scale proteomics experiments. A fully functional demo version of PolySTest and Miss test is available via http://computproteomics.bmb.sdu.dk/Apps/PolySTest.


The rise of large language models (LLMs) had a transformative impact on search, ushering in a new era of search engines that are capable of generating search results in natural language text, imbued with citations for supporting sources. Building generative information-seeking models demands openly accessible datasets, which currently remain lacking. In this paper, we introduce a new dataset, HAGRID (Human-in-the-loop Attributable Generative Retrieval for Information-seeking Dataset) for building end-to-end generative information-seeking models that are capable of retrieving candidate quotes and generating attributed explanations. Unlike recent efforts that focus on human evaluation of black-box proprietary search engines, we built our dataset atop the English subset of MIRACL, a publicly available information retrieval dataset. HAGRID is constructed based on human and LLM collaboration. We first automatically collect attributed explanations that follow an in-context citation style using an LLM, i.e. GPT-3.5. Next, we ask human annotators to evaluate the LLM explanations based on two criteria: informativeness and attributability. HAGRID serves as a catalyst for the development of information-seeking models with better attribution capabilities.