Success today is ever more dependent on the ability to access, understand, and manipulate information and librarians, as gatekeepers to information, share a critical role in this process. The three innovative guides in this new series will equip school library media specialists and teachers to promote and teach information literacy skills to young library users and to: Collaborate in curriculum planning so that students will end up with a cohesive skill set. Teach the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that lead to information literacy. Use a step-by-step process, in line with curriculum standards yet flexible enough to adapt to school and district settings. The first two guides present skill-level appropriate tools that foster collaboration between libraries and schools, school library media specialists and teachers. The accompanying student workbook provides in-class support materials. Information Literacy Toolkit: Grades Kindergarten-6 Organized into three parts - process overview, planning organizer, and teaching tools - the K-6 guide helps you to introduce information literacy concepts and skills, and link literacy to standard subject areas. Information Literacy Toolkit: Grades 7 and Up The 7 and Up toolkit covers more advanced skills in a broader context, applicable less to defined subject areas than to curricula as a whole. Note: The Macintosh/PC ready CD-ROM is readable in Microsoft Excel. Research Projects: An Information Literacy Planner for Students The student workbook/planner challenges students to put the information literacy skills they have acquired to work - analyzing a research topic, brainstorming for ideas, actively taking notes, creating bibliographies, and conducting focused research. Designed to be customizable and reproducible, The Information Literacy Toolkit series is your one-stop resource for promoting and passing on the skills of information literacy and for guiding students toward inquiry-based, active learning.


The Nepali Army in its vital role in humanitarian assistance and disaster response operation in Nepal receives reputation the world wide. Nepal is prone to disaster risk and the majority of people are living in vulnerable situation. Every year Nepal is facing different types of disasters that caused massive loss of lives and properties. Nepal has not been able to prepare any other viable alternatives in the civil society, so there is no other choice than utilizing military or security forces during any disasters. The Nepali Army has vast inbuilt resources to mobilize its troops effectively in any parts of the country. However, timely and effective disaster response is very difficult due to numerous constraints and complexities. Difficult terrain, limited road communication, inadequate resources and insufficient response capacity are prime reasons that make response operations very challenging. The Army together with other security agencies is performing role as per the given mandate articulated in act, rules, framework and guidelines. In this situation, building civil-military coordination mechanism can be an effective means to respond to the disaster. As a matter of fact, a comprehensive disaster army should continue dialogue, training and exercise with foreign militaries for better understanding and learning through experience. Despite the Nepali Army's spectacular capability to disaster response, there is a debate whether the military is a right institution to involve in the humanitarian response operations. However, keeping in mind Nepal's reality without compromising primary role of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national independence, the Nepali Army should enhance its capability to save lives and property from disasters and hazards.


Modeling and Analysis of High availability Security Architecture for Whole of Government Systems
Failure in complex software or network based information server causes various problems. Recently, security is treated not only to prevent from intrusion but also as a Quality of Service (QoS) attribute. Software failure arises from random uncovering of faults during execution of successful inputs. We cannot predict all future intrusion and faults. To handle new type of attack based on application layer, Semi Markov Model is used to analyze & quantify the security attributes of the system. In developing countries, e-government systems are in its infancy state, if attacks like DDoS occur citizens may be reluctant in using E-services. This paper compares various security architectures for whole of government systems and proposes the optimal solution. The model is analyzed for high availability using SHARPE software package .It focuses on impact rather than specific attack procedure.


A 16-plane multiwire proportional chamber is used to accurately measure intensity profiles of heavy ion beams at the Bevalac. An imaging capability has now been developed for the system, allowing for reconstruction of 3-dimensional representation of radiological objects using heavy ion beams.


53 patients with overt hypothyroidism (group 1), 17 patients with "preclinical hypothyroidism" (group 2), 22 patients with a euthyroid goiter (group 3) and 13 patients who had undergone total elimination of the thyroid gland for thyroid cancer (group 4) were treated with thyroxine. Basal levels of T4, T3, TSH and the TSH-response to 40 mg oral TRH were measured during treatment. For replacement therapy in hypothyroid patients of group 1 and 2 the dose was adjusted until the TSH response to TRH was within the normal range (3.5-38 mU/l). In groups 3 and 4 the thyroxine dose was increased to suppress the TSH response to TRH in the presence of euthyroid T4 and T3 levels (suppressive dose). Average thyroxine replacement doses were 128 micrograms per day in overt hypothyroidism and 101 micrograms/day in preclinical hypothyroidism. Suppressive doses of thyroxine were on average 119 micrograms/day in patients with euthyroid goiter and 183 micrograms thyroxine per day in patients with total thyroid ablation. In all 4 groups of patients a wide interindividual variation of the optimal thyroxine dose was found.


Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Vol. 20, No. 2, 353–364 (2001) © 2001 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Candidates for inclusion in the Insights section may be sent directly to the Insights Editor, Eugene Bardach, Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley, 2607 Hearst Ave., Berkeley, CA 94720-7320, firstname.lastname@example.com.


The primary objective of this investigation was to study the effect of D-alpha-tocopherol acid succinate (vitamin E succinate) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), individually and in combination, on the proliferation of human tongue squamous carcinoma cells (SCC-25) in vitro. Test compounds in varying concentrations were incubated with cells in serum-free Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium-Ham's F-12 Medium (50:50), supplemented with 0.1% albumin for sixteen hours. Cell proliferation was measured by the incorporation of [3H] thymidine in acid-insoluble material (i.e. DNA). Prostaglandin E2 and vitamin E succinate, individually at 10(-9)-10(-6) M, caused significant dose-dependent inhibition in DNA synthesis. A combined dose of each compound at 10(-5) M resulted in significant additive inhibition which averaged 43.53% (p < 0.005). Addition of indomethacin (INDO) to cell cultures induced significant dose-dependent stimulation in DNA synthesis. Hence, we might suggest that the overall potential of vitamin E in controlling malignant cell proliferation in vivo could be due to its own effect combined with that of endogenous PGs which are normally produced in excessive amounts by malignant cells.


The government has narrowly defeated a vote in parliament that, if passed, would have raised pressure on it to publish a risk assessment of the impact of the NHS reforms.

After a fiery six hour debate in the House of Commons on 22 February, 246 MPs voted for and 299 against a motion put forward by the Labour Party that called on the government to publish the risk register associated with the Health and Social Care Bill.

The document is a "transition risk register" that relates specifically to the health bill reorganisation and was first drawn up in 2010, but has been reviewed and updated.

To date, the government has resisted a freedom of information ruling in November of last year by the information commissioner that it should publish the document.

The ruling said there …


Background

Pre-clinical studies suggest that P2X3 receptors are expressed by airway vagal afferents and contribute to the hyperexcitability of sensory neurons. We hypothesized that P2X3 receptors play a role in the sensitisation of vagal pathways mediating the cough reflex leading to chronic cough (CC).

Objective

To investigate the efficacy of a first in class oral P2X3 antagonist, AF-219, in reducing daytime cough in idiopathic/treatment-resistant CC.

Methods

24 subjects (19 women, mean age 54.5 years) were randomised into a double blind, placebo-controlled, 2-period, crossover study, of AF-219, 600 mg bd. Cough was assessed at baseline and after 2 weeks of treatment; primary endpoint, daytime objective cough frequency (coughs/hr) (VitaloJAK™); secondary endpoints, cough severity and urge to cough visual analogue scales (VAS), cough quality of life questionnaire (CQLQ).

Results

AF-219 markedly and significantly reduced cough (mean difference vs. placebo): daytime cough rate -75% (95%CI -50 to -88), p< 0.001 (Figure 1); daytime cough severity VAS -26mm (-10 to -42), p=0.003; urge to cough VAS -21mm (-2 to -41), p=0.035; and CQLQ -9.2 (-1.7 to -16.8), p=0.018. There were no significant period or carryover effects.

![Figure][1]

Conclusion

P2X3 receptors appear to play a key role in mediating cough neuronal hypersensitivity and their antagonists represent a promising new class of effective anti-tussives.

 [1]: pending:yes


Haloperidol is a neuroleptic agent effective in treatment of
various psychiatric diseases. Cardiac arrhythmias have been
associated with this therapy. We have investigated effects of
haloperidol on cardiac sodium, potassium and calcium channels
using whole cell patch-clamp method. 10 microM concentration of
haloperidol was tested. In cardiomyocytes isolated from adult
rat ventricles, haloperidol inhibited 95% of sodium current
(INa) activated by 40 ms voltage pulses from -75 mV to -20 mV.
The block of the transient outward potassium current (Ito) and
current at the end of the pulse (IK,end) were measured by 300
ms voltage pulses from -75 mV to +40 mV. Haloperidol caused 80%
block of Ito and 37% block of IK,end. In all cases the block
was reversible. Further, we have investigated CaV1.2 L-type
calcium channel transiently expressed in HEK 293 cells.
Haloperidol inhibited approximately 58% of inward current
amplitude measured in peak of IV relation. The inhibition was
reversible and voltage dependent. Increasing amplitude of
depolarizing pulses increased strongly extent of current
inhibition.


The work adopts an old Keynesian perspective to evaluate the EMU. Such a perspective raises concerns with the effectiveness of monetary policy, the feasibility of monetary policy, and the political economy of monetary policy. The EMU brings with it institutional lock-in, and therefore needs to be evaluated with a long term perspective. Whether or not to join the EMU depends on whether effective sovereign monetary policy is feasible now and in the future, whether the EMU constitutes an optimal currency area, and whether the proposed European Central Bank will have an appropriate institutional design. If formed, the EMU should create institutions which promote expansionary policies and empower the conduct of sovereign European monetary policy.


Recently because of development of remote network technology, users are able to access the network freely without constraints of time and space. As users are getting more frequent to access the remote server in a computing environment, they are increasingly being exposed to various risk factors such as forward secrecy and server impersonation attack. Therefore, researches for remote user authentication scheme have been studying actively. This paper overcomes the weaknesses of many authentication schemes proposed recently. This paper suggests an improved authentication scheme that protects user's anonymity with preserving variable more safe and also provides forward secrecy.


Abstract: DNA barcoding using the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) has become prevalent in surveys of fungal diversity. This approach is, however, associated with numerous caveats, including the desire for speed, rather than accuracy, through the use of automated analytical pipelines, and the shortcomings of reference sequence repositories. Here we use the case of a specimen of the bracket fungus Trametes s.lat. (which includes the common and widespread turkey tail, T. versicolor) to illustrate these problems. The material was collected in Vietnam as part of a biodiversity inventory including DNA barcoding approaches for arthropods, plants and fungi. The ITS barcoding sequence of the query taxon was compared against reference sequences in GenBank and the curated fungal ITS database UNITE, using BLASTn and MegaBLAST, and was subsequently analysed in a multiple alignment-based phylogenetic context through a maximum likelihood tree including related sequences. Our results initially indicated issues with BLAST searches, including the use of pairwise local alignments and sorting through Total score and E value, rather than Percentage identity, as major shortcomings of the DNA barcoding approach. However, after thorough analysis of the results, we concluded that the single most important problem of this approach was incorrect sequence labelling, calling for the implementation of third-party annotations or analogous approaches in primary sequence repositories. In addition, this particular example revealed problems of improper fungal nomenclature, which required reinstatement of the genus name Cubamyces (= Leiotrametes), with three new combinations: C. flavidus, C. lactineus and C. menziesii. The latter was revealed as the correct identification of the query taxon, although the name did not appear among the best BLAST hits. While the best BLAST hits did correspond to the target taxon in terms of sequence data, their label names were misleading or unresolved, including [Fungal endophyte], [Uncultured fungus], Basidiomycota, Trametes cf. cubensis, Lenzites elegans and Geotrichum candidum (an unrelated ascomycetous contaminant). Our study demonstrates that accurate identification of fungi through molecular barcoding is currently not a fast-track approach that can be achieved through automated pipelines. Citation: Lücking R., Truong B. V., Huong D. T. T., Le N. H., Nguyen Q. D., Nguyen V. D., Raab-Straube E. von, Bollendorff S., Govers K. & Di Vincenzo V. 2020: Caveats of fungal barcoding: a case study in Trametes s.lat. (Basidiomycota: Polyporales) in Vietnam reveals multiple issues with mislabelled reference sequences and calls for third-party annotations. – Willdenowia 50: 383–403. doi: https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.50.50302 Version of record first published online on 15 September 2020 ahead of inclusion in December 2020 issue.


By analyzing NMR spectroscopic data, and supported by IR, UV/Vis, Raman, dielectrometry, and DFT techniques, a comprehensive study of the 1:2 adducts of picolinaldehyde and 1,3-indanediones is presented. The parent indanedione derivative 5 exists in an equilibrium between all-keto and enol forms, the latter being stabilized by an intramolecularO–H···N hydrogen bond. Only the all-keto form was observed in the 5,6-dimethoxy compound 6, whereas solely the enol tautomer was observed with its 5,6-dichloro analogue 7. Polar solvents and low temperatures shift the equilibrium towards the enol tautomer in 5. The structure of adduct 8, formed with isonicotinaldehyde, prevents the formation of intramolecular O–H···N hydrogen bonds and thus it exists in the all-keto form in low polar solvents. However, in DMSO solutions it adopts a zwitterionic form with a strong anionic O–···H···O hydrogen bond. Thus, the enol form in indanedione adducts was unequivocally characterized in solution and the factors that determine the keto–enol tautomerism, namely electronic effects, solvent, temperature, and intramolecular hydrogen bonds, have been methodically studied by spectroscopic and quantum mechanical methods.


Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life threatening complication of diabetes mellitus in pediatric patients with new onset insulin dependent diabetes. Despite advances in therapy mortality from DKA, especially in children less than two years, remains high. This review highlights the role of obligatory renal defense mechanisms in the evolution of DKA and its implication for therapy: to accomplish this goal the review starts with a cursory description of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of metabolic derangements in DKA as a basis for understanding the renal compensatory mechanisms geared towards restoration of acid-base balance; then, the next section of the review describes how alterations in fluid and electrolyte balance at the onset of DKA and the extent of renal regulatory defense mechanisms geared towards its restoration can predispose to cerebral edema at the beginning of therapy. We conclude by suggesting that restoration of fluid and electrolyte balance should be based on the severity of metabolic acidosis as determined by the extent of renal impairment at the onset and during the course of DKA rather than strictly by protocols.


In this work we studied two sistems of bosonic superfluids at zero temperature,
ultra-cold Bose gases and superfluid helium, within a simple classical field formalism and we
underlined differences and similarities between them. We also analyzed how the presence
of strong interactions, as in the case of helium, modifies the quasiparticle excitation spectrum and
subsequently the vortex line density profile. After a general review about these bosonic systems properties
we started in general from the Hartree equation of a bosonic system and,
with different hypotesis on the interaction potential between bosons, we obtained the equations
describing the two above mentioned systems, mainly focusing on elementary
quasiparticle excitations and quantized vortices.
Furthermore throughout this work the results were compared with experimental
data and aftermaths of the main theories in literature.


The taxonomy of the genus Cephalia Meigen, 1826 has hitherto been confused. This paper comprises a review of the 13 nominal species assigned to the genus Cephalia to date. Of these, C. nigripes Meigen, 1826 has previously been considered a junior synonym of C. rufipes Meigen, 1826, which is here found to be apparently the only species which actually belongs in the genus Cephalia. Regarding the position of the other species: Cephalia fascipennis Wiedemann, 1830, C. femoralis Wiedemann, 1830 and C. marginata Wiedemann, 1830 was already transferred to Setellia (Richardiidae) and C. caloptera Bigot, 1886 synonymized with Euphranta connexa (Tephritidae); C. bicolor Bigot, 1886 synonymized with Elassogaster linearis (Walker, 1849) (Platystomatidae); and C. quadripunctata Gimmerthal, 1842 tentatively placed in the genus Sapromyza (Lauxaniidae). Cephalia myrmecoides Loew, 1860 and C. fenestrata Coquillett, 1900 have been transferred to the monotypic genera Myrmecothea Hendel and Myiomyrmica Steyskal respectively, forming a clearly monophyletic lineage together with C. rufipes within the tribe Cephaliini (Ulidiidae). The following synonymies are also established here for the remaining species: Acrosticta fulvicornis (Bigot, 1886) comb. n., = Cephalia fulvicornis Bigot, 1886 (Acrosticta fulvipes Coqullett, 1900 is possibly a junior synonym) (Ulidiidae); Herina flavoscutellata (Becker, 1900), comb. n. (Ulidiidae), = Cephalia flavoscutellata Becker, 1900; Rivellia maculipennis (Bigot, 1886) comb. n., = Cephalia maculipennis Bigot, 1886 = Rivellia brevifasciata Johnson, 1900 syn. n. (Platystomatidae). The taxonomic position of Cephalia within the subfamily Otitinae is discussed.


A group of N-[(phenylcarbonyl)amino]1-2,3,6-tetrahydropyridines, 5, were synthesized to determine the effect that changes in aromatic substitution on the phenyl ring have on analgesic, hyperglycemic, and antiinflammatory activities. All of the N-[(phenylcarbonyl)amino]-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridines 5 exhibited potent analgesic activity, relative to morphine, irrespective of the position and physicochemical properties of the aromatic substituent. Pretreatment with naloxone did not alter the analgesic activity of the 4-fluorophenyl derivative 5P. N-[[(2-Fluorophenyl)-carbonyl]amino]-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (5n) was one of the most active hyperglycemic agents, elevating blood glucose 213 and 127% at 2 and 4 h after a 100 mg/kg po dose. Incorporation of aromatic substituents into the 3 and 4 positions of 1 abolished antiinflammatory activity.


Some additional points were made by the discussants in response to questions from the floor. Q. Can exports possibly grow fast enough to cover increased borrowings by developing countries, especially in view of the high service charges they must pay? The present export/debt ratios are indeed a warning signal that the situation could grow more serious. High debt service payments are also worrisome. Nevertheless, as long as countries are well managed financially, the truth is that banks do not necessarily want to be paid off. They make their money from the interest payments on their loans and are more than willing to consider "rolling over," even stretching out, debt repayments. Furthermore, interest rates in real terms have actually been rather low in recent years; that is, a nominal rate of, say, 8 percent may actually amount to zero if inflation is taken into account. In addition, terms of official development aid have been improving: IDA loans are practically interest free, and the "grant component" of bilateral aid now stands at 80 percent. Debt can diminish as a percentage of gross national product as long as the economies of developing countries keep growing.


130 cases of prisoner deaths in Hamburg were examined in a doctoral thesis providing the basis for this study (P e t ers en 2016). Compared with previous assessments, prisoners live longer and are slightly more likely to die of natural causes, the most common cause of death being heart attack. Also, medical care in prisons has significantly improved - some prisoners in fact receive better treatment while incarcerated as compared to outside of prison. The suicide risk, however, remains 8 times as high for inmates compared to the general population. 55 % of these suicides take place within the first 30 days of pre-trial detention. Most of the suicides in Hamburg prisons (26 %) occur on Sundays. In previous studies this number was lower at 15 % (Granzow 1996) and nationwide it was at 20 % (Bennef eld-Kersten 2012). The paper also provides 18 recommendations to prevent future suicides of prisoners. Overall, the rate of prison suicides is slightly decreasing. Prisoners today live longer and mostly die of lifestyle diseases, particularly heart attacks. However, they are still significantly more likely to take their own life than individuals living in freedom.


Since the early 1990's when the first cases of HIV were found in Vietnam, the
number of people infected with HIV has been increasing. Over half of the
Vietnamese population is under the age of 25 and 78.9% of the reported cases of
HIV are people between the ages of 20 and 39. This thesis work has been
undertaken to evaluate whether there is a need to focus more on the youth in terms
of prevention within HIV and AIDS related to the move from a peasant society to a
more industrialised society.

To investigate this, a literature desk study was carried out supported by key
informant interviews and a small questionnaire.

It was found that specifically the HIV and AIDS law, stigma, discrimination, gender
roles, and risk-behaviour of migrants and the Vietnamese youth were important
factors linked with vulnerability and livelihood change after doi moi.

Although more research on a national level on the subject is needed, the findings
indicate that changes have happened since doi moi which influences the linkages
between livelihood change and HIV and AIDS vulnerability among the youth in
Vietnam.


From its modest beginnings as a nongovernmental organization dedicated to providing small loans to improve the lives of the poor, Mibanco has grown
steadily in four decades to become Peru's fifth largest commercial bank.
Mibanco is also the country's largest commercial bank specializing in financing microenterprise, combining sound business practices with a high level of social commitment and innovation. Now Mibanco is adding a new dimension to its growth strategy: bundling loans with training to specifically strengthen women's entrepreneurship.


The aim of the research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the coagulation process using pre-hydrolysed salts, polyaluminium chlorides, in reduction of water pollution with organic substances, including precursors to formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) during water chlorination. Surface water collected from the Stradomka river and from the Adriatyk reservoir located in Częstochowa was used for the research. In addition to typical indices used to assess the content of organic compounds (total and dissolved organic carbon TOC and DOC, oxygen consumption, ultraviolet absorbance UV254), the study also evaluated the potential of THM formation. Under the laboratory conditions of the process using pre-hydrolysed coagulants, reductions in oxygen consumption and TOC contents depending on the month and place when water was collected were 17–42% and 14–38%, respectively, whereas reduction in UV254 absorbance ranged from 39 to 69%. The study confirmed the usefulness of the coagulation process in the removal of organic matter, which represents a precursor for formation of trihalomethanes. The potential for THM formation in treated water was by 28–55% lower than in untreated surface water after chlorination. The concentration of trichloromethane was 78–93% of the total THM content in the chlorinated treated waters. Dissolved organic matter played a major role in CHCl3 formation (76–88%).


Experimental data on water mutagenicity from Dnepro technological chain of pipe-line water purification were obtained using Ames express method of gene mutation induction in histidine-dependent strains of Salmonella typhimurium series TA (TA 98 and TA 100). It was shown that water mutagenicity depended on the level of water pollution by chemical substances in the river Dnieper and the use of chlorine for water disinfection.


Utilizing a neural network, individual down-axis images of combustion waves in the rotating detonation engine (RDE) can be classified according to the number of detonation waves present and their directional behavior. While the ability to identify the number of waves present within individual images might be intuitive, the further classification of wave rotational direction is a result of the detonation wave's profile, which suggests its angular direction of movement. The application of deep learning is highly adaptive and, therefore, can be trained for a variety of image collection methods across RDE study platforms. In this study, a supervised approach is employed where a series of manually classified images is provided to a neural network for the purpose of optimizing the classification performance of the network. These images, referred to as the training set, are individually labeled as one of ten modes present in an experimental RDE. Possible classifications include deflagration, clockwise and counterclockwise variants of co-rotational detonation waves with quantities ranging from one to three waves, as well as single, double, and triple counter-rotating detonation waves. After training the network, a second set of manually classified images, referred to as the validation set, is used to evaluate the performance of the model. The ability to predict the detonation wave mode in a single image using a trained neural network substantially reduces computational complexity by circumnavigating the need to evaluate the temporal behavior of individual pixel regions throughout time. Results suggest that while image quality is critical, it is possible to accurately identify the modal behavior of detonation waves based on only a single image rather than a sequence of images or signal processing. Successful identification of wave behavior using image classification serves as a steppingstone for further machine learning integration in RDE research and development of comprehensive real-time diagnostics.


The development and initial validation of a new scale of balanced time perspective is reported. A balanced time perspective is defined here as a frequent and equal tendency to think about both one's past and future in positive ways. Sixty-seven men and 79 women ranging in age from 18–46 years (M 21.3, SD 4.42) completed the Balanced Time Perspective Scale (BTPS) and measures of happiness, well-being, self-esteem, and two subscales of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory. Principal components analysis (PCA) of the BTPS resulted in a Past orientation (14 items, .88) and a Future orientation (14 items, .92). Persons scoring below the median on both the Past and Future formed the time restrictive category; persons below the median on the Past but above the median on the Future formed the futurist category; persons below the median on the Future but above the median on the Past formed the reminiscers category; persons above the median on both the Past and Future formed the time expansive (i.e., balanced) category. As predicted, persons in the time expansive category scored higher on happiness, well-being, and self-esteem.


We have studied the effects of several different macronutrients on the kinetic behaviour of rat renal glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6‐phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH). Rats were meal‐fed with high‐carbohydrate/low‐protein, high‐protein/low‐carbohydrate and high‐fat diets. High‐protein increased renal G6PDH and 6PDGH activities by 66 per cent and 70 per cent respectively, without significantly changing the Km values of either and each Hexose monophosphate dehydrogenase activity increased steadily, reaching a significant difference on day 4. A rise in carbohydrate or fat in the diets, produced no significant change in either the activity or the kinetic parameters, Vmax and Km of the two dehydrogenases. In addition, the administration of a high‐protein diet for 8 days significantly increased both the pentose phosphate pathway flux (92·6 per cent) and the kidney weight (35 per cent), whereas no significant changes in these parameters were found when the animals were treated with the other diets. Our results suggest that an increase in the levels of dietary protein induces a rise in the intracellular levels of these enzymes. The possible role of this metabolic pathway in the kidneys under these nutritional conditions is also discussed.


The use of personalized healthcare is beginning to show promise as a means of increasing benefit and decreasing risk for patients, but much work needs to be done in order to fully exploit the advances in medical science that have occurred over the last 30 years. In particular, molecular approaches that aim to characterize patient individuality must be combined with genetic approaches to capture the promise of this potential revolution in the practice of medicine.


Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear and particle-induced osteolysis contribute to the failure of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXLPE) was developed in the late 1990s to reduce wear and has shown lower wear rates and loosening than conventional UHMWPE in THA. The irradiation dose for crosslinking is up to 100 kGy. However, during crosslinking, free radical formation induces oxidation. Using HXLPE in THA, the cumulative revision rate was determined to be significantly lower (6.2%) than that with conventional UHMWPE (11.7%) at a mean follow-up of 16 years, according to the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry. However, HXLPE does not confer to TKA the same advantages it confers to THA. Several alternatives have been developed to prevent the release of free radicals and improve polymer mechanical properties, such as thermal treatment, phospholipid polymer 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine grafting, remelting, and vitamin E addition. Among these options, vitamin E addition has reported good clinical results and wear resistance similar to that of HXLPE without vitamin E, as shown by short-term clinical studies of THA and TKA. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the development and performance of UHMWPE in THA and TKA.


We derive a no-arbitrage model of the term structure in which any two futures rates act as factors. The term structure shifts and tilts as the factor rates vary. The cross-sectional properties of the model derive from the solution of a two-dimensional ARMA process for the short rate which exhibits mean reversion and a lagged memory parameter. We show that the correlation of the factor rates is restricted by the no-arbitrage conditions of the model. Hence in a multiple-factor model it is not valid to independently choose both the mean reversion, volatility and correlation parameters. The term-structure model, derived here, can be used to value options on bonds and swaps or to generate term structure scenarios for the risk management of portfolios of interest-rate derivatives.


Background: The European fund for regional development (EFRE) supported Precision Oncology and Personalized Therapy Prediction (POP) Project is establishing preclinical models to further the development of personalized therapy options. In the subgroup breast cancer the current goal is to increase the growth and engraftment rates of breast cancer patient derived xenografts (PDX) models. Methods: Breast cancer patients of the Department of Gynecology with Breast Center Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Germany are recruited since May 2017. In total 29 tissue samples were collected and included so far. Treatment naive and treatment refractory patients, tripple negative breast cancer (TNBC), hormone receptor positive (HR+) and Her2 postivie tumors, primary disease, recurrence or metastasis are sampled. Fresh tumor tissue is extracted via surgery or biopsy. The materials are then implanted into female immunodeficient NOG mice. To establish PDX models for HR+ breast cancer the mice received estrogen supplementation. To increase engraftment and growth rates androgen receptor (AR) testing and subsequently androgen replacement was started since April 2018. Up to date, 6 new samples have been collected. One HR+ and two TNBC samples tested also positive for AR. These samples are currently in passage 0 (p0) and are now supplied with androgens to increase engraftment and growth rate. One already established AR+ TNBC PDX is being regrown with androgen supplementation to compare growth rates. Results: Out of the initial 23 tissue samples ten (six HR+ and four TNBC) have been able to be engrafted into PDX mice. The TNBC PDX models are one in p1, one in p2, one in p3 and one is being tested with systemic therapy. Engraftment time in p1 were between 19 and 97 days. Growth time to passagable size between 21 and 112 days. The HR+ PDX models are four in p1 and two in p2. Engraftment time in p1 was between 26 and 123 days. Growth time to passagable size has been achieved in 2 HR+ PDX within 17 to 48 days. The engraftment/growth rates and times of the androgen supplemented PDX models will be presented. Conclusion: Breast cancer growths in humans slowly and this is also the case in the PDX models. To achieve faster growth and higher engraftment rates androgen supplementation in AR+ breast cancer might be an additional enhancive factor. Citation Format: Kiver VII, Wulf-Goldenberg A, Jurmeister PS, Schweiger C, Gorea O, Hoffmann J, Denkert C, Keilholz U, Liedtke C, Blohmer J-U. Androgen supplementation in patient derived xenografts in androgen receptor positive breast cancer to increase engraftment and growth rate [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-03-06.


On 2009 September 21, a filament eruption and the associated coronal mass ejection (CME) were observed by the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft. The CME originated from the southern hemisphere and showed a deflection of about 15° toward the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) during the propagation in the COR1 field of view. The CME source region was near the central meridian, but no on-disk CME signatures could be seen from the Earth. The aim of this paper is to provide a physical explanation for the strong deflection of the CME observed on 2009 September 21. The two-sided view of the STEREO spacecraft allows us to reconstruct the three-dimensional travel path of the CME and the evolution of the CME source region. The observations are combined with a magnetohydrodynamic simulation, starting from a magnetic field configuration closely resembling the extrapolated potential field for that date. By applying localized shearing motions, a CME is initiated in the simulation, showing a similar non-radial evolution, structure, and velocity as the observed event. The CME gets deflected toward the current sheet of the larger northern helmet streamer due to an imbalance in the magnetic pressure and tension forces and finally gets into the streamer. This study shows that during solar minima, even CMEs originating from high latitude can be easily deflected toward the HCS, eventually resulting in geoeffective events. How rapidly they undergo this latitudinal migration depends on the strength of both the large-scale coronal magnetic field and the magnetic flux of the erupting filament.


Purpose: To measure changes in Georgia's fetoinfant mortality rate (FIMR) from 1981-83 to 2001-03, whether excess feto-infant mortality persists and, if so, to identify interventions to reduce the excess FIMR. Methods: Using vital records data from Georgia and the BABIES (birth weight and age-at-death boxes for intervention and evaluation system) approach, we calculated the total and excess birthweight proportionate FIMR for non-Hispanic ispanic whites and blacks (combined) declined from 24.6 to 10.5 feto-infant deaths per 1,000. For 2001-03, the excess FIMR for blacks was 11.8 compared to 3.6 for whites, with the largest proportion of excess FIMR being attributable to poor women's health status for both groups (56% for blacks, 34% for whites). Conclusions: Despite a large reduction in Georgia's FIMR from 1981-83 to 2001-03, substantial excess feto-infant mortality persists. The largest proportion of Georgia's excess FIMR was attributable to poor women's health, and was greater for blacks compared to whites. Interventions to improve the health of women prior to pregnancy hold the most promise for further reducing and closing racial gaps in Georgia's FIMR. Keywords: Health status disparities, Perinatal mortality, Very low birth weight.


This collection of articles on international negotiation pedagogy compares and contrasts a range of training methods and theories employed by scholars who teach international negotiation from different disciplinary backgrounds and in diverse institutional settings. Notwithstanding this variation, the contributors share a focus on enabling students to engage in negotiation and conflict analysis by teaching a set of core heuristics, to better understand interpersonal behavioral dynamics and learning certain interpersonal skills, and to practice negotiation and conflict analysis through the use of role plays and simulations. The contributors make different observations about the impact of students' personal knowledge and experiences on their ability to learn negotiation skills, and have developed different ways of incorporating student backgrounds in their approaches to negotiation training. The development of more complex simulations is one way instructors are beginning to leverage student knowledge and experience to achieve pedagogical goals.


It has recently been reported that the ob gene receptor was expressed on human and murine hematopoietic stem cells and that the ob gene product leptin stimulated hemato- and lymphopoiesis at the stem cell level. These findings suggest a role for leptin in hemato- and lymphopoiesis during fetal development. There is at present no evidence, however, that leptin is synthesized and released by the fetus. To investigate this possibility, we have measured plasma leptin concentrations in the cord blood of 78 newborn infants. We found that leptin was present in all 78 infants in concentrations comparable with those found in adults (0.6–55.7 ng/ml). Overall, plasma leptin concentrations in the cord blood of infants correlated with birth weight (r = 0.74, P < 0.001). These observations show that leptin is synthesized and released by fetal fat cells. In addition, they are compatible with the concept that leptin may play a role in human fetal hematopoiesis.


Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a newly emerged pathogen has gained immense attention across the globe. It causes large scale epidemics and thousands of sporadic cases of diarrheal illness every year. STEC infections have been reported across the world and causes mild illness to severe bloody diarrhoea and even lifethreatening complications such as HUS in humans. The serotype O157:H7 has recently become a public-health problem of serious concern as it targets infants and young children. The review here describes the epidemiology of STEC in Indian subcontinent.


Abstract Literature on the Guatemalan Civil War has debated whether or not state violence was triggered by rebel activities. Did the government respond to each insurrection caused by the rebels, or did it blindly target regions where antigovernment antipathy and movements had historically prevailed? Because state violence was extensive during the civil war period, the dynamism of the war could have been the reason for its occurrence. Relying on the threat-response model of state violence, this article argues that human rights violations occurred when the government perceived a rebel threat that would have seriously degraded its capability in future counterinsurgencies. The article employs propensity score matching to address the problem of confounding in empirical analysis, and reveals that rebel attacks, particularly those targeting security apparatus and resulting in human injury, increased the likelihood of state violence in the Guatemalan Civil War.


The Reiter's syndrome is an under-investigated disease, which is often referred to as Waelsch urethritis. The onset and development of the Reiter's syndrome depend on a number of factors including infective, genetic and immune ones. The article describes a medical case of a severe form of the Reiter's syndrome in a young woman with HIV-mediated immunodeficiency. The clinical picture was characterized by rupioid eruptions, which confirms the severity of the patient's disease. Conclusion. The Reiter's syndrome in case of HIV-mediated immunodeficiency takes a more malignant course as erosive and ulcerous components as well as osteolytic joint destructions develop, and the condition is accompanied by exacerbations of opportunistic infections.


A maize (Zea mays L.) small heat shock protein (HSP), HSP22, was previously shown to accumulate to high levels in mitochondria during heat stress. Here we have purified native HSP22 and resolved the protein into three peaks using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. Mass spectrometry (MS) of the first two peaks revealed the presence of two HSP22 forms in each peak which differed in mass by 80 daltons (Da), indicative of a monophosphorylation. Phosphorylation of HSP22 by [γ-32P]ATP was also observed in mitochondria labeledin vitro, but not when purified native HSP22 was similarly used, demonstrating that HSP22 does not autophosphorylate, implicating a kinase involvement in vivo. Collisionally induced dissociation tandem MS (CID MS/MS) identified Ser59 as the phosphorylated residue. We have also observed forms of HSP22 that result from alternative intron splicing. The two HSP22 proteins in the first peak were ∼57 Da larger than the two HSP22 proteins in the second peak. MS analysis revealed that the +57-Da forms have an additional Gly residue directly N-terminal of the expected Asp84, which had been converted to an Asn residue. These results are the first demonstrations of phosphorylation and alternative intron splicing of a plant small HSP.


Malaysia is the largest producer and exporter of palm oil in the world. However the palm oil refineries also produce tones of waste products known as palm oil clinker or POC. POC is normally disposed of in landfill or incinerated, incurring costs and causing negative environmental impact, such as pollution. Therefore the appropriate use of POC can help preserve the environment from undesirable effects, while at the same time contributes to cost reduction for the palm oil industry. Split tensile strength of SiO 2 nanoparticle blended cementitious composite with palm oil clinker aggregates cured in saturated limewater have been optimized. SiO 2 nanoparticles with partial replacement of cement by 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 weight percent have been used as reinforcement. To determine the strength of cement pastes, the specimens were cured in two different media (water and saturated limewater) for 7, 28 and 90 days. The results showed that SiO 2 nanoparticles could improve the mechanical properties of concrete. It has been obtained that curing in saturated limewater for 28 days and afterwards in water until 90 days, produces more strengthened cementitious composite than those cured only in water or saturated limewater for 90 days. Excess Ca(OH) 2 crystals which forms after 28 days when the specimens cured limewater reduces the effect of C-S-H gels which form until the 90 days hence negatively impacts the mechanical properties of the specimens. On the other hand, curing the specimens in water after 28 days produces more C-S-H gel results in a cementitious composite with higher strength. (Farzad Soleymani. Split tensile strength of palm oil clinker aggregates-based cementitious composites in the optimum state. Journal of American Science 2012;8(5):61-66). (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.americanscience.org . 9


Many academics prefer to think of education as "work" rather than "fun". As a result, motivation in higher education rarely comes from the process itself. The author predicts this will change as the generation raised on the engagement of games no longer accepts the historical but unnecessary separation of fun and learning. The author offers the games world as an example of the process itself being motivating to the user. He ascribes this to "gameplay", the techniques used by game designers to keep players engaged. The author suggests several ways to bring the motivation of gameplay into education, and predicts that gameplay will eventually become the criterion by which students choose their courses.


The results of the 2NN study confirm that nevirapine combined with stavudine and lamivudine is a valid option for a first-line antiretroviral therapy. This information is crucial for all clinicians working in developing countries since this combination is not only the cheapest but also the only fixed-dose combination to date that has been prequalified by WHO. Fixed-dose combinations reduce the pill burden increasing ease of use minimising the risk of drug resistance and facilitating drug supply. In his accompanying Commentary Andrew Carr supports the importance of this fixed-dose combination. Two additional advantages of nevirapine over efavirenz for the developing world not noted in the Commentary are that it can be used in pregnant women and in children younger than age 3 years. Carr's claim that efavirenz co-formulations are available is unfortunately ahead of its time: technical difficulties mean that such efavirenz-containing combinations are unlikely to be produced for at least 2 years; intellectual property constraints could delay this even further. Currently only two co-formulations based on non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors are available in developing countries and both contain nevirapine. (excerpt)


Background: Cancer is one of the most important causes of death in the world and has an increasing trend globally. We aimed at investigating the five leading cancers in Iranian women based on a 10-year history of cancer registry reports and illustrating the trends in all cancer sites and breast cancer as the top leading one from 2003 to 2015. Methods: Data were obtained from national cancer registry study. Age-Specific Incidence Rate (ASR) data were obtained from Iran's annual national cancer registry reports between 2003 to 2010 and 2014 to 2015. Using Joinpoint regression, we analyzed incidence trends over time for all cancer sites and the top leading cancer from 2003 to 2015. Results: Breast cancer was ranked first in Iranian women. Its ASR raised from 15.96 in 2003 to 32.63 in 2015. Results of trend analysis based on Annual Percent Change (APC) index showed 5.6 (95%CI: 2.9 to 8.3) and 4.6 (95%CI: 2.0 to 7.2) annual increase in the incidence of all cancer sites and breast cancer from 2003 to 2015, respectively. Conclusion: This study indicates significant increasing trends in all cancer sites and breast cancer incidence in Iran. Despite the national coverage of cancer registry over the past decade, more considerations should be taken into account, especially in Breast cancer.


The optical fiber has found great application in long distance communications, as light the medium of information transfer attenuates very less compared to electric pulses in cables. However the major issues that limit efficiency are chromatic dispersion and non-linear effects. Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) is widely used as a component to compensate dispersion on account of its low insertion loss. This paper provides a method of using a combination of FBG as a dispersion compensator and Bessel filter to improve the Q factor of the system and also reduce the noise figure. A 10 Gb/s NRZ pulse is launched into the fiber and the performance of the system is evaluated using Optisystem simulator. The Q factor of the system is then investigated with and without use of Bessel filter. The simulation is analysed with respect to input power, fiber length, and attenuation coefficient.


The Zinnia (Zinnia elegans J.) flower has many applications in landscape design, whereas lack of adequate conditions and nutritions in some cases can reduce the quality and number of flowers. Therefore, control of growth conditions is very important related to nutrition and application of growth regulators to improve the quality and quantity of flowers. Flower's morphology and longevity are two main factors that are used to evaluate the quality of flowers. Application methods that could increase the vase life, is important. A research conducted to investigate the effects of calcium chloride, gibberellin and Benzyladenin on zinnia quantitative and qualitative characteristics in 2010. Experiment carried out in a factorial in randomized complete block design with four replications at the Sharekord University's research farm. Treatments consisted calcium chloride (0, 0.5 and 1 gram per liter), Gibberellin (0, 75 and 150 mg per liter) and benzyladenine (0, 75 and 150 mg per liter) to be sprayed on plant two times in 10 days interval. The result showed that calcium chloride increased stem diameter, number of lateral shoots and flowers and storage vase life. Gibberellin reduced flower and stem diameter, number of axillary shoots and flower. Gibberellins also reduced the beginning of flowering time from transplanting and increased the vase life of the flower on plant and storage. Furthermore, benzyladenine significantly increased the quality and quantity of plant except the flowering period.


This article focuses on 'tempo doeloe', a mode of nostalgia to the Dutch East Indies (colonial Indonesia) in contemporary Dutch literature. The phrase 'tempo doeloe' denotes 'the good old days' in Pasar Malay, the colloquial colonial language that was used in the Dutch East Indies. The article examines some of the historically contingent dimensions, mnemonic features and ideological complexities of tempo doeloe. Particular attention is devoted, first, to how tempo doeloe is constitutive of a memorial community of repatriates in the Netherlands, and second, to how notions of authenticity and beauty are critically imbued with this particular type of nostalgia. The aim is to gain a better insight into tempo doeloe as a historically contingent Dutch mode of nostalgia for empire and to review some of the recent theoretical perspectives on possible intersections between memory and the postcolonial.


The structure of ultrathin cellulose acetate membranes, known as active layer membranes, has been investigated using small-angle neutron scattering. These membranes are known to have structural and functional similarity to the surface or "skin" layer in commercial reverse-osmosis (RO) membranes and hence are useful model systems for understanding the structure of the RO membrane skin layer. Active layer membranes were studied after swelling them with either DzO or CD30D. The results in both cases clearly indicated the presence of very small (10-20 A) porous structures in the membrane. The presence of such pores has been a subject of long-standing controversy in this area. The data was analyzed using a modified Debye-Bueche analysis and the resultant membrane structure was seen to agree well with structural information from electron microscopic studies. Finally, a possible explanation for the differences in scattering observed between the DzO swollen membranes and the CD30D swollen membranes has been presented.


Purpose: Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived hormone with insulin-sensitizing, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic actions. Adiponectin levels are suppressed in obesity through mechanisms involving chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Olive oil consumption is associated with beneficial cardiovascular and metabolic actions with contributions from the antioxidant phenol hydroxytyrosol (HT) and the monounsaturated fatty acid oleic acid (OA, 18:1n-9cis), which possess anti-inflammatory and vasculoprotective properties. We determined the effects of HT and OA, alone and in combination, on adiponectin expression in human Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome adipocytes, under pro-inflammatory condition induced by the cytokine TNF-α.

Methods: Adipocytes were treated with 1-50 μmol/L OA for 48 h, 0.1-10 μmol/L HT for 1 h or with a combination of OA plus HT, before 10 ng/mL TNF-α for 24 h. Adiponectin protein levels in the culture medium and mRNA expression were measured by ELISA and real-time PCR. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)Γ protein and mRNA levels, as well as PPARΓ activation, were determined by Western blotting, real-time PCR, and ELISA. Phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by Western blotting and the peroxide-sensitive fluorophore dichlorofluoresceine diacetate, respectively.

Results: OA or HT significantly prevented, in a concentration-dependent manner, TNF-α-induced suppression of total adiponectin secretion as well as mRNA levels in human adipocytes (40% vs control for TNF-alpha, 80% vs control for TNF-alpha + HT or TNF-alpha + OA, P<0.05). HT and OA prevented - by 30% - TNF-α-induced downregulation of PPARΓ, a master transcriptional regulator of adiponectin, in association with blunted basal and TNF-α-triggered production of ROS. HT+OA co-treatment restored adiponectin and PPARΓ expression in an additive manner compared with single treatment. We also explored HT and OA effect on the mitogen-activated protein kinase JNK phosphorylation, crucial for adiponectin and PPARΓ suppression by TNF-α. Here HT or OA alone as well as OA+HT combination in an additive manner attenuated TNF-α-stimulated JNK phosphorylation.

Conclusions: The virgin olive oil components, OA and HT, at nutritionally relevant concentrations, have additive effects in preventing adiponectin downregulation in inflamed adipocytes, via the attenuation of oxidative stress and JNK-mediated PPARΓ suppression. These components may explain at least part of the metabolic and vascular beneficial role of olive oil in Mediterranean diets.


Series of maximum distance quantum error-correcting codes are developed and analysed. For a given rate and given error-correction capability, quantum error-correcting codes with these specifications are constructed. The codes are explicit with efficient decoding algorithms. For a given field maximum length quantum codes are constructed.


BackgroundMalaria is a parasitic borne disease that affects red blood cells. The disease is preventable, detectable and treatable and more common in poor resource settings. It causes socioeconomic impacts, representing a large burden on the revenue of countries where it is endemic. Malaria is undoubtedly one of the main public health concerns impacting on families and the economy in Mozambique. Although the entire population of Mozambique is at risk of malaria, children and pregnant women have higher risk owing to lower immunity. Age category plays a significant important role in malaria occurrence and can affect the course and progression of the disease and correct treatment. Very few studies in pediatric malaria exists in Mozambique and the existing uses a simplistic and coarse grouping. Malaria risk is rarely uniform, whether considering households in a village, villages in a district or districts in a country. The knowledge of malaria pediatric incidence and, the need to evaluate the local heterogeneity by generating malaria risk maps can improve the understanding of pediatric malaria being the objective of this study. Materials and MethodsA retrospective study was conducted using existing malaria positive data from 2018 to 2019 at Rural Sussundenga Hospital (RSH) in Sussundenga municipality. Attributable factor of the disease and incidence were calculated. Proportion of gender, age category and location were tested using G test. For malaria risk mapping, ten malaria factors (anthropic, sociodemographic, climatic and clinic) were used to produce two maps one using malaria incidence and other without. Bioclimatic, Diva GIS 7.4.0 and, Landsat 8 image were used to produce the map.Results and conclusionThe findings revealed that of the, 42,248 patients who visited the local hospital f, 51.2 % tested positive for malaria with an incidence of 45.7 per 100 persons. There is a difference between residential areas in malaria incidence, with both maps showing malaria risk in Nhamazara, Nhamarenza and Unidade communities. This implies that malaria high risk areas seem to be located in high populated areas and areas close to water bodies. Relevant information is provided for effective planning in malaria intervention.


A 52‐year‐old woman underwent thoracotomy for the removal of a mass in the middle lobe of the right lung. Light microscopy showed a tumour with the morphology of a papillary adenocarcinoma with numerous psammoma bodies. Electron microscopy revealed the tumour cells to possess the lamellated intracytoplasmic inclusions characteristic of normal and neoplastic type II pneumocytes. Psammoma bodies have not previously been reported in type II cell carcinoma of the lung. Alveolar cell carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a papillary adenocarcinoma with psammoma bodies occurring in the lung.


Background: With the onset of old age many individuals experience an increase in various age-related stressors (e.g., life regrets, acute physical problems, or functional disabilities) that can trigger disturbances in biological processes, such as cortisol section. A psychological factor that may protect older adults' physiological functioning in the context of age-related stressors relates to self-compassion. Self-compassion is defined by having a kind, non-judgmental, and supportive attitude towards oneself during times of stress or failure. Previous work among younger populations showed that self-compassion can influence emotional reactivity to stress and is associated with more adaptive biological responses to stress. This study examined whether self-compassion could also benefit older adults' cortisol secretion in the context of age-related stressors.
Methods: A cross-sectional study examined 233 community-dwelling older adults for their levels of self-compassion, age-related stressors (regret intensity, acute physical problems, and functional disability) and relevant covariates. Diurnal cortisol was measured on three non-consecutive days and the averaged area-under-the-curve (AUC) was calculated.
Findings: Multiple regression analyses revealed significant interactions between age-related stressors and self-compassion (|ts| > -1.99, ps -2.48, ps .49).
Discussion: These results suggest that self-compassion may represent an important personal resource that could protect older adults from stress-related biological disturbances.


This book gives detailed descriptions of a number of the experimental research techniques most commonly used in the study of liquid crystals. It is designed to be of particular interest to graduate students in physics and chemistry who are about to embark on liquid-crystal research, as well as to established workers in the ®eld who may wish to gain an insight into experimental techniques outside their own ®eld of expertise. The book ful®ls this role. Three (out of ten) chapters are directly related to X-ray studies. Several of the other chapters are not of direct interest to most crystallographers. However, to any crystallographer who wishes to become involved in the study of liquid crystals, the book will be valuable. Liquid-crystal research involves scientists from a range of disciplines. Many reference books already exist that provide detailed theory on the subject. This particular book does not attempt to repeat large amounts of theory, or provide a comprehensive bibliography, but rather concentrates on experimental techniques and limits references to those most directly related to the work treated. The individual authors are experimental researchers of international repute, currently working in the USA. Chapter 1, by Michael R. Frisch and Satyendra Kumar, provides a short introduction to liquid crystals. It describes the many types of liquid-crystal phases (mesophases) and discusses their structure and order, along with the nomenclature used to describe them. It is followed by a chapter written by Mary E. Neubert that describes how these numerous mesophases and transitions between them can be characterized. Initial identi®cation is likely to be by thermal analysis and the use of a polarizing microscope, ®tted with a hot stage, but the important use of X-ray crystallography to de®ne structure and con®rm preliminary identi®cations is brie ̄y mentioned, although details are left until later chapters. Thirtyeight beautiful colour prints of phase textures support this chapter. Chapter 3, by Kumar, is the main chapter on X-ray diffraction studies. Conventional analysis and interpretation of data cannot be applied to liquid-crystal mesophases. Accurate temperature control, sample preparation and alignment using magnetic or AC electric ®elds, are frequently needed. Kumar introduces the types of scans commonly used and goes on to describe important experimental techniques. Diffraction patterns, including 3 colour prints and scans from a number of mesophase types, are described and examples are given with clear explanations of the structural implications. Further X-ray scan techniques are described in Chapter 8 by Joel D. Brock and in Chapter 9 by Sumil K. Sinha. Brock describes how freely suspended ®lms can be used to study the in-plane structure of smectic liquid crystals. Experimental design and technique are well described, although labels on diagrams would have made this easier to follow. Relevant theory is provided and results are given for a number of samples. Sinha concentrates on X-ray surface scattering studies. These studies can reveal details of surface ordering and surface behaviour. Again, various techniques are described, particularly the use of synchrotron radiation and neutron sources. Theory and examples are provided as necessary and the chapter is generally well written with adequate diagrams and explanations. The remaining chapters have less relevance for the crystallographer. They deal with Physical properties (Panos Photinos), NMR studies of orientational order (Paul Ukleja and Daniele Finotello), Light scattering and quasielastic spectroscopy (John T. Ho), Calorimetric studies (Carl W. Garland) and Chemical structure±property relationships (Mary E. Neubert). All these authors follow the major theme of the book, generally providing good coverage of experimental techniques, some relevant theory and examples of results obtained on liquid crystals, which serve to clarify their explanations, together with adequate lists of references. Taken as a whole, the book ful®ls its objective of providing details of the important experimental techniques used to study and characterize liquid-crystal systems, particularly where the techniques require modi®cations to traditional experiments. With different contributors there are differences in style in the various chapters, but the general emphasis is the same throughout. However, further general editing could have been performed to eliminate some unnecessary differences, e.g. units could be based on the SI system in all cases, rather than having the mixture that occurs in different chapters. For the person interested in main stream crystallography, as opposed to the study of liquid crystals, the book will only be of limited interest. For anyone interested in crystallographic techniques applied to liquid crystals, whether a newcomer or already established in the ®eld of experimental liquid-crystal research, this book makes a welcome addition to the available literature.


PURPOSE
To evaluate the bonding effectiveness of one- and two-step self-etch adhesives in comparison with a total-etch approach.

METHODS
From 55 non-carious human third molars, mid-coronal dentin and enamel bur-cut surfaces were prepared. The bonding surfaces were treated strictly following the manufacturers' instructions with three one-step self-etch (all-in-one) adhesives, AQ bond, Reactmer and Xeno CF Bond; two two-step self-etch adhesives, experimental ABF and Clearfil SE Bond, one two-step total-etch adhesive, Prime & Bond NT, and one three-step total-etch adhesive, OptiBond FL. Composite built-ups were made using Z100. After storage overnight in 37 degrees C water, the bonded specimens were sectioned into rectangular slabs of approximately 2x2 mm width and 9 mm length. They were then trimmed into a round cross-sectional shape resulting in an interface area of approximately 1 mm2, and subsequently subjected to microtensile bond strength (microTBS) testing with a cross-head speed of 1 mm/minute. Differences in microTBS were determined for enamel and dentin using the Kruskal-Wallis test at P < 0.05.

RESULTS
The microTBS to enamel varied from 10.3 MPa for the one-step self-etch adhesive AQ bond to 49.5 MPa for the total-etch adhesive Prime & Bond NT. The microTBS to dentin varied from 15.5 MPa for the one-step self-etch adhesive Reactmer to 59.6 for the three-step total-etch adhesive OptiBond FL. The microTBS of the total-etch adhesives to enamel was significantly higher than that of the one-step self-etch adhesives. Comparing the dentin microTBS, only OptiBond FL performed significantly better than the one-step self-etch adhesives. Specimen failure during preparation occurred with each one-step adhesive, but more frequently when bonding to enamel than to dentin. Most one-step self-etch adhesives failed predominantly adhesively between the tooth substrate and the bonding layer in contrast to the two- and three-step adhesives that revealed generally more mixed adhesive-cohesive failures.


In this paper, we aim to introduce Life-Language Te st as a new concept in the field of language testing, drawing on recent trends in the f ield of English language teaching. To do so, we try to explain ways in which language tes ting professionals can revise and devise tests for measuring both learners' language proficiency and other issues which are of prime importance in their life. We first con duct a historical review of prominent language proficiency models which have formed the basis for devising language tests; next, we discuss the theory of Applied ELT, as well as its related nomenclature, which stresses the promotion of learners' quality of life in English language classes. Finally, we propose Life-Language Model of Proficiency which is an extension of previous models. After providing evidence supporting the con struct validity of life-language tests, we contend that language testing is now ripe enough for a broader view of assessment which would include related issues from other disciplines. We further argue that language testing has a lot to offer to other d isciplines and that language testers should adopt new roles as Educational Language Testers.


The past years have seen a rapid development of autonomous underwater vehicle-aided (AUV-aided) data-gathering schemes in underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs). The use of AUVs efficiently reduces energy consumption of sensor nodes. However, all AUV-aided solutions face severe problems in data collection delay, especially in a large-scale network. In this paper, to reduce data collection delay, we propose a prediction-based delay optimization data collection algorithm (PDO-DC). On the contrary to the traditional delay optimization algorithms, Kernel Ridge Regression (KRR) is utilized via cluster member nodes to obtain the corresponding prediction models. Then, the AUV can obtain all cluster data by traversing less cluster head nodes, which can effectively reduce the collection delay of the AUV. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is both feasible and effective.


In order to better understand how to identify and treat student-athletes who experience concussions, better insight into reporting behavior of athletes is needed. This study aims to identify information influencing athletes' attitudes toward reporting their concussions and the perceived trajectory of their recovery both athletically and academically. Twenty-five former high school and collegiate athletes who experienced concussions in a wide variety of sports, organizational levels, and time periods gave insight through structured, qualitative interviews. A number of factors regarding education about concussions, proper diagnosis of concussions, and motivational pressures within high school and collegiate athletics were assessed. Eight major themes were identified regarding the participants' experiences with sport-related concussion: optimism bias, invisibility of the injury, diagnostic barriers, desire to play, external support and pressures, uncertainty of long-term prognosis, generational factors, and protection of future athletes. The findings support that underreporting of concussions among those players interviewed is related to misperceived risk, lack of education, and a struggle between internal and external pressures to play through injury. However, those who did seek medical and academic support, often did receive the necessary aid.


A pipe-shaped static charge eliminator with high performance and safety has been developed for use in pneumatic conveyor lines. It consists of grounded corona electrodes attached on the inner surface of a glass cylinder, and an exciting electrode covering its outer surface and molded in resin insulator. The electrode system is encapsulated in a metal casing and connected to a pneumatic conveyer line. A high-frequency exciting voltage with 2 kHz and 2.5-kV peak voltage is applied between the corona electrodes and exciting electrode to produce surface discharge as a plasma ion source over the inner surface of the glass cylinder which prevents dangerous sparks from occurring. Assuming the ionic current density from the plasma ion source for eliminating the space charge of the powder cloud to be proportional to the local intensity of the space-charge field at the ion source and the average flow velocity of the powder cloud, a theoretical formula of charge elimination is derived. Then charge elimination tests are carried out using four different kinds of powders. The results obtained confirm the validity of this formula. The present charge eliminator can reduce the powder charge down to five percent of its initial value with only 90 cm length in the gas flow direction at 30-40¿m particle size and less than 100-g/m3 mass-loading.


Major depression (MD) often occurs after MI and has been shown to be an independent predictor of poor cardiovascular (CV) outcome. In spite of this, there are only 2 published doubleblind randomized placebo-controlled studies of the safety and efficacy of SSRIs in patients with MD after MI. In the SADHART study (Glassman et al, JAMA 2002;288:701-9), patients admitted to hospital for recent MI or unstable angina who had MD were randomly allocated either sertraline or placebo for 24 weeks. Sertraline, which was administered to 186 patients, was assessed to be safe from a CV point of view. There were no statistically significant differences between placebo and sertraline in the occurrence of CV events (MI, angina, congestive heart failure, stroke and death) or for left ventricular ejection fraction, heart rate, electrocardiogram changes or premature ventricular complexes. Strik et al (Psychosom Med 2000;62:783-9) assessed the safety of fluoxetine in a doubleblind randomized placebo-controlled trial. They found that 25 weeks of fluoxetine treatment in 27 patients with MD after MI was safe compared with placebo. Although suggestive of the safety of certain SSRIs after MI, an obvious limitation of these 2 studies is the small number of patients who received the drug in question. Thus, drug–drug interactions between SSRIs and cardiac medications cannot be ruled out. For example, certain anti-arrythmics were an exclusion criterion in the SADHART study. Furthermore, the SSRIs were not administered early after MI, which precludes comment on their safety during this medically critical period, and severely medically ill patients were excluded from these studies. Long-term deleterious CV effects of SSRIs are possible. For example, some SSRIs have been shown to increase low-density lipoprotein levels (Lara et al, J Clin Psychiatry 2003;64:1455-9), the main conventional CV risk factor. Long-term treatment with SSRIs and, particularly, paroxetine can induce marked weight gain, which is another conventional CV risk factor. The efficacy of SSRIs in patients with MD after MI has not been clearly shown. In the SADHART study, sertraline induced a non–statistically significant mean reduction of 8.4 points on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) compared with a 7.6point mean reduction with placebo. The high placebo response is not surprising and may have been compounded by the high percentage of patients with post-MI MD that remits spontaneously. The apparently lower efficacy than that usually observed in MD clinical trials with physically healthy patients may have been the result of the short duration of depressive episodes after MI in a significant number of subjects. A limitation of the study was the heterogeneity of the sample, with a mix of patients with MD who were depressed before admission to hospital and those who developed MD after admission. Regarding only patients with a previous history of MD, the decrease in mean HAM-D score was statistically significant with a mean decrease of 9.8 and 7.6 in the sertraline and placebo groups, respectively. Even in this subgroup, however, compared with physically healthy patients included in MD clinical trials, the observed decrease in mean HAM-D scores in the treatment group after MI would only be considered moderate. In the study by Strik et al, the difference of 2.7 HAM-D points at week 25 between the fluoxetine and the placebo groups was not statistically significant. In the SADHART study, the incidence of severe CV events was smaller in the sertraline group (14.5%) than in the placebo group (22.4%), but no statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of overall CV events. As stated by the authors, this study did not have the statistical power to detect a reduction in CV events. It is also possible that cardiac drugs such as statins affect the biologic CV risk factors associated with MD, thereby masking an additional biologic effect that SSRIs may have on CV outcome. Lesperance et al (Am J Psychiatry 2004;161:271-7) have shown that, in patients not taking statins after acute coronary syndrome, depressed patients had markedly higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), which is a well-recognized CV risk factor, than nondepressed patients. In contrast, in patients taking statins, CRP levels of depressed patients did not differ from those of nondepressed patients. After 6 months of treatment and follow-up, sertraline and probably other SSRIs appear to be safe and moderately efficacious in the treatment of depression after MI. However, the limitations of the available studies preclude the blanket prescribing of SSRIs for MD in this patient population. At this point, it is not possible to determine whether SSRIs improve CV outcome, and further investigations are needed.


CHRISTOPHER BOLLAS AND DAVID SUNDELSON: The New Informants: A Betrayal of Confidentiality in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. Jason Aranson, Northvale, NJ, 1995, 232 pp., $22.00, ISBN 156 8215959. One of the salient social issues of our time is the debate over privacy. From the television talk show circuit to the debate over Internet free speech, how to maintain one's privacy in this increasingly public global village has lawyers and social scientists all aflutter. It is not surprising, therefore, that the mental health field should get swept up in the debate. In psychotherapy, the analog to privacy is called confidentiality. Confidentiality is crucial in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. To get a patient to reveal herself without fear of recrimination from friends, neighbors, and family, can only come about if there is a privileged confidential relationship between patient and therapist. Moreover, even to get the patient to free associate about censoring painful fantasies requires a confidential patient-therapist relationship. With the changing social context of psychotherapy, in a world where there are no secrets or private thoughts and conduct, confidentiality is under attack. Bollas and Sundelson's The New Informants is a frightening little book about the encroachment of the social context of psychotherapy onto the private patienttherapist relationship. The book is well written and well reasoned. The first area discussed is the new fields of forensic psychiatry and psychology. The whole purpose of these fields is to provide information to others outside the doctor-patient relationship. New legal decisions about the duty to warn and duty to protect actually compel psychiatrists and psychologists to warn authorities. How can patients be honest with a psychotherapist if they know that the information is not privileged? How can a mother get help for her propensity to be a child abuser if she knows that her doctor might have her arrested? Another problem is the new power of managed care organizations. This new breed of insurance companies requires disclosure about the patient and the patient's treatment, beyond what would have been the case 20 years ago. Even the cognitive set of the mental health field has changed. At professional meetings, psychologists and psychiatrists discuss their old cases, sometimes betraying the confidence of a celebrity patient who has committed suicide. These are all signs of our times. Psychotherapy and psychoanalysis have always operated in a specific social context. Now is no different. The field of psychoanalysis has repressed the awareness that the social context of an analysis or a therapy has not vanished just because the analyst deals only with fantasies. …


Teenage crisis leaves a deep impact in a student's mind. Assistance in tackling the psychological crisis provides for the development of personality, since each critical experience initiates personal emotional maturity. The inability to tackle crisis leads to persistent crisis and creates conditions for nonadaptive functioning of an individual (Plužek, 1996). Since teachers see children every day and can easily observe changes in their behaviour, they should learn to recognize symptoms of crisis in due time and provide the immediate assistance, in order to prevent serious consequences. The objective of this article is to analyse the most frequent crises experienced by upper-grade students and aspects of sociopsychological assistance provided at school. Tasks: 1) to define the concept of crisis and specify its features; 2) to analyse the concept of socio-psychological assistance and specify its levels; 3) to identify crises most frequently experienced by upper-grade students and specialists providing assistance; 4) to review possible means of assistance to children experiencing crisis in school. Object of the survey: student behaviour in critical situations Methods: questionnaire survey The theoretical part deals with analysing the concept and process of crisis. The empirical part provides statistical data on crises most frequently experienced by upper-grade students, crisis resolution, students' attitude toward socio-educational and psychological assistance in school, and the relationship between students' feelings, self-confidence and confidence in teacher's experience in dealing with crisis. Main conclusions: 1) crisis can be defined as a person's response to a difficult and emotionally significant situation in life which requires new ways of adaptation and resolution. In crisis a person experiences huge psychological discomfort followed by such feelings as despair, helplessness, fear, tension, anxiety, depression and fluster. 2) The process of crisis is very complex (irritant, stressor), which arouses feelings of helplessness, anxiety and tension. The child's adaptation or crisis resolution is determined by the child's personal qualities, family, school, and the influence of safety and risk factors in the environment. 3) Usually, upper-grade students encounter learning, psychological and physical violence and family crisis problems. Self-confident students have fewer learning difficulties when their needs are met and when they trust their teachers and their ability. Hence, they are less exposed to problems of psychological violence. 4) Therefore, in crisis up to one fourth of the students do not seek any help, one fourth seek help from one of their parents, one fifth turn to their friends, one tenth - to a psychologist, teacher, class tutor and/or counselor. 5) Primary prevention at school is usually rendered by a social counselor and/or class tutor. Secondary prevention of learning problems is usually provided by a social counselor and/or class tutor; concerning problems of physical violence – by a psychologist; on family crises – by a social counselor and/or psychologist.


The diets of many Westernised people are considered poor in nutritional quality - low in fruits, vegetables and whole grains and high in fat and sugar. Western diets increase the risk of four of the top 10 major causes of death - i.e. heart disease, certain forms of cancer, stroke and type 2 diabetes.


An important control point for gene regulation is the frequency of initiations leading to different numbers of RNA polymerases simultaneously transcribing the same gene. To date, the only direct assay for multiple-round transcription by RNA polymerase II in vitro required G-free cassette-containing templates and GTP-free conditions and was thus restricted in application. Here we used instead templates containing a triplex-directed interstrand psoralen-DNA cross-link to block RNA polymerase II elongation at a specific location. Covalently cross-linked templates allowed simultaneous detection of both specific initiation and reinitiation with any combination of promoter and transcribed sequence. In reconstituted systems, identical stacking of RNA polymerases was observed when the first polymerase was halted by GTP deprivation at the end of a G-free cassette or by a covalent cross-link downstream of different transcribed sequences. In contrast to transcription of G-free cassettes, reinitiation was unaffected by the transcription factor SII on sequences containing all four nucleotides. In crude nuclear extracts, transcription of covalently cross-linked templates yielded a reinitiation pattern with a wider spacing than in more purified fractions, indicating that the elongation complexes from nuclear extract contained a different form of RNA polymerase II or a different complement of associated factors.


Provided is an eyewear-type terminal including a display unit on which picture information is displayed; a sensing unit that senses a period of time for which a user's gaze has been fixed in a state where a user wears the eyewear-type terminal; and a controller that collects information relating to something that the user gazes toward, in a case where the user's gaze has been fixed for a period of reference time or longer, and con trols the display unit in Such a manner that, among the pieces of collected information, at least one piece of collected infor mation, is displayed on the display unit.


This paper investigates the attribution of responsibility to artificial intelligent systems (AI). It argues that traditional approaches to the subject are insufficient because they encounter some of the same problems that one encounters when attributing responsibility to humans. Peter Strawson's take on responsibility is introduced as an alternative approach. He claims that theoretical considerations miss the point when we ponder the responsibility of human agents. Instead, we should understand responsibility as part of the practice of human life. This claim is investigated and transferred to AI to see if it provides a more fruitful way to understand responsibility of AI.


THz time-domain reflection imaging is performed to do non-destructive evaluation on ceramic composite materials in order to characterize changes in material properties due to mechanical and thermal strain.


Background Ropivacaine is a long-acting local anesthetic that is used to treat postoperative pain. Adjuvant use of dexmedetomidine in regional anesthesia may prolong the duration of analgesia. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the duration and effect of ropivacaine alone vs. ropivacaine in combination with dexmedetomidine for postoperative analgesia. Methods The PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of ropivacaine alone or ropivacaine in combination with dexmedetomidine for regional anesthesia. The primary outcome was duration of analgesia, defined as the time from onset of the block to the time of the first analgesic request or initial pain report. Secondary outcomes were duration of sensory block, duration of motor block, consumption of sufentanil for analgesia, length of hospital stay, and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Results Eighteen studies with 1148 patients were included. Overall quality of the RCTs, as assessed by the Jadad scale, was high. The meta-analysis demonstrated that ropivacaine combined with dexmedetomidine significantly prolonged the duration of postoperative analgesia from local anesthetics compared to ropivacaine alone (WMD: 4.14h; 95%CI: 3.29~5.0h; P<0.00001; I2 = 99%). There was evidence of high heterogeneity between studies. The duration of sensory and motor block was significantly increased, and consumption of sufentanil for analgesia and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting were significantly reduced in patients who received ropivacaine combined with dexmedetomidine compared to ropivacaine alone. There was no significant difference in length of hospital stay. Conclusions Compared to ropivacaine alone, ropivacaine combined with dexmedetomidine significantly prolonged the duration of postoperative analgesia and sensory and motor block, and reduced consumption of sufentanil for analgesia and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, across an array of surgeries.


Demand for higher education programs on the Internet is still emerging. These programs make it possible to utilize advanced information and communication technology mainly at distance education. Research in this area is aimed at application of proven methodologies from information technology. One of these methodologies is model description of objects and processes about them. Basically, higher education programs are well fit to model description. However, high number of highly interrelated objects must be handled and objects are local program, subject area, geographic, industry, university, and student group specific. Description is needed that can cope with this task. A modeling has been published recently that drew the attention of the authors of this paper. They analyzed that modeling considering predefined demands by practical application. This paper gives an evaluation of a recent approach to virtual higher education environments. Following this, the proposed modeling is evaluated from the point of view of description of real world cased in distance education of engineers. Finally, a possible implementation of the proposed modeling within the organization of higher education Internet portals is analyzed.


Toxoplasmosis accounts for 1-3% of ocular infections in patients with AIDS1. There are a variety of clinical manifestations that can be confused with other ocular disease. It may be the first manifestations of intracranial and disseminated Toxoplasma gondii infection. Prompt recognition and early treatment with antiparasitic drug therapy will prevent widespread tissue destruction, preserve vision and reduce dissemination. This current review will provide a broad-based overview of toxoplasmosis and ocular infection.


The interpretation of Palaeozoic marine benthonic ostracods of the Thuringian "Ecotype" or "Mega-assemblage" as indicative of a palaeopsychrosphere has been controversial. We review the evidence and conclude that the characteristics and distribution of these ostracods are consistent with the existence of deep, cold, well-oxygenated water masses, formed by high-latitude sinking of surface waters, in the Devonian oceans, comparable with those of the modern ocean that constitute the psychrosphere (waters below the thermocline with temperature < 10 °C). We present a new palaeoceanographic model for the Frasnian-Famennian (Late Devonian) Kellwasser events that resulted in the extinction of 75% of marine ostracod taxa, mostly neritic or pelagic forms, while the deep-water Thuringian Mega-assemblage was relatively unaffected. We offer an explanation for the unlikely preservation of examples of such a deep-water (bathyal to abyssal) ostracod fauna that involves upwelling of deep cold waters on continental margins. * Speaker


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Most imaging techniques used for the evaluation of obstructive epiphora, such as DS DCG, rely on undesired ionizing radiation. We evaluated the efficacy of topical contrast-enhanced MR DCG in comparison with DS DCG in patients with obstructive epiphora who underwent balloon DCG or stent placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six LDSs of 21 patients treated with balloon DCG (n = 11) or stent placement (n = 11) were examined with MR DCG and DS DCG. Contralateral LDSs (n = 14) were also evaluated in patients with unilateral disease. A sterile 0.9% NaCl solution containing 1:100 diluted gadolinium chelate was instilled into conjunctival sacs. The 3D FSPGR sequence was used with a 1.5T scanner. MR and DS DCG findings were scored and compared according to morphology of the lacrimal sac, junction, and NLD and the presence of contrast media in the nasal cavity. RESULTS: Comparison of MR DCG and DS DCG findings showed no significant statistical differences in reference to anatomic locations according to the McNemar test (P > .05). Good or very good agreement (κ value > 0.61) was observed according to the κ statistics. CONCLUSIONS: Topical contrast-enhanced MR DCG is an effective and reliable noninvasive method for evaluation of the LDS in patients treated with IR procedures. This method avoids both cannulation and ionizing radiation and can, therefore, be repeated as often as is necessary in these complex patients.


This paper presents a closed-loop space vector modulation (SVM)-based sliding mode controller (SMC) for a three-level grid-connected neutral point clamped (3L-NPC) inverter. The nonlinear SMC based on Gao's reaching law has been designed to control the grid current and inject desired amount of active and reactive power into the network. Due to using single dc source at the NPC inverter dc bus, neutral point voltage is controlled through redundant switching states and instantaneous dc voltage feedback integrated into SVM technique. Meanwhile, there is no external voltage controller involved, thus no associated fine tuning issues are existed. The performance of the proposed hybrid controller to inject a desired active/reactive power to the grid is investigated through external perturbations such as change in the line current amplitude/phase shift, ac voltage fluctuation, as well as dc voltage variation. Full converter state-space model was developed and simulated. Experimental results are provided to verify the fast dynamic performance, low content of line current THD%, and good voltage balancing of dc bus capacitors of the NPC inverter.


Liquid scintillator detectors have many properties which are highly advantageous for neutrino research at the MeV energy scale. There are various choices of additives to an organic liquid scintillator which typically function as the nuclear targets in a neutrino interaction. More recently, new techniques for loading a large amount of nuclei into liquid scintillator enable sensitive searches for double beta decay with various nuclei. KamLAND was an existing detector constructed for neutrino physics at the MeV scale, later upgraded to a sensitive detector for double beta decay (KamLAND-Zen). In this experiment, isotopically enriched xenon gas was loaded into the highly radiopure liquid scintillator. As xenon is a stable noble gas, the scintillation performance changes little, and it is safe for long-term use. To mitigate backgrounds, xenon was loaded only into the liquid scintillator in the central part of the detector, contained in a small nylon balloon. Owing to the large amount of xenon and low background level, the KamLAND-Zen experiment achieved the most sensitive search to date for neutrinoless double beta decay. The next phase of the experiment plans to increase the amount of xenon by almost double. In the future, sensitivity can be further enhanced by detector upgrades. SNO+ (successor to the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory) is a liquid scintillator detector that is currently being commissioned and will soon be taking data. Originally, SNO+ developed a technique to load neodymium into the liquid scintillator in order to conduct a double beta decay search with the isotope $^{150}$Nd. Later, SNO+ developed two new techniques that enable loading tellurium into liquid scintillator. The large natural abundance of $^{130}$Te and the ability to load tellurium at a significant concentration in the SNO+ liquid scintillator, while maintaining excellent scintillation optical properties, offer the prospect of a very sensitive search for neutrinoless double beta decay. This article will discuss both experiments, KamLAND-Zen and SNO+, highlighting the results achieved, the techniques involved in loading the liquid scintillator, and describing the purification of components of the loaded liquid scintillator to very low background levels.


Background: Amazonia is well known for its high natural regeneration capacity; for this reason, passive restoration is normally recommended for the recovery of its degraded forests. However, highly deforested landscapes in southern Amazonia require active restoration. Since restoration methods can shape the quality and speed of early forest recovery, this study aimed to verify how active restoration pushes non-resilient sites towards forest recovery. Methods: We evaluated early forest succession at active restoration sites, i.e. soil plowing, direct seeding of pioneer species and seedling stock planting at low density. We analyzed forest structure, diversity and species composition in two age classes, 0.5 – 3.5 and 4.5 – 7.5 years old. As reference, we evaluated natural regeneration as performed on more resilient sites in the same region. We sampled 36 active restoration and 31 natural regeneration sites along the Madeira river, southern Amazonia. Results: Active restoration triggered succession to similar or higher levels of forest structure than sites where natural regeneration was taking place. The most dominant species did not overlap between active restoration and natural regeneration sites. The overall composition of species was different between the two restoration methods. Dominant species and size class distribution indicate that active restoration is performing successfully. Conclusions: Soil preparation combined with a high availability of seeds of pioneer trees resulted in a high stem density and basal area of facilitative pioneer trees. Planted seedlings added species diversity and increased density of large trees. Interventions to increase the odds of natural regeneration can be effective for non-resilient sites located in resilient landscapes.