The Antimonio Formation furnishes a record of sedimentation across the Triassic–Jurassic system boundary and is one of a few stratigraphic sections globally that preserves latest Triassic to Hettangian ammonoids in stratigraphic succession. The boundary falls near the middle of the formation, within a 155 m thick stratigraphic section, which is divided into five distinct sedimentary packages. The laminated shales and siltstones in the middle of package 4 represent deposition in an anoxic or disaerobic setting. Although shales of package 4 themselves are poorly fossiliferous, they are bounded below and above by Triassic and Jurassic biotas, respectively. The Triassic–Jurassic system boundary should fall within or stratigraphically close to the laminated beds. The transgressive–regressive signature from the Antimonio Formation corresponds closely to that of the Gabbs and Sunrise formations in Nevada and jointly shows eustatic regressive events at or near the beginning of the latest Triassic Crickmayi Zone a...


Budding and vesiculation of erythrocyte membranes occurs by a process involving an uncoupling of the membrane skeleton from the lipid bilayer. Vesicle formation provides an important means whereby protein sorting and trafficking can occur. To understand the mechanism of sorting at the molecular level, we have developed a micropipette technique to quantify the redistribution of fluorescently labeled erythrocyte membrane components during mechanically induced membrane deformation and vesiculation. Our previous studies indicated that the spectrin-based membrane skeleton deforms elastically, producing a constant density gradient during deformation. Our current studies showed that during vesiculation the skeleton did not fragment but rather retracted to the cell body, resulting in a vesicle completely depleted of skeleton. These local changes in skeletal density regulated the sorting of nonskeletal membrane components. Highly mobile membrane components, phosphatidylethanolamine- and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked CD59 with no specific skeletal association were enriched in the vesicle. In contrast, two components with known specific skeletal association, band 3 and glycophorin A, were differentially depleted in vesicles. Increasing the skeletal association of glycophorin A by liganding its extrafacial domain reduced the fraction partitioning to the vesicle. We conclude that this technique of bilayer/skeleton uncoupling provides a means with which to study protein sorting driven by changes in local skeletal density. Moreover, it is the interaction of particular membrane components with the spectrin-based skeleton that determines molecular partitioning during protein sorting.


Purpose: MicroRNAs (miRNA) that are strongly implicated in carcinogenesis have recently reshaped our understanding of the role of non–protein-coding RNAs. Here, we focused on the function and molecular mechanism of miR-202-3p and its potential clinical application in colorectal cancer. Experimental Design: miR-202-3p expression was determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) in 94 colorectal cancer tissues and corresponding noncancerous tissues (NCT). Cell proliferation and colony formation assays in vitro and xenograft experiments in vivo were used to evaluate the effect of miR-202-3p on colorectal cancer cell proliferation. Luciferase assay and Western blot analysis were performed to validate the potential targets of miR-202-3p after the preliminary screening by online prediction and microarray analysis. The mRNA and protein levels of target genes were detected by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining. The copy number of pre-miR-202 was measured by quantitative PCR. Results: First, miR-202-3p was significantly downregulated in 46.7% colorectal cancer samples compared with NCTs. The overexpression of miR-202-3p inhibited colorectal cancer cell growth in vitro and repressed tumorigenesis in nude mice. Then, miR-202-3p downregulated ADP-ribosylation factor-like 5A (ARL5A) protein level by binding to its 3′ untranslated region, and knockdown of ARL5A phenocopied the proliferation inhibition effect of miR-202-3p. Furthermore, both of ARL5A mRNA and protein levels were upregulated in colorectal cancer samples compared with NCTs and high ARL5A protein levels predicted a poor prognosis. Conclusions: miR-202-3p might function as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer, and ARL5A, the functional target of miR-202-3p in colorectal cancer, is a potential prognostic factor for colorectal cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 20(5); 1146–57. ©2013 AACR.


This work concerns a new experimental technique based on Digital Image Analysis for the measurement of the mixing behaviour in a bi-dispersed 2D fluidized bed. Two different sets of particles are fluidized with the same density and different size. The technique is based on suitable color-field decomposition of the fluidized bed snapshots, where particles of different colors are employed. The technique here proposed can effectively measure the concentration field in the whole bed during operation and capture the mixing and segregation dynamics of powders. Notably, the technique here developed can be used for both gasor liquidfluidized beds.


Introduction Obesity is an established risk factor for cancer and cancer-related deaths, including that of the breast. While the prevalence of female obesity has accelerated over the past decade in many developing countries, such as Colombia, the prevalence of overweight and obesity specifically in breast cancer populations has not been fully described. Methods A cross-sectional study including 849 women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2009 and 2014. Based on body mass index, prevalence of overweight (BMI ≥ 25 < 30) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30) and associations of BMI with clinical and tumor histopathological features were analyzed. Results Colombian breast cancer patients had a prevalence of overweight of 34.28% and obesity of 28.15%. Mean BMI was comparable between premenopausal and postmenopausal women (27.2 versus 27.7, resp.). Among premenopausal women, higher BMI was significantly positively associated with hormone receptor negative tumors, as well as with greater lymphovascular invasion. Conclusions Colombian breast cancer patients exhibit a significant prevalence of overweight and obesity. Associations of high BMI and poor prognosis variables in the premenopausal population suggest risk of aggressive disease in this population. Future studies to further validate our observations are warranted in order to implement multidisciplinary clinical guidelines.


The zygomatic process of the temporal bone forming the articulating surface of the glenoid fossa was resected in 25 young New Zealand rabbits in order to investigate the effect of function on the growth of the condylar cartilage. The reactions were studied in dry skulls, X-rays and histological sections from the temporomandibular joints. The region of the fossa had regenerated by 100 days in all the animals and was located further forward than in controls. The mandible tilted upwards immediately after resection of the zygomatic process, and an anterior cross-bite developed in four out of eight animals by 100 days. The height of the mandible was unaltered when measured from the superior surface of the condyle to the inferior border of the mandible. No differences were found in the length of the mandible as measured from the anterior edge of the condyle to the incisors, molars or mental foramen, but the anteroposterior width of the condylar process increased in the experimental animals and the articulating portion of the condylar process was less prominent. The mesenchymal cell layer was thickened 10, 15 and 20 days after the operation but the metachromasia of the intermediate cell layer decreased, as also did the thickness of the whole condylar cartilage. The metachromasia reappeared in the course of fossa regeneration. The results support the hypothesis that the growth of the condylar cartilage is regulated by its articulating function, and demonstrate that pressure reduces proliferation of the mesenchymal cells, although it is needed for the continuation of chondrogenesis in the condylar cartilage.


The present paper deals with the robustness of estimators and tests for ordinal response models. In this context, gross-errors in the response variable, specific deviations due to some respondents' behavior, and outlying covariates can strongly affect the reliability of the maximum likelihood estimators and that of the related test procedures. The paper highlights that the choice of the link function can affect the robustness of inferential methods, and presents a comparison among the most frequently used links. Subsequently robust M -estimators are proposed as an alternative to maximum likelihood estimators. Their asymptotic properties are derived analytically, while their performance in finite samples is investigated through extensive numerical experiments either at the model or when data contaminations occur. Wald and t-tests for comparing nested models, derived from M -estimators, are also proposed. M based inference is shown to outperform maximum likelihood inference, producing more reliable results when robustness is a concern.


This paper discusses the voltage changes, inherent in d-c. circuits, upon change of load. These variations are independent of i r drops or speed of prime movers. A simple means of mitigating their effect is given.


Abstract This study compared the major chemical components of Angelica gigas of Korea, A. acutiloba of Japan, and A. sinensis of China. A. gigas had the highest crude fat level, A. acutiloba the highest moisture content, and A. sinensis the greatest crude protein level. The main free sugar was fructose in three species. Total amino acid contents of A. gigas, A. acutiloba and A. sinensis were 4,178.64 mg%, 2,952.10 mg%, and 3,367.13 mg%, respectively. Although amino acid compositions of the three species were different, arginine, proline and lysine were the major amino acids in all species. The main saturated fatty acid was caproic acid in A. gigas and palmitic acid in A. acutiloba and A. sinensis. Linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and oleic acid were the main unsaturated fatty acid in all three species. Oxalic acid was the major organic acid in the three species. Vitamin A contents of A. gigas, A. acutiloba, and A. sinensis were 5.10 mg%, 6.32 mg%, and 6.11 mg%, respectively. However, vitamin E was detected only in A. gigas, at 0.47 mg%.. The mineral contents of the three species were (in order of concentration) K, Mg, Fe, and Na.Key words


Background: Sodium Glucose Co-transporter 2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) were associated with a reduction in cardiovascular events in cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs) in type 2 diabetes. Most of the patients included in these trials received metformin as background therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on major cardiovascular events (MACE) in metformin-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods: A meta-analysis was performed of randomized controlled clinical trials of GLP-1RAs on type 2 diabetes populations, after searching the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scielo, Google Scholar and Cochrane Controlled Trials databases. The primary endpoint was MACE. The secondary endpoints were cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality. A meta-analysis of time-to-event outcomes was performed.Results: Six eligible trials, including 10419 patients, were identified and considered eligible for the analyses. GLP-1RAs were associated with a significant reduction in MACE incidence (HR: 0.87, 95% confidence interval: 0.80–0.94; I2:0%). The analysis of the secondary endpoints showed a non-significant reduction in all-cause mortality (HR: 0.86, 95% confidence interval: 0.73-1.00 I2:0%) and cardiovascular mortality (HR: 0.81, 95% confidence interval: 0.63–1.05; I2:0%). Conclusions: In this meta-analysis, GLP-1RAs reduced the incidence of MACE in patients with type 2 diabetes without metformin at baseline, without significant reduction in all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. These results support the fact that benefit in cardiovascular outcomes is independent of metformin use when GLP-1Ras are administered.


The terrestrial environment is an important contributor of microplastics (MPs) to the oceans. Urban streams, strictly interwoven in the city network and to the MPs' terrestrial source, have a relevant impact on the MP budget of large rivers and, in turn, marine areas. We investigated the fluxes (items/day) of MPs and natural fibers of Mugnone Creek, a small stream crossing the highly urbanized landscape of Florence (Italy) and ending in the Arno River (and eventually to the Tyrrhenian Sea). Measurements were done in dry and wet seasons for two years (2019–2020); stream sediments were also collected in 2019. The highest loads of anthropogenic particles were observed in the 2019 wet season (109 items/day) at the creek outlet. The number of items in sediments increased from upstream (500 items/kg) to urban sites (1540 items/kg). Fibers were the dominant shape class; they were mostly cellulosic in composition. Among synthetic items, fragments of butadiene-styrene (SBR), indicative of tire wear, were observed. Domestic wastewater discharge and vehicular traffic are important sources of pollution for Mugnone Creek, especially during rain events. The study of small creeks is of pivotal importance to limit the availability of MPs in the environment.


BACKGROUND
Declines in skeletal muscle mass and quality are important factors contributing to age-related weakness. Neural activation of agonist and antagonist muscles may also be important contributing factors.

METHODS
We conducted a review of the scientific literature on older adults to determine (a) methodologies used to quantify activation, (b) the potential role of agonist and antagonist activation on weakness, and (c) some possible neurophysiological mechanisms that may underlie impaired activation.

RESULTS
The cumulative evidence indicates that agonist activation is impaired in some, but not all, older adults and that this impairment contributes to age-related weakness. It is possible that antagonist coactivation also plays a role in age-related weakness, though a definitive link has not been established.

CONCLUSION
Future research should focus on improving quantitative measurement and mechanistic understanding of impaired activation with aging.


This retrospective study analyzes a series of 604 patients with incisional hernias, operated on between 1994 and 1998. The hernias where divided according to their dimensions and their reccurrence. The postoperative outcome and follow up leaded to some conclusions: although the postoperative immediate complications were frequent after the alloplastic procedures, the long term results, judged by the rate of reccurrence and the rejection of the mesh, were better. With the alloplastic procedures the best results were obtained when the mesh was fixed in a retromuscular--properitoneal position.


Plants possess a single subfamily of Rho GTPases, ROP, which does usual things as do Rho-family GTPases in animal and fungal systems, namely participating in the spatial control of cellular processes by signaling to the cytoskeleton and vesicular trafficking. As one would expect, ROPs are modulated by conserved regulators such as DHR2-type GEFs, RhoGAPs, and Rho GDIs. What is surprising is that plants have invented new regulators such as PRONE-type GEFs (known as RopGEFs) and effectors such as RICs and ICRs/RIPs in the regulation of the cytoskeleton and vesicular trafficking. This review will discuss recent work on characterizing ROP regulators and effectors as well as addressing why and how a mixture of conserved and novel Rho signaling mechanisms is utilized to modulate fundamental cellular processes such as cytoskeletal dynamics/reorganization and vesicular trafficking.


Temperature-dependent processes such as magmatism and orogeny provide key insights into the Earth's thermal state. We propose an integrated model for the origin of voluminous Proterozoic-aged granitic rocks in northern Australia, suggesting that the observed large range of concentrations of incompatible elements (particularly U, Th and K) was established progressively as a consequence of a hot-plate orogenic style involving little crustal thickening, combined with 'normal' juvenile magma additions. Progressive extraction of the heat-producing elements into the mid- to upper crust, where they remain below the erosional base level, resulted in anomalous thermal conditions that modulated the continuing orogenic history. This may represent an important style in post-Archaean lithospheric behaviour. Supplementary materials: Age and calculated heat production data for all Australian Proterozoic granitic rocks (calculated for the time of intrusion and for the present day) and for individual Proterozoic terranes of the North Australian craton, comparison of the range and distribution of calculated heat production of granitic rocks with the North Australian Craton and within the Mount Isa Inlier, and Zr and SiO2 data for granites of the Lachlan Fold Belt and for the Mount Isa Inlier are available at www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18721.


A sample of 331 residents of Grapevine, Texas, responded to an instrument designed to assess their perspectives of the priority issues related to economic development in their community. The instrument also assessed the parks and recreation department's contributions to these issues, and compared them with those of the police department in the area of preventing youth crime. The data were used to suggest a repositioning strategy for the city's parks and recreation department. The instrumentation and processes used in this case study are designed to offer a generalizable operational tool for leisure service agencies to use to determine an optimal repositioning strategy.


OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to assess the effect of topical applications of an amino acid and sodium hyaluronate gel after mandibular third molar extraction.

METHOD AND MATERIALS
136 patients requiring mandibular third molar extraction were enrolled. An amino acid and sodium hyaluronate gel was applied to the sockets of patients in the test group immediately following the extraction. The sockets of controls were simply flushed with a sterile saline solution. Patients' outcomes and postoperative complications were assessed 7 and 14 days after surgery. The cumulative incidence of dehiscence and secondary outcome measures were analyzed using a chi-square test.

RESULTS
Concerning the primary outcome, the incidence of dehiscence was 27.4% after 7 days in the treatment group and 36.4% in the controls (P = .28), and at 14 days it was 21.4% and 36.0%, respectively (P = .10). No statistically significant differences emerged in other variables (mouth opening range, appearance of soft tissue, presence of pus, pain on palpation of the alveolar socket, alveolitis, local lymphadenopathy, and adverse reactions). Pain perception was always lower in the treatment group during the first 7 days after surgery.

CONCLUSION
Topical applications of an amino acid and sodium hyaluronate gel after mandibular third molar extraction made no statistically significant difference to the variables examined in the test and control groups.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE
This trial focused on postoperative complications after surgical third molar extraction. The use of a gel containing amino acid and sodium hyaluronate was investigated for the management of postoperative pain, edema, alveolitis, wound dehiscence and swelling.


UNLABELLED
Since 1980, three different diagnostic nomenclatures have been published regarding attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These changing conceptualizations and diagnostic criteria have generated considerable confusion.

OBJECTIVE
To examine the multidimensional DSM-IV ADHD criteria in relation to how children and adolescents with a previous DSM-III ADD diagnosis or a DSM-III-R ADHD diagnosis are diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria.

METHOD
Children whose original diagnoses were according to DSM-III and DSM-III-R criteria received retrospective diagnoses according to DSM-IV criteria.

RESULTS
Predominantly inattentive (n = 30) and combined types (n = 26) were compared on their previous DSM-III and DSM-III-R diagnoses and on demographic, behavioral, cognitive, and comorbidity variables. Predominantly inattentive and combined type diagnoses corresponded with DSM-III ADD/WO and ADD/H diagnoses, respectively. The DSM-III-R ADHD diagnosis did not correspond with either DSM-IV subtype. Children with the combined type diagnosis had more externalizing codiagnoses, and their parents reported more externalizing, delinquent, and aggressive behaviors. Children with the predominantly inattentive type had more math learning disability codiagnoses.

CONCLUSION
Results support a multidimensional conceptualization of ADHD. There exists close correspondence between the DSM-III ADD/WO type and the DSM-IV predominantly inattentive type and between the DSM-III ADD/H type and the DSM-IV combined type.


We examined the response of pen-raised northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) to the presence of red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) during the first 6 days post-hatching in a 9-week field experiment during spring and summer 1993 in southeastern Texas. We recorded behavior of a focal animal continuously for 15 minutes in a 30-m 2 area from which fire ants had been removed and in a similar, adjacent area with natural densities of fire ants. We categorized activities of a focal animal as: response to fire ants, moving, inactivity, sleeping, and pecking at food. Red imported fire ants altered daily activity budgets of pen-raised northern bobwhite chicks. Time spent responding directly to fire ants affected the allotment of time to other behaviors such as moving, sleeping, and pecking at food. The effects on chick behavior varied seasonally, in relation to ant activity, and age of the chick. Ant activity and age of the chick also influenced allotment of time to all activities, including response to fire ants.


The effect of diet on the desaturation of linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid by liver microsomal preparations, on blood glucose and insulin levels, and on activities of glucokinase, hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase have been studied. The female rats used in these experiments were maintained on one of the following dietary regimes: (a) fasted, (b) fasted for 96 hr and refed glucose, (c) balanced diet, (d) carbohydrate-free diet, (e) lipid-free diet, or (f) protein-free diet. Fasting for 96 hr caused a decrease of both linoleic acid desaturation and glucokinase and pyruvate kinase activity together with a slight decrease of the blood insulin level. Alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity was not modified. Refeeding of glucose for 50 hr increased the conversion of linoleic acid to linolenic acid as well as the activities of all the enzymes studied except alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase. The increase in desaturation, however, was transient. The feeding of a lipid-free diet did not modify the tested parameters. Feeding a carbohydrate-free diet for 96 hr resulted in increased linoleic acid desaturation but decreased glucokinase and pyruvate kinase activity, thus apparently eliminating a putative correlation between the fatty acid desaturating activity and glycolytic activity or blood insulin levels under these experimental conditions. The findings suggest that dietary proteins may play an important role in determining the level of fatty acid desaturation.


Humanoid robots gain starting their anthropomorphic profile when functional in human-made environments. In direct to achieve human-like capabilities, robots must be able to recognize, understand and interrelate with the nearby world. We present the development of safe routing strategy for biped robots moving in difficulty untidy environments. In the near view, humanoids play a vital role in helping the mankind by performing the day today activities. Navigation of a humanoid under different terrain conditions such as flat, inclined and slippery environments is a challenge that requires a solution to use humanoids in the households. In this regard, in the planned paper work, a biped robot with 6-Degree of freedom has been designed and tested on the sloped and slippery surfaces, in addition to it, the ultrasonic sensors are used to identify the obstacles. Based on the obstacle identification, the biped path can be altered in order to evade impact within obstacle.


We report a comprehensive optical wafer evaluation technique for C-doped n-p-n heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBT) using low temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy. The correspondence between the optically determined parameters at the wafer level and the electrical device parameters is demonstrated. The hole density in the base of transistor structures was obtained from optical transitions in the p/sup +/-GaAs layer exploiting the bandgap narrowing effect. Furthermore, our experimental studies, which combine optical and electrical measurements, show that a photovoltaic effect observed in the optical spectrum measures the strength of carrier recombination processes in the emitter-base heterojunction region. Because interface recombination strongly affects the dc current gain of these devices, photoluminescence spectroscopy of epitaxial wafers provides critical information on HBT device parameters prior to device fabrication.


Quality evaluation of rolling processes in the metal industry involves an inspection of the shape of the outgoing products in real time during manufacturing. Shape measurement systems are usually based on 3-D reconstructions of the surface of rolled products. As surface properties are crucial, these systems favor contactless techniques. Using 3-D measurements of the surface of rolled products, several geometric properties can be analyzed. In this paper, we analyze how uncertainty is propagated in a contactless shape measurement system designed and developed by the authors and presented in previous published works. This measurement system is based on active triangulation, and it is able to provide inline width and flatness measurements of long, flat-rolled products in harsh industrial environments. The camera model used to calibrate the vision system is described, and it is used to estimate the uncertainty of the reprojected 3-D points on the scene. The system uses the reprojected 3-D points, and the speed of the product movement in the production line to reconstruct its surface. Thus, the uncertainty of the speed is also estimated. Finally, the propagation of both the uncertainty of the 3-D reprojection, and the uncertainty of the speed into the final width and flatness measurements is analyzed. This paper comprises a detailed uncertainty propagation analysis in 3-D shape measurements computed indirectly through functional relationships.


Author(s): Weinthal, Dianne; Childress, Dawn | Abstract: This presentation will discuss the International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) through the lens of open access. This introduction to IIIF will highlight recent use cases and, through dynamic visual examples, participants will gain an understanding of the model and technological components behind IIIF and how it supports "openness." The session will conclude with a short, hands-on demonstration of IIIF features with time for exploring IIIF and investigating further resources. Presenters will also discuss how UCLA Library is adopting IIIF in digital collections to reduce institutional barriers and promote re-use.Part of UCLA Library's annual International Open Access Week celebration.


This research is motivated by the fact that there are still many people who are unable to read the Qur'an because they have not found t easy method of learning in reading Qur'an.. To overcome this problem, efforts from various parties are needed. For this reason, the teacher must ensure the right method and approach. Because the right method will guarantee the achievement of a greater and more comprehensive level of success. This research aims to improve the ability to read the Qur'an, introduce harakat, and the preparation of hijaiyah letters based on makharijul letters. The results of this research were obtained from observations, assessments that were tried twice, and interviews with children. Based on the analysis of information on children's activities above, it can be concluded that the dominant activity carried out is learning with the Baghdadi method, which is 30%, on the contrary, based on interviews, the Baghdadi method is very appropriate and interesting to use. So it can be concluded that this method is very interesting and supports the learning process of children. The results of the last test showed an increase in understanding of reading the Qur'an so that it reached the predetermined success indicators.
Keywords: Baghdadi Method, Learning Qur'an, System of Learning Qur'an


The transition of E. coli cells to anaerobiosis is accompanied by the onset of two cellular cation flows in different directions: potassium is released into the environment, and putrescine enters the cells. If aerobic conditions are reestablished, the cation flows change directions. Under anaerobiosis, the cell components bind putrescine. Investigation of the chemical interactions resulting in putrescine binding and metabolic conversion under anaerobic conditions revealed DNA to be the main target in this process. The driving forces and mechanisms of cation transfer are discussed, and the involvement of putrescine in topological changes in the DNA and the development of adaptive cell responses to anaerobiosis is considered.


While the Star Trek franchise is synonymous with diversity, queerness has been unfortunately interpreted more as a tragic plot device rather than presenting fully realized queer characters in series such as Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. However, the more recent programme Star Trek: Lower Decks appears to embrace Gene Roddenberry's utopian ethos in that diversity is default in the future through multiple queer and queer-coded women. This article analyses how bisexual protagonist Ensign Beckett Mariner eventually finds support over the course of the series through her relationships with the characters Captain Amina Ramsey, Ensign D'Vana Tendi and Ensign Jennifer Sh'reyan. Unlike previous attempts at queer plots, the focal points in these moments emphasize character and community instead of violence and drama. This article proposes that Star Trek: Lower Decks signals a more positive shift in how queer characters are interpreted in the science fiction utopian franchise.


Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a highly prevalent condition that represents a significant health problem, which is likely to worsen as the population continues to age. alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonists have been used in the treatment of this condition for well over 20 years and much is now known about their effects on the urinary tract. As these drugs have improved, their use as a first line treatment option in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), secondary to BPH, has continued to increase. This review details some of the background and rationale for the use of these drugs and, using the available information, compares their efficacy and tolerability profiles.


The ability to accurately perceive whether a speaker is asking a question or is making a statement is crucial for any successful interaction. However, learning and classifying tonal patterns has been a challenging task for automatic speech recognition and for models of tonal representation, as tonal contours are characterized by significant variation. This paper provides a classification model of Cypriot Greek questions and statements. We evaluate two state-of-the-art network architectures: a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network and a convolutional network (ConvNet). The ConvNet outperforms the LSTM in the classification task and exhibited an excellent performance with 95% classification accuracy.


In August 2008, we examined 95 soil samples for the occurrence of entomopathogenic nematodes in eastern part of Slovenia. 11 samples from 9 different locations were positive to entomopathogenic nematodes, but to this time only sample D54 was analysed. This soil sample was collected in Dravograd. Genetic studies proved that the nematode species in this sample was Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. This is the first record of Heterorhabditis nematode in Slovenia. Until now we confirmed the presence of four entomopathogenic nematode species in Slovenia; Steinernema affine, Steinernema carpocapsae, Steinernema feltiae and Steinernema kraussei. We expect that in Slovenia the use of these biological agents against insect pests will become important alternative to insecticides as it is known in many other countries of the world.


Objective: To check the variation of space available in the mandibular dental arch using different tools, i.e., Vernier caliper and brass wire with a millimeter ruler.
Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Orthodontics, Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry (AFID), Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Sep to Dec 2019.
Methodology: Seventy-five dental casts of patients, with an age range between 12-25 years were included in the study. The variation of the space available using two different measuring tools (Vernier calliper and brass wire with millimetre ruler) in the mandibular arch was determined by the same observer to assess random and systematic errors. The examiner recorded the measurements, and then the same examiner repeated the measurements after ten days by taking two readings each using the blinding technique to minimize bias. Random and systematic errors were analyzed with the use of two methods.
Results: Systematic errors were found to be significant with brass wire with millimetre ruler method only (p-value=0.02). For random errors, the Vernier calliper can be considered a better method to measure reproducibility and repeatability. However, brass wire with a millimetre ruler method can be considered better for measuring repeatability than reproducibility since the value to measure random errors was less than 1mm but in the upper limits (p-value=0.091).
Conclusion: In the current study, it is concluded that the Vernier calliper is more precise in measuring the readings in orthodontics for arch space measurement than that of brass wire with a millimetre ruler. However, brass wire


The primary purpose of this paper is to outline a new procedure for designing controllers which simultaneously achieve a variety of desired design goals in deterministic, unity feedback, linear multivariable systems. More specifically, we will present a new algorithm for the systematic design of a "three-part" multivariable controller which simultaneously ensures: 1) a noninteractive or decoupled closed-loop design, 2) complete and arbitrary closed-loop pole placement, which implies desired (single-loop) transient performance as well as closed-loop stability, 3) zero steady-state errors between the plant outputs and any nondecreasing deterministic inputs, 4) complete steady-state output rejection of nondecreasing deterministic disturbances, and 5) robustness with respect to stability, disturbance rejection, and zero error tracking for rather substantial plant parameter variations. Our development will employ the more "modern" (Laplace-transformed) differential operator approach for controller synthesis, which involves transfer matrix factorizations and the manipulation of polynomial matrices in the Laplace operator s .


Due to the rapid growth of information available about individual patients, most physicians suffer from information overload when they review patient information in health information technology systems. In this manuscript, we present a novel hybrid dynamic and multi-collaborative filtering method to improve information retrieval from electronic health records. This method recommends relevant information from electronic health records for physicians during patient visits. It models information search dynamics using a Markov model. It also leverages the key idea of collaborative filtering, originating from Recommender Systems, to prioritize information based on various similarities among physicians, patients and information items We tested this new method using real electronic health record data from the Indiana Network for Patient Care. Our experimental results demonstrated that for 46.7% of test cases, this new method is able to correctly prioritize relevant information among top-5 recommendations that physicians are truly interested in.


Due to the best quality of yarn and the flexibility of the machine, the ring spinning process is the most widely used spinning method for short staple yarn production. However, the productivity of these machines is still much lower in comparison to other spinning systems such as rotor or air-jet spinning process. The main reason for this limitation lies on the twisting mechanism of the ring spinning process. In the ring/traveler twisting system, each rotation of the traveler along with the ring inserts twist in the yarn. The rotation of the traveler at higher speed includes strong frictional forces, which in turn generates heat. Different ring/traveler systems concerning with its geometries, material combinations and coatings have already been implemented to solve the frictional problem. However, such developments can neither completely solve the frictional problem nor increase the productivity. The friction free superconducting magnetic bearing (SMB) system can be a right alternative replacing the existing ring/traveler system. The unique concept of SMB bearings is that they possess a self-stabilizing behavior, i.e. they remain fully passive without any necessity for expensive position sensing and control. Within the framework of a research project funded by German research foundation (DFG), suitable concepts of the SMB-system have been designed, developed, and integrated as a twisting device of ring spinning replacing the existing ring/traveler system. With the help of the developed mathematical model and experimental investigation, the physical limitations of this innovative twisting device in the spinning process have been determined. The interaction among the parameters of the spinning process and the superconducting twisting element has been further evaluated, which derives the concrete information regarding the new spinning process. Moreover, the influence of the implemented SMB twisting system on the yarn quality has been analyzed with respect to different process parameters. The presented work reveals the enormous potential of the innovative twisting mechanism, so that the productivity of the ring spinning process especially in case of thermoplastic materials can be at least doubled for the first time in a hundred years. The SMB ring spinning tester has also been presented in the international fair "International Textile Machinery Association (ITMA) 2015". Keywords—Ring spinning, superconducting magnetic bearing, yarn properties, productivity.


Algal mounds within the Morgan Creek Limestone (Upper Cambrian) of central Texas, exhibit an overall change in morphology with height in the section. This "evolutionary" trend is associated with a change in depositional environment. The modification in algal-mound morphology is believed to be a response of the algal communities to change in the level of water turbulence and water depth. The earliest forms are discrete club-shaped mounds exhibiting a relatively simple, highly arched, non-branching, concentric structure. They are up to 1.5 ft thick and 2 ft in diameter. They are succeeded by larger mounds, 0.75-3 ft thick and 1-5 ft in diameter, with a complex, digitate internal structure. Near the top of the Morgan Creek Limestone are the largest algal mounds, biconvex lenses up to 5 ft thick and 25 ft in diameter. The overlying strata contain some flat, algal-laminated structures. This evolution in mound form, a decrease in height-to-width ratio and from simple to complex internal structure, is associated with a decrease in water turbulence and a shift from shallow marine to intertidal to supratidal site of deposition. This environmental response demonstrates that changes of mound morphology can be useful in interpreting depositional environments. End_of_Article - Last_Page 608------------


Organ on-a-chip (OoC) is a promising technology that aims to recapitulate human body pathophysiology in a more precise way to advance in drug development and complex disease understanding. However, the presence of OoC in biological laboratories is still limited and mainly restricted to laboratories with access to cleanroom facilities. Besides, the current analytical methods employed to extract information from the organ models are endpoint and post facto assays which makes it difficult to ensure that during the biological experiment the cell microenvironment, cellular functionality and behaviour are controlled. Hence, the integration of real-time biosensors is highly needed and requested by the OoC end-user community to provide insight into organ function and responses to stimuli. In this context, electrochemical sensors stand out due to their advantageous features like miniaturization capabilities, ease of use, automatization and high sensitivity and selectivity. Electrochemical sensors have been already successfully miniaturized and employed in other fields such as wearables and point-of-care devices. We have identified that the explanation for this issue may be, to a large extent, the accessibility to microfabrication technologies. These fields employ preferably digital manufacturing (DM), which is a more accessible microfabrication approach regardless of funding and facilities. Therefore, we envision that a paradigm shift in microfabrication that adopts DM instead of the dominating soft lithography for the in-lab microfabrication of OoC devices will contribute to the dissemination of the field and integration of the promising real-time sensing.


Background: Cataract surgery is one of the most common medical procedures undertaken worldwide. Aims: To investigate whether cataract surgery can improve driving performance and whether this can be predicted by changes in visual function. Methods: 29 older patients with bilateral cataracts and 18 controls with normal vision were tested. All were licensed drivers. Driving and vision performance were measured before cataract surgery and after second eye surgery for the patients with cataract and on two separate occasions for the controls. Driving performance was assessed on a closed-road circuit. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, glare sensitivity and kinetic visual fields were measured at each test session. Results: Patients with cataract had significantly poorer (p<0.05) driving performance at the first visit than the controls for a range of measures of driving performance, which significantly improved to the level of the controls after extraction of both cataracts. The change in contrast sensitivity after surgery was the best predictor of the improvements in driving performance in patients with cataract. Conclusions: Cataract surgery results in marked improvements in driving performance, which are related to concurrent improvements in contrast sensitivity.


4 Georgios I. Laliotis1,2,3,12*, Adam D. Kenney4,5, Evangelia Chavdoula1,2 , Arturo Orlacchio1,2, 5 Abdul K. Kaba1,2, Alessandro La Ferlita1,2,6, Vollter Anastas1,2,7, Christos Tsatsanis8,9, Joal D. 6 Beane2,10, Lalit Sehgal11, Vincenzo Coppola1,2 , Jacob S. Yount 4,5 and Philip N. Tsichlis1,2,13* 7 8 1The Ohio State University, Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Columbus, OH, 43210, 2The Ohio State 9 University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research 10 Institute, Columbus, OH, 43210, 3University of Crete, School of Medicine, Heraklion Crete, 71500, Greece, 11 4Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, 5Infectious 12 Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, 6Department of Clinical and Experimental 13 Medicine, Bioinformatics Unit, University of Catania, Catania, 95131, Italy, 7Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical 14 Sciences, Program in Genetics, Boston, MA, 02111 8Department of Clinical Chemistry-Biochemistry, School of 15 Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece, 9Institute for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 16 Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Heraklion 70013, Greece, 10The Ohio State University, 17 Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Columbus, OH 43210 11College of Medicine, Department of 18 Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 19 20


Advance high strength steels (AHSS), like dual phase (DP) and transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steels, offer high strength and toughness combined with excellent uniform elongation. However, the higher alloying content of these steels limit their weldability and the thermal cycle of welding processes destroys the carefully designed microstructure. This will result in inferior mechanical properties of the joint. Therefore, joining processes with a low heat input, like brazing, are recommendable. Data regarding mechanical properties of joints in DP and TRIP steel is limited, especially for brazed joints. Results with respect to the fatigue lifetime of laser brazed butt joints are presented. In DP and TRIP steel, crack initiation takes place at the braze toe. In DP steel the crack propagates through the base metal. In TRIP steel, however, the crack may either follow the interface or may continue through the steel depending on the maximum stress level. The different failure mechanisms are explained on the basis of process conditions, the microstructure and the stress state.


Many real-life problems involve the matching of talented individuals to institutions such as firms, hospitals, or schools, where these institutions are simply treated as individual agents. In this paper, I study many-to-one matching with contracts that incorporates a theory of choice of institutions, which are aggregate actors, composed of divisions that are enjoined by an institutional governance structure (or mechanism). Conflicts over contracts between divisions of an institution are resolved by the institutional governance structure, whereas conflicts between divisions across institutions are resolved, as is typically the case, by talents' preferences. Noting that hierarchies are a common organizational structure in institutions, I offer an explanation of this fact as an application of the model, where stability is a prerequisite for the persistence of organizational structures. I show that stable market outcomes exist whenever institutional governance is hierarchical and divisions consider contracts to be bilaterally substitutable. In contrast, when governance in institutions is non-hierarchical, stable outcomes may not exist. Since market stability does not provide an impetus for reorganization, the persistence of markets with hierarchical institutions can thus be rationalized. Hierarchies in institutions also have the attractive incentive property that in a take-it-or-leave-it bargaining game with talents making offers to institutions, the choice problem for divisions is straightforward and realized market outcomes are pairwise stable, and stable when divisions have substitutable preferences.


Ordinary differential equations (ODEs) are widely used in modeling dynamic systems and have ample applications in the fields of physics, engineering, economics, and biological sciences. The ODE parameters often possess physiological meanings and can help scientists gain better understanding of the system. One key interest is thus to well estimate these parameters. Ideally, constant parameters are preferred due to their easy interpretation. In reality, however, constant parameters can be too restrictive such that even after incorporating error terms, there could still be unknown sources of disturbance that lead to poor agreement between observed data and the estimated ODE system. In this article, we address this issue and accommodate short-term interferences by allowing parameters to vary with time. We propose a new regularized estimation procedure on the time-varying parameters of an ODE system so that these parameters could change with time during transitions but remain constants within stable stages. We found, through simulation studies, that the proposed method performs well and tends to have less variation in comparison to the nonregularized approach. On the theoretical front, we derive finite-sample estimation error bounds for the proposed method. Applications of the proposed method to modeling the hare–lynx relationship and the measles incidence dynamic in Ontario, Canada lead to satisfactory and meaningful results. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.


Human being could be considered a topic of discussion which is never completed. Therefore, this study will focus more on the concept of human in the perspective of Ibn Sina and al-Ghazali. In the perspective of Ibn Sina the essence of human being is composed of two elements, namely the body (jism) and soul (nafs). These two elements are really different from the ones found in animals and plants. The presence of soul (nafs) is its manifestation. While the body (jism) a tool for nafs. In addition, there is also a strong relationship between the jism and the nafs. Nafs will never achieve a phenomenal stage without the body. When this phenomenal stage is reached, then the nafs will rule the body. Meanwhile, according to al-Gazali the essence of human is composed of several elements, such as: al-nafs, al-ruh, al-qalb, and al-'aql. These four elements have their own function and role, but are mutually complementary parts in shaping the human personality so-called Insan Kamil. The difference of faculties possessed by human is what makes human being the noblest in the sight of Allah. The purpose of human life is to achieve happiness. Education could be considerably successful for being capable of organizing the learning process in producing quality individuals. Thus, in order to produce the quality individuals, then teachers should be able to cultivate a variety of potential possessed by each student as a human being.Keywords: Human being, education, philosophy


Adrenomedullin (ADM) is upregulated in cardiac tissue under various pathophysiological conditions, particularly in septic shock. The intracellular mechanisms involved in the effect of ADM on adult rat ventricular myocytes are still to be elucidated. Ventricular myocytes were isolated from adult rats 4 h after an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 mg/kg). Membrane potential and L-type calcium current (I(Ca,L)) were determined using whole cell patch-clamp methods. APD in LPS group was significantly shorter than control values (time to 50% repolarization: LPS, 169 +/- 2 ms; control, 257 +/- 2 ms, P < 0.05; time to 90% repolarization: LPS, 220 +/- 2 ms; control, 305 +/- 2 ms, P < 0.05). I(Ca,L) density was significantly reduced in myocytes from the LPS group (-3.2 +/- 0.8 pA/pF) compared with that of control myocytes (-6.7 +/- 0.3 pA/pF, P < 0.05). The ADM antagonist ADM-(22-52) reversed the shortened APD and abolished the reduction of I(Ca,L) in shock myocytes. In myocytes from control rats, incubating with ADM for 1 h induced a marked decrease in peak I(Ca,L) density. This effect was reversed by ADM-(22-52). The G(i) protein inhibitor, pertussis toxin (PTX), the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, KT-5720, and the specific cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitor, nimesulide, reversed the LPS-induced reduction in peak I(Ca,L). The results suggest a COX-2-involved PKA-dependent switch from G(s) coupled to PTX-sensitive G(i) coupling by ADM in adult rat ventricular myocytes. The present study delineates the intracellular pathways involved in ADM-mediated effects on I(Ca,L) in adult rat ventricular myocytes and also suggests a role of ADM in sepsis.


Ubiquitous technology through sensor networks is being applied to numerous industrial fields specially to increase the quality of human life (QoL). Therefore, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) lossless data is one of the communications challenges to provide accurate data. Although, end-to-end data retransmission has evolved as a reliable transportation in Internet, this method is not applicable to WSNs due to the lack of reliability of wireless link and resource constraints in sensor nodes. In our previous paper, we proposed a reliable data transfer using path-reliability and implicit ACK called RTOD on WSN. However, path reliability calculation components such as RSSI, channel error rate, number of transmission in RTOD method have not been studied thoroughly. In this paper, we analysis path reliability components and simulate by using NS-2. Moreover, we propose limited number of transmission method (LTM) for WSNs. Proposed scheme shows average 4.1% fault tolerance.


The seed weight and seed size and their variation pattern of four species (including Sinopodophyllum hexandrum,Dyssosma veitchii,Diphylleia sinensis and Podophyllum peltatum) in Podophylloideae (Berberidaceae) have been detailly analysed,the result shows that: ① In the four species,Dysosma veitchii has biggest seed,the seed weight is 37. 24±6. 71mg,Sinopodophyllum hexandrum has smaller seed,its seed weight is 36.56±4.54mg:Podophyllum peltatum has smallest seed,the seed weight is 19. 01±3. 21mg,the seed of hohylleia sinensis is somewhat weight than that of Podophyllum pelta tum, its weight is 23.22±3. 26. ②All species contains a partion of nonviale seed,the percentage for Sinopodophyllum hexdrabum is 1.0%, fososma veilchii is 6.0%, DLphylleia sinensis is 5. o% and PodoPhyllu;n peltatum is 3. 5%. ③The variation pattern of seed size has close relationship with pollination,allogamy species has larger variation than that of autogamy species. ④Seed size and seed weight has close relationship with plant living environment, those species which 1iving in the environment of stable, less disturbed and high coverage degree has bigger and weighter seed than those living in open, frequent1y disturbed and damp environment. Different populations of a species have different seed weight,a example is that seed weight of Sinopodaphyllum hexandrum is close related with altitude,the higher altitude,the lighter of seed weight. ⑤Among species,seed weight has no obviously relationship with fruit number,fruit size and seednumber in the fruit,but the larger seed number a plant produces,the lighter is its seed weight. But within species,seed weight has close relationship with seed number in fruit,the more seed in a fruit,the lighter its seed weight,and usually the larger the fruit,the lighter seed it contains.


Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA

Background: Drug resistance is a major problem in cancer therapy, which can be addressed by simultaneously targeting multiple critical nodes of the signalling networks controlling growth and survival of cancer cells. One such approach is to target heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), a chaperone for many potent oncogenic proteins involved in proliferation, survival, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. Pharmacologic inhibition of HSP90 results in the proteasomal degradation of client oncoproteins thereby eliminating their oncogenic activity.

The oral HSP90 inhibitor Debio 0932 displays favorable pharmacologic features. The goal of this study was to identify novel synergistic drug combinations for Debio 0932 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and renal cell cancer (RCC) which would support the clinical development of Debio 0932 in those two indications.

Material and Methods: For NSCLC, an in vitro high-throughput combination screen was performed using 6 human NSCLC cell lines bearing various genetic alterations, where Debio 0932 was combined pairwise with 128 commercially available oncology compounds in a cell viability assay. Some additional compounds not included in the panel were also tested independently. For RCC, combination of Debio 0932 with several selected standard-of-care drugs was analyzed on a panel of 8 human RCC cell lines. Synergy was assessed by using an AUC-based curve shift analysis method or according to the Chou-Talalay equation.

A selection of synergistic drug combinations was further studied using tumor xenograft mouse models of human NSCLC and RCC.

Results: In NSCLC, anti-proliferative synergism with Debio 0932 was observed in vitro in combination with the standard-of-care drugs docetaxel, paclitaxel or gemcitabine, as well as with mTOR inhibitors. In RCC cell lines, combinations of Debio 0932 with RCC standard-of-care drugs also displayed anti-proliferative synergy.

The synergy observed in vitro was further confirmed in mouse xenografts of human NSCLC and RCC cell lines, where the drug combinations caused marked anti-tumor activity that was superior to either monotherapy.

Conclusion: Several synergistic drug combinations were identified for the HSP90 inhibitor Debio 0932 in NSCLC and RCC. These findings underline the feasibility of using in vitro high-throughput screening for the discovery of novel drug combinations with increased in vivo anti-tumor efficacy . Furthermore, they provide a rationale for the combination of Debio 0932 with standard-of-care drugs in NSCLC and RCC and are the basis for ongoing clinical trials in several cancer types.

Citation Format: Casey G. Langdon, Norbert Wiedemann, Helene Maby-El Hajjami, Mathew A. Held, James T. Platt, Gregoire Vuagniaux, Marcus W. Bosenberg, David F. Stern, Frederic Levy. Identification of synergistic drug combinations with the oral HSP90 inhibitor Debio 0932 in non-small cell lung cancer and renal cell cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1792. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1792


Abstract 2259 Background: In healthy adult donors undergoing blood stem cell mobilization, we previously showed that the single strongest factor related to peak pre-apheresis circulating CD34 + cell counts was the total dose of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) administered to the donor. Donor weight and gender were also highly correlated with peak CD34 + cell mobilization, to the degree that they contributed to the total dose of G-CSF administered. To determine if this relationship applied to younger donors, we analyzed the factors affecting PBSC mobilization in healthy allogeneic pediatric subjects. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 44 consecutive allogeneic PBSC collections performed between 1998 and 2009 in healthy pediatric donors in a single institution was done. Pediatric subjects were defined as less than 18 years old and less than 60 kg. Mobilization was with G-CSF (filgrastim) alone, given subcutaneously as 10 mcg/kg once daily (n=42), or 8 mcg/kg BID (n=2), for 5 consecutive days. Leukapheresis was initiated on day 5, at least 2 hours after the final G-CSF dose, using either the CS3000 (Fenwal) or Spectra (Gambro) cell separator. Central venous access was necessary in 29 of 44 subjects (66%). Donor demographics, self-reported ethnic backgrounds, and peripheral blood and component CD34 + cell counts were assessed at each procedure. All subjects were healthy siblings of patients undergoing hematopoietic transplantation for hematologic malignances, marrow failure syndromes, solid tumors, and congenital immune deficiencies. Donors gave assent/consent for participation in IRB-approved institutional protocols. Results: Donor age ranged from 3.8 to 17.8 years (mean 11.5 years), with 10 subjects (23%) under the age of 6 years, 15 (34%) between 7 and 12 years, and 19 (43%) between 12 and 17 years. Donor weight ranged from 16.1 to 59.1 kg (mean 38.6 kg). The cohort self-reported their ethnicity as 18 (41%) individuals being Hispanic, 16 (36%) Caucasian, 6 (13%) Black, and 3 (7%) Asian; 28 of 44 (63%) were female. G-CSF dose ranged from 7.6 to 16.7 mcg/kg, with 37 (84%) of the subjects receiving 9 to 13 mcg/kg (mean 10.2), and 6 (14%) receiving greater than 14 mcg/kg. Peak CD34 + count, assayed on a sample collected immediately prior to starting apheresis, was 75 ± 36 per mL (range 25 to 205/mL). A mean of 29.6 × 10 6 CD34 + cells (range 8.7 to 71.0) were harvested per liter processed, with 13.0 ± 5.4 liters processed per procedure (range 6.0 to 25.5 liters). In this manner, a total of 358 × 10 6 CD34 + cells (range 120–952 × 10 6 ) were collected per procedure, yielding a mean of 9.5 ×10 6 cells/kg recipient weight (range 3.17 to 20.8 ×10 6 cells/kg). Average procedural CD34 + collection efficiency was 57%. In univariate regression analysis, peak peripheral blood CD34 + counts on day 5 of G-CSF and CD34 + cell yields per liter processed during apheresis were significantly and negatively correlated with donor age (p=0.019), donor weight (p=0.011), and total CD34 dose (p=0.015). In contrast, peak circulating CD34 + counts were significantly higher in donors with higher baseline platelet (p=0.004) and mononuclear cell (p=0.027) counts. There was no significant relationship between donor gender or race and peak CD34 + mobilization response. In multivariate analysis, younger age was the single strongest factor associated with a favorable mobilization response (p=0.024); once age was in the model, donor weight and G-CSF dose no longer made significant contributions. In multivariate analysis, baseline platelet and mononuclear cell count (p=0.036 for both) continued to be strongly associated with a favorable mobilization response. Conclusions: In a healthy allogeneic pediatric population with an age range of 3 to 17 years, younger age is the driving factor determining the peak CD34 + mobilization response to G-CSF. Younger donors were smaller (lower weight) and thus received lower total doses of filgrastim, resulting in an inverse relationship between G-CSF dose and mobilization response, an opposite finding to that seen in adult PBSC donors. Higher baseline platelets and mononuclear cell counts were also predictors of more robust mobilization responses. Our data suggest that mobilizable cell reserves are greater in very young subjects, and that higher G-CSF dose or larger apheresis volumes are not necessary to achieve targeted cell yields in this population. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


This article deals with modeling of electromagnetic processes in device for charging of storage batteries by asymmetric current with an application pulse regulation method. New device have increased efficiency at comparison with existing device.


The street children phenomenon is a problem experienced all over the world. The occurrence in developing countries is said to be increasing in response to global population increase. It has been assumed that children respond to development that is why they are found around big cities. The age groups of the children found living on the streets are of great concern. The study established that in Bulawayo the second largest city in Zimbabwe, there are children and youths, both boys and girls who have spent periods ranging from four days to more than eight years living on the street. There are always new cases coming in to join other street dwellers. The study further established that; children flee their rural homes after being orphaned, in response psychological and sexual abuse from the extended family, the main underlying factor being poverty. The majority are characterized by; being orphaned, never went to school , the level of education reached ranges from grade 1 to 7 and no personal documents like birth certificates and national identity cards. All of them are engaged on petty business on the streets; sweeping in front of shops, offloading delivery trucks, selling sweets, juice cards, cigarettes, and peanuts, begging and polishing car tryes for a small token of as much as $5. All of them have sound life skills learned back at home from their families at a young age. Skills learned from the primary education are nothing except to read and write. They sleep on pavements in front of shops, in alleys, at the Municipal Park and in old unused train wagons at the railway station. They have indicated that they are looking for jobs that can pay them a reasonable wage then they can plan for their lives. It is recommended that the primary school education be upgraded to include skills training and the current population of the street children be put into rehabilitation institutions, where they will begin to learn normal life.


Tumors of the pineal region are rare but pose interesting diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A diverse group of neoplasms may occur in the pineal region, and correct histologic diagnosis is critical to proper management of the disease. To emphasize the need for tissue diagnosis, we present five cases of pineal region tumors, including germinoma, pinealoblastoma, pinealoma, astrocytoma, and meningioma. In addition, we discuss the differential diagnosis of pineal region tumors, emphasizing the histologic, prognostic, and therapeutic differences between various tumor types.


We introduce a novel iterative approach for event coreference resolution that gradually builds event clusters by exploiting inter-dependencies among event mentions within the same chain as well as across event chains. Among event mentions in the same chain, we distinguish within- and cross-document event coreference links by using two distinct pairwise classifiers, trained separately to capture differences in feature distributions of within- and cross-document event clusters. Our event coreference approach alternates between WD and CD clustering and combines arguments from both event clusters after every merge, continuing till no more merge can be made. And then it performs further merging between event chains that are both closely related to a set of other chains of events. Experiments on the ECB+ corpus show that our model outperforms state-of-the-art methods in joint task of WD and CD event coreference resolution.


In this paper the authors extend earlier work on the application of curved space Hertz and Debye bivector potentials to the solution of Maxwell's equations for source-free electromagnetic test fields in general relativity. They classify all Hertzian schemes by considering bivector potentials which are eigenvectors of the Hodge duality operator. This approach has the advantage of simplifying the task of solving the system of coupled equations which determine the Hertz potential. They then apply their results to several Debye schemes and present a new scheme which can be used in Petrov type-D spacetimes. For each of these schemes, the one-component wave equation for the potential is given with respect to the null tetrad/Newman-Penrose formalism and, for the first time, with respect to an orthonormal basis.


OBJECTIVES
This study describes the spectrum and initial impact of pulmonary manifestations in the primary systemic vasculitides.

METHODS
Description and comparison of pulmonary manifestations in adults with Takayasu's arteritis (TAK), giant cell arteritis (GCA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), and IgA vasculitis (IgAV), using data collected within the Diagnostic and Classification Criteria in Vasculitis (DCVAS) study.

RESULTS
Data from 1952 patients with primary vasculitides were included: 170 TAK, 657 GCA, 555 GPA, 223 MPA, 146 EGPA, 153 IgAV, and 48 PAN. Pulmonary manifestations were observed in patients with TAK (21.8%), GCA (15.8%), GPA (64.5%), MPA (65.9%), EGPA (89.0%), PAN (27.1%) and IgAV (5.9%). Dyspnea occurred in patients with TAK (14.7%), GCA (7.8%), GPA (41.8%), MPA (43.5%), EGPA (65.8%), PAN (18.8%) and IgAV (2.6%). Cough was reported in TAK (7.6%), GCA (9.3%), GPA (34.8%), MPA (37.7%), EGPA (55.5%), PAN (16.7%) and IgAV (3.3%). Hemoptysis occurred mainly in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Fibrosis on imaging at diagnosis was documented in GPA (1.9%), MPA (24.9%), and EGPA (6.3%). Only patients with AAV (GPA 2.7%, MPA 2.7% and EGPA 3.4%) required mechanical ventilation. At 6 months, the presence of at least one pulmonary item in the Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI) was observed in TAK (4.1%), GCA (3.3%), GPA (15.4%), MPA (28.7%), EGPA (52.7%), PAN (6.2%), and IgAV (1.3%).

CONCLUSIONS
Pulmonary manifestations can occur in all primary systemic vasculitides, but are more frequent and more often associated with permanent damage in AAV.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to study the safety and efficacy of a new orally administered sonographic contrast agent in patients with suspected upper abdominal disorders.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Ninety-nine patients with signs or symptoms suggestive of upper abdominal disorders were enrolled in a prospective range-of-dose phase II clinical trial at six sites; sonograms of 93 patients were evaluated for efficacy. Patients underwent upper abdominal sonography before and after receiving a randomized dose of the contrast agent (200, 400, 600, 800, or 1000 ml). Safety was monitored by physical examination and laboratory testing. The primary efficacy parameter was additional information provided by the contrast agent when comparing unenhanced and contrast-enhanced sonography.

RESULTS
Of the 14 adverse events in 11 patients, only five, which included mild diarrhea and nausea, were considered related to the contrast agent. In 83 of 93 patients, additional information was obtained from the contrast-enhanced images. Visualization of anatomy was improved as follows: the stomach, in 82% of patients; the duodenum, in 63% of patients; the pancreatic head and body, in 61% of patients; and the pancreatic tail, in 67% of patients.

CONCLUSION
SonoRx is a safe and well-tolerated contrast agent that improves the sonographic evaluation of the upper abdomen, with significant improvement in imaging the stomach, duodenum, and pancreas.


Despite the long years of political, economic, and military presence of the international community with its remarkable amount of aid, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) still suffers from political instabilities, lack of economic growth, and high rates of unemployment. The Dayton Peace Accords (DPA), which were signed in 1995 to end the violent war turning out ethnic cleansing and caused unforgettable humanitarian and economic loss, built a highly decentralized state with a divided society. Its vision was based on the neoliberal agenda that puts a strong emphasis on the belief that ethnic harmony and sustainable peace would be achieved only through a reconstruction program of neoliberal policies. Against the backdrop of this vision, the absence of intergroup cohesion among distinct ethnic collective identities remains still as a puzzle of the neoliberal state-building agenda of the international community. By highlighting the limitation of state-building in its implementation in BiH, this research aims to give a plausible answer to the puzzle regarding the root causes of why state-building initiatives remain ill-equipped in achieving the formation of the upper level of shared collective identity in BiH. To this end, it will critically discuss the effectiveness –or ineffectiveness– of the Dayton recipe for BiH to build a functional and sovereign state along with an upper level of shared collective identity.


The photochromic fluorescence switching of a fulgimide derivative was used to implement the first molecule-based D (delay) flip-flop device, which works based on the principles of sequential logic. The device operates exclusively with photonic signals and can be conveniently switched in repeated cycles.


e-Tourism or e-tourism business, represents the development of tourism to integrate ICT tools and has significantly changed the infrastructure of the tourism industry and tourists' behavior over the last decade. In order to meet the needs of new tourists, service supplier (i.e. the university) most meet the requirements of e-tourism industries. Research suggests that higher education, as one of the most important knowledge providers, is not currently meeting the needs of the e-tourism industry, especially in GMS developing countries. The quality of e-tourism curriculum provision depends largely on the curriculum quality and its subsequent implementation. This research focuses on two major problems, which represent a gap between the knowledge needs of the e-tourism industry and the knowledge provided by tourism curricula in higher education. The research investigates how to fill the gap between knowledge demand and that supplied by higher education through an analysis of the "as-is" situation and the desired "to-be" situation as related to e-tourism curriculum design. A solution is proposed through an integration of the tools of supply chain management and knowledge management.


In this study the HYDRUS-1D software has been applied to simulate water and salt transport through the soil profiles. Field experiments were performed as a randomized complete blocks design in Zabol University campus. Four leaching treatments with five replications were conducted within the blocks. The treatments included 10 irrigations with 100 mm water every 3 days (T1), 7 irrigations with 150 mm water every 7 days (T2), 5 irrigations with 200 mm water every 6 days (T3) and 4 irrigations with 250 mm water every 4 days (T4). For each treatment, soil samples were taken from five depth intervals 0-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80 and 80-100 cm and their water contents and soil chemical properties (ECe, pH, TDS, and Na, K, Ca and Mg) were measured every 7 days. Comparing the mean values of the differences between the studied soil properties amounts before and after leaching over the whole soil profile for different treatments showed that T1 had the highest leaching of TDS, ECe, Na, K, Ca and Mg. However, the differences between the treatments were not statistically significant (p≤0.05) for Ca. T1 was statistically (p≤0.05) different from T4 for TDS, ECe, Na, and Mg values and from T3 for K and Mg values. The graphical results showed that the HYDRUS-1D had the highest accuracy in simulating TDS, ECe and Ca in depth of 40 cm. The highest simulation accuracy resulted for Na in soil depth of 20 cm and for Mg, and K in the depth of 80 cm. The highest simulation accuracy of SWC was seen for the depth of 40 cm. For all treatments and properties, the values of R 2 ranged from 0.72 to 0.88, the RMES values were almost equal to the data standard deviations and the EF values ranged from 0.52 to 0.97, which indicated that the HYDRUS-1D software had a good ability to appropriately simulate water and salt transport in soil and predict water content and ECe profiles, satisfactorily. Therefore, it should be used for better management of irrigation and leaching of saline soils over the region in the future.


Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic likely impacted cannabis distribution, access and usage worldwide. This study aims to describe self-reported changes in cannabis use and related outcomes following COVID-19-related restrictions among an international sample of people who use drugs.

Design/methodology/approach
Using data from the Global Drug Survey COVID-19 Special Edition, the authors identified 20,417 respondents from 13 countries who reported whether the number of THC-containing cannabis usage days changed compared with February 2020 (before COVID-19 restrictions). Using descriptive statistics and a multinomial multivariable logistic regression, the authors investigated the impact of changes in cannabis use on respondents' mental health, physical health, relationships, finances, work/study performance and cannabis-related pleasure/enjoyment.

Findings
Similar proportions of respondents reported that their cannabis use had stayed the same (38.2%) or increased (38.3%) compared with February 2020, while 21.9% of respondents reported a decrease. The most common reason for increased use was having more time (68.4%), while decreased use was associated with having less contact with people they use cannabis with (58.4%). The likelihood of reporting worse mental and physical health, finances, and work/study performance following COVID-19 restrictions was highest among those who reported increased cannabis use.

Research limitations/implications
These findings provide a unique understanding of the short-term international impact of initial COVID-19 restrictions on cannabis use, and highlight the need for policy to address the ongoing and improved provision of evidence-based mental health and other support for people who frequently use cannabis.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the world's largest international study exploring the impacts of these changes in cannabis use following initial COVID-19 restrictions on individuals' mental health, physical health, relationships, finances, work/study performance and cannabis-related pleasure. This study is also unique in comparing these changes across multiple continents.

https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/file/b827aeb5-2bbb-4ad0-88ad-20c51aea4875/1/Shifts in cannabis use following COVID-19 restrictions - 2023 - Puljević Cossart Davies Barratt Maier Jauffret-Roustide Winstock Ferris.pdf


Agriculture is one of the drivers of economic development since Uganda is predominately an agricultural economy and being less developed, its key to transform agriculture in order to achieve economic growth. The growth in COVID-19 cases led to limited movement from one place to another due to the stringent measures put in place to deter the further spread of the virus and this in turn could have affected agricultural activities and food security in the country due to high costs of food distribution and access to inputs. The purpose of the study was to investigate how COVID-19 pandemic has affected agriculture and food security in Uganda. The study used a descriptive design with only quantitative approaches and the data used in this study was extracted from Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). The analysis involved running Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), pairwise correlation matrix and descriptive analysis. Results indicated that there was a significant mean difference between prices of rice, sugar, milk and eggs from March to June during the COVID-19 (P-value< 0.05), the actual percentage mean difference between prices of agricultural products during COVID period at 5% level, it also discovered that between March and June, price of rice recorded the highest increase with an average of 4.8%, followed by that of eggs (3.5%), Sugar (3.4%) while price of milk recorded an average decline of negative 6.1% during COVID period. Results further exposed that transportation costs had a negative and insignificant relationship with the prices of agricultural products during the COVID period (r=-0.734, P-value>0.05). It is observed that after the outbreak of COVID-19, the transportation cost declined exponentially to negative 0.6%, 0.7%, and 0.4 in March, April, and May respectively which was far below the transportation costs recorded in 2019 and the price of rice persistently increased from 0.3% to 8% respectively due to its increased household demand during the lockdown. Therefore, it is concluded that since the prices of core agricultural food stuffs increased during the COVID-19 period, this affected the availability of food in homes, thus reduced on food security.


Seed germination is a critical stage in the plant life cycle and the first step towards successful plant establishment. Understanding germination is therefore of important ecological and agronomical relevance. Previous research revealed that different seed compartments (testa, endosperm and embryo) control germination, but little is known about the underlying spatial and temporal transcriptome changes that lead to seed germination. We analyzed genome-wide expression in germinating Arabidopsis thaliana seeds with both temporal and spatial detail and provide web accessible visualizations of the data reported (vseed.nottingham.ac.uk). We show the potential of this high resolution data set for the construction of meaningful co-expression networks, which provide insight into the genetic control of germination. The data set reveals two transcriptional phases during germination that are separated by testa rupture. The first phase is marked by large transcriptome changes as the seed switches from a dry, quiescent state to a hydrated and active state. At the end of this first transcriptional phase the number of differentially expressed genes between consecutive time points drop. This increases again at testa rupture, the start of the second transcriptional phase. Transcriptome data indicates a role for mechano-induced signalling at this stage, and subsequently highlights the fates of the endosperm and radicle; senescence and growth respectively. Finally, using a phylotranscriptomic approach we show that expression levels of evolutionary young genes drop during the first transcriptional phase and increase during the second phase. Evolutionary old genes show an opposite pattern, suggesting a more conserved transcriptome prior to the completion of germination.


Radical cystectomy remains standard management for patients with locally advanced T2 through T4, N0, M0 transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Although radical cystectomy results in excellent local control, 50% or more of patients relapse. Studies have shown that multidrug cisplatin (Platinol)-based chemotherapy prolongs disease-free survival in 10% to 15% of cases and is superior to single-agent cisplatin. These studies led to the application of these regimens in conjunction with surgery and/or radiation therapy in an attempt to preserve bladder function. With this approach, the decision to leave the bladder in place, remove a portion (partial cystectomy), or perform a radical cystectomy is made after assessing the initial response to therapy. Results from neoadjuvant studies have shown that: major responses are observed in at least 50% of patients; bladder preservation can be achieved in 25% to 50%; a pathologic complete response predicts long survival; and patients with deeply invasive lesions (T3b to T4) usually are not candidates for bladder preservation. Whether overall survival is improved has been difficult to ascertain due to such issues as small sample size and case selection. Concurrently, newer surgical approaches with continent diversions have reduced, to some extent, the need for ileal conduits, a factor influencing the bladder preservation approach. Adjuvant chemotherapy, although less well studied, suggests a possible survival benefit for selected patients with a high likelihood of relapse. To optimize patients selection, new prognostic factors are necessary. Many biologic variables based on expression of tumor-related proteins are under study. Combined-modality therapy is not standard management for the majority of bladder-cancer patients. However, it is a viable alternative for those who are committed to preserving bladder function. Additional research is required to determine whether these approaches improve survival and to identify better markers of treatment outcome.


This work deals with the experimental validation of a probe compensated near-field - far-field (NF-FF) transformation with plane-polar scanning, which makes possible to lower the number of needed measurements, as well as the time required for the data acquisition when dealing with quasi-planar antennas. It relies on the use of the nonredundant sampling representations of electromagnetic fields, employing an oblate ellipsoid to shape an antenna under test characterized by quasi-planar geometry. A two-dimensional optimal sampling interpolation formula allows the reconstruction of the NF data at any point on the measurement plane and, in particular, at those required by the classical NF-FF transformation with the plane-rectangular scan. Some experimental results carried out at the UNISA Antenna Characterization Lab and assessing the effectiveness of the technique are shown.


In Sub-Saharan Africa, the agricultural sector remains to be the mainstay of the economies. The establishment of agribusiness opportunities offers widespread benefits in terms of food. This study aimed to examine the social, economic, technological, and environmental factors behind the deterioration of the agribusiness sector in Somaliland. The study administered semi-structured questionnaires to 96 respondents in the Gabiley district. The Linear regression results indicate that nine variables, namely; price fluctuation, prolonged drought spell, entrepreneurship training, access to extension services, capital, greenhouse technology, use of mobile money transfer, were statistically significant at 5%. However, four hypothesized variables; farm inputs, land size, education, and availability of farmers' cooperative societies) were not statistically significant. The study recommends that Somaliland's ministry of agriculture provide agricultural extension staff and capital to stimulate agribusiness development in the country.


The study of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs) via the multi-messenger approach is reaching a level that requires going beyond steady-state sources. Meeting this challenge requires improvements of the existing tools and defining new methods to accelerate the computations related to the propagation of UHECRs in extragalactic space and within the sources. With this aim, the inclusion of hadronic interactions in the widely used code CRPropa has been completed allowing in-source propagation of UHECRs with all relevant interactions: magnetic, photonuclear, and hadronic. This contribution presents the implementation of hadronic interactions in CRPropa by exposing hadronic modelling softwares (e.g. EPOS-LHC, SYBILL, QGSJet) with the help of the code "chromo". The impact on the performance of CRPropa is reported and compared to other methods used to simulate hadronic interactions. The physical interplay of hadronic and photohadronic interactions is discussed in the context of plausible scenarios of bursting sources.


Climate change is projected to significantly alter the delivery (stratification, boundary currents, aridification of landmasses, glacial melt) of iron to the Southern Ocean. We report the most comprehensive suite of biogeochemical iron budgets to date for three contrasting sites in subantarctic and polar frontal waters south of Australia. Distinct regional environments were responsible for differences in the mode and strength of iron supply mechanisms, with higher iron stocks and fluxes observed in surface northern subantarctic waters, where atmospheric iron fluxes were greater. Subsurface waters southeast of Tasmania were also enriched with particulate iron, manganese and aluminum, indicative of a strong advective source from shelf sediments. Subantarctic phytoplankton blooms are thus driven by both seasonal iron supply from southward advection of subtropical waters and by wind‐blown dust deposition, resulting in a strong decoupling of iron and nutrient cycles. We discuss the broader global significance our iron budgets for other ocean regions sensitive to climate‐driven changes in iron supply.


A picture selecting system is provided with a picture output device and a portable terminal supplying a picture file showing a picture outputted by the picture output device. The portable terminal has at least a display part or a decoder decoding the picture file. The picture output device has a plurality of decoders decoding various types of picture files. The portable terminal transmits information showing a picture file form which it itself can decode to the picture output device. When the picture output device receives information showing the picture file form transmitted from the portable terminal, it generates a converted picture file obtained by converting the picture which the picture output device holds into a picture file form which received information shows and transmits it to the portable terminal. The portable terminal receives the picture file transmitted from the picture output device, decodes it and displays it by a display part.


Background/aim There is some evidence that physical activity and nature contact is associated with positive impact on health; however, the research in young children is sparse. The aim of this study was to determine the association between of city park use, residential surrounding greenness level and preschool children health. Methods This nested case-control study included 1,489 4–6 years children residents of Kaunas city, Lithuania. Responses to the questionnaires completed by the parents were used to identify children's health. We assigned individual exposure to greenness levels as GIS assessed the average of satellite-derived Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within a 100 m buffer of each participant address. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, we estimated the associations of residential greenness in 100 m buffers by median and time spent in nearest city park (more than 5 h/week vs less than 5 h/week) with children health outcome as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Poor health was reported in 14.0% of children aged 4 to 6 years. Preschool children who spent shorter than 5 h/week in city park had statistically significant by 48% higher risk (OR 1.48 95% CI: 1.10–2.02) of poor health than those who spent longer than 5 hours per week. With reference to the group of higher level of residential greenness exposure (NDVI >median and time spent in city park >5 h/week), lower level of greenness exposure and shorter time spent in city park were associated with statistically significant higher adjusted odds ratios for poor health in 4–6 year-old children (aOR 2.35; 95% CI: 1.45 to 3.81). Conclusion The findings of this study suggest a beneficial impact of use of city parks on poor health amongst 4–6 year-old children and demonstrate the important role that increased residential greenness can play a beneficial role in reducing the risk of young children's poor health.


Lasso peptides are a new class of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides and thus far are only isolated from proteo- and actinobacterial sources. Typically, lasso peptide biosynthetic gene clusters encode enzymes for biosynthesis and export but not for tailoring. Here, we describe the isolation of the novel lasso peptide paeninodin from the firmicute Paenibacillus dendritiformis C454 and reveal within its biosynthetic cluster a gene encoding a kinase, which we have characterized as a member of a new class of lasso peptide-tailoring kinases. By employing a wide variety of peptide substrates, it was shown that this novel type of kinase specifically phosphorylates the C-terminal serine residue while ignoring those located elsewhere. These experiments also reveal that no other recognition motif is needed for efficient enzymatic phosphorylation of the C-terminal serine. Furthermore, through comparison with homologous HPr kinases and subsequent mutational analysis, we confirmed the essential catalytic residues. Our study reveals how lasso peptides are chemically diversified and sets the foundation for rational engineering of these intriguing natural products.


This study identified Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oyster and seawater samples collected from Delaware Bay from June through October of 2016. Environmental parameters including water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and chlorophyll a were measured per sampling event. Oysters homogenate and seawater samples were 10-fold serially diluted and directly plated on CHROMagarᵀᴹ Vibrio medium. Presumptive V. parahaemolyticus colonies were counted and at least 20% of these colonies were selected for molecular chracterization. V. parahaemolyticus isolates (n = 165) were screened for the presence of the species-specific thermolabile hemolysin (tlh) gene, the pathogenic thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh)/ thermostable related hemolysin (trh) genes, the regulatory transmembrane DNA-binding gene (toxR), and V. parahaemolyticus metalloprotease (vpm) gene using a conventional PCR. The highest mean levels of the presumptive V. parahaemolyticus were 9.63×103 CFU/g and 1.85×103 CFU/mL in the oyster and seawater samples, respectively, during the month of July. V. parahaemolyticus levels in oyster and seawater samples were significantly positively correlated with water temperature. Of the 165 isolates, 137 (83%), 110 (66.7%), and 108 (65%) were tlh+, vpm+, and toxR+, respectively. Among the V. parahaemolyticus (tlh+) isolates, 7 (5.1%) and 15 (10.9%) were tdh+ and trh+, respectively, and 24 (17.5%), only oyster isolates, were positive for both genes. Potential pathogenic strains that possessed tdh and/or trh were notably higher in oyster (39%) than seawater (15.6%) isolates. The occurrence of total V. parahaemolyticus (tlh+) was not necessarily proportional to the potential pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus. Co-occurrence of the five genetic markers were observed only among oyster isolates. The co-occurrence of the gene markers showed a relatedness potential of tdh occurrence with vpm. We believe exploring the role of V. parahaemolyticus metalloprotease and whether it is involved in the toxic activity of the thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) protein can be of significance. The outcomes of this study will provide some foundation for future studies regarding pathogenic Vibrio dynamics in relation to environmental quality.


In several cases of lupus erythematosus (SLE, SCLE, DLE), the Koebner phenomenon could be seen in the apparently normal skin of patients following traumas, scratching effects, operation scars, contact dermatitis, pressure from sock tops, application of liquid nitrogen, exposure to strong sun light, etc. The interval between exposure to such provocation factors and appearance of the isomorphic reactions varied from case to case. In SLE patients receiving systemic treatment with glucocorticosteroids, the Koebner phenomenon could not be found, while it was detected in patients with generalized DLE who had never received any systemic glucocorticoid hormones. It was not seen in patients with localized DLE. There was no direct relationship between the appearance of humoral autoantibodies and onset of the Koebner phenomenon. With regard to the histopathogenesis of the Koebner phenomenon, it is thought that disturbances of the local cellular repair processes and of the cytokine network, with expression of adhesion molecules, might be involved. The Koebner phenomenon may be a valuable model for the investigation of lupus erythematosus.


Bright radar reflections observed beneath the south polar layered deposits (SPLD) by the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding instrument were interpreted to represent liquid water, but the required amounts of salt and heat to form and maintain liquids in this location are implausible given what is known about Mars. Here, we present another hypothesis that accounts for the bright reflections: hydrated and cold clay‐rich deposits at the base of the SPLD create the observed radar response. To support this hypothesis, we present experimental measurements and wave propagation modeling that show that smectites, cooled to 230 K, have real and imaginary parts of the dielectric permittivity large enough to cause the bright reflections, even when mixed with other materials. Further, we find that absorptions attributable to these minerals are present in south polar orbital visible‐near infrared reflectance spectra. Because these minerals are present at the south pole and can cause the reflections, we believe this to be a more viable scenario than the liquid water interpretation.


Cross-circulation was performed to investigate the mitochondrial respiratory function of the liver and kidney in rats after 1, 2 and 3 weeks of biliary obstruction. Serum bilirubin and total bile acids concentration in blood in rats with biliary obstruction markedly decreased with 3 hours cross-circulation. There demonstrated, however, no significant change in mitochondrial function in the liver after cross-circulation. In contrast, mitochondrial function in the kidney showed significant improvement after 3 hours cross-circulation. Mitochondrial respiratory function in normal partner rats cross-circulation with jaundiced rats demonstrated temporal deterioration in the kidney and prolonged deterioration in the liver. It can be concluded that cross-circulation or plasma exchange might be useful for the prevention of renal failure in obstructive jaundice, since cross-circulation induced persistent improvement of the mitochondrial respiratory function in the kidney deteriorated by biliary obstruction.


This document defines how QUIC, Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS), Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), RTP Control Protocol (RTCP), Session Traversal Utilities for NAT (STUN), Traversal Using Relays around NAT (TURN), and ZRTP packets are multiplexed on a single receiving socket. This document RFC 7983 and RFC 5764.