A well‐established oxidative addition of organic halides (R‐X) to N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes of palladium(0) leads to formation of (NHC)(R)PdII(X)L species, the key intermediates in a large variety of synthetically useful cross‐coupling reactions. Typical consideration of the cross‐coupling catalytic cycle is based on the assumption of intrinsic stability of these species, where the subsequent steps involve coordination of the second reacting partner. Thus, high stability of the intermediate (NHC)(R)PdII(X)L species is usually taken for granted. In the present study it is discussed that such intermediates are prone to non‐classical R‐NHC intramolecular coupling process (R = Me, Ph, Vinyl, Ethynyl) that results in removal of NHC ligand and generation of another type of Pd catalytic system. DFT calculations (BP86, TPSS, PBE1PBE, B3LYP, M06, wB97X‐D) clearly show that outcome of R‐NHC coupling process is not only determined by chemical nature of the organic substituent R, but also strongly depends on the type of solvent. The reaction is most favorable in polar solvents, whereas the non‐polar solvents render the products less stable. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


The purpose of this paper is to obtain solutions for both linear and nonlinear initial value problems (IVPs) for fractional transport equations and fractional diffusion-wave equations using the iterative method.


Although the concept of pirates as hostes humani generis appears to be
 axiomatic, it is argued in this chapter that piracy elicited more ambiguous
 responses from philosophers and lawyers in late seventeenth-century
 Britain. Pirates were merely one among a pantheon of archetypal enemies
 of good order. By examining references to piracy in the work of the English
 political philosopher John Locke in particular, it is argued here that pirates
 vied with tyrants for the title of "common enemy of all humankind."
 Locke's prevarications were mirrored by continuing doubts and legal
 debates about who the hostis humani generis really was.


The SUrvey for Pulsars and Extragalactic Radio Bursts ran from 2014 April to 2019 August, covering a large fraction of the southern hemisphere at mid- to high-galactic latitudes, and consisting of 9-minute pointings taken with the 20-cm multibeam receiver on the Parkes Radio Telescope. Data up to 2017 September 21 have been searched using standard Fourier techniques, single-pulse searches, and Fast Folding Algorithm searches. We present 19 new discoveries, bringing the total to 27 discoveries in the programme, and we report the results of follow-up timing observations at Parkes for 26 of these pulsars, including the millisecond pulsar PSR J1421-4409; the faint, highly-modulated, slow pulsar PSR J1646-1910; and the nulling pulsar PSR J1337-4441. We present new timing solutions for 23 pulsars, and we report flux densities, modulation indices, and polarization properties.


All teachers face new challenges everyday and strive to be effective teachers and often they attain best practice in their field. In Thailand many are hired to teach with little or no previous teaching experience in an inter cultural setting or worst even of teaching in any setting. Foreign teachers find themselves confronted by a new set of challenges which often puts into question what they previously accepted and implemented as best practice. Teaching across cultures is no easy task and demands new strategies and ways of thinking. Many teachers are neither prepared for the reorientation needed or the consequences of such interactions and will struggle to adapt or fail to modify their behavior to take account of the new cultural setting in which they find themselves. Identifying and understanding the cultural dimensions that underpin the interactions in the new setting is a starting point. Applying cross cultural communication strategies can mitigate the difficulties encountered by both the foreign teacher and the hosts and both can obtain a broader perspective of their cultural positions to achieve not just a level of cultural awareness or sensitivity but the cultural competence to create relationships that maximise positive contributions and ensure effective productive relationships are formed to benefit all stakeholders.


The development of effective meinigococcal vaccines was based upon the finding that immunity to the meningococcus was directly correlated with serum bactericidal antibodies. Purified high molecular weight capsular polysaccharides of serogroups A and C meningococci stimulated the production of humoral antibodies which had group specific bactericidal activity. In controlled field trials in Army recruits, group C polysaccharide vaccines were highly effective in preventing group C disease. Following its use as a routine immunization in recruits in October 1971 group C meningococcal disease has been almost completely eliminated from Army training centers. Group A vaccine has been field tested in Egyptian school children with great success. Group B polysaccharide has failed to induce bactericidal antibodies in humans and, therefore, new research is underway to attempt to develop a cell wall protein antigen as a vaccine against group B disease.


Purpose: Imatinib, a BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is a substrate of the efflux transporters P-glycoprotein (P-gp; ABCB1) and ABCG2 (breast cancer resistance protein), and its brain accumulation is restricted by both transporters. For dasatinib, an inhibitor of SCR/BCR-ABL kinases, in vivo interactions with P-gp and ABCG2 are not fully established yet. Experimental Design: We used Abcb1a/1b−/−, Abcg2−/−, and Abcb1a/1b;Abcg2−/− mice to establish the roles of P-gp and ABCG2 in the pharmacokinetics and brain accumulation of dasatinib. Results: We found that oral uptake of dasatinib is limited by P-gp. Furthermore, relative brain accumulation, 6 hours after administration, was not affected by Abcg2 deficiency, but absence of P-gp resulted in a 3.6-fold increase after oral and 4.8-fold higher accumulation after i.p. administration. Abcb1a/1b;Abcg2−/− mice had the most pronounced increase in relative brain accumulation, which was 13.2-fold higher after oral and 22.7-fold increased after i.p. administration. Moreover, coadministration to wild-type mice of dasatinib with the dual P-gp and ABCG2 inhibitor elacridar resulted in a similar dasatinib brain accumulation as observed for Abcb1a/1b;Abcg2−/− mice. Conclusions: Brain accumulation of dasatinib is primarily restricted by P-gp, but Abcg2 can partly take over this protective function at the blood-brain barrier. Consequently, when both transporters are absent or inhibited, brain uptake of dasatinib is highly increased. These findings might be clinically relevant for patients with central nervous system Philadelphia chromosome–positive leukemia, as coadministration of an inhibitor of P-gp and ABCG2 with dasatinib might result in better therapeutic responses in these patients.


Most multivariate statistical methods for gene expression data require a complete matrix of gene array values. In this paper, an imputation method based on least squares formulation is proposed to estimate missing values. It exploits local similarity structures in the data as well as least squares optimization process. The proposed local least squares imputation method (LLSimpute) represents a target gene that has missing values as a linear combination of similar genes. This algorithm showed better performance than the other imputation methods such as k-nearest neighbor imputation and an imputation method based on Bayesian principal component analysis.


The structural transitions occurring with change in pH for aqueous mixtures of a cationic surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) and a hydrotrope (sodium salicylate, NaSal) were investigated at various temperatures using dynamic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering. Direct structural studies show a transition from rigid cylindrical micelles at neutral pH to spherical micelles at ∼ pH 2 upon protonation of salicylate molecules; however, an unanticipated reversion to flexible cylindrical micelles with further decrease in pH was observed. We also observed these microstructure transitions from cylinders at high pH to spherical micelles at intermediate pH to flexible cylindrical micelles at low pH were highly sensitive to temperature. Our results suggest that, in addition to the well-described electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions in cationic surfactant-hydrotrope mixtures, the pH-induced microstructural changes are potentially governed by complementary cation-π and hydrogen bonding interactions.


Introduction: Empowering a low-income population of diabetic patients with onsite HbA1c testing results, coaching, and culturally appropriate diabetes self-management education materials improve outcomes and lower costs in a public health setting. Objectives: This study examines the positive outcomes of a redesign in the Diabetes Education and Care Management (DECM) program at Denton County Public Health, (DCPH) a participant in Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) plan. Methods: Funding for ongoing management of diabetic patients across the U.S.A. remains an ongoing challenge. The DECM program elected to participate in the DSRIP program to secure funding to reach more diabetic patients with the goal of reducing their HbA1c and improve quality of life. Diabetic patients with an HbA1c of more than 9% met the DSRIP criteria for eligibility to DSRIP. Participants in the education program who followed the quarterly HbA1c appointment schedule were provided with diabetic medications and testing supplies to monitor glucose at no cost. Glycemic control was monitored by onsite testing of HbA1c during a quarterly visit at DCPH with the objective to lower the patients baseline HbA1c by 2.5%. Results presented reflect patient outcomes from Oct 2014 to Sept 2017. Results: Approximately 251 of the 400 patients met the DSRIP criteria of HbA1c over 9% during the selected dates. The average baseline HbA1c was 10.7% in year 3, which was lowered to 8.2% by year end. Health economic models have shown that, for a population of 500 patients, the improvement of 1.0% in the HbA1c results can lead to multiple complications episodes avoidance (e.g.,: amputation, cataract extraction, etc.) which would result in over U$ 500,000.00 in savings for the healthcare system. Conclusions: Our study suggests that empowering diabetic patients with education, state of art diabetes management, and onsite testing can lower overall HbA1c results leading to the reduction of complications and heath care costs. Disclosure J.P. Gallo: None. M. Richardson: None.


The migration of physicians from low-resource to high-resource settings is a prevalent global phenomenon that is insufficiently understood. Most low-income countries are severely understaffed with physicians, and the emigration of the already limited number of physicians to other countries can significantly reduce access to healthcare in the source country. Despite a growing interest in global capacity building in these countries by academic and non-governmental organizations in high-income countries, efforts to stem physician migration have been mostly unsuccessful. The authors reviewed the current literature for the motivational factors leading to physician migration in the context of Maslow's hierarchy of human needs. Our study found that financial safety needs were major drivers of physician emigration. However, factors related to self-actualization such as the desire for professional development through training opportunities and research, were also major contributors. These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of physician motivations to emigrate from low-resource countries. Maslow's Theory of Motivation may provide a useful framework for future studies evaluating the concerns of physicians in low-income countries and as a guide to incentivize retention.


Summary TAFI (thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor) down regulates fibrinolysis after activation by relatively high concentrations of thrombin generated during coagulation via thrombin mediated factor XI activation and subsequent activation of the intrinsic pathway. It is this secondary burst of thrombin that is severely diminished in haemophilia A, a deficiency of coagulation factor VIII. We therefore investigated the role of TAFI in haemophilia A by measuring the clot lysis times of tissue factor induced fibrin formation and tPA mediated fibrinolysis. In haemophilia A plasma clot lysis times were normal at relatively high tissue factor concentrations but severely decreased at moderate to low tissue factor concentrations, indicating that the thrombin generation via the extrinsic pathway was insufficient to activate TAFI. Addition of factor VIII, TAFI or thrombomodulin restored the clot lysis times at low tissue factor concentrations. This confirms the hypothesis that the bleeding disorder in haemophilia A is not merely a defect in the initial clot formation but is in fact a triple defect: reduced thrombin formation via the extrinsic pathway at low tissue factor concentrations, a reduced secondary burst of thrombin generation via the intrinsic pathway and a defective down regulation of the fibrinolytic system by the intrinsic pathway.


Skilled motor control requires precise connections between subcerebral projection neurons (SCPN) in the cerebral cortex and their appropriate subcerebral targets in the brainstem or spinal cord. The brainstem is an important motor control center and cortical projections to the brainstem serve distinct motor control functions than corticospinal projections. However, mechanisms controlling cortico-brainstem versus corticospinal projections during development remain unknown. Here, we show that the transition between the brainstem and cervical cord distinguishes cortico-brainstem from corticospinal neurons from the earliest stages of SCPN axon extension in white matter. We used high throughput single-cell RNA sequencing of FACS-purified SCPN, retrogradely labeled from either the cerebral peduncle (labeling both cortico-brainstem and corticospinal neurons) or the cervical cord (labeling corticospinal neurons only) at critical times of axon extension. We identify that cortico-brainstem and corticospinal neurons are molecularly distinct: We establish Neuropeptide Y (Npy) as specifically enriched in cortico-brainstem neurons in lateral cortex, while CART prepropeptide (Cartpt) delineates cervical-projecting corticospinal neurons. Our results highlight molecular specification of cortico-brainstem vs. corticospinal projections well before these axons reach their appropriate segmental target and suggest a broad molecular program over SCPN axon targeting to distinct subcerebral targets early in development. These findings are likely to inform future investigations of motor circuit development, as well as approaches aimed at enhancing motor recovery after central nervous system damage. Highlights Cortico-brainstem neurons (CBN) limit their axon extension to supraspinal levels from the earliest time points of white matter axon extension in development. CBN can be molecularly delineated from corticospinal neurons (CSN) even at these initial time points. Molecular diversification of developing subcerebral projection neurons occurs across at least two axes: cortical location (medial vs. lateral) and projection targeting specificity (brainstem vs. spinal) Within lateral cortex, Neuropeptide Y (Npy) is expressed by CBN, while CART prepropeptide (Cartpt) expression delineates cervical-projecting CSN.


Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL

Mcl-1, a critical survival factor for human multiple myeloma (MM) cells, confers resistance to various conventional and novel anti-MM agents, including bortezomib. We previously reported that a therapeutic strategy combining Chk1 with MEK1/2 inhibitors is highly active in both MM cell lines as well as primary MM cells, and that up-regulation of the BH3-only protein Bim plays a critical role in lethality. However, whether this strategy also targets Mcl-1 and/or circumvents bortezomib-resistance is unknown. To address these questions, the specific Chk1 inhibitor CEP3891 was used in combination with the MEK1/2 inhibitor PD184352. Exposure to CEP3891 triggered ERK1/2 activation and Bim phosphorylation/degradation in multiple MM cell lines (e.g., U266, MM.1S, RPMI8226, and H929). Blockade of ERK1/2 activation by PD184352 led to Bim upregulation, accompanied by striking induction of apoptosis. Significantly, the CEP3891/PD184352 regimen was highly active against primary CD138+ samples (7 of 9), while sparing all CD138- samples (9 of 9) as well as normal cord blood CD34+ cells. Notably, PD184352 +/− CEP3891 induced marked Mcl-1 downregulation in MM cell lines and primary CD138+ MM samples. This regimen also blocked Mcl-1 up-regulation induced by IL-6 or IGF-1, a mechanism responsible for the pro-survival function of these growth factors in MM cells. Of note, ectopic expression of Mcl-1 conferred marked resistance to bortezomib. However, in Mcl-1-overexpressing cells, PD184352 retained its ability to block CEP3891-mediated ERK1/2 activation as well as Bim degradation, and combined treatment resulted in marked apoptosis equivalent to that observed in empty vector-transfected controls. Co-immunoprecipitation showed a marked increase in the association between Mcl-1 with Bim in MM cells exposed to PD184352 +/− CEP3891, while co-administration of these agents resulted in the release of Bak from Mcl-1. Similar events occurred in Mcl-1-overexpressing MM cells. Finally, PS-R cells, a bortezomib-resistant subline generated from U266 cells continuously cultured in stepwise increases in bortezomib concentrations exhibited increased Mcl-1 levels but markedly diminished Bim expression. Co-treatment with PD184352/CEP3891 clearly down-regulated Mcl-1 and increased Bim levels in these cells, leading to Bax translocation to mitochondria, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO, activation of caspase-3, and PARP cleavage. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a mechanism wherein, in MM cells, a strategy combining Chk1/MEK1/2 inhibitors targets Mcl-1 by a) directly down-regulating Mcl-1 protein expression, and b) inactivating Mcl-1 by increasing its binding to up-regulated Bim. They also raise the possibility that the Chk1/MEK1/2 inhibitor regimen circumvents bortezomib-resistance by disabling the cytoprotective actions of Mcl-1.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4667. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4667


SUMMARY Robotic hands use rolling contact to manipulate a grasped object to a desired location, even when the finger and the palm linkage mechanisms lack degrees of freedom. This paper presents a systematic approach to the forward and inverse kinematics of in-hand manipulation. The moving frame method in differential geometry is integrated into the product of exponential formula to establish a pure geometric framework of the kinematics of a robot hand. The forward and inverse kinematics of a multifingered hand are obtained in terms of the joint rates and contact trajectories. A two-fingered planar robot hand and a three-fingered spatial robot hand are used to demonstrate the proposed approach. The proposed formulation amounts to solving a univariate polynomial, providing an alternative to the existing ones that require numerical integration.


Channel impulse response (CIR) can be estimated by time-domain processing (TDP) based on cyclic correlation in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. We propose an improved generalized TDP method to reduce the estimation error by taking the average of different CIR values which are derived according to the different starting points of cyclic correlation. Moreover, an effective channel length estimation method which is performed by reverse detection processing to search the last effective CIR is also proposed. The whole proposed method is more efficient to OFDM systems with long cyclic prefix (CP) because the CP information is sufficiently utilized during the CIR estimation. The analysis and the simulation results verify that the mean square error (MSE) performance of the proposed method is 4-5 dB better than the conventional method under the same conditions.


Mice naturally infected transplacentally with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus carry high titers of virus in their blood and tissues, make anti-viral antibody, and develop an associated chronic disease. The virus travels in the circulation in virus-IgG-complement(C) complexes. A study of the renal glomeruli of such transplacentally infected mice showed the presence of viral antigen, C3 and Ig at birth, and a progressive accumulation of virus-Ig complexes that led to death from glomerulonephritis in some mice by 2 weeks of age.


Abstract Stationary and ergodic time series can be constructed using an s-vine decomposition based on sets of bivariate copula functions. The extension of such processes to infinite copula sequences is considered and shown to yield a rich class of models that generalizes Gaussian ARMA and ARFIMA processes to allow both non-Gaussian marginal behaviour and a non-Gaussian description of the serial partial dependence structure. Extensions of classical causal and invertible representations of linear processes to general s-vine processes are proposed and investigated. A practical and parsimonious method for parameterizing s-vine processes using the Kendall partial autocorrelation function is developed. The potential of the resulting models to give improved statistical fits in many applications is indicated with an example using macroeconomic data.


A novel biomimetic bone scaffold was successfully prepared in this study, which was composed of calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CSH), collagen and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAC). CSH/nHAC was prepared and observed with scanning electron microscope and rhBMP-2 was introduced into CSH/nHAC. The released protein content from the scaffold was detected using high performance liquid chromatography at predetermined time interval. In vivo bone formation capacity was investigated by means of implanting the scaffolds with rhBMP-2 or without rhBMP-2 respectively into a critical size defect model in the femoral condyle of rabbit. The releasing character of rhBMP-2 was that an initial burst release (37.5%) was observed in the first day, followed by a sustained release and reached 100% at the end of day 20. The CSH/nHAC showed a gradual decrease in degradation with the content of nHAC increase. The results of X-rays, Micro CT and histological observation indicated that more new bone was formed in rhBMP-2 group. The results implied that this new injectable bone scaffold should be very promising for bone repair and has a great potential in bone tissue engineering.


Nanocrystalline Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) powder with grain size of 30 nm was prepared using the spraying-coprecipitation method. The obtained nanocrystalline Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 powder was sintered using conventional and microwave sintering techniques. The results show that the microstructure and magnetic properties of the sintered samples are obviously improved by microwave sintering of nanocrystalline Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 ferrite powder. The initial permeability of Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 ferrite increases with the increase in zinc concentration, although its resonance frequencies shift from high frequency to low frequency. The maximum initial permeability for microwave-sintered Ni0.4Zn0.6Fe2O4 ceramic obtained at the temperature of 1170°C for 30 min reaches up to 360.9, and its resonance frequency is ~10 MHz. It may be attributed to the nanocrystalline Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 raw powder as well as the microwave sintering process, which results in a synergistic effect on improvement of the microstructure and magnetic properties.


With the increasing number of vehicles on the road, it has become difficult to properly control the flow of traffic especially in large cities like Lahore. The proposed system uses a digital camera mounted on a stepper motor to sense the traffic on the road. The decision to open the lane is done after monitoring the traffic load. The heavily loaded side is turned on for a longer time. Thus the system is intelligent because it is not using the fixed time frame. The system is also integrated with GSM, thus the signals can also be controlled with the help of mobile in case of an emergency. MATLAB® programming environment has been used in simulating and developing the system.


Introduction Sensory modulation impacts daily family life; however, parents' sensory traits are rarely considered and analysed together with their child's. This study aimed to: (1) determine the association between healthy child and mother sensory modulation traits and (2) examine how these traits interact in predicting daily parenting challenges. Method Seventy-three healthy mothers of typically developing 3–6-year-old children completed the Short Sensory Profile, Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile and Parenting Daily Hassles questionnaires. Mother and child sensory over-responsivity (SOR), under-responsivity (SUR) and seeking traits were entered as predictors of frequency of daily hassles. Results Mother and child's SOR and SUR traits were significantly associated (r = .33 and .25, respectively). The frequency of parenting challenges was significantly associated with both mother and child's sensory seeking (r = .25 and .26, respectively). A mediation model demonstrated a significant indirect effect of mother SOR on the frequency of daily hassles (β = .26, p < .05), with the child's SOR (β = .33, p < .01), and seeking behaviours (β = .48, p < .001) mediating this effect. Conclusion Mothers with elevated sensory traits of children with elevated sensory traits are likely to experience higher frequencies of daily parenting burden, even within the typical population. Therapists who wish to practice a developmental and family-centred approach should assess how the mother–child sensory traits interact and how this interaction can influence the family's well-being.


The occurrence of polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSE) has been closely associated with the seasonal cooling of the high-latitude summer mesopause region wherein the echoes are embedded. Indeed, a "threshold" temperature has been suggested, with PMSE appearing as mesosphere temperatures fall below some critical value. A careful comparison between seasonally varying mean mesopause temperatures and PMSE occurrence statistics, however, suggests that the probability curve of PMSE occurrence is displaced from the seasonal curve of low summer mesopause temperatures by 1 to 2 weeks, with the temperature decrease leading the PMSE occurrence curve in springtime and the temperature increase leading the PMSE dropout in the fall. A similar displacement can also be seen in the occurrence statistics for polar mesospheric clouds (PMC), a closely related phenomenon observed by satellites. This lack of a direct correlation between mesopause temperature and PMSE occurrence suggests that PMSE occurrence is governed by more than just low mesospheric temperatures. The most likely possibility is that summertime mesospheric water vapor maximizes somewhat later than the minimum in mesospheric temperature, providing a more hospitable environment for PMSE generation. This possibility is supported by a model of the supersaturation region [Garcia, 1989], which shows a comparable lag between the seasonal mesospheric temperature minimum and the maximum in water vapor mixing ratio.


The oily vpatienit iloW in the lhollme was sent to her own homi-le, andil the l)lace was closed to futrtlher admiissionis for a week and thoroughly disinfected a(lle airedl. Thie tlllats of the milatron alnd a!ssistaniit n-ur se w-ere examiined, but no evident signs of inflatinimmationi were present. A swalb from the throat of the assistant niurse w-as taken, anlil the bacteriological report stated: " Streptococci pr-esci'it onhaemiiolytic. " Tlhree days after the remiioval of E the matron developfed a sore thrlioat, anid three days latei the w-ell-nmarked rash of scarlet fev-er. She wa,s removed to the isolation lhospital, anid the horme was again disinfected and the restriction for adml-issioni of patients exteniled for an-other week.


Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with > 44% of these patients presenting with generalized atherosclerosis at autopsy. It is accepted that endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) participate in the repair of dysfunctional endothelium, thereby, protecting against atherosclerosis. The β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) expressed on mononuclear cells in peripheral blood and CD34+ cells in bone has been shown to regulate T-cell traffic and proliferation. At present, there have been few systematic studies evaluating β2AR expression on EPCs in the peripheral blood of COPD patients and its role in EPCs migration and proliferation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the role of β2ARs in EPCs function and, if this role is altered, in the COPD population. Methods: EPCs from 25 COPD and 16 control patients were isolated by Ficoll density-gradient centrifugation and identified using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. β2AR expression on EPCs was determined by western blotting and real-time PCR. The transwell migration assay was performed to determine the migration capacity of EPCs treated with a β2AR agonist, antagonist and β2AR monoclonal antibody. EPCs proliferation was assayed throughout the cell cycle. Following arterial damage in NOD/SCID mice, the number of EPCs treated with siRNA-β2AR incorporated at the injured vascular site was determined by fluorescence microscopy. Results: Data showed a significant increase in the total number of β2ARs in addition to an increased expression on early EPCs in COPD patients. COPD EPCs treated with β2AR antagonist (ICI 118551) increased migration to SDF-1α when compared to treatment with the β2AR agonist, norepinephrine. These changes were directly correlated to increase CXCR4 on EPCs. The proliferation of early EPCs treated with β2AR antagonist was improved and was correlated to an intercellular decrease in reactive oxygen species. Conclusion: Changes in β2AR in COPD patients alter EPCs migration and proliferation, contributing to altered EPC repair capacity in this patient population.


The genuine variational principle of macroscopic dissipative continua is generalized to complex scalar fields in the universal form of GAUSSian type. The generalization makes it possible to extend the validity of the principle to the PS field of the non-relativistic SCHRODINGER equation, and to certain types of non-linear problems. Following MORSE's and FESHBACH's sequence of thoughtful ideas in reverse direction the fundamentals of an "abstract" transport theory, isomorphic with one-particle quantum theory, are developed and the possibility of interpreting the quantum theory by classical models is discussed. On the basis of new arguments, the impossibility of interpreting quantum mechanics in terms of classical transport theories (hydrodynamical model, diffusional and stochastic models) is established.


Objective To assess changes in medicine availability and prices as well as subsequent affordability during the early years of the National Essential Medicine System (NEMS) reform in China. Methods Data were obtained from four provinces through a field survey conducted in 2010–2011. Outcome measures were percentage availability, delivery efficiency, ratios of local prices to international reference prices (MPRs), and number of days' household income needed to purchase medicines. Prices were adjusted for inflation/deflation and purchasing power parity. Results Under NEMS, the median MPR for essential medicines decreased from 3.27 times to 1.59 times from 2009 to 2010. The median medicine expenditure under standard treatments in 2010 equaled 1.06 days household income at a low-income level and 0.25 days household income at a middle-income level. A 25.67% reduction was observed in the average number of medicines stocked by primary healthcare facilities in 2011 compared with 2009 and the availability of essential medicines was 66.83%. During 2009–2011, suppliers could respond to 98.24% of the purchasing orders raised by primary healthcare facilities, and 89.32% of the order amounts could be delivered. Conclusions The market prices of essential medicines greatly decreased in China after the establishment of NEMS and showed improved affordability in the short term. However, current medicine prices remain high compared to international reference prices. Medicines were often unaffordable for economically backward residents. Future policies still need to target medicine availability as well as affordability.


While in the school context, acculturation is often studied in relation to students of immigrant descent, the current study applies an acculturation framework to teachers mostly representing the mainstream culture. Specifically, we investigated whether teachers' acculturation attitudes towards their students mediate effects of the perceived cultural diversity climate at school on teachers' intercultural self-efficacy in culturally diverse classrooms. Analyses were based on reports of 186 teachers (14% of immigrant descent; Mage = 40.8; SDage = 11.8, 73% female) in 22 culturally diverse secondary schools in Southwest Germany. Path analyses indicated that perceived norms of cultural pluralism, and perceived norms of equality and inclusion are directly and positively associated with facets of intercultural self-efficacy. Moreover, teachers' support for cultural maintenance amongst their students was associated with intercultural self- efficacy, but no mediation was found between climate and intercultural self-efficacy via acculturation attitudes. Implications for teacher training, educational practice and future research on the acculturation and adjustment of teachers in culturally diverse classrooms are discussed.


The paper appraised the issue of inteilectual property with a view to bringing out the subject of copyright as an aspect of property right that subsists in certain specific types of works which bother an effort a nd creativity. The emphasis of copyright is on original literary works, films, sound recordings and others. The focus of this paper is to discuss the various provisions of the copyright law as they affect films, video and by extension video CD. The study examines the various interpretations of the provisions of the copyright law as they affect film, video and allied media and concluded that as a result of rapid changes in techno logy of information cornrnunication, copyright laws should be dynamic enough to cover the new media of infonnation cornmunication. This will make it easy for libraries and archives to manage and utilize the works in the new media without necessarily running foul of copyright law.


The evolution of a modular control and telemetry system with unusual flexibility for adapting to a wide spectrum of industrial applications is described. Basic logic functions are performed by integrated circuits. All wiring is printed. Unique design concepts permit application to a specific telemetry problem through computer selection of modules from a standard parts list. Modules plug into connectors on a mother board which forms part of the cabinet housing the system and provides all interconnections between modules. One standard mother board is used for all applications. Structuring of the system permits use on any communication channel, provides selection of bit rates from 15 to 2400 bit/s, handles long and short messages for one or an unlimited number of remote locations, and offers a choice of code security techniques.


We report results of investigation of amplitude calibration for very long baseline interferome-try (VLBI) observations with Korean VLBI Network (KVN). Amplitude correction factors are estimated based on comparison of KVN observations at 22 GHz correlated by Daejeon hardware correlator and DiFX software correlator in Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) with Very Long Base-line Array (VLBA) observations at 22 GHz by DiFX software correlator in National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). We used the observations for compact radio sources, 3C 454.3, NRAO 512, OJ 287, BL Lac, 3C 279, 1633+382, and 1510−089, which are almost unresolved for baselines in a range of 350-477 km. Visibility data of the sources obtained with similar baselines at KVN and VLBA are se-lected, fringe-fitted, calibrated, and compared for their amplitudes. We find that visibility amplitudes of KVN observations should be corrected by factors of 1.10 and 1.35 when correlated by DiFX and Daejeon correlators, respectively. These correction factors are attributed to the combination of two steps of 2-bit quantization in KVN observing systems and characteristics of Daejeon correlator.


The Trickster Revisited: Deception as a Motif in the Pentateuch explores the use of deception in the Pentateuch and uncovers a new understanding of the trickster's function in the Hebrew Bible. While traditional readings often whitewash the biblical characters, exonerating them of any wrongdoing, modern scholars often explain these tales as significant at some earlier point in Israelite tradition. But this study asks the question: what role does the trickster have in the later pentateuchal setting? Considering the work of Victor Turner and the mythic function of the trickster, The Trickster Revisited explores the connections between tricksters, the rite de passage pattern, marginalization, and liminality. Marginalized individuals and communities often find trickster tales significant, therefore trickster stories often follow a similar literary pattern. After tracing this pattern throughout the Pentateuch, specifically the patriarchal narratives and Moses' interaction with Pharaoh in the Exodus, the book discusses the meaning these stories had for the canonizers of the Pentateuch. The author argues that in the Exile and post-exilic period, as the canon was forming, the trickster was the perfect manifestation of Israel's self-perception. The cognitive dissonance of prophetic words of hope and grandeur, in light of a meager socio-economic and political reality, caused the nation to identify itself as the trickster. In this way, Israel could explain its lowly state as a temporary (but still significant) betwixt and between, on the threshold of a rise in status, i.e. the great imminent kingdom predicted by the prophets.


Objectives
This 14-day daily diary study tested the between-person and within-person associations between sedentary behavior, physical activity, and life satisfaction in community-dwelling older adults.

Method
Older adults (n = 100) wore ActivPAL3 activity monitors for 14 days and, at the end of each day, answered questions regarding their health behaviors and life satisfaction.

Results
Separate multilevel models were tested for self-reported and objectively measured behavioral data. In the model using objectively measured behavioral data, life satisfaction was (a) negatively associated with sedentary behavior at the within-person level and unassociated with sedentary behavior at the between-person level and (b) unassociated with physical activity at either the between-person or within-person level. In the model using self-reported behavioral data, life satisfaction was (a) unassociated with sedentary behavior at either the between-person or within-person level and (2) positively associated with physical activity at the within-person, but not at the between-person, level.

Discussion
Results indicated that daily deviations in objectively measured sedentary behavior and self-reported physical activity have implications for older adults' well-being. Interventions designed to enhance well-being and quality of life in older adults should consider targeting daily changes in total sedentary behavior and daily changes in the volume or frequency of physical activity.


The decomposition of trifluoroacetic acid in the gas phase has been studied in the temperature range 573–643 K using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Major products are carbon dioxide and trifluoromethane together with smaller quantities of silicon tetrafluoride, carbon monoxide and hydrogen fluoride. The loss of trifluoroacetic acid follows first-order kinetics over ca. 85% of reaction with rate constants varying from 3.42 × 10–3 s–1 at 573 K to 5.74 × 10–2 s–1 at 643 K. The activation energy determined from least-squares analysis of the resulting Arrhenius plot is evaluated to be 114 ± 7 kJ mol–1. Production of carbon dioxide continues after all the TFA has disappeared from the gas phase and the amount of CO2 produced is related to the amount of TFA decomposed by the relationship [CO2]=(97 ± 11 – 9.2 ± 1.1[TFA]1/2). A mechanism involving the formation and subsequent decomposition of adsorbate species on the internal walls of the infrared cell rather than a homogeneous gas-phase reaction is proposed.


Abstract. The occurrence of dust storms is one of the major problems in Iran and neighboring countries. Monitoring dust storms and identifying their patterns, areas with high frequency of occurrence and high dense storms using remote sensing technology can help decision makers in different dimensions. This paper tries to investigate the occurrence of dust storms in Iran and adjacent regions over two annual periods, and produce the maps of cumulative density and frequency of occurrence in order to find dust patterns and hotspots and make a comparison between these periods. The daily MODIS images received at the Mahdasht Space Center in 1396 and 1397 were used. Brightness temperature images were prepared using these data and the bands 20, 29, 31 and 32 of them were used. After applying appropriate algorithms, daily dust storm maps were produced. Using the data of 212 synoptic stations throughout the country, the accuracy of the algorithms were assessed and the thresholds were modified. By combining these daily maps, annual cumulative density maps were prepared. Also, by combining daily occurrence maps of dust storms, frequency of occurrence maps were produced. The results show that in 1397, more areas have experienced dust storms in comparison to 1396. Besides, the number and density of dust storms at west and southwest areas have been reduced in 1397. Conversely, in the eastern and southeast areas we have faced with an increase in the number and density of monitored dust storms in 1397. It can be concluded that the problem of dust storms in Iran have been shifted from the west and southwest of the country to the eastern and southeastern regions.


Complete removal of radioactive cations by standard mixed bed ion exchange resins is sometimes not achieved in liquid radwaste systems. Based on a literature survey, acrylic fibers impregnated with manganese dioxide were chosen as a media warranting study of their ability to adsorb the cations present in radwaste systems in the hope of improving performance of such treatment processes. A system to produce impregnated fiber with a heavy MnO{sub 2} loading was designed, constructed, and operated. The system produced fiber at an average fiber loading of 22.5 percent MnO{sub 2} by weight. Leaching tests made on the MnO{sub 2} fiber exhibited no signs of soluble manganese, insoluble MnO{sub 2}, acrylonitrile leaching or fiber loss. Laboratory testing has been performed on the adsorption of calcium, cadmium, cesium, cobalt, iron, and manganese on MnO{sub 2} impregnated fiber. Removal of metals from solution was measured at levels specific for each metal tested. The removal efficiency when they were present in combination was also evaluated.


We study the monetary–fiscal mix in the European Monetary Union. The medium and long- run effects of conventional and unconventional monetary policy are analysed by combining monetary policy shocks identified in a Structural VAR, and the general government budget constraint featuring a single central bank and multiple fiscal authorities. In response to a conventional easing of the policy rate, the cumulated response of the fiscal deficit is positive. Conversely, in response to an unconventional easing affecting the long end of the yield curve, the primary fiscal position barely moves. This is consistent with the long-run effect of unconventional monetary easing on the price index, which is about half that of conventional easing. The aggregate long-run cumulated surplus is mainly driven by Germany's fiscal policy during the period in which unconventional monetary policy was adopted.


Background: Children and young adolescents commonly suffer traumatic dental injuries. Teachers are frequently first responders and responsible for the initial management of the injury; the prognosis of a traumatized tooth is dependent on the initial management. Aim: To evaluate intermediate school teachers' level of knowledge and attitudes toward dental trauma. Materials and Methods: This is a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study where all teachers from eight non-probability selected intermediate schools in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, were invited for participation. The questionnaire elicited data regarding demographics, teaching experience, knowledge and attitudes regarding dental trauma and its management. Results: A total 398 of 433 invited teachers responded (92%). The male-to-female ratio was 2:1. Only 30% of the respondents had previously participated in first aid training; only 11% specifically also focused on dental traumas. Health-care providers represented the main source of knowledge regarding dental trauma. Bivariate analysis revealed that in terms of attitudes toward dental trauma, urgency of care for luxation injuries was significantly associated with teaching experience (P = 0.042), while the urgency of care for avulsed teeth was significantly associated with dental trauma experience (P = 0.007). The only significant association between teaching experience and knowledge about management of avulsed teeth was regarding which tooth should be replanted (P = 0.041). Conclusions: School teachers in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, lack proper knowledge in dental emergency management. Educational training programs are needed to ensure that teaching staff have adequate knowledge to effectively manage dental traumas.


The D3Y effective interaction is applied to calculate the ion-ion optical potential and elastic scattering cross section. The D3Y interaction is different from the original M3Y interaction, where it can describe both nuclear matter saturation and the properties of finite nuclei. An imaginary part of the D3Y interaction is derived by using the forward scattering amplitude approximation. The exchange effects due to antisymmetrization are fully incorporated for the systems 16O+16O and 40Ca+40Ca by the two-center shell model. A good agreement with experiments is obtained for the case of the parameter s0 = 5. The agreement is slightly better than that obtained by original M3Y force with the Paris version.


Abstract. – OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the association between HOXA13 dysregulation and gastric cancer progression. We also explored the functional role of HOXA13 in invasion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of gastric cancer cells and the possible signaling pathway it might involve in. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The microarray (E-GEOD-19826) examined the transcription profiles of 12 adjacent normal/tumor-matched gastric tissues was downloaded from the ArrayExpress and reanalyzed. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed to assess HOXA13 expression in 23 stage I and 69 stage II/III/IV gastric cancer tissues. The human gastric cancer cell line AGS and SGC-7901 cells were transfected with HOXA13 siRNA and then were subjected to detection of epithelial and mesenchymal markers and cell invasion. The involvement of HOXA13 in TGF-β signaling was further studied. RESULTS: HOXA13 is one of the most upregulated genes in gastric cancer tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Also, HOXA13 is further upregulated in the higher stage tumors. HOXA13 staining was significantly stronger in stage II/III/IV tumors than in stage I tumors. HOXA13 siRNA significantly restored the epithelial property and reduced the mesenchymal property of the cancer cells. Transwell assay showed that HOXA13 siRNA impaired the invasion capability of the cancer cells. The gastric cancer cells with HOXA13 knockdown had decreased expression of p-SMAD2 and p-SMAD3. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides additional evidence about the association between HOXA13 upregulation and gastric cancer progression. Also, we showed that HOXA13 contributes to invasion and EMT of gastric cancer cells via the TGF-β signaling pathway.


I describe the first principles nonequilibrium Green's function method for electric transport calculations in molecular junctions. Effects of electron-phonon scatterings were included by the conventional lowest order expansion formalism. Then importance of two concepts, "orbital engineering" and "anchor engineering", was illustrated by theoretical calculations. Electron-phonon interactions in molecular junctions were also discussed by analysis of inelastic electron tunneling spectrum.


New initiatives are needed in order to move the GATT negotiations forward. A Production Entitlements Guarantees (PEG) program would limit the quantity of production of individual farmers eligible to receive support payments. The payments would be tied to production. But the quantity of production eligible for support at the farm level would be limited and all other forms of direct or indirect income support to farmers would be dropped.


FA-118, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by Tina C. Crosby, Jeffrey E. Hill, Carlos V. Martinez, Craig A. Watson, and Roy P.E. Yanong, describes how fish can be visually inspected for quality during and after harvest. Mechanical and hand grading methods are described. Includes recommended reading, an appendix of grader providers, and a table summarizing the advantages and disadvantages of the grading methods. Published by the UF Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, November 2006.
FA118/FA118: Grading Ornamental Fish (ufl.edu)


A simple, specific and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of p-amino benzoic acid (PABA) as impurity in procaine and procainamide hydrochlorides has been developed. The compounds were chromatographed on reversed phase C-18 using water-methanol-acetonitrile solvent system containing sodium lauryl sulphate ion-pair reagent.


Hydrogeophysics has emerged over the last several decades as one of the dominant subdisciplines in near-surface geophysics. This worldwide geoscience microcosm is ripe with research opportunities and an abundance of potential applications. Maintaining and protecting current water supplies and developing new sources of clean water are essential as modern society expands and civilization continues to develop.


Abstract Space-based observations of variable stars have revolutionized the field of variability studies. Dedicated satellites such as the CoRoT and Kepler missions have duty cycles which are unachievable from the ground, and effectively solve many of the aliasing problems prevalent in ground-based observation campaigns. Moreover, the location above the Earth's atmosphere eliminates a major source of scatter prevalent in observations from the ground. These two major improvements in instrumentation have triggered significant increases in our knowledge of the stars, but in order to reap the full benefits they are also obliging the community to adopt more efficient techniques for handling, analysing and interpreting the vast amounts of new, high-precision data in an effective yet comprehensive manner. This workshop heard an outline of the history and development of asteroseismology, and descriptions of the two space missions (CoRoT and Kepler) which have been foremost in accelerating those recent developments. Informal discussions on numerous points peppered the proceedings, and involved the whole audience at times. The conclusions which the workshop reached have been distilled into a list of seven recommendations (Section 5) for the asteroseismology community to study and absorb. In fact, while addressing activities (such as stellar classification or analysing and modelling light curves) that could be regarded as specific to the community in question, the recommendations include advice on matters such as improving communication, incorporating trans-disciplinary knowledge and involving the non-scientific public that are broad enough to serve as guidelines for the astrophysical community at large.


Ozone (O3) is a major constituent of urban air pollution. The acute effects of the inhalation of O3 at ambient or near-ambient concentrations on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) end points consistent with a distal lung inflammatory response have been well documented in human subjects. Animal toxicologic studies have shown that the airway is also a major site of O3-induced injury and inflammation. To date, no studies have confirmed this finding in human subjects. Effects of O3 on the proximal airways are not adequately studied by BAL, which is primarily influenced by events occurring in the terminal bronchioles and alveoli. We hypothesized that O3 causes injury and inflammation in the airways in addition to that previously documented to occur in the distal lung. We performed isolated lavage of the left mainstem bronchus and forceps biopsy of the bronchial mucosa in a group of 14 healthy, athletic subjects 18 h after exposure to 0.20 ppm O3 for 4 h during moderate exercise in order to assess this possibility. We followed an identical protocol in a similar group of 12 subjects exposed to filtered air. The mean (SD) total cell count and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration in the isolated airway lavage were significantly greater after O3 than after air, 13.9 (20.5) versus 4.9 (5.4) cells/ml x 10(4) and 18.9 (11.2) versus 9.6 (9.0) U/L, respectively. Morphometry (2,070 neutrophils/cm2 of tissue for O3 and 330 neutrophils/cm2 of tissue for air) demonstrated that O3 exposure induced an acute inflammatory cell influx into the airway.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Nowadays, change becomes more and more a continuous basis of the educational systems for their improvement. People increasingly need to tackle and cope with their organisational environments which are complex and dynamic. However, the problem · is to know how to move from the status quo to the situation wherein all stakeholders should work both individually and collaboratively as inquirers and learners to investigate and solve problems. My case study is located at the heart of this context. Its purpose was to investigate why and how the process of curriculum change was managed in the National University of Rwanda from 1995. In addition, it aimed to identify how the University community should come together to handle curriculum change as an ongoing feature of improvement, and as a learning organisation. This research was carried out through a triangulation of participant observation, documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews. Throughout my case study, I observed that orientations and needs for changing the curricula in the National University of Rwanda essentially stemmed from the situation inherited from the war, genocide and massacres undergone by the country in 1994. Furthermore, initiating curriculum change came from the top management, while the basic organ to deal with development and its implementation was the Department. I noted also that it is likely the National University of Rwanda focused more on changing curriculum frameworks than changing organisational habits, behaviours, 111 values, skills and beliefs. Although the shift to the new culture is at the centre of a learning organisation, most of the time this aspect is left untouched in practice. As lecturers in a professional organisation such as the National University of Rwanda have the skills and control over their own work, I conclude that they are in a position to playa vital role to manage curriculum change, learn from it, help students and other stakeholders learn from and take part within it.


Fourty-eight patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis surgically treated after 1975 were reviewed. Patients were placed in the following categories: degenerative stenosis without olisthesis (22), degenerative spondylolisthesis (14), combined (7), and post-operative (5). Twenty-four patients were treated with wide laminectomy, eleven with wide fenestration, five with wide laminectomy and fusion, six with wide fenestration and fusion, and two with fusion only. Results were judged to be good in 16 patients, fair in 25, and poor in 7. The patients who showed instability on the preoperative radiographs needed spinal fusion in addition to decompressive procedure.


Abstract Embolization of hypervascular tumors has been widely performed for over four decades, particularly for preoperative meningioma. Several benefits of preoperative embolization have been reported, including reduced blood loss, surgical time and surgical complications, and improved outcomes. However, the technical details of both embolization and surgical procedures, and lesions widely vary. Thus, the actual benefits of preoperative embolization have not been clarified by prospective randomized studies. Procedure-related complications due to embolization developed in 3%–12% in previous studies. For parasellar lesions, both surgical resection and embolization have a higher risk of complication than for lesions at other locations because of the complicated neurovascular anatomy in the parasellar area. Therefore, close attention should be paid to the detailed vascular anatomy, embolic material, and related information for embolization and resection in individual cases to improve patient outcomes.


Bird song is typically used by males to attract females. As a consequence of the vocal learning process, the acoustic morphology of male songs shows marked geographic variation. Whether females use variation in male songs to choose mates has been controversial (reviewed by Catchpole & Slater, 1995). In some species, the song types that females produce when treated hormonally have been considered to be the song types they prefer in the context of mate choice. To examine this notion, I investigated the song type preferences of female northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) using a more direct measure, copulation solicitation display. Unlike females of many other species of songbirds in the Temperate zone, female cardinals naturally develop songs by imitating adults just as males do, allowing direct identification of when and what song types are memorized by females for vocal production. I sought to determine if the memory trace formed for vocal performance is identical with the memory trace that guides song type preference in a sexual context, and whether females truly form any song type preference based on auditory experience during the first year of their lives. To address these questions, audio-video playback experiments were carried out on captive-raised adult cardinals whose complete auditory history was known. The results showed that female cardinals did not come to prefer any song type based on experience; they responded equally to all conspecific song types. Thus, memory formed for vocal production in females is not equal to song type preferred in sexual context. The results suggest that variation in song types is not important for mate choice in cardinals.


The work was carried out under conditions of mass measles immunization at the polyclincs of Moscow and Dushanbe. The role of the macroorganism at the time of vaccination on the measles vaccination process was investigated. A thorough study of the anamnesis, its allergic predisposition was conducted; blood and C-RB were examined, and the content of serum immunoglobulins was determined by Macini's method. The results obtained pointed to the insufficiently complete detection of children with an altered reactivity by a simple examination by the physician alone. It was revealed that children suffering from various forms of allergy having in the anamnesis hypotrophy rickets and frequent acute respiratory diseases and chronic foci of infections had decreased indice of nonsecific immunological reactivity even at the period of clinical well-being, and could be detected only by means of laboratory methods of study. To the administration of measles vaccine such children responded not only by the development of clinical reactions of different intensity, but also by a significant reduction of antibody formation. All the aforesaid indicates a necessity of further study of the mechanism of establishment of postvaccinal measles immunity with consideration to the individual reactivity of the child organism.


Completely endophytic renal tumours pose challenges in laparoscopic nephron-sparing tumour excisions, with the use of intraoperative imaging techniques (e.g. ultrasound) being crucial when managing such tumours. The use of a percutaneous hookwire for tumour localisations are in use in several other surgical fields, such as breast surgery. An asymptomatic 52-year-old man presented with an incidental small right sided solid 33-mm interpolar renal mass identified on computed tomography. A guided insertion of a percutaneous localisation wire was carried out prior to a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy to assist in intraoperative tumour landmark/margins identification. Operative time was 210 minutes with zero ischaemia time, with an estimated blood loss of 200 ml. No perioperative complications were observed and the patient was discharged two days postoperatively. Histology revealed the mass to be a Fuhrman grade 2 clear-cell carcinoma with a 2-mm clear surgical margin. The patient remained free of recurrence at 16 months of follow-up. We have reported our first experience of wire localisation prior to laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for an intrarenal mass, which to our knowledge could be the first of its kind in renal surgery. Percutaneous wire localisation of endophytic renal tumours is potentially safe and effective and can allow nephron-sparing surgery where laparoscopic ultrasound is not available. Longer-term and further evidence should be encouraged.


Incorporations of ent-kaur-16-ene (7a) and ent-kaur-16-en-15-one (14a) into enmein (1a) and oridonin (6a) by Isodon japonicus Hara have been demonstrated by tracer experiments with seven labelled ent-kaurene derivatives. Furthermore, evidence has been obtained that functionalisation of ent-kaur-16-ene at the allylic position C–15 proceeds through direct oxygenation.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the clinicopathological characteristics of aspiration pneumonia in the elderly.

METHODS
The clinical data of 30 cases of autopsy-proven aspiration pneumonia in Beijing Hospital from 1973 to 2002 were reviewed. The patients consisted of 28 males and 2 females, aged from 63 to 103 [mean (83 ± 9)] years.

RESULTS
Only 15 cases were clinically diagnosed as aspiration pneumonia before death. Concomitant diseases were severe and complex, mostly coronary disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, COPD, and diabetes mellitus. All the patients suffered from at least 3 concomitant diseases. Long-term bedridden and nasogastric feeding was seen in 11 and 17 patients respectively. The clinical presentation and chest X-ray of aspiration pneumonia in the elderly were nonspecific and variable. Mixed infections were common . The main bacteria isolated were Gram-negative bacilli, in particular Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. By pathology, macrophages with foreign bodies were found in all the 30 cases and multiple small abscesses were found in 14 cases. The lesions were adjacent to the bronchioles and in the lung tissue around the bronchioles, mostly multi-lobar and bilateral. Unilateral or bilateral pleural effusion developed in 20 patients. The accordance between radiological and pathological diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia was very poor. The foci of infection detected by X-ray were proven by autopsy in 13 patients, while pleural effusions in X-ray were proven by autopsy in 15 patients.

CONCLUSIONS
Multi-concomitant diseases, mixed infection and extra-pulmonary presentations were common in elderly patients with aspiration pneumonia. Multiple small abscesses were the pathological characteristics of aspiration pneumonia in the aged. A definite clinical diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia was difficult. Recurrent silent microaspiration was a feature of aspiration in the elderly. The assessment of risk factor of aspiration played an important role in the clinical diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia.


When self-control resources are depleted ("ego depletion"), alcohol-seeking behavior becomes closely associated with automatic alcohol-related processing biases (e.g., Ostafin, Marlatt, & Greenwald, 2008). The current study aimed to replicate and extend these findings, and also to investigate whether the effects of ego depletion on drinking behavior would be mediated by temporary impairments in executive function or increases in impulsivity. Eighty heavy social drinkers (46 female) initially completed measures of automatic approach tendencies (stimulus response compatibility [SRC] task) and attentional bias (visual probe task) elicited by alcohol-related cues. Participants were then exposed to either an ego depletion manipulation or a control manipulation, before completing a bogus taste test in order to assess ad-lib alcohol consumption. In a subsequent testing session, we examined effects of the ego depletion manipulation (vs. control manipulation) on 3 aspects of executive function (inhibitory control, phonemic fluency, and delay discounting). Results indicated that the ego depletion manipulation increased ad-lib drinking, relative to the control manipulation. Automatic approach tendencies, but not attentional bias, predicted ad-lib drinking, although this effect was not moderated by ego depletion. Ego depletion had inconsistent effects on measures of executive function and impulsivity, and none of these measures mediated the effect of ego depletion on ad-lib drinking. However, the effect of ego depletion on ad-lib drinking was mediated by self-reported effort in suppressing emotion and thoughts during the manipulation. Implications for the effects of self-control strength on drinking behavior, and cognitive mediators of these effects, are discussed.


Zeolites are aluminosilicates that can be safely fed to ruminants on a daily basis. They have a strong affinity for cations, including ammonium (NH4 +), which creates the potential to adsorb excess ammonium released in the rumen and reduce urinary nitrogen (N) excreted. The main objective of this proof-of-concept study was to evaluate the effect of a single dose of 300 g of zeolite, deposited into the rumens of cannulated dairy cows before the main morning meal of fresh-cut ryegrass pasture, on changes in rumen ammonium concentrations over the following 8 h. The two-week trial was a cross-over design with 12 cows, either fed ryegrass as a sole diet (Control) or with zeolite (Zeolite). There was a consistent trend for rumen ammonium concentrations in the zeolitetreated cows to increase more slowly over time, and were lower than control cows 8 h after the zeolite was given (P = 0.08). This study provides some indications that a daily dose of zeolite, fed at the onset of the morning meal, may have a moderating effect on rumen ammonium concentration, and reduce plasma urea N concentrations in lactating dairy cows fed a ryegrass-dominant diet.


Until recently, the standard treatment in unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer was concurrent chemoradiotherapy, but often with dismal outcome. The introduction of consolidation treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors has shifted the treatment landscape and prognosis of these patients. However, patients whose tumors harbors an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation derived less benefit, with an increased risk of immune-related adverse events. Moreover, current data suggested that patients with oncogenic addicted tumors, mainly EGFR-positive tumors, and also anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive have poorer progression free survival after chemoradiotherapy. Indeed, these tumors have also inferior distant control compared with those who have wild-type disease, especially in the central nervous system, highlighting the need for assessing the role of targeted therapies in this patient population. It is speculated that outcome could probably increase with a consolidation treatment strategy including an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. However, a personalized treatment approach is not considered standard of care in this setting due to lack of robust evidence, as the majority of trials were performed in unselected patients, number of patients is limited and the majority of these studies were underpowered. In this review we summarize the role of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in unresectable stage III NSCLC, specifically focusing on EGFR-mutant tumors.


This article examines a number of conceptualizations of interactions between people and physical space, and relates them to university settings to make a link with findings on institutional effectiveness. It argues that the idea of the common-pool resource, where certain physical or
 social conditions are exploited collectively, is a helpful way of understanding how certain university spaces may be used productively. The opposite situation, the creation of a university 'non-place', must be guarded against. Planners and institutional managements can support the creation
 of high-performing spaces managed in common, while allowing students and others to build their own community structures.


IN THIS PAPER, MODELLING AND SIMULATION OF A MULTI-BODY SYSTEM FOR ITS VIBRATION CONTROL USING SENSORS AND ACTUATORS IS PRESENTED. THE MODEL DEVELOPED ON MSC ADAMS CONSISTS OF SIX LEGS CONNECTING MOVING AND BASE PLATES USING SPHERICAL JOINTS WITH AXIAL ROTATION OF LEGS CONSTRAINED. IT CONTAINS LINEAR ACTUATOR COLLOCATED WITH FORCE SENSOR. MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF THE MECHANISM REPRESENTING THE KINEMATIC AND DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF MODEL IS PRESENTED. THE LEG LENGTH VARIATION OBTAINED USING MATLAB IS OBTAINED IN ORDER TO VALIDATE THE MODEL DEVELOPED IN MSC ADAMS. NATURAL FREQUENCIES FOR SIX DIFFERENT MODE SHAPES ARE OBTAINED FROM VIBRATION EXCITA-TION ANALYSIS. A DECENTRALIZED FORCE FEEDBACK CONTROLLER WHICH USES PID CONTROL LAW WITH SINGLE GAIN IS USED FOR ACTIVELY ATTENUATING THE VIBRATION, WHICH IS COMING FROM BASE PLATFORM. THE TRANSFER FUNC-TION, DEFINED AS THE RATIO OF LAPLACE TRANSFORMATION OF THE ACCELERA-TION OF MOVING PLATE AND BASE PLATE, IS CONSIDERED AS A MEASURE OF ISOLATION. EFFECT OF PROPORTIONAL, DERIVATIVE AND INTEGRAL FEEDBACK IS STUDIED SEPARATELY AND TOGETHER AS WELL. A SIGNIFICANT ISOLATION IN THE RESONANCE TRANSMISSIBILITY AND NATURAL FREQUENCY OF THE MECH-ANISM IS DEMONSTRATED.


Background: Exposure to Portland cement dust has long been associated with the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and varying degree of reduction in lung function. It also causes dermatitis, lung and laryngeal cancer and gastrointestinal tumors. Objectives: This study assessed the effect of exposure to cement dust on lung function in factory workers at Atbara cement factory by measuring Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR). Methods: Forty workers employed for at least 3 years and forty controls (non exposed) were selected. The two groups were matched in terms of age, height and sex. The age of the subjects ranged between 20-50 years. Both groups were non smokers, had no cardiopulmonary diseases or symptoms during the time of study. Spirometer and Wrights Peak Flow Meter were used for measuring lung functions. Results: Statistically, significant reduction in FVC, FEV1 and PEFR were found in exposed workers when compared to control. The FEV1/FVC ratio, although was less in exposed workers, the difference was found to be insignificant. Lung function indices were found to be reduced with increasing duration of exposure to cement dust. Conclusion: Reduction in FVC, FEV1, PEFR implies that exposure to Portland cement dust may result in restrictive and obstructive pulmonary diseases. The insignificant difference in FEV1/FVC ratio may indicate that there is less element of obstructive pulmonary disease. Further studies with large sample sizes are needed to evaluate the effect of exposure to Portland cement dust on Sudanese workers. *Corresponding author: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum


The 2015 presidential election was a turning point in a history of celebritisation of politics in Poland. Rock vocalist Pawel Kukiz unexpectedly finished third with 20% of votes, the highest result of any celebrity–candidate in presidential elections. He achieved that, campaigning mostly on Facebook, without any significant power base and financial support. Kukiz set up his own political organisation, which gained a 9% backing in the parliamentary elections. He achieved that with no political platform, no media backing, and no party structure. We argue that his persona was a crucial asset in his political success. We will show how Kukiz created, managed and performed his persona, how he used it to mobilise three million voters and then to create and brand his "Kukiz'15 Movement." Finally, we analyse limits, traps and contradictions of persona power. Analysed material includes Pawel Kukiz's and his opponents' Facebook posts, televised political advertisements, performances in celebrity TV shows and debates.


A new tomographic method was developed with the main goal of mapping the ionosphere in the region of Brazil. The ionospheric background was estimated based on ionosonde and radio-occultation measurements to overcome the lack of data provided by climatological models in low-latitude regions. A new method of performing iterations of the conventional multiplicative algebraic reconstruction technique (MART) was also used in order to avoid nonilluminated cells and improve the spatial resolution. The quality assessment using independent ionosonde data during two weeks in 2013 showed a better performance of the proposed method in comparison to the international reference ionosphere, providing improvements of 31% for the F-layer peak height ${h}_{m}$ and 24% for the ionospheric peak of electron density ${N}_{m}$ . The tomographic technique was also evaluated in the estimation of the total electron content (TEC) and in the single-frequency precise point positioning (PPP). Improvements of 59% in TEC and 31% in the single-frequency PPP were obtained in comparison to the results derived from global ionospheric maps. In addition, a better daily description of the ionosphere was obtained using the proposed method, where it was possible to detect the peak height increasing associated with the prereversal enhancement of the vertical plasma drift that occurs near sunset hours. The results reveal that the modified form of the MART tomographic technique can be considered a useful tool for technical and scientific communities involved in space weather, spatial geodesy, and telecommunications.


The work outlined in this thesis is mainly concerned with the preparation and reactions of dithiadiazolylium salts, dithiadiazolyls and their Pt complexes. Chapter one outlines the chemistry, the synthesis and properties of dithiadiazolylium salts and dithiadiazolyls. Chapter two is concerned with the preparation and characterisation of some dithiadiazolyls and their platinum complexes, and comprehensive DSC and Ultraviolet/visible spectroscopic studies of these complexes, highlights some of their properties. Chapter three outlines the preparation and characterisation of some fluorine substituted dithiadiazolyls and their platinum complexes. It also discusses the crystal structures of the complex Pt(_3)[PPh(_3)](_4)[3,4-F(_2).C(_6)H(_3).CNSSN](_2) and the fluorine substituted dithiadiazolyls (2,3-F(_2).C(_6)H(_3).CNSSN)(_2) and (2,5-F(_2).C(_6)H(_3).CNSSN)-Chapter four outlines the main experimental techniques which were employed throughout my research. Appendix I contains additional crystallographic data, for the crystal structures mentioned previously, while Appendix II lists all the colloquia, lectures and seminars attended by the author.


Closed stress corrosion cracks (SCCs) have been generated in Ni-based alloy weld metal in nuclear power plants. The ultrasonic inspection is difficult because of the crack closure. For the application of new inspection methods and training/educating of inspection engineers, realistic closed SCC specimens are required. However, there is no means for forming such SCC specimens in a reasonable amount of time. Here, we present a two-step method. The first step is to form an open SCC in chemical solution. The second step is to close the SCC by generating oxide films between the crack faces in high-temperature pressurized water (HTPW). To verify the crack closure, we used a closed-crack imaging apparatus, the subharmonic phased array for crack evaluation (SPACE). Consequently, we found that parts of the SCC after 1321 h immersion were closed in the HTPW. Thus, we verified the two-step method for forming realistic closed SCC specimens in a reasonable amount of time.


Software-based self-test has been proposed as a low-cost strategy for on-line periodic testing of embedded processors. In this paper, we show that structural test programs composed only by regular deterministic self-test routines may be unfeasible in a real-time embedded platform. Hence, we propose a method to consciously select a set of test routines from different test approaches to compose a test program for an embedded processor. The proposed method not only ensures the periodical execution of the test, but also considers the optimization of memory and real-time requirements of the application, which are important constraints in embedded systems. Experimental results for a Java processor running real-time tasks demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed solution


Background: Along with the discovery of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and the invention of next-generation sequencing (NGS), non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) had appeared and been applied for detecting common aneuploidies such as trisomy 21, 18, and 13, with low false-negative and false-positive rates. Recently, it had also been used for sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs). To assess the clinical utility of NIPT for SCAs in Northeast China, we collected NIPT data from BGI 500 sequencing platform in the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Center for Prenatal Diagnosis of the First Hospital of Jilin University, and calculate the positive predictive value (PPV) and false positive rate (FPR). Results: A cohort of 14936 samples were analyzed by NIPT, and revealed 70 cases with SCAs high-risk, among them, 40 women agreed to undergo amniocentesis, but as many as 30 ones refused further diagnose. Based on verified fetal karyotype, 30.0% (12/40) were confirmed to be a true positive. Unluckily, the PPV for monosomy X performed 0%. Besides, positive 47,XXX were 46.67% (7/15), 40.00% (2/5) were positive for 47, XYY, and 42.86% (3/7) were positive for 47, XXY.Conclusions: In conclusion, our present results confirmed that NIPT sequenced by BGI 500 demonstrated lowest PPVs for 45,X, but the more accurate prediction for other SCAs, it is still a potential method for SCAs screening. Henceforth, we should focus on how to improve the test utility and provide better services for pregnant women in need.


Given the high level description of a task, many different hardware modules may be generated while meeting its behavioral requirements. The characteristics of the generated hardware can be tailored to favor energy efficiency, performance, accuracy or die area. The inherent trade-offs between such metrics need to be explored in order to choose a solution that meets design and cost expectations. We address the generic problem of automatically deriving a hardware implementation from a high-level task description. In this paper we present a novel technique that exploits previously explored implementation design spaces in order to find optimal trade-offs for new high-level descriptions. This technique is generalizable to a range of high-level synthesis problems in which trade-offs can be exposed by changing the parameters of the hardware generation tool. Our strategy, based upon machine learning techniques, models the impact of the parameterization of the tool on the target objectives, given the characteristics of the input. Thus, a predictor is able to suggest a subset of parameters that are likely to lead to optimal hardware implementations. The proposed method is evaluated on a resource sharing problem which is typical in high level synthesis, where the trade-offs between area and performance need to be explored. In this case study, we show that the technique can reduce by two orders of magnitude the number of design points that need to be explored in order to find the Pareto optimal solutions.


Objective: Identify predictors of long-term care (LTC) facility residents' self-reported quality of life (QoL). Method: QoL of a convenience sample of 928 residents from 48 volunteer LTC facilities across six Canadian provinces was assessed using the inter–Resident Assessment Instrument (interRAI) Self-Report Nursing Home Quality of Life Survey. Multivariate regression models were used to identify predictors. Results: In logistic regression modeling, residents who were religious and socially engaged, had a positive global disposition, or resided in rural, private, or municipal facilities were less likely to report low QoL. Those with post-secondary education and who were dependent on activities of daily living were more likely to report low QoL. These factors, except for religiosity and residence in municipal facilities, were significant in generalized estimating equation (GEE) modeling. Discussion: QoL is significantly associated with select resident and LTC facility characteristics with implications for improving residents' QoL and LTC facility programming, and guiding future research and social policy development.


In this paper, the ratio of powers in the frequency bands of β2 and θ waves in EEG signals (termed as the β2/θ -ratio) was introduced as a potential enhancement in measuring anesthesia depth. The β2/θ -ratio was compared to the relative β-ratio which had been commercially used in the BIS monitor. Sensitivity and reliability of the β2/θ -ratio and EEG measurement locations were analyzed for their effectiveness in measuring anesthesia depth during different stages of propofol induced anesthesia (awake, induction, maintenance, and emergence). The analysis indicated that 1) the relative β -ratio and β2/θ-ratio derived from the prefrontal, frontal, and the central cortex EEG signals were of substantial sensitivity for capturing anesthesia depth changes. 2) Certain channel positions in the frontal part of the cortex, such as , had the combined benefits of substantial sensitivity and noise resistance. 3) The β2/θ-ratio captured the initial excitation, while the relative β -ratio did not. 4) In the maintenance and emergence stages, the β2/θ -ratio showed improved reliability. Implications: The ratio of powers in EEG frequency bands and derived from the frontal cortex EEG channels has combined benefits of substantial sensitivity and noise resistance in measuring anesthesia depth.


In this paper, we report monolithic integration of two single-grain silicon layers for static random access memory (SRAM) and image sensor applications. A 12 × 28 silicon lateral photodiode array with a 25-μm pixel size prepared on top of a three-transistor readout circuit with individual outputs for every pixel is demonstrated. 6T SRAM cells with two layers of stacked transistors were prepared to compare the performance and area of each cell in different configurations.


This essay uses the biological concept of human neoteny – the retention of juvenile traits in adulthood resulting from prolonged childhood – to help explain why the adult Wordsworth, in order to overcome a creative malaise and to establish a kind of religious authority in the wake of the French Revolution, set about recollecting particular memories of his childhood in verse. Two psychological systems are evident in the 1799 Prelude: one, the play system, which, while not the sole product of mankind's extended childhood, is certainly a major feature of it; the other, a system of promiscuous attribution of intentionality, which enables belief in a supervisory moral agency.


The precise neurological evaluation of patients with a depressed level of consciousness may present a challenge, even for experienced neurologists. Meningeal signs, particularly Kernig's sign and neck stiffness, are helpful in suggesting the diagnosis of meningeal irritation in intracranial infections, oedema or haemorrhage and belong to the limited number of physical signs examined in patients with coma or altered mental status. As long ago as 1907, the German–Russian physician Vladimir Kernig noticed an attenuation of his "Kernig's leg sign" on the paretic side in patients with meningeal irritation and concomitant hemiparesis.1 The American neurologist Thorner described in 1948 a modification of various meningeal signs on the paretic side.2 According to Thorner, Kernig's sign as well as the rarer Brudzinski's sign can be both symmetric and asymmetric. In the case of asymmetric meningeal signs, hemiparesis on the side of less pronounced meningeal signs should be assumed. On the contrary, meningeal signs should always be symmetric in meningitis and subarachnoid haemorrhage without parenchymal involvement and paresis.2 Thorner pointed to an attenuation of meningeal signs on the paretic side as a very quick and easy method of diagnosing unilateral motor deficits.3 Diminution of Kernig's sign on the paretic side was …


This paper describes a modular autonomous material handling equipment solution for flexible automation. Discrete event simulation is in this case used as a tool for shortening time spent in many different phases of a manufacturing systems lifecycle. The paper presents the concept of autonomous modular material handling equipment, and how simulation is used as a support tool and lead time reducer in each lifecycle phase. Furthermore, we describe the knowledge levels needed for using the simulation support and conclude with examples of how this methodology are reducing lead times within a company.


Abstract Background: College students who violate alcohol policies engage in riskier alcohol use and demonstrate more problems related to their use than non-violating peers. Drinking games (DG) have been linked to increased alcohol use and negative consequences. Objectives: The present study sought to assess potential differences in DG participation among mandated males and females by examining rates of endorsement, types of DG played, and how types of games are related to alcohol use and related consequences. Methods: Participant data were obtained from 154 undergraduate students mandated to receive an alcohol intervention, Results: DG players were found to have higher typical and peak blood alcohol concentrations, consume more drinks per week on average, consume more standard drinks per highest drinking occasion, and to experience a considerably greater number of alcohol-related consequences than non-players. Males endorsed greater participation in DG and cited "team" and "motor" games more often than females. "Gambling" games were endorsed equally by both sexes, but resulted in increased consequences for females only. Conclusion: Engaging in DG results in higher levels of alcohol consumption. The likelihood of consequences experienced may vary by type of DG in which individuals choose to participate, as well as by gender. Results from this study provide information that can be utilized in targeted alcohol programming efforts, not only for a high-risk population such as mandated students, but tailored to the specific needs of males and females.


Introduction: In addition to the quality of care, physical structure and access to health services, a humanized care during birth process should reflect on the women's experience of pain and satisfaction. Objective: To compare the satisfaction and perception of pain experienced by women during vaginal and cesarean delivery processes. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study involving women in the immediate postpartum period. The modified "Experience and Satisfaction with Childbirth Questionnaire" ("Questionario de Experiencia e Satisfacao com o Parto" – QESP), the short version of "McGill pain questionnaire" and the "female body representation scheme" were used. Results: 150 postpartum women were interviewed. After cesarean section demonstrated more satisfaction regarding the way the labor (LB) was carried out (p=0.01) and less satisfaction with pain in the postpartum period (PP) (p=0.04). Those submitted to vaginal delivery were more satisfied with their PP (p=0.02) and less satisfied with the intensity of pain during LB (p=0.03) and at birth (B) (p=0.01). The pain described during LB and B were "acute" and "cruel-punitive". In relation to PP, pain in the lower belly was more often reported after cesarean sections. Pain intensity during LB was significantly higher in vaginal labor (7,30 (±2,82) versus 5,86 (±3,51), (p=0,007). Conclusion: The perform cesarean sections were more satisfied with the way LB was carried out and less satisfied in relation to pain in the PP. Women who underwent vaginal labor were more satisfied with the PP and less satisfied with the intensity of pain during LB and at B.


Perinatal exposure to environmental levels of bisphenol-A (BPA) impairs sexually dimorphic behaviors in rodents. Kisspeptin neurons in anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV), which plays an important role in the activation of GnRH neurons and the initiation of LH-surge, have been suggested to be sexual dimorphism in rats. This study focused on exploring the influence of a perinatal exposure to an environmental dose of BPA on the development and maturation of male AVPV kisspeptin neurons and hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. Female rats were injected sc with 2 μg BPA/kg·d from gestation d 10 through lactation d 7. Anatomical and functional changes in AVPV kisspeptin neurons and hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis were examined in prepubertal, pubertal, and adult male rats exposed perinatally to BPA (BPA-rats). Here, we show that in postnatal d (PND)30/50/90 BPA-rats, the number of AVPV kisspeptin-immunoreactive cells was persistently increased in comparison with age-matched control male rats. The number of GnRH-immunoreactive cells in PND30 BPA-rats declined approximately 40% compared with control male rats, whereas that in PND50/90 BPA-rats was increased in a G protein-coupled receptor 54-dependent manner. Estradiol could induce a stable LH-surge in PND90 BPA-rats and control female rats, which was sensitive to the G protein-coupled receptor 54 inhibitor. In PND30/50 BPA-rats, plasma level of LH was higher, but the level of testosterone was lower than control male rats. These findings provide evidence that perinatal exposure to an environmental dose of BPA causes a sustained increase in AVPV kisspeptin neurons in male rats, leading to the generation of estradiol-induced LH-surge system.


Aim. To assess the prevalence of stress and its association with socio-demographic characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the Siberian population.Material and methods. A cross-sectional study was performed in the framework of the Russian multicenter epidemiological study ESSE-RF in the Kemerovo Region in 2013. The presented study included 1628 individuals aged 25 to 64 years. Information was assessed on the presence of stress, some socio-demographic and economic characteristics, a history of CVD, as well as behavioral habits and quality of life. To eliminate the modifying effect of socio-demographic characteristics, a logistic regression analysis was used. The odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.Results. The prevalence of stress was 22,6%; stress was statistically significantly more often recorded in women (28,1%) than in men (11,7%). After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, stress was statistically significantly more often recorded in people with secondary and primary education compared with those with higher education (24,9% and 19,1%, p=0,006), as well as in people with middle and high financial affluence compared with low affluence (24,5% and 11,3%, p<0,001). This association is observed only at the expense of women. For unemployed participants, the stress rate is higher only among males — 18,8% versus 11,4% among workers (p=0,015). Stress was also statistically significantly more often recorded in groups with arterial hypertension, lack of sleep, quality of life on the EQ-VAS scale and on the EuroQol scale. Smokers are more likely to have stress (23,8% vs 22,0%) and have a history of stroke (35,3% vs 22,2%). Among all CVDs and their risk factors, an inverse association of stress with obesity was revealed only in men.Conclusion. Study showed that people with stress are under large load of some cardiovascular risk factors. At the same time, ambiguous associations between stress and arterial hypertension and quality of life were obtained. This confirms the need for further study of the association of stress with other factors of cardiovascular risk, taking into account age and gender and socio-economic characteristics of the population.


Background: To present a rare case of a 2-year-old girl with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) who presented with ptosis of the right upper eyelid along with a tumor in the eyelid. Methods: A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the orbit revealed a solid tumor located extraconally at the site of the right lacrimal gland. A transcranial orbitotomy was performed. Results: Histopathological examination demonstrated expanded nerve branches/fascicles cut in various planes in between normal lacrimal gland acini. These findings were consistent with a plexiform neurofibroma presumably deriving from the lacrimal nerve and/or a supraorbital nerve branch. Conclusion: This is the first case of a plexiform neurofibroma involving the lacrimal gland ever described and the tumor shows similarities with neurofibroma in other salivary glands with a high recurrence rate. Plexiform neurofibromas are frequently seen in patients with NF1 and rarely undergo malignant transformation.


Introduction Wilderness recreation is increasingly popular among people of all ages. Pediatric providers should have the skills to counsel on risk reduction and respond to medical emergencies in remote settings. However, few physicians receive training in wilderness medicine, and this simulation-based curriculum aims to address that gap. Methods The scenario features an adolescent male in a remote setting with hypothermia, dehydration, and an ankle injury. The simulation is not resource intensive, utilizing a simulated patient actor and minimal equipment. The case includes a case description, learning objectives, instructor notes, example of ideal scenario flow, and anticipated management mistakes. A didactic PowerPoint highlighting the learning objectives is included. Results The simulation was carried out over 1 year in various settings, including urban parks, the wilderness, and the classroom, with 35 medical trainees. Thirty participants (11 medical students, eight residents, and 11 fellows) completed postsimulation surveys; more than 86% gave the highest score of 5 (strongly agree) when asked if the simulation improved their understanding of managing hypothermia, dehydration, and ankle injury in the wilderness. Discussion This simulation case trains responders to recognize an injured hiker; activate the emergency response system; initiate appropriate treatment for hypothermia, dehydration, and an ankle injury; and stabilize for transport. It reinforces medical conditions unique to the wilderness, improvisation in managing medical issues outside of the usual health care environment, and teamwork/communication skills. This case has been found to be an effective learning tool for medical students, residents, and fellow physicians alike.


Neuroimaging techniques produce large amounts of data capable of displaying a wide variety of structural and functional properties of the brain. A large number of specialized image analysis and visualization tools exist that aim at helping the physician in analyzing and dealing with the data. We present a flexible and extendible software assistant covering a number of typically required tools for evaluating neuroimaging studies. It comprises tools for preprocessing tasks such as registration, skull-stripping or non-uniformity normalization as well as some dedicated packages for quantitative analysis of anatomical images, a toolkit for DTI analysis as well as a tool for analyzing fMRI studies. The software assistant is built upon an established platform for rapid-prototyping, which facilitates fast integration of new features by user request as well as the adaption of given features to concrete clinical questions. In this paper, a brief overview of the basic underlying software architecture is given accompanied by a presentation of selected tools offered by the software.