People, throughout the history, have made estimates and inferences about the future by using their past experiences. Developing information technologies and the improvements in the database management systems make it possible to extract useful information from knowledge in hand for the strategic decisions. Therefore, different methods have been developed. Data mining by association rules learning is one of such methods. Apriori algorithm, one of the well-known association rules learning algorithms, is not commonly used in spatio-temporal data sets. However, it is possible to embed time and space features into the data sets and make Apriori algorithm a suitable data mining technique for learning spatiotemporal association rules. Lake Van, the largest lake of Turkey, is a closed basin. This feature causes the volume of the lake to increase or decrease as a result of change in water amount it holds. In this study, evaporation, humidity, lake altitude, amount of rainfall and temperature parameters recorded in Lake Van region throughout the years are used by the Apriori algorithm and a spatio-temporal data mining application is developed to identify overflows and newlyformed soil regions (underflows) occurring in the coastal parts of Lake Van. Identifying possible reasons of overflows and underflows may be used to alert the experts to take precautions and make the necessary investments. Keywords—Apriori algorithm, association rules, data mining, spatio-temporal data.


Alkoxy substituted aryl-thiourea derivatives provide excellent electronic properties due to the present of rigid π-systems within their molecular framework. This study introduces new thiourea derivative with general formula A-ArC(O)NHC(S)NHAr-D which was successfully synthesized with A is noted as aryl group containing chloro (-Cl) substituent ( 1A ), in which acts as electron acceptor, while D represented as –OC n H 2n+1 , the alkoxy chain tail acts as electron donor. Due to its characteristic of D-π-A system, alkoxy thiourea derivatives are applied as dopant in Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) host material in order to form a conductive biopolymer solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) film. The formation of biopolymer-thiourea complex ( 1A-CMC ) has been analyzed through Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine the interaction between CMC and thiourea derivative in the form of film as well as Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) for their ionic conductivity behavior. The highest conductivity at ambient temperature (303K) exhibits 1.44 x 10 -7 S cm -1 for CMC-thiourea complexation featuring chloro substitution ( 1A ). Indeed, biopolymer electrolyte materials featuring thiourea derivative as dopant has great potential to be developed as electrical conductor. Due to these findings, these so-called molecular wires candidate has opened wide possibilities to be applied in many micro-electronic devices in the near future.


Jakarta is a large city with a 10.37 million population. Most of the clean water needs are provided via groundwater. This might be a problem for some areas with groundwater conditions such as brine, or even salty water. The salt-water issue in Jakarta is not uncommon. Many researchers have conducted their studies on this topic from many perspectives. They are all divided into 2 main general conclusions, saltwater happens because of intrusion and saltwater is there because it is connate water. This study aims to give a new perspective on understanding the salt-water issue. Methods used for this study are gravity measurement to get a horizontal gradient value. The other is groundwater well sampling to measure the value of pH, salinity, conductivity, and water table elevation. These methods will be comprehensively interpreted to get the direction of subsurface fluid flow. Results from salinity and conductivity of groundwater show more salinity and conductivity in the North direction and less on the South one. Gravity data and the geological map also suggest that there is a fluid flow coming from North East to South West. All of these methods used in this study have come to one conclusion, there is water flowing from the sea to the land, therefore there is a most likely saltwater intrusion on the region where this study is conducted.


This paper presents the performance improvements and the energy reductions by coupling a high-performance coarse-grained reconfigurable data-path with a microprocessor in a generic platform. The datapath has been previously introduced by the authors. It is composed by computational units able to realize complex operations which aid in improving the performance of time critical application parts, called kernels. A design flow is proposed for mapping high-level software descriptions to the microprocessor system. Eight real-life applications are mapped on three different instances of the system. Significant overall application speedups, relative to a software-only solution, ranging from 1.74 to 3.94 are reported being close to theoretical speedup bounds. Average energy savings of 59% are achieved, while the reduction in the system energy-delay product ranges from 66% to 92%.


Perfume microcapsules have attracted a great deal of attention from a range of industries over the last decade due to the benefits of their incorporation into household products such as textiles, allowing the provision of a long-lasting release of pleasant odour to consumers. To realize this, it is important to understand the adhesion between microcapsules and fabric surfaces.
In this work, single perfume microcapsules were immobilised at the apex of a tipless atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever probe, and the adhesion between the microcapsule and a cellulose film in HPLC water was investigated by AFM force measurements. The adhesion and how it is affected by the experimental conditions have been interpreted.


The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of autoantibodies in patients with no term pregnancies. Patients selected included 43 with primary infertility and 110 with a history of pregnancy loss. In the first group the incidence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and IgG and IgM antiphospholipid antibodies (APL) was 37.2% (p < 0.05) and 53.5% (p < 0.05), respectively. In the group of patients with a history of miscarriage, 31.8% (p < 0.05) were positive for ANA and 38.2% (p < 0.05) for APL. Controls were 35 healthy patients with proven fertility and no history of pregnancy loss or autoimmune disease. In this group the incidence of ANA was 5.7% and 11.4% for APL. The high incidence of autoantibodies found in patients with primary infertility might suggest a direct involvement of these antibodies in reproductive failure and consequently in IVF and assisted fertility procedures. The prevalence of ANA and APL has been extensively described in patients with a history of recurrent pregnancy losses (RPL). In this study we observed antibodies even after the first miscarriage. We therefore conclude that patients with a history of reproductive failure should be immunologically evaluated and treated before undergoing assisted fertilization techniques or before a new pregnancy in those cases of RPL.


Objective To describe the initial experience with aortic valve implantation via a direct approach using a self-expanding CoreValve TM aortic valve prosthesis in a tertiary care center from Argentina. Material and methods From May to December 2010, 21 consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis (SAS) and high surgical risk undergoing percutaneous aortic valve replacement with CoreValve TM prosthesis were included. The inclusion criteria were the following: aortic valve area 6 mm. Results Mean age was 79±8 years, mean aortic valve area was 0.7±0.2 cm 2 and mean logistic EuroSCORE was 26±15% (50% with logistic EuroSCORE ³ 20%). After valve implantation, peak transaortic pressure gradient measured by echocardiography decreased from 80±22 to 14±5 mm Hg. Two patients developed severe aortic regurgitation which improved with post-dilation. The success rate of the procedure was of 95% as a patient died immediately after valve implant. A definite pacemaker was implanted to six patients due to atrioventricular block. Cumulative survival was 75% after a mean follow-up of 5±2.8 months. Conclusion Our initial experience suggests that direct implantation of CoreValve TM prosthesis is a safe and feasible therapeutic option for patients with SAS and high surgical risk.


PurposeOnline vigilance is a novel construct which describes individual differences in users' cognitive orientation to online connectedness, their attention to and integration of online-related cues and stimuli and their prioritisation of online communication. Its proponents argue that it is acquired through the processes of instrumental and attentional training that underlie media use behaviours. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the role of three personal characteristics (emotional intelligence, rumination and identity distress) as predictors of online vigilance in addition to media use behaviour.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopted an exploratory frame and followed a survey-methodology to collect data among a sample of university students (n = 812). The resulting data were analysed through a hierarchical multiple regression process in which four models were considered.FindingsThe findings indicate that while media use behaviours (daily smartphone use, social media use, messaging, video watching and media multitasking) predict online vigilance, their combined effect is weak. However, when considering these behaviours in combination with trait rumination and identity distress, a moderate effect is observable.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the findings do not permit causal inference, it suggests that two personal characteristics, trait rumination and identity distress, play an important role in determining an individual's tendency or ability to psychologically disconnect from their online spheres. This provides an initial step towards the theorisation of online vigilance and the identification of individuals who may be at risk of acquiring it.Originality/valueOnline vigilance is a novel construct which has only been investigated in a small number of studies. However, its emphasis on psychological connectedness presents a unique and important development in the context of permanently online, permanently connected living. The present study is the first to explore its association with personal characteristics.


This study aimed to identify perceived barriers that might prevent American Indian (AI) and Hispanic American (HA) veterans from seeking mental health services at U.S. Veterans Administration Medical Centers (VAMCs), as reported by 100 VA mental-behavioral health staff members. A total of 100 volunteer mental-behavioral health workers were questioned, 50 from Albuquerque VAMC and 50 from Minneapolis VAMC. Participants responded to public announcements and e-mail invitations; facilitated, open-ended interviewing produced the barrier responses, which were then coded. Mental healthcare workers in both sites reported most perceived barriers as occurring in the VA system, among AI/HA veterans, and within themselves and/or their colleagues. Less commonly, they perceived barriers as occurring in the AI/HA families and communities. Mental healthcare workers at the Minneapolis VAMC reported more barriers than workers at the Albuquerque VAMC. A coding protocol derived from interviews among ethnic AI and HA staff members in the two VAMC's was applicable to mental health workers. Mental health workers agreed with AI and HA workers in perceiving most barriers as existing in the VA system, with family and community barriers being least often reported. Mental health workers perceived veterans as posing the second most common barrier category, followed by VA staff members.


Two patients had episcleritis and a secondary open angle glaucoma. Anterior uveitis was absent in three of the four eyes. The low facility of outflow suggests that increased episcleral venous pressure was not the mechanism of the glaucoma. The response of the intraocular pressure and, in one case, the outflow facility to steroid therapy suggests that inflammation of angle structures was the pathogenesis of the raised intraocular pressure.


In the United States, every reported case grappling with the validity of an arbitration clause in a donative trust shares the assumption that state law governs. The same is true of the vast majority of scholarship on the topic. Conversely, this chapter in Arbitration of Internal Trust Disputes: Issues in National and International Law (Oxford University Press, forthcoming 2016) argues that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) applies to some trust arbitration provisions. It then explores the consequences that flow from this conclusion.


The study of genes and their products is an essential prerequisite for fundamental research. Characterization can be achieved by analyzing mutants or overexpression lines or by studying the localization and substrate specificities of the resulting proteins. However, functional analysis of specific proteins in complex eukaryotic organisms can be challenging. To overcome this, the use of heterologous systems to express genes and analyze the resulting proteins can save time and effort. Yeast is a preferred heterologous model organism: it is easy to transform, and tools for genomics, engineering, and metabolomics are already available. Here, we describe a well-established and simple method to analyze the activity of plant monosaccharide transporters in the baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, using a simple growth complementation assay. We used the famous hexose-transport-deficient yeast strain EBY.VW4000 to express candidate plant monosaccharide transporters and analyzed their transport activity. This assay does not require any radioactive labeling of substrates and can be easily extended for quantitative analysis using growth curves or by analyzing the transport rates of fluorescent substrates like the glucose analog 2-NBDG. Finally, to further simplify the cloning of potential candidate transporters, we provide level 0 modular cloning (MoClo) modules for efficient and simple Golden Gate cloning. This approach provides a convenient tool for the functional analysis of plant monosaccharide transporters in yeast. Key features Comprehensive, simple protocol for analysis of plant monosaccharide transporters in yeast Includes optional MoClo parts for cloning with Golden Gate method Includes protocol for the production and transformation of competent yeast cells Does not require hazardous solutions, radiolabeled substrates, or specialized equipment


Inkubook.com came into existence in March 2008 when an existing software development and marketing organization received a new CEO who immediately tasked the team with building an entirely different product. This paper describes the sources of pain that led to an evolution from the existing Scrum process through four major changes as the team's process shifted to meet the team's goals and management's demands. Then, the ramifications and further changes of the resulting kanban approach are explored.


Radiation-induced normal cell damage limits the delivery of high-dose radiation to targeted cancer. This study investigated the effect of epicatechin (EC), a minor component of green tea extracts, on radiation-induced cellular damage in vitro in primary cultured human fibroblasts and in vivo in a zebrafish model. Cell viability, proliferation and wound-healing efficacy, mitochondrial membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation as well as changes in the signaling pathway related to apoptosis were investigated in fibroblasts. The therapeutic effects of EC were explored in a zebrafish model. EC increased clonogenic survival and restored the migration ability of the fibroblasts after irradiation. EC inhibited radiation-induced ROS generation, mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. EC significantly reduced the expression of p-JNK, p-38, and cleaved caspase-3 compared with their significant increase after radiation treatment. EC attenuated the radiation-induced embryotoxicity in a zebrafish model. These results suggest that EC represents an effective means of reducing cellular damage and facilitating wound healing after radiation exposure.


In this paper, we review the mass probes used for the derivation of a variety of biomolecules efficiently detected by the electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry and mass probe-assisted ionization method for total analysis and determination by consecutive detection with a single instrument. We describe mass probes for a variety of molecules including proteins, nucleobases, metallic cations, and other small molecules.


Three-dimensional (3D) channel models are essential for the accurate and realistic performance evaluation of mobile networks. Legacy 2D channel models have been shown to underestimate performance. Also, 5G/B5G systems will feature both microwave $(\mu \mathbf{Wave})$ and millimeter-wave (mmWave) channels. Using the 3GPP 3D channel models in these two frequency bands, we analyzed system performance in urban macrocell (UMa) and urban microcell (UMi) scenarios. Our results show that the mmWave tier anticipated to provide multi-gigabits-per-second throughputs suffers SINR bottleneck, particularly for indoor users served by outdoor base stations (BSs). The SINR statistics reveal that indoor users experience up to 30 dB additional losses from wall and in-building objects. It also reveals the degrading impact of the higher noise levels resulting from the larger bandwidths employed in mmWave systems. The impact of user height distribution and BS downtilt angles on system performance have also been investigated. To realize ultra-high speed networks, future 5G/B5G systems must employ techniques that will significantly enhance the SINR in order to optimize performance in the face of the limiting channel effects.


""The rigid, straight line is fundamentally alien to humanity, life and the whole of creation."" Hundertwasser applies this philosophy not only to the famous Viennese buildings for which he is renowned, but all the media and art-forms he has experimented with during his wild and crazy career. Whether it be painting, sculpture, performance art or designing a kindergarten, Hundertwasser's works are multi-coloured, organic, and shot through with a sense of the magical or fantastic. However, there are principles operating behind these joyful bursts of gold and silver. Hundertwasser's art has always contained a political shade. He has consistently rebelled against rationalist or determinist ideas, promoted ecological awareness, and mantained a passionate belief in the anarchy of the imagination. In this awesome retrospective, Pierre Restany covers all the bases of Hundertwasser's eclectic development as an artist, from the tenant revolt and nude lecture of the early Seventies, through the housing projects in Vienna, right up to his recent designs for an alternative society. Restless with inspiration, the grand old man of nonconformist art keeps on breaking the rules.


Age-related skin changes can be induced by chronological ageing, manifested in subcutaneous fat reduction, and photo-ageing eliciting increased elastotic substance in the upper dermis, destruction of its fibrilar structure, augmented intercellular substance and moderate inflammatory infiltrate. Forty-five biopsy skin samples of the sun-exposed and sun-protected skin were analyzed. The patients were both males and females, aged from 17 to 81 years. The thickness of the epidermal layers and the number of cellular living layers is greater in younger skin. The amount of keratohyaline granules is enlarged in older skin. Dermoepidermal junction is flattened and the presence of elastotic material in the dermis is pronounced with age. The amount of inflammatory infiltrate is increased, the fibrous trabeculae are thickened in older skin and the atrophy of the hypodermis is observed. Chronological ageing alters the fibroblasts metabolism by reducing their life span, capacity to divide and produce collagen. During ageing, the enlargement of collagen fibrils diminishes the skin elasticity.


Purpose: Corporate reporting infrastructure and communication are being transformed by the emergence of digital technologies. A key element of the digital accounting infrastructure underpinning international corporate reporting is the IFRS Taxonomy, a digital representation of international accounting standards that is required by firms to produce digital corporate reports. This paper traces the development, governance and adoption of the IFRS Taxonomy to highlight the implications for accounting practice and standard-setting. Design/methodology/approach: We mobilise Actor Network Theory and a model of transnational standardisation to analyse the process surrounding the formation and diffusion of the IFRS Taxonomy as a legitimate 'reference' of the IFRS Standards. We trace the process using interview, observation and documentary evidence. Findings: The analysis shows that while the Taxonomy enables IFRS-based reporting in the digital age, tensions and detours result in the need for a realignment of the perspectives of both accounting standard-setters and taxonomy developers that have transformative implications for accounting practice and standard-setting. Originality/value: The study explains how and why existing accounting standards are transformed by technology inscriptions with reflexive effects on the formation and diffusion of accounting standards. In doing so, the paper highlights the implications that arise as accounting practice adapts to the digitalisation of corporate reporting.


OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) transported to a hospital that provides extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) with patients transported to hospitals without ECPR capability. DESIGN, SETTING: Retrospective review of patient care records in a pre-hospital and hospital setting. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients with OHCA who left the scene and arrived with cardiopulmonary resuscitation in progress at 16 hospitals in Melbourne, Australia, between January 2016 and December 2019. INTERVENTION: For selected patients transported to the ECPR centre, initiation of ECMO. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival to hospital discharge and 12-month quality of life. RESULTS: There were 223 eligible patients during the study period. Of 49 patients transported to the ECPR centre, 23 were commenced on ECMO. Of these, survival to hospital with good neurological recovery (Cerebral Performance Category [CPC] score 1/2) occurred in 4/23 patients. Four other patients developed return of spontaneous circulation in the ECPR centre before cannulation of whom one survived, giving overall good functional outcome at 12 months survival of 5/49 (10.2%). There were 174 patients transported to the 15 non-ECPR centres and 3/174 (2%) had good functional outcome at 12 months. After adjustment for baseline differences, the odds ratio for good neurological outcome after transport to an ECPR centre compared with a non-ECPR centre was 4.63 (95% CI, 0.97–22.11; P = 0.055). CONCLUSION: The survival rate of patients with refractory OHCA transported to an ECPR centre remains low. Outcomes in larger cities might be improved with shorter scene times and additional ECPR centres that would provide for earlier initiation of ECMO.


The damage and risk to the environment and human health consequent to traditional agricultural practices urged the development of innovative techniques and more environmentally friendly processes and compounds. Nanotechnology can improve the precision in the processes and the coordination of the management strategies of agricultural production. Therefore, innovative and groundbreaking tools have recently been developed employing natural and engineered nanomaterials to deliver agrochemicals to plants for both improving nutrition, stimulate plant growth, improve the quality of the soil and protect plants, while reducing the impact of these compounds on the environment and human health. Electrospinning (ES) is a highly versatile and inexpensive nanotechnology that allows to design and fabricate continuous non-woven polymer fibers with diameters ranging from micrometer to nanometer when a strong electrical field acts on a droplet of a solution with sufficient viscoelasticity. The resulting fibers can assume complex shapes, creating a multitude of structures with a broad spectrum of different properties (porosity, permeability, high fiber interconnectivity, nano-scale interstitial spaces, biomimetism and bioinspiration, etc.).
Since the limitation of iron availability is a crucial condition in plant nutrition, the polymer fabrics here proposed, mimicking the natural strategy adopted by nongraminaceous and graminaceous species (Strategy I and II, respectively), were designed to make available to the plants the insoluble iron (Fe III) widely present in ecosystems by releasing selected iron-chelating molecules. Therefore, we investigated a model system based on ES biodegradable nanofibrous textiles with different shapes capable of releasing natural iron-chelators into soil/water by controlled rates (depending on the membrane morphology). The present study first focused on the production and functionality of a biodegradable nanofibrous polymer (polyhydroxybutyrate-PHB) scaffold, that is naturally produced by microorganisms and algae).  Because of its fragility, PHB was then blended with another biodegradable polymer (polycaprolactone-PCL), and then properly bio-loaded. The resulting polymer blend, due to the physical properties of PCL, resulted softer and mechanically more resistant than the previous one (PHB) and it was poorly affected by sudden changes in temperature. Both polymers are water insoluble and present low environmental impact, and are commonly investigated and used in drug delivery structures. The effectiveness and toxicity of both functional systems mimicking Strategy I and II concepts and dynamics were tested in two different plant hydroponic cultures. Such regenerative and sustainable agricultural practices based on natural sources and waste reduction, inspired by the principles of a circular bio-economy (European Environment Agency, report n. 2/2016), aimed at replacing the use of chemicals and traditional raw materials, improving health and environmental conditions, as required by the original principles of a circular economy, and at facing the increasing risk level for our natural capital.


Platanthera consists about 150–200 species and is among the largest terrestrial orchid genera; it is distributed across Asia, North America and Europe with a few species extending into North Africa and Central America (Bateman et al. 2003, 2009, Chase et al . 2015, Chen et al . 2009, Luer 1975, Pearce & Cribb 2002, Pridgeon et al. 2001, Lang 1999, Efimov 2016, Raskoti et al. 2016). There are about 50 species of Platanthera in China, out of which 25 species are endemic (Lang 1999, Chen et al . 2009, Jin et al. 2012, 2013,2014,2015, Efimov 2016). During fieldwork in eastern China, a leafless but visibly green Platanthera was discovered. This species is sympatric and similar to Platanthera minor , but it is easy to distinguish from the latter on the basis of vegetative and floral characters. Here we considered this little known Platanthera as a new species.


Acidity is a defining property of atmospheric aerosols that profoundly affects environmental systems, human health, and climate. However, directly measuring the pH of aerosol microdroplets remains a challenge, especially when the microdroplets' composition is nonhomogeneous or dynamically evolving or both. As a result, a pH measurement technique with high spatiotemporal resolution is needed. Here, we report a spatiotemporally resolved pH measurement technique in microdroplets using spontaneous Raman spectroscopy. Our target sample was the microdroplets comprising sodium chloride and oxalic acid─laboratory surrogates of sea spray aerosols and water-soluble organic compounds, respectively. Our measurements show that the chloride depletion from the microdroplets caused a continuous increase in pH by ∼0.5 units in 2 hours. Meanwhile, the surface propensity of chloride anions triggers a stable pH gradient inside a single droplet, with the pH at the droplet surface lower than that at the core by ∼ 0.4 units. The uncertainties arising from the Raman detection limit (±0.08 pH units) and from the nonideal solution conditions (-0.06 pH units) are constrained. Our findings indicate that spontaneous Raman spectroscopy is a simple yet robust technique for precise pH measurement in aerosols with high spatiotemporal resolution.


Manuscript Type: Review Research Question: This review essay examines the mechanisms by which crosslisting of a firm's shares on a foreign stock exchange and its subsequent exposure to an international capital market can induce changes in corporate governance. We also review reasons why a firm might elect to use crosslisting to improve investor perception of the quality of its governance. Research Findings/Results: After a review of the existing literature, we conclude that there is substantial support for legal bonding in the decision to crosslist, with lesser evidence consistent with reputational bonding. We also conclude that firm growth opportunities and the need for external capital are critical factors in a decision to crosslist. Theoretical Implications: This study synthesizes the extensive empirical work done on crosslisting and consequent changes in corporate governance structures. It also highlights a number of areas that require further research including more direct testing of governance changes following crosslisting, the effect of crosslisting on corporate equity ownership structures, and the investment/new securities issuance behavior of firms subsequent to crosslisting. This research will help to chart the path of future academic study by scholars of international corporate governance. Practical Implications: This review of the empirical evidence will contribute to the identification of a set of best practices that can lead to improved governance for firms worldwide. Furthermore, the discussion of what remains unexamined by governance researchers will help to shape the contours of future policy and legislative debate.


We present a reduced-order adaptive controller design for MHD flows. Frequently, reduced-order models are derived from low-order bases computed by applying proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) on an a priori ensemble of data of ow model. This reduced-order model is then used-to derive a reduced-order controller. The approach discussed here differs from these approaches. It. uses an adaptive procedure that improves the reduced-order model by successively updating the ensemble of data. The idea is illustrated on a control problem in unsteady magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) flows. Numerical implementations and results are provided illustrating feasibility.


Summary. The characteristics of severe neutropenia with a delayed onset following administration of rituximab have been evaluated in 53 consecutively treated patients. All but one patient received rituximab for the treatment of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma. Eight episodes of grade 4 neutropenia were detected between 1 and 5 months after rituximab, when administered alone on five occasions, and on three occasions in combination with chemotherapy, where neutrophil counts had recovered prior to the development of neutropenia. In three episodes, the patients presented with sepsis. Development of neutropenia did not correlate with either the presence of detectable disease or the administration of further treatment. Neutropenia was associated with selective depletion of neutrophil precursors in all but one episode, where it was associated with generalized bone marrow hypoplasia. All episodes developed after a period of either normal or mildly depressed neutrophil counts following treatment with rituximab, and persisted for between several days and several months, before undergoing spontaneous recovery in four instances, and after administration of filgrastim in the remainder. Episodes of neutropenia were associated with disordered immune status manifested by lymphopenia and hypogammaglobulinaemia, raising the possibility that either disturbance of the balance of lymphocyte subsets or an immune dyscrasia induced by rituximab resulted in the development of this type of neutropenia.


In this study, desulfurization efficiencies of metallurgical dust (MD), ZnO, and Fe2O3 at neutrality, reduction, and oxidation atmospheres are studied and their sulfur capacities are calculated. Experimental results show that MD's sulfur capacity increases with increasing temperature within the tested range of 50 to 650degreesC at any atmosphere and approaches, even equals, the theoretical value when the temperature is higher than 500degreesC. Reduction and oxidation atmospheres have various degrees of negative effect on MDs, exerting its desulfurization ability at a temperature range of higher than 350degreesC; this means that MD is more effective at neutral atmosphere. Breakthrough curves of ZnO and Fe2O3 are similar to those of MD, but the complexity of MD's composition determines that there is still some difference existing among them. However, comparison of absolute values of sulfur capacities of MD, ZnO, and Fe2O3 shows that it is definitely feasible to use MD as a sulfur absorbent in the FGD process.


The continuous development of network information technology has prompted people to use big data to process information in order to improve work efficiency. All kinds of data are affecting people's lives. Under the background of the big data era, college students' values, studies and lifestyles, and access to information have changed obviously. Therefore, colleges and universities should make full use of the convenience of information in the era of big data to improve the informatization of ideological and political work in colleges and universities. The ideological consciousness and values of contemporary college students are strongly impacted by big piece of data. Based on the characteristics of big data, this paper conducts research and analysis on ideological and political education in colleges and universities in the era of big data, and makes full use of network resources to improve the ability of ideological and political education.


ABSTRACT The link between education and liberal attitudes is among the most consistent findings in public-opinion research, but the theoretical explanations for this relationship warrant additional attention. Previous work suggested that the relationship is due to education socializing students to the "official culture" of the United States. This study uses the World Values Survey and General Social Survey to examine Americans' attitudes toward the justifiability of violence. I find that Americans with more education are less likely to say that interpersonal violence—against women, children, and other individuals—can be justifiable. However, they are more likely to say that state-sanctioned violence—war and police violence—can be justifiable. These patterns are consistent with a modified socialization model of education and social attitudes. I conclude that American education socializes people to establishment culture, identity, and interests, which differentiate between unacceptable interpersonal violence and ostensibly acceptable state-sanctioned violence.


One might think that primary research in library and church archives would be a dry, lifeless endeavor, far removed from the present–day spiritual urgency that quickens the religious studies classroom. After all, archives raise the specter of musty tomes housed in dark, dank, and isolated basements. To the contrary, based on interviews with several students and teachers doing such research, this article maintains that primary archival research in religious and theological studies is often experienced as empowering, connecting researchers to their subjects with an immediacy that secondary sources simply cannot provide. Diaries, letters, hymns, administrative reports, and church–school teaching notes are the sorts of documentary evidence and personal effects at issue, and these offer unexpected insights to researchers who brave the archives.


Clinical trials with propranolol were performed in 44 carefully selected psychiatric patients. Propranolol was administered in 8 equal doses over 24 hours and increased at a daily rate of 400 mg. Treatment was monitored by patient's reactions and by periodic examination of pulse rate and blood pressure. Results showed marked to moderate improvement, often within 24 to 48 hours, in two-thirds of the patients treated. Concurrent with stabilization of heart rate and blood pressure at about 60/min and 90/60 mm Hg respectively, improvement was noted in anxiety, psychomotor hyperactivity, thought process disturbance, hallucinations, and disturbances in affect. Our studies and those of other investigators indicate that propranolol and oxprenolol, and possibly other beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs, may have a beneficial influence on psychotic syndromes. Further well-controlled clinical trials seem warranted. Indications for use, dosages, and combinations with other drugs, mainly phenothiazines, must be delineated. Laboratory investigations may add considerably in these respects ans may lead to safe treatment regimes with minimal side effects.


COG0354 proteins have been implicated in synthesis or repair of iron/sulfur (Fe/S) clusters in all domains of life, and those of bacteria, animals, and protists have been shown to require a tetrahydrofolate to function. Two COG0354 proteins were identified in Arabidopsis and many other plants, one (At4g12130) related to those of α-proteobacteria and predicted to be mitochondrial, the other (At1g60990) related to those of cyanobacteria and predicted to be plastidial. Grasses and poplar appear to lack the latter. The predicted subcellular locations of the Arabidopsis proteins were validated by in vitro import assays with purified pea organelles and by targeting assays in Arabidopsis and tobacco protoplasts using green fluorescent protein fusions. The At4g12130 protein was shown to be expressed mainly in flowers, siliques, and seeds, whereas the At1g60990 protein was expressed mainly in young leaves. The folate dependence of both Arabidopsis proteins was established by functional complementation of an Escherichia coli COG0354 (ygfZ) deletant; both plant genes restored in vivo activity of the Fe/S enzyme MiaB but restoration was abrogated when folates were eliminated by deleting folP. Insertional inactivation of At4g12130 was embryo lethal; this phenotype was reversed by genetic complementation of the mutant. These data establish that COG0354 proteins have a folate-dependent function in mitochondria and plastids, and that the mitochondrial protein is essential. That plants retain mitochondrial and plastidial COG0354 proteins with distinct phylogenetic origins emphasizes how deeply the extant Fe/S cluster assembly machinery still reflects the ancient endosymbioses that gave rise to plants.


Under global warming and climate change conditions fruit orchards facing different environmental challenges which cause negative impacts on the growth and productivity of various fruit trees particularly in arid and semi-arid areas, various abiotic stress such as rising temperature, drought, heatwaves, and soil salinity represented a major challenge for growth and productivity of fruit orchards. Fruit trees used different strategies to cope with abiotic stress and minimize their adverse effects. Plants used different physiological, anatomical, and morphological mechanisms to tolerate abiotic stress, such as ion homeostasis, synthesis of more compatible solute, polyamines production, antioxidant regulation, closing stomata, in addition tol modification of root system, abscission of the leaves partially, compactness canopy, reducing leaf size, furthermore, under abiotic stress plants produce various organic solutes to cope with Reactive Oxygen solutes like Proline, in addition, using proper management practices that include providing adequate nutrients requirement particularly Potassium and Calcium, maintain soil moisture, using proper rootstocks tolerant for drought and salinity stress as well as exogenous application of plant growth substances could sustain orchards growth and productivity


Neonatal screening for G6PD deficiency has long been established in many countries. The aim of the study was to determine whether the routine semiquantitative fluorescent spot test could detect all cases of G6PD deficiency, including those cases with partial deficiency (residual red cell G6PD activity between 20-60% of normal). We compared the results of G6PD screening by the semiquantitative fluorescent spot test and quantitative G6PD activity assay on a group of 976 neonates and 67 known female heterozygotes. The values for mean G6PD activity of G6PD-normal neonates and 293 healthy adult females were determined. There was no significant difference in the mean normal G6PD activity between the two racial groups in the neonates (669 Malays, 307 Chinese) and in the 293 healthy adult females (150 Malays, 143 Chinese) group. The values for the upper limits of total deficiency (20% of normal residual activity) for neonates and adult females were 2.92 U/gHb and 1.54 U/gHb, respectively. The upper limits of partial deficiency (60% of normal residual activity) were 8.7 U/gHb and 4.6 U/gHb respectively. The prevalence of G6PD deficiency among the male neonates was 5.1% (26) by both the fluorescent spot test and the enzyme assay method. The G6PD activity levels of all 26 cases of G6PD-deficient male neonates were < 20% normal (severe enzyme deficiency). In the female neonate group, the frequency of G6PD deficiency was 1.3% (6 of 472) by the fluorescent spot test and 9.35% (44 of 472) by enzyme assay. The 6 cases diagnosed as deficient by the fluorescent spot test showed severe enzyme deficiency (< 2.92 U/gHb). The remaining 38 female neonates had partial enzyme deficiency and all were misdiagnosed as normal by the fluorescent spot test. In the female heterozygote group, G6PD deficiency was diagnosed in 53% (35 of 67) by enzyme assay and in 7.5% (4 of 67) of cases by the fluorescent spot test. The 4 cases detected by fluorescent spot test had severe enzyme deficiency (<1.6 U/gHb). The remaining 31 (46.3%) cases, diagnosed as normal by fluorescent spot test, showed partial G6PD deficiency. In conclusion, we found that the semiquantitative fluorescent spot test could only diagnose cases of total G6PD deficiency and misclassified the partially-deficient cases as normal. In this study, the overall prevalence of G6PD deficiency was 3.28% by the semiquantitative fluorescent spot test and 7.17% by enzyme assay. This means that 3.9% of G6PD-deficient neonates were missed by the routine fluorescent spot test and they were found to be exclusively females. This study demonstrates a need to use a method that can correctly classify female heterozygotes with partial G6PD deficiency. The clinical implication is that these individuals may be at risk of the hemolytic complication of G6PD deficiency.


The University of Pittsburgh lung transplantation program began in 1982 and through 2002 we have performed 576 lung and 101 heart-lung transplants. One-, 3- and 5-year survival rates over the past decade have been 77%, 62% and 55%, respectively, comparing favorably to ISHLT registry outcomes of 73%, 57% and 46%. We continue to utilize a very thorough evaluation process but have been flexible and aggressive with potential recipients with regard to age, coronary artery disease and disease state (eg., scleroderma). Despite worldwide progress in the field of lung transplantation, many difficulties remain. The limited number of lungs deemed acceptable for transplantation continues to hinder application to a greater number of patients. Our efforts in this regard have focused on cooperation with our OPO in education and detailed donor management protocols. Chronic rejection also remains a major difficulty frequently leading to death. Recent work utilizing aerosol cyclosporine in patients with established chronic rejection suggests that this therapy may prolong life. We are also hopeful that recently initiated therapies utilizing T-cell induction strategies may contribute to further improvement in outcomes.


We demonstrate the use of tensor networks for image classification with the TensorNetwork open source library. We explain in detail the encoding of image data into a matrix product state form, and describe how to contract the network in a way that is parallelizable and well-suited to automatic gradients for optimization. Applying the technique to the MNIST and Fashion-MNIST datasets we find out-of-the-box performance of 98% and 88% accuracy, respectively, using the same tensor network architecture. The TensorNetwork library allows us to seamlessly move from CPU to GPU hardware, and we see a factor of more than 10 improvement in computational speed using a GPU.


The electrical system is facing a dramatic transformation. A main trend is the digitalization of the grid that implements automation and monitoring concepts at every voltage level. The consequent growing role of data management is calling for new paradigms in the service implementation. This paper presents a cloud-based platform concept that enables an open structure for new energy services. The architecture of the platform is presented to clarify the concept itself and the opportunities it opens. A concept of advanced grid monitoring based on data analytics is proposed as reference example.


There is a general consensus that residual DNA from immortalised cells is very unlikely to pose a safety risk for biotechnology products but there is little experimental data to support this contention. Transgenic mice primed with one or more oncogenes or tumour suppressor deletions offer a potentially sensitive and quantitative method for determining the presence of oncogenic DNA. Separate lines of mice transgenic for myc and Cbfa1 may provide a means of detecting oncogenic DNA containing genes belonging to different complementation groups.


Farming has a long cultural tradition in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) but today it is affected by the Israeli occupation. This thesis investigates how different agricultural actors in the West Bank frame farming as a practice and what collective action frames they have developed connected to their understanding of farming. The aim is to illuminate how these different actors construct meaning around the practice of farming, and how people can understand and use farming in different ways. Some of my informants clearly link farming practices to a bigger symbolism of farming as a practice of resistance against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Little attention has been given to the non-violent resistance in the occupied Palestinian territories and esspecially to farming as a tool of resistance. However, not all of my informants align the same symbolism to the practice of farming, as for some of the informants it is considered to be foremost a coping strategy.

This research contributes to the discussion around the the concept of food sovereignty. Different scholars have addressed the existence of contradictions inside the food sovereignty movement since different contexts have different understandings of or implementation-approaches to the concept. In Palestine, the idea of food sovereignty is becoming more popular as part of the nonviolent resistance movement, and the study reveals how some actor's link patriotic interests to ideas of (silent) food sovereignty.


In vitro enzymatic and non-enzymatic polyunsaturated fatty acid peroxidation was significantly inhibited in a dose dependent manner by purified anthocyanin, a deep-red colour pigment from carrot cell culture. The kinetics showed that anthocyanin is a non-competitive inhibitor of lipid peroxidation. Anthocyanin has been found to be a potent antioxidant compared to classical antioxidants such as butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA), butylated hydroxy toulene (BHT) and alpha tocopherol. This natural agent, in addition to imparting colour to the food, might prevent autooxidation of lipids as well as lipid peroxidation in biological systems.


.High quality grain - a pledge of his safety, reduce losses and the costs of storage. Wheat is the main source of human nutrition. Elements contained in wheat perform a fundamental role in human life. Storing grain quality is an urgent task. One of the labor-intensive operations in this process is the correct placement of parties in wheat granary and timely monitoring of key parameters (humidity and temperature). In this regard, we consider methods for determining the intensity of the grain breathing method for determining the moisture content and temperature of the grain of wheat. Humidity was determined by electrical hygrometer. To measure the temperature of wheat used mercury thermometer. In analyzing the breathing wheat energy depending on the humidity it was found that the intensity of respiration increasingly affects humidity increase than an increase in temperature. As objects of study used wheat varieties: Hordeiforme 432 and Multiroom 321. According to the results obtained in the study plot the respiratory activity of the grain from moisture. According to the schedules we concluded that the sharp increase in wheat breathing energy occurs with increasing moisture content to a value of more than 15%. Just found out that in addition to breathing in highly humid grain appears vital functions of harmful microorganisms, which under the influence of grain rots and becomes stale. Thus, ho-well-organized and skilled observation, the correct analysis of the obtained data allow to bring the maximum reduction in spending of dry matter and therefore achieve lower grain weight loss during storage.


In many underdeveloped countries, illegal abortion can lead to death or sequelae. Pregnancy termination is illegal in Madagascar except for medical reasons. We report 23 observed between April 1990 and December 1994 at the Androva Mahajanga University Hospital. Post-abortum infectious complications ranked 19th for hospital admissions. Peritonitis was the most frequent (70%) and most serious complication. The women were young (mean age 24 years, 44% under the age of 20 years). Thirty percent were primigravidae and had poor living conditions (74% were homemakers and 13% were students; 44% were single). Clinical signs were malodorous loss and abdominal pain. A surgical procedure was performed in 74% of the cases: 3 salpingo-oophoectomies, 2 hysterectomies and 10 uterine sutures. Mortality was high, 13%. Illegal abortion must be prevented with better information on contraception and better health education programs. The question of the usefulness of current legislation is discussed.


We have appreciated the article published by Bardsley and colleagues describing the seasonal circulation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in UK children, and we hope to contribute to increase information on this intriguing and elusive topic. We describe our epidemiological trend with the aim to add a small brick to the current knowledge regarding respiratory infections due to RSV and other respiratory viruses in an era that is changing due to a radical change in the evaluation of respiratory symptoms following the pandemic event.


Abstract— Recent studies have identified at least two homologous mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinases that are activated by phosphorylation of both tyrosine and threonine residues by an activator kinase. To help define the role of these MAP kinases in neuronal signalling, we have used primary cultures derived from fetal rat cortex to assess the regulation of their activity by agonist stimulation of glutamate receptors and by synaptic activity. Regulation was assayed by monitoring changes in both tyrosine phosphorylation on western blots and in vitro kinase activity toward a selective MAP kinase substrate peptide. In initial studies, we found that phorbol ester treatment increased tyrosine phosphorylation of p42 MAP kinase and stimulated MAP kinase activity. A similar response was elicited by three agonists of metabotropic glutamate receptors, i.e., trans‐(±)‐1‐amino‐1,3‐cyclopentane dicarboxylic acid, quisqualate, and (2S,3S,4S)‐α‐(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine. MAP kinase activity and p42 MAP kinase tyrosine phosphorylation were also stimulated by the ionotropic glutamate receptor agonist, kainate, but not by N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate. To examine regulation of MAP kinase by synaptic activity, cultures were treated with picrotoxin, an inhibitor of GABAA receptor‐mediated inhibition that enhances spontaneous excitatory synaptic activity. Treatment of cultures with picrotoxin elicited activation of MAP kinase. This response was blocked by tetrodotoxin, which suppresses synaptic activity. These results demonstrate that p42 MAP kinase is activated by glutamate receptor agonist stimulation and by endogenous synaptic activity.


Abstract As the United States increasingly becomes more globalized, diverse, and socially complex, public administration professionals will need to be prepared to lead and manage to meet the changing demands. In order to meet these needs, academic programs responsible for training public service professionals, will need to adopt curricula to promote cultural competency. While other fields have made progress toward promoting cultural competency in curricula, public administration programs have been slow to respond. A multifaceted approach is needed to guide public administration programs toward understanding the purpose of cultural competency education and developing curricula that are responsive to the needs of diverse populations. Drawing from models in healthrelated academic programs, this article introduces the diversity and inclusiveness framework (DIF), with six interdependent components: addressing the program's mission, identifying core competencies, developing diversity and inclusiveness plans, requiring faculty and staff training, implementing curricular and co-curricular components, and assessing students' perception of diversity.


Nanoindentation and scratch experiments on 1:1 donor-acceptor complexes, 1 and 2, of 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene with pyrene and phenanthrene, respectively, reveal long-range molecular layer gliding and large interaction anisotropy. Due to the layered arrangements in these crystals, these experiments that apply stress in particular directions result in the breaking of interlayer interactions, thus allowing molecular sheets to glide over one another with ease. Complex 1 has a layered crystal packing wherein the layers are 68° skew under the (002) face and the interlayer space is stabilized by van der Waals interactions. Upon indenting this surface with a Berkovich tip, pile-up of material was observed on just one side of the indenter due to the close angular alignment of the layers with the half angle of the indenter tip (65.35°). The interfacial differences in the elastic modulus (21%) and hardness (16%) demonstrate the anisotropic nature of crystal packing. In 2, the molecular stacks are arranged in a staggered manner; there is no layer arrangement, and the interlayer stabilization involves C-H···N hydrogen bonds and π···π interactions. This results in a higher modulus (20%) for (020) as compared to (001), although the anisotropy in hardness is minimal (4%). The anisotropy within a face was analyzed using AFM image scans and the coefficient of friction of four orthogonal nanoscratches on the cleavage planes of 1 and 2. A higher friction coefficient was obtained for 2 as compared to 1 even in the cleavage direction due to the presence of hydrogen bonds in the interlayer region making the tip movement more hindered.


The purpose of this study is to assess the safety, feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic treatment in acute gynaecologic emergencies as well as to determine its role in current and future practice. This prospective descriptive study was conducted in the department of surgery and Gynaecology, Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College hospital and Hira medical centre Sukkur Pakistan, during a period of last three years from July 2010 to June 2013. Total 48patients admitted with acute gynaecological conditions and were hemodynamically stable, included in the study. Those Patients who were hemodynamically unstable are excluded from the study. All the patients were evaluated by routine blood investigations and ultrasound of abdomen and pelvis .The counseling was done and informed written consent was also taken for open conversion. Initially diagnostic laparoscopy was carried out in all patients by infra-umbilical 10mm port and then inserting another 1 to 2 ports of 5mm as required. The operative findings, outcome of the procedure, hospital stay, intra-operative and post-operative complications were recorded. The data analysis was done on SPSS 12 and compared with national and international literature. The age of the patients ranged between 19 to 43 years. Out of 48 patients, ruptured ovarian cysts were observed in 07(14.58%) patients, torsion of ovarian cysts in 05(10.4%) patients, ruptured ectopic pregnancy in 23(47.9%) patients, pelvic inflammatory disease with tubo-ovarian abscess in 09(18.75%) patients, and pelvic collection in 04(8.33%) patients. All the patients managed laparoscopically, with minimal complications. The intra-operative and post-operative complications observed in the study were minimal bleeding during the procedure which was controlled laparoscopically. Post-operative pelvic pain was observed in 06(12.5%) patients which was relieved by diclofenac suppositories within 2-3 days. Post-operative collection was found in 02 (4.17%) patients, managed conservatively. Open conversion was done in 02(4.17%) patients. Mean hospital stay was 2.3+1.7 days and mean operative time was 55 minutes.The laparoscopy is safe and feasible in the diagnosis and management of gynaecologic emergencies.


Water carried into subduction zones with the down‐going plate and subsequently released by dehydration reactions at depth affects the composition of the mantle wedge, triggers partial melting and affects subduction zone seismicity. Partially serpentinized peridotite may be a significant reservoir for water in the subducted plate, the mantle wedge and the overriding plate. Here we develop a model that relates the degree of serpentinization and water content of partially serpentinized peridotites to their seismic P‐wave velocities. In partially‐serpentinized ultramafic rocks, a 1% decrease in P‐wave velocity corresponds to a 2.4% increase in serpentine content, and a 0.3% (0.18 moles/m3) increase in H2O content (up to a maximum of 13%). Where there is evidence of serpentinization, mantle serpentine content is typically ∼15%, corresponding to 4–5 wt% H2O (6–10 moles/m3).


This work examines the expected computational cost to determine an approximate global minimum of a class of cost functions characterized by the variance of coefficients. The cost function takes $N$-dimensional binary states as arguments and has many local minima. Iterations in the order of $2^N$ are required to determine an approximate global minimum using random search. This work analytically and numerically demonstrates that the selection and crossover algorithm with random initialization can reduce the required computational cost (i.e., number of iterations) for identifying an approximate global minimum to the order of $\lambda^N$ with $\lambda$ less than 2. The two best solutions, referred to as parents, are selected from a pool of randomly sampled states. Offspring generated by crossovers of the parents' states are distributed with a mean cost lower than that of the original distribution that generated the parents. It is revealed that in contrast to the mean, the variance of the cost of the offspring is asymptotically the same as that of the original distribution. Consequently, sampling from the offspring's distribution leads to a higher chance of determining an approximate global minimum than sampling from the original distribution, thereby accelerating the global search. This feature is distinct from the distribution obtained by a mixture of a large population of favorable states, which leads to a lower variance of offspring. These findings demonstrate the advantage of the crossover between two favorable states over a mixture of many favorable states for an efficient determination of an approximate global minimum.


P-stereogenic tert- and sec-phosphines have wide applications in asymmetric catalysis, materials, and pharmaceutical chemistry, however, their practical synthesis still constitutes a significant challenge. Herein, a successful kinetic resolution of rac-secondary phosphine oxides via the enantioselective P-benzylation process catalyzed by the palladium/Xiao-Phos was designed. Both tert- and sec-phosphine oxides were delivered in good yield and excellent enantiopurity (selectivity factor up to 226.1). The appealing synthetic utilities are further demonstrated by the facile preparation of several valuable P-chiral compounds, precursors of bidentate ligands, as well as transition metal complexes.


Does access to microfinance improve household welfare? We seek the answer to this question using data on 2,060 borrower and non-borrower households based in six major urban centers of Djibouti. We construct a composite index of multi-dimensional poverty and carry out estimations using a number of econometric techniques. Our results show that neither access to micro-credit nor its ostensibly productive use is significantly associated with poverty regardless of the duration of time since the loan was acquired. This holds both for access to, and the amount of micro-credit obtained. The results raise doubts on the effectiveness of Djibouti's microfinance programme.


The introduction of electronic patient records in the ambulance service provides new opportunities to monitor the population. Most patients presenting to British ambulance services are discharged at scene. Ambulance records are therefore an ideal data source for syndromic early event detection systems to monitor infectious disease in the prehospital population. It has been previously found that tympanic temperature records can be used to detect influenza outbreaks in emergency departments. This study investigated whether routine tympanic temperature readings collected by ambulance crews can be used to detect seasonal influenza. Here we show that these temperature readings do allow the detection of seasonal influenza before methods applied to conventional data sources. The counts of pyretic patients were used to calculate a sliding case ratio (CR) as a measurement to detect seasonal influenza outbreaks. This method does not rely on conventional thresholds and can be adapted to the data. The data collected correlated with seasonal influenza. The 2016/17 outbreak was detected with high specificity and sensitivity, up to 9 weeks before other surveillance programs. An unanticipated outbreak of E. coli was detected in the same dataset. Our results show that ambulance records can be a useful data source for biosurveillance systems. Two outbreaks caused by different infectious agents have been successfully detected. The routine ambulance records allowed to use tympanic temperature readings that can be used as surveillance tool for febrile diseases. Therefore, this method is a valuable addition to the current surveillance tools.


The perimeter zone is space which receives a significant effect of ambient condition, it is necessary to improve the thermal performance in order to building energy saving. For this reason, a lot of study about the active approach is being performed, such as perimeter-less air conditioning system. But the performance of the perimeter zone is necessary to improve, through the passive approach. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to provide basic materials of energy-saving design of perimeter zone, based of the PAL. that simulation changing the thickness of insulation and the rate of windows.


This paper presents a sociophonetic study of initial cluster simplification (k(h)w-/k(h)-/) in Ho Ne language, a critically endangered Hmong-Mienic language spoken in southern China that has been undergoing a dramatic restructuring in its phonological system. All community members are at least bilinguals in Hakka and Ho Ne. Based on ethnographic fieldwork, this paper draws data from speakers of four generations and of both ethnic Ho Ne and women who married into the community(n=42). The findings suggest that the onglide /w/ in /k(h)w-/ almost disappeared among the youngest generation. The predominant Hakka-speaking in-marrying women (who are also the primary caretakers of their children) not only are initiators of this change but also played an essential role in passing down the innovative variant to their offspring. However, among these in-marrying women, those who are more culturally identified with Ho Ne seem to be resisting this trend.


IEEE802.16e based mobile WiMAX network provides a promising technology for broadband wireless access. Among all types of services supported by WiMAX, real time video multicast has attracted much attention. However, because of the absence of feedback channel for multicast service, it is challenging to provide link adaptation and resource allocation under the situation with diverse receiver distribution. The legacy method-using the most robust modulation mode for multicasting service, or select a leader as the representative-can not accurately reflect the variety of channel condition. In this paper, we firstly analyze the overhead problem caused by the periodic downlink channel quality report, then propose a light-weighted terminal triggered feedback mechanism to reduce the signaling overhead. Furthermore, with the combined consideration of layered video coding and adaptive modulation and coding, a utility-based resource allocation approach is proposed. The utility function is relating with the reception satisfaction and spectrum efficiency. The scheduling algorithm dynamically adjusts layer number and its bandwidth according to receiver distribution. Simulation results show the proposed feedback mechanism can greatly reduce the signaling overhead while maintain the accurate channel condition report. The scheduling algorithm can not only improve the link adaptation capability following the receivers' expectation and program popularity, but also outperform the fixed allocation method in term of system utility.


Genetic algorithms (GAs) are efficient and robust search methods that are being employed in a plethora of applications with extremely large search spaces. The directed search mechanism employed in GAs performs a simultaneous and balanced exploration of new regions in the search space and exploitation of already-discovered regions. This paper introduces the notion of fitness moments for analyzing the working of GAs. We show that the fitness moments in any generation may be predicted from those of the initial population. Since a knowledge of the fitness moments allows us to estimate the fitness distribution of strings, this approach provides for a method of characterizing the dynamics of GAs. In particular, the average fitness and fitness variance of the population in any generation may be predicted. We introduce the technique of fitness-based disruption of solutions for improving the performance of GAs. Using fitness moments, we demonstrate the advantages of using fitness-based disruption. We also present experimental results comparing the performance of a standard GA and two other GAs (the controlled disruption GA and the adaptive GA) that incorporate the principle of fitness-based disruption. The experimental evidence clearly demonstrates the power of fitness-based disruption.


The objective of this study was to determine the optimal level of coconut oil (CO) supplementation in the diet to enhance the performance of Domyati ducks. A total number of 300 Domyati ducks (240 females and 60 males) aged 25-week-old were randomly assigned to 4 experimental groups of three replicates, each replicate included 5 males and 20 females of Domyati ducks. The groups received CO at 0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0% during the experimental period. The results indicated that egg weight, egg number, and egg mass significantly increased in treated groups, compared to the control group. Furthermore, fertility and hatchability percentages were superior in 1.0, and 1.5% CO groups, compared to other experimental groups. Low-density lipoprotein in ducks that received CO was significantly lower than that of the control group. It is concluded that the inclusion of CO at a 1.5% level could be enough and useful for improving the reproductive and physiological performance of Domyati ducks.


Viterbi Training (VT) provides a fast but inconsistent estimator of Hidden Markov Models (HMM). The inconsistency is alleviated with little extra computation when we enable VT to asymptotically fix the true values of the parameters. This relies on infinite Viterbi alignments and associated with them limiting probability distributions. First in a sequel, this paper is a proof of concept; it focuses on mixture models, an important but special case of HMM where the limiting distributions can be calculated exactly. A simulated Gaussian mixture shows that our central algorithm (VA1) can significantly improve the accuracy of VT with little extra cost. Next in the sequel, we present elsewhere a theory of the adjusted VT for the general HMMs, where the limiting distributions are more challenging to find. Here, we also present another, more advanced correction to VT, verify its fast convergence and high accuracy; its computational feasibility requires additional investigation.


In order to make use of the resources of Citrus grandis,avoid wasting and approach the extraction of total flavanone of Citrus grandis and its effects on scavenging of hydroxyl radicals,the flavonids were extracted by ethanol as the solvent from Citrus grandis with ultrasonic wave and ethanol extraction.Using spectrophotometry to extract and check the flavanone of Citrus grandis.The effect of extracts on Citrus grandis scavenging of hydroxyl radicals was studied.The results show that by this method getting the density of the total flavanone of Citrus grandis is 0.340 0 mg/mL and the rate of recovery is 99.7%.It provides the outcome and the purity of the flavanone are all very high.This method is a purely physical process and has not any pollution.It is an ideal way to extract the flavanone of Citrus grandis.Total flavanone from Citrus grandis have effects on scavenging of hydroxyl radicals.


UNLABELLED
Primary angle closure glaucoma remains a disease with high visual morbidity worldwide. Patients with primary angle closure glaucoma may have dramatic signs and symptoms that can lead to permanent blindness in a short period of time if not properly treated. Conventionally, medical treatment was used to lower the intraocular pressure (IOP), followed by laser peripheral iridotomy. It acts by elevating pupillary block present in the condition. Laser peripheral iridoplasty is a tehnique using low energy contraction burns to mechanically pull open the angle, thereby reducing the IOP.

AIM
The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect and safety of combined laser technique (argon laser iridoplasty and YAG laser peripheral iridotomy) in the management of medically unresponsive acute and subacute angle closure glaucoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Sixteen eyes with acute and subacute primary angle closure glaucoma unresponsive to medical treatment were included in the study. All patients were treated by laser tehnique that included YAG laser peripheral iridotomy and argon laser iridoplasty in the eye without satisfactory response to previous laser treatment. We also documented complications of laser treatment. The IOP levels were documented by applanation tonometry.

RESULTS
In 14 of 16 eyes combined laser treatment resulted in rapid IOP reduction. Only two patients failed to respond to the combined laser therapy and were surgically treated (clear lens extraction). No serious laser complications were recorded during the early period after laser therapy.

CONCLUSION
YAG laser peripheral iridotomy and argon laser iridoplasty as a combined treatment may be useful for IDP lowering in the management of medically unresponsive acute and subacute primary angle closure glaucoma.


This article deals with the estimation of a time-varying coefficients equation with endogenous regressors. A non-parametric approach is proposed, combining the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) with the smoothing splines litterature as in Hodrick and Prescott (1981). This new method is used to analyze the evolution of a forward-looking Taylor rule for the Federal Reserve (FED) from 1960 until 2006. It suggests that monetary policy accommodated inflation during the 60s and the 70s whereas the chairmanship of P. Volcker was a turning point toward a more aggressive stance on inflation. In addition, monetary policy became more and more countercyclical.


Welding of thick section butt joints experiences limitations for different techniques. One option is to fill a narrow gap layer by layer with laser melted wire, a laser metal deposition technique where the complexity of a keyhole is avoided. The presented results show that wire addition can enable relatively thick layers. In particular, when electrically preheating the wire the process becomes more energy-efficient and favorable wetting conditions might be achieved. Since the wire was preheated by an electric current conducted through the wire to the workpiece, high speed imaging has shown that the wire tip can occasionally ignite small electric arcs. The wire deposited in the narrow gap also shows a fluctuating but self-stabilizing movement of the tip. Imperfections that have to be avoided are hot cracks, cavities, lack of fusion, and an irregular final weld surface topology. The technique shows high potential.


Summary The study investigated the effect of spraying chicken legs with skin with lysozyme solutions of varying activity on their microbiological stability and organoleptic features. Lysozyme was applied at concentrations ranging from 3000 to 48000 U/ml. The effect of storage time at the temperature of +4 o C on the total aerobic bacterial count, coli titre, the occurrence of enterococci, anaerobic sporeforming bacilli and pathogenic staphylococci was analyzed, along with the examination of sensory quality attributes. The investigations showed that the addition of lysozyme resulted in a considerable inhibition of growth of the initial aerobic bacterial counts and a limitation of disadvantageous organoleptic changes during cold storage of samples. Lysozyme solution with the activity of 48000 U/ml caused a 20-fold reduction in the initial aerobic bacterial count. Sensory examination showed that samples subjected to the action of lysozyme and stored for 120 h under cold storage conditions did not differ qualitatively from fresh elements. The obtained results showed that lysozyme might be an effective agent extending shelf-life of portioned poultry meat.


Reports regarding hemorrhage into the tissue with application of a tourniquet or under conditions similar to those which exist with the use of a tourniquet have appeared from time to time in the literature2,11,24. This project sought not only to quantitate the extent to which bleeding occurred but also to study those factors changes in which might render possible an explanation for the increased bleeding. Capillry permeability, blood-coagulation factors, and components of the fibrinolytic system offered likely avenues of inquiry. The clotting mechanism in the dog is more rapid in action than that in man; the Lee-White clotting time being one-half to two-thirds that of the human22 and the prothrombin time about half that of man20. While there are differences between the dog and the man, it is generally held that the similarities far outweigh the differences. For example, a strain of Factor VIII deficient dogs has been developed1. Most of the factors which have been found necessary for spontaneous coagulation in man have also been shown to be necessary for the coagulation mechanism of the dog. A lengthening of recalcification time and Lee-White clotting time suggested the development of an abnormality in blood coagulation. Blood drawn from the experimental animals after tourniquet removal showed an increase in euglobulin lytic activity and in plasma lytic activity. The moderate impairment of blood coagulation seen in the experimental animals may have been related to destruction by fibrinolysis of some fibrinogen and other coagulation factors4,5,10,24. Products of fibrinolytic activity may have been responsible for the appearance of an increase in antithrombin activity. It is well known that when fibrinogen is lysed by fibrinolysin, anticoagulant substances appear17,25,27.

The increased fibrinolytic activity may have been caused by activators released from the hyposic area3. These substances could have been responsible for the transitory fibrinolytic activity observed as well as its sequelae, that is, increased antithrombin, and so forth. Some of the fibrinolytic activity may have been masked by the apparent increase in fibrinogen which took place.

The studies of the tourniqueted limb indicated that capillary permeability was

[See table in the PDF file]

increased. There was no difference between the capillary permeability in this limb and that in other capillary beds in the same animal. A factor (probably a kinin)6 was released during the hypoxic phase which spread throughout the experimental animal when the tourniquet was removed16. Under these conditions, a large proportion of the water of the blood could have been lost to the interstitial space. This water would be unaccompanied by molecules as large as fibrinogen. Examination of the hematocrit showed a marked increase in every experimental animal (Table II). The decreased clot retraction closely paralleled the increased hematocrit. Hemoconcentration undoubtedly occurred. This renders more difficult the assignment of significance to the various changes in coagulation and fibrinolytic machinery. Suffice it to say changes in coagulation and fibrinolytic activity undoubtedly occurred and uniformly in a direction which would have favored an increased bleeding tendence.

[See table in the PDF file]

In an experiment to be published, in which the leg was cooled by 10 degrees centigrade before application of the tourniquet, a sharp diminution in the changes reported herein was observed. In preliminary experiments in man (four cases) in which the temperature of the limb to be operated was lowered by 10 degrees centigrade before application of the tourniquet, a constant decrease in postoperative complications was observed17. It is believed that if the temperature were lowered by as much as 20 degrees immediately before application of the tourniquet, the negative effects might be abolished and a valued surgical technique would be rendered entirely safe for the patient.


Severe damage is produced in tissues by freezing and thawing. Until now, a great majority of the studies are performed qualitatively, lacking any quantitative approach. An important step is to choose the best option among different freezing methods. To approach the complex problem of damage produced in tissues by freezing, in this paper we present the classical mechanics approach and a quantitative study making use of a fractal methodology (evaluation of fractal dimension by box-counting method). A comparative fractal analysis between two different steps of freezing the human thoracic diaphragm muscle has been performed to quantify the voids and cracks produced by freezing (samples were placed in a cryostat chamber). Moreover, a standard Euclidean morphometry was performed to determine area and shape of the muscle nuclei after the two steps of freezing. Fractal dimension of the ice-tissue interface structures increased with decreasing temperature (p<0.0001), percentage of cell muscle decreased (p<0.01), while standard morphometry of the nuclei didnt show any modifications. Our results show the ability of the fractal approach to accurately quantify the damage produced by freezing and reveals that the lowest temperature produces the most damage.


Reputation models in mobile ad hoc networks are confronted with the problem of strategically reporting dishonest recommendations given by a selfish group whose purpose is to maximize its benefit. To solve this problem, a truthful and group strategyproof reputation mechanism based on cooperative game theory is proposed in this paper. We first study two supermodular total compensatory payment functions. On the basis of the selection game, we construct a corresponding indirect revelation mechanism and a direct revelation mechanism called claiming compensation mechanism, which is proved to be group strategyproof. Then we choose the extended Shapley value as the concrete compensatory payment scheme and propose an algorithm to generate possible outcome groups for the claiming compensation mechanism. Simulation results show that when we use the total compensatory payments function, which does not relate to cost values, the proposed mechanism is group strategyproof. Finally, all possible situations for a liar are demonstrated and discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


CDK2 inhibitors containing the related bicyclic heterocycles pyrazolopyrimidines and imidazopyrazines were discovered through high-throughput screening. Crystal structures of inhibitors with these bicyclic cores and two more related ones show that all but one have a common binding mode featuring two hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) to the backbone of the kinase hinge region. Even though ab initio computations indicated that the imidazopyrazine core would bind more tightly to the hinge, pyrazolopyrimidines gain an advantage in potency through participation of N4 in an H-bond network involving two catalytic residues and bridging water molecules. Further insight into inhibitor/CDK2 interactions was gained from analysis of additional crystal structures. Significant gains in potency were obtained by optimizing the fit of hydrophobic substituents to the gatekeeper region of the ATP binding site. The most potent inhibitors have good selectivity.


A reliable method for the determination of aluminium in bone by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) is described. Bone samples were digested in concentrated HNO3 using a closed-vessel microwave digestion system. Accurate and precise results were obtained by calibration against aqueous Al standards prepared in solutions containing 1% v/v HNO3 and 1.0 g l-1 Ca, as Ca(NO3)2, as modifier. No modifier was needed for the bone digestate. A method detection limit (3 sigma) of 0.023 microgram g-1 for bone was obtained. The between-day precision for bone digestate was about 7% at a mean concentration of 10 micrograms l-1. The method was validated against the NIST standard reference materials SRM 1486 Bone Meal and SRM 1577b Bovine Liver. To help confirm the concept of the Al in bone method, essentially the same method, with some minor modifications, was used for the determination of Al in serum and dialysis fluid. The method performance was monitored by participation in two international interlaboratory comparison programmes for serum and dialysis fluid Al available from Canada (CHUL, Québec) and the UK (Robens Institute). The performance over a 10 month period was excellent for both serum and dialysis fluid proficiency test samples distributed by these programmes.


Environmental enrichment (EE) has been shown to induce beneficial effects in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as animal models of a variety of other neurological and psychiatric disorders. Investigation of the mechanisms responsible for these changes in animal models will facilitate translation of EE and associated therapies to patient cohorts. In the accompanying article, Woo and Leon demonstrate clinical benefits of sensorimotor enrichment in patients with ASD. We discuss the implications of these findings for future development of therapeutic approaches for ASD and other brain disorders.


Abstract 1084 Poster Board I-106 Graft rejection and chronic GVHD remain major obstacles to successful outcome after stem cell transplantation (SCT) for aplastic anemia (AA). Using cyclophosphamide (CY) 200mg/kg with ATG, rejection occurs in 5-10% and chronic GVHD in 30-40% of patients transplanted from HLA matched sibling donors (MSD). For unrelated donor (UD) SCT using Fludarabine with CY and ATG, rejection occurs in 18% (30% for patients > 14 years of age) and chronic GVHD in 27%. We have pioneered the use of Alemtuzumab with CY in AA SCT and shown a reduction in GVHD although graft rejection was high at 24%. More recently, Fludarabine has been added to the conditioning to reduce graft rejection. In this retrospective, multi-center study, we report outcomes after SCT for acquired AA in 37 patients using Alemtuzumab, Fludarabine and CY (FCC) conditioning regimen. Alemtuzumab dose was 0.2mg/kg x5 days (n=20), 60mgx1 (n=12), 25mgx4 (n=4) and 40mgx1+30mgx2 (n=1). All patients received Fludarabine 30mg/m 2 x4 and CY 300mg/m 2 x4 (FCC). Patients were transplanted from 1999 to 2009. Median follow up of survivors was 641days (range 72-3547). Disease severity was 'very severe' in10, 'severe' in 20 and 'non-severe' in 7 patients. SCT was performed using MSD in 15 patients (40%) and UD in 22 (60%), of whom all but one were matched for 8/8 or 10/10 alleles. Median age was 35 years (range 8-55). Stem cell source was bone marrow (BM) in 21 (57%), peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) in 7 (19%), BM+PBSC in 5 (13%) and G-mobilised BM in 4 (11%). Time from diagnosis to SCT was 12 months in 41%. 8/15 (53%) of sibling transplants and 18/22 (82%) of UD transplants received immunosuppressive therapy prior to SCT. There were 5 cases of graft failure, early rejection in 2 UD SCT and late graft rejection in 3 (one UD and two MSD). Of the 5 patients with graft rejection, BM was used as the stem cell source in 3, G-mobilised BM in one and PBSC in one. Cumulative incidence of graft failure at 1 year was 15% ± 4% (14% for MSD and 15% for UD SCT). For patients transplanted > 12 months from diagnosis, graft failure was 25% compared with 10% for patients transplanted within 12 months (p= 0.191). Acute GVHD occurred in 13.5% patients, grade I-II in all cases. Chronic GVHD occurred in only one patient (2.7%, extensive). Data for CMV and adenovirus infections was available in 21 patients, and in 20 patients for EBV. CMV reactivation occurred in 2/21 (9.5%) patients, with one case of CMV disease. EBV infection occurred in 2/20 patients (10%): one responded to Rituximab and one patient died from progressive EBV PTLD. There were no cases of adenovirus infection. Overall survival (OS) at 3 years was 89% (93% for MSD and 85% for UD SCT, p= 0.658). For all patients, OS was 95% when time from diagnosis to SCT was 12 months (p= 0.273). For patients > 40 years of age, there was no significant difference in OS compared with patients Disclosures Marsh: Genzyme: Consultancy, Honoraria. Off Label Use: Alemtuzumab used for conditioning for stem cell transplantation for aplastic anemia. Gupta: Genzyme: Honoraria, Research Funding.


Histogram specification has been successfully used in digital image processing over the years. Mainly used as an image enhancement technique, methods such as histogram equalization (HE) can yield good contrast with almost no effort in terms of inputs to the algorithm or the computational time required. More elaborate histograms can take on problems faced by HE at the expense of having to define the final histograms in innovative ways that may require some extra processing time but are nevertheless fast enough to be considered for real-time applications. This paper proposes a new technique for specifying a histogram to enhance the image contrast. To further evidence our faith on histogram specification techniques, we also discuss methods to modify images, e.g., to help segmentation approaches. Thus, as advocates of these techniques, we would like to emphasize the flexibility of this image processing approach to do more than enhancing images.


In her memoir, Haldol and Hyacinths: A Bipolar Life (2013), Melody Moezzi describes herself during a manic episode as "Tigger on crack." By mixing humor with social critique, Moezzi compares the discrimination she experiences as a Muslim woman of Iranian descent and as a woman living with bipolar disorder in the U.S. Gayathri Ramprasad's Shadows in the Sun: Healing from Depression and Finding the Light Within (2014) offers insights into the author's childhood marked by depression in India and her approaches to managing her mental illness that combine Hindu culture and Western medicine after migrating to the U.S. Both authors expose and criticize exclusionary practices that dehumanize and isolate people with invisible disabilities.
This article investigates how women with mental health issues use memoir to discuss the negative ideological notions that patriarchal society has historically attached to disability, femininity, and non-whiteness. My comparative reading—informed by life-writing theory, feminist concepts, and critical race studies—offers an intersectional perspective on how society perpetuates the oppression of women of color with a mental disability based on their bodies, gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, and religion. The women whose memoirs I analyze are not interested in declaring their lives unique. Their aim is to emphasize how common mental disabilities are among women. My case studies push for social justice as they challenge autobiography's supposed reliance on a stable sense of self to convey the 'truth' and connect discourse about disability with other layers of domination.


We present new theoretical scheme to sensing dynamics of the zone type multi-level system in a laser field, based on the quantum stochastic kinetic approach. The multi-photon dissociation yield, selectivity and absorbed energy upon the laser pulse energy density for BCl3 molecules in the oxygen O2 buffer gas are calculated. It has been studied a stochastization of vibrational motion for molecules in the multi-photon photo-excitation regime on example of CF3 I, SF6 and BCl3 molecules within the stochastic Focker-Plank model.


ABSTRACT Background Private hospitals in Australia manage 11% of acute and 48% of rehabilitation stroke admissions, yet little is known about implementation of stroke clinical guidelines in this setting. Clinical guidelines recommend that acute stroke patients be co-located in a stroke unit in a geographically defined area, rather than dispersed across the hospital. Objective To investigate post-intervention adherence to clinical guidelines for stroke management, and to explore staff barriers and facilitators to guideline implementation. Methods Observational study before-and-after local implementation of Australian stroke clinical guidelines. The primary outcome was a change in the proportion of patients who were physically co-located in an acute stroke unit. Secondary outcomes included changes in adherence to additional acute and rehabilitation guideline criteria, and staff identification of barriers and facilitators to guide implementation. Data were collected from medical record audits, health service information and staff surveys. Results Co-location in an acute stroke unit did not change significantly after guideline implementation (49% adherence pre-intervention and 54% post-intervention). Across acute and rehabilitation wards, 15% (11/72) of guideline criteria improved (p < .05). These related to assessments of swallowing and neglect, presence of a stroke care co-ordinator and occupational therapist, post-discharge care plan, provision of patient education and return to driving. Facilitators to guideline implementation included staff education, collaboration, and dissemination of user-friendly stroke policies. Conclusion Stroke clinical guideline implementation led to a favorable uptake of some criteria, yet not all. Implementation was assisted by staff education, user-friendly stroke policies and multidisciplinary team collaboration. Trial registration ANZCTR: registration number ACTRN12616000646448 (http://www.ANZCTR.org.au/ACTRN12616000646448.aspx).


Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is a highly potent vasodilatator. Cardiovascular changes and plasma VIP levels were studied during endotoxinaemia (Escherichia coli endotoxin 1 mg/kg) in a carefully monitored porcine model. Endotoxin infusion resulted in a profound but reversible shock and a substantial rise in plasma VIP levels. Increased levels of VIP could be demonstrated already after 30 min of endotoxin infusion and increased further during the infusion. Animals followed for a period of 60 h demonstrated slowly declining levels of VIP after endotoxin infusion but significantly elevated levels were usually found 24 h after infusion. Control animals did not show any changes in VIP during a similar procedure. Release of gastrointestinal peptides may be of importance during septic shock.


The main objective of this work is to characterize the seasonal influences on the potential nutritional assessment of extracts of the brown alga Cystoseira amentacea var. stricta, harvested on the khadra coast, in the wilaya of Mostaganem (Algeria). The Stricta cystosira extracts have been shown to have high seasonal physicochemical parameters in which the biochemical parameters determine that the maximum total chlorophyll content was 21.38 μg / ml, with a maximum value of 8.45 ± 1.06 μg / ml. Carotenoids and. the humidity give a 52% Spring with 22.6% of ash in the Autumn, with a 15.5% wilting and 21 ± 1.16% carbohydrate and 130 (AAE / 100g) of ascorbic acids in the Summer, the lipids it exceeds 19.8%. a 120 G AE / 100g total phenolic content record in the winter with a better anti-free radical activity it exceeds 0.71 (EAA / mg) in the Autumn and 50% inhibition of the percentage of CI to give a 6.31 μg / ml at the L The results indicated a change in biochemical compositions were abundant according to the seasons. These results have proved to be an important contribution to the valorization of these species of macroalgae and isolation some bioactive molecules in the different pharmaceutical field as a source of recent biochemical compounds and selected as important nutritional products.


The industrial application of lipolytic enzymes has been studied mainly due to the ability of these enzymes in catalyze reactions of synthesis and their stability in various organic solvents. One possibility is the use of lipase the organic synthesis, taking advantage as the generation of waste and difficult recovery of sub bioproducts. In this work, we carried out a selection of eighty-four isolates of Bacillus amazonian for lipase production, of which 30 strains showed lipolytic activity. The study of the culture conditions was performed through a Plackett-Burman experimental design using the strain that presented the highest lipolytic activity in a culture medium using glycerol as substrate. The studied conditions were: concentration of soybean oil, olive oil, triton X-100, gum arabic, glycerol, and (NH4)2SO4, pH, temperature and concentration of inoculums. The best result obtained were 27 U/L in 48 h of cultivation by Bacillus circulans BL53. This work shows that the search and selection of microorganism with lipolytic activities can facilitate the discovery of new lipases, with potential use as by-product surplus.


Based on experimental and epidemiological data findings presented here, as well as on data of other investigators, the authors conclude that a wide interindividual variability of susceptibility to silicosis is a real phenomenon. This susceptibility depends on both intrinsic features of the host and the influence of many environmental factors. The effect of any such factor is realized at different stages of silicosis pathogenesis and in close interrelation with the influence of other factors. The necessity of multifactorial analysis is stressed, and an example of such analysis is presented.


Dense masses of spores of Dictyostelium mucoroides var. stoloniferum have the ability to germinate and aggregate rapidly in the absence of food. This is made possible by the presence of a dominant, self-produced spore germination activator. The germination-aggregation cycle can be repeated in as many as six successive generations. In each generation the spore size is reduced so that ultimately they are only a fraction of the size of those produced by the parental, bacteria-fed amoebae.


Fish is highly nutritious with high protein content. However, it is a suitable medium for growth of microorganisms, if poorly processed. This study reports the occurrence of microbial loads in smoked fishes marketed in the lakeside village of Guezin (Southern Benin) and associated microbiological hazards. The results obtained indicated that the fish smoking activity in the lakeside village, is exclusively done by women (100%), in households and an informal situation, using traditional equipment. A total of thirteen species of fish, such as Manta birostris, Marcusenius Senegalensis, Liza falcipinis, Hydrocynus brebis, Elops lacerta valvercienne, Silurus linnaeus, Silurus glanis, Arius africanus, Heterotis niloticus, Strongylura senegalensis valenciennes, Ethmalosa finbriata, Gymnocranius griseus and Ameiurus melas are mostly smoked in this area. Microbial loads determined by using standard microbiological procedures, underlined the contamination of smoked fishes by microorganisms, with a high occurrence of Aspergillus strains (83.31%). This occurrence of fungi species could be due to absorption of moisture during storage, which could supported the growth of the microorganisms, in addition to the contamination during processing, handling and display on the market stall. It is then recommended that fish processors should ensure that fish products are properly hot smoked and dried so as to prevent fungal growth and mycological hazards.