The chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), plays an important role in faithful chromosome segregation during mitosis, as it mediates destabilization of incorrect attachments between chromosomes and microtubules of the mitotic spindle (error correction). During prometaphase and metaphase, the CPC localizes to the inner centromere, a specialized chromatin region that lies at the intersection of the inter-kinetochore and inter-sister chromatid axes. This localization of the CPC is tightly controlled by two kinases, Haspin and Bub1. However, the importance of CPC inner centromere localization for chromosome bi-orientation and error-free segregation has become subject to debate. Disruption of CPC centromere localization does not severely compromise chromosome segregation fidelity in budding yeast. In addition, artificially re-locating Aurora B away from the inner centromere and in closer proximity of the kinetochore in human cells, does not preclude the stabilization of bi-oriented KT-MT interactions. In Xenopus laevis egg extracts, however, cytosolic CPC activity does not fully support chromosome bi-orientation, suggesting that in this model system proper CPC function does require its chromosomal localization. This means that the relationship between CPC localization and function has remained incompletely understood and it was therefore studied in this thesis. To investigate the consequences of altered CPC localization for Aurora B function, we first focused on setting up a system for efficient generation of knockout and knockin cell lines. Genome editing by CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful method to study protein behavior, however its ease of use is limited by difficulties in delivery of the system due to its large size. We describe the use of baculovirus for the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 machinery, resulting in the knockout of target genes, in a range of human cell lines. Baculoviral delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 components in combination with an HDR template can also be utilized to introduce point mutations or tag endogenous proteins. Tagging of Haspin allowed us the studied the localization of this protein during mitosis and cytokinesis. We subsequently explored the contribution of Haspin and Bub1 to CPC function. We found that Haspin and Bub1 appeared to be redundant for CPC function during normal mitotic progression. Compared to Aurora B kinase inhibition, loss of both Haspin and Bub1 activity induced only mild segregation errors, despite dramatic mis-localization of Aurora B. This indicates that without centromeric concentration of the CPC residual Aurora B activity is present which limits the severity of chromosome segregation errors. Chromosome mis-segregation during mitosis leads to aneuploidy, a hallmark of cancer cells. We therefore investigated if mutations in the CPC could underlie CIN in tumors. We took the CPC subunit Borealin as an example and characterized the consequences of tumor-derived somatic mutations in the CDCA8 gene (encoding Borealin) on Borealin protein function and chromosome segregation fidelity. We found that a subset of mutation indeed perturbed Borealin function. However, these CDCA8 mutations were annotated as being heterozygous in tumors, and chromosome segregation was not perturbed in heterozygous knockin cell lines harboring these mutations at the endogenous locus. This renders it unlikely that somatic mutations in Borealin underlie chromosomal instability in cancer.


The suicide mortality rate is an indicator of psycho-social distress of the population and it is often used for planning suicide prevention strategies and for testing their effectiveness. Recognized sources of error for suicide measurement are attributable to different stages of the production process of official statistics leading to a misclassification of suicide in other concurrent causes. This study aims at identifying, among the set of concurrent causes of death, those that are more prone to mask suicide and how they might potentially impact on the national suicide death rates. By means of an analysis of the age distribution similarity, the concurrent causes more likely to mask suicide have been identified in: accidental and undetermined hanging/strangulation/suffocation, contact with sharp object, fall from high, jumping or lying before moving object. Under the assumption that these causes entirely mask suicide cases, the number of suicide deaths captured by Italian official statistics accounts for 85% of the estimated figure. The comparison with some other European countries showed that this value is very similar to the one of UK (84%) and lower than those observed for France (96%), Germany (91%) and Spain (89%).


The case of a young woman is described who gave birth to two children following the removal of an ovarian dysgerminoma and currently enjoys good health eight years after the operation. The tumour was a pure dysgerminoma, with a diameter of 12 cm, which affected the left ovary. Surgical treatment alone was used.


Overnutrition and modern diets containing high proportions of saturated fat are among the major factors contributing to a low-grade state of inflammation, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. In the last decades, the global rise of type 2 diabetes and obesity prevalence has elicited a great interest in understanding how changes in metabolic function lead to an increased risk for premature brain aging and the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cognitive impairment and decreased neurogenic capacity could be a consequence of metabolic disturbances. In these scenarios, the interplay between inflammation and insulin resistance could represent a potential therapeutic target to prevent or ameliorate neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment. The present review aims to provide an update on the impact of metabolic stress pathways on AD with a focus on inflammation and insulin resistance as risk factors and therapeutic targets.


In future high-speed integrated networks, packet switches must accommodate diverse types of applications with different qualities of service (QOS) and traffic requirements. Therefore some types of priority-control schemes are needed in packet switches, in order to increase the utilisation of switches and to satisfy the QOS of each traffic type. The authors consider a nonblocking input and output queueing packet switch with capacity m, in which two classes of traffic are admitted. Each input queue adopts the priority packet discarding scheme, which discards arrivals of low-priority traffic when its queue length is greater than the pre-defined threshold value. The authors obtain the distribution of input-queue length and loss probabilities of each class using a matrix-geometric solution method. By numerical analysis and simulation, it is shown that the utilisation of the switch with the priority packet discarding scheme satisfying the QOS of each traffic class is much higher than that of the switch without control, and the required buffer size is reduced while satisfying the same QOS.


In development of many oxidative disease, change of redox reaction and generation of free radicals have been reported to be involved. Here, for detection of redox status and free radical reaction (especially, lipid-derived radicals), we focus on nitroxide compounds having stable unpaired electrons in the molecule. Since this molecule can react with redox compounds or bind with carbon-centered radicals, we can use a detection probe for these molecules in experimental animal models. In this paper, we show that lipid-derived radicals are generated during induction of chemical carcinogenesis and light-induced retinal damages in animal models using this probes, and this information will provide the timing of inhibitor injection to the animals. In other words, we will explain the study of theranostics through detection and inhibition of lipid-derived radicals.


The stochastic shortest path problem (SSP) is a highly expressive model for probabilistic planning. The computational hardness of SSPs has sparked interest in determinization-based planners that can quickly solve large problems. However, existing methods employ a simplistic approach to determinization. In particular, they ignore the possibility of tailoring the determinization to the specific characteristics of the target domain. In this work we examine this question, by showing that learning a good determinization for a planning domain can be done efficiently and can improve performance. Moreover, we show how to directly incorporate probabilistic reasoning into the planning problem when a good determinization is not sufficient by itself. Based on these insights, we introduce a planner, FF-LAO*, that outperforms state-of-the-art probabilistic planners on several well-known competition benchmarks.


By the end of 2013, all programs leading to the registered nurse qualification in the United Kingdom will be at the bachelor's degree level. There is concern that all-degree nursing education might threaten the diversity of the future nursing workforce in the United Kingdom.

This article reports on a qualitative pilot study exploring the critical issues for access, recruitment, and retention of Black and minority ethnic (BME) students in U.K. nursing degree programs from the students' perspective. The study utilized action research, and this article reports on the first two stages of the action research cycle, problem identification and identification of actions. The data were collected through focus groups and interviews with BME students and then analyzed with iterative thematic analysis.

The objective was to inform an action framework for U.K. universities devising access, recruitment, admission, and retention practice for BME students when U.K. nurse training becomes all degree.


Since ancient times, schools have served as sites of dramatic performance in society. Only this century, however, have teachers begun to recognize the value of dramatic role-play simulation as a generic pedagogical tool for teaching a wide variety of subjects ranging across the curriculum from psychology to political science. This essay explores public argument role-play as a pedagogical method with broad curricular applicability and unique potential to open up valuable avenues of learning.


A model free evaluation of small angle scattering data of interacting particles results in real space curves that are often difficult to interpret. It is then easier to use a model for the inter and/or the intra particle effects. Such a procedure requires the selection of appropriate models. The selection of the correct model is facilitated by interpreting parts of the purely model free real space results of the scattering data. The corresponding functions for hard, charged, and attractive spheres are simulated as well as the curves of spheres in BCC crystalline order and of cylinders in hexagonal order. The simulated results are compared to experimental data obtained from concentrated emulsions. Estimations for particle diameter, type of interaction, next neighbour distance, and volume fraction can be deduced from most of the data.


A parallel routing method is proposed and evaluated. A key feature is object-oriented modeling. All line segments are modeled as independent objects communicating with each other through message exchanges. A distributed routing algorithm is designed based on a lookahead line search method that includes automatic ripup-and-reroute to retain the rotating order. The program was implemented in a concurrent logic language, KL1, and was executed on PIM/m (Parallel Inference Machine), a distributed memory machine with 256 processors. The evaluation results for several industrial data are given.<<ETX>>


Nanoparticle-based drug delivery has been widely used for effective anticancer treatment. However, a key challenge restricting the efficacy of nanotherapeutics is limited tissue penetration within solid tumors. Here, we report a targeted fusogenic liposome (TFL) that can selectively deliver lipophilic cargo to the plasma membranes of tumor cells. TFL is prepared by directly attaching tumor-targeting peptides to the surface of FL instead of the cationic moieties. The lipophilic cargo loaded in the membrane of TFL is transferred to the plasma membranes of tumor cells and subsequently packaged in the extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by the cells. Systemically administered TFL accumulates in the perivascular region of tumors, where the lipophilic cargo is unloaded to the tumor cell membranes and distributed autonomously throughout the tumor tissue via extracellular vesicle-mediated intercellular transfer. When loaded with a lipophilic pro-apoptotic drug, thapsigargin (Tg), TFL significantly inhibits tumor growth in a mouse colorectal cancer model. Furthermore, the combination treatment with TFL (Tg) potentiates the antitumor efficacy of FDA-approved liposomal doxorubicin, whose therapeutic effect is limited to perivascular regions without significant toxicity.


Two simple methods have been evaluated for calibrating wavelength and absorbance scales of modern spectrophotometers, namely, a method for wavelength scales which is based on the locations of the maxima and minima of the absorbance wave of a pair of transparent closely-spaced parallel plates, and a method for absorbance scales which is based on the absorbances of properly oriented screens of square-woven single strands of brass wire. The evaluations were carried out by means of a Beckman D.U., a Cary, and a Hardy-GE spectrophotometer. It is our hope that the simple, convenient methods will encourage more frequent calibration of spectrophotometers, especially when the wavelengths and values of absorbance extremes are of importance. (This paper deals only with methods and should not be construed as an evaluation of the performance of the spectrophotometers employed.)


The fundamental right to forget, is a new right that arises as a negative result of the development of technology. Thus, the right to oblivion is aimed at preventing and counteracting the damages caused by the no little as harmful personal information published on the Net. In the present presentation, the author analyzes in a profound manner how wide, the various reaches and edges of the same, to conclude sketching proposals on the matter.


The objective of this study was to determine the percentage of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who were poor metabolizers of CYP2D6 in a Chinese population from Hong Kong and to assess the relationship between the dextromethorphan/dextrorphan ratio and the propafenone/5‐hydroxypropafenone ratio or the steady‐state propafenone concentration. Patients (n = 60) were recruited from the Arrhythmia Clinic at the University of Hong Kong and given dextromethorphan 30 mg. The dextromethorphan and dextrorphan concentrations in urine over the next 8 hours were used to determine metabolizer status. If the metabolic ratio was greater than 0.3, the patient was determined to be a poor metabolizer. In phase 2, patients (n = 38) were given propafenone 150 mg twice daily, and at steady state, the propafenone and 5‐OH propafenone plasma concentrations were determined. It was found that 15% of the patients were poor metabolizers of dextromethorphan. There was a significant correlation between the metabolic ratios of dextromethorphan/dextrorphan and propafenone/5‐OH propafenone (r = 0.49, p = 0.0019) and between the dextromethorphan/dextrorphan ratio and the concentration of propafenone (r = 0.32, p = 0.05). No correlations were found in the extensive or poor metabolizer subgroups. It was concluded that the percentage of poor metabolizers in atrial fibrillation patients from Hong Kong was much larger than in previous studies of Chinese patients who were not from Hong Kong. The ability to metabolize dextromethorphan to dextrorphan is related to the ability to metabolize propafenone to 5‐hydroxypropafenone.


Both the public and the European Commission have criticized the past actions of Dutch housing associations. A new housing act has become applicable, which would force housing associations to change their conduct on the rental housing market. Important developments include the allocation of households with a low income to social dwellings, a distinction between the social and commercial rental market, and lastly, a landlord levy. A system dynamics model was developed to identify whether the rental housing market would become a more dual rental market in the future. The model was made for one specific housing association: Havensteder, a large housing association in the region of Rotterdam. The position of Havensteder and some objectives are taken into consideration for the system dynamics model. The outcomes of the system dynamics model show that the structure of the social housing market tends towards a more dual rental market, although not all indicators point to this result. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that the social housing market is in fact transitioning to a dual rental housing market.


Sialic acid represents a critical sugar component located at the outermost position of glycoconjugates, playing important roles in extensive biological processes. To date, however, there have been only few probes which show affinity to α(2,3)-linked sialic acid-containing glycoconjugates. Agrocybe cylindracea galectin is known to have a relatively high affinity towards Neu5Acα(2,3)Galβ(1,4)Glc (3'-sialyl lactose), but it significantly recognizes various β-galactosides, such as Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcβ (LacNAc) and Galβ(1,3)GalNAcα (T-antigen). To eliminate this background specificity, we focused an acidic amino acid residue (Glu86), which interacts with the glucose unit of 3'-sialyl lactose and substituted it with all other amino acids. Carbohydrate-binding specificity of the derived 14 mutants was analysed by surface plasmon resonance, and it was found that E86D mutant (Glu86 substituted with Asp) substantially lost the binding ability to LacNAc and T-antigen, while it retained the high affinity for 3'-sialyl lactose. Further, frontal affinity chromatography analysis using 132 pyridylaminated oligosaccharides confirmed that the E86D mutant had a strong preference for α(2,3)-disialo biantennary N-linked glycan. However, it showed the large decrease in the affinity for any of the asialo complex-type N-glycans and the glycolipid-type glycans. Thus, the developed mutant E86D will be of practical use in various fields relevant to cell biology and glycotechnology.


The Tandem Van de Graaff at BNL has been using a computerized data acquisition system for more than eight years. A brief history of its philosophy and performance will be discussed. Also to be presented is the new data collection system which is designed around a high-speed bus with multiple processors. This new system is capable of handling event rates of over 200 kHz for add-one to memory (PHA) type spectra totalling 512k channels. List-mode, special sorting involving gating, or arithmetic operations of the data are supported in addition to one or two parameter PHA types. The system allows eight configurations of eight devices to be defined by the user. The devices are typically analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), multi-channel scalers, or routing devices. However any device with digital information could be interfaced.


Description Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN), also known as "black esophagus" or Gurvits syndrome, is an uncommon finding with an unclear etiology and pathogenesis. This condition often presents as an upper gastrointestinal bleed in older men with multiple comorbidities. AEN is characterized by circumferential black, necrotic mucosa in the esophagus. We present a case of AEN following acetaminophen overdose. The patient was ultimately discharged from the hospital with oral omeprazole twice daily, a clear liquid diet, and a recommendation for follow-up in the outpatient setting for repeat EGD in 4 to 6 weeks. Acetaminophen overdose, although a rare cause, must be considered as a possible etiology of AEN.


We discuss the prediction of a spatial variable of a multivariate mark composed of both dependent and explanatory variables. The marks are location-dependent and they are attached to a point process. We assume that the marks are assigned independently, conditionally on an unknown underlying parametric field. We compare (i) the classical non-parametric Nadaraya‐Watson kernel estimator based on the dependent variable (ii) estimators obtained under an assumption of local parametric model where explanatory variables of the local model are estimated through kernel estimation and (iii) a kernel estimator of the result of the parametric model, supposed here to be a Uniformly Minimum Variance Unbiased Estimator derived under the local parametric model when complete and sucient statistics are available. The comparison is done asymptotically and by simulations in special cases. The procedure for better estimator selection is then illustrated on a real-life data set.


Abstract Millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Philippines experience human rights issues during their displacement. Their rights and access to basic life-saving services are impacted by their forced movement and its resulting, often prolonged, displacement. Durable solutions are also less prioritised in displacement management. Though a legal framework on disaster governance exists, it lacked a human rights perspective that could integrate human rights standards into humanitarian support. With the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spreading in the country, IDPs are at a higher risk of contracting the disease due to inadequate shelter conditions. As the government battles both the spread of the virus and the need to restart the economy in a post-COVID-19 pandemic scenario, IDPs must be included in the national and local frameworks for recovery. This article discusses the situation of IDPs in the Philippines and looks into the policy gaps that limit opportunities for effective displacement management. It also surfaces human rights issues that must be addressed by the government in its socio-economic revival agenda and discusses the accountability of state actors in providing opportunities for IDPs to achieve durable solutions. The article also establishes the need for an IDP law in institutionalising protection for IDPs post-COVID-19.


Screening of a Xenopus laevis oocyte cDNA library with a rat basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) cDNA led to the isolation of a 1.35 kb sequence containing exon III of the bFGF gene. Reverse complementary listing of this sequence revealed a polyadenylated transcript with an open reading frame coding for an unknown protein of mol. wt 24,292 daltons. The coding part of bFGF exon III is located in this putative mRNA in opposite direction within the 3′ untranslated region. By hybridization studies on transcription orientation with single‐stranded probes it could be proven that this transcript actually represents an antisense transcript to part of the Xenopus bFGF gene. Sequence organization on corresponding genomic fragments revealed that it is processed from a larger precursor by splicing mechanisms. Sequence comparison with elongated transcripts from the bFGF gene in human hepatoma has shown that the gene coding for the antisense mRNA is evolutionarily conserved.


The Intelligent Synthesis Environment (ISE) being developed by NASA, UVA, and JPL for significantly enhancing the rapid creation of innovative affordable products and missions is described. ISE uses a synergistic combination of leading-edge technologies, including high-performance computing, high-capacity communications and networking, virtual product development, knowledge-based engineering, computational intelligence, human-computer interaction, and product information management. The environment will link scientists, design teams, manufacturers, suppliers, and consultants who participate in the mission synthesis, as well as in the creation and operation of the aerospace system. It will radically advance the process by which complex science missions are synthesized, and high-tech engineering systems are designed, manufactured, and operated. The evolution of engineering design is described along with the shortcomings of current product development techniques. The need for ISE to create high-science payoff missions and aerospace systems at affordable costs is discussed. The five major components critical to ISE and some of their sub-elements are described: namely, human-ISE interaction; infrastructure for distributed collaboration; rapid synthesis and simulation tools; intelligent life-cycle system integration; and cultural change in the creative process. Related government and industry programs are outlined and future impact of ISE on complex missions and aerospace systems is discussed.


In contrast to invertebrate species, in which oxygen can be adequately transported to all cells by diffusion, vertebrates, with their larger body size, require a circulatory system that is specialized for oxygen delivery. When systemic oxygen delivery is inadequate, cardiac output increases and red blood cell production is augmented. However, when oxygen delivery is impaired locally, as in a tissue in which perfusion has been interrupted by injury or vascular stenosis, a primary response is angiogenesis, the sprouting of new blood vessels.

The complex process of angiogenesis (reviewed in refs. 1–3) begins when cells within a tissue respond to hypoxia by increasing their production of VEGF. VEGF is secreted and binds to cognate receptor tyrosine kinases (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2) located on the surface of vascular endothelial cells. Receptor ligation triggers a cascade of intracellular signaling pathways that initiate angiogenesis. The clinical importance of this biological process has become increasingly apparent over the last decade, and angiogenesis now represents a major focus for novel therapeutic approaches to the prevention and treatment of multiple diseases, most notably ischemic cardiovascular disease and cancer (1–3).

If angiogenesis is the big dance, then VEGF is the belle of the ball, and hundreds of investigators are now studying the regulation and biological consequences of its expression (reviewed in ref. 4). Although VEGF expression represents only one component of the complex angiogenic response and VEGF administration alone may not be sufficient to effect therapeutic angiogenesis, VEGF can nevertheless be considered a critical activator of vascular endothelial cells. Establishing the molecular mechanisms regulating VEGF activity is therefore essential for understanding angiogenesis and how it may be targeted clinically. When cells are subjected to hypoxia, VEGF mRNA expression is induced as a result of both increased mRNA transcription and decreased mRNA degradation (5–7). Whereas the rate of translation initiation is globally decreased in hypoxic cells, VEGF mRNAs contain an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) that ensures efficient VEGF protein synthesis under hypoxic conditions (8). In addition, expression of VEGFR1 (FLT-1) mRNA is hypoxia-inducible (9), indicating that the endothelium must sense hypoxia in order to be maximally receptive to VEGF stimulation. Endothelial cell expression of VEGFR2 (KDR) protein is also induced in ischemic tissue via a paracrine mechanism (10). Finally, placental growth factor (PlGF), which binds to VEGFR1 (4), is induced by hypoxia in many tissues and in combination with VEGF has synergistic effects on angiogenesis (11).

Despite the impressive complexity of the molecular responses to hypoxia that are known to be involved in VEGF signaling, our understanding of this process continues to grow. In this issue of the JCI, Ozawa et al. (12) report studies indicating that the chaperone protein ORP150 (oxygen-regulated protein of 150 kDa) is required for the intracellular transport of VEGF protein from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus for subsequent secretion. ORP150 was first identified and purified as a protein expressed in primary cultures of astrocytes exposed to hypoxia (13), and, like VEGF, ORP150 mRNA expression is also hypoxia-inducible (12). To confirm the physiological and clinical relevance of their findings, Ozawa et al. demonstrate coexpression of ORP150 and VEGF in human wound macrophages. Administration of adenovirus encoding ORP150 to wounds of diabetic mice accelerated neovascularization and repair in vivo. ORP150 overexpression increased VEGF protein secretion in hypoxic tissue culture cells, whereas expression of ORP150 antisense RNA resulted in accumulation of VEGF within the endoplasmic reticulum. The data indicate that ORP150 is required for VEGF secretion and that in hypoxic cells increased levels of VEGF necessitate a corresponding increase in ORP150 expression. If this is true, then one would expect ORP150 to be coexpressed with VEGF in ischemic and neoplastic cells. Stimulation or inhibition of ORP150 expression or activity would then have a corresponding effect on VEGF and angiogenesis, hypotheses that will undoubtedly be tested in the near future.

Taken together, the results of studies conducted over the last six years have delineated complex regulation of VEGF activity by tissue oxygen concentrations (Table (Table1).1). How is this response orchestrated at the molecular level? Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is responsible for the transcriptional activation of the VEGF gene in hypoxic cells by binding to a hypoxia response element located 1 kb 5′ to the transcription initiation site (14, 15). Once transcribed, VEGF mRNA is bound by HuR and other proteins that inhibit its degradation under hypoxic conditions (16). It is not known whether a specific translation initiation factor exists that recognizes the IRES and whether expression of this factor is induced by hypoxia. HIF-1 has also been implicated in the induction of FLT-1 mRNA expression in hypoxic endothelial cells (9). Since ORP150 mRNA expression is induced by hypoxia, the question arises whether HIF-1 activates ORP150 transcription. Indeed, HIF-1 may coordinately regulate VEGF signaling at multiple levels (Table (Table1),1), similar to its coordinate regulation of more than a dozen genes encoding the glucose transporters and glycolytic enzymes that provide metabolic adaptation to hypoxia (15). The recent finding that brain-derived neurotrophic factor is an ORP150-regulated protein in hypoxic neurons (17) also suggests that ORP150 may function as a chaperone for other HIF-1–regulated and/or hypoxia-inducible growth factors such as angiopoietin 2, erythropoietin, and IGF-2. In addition to delineating elegant programs of molecular regulation, testing these hypotheses may provide information as to which molecules are best suited to induce therapeutic angiogenesis, with the assumption being that regulatory control factors may have the most pleiotropic effects and thus best recapitulate the complex physiologic responses evoked by hypoxia.

Table 1

Regulation of VEGF signaling in hypoxic/ischemic tissue

Ozawa et al. (12) chose wound healing as the clinical condition in which to demonstrate the relevance of ORP150 as a mediator of VEGF secretion in vivo. This is an interesting choice because experimental and clinical data suggest that the early wound is not hypoxic (18) and that hyperoxia stimulates wound angiogenesis and healing (19). VEGF transcription by wound macrophages may be stimulated by reactive oxygen species that are generated by activated neutrophils (20). The transcription factor mediating this response has not been identified. However, HIF-1 activity is induced by inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF-α (21) which are generated at high levels in early wounds (18), thus providing a mechanism for VEGF production mediated by HIF-1 within nonhypoxic wounds (22). These observations point to the potential importance of shared transcriptional mechanisms, involving HIF-1 and/or other factors, that would couple VEGF and ORP150 expression regardless of the nature of the inciting stimulus. Thus, while the more than 4700 publications listed in the NCBI PubMed database suggest that VEGF has come of age, Ozawa et al. have shown that it still requires a chaperone.


The beach drainage can be included among the soft engineering methods aimed to counteract the shoreline retreat related to the sediment redistribution along the beach profile. The idea that the groundwater table plays a role in the mobilization of the sediment grains underlies the application of the beach drainage system (BDS) as a tool able to modify the natural dynamics of groundwater table at sandy beaches. Indeed, BDS consists of a series of alongshore buried drains aimed to lower the groundwater table. Due to the drainage, the thickening of the layer of dry sand makes the solid grains less prone to be mobilized by the action of the waves at the swash zone, where interaction phenomena between the percolating and the incoming water lens take place. This tool had a troubled history. Its first applications were encouraging. Since then, controversial performances of both experimental and prototype scale experiences have been observed around the world. This paper aims to present an up-to-date full review of the studies and experiments carried out so far, in order to provide the reader with a complete perspective on its strength and weakness as well as open challenges to be faced in the near future.


Background Serum hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1α) is a key regulator in hypoxic and ischemic brain injury. We determined the relationship between serum HIF-1α levels and long-term prognosis plus severity of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods A total of 97 ICH cases and 97 healthy controls were enrolled. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score and hematoma volume were used to assess hemorrhagic severity. Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score of 1–3 at post-stroke 90 days was defined as a poor outcome. Results Serum HIF-1α levels of ICH patients were significantly higher than those of healthy controls (median, 218.8 vs 105.4 pg/mL; P<0.001) and were substantially correlated with GCS score (r=−0.485, P<0.001), hematoma volume (r=0.357, P<0.001) and GOS score (r=−0.436, P<0.001). Serum HIF-1α levels >239.4 pg/mL discriminated patients at risk of 90-day poor outcome with sensitivity of 65.9% and specificity of 79.3% (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.725; 95% confidence interval, 0.625–0.811; P<0.001). Moreover, serum HIF-1α levels >239.4 pg/mL were independently associated with a poor 90-day outcome (odds ratio, 5.133; 95% confidence interval, 1.117–23.593; P=0.036). Conclusion Serum HIF-1α, in close correlation with hemorrhagic severity and poor 90-day outcome, may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for ICH.


Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors. The majority of meningiomas are benign, but they can present different grades of dedifferentiation from grade I to grade III (anaplastic/malignant) that are associated with different outcomes. Radiological surveillance is a valid option for low-grade asymptomatic meningiomas. In other cases, the treatment is usually surgical, aimed at achieving a complete resection. The use of adjuvant radiotherapy is the gold standard for grade III, is debated for grade II and is not generally indicated for radically resected grade I meningiomas. The use of systemic treatments is not standardized. Here we report a review of the literature on the clinical, radiological and molecular characteristics of meningiomas, available treatment strategies and ongoing clinical trials.


A system was developed by which 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-4 or 5-carboxyfluorescein could be used to monitor intracellular pH at the same time that proton excretion was being measured. Streptococcal cells were loaded with the dye, and after the addition of glucose protons were excreted and the intracellular pH increased quickly and remained higher than the extracellular pH of 7.0. The excretion of protons stopped and the intracellular pH returned to the original level when glucose was depleted. The intracellular level of ATP remained high during glucose metabolism and decreased with the depletion of glucose. At extracellular pH of 5.5, and 5.0, the intracellular pH of fasting cells was higher than the extracellular pH value. After addition of glucose there were initial lags of proton excretion and of increases in intracellular pH at the acidic extracellular pH values. In the presence of fluoride, a lag in proton excretion and a simultaneous decrease in intracellular pH were observed, indicating a partial and transient inhibition of proton-ATPase activity.


The causes of surf zone morphologic changes observed along a sandy beach onshore of a submarine canyon were investigated using field observations and a numerical model (Delft3D/SWAN). Numerically simulated morphologic changes using four different sediment transport formulae reproduce the temporal and spatial patterns of net cross-shore integrated (between 0- and 6.5-m water depths) accretion and erosion observed in a ∼300-m alongshore region, a few hundred meters from the canyon head. The observations and simulations indicate that the accretion or erosion results from converging or diverging alongshore currents driven primarily by breaking waves and alongshore pressure gradients. The location of convergence or divergence depends on the direction of the offshore waves that refract over the canyon, suggesting that bathymetric features on the inner shelf can have first-order effects on short-term nearshore morphologic change. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


A prototype oil palm FFB Collector-transporter was designed, developed,
modified and tested at the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering,
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia. This four-wheeled, hydrostatic drive,
integrated machine was designed for collecting and transporting oil palm fresh fruit
bunches in the field and unloading them directly into mainline transporters or trucks
at the roadside. The overall dimension of the machine was 4750 mm for length,
2040 mm for width and 2725 mm for height. The overall construction of the
machine was consisted of a main chassis and driving unit, collection assembly,
operator cab, scissors lift-type fruit bin and associated hydraulic control unit.
Various functional components of the machine were hydraulically operated through a
solenoid control system. ACAD2000 package was employed to develop the 3D
model of the prototype machine. A 29.8 kW @ 2200 rpm KUBOTA V2203-E 4-
cylinder diesel engine, a 2 1 .5 gpm @ 1000 rpm VICKERS TA1 919 main hydrostatic
pump, and a 14.5 gpm @ 1000 rpm SAMHYDRAULIC HIC55 driving motor were selected based on the computations made to determine the machine total engine
power and total hydraulic pressure requirements for the machine to operate under
local terrain conditions.


The rapid improvement of commodity components makes the global computing platform increasingly viable for many applications. This paper studied the problem of job scheduling for campus-scale global computing on theoretical level. Based on system modeling, we first proved the scheduling problem is a NP-hard problem, and then chose the approximation algorithm LS (list scheduling) as a solution. Finally, the theoretical analysis showed that it is a (m+1)-approximation algorithm for our model


The synthesis of covalently linked porphyrin dimers and trimers is described. Mono- and dihydroxyporphyrins were synthesized by transeslerifying 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-carbomethoxy-phenyl)porphyrin with ethylene glycol. The mixture of transesterified porphyrins were separated by preparative thin layer chromatography. Metal derivatives were made of the mono- and dihydroxyporphyrins and these were reacted with the acid chloride of a monocarboxyporphyrin to yield hybrid dimers and trimers containing one melalloporphyrin and either one or two free base porphyrins. The structures and purity of the dimers and trimers were established by measuring the absorbance spectra, nmr spectra, and molecular weight by gel permeation chromatography.


Material standards are currently developed though building consensus and voting in organisations like ISO and ASME. If these organisations adopted methods from design in the development process of standards, the user perspective could be added greatly improving the usefulness of the standards. This paper attempts to fi nd the user requirements on material standards and evaluates how well it has been met in four different existing standards. The result is that the end user perspective has been forgotten to a varying extent, leaving plenty of room for improvements which is discussed in the paper.


The objective of the study was to develop a Dual Archive Record System (DARS) for increasing evidence from school accountability. Now, archive management in private schools at Indonesia was not effective because the archive process only uses a manual system or technology system. The impact of using this system is not accurate for supporting physical and legal evidence. Therefore, Dual Archive Record System (DARS) was developed to overcome these problems. The research approach uses research and development (R&D). The subject of this study is all of the private high school in Indonesia. The data were collected through observation, interview, documentation, and questionnaire. Then; the data were analyzed quantitatively; it was using a t-test on the paired data to know the difference of the actual and the new model. Besides that, analysis of data also uses qualitative approach through the data triangulation. The results showed that dual archive record system (DARS) can increase evidence of school accountability. Therefore; it was suggested for school to implement DAR for increasing evidence from school accountability because DARS has a significant contribution to evidence from school accountability.


In the process of characterizing a rice wx deletion mutant, an AT-rich minisatellite sequence that consisted of units of approximately 80 bp was detected about 2.3 kb downstream of the wx gene. This AT-rich minisatellite was a multiple-copy element (1 x 10(3) to 2 x 10(3) copies per haploid genome) and interspersed in the rice genome. By BLAST homology search it was indicated that not only the tandem repeat but also both flanking sequences were conserved among copies. According to the characteristics of the termini (5'-CHH ... CTAG-3') and a target site preference for T, this AT-rich minisatellite accompanying the flanking sequences was classified into a novel transposon, Basho. The results of direct amplification of Basho showed that relatively large variation in size existed in the Basho family. We estimate the variation to be generated by not only alteration of the number of units in the minisatellite but also by duplications of larger blocks including the conserved flanking sequences caused by single-strand mispairing (SSM) at noncontiguous repeats. Because the AT-rich minisatellite contained in Basho possessed several motifs of the matrix attachment region (MAR) in its repeat unit, the functional role as MAR in the rice genome was discussed.


With the rapidly growing scales of statistical problems, subset based communication-free parallel MCMC methods are a promising future for large scale Bayesian analysis. In this article, we propose a new Weierstrass sampler for parallel MCMC based on independent subsets. The new sampler approximates the full data posterior samples via combining the posterior draws from independent subset MCMC chains, and thus enjoys a higher computational efficiency. We show that the approximation error for the Weierstrass sampler is bounded by some tuning parameters and provide suggestions for choice of the values. Simulation study shows the Weierstrass sampler is very competitive compared to other methods for combining MCMC chains generated for subsets, including averaging and kernel smoothing.


BACKGROUND
Choroid plexus carcinomas (CPCs) are rare pediatric tumors often associated with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS), a germline mutation in the TP53 tumor-suppressor gene, predisposing to cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
We performed a systemic literature review from 1990-2013 to evaluate the hypothesis that radiation therapy should be avoided in patients with CPC and LFS. Overall survival (OS) was compared using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests.

RESULTS
Twenty-eight patients were documented with CPC and LFS. Eleven out of 17 patients received radiation therapy. The survival of patients receiving radiation was inferior to that of those without radiation [median (±95% confidence interval) 2-year OS=0.18 ± 0.12% versus 0.58 ± 0.12%]. The log-rank tests suggested the difference to be marginally significant (p=0.056).

CONCLUSION
This finding provides evidence for pursuing treatment approaches that do not include radiation therapy for patients with LFS.


Robust political economy (RPE) is a research program that combines insights from Austrian economics and public choice to evaluate the performance of institutions in cases of limited knowledge and limited altruism, or "worst-case scenarios." Many critics of RPE argue that it is too narrowly focused on the bad motivations and inadequacies of social actors while smuggling in classical liberal normative commitments as part of a purported solution to these problems. This chapter takes a different tack by highlighting the ways that RPE as currently understood may not be robust against particularly bad conduct. It suggests that depending on the parameters of what constitutes a worst-case scenario, classical liberal institutions, especially a minimal state, may turn out to be less robust than some conservative or social democratic alternatives.


Rotational states and electromagnetic transitions among them are studied in a deformed even mass nucleus by a microscopic calculation. Spectra, E2 and M1 matrix elements among different bands are studied by diagonalization-after-projection. The I → I - 1 E2 and M1 transitions among the yrast states show a marked dependence on the even and odd angular momenta (signature dependence). The favoured transitions are those for which the angular-momentum change is in phase with the change in the core rotation.


Background After the advent of heated tobacco products (HTPs) in 2017, domestic cigarette sales declined until 2019, but have increased in South Korea since 2020. This study aimed to analyze tobacco use and cessation behavior among HTP users compared with conventional cigarette (CC) users. Methods We analyzed data from the eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019). Of 6,188 study participants, 1,181 were current tobacco product users (single, dual, and triple), including all combinations of CCs, HTPs, and electronic cigarettes (ECs). Tobacco use and cessation behaviors among single and dual users of CCs and HTPs were assessed using various categorical methods. Results In 2019, proportions of HTP use in men and women aged ≥19 years in South Korea were 8.8% and 1.5%, respectively, and those of single, dual, and triple users were 23.6%, 58.0%, and 18.4%, respectively. Dual users had more tobacco use than CC only and HTP only users (all P<0.001). Each daily user accounted for a lower percentage of attempt and preparation stages for cessation than intermittent users (all P<0.001, except for dual users). Conclusion In this study, we analyzed the differences in tobacco use and cessation behavior among CC and HTP users in various populations in South Korea. Additionally, we found that all novel tobacco product users had already experienced CCs in adulthood. Further studies that address HTP's harmful effects in humans are necessary.


The goal of this textbook is to introduce basic concepts of lentic Ecosystems of Bhadravathi Taluk, preferably distribution, chemical, physical and phytoplankton productivity. I did feel the need of a book which could provide Comprehensive information on lentic water body distributions regarding their utility of common people, size, class, cattachment areas and land utilization of patterns of taluk. This small geographical area with intense survey of water bodies and their characteristics in all spectrums added to database systems, which will enhance the national lentic water body data base systems of country. Separate chapters have, therefore, been provided for some important physical and chemical parameters of water bodies with regarding pollution status. A separate chapter has been devoted to phytoplankton productivity and biomass it more boosted the carbon sequestration of planktonic form and also provides the water bodies are biological rich or not and how they influence the water quality of taluk.


Abstract The reconstruction of a nasal ala defect is challenging for the reconstructive surgeon. A myriad of options are available for the ala defect. We present a case of a large ala defect that was reconstructed with a modified dorsal nasal flap.


The construction of applications for sophisticated scientific and engineering disciplines is often time consuming and costly. However, applications ranging from finite element analysis to numerical control to robotics have similar requirements for programming tools that can greatly reduce the time to construct an application and improve its quality. This paper defines a set of Boeing-developed tools to help in the implementation of graphics based applications.


Aim of the study. Epilepsy often accompanies other neurological diseases or developmental problems in children. The purpose of the study is a strict and thorough assessment of children with past and coexisting neurological diseases or developmental abnormalities as well as defining the risk of epilepsy occurrence in this group of patients. Material and methods. The study was conducted at the Department of Developmental Neurology of Medical University Hospital in Gdansk. 310 patients, aged from 3 months to 17 years were included in the study. Factors such as: accompanying and past neurological diseases, head injuries, developmental problems as well as abnormalities on neurological examination were retrospectively assessed. Observation period lasted 24 months from the first seizure. Obtained data were statistically analyzed. Results. We found significantly higher risk (p<0,05) of epilepsy occurrence among children with: delayed global psychomotor development (n=58; 25,78%) as well as individually in each sphere: motor (n=42, 18,75%), mental (n=42, 18,83%), speech (n=35, 18,72%) and also with abnormal neurological examination (n=34; 10,97%). Mental retardation, present or past accompanying neurological diseases and problems as well as head injuries were not statistically significant. Conclusions. Delayed psychomotor development (assessed globally or in each sphere: motor, mental or speech separately) as well as abnormal neurological examination significantly correlated with epilepsy occurrence in children. Mental retardation, present or past accompanying neurological diseases and problems as well as head injuries did not increase the risk of epilepsy in children.


In this study, fertilization biology of 3 summer apple varieties, namely "Summerred", "Jerseymac" and "Raritan", grown in Pozanti ecological conditions, was investigated. For this purpose, the pollen viability, germination capacity and production level of these 3 apple varieties were tested in vitro. The percentage of fruit-set obtained from free, self and cross-pollination experiments performed in vivo. In order to determine the parthenocarpic fruit setting ability, the flowers were emasculated and isolated. Additionally, the fruit-sizes were determined and the number of seeds per fruit were counted in all experiments. As far as the pollen viability, production level and morphological homogenity of pollen were concerned the "Raritan" variety gave the best results. In 20 % sucrose concentration, which is the best medium for all 3 varieties, pollen germination rates were changed between 54.32 % and 64.42 %. In vivo studies "Summerred" was found to be the best pollinator variety for "Jerseymac" and "Raritan". On the other hand "Raritan" was found to be the best polinator for "Summerred". In addition "Raritan" showed a limited ability to set parthenocarpic fruit whereas, other 2 varieties have no parthenocarpic fruit setting capacity.


GENERIC is a programming language for the description and manipulation of integrated circuits. GENERIC works on the layout level with the designer in complete control of the layout process. To design an integrated circuit, a program is written which hierarchically describes the chip. The dynamic calling structure of the program determines the integrated circuit''s hierarchical cell structure. These cells are created by special procedures called generators. Generators are capable of producing completely custom structures-they do not consist of predefined layout. In addition to the specification, GENERIC provides operators for the manipulation of integrated circuit layouts, thus enabling existing geometry to be modified. These modifications can be geometrical, topological or circuit. GENERIC is a very high level language. The language is general purpose-the VLSI aspects of the language are layered on top of the basic language as a run-time library. Since the library itself is written in GENERIC, the language is completely extensible.


To accommodate the growing air traffic demand, flights will need to be planned and navigated with a much higher level of precision. The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) stands to benefit significantly in safety and efficiency from such movement of aircraft along precisely defined paths. Air Traffic Operations (ATO) relying on such precision–the Precision Air Traffic Operations or PATO–are the foundation of high throughput capacity envisioned for the future airports. In PATO, the preferred method is to manage the air traffic by assigning a speed profile to each aircraft in a given fleet in a given airspace (in practice known as speed control). In this paper, we develop an algorithm, set in the context of a Hybrid Control System (HCS) model, that determines whether a speed control solution exists for a given fleet of aircraft in a given airspace and if so, computes this solution as a collective speed profile that assures separation if executed without deviation. In this paper, uncertainties such as weather are not considered but the algorithm can be modified to include uncertainties. The algorithm first computes all feasible sequences by looking at all pair combinations of aircraft. Then the most likely sequence is determined and the speed control solution is constructed by a backward algorithm starting with the aircraft last out and proceeds to the first out. This computation for all sequences can be done in parallel which helps to reduce the computation time.


This paper engages with the progressive politics of climate change and resource constraint developed by the Transition 'movement' which looks to develop a positive local politics of the transition to a low carbon economy and society. At the heart of this politics is a vision of economic localisation rooted in a geographical imaginary of market towns with agricultural hinterlands. Consequently, the question of how the Transition model can be applied in urban settings has not been clear, leading to the implicit assumption that urban Transition initiatives are more complex and difficult. In contrast, this paper argues that the plasticity of Transition politics means that, in some cases, an urban context might be more productive for the development of Transition initiatives because it allows for a greater diversity of political action as well as providing a density of networks and resources that can be critical for the survival of grassroots interventions.


The European Renaissance and Its Interpretations The partitioning of Italian and northwestern European history into radically different periods, as they are sometimes proclaimed to be, originates in the writings of two great nineteenth-century historians, Jules Michelet and Jacob Burckhardt. The two scholars had distinctly different backgrounds and views of history. Burckhardt was a well-rounded and occasionally somber Swiss who harbored conservative leanings. He was captivated by the Middle Ages and saw in the Renaissance much light but also the kind of shadows that a historian of his time would find due to the changes in the traditional religious social order and the release of man to follow his own talents, capabilities, loss of conscience, and vile cravings – and be subject to the authority of the cruel and powerful who would arise, as it were, from the masses of freed humanity. Michelet, by contrast, was a personable, modern, ebullient, secular Frenchman who regarded the Renaissance as an era that had broken off from the benighted Middle Ages (which he considered as having been strangled by the shackles of the church and the hairsplitting rhetoric of Scholasticism), opening the way for humankind in the modern age. Both of them saw the Renaissance not only as an era of artistic efflorescence but also as a unitary whole, during which the pinnacle of the arts, the exploration of new continents, and scientific innovations came together to create a general "discovery of the world and discovery of Man," for better or worse.


Pedestrian motion-induced dynamics along the line-of-sight (LOS) between a GNSS receiver and a satellite, may disrupt the nominal operation of GNSS carrier-tracking loops, by introducing cycle slips and/or false frequency locks. In combination with other factors, e.g. multipath interference, weak signal conditions or limited availability of GNSS signals, the receiver could provide a degraded navigation solution or even lose signal lock. This thesis researches firstly how pedestrian motion affects the operation of carrier phase lock loops (PLLs), used by some GNSS receivers, and frequency lock loops (FLLs), used by all GNSS receivers; and secondly, what is the best way to model pedestrian motion in order to simulate the error effects of pedestrian motion-induced dynamics on a GNSS antenna, via a simulated GNSS carrier phase lock loop (PLL). The thesis reviews the relevant literature on human biomechanical modelling, path-finding and inertial/GNSS navigation, to design a custom pedestrian motion model (PMM). The PMM validation is supported by motion capture (MoCap) experiments using an inertial/GNSS sensor held by, or attached, on a pedestrian. The thesis also describes an implementation of simulated GNSS carrier-tracking loops (SGCTLs) in Matlab, to assess the effect of human MoCap profiles and synthetic human motion profiles (from the PMM) on the performance of the SGCTLs. The testing results suggest that GNSS antenna motion dynamics due to typical pedestrian motion can induce excessive cycle slips due to dynamics stress on the simulated PLL and FLL. Therefore, antenna dynamics should be considered when designing GNSS tracking loops and navigation algorithms for pedestrian applications to allow the GNSS receiver track human motion-induced dynamics effectively. The thesis concludes with carrier-tracking bandwidth recommendations for GNSS receiver design, based on the presented evidence. Under good signal conditions (above 40dB-Hz), the minimum recommended bandwidths for PLLs and FLLs are 15Hz and 5Hz, respectively, in order to respond effectively to the dynamic stress induced by typical pedestrian movements. Finally, the results indicate that the PMM can represent the LOS dynamics stress on the SGPLL within an acceptable tolerance. Future work encompasses the analysis of the pedestrian motion effects on real GNSS receivers.


Maintaining the integrity of cell membranes is indispensable for cellular viability. Poloxamer 188 (P188), a poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymer with a number-average molecular weight of 8700 g/mol and containing 80% by mass PEO, protects cell membranes from various external injuries and has the potential to be used as a therapeutic agent in diverse applications. The membrane protection mechanism associated with P188 is intimately connected with how this block copolymer interacts with the lipid bilayer, the main component of a cell membrane. Here, we report the distribution of P188 in a model lipid bilayer comprising 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) using neutron reflectivity (NR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). We also investigated the association of a PEO homopolymer (PEO8.4K; Mn = 8400 g/mol) that does not protect living cell membranes. These experiments were conducted following incubation of a 4.5 mmol/L polymer solution in a buffer that mimics physiological conditions with supported POPC bilayer membranes followed by washing with the aqueous medium. In contrast to previous reports, which dealt with P188 and PEO in salt-free solutions, both P188 and PEO8.4K penetrate into the inner portion of the lipid bilayer as revealed by NR, with approximately 30% by volume occupancy across the membrane without loss of bilayer structural integrity. These results indicate that PEO is the chemical moiety that principally drives P188 binding to bilayer membranes. No defects or phase-separated domains were observed in either P188- or PEO8.4K-incubated lipid bilayers when examined by AFM, indicating that polymer chains mingle homogeneously with lipid molecules in the bilayer. Remarkably, the breakthrough force required for penetration of the AFM tip through the bilayer membrane is unaffected by the presence of the large amount of P188 and PEO8.4K.


Using the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate version 3.2 (MIROC 3.2), we investigated the physical nature of regional sea level changes due to enhanced greenhouse warming. The regional sea level changes were not spatially uniform, and their patterns were principally determined by the baroclinic component (density change) due to surface fluxes of heat, freshwater, and wind stress. Sea level changes in the barotropic circulation were mainly confined to the Southern Ocean. We decomposed the baroclinic response into vertical modes of ocean climatological stratification, considering the vertical structure of the baroclinic pressure change. The first baroclinic mode was responsible for about 78% of the variance in the baroclinic response, suggesting that the regional distribution of sea level change under global warming is mainly determined by displacement of the main pycnocline. The second and third modes were responsible for about 12% and 4% of the variance, respectively, some of which was related to subduction of the global warming signal. The decomposition of the baroclinic response mentioned above is suggestive of sea level changes due to global warming as results of region‐by‐region physical processes.


Photochemical and chemical reduction of pyrylium salts in THF solution gave their corresponding radicals which were in equilibrium with dimers. The quantum yields for raidcal formation and the standard enthalpy change ΔH0 for dimerization decrease with increasing the electron-donating character of the substituting groups in the pyrylium ring. Specially, ΔH0 for pentaphenylpyranyl and pentaphenylthiopyranyl radicals, in which all carbons in the ring are substituted by phenyl groups, become possitive. The absorption maxima and their molar extinction coefficients of pyranyl radicals, and concurrently the equilibrium constants for the dimerization were determined spectrophotometrically.


The traditional analytical methods used to determine phenolic resin are slow and produce environmentally unfriendly waste. In this work, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been applied for resin content of phenolic resins. The partial least-squares regression was used to develop the calibration model of the resin content. Eight samples were withdrawn at different time stages for analysis with the proposed quantitative models; the data thus obtained were compared with those provided by reference methods. The maximal predicted error and the standard deviation of the differences were 0.96% and 0.51% for resin content. The results of the paired t test revealed that there was no significant difference between the NIR method and the reference method. NIR spectroscopy is an effective choice for the accurate, expeditious analyzing quality of phenolic resin.


The study was carried out in order to learn about the present state of obstetric care and perinatal outcome in the province of Uusimaa, Finland. The material consisted of 29,061 pregnant women, including 313 multiple pregnancies and 29,374 newborn infants born in the years 1980 and 1981. The information gathered was mostly retrospective. The overall frequency of LBW children was 3.9 percent, of very LBW children 0.8, of preterm children 5.8, of very preterm children 0.7, and of post-term children 4.7 percent. The overall frequency of neonatal transfers to a pediatric ward was 8.6 percent. Centralization of high risk deliveries has increased in Uusimaa since 1975, as judged by the frequencies of LBW children born at the two largest delivery units and four district hospitals. Almost 95 percent of mothers-to-be began their antenatal classes before 16 weeks of gestation. Late admission to antenatal care after week 15 was an independent risk factor for unfavorable pregnancy outcome. The cesarean section rate was 16.5 percent. The frequencies were highest at the State Maternity Hospital (19.7%) and Helsinki University Central Hospital (18.2%). The frequency varied largely in district hospitals (5.9-16.3%). This resulted partly from different indications for cesarean sections in these hospitals. The mean age of the parturients was 28.5 years. The best pregnancy outcome was observed in women aged 25-29 years. Almost half of the parturients were primiparous, and only 4.0 percent were quadri- or grand multiparous. Secundiparous women had the best pregnancy outcome. Terti-parity or more was not a risk factor per se; the difference in the frequency of unfavorable outcome between secundiparas and terti-paras or more disappeared after those with unsuccessful histories were excluded, while the difference still remained significant between primi- and secundiparas. Of all pregnant women, 23 percent had experienced one and 6.4 percent several spontaneous or legally induced abortions. The effect of the number of abortions on the frequency of preterm and very preterm deliveries was linear both in singleton and multiple pregnancies. Almost 70 percent of the parturients belonged to the two highest social classes and 86 percent were married. Children of married women from higher social classes had the best perinatal outcome. Unmarried women from lower social classes more often had 'behavioral' risk factors--they were more often heavy smokers, were uncertain about the dates, had had two or more abortions and neglected maternity care.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


The cooperative education program offered at the University of North Dakota is based on programs offered at other universities across the nation. Rewards of cooperative education programs are many, and they benefit students, universities, and sponsors alike. In addition to easing the costs of a university education, planning cooperative education experiences as part of the curriculum allows students to develop, practice, and receive feedback on the necessary professional skills vital to their success as occupational therapists. Universities and sponsors benefit from enhanced relationships and lay the foundation for joint ventures as educators and researchers. Further research is needed to evaluate specific outcomes related to the use of cooperative education in the training of occupational therapists. This research should address issues that include evaluation tools, students' perspectives, and employers' satisfaction with the program.


Anthracyclines, show a strong antitumour activity in the treatment of solid and haematological malignancies. They may be responsible for cardiac side effects. Initially, cardiac damage induced by anthracyclines is subclinical, however increasingly impaired cardiac function can result chronic heart failure. The assessment of the myocardial damage, especially at its initial stage is very important however difficult. There is a continuous need for new methods introduction of early detection of cardiac damage.


Probiotics have been reported to play an important role in the prevention of metabolic disorders. We recently identified a novel probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) P-8. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of L. plantarum P-8 on lipid metabolism of rats fed with high fat diet. All experimental rats were divided into three groups: control group, model group, and L. plantarum P-8 group. Changes in serum lipid levels, hepatic lipid deposition, serum oxidative stress-related parameters, activities of liver function marker enzymes, organ indices, gut microflora, and fecal lipids were assessed. Compared with model group, L. plantarum P-8 exhibited hypolipidemic effects by lowering serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, accompanied with elevation of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. L. plantarum P-8 also exerted beneficial effects against high-fat diet-induced oxidative stress, curtailed the accumulation of liver lipids and protected healthy liver function. Moreover, L. plantarum P-8 was able to regulate intestinal bacteria and enhance the fecal excretion of TC, TG, and bile acid. These findings indicate that L. plantarum P-8 may represent a potential therapeutic agent for controlling hyperlipidemia.


Using information on birth and kindergarten start dates to generate an exogenous measure of the relative age of a student's peer group, we find that, controlling for age, females with older peers are more likely to use substances than females with younger peers. Because there is no reason to suspect that birth and kindergarten start dates should be correlated with the choice of school, the socioeconomic status of a child's peers, or neighborhood unobservables, we view our results with regard to females as providing support for the idea that peer behavior can be contagious.


The use of electrolytic in-process dressing (ELID) superfinishing has been investigated with the aim of substantially improving surface finish on spherical bearing balls as well as reducing process times. Using ELID in a superfinishing configuration is substantially different from the more conventional precision grinding set-up. With this ELID superfinishing system, metal—resin bonded (MRB) wheels containing very small superabrasives (30 to 0.12 μm) were employed. Surface finishes of 2 nm Ra were achieved with a #12 000 wheel, an order of magnitude better than balls produced using the conventional production techniques of barrelling or polishing. Consistently sub-10 nm Ra finishes were achieved with a #2000 wheel. Different ways of using the ELID system, including ELID 1, ELID 2, and ELID 3, were studied to examine how the different types control the cutting condition at the wheel's surface. It is the ability to control easily the cutting condition of superabrasives of this size that allows mirror surface finishes to be efficiently produced. Monitoring of wheel spindle and ELID power usage was found to provide useful information in assessing the wheel condition.


The roles of the exchange interaction between different magnetic ions in the gadolinium gallium garnet Gd3Ga5O12 are systematically investigated. The effective field based on the exchange interaction is expressed as functions of the temperature T and applied field He. Furthermore, the effects of T and He on the magnetic moment and the entropy of Gd3Ga5O12 are studied in the ranges of 0 < He < 9T and 3 < T < 40 K. The computational results are consistent with the experimental data. Our study reveals that the applied field and temperature have important influences on the exchange interaction of Gd3Ga5O12 at low temperature.


 Y Santos Monzón Colón N° 172, Sagua la Grande CP 52310. Villa Clara, Cuba. E-mail address: email@example.com ABSTRACT Introduction: The allergic angina, also known as Kounis syndrome, is a rarely diagnosed disease, although its accurate identification improves the prognosis of patients who suffer from it. Objective: To characterize the profile of the disease in the environment of a municipal hospital. Method: A descriptive and longitudinal study was conducted with 166 patients discharged with a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome, at the Hospital Mártires del 9 de Abril of Sagua la Grande, Villa Clara, Cuba, between January 1 and December 31 of 2015. The variables evaluated were: age, sex, form of presentation, causes, complications, evolution and mortality of these patients. Results: The 42.8% of patients had acute myocardial infarction and the remaining 57.2%, unstable angina. The male sex (54.2%) predominated and only 2 of a total of 166 patients (1.2%) were diagnosed with Kounis syndrome, both with unstable angina. These 2 patients experienced elevated eosinophils and immunoglobulin E, no complications, the regional motility disorders of the left ventricular returned before a month and no coronary lesions were found. Conclusions: The Kounis syndrome, despite its low prevalence (1.2% in this research), is a condition that requires an accurate diagnosis and a specific treatment to improve the prognosis of these patients.


Congenital intracranial tumors are rare. If such a lesion is detected before birth, it is usually an incidental finding on fetal ultrasonography. The definition of a "congenital" tumor is controversial. The authors report the case of a "definite" congenital glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) diagnosed with the aid of ultrasonography and fetal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the 37th week of gestation. Postnatal MR imaging revealed a massive tumor occupying the patient's left temporoparietooccipital area. Angiography was performed to assess vascularity and embolize the main feeding arteries. Surgery was performed, and the tumor was successfully excised completely. The histopathological diagnosis of the tumor was GBM. An examination of the tumor cells revealed no p53 accumulation, a high MIB-1 index (87.5%), and no staining for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered, and the patient is doing well at 23 months of age. Congenital GBM should be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases in which a fetal ultrasonography study or fetal MR image reveals a tumor, especially in the presence of intratumoral hemorrhage. Radical tumor removal, administration of adjuvant therapy, and biological findings (such as a lack of the overexpression of p53 and EGFR in the tumor cells) all point to a longer survival time.


The Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR) operates most of the year as the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS). CESR was originally designed and operated as an electron/positron collider, circulating high-emittance beams in order to maximize luminosity. Beam lines were developed to extract x-rays from both electron and positron beams. The two beams share a common vacuum chamber, and are electrostatically separated to avoid collisions. The requirement to store counter-rotating beams significantly constrains the storage ring optics, limiting emittance and, beam current, and bunch distributions. The proposed upgrade eliminates two-beam operation in favor of a single optimized on-axis beam. Several new undulator-based beam lines are planned. The horizontal emittance is reduced in steps, first from 90 nm to 20 nm at 5.3 GeV, and then in a ring-wide upgrade to as low as 300 pm at 6 GeV. The low-emittance optics are based on multi-bend achromats with combined function bends. The details of the optics, apertures, and magnet parameters are presented.


Government job satisfaction has been shown to reflect individual, job and organizational characteristics, but important national crises or events that dramatically alter the image of public service in society and the meaning of work in the public sector may also play a role. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, are an important example, yet it is not known how the attacks and their aftermath may have influenced the everyday job satisfaction of government workers in the United States. Using a difference-in-difference regression strategy and data from the General Social Survey, this study compares change in job satisfaction of government workers to that of private sector workers before and after the attacks. The findings indicate that 9-11 may have boosted government job satisfaction 5 to 10 percentage points, representing 1 to 2 million additional satisfied government workers in the United States. Thus important national crises may causally influence government job satisfaction in nontrivial ways.


This paper analyzes the strategic incentives of first and second movers in sequential investment games with Stackelberg competition and price leadership on the output market. The study shows that the follower can invest more than the leader when the outgoing spillover from the leader to the follower is sufficiently high, taking into account the outgoing spillover of the follower. This result tends to apply in quantity and price settings. It is also shown that when externalities have opposite signs, the firm with the lowest outgoing spillover is investing most. However, with externalities that have the same sign, the asymmetry of spillovers determines who invests most. A beginning is made with the investigation of the robustness of the tendencies reported.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to analyze the current status of morphologic and functional thyroid abnormalities in a previously iodine-deficient area.

METHODS
The population based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) comprised 4310 participants, aged 20-79 years. Thyroid function (thyrotropin [TSH] free triiodothyronine [FT(3)], and free thyroxine [FT(4)]) and serum autoantibodies to thyroperoxidase (TPOAb) were evaluated from blood samples. Thyroid structure and size were measured by ultrasound. Data from 3941 participants with no known thyroid disorders were analyzed.

RESULTS
The median iodine urine excretion was 12.4 microg/dL. The rate of decreased serum TSH levels (<0.3 mIU/L) was 11.3%; 2.2% of participants had suppressed serum TSH levels (<0.1 mIU/L). The prevalence of subclinical hyperthyroidism was 1.8%, the prevalence of overt hyperthyroidism 0.4%. Elevated TSH levels were found in 1.2% of individuals. Subclinical hypothyroidism was observed in 0.5%, overt hypothyroidism in 0.7% of the sample. Elevated TPOAb were detected in 7% of subjects, 4.1% of participants had TPOAb greater than 200 IU/mL. The prevalence of goiter was 35.9%. An inhomogeneous echo pattern was detected in 35.2% and nodules in 20.2% of participants. Diffuse autoimmune thyroiditis was diagnosed in 47 subjects (1.2%).

CONCLUSION
There are a number of thyroid disorders in this previously iodine-deficient region. Further studies are required to investigate the change of thyroid disorders during iodine supplementation programs.


We use novel longitudinal data from 19 monthly waves of the Singapore Life Panel to examine the short-term dynamics of the effects health shocks have on household health and nonhealth spending and income by the elderly. The health shocks we study are the occurrence of new major conditions such as cancer, heart problems, and minor conditions (e.g., diabetes and hypertension). Our empirical strategy is based on an event study approach that exploits unanticipated changes in health status through the diagnosis of new health conditions. We find that major shocks have large and persistent effects whereas minor shocks have small and mainly contemporaneous effects. We find that household income reduces following a major shock for males but not females. Major health shocks lead to a decrease in households' nonhealth expenditures that is particularly pronounced for cancer and stroke sufferers, driven largely by reductions in leisure spending. The financial impact of major shocks on medical saving account balances occurs to those without private health insurance, whereas the impact is on cash balances for privately insured individuals.


The Ag-AgCl micro-reference electrodes were fabricated and used to determine the potentials of ferrite and austenite in duplex stainless steel in NaCl solutions separately. The result shows that ferrite has lower corrosion potential than that of austenite. To determine the corrosion behavior for the single phases accurately and obtain more information about the selective corrosion, a capillary-based micro electrochemical system was established. The electrochemical determinations of ferrite and austenite were performed respectively in solutions containing nitric acid and FeCl3. According to the results, ferrite has more noble corrosion potential and low current density in 1.5 mol/L HNO3 and 1.5 mol/L HNO3 + 0.5 mol/L FeCl3 solutions, thus selective corrosion occurred in austenite phase, while, in 1.5 mol/L HNO3+O.l mol/L FeCl3 solutions, the potential differences between two phases are not obvious, which result in little selective corrosion.


ABSTRACT Speculative fiction emerged in 19th-century Bengal as a mode of narrative engagement with the city's colonial modernity during its contact with British colonialism. This fiction, however, was essentially a city-based enterprise interacting with, and moulding, the imperial city of Kolkata in myriad ways. The interaction gave rise to dissenting voices within the gradually emerging educated class of Kolkata. This article explores such intersections of the city and speculative fiction with the aid of two conceptual arcs – morality and corporeality – and argues that, located within divergent imaginaries of representing the city, they construct a contested cityscape. These arcs produce an alternative metropolitan imagination that subverts the colonial imaginary of the city. The article examines two early speculative texts written by Kylas Chunder Dutt and Shoshee Chunder Dutt to explore the nature of this imagination. The colonial imaginary of Kolkata within this speculative textual space offers a locus distinct from the colonizers.


A selective and sensitive electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry based method for detection of brassinosteroids (BS) in plant samples was developed. The limit of detection (LOD) was dramatically reduced over existing analytical methods using a microbore (1.00 mm) C18 column and chemical derivatization of free BS to dansyl-3-aminophenylboronates. The LOD in the selected-ion monitoring (SIM) mode for derivatized BS was 125 attomole (signal-to-noise ratio 3). The practical utility of the method is documented in Arabidopsis thaliana plant transformation of castasterone to brassinolide using a deuterium-labeled precursor. The method could be very useful for the detection of native BS in plant tissue and biosynthetic studies.


Late Chlamydia trachomatis inclusions express each member of the surface‐exposed polymorphic membrane protein family (Pmp subtypes A through I) with a reproducible distribution of fully‐on, fully‐off and intermediate phenotypes. This observation is consistent with observed variable Pmp antibody profiles in C. trachomatis‐infected patients and has led to the hypothesis that the pmp gene family forms the basis of a phase variation‐like mechanism of antigenic variation. Here we investigate and compare the developmental expression of each of the nine pmp genes under conditions of optimal in vitro growth with that under conditions that promote prolonged survival of chlamydiae when exposed to penicillin‐induced stress. We demonstrate that the pmp gene family includes distinct transcriptional units that are differentially expressed along development and differentially responsive to stress. In particular, our results indicate that expression of pmpA, pmpD and pmpI is uniquely unaffected by stress, suggesting that the PmpA, PmpD and PmpI proteins play a critical role in the pathogenesis of C. trachomatis.


As a contribution to chemotaxonomic relations, a quantitative analysis of bioactive phenolic compounds was carried out for the first time in Drypis spinosa L. subsp. spinosa and D. spinosa subsp. jacquiniana Murb.
et Wettst. ex Murb. in Croatia. Total polyphenols (TP), tannins (T) and
total flavonoids (TF) were determined in samples of leaves, stems, and roots using UV-Vis spectrophotometric methods. For the subsp. spinosa, the highest content of TF was in leaves (0.09%), as was the highest amount of TP (2.36%) and T (1.12%). In the subsp. jacquiniana, the highest contents of TF (0.10%), TP (1.96%), and T (0.88%) were measured in stems. Coumaric, ferulic and rosmarinic acid were identified and quantified by HPLC analysis in both subspecies. Quercetin and sinapic acid were identified only in subsp. spinosa, while rutin and naringenin were found only in subsp. jacquiniana. Among them, ferulic acid was identified only in flowers of both subspecies. The results of this study
represent a useful basis for further research of phytochemical and eventually phytotherapeutic potential of D. spinosa.


This study was conducted to estimate the control thresholds (CTs) of imported cabbage worm, Artogeia rapae L., injuring Chinese cabbage. The second instar larvae of A. rapae were inoculated with five density levels on each Chinese cabbages transplanted three weeks earlier under greenhouse condition, and checked injury rates after allowing their feeding for one week and two weeks, respectively. The average leaf area consumed by single larvae was 657.7 ㎟ in plots inoculated at three weeks after transplanting (WAT) and 2495.8 ㎟ in plots at 6-WAT, respectively. In the field experiment, different numbers of A. rapae ranged from one to seven larvae were inoculated on 20 plants. The percent yield reduction (Y) of Chinese cabbage infested by different densities of A. rapae (X) for a three-week period was estimated by the following equation; (1) Y=1.764X-0.3049 (R²=0.9901) in plots inoculated at 3-WAT; and (2) Y=1.0305X-0.2976 (R²=0.9398) in plots inoculated at 6-WAT. Based on the relationships between the densities of A. rapae larvae and the yield index of Chinese cabbage, the number of second instar larvae which caused 5% loss of yield (gain threshold proposed by Japan), was estimated as 3.0 per 20 plants for the 3-WAT and 5.1 for the 6-WAT.


The effect of transgenerational exposure to low dose rate (2.4 and 21 mGy/day) gamma irradiation on the yield of DNA double-strand breaks and oxidized guanine (8-hydroxyguanine) has been studied in the muscle and liver tissue of a model organism, the Japanese medaka fish. We found the level of unrepaired 8-hydroxyguanine in muscle tissue increased nonlinearly over four generations and the pattern of this change depended on the radiation dose rate, suggesting that our treatment protocols initiated genomic instability and an adaptive response as the generations progressed. The yield of unrepaired double-strand breaks did not vary significantly among successive generations in muscle tissue in contrast to liver tissue in which it varied in a nonlinear manner. The 8-hydroxyguanine and DSB radiation yields were significantly higher at 2.4 mGy/day than at 21 mGy/day in both muscle and liver tissue in all generations. These data are consistent with the hypothesis of a threshold for radiation-induced activation of DNA repair systems below which tissue levels of DNA repair enzymes remain unchanged, leading to the accumulation of unrepaired damage at very low doses and dose rates.


Quantum mechanics in Hilbert spaces of finite dimension N is reviewed from the number theoretic point of view. For composite numbers N possible quantum kinematics are classified on the basis of Mackey's Imprimitivity Theorem for finite Abelian groups. This yields also a classification of finite Weyl-Heisenberg groups and the corresponding finite quantum kinematics. Simple number theory gets involved through the fundamental theorem describing all finite discrete Abelian groups of order N as direct products of cyclic groups, whose orders are powers of not necessarily distinct primes contained in the prime decomposition of N. The representation theoretic approach is further compared with the algebraic approach, where the basic object is the corresponding operator algebra. The consideration of fine gradings of this associative algebra then brings a fresh look on the relation between the mathematical formalism and physical realizations of finite quantum systems.


Aim: There is a dearth of knowledge on the burden of family caregivers of patients with maxillofacial tumours in Nigeria. This burden may be influenced by racial peculiarities and the disease entity of the patient. The aim of this study is to assess and document the burdens and predictors of burdens experienced by family caregivers of patients with oral maxillofacial tumours presenting at a tertiary health facility in South Western Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study that included 110 consenting family caregivers of patients diagnosed with oral and maxillofacial tumours. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on their sociodemographic characteristics and caregiving burden using the Zarit burden interview tool. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21.0. Result: The most frequent group of caregivers was patients' children (32.0%), aged 30–39 years (28.2%), females (54.5%), with secondary education (41.8%), and traders (38.2%), who earned less than national minimum wage (55.5%). Majority (42.7%) experienced mild-to-moderate burden; coping strategy was mainly prayers (76.4%), while the greatest need expressed was financial assistance (93.6%). The significant predictors of caregiver burden were the presence of pain (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.961; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.165–7.526; P = 0.023) and severe clinical condition (AOR = 3.342; 95% CI = 1.133–9.853; P = 0.029). Conclusion: The most common category of the burden of family caregivers of patients with maxillofacial tumours was the mild-to-moderate category, and the most significant predictors were the presence of pain and severity of clinical condition. The greatest need expressed was financial assistance. Therefore, an emphasis on adequate pain control and alternate sources of funding may appreciably relieve the burden of family caregivers of patients with maxillofacial tumours.


It was found that the chemical enhancement of fly ash from coal combustion by tetrabutylammonium bromide treatment yields an effective and economically feasible material for the treatment of chromium and basic dye Rhodamine B containing effluents. Characterisation of coal fly ash and treatment with tetrabutylammonium bromide were done by using a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, confocal three-dimensional microscope, X-ray diffraction and laser particle sizer. The studies of equilibrium in a bi-component system by means of extended Langmuir, extended Langmuir–Freundlich and Jain–Snoeyink models were analysed. The estimation of parameters of sorption isotherms in a bi-component system metal-dye has shown that the best-of-fit calculated values of experimental data for both sorbates have been the Jain–Snoeyink model and the extended Langmuir model, but only in the case of a Rhodamine B. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of the fly ash–tetrabutylammonium bromide was found to be 863 mg g−1 and 670 mg g−1 for chromium and Rhodamine B, respectively.


Lactoferrin in marrow and blood granulocytes from rabbits and humans was stained with an immunoferritin method. Iron-binding protein(s) was localized by the staining of granulocytes with acid ferrocyanide after saturation of the iron-binding protein with iron. The latter was most readily accomplished by treatment of the glutaraldehyde-fixed cell suspension with 1% saponin, followed by treatment with an iron-nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA 3mM:4mM) solution, adjusted to pH 7.0 with NaHCO3. The affinity of purified lactoferrin and transferrin for radioiron after such treatment was minimally diminished. Both immunoferritin and iron-binding methods heavily stained osmiophiliuc (phospholipid-containing) mature primary granules in late promyelocytes, myelocytes, and polymorphonuclear cells. Early promyelocytes containing abundant immature primary granules lacked immunoferritin or iron staining. Trypsin digestion of rabbit marrow cells considerably diminished the cytochemically demonstrable iron-binding capability of the mature primary granules. Specimens sequentially stained for peroxidase and immunostained for lactoferrin or cytochemically stained for iron-binding protein confirmed that lactoferrin and iron-binding protein were in peroxidase-positive primary granules. Some peroxidase positive granules appeared to lack staining for lactoferrin and iron-binding proteining protein, and all secondary granules uniformly lacked staining. Treatment of human neutrophils with phorbol myristate acetate demonstrated early release of granules containing iron-binding protein with subsequent agglutination of neutrophils and attachment of iron-binding protein to the cell surface. In summary, this study distinguishes at least two subpopulations of primary granules and identifies lactoferrin and an iron-binding protein(s) in a subpopulation of peroxidase-positive primary granules in rabbit heterophils and human neutrophils.


Abstract Background Inadequate cleaning and disinfection of shared medical equipment can lead to healthcare-associated infections and outbreaks. Stethoscopes were identified as the most commonly used piece of shared equipment at our institution, but cleaning practices were inconsistent among providers. We aimed to assess provider attitudes and practices around stethoscope disinfection and to subsequently implement a test of change (TOC) supported by human factors observations to improve cleaning consistency and frequency. Methods We conducted an anonymous electronic survey via SurveyMonkey paired with human factors observations in a free-standing children's hospital. We surveyed physicians, nurses, and advanced practice providers to identify barriers to regular stethoscope cleaning. Quantitative results, human factors observations, and workflow simulations on a single unit were used to design an intervention to standardize low-level disinfection. Small mesh baskets holding alcohol prep pads labeled with brightly colored signage were installed by the exit of each patient room on one trial unit. Following implementation, a postsurvey and direct observations on the unit were conducted. Results Of those surveyed healthcare providers who completed the pre-survey (n = 383), 92% believed stethoscopes pose an infection risk to patients. However, only 38% of respondents reported cleaning their stethoscope between patient encounters. The most cited barrier to cleaning was a lack of easily accessible cleaning product (49%). After the unit-based TOC, alcohol from baskets were utilized by 80% of the 25 surveyed providers; 74% reported increased frequency of cleaning due to accessibility. Additionally, the brightly colored signage was a visual cue to disinfect equipment. Increased satisfaction of families reinforced the behavior. Direct observations revealed an increased frequency of cleaning while qualitative interviews elicited increased awareness from staff. Conclusion Leveraging human factors engineering to inform the placement and design of easily accessible disinfection supplies correlated with increased frequency of stethoscope cleaning by healthcare providers. Future steps include implementation in all inpatient care areas. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


When beneficiary households of the Oportunidades program are surveyed again, it can occur that: (i) they keep their eligibility, (ii) they keep their eligibility with a lower cash transfer, or (iii) they are not eligible anymore. We use administrative records of the program to show what factors determine transitions from one state to other. Very poor households or those that live in very poor localities have low mobility among eligibility states. The education of the households' head and number of children in the household have the greatest weight to determine eligibility in the short run.


Beta‐lactam therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) can improve precision dosing and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients, but has not been implemented widely in the United States. Mayo Clinic recently implemented a beta‐lactam TDM program. This single‐center experience forms the basis of the manuscript which outlines practical considerations involved with beta‐lactam TDM implementation, including the pharmacist's role as a leader. Our implementation effort focused on three primary domains. First, we aimed to ensure a supportive organizational infrastructure. Early leadership engagement by the pharmacist‐led core team facilitated advocacy for the clinical need, allocation of resources, and assay development. Second, core clinical workflows were developed that addressed the preferred patient population for use, desirable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic targets, and the preferred sampling strategy. Clinical tools to guide pharmacists in interpreting the results (e.g., pharmacokinetics calculator) and documenting decisions were developed. Third, stakeholders were offered repeated exposure to evidence and expertise to facilitate understanding and application of the new practice. This act of 'individual internalization' seems to be uniquely important to beta‐lactam TDM implementation compared with the implementation of other antimicrobial TDM programs. Educational strategies and supportive materials that were developed were focused on providing substantive and varied information tailored to the stakeholders' role in the process. For pharmacists, this included both clinical and operational considerations. A continuous improvement plan to support management of the process was instituted to address necessary updates and changes that inevitably emerged. In summary, the described approach to implementation of a pharmacist‐led beta‐lactam TDM program could be used as a roadmap to aid other institutions that aim to develop such a program.