This collection brings together Edward Said's essays on literary and cultural topics from over three decades. As the title essay shows, Said's own exile and the fate of the Palestinians have given form to the questions he has pursued. These essays give an insight into the formation of the critic and the development of an intellectual vocation. They cover a diverse range of topics, from the heroics of Tarzan to the machismo of Ernest Hemingway. Said offers different angles on writers and artists such as George Orwell, Herman Melville, Joseph Conrad, and Raymond Williams. Many of the central debates in the humanities over the last 30 years are addressed.


Fifteen years after the implementation of the Institutional University Quality Evaluation Plans (PEXEC, PNECU, PCU), this study presents some elements of interest for the meta-evaluation of the results and impact of these plans. A diachronic analysis of these plans is proposed, with four stages being identified and described under the headings hope, confusion, expansion and business. These stages, as well as the different evaluation processes carried out, are located within a two-dimensional diagram whose respective axes compare control and improvement, in the first place, and technical/professional aspects with bureaucratic/speculative ones in the second. The different assessment plans are situated on this diagram, with the initial plans (1992-96) being located at the end more oriented towards improvement and technical/professional aspects. Later plans gradually move towards the other end of the diagram, characterized by a focus on control and the more bureaucratic/speculative aspects. Finally, three criteria are specified for evaluating the impact and results of said plans. Firstly, a true 'audience' assessment is carried out regarding the effectiveness of the processes, given that the evaluation of said plans has hitherto been decidedly bureaucratic and administrative in nature. Secondly, we use the criterion of the presence and adaptation of self-regulating institutional systems that ensure continuous improvement. And thirdly, we assess the increase in theoretical reflection regarding the basic aspects, evaluative practice and professional qualifications of those designing and developing said plans.


The purpose of this paper is to examine the existing real property valuation practice in case of expropriation in Ethiopia and to propose potential bases and approaches compatible to the Ethiopian real property system based on desk review research in which existing literature are the main source. The paper found that, there is no standard and responsible institution for property valuation. As a result, valuation variation and valuation inaccuracies are common. Therefore, market value can be a potential base to real property valuation as it reflects the actual value of the property expropriated. Market and income approaches can be the potential methods to real property valuation. But discretion is given to the valuer to choose the appropriate method/s. The paper recommends the establishment of independent institution responsible for overall valuation activities including establishing standards and introducing valuation certification by considering the countries' land tenure system.


This essay examines the influence of income differentiation on private consumption. The author illustrates how to derive the total demand on individual goods from curves describing the income differentiation within the population (e.g., Lorenz) and the Engel curve. This model is later used to determine the differences in the expenditure structure of the employee households in the Czech Republic between the years 1988 and 1996 as a result of changes in income distribution (ceteris paribus). The author demonstrates that increases in income differentiation leads to increased expenditures on cars, houses, flats, and an overall growth of savings. On the other hand, it also leads to a decline in expenditures on nourishment, clothing, etc. The author also addresses the difficulties associated with the models? application (e.g., problems with deriving the Engel curve).


In a series of 193 patients with advanced stage diffuse large-cell lymphoma (DLCL) treated with MACOP-B, 18 (11%) were defined as having a stage II large B-cell lymphoma with sclerosis of the mediastinum. This type of lymphoma has been reported to have a highly aggressive behaviour and special histological and clinical features. In our series young women were more commonly affected and the most striking clinical feature was the presence of a bulky mediastinal mass in 81%. A comparison was made between stage II patients with DLCL with and without sclerosis. The group of patients with sclerosis had prognostic parameters significantly worse than those of the patients without sclerosis, namely, elevated LDH level and bulky disease. The complete remission rates (89% vs 76%) were similar in the two groups and, with a median follow-up of 23 months, survival and disease-free survival rates were also superimposable. MACOP-B chemotherapy has been proven effective in this subgroup of lymphoma patients with sclerosis that had thus far been reported to have a poor prognosis.


Laser surface melting treatment was applied to the sensitized Type 308 stainless steel weld metal in order to improve its intergranular corrosion resistance in the sensitized Type 308 stainless steel weld metal. The treatment was performed by a CO2 laser generator with the maximum power of 2.5 kW. Argon was used for the shielding gas in the laser treatment. The degree of sensitization was examined by the EPR method. Prior to the laser treatment, the specimens were sensitized at 773 K for 30 ks in order to imitate the condition to cause low temperature sensitization in stainless steel weld metals. Experimental results indicated that the sensitized weld metal restored a complete corrosion resistance to intergranular corrosion by the laser treatment at the higher laser traveling velocity, whereas the improving effect was insufficient at the lower laser traveling velocity. Owing to the microstructural analysis by a SEM, serious corroded regions were found at the heat affected region of following pass in the laser treatment with lower laser traveling velocity. The microstructural analysis by a TEM revealed that chromium carbide which caused the deterioration of corrosion resistance precipitated at δ/y boundary in laser treated weld metal. These results indicated that chromium carbides precipitated in the HAZ of following laser treating pass with the low cooling rate, and resensitization occurred by the precipitation of chromium carbides during the laser treatment. Consequently, when laser treated region was heat-treated again aftr laser treatment, re-sensitization took place relatively early. These results suggest that, in the case of δ-ferrite existing in the laser treated region, the precipitation of chromium carbides during the thermal cycle of low cooling rate and the haet-treatment after the laser treatment was promoted by δ-ferrite.


Background This study was designed to update clinical and imaging features as well as treatment outcomes of the nasal respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (REAH). Data sources included case reports, original articles, and reviews published in English or French in PubMed from 1995 to date. Methods Only published articles that met Wenig's histological criteria for the diagnosis of REAH were included. Results REAH is not rare and is probably underdiagnosed. It is usually observed in the fifth decade of life with a 3:2 male/female predilection. REAH can be represented in two forms: as an isolated lesion (less frequent) or in association with an inflammatory process (especially nasal polyposis). It was observed in 35–48% of patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal surgery for nasal polyposis. Its origin is found, in most cases, in the olfactory cleft, which is exhibited on computed tomography (CT) scans by widened opacified olfactory clefts without bone erosion. Resection of REAH from the olfactory clefts does not worsen, but instead, can improve the sense of smell after surgery. Conclusion Looking for REAH on CT scans and during endoscopic examination can lead to its diagnosis and help avoid aggressive surgical procedures and their complications. Endoscopic resection is the treatment of choice. The removal of REAH constitutes a specific surgery on the olfactory clefts, which can improve nasal obstruction as well as sense of smell. Whether REAH can be defined as a hamartoma, an inflammatory reactive process, or a neoplastic lesion remains to be determined.


Restoring skeletal integrity and bone tissue regeneration is still a significant challenging issue. In this regard, bone grafting have been used to augment orthopedic repairs in human and veterinary surgery for several decades and still being under many investigation to hunt for new approaches to improve bone healing following incidences of bone complications. Bone graft is bone transplant and is categorized into autogenous and allogenic grafts as well as synthetic bone graft which are bone graft substitutes. Each of these classified grafts have some advantageous as well as a range of drawbacks, which researchers are still looking to remove those disadvantageous. Finding new instruments and new sites for graft harvests are the major concerns of researchers to diminish the morbidities of donor site in autografts. Looking for agents boosting inductivity of the allografts is the main worries of these kinds of grafting materials and finally new fabrication techniques by new pore sizes are the significant bothering for synthetic bone graft substitutes. This review would consider all grafting methods and materials that would open new windows to the bone grafting techniques.


The electro-osmotic drag coefficient in nafion 117 membrane is determined experimentally at different temperatures and water contents of the membrane. a pseudo-two-dimensional, steady-state diffusive model for water vapor transport through nafion membrane based on nonequilibrium membrane/gas diffusion layer interface is presented to determine the electro-osmotic drag coefficient and average water content. for the membrane in contact with water vapor, the electro-osmotic drag coefficient increases with increasing water content or water activity in the membrane. at the same water activity, temperature does not show influence on the electro-osmotic drag coefficient in the membrane in contact with water vapor. for the membrane in contact with liquid water on both sides, the electro-osmotic drag coefficient in the membrane increases linearly with temperature. high-frequency resistances of the cells using nafion 117 and 112 membranes are measured to evaluate the electro-osmotic drag coefficients obtained. the calculated membrane resistance based on a diffusive model agrees well with the experimental data under different operating conditions. (c) 2006 the electrochemical society.


Particle filters (PF) have been established as the de facto state of the art in failure prognosis, and particularly in the representation and management of uncertainty in long-term predictions when used in combination with outer feedback correction loops. This paper presents a novel RiskSensitive PF (RSPF) framework that complements the benefits of the classic approach, by representing the probability of rare and costly events within the formulation of the nonlinear dynamic equation that describes the evolution of the fault condition in time. The performance of this approach is thoroughly compared using a set of proposed metrics for prognosis results. The scheme is illustrated with real vibration feature data from a fatigue-driven fault in a critical aircraft component. *


Born in Exeter, Gandy was a pupil of Van Dyck. He was brought to Ireland roughly 1661 by the first Duke of Ormonde and passed the rest of his life there, painting portraits and Van Dyck replicas.


Acute exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can cause hypoglycemia and insulin resistance; the underlying mechanisms, however, are unclear. We set out to determine whether insulin resistance is linked to hypoglycemia through Toll‐like receptor‐4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and nuclear factor κB (NFκB), a cell signaling pathway that mediates LPS induction of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). LPS induction of hypoglycemia was blocked in TLR4−/− and MyD88−/− mice but not in TNFα−/− mice. Both glucose production and glucose utilization were decreased during hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia was associated with the activation of NFκB in the liver. LPS inhibition of glucose production was blocked in hepatocytes isolated from TLR4−/− and MyD88−/− mice and hepatoma cells expressing an inhibitor of NFκB (IκB) mutant that interferes with NFκB activation. Thus, LPS‐induced hypoglycemia was mediated by the inhibition of glucose production from the liver through the TLR4, MyD88, and NFκB pathway, independent of LPS‐induced TNFα. LPS suppression of glucose production was not blocked by pharmacologic inhibition of the insulin signaling intermediate phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase in hepatoma cells. Insulin injection caused a similar reduction of circulating glucose in TLR4−/− and TLR4+/+ mice. These two results suggest that LPS and insulin inhibit glucose production by separate pathways. Recovery from LPS‐induced hypoglycemia was linked to glucose intolerance and hyperinsulinemia in TLR4+/+ mice, but not in TLR4−/− mice. Conclusion: Insulin resistance is linked to the inhibition of glucose production by the TLR4, MyD88, and NFκB pathway. (HEPATOLOGY 2009.)


: Today, a new disease, called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has affected the entire world, especially in the economic aspect. This disease has severely disrupted the global economy. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate how people's income was affected by the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. We used an online questionnaire in the Persian language, which was available from April 18 to April 28, 2020. The survey asked the participants about their job and income during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to the pre-COVID period. Fifty-seven percepts of participants were unemployed or experienced a drop in their income during the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, the global economy should be supportive of people during epidemics.


The type and quality of popular youth identities provides young people living in residual housing areas (RHAs) with opportunities for action and structural constraints. Three ethnographies, based on a practitioner's observations, interviews and participation in local networks, identify young people's resistant identities. Through an analysis of social exclusion, youth policies and interviews with young people, practitioners/managers, the thesis outlines network relations that hinder informal learning relationships.

Drawing on Castells' (1996/97/98) and Touraine's (2000) models of identity, we explore youth as a category of time and residual housing areas as a category of space, in relation to local dynamics of social exclusion. We conclude that globalisation, individualisation, welfare/education reform and the rise of cultural social movements act upon youth identities and steer youth policies to subordinate the notion of informal group learning. The combination of these factors, coupled with a policy focus on the outcomes of social exclusion initiatives, makes young people's voluntary association with adults limited and limiting.
Current UK youth policies recognise young people pursuing resistant strategies and suggest they receive additional adult intervention. This thesis agrees with such interventions but opposes the surveillance and control practices permeating the professional/client casework model of current national strategies. The thesis explores young people's ability to build meaningful personal identities. It illustrates strain between young people's strategies of resistance and agencies aiming to reduce social exclusion in RHAs. Building on established youth work methods, it outlines necessary conditions of a non/in-formal learning relationship, which encourages young people to form multiple personal identities. This strategy helps them avoid prolonged periods of social exclusion and negotiate the influence of markets and communities appropriately.


Despite their cosmological utility, the progenitors of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are still unknown, with many efforts focused on whether accretion from a nondegenerate companion can grow a carbon–oxygen white dwarf to near the Chandrasekhar mass. The association of SNe Ia resembling SN 1991T ("91T-like") with circumstellar interaction may be evidence for this "single-degenerate" channel. However, the observed circumstellar medium (CSM) in these interacting systems is unlike a stellar wind—of particular interest, it is sometimes detached from the stellar surface, residing at ∼1016 cm. A Hubble Space Telescope (HST) program to discover detached CSM around 91T-like SNe Ia successfully discovered interaction nearly two years after explosion in SN 2015cp (Graham et al. ). In this work, we present radio and X-ray follow-up observations of SN 2015cp and analyze them in the framework of Harris et al. () to limit the properties of a constant-density CSM shell in this system. Assuming the HST detection took place shortly after the shock crossed the CSM, we constrain the total CSM mass in this system to be <0.5 . This limit is comparable to the CSM mass of supernova PTF11kx, but does not rule out lower masses predicted for recurrent novae. From lessons learned modeling PTF11kx and SN 2015cp, we suggest a strategy for future observations of these events to increase the sample of known interacting SNe Ia.


School of Nursing
Faculty of Medicine
Diponegoro University
Semarang, July 2018

ABSTRACT
Fera Ayu Fitriyani
Quality of Sleep among Critical Care Nurse at Public Hospital in Semarang
xiv + 82 Pages + 28 Tables + 3 Images + 11 Attachments
Critical care nurse have a higher workload than nurses in other wards. The critical patient condition becomes an additional stressor that can increase anxiety in critical care nurse. In addition, nurses work using a shift work system that can cause disturbances in the circadian rhythm of the body resulting in decreased quality of sleep among critical care nurse. This study aims to determine the Quality of Sleep and it's dimensions among critical care nurse at public hospital in Semarang. This research was a descriptive survey. Techniques of data collection using total sampling technique, with total respondents were 43 critical care nurses. Instruments in this study used a questionnaire PSQI (Pitssburgh Sleep Quality Index). The results showed that the Quality of Sleep among critical care nurse was bad, with an average score of PSQI 7.9. The majority of critical care nurses said subjectively had good sleep quality, but almost some critical care nurse had inefficient sleep patterns, sleep duration less than 5 hours every days and sleep latency > 60 minutes. In addition, most nurses convey having mild sleep disturbances, minor problems while running daytime activities and only minority who taking sleeping pills for less than 1 week. Therefore, to improve the Quality of Sleep, researcher suggests the nurses to perform simple exercises before bedtime, arranged for a good night's sleep, drink warm milk and chamomile tea before bed, and arranged to waked hours in the morning at the same time each day.
Keywords: Sleep, Sleep Quality, Critical Care Nurse
References: 62 (2003-2018)


Following the discovery of the unique set of properties exhibited by a group of layered ternary carbides and nitrides known as MAX phases, they have been proposed as a candidate for use in nuclear engineering. Specifically, they have been proposed as an Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) coating or cladding material, to provide extra protection from the high temperature oxidation conditions during a Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA), conditions which current zirconium-based cladding has limited resistance to as seen at Fukushima in 2011. Following a survey of the literature on the properties, synthesis techniques and methods of application of MAX phases, the body of experimental work falls into three sections, which contain a series of proof-of-concept experiments relating to the use of MAX phases in ATF cladding.
The first is concerned with methods of synthesis of MAX phases. Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) was used to synthesise Ti3SiC2, while Molten Salt Synthesis (MSS) was used to synthesise Ti3SiC2, Ti3AlC2 and Ti2AlC, the latter of which was found to be 88wt.% pure, with a synthesis temperature approximately 100°C lower than by other methods reported in the literature. Both SPS and MSS were used to conduct a series of experiments attempting to form reactor suitable hybrid MAX phases that may have been suitable as an ATF material. These attempts were sadly unsuccessful, though promising such phases have now been synthesised by hot pressing in the literature and potentially with this additional guidance on stable phases now available, future SPS or MSS synthesis may prove more fruitful.
The following section covers experiments to create a method of coating existing fuel rods with a protective MAX phase layer. Depositions were carried out of MAX phases onto flat and tubular geometry using Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD), a room temperature deposition technique that can be performed in water. Deposition was carried out onto copper, titanium, graphite and ZIRLO® (zirconium alloy) substrates. Commercially available Ti3SiC2 powder was used as a placeholder MAX phase due to its availability over other more suitable phases. Unsintered depositions of 1.89±0.26 mg/cm2 were achieved on titanium substrates in 10 minutes. These powder coatings were then rapidly densified using a Selective Laser Melting (SLM) 3D printer, and a study of laser power and focus was carried out. Dense coatings of up to 30µm thick were achieved on titanium that did not amorphise, but with a thin surface phase of TiC1-x present. Varying the laser focus parameter resulted in bands of coating, moving towards fuller coverage with a widening focus. Laser sintered samples on ZIRLO® substrates did not densify, however it is believed this is due to an unavoidable change in the SLM 3D printer used, and not an underlying issue.
The final experimental section explores the possibility of creating MAX phase cladding, by using the well-established technique slip casting to produce short lengths of tube. Ti3SiC2 slips of varying composition were analysed for their rheological properties and used to cast tubes in plaster moulds. An investigation of sintering conditions was carried out, and the resulting densified tubes were found to be ~89% of maximum density. The tubes were carefully drilled out and polished, and then subjected to destructive hoop stress tests. The highest hoop stress per unit wall thickness value for a tube was calculated at 9.1±2.2 MPa/mm.
A discussion section then considers the results found in this project and examines them in the larger context of other techniques, and their feasibility for use in the nuclear industry. The proof of concept experiments performed were moderately successful, in that a synthesis method for MAX phases was found to be effective for certain phases, a method for coating and densifying MAX phases onto substrates was found, and MAX phase tubes were cast. Work done in this project can serve as a starting point for further investigations into methods of applying MAX phases to the nuclear industry.
Glossary of acronyms
ATF – Accident Tolerant Fuel
EPD – Electrophoretic Deposition
LOCA – Loss of Coolant Accident
MSS – Molten Salt Synthesis
SLM – Selective Laser Melting
SPS – Spark Plasma Sintering


Objective: to evaluate the self-reported knowledge of the medical and nursing teams regarding bloodstream infection prevention measures related to the central venous catheter. Methods: a cross-sectional study carried out at the intensive care unit of a large State run emergency hospital in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais (Brazil). The population was composed of doctors, nurses and nurse technicians responsible for the insertion and maintenance of central venous catheters. A face-to-face interview was conducted, and a structured questionnaire was used as the research instrument. In order to know the distribution of the data, descriptive statistics was used and for the analysis of the factors associated with knowledge the Poisson regression with robust variance was implemented. The considered significance level was 5% (p <0.05) and the confidence interval was 95%. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to verify the normality of the data. Results: the self-reported knowledge median in the different researched questions was 42.8%. In the evaluation of knowledge regarding the catheter insertion, the percentage of self-reported knowledge of the doctors was 100%. On the contrary, the maintenance measures reported by the nursing team were lower than 50%, highlighting hub disinfection (35%) and duration of disinfection (7.2%). Conclusion: in a general overview of the eligible questions for the evaluation of team knowledge, a limited knowledge of the measures, considered gold standard in the prevention of central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection, was verified, reinforcing the importance of continuous education and further discussion regarding the prevention of this infection. DESCRIPTORS: Catheter-related infections. Intensive care units. Patient safety. Central venous catheters. Knowledge. CONHECIMENTO AUTORREFERIDO DAS EQUIPES MÉDICA E DE ENFERMAGEM QUANTO ÀS MEDIDAS DE PREVENÇÃO DE INFECÇÃO DA CORRENTE SANGUÍNEA


We apply machine learning to version control data to measure the quantity of effort required to produce source code changes. We construct a model of a 'standard coder' trained from examples of code changes produced by actual software developers together with the labor time they supplied. The effort of a code change is then defined as the labor hours supplied by the standard coder to produce that change. We therefore reduce heterogeneous, structured code changes to a scalar measure of effort derived from large quantities of empirical data on the coding behavior of software developers. The standard coder replaces traditional metrics, such as lines-of-code or function point analysis, and yields new insights into what code changes require more or less effort.


Transgranular cleavage fracture in the ductile-to-brittle transition region of ferritic steels often leads to spectacular and catastrophic failures of engineering structures. Due to the strongly stochastic effects of metallurgical scale inhomogenieties together with the nonlinear mechanical response from plastic deformation, the measured fracture toughness data exhibit a large degree of scatter and a strong dependence on constraint. This has stimulated an increasing amount of research over the past two decades, among which the Weibull stress model originally proposed by the Beremin group has gained much popularity. This model is based on weakest link statistics and provides a framework to quantify the relationship between macro and microscale driving forces for cleavage fracture. It has been successfully applied to predict constraint effects on cleavage fracture and on the scatter of macroscopic fracture toughness values. This paper provides a brief review of the research conducted by the authors in recent years to extend the engineering applicability of the Weibull stress model to predict cleavage fracture in ferritic steels. These recent efforts have introduced a threshold value in the Weibull stress model, introduced more robust calibration methods for determination of model parameters, predicted experimentally observed constraint effects, demonstrated temperature and loading rate effects on the model parameters, and expanded the original Beremin model to include the effects of microcrack nucleation.Copyright © 2008 by ASME


A point set obtained by laser altimetry represents points from not only the ground surface but also objects found on it. For civil works applications points representing the surface of non-ground objects have to be removed from the point set in a filtering process. This paper describes modifications made to an existing "slope based" filtering algorithm, and presents some results obtained from the use of the filter. The "slope based" filter operates on the assumption that terrain slopes do not rise above a certain threshold, and that features in the data that have slopes above this threshold do not belong to the natural terrain surface. However, this assumption limits the use of the filter to terrain with gentle slopes. To overcome this limitation, the filter was modified in manner that the threshold varies with respect to the slope of the terrain. The results of tests carried out using the modified filter confirm that the modification reduces the number of Type I errors (ground points in steep terrain are not filtered off). Further numerical comparison of the filter output with a reference data set for the same site (obtained photogrammetrically) show that the filter generates relatively minimal Type II errors. The output of the modified slope filter was also compared with the output from a filtering found in the commercial software package, "Terrascan".


The Trump Administration has been hostile to transgender people, stripping away many protections from discrimination established by the prior administration. It is therefore striking that President Trump's signature international agreement to date — the "new NAFTA" recently negotiated with Canada and Mexico — includes a provision requiring all three countries to implement appropriate policies to protect workers against discrimination based on gender identity. This provision has a similar requirement with respect to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, notwithstanding the fact that the Trump Administration's domestic policies have also shown hostility to such protections. How did this provision come to be included in the trade agreement? How powerful is it in practice? And what lessons does its inclusion have for international trade law more generally?

Drawing on subtle changes in the wording of the initial and revised texts of the trade agreement, this Essay hypothesizes that the initial inclusion of gender-identity and sexual-orientation protections took place with little to no interagency consultation with the Department of Justice, which has taken a strong position against such workplace protections. Once these protections made it into the initial public draft, the Trump Administration could — and did — water down the protections in subsequent negotiations, but the Administration could not remove the protections entirely. The net effect is an international commitment to the protection of gender identity and sexual orientation that is substantively weak but still meaningful — and that carries considerable expressive force. The inclusion of the protections shows that trade agreements can lead even powerful governments to make value-laden commitments at odds with their own domestic agendas.


BACKGROUND
Despite the frequency of musculoskeletal conditions seen in a broad spectrum of medical practice, there is compelling evidence that medical schools are inadequately preparing students in this field. We compared medical students across all residency interests with respect to their clinical confidence, cognitive mastery, and perception of education in musculoskeletal medicine.

METHODS
A cross-sectional survey study of third and fourth-year students at Harvard Medical School was conducted during the 2005-2006 academic year. Two hundred and forty-nine of 337 students completed the survey, yielding an overall response rate of 74%. All participants were asked to complete a nationally validated objective examination in musculoskeletal medicine and a thirty-question survey soliciting their top residency choice, all of the musculoskeletal electives that they had taken, their clinical confidence, and their attitudes toward musculoskeletal education.

RESULTS
Residency interest significantly affected the third-year students' performance on the cognitive mastery examination (p = 0.018) and also significantly affected both the third and the fourth-year students' clinical confidence in their ability to perform an examination of the musculoskeletal system (p = 0.023 and p = 0.015, respectively). The students' perception of the importance of musculoskeletal medicine, regardless of their residency interest, correlated with their decision to take musculoskeletal clinical electives (p = 0.009 and p < 0.001 for third and fourth-year students, respectively). Perceived importance was also correlated with higher clinical confidence for third-year students (p = 0.043) and increased examination scores for fourth-year students (p < 0.001). However, only students who listed orthopaedic surgery as their top residency choice demonstrated cognitive mastery in musculoskeletal medicine and reported above-average clinical confidence in their ability to conduct an examination of the musculoskeletal system.

CONCLUSIONS
Students' residency interest and their perception of the importance of musculoskeletal medicine to their future career influence the education that they receive in this field. In particular, students interested in non-orthopaedic residencies failed to demonstrate cognitive mastery and lacked clinical confidence. Possible approaches for medical schools to tackle this important issue that merit further exploration include requiring additional time for education in musculoskeletal medicine and providing a more structured musculoskeletal curriculum.


The gravitational anomalies of simple bodies (sphere, cylinder, and fault) were used to develop methods for analyzing gravity data in the frequency domain. The Fourier transforms of the functional representations of the theoretical gravitational anomalies of these bodies were obtained. Mathematical relations were formulated between the transform‐versus‐frequency relationships and the depths and sizes of the bodies. Compound gravity anomalies (multiple cylinders, fault, and cylinder) were analyzed, and the transforms were reduced to transforms of anomalies due to individual simple bodies. These methods of analysis were applied to theoretical anomalies using numerical techniques, and the accuracy of both depth and size determinations was within a few percent in all cases.


The branch of computer science is concerned with making computers behave like humans. Artificial intelligence includes game playing, expert systems, neural networks, natural language, and robotics. Currently, no computers exhibit full artificial intelligence (that is, are able to simulate human behaviour). The greatest advances have occurred in the field of games playing. The best computer chess programs are now capable of beating humans. Today, the hottest area of artificial  .intelligence is neural networks, which are proving successful in a number of disciplines such as voice recognition and natural-language processing. There are several programming languages that are known as AI languages because they are used almost exclusively for AI applications


Clickers have been used in classrooms as a tool to improve learning and affect for students. However, administrative procedures such as timed responses, peer discussion, and type of feedback carried out during studies on the effectiveness of clickers differ greatly because instructors differ in administrative preferences surrounding the use of clickers in their classrooms. In addition, many publications fail to provide descriptions or examples of the clicker items used in their studies. The differences in procedures and lack of information contribute to inconsistent and inconclusive results on the effectiveness of clickers for increasing student learning. This review assesses studies for their use of principles from the field of educational psychology to support student learning in conjunction with clickers; determines inconsistencies in the literature of the administrative procedures and types of feedback; and, analyzes descriptions and examples of clicker items asked. It was found that the most common principle from educational psychology applied in the studies was the use of multiple external representations (MERs) with the clicker questions. It was also found that the majority (n=104) of studies neither use nor address the use of peer discussion, re-voting, timed responses, or feedback when using clickers. Only 47% of the studies provided example items; of those, most possessed major design flaws based on empirically validated guidelines. Future recommendations include determining which administrative procedures consistently produce favorable results and a call for research on the effectiveness of using MERs with clicker questions.


Over the years, medical practitioners have expressed concern about the possibility of being sued as a result of Good Samaritan acts. This is despite the fact that there is no Australian case in which a Good Samaritan has been sued by a person claiming that the actions of the Good Samaritan were negligent. This article discusses the nature of Good Samaritan acts and examines the Good Samaritan legislation that has been enacted in Australia.


The primary purposes of this study are to investigate the feasibility of electrochemical deposition treatment (EDT) as a comprehensive rehabilitation method for corrosion-induced deterioration in reinforced concrete with various severity levels, and to propose a guideline for the determination of critical factors to advance EDT. This study includes three experimental phases, each of which simulates the initiation (de-passivation), propagation (high corrosion activity), and acceleration (formation of a surface-breaking crack) periods of corrosion-induced deterioration. After completion of a series of accelerated corrosion tests, damaged concrete samples with different severity levels are rehabilitated by a series of EDT processes using a MgCl2 solution in an electrolyte. The main variables for this experiment are the concentration levels (0, 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 M) of a MgCl2 solution for test phase 1, charging time (0, 2, and 7 days) in EDT for test phase 2, and configuration of pre- and post-treatment processes in EDT for test phase 3. The rehabilitation performance of EDT is evaluated by analyzing the AC impedance properties of the steel-and-concrete interface using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for the test phases 1 and 2, and microscopic alternation in concrete cracks using optical microscopic image and SEM/EDX. It is demonstrated that EDT is an effective method for preventing and mitigating corrosion-induced deterioration in the initiation and rust propagation periods of corrosion and for repairing (closing and filling) a corrosion-induced surface-breaking crack in the acceleration phase of corrosion. Corrosion-resistant performance of concrete increases as the concentration levels of a MgCl2 solution in an electrolyte increases and as the charging time in EDT increases. In addition, a post-treatment process (applying a NaOH solution) after the electrochemical deposition process significantly improves crack-repairing performance of EDT.


A broad range of single field models of inflation are analyzed in light of all relevant recent cosmological data, checking whether they can lead to the formation of long-lived Primordial Black Holes (PBHs). To that end we calculate the spectral index of the power spectrum of primordial perturbations as well as its first and second derivatives. PBH formation is possible only if the spectral index increases significantly at small scales, i.e. large wave number k. Since current data indicate that the first derivative αS of the spectral index nS(k0) is negative at the pivot scale k0, PBH formation is only possible in the presence of a sizable and positive second derivative (``running of the running'') βS. Among the three small-field and five large-field models we analyze, only one small-field model, the ``running mass'' model, allows PBH formation, for a narrow range of parameters. We also note that none of the models we analyze can accord for a large and negative value of αS, which is weakly preferred by current data.


Background Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified hundreds of loci associated with common vascular diseases such as coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI), and hypertension. However, the lack of mechanistic insights for a majority of these loci limits translation of these findings into the clinic. Among these loci with unknown functions is UFL1-FHL5 (chr6q16.1), a locus that reached genome-wide significance in a recent CAD/MI GWAS meta-analysis. In addition to CAD/MI, UFL1-FHL5 is also implicated to coronary calcium, intracranial aneurysm, and migraine risk, consistent with the widespread pleiotropy observed among other GWAS loci. Methods We apply a multimodal approach leveraging statistical fine-mapping, epigenomic profiling, and imaging of human coronary artery tissues to implicate Four-and-a-half LIM domain 5 (FHL5) as the top candidate causal gene. We unravel the molecular mechanisms of the cross-phenotype genetic associations through in vitro functional analyses and epigenomic profiling experiments. Results We prioritized FHL5 as the top candidate causal gene at the UFL1-FHL5 locus through eQTL colocalization methods. FHL5 gene expression was enriched in the SMC and pericyte population in human artery tissues with coexpression network analyses supporting a functional role in regulating SMC contraction. Unexpectedly, under procalcifying conditions, FHL5 overexpression promoted vascular calcification and dysregulated processes related to extracellular matrix organization and calcium handling. Lastly, by mapping FHL5 binding sites and inferring FHL5 target gene function using artery tissue gene regulatory network analyses, we highlight regulatory interactions between FHL5 and downstream CAD/MI loci, such as FOXL1 and FN1 that have roles in vascular remodeling. Conclusion Taken together, these studies provide mechanistic insights into the pleiotropic genetic associations of UFL1-FHL5. We show that FHL5 mediates vascular disease risk through transcriptional regulation of downstream vascular remodeling loci. These trans-acting mechanisms may account for a portion of the heritable risk for complex vascular diseases.


The QCD analysis of hadron-antihadron → γ * γ in the forward region and related processes A QCD analysis of the reactions AB → γ * γ and γ * γ → AB in the forward region shows that they can be factorized in a way which is quite similar to the frameword developped for deeply virtual Compton scattering. The generalized parton distributions (GPDs) related to this latter process being replaced by new non perturbative hadronic matrix elements, the transition distribution amplitudes (TDAs).


Gingival recessions and noncarious cervical lesions are frequent and closely related defects which can be successfully treated by mucogingival surgery and restorative therapy techniques either used alone or in combination depending on the defect characteristics. Proper treatment planning is guided by careful clinical diagnosis. A selection of treatment modalities are presented and useful hints proposed: the long term success is always strictly bound to the identification and elimination of the etiologic factors, to a correct treatment and a meticulous maintenance program.


The present descriptive study investigated the challenges experienced and the coping strategies used by Egyptian university educators from different institution types while teaching online during the pandemic. The cross-sectional study drew participants (N = 222) from three different academic institution types, private universities, public universities, and adult education institutions, who responded to a survey that examined the technical, professional, administrative, social, and psychological challenges teachers encountered as well as their coping strategies. Data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Results indicated that the challenges and coping strategies reported by teachers varied according to the teaching context and the requirements of each academic institution. The most reported challenges experienced were exhaustion, internet problems, technical issues, and anxiety. Despite the challenges, participants reported a few positive effects, including feeling more productive, being motivated to learn something new, feeling appreciated by the students and administration, and feeling confident using online teaching tools. Results also revealed that the participants used social and professional strategies to cope with the circumstances accompanying the sudden shift to online teaching. The results indicated how challenges faced by educators from different institution types may diminish with more training on, and experience with, online teaching, forming communities of practice as well as other coping strategies they developed. Such findings should be helpful to educators, institutions, and policymakers in different academic institutions all over the world and in various teaching contexts.


Quantitative data on the food of the fishes inhabiting Lake Mcllwaine, Rhodesia, show that the feeding of the dominant species in this community (Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), Hydrocynus vittatus (Castelnau), Tilapia melanopleura Dumeril, Tilapia mossamhica Peters, Tilapia macrochir Boulenger, Labeo altivelis Peters, and Gnathonemus macrolepidotus (Peters)) covers a wide spectrum, and almost all elements of the potential food supply are utilized. Exceptions are noted, however, and the introduction of the Indian carp, Catla catla (Cuv. & Val.), is advocated in order to utilize the large blooms of phyto- and zooplankton. The oligochaete, Branchiura cf. sowerbyi, which forms over 50% of the benthic biomass is also not utilized as a source of fish food. However, no fish species is known to feed on oligochaetes to any large extent. Predation by the Tigerfish, Hydrocynus vittatus, is shown to have severe effects upon recruitment to the valuable Tilapia fishery, and the reduction of the abundance of H. vittatus by means of selective fishing techniques is advocated.


We show that supersymmetric gauge theories with a product gauge group admit quasi-instantons, which, like instantons, sit at the absolute minimum of the action in the corresponding topological sector. However, unlike ordinary instantons which preserve part of the supersymmetry, these break all supersymmetries of the action. We also provide a generalization where quasiinstantons take value in the associated Lie algebra of the recently proposed 3-algebras. When the structure constants and the metric of the algebra are covariantly constant, the gauge bundle admits new topological sectors with quasi-instantons at the minimum of the action.


Objective: To validate the ethno-therapeutic claim of the traditionally used plant Jasminum auriculatum (J. auriculatum) in skin diseases, by evaluating its wound healing potential along with its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties; so as to understand their role in wound healing. Materials and Methods: Excision and incision wound models were used to evaluate the wound healing activity on albino rats. The wound healing potential was assessed by measuring rate of wound contraction, epithelialization period, hydroxyproline content, skin breaking strength and histopathological parameters. Reference standard drug was Nitrofurazone ointment. The antioxidant activity was determined using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The antimicrobial activity was determined by agar well diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration by serial dilution method. Results: Higher rate of wound contraction (83.66±0.50% on 15th day), decrease in the period of epithelialization (17.83±1.6days), higher skin breaking strength (170.71±1.52g), higher collagen content and favourable histopathological changes revealed that topical application of ointment containing successive ethanolic extract (S.E.E) of J. auriculatum leaves has the most potent wound healing ability compared to control group in both the models studied. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of successive ethanolic extract was found to be 33.39µg/ml. Successive ethanolic extract was found to be most effective against Pseudomonas auregenosa having a zone of inhibition 16.65±0.6mm and the minimum inhibitory concentration was 0.78mg/ml. Conclusion: The data of this study indicate that successive ethanolic extract of the leaves exhibit potent wound healing, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. This justifies the ethno-medicinal use of plant for the treatment of wound and microbial infections.


Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has achieved unprecedented success in treating multiple cancer types. However, clinical benefit remains modest for most patients with solid malignancies with the majority having primary resistance to these therapies. Additionally, many patients that initially respond often acquire resistance. Tumor-intrinsic loss of MHC class I and aberrations in the interferon gamma (IFNγ) pathway have been shown to play an important role in ICB resistance. Entinostat, a class I HDAC inhibitor, has previously been shown to upregulate MHC class I molecules and antigen processing machinery (APM). NHS-IL12 (M9140), an IL12 fusion protein targeting necrotic tissue, increases anti-tumor effector functions through an influx of interferon gamma into the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we investigated the combination of Entinostat and NHS-IL12 in three different murine ICB-refractory tumor models (TC-1/a9, CMT.64, or RVP3) harboring varying MHC-class I and APM deficiencies.Entinostat and murine NHS-IL12 were administered to mice bearing lung TC-1/a9 (HPV16 E6/E7+), CMT.64 (lung), or RVP3 (sarcoma) tumors. Anti-tumor efficacy and survival were monitored. Comprehensive tumor and spleen immune profile analyses were carried out using flow cytometry. Tumor supernantants and sera were analyzed for cytokine and chemokine profiles. Additionally, whole transcriptomic analysis was carried out on TC-1/a9 tumors. TCGA datasets were analyzed for translational relevance.We demonstrated that combination therapy elicits potent anti-tumor activity in ICB-resistant MHC-I deficient tumors through prolonged activation of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. TC-1/a9 tumor-bearing athymic nude mice and depletion studies confirmed CD8 T cells were required for tumor growth control and survival. Importantly, we show for the first time that combination therapy synergizes to promote antigen presentation, MHC-I and APM upregulation and enrichment of IFNγ and antigen processing pathways increasingly described as hallmarks of ICB resistance. Moreover, combination therapy promoted M1-macrophages and activated antigen presenting cells while suppressing M2-macrophages and Tregs in a tumor-dependent manner. Combination therapy induced high levels of IFNγ, IL-12, CXCL9 and CXCL13 in the TME, resulting in significant anti-tumor activity including in the IFNγ signaling-impaired RVP3 tumor model. A biomarker signature of the mechanism involved in these studies is associated with patients' overall survival across multiple tumor types.Our findings provide a rationale for combining NHS-IL12 with Entinostat in the clinical setting for patients unresponsive to ICB.The authors thank Curtis Randolph for his excellent technical assistance.


This paper reports the application of a multiphase dispersive extraction method to the extraction, separation, and determination of the phenolic acids from Salicornia herbacea L. using silica-confined ionic liquids as sorbents. A suitable sorbent for phenolic acid extraction and separation was first identified based on the adsorption behavior of the phenolic acids on different silica-confined ionic liquids. The sample was then mixed with the optimized sorbent and solvent to achieve multiphase dispersive extraction. The sample/sorbent ratio was optimized using theoretical calculations from the adsorption isotherm and experiments. After transferring the supernatant to an empty cartridge, an SPE process was used to separate the three phenolic acids from the other interference. Through systematic optimization, the optimal conditions produced high recovery rates of protocatechuic acid (91.20%), caffeic acid (94.03%), and ferulic acid (91.33%). Overall, the proposed method is expected to have wide applicability.


Sexual enhancers increase sexual potency, sexual pleasure, or libido. Substances increasing libido alter the concentrations of specific neurotransmitters or sex hormones in the central nervous system. Interestingly, the same pathways are involved in the mechanisms underlying many psychiatric and neurological disorders, and adverse reactions associated with the use of aphrodisiacs are strongly expected. However, sexual enhancers of plant origin have gained popularity over recent years, as natural substances are often regarded as a safer alternative to modern medications and are easily acquired without prescription. We reviewed the psychiatric and neurological adverse effects associated with the consumption of herbal aphrodisiacs Areca catechu L., Argemone Mexicana L., Citrus aurantium L., Eurycoma longifolia Jack., Lepidium meyenii Walp., Mitragyna speciosa Korth., Panax ginseng C. A. Mey, Panax quinquefolius L., Pausinystalia johimbe (K. Schum.) Pierre ex Beille, Piper methysticum G. Forst., Ptychopetalum olacoides Benth., Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N. E. Brown, Turnera diffusa Willd. ex. Schult., Voacanga africana Stapf ex Scott-Elliot, and Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. A literature search was conducted on the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases with the aim of identifying all the relevant articles published on the issue up to June 2020. Most of the selected sexual enhancers appeared to be safe at therapeutic doses, although mild to severe adverse effects may occur in cases of overdosing or self-medication with unstandardized products. Drug interactions are more concerning, considering that herbal aphrodisiacs are likely used together with other plant extracts and/or pharmaceuticals. However, few data are available on the side effects of several plants included in this review, and more clinical studies with controlled administrations should be conducted to address this issue.


D2A21, a novel peptide antibiotic has in vitro activity against a wide spectrum of sexually transmitted diseases (STD). In this study we tested the hypothesis that intravaginal D2A21 would interfere with acquisition of Trichomonas vaginalis infection in a modified mouse model. T. vaginalis infections of estrogenized young mice pretreated with Lactobacillus vaginalis or Lactobacillus rhamnosus were more frequent and persistent than those in mice pre-treated with Lactobacillus gasseri or Lactobacillus acidophilus. One hundred percent T. vaginalis infection was achieved for 2-4 days post-challenge when intravaginal L. rhamnosus pre-treatments were given to estrogenized mice 48 hr prior to a single T. vaginalis challenge. Estrogenized mice pre-treated with L. rhamnosus were pre-medicated with intravaginal placebo gel, 0.5% or 2% D2A21 gel, or 500 microg/mL metronidazole gel prior to T. vaginalis challenge. Both 2% D2A21 and metronidazole gels were significantly more efficacious (10% or none infected) than placebo gel (53% infected) in preventing vaginal T. vaginalis infections in mice.


Invasive breast cancer (IBC) is a heterogeneous disease with distinct molecular and histological features as well as diverse biological behaviors. It is thus critical to find specific gene aberrations that can drive breast cancer initiation and progression as potential therapeutic targets. Our lab has established bioinformatics workflows to identify therapeutic oncogene targets. We have nominated Tousled-Like Kinase 2 (TLK2) as a candidate therapeutic target from 44,932 human genes based on integrative copy number data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). TLK2 is a nuclear serine/threonine kinase that serves as a cell cycle checkpoint regulating chromosome assembly, and is inactivated by phosphorylation through the ATM dependent manner in the response to the double strand breaks during the S-phase. Interestingly, we observed 12–14% of focal TLK2 gene amplifications and translocations in invasive breast cancers, which are more frequent in luminal B tumors. Chromosomal aberrations may leads the deregulation of TLK2 kinase activity and results in overcoming the cell cycle checkpoint upon DNA damage such as IR or chemotherapeutic drugs treatments in breast cancer, thus destabilizing the cancer genome. Indeed, our preliminary data show that TLK2 knockdown substantially inhibits cell proliferation in breast cancer cells overexpressing TLK2. Further, this response is sustained in their derivative strains resistant to hormone or anti-Her2 therapies, suggesting the potential of TLK2 inhibition to sensitize these therapies as well. Overall, I expect that this study will provide compelling evidence regarding the role of TLK2 in breast cancer tumorigenesis and genomic instability, and establish its potential as a therapeutic target. The possibility of developing specific TLK2 inhibitors can be well demonstrated by the previous success of drugs against other cell cycle checkpoint kinases that are currently under clinical trials. In addition, molecular assays detecting TLK2 derangements may be applied in the clinics to identify patients who might benefit from future TLK2 inhibitor. If TLK2 endows resistance or sensitivity to other therapies, assays detecting TLK2 aberrations may also have important predictive value for personalization of these treatments. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr PD09-08.


This study assesses the impact of inclusion of entrepreneurial contents in curricula in developing entrepreneurial- like thinking in non-business major students in Institut d'Enseignement Superieur de Ruhengeri in Rwanda. A comparison of findings before and after the training indicate that systematic learning of entrepreneurship can effectively contribute to the focused development of meta-level skills and leave important input for the policymakers and education strategists who look forward to reforming the supplyside of the labor market as a catalyst of growth.


This paper reports on a real-time radio-link at W-band (92–114 GHz). 10 Gbps peak rate is reached for a 2000 MHz carrier bandwidth, and 5.7 Gbps is demonstrated over a link-hop of 1.5 km for a 1500 MHz-carrier, running at 128 QAM and 32 QAM, respectively. High integrated radio front-end SIP modules using GaAs technology, achieves a linear TX channel power of +8 dBm, and RX NF of 8 dB from the radio. It is configured to achieve 5.7 Gbps in a radio link with 149 dB system gain.


Two moderate magnitude (Mw = 5.6 and 5.2) earthquakes in Krn Mountains occurred in 1998 and 2004 which had maximum intensity VII-VIII and VI-VII EMS-98, respectively. Comparison of both macroseismic fields showed unexpected differences in the epicentral area which cannot be explained by site effects. Considerably, different distribution of the highest intensities can be noticed with respect to the strike of the seismogenic fault and in some localities even higher intensities have been estimated for the smaller earthquake. Although hypocentres of both earthquakes were only 2 km apart and were located on the same seismogenic Ravne fault, their focal mechanisms showed a slight difference: almost pure dextral strike-slip for the first event and a strike-slip with small reverse component on a steep fault plane for the second one. Seismotectonically the difference is explained as an active growth of the Ravne fault at its NW end. The radiation patterns of both events were studied to explain their possible impact on the observed variations in macroseismic fields and damage distribution. Radiation amplitude lobes were computed for three orthogonal directions: radial P, SV, and SH. The highest intensities of both earthquakes were systematically observed in directions of four (1998) or two (2004) large amplitude lobes in SH component (which corresponds mainly to Love waves), which have significantly different orientation for both events. On the other hand, radial P direction, which is almost purely symmetrical for the strike-slip mechanism of 1998 event, showed for the 2004 event that its small reverse component of movement has resulted in a very pronounced amplitude lobe in SW direction where two settlements are located which expressed higher intensities in the case of the 2004 event with respect to the 1998 one. Although both macroseismic fields are very complex due to influences of multiple earthquakes, retrofitting activity after 1998, site effects, and sparse distribution of settlements, unusual differences in observed intensities can be explained with different radiation patterns.


In the last decades, crisis discourse became more dominant, leading to changes in Israeli planning discourse. The planning system assumes neoliberal features, which changed the power-relations within planning, enabled a rescaling of planning powers and determined the adoption of specific urban development patterns. The paper reveals how a governing coalition, using crisis discourse, promoted policy change that can deepen social inequalities and environmental unbalance. We focus on Israeli VATMAL law, enacted to 'solve' the housing crisis, through a shortened and centralized procedure that undermined lower planning levels. We show that the plans processed through VATMAL have serious impacts on natural areas and future housing. The article concludes that the space, shaped by current 'housing crisis' through the VATMAL, is increasing spatial and social inequalities in Israel.
Keywords: planning policy, crisis discourse, inequalities


This paper outlines the improvements in water quality which have occurred in the River Trent catchment since about 1960 and the strategies by which they have been achieved. During this period there have also been several major changes in the structure of water quality management, in pollution control legislation and in the use of river and effluent quality standards. The links between quality trends, legislation, management structures and investment in sewerage and sewage treatment are considered. Prospects for the future under the current management regime are discussed.


The article is devoted to the publication of the results of sociological research devoted to the impact of globalization on the dynamics of public ideas of urban and rural population about "the images of generations". Globalization is a result of the third industrial revolution. It is a social and cultural shift, which has had a different impact on the consciousness of the metaphorical urban (St. Petersburg) and rural (South of Leningrad region) population of the North-West of the Russian Federation. Values of historical events and technology were more relevant to urban populations, and moral values – for the rural population. To describe the dominant images of generations regardless of place of residence and age of respondents were spiritual and moral dominant, at the time, as consumer values were ignored by the courts. Regardless of residency and age of respondents spiritual and moral values became important to respondents, instead of consumer values which were ignored by the respondents. Dynamics of images of generations in the minds of the respondents highlighted two trends: 1) the idealization of ancestral generation images; 2) the objectification of the self generation image.


The presence of carbon in fly ash requires an increase in the dosage of the air-entraining admixture for concrete mix, and may cause the admixture to lose efficiency. Specifying authorities for the concrete producers have set maximum allowable levels of residual carbon. These levels are the so called Loss On Ignition (LOI). The concrete producers` day-to-day purchasing decisions sets the LOI at 4%. The objective of the project is to investigate the kinetics of oxidation of residual carbon present in coal fly ash as a possible first step toward producing low-carbon fly ash from high-carbon, low quality fly ash.


This paper presents the results of an aging assessment of the nuclear power industry's responses to NRC Generic Letter 97-06 on the degradation of steam generator internals experienced at Electricite de France (EdF) plants in France and at a United States pressurized water reactor (PWR). Westinghouse (W ), Combustion Engineering (CE), and Babcock & Wilcox (B & W) steam generator models, currently in service at U.S. nuclear power plants, potentially could experience degradation similar to that found at EdF plants and the U.S. plant. The steam generators in many of the U.S. PWRs have been replaced with steam generators with improved designs and materials. These replacement steam generators have been manufactured in the U.S. and abroad. During this assessment, each of the three owners groups (W , CE, and B&W) identified for its steam generator models all the potential internal components that are vulnerable to degradation while in service. Each owners group developed inspection and monitoring guidance and recommendations for its particular steam generator models. The Nuclear Energy Institute incorporated in NEI 97-06, "Steam Generator Program Guidelines," a requirement to monitor secondary side steam generator components if their failure could prevent the steam generator from fulfilling its intended safety-related function. Licensees indicated that they implemented or planned to implement, as appropriate for their steam generators, their owners group recommendations to address the long-term effects of the potential degradation mechanisms associated with the steam generator internals.Copyright © 2002 by ASME


Abstract  The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of psychosocial and acculturation factors on drinking behavior among Taiwanese aboriginal teenagers. Stratified random sampling was used to select six of the 19 aboriginal schools in Taipei, Pingtung, Hualien, and Taitung counties. A total of 495 student subjects were enrolled in the study, including 290 boys and 205 girls, with classification by tribe of 206 Amis, 97 Atayal, 94 Paiwan, 47 Bunun, 19 Rukai, 15 Yami, 10 Puyuma, two Saisiyat, one Tsou, and four unknown. The analysis indicated that the psychosocial and acculturation factors that directly influenced drinking behaviors of aboriginal teenagers were: self‐efficacy, drinking behaviors of parents, peer alcohol use, social assimilation, social attitude, and territorial attitude. In this model, peer alcohol use had the most prominent impact on drinking behavior among aboriginal teenagers. The findings suggest that parents' behaviors play a significant role in the development of problematic drinking behavior in the aboriginal teenager through observation and imitation, and also that self‐efficacy and the level of acculturation influences drinking behavior in aboriginal teenagers.


Abstract: Remaining freshwater systems are historically under threat mainly due to human activities such as agriculture and urbanization. The consequences of such activities are innumerous, and among them there is a decrease of suitable habitats for threatened fauna. In the Brazilian Cerrado, the odonatofauna of palm swamps and riparian forests are still poorly explored, a fact that difficult conservation efforts of the group. Thus, we performed an inventory in several urban and rural sites containing these phytophysiognomies in Uberlândia, Triângulo Mineiro region, western Minas Gerais state. In total, we found 101 Odonata species, seven families and 46 genera in the municipality, with 76 and 66 species, respectively, belonging to palm swamp and forest sites. From this diversity, eight species were first records in the state of Minas Gerais: Neuraeschna claviforcipata Martin, 1909, Phyllocycla cf. medusaBelle, 1988, Diastatops intensa Montgomery, 1940, Oligoclada pachystigma Karsch, 1890, O. xanthopleura Borror, 1931, Angelagrion nathaliaeLencioni, 2008, Telebasis sanguinalis Calvert, 1909 and Telebasis simulacrum (Calvert, 1909). We also sampled Erythrodiplax anaGuillermo-Ferreira & Vilela 2016, a species listed as endangered (EN) by the IUCN red list. Additionally, we include some taxonomic notes of Forcepsioneura machadorum females, a newly discovered species in the region. Our results contribute to the Odonata database in Brazil and highlights the importance inventories in poorly explored aquatic ecosystems.


On in-order processors, without dynamic instruction scheduling, program running times may be significantly reduced by compile-time instruction scheduling. We present here the first effective certified instruction scheduler that operates over superblocks (it may move instructions across branches), along with its performance evaluation. It is integrated within the CompCert C compiler, providing a complete machine-checked proof of semantic preservation from C to assembly. Our optimizer composes several passes designed by translation validation: program transformations are proposed by untrusted oracles, which are then validated by certified and scalable checkers. Our main checker is an architecture-independent simulation-test over superblocks modulo register liveness, which relies on hash-consed symbolic execution.


The presence of cross-reactive idiotypes on human IgG antibodies of tetanus toxoid (TT) antigen was assessed by examining the capacity of two anti-idiotypic (ID) antisera raised against IgG (Fab')2 anti-TT (idiotype) from two subjects to bind radiolabeled "idiotype" and to inhibit the binding of radiolabeled TT to IgG from unrelated subjects and from family members of the idiotype donors. Idiotypic crossreactivity with unrelated individuals was infrequent and weak but was frequent and stronger among siblings. The strongest idiotypic crossreactivity was seen between identical twins in studies using four anti-ID raised against the anti-TT idiotypes of two sets of twins. The results of the present study suggest that idiotypic determinants restricted to human anti-TT antibodies are, at least in part, encoded by inherited genes, which are infrequently shared among unrelated individuals.


Water monitoring is important to environment control and ecosystem studies which not only scientifically relevant but also legally binding in several countries. Suspended sediment concentration is one of the main parameters for the water monitoring and can be roughly detected from satellite. In the present study, the Chao Phraya River mouth was used as a case study to assess the suspended measuring using water quality index with Landsat TM imagery. A turbidity map was obtain by applying band math and convert to turbidity backscattering. This solution can be used for water quality index and applying with all satellite data.


This case study on the state of the media in Fiji in 2016 highlights some problems of development journalism in the practical, applied sense. The case study looks at the changing nature of journalism in post-coup Fiji, reputed to have the South Pacific's toughest media law. The analysis is conducted through a review of the media sector in 2016. Major issues pertaining to the sector were documented over the year and analysed to assess the impact of the 2006 coup and the punitive 2010 Media Industry Development Decree. Using 2016 as the case year allowed for the situation to be examined over a prolonged 12-month period. The review reveals a cornered media weaned on the Anglo-American watchdog tradition under constant pressure to produce development journalism, resulting in a possible identity crisis within the national journalist corps. The review concludes that normative discussions notwithstanding, achieving a compromise between the watchdog and developmental journalism models are harder to achieve in reality.


The technology for freezing red blood cells, available in many blood banks, appears to provide higher quality, more disease free blood with reduced inventory costs, but at a higher cost per unit. A diverse range of operational, therapeutic, and economic effects and great uncertainty concerning its performance make a decision on its level of use difficult. Multiattribute decision analysis is applied to assist a blood bank administrator in determining the most desirable utilization level. Use of the model is demonstrated for a hypothetical individual hospital blood bank and for a hypothetical regional system of interacting blood banks. In these cases our significant results include the specification of the most critical uncertainties and information needs identified by a sensitivity analysis. The methodology focuses on workable procedures for the establishment and systematic aggregation of objectives and measures of effectiveness and for practical problems in probability estimation and utility assessment. Statistical and utility independence properties are considered and used, whenever possible, to simplify assessment and calculations. Actual utility assessments and the resulting decision analyses are performed for two decisionmakers. We conclude with a critique of the methodology and a discussion of experience gained in its use. The illustration of the methodology itself should be useful for other decisions concerning the introduction of new technology with its inherent risks in both economic and social dimensions.


Investors' views, expressed in individual securities, when averaged are informative about the future path of aggregate market returns. Our predictor of the market, PC-OI, is an average of traders' positions in options on individual stocks, formed simply by summing the put open interest across all stocks and dividing by the summed call open interest. Predictability is strongest when the measure is constructed from a subset of stocks subject to arbitrage constraints. The measure has strong in-sample and out-of-sample predictive power, and creates substantial utility gains for a mean-variance investor. The predictive power is not subsumed by the host of existing predictors in the literature. A trading strategy using our measure would have made up to 208% over our sample period, compared to a cumulative market return of 90%.


A method for compressing data, for example, seismic data, audio data, or video data, comprising the steps of transforming data of a frame into a first sequence of real numbers by using an entropy increasing transform method; quantizing said first sequence of real numbers of said frame to obtain a first sequence of integers; quantizing said first sequence of integers of said frame using a predicted sequence of integers representing said first sequence of integers to produce a second sequence of integers; and encoding said integers of said second sequence of said frame into a stream of bits representing the compressed sequence of integers of said frame. Furthermore, the method comprises decompressing said compressed sequence by inverting the steps of transforming, quantizing said first sequence of real numbers, quantizing said first sequence of integers of said frame, and decoding in reverse order.


A study was made of the yield of reciprocal translocations in stem spermatogonia of mice exposed to alpha-radiation (238Pu) and whole-body acute and chronic gamma-radiation within a wide range of doses and dose-rates. The frequency of reciprocal translocations induced by a single intraperitoneal administration of plutonium nitrate was relatively low and independent of the dose 1.5-18 months after the effect. The yield of the reciprocal translocations induced by chronic effect of gamma-radiation was appreciably lower than that observed after acute irradiation with the same dose and grew linearly with dose. The RBE of alpha-radiation was 10-20 with respect to chronic effect of gamma-radiation.


Recently, we developed polyethyleneglycol (PEG)-modified liposomes (Bubble liposomes; BLs) entrapping ultrasound (US) gas and reported that the combination of BL and US exposure was an effective tool for the delivery of pDNA directly into skeletal muscles of an ischemic hindlimb model with local injection. To achieve gene delivery to deeper tissues, we attempted to prepare novel Bubble liposomes which were able to be loaded with pDNA and useful for systemic injection. We prepared BLs using cationic lipid and analyzed the interaction with the BLs and pDNA using flow cytometry. The solution of pDNA-loaded BLs (p-BLs) was further injected into the tail vein of hindlimb ischemia model mice, and transdermal US exposure was applied to ischemic hindlimb. The effects of transfection on angiogenic factors were investigated by real-time PCR. Blood flow was determined using a laser Doppler blood flow meter. The interaction with BLs and pDNA increased in the presence of DOTAP and short PEG chains and resulted in increased stability of pDNA in the serum. Transfection with pDNA encoding the bFGF gene using p-BLs and US induced various angiogenic factors and improved the blood flow. The gene delivery system into the ischemic hindlimb using the combination of p-BLs and US exposure could be an effective tool for angiogenic gene therapy via systemic injection.


Cotton defoliation and post-harvest destruction are important cultural practices for cotton production. Cotton root rot is a serious and destructive disease that affects cotton yield and lint quality. This paper presents exemplary applications of remote sensing technology for evaluating cotton defoliation and regrowth control methods and for mapping cotton root rot infestations. Ground reflectance spectra and airborne color-infrared (CIR) digital imagery were used in these studies. Ground reflectance spectra effectively separated different levels of defoliation and airborne multispectral imagery permitted both visual and quantitative differentiations among defoliation treatments. Both ground reflectance and airborne imagery were able to differentiate cotton regrowth among different herbicide treatments for cotton stalk destruction. Airborne imagery accurately identified root rot areas within cotton fields. Results from these studies indicate that remote sensing can be a useful tool for evaluating the effectiveness of cotton defoliation and regrowth control strategies and for detecting and mapping root rot infestations in cotton fields. Compared with traditional visual observations and ground measurements, remote sensing techniques have the potential for effective and accurate assessments of various cotton production operations and pest conditions.


The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has a growing and diverse global membership of 3048 members (Box 1) based across 86 countries outside the UK. This represents approximately 6% of the total membership of the RCGP. In March 2017, it launched a new International and Overseas Network (ION) to link its global members with 'knowledge, support and inspiration' in their professional practice,1 and to improve its professional global connections.

Networks can be described as 'complex adaptive systems' with multiple non-linear interactions between members of the system.2–3 Network structures vary along a continuum. At one end is a network defined as a diffuse decentralised structure comprising individuals (sometimes called communities of practice) or informal alliances of organisations. At the other end is a hierarchical network organisation with a centralised hub and spoke structure and clear governance systems comprising either organisations or individuals. 3–5

Box 1.
### Definitions of international and overseas member of the RCGP

| International member (IM) | A GP who has passed an RCGP international membership exam at any one of nine accredited exam sites and has chosen to apply for membership. They are classified as international members and use the post-nominals MRCGP[INT]. |
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| Overseas member (OM) | A GP who has passed the RCGP membership exam in the UK and has chosen to apply for membership, which they retain after leaving the UK to work in another country. They are classified as overseas members and can use the post nominals MRCGP. |

When the RCGP was founded in 1952, it began as an informal network but was developed into the formal institutionalised network that is now the largest medical royal college in the UK. This history helps in understanding the development of the ION, the profession, and similar associations in the countries where the RCGP's global members are working.

All professional networks function at two levels: formal and informal. The formal network is built around the membership body itself with systems, processes, and structures to adhere to, whereas the informal networks are clustered around smaller, closely linked groups of individual professionals. Millar and Choi6 argue that formal networks are essential to transfer explicit knowledge but …


When a team of astronomers pointed the x-ray satellite ROSAT at Comet Hyakutake 2 weeks ago, they expected to see a faint smudge of x-rays at best. Instead, they picked up an x-ray glow 100 times brighter than even the most optimistic predictions. Now the challenge is to figure out its source: whether solar radiation is causing elements evaporating from the comet to fluoresce, or whether the x-rays come from a shock wave, formed as the sun's wind of charged particles collides with the comet.


Pyrazolines have been reported to possess various biological activities such as antimicrobial, antidepressant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, anticancer, and anticonvulsant activity. In this research, a halogenated pirazoline 5-(4bromophenyl)-3-(naphthalene-1-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole was synthesized by cyclization reaction between chalchone with hydrazine hydrate using acetate acid as catalyst under microwave irradiation. The compound showed a good yield, and then was characterized by UV, IR, 1 H-NMR, and 13 C-NMR spectroscopy. The antibacterial activity of pyrazolines was determined using the agar diffusion method against Gramnegative bacteria: Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi and Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. This compound showed inhibitory activity against those four bacteria. Test results of antibacterial activity indicated that pyrazoline analogues were potential as antibiotics.


An effective strategy to synthesize multifunctional materials is the incorporation of functional organic moieties and metal oxide clusters via self-assembly. A rare multifunctional radical-doped zinc-based host-guest crystalline material was synthesized with a fast-responsive reversible ultraviolet visible light photochromism, photocontrolled tunable luminescence, and highly selective photocatalytic oxidation of benzylic alcohols as a result of blending of distinctively different functional components, naphthalenediimide tectons, and polyoxometalates (POMs). It is highly unique to link π-electron-deficient organic tectons and POMs by unusual POMs anion-π interactions, which are not only conducive to keeping the independence of each component but also effectively promoting the charge transfer or exchange among the components to realize the fast-responsive photochromism, photocontrolled tunable luminescence, and photocatalytic activity.


The provision of goods and services is thought to be a key way that groups are able to gain political power. However, current work has offered a highly fragmentary view of what specific gains can be made with what type of goods provision, and what potential interaction between strategies might exist. This paper integrates key rational actor and electoral models, and tests the resulting predictions against empirical data on Hezbollah's provision of goods and services. Two basic types of models link success in violent contestation to the provision of goods to a restricted community and success in electoral contestation to provision of broadly accessible goods and services. However, across several major types of goods and services Hezbollah consistently provided easily accessible good far before they considered participating in elections, provided more accessible goods relative to restricted goods then can be explained by the importance of electoral and violent contestation, and expanded or contracted the scope of provision at points in time that do not correspond to strategic shifts. As an alternative, I suggest that goods may be geographically rather than temporally strategic, a need to create compliance among the population, and the need to create a sense of agency within the Shia population to increase proactive support for the resistance may be greater drivers of goods provision then has been explored. Thesis Supervisor: Roger D. Petersen Title: Arthur and Ruth Sloan Professor of Political Science


Let W be an injective unilateral weighted shift, and let W(n) be the orthogonal direct sum of n copies of W. In this paper, we prove that, if the commutant of W is strictly cyclic, then W(n) has a unique (SI) decomposition with respect to similarity for every natural number n.


The sine map fε(x) = x + μ - (1 - ε) sin (2πx)/2π is by iteration known to exhibit a devil's staircase, which becomes complete as ε tends to zero. Here, the basic work of Shenker, concerning the scaling relations at the golden mean, is generalized. For periodic irrationals, the covergence of the step sizes, the minimal distances from cycle elements to zero mod 1, and their average values, are treated. Furthermore, the self-similarity of the step structures provides a set of "similarity-dimensions", as well as a set of "sub-fractals", emphasizing the close connection to Cantor's discontinuum. Also, the driven damped pendulum is considered. Surprisingly, some differences occur concerning the scaling exponents. Based on analog computations, scaling functions are found, and the differences from the sine map results are discussed.


Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect almost every organ. Lupus protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is one of the rarest manifestations of gastrointestinal involvement. Lupus flare as initial presentation is rare and the disease can act as a trigger to other pathologic immune syndromes like Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), although this association is rare. We report the case of a previously healthy African 39-year-old female patient, with a recent history of cesarean section. Admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) with diffuse abdominal pain and fever, having completed a cycle of antibiotic therapy for initially suspected endometritis. The clinical picture progressed with sustained high fever, new-onset lymphadenopathies, systemic rash, acute pulmonary edema and seizures. Laboratory findings included hyperferritinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia. The auto-immune panel was positive for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-dsDNA, anti-SSA and anti-SSB, anti-PL7, anti-RNP, anti-U1-SnRNP, and anti-Pm-Scl75. She also presented hypocomplementemia. An inaugural flare of SLE with multisystemic involvement and concomitant secondary Hemophagocytic Syndrome was considered and therapy with methylprednisolone pulses, Anakinra and Cyclophosphamide was started. By the end of the first cycle of cyclophosphamide, the patient presented clinical worsening with abdominal pain recrudescence and profuse diarrhea. After the exclusion of an infectious process, a Lupus PLE was assumed and Cyclophosphamide protocol was resumed, with sustained clinical improvement after the induction protocol. Despite initially suspected gynecological infection, the clinical progression with multisystemic involvement together with the auto-immune panel made the diagnosis of SLE possible, with other laboratory findings raising the suspicion of HLH. This case represents a rare report of severe SLE with multiple organ involvement accompanied by HLH. Gastrointestinal involvement with PLE added rarity and morbidity to the clinical picture. The case reinforces the idea that when organ dysfunction is due to a severe autoimmune response, supportive treatment can be lifesaving until immunosuppressive drugs reach their full effect.


Background: Nutrition is a significant factor in all stages of HIV. Dietary management of HIV-positive patients is key to supporting their capacity to continue participating in the workforce and contributing to socio-economic growth. Few studies have been conducted regarding this important public health problem of dietary diversity throughout the developing countries including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study assesses the magnitude and factors associated with dietary diversity among HIV-positive patients attending antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics at Public Hospitals in Kembata Tembaro Zoni, Southern Ethiopia. Methods and Materials: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 01/2019 to 30/2019 on 341 adult HIV-positive patients on ART at two randomly selected public hospitals in the study area. A systematic random sampling technique was applied to select study subjects from each facility proportionally. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done to identify factors associated with individual dietary diversity. Logistic regression analysis with 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated to measure the strength of association. Level of significance for statistical tests was set at p <0.05. Results: This study shows 60.1% (95% CI: 55–65) of patients had inadequate dietary diversity. Average monthly income of less than 1000 Ethiopian Birr (AOR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.04–3.17), being female (AOR = 2.99, 95% CI: 1.67–5.37), duration of ART less than 1 year (AOR = 3.77, 95% CI: 1.42–10.02) and lack of dietary counseling (AOR =0.54, 95% CI: 0.30–0.97) were factors associated with low dietary diversity. Conclusion: Low dietary diversity was a major nutritional problem in HIV-positive patients. Low average monthly income, being female, duration of participants on ART, and lack of dietary counseling were the factors associated with low dietary diversity. To alleviate these problems, exceptional attention in nutritional care should be given to HIV-positive patients and they require appropriate counseling and support during early initiation of ART.


As interest in smart city initiatives continues to grow rapidly, various involved actors and stakeholders increasingly rely on assessment frameworks or indicator sets for different purposes such as monitoring and benchmarking performance, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and determining priority intervention areas. Accordingly, many smart city assessment frameworks and/or indicator sets have been developed in the last decade. To guide actors and stakeholders in their selection of the most suitable frameworks, several studies have examined contents and structure of smart city assessment frameworks or indicator sets. Such studies have significantly improved our understanding of the thematic focus of assessment tools and their methodological approaches. However, there is still a lack of knowledge on the taxonomy of smart city indicators. In addition, since other concepts such as sustainability and resilience are increasingly recognized to be connected to the smart city concept, more clarity on how different assessment frameworks or indicator sets are aligned with sustainability and resilience dimensions and characteristics is needed. To fill these gaps, we developed a taxonomy and examined 33 assessment frameworks or indicator sets in terms of indicator type, sectoral linkages, and alignment with sustainability and resilience dimensions and characteristics. In terms of indicator type, results show that output indicators are dominant but limited attention has been paid to impact indicators. In terms of sectoral focus, existing indicators are mainly related to information and communication technologies, economy, and governance. Regarding resilience abilities, indicators are mainly related to planning abilities and limited attention has been paid to recovery and adaptation. As for resilience characteristics, reasonable levels of alignment with resourcefulness and efficiency were observed, but indicators are not well-aligned with other important characteristics such as redundancy and diversity. Finally, in terms of sustainability, limited alignment with the environmental dimension was found, which raises concerns regarding the suitability of smart city indicators for guiding environmental sustainability and informing efforts aimed at addressing climate change issues. Results of this study can support interested stakeholders in their efforts to select the most suitable assessment frameworks or indicator sets for promoting resilient, smart, and sustainable communities.


The aim of this study was to identify the changes in movement variability and movement velocity during a six-week training period using a resistance horizontal forward–backward task without (NOBALL) or with (BALL) the constraint of catching and throwing a rugby ball in the forward phase. Eleven elite male rugby union players (mean ± SD: age 25.5 ± 2.0 years, height 1.83 ± 0.06 m, body mass 95 ± 18 kg, rugby practice 14 ± 3 years) performed eight repetitions of NOBALL and BALL conditions once a week in a rotational flywheel device. Velocity was recorded by an attached rotary encoder while acceleration data were used to calculate sample entropy (SampEn), multiscale entropy, and the complexity index. SampEn showed no significant decrease for NOBALL (ES = -0.64 ± 1.02) and significant decrease for BALL (ES = -1.71 ± 1.16; p < 0.007) conditions. Additionally, movement velocity showed a significant increase for NOBALL (ES = 1.02 ± 1.05; p < 0.047) and significant increase for BALL (ES = 1.25 ± 1.08; p < 0.025) between weeks 1 and 6. The complexity index showed higher levels of complexity in the BALL condition, specifically in the first three weeks. Movement velocity and complex dynamics were adapted to the constraints of the task after a four-week training period. Entropy measures seem a promising processing signal technique to identify when these exercise tasks should be changed.


BACKGROUND
Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerisation (PPIases) enzyme plays a vital role in protein folding. It catalyses the cis-trans isomerisation of peptide bonds, an essential step for newly synthesized protein to acquire its correct functional conformation in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

OBJECTIVE
The present study showed the biochemical and molecular characterisation of cyclophilins (PpiB), a type of peptidyl-prolyl isomerases proteins from the pathogenic bacteria Salmonella Typhimurium.

METHODS
Salmonella Typhimurium is one of the leading serovars responsible for human and animal salmonellosis globally, with the majority of human cases originating through the food chain. Here successful expression and purification of PpiB protein have been demonstrated and LC-MS based analyses showed high protein score and similarity with other PPi protein. Further the enzymatic activity of the purified recombinant PpiB was determined using Succinyl-Ala-Phe-Pro-Phe-p nitroanilide as substrate and enzyme-catalysed reaction.

RESULT
Km and Vmax were calculated and found to be Vm = 1.023 ± .06400 min/µg, Km = 0.6219 ± 0.1701 µM, respectively.We have reported for the first time the presence of Salmonella PPIase-B (PpiB) protein isoforms in salmonella genome having PPi activity.

CONCLUSION
Taken together, our data clearly showed that Salmonella Cyclophilin B (PpiB) protein is active and involved in diverse biological processes and highly similar to the different domain of Cyclophilin proteins.


3258 randomly selected adult household residents of Edmonton were interviewed by trained lay interviewers using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). The lifetime prevalence of drug abuse/dependence was 6.996, with a male:female ratio of 3:1. The most commonly used drug was cannabis followed by amphetamines, opiates, barbiturates, hallucinogens and cocaine. 80.370 of those with drug abuse/dependence also had a lifetime diagnosis of another psychiatric disorder. In those with a comorbid diagnosis, the mean age of onset for the other psychiatric disorder was generally found to be younger than for the onset of drug abuse/dependence. Different comorbid disorders were found to significantly affect patterns of drug use.


An increasingly urgent need exists for men, broadly yet specifically, trained in the areas of crop protection. Crop protection includes weed control, insect control, plant disease control, and pesticide analysis. The need extends across teaching, research, development, sales, application, management, and other areas encompassed by crop protection. Administrative and financial advantages may result from the development of this type of program. Curricula for the BS, MS, and PhD degrees have been developed which offer a broad base of crop protection but allow pursuit of the degree from (or specialization in) any of the areas of crop protection. At the same time, however, chemistry and physiology form the disciplinary basis of all science curricula and the focal point is graduate training. Four courses relevant to all areas of crop protection and five additional courses in weed science have been developed.


In the current study, we aimed to investigate the association between gut microbiome composition and two physiological factors, BMI and age. We did not observe a significant relationship between occurrence of gut bacteria with BMI or age alone. On the other hand, we observed BMI and age together played an important role in impacting gut microbiota composition. Comparison of the microbiota of normal and obese subjects for the each of 20s and 50s group revealed 13 gut bacteria that show significantly different relative abundance in the two groups. We observed that certain organisms show opposite trends within the two age groups. Haemophilus parainfluenzae relative abundance was found to be increased in obese-20s group while reduced in obese-50s group. Relative abundance of organisms such as Mitsuokella jalaludini and Blautia obeum were reduced in obese-20s group while increased in obese-50s group as compared to the normal subjects of respective age group. On the other hand, a reduction in the average relative abundance of both M. jalaludini and B. obeum for obese group as compared to the normal in pan-India only BMI-based group comparison. While studying obesity-related gut microbiota changes, it is critical to consider multiple factors such as age and geography into the study design.