Cell-mediated immunity plays the dominant role in the immune response of mice to Blastomyces dermatitidis infections. Since macrophages play an important role in cell-mediated immunity, the interactions between sensitized murine peritoneal macrophages and the yeast phase of B. dermatitidis were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the sensitized macrophages readily phagocytized B. dermatitidis yeast cells. In addition, there appeared to be activation of metabolic pathways within the sensitized macrophages, as indicated by increased chemiluminescence activity during phagocytosis. Sensitized macrophages were significantly better at controlling intracellular proliferation of the yeast cells when compared to nonsensitized cells. This was determined by disruption of macrophages and plating for viable yeasts. Scanning electron microscope observations offered further substantiation. Experiments with Candida albicans indicated that B. dermatitidis non-specifically activated macrophages. At 2 h postphagocytosis, 30% fewer C. albicans in B. dermatitidis-activated macrophages were able to form germ tubes. These studies demonstrated the multiple potential of activated macrophages with regard to their functional activity.


ABSTRACT A growing body of research has been focusing recently on the life and well-being of students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and also on the well-being of their teachers. However, there is a need for in-depth, qualitative insights into ADHD issues from the teachers' perspectives. Therefore, the main aim of this qualitative study was to use thematic analysis to explore how teachers perceive the relationship with students with ADHD and the factors that influence the quality of this relationship. Sixteen teachers working with adolescent ADHD students were interviewed for this purpose. The results indicate that the quality of the teacher-ADHD student relationship is associated with the ADHD students related behaviours, ambivalent emotions of the teacher, the teacher's beliefs about ADHD and the beliefs about the determinants of the behaviour of the students with ADHD and the teacher's approaches and methods of work in the classroom. Furthermore, the results suggest that increasing the quality of the teachers' well-being is associated with knowledge of ADHD determinants, regulation of ambivalent emotions, empathy, teachers' ability to perceive positive qualities and the potentials of the students with ADHD and their motivation to teach ADHD students.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the theoretical reflection on learning study as a research approach. The focus is on description and reflection on the methodology of learning study as paedeutic research. This research is for, not on, teachers, i.e. research into problems and challenges faced by teachers in their professional practice. Learning study as paedeutic research is about the content and processes of formation/Bildung in relation to specific learning objects. Its focus is on subject-specific ways of knowing as well as how such knowing is enabled through teaching.

Design/methodology/approach
The point of departure is a perspective on research approaches as practices, i.e. as activities with certain aims as well as ways of "making" knowledge. Based on a description of the knowledge machinery in a learning study, i.e. those mechanisms that together generate new knowledge, the knowledge claims that can be made are discussed together with the theoretical underpinning of the arguments. The knowledge machinery is described in relation to how it is organised around the delimitation and analysis of an object of Learning as well as designing and evaluating ways to make the critical aspects of this object of learning visible. As an epistemological underpinning, some aspects of pragmatic philosophical thinking regarding the relationship between theory and practice are outlined. Based on that the research process may be described as a development of means-ends relationships – from unconscious empirical relationships to conscious staging of internal and theoretical relations. Abduction is an important tool for this meaning-making.

Findings
Learning study can be described as a particularistic, theory-building research approach concerning the knowing of specific learning objects as well as how they can be taught and learnt. The knowledge that is generated in learning study is theoretical and describes aspects of the teaching and learning of specific objects of learning. The research process can be described in terms of specification where practice is gradually supplied with a more differentiated meaning. A learning study is organised around a specific object of learning that functions as an open and unfolding object of knowledge. It combines a practice-based development of theory with a theory-based development of practice.

Originality/value
The development of the thinking about learning study as research for, rather than on, teachers is paedeutical research. A contribution to reflection on the knowledge machinery and knowledge claims of such research.


A Dirac hamiltonian describing massless spin-half particles ('neutrinos') moving in the plane r = (x, y) under the action of a 4-scalar (not electric) potential V(r) is, in position representation, H^=−ihcσ^⋅∇+V(r)σ^z,, where σ̂ = (σ̂x, σ̂y) and σ̂z are the Pauli matrices; Ĥ acts on two-component column spinor wavefunctions ψ(r) = (ψ1, ψ2) and has eigenvalues ћckn. Ĥ does not possess time-reversal symmetry (T). If V(r) describes a hard wall bounding a finite domain D ('billiards'), this is equivalent to a novel boundary condition for ψ2/ψ1. T-breaking is interpreted semiclassically as a difference of π between the phases accumulated by waves travelling in opposite senses round closed geodesics in D with odd numbers of reflections. The semiclassical (large-k) asymptotics of the eigenvalue counting function (spectral staircase) N(k) are shown to have the 'Weyl' leading term Ak2/4π, where A is the area of D, but zero perimeter correction. The Dirac equation is transformed to an integral equation round the boundary of D, and forms the basis of a numerical method for computing the kn. When D is the unit disc, geodesics are integrable and the eigenvalues, which satisfy Jl(kn) = Jl+1(kn), are (locally) Poisson-distributed. When D is an 'Africa' shape (cubic conformal map of the unit disc), the eigenvalues are (locally) distributed according to the statistics of the gaussian unitary ensemble of random-matrix theory, as predicted on the basis of T-breaking and lack of geometric symmetry.


Temperature-dependent solubility data of bioactive compound hesperidin has not been reported in any solvent in the literature so far. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to measure the solubility of bioactive compound hesperidin in six different pure solvents namely water, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), propylene glycol (PG), poly(ethylene glycol)-400 (PEG-400), and 1-butanol from (298.15 to 333.15) K using the shake flask method. The experimental solubilities of hesperidin were regressed by Apelblat equation with root-mean-square deviations in the range of 6.32·10–7 to 0.184 in all solvents investigated. The correlation coefficients in pure solvents were observed in the range of 0.995 to 0.999. The mole fraction solubility of hesperidin was found to be higher in PEG-400 (6.33·10–3 at 298.15 K) and PG (5.35·10–4 at 298.15 K) as compared to water (1.47·10–7 at 298.15 K), ethanol (3.45·10–5 at 298.15 K), IPA (1.53·10–5 at 298.15 K), and 1-butanol (3.15·10–4 at 298.15 K). The data of the current s...


Do corrupt firms create negative externality and hurt less corrupt ones? I answer this question by exploring cross-industry distribution of taxation, credit, and corruption over local political cycles in China. It is known that capital-intensive firms are more likely to be corrupt. The paper argues that preferential treatment in taxation or credit allocation towards corrupt firms must result in detrimental treatment against others when governments face resource constraints, and that corruption is generally conducted through political network that expands and shrinks over political cycles. Using the variation in turnover of secretaries of the Chinese Communist Party in 275 prefectures between 2000 and 2007, I find that, as the tenure of the secretaries increases, enforcement of both VAT and corporate income tax as well as access to credit all change in favour of capital-intensive industries but to the detriment of labour-intensive counterparts. I then use the firm-level Entertainment and Travel Cost (ETC) as a proxy of corruption and find that the variation of cross-industry distribution of ETC over secretaries' tenure is in line with the variation in taxation and credit allocation. The finding suggests that corruption may not reduce overall distortions in the economy but only shifts distortions across economic agents.


Purpose: Many previous studies have suggested that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) over expression is closely related to angiogenesis. However, few have reported the relationship between COX-2 and lymphangiogenesis which is still unclear, The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between COX-2 expression and lymphangiogenetic factor, VEGF-C, in human gastric cancer and to correlate COX-2 and VEGF-C expression with other clinocopathological features to investigate whether COX-2 contributes to lymphangiogenesis and enhances lymph node metastasis. Materials and Methods: One hundred patients who underwent curative radical surgery in Hanyang University hospital from July 1998 to June 2001 were selected. The expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C were detected by using immunohistochemistry, and the relationships between these two parameters and several clinicopathological factors (gender, stage, lymph node status, tumor location, Lauren classification and angioinvasion) were determined. Results: Increased COX-2 expression was found in 86 of 100 tumor samples (86%) and in 70 of 100 tumor samples (70%) with VEGF-C. A high correlation between VEGF-C expression and lymph node metastasis was observed (P=0.033) along as well as COX-2 expression (P=0.012). Also, there was a significant correlation between COX-2 and VEGF-C expression (P=0.026), yet no correlation were found between COX-2 and VEGF-C expression and other clinicopathological parameters. Conclusion: Our study suggests that COX-2 expression contributes to lymphangiogenesis by mediating VEGF-C and finally promoting lymph node metastasis.


Elemental plutonium (Pu) assumes more crystal structures than other elements, plausibly due to bonding f electrons becoming non-bonding. Complex geometries hamper understanding of the transition in Pu, but calculations predict this transition in a system with simpler geometry: alternating layers either of plutonium and lead or of plutonium and indium. Here the transition occurs via a pairing-up of atoms within Pu layers. Calculations stepping through this pairing-up reveal valuable details of the transition, for example that the transition from bonding to non-bonding proceeds smoothly.


The purpose of the research. The purpose of the article consists in determination of the current international legal regime of the territory of Crimea for further proper argumentation of Ukraine's position in interstate disputes with the Russian Federation. Main content. Various forms of foreign military presence on the territory of a state have been studied, such as: occupation, conquest, deployment of foreign military bases, annexation, etc. Determined are signs that characterize the legal regimes of occupation and annexation and their international regulation. Methodology: Review of materials and methods based on analysis of documentary materials of the annexation of Crimea on the part of Russia. Conclusions. Characteristic features of annexation being currently a kind of aggression crime include unilateral declaration of state sovereignty over a territory which have not been a part of this state, as well as the legitimation of annexation through de facto ownership of a territory and international recognition of this fact. According to the international law, there is currently no legal mechanism for the transfer of sovereignty over territory to an aggressor through annexation.


This study aims to investigate the effects and mechanisms of simvastatin on podocyte injuries in diabetic rats. Streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes in a rat model. Three groups were tested: normal control (NC) group, diabetes mellitus control (DM) group, and simvastatin (SVT) group. The serum creatinine, cholesterol, and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) were measured 4 to 8 weeks after administering either saline or the drug. Renal pathological changes were observed, and immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression of nephrin, podocin, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Real-time PCR was performed to detect the mRNA expression levels of nephrin, podocin, and VEGF. Serum creatinine levels and the UAER were higher in the DM group than in the NC group (P < 0.01). The protein and mRNA expression levels of nephrin and podocin were lower in the DM group than in the NC group (P < 0.01); whereas, the expression of VEGF protein and mRNA was higher in the DM group than in the NC group (P < 0.01). Simvastatin (SVT) could reduce serum creatinine levels and the UAER, maintain the expression of nephrin and podocin, reduce the expression of VEGF, and improve the pathological changes of podocytes, which were much more pronounced at 8 weeks (P < 0.01). Simvastatin could maintain the distribution of nephrin and podocin in podocytes, inhibit VEGF expression, and thus improve podocyte injuries and protect kidney functions in diabetic rats.


The purpose was to develop a foot image capture and measurement system with web cameras (the 3-FIS) to provide reliable and valid foot anthropometric measures with efficiency comparable to that of the conventional method of using a handheld anthropometer. Eleven foot measures were obtained from 10 subjects using both methods. Reliability of each method was determined over 3 consecutive days using the intraclass correlation coefficient and root mean square error (RMSE). Reliability was excellent for both the 3-FIS and the handheld anthropometer for the same 10 variables, and good for the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint height. The RMSE values over 3 days ranged from 0.9 to 2.2 mm for the handheld anthropometer, and from 0.8 to 3.6 mm for the 3-FIS. The RMSE values between the 3-FIS and the handheld anthropometer were between 2.3 and 7.4 mm. The 3-FIS required less time to collect and obtain the final variables than the handheld anthropometer. The 3-FIS provided accurate and reproducible results for each of the foot variables and in less time than the conventional approach of a handheld anthropometer.


The different lithofacies of Infra Krol Formation of Baliana Group, Chambaghat and Mahi formations of Krol Group exposed in eight synclines of the Krol Belt in Lesser Himalaya have yielded rich Ediacaran microfossil assemblage. It is the first comprehensive account of excellent preservation of microfossils from these synclines. The assemblage comprises forty-one (41) taxa; three groups of the organic-walled microfossils (OWM)- A. algae (cyanobacteria and rhodophytes), B. protists and C. unknown affinities of biological forms, viz. multicellular cylindrical tubular and vase shaped microfossils (VSM). Studied litho-units include the black carbonaceous shale of Infra-Krol Formation of the Baliana Group; the phosphatic black chert lenticles and shale partings associated with quartz arenite of Chambaghat (Krol Sandstone) and black chert nodules associated with argillaceous limestone and shale of Mahi formations of Krol Group. The microfossil yielding succession conformably overlies the Cap Carbonate - a global marker lithounit of Blaini Formation, the base of the Ediacaran Period. Infra Krol, Chambaghat and Mahi formations underlies the Jarashi and Kauriyala formations of Krol Group which have yielded diversified soft bodied Ediacaran metazoans.
In the reported OWM assemblage, fifteen taxa of prokaryotes are comparable with the extant cyanobacteria belonging to Chroococcales, Entophysidales, Oscillatoriales and Nostocales. The acritarchs belonging to sphaeromorphida and sphaerohystrichomorphida subgroups are represented by twenty-two taxa. The two taxa of multicellular algal thalli (primitive/juvenile stage) of phylum Rhodophyta represents Wengania and Thallophyca, and single taxon of the two forms represented by vase-shaped microfossils (Melanocyrillium hexodiadema) and multicellular cylindrical tubular (Sinocyclocyclicus guizhouensis) of unknown affinities.
The recovered assemblage has close affinities with those microfossils known from the Ediacaran sediments exposed in other parts of the world, viz. Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Namibia, Norway, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Sweden, and Russian platform. The Krol Belt assemblage is exclusively characterized by the dominance of distinctive large sized acanthomorphs acritarchs (Filisphaeridium, Echinosphaeridium, Tianzhushania, Ericiasphaera, Meghystrichosphaeridium and Papillomembrana) followed by medium sized Goniosphaeridium, Gorgonisphaeridium, Trachyhystrichosphaera, Cymatiosphaeroides, Vandalosphaeridium, etc.), small spinose acritarchs (Micrhystridium and Paracymatiosphaera) and a few breakable/characteristic cyanobacteria (Bavlinella, Salome, Obruchevella, Sinocyclocyclicus, etc.). With meagre radiometric data available for Krol Belt of Lesser Himalaya, the present microfossil assemblage is recognized in establishing the biostratigraphic and environment framework for the investigated successions. The present microbial assemblage corroborates the age of the above succession to Ediacaran Period (630-542 Ma) and also supports the view that these formations were laid down in a tidal flat environment.


Through collaboration between buyers and suppliers, their companies try to achieve their own objectives and competitive advantages. And it is known that trust between them also would influence the effects of collaboration, which would increase their performances. In this study, above three domains of constructs:trust, collaborative behavior, performance are handled. From gathering data about a mobile networks industry and building a research model, we acquire the results of the study. Through nine hypotheses, the study show the results. The end of this paper describes managerial implications for collaborative performance and SCM strategy.


The advantages and deficiencies of diagnostic imaging procedures especially of ultrasonography in the diagnostics of solid masses in the renal collecting system are presented. The intravenous urography is important as basic examination, but ultrasonography is valuable for additional information especially in the non-functioning kidney. A tumor could identified in the renal collecting system if its size is greater than 10 mm.


The effect of high energy proton irradiation and angle of incidence on single-event latchup (SEL) hardness is investigated as a function of temperature and power supply voltage to determine worst-case hardness assurance test conditions for space environments. SRAMs from several vendors were characterized for single-event latchup SEL hardness at proton energies from 20 to 500 MeV at temperatures of 25 degC and 80 degC, and at both normal and grazing angles of incidence. For all SRAMs investigated, the largest SEL cross section is observed for irradiation with protons with energies larger than 200 MeV. In addition, it is shown that for proton with energies ges 400 MeV, there is not a significant increase in SEL cross section for grazing angles of incidence compared to normal incidence irradiation. Based on the results of several years of research, in addition to these new results, we propose a hardness assurance test procedure for qualifying parts for use in proton-rich space environments.


Knowledge of every aspect of life is hidden within Ayurveda. Irrespective of time and space, life science of human species has been the same. So even though COVID-19 is new disease, we can conquer this struggle by Ayurved.
This disease began in China from Asatmya Ahar. Ahar means food. And Asatmya means the food which doesn't adjust to our digestive system. Pradnyaaparadh is main cause behind this. It means besides knowledge of right and wrong, person tends to do wrong by his bad habits. Asatmya Ahar affects our digestive power. In Ayurved, every disease begins with Mandaagni (Diminished digestive power). By frequent intake of Asatmya Ahar, digestive power (Agni) gets too much affected that it digests improperly. In such condition Corona Virus get a chance to enter in body by crossing this barrier of Mandaagni. When such improper food was eaten in China, Corona Virus started to infect Aamashay (part of digestive system). This started to develop symptoms like vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea. After this, virus gets entry in body, and gets located in praanvah strotas (Respiratory system). Due to some other factors like air pollution, smoking etc this praanvah strotas got weakened. Thus virus located there. In Ayurved, this process in known as Sthansanshray in kha-vaigunya part. It grew rapidly there and infected respiratory system (praanvah strotas dushti). Thus it started to show up symptoms like difficulty in breathing, cough, cold, fever, fast breathing, palpitations etc1.


Breast carcinoma presents with very heterogeneous histopathological pattern. According to the macroscopic growth pattern, we distinguish five different tumor types, each responsible for typical sonographic characteristics: intraductal, circumscribed, stellate, diffuse and intermediate/mixed pattern. The different echographic features of these malignancies will be analysed in relation to histomorphological parameters.


Background Facial palsy causes devastating disability due to loss of facial function as well as social and psychological impairment. Cheek slings are a secondary technique that provide static support to the midface. This study aimed to describe our technique and compare a traditional sling material (tensor fascia lata) with a porcine-derived acellular dermal matrix alternative (Strattice). Methods A 5-year case-control retrospective review of consecutive static cheek slings in a tertiary cancer and facial palsy center was performed. Demographic data, risk factors, and complications were collected and compared. Improvement in static smile position was assessed by Emotrics (Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA) at 3 months. Long-term sling failure was assessed by need for reoperation. Results The study group comprised 41 patients on which 33 autogenous fascia lata slings and 12 Strattice slings were performed. Medium-term improvement in static smile position was similar between the 2 groups (judged by the Emotrics software), as was complication rate (P = 0.496). Need for revision due to stretching was higher in the Strattice group but did not achieve significance (P = 0.087). Mean follow-up was 38.02 ± 19.17 months. Twelve of 41 patients were deceased at study conclusion. Conclusions Fascia lata and Strattice slings provide satisfactory results in restoring symmetry at rest and functional oral competence. Our results suggest that Strattice is a safe sling material with an acceptable risk profile and comparable medium-term maintenance of tensile strength to fascia lata, and should be considered where life expectancy, donor site morbidity, and procedure length are important considerations.


Atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) is one of the most promising methods for manufacturing the components employed in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) due to its fast deposition rate and cost-effective characteristics. The anode activity can be improved through increasing the triple-phase boundaries (TPBs) at the electrolyte/anode interface. The active TPBs length, and consequently the performance of the cell, can be enhanced by varying the compositions and microstructure of the APS anode. In this paper, agglomerated powders of NiO and YSZ are prepared by a spray-drying method for preparation of SOFCs anode. The anode was deposited using NiO/YSZ composite powder by APS at different plasma arc power. The influences of plasma arc power on the microstructure and electrochemical performance of Ni/YSZ anode are investigated for the optimization of SOFCs anode.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
To describe the presentation and the authors' evolving management strategy for intraocular dissemination of uveal melanoma cells following radiotherapy during the past decade.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients with uveal melanoma who developed intraocular dissemination of pigmented cells following radiotherapy. Histopathology was available in two cases.

RESULTS
Four patients underwent treatment for progressive intraocular dissemination of uveal melanoma cells at 9 to 41 months following I-125 plaque radiotherapy (three patients) or proton beam radiotherapy (one patient). Treatments included primary enucleation (one patient), vitrectomy followed later by enucleation (one patient), and vitrectomy followed by intravitreal chemotherapy (two patients). Enucleated eyes demonstrated diffuse invasion of intraocular tissues by viable melanoma cells. No patient has developed systemic metastasis to date.

CONCLUSIONS
Intraocular dissemination of pigmented cells following radiotherapy for uveal melanoma should raise suspicion for viable invasive melanoma cells. Prompt vitrectomy with intravitreal chemotherapy can be effective in avoiding enucleation in selected cases. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2019;50:573-579.].


Abstract Objective Assess how baseline polyneuropathy severity impacts response to patisiran regarding neurologic impairment and quality of life (QOL) in patients with hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTRv amyloidosis). Methods This post hoc analysis grouped patients from the Phase 3 APOLLO study (n = 225) by baseline Neuropathy Impairment Score (NIS) into quartiles: 6–<31; 31–<57; 57–<85.5; 85.5–141.6. Neurologic impairment (modified NIS+7 [mNIS+7], NIS total score), disability (Rasch-built Overall Disability Scale [R-ODS]), gait speed (10-meter walk test [10-MWT]), grip strength, and QOL (Norfolk Quality of Life-Diabetic Neuropathy [Norfolk QOL-DN] questionnaire) were assessed. Results Across all baseline NIS quartiles, patisiran improved several clinical markers of disease compared with placebo at 18 months. Patients in lower NIS quartiles, treated with patisiran earlier in the disease course, maintained better scores in mNIS+7, NIS total score, R-ODS, 10-MWT, grip strength, and Norfolk QOL-DN versus those in higher NIS quartiles, while placebo-treated patients experienced worsening of all functional measures after 18 months across all quartiles. Conclusions Patisiran treatment improved neurologic function and QOL across a wide range of baseline polyneuropathy severities versus placebo. Timing of treatment initiation in patients with ATTRv amyloidosis remains critical for the preservation of function. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01960348)


This study demonstrates the essential similarity of pelvic osteomyelitis to the more common osteomyelitic manifestations in the long bones. However, pelvic localization is distinguished by its anatomic situation, as defined by the peculiar developmental configuration of the innominate bone and its relation to the adjacent fascial spaces, viscera and the hip joint. These features anticipate the differential diagnostic problems encountered. It is characteristic of the disease that the primary lesion is overlooked or subordinated to the predominant simulative signs and symptoms or to the more extensive secondary parosteal purulent infiltrations. Therefore, pyogenic osteomyelitis of the pelvis continues to challenge diagnosis and treatment during its earlier, more favorable stages, although it is a relatively common devastating disease. In a series of 1,496 cases of pyogenic osteomyelitis, there were 90, or 6 per cent, in which the focus of infection was in the pelvis. This lesion was third in the order of


The purpose of this article was to analyze the work-related biography of a group of journalists working across the border between Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, United States. The discussion focuses on the influence of the nature of journalism on the configuration of the professional identities of ten journalists interviewed during the second half of 2015. Based on an analysis of work-related trajectories and forms of identification, we found that multiple activities and independent work are two strategies used by cross-border journalists to stay active in the field, but also as areas of rupture with the profession. This exploratory study brings new questions to the analysis of professions, and particularly journalism, in complex contexts such as the Mexico-U.S. border.


Protein aggregation is a critical issue in the production of biopharmaceuticals. During protein production, transport and storage, various factors can lead to protein aggregation. With the in-depth study, different ways of protein aggregation and various influencing factors were identified. This includes physical and chemical factors, translation modifications and protein structure. Since protein aggregation exerts major impact on the activity and homogeneity of proteins, it is of great importance to study the ways of protein aggregation and how to control it to obtain high-quality proteins. The review focuses on three ways of protein aggregation, namely 3D domain swapping, salt bridge formation, and oxidative stress, as well as methods to control protein aggregation during protein production, transport and storage. This may facilitate reducing the loss caused by the formation of protein aggregation and improving the purity and homogeneity of protein in research and commercial production.


Periodontal diseases, dental caries, malocclusion and oral cancer are among the most prevalent dental diseases affecting people worldwide as well as in Indian community. There is no national oral health data bank in India which reflects the prevalence of different oral diseases and risk factors responsible for them. No national oral health survey has been conducted in the country till date. Prevalence of disease is the key factor for effective and sound oral health care planning. Some cross-sectional surveys has been conducted in various regions of the country at local level but those observations cannot be generalized for the whole community because of the great diversity in composition of Indian populations e.g. literacy rate in Kerala is more than 90% and in Bihar it is about 40%. Males are more literate than females. 70% of the population in India continues to live in rural areas. Different cross sectional surveys or studies showing prevalence of periodontal diseases mainly in the last twenty years have been collected from different sources and compiled in this article to give a comprehensive outlook of the present status and scenario of periodontal diseases in different population of Indian community.


In northwest China, the limited amount of water resources are classified mostly as brackish water. Nanofiltration is a widely applied desalination technology used for brackish water treatment; however, membrane fouling restricts its application. Herein, we modified the membrane with triethanolamine (TEOA) and optimized the operating conditions (transmembrane pressure, temperature, and crossflow velocity) to control the nanofiltration membrane fouling by brackish water. Based on the physiochemical characteristics and desalination performance of the prepared membranes, the membrane modified with 2% TEOA (MPCM2) was identified as the optimal membrane, and 0.5 MPa, 25 °C, and 7 cm/s were identified as the optimal operating conditions through a series of nanofiltration experiments. Moreover, the membrane cleaning procedure for fouled MPCM2 was further determined, and a two-step cleaning procedure using ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid disodium followed by HCl with a permeance recovery rate of 98.77% was identified as the optimal cleaning procedure. Furthermore, the characterizations of the fouled and cleaned MPCM2 showed that the optimized cleaning procedure could recover the properties of MPCM2 to near virgin. This study is of great significance for the long-term stable operation of nanofiltration processes in brackish water treatment to ensure the supply of healthy water in the water-deficient areas of northwest China.


I. INTRODUCTION: VOUCHERS AND ACHIEVEMENT IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS Proposals and programs to use publicly-funded vouchers to move children from public to private schools are perhaps the most controversial educational reform of the last two decades. While there are a number of compelling arguments in support of vouchers, among the most prominent is the idea that they will result in improved student achievement. From the earliest days of voucher proposals, advocates have argued that competitive pressures will drive schools to improve, thereby improving results for children. In the current educational policy environment, characterized by choice programs such as vouchers, charter schools, and openenrollment plans, it is increasingly important for reform measures to demonstrate tangible gains in student outcomes. Student achievement scores, as measured by standardized tests, are by far the most prominent of these outcomes and serve as the primary measure for school accountability. Reforms at all scales, from classroom instructional practices to federal initiatives, are evaluated on these grounds, and programs that do not produce results often lose support. As policymakers have increasingly emphasized achievement scores, the argument that choice plans will improve student performance has become increasingly central to school choice advocacy. Choice proponents regularly turn to achievement data to demonstrate the effectiveness of choice plans, and some have asserted that there is a consensus that school choice "works" in this regard. As choice plans have developed over the last generation, we now have a relatively extensive empirical basis from which to evaluate outcomes of programs designed to send children to private schools. However, despite the rhetoric coming from many policy advocates, the overall results reflected in the research do not provide the compelling support for voucher programs that many expected to find. Indeed, a comprehensive review of the research indicates that the initial optimistic expectations from theoreticians and policy advocates for improved academic outcomes are not supported by the growing body of research on this question. This Article focuses specifically on the use of achievement data in the assessment of vouchers for private schools. Vouchers seem to be the most controversial form of school choice because they distribute public funds directly to schools beyond the purview of public accountability mechanisms. After a brief review of the history of voucher programs and the role of achievement outcomes in voucher advocacy, we examine the initial, influential research on student achievement in public versus private schools and assess the claim that private schools are more effective than public schools at raising student achievement. The superiority of private schools is often presented as common sense, but the research results are far less clear. Turning to more recent research, we analyze the claims of a "consensus" about the effectiveness of voucher programs for improving student outcomes. Researchers supported by voucher advocacy organizations typically use flawed methodology in their attempts to find a positive academic impact for vouchers, misrepresent the findings of other research studies, and selectively ignore studies that contradict their claims. In the final section, we examine recent large-scale studies regarding student achievement in public and private schools. The picture that emerges suggests that public schools do remarkably well in comparison to private schools when student background is considered. This comprehensive evidence indicates that public schools are on average at least as effective, and in some cases more effective, as private schools when measured by student achievement outcomes. We conclude that while improved student achievement remains the most prominent argument in favor of voucher programs, this claim is not supported by the weight of the best available evidence. …


Abstract Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are reactive chemical entities formed by non-enzymatic reaction between reducing sugars and amino group of proteins. Enhanced accumulation of AGEs and associated protein oxidation contribute to pathogenesis of diabetes-associated complications. Here, we evaluated the inhibitory activity of flavonoid compounds isolated from the leaves of Polyalthia longifolia on formation of AGEs and protein oxidation. Antiglycation activity was determined by measuring the formation of AGE fluorescence intensity, Nε-(carboxymethyl) lysine, and level of fructosamine. Protein oxidation was examined using levels of protein carbonyls and thiol group. Compounds significantly (p < 0.001) restricted the formation of fluorescent AGEs in fructose- BSA and methylglyoxal-BSA systems. Furthermore, there was a decrease in levels of fructosamine and protein carbonyls, and elevation in level of thiol group in fructose-BSA in presence of flavonoids. In summary, flavonoids from Polyalthia longifolia inhibit fructose-mediated protein glycation and oxidation, and can be potential agent for preventing AGE-mediated diabetic complications.


Idioms can be a curse for foreign language learners. First, it's not obvious what they mean. Secondly, we don't know where the expression comes from and thirdly, even if we have a similar concept expressed by an idiom in our own language it uses completely different language to do so. A common example in German is dienst is dienst und schnaps ist schnaps, which translates literally as work is work and schnapps is schnapps (an alcoholic drink). However, the comparable expression in English is Don't mix business and pleasure. Not obvious to a speaker of German learning English and definitely not to an English speaker learning German. This is why appreciating the etymology of words and phrases to understand how they came to mean what they mean today is an important linguistic skill, as illustrated in Caroline Taggart's book about the origins of many common expressions used in everyday English.


An iron-catalyzed efficient valorization of biomass-derived furfural (FUR) in aliphatic alcohols is developed in which product selectivity can be simply regulated by varying the gas atmosphere. In the presence of molecular oxygen, there is oxidative condensation of FUR with ethanol, and the obtained product is furan-2-acrolein in a "FUR-ethanol-O2" system. Under suitable conditions, the conversion of FUR and selectivity of furan-2-acrolein are 84.2% and 82.7%, respectively. In the presence of H2, the selective hydrogenation of FUR is achieved, and the main product is furfuryl alcohol in a "FUR-ethanol-H2" system. Under optimal conditions, a 99.9% conversion of FUR and 93.6% selectivity of furfuryl alcohol are attained. This provides an economic, green and sustainable method for the utilization of biomass-based platform compounds in the chemical industry.


Seismic acquisition surveys are designed such that the time intervals between shots are sufficiently large to avoid the tail of the previous source response interfering with the next one (zero overlap in time). To economize on survey time and processing effort, the current compromise is to keep the number of shots to some acceptable minimum. The result is that in current practice the source domain is poorly sampled.


Abstract Archaeologists have long recognized that the Hopewell period was marked by the movement of exotic raw materials and artifacts across the eastern United States. The use of archaeometric techniques to trace the sources of these materials is well established. However, little work has been done on sourcing the pipestone used in Hopewell pipes. In this research we use Portable Infrared Mineral Analyzer (PIMA) technology to identify the presence of Minnesota catlinite as a raw material used for pipes recovered from the Tremper Mound (33SC4) caches in the Scioto Valley of Ohio. A new radiocarbon date places the deposition of these caches between B.C. 50 and A.D. 79. The presence of catlinite pipes in Ohio and in Wisconsin, but rarely in Illinois, suggests the existence of a direct west-to-east route from the catlinite quarries through Wisconsin to Ohio. This movement of catlinite appears to have been a short-term Hopewellian event and the material was not used again until late prehistoric times.


The increasing demand for raw material for multiple uses of forest products and by-products has attracted the interest for fast growing species, such as the Australian Cedar (Toona ciliata), which presents high productive and economic potential. This study aimed at estimating genotypic parameters and values for the species through the use of the BLUP procedure, at individual level, with repeated measures, by means of the conventional evaluation procedures and the introduction of innovative digitalization of the measurements by digital camera with the images provided by the Imagej software system. The main objective is to subsidize the beginning of a breeding program for the species. The assays were carried out in private properties, in plantations located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The results generated by three evaluations revealed that the image digital analysis is adequate to quantify characteristics of Toona ciliata. It is also an effective and accurate alternative to minimize the costs of data collection in evaluations with the species. There was high accuracy for the characters plant height, diameter at breast height and cylindrical volume. Out of the 90 genotypes evaluated, 38 expressed genotypic values predicted for the diameter at breast height higher than the general average of this character, 33 for the cylindrical volume and 49 for height, allowing gains of up to 24.9 % in average for cylindrical volume. The method of mixed models (REML/BLUP) applied via the SELEGEN software system, using the BLUP procedure at individual level and repeated measures in each individual proved to be adequate to estimate the genetic parameters and predict genotypic values in situations of unbalanced data. Therefore, it is very useful and practical for Toona ciliata genetic breeding programs.


Investigation of the photochemical reactions attending light absorption of a number of chloro-nitroso terpene derivatives has shown a simple intramolecular rearrangement in the case of the following compounds: (i) (-)-2-chloro-2-nitrosocamphane; (ii) (+)-2-chloro-2-nitrosopinane; (iii) (-) -2-chioro-2-nitrosocarane; (iv) (+)-2-chloro-2-nitroso-p-menthane; (v) (-)-3-chloro-3-nitroso-p-menthane; (vi) i-2-chloro-2-nitroso-1-methyleyelohexane. When such photoisomerisation occurs by transformation at an asymmetric carbon atom, there is a resultant change in optical rotatory power and the process has been more accurately described as |photomutarotation'. The phenomenon was first observed with (-)-2-chloro-2-nitrosocamphane) Which has formed the parent member of the above series, the others having been structurally designed to illustrate the environmental influence of the neighbouring groups and ring system of the camphane skeleton on the chromophoric centre. Three distinct methods of investigation have been employed, studies of (a) optical rotatory power, (b) electronic absorption spectra, and (c) reaction kinetics. The first of these has found particular application in the case of (i) where spectral displacement and reversal of the Cotton effect on irradiation Indicates inversion of the chlorine and nitroso groups about the active centre. The second method has shown the batho-ehroiaic displacement of absorption characteristic of this change, and kinetic measurements illustrate a complex mechanism which has been successfully analysed to consecutive First Order component processes. Final evidence of the postulated rearrange ment has been provided by isolation of the isomeric (+)-2-chloro-2-nitrosocaphane form the product of irradiation of the (-) form. In all other cases, skeletal transformation of the normal → iso type has been found to take place, and occurs more readily than inversion of the asymmetric centre. Such a change causes a decrease in specific rotation without reversal of the original Cotton effect. The usual displacement of absorption is observed and kinetic studies have shown the overall mechanism to be similar to that of (i). Configurations have been assigned to each pair of stereo-isomeric compounds from considerations of their optical properties. These are based on the structures of (+)- and (-)-2-chloro-2-uiorosocamphsne which in turn have been derived from the established configurations of the closely related bornyl and isobornyl chlorides. It is concluded that isomerism proceeds through steric interaction of the photo-excited chromophore end vicinal alkyl group or ring system, whichever is more favourably situated. Photomutarotation results only when the molecular structure is rigidly fixed. In all other cases skeletal rearrangement is preferred.


We introduce new methods for increasing the performance of multiprogram digital audio broadcast systems, e.g., satellite digital audio broadcasting. Joint multiprogram encoding is an attractive possibility for parallel broadcasting of a large number of programs. Joint coding extended over multiple audio frames in time give further improvements. The benefits of this kind of statistical multiplexing yield improved audio quality and/or higher capacity in terms of number of programs. We describe the new Joint Multiple Program Encoding Technique in the context of the perceptual audio coding (PAC) type of algorithms. We also describe methods for multi-program transmission including Equal Error Protection (EEP) as well as Unequal Error Protection (UEP) and improved error concealment for multiple program transmission. Some of the techniques described in this paper, are currently being used in satellite digital audio broadcasting in the United States.


INTRODUCTION
The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of (99m)Technetium-trimethylbromo-iminodiacetic acid hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HS) for the diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA).

METHODS
From January 2005 to December 2009, a total of 47 infants with conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia (> 20 micromol/l total bilirubin of which 20% is conjugated) underwent HS. BA was suspected if no tracer was visualised in the gut 24 hours post-injection. The results of the HSs were compared with the gold standard, laparotomy with antegrade cholangiography findings.

RESULTS
Considering the final diagnosis based on the gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value (NPV) of the HS in the diagnosis of BA was 100%, 63.6%, 53.8%, and 100%, respectively. The accuracy was 74.5%. BA patients with non-draining HS had significantly higher levels of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) than non-BA patients with non-draining HS (p = 0.019) or draining HS (p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS
HS plays an important role in the diagnostic strategy of infantile jaundice due to conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia. It is a non-invasive method that only seldomly calls for sedation. A high sensitivity and NPV prevent un-necessary surgery. Because of the low specificity of HS in diagnosing BA, it should be part of a multimodality imaging strategy when the result supports a clinical suspicion of BA. In cases with non-draining HS and normal GGTP blood levels, supplemental imaging modalities are especially needed.

FUNDING
none.

TRIAL REGISTRATION
not relevant.


Exercise can reduce the risk of stroke and identifying perceived benefits and barriers to exercise relevant to African Americans (AA) may contribute to ways to facilitate exercise participation. However, standardized instruments to assess exercise beliefs for stroke prevention have not been well tested in AA. Purpose: To examine the psychometric properties of the Exercise Benefits and Barriers for Stroke Prevention Scale (EBBSP), a combination of the perceived benefits and barriers subscales from the Cerebrovascular Attitudes and Beliefs Scale - Revised and the Health Beliefs Related to Cardiovascular Disease Scale, adapted for stroke. Methods: A non-random sample of 66 at risk, young to middle-aged AA completed the EBBSP, a 16-item self-report, 5-point Likert scale. Cronbach's alpha procedure tested reliabilities and principal components analysis with varimax rotation was employed to assess construct validity. Self-report measures of current exercise performance and future intentions to exercise were adm...


A fully differential wideband amplifier for the camera of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is presented. This amplifier would be part of a new ASIC, developed by the NECTAr collaboration, performing the digitization at 1 GS/s with a dynamic range of 16 bits. Input amplifiers must have a voltage gain up to 20 V/V and a bandwidth of 400 MHz. Being impossible to design a fully differential operational amplifier with an 8 GHz GBW product in a 0.35μm CMOS technology, an alternative implementation based on HF linearised transconductors is explored. Test results show that the required GBW product is achieved, with a linearity error smaller than 1% for a differential output voltage range up to 1 Vpp, and smaller than 3% for 2 Vpp.


Sorafenib is a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, with antiangiogenic and antiproliferative properties, approved for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. It induces a significant increase in the median overall survival, despite a complete response to treatment being rare. We report a clinical case of a 60-year-old male with hepatic cirrhosis, Child-Pugh class A and performance status 0, and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. The primary tumor measured 17 x 8 cm and had diffuse intrahepatic metastization, extensive lung and left adrenal invasion, as well as thrombosis of inferior vena cava, with projection to the right atrium. This patient showed a rapid and complete response to sorafenib, evaluated by mRECIST (modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors), that remains after three years of treatment.


A novel small dual-band folded planar antenna for WLAN/Bluetooth applications is introduced, formed by modifying the geometry of a rectangular patch antenna to include a shorting wall, folded patch feed and a slot. The size of the antenna is successfully reduced to a volume of 15 × 12 × 7 mm 3 . The impedance bandwidth achieved were 3.29% and 28.4% (equivalent to return loss # -10 dB) for lower and higher frequency respectively; these covers the IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and IEEE 802.11n (MIMO) bands for wireless communication and future 4G wireless operation of mobile VoIP/Vo WLAN handset phone. Details of the proposed antenna characteristics, including impedance bandwidth, VSWR, gain and far field radiation patterns are presented and discussed. The tuning effects of the geometry parameters on impedance matching of the proposed antenna are also investigated.


Abstract How landscapes respond to, and evolve from, large jökulhlaups (glacial outburst floods) is poorly constrained due to limited observations and detailed monitoring. We investigate how melt of glacier ice transported and deposited by multiple jökulhlaups during the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland, modified the volume and surface elevation of jökulhlaup deposits. Jökulhlaups generated by the eruption deposited large volumes of sediment and ice, causing significant geomorphic change in the Gígjökull proglacial basin over a 4-week period. Observation of these events enabled robust constraints on the physical properties of the floods which informs our understanding of the deposits. Using ground-based LiDAR, GPS observations and the satellite-image-derived ArcticDEMs, we quantify the post-depositional response of the 60 m-thick Gígjökull sediment package to the meltout of buried ice and other geomorphic processes. Between 2010 and 2016, total deposit volume reduced by −0.95 × 106 m3 a−1, with significant surface lowering of up to 1.88 m a−1. Surface lowering and volumetric loss of the deposits is attributed to three factors: (i) meltout of ice deposited by the jökulhlaups; (ii) rapid melting of the buried Gígjökull glacier snout; and (iii) incision of the proglacial meltwater system into the jökulhlaup deposits.


On the basis of previous analysis and control for twoto four-craft static Coulomb formations, this paper continues to further study the analytic solutions for an equal mass five-craft Coulomb formation under the Hill-frame formation. The paper analyzes the co-linear formation of one-dimension, planar formation of two-dimension and hexahedral formation of three-dimension for equal mass five-craft Coulomb formation flying. The authors discuss the conditions of an analytical solution to determine the net charges of craft in each case of static formation. Due to perturbations and disturbances in the GEO altitude, the static configuration can merely maintain its transient state. For the purpose of keeping it stable over the longtime, the Coulomb formation must be subjected to external control. This paper uses LQR control as an example. Finally, through the control applied, craft can stably maintain a static configuration around the static equilibrium point. Moreover, numerical simulation results are illustrated, and the paper discusses situations of Coulomb static configurations when the number of satellites is more than five.


Based on extensive archival research, this book provides a new and stimulating history of International Relations (IR) as an academic discipline. Contrary to traditional accounts, it argues that IR was not invented by Anglo-American men after the First World War. Nor was it divided into neat theoretical camps. To appreciate the twists and turns of early IR scholarship, the book follows a diverse group of men and women from across Europe and beyond who pioneered the field since 1914. Like architects, they built a set of institutions (university departments, journals, libraries, etc.) but they also designed plans for a new world order (draft treaties, petitions, political commentary, etc.). To achieve these goals, they interacted closely with the League of Nations and its bodies for intellectual cooperation, until the Second World War put an end to their endeavour. Their story raises broader questions about the status of IR well beyond the inter-war period.


Background X-ray imaging is a common procedure performed on a regular basis for diagnostic purposes all over the world. The use of X-rays is increasing rapidly with the introduction of new radiation-oriented therapeutic practices. Although it carries significant diagnostic benefits, extensive exposure to X-ray imaging has been shown to be associated with multiple dose-dependent health risks. Awareness and knowledge among patients regarding the effects of X-ray imaging, therefore, becomes important. Through this study, we aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of the hazards of X-ray imaging among different groups of patients visiting two of the public sector tertiary hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. We also aimed to evaluate the necessary safety measures undertaken during X-ray imaging in these hospitals, and the perception of patients regarding the importance of these measures. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in October and November 2018 at two well-known public sector tertiary care hospitals, Dr. Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. A non-probability convenience sampling technique was adapted to recruit 200 participants for the study. A pretested questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of radiation among patients and their perception regarding the necessary safety measures required to be undertaken during the X-ray imaging procedure. Data were entered and analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 17.0 (IBM Corp., New York, USA). Frequencies were calculated for individual variables. Chi-square test was employed to measure the relationship between categorical variables. A p-value of <0.05 was considered to be significant. Results Out of 200 participants, 58% knew what radiation was, 42% did not. The relationship between the level of education of patients and the awareness of the term 'radiation' was found to be statistically significant (p-value = 0.003). Television was the most common source of information (65.5%). One participant (0.5%) thought that it was possible for X-ray imaging to cause cancer. Similarly, only one participant (0.5%) thought that it could cause decreased fertility, five participants (2.5%) thought it could cause burns, seven (3.5%) thought it could cause cataract, and 20 (10%) were of the view that anemia could be caused. The majority of the participants (80.5%) thought that a lead sheet was important during the X-ray procedure for safety and protection. Most participants (71.5%) said that they were never provided with any such lead sheets. When asked if the participants requested for a lead sheet if not provided, the majority (71%) denied requesting for it. On analyzing, we found that a higher percentage of uneducated participants denied requesting a sheet compared to the educated ones. The relationship between the level of education and the choice of requesting for a lead sheet was found to be statistically significant (p-value =0.012). Conclusions The patients visiting the public sector tertiary care hospitals of Karachi seem to lack the knowledge and awareness regarding the hazards of ionizing radiations and the necessary safety measures required to be undertaken during X-ray imaging. More awareness programs should be conducted to increase the level of patients' awareness to protect them from unnecessary health risks.


A short review of the literature shows hypertension as one of the many possible side effects of oral contraceptives. The hypertension apparently develops as a result of stimulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Studies have demonstrated this action to be attributable to the estrogen component since progesterone has not shown any laterations of plasma renin levels. The stimulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system during the luteal phase of menstruation is due to the natriuretic aldosterone-antagonistic effect of progesterone. Various experiments with rats have confirmed these effects. Since almost all women have shown a stimulation of this system after taking ovulation inhibitors the question is why they all do not develop hypertension. There are some experimental data for the hypothesis that only those women will become hypertensive whose renin secretion due to the effects of raised angiotensin and aldosterone activity has not been damped. From the findings it is clear that a patient on oral contraceptives must have her blood pressure regularly controlled particularly in cases of preexisting hypertension or familial hypertension. Should high blood pressure or hypertension occur the drugs must be stopped even if the estrogen-induced hypertension is reversible after cessation of the medication.


The purpose of this work is to study the development and regularity of morphological structures associated with thermokarst processes. An attempt is made to solve two problems, by analyzing the spatial regularity of morphological struc- tures associated with thermokarst, and that of their dynamics. We use the method of landscape mathematical morphology - a branch of landscape science, investigating quantitative laws of landscape mosaics using methods of mathematical analysis of these mosaics. Investigation was carried out for five parcels in Siberia and Alaska. The analysis shows that a number of de- ductions from the proposed mathematical model for thermokarst lake plains are generally corroborated by empirical data.


Introduction Insulin resistance plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio, visceral adiposity index (VAI), lipid accumulation product (LAP) and triglycerides × fasting glucose (TyG) index are surrogate measures of insulin sensitivity based on anthropometric and/or biochemical parameters routinely collected in clinical practice. Herein, we compared the relationships of these four surrogate indexes with insulin sensitivity assessed by the gold standard euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique, and subclinical vascular damage. Research design and methods 631 subjects with different degrees of glucose tolerance underwent euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. The surrogate TG/HDL-C ratio, VAI, LAP and TyG indexes were computed. Pulse pressure and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured as indicators of subclinical vascular damage. Results All the four surrogate indexes showed a significant correlation with insulin-stimulated glucose disposal in the whole study population. However, only LAP index had a significant association with insulin sensitivity across the different glucose tolerance groups. LAP index showed the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.728) to detect individuals with insulin resistance defined as the bottom quartile of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal, followed by TG/HDL-C ratio (0.693), TyG index (0.688) and VAI (0.688). A significant association was found between the four indexes of insulin sensitivity and pulse pressure and IMT. All the four indexes have a similar ability to detect individuals with vascular atherosclerosis defined by IMT>0.9 mm. Conversely, LAP index had the greatest ability to recognize individuals with increased vascular stiffness defined by pulse pressure ≥60 mm Hg. Conclusion Among the surrogate TG/HDL-C ratio, VAI, LAP and TyG indexes of insulin sensitivity, LAP index showed a significant association with insulin-stimulated glucose disposal across the different glucose tolerance categories and the highest ability to detect insulin resistance and subclinical vascular damage.


The possibility of preventing the transmission of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) to human cells using short interfering RNAs (siRNA) was investigated. The siRNA for the p30 of PERV gag region was cloned into pSUPER, the polymerase-III H1-RNA gene promoter. A green fluorescence protein (GFP) was also cloned into pSUPER to establish pSXGH. Pig endothelial cells (PEC) were transduced with the LacZ gene by pseudotype infection, and infected with PERV subtype B, resulting in the formation of PEC(LacZ)/PB. The PEC(LacZ)/PB was next transfected with pSXGH-siRNA. The expression of siRNA was provisionally checked by determining the level of expression of GFP. Culture supernatants of infected cells were then inoculated into HEK293 cells. The siRNA clearly destroyed the PERV infectivity of PEC(LacZ)/PB in both transient cell lines and stable clones. Moreover, the decreased levels of mRNA and gag protein were evidenced in the stable clones by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The final goal of our study was to establish a transgenic pig expressing the siRNA for PERV. The results suggest that siRNA represents a novel approach for controlling PERV infections in clinical xenotransplantation.


This paper aims to describe the eTwinning Teacher Training Institutes Pilot (TTI) 1 experiment during academic year 2014/15 with 550 undergraduate students from first and second year of Educational Technologies degree courses. The research was given start with the purpose of preparing tomorrow's teachers for a future where the use of ICT and is in everyday teaching, to promote their digital skills and communication skills, and their use of English as a foreign language within a cross-cultural context. The teaching presence was proved through proper supervision and the emergence of mutual support from 36 tutors and 550 students. The results of the research contributed to our understanding of how an online learning community can offer a significant pedagogical experience in support of teacher training and how it can foster their linguistic and digital skills. eTwinning's reported impact on teachers' foreign language skills thanks to its international dimension, as well as teachers' collaborative skills in working with teachers of other subjects. All four of these skills which teachers most highly rated eTwinning to have impacted (particularly the ability to teach cross-curricular skills and collaborate with teachers of other subjects), can be said to be areas which are particularly well catered for within eTwinning and which teachers otherwise may have difficulty or less opportunity to develop. eTwinning has great potential to improve teachers' initial training and continuous professional development, fostering lifelong learning at the European level and as national and local level. It is as a professional development network where plenty of opportunities arise for its members to participate in informal dialogue to improve teaching. Establishing and acknowledging eTwinning as a teachers' professional development network that gives opportunities for a variety of professional development activities could enhance eTwinning's status among the other professional development activities on offer in all the participating countries. eTwinning help teachers develop individual's skills, knowledge, expertise and other characteristics as a teacher; is also seen as something that allows up-skilling in areas such as the use of ICT to support teaching, language learning, project management skills and other areas of personal development. .


Abstract Background: To shorten the waiting time for psychiatric treatment, nurse-led services may help in the first-line mental health consultation and interventions for patients with recent first onset of mental illness. Aims: The study evaluated the effectiveness of a six-session nurse-led, needs-based psycho-education program for Chinese patients with mental health problems newly referred to an outpatient clinic in Hong Kong, when compared with routine outpatient care. Method: A randomized controlled trial with a pre- and post-test, control group design was conducted. Seventy-nine patients were randomly assigned to either the nurse-led psycho-education program (N = 39), or to usual psychiatric outpatient care (N = 40). Multiple patient outcomes and services utilization were measured at recruitment and 2 weeks after the intervention. Results: The results of a multivariate analysis of variance test indicated that the psycho-education group had significantly greater improvements in mental and overall health status, insights into their treatment and illness, and hospitalization rates at the post-test. Implications: The findings provide evidence that nurse-led, needs-based psycho-education can improve mental health, self-efficacy and insights into mental illness in Chinese first-onset mentally ill patients. A future multi-center controlled trial of this nurse-led intervention is recommended.


Reduction mammaplasty with nipple–areolar transposition on a medial pedicle was designed as an alternative to amputation and free nipple graft for women with severe mammary hypertrophy. The purpose of this study was to review the viability and sensory outcome of the nipple–areolar complex (NAC) in 72 women (133 breasts) after medial pedicle and inferior pedicle reduction mammaplasty between 1996 and 2000. The medial pedicle was used for 41 women (79 breasts) with moderate to severe mammary hypertrophy. An inferior pedicle was used for 31 women (54 breasts) with mild to moderate mammary hypertrophy. Mean follow-up for all patients was 25 months. Total sensation of the NAC was obtained in 68 of 79 breasts (86%) after medial pedicle reduction mammaplasty and in 50 of 54 breasts (92%) after inferior pedicle reduction mammaplasty. Total viability of the NAC occurred in 74 of 79 breasts (94%) after medial pedicle reduction mammaplasty and in 53 of 54 breasts (98%) after inferior pedicle reduction mammaplasty. Quantitative sensory testing of the NAC using the pressure-specified sensory device demonstrated that static and moving sensory thresholds of the NAC are lowest in the inferior pedicle group followed by the control group and the medial pedicle group. It can be concluded from this study that the medial and inferior pedicle techniques are capable of supporting vascularity and innervation to the NAC. The medial pedicle technique for severe mammary hypertrophy is a good alternative to free nipple grafting. The amount of breast tissue removed does not correlate with sensory outcome for both inferior and medial pedicle techniques. The pressure-specified sensory device is an excellent means of assessing sensory outcome.


In this work, determination of some elements including Pb, Ni, Ba, Fe, Zn, Mg, Mn, Al, Cu, Mo, Ca, B, Cr, Cd, V and Co were carried out in some canned and frozen vegetable samples sold in Balıkesir, Türkiye. The study covered randomly chosen 13 canned and frozen samples such as green peas, okra, shell bean, sweet corn, green beans, garniture and tomato paste. Mineralization of the samples was achieved using microwave assisted wet digestion in closed vessels. The element contents were determined using ICP OES. The element contents were between 0.16-1.86 mg kg-1 for Ni; 0.33-5.02 mg kg-1 for Ba; 4.20-32.22 mg kg-1 for Fe; 1.65-14.64 mg kg-1 for Zn; 124.83-1016.79 mg kg-1 for Mg; 0.87-4.99 mg kg-1 for Mn; 0.32-1.74 mg kg-1 for Al; 0.78-14.97 mg kg-1 for Cu; 0.38-4.24 mg kg-1 for Mo; 42.60-1607.40 mg kg-1 for Ca and 0.96-7.56 mg kg-1 for B. Additionally, Pb was determined in only frozen green peas as 1.3±0.1 mg kg-1. In general, the highest element contents were found in frozen samples. In terms of nutritional assessment, estimated daily intakes of the elements were compared with recommended dietary allowances (RDA), nutrition reference values (TFC) and daily tolerable upper intake levels (UL) which were established by World Health Organization, Turkish Food Codex and Institute of Medicine, respectively. The results showed that the element contents of the analysed samples did not exceeded the permissible limits set by various health organizations. It is concluded that the contamination of these products may be an important threatening for public health. Therefore, monitoring of these samples should be a vital strategy for food industry.


The objective of the research was to find the proper model to be used for fast analysis of existing nozzle geometry. Several models of the nozzle were made to increase further atomization and break down of fuel droplets into fine small molecules. In diesel engines the Analysis of fuel spray with various injection orientations has high influence on engine performance as well as exhaust gas emissions. The results were compared with the results of measurements at steady state conditions and fuel injection characteristics are required to deal effectively with major diesel engine design problem achieving sufficiently rapid fuel-air mixing rates to complete the fuel burning Process in the time available. The fuel injector orientation plays very important role in fuel air mixing. A single cylinder four stroke DI diesel engine with fuel injector having multi-hole nozzle injector is considered for the analysis. The geometry of the diesel fuel injection nozzle and fuel flow characteristics in the nozzle significantly affects the processes of fuel atomization, combustion and formation of pollutant emissions in a diesel engine. In this experiment it has been investigated the effect of injector nozzle holes and models created such as fins for fuel spray on the performance of diesel engine such as fuel consumption and fuel in-engine cylinder the analysis of a swirl diesel engine research also reveals the effects of swirl in combustion chamber of a diesel engine depending on the shape, angle, and area of the jet passage, effects of the pressure, heat release HC, and CO concentrations.


The Boolean algebra of regular closed sets is prominent in topol- ogy, particularly as a dual for the Stone- Cech compactication. This algebra is also central for the theory of geometric computation, as a representation for combinatorial operations on geometric sets. However, the issue of com- putational approximation introduces unresolved subtleties that do not occur within \pure" topology. One major eort towards reconciling this mathe- matical theory with computational practice is our ongoing I-TANGO project. The acronym I-TANGO is an abbreviation for \Intersections|Topology, Ac- curacy and Numerics for Geometric Objects". The long-range goals and initial progress of the I-TANGO team in development of computational topology are presented.


The recent advances in our knowledge of the function of the anterior pituitary lobe in relation to gonadic development and activity, have led to an investigation of the part played by the pituitary in controlling testicular growth and function. The understanding of the relation between the hypophysis and the gonads in the male is, in general, less advanced than for the female, in which this relation was first established. It has been recognized that any action on the testis may be exerted on two morphologically and physiologically different parts: (1) The tissue concerned with the elaboration of ripe spermatozoa, and (2) the interstitial tissue producing the internal secretion responsible for the development of some of the secondary sex organs and characters. The development in these two tissues does not always follow a parallel course, and it appeared possible that different factors were responsible for controlling their growth and functional activity. Consequently a large number of investigations have been made on the action of various extracts and substances upon the growth and secretory activity of the testis. It is not here intended to review the whole literature on this subject, but a number of the effects obtained may be briefly recapitulated:— (1) Numerous experiments have been recorded on the effect of specific hormonic factors. Following on the findings of Smith (1930), who showed that hypophysectomy resulted in atrophy of the testes and of the secondary sex organs, the action of various pituitary extracts was determined.


Over the past few years, neural networks have made a huge improvement in object recognition and event analysis. However, due to a lack of available data, neural networks were not efficiently applied in expression analysis. In this paper, we tackle the problem of facial expression analysis using deep neural network by generating a realistic large scale synthetic labeled dataset. We train a deep 3-dimensional convolutional network on the generated dataset and empirically show how the presented method can efficiently classify facial expressions. Our method addresses four fundamental issues: (i) generating a large scale facial expression dataset that is realistic and accurate, (ii) a rich spatial representation of expressions, (iii) better spatiotemporal feature learning compared to recent techniques and (iv) with a simple linear classifier our learned features outperform state-of-the-art methods.


Ovarian cancer is an intractable disease because patients with ovarian cancer frequently develop drug resistance after long-term chemotherapy. Despite the availability of cumulative information on drug-resistant patients, strategies to reverse drug resistance have still not been established. In this study, we analyzed drug resistance-associated transcription factors (TFs) in ovarian cancer. Gene expression profiles of 15 drug-resistant and 11 drug-sensitive patients with ovarian cancer were compared. Our results showed that TFs TFEB1 and YEATS4 regulated the expression of downstream target genes. These 2 TFs have already been implicated in tumorigenesis or metastasis. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the involvement of these TFs in drug resistance of ovarian cancer. Interestingly, 70% knockdown of each of these TFs with siRNAs resulted in approximately 20%∼30% recovery of drug sensitivity. Further, combination treatment of ovarian cancer cells with TFEB1 and YEATS4 siRNAs resulted in 35% reversal of drug resistance. The effect of these TFs on chemoresistance seemed to be associated with intrinsic apoptosis-related pathways, such as p53 activation, and not with the suppression of drug transport. Thus, we suggest a novel approach to reverse chemoresistance of ovarian cancer by suppressing TFEB1 and YEATS4.


The power converters are mostly prone to frequent failures. One of the major causes for their failures is uneven distribution of power losses among the semiconductor devices. The conventional equal loading bus clamping pulse width modulation scheme guarantees equal loss sharing among the devices when the converter operates at unity power factor (pf). However, when the converter operates at non-unity pf, some of the devices are heavily stressed due to higher loss density, i.e., junction temperatures of some of the devices become higher than the others. This paper proposes four switching sequences based on model predictive control for a grid-connected single-phase H-bridge converter used in various applications including superconducting magnetic energy storage system. In each sector, two switching sequences having different zero vectors are selected alternately. The proposed strategy can achieve balanced loss sharing and almost uniform thermal stress among the devices of the converter under all pf. The novelty of the proposed technique is verified with a scaled-down laboratory test prototype.


We report on assembly and stimuli-response behavior of layer-by-layer (LbL) films of pH- and temperature-responsive cationic diblock copolymer micelles (BCMs) of poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PDMA-b-PNIPAM) and a linear polyanion polystyrene sulfonate (PSS). As a function of solution pH at temperatures above lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAM, PDMA-b-PNIPAM micelles have been demonstrated earlier to exhibit an abrupt change in micellar aggregation number and hydrodynamic size between larger and smaller BCMs (LBCMs and SBCMs, respectively). Here, LBCMs or SBCMs were included within LbL films through self-assembly with a polyanion, and film pH and temperature responses were studied using ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Both types of micelle preserved their micellar morphology when adsorbed at the surface of oxidized silicon wafers coated with PSS-terminated precursor layer at a constant pH. Response of adsorbed BCMs to temperature and pH variations was strongly dependent on whether or not BCMs were coated with the PSS layer. While monolayers of LBCMs lost their original dry morphology in response to pH or temperature variations, depositing a PSS layer atop LBCMs inhibited such irreversible restructuring. As a result of wrapping around and strong binding of PSS chains with LBCM micelles, BCM/PSS assemblies preserved their original dry state morphology despite the application of pH and temperature triggers. However, the wet-state film response to pH and temperature stimuli was drastically different. Swelling of BCM/PSS multilayers was strongly affected by temperature but was almost independent of pH due to neutralization of BCM PDMA's coronal charge with PSS. Cycling the temperature below and above PNIPAM's LCST caused PNIPAM chains within BCM cores to swell or collapse, resulting in reversible swelling transitions in the entire BCM/PSS assemblies. Temperature-controlled switching between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic state of assembled micellar cores was also used to regulate the release of a micelle-loaded hydrophobic pyrene dye, whose release rate increased at temperatures below PNIPAM's LCST.


Total positron impact ionization cross sections, including contributions from positronium formation, have been measured for He, H2 and Ar from below the positronium formation threshold, Eps, up to 60 eV, 31 eV and 41 eV respectively. These cross sections have been subtracted from corresponding total cross section measurements and a small decrease in the elastic cross section between Eps and the threshold for excitation has been deduced for all three targets.


Streptococcus pneumoniae is part of the normal bacterial flora of the narsopharynx, but is also associated with several invasive and non-invasive diseases. Recently, there has been a plethora of research information on the pneumococcus, however, there are few comprehensive review papers discussing the research information. This paper provides a review of the pneumococcus in two vital areas related to its biology including transmission and evolution. Transmission of the pneumococcus is a highly efficient process that usually occurs through respiratory droplets from asymptomatic carriers. Following acquisition, the pneumococcus may only establish in the nasopharynx of the new host, or further progress to sites such as the lungs and cause disease. Pneumococcus transmission risk factors, as well as factors involved in its translocation from the nasophyarnx to diseases sites are still not fully understood. Pneumococcal evolution is dominated by recombination. The recombinational events usually involve genetic exchange with streptococci of the mitis group and some pneumococci are thought to exhibit hyper-recombination.


Abstract. Tropical mountainous regions are often identified as landslide hotspots with
growing population pressure. Anthropogenic factors are assumed to play a
role in the occurrence of landslides in these densely populated regions, yet
the relative importance of these human-induced factors remains poorly
documented. In this work, we aim to explore the impact of forest cover
dynamics, roads and mining activities on the characteristics and causes of
landslides in the rift flank west of Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo). To do so, we
compile a comprehensive multi-temporal inventory of 2730 landslides. The
landslides are of different types and are grouped into five categories that
are adapted to study the impact of human activities on slope stability: old
(pre-1950s) and recent (post-1950s) deep-seated landslides, shallow
landslides, landslides associated with mining and landslides associated with road
construction. We analyse the landslides according to this classification
protocol via frequency–area statistics, frequency ratio distribution and
logistic regression susceptibility assessment. We find that natural factors
contributing to the cause of recent and old deep-seated landslides were
either different or changed over time. Under similar topographic conditions,
shallow landslides are more frequent, but of a smaller size, in areas where
deforestation has occurred since the 1950s. We attribute this size
reduction to the decrease in regolith cohesion due to forest loss, which
allows for a smaller minimum critical area for landsliding. In areas that
were already deforested in the 1950s, shallow landslides are less frequent,
larger and occur on less steep slopes. This suggests a combined role
between regolith availability and soil management practices that influence
erosion and water infiltration. Mining activities increase the odds of
landsliding. Landslides associated with mining and roads are larger than
shallow landslides but smaller than the recent deep-seated instabilities,
and they are controlled by environmental factors that are not present under
natural conditions. Our analysis demonstrates the role of human activities
on the occurrence of landslides in the Lake Kivu region. Overall, it
highlights the need to consider this context when studying hillslope
instability characteristics and distribution patterns in regions under
anthropogenic pressure. Our work also highlights the importance of using
landslide classification criteria adapted to the context of the
Anthropocene.


In the recent years, the rate of theft of money being carried to ATM machines is increasing day by day. Each vehicle carrying money should be monitored at all times through communication protocol and the vehicle should have a GPS installed. This location information should be very confidential and accessible only to the authorized officials. Due to the advancement in the technology, there are numerous ways in which the attacks are happening. One such attack is accessing the confidential information (i.e., the GPS location of the vehicle in this case) by unauthorized means from the people within the same network and using it for various purposes. It's become a challenge to overcome these attacks and deposit the amount to ATM machines safely. There are other scenarios viz. carrying the witnesses to the court, shipping important materials like medicines or official documents where the GPS information is being misused. Providing security against insider attacks is the need of the hour. This paper mainly focuses on the development of an end-to-end system which detects the unauthorized access to the confidential information and gives analysis of the time and frequency of attack using data analytics.


Background and Aim Staphylococcus coagulase negative strains are colonized on epiderm and distribute in environment and outer bodies apparatus such as protez and intera-venous catheters. The aim of this study was the frequency of Staphylococcus coagulase negative isolated from venous and catheters children hospitalized in NICU of Hamadan hospitals and determination of antibiotics resistance patterns in Hamadan, the west of Iran . Methods We collected 108 samples randomly from patients who were hospitalized in NICU hospitals of Hamadan and they needed to venous or urinary catheters. One specimen of each patient was taken and inoculated into carrier transported media and transferred to bacteriology laboratory to identification of strains. Antibiogram was performed by Kirby-Bauer method. Data was analyzed using SPSS 15 software. Results Out of 108 tested samples, 32.7% of patients had urinary catheter and 67.3% had venous catheter. 28% of tested samples had positive culture. The positive cases were significantly found in those children who had been used catheter more than 48 hours (P = 0.00). From the positive cases, Staphylococcus epidemidis (40.4%), Acinetobacter baumannii (10.6%) and E. coli (8.5%) were the most common isolates. The most rate of resistance of Staphylococcus epidemidis was against to erythromycin and ampicillin. The most rate of sensitivty of E. coli was against to gentamicin and Psuedomonas aeruginosa to ciprofloxacin. Conclusion Our results showed the high contamination in used catheters particularly in those patients who needed to catheter for long time. We also indicated the high drug resistance in strains isolated from catheters.


The Fermat-Weber problem of optimally locating a service facility in the Euclidean continuous two-dimensional space is usually solved by the iterative process first suggested by Weiszfeld or by later versions thereof. The methods are usually rather efficient, but exceptional problems are described in the literature in which the iterative solution is exceedingly long. These problems are such that the solution either coincides with one of the demand points or nearly coincides with it. We describe a noniterative direct alternative, based on the insight that the gradient components of the individual demand points can be considered as pooling forces with respect to the solution point. It is demonstrated that symmetrical problems can thus be optimally solved with no iterations, in analogy to finding the equilibrium point in statics. These include a well-known ill-conditioned problem and its variants, which can now be easily solved to optimality using geometrical considerations.


This paper proposes a new method of impact classification for a Structural Health Monitoring system through the use of Self-Attention, the central building block of the Transformer neural network. As a topical and highly promising neural network architecture, the Transformer has the potential to greatly improve the speed and robustness of impact detection. This paper investigates the suitability of this new network, confronting the advantages and disadvantages offered by the Transformer and a well-known and established neural network for impact detection, the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The comparison is undertaken on performance, scalability, and computational time. The inputs to the networks were created using a data transformation technique, which transforms the raw time series data collected from the network of piezoelectric sensors, installed on a composite panel, through the use of Fourier Transform. It is demonstrated that the Transformer method reduces the computational complexity of the impact detection significantly, while achieving excellent prediction results.


Transfer learning problems are typically framed as leveraging knowledge learned on a source task to improve learning on a related, but different, target task. Current transfer methods are able to successfully transfer knowledge between agents in different reinforcement learning tasks, reducing the time needed to learn the target. However, the complimentary task of representation transfer, i.e. transferring knowledge between agents with different internal representations, has not been well explored. The goal in both types of transfer problems is the same: reduce the time needed to learn the target with transfer, relative to learning the target without transfer. This work introduces one such representation transfer algorithm which is implemented in a complex multiagent domain. Experiments demonstrate that transferring the learned knowledge between different representations is both possible and beneficial.


Background: Patterns of sex-disparity in cancer incidence can provide clues on risk factors and susceptibility to the disease. While known kidney cancer genetic syndromes follow an autosomal dominant inheritance and equally affect males and females, kidney cancer occurs predominantly outside a syndromic context (97% of cases are sporadic) and more commonly in males than females. Methods: We used cancer registry data from 10 registries around the world, from countries showing large variations in kidney cancer incidence in 2012 (from 5.2 to 16.7/100,000 person-years) and with at least 20 years of registration. Using age-standardized incidence rate (on the World population), we compared the male-to-female sex-ratio in incidence rates across registries and over time. We also evaluated whether the sex-ratio varied by categories of age at diagnosis. Finally, we compared the kidney cancer-specific mortality after diagnosis in males and females in 2,969 cases using Cox regression model. Results and interpretation: From 1985 to 2005, the sex-ratio was on average 2.0 and showed little variation across countries: it was 1.7 in Iceland; 1.8 in Australia and Finland; 1.9 in the UK and Norway; 2.0 in Singapore, Estonia, the Czech Republic, and the USA; and 2.1 in Slovenia. The sex-ratios were also remarkably stable in all registries over time, arguing against the role of known risk factors such as tobacco smoking to which the proportion of exposed women has evolved drastically in the last 50 years. In line with the autosomal dominant inheritance, sex-ratio was on average 1.0 in younger ages and progressively increased to stabilize from around 40 years old on. In particular the ratio remained stable at older ages, which suggests that estrogen levels are unlikely to account for the lower risk experienced by women. In contrast to the observed difference in incidence, our survival analysis showed similar survival rates in both sexes after adjustment for age and stage at diagnosis. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the difference in kidney cancer incidence rates between males and females are not due to varying prevalence of known risk factors or a protection by sex hormones. While the susceptibility to the disease varies, the tumor behavior seems similar in males and females as shown by similar survival rates. Citation Format: Ghislaine Scelo, Estelle Chanudet-van den Brink, Peng Li, Chanida Vinayanuwattikun, David C. Muller. Remarkably stable sex-ratio in sporadic kidney cancer incidence. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 5213.


The purpose of this paper is to examine manifestations, antecedents, and consequences of employees' extra-role behaviour in Russian business organisations. The authors empirically identify four distinct types of extra-role behaviour: active prosocial, passive prosocial, oriented towards extra efforts at work, and challenge-oriented. The study is based on a sample of 112 employees from two organiza-tions (manufacturing and IT). The analysis shows that organization-based management practices are stronger predictors of extra-role behaviors compared to respondents' individual characteristics. The authors also found that the two types of extra-role behavior ('passive prosocial' and 'oriented towards extra-efforts at work'), typically demonstrated by among by low-resource employees, seemingly result from poor management practices, and negatively influence on respondents' job satisfaction and career promotions. In turn, high-resource employees tend to be engaged in active prosocial and change-ori-ented behaviors. These two types of extra-role behavior lead to higher work satisfaction and career success. The analysis enriches understanding of the nature of extra-role behavior in Russian organisa-tions, its costs and benefits for organisations. It reveals the most effective types of extra-role behavior to be recommended for managerial implications.


This research aims to identify the general conventions of noir thriller in Harlan Coben's The Stranger and the conventions of point of view used in the novel. In order to prove and give information to the readers about how the conventions are employed in the novel, structuralism approach is used to answer the objectives of this research.
This research is a descriptive qualitative study. The subject of this research is a novel entitled The Stranger written by Harlan Coben. The data were some sentences and discourses related to the conventions of noir thriller found in the novel. To gain the credibility of the analysis, the researcher used triangulation method.
There are two results of the research. The first result shows the general conventions of noir thriller in the novel; those are first, having a flawed protagonist in which the significance is shown through two focuses. Those are the kind of flaw and the impact of the flaw on the protagonist and other characters in the story. The second convention is focusing on the character's conflicts shown
through a particular character who has complex problems caused by his inner
conflicts and the conflict with other characters. The third convention is employing the suspense-based plot which is supported by these plot devices: mystery, dilemma, cliff-hanger, and surprised ending. The fourth convention is revealing the critique of socio-political milieu which is shown through these two categories: the critique of hypocrisy and cynicism. The last convention is using the subjective point of view which is further explained through the second finding of this research. The second finding shows the conventions of point of view used in the novel in relation to obtain the subjectivity. It is found that the novel obtains subjectivity by using the third person limited and third person objective point of view.


The paper presents some aspects about rapid prototyping which stays at the base of manufacturing design using CAD/CAM/FEA programs, scanning and measuring machining and its integration in industrial field. A big economical advantage is that products made by rapid prototyping express a low risk failure and the manufacturing process takes less time and lower costs than the conventional techniques. A new gasket for a ball screw used in a bending tube machine was produced by rapid prototyping techniques starting from a broken one. First the broken gasket was scanned by Modela Roland LPX-600 scanning machine obtaining the primary 3D model which is imported to CAD/CAM programs and the final product is achieved on ISEL GFM 4433 milling machine..The gasket mechanical characteristics were investigated by finite element analysis (FEA). FEA provides a way of simulating the gasket design under working condition and an opportunity to understand interactions with the mating machine. Therefore, problems in tooling or mold mating would be minimized. After FEA simulation a new material was chosen in order to increase the mechanical characteristics. The new gasket material improves the tool wear and life, scuff resistance, breaking strength and handling characteristic After that the gasket is assembled on the ball screw of the bending tube machine in order to observe its functional behavior. Keywords— rapid prototyping, reverse engineering, gasket, scanning, milling, FEA.