KRAS tumor mutational status predicts response to therapies that target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and is being used to make treatment decisions for individual colon cancer patients. There is evidence showing that undetected KRAS mutant tumor subpopulations can subvert durable responses, lead to drug resistance, and drive relapse in colon cancer patients treated with EGFR-targeted therapies. Patients with adenocarcinomas of the lung are treated with EGFR thymidine kinase inhibitors and, theoretically, the efficacy of these treatments could be influenced by KRAS mutational status, even though KRAS mutational status is not currently evaluated prior to treatment of lung cancer patients. In order to assess the potential for undetected KRAS mutant subpopulations to impact response in lung adenocarcinoma patients treated with EGFR thymidine kinase inhibitors, the sensitive allele-specific competitive blocker polymerase chain reaction (ACB-PCR) method was used to quantify KRAS codon 12 GGT to GAT and GGT to GTT mutant fraction (MF) in 19 normal lung samples and 21 primary lung adenocarcinomas. ACB-PCR is a type of allele-specific amplification that can measure 3 mutant alleles in a background of 300,000 normal alleles and gives a quantitative readout, rather than reporting the presence/absence of mutation. ACB-PCR was used to quantify KRAS mutation in normal lung and lung tumor tissue in order to empirically define pathological levels of KRAS mutation as those above the upper 95% confidence interval of that present in normal lung. Measurable levels (≥10-5) of KRAS codon 12 GTT and/or GAT mutations were observed in 17/19 (89%) of normal lung samples. The KRAS codon 12 GAT and GTT geometric mean MFs in normal lung were 3.25 x 10-5 and 3.15 x 10-5, respectively. Normal colonic mucosa and normal lung tissue contain similar levels of KRAS codon 12 GAT mutation, however normal lung tissue has a significantly higher level of the KRAS codon 12 GTT mutation than colonic mucosa. All lung adenocarcinomas had measurable levels of both mutations. Adenocarcinomas from male smokers had significantly greater KRAS codon 12 GTT MFs than adenocarcinomas from female smokers. The highest observed KRAS codon 12 GAT MFs were associated with tumors characterized as having relatively low necrosis and tumor cell content. Importantly, 47.6% and 57.1% of lung adenocarcinomas had KRAS codon 12 GAT and GTT MFs greater than the upper 95% confidence interval for MF in normal lung (1.02 x 10-4 and 9.16 x 10-5, respectively). In addition, 28% of lung adenocarcinomas had abnormally-high levels of both mutations. Extrapolation of these results to include additional KRAS hotspot point mutations leads to the conclusion that most, if not all, lung adenocarcinomas possess greater KRAS mutant cell content than normal lung tissue. These results suggest there is a strong possibility that treatment of lung adenocarcinoma patients with therapies that target EGFR may select for the outgrowth of KRAS mutant subpopulations and contribute to the development of drug resistance and relapse. Citation Format: Meagan B. Myers, Karen L. McKim, Fanxue Meng, Barbara L. Parsons. High sensitivity characterization of KRAS mutant subpopulations in normal lung tissue and adenocarcinomas of the lung. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on RAS Oncogenes: From Biology to Therapy; Feb 24-27, 2014; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B56. doi: 10.1158/1557-3125.RASONC14-B56


A comparative study of lag phases and growth rates of healthy, stressed, and sublethally injured Escherichia coli O157 cells in 10 enrichment broths was performed. The evaluation of enrichment protocols was validated by different end point detection methods (two PCR and two combined capture-plate methods). Tryptic soy broth b [TSB (b)] provided the fastest growth (max = 1.00 1 0.06 h- ) but failed to recover oxidative-stressed E. coli O157. TSB (a), TSB-yeast extract medium, TSB supplemented with 8 mg/liter novobiocin plus 16 mg/liter vancomycin (TSB+), buffered peptone water (BPW), and BPW supplemented with 8 mg/liter vancomycin (BPW+V) enabled resuscitation of E. coli O157 cells independent from precultural conditions. Modified TSB plus 10 mg/liter novobiocin (mTSB+N), EC medium, EC reduced bile salts medium (ECred), TSB (b), and TSB supplemented with 8 mg/liter novobiocin plus 16 mg/liter vancomycin plus 2 mg/liter rifampin plus 1 mg/liter K-Telluriet plus 1.5 g/liter bile salts no. 3 (TSB++) all failed to recover E. coli O157 cells for at least one type of stress. The use of TSB (a), TSB+, BPW, and BPW+V was compared with that of mTSB+N (International Organization for Standardization reference broth) for reliable detection of low numbers of healthy, stressed, and sublethally injured E. coli O157 (approximately 10 CFU/10 g) from foods (sprouted seeds, fermented sausage, raw milk, and raw ground beef). When low numbers of healthy cells were inoculated, BPW, BPW+V, TSB, TSB+, and mTSB+N enabled growth until detectable numbers within 6 h of enrichment at 41.5 degrees C. Results showed that mTSB+N failed to recover to detectable numbers E. coli O157 cells sublethally injured by freeze and food stresses, in contrast to what was obtained with BPW and BPW+V. This study highlights that using mTSB+N for recovery of E. coli O157 from foods may yield false-negative results.


A study of the platelet count in rats exposed to normobaric hypoxia for 4 weeks revealed that hypoxia alone, without any change in barometric pressure, considerably reduced the number of thrombocytes. In order to elucidate the mechanism of hypoxic thrombocytopenia, the survival and recovery of 51Cr-labelled platelets were tested. The survival and recovery of platelets from hypoxic rats injected into normoxic recipients were normal. However, when 51Cr-labelled platelets from normoxic rats were injected into a hypoxic recipient, the survival was found to be normal but the recovery of those platelets was lower than in the normal rat. This finding suggests that the reduction of platelet counts in normobaric hypoxia may be due to the platelets' partial sequestration.


Polymer clay nanocomposites (PCN) of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and clay, were synthesised in-situ using a free radical suspension polymerisation technique. The weight fraction of clay in the PCN was systematically varied in order to understand the effect of clay on the physical properties of the resulting PCNs. However, unexpectedly it was found that the weight fraction of clay had a dramatic impact upon the molecular weight of the polymer matrix and a relationship between clay concentration and polymer molecular weight was established. Furthermore, it was also found that the change in molecular weight was dependent upon the clay type.

Three different clay types were investigated; an organically modified montmorillonite (Cloisite 15a), a synthetic clay (Laponite RD) and a PEO modified Laponite RD. To produce the modified Laponite RD, mono amino PEO was synthesised via anionic polymerisation using dimethyl ethanol amine as an initiator. The modification of the Laponite RD clay took place in the reaction flask prior to the suspension polymerisation of the PCN.

The PCN were characterised using size exclusion chromatography (SEC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and oscillatory shear rheology. Morphological studies of the PCN showed that the extent of clay dispersion depended on the clay type. Within the PMMA/Laponite RD nanocomposites an unusual network structure was formed, which appeared to be continuous throughout the material. Thermal properties of the PCN were investigated using DSC, TGA and Microcalorimetry.

From oscillatory shear rheology, the full master curves for the PCN were obtained by applying the time-temperature superposition (TTS) principle. To quantify the effect of the clay upon the rheology, the experimental data was compared to the time dependent diffusion model of Des Cloizeaux for polydisperse polymer melts, which enables polydispersity to be incorporated through the use of the molecular weight distribution obtained via SEC.


Recent advances in single-cell transcriptomics techniques have opened the door to the study of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) at the single-cell level. Here, we studied the GRNs controlling the emergence of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from mouse embryonic endothelium using a combination of single-cell transcriptome assays. We found that a heptad of transcription factors (Runx1, Gata2, Tal1, Fli1, Lyl1, Erg and Lmo2) is specifically co-expressed in an intermediate population expressing both endothelial and hematopoietic markers. Within the heptad, we identified two sets of factors of opposing functions: one (Erg/Fli1) promoting the endothelial cell fate, the other (Runx1/Gata2) promoting the hematopoietic fate. Surprisingly, our data suggest that even though Fli1 initially supports the endothelial cell fate, it acquires a pro-hematopoietic role when co-expressed with Runx1. This work demonstrates the power of single-cell RNA-sequencing for characterizing complex transcription factor dynamics.


The diagnostic significance of endoscopically early signs of oesophagitis in the absence of macroscopic evidence of epithelial abnormalities has been studied prospectively. Changes from the usually observed shininess, pale-pink colour, smooth texture, regular capillaries, sharp Z-line and a decreased mechanical resistance of the mucosa to mechanical damage do not indicate oesophagitis. Nor should one infer gastro-oesophageal reflux from these endoscopic findings. They are presumably ageing changes in the oesophagus.


Diamond layers are of special interest for x‐ray mask fabrication because of their excellent optical and mechanical properties. Using a plasma activated chemical vapor deposition process, 2–5 μm thick diamond layers were deposited and characterized. Microhardness and Young's modulus are found to be very close to the literature values of bulk diamond. A standard isotropic etching process was applied for membrane fabrication. The optical transparency and the thickness homogeneity were measured. Concerning surface roughness, scanning electron micrographs and atomic force measurements were evaluated. After irradiation of diamond masks with synchrotron light, a slight increase of optical transparency was found.


When perfused in vitro with Krebs-Henseleit solution both rabbit and arctic squirrel hearts exhibit similar contraction rates in a temperature range of 35°–25°C. Below 25° the rabbit heart was more susceptible to the present effect of cold. A reduction in temperature produced a much more pronounced depression in diastolic ventricular excitability in the rabbit than in the ground squirrel. At any given temperature, both species had quite similar in vitro coronary flow rates. As the perfusion fluid was cooled, however, flow rates of both species were markedly lowered. Ventricular tissue removed from rabbits with rectal temperatures of 15°C showed that a conversion of ATP to ADP had occurred. Lowering of the body temperature to 15°C in squirrels had no effect on ventricular ATP levels. At both normal and hypothermic temperatures, the total ventricular nucleotide content was much higher in squirrels than in rabbits. At 38° and at 15° squirrels exhibited a higher glutamic but a lower s-hydroxybutyric, malic and succinic oxidase activity than rabbits.


Fibrocytes (Fb) are a population of circulating leukocytes reported to be capable of presenting antigen to CD4+ T lymphocytes. In contrast, no information is available about their capacity to stimulate CD8+ cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. To this end, Fb were isolated from porcine blood to investigate their ability to stimulate CTL responses using a classical swine fever virus model. The isolated Fb (referred to as primary Fb) displayed the phenotype previously reported for mouse and human Fb, particularly in terms of the surface proteins necessary for antigen presentation, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) classes I and II, and CD80/86. These primary Fb endocytosed and degraded antigen efficiently. In absence of exogenous stimuli, endocytosis and MHC II expression were lost when the Fb were passaged and cultured. Treatment of such secondary Fb with interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) restored the MHC II expression. The primary and secondary Fb were capable of stimulating antigen‐specific CD4+ T lymphocytes relating to previous reports. In addition, an efficient stimulation of virus‐specific CD8+CTL was measured in terms of CD8+ T cell proliferation, IFN‐γ production, and cytotoxic activity. This was noted even at low Fb/T lymphocyte ratios, at which dendritic cells were less efficient. Although IFN‐γ pretreatment of Fb was not necessary for this function, it could enhance the Fb activity. These results demonstrate that Fb are efficient, accessory cells for the presentation of viral antigen to specific CD8+ CTL.


We propose an MRAM macro architecture for SoCs to reduce their area size. The .shared write-selection transistor (SWST) architecture is based on 2T1MTJ MRAM cell technology', which enables the same fast access time as and with smaller cell area than that of 6T SRAMs. We designed a 4-Mb macro using the SWST architecture with a 0.15-mum CMOS process and a 0.24-mum MRAM process. The macro cell array consists of 81T64MTJ cell array elements, each storing 64 hits of data. Area size is reduced by more than 30%. By introducing a leakage-replication (LR) read scheme, 50-ns access time is achieved with SPICE simulation. The 2T1MTJ macro and 81T64MTJ macro can be integrated into a single SoC.


The thermal analysis, by hand calculation and computer, of the experimental data of fine-wire fuse "sealed" (in air) in tiny tube shows that the heat transfer through the air around the fine wire is the dominant heat loss mechanism. Even at the melting point of nickel, 1454°C, the radiation loss from a fine wire amounts to about ten percent of the total power loss and becomes comparable to the thermal conduction loss along the wire toward both cold ends. Results of the analysis also indicate the importance of three-dimensional effects, i.e., axial heat transfer in the air around the fine wire, especially for short wires at high temperatures. Experimentally, based on the comparison between his data on "sealed" (in air) and "vented" (in vacuum) fine-wire fuses, J. L. Olson has recommended a 40 percent derating in the threshold current, where the hot resistance of the fuse starts to rise fast. Based on the resistance versus current data of "sealed" and "vented" fuse made of 2.5 x 10-3cm diameter nickel wire measured by F. X. DeCurio and similar data by Kyte eta!. on 7.8 X 10-3cm diameter platinum wire at 66°C, we recommend that the blow power, where the fuse melts, of the vented (in vacuum) fuse should be derated by a factor of 11. Mathematically, the insignificance of the radiation loss at temperatures below 1400 K lends the heat equation, which includes the positive temperature coefficient of the thermal conductivity of the air and that of the electrical resistivity of the wire, solvable in terms of elliptical integral of the first kind.


Abstract Although significant numbers of the federally endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) occur at military installations, little research has been initiated to determine what effects military activities have on the birds. From 1994–1996 we collected data at Ft. Benning Military Installation, Georgia, to assess the effects of selected military activities on reproductive success of the birds. Noise and vibration levels were recorded at or directly adjacent to active woodpecker clusters that received significant use by the military on a regular basis (i.e., firing of small arms and artillery). Identical data were collected at active clusters that were not normally used by military personnel and that we perceived to be relatively free of such disturbances. Surprisingly, we found no significant differences in noise or vibration levels between treatments and controls. There also were no significant differences between treatment and control sites with regard to the numbers of eggs, nestlings, adults, return rates of adults feeding young, or masses of nestlings and adults. Habitat assessments revealed no differences in basal area or midstory density; however, understory was significantly more pronounced at treatment sites.


Methods for limiting the size of hadronic spin-flip in the Coulomb-Nuclear Interference region are critically assessed. This work was presented at the High Energy Polarimetry Workshop in Amsterdam, Sept.9, 1996 and the RHIC Spin Collaboration meeting in Marseille, Sept. 17, 1996.


Academic advising is an important component of a university's structure that assist students to realize
their potentials and fulfill their educational, career and professional goals. This study investigated academic advising practice in public and private universities in Nigeria. It sought to determine students' and faculty advisers' perception of academic advising practice. Survey research design was used. Questionnaire and focused group discussions were used to collect data. Students from two
universities participated in focus group discussions of 10 students per group. Faculty advisers participated in individual in-depth interview. Random and split sampling techniques were used to select students and faculty advisers. A total of 560 undergraduate students (296 males and 264 females) and 85 faculty advisers (49 males and 36 females) completed the questionnaire to examined academic advising practice (AAP) in Nigerian universities. The collated data was analyzed using regression and multi-variance to test the hypotheses while content analysis was used to explore the narratives of the focused group discussions. Some of the findings were that: Academic advising is at the developing stage and majority of the students 389 (85%) were of the opinion that academic
advising practice in Nigerian universities was moderate. Advisers knowledge of university's requirements [F (1,518) = 91.804, P<0.01]. Faculty Advisers' skills [F (1,203)
= 199.984, P<0.01)] and university type (t = 4.76) all have significant impact on the academic advising practice. Gender effect was only significant in the use of advising skills (t = 2.088). This study concludes that Advisers' skills
and knowledge are essential in academic advising practice. It was recommended that universities should establish Academic Advising centers because of its inherent benefits to students.


Same-day endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and cholecystectomy (LC) could potentially reduce hospital length of stay (HLOS). Patients undergoing same-day procedures (N = 164) between 2012 and 2014 were compared with different-day procedures performed in the second half of 2014 (N = 276), in the Kaiser Permanente Southern California database. Both groups had comparable baseline characteristics. ERCP success rate (97.5% vs 93.5%), overall postoperative morbidity (3.66% vs 3.99%), and retained stones (2.5% vs 5.8%) were not different between groups (P > 0.05); however, HLOS was shorter in the same-day group (2.99 ± 2.34 vs 3.84 ± 2.52 days, P < 0.001). Morbidity, procedure success, and HLOS were not different in the same-day group, whether ERCP was performed before or after LC (P > 0.05). In the same-day group, those undergoing single anesthesia had higher BMI (40.1 ± 10.8 vs 30.3 ± 6.6) and were more likely to have gastric bypass (30% vs 0%) than those undergoing separate anesthesia sessions (P < 0.01). Longer HLOS (4.8 ± 3.5 vs 2.9 ± 2.2 days) and higher estimated blood loss (65 ± 90 mL vs 20 ± 29 mL) were also associated with the single-anesthetic session (P < 0.01). ERCP performed on the same day of LC reduces HLOS without increasing morbidity. This approach does not affect postoperative morbidity and ERCP success rate, whether ERCP was performed before or after LC.


Introduction: Biologic DMARDs (Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drugs) have shown to be effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) resistant to the use of synthetic DMARDs. The primary goal of this study was to assess the long-term safety of the use of tocilizumab in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis, moderate to severe disease activity. The secondary goal was to assess the efficiency of tocilizumab in achieving and maintaining clinical remission of the disease. Methods: ML28133 is a long-term, extended study of 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tocilizumab. Two patients were male (15.4%), 11 (84.61%) female. The average age of patients was 53.27+/-10.68. Patients received 8 mg/kg tocilizumab i.v. every four weeks, 104 weeks overall. Safety was assessed following side effects, blood tests, physical examination and vital signs. Efficiency was assessed by achieving and maintaining clinical remission according to DAS28 (Disease Activity Score 28), global assessment of disease activity, VAS score and HAQ-DI (Health Activity Score) questionnaire. Results: Incidence of side effects was 76.92%. Infections were of special interest and were most common (15.3%). Four patients had serious adverse events, three of which associated with tocilizumab, and therapy was stopped. In 11 (84.6%) of the 13 treated patients clinical remission was achieved at times. At the end of the study, 8 out of 9 patients were in remission. Conclusion: The results have shown significant therapeutic effect of tocilizumab even in the most severe forms of the disease, which gives hope for its use as a monotherapy.


In 1947 Professor Sigerist retired from his chair at Johns Hopkins University to Pura, near Lugano, in his native Switzerland, to write a comprehensive eightvolume History of Medicine. This great project was aided financially by Yale University, which appointed him a non-resident research associate. Volume IPrimitive and Archaic Medicine-appeared in 1951 and was accorded an enthusiastic reception. The titles for the remaining volumes were: II-Early Greek, Hindu and Persian Medicine; 11-Medieval Medicine; IVRenaissance Medicine; V-The Seventeenth Century; VI-The Eighteenth Century; VII and VI-Medicine from the Industrial Revolution to the Second World War. Of these the second volume alone was planned. It is now published in an incomplete form,* for before his death in 1957 Sigerist was able to analyse only the early periods of Greek. Indian. and Persian medicine. His knowledge of Sanskrit and his reading of the Rigveda gave him a high opinion of Vedic medicine, which was a combination of religious, magical, and empirical views and practices. He observes in his introduction that "Western and Indian Medicine were closely related and equally effective not only in antiquity but also in the Middle Ages." Unfortunately, death prevented him from developing this theme. The book, admirably produced and illustrated, with a portrait of Sigerist. a preface from the late Professor John F. Fulton, and an editorial introduction by Professor Ludwig Edelstein, is a masterly analysis of the deve'opment of medicine in antiquity. Beginning with "Archaic Medicine in Greece," Sigerist recounts in detail the medical features of the Iliad and the Odyssey; he then discusses the cult of Asclepius with its bearing on religion and legend, followed by an interesting account of pre-Socratic philosophersincluding Pythagoras, Philolaus, Democedes, Alcmaeon, Empedocles, and Democritus-and early medical schools. "Hindu Medicine" and "Medicine in Ancient Persia" follow. In the last section the author returns to Greece to describe the "Golden Age of Greek Medicine," with a careful appraisement of Hippocrates and the "Collection of Hippocratic Writings." We must not deplore too greatly that Sigerist did not live to complete his History. In the two published volumes he has bequeathed much fresh learning and wisdom to mankind. Only Sigerist with his profound knowledge of historical medicine and of languages both ancient and modern could have written them. It was, therefore, a wise decision of the Henry E. Sigerist


The objective of this work was to estimate the cardinal temperatures and to quantify the thermal requirements for the initial development of seedlings of the native tree species Citharexylum myrianthum and Bixa orellana . A field experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, in a 2×12 factorial arrangement (2 tree species and 12 sowing dates), with five replicates. The base, optimum, and maximum temperatures for the development of C. myrianthum were 11.4, 18.1, and 36.6°C, and, for B. orellana , 12.0, 18.4, and 46.4°C. The thermal requirements for the development of C. myrianthum was 66.7°C day per leaf, and, for B. orellana , 82.5°C day per leaf. In the initial development, B. orellana shows a large thermal amplitude and is tolerant to extreme temperatures, while C. myrianthum shows a large thermal amplitude, but a lower thermal requirement and a more rapid development than B. orellana .


Multinational enterprises (MNEs) are challenged to coordinate activities and diffuse (best) practices in their global business networks, which spans both developed and emerging countries. Particularly in emerging market, MNEs often find themselves navigating formal institutional voids and reconcile differences in local norms and values (informal institutions) between home and host countries. This is why it is important to factor in local institutions of member firms – both formal and informal – in the choice of network governance structure. This PhD thesis aims to understand whether and how local institutions – both formal and informal – influence the efficacy of governance structure in global business networks. It consist of three empirical papers using different research settings, each presenting boundary conditions to effective network governance. Based on primary survey-based and secondary data, I make the following empirical observations: one, network governance can substitute formally weak institutions by providing member firms with means to decrease transaction costs (e.g., resource allocation, capacity building). Two, network governance can stimulate the diffusion of organizational practices when member firms are exposed to favorable institutional norms and values. Three, network governance alone does not suffice to ensure full (i.e., substantive) practice implementation; in order to reduce decoupling behavior, MNEs should also consider firm-internal factors, i.e., the willingness and motivation of member firms to implement the practice. Overall, this thesis brings the interplay between network governance and institutions to the forefront, which opens up interesting avenues for future research in international business.


A catalyst system, [Rh(COD)Cl](2)-BINAP-AgSbF(6), has been developed as a second-generation catalyst for the cycloisomerization of 1,6-enynes tethered by carbon chains. Cyclopentanes and cyclopentanones, which can contain functional groups, such as the 1,4-dienes, vinyl ether, aldehyde etc., were obtained from readily available starting materials in high yields and selectivities. Both regioselectivities and enantioselectivities are excellent: only 1,4-dienes were observed and in over 99% ee.


In East Kalimantan, many people use Substance Use Disorders (GPZ) due to drug use that require counseling services in rehabilitation. Related research to study the qualifications and competencies of counselors involving drug counseling, techniques used, evaluation, coordination and solutions in the application of drug counseling at the National Narcotics Rehabilitation Agency (BNN) Tanah Merah-Samarinda. This research uses descriptive qualitative method. Data sources consist of primary and secondary data sources. Collection techniques used are interviews, observation, and study documentation. Data analysis techniques consist of data reduction, data display, conclusion drawing. The technique of checking validity data uses credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. The results showed that this study involved 13 people, 11 people from health education and 1 psychologist. Counseling techniques used consist of individual counseling, group counseling and family counseling as well as cognitive and behavioral therapy (CBT). Clients receive experience and knowledge to support healthy and proven life. The hard character of the client and the negative family stigma often become difficult in providing services. However, through the approval of individual humanists, patience and high service commitment can work well.


Based on the concept of adiabatic invariant, this paper studies the perturbation to Mei symmetry and adiabatic invariants for Hamilton systems. The exact invariants of Mei symmetry for the system without perturbation are given. The perturbation to Mei symmetry is discussed and the adiabatic invariants induced from the perturbation to Mei symmetry of the system are obtained.


Despite recent progress in developing a political consensus that policy changes are needed at both the domestic and international level to address climate change, the required political and public will is still insufficient to overcome a number of political barriers limiting progress.This essay discusses the importance of raising public awareness of environmental issues and the role that assessment processes can have in this regard. Awareness of the environmental dimension of economic activities can be increased in numerous ways such as through education and training, public-service campaigns, product labelling, product marketing, and consumer activism. This essay, however, focuses on the role of environmental assessments; they provide a more formal and scientific way for information to be incorporated into policy decisions and the planning process.


Conscious rats exposed to 5 bar (500 kPa) ambient pressure show increased total myocardial blood flow (TMBF) and enhanced cardiac contractility in spite of unaltered mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and cardiac output (CO). Four groups of awake, adapted rats were given injections of atenolol at 1 bar air or 5 bar normoxic N2, or both. Atenolol injected at 1 bar caused a marked reduction of HR, MAP, peak left ventricular pressure (LVP), and rate of LVP rise (+dP/dt) and fall (-dP/dt). In spite of beta 1-adrenoceptor blockade, ambient pressure rise increased HR, LVP, +dP/dt, -dP/dt, TMBF, and calculated cardiac O2 consumption (P < 0.05). A second atenolol injection at 5 bar caused a brief reduction in HR but did not affect cardiac contractility. Rats receiving the first atenolol injection at 5 bar demonstrated unchanged TMBF. We conclude that beta 1-adrenoceptor blockade does not annual the increase in cardiac contractility associated with hyperbaria.


The World Health Organization recently highlighted the serious worldwide problem of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant or antibiotic multidrug-resistant bacteria. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, including carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), are major antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can be identified by various methods, including antibiotic susceptibility testing, PCR, and immunologic assays. ABSTRACT The World Health Organization recently highlighted the serious worldwide problem of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant or antibiotic multidrug-resistant bacteria. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, including carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), are major antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can be identified by various methods, including antibiotic susceptibility testing, PCR, and immunologic assays. However, there is a need for a faster, more accurate, low-cost, and easy method to detect CPE strains. We previously developed an osmotic shock matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (OS-MALDI MS) method for directly detecting intact Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) using osmotic shock cell lysis. In this study, we evaluated the OS-MALDI MS method and compared it with two other methods (octyl-glucoside-aided direct KPC detection method [OG-MALDI MS] and Bruker's MBT subtyping module indirect method [MBT-SM MALDI MS]). We first completed an analytical performance evaluation of the OS-MALDI MS method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Clinical testing was performed with 437 clinical isolates, including 292 KPC-producing bacteria and 145 non-KPC-producing bacteria. The OS-MALDI MS method exhibited 95.9% sensitivity, 100.0% specificity, and 100.0% precision for detecting KPC. Accuracy of the OS-MALDI MS, OG-MALDI MS, and MBT-SM MALDI MS methods was 97.3%, 55.9%, and 50.2%, respectively. In conclusion, the OS-MALDI MS method clearly outperformed the other methods, exhibiting the highest accuracy and sensitivity of the three methods. We propose the OS-MALDI MS method as a practical, useful method for clinic environments, which may help guide appropriate antibiotic treatment and contribute to the prevention of the spread of CPE.


The goal of the article is to identify the main trends in the socio-demographic composition of highly qualified specialists and to determine the issues for the development of Russian society that arise from these trends. The empirical foundation for the study is a representative sample of the 27th wave of RLMS – HSE. The article shows that the group of highly qualified Russian specialists is characterized by such socio-demographic specifics of its composition as gender asymmetry with the group's increasing feminization, escalating dominance of relatively young ages (up to 40 years), and concentration of its representatives mainly in the regional capitals. Among the other features of this group are its high heterogeneity in terms of the professional training level of its members and the enormous gaps in their income level, especially in large cities. It is demonstrated that behind all of these features is the complex intertwining of different types of inequalities, as well as an increasingly widening imbalance between the number of people with higher education and the number of workplaces for them in the economy. As a result, although the number of employment opportunities for specialists in Russia is now almost 1.5 times lower than the number of people with higher education, more than one in five of those who occupy these jobs do not have a higher education diploma. At the same time, a rapid increase in the proportion of people with higher education among the unemployed is occurring. A conclusion is drawn that structural imbalances which are demonstrated by the overproduction of people with higher education and unreasonably deep gaps in the income of specialists, as well as in the mismatch of their specializations in universities with the availability of corresponding jobs that are attractive to them, have created a "qualification pit" in relation to them, leading to deepened intergroup differentiation among specialists. This situation not only directly affects the prospects for the successful development of the Russian economy, but also requires adjustments in state social policy.


This paper investigated the effect of water features on thermal comfort in a central open space of a residential project in a hot-arid climate. A crowded urbanized area in Baghdad was chosen as a case study a city. The methodology relied on a simulation method using ENVI-met 4.4.5 software to create a model of a residential project and obtain the levels of the predicted mean vote as well as four parameters associated with it. These parameters included, air temperature, mean radiant temperature, horizontal wind speed, and relative humidity. For the purpose of comparative analysis, four types of surfaces were modelled, a surface with a water feature, a vegetated surface, a concrete surface, and a combination of green and blue surfaces. The simulation results showed that a water feature can significantly decrease the levels of the predicted mean vote (PMV) index. It was even more effective than a vegetated surface in increasing thermal comfort levels in the microclimate of a residential project in a hot-arid climate.


To most people, a question like "What colour is the letter A?" may seem nonsensical, but to a grapheme-colour synaesthete, each letter and word has an automatically evoked colour sensation associated with it. This thesis asks whether the synaesthetic colours for letters and words are shaped by the same influences that inform the typical use of language – that is, if grapheme-colour synaesthesia is fundamentally psycholinguistic in nature. If this is the case, the colour experiences of synaesthetes for letters and words can also be used to investigate long-standing questions about how language acquisition and processing work for everyone.

This thesis addresses two aspects of the psycholinguistic roots of synaesthesia: structure/morphology and meaning/semantics. The first two studies on word structure collected colour responses from synaesthetes for compound words (e.g. rainbow), the constituent morphemes of those words separately (e.g. rain and bow), and the letters that in turn form those words (e.g. R, A, B, etc.). These studies showed that synaesthetic word colouring does indeed encode linguistic properties such as word frequency and morphological structure. Furthermore, both linguistic and colour elements of words were important in determining their synaesthetic colour. The second two studies turned to the semantic aspect of language, asking how the meanings associated with words (e.g. red, fire) and even individual letters (e.g. A, Q) can influence the colours that a synaesthete experiences for them. The first of these studies indicated that the synaesthetic colour for a word like red or fire was measurably influenced by the colour that word typically evokes (e.g. the red of red and the orange of fire). The second showed that trends in letter-colour associations in large-scale studies (e.g. A is typically red) may be rooted in connections to particular words (e.g. A is red because A is for apple and apples are red). Overall, this thesis shows that both word structure and meaning have a systematic, measureable effect on synaesthetic colour, which allows these colours to then be used as a new tool to investigate psycholinguistic questions.


Various complications are associated with the use of indwelling voice prostheses. We present problems faced by a patient with his Voice-Master prosthesis, the ingestion of the prosthesis followed by a potentially fatal aspiration. The Voice-Master is unique in that in can be re-inserted. The safety strap is removed after primary insertion once the prosthesis is secure. However, during re-insertions this safety mechanism is no longer present. Therefore we recommend the placement of a temporary stitch or tie to minimize the risks of ingestion or aspiration of the prosthesis during re-insertions.


Warm and moist conditions of some tropical climate regions make it difficult to use ambient aeration to cool stored grain, which contributes to pest problems and increases dependence on chemical control as part of grain management strategies. Grain chilling is a non-chemical alternative to cool grain stored under high risk climatic conditions. The objective of this research was to use computer simulation to evaluate the technical and economic viability of using grain chilling compared to four ambient aeration strategies developed for paddy rice stored under the tropical climatic conditions of the North Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The minimum grain temperature achieved through ambient aeration at the end of the six-month simulated storage period was 30.8°C, using an aeration strategy based on a grain-ambient temperature differential greater than 10°C. Grain chilling lowered the average grain temperature from 35°C to below 15°C in 117 hours and the maximum average temperature it registered after six months of storage was 15.5°C. The economic evaluation of the ambient aeration and chilling strategies determined that the operational costs of grain chilling were 1.83 US $/t lower than ambient aeration plus chemical control of pests. However, the initial cost of the grain chiller made the net present cost (NPC) of the grain chilling strategy 0.22 US $/t higher than the cost of ambient aeration plus chemical control over a 10-year analysis. Several potential financial options were analyzed to make the grain chiller economically feasible for a rice miller in Costa Rica.


Background: Ear keloid is one of the challenging problems that affect people of different races with substantial aesthetic outcomes. Various types of treatment modalities, including intralesional corticosteroid injection are advocated to lower recurrence following excision.
Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of a combined excision and postoperative intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection for treating ear keloid patients.
Methodology: This was a descriptive study done to observe the outcome of combined approach of surgical and intra-lesional steroids injection therapy for ear keloids. Age, sex, site, size, duration, recurrence, and aesthetic outcome were evaluated.
Results: A total of 18 patients representing 19 ear keloids, with one case having bilateral and 3 pediatric cases were included from February 2018 to January 2019.The mean age was 22 years with female to male ratio of 5:1, site were left sided 9 (50%), right 8 (44%) and 1(6%) bilateral. About 10 (53%) cases were at helix, and 9(47%) at ear lobule. Mean length of ear keloid was 1.53 cm with range of 0.5-3cm and mean breath 1.39cm with the range of 0.5-2.5 cm. The mean duration of ear keloid was 9.47 months. 2 (11%) cases showed a history of recurrence. Injection triamcinolone acetonide hypersensitivity was noted by 1 (5.3%) patient. Evaluation for all patients with aesthetic outcome was mean ± standard deviation (4.38±1.025).
Conclusion: Management of ear keloid using the combination of surgical excision and intra-lesional steroids injection therapy can be a good alternative option with low recurrence rate.


The results of the study of the possibility of degradation of complexones, derivatives of succinic acid (CDSA), iminodisuccinic acid (IDSA), ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDCSA), trans-1, 2-diaminocyclohexanedisuccinic acid (DCHDSA) and complexones taken for comparison, derivatives of iminodiacetic acid (IDSA) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTAA) under the influence of microbiological preparations "Baikal EM-1" and "Rhizoplane L", as well as borate complexes of CDSA: B-IDSA, B-EDCSA and B-DCHDSA under the influence of the preparation Rhizoplane L at a temperature 22±1 o C in an aqueous medium. It was found that within 4.5 months of the compounds taken for research under the action of Rhizoplane L preparation, B-IDSA was degraded to greatest extent (by 88%), and under the action of Baikal EM-1 preparation more than other degraded CDSA (by 86%) and EDTAA. Simultaneous destruction of DCHDSA and B-DCHDSA when exposed to the preparation taken for the experiment was not noted.


The goal of the Semantic Scene Completion (SSC) task is to simultaneously predict a completed 3D voxel representation of volumetric occupancy and semantic labels of objects in the scene from a single-view observation. Since the computational cost generally increases explosively along with the growth of voxel resolution, most current state-of-the-arts have to tailor their framework into a low-resolution representation with the sacrifice of detail prediction. Thus, voxel resolution becomes one of the crucial difficulties that lead to the performance bottleneck. In this paper, we propose to devise a new geometry-based strategy to embed depth information with low-resolution voxel representation, which could still be able to encode sufficient geometric information, e.g., room layout, object's sizes and shapes, to infer the invisible areas of the scene with well structure-preserving details. To this end, we first propose a novel 3D sketch-aware feature embedding to explicitly encode geometric information effectively and efficiently. With the 3D sketch in hand, we further devise a simple yet effective semantic scene completion framework that incorporates a light-weight 3D Sketch Hallucination module to guide the inference of occupancy and the semantic labels via a semi-supervised structure prior learning strategy. We demonstrate that our proposed geometric embedding works better than the depth feature learning from habitual SSC frameworks. Our final model surpasses state- of-the-arts consistently on three public benchmarks, which only requires 3D volumes of 60 × 36 × 60 resolution for both input and output.


setting remains appealing and the new plot is enjoyably twisty; the combination of nicely detailed futuristic technology and an embracing of all the actions readers are expected to avoid in themselves (lying well is high art, breaking school security systems earns extra credit) will continue to make this series an irresistible treat for science fiction fans as well as kids disgruntled with their own relatively obedient lives. Fans of tough heroines will particularly appreciate Raven, who takes a much more central role in this outing as the fearless and astonishingly agile bodyguard assigned to keep Otto alive. Although enough background is given that the novel works as a stand-alone, readers will almost certainly want to venture back and see Otto's first year at H.I.V.E. play out, and they will likely just as eagerly anticipate his next one. AS


Transcriptional network is controlled by master transcription factors (TFs) and cis-regulatory elements through interacting with target sequences and recruiting epigenetic regulators. By integration of enhancer profiling and chromatin accessibility, we establish super-enhancer (SE) mediated core regulatory circuitry (CRC) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and identify tumor cells-dependent CRC TFs-TP63, SOX2 and KLF5. They preferentially co-occupy SE loci and form a positive interconnected auto-regulatory loop through SEs to orchestrate chromatin and transcriptional programming. SE-associated oncogene-ALDH3A1 is identified as a novel CRC target contributing to ESCC viability. Using circular chromosome conformation capture sequencing (4C-seq) and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, the direct interaction between TP63 promoter and functional enhancers which is mediated by CRC TFs is identified. Deletion of each enhancer decreases expression of CRC TFs and impairs cell viability, phenocopying the knockdown of each CRC TF. Targeting epigenetic regulation by inhibition of either the BET bromodomain or HDAC disrupts the CRC program and its dependent global epigenetic modification, consequently suppressing ESCC tumor growth. Importantly, combination of both compounds result in synergistic anti-tumor effect. Graphical Abstract HIGHLIGHTS Super-enhancers mediated transcriptional regulatory circuitry is established for ESCC TP63, SOX2 and KLF5 as CRC TFs co-localize super-enhancer loci to orchestrate chromatin accessibility and transcriptional dysregulation Complex interaction between functional enhancers and TP63 promoter is mediated by CRC TFs ALDH3A1 is a key downstream target of ESCC CRC and is essential for ESCC cell survival BET degrader-ARV-771 and HDAC inhibitor-Romidepsin synergistically inhibit ESCC tumor growth


It is well known that when the Jacobian of nonlinear systems is nonsingular in the neighborhood of the solution, the convergence of Newton method to a solution x* of F(x) = 0 is guaranteed and the rate is quadratic. Violating this condition, i.e. the Jacobian to be singular the convergence may be unsatisfactory and may even lost. In this paper we present a modification of Newton method for systems of nonlinear equations with singular Jacobian which is very much faster and significantly cheaper than both Newton and Fixed Newton methods. This is made possible by approximating the Jacobian into a nonsingular diagonal matrix. Numerical experiments are carried out which shows that, the proposed method is very encouraging.


In finite groups the probability that two randomly cho- sen elements commute or randomly ordered n tuples of elements mutually commute have recently attracted interest by many au- thors. There are some classical results estimating the bounds for this kind of probability so that the knowledge of the whole structure of the group can be more accurate. The same problematic has been recently extended to certain classes of infinite compact groups in (2), obtaining restrictions on the group of the inner automorphisms. Here such restrictions are improved for a wider class of infinite compact groups.


PURPOSE
To measure the largest diameter of the anterior chamber (AC) and posterior chamber (PC) dimension and its orientation and determine the relationship with the principal keratometric meridians.

METHODS
Twenty-eight eyes of 14 subjects were scanned with high frequency (50 MHz) ultrasound in sequential meridional scan planes at 30 degrees increments. Observer identified angle and ciliary sulcus recess boundaries in each patient scan set were fit with an elliptical model to obtain the ellipse semi-major axis corresponding to the largest diameter and its meridional orientation. Anterior and posterior chamber diameters from raw data and model fit were compared using linear statistics. Circular statistics were used to compare the orientation of the largest diameter for raw ultrasound measurements, model estimations of largest diameter, and autorefractor determined keratometric axes.

RESULTS
The mean model diameters were anterior chamber OD 12.07 mm (0.32 SD); anterior chamber OS 12.06 mm (0.36 SD); posterior chamber OD 12.35 mm (0.42 SD); posterior chamber OS 12.33 mm (0.43 SD). The general trend for orientation of the meridian of largest diameter was in the horizontal meridian. In over 35% of eyes the difference between AC or PC meridian and the flat keratometric axis was greater than 20 degrees.

CONCLUSIONS
Accurate and reproducible anterior segment biometry depends on visualization of structures and minimization of eye and head movement error. The range and standard deviation of the diameter and orientation measures suggests anatomic variation is sufficient to require biometry for proper sizing and placement of intraocular devices that use angle or sulcus fixation.


The development of simple, rapid, and low cost methods for early detection, identification, and measurement of multiple biomarkers remains a challenge to improve diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and prognosis of cancer. Biosensing technology, combining the properties of biological systems with functional advanced materials, guarantees rapid, reproducible, and highly sensitive cell detection. In this study, we developed silicon-based biochips for prostate cancer PC3 cells detection by using cytokeratin 8/18 and Urotensin Receptor (UTR) as markers in order to obtain a biochip-based diagnostic system. Spectroscopic ellipsometry and fluorescence microscopy were used to characterize surface homogeneity and chemical properties. Cell detection was investigated by optical microscopy. Moreover, synthetic fluorescently labeled peptides were prepared and used for developing faster and lower-cost identification assay compared with classic ELISA immunoassay. Results showed an effective immobilization of PC3 cells on silicon surface and the specific recognition of these cells by fluorescent Urotensin II (4–11). In conclusion, this strategy could be really useful as diagnostic system for prostate cancer.


CONTENTS Introduction § 1. Categories and functors, examples § 2. Mappings of functors § 3. Duality of functors § 4. Spectral families of functors. The limit theorem § 5. Description of the dual functor § 6. Functors defined by sequence spaces § 7. Functors in the category of Hilbert spaces § 8. Functors of vector-valued functions § 9. Rings of operators in functors § 10. Hilbert functors § 11. Some problems Bibliography


The goal is to study the effects of pro-inflammatory agents on the expression of NLRP3 and the structural integrity of cerebral microvessel endothelial cells in vitro. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on a culture of cerebral endothelial cells. The cells were isolated from Wistar rat brains. Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (RolyI: C) – 20 μg / ml was added to cerebral microvessel endothelial cells. In another series of experiments, cells incubated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from patients with enteroviral meningitis (100 μl) were used as a comparison group. CSF was standardized for protein concentration by the Lowry method. The protein concentration was 1 μg / ml. As a control group, cerebral endothelial cells have been cultured in a standard medium. We used the culture insert for 12-well plates. After 24 and 72 h of culturing, we measured transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) in the endothelial layer. Expression of NLRP3 inflammasomes was assessed with immunocytochemistry 24 hrs from the beginning of cell culture. We used double indirect immunoenzymatic staining method according to the manufacturer's protocol. Primary antibodies to NLRP3 (Abcam, USA, ab51952) in 1: 100 dilution, secondary antibodies labeled with Alexa Fluor 488 (Abcam, USA, ab150117) in dilution 1: 200 have been applied. Visualization was performed by confocal laser microscopy microscope Olympus FV10i (Olympus, Japan). Results. TEER decreased in PolyI:C and CSF-treated cells after 24 hr from the beginning of incubation. After 72 hours, TEER was significantly lower in these groups compare to the control one. NLRP3 expression was maximal in the cells treated with CSF. After incubation of the cells with PolyI:C, NLRP3 expression in cerebral endothelial cells was elevated compare to the control group, but did not reached the level seen in CSF-treated cells. Conclusion. PolyI:C and CSF obtained from the patients with viral meningitis induce disruption of cerebral microvessels endothelial layer integrity with the corresponding rise in NLRP3 expression in the cells, thereby suggesting mechanism of blood-brain barrier impairment in neuroinfection.


Using the integrated self-regulatory strength approach to the benefi ts of sleep over time, we proposed that earlyweek sleep suffi ciency (average sleep duration) and early-week sleep consistency (variation in sleep duration) interact to predict the greatest buffer against late-week psychological strain. Results supported the hypothesized interaction, even when controlling for factors relating to circadian rhythm disruptions and sleep quality. Specifi cally, the benefi ts of suffi cient sleep are best obtained through consistent sleep resource replenishment, and consistent sleep practices require a suffi cient amount of sleep to mitigate the experience of strain. This study provided preliminary evidence that sleep as a technique for resource replenishment alone may not be enough to reduce psychological strain. Continued exploration of the potential resource-enhancement aspect of consistent sleep may be a fruitful avenue of stress management research. Much like other routine activities that have shown to increase selfregulatory strength, consistent sleep may serve as an effective strain intervention, thereby preventing negative acute and chronic health effects. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The use of medicinal herbs has been customary in traditional medicine since very long ago and according to the intolerances exhibited by some of the patients for chemical drugs due to the emergence of side effects, the medicinal herbs can be utilized as alternative treatments through adhering to evidence-based medical principles. The current research paper investigates the effects of saffron petal hydroalcoholic extract on the lipid profiles. Thirty Wistar rats were assigned to six groups: a control group and a sham group that received ordinary dietary regime and high cholesterol (2) dietary regime, respectively, and experimental groups one to four that, besides the high cholesterol dietary regime, were also, correspondingly, treated by 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of their body weights saffron petal hydroalcoholic extract per day and 10 mg/kg of the body weight lovastatin per day. Blood samples were collected of the animals after eight weeks to determine their serum lipid profiles. SPSS (version16) was employed to perform the analysis. The serum levels of cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-C were found significantly increased in sham group and experimental group three (high cholesterol dietary regime plus 200 mg/kg of the extract) in contrast to the control group (P<0.001). The significance level was found lower in experimental group 1 (high cholesterol regime plus 50 mg/kg of the extract) (P<0.05, P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively). The serum levels of these three factors and HDL-c were not found significantly different in experimental groups two and four in comparison to the control group. The results are indicative of the favorable effects of saffron petal hydroalcoholic extract, especially in lower dosages, on the regulation and correction of the serum lipid profile.


The Internet and the availability of information and communications technology are now offering new opportunities to health care systems. The quality of medical care processes in general is experiencing lasting improvement through the concentration of medical competencies in the Internet. Telemedical techniques such as telediagnosis, telemonitoring and telerehabilitation are becoming basic features of standardized and interdisciplinary treatment methods. However, one major prerequisite for their use is that the patient's privacy always remains securely protected. The new technical possibilities offered by information and communications technology will be accepted only if suitable financial models are found and if an adequate measure of legal security can be obtained in connection with the legal and ethical questions posed by a network-transparent medical engineering industry.


According to Philoponus, the activity of drawing syllogisms is a dynamic operation. Following the classical idea that actions are specified by their objects and habitual powers by their actions, Philoponus concludes that only a dynamic power can elicit the act of syllogizing. This power is identified with discursive reasoning (dianoia). Imagination, on the contrary, is a static power, that cannot elicit that particular motion of drawing a syllogistic inference. The issue, however, is not entirely uncontroversial, because Ammonius maintains that sophistical syllogisms can only be formed by imagination, since they involve "empty concepts" as terms and only imagination can form such concepts. In this paper I will reconstruct Philoponus' and Ammonius' theories about the "activity" of syllogizing, and I shall explain how Philoponus can deal with sophistical syllogisms in a consistent way.


A 72-year-old man with a longstanding history of bipolar affective disorder type 1 had been stable on lithium monotherapy of 900 mg/night at a serum level of 0.8 mmol/L for more than 20 years. His family physician started him on hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg/d) for hypertension. One week later, the patient's wife noticed unsteady gait, slurred speech and somnolence. The patient was brought to the emergency department, where he was found to have a lithium level of 1.7 mmol/L, a sodium level of 147 mmol/L, and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 25 mL/min/1.73 m2. While admitted to hospital for an acute kidney injury (AKI), the patient was switched to valproate. The AKI and neurologic sequelae resolved with hydration, and his renal function returned to his baseline 65 mL/min/1.73 m2 within a year. In the years that followed, the patient was continued on valproate, but he experienced several depressive and hypomanic relapses.

Lithium toxicity is common in older users, with an annual incidence of 1.5% per year.1 Severe toxicity primarily manifests with neurologic sequelae (coarse tremor, gait difficulties, delirium, seizures, somnolence) and sometimes cardiac dysrhythmias.2 In addition, AKI and acute renal toxicity occur in 1.3%–4% of older lithium users over 5-year follow-up.3 These acute neurologic and renal manifestations generally resolve completely within 9–12 months,2,4 although sometimes renal impairment may be sustained.3

Toxicity symptoms are common at levels higher than 1.5 mEq/L, although chronic lithium intoxication at levels above 0.8mEq/L may also be dangerous in older adults.4 Natural aging also increases the risk for toxicity; the lithium dose required to achieve a given therapeutic serum level may decrease three-fold between the ages of 40 and 95 years, largely owing to decreased eGFR.5 Consequently, lithium and renal function need monitoring every 3 months with aging.4,5 Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus also increases toxicity risk, possibly through a feedback loop of elevated lithium levels causing acute diabetes insipidus and leading to further diuresis and lithium level elevations.6 Other risk factors include medications commonly prescribed in late life, such as diuretics, loop diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers and nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs, which can increase lithium levels up to 50%.1

Despite the relatively low 0.5%–2% risk of serious long-term sequelae of lithium use,7 acute toxicity frequently leads to lithium discontinuation and rates of mood disorder relapse of 33%–50%.5,8 The potential for acute toxicity has led many clinicians to avoid prescribing lithium for older adults and choose agents, such as valproate,9 even though cognitive dysfunction and dementia rates may be worse with valproate.10 Whether lithium increases the long-term risk of chronic kidney disease11 remains unclear. It is true that 0.5%–2% of patients may eventually require chronic dialysis and that continued lithium exposure can be associated with accelerated renal decline in older adults with premorbid eGFR lower than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2.12 However, renal decline does not appear to exceed normal aging in most older adults treated with lithium levels below 0.8 mmol/L, particularly at levels below 0.5 mmol/L.13 Aging, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease14 account for most renal dysfunction seen in patients with mood disorders.15

In this clinical vignette, the recent initiation of hydrochlorothiazide likely led to a cascade of events: increased lithium level, acute nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, dehydration, AKI and reduced renal clearance, leading to further lithium level increases.6 In this case, permanent renal4 and neurologic damage are unlikely.2 The patient also had a history of poor psychiatric course following lithium discontinuation. Considering that 30%–40% of patients with bipolar disorder are preferential lithium responders16 and that lithium can potentially prevent suicide, a retrial of lithium may be beneficial in our patient's case especially because lithium responders often do not respond to other treatments. Careful titration of lithium, caution about drug interactions (e.g., diuretics), and regular lithium and renal (eGFR) monitoring can help prevent further toxicity episodes in older adults.6


The fungus strain Mucor circinelloides (1 M) grew polymorphic with the three forms hyphae, gemmae, and budding cells in nutrition substrate with glucose or n-alkanes as C- and energy source. The forms of the growth were differentiated in the size and colour of the cells and in the mode of formation of biomass. The results were discussed.


Background: As a chronic illness with potential complications in physical, emotional, social, and economic aspects, HIV poses deterioration in patients' quality of life.The aim of this study was to assess status of the functional and current quality of life, and associated factors among clients visiting ART clinics in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A multi-site cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2020. All adults with HIV and on active ART at least for 6 months earlier to the study period, and visiting the selected public health facilities were considered. Facilities were selected purposively, and clients were enrolled using a systematic random sampling technique after a proportion to size allocation. Data were collected using a modified and translated questionnaire of the EQ 5D and EQ-VAS. The analysis was done using SPSS v.26 for windows. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric inferential tests namely; Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis test, and Spearman's correlation tests were carried out to test the presence of correlates with dependent variables. Ethical approval was sought from Saint Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College and Addis Ababa regional health bureau. Results: Out of 371 clients, the majority were from health centers (58%), aged 43 years or below (54%), males (63%), either with primary or secondary education (61%) and married (46.6%) while half were either government or private employees. Pain/discomfort and depression/anxiety were the dimensions most affected with predominance in the age group above 43. The mean score of EQ 5D index values was 0.87 (SD: ±0.05; 95% C.I; 0.86-0.87) and that of EQ-VAS was 81 (SD: ±15, 95% C.I: 80-83). About 38% and 43% of the clients showed an altered health state of any degree in functional and current overall status respectively. Comorbidity, history of current substance use, facility type, social support, and sleep disturbance showed a statistically significant correlation with the functional and current overall health status. Conclusion: A considerable proportion of clients have altered functional and overall health status with pain/discomfort and depression/anxiety most affected. Inclusion of multidisciplinary treatment for HIV and the highlighting of psychosocial issues that are likely amongst this group are warranted.


A convenient synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolinium salts from 1-pyrrolines and alkynes through rhodium-catalyzed C-H functionalization/N-annulation tandem reaction is described. The protocol features a good substrate tolerance, mild reaction conditions, and high yields of target products. Exploration of the alkyne scope unexpectedly revealed a novel labile functional group-promoted rhodium-catalyzed C-H functionalization/C-annulation/elimination cascade reaction of 1-pyrrolines with electron-deficient alkynes.


In this paper, two feedback linearizing control laws for the stabilization of the Inertia Wheel Pendulum are derived: a full-state linearizing controller, generalizing the existing results in literature, with friction ignored in the description and an inputoutput linearizing control law, based on a physically motivated definition of the system output. Experiments are carried out on a laboratory test bed with significant friction in order to test and verify the suggested performance and the results are presented and discussed. The main point to be made as a consequence of the experimental evaluation is the fact that actually the asymptotic stabilization was not achieved, but rather a limit cycling behavior was observed for the full-state linearizing controller. The input-output linearizing controller was able to drive the pendulum to the origin, with the wheel speed settling at a finite value.


A digital cellular mobile system is being studied by CEPT (European Conference of Post and Telecommunication Administration) in order to offer public mobile services throughout Europe. The methodology used to select and to adapt a low-bit-rate coding scheme for that system, the GSM system, as well as the major characteristics of the selected algorithm are outlined.<<ETX>>


We developed a new method (functional IMP SPECT) to quantitate both regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and distribution volume (Vd) using 123I-IMP and SPECT based on a 2- compartment model (influx; K1 =rCBF and outflux; k2). This method requires one arterial blood sampling at 5 min after injection of the tracer and two SPECT scans at 30 min and 60 min. It takes approximately 60 min for total measurements. The integration of arterial input function is estimated by one blood sample taken at 5 min after injection of the tracer without octanol treatment, by using the correlation between one blood sample and the integration, which was obtained from studies on 25 subjects. With the value of integration, K1 and Vd are calculated from the data of two SPECT scans by using the mathematical functions based on the 2-compartment model, which were obtained from studies on 12 subjects. In the practical range of K1 (0.3-0.7 ml/g/min) and Vd (15-35 ml/g) given in the 2-compartment model, statistical errors of K1 and Vd obtained by the functional IMP SPECT were evaluated at approximately 14.0% and 17.2%, respectively. In clinical studies for eight subjects including two healthy volunteers, three patients with cerebral infarction and three patients with degenerative disease, K1 and Vd values estimated by the functional IMP SPECT were significantly correlated with those estimated by non-linear least squares fitting analysis based on the 2-compartment model, and the mean errors of K1 and Vd estimated by the functional IMP SPECT were approximately 8.0% and 11.2% respectively, suggesting the validity of the new method. We conclude that the functional IMP SPECT is clinically useful because of the accuracy, less-invasiveness and convenience.


BACKGROUND: Because noninvasive ventilation (NIV) delivers medical gas at high flow, inadequate humidification may cause oral dryness and patient discomfort. Heated humidification can be used during NIV, but little has been reported about the effects on the hygrometric conditions inside an oronasal mask and oral dryness during 24 hours on NIV. METHODS: We measured absolute humidity (AH) inside oronasal masks on subjects with acute respiratory failure during 24 hours on NIV. A single-limb turbine ventilator and oronasal mask with an exhalation port were used for NIV. Oral moistness was evaluated using an oral moisture-checking device, and 3 times during the 24 hours the subjects subjectively scored the feeling of dryness on a 0–10 scale in which 10 was the most severe dryness. RESULTS: Sixteen subjects were enrolled. The mean ± SD AH inside the mask was 30.0 ± 2.6 mg H2O/L (range 23.1–33.3 mg H2O/L). The median oral moistness was 19.2% (IQR 4.4–24.0%), and the median oral dryness score was 5.5 (IQR 4–7). AH and inspired gas leak correlated inversely, both within the subjects (r = −0.56, P < .001) and between the subjects (r = −0.58, P = .02). AH and oral moistness correlated within the subjects (r = 0.39, P = .04). Oral breathing was associated with reduced oral moistness (P = .001) and increased oral dryness score (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: AH varied among the subjects, and some complained of oral dryness even with heated humidifier. Oral breathing decreased oral moistness and worsened the feeling of dryness.


In this study, the feasibility of the application of flexible thin glass in greenhouses was investigated. With the development of thin but very strong glass plates like for mobile phones, new possibilities are being created for new greenhouse roof designs, the usage in multi-layered glass roof give possibilities for high-insulation greenhouse coverings. Flexible thin glass is a tempered glass. While standard tempered glass goes through a thermal process, this is a chemical process, which makes the glass five times stronger, creating the possibility of thickness reduction and bending. By adding nanocoatings the reflection can be reduced and the light transmission can be increased. Multi-layered greenhouse roofs can be created, resulting in a higher light transmission than currently available multilayer polycarbonate (PC) sheets, but also a higher transmission than today's insulating double glass. The study shows that such glass combinations lead to an additional 20% energy savings based on heat demand for Phalaenopsis. Thin glasses are particularly strong and can also be used in curved form. This makes new greenhouse roof designs with these glasses possible. Especially the low weight offers advantages here. Important mechanical aspects and bottlenecks for the use in greenhouses have been mapped out. Due to limitations in today's available dimensions and high prices, the use of thin glass in greenhouses will be further away in the future


— In the recent times, lot of research work carried out in the field of fuel cells explicitly divulges that it has the potential to be an ultimate power source in upcoming years. The fuel cell has more storing capacity, which enables to use in heavy power applications. In these applications, power conditioning is more vital to regulate the output voltage. Hence, we need a dc-dc converter to provide a constant regulated output voltage for such high-power system. Currently, many new converters were designed and implemented as per the requirement. This paper has made comparative study on several topologies of the quadratic high gain dc-dc converter and the applications where these topologies can be used when the fuel cell is given as a source. Also, we have compared various parameters of all the converters considered and generated the results with steady-state and dynamic study. In this article, we briefed the types of analysis carried on the dc-dc converter to study its performance. Moreover, various application of fuel cell is presented and discussed. This paper will be a handbook to the researchers who start to work on high gain dc-dc converter topologies with quadratic boost converter as a base. This article will also guide the engineers to concentrate on the fuel cell components where it needs to be explored for optimizing its operation.


Purpose: This study aims at not only suggesting some ideas useful in planning and doing the sexual education in the middle schools in the near future putting into test the sexual education program which has been developed by researchers in accordance with the national education courses but also improve sexual health of the adolecents through taking right sexual knowledge and sound sexual attitude. Method: Non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The number of experimental group students was 37 and the number of controll group students was 37. A total of 74 first grade "H"middle school girls at H district in KangWon-Do were selected for a convenience sampling method and have been taught the sexual education program during 6weeks, 12times. Result: The findings of the study are as follows: ㆍ After the sexual education program, the sexual knowledge of experimental group show to be significantly different from that they had before(t=-5.861, p=.000). So, this finding indicating that the adolescent sexual education program helps the ado have and expand the correct sexual knowledge accordingly. ㆍ In order to look into any change of the sexaul attitudes of experimental group after the sexual education program, there were not significant difference(t=-1.083, p=.286). But some items were significant. It is discovered that the adolescence come to have more affirmative and sound sexual attitude after sexual education program. Conclusion: As the findings of the study indicate, it may be concluded as follows: Since the sexual education program can affirmative influence on the sexual knowledge and sexual attitudes of the adolescence, it is recommendable to perform the sexual education program suitable for every stage of growth and development should be developed, qualified teachers and the educational materials should be reinforced and added enough and institutional device should be made to execute the sexual education program systematically.


Many bird species rely on the ecological functions of rice field microhabitats. However, recent intensive practices are causing rice fields to provide fewer suitable habitats. This study examined bird microhabitat usage and the effects of intensive use of chemical substances on it. Eco-friendly and conventional rice fields were surveyed from January 2014 to December 2016, and the species presence, the number of birds, and the location of observed microhabitats were recorded. It was found that shorebirds and herons used more eco-friendly rice paddies with fewer or no chemical substances, while waterfowl used the paddy microhabitat more than the other microhabitats, regardless of the amount of chemical substances used. It was confirmed that land birds used ditches or roads in conventional rice fields more than those in fields that used chemical substances. Chemical substances affected bird assemblages differently. Consequently, bird assemblages used habitats differently depending on the farm crop cultivation as well as food abundance. These results provided valuable information useful for managing rice fields that serve as habitats for birds.


The timeliness of the U.S. input-output (I-O) accounts is a major concern for policymakers and industry analysts, as well as academics. In response, the Bureau of Economic Analysis initiated research in 2001 to identify, develop and implement an estimating method for producing more timely and reliable annual I-O accounts than are currently available. The research included reviewing the frameworks and methods currently used by other statistical agencies and academic researchers, obtaining more timely industry source data, and developing enhanced methods and processes for the automated updating and balancing of annual I-O tables. The results of this research indicate that our new automated updating and balancing method can reduce time lag for producing the annual I-O accounts from three years to one year without reducing quality. Our method is based on an adjusted RAS process that simultaneously balances the I-O table in producers' and purchasers' prices; uses more exogenous data; and processes tables at the most detailed level.


A drip-irrigating dripper (1) obtained by incorporating together a first member (2) and second member (3), which are both resin moldings. The first member (2) is on the side into which an irrigating solution flows, and the second member (3) is on the side from which the irrigating solution is discharged. The drip-irrigating dripper (1) has an in-flow section (221) having a low-pressure stop filter function, and/or a diaphragm section (34) for narrowing a flow path by elevating the hydraulic pressure of the irrigating solution. The drip-irrigating dripper (1) makes it possible to stabilize the amount of irrigating solution discharged, irrespective of the hydraulic pressure of the irrigating solution, and also makes it possible to reduce costs.


Cooperative function amid the current society it is necessary as a support to the economy of certain community groups in order to build and develop the economic potential of the community. Koperasi Karya Mandiri following the participation of the event "Cycling the Charm of Archipelago" organized by the Government of the city of South Tangerang and the Ministry of Youth and Sports in order to introduce the products to their advantage. The author uses descriptive-qualitative research methods, conducted by means of observation and in-depth interviews in person, as well as the data collected are then analyzed in the report form through the descriptive research. The conclusions of the research implemented by the author show that the Koperasi Karya Mandiri through participation at Cycling the Charm of Archipelago event, Cooperatives in Indonesia now can not be considered one eye because it was now more developing services and products that are already adapting with the times now namely convenience, Koperasi Karya Mandiri implements the event participation program in order to expand its wings and inspire the general public, especially the people of Tangerang Selatan and people with disabilities through Knowledge Koperasi Karya  Mandiri products that fill the exhibition of SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) at the event . Keywords: Strategy, Product Knowledge, Participation


Studies have shown the importance of the delayed hypersensitivity reaction in the body's defense against cancer. Production of migration-inhibitory factors is characteristic of the delayed hypersensitivity reaction. Delayed hypersensitivity to chemically induced tumors has been demonstrated in animals by inhibition of macrophage migration.

In our study, preparations from 19 of 21 human tumors inhibited leukocyte migration. Some preparations were cytotoxic to both autogenous and allogeneic migrating leukocytes. Growth of heterologous hepatoma cells in tissue culture was not inhibited by some preparations that inhibited leukocyte migration. It appears that both cytotoxic and migration-inhibiting substances can be liberated by tumor-leukocyte interaction. Such factors may prevent interaction between cancer cells and human tumors and thereby inhibit the cellular immune response in cancer patients.


BACKGROUND
Oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) is a novel lozenge dosage form of fentanyl used for premedication. Many dermatology patients undergoing surgical procedures could benefit from such a medication.

OBJECTIVE
The study compared the safety and efficacy of 400-vs 800-micrograms dosage forms for their sedative and anxiolytic effects in adults undergoing a variety of dermatologic outpatient surgical procedures.

METHODS
Patients received OTFC 30 minutes before the procedure. Vital signs, oxygen saturation, sedation, and anxiety scores were measured before OTFC administration and every 15 minutes thereafter.

RESULTS
Significant sedation and anxiolysis developed in both dosage groups. No clinically significant changes in respiratory rate, heart rate, or blood pressure occurred during the study period. Common drug-induced side effects included dizziness, nausea, pruritus, and vomiting.

CONCLUSION
OTFC is safe and effective for outpatient dermatologic procedures; however, the risk of opioid-related side effects must be carefully weighed against the benefits when deciding to use OTFC in an outpatient setting.


According to design specifications for structural safety, a bridge in initial design step has been modelled to have larger self-weight, external loads and less stiffness than those of real one in service. Thereby measured buffeting responses of existing bridge show different distributions from those of the design model in design step. In order to obtain accurate buffeting responses of the in-site bridge, the analysis model needs to be modified by considering the measured natural frequencies. Until now, a Manual Tuning Method (MTM) has been widely used to obtain the Measurement-based Model(MBM) that has equal natural frequencies to the real bridge. However, since state variables can be selected randomly and its result is not apt to converge exact rapidly, MTM takes a lot of effort and elapsed time. This study presents Buffeting Response Correction Method (BRCM) to obtain more exact buffeting response above MTM. The BRCM is based on the idea the commonly used frequency domain buffeting analysis does not need all structural properties except mode shapes, natural frequencies and damping ratio. BRCM is used to improve each modal buffeting responses of the design model by substituting measured natural frequencies. The measured natural frequencies are determined from acceleration time-history in ordinary vibration of the real bridge. As illustrated examples, simple beam is applied to compare the results of BRCM with those of a assumed MBM by numerical simulation. Buffeting responses of BRCM are shown to be appropriate for those of in-site bridge and the difference is less than 3% between the responses of BRCM and MTM. Therefore, BRCM can calculate easily and conveniently the buffeting responses and improve effectively maintenance and management of in-site bridge than MTM.


The vibrational temperature TN of the N2X1 Sigma g+ state in a CO2-N2-He gas discharge plasma has been calculated numerically with discharge parameters varying in the range of electron density Ne from 1*109-2*1010 cm-3, electron temperature Te from 0.2-1.6 eV, dissociation degree delta of CO2 molecules from 0-0.6 and percentage ratio F of CO2 in the gas mixture from 0 to 30%. The results show that TN increases with increasing Ne and decreasing F and has a saturation value for Te>or approximately=0.8 eV. The vibrational temperatures Tc of the CO electronic ground state, T1 of the coupled CO2 symmetric stretch and bending modes and T2 of the CO2 asymmetric stretch mode obtained simultaneously are also also presented. TN approximately=T2 and is approximately 30% smaller than TC. T1 is almost a constant and is nearly equal to the gas temperature Tg. A comparative experiment has also been conducted. The theoretical TN agree well with the experimental TN with a maximum discrepancy of approximately 18%.


Cardiac surgery, once confined to pure and isolated mitral stenosis, can now be carried out on all valvular lesions irrespective of their number or complexity. At the Montreal Heart Institute, simultaneous surgical correction of multivalvular lesions was carried out in 16 instances and 13 patients survived. All of the survivors have remained almost asymptomatic. However, if significant associated valvular lesions were not corrected at the same operation, the survival rate dropped to 28%. Moreover, such survivors have required constant medical therapy.This experience emphasizes the necessity of correcting completely and simultaneously all significant valvular malfunctions. Extrapleural median sternotomy appears to be the best single approach for all cases of valve replacement.


Thyroid cancer (TC) is a broad classification of neoplasms that includes differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) as a common histological subtype. DTC is characterized by an increased mortality rate in advanced stages, which contributes to the overall high mortality rate of DTC. This progression is mainly attributed to alterations in molecular driver genes, resulting in changes in phenotypes such as invasion, metastasis and dedifferentiation. Clinical management of DTC is challenging due to insufficient diagnostic and therapeutic options. The advent of-omics technology has presented a promising avenue for the diagnosis and treatment of DTC. Identifying molecular markers that can predict the early progression of DTC to a late adverse outcome is essential for precise diagnosis and treatment. The present review aimed to enhance our understanding of DTC by integrating big data with biological systems through-omics technology, specifically transcriptomics and proteomics, which can shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis.


A sub-colony of 20 pipistrelle bats was studied during late pregnancy and lactation. Seventeen females gave birth to single young, with 16 young surviving to weaning. Free association and flight were permitted, and mother-infant pairs were identified and marked on the day of birth (day 0). Suckling associations were identified daily (n = 195) and females were never found suckling young other than their own. A series of choice experiments using young aged 0–10 days and 15–25 days indicated that females would permit only their own offspring to suckle during both early and late lactation. During early lactation, mothers actively selected their young and encouraged suckling but did not do so during late lactation. Mothers were most often indifferent to approaches by alien young but occasionally aggressively rejected them. Mothers never aggressively rejected their own young but frequently were indifferent to them. Young attempted to suckle from any mother without discrimination.


Salinity is a major problem affecting crop production worldwide. The potential of different soil amendments (sulphur, gypsum, compost, and combination of gypsum, compost and sulphur) and two plant-growth stimulators (potassium silicate and calcium carbonate nanoparticles) to alleviate the harmful effects of saline soil on two cultivars of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), one salt tolerant ('Serw-1') and the other high yielding ('Helaly'), was evaluated. Some soil properties were measured before and after treatments. Plant growth parameters, herbage yield, nutritive value and plant metabolites, including photosynthetic pigment and endogenous hormone contents, were also determined. The herbage yield of berseem clover cultivars substantially increased with the application of soil amendments in both years. The greatest yield increase was obtained with the compost application. The highest protein contents in herbage (16.4% in Helaly and 17.2% in Serw-1) were detected in response to composite (compost + gypsum + sulphur) and compost treatments, respectively. Carbohydrate content increased to 9.53% in Helaly and 5.1% in Serw-1 in response to the gypsum and compost treatments, respectively. The composite, compost and gypsum soil amendments were the most effective treatments resulting in the greatest herbage yield and quality values.


The authors describe a procedure of plasmapheresis with plasma ultrafiltration and the ultrafiltrate return to the patient. It has been shown that application of such a procedure of plasmapheresis permits eliminating lipids, with preservation of electrolytes, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins and other valuable plasma components.


Experiments on 130 mice of different strains have revealed that washed mouse erythrocytes taken on day 7 of experimental staphylococcal infection induce the pronounced increase of humoral immune response to sheep red blood cells in syngeneic recipients, while mouse erythrocytes taken on day 14 of this infection induce immunosuppression. Erythrocytes acquire immunosuppressive properties at the period of red blood regeneration.


Now, in a recent development the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India has struck down a central law aimed at forming a National Judicial Appointment Commission which was enacted vis. a vis. the Constitution (Ninety-Ninth Amendment) Act, 2014. It may seem like another quotidian judgment delivered by the Hon'ble Court but it actually is the biggest crisis in the working of Indian model of separation of powers till date. It may seem like any other judgment of the Hon'ble court declaring ultra vires a law made by the legislature but in effect it undermines the competence of the legislature and the executive and gives a severe blow to the system of checks and balances as envisaged by our constitution makers. Was the court right in doing so? What were the reasons for which the court was forced to do so? Is the continuous interference in policy making on part of the court viable? Is it hampering the power of other organs of the state or just exercising the power of judicial review? Is it correct jurisprudentially and if not then what needs to be done? These are the sort of questions the author aims to answer by the medium of this present article for which the author has analyzed the situation in hand by using doctrines, case laws and his own opinions. In the end the author will try to suggest some workable solutions so that a system of checks and balances is maintained without hampering the independence of any of the organs of state.


Electrical properties of solution-grown organic–inorganic hybrid tin bromide perovskite crystals were evaluated. The resistivity of the as-grown crystal is 106–1010 Ω cm though hole doping of Sn(IV) results in a resistivity decrease by 1–5 orders of magnitude. The activation energy of the semiconducting regime was lower than the one expected on the basis of the band gap. This result suggests that the spontaneous doping as observed for the tin iodide system also occurs for tin bromide, although in this case the acceptor level is separated from the top of the valence band. Iodide substitution effects in tin bromide crystal were investigated using CH3NH3SnBr3(1−x)I3x (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) crystals with variable bromide/iodide ratio. The room temperature resistivity monotonously decreases with increasing iodide content, x. The behavior and optical properties can be explained by the band model in which iodide substitution lifts up the top of the valence band and makes the energy difference to the acceptor levels smaller. In addition, a negative differential resistance behavior was observed in the bromide-rich region.


D-Nor-5α-androstan-16-one was prepared via seven steps from 16-diazo-3β-hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one. The major products of the photolysis of its acetylhydrazone in dioxane containing oxygen were the parent ketone and 17-oxa-5α-androstan-16-one, accompanied by low yields of three isomeric lactams: 17-aza-5α-androstan-16-one, 16-aza-5α-androstan-17-one, and 17-aza-5α,13α-androstan-16-one. These three are the same lactams formed in the photo-Beckmann rearrangement of the corresponding oxime, D-nor-5α-androstan-16-one oxime. Their formation from the acetylhydrazone may have some mechanistic significance with regard to the path of the formation of lactams in the photolysis of 5α-androstan-17-one acetylhydrazone in the presence of oxygen reported previously. The mass spectrometric fragmentations of fifteen D-nor-5α-androstanes with functional groups at their C-16 positions are described.


The phase lag introduced by a head in the writing process was measured with a scanning Kerr effect microscope. The phase lag of thin-film heads increases rapidly with frequency even below 30 MHz. A 20 degrees phase lag at about 20 MHz was observed on both an IBM 3380 eight-turn and a 3390 31-turn head. By studying the phase lag caused by different damping mechanisms in the magnetization processes, it was concluded that the rapid increase in phase lag below 20 MHz is primarily caused by the damping of domain wall motion in the sloped region. Different designs of the sloped region of the heads were shown to cause large differences on the phase lag. The effect of drive current amplitude on the phase lag was studied both experimentally and theoretically. The results indicate that, when eddy current damping dominates and the surface of a magnetic film is driven to saturation, a larger phase lag occurs when larger drive field is applied. >


Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is one of the endemic fishes of North America with the greatest potential for aquaculture. Despite this, data of its current distribution is scare and many aspects of its dynamic and productive performance remain unknown. In the present study, results are reported from a literature search and field analysis for describing the current status of channel catfish in Mexico regarding its historical and current geographical distribution as well as the problems faced by fish farmers and production systems. We were able to identify a lack of information and indicators to properly assess the extent of the species natural habitat and its productive potential. The quality and availability of water are among the main problems of the industry. Food costs represent the larger cost-loss for producers and there is great heterogeneity on the management of both breeding and production farms. Much of the production dynamics follows a pattern of trial and error. It became clear the need to optimize and standardize the processes on the channel catfish production system and to properly characterize domestic and wild populations to maximize their potential.


ABSTRACT The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide and has become a serious epidemic health problem. We developed the 'Change 10 Habits' educational program based on obesity treatment and dietary guidelines and examined its effects on customized nutrition education in mildly obese adults. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. Study subjects were excluded if they had several major diseases, if had consumed an anti-obesity drug, or if they practiced an obesity-related program within 30 days. The subjects (n=87, 25≤BMI<30) were each exposed to the customized nutrition education program with four lessons according to the stage of the transtheoretical model (TTM). The stage-matched program was administered for 12 weeks and was run by a clinical dietitian. Overall, subjects who were in the precontemplation/contemplation stage at baseline made progress in the preparation and action/maintenance stage after 12 weeks (P<0.05). For 'Alcohol is consumed, up to 2 drinks per day', the proportion of subjects who belonged in the action/main-tenance stage increased from 34.5% to 49.4% at 12 weeks. In addition, scores of all items significantly in-creased after the program (P<0.05). 'Chew more than 10 times and eat slowly' score significantly increased from 3.9±2.4 to 5.8±2.3 (P<0.05). In conclusion, behavioral stage-matched nutrition education using the 'Change 10 Habits' program was effective in improving eating behaviors and enhancing healthy lifestyles in mildly obese adults.


We show that if the field seeding the formation of the cosmic structures is a dynamically arising bosonic condensate, the features we observe in the CMB might be interpreted as a manifestation of its compositeness.


ABSTRACT Advancing the upconversion materials field relies on accurate and contrastable photoluminescence efficiency measurements, which are characterised by the absolute upconversion quantum yield (UCQY). However, the methodology for such measurements cannot be extrapolated directly from traditional photoluminescence quantum yield techniques, primarily due to issues that arise from the non-linear behaviour of the UC process. Subsequently, no UCQY standards exist, and significant variations in their reported magnitude can occur between laboratories. In this work, our aim is to provide a path for determining and reporting the most reliable UCQYs possible, by addressing all the effects and uncertainties that influence its value. Here the UCQY standard, at a given excitation power density, is defined under a range of stated experimental conditions, environmental conditions, material properties, and influential effects that have been estimated or corrected for. A broad range of UCQYs reported for various UC materials are scrutinized and categorized based on our assertion of the provided information associated with each value. This is crucial for improved comparability with other types of photoluminescent materials, and in addition, the next generation of UC materials can be built on top of these reliable standards. Graphical abstract