Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Kozep fasor 52., H-6726 Szeged, Hungary In foodstuffs with low pH, low water activity, or high carbohydrate content spoilage bacteria are, with some exception, usually not present because this environment is unfavourable for their growth. Food-spoilage yeasts and moulds, however, can grow under these circumstances and cause deterioration of various products, such as fruit and vegetable juices and purees, soft drinks, pickled vegetables, dairy products, bread, dried fruits, sausages. Heat treatment and antiseptic packaging exclude yeast and mould spoilage as long as the packaging is intact. Products that cannot be pasteurized are usually treated with weak acid preservatives: sorbic, propionic or benzoic acid or their salts. However, there is a strong consumers' demand to avoid or diminish the use of artificial substances in their food. Chemical preservatives also present some problems: it was recently reported that benzene can be formed from benzoic acid in foods by decarboxylating action of some spoilage microorganisms. The use of plant-derived essential oils (EOs) or their components as natural preservatives can overcome these problems. Most EOs are regarded as safe (GRAS) and are accepted by consumers. EOs can be added directly to the food or can be applied in active packaging in vapour phase. Both our experiments and data from the literature showed that EOs and their components increase the lag phases and diminish the maximum cell count in the stationary phase of yeast growth. The colony forming ability of moulds was also reduced or stopped by the EOs. The strong aroma of the EOs can affect the organoleptic properties of the foods but the synergistic combinations of EOs with each other or with other hurdle techniques can reduce this effect. Essential oils represent a natural, effective, and consumer-accepted tool against food spoilage caused by yeast and moulds.


This paper presents the feasibility of implementing single channel negative feedback Active Noise Cancellation technique using adaptive filters in Real-time environment(1). In order to establish the suitability and credibility of LMS Algorithm for adaptive filtering in real world scenario, its efficiency was tested beyond system based ideal simulations. Within the MATLAB® software environment two different methods were used to perform Real-time ANC namely Simulink® and Data Acquisition Toolbox TM . Human voice is used as test signal. For processing and performing adaptive filtering, Block LMS Filter was utilised in Simulink and Error Normalised Step Size algorithm was used in between input and output of Signals by DAQ (Data Acquisition) toolbox interface. A general method of using DAQ commands has been employed which also allows for almost any kind of complex real-time audio processing and is quite easy to follow.


Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) improves life expectancy in prostate cancer (PCa) patients, but is associated with adverse effects on muscle mass. Here, we investigated the effects of strength training during ADT on muscle fiber cross‐sectional area (CSA) and regulators of muscle mass. PCa patients on ADT were randomized to 16 weeks of strength training (STG) (n = 12) or a control group (CG; n = 11). Muscle biopsies were obtained from m. vastus lateralis and analyzed by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Muscle fiber CSA increased with strength training (898 μm2, P = 0.04), with the only significant increase observed in type II fibers (1076 μm2, P = 0.03). There was a trend toward a difference in mean change between groups myonuclei number (0.33 nuclei/fiber, P = 0.06), with the only significant increase observed in type I fibers, which decreased the myonuclear domain size of type I fibers (P = 0.05). Satellite cell numbers and the content of androgen receptor and myostatin remained unchanged. Sixteen weeks of strength training during ADT increased type II fiber CSA and reduced myonuclear domain in type I fibers in PCa patients. The increased number of satellite cells normally seen following strength training was not observed.


An N-heterocyclic carbene complex was found to be the active catalyst in the Rh(I)-catalyzed intramolecular coupling of an alkenyl group to a C-H bond of a substituted benzimidazole. Kinetic studies demonstrated that the catalytic cyclization is zero-order in substrate and first-order in catalyst. Furthermore, DFT calculations with a model system suggest that the rate-limiting step involves insertion of the alkenyl double bond into the rhodium-carbene bond.


Bayram S, Sivrioglu K, Karli N, Ozcan O: Low-dose botulinum toxin with short-term electrical stimulation in poststroke spastic drop foot: A preliminary study. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2006;85:75–81. Objective:To compare low-dose botulinum toxin injections followed by short-term electrical stimulation with high-dose botulinum toxin for poststroke spastic drop foot. Design:Twelve patients with spastic drop foot were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. The first group (n = 6) received low-dose (100 units) botulinum toxin injection to the posterior tibial muscle in combination with short-term electrical stimulation, and the second group (n = 6) received a total of 400 units of botulinum toxin injections in equal doses to the posterior tibial, soleus, medial, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles. The patients were evaluated before and 2, 4, 8, and 12 wks after the treatment by the following variables: resting position angle, active and passive ankle range of motion, Modified Ashworth Scale, time walking 10 m, clonus score, Brace Wear Scale, and Global Assessment of Spasticity Scale. Results:Improvement was recorded in both groups for all variables except brace wear. No significant difference was found between the study groups after treatment. The effects lasted shorter in the first group, whereas more side effects were seen in the second group. Conclusions:Our preliminary single-blind study was unable to find a difference in terms of effectiveness between low-dose (100 units) botulinum toxin combined with short-term electrical stimulation and high-dose (400 units) application in spastic drop foot.


Developing new training models along NATO and EU priorities, conducting computer assisted exercises and applying lessons learned from practical experience contribute to the strengthening the individual and team readiness for crises management. However, no matter how important CAX are for the enhancement of training in the integrated security sector, practically a unified CAX management environment in civil security area is still missing. This environment would form an organizational system comprising concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools and means for effective process implementation and their improvement. A model of unified CAX management environment for concept development, selection of methodology, application of tools, detailed analyses, prognosis, evaluations and scientifically based solutions is presented here. This model is based on the most accepted method for the enhancement of effectiveness, result-oriented management, ensuring transparency and oversight – the application of project management methodology for the entire management of CAX in civil security.


BACKGROUND
Recently, invasion of vascular spaces by endometrial carcinoma has received particular attention as a prognostic factor. The goal of the current investigation was to re-examine the effect of vascular invasion on tumor recurrence and survival in patients with endometrial carcinoma.

METHODS
Surgical specimens from 238 patients with endometrial carcinoma were examined for the presence of vascular invasion by tumor cells. Vascular invasion was compared with clinicopathologic features and postoperative survival. Survival curves by vascular invasion were evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS
In a histopathologic review of 238 cases of endometrial carcinoma, 82 neoplasms demonstrated vascular invasion. Vascular invasion significantly correlated with the extension of primary tumor, depth of myometrial invasion, and histologic grade. Patients with lymph node metastasis had a significantly higher incidence of vascular invasion. Survival at 5 years for patients with vascular invasion was 73.4%. This was significantly lower than the survival rate of 91.5% for women without this finding (P < 0.001). Among patients with lymph node metastasis, 80.2% of the patients with vascular invasion survived for 5 years compared with 95.3% of the patients without vascular invasion (P < 0.05). Ten of 47 patients with no lymph node metastasis but with vascular invasion developed recurrent carcinoma. Nine of these ten patients apparently had extrapelvic recurrences.

CONCLUSIONS
The presence of vascular invasion is a reliable prognostic indicator. Recording of tumor recurrence pattern may lead to a better selection of patients for adjuvant systemic therapy after surgery.


The lack of transferability of the Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) baselines, together with the restriction of having
to make required measurements close to noon and under clear-sky conditions, are major drawbacks that restrict the use of
the empirical CWSI method for irrigation scheduling. The objectives of this study were to: (1) evaluate the effect of solar
radiation (Rs) on the non-water-stressed baselines (NWSBs) of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and tall fescue grass (Festuca
arundinacea), and (2) develop empirical equations to estimate their NWSBs, which could be applied at any time during the
daytime cycle and under conditions of full canopy cover. A Bowen ratio system was used to measure 20 min averages of
radiometric surface temperature, air temperature (Ta), wind speed (u2), dew point, and Rs over the two crop canopies during
the 1991 growing season at Kimberly, Idaho. Using this dataset, empirical NWSBs for different Rs ranges were derived, which
tended to diverge from each other as vapor pressure deficit (VPD) increased, indicating that Rs considerably affected the
baselines and that its effect was more pronounced as the air got drier. Multiple regression analysis was also used to develop
equations to estimate the NWSBs for the entire daytime cycle and specifically for the near-noon period. For alfalfa, the
equation derived for the entire daytime cycle estimated the NWSBs as a function of Rs, VPD, Ta, u2, and plant canopy height
(h) (r2 = 0.89). For grass, the equation only included Rs, VPD, Ta, and u2 (r2 = 0.89). For alfalfa, the near-noon equation
included Rs, VPD, Ta, u2, and h (r2 = 0.92). For grass, on the other hand, Ta and h were not statistically significant, and the
near-noon equation only included VPD, Rs, and u2 (r2 = 0.94). Since all variables that significantly affected the NWSBs for
these crops were included in the equations, we expect them to be transferable to other locations; however, additional testing
at other locations is needed to confirm this hypothesis.


Rat hepatic aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was measured by detecting the amount of formaldehyde produced from aminopyrine. Some optimal conditions for the N-demethylation were determined using both isolated microsomes and whole homogenates, and the standard assay method is described. Formaldehyde production from the substrate by microsomal enzyme system was linear to the amount of microsomes added during 3 min reaction time, whereas long-time incubation caused a decrease in the apparent activity of aminopyrine N-demethylation. The N-demethylase activity observed in normal rat liver homogenate was quite similar to that in microsomes when the activity was expressed on the basis of cytochrome P-450 as molecular activity. Pretreatment of animals with typical inducers, phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene, resulted in alteration of the aminopyrine N-demethylase system, which was detectable in both microsomes and whole homogenates.


Compared to other post-socialist economies, the evolution of ownership forms during system change appears quite original in China. A first diversification occurred during the 1980s, with the enlargement of « non-state » (private, foreign) ownership forms ; concurrently usus and fructus rights were redistributed within unchanged legal forms of collective and state ownership. During the 1990s a wide-scale privatization process was launched both in the collective industrial sector and in the state sector. Since the 2000s, a mixed system stabilized where non-state forms predominate from a quantitative point of view, while the state sector takes the form of large business groups in the strategic sectors. The entangled character of both private and state ownership, and the connexion of these two sectors with the Party, make up the base of an original type of party-state (mixed) capitalism.


The nature and sequence of the radiation-induced changes in the brain were studied postmortem in 34 children with glioma, 22 of whom underwent central nervous system radiation therapy. Twenty received whole-brain or whole-neuroaxis radiation at a total mean dosage of 4063 cGy. Brain tissue alterations were analyzed histologically by means of various staining methods, including immunohistochemical techniques. The histological features of irradiated brains were compared with those of non-irradiated brains. Microscopic findings included demyelination (seven cases), focal necrosis (six cases), cortical atrophy (four cases), endothelial proliferation (four cases), and telangiectatic vascular proliferation with vascular thickening and oozing of a thick fluid (one case). Such findings were rare in non-irradiated patients. Demyelination was observed earliest in a patient who died 5 months after radiation therapy and was more common after 9 months. Focal necrosis was first observed 9 months post-irradiation but was more advanced and extensive after 1 year. Calcified foci were found only after 60 months. Various vascular changes such as vascular thickening and thrombosis suggested ischemic insult to the brain as a late effect of radiation injury. The results of this study suggest that the immature brain may be more sensitive to radiation than is the adult brain, and that the manifestations of radiation-induced injury depend on the time elapsed after irradiation.


Sixty one rice genotypes included in coordinated trials were screened for leaf blast resistance under natural epiphytotic conditions adopting uniform blast nursery (UBN) pattern during wet season 2009 and 2010 at CSK HPKV Rice and Wheat Research Centre, Malan, Himachal Pradesh. Of these, twenty six genotypes were rated as resistant; twenty one as moderately susceptible while rest of the genotypes were found susceptible to leaf blast as per scoring procedures of standard evaluation system for rice on 0–9 scale. Twelve genotypes namely, SKAU 353, HPR 2555, HPR 2557, HPR 2143, HPR 2625 (DH(D)24), VL 30569, VL 7852, VL 31339, RCPL 1–116, VL 31452, VL 31451 and Sukaradhan consistently showed resistant reaction to leaf blast during both the years which may be included as donors in breeding programme for leaf blast resistance.


We provide a convenient recipe for fabricating reliable superconducting microbolometers as acoustic phonon detectors with sub-nanosecond response, using image-reversal optical lithography and dc-magnetron sputtering, and our recipe requires no chemical or plasma etching. Our approach solves the traditional problem for granular aluminium bolometers of unreliable (i.e., non-Ohmic) electrical contacts by sequentially sputtering the granular aluminium film and then a palladium capping layer. We use dc calibration data, the method of Danilchenko et al. [1], and direct nanosecond-pulsed photoexcitation to obtain the microbolometer's characteristic current, thermal conductance, characteristic relaxation time, and heat capacity. We also demonstrate the use of the deconvolution algorithm of Edwards et al. [2] to obtain the phonon flux in a heat pulse experiment with nanosecond resolution.


Massive multiple-input multiple-out (MIMO) technology is vital in millimeter-wave (mmWave) bands to obtain large array gains. However, there are practical challenges, such as high hardware cost and power consumption in such systems. A promising solution to these problems is to adopt a hybrid beamforming architecture. This architecture has a much lower number of transceiver (TRx) chains than the total antenna number, resulting in cost- and energy-efficient systems. In this paper, we present a real-time mmWave (28GHz) massive MIMO testbed with hybrid beamforming. This testbed has a 64-antenna/16-TRx unit for beam-selection, which can be expanded to larger array sizes in a modular way. For testing everything from baseband processing algorithms to scheduling and beam-selection in real propagation environments, we extend the capability of an existing 100-antenna/100-TRx massive MIMO testbed (below 6GHz), built upon software-defined radio technology, to a flexible mmWave massive MIMO system.


This paper examines the use of corporal punishment in public schools. It presents a brief history of corporal-punishment practices and explains why corporal punishment remains a legal means of control in the schools of 23 states in the United States. Opponents of corporal punishment argue that it should be abolished from schools because it models violence, does not teach appropriate behaviors or problem-solving skills, and is discriminatorily applied to black males in elementary schools and those with learning/mental/behavioral disabilities. Eleven alternatives to corporal punishment are highlighted: nonacknowledgement of disruptive behavior and reinforcement of appropriate behavior, signal interference, proximity control, interest boosting, tension reduction through humor, hurdle helping, program restructuring, the use of routine to provide security, direct appeal, removal of seductive objects, and positive removal of student from the classroom. The paper alsu presents 14 nonaversive strategies to prevent misbehaviors and promote prosocial skills. It is recommended that teacher-education programs provide behavior-management courses and that parents and teachers investigate nonaversive discipline options. Contains a list of 5 resources and 23 references. (LMI) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * from the original document. * ***********************************************************************


Contests for indivisible resources are often settled on the basis of the asymmetry that exists between contestants in their ownership status: Owners (i.e., individuals already possessing a resource) usually retain the resource when facing intruder competitors. This owner advantage is predicted to be more pronounced as the asymmetry in ownership status accentuates: when the residency period increases, the probability of owners keeping their resource should increase and contestant aggressiveness should be reduced. In the present study, we tested this prediction in a parasitoid wasp, Eupelmus vuilleti, where females fight for hosts, larvae of Callosobruchus maculatus, on which to lay their eggs. To do so, we experimentally varied the arrival times of 2 conspecific females on a host, generating different asymmetries in ownership status between them. We further explored the strategies adopted by intruder females according to the stage reached by the owners in their host exploitation sequence. When the residency period was short, both females fought and contests were won by the female valuing more greatly the host, rather than by the owner per se. The loser left the host vicinity and the winner exploited the host alone. In contrast, when the residency period was long (the owners were ready to parasitize the host), the intruders did not leave but instead waited for the departure of the resident female in order to superparasitize the host. This "waiting strategy" seems particularly adaptive in this species, in which females tend to prefer already parasitized hosts to healthy hosts.[Behav Ecol]


he Lapua pavilion –fugitive, ungraspable and temporary potential dwelling- emerges as a playful manifesto of Aalto's experimentalism. This pavilion-organism establishes a double dialogue: from Nature to Architecture and from Architecture to Nature by scaling a sort of elastic mould. The situation is that the place houses the building as the building moulds the place. In order to discover this Semperian trail in the artwork of the Aaltian pavilions, certainly we might explore the notion of elemental wooden shed. By accident, the graphic documentation and rendering of Lapua pavilion reveal a tight link to the wood-framing used in a traditional Finn-Lappish 'Kota'. The result of both design strategies is the camouflage, where indoor and outdoor spaces are deleted and appear a landscape without constraints. The Lapua pavilion defines an intimate topographic relationship with the woodscape and its primary forms, looking to forge a metaphor of the thermal home in a remote world, using primal architectural tools: Row matter, elemental framing and the flows of nature and nomadic cultures as output of a veil in motion. This membrane constitutes the poetic and technical dwelling of the Aaltian pavilion. Here, we may conclude that the matter -wood as substance- moulds the form -the pavilion as organism- which dissolves in its own shape.


We propose an integro-differential description of the dynamics of the fitness distribution in an asexual population under mutation and selection, in the presence of a phenotype optimum. Due to the presence of this optimum, the distribution of mutation effects on fitness depends on the parent's fitness, leading to a non-standard equation with 'context-dependent' mutation kernels. Under general assumptions on the mutation kernels, which encompass the standard n  −  dimensional Gaussian Fisher's geometrical model (FGM), we prove that the equation admits a unique time-global solution. Furthermore, we derive a nonlocal nonlinear transport equation satisfied by the cumulant generating function of the fitness distribution. As this equation is the same as the equation derived by Martin and Roques (2016) while studying stochastic Wright–Fisher-type models, this shows that the solution of the main integro-differential equation can be interpreted as the expected distribution of fitness corresponding to this type of microscopic models, in a deterministic limit. Additionally, we give simple sufficient conditions for the existence/non-existence of a concentration phenomenon at the optimal fitness value, i.e. of a Dirac mass at the optimum in the stationary fitness distribution. We show how it determines a phase transition, as mutation rates increase, in the value of the equilibrium mean fitness at mutation-selection balance. In the particular case of the FGM, consistently with previous studies based on other formalisms (Waxman and Peck, 1998, 2006), the condition for the existence of the concentration phenomenon simply requires that the dimension n of the phenotype space be larger than or equal to 3 and the mutation rate U be smaller than some explicit threshold. The accuracy of these deterministic approximations are further checked by stochastic individual-based simulations.


Consider uniform flow past four slender bodies with elliptical cross-section of constant ellipticity along the length of 0, 0.125, 0.25 and 0.375, respectively, for each body. Here, ellipticity is defined as the ratio of the semiminor axis of the ellipse to the semimajor axis. The bodies have a pointed nose which gradually increases in cross-section with a radius of curvature 419 mm to a mid-section which then remains constant up to a blunt end section with semimajor axis diameter 160 mm, the total length of all bodies being 800 mm. The bodies are side-mounted within a low-speed wind tunnel with an operational wind speed of the order 30 m s−1. The side force (or lift) is measured within an angle of attack range of −3° to 3° such that the body is rotated about the major axis of the ellipse cross-section. The lift slope is determined for each body, and how it varies with ellipticity. It is found that this variance follows a straight line which steadily increases with increasing ellipticity. It is shown that this result is predicted by a recently developed Oseen flow slender body theory, and cannot be predicted by either inviscid flow slender body theory or viscous crossflow theories based upon the Allen and Perkins method.


Background. While a female preponderance in unipolar depression is a consistent finding in community-based studies, determinants remain speculative. This study aimed to examine whether a female preponderance in certain anxiety disorders drives a gender difference in depression. Method. The relevant data from the National Comorbidity Study (NCS) are analysed. Results. We observed a biphasic pattern in the emergence of a female preponderance in the depressive and anxiety disorders, with an initial pre-pubertal or early adolescent onset, and after attenuation in early to middle adulthood, re-emergence in mid- to late-adulthood. Analyses focused on determinants of the initial female preponderance. Female gender, presence of an anxiety disorder and variable ages of onset in the anxiety disorder all contributed to the increased chance of an initial depressive episode. Some specificity in linking the onset of depressive temporally in early adolescence with two anxiety disorders was demonstrated, specifically generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. Conclusions. The separate anxiety disorders and their age of onset had variable links with depression, but female gender remained a significant predictor of depression after accounting for the effects of prior anxiety.


To analyze the distribution of electric intensity of radio-pulse radiation in the mammary gland of ewes it is developed the model in the form of a truncated circular cone shape, filled with an isotropic medium with a different dielectric permittivity. In this article we solve the problem of homogeneous Maxwell equations describing distribution of the electric and magnetic fields in the module of the breast ewes by the method of integral equations. As a result of reforms, the initial transient problem has been reduced to the following series of problems of the diffraction of,monochromatic fields with frequency ωm =±12±…. for the area of the mammary gland of ewes. Formulated diffraction problems are reduced to integral equations for the field of the mammary gland of ewes. To this aim, using Green's formula, it was obtained integral equation for the distribution of the electric field inside mammary gland. A theoretical analysis found that for the treatment of infectious mastitis of ewes should be carried out using radio-pulse radiation with frequency 30,8 GHz, pulse width 1•10-6 sec, pulse repetition period 1•10-4 sec, radio pulse amplitude within the sheep udder (pulse, argon irradiation time of patients) for the treatment of mastitis of the ewes.


Automatic control on business process with workflow is the core part of a project management system. A process-oriented workflow system model which can support workflow configuration, process control, task assignment, task submitting and approval, and cooperative work is presented. The model is a hierachical architecture that consists of three layers, i.e. database layer, workflow engine layer, and user interface layer. It is based on Browser/Server architecture which can provide multi-user, distributed and access control properties. The workflow engine is based on XPDL and relational database technologies and can support cooperative work, branch selection and workflow configuration. The model is implemented on Windows .NET platform, and is applied in an international enterprise project management system. The application results demonstrate that this workflow system model can satisfy the requirement of cooperative project management.


The WHO 1994 classification for endometrial hyperplasias is based on the morphologic features of the lesions. This system characterizes the nuclear cytologic morphology as typical or atypical and describes the glandular architectural pattern as simple or complex. The main problem of this classification is the poor reproducibility. Although the predictive value of the atypical category is high, there are many typical hyperplasia cases with cancer progression. Modern molecular data related to endometrial tumorigenesis and precise computerized morphometric analysis have identified the lesion that may be considered as a precursor of endometrioid adenocarcinoma. By definition, this endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) is a clonal proliferation of architecturally and cytologically altered endometrial glands which are prone to malignant transformation to endometrioid (type I) endometrial adenocarcinoma. The morphometric basis of EIN diagnosis is the D-score (DS), which is a logical combination of three morphometric features that represent the glandular complexity, glandular volume and cytological alterations. PTEN inactivation and K-ras mutation are the earliest genetic changes that can be revealed in these lesions. Hyperplasia cases that do not fit into the EIN categories are considered as benign or hormonal endometrial hyperplasia. This is the theoretical basis of a new classification system in premalignant endometrial diseases. Retrospective clinical data proved the high predictive value of the EIN scheme, so the decision on therapy can be more established. The reproducibility is excellent with application of precise definitions and PTEN immunohistochemistry. In the "Blue book" published in 2003 the WHO introduces the new morphometric- and molecular-based EIN system, and recommends it as an alternative classification method.


Electron transfer (ET) process and its dependence on the system parameters are investigated by solving two-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger equation numerically using split operator technique. Evolution of the electron wavepacket occurs from the one-electron species hydrogen atom to another bare nucleus of charge Z > 1. This evolution is quantified by partitioning the simulation box and defining regional densities belonging to the two nuclei of the system. It is found that the functional form of the time-variations of these regional densities and the extent of ET process depend strongly on the inter-nuclear distance and relative values of the nuclear charges, which define the potential energy surface governing the electron wavepacket evolution. Also, the initial electronic state of the single-electron atom has critical effect on this evolution and its consequent (partial) electron transfer depending on its spreading extent and orientation with respect to the inter-nuclear axis.


Few studies assess dog ownership and walking with both self-reported or perceived and audited or objective walkability and physical activity measures. Across two years, we examined both types of walkability and activity measures for residents living within 2km of a "complete street"—one renovated with light rails, bike lanes, and sidewalks. Audited walkability (Irvine–Minnesota Inventory) was more consistently related to dog ownership and walking groups than perceived walkability (Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale—Abbreviated). Self-reported leisure walking was much higher (289–383 min per week) among dog walkers than among other groups (100–270 min per week), despite no difference in accelerometer-measured light or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Furthermore, the most powerful difference between groups involved single-family detached home residence, which was much lower among non-dog-owners (44%) than among non-dog-walkers or dog walkers (81% and 70%, respectively). Given discrepancies across walkability and activity measures, we recommend future use of walkability audits and objectively measured physical activity over the current emphasis on self-report measures. We also urge greater attention to increased densities of housing, which may negatively affect dog ownership levels unless compensating supports for dog ownership and walking are created by public health messaging, dog-friendly policies, and dog-friendly housing and community design.


Call admission control for multimedia wireless networks providing integrated services is considered. Performance evaluation of the reserve channels CAC strategy with dynamic partitioning for a wireless cell serving three customer classes is carried out. Each customer class has different bandwidth and channel holding time requirements which correspond to voice, data and video respectively. The wireless cell serves newly arriving as well as customers handed over from nearby cells. A number of channels are dynamically reserved for the sole use of handoff customers to reduce the probability of handoff call dropping. A solution technique is developed and the performance of the system is obtained. It is found that new and handoff customers which require more channels for their service are blocked more. Also, server utilization is much improved when the arrival rate of higher bandwidth requiring customers is high.


Fifty-seven patients had arthroscopic Mumford procedures for acromioclavicular pain non-responsive to conservative treatment. Thirty-nine of these patients had concomitant rotator cuff repairs. All had significant improvement of their distal clavicular pain. Neither the amount nor the completeness of distal clavicle resection affected the results. Arthroscopic distal clavicle resection is a safe and effective method of alleviating acromioclavicular pain.


Enhanced rates of oxide growth have been observed on silicon upon exposure to 10-keV X-ray irradiation. Oxide thicknesses were determined using spectroscopic ellipsometry on irradiated and control samples, and confirmed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The oxidation rate varied with the radiation total dose and dose rate. The increased oxidation rate is attributed to the generation of ozone, which decomposes into molecular oxygen and highly reactive atomic oxygen at the surface of the Si wafer. The generation of ozone by 10-keV X-rays was found to increase linearly with increasing dose rate. UV irradiation led to similarly enhanced oxidation rates. The potential application of this phenomenon to dosimetry is explored.


ABSTRACT With the increasing use of computers in language research, there is a need for caution concerning several new issues of data accountability. This paper presents four principles for archive-based language research: Maximum Readability and Minimum Bias; Consistent Encoding for exhaustive computer search; Systematic Contrastiveness; and Data Comparability in elicitation, transcription and coding. These and related principles are illustrated by examples from existing computer archives, and strategies are suggested for minimizing detrimental effects of violations. Finally, the paper describes some implications of the principles for properties of a field-wide and international standard of transcription of language data.


A 256 Gb NAND flash memory multi-chip package (MCP) includes eight stacked 32 Gb 2 bit/cell multi-level cell (MLC) die and an 11.6 mm2 HyperLink NAND bridge chip providing four internal NAND channels for concurrent memory operations. The bridge chip provides an external 1.2 V unidirectional byte-wide point-to-point source-synchronous double data-rate (DDR) interface for low power 800 MB/s operation in a ring topology. Interface power is reduced by shutting down the phase-locked loop in every second MCP and alternating between edge aligned DDR clock and center aligned DDR clock for source-synchronous data transfer from MCP to MCP.


The determination of rock mass properties for engineering design is considered from twoperspectives. These are in-situ measurement, including classification-based methods, and the limitations of the classification approach. Several measurement methods are available which will give useful results, if used appropriately. The choice of different methods will depend on the nature of therock mass. The required accuracy should be considered realistically and, in many cases, high levels of accuracy are not, in fact, necessary. Examples are included, which show how the mass strengths of mine pillars were determined with acceptable accuracy using well known rock mass classification schemes, modified as necessary to accommodate local conditions. Rock mass classification is a widely used, economical and extremely useful basis for determining properties, but there are dangers in uncritical application. The classification methodology is critically examined, and the use of multivariate statistics applied in a multi-dimensional space is considered to optimize the usefulness of the measured data.


Yellowish embryogenic callus, which had been induced from the petioles of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Jinnan) and maintained on kinetin (KN)-containing B5h medium, turned non-embryogenic with the differentiation of tracheary elements when KN in the medium was replaced by thidiazuron (TDZ). To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the TDZ-induced morphological competence transition, we cloned the differentially expressed sequence tags from TDZ-treated alfalfa callus using suppression subtractive hybridization. The gene expression patterns induced by TDZ were found to change throughout the period of TDZ treatment. TDZ induced the expression of stress-related genes, including trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) gene, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACS) gene and proline dehydrogenase gene, in both early days (day 2) and late days (day 28) of treatment, which are suggestive of the stress responses from the TDZ-treated callus. The TDZ-induced expression of TPP, which tends to lower the level of trehalose-6-phosphate, and ACS, the gene involved in ethylene production, appears to be the major cause for the termination of somatic embryogenesis.


ABSTRACT A revision of the members of Cuspidaria present on the continental slope (700–2,000 m) of the Campos Basin (22°S) off southeastern Brazil was carried out. Eight taxa are recognized. Two of them were previously unknown to science and are described here: Cuspidaria tamandua, n. sp., and Cuspidaria wapixana, n. sp. Three species are recorded from Brazilian waters for the first time: Cuspidaria papyria Jeffreys, 1876, a poorly described species that is here redescribed; Cuspidaria wollastonii Smith, 1885; and Cuspidaria cf. barnardi Knudsen, 1970. The geographic distribution is enlarged northwards for Cuspidaria platensis (Smith, 1885) and southwards for Cuspidaria monosteira Dall, 1890. Cuspidaria circinata (Jeffreys, 1876) was previously reported for Brazil, but the present record fills a gap in its distribution in the southwest Atlantic. Bathyneaera globulosa Krylova, 1993, is here considered a junior synonym of C. monosteira; Cuspidaria consociata (Smith, 1885) and Cuspidaria munieri Dautzenberg & Fischer, 1897, are both considered junior synonyms of C. circinata. A list of all Cuspidaria species recorded for the Atlantic Ocean is given.


This study addresses the problem of quasi-synchronisation of fractional-order memristor-based neural networks (FMNNs) with time delay in the presence of parameter mismatches. Under the framework of fractional-order differential inclusions and set-valued maps, quasi-synchronisation of delayed FMNNs is discussed and quasi-synchronisation criteria are established by means of constructing suitable Lyapunov function, together with introducing some fractional-order differential inequalities. A new lemma on the estimate of Mittag–Leffler function is derived first, which extends the application of Mittag–Leffler function and plays a key role in the estimate of synchronisation error bound. Then, linear state feedback combined with delayed state feedback control law is designed, which guarantees that for a predetermined synchronisation error bound, quasi-synchronisation of two FMNNs with mismatched parameters will be achieved provided that the feedback gains satisfy the newly-proposed criteria. The obtained results extend and improve some previous published works on synchronisation of FMNNs. Finally, two numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the obtained results.


The complexity of psychosocial diagnosis is closely linked with sociomedical problems of diagnosis and treatment of contemporary patients. Contemporary patients are a complicated complex as regards factors and conditions of the genesis and development of disease and its symptomatology. As to the main external factors which influence the development of disease, it is important to mention in particular neuropsychic strain, adynamia, unbalanced diet, undesirable habits and contaminants--allergens. What is characteristic of contemporary patients? Polymorbidity, an altered pathology of diseases as regards the character of external conditions in the present period, a considerable increase of the morbidity from neuroses and neurotic syndromes. A very urgent problem of contemporary patients is obesity and its complications. In conjunction with the development of disease we must take into account also the contemporary allergic background. Among patients there is a high rate of chronic foca diseases, undesirable habits, latent clinical symptomatology.


A certificate is a mathematical object that can be used to establish that a piece of mobile code satisfies some security policy. Since in general certificates cannot be generated automatically, there is an interest in developing methods to reuse certificates. This article studies methods that transform certificates of a program into certificates of another program derived from the initial one by a semantically justified program transformation. We also study the related problem to transform certificates of a program instrumented with the results of a semantically justified program analysis, into a certificate of the original program. The transformations are conveniently described in the setting of abstract interpretation. We illustrate applications of our results to certificate translation and to the justification of hybrid certificates.


Three cases, involving lethal circulatory collapse in patients who received bromocriptine mesylate (Parlodel) for the suppression of lactation, are reported. These accidents expand the scope of severe side-effects that appear to be attributable to a widely used pharmacological approach to ablactation during puerperium. The circumstances that surrounded the maternal deaths in these instances are consistent with previous clinical observations and epidemiological research, suggesting that pregnancy induced hypertension increases the risks for severe untoward effects from bromocriptine. The common denominator in these side-effects appears to be vasospasm; a paradoxical reaction to a drug, the primary pharmacological effect of which is vasodilation. The reported cases came to the attention of the author through medicolegal inquiries. This underlines the potential value of malpractice reviews, as a research tool, for the critical analysis of rare adverse occurrences and unsuspected complications in the clinical practice of medicine.


The International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy is pleased to publish abstracts from the 4th World Congress of Sports Physical Therapy, which will take place in Nyborg, Denmark, August 26-27, 2022. The theme of the Congress is "Translating Science into Actioon." The variety of presentations during this congress are examples of the contemporary sports physical therapy research activities taking place around the world. The abstracts presented in the following pages were selected by the Scientific Committee, which included members from and from the International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy. It should be noted that abstracts have not been reviewed by the Editorial Board, Associate Editors or Editor-in- Chief of the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. After careful review by an international team of reviewers, research abstracts will be presented by authors at the World Congress. Each abstract presents only a brief summary of a research project / presentation and does not permit full assessment of the scientific rigor with which the work was conducted. While the abstracts offer only preliminary results that may require further refinement and future validation, they do serve an important role of sharing new research ideas from around the world. This sharing of ideas helps to encourage worldwide dialogue among researchers, clinicians, and educators that will ultimately contribute to the sports physical therapy body of knowledge. Notice: The abstracts below are presented as prepared by the authors. The accuracy and content of each abstract remain the responsibility of the authors.


Background: Previous studies have demonstrated in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) that lower values in end-tidal CO2 pressure (PetCO2) during graded exercise test (GET) have been associated with ventilation perfusion (V/Q) mismatch. Purpose: 1) to evaluate the effects of the continuos (CT) and interval aerobic training (IT) on PetCO2 responses during GET in CAD patients; and 2) examine the relationships between PetCO2 at ventilatory anaerobic threshold (PetCO2VAT) and cardiorespiratory parameters after interventions. Methods: 37 patients with CAD (59.7±1.7 years) were divided into 2 groups: CT (n=20; 28.1±1 kg/m 2 ) and IT (n=17; 28.5±1 kg/m 2 ). All patients performed a GET on treadmill to determine VAT and peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak). Results: CT and IT groups showed increased in relative aerobic fitness (ΔVO2peak = 4.1± 0.4 and 4.4±0.3 ml/kg/min CT and IT, respectively; p Significant relationships were observed to: 1) CT (PetCO2VAT and VO2peak r=0.49; PetCO2VAT and VEVCO2VAT r= -0.80; P=0.01); and 2) IT (PetCO2VAT and VO2peak r=0.39; PetCO2VAT and VEVCO2VAT r= -0.45; P=0.01). Conclusion: CT and IT demonstrated the same responsiveness in increase PetCO2 values during GET in CAD patients. These results suggest that the factors related to both an increased cardiorespiratory fitness and ventilatory efficiency after interventions may be responsible to increased PetCO2 during GET.


Thermomechanical relaxation events and different water states in cottonseed protein bioplastics are presented whilst investigating the effects of aldehyde cross-linking agents. Thermomechanical relaxation of cottonseed protein bioplastics associated with protein denaturation, moisture absorption and broad glass transitions (Tg) were observed from DSC and DMA measurements. It was shown that variation of the aldehyde influences the storage modulus at very low temperature (below Tg). From measurements of the water fusion point, enthalpy, vaporisation, and weight loss, three water states in the water-absorbed bioplastics are suggested; namely strongly-bound-to-polymer, weakly-bound-to-polymer and bulk-like water. The water content and unreacted cross-linking agents are influential factors in controlling formation of the different water states, whilst the selection of different aldehydes was found to be negligible. These results could be valuable for adjusting the thermomechanical relaxations of protein based bioplastics, and tailoring their properties in wet environments.


Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are long-term vascular access devices commonly used for delivering chemotherapy, antibiotics or parenteral nutrition. PICCs are placed under ultrasound guidance in deep arm veins and the tip is placed in the lower third of the superior vena cava (SVC).[1] In SVC obstruction syndrome, the upper extremity is best avoided for vascular access due to raised venous pressures.[2] We describe the placement technique of femoral tunnelled PICC in a patient with SVC syndrome.


Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has multiple uses in psychiatry, but its mechanisms of action (MA) in patients with schizophrenia (PS) are poorly understood. We synthesize and discuss the available evidence in this regard. We conducted a search for primary human studies and systematic reviews searching MA of ECT in PS published in PubMed/Medline, SciELO, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Library, including 24 articles. Genetic findings are scarce and inconsistent. At the molecular level, the dopaminergic and GABAergic role stands out. The increase in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) after ECT, is a predictor of positive clinical outcomes, while the change in N-acetyl aspartate levels would demonstrate a neuroprotective role for ECT. This intervention would improve inflammatory and oxidative parameters, thereby resulting in a symptomatic improvement. ECT is associated with an increase in functional connectivity in the thalamus, right putamen, prefrontal cortex and left precuneus, structures that play a role in the neural default mode network. A decrease in connectivity between the thalamus and the sensory cortex and an enhanced functional connectivity of the right thalamus to right putamen along with a clinical improvement have been reported after ECT. Moreover a volumetric increase in hippocampus and insula has been reported after ECT. These changes could be associated with the biochemical pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Most of the included studies are observational or quasi-experimental, with small sample sizes. However, they show simultaneous changes at different neurobiological levels, with a pathophysiological and clinical correlation. We propose that the research on ECT should be carried out from neurobiological dimensions, but with a clinical perspective.


This study investigates the relationship between manufactured import flows to Australia and relative prices and domestic economic activity over the phriod 1981Q3 to 1992Q2. It overcomes a number of limitations which have marred previous contributions to this literature. For the first time in the literature, we provide disaggregated import price and activity elasticities based on the Johansen FIML procedure for estimating cointegration vectors. Second, we employ actual import prices for a new disaggregated data set covering 29 import products. Third, we check for possible aggregation bias in the aggregate import demand function by computing a value-weighted aggregate elasticity adjusted by "distribution" factors. The results point to price elasticities that are generally lower, ranging from 0.24 to I .75. We also find evidence of upward bias in the aggregate import function.


I. INTRODUCTION The physical environment of organisms is not constant but changes through time and space. Major environmental changes cause stress, damage, or even death to organisms, but even minor changes may hamper the physiological capacities of organisms to grow, reproduce, or interact socially. Not surprisingly, organisms have evolved a variety of adjustments (e.g., behavior, acclimation, heat stress response) that help buffer the physiological impact of environmental change. These adjustments, which can have a profound effect on evolutionary fitness, can be studied from diverse perspectives. For example, what molecular and physiological bases underlie a given adjustment? What ecological and physiological circumstances favor its evolution and use? In this paper, we adopt an ecological and evolutionary framework that has been developed to study general adjustments that organisms use to buffer natural environmental variation (Levins 1968; Slobodkin and Rapoport 1974; Hochachka and Somero 1984). We apply this framework in an analysis of adjustments specifically associated with heat stress. We begin with a brief discussion of the general effects of temperature on organisms. Then, for each class of adjustment to stress, we evaluate the ecological circumstances favoring its use, describe some organismal examples from the comparative literature, and also evaluate its relevance to studies of induced aspects of the heat stress response. Our primary goal is to encourage an expanded dialogue between biologists studying the heat stress response and those interested in ecological and evolutionary physiology. As we will argue, both groups have much to contribute to each other. That organisms are sometimes...


Background In 1990 The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) established criteria for the classification of vasculitis. Cutaneous vasculitis (CV) comprises a wide and heterogeneous group of entities. Objectives Our aim was to revise the usefulness of ACR-1990 criteria in classifying patients with CV. Methods Retrospective study of a wide and unselected series of patients with CV from a single university hospital from January 1976 to January 2012. Patients were classified according to the 1990 ACR methodology and criteria. Results 773 Patients (351 women/422 men) with a mean age of 34.1±27.4 years were diagnosed as having CV. Applying the 1990 ACR criteria patients were classified as secondary to connective tissue diseases (n=35), major infections (n=27), malignancies (n=16), mixed essential cryoglobulinemia (n=13), Wegener Granulomatosis (n=3), Churg-Strauss syndrome (n=3) and Polyarteritis nodosa (n=3). The remaining 673 patients were classified as Hipersensitivity vasculitis (n=247; 36.6%) or Henoch Schönlein Purpura (n=414; 61.4%). Disappointingly, 127 (18.8%) met criteria for both entities and 12 out of 673 cases did not meet criteria for HV nor HSP and were not classified. Conclusions The ACR-1990 criteria for vasculitis do not properly classify patients with CV. Acknowledgements This study was supported by a grant from "Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias" PI12/00193 (Spain). This work was also partially supported by RETICS Programs, RD08/0075 (RIER) and RD12/0009/0013 from "Instituto de Salud Carlos III" (ISCIII) (Spain). Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.3111


Empathy is a basic emotion trigger for human beings, especially while regulating social relationships and behaviour. The main challenge of this paper is study whether people's empathic reactions towards robots change depending on previous information given to human about the robot before the interaction. The use of false data about robot skills creates different levels of what we call 'fake empathy'. This study performs an experiment in WOZ environment in which different subjects (n=17) interacting with the same robot while they believe that the robot is a different robot, up to three versions. Each robot scenario provides a different 'humanoid' description, and out hypothesis is that the more human-like looks the robot, the more empathically can be the human responses. Results were obtained from questionnaires and multi- angle video recordings. Positive results reinforce the strength of our hypothesis, although we recommend a new and bigger and then more robust experiment.


A method for the isolation of the plasma membranes of the acellular slime mould, Didymium iridis in the myxamoebae and swarm cell stages was developed using a modified dextranpolyethylene glycol aqueous two-phase polymer system. It was found to be far superior to the widely accepted technique of density gradient centrifugation concerning this cellular system. Chemical and enzymatic assays performed on the plasma membranes and other cell fractions as well as microscopic examination were used as a basis for positive identification and assessment of purity. Results of the chemical and enzymatic assays indicate that plasma membranes are recovered with high yield and purity using the modified two-phase polymer technique. The method is both rapid and effective and can be performed using low-speed centrifugation.


Nowadays, businesses are increasingly impacted by the consumer's usage of mobile technologies. Businesses and consumers are able to interconnect anytime, from pretty much anywhere. With embracing mobile technologies, businesses and consumers have more access to relevant information. As a result, the customer experience during the decision-making process is changed. The mobile decision-making process is distinguished by different stages, which take place in and out of a store. These stages are characterized by interactive activities that lead to a more personalized interaction between businesses and their customers. In all these stages, businesses have the opportunity to impact mobile consumer behavior and purchase decisions in a more meaningful way. When guiding mobile consumers through the specific moments of the decision-making process, businesses can influence consumers shopping behaviors. Hereby, businesses are able to send customized communications targeted to consumers at critical touch points in their shopping journey in order to create richer and more relevant customer experiences. During the mobile decision-making process, there are golden rules: (1) be present, (2) be useful, and (3) be quick. Therefore, businesses have to appear in the most relevant areas of the consumer decision-making process, and give enough information to build a relationship, help them make the purchase decision, and pay attention to fast loading speeds to bring consumers where they want to be. Mobile technologies allow businesses to create highly personalized offers in real-time, which makes consumers more likely to purchase their products or services.


Abstract Eukaryotic cells, including cancer cells, secrete highly heterogeneous populations of extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs could have different subcellular origin, composition and functional properties, but tools to distinguish between EV subtypes are scarce. Here, we tagged CD63‐ or CD9‐positive EVs secreted by triple negative breast cancer cells with Nanoluciferase enzyme, to set‐up a miniaturized method to quantify secretion of these two EV subtypes directly in the supernatant of cells. We performed a cell‐based high‐content screening to identify clinically‐approved drugs able to affect EV secretion. One of the identified hits is Homosalate, an anti‐inflammatory drug found in sunscreens which robustly increased EVs' release. Comparing EVs induced by Homosalate with those induced by Bafilomycin A1, we demonstrate that: (1) the two drugs act on EVs generated in distinct subcellular compartments, and (2) EVs released by Homosalate‐, but not by Bafilomycin A1‐treated cells enhance resistance to anchorage loss in another recipient epithelial tumour cell line. In conclusion, we identified a new drug modifying EV release and demonstrated that under influence of different drugs, triple negative breast cancer cells release EV subpopulations from different subcellular origins harbouring distinct functional properties.


The experiments of Kapitza (1929) showed that the increase of electrical resistance produced in a metal by a magnetic field H is not proportional to H2, as was previously supposed. In the new experimental range made available by his method (Kapitza 1927) of producing very strong fields up to 300 kilogauss, Kapitza found that the increase of resistance tended towards a linear variation with the field strength. The result may be expressed in the


INTRODUCTION
The prevalence of hypertension is two times higher in diabetics than in non-diabetics. In type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), the incidence of hypertension is similar to the incidence of nephropathy. In obese patients with type 2 DM (T2DM) there can be associated complications of hyperinsulinaemia, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension, which can lead to coronary artery disease and stroke. These associated complications are the result of a genetic defect that produces insulin resistance--Syndrome X. Increased microalbuminuria correlates with increased levels of blood pressure (BP) and increased LDL cholesterol, and this is why microalbuminuria is associated with an increase in cardiovascular deaths in diabetics, even in the absence of renal failure.

AIM
The aim of this study was to research the influence of a patient's age, diabetes duration, and obesity on the frequency of hypertension and its association with microalbuminuria in T1 DM and T2DM.

METHOD
168 hospitalised patients with DM (79 T1DM, 89 T2DM) were analysed. The main outcome measures were: 24-hour urinary albumin excretion rate by radioimmunoassay (MA = 30-300 mg/24h), arterial hypertension (systolic BP > or = 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP > or = 90 mm Hg), and body mass index (BMI).

RESULTS
Microalbuminuria was detected in 42% of patients with T1DM and 47% of patients with T2DM. 34% of T1DM patients and 78% of T2DM patients were hypertensive. Patients were divided into four groups, according to the presence of hypertension and microalbuminuria: Group I--patients with hypertension and MA, Group II--patients with hypertension but without MA, Group III--patients without hypertension and MA, Group IV--patients without hypertension but with MA. 44% of T1DM patients were without hypertension and microalbuminuria, while the most frequent T2DM patients were those with hypertension (37% with and 41% without microalbuminuria). A significant correlation between BMI and diastolic BP in both types of DM (p < 0.01 for T1DM, and p < 0.05 for T2DM) was discovered. T2DM hypertensive patients were obese and there was a significant correlation between a patient's systolic BP and his or her age (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION
These results suggest that hypertension can be prevented in patients with T2DM with weight reduction. There was a significant association between hypertension and microalbuminuria, especially in T1DM patients. Tight control of blood pressure is essential for the reduction of microalbuminuria as well as further micro- and macro-vascular diabetic complications.


Abstract Many aspects of forest structure are thought to contribute to the presence, abundance, and diversity of forest-floor bryophytes. To what extent easily measured characteristics of local environment (overstory structure or substrate availability) explain patterns of abundance and diversity remains unclear in most forest ecosystems. We explore these relationships in four mature, Douglas-fir dominated forests in southwestern Washington (U.S.A.). At each site, six 13-ha stands were sampled systematically (787 total plots) to capture variation in physical environment, forest overstory and understory vegetation, substrates, and forest-floor bryophytes. We compared bryophyte species composition, richness, and rank abundance among sites. We used multiple linear regression to model local cover and richness as functions of the physical environment, overstory and understory vegetation, and substrate availability. We compared the contributions of substrates to bryophyte abundance and richness and measured the strength and consistency of associations between individual species and particular substrates. Bryophyte composition differed significantly among sites, but patterns of richness and rank abundance were surprisingly similar, despite differences in stand structure and climate. Regression models explained only 18–23% of the variation in bryophyte cover or richness, likely due to weak relationships between vegetation structure and microclimate, disparity in the spatial scales of measurement, and temporal lags in bryophyte responses to structure. Most non-litter substrates (mineral soil, rock, fresh or decayed wood, stumps, shrub and tree bases) contributed minimally to available growing space, but disproportionately to species richness, particularly at the stand scale. Individual species were most often associated with decayed wood, although few species showed strong substrate specificity. In general, however, substrates contributed to ecological redundancy, with most species occupying multiple substrates and most substrates supporting a diversity of species.


Summary (With Shinjiro Yamaguchi) Strigolactones (SLs) are multifunctional hormones that contribute to the control of shoot branching, and serve as signals between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and between host plants and parasitic Striga plants. They are produced in minute quantities and so studying strigolactones has been difficult. Strigolactone research has benefited from the identification of pea, Arabidopsis and rice mutants affected in SL synthesis or signaling. Because they contribute to beneficial symbiotic interactions with mycorrhiza, as well as detrimental interactions with parasitic plants, understanding how SLs are produced and act is a high priority particularly in tropical regions where Striga parasites are endemic. Progress in the past decade has been rapid, but we have much still to learn about this fascinating family of hormones.


Traditional universities are more engaged into academics and research activities with less focus on entrepreneurship development. We might find some of the universities have taken initiative for industrial tie ups and commercialization of in-house research outputs; but these efforts are not comprehensive to support full entrepreneurship development in traditional culture of university. Hence an attempt is made to understand and develop the criteria's or guidelines for creating entrepreneurial universities. There could be many barriers for traditional universities at various levels (Barriers for university management, students, faculties and staff) to become entrepreneurial and lack of proper vision and mission. This paper explains possible entrepreneurial options, barriers need to handle, qualities need to develop, motivations to follow, case as a role model to understand, and the strategies to develop entrepreneurship in university system. A conceptual model is proposed by considering available researches. A practical application of this theoretical concept can be tasted in various country specific environments.


Purpose. To review the indications and outcome of optical partial thickness lamellar keratoplasty (LKP) over a 22-year period. Methods. The study is a retrospective review of 138 eyes of 126 patients. Snellen visual acuity, preoperative clinical condition, and postoperative clinical status were assessed. Results. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 1 month to 174 months (average, 34.5). In descending order of frequency, climatic droplet keratopathy, infectious keratitis scar, and band-shaped keratopathy were the most common indications for surgery. Follow-up records were available for 130 eyes; 93% of grafts remained transparent. One hundred eyes (80%) preoperative measured Snellen acuity of 6/60 or less. Postoperatively, only 20 eyes (13.4%) were assessed as worse than 6/60. Mean best-corrected visual acuity postoperative was 0.58 ± 0.24. Twenty-two eyes (16.9%) demonstrated postoperative visual acuity of better than 6/12. Complications included presumed rejection in two eyes, nonhealing epithelial defect in two eyes, and graft infection in seven eyes. Conclusion. Vision gain following LKP is generally moderate (visual acuity, 6/18–6/12) in the majority of eyes (61.5%). Vision-threatening complications are low (6.9%). There is scope for reducing complications like postoperative infections and improving visual gain through deep lamellar keratoplasty.


Macroscopic quantum phenomena such as lasers, Bose-Einstein condensates, superfluids, and superconductors are of great importance in foundations and applications of quantum mechanics. In particular, quantum superposition of a large number of spins in solids is highly desirable for both quantum information processing and ultrasensitive magnetometry. Spin ensembles in solids, however, have rather short collective coherence time (typically less than microseconds). Here we demonstrate that under realistic conditions it is possible to maintain macroscopic quantum superposition of a large spin ensemble (such as about ~10^{14} nitrogen-vacancy center electron spins in diamond) with an extremely long coherence time ~10^8 sec under readily accessible conditions. The scheme, following the mechanism of superradiant lasers, is based on superradiant masing due to coherent coupling between collective spin excitations (magnons) and microwave cavity photons. The coherence time of the macroscopic quantum superposition is the sum of the magnon life time and the cavity lifetime, further elongated by the total number of coherent magnons and photons, which have macroscopic values when masing occurs. The macroscopic quantum coherence of spin ensembles can be exploited for magnetometry with sensitivity ~10 fT/(Hz)^{1/2}. The long-living collective states of spin ensembles in solids will provide a new platform for studying macroscopic quantum phenomena and are useful for quantum technologies.


Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease and is projected to become one of the major causes of cancer-related death in western countries. Intensification of first-line treatment with the use of polychemotherapeutic regimens (FOLFIRINOX, gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel) has significantly improved the overall survival and progression-free survival; as a consequence, the number of patients alive and fit for second-line treatment is increasing. However, the selection of the best second-line treatment is difficult and large phase III trials are urgently needed. After the positive results of oxaliplatin and fluorouracil combination in the CONKO-003 trial, two recent phase III studies, PANCREOX and NAPOLI-1, investigating the use of second-line chemotherapy after gemcitabine-based first-line, showed controversial results. Giving the practice-changing advances rapidly growing in last years and the multiple therapeutic strategies that are becoming available for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, the real issue seems to be the optimal sequence of treatment much more than second-line treatment.


Vorticity plays a key role in determining fluid flow dynamics, especially in vortexdominated flows. Vortex methods, which are based on the vorticity-based formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations, have provided deeper insight into physical reality in a variety of flows using vorticity as a primary variable. The penalized vortex-in-cell (VIC) method is a state-of-the-art variant of vortex methods. In the penalized VIC method, Lagrangian fluid particles are traced by continuously updating their position and strength from solutions at an Eulerian grid. This hybrid method retains beneficial features of pure Lagrangian and Eulerian methods. It offers an efficient and effective way to simulate unsteady viscous flows, thereby enabling application to a wider range of problems in flows. This article presents the fundamentals of the penalized VIC method and its implementations.


In all patients with hyponatremia, an etiologic diagnosis must be made. A diagnostic classification of hyponatremic states is proposed, which is based on extracellular fluid volume status. A spot urinary sodium concentration will be helpful in confirming the diagnosis. Treatment should concentrate on correction of etiologic factors and fluid restriction after any extracellular fluid volume depletion is treated. A regimen of rapid correction of hyponatremia is outlined for serious, symptomatic cases. It consists of diuretic induced diuresis, accompanied by hypertonic sodium replacement of urinary losses. Finally, the usefulness of demeclocycline hydrochloride is characterized.


Abstract We obtain an existence criterion for Hall subgroups of finite groups in terms of a composition series. As a corollary we provide a solution to Problem 5.65 from the Kourovka notebook.


Megasynthases, such as type I fatty acid and polyketide synthases (FASs and PKSs), are multienzyme complexes responsible for producing primary metabolites and complex natural products. Fatty acids (FAs) and polyketides (PKs) are built by assembling and modifying small acyl moieties in a stepwise manner. A central aspect of FA and PK biosynthesis involves the shuttling of substrates between the domains of the multienzyme complex. This essential process is mediated by small acyl carrier proteins (ACPs). The ACPs must navigate to the different catalytic domains within the multienzyme complex in a particular order to guarantee the fidelity of the biosynthesis pathway. However, the precise mechanisms underlying ACP-mediated substrate shuttling, particularly the factors contributing to the programming of the ACP movement, still need to be fully understood. This review illustrates the current understanding of substrate shuttling, including concepts of conformational and specificity control, and proposes a confined ACP movement within type I megasynthases.


The effect of atmospheric ammonia on bovine lung was investigated in 3 experiments by means of bronchio-alveolar lavage (BAL). Cattle were placed in rooms simulating live export conditions and atmospheric ammonia was monitored throughout. Bronchio-alveolar lavage was performed 4 days before the cattle were placed in rooms and immediately after they left the rooms. The cattle were introduced to experimental diets 5 days before the first BAL was performed. In all experiments, wood shavings were used as bedding and, in room 2, these were mixed with gypsum (2:1) and partially changed every 2-3 days. In experiment 1, 10 Angus cross heifers were fed lucerne cubes diets (2.25% of liveweight (LW)) with 5 placed in each simulation room for 9 days. Atmospheric ammonia was significantly (P<0.05) higher in room 1 (42.3 ± 2.8 ppm) than in room 2 (22.0 ± 1.6 ppm). In experiments 2 and 3, 3 groups of 4 Angus cross heifers were used. They were fed (all at 3% of LW) either a basic export diet (BD) or a basic diet containing CaCl2 (BD + CaCl2). Two groups were kept in the simulation rooms for 12 days, and a third group was kept outdoors in a sand yard. In experiment 2, the animals in room 1 were fed BD while the animals in room 2 and outdoors were fed the BD + CalCl2. Atmospheric ammonia was significantly different (P<0.05) among the 3 groups, and the values were 16.8 ± 0.68, 9.4 ± 0.34 and 0 ± 0 ppm, respectively, for rooms 1 and 2, and outdoors. In experiment 3, animals in room 1 and outdoors were fed the BD while the animals in room 2 were fed the BD + CalCl2. Atmospheric ammonia values were18.6 ± 0.6, 10.6 ± 0.3 and 0 ± 0 ppm, respectively, for rooms 1 and 2, and outdoors. In experiments 1, there was a significant increase in total white cell and mononucleated cell counts (P<0.05) on the BAL samples performed after the animals left the rooms. There were no changes on BAL samples in either experiment 2 and 3. The recommended time-weighted average safety levels for atmospheric ammonia for humans (25 ppm) were exceeded on a number of occasions in both rooms in experiment 1. On the other hand, atmospheric ammonia did not exceed 25 ppm in either experiment 2 or 3. The dust levels in both rooms and sand yard were very low, therefore, ammonia was the most logically attributable cause for the irritation developed by the animals in experiment 1.


Case summary A 5-month-old intact female Scottish Fold cat was presented for cardiac evaluation. Careful auscultation detected a slight systolic murmur (Levine I/VI). The findings of electrocardiography, thoracic radiography, non-invasive blood pressure measurements and conventional echocardiographic studies were unremarkable. However, two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography revealed abnormalities in myocardial deformations, including decreased early-to-late diastolic strain rate ratios in longitudinal, radial and circumferential directions, and deteriorated segmental systolic longitudinal strain. At the follow-up examinations, the cat exhibited echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy and was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using conventional echocardiography. Relevance and novel information This is the first report on the use of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography for the early detection of myocardial dysfunction in a cat with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; the myocardial dysfunction was detected before the development of hypertrophy. The findings from this case suggest that two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography can be useful for myocardial assessment when conventional echocardiographic and Doppler findings are ambiguous.


The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence and the degree of reversible airflow obstruction as detected by forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced oscillometry (FOT), and interrupter technique (resistance measured by the interrupter technique [Rint]) in mild asthmatic children compared with controls. FOT, Rint, and FEV1 were evaluated before and after albuterol (200 microg) administered by metered-dose inhaler and spacer in 28 asthmatic children (mean age +/-SD, 9.1 +/- 1.9 years) and in 20 healthy children (mean age +/-SD, 8.5 +/- 2.1 years). No correlation was found between FEV1, FOT, and Rint values either before or after albuterol. FOT and Rint values were highly correlated pre- and postbronchodilatation. An improvement in FEV1 > or =12% after albuterol was observed in 11 (39%) asthmatic subjects. As suggested using the cutoff value at R6 > or =29%, significant bronchodilatation was observed in 20 (71%) children with FOT and using a reduction > or = 0.20 kPa or 2 cm of H2O, 22 (78%) subjects showed significant bronchodilatation with Rint. No significant changes were observed after albuterol in controls. FOT and Rint techniques showed a greater sensitivity in detecting reversibility of bronchoconstriction in mild asthmatic patients. Prospective studies are needed to clarify the possible advantages of these findings in mild-moderate asthmatic children.


Women are less successful than men at quitting smoking. We examined whether the male vs. female cessation outcome was influenced by baseline smoking behavior in participants who attempted to quit by using nicotine inhaler (NI) plus nicotine patch (NP) combination therapy. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 196 men and 204 women. Group 1 (99 men, 101 women) received NI plus NP (15 mg nicotine/16 h) for 6 weeks, then NI plus placebo patch (PP) for 6 weeks, then NI alone for 14 weeks. Group 2 (97 men, 103 women) received NI plus PP for 12 weeks, then NI alone for 14 weeks. Outcome measures were continuous self-reported abstinence and expired carbon monoxide concentration < 10 ppm. Baseline nicotine dependence was assessed by the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), and behavioral dependence by the 18-question Glover-Nilsson Smoking Behavioral Questionnaire (GN-SBQ). Male vs. female complete abstinence rates, regardless of treatment group, were 61.7% vs. 46.6% at 6 weeks (p = .0022), 42.3% vs. 30.9% at 12 weeks (p = .017), 30.1% vs. 17.6% at 6 months (p = .003), and 23.0% vs. 10.8% at 12 months, respectively (p = .001). Men had significantly higher baseline FTND (p = .0180) and lower total GN-SBQ (p < .0001) scores than women. In conclusion, women appear to have higher behavioral, and lower nicotine, dependence than men according to the GN-SBQ and the FTND; thus both nicotine and behavioral treatment should be tailored to women to increase their chances of abstinence.


When an acetonitrile solution of Meldrum's acid (1), indole (5), and an aliphatic or aromatic aldehyde (8) in the presence of a small amount of proline (except in the case of acetaldehyde) was allowed to stand at 30°C, a simultaneous condensation of three different carbon components occurred readily to give a 5-(1H-indol-3-ylalkyl)-2, 2-dimethyl-1, 3-dioxane-4, 6-dione (11) in high yield. The reaction proceeded regardless of the nature of the aldehyde. An ethanolysis of 11 with loss of acetone and carbon dioxide took place smoothly in boiling ethanol-pyridine (1 : 10) containing a small amount of copper powder to give an ethyl β-alkylindolepropionate (2). These two reactions, the condensation and the ethanolysis, were combined in a one-pot procedure, which may provide an efficient and convenient synthetic method for various ethyl indolepropionates (2).


Objective: In our study, we aimed to compare the cystometric and clinic results of patients who underwent augmentation cystoplasty for the treatment of a contracted bladder, according to etiological factors such as chronic tuberculosis cystitis (CTC) and spinal cord injuries (SCIs). Materials and methods: We retrospectively evaluated 26 patients with a contracted bladder due to CTC and SCI who underwent bladder augmentation in our clinic. The contracted bladder etiologies were SCI in 16 of patients (61.5%) and TBC in the remaining 10 patients (38.4%). The patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: The mean follow-up periods for patients with SCI and CTC were 98.5±31.3 and 83.2±35.3 months, respectively (p>0.05). Patients with SCI and CTC did not significantly differ with respect to the preoperative and postoperative mean bladder capacities or intravesical pressures. As additional postoperative treatments, Clean Intermittent Self-Catheterization (CISC) was performed in 5 (31.2%) SCI patients, and anticholinergic treatment was administered to 3 SCI patients (18.7%). Anticholinergic treatment was used postoperatively in only one patient with CTC (10%). Conclusion: Augmentation cystoplasty is a useful treatment for patients with SCI and CTC. The postoperative urodynamic studies in these patients were similar. However, the requirement for additional treatments in patients with SCI, including anticholinergic agents and CISC, is more frequent than in patients with CTC in the postoperative period. Therefore, patients with SCI should be warned about additional postoperative treatments before augmentation cystoplasty, and CISC should be taught to these patients.


In this work a fragile watermarking scheme is presented. This scheme is applied to digital color images in spatial domain. The image is divided into blocks, and each block has its authentication mark embedded in it, we would be able to insure which parts of the image are authentic and which parts have been modified. This authentication carries out without need to exist the original image. The results show the quality of the watermarked image is remaining very good and the watermark survived some type of unintended modification such as familiar compression software like WINRAR and ZIP


Increasing evidence suggests that the normal genetic programs underlying various developmental processes can often be usurped in pathological conditions such as cancer metastasis. Epithelial—mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex process that is associated with dramatic changes in cell adhesion, polarity, and migratory properties, and is intimately associated both with cell fate transitions during embryonic development and with the acquisition of invasive properties during cancer metastasis. Several transcription factors, including the Snail, Zeb and Twist families, have been identified as major drivers of EMT by repressing the transcription of E-cadherin. However, our knowledge about the regulatory network and pleiotropic effects of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity remains largely incomplete, and the importance of reverse process, mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), is poorly understood. In our study of the early stage of breast cancer metastasis, we found that the transcription factor Elf5, a key regulator of alveologenesis in the mammary gland, regulates EMT in both mammary gland development and metastasis. This specific role for Elf5 in suppressing EMT and metastasis was uncovered via analyses of Elf5 conditional knockout animals, various in vitro and in vivo models of EMT and metastasis, an MMTV-neu transgenic model of mammary gland tumor progression, and clinical breast cancer samples. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this role of Elf5 is mediated by the direct transcriptional repression of Snail2/Slug, a master regulator of mammary stem cells and a known inducer of EMT. These findings establish a broad molecular function of Elf5 that extends from being a key cell lineage regulator during normal mammary gland development to serving as a suppressor of EMT and metastasis in breast cancer. Focusing on non-coding RNAs as potential novel regulators of EMT, we identified the miR-200 family miRNAs as suppressors of EMT and tumor invasion that function via direct targeting of Zeb1 and Zeb2. Contrary to the expectation that miR-200s should inhibit metastasis, we found that miR-200 overexpression is in fact associated with poor metastasis-free survival of breast cancer patients and functionally promotes metastatic colonization in mouse models. Through an integrated genomic/proteomic analysis, we identified the Sec23a secretory pathway as a prominent functional target of miR-200s with an active role in suppressing metastatic colonization. Secretome analysis further identified IGFBP4 and TINAGL1 as important Sec23a-dependent secreted proteins with metastasis suppressive functions. Thus, the dichotomous functions of miR-200s in inhibiting early steps of invasion while promoting late step of metastatic colonization is achieved through targeting of both tumor cell-intrinsic and —extrinsic regulatory pathways. Taken together, these findings support dynamic and pleiotropic roles of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity in early and late stages of metastatic progression: while EMT is necessary for initial invasion, MET may be required for efficient colonization. Citation Format: Yibin Kang. Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity in breast cancer metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Invasion and Metastasis; Jan 20-23, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(3 Suppl):Abstract nr IA6.


Cloud-integrated Internet of Things (IoT) is emerging as the next-generation service platform that enables smart functionality worldwide. IoT applications such as smart grid and power systems, e-health, and body monitoring applications along with large-scale environmental and industrial monitoring are increasingly generating large amounts of data that can conveniently be analyzed through cloud service provisioning. However, the nature of these applications mandates the use of secure and privacy-preserving implementation of services that ensures the integrity of data without any unwarranted exposure. This article explores the unique challenges and issues within this context of enabling secure cloud-based data analytics for the IoT. Three main applications are discussed in detail, with solutions outlined based on the use of fully homomorphic encryption systems to achieve data security and privacy over cloud-based analytical phases. The limitations of existing technologies are discussed and models proposed with regard to achieving high efficiency and accuracy in the provisioning of analytic services for encrypted data over a cloud platform.


Semiconductor laser diodes manufactured as laser bars, laser arrays, and single emitters are highly-desired light sources, e. g. for direct material processing, as pump sources for solid state and fiber lasers or in medical applications. They feature a high output power and efficiency combined with a good reliability resulting in a long-living device with a low cost of ownership. Desired wavelengths for these applications range from 760 nm, e. g. as replacement for Alexandrite lasers in esthetic skin treatment, up to 1,060 nm for direct material processing and pumping applications.


Crop-livestock system implies in the balance of appropriate animal foraging, minimizing effects on grain production on the same crop season. This study aims to assess canopy heights (20 and 30 cm) and cuts number (no cut, 1, 2 and 3 cuts) effects on wheat productivity and bromatological composition of forage, and grain yield of BRS Umbu and BRS Tarumã cultivars. Regardless cuts number and cultivars, 30 cm provided higher forage productivity (1032 and 1348 kg DM ha-1) than 20 cm (554 and 909 kg DM ha-1), for BRS Umbu and Tarumã, respectively, in average crop seasons. For both cultivars and crop seasons, mean values of 26% crude protein, 55% neutral detergent fiber and 26% acid detergent fiber were obtained. At 20 cm no difference in grain yield was observed as a function of cuts number with 3780 kg ha-1 for BRS Umbu, in average crop seasons and 4306 kg ha-1 in 2014, for BRS Tarumã. However, at 30 cm, the grain yield was penalized at least in 30% as a result only third cut. These results indicate that wheat as dual-purpose can be employed in southern Brazil in grazing systems in forage shortage times and then produce grains without yield penalties as a function to the management used.


T Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is establishing a new laboratory for development, evaluation, and implementation of positron-emission tomography (PET) tracers of relevance to neuropsychiatric disorders. Robert Innis, MD, PhD (chief, Molecular Imaging Branch), reviewed opportunities provided by this new laboratory and also challenges (especially in the area of intellectual property) associated with industry collaborations.


The debate on the choice of the ideal spatial weights matrix (W) is long-standing in applied spatial statistics and econometrics. While some authors point out aspects related to possible misspecification from the choice of the wrong W, others suggest that there is little difference in practical and interpretation terms at least between geography-based spatial weights matrices. A particular difficulty in defining W may therefore emerge especially when it may imply spillovers based not only on geography, but also on socio-economic variables (for instance, differences in the endowment of amenities or industrial activity). Even when guessing correctly the factors behind W, defining the way they influence spillovers may be particularly difficult. To this aim, we propose an approach to defining W based on fuzzy logic, which allows to deal in a flexible way with its numerical specification. We set up Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate how a fuzzy W can approximate different types of spatial weights matrices, and in settings with spatial dependence of different strength, with particular reference to the estimation of the regression coefficients.


Finding robust explanations of behaviours in Alife and related fields is made difficult by the lack of any formalised definition of robustness. A concerted effort to develop a framework which allows for robust explanations of those behaviours to be developed is needed, as well as a discussion of what constitutes a potentially useful definition for behavioural robustness. To this end, we describe two senses of robustness: robustness in systems; and robustness in explanation. We then propose a framework for developing robust explanations using linked sets of models, and describe a programme of research incorporating both robotics and chemical experiments which is designed to investigate robustness in systems.


Piper nigrum Linn. (Black pepper)  belongs to the family Piperaceae and an economically and medicinally important spice and is a native of Southern India. Leaf marginal gall is transmitted by Liothrips karnyi belonging to family Phlaeothripidae of order Thysanoptera (Thrips). Insect induced galls arise due to growth reaction of plants due to the attack of cecidozoa, also known as zoocecidia. The growth and development of the host plant alter due to the infestation of the insect, which involves certain complex phenomena. The different groups of cecidozoa influence the plants in such a way as to produce galls at different stages in their life history. Most of the cecidozoa cause galls only in their developmental stages, but some of them are capable of inducing galls both in larval as well as adult stages. The crop production in India has been adversely affected due to the infestation of pests. And it is necessary to use different approaches of disease management to curb the infestation, and significant researchers have shown progress to protect the crops in an eco-friendly manner. Piperine exhibits diverse pharmacological activities like antihypertensive, antiplatelets, antioxidant, antitumor, antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-reproductive, insecticidal activities. In the present investigation, the biological method of disease management of marginal leaf gall transmitted by Liothrips karnyi has been undertaken. The biological control of leaf diseases has been significant on the increased reflection of environmental problems over pesticide uses.


Novel bioreactor beads for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of lime-pretreated rice straw (RS) into ethanol were prepared. Genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells expressing genes encoding xylose reductase, xylitol dehydrogenase, and xylulokinase were immobilized in calcium alginate beads containing inorganic lightweight filler particles to reduce specific gravity. For SSF experiments, the beads were floated in slurry composed of lime-pretreated RS and enzymes and incubated under CO2 atmosphere to reduce the pH for saccharification and fermentation. Following this reaction, beads were readily picked up from the upper part of the slurry and were directly transferred to the next vessel with slurry. After 240 h of incubation, ethanol production by the beads was equivalent to that by free cells, a trend that was repeated in nine additional runs, with slightly improved ethanol yields. Slurry with pre-saccharified lime-pretreated RS was subjected to SSF with floating beads for 168 h. Although higher cell concentrations in beads resulted in more rapid initial ethanol production rates, with negligible diauxic behavior for glucose and xylose utilization, no improvement in the ethanol yield was observed. A fermentor-scale SSF experiment with floating beads was successfully performed twice, with repeated use of the beads, resulting in the production of 40.0 and 39.7 g/L ethanol. There was no decomposition of the beads during agitation at 60 rpm. Thus, this bioreactor enables reuse of yeast cells for efficient ethanol production by SSF of lignocellulosic feedstock, without the need for instruments for centrifugation or filtration of whole slurry.


Morphologic, physiologic, and clinical evidence for the sensory role of the cruciate ligaments is reviewed. The cruciate ligaments accommodate morphologically different sensory nerve endings (Ruffini endings, Pacinian corpuscles, Golgi tendon organlike endings, and free nerve endings) with different capabilities of providing the central nervous system with information not only about noxious and chemical events but also about characteristics of movements and position-related stretches of these ligaments. A survey of available data reveals that low threshold joint-ligament receptor (i.e., mechanoreceptor) afferents evoke only weak and rare effects in skeletomotor neurons (alpha-motor neurons), while they frequently and powerfully influence fusimotor neurons (gamma-motor neurons). The effects on the gamma-muscle-spindle system in the muscles around the knee are so potent that even stretches of the cruciate ligaments at relatively moderate loads (not noxious) may induce major changes in responses of the muscle spindle afferents. As the activity in the primary muscle spindle afferents modifies the stiffness in the muscles, the cruciate ligament receptors, via the gamma-muscle-spindle system, may participate in the regulation and preprogramming of the muscular stiffness around the knee joint and thereby of the knee joint stiffness. Thus, the sensory system of the cruciate ligaments is able to significantly contribute to the functional stability of the knee joint.


Access control mechanisms in software systems administer user privileges by granting users permission to perform certain operations while denying unauthorized access to others. Such mechanisms are essential to ensure that important business functions in an organization are conducted securely and smoothly. Currently, the dominant access control approach in most major software systems is role-based access control. In this approach, permissions are first assigned to roles, and users acquire permissions by becoming members of certain roles. However, given the dynamic nature of organizations, a fixed set of roles usually cannot meet the demands that users (existing or new) have to conduct business.The typical response to this problem is to myopically create new roles to meet immediate demand that cannot be satisfied by an existing set of roles. This ad hoc creation of roles invariably leads to a proliferation in the number of roles with the accompanying administrative overhead. Based on discussions with practitioners, we propose a role refinement scheme that reconstructs a system of roles to reduce the cost of role management. We first show that the role-refinement problem is strongly NP-hard and then provide two polynomial-time approximation algorithms (a greedy algorithm and a randomized rounding algorithm) and establish their performance guarantees. Finally, numerical experiments---based on a real data set from a firm's enterprise resource planning system---are conducted to demonstrate the applicability and performance of our refinement scheme.


Until a few years ago, the majority of cell functions were envisioned as the result of protein and DNA activity. The cell membranes were considered as a mere structure of support and/or separation. In the last years, the function of cell membranes has, however, received more attention and their components of lipid nature have also been depicted as important cell mediators and the membrane organization was described as an important determinant for membrane‐anchored proteins activity. In particular, because of their high diversity, glycosphingolipids offer a wide possibility of regulation. Specifically, the role of glycosphingolipids, in the fine‐tuning of neuron activity, has recently received deep attention. For their pivotal role in vertebrate and mammals neural development, neural stem cells regulation is of main interest especially concerning their further functions in neurological pathology progression and treatment. Glycosphingolipids expression present a developmental regulation. In this view, glycosphingolipids can hold an important role in neural stem cells features because of their heterogeneity and their consequent capacity for eclectic interaction with other cell components.