356-04-001 Preamble statement of policy. [Preamble, filed 5/26/66; M.S.R. preamble, filed 3/21/61; 3/24/60.] Repealed by Order 36, filed 7/1/71, effective 8/1/71. Later promulgation, see WAC 356-06-001. 356-04-010 Definitions. [Order 34, § 356-04-010, filed 5/13/71, effective 6/13/71; Order 30, § 356-04-010, filed 2/11/71, effective 3/9/71; Order 3 (part), § 356-04-010, filed 5/1/68, effective 6/1/68; M.S.R. 356.04.010, filed 5/26/66; Subsection 35 through 45 added by filing of 5/31/66.] Repealed by Order 36, filed 7/1/71, effective 8/1/71. Later promulgation, see WAC 356-06-010. 356-04-020 Exemptions—Positions—Agencies. [Order 21, § 35604-020, fi led 3/9/70, effective 4/9/70; M.S.R. 356.04.020, filed 5/26/66.] Repealed by Order 36, filed 7/1/71, effective 8/1/71. Later promulgation, see WAC 356-06-020. 356-04-030 Personnel services—Grant in aid. [M.S.R. 356.04.030, filed 5/26/66.] Repealed by Order 36, filed 7/1/71, effective 8/1/71. 356-04-040 Personnel services—Governmental agencies. [M.S.R. 356.04.040, filed 5/26/66.] Repealed by Order 36, filed 7/1/71, effective 8/1/71. Later promulgation, see WAC 356-06-030. 356-04-050 Classified services—Redefined. [M.S.R. 356.04.050, filed 5/26/66.] Repealed by Order 36, filed 7/1/71, effective 8/1/71. Later promulgation, see WAC 356-06040. 356-04-060 Competitive service—Redefined. [M.S.R. 356.04.060, filed 5/26/66.] Repealed by Order 36, filed 7/1/71, effective 8/1/71. Later promulgation, see WAC 356-06040. 356-04-070 Noncompetitive service—Redefined. [M.S.R. 356.04.070, filed 5/26/66.] Repealed by Order 36, filed 7/1/71, effective 8/1/71. Later promulgation, see WAC 356-06040. 356-04-080 Exempt services—Redefined. [M.S.R. 356.04.080, filed 5/26/66.] Repealed by Order 36, filed 7/1/71, effective 8/1/71. Later promulgation, see WAC 356-06-050. 356-04-090 Personnel board—Composition—Appointment. [M.S.R. 356.04.090, filed 5/26/66.] Repealed by Order 36, filed 7/1/71, effective 8/1/71. Later promulgation, see WAC 356-06-060. 356-04-100 Personnel board—Procedure—Quorum. [M.S.R. 356.04.100, filed 5/26/66.] Repealed by Order 36, filed 7/1/71, effective 8/1/71. Later promulgation, see WAC 356-06-070. 356-04-110 Personnel board—Powers—Duties. [Order 12, § 35604-110, filed 4/3/69; M.S.R. 356.04.110, filed 5/26/66.] Repealed by Order 36, filed 7/1/71, effective 8/1/71. Later promulgation, see WAC 356-06-080. 356-04-120 Director—Appointment—Removal. [M.S.R. 356.04.120, filed 5/26/66.] Repealed by Order 36, filed 7/1/71, effective 8/1/71. Later promulgation, see WAC 356-06090. 356-04-130 Director—Powers—Duties. [M.S.R. 356.04.130, filed 5/26/66.] Repealed by Order 36, filed 7/1/71, effective 8/1/71. Later promulgation, see WAC 356-06-100. 356-04-140 Agency personnel officers—Appointment—Powers, duties. [M.S.R. 356.04.140, filed 5/26/66.] Repealed by Order 36, filed 7/1/71, effective 8/1/71.


Background: Until today the exact etiopathologic agent responsible for clinical toxicity in uremia could not be singled out. A parallel may be drawn between the use of the electroencephalogram (EEG) in the evaluation of uremia and the use of electrocardiogram (ECG) in the evaluation of hyperkalemia. The present study has been undertaken to evaluate EEG changes & correlation of biochemical analysis in uremic patients.
Materials & Methods: A prospective study done on 25 cases of uremia due to varied etiology were selected from the wards of general hospital, Dungarpur, Rajasthan. The cases were diagnosed on the basis of the criteria laid down by Jean Hamburger, Richet G. et al (1968)3. Electroencephalographic tracing of all patients were made by an 8 channel EEG machine. A routine examination of hemoglobin, ESR, TLC, DLC, Complete urine examination with references to 24 hours urine volume, specific gravity and pH was done. Biochemical estimation of blood urea, serum Creatinine, sodium and potassium was also done.
Results: All the EEG showed diminished alpha activity, slowing in less than 6 & 6-8 HZ range and significant low voltage indeterminate activity more in precentral montages. In all the 9 drowsy patients the predominant background activity consisted of slow waves (less than 8 HZ) which were more in precentral as compared to postcentral montages. Correlation of serum Creatinine & EEG was predominant low voltage in determinant activity is seen in all group and serum sodium & potassium was showed that the abnormally is more marked in precentral leads.
Conclusion: We concluded that there was significant more slowing (theta & Delta waves) in precentral leads in uremic patients irrespective of biochemical and clinical parameters which has not been mentioned by earlier workers.


In 2014, surgical management of complex digestive pathology requires a multimodal approach. The association of chemotherapy combined with surgery allows obtaining promising 5 years survival, particularly for borderline adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas or for liver metastasis. The incremental use of cytoreductive surgery associated with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy provides a clear benefit in long-term survival for selected patients with primary or secondary peritoneal carcinomatosis. Finally, the use of Enhanced recovery pathways (ERAS) after surgery is now validated in colorectal surgery, and the preliminary results in hepato-biliary and pancreatic surgery are very promising. The implementation of ERAS provides a reduction in hospital stays, postoperative complications and costs, even in elderly patients.


Let $\Gamma$ be a finitely generated group, and let $\op{Rep}(\Gamma, \SO(2,n))$ be the moduli space of representations of $\Gamma$ into $\SO(2,n)$ ($n \geq 2$). An element $\rho: \Gamma \to \SO(2,n)$ of $\op{Rep}(\Gamma, \SO(2,n))$ is \textit{quasi-Fuchsian} if it is faithful, discrete, preserves an acausal subset in the conformal boundary $\Ein_n$ of the anti-de Sitter space; and if the associated globally hyperbolic anti-de Sitter space is spatially compact - a particular case is the case of \textit{Fuchsian representations}, i.e. composition of a faithfull, discrete and cocompact representation $\rho_f: \Gamma \to \SO(1,n)$ and the inclusion $\SO(1,n) \subset \SO(2,n)$. In \cite{merigot} we proved that quasi-Fuchsian representations are precisely representations which are Anosov as defined in \cite{labourie}. In the present paper, we prove that quasi-Fuchsian representations form a connected component of $\op{Rep}(\Gamma, \SO(2,n))$. This is an almost direct corollary of the following result: let $\Gamma$ be the fundamental group of a globally hyperbolic spacetime locally modeled on $\AdS_n$, and let $\rho: \Gamma \to \SO_0(2,n)$ be the holonomy representation. Then, if $\Gamma$ is Gromov hyperbolic, the $\rho(\Gamma)$-invariant achronal limit set in $\Ein_n$ is acausal.


The levels of a gricultural mechanization on some farms in two states in South w est of Nigeria were measured and the productivity of each of the surveyed farms was analy z ed. Factors that lead to profitability of farm activities and whole farms were deduced. Structured questionnaire was used to establish the socio – economic characteristics, educational level, and technical knowhow of the farmers. The inventory of the farm machinery was also established at each of the farm settlements visited. Agricultural mechanization index was used to evaluate the level of agricultural mechanization while the level of productivity for each farm settlement was determined as an inverse of the work output of the explicit factors involved in production function (capital or machine and labour). Profitability of activities was measured in terms of g ross margin and of whole farms. This was measured subjectively as net benefits of physical productivity (crop yield) and the returns from the resources used during production activities. The results of the farm mechanization index revealed that the average level of mechanization in Ogun and Osun States w as 31.3% and 28.6%, respectively and the average level of mechanization in the two States was 30.6% while the total productivity ranges between 0.0115 ha/kWh and 0.0951 ha/kWh. The average physical productivity (crop yield) on maize ranges between 1.2 to 1.7 tons/ha and that of cassava was about 11.5 tons/ha in the two s tates. The sustainability analysis of the schemes indicated that inconsistency in agricultural mechanization policy, lack of favorable conditions for full integration of agricultural mechanization, lack of essential infrastructure and financial credits among other variables explained the observed low spectrum in the scale of production. Keywords: a gricultural m echanization , m echanization i ndex , a gricultural p roductivity , f arm s ettlement , f arm m achinery , s ettlement , s ustainability Citation: Olaoye, J. O. , and A. O. Rotimi. Measurement of a gricultural m echanization i ndex and a nalysis of a gricultural p roductivity of f arm s ettlements in South w est Nigeria . Agric Eng Int: CIGR Journal. 2010, 12(1): 125 - 134 .


This paper reported the formulation of culture medium for the production of superoxide dismutase (SOD) by Rhodotorula glutinis RY-06 strain with high yield of beta- carotene. The optimum composition of medium was as follows: sucrose as carbon source, peptone as nitrogen source, the ratio of carbon source to nitrogen source as 1:1 (w/w), 500 mumol/L of Fe3+ (using FeCl3) as metal ion of the coenzyme. The SOD activity could reach 2.19 times104 U/L in the preliminary optimized medium. The results suggested that strain RY-06 not only has high yield of beta-carotene but also can produce a mass of SOD under appropriate conditions.


Diplophonia is a type of disordered voice in which two simultaneous pitches are perceived. Most commonly in diplophonic voices, the vocal folds are divided into two parts that vibrate at different frequencies. The glottal area is the projected area of the space between the vocal folds. The glottal area in time is referred to as the glottal area waveform (GAW). The GAW is modeled for diplophonic voice by superimposing two partial GAWs (pGAWs) that are trains of single-peak pulses with different pulse frequencies, i.e., fundamental frequencies ($f_o$s). In current kinematic models of diplophonic vocal fold vibration, the pGAWs are assumed to be quasiperiodic. This assumption is mitigated here by modulating pulse-to-pulse cycle length and amplitude. Both random and deterministic modulations are considered. Deterministic modulations depend on the difference of the pGAWs' instantaneous phases. Model GAWs are fitted to input GAWs using an analysis-by-synthesis approach which we refer to as 'modulated pulse trains decomposition' (MPD). MPD is shown to be applicable to diplophonic as well as to nondiplophonic types of dysphonia, which include multi-pulse patterns, random timing behaviours, and chaos. It is mostly robust against modulations but degraded by large random modulations. MPD is compared to a deep autoencoder neural network, and the WaveGlow neural network. In terms of time-domain fitting errors, MPD outperforms the other two approaches unless random modulations are large. MPD outperforms the best of the other two approaches by up to approximately 5 dB. For large random modulations, the deep autoencoder network achieves the smallest fitting errors. In terms of magnitude spectrum fitting errors, WaveGlow is superior except for natural input GAWs containing only nondiplophonic types of dysphonia. Also pulse timing errors are shown to be advantageous for MPD.


In situ high-pressure Raman spectroscopy is used to study monolayer, bilayer, and few-layer graphene samples supported on silicon in a diamond anvil cell to 3.5 GPa. The results show that monolayer graphene adheres to the silicon substrate under compressive stress. A clear trend in this behavior as a function of graphene sample thickness is observed. We also study unsupported graphene samples in a diamond anvil cell to 8 GPa and show that the properties of graphene under compression are intrinsically similar to graphite. Our results demonstrate the differing effects of uniaxial and biaxial strain on the electronic band structure.


The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that, within a specific cortical unit, fractional changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption (CMR(O(2))) are coupled through an invariant relationship during physiological stimulation. This aim was achieved by simultaneously measuring relative changes in these quantities in human primary visual cortex (V1) during graded stimulation with patterns designed to selectively activate different populations of V1 neurons. Primary visual cortex was delineated individually in each subject by using phase-encoded retinotopic mapping. Flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery MRI, in conjunction with blood oxygenation-sensitive MRI and hypercapnic calibration, was used to monitor CBF and CMR(O(2)). The stimuli used included (i) diffuse isoluminant chromatic displays; (ii) high spatial-frequency achromatic luminance gratings; and (iii) radial checkerboard patterns containing both color and luminance contrast modulated at different temporal rates. Perfusion responses to each pattern were graded by varying luminance and/or color modulation amplitudes. For all stimulus types, fractional changes in blood flow and oxygen uptake were found to be linearly coupled in a consistent ratio of approximately 2:1. The most potent stimulus produced CBF and CMR(O(2)) increases of 48 +/- 5% and 25 +/- 4%, respectively, with no evidence of a plateau for oxygen consumption. Estimation of aerobic ATP yields from the observed CMR(O(2)) increases and comparison with the maximum possible anaerobic ATP contribution indicate that elevated energy demands during brain activation are met largely through oxidative metabolism.


Work‐based learning's preoccupation with developing award‐bearing programmes has affected the scope and style of work‐based research. While offering development opportunities for work‐based research, the emphasis of work‐based learning programmes on the individual learner has curtailed the use of collaborative research. This article explores how an examination of workplace practices concerning collaboration (notably, the role of teams) could further the research enterprise within work‐based learning and add to the research inventory of higher education within its qualifications' framework. The article explores the ideological, epistemological and practical problems this poses and focuses on assessment issues. It concludes that necessary changes in policy may well involve government initiative. Work‐based research, as a subject in its own right, is a late arrival on the work‐based learning (WBL) scene in higher education. This is not a surprise because in order to gain entry and secure a place in higher education, WBL had to prove its ability and value in recruiting students. Its priority, therefore, was to create and deliver its own award‐bearing programme within institutional regulatory and quality assurance frameworks. Work‐based research, accordingly, was subsumed within pedagogical, curricular and assessment preoccupations. Obviously, the perspectives and practices involved in these developments affect conceptions and uses of work‐based research, but unavoidably conditioned its scope to programmatic interests. Even so, this has meant that existing research approaches and uses have been refined, and this article examines these developments. Recognising, however, that there is a reciprocal relationship between work‐based research and WBL, the article is concerned with undeveloped areas of WBL and work‐based research that, if developed, could affect them both and, in particular, enable WBL to extend the research inventory of higher education. Noting that collaboration is a key feature of workplace activity, the article singles out collaborative research as the case to be studied. Hence, the article first explores the effects on work‐based research of the early insights gained by WBL through its involvement in workplaces. Reversing that process, it then examines the contribution work‐based research has made to WBL understanding and practices. Following on the theme of learning lessons from workplace involvement, it then raises the issue of collaboration, asking if this could extend our understanding and practice of work‐based research as well as the perspectives and practices of WBL itself. It concludes with some observations on its implications of introducing collaborative research for local and national policy directions and decisions.


We investigate the transport properties of superlattices where each period consists of a sequence of one, two or three wells with different widths. The miniband width and the zero-field conductance decrease with increasing length of the sequence. Furthermore, peaks appear in the current-voltage characteristics due to resonant tunnelling between different wells. The measured positions of these peaks are in good agreement with our calculations and we observe resonant tunnelling across up to five barriers. Furthermore, we find an asymmetric current-voltage characteristic reflecting the lack of inversion symmetry in the sample with a three-well sequence.


Comb polymers have been proposed to exhibit a variety of nematic states according to the relative nematic tendencies of the backbone and teeth, and the molecular attachment of the two. The equilibria of such nematic phases with each other and with the isotropic state can be described by a mean field model, which combines a Maier‒Saupe theory of conventional liquid crystals and the worm concept of semiflexible polymers. Here the model is solved analytically in terms of universal functions. Graphical constructions on the free energy reminiscent of the Maxwell area rules are derived. The method allows both qualitative and quantitative conclusions to be made of the shape and gradients of phase diagrams. Triple points and a critical point inside one of the nematic phases are predicted. The stability of equilibria is examined. The occurrence of re-entrant nematic phases is identified as a consequence of the main-chain flexibility.


B chromosomes are small, heterochromatic chromosomes that are transmitted in a non-Mendelian manner. We have identified a stock of Drosophila melanogaster that recently (within the last decade) acquired an average of 10 B chromosomes per fly. These B chromosomes are transmitted by both males and females and can be maintained for multiple generations in a wild-type genetic background despite the fact that they cause high levels of 4th chromosome meiotic nondisjunction in females. Most curiously, these B chromosomes are mitotically unstable, suggesting either the absence of critical chromosomal sites or the inability of the meiotic or mitotic systems to cope with many additional chromosomes. These B chromosomes also contain centromeres and are primarily composed of the heterochromatic AATAT satellite sequence. Although the AATAT sequence comprises the majority of the 4th chromosome heterochromatin, the B chromosomes lack most, if not all, 4th chromosome euchromatin. Presumably as a consequence of their heterochromatic content, these B chromosomes significantly modify position-effect variegation in two separate reporter systems, acting as enhancers of variegation in one case and suppressors in the other. The identification of B chromosomes in a genetically tractable organism like D. melanogaster will facilitate studies of chromosome evolution and the analysis of the mechanisms by which meiotic and mitotic processes cope with additional chromosomes.


The recent observation of ultralow resistivity in highly doped, atomic-scale silicon wires has sparked interest in what limits conduction in these quasi-1D systems. Here we present electron transport measurements of gated Si:P wires of widths 4.6 and 1.5 nm. At 4.6 nm we find an electron mobility, μ(el)≃60  cm²/V s, in excellent agreement with that of macroscopic Hall bars. Metallic conduction persists to millikelvin temperatures where we observe Gaussian conductance fluctuations of order δG∼e²/h. In thinner wires (1.5 nm), metallic conduction breaks down at G≲e²/h, where localization of carriers leads to Coulomb blockade. Metallic behavior is explained by the large carrier densities in Si:P δ-doped systems, allowing the occupation of all six valleys of the silicon conduction band, enhancing the number of 1D channels and hence the localization length.


Measurement issues are of current concern to organizations faced with the task of promoting sustainability. Single figure aggregate indices of sustainable development (SD), primarily designed for use at the national scale, are not readily applicable locally and are a poor guide for decision-makers and citizens wishing to promote local sustainability. This has led to an abundance of sustainable development indicator (SDI) sets, each comprising a broad range of specific indicators. Existing indicator sets are not obviously compatible and there is a danger that, without the application of a clear method, indicators will be produced in an ad hoc fashion without full consideration of key SD principles or indicator characteristics. Such SDIs may be ineffective in promoting SD and possibly detrimental to the process. This paper examines the background to SDIs, including problems with their construction, and outlines fundamental steps that should be followed to produce any list of SDIs.


The Proto-Indo-European source of Hittite šip(p)and'to libate' has been the subject of much discussion, due to its implications for the treatment of initial clusters of sibilant plus stop in Hittite and potential implications for the much larger question of the status of the verbal category of the "perfect" in Anatolian: was the perfect, which in the oldest non-Anatolian IE languages expresses an attained state, inherited also in Anatolian and lost there, or is it an "Indo-Hittite" feature, i.e., a common innovation of "Core Indo-European"? Derivation of šip(p)andfrom a PIE reduplicated perfect *s(p)e-spóndhas justifiably been rejected on formal and functional grounds, but improvements in our understanding of the outcome of PIE *spin Hittite, as well as recent innovative proposals regarding the phonology of reduplication and its status in PIE verbal morphology call for a reconsideration of the issue.


This paper explored the feasibility of using a LED-based bulb as the illumination light source for photolithography room. A no-blue LED was designed, and the prototype was fabricated. The spectral power distribution of both the LED bulb and the yellow fluorescent tube was measured. Based on that, colorimetric values were calculated and compared on terms of chromatic coordinates, correlated color temperature, color rendering index, and chromatic deviation. Gretagmacbeth color charts were used as a more visional way to compare the two light sources, which shows that our no-blue LED bulb has much better color rendering ability than the YFT. Furthermore, LED solution has design flexibility to improve it further. The prototype has been tested with photoresist SU8-2005. Even after 15 days of illumination, no effect was observed. So this LED-based solution was demonstrated to be a very promising light source for photolithography room illumination due to its better color rendering in addition to energy efficiency, long life time and design flexibility.


Humans as social beings who use the environment make the law an instrument of regulation and protection. Laws relating to the environment itself systemically provide both general and specific regulation. However, environmental law instruments still require further development through strengthening of the ethical dimension. Ethics as one of the norms that can be codified and processed through the judiciary can strengthen the implementation of environmental law. The study was conducted by means of a literature study and analysis in order to find ethical positions and opportunities in the environmental law system. The Job Creation Act which directly changes the politics of environmental law certainly presents its own challenges. This development requires encouragement from other systems, one of which is ethics by presenting a positive ethical system as a law of ethics, both code of ethics and court of ethics. ethical law system that specifically regulates environmental law then requires general principles so that the ethical law instrument can take shape and be applied properly. There are several general principles of environmental law ethics, including the principle of clarity of purpose, the principle of independence, the principle of justice, the principle of certainty, the principle of benefit, the principle of balance, the principle of openness and the principle of protection. The challenge of implementing the general principles of environmental law ethics is in both substantial and formal dimensions that can be encouraged by the holders of power as constitutional mandates in the context of realizing the ideals of the state through the implementation of the mandate of the MPR Decree VI/MPR/2001 concerning the Ethics of the Nation's Life.


Aeolian landforms are widespread in our solar system. Understanding the exact nature and processes of formation of these features are challenging tasks necessitating a strong collaboration between scientists with different skills and scientific backgrounds. This paper describes the special issue for the 5th International Planetary Dunes Workshop, which includes 15 research papers and three commentaries. Among the 18 papers included in this collection, 16 cover Martian aeolian science and two Titan aeolian science. The papers presented focus on bedform morphology and dynamics via remote sensing data, modeling, analogs studies and laboratory experiments. Here we put the main results of the papers in their appropriate scientific context and discuss potential future lines of research.


Neurodegenerative disorders are common and heterogeneous in terms of their symptoms and cellular affectation, making their study complicated due to the lack of proper animal models that fully mimic human diseases and the poor availability of post-mortem human brain tissue. Adult human nervous tissue culture offers the possibility to study different aspects of neurological disorders. Molecular, cellular, and biochemical mechanisms could be easily addressed in this system, as well as testing and validating drugs or different treatments, such as cell-based therapies. This method combines long-term organotypic cultures of the adult human cortex, obtained from epileptic patients undergoing resective surgery, and ex vivo intracortical transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical progenitors. This method will allow the study of cell survival, neuronal differentiation, the formation of synaptic inputs and outputs, and the electrophysiological properties of human-derived cells after transplantation into intact adult human cortical tissue. This approach is an important step prior to the development of a 3D human disease modeling platform that will bring basic research closer to the clinical translation of stem cell-based therapies for patients with different neurological disorders and allow the development of new tools for reconstructing damaged neural circuits.


A cell's ability to recognize and adapt to the physical environment is central to its survival and function, but how mechanical cues are perceived and transduced into intracellular signals remains unclear. In mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), high‐magnitude substrate strain (HMS, ≥2%) effectively suppresses adipogenesis via induction of focal adhesion (FA) kinase (FAK)/mTORC2/Akt signaling generated at FAs. Physiologic systems also rely on a persistent barrage of low‐level signals to regulate behavior. Exposing MSC to extremely low‐magnitude mechanical signals (LMS) suppresses adipocyte formation despite the virtual absence of substrate strain (<0.001%), suggesting that LMS‐induced dynamic accelerations can generate force within the cell. Here, we show that MSC response to LMS is enabled through mechanical coupling between the cytoskeleton and the nucleus, in turn activating FAK and Akt signaling followed by FAK‐dependent induction of RhoA. While LMS and HMS synergistically regulated FAK activity at the FAs, LMS‐induced actin remodeling was concentrated at the perinuclear domain. Preventing nuclear‐actin cytoskeleton mechanocoupling by disrupting linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes inhibited these LMS‐induced signals as well as prevented LMS repression of adipogenic differentiation, highlighting that LINC connections are critical for sensing LMS. In contrast, FAK activation by HMS was unaffected by LINC decoupling, consistent with signal initiation at the FA mechanosome. These results indicate that the MSC responds to its dynamic physical environment not only with "outside‐in" signaling initiated by substrate strain, but vibratory signals enacted through the LINC complex enable matrix independent "inside–inside" signaling. Stem Cells 2013;33:2063–2076


2637 Mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene conferring sensitivity to anilinoquinazoline EGFR inhibitors have recently been identified. Despite the typical dramatic tumor responses to such inhibitors, patients will eventually relapse with time and the mechanism of relapse has not been identified. A patient with advanced lung adenocarcinoma with a del747-752 EGFR mutation treated with gefitinib had a durable remission, but relapsed after 24 months of treatment. The DNA sequencing of exons 18-21 of his original specimen as well as his biopsy on relapse demonstrated persistence of the 747-752 deletion. The DNA sequence of his tumor biopsy from his relapse revealed a new, secondary C-to-T base pair change leading to a Thr-Met amino acid substitution at position 790. This amino acid change corresponds to one of the common bcr-abl kinase mutations conferring STI-571 resistance. Structural modeling suggested that this change would lead to the introduction of a bulkier amino acid side chain into a hydrophobic pocket of the ATP-binding site of the EGFR molecule. Further modeling also suggested that this substitution would lead to likely steric hindrance of either erlotinib or gefitinib binding due to the juxtaposition of the methionine side chain and the acetylene or chloride side chain of the anilino group of the respective inhibitor. Plasmid constructs were generated introducing this amino acid change into wild-type, L858R mutant, del747-753insS as well as del747-752 constructs. In transient transfection experiments, equal expression as well as phosphoprotein generation upon EGF stimulation between all the corresponding construct pairs (primary versus resistance mutant) was seen. While gefitinib completely inhibited EGF-stimulated phospho-EGFR generation of the non-resistance mutant constructs at concentrations of 2-20 nM, all four constructs carrying the Thr-Met substitution showed high level resistance to gefitinib with sustained EGFR phosphorylation at concentrations as high as 2 μM. A screen of commercially available EGFR inhibitors demonstrated that one of the screened inhibitors, CL-387,785, inhibited both the del747-752 as well as the del747-752 plus resistance mutant constructs with nearly the same potency with full inhibition observed at a concentration as low as 30nM. CL-387,785 is an irreversible, anilinoquinazoline inhibitor of EGFR. In summary, we have identified a novel, in vivo occurring mutation of the EGFR conferring gefitinib resistance and thereby describe the first resistance mutation in an oncogenic tyrosine kinase in a common epithelial cancer. We also demonstrate an alternative compound which can inhibit this mutant receptor, suggesting that drugs of this class might be useful in patients who relapse while on treatment with gefitinib.


The convergence, convergence rate and expected hitting time play fundamental roles in the analysis of randomised search heuristics. This paper presents a unified Markov chain approach to studying them. Using the approach, the sufficient and necessary conditions of convergence in distribution are established. Then the average convergence rate is introduced to randomised search heuristics and its lower and upper bounds are derived. Finally, novel average drift analysis and backward drift analysis are proposed for bounding the expected hitting time. A computational study is also conducted to investigate the convergence, convergence rate and expected hitting time. The theoretical study belongs to a prior and general study while the computational study belongs to a posterior and case study.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of Korean kimchi in Singapore. A questionnaire was given to male 236(43.0%) and female 313(57.0%) college students residing in Singapore. The results are as follows: 86.9% of the participants answered that kimchi is Korean in origin, and 48.7% had eaten kimchi. Also 75.2% of the males and 65.2% of the females had purchased commercial kimchi at restaurants(p<0.05). Regarding the primary reason they purchased commercial kimchi, 62.1% responded 'its taste'(male 58.1%, female 65.0%), also 47.6% stated the package size was 50g(male 44.8%, female 49.7%). Among the kimchi they had experienced, 86.7% had eaten Baechu kimchi, 31.0% Mu kimchi and 30.9% Oi kimchi(males : 82.2% Baechu kimchi, 30.9% Oi kimchi, and 27.4% Mu kimchi, females: 90.0% Baechu kimchi, 33.6% Mu kimchi, and 26.2% Oi kimchi respectively). For their kimchi preference, 67.0% preferred Baechu kimchi, 9.4% Oi kimchi, and 7.1% Mu kimchi(males: 63.4% Baechu kimchi, 12.9% Oi kimchi and 5.4% Mu kimchi, females: 69.5% Baechu kimchi, 8.4% Oi kimchi and 6.9% Mu kimchi, respectively). After having eaten kimchi, 19.3% answer it tasted good, and the primary reason for liking kimchi, 'spicy and hot taste'(51.3%), The main reasons for not liking kimchi were the odor(garlic, ginger, anchovy juice, etc) and too spicy, respectively. Regarding improvements for its expanded consumption 32.0% answered 'not to improve', 18.0% answered 'don't make it too hot', 17.6% answered 'don't make it too salty', and 9.4% answered 'don't make it over-ripe'. For the overall perception of kimchi, the answer with the highest mean(3.95) was 'kimchi is a good side dish with cooked rice', which was significantly different than 'kimchi is delicious'(M=3.14, p<0.05).


The modelled acoustic characteristics of three Acoustic Harassment Devices (AHDs) deployed from a fully operational salmonid fish farm, located in the Sound of Mull, Scotland (UK) are presented, using empirical seabed and water column measurements at the same location. In the Beaufort Sea state 0, the depth range of 10–50 m is the maximum range at which AHDs are potentially audible to five marine mammal species. The species present within this survey region are: the harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena (99.1 km), the killer whale, Orcinus orca (110 km), the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus (89.6 km), the common seal, Phoca vitulina (88 km), and the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus (69 km). Consequently, within the Sound of Mull, all three AHDs could be heard throughout the water column by all species. For two models of AHDs, a behavioural disturbance level of between 140 dB–180 dB is observed at 1.3 km. Habitat displacement is a cause for concern, particularly if several fish farms within a small area all deploy AHDs simultaneously. This can create a confusing sound field of varying intensity, which has potential to deter harbour porpoises from sections of their habitat. If positioned effectively, AHDs have the potential to deter all five marine mammal species from industrial operations such as aquaculture facilities. Source levels, propagation and transmission loss measurements were highly variable and should be considered as site specific, meaning new estimates should be made for each situation.


Abstract Development of hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSC) has been one of the hottest research topics since 2013. Within brief literature review, we would like to achieve two objectives. Firstly, we would like to indicate that a whole set of physical properties, such as high change carrier mobility, very low recombination rates, large carrier life time and diffusion length, large absorption coefficients and very weak exciton binding energies, are defining high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of methyl ammonium lead trihalide SC. The second objective is to draw attention to some, in our opinion, important aspects that previously have not been satisfactory addressed in literature. Although degradation of PSC is widely discussed, processes at very first exposure to ambient conditions after deposition of top electrode are uncovered.


This paper maps the 'knowledge controversy' surrounding the control of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in England, which has become a highly politicized and controversial issue in recent years. The disease, which is now costing the UK over £90 million each year, has received substantial policy and media attention, particularly in relation to badgers and their role in its spread. This paper focuses on the ways in which the various debates associated with bTB and its control are presented in the press, with a specific emphasis on badger vaccination. The analysis compares regional, national and farming press, and identifies a number of complex dualisms against which the debate is framed. Three key dualisms are identified: (1) the scientific evidence on which policy support for badger vaccination is based (science versus practical reality); (2) the controversy surrounding the potential efficacy of proposed control measures (badger vaccination versus badger culling); (and (3) the role of different stakeholders in spreading/controlling the disease (victim versus culprit). These dualisms help to explain the unclear policy direction and constant divisions between those who do and do not support badger vaccination, and the continued status of bTB control as a public knowledge controversy.


The companies' interest in the level of their sustainable manufacturing practices (SMPs) has become necessary. This is because of its role in improving and balancing dimensions of sustainability performance (SP) which includes environmental sustainability (EnS), social sustainability (SoS) and economic sustainability (EcS). Therefore, the objective of the present study is the investigate about the extent of SMPs and SP to encourage the oil and gas industry (O&GI) in the context of Iraq to obtain a balance in the dimensions of SP, i.e. EcS, EnS and SoS. The data collected from 80 companies were analysed using descriptive statistics method by using SPSS version 25. The results revealed that the extent of the four SMPs and the three dimensions of SP in companies were implemented at a slight level. These results imply that although SMPs have become a required necessity expected from all industries, and companies should prefer to implement them, there is still needed to more efforts in implementation of SMPs among the O&GI to achieve a balance in the dimensions of SP.


Algal mounds of the western Orogrande basin present an excellent opportunity for studying reservoir behavior because these mounds are superbly exposed and of reservoir scale. Upper Paleozoic algal bioherms form significant reservoirs both domestically and internationally but are difficult to exploit owing to characteristically pronounced facies and diagenetic heterogeneity. Establishing predictive relationships between petrophysical properties and stratigraphy is key to enhancing exploitation success in these systems. This article focuses on a well-exposed, reservoir-scale algal mound complex of the western Orogrande basin (New Mexico) to construct an outcrop-based reservoir model for this and analogous systems. An accurate sequence stratigraphic framework is key for meaningful modeling but is difficult to establish in the subsurface. The studied mound consists of multiple high-frequency sequences with elevated porosity and dolomitization proximal to sequence boundaries, particularly in mound-flank positions. The porosity model indicates that the mound flanks may form a stratified reservoir, whereas the mound core is tight and, therefore, acts as a lateral seal. Early marine cement occluded primary porosity in outcrop mound-core facies. Forward seismic modeling shows that the internal stratigraphic architecture of the mound complex is below conventional seismic resolution. Rock-physics measurements on 20 outcrop samples, however, demonstrate a relationship between dolomite content and the ratio of compressional-wave to shear-wave velocities at in-situ conditions. For a given dolomite percentage, seismic impedance decreases as porosity increases. Accordingly, surface seismic data could potentially be used to estimate gross reservoir properties.


Ren, B., Zhang, J., Li, X., Fan, X., Dong, S., Liu, P. and Zhao, B. 2014. Effects of waterlogging on the yield and growth of summer maize under field conditions. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 23-31. A field experiment was performed to study the effects of waterlogging for different durations (3 and 6 d) on the yield and growth of summer maize at the three-leaf stage (V3), six-leaf stage (V6), and the 10th day after the tasseling stage (10VT). The results after 2 yr indicated that maize development and grain yield responses to waterlogging depended on both stress severity (intensity and duration) and different growth stage. Yield decreased significantly with an increased waterlogging duration during V3 and V6. The yields of maize hybrid Denghai 605 (DH605) in treatments V3-3, V3-6, V6-3, V6-6, 10VT-3, and 10VT-6 were 23, 32, 20, 24, 8, and 18% lower than those of the control (CK), respectively; Yields of Zhengdan 958 (ZD958) were lower by 21, 35, 15, 33, 7, and 12%, respectively. Waterlogging also affected the growth and development of summer maize. Ear characteristics (grains per ear and 1000-grain weight) and plant morphology (plant height, ear height, and leaf area index) decreased, whereas the bald tip length increased significantly. The maximum grain-filling rate decreased under waterlogging; furthermore, the dry matter accumulation decreased and dry matter distribution proportions of the stem and leaf increased. However, the distribution proportion of grain decreased. Maize was most susceptible to waterlogging damage at V3, followed by V6 and 10VT, with damage increasing with increasing waterlogging duration.


Despite persistent debate on the role of concealed-carry legislation, decisions to legally carry concealed handguns are not well understood. Using detailed data on concealed-carry permit applications, we explore whether individuals apply for concealed-carry permits in response to crime. We find that recent homicides increase applications in areas relatively near to the incident. The effects are driven by gun-related homicides and are more pronounced for white, male, and Republican applicants. We also find suggestive evidence that applicants are more responsive when they share a demographic characteristic with the homicide victim. The results further indicate that applications after recent homicides are more likely to be renewed, consistent with persistent precautionary behaviors. Our findings provide causal evidence that crime risk influences individual decisions regarding legal gun use.


Abstract : The paper presents a preliminary report of a feasibility study of a project to develop a uniform descriptive framework that: 1. captures all of the complexity of the modern battlefield; 2. is capable of sufficient precision to allow for cross-domain communication that meets the needs of all parties; 3. allows for clarification and disambiguation; 4. is sufficiently natural and intuitive for rapid mastery by all parties. The framework is based on the adoption of an information-flow view of the battlefield, using situation theory


PURPOSE: To evaluate the increase in contrast sensitivity to intraocular lens TECNIS Z-9000 (Pfizer) compared with other intraocular lenses. METHOD: We implanted a TECNIS Z-9000 lens in 18 patients who had another type of intraocular lens implanted in their other eye. We then tested contrast sensitivity under both mesopic and photopic conditions using the VCTS (Vision Contrast Test System) provided by Vistech Consultants Inc. RESULTS: There was an improved contrast sensitivity at low and medium frequencies, following TECNIS-Z 9000 lens implantation, however this improvement did not reach statistical significance. There were significant differences at high frequencies, which are directly related to the quality of visual function. CONCLUSIONS: TECNIS Z-9000 lens implantation (with a modified anterior surface) achieves a significant improvement in contrast sensitivity, meaning in practice an increase in the quality of visual function.


It is shown that a necessary and sufficient condition for a transistor network to possess more than one solution to its dc equations, for some choice of network parameter values, is that a certain simple set of connections, involving some pair of transistors, is present in the circuit's topological structure. The presence of this set of connections, prescribing the presence of a certain special two-transistor substructure, referred to as a feedback structure, is thus a necessary condition that any transistor network must satisfy in order to possess the property of bistability. The proof of this result is based upon a consideration of two topological properties of transistor networks possessing unique solutions to their dc equations. In addition, it is shown how the amount of computation required to verify a certain well-known set of necessary and sufficient conditions which guarantees the uniqueness of solutions to the dc equations of transistor networks can be reduced by determining the location of all feedback structures.


A fair trial is guaranteed by the efficient work of a lawyer aimed at protecting the client accused of committing an offense and the state protection of advocacy. The purpose of the study was to determine the criminal law protection aimed at ensuring the safeguarding the defense counsel's activity in court proceedings considered in the context of international standards. Empirical and theoretical methods of research, as well as the method of comparative analysis were used for a comprehensive consideration of the subject. The grounds for criminal liability for obstructing the legal activity of the defense counsel in court proceedings are elaborated. Criminal liability for a crime against justice may take the form of a fine, corrective labor, imprisonment or suspension from office. The protection of the lawyers' rights and international guarantees of safe advocacy involves the adoption of measures at the state level that will enable lawyers to perform their professional duties without intimidation, pressure, obstruction and interference, as well as measures to eliminate the administrative, economic or other sanctions. Further research will address the advocacy security to determine and substantiate the effective means of its criminal protection.


With the advent of the super-tip gas field ion source very favourable conditions for generating ion nano-beams have been provided. The basic physical principles for this kind of source are described As a consequence of a very small source emittance of e ~ 10-24 m2sr ultra-bright rare gas ion beams of about 1016 A/m2.sr can be produced. As a further consequence, very narrow probe sizes are obtainable, of dp< 1 nm, with spatial resolutions far below the classical limits of light-optics and even below the novel stimulated-emission-depletion microscopy [STED (microscopy) = stimulated emission depletion (microscopy)] Th. A. Klar, S. W. Hell, Opt.Lett. 24 (1999) 954-956]. Various ion-nanobeam applications are envisaged.


Metabolic syndrome, i. e., the combined occurrence of obesity, arterial hypertension, insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia (increased triglycerides, reduced HDL cholesterol), is associated with a marked increase in cardiovascular risk. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is very high. Obesity is the main risk factor for OSA and OSA itself is now considered to be the most frequent cause of secondary arterial hypertension. Due to the confounding influence of obesity, the causal connection between OSA and metabolic disturbances is less well established, however, epidemiological data are at least in favour of an independent link between OSA and insulin resistance. It is known that CPAP therapy can ameliorate OSA-associated hypertension. In contrast, the effects of CPAP treatment on insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia have to be further elucidated by large, randomised interventional trials.


The purpose of this study was to determine the implementation of District Integrated Administrative Services (Pelayanan Administrasi Terpadu Kecamatan - PATEN) policy in West Palu District Palu City in supporting integrated administrative services, and to examine problems deeply and to find solutions from every division and sub-division at the Office of West Palu District Palu City. The type of research used in this study was descriptive qualitative research, with purposive sampling method. The researcher assigned informants based on their knowledge, participations, and professions. The informants in this study were the Head of West Palu District, the Secretary of West Palu District, a Division Head of West Palu District, and 2 people who were dealing in that Office. The location of this research was the Office of West Palu District in Palu City. Data collection was done through interviews, observations, and documentations. The results conclude that the implementation of the PATEN policy in West Palu District Palu City based on the Theory of Edward III in Tangkilisan (1997: 24) had already been good as expected in terms of the communication aspect as well as the other aspects, namely the bureaucratic structure that had been in accordance with existing regulations and the service that had been running well. However, the resources aspect, especially the human resources had not been met so that an error occurred in job descriptions, functions, and working procedures, for not being based on the organizational structures. Therefore, the people could not feel the success effects of the PATEN policy implementation, particularly the satisfaction with the administrative services. The other inhibiting factor was the disposition aspect in terms of attitudes and behaviors of the PATEN policy implementing apparatuses/implementors at the Office of West Palu District that had not showed good attitudes, responsibilities, and behaviors; and had not been in accordance with the rules of procedure and professional attitudes of employees/apparatuses in providing public service.


It has been shown in 35 patients with severe acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage that there is a limit regarding the amount of transfused blood needed for substitution. Whereas patients over 65 years had a 100% mortality rate after more than 10 units., the limit in younger patient was 15 units. The time of the beginning of surgical therapy is decisive for the chance of survival. After 4 transfusions in few hours the surgical intervention should be started. Under these conditions even older patients have a better chance of survival. The number of transfusions given and the time is directly proportional to the rate of complications.


Cooking quality and pasting properties of noodles from sweetpotato starch were evaluated. Extracted starch was subjected to HMT (110°C for 3 hours at 30% moisture). Noodles were produced by extrusion process. Noodle cooking quality was evaluated by solid loss and extent of swelling during cooking. A descriptive sensory panel was employed to evaluate the sensory attributes of the dry and cooked noodles. HMT was found to restrict the release of amylose into the aqueous phase and facilitated an increase in water absorption capacity of the starch. This led to a significant reduction in cooking loss and an increase in swelling index of the HMT starch noodles. HMT starch noodles also showed improved firmness, reduced stickiness and hardness because of improved stability to disintegration and formation of strong internal bonds between polymer chains. Further, HMT starches from Salera, LU96/274, LU96/303 and LU96/304 were outstanding in producing noodles of acceptable quality.


Agent-based simulation can be viewed as methodical advancement and generalization of microscopic modelling styles in object-oriented and discrete event simulation well suited for logistic systems. Existing object-oriented simulation frameworks form an adequate basis for agent-based modelling where general simulation functionality can be reused. Extensions are required in view of the main aspects in agent-based simulation related to spatial and behaviour modelling. This paper outlines the advancement of a discrete event simulation framework for applications of agent-based simulation mainly in logistics. Agent-based simulation is typically applied in microscopic modelling of systems where common actions of autonomously deciding actors, mostly humans are represented. The extension includes a graph-based spatial modeling as well as flexible behavior descriptions in different modes (e.g. UML state charts). As an application of agent-based simulation and the related software tool in the logistics domain a simulation model for sustainable logistic concepts in courier services is presented.


Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to summarize and evaluate the most recent literature on the epidemiology, etiology, and treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in women. Recent findings Several authors have studied characteristics of populations of women with LUTS and addressed care-seeking behavior for these conditions. Multiple investigators also sought greater understanding of the urinary microbiome and its relationship to LUTS in women. Evidence for the treatment of overactive bladder and stress urinary incontinence is being synthesized and innovative treatments are being rigorously studied. Summary Investigations and high quality research continue to shed light on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of LUTS in women.


The dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene is a highly important industrial reaction and the focus of significant research in order to optimise the selectivity to styrene and minimise catalyst deactivation. The reaction itself is a complex network of parallel and consecutive processes including cracking, steam-reforming and reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) in addition to dehydrogenation. The goal of this investigation is to decouple the major processes occurring and analyse how side-reactions affect both the equilibrium of ethylbenzene dehydrogenation and the surface chemistry of the catalyst. Studies have employed a CrOx/Al2O3 catalyst and reactions have been conducted at 500, 600 and 700 °C. The catalyst and reaction have been investigated using elemental analysis, temperature programmed oxidation (TPO), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), Raman spectroscopy, THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), in situ infrared spectroscopy and on-line gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The reaction profile shows an induction time corresponding to a cracking regime, followed by a dehydrogenation regime. The cracking period involves the activation of CrOx/Al2O3 catalysts for dehydrogenation activity through a number of processes: cracking of ethylbenzene over acid sites; coke deposition; reduction of chromium from Cr(VI) to Cr(III); steam reforming activity over the reduced catalyst; and reverse water-gas shift reaction. Each of these processes plays a critical role in the observed catalytic activity. Notably, the presence of CO2 evolved from the reduction of chromium by ethylbenzene and from the gasification of the deposited oxygen-functionalised coke results in the dehydrogenation reaction becoming partially oxidative, i.e. selectivity to styrene is enhanced by coupling of ethylbenzene dehydrogenation with the reverse water-gas shift reaction. Ethylbenzene cracking, coke gasification, steam-reforming and reverse water-gas shift determine the relative quantities of CO2, CO, H2 and H2O and hence affect the coupling of the reactions. Coke deposition during the cracking period lowers the catalyst acidity and may contribute to chromium reduction, hence diminishing the competition between acid and metal sites and favouring dehydrogenation activity.


The effect of perfusion pressure on uteroplacental blood flow was determined in pregnant rabbits utilizing the radioactive microsphere method. Control mean arterial pressure, 93 mm Hg +/- 2.6 SEM, was raised by carotid ligation to 109 +/- 4.1 mm Hg and then reduced with antihypertensive drugs to 74 +/- 1.3 mm Hg. Over this range of pressure there was no significant change in cardiac output, 605 +/- 36, 523 +/- 37, and 540 +/- 39 ml/min; or uteroplacental blood flow, 30 +/- 3.2, 27 +/- 5.2, and 29 +/- 4.5 ml/min, respectively. When prostaglandin synthesis was inhibited with either indomethacin or meclofenamate (2 mg/kg), uterine vascular resistance was higher but maintenance of uteroplacental flow occurred over a perfusion pressure of 89 +/- 6.7-115 +/- 9.3 mm Hg. With more severe hypotension induced with trimethaphan, control arterial pressure fell from 92 +/- 2.4 to 39 +/- 0.9 mm Hg, cardiac output fell from 514 +/- 17 to 407 +/- 22 ml/min (P less than 0.025) and uteroplacental blood flow fell from 6.1 +/- 0.9 to 2.5 +/- 0.9% of cardiac output (P less than 0.05), which represented an absolute fall from 32.4 +/- 5 to 10.6 +/- 3 ml/min (P less than 0.025). There was no significant change in renal blood flow expressed as percentage of cardiac output, 14.9 +/- 2 and 13 +/- 1.5%, or in absolute flow, 75 +/- 7.7 and 54 +/- 7 ml/min with trimethaphan-induced hypotension. These studies indicate that uteroplacental blood flow is maintained relatively constant over a range of perfusion pressure of 60-140 mm Hg in both normal and prostaglandin-inhibited pregnant rabbits. However, with reduction in pressure to 36-42 mm Hg, uteroplacental blood flow falls, expressed as a percentage of cardiac output and in absolute flow.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the effectiveness of Strength at Home Friends and Families (SAH-F), a dyadic group intervention to prevent relational aggression and its negative consequences, in a community-based sample of service members/veterans and significant others who reported relational difficulties.

METHOD
Participants included 70 veterans and their loved ones. Recruitment was conducted from October 2010 through March 2012. Participants completed an initial assessment that included measures of relational aggression and functioning, depressive symptoms, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Participants were enrolled in the 10-week SAH-F targeting social information-processing mechanisms hypothesized to underlie the relationship between trauma and aggression and were reassessed at program completion and 3 months after intervention.

RESULTS
Significant reductions in psychological aggression were seen both at program completion and at 3-month follow-up for both veterans (standardized mean gain effect size [ESsg] = -0.45, P < .05) and significant others (ESsg = -0.30, P < .05). Perpetration of physical aggression remained low after pretreatment and did not increase. Relationship adjustment reported by significant others, but not veterans, indicated a significant improvement from pretreatment to program completion (ESsg = 0.33, P < .05). Significant (P < .05) decreases in depressive symptoms were observed from pretreatment to program completion for veterans (ESsg = -0.30, P < .05) and significant others (ESsg = -0.55, P < .05), and significant decreases in PTSD symptoms were observed from pretreatment to follow-up for veterans and significant others (ESsg = -0.52, P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS
Results provide support for the effectiveness of SAH-F in reducing relational aggression in military member/significant other dyads and enhancing relationship quality and mental health.


Nitrate transporters are important for nitrogen acquisition by plants and in algae some require two gene products, NRT2 and NAR2, for function. The NRT2 family was already described and the recent identification of a family of the NAR2-type genes in higher plants showed that there was a homologue in Arabidopsis, AtNAR2.1. Using heterologous expression system in yeast and oocytes we showed that the two Arabidopsis AtNRT2.1 and AtNAR2.1 proteins interacted to give a functional high affinity nitrate transport system (HATS). The gene knock out mutant atnar2.1-1 is deficient specifically for HATS activity and the resulting growth phenotype on low nitrate concentration is more severe than for the atnrt2.1-1 knock out mutant. Physiological characterisation of the plant N status and gene expression revealed a pattern that was characteristic of severe nitrogen deficiency. Consistent with the down regulation of AtNRT2.1 expression, the atnar2.1-1 plants also displayed the same phenotype as atnrt2.1 mutants in lateral root (LR) response to low nitrate supply. Using atnar2.1-1 plants constitutively expressing the NpNRT2.1 gene, we now show a specific role for AtNAR2.1 in LR response to low nitrate supply. AtNAR2.1 is also involved in the repression of LR initiation in response to high ratios of sucrose to nitrogen in the medium. Therefore the two component system itself is likely to be involved in the signaling pathway integrating nutritional cues for LR architecture regulation. Using a green fluorescent protein-NRT2.1 protein fusion we show the essential role of AtNAR2.1 for the presence of AtNRT2.1 to the plasma membrane.


In 2012, the Aam Aadmi (common man) Party (AAP) made its debut on the Indian political scene on a platform promoting ethical politics, anticorruption action and active citizenship. Inspired by the AAP's call to "change politics," many nonresident Indians (NRIs) in the U.K. Indian diaspora joined an international network of groups that provided support for the party in subsequent successful election campaigns. This article follows the ways in which digital media played a key role in the formation of intense individual attachments to the party, and how, for some, it became the means through which disillusionment with the party and its project was expressed. By attending to digital politics in the Indian diaspora as it plays out in this relatively recent political formation, we can gain a new perspective on the circulations, connections, and class values through which postliberalization projects to reform the nation are worked on from beyond its borders.


More than one thousand specimens representing fossil hippopotamus have been recovered from deposits in the Baringo Basin. This collection, the greater part of which consists of isolated teeth, spans a time range covering the last ten million years and contains the earliest recognizable hippo remains in the world. Comparison with other hippopotamus faunas reveals a striking conservatism until about four miltion years ago. Specimens from later deposits are much more numerous, with speciation and diversification in the East African forms becoming apparent. In the Baringo area this diversification is first seen in hippos from the Chemeron Formation which can be favourably compared with specimens from Kanapoi and the early levels of the Omo and East Lake Turkana. In the later Pleistocene deposits of Baringo the hippopotamus is close to the extant Hippopotamus arnphibius and associated with permanent water. It is possible that the earlier levels of the Baringo Basin may hold the key to the origin of the Family Hippopotamidae, the ancestry of which is at present obscure.


We propose an analysis of surgical videos that is based on a novel recurrent convolutional network (SV-RCNet), specifically for automatic workflow recognition from surgical videos online, which is a key component for developing the context-aware computer-assisted intervention systems. Different from previous methods which harness visual and temporal information separately, the proposed SV-RCNet seamlessly integrates a convolutional neural network (CNN) and a recurrent neural network (RNN) to form a novel recurrent convolutional architecture in order to take full advantages of the complementary information of visual and temporal features learned from surgical videos. We effectively train the SV-RCNet in an end-to-end manner so that the visual representations and sequential dynamics can be jointly optimized in the learning process. In order to produce more discriminative spatio-temporal features, we exploit a deep residual network (ResNet) and a long short term memory (LSTM) network, to extract visual features and temporal dependencies, respectively, and integrate them into the SV-RCNet. Moreover, based on the phase transition-sensitive predictions from the SV-RCNet, we propose a simple yet effective inference scheme, namely the prior knowledge inference (PKI), by leveraging the natural characteristic of surgical video. Such a strategy further improves the consistency of results and largely boosts the recognition performance. Extensive experiments have been conducted with the MICCAI 2016 Modeling and Monitoring of Computer Assisted Interventions Workflow Challenge dataset and Cholec80 dataset to validate SV-RCNet. Our approach not only achieves superior performance on these two datasets but also outperforms the state-of-the-art methods by a significant margin.


In this paper we give a survey of the methods we have developed for multiple image deconvolution, with application to the reconstruction of the images of the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). We first describe the main features of LBT and of the Fizeau interferometer, denoted LINC-NIRVANA, that will be one of the basic instruments of the telescope. It will allow to reach the resolution of a 22.8 m mirror by combining different images taken with different orientations of the baseline. Next we discuss the problem of multiple image deconvolution, that is crucial for obtaining a unique high-resolution image from the multiple images provided by LINC-NIRVANA. We present the state-of-the art of the methods based on the Richardson-Lucy (RL) approach and we discuss topics such as computational efficiency, correction of boundary effects and super-resolution. Then, in the perspective of going beyond RL, we extend to the problem of multiple image deconvolution the split gradient method (SGM) that is a general approach to the design of iterative methods for the constrained minimization of regularized functionals. Finally we present an application of SGM to the regularized reconstruction of objects with high-dynamic range. The different methods are illustrated with examples taken from the many numerical experiments we performed on this problem.


Purpose of review Although chronic fatigue is reported by up to one third of patients contacting primary health care physicians, it remains a controversial symptom/syndrome which does not fall comfortably into either psychiatry or other branches of medicine. Relevant findings Prospective studies suggest that the severity of fatigue reported at first consultation predicts severity at follow-up, including an increased risk of future major depressive disorder. There is a dual interaction between fatigue and depression, one increasing the risk of the other. However, there is not complete symmetry of the disorders; pre-morbid psychiatric history is a better predictor of depression than chronic fatigue syndrome, and conversely positive tests for infectious mononucleosis are a better predictor of chronic fatigue syndrome than depression. Chronic fatigue appears to show some genetic aetiology but links to immune dysfunction remain tentative and require further research. In terms of treatment, cognitive behavioural therapy and graded exercise therapy have proved effective and deliverable both in chronic fatigue syndrome and its related syndromes. The benefits are only for some; however, many remain disabled. Summary Fatigue extends its influences and interactions widely. It is seen both in its own bespoke syndrome of chronic fatigue syndrome and also within the family of somatoform disorders. Depression, fatigue and physical illness appear to be intimately linked, each worsening the experience of the other having profound implications for patients' quality of life.


Sports may be contexts supporting character virtues development, including empathic concern. However, the competitiveness of sport may also hinder adolescents' ability for empathic concern. This study investigated how perceptions of the peer motivational climate were associated with athletes' empathic concern. Data were drawn from a larger study of high school adolescents' character development through sport (N = 665; 49.1% female). Task-oriented (i.e., skill-focused), but not ego-oriented (i.e., competition-focused), aspects of the peer motivational climate were associated with empathic concern. Task-oriented environments may afford youth opportunities to demonstrate empathic concern as features of task orientation include supporting and caring for teammates.


A number of machine translation methods have been proposed in recent years to deal with the increasingly important problem of automatic translation between texts of different languages or languages and their dialects. These methods have produced promising results when applied to some of the widely studied languages. Existing translation methods are mainly implemented using rule-based and static machine translation approaches. Rule based approaches utilize language translation rules that can either be constructed by an expert, which is quite difficult when dealing with dialects, or rely on rule construction algorithms, which require very large parallel datasets. Statistical approaches also require large parallel datasets to build the translation models. However, large parallel datasets do not exist for languages with low resources, such as the Arabic language and its dialects. In this paper we propose an algorithm that attempts to overcome this limitation, and apply it to translate the Egyptian dialect (EGY) to Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Monolingual corpus was collected for both MSA and EGY and a relatively small parallel language pair set was built to train the models. The proposed method utilizes Word embedding as it requires monolingual data rather than parallel corpus. Both Continuous Bag of Words and Skip-gram were used to build word vectors. The proposed method was validated on four different datasets using a four-fold cross validation approach.


There has been much interest in the first books on accounting in the Western world. However, generally this has focused on books on double-entry bookkeeping. Double-entry bookkeeping emerged in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and was first expounded in printed form in Pacioli's famous treatise in 1494. The system which double-entry gradually supplanted was charge and discharge accounting. Charge and discharge accounting was widespread in medieval Britain. Its origins appear to have been in the English Exchequer about 1110. By the late twelfth century, it was well-established. In 1177–79, Richard fitz Nigel wrote the Dialogus de Scaccario (Dialogue of the Exchequer) which explained its workings. This treatise, written in the form of a dialogue between master and disciple, outlines not only the duties of the parties involved, but also the accounting system which was employed. This book represents perhaps the first Western book on accounting.


Real-time distribution of stored video over wide-area networks (WANs) is a crucial component of many emerging distributed multimedia applications. The heterogeneity in the underlying network environments is an important factor that must be taken into consideration when designing an end-to-end video delivery system. We present a novel approach to the problem of end-to-end video delivery over WANs using proxy servers situated between local-area networks (LANs) and a backbone WAN. A major objective of our approach is to reduce the backbone WAN bandwidth requirement. Toward this end, we develop an effective video delivery technique called video staging via intelligent utilization of the disk bandwidth and storage space available at proxy servers. Using this video staging technique, only part of a video stream is retrieved directly from the central video server across the backbone WAN whereas the rest of the video stream is delivered to users locally from proxy servers attached to the LANs. In this manner, the WAN bandwidth requirement can be significantly reduced, particularly when a large number of users from the same LAN access the video data. We design several video staging methods and evaluate their effectiveness in trading the disk bandwidth of a proxy server for the backbone WAN bandwidth. We also develop two heuristic algorithms to solve the problem of designing a multiple video staging scheme for a proxy server with a given video access profile of a LAN. Our results demonstrate that the proposed proxy-server-based approach provides an effective and scalable solution to the problem of the end-to-end video delivery over WANs.


Pancreatic necrosis can be managed conservatively; however, infection of pancreatic necrosis usually dictates more aggressive management. Our study aimed to assess the outcomes of open pancreatic necrosectomy (OPN) and endoscopic pancreatic necrosectomy (EPN) in a single center. Data from patients undergoing pancreatic necrosectomy at the Geisinger Medical Center from January 1, 2007, to April 25, 2016, were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Cohorts were composed of EPN (n = 22) and OPN (n = 34) groups. The prevalence of preoperative respiratory failure, septic shock, and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome was higher in the OPN group. The OPN group presented with a higher Bedside Index Severity in Acute Pancreatitis score. Postoperative abscess, persistent kidney dysfunction, and death were more frequent in the OPN group. The EPN group had a higher read-mission rate. The results of the univariate analysis for complication and mortality demonstrated that higher mortality and persistent kidney dysfunction were associated with the procedure type, specifically OPN and with a higher Bedside Index Severity in Acute Pancreatitis score. Patients who presented with higher severity of disease underwent an OPN, whereas EPN often was performed successfully in a more benign clinical setting. However, patients with infected necrosis are served best in a tertiary medical facility where multiple treatment modalities are available.


Purpose.Analysis of visual functions in children in remote postoperative period after laser coagulation (LC) of threshold stages of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).Patients and methods. In 2017, we selected and investigated 18 children, who previously had an LC of threshold stages of ROP in 2008–2009 in the Khabarovsk branch of the S.N. Fyodorov State Institution Eye Microsurgery Complex (continuous sampling method). There were 5 boys and 13 girls aged from 8 to 9 years at the time of LC. Anterior and posterior eye segments of the eyes (biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy), visual acuity, clinical refraction, concomitant pathology were evaluated.Results. We have revealed that regressive ROP after LC is characterized by the presence of serious anatomical and functional changes in the eyes. First, these are refractive disorders, which revealed in 90.5% of cases. Most often revealed: myopic refraction — 61% of all cases, of which more than half (53%) is its high degree; or its combination with compound myopic astigmatism (77% eyes); anisometropia was detected in 39% children. These refractive disorders led to the development of strabismus (61% children) and mixed amblyopia (60%). Despite the combined ophthalmologic pathology, 17% children developed visual functions with achievement of binocular vision, in most children visual functions still continue to develop, although they are not high due to amblyopia. High visual acuity (from 0.8 and above) in both eyes was formed in 22% children; visual acuity in the range of 0.5–0.7 in both eyes was formed in 17% children. Unfortunately, 44.5% children at the time of examination had low visual functions (in the range of 0.05–0.4) in both eyes. Extremely low visual acuity (from 0.01 to 0.04) in both eyes was identified in 11% children; absolute blindness in one of the eyes was in 11% children.Conclusions. LC is reliable way to prevent vision loss from retinal detachment in children with threshold stages of ROP.


BACKGROUND
Transforming growth factors (TGF-alpha and -beta1) play important roles in intestinal growth and repair. To further understand their roles in the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), this study examined changes in their expression in colonic mucosa of adolescents with IBD.

METHODS
TGF-alpha and -beta1 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.

RESULTS
TGF-gamma immunostaining and mRNA labelling appeared unchanged in the epithelium of specimens with active IBD. Similarly, expression of epithelial TGF-beta1 remained unaltered in IBD. However, the numbers of TGF-beta1-positive cells, including T cells, neutrophils, and monocytes/macrophages, in the lamina propria increased during disease activity.

CONCLUSIONS
Adolescent IBD is characterized by a normal expression of TGF-alpha and -beta1 peptide and mRNA in the colonic epithelium but by an increased density of TGF-beta1-positive immune cells in the lamina propria during disease activity, suggesting a role in inflammatory modulation in IBD.


BACKGROUND
The immune responses to Pneumocystis jirovecii major surface glycoprotein (Msg) in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are poorly understood.

METHODS
We examined the sequential serologic responses to recombinant Msg carboxyl terminus fragments (MsgC1, MsgC3, MsgC8, and MsgC9) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in a cohort of individuals with HIV infection for the 5.5 years before death and autopsy. Analyses included mean antibody levels by status at death (Pneumocystis pneumonia, P. jirovecii colonization, or neither), factors associated with high antibody levels, and antibody responses before and after active Pneumocystis pneumonia.

RESULTS
Patients who died from Pneumocystis pneumonia had higher levels of antibody to MsgC8 than did patients who died from other causes. Previous episode of Pneumocystis pneumonia, geographic location, and age were independent predictors of high levels of anitbodies to most or all Msgs. Failure to take Pneumocystis pneumonia prophylaxis was associated with high levels of antibody to MsgC1. Patients who developed and recovered from active Pneumocystis pneumonia during the study exhibited an increase in serum antibody levels that persisted for months after the infection, whereas patients who developed another acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-defining illness did not.

CONCLUSIONS
Serum antibodies to Msgs are important markers of P. jirovecii infection in patients with HIV infection and are influenced by host and environmental factors in complex ways.


Improving the accuracy of toxicity prediction models for liver injuries is a key element in evaluating the safety of drugs and chemicals. Mechanism-based information derived from expression (transcriptomic) data, in combination with machine-learning methods, promises to improve the accuracy and robustness of current toxicity prediction models. Deep neural networks (DNNs) have the advantage of automatically assembling the relevant features from a large number of input features. This makes them especially suitable for modeling transcriptomic data, which typically contain thousands of features. Here, we gaged gene- and pathway-level feature selection schemes using single- and multi-task DNN approaches in predicting chemically induced liver injuries (biliary hyperplasia, fibrosis, and necrosis) from whole-genome DNA microarray data. The single-task DNN models showed high predictive accuracy and endpoint specificity, with Matthews correlation coefficients for the three endpoints on 10-fold cross validation ranging from 0.56 to 0.89, with an average of 0.74 in the best feature sets. The DNN models outperformed Random Forest models in cross validation and showed better performance than Support Vector Machine models when tested in the external validation datasets. In the cross validation studies, the effect of the feature selection scheme was negligible among the studied feature sets. Further evaluation of the models on their ability to predict the injury phenotype per se for non-chemically induced injuries revealed the robust performance of the DNN models across these additional external testing datasets. Thus, the DNN models learned features specific to the injury phenotype contained in the gene expression data.


Measurements using a composite primary feed with parasitic auxiliary elements reveal that both the copolar and crosspolar performances of this feed are better than those of the similar feed employing derived elements. An improvement of 10 dB in the crosspolar peak over that of the single dipole feed was obtained. An increase in antenna gain of about 3.3 dB was measured with a 3 dB suppression in sidelobe level.


Objective: To determine the relationship between hippocampal, amygdalar, and entorhinal cortex atrophy and duration of epilepsy, presence of secondary generalized seizures, and prolonged childhood febrile convulsions in patients with pharmacologically intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Methods: Volumetric MRI of the hippocampus, amygdale, and entorhinal cortex were performed in 86 consecutive patients with TLE and 44 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Linear regression analysis was used to explore the relation between the volumetric measurements and the clinical parameters. Results: In simple regressions, duration of epilepsy but not age at seizure onset was related to hippocampal (r2 = 0.19, p < 0.001), entorhinal cortex (r2 = 0.11, p = 0.002), and amygdalar (r2 = 0.15, p < 0.001) atrophy ipsilateral to the seizure focus. Prediction of the regression function to time of onset of recurrent seizures (time = 0) resulted in a y intercept of <0 for the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex but was not different from 0 for the amygdala. Patients with a positive history of febrile convulsions had smaller hippocampal volumes ipsilateral to the seizure (p < 0.001). No relationship was found between febrile convulsions and entorhinal cortex and amygdalar volumes or between secondary generalization of seizures and any mesial temporal volume. Conclusion: Progressive volume loss in the mesial temporal lobe in relation to duration of epilepsy is not limited to the hippocampus but affects the entorhinal cortex and the amygdala.


ABSTRACT To resolve phylogenetic relationships among species of Marmosa we analyzed DNA sequences from one mitochondrial and three nuclear genes for every member of the nominotypical subgenus and from four species of the subgenus Micoureus. As reported in previous studies, the subgenus Marmosa was found to be paraphyletic, whereas Micoureus was recovered as a robustly supported clade. Species currently referred to the subgenus Marmosa form four strongly supported and morphologically diagnosable groups. Based on these results we recognize a total of five subgenera: Marmosa Gray, 1821 (for macrotarsus, murina, tyleriana, and waterhousei); Micoureus Lesson, 1842 (for alstoni, constantiae, demerarae, paraguayana, phaea, and regina); Stegomarmosa Pine, 1972 (for andersoni and lepida); Eomarmosa, new subgenus (for rubra); and Exulomarmosa, new subgenus (for isthmica, mexicana, robinsoni, simonsi, xerophila, and zeledoni). The best-supported hypothesis of relationships among these clades is ((Stegomarmosa (Marmosa + Micoureus)) (Eomarmosa + Exulomarmosa)), and our results additionally resolve many interspecific relationships within each subgenus. These clades have broadly overlapping geographic distributions, especially in western Amazonia, where the arboreal insectivorous-frugivorous niche of Marmosa is apparently partitioned among multiple sympatric congeners.


Periodically driven quantum systems host a range of non-equilibrium phenomena which are unrealizable at equilibrium. Discrete time-translational symmetry in a periodically driven many-body system can be spontaneously broken to form a discrete time crystal, a putative quantum phase of matter. We present the observation of discrete time crystalline order in a driven system of paramagnetic $P$ -donor impurities in isotopically enriched $^{28}Si$ cooled below $10$ K. The observations exhibit a stable subharmonic peak at half the drive frequency which remains pinned even in the presence of pulse error, a signature of DTC order. We propose a theoretical model based on the paradigmatic central spin model which is in good agreement with experimental observations, and investigate the role of dissipation in the stabilisation of the DTC. Both experiment and theory indicate that the order in this system is primarily a dissipative effect, and which persists in the presence of spin-spin interactions. We present a theoretical phase diagram as a function of interactions and dissipation for the central spin model which is consistent with the experiments. This opens up questions about the interplay of coherent interaction and dissipation for time-translation symmetry breaking in many-body Floquet systems.


Dear Editor:

Epoprostenol is a synthetic prostacycline that remains the first line treatment for patients with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH)1-3. Herein, we present a case of severe erythroderma associated with the initiation of therapy with intravenous epoprostenol.

A 50-year-old woman with PH secondary to CREST syndrome (Calcinosis, Raynaud, Esophageal dysmotility, Sclerodactyly, Telangiectasia), gastroesophageal reflux disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treated with acenocoumarol, furosemide, spironolactone, tiotropium inhaled, budesonide/formoterol inhaled, azathioprine, omeprazole and oxygen for the 5 years prior presented to our clinic.

Because of the severity of her symptoms secondary to PH, 12 ng/kg/min IV epoprostenol was prescribed for treatment. During the first month, the patient's dyspnea improved and a discrete asymptomatic erythema appeared. One month later, we increased the patient's epoprostenol dose to 14 ng/kg/min. After 2 weeks, the patient developed a progressive maculopapular exanthema, chills, and intense pruritus, rapidly evolving to erythroderma with large areas of exfoliation (Fig. 1). The patient had no mucosal lesions, systemic symptoms, or fever. Haemograma and biochemical determinations were normal. Histopathologic examination of the skin was consistent with a true drug reaction, excluding just vasodilatation (Fig. 2). Epoprostenol was believed to be the most likely cause as it was the most recently added drug. Due to the severity of respiratory symptoms, epoprostenol was maintained and oral prednisone was initiated at 16 mg/24 h together with methylprednisolone 0.1% ointment.

Fig. 1

Severe erythroderma associated with intravenous epoprostenol therapy. The patient presented her skin diffusely erythematous with accentuation on the extremities with large areas of exfoliation.

Fig. 2

Epidermis with focal parakeratosis and superficial perivascular mononuclear infiltrate with occasional exocytosis of lymphocytes associated with spongiosis and eosinophils (HE A: ×10, B: ×40).

One month later, the patient continued with diffuse erythema and intense pruritus, so epoprostenol was tapered to 12 ng/kg/min. One week later the patient's erythema improved, but her dyspnea increased, so epoprostenol was again increased to 14 ng/kg/min. The patient remained hemodynamically stable and her clinical cutaneous reaction slowly improved. Oral prednisone was tapered and epoprostenol was increased to 16 ng/kg/min. Two years later, the patient was tolerating epoprostenol with complete resolution of the erythroderma, without any change in her usual medication.

Dose-limiting side effects of epoprostenol are related to prostenoid vasoactivity, such as flushing, jaw pain, arthralgia, myalgia, nausea, hypotension, and headache1,3,4.

Patients receiving chronic epoprostenol therapy often develop slight erythema without other systemic symptoms4,5. Myers et al.4 reported cutaneous findings in patients receiving long-term epoprostenol therapy, including diffuse erythema with lower extremity accentuation, palpable purpura, brawny pretibial discoloration with edema, and one case of diffuse erythroderma and exfoliation4,5. In this case, they described a woman with PH secondary to connective tissue disease and who developed severe erythroderma that improved after discontinuation from drug treatment. Our patient had been following a stable medical regimen prior to receiving the new drug and she did not improve until the dose of epoprostenol was tapered; however, the drug was not discontinued. Our patient developed an erythroderma with at the dose of 14 ng/kg/min, slightly higher than a case published previously (11.5 ng/kg/min)4,5. The altered immune function associated with connective disease might increase the risk of drug-induced reaction5 independentof drug dose.

Our patient clinical course indicates that it may not be necessary to stop epoprostenol therapy for resolution of severe toxicoderma. Inmunomodulatory effects of epoprostenol therapy are poorly understood at present. As far as we know, this is the second case published on severe toxic erythroderma caused by epoprostenol.


ABSTRACT A controlled mutational study was used to determine the site and mechanism of the antiviral action of ribozymes that inhibit Sindbis virus replication. A hairpin ribozyme targeting G575 of the Sindbis virus genomic RNA was designed and cloned into a minimized alphavirus amplicon vector. Cells that were stably transfected with this construct expressed low levels of a constitutive transcript containing the ribozyme plus recognition sequences for Sindbis RNA replicase. Upon infection, the ribozyme transcript was amplified to high levels by the viral replicase, resulting in decreased viral production from infected ribozyme-expressing cells. Mutations were then introduced into the viral RNA target sequence to interfere with ribozyme binding, and compensatory changes were generated in the ribozyme recognition sequence. Single mutations in the virus or ribozyme decreased the efficacy of the ribozyme's inhibition of viral replication, and compensatory mutations restored it. To confirm that ribozyme-catalyzed RNA cleavage was actually needed for inhibition, we performed tests with a cell line expressing an inactivated ribozyme and with a virus containing a single nucleotide target mutation that allowed the ribozyme to bind but blocked cleavage at the recognition site. The results show that most of the antiviral activity of ribozymes is due to ribozyme-catalyzed cleavage at the targeted RNA sequence, but some additional inhibition seems to occur through an antisense mechanism.


Background: Silicone advantageous properties made it to become the material of choice in construction of maxillofacial prosthesis but its properties may change after addition of pigments and usage. This study aimed to define the optimum concentration of 2 types of intrinsic pigments that added to VST-50 silicone and study their effects on tensile strength and percentage of elongation before and after aging. Materials and methods: According to the pilot study, 0.1% of rayon flocking and 0. 2% of burnt sienna intrinsic pigments concentrations were selected because of improvement in tested mechanical properties of VST-50 silicone. Sixty samples were prepared in order to measure (tensile strength and percentage of elongation) before and after aging and divided into 6 subgroups with 10 samples made for each one of these sub groups. After that the samples are tested before and after (75 and 150 hrs.) of aging and the data were analyzed with a descriptive statistical analysis, student t-test and one -way ANOVA test. Results: The results for pigmented samples before aging show that tensile strength had improved while percentage of elongation was decreased. After (75 and 150) hours of aging, percentage of elongation highly significantly decreased while tensile strength had highly significantly decreased. Conclusion: The addition of intrinsic pigments had improved tensile strength of maxillofacial silicone which was on the reverse for percentage of elongation. After subjecting the maxillofacial silicone to aging, both had been adversely affected.


This paper is focused on the problems of teaching at a study course specialised in indoor environmental engineering technology for students of study programs Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. Lectures and seminars cover all principal problems related to the environmental engineering technique for buildings in agriculture and Biosystems engineering. Special attention is paid to new methods of individual study with e-learning, modern methods of designing with specialised and commercial software, and programs (e.g. CFD Fluent, OpenFOAM, etc.). Seminars and laboratory work complete the education with practical or experimental measurements of all main microclimatic parameters (data loggers and sensors of thermal state, purity of air, noise, illumination, etc.), reports and designs prepared by students individually and presented during seminars at the end of semester.


Geotracking emerges as a mission-critical mean to observe, track and otherwise manage mobile entities from the regular notification of their geographic locations, thanks to positioning devices such as GPS and cell phones. First used in logistic systems, geotracking now strives for large-scale with new applications like the management continent-wide green tax collection on millions of trucks from their passage through thousands virtual toll points. As the current single device, fixed position notification frequency policies can no longer cope with the stringent requirements of such large-scale applications, this paper first examines the challenges and opportunities for self-adaptation in geotracking systems and applications. After identifying the main requirements to that end, it then provides for a first set of decision-making models for identified self-adaptation scenarii, in the context of a set of everyday geotracking business-oriented applications. Finally, it proposes a set of tools and the software architecture currently developed under the French ANR project SALTY to address these issues in the conceptual framework of autonomic computing.


As part of the United States Geological Survey's volcano program in the Aleutian volcanic arc during 1946–1948, the volcanoes and thermal areas on Umnak and Great Sitkin Islands were studied. In addition to observation of the volcanoes, temperatures of fumaroles were measured and some products of the volcanic activity were collected and analyzed.

After an eruption in 1945, Cone A in Okmok Caldera on northeastern Umnak Island remained relatively quiet during the period 1946–1948. The fumarole gases contained water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. The incrustations associated with the sulfur dioxide fumaroles are the sulfate minerals halotrichite, gypsum, and soda alum. Temperatures of lava fumaroles at the source of the December, 1945 lava flow from Cone A dropped from an average of 320°C on July 19, 1946, to 90°C on September 5, 1946. With exception of the large central fumarole which reached red heat in 1947, the extra crater fumaroles of Cone A ranged from 96° to 98° C in temperature

Cone C, another cone in Okmok Caldera was in the solfataric stage and emitted water vapor, hydrogen sulfide, and probably carbon dioxide. Incrustations associated with fumaroles on this cone consisted of sulfur, pyrite, and aragonite. The temperatures of the fumaroles ranged from 95° to 96°C and were probably kept within this narrow range partly by the heat supplied during condensation of steam.

Sixteen large thermal springs emerging from the base of Cone D in Okmok Caldera had an aggregate discharge of approximately 115 cfs and gave off approximately 21,000 kcal of heat per second on September 7, 1946.

Water samples of thermal springs on Umnak Island contained as high as 159 ppm of boron expressed as B203 and a few parts per million of arsenic and antimony. Several of the thermal springs in southwestern Umnak Island were slightly superheated with respect to the boiling point of water and behaved as small geysers. As has been found elsewhere, the discharge, temperature, and composition of the emanations from a spring is modified by surface conditions of topography and drainage.

Thermal springs and fumaroles on Great Sitkin Island occurred at an altitude of about 2000 ft near the head of the west fork of Big Fox Creek. All the fumaroles were at or near a temperature of 100°C. The large crater fumarole in the center of the 1945 crater dome was unapproachable. No change in the activity of Great Sitkin volcano was observed between 1946 and August 1948.


: It has been demonstrated that the thoracic lymph duct in newborn puppies exhibits only tonic (spontaneous) contractile activity. Rhythmic activity in the duct appears at the age of 2 1/2-3 months.


The pityrosporon of Malassez, the flask bacillus of Unna or the "bottle" bacillus, is an organism the true nature and proper classification of which it is impossible to determine in the light of present knowledge. It appears in the scales of dandruff, in seborrheic dermatitis and frequently in psoriasis. It is part of the flora of comedones. Probably it is not a bacillus at all, but belongs to the fungi. It is usually an oval or roundish body with one "bud" which gives it a flasklike or gourdlike appearance. It is fairly regular in size (about 7 microns in length). No mycelian forms have been observed in scales. It is easily seen in scales soaked in a 20 per cent solution of potassium hydroxide or when stained with ordinary aniline dyes. Knowledge of the organism is practically limited to its morphologic characteristics. Its pathogenicity has not been determined. We were