Conventional medications are expensive, not easily available and arguably associated with various severe adverse effects hence the need to develop herbal agents that are effective as a complement. Carissa edulis (Forssk.)Vahl is the herb that has previously made thousands of people flock to a remote Loliondo village in Northern Tanzania, for its cure said to apply to all diseases such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, ulcers, hypertension, and diabetes. Although C. edulis (Forssk.)Vahl is widely used for pyrexia and pain in the traditional system of medicine, review of the literature show no scientifically investigated report of its described effects. This study was therefore designed to bioscreen the dichloromethane: methanolic extract of the leaf and root bark of C. edulis on antipyretic and anti-nociceptive potential on rats. The plant parts were collected from Siakago-Mbeere north subcounty, Embu County, Kenya. Experimental rats were divided in to four groups; normal group, diseased negative control group, diseased reference group and diseased experimental groups. Pain was induced experimentally using formalin while pyrexia was induced into the rats using turpentine. The experimental groups were treated with leaf and root bark extracts at concentration of 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg. Antipyretic and anti-nociceptive activities in rats were compared with aspirin (100mg/kg) and diclofenac (15mg/kg) as the standard conventional drugs, respectively. The leaf extracts reduced the rectal temperature by between 0.02% 2.98% while the root bark extracts reduced it by between 0.15% 2.55%. Aspirin reduced the elevated rectal temperature by between 1.08% 2.53%. For antinociceptive study, the leaf extract reduced pain by between 47.04% 47.19% (in the early phase) and 38.96% 89.26% (in the late phase) while the root bark extracts reduced it by between 21.5% 41.89% (in the early phase) and between 21.4% 90.62% (in the late phase). Diclofenac reduced pain by between 27.37% 34.9% (in the early phase) and 88.24% 90.28% (in the late phase). Further, the phytochemical screening results showed that the extracts had alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, phenolics and tepenoids. Alkaloids, flavonoids, and saponins have been associated with antipyretic and anti-nociceptive activities. Therefore, the study has established that the DCM: methanolic extracts of C. edulis (Forssk.)Vahl are effective in management of fever and pain.Therefore C. edulis can be explored as a possible bio-resource for generating an easily available herbal formulation that is more effective in the treatment of fever and pain.


Trial design: Cerebral small vessel diseases (CSVDs) are a group of brain pathological processes involving cerebral small arteries, brain venules, and capillaries. The recombination signal-binding protein J&kgr; (RBPJ) is implicated in the pathogenesis of these diseases but its actual roles need confirmation. The aim of this work was to evaluate variations in RBPJ gene for their possible associations with the disease. Methods: The RBPJ gene was sequenced for 400 patients with cerebral infarction disease and 600 normal controls. The statistical analyses and Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium tests of the patients and control populations were conducted using the SPSS software (version 19.0) and Plink (version 1.9), Haploview software, and online software SNPSpD. Results: We characterized variants rs2871198, rs1397731, rs3822223, rs2077777, rs2270226, and rs2788861 within or near the RBPJ gene. The genetic heterozygosity of rs2871198, rs1397731, rs3822223, rs2077777, and rs2270226 was very high. Statistical analysis showed that the variants rs2270226 and rs2077777 in the gene were associated with the risk of cerebral infarction diseases in the Chinese Han population. Conclusions: rs2270226 and rs2077777 in the RBPJ gene were associated with the risk of cerebral infarction diseases in the Chinese Han population.


practical husbandry leavened with a small amount of underpinning science. Of the approximately 300-page book, the chapter on plants occupies 15 pages, that on soil 30 pages, and that on fertilizers and manures 18. In a change from previous editions, the very long chapter on cropping has been replaced by five chapters focused on cereals, combinable crops, root crops, fresh harvested crops and forage crops. These are preceded by a general chapter on cropping in the UK which now includes sections on set-aside, farming and wildlife conservation, and organic farming. There is a large chapter on grassland, one on weeds and a final chapter on pests and diseases of farm crops. There are 20 pages of useful appendices. This new edition reflects the pressures causing changes in the UK agricultural landscape, particularly those of a legislative or political nature. Thus the sections dealing with set-aside, various Codes of Good Agricultural Practice and legislation such as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations receive heightened attention. The increased awareness of and legislative framework for promotion of nature conservation in the countryside is described. There is also a small section on organic farming. I feel certain that this new edition will maintain the eminent position of Lockhart and Wiseman's Crop Husbandry in the market place. It remains a basic text for those training to become practitioners of crop husbandry on Certificate and Diploma courses, for Degree students of Agriculture (as opposed to Agricultural Science). Broad descriptions of the techniques currently used to produce plant material are provided but will need supplementation in order to provide the science base. It will also remain the first book of reference for those plant or crop scientists seeking information on the' downstream' applications of their work. It portrays conventional current wisdom and does not pretend to look forward to possible future developments. The book undoubtedly achieves what it sets out to do, but I have two minor criticisms. Some of the diagrams, particularly those of plants, are now somewhat dated and could be significantly improved, and, on a perfectionist note, four of the fourteen sections of the book were printed on less shiny paper!


The purpose of the article is to focus on certain terminological and historical aspects related to the genre of sinfonietta in the Polish music of the 20th and 21st century. In the introduction, the author presents the definition and general characteristics, listing the sources and the most representative works in the Polish music. Additionally, she presents numerical statistics and classification of the sinfonietta in Polish music and on this basis she analyses one of the most interesting works representing the type of sinfonietta-transcription – Sinfonietta for string orchestra by Weronika Ratusińska from 2009. The author analyses the use and manner of modification of musical motifs, the way in which the sound layer is shaped and the relation between Ratusińska's work and tradition of the genre.


Background: Nowadays, there is no universal criteria for trigger time during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). Particularly, in the so-called GnRH-a prolonged protocol, widely used in China, the ideal time to trigger ovulation is not yet well defined. Methods: This was a large-sample retrospective analysis. Between January 2016 and January 2020, 1,925 young patients who underwent their first in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles with normal ovarian response were divided into three groups based on their dominant follicular proportions (DFP, defined as ≥18 mm follicles /≥14 mm follicles; Group A: < 30%; Group B: 30% - 60%; Group C: ≥ 60%). Binary logistic regression and multivariate linear regression were used to assessed whether DFP levels were related to clinical pregnancy, number of blastocysts frozen, blastocyst formation rate and low blastocysts frozen. Results: Binary logistics regression analysis showed that compared with Group A, the OR for clinical pregnancy was 1.345 in Group B (P = 0.023); however, there was no statistical difference between Group C and Group A (P = 0.216). On one hand, multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that DFP was negatively associated with number of blastocysts frozen (β ± SE: Group B vs Group A = -0.319 ± 0.115, P = 0.006; Group C vs Group A = -0.432 ± 0.154, P = 0.005) as well as blastocyst formation rate (β ± SE: Group B vs Group A = -0.035 ± 0.016, P = 0.031; Group C vs Group A = -0.039 ± 0.021, P = 0.067). On the other hand, compared with group A, the OR for low blastocyst frozen was 1.312 in Group B (P = 0.039) and was 1.417 in Group C (P = 0.041). Conclusions: Excessive delay of trigger in GnRH-a prolonged protocol might reduce the developmental potential of oocytes and reduce the number of available blastocysts, which might result in a lower cumulative pregnancy rate. But further confirmation by strict prospective randomized controlled study should be needed.Trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT03305510; Registered 08 October 2017 - Retrospectively registered.


Software Defined Storage (SDS) systems are crucial elements in cloud environments, where huge amount of data managed by content and network providers (multimedia content, social data, gaming data etc.) are typically strongly unstructured. Such data, referred to as objects, are handled along with their metadata allowing a web-based addressing as in the REST paradigm. According to the Software Defined concepts, SDS systems rely on decoupling the software plane (namely the set of management services), from the hardware plane (typically common, inexpensive and vendor unlocked hardware). SWIFT (a part of the OpenStack cloud project) represents a valuable example of an SDS system which, in the present work, we intend to characterize in terms of availability. Through such a characterization the minimum cost configuration can be selected, guaranteeing the so-called "five nines" availability requirement. The availability analysis is here performed by modeling the highlevel architecture of SWIFT as a Stochastic Reward Net (SRN) model. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis is performed to assess the system robustness with respect to variations of some model parameters.


Measurement of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation is a well-established laboratory/borehole method to characterize the storage and transport properties of rocks due to its direct sensitivity to the corresponding pore-fluid content (water/oil) and pore sizes. Using NMR, the correct estimation of, e.g., permeability strongly depends on the underlying pore model. Usually, one assumes spherical or cylindrical pores for interpreting NMR relaxation data. To obtain surface relaxivity and thus, the pore-size distribution, a calibration procedure by, e.g., mercury intrusion porosimetry or gas adsorption has to be used. Recently, a joint inversion approach was introduced that used NMR measurements at different capillary pressures/saturations (CPS) to derive surface relaxivity and pore-size distribution (PSD) simultaneously. We further extend this approach from a bundle of parallel cylindrical capillaries to capillaries with triangular cross sections. With this approach, it is possible to account for residual or trapped water within the pore corners/crevices of partially saturated pores. In addition, we have developed a method that allows determining the shape of these triangular capillaries by using NMR measurements at different levels of drainage and imbibition. We show the applicability of our approach on synthetic and measured data sets and determine how the combination of NMR and CPS significantly improves the interpretation of NMR relaxation data on fully and partially saturated porous media.


This study examines the extent to which board of directors are providing 'governance oversight' of their organization's IT activities and whether their efforts are making any difference in terms of organizational performance. Building on contingency theory we theorize that the magnitude of IT oversight exercised by boards depends on an organization's particular IT situation and especially its need for (1) fast and reliable IT, and (2) new innovative IT. However, we also posit that the contingency approach may be suboptimal because it focuses only on current IT needs, and may ignore other potential competitive and defensive uses of IT. These future-looking considerations are in line with the resource-based view of the firm according to which IT is a key resource which, when utilized efficiently and effectively, can create a competitive advantage. Accordingly, we hypothesize that the magnitude of board-level IT oversight positively affects firm performance regardless of existing IT needs, Using structural equation modelling analysis applied to data collected from a sample of 146 directors, representing 146 Canadian firms we found support for all our hypotheses. Implications for research and practice are discussed.


Biologics has revolutionized the treatment strategy of rheumatoid arthritis(RA) and improved the clinical outcome. On the other hand, the medication cost of biologics has become a substantial socioeconomic burden. Researchers are now discussing the strategies to optimize the use of biologics, which include the dose reduction/discontinuation of biologics. A pilot study suggests that musculoskeletal ultrasound determines 'deep remission' and predicts relapse after discontinuation of biologics more accurately than does clinical assessment. The perspective of ultrasound-guided strategy to reduce/discontinue biologics is discussed.


Research in behavioral economics suggests that in addition to their traditional incentive effects, formal control systems can influence psychological motivations. We extend this literature by demonstrating experimentally that formal controls directly influence people's sense of what behaviors are appropriate in the setting (personal norms), and indirectly alter people's tendency to conform to the behavior of those around them (descriptive norms). These effects persist even after the controls are changed, so that the effects of current controls can be strongly influenced by past control strength. Our results support those who are incorporating psychological factors into principal-agent models (such as Fischer and Huddart [2008]), and suggest that those models should be further modified to incorporate correlations between personal norms and conformity to descriptive norms.


In 2004, a Japanese-government-supported research group recommended that women without rubella antibody or with low titers < or = 1:16 of HI antibody should be vaccinated to decrease the risk of congenital rubella syndrome. We compared HI antibody titer with EIA-IgG levels in 520 college students with < or = 1:64, HI antibody measuring rubella antibodies in the same specimen using HI and EIA assay kits from Denka Seiken Co. (Japan) and Dade Behring Co. (Germany). The positive predictive value of the EIA assay using the kit from Denka Seiken Co. was 99.8% and the negative predictive value 91.3%, respectively, compared to 97.9% (positive > or = 15 IU/mL), 98.1% (positive > or = 10 IU/mL), and 93.4%, using the kit from Dade Behring Co. Between HI titers and EIA-IgG measured with the Denka kit, the coefficient index was 0.715 (p < 0.0001). Between those measured with the Dade kit, the coefficient index was 0.610 (p < 0.0001). Between EIA-IgG levels measured using the two kits, the coefficient index was 0.753 (p < 0.0001). The HI value of 1:16 corresponds approximately to 9.0 with the kit (positive > or = 4.0) from Denka, and to 30 IU/mL with the kit from Dade. EIA-IgG levels > or = 10 IU/mL are considered globally as protective antibody titers, meaning that the Japanese recommendation of < or = 1:16 for vaccination is too loose. Japanese EIA kit values for the rubella antibody should also be expressed in IU/mL using the global standard.


Objective. Irradiation with ultra-high dose rates (>40 Gy s−1), also known as FLASH irradiation, has the potential to shift the paradigm of radiation therapy because of its reduced toxicity to normal tissues compared to that of conventional irradiations. The goal of this study was to (1) achieve FLASH irradiation conditions suitable for pre-clinical i n vitro and in vivo biology experiments using our synchrotron-based proton beamline and (2) commission the FLASH irradiation conditions achieved. Approach. To achieve these suitable FLASH conditions, we made a series of adaptations to our proton beamline, including modifying the spill length and size of accelerating cycles, repurposing the reference monitor for dose control, and expanding the field size with a custom double-scattering system. We performed the dosimetric commissioning with measurements using an Advanced Markus chamber and EBT-XD films as well as with Monte Carlo simulations. Main results. Through adaptations, we have successfully achieved FLASH irradiation conditions, with an average dose rate of up to 375 Gy s−1. The Advanced Markus chamber was shown to be appropriate for absolute dose calibration under our FLASH conditions with a recombination factor ranging from 1.002 to 1.006 because of the continuous nature of our synchrotron-based proton delivery within a spill. Additionally, the absolute dose measured using the Advanced Markus chamber and EBT-XD films agreed well, with average and maximum differences of 0.32% and 1.63%, respectively. We also performed a comprehensive temporal analysis for FLASH spills produced by our system, which helped us identify a unique relationship between the average dose rate and the dose in our FLASH irradiation. Significance. We have established a synchrotron-based proton FLASH irradiation platform with accurate and precise dosimetry that is suitable for pre-clinical biology experiments. The unique time structure of the FLASH irradiation produced by our synchrotron-based system may shed new light onto the mechanism behind the FLASH effect.


This study was carried out to evaluate the levels of digestible phosphorus in diets for barrows with a high potential for lean meat deposition from 50 to 80 kg. Eighty barrows, with an initial weight of 47.93±3.43 kg, were distributed in completely randomized blocks, with each group given five levels of digestible phosphorus (1.86, 2.23, 2.61, 2.99, and 3.36 g kg−1). There were eight replicates, and two animals per experimental unit. Phosphorus levels did not significantly influence feed intake, weight gain, or feed conversion ratio. Daily digestible phosphorus intake increased linearly as levels of phosphorus in the diet were increased. Phosphorus levels did not significantly influence muscle depth, loin eye area, backfat thickness, or the percentage and quantity of lean meat in the carcass. A linear increase was observed for feeding cost as the levels of digestible phosphorus in the diet were increased, and the level of 1.86 g kg−1 cost 29.4% less when compared with the level of 2.61 g kg−1. The dry matter, natural matter, the coefficient of the residue, and volatile solids of the waste were not significantly influenced by phosphorus levels. Conversely, it was possible to observe an increasing linear effect for total solids, total phosphorus, and total nitrogen in the waste of animals receiving diets with increased levels of digestible phosphorus. The level of 1.86 g kg−1, which corresponded to a daily intake of 4.77 g−1 of digestible phosphorus, meets the requirements of barrows weighing 50 to 80 kg.


A review of recently acquired data from the Rockall Trough and from areas of eastern Atlantic immediately to the south shows that two southern sources of bottom water have a major present-day influence over the southern Feni Ridge. One source results from detachment and southward recirculation of water from a slope current, flowing northward along the west European continental margin. A second is the northward drift which occupies the deep layer of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain. Transport estimates on the overflow of Norwegian Sea Deep Water (NSDW) into the Rockall Trough suggest that NSDW probably had a lesser influence on the shaping of the Feni Ridge sediment drift, if its modern pattern and behavior pertained through the late Neogene and Quaternary. Analysis of the variability in current strength and direction over the flanks of Feni Drift show that the fine-grained, cohesive sediments which make up the sediment waves at DSDP Site 610 could locally be eroded and transported over much of the year.


In this paper, we establish the sharp maximal function estimates for the Toeplitz type operators associated to some integral operator with general kernel and the Lipschitz functions. As an application, we obtain the boundedness of the Toeplitz type operators on the Lebesgue, Morrey and Triebel-Lizorkin space. The operator includes the Littlewood-Paley operator, Marcinkiewicz operator and Bochner-Riesz operator.


The drilling process is one of the most important and expensive aspects of the oil and gas industry. Its economic feasibility is a direct relation to good planning that has high dependence on an accurate prediction of the rate of penetration (ROP). Knowledge of drilling performance through ROP prediction models is a vital tool in the development of a consistent drilling plan and allows industry players to anticipate issues that may occur during a drilling operation. Additionally, as some drilling parameters (such as rotary speed, weight on bit (WOB), and drilling fluid flowrate), an accurate prediction of the ROP is crucial to the optimization of drilling performance and contributes to reducing drilling costs. Several approaches to predict the drilling performance have been tried with varying degrees of success, complexity, and accuracy. In this paper, a review of the history of drilling performance prediction is conducted with emphasis on rotary drilling with fixed cutter drill bits. The approaches are grouped into two categories: physics-based and data-driven models. The paper's main objective is to present an accurate model to predict the drilling performance of fixed cutter drill bits including the founder point location. This model was based on a physics-based approach due to its low complexity and good accuracy. This development is based on a quantitative analysis of drilling performance data produced by laboratory experiments. Additionally, the validation and applicability tests for the proposed model are discussed based on drill-off tests (DOTs) and field trials in several different drilling scenarios. The proposed model presented high accuracy to predict the fixed cutter drill bit drilling performance in the 27 different drilling scenarios which were analyzed in this paper.


Indonesia as a country that has the wealth of natural resources, human resources and cultural resources, has a dream to become a great nation and aligned with other nations. Education is one of the keys to success for Indonesia to achieve its goals. The state made various efforts in the framework of educating the nation assisted by the community. In 1998 a group of community initiated a concept of education known as the Green school. Green school has two great vision, which are: (1) Establish rahmatan lil alamin generation, (2) Indonesia as green and peaceful country. Currently, the development of green school in Indonesia are very rapidly both in terms of quality and quantity. This journal is based on qualitative research of a case study on Bogor green school and Baturraden green school studied during July-August 2016. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, triangulation and documentation while data analysis techniques using Spradley. The results showed that the curriculum of green school are capable of forming students akhlakul karimah, students logical thinking, leadership and entrepreneurial spirit of students as a preparation to face the challenges of the 21st century.


In this study the authors propose an endoscopic image enhancement technique named dynamic band imaging (DBI) which temporally changes the color conversion matrix. DBI is based on the estimation of multispectral band images to enhance the endoscopic color images in order to distinguish the slight color difference of early stage cancer more clearly. Since this method can be implemented by using only a software approach, it is easy to upgrade the devices, whereas the narrow band technique requires hardware upgrading. From the results of fundamental analysis by subjective evaluations, the effectiveness of DBI for image enhancement in comparison with the typical still image evaluation is demonstrated. In addition the authors have developed a user interface to determine the six required parameters of this method easily. By using this device, appropriate parameters for practical endoscopic diagnosis have been obtained. DBI is found to be a new, effective method to enhance color endoscopic images.


We explore the way dominant political discourses are perceived to influence developing professionalisation of early childhood in three contexts. The UK is strongly influenced by the neoliberal agenda which positions managerialism, bureaucracy, accountability and control as necessary to drive quality improvement. Bhutan has been exposed to western ideologies for a short time (as time counts in human history) and is attempting to manage tensions between western ideologies and the philosophy underpinning Gross National Happiness. Fiji has a history of colonisation. With a growing commitment across Pacific nations to postcolonialism, Fiji professionals are struggling to manage the intersection between their neoliberal western history and their own postcolonial ambitions. We argue a better understanding of the ways in which dominant ideologies impact on the development of early childhood professionalisation will uncover unintended, taken-for-granted assumptions and illuminate potential risks, thus better positioning readers to make informed choices about their work and the development of their profession.


We present a randomized approach for lock-free locks with strong bounds on time and fairness in a context in which any process can be arbitrarily delayed. Our approach supports a tryLock operation that is given a set of locks, and code to run when all the locks are acquired. Given an upper bound κ known to the algorithm on the point contention for a tryLock it will succeed in acquiring its locks and running the code with probability at least 1/κ. It is thus fair. If the algorithm does not know the bound κ, we present a variant that can guarantee a probability of at least 1/κ logκ of success. Furthermore, if the maximum step complexity for the code in any lock is T , and the point contentions are constant, the attempt will take O(T ) steps. The attemps are independent, thus if the tryLock is repeatedly retried on failure, it will succeed in O(T ) expected steps, and with high probability in not much more. Importantly, however, retrying is not mandatory, and a process may choose to execute different code upon failure. We assume an oblivious adversarial scheduler, which does not make decisions based on the operations, but can predetermine any schedule for the processes, which is unknown to our algorithm. Furthermore, to account for applications that change their future requests based on the results of previous lock attempts, we strengthen the adversary by allowing decisions of the start times and lock sets of tryLock attempts to be made adaptively, given the history of the execution so far.


Letter from Ann Farman to her brother, John Patterson Osterhout, discussing her family and daily life. She wrote of the recent death of a politician that she attributed to drinking. She told him what she knew about their family and acquaintances in La Grange. She closed the letter by saying how things had been at home and that they had some snow recently. Included is an envelope addressed to "Hon. John P. Osterhout."


The aim of the experiment was to show the influence of oocyst of Eimiria tenella infection on meat quality of broilers. A total of 40 broilers which have been adapted as long as 29 days were used as experimental animals and they were divided into four groups. The animals were infected by oocyst of Eimiria tenella such as P0 (control), P1 (infected by 20.000 of oocyst of Eimiria tenella), P2 (infected by 40.000 of oocyst of Eimeria tenella) and P3 (infected by 80.000 of oocyst of Eimeria tenella). The results showed that the meat quality of broilers were not significantly different (p > 0,05). It can be concluded that the meat quality of broilers might not be influenced by infection of oocyst of Eimeria tenella.


This two‐centre observational study of vigilance measurements assessed the feasibility of vigilance measurements on multiple days using the Sustained Attention to Response Task and the Psychomotor Vigilance Test with portable task equipment, and subsequently assessed the effect of sodium oxybate treatment on vigilance in patients with narcolepsy. Twenty‐six patients with narcolepsy and 15 healthy controls were included. The study comprised two in‐laboratory days for the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test and the Oxford Sleep Resistance test, followed by 7‐day portable vigilance battery measurements. This procedure was repeated for patients with narcolepsy after at least 3 months of stable treatment with sodium oxybate. Patients with narcolepsy had a higher Sustained Attention to Response Task error count, lower Psychomotor Vigilance Test reciprocal reaction time, higher Oxford Sleep Resistance test omission error count adjusted for test duration (Oxford Sleep Resistance testOMIS/MIN), and lower Oxford Sleep Resistance test and Maintenance of Wakefulness Test sleep latency compared with controls (all P < 0.01). Treatment with sodium oxybate was associated with a longer Maintenance of Wakefulness Test sleep latency (P < 0.01), lower Oxford Sleep Resistance testOMIS/MIN (P = 0.01) and a lower Sustained Attention to Response Task error count (P = 0.01) in patients with narcolepsy, but not with absolute changes in Oxford Sleep Resistance test sleep latency or Psychomotor Vigilance Test reciprocal reaction time. It was concluded that portable measurements of sustained attention as well as in‐laboratory Oxford Sleep Resistance test and Maintenance of Wakefulness Test measurements revealed worse performance for narcoleptic patients compared with controls, and that sodium oxybate was associated with an improvement of sustained attention and a better resistance to sleep.


In this correspondence, we present a new bit reversal algorithm that outperforms the existing ones. The bit reversal technique is involved in the fast fourier transform (FFT) technique, which is widely used in computer-based numerical techniques for solving numerous problems. The new approach for computing the bit reversal is based upon a pseudo semi-group homomorphism property. The surprising thing is that this property is almost trivial to prove, but at the same time, it also leads to a very efficient algorithm, which we believe to be the best with only O(N) operations and optimal constant, i.e. unity.


This paper presents interactive system using indicating motion which is used in human communication. Gesture motion has different means according to circumstances. Human recognize other personpsilas intention or attending points from gesture, face direction, situation and so on. Authors has researched gesture recognition considering situation for natural interaction between human and robot. Moreover, human find a object which was wanted other person from the interaction; To realize interactive system, authors construct Virtual-City interface.In this paper, authors describe the context-based gesture interaction using Virtual-City, and show the experiment that car-navigation using the system.


Various disruptions in the body functions resulting from accidents and injuries, reveal the need for biomaterials. Biomaterials are divided into various classes. One of them is bioceramics. Ceramics such as hydroxyapatite (HA), tricalcium phosphate (TCP), which form the inorganic part of the composite, are widely used in biomedical implant applications and bone regeneration due to their bioactive and biodegradable properties. In this study, bioceramic (HA, Florapatite (FA), TCP) synthesis was performed from human tooth minerals. Structural (X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), Fouirer Transform Infrared Spektrofotometre (FTIR)) and morphological-elemental (Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscopy (FEGSEM)- Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)) analyzes of the bioceramic structure have been performed to characterize the materials that can be used in major tissue engineering applications.


The placenta was localized in 99 women, be- tween the 35th and 40th week of pregnancy, by both the Doppler flowmeter and the gamma camera, using 300 pCi esmTc as the tracer. The conclusion from each method was the same in 84 cases (85%) and different in 15 cases. In only 4 of these latter cases was the placenta located in opposite quadrants of the uterus by the two methods. According to the results obtained, use of the Doppler flowmeter is a suitable screening test.


Five stored unprocessed cowpea (Vigna spp) and four groundnut (Arachis hypogeae) varieties available in Borno State were examined for the mould flora. The degree of infestation of the grains ranged from 31% to 100% and 68% to 86% for surface sterilized cowpea and groundnut respectively. The mould flora commonly encountered were species of the genera Aspergillus. Penicillium species, Scopulariopsis species and Trichoderma species were also found. The flora of the cowpea was dominated by Aspergillus niger while Aspergillus flavus was the dominant mould on groundnut.


Pre‐eclampsia (PE) is characterized by placental and maternal endothelial dysfunction, and associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR), placental abruption, preterm delivery and stillbirth. The angiogenic factors soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFlt‐1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) are altered in pregnancies complicated by placenta‐related disorders. In this Review, we summarize the existing knowledge, examining the performance of maternal PlGF, sFlt‐1 and the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio for screening PE, predicting development of PE in the short term, diagnosing PE, monitoring established PE and predicting other placenta‐related disorders in singleton pregnancy. We also discuss the performance of PlGF and the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio for predicting PE in twin pregnancy. For first‐trimester screening in singleton pregnancy, a more accurate way of identifying high‐risk women than current practice is to combine maternal PlGF levels with clinical risk factors and ultrasound markers. Later in pregnancy, the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio has advantages over PlGF because it has a higher pooled sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing and monitoring PE. It has clinical value because it can rule out the development of PE in the 1–4‐week period after the test. Once a diagnosis of PE is established, repeat measurement of sFlt‐1 and PlGF can help monitor progression of the condition and may inform clinical decision‐making regarding the optimal time for delivery. The sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio is useful for predicting FGR and preterm delivery, but the association between stillbirth and the angiogenic factors is unclear. The sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio can be used to predict PE in twin pregnancy, although different sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio cut‐offs from those for singleton pregnancy should be applied for optimal performance. In summary, PlGF, sFlt‐1 and the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio are useful for screening, diagnosing, predicting and monitoring placenta‐related disorders in singleton and twin pregnancy. We propose that tests for these angiogenic factors are integrated more fully into clinical practice.© 2022 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.


the 22 subjects with low B12 levels subsequently given replacement therapy? In the three subjects with low B,, levels who became demented, was the B,, therapy initiated before or after the diagnosis of dementia was established? If at least some of the 22 subjects with low B12 had received replacement therapy, this may have prevented the development of dementia in the larger proportion of cases.


Conscious processing is a useful aspect of brain function that can be used as a model to design artificial-intelligence devices. There are still certain computational features that our conscious brains possess, and which machines currently fail to perform those. This paper discusses the necessary elements needed to make the device conscious and suggests if those implemented, the resulting machine would likely to be considered conscious. Consciousness mainly presented as a computational tool that evolved to connect the modular organization of the brain. Specialized modules of the brain process information unconsciously and what we subjectively experience as consciousness is the global availability of data, which is made possible by a nonmodular global workspace. During conscious perception, the global neuronal work space at parieto-frontal part of the brain selectively amplifies relevant pieces of information. Supported by large neurons with long axons, which makes the long-distance connectivity possible, the selected portions of information stabilized and transmitted to all other brain modules. The brain areas that have structuring ability seem to match to a specific computational problem. The global workspace maintains this information in an active state for as long as it is needed. In this paper, a broad range of theories and specific problems have been discussed, which need to be solved to make the machine conscious. Later particular implications of these hypotheses for research approach in neuroscience and machine learning are debated.


Background Standard of care treatment for multicentric lymphoma in dogs remains doxorubicin (DOX)‐based combination chemotherapy, but owners may hesitate to commit the time and financial resources to complete such a protocol, typically requiring 12–16 visits. Rabacfosadine (RAB), a double prodrug of the nucleotide analog 9‐(2‐phosphonylmethoxyethyl) guanine, has substantial single‐agent activity in dogs with lymphoma, and a different mechanism of action than DOX. Hypothesis/Objectives Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy and adverse effect (AE) profile of alternating doses of RAB and DOX in dogs with naïve multicentric lymphoma. Animals Fifty‐four dogs with previously untreated lymphoma. Methods Open‐label, multicenter prospective clinical trial. Dogs received alternating RAB (1.0 mg/kg IV weeks 0, 6, 12) and DOX (30 mg/m2 IV weeks 3, 9, 15). Dogs that achieved complete response (CR) were followed by monthly evaluations. Complete clinicopathological evaluation and assessment of remission and AEs were performed every 21 days. Results The overall response rate was 84% (68%; CR; 16%; partial response [PR)]. The overall median progression‐free interval (PFI) was 194 days (216 for CR and 63 for PR). Most AEs were mild and self‐limiting: gastrointestinal and hematologic AEs were most common. Thirteen dogs experienced dermatologic AEs, and 2 dogs developed grade 5 pulmonary fibrosis. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Alternating RAB/DOX generally was well tolerated and resulted in PFIs comparable to standard DOX‐based multi‐agent protocols, with fewer treatment visits. Most adverse events were mild or moderate and self‐limiting. Further studies are warranted to explore long‐term outcome and other RAB chemotherapy combinations.


Purpose: Outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has created the catastrophic situation, it has crippled all the economic activities and seized off the operations of food supply chain (FSC) Disrupted FSC escalated the societal concerns related to food safety and security The purpose of this study is to consolidate various issues, exploring the perspectives associated with the agricultural practices, food industries and society concerns related with the FSC performance system dynamics amid of COVID-19 pandemic Design/methodology/approach: To structure this work, a detailed research literature insight focussing on the key findings associated with the past disease outbreaks like influenza, avian flu, Ebola, bird flu, SARS, foot and mouth disease and ongoing phase of COVID-19, encompassing the perspective related with various agricultural and concerned supply chain practices is clustered Furthermore, issues having relevancy with the notion of this work, sourced from platforms of print and electronic media have been incorporated to ground the reality associated with the impacts, for better visualisation of the perspectives Findings: This study outlays the key findings which are relevant with the past pandemic outbreaks from the core of the research literature It details the impact of the current COVID-19 scenario on the various FSC operations, focussing on dimensions allied with the industry, economic and society concerns For the same, to mitigate the effects, relief measures focussing on the short- and long-term perspectives have been incorporated Steps ramped up by the Government of India (GOI) to safeguard masses from the threat of food security, accelerate pace of the FSC operations and upscale operating capacities of the industries and agriculture practices have incorporated Research limitations/implications: Presented work is persuaded amid of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions hence it outlays the theoretical perspectives only But, these perspectives portray the ongoing scenario's impacts, extending its implication to the people coming from the industry and academia background This study can felicitate the government bodies to make them familiar with the various impacts which indented the FSCs, food industries and added woes to the society concerns Originality/value: India is the second largest populated nation of the world, and outspread of the COVID-19 has capsized the FSCs and raised the various instances, making population vulnerable to the threats of food insecurity This study encompasses effect of the FSC disruption by incorporating its effect on the food industries practices, societal issues and extending possible relief measures to restructure the FSC dynamics As of now, study focussing on the Indian FSC concerns, detailing of impacts due to pandemic outbreak, relief measures to sail out of the hard times are not available © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited


Patellofemoral cartilage degeneration is usually associated with a tight lateral retinaculum (lateral hyperpressure). The position of the patella on the femoral groove under hyperpressure makes reasonable access to the cartilage defects difficult for the arthroscopist. Frequently, the surgeon can barely see the cartilage, and the problem cannot be satisfactorily managed. By performing a lateral release and tilting the patella with a laterally drilled Kirschner wire, the articular surface of the patella can be completely exposed, allowing even perpendicular holes to be drilled whenever necessary.


An infrared camera is used to obtain a temperature field for a thin laminar diffusion flame. The flame is treated as an emitting surface and a global emissivity is determined by calibration with thermocouples. The configuration is that of a porous burner and an oxidizer flow parallel to the surface. This configuration provides a one-dimensional flame surface that minimizes errors due to spatial integration of the emissions. Experiments have been mostly conducted in microgravity. Preliminary results have shown that calibration of an infrared camera is possible by means of thermocouples and video images. Temperatures for the thin flame surface are presented and the limitations and future developments are explained. Although precision is a primary objective, in this particular case it is clear that the quality of the results is limited by the thermocouple measurements. This compromise is necessary to obtain a full temperature field in a short time period, making this approach especially attractive for short-term microgravity facilities.


Objectives: Plant-based medicines have had a long-standing history of use in psychiatric disorders. Highly quantified and standardized extracts or isolates may be termed "phytoceuticals," in a similar way that medicinal nutrients are termed as "nutraceuticals." Over the past 2 decades, several meta-analyses have examined the data for a range of plant-based medicines in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The aim of this international project is to provide a "meta-review" of this top-tier evidence. Methods: We identified, synthesized, and appraised all available up to date meta-analyses... of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on the efficacy and effectiveness of individual phytoceuticals across all major psychiatric disorders. Results: Our systematic search identified 9 relevant meta-analyses of RCTs, with primary analyses including outcome data from 5,927 individuals. Supportive meta-analytic evidence was found for St John's wort for major depressive disorder (MDD); curcumin and saffron for MDD or depression symptoms, and ginkgo for total and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Kava was not effective in treating diagnosed anxiety disorders. We also provide details on 22 traditional Chinese herbal medicine formulas' meta-analyses (primarily for depression studies), all of which revealed highly significant and large effect sizes. Their methodology, reporting, and potential publication bias were, however, of marked concern. The same caveat was noted for the curcumin, ginkgo, and saffron meta-analyses, which may also have significant publication bias. Conclusions: More rigorous international studies are required to validate the efficacy of these phytoceuticals before treatment recommendations can be made. In conclusion, the breadth of data tentatively supports several phytoceuticals which may be effective for mental disorders alongside pharmaceutical, psychological therapies, and standard lifestyle recommendations.


Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the follow-up results and characteristics of oval circumscribed lesions with fast initial enhancement on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Preoperative data from consecutive patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer between 2010 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Only MRI reports containing, "oval shape, circumscribed margin, and fast initial enhancement," were extracted and analyzed. Follow-up results and clinical and pathological findings were evaluated. A total of 430 oval circumscribed lesions with fast initial enhancement were included. Forty-eight lesions were pathologically confirmed at initial workup and 382 were followed up. Among the 48 lesions, 14 were found to have additional malignancy and 34 were benign. Among the 382 followed-up lesions, only 1 was subsequently confirmed to be malignant. There were no evident changes in any of the remaining lesions during follow-up. The overall rate of malignancy was 3.5% (15/430). When lesions exhibited delayed washout enhancing kinetics (P < .001), were located ipsilaterally (P = .007), and closer to the primary tumor (P = .012), the possibility of malignancy was high. High T2-weighted imaging signal intensity suggested benignity (P = .043). Although the probability of being diagnosed with malignancy during follow-up in this study was low (0.3%), this investigation revealed several preoperative MRI characteristics that should alert clinicians to the possibility of malignancy.


Upper airway infections (IVAS) are the most common infectious diseases during childhood, being characterized by being located in the upper respiratory tract. Acute rhinosinusitis is a type of URTI that causes symptomatic inflammation of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses lasting less than 4 weeks. The general objective is to analyze the profile of patients, aged 0 to 60 years, diagnosed with rhinosinusitis acute, attended at the private Hospital, located in the municipality of Aracaju / SE, during the years 2014 to 2018. This article was built on from a course conclusion work that was based on a research which was a descriptive, cross-sectional, observational and retrospective study of public archives at the Hospital da particular de Sergipe, where secondary data collection was made, from information from medical records. In the analyzed data, patients were mandatorily aged between 0 and 60 years old, as well as were seen during the years 2014 to 2018. The period in which there was a higher incidence of cases of URTI was between March and June, characterizing a greater incidence during the autumn period. The results showed an annual average of 8587 patients with URTI, with 2018 having the highest incidence. The main age group affected by URTI was between 0 and 9 years old, representing 25,790 (60.1%) patients, and adults were responsible for 9421 (21.9%). The results showed a greater involvement in the female gender and in the group from 0 to 19 years old. Due to the high incidence of this pathology, the greatest complaint in adult women among the population studied is evident and the importance of primary care to it in view of the large amount of expenses with the diagnosis and treatment of symptoms of acute rhinosinusitis.


Cognitive psychologists have long argued about the reality and significance of the distinction between well-structured and ill-structured problems. Laboratory problems are usually well-structured, whereas real-world problems have both well-structured and ill-structured components. This article shows how the neuropsychological data reinforce this distinction and suggests how this distinction may help to explain a puzzle about discontinuous performance of some neurological patients in laboratory and real-world problem situations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.


Since 1997, when the goal of interrupting measles transmission by 2010 was adopted, substantial progress has been made toward the elimination of measles in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). For the 22 EMR member countries, routine coverage with the first dose of a measles-containing vaccine (MCV) increased from 70% in 1997 to 82% in 2009. All 22 countries conducted measles catch-up vaccination campaigns during 1994-2009, and most conducted follow-up campaigns as needed. Of the 22 EMR countries, 19 have established case-based surveillance for measles with laboratory confirmation. Reported measles cases decreased by 86% during 1998-2008, and estimated measles mortality decreased by 93% during 2000-2008, accounting for 17% of global measles mortality reduction during that period. Despite these successes, several significant challenges remain, and the EMR will not be able to achieve measles elimination by the end of 2010. Achieving and maintaining high population immunity with 2 doses of MCV, improving sensitive case-based surveillance, identifying and vaccinating high-risk subpopulation groups, and appropriately responding to outbreaks are key steps needed to achieve the goal.


Background
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the common neurodegenerative diseases and is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ). Orexin-A is a neuropeptide produced in the hypothalamus and thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of AD. However, its underlying mechanism and signaling pathway remains unclear. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of Orexin-A on AD, and to explore its potential mechanism and signaling pathway.

Methods
SH-SY5Y cells that were stably transfected with the Swedish mutant amyloid precursor protein (APPswe), a cell model of AD with excessive Aβ production, were used in this study. Cells were treated with Orexin-A, and with or without SB203580, an inhibitor of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, one of the key MAPK pathways associated with cell death. Following treatment, cells were collected and analyzed by western blotting, ELISA, electron microscopy, real-time PCR, fluorescence microscopy, and other biochemical assays.

Results
Orexin-A increased the level of Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 in the cell medium, and activated the p38 MAPK pathway. As evidenced by the CCK-8 and ELISA BrdU assays, Orexin-A decreased cell viability and cell proliferation. Electron microscopic analysis used to observe the morphology of mitochondria, showed that Orexin-A increased the percentage of abnormal mitochondria. Further, decreased activity of cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), level of ATP, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number following Orexin-A treatment showed that Orexin-A exacerbated mitochondrial dysfunction. The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is mainly generated in mitochondria and reflects mitochondrial dysfunction, was also increased by Orexin-A. SB203580 blocked the cytotoxicity and mitochondrial impairment aggravated by Orexin-A.

Conclusions
These findings demonstrate that Orexin-A aggravates cytotoxicity and mitochondrial impairment in SH-SY5Y cells transfected with APPswe through the p38 MAPK pathway, and suggest that Orexin-A participates in the pathogenesis of AD, which may provide a new treatment target in the future.


This paper proposes a pragmatic solution to utterances where the various indicators of time and aspect (tenses,
 lexical-conceptual features of Aktionsart, adverb phrases and contextual cues) seem to have divergent temporal reference and
 aspectual properties. This type of cases is usually treated at the semantic level as 'mismatches' and resolved compositionally
 through logical operations of 'aspectual coercion'. We suggest on the contrary that no such effect of 'mismatch resolution' or
 'coercion' is at work: these utterances are worked out inferentially according to the various pieces of evidence they provide for
 their relevance, in line of Deirdre Wilson's and Dan Sperber's (1995) relevance theory. Such utterances give rise to
 cognitive effects that are hardly attainable by apparently more literal formulations, while being cost-effective. Our analysis
 follows the work of Escandell-Vidal and Leonetti (2011) about the rigidity and thus
 prevalence of computational linguistic expressions, called 'procedural expressions' by Blakemore (1987) within Sperber and Wilson's (1995[1986]) framework,
 relevance theory.


Background and MethodsCalcium-channel blockers may attenuate vasospasm after transient ischemia and improve organ blood flow after resuscitation. Our aim was to assess the effect of diltiazem on systemic oxygen delivery and consumption, hemodynamics, electroencephalogram (EEG), and organ blood flow after restoration of spontaneous circulation. After a 3-min period of asphyxial cardiac arrest, 14 pigs (20 to 27 kg) were randomly allocated to treatment with either diltiazem (0.1 mg/kg bolus followed by an iv infusion of 0.025 mg/min/kg over 120 mins) or placebo, given at 5 mins after successful resuscitation. Organ blood flow was measured using tracer microspheres 120 mins after resumption of spontaneous circulation. ResultsMedian systemic oxygen delivery index values at 30,60, and 120 mins after restoration of spontaneous circulation were 18.2 mL/min/kg (range 14.8 to 20.7), 16.8 mL/min/kg (13.2 to 20.8), and 19.6 mL/min/kg (16.9 to 21.0), respectively, in the diltiazem group and 13.1 mL/min/kg (11.2 to 14.6), 11.9 mL/min/kg (10.3 to 13.3), and 14.7 mL/min/kg (11.4 to 17.2), respectively, in the control group (p < .05 for all three comparisons). At the same points in time, median systemic oxygen consumption indices were 3.2 mL/min/kg (range 2.2 to 3.7), 2.1 mL/min/kg (1.9 to 3.0), and 2.6 mL/min/kg (1.8 to 3.8) in the diltiazem group and 2.8 mL/min/kg (2.1 to 4.0), 2.7 mL/min/kg (1.7 to 4.3), and 2.3 mL/min/kg (1.6 to 3.8) in the placebo group (NS). Diltiazem enhanced the postarrest recovery of EEG total power. Right and left cerebral blood flow 120 mins after restoration of spontaneous circulation was significantly (p < .01) higher in the diltiazem group in comparison with the control group. ConclusionsDiltiazem causes an increase in systemic oxygen delivery index by promoting vasodilation, but it does not change systemic oxygen consumption index in comparison to placebo treatment. It may be that an impairment in local autoregulation and/or in oxidative metabolism at the cellular or subcellular level was the reason why diltiazem did not improve these derangements. The observed increase in cerebral blood flow and in EEG recovery may be beneficial to the brain after a period of asphyxia. (Crit Care Med 1992; 20:650–658)


Cockscomb hydrolysate was found to have neurite outgrowth-promoting activity in PC12 cells. To investigate the neurite outgrowth-promoting compounds derived from cockscomb hydrolysate, bioassay-guided purification was carried out. Purified active fractions were obtained by liquid–liquid partition, followed by column chromatography. High-performance liquid chromatography and proton nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of the purified active fractions clarified that the main compounds are threonine, alanine, valine, and methionine. By screening for 20 kinds of amino acids, it was shown that valine and methionine, but not threonine and alanine, have neurite outgrowth-promoting activity. The results of activity evaluation of the mixture of amino acids indicated that alanine enhanced the activity of valine and that the mixture of valine and methionine showed a higher ratio of neurite formation than did each of them alone. On the other hand, dipeptides formed by valine and methionine showed weak neurite outgrowth-promoting activity. A mixture of threonine, alanine, valine, and methionine at the same concentrations as those in cockscomb hydrolysate showed neurite outgrowth-promoting activity comparable to that of cockscomb hydrolysate although threonine, alanine, valine, and methionine alone did not show activity at their concentrations in cockscomb hydrolysate. Therefore, the strong neurite outgrowth-promoting activity of cockscomb hydrolysate was considered to be due to the synergistic effect of threonine, alanine, valine, and methionine.


This study aims to determine whether there is a Knowledge Relationship about Tofu Makers to the Use of Personal Protective Equipment by Tofu Factory Workers at Jl.Cipta Karya and Kec.Payung Sekaki Pekanbaru City. The method of collecting data in this study through observation and questionnaire methods and library research to in this study were 38 Tofu factory workers on Jl.Cipta Karya and Kec.Payung Sekaki Pekanbaru City. The Sampling Technique used was the Total Sampling Technique, Total Sampling was a sampling technique where the number of samples was equal to the total population (Sugiono, 2011). The results of the analysis do not have a relationship between knowledge and the use of PPE proven in the data analysis shows that there were 30 people or 78.9% who did not use PPE completely and it could be stated that their knowledge was lacking.


This paper studies how heterogeneous preferences shape the informational and allocative efficiency of centralized markets with asymmetric information. We start by showing that introducing agent-level heterogeneity (e.g., in terms of trading costs) to the standard rational expectations equilibrium models reduces price informativeness by creating a bias towards the private information of agents with smaller trading costs. We then establish that this reduction in price informativeness in turn manifests itself as an informational externality: in the presence of heterogeneity, agents do not internalize the impact of their trading decisions on the information revealed to others via prices, even in competitive markets. We conclude the paper by investigating the welfare implications of market segmentation in the presence of the heterogeneity-induced informational externality.


We have investigated a female patient with autoerythrocyte sensitization syndrome (AES syndrome), having a positive skin response to her own red blood cells (RBC) and to phosphatidylserine (PS). Using 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS), bee venom phospholipase A2 and merocyanine 540 binding, we have demonstrated that in RBC of patient more than 50% of PS is redistributed into the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. Using homologous RBC from a healthy donor we were able to induce transbilayer PS redistribution by incubation with the patient plasma. The presence of immunoglobulin E against cardiolipin and PS was proved in patient's plasma. We elaborated a method for cytoskeleton visualization using indirect immunofluorescence technique. We found disorders in cytoskeleton organization in RBC of the patient. We recommend in vitro testing for AES syndrome diagnosis. The positive effect of chlorpromazine treatment is described.


INTRODUCTIONDesorption electrospray ionization (DESI) is amenable to the study of intact proteins in complex mixtures, including blood or other biological media. Intact proteins can be desorbed and ionized from the surface under gentle (soft) conditions to produce compact conformations of the protein. A procedure for DESI analysis of intact proteins and oligopeptides using mass spectrometry (MS) is described here. DESI-MS is an emerging technique with great promise, but its application range is still being investigated. Therefore, the protocol presented here provides general procedures used for the applications that have been investigated so far. Optimal ion source parameters and surface types may vary depending on the application.


In many clinical trials, treatment is given in phases and the prevalence of symptoms is recorded longitudinally. As a result, complex non-linear response patterns may be observed as the prevalence of symptoms changes as a consequence of treatment. In such cases, although profiles of the marginal response over time give an informative description of the data, they do not allow a formal treatment comparison or adjustment for covariates of interest. Here we analyse previously reported data on transient dysphagia in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with radiotherapy. We use a generalized estimating equation approach for repeated measurement binary response to give robust standard errors taking account of the dependence of observations taken on the same subject, alongside a natural cubic spline to represent the complex shape of the marginal response. This provides a reasonable model for the marginal response and allows unbiased estimation of an apparent treatment difference. The effect of different choices for the working correlation matrix is discussed, as is the modelling of treatment group differences that vary over time. We conclude that these models provide a powerful tool for the analysis of such data that can now be applied using generally accessible software.


Abstract Bioko Island, part of Equatorial Guinea, has been classified as a critically important nesting site for sea turtles in the Gulf of Guinea. However, construction of a road through a previously undeveloped scientific reserve is set to dramatically alter human interactions with nesting turtle populations. This article reports on the current status of sea turtle conservation and research on Bioko Island as well as recent economic considerations that affect local turtle conservation and use.


Abstract The objective of this investigation was to assess the effectiveness of helminthiasis control in the year 2001, which was the final year of the 8 th Health Development Plan. Data were collected to determine the prevalence and intensity of liverfluke and hookworm infections. Thirty-cluster sampling was carried out in each of 12 public health regions, obtaining a total of 14,400 individual samples. Kato's thick smear and Kato-Katz's methods were used to diagnose helminth infection. Data concerning health behavior assessment were collected through interviews with the same sample group designated for stool examination. The results obtained showed that the areas with liverfluke prevalence higher than the target set by the Ministry of Public Health were in regions 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 with the average prevalences at 13.3, 16.1, 16.6, 20.6, and 26.3%, respectively. The intensities of liverfluke infections in all regions were mostly at low and moderate levels. The areas with higher prevalence of hookworm infections than the 8 th Health Development Plan were regions 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12 with averages of 12.9, 11.0, 11.6, 10.3, 11.6, 19.7, and 21.1%, respectively. The intensities were mostly at low and moderate levels. The health risk behavior among the population was the consumption of liverfluke risk foods, which were raw or improperly cooked freshwater fish. The occasional consumption and frequent consumption rates were between 15.0-59.8%, while the percentage of hookworm health risk behaviors ie the habit of wearing inappropriate footwear, was 26.5, and the percentage of those who defecated outside the latrine, inducing hookworm transmission, was 39.1. In addition, it was also found that 68.2% of the samples had experience with stool examination and 71.6% of them had never before taken any anthelminthic drug. The data obtained from this assessment firmly indicated that both liverfluke and hookworm infection remained significant public health problems in certain areas of Thailand. A better targeted planning approach is strongly recommended, together with adequate resource allocation and sufficient staff development for effective implementation. Community participation is also needed for the accomplishment of sustainable helminthiasis control. Keywords : liverfluke infection, hookworm infection, prevalence rate, intensity, health risk behavior


The Oceanic language Daakaka has transitive nouns, requiring a second noun phrase as a possessor argument, as well as intransitive nouns. Intransitive nouns can be possessed in two different ways: One involves transitivization, the other involves a linker. This paper discusses the semantic and syntactic properties of both constructions and explores the implications of their meanings. In particular, I will argue that the notion of (in)alienability can be reduced to the notion of temporal relativity.


The aim of the study is to bring the risālah of Sayyid Khalīl al-Sirrī ibn Ibrāhim (d. 1303/1886) named Risālah fī masʾalah al-qadar fī afʿāl al-ʿibād into the literature by making critical edition, analyzing and translating it. It is known that a great writing tradition has been formed under human acts throughout the history of Islamic thought, and it is obvious that this writing tradition continued its vitality in the Ottoman intellectual world. This risālah, which is the subject of our study, is one of the products put in this intellectual medium. Khalīl al-Sirrī, in the risālah based on religious texts, is to say that all human situations and actions are by the destiny of God. After expressing jabr (compulsion) and tafwīz approaches in his work, the author places his opinion between these two. On the one hand, the author tries to prove that human beings are not under force and jabr in their volitional actions, and on the other hand, as Muʿtazila claims, he is not independent in bringing about human acts. Thus, the risālah attempts a solution without posing a problem both to the responsibility of the human being in his own actions and to the creativity of God. It is noteworthy that the risālah deals with the issues of fate and will together and tries to justify the issue based on religious texts, and examines the issue without referring to the Ashʿarī and Māturīdī traditions. In addition, the work presents a concise structure written without deep analysis, without entering into the details of the issue and discussion points.


As charter schools enter their third decade, research in this key sector remains overwhelmingly contradictory and confused. Many studies are narrowly focused; some do not meet the standards for high-quality academic research. In this definitive work, Wohlstetter and her colleagues isolate and distill the high-quality research on charter schools to identify the contextual and operational factors that influence these schools performances. The authors examine the track record of the charter sector in light of the wide range of goals set for these schools in state authorizing legislation at the classroom level, the level of the school community, and system-wide. In particular, they show how the evolution of the charter movement has shaped research questions and findings. By highlighting what we know about the conditions for success in charter schools, the authors make a significant contribution to current debates in policy and practice, both within the charter sector and in the larger landscape of public education."


Direct methods are widely used for alignment of models to images, due to their accuracy, since they minimize errors in the domain of measurement noise. They have leveraged least squares minimizations, for simple, efficient, variational optimization, since the seminal 1981 work of Lucas&Kanade, and normalized cross correlation (NCC), for robustness to intensity variations, since at least 1972. Despite the complementary benefits of these two well known methods, they have not been effectively combined to address local variations in intensity. Many ad-hoc NCC frameworks, sub-optimal least squares methods and image transformation approaches have thus been proposed instead, each with their own limitations. This work shows that a least squares optimization of NCC without approximation is not only possible, but straightforward and efficient. A robust, locally normalized formulation is introduced to mitigate local intensity variations and partial occlusions. Finally, sparse features with oriented patches are proposed for further efficiency. The resulting framework is simple to implement, computationally efficient and robust to local intensity variations. It is evaluated on the image alignment problem, showing improvements in both convergence rate and computation time over existing lighting invariant methods.


The performance of noncoherent reception with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and binary frequency-shift-keying (BFSK) modulation over multipath fading channels with noise is investigated. This analysis demonstrates that it is possible to transmit information in selective channels with no symbol interference. Expressions of the bit error probability (BEP) are derived in the context of frequency selective Rayleigh and frequency selective Rician fading channels with and without convolutional coding. >


We analyse the geographies of urban networks created by leading producer services (PS) firms in China. Because of the national regulation of the Chinese state-led economy and the location strategies of global advanced producer services (APS) firms, the geography of global APS in China as examined by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) cannot be studied as a subnetwork of GaWC's global network, but needs an empirical study based on a wide range of leading PS in the Chinese market. We explore the spatial differentiation in the connectivity of Chinese cities based on the location strategies of 323 APS firms in 287 Chinese cities. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen emerge as the primary nodes. The spatial distribution of banking, securities, and insurance services networks appears to be more even than those of non-financial PS firms. Regional disparity exists in terms of polycentric urban development in coastal China, as well as in the centralisation model in central and western areas. We suggest that owing to the continued tight regulation of China's state-led economy and the nature of the location strategies of 'globalised' PS firms, the urban networks created by Chinese PS firms are not only an extension of urban networks at a global scale but also an embodiment of economic activities at other scales.


Objective : To study the seroprevalence and the effect of HIV infection on pregnancy outcome. Methods : From January 2000 to December 2004, 231 HIV seropositve women and 200 HIV seronegative matched groups from Abakaliki, Nigeria were recruited into a prospective study and followed until delivery. Results : The HIV seroprevalence was 5.4%. All the HIV seropositive women were asymptomatic and 12.7% (n=30) defaulted (including 80% of previously diagnosed cases) during the antenatal clinic follow-up and were excluded from further analysis. Majority (52.5%) of the seropositive women were at the peak (20-29 years) of their reproductive years and women of low parity were commonly affected. The seropositive women are significantly more likely than control to have recurrent vulvovaginitis, positive syphilis serology, perineal tear, postpartum haemorrhage, puerperal infection, birth asphyxia and increased perinatal mortality (P 0.05) in both groups. Delay in management contributed to maternal morbidity and perinatal mortality among the HIV seropositive mothers. Only six (2.9%) of the mothers and none of babies had antiretroviral therapy because of irregular supply in the hospital. Conclusion : There is need for the Obstetrician to ensure proper management of HIV seropositve mothers and for government to make the subsidized antiretroviral drugs widely available so as to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV virus. Keywords : HIV, pregnancy, outcome Orient Journal of Medicine Vol. 17(3&4) 2005: 25-30


With increasing interest in applying machine learning to develop healthcare solutions, there is a desire to create interpretable deep learning models for survival analysis. In this paper, we extend the Neural Additive Model (NAM) by incorporating pairwise feature interaction networks and equip these models with loss functions that fit both proportional and non-proportional extensions of the Cox model. We show that within this extended framework, we can construct non-proportional hazard models, which we call TimeNAM, that significantly improve performance over the standard NAM model architecture on benchmark survival datasets. We apply these model architectures to data from the Electronic Health Record (EHR) database of Seoul National University Hospital Gangnam Center (SNUHGC) to build an interpretable neural network survival model for gastric cancer prediction. We demonstrate that on both benchmark survival analysis datasets, as well as on our gastric cancer dataset, our model architectures yield performance that matches, or surpasses, the current state-of-the-art black-box methods.


The secondary organic aerosol (SOA) module in PMCAMx, a three-dimensional chemical transport model, has been updated to incorporate NOx-dependent SOA yields. Under low-NOx conditions, the RO2 radicals react with other peroxy radicals to form a distribution of products with lower volatilities, resulting in higher SOA yields. At high-NOx conditions, the SOA yields are lower because aldehydes, ketones, and nitrates dominate the product distribution. Based on recent laboratory smog chamber experiments, high-NOx SOA parametrizations were created using the volatility basis-set approach.The organic aerosol (OA) concentrations in the Eastern US are simulated for a summer episode, and are compared to the available ambient measurements. Changes in NOx levels result in changes of both the oxidants (ozone, OH radical, etc.) and the SOA yields during the oxidation of the corresponding organic vapors. The NOx dependent SOA parametrization predicts a maximum average SOA concentration of 5.2 microg m(-3) and a domain average concentration of 0.6 microg m(-3). As the NOx emissions are reduced by 25%, the domain average SOA concentration does not significantly change, but the response is quite variable spatially. However, the predicted average SOA concentrations increase in northern US cities by around 3% but decrease in the rural southeast US by approximately 5%. A decrease of the average biogenic SOA by roughly 0.5 microg m(-3) is predicted for the southeast US for a 50% reduction in NOx emissions.


Background: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is considered the procedure of choice for rectal adenomas non-amendable for endoscopic excision and for early rectal cancer. TEM may gain more importance in patients who are considered unfit for major surgery. The option of spinal anaesthesia may offer many advantages for patients undergoing TEM while maintaining the principles of complete tumour excision. The aim of this study is to report the outcome of patients undergoing TEM under spinal anaesthesia. Methods: Demographic and clinical data pertaining patients undergoing TEM under spinal anaesthesia between 2004 and 2015 were retrospectively collected. Results: A total of 158 TEM procedures were recorded in the study period. Twenty-three patients (15%) underwent the procedure under spinal anaesthesia and were included in the study; 13 of them were male and ten were female. The mean age of the patients was 69.1 ± 10.6 years. Seventeen (74%) rectal lesions were adenomas, two (9%) were adenocarcinoma and four (17%) had involved margins after polypectomy. The mean tumour size was 2.1 cm (range, 0.5–3). Distance from the anal verge was 7.7 ± 2.2 cm. Seventeen (74%) lesions were in the posterior wall. The operative time was 73 min (range, 46–108) No adverse anaesthesia-related events were recorded, and the post-operative pain was reduced. The median time of hospitalisation was 2 days (range, 1–4). No major complications were noted, and the minor complications were treated conservatively. The surgical margins were free of tumour in all cases. Conclusion: TEM under spinal anaesthesia had short duration of surgery, no increase in operative and post-operative complications or hospital length of stay. Avoiding the use of general anaesthesia, in such challenging procedure, may open new opportunities for patients determined to be unfit for general anaesthesia.


Patients suffering from dissociative disorders are characterized by an avoidance of aversive stimuli. This includes the avoidance of emotions and, in particular, bodily perceptions. In the present pilot study, we explored the potential interoceptive accuracy deficit of patients suffering from dissociative disorders in a heartbeat detection task. Moreover, we investigated the impact of facial mirror-confrontation on interoceptive accuracy and the potential association between cardiac vagal tone derived from heart rate variability and interoceptive accuracy. Eighteen patients suffering from dissociative disorders and 18 healthy controls were assessed with the Mental Tracking Paradigm by Schandry for heartbeat detection at baseline and after confrontations exposing them to their own faces in a mirror (2 min each, accompanied by a negative or positive cognition). During the experiment, cardiac vagal tone was assessed. We used Pearson correlations to calculate potential associations between cardiac vagal tone and interoceptive accuracy. Patients performed significantly worse than the healthy controls in the heartbeat detection task at baseline. They displayed no significant increase in interoceptive accuracy following facial mirror-confrontation. In the patient group, higher cardiac vagal tone was associated with a more precise heartbeat detection performance. Dissociative disorder patients showed a considerable deficit in interoceptive accuracy. Our results fit with the assumption that highly dissociative patients tend to tune out the perceiving of bodily signals. To the extent that bodily signal perception may play a causal role in these disorders, therapeutic approaches enhancing interoceptive accuracy and cardiac vagal tone may be considered important and practicable steps to improve the therapy outcome of this patient group.


Multifocal lymphangioendotheliomatosis with thrombocytopenia is a rare disease characterized by progressive multiple vascular lesions and is accompanied by thrombocytopenia. The precise diagnosis of this disease is frequently difficult because of the heterogeneity of the clinical symptoms. We report a case of a male infant who presented with severe thrombocytopenia induced by local inflammation. In addition, enlargement of the extremities with soft tissue and bone involvement without gastrointestinal bleeding was observed. The thrombocytopenia resolved after a combination therapy of sirolimus and prednisolone. Our finding that plasma angiopoietin-2 concentrations reflected the disease status suggests its utility as a biomarker of Multifocal lymphangioendotheliomatosis with thrombocytopenia.


Network researchers for a long time have been investigating ways to improve network performance and reliability by devising new protocols, services, and network architectures. For the most part, these innovative ideas are tested through simulations and emulation techniques that though yield credible results; fail to account for realistic Internet measurements values like traffic, capacity, noise, and variable workload, and network failures. Overlay networks, on the other hand have existed for a decade, but they assume the current internet architecture is not suitable for clean-slate network architecture research. Recently, the Global Environment for Network Innovations (GENI) project aims to address this issue by providing an open platform comprising of a suite of highly programmable and shareable network facilities along with its control software. The aim of this report is to introduce GENI's key architectural concepts, its control frameworks, and how they are used for dynamic resource allocation of computing and networking resources. We mainly discuss about the architectural concepts and design goals of two aggregates, namely the BBN Open Resource Control Architecture of the (BBNORCA) of the ORCA control framework and Great Plains Environment for Network Innovations (GpENI) belonging to the PlanetLab control framework. We then describe the procedure adopted for hardware and software setup of individual aggregates. After giving an overview of the two prototypes, an analysis of the simple experiments that were conducted on each of the aggregates is presented. Based on the study and experimental results, we present a comparative analysis of control framework architectures, their relative merits and demerits, experimentation ease, virtualization technology, and its suitability for a future GENI prototype. We use metrics such as scalability, leasing overhead, oversubscription of resources, and experiment isolation for comparison.


This research is devoted to the development and study of novel cross-sensitive sensors based on modified extracting ligands. According to the previous results of liquid extraction studies, the chemical modification of membrane active components would change the analytical characteristics of a sensor comprising them. The sensing elements of the studied sensors consisted of various derivatives of N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyldiamide of diglycolic acid (TODGA) and di-phenyl-N,N-di-i-sobutylcarbamoylmethylen phoshine oxide (CMPO) used as neutral carriers, CCD (chlorinated cobalt dicarbollide) as a lipophilic additive, different plasticizers, and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) as a polymer. TODGA-based sensors demonstrated a stable and reproducible response towards rare earth cations in acidic media (pH = 2). Changing the concentrations and ratio of neutral carriers and the lipophilic additive, it is possible to modify the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensors towards the same target ions. Bonded ligands, such as cobalt dicarbollide covalently attached to TODGA and CMPO, exhibited lower selectivity and sensitivity to rare earth cations. A possibility to vary the cross-sensitivity patterns of the sensors in a wide range might be of great interest for the development of multisensor systems allowing the simultaneous determination of several analytes in multicomponent solutions.


We consider a one-dimensional commensurate Peierls insulator in the presence of spin-dependent sign-alternating potentials. In a continuum description, the latter supply the fermions with spindependent "relativistic" masses m↑,↓. The ground-state phase diagram describes three gapped phases: the CDW and SDW-like band insulator phases sandwiched by a "mixed" phase in which the CDW and SDW superstructures coexist with a nonzero spontaneous dimerization (SD). The critical lines separating the massive phases belong to the Ising universality class. The Ising criticality is accompanied by the Kohn anomaly in the renormalized phonon spectrum. We derive a Ginzburg criterion which specifies a narrow region around the critical point where quantum fluctuations play a dominant role, rendering the adiabatic (or mean-field) approximation inapplicable. A full account of quantum effects is achieved in the anti-adiabatic limit where the effective lowenergy theory represents a massive version the N=4 Gross-Neveu model. Using Abelian bosonization we demonstrate that the description of the SD phase, including its critical boundaries, is well approximated by a sum of two effective double-frequency sine-Gordon (DSG) models subject to self-consistency conditions that couple the charge and spin sectors. Using the well-known critical properties of the DSG model we obtain the singular parts of the dimerization order parameter and staggered charge and spin susceptibilities near the Ising critical lines. We show that, in the antiadiabatic limit, on the line m↓ = 0 there exists of a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless critical point separating a Luttinger-liquid gapless phase from the spontaneously dimerized one. We also discuss topological excitations of the model carrying fractional charge and spin.


The positional identification of genetic factors for both simple and complex diseases is difficult. There is increasing evidence that small deletions are a fairly common cause for many genetic diseases and some complex diseases. To date, no statistical basis has been available for the identification of microdeletions in family studies. Here, we present an approach to the identification of novel microdeletions for parent-affected offspring trios. We present several different approaches that can be applied to identify microdeletions and also evaluate the statistical behavior of one of these methods in simulated data. The results show that for the study of single nucleotide polymorphisms, the error rate has an approximately linear effect in decreasing the ability to identify microdeletions. On the other hand, heterogeneity of causation, with only some families showing a microdeletion had a more severe influence upon the ability to identify de novo microdeletions.


Background: Risk assessment for the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an important strategy for prevention. Methods: A 3-year follow-up study was conducted for 1677 Japanese workers not fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for MetS. Age and the five components of MetS, serum uric acid, serum insulin, lifestyle factors, and occupational position were used for the analysis. Results: The odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for MetS development among the subjects who initially had one or two MetS components were 3.1 (1.8 to 5.3) and 7.8 (4.5 to 13.5), respectively. When the MetS components were used as independent variables, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of each component were significant for MetS development. Occupational position did not present significance. Conclusion: Presence of each component of MetS as well as the number of MetS components are powerful predictors of the development of MetS after 3 years.


This study identifies differences in the electroencephalogram (EEG) responses caused by individual sensitivity to simulator sickness. Simulator sickness was investigated by studying the changes in simulator sickness in two different subject groups (sick group and nonsick group). Subjective evaluations using the simulator sickness questionnaire and the EEG response data were gathered every 5 min while the subjects were driving at 60 km/h for 60 min in the driving graphic simulator. The response to every item of the subjective evaluation increased linearly with time; the response level in the sick group was higher than in the nonsick group. The EEG analysis showed that the sick and nonsick groups were statistically significantly different with respect to the parameter θ/total at frontal lobe and parietal lobe.


Competitive Debate's increasingly technical nature has left competitors looking for tools to accelerate evidence production. We find that the unique type of extractive summarization performed by competitive debaters - summarization with a bias towards a particular target meaning - can be performed using the latest innovations in unsupervised pre-trained text vectorization models. We introduce CX_DB8, a queryable word-level extractive summarizer and evidence creation framework, which allows for rapid, biasable summarization of arbitarily sized texts. CX_DB8s usage of the embedding framework Flair means that as the underlying models improve, CX_DB8 will also improve. We observe that CX_DB8 also functions as a semantic search engine, and has application as a supplement to traditional "find" functionality in programs and webpages. CX_DB8 is currently used by competitive debaters and is made available to the public at https://github.com/Hellisotherpeople/CX_DB8


Instead of being discarded to the environment with costly treatments, process effluents can be reused and valued for their mass and heat content. This may result in substantial operating costs reduction but require important capital costs. Based on models developed by Ghazouani et al. (2015a,b), a new methodology is proposed to select mass allocation network designs that can potentially lead to an economically interesting heat exchangers network (HEN) without having to designthelatter. Inthenewobjectivefunction,anestimationoftheassociatedHENcapitalcostsis addedtotheoperatingcosts(freshsourcesandutilitiesconsumption). HENcoststakeintoaccount the number of mass streams requiring heating or cooling and a rough estimation of necessary heat exchange surface. Moreover, mixer units are introduced into the initial superstructure to further reduce the number of mass streams participating in the HEN. The selection of the most cost effective units among infinite possibilities is made easier by the changes done to the model previouslymentionned. Besides,themodelresolutionspeedallowsevaluatingfairlyquicklymany possibilities and selecting the most promising ones. The methodology can be very helpful for sequential or simultaneous models designing mass allocation and heat exchangers networks. In this article, HEN design is done sequentially, using an established linear model (Barbaro and Bagajewicz (2005)). The relevance of the proposed methodology is assessed through a case study detailed in a previous work (Ghazouani et al. (2015a)).


Bradykinin (BK) or kallikreins activate B2 receptors (R) that couple Galpha(i) and Galpha(q) proteins to release arachidonic acid (AA) and elevate intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Thrombin cleaves the protease-activated-receptor-1 (PAR1) that couples Galpha(i), Galpha(q), and Galpha(12/13) proteins. In Chinese hamster ovary cells stably transfected with human B2R, thrombin liberated little AA, but it significantly potentiated AA release by B2R agonists. We explored mechanisms of cooperativity between constitutively expressed PAR1 and B2R. We also examined human endothelial cells expressing both Rs constitutively. The PAR1 agonist hexapeptide (TRAP) was as effective as thrombin. Inhibitors of components of Galpha(i), Galpha(q), and Galpha(12/13) signaling pathways, and a protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha inhibitor, Gö-6976, blocked potentiation, while phorbol, an activator, enhanced it. Several inhibitors, including a RhoA kinase inhibitor, a [Ca2+]i antagonist, and an inositol-(1,3,4)-trisphosphate R antagonist, reduced mobilization of [Ca2+]i by thrombin and blocked potentiation of AA release by B2R agonists. Because either a nonselective inhibitor (isotetrandrine) of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) or a Ca2+-dependent PLA2 inhibitor abolished potentiation of AA release by thrombin, while a Ca2+-independent PLA2 inhibitor did not, we concluded that the mechanism involves Ca2+-dependent PLA2 activation. Both thrombin and TRAP modified activation and phosphorylation of the B2R induced by BK. In lower concentrations they enhanced it, while higher concentrations inhibited phosphorylation and diminished B2R activation. Protection of the NH2-terminal Ser1-Phe2 bond of TRAP by an aminopeptidase inhibitor made this peptide much more active than the unprotected agonist. Thus PAR1 activation enhances AA release by B2R agonists through signal transduction pathway.


One dose of 500 mg metronidazole (M) was given to 21 patients before appendectomy and the concentrations of the parent compound and the major metabolite hydroxymetronidazole (OH-M), assayed in serum and tissue homogenates of appendix and subcutaneous tissues by high pressure liquid chromatography. Based on determinations in one specimen per patient during the initial 1.25-4 h after end of the 50 min infusion, the levels of M in relation to serum were 60.8% (+/- S.D. 19.8) for the appendix and 29.0% +/- 8.7 for subcutaneous tissue. The corresponding values for OH-M were 103.9 +/- 28.2 and 57.0% +/- 16.8. The slope of the log-linear regression curves of M corresponded to elimination half-life (T 1/2) values of 5.2 h in serum, 2.7 h in appendix and 2.6 h in subcutis tissue, but the differences were not statistically significant. The values of OH-M were similar for serum and appendix. OH-M had T 1/2 of 7.9 and 6.1 h for serum and subcutaneous tissue and 21.3 h in the appendix, but the values were not significantly different.


A study was conducted to characterize the molecular species of retinol-binding protein (RBP) isolated from the urine of rabbits chronically poisoned with cadmium. The RBP species, identical with regard to both molecular size (approximately 20,000) and immunoreactivity, were separated into four fractions by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), which yielded two holo-RBP (H2 and H1) and two apo-RBP (A2 and A1) species. The urinary excretion ratio of these fractions (H2 : H1 : A2 : A1) was found to be about 70 : 6 : 21 : 3. No distinct difference of amino acid composition between holo- and apo-RBP was observed. An additional species of apo-RBP (designated An) was also isolated from theaged holo-RBP (H2) by isoelectric focusing in gel. Using the separated molecular species of rabbit RBP as well as of human RBP, their interactions with human prealbumin (PA) were examined both by human PA-Sepharose affinity chromatography, and by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 after in vitro incubation of the RBP with human PA. Purified rabbit holo-RBP exhibited almost the same binding ability to human PA as did human RBP. Retinol within RBP molecule enhanced the affinity to PA, resumably through the change of tertiary structure, although the presence of retinol was not essential for the protein-protein interaction.


From the reaction of potassium bisulphite with D-glucose the glucose-potassium bisulphite addition compound, D-glycero-D-ido-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydroxyhexyl potassium sulphonate was prepared pure and crystalline. Similar new compounds were prepared from the reaction of potassium bisulphite with D-galactose, L-rhamnose, D-mannose, and L-arabinose. The reaction of the glucose-potassium bisulphite addition compound with aniline, gave pure crystalline D-glycero-D-ido-1-anilino-2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexyl potassium sulphonate. Similar derivatives were prepared from p-toluidine, p-anisidine, and o-phenylenediamine. The aniline and p-toluidine derivatives were also prepared from the glucose-sodium bisulphite addition compound.


In Japan, mass chest X-ray examinations are mandated by law for schoolchildren and students. Recently, questions of the justification of such X-ray examination have arisen. In this study the absorbed doses of each organ, and the health detriments from the mass chest X-ray examinations to schoolchildren and students were estimated. The doses of organs were measured by the TLDs (Mg2SiO4), slab phantom, and anthropomorphic phantom. The probability of fatal cancer, and the resultant reduction in life expectancy induced by mass chest X-ray examinations were calculated by the multiplicative risk projection model of the ICRP-1990. The absorbed doses of lung, thyroid glands, esophagus, stomach, breast, and red bone marrow in first-year elementary schoolchildren were 90, 30, 90, 60, 90, and 30 muGy, respectively, and the doses in ovaries and testes were almost nil. Each organ dose of first-year students of junior high school was about 1.5 times that for elementary schoolchildren. The total radiation-induced lifetime cancer risk of schoolchildren and students was from 0.3 x 10(-5) to 0.9 x 10(-5) per person by the multiplicative risk projection model of the ICRP-1990 and a factor of 2 for the DDREF (dose and dose rate effectiveness factor). The reduction in life expectancy by radiation induced fatal cancer was from 15 x 10(-5) years to 50 x 10(-5) years per person. The results of this study suggest that subjects of mass chest X-ray examinations should be carefully selected from the viewpoint of radiation protection.


The prevention of unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion and maternal mortality remains an important part of the practice of medicine. Several forms of hormonal contraception have been used to control female fertility. These are associated with benefits and risk. The current study aimed to study the determinants of hormonal contraceptive use and its effects among married women of reproductive age group in Kathmandu. This is a community based cross sectional study among 250 married women using hormonal contraceptives aged between 15-49 years residing in wards 8 and 9 of Gokarneshwor Municipality. The information was obtained using self-constructed structured questionnaire. Height, weight and blood pressure were recorded and hypertension was defined as per Joint National Committee (JNC) VII guidelines. Around one third of the participants were of 30-34 years and Depo-Provera was the most commonly used hormonal contraceptive. There were several side effects among the users and commonest were menstrual irregularities and weight gain. Around 47 participants had hypertension and 120 had raised BMI. The factors associated with hormonal contraceptive use were socioeconomic status, religion, BMI and monthly income of family of the study population. The present study provides valuable information regarding significant positive correlation of age, BMI and duration of hormonal contraceptive use with systolic and diastolic BP.