Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder; type 2 inflammation is the most common asthma endotype in childhood. T regulatory cells are functionally and allergen‐specifically defective in allergic patients. Vitamin D3 exerts many functions on immune system, mainly concerning T regulatory function. Asthma control is the goal of the asthma treatment. We aimed to stratified a group of 76 consecutive children (50 males, 26 females, mean age 10.4 + 2.2 years) with allergic asthma and visited for the first time at a third‐level paediatric clinic during a 3‐month period, considering the Vitamin D3 serum levels. The three Vitamin D3 classes were not able to discriminate significant difference for all the parameters considered. In conclusion, Vitamin D3 serum assessment seems to be scarcely useful to pheno/endotyping allergic asthmatic children in clinical practice.


This paper presents initial findings from an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)- funded project 'Genetics, religion and identity: a study of Bangladeshis in the UK'. The aim of this interdisciplinary study is to explore the role of Islam among UK Bangladeshis in relation to genetic counselling, and to understand how Bangladeshi Muslims in the UK make sense of genetically related diseases. In particular, the intention is to find out how Bangladeshi Muslims in the UK made decisions about genetic testing, and how (if at all) information about possible genetic risk factors are transmitted from one generation to the next in Bangladeshi Muslim families. In addition the project aims to explore how British Bangladeshis negotiate the possibly conflicting messages they may receive from health professionals and Islamic authorities, and whether Islam plays a role in accounting for genetic disorders and in helping families to care for affected members. This paper presents the results of some preliminary discussions with British Bangladeshi women and with Bangladeshi imams (Muslim clerics), which have yielded valuable information regarding opinions about and knowledge of genetically related disease.


− A study was performed to assess the quality equivalence of commercially available Hwang-Ryun-Hae-Dok-Tang granules from various vendors in terms of the contents of characterizing compounds. 'Hwang-Ryun-Hae-Dok-Tang'(or 'Huanglian Jiedu Tang') is the complex medicinal herbal product which is composed of four different herbal drugs; Scutellariae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Cortex and Gardeniae Fructus. Using a high performance liquid chromatography and direct analysis in real time mass spectrometer (DART-MS), five characterizing compounds such as baicalin, baicalein, berberine, palmatine, and geniposide were analyzed to compare the variance of the contents between the products from four different vendors. Although five characterizing compounds were all successfully detected from all the products, the contents of each compound were shown to have significant difference among vendors. For real time monitoring of characterizing compounds in medicinal herbal products, DART-MS can be successfully adopted as a powerful analytical tool.


Carbon dioxide (CO2) exposure was found to result in production of pulmonary hyaline membranes in rodents by a number of investigators (1-3). In previous studies with Niemoeller (4), we were able to show that incidence of hyaline membrane formation progressively decreases in guinea pigs during prolonged exposure to CO2 after compensation of the respiratory acidosis, suggesting a nonspecific acidosis effect. A lack of surface-active material (surfactant) has been observed in lungs of newborn infants with atelectasis and hyaline membranes (5). The question arose whether the transient C02-induced hyaline membrane formation is associated with a loss in lung surfactant and changes in alveolar lining cells, since previous studies show a relationship between lung surfactant and transformation of lamellar bodies of alveolar lining cells. Buckingham and Avery (6) were able to detect a surfactant in the lung of the fetal mouse on the same day of gestation on which Woodside and Dalton (7) noted the first appearance of lamellar bodies in the alveolar lining cells. Klaus and co-workers (8) demonstrated that 1) after vagotomy of guinea pigs, the lung surfactant and the number of alveolar bodies are reduced, 2) the surfactant is found in the mitochondrial fraction of ultracentrifuged lungs and not in the mitochondrial fractions of liver and spleen, and 3) toads and pigeons lack both surfactant and lamellar bodies. This report extends the observations of Klaus and co-workers and brings further evidence for


Neurological involvement is relatively common in Erdheim–Chester disease (ECD), a rare clonal disorder of histiocytic myeloid precursors characterized by multisystem involvement. In ECD patients, neurological symptoms can occur either at onset or during the disease course and may lead to various degrees of neurological disability or affect patients' life expectancy. The clinical neurological presentation of ECD often consists of cerebellar symptoms, showing either a subacute or progressive course. In this latter case, patients manifest with a slowly progressive cerebellar ataxia, variably associated with other non-specific neurological signs, infratentorial leukoencephalopathy, and cerebellar atrophy, possibly mimicking either adult-onset degenerative or immune-mediated ataxia. In such cases, diagnosis of ECD may be particularly challenging, yet some peculiar features are helpful to address it. Here, we retrospectively describe four novel ECD patients, all manifesting cerebellar symptoms at onset. In two cases, slow disease progression and associated brain MRI features simulated a degenerative cerebellar ataxia. Three patients received a definite diagnosis of histiocytosis, whereas one case lacked histology confirmation, although clinical diagnostic features were strongly suggestive. Our findings regarding existing literature data focused on neurological ECD will be also discussed to highlight those diagnostic clues helpful to address diagnosis.


BACKGROUND:
Cricket is one of the most popular game in India played by men and women of all ages. The increased physical demands on the players may be associated with an increased risk of injuries. Core muscle strength is important to prevent risk of injuries in elite cricketers. The beginners in the cricket must have enough strength of core muscles, as core is the bridge between upper and lower limbs. So, it should be strong enough to prevent low back and lower limb injuries in cricketers.
AIM OF THE STUDY:
The aim is to determine the effectiveness of swiss ball exercises versus floor exercises on core muscle strength in elite cricketers.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To determine the effect of swiss ball on core muscle strengthening in elit cricketers.
2. To determine the effect of floor exercise on core muscle strengthening in elite cricketers.
3. To determine the effect of swiss ball vs floor exercise on core muscle strengthening in elite cricketers.
METHODS:
The total number of students in this study were 30 elite cricketers between 16-25 years out of which 15 subjects were included each in floor exercise(n=15) and swiss ball group(n=15). Back strength was measured before and after the intervention of 6 weeks using double leg lowering test.
RESULT:
After the analysis, the results revealed significant improvement of back strength in both the groups (p< 0.00). The swiss ball group showed significant results when compared with floor exercise group.
CONCLUSION:
Although the study showed beneficial results in both the groups, the results reflected that swiss ball group had better improvement of core muscle strength than the floor exercise group.


Energy consumption management and optimal use of node resources are key elements in the Internet of Things. In this study, a framework based on cognitive topology control that acts based on the LR−I learning automata and game on it, has been used to control power, channel and contention windows and to create preventive behavior in the network. Due to the limitations of nodes in the Internet of Things, the transfer of learning automata processing to the cloud, fog and edge has been investigated to increase lifespan, reduce memory consumption and increase processing power. The communication was done based on IPv6 protocol and IEEE 802.15.4 standard. The nodes also used the uIP lightweight protocol stack and the RPL lightweight routing protocol. In order to use the sixth version of the Internet Protocol in the IEEE 802.15.4 standard platform, the 6LoWPAN protocol has been used to compress and convert headers. Computing on fog nodes has also been used to perform game calculations on automata. Finally, the Cooja simulator was used in the Contiki operating system to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed method, which showed the superiority of the proposed method in energy consumption, memory usage and processing power compared to other methods that control power and channel.


Rapid HIV tests are used routinely as screening tests at the point of care in community settings in many developed and developing overseas countries, with reported clinical and operational benefits. In Australia, the uptake of rapid HIV testing has been limited to its use as a reference test in laboratories, but the 2011 National HIV Testing Policy now provides a quality-ensured framework for its use in community settings. Rapid HIV testing in Australia should be targeted where HIV prevalence rates are highest such as in men who have sex with men in urban settings, rather than rural, remote, or indigenous settings where HIV prevalence rates are lower. Barriers to uptake of rapid testing include current lack of testing rebates and high costs for registration of kits.


In this paper, we put forward a new research agenda for ecological economics, based on three realisations. We then show how these can be connected through research and used to generate insights with the potential for application in broader, systemic change. The first realisation is that the core ambition of ecological economics, that of addressing the scale of human environmental resource use and associated impacts, often remains an aspirational goal, rather than being applied within research. In understanding intertwined environmental and social challenges, systemic approaches (including system dynamics) should be revitalised to address the full scope of what is possible or desirable. The second realisation is that the focus on biophysical and economic quantification and methods has been at the expense of a comprehensive social understanding of environmental impacts and barriers to change—including the role of power, social class, geographical location, historical change, and achieving human well-being. For instance, by fetishising growth as the core problem, attention is diverted away from underlying social drivers—monetary gains as profits, rent, or interest fuelled by capitalist competition and, ultimately, unequal power relations. The third realisation is that ecological economics situates itself with respect to mainstream (neoclassical) economics, but simultaneously adopts some of its mandate and blind spots, even in its more progressive camps. Pragmatic attempts to adopt mainstream concepts and tools often comfort, rather than challenge, the reproduction of the very power relations that stand in the way of sustainability transitions. We consider these three realisations as impediments for developing ecological economics as an emancipatory critical research paradigm and political project. We will not focus on or detail the failings of ecological economics, but state what we believe they are and reformulate them as research priorities. By describing and bringing these three elements together, we are able to outline an ambitious research agenda for ecological economics, one capable of catalysing real social change.


In this paper we suggest a novel routing algorithm for Delay Tolerant Networks (DTN). The suggested backpressurealgorithm uses information about queue backlogs in order to make routing decisions on a per-packet basis without the notion of end-to-end routes. The backpressure approach is highly agile and can be used as both a stand alone routing algorithm and a congestion control algorithm for well-known routing protocols. We have demonstrated performance analysis and implemented the suggested algorithms in a DTN environment using the ONE simulator. Using the simulation, we compared our new routing algorithm with other well-known algorithms (Epidemic, Prophet, MaxProp, and Spray and Wait). The main outcome of the simulation shows a significant improvement in energy consumption while sustaining the delivery ratio. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever discussion and implementation of dynamic backpressure routing in DTNs.


Piezoelectric actuators (PEAs) are widely used in the nanopositioning applications due to their high stiffness, fast response, and ultrahigh precision. However, PEAs inherently have the hysteresis nonlinearity which can dramatically degrade the tracking performance. This paper proposes an adaptive Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy model-based predictive controller with a parallel distributed control structure. Compared to the previous results, the proposed controller does not require the inverse hysteresis model of PEAs, and is easy to be calculated because the predictive subcontroller for each T–S fuzzy rule has an explicit form. Meanwhile, the parameters in the T–S fuzzy model can be online adjusted according to the real-time tracking error feedback, and the offline training accuracy of the T–S fuzzy model is no longer a serious concern. In addition, some physical constraints of the proposed controller can be well handled. To verify the proposed method, experiments are conducted on a commercial PEA product, and experiment results show that the proposed method has a satisfactory tracking performance. Furthermore, comparisons with some existing controllers are made and the proposed adaptive fuzzy model-based predictive controller outperforms these controllers.


The authors describe the use of stimulated Raman scattering as a probe of fuel injection sprays. The presence of morphology-dependent resonances convolved with molecular spectral information permits simultaneous droplet sizing and component concentration measurement, and provides good discrimination between liquid and gas phases. The different features of droplet non-linear Raman spectra are described in typical fuels. Multimode scattering peaks in alkanes mean that it is easier to monitor aromatics in a fuel mixture where the molecular and morphological peaks are distinct from one another.


The life cycle of complex products is subject to multiple uncertainties. Designers include margins into the product to cater for these uncertainties: safety margins, which is typically included in the requirements against the uncertainties of use and design margins against the uncertainties of design, such as changing requirements or engineering change. In practise the terms design margins and safety margins are sometimes used interchangeably. At the end of the design process, a product might include considerable overdesign, which can increase the initial cost as well as the running cost of many complex systems. Late discovery of both overdesign and lack of safety margins are also expensive to deal with in late phases. This paper explores the role of safety margins and design margins in the design process based on two case studies in truck design and jet engine component design. The paper shows that margins are added both to the requirements and the design parameters, so that companies run the risk of duplicating margins throughout the process without different teams being aware of it. This paper argues that a clearer and common description of design margins can reduce undesired iteration in development processes arising from misconceptions and aggregation effects in the development of complex systems. © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 27th CIRP Design Conference.


This study sought to determine (1) whether the use of a narrow border-zone voltage of 0.1 to 0.25 mV predicts the ventricular tachycardia (VT) exit site better than when using the conventional 0.5 to 1.5 mV window and (2) the feasibility of utilizing the Rhythmia mapping system (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA) to map hemodynamically unstable VT without hemodynamic support. The Ablation of ischemic VT is challenging especially in the setting of hemodynamic instability, yet efficient and accurate mapping of VT and VT substrate is critical for procedural success. In this study, a total of 24 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and recurrent monomorphic VT underwent mapping and ablation using the Rhythmia system. Contact-force sensing ablation catheters were use in two cases. In patients with mappable VTs, the distance between the exit site and border zone was calculated for border zone-voltage windows of 0.5 to 1.5 mV and 0.1 to 0.25 mV. The percentage of LV scar for each patient was visually estimated into quartiles of scar burden in both windows. Twenty patients were inducible into VT, while 15 patients had mappable VTs for a total of 16 VTs (11 stable VTs and five unstable VTs). There were no adverse complications in patients who underwent mapping in unstable VT. The mean distance from the VT exit site to the border zone was 13.3 mm in the conventional window and 3.4 mm in the narrow window (95% confidence interval: 4.0–15.8; p = 0.003). Separately, 94% (15/16) of the VTs were mapped to the narrow border-zone voltage versus 31% (5/16) using the conventional border zone (p = 0.0006). The use of a narrow 0.1- to 0.25-mV border-zone window highlights relevant scar and constitutes a border zone where VT exit sites are frequently located. We also found that exit sites of hemodynamically unstable VTs can be identified without an increase in procedural complications using the Orion catheter (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA).


Anteholosticha sigmoidea (Foissner, 1982) Berger, 2003 was isolated from a wet soil sample collected on King George Island, Antarctica. Morphological observations and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the gene sequences of small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) were used to identify the species. Anteholosticha sigmoidea can be divided into two groups: group I (three populations described by Foissner 1982) and group II (described by Foissner 1984) based on the morphological differences. Group I differs from group II by the length of the midventral complex (65.1% vs. 52.5% of the cell length), the number of adoral membranelles (25-28 vs. 16-24), and the number of dorsal bristles in kinety 1 (16 bristles vs. nine bristles). Group I differs from the Antarctica population by the absence/presence of the collecting canals of the contractile vacuole and the number of macronuclear nodules (6-12 vs. 13-19). Group II differs from the Antarctica population by the number of macronuclear nodules (five to nine vs. 13-19); the arrangement of cortical granules (forming longitudinal rows vs. irregularly distributed); the length of the midventral complex (64.7% vs. 53.8% of cell length). In the phylogenetic analyses, A. sigmoidea was not nested with any species, and the gene tree indicated polyphyly of the genus Anteholosticha.


Facial features may reflect an individual's probability of survival because of natural selection—for example, through reproduction and feeding abilities. However, questions remain about which facial characteristics contribute to facial masculinity and/or femininity across races. Given that sexual dimorphism stems from the common natural selection process, it is hypothesized that there is cross-racial consistency in sexual dimorphism of facial forms. Examining the extent to which sex differences in facial soft tissue configurations are similar across diverse populations could suggest the source of the indirect evolutionary benefits of facial sexual dimorphism traits. To explore this idea, we selected two geographically distinct races. Three-dimensional model faces were derived from 272 Turkish and Japanese men and women; their facial morphologies were evaluated using landmark and surface-based analyses. We found four common facial features related to sexual dimorphism. Both Turkish and Japanese females had a shorter lower face height, a flatter forehead, greater sagittal cheek protrusion in the infraorbital region but less prominence of the cheek in the parotid-masseteric region, and an antero-posteriorly smaller nose when compared with their male counterparts. We also discussed the possible phylogenetic contribution of masticatory organ function and morphogenesis on sexual dimorphism of the human face.


Research on conflict processes has recently highlighted the myriad of tactics rebels use which are not violent in nature (cf. Petrova 2019; Ryckman 2020; Cunningham, Dahl, and Frugé 2017). Concurrently, rebel governance has drawn increasing attention from scholars and peacebuilding practitioners. In-depth historical studies of rebel groups highlight the activities and behaviors that rebels engage in beyond making war—such as providing social services and building local political institutions (Mampilly 2011; Arjona 2016a; Arjona, Kasfir, and Mampilly 2015). Complementing these works, studies have sought to provide cross-national examination of trends in these governance behaviors (Huang 2016; Heger and Jung 2017; Stewart 2018). Despite this work, quantitative and formal research in conflict processes often ignores the insights that the rebel governance literature has generated, frequently focusing exclusively on violent tactics or considering governance issues primarily as part of conflict settlement processes. In this special feature, we work to integrate the study of rebel governance with the conflict processes literature, providing a conceptual link between the two while offering novel contributions to advance our understanding of the dynamic processes of rebel governance.


We focus on improving the effectiveness of a Virtual Assistant (VA) in recognizing emerging entities in spoken queries. We introduce a method that uses historical user interactions to forecast which entities will gain in popularity and become trending, and it subsequently integrates the predictions within the Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) component of the VA. Experiments show that our proposed approach results in a 20% relative reduction in errors on emerging entity name utterances without degrading the overall recognition quality of the system.


(4%) each for oral Crohn disease (CD) and discoid lupus erythematous (DLE). The mean duration of the underlying condition was 5 4 years (range 7 months–20 years). Twenty (87%) patients used topical steroids while taking hydroxychloroquine. Of the patients whose weight was measured at baseline (n = 20), 75% (n = 15) were initiated on a dose < 5 mg kg and 90% (n = 18) < 6 5 mg kg. The maximum dose was kept at < 6 5 mg kg in 75% of cases. Duration of treatment ranged from 1 week to 55 months (mean 21 months). Routine haematological and biochemical investigations were done, as recommended by national guidelines, in all patients. Treatment efficacy was assessed by the presence of adjective terms in the case records that would indicate either response ('improved', 'better', 'cleared') or nonresponse ('no better', 'worse', 'same'). Overall, 15 (65%) of patients demonstrated a response to treatment after 6 months. Response rates for individual conditions were 63% (n = 10/16) for OLP, 67% (n = 2/3) for OFG, 100% (n = 2/2) for MMP, 100% (n = 1/1) for oral CD and 0% (n = 0/1) for DLE. Side-effects, including nausea and rash, occurred in two patient, five patients had no response and one patient was lost to follow-up. The mechanisms of action of hydroxychloroquine that have been identified include inhibition of antigen presentation and Toll-like receptor signalling, reducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines. While the available evidence is sparse, hydroxychloroquine has been reported to be effective in the management of oral lichen planus with a case series demonstrating either full or partial improvement in 17/21 cases. Further robust studies are required to assess the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in inflammatory oral mucosal conditions.


Water security is one of the most pressing risks facing the world. In urban areas, rapidly growing population coupled with rising incomes, falling costs, and often an absent or unreliable public water supply, mean that increasing numbers of households are choosing to install private boreholes to meet their domestic water needs. This trend is particularly prevalent in emerging global mega-cities such as Lagos, Nigeria. Through a series of internet, household, and water point surveys, this multidisciplinary study begins to address the question: does the proliferation of private boreholes strengthen or weaken the resilience of Lagos and its residents to future environmental shocks?
A broad internet survey shows that 68% of 500 respondents make use of private boreholes on a daily basis, either as their primary water source or used conjunctively with other sources. Attitudes to groundwater are overwhelmingly positive, with a majority considering this a reliable source in terms of quality and quantity, and agreeing that access to a private borehole increases households' water security, helping families to cope with possible water shortages in future. The majority of borehole owners perceive no risks associated with long-term groundwater availability, with 89% agreeing that water is abundant and 86% holding the view that borehole owners should be able to abstract as much water as they like.
The results of a focused water-point and household survey, carried out at 40 private groundwater sources across Lagos, agree with these findings. Of those surveyed, the majority derive their domestic water from privately owned hand-dug wells and boreholes, and sachet water. Water point users have positive perceptions of the water quality from these sources, with 90% of boreholes and 80% of hand-dug wells thought to provide good quality water. However, water quality analyses show that individual's perceptions do not always reflect reality. One third of boreholes and over 80% of shallow wells surveyed display unsafe levels of E. Coli. Of those sources perceived as good quality, almost 40% are classed as unsafe for drinking, according to measured levels of E. Coli.
The collective enthusiasm for unlimited and expanding groundwater extraction in the city of Lagos coupled with a demonstrated lack of groundwater governance and regulation, while increasing individuals' resilience to issues of water shortage in the present, may decrease the resilience of the wider community in the long-term. Understanding the role of agency and communicating the potential risks associated with uncontrolled groundwater development, across a range of actors and agencies, may be critical to avoid future conflict between individual and societal resilience to environmental shocks.


Background CHD8 is one of a few genes in which de novo loss of function mutations have been identified in multiple cases across multiple autism cohorts in recent extensive exome sequencing studies. CHD8 is an ATP-dependent chromodomain helicase involved in chromatin remodelling and regulation of Wnt/beta-catenin and p53 pathways, which are pathways that have been implicated in non-syndromic and syndromic autism and intellectual disability. Objectives We will describe a patient with autism and intellectual disability with a novel CHD8 mutation. We also review the phenotype of previously reported patients with CHD8 loss of function mutations. Methods Exome sequencing of the proband and parents was used to identify de novo variants using the trio approach. A PubMed-based literature search identified other reported patients. Results Our patient has a de novo truncating CHD8 mutation (c.4342C >T, NM_020920). He is macrocephalic (>+3SD), and has extremely tall stature with proportionate weight (>+7SD), suggestive of an overgrowth phenotype. Other patients with CHD8 mutations that have been reported in the literature also have macrocephaly and a tendency to taller stature. Conclusions CHD8 mutations may cause syndromic autism. Further delineation of this phenotype will be helpful for diagnostic and prognostic guidance in the future. The association of a truncating CHD8 mutation with macrocephaly and overgrowth is particularly interesting since other disorders of chromatin remodelling implicated in the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway, such as Coffin-Siris and Weaver syndromes, also have abnormal neurodevelopment associated with altered head size and in some instances generalised overgrowth.


Anonymity is generally a controversial feature that presents multiple trade-offs. It preserves privacy but cannot be audited; it ensures voice to the voiceless but is prone to online abuse; it allows whistleblowing, but the information cannot be trusted. It is equally questionable when referring to digital/crypto assets. Depending on the perspectives, it might positively and/or negatively affect digital transformation strategies. This paper's first novelty resides in the original approach to analysing the anonymity and trust roles in electronic commerce transactions from the different stakeholders' perspectives. A basic but solid framework for consistent digital transformation is presented. It is designed to help decision-makers, policymakers, entrepreneurs and engineers. The authors' innovative assumption is that tokens and crypto-assets (including the so-called crypto-currencies) should be considered early forms of digital barter, easily substituted in the future. Another assumption is that bartering is the old/new frontier for illegal activities. Current forms of money are not free from pitfalls. It can be demonstrated by the fact that money laundering activities are evergreen and constantly change channels and techniques. Hence, the focus should be on adequately designed digital infrastructures to ensure the same level of trust currently granted to FIAT currencies and physical assets. Physical Assets Bartering is the most basic form of exchange. Money added (at least) two important functions: unit of account and store of value. Money popularity is linked to governments' public trust and facilitated exchanges. However, it does not mean it is the absolute best form of bartering.


Paradigm shift in language education has caused many countries including Iran to reshuffle their public EFL educational program. However, such a promising trend in Iran has entailed serious challenges, which necessitated this study aimed at collecting data from 70 teachers and 70 students to investigate the CLT challenges in terms of both teachers' pedagogical and assessment areas. A Partial Least Square Model (PLSM) addressed these two variables. The findings showed that the first three sub-traits of both CLT and testing knowledge have varying contributions to the main latent variables, respectively. Second, Friedman test indicated lack of compatibility between the respective dimensions as to the implementation of the program. Third, the post-hoc comparison tests revealed that teachers perceived CLT significantly lower than the three areas of CLT testing, knowledge of CLT tests and knowledge of developing CLT tests. Also, their knowledge of characteristics of CLT was significantly lower than their perceptions of CLT testing, and knowledge of CLT tests. However, their knowledge of the characteristics of CLT was not significantly different from that of developing CLT tests. Finally, their knowledge of techniques in CLT was significantly lower than their perceptions  of CLT testing, knowledge of CLT tests, and knowledge of developing CLT tests. In sum, the Iranian public EFL program still suffers from both implementation and assessment challenges necessitating remedial teacher education program.


Seedlings of high quality are essential for the deployment of homogeneous plants. Thus, was evaluated the formation of seedlings of Jatropha ( Jatropha curcas L.) in different substrates fertilized with fertilizer-based lithothamnium. It was used substrates I) mixed of: never cultivated soil, cattle manure and sand in proportions: 3:1:1 volume/volume (v/v); II) commercial substrate Tropstrato ® ; III) cattle manure and carbonized rice straw in proportions: 1:1 (v/v); IV) birds manure, carbonized rice straw and never cultivated soil in proportions: 1:1:4, and V) fine vermiculite. Lithothamnium fertilizer levels used were 0%, 5% and 10% (v/v), respectively. The experimental design used was randomize blocks with factorial of 5x3 (five different substrates and three different lithothamnium doses) and four replication. Lithothamnium doses and substrates influenced the seedling growth of Jatropha. Seedlings fertilized with the substrates soil with mineral fertilizers (substrates 1); compost with manure and carbonized rice hulls (Substrate 3); soil with hatchery compost (Substrate 4) fertilized with a dose of 6.8% (v/v) lithothamnium showed the best result.


Multiple studies suggest that physical activity causes positive affective reactions and reduces depressive mood. However, studies and interventions focused mostly on structured activity programs, but rarely on actual physical activity (aPA) in daily life. Furthermore, they seldom account for the context in which the aPA occur (e.g., work, leisure). Using a prospective, real-time assessment design (ambulatory assessment), we investigated the effects of aPA on affective states (valence, energetic arousal, calmness) in real-time during everyday life while controlling for the context. Eighty-seven undergraduates students (Age: M = 24.6; SD = 3.2, females: 54%) participated in this study. aPA was assessed through accelerometers during 24-h. Palmtop devices prompted subjects approximately every 45 min during a 14-h daytime period to assess their affective states and the context. We analyzed within- and between-person effects with hierarchical modeling (HLM 6.0). Multilevel analyses revealed that both aPA and context influenced subsequent affective states. The interaction of aPA and context did predict energetic arousal only. State levels of affects did not differ between men and women. For both men and women, aPA in everyday life has an effect on individual's affective states. For valence and calmness, it seems to be independent of the context in which the aPA occur. For energetic arousal, men reported to have lower feelings of energy and women reported to have more feelings of energy during leisure time compared to working episodes.


The T cell repertoire is shaped by positive and negative selection of thymocytes through the interaction of (cid:97)(cid:47)(cid:98) -T cell receptors (TCR) with self-peptides bound to self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. However, the involvement of specific TCR-peptide contacts in positive selection remains unclear. By fixing TCR- (cid:98) chains with a single rearranged TCR- (cid:98) irrelevant to the selecting ligand, we show here that T cells selected to mature on a single MHC–peptide complex express highly restricted TCR- (cid:97) chains in terms of V (cid:97) usage and amino acid residue of their CDR3 loops, whereas such restriction was not observed with those selected by the same MHC with diverse sets of self-peptides including this peptide. Thus, we visualized the TCR structure required to survive positive selection directed by this single ligand. Our findings provide definitive evidence that specific recognition of self-peptides by TCR could be involved in positive selection of thymocytes. rearranged C for 5 h using 96-well U bottom plates, then the supernatant was subjected to PCR using AUAP and C (cid:97) in2 (GAGACCGAGG ATCTTTTAACT) primers, under the following condition: 94 (cid:56) C (30 s), 1 cycle; 95 (cid:56) C (30 s) 68 (cid:56) C (3 min), 25 cycles. After removal of excess primers and dNTPs using centricon 100 (Amicon, Inc., Beverly, MA), the purified PCR products were labeled with dye termina-tor cycle sequencing using C (cid:97) seq primer (AGACCGAG-GATCTTTTAACT) and were analyzed on an ABI PRISM (cid:212) 377 DNA sequencer (Perkin-Elmer Corporation, Foster City, CA) according to standard protocols.


INTRODUCTION
The brief visuospatial memory test-revised (BVMT-R) assesses visuospatial learning and memory in adults. It has equivalent forms that allow reassessing patients.

AIM
To obtain normative and standardized data for the BVMT-R taking into account the sociodemographic characteristics of the Spanish population.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS
The present study is part of the Normacog Project. Nine hundred three participants (18 to 93 years old) were assessed using the BVMT-R (form 1). The effect of age, level of education and gender was analyzed on the BVMT-R, and percentiles and scalar scores adjusted by age and level of education were created.

RESULTS
A significant effect of age and educational level on the analyzed variables was observed (trial 1; total recall; trial 4; discrimination index), explaining from 12% to 40% of the variance. The older and less educated participants obtained lower performance in all the analyzed variables of the BVMT-R. Gender had not a significant effect in the analyzed variables.

CONCLUSION
The study provides standardized and normalized data for the BVMT-R taking into account the Spanish sociodemographic characteristics. The results confirm the in?uence of age and level of education in the performance of the test, so normative data are provided to correct the BVMT-R taking into account these characteristics.


Dendritic cells (DC) are key components of innate and adaptive immune responses. Plasmacytoid DC (PDC) are a specialized DC subset that produce high amounts of type I interferons in response to microbes. High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is an abundant nuclear protein, which acts as a potent pro‐inflammatory factor when released extracellularly. We show that HMGB1 leaves the nucleus of maturing PDC following TLR9 activation, and that PDC express on the plasma membrane the best‐characterized receptor for HMGB1, RAGE. Maturation and type I IFN secretion of PDC is hindered when the HMGB1/RAGE pathway is disrupted. These results reveal HMGB1 and RAGE as the first known autocrine loop modulating the maturation of PDC, and suggest that antagonists of HMGB1/RAGE might have therapeutic potential for the treatment of systemic human diseases.


In this paper I discuss the potential of archival research (i.e. the reassessment of pictures and drawings) for the identification of hitherto overlooked fossil footprints. All of the most important sites of the Pleistocene sequence of Melka Kunture (Upper Awash Valley, Ethiopia) showed evidence of biogenic structures that had escaped attention during the archaeological investigations which started in the 1960s. The case studies described here show that fossil footprints at Melka Kunture occur more frequently than expected. This could encourage archaeologists to be more aware of the possible presence of bioturbated layers in other archaeological contexts and plan specific research accordingly, using Melka Kunture as a reference.


Two experiments were undertaken to determine the partial resistance of sunflower genotypes to seven isolates of Phoma macdonaldii. In the first experiment, 28 genotypes, including recombinant inbred lines and their parents, M6 mutant lines developed by gamma irradiation, and some genotypes from different geographical origins, were used. The experiment consisted of a split-plot design with three replications, each with 12 seedlings per genotype per isolate, in controlled conditions. Seven days after inoculation, plantlets were scored on a 1–9 scale for percentage necrotic area. Highly significant differences were observed among genotypes, isolates and their interactions. The presence of a differential interaction between genotypes and P. macdonaldii isolates was confirmed in a second experiment using 12 genotypes representing large variability for partial resistance to P. macdonaldii isolates, as identified in the first experiment. Inbred lines B454/03, ENSAT-B5 and LC1064C were the most susceptible sunflower genotypes, whereas two American lines SDR19 and SDR18 presented high partial resistance to all P. macdonaldii isolates studied. The least and most aggressive isolates were MA6 and MP3, respectively. Isolates interacted differentially with sunflower genotypes. This study identified two genotypes (AS613 and PAC2) presenting specific resistance to isolate MP8. The results also showed a wide range of isolate-nonspecific partial resistances among the lines tested. The information presented here could assist sunflower breeders to choose parents of crosses for breeding of durable resistance to phoma black stem disease.


The research in this thesis involved four studies of the variability in
plasma concentrations and effects of a selection of drugs used in
schizophrenia, cardiac surgery and palliative care.
1. Fluphenazine study
Steady-state pre-dose plasma concentrations of fluphenazine were
measured using a gas chromatography I mass spectrometry assay in 24
patients with schizophrenia who were receiving continuous treatment
with depot intramuscular fluphenazine decanoate. Clinical response was
measured using the Andreasen Scale for positive and negative
symptoms. Poorer clinical control was related to higher log transformed
plasma concentrations of fluphenazine and higher fluphenazine
decanoate dosage. The log transformed plasma concentrations of
fluphenazine and the fluphenazine decanoate dosages were weakly
related. These results indicated the useful role that plasma level
monitoring can fulfill in identifying patients who are therapy-resistant
despite optimal or high plasma levels.
2. CPB study
This study examined the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery
on the total and unbound plasma concentrations of fentanyl and the total
plasma concentrations of alcuronium in sixteen patients. Due to the
large number of factors which may affect pharmacokinetics during CPB,
the results were difficult to deal with mathematically. Despite marked
declines in the plasma concentrations of both drugs on initiation of CPB,
suitable plasma concentrations for anaesthesia were maintained
throughout the procedure.
3. Subcutaneous fentanyl
This study investigated the steady-state total and unbound plasma
concentrations of fentanyl during continuous subcutaneous
administration in 20 palliative care patients. Infusion rates and both
total and unbound plasma concentrations of fentanyl were correlated.
Even with standardisation for dosage, there was an 8-fold variation in
total plasma concentrations and a 3.5-fold variation in unbound plasma
concentrations of fentanyl. There was considerable inter-patient
variability in the pharmacokinetics of fentanyl with subcutaneous
infusion in the palliative care setting, which necessitated careful titration
of dosage according to individual clinical response.
4. Nebulised morphine trial
The final study involved a trial of nebulised morphine for dyspnoea in
eleven palliative care patients. Due to patient attrition and the resulting
small sample size, a significant improvement in respiratory function and
assessment of dyspnoea could not be found overall. Individual patients,
however, reported an improvement in their symptoms. More studies
with increased numbers are needed to statistically prove the benefit of
nebulised morphine over saline alone for the relief of dyspnoea.


Formative assessment has recently become a preferred assessment strategy in educational institutions worldwide. However, it is not easy to implement in Asian classrooms, because local cultures and institutional constraints potentially hinder the practice. This one-semester study aimed to use the 'third space', as the core of the third generation of activity theory, as a frame to capture how Vietnamese teachers took into account both traditional practices and contemporary influences to transform formative assessment practices to make them feasible in their classrooms. Participants were 2 lecturers and 250 students from two college classes in Vietnam. The results showed that Vietnamese students' conceptions of learning were heavily influenced by examinations and their traditional learning culture. Consequently, the teachers needed to transform the initiative to align with these features in Vietnamese classrooms. When the revisions were made, the students were evidenced to achieve a growth in learning, change their beliefs about learning and develop both self-learning and collective learning.


The article considers the process of forming the Udmurt ethnicity. It presents a historical review of the Udmurt national movement. The author describes some distinctive features of social movements and their role in forming the Udmurt ethnicity.


Geographical Information Systems (GISs) in architecture were initially limited to regional and urban development applications. Over recent years its potential has been recognized and its use has evolved to address urban planning and architectural heritage management subjects. Nevertheless, evidence shows that its use in architecture teaching is scarce and uneven. Directive 2007/2/EC, establishing the infrastructure for spatial information in the European Community (EU), is, in this way, an opportunity to develop a greater knowledge and application of GIS in the framework of higher education. In architecture, this can be achieved by problem solving based on real case scenarios, which can benefit from GIS-based techniques and analysis capabilities. In this paper, the authors aim to present a review of the use of GIS in teaching and research in architecture to assess its level in different European programmes. Experiences from three European universities (University of Seville, Spain, University of Beira Interior, Portugal, and Technical University of Crete, Greece), which are among the few in their respective countries that promote the inclusion of GIS in architectural education, particularly in the fields of urban and regional planning and architectural heritage, are compared and framed within the European scenario. The paper concludes with a reflection on the three universities' practice compared to the leading European architecture programmes listed in the main international university rankings. Main trends of future evolution on the use of GIS in architecture teaching are also presented.


The sulfur oxidation in mixed sodium thiosulfate/sucrose/aqueous micro-droplets by gaseous ozone is studied in this work via aerosol optical tweezers coupled with Raman spectroscopy, which can simultaneously determine various physicochemical properties and the heterogeneous reaction kinetics of single optically trapped micro-droplets, allowing for elucidating their complicate interplay. According to the kinetics measurement results at different relative humidities, ozone concentrations and stoichiometries of inorganic and organic solutes, this work finds that a high aerosol ionic strength can accelerate the ozone oxidation of thiosulfate at air-water interfaces, while a high aerosol viscosity prolongs the reaction timescales due to diffusion-limited kinetics. The kinetic multilayer model of aerosol surface and bulk chemistry (KM-SUB) is utilized to investigate the observed heterogeneous kinetics results and to retrieve the surface reaction rate coefficients. The KM-SUB simulations results indicate that the observed kinetics of sulfur oxidation in binary sodium thiosulfate aqueous micro-droplets with high ionic strengths is dominated by interfacial reactions, and the fitted surface reaction rate coefficients increase one order of magnitude when the droplet ionic strength increases around 40 M. Furthermore, this work demonstrated that including the effects of inter-facial ion depletion in the kinetics simulations can lead to an excellent agreement with the experimental results, implying its potential role in the interfacial kinetics.


Deep-body temperature is regarded as important ecological data, which, if measured using a compact, wearable thermometer, will be useful for early detection of heat stroke and physical condition management of infants. In this study, we developed a deep-body temperature measurement technique based on the non restraint and non invasive dual-heat-flux method and showed the possibility of realizing a compact and high-performance wearable deep-body thermometer.


Issues in determining the threshold values of QTL mapping are often investigated for the backcross and F2 populations with relatively simple genome structures so far. The investigations of these issues in the progeny populations after F2 (advanced populations) with relatively more complicated genomes are generally inadequate. As these advanced populations have been well implemented in QTL mapping, it is important to address these issues for them in more details. Due to an increasing number of meiosis cycle, the genomes of the advanced populations can be very different from the backcross and F2 genomes. Therefore, special devices that consider the specific genome structures present in the advanced populations are required to resolve these issues. By considering the differences in genome structure between populations, we formulate more general score test statistics and gaussian processes to evaluate their threshold values. In general, we found that, given a significance level and a genome size, threshold values for QTL detection are higher in the denser marker maps and in the more advanced populations. Simulations were performed to validate our approach.


Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is a newly developed technology, and it is getting more attention in the energy industry, civil engineering investigations and geo-hazard studies due to its dense sensor spacing, low cost of fiber cables and high repeatability for monitoring. Long-term monitoring by DAS brings us huge amount of data, processing of which is laborious and time consuming. We use the quarry blasts data recorded by the Stanford DAS array to demonstrate that reliable information can be extracted using extremely short recordings. We apply denoising, missing data interpolation, seismic interferometry and dispersion analysis to the DAS data. The average velocity changes along the DAS line are obtained using two segments of 20-second recordings. The average velocity changes are consistent with the nearby basement construction schedule. Using pieces of 100-second recording, the phase velocity changes with frequency have been obtained. The dispersion results are consistent with those obtained using month-long data recordings. These consistent results suggest that reliable information can be extracted using an extremely short period of DAS recordings due to anthropogenic activities.


We report a cathode composed of RuO2 nanoparticle-decorated NiO nanosheets for a non-aqueous lithium–air battery. Unlike most of the previously reported non-aqueous lithium–air batteries that are operated with pure oxygen only, we demonstrate that the present cathode enables the battery to be truly operated in ambient air at 500 mA h g−1 for 200 cycles (800 h), with stable coulombic efficiency (100%) and high energy efficiency (∼75%). The stellar performance is attributed to the favorable combination of RuO2 nanoparticles and NiO nanosheets, which not only catalyzes the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions, but also promotes the decomposition of the side products, including lithium hydroxide and carbonate formed from water and carbon dioxide in the air during discharge.


AbstractRecent socioeconomic changes have created and intensified paradoxical organizational tensions that companies in numerous industries, including the construction sector, need to address when organizing and managing their activities. The nature of these tensions has not been sufficiently explored in the existing construction management literature. Thus, this study analyzes tensions between control and flexibility at different organizational interfaces, as perceived by the managers of three large infrastructure projects that were parts of two different megaprojects in Sweden. The empirical findings highlight several tensions within three types of interfaces, that is, external, intraorganizational, and interorganizational tensions, that are important for both project managers and project owners to understand. This paper contributes to the project and construction management literature by illustrating the importance of a systemic paradox perspective, which is obtained by combining the paradox literature...


To study the effect
 of transient non-thermal mobility in surface-subsurface
 heterogeneous catalytic reaction, simulation work has been done for
 CO-O2 and CO-NO catalytic reaction on different surfaces. One class
 of transient non-thermal mobility of species includes Ely-Rideal
 (ER) mechanism. The first simple lattice gas model was introduced by
 Ziff, Gulari and Barshad, as a computer simulation model and is
 known as the ZGB model, which was used to study CO- O2 reaction
 system. It has been found through simulation that ER mechanism
 generates features in the ZGB model that brings it closer to the
 real system. The Consideration of ER mechanism annihilates second
 order phase transition of the ZGB model and the reaction rate begins
 to increase as soon as feed concentration CO departs from zero,
 which is consistent with the experimental results. The other class
 of transient non-thermal mobility is precursor mechanism. This
 mechanism adds some additional features in the phase diagram of a
 particular catalytic reaction, which could not be observed by
 considering the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism. In the precursor
 mechanism, three different ranges of the surface environment have
 been investigated. Each environment consists of specific pattern for
 set of sites around the striking site. It is observed that the
 reactive window depends on the mobility of the precursors. It is
 also observed that when the probability of the precursor is
 increased, the production rates increases. Furthermore, the
 simulation is also performed to investigate the effect of diffusion
 of CO on the ZGB model. It has been found that the effect of
 diffusion of CO on the ZGB model is to increase the mobility of CO
 on the surface and hence the reaction rate increases with the result
 that the transition point y2 shifts towards higher concentration of
 CO. However, the effect of diffusion of CO has no effect on the
 second order phase transition point y1. The effect of diffusion of
 CO and N (atom) for CO-NO catalytic reaction has also been studied
 on BCC lattice. The effect of diffusion of CO and N on the
 production rates is found in the high concentration of CO. This
 mechanism is found responsible for slight increase in the window
 width where the concentration of CO is high. Through these models
 some experimental results have been reproduced of the real system.


In this letter, we demonstrate optical selection of wavelength in a harmonically mode-locked fiber laser that incorporates a semiconductor optical amplifier nonlinear fiber loop. Wavelength tuning is achieved by controlling the delay time between the modulation and the control signals in the compensated dispersion-tuning scheme. A tuning range over 19 nm is obtained. The power suppression of nonlasing modes reaches a maximum of 34 dB. The output wavelength and the delay time are governed by a linear relationship.


A density-based outlier detection such as an LOF (Local Outlier Factor) tries to find an outlying observation by using density of its surrounding space. In spite of several advantages of a density-based outlier detection method, the computational complexity of outlier detection has been one of major barriers in its application. In this paper, we present an LOF algorithm that can reduce computation time of a density based outlier detection algorithm. A kd-tree indexing and approximated k-nearest neighbor search algorithm (ANN) are adopted in the proposed method. A set of experiments was conducted to examine performance of the proposed algorithm. The results show that the proposed method can effectively detect local outliers in reduced computation time.


We present a calculation scheme with significant modifications and improvements for determining the ionization balance and the ion temperature evolution in an electron beam ion trap (EBIT). The scheme is applied to uranium and nitrogen ions using a specific set of EBIT operating parameters. The calculation results are compared to the experimental data. Rates for the individual atomic processes in EBIT, especially single and multiple charge exchange processes, are discussed. The time evolution of the ion temperatures for uranium and its coolant nitrogen are also given.


Coronary and peripheral artery diseases are highly prevalent and characterized by an unmet requirement for medical treatment in the more advanced stages. These shortcomings comprise the requirement for vessel regeneration using therapeutic angiogenesis as well as the prevention of post-angioplasty restenosis using local gene therapy. Both therapeutic angiogenesis and gene therapy to prevent post-angioplasty restenosis have undergone extensive research in the past 17 years and have led to a number of phase II clinical trials and a phase III approval trial. The development of therapeutic strategies based on gene therapy over the last 7 years is reviewed, including data from animal studies as well as phase II clinical trials.


Aim To report a single-centre experience with the novel Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) technique and systematically review the related literature. Methods Since January 2013, patients with extended primary or secondary liver tumors whose future liver remnant (FLR) was considered too small to allow hepatic resection were prospectively assessed for the ALPPS procedure. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus and the Cochrane Library Central. Results Until July 2014 ALPPS was completed in 9 patients whose mean age was 60±8 years. Indications for surgical resection were metastases from colorectal cancer in 3 cases, perihilar cholangiocarcinoma in 3 cases, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in 2 cases and hepatocellular carcinoma without chronic liver disease in 1 case. The calculated FLR volume was 289±122 mL (21.1±5.5%) before ALPPS-1 and 528±121 mL (32.2±5.7%) before ALLPS-2 (p<0.001). The increase in FLR between the two procedures was 96±47% (range: 24–160%, p<0.001). Additional interventions were performed in 4 cases: 3 patients underwent Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, and one case underwent wedge resection of a residual tumor in the FLR. The average time between the first and second step of the procedure was 10.8±2.9 days. The average hospital stay was 24.1±13.3 days. There was 1 postoperative death due to hepatic failure in the oldest patient of this series who had a perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and concomitant liver fibrosis; 11 complications occurred in 6 patients, 4 of whom had grade III or above disease. After a mean follow-up of 17.1±8.5 months, the overall survival was 89% at 3–6 and 12 months. The recurrence-free survival was 100%, 87.5% and 75% at 3-6-12 months respectively. The literature search yielded 148 articles, of which 22 articles published between 2012 and 2015 were included in this systematic review. Conclusion The ALPPS technique effectively increased the resectability of otherwise inoperable liver tumors. The postoperative morbidity in our series was high in accordance with the data from the systematic review. Age, liver fibrosis and presence of biliary stenting were predisposing factors for postoperative morbidity and mortality.


This paper proposes a new centrality measure called overall centrality measure that can be used to summarize the important information contained in social network. It is an optimal linear combination of the traditional measures where the optimality criterion is similar to that in principal component analysis. The advantages of this method will be illustrated by using stocks prices in Indonesian Stock Exchange where the relationship among stocks is viewed as social relationship. Some important results will be highlighted.


Many endocrine disruptors have been proven to impair the meiotic process that is mandatory to produce healthy gametes. Bisphenol A is emblematic as it impairs meiotic prophase I and causes oocyte aneuploidy following in utero exposure. However, the mechanisms underlying these deleterious effects remain poorly understood. Furthermore, the increasing uses of BPA analogs raise concerns for public health. Here, we investigated the effect on oogenesis in mouse of fetal exposure to two BPA analogs, Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether (BADGE) or Bisphenol AF (BPAF). These analogs delay meiosis initiation, increase MLH1 foci per cell and induce oocyte aneuploidy. We further demonstrate that these defects are accompanied by a deregulation of gene expression and aberrant mRNA splicing in fetal premeiotic germ cells. Interestingly, we observed an increase in DNA oxidation after exposure to BPA analogs. Specific induction of oxidative DNA damages during fetal germ cell differentiation causes similar defects during oogenesis, as observed in 8-Oxoguanine DNA Glycosylase (OGG1) deficient mice or after in utero exposure to potassium bromate (KBrO3), an inducer of oxidative DNA damages. Moreover, the supplementation of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) with BPA analogs counteracts the bisphenol-induced meiotic effect. Together our results position oxidative stress as a central event that negatively impacts the female meiosis with major consequences on oocyte quality. This could be a common mechanism of action for so called endocrine disruptors pollutants and it could lead to novel strategies for reprotoxic compounds.


This paper investigates the transient response of uniform RLC transmission lines. The case of a general RLC line is examined, along with the special case of a line with low total series resistance. Computer-aided circuit simulations in conjunction with theoretical considerations are used to obtain a physical interpretation of the results. It is shown that for an RLC line terminated In R_0 = \sqrt{L/C} as long as the total series resistance of the line is less than 2.5 R_0, there is no delay penalty caused by pulse distortion on the line. The only delay penalty is caused by the line attenuation, which yields a lower slope for the output waveform.


We develop a molecular thermodynamic theory to study the interaction of some proteins with a charge regulating silica-like surface under a wide range of conditions, including pH, salt concentration and protein concentration. Proteins are modeled using their three dimensional structure from crystallographic data and the average experimental pKa of amino acid residues. As model systems, we study single-protein and binary solutions of cytochrome c, green fluorescent protein, lysozyme and myoglobin. Our results show that protonation equilibrium plays a critical role in the interactions of proteins with these type of surfaces. The terminal hydroxyl groups on the surface display considerable extent of charge regulation; protein residues with titratable side chains increase protonation according to changes in the local environment and the drop in pH near the surface. This behavior defines protein–surface interactions and leads to the emergence of several phenomena: (i) a complex non-ideal surface charge behavior; (ii) a non-monotonic adsorption of proteins as a function of pH; and (iii) the presence of two spatial regions, a protein-rich and a protein-depleted layer, that occur simultaneously at different distances from the surface when pH is slightly above the isoelectric point of the protein. In binary mixtures, protein adsorption and surface–protein interactions cannot be predicted from single-protein solution considerations.


A mechanically changeable, semipermanent, random access memory with a 16,384 twenty bit word capacity is described. This solenoid array memory is useful for stored programs and tables in computers, character generation and as a combined input and storage device for special purpose computers. It utilizes an associative technique to allow addressing of any of its 1024 sixteen word datacontaining sheets, which completely avoids any need for electrical connections to the data-containing sheets or for any ordering of the sheets within the memory. Each sheet is a very thin printed circuit onto which data is entered by etching or punch-card controlled cutting. The data is inductively interrogated by means of solenoids which pass loosely through the sheets. The sheets are contained in loose-leaf notebooklike magazines which fit into a file drawer.
 The present memory's access time is 0.7 microsecond and its cycle is below two microseconds.


The purpose of this paper is to explore elders' perspectives about self-monitoring and using specially developed sensor technology for measuring health indicators. The qualitative research method is focus-groups with guidelines that were designed for understanding elder's requirements about monitoring health indicators. We present them two devices: the first sensor is a device for monitoring of cardiac action potential fixed into an armchair, the second sensor for monitoring vital signs is placed in a bathtub. The people express their needs and expectations regarding the idea of having sensors for monitoring health indicators and body movement in their own house.


This article contributes to the debate about the utility of the work of Jacques Derrida for qualitative interview research. It consists of a case study in which Derridean ideas are exemplified: a set of interviews with people called Trust Chief Executives—top managers of U.K. National Health Service hospitals. In ways that echo Derrida's approach to the analysis of Platonic texts, the article repeatedly interrogates the word trust in the interview transcripts. Reading interview texts in a Derridean way brings to attention matters that would have been unseen in a conventional reading of the empirical material. Managers' talk can be read as a form of violence in that it has come to constitute a version of what can be thought and known, in the most part, by the elision of alternatives. Recognizing the violence of language is therefore one of Derrida's principal contributions to critique, an insight of particular importance in qualitative research.


This paper reports the results of a survey of 973 members of the British public in which attitudes towards methods of achieving desired personal characteristics in their children are compared. While there was little support for the use of gene manipulation to achieve desirable traits in children, the proportion who would consider doing so has more than doubled in the 12 months since the public were last polled on this question. The small but growing public support for the use of gene therapy to enhance human characteristics points to the need for a debate involving the public as well as scientists before such techniques are feasible.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the association between serum uric acid (sUA) and stroke risk in men with hypertriglyceridemia.

METHODS
Between 2002 and 2012, male patients with pure hypertriglyceridemia and a triglyceride (TG) level ≥ 150 mg/dL were enrolled. Eligible patients were categorized into two groups according to their sUA levels (≥ and < 8 mg/dL). Clinical characteristics and comorbidities that are risk factors for stroke were recorded and compared between the groups.

RESULTS
A total of 265 male patients (95 with sUA ≥ 8 mg/dL and 170 with sUA < 8 mg/dL) were enrolled. The incidence of ischemic type of stroke was significantly higher in patients with sUA ≥ 8 mg/dL (p = 0.038), particularly in the age range of 45-65 years. Multivariate Cox proportional analyses confirmed that age (p = 0.003) and UA (p = 0.019) were major predictive factors for stroke free (ischemic type of stroke) survival.

CONCLUSION
Among men with hypertriglyceridemia, the incidence rate of ischemic type of stroke significantly increased with sUA levels ≥ 8 mg/dL, particularly in men aged 45 to 65 years. Hyperuricemia is considered a potential predictive factor for ischemic type of stroke and may indicate the need for preventive management in patients with hypertriglyceridemia (Tab. 3, Fig. 1, Ref. 28).


The series-parallel resonant converter (SPRC) is known to have combined merits of the series resonant converter (SRC) and PRC. However, the SPRC has a three-element LCC structure with complex transient dynamics, and without control of the resonant circuit's dynamics, the converter's closed-loop bandwidth to switching-frequency ratio will be much reduced compared to that of pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) converters. This paper presents the optimal trajectory enabling any SPRC's steady state be achieved within one cycle. Dynamics using the state-plane analysis is presented, and the optimal state trajectory for transients is derived. Experimental results with comparison to frequency control show much reduced resonant circuit response time for step changes in output voltage. This improved resonant circuit control allows subsequent current and voltage-loop controls of the SPRC to be treated as that of a conventional PWM voltage source


In an article recently published in Agronomy Journal, a two-year study evaluated nine combinations of annual forages seeded into pearl millet stubble that was either sprayed or allowed to regrow. The forages evaluated were comprised of cool-season grasses (triticale, winter wheat, and barley), brassicas (rape, turnip, radish, and a hybrid), and legumes (hairy vetch and Austrian winter pea) that were seeded as monocultures (grass only), five-species mixtures (grass plus brassicas), and seven-species mixtures (grass plus brassicas and legumes).


Rapid, simple, sensitive and accurate spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the determination of Trimetazidine in pure and pharmaceutical formulations. Various methods were developed for estimation of trimetazidine .but a simple extractive photometric method using has not been developed .This method is based on the formation of chloroform soluble ion pair complex of Trimetazidine with bromothymol blue (BTB) in buffer of pH 5.0 with absorption maximum at 409nm. Reaction conditions were optimised to obtain the maximum colour intensity. The absorbance was found to increase linearly with increase in concentration of Trimetazidine. Calibration graph was plotted and the correlation coefficient was found to be 0.998.Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 1- 7 µg/ml with molar absorptivity of 30*10^3 l /mol /cm .Various analytical parameters have been evaluated and the results have been validated by statistical data. This method has been successfully applied for the assay of drug in pharmaceutical formulations. No interference was observed from common pharmaceutical adjuvants.The proposed method is simple, accurate and suitable for quality control applications.


A filtered microwave photonic (MWP) link implemented with an optical frequency comb as a multitap optical source offers a significant improvement in noise characteristics when compared to a spectrally sliced broadband incoherent source with the same number of taps and identical tap delay. Our results show that frequency combs also enable a better use of the optical bandwidth for filtering with minimum noise-induced fluctuations. These results highlight the potential of optical frequency comb technology to operate over large distances in MWP filter links.


It is known that the model of an imperfect gas for which the Mayer function is the Gaussian function - A exp ( - r2/a2) of the distance r between two molecules is reducible to a problem in graph theory. It is shown that if the irreducible graphs occurring in the virial series are grouped according to their cyclomatic number we can expand the virial series in powers of the parameter A. The radius of convergence of the first few sub-series is the same. For the two-dimensional gas in the limiting case of A small, we find that, at a certain density, well outside the radius of convergence of the virial series, the third derivative of pressure vanishes. It is suggested that this may be the indication of a phase-transition of the model, and that its analytic behaviour is similar to that of lattice-type antiferromagnetic models.


Generally, once-daily milking (ODM) decreases milk yield. This effect may be the consequence of a decrease in mammary epithelial cell (MEC) activity or a reduction in their number. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ODM on the synthetic activity and rate of apoptosis of MEC using a non-invasive method. Eight Alpine goats were subjected to ODM or twice-daily milking for two 5-week periods. MECs were purified by centrifugation and immunocytochemical binding in milk after 1 and 5 weeks of each period. mRNA levels of some proteins involved in lactose and milk protein synthesis and in apoptosis were evaluated using real-time PCR. Isolation of MEC from milk was a useful method to investigate transcriptional regulation in a timeline study. ODM induced greater decreases in milk, lactose and protein yields after 1 week than after 5 weeks. This suggests an adaptation of the mammary gland to ODM, which reduces the inhibitory effect of this practice. Reductions in milk component yields were associated with lower α-lactalbumin transcripts, suggesting a transcriptional decrease of lactose synthesis during ODM. Glucose transporter GLUT1 transcripts were downregulated under ODM, suggesting that lactose precursor uptake by MEC might be involved in the regulation of lactose synthesis. κ-Casein mRNA levels tended to be lower during ODM. ODM increased levels of the pro-apoptotic transcript Bax after both 1 and 5 weeks, but no variation was observed in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. ODM affected cell synthetic activity through transcriptional regulation and may have induced apoptosis. The reduction of the negative effect of ODM on milk yield suggests that Alpine goats are able to adapt to ODM. Further studies are needed to investigate the effect of ODM on MEC turnover.


Aims The purpose of the paper is to present a recently completed, multicentred project, the Parent Learning Needs and Preferences Assessment Tool (PLAnT) study, in which we designed, developed and pre-piloted a tool to promote a standardised, multi-disciplinary approach to assessing parents' learning needs/preferences. Health-care professionals spend considerable time teaching parents to safely manage their child's long-term condition/s at home. However, previous research that explored the ways professionals teach parents, and the ways parents learn to manage their child's condition, identified a need for a robust method of assessing parents' learning needs as professionals can find it challenging to individualise parents' skill and knowledge development. Methods Phase 1: Data from qualitative interviews with 10 parents and 13 multi-disciplinary team professionals from 11 British children's kidney units about their learning/teaching experiences were used to develop the PLAnT. Participants were then asked to comment on the PLAnT via qualitative interviews or an online survey. Phase 2: Thirteen parents were each then paired with one of nine professionals to test the PLAnT; feedback on the experience of administering and completing the PLAnT was then sought from these 22 participants via qualitative interviews. Data were analysed using Framework Analysis. Results This presentation will explore and discuss development of the PLAnT, and the three key themes that emerged from phase 2 as we piloted it with professionals and parents. Purpose: Why ask parents' about their learning needs/preferences? To gain feedback on professionals teaching or identify prospective needs? Process: What is the best way of identifying parents' learning needs/preferences? Using a structured questionnaire or a semi-structured discussion? Outcome: How can information about parents' learning needs/preferences be used? Are professionals able and willing to adjust their practice to meet parents' needs? Conclusions Though professionals may develop an understanding of how to support parents' learning over time, they can sometimes misjudge parents' needs. Therefore, parents should routinely be asked about their learning needs/preferences. The PLAnT could be used to identify these needs, though further refinement, piloting and feasibility testing is required in future research to address the questions raised by the current study.


Scope 1 harmful emissions are directly linked to high levels of industrialization; Scope 2 and 3 carbon footprints are locally oriented and indirectly associated with household activities and behavioural alignment. East Ugenya Ward is perceived as the leader in firewood consumption, with the socioeconomically marginalized population in Siaya County resorting to this mode of fuel usage. Conversely, how the mentioned factors relate to both carbon footprints and credits is concluded with no concrete local and global resolution. The effort to reverse households' carbon emissions through green energy campaigns has proved less operative due to little understanding of carbon-related working concepts and socio-economic hardships. This study analyses the role of household Tree population. It assesses the role of socio-economic and behavioural determinants in relation to carbon footprints and potential credits that can arise through sound environmental management within local community initiatives. Three hundred eighty-four household heads were interrogated. A descriptive cross-sectional research design and simple random sampling were found to be functional. Databases were Questionnaires, field research, measurement, photography, Focused Group Discussions, observation, key informants, and enumeration. Carbon Footprint Calculator (C.F.C.) and (V.C.S.)-Verra were used to assess the household's emissions and potential credits. The spatial scale for tree population count was 20 m x 20 m quadrat. The tree-based biomass was translated using a conventional carbon sink conversion (Tons of Co2 Equivalent- tCo2eq). Data analysis involved the use of SPSS. The potential net carbon offset was (M = 0.334, SD = 0.006) tCo2eq per household. The Multinomial Logistic Regression model X2 (8, N= 384) = 24.69, Nagelkerke R2=.56, p <. 001, Strongly proved that the belief that Carbon Credit is profitable had a significant statistical association with Carbon Footprint Mitigation. The multiple linear coefficients of determination proved that 67.6%, F (381) = 69.51, p = .031, R2 = .676      of change in Carbon Footprints and 72.1%, F (381) = 72.58, p = .026, R2 =.721 of the variation in Net Carbon Credits, was attributable to combined variation in Tree population, Mean household age, and mean average monthly income. Both the Carbon Footprint and Carbon credit are affected. Therefore, local sensitization is needed to achieve knowledge and understanding of favourable emission budgets and profitable carbon trade


In this paper, a mathematical model is developed to make possible the simulation of microalgae growth and its dependency on medium temperature and light intensity. The model is utilized to simulate a compact photobioreactor response in time with physicochemical parameters of the microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum. The model allows for the prediction of the transient and local evolution of the biomass concentration in the photobioreactor with low computational time. As a result, the model is expected to be a useful tool for simulation, design, and optimization of compact photobioreactors. Numerical solutions of the mathematical model are presented for the visualization of biomass concentration and total production. Several simulations were performed with temperatures ranging from 274 K to 300 K , and the maximum biomass production was achieved with an operating temperature of 294 K.


Automatic Milking Systems (AMS) measure and record specific data about milk production and cow behaviour, providing farmers with useful real-time information for each animal. At the same time, indoor climatic conditions in terms of temperature and humidity within a dairy livestock barn represent a well-known crucial issue in farm building design and management, since these parameters can remarkably influence cows behaviour, milk yield and animal welfare. The goal of the study is to develop and test an innovative procedure for the comprehensive analysis of AMS-generated multi-variable time-series, with a focus on the analysis of the relationship between milk production and indoor climatic conditions. The specific purpose of the study is to develop and test a mathematical computer procedure using AMS-generated data and environmental parameters, designed to provide a forecasting model based on the integration of milking data and temperature and humidity levels surveyed from local sensor grids, designed to model milk production scenarios and, specifically, yield trends depending on the expected environmental conditions. For this purpose, a typical Italian farm with AMS has been adopted as a study case and internal climatic data of the barn have been analysed to understand the influence of high values of the Temperature Humidity Index (THI) on milk production in time. Then the correlation between yield variations and THI has been computed and characterized. Finally, external climatic data have been used to forecast the milk production in summertime. Once the model was validated, tests has led to predict milk yield with a relative error smaller than 2%. This study represents a step of a research aimed to define integrated systems for cow monitoring and to develop guidelines for the optimization of barn layouts.


Employees' satisfaction is thought as a key factor for hotel establishments' productivity and retention of key, competent and skillful employees. The specific objectives of this study were to assess Addis Ababa hotel employees' satisfaction level by highlighting their mean score, examining the prevailing hotel employees' satisfaction difference and examining the extent of hotel employees' satisfaction association with pay, promotion, supervision, benefits, rewards, coworkers and nature of work. The study had employed a descriptive survey research design based on data collected from 241 employees of 11 hotels conveniently selected for this study. The study found out that one and two star hotel employees had lower satisfaction level than three and four star hotels. The study also found out the prevalence of significant employees' satisfaction difference with respect to star accreditation criterion. Furthermore, pay rate and supervision have been found to be factors associated with employees' job satisfaction. In accordance with finding of the study, the study recommends hotel establishments in Addis Ababa to maximize their respective employees' satisfaction level and fill the existing gap of employees' satisfaction with respect to each star category. Besides, the study recommends those hotel establishments in the capital to concentrate on employees' satisfaction association with factors that are most relevant with it.


The delineation of groundwater potential zones in Ondo State was carried out using Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Hydrogeophysics. In this study, various thematic maps such as: soil map, slope, drainage map, land use/Land cover map, geological map, rainfall map, lineaments map were obtained from enhanced satellite imagery. These maps were overlaid in terms of weighed overlay method using Spatial Analysis tool in Arc GIS 10.5. During weighed overlay analysis, different ranks were given to each individual parameter of each thematic map and weights were assigned according to their influence. Results showed that spatial distribution of the most promising sites for groundwater exploration was dependent on the interrelated factors of lithology, topography and geologic structure. The groundwater potential map obtained from the study area showed that 17.5% of the total study area lie within the "very high" potential zone, 12.0% of the area falls within the "high", 39.5% lies within the "moderate" zone, 25.7% lies within the "low "potential zone while 5.3% lies within the very low potential zone. The very high potential areas lie within the sedimentary zone in the southern part of the study area with high alluvial deposits, while the "very low" prospect zone lies majorly within the basement complex zone in the northern part of the study area. The query results on Ijapo Vertical electric sounding (VES) data analysis shows the presence of four lithology: top soil, sand (which contains the fresh water), sand clay (which contains the brackish water) and the clay (which contains the saline water). The boreholes susceptible to salt water intrusion were identified and the best drilling point with respect to depth were also determined.


The purpose of this research is to determine the relationship of human capital that may affect the auditor quality , in which the independent variable consists of formal education level, working experience, professional qualification auditor and continuing professional development . The population of this research are auditor in Bank BRI in Semarang, sample that used amounted to 47 respondents. Method of testing is done by multiple linear regression analysis. Under the normality test, multicollinearity, heteroscedasticity test and test autocorrelation, there not found variables that deviate from the classical assumptions. This shows that the available data are qualified to use the multiple linear regression model. The results have shown that human capital positively affects the auditor quality. Higher levels of education, work experience, level of professional qualification, and the continuing professional development also produced higher auditor quality produced by the company .


From a starting point of Jay Swayze's extraordinary Underground Homes and Gardens project (1980) this paper explores and contextualises the bunker's significance and accelerated production under threat from atomic weapons in the Cold War. The nuclear bunker represents the end-point of a series of buried and semi-buried structures. Bulwarks since the early eighteenth century against increasingly sophisticated forms of ordnance, they emerge in increasing numbers throughout the twentieth century across a series of scales and spheres from the household to the civic and urban. In its proliferation as a building type and precise fitness to purpose, the bunker is arguably as emblematic of modernity as the department store, the great exhibition, the skyscraper or the machine-inspired domestic space advocated by Le Corbusier. It also represents the obverse – or perhaps a parodic iteration – of the preoccupations of early architectural modernism: a vast underground international style, cast in millions of tons of thick, reinforced concrete retaining walls, whose spatial relationship to the landscape above was strictly mediated through the periscope, the loop-hole, the range finder and the strategic necessity to both resist and facilitate the technologies and scopic regimes of weaponry. This paper critically uncoils Paul Virillo's observation that, once physically eclipsed in its topographical and technical settings, the bunker's efficacy would mutate to other domains, retaining and remaking its meaning in another topology. 'The essence of the new fortress', he writes, 'is elsewhere, underfoot, invisible from here on in'. Shaped by this impulse, this paper attempts to render visible the bunker's relationship to modernity and its architectural, cultural and urban contributions to the twentieth century. In doing so it excavates some of the relationships between the physical artefact, its implications and its enduring metaphorical and perceptual ghosts as domestic realms and whole cities and regions became atomic.


Displacement caused by tunneling is difficult to predict since it is affected by many factors such as ground condition, excavation method and supplementary method of reinforcement. In this study, horizontal inclinometer was employed to monitor ground settlements above a tunnel face before and after the excavation. Monitoring results were analyzed to predict the preceding displacement and settlement of the surface structures. The result of the analysis can be used to establish a proper counter measure which keeps the serviceability of the surface structures. Based on the analysis of the monitoring result, ground properties of the site were deduced and the influence of the tunnel excavation on the settlement of the foundation above the tunnel is analyzed.


Aim of investigation is to determine the liver condition of rats with experimental immunodeficiency. Immune deficiency (ID) in rats was induced by the injection of the cytostatic cyclophosphamide. The presence of ID was determined by lymphocytes levels (in the blood) and lysocyme (in the serum and liver). The presence of hepatitis was identified by the levels of biochemical markers of liver inflammation (MDA, elastase) and cholestasis (ALP) as well as by the level of "liver markers" (ALT, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase - ALP) in serum. Cyclophosphamide reduces the lymphocyte and lysocyme levels, and increases hepatic levels of inflammatory markers and cholestasis, and serum levels of "liver markers". Cyclophosphamide causes the development of immunodeficiency and hepatitis.


An investigation has been made in the NACA Lewis icing research tunnel to determine the aerodynamic and icing characteristics of a full-scale induction-system air-scoop assembly incorporating a flush alternate inlet. The flush inlet was located immediately downstream of the offset ram inlet and included a 180 deg reversal and a 90 deg elbow in the ducting between inlet and carburetor top deck. The model also had a preheat-air inlet. The investigation was made over a range of mass-air- flow ratios of 0 to 0.8, angles of attack of 0 and 4 deg airspeeds of 150 to 270 miles per hour, air temperatures of 0 and 25 F various liquid-water contents, and droplet sizes. The ram inlet gave good pressure recovery in both clear air and icing but rapid blockage of the top-deck screen occurred during icing. The flush alternate inlet had poor pressure recovery in both clear air and icing. The greatest decreases in the alternate-inlet pressure recovery were obtained at icing conditions of low air temperature and high liquid-water content. No serious screen icing was observed with the alternate inlet. Pressure and temperature distributions on the carburetor top deck were determined using the preheat-air supply with the preheat- and alternate-inlet doors in various positions. No screen icing occurred when the preheat-air system was operated in combination with alternate-inlet air flow.


Quite unexpectedly, all three electrons are taken up by the same anthryl moiety when 9,9'-bianthryl is reduced with an excess of sodium metal. Thanks to the "right" ligand/solvent mixture the first radical trianion salt (depicted on the right) could be isolated. It is a contact-ion quadruple of bianthryl in which all three Na+ counterions coordinate to the same half of the hydrocarbon molecule.


Decision-making regarding health care treatment is often a complex process involving a number of constituents. For health care providers, defining these constituents and their influences is critical to successful marketing. This article describes the concept of a Decision Making Unit (DMU), and provides an illustration of how it applies to the marketing of a Physical Rehabilitation Facility.


AARON RAPAPORT: An American Encounter with Polystylism: Schnittke's Cadenzas to Beethoven (Under the direction of Severine Neff) This thesis explores the early reception of Alfred Schnittke in America. Writers on Schnittke's music have continually focused on the most distinct development of his compositional practice: polystylism. However, considerations of polystylism as a method for obtaining compositional coherence have hitherto been few. This thesis examines Schnittke's 1977 cadenzas to Beethoven's Violin Concerto because they are some of the earliest pieces that brought Schnittke to American attention from critics who felt that the cadenzas were inappropriate to the Concerto. The importance of these cadenzas as America's introduction to the composer has not yet been discussed. Furthermore, an analysis based on interpretations of the musical logic of Charles Ives's quotations suggests that Schnittke's motivic integration and compositional structure in the cadenzas demonstrate modern (nineteenth-century) musical concerns, resulting in a unified composition that adheres to the forms of traditional cadenzas. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


Background: The majority of anthropometric assessments in Turner syndrome (TS) patients has focused on height. AIM: To analyze body proportions in young adult TS patients either treated or not treated with rhGH, and to compare them with a group of age-matched healthy women. Subjects and methods: Standing height, sitting height, weight, foot and leg lengths, arm span, head circumference, biliac and biacromial diameters were measured in 52 non-treated TS patients, 30 treated with rhGH and 133 healthy women. Results: Age at the start of rhGH therapy varied from 7.8 to 15.1 yr (10.0±1.3 yr), the duration of treatment from 2.8 to 8.2 yr (3.7±1.5 yr) and the mean recombinant human GH (rhGH) dose was 0.42 mg/kg/week (from 0.32 to 0.50 mg/kg/week). Non-treated patients did not show any difference in anthropometric variables when compared with the treated ones, except for hand length (p=0.02) and height (p=0.05), which were increased in the treated group. All anthropometric variables, except head circumference, were different when comparing TS patients (either treated or not) with age-matched healthy women. Conclusion: Brazilian TS patients either treated or not with rhGH showed almost no differences in terms of their body proportions. This result is probably due to the late age at the start of treatment, and/or the short period of rhGH administration. Hand length was different between the groups, showing the importance of including the extremities in body proportion assessment during rhGH treatment of TS patients.


Abstract Aim: Through reports of the athletes with disabilities interviewed, this study aimed to understand how the experiences lived in mainstream sports occur among people without disabilities. Methods: Husserl's classic phenomenology was the methodological framework adopted. The phenomenological interview was carried out with an intentional sample that included six athletes with some type of physical disability and later its recording was transcribed for the procedures of phenomenological reduction and intentional crossing to explain the meaning of what is experienced by these athletes in mainstream sport. Results: Five categories essentially describe how these experiences occur: operational body barred in the world; shaping the movement; the invisibility of disability; determination stimulus; and normalization of social relations in mainstream sports. These experiences correspond to a dynamic process in which each part does not necessarily follow the other. Conclusion: The experience in mainstream sports allowed the interviewees to improve their experience of capacity, self-efficacy, and recognition through the mutuality between self-perception and the expectation of acceptance by society.


Although the causes of multiple sclerosis are largely unknown, genetic and environmental components play an important role. Geographic distribution, varying with latitude, reflects both genetic and environmental influences. We conducted a retrospective exploratory observational study to characterize the disability progression of 2396 Jewish patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, followed at the Sheba Multiple Sclerosis Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel; 188 patients who originated in Iraq and 2207 patients who originated in northern Europe. Peripheral blood microarray gene expression analysis was performed in a subgroup of patients to identify molecular pathways associated with faster disability progression. During a follow-up period of 18.8 and 19.8 years, respectively, 51.6% of patients with an Iraqi origin progressed to moderate disability defined as expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score of 3.0 to 5.5, compared to 44.2% of patients with a northern European origin (odds ratio 1.347, 95% CI 1.0–1.815, p = 0.049). An Iraqi origin was associated with increased risk of progression to moderate disability adjusted for sex, disease duration, age at onset, and treatment with immunomodulatory drugs (hazard ratio 1.323; 95% CI, 1.049–1.668, p = 0.02), but not to severe disability defined as EDSS score > = 6.0 (i.e., walking aids are required for a distance of 100 meters, (hazard ratio 1.311; 95% CI, 0.918–1.874, p = 0.136). Gene expression analysis disclosed 98 differentially expressed genes (79 over-expressed and 19 under-expressed) between relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients of Iraqi origin (N = 17) and northern European (N = 34) origin. Interestingly, this gene expression was enriched with genes related to neuronal pathways associated with morphology of axons, branching of neurites, proliferation of neocortical neurons, and formation of myelin sheath, suggesting an augmented process of neurodegeneration in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients with an Iraqi origin. The study results suggest that relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients with an Iraqi origin progress faster to disability possibly due to an enhanced process of neurodegeneration.