The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of an examiners' training programme applied to identification of erythroplakia, which undergraduate dental students have found particularly difficult. An experimental group of 5th year undergraduate dental students received a pictorial handout with diagnostic criteria for oral red lesions and two, one hour-long diagnostic seminars in which oral erythroplakia was discussed, together with other red lesions with similar clinical appearance. Three months later a set of 16 photographic slides depicting previously pathologically diagnosed red lesions were projected. Sensitivity, specificity and agreement were all higher for the experimental group compared to a control group. It is suggested that teaching procedures using slides could be useful for training future examiners at recognizing oral erythroplakias.


THIS STUDY IS A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF T H E DISCOURSE ON CHILDHOOD RESILIENCE and the politics of teaching resilience to "kids at risk" in inner-city schools. Resiliency research is rooted in the early psychology studies of children's coping and competence. By the 1970s, researchers were observing children who appeared invulnerable to traumatic events. These children were later described as resilient, and resilience was defined as bouncing back from adversity. Today, resilience has become an ideological code for social conformity and academic achievement. My analysis problematizes "childhood resilience" and "teaching resilience" and examines two dangerous shifts in the mainstream resiliency research over the past several decades. In one shift, resilience slipped from an anomaly in the context of complex trauma to being claimed as the social norm of the dominant society. In another shift, the context of resiliency research slipped from traumatized to disadvantaged populations. Consequently, teaching resilience in inner-city schools is a popular topic among professional child and youth advocates in BC. But these two shifts manifest as teaching socioeconomically disadvantaged children to conform to the social norms of the dominant society and as rationalizing social and educational programs that help children and youth at risk overcome obstacles. Such programs do not work to challenge systemic inequalities. I undertook a discourse analysis and an interpretive inquiry in identifying three resiliency discourses: the first is a dominant expert discourse based on quantitative studies; the second is a subordinate experiential discourse based on qualitative stories; and the third is a professional advocacy discourse that includes expert and experiential knowledge. The expert discourse derives from psychometric studies of resilient-identified children, and the experiential discourse emanates from the psychotherapeutic narratives of resilient-identified adults. The advocacy discourse emerges from educators, psychologists, and social workers who advocate on behalf of children and youth at risk. The data include resiliency texts, focused interviews, and relevant fieldnotes. I developed criteria for critiquing and recognizing resilience, explored potential intersections between the expert and experiential discourses, and interpreted risk and resiliency themes in the advocacy discourse. In challenging the dominant discourse, I argue that resilience is not a fixed set of traits that can be reified and replicated. Moreover, I argue that complex trauma and trauma recovery are essential to any construct of resilience and that resilience is pluralistic, contingent, and always in process. My study recommends collaborative resiliency research that focuses on trauma and that values experiential knowledge and attends to class and cultural diversity. It also recommends that the professional advocacy community re-focus on risk and work toward developing social programs and critical pedagogies that challenge structural oppression and systemic discrimination.


Programmable logic cores differ from stand-alone field-programmable gate arrays in that they can take on a variety of shapes and sizes. With this in mind, we investigate the detailed routing architecture of rectangular programmable logic cores. We quantify the effects of having different X and Y channel capacities and show that the optimum ratio between the X and Y channel widths for a rectangular core is between 1.2 and 1.5. We also present a new switch block family optimized for rectangular cores. Further, we quantify the effects of logic block pin placement. Compared with a simple extension of an existing switch block, our new architecture leads to a density improvement of up to 11.9%. Finally, we show that, if the channel width, switch block, and pin placement are chosen carefully, then the penalty for using a rectangular core (compared to a square core with the same logic capacity) is small; for a core with an aspect ratio of 2:1, the area penalty is 1.6% and the speed penalty is 3.8%.


The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, state and local health departments, and other partners will observe National Influenza Vaccination Week during December 4-10, 2016, with educational and promotional activities across the country. Beginning in 2005, National Influenza Vaccination Week was established to highlight the importance of annual influenza vaccination and to foster greater use of influenza vaccine during the months of December, January, and beyond. Last season, almost half (45.6%) of the U.S. population aged ≥6 months are estimated to have received vaccination against influenza. This is a small decline of 1.5% since the previous season (47.1%), but close to what was seen during the 2013-2014 (46.2%).


In this letter, we directly compare digital back-propagation (DBP) with spectral inversion (SI) both with and without symmetry correction via dispersive chirping, and numerically demonstrate that predispersed SI outperforms traditional SI, and approaches the performance of computationally exhaustive ideal DBP. Furthermore, we propose for the first time a novel practical scheme employing predispersed SI to compensate the bulk of channel nonlinearities, and DBP to accommodate the residual penalties due to varying SI location, with predispersed SI ubiquitously employed along the transmission link with <;0.5-dB penalty. Our results also show that predispersed SI enables partial compensation of cross-phase modulation effects, increasing the transmission reach by ×2.


Forged documents specifically passport, driving licence and VISA stickers are used for fraud purposes including robbery, theft and many more. So detecting forged characters from documents is a significantly important and challenging task in digital forensic imaging. Forged characters detection has two big challenges. First challenge is, data for forged characters detection is extremely difficult to get due to several reasons including limited access of data, unlabeled data or work is done on private data. Second challenge is, deep learning (DL) algorithms require labeled data, which poses a further challenge as getting labeled is tedious, time-consuming, expensive and requires domain expertise. To end these issues, in this paper we propose a novel algorithm, which generates the three datasets namely forged characters detection for passport (FCD-P), forged characters detection for driving licence (FCD-D) and forged characters detection for VISA stickers (FCD-V). To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to release these datasets. The proposed algorithm starts by reading plain document images, simulates forging simulation tasks on five different countries' passports, driving licences and VISA stickers. Then it keeps the bounding boxes as a track of the forged characters as a labeling process. Furthermore, considering the real world scenario, we performed the selected data augmentation accordingly. Regarding the stats of datasets, each dataset consists of 15000 images having size of 950 x 550 of each. For further research purpose we release our algorithm code 1 and, datasets i.e. FCD-P 2 , FCD-D 3 and FCD-V 4.


Patients were also asked if the treatment switch had been informed by the physician or the pharmacist. Basic descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were calculated for all survey questions. Results A total of 48 patients underwent the medication switch from RPV/FTC/TDF to RPV/FTC/TAF (43±9 years' old; 71% males; 75% born in Spain). Most patients (73%) reported understanding why the switch was made, 90% correctly identified that TAF was associated with reduced bone adverse effects and 83% correctly identified that TAF was associated with reduced renal adverse effects. Only 44% of the patients knew that their cholesterol levels might increase. In regard to the brief handout that was given to all patients, only 17% respondents reported receiving written information about the new medication. Ninety-eight per cent of the patients knew RPV/FTC/TAF must be taken with food and 90% knew that proton pump inhibitors were contraindicated. Conclusion Patient education from an ambulatory clinic-based HIV specialist pharmacist resulted in high rates of patient satisfaction and understanding of the switch from TDF to TAFcontaining ART.


This paper addresses DCS 1800 handset performances in the cellular coverage in suburban and urban environments. Three different handset antenna types are tested: 3/8/spl lambda/ whip, helical (helix) and a patch antenna. The investigations are conducted in terms of handset antenna mean effective gain (MEG) parameter relative to a reference antenna disclosing the effects of the environment, of the proximity of a simulated human head and of the actual handset antenna orientation.


Drawing on 48 interviews with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) doctoral students at a private research university in the United States (US), we examine how students make sense of the preponderance of men at the faculty level despite increasing gender parity among students. Students' primary explanatory frame, historical bias, suggests that the gender gap will disappear when enough women attain their doctorates (PhDs). Competing frames include innate and constructed gender difference and the perceived incompatibility between a woman's body clock and an academic tenure clock. We argue that the frames that students use to explain the gender gap shed light on the cultural context of STEM, which is characterized by a tension between the belief in a meritocratic system and the acknowledgement of structural inequality. We suggest that men and women's preference for explanations that preclude bias, in light of women students' own experiences with sexism in graduate school, contributes to the reproduction of inequality by rendering invisible structural barriers to gender equality.


With the OLR data, the landfall and activity of tropical cyclones (TC) in southern China over a 20-year period (1975~1994) are studied. The result shows that the variation of the monthly anomalous OLR is somewhat teleconnected with the TC activity in southern China. The former is used to predict short-term climate for the latter over months with frequent or no TC influence. To some extent, the relationship between the TC activity in southern China and the monthly mean OLR anomalies is dependent on the climatological location of the subtropical high in northwestern Pacific region.


Abstract Lherzolites outcrop throughout the North Pyrenean Zone of the Pyrenees and are everywhere associated with metamorphosed carbonates. It has been suggested that heat from the cooling of the lherzolites was responsible for the high temperature metamorphism of the carbonates. A gravity survey reported here shows that the volume of the lherzolite body at Lers is approximately 0.8 km3. The maximum volume of carbonates that such a body could metamorphose is 3.2 km3. This latter value is so much less than the volume of carbonates inferred from field mapping that the lherzolite body cannot have been the sole source of heat for metamorphism of the carbonates. It has been suggested from seismic data that there is a step in the Moho beneath the North Pyrenean Fault in the central Pyrenees. Gravity anomalies reported here show that either the step is less than 10 km high or that the density contrast is very low at the base of the crust in the Pyrenees.


The tandem repeats of trinucleotide sequences are present in many human genes and their expansion in specific genes causes a number of hereditary neurological disorders. The normal function of triplet repeats in transcripts is barely known and the role of expanded RNA repeats in the pathogenesis of Triplet Repeat Expansion Diseases needs to be more fully elucidated. Here we have described the structures formed by transcripts composed of AAG, CAG, CCG, CGG and CUG repeats, which were determined by chemical and enzymatic structure probing. With the exception of the repeated AAG motif, all studied repeats form hairpin structures and these hairpins show several alternative alignments. We have determined the molecular architectures of these co-existing hairpin structures by using transcripts with GC-clamps which imposed single alignments of hairpins. We have provided experimental evidence that CCUG repeats implicated in myotonic dystrophy type 2 also form hairpin structures with properties similar to that composed of the CUG repeats.


INTRODUCTION
We investigated the epidemiological features of the 2007 dengue outbreak to determine the factors that could have triggered it two years after the previous large outbreak in 2005.

METHODS
All laboratory-confirmed cases of dengue reported during the year, as well as entomological and virological data, were analysed.

RESULTS
A total of 8826 cases including 24 deaths were reported in 2007, giving an incidence of 192.3 cases per 100 000 residents and a case-fatality rate of 0.27%. The median age of the cases was 37 years (interquartile range 25 to 50), with an age range from two days to 101 years, which was higher than the median age of 31 years (interquartile range 20 to 42), with a range from four days to 98 years, in 2005. The overall Aedes premises index in 2007 was 0.68%, lower than the 1.15% observed in 2005. The predominant dengue serotype in 2007 was dengue virus DENV-2 which re-emerged with a clade replacement in early 2007, and overtook the predominant serotype (DENV-1) of 2005. Seroprevalence studies conducted in the three largest outbreak clusters revealed that 73.2% of residents with recent infection were asymptomatic.

DISCUSSION
With the exception of an increase in the median age of the cases, and a change in the predominant dengue serotype, the epidemiological features of the 2007 epidemic were largely similar to those of 2005. Singapore remains vulnerable to major outbreaks of dengue, despite sustained vector control measures to maintain a consistently low Aedes premises index.


Background This study is trying to investigate the regulation mechanism of chemosensitive osteosarcoma. mRNA and miRNA profiles were explored between chemosensitive and chemoresistant osteosarcoma patients based on GSE39058 dataset. IPA was used for pathway and function enrichment. Another dataset GSE21257 with clinical characteristics was used for survival analysis, and 68 new enrolled osteosarcoma patients with chemotherapy responses were used for RT-PCR validation. Finally, lentiviruses infected U-2 OS cells were subjected to cell counting and real-time cell analyzer.Results A total of 567 differentially expressed genes and 34 differentially expressed miRNAs were screened out. These genes mainly involved in the biology functions of cell survival and cell proliferation, and enriched in the pathways of VEGF signaling, Paxillin signaling, and Inhibition of matrix matalloproteases. In 53 validation osteosarcoma patients from GSE21257, high-expression of TIMP2 and BAX, two common genes among the enriched biology functions, have favorable prognosis with p-values 0.052 and 0.027 respectively. In the 68 new enrolled patients, both TIMP2 and BAX were RT-PCR validated to be high-expressed in chemosensitive group with p-values 0.04 and 0.003 respectively. In addition, cell count and cell index either in TIMP2 or BAX infected U-2 OS cells were smaller compared with control cells within four consecutive days.Conclusions In summary, the biology functions of cell survival and cell proliferation were identified to be mainly inhibited in chemosensitive osteosarcoma patients. Two up-regulated genes, TIMP2 and BAX, were validated to be important regulators of cell proliferation and cell apoptosis in chemosensitive group. Further experimental evidences are still needed to consolidate this results.


Knowledge is an essential strategic weapon for sustaining competitive advantage and is the key determinant for organizational growth. When knowledge is shared and disseminated throughout the organization, it increases an organization`s value by providing the ability to respond to new and unusual situations. The growing importance of knowledge as a critical resource has forced executives to pay attention to their organizational knowledge. Organizations are increasingly undertaking knowledge management initiatives and making significant investments. Knowledge sourcing is considered as the first important step in effective knowledge management. Most firms continue to make an effort to realize the benefits of knowledge management by using various knowledge sources effectively. Appropriate knowledge sourcing strategies enable organizations to create, acquire, and access knowledge in a timely manner by reducing search and transfer costs, which result in better firm performance. In response, the knowledge management literature has devoted substantial attention to the analysis of knowledge sourcing strategies. Many studies have categorized knowledge sourcing strategies into internal- and external-oriented. Internal-oriented sourcing strategy attempts to increase firm performance by integrating knowledge within the boundary of the firm. On the contrary, external-oriented strategy attempts to bring knowledge in from outside sources via either acquisition or imitation, and then to transfer that knowledge across to the organization. However, the extant literature on knowledge sourcing strategies focuses primarily on large organizations. Although many studies have clearly highlighted major differences between large and small firms and the need to adopt different strategies for different firm sizes, scant attention has been given to analyzing how knowledge sourcing strategies affect firm performance in small firms and what are the differences between small and large firms in the patterns of knowledge sourcing strategies adoption. This study attempts to advance the current literature by examining the impact of knowledge sourcing strategies on small firm performance from a holistic perspective. By drawing on knowledge based theory from organization science and complementarity theory from the economics literature, this paper is motivated by the following questions: (1) what are the adoption patterns of different knowledge sourcing strategies in small firms (i.e., what sourcing strategies should be adopted and which sourcing strategies work well together in small firms)?; and (2) what are the performance implications of these adoption patterns? In order to answer the questions, this study developed three hypotheses. First hypothesis based on knowledge based theory is that internal-oriented knowledge sourcing is positively associated with small firm performance. Second hypothesis developed on the basis of knowledge based theory is that external-oriented knowledge sourcing is positively associated with small firm performance. The third one based on complementarity theory is that pursuing both internal- and external-oriented knowledge sourcing simultaneously is negatively or less positively associated with small firm performance. As a sampling frame, 700 firms were identified from the Annual Corporation Report in Korea. Survey questionnaires were mailed to owners or executives who were most erudite about the firm s knowledge sourcing strategies and performance. A total of 188 companies replied, yielding a response rate of 26.8%. Due to incomplete data, 12 responses were eliminated, leaving 176 responses for the final analysis. Since all independent variables were measured using continuous variables, supermodularity function was used to test the hypotheses based on the cross partial derivative of payoff function. The results indicated no significant impact of internal-oriented sourcing strategies while positive impact of external-oriented sourcing strategy on small firm performance. This intriguing result could be explained on the basis of various resource and capital constraints of small firms. Small firms typically have restricted financial and human resources. They do not have enough assets to always develop knowledge internally. Another possible explanation is competency traps or core rigidities. Building up a knowledge base based on internal knowledge creates core competences, but at the same time, excessive internal focused knowledge exploration leads to behaviors blind to other knowledge. Interestingly, this study found that internal- and external-oriented knowledge sourcing strategies had a substitutive relationship, which was inconsistent with previous studies that suggested complementary relationship between them. This result might be explained using organizational identification theory. Internal organizational members may perceive external knowledge as a threat, and tend to ignore knowledge from external sources because they prefer to maintain their own knowledge, legitimacy, and homogeneous attitudes. Therefore, integrating knowledge from internal and external sources might not be effective, resulting in failure of improvements of firm performance. Another possible explanation is small firms resource and capital constraints and lack of management expertise and absorptive capacity. Although the integration of different knowledge sources is critical, high levels of knowledge sourcing in many areas are quite expensive and so are often unrealistic for small enterprises. This study provides several implications for research as well as practice. First, this study extends the existing knowledge by examining the substitutability (and complementarity) of knowledge sourcing strategies. Most prior studies have tended to investigate the independent effects of these strategies on performance without considering their combined impacts. Furthermore, this study tests complementarity based on the productivity approach that has been considered as a definitive test method for complementarity. Second, this study sheds new light on knowledge management research by identifying the relationship between knowledge sourcing strategies and small firm performance. Most current literature has insisted complementary relationship between knowledge sourcing strategies on the basis of data from large firms. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, this study identifies substitutive relationship between knowledge sourcing strategies using data from small firms. Third, implications for practice highlight that managers of small firms should focus on knowledge sourcing from external-oriented strategies. Moreover, adoption of both sourcing strategies simultaneously impedes small firm performance.


This paper provides a parametric decomposition of output growth and total factor productivity changes, extending production approach to the case of non-neutral stochastic frontier. The results were based on unbalanced panel data from Ethiopian smallholder farmers observed over the period 1999–2015. The study decomposes output growth into input growth and total factor productivity changes while both were further decomposed into components. Output growth was decomposed into individual inputs contribution, whilst total factor productivity change decomposed into technical change, scale effect and technical efficiency changes. The empirical findings indicate output growth was mainly driven by total factor productivity changes (71%) while 22% attributed to input growth. Technical change found to be the main source of total factor productivity while scale effect also contributed significantly. Technical efficiency change was found to be the main source for the reduction of total factor productivity and so in output growth. The result indicates both changes due to inputs use and farm-characteristics were found the most important, in explaining technical efficiency changes, cancelling the negative impact due to autonomous changes and environmental factors. The finding implies there are total factor productivity changes and the output growth in cereal farming is mainly driven by technical change, suggesting policies aim at enhancing technology adoption and investment in modernizing agriculture are significantly effective. Thus policies directed toward enhancing agricultural technologies that improve technical change, enable farmers to benefit from scale of operations and their best practice form essential part of the overall agricultural policies.

 Key words: Output growth, total factor productivity, decomposition, stochastic frontier, farming, Ethiopia.


As international efforts mount to combat corruption, whistleblower protections have become increasingly important. As a G20 nation, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made commitments to reinforce the rules relating to such communication. However, the lack of comprehensive laws has become an obstacle. This study examines the current whistleblowing laws and offers suggestions through which Saudi Arabia can achieve its goals for Saudi Vision 2030. To attract foreign investments and businesses, the Saudi Kingdom will need to prove that there are mechanisms in place to prevent instances of corruption. As there are already relevant examples provided by other nations, Saudi legislative bodies should be able to look to these examples to develop valid countermeasures to corruption.


The purpose of this paper is to study in detail the constraint structure of the Hamiltonian description for the scalar and electromagnetic fields in the presence of spatial boundaries. We carefully discuss the implementation of the geometric constraint algorithm of Gotay, Nester and Hinds with special emphasis on the relevant functional analytic aspects of the problem. This is an important step toward the rigorous understanding of general field theories in the presence of boundaries, very especially when these fail to be regular. The geometric approach employed in the paper is also useful with regard to the interpretation of the physical degrees of freedom and the nature of the constraints when both gauge symmetries and boundaries are present.


IPv6, the new version of the Internet Protocol IP developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), has many advantages, including addressing, auto-configuration, mobility, quality of service, and security. In addition, the network infrastructure and the majority of Internet services are currently available on IPv4, and therefore it is impossible to migrate from IPv4 to IPv6 in a single day. IPv4 and IPv6 have to coexist for a long time, and the deployment of IPv6 can only be done gradually. Several transition mechanisms were developed and can be used for this reason. This research examines and evaluates three transition mechanisms, namely the dual stack, the manual tunnel, and the 6to4 automatic tunnel on a real-time application (video conferencing) using the network simulator OPNET Modeler. Performance parameters such as delay, delay variation, and packet loss are measured for these transition mechanisms. This research showed that the dual stack transition mechanism gave better network performance than the tunneling mechanisms.


We develop a model in which two profit maximizing exchanges compete for IPO listings. They choose the listing fees paid by entrepreneurs wishing to go public and control the trading costs incurred by investors. All entrepreneurs prefer lower costs, however entrepreneurs differ in how they value a decrease in trading costs. Hence, in equilibrium, competing exchanges obtain positive expected profits by offering different execution costs and different listing fees. As a result, firms that list on different exchanges have di#erent characteristics. The model has testable implications for the cross--sectional characteristics of IPOs on different quality exchanges and the relationship between the level of trading costs and listing fees. We also find that competition does not guarantee that exchanges choose welfare maximizing trading rules.


Total Synthesis (TS) ideas for nonlinear, multivariable control design are based upon the Total Synthesis Problem introduced in 1979 [2]. Motivation for the TS approach, which originated in gas turbine studies [1], is the development of an application based, user oriented design theory for nonlinear, multivariable feedback controller synthesis. This paper continues the evaluation of TS techniques, in an illustrative way, by means of multiple examples founded upon a realistic digital simulation for a gas turbine engine. Emphasis is placed upon the application viewpoint.


INTRODUCTION The information communication technology developing in today's world brings about new and different communication opportunities. In modern period communication tools that are shaped under the dominance of postmodern images, mean more than being means of communication and play a more effective role compared to the past. These tools, which are mediating the change of culture production mechanisms, increase the parameter of functionality by incorporating into people and tuning to each other. They are accepted as an important part of daily routine. For these reasons, the present age is considered as the age of convergence. In fact, convergence, as a concept, is pushing the limits day by day. It hints its effects on economic, political, and cultural lives by breaking the taboos considering its nature as a technological concept. The profile of individual -consumerof the new world is different. The change of media perception and media consumption habits led the passive and isolated consumers of previous periods to give way to social consumers who are interested in interaction and sharing. These consumers, who are new subjects of the new period, do not do with consumption of the product presented by media as audiences; they have desire to participate in the story and to be one of the creators of it. Social media platforms, which are actively used by these consumers in their daily lives, play an important role regarding realizing these desires, reaching new contents, and the efforts to re-create and share the new content. New style of storytelling, which feeds on the codes peculiar to the period and is expressed as transmedia storytelling, enables consumers to shape media content and media as they wish through creating a deep, overreaching, and participative plot; language and narration model; and in this sense, necessitates a detailed analysis.


The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between human papillomavirus (HPV) type 6/11 and 16/18 infections and glandular thickening mammary gland hyperplasia in order to explore methods for preventing glandular thickening mammary gland hyperplasia. A total of 240 patients with glandular thickening mammary gland hyperplasia who were treated by surgery in our hospital from January 2012 to June 2017 were enrolled in the present study. The hyperplastic breast tissue and adjacent normal breast tissue were taken to test HPV type 6/11 and 16/18 infections using conventional PCR and in situ hybridization techniques. The correlations between HPV type 6/11 and 16/18 infections and glandular thickening mammary gland hyperplasia were analyzed using statistical methods of chi-square test. The infection rates of HPV type 6/11 and 16/18 in the hyperplastic breast tissue were 31.95% and 34.91%, respectively and 11.83% and 14.79% in the normal breast tissue, respectively. The differences were statistically significant (all p<0.05). HPV type 6/11 and 16/18 infections may be closely related to the development of glandular thickening mammary gland hyperplasia, and may be one of the causes of glandular thickening mammary gland hyperplasia.


(a): Yes Sir, the Ministry has taken a number of measures to boost the industrial growth of the country. These, inter-alia, include announcement of National Manufacturing Policy (NMP), 2011, simplification and rationalization of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy, implementation of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project, conceptualisation of Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC), launching of the e-biz Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan, and creating a joint venture 'Invest India' in association with FICCI. Besides, incentives are given for helping industries in difficult areas through plan schemes of Transport Subsidy/Freight Subsidy Scheme, special package of incentives for Special Category States, North-East Industrial & Investment Promotion Policy, 2007, and specific programmes like Modified Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme, Indian Leather Development Programmes etc. (b) & (c): The Ministry is carefully monitoring the impact of global economic slowdown on domestic economy. The industrial growth as reflected by the Index of industrial Production slowed down in the last two years. This has been on account of a number of factors including, inter-alia, economic slowdown in other parts of the world.


INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent inducer of inflammatory response. Inflammation is a major risk factor for many diseases. Regulation of inflammatory mediator and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels could be a potential therapeutic approach to treat inflammatory injury. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether epalrestat (EPS), which is used for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy, suppresses inflammatory response in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The effects of EPS at near-plasma concentration on the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators was examined using by MTS assay, quantitative RT-PCR analysis, and western blotting in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.

RESULTS
EPS suppressed mRNA and protein expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα, in RAW264.7 cells stimulated with LPS. EPS also affected inflammatory mediators such as iNOS and NF-κB in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.

CONCLUSIONS
In this study, we demonstrated for the first time that EPS suppresses inflammatory response in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. From these results, we propose that targeting the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and inflammatory mediators by EPS is a promising therapeutic approach to treat inflammatory injury. It is expected that EPS, whose safety and pharmacokinetics have been confirmed clinically, would be useful for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.


Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men in the U.S. No accurate biomarkers exists that can discriminate for aggressive PCa and therapeutic options are limited for metastatic disease. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) have emerged as promising clinical tools for cancers. These small non-coding RNAs negatively regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Widespread miRNA dysregulation has been noted in PCa. However, it is poorly understood how they function in the prostate to promote cancer progression and metastasis. Our lab recently identified miR-888 as a novel oncogenic miRNA up-regulated in specimens from patients with advanced PCa and acts to increase prostate cell proliferation, migration, & colony formation in vitro (Lewis et al, Cell Cycle 2014). MiR-888 belongs to a genomic cluster of seven miRNAs on human chromosome Xq27.3, an area linked to hereditary prostate cancer (HPCX1). We hypothesize additional members of miR-888 cluster (miR-892c, -890, -892a, -892b, -891b, -891a) function to promote PCa progression. Our studies employed paired syngenic human PCa cell lines differing in their metastatic status and response to androgen (i.e., androgen-sensitive, non-malignant RWPE-1 & aggressive WPE1-NB26; androgen-sensitive LNCaP & aggressive C4-2; hormone-refractory PC3-N & aggressive PC3-ML) to examine the miR-888 cluster9s ability to modulate prostate cell proliferation (WST-1 assays), colony formation (Soft agar assays), migration, and invasion (Boyden chamber assays). Profiling miRNA expression in these cancer lines, we found that all miR-888 cluster members were preferentially elevated in highly aggressive PC3-ML and extensively down-regulated in non-aggressive PC3-N cells. Furthermore, we noted certain members of the miR-888 cluster, most notably miR-891a, acted in vitro to promote prostate cell proliferation, colony formation, migration & invasion activities. Interestingly, our results also suggested that other miR-888 cluster members act conversely to inhibit these activities - implying the miR-888 cluster functions as a unit to fine tune and coordinate prostate cancer pathways. Xenograft experiments are currently ongoing to evaluate in vivo effects of the miR-888 cluster during tumorigenesis. Preliminary data indicated that miR-888 could accelerate tumor formation of PC3-N cells subcutaneously implanted into flanks of NOD/SCID male mice. MiR-888 cluster members are now being evaluated for their non-cell autonomous effects in the prostate by exosomal transport. We have successfully isolated exosomes from human PCa cell lines and are working towards developing these secreted membrane-bound vesicles as novel miRNA delivery vehicles for PCa. Taken together, this study offers a more detailed understanding of PCa and insight into the complexity of miRNA networks involved in cancer progression. Citation Format: Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, Mary Pahuski, Garrison Glavich, Holly B. Lewis, Aurora Esquela-Kerscher. The miR-888 cluster: a new oncogenic cluster involved in aggressive prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1933.


Goal To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancers (EGCs) at a new endoscopic center. Background ESD is a novel technique that can facilitate en-bloc resection of EGCs, but seldom reported outside Japan. Study A total of 25 consecutive patients (25 lesions) underwent ESD from June 2004 to March 2006. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group A underwent ESD from June 2004 to May 2005 (introduction stage) and group B from June 2005 to March 2006. The following data were obtained: tumor size, tumor location, operative time, and major complication. Results The complete resection was achieved in 20 lesions (success rate 80%). Four out of 10 lesions from group A were removed by conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) piecemeally after ESD failure. Conversely, 14 patients from group B (n=15) were resected by ESD en-bloc (success rate 93.3%). One patient with microscopic residual tumor after ESD was further treated by surgical resection. The time required for resection was significantly longer in group A when compared with group B (130.5 min vs. 81.5 min, P<0.05). Postoperative complication rate between the 2 groups were similar. One patient with piecemeal EMR recurred in follow-up, and was further treated successfully by EMR. Conclusions ESD is an ideal method for EGC treatment, but it may result in a risk of complication. The complete resection rate can be improved by endoscopist's experience. Sophisticated endoscopic hemostasis and clipping skills are essential prior ESD procedures. Conventional EMR techniques are also obligatory during the beginning period.


Flow cytometry (FCM) for the determination of DNA content and cell cycle analysis was performed on multiple bone marrows from a case of acute megakaryocytic leukemia in a 71‐year‐old woman. Two aneuploid (multiploid) peaks were present at diagnosis. This multiploidy was a stable characteristic when studied temporally. The disappearance of the peaks in the bone marrow specimens directly correlated with complete remission morphologically. These findings further support the concept of FCM as an adjunct to morphologic study in identifying residual tumor burden.


ABSTRACT Type 1 CD4+-T-cell-mediated immunity is crucial for the resolution of chlamydial infection of the murine female genital tract. Previous studies demonstrating a correlation between CD4+-T-cell-mediated inhibition of chlamydial growth and gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-mediated induction of nitric oxide synthase suggested a potential role for the nitric oxide (NO) effector pathway in the clearance of Chlamydia from genital epithelial cells by the immune system. To clarify the role of this pathway, the growth levels of Chlamydia trachomatis organisms in normal (iNOS+/+) mice and in genetically engineered mice lacking the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene (iNOS−/− mice) were compared. There was no significant difference in the course of genital chlamydial infections in iNOS+/+ and iNOS−/− mice as determined by recovery of Chlamydia organisms shed from genital epithelial cells. Dissemination of Chlamydia to the spleen and lungs occurred to a greater extent in iNOS−/− than in iNOS+/+ mice, which correlated with a marginal increase in the susceptibility of macrophages from iNOS−/− mice to chlamydial infection in vitro. However, infections were rapidly cleared from all affected tissues, with no clinical signs of disease. The finding of minimal dissemination in iNOS−/− mice suggested that activation of the iNOS effector pathway was not the primary target of IFN-γ during CD4+-T-cell-mediated control of chlamydial growth in macrophages because previous reports demonstrated extensive and often fatal dissemination ofChlamydia in mice lacking IFN-γ. In summary, these results indicate that the iNOS effector pathway is not required for elimination of Chlamydia from epithelial cells lining the female genital tract of mice although it may contribute to the control of dissemination of C. trachomatis by infected macrophages.


The activity of peroxidase (POD) in cabbage was evaluated using spectrophotometric method. The enzyme was extracted from the cabbage leaves with 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution pH 7. 0 . POD activity was determined using (O-dianisidine) as a substrate. The effects of the amounts of enzyme extract, substrate concentration, pH and temperature were investigated. The highest activity of POD was recored at 2 mg/ml. The highest activity of POD was optimized with 16 mM O-dianisidine, The optimum pH was 7.0 for POD , The optimum temperature was 30°C for POD. These optimum conditions were used to determined the enzyme activities in cabbage sample. Acetone fractionated peroxidase from crude extract of Brassica oleracea leaves (Cabbage) was purified on DEAE-Cellulose chromatographic columns. The specific activity of purified POD is 103.70 (U/mg) ،which is 5.37 times more than the crude extract with 28.72% recovery. Maximum pH, thermal activity and stability of this purified enzyme are also determined were 40°C .


Depending on the presence or absence of sulci and convolutions, the brains of mammals are classified as gyrencephalic or lissencephalic. We analyzed the encephalic anatomy of the hystricomorph rodent Lagostomus maximus in comparison with other evolutionarily related species. The encephalization quotient (EQ), gyrencephaly index (GI), and minimum cortical thickness (MCT) were calculated for the plains vizcacha as well as for other myomorph and hystricomorph rodents. The vizcacha showed a gyrencephalic brain with a sagittal longitudinal fissure that divides both hemispheres, and 3 pairs of sulci with bilateral symmetry; that is, lateral-rostral, intraparietal, and transverse sulci. The EQ had one of the lowest values among Hystricomorpha, while GI was one of the highest. Besides, the MCT was close to the mean value for the suborder. The comparison of EQ, GI, and MCT values between hystricomorph and myomorph species allowed the detection of significant variations. Both EQ and GI showed a significant increase in Hystricomorpha compared to Myomorpha, whereas a Pearson's analysis between EQ and GI depicted an inverse correlation pattern for Hystricomorpha. Furthermore, the ratio between MCT and GI also showed a negative correlation for Hystricomorpha and Myomorpha. Our phylogenetic analyses showed that Hystricomorpha and Myomorpha do not differ in their allometric patterning between the brain and body mass, GI and brain mass, and MCT and GI. In conclusion, gyrencephalic neuroanatomy in the vizcacha could have developed from the balance between the brain size, the presence of invaginations, and the cortical thickness, which resulted in a mixed encephalization strategy for the species. Gyrencephaly in the vizcacha, as well as in other Hystricomorpha, advocates in favor of the proposal that in the more recently evolved Myomorpha lissencephaly would have arisen from a phenotype reversal process.


The paper considers simultaneous and tuning of power system stabilizers for stabilization of power systems over a wide range of operating conditions using genetic algorithm. The power system operating at various conditions is considered as a finite set of plants. The problem of setting parameters of power system stabilizers is converted as a simple optimization problem that is solved by a genetic algorithm and an eigenvalue-based objective function. A single machine - infinite bus system and a multi-machine system are considered to test the suggested technique. The optimum placement and tuning of parameters of PSSs are done simultaneously. A PSS tuned using this procedure is robust at different operating conditions and structure changes of the system.


Few studies in the United States have examined longitudinally the mortality risks associated with use of smokeless tobacco (SLT). The sample of our study was composed of participants from the National Longitudinal Mortality Study who completed a single Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey between the years 1985 and 2011. Using survival methods, SLT use at the baseline survey was examined as a predictor of all‐cause mortality and cause‐specific mortalities in models that excluded individuals who had ever smoked cigarettes, cigars or used pipes (final n = 349,282). The participants had median and maximum follow‐up times of 8.8 and 26.3 years, respectively. Regression analyses indicated that compared to the never tobacco users, the current SLT users did not have elevated mortality risks from all cancers combined, the digestive system cancers and cerebrovascular disease. However, current SLT users had a higher mortality risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) [hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI) = 1.24 (1.05, 1.46)] relative to never tobacco users. In a separate model, the elevated risk for CHD mortality corresponded to the use of moist snuff [HR (95% CI) = 1.30 (1.03, 1.63)]. The associations with CHD mortality could be attributed to long‐term nicotine exposure, other SLT constituents (e.g., metals) or the confounding effects of CHD risk factors not accounted for in our study. The study's findings contribute to the ongoing dialogue on tobacco harm reduction and the US FDA's evaluation of Modified Risk Tobacco Product applications submitted by American SLT manufacturers.


Graphene is widely used in tunable photonic devices due to its numerous exotic and exceptional properties that are not found in conventional materials, such as high electron mobility, ultra-thin width, ease of integration and good tunability. In this paper, we propose a terahertz metamaterial absorber that is based on patterned graphene, which consists of stacked graphene disk layers, open ring graphene pattern layers and metal bottom layers, all separated by insulating dielectric layers. Simulation results showed that the designed absorber achieved almost perfect broadband absorption at 0.53–1.50 THz and exhibited polarization-insensitive and angle-insensitive characteristics. In addition, the absorption characteristics of the absorber can be adjusted by changing the Fermi energy of graphene and the geometrical parameters of the structure. The above results indicate that the designed absorber can be applied to photodetectors, photosensors and optoelectronic devices.


Based on our direct shear creep experiment and the direct shear rheological constitutive model, a semi-empirical time-dependent parameter of the shear strength is obtained by Mohr–Coulomb shear strength theory, and different time-dependent traction force calculations between deep-sea sediment and a tracked miner are conducted by the work-energy principle. The time-dependent traction force calculation under its influencing factors, including the time, track shoe number, and grounding pressure, are analyzed and proved to be valid by the traction force experiment of a single-track shoe. The results show that the time-dependent cohesion force obtained by a semi-empirical way can be easily used to deduce the time-dependent traction force models under the different grounding pressure distributions and applied into deep-sea engineering application conveniently; the verified traction force models by the traction force experiment of a single-track shoe illustrate that traction force under the decrement grounding pressure distribution is the worst among the four kinds of grounding pressure distributions and suggested for evaluating the most unfavorable traction force and calculating the trafficability and stability of the deep-sea tracked miner.


In India, chicken farms supply chicken to small shops called "Chicken Stalls" where they are usually slaughtered and cut. Indians usually ask for skinless chicken when ordering from these shops. Therefore, the skin is disposed of from these shops. This skin is disposed usually in the public drain and therefore becomes potentially hazardous solid waste in the environment. After seeing the excess of chicken skin/fat in the market, we realized that this waste could be used to create biodiesel. This biodiesel could be used to power automobiles (with modified engines), for domestic purposes and biodiesel could also be a cheaper source of fuel compared to refinery diesel. Fat from the waste chicken skins (sourced from local shops), was first extracted but the viscosity of these animal fat based oil is higher, so these can be brought down by a process known as "Transesterification" which is the process of exchanging the organic group R′′ of an ester with the organic group R′ of an alcohol. These reactions are often catalyzed by the addition of an acid or base catalyst. An experimental work has been carried out to analyze the emission and performance characteristics of a single cylinder compression ignition engine fueled with mineral diesel and diesel-biodiesel blends. The results of experimental investigation with biodiesel blends were compared with that of baseline diesel. Keywords—Biodiesel, Transesterification


The most popular reconstruction algorithm for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is based on the computationally-inexpensive filtered-backprojection (FBP) method. However, that method usually requires dense projections over the Nyquist samplings, which imposes severe restrictions on the imaging doses. Moreover, the algorithm tends to produce cone-beam artifacts as the cone angle is increased. Several variants of the FBP-based algorithm have been developed to overcome these difficulties, but problems with the cone-beam reconstruction still remain. In this study, we considered a compressed-sensing (CS)-based reconstruction algorithm for low-dose, high-quality dental CBCT images that exploited the sparsity of images with substantially high accuracy. We implemented the algorithm and performed systematic simulation works to investigate the imaging characteristics. CBCT images of high quality were successfully reconstructed by using the built-in CS-based algorithm, and the image qualities were evaluated quantitatively in terms of the universal-quality index (UQI) and the slice-profile quality index (SPQI).We expect the reconstruction algorithm developed in the work to be applicable to current dental CBCT systems, to reduce imaging doses, and to improve the image quality further.


We show that any coboundary Lie bialgebra can be quantized. For this, we prove that: (a) Etingof-Kazhdan quantization functors are compatible with Lie bialgebra twists, and (b) if such a quantization functor corresponds to an even associator, then it is also compatible with the operation of taking coopposites. We also use the relation between the Etingof-Kazhdan construction of quantization functors and the alternative approach to this problem, which was established in a previous work.


Jonsson, A. 2006. Planning for Increased Bioenergy use – Strategies for Minimising Environmental Impacts and Analysing the Consequences. Licentiate thesis. ISSN 1651-0720 There are several goals aimed at increasing the use of renewable energy in the Swedish energy system. Bioenergy is one important renewable energy source and there is a potential to increase its use in the future. This thesis aimed to develop and analyse strategies and tools that could be used when planning for conversion to bioenergy-based heating systems and the building of new residential areas with bioenergy-based heating. The goal was to enable the increase of bioenergy and simultaneously minimise the negative health effects caused by emissions associated with the combustion of bioenergy. The thesis consists of two papers. Paper I concerned existing residential areas and conversion from electric heating and individual heating systems, such as firewood and oil boilers, to more modern and low-emitting pellet techniques and small-scale district heating. Paper II concerned new residential areas and how to integrate bioenergy-based heating systems that cause impacts on local air quality into the physical planning process through using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and a meteorological dispersion model, ALARM. The results from Paper I indicated that it was possible to convert areas currently using electric heating to pellet techniques and small-scale district heating without degrading local air quality. Furthermore, it was possible to decrease high emissions caused by firewood boilers by replacing them with pellet boilers. The results from Paper II highlighted that GIS and ALARM were advantageous for analysing local air quality characteristics when planning for new residential areas and before a residential area is built: thus, avoiding negative impacts caused by bioenergy-based combustion. In conclusion, the work procedures developed in this thesis can be used to counteract negative impacts on local air quality with increasing use of bioenergy in the heating system. Analysis of potentially negative aspects before conversion to bioenergy-based heating systems, or before bioenergy-based heating systems are installed in new residential areas, make it possible to avoid these heating systems in areas with sensitive air quality characteristics, and to increase bioenergy use without causing negative impacts on local air quality and potential health risks to the inhabitants in such areas.


Background and purpose: Depression is one of the most common psychological disorders, which has attracted researchers' attention. Many studies have introduced cognitive-behavioral therapy as an effective treatment for depression. Therefore, current study aimed to investigate the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy on the reduction of depression among students. Method: Current research was a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest control group design. Among all the students referred to the Welfare and Educational Counseling Center of Kermanshah City, 30 students with severe depression were selected using convenient sampling method and randomly assigned to experimental and control group. Data were collected using clinical interview based on fourth edition of diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (American Association of Psychology, 2000) and Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (Angold & et al, 1987). Results: Results showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy significantly reduced depression among experimental group in posttest ( p < .0001). Conclusion: according to our findings, cognitive-behavioral therapy can be used as an effective treatment for emotional-behavioral problems among students. Implications are discussed in paper. on


The effects of various regimens of melphalan combination chemotherapy were evaluated in 508 patients with multiple myeloma. No value was confirmed from the addition of procarbazine or vincristine sulfate to melphalan-prednisone combinations. Ninety-six patients who responded to treatment were allocated at random to one of three maintenance regimens, namely intermittent courses of carmustine with prednisone, continued courses of melphalan with prednisone, or no chemotherapy. There were no differences in the frequency of relapse, the remission duration, or the survival time among these maintenace groups. The frequencies of pneumonia and herpes zoster were higher in patients receiving continued chemotherapy. Continued melphalan-prednisone chemotherapy after the first year is of no major value to responding patients with multiple cyeloma. Attempts to reduce tumor mass maximally with a change in therapy are justified.


3870 Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering & Sciences Publication Retrieval Number: B7620129219/2019©BEIESP DOI: 10.35940/ijitee.B7620.129219  Abstract: Signcryption perform both encryption and signature verification simultaneously with minimum computational time and overhead when compared to that of the traditional signature model. Certificateless Sigcryption rectifies issues corresponding to the key escrow problem and hence reducing the key management in the traditional key cryptography in Cloud environment. There has been some Certificateless Signcryption methods proposed, most of which are proved secured using the proxy pairing operations. However, with proxy pairing found to be computationally difficult in understanding and with the discrete operation reducing the advantages gained from smaller key size, data security is said to be compromised. To address this issue, in this work, a method called, Bilinear Quantum Mutual Exclusive Signcryption (BQ-MES) for data security in cloud environment is presented based on quantum principles. The new method inherits the security of bilinear mapping along with quantum, which possesses lower computation complexity than proxy operations, employed in signcrypting data in cloud environment. In the BQ-MES method, only a designated authorized cloud user recovers the data stored in the cloud via cloud service provider by verifying the validity of a signcrypted data. This is performed using Mutually Exclusive Probability model. Experimental works are conducted on the parameters such as computational time, computational overhead and data security rate. By evaluating the performance with related schemes, results show that the data stored in cloud environment is secured using BQ-MES method and computationally efficient.


The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse critically those of the new tendencies in decision making that are connected with an increased significance of intuition. Firstly, the notion of quasi-rationality, utilized in the Cognitive Continuum Theory, will be presented, following which there will be a discussion of the concept of non-rational thinking and its relevance in the decision making process. In the last part, this paper will describe what is called a model for ethical decision making which combines rational analysis with intuition. Lastly, some conclusions will be offered concerning future applications of intuition in decision making, and proposed directions for research


The Internal Medicine Residency Program of the Raritan Bay Medical Center's Perth Amboy Division was changed in July 1987 from a full continuity-of-care system to a unit-isolation one. The authors compared patients' data from the first two months of the academic years 1986-87 and 1987-88 and were unable to observe any impact of the change on length of stay in intensive care. However, informal interviews with the house staff members indicated that the change had a positive impact on their education, because of their closer observation of the pathophysiology of individual disease states and greater enjoyment of the time spent in critical care.


Some methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms are associated with hyperhomocysteinemia. Trials have shown a plasma homocysteine raising effect of coffee. We determined the effect of a daily intake of 600 ml coffee and a supplementation of 200 microg folic acid or placebo on plasma homocysteine (tHcy) with respect to the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms. One hundred and twenty healthy, non-smoking men (22%) and women (78%) aged 29-65 years, took part in a controlled, randomized, blinded study with two intervention periods: i) a coffee-free period of three weeks, ii) 600 ml coffee/day and a supplement of 200 microg folic acid/d or placebo for four weeks. The results showed that tHcy at baseline was significantly higher for the 677TT genotype group compared to the 677CC genotype group (p=0.0045) and that this group responded with significantly larger increase in tHcy upon coffee exposure than the 677CC and 677CT genotype groups (p=0.0045 and p=0.0041, respectively). Supplementation with 200 microg folic acid compared to placebo reduced the tHcy increasing effect of coffee in the 677TT genotype group. The A1298C polymorphism did not affect tHcy concentration significantly at any stage in the study. In conclusion, the homocysteine increasing effect of coffee is particularly seen in individuals with the homozygous 677TT genotype. Supplementation with 200 microg folic acid/d decreases this tHcy increment.


Abstract Parametric studies with the NOXSO process—a dry, regenerable flue gas treatment system that simultaneously removes SO2 and NOx from flue gas produced by the combustion of coal—were conducted. The reusable sorbent that was tested consisted of sodium carbonate impregnated on a high surface area γ-alumina sphere (1·6- mm nominal diameter). All process steps, including adsorption and regeneration, were integrated into a new 60-KWe-scale Life-Cycle Test Unit so that continuous, long-term operation of the total process could be experimentally evaluated. The effects of sorbent flow rate, temperature, inlet SO2 and NOx, concentrations, and sorbent residence time (fluid bed depth) on pollutant removal efficiencies in the absorption step were determined. Also, the impact of the type of regenerant gas, temperature, steam, excess regenerant gas, and diluent on the regeneration of the sorbent was investigated. Sorbent properties with respect to time on stream (cycles of operation) are also reported.


The principal criteria for multiply charged ion production are summarized and the different approaches are considered. The main emphasis is put on ECRIS (Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Source). A miniaturized ECR source, called MINIMAFIOS, is described. It delivers multiply charged heavy particles including completely stripped light ions. The source plasma is located in a magnetic well allowing long exposure time to electron bombardment and subsequently efficient successive ionization collisions. The beam intensities are in a range of 108 to 1014 pps cm-2 with beam emittances of < 1 mm mrad (normalized). The beam extraction voltage is tunable from 1 kV to 20 kV. The source is very reliable and its handling simple. Present characteristics are given and future developments are mentioned. The beams are suitable for numerous atomic physics experiments.


"BEWARE of geeks bearing formulas." So saith Warren Buffett, the Wizard of Omaha. Words to bear in mind as we bail out banks and buy up mortgages and tweak interest rates and nothing, nothing seems to make any difference on Wall Street or Main Street. Years ago, Mr. Buffett called derivatives "weapons of financial mass destruction" — an apt metaphor considering that the Manhattan Project's math and physics geeks bearing formulas brought us the original weapon of mass destruction, at Trinity in New Mexico on July 16, 1945.


OBJECTIVE
This project was designed to explore the utilization of specific health care resources by obese compared with nonobese women in a primary care setting.

METHOD
Eighty-three obese women, consecutively identified during nonemergent appointments in a primary care health maintenance organization (HMO) setting, were compared with 111 nonobese women with regard to several parameters of health care utilization. All participants' medical records were reviewed for the preceding 12 months for the number of diagnoses, combined telephone and physician contacts with the facility, different physicians seen, and prescriptions.

RESULTS
Increasing body mass index (BMI) was predictive of a greater number of diagnoses, contacts with the facility, total number of prescriptions, and number of different physicians seen. After controlling for the number of diagnoses, BMI remained predictive of the number of different physicians seen.

DISCUSSION
Our findings indicate that increasing BMI is associated with greater health care utilization, primarily through greater morbidity. Additionally, there may also be particular psychosocial and illness factors which contribute to obese women's patterns of physician contact.


In this paper, we unify the Markov theory of a variety of different types of graphs used in graphical Markov models by introducing the class of loopless mixed graphs, and show that all independence models induced by $m$-separation on such graphs are compositional graphoids. We focus in particular on the subclass of ribbonless graphs which as special cases include undirected graphs, bidirected graphs, and directed acyclic graphs, as well as ancestral graphs and summary graphs. We define maximality of such graphs as well as a pairwise and a global Markov property. We prove that the global and pairwise Markov properties of a maximal ribbonless graph are equivalent for any independence model that is a compositional graphoid.


Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a systemic granulomatous inflammatory disease of unknown origin. It occurs at any age, with the peak incidence in the third and fourth decades. The classic diagnostic triad of WG is necrotising granuloma of the upper or lower respiratory tract, vasculitis, and nephritis. Identifying a raised ANCA titre is virtually diagnostic of the disease, especially with the classic granular cytoplasmic staining pattern of neutrophils (C-ANCA). 1 This disease is usually fatal if untreated; however, early diagnosis and instigation of immunosuppressants such as cyclophosphamide can induce long term remission. A 79 year old woman presented with a 2 week history of a painful, red left eye. She had mild arthritis and was also noted to be profoundly deaf, requiring hand written notes for communication. There was no history of sinus problems. Her best corrected visual acuities were 6/18 in the right eye and 6/12 in the left eye. The left peripheral supratemporal cornea showed three areas of 80% corneal thinning, 1 × 1 mm in size, with an overlying epithelial defect (Fig 1). There was adjacent conjunctival injection and moderate anterior chamber cellular activity. The other eye was normal with no signs of inflammation. Examination of her hands showed no obvious rheumatoid abnormalities. Initial investigations performed were full blood count, electrolytes, C reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and rheumatoid factor. Corneal scraping and cultures were also undertaken to exclude an infective cause. The only significant test result was a raised ESR of 94, with other tests including creatinine being within the normal range. A provisional diagnosis was made of rheumatoid corneal melt and treatment was commenced with topical dexamethasone 0.1% non-preserved hourly and oral pred-nisolone at 40 mg/day. After 5 days of steroid treatment, the corneal thinning was resolving and the conjunctival injection settling (Fig 2). Also by the fifth day, the patient's hearing had dramatically improved. She could now conduct a conversation at normal volume. On further questioning, she said her hearing had deteriorated only over the past few months and had ascribed it to " natural " old age deterioration. This suggested a link between her corneal changes and hearing loss and she was investigated for Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). Her serum antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (cANCA) titre was found to be raised (>160). Rheumatoid factor was negative. Oral cyclophosphamide was commenced on diagnosis of WG and the oral prednisolone slowly tapered. Her ocular inflammation, hearing, and …


A 3-month-old male guanaco (Lama guanicoe) was found dead in its stall. No signs of illness had been noted. It had been born at the zoo following normal gestation and delivery. Neither the sire nor the dam were known to have had illnesses; both were alive and well at the time of the young guanaco's death. At autopsy the animal weighed 18.2 kilograms. No external abnormalities were noted. Lungs were completely replaced by multiple light gray soft nodules (Fig. 1). A small pedunculated light gray nodule was attached to the anterior edge of the liver. One kidney was normal, but the other contained a 3-cm partially cystic nodule with a wall of soft gray-pink tissue. Microscopic sections from the kidney nodule had features of a nephroblastoma with several types of tissue, including primitive mesenchymal cells, abortive tubular structures (Fig.


PURPOSE
To evaluate the effect of food-simulating liquids prior to brushing on surface roughness of a nano-ionomer restorative protected with two surface protection agents.

METHODS
90 specimens were divided into three groups according to surface protection; the first group: no surface protection; the second group: copal varnish; the third group: light cure Ketac Glaze. Each group was subdivided into three subgroups relative to the immersion solution: artificial saliva; citric acid 0.02 M; or 50% ethanol. Specimens were stored for 7 days in one of the solutions in an incubator. One surface of each specimen was subjected to brushing with a sonic electric toothbrush while the other surface was not brushed. Surface roughness was measured with a stereo-microscope. Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA followed by paired t-test (P < 0.05).

RESULTS
The surface roughness of the nano-ionomer specimens immersed in ethanol was significantly higher than those immersed in citric acid. No significant differences were found between surface protection agents or between brushed and un-brushed specimens. The highest surface roughness mean value was recorded with brushed unprotected specimens immersed in ethanol. While the lowest surface roughness mean value was recorded with un-brushed copal varnish protected specimens immersed in ethanol.


The tight junction protein claudin-2 is upregulated in inflammatory bowel disease, and yet its deficit worsens infectious and chemical colitis. In this issue of the JCI, Raju and Shashikanth et al. examined the contribution of claudin-2 to immune-mediated colitis. The authors used transgenic mouse models to show that claudin-2 deficiency attenuated colitis progression as well as a leak barrier defect, albeit at the risk of intestinal obstruction. Further, inhibition of claudin-2 by targeting casein kinase 2 (CK2) also ameliorated colitis. The findings reveal unsuspected links between the pore and leak pathways of intestinal permeability and immune responses leading to colitis. They additionally suggest potential targets for therapeutic intervention in inflammatory bowel disease.


Keeping appropriate interpersonal distance is an evolutionary conserved behavior that can be adapted based on learning. Detailed knowledge on how interpersonal space is represented in the brain and whether such representation is genetically influenced is lacking. We measured brain function using functional magnetic resonance imaging in 294 twins (71 monozygotic, 76 dizygotic pairs) performing a distance task where neural responses to human figures were compared to cylindrical blocks. Proximal viewing distance of human figures was compared to cylinders facilitated responses in the occipital face area (OFA) and the superficial part of the amygdala, which is consistent with these areas playing a role in monitoring interpersonal distance. Using the classic twin method, we observed a genetic influence on interpersonal distance related activation in the OFA, but not in the amygdala. Results suggest that genetic factors may influence interpersonal distance monitoring via the OFA whereas the amygdala may play a role in experience‐dependent adjustments of interpersonal distance.


A classic effect in the timing field is that "sounds are judged longer than lights" (Goldstone, Boardman & Lhamon, 1959). Recently, judgements for tactile durations have been found to fall between the two (Jones, Poliakoff & Wells, 2009). These modality differences are commonly interpreted within scalar timing theory as the work of a central pacemaker which runs faster for sounds, then vibrations, and slowest for lights (Wearden, Edwards, Fakhri & Percival, 1998). We investigated whether verbal estimates and temporal difference thresholds are correlated within each modality, but found this not to be the case. This suggests that differences in pacemaker speed may not be the main driver for modality differences in thresholds. In addition, we investigated sensory bias as an alternative to the pacemaker explanation, but this was found not to correlate with modality differences in timing.


Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to devise a efficient method for the importance analysis on Port Throughput Influence Factors. Design/methodology/approach: Neighborhood rough sets is applied to solve the problem of selection factors. First the throughput index system is established. Then, we build the attribute reduction model using the updated numerical attribute to reduction algorithm based on neighborhood rough sets. We optimized the algorithm in order to achieve high efficiency performance. Finally, the article do empirical validation using Guangzhou Port throughput and influencing factors' historical data of year 2000 to 2013. Findings: Through the model and algorithm, port enterprises can identify the importance of port throughput factors. It can provide support for their decisions. Research limitations: The empirical data are historical data of year 2000 to 2013. The amount of data is small. Practical implications: The results provide support for port business investment, decisions and risk control, and also provide assistance for port enterprises' or other researchers' throughput forecasting. Originality/value: In this paper, we establish a throughput index system, and optimize the algorithm for efficiency performance.


Abstract Questions: Do large trees improve the nutrient content and the structure of the grass layer in savannas? Does the magnitude of this improvement differ with locality (soil nutrients) and season (water availability)? Are grass structure and species composition beneath tree canopies influenced by soil fertility and season? Location: South Africa. Methods: We compared grass leaf nutrient contents and grass sward structure beneath and outside tree canopy areas in three savannas of different soil fertility during the dry and the wet seasons. Results: Grass nitrogen contents were twice as high during the wet season as compared to the dry season, being more strongly elevated underneath tree canopies during the wet season. Grasses had significantly less stem material and provided less dead material underneath trees on the high soil fertility site. Grass species composition differed significantly beneath and outside tree canopies, with more nutritious grass species found sub-canopy. Grass species richness was significantly lower beneath than outside of trees at the site of high soil fertility. Conclusions: Trees improve overall quality of savanna grasses by enhancing grass growth and nutrient uptake during the wet season, and by delaying grass wilting in the dry season. The positive effect of trees on the grass layer might attract grazing herbivores in otherwise nutrient-poor savannas. Hence, single standing large trees should be maintained to sustain high grass quality and, consequently, grazer populations in savanna habitats. Nomenclature: Trees: Palgrave (1983); Beentje et al. (1994) Grasses: Van Oudtshoorn (1999).


Worldwide, nearly two-thirds of the population do not consume the recommended amount of magnesium (Mg) in their diet. Furthermore, low Mg status (hypomagnesaemia) is known to contribute to a number of human chronic disease conditions. Because the principal dietary Mg source is of plant origin, agronomic and genetic biofortification strategies are aimed at improving nutritional Mg content in food crops to overcome this mineral deficiency in humans. This update incorporates the contributions of annotated permeases involved in Mg uptake, storage and recycling with a schematic model of Mg movement at the organ and cellular levels in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. Furthermore, approaches using mutagenesis or natural ionomic variation to identify loci involved in Mg homeostasis in roots, leaves and seeds will be summarised. A brief overview will be presented on how Arabidopsis research can help to develop strategies for biofortification of crops.


The effects of ion beam sputter deposition conditions and post deposition isochronal annealing on the characteristics of molybdenum devices on n‐ and p‐type Si were investigated by I‐V and C‐V measurements. The sputter‐induced damage below the contact was characterized by deep level transient spectroscopy and electron‐beam induced current techniques. It was observed that the barrier height, diffusion length, and the concentration of the process‐induced defects depend on the sputtering voltage and annealing temperature. Further, we found that the observed defects were introduced during the initial stages of deposition. Defects were still present after annealing at 500 °C.


The evolution of target ``race track'' erosion was evaluated experimentally during the conventional DC magnetron sputtering of metal targets with diŠerent Ar gas pressure environments. At gas pressures of 0.38, 0.5, and 1.0 Pa, an aluminum or copper target was sputtered at a DC discharge power of 100 W. At time intervals of several hours, the target was taken out of the chamber and its erosion proˆle was measured with a height gauge. As the sputtering erosion of the target proceeded, the erosion track diameter was almost the same in all sputtering conditions, whereas the track width (full width at half maximum: FWHM) showed quite diŠerent behaviors depending on the gas pressure. At 0.38 Pa, the FWMH increased slightly with increasing sputtering time. On the other hand, at 1.0 Pa, the FWMH decreased with increasing sputtering time.


Using standard nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique and a well-fabricated sample, we have succeeded in directly observing local magnetic field generated by a micromagnet Ni45Fe55 (with thickness of 400nm), which was sputtered on an Al layer of 20nm thickness. Improved sensitivity of our NMR technique enabled us to clearly observe Al-NMR signals, which are confirmed to come from Al nuclei in the 20nm layers. From the analysis of the Al-NMR spectra, the local magnetic field was found to be +0.17±0.02 (−0.20±0.01)T, the sign of which is consistent with the geometry that the external magnetic field was applied perpendicular (parallel) to the Al layer. The present study gives a potential key element toward realizing higher resolution in magnetic resonance imaging.


The process of field-assisted diffusion of ions into glass is analysed theoretically without the introduction of a conventionally used quasi-neutral space-charge approximation. The analysis shows that the quasi-neutral approximation is valid over a wide range of injection rates and processing temperatures. This result, which is of relevance to the manufacture of glass-based optical waveguides by the field-assisted injection of silver or potassium ions, is achieved by analysing the stationary state solution of a model drift-diffusion equation.


Nuclear transport factor 2 (NTF2) mediates nuclear import of RanGDP, a central component of many nuclear trafficking pathways. NTF2 is a homodimer and each chain has independent binding sites for RanGDP and nuclear pore proteins (nucleoporins) that contain FxFG sequence repeats. We show here that the monomer-dimer dissociation constant for NTF2 obtained by sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifugation is in the micromolar range, indicating that a substantial proportion of cellular NTF2 may be monomeric. To investigate the functional significance of NTF2 dimerization, we engineered a series of point mutations at the dimerization interface and one of these (M118E) remained monomeric below concentrations of 150 microM. CD spectra and X-ray crystallography showed that M118E-NTF2 preserved the wild-type NTF2 fold, although its thermal stability was 20 deg. C lower than that of the wild-type. M118E-NTF2 bound both RanGDP and FxFG nucleoporins less strongly, suggesting that dissociation of the NTF2 dimer could facilitate RanGDP release and thus nucleotide exchange after it had been transported into the nucleus. Moreover, colloidal gold coated with M118E-NTF2 showed reduced binding to Xenopus oocyte nuclear pores. Overall, our results indicate that dimer formation is important for NTF2 function and give insight into the formation of heterodimers by mRNA export factors such as TAP1 and NXT1 that contain NTF2-homology domains.


During the past 10 years, better results in the treatment of epilepsy have been obtained through the application of pharmacokinetic data to drug therapy of epilepsy. However, pediatric drug therapy is complicated by the continuous change in body weight and body composition with the growth and development, especially during infancy. Younger children require a higher dose per kilogram of body weight than older children in order to achieve comparable plasma concentrations. Plasma levels and seizure control were investigated in a prospective randomized study when phenytoin, carbamazepine (CBZ) or sodium valproate (VPA) was given as a single drug to pediatric patients with several types of epileptic seizures. Studies on newly referred, previously untreated children suggest that both partial and generalized tonic-clonic seizures can be prevented by each of the three drugs. No significant differences in clinical efficacy were found among the three drugs, when optimum plasma concentration ranges were maintained with blood level monitoring. Clonazepam (CZP) may be effective in partial seizures. However, as a wide range of plasma levels was associated with complete freedom from seizures, it was not possible to define a therapeutic range for CZP. Any patient who receives multiple-drug therapy is at risk to develop a drug-drug interaction. Simultaneous administration of VPA was associated with a raised plasma level of carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide (CBZ-E), a major metabolite of CBZ, relative to the CBZ dose, whereas the plasma CBZ level remained unaltered. High plasma concentration of CBZ-E may be responsible for side effects in some patients. Drug-protein binding interactions are another source of side effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


We calculate the leading-order hadronic correction to the anomalous magnetic moments of each of the three charged leptons in the Standard Model: the electron, muon and tau. Working in two-flavor lattice QCD, we address essentially all sources of systematic error: lattice artifacts, finite-size effects, quark-mass extrapolation, momentum extrapolation and disconnected diagrams. The most significant remaining systematic error, the exclusion of the strange and charm quark contributions, will be addressed in our four-flavor calculation. We achieve a statistical accuracy of 2% or better for the physical values for each of the three leptons and the systematic errors are at most comparable.


After nearly three decades of antagonistic rhetoric and diplomatic estrangement between the United States and Iran, the next president has the opportunity to set a new course for relations between the two countries. When the next president takes up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Iranian officials will be listening. The president must implement a policy of engagement that encourages moderates in Iran without implying tolerance for Tehran's historic support of terrorist activities. This strategy will require patience and sensitivity to the complex political realities inside Iran. To successfully chart a new course for U.S.-Iranian relations, the next president must (1) tone down rhetoric; (2) establish a direct dialogue with Tehran, including comprehensive, private discussions and deployment of a special envoy; (3) encourage greater assimilation of Hezbollah into Lebanon's political system; and (4) offer carrots in addition to sticks, including consideration of legitimate Iranian concerns on regional security issues.


Rice is one of the most important crops in Cambodia and its export becomes a signif icant source of employment and foreign exchange accumulation. In this study, the potentials and constraints of rice export are explored. Producers' and export prices signif icantly influenced the volume of export. Given the export price, when the producers' price is cheaper, export will increase. Export will also increase if export price increases while the producers' price remains unchanged. In addition to the prices, factors that also affect the export of rice include the cost of transportation, access to finance, informal payment, access to the international market, quality of paddy, and business trust (trust among traders, trust between the rice trader and miller, and trust among the rice trader, miller and farmer).


Introduction Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is defined as the presence of thrombus in the trunk of PV and/or its right and left intra-hepatic branches. PVT can be classified as acute or chronic, intra or extra-hepatic and occlusive or non-occlusive. Patients may be asymptomatic or present with upper GI bleeding or abdominal pain. PVT in cirrhotic patients can present with acute decompensation such as ascites or variceal bleeding. Methods A retrospective review of all radiological diagnoses of PVT was done with a view to understanding the aetiology, clinical spectrum, treatment and prognosis of patients managed under a large district hospital. Results A total of 115 patients, median age 62 years (range 25 to 90) were diagnosed with PVT between 2010 and 2015, of whom 71 (62%) were male. Usual indications for radiological investigations were abdominal pain, weight loss and decompensation or routine surveillance in cirrhotic patients. PVT was intra-hepatic alone in 29 patients and extra-hepatic with or without intra-hepatic extension in the rest. Cavernous transformation was reported in 11 patients. PVT was most commonly seen in association with abdominal malignancy (55 cases – 48%) being due to HCC in 21 cases and other local or metastatic abdominal malignancy in 34. PVT was observed to be due to pancreatitis in 21 cases, liver cirrhosis without HCC in 15, acute diverticulitis/cholecystitis in 6, post surgical in 4 with no clear cause identified in just 14 cases (12%). Thrombophilia screening was performed in 11/14 patients with unclear aetiology and was positive in 3 (1 JAK-2 positive, 1 elevated anti-b2GP1 antibodies, 1 low in both protein C and S, rest negative), 2/15 patients with liver cirrhosis (both negative) and 4/86 (1 positive for lupus anti-coagulant) of remaining patients. In total 24 patients were anticoagulated whilst 3 patients were already on warfarin for atrial fibrillation. Of these, 10 were patients of unclear aetiology, 4 with cirrhosis without HCC, 3 had diverticulitis, 3 local or metastatic malignancy, 2 pancreatitis, 1 cholecystitis and 1 post surgical. Eleven of the 15 patients with cirrhosis and PVT died, typically from hepatic decompensation with a median life expectancy of 8 months (range 1–48 months). Patients who were anticoagulated survived for 12 months as opposed to 4 months for those not anticoagulated. Conclusion PVT has a wide aetiological spectrum and management strategies are highly variable reflecting the diversity of causes. Anticoagulation was most likely to be commenced in those with no clear cause even in the absence of thrombophilia. This study confirms that PVT in the context of cirrhosis is an adverse prognostic indicator even in the absence of HCC. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) is a biosynthetic precursor of jasmonic acid and triggers multiple biological processes from plant development to stress responses. However, the OPDA signaling and relevant regulatory networks were largely unknown in basal land plants. Using an integrated multi-omics technique, we investigated the global features in metabolites and transcriptional profiles of an Antarctic moss (Pohlia nutans) in response to OPDA treatment. We detected 676 metabolites based on the widely targeted metabolomics approach. A total of 82 significantly changed metabolites were observed, including fatty acids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids and derivatives, and alkaloids. In addition, the transcriptome sequencing was conducted to uncover the global transcriptional profiles. The representative differentially expressed genes were summarized into functions including Ca2+ signaling, abscisic acid signaling, jasmonate signaling, lipid and fatty acid biosynthesis, transcription factors, antioxidant enzymes, and detoxification proteins. The integrated multi-omics analysis revealed that the pathways of jasmonate and ABA signaling, lipid and fatty acid biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis might dominate the molecular responses to OPDA. Taken together, these observations provide insights into the molecular evolution of jasmonate signaling and the adaptation mechanisms of Antarctic moss to terrestrial habitats.


: While suicidal behavior is recognized as a growing public health problem world-wide, little is known about the prevalence and risk factors for suicidal behaviors among street and slum youth in Africa, and in Uganda, specifically. The number of youth who live on the streets and in the slums of Kampala appears to be growing rapidly, but their mental health needs have not been documented, which has hampered resource allocation and service implementation. This study of youth, ages 14–24, was conducted in May and June of 2011, to assess the prevalence and correlates of suicidal behavior. Participants ( N = 457) were recruited for a 30-minute interviewer-administered survey through eight drop-in centers operated by the Uganda Youth Development Link for youth in need of services. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were computed to determine associations between psychosocial correlates and suicide ideation and suicide attempt. Reporting both parents deceased Adj.OR = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.23–4.52), parental dying prior to age 30 (Adj.OR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.25–3.79) were significantly associated with suicide attempt in multivariate analyses. Given the dire circumstances of this vulnerable population, increased services and primary prevention efforts to address the risk factors for suicidal behavior are urgently needed.


The menace of drug resistance, bioavailability and drug delivery to the target sites has motivated researchers to search for new antimicrobial agents from medicinal plants and subsequently use them for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles for effective killing of bacteria challenging to kill using crude extracts. The biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles was done using aqueous extract (AQE) of Euphorbia heterophylla, while characterization and the killing rate of conjugated silver nanoparticles (CAgNPs) were carried out using standard methods. The maximum wavelength obtained for CAgNPs was 410.33 nm, while the size distribution was 237.8 d.nm. The Fourier Transform Infra-Red result showed O-H (3308.94 cm-1), which is responsible for stabilising and reducing silver ions, while the Transmission Electron Microscopy revealed the presence of monodispersed spherical shapes CAgNPs. The Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of silver. There were reductions in the clinical bacterial isolates exposed to CAgNPs as the exposure time increased. Escherichia coli was killed between 6-7 h while Salmonella typhimurium was killed at the seven has the value of 0.00 log10 CFU/ml was recorded respectively. However, there were increments in the populations of clinical bacterial isolates in control as the time of exposure increased. Therefore, the study suggests that the CAgNPs exhibit intense antimicrobial activity and the potential to be developed as an alternative agent to treat bacterial infections, curb multidrug-resistant bacterial infection, and promote speedy drug delivery to the target sites.


A major challenge in cancer treatment is the quantification of biomarkers associated with a specific cancer type. Important biomarkers are the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) detached from the main cancer and circulating in the blood. CTCs are very rare and their identification is still an issue. Although CTCs quantification can be estimated by using fluorescent markers, all the fluorescence techniques are strongly limited by the number of emissions (therefore markers) that can be discriminated with one exciting line, by their bleaching characteristics, and by the intrinsic autofluorescence of biological samples. An emerging technique that can overcome these limitations is Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). Signals of vibrational origin with intensity similar to those of fluorescence, but narrower bandwidths, can be easily discriminated even by exciting with a single laser line. We recently showed the benefit of this method with cells fixed on a surface. However, this approach is too demanding to be applied in clinical routine. To effectively increase the throughput of the SERS analysis, microfluidics represents a promising tool. We report two different hydrodynamic strategies, based on device geometry and liquids viscosity, to successfully combine a microfluidic design with SERS.


There is growing evidence that female rates of criminal nonlethal violent offending have increased during the 1990s. However, the debate regarding whether the gender gap in violence is closing is ongoing. This paper examines trends in juvenile violent offending in Israel between the years 1996 and 2012. The findings indicate that female-to-male offending rate ratios have increased over time for simple assaults, aggravated assault and carrying a knife. Moreover, the closing of the gender gap among young minors (ages 12-14 years) principally results from the increase in female rates of offending, which is greater than the rise in male rates of offending. These findings are discussed in the context of existing research on the gender gap in the perpetration of violence with reference to future directions in research.


The nutritional and functional characteristics of cereal and millets have been enhanced by fermentation technology and have proven to be a viable option for the cereal industry. The fermentation technique aids in increasing the nutrient content, viz., minerals, vitamins, proteins, phenolics and antinutritional compounds, as phytic acid degrades. The study aimed to investigate the appropriate fermentation technique for developing ethnic fermented sour beverages and standardize the product with improved shelf stability for industrial use. Neeragarams (an indigenous fermented rice product from the southern part of India) were prepared using Mapillai samba, and a notable and nutritious traditional rice variety of Tamil Nadu was taken (T 1 - raw - unpolished, T 2 - raw - polished, T 3 - parboiled - unpolished and T 4 - parboiled - polished) with added species such as onions, green chillies and curry leaves. The study observed that among four different treatments of neeragaram, T 1 (raw rice - unpolished) was highly acceptable based on consumer acceptability with the sensory value of 9.0 higher nutritional characteristics viz., energy 68.29 Kcal, carbohydrates 11.15 %, protein 4.21 %, fiber 2.59 %, fat 0.93 %, iron 4.21 mg, potassium 181.7 mg, sodium 61.23 mg and zinc 2.32 mg per 100 ml of neeragaram. The developed product will be highly suitable for commercialization with improved shelf stability. Among the four treatments, raw (unpolished) neeragaram was highly acceptable with maximum retention of nutritional characteristics. The developed fermented sour beverages do not involve a high cost of production and earn good returns to entrepreneurs. The development of these fermented sour beverages using rice will increase the suitability for consumers and, in turn, improve persons with nutritional and functional status.


This paper discusses the historical origins of the development of media and communication professions (journalism, advertising, radio and television) in the Southern Cone countries (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay) and in Mozambique, with in order to investigate contemporary issues in the field of communication and, in our case, on the development of professions, tracing a comparative listing of positions and salaries of these countries.


Dental implants and alternatives for patients requiring restoration of stomatognathic system through the replacement of dental units are an increasingly common practice. Treatment of patients with additional complications to dental implant restorations is a constant challenge, especially the patients described in the literature about the failure involving the use of bisphosphonates based drugs, those being touted as directly responsible for the presence of a pathological condition called bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. A search through two databases was conducted to clarify doubts about the actual influence of factors presented and its true relevance to clinical practice, promoting the knowledge and more consistent strategies in cases requiring rehabilitation intervention. The results show the need for additional research on these topics.