This article aims to reflection on the theoretical foundations of macroeconomics location, from the fact that one cannot simply reproduce the national macroeconomic fundamentals in the municipal area. Onsite, find specific features, in particular, an open economy par excellence, with free flow of goods, services, income, capital and production factors. In this context, the centrality of the debate lies in the sizing of savings and investment, which, for a national economy, according to specialized literature, translates into an identity for the investment with the sum of private savings, public and external. Unlike on-site proposes the dismembering of productive and financial savings, configuring the identity of the investment only with productive savings. Financial savings Already is the result of the balance of current transactions with the exterior, if translating in expansion of monetary/financial wealth.


In this composite case study, the names and some details have been altered to protect the innocent, and the guilty. Sue was nineteen years old and three months pregnant when she came into contact with a hospital. She had successfully concealed the pregnancy and claimed that she had only just realised her predicament. Referred to the social worker, by the time she got around to saying that she wanted an abortion it was too late. Adoption was explored, and she finally agreed, only to later change her mind. As the weeks went by, Sue, and her boyfriend, made no preparations for the birth, and neither of them talked about the expected child with any pleasure. The social worker discovered that both Sue and her boyfriend came from deprived backgrounds. Sue had been beaten and sexually assaulted by her father and was eventually made a State Ward after her father had died and her mother had claimed she was uncontrollable. Her boyfriend had had a history of psychiatric treatment and a criminal record for petty offences.


The objective of this study is to investigate tank container to be used as fuel tank for LNG fueled ship. Feasibility of tank container to the fuel tank of LNG fueled ship is addressed and the advantage of tank container as fuel tank of ship is investigated. Conceptual configuration of the tank container is designed as well as structural analyses based on finite element method are carried out to meet the design regulation suggested by shipping register. Static loading is considered by structural analysis and impact test is performed. It is necessary to require SRS(shock response spectrum) in order to investigate structural safety which can meet.


Detailed micturitional history and urodynamic study were performed on 42 patients with status lacunaris who had urinary symptoms. 1) Micturitional history revealed 21 patients (50%) had irritative, 7 (16.7%) had obstructive and 13 had both symptoms. 2) Urodynamic study revealed the following: Six among 40 had abnormal uroflowmetrogram. Nineteen among 40 had residual urine of 30 approximately 470 ml, on the average 135 ml. Among 42 one had high and 3 had low maximal urethral closure pressures. Bladder capacity at maximal sensation was below 200 ml in 20 and over 600 ml in 2. Electromyography showed 10 had detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia, 4 had uninhibited sphincter relaxation and 14 had brisk bulbocavernosus reflex. 3) Judging from the above results 25 over 42 patients (59.5%) had on the average a moderate degree of evacuation disturbance and 37 over 42 patients (88.1%) had on the average a severe degree of storage disturbance.


As far as the writer observed, the students experienced an identity crisis and weak self-control eventually caused the students to often fall into negative things. Such as promiscuity, drinking, brawls, pornography, free sex, and so on. Such a crisis is expected by the Church to be overcome by pastoral schools. Pastoral schools aim to develop, improve and foster students' faith lives. But in reality, there are still many schools, both public and private, that have not implemented school pastoral well. This study aims to determine the implementation of pastoral schools in the Catholic and State Junior High Schools of Malang City and its impact on the development of students' faith and morals. Is the better the pastoral implementation of the school, the better the faith and moral development of students? Through the quantitative method with the Independent T-Test formula combined with the qualitative method, we conducted research in two Catholic Junior High Schools and two State Junior High Schools with a sample of 48 students. The results showed that the implementation of pastoral care at the Catholic Junior High School in Malang City was better than at the State Junior High School. But the implementation of a good school pastoral is not directly proportional to the students' faith and moral development. Good pastoral practice does not necessarily guarantee the faith and moral development of students. It is proven between Marsudisiwi Catholic Middle School and Sta. Maria was not significantly different where the content obtained was 0.915 with a significance of 0.368. While SMP Catholic Middle School Sta. Maria with SMP Negeri 5 and SMP Negeri 3 was significantly different where the count obtained was 4,940 with a significance of 0.000. Meanwhile, the results of the interviews showed that the faith and moral development of students in Catholic Junior High Schools was not better than that of State Junior High School students.


The history of herbal medicines is as old as human civilization. In recent times there has been a global trend towards herbal medicines. Many of the botanical, chemical techniques employed in pharmacognosy, quality control of crude drug and its pharmaceuticals can be attempted by different methods of evaluation and one of them is morphological and microscopical studies of crude drug. In present study pharmacognostical characterization of Clerodendrum serratum (L.) Moon. (Verbenaceae) is attempted which is a medicinal shrub with delightful blooms useful for broad array of ailments from fever to snake bite. The study includes microscopic study of young stem, vessel elements, petiole-both qualitative and quantitative characters, leaf architecture, leaf constants like stomatal frequency, index number of epidermal cells, their types, vegetative and floral trichomes and epidermal features as anatomical characters are fixed and hence reliable.


Objective We aimed to provide the first national estimates of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and awareness of cardiac arrest. Design A retrospective analysis of a national cross-sectional survey was undertaken. Data were collected online from adults in July 2017 as part of the Heart Foundation of Australia's HeartWatch survey. We used logistic regression to examine demographic factors associated with CPR training. Participants A national cohort was invited to participate in the survey using purposive, non-probability sampling methods with quotas for age, gender and area of residence, in order to reflect the wider Australian population. The final sample consisted of 1076 respondents. Main outcome measure To determine an estimation of the prevalence of cardiac arrest awareness and CPR training at a national level and the relationship of training to demographic factors. Results The majority (76%) of respondents were born in Australia with 51% female and 66% aged between 35 and 64 years. Only 16% of respondents could identify the difference between a cardiac arrest and a heart attack. While 56% reported previous CPR training, only 22% were currently trained (within 1 year). CPR training was associated with younger age (35 to 54 years) (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.0), being born in Australia (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.17) and higher levels of education (university, OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.35 to 2.57). CPR training increased confidence in respondents ability to perform effective CPR and use a defibrillator. Lack of CPR training was the most common reason why respondents would not provide CPR to a stranger. Conclusions There is a need to improve the community's understanding of cardiac arrest, and to increase awareness and training in CPR. CPR training rates have not changed over the past decades—new initiatives are needed.


Abstract. Organic matter is a major component of PM2.5 in megacities. In order to
understand the detailed characteristics of organic compounds (≥ C6)
at a molecular level on non-haze and haze days, we determined more than 300
organic compounds in the PM2.5 from an urban area of Beijing
collected in November–December 2016 using two-dimensional gas chromatography
coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-ToF-MS). The
identified organic compounds have been classified into groups, and
quantitative methods were used to calculate their concentrations. Primary
emission sources make significant contributions to the atmospheric organic
compounds, and six groups (including n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons – PAHs, levoglucosan, branched alkanes, n-alkenes and
alkyl-benzenes) account for 66 % of total identified organic compound
mass. In addition, PAHs and oxygenated PAHs (O-PAHs) were abundant amongst
the atmospheric organic compounds on both haze and non-haze days. The most
abundant hydrocarbon groups were observed with a carbon atom range of
C19–C28. In addition, the total concentration of unidentified
compounds present in the chromatogram was estimated in the present study.
The total identified compounds account for approximately 47 % of total
organic compounds (≥ C6) in the chromatogram on both the non-haze
and haze days. The total mass concentrations of organic compounds (≥ C6) in the chromatogram were 4.0 and 7.4 µg m−3 on the non-haze and haze days, respectively, accounting for 26.4 %
and 18.5 % of organic matter, respectively, on those days estimated from the
total organic carbon concentration. Ratios of individual compound
concentrations between haze and non-haze days do not give a clear indication
of the degree of oxidation, but the overall distribution of organic
compounds in the chromatogram provides strong evidence that the organic
aerosol is less GC volatile and hence more highly oxidized on haze days.


This paper aims to critically assess the state of HIV testing in African American churches. A comprehensive review of peer-reviewed publications on HIV testing in church-based settings was conducted by two independent coders. Twenty-six papers published between 1991 and 2015, representing 24 unique projects, were identified addressing at least one dimension of HIV testing. Thirteen faith-based projects have implemented HIV testing events or had clergy promote the importance of testing and knowing one's HIV status, but empirical data and rigorous study designs were limited. Only eight papers reported onsite HIV testing in churches. Less than 5% of the studies reported the percentage of congregants who returned for their test results. Finally, no study has examined at baseline or post-intervention behavioral intentions to be screened for HIV. Future research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of HIV testing in churches and to explore the possibilities of the role of the church and leadership structure in the promotion of HIV treatment and care.


Conventional theories of the welfare state are premised on the interests of social classes – the wealthy elite oppose redistribution, while the working class supports expansive social rights. I argue that in multiethnic societies with long histories of discrimination, ethnic groups are motivated by concerns of enhancing their material well-being as well as their social status. Political elites from dominant groups are more likely to oppose redistributive policies, but unlike the working class, the policy preference of marginal groups is mediated by the level of status inequality. Under conditions of high inequality, concerns of dignity find precedence over pure redistribute policies. The politics of dignity is most concretely manifested through demands for symbolic and descriptive representation. I demonstrate this in the context of India by examining the caste identity of legislators, patterns in public spending and historical accounts of demands by lower caste mobilizations in major states over five decades.


Accessing the World Wide Web with the wireless devices has been the promising technology for the past few years. Interruption in World Wide Web access during handover in a cellular network can be avoided by relocating in advance the proxy cache to the target base station before the handover using the path prediction algorithm. To reduce the cache overhead in the handover, this paper proposes a "distance based relocation" mechanism, in which the cache of the base station is relocated once the mobile unit reaches the relocation point in the cell. This mechanism estimates the time at which the relocation has to be done by keeping track of the distance between the mobile terminal and the base station.


Anatomic dead space (VD) is known to increase with end-inspiratory lung volume (EILV), and the gradient of the relationship has been proposed as an index of airway distensibility (DeltaVD). The aims of this study were to apply a rapid method for measuring DeltaVD and to determine whether it was affected by lung volume history. VD of 16 healthy and 16 mildly asthmatic subjects was measured at a number of known EILVs by using a tidal breathing, CO(2)-washout method. The effect of lung volume history was assessed by using three tidal breathing regimens: 1) three discrete EILVs (low/medium/high; LMH); 2) progressively decreasing EILVs from total lung capacity (TLC; TLC-RV); and 3) progressively increasing EILVs from residual volume (RV; RV-TLC). DeltaVD was lower in the asthmatic group for the LMH (25.3 +/- 2.24 vs. 21.2 +/- 1.66 ml/l, means +/- SE) and TLC-RV (24. 3 +/- 1.69 vs. 18.7 +/- 1.16 ml/l) regimens. There was a trend for a lower DeltaVD in the asthmatic group for the RV-TLC regimen (23.3 +/- 2.19 vs. 18.8 +/- 1.68 ml/l). There was no difference in DeltaVD between groups. In conclusion, mild asthmatic subjects have stiffer airways than normal subjects, and this is not obviously affected by lung volume history.


Background: Phenylketonuria is the most common inherited metabolism disease in China. This study aimed to identify a new, sensitive, simple, and easy method of screening maternal Phenylketonuria in the fetal stage.Methods: Samples of amniotic fluid, dried blood spots, and blood collected on the same day were obtained from women in the second-trimester (16–28 weeks). Women had to meet the following criteria: (i) isolated high risk of quadruple marker screening or cell-free DNA screening, (ii) women who gave birth to at least one child with intellectual disability of unknown etiology, and (iii) women who gave birth to a child who died young from unknown etiology. The exclusion criteria were as follows: clinically evident chorioamnionitis, multiple gestation, and laboratory signs of infection in the amniotic fluid sample. Phenylalanine levels were measured using tandem mass spectrometry. Women who met criterion (i) served as controls whose results were used to set reference values of Phenylalanine in amniotic fluid. Women who met criteria (ii) and (iii) served as the case group whose results were used to check for maternal Phenylketonuria. The Spearman rank correlation test was used to analyze the correlation of Phenylalanine in amniotic fluid and in venous blood. Results: We analyzed 365 samples of amniotic fluid. Among them, 345 were included in the control group, with reference values of Phenylalanine in amniotic fluid of 10.79–48.47 µmol/L. Twenty cases were included in the case group. One woman in the case group was diagnosed with hyperphenylalaninemia whose fetus was diagnosed with maternal Phenylketonuria by comprehensive analysis of Phenylalanine in dried blood spots and in amniotic fluid, head circumference in fetal ultrasound, and a previous history of adverse pregnancy. The correlation between Phenylalanine concentrations in venous blood and in amniotic fluid was weak.Conclusions: Phenylalanine can be readily measured in amniotic fluid. Relative to controls, amniotic fluid levels of Phenylalanine was increased in maternal Phenylketonuria. These results can support the use of Phenylalanine as a screening tool for maternal Phenylketonuria. The significance of these change requires further study.


Das (Calcutta Statist. Assoc. Bull. 2003; 54:57–70) initiated a study of slope rotatability over axial directions with correlated errors. General conditions for second‐order slope rotatability over axial directions were derived when errors have a general correlated error structure. In this paper, a class of multifactor designs for estimating the slope of second‐order response surfaces is considered when errors in observations are correlated. General conditions for second‐order slope rotatability over all directions have been derived assuming that errors in observations have a general correlated error structure. It has been derived that robust second‐order rotatable designs are also robust slope rotatable over all directions. The class of robust slope‐rotatable designs over all directions has been examined when errors in observations have the following variance–covariance structures: intra‐class, inter‐class, compound symmetry, tri‐diagonal and autocorrelated structure. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


BACKGROUND
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has recently been used as a new treatment modality for plantar fasciitis. We aimed to determine the efficacy of ESWT by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.

METHODS
Thirty patients with plantar fasciitis who had received no treatment for 6 months were included. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy was applied once a week for a total of three sessions (frequency of 12-15 Hz, 2-3 bars, and 2,500 pulses). All of the patients were assessed with the visual analog scale, a 6-point evaluation scale, the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), and MRI findings before and 3 months after ESWT. Visual analog scale scores were used in determining the pain level of patients in the morning, during activity, and at rest. Foot and ankle-related problems were evaluated with the FAOS.

RESULTS
The duration of painless walking according to the 6-point rating scale, the FAOS, and pain showed significant improvements after ESWT ( P < .05). Significant decreases in MRI findings, including thickening of the plantar fascia, soft-tissue edema, and bone marrow edema, were observed after treatment ( P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is a safe and effective treatment that yields favorable results in improvement of pain and function for plantar fasciitis. An MRI is useful for determining response to ESWT for these patients.


Background The thrombin inhibitor dabigatran (D) is the first new oral anticoagulant approved in Europe for the prevention of non-valvular atrial fibrillation; its advantage is that it has less interactions that antagonists of vitamin K. Purpose The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and type of potential drug interactions (PDI) in the treatment of patients with D in a health area, and to analyse the possible clinical relevance of these. Material and methods The study was performed in a health area serving 194 737 inhabitants for 6 months (July–December 2014). We included all patients treated with D and recorded demographic data and the full treatment prescribed for each patient to identify PDI, which were obtained from programs prescribing and dispensing primary care (ADN and Agoraplus) and managing medication dispensed in hospital (SAVAC). We considered PDI as those described in the technical data and classified according to the mechanism and recommendation indicated. Finally, we estimated the potential clinical relevance of the presence of PDI based on: visits to the emergency department (per patients and average/patient), hospitalisations and diagnoses in emergencies related to an adverse effect to D. Results We included 206 patients treated with D (56% women, mean age 76.8 ± 8.6 years). 128 PDI were recorded in 50.5% of patients, with an average per patient of 1.24 ± 0.53 (75.3% for 1 interaction, 18.6% for 2, 6.2% for >2). 25.8% were pharmacokinetic and 74.2% were pharmacodynamics. In 11 interactions (8.6%), co-administration was contraindicated, in 86 (67.2%) it was necessary to monitor and in 31 (24.2%) the dosage was reduced and track performed. The drug groups involved in the PDI were: 7.8% NSAIDs; 25.8% inhibitors of P-glycoprotein (IGP-P), dronedarone, amiodarone, verapamil, etc; 30.5% antiplatelet drugs; 28,9% SSRI/SNRI; and 7.1% anticoagulants. We did not find significant differences in any of the relevant clinical variables studied between patients with and without PDI. Conclusion A considerable proportion of patients (50.5%) presented PDI in treatment, but without apparent clinical relevance to serious adverse events. The majority of PDI were pharmacodynamic and could be sought to improve the therapeutic effect. However, the significant percentage of PDI with SSRIs suggests that they may be unknown by some prescribers; there is a need to monitor their use along with inhibitors of IGP-P which are often prescribed to these patients. References and/or Acknowledgements Thanks to the documentation department. No conflict of interest.


Two increasingly common characteristics of the American chronic hemodialysis (HD) population, high hematocrit and large body size, may render the currently recommended adequacy targets difficult to achieve, even with very efficient dialyzers. In a group of patients with these characteristics, we assessed the ability of a new high efficiency dialyzer (PSN210; Baxter Healthcare Corporation) to achieve the currently recommended adequacy targets. Six patients (mean pre-HD weight and hematocrit, 90.3 +/- 18.0 kg and 0.40 +/- 0.03 kg, respectively) were evaluated. At prescribed blood and dialysate flow rates of 400 and 800 ml/min, respectively, and a mean treatment duration of 4 hrs, mean delivered urea Kt/V and reduction ratio (URR) were 1.38 +/- 0.25 and 0.73 +/- 0.07, respectively. For the same flow rates, whole blood clearances for urea, creatinine, and phosphate were 315 +/- 13, 246 +/- 28, and 260 +/- 27 ml/min, respectively. These data indicate this dialyzer has an efficient mass transfer design allowing adequate dialysis to be delivered even to very large patients under high efficiency conditions.


This study was undertaken to determine the effect of moringa leaf meal and season on blood and hormonal profile of the Pearl Guinea fowl ( Numida meleagris ) in the Middle belt of Ghana. Thirty-two (32) males and one hundred and twenty-eight (128) female Pearl Guinea fowls aged one-day-old were used for the study. A 3 x 4 factorial experimental design was used for the experiment. Data collected were analyzed using General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of Statistical Analysis System (SAS for Windows, version 7) and means were separated by the probability of difference (PDIFF) procedure of SAS (2008). Mean cell volume was highest (175.39 fl) among Guinea fowls fed with diet containing 12 % moringa leaf meal level. Guinea fowls fed with diet containing 15 % moringa leaf meal had the highest (3.44 x10 12 /L ) red blood cells production. Eosinophil level was highest (3.95 x10 12 /L ) among Guinea fowls fed with diet containing 9 % moringa leaf meal. Birds fed with the moringa diets recorded the highest (P= 0.022) WBC values as compared to the control diet. Triglycerides, high density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein levels increased (P<0.05) with increasing levels of dietary moringa leaf meal in the diet. The highest (P= 0.0025) level of progesterone was observed among birds fed with diet containing 12 and 15 % moringa leaf meal inclusion levels. The level of sodium was highest (166.69 nmol/l) among Guinea fowls fed with diet containing 12 % moringa leaf meal. The major and minor rainy seasons recorded the highest (P<0.05) mean cell hemoglobin, red blood cells, albumin and oestrogen levels. Platelets, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin and chlorine levels were highest (P<0.05) in the dry season while basophil level was highest in the major rainy season. Cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein and potassium levels were highest (P<0.05) in the major rainy season. This study concludes that feeding Guinea fowls with moringa leaf meal had positive effect on some haematological, biochemical and hormonal parameters.


Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) has been synthesized using methacrylate acid (MAA) as a monomer with hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups that can react with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a cross-linking agent, and β-sitosterol as a template molecule. After the template was removed from the polymer, MIP_TFMAA was obtained. The MIP was used to adsorb β-sitosterol. The amount of β-sitosterol in solution after the adsorption was determined by HPLC. The results showed that the MIP was able to adsorb well the β-sitosterol at a pH 7 and the contact time of 90 min. The kinetic adsorption data obtained for β-sitosterol followed the pseudo-second-order model and consistent with the model of Feundlich isothermal with the adsorption capacity of 1.05 mg/g. The MIP was selective on β-sitosterol because it was able to adsorb β-sitosterol better than cholesterol.


In this work, consideration is given for a novel technology based on the use of compliant surfaces (membranes) for hydrokinetic energy conversion (HEC) from residual waters where the use of traditional turbines is either not possible or strongly limited. Here, residual waters are understood as waters with a small total pressure difference relative to the surrounding environment that are not suitable to be turbined. Such waters encompass not only domestic or industrial waste water before being discharged into the sewer but also typical flows found in river waterways of small depth or even postturbined water. In summary, the proposed technology is based on the deliberated bifurcation of residual water into two streams separated by a compliant surface or membrane that equalizes the static pressure in both streams and also generates a relative velocity between them. As a result, Taylor instabilities translate into the oscillatory motion of the membrane, which can be transformed into output power. Utilizing linearized flow theory, an analytical expression for the extractable density power is derived. Experiments are carried out for a rectangular membrane, and the data obtained are quantitatively and qualitatively in good agreement with the theoretical model, where it is found that for typical residual water with a velocity of approximately 1.7 m/s, the output power density is on the order of 30 mW/cm2 based on the area of the membrane. Additional research and development is required to arrive at a reliable practical and commercial design.


The purpose of this study is to enhance interpersonal skills between preschoolers and their peers. Young Children, ages 3 through 5, learn mostly from people and the outside world by mimicking and interacting with others. Most preschoolers are not able to express their thoughts and feelings properly. However, since children are social learners, they need to learn how to communicate with others in order to contact with and learn cognition from their surroundings. The better and sooner children learn how to communicate well; the more easily they can form good friendships, which in turn, will increase their self-confidence and self-esteem. Current educating settings are specially designed to help children in some ways that are academic intended. However, early childhood educators and parents are concerned about the children's social ability instead of pre-academic skills. Finally, the outcome of my study would be principles for designers, educators and parents. These principles intend to enhance opportunities for preschoolers to play with peers as well as share their emotions and opinions with others. The benefit of good communication skills is invaluable. TABLE OF CONTENTS CH


The study was concerned with morphological criteria for assessing the degree of differentiation of ovarian cancer and establishing their relationship with clinical course in 323 patients. The degree of ovarian cancer differentiation was found to influence the course and prognosis considerably.


The area of interaction between terrestrial and aquatic environments, i.e. the riparian zone (RZ), has long been recognized as an important landscape feature from both scientific and management perspectives. Surface water quality is to a great extent regulated by substances exported from RZs. Boreal forest RZs are characterized by high organic matter content, which drives important biogeochemical processes. The overall objective of this thesis was to develop the understanding of RZ biogeochemical processes so as to provide a sound scientific basis for protection of surface water quality in boreal forests. The work was based on measurements from stream, riparian, and upslope monitoring sites in the 68 km² Krycklan catchment in northern Sweden. Specifically, the study of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), base cations (BC), silicon (Si), and sulfate (SO₄²⁻) was included.

Opposite SO₄²⁻ and DOC trends were observed in both stream and riparian water, whereas no trends were apparent in the upslope area. This suggests that RZ processes control stream SO₄²⁻ and DOC independently of upslope soils. On the other hand, the upslope signal of BC and Si was maintained through the RZ and subsequently exported to the streams. RZs were found to have a long-term potential to export DOC from both new and old carbon pools. This, in combination with predicted future climate and exhaustion of residual S pools accumulated during the acidification period, is likely to increase DOC concentrations affecting surface water quality and the global carbon cycle. The hydrological connectivity between RZs and streams can be conceptualized as a 'dominant source layer', the narrow depth range with the highest contribution to solute and water fluxes. Local hydromorphology drives spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of RZs and in the intensity of their biogeochemical functions including retention via interaction with organic matter and transformation via redox reactions.

Overall, this thesis provides new insights into the role of the RZ in catchment biogeochemistry and proposes a conceptualization of its function and heterogeneity. These outcomes are an essential prerequisite for ecologically sustainable and economically effective land management that preserves surface water quality.


The quality of education depends upon the knowledge and attitude of teachers towards the use of ICT through which teaching-learning process has been converted in the global education system to accomplish long term and short term educational goals. The study purpose was to explore prospective teachers' attitude towards the use of ICT. The nature of the study was descriptive and based on cross sectional survey by taking a sample of 450 prospective teachers from the Institute of Education and Research through two stage sampling technique (census & convenient). The information and Communication Technology (ICT) scale was adapted. The original version of the scale was developed by Albirini in 2006consisting of 80 items.After pilot study the ICT scale was consisted of 31 items on five- point Likert-Type scale. Data were analyzed by using statistical techniques. Results showed that prospective teachers have positive attitude towards the use of ICT. A significant difference in the attitude of female and male prospective teachers towards the use of ICT was observed. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the attitude of prospective teachers in terms of locality, program (morning & self-supporting) and different departments. It was recommended that training programs should be conducted by the educational administration in the institutions to enhance prospective teachers' ICT skills.


The adsorption of N_2 molecules inside C_24Cs has been studied in detail as a function of temperature and pressure using n-diffraction and nuclear resonance photon scattering (NRPS). Large differences were observed between samples derived from highly oriented pyrolytic graphite and those prepared from graphite powder. The tilt angle of the N_2 molecular axis was determined by using NRPS and found to lay nearly parallel to the graphite planes. The amount of adsorbed N2 increased with decreasing temperatures, reaching saturation composition C_24Cs(N_2)_1.5 at approximately 100 K with an initial N_2 pressure of 2 bar. At higher pressure, 9 bar, two new phases were formed: a second stage C_32Cs(N_2)_2.1 and a first stage C_16Cs(N_2)_1.8 at T < 170 K and are discussed in detail.


We describe 9 patients with coincident active tuberculosis of the lung and bronchogenic carcinoma who were all diagnosed within a 5-year period. All were men, with a mean age of 55 +/- 10 years. The principal symptom was toxic syndrome lasting 1-3 months and the most common X-ray sign was alveolar consolidation. Analysis of tissue samples revealed squamous carcinoma (4 cases), adenocarcinoma (4 cases, one of which was bronchioloalveolar) and non-small cell carcinoma (1 case). Tumoral stage was often advanced: IV (44%) and III (33%). The tuberculosis bacillus was isolated in sputum (100%) and in bronchial aspirate (50%); no in vitro resistance was observed. Three patients were treated with radical surgery and three with radiotherapy. Average survival was 3 months in this series.


Kantor model showing that prior-cycle effects resulting from exhaust gas residuals are a significant factor in cyclic variability of combustion in IC engines is due to a number of model assumptions that misrepresent the thermodynamic process experienced by the mixture of fresh combustible gas plus exhaust residual in important ways. In particular we show that exhaust blowdown process and variable exhaust residual gas mass fraction, neglected in the Kantor model, significantly reduce cyclic variability. However, unburned fuel not considered in the Kantor model apparently aggravates cyclic variability. These three factors cancel each other resulting in cyclic variation appeased. Using modified Kantor models, we examine the effects of all major engine operating parameters on mean and fluctuating exhaust residual temperature and indicated work. No significant cyclic variability is predicted for realistic ranges of these parameters. Only for extremely unrealistic ranges of model parameters cyclic variation reluctantly shows up. Moreover, even using the Kantor model, cyclic variability is predicted only for rather extreme, somewhat contrived choices of the model parameters.


The integration of schedulability analysis with the industry standard Unified Modeling Language (UML) allows real-time developers to detect, at an early stage of development, unfeasible (unschedulable) real-time architectures. It, thus, prevents costly design mistakes and accelerates development schedules. This integration, accomplished through the timing extensions of UML, also allows the developer to verify the real-time performance of the design throughout the software lifecycle. In this paper, we provide an overview of UML with its real-time extensions and the Rate Monotonic Analysis. Mainly, we show how to perform schedulability analysis of a UML model and we also discuss the implications of having timing analysis applied to UML designs.


Determinations of specific cytoplasmic receptors for 17 beta-estradiol (E), 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and progesterone (P) in normal and abnormal endometrium are reported. The standardization of methodology with particular emphasis on specificity trials is outlined. Receptors were present in all but one case, a moderately differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma. Generally speaking, steroid and peptide hormone plasma content in patients with malignant conditions were at the lower limit values of normal, except for follicle-stimulating hormone which had values significantly higher than normal. The question of E competition with DHT in binding DHT-receptor and the therapeutic implications of P-receptor estimation are discussed.


On March 12, 2020, the Ukrainian citizen Ihor Homenyuk died, having been abused and tortured while in the custody of the Foreigners and Borders Office in Lisbon airport. This crime exposed what several NGOs and institutional reports had long denounced: the climate of impunity that enabled the denial of basic human rights to immigrants in closed spaces at the Portuguese border. Understanding the media as a pivotal place of both reflection and production of social meaning, this article examines the media coverage of this case and identifies the narratives that the case fuelled and the agendas by which it was co-opted. It explores how the public invisibility of violence at Portugal's borders, Portuguese imaginaries regarding Eastern European immigrants, and current understandings of racism helped frame the case as one of police brutality rather than as a racist crime. We aim to highlight the role of the Schengen border in the reconfiguration of racialized vulnerability and the (re)production of global hierarchies.


In recent years, increasing interest has emerged in examining global consumer culture and its impact on consumer product preferences and choices, lifestyles, and exposure to mass media from other countries. In turn, this has sparked interest in concepts such as consumer world-mindedness and its impact on attitudes and behavior. The current research examines differences in consumer response to advertisements reflecting a global consumer culture positioning (GCCP) versus a foreign consumer culture positioning (FCCP) or a local consumer culture positioning (LCCP) and the relationship with consumer world-mindedness. In Studies 1 and 2, the authors examine the impact of world-mindedness, while controlling for ethnocentric attitudes. In Study 3, they examine the interactions of world-mindedness, international travel, and preference for authenticity. The authors develop several hypotheses and examine them using two surveys of 90 (Study 1) and 100 consumers (Studies 2 and 3) in the Netherlands. The results demonstrate, for example, that advertisements for brands with FCCP and GCCP are nomologically different and evaluated differently.


Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex disease associated with disturbances of metabolic functions. There has been an intense focus on comorbidities in COPD, including anemia1. Aim: To investigate the prevalence of anemia in patients with COPD and its association with disease severity and comorbidities. Methods: Data was collected retrospectively from 96 patients diagnosed with COPD based on the GOLD criteria2. Oxygen saturation, Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea score, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), Body Mass Index (BMI) and comorbidities were registered. Blood samples were analyzed for hemoglobin and C-reactive protein (CRP). Results: Patients were classified in A(n=35), B(n=20), C(n=14) and D(n=29) with reference to the GOLD criteria. Anemia was found in 14% of the patients (13/96). There was an equal distribution of patients with/without anemia in group A vs. group B+C+D but no significant association between COPD severity and the frequency of anemia (p=0.2). Patients with/without anemia were comparable on gender, age, CRP, CAT, BMI and lung function; but significantly different with respect to MRC score (p=0.0009) and comorbidities when comparing patients with 1 comorbidity with those with ≥2 (p=0.03). A significantly higher proportion of patients with concomitant kidney and/or heart disease had anemia compared to those without (p=0.03vs.0.009). Conclusion: COPD patients with anemia have more comorbidities, especially kidney and heart disease and have more respiratory symptoms than patients without anemia. 1http://www.who.int/vmnis/indicators/haemoglobin.pdf 2Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease UPDATED 2015. www.goldcopd.org.


Pakistan is a developing country with many social and economic problems, but indicators show that an information society is emerging in this country at a very fast pace. These indicators include fast-growing telecommunication facilities, free flow of information through electronic media and the use of computers and the Internet in public life. This paper argues that libraries can play a vital role in an information society. The situation of libraries in Pakistan, particularly public and school libraries, is very poor. Most federal policies do not provide for the establishment of effective libraries. Some policies do recommend a library system but there is no effort to implement these at the governmental level. This paper urges decision makers to include libraries in their planning for the country.


The commensal yeast Candida albicans is part of the human intestinal microflora and is considered a "pathobiont", a resident microbe with pathogenic potential yet harmless under normal conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of C. albicans on inflammation of the intestinal tract and the role of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). Btk is an enzyme that modulates downstream signaling of multiple receptors involved in innate and adaptive immunity, including the major anti-fungal receptor Dectin-1. Colitis was induced in wild type and Btk-/- mice by treatment with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and the gastrointestinal tract of selected treatment groups were then colonized with C. albicans. Colonization by C. albicans neither dampened nor exacerbated inflammation in wild type mice, but colon length and spleen weight were improved in Btk-deficient mice colonized with C. albicans. Neutrophil infiltration was comparable between wild type and Btk-/- mice, but the knockout mice displayed severely reduced numbers of macrophages in the colon during both DSS and DSS/Candida treatment. Smaller numbers and reduced responsiveness of Btk-/- macrophages might partially explain the improved colon length of Btk-/- mice as a result of Candida colonization. Surprisingly, DSS/Candida-treated Btk-/- animals had higher levels of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines and levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β were reduced compared to wild type. A clustering and correlation analysis showed that for wild type animals, spleen TGF-β and colon IL-10 and for Btk-/- spleen and colon levels of IL-17A best correlated with the inflammatory parameters. We conclude that in Btk-/- immunocompromised animals, colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by the commensal yeast C. albicans alters inflammatory symptoms associated with colitis.


The yrast line of well deformed nuclei in the actinide region is investigated within the framework of a cranked shell model. In agreement with results, the authors obtain only slight upbending for the cases measured to date. However, they predict that backbending will occur in the nuclei 238U and 248Cm for spins around 30h(cross) due to the alignment of a j15/2 neutron pair.


We calculate social and private cost for the use and production of payment services in Norway for 2007. The calculations include banks', merchants' and households' cost for cash, cards and giro payments. The social cost is calculated to be 0.49 % of GDP, or NOK 11.16 billion. Costs are also calculated on a per-service basis. The results are compared with data from earlier cost surveys by Norges Bank. The unit costs of the most popular services have decreased over the years. Efficiency and productivity of banks' payment service operations has improved. We also make comparisons between frameworks, methodologies, and results from cost surveys in five European countries.


Rural and remote environments are challenging places in which to achieve health and well-being. In this woman-centered, grounded theory study, I explored the meaning of health and well-being as well as how it is achieved from the perspective of women living in remote inland parts of Australia. The study was based on semistructured interviews with 23 women living in geographically remote areas. The findings are presented as a model of the capacity to flourish. Flourishing describes an optimal achievable state of well-being, delineated by four interrelated dimensions of experience: control, connecting, belonging, and identity. I identify individual, contextual, and structural factors that enable and constrain the capacity to flourish. The findings suggest that approaches to understanding and promoting women's health in remote areas should be more holistic and contextual.


【Cytomegalovirus is the most common cause of life-threatening viral infection in HIV-infected patients. This study was done prospectively to investigate the incidence of CMV infection according to the decrease of CD4+ T cell count (CD4+) in Korean AIDS patients. Thirty-nine HIV-infected patients diagnosed before 1994 were followed for regular immunological monitoring. We have used urine shell vial method for the CMV detection from 1994 and have also checked clinical findings. Positive urine culture rate definitely depended on the CD4+ as follows; 45%, 22%, 17%, 11% and 0%, CD4+ 500, respectively. Except culture positive 2 patients with CD4+ of $200{\sim}300/{\mu}l$ , all eight culture positive patients with CD4+ less than $200/{\mu}l$ showed CMV related diseases on or before urine culture. But, we could not get a positive culture for a late AIDS patient with vision loss. With ganciclovir therapy, all culture results were at least negative just after or on late of first 14 days-ganciclovir infusion-course. These data suggest that the incidence of CMV disease in Korean AIDS patients is very high, and early diagnosis and treatment for CMV diseases is required for the prevention of life threatening results.】


The influence of age and practice level was investigated in sequence learning by testing young, middle-aged, and older participants, who first performed a serial reaction time (SRT) task, either after a short or a long training phase (15 vs. 30 training blocks). Unknown to them, successive stimuli followed a repeating pattern. After training, participants performed a sequence generation task under inclusion and exclusion instructions, and a recognition task. SRT and generation data indicate (1) preserved learning and generation abilities in ageing and (2) beneficial effects of extended practice. By contrast, recognition data suggest that ageing tends to impair discrimination performance. Implications of these findings for understanding the effects of age and practice on the ability to control sequential knowledge are discussed in terms of the involvement of gradual representations of sequence structure.


Using experimental animals it has been well demonstrated that UVB exposure leads to local and systemic immunosuppression. With regard to the local form, epidermal Langerhans cells appear to be the main target as they lose their antigen-presenting capacity after UVB exposure. During the last few years the pathomechanisms involved in systemic immunosuppression have been studied intensively, as their clarification may reveal new photoimmunological aspects and therapeutic possibilities. It could be demonstrated that keratinocytes exhibit the capacity to release immunosuppressive factors in addition to immunostimulating cytokines, such as interleukin I. UV-irradiated cultured keratinocytes release a low-molecular-weight factor which, when injected intravenously, blocks the induction of contact hypersensitivity. Moreover, under identical conditions keratinocytes produce a second, possibly related cytokine, which suppresses the biological activity of interleukin I, an important mediator of immunological and inflammatory reactions. These observations demonstrate that keratinocytes may participate in the regulation of the epidermal immune response through the release of both immunostimulating and immunosuppressive cytokines. The characterisation of these mediators may yield new insight into the mechanisms of allergy and photocarcinogenesis. Moreover, the therapeutic application of these "physiological immunosuppressors" might reveal new aspects concerning selective immunosuppression.


This paper points out that the notion of meaning propounded by inquisitive semantics is not only suited to capture both informative and inquisitive content, but also a sentence's potential to draw attention to certain possibilities. This gives rise to a novel analysis of 'might'.


Ras GTPases cycle between inactive GDP-bound and active GTP-bound states to modulate a diverse array of processes involved in cellular growth control. We have previously shown that both NO/O(2) (via nitrogen dioxide, (*)NO(2)) and superoxide radical anion (O(2)(*)(-)) promote Ras guanine nucleotide dissociation. We now show that hydrogen peroxide in the presence of transition metals (i.e., H(2)O(2)/transition metals) and peroxynitrite also trigger radical-based Ras guanine nucleotide dissociation. The primary redox-active reaction species derived from H(2)O(2)/transition metals and peroxynitrite is O(2)(*)(-) and (*)NO(2), respectively. A small fraction of hydroxyl radical (OH(*)) is also present in both. We also show that both carbonate radical (CO(3)(*)(-)) and (*)NO(2), derived from the mixture of peroxynitrite and bicarbonate, facilitate Ras guanine nucleotide dissociation. We further demonstrate that NO/O(2) and O(2)(*)(-) promote Ras GDP exchange with GTP in the presence of a radical-quenching agent, ascorbate, or NO, and generation of Ras-GTP promotes high-affinity binding of the Ras-binding domain of Raf-1, a downstream effector of Ras. S-Nitrosylated Ras (Ras-SNO) can be formed when NO serves as a radical-quenching agent, and hydroxyl radical but not (*)NO(2) or O(2)(*)(-) can further react with Ras-SNO to modulate Ras activity in vitro. However, given the lack of redox specificity associated with the high redox potential of OH(*), it is unclear whether this reaction occurs under physiological conditions.


This review starts from a brief introduction followed by the list of commercial antimalarial drug. According to the nature of chemical entities, these drugs have been divided into the following categories--Quinolines, pyrimidines, amidinies, guanidines, sulfonamides, sulfones, acridines, antibiotics and sesquiterpene lactones. The site of action and status of the antimalarial drugs have been described against each category. A brief description of reasons behind the search of a new antimalarial drug have been discussed. Finally, the review deals the well known biochemical target sites such as folate metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism and polyamines for the designing of antimalarial drugs. The detail description of the newly discovered biochemical target sites, alpha-tublin and DNA topoisomerases, have been highlighted. In the conclusion section, we have discussed the future strategies for the chemotherapy of malaria.


We studied effects of elastic tunneling on the density of states and on localization in disordered systems of interacting localized electrons. We present evidence which suggests that Coulomb interactions suppress localization, and that quantum effects must be considered in many experimental situations where they were neglected.


The existence and magnitude of the largest genocide of the twentieth century, the Holocaust, are now being denied by individuals worldwide. This paper analyses the European legislation criminalising Holocaust denial from a freedom of expression perspective. The paper argues that Holocaust denial is inherently anti-Semitic, and is thus consistent with hate speech theory and the hate speech laws that have been enacted internationally in an attempt to remedy the harm hate speech can cause. The thesis of this paper is that the legislative restrictions on hate speech and Holocaust denial are justified from a free speech perspective on theoretical grounds. Such restrictions are a necessary prioritisation of human dignity and equality in the circumstances. Explicit Holocaust denial laws, while performing an essential symbolic function in European jurisdictions, are unnecessary in non-European states, as generic hate speech laws are sufficient to capture the harm caused by upper-level Holocaust denial.


In this study, five endophytic bacterial strains, namely Rhizobium pusense (MS-1), Bacillus cereus MS-2, Bacillus flexus (MS-3), Methylophilus flavus (MS-4), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MS-5), were used to investigate their potential role in the enhancement of growth yields of two types of tomato varieties, viz. hybrid and local, and in the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The inoculation of bacterial strains enhanced the root and shoot length, biomass, and leaf chlorophyll contents. The fruit weight of the tomato (kg/plant) was also higher in the bacteria inoculated plants of both hybrid and local varieties than in the control (untreated). A significant increase was recorded in the fruit yield (g/plant) in all the treatments, whereas Methylophilus flavus (MS-4) inoculated plants yielded nearly 2.5 times more fruit weight compared to the control in the hybrid variety and two times higher in the local variety. The response to M. flavus as a microbial inoculant was greater than to the other strains. Biosynthesis of Ag nanoparticles was also carried out using all five endophytic bacterial strains. The weakest producers of AgNPs were Rhizobium pusense (MS-1) and Methylophilus flavus (MS-4), while Bacillus cereus MS-2, Bacillus flexus (MS-3), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MS-5) were strong producers of AgNPs. Nanoparticles were further characterized using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and revealed cuboidal shaped AgNPs in the Bacillus cereus MS-2 strain. In addition, the biosynthesized AgNPs showed antibacterial activity against various pathogenic and endophytic bacterial strains.


The objective of this study was to develop models to predict freshness factors (total viable counts (TVC), pH, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), trimethylamine (TMA), and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values) and the storage period in beef using a visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic technique. A total of 216 beef spectra were collected during the storage period from 0 to 14 d at a 10°C storage. A spectrophotometer was used to measure reflectance spectra from beef samples, and beef freshness spectra were divided into a calibration set and a validation set. Multi-linear regression (MLR) models using the stepwise method were developed to predict the factors. The MLR results showed that beef freshness had a good correlation between the predicted and measured factors using the selected wavelength. The correlation of determination (r ), standard error of prediction (SEP), and ratio of standard deviation to SEP (RPD) of the prediction set for TVC was 0.74, 0.64, and 2.75 Log CFU/cm , respectively. The r , SEP, and RPD values for pH were 0.43, 0.10, and 1.10; those for VBN were 0.73, 1.45, and 2.00 mg%; those for TMA were 0.70, 0.19, and 2.58 mg%; those for TBA values were 0.73, 0.13, and 2.77 mg MA/kg; and those for storage period were 0.77, 1.94, and 2.53 d, respectively. The results indicate that visible and NIR spectroscopy can predict beef freshness during storage.


The aim of this study was to describe the complications of systemic candidiasis in newborns admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) during a 10-year period. An observational study was carried out with 60 newborns admitted at the NICU from 1994 to 2003. The frequency of candidiasis was 1.8% and there was a predominance of male preterm newborns. Low birth weight occurred in 63.3% of the newborns, with 50% of them weighing < 1500 g and among those, 23.3% weighed < 1000g. The most frequent clinical findings were respiratory symptoms, temperature abnormalities, lethargy, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Candida species identified were C.albicans (83.3%), C. tropicalis (6.7%), C.parapsilosis (5%) and C.glabrata (1.7%). There were complications in 85% of the cases: urinary tract infection (66.7%), pneumonia (56.7%), meningitis (13.3%), endocarditis (13.3%), deep venous thrombosis (10%), endophthalmitis (6.7%) and renal abscess (1.7%). The mortality rate was 33.3%. The authors concluded that the frequency of complications in systemic candidiasis was high, with lesions detected in several organs and systems, which probably contributed to the high mortality observed in the studied population. The results obtained show the importance of the systematic investigation of multisystemic complications in all newborns with a blood or sterile material culture positive for Candida sp.


A nonlinear simulation is carried out for the motion of the inviscid, incompressible fluid in a two-dimensional tank of barge for extraction of lithium from seawater that is subjected to forced oscillations. According to a conceptual design of the barge, seawater flows into the tank from suction valves on the inner bottom of the barge, then passes through the piled granulated absorbent and it is discharged out of the tank by drain pumps on the side hull of the barge. In order to solve the problem associated with the inhomogeneous domain of seawater and granulated absorbent, the basic boundary element method (BEM) is extended. From the numerical results obtained by the present method, the effect of forced oscillations on the fluid motion in the tank has been shown. The validity of the present method is confirmed by comparing with other publications for the special case of the problem. One is the sloshing of a two-dimensional tank which was studied by Nakayama et al. 3) and the other is the fluid motions passing through the granulated absorbent with the steady flow from the bottom which was studied by Nobukawa et al. 1) . It is confirmed that the calculated results agree well with others.


Polycystic ovary syndrome is an endocrine and metabolic disorders that is
common in reproductive-aged women. PCOS is a group of symptoms, such as
amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, infertility, obesity, hirsustism, acne, alopecia, and
achanthosis nigricans. Insulin resistance is believed to be one of the most common
causes of PCOS through a various mechanisms, such as decreasing of IGFBP-I,
increasing of IGF-I, activating of the serine autophsophorylation, increasing of the
activation of P450c17, and decreasing of SHBG. These mechanisms can stimulate
clinical manifestation of PCOS. This research aims to find out the relationship
between insulin resistance and clinical manifestation of polycystic ovary syndrome.
This research was done in patients with PCOS using cross sectional study
with retrospective approach. Data was collected from 2009 -2011, with the sample of
105 patients. This research used Statistical analysis, that was chi square test.
From this research found that 33,3% patients of PCOS have insulin resistance.
Based on clinical manifestation found that 35,23% amenorrhea, 64,77%
oligomenorrhea, 72,04% infertility, 50,5% obesity, 0,95% hirsustism, 20% acne, 0%
alopecia and achanthosis nigricans. From 33,3% PCOS with insulin resistance, 40%
amenorrhea, 60% oligomenorrhea, 71,9% infertility, 77,14% obesity, and 0%
hirsustism.
The results showed that there is a significant relationship between insulin
resistance and obesity (p<0,05) and no significant reslationship between insulin
resistance and infertility, hirsustism, and acne (p>0,05).
Keyword : PCOS, Insulin Resistance, Amenorrhea, Oligomenorrhea, Infertility,
Obesity, Hirsustism, Acne, Alopecia, Achanthosis Nigricans


Exploring the behavior of hydrocarbon under pressure is important for understanding its role in planetary sciences and also for exploring novel organic chemistry. In this study, we explored the high-pressure behavior of a linear-chain hydrocarbon, tricosane (C23H48), using Raman spectroscopy. We compressed tricosane up to 23 GPa and did not find any evidence for pressure-induced amorphization within the conditions explored in this study. Upon compression, we observe new modes in the low energy region 100–300 cm−1. In order to understand the appearance of these new modes at high pressures, we used complementary ab initio calculations and explored the effect of chain configurations (linear and bent) on the predicted Raman spectra. We find that these new modes observed at higher pressures are better explained by bent configuration of tricosane chains. Thus, based on high-pressure Raman spectra, it is very likely that a linear chain of tricosane is bent under pressure, i.e., it undergoes a pressure-induced trans-gauche transformation. It is also likely that such bent regions (i.e., kinks) will act as sites along which large chain hydrocarbons could dissociate into smaller chain lengths at extreme conditions relevant to the interiors of Jovian planets.Exploring the behavior of hydrocarbon under pressure is important for understanding its role in planetary sciences and also for exploring novel organic chemistry. In this study, we explored the high-pressure behavior of a linear-chain hydrocarbon, tricosane (C23H48), using Raman spectroscopy. We compressed tricosane up to 23 GPa and did not find any evidence for pressure-induced amorphization within the conditions explored in this study. Upon compression, we observe new modes in the low energy region 100–300 cm−1. In order to understand the appearance of these new modes at high pressures, we used complementary ab initio calculations and explored the effect of chain configurations (linear and bent) on the predicted Raman spectra. We find that these new modes observed at higher pressures are better explained by bent configuration of tricosane chains. Thus, based on high-pressure Raman spectra, it is very likely that a linear chain of tricosane is bent under pressure, i.e., it undergoes a pressure-induced tr...


LiFePO4/C cathode materials were synthesized by carbothermal reduction method using FePO4 and citrate ferric (FeC6H5O7·5H2O) as Fe3+ precursors. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) and charge-discharge test. The results showed that both the crystallization degree and particle size increased markedly with the increase of synthesis temperature. Among the synthesized cathode materials, LiFePO4/C prepared at 650°C showed the best electrochemical properties with an initial discharge specific capacity of 138 mAh·g-1 at 0.2 C, 128 mAh·g-1 at 0.5 C and 116 mAh·g-1 at 1.0 C, respectively.


Our aim was to investigate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) derivatives, which can be produced from the patient's own blood and have minimal side effects, on endometriosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in the literature that studies the relationship between PRP and endometriosis. Endometriosis foci were created in the first operation. In the second operation (30th day) groups were formed. Group 1 (n= 8) was administered saline, group 2 (n= 7) leukocyte- and platelet-rich plasma (L-PRP), and group 3 (n= 8) pure platelet-rich plasma (P-PRP). Group 4 (n= 10) was used to obtain PRP. In the last operation (60th day), the endometriotic foci were measured, and then excised. There was no statistically significant difference between the pre and post volumes of the endometriotic foci, between their volume differences and volume difference rates (p > .05). However, it was observed that existing implant volumes in all groups decreased statistically significantly within their own groups by the end of the experiment compared to the previous volumes (p < .05). When the implants were assessed through histopathological scoring in terms of edema, vascular congestion, inflammatory cell infiltration, hemorrhage, epithelial line, and hemosiderin accumulation and immunohistochemical staining in terms of VEGF, there was no significant difference in the comparison between the groups. Although L-PRP and P-PRP generated more reduction in the endometriosis foci, they did not create any statistical differences.


The results of the simulation of multi-tubular Fischer-Tropsch reactors based on a two-dimensional pseudo-homogeneous model are presented. The model takes into account the intrinsic kinetics of two commercial iron and cobalt catalysts, intraparticle mass transfer limitations, and the radial heat transfer within the fixed bed and to the cooling medium (boiling water). The effective rate with Co is slightly higher than with Fe. Hence, a temperature level can be used for Co that is 20 °C lower compared to Fe. The conversion and product selectivies are then almost the same and the reactor can be operated safely without a temperature runaway. The results of the simulations are consistent with literature data and show that there is still room for improvement of fixed bed FT reactors, e.g., by an enhanced heat transfer.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse the trend of anti-tuberculosis drug resistance in Macao from 2001 to 2005.

METHODS
Susceptibility tests of anti-tuberculosis drugs (SM, INH, RFP and EMB) against all M. tuberculosis complex (MTBC) isolates were performed in new cases and previous treated cases.

RESULTS
The total resistant rate of 1460 isolates was 16.2%; the initial drug resistant rate was 15% and the acquired drug resistant rate was 32%. The multi-drug resistant (MDR) rate was 3.2%, in which the initial and the acquired MDR rates were 2.3% and 15.5%, respectively. Any resistance to INH, SM, RFP and EMB was 11.5%, 9.5%, 3.6% and 2.5% respectively. The resistant rates to 1, 2, 3 and 4 drugs were 9.9%, 2.9%, 1.0% and 1.2% in new cases and 12.6%, 3.9%, 8.7% and 6.8% in previous treated cases. There was no significant increase in drug resistance of new cases and treated cases in last 5 recent years (chi(2) = 0.27, chi(2) = 0.03, all P > 0.05). The initial drug resistant rate did not show significant difference (chi(2) = 5.7, P > 0.05) among different sex and age groups.

CONCLUSIONS
Compared to the previous data, the acquired drug resistant rate and the acquired MDR rate were significantly lower (chi(2) = 6.04, chi(2) = 7.47, all P < 0.05). But the initial drug resistant rate and acquired drug resistant rate were still higher than the report of No.3 of WHO/IUATLD global project on anti-tuberculosis drug resistance surveillance in 2004. More attention should be paid to the high incidence of MDR tuberculosis.


Calorimetric measurements inside the vacuum vessel of TFR, using water-cooled shields, give accurate values of the transmission and neutralisation efficiency of the neutral beam injection lines. Measurements during plasma operation give the value of the shine-through fraction of the injected power. The comparison with calculations indicates that the results are close to the expected ones if the usual value of the beam stopping cross-section is slightly increased ( approximately=15%). For TFR experimental conditions, the fast neutral ionization profile throughout the plasma is almost unaffected by this correction and full beam input accountability is experimentally assessed.


This work explores the role of discrimination in shaping individuals' lives and opportunities, with specific respect to sexual orientation. The role of sexual orientation in explaining earning differences has been increasingly emphasized in empirical literature on discrimination mainly as a result of the growing availability of data sources on gays and lesbian populations. Available evidence predominantly converges on the one hand on the identification of discrimination treatments for gays and positive wage differential for lesbian women with respect to heterosexual counterparts. On the other hand, disagreement pervades interpretations of the predominant above-described labour market outcome. In trying to move beyond such conflicting views, we consider a holistic approach to social exclusion, defined as individuals' ability to fully participate to social life by examining five domains: monetary poverty, labour market attachment, housing conditions, subjective well-being, and education. Three samples of different waves of the Banca d'Italia "Survey on household income and wealth" (SHIW - 2006, 2008 and 2010) were pooled in order to perform the empirical analysis on a reasonably sized sample of heterosexual couples identified according to a cohabitation criteria. Following the SHIW characteristics and definition of household, we are able to differentiate homosexual couples belonging to a sub-population of out same-sex couples from those who are not openly out about their homosexual relationship. We develop an understanding of social exclusion as a non-dichotomous concept (that is, one is not necessarily "included" or "excluded", but a continuum of intermediate conditions exist) through fuzzy analysis techniques and develop a synthetic index of inclusion/exclusion as well as a number of partial indexes, composed of several variables pertaining to a certain domain. Overall indicators of social exclusion are examined for the full sample and for the sub-sample of workers only, comparing individuals cohabiting in same-sex couples with heterosexual counterparts. Our results point out that a significant and non-negligible portion of the social exclusion suffered by lesbian and gay couples cannot be accounted for by observable factors and may therefore be attributed to the impact of discrimination. Coherently with the existing literature, we find a differentiated impact on gay men and lesbian couples. However, and possibly more relevantly, we also find significant differences between the couples of "out" homosexual individuals and those composed of "closeted" individuals.


Recently, speech-text pre-training methods have shown remarkable success in many speech and natural language processing tasks. However, most previous pre-trained models are usually tailored for one or two specific tasks, but fail to conquer a wide range of speech-text tasks. In addition, existing speech-text pre-training methods fail to explore the contextual information within a dialogue to enrich utterance representations. In this paper, we propose Speech-text Pre-training for spoken dialog understanding with ExpliCiT cRoss-Modal Alignment (SPECTRA), which is the first-ever speech-text dialog pre-training model. Concretely, to consider the temporality of speech modality, we design a novel temporal position prediction task to capture the speech-text alignment. This pre-training task aims to predict the start and end time of each textual word in the corresponding speech waveform. In addition, to learn the characteristics of spoken dialogs, we generalize a response selection task from textual dialog pre-training to speech-text dialog pre-training scenarios. Experimental results on four different downstream speech-text tasks demonstrate the superiority of SPECTRA in learning speech-text alignment and multi-turn dialog context.


The AIDS crisis poses a special challenge for American health care, which depends heavily on private insurance to pay medical bills. Can we provide adequate health care to all who need it and still meet the financial requirements of the private health insurance industry? More insurance carriers are turning to antibody testing in order to eliminate poor risks from non-group, direct-pay pools. Some cost-conscious employers have attempted to fire AIDS patients summarily or to exclude AIDS coverage from group insurance policies. Various remedies are available for spreading the financial risks of the epidemic, such as covering persons with AIDS under Medicare or in state-sponsored health insurance pools. Ethical questions about cost and access may also rekindle the debate about the need for national health insurance.


The basic idea of factor analysis is the following. For a given set of manifest variables x1, . . . , xp one wants to find a set of latent variables ξ1, . . . , ξk, fewer in number than the manifest variables, that contain essentially the same information. The latent variables are supposed to account for the dependencies among the manifest variables in the sense that if the latent variables are held fixed, the manifest variables would be independent. Classical factor analysis assumes that both the manifest and the latent variables are continuous variables and is usually carried out by factor analyzing the sample covariance or correlation matrix of the manifest variables. There is a long history of methods for fitting factor models to a correlation or covariance matrix, see e.g., Jöreskog (2006)


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of one dose tranexamic acid combined with temporary drain lamping in primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty.

METHODS
Total 160 patients undergoing unilateral primary total knee arthroplasty between January 2012 and December 2013 were randomly divided into four groups(40 cases in each group):group A (the drain was clamped for 2 hours after the operation and the patients received 20 ml physiological saline), group B(the drain was clamped for 2 hours after the operation and the patients received 10 ml tranexamic acid and 10 ml physiological saline), group C (the drain was clamped for 4 hours after the operation and the patients received 20 ml physiological saline) and group D(the drain was clamped for 4 hours after the operation and the patients received 10 ml tranexamic acid and 10 ml physiological saline). The postoperative hemoglobin level, maximum hemoglobin loss, wound drainage, blood loss, the volume of blood transfusion, the number of patients inquiring blood transfusion, venous thrombo embolism rate, and ecchymosis rate were recorded and compared among the four groups.

RESULTS
There was no incision infection, severe hypoxia, and symptomatic pulmonary embolism in these groups. There were significant differences in hemoglobin content one day after operation in each group(F=12.26, P=0.000), in the hemoglobin content 7 days after operation in each group(F=20.74, P=0.000), in postoperative drainage in each group(F=38.71, P=0.000);in the amount of invisible red blood cell loss in each group(F=83.41, P=0.000), and in total red blood cell loss in each group(F=102.68, P=0.000). Color Doppler ultrasound examination found that the total incidence of VTE was 3%(5/160) and there were no significant differences in each group(P=0.892). There were no significant differences in postoperative subcutaneous ecchymosis area>1% incidence(P=0.143).

CONCLUSIONS
Topical tranexami acid treatment combined with temporary clamping of drain for 4 hours could reduce postoperative blood loss, blood transfusion, and ecchymosis rate without increasing the risk of thromboembolic event after total knee arthroplasty.


Poet Salas turns haiku up a notch with what she calls "riddle-ku," haiku written in the first person from the POV of someone or something whose identity needs to be guessed. Six such poems appear for each season, with spring represented by, among others, umbrellas ("we sprout on stems of people/ bloom only in the rain"), summer by mosquitoes ("wicked whine with wings"), fall by squirrels ("I search under oaks/ and gather tasty treasures"), and winter by snow angels ("give me winter wings"). The concept is inviting, adding a slightly mysterious note to the familiar form of haiku, and Salas skillfully knits her verses together with consonance and wit. The difficulty level of the guessing game is low, as most of the riddles are clearly explicated by the moody but precise acrylic art for kids who haven't guessed the answer just from the text (readers aloud may want to hold back the pictures to allow for full solving opportunities), but audiences will still appreciate the gentle stretch. It's also a format suitable for reading alone as well as reading aloud, and it will likely inspire emulation as well as enjoyment. Back matter offers an explanation of riddle-ku, a key to the riddle answers, and further poetic reading on haiku, riddle poems, and seasons. DS


Metabarcoding has offered unprecedented insights into microbial diversity. In many studies, short DNA sequences are binned into consecutively higher Linnaean ranks, and ranked groups (e.g., genera) are the units of biodiversity analyses. These analyses assume that Linnaean ranks are biologically meaningful and that identically ranked groups are comparable. We used a meta-barcode dataset for marine planktonic diatoms to illustrate the limits of this approach. We found that the 20 most abundant marine planktonic diatom genera ranged in age from 4 to 134 million years, indicating the non-equivalence of genera because some had more time to diversify than others. Still, species richness was only weakly correlated with genus age, highlighting variation in rates of speciation and/or extinction. Taxonomic classifications often do not reflect phylogeny, so genus-level analyses can include phylogenetically nested genera, further confounding rank-based analyses. These results underscore the indispensable role of phylogeny in understanding patterns of microbial diversity.


Abstract The chapter will argue that the way current enthusiasm for moral enhancement is articulated in the extant literature is itself morally problematic. The moral evaluation (and ultimately disapproval) of the discourse will proceed through three stages. First, we shall look at the chequered history of various societies' attempts to cast evil, character, and generally undesirable behaviour, as biological problems. As will be argued, this is the larger context in which moral enhancement discourse should be understood, and abuses in the recent past and present should therefore be highlighted. Second, it will be argued that, given moral functioning's profoundly contextual and responsive qualities, any notion of a fine-grained, powerfully efficacious moral enhancement is both unrealistic and, actually, incoherent. Since enthusiasts' hopes are unrealistic and incoherent, such enhancement would not even be capable of providing the transformative ends that supposedly justify the sometimes extreme prescriptions set forward. Finally, the chapter concludes with the claim that moral enhancement enthusiasm actually serves to trivialise the evils of this world, and not only to trivialise the hard-won efforts required to diminish and overcome such evils, but to misdirect attention away from the real hard work that needs to be done in facing such evils.


The number of trojans, worms, and viruses that computers encounter varies greatly across countries. Empirically identifying factors behind such variation can provide a scientific empirical basis to policy actions to reduce malware encounters in the most affected countries. However, our understanding of these factors is currently mainly based on expert opinions, not empirical evidence. In this paper, we empirically test alternative hypotheses about factors behind international variation in the number of trojan, worm, and virus encounters. We use the Symantec Anti-Virus (AV) telemetry data collected from more than 10 million Symantec customer computers worldwide that we accessed through the Symantec Worldwide Intelligence Environment (WINE) platform. We use regression analysis to test for the effect of computing and monetary resources, web browsing behavior, computer piracy, cyber security expertise, and international relations on international variation in malware encounters. We find that trojans, worms, and viruses are most prevalent in Sub-Saharan African countries. Many Asian countries also encounter substantial quantities of malware. Our regression analysis reveals that the main factor that explains high malware exposure of these countries is a widespread computer piracy especially when combined with poverty. Our regression analysis also reveals that, surprisingly, web browsing behavior, cyber security expertise, and international relations have no significant effect.


Abstract Objectives: We quantified the percentage of multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) carriers among repatriated patients. We identified factors associated with MDRO carriage, and we evaluated the yield of MDRO detection per screened body site. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: A tertiary-care center in Switzerland. Patients: Adult patients after a stay in a healthcare institution abroad. Methods: Patients were screened for MDRO carriage. Standard sites, including nose and throat, groins, and (since mid-2018) rectum, and risk-based sites (wounds, urine, tracheal secretion) were sampled. MDROs were defined as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)– and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacterales, and MDR nonfermenting gram-negative rods. Risk factors for MDRO carriage were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: Between May 2017 and April 2019, 438 patients were screened and 107 (24.4%) tested positive for an MDRO, predominantly ESBL-producing and MDR Enterobacterales. Risk factors for MDRO colonization were the length of stay in hospital abroad, antibiotic treatment with 'Watch' and 'Reserve' antibiotics, and region of hospitalization abroad. Rectal swabs had the highest yield for detecting patients with MDR intestinal bacteria, but nose/throat and groins, or wound samples were more sensitive for MRSA or nonfermenting gram-negative organisms, respectively. Conclusions: We identified risk factors for MDRO carriage and body sites with the highest yield for a specific MDRO, which might help to target screening and isolation and reduce screening costs.


The objective of this proper is to develop an analytical method of calculating the average power spectral density (PSD) and bit error rate (BER) of Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK) modulation scheme. GMSK modulation has been widely used in terrestrial and satellite communication systems. No method, other than simulation is currently available to calculate GMSK PSD. In this paper we express the PSD in a compact Hermitian form suitable for numerical computation. We also analyze the BER performance of a coherent I-Q receiver. The relationship between out of band radiation attenuation and BER degradation is clearly shown. The degradation caused by the transmit and receive filters is estimated. The formulas given in this paper can be extended to arbitrary pulse shapes of finite duration.


During the 1960s Nursing Cadet Schemes were a recognised pathway into nurse training. The concept of the cadet was reintroduced in 1999 in order to improve retention and achievement within the profession to counter a predicted shortfall of trained nurses by 2018. This project investigates the choices and decision-making of young people accessing Higher Education (HE) from a cadet scheme, with the opportunity to 'step-on' to a nursing diploma programme. A case study methodology was employed, with data gathered through semi-structured interviews with Further Education (FE) students studying for a BTec National Diploma in Health Studies. The project follows 21 students, and asks How do FE students go about making choices in relation to 'stepping on' to a nurse education diploma programme in HE and what influences their decisions. The choices available to young people and the influences on their decision-making processes are discussed. Conclusions suggest the family plays a significant role in decisions about FE, although the students themselves appear to make the final decisions about pursuing HE. The significance of the work experience is explored in relation to FE choices, and evidence presented demonstrating the value of clinical placements as the cadets gain confidence and skills in preparation for the transition to HE. The research proposes that students are pragmatic in their decision-making utilising vocational opportunities to help the decision-making processes. A final conclusion proposes that vocational preparation and 'stepping-on' is an appropriate route into nursing for a number of young people and although not suitable for all, should be considered more widely than at present. Recommendations include maintaining cadet schemes and the continuation of widening participation to enable stepping-on, as the preparation of nurses' moves towards an all graduate profession. Further research is recommended to determine if cadet schemes help improve retention and attrition rates of nurses.


The authors conducted review of the scientific literature on the prevalence of mental disorders in the world and in Kharkiv region. There were studied some examples of forensic pharmacy practice regarding improper distribution of medicines, including extemporaneous formulations, to patients suffering from mental health disorders. Based on the research, the authors discuss the problems of providing the eligible for aid patients suffering from mental disorders with extemporaneous medicines, and suggest making appropriate amendments to the normative documents. The authors draw a conclusion that the pharmaceutical law principles contribute to solving the problem of providing patients with mental health disorders with extemporaneous medicines by using the extemporaneous preparations made in pharmacies.


Although deficits in response inhibition are common in Parkinson's disease (PD), studies on their neural correlates are relatively scarce. In our previous study, medication-naïve PD patients showed, among others, lower activation of the inhibition-related bilateral inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) compared with healthy controls while performing the stop-signal task. Here we report on a follow-up study in the same cohort. Fourteen medicated PD patients and 16 healthy controls performed the same stop-signal task during MRI; 3.1±1.0 years after our previous study. During that time, all PD patients had started to use dopaminergic medication. We analyzed task-related functional activity and connectivity in the bilateral IFG and anterior insula, brain regions that are important response inhibition. Task-related functional connectivity was analyzed with generalized psychophysiological interaction. PD patients were significantly slower on response initiation (GO reaction time) and response inhibition (stop-signal reaction time) than healthy controls. There were no between-group differences in functional activity. On the other hand, functional connectivity of the IFG and anterior insula was significantly lower in PD compared with healthy controls. Mainly the inferior parietal lobule and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were less connected with these seed regions. These results show that early-stage medicated PD patients show lower task-related functional connectivity but not activity of brain regions that are important for response inhibition; the IFG and anterior insula. We tentatively speculate that the use of dopaminergic medication upheld task-related activity but not connectivity.


We discuss the effects of rotation on confining properties of gauge theories focusing on compact electrodynamics in two spatial dimensions as an analytically tractable model. We show that at finite temperature, the rotation leads to a deconfining transition starting from a certain distance from the rotation axis. A uniformly rotating confining system possesses, in addition to the usual confinement and deconfinement phases, a mixed inhomogeneous phase which hosts spatially separated confinement and deconfinement regions. The phase diagram thus has two different deconfining temperatures. The first deconfining temperature can be made arbitrarily low by sufficiently rapid rotation while the second deconfining temperature is largely unaffected by the rotation. Implications of our results for the phase diagram of QCD are presented. We point out that uniformly rotating quark-gluon plasma should therefore experience an inverse hadronization effect when the hadronization starts from the core of the rotating plasma rather than from its boundary.


A carefully elicited history and a painstaking clinical examination of the patient will ever remain the most important means of diagnosing a surgical brain lesion. However, when these methods of study have yielded all the information possible, there still remains a considerable number of cases in which a cerebral pneumogram is necessary as an aid in the localization or identification of the lesion. Whether the spinal or the ventricular pneumogram is to be preferred is largely a matter of individual opinion. On the neurosurgical service of the Cleveland Clinic Hospital our confidence in the spinal method has been mounting steadily, so that the ventricular route is now only occasionally resorted to. When encephalography began to come into more general use in America, many neurological surgeons felt that its field of applicability would be limited largely to non-surgical lesions. The reason for this feeling was the belief that a spinal air insufflation is a dangerous procedure in the presence of the high intracranial pressure which characterizes most surgical brain lesions. This feeling is still rather prevalent, but our experience in the 50 cases herein described would seem to indicate that such an opinion is not justified. Of these 50 cases, choking of the optic discs was present in 33, and in several cases the intracranial pressure was extremely high. The only untoward result from the spinal air insufflation in this series was a respiratory embarrassment in one case of obstructive hydrocephalus, which was promptly relieved by introducing a cannula into the lateral ventricle.


Selected procedures and tools that are used in crisis situations will be presented in this article. This presentation will be based on the results of qualitative research as well as the analysis of entries in selected reference literature that discuss the issue of preparing for crises and crisis management. The article aims to show that limited but effective crisis management is possible when it arrives but a far better approach is preparing the organisation for the eventuality of a crisis situation in a manner that facilitates reaction. However, effectiveness should be examined in two aspects in this case, firstly, preventing the crisis from escalating or going beyond the walls of the company or management board office, or mitigating its possible negative effects.


The fungus Trichoderma harzianum is a potent mycoparasite of various plant pathogenic fungi. We have studied the molecular regulation of mycoparasitism in the host/mycoparasite system Botrytis cinerea/T. harzianum. Protein extracts, prepared from various stages of mycoparasitism, were used in electrophoretic mobility-shift assays (EM-SAs) with two promoter fragments of the ech-42 (42-kDa endochitinase-encoding) gene of T. harzianum. This gene was chosen as a model because its expression is triggered during mycoparasitic interaction [Carsolio, C., Gutierrez, A., Jimenez, B., van Montagu, M. & Herrera-Estrella, A. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91, 10903-10907]. All cell-free extracts formed high-molecular weight protein-DNA complexes, but those obtained from mycelia activated for mycoparasitic attack formed a complex with greater mobility. Competition experiments, using oligonucleotides containing functional and nonfunctional consensus sites for binding of the carbon catabolite repressor Cre1, provided evidence that the complex from nonmycoparasitic mycelia involves the binding of Cre1 to both fragments of the ech-42 promoter. The presence of two and three consensus sites for binding of Cre1 in the two ech-42 promoter fragments used is consistent with these findings. In contrast, the formation of the protein-DNA complex from mycoparasitic mycelia is unaffected by the addition of the competing oligonucleotides and hence does not involve Cre1. Addition of equal amounts of protein of cell-free extracts from nonmycoparasitic mycelia converted the mycoparasitic DNA-protein complex into the nonmycoparasitic complex. The addition of the purified Cre1::glutathione S-transferase protein to mycoparasitic cell-free extracts produced the same effect. These findings suggest that ech-42 expression in T. harzianum is regulated by (i) binding of Cre1 to two single sites in the ech-42 promoter, (ii) binding of a "mycoparasitic" protein-protein complex to the ech-42 promoter in vicinity of the Cre1 binding sites, and (iii) functional inactivation of Cre1 upon mycoparasitic interaction to enable the formation of the mycoparasitic protein-DNA complex.


Alagille syndrome (AGS) is an autosomal dominant disorder with developmental abnormalities of the liver, heart, eyes, vertebrae, and face. Mutations in the JAG1 (Jagged 1) gene, coding a ligand in the evolutionarily conserved Notch signaling pathway, are responsible for AGS. Here we present sixteen different JAG1 gene mutations, among them twelve novel, not described previously. Seven frameshift: c. 172_178del7 (p.Ala58fs), c.509delT (p.Leu170fs), c.1197delG (p.Val399fs), c.1485_1486delCT (p.Pro495fs), c.1809_1810insTGGG (p.Lys604fs), c.2122_2125delCAGT (p.Gln708fs), c.2753delT (p.Ile918fs); five nonsense: c.383G>A (p.Trp128X), c.496C>T (p.Glu166X), c.841C>T (p.Gln281X), c.1207C>T (p.Gln403X), c.1603C>T (p.Gln535X); two splice site: c.388‐1G>C, c.3048+1_3048+2insG and two missense mutations: c.359T>A (p.Ile120Asn), c.560G>A (p.Cys187Tyr) were found. Forty percent of the changes were identified in exons 2 and 4, the remaining mutations are distributed along the entire coding sequence of the gene. Seventy‐five percent of the mutations lead to creation of premature termination codons. Family studies revealed that the specific mutations were inherited in 3 out of 11 investigated cases. No correlation between genotype and phenotype was observed. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The caudate nucleus' head was shown to take part in organisation of praxis, perception, gnosis and "thinking activity". A wide range of dysfunctions in the caudate insufficiency was abolished by a specific set of psychotropic drugs acting upon classic neurotransmitter systems of the cat brain.


There is need for simple methods for checking consistency of beam outputs and energy in linear accelerators used for radiotherapy. A method was designed by the department using perspex phantom with which the dosimetric data of two medical linear accelerators (Clinac 600 CD, Clinac 2300 CD) were evaluated over a period of 30 months. The efficacy of methods followed was checked. Routine beam consistency checks were designed for photon beams with 15 cm/ 5 cm depth ionizations in perspex phantom and variable depth combinations for electron beams. Calculated ionization ratios were compared with measured values to show their significance. The dose/MU for all radiation beams was maintained within 2% accuracy over the period of 30 months. Clinac 600 CD machine showed decreasing trend of cGy/MU, while Clinac 2300 CD showed increasing trend of cGy/MU over a period, which needed tuning of monitor chamber two times each. Tuning of output to achieve standard value was carried out once, for all electron energies when the output dose/MU exceeded 3%. During one week (June 2005), there were slight changes in electron energy detected using the ratio method, which did not recur anytime afterwards. The methods designed are adequate to find the consistency in the beam output and energies in the radiotherapy linacs.


Plasmonics is the field of science that studies light-matter interaction. Collective oscillations
of electrons at the surface of metals, resulting from an electromagnetic excitation,
are responsible for plasmonic phenomena. In metallic nanostructures, these oscillations
confine and enhance an electromagnetic field at a sub-wavelength scale, thus having a
huge impact on enhanced sensing and spectroscopy applications. Moreover, plasmonics
has been also used to enhance weak magneto-optical (MO) effects in magnetic materials.
Magneto-optical phenomena are interactions between a magnetic field in a medium and
an electromagnetic wave propagating through it [1], resulting in a rotation of the polarization
plane and a change in the ellipticity of the polarization state. Magneto-optically
active materials have nowadays found applications in a variety of contexts, such as magnetization
imaging [2], telecommunication [3], sensors and data storage [4].
Current research focuses on the development of materials with large MO activity to
improve the performance of these devices and expand their applications. Since an important
factor in integrated technology is size, scaling the dimensions of MO components
while preserving the readability of their signal is a crucial requirement. Since the MO
response of a material is related to the optical field inside it, plasmonics can allow for
its control and manipulation. The interplay between plasmons and magneto-optically
active elements has been an important research topic in the field of magnetoplasmonics
[5, 6]. Driven by such a research trend, fast, reliable and sensitive MO characterization
tools are required in magnetoplasmonics. Conventional systems like the MOKE optical
setup, based on frequency modulation methods, are expensive and rather time consuming
[7]. This is especially cumbersome in the investigation of small signals which require,
in addition, long detector integration time.
Here we develope a simple, fast, sensitive and broadband spectrometer-based plasmonic
and MO characterization tool. With this tool, which allows small MO signal detection
from nanostructures in ambient conditions [8], we study hybrid Au-Fe magnetoplasmonic
nanoantennas with different compositions. Evolution of the MO signal when changing
the relative amount of the two materials is assessed. We study the extinction spectra and
MO response of both the pure Au and hybrid Au-Fe magnetoplasmonic systems. The
trend studied is also compared to that of continuous Fe reference films. Our aim is to
assess whether these hybrid structures, combined with the use of our detection scheme,
are suitable to provide the reduction of the size of the magneto-optical active material
without losing the ability to read MO signal from these nanostructures.