Little information is available on circulating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) subtypes and resistance to antiretroviral drugs in Albania. To fill this gap, we studied 72 plasma samples from HIV-infected individuals from throughout the country. Subtype classification and genotypic resistance analysis were performed on the HIV pol gene region. The analysis was successfully performed on 66 (91.6%) plasma samples and showed that 43 (65.2%) strains were non-B subtypes (mostly subtype A, as determined by analysis of pol gene sequences). No major mutations in the protease gene were found, whereas analysis of the reverse transcriptase gene revealed a few major mutations associated with resistance. In conclusion, non-B subtypes are predominant in Albania, and the prevalence of resistance to antiretroviral drugs is still low.


A case of 58-year-old woman with recurrent retrobulbar optic neuritis (ron) and transverse myelitis is presented. The patient was admitted to the opthalmology unit because of acute right retrobulbar optic neuritis. In 1997 she complained of left retrobulbar optic neuritis. One year later transverse myelitis of thoracic spine with spastic paraparesis occurred. MRI examination showed T2 hyperintensive focus in the thoracic spine (Th8-Th9, probably demyelinisation). Nowadays MRI examination of the optic nerves and brain showed demyelinisation focus in the right optic nerve. There was no pathological changes in the brain. The diagnosis of Devic disease was established. Treatment with intravenous methyloprednisolon was administered with slight improvement. The pathology and clinical course of Devic disease are discussed.


Abstract Physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour (SB) and sleep are important lifestyle behaviours associated with chronic respiratory disease (CRD) morbidity and mortality. These behaviours need to be understood in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) to develop appropriate interventions. Purpose Where and how have free-living PA, SB and sleep data been collected for adults living with CRD in LMIC? What are the free-living PA, SB and sleep levels of adults living with CRD? Patients and Methods The literature on free-living PA, SB and sleep of people living with CRD in LMIC was systematically reviewed in five relevant scientific databases. The review included empirical studies conducted in LMIC, reported in any language. Reviewers screened the articles and extracted data on prevalence, levels and measurement approach of PA, SB and sleep using a standardised form. Quality of reporting was assessed using bespoke criteria. Results Of 89 articles, most were conducted in Brazil (n=43). PA was the commonest behaviour measured (n=66). Questionnaires (n=52) were more commonly used to measure physical behaviours than device-based (n=37) methods. International Physical Activity Questionnaire was the commonest for measuring PA/SB (n=11). For sleep, most studies used Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (n=18). The most common ways of reporting were steps per day (n=21), energy expenditure (n=21), sedentary time (n=16), standing time (n=13), sitting time (n=11), lying time (n=10) and overall sleep quality (n=32). Studies revealed low PA levels [steps per day (range 2669–7490steps/day)], sedentary lifestyles [sitting time (range 283–418min/day); standing time (range 139–270min/day); lying time (range 76–119min/day)] and poor sleep quality (range 33–100%) among adults with CRD in LMIC. Conclusion Data support low PA levels, sedentary lifestyles and poor sleep among people in LMIC living with CRDs. More studies are needed in more diverse populations and would benefit from a harmonised approach to data collection for international comparisons.


OBJECTIVES
to identify the female homicide profile in the city of Goiânia.

METHODS
a cross-sectional, descriptive study that characterized female deaths by homicide from 2008 to 2015. They occurred in Goiânia, and registered in the Mortality Information System. Cases of homicide of women aged ≥ 10 years were eligible. Other causes of death were excluded. Descriptive statistical analysis with frequencies.

RESULTS
three hundred seventy-six women died from assault, with an increase in the percentage of deaths annually. Most of the victims were young (57.5%), single (78.8%), mixed-ethnicity (61.1%) and with low education (58.4%). The most frequent means of assault was firearm (64.0%). The health districts with the highest record of female deaths due to assault were southwest, center and northwest.

CONCLUSIONS
the predominant profile of women victims of femicide was young, mixed-ethnicity, single, with low level of education and living in less favored regions.


Background: The prognosis of pediatric ependymomas remains poor, with treatment being predominantly based on surgery with or without radiotherapy. The lack of robust therapeutic molecular markers for clinical use has hampered attempts to improve survival from ependymomas. This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of p16, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), forkhead box protein J 1 (FOXJ1), and tenascin in pediatric ependymomas by evaluating their immunohistochemical expression and comparing them with clinical outcomes. Methods: A total of 22 children (< 14 years) with ependymoma were retrospectively analyzed for the expression of p16, EZH2, FOXJ1, and tenascin by immunohistochemical staining. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate the association between immunohistochemical marker expression and patient survival. Results: Higher expression of p16, EZH2, FOXJ1, and tenascin was observed in 59.0%, 36.3%, 40.9%, and 68.1% of the ependymoma samples, respectively. Patients with p16-positive and p16-negative tumors had an overall median survival time of 5.38 and 3.38 years and an overall cumulative survival rate of 44.5% and 36.5%, respectively. P16 negativity was significantly associated with poorer outcome (P = 0.009). No relationship was observed between EZH2, FOXJ1, and tenascin expression and overall survival (P = 0.904, 0.844, and 0.646, respectively). Conclusions: Loss of p16 expression was associated with poor prognosis and may be used for risk stratification. Limitations of the present study include its small sample size and variable sensitivity of different antibody clones and detection methods. Int J Clin Pediatr. 2020;9(3):67-71 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/ijcp385


A total of 1,995,167 students (around 96.2 percent of total enrollment) attend public schools in Tunisia. The public school student population is concentrated almost evenly between the primary (50.6 percent) and secondary levels (49.4 percent), and 82.6 percent of the total number of students attend schools in urban areas. Around 3.9 percent of enrolled students attend private schools (all of which are private, government- independent schools). All private schools are located in urban areas, principally serving secondary school students. Tunisia does have in place a mandatory probationary period prior to awarding open-ended status to new teachers. This may help in facilitating the dismissal of weak and unmotivated teachers earlier on, before they become permanent staff and part of the civil service. The first years of teaching are among the best available predictors of a teacher's performance later on. Therefore, it is positive to have in place screening processes to dismiss low-performing teacher entrants. In Tunisia, this screening process to gain open-ended status involves being assessed on performance. Once a teacher holds an open-ended appointment, the results of the performance evaluation process may be used in dismissing a teacher based on his/her performance. However, given the fact that data on the extent of teacher under-performance and rates of dismissal are unavailable, it is not possible to ascertain the extent to which ineffective teachers are removed in practice.


As an aerial and arboreal fauna, the abundances and populations of fruit bat Cynopterus brachyotis were influenced by the vegetation structures and aerosphere condition variables of fruit bat ecosystems. While mountaineous paddy field is an unique habitat since the trees are scarce and has exposure to the aerosphere variables including air temperature and humidity. Here this paper aims to select the best vegetation structures and aerosphere factors that support the abundance of C. brachyotis in mountainous paddy field landscape in West Java. The model selection was using AIC methodology by testing 15 models including 5 single models and 10 combination models of explanatory variables. Based on the model, tree height and combinations of tree height and elevation produced the best prediction for the bat abundances, as described by low values of AIC and the highest values of R2 and adjusted R2. For the best models, the AIC values ranged from 16.674 to 17.603, from 0.3404 to 0.4144 (R2), and 0.2461 to 0.2192 for adjusted R2. Regarding conservation of C. brachyotis and learning from the model, the conservation approaches mainly in mountainous paddy fields are encouraged to protect and conserve high altitude landscapes and trees with height > 10 m. Whereas the AIC results show lack of aerosphere variable effects on C. brachyotis (AIC: 19.346-20.406, R2: 0.1124-0.001353, and adjusted R2: −0.01444 − −0.1413).


Funded by the People Programme (Marie Curie Actions) of the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under REA grant agreement no 624808.


This paper describes work in progress. It presents a new way of looking at some of the basics of CSP. The primary contributions are exception handling and checkpointing of processes and the ability to roll back to a known checkpoint. Channels are discussed as communication events which are monitored by a supervisor process. The supervisor process is also used to formalise poison and retire events. Exception handling and checkpointing are used as means of recovering from an error. The supervisor process is central to checkpointing and recovery as well. Three different kinds of exception handling are discussed: fail-stop, retire-like fail-stop, and checkpointing. Fail-stop works like poison, and retire-like fail-stop works like retire. Checkpointing works by telling the supervisor process to roll back both participants in a communication event, to a state immediately after their last successful communication. Only fail-stop exceptions have been implemented in PyCSP at this point.


Cytos Biotechnology AG is developing an intramuscular therapeutic vaccine, CYT-002-NicQb (also known as nicotine-Qbeta), based on its Immunodrug (formerly known as alpha vaccine) nicotine-specific antibody-generating technology, for the potential treatment of nicotine addiction. A phase II trial was initiated in Switzerland in January 2005 and in February 2006, Cytos Biotechnology announced that it planned to begin a phase IIb/III trial in 2007.


An architecture and implementation for a distributed artificial intelligence (DAI) system are presented, with emphasis given to the control and communication aspects. Problem solving by this system occurs as an iterative refinement of several mechanisms, including problem decomposition, kernel-subproblem solving, and result synthesis. In order for all related nodes to make optimum use of the information obtained from these problem-solving mechanisms, the system dynamically reconfigures itself, thereby improving its performance during operation. This approach offers the possibilities of increased real-time response, improved reliability and flexibility, and lower processing costs. A major component in the node architecture is a database of metaknowledge about the expertise of a node's own expert systems and those of the other processing nodes. This information is gradually accumulated during problem solving. Each node also has a dynamic-planning ability, which guides the problem-solving process in the most promising direction and a focus-control mechanism, which restricts the size of the explored solution space at the task level while reducing the communication bandwidths required. It also has a question-and-answer mechanism, which handles internode communications. Examples in the domain of digital-logic design are given to demonstrate the operation of the system.


Cystic fibrosis (CF) and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) are genetic respiratory diseases featured by chronic upper and lower airway inflammation and infection, mainly due to impaired mucociliary clearance due to genetic mutations. Sleep is crucial to healthy children's normal physical and psychological development and has an important value in chronic respiratory diseases. Impaired sleep quality, such as sleep deprivation or insufficient sleep during the night, and sleep respiratory disorders (SRDs) are common in 5% to 30% of the general population. Sleep disruption leads to attention deficits, daytime sleepiness, fatigue and mood disorders and correlates to a worsened quality of life. Furthermore, sleep respiratory disorders (SRSs) are under-recognized comorbidities in CF and PCD patients. SRSs include a spectrum of symptoms ranging from primary snoring through upper airway resistance to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), nocturnal hypoventilation and hypoxemia occurring in people with moderate to severe lung disease and damaging the disease-related outcomes and quality of life. Effective screening during sleep with polysomnography is very important for the timely initiation of efficacious treatments and to prevent worsened respiratory, metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes. However, the impact of SRDs on health and quality of life is still underinvestigated.


By selecting and describing different life-stages in the production of one particular exhibition the permanent ethnographic displays in the Centenary Gallery of the Homiman Museum, London this paper examines the dialogical nature of exhibition making. From curatorial conception, through design, to the Museurrfs corporate modifications, the role of the curator as dominant producer is problematised and the differentiated languages of museum practice are interrogated. Attention is particularly focused on the intersections and interactions between and across these different professional languages which serve to constitute, transform and fix exhibitionary media.


BACKGROUND
Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is a transitional state between normal aging and dementia, and identifying early biomarkers is crucial for disease detection and intervention. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has the potential to identify changes in neural activity in MCI.

METHODS
We investigated neural activity changes in the visual network of the aMCI patients (n:20) and healthy persons (n:17) using resting-state fMRI and visual oddball task fMRI. We used independent component analysis to identify regions of interest and compared the activity between groups using a false discovery rate correction.

RESULTS
Resting-state fMRI revealed increased activity in the areas that have functional connectivity with the visual network, including the right superior and inferior lateral occipital cortex, the right angular gyrus and the temporo-occipital part of the right middle temporal gyrus (p-FDR = 0.008) and decreased activity in the bilateral thalamus and caudate nuclei, which are part of the frontoparietal network in the aMCI group (p-FDR = 0.002). In the visual oddball task fMRI, decreased activity was found in the right frontal pole, the right frontal orbital cortex, the left superior parietal lobule, the right postcentral gyrus, the right posterior part of the supramarginal gyrus, the right superior part of the lateral occipital cortex, and the right angular gyrus in the aMCI group.

CONCLUSION
Our results suggest the alterations in the visual network are present in aMCI patients, both during resting-state and task-based fMRI. These changes may represent early biomarkers of aMCI and highlight the importance of assessing visual processing in cognitive impairment. However, future studies with larger sample sizes and longitudinal designs are needed to confirm these findings.


COVID-19 is an infectious pandemic disease caused by the virus called as SARS-CoV-2 It is the pathogens that primarily target the respiratory system of human beings The most common symptoms at the beginning of COVID-19 illness are, cough, fever, muscle pain, diarrhoea, headache, and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome occurs in severe cases The idea of Srotas, in all different appropriate meaning, is still related in the current situation and might give different visions if revisited Hridaya (Heart) and Mahasrotas(Gastrointestinal tract) and are the origins of Pranavahasrotas (respiratory system) In the view of the current review, the introductory classical text of Ayurveda like Charak Samhita and compilation textbooks, research publication and internet sources are also reviewed to explore the relation of Pranavaha srotas and COVID-19 disease In the diseases of Pranavaha srotas, similar symptoms are found as it is in connection with an organ like heart, lungs, brain and Gastro-intestinal tract The treatment protocols for diseases of Pranvahahasrotas includes general Snehan Karma(Oleation) and Swedan Karma (Sudation) therapies, Vamana(emesis), Dhumapana (medicated smoking) therapy, Rasayan therapy(Rejuvenation Therapy), treatment of Jwar(fever) and classical formulations like Kantakari ghrita, Shrungyadi Churna, Talisadi churna, Vasa Avaleha, Kanakasava, Shwasakuthar Rasa, Mahalaxmivilas rasa etc recommended So current review will be useful for research on treatment protocol mentioned for the management of diseases of Pranavaha srotas given COVID-19 and also as a reference for additional safety and efficacy studies;pharmaceutical manufacturing as well as standardization of classical formulations stated for the treating diseases of Pranavaha srotas


The interaction between human and physical devices and devices in the real world is gaining more attention, and requires a natural and intuitive methodology to employ. According to this idea and living well, life has been a growing demand. Thus, how to raise pets in an easy way has been the main issue recently. This study examines the ability of computation, communication, and control technologies to improve human interaction with pets by the technology of the Internet of Things. This work addresses the improvement through the pet application of the ability of location-awareness, and to help the pet owners raise their pet on the activity and eating control easily. Extensive experiment results demonstrate that our proposed system performs significantly help on the kidney disease and reduce the symptoms. Our study not only presents the key improvement of the pet monitor system involved in the ideas of the Internet of Things, but also meets the demands of pet owners, who are out for works without any trouble.


Background: Refugees with prolonged and repeated experiences of trauma, often in combination with post-migration living difficulties, are subjected to very high levels of perceived stress and stress-related ill health. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) constitutes a frequently diagnosed disorder in this context. Inactivity/avoidance has been examined as reciprocal maintenance factors of PTSD and associated mental and physical distress, suggesting that Physical Activity (PA) interventions may alleviate symptoms of PTSD and improve general health and well-being. The objective of the current study is to apply Intervention Mapping (IM) to a multimodal PA intervention, and to examine the efficacy of the intervention among trauma-afflicted refugees.

Methods: Step 1, needs assessment, is conducted on basis of a structured literature review and clinical observations. Methods for application of steps 2-4 are currently being examined based on clinical experience, literature review, and planned focus group discussions (n=24). Steps 5-6 are preliminary designed to be carried on on basis of a single subject design (AB) with repeated measures (n=38).

Preliminary results: Progress of step 1-4 has resulted in a preliminary intervention program, comprising practical strategies based on multiple theory-based treatment modalities and intervention methods, e.g. psychoeducation, semi-structured program of exercises and physical activity, guided by experienced physiotherapists.

Currents stage of work: Step 5-6, implementation and evaluation plans, are currently in progress. Continuous elaboration of program materials and protocols, reviewing determinants and change objectives.

Discussion: Increasing need of theory and evidence-based interventions in the study population. Possible further reaching implications beyond clinical settings, e.g. psycho-social adjustment and integration.


Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions, The Level of Anxiety and Hopelessness of University Students Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine university students' interpersonal cognitive distortions, the level of anxiety and hopelessness and to find out the differences of gender and age in terms of students' interpersonal cognitive distortions, the level of anxiety and hopelessness. Method: To this study 287 (%78.6) female, 78 (%21.4) male, total 365 university students participated. Hopelessness Scale, anxiety Inventory, and interpersonal cognitive distortions Scale were used to collect data and the data was analyzed by using SPSS. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and One Way ANOVA was used to analyze the data. Results: The results of the analyses showed that male and female university students who are age of 21-25 years old are relatively higher than other age groups in their interpersonal cognitive distortions, the level of anxiety, and hopelessness. There were no significant differences between male and female students in terms of interpersonal cognitive distortions, the level of anxiety and hopelessness. In other words, male and female university student's interpersonal cognitive distortions, the level of anxiety and hopelessness were not significantly different and both male and female students who are age of 21-25 years old have relatively higher means in terms of interpersonal cognitive distortions, the level of anxiety and hopelessness. Conclusion: The results were not consistent with the literature. The reason of this could be that this study was made on healthy populations that are not diagnostic patients and this study was made on the students who continue to the foundation university. (Journal of Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy and Research 2013, 2: 78-88)


Introduction: Accumulation of profibrotic myofibroblasts is a crucial step for fibrotic remodeling in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-bhas a key regulatory role in myofibroblast differentiation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been proposed to be involved in the mechanism for TGF-b-induced myofibroblast differentiation. Metformin is a biguanide antidiabetic medication and its pharmacological action is mediated through the activation of AMPK, which regulates not only energy homeostasis but also stress responses including ROS. Hence, we hypothesized that metformin may modulate TGF-b-induced myofibroblast differentiation through the regulation of ROS production. Methods: Using human lung fibroblast (LFB), western blotting (WB) of alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA) was performed to evaluate TGF-b-induced myofibroblast differentiation in the presence and absence of metformin. AMPK activation was detected by showing phosphorylation via WB. AMPK was inhibited by siRNA-mediated knockdown. CM-H2DCFDA was used to evaluate intracellular ROS production. Results: TGF-b induced myofibroblast differentiation, which was clearly inhibited by metformin treatment. AMPK inhibition illustrates that metformin-mediated activation of AMPK was responsible for suppression of TGF-b-induced myofibroblast differentiation. Intriguingly, metformin also suppressed TGF-b-induced NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) expression and ROS production via AMPK activation. Conclusion: Metformin suppresses NOX4 expression and ROS production via AMPK activation, resulting in inhibition of TGF-b-induced myofibroblast differentiation. Therefore, metformin may also be used for the treatment of IPF.


For the application to optic devices, wafer level package including spacer with particular thickness according to optical design could be required. In these cases, the uniformity of spacer thickness is important for bonding strength and optical performance. Packaging process has to be performed at low temperature in order to prevent damage to devices fabricated before packaging. And if photosensitive material is used as spacer layer, thickness of spacer and size and shape of pattern can be easy to control. This paper presents polymer bonding with thick, uniform and patterned spacing layer using SU-8 2100 photoresist for wafer level package. SU-8, negative photoresist, can be coated uniformly by spin coater and is cured at 95degC and bonded well near the temperature. It can be bonded to silicon well, patterned with high aspect ratio and easy to form thick layer due to its high viscosity. It is also mechanically strong, chemically resistive and thermally stable. But adhesion of SU-8 to glass is poor, and in the case of forming thick layer, SU-8 layer leans from the perpendicular due to imbalance to gravity. To solve leaning problem, the wafer rotating system was introduced. Imbalance to gravity of thick layer was cancelled out through rotating wafer during curing time. And depositing additional layer of gold onto glass could improve adhesion strength of SU-8 to glass. Conclusively, we established the coating condition for forming patterned SU-8 layer with 400 mum of thickness and 3.25% of uniformity through single coating. Also we performed silicon to glass bonding with thick, uniform and patterned spacing layer of SU-8 photoresist for wafer level package


Pulmonary physiology is a core element of pediatric pulmonology care and research. This article reviews some of the notable publications in physiology that were published in Pediatric Pulmonology in 2021 and 2022.


Abstract. Debris flows generally propagate along steep mountain torrents with dynamics primarily governed by gravitational and frictional forces. Thus, debris flows modelling can be successfully performed through the application of kinematic models, which consider only the effects of slope and friction and neglect the remaining terms of the momentum equation. However, the diffusion processes that can be observed in the field, such as the spreading of the debris flow wave as it flows downstream, can not be theoretically predicted by kinematic models, since diffusion is a second-order process neglected in the kinematic approximation. In this paper, this issue is discussed and an application for both a generalized diffusion wave model and a kinematic model is proposed of a debris flow which occurred in an Italian instrumented torrent to identify, in a real case scenario, the effective value of the neglected terms in the kinematic approximation.


The introduction of the project-based approach into the practice of public finance management is necessitated by modern requirements for the state regulation of the social and economic sphere beginning with the processes of budget planning. The subject of research is the theoretical and methodological aspects of the project-based approach to the management of budget expenditures. The purpose of research was to determine the role and place of the project-based approach in the modern budget planning system. The paper proves that the project-based approach should be viewed as a part of budget programming. Along with that, the formulated specific features of the project-based approach make it possible to draw a boundary line between the concepts of project-based and program-target management of budget expenditures. The paper also analyzes the federal experience in using the project-based approach for planning budget expenditures. The results of the analysis point out the need for its further improvement and appropriate recommendations are proposed.


The pollen and pistil RALF peptides, along with multiple receptor-like kinases and leucine-rich repeat extensins, regulate pollen tube growth and the final burst within the ovule, where sperm cells are released for fertilisation to occur. This review introduces some new questions that arose about the regulation of this complex process.


The Treignac water is a natural mineral water containing mainly orthosilicic acid. On inert substrates, it forms a silica film with fractal structures which cannot be reproduced in laboratory-reconstituted water. These structures form by condensation of orthosilicic acid monomers, following the Witten–Sander model of diffusion-limited aggregation. On biological surfaces, such as tomato leaves, the Treignac water forms a silica film with a different morphology and devoid of fractal structures. The filmogenic properties of this natural mineral water are here discussed in the context of crop protection, as the silica film can provide a barrier and a platform for the immobilization of elicitors of plant defense responses.


It is well known that the various structures in the solar wind flow are either related to the solar corona structure or are created along solar wind propagation. Structures created while the solar wind propagates through the Solar system are the regions of compressed plasma at the fronts of recurrent solar wind streams (CIR) and magnetic clouds (Sheath). Auroral disturbances observed by Polar spacecraft during Sheath and CIR events had an unusual form. On one side these disturbances exhibited typical substorm signatures, but on the other side they had very large longitudinal dimensions and covered a very large area. To examine weather these disturbances represent substorms we considered data from the Geotail spacecraft in the magnetotail. Auroral bulge parameters were obtained by the UVI onboard Polar; solar wind parameters were taken from the OMNI data base. All auroral disturbances observed by Polar during Sheaths and CIRs for the periods 1997-1998; 2000; October 2001 and December 1996 were studied. We show that some signatures of a typical substorm were observed in the magnetotail, namely: 1) fast plasma flows associated with a reconnection process (tailward/earthward flows) 2) a sharp decrease of the total pressure following the interval of a pressure increase. This enables us to consider the auroral disturbances during the fronts of high- speed streams as substorm.


Parkinson's disease is known to present and mostly persist as an asymmetrical movement disorder in most cases. The asymmetry is mainly described in motor features such as bradykinesia, rigidity and tremor in upper and lower limbs. Unilateral hypomimia however, has only been reported in 14 patients, all of whom showed right-sided hemihypomimia. In this case report we describe the symptoms of a 51-year-old man with predominant left-sided Parkinson's disease in whom we discovered a left-sided hemihypomimia. We also briefly review the literature concerning hemihypomimia in Parkinson's disease. We conclude that a larger case series needs to be studied to further elucidate the pathophysiology and clinical implications of this observation.


Drawing on ethnographic and interview data collected in El Salvador and South Africa over a four-year period, this article uses a social constructionist approach to describe two types of interaction between short-term mission teams and their hosts. First, hosts encounter the flow of teams as foreign social products. Once they internalize this new part of their social reality, hosts seek to recruit and control teams. They also mimic the practice of short-term missions, sending their own teams to remote locations. Second, hosts interact directly with visitors, engaging in world-building activities that create transnational religious ties. Short-term missions thus make residents of the new centers of Christianity more mobile in Christianity's global civil society and increase the number of ties between Christians across borders. These findings have implications for the scholarly debate about how to conceptualize Global Christianity; they also broaden the scope of the emerging discourse on short-term missions.


Getting acquainted with a Philosopher as a Neighbour can be a very delicate experience. Relatedness, closeness, friendship became interwined with political and professional opinions: a non philosopher can grasp some of Guido D. Neri's work through his living experience. Tolerance and strictness in his thinking could became a good nature experience in everyday life. Some episodes and vignette give a rendering of his person as a thinker , and viceversa. Guido is still an excellent Neighbour.


It is well documented that UV radiation present in sunlight suppresses immune responses, especially T(h)1-driven cellular immune responses, resulting in the exacerbation of skin cancer and infectious diseases. However, the effects of UV irradiation on humoral immune responses remain less clearly defined. In addition, the majority of studies documenting immunosuppressive effects of UV irradiation has been demonstrated in animals exposed to UV radiation before immunization. In the present study, therefore, we examined the effects of UV irradiation on humoral immune responses in mice that had been immunized before UV irradiation. Both T(h)1- and T(h)2-associated Ig responses were significantly suppressed by UV irradiation given 7 days after immunization in an antigen-specific manner. Adoptive transfer experiments revealed that CD4(+) T cells from UV-irradiated mice are responsible for the UV-induced suppression of antibody responses. These CD4(+) regulatory T cells suppressed proliferation of conventional CD4(+) T cells in vivo and in vitro and contained IL-10-producing cells that did not express Foxp3. Mice depleted of CD25(+) cells also exhibited reduced antibody responses by UV irradiation. Finally, we showed that CD4(+) T cells from UV-irradiated mice treated with anti-IL-10 mAb failed to suppress antibody responses upon transfer. These results indicate that UV irradiation after immunization suppresses T(h)1- and T(h)2-mediated humoral immunity via the generation of Tr1-like regulatory T cells, in the process of which IL-10 appears to be important. Possible detrimental effects of UV irradiation after vaccination are also discussed.


A lac fusion of the vnfH promoter of Azotobacter vinelandii has been constructed. An upstream sequence seems to be necessary for the activity of the promoter. The repression of expression of this promoter by fixed nitrogen is several-fold lower compared to that of the nifH promoter. Vanadium has no role in the expression of the nifH or the vnfH promoter. Molybdenum is essential for the nifH promoter and represses the vnfH promoter. Tungsten can substitute molybdenum in its regulatory role. ntrA and vnfA are essential for the expression of vnfH, but ntrC has no role.


The article deals with the peculiarities of the extraordinary elections in the Republic of Austria in 2017, as well as the main reasons for the success of the renewed Austrian People's Party (ANP) and its leader, Sebastian Kurz, the former youngest foreign minister and chairman of the OSCE. The main results of the elections to the lower house of parliament, the National Council are in details analyzed, whrere the political parties have overcome the 4 percent barrier. The main conclusions of well-known domestic and foreign political scientists and experts are in details characterized, who evaluated the reasons for supporting of right and far- right political parties in the European countries, in particular in Austria, which have received considerable support in the elections, which was caused by public dissatisfaction with the ineffective policy of the European Union, which after the international financial crisis, terrorist threats, problems with migrants, refugees, and in recent years a rather aggressive foreign policy of Russia, is forced to face new challenges, giving an adequate response, which plays an important role for Ukraine, because our country sees its future in close multi-vector cooperation with the EU. It is important for Ukraine support of the European Union and European countries, in particular with Austria, because our country is interested in further fruitful development of bilateral relations between Ukraine and Austria and cooperation in various sectors of the economy, as well as support for European and Euro-Atlantic course. Ukraine is able to give an adequate response only in close cooperation with European countries. Ukraine is affected by domestic political changes both within the European Union and domestic political changes within European countries, namely which political parties win and which political coalitions are formed, as well as the influence of pro-Russian political forces in the party landscape.


Hollywood mythology tells us that the success of a deal hangs on the ability to describe a film in twenty-five words or less. This thesis attempts to place this kind of talk in a different frame to that of'the pitch'. It argues that the narratologisation of the visible has a crucial role in policing, extending, and administering the analytico-industrial capture of film and video production, in practical and theoretical circles, in and outside of the film industry and training institutions. Through a reading of the theories of production and intepretation of Foucault, Bergson, and Deleuze; Danto's relational theory of aboutness; and Hunter's theory of literary pedagogy, it re-evaluates the space of difference, and of commentary, between media production and screen theory.

Prospecting this space of difference, the thesis presents itself as a counter-critique of the narratologisation of the visible: that process whereby productions and processes constituted by, and constitutive of, the visible-in-production are supplanted by verbal products, processes, and modes of understanding. By tracing the linkages between the narratologisation of the visible and the capture of production, it argues that the narratologisation of the visible offers an inadequate account of image production in the sense that it is founded on a disenfranchisement of the materiality of the visible-inproduction, and its related practices or out-of-fields. This disenfranchisement is achieved through a number of 'figures': the separation of product and process as a means of maintaining a purely operational image of practice as the vehicle or technics of the logos; and a determining division between technics and aesthetics which maintains production's dependence on the narratologisation of the visible as a guiding hermeneutics of production.

This thesis attempts to explore alternatives to this hermeneutics of capture by refusing to accept the division of process and product, technics and aesthetics, practice and theory, and industry and stylistics, at face value; and also by questioning production's dependence on the narratologisation of the visible. In this exploration, the thesis attempts to situate production as a conceptual practice able to sustain and develop images of thought not necessarily sanctioned by philosophy, but capable of deterritorialising the narratologisation of the visible, its supporting pedagogies and institutions, and reenfranchising production's relation to materiality, actualisation, and a Bergsonian conception of intuition in action.


N-[4-[6-(isopropylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]-4-11C-methoxy-N-methylbenzamide (11C-ITMM) is a potential radioligand for mapping metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1 (mGluR1) in the brain by PET. The present study was performed to determine the safety, distribution, radiation dosimetry, and initial brain imaging of 11C-ITMM in healthy human subjects. Methods: The multiorgan biodistribution and radiation dosimetry of 11C-ITMM were assessed in 3 healthy human subjects, who underwent 2-h whole-body PET scans. Radiation dosimetry was estimated from the normalized number of disintegrations of source organs using the OLINDA/EXM program. Five healthy human subjects underwent 90-min dynamic 11C-ITMM scans of brain regions with arterial blood sampling. For anatomic coregistration, T1-weighted MR imaging was performed. Metabolites in plasma and urine samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. 11C-ITMM uptake was assessed quantitatively using a 2-tissue-compartment model. Results: There were no serious adverse events in any of the subjects throughout the study period. 11C-ITMM PET demonstrated high uptake in the urinary bladder and gallbladder, indicating both urinary and fecal excretion of radioactivity. The absorbed dose (μGy/MBq) was highest in the urinary bladder wall (13.2 ± 3.5), small intestine (9.8 ± 1.7), and liver (9.1 ± 2.0). The estimated effective dose for 11C-ITMM was 4.6 ± 0.3 μSv/MBq. 11C-ITMM showed a gradual increase of radioactivity in the cerebellar cortex. The total distribution volume in the brain regions ranged from 2.61 ± 0.30 (cerebellar cortex) to 0.52 ± 0.17 (pons), and the rank order of the corresponding total distribution volume of 11C-ITMM was cerebellar cortex > thalamus > frontal cortex > striatum ≈ pons, which was consistent with the known distribution of mGluR1 in the primate brain. The rate of 11C-ITMM metabolism in plasma was moderate: at 60 min after injection, 62.2% ± 8.2% of the radioactivity in plasma was intact parent compound. Conclusion: The initial findings of the present study indicated that 11C-ITMM PET is feasible for imaging of mGluR1 in the brain. The low effective dose will permit serial examinations in the same subjects.


NOD2 is a member of the NLR family of proteins that participate in the activation of the innate immune response. RIP2 is a downstream kinase activated by both NOD1 and NOD2. There is scarcity of information regarding the relevance of NOD2 in periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by inflammatory bone resorption. We used NOD2-KO and RIP2-KO mice in a model of microbial-induced periodontitis. Heat-killed Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans was injected in the gingival tissues three times/wk for 4 wk. Bone resorption was assessed by μCT analysis; osteoclasts were identified by immunohistochemical staining for TRAP and inflammation was assessed using a severity score system in H/E-stained sections. In vitro studies using primary macrophages assessed the response macrophages using qPCR-based array and multi-ligand ELISA. Bone resorption and osteoclastogenesis were significantly reduced in NOD2-KO mice. Severity of inflammation was not affected. qPCR-focused arrays and multi-ligand ELISA showed that expression of pro-inflammatory mediators was reduced in NOD2- and RIP2-deficient cells. RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis was impaired in NOD2- and RIP2-deficient macrophages. We conclude that NOD2 is important for osteoclast differentiation and inflammatory bone resorption in vivo and also for the macrophage response to Gram-negative bacteria.


The organization is now well developed. The organization does not only consist of public and private organizations, but also mixed organizations (hybrid organizations). And it's influence to the organizations of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) as stated in the legal considerations of Constitutional Court (MK) Decision Nr. 48 and 62 / PUU-XI /2013 that exclaims that SOEs are private legal entities that carry out public duties. Referring to this matter, (a) elements of hybridity in SOEs, (b) benefits and risks in the form of hybrid SOE organizations, (c) the concept of hybridity in increasing the achievements of SOE objectives. By using an analytical approach and legislation results that based on the characteristics of BUMNs are categorized as hybrid organizations. As a hybrid organization has benefits and risks as a result of the influence of the public and private elements. The greatness of the benefits and risks of hybrid organizations is inversely proportional to the size comparison of public and private elements. The hybrid concept at Perum (Public Company) which aims for public benefit is a balanced public element with a private element. Whereas for Persero (State Company) that has commercial aims, the private element must be more dominant to create flexibility that drives the development of the Company. It is recommended that the concept of hybridity in SOEs must be adapted to the form of the company and the objectives of the company.


Distraction osteogenesis is a novel technique for the biological restoration of segmental bone defects. Definitive treatment of musculoskeletal tumors often requires large bony resections that can leave patients with significant osseous defects. Limb salvage using distraction osteogenesis is an attractive reconstructive alternative that may, in fact, offer advantages over other conventional techniques. We present our initial experience with the use of distraction osteogenesis in limb salvage.


This research aims to analyse the social representations of the relation between breast cancer and pregnancy in
women who have lived pregnancy subsequent to it. It also analyses the logic behind the decision of these patients,
who did not want to follow the oncology protocols determined and oriented by their physicians, setting aside the
disease that caught them and privileging the desire of being mother. The theoretical foundation is based on
discussions about the social-cultural perspective of the disease, the position of the subjects of the health/disease in
the social space and the symbolic dimension of breast cancer. The methodological design consists of an explanatory
study of qualitative nature. Among the results of this work it must be highlighted that if, by one side, the patients
arrive at the consulting room without adequate information about the disease, by the other side, the social
representations of cancer are part of the feminine imaginary that considers it as a disease that kills, and pregnancy
as a possibility of life and self-achievement. In conclusion, it is highlighted the importance of the knowledge on
subjective and social-cultural issues that affect women in order to understand them and, therefore, improve medical
clinical work care. Besides, it also exists the demand of public health policies with the aim of informing the
population, adequately, about the danger, urgency and preventive treatments in relation to diseases that catch
women, as, for example, breast cancer.


The object of the study was to determine the incidence rate of meningococcal disease in travelers originating in industrialized countries and visiting developing countries. Subjects were intercontinental travelers with meningococcal diseases acquired from 1986 to 1989. Health authorities in 108 countries were contacted; data obtained by postal survey were analyzed. The 56 replying health authorities reported 13 cases of meningococcal disease in tourist or business persons as well as 40 primary and 26 secondary cases in pilgrims in Mecca. The majority of cases were due to serogroup A. The case fatality rate in both groups of patients slightly exceeded 20%. Among the tourists and business persons, several patients had stayed in hotels; in several the onset of symptoms occurred during the flight home. The incidence rate per month of stay was estimated to be 0.4 per million travelers in this group, but 2000 per million in pilgrims to Mecca. Vaccination of pilgrims to Mecca is highly recommended, presently even compulsory. For the usual traveler to endemic countries, the risk of infection abroad seems not to exceed the one at home, thus vaccination may be limited to high-risk groups, such as trekkers.


from the chloroplast genome and ITS and 26S rDNA from the nuclear genome. The species sampled are combined with taxa sampled from previous studies to better test the monophyly of the genera along with the intergeneric relationships within this tribe. The main purpose is to give an overview of the laboratory procedures used and the results from the sampling. The procedures include DNA isolation, DNA amplification, DNA purification, construction of contiguous sequences, sequence alignment, and lastly phylogenetic inference.


We introduce optimal learning with a neural network, which we define as minimising the expectation generalisation error. We find that the optimally-trained spherical perceptron may learn a linearly-separable rule as well as any possible network. We sketch an algorithm to generate optimal learning, and simulation results support our conclusions. Optimal learning of a well-known, significant unlearnable problem, the "mismatched weight" problem, gives better asymptotic learning than conventional techniques, and may be simulated enormously more easily. Unlike many other learning schemes, optimal learning extends to more general networks learning more complex rules.


Antimicrobial sensitivities, especially trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, were studied in all clinical isolates of Escherichia coli in an intensive care unit for over 18 months. Twenty-four per cent of strains were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Combined resistance to ampicillin +/- chloramphenicol (+/- tetracycline) and streptomycin (+/- kanamycin) with resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was demonstrated. These data confirm the previously reported increasing trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistance which is probably plasmid-mediated and specify the resistances associated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistance. These findings suggest that widespread prophylaxis in granulocytopenic patients with lower urinary tract infection by the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole association should be re-examined.


On April 16, 2016, Ecuador had suffered a 7.8 earthquake. The experience designing and building of Meche's house, a post-disaster alternative building process, is analyzed in this paper applying Martin Heidegger's concepts of Dwelling, Being in the World and Being There. These allow better understanding to the idea of housing in the community where the object is built, to visualize its most symbolic space, also it enables to see how the users of the built dwelling make it their own, the construction, form and materials despite that in the beginning of the construction process they did not accept them. This article tries to explain two questions: The house of Meche reflects its habitat: Where is it built? And how Meche, who is the homeowner, and the participants make the house and experience their own, in order to replicate the appropriate construction and resilience.


In cooperation between the home care system in the Municipality of Rødovre and four hospital departments in the County of Copenhagen, a controlled and randomized investigation was undertaken among the hospitalized patients of 65 years and over from the Municipality of Rødovre. A nurse employed by the Municipality particularly for this project visited the hospital daily and followed the 135 participants in the intervention group with the objects of obtaining information from the primary sector if necessary, discussing discharge with the patient and the hospital staff, coordinating possible supportive measures in the patient's home and visiting the patient in his home immediately after discharge from hospital in order to ensure continuity in care and treatment. The 138 participants in the control group underwent the usual procedures in connection with admission to hospital. In this article, the consequences of the contributions by the health visitor in the hospital are described in relation to the course of hospitalization. The intervention group had an average stay in hospital of 11.0 days as compared with 14.3 days in the control group (p greater than 0.05), and the total number of bed-days were 1,490 and 1,970, respectively. In addition, the two groups were compared as regards the number of diagnostic procedures during hospitalization, the number of deaths, the diagnoses on discharge and the functional capacity. No differences were observed in these respects between the two groups. Three patients from the control group were discharged to residential institutions as compared with none in the intervention group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


The article was based on the findings and experiences that emerged throughout the project "Seniors decide – public dialogue of the senior citizens in Krakow". It focuses on the subject of public space in relation to the life conditions and civic participation of senior citizens in the city. Desk research and focus group research enabled the analysis of the programs addressed to the senior citizens in the Krakow Commune. The workshops with senior citizens and the usage of the "walking diagnosis" method served to reveal the potential of the elder to analyze and infl uence the city spaces. The article quotes the results of the research, describes the participatory techniques used during the project and employed by the other groups of senior citizens involved locally in Poland, and finally mentions the examples of the bottom-up initiatives held by the elders related to the physical space of the cities.


Background The goal of the study was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of loneliness among adolescent school children in four Caribbean countries. Methods Nationally representative cross-sectional data were analysed from 9,143 adolescents (15 years=median age) that took part in the "2016 Dominican Republic, 2016 Suriname, 2017 Jamaica and 2017 Trinidad and Tobago "Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS)." Results The prevalence of loneliness was 15.3% in four Caribbean countries, ranging from 12.1% in Dominican Republic to 18.6% in Jamaica. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, female sex, having no close friends, older age, anxiety induced sleep disturbance, frequent bullying victimization (≥3 days/month), having been physically attacked, parental emotional neglect, having sustained multiple serious injuries (past year) and not eating fruit and vegetables were associated with loneliness. In addition, in sex stratified adjusted logistic regression analysis, among boys, daily exposure to passive smoking, and being from Suriname, and among girls, frequent experience of hunger, low peer support, trouble from drinking alcohol and high leisure-time sedentary behaviour (≥8 hrs/day) were associated with loneliness. Moreover, in addition to above results, in unadjusted analysis, involvement in physical fight, parents never check on homework, parental disrespect of privacy, frequent school truancy (≥3 days/month), current tobacco use, having no physical education and drinking frequently soft drinks (≥3/day) were associated with loneliness. Conclusion Almost one in six students reported loneliness and several associated factors were identified which can aid intervention strategies.


: We report the use of immunogold-silver staining (IGSS), dot-ELISA and dot-IGSS methods in the study of clonorchiasis in China. These methods were employed to detect the antibody in sera from 40 clonorchiasis patients. The positive rates were 100%, 90.0% and 95.0%, respectively. When the three methods were used to examine 40 normal sera, the negative rates were 100%, 97.5% and 97.5%, respectively. These results suggest that IGSS, dot-ELISA and dot-IGSS are highly specific and sensitive in detecting anti-Clonorchis antibody in patients.


Background and Objectives: Accumulating evidence supports that colorectal cancer (CRC) is comprised of different genetic diseases affecting the same organ. The molecular classification of CRC is evolving as we gain a comprehensive knowledge about the mechanisms and processes resulting in colorectal carcinogenesis. Tumors display distinct characteristics depending on the molecular subtype, which may affect response to treatment, prognosis, and survival. CRC is the leading cause of cancer deaths among Puerto Rican Hispanics (PRH). The aim of this study was to characterize colorectal tumors at a molecular level in a cohort of PRH in order to determine the prevalence of molecular markers. Methods: The molecular markers evaluated were microsatellite instability (MSI), CpG island methylation phenotype (CIMP), and mutations in KRAS and BRAF oncogenes. In addition, HPV infection status was assessed, as it has been associated with CRC. Sociodemographic and clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated according to MSI, CIMP, KRAS/BRAF mutation and HPV-status using Pearson9s Chi-Square and Mann-Whitney U-test. Results: A total of 201 CRC tumors were included in our study. Of the evaluated tumors 2.6% (n=3) showed MSI and 1.8% of the studied tumors had CIMP high phenotype (n=2). The incidence of KRAS and BRAF mutations for our study was 30.6% (n= 38) and 9.2% (n=11), respectively. Furthermore, KRAS positive individuals were more likely to have private or Medicare insurance ( p =0.017). In addition, BRAF mutation-positive tumor were more likely to be poorly differentiated when compared to BRAF mutation-negative tumors ( p =0.009). HPV infection was not associated with any molecular characteristics examined. Conclusions: We present for the first time the molecular characterization of CRC tumors in PRH. The observation of a different molecular signature for the CRC tumors (low MSI, CIMP Zero and mainly wild-type for KRAS and BRAF ) suggests that CRC in this population might be driven by additional genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors than other racial/ethnic groups. Citation Format: Yaritza Diaz-Algorri, Julyann Perez-Mayoral, Maria Gonzalez-Pons, Natalia Rodriguez, Belisa Suarez, Giancarlo Colon, Javier Sevilla, Daphne L. Jorge, Xavier Llor, Rosa Xicola, Luis Tous, Jose S. Reyes, Marla Torres, Ajay Goel, Segundo Rodriguez, Marcia Cruz-Correa. Molecular characterization of colorectal tumors from Puerto Rican Hispanic patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B35.


Learn more about Serge Klarsfeld at klarsfeldfoundation.org. During World War II, 11,000 Jewish children were deported from France to Auschwitz and other Nazi death camps in convoys that continued rolling until August 18, 1944-the very day of the Paris uprising that ended with the city's liberation. The children were among more than 75,000 French Jews deported to the camps under the Nazi plan for the final solution of the Jewish question. Nearly all of the young victims-some less than two years old-were arrested by the French police on orders of the Vichy government and turned over to the Germans for deportation. Only a handful of the children survived. In French Children of the Holocaust, Nazi-hunter Serge Klarsfeld-the man who brought Klaus Barbie to justice in 1983-has created a volume of stunning documentary importance. Drawing together archival evidence pried with difficulty from the French government, family testimony and photographs solicited by advertisements in Jewish publications in Europe, Israel, and the United States, and the Nazi's own lists of deportees--which were discovered, fading and crumbling, by Klarsfeld in a French Jewish archive--this book represents the culmination of many volunteers' painstaking efforts to give testimony to the short lives of these Jewish children. Photographs of over 1,500 of the children, gathered from their surviving relatives and family friends all over the world, bring life to their brief biographies. Included with each photograph is the name, age, place and date of birth, home address, and the date and brief history of the deportation convoys that transported them to the death camps. This book is an invaluable reference for scholars of the Holocaust, signifying the last attempt to rescue these young victims of the Nazis from oblivion and to help them leave a permanent mark on history as individuals and as a group. Table of Contents: Foreword Author's Preface Editors' Notes Acknowledgments Content and Style Guide Jewish Children and the Holocaust in France History and Chronology Maps The Rescue of Children by OSE Deportation Convoys Research and Documentation: Reconstructing the convoy lists Names and Addresses of the 11,000 Children Deported, by Convoy Convoy Histories The Photographs of Jewish Children Officials responsible for anti-Jewish actions in France Terms and abbreviations Index of all children Index of children in photographs


Company's value creation, widely described in theoretical papers, is slightly recognized in the specific field of lodging industry. It results from sparse practical implications of value-based management in hotel enterprises. Research question is contained in the following question - which characteristics of hotel enterprises affect their value in the context of the revised economic value added ratio (REVA). The purpose of present paper is to identify the characteristics, which affect the value of the hotel enterprise in respect of revised economic value added ratio. The emphasis will be put on the differences between EVA and REVA. Paper presents the results of conceptual study on value creation of entities operation in lodging industry and characteristic features influencing their value. The basis of the reasoning is an adaptation of the concept of the revised economic value added. The main result of the research was to identify five features affecting the hotel company's value creation. Results show that the effectiveness of evaluation is derived from the extent to which the characteristics of hotels were taken into account. Thus the discussion delivered in present paper has important managerial implications. The first section of the paper, concentrates on the creation of value by the enterprise. The continuation takes a form of a sketch of the possibilities for the application of the revised economic value added ratio. The third section focuses on specific features of the hotel enterprises and implications affecting their value.


New methods of liquid adsorption chromatography were developed to separate poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) regarding tacticity and molar mass. Gradient and isocratic chromatographic methods were applied to separate the tactic polymers. In particular, the online coupling of HPLC–NMR was used to identify and quantify the microstructural moieties during the chromatographic separation. It was possible to individually follow the elution of the syndiotactic, heterotactic as well as isotactic patterns. Several representative blends of PMMA samples of different tacticities as well as molar masses were well separated and analyzed. The quantification of all tacticities of the HPLC–NMR measurements was performed and the overall compositions were in good agreement with the data on the bulk samples. In addition, SEC–NMR data of predominantly isotactic PMMA show dependences of the tacticity on the molar mass.


Standalone photovoltaic-battery hybrid power systems are attractive renewable power generation systems, a popular form of which is based on a photovoltaic system and a battery connected to an output dc bus via a buck converter and a bidirectional buck/boost converter, respectively. Due to variation of the available sunlight intensity, the battery voltage and load condition, the system's structures and operating modes are switched from time to time. The dynamic behavior is thus quite complex, and the design for stable operation of the system requires consideration of the stability conditions for all possible operating modes. This paper studies the dynamic behavior of this system and reveals the smooth and non-smooth bifurcation phenomena. Under certain conditions, when the system switches its operating mode, a non-smooth bifurcation, manifested as a jump from stable to unstable behavior, has been observed and verified with full-circuit simulations. Moreover, a detailed analysis based on averaged modes is performed to identify the two types of bifurcation and evaluate the stability boundaries of the system. The results provide useful insights and information about the behavior of the system and the interacting effects of control parameters on the design of the control loops.


In this work, we derive some novel properties of the bimodal normal distribution. Some of its mathematical properties are examined. We provide a formal proof for the bimodality and assess identifiability. We then discuss the maximum likelihood estimates as well as the existence of these estimates, and also some asymptotic properties of the estimator of the parameter that controls the bimodality. A bivariate version of the BN distribution is derived and some characteristics such as covariance and correlation are analyzed. We study stationarity and ergodicity and a triangular array central limit theorem. Finally, a Monte Carlo study is carried out for evaluating the performance of the maximum likelihood estimates.


A novel structural and statistical approach for model-based visual object recognition using geometric radiance saliencies is presented. The approach acquires accurate high dynamic range images to properly capture complex heterogeneously lighted scenes. Based on these images, the receptive radiance saliency is computed through a Gabor kernel set. This oriented saliency is used to extract and refine the radiance edge-graphs. Subsequently, the combination of two distributions, (i) the topological connectivity and (ii) the spatial arrangement of the subpixel nodes provides a propitious insight into the underlying geometrical composition of the radiance edges. The proposed characterization of the combined distribution profitably unveils and simultaneously segments the geometric edge primitives. Finally, uncovering the complementary geometric patterns and reinforcing the structural regularity is accomplished by the proposed extended perceptual organization. Experimental evaluation with the humanoid robot ARMAR-III is presented.


We sought to minimize silver-silver chloride electrode impedance by chemical treatment. Chloriding pure silver electrodes lowered the impedance, as noted by Geddes [1]. Immersing the chlorided electrodes in photographic developer lowered the impedance further, as noted by Marmont [2]. A second layer of silver chloride did not result in any further reduction in impedance, as hypothesized.


The enforceability of arbitral award is per se the most salient feature differentiating arbitration from other means of alternative dispute resolution. However, one notable concern in international arbitration is the fact that losing parties often try to exploit legal subtleties in domestic law to avoid fulfilling their obligations according to the awards. This story is not only of no difference while enforcing awards in China but is arguably even more complicated. By scrutinising substantial aspects of Chinese arbitration law and enforcement procedures from a European lawyer's eyes and perspectives, I found that the enforcement of awards in China, and the arbitration process itself, is hindered by a number of challenges. And given the important role that China has to play in the economic world, now and in the future, it is my view that it might be of assistance to European lawyers and businessmen to be aware of these important issues when considering arbitration and enforcement in China.


Finally, I would like to ask how one determines the potential usefulness of a month-old child, even conceding that he is paralysed from the waist down, with bilateral dislocated hips and gross club feet? Does the presence of these disabilities mean that the potential which may be present in his cerebral cortex must be allowed to wither slowly within an expanding skull, or to be strangled a little more quickly by meningitis?


Thirty-five HLA-A2+ patients with completely resected stage I-III melanoma were vaccinated multiple times over 6 months with a modified melanoma peptide, gp100209–2M, emulsified in Montanide adjuvant. Direct ex vivo gp100209–2M tetramer analysis of pre- and postvaccine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) demonstrated significant increases in the frequency of tetramer+ CD8+ T cells after immunization for 33 of 35 evaluable patients (median, 0.36%; range, 0.05–8.9%). Ex vivo IFN-γ cytokine flow cytometry analysis of postvaccine PBMCs after brief gp100209–2M in vitro activation showed that for all of the patients studied tetramer+ CD8+ T cells produced IFN-γ; however, some patients had significant numbers of tetramer+ IFN-γ− CD8+T cells suggesting functional anergy. Additionally, 8 day gp100209–2M in vitro stimulation (IVS) of pre- and postvaccine PBMCs resulted in significant expansion of tetramer+ CD8+ T cells from postvaccine cells for 34 patients, and these IVS tetramer+ CD8+ T cells were functionally responsive by IFN-γ cytokine flow cytometry analysis after restimulation with either native or modified gp100 peptide. However, correlated functional and phenotype analysis of IVS-expanded postvaccine CD8+ T cells demonstrated the proliferation of functionally anergic gp100209–2M- tetramer+ CD8+ T cells in several patients and also indicated interpatient variability of gp100209–2M stimulated T-cell proliferation. Flow cytometry analysis of cryopreserved postvaccine PBMCs from representative patients showed that the majority of tetramer+ CD8+ T cells (78.1 ± 4.2%) had either an "effector" (CD45 RA+/CCR7−) or an "effector-memory" phenotype (CD45RA−/CCR7−). Notably, analysis of PBMCs collected 12–24 months after vaccine therapy demonstrated the durable presence of gp100209–2M-specific memory CD8+ T cells with high proliferation potential. Overall, this report demonstrates that after vaccination with a MHC class I-restricted melanoma peptide, resected nonmetastatic melanoma patients can mount a significant antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell immune response with a functionally intact memory component. The data further support the combined use of tetramer binding and functional assays in correlated ex vivo and IVS settings as a standard for immunomonitoring of cancer vaccine patients.


The TIR1/AFB auxin co-receptors mediate diverse responses to the plant hormone auxin. The Arabidopsis genome encodes six TIR1/AFB proteins representing three of the four clades that were established prior to angiosperm radiation. To determine the role of these proteins in plant development we performed an extensive genetic analysis involving the generation and characterization of all possible multiply mutant lines. We find that loss of all six TIR1/AFB proteins results in defects in embryogenesis as early as the 8-cell stage, and possibly earlier. Mutant embryos progress but exhibit frequent cell division errors followed by proliferation of the suspensor, and eventually seed abortion. Despite this dramatic phenotype, a single wild-type allele of TIR1 or AFB2 is sufficient to support growth throughout plant development. Further, gametophytic expression of the TIR1/AFB genes is not essential for development of the male or female gametophyte. Our analysis reveals extensive functional overlap between even the most distantly related TIR1/AFB genes except for AFB1. Surprisingly, the AFB1 protein has a specialized function in rapid auxin-dependent inhibition of root growth and early phase of root gravitropism. This activity may be related to a difference in subcellular localization compared to the other members of the family.


Behavioral and electromyographic observations in monkeys with intercollicular brain stem transection revealed varying but nonfixed posture and tone, with flaccidity and subtle, intermittent claspknife spacticity in both flexors and extensors, despite brisk tendon jerks. Extremities remained wherever passively placed. Reflexes characterizing such preparations included lengthening and shortening reactions, symmetrical and asymmetrical tonic neck and crossed extensor reflexes, flexor withdrawal responses, and reflex standing. Extensor posturing, usually associated with decerebrate preparations, was manifest only as a response to nociceptive stimulation of face or trunk, hypoxia, or passive neck extension; these maneuvers consistently induced an identical sequence of motor responses in neck and limb musculature, with lack of absolute reciprocal inhibition. Therefore, decerebrate extensor responses are not stable passive release phenomena, but are reflexly maintained and driven; hence they are called the "reactive extensor postural synergy" (REPS).


The experiences with irradiation of 25 patients with primary carcinoma of the vagina are presented. The 3-year survival was 36 per cent despite the fact that most of the cases were advanced. Further improvements in survival may probably be achieved with extension of the radium implantation to paravaginal tissues. Choice and technique of treatment must be individualized. Surgery is limited to the more advanced cases with involvement of the bladder and rectum.


Stress-induced hypertension (SIH) was performed by electric shock on hind paw in rats. Habenula(Hb) lesion decreased the degree of SIH. After stress, the Ang II concentration in blood plasma and in Hb were increased. BP was elevated after icv or MHb administration of Ang II, and decreased after microinjection of saralasin into MHb. The BP changes induced by Ang II and saralasin were more prominent in SIH than in normotensive rats. Iontophoresis of AngII (or saralasin) into Hb increased (or decreased) the discharges of the excitatory neurons related to cardiovascular activity. Ang II could inhibit the activity of Ik channel. Using the same methods, the actions of L-NNA and SNP were investigated. From above, it is suggested that Hb is involved in the development of SIH. Stress stimulus strengthened the sensitivity of Hb, especially MHb to AngII, and also induced in increase of AngII. These changes would promote the response of sensitized Hb in the development of SIH.


Two components of the Yersinia enterocolitica maltose transport system, maltoporin (OmpM) and an osmotically shockable periplasmic maltose-binding protein (MBP) were identified. The synthesis of OmpM (apparent Mr 43,000) and transport of maltose into cells of Y. enterocolitica were induced by maltose and maltodextrins. A mutant lacking OmpM was drastically impaired in maltose transport, independent of induction by maltose. The MBP of Y. enterocolitica (apparent Mr 40,000) was found in the osmotic shock fluid. Its synthesis was induced by maltose. Moreover, rabbit antibodies raised against the MBP of E. coli cross-reacted with the analogous protein from Y. enterocolitica. The MBP of Y. enterocolitica restored the maltose transport activities in delta malE mutant cells of E. coli.


Nigerians have for some time been disturbed by the alarming rate at which students' unrest in Nigerian institutions of higher learning have led to destruction of lives and property and untimely interruption of the planned academic programmes. On the basis of the above exposition, the project examined the concept of students' unrest, factors that influence students' unrest and its implication on the academic performance of students. A survey research design was adopted and a fifteen items questionnaire entitled "Factors Influencing Students' Unrest in Institution of Higher Learning Questionnaire" (FISUIHLQ), was used to collect the data needed for analysis. Percentage, frequency count, and mean model were used to analyze the data collected. Items that fall between 0.50-1.49 mean score were considered Very Low, items that fall between 1.50-2.49 mean score were considered Low, items that fall between 2.50-3.49 mean score were considered Moderate, Items that fall between 3.50-4.49 mean score were considered High, while items that fall between mean scores of 4.50-5.00 were considered Very High. The study, therefore, discovered that breaking of rules and regulations, lack of social amenities and students involvement in cultism were seen as 'high' with mean scores of 2.60, 3.71 and 4.16 respectively, that is, they are serious factors that can influence students unrest in institutions of higher learning. While effective students' union body and periodic strike by staff of the institution were seen as 'Low' with mean score of 2.21 and 1.96 respectively, that is, they are less serious factors that can influence students' unrest. Also, it was discovered that disrupts of academic programmes, closure of schools, lecturers not unable to cover syllabus, and brain drain syndrome are the implications of students unrest with mean scores of 3.70,2.84,4.06,2.96 respectively were seen as 'High', that is, they are serious implication of students' unrest. The best practices that should be observed by school authorities for effective control of students unrest were the use of dialogue, training of school administrators on crisis management, and presence of adequate infrastructure on campuses. Institutional heads would find the proposed recommendations as effective antidotes for effective control of students' unrest in Nigerian institutions of higher learning.


During a pandemic, mankind suffers a lot which arises the need to find out the teachings of Islam during such dire circumstances since Islam is a complete code of conduct, it provides guidance in all situations. On the one hand, it ordains to exercise cure/treatment and precaution and on the other hand, it encourages patience and hope of reward from Allah Almighty in case of Being affected by these calamities, Every Muslim believes that his/her hour of death is fixed and no matter what the circumstances be, he should always remain optimistic seeking the divine mercy of Allah. This article is an attempt to elucidate the Islamic view point regarding the epidemic and non-epidemic diseases and the precautions to be taken in order to prevent them. And there will be a research review on the precautionary measures against the corona virus and many other similar diseases in the current era.


The Australian Wound Management Association (AWMA), together with international partners in New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore, recently presented the Pan Pacific Clinical Practice Guideline for the Prevention and Management of Pressure Injury (Guideline) for public consultation. The Guideline, including a companion algorithm, was made available for external review via the AWMA website. The Guideline was developed using a rigorous methodology that focused on reviewing high-level evidence from existing clinical guidelines and systematic reviews. The following paper outlines the development process and discusses key changes to pressure injury (PI) terminology and staging recommended in the Guideline.


The study was undertaken to determine the adequacy of LIS curriculum and effectiveness of the Students' Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) in departments of Library and Information Science in Nigerian universities. Survey was the research design and the rating scale was the instrument for data collection. All the lecturers in the LIS departments in seventeen universities who responded provided the data which were analyzed using the mean. It was found that the curricula of the LIS schools were adequate SIWES in these departments was effective. The study recommended a committee of NLA to harmonize curricula and develop a standard of practice be used in the departments for SIWES. Keywords: Curriculum, Review, SIWES, Library, Information, Science, education


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the position change of the fibular bone after maxillary reconstruction by free fibular flap and to analyze the factors affecting the position change.

METHODS
Patients who underwent maxillary reconstruction by free fibular flap in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from November 2012 to November 2016 were enrolled in this study. CT scans 1 week and 1 year postoperatively were collected and stored in DICOM format. The ProPlan CMF software was used to reconstruct the CT scans and separate the maxilla and each segment of the fibular flap. The Geomagic Control software was used to measure the long axis direction vector of each fibular segment. And the position change direction was recorded. The patients were divided into groups according to the use of the fibula or titanium plate to reconstruct the zygomaticmaxillary buttress.

RESULTS
A total of 32 patients were enrolled. Among them, 21 were in the titanium plate group and 11 in the fibula bone group. The angle between the long axis of the fibular segment and the X axis in the X-Y plane was 95.65°±53.49° and 95.53°±52.77°, 1 week and 1 year postoperatively, and there was no statistical difference (P>0.05). The angle between the long axis of the fibular segment and the X axis in the X-Z plane was 96.88°±69.76° and 95.33°±67.42°, respectively, with statistical difference (P=0.0497). The angular changes of the long axis of the fibular segment in the titanium plate group and the fibular bone group were 3.23°±3.93° and 1.94°±1.78°, respectively, and the angular changes in the X-Z plane were 6.02°±9.89° and 3.27°±2.31°, respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups (P>0.05). The long axis changes of the fibular segment in the X-Y plane for reconstruction of the anterior alveolar, posterior alveolar, and buttress were 3.13°±3.78°, 2.56°±3.17°, and 5.51°±4.39°, respectively. There was a statistical difference (P = 0.023) between the posterior and buttress. In the X-Z plane, theses were 4.94°±4.75°, 5.26°±10.25°, 6.69°±6.52°, respectively. There was no statistical difference among the three groups (P>0.05). The main positional deviation directions of the titanium plate group and the fibular bone group were interior and superior sides, and there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION
One year postoperatively, the position of the free fibular flap was changed compared with 1 week postoperatively. The position of the free fibular flap was mainly changed to the interior and superior sides.


A thiolation initiated cascade reaction of aryl alkynoates has been developed with thiol as a coupling partner. This radical process has been demonstrated to proceed through S-H bond cleavage, thiolation of alkynoate, aryl migration, and decarboxylation. This reaction tolerates a wide scope of substrates resulting in good chemical yields, which provides an easy and practical strategy for preparation of trisubstituted vinyl sulfides.


Many nonlinear or chaotic time series exhibit an innate broad spectrum, which makes noise reduction difficult. Local projective noise reduction is one of the most effective tools. It is based on proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and works for both map-like and continuously sampled time series. However, POD only looks at geometrical or topological properties of data and does not take into account the temporal characteristics of time series. Here, we present a new smooth projective noise reduction method. It uses smooth orthogonal decomposition (SOD) of bundles of reconstructed short-time trajectory strands to identify smooth local subspaces. Restricting trajectories to these subspaces imposes temporal smoothness on the filtered time series. It is shown that SOD-based noise reduction significantly outperforms the POD-based method for continuously sampled noisy time series.


A database was created of digitized equal area distribution maps of 3,036 phylogenetic species of Palearctic songbirds. Biogeographic patterns are reported for two data sets: (1) including all passeriform bird species reported as breeding within the boundaries of our study map, (2) passeriform species restricted in their distribution to our study region, thus excluding the partly extra-limital taxa. With respect to the data set excluding partly extralimital taxa, the average range size is 238 grid cells (grid cell area: 4,062 km). Analysis of the geographic distribution of species richness for the full data set showed several hotspot regions, mostly located in mountainous areas. The index of range-size rarity identified similar hotspot regions as that for species richness, albeit that the range-size rarity deemphasized the central Siberian hotspot. Range-size rarity hotspots that are not evident on the measure of species richness concern a great number of islands. Much more prominent on the index of range-size rarity are the Atlas Mountains of northern Africa, the Jabal al Akhdar region in NE Libya, and the eastern border of the Mediterranean. Restricting the analysis of geographic variation to the 25% of the species with smallest ranges resulted in a greatly simplified pattern of hotspots.


Abstract Computer assisted heartbeat classification techniques have gained significant importance in the recent years as they aid the cardiologists in identifying abnormal heartbeats in ECG recordings. These techniques are of vital importance especially for the long term ECG recordings where it is not feasible to manually analyze the numerous heartbeats. Electrocardiogram (ECG) is an electrical representation of human heart activities and change of these activities is reflected in the morphology of ECG signal. Anomalous activities of the heart are characterized by significant variation in the ECG heartbeat morphology and the time related aspects. In the present paper, the morphological and temporal features are explored for ECG heartbeat classification. A novel feature set is formulated by selecting symbolic dynamics, RR intervals and the higher order statistics (HOS). Subsequently the feature set is fed to the K-nearest neighbor (KNN) classifier that follows the inter-patient classification scheme for beat categorization. The proposed method is validated on MIT-BIH arrhythmia database and heartbeat samples of this database are grouped into five classes as Normal beats (N), Supraventricular beats (S), Ventricular beats (V), Fusion beats (F), and Unclassified beats (Q). The proposed method achieves an overall accuracy of 94.35%. The obtained results outperform existing state-of-art works reported in the literature for inter-patient heartbeat classification. Keywords: Symbolic dynamics, heartbeat classification, K-nearest neighbors, higher order statistics Cite this Article Krishnakant Chaubey, Barjinder Singh Saini, Atul Kumar Verma. Inter-patient Heartbeat Classification Using Higher Order Statistics and Symbolic Dynamics of ECG Signal. Current Trends in Signal Processing. 2017; 7(2): 37–45p.


Purpose
This study aimed to analyze the effect of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) on the depression level and quality of life of the elderly in an earthquake-affected district of North Lombok Regency, Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach
A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) with a population of two elderly groups living in an earthquake-affected district was used in this study. The intervention comprised giving TF-CBT. There were three research instruments applied to determine the variables, namely, the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5), the Geriatric Depression Scale 15 (GDS 15) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). All instruments were adopted and translated using back translation to Bahasa Indonesia, which is appropriate at the suggestion of the WHO. To investigate the effect of the intervention, we used hierarchical linear models (HLM) with intent-to-treat analysis. The patent parameter effect was tested using the Wald test (t-test) with a confidence Interval of 95 per cent.

Findings
The final analysis applied CAPS-5 and showed that there was a decrease in the PTSD of the respondents, which was down to only 8 (17.8 per cent) in the post-test. The same situation happened for the depression variable (2.8 per cent) after it was assessed using GDS-15C. The Quality of life (WHOQoL-BREF) variable was divided into Physical (50.7), Psychological (57.1), Social (53.6) and Environmental (45.7). These components show there to be a significant result in terms of improving the quality of life of the elderly victims of the earthquake. The finding highlights that applying TF-CBT in the elderly population can significantly drop post-traumatic stress disorder and depression level and enhanced quality of life.

Social implications
The intervention decreased the depression level and improved the quality of life of the elderly as found in the six- week follow-up. Longer training and integration with the structured local wisdom could be necessary to better address the mental health of the elderly affected by the earthquake. Moreover, strengthening the role of the family as the primary caregiver is required to improve the outcome.

Originality/value
This is the first study that has attempted to use TF-CBT as a method of treatment for the elderly to decrease their depression and to increase quality of life among the Indonesian elderly who have experienced an earthquake. This paper provides knowledge on the effectiveness of TF-CBT that can be used by therapists to treat depression problems suffered by the elderly in a post-disaster area.


The article discusses the possible pathogenic mechanisms of breast and thyroid malignancy as simultaneously developed diseases. The goal of this article was to reveal the frequency of breast cancer among patients with thyroid malignancy; to study the role of thyroid disorders in development of breast cancer; to determine the effectiveness of conservative medical management of thyroid gland after radical surgical treatment of thyroid cancer in prevention of breast cancer. Interaction of breast and thyroid malignancy was studied. As the first stage of scientific investigation the frequency of breast cancer among the patients having thyroid gland malignancy was analyzed; the role of disorders occurred during it in triggering breast cancer was identified; the effectiveness of medical management after radical surgical treatment of thyroid malignancy in preventing breast cancer was determined. Specific hormonal indices and markers of breast cancer among the patients having thyroid gland malignancy were determined. Ultrasound and cytological examinations were performed. The possibilities of prevention breast or thyroid malignancy development were studied. Algorithm of diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in patients with thyroid malignancy were created through systematization of interconnections between both pathologies.


Elitism has been an issue in Canadian French immersion since its inception. This study examines how two racially diverse Ontarian school boards and Ontario French immersion policy, curricula, and other related documents construct and support an elite student within the immersion program. The elite student who emerged from immersion documents is a White, middle-class, English, established resident, mirroring the current demographics of the program. A middle-class bias emerged within the documents due to an assumed wealth, and lack of financial assistance, transportation and promotional materials. The program locations themselves favoured the middle-class. The curricula demonstrated a Eurocentric focus and colonial lens. In the documents of this study, it was assumed that parents had functional knowledge of English and French. Program entry-points favoured established residents over newcomers. Given its evident elitism, there has been a shift toward inclusion, particularly for students with special education needs and English language learners. However, this inclusion has yet to be critically enacted.


A novel monitor for the error sources of the test process is found. It is independent of the tested product and does not disturb the production flow. It can be used to control the test process during production (SPC). Implementation of SPC using these monitors is described, with results and conclusions.


An indentation method is used to analyze the contact damage induced by cyclic tangential loading in the partial slip condition. Failure strengths are measured thereafter to indicate the degree of damage. The phenomenon of crack propagation during "Cyclic loading is demonstrated to occur and has been attributed to the development of residual stress fields, induced by cyclic plasticity. The principal stresses and effective shear stresses are also claculated to predict the crack geometry and the nucleation of plastic deformation. These analyses conclude that the contact damage increases as the loading ratio and the number of cycles increase. Table of


Evidence now suggests that epigenetic abnormalities, particularly altered DNA methylation, play a crucial role in the development and progression of human gastrointestinal malignancies. Two distinct DNA methylation abnormalities are observed together in cancer. One is an overall genome-wide reduction in DNA methylation (global hypomethylation) and the other is regional hypermethylation within the CpG islands of specific gene promoters. Global hypomethylation is believed to induce proto-oncogene activation and chromosomal instability, whereas regional hypermethylation is strongly associated with transcriptional silencing of tumor suppressor genes. To date, genes involved in regulation of the cell cycle, DNA repair, growth signaling, angiogenesis, and apoptosis, are all known to be inactivated by hypermethylation. Recently developed techniques for detecting changes in DNA methylation have dramatically enhanced our understanding of the patterns of methylation that occur as cancers progress. One of the key contributors to aberrant methylation is aging, but other patterns of methylation are cancer-specific and detected only in a subset of tumors exhibiting the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP). Although the cause of altered patterns of DNA methylation in cancer remains unknown, it is believed that epidemiological factors, notably dietary folate intake, might strongly influence DNA methylation patterns. Recent studies further suggest that polymorphisms of genes involved in folate metabolism are causally related to the development of cancer. Identifying epidemiological factors responsible for epigenetic changes should provide clues for cancer prevention in the future.


This report is the final output of a consultancy undertaken by the University of Queensland and the University of the Sunshine Coast for the Department of the Environment and Heritage. Phase 1 of the project examined the evidence relating air pollution and child health, with a view to identifying its substance, its applicability to Australian children, and the need for additional Australian-based research to inform the review of the standards contained in the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure. Phase 2 of the project involved consultation with Australian experts regarding the recommendations of Phase 1, followed by the scoping of the prioritised research needs within Australia, and a list of recommended research priorities to address these. The report focuses on long-term effects and the major outdoor pollutants on the health of children. Phase 1 began with a systematic review of the literature was carried out, and a final short-listing of the major influential studies, including the Southern Californian Child Health Study. The evidence from these studies was synthesised to arrive at final conclusions. It was concluded that links between air pollution had been established for respiratory symptoms and asthma, and for lung function and lung function growth, somewhat less convincingly. Important recent findings in the area of birth outcomes (low birth weight, pre-term births, birth defects) and childhood cancer need to be confirmed, not necessarily in Australia. In general terms, a future research agenda for examining the role of air pollution in child health should be influenced by: * The contribution of respiratory illness to child morbidity, and the established role that air pollution plays in this; * The paucity of good information on child exposures, and the determinants of those exposures; * The emerging findings that relate air pollution to childhood cancer and birth outcomes, potentially contributing major burdens of disease. The applicability of results to Australian children rests with an evaluation of the nature and level of their exposure to air pollution and more detailed information than is presently available from the overseas studies on the dose-response relationships. If this information can be obtained, it should be possible to estimate the pollutant effects on respiratory health outcomes. Alternatively, epidemiological studies could estimate this empirically. Thus, the identified needs and gaps in information relating to Australian children are in the areas of (a) knowledge about actual exposures and (b) given (a), an estimation of the effects on health.


The authors report a case of double aortic arch in the newborn (age: 1 month) explored with magnetic resonance imaging. MRI offers a non invasive and non ionizing examination very well-tolerated by the patient if a correct methodology is used (total acquisition time 40 mn). The quality of the images is sufficient for diagnosis and presurgical evaluation: the diameter, the permeability and the relationship with the surrounding organs of the respective aortic arches were well demonstrated with this technique. The contributions of MRI with respect to 2-D echocardiography and angiography as well as the future possible totally non invasive evaluation of this cardiac anomaly is discussed.


A field experiment was carried out to formulate the fertilizer recommendation for Brinjal crop in Inceptisol of Chhattisgarh. The objectives were to find out the nutritional requirement of the crop. The experimental field was divided in to three fertilizer gradient strips (L0, L1 and L2), which was already created during previous kharif season by adding different graded dose of fertilizer N, P and K with maize as exhaust crop. Thirty-six treatments considered of 33 factorial combinations of fertilizer N, P and FYM were superimposed over each fertility strip (L0, L1 and L2). Mukta kesi variety of Brinjal was taken as the test crop. The crop response to added nutrients and various regression analyses were performed after the crop harvest. Linear Response Plateau (LRP) and Quadratic Response Plateau (QRP) models were used to relate yield with soil test and fertilizer dose and resulted significantly high R2 values suggesting their suitability. Brinjal crop required 0.31 kg N, 0.037 kg P and 0.57 kg K to produce one quintal of Brinjal fruit yield. The LRP model considered constant nutrient use efficiencies for each level of soil test and fertilizer doses. However, QRP model estimated variable soil and fertilizer efficiencies. The special feature of these models was the consideration of yield plateau, which makes them suitable under resource constraints situations.