Local influenza surveillance plays an important role in preparing for, and responding to, epidemics and pandemics. Between January and December 2001, the National Institute of Health of Thailand collected a total of 711 throat swab specimens from outpatients affected with acute respiratory symptoms from several centers throughout Thailand, of which 374 were virus-positive. Of these, 338 (90.4%) were positive for influenza virus by immunofluorescence testing. By hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) testing, 155 of the type A viruses were found to be subtype H1N1 strains closely related to A/New Caledonia/20/99, and 70 were subtype H3N2 A/Moscow/ 10/99-like viruses. For type B, the isolates were antigenically B/Sichuan/379/9-like by HI, although a number of the strains could be shown to be more closely related to earlier influenza B strains by genetic analysis. The strains circulating in Thailand were antigenically similar to strains isolated worldwide during the same period and to strains recommended by the WHO for inclusion in the vaccines for use in 2001-2002.


This meta-analysis was the result of the preliminary study aimed to descript the analysis of science learning through inquiry model in improving students' science process skills. This study analyzed ten national research journals and five international journals. Analysis of data used a description of the results of the average effect size (ES) of any studies that were sampled, and then categorized based on the interpretation of the criteria Cohen's. The results showed that science learning which was conducting through inquiry model can improve students' science process skill which was indicated by the average effect size of 0.51 with category "medium". Based on the criteria Cohen's also analyzed about the differences in science process skills based on group of countries, fields of study, and levels of education. The results of this study can be concluded that inquiry-based learning can be applied to the development of science learning in order to grow students' science process skills.


We propose two relay selection schemes for analog network coding (ANC) OFDM systems. One uses OFDM Symbol-Based Max-Min-Min Selection Criterion (OSBM3SC) to select only one relay for signal transmission, and the other uses a Subcarrier-Based Max-Min Selection Criterion (SBM2SC) to select multiple relays for signal transmission. Assuming a frequency-domain fully-uncorrelated Rayleigh fading channel, we derive the asymptotic symbol error rate (SER) performance for both schemes, and show that they both can achieve full diversity. Using extensive simulations, we further show that the presented analytical results are useful to accurately predict the high SNR error performance of practical OFDM systems.


The EU-funded EcoSwing project addresses the world's first full-scale direct-drive (DD) high temperature superconducting (HTS) wind turbine generator. Before the generator was installed on a commercial wind turbine, the generator had been tested on the ground at the Dynamic Nacelle Testing Laboratory (DyNaLab) in Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems (IWES), serving as an experimental validation of the generator design. This article is centered on the ground testing of the EcoSwing HTS generator, which includes corresponding tests for validating the generator's cryogenic design and electromagnetic performance. Despite one HTS coil with a defect limiting the operating current significantly, partial power production up to 1 MW at 14.5 rpm was reached. The critical auxiliary systems, i.e., vacuum system and rotary helium coupling, behaved as expected or even better than anticipated. The work reported in the article successfully validates the generator design, and also provides firsthand information prior to installing and testing the HTS generator on the wind turbine.


aims more and more users to be part of it. Cloud computing is a revolution in IT the way resources are utilized and managed. It is an emerging and prosperous field for both academically and industrially. With its wide acceptance today security is a vital concern. Technique running at the back of Cloud computing is virtualization in which virtual machines simultaneously operates and application that controls and managed them is hypervisor. Many models for security of virtualization have been proposed for the protection of resources but still virtualization is being vulnerable to many attacks. Hypervisor forensics is an post approach to investigate and analyze security threats at hypervisor level. This research field will be beneficial for reducing crime rate at network level and improve security. This paper aims to understand some of the proposed model and identify research gap and challenges to provide better awareness of hypervisor forensics. The benefit of this work is that it depicts the stateof-the art in hypervisor forensics.


This study describes the unique supportive care needs and associated distress among older adults receiving cancer survivorship care in a community cancer center. The psychological and social changes that accompany aging may influence the impact of cancer, so documenting the distinctive experiences of older survivors is critical to the development of evidence-based practice guidelines. A secondary analysis of data was conducted using results from a survey of adult cancer survivors. Data were available from a convenience sample of 307 survivors receiving care in a community cancer care setting who volunteered to complete a Survey of Needs. Fatigue, fear of recurrence, sleep disturbance, balance/walking/mobility difficulties, long-term effects of treatment, and body changes were most frequently reported. Results suggest assessment of older adult cancer survivors' experiences related to physical symptoms, symptom management, and interest in education targeting physical effects common to survivorship.


Background/Aims: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal cell transformation (EMT) is the trans-differentiation of tubular epithelial cells into myofibroblasts, an event underlying progressive chronic kidney disease in diabetes, resulting in fibrosis. Mainly reported in proximal regions of the kidney, EMT is now recognized as a key contributor to the loss of renal function throughout the nephron in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Concomitant upregulation of TGF-β in diabetes makes this pro-fibrotic cytokine an obvious candidate in the development of these fibrotic complications. This article reviews recent findings clarifying our understanding of the role of TGF-β and associated sub-cellular proteins in EMT. Methods: To understand the pathology of EMT and the role of TGF-β, we reviewed the literature using PubMed for English language articles that contained key words related to EMT, TGF-β and DN. Results: EMT and phenotypic plasticity of epithelial cells throughout the nephron involves cytoskeletal reorganization and de novo acquisition of classic mesenchymal markers. Concurrent downregulation of epithelial adhesion molecules results in a loss of function and decreased cell coupling, contributing to a loss of epithelial integrity. TGF-β1 is pivotal in mediating these phenotypic changes. Conclusion: TGF-β-induced EMT is a key contributor to fibrotic scar formation as seen in DN, and novel routes for future therapeutic intervention are discussed.


Calcium absorption by the intestine is necessary for bone mineralization. Much has been learned about this process and the role of vitamin D metabolites in gene transcription from animal studies, but the molecular mechanisms in humans are less well understood. We have used samples of normal human duodenal mucosa, obtained at endoscopy, to investigate the effects of the vitamin D metabolites, 1α-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25(OH)2D3] and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD), on transcripts on genes involved in calcium absorption and vitamin D metabolism. TRPV6 transcripts were significantly higher after incubation for 6 h with 1,25(OH)2D3 (10−9 mol/l) than after control incubations (median difference 3.1-fold, P < 0.001). Unexpectedly, TRPV6 expression was also higher (2.4-fold, P < 0.02) after incubation with 25OHD (10−7 mol/l). Transcripts for the calcium-ATPase, PMCA1, were significantly higher with 1,25(OH)2D3; CYP24 transcripts were reliably detected after incubation with either metabolite, but calbindin-D9k transcripts were unaffected. The response of TRPV6 to 25OHD and the expression of transcripts for CYP27B1, the 25OHD-1α-hydroxylase, were significantly correlated (r = 0.82, P < 0.02). Basal duodenal expression of TRPV6 and CYP27B1 were significantly associated (r = 0.72, P < 0.001) in a separate previously reported series of subjects. Multiple regression analysis of the associations with basal duodenal TRPV6 expression identified CYP27B1 expression and serum 1,25(OH)2D as major factors. Expression of the CYP27B1 protein was demonstrated immunohistochemically in duodenal mucosa. This study has shown that human duodenal TRPV6, PMCA1, and CYP24 transcripts respond rapidly to 1,25(OH)2D3 and provides evidence suggesting that local duodenal production of 1,25(OH)2D3 by 25OHD-1α-hydroxylase may have a role in human calcium absorption.


We present a series of experiments which explore the use of consumer-grade accelerometers as joint position sensors for robotic manipulators. We show that 6- and 7-dof joint angle estimation is possible by using one 3-d accelerometer for each pair of joints. We demonstrate two calibration approaches and experimental results using accelerometer-based control in both position-control and torque-control regimes. We present a manipulator design combining accelerometer-based sensing with low-cost actuation, and conclude by demonstrating the utility of consumer-grade accelerometers even on high-precision manipulators.


The objective of the present work is to investigate the effect of low power, low pressure DC glow discharge plasma of N2, N2-Ar and N2–He gases on the surface free energy and the morphology of the surface of PMMA films. For this purpose lab-prepared PMMA samples were exposed to three gas environments under the same discharge conditions (discharge power, pressure, and sample electrode spacing). Changes in the surface hydrophilicity, morphology, and chemical composition of the treated samples were characterized by contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and FTIR- spectroscopy. Treatment of PMMA with N2, N2-Ar, and N2–He gases showed an increase in the surface free energies. The SEM and FTIR detected changes in the treated surfaces morphology and the formation of new functional groups.


Pre-training a recognition model with contrastive learning on a large dataset of unlabeled data has shown great potential to boost the performance of a downstream task, e.g., image classification. However, in domains such as medical imaging, collecting unlabeled data can be challenging and expensive. In this work, we propose to adapt contrastive learning to work with meta-label annotations, for improving the model's performance in medical image segmentation even when no additional unlabeled data is available. Meta-labels such as the location of a 2D slice in a 3D MRI scan or the type of device used, often come for free during the acquisition process. We use the meta-labels for pre-training the image encoder as well as to regularize a semi-supervised training, in which a reduced set of annotated data is used for training. Finally, to fully exploit the weak annotations, a self-paced learning approach is used to help the learning and discriminate useful labels from noise. Results on three different medical image segmentation datasets show that our approach: i) highly boosts the performance of a model trained on a few scans, ii) outperforms previous contrastive and semi-supervised approaches, and iii) reaches close to the performance of a model trained on the full data.


During the dotcom boom, when technology innovation appeared to offer a solution to almost any structural economic woe, government technology strategists from as far away as Brazil, Canada, China and Singapore made a pilgrimage to the fenlands in the southeast of England. They travelled in the hope that if they could just understand the "Cambridge Phenomenon," they would be able to recreate its success in emerging technology hubs elsewhere. It turned out that Cambridge wasn't about to hand out a recipe for recreating its Phenomenon. Being able to describe how this formerly agrarian economy, centered on a 795-year-old university, has become a hotbed of technological innovation does not mean it is easy to replicate. High-Tech Cluster Economy So what is the Phenomenon? Simply put, Cambridge and its surrounding area has become a high-technology cluster economy focused on computer hardware and software, scientific instruments, electronics and biotechnology. Academics, entrepreneurs, business and support services have coalesced to create an environment that encourages and enables the formation and growth of high-technology companies. The cluster is sufficiently well-established for serial entrepreneurs to have emerged, mentoring schemes to have been formed, and enablers such as venture capital and professional services to have flocked to the region in support. Links between firms, the university and research organizations are strong and often based on personal relationships. The impact of the Cambridge Phenomenon is evident from the statistics. According to Cambridgeshire County Council, the region's population grew by more than 20 percent in the 20 years from 1981 to 2001. By then, the region was employing 48,300 people in 1,526 high-technology companies, out of a working population of 337,510. More than half (58%) of these businesses employed ten people or less. And the focus on the city was strong, with 34 percent of the jobs based in the city and an additional 39 percent in nearby south Cambridgeshire. Explaining the Phenomenon One obvious reason for Cambridge's success is its university, one of the oldest and best-known in the world, with a record of producing more than 60 Nobel Prize winners. The University's reputation has encouraged undergraduates to stay on to do their research, and this, coupled with a collegiate organization, has tended to create strong personal networks. The colleges have responded to the entrepreneurial culture by creating science parks and business incubators. In 1970, Trinity College founded Cambridge Science Park, on land it had owned since 1546, as a response to a government report the previous year calling for better links between academia and industry. The site hosts start-ups, developing companies, technology consultancies, and attendant services such as venture capital. In 1987, St John's College built an Innovation Centre to host early-stage companies, providing business advice and help with finding funding. It has since acted as midwife to at least one billion-pound company. Networking lies at the heart of the Cambridge Phenomenon, with the colleges, departments, innovation center, and science parks all creating pools of shared experience and personal contacts. In 1998, a group of six companies formed the Cambridge Network to formalize and strengthen this networking, which has underpinned much of the region's technology development. The Cambridge Network has grown to 1,300 companies that use its website and meetings to make contacts, find services and promote their businesses. Between 100 and 200 of these are overseas companies with at least one person in Cambridge, according to Peter Hewkin, chief executive of the Network. He estimates that between a quarter and a third of these are U.S. companies. Another 20 to 30 overseas companies are members despite not having a local presence. Individuals also play a vital role in creating networks. …


In a GaMnAs/AlGaAs resonant tunneling diode (RTD) structure, we observe that both the magnitude and polarity of magnetoresistance are bias-dependent when tunneling from a three-dimensional GaMnAs layer through a two-dimensional GaMnAs quantum well. This magnetoresistance behavior results from a shift of negative differential resistance (NDR) features to higher bias as the relative alignment of the GaMnAs layer magnetizations is changed from parallel to anti-parallel. Our observations agree with recent predictions from a theoretical analysis of a similar n-type structure by Ertler and Fabian, and our results suggest that further investigation into ferromagnetic RTD structures may result in significantly enhanced magnetoresistance.


An unusual combination of Weinreb amidation and Mitsunobu lactam formation was used to prepare highly substituted gamma-lactam analogues of a thiazolidinone follicle stimulating hormone receptor agonist. The analogue synthesis was stereoselective and the final products were chemically stable. Biological properties of the target molecules were nearly identical to those of the lead compound.


Kangfu Xiaoyan Suppository is widely used in the treatment of gynecological inflammatory diseases. Long-term clinical application and a certain amount of research evidences show that Kangfu Xiaoyan Suppository can alleviate the clinical symptoms of pelvic inflammatory diseases,reduce the recurrence rate,and relieve sequelae,with a better safety and economic characteristics. As a type of nationally protected traditional Chinese medicine and type B medicine included in medical insurance,it has been selected as a Chinese patent medicine for rectal administration. It was included in the Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of common gynecological diseases of traditional Chinese medicine published by the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2012,the Pelvic inflammatory diseases diagnosis and treatment guidelines issued by the Infectious Diseases Collaborative Group of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association in 2014,and the group standard of Single use of traditional Chinese medicine/combined antibiot guidelines for clinical practice-pelvic inflammatory diseases of the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2017. To further enhance clinicians' understanding of the drug and better guide its rational clinical use,experts from the field of gynecology of traditional Chinese and Western medicine were invited to develop and compile this expert consensus. This consensus takes full account of clinical evidences and expert clinical experience,and form recommendations for clinical problems based on evidences and consensus recommendations for clinical problems without evidence by nominal grouping method. The expert consensus is mainly formed in the consideration of six factors: quality of evidence,economy,efficacy,adverse reactions,patient acceptability and others. Based on clinical research evidences and expert experience,this consensus provides a preliminary reference for the clinical use of the drug in a concise and clear format. However,evidence-based support is still required in a large number of high-quality studies,and this consensus will be revised in the future according to new clinical problems and the update of evidence-based evidence in practical application.


The seeds of land plants contain three genetically distinct structures: the embryo, endosperm, and seed coat. The embryo and endosperm need to interact and exchange signals to ensure coordinated growth. Accumulating evidence has confirmed that embryo growth is supported by the nourishing endosperm and regulated by signals originating from the endosperm. Available data also support that endosperm development requires communication with the embryo. Here, using single-fertilization mutants, Arabidopsis dmp8/9 and gex2, we demonstrate that in the absence of a zygote and embryo, endosperm initiation, syncytium formation, free nuclear cellularization, and endosperm degeneration are as normal as in the wild type in terms of the cytological process and time course. Although rapid embryo expansion accelerates endosperm breakdown, our findings strongly suggest that endosperm development is an autonomously organized process, independent of egg cell fertilization and embryo–endosperm communication. This work confirms both the altruistic and self-directed nature of the endosperm during coordinated embryo-endosperm development. The findings provide novel insights into the intricate interaction between the two fertilization products and will help to distinguish the real roles of the signaling between endosperm and embryo. These finding also shed new light on agro-biotechnology for crop improvement.


The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist exendin-4 on the interleukin (IL)-1β-induced impairment of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in β-TC-6 cells. β-TC-6 cells were pretreated with various concentrations of IL-1β (0.15, 1.5 or 15 ng/ml) and exendin-4 (0.1 or 1 mM). Exendin-4 was administered to β-TC-6 cells prior to, during and following pretreatment. Cells were stimulated with various concentrations of glucose (0, 1.38, 5.5 and 11.1 mM), and insulin was measured via radioimmunoassay of the supernatant; furthermore, western blot analysis was used to detect phosphorylated extracellular receptor kinase (ERK)1/2. The insulin levels (151.08±14.34 µIU/ml) and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in β-TC-6 cells peaked in response to 1.38 mM glucose stimulation compared with 0, 5.5 and 11.1 mM glucose stimulation. IL-1β inhibited GSIS in a dose-dependent manner: Insulin levels were 83.76±1.16 µIU/ml when 0.15 ng/ml IL-1β was added under GSIS, 59.46±3.20 µIU/ml when 1.5 ng/ml IL-1β was added under GSIS, and 56.98±1.19 µIU/ml when 15 ng/ml IL-1β was added under GSIS. Exendin-4 exerted a protective effect against IL-1β-induced GSIS inhibition in a dose-dependent manner. The greatest protective effect was observed when exendin-4 was added prior to IL-1β pretreatment, which was statistically significant (P<0.05). These findings suggested that exendin-4 was able to reverse the IL-1β-induced inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation and serves a protective role by impairing GSIS induced by IL-1β in β-TC-6 cells. This mechanism may be associated with the recovery of ERK1/2 activation.


Autologous chondrocyte implantation is the current gold standard cell therapy for cartilage lesions. However, in some instances, the heavily compromised health of the patient can either impair or limit the recovery of the autologous chondrocytes and a satisfactory outcome of the implant. Allogeneic human articular chondrocytes (hAC) could be a good alternative, but the possible immunological incompatibility between recipient and hAC donor should be considered. Herein, we report that allogeneic hAC inhibited T lymphocyte response to antigen-dependent and -independent proliferative stimuli. This effect was maximal when T cells and hAC were in contact and it was not relieved by the addition of exogenous lymphocyte growth factor interleukin (IL)-2. More important, hAC impaired the differentiation of peripheral blood monocytes induced with granulocyte monocyte colony-stimulating factor and IL-4 (Mo) to professional antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells (DC). Indeed, a marked inhibition of the onset of the CD1a expression and an ineffective downregulation of CD14 antigens was observed in Mo–hAC co-cultures. Furthermore, compared to immature or mature DC, Mo from Mo–hAC co-cultures did not trigger an efficacious allo-response. The prostaglandin (PG) E2 present in the Mo–hAC co-culture conditioned media is a putative candidate of the hAC-mediated inhibition of Mo maturation. Altogether, these findings indicate that allogeneic hAC inhibit, rather than trigger, immune response and strongly suggest that an efficient chondrocyte implantation could be possible also in an allogeneic setting.


This paper discusses Babylonian astronomical diaries for the years 169-163 B.C.E., which mention Antiochus IV Epiphanes and consequently bear chronological implications for Seleucid history. While the documents discussed do not upset the accepted reconstruction of Seleucid history, they add to our knowledge of the period. The first diary discussed mentions a procession (pompe). We claim that this procession should not be identified with Antiochus IV's famous procession at Daphne but was a local festival of the Greeks of Babylon, celebrated in honor of their king's victorious Egyptian campaign. There are two significant notices in a diary for 165. The first refers to Antiochus' Armenian expedition while the second, it is argued, alludes to his efforts to explore the Persian Gulf. The diary's date and the geographical information it contains add to our knowledge of Antiochus IV's movements during that year. The last diary mentions a party escorting the corpse of a king, who must be Antiochus IV. On the basis of Jewish sources, the party's leader is identified as Philip, the dead king's syntrophos. His presence in Babylon in Tebet 163. supplies an additional argument in favor of dating Lysias' second campaign against the Jews to that year.


This study was conducted to determine the capability of Staphylococcus aureus to produce toxins in Turkish sucuk. For this purpose, the ability of four different reference strains of S. aureus (i.e., SEA 10652 FDA 196E, SEB 10654 FDA 243, SEC 10655 137, and SED 10656 494) to produce A-, B-, C-, and D-type toxins, respectively, was investigated during the fermentation period of Turkish sucuk by inoculating sucuk batter with these strains at 105 CFU/g level. As a result, no SEA, SEB, and SEC toxins were detected in the A, B, and C groups, respectively, during fermentation. In group D, SED was detected after 24 h and at the 3, 7, and 12 days of ripening. In conclusion, these results indicate that Turkish sucuk may pose an important health risk related to possible contamination with S. aureus (SED) during the production processes.


Abstract : The Bush Administration has deemed the creation of an effective Iraqi fighting force that is representative of Iraqi society at large as key to stabilizing Iraq and expediting the eventual withdrawal of U.S. forces. However, there is concern that sectarian killings, terrorism, and insurgency are undermining U.S. efforts to create a unified Iraqi military that can prevent internal violence from metastasizing into a larger civil war among Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds. According to the December 2006 Iraq Study Group Report, Significant questions remain about the ethnic composition and loyalties of some Iraqi units specifically, whether they will carry out missions on behalf of national goals instead of a sectarian agenda. The 110th Congress may address issues concerning the reforming of Iraq's security forces.


In the last years the representation and management of temporal information has become crucial for several computer applications. In the temporal database literature, every fact stored into a database may be equipped with two temporal dimensions: the valid time, that describes the time when the fact is true in the modeled reality, and the transaction time, that describes the time when the fact is current in the database and it can be retrieved. Temporal functional dependencies (TFDs) add (transaction) valid time to classical functional dependencies (FDs) in order to express database integrity constraints over the flow of time. Currently, proposals dealing with TFDs adopt a point-based approach, where tuples hold at specific time points. Moreover, TFDs may involve the use of different granularities (i.e., partitions of the time domain), to express integrity constraints as "for each month, the salary of an employee depends only on his role". At the best of our knowledge, there are no proposals dealing with interval-based temporal functional dependencies (ITFDs for short) where the associated valid time is represented by an interval. In this paper, we propose a set of ITFDs based on the Allen's interval relations, we analyze their expressive power with respect to other TFDs proposed in the literature and we propose an algorithm for verifying ITFDs in a database system.


INTRODUCTION
We retrospectively evaluated the performance of preoperative computed tomographic (CT) colonography to detect tumor involvement of the rectosigmoid wall and predict the need for rectosigmoid resection in patients with primary ovarian cancer.

METHODS
Thirty-three patients with primary ovarian cancer who underwent preoperative CT colonographic examination were evaluated. The images of the examination were analyzed and compared with the subsequent surgical findings.

RESULTS
All abnormal findings (malignant infiltration of the rectosigmoid mucosa and extrinsic compression) revealed by conventional colonoscopy were correctly observed as extrinsic compression using CT colonography. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of CT colonography for the prediction of rectosigmoid resection were 100%, 64.7%, 72.7%, and 100%, respectively. Though conventional colonoscopic examinations could not be completed in five patients because of the presence of extrinsic stenosis and occlusion at the sigmoid colon, CT colonography enabled the entire large bowel to be examined in these patients.

CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study showed that the CT colonographic examination is feasible and safe. CT colonography seems to have several advantages over conventional colonoscopy for the detection of rectosigmoid involvement in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. For confirmation of the efficacy of CT colonography, further large prospective studies are needed.


The transcription rates of glycolytic enzyme genes are coordinately induced when cells are exposed to low oxygen tension. This effect has been described in many cell types and is not restricted to species or phyla. In mammalian cells, there are 11 distinct glycolytic enzymes, at least 9 of which are induced by hypoxia. Recent reports described a role for the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) in the transcriptional activation of lactate dehydrogenase A, aldolase-A, phosphoglycerate kinase, and enolase-1 genes. It is not known whether the HIF-1 factor acts exclusively to regulate these genes during hypoxia, or how the other genes of the pathway are regulated. In this paper, we describe analyses of the muscle-specific pyruvate kinase-M and β-enolase promoters that implicate additional mechanisms for the regulation of glycolytic enzyme gene transcription by hypoxia. Transient transcription of a reporter gene directed by either promoter was activated when transfected muscle cells were exposed to hypoxia. Neither of these promoters contain HIF-1 binding sites. Instead, the hypoxia response was localized to a conserved GC-rich element positioned immediately upstream of a GATAA site in the proximal promoter regions of both genes. The GC element was essential for both basal and hypoxia-induced expression and bound the transcription factors Sp1 and Sp3. Hypoxia caused the progressive depletion of Sp3 determined by DNA binding studies and Western analyses, whereas Sp1 protein levels remained unchanged. Overexpression of Sp3 repressed expression of β-enolase promoters. It is concluded that hypoxia activates these glycolytic enzyme gene promoters by down-regulating Sp3, thereby removing the associated transcriptional repression.


During times of war, the relationship between International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law has always been controversial, and has generally been solved by prioritizing the rules of the former and minimizing the application of the latter's. In practice, this has translated into insufficient standards of protection for individuals and, more specifically, into the endorsement of an unrestrained right to kill enemy combatants. This paper suggests a novel approach to this regime interaction: the application of International Human Rights Law during wartime should serve as an interpretative tool of International Humanitarian Law rules, strengthening the safeguards offered by the latter and, thus, better respecting the rights of individuals during hostilities. Regarding the right to life, this interpretation would require to abandon the idea of a right to kill opponents and, instead, demand that least harmful means be employed during military operations, when possible. Lethal force should be allowed only in cases where military necessity justifies it, henceforth avoiding causing individuals more harm than that strictly required. The purpose of this article is not to advocate for a prohibition of killing combatants -as the nature of armed conflicts would render that rule unattainable-; it is, however, to establish a principle capable of guiding combatants' behaviour towards a more humane conduct of hostilities.


PURPOSE
To evaluate the mammographic findings and role of detection of local recurrence in breast cancer patients, who underwent breast conserving surgery and radiation therapy.

DESIGN
Descriptive retrospective study

MATERIAL AND METHOD
From 1988 to 1998, 78 women with early breast cancer (stage I, II) were treated with lumpectomy and axillary nodes resection, followed by radiation treatment. Mammographic imagings were taken yearly after complete treatment. Needle biopsy was done for suspected local recurrence on mammographic findings.

RESULTS
Duration of follow-up ranged from 3 years to 10 years. Seventy-three of 78 patients (93.6%) had evidence of parenchymal changes on serial annual mammography. Twenty-eight of 73 patients (38.4%) had diffuse dense parenchymal changes. Twenty-four of 73 patients (32.9%) had focal fibrotic changes, and 21 of 73 patients (28.8%) had evidence of parenchymal distortion with a mass like lesion. Skin thickening was found in 54 of 78 patients (69.2%). Calcification was the least change, found in only 2 of 78 patients (2.6%). Nine of 78 patients (11.5%) had mammographic signs of local recurrence. Seven of 9 patients had suspected local recurrence by needle biopsy. Four of seven patients had proven local recurrence on mastectomy, and 3 of 7 patients (42.8%) had false positive on mastectomy.

CONCLUSION
Annual mammography in post breast conserving treatment showed beneficial results for detection of recurrent cancer


The study aims to shed light on whether mentoring may help protégés decrease their perception of job content plateaus. Based on the conservation of resources theory, career mentoring could be an effective resource in decreasing job content plateaus and alleviating the resulting emotional exhaustion. The study also proposes that perceived organizational support (POS) can be an organizational resource for protégés, strengthening the effects of career mentoring in addressing the problem of job content plateaus and ensuing emotional exhaustion (via job content plateaus). Two-wave data were collected from a sample of 353 protégés in Germany. Results showed that career mentoring was negatively related to emotional exhaustion through job content plateaus. Moreover, high POS strengthened the effects of career mentoring, directly in dealing with the issue of job content plateaus and indirectly for emotional exhaustion. Important theoretical and practical implications for mentoring and career plateau research are discussed.


Resistance to chemotherapy is one of the major difficulties in the treatment of triple negative breast cancer. Besides the typical known causes of drug resistance, tumor microenvironment can also promote resistance by preventing the drug from accumulating in tumor cells in order to elicit a cytotoxic response. TNBC is characterized by the loss or low expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 proteins that have been targeted and established as somewhat effective therapy regiments in other breast cancer subtypes including liminal breast cancer. Since TNBC tumors are missing these well-known drug targets, there is little to no advancement in the establishment of drug therapies to accurately target this breast cancer subtype. TNBC is termed as aggressive due to the fact of its invasiveness and metastatic properties. One potential mediator of TNBC aggressive behavior may be due to the fact that this breast cancer subtype may have as high as an 80% p53 tumor suppressor gene mutation rate which may also play a role in the ability of TNBC to recur as a result of the inability to kill all remaining TNBC cells leading to chemotherapy resistance. In these studies, we hope to mimic TNBC recurrence by establishing doxorubicin resistant HCC1806 TNBC cell lines. Here we show that we were able to sustain TNBC cell growth after pulse treatments with increasing concentrations of doxorubicin, and we revealed that p53-related miRNAs, let7a and miR34a, were differentially expressed after pulse treating the HCC1806 cells. Understanding the molecular and mechanistic factors related to recurrence and doxorubicin-resistance in HCC1806 cells may help to develop a list of possible targets for molecular therapy to overwhelm tumor drug resistance in triple negative breast cancer and may develop or establish a list of potential targets for disabling, or combating resistance to doxorubicin treatment in TNBC patients. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Checo J. Rorie, Malcolm M. Moses, Mohammed K. Musa, Sherette S. Godfrey. Establishing doxorubicin resistant HCC1806 triple negative breast cancer cell lines result in the differential expression of let7a and miR34a [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5879. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5879


This paper explores the relation between technologies and the reconfiguration of gender relations in the British home. Drawing on Haraway's concept of technological myth, and Barthes' reflections on the modern myth-making process, analysis considers how the promotion and animation of new smokeless technologies in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Britain was under-girded by a reconstituted vision of the British home and the woman's place within it. In part, smokeless technologies promised the liberation of housewives from the 'drudgery' of domestic labour. The myths associated with smokeless technologies were, however, also suggestive of a more open sense of the home, within which female citizens could combine a concern with the domestic needs of the family with the broader moral reform of the city as a whole. Through an analysis of various smoke abatement exhibitions, which were convened throughout the UK during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this paper explores how smokeless technologies were braided into a new mythical geography of the British home. While at one level, this new home promised a scientifically liberated domestic sphere and a more publicly engaged female citizenry, it ultimately served to restructure and reassert the British woman's role within the modern household. Analysis focuses specifically upon the exhibit materials and popular press accounts associated with key smoke abatement exhibitions in the UK.


We report on the characterization and analysis of a GaN-based distributed feedback laser diode (DFB-LD) with 3rd-order laterally etched sidewall gratings centered at a wavelength of 420 nm. We also compare the device parameters with two commonly used Fabry-Perot (FP) devices operating at 450 nm and 520 nm. Intrinsic properties of the devices were extracted, including damping factor, carrier and photon lifetimes, modulation efficiency, differential gain, and parasitic capacitance. These parameters showed that the DFB exhibits a lower damping rate and parasitic capacitance while demonstrating a higher modulation efficiency, indicating that the DFB shows good potential for communications applications. Additionally, spectral linewidth of a GaN DFB is reported. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first demonstration of parameter extraction and spectral linewidth measurement for GaN-based DFB-LDs.


Optical transition spectra (lambda = 0.3-50 micrometers) and dc conductivity (25 degrees-1000 degrees C) data were obtained on YSZ single crystals commercially grown by the skull melting process. The crystals were doped with up to 2.0 wt% rare earth (Ce, Nd, Er, Pr) and transition (Mn, Fe, Cr, Ni) metal ions, and a few were annealed. Dopant effects were most pronounced in the visible region, but were evident throughout much of the spectral range. Annealing and dopant ions Ce and Er showed significant absorption effects attributed to the Ce(3+) ion. Electrical conductivity was only marginally affected by doping.


A short cut review was conducted to assess if the use of rocuronium in the ED was associated with a decrease in the provision of postintubation sedation. Four papers were identified that presented the best evidence to answer the question. Again the studies, relevant outcomes, results and weaknesses are tabulated. All the identified studies were retrospective and there was a plethora of outcome measures used. When compared with suxamethonium, rocuronium was associated with a delayed initiation and reduced dose of postintubation sedation.


In days where the oil price is low, cost optimization is of vital importance. Especially in mature oil fields, the reduction of lifting costs by increasing the mean time between failure and the overall efficiency helps to stay economical and increase the final recovery factor. Today a significant portion of artificially lifted wells use sucker rod pumping systems. Although its efficiency is in the upper range, compared to other artificial lift systems, there is room for improvement and system optimization.
 This paper presents the benefits of the field-tested Sucker Rod Anti-Buckling System (SRABS), which can entirely prevent compressive loads from the sucker rod string by a redesign of the standing valve, the advantageous use of the dynamic liquid level, and the on a case-by-case basis application of a tension mass. This results in complete buckling prevention and a reduction of the overall stress in the sucker rod string.
 The resulting reduction in the number of well interventions in combination with the higher overall pumping efficiency prolongs economic production in mature oil fields, even in times of low oil prices. The analysis of SRABS, using simulations, showed a significant increase in the overall efficiency. The SRABS performance and wear tests under large-scale conditions are performed at the Montanuniversitaet Leoben's Pump Testing Facility and in the field. The self-developed Pump Testing Facility can simulate the conditions of a 500 m deep well, including the effects of dynamic liquid pressure and temperature. Testing of SRABS has identified major benefits in comparison to standard sucker rod pumps.
 The results of intensive testing are used to optimize the geometry of the pump body itself and to improve the wear resistance by selecting optimal materials for the individual pump components. SRABS itself can be applied within every sucker rod pumping system; the installation is as convenient as for a standard pump, and manufacturing costs are comparable with those of a standard pump. This paper shows the high performance of the SRABS pumping system in comparison to a standard sucker rod pump.


Glaucoma is an eye disease category that affects the optic nerve, whose protection is important for good vision. It is typically caused by an abnormally high eye pressure. This is more widespread in older adults but can occur at any age. It will be treated early otherwise it leads to loss of vision. In this study, an efficient method for glaucoma diagnosis using hidden markov models is presented. Initially, the red, green and blue color components are separated. Finally, Hidden Markov Models (HMM) is used for glaucoma diagnosis. The experimental results and discussion shows the performance of the proposed system.


Building a secure electronic voting system that offers the fairness and privacy of current voting schemes, while providing the transparency and flexibility offered by electronic systems has been a challenge for a long time. In this work-in-progress paper, we evaluate an application of blockchain as a service to implement distributed electronic voting systems. The paper proposes a novel electronic voting system based on blockchain that addresses some of the limitations in existing systems and evaluates some of the popular blockchain frameworks for the purpose of constructing a blockchain-based e-voting system. In particular, we evaluate the potential of distributed ledger technologies through the description of a case study; namely, the process of an election, and the implementation of a blockchain-based application, which improves the security and decreases the cost of hosting a nationwide election.


The small feature sizes in current Networks-on-chip (NoCs) have increased the importance of reliability. However, existing fault tolerance schemes incur costs in terms of performance and power consumption which can be over-burdening. In order to tackle the reliability problem in NoCs while minimizing the performance and energy costs, a compiler-enhanced reliability scheme is introduced in this paper which assigns extra protection only to data transmissions in NoC which are considered critical. The experimental study validates that our scheme yields almost equal level of fault tolerance for critical data transmissions with the scheme that protects all packet transmissions indiscriminately. Our scheme is also shown to have better performance by approximately 7% than the conservative scheme for the tested criticality annotation.


The analysis of the concept of Open-Science Space is carried out. The existence of ways to achieve reproducibility and traceability of research results performed by a group of worldwide situated Cyber-physical system operators/supervisors is shown. Ways to ensure the efficient operation of Cyber-physical systems as complex technological nondemountable objects with high requirements for metrological characteristics have been studied. To develop the scattered cyberphysical systems, the portable stable-in-time code-controlled measures of physical quantities have been studied. They have to be metrologically confirmed in the laboratory before the delivery to the site of the measuring subsystem for its calibration.


To determine whether children with language delays are more likely to have been exposed to cocaine in utero than children with normal language development, a case-control study was undertaken. Based on routine office screening in our primary-care clinic over a 1-year period, we identified 29 consecutive children, aged 24 to 48 months, as language-delayed. They were compared with an approximate 2:1 match of children without language delay who had been seen in the clinic on the same days and who were of similar age. There was more reported cocaine use during pregnancy (six of 29, 21%) among the language-delayed children than among the controls (five of 71, 7%). This difference is statistically significant (P < 0.05, χ2 = 3.92; odds ratio = 3.4 ± 2.2). Discriminant analysis revealed that both cocaine and nicotine exposure were associated with delayed language development — with an unexpected negative, i.e., an antagonistic, protective, interactive effect (F[3,96] = 4.66, R2 = 12.7%, P<.005); neither gender nor caretaker contributed to language development in this sample. These results suggest that children with language delay detected in a clinical setting are more likely to have been exposed in utero to cocaine than children with normal language development. Prenatal cocaine exposure should be a risk factor in monitoring development in children.


Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) has appeared to be important in business practices in order to survive in the competition. Sustainable performance assessment, that includes economic, social, and environmental aspects need to be given due attention by the business players in order to understand the position of the company so that it can fulfill customer satisfaction. In this research, each of the aspects is measured using different methods. The Economic performance assessment is represented using the Supply Chain Operation Reference (SCOR) model that helps in measuring the success of a supply chain operation. It uses 15 indicators deemed relevant in the Make-to-Stock production typology that is distributed into five performance attributes. The economic assessment is then obtained through these performance attributes that result in 97.5% in agility, 92% in cost, 78.2% in reliability, 72% in asset management, and 40.67% in responsiveness. Meanwhile, the social performance assessment is directed at employee's welfare. Questionnaires are distributed to 30 employees to measure company's commitment to address their social issues. It results in a perfect score as 100% in fair salary, annual allowance, and training, while health insurance and safety equipment only cover 70% and 30%, respectively. The environmental aspect is noticed on the wastewater management, since it mainly contributes for company's waste. The assessment lies on the liquid contamination test and is compared to the maximum standard level, set by the government. Environmental assessment shows 76.8% in acidity, 71.93% in Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), 33.15% in temperature, and 0% in both Total Suspended Solid (TSS) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). While this research is focusing on improving the performance in the supply chain process (Economic aspect), which is the worst assessment in the economic aspect, which is responsiveness, it is selected to be improved to reach an optimum performance. Therefore, the operation-overlapping approach is applied in the scheduling of the production process to improve company's responsiveness, which is from 40.67% to 60.67%.


A commercial propolis was investigated in terms of its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative activities. The contents of total phenol and flavonoid of propolis were 8.3 and 6.6 ㎎, respectively. The reducing power of the propolis increased with concentration increasing. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was shown at 82.70% in 1,000 ㎍/㎖ of the propolis. 2,2'-Azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging effect of antioxidant activity on the propolis was 35.64 g/sample. The propolis showed high antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus at all concentration of propolis. All of the cancer cell lines have 53-73% as effective growth inhibition. These results showed that the commercial propolis has potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cancer cell proliferative inhibition activities thus, propolis can be applied to the functional food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industry.


OBJECTIVE To study the correlation between the serum levels of nitrogen oxide (NO) and oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). METHOD NO and oxLDL levels were measured in 60 OSAHS patients and 26 healthy subjects. OSAHS patients were divided into mild, moderate and severe groups according to AHI. RESULT NO levels in the moderate and sever OSAHS groups was significantly lower than that in the control group, but the levels of oxLDL was increased compared with the control group. (P < 0.05). The serum levels of NO was negatively correlated with AHI (P < 0.01) and positively correlated with the lowest SaO2 (P < 0.01), the serum levels of oxLDL was positively correlated with AHI (P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with the lowest SaO2 (P < 0.01), NO levels showed negative correlations with oxLDL levels (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The serum level of NO is reduced in response to the increase of AHI and the acceleration of hypoxia, which indicated that there is a correlation between vascular endothelial dysfunction and the severity of hypoxia. The decrease of the level of NO and the increase of the oxLDL can promote the formation of atherosclerosis, which increased the incidence of cardiocerebrovascular disease in patients with OSAHS.


This paper describes the application of aero-derivative gas turbines for power generation and mechanical drive on fixed offshore oil and gas platforms. Established installation concepts are discussed and a comparison is made between two designs of pre-packaged power plant for installation on North Sea and Arabian Gulf platforms respectively. The structural requirements of such packages are analyzed and the design considerations for a Warren Truss structured machinery module are outlined. Some of the problems associated with installing packaged aero-derivative gas turbine machinery in the extremely aggressive offshore environment are highlighted and preferred solutions are proposed.Copyright © 1980 by ASME


A complete system of indexes to evaluate the global efficiency of a new product development project must approach at least the following perspectives: the financial performances of the project; the project's value; the technical performances of the project; the efficiency of research and development activities of the project; the capacity of fitting in the estimated cost and duration of activities; the degree of integration between the RD the degree of integration between the R&D and marketing activities. Therefore, in this paper is drawn up a method for new product development projects evaluation, based on those seven perspectives.


Objective Bioinformatics analyze the structure and characteristics of Clonorchis sinensis lactate dehydrogenase to guide the experimental research on its biological function and application. Method Utilizing the tools in bioinformatics webs sites such as NCBI(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/), ExPaSy (http://www.expasy.org/) and other bioinformatics software package such as PCGENE, Vector NTI suite 8.0, to recognize lactate dehydrogenase gene from the expression sequence tags (ESTs) of Clonorchis sinensis full-length cDNA plasmid libratory, then to predict the physical-chemical characteristics of the putative protein, as well as the structural characteristics such as epitopes, posttranslational modification sites, domains, subcelluar location, topological structure, second structures, and 3D structure, and so on. Result The gene is 1224 bp in length, coding 328 amino acids in the coding region of 79~1062, and is a complete full-length gene compared with the homologues in GenBank. The protein contains three transmembrane regions and two main linear epitopes, of which epitope aa94~aa102 is located in the loop outside of membrane and contain a key residue Arg102 which is consisting of the active center of the enzyme; inside of membrane, there is substrate pyruvic acid binding site,the catalytic center of the enzyme across the membrane. The most similar homologue is Schistosoma japonicum lactate dehydrogenase,with nearly the same topolological structure and 3D conformation, and share an identical outside linear epitope of aa94~aa102 and in which there is only one residue difference with that of the human and mouse hosts. Conclusion CsLDH is functionally responsible for the convertion of pyruvic acid which is the product of glycolysis to lactate and transport the lactate out of the cell, so it is a promising target for screening water-soluble drugs and vaccine.


Seeding of synthetic vascular grafts with enzymatically derived autologous endothelial cells in canine and baboon experimental models results in early development of an antithrombogenic lining. Investigators from ten different institutions have published results of research on graft endothelialization. Linings of seeded grafts have been proven to be endothelium by electron microscopy as well as immunofluorescent microscopy using factor VIII-related antigen. The endothelial surface produces prostacyclin. Endothelial cell-seeded grafts, in contrast to unseeded grafts, have less affinity for platelet attachment, as demonstrated by lesser graft imaging using In 1 1 1 labeled platelets, longer platelet survival times, reduced thrombogenicity at low flow rates, and improved patencies. The efficacy of this technology in clinical settings has not been defined.


Turning strategies on the Sarcos Treadport, a linear treadmill locomotion interface, are developed and compared in a tight maneuvering task. A rate control strategy employing sidestep is compared to a proportional control strategy employing head gaze and torso trigger. The maneuvering task involves walking down a narrow corridor and avoiding obstacles that are placed at different separations to change the task difficulty. The performance metric was the number of times a subject collided with the obstacles or the corridor's walls. Traversal time and traversal distance were also characterized. The proportional control strategy was clearly found to permit more-precise maneuvering.


We study embedded Binarized Neural Networks (eBNNs) with the aim of allowing current binarized neural networks (BNNs) in the literature to perform feedforward inference efficiently on small embedded devices. We focus on minimizing the required memory footprint, given that these devices often have memory as small as tens of kilobytes (KB). Beyond minimizing the memory required to store weights, as in a BNN, we show that it is essential to minimize the memory used for temporaries which hold intermediate results between layers in feedforward inference. To accomplish this, eBNN reorders the computation of inference while preserving the original BNN structure, and uses just a single floating-point temporary for the entire neural network. All intermediate results from a layer are stored as binary values, as opposed to floating-points used in current BNN implementations, leading to a 32x reduction in required temporary space. We provide empirical evidence that our proposed eBNN approach allows efficient inference (10s of ms) on devices with severely limited memory (10s of KB). For example, eBNN achieves 95\% accuracy on the MNIST dataset running on an Intel Curie with only 15 KB of usable memory with an inference runtime of under 50 ms per sample. To ease the development of applications in embedded contexts, we make our source code available that allows users to train and discover eBNN models for a learning task at hand, which fit within the memory constraint of the target device.


The synchrotron optical flash caught in GRB 990123 overlaps with the MeV radiation front, and the optical-emitting electrons must also produce GeV-TeV emission by inverse Compton scattering of MeV photons. The ultra-high-energy flash can be much stronger than its optical counterpart. We also note that Compton cooling by MeV photons immediately terminates the optical emission unless the fireball Lorentz factor exceeds 103. Severe Compton losses may explain the non-detections of optical flashes in several long GRBs. Such failed optical flashes should be especially efficient GeV producers and likely to develop e cascades. This probably happened in GRB 941017 and its mysterious high-energy component is well explained by Compton upscattering of GRB photons at the fireball deceleration radius. The proposed mechanism of GeV emission should not work for short γ-ray bursts that early decouple from the fireball and avoid interaction with the electrons in the deceleration flash. Observations by Swift and GLAST will provide an opportunity to test these expectations. The existing data for GRB 990123 already impose interesting constraints on the explosion. Subject headings: cosmology: miscellaneous — gamma rays: bursts — radiation mechanisms: nonthermal —shock waves


The effect of waterborne zinc (Zn) on Gyrodactylus population dynamics was studied on isolated guppies maintained at concentrations ranging from 0 to 240 μg Zn/l. After 1 week pre-exposure to Zn, each fish was experimentally infected with 3 gyrodactylids and parasite numbers were recorded daily on each fish until the fish either died or recovered from infection. Parasite establishment was most successful at 0 and 240 μg Zn/l (97%) compared with the intermediate Zn concentrations. Low to moderate concentrations of Zn were beneficial to the parasite, as evidenced by the concentration-dependent increase in peak parasite burden on recovered fish up to 120 μg Zn/l. In contrast, 240 μg Zn/l may have been toxic to the parasite, as both peak parasite burden (in fish that recovered from infection), and maximum rate of increase of the parasite population (in fish that died) declined at this concentration. The combined effect of infection and Zn is harmful to the fish, because mortality of infected fish (but not uninfected fish) increased with increasing Zn concentrations. We suggest that the observed mortality occurs because of the inability of fish to continuously produce mucous that is a key factor for protecting fish from both waterborne Zn and ectoparasites.


In clinical radiation physics chart checking, the dose calculation results generated by computer treatment planning software are usually verified by an independent computerized monitor unit calculation routine, or by "hand calculation" using percent depth dose (PDD), tissue phantom ratio (TPR), scatter factors, and the machine calibration factors. For intensity-modulated radiosurgery (IMRS) or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), the "hand calculation" becomes not feasible due to the sophisticated multileaf collimator (MLC) segments created for intensity-modulated dose delivery. Therefore, an independent computerized dose calculation routine is needed for fast and reliable dose verification. In this work, a point dose calculation routine for IMRS/IMRT plan verification is developed by directly applying Clarkson's method. The method includes preparing data table by measuring TPRs for circular fields with diameters ranging 6 to 98 mm, extrapolating TPR for the zero field size (TPR0) from measured data and generating scatter phantom ratio (SPR) for each individual circular field. The segmented MLC sequences created by IMRS/IMRT inverse planning are converted into irregular fields for Clarkson's calculation. This method has been tested using 29 IMRS/IMRT cases. The results indicate that it is reliable, fast, and accurate. The average time to calculate one field is about 2 s with a 300 Mhz CPU.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the importance of individual differences in short term memory capacity (STM) for learning from film (digitized video) and analogue text in a natural learning environment. The results are based on a survey of 396 students on Bachelor's level (military cadets, teachers college and psychology majors). A short-term memory test battery was developed to measure different types and capacities of several individuals simultaneously in a classroom environment Alpha. Respondents were divided into two groups, one receiving a film presentation and one reading an analogue text (the film narrative). The subject matter was the formation of the Norwegian nation in the tenth and eleventh century (history subject at high school/college level). A knowledge test measuring the total learning outcome as well as details and interconnection (understandings/ context) was developed. In total, the results showed that texts gave the best learning outcome. Both film and text had an increased learning outcome for details and understandings in correlation with increased STM capacity, with the largest increase from low to medium capacity. Progressive capacity (successive) matters more than multicapacity (processing a lot concurrently). Non-verbal intelligence (Raven/RAPM) has an underlying general importance, but less important than the total STM capacity. Different types of capacity are more important than others depending on the presentation form and learning content. Visual sensory memory capacity for learning details in text was one of the types most clearly associated with learning outcome. This was explained by code-switching (representation transformation) during processing of information.


Tumors are caused by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is modality that is widely used to produce highly detailed brain images. In addition, a surgical biopsy of the suspected tissue (tumor) is required to obtain more information about the type of tumor. Biopsy takes 10 to 15 days for laboratory testing. Based on a study conducted by Brady in 2016, errors in radiology practice are common, with an estimated daily error rate of 3-5%. Therefore, using the application of artificial intelligence, is expected to simplify and improve the accuracy of doctor's diagnose.


Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate how faulty design affects construction and maintenance of building projects in Asaba, Delta state with a view to establishing their level of occurrence and providing ways of mitigating them. Study Design: It was a survey research, the study was effected via literature review and a wellstructured questionnaire. Likewise, interviews were carried out to substantiate the findings of the questionnaire survey. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria for a period of 2 years. Methodology: Being a survey research, 80 questionnaires were administered to the respondents and only 67 were returned which represents 84% response rate. The data collected was presented and analysed using tables, frequency, mean score and relative importance index. The analysis was Case Study Ikedionu et al.; AIR, 20(6): 1-12, 2019; Article no.AIR.52599 2 aided by a computer-based software, named Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Results: The study found out that; inadequate structural design, lack of details, lack of inspection, inaccurate measurement, not complying with specification, use of expired materials, wrong use of equipment, inadequate performance of equipment, unclear specification were rated as the most severe defects in each of the groups. Also, the findings showed that defects found in the study are categorized as design deficiencies, material deficiencies, construction deficiencies and subsurface deficiencies. Conclusion: The study concluded recommending that the designers must take into account maintenance issues during design and construction stages. Also, proper sensitization of building contractors with respect to durable materials which are suitable to the immediate environmental condition should be purse as well as the construction techniques and competence of workforce. Likewise, strict quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program should be encouraged during project design and construction.


Peer review is the ordinary method for judging the acceptability of scientific papers for publication. Yet there are few prospective data defining the accuracy or reproducibility of this method. This study was aimed at evaluating interrater consistency in reviewing a single manuscript and at determining whether a referee's likely predisposition (inferred from his or her own published papers in the field) influences his or her attitude toward this manuscript. A computerized search identified 33 first authors of research papers about transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. They were asked to review part of a fictitious scientific paper on the topic; they were not made aware of being tested. Reviewers' ratings were recorded by multiple-choice answers in a structured questionnaire. The answers revealed poor interrater reliability. Furthermore, referees were clearly influenced by their own preconceptions and judged according to their own published experience in that particular medical subject. That is, referees who would be expected to agree with the paper's findings tended to judge is less harshly than did referees who would be expected to disagree. These results suggest significant impact of reviewer bias on referee's judgment and imply that the peer review system in its present form has room for improvements in fairness and consistency.


The second derivative of gravity across a profile above a two-dimensional semi-infinite horizontal slab with a sloping edge has two turning values. Their relative magnitudes provide a simple criterion for determining the direction of the slope. Since the boundary between sedimentary basins and the underlying denser basement rocks characteristically slopes inwards towards the basin, and the contacts of granite batholiths usually slope outwards, this simple criterion provides a means for distinguishing between buried granites and sedimentary basins from their gravity anomalies. The reliability of the criterion is confirmed for observed gravity profiles in Great Britain.


Purpose. We discuss the results of a feasibility study for multileaf collimator driven intensity modulated protonradiotherapy. The main focus is directed towards secondary neutrondose when using a miniature multileaf collimator. We also present a dosimetric comparison with conformal brass apertures. Method and Materials.Mechanical properties of an Integra Radionics MMLC were tested. The dosimetry of the MMLC in a fixed intra‐cranial proton beamline was assessed by comparing depth and lateral dose profiles, as well as the conformity of 2D dose distributions. Neutrondose to the patient is a consequence of protons impinging on beam modifying devices, such as scatterers and collimators.Neutrondose was measured for both brass apertures and MMLC shaping at different distances from the aperture edge for varying proton energies, airgaps and field sizes. Activation of the MMLC leaves was quantified. Results. Mechanical reproducibility and centering of the MMLC leaves are excellent. As expected we observe differences in dose distributions shaped by brass aperture and MMLC with regards to lateral fall‐off, conformity and the field size dependence of the Bragg peak‐to‐entrance ratio. These differences are clinically negligible. Neutrondose depends strongly on particle energy, airgap, distance from isocenter and collimator material. It is increased for the tungsten MMLC, but the required increased airgap reduces the difference between MMLC and brass aperture. Because of the design of our intra‐cranial fixed beamline the neutrondose is a factor of 10 to 20 smaller than in our passive‐scattered IBA gantry system. Conclusion. Extensive measurements proved that secondary neutrons do not prevent the implementation of intensity modulated proton therapy in our fixed beamline. Our results will furthermore be used as basis for the development of an MMLC dedicated for proton therapy.


Background: Overweight and obesity amongst women of reproductive age are increasingly common in developed economies and are shown to adversely affect birth outcomes and both childhood and adulthood health risks in the offspring. Metabolic profiling in conditions of overweight and obesity in pregnancy could potentially be applied to elucidate the molecular basis of the adverse effects of gestational weight gain (GWG) and postpartum weight loss (WL) on future risks for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other chronic diseases. Methods: Biofluid samples were collected from 114 ethnically diverse pregnant women with body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 40 kg/m2 from Chicago (US), as part of a randomized lifestyle intervention trial (Maternal Offspring Metabolics: Family Intervention Trial; NCT01631747). At 15 weeks, 35 weeks of gestation, and at 1 year postpartum, the blood plasma lipidome and metabolic profile of urine samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) respectively. Results: Urinary 4-deoxyerythronic acid and 4-deoxythreonic acid were found to be positively correlated to BMI. Seventeen plasma lipids were found to be associated with GWG and 16 lipids were found to be associated with WL, which included phosphatidylinositols (PI), phosphatidylcholines (PC), lysophospholipids (lyso-), sphingomyelins (SM) and ether phosphatidylcholine (PC-O). Three phospholipids found to be positively associated with GWG all contained palmitate side-chains, and amongst the 14 lipids that were negatively associated with GWG, seven were PC-O. Six of eight lipids found to be negatively associated with WL contained an 18:2 fatty acid side-chain. Conclusions: Maternal obesity was associated with characteristic urine and plasma metabolic phenotypes, and phospholipid profile was found to be associated with both GWG and postpartum WL in metabolically healthy pregnant women with overweight/obesity. Postpartum WL may be linked to the reduction in the intake of linoleic acid/conjugated linoleic acid food sources in our study population.


Meningococcal disease (MD) has relevance for its high incidence and mortality rates. The purpose of this article was to evaluate risk factors for death in patients with meningococcal disease in a selected population of Salvador, Bahia. This is historical cohort study conducted with 98 patients hospitalized in a center of excellence hospital in the state of Bahia from June/2008 to May/2009. The clinical, demographic, epidemiological and laboratory data of the research were obtained from medical records and from the records of the Epidemiological Surveillance Center. The results indicate an average age of 15.6 (± 13.9) years, 50 (51%) were male and 68 (69.4%) lived in the capital. The percentage of 86.7% (85) patients were discharged from the hospital and 13 (13.3%) died. The average length of time of the disease was 48.2 hours. Meningococcal meningitis occurred in 54 (55.1%) cases, with Meningococcal Meningitis Meningococcemia, 28 (28.6%) and Meningococcemia, 16 (16.3%). The serogroup C (57,74%) was the most prevalent. It was concluded that the disease duration was shorter in patients who died; the presence of meningeal irritation was higher in patients who were discharged. The presence of skin lesions increased the risk of progression to death. As to laboratory, CSF and hemogram, demonstrated that the greater the change observed the greater the chance of progression to discharge, these changes are also protective factors of progression to death.


I have never had sex, but I have tried now twice with my boyfriend, and it has been incredibly painful. It felt like there was a barrier inside me, and the second time I bled. I feel like I am relaxed, and my boyfriend is very gentle and slow, but it still really hurts ? more than I think it should. I am able to use tampons ? I'm not that small ? but I don't know what the problem is. Is it supposed to hurt this much? Could there be something wrong?


Purpose: This study examines the difference of optimism, self-esteem and depression to verify an effect of laughter therapy program for menopausal women. Methods: A quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group pre/ post-test design was used. The participants (n=57) were 28 in the experimental group and 29 in the control group. The data were collected in December of 2011. The experimental groip participated in laughter therapy for 30 min per session, five times a week for the period of 2 weeks. The questionnaires were used to measure pre/ post-test optimism, self-es-teem, and depression of menopausal women. Results: The results showed that laughter therapy was effective in increasing optimism (p=.020) and self-esteem(p<.001).And the depression of menopausal women decreased (p=.003). Conclusion: The result of the study indicates that laughter therapy for menopausal women may be an effec-tive nursing intervention to improve optimism, self-esteem and depresion of menopausal women.


This study reports on the acute brain toxicity of Fe and Cu in male Sprague-Dawley rats (200 g) that received 0 to 60 mg kg(-1) (ip) FeCl2 or CuSO4. Brain metal contents and time-responses were determined for rat survival, in situ brain chemiluminescence and phospholipid and protein oxidation products. Metal doses hyperbolically defined brain metal content. Rat survival was 91% and 60% after Fe and Cu overloads. Brain metal content increased from 35 to 114 μg of Fe per g and from 3.6 to 34 μg of Cu per g. Brain chemiluminescence (10 cps cm(-2)) increased 3 and 2 times after Fe and Cu overloads, with half maximal responses (C50) of 38 μg of Fe per g of brain and 15 μg of Cu per g of brain, and with half time responses (t1/2) of 12 h for Fe and 20 h for Cu. Phospholipid peroxidation increased by 56% and 31% with C50 of 40 μg of Fe per g and 20 μg of Cu per g and with t1/2 of 9 h and 14 h. Protein oxidation increased by 45% for Fe with a C50 of 40 μg of Fe per g and 18% for Cu with a C50 of 10 μg of Cu per g and a t1/2 of 12 h for both metals. Fe and Cu brain toxicities are likely mediated by Haber-Weiss type HO˙ formation with subsequent oxidative damage.


The Dagum random field has been early introduced by Porcu et al. (2007).
Being Gaussian and isotropic, this random field is completely characterised by
its corresponding correlation function, that additionally was shown by Mateu
et al. (2007) to decouple the local and global beahaviour, that is, to treat independently
the associated Haussdorff-Besicovich dimension and the Hurst effect.
Until now, there is a very important open problem related to the Dagum class
of correlation functions that can be phrased as follows: find the range of parameters
for which this class is permissible on any d-dimensional Euclidean space.
This problem has attracted the interest of several mathematicians and their
personal communications encouraged us to investigate more deeply the problem.
The mentioned open problem finds an intimate connection with the study
of the potential complete monotonicity of the Dagum function when restricted
to the positive real line. In this paper, a solution of the mistery of the Dagum
random field is given.


This article considers the dynamics of an iconographic literacy event that functions as a tool for explorations of literacy practices and fragmented selves, particularly in relationship to the literate lives of marginalized individuals in the post 9/11 era. The author examines what happened when a group of 10 African American women in an urban area employed new literacies in the teaching/learning spaces of their personal lives (i.e. individual homes, familiar eateries, communicative digital technologies) to explore and respond to stories in post 9/11 popular culture narratives. The study employed ethnographic methods (interviews, journaling, email and instant message writing and critical observations) with members of the inquiry over the course of two years. The author investigated critically the meeting of biography, fiction and autoethnography as a literacy event used to couch the literacies and fragmented selves of these women in the post 9/11 era. Findings regarding the nature of their post 9/11 literacies, as expressed through fragmented selves, are shared, along with implications for new literacies research and teaching. Findings show that the women's post 9/11 literacies include a range and variation of critical sensibilities that include, but are not limited to, multiple levels of sociolinguistic integration, sociocultural criticality and heightened awarenesses.


A case of spontaneous rupture of the stomach in an adult, believed to be the 59th on record, is reported. The international literature is briefly reviewed and the possible pathogenesis is discussed.


Teenager girls are at risk of suffering from iron nutritional anemia. Anemic teenage girls also have less vitamin C intake. Anemia has an impact on learning achievement, ease of infection and impact when pregnant in the future. The study aimed to find out the effect of giving Fe and vitamin C tablets. The research design was a one-group pre-post test, using 41 Health Analyst female students from Tanjungkarang Health Polytechnic, which were determined by random sampling. Blood added tablets containing 60mg Fe, 400mcg folate, and 500mg vitamin C tablets were given once/week for 17 days (3 tablets). Hb levels were measured before and after supplementation using a digital analyzer MINDRAY BC-3600. Data collection was conducted from August-September 2020. The proportion of Hb <12mg/dl decreased from 20 (48,78%) at before to 16 (39,02%) subject after supplementation. The mean Hb level before supplementation was 12,15mg/dl, MCV 80,11fL, MCH 25,85 lpg and MCHC 32,22% and after supplementation, the mean of Hb was 12,05mg/dl, MCV 79,83 MCH 26,45, and MCHC 33,07.  The results of statistic test showed that supplementation had a significant effect on Hb levels (p-value=0,000)  MCV (p-value=0,000), MCH (p-value=0,000), and MCHC (p-value=0,000). Supplementation can reduce the proportion of anemia and improve the erythrocyte index. Another research with longer duration time and nutritional education combination is needed to confirm the increasing of  nutrient intake (Fe, vitamin C) and Hb level.


: In recent times, focus on medicinal plants research has increased all over the world and a large body of evidence has collected to show immense potential of medicinal plants used in various traditional systems. For many years herbal medicines have been used and are still used in developing countries as the primary source of medical treatment. Plants have been used in medicine for their natural antiseptic properties. Therefore, research has developed into investigating the potential properties and uses of terrestrial plant extracts for the preparation of potential drugs for treating human cancers. Many plant species are alreadybeing used to treat or prevent development of cancer. Multiple researchers have identified species of plants that have demonstrated anticancer properties with a lot of focus on those that have been used in herbal medicine in developing countries. Hence, the present study envisage that the antioxidant activity of the chloroform extract of Muntingia calabura. The results of the present study indicate that the herbal plant M.calabura contains significant antioxidant activity.


The transformation of normal cells into cancer encompasses a complex series of events, such as genetic disorders, aberrant cell cycles, changes in the phenotype and in cell adhesion, inhibition of apoptosis and generation of new blood vessels. This process is controlled by factors that promote and which factors inhibit it, and the balance between these factors determines their advancement, aggressiveness and prognosis. This review shows basics in the process of tumor angiogenesis.


Volume Two begins with writings by some of the most important critics of Walter Spink's conclusions, interspersed with his own responses, using a thorough analysis of the great Cave 26 to support his assertions. The author then turns to matters of patronage, and to the surprising fact that, unlike most other Buddhist sites, Ajanta was purely "elitist", developed by less than a dozen major patrons. Its brief heyday traumatically ended, however, with the death of the great emperor Harisena in about 477, creating political chaos. Ajanta's anxious patrons now joined in a headlong rush to get their shrines dedicated, in order to obtain the expected merit, before they fled the region, abandoning their caves to the monks and local devotees remaining at the now-doomed site. These "intrusive" new patrons now filled the caves with their own helter-skelter votive offerings, paying no heed to the well-laid plans of the years before. A similar pattern of patronage is to be found in the redecoration of the earlier Hinayana caves, where the careful planning of the work being done during Harisena's reign is suddenly interrupted by a host of individual votive donations. The volume ends with a new and useful editing of Ajanta inscriptions by Richard S. Cohen.


The stress-strain curve and residual stresses in thin diaphragms used in microelectronic applications are determined by means of a nondestructive approach. The method is based on the measurement of the deflection of the diaphragm near its center when it is subjected to an externally applied normal pressure and inversion of the deflection data to determine the quantities of interest. The measurements are carried out by means of a Twyman-Green laser interferometer. The relationship between the applied pressure and the deformation profile of the diaphragm is derived based on membrane mechanics. It is shown that if the diaphragm deflection in the neighborhood of its center can be measured accurately, then the strain and stress in this region can be determined through data inversion based on this relationship. It follows that, given the deformation profiles of a diaphragm for a range of pressurer, the biaxial modulus and the residual stress in the diaphragm can be extracted. By utilizing this local bulge testing method, many complex diaphragm shapes can be analyzed, without resorting to complicated numerical modeling. The method is applied to a nitride membrane with initial tensile stress and also to a silicon composite membrane with initial compressive stress, with reasonable results.


This research has investigated the response of pile foundations subjected to lateral
force applied directly to pile head and loadings arising from lateral soil movements of
the surrounding ground.
The behaviour of pile foundations subjected to lateral soil movements was studied
through physical modelling with a specially designed testing apparatus. Laboratory
experiments have been undertaken on a single pile embedded in progressive moving
sand. A triangular loading block was used in the model tests to induce a progressive
soil movement profile. Apart from eight general tests, sixteen tests were conducted on
a single pile to examine the effects of the distance between the source where soil
movements were induced and the pile location, the magnitude of axial load applied at
pile head, the variation of loading block angle, varying combination of sliding and
stable layer depths, and pile diameter on the responses of piles. The results of
previously conducted pile tests with a uniform soil movement profile were compared
with those of the current tests to examine the effect of soil movement profiles on the
pile behaviour. Simple solutions were proposed for predicting the pile responses. They
provided good estimate of the development of maximum bending moment and
maximum shear force in the piles with soil movement. Importantly, the maximum
bending moments induced by the soil movements were found to be linearly related to
the maximum shear forces (sliding thrust), independent of the magnitude and depth of
soil movement and soil movement profiles.
Experiments have also been conducted on pile groups in progressive moving sand,
including various pile group configurations and spacing. Both free-head and cappedhead
fixity conditions have been considered. The findings show that the resistances of
the piles to lateral soil movements significantly rely on their locations in a group,
especially for piles arranged in a line parallel to the soil movement direction. The
results of the pile group tests were compared with those of the single pile tests. Group
factors were defined in terms of maximum bending moment and modulus of subgrade
reaction to quantify the impact of group effect. The simple solutions developed were
extended for predicting the response of individual piles in a group with soil movement.
The static and cyclic responses of laterally loaded piles in cohesionless soils have
been investigated as well. Guideline for estimating the design parameters for laterally
loaded rigid piles in cohesionless soils were provided from extensive back calculation
of measured responses of fifty-one pile tests. The elastic-plastic solutions presented
by Guo (2008) were used in the back calculation. Simple expressions were presented
for estimating the parameters used in the solutions. The reliability of the back
calculation, the effects of the ratio of loading eccentricity to pile embedded length on
the nonlinear pile response and lateral load capacity were investigated. Additionally,
the apparatus was modified to apply cyclic lateral loading, with which a series of
model tests were conducted on piles in dry sand under static and cyclic loadings.
Analyses of the test results show that the cyclic load level has a greater impact on the
pile behaviour than the number of cycles. It is noted that the gradient of the limiting
force profile will decrease and the modulus of subgrade reaction will increase, after a
number of unloading and reloading cycles. The induced maximum bending moment
can be estimated from the applied lateral load, eccentricity of the load, and the depth
at which the maximum bending moment occurs.


The rat serine protease inhibitor 2.3 gene (spi 2.3) is almost completely silent in normal animals and is transiently expressed during acute inflammation. It encodes a potential anti-elastase which is likely to play a major physiological role for the host defense. Two well-known inflammatory mediators, glucocorticoids and interleukin-6 (IL-6) activate the spi 2.3 promoter and increase steady-state levels of mRNA in cultured hepatocytes. GC activation is mediated by a single glucocorticoid-response element which seems to act autonomously. A unique array of four functional IL-6-response sites was identified in the spi 2.3 promoter. Three of them (C-II--IV) bear structural identity to the CCAAT/enhancer-binding-protein-binding site consensus sequence, whereas the fourth closely resembles the consensus kappa B nuclear factor recognition motif. The C-IV element, which is the most active, contains the motif 5'-CTGGGA and binds the IL-6-inducible acute-phase response factor present in liver nuclear extracts from inflamed rats. Both basal and IL-6-dependent activities of each individual cytokine-response element tested separately are strongly down regulated by a recently identified regulatory sequence, located in the 3' untranslated region of the spi 2.3 gene. However, this repressor element does not significantly affect overall IL-6-dependent spi 2.3 promoter activity. This suggests that, in the context of the active gene in vivo, all four IL-6-response sites, which are largely redundant, cooperate to overcome the strong repressive effect of the 3' untranslated region silencer and are needed to bring about a maximal IL-6 response. These data reveal a novel type of regulation of an acute-phase gene involving different classes of IL-6-response elements controlled by a repressor and acting in conjunction with a glucocorticoid-response element.


Isolated CABG (coronary artery bypass grafting) has the lowest incidence of AKI (Acute Kidney Injury), followed by valvular surgery and then, combined CABG with valvular surgery. Due to the difference in baseline characteristics and in surgery type, the range of incidence is between 8.9 and 39% based on RIFLE (Risk Injury failure loss end stage kidney disease) or AKIN (Acute Kidney Injury Network) criteria. The advent of novel biomarkers of kidney injury has opened a new era of early detection and prognosis prediction for AKI. NGAL is a small molecule of 178 amino acids that belongs to the super family of lipocalins, which are proteins specialized in binding and transporting small hydrophobic molecules. The expression of NGAL raises 1000 fold in humans and rodents in response to renal tubular injury and it appears so rapidly in the urine and serum that it is useful as an early biomarker of renal failure. The role of plasma NGAL to classify AKI severity and predict the need for RRT (renal replacement therapy) after cardiac surgery has been suggested. Although study subjects were more or less from same cohort (All undergone cardiac surgery), previous studies showed that NGAL raised differently in different proportion. NGAL as an early AKI marker has successfully passed through the pre-clinical, assay development and initial clinical testing stages. It is badly need to enter in a consensus about the cutoff value of NGAL which should help the physician about leveling a case as AKI or non AKI and their consequence management.


Purpose of the paper: The paper aims to enrich the knowledge on the role of packaging material in influencing the product buying process.
Methodology: A between-subjects experimental design was conducted in order to investigate if the product quality judgment and the purchase intention towards the product differ among different packaging materials.
Findings: Glass is considered better than other materials, especially in terms of lower perceived risk and higher (a) product quality, (b) intention to buy and (c) willingness to pay. By contrast, plastic does not have a good image.
Research limits: Since the perception of the material should be closely related to the product category, caution should be exercised in generalizing the findings to the all food categories.
Practical implications: The study has useful insights for manufacturers and product managers in the packaging management, one of the relevant components of the marketing mix.
Originality of the paper: Most of the evidence regarding packaging cues focuses principally on elements like colour, shape, graphics and nutritional claims. A limited marketing research has been conducted about the crucial role of the packaging material in the consumers' evaluation process.


Breathing during exercise is an important physiological function for maintaining homeostasis of hydrogen ion concentration ([H+]) in the internal environment. In general, ventilatory response during exercise is considered to be automatically (unconsciously) controlled depending on exercise intensity and the corresponding perturbation of neurohumoral factors. However, in awake humans, the act of performing physical exercise is coupled with conscious elements such as motivation, effort, and emotions. This means that ventilatory control during exercise is also inseparably linked to such mental processes. With regard to the indivisibility between ventilatory control and conscious elements, there has been increasing psychological and neurophysiological evidence supporting the importance of mental and behavior factors in addition to neurohumoral factors. Therefore, in this paper, previous studies, on the indivisibility of ventilatory control and conscious elements, were looked at, and the roles of mental processes in ventilatory control and [H+] homeostasis during exercise discussed.


As Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) (point) data sets increase in resolution, earth scientists become more interested in detecting and delineating trees using LiDAR. The majority of conventional methods that detect and delineate trees convert point data into gridded surfaces. Unfortunately, this conversion process has the potential to introduce error. We improve a pointbased geometric model fitting strategy based on "RANdom Sample Consensus" (RANSAC), known as StarSac, and compare the method's results against field data. The analysis demonstrates that StarSac produces similar results to field data, and is a strong alternative to conventional methods.


The macroscopic stability of an ignited EBT reactor is investigated by studying the effects of the alpha particles generated by the Deuterium-Tritium (D-T) fusion reaction on the background interchange mode, the interacting interchange mode, and the high-frequency compressional Alfven and coupled modes. A fluid description is used for the background plasma while a kinetic treatment is utilized for the hot electron species and the alpha particles. It is shown that the alphas tend to mildly destabilize the interacting interchange while stabilizing the background interchange due to their sizable Larmor radii. The destabilization is most pronounced when the beta of the alpha particles in highest, i.e., at birth, and recovery of stabilization takes place as these particles slow down toward thermalization. It is also shown that the alphas completely stabilize the high frequency modes so that it can safely be concluded that fusion alphas present no detrimental effects on the stability of an EBT reactor that possesses an appropriate hot electron ring for macroscopic stability.


Oncolytic viruses (OV) such as reovirus preferentially infect and kill cancer cells. Thus, the mechanisms that dictate the susceptibility of cancer cells to OV-induced cytotoxicity hold the key to their success in clinics. Here we investigated whether cancer cell metabolism defines its susceptibility to OV, and if OV-induced metabolic perturbations can be therapeutically targeted. Using mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and extracellular flux analysis on a panel of cancer cell lines with varying degrees of susceptibility to reovirus, we found that OV-induced changes in central energy metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and oxidative stress correlate with their susceptibility to reovirus. In particular, reovirus infection accentuated Warburg-like metabolic perturbations in cell lines relatively resistant to oncolysis. These metabolic changes were facilitated by oxidative stress-induced inhibitory phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) that impaired the routing of pyruvate into the TCA cycle and established a metabolic state unsupportive of OV replication. From the therapeutic perspective, reactivation of PDH in cancer cells that were weakly sensitive for reovirus, either through PDH kinase (PDK) inhibitors dichloroacetate and AZD7545 or shRNA-specific depletion of PDK1, enhanced the efficacy of reovirus-induced oncolysis in vitro and in vivo. These findings identify targeted metabolic reprogramming as a possible combination strategy to enhance the antitumour effects of OV in clinics.


Knowledge of cage occupancies and hydration numbers (n) of naturally occurring gas hydrate in a local environment is important for the improvement in global estimates of hydrate‐bound natural gas. We report on local differences in cage occupancies and hydration number of gas hydrates from Lake Baikal. Natural gas hydrates of both structures I and II (sI and sII) and ranging in composition from pure CH4 to mixed gas hydrate containing up to 15% C2H6 are compared. The average hydration numbers are n = 6.1 for the sI CH4 hydrates recovered from the Malenky and Bolshoy mud volcanoes, n = 6.2 for the sI hydrates, containing 3–4% C2H6 recovered from the K‐2 mud volcano, and n = 6.9 for the sII hydrate containing about 15% C2H6 recovered from the K‐2 mud volcano. The differences in hydration number are due to the differences in the small cage occupancy of CH4 among the samples studied.