Monolayer or ultrathin transition metal dichalcogenides cover a wide range of atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) materials, whose fascinating properties have made them promising candidates for many applications. In this work, ultrathin MoS2 flakes were successfully exfoliated, induced by bovine serum albumin (BSA) or hemoglobin (HB), under vigorous ultra-sonication. They were used as additives for water-based lubricating systems and related investigations indicated that they could improve the friction performance and anti-wear abilities at a relatively low concentration: 0.10 wt% of additive contents can make the average friction coefficient stabilize in the range between 0.06 and 0.08, which results from the formation of a dynamic protective film on the friction surfaces. The protein-induced ultrathin MoS2 flakes are also expected to be useful for other hydrophilic lubrication systems, which possess great scientific value and promising application prospects compared with bulk or microscale lubricating additives.


The main objective during the circulation phase (start-up) of Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) is to lower the heavy oil or bitumen viscosity, to create inter-well fluid communication between the injector and producer well and to uniformly warm-up the lateral section of the well pair to achieve uniform steam chamber growth during the life of the SAGD well pair. Typically, the circulation phase (start-up) lasts between three and six months and it is completed when the temperature between the producer and injector is high enough, generally greater than 80°C. It has been proven that during the circulation phase (start-up) of a SAGD well pair, the variations in thermal efficiency result from factors such as tubing size, well trajectory, well length, completion configuration, reservoir properties, and operating parameters.
 There is not any published study performed in the Lindbergh area in Alberta, Canada that determines the thermal efficiency of different completion designs during the circulation phase (start-up) of a SAGD well pair in a Lloydminster formation. Therefore, in a previous study, a discretized thermal reservoir/wellbore modelling simulator (Exotherm, 2016) was used to history-match field data obtained from a SAGD well pair in the Lloydminster area, and, subsequently, this paper uses the simulation model to evaluate and compare the thermal efficiency of five different completion design cases during the SAGD circulation phase (start-up) in the Lloydminster formation. These completion designs include: bare tubing in a dual string, vacuum insulated tubing (VIT) in a dual string and single string, and gas blanket (methane) in a concentric string. The results show that completion design configuration impacts the heat transfer and thermal efficiency of the circulation process.


This paper records a new genus Taungurungia, which is the first new taxon with emergences to be described from the Lower Devonian of Victoria. The fossil is preserved primarily as a compression and impression, and lacks internal anatomy. The fossil extends our knowledge of known variations within early land plants, with most characteristics, such as emergences and H- or K-branching, redolent of affinities with the zosterophylls. However, having a large ovate terminal sporangium, the fossil adds to taxa that in some cases have been provisonally allied to the zosterophylls with elongate sporangia; this further demonstrates the need for reassessment of the Zosterophyllopsida.


A seller in a free competitive market attempts to optimize his profit by manipulating the price of his commodity. A seller does not know a priori the market conditions such as the conditional probability of the buyers demand, the criteria or even the number of his seller opponents. Subject to this lack of information, the process of market price formation can be simulated as a game between stochastic automata. As time unfolds each seller-automaton learns the market conditions and changes accordingly its price probabilities in view of maximizing its profit. A simple reinforcement scheme is introduced for the design of such automata. The simulation results demonstrate the expediency of the automata behavior.


The narrativization of the trafficked body in the novels of Abidemi Sanusi and Chika Unigwe allows for a contemplation of Europe in African migrant imaginaries as both promise and failure. Sanusi's Eyo is a narrative of a ten-year-old girl who is trafficked to the United Kingdom as a human sex slave. The novel draws attention to the tensions that define her being/unbeing in Europe and beyond, even after a brave escape from her traffickers. This precarious existence is enhanced in Chika Unigwe's On Black Sisters' Street, whose main characters exist in Europe selling their bodies while existing in states of continuous vulnerability. In reading these two novels side by side, this article explores the discursive meanings of trafficked bodies and how traumatic existence allows for an engagement with Europe as illusory in the imaginaries of African women who cross borders into Europe. The article argues that while the female characters are vulnerable, they retain an ambiguous agency contained within their ability to survive and remain resilient in the face of atrocities for borders crossers. The narrative form of the novel allows for an exploration of what this agency looks like in the face of extreme vulnerability.


AIM: to design and to apply a set of teaching actions to improve the performance of students with poor results at the beginning of the trimester of the first year of the medical career, and to assess their results. METHODS: a strategy including the assignment of a high performance student as instructor was applied, as well as a set of special activities for the students at risk. RESULTS: at the end of the trimester, 21 students (88 %) had improved their qualifications in frequent assessments, and all of them have passed the ordinary final tests of the subject. It was confirmed a positive appraisal and satisfaction with the strategy. CONCLUSIONS: the proposed plan could be a model of attention to the students of the New Training Program for Latin American Physicians at high risk for school failure.


Despite extremely difficult security conditions, which deteriorated markedly after 2006, the World Bank Group has commendably established and sustained a large program of support to the country. While World Bank Group strategy has been highly relevant to Afghanistan's situation, beginning in 2006 the strategies can have gone further in adapting ongoing programs to evolving opportunities and needs and in programming activities sufficient to achieve the objectives of the pillars in those strategies. The Bank Group's direct financial assistance has been augmented effectively by analytic and advisory activities and donor coordination through the Afghanistan reconstruction trust fund. Knowledge services have been an important part of Bank Group support and have demonstrated the value of strategic analytical work, even in areas where the Bank Group may opt out of direct project financing. To enhance program effectiveness, the evaluation recommends that the World Bank Group help the government develop a comprehensive, long-term human resources strategy for the civilian sectors; focus on strategic analytical work in sectors that are high priorities for the government; assist in the development of local government institutions and, in the interim, support the development of a viable system for service delivery at subnational levels; assist in transforming the national solidarity program into a more sustainable financial and institutional model to consolidate its gains; help strengthen the regulatory environment for private sector investment; and scale up International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) support to the private sector.


In this paper, we shed light on the cross-layer interactions between the PHY, link and routing layers in networks with MIMO links operating in the diversity mode. Many previous studies assume an overly simplistic PHY layer model that does not sufficiently capture these interactions. We show that the use of simplistic models can in fact lead to misleading conclusions with regards to the higher layer performance with MIMO diversity. Towards understanding the impact of various PHY layer features on MIMO diversity, we begin with a simple but widely-used model and progressively incorporate these features to create new models. We examine the goodness of these models by comparing the simulated performance results with each, with measurements on an indoor 802.11n testbed. Our work reveals several interesting cross-layer dependencies that affect the gains due to MIMO diversity. In particular, we observe that relative to SISO links: (a) PHY layer gains due to MIMO diversity do not always carry over to the higher layers, (b) the use of other PHY layer features such as FEC codes significantly influence the gains due to MIMO diversity, and (c) the choice of the routing metric can impact the gains possible with MIMO.


The editorial entitled 'Dissociative identity disorder: out of the shadows at last?' considers that the diagnosis has often been rejected through misleading information, and the prejudices derived therefrom, and through self-protection, a cultural dissociation from the reality of the impact of severe trauma on later clinical presentations. Psychiatrists can then choose to 'dislike' the diagnosis and refuse to use it in a way that would never happen, without severe medico-legal consequences, for schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder. This occurs despite evidence that: many patients with dissociative identity disorder (DID) are severely ill and functionally impaired, have high rates of severe comorbidities, and are often at risk for non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempts. However, another reason for mental health services encouraging such dismissive perspectives, and stigmatising/scapegoating those who use the diagnosis, while denying those in need of treatment, is that the treatment is considered prohibitively expensive. Medication is of limited value and specialist psychotherapy for DID not only takes years, but recovery with therapy often has a non-linear course. As psychiatric doctors define their domains by severe and enduring mental illness, with DID omitted, training of psychiatrists remains largely devoid of mention of complex trauma and its sequelae, with DID seen then as the province of others – such as clinical psychology. DID is usually considered to be at the most severe end of a spectrum of complex trauma disorders, but its treatment requires different skills in the therapist from those required for treating someone with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) not involving structural dissociation. There are many ways to have a diagnosis of PTSD, so the ICD-11 diagnosis of complex PTSD, while welcome, will raise similar questions about the classification of individual patients with complex PTSD and DID, diagnoses which are not synonymous. Also, individuals with DID should not have diagnostic labels of non-dissociative or personality disorders, nor vaguely defined mood, anxiety or psychotic disorders, inappropriately attached to them; nor should clinicians feel the need to eschew the appropriate diagnosis of DID to avoid opprobrium, whether from other clinicians or frommanagement. Any potential gains, service or financial, of not providing comprehensive, continuing, treatment that acknowledges causative factors are short term as there are longterm implications for morbidity and mortality, even across generations (see for example). Pathological dissociation has an impact on the effectiveness, or otherwise, of specialist treatment for adults with histories of early traumatisation so its recognition is vital for treatment planning. Moreover, a specialist online educational programme for patients and clinicians with dissociative disorders has been demonstrated to reduce non-suicidal self-injury in this group. Clinicians should follow the evidence for DID; it has a defined aetiology and pathology, characteristic clinical features for which there are well-established structured interviews – and effective, non-pharmacological, treatments. The development of the skills for treating DID can improve the ability to treat other disorders in which traumatic experiences have had an aetiological impact and that manifest with some expression of emotion dysregulation but, even with these additional gains, the comprehensive and effective treatment of DID will still have huge service implications. Training of staff to provide clinically relevant diagnostic formulations, and the appropriate treatments, could challenge individual ontological perspectives, and would require significant resources, but would benefit the many individuals who are burdened with the clinical manifestations of these severe posttraumatic states. There is also the distinct possibility that appropriate treatment would not be as economically burdensome as feared when the costs to society of hitherto-unrecognised disorders are compared with the costs to health services from the absence of appropriate treatment.


A critical analysis of physical fatigue from prolonged driving in real time and subsequent scoring will be a boon for transport sector to prevent road traffic accidents. The current study has two objectives, first, to conduct a multidimensional analysis of central and physical components of fatigue in drivers during simulated driving session and second, to find the rationality of each assessed parameter to be used for scoring system. Briefly, 12 skilled drivers were subjected to simulated driving session for 32-hours. An EEG and an ECG were obtained from each subject at 3-hours interval to assess central and peripheral components of driver's fatigue respectively. EEG data were analyzed to obtain the variation in relative energy of all frequency bands while ECG data were used to study heart rate variability(HRV) at progressive stages of fatigue. Concurrently, blood samples of each subject were analyzed for key blood biomarkers(random blood sugar, blood urea and creatinine) at 8-hours interval. The relative-energy of θ, α and β-bands increased most significantly at Cz electrode while the variations across the stages was most significant in a derived band i.e. α+θ / δ1-δ2 followed by that of θ-band. The power distribution in high frequency components of ECG showed a distinct decreasing trend with advancing fatigue. All blood biomarkers increased with duration of driving task that was significant across the stages. Thus, an effective scoring of drivers' fatigue can be obtained by integrating EEG parameters with HRV and blood biomarkers that can validate fatigue detecting devices under development.


A model brine system was used to evaluate growth, injury, and survival potential of Yersinia enterocolitica . Listeria monocytogenes , and Staphylococcus aureus . Each strain was incubated for up to 30 days at -12 to 28°C in brain heart infusion broth containing 0.5 to 20% NaCl. Samples were enumerated on a dual agar plating system to assess growth and injury. Y. enterocolitica grew at -2°C in 0.5% brine and at 5°C in 5% NaCl. L. monocytogenes grew at 5°C in 5% NaCl and at 12°C in 9% NaCl. S. aureus grew at 12°C in 5% NaCl. Significant injury was observed for two of the pathogens, but not for L. monocytogenes . Bacteriostatic or lethal conditions were maintained for the three organisms at -2°C and 9% NaCl. While lethal NaCl and temperature combinations were defined for Y. enterocolitica and S. aureus . L. monocytogenes survived for 30 days at -12°C in 20% NaCl. This study provides safety criteria and recommendations for use in the operation of recycle brine systems for cooling processed foods.


For about 700 alcohol abuse treatment episodes in 1990--95, we construct clinician report gaming indicators from two data sets: the Maine Addiction Treatment System (MATS) data, and medical record abstracts. Gaming refers to reports in MATS being different from the medical records in an episode. Performance-based contracting (PBC) was implemented in July 1992. In this regime, a provider's financial reward was positively related to patient reported treatment outcomes. We find that the introduction of PBC has increased gaming. The pattern of gaming is consistent with clinicians exaggerating treatment performance to obtain higher financial rewards.


The objective of this study was to analyze nonlinear models to describe growth of Indubrazil cattle raised in Sergipe State. After defining the best adjusted model, it was evaluated the influence of environmental effects (sex, farm, month and year of birth) over mature weight (A) and maturation rate (k). Data from 1,201 animals weighed in nearly 90-day intervals from birth up to two years of age were used, based on records from the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders (ABCZ). The models utilized were Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Richards, Logistic and Gompertz. The Logistic model presented best adjustment followed by Gompertz and Von Bertalanffy models. The parameters A (weight at maturity) and k (maturation rate), obtained by the Logistic model were 427.87 and 0.0052, respectively. An accentuated decrease in the absolute growth rate was observed after weaning and nutritional strategies should be performed to avoid the low weight gain at this stage. Environmental factors affected significantly the parameters A and k. The correlation estimated between the parameter A and k was negative (-0.62), indicating that fast-growing young animals are less likely to reach higher weights when adults.


Abstract An apparent error was detected in the calculation of windchill equivalent temperatures (WCETs) in the "new" chart and corresponding equation that were adopted in 2001 by the weather services in the United States and Canada. The problem is caused by significant discontinuities in WCETs at the assumed "calm" wind speed condition of 1.34 m s−1. As a result, published WCETs are not equal to, as they should be by definition, but are lower than air temperatures at the assumed calm wind speed condition. This inconsistency further propagates to higher wind speeds beyond the assumed calm condition. In this paper, a straightforward correction is proposed to circumvent these inconsistencies of the new windchill. The proposed correction makes this transition gradual rather than abrupt by applying it to the expression used for estimating the effects of wind on the convective heat exchange coefficient between humans and their cold and windy environment.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expressions of different forms of ROS fusions in Chinese patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA).

METHODS
RT-PCR was employed to examine formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded CCA samples from stage I-IV patients for detection of ROS fusions involving Fused in Glioblastoma (FIG), solute carrier protein (SLC34A2) and major histocompatibility complex class II invariant chain (CD74). Serpin peptidase inhibitor clade A member 1 (SERPINA1) was detected as the reference gene.

RESULTS
In all the 56 CCA samples, 80.4% (45/56) were positive for SERPINA1 expression as evaluable samples. Of these evaluable samples, none expressed the ROS fusions.

CONCLUSION
ROS fusions are not common in Chinese CCA patients.


Emergency Nursing is a nursing specialty in which nurse's care for patients in the emergency or critical phase of their illness or injury. A crash cart enables healthcare providers to manage medical emergencies easily and confidently. This study was conducted to assess the effect of structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding crash cart system among staff nurses. The objectives of the study were to assess the level of knowledge of staff nurses regarding crash cart system, assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on crash cart system and to find the association between level of knowledge and selected demographic variables. The conceptual frame work used for the study was based on Modified King's Goal attainment theory. Preexperimental one group pretest post test design was used. The researcher selected thirty samples from medical wards of St. Thomas Hospital, Chethipuzha, by non probability purposive sampling technique. The tool consists of structured questionnaire on socio demographic data and crash cart system. Pre test followed by a structured teaching programme on crash cart system was done. Post test was done after two weeks of intervention using the same questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. There was a significant increase in knowledge level of staff nurses (t=2.17) after the intervention. So the structured teaching programme on crash cart system had effectiveness in imparting knowledge. Study findings also revealed that the total years of experience and age of subjects has significant association with knowledge level, which is significant at p<0.05.


The quantitative modelling of trace element behaviour in magmatic systems is now one of the key tools employed by petrologists and geochemists in the understanding of the formation and evolution of magmatic rocks and their residues. The approach is all the more meaningful today due to the proliferation of high quality trace element data produced from ICPMS instruments together with more widely available partitioning data and an enhanced understanding of the factors that govern solid–melt partitioning. While many texts on geochemistry or petrology cover aspects of the theory presented here, none covers it as comprehensively, apart from volumes that are collections of research papers in which the information is far less accessible to the junior researcher. To this extent, the book fills a hole in the market.

The text of the book is …


Doctor Arkadiusz Kawecki is an employee of the Institute of Political Science and European Studies at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Szczecin. His academic interest is focused on the problems connected with the formation of a democratic system in Poland, developing election processes, and the birth of local communities. In addition, he is concerned with German studies. The reviewed work is en endeavour to present the processes of birth and the following stages of the formation of voting attitudes and behaviours of local communities. It has been conducted taking into consideration the development in the former Szczecin district of political organizations, individual and collective examples of political activity, the process of election campaigns and the results of elections. The proceedings have been performed on the background of transformations and stages of democratization of public life in Poland, institutionalization of which took place as a result of another presidential, parliamentary, and local authority elections.


As threat detection systems become critical for protecting modern organizations, visualization has emerged as an essential tool for security analysts to understand network threats. However, there is currently little research in designing and evaluating effective network threat analysis visualizations. To address this problem, we take a user-centered approach, starting with designing an open source threat analysis console for DNS-based network threat analysis grounded in both an understanding of analysts' needs and tasks and security visualization best practices. The proposed open source threat analysis console, called THACO (THreat Analysis COnsole), leverages open DNS datasets, domain WHOIS records, and both public malware and domain blacklists. It also uses a visually scalable visualization technique, a multi-grouping, zoomable treemap, to adapt to DNS-based network threat analysis needs. Then, we conduct a user study with 7 in-situ and 31 online IT security practitioners. Our code for THACO and THACO itself will be opened to the community in order to further improve the ability of analysts to perform network threat analysis and better secure their networks.


Understanding the architectures of complex system, e.g. enterprises, is greatly facilitated by using graphical views thereof. These views result from the application of an underlying viewpoint to a comprehensive architectural description. The viewpoint thereby describes, which architectural concepts should be visualized in which way. The creation of views that consistently represent the enterprise architecture (EA) from a specific viewpoint, is a challenge of ongoing interest in EA management. In this paper, we present a technique that can be used to create views consistent to arbitrary architecture viewpoints and show, how this technique is realized in a prototypic tool. Central constituents of the tool are a model providing the graphical primitives for describing visualizations (called visualization model) and a model-to-model transformation reifying an architectural viewpoint.


Five ocean vessels were investigated for the characterization and quantification of gaseous compounds emitted during ocean transportation of wood pellets in closed cargo hatches from Canada to Sweden. The study was initiated after a fatal accident with several injured during discharge in Sweden. The objective with the investigation was to better understand the off-gassing and issues related to workers' exposure. Air sampling was done during transport and immediately before discharge in the undisturbed headspace air above the wood pellets and in the staircase adjacent to each hatch. The samples were analyzed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and direct reading instruments. The following compounds and ranges were detected in samples from the five ships: carbon monoxide (CO) 1460–14650 ppm, carbon dioxide (CO2) 2960–21570 ppm, methane 79.9–956 ppm, butane equivalents 63–842 ppm, ethylene 2–21.2 ppm, propylene 5.3–36 ppm, ethane 0–25 ppm and aldehydes 2.3–35 ppm. The oxygen levels were between 0.8 and 16.9%. The concentrations in the staircases were almost as high as in the cargo hatches, indicating a fairly free passage of air between the two spaces. A potentially dangerous atmosphere was reached within a week from loading. The conclusions are that ocean transportation of wood pellets in confined spaces may produce an oxygen deficient atmosphere and lethal levels of CO which may leak into adjacent access spaces. The dangerous combination of extremely high levels of CO and reduced oxygen produces a fast-acting toxic combination. Measurement of CO in combination with oxygen is essential prior to entry in spaces having air communication with cargo hatches of wood pellets. Forced ventilation of staircases prior to entry is necessary. Redesign, locking and labeling of access doors and the establishment of rigorous entry procedures and training of onboard crew as well as personnel boarding ocean vessels are also important.


Horst Janssen was a draftsman and a graphic artist who used varied techniques, especially etching, though woodcuts, lithography and watercolours which all feature in this exhibition catalogue. Produced in conjunction with the Germanisches Nationalmuseum of Nuremburg, the book is principally concerned with portraits that show a piece of cultural history. They portray writers, composers, philosophers, artists and historical figures, encompassing people as diverse as Goya and Charles Laughton. ALso includes biographical notes to the portraits.


In previous work of the authors an original thermal model of transformers with ONAN cooling was developed. The model takes into account the influence of nonlinear thermal characteristics in transient thermal processes; instead of exponential functions and time constants, the numerical solution of differential equations is used. The model delivers one characteristic temperature in copper (solid insulation) and one characteristic temperature in oil. In this paper the analysis stresses the definition of the hot-spot temperature of the solid insulation by using easily measurable quantities. Then, the parameters of the model can be precisely determined from inexpensive measurements in a short-circuit heating experiment and the model can deliver the hot-spot temperature. The experimental base of this research are the measurements on a 630 kVA, 3 /spl times/ 10 kV/3 /spl times/ 6 kV ONAN transformer equipped with 112 temperature sensors (102 inside the central positioned 10 kV winding).


Objective: to analyze the transforming socio-economic relations of the new "digital normality", to which end the task is solved of bringing into line the terminology used in business turnover between various participants in the digital assets market, in the practical financial activities of economic entities arising in a specific territory, in a certain legal field, and contained in the recommendatory technical documentation (standards).Methods: the article uses systematic and analytical approaches, logical and comparative methods.Results: despite the active use of distributed ledger technologies, theory and practice are currently characterized by a large number of legal and business definitions describing the organization of business processes in this area. Based on the analysis of scientific literature, the meaning of various terms of the digital economy was studied. In the course of studying technical terminology, such concepts as a distributed ledger, network nodes, blockchain, etc. were defined. The analysis of financial and economic terms is based on fintech definitions, such as digital asset, cryptocurrency, digital currency, digital financial asset, token, etc. The terms of the digital economy are considered from the perspective of so-called tokenomics, including such as token ecosystem, DLT user, DLT platform, decentralized application, etc.Scientific novelty: the terminology obtained was structured as a theoretical basis with a specification for the digital asset market and use in financial market reform.Practical significance: this review has been prepared: 1) to systematically familiarize the professional community with existing trends; 2) to harmonize socio-economic relations by developing common local recommendations (standards); 3) to develop the market for digital assets produced using distributed ledger technologies through understanding basic concepts.


ABSTRACT This study investigated which aspects of working with multilingual students bring joy to Finnish teachers. The data was collected via an online survey from teachers working mainly in basic education in Finland. The teachers (N = 588) reported a positive stance toward multilingual learners. The greatest number of responses (44%) cited students' intrapersonal qualities, for example students' motivation to learn and their academic, social, and emotional successes, as a source of joy. The positive impact of diversity on the school community (14%) and the teachers' own development (12%) were the next most common sources of joy. Teachers with more experience working with multilingual learners were more likely to name students as a source of joy; similarly, teachers at schools with more multilingual learners were more likely to reference these students as a source of joy. The findings suggest that experience with many multilingual students promotes teachers' commitment to them.


Abstract Objective: The associations between peak bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition with 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels in healthy young adults were evaluated. Methods: The number of participants was 464; 347 women and 117 men. The mean age was 24.3 years (range 17–31 years). BMD of the lumbar spine, total body and femoral neck (FN) and body composition were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Volumetric BMD, bone mineral apparent density (BMAD), of the lumbar spine and FN was calculated. Results: In females, 25OHD level was positively associated with FN BMD and BMAD (both p<0.01) and negatively with percentage body fat (p<0.001). In males, 25OHD levels had a positive association with total body BMD and lean body mass (p=0.03 and p=0.01). Conclusions: 25OHD level is a determinant of peak BMD in both sexes. Vitamin D status was associated with body fat in females and with lean body mass in males.


Objective This study evaluated the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of fixed orthodontic treatment with three different light-cured orthodontic bonding composites by analyzing micronucleus (MN) formation in the buccal mucosa during a 6-month period. Methods Thirty healthy volunteers were selected from consecutive patients referred for orthodontic treatment. Equilibrium 2 brackets and molar tubes (Dentaurum) were bonded with three different light-cured orthodontic bonding composites-Transbond XT (3M Unitek), Kurasper F (Kuraray Europe), or GrenGloo (Ormco Corporation)- to all teeth in both arches. Exfoliated buccal epithelial cells were scraped from the middle part of the inner cheeks with sterile cement spatulas before treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. MNs and nuclear alterations, such as karyorrhexis (KR), karyolysis (KL), and binucleated cells (BNs), were scored under a light microscope. Repeated measure ANOVA was used to calculate statistical differences in degenerative nuclear abnormalities. Results MN rates did not significantly differ among different time points within the same cell type (p > 0.05). In contrast, the number of BNs in buccal epithelial cells significantly increased in all composite groups (p < 0.01, Transbond XT; p < 0.001, Kurasper F and GrenGloo). KL frequency significantly increased between the beginning and end of the study in the Kurasfer F (0.80 ± 0.79 to 1.90 ± 1.10; p < 0.05) and GrenGloo (1.30 ± 1.06 to 2.40 ± 1.08; p < 0.05) groups. Conclusions After 6 months of fixed orthodontic treatment with different light-cured composites, morphological signs of cytotoxicity were observed but genotoxic effects were absent.


The aims of this study is going to analyze the profile of the population in Sumatra based on the age-groups of the population. The Sumatra Island was divided into ten provinces. The profile analysis is going to use to compare the profile of the proportion of age-groups population among the ten provinces. The test of parallel for the profiles, some provinces are significantly different. The variations of the agegoup1 to age-group8 are more variation than the age-group9 to age-group16. The multiple comparison by Tukey's LSD methods also shows that there are significant difference of proportion of age-groups for some provinces.


When building a global brand of any kind—a political actor, clothing style, or belief system— developing widespread awareness is a primary goal. Short of knowing any of the stories or products of a brand, being talked about in whatever fashion—raw fame—is, as Oscar Wilde would have it, better than not being talked about at all. Here, we measure, examine, and contrast the day-to-day raw fame dynamics on Twitter for US Presidents and major US Presidential candidates from 2008 to 2020: Barack Obama, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. We assign "lexical fame" to be the number and (Zipfian) rank of the (lowercased) mentions made for each individual across all languages. We show that all five political figures have at some point reached extraordinary volume levels of what we define to be "lexical ultrafame": An overall rank of approximately 300 or less which is largely the realm of function words and demarcated by the highly stable rank of 'god'. By this measure, 'trump' has become enduringly ultrafamous, from the 2016 election on. We use typical ranks for country names and function words as standards to improve perception of scale. We quantify relative fame rates and find that in the eight weeks leading up the 2008 and 2012 elections, 'obama' held a 1000:757 volume ratio over 'mccain' and 1000:892 over 'romney', well short of the 1000:544 and 1000:504 volumes favoring 'trump' over 'hillary' and 'biden' in the 8 weeks leading up to the 2016 and 2020 elections. Finally, we track how only one other entity has more sustained ultrafame than 'trump' on Twitter: The K-pop (Korean pop) band BTS. We chart the dramatic rise of BTS, finding their Twitter handle '@bts twt' has been able to compete with 'a' and 'the', reaching a rank of three at the day scale and a rank of one at the quarter-hour scale. Our findings for BTS more generally point to K-pop's growing economic, social, and political power.


It is widely recognised that ill-health is one of the most serious challenges that many individuals, households and families have to face. But there is limited knowledge of the complex processes involved in suffering from and coping with multiple and diverse health-related challenges. Provision of support to those suffering ill-health has focused on acute illnesses which are often implicitly assumed to follow the pattern: get sick, consult with a provider, receive diagnosis, obtain treatment and recover. It has similarly become commonplace for economists to associate serious illness with 'catastrophic health expenditure'. These presumptions have lead to support mechanisms being seen primarily in terms of providing assistance in meeting the cost of in-patient treatment. Such approaches fail to address the multiple and complex pathways which link ill-health and well-being. Individuals suffering from dengue fever, tuberculosis, emphysema, diabetes, lymphatic filariasis or AIDS might all be classified as having a 'serious illness'. However, in terms of risk to life, level of disability and distress, duration of illness, prognosis, stigmatisation, availability and cost of treatment, and a range of other factors, their situations may differ radically. The impact of an illness is also highly dependent on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the individual falling ill, the household of which they are a member and the extended family and social networks to which they belong. 1 Paper presented at the Global Forum For Health Research conference: 'Equitable access: Research challenges for health in developing countries', Beijing, 29 October 2 November 2007. It should be noted that the methodology described reflects the collective work of the multiple partners involved in the POVILL project.


A new microscopic parametrisation of nuclear radii as a functional of single-particle occupation numbers is presented. Its form is inspired by the Duflo-Zuker phenomenological fit which contains a "correlation" term that recently made it possible to understand the isotope shifts of several species as due to unexpectedly large 1s1/2 and 1p orbits [Bonnard J, Lenzi S M and Zuker A P 2016 Phys. Rev. Lett. 116 212501]. It will be shown that the calculated radii for sd-shell nuclei reproduce the experimental data better than the most accurate existing fits. These results reveal a very peculiar behaviour of the 1s1/2 orbit: It is huge (about 1.6 fm bigger than its d counterparts of about 3.5 fm) up to N, Z = 14, then drops abruptly but remains some 0.6 fm larger than the d orbits. An intriguing mechanism bound to challenge our understanding of shell formation.


Objective: This review provides the first meta-analysis of the impact of physically active lessons on lesson-time and overall physical activity (PA), as well as health, cognition and educational outcomes. //

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled studies. Six meta-analyses pooled effects on lesson-time PA, overall PA, in-class educational and overall educational outcomes, cognition and health outcomes. Meta-analyses were conducted using the metafor package in R. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool for risk of bias. //

Data sources: PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, ERIC and Web of Science, grey literature and reference lists were searched in December 2017 and April 2019. //

Studies eligibility criteria: Physically active lessons compared with a control group in a randomised or non-randomised design, within single component interventions in general school populations. //

Results: 42 studies (39 in preschool or elementary school settings, 27 randomised controlled trials) were eligible to be included in the systematic review and 37 of them were included across the six meta-analyses (n=12 663). Physically active lessons were found to produce large, significant increases in lesson-time PA (d=2.33; 95% CI 1.42 to 3.25: k=16) and small, increases on overall PA (d=0.32; 95% CI 0.18 to 0.46: k=8), large, improvement in lesson-time educational outcomes (d=0.81; 95% CI 0.47 to 1.14: k=7) and a small improvement in overall educational outcomes (d=0.36; 95% CI 0.09 to 0.63: k=25). No effects were seen on cognitive (k=3) or health outcomes (k=3). 25/42 studies had high risk of bias in at least two domains. //

Conclusion: In elementary and preschool settings, when physically active lessons were added into the curriculum they had positive impact on both physical activity and educational outcomes. These findings support policy initiatives encouraging the incorporation of physically active lessons into teaching in elementary and preschool setting.


Commercial Off The Shelf(COTS) based one-way communication is advantageous in that support a low cost communication and high speed one-way communication. This paper provides a implementation method of one-way communication through modified device driver for COTS NIC. Then, to verify the advantage of the COTS based one-way communication method, We present a sample implementation using Intel 82580 NIC and PF_RING ZC(Zero Copy). Then, we present a possibility that can contribute to the realization of oneway communication through experiments on performance and reliability.


Acculturative changes that have occurred throughout the North American Arctic in recent decades have had a profound effect upon Inuit teenagers and young adults. While social change has resulted in significant and obvious modifications in the economic, political, and material infrastructure of Inuit society, it has also led to more subtle changes in socialization practices and in the patterning and sequencing of traditional Inuit life stages. Research in a small and isolated Canadian Inuit community demonstrates that population concentration, population growth, increased economic security, and increased exposure to southern value systems have resulted in the creation of a prolonged adolescent life stage which was non-existent in the precontact period. In addition, young Inuit now experience an unprecedented degree of freedom and autonomy within the context of a greatly expanded peer group. As young people struggle to acquire the behaviors and values expected of adult members of Inuit society, they are als...


We studied the effects of ticlopidine, a platelet antiaggregant drug, on platelet consumption during and after extracorporeal circulation (ECC) and on the operative and postoperative blood loss in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on 20 patients who underwent open-heart surgery for implantation of a valvular prosthesis. We monitored the changes in platelet count during and after ECC, the need for platelet transfusions to compensate for excessive consumption, and the operative and postoperative blood loss. We also followed the cephalin-kaolin time, the prothrombin time, the fibrinogen level, the fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products, and the euglobulin lysis time. Ticlopidine effectively reduced operative and post-ECC thrombopenia and prolonged the bleeding time. Apart from these changes, no differences in coagulation tests were observed between the ticlopidine-treated group and the placebo group. No side effects were observed. There was no significant difference between the groups concerning operative and postoperative blood loss, indicating that ticlopidine does not induce a hemorrhagic diathesis. Ticlopidine therapy may be of value during the first postoperative days because it prevents clotting on valvular prosthesis and complications such as systemic embolization. However, more trials and controlled studies are needed before such therapy can be recommended for routine use.


A marine turbocharger 3D compressor design tool, implemented on an existing marine turbocharger retrofit platform is presented. It produces 3D centrifugal compressor geometry for optimal compressor retrofit. It encompasses two modules, allowing the design process to become fully automatic.
 First, a 1D compressor multi-point design optimization process is carried out, aiming to provide a fast and reliable solution based on Turbocharged diesel Engine range of operation. Structural integrity is ensured by using simplified structural analysis. Dimensionless parameters are used as optimization variables, for a given nominal compressor mass flow and power. Then a CFD compressor multi-point design optimization process is carried out, producing optimized 3D compressor geometry. It complies with the Turbocharged diesel Engine range of operation, while structural integrity is ensured by using Finite Element analysis.
 A turbocharger compressor design case study is presented. First, a turbocharger 1D compressor design is carried out, aiming to at least reconstituting the original diesel engine performance. This first module provides a reliable compressor initial geometry for the 3D design module. A fully 3D compressor design is then performed, using a CFD-FEA optimization process, in order to provide an improved retrofitting solution.
 Comparison between the multi-point and the traditional one-point design method, shows that the multi-point method provides a wider SFC reduction in the range that the Diesel engine normally operates.


Flash Joule heating (FJH) can convert almost any carbon-based precursor into bulk quantities of graphene. This work explores the morphologies and properties of flash graphene (FG) generated from carbon black. It is shown that FG is partially comprised of sheets of turbostratic FG (tFG) that have a rotational mismatch between neighboring layers. The remainder of the FG is wrinkled graphene sheets that resemble non-graphitizing carbon. To generate high quality tFG sheets, a FJH duration of 30 - 100 ms is employed. Beyond 100 ms, the turbostratic sheets have time to AB-stack and form bulk graphite. Atomistic simulations reveal that generic thermal annealing yields predominantly wrinkled graphene which displays minimal to no alignment of graphitic planes, as opposed to the high-quality tFG that might be formed under the direct influence of current conducted through the material. The tFG was easily exfoliated via shear, hence the FJH process has the potential for bulk production of tFG without the need for pre-exfoliation using chemicals or high energy mechanical shear.


OBJECTIVE
To compared the traditional Chinese medicine Danhong Tongjing Prescription (DTP) and microsurgery in the treatment of varicocele (VC)-induced infertility and investigate the factors influencing the recovery of semen parameters of the patients.

METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data on 218 cases of VC-induced infertility with qi-deficiency and blood-stasis treated with DTP (n = 86) or by microsurgery (n = 132) in our hospital from January 2017 to July 2019, and compared the semen parameters between the two groups of patients after treatment. With age, course of disease, degree of VC, change of the testis volume, estrogen/testosterone (E/T) ratio and levels of FSH and LH as independent variables, and increased semen parameters after treatment as dependent variables, we constructed a multivariate linear regression model and identified statistically significant independent variables.

RESULTS
After treatment, sperm concentration and the percentages of progressively motile sperm (PMS) and morphologically normal sperm (MNS) were obviously improved in both the DTP and microsurgery groups, with statistically significant difference between the two groups in sperm concentration and MNS, but not in PMS. Linear regression analysis showed that the severity of VC was an influencing factor for the recovery of sperm concentration after treatment in the DTP group (r = -11.599, Ra2 = 0.044 9) and the course of VC infertility was a factor affecting the recovery of sperm count in the microsurgery group (r = -1.837, Ra2 = 0.035 7).

CONCLUSION
DTP is comparable to microsurgery in improving sperm motility while microsurgery is more effective in increasing the percentage of MNS in the treatment of VC-induced infertility. Early surgery is recommended for the treatment of infertility induced by severe bilateral VC, and DTP can be selected for infertility caused by mild or moderate bilateral VC if the patient is unwilling to accept surgery or microsurgery is inaccessible in the hospital.


Recent developments in the ICT industry in past few decades has enabled the quick and easy access to the information available on the internet. But, digital literacy is the pre-requisite for its use. The main purpose of this paper is to provide an interface for digitally illiterate users, especially farmers to efficiently and effectively retrieve information through Internet. In addition, to enable the farmers to identify the disease in their crop, its cause and symptoms using digital image processing and pattern recognition instantly without waiting for an expert to visit the farms and identify the disease.


The purpose of this research was to investigate the communication styles of radiologic technologists in Kansas. The total sample size was 240 registered radiologic technologists of Kansas. A questionnaire was mailed to these 240 registered radiologic technologists. Seventy questionnaires were returned, of these 56 were complete and used in the data analyses. The dependent variable was the Involvement Inventory instrument scores. Five independent variables were investigated: hospital size, gender, level of education, membership in a state professional organization, and years of experience. Five null hypotheses were tested in the study. Forty-five comparisons were made and three found to be significant at the .05 level. The hypothesis for the main effect gender on the Cognitive Involvement scale and on the Total Involvement Inventory score was rejected. The hypothesis for the interaction between hospital size and level of education on the Behavioral Involvement scale was rejected. The results of this study appeared to support the following generalizations: a) that hospital size, years of experience, level of formal education and membership in a state professional organization made no difference in mean Involvement Inventory instrument scores, b) that the female registered radiologic technologists investigated had a higher mean Cognitive Involvement scale score and a higher mean Involvement Inventory score.


An increased demand of beverage cans has caused problems with
deliveries to several of Rexam's customers. Rexam need to
improve their delivery performance in order to maintain customer
confidence.

3XUSRVH The purpose with this master thesis is to map, describe and
analyses the production plant in Fosie's production planning;
regarding forecasting, material planning, safety stock, an optimal
production batch and capacity planning. This is performed both on
a central level as well as on an operational level. Secondly,
guidelines and suggestions are presented for a more effective
production planning.
0HWKRGRORJ\ The thesisisa qualitative based case study with constituent of
quantity based information.

&RQFOXVLRQV Rexam's production planning can be improved by some easy
changes. More accurate forecasts are decreasing the uncertainties.
With a previously released line load, follow-ups can be done
earlier and actions can be taken for possible deviations.
The size of the order quantities are decreasing and expect to
further be reduced. Nevertheless, an increased flexibility in the
production makes it possible. The demand expects to increase in
the future and a growing market as for the can industry, it is
important to keep and improve customer's confidence.


The objective of this work was to evaluate the course of hip disease in patients with systemic-onset juvenile chronic arthritis. 59 patients with systemic-onset juvenile chronic arthritis followed-up for a mean of 15 years (+/- 6 years) were studied retrospectively. 28 patients (47.5%) had involvement of the hip. Mean age at onset of symptoms of hip disease was 9.5 years (+/- 5 years). Hip arthritis was always preceded by other manifestations of the disease, including arthritis of other lower limb joints. Mean time interval between onset of the disease and onset of hip symptoms was 6.3 years (+/- 3 years). In 66% of cases, symptoms occurred simultaneously in both hips. Eight of nine patients with initially unilateral hip arthritis subsequently developed arthritis of the other hip; in four patients, less than one year elapsed between involvement of the two hips. Roentgenographic changes were variable and included acetabular protrusion (25%), complex cervico-cephalic and acetabular growth disorders (21%), subdislocation (18%), a short femoral neck with varus deformity (14%), and a long femoral neck with valgus deformity (14%). Avascular necrosis of the femoral head occurred in three patients. Roentgenographic evidence of repair was seen in one patient. Among the ten patients who required surgery, two had corrective osteotomy with adductor tenotomy and eight had total hip arthroplasty (of both hips in six patients) with good short- and medium-term outcomes. After arthroplasty, a single patient required reoperation in the short term, for persistent flexion contracture. Loosening of the acetabular arthroplasty required revision in two patients 5 and 10 years, respectively, after the initial procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


HIV infections in health care workers have become a major health problem especially in developing countries in these days. Most in poor resource setting HCWs dealing with large number of HIV infected patients. This situation raises the need for post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV exposed group really important. Considering this a cross sectional survey was conducted in general and governmental hospitals of district Lahore Pakistan to asses Knowledge, attitude and practice of HCWs regarding PEP for HIV. Response regarding Knowledge, attitude and practice of 609 HCWs were entered on a predesigned self explanatory questionnaire. Descriptive analysis of the data showed that almost half of the HCWs have never heard about PEP. 68% of HCWs were of the opinion that PEP guidelines should not be listed in the working area or they responded with no idea regarding PEP. A good number of HCWs almost 47.2% believed PEP non protective against HIV or either did not have knowledge about it. Significant proportion (>50%) of the respondents were found having in adequate knowledge and improper attitude towards PEP. 35.3% of the respondents were placed on PEP after exposure while rest of the HCWs were not or either did not have idea about PEP. It was concluded that knowledge and attitude of HCWs about HIV for PEP was just satisfactory, consequently formal training for HCWs about PEP for HIV is recommended.


Ecologists have long been interested in understanding the strengths of con- sumer and resource limitation in influencing communities. Here we ask three questions concerning the relative importance of nutrients and grazing fishes to primary producers of a tropical Andean stream: (1) Are stream algae nutrient limited? (2) Are top-down and bottom-up forces of dual importance in limiting primary producers? (3) Do grazing fishes modulate the degree of resource limitation? We obtained several lines of evidence suggesting that Andean stream algae are nitrogen limited. Addition of nitrogen in flow-through channels resulted in major increases in algal standing crop, whereas there were no measurable effects of phosphorus enrichment. Inter- estingly, the N2-fixing cyanobacteria Anabaena was one of the taxa that responded most dramatically to the addition of nitrogen. Moreover, nutrient uptake rates were significantly higher for inorganic nitrogen (NO3-N and NH4-N) compared to phosphorus (PO4-P). Nutrients and the presence of grazing fishes were manipulated simultaneously in a series of experiments by using nutrient-diffusing substrates in fish exclusions vs. open cages accessible to the natural fish assemblage. We observed strong effects of both nitrogen addition and consumers on algal standing crop, although consumer limitation was found to be of considerably greater magnitude than resource limitation in influencing algal biomass and composition. Finally, the degree of resource limitation varied as a consequence of grazing fishes. Experiments examining nutrient limitation in the presence and absence of fishes showed that the response to nitrogen enrichment was significantly greater on sub- strates accessible to natural fish assemblages compared to substrates where grazing fishes were excluded. These experiments demonstrate simultaneous and interactive effects of top- down and bottom-up factors in limiting primary producers of tropical Andean streams. Whereas other studies have shown that consumers affect nutrient supply in ecosystems, our findings suggest that consumers can play an important role in influencing nutrient


Chubak extract because of its high saponin content, is a unique agent in production stable foam meantime has high pharmaceutical properties. The purpose of current research is to gain these advantages of Chubak extract in sponge cake production. For this purpose 25, 50 and 75% of egg white in sponge cake was substituted with this extract and the effects of such substitution on physicochemical and rheological properties of batter and physical and sensorial properties of sponge cakes were evaluated. The results showed that substitution of 75% egg white with Chubak extract has no significant effect on specific gravity and flow index behaviour (p > 0.05) but caused a significant decrease on pH and consistency coefficient (P 0.05) and even sensory grant properties of chewiness was enhanced (P > 0.05) and had better effects in comparance with blank sample in moisture preservation and retrogradation retardation during storage times, but caused a significant decrease in sensory grant properties of taste (P < 0.05). This research demonstrated that there is a probable substitution of 50% egg white with Chubak extract in sponge cake formulation and thereupon it is possible to produce a functional food product with desirable quality and lower cost.


855 Aims: The significance of RNA based techniques like cDNA microarray and RT-PCR gene expression analysis highly depends on the quality of the processed tissue. Tissue ischemia changes the cellular transcriptional profile, and RNA is very susceptible to degradation by RNAses. We analyzed the influence of ischemia time on the gene expression profile of malignant and non-malignant prostate tissue. Methods: Tissue specimens from 10 patients were taken by needle core biopsies preoperatively (native tissue), every 10 minutes during prostatectomy (warm ischemia) and every 10 minutes (0 to 180 minutes) after extirpation of the prostate (cold ischemia), and were immediately stored in RNAlater. For whole genome analyses total RNA was isolated and amplified by T7-based RNA-polymerase in vitro transcription. Gene expression profiling was performed by cDNA-Microarrays (Human Unigene Set RZPD3.1), as well as TaqMan qRT-PCR from 96 prostate cancer associated genes. Results: By cDNA microarrays, we could identify genes with ischemia-associated differential expression, which partially have not been described to be linked with anoxic stress response so far; among them DUSP1, KLK2 and STAG3. Further analysis by RT-PCR revealed differentially expression in around 10% of 96 prostate cancer associated genes; among them PIM1, p21, Krt17 and c-myc. Some (e.g. EGR1) reacted to ischemic stress in a very early state. Conclusions: Ischemia has a strong influence on gene expression. Although many prostate cancer associated genes seem to be stable for a long time, hypoxic stress needs to be addressed to design adequate tissue extraction and processing strategies, allowing artifact-free, accurate and specific gene expression studies.


CONTEXT
It has been well known since ancient times that the consumption of quail may be deleterious to health. The European quail sub-species (Coturnix coturnix coturnix), common to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia is indeed potentially poisonous to humans, but only during the autumn migration (not during their return flight in spring). Quail poisoning is an acute dietary-toxicological syndrome.

ISSUE
In this case report, we describe a rare, non-fatal case of quail poisoning in a 12-year-old boy. The victim was admitted to hospital 5 hours after the consumption of quail because of the signs and symptoms, as well as laboratory findings (elevation of serum muscle enzymes, myoglobinuria) significant of acute rhabdomyolysis. He was treated symptomatically with bed rest, forced continuous diuresis, urine alkalization, and maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance. The victim recovered completely without sequelae after 8 days hospitalization.

LESSONS
The aetiology of this syndrome is still unclear. It has been suggested that a toxic effect or a genetic sensitivity plays a major role. Many cases of quail poisoning in adults have been reported previously on the island of Lesbos during autumn. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in a child.


Optical Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) rings are being deployed to support multiple SONET/SDH self-healing rings over a single physical optical ring. In such systems, the dominating cost is the SONET Add/Drop Multiplexers (ADMs). To minimize the system cost, algorithms must be developed to assign wavelengths to lightpaths in the system so that the number of ADMs required is minimized. However the problem of optimal wavelength assignment to minimize SONET ADMs is NP-hard. Existing heuristic algorithms for this problem include the assign first, the iterative matching and the iterative merging heuristics. In this paper we propose a new wavelength assignment heuristic to minimize SONET ADMs. Our heuristic is on average 3% to 5% more effective in finding the opportunities to share ADMs (and thus to reduce the total number of ADMs required) than the most effective existing heuristic, the iterative merging algorithm.


Spiny lobsters are one of the most important commercial and highly priced crustaceans along the Southern coast of Iran (Sistan and Baluchistan Province). In the last three decades, the economy of a large part of the fishermen population has been directly dependent on it. The lobster fishing rate decreased from 42 t in 1989 to 1 t in 2004. This has been attributed to the effects of improper fishing methods and overfishing. Meanwhile, Oman, as a leading country in the fishing industry in the Gulf of Oman, produced 450 t of lobster in 2016, compared to 416 t in 2015. Little attention has been paid to lobsters by related organizations. This neglect in framing and enforcing fishing regulations has led to heavy fishing pressure on this vulnerable resource along the southern coast of Iran. For this reason, some efforts have been made by researchers at the Iranian fisheries science research institute, such as the Preliminary study of lobster biology, feeding biology and ecology, designing the appropriate lobster trap, designing an artificial reef as a shelter for lobster; and some experimental research is currently underway to assess population dynamics and maximum sustainable yield (MSY). Furthermore, the release of artificially raised lobster juveniles contributes to the reestablishment or enhancement of lobster stocks. However, one of the main problems for successful restock programs has been the lack of inexpensive methods for juvenile production.


An improved method for calculating force distributions in moment-stiff multi-dowel timber connections is presented, a method based on use of three-dimensional finite element simulations of timber connections subjected to moment action. The study that was carried out aimed at determining how the slip modulus varies with the angle between the direction of the dowel forces and the fibres in question, as well as how the orthotropic stiffness behaviour of the wood material affects the direction and the size of the forces. It was assumed that the force distribution generated by the moment action taking place strives to minimize the slip rotation between the separate members of a given timber connection. The results of modified hand calculations and of the corresponding finite element calculations that were performed were found to agree rather closely, and to differ remarkably from the results of conventional hand calculations.


The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), launched in December 2009, is a NASA-funded Explorer mission that is providing an all-sky survey in the mid-infrared with far greater sensitivity and resolution than any previous IR survey mission. The Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory designed, fabricated, and characterized the science payload, which is a cryogenically cooled infrared telescope with four 1024x1024 infrared focal plane arrays covering from 2.8 to 26 μm. Pre-launch characterization included measuring focus, image quality, repeatability, response nonlinearity, saturation, latency, absolute response, flatfield, point response function, scanner linearity, and relative spectral response. This paper provides a brief overview of the payload, discusses pre-launch characterization methods, and presents key performance results from ground characterization and early on-orbit performance.


A broad consensus exists that workplace pension arrangements around the world are sick and in need of strong medicine. Rather than resurrect the traditional defined-benefit (DB) plan or broaden defined-contribution (DC) plan coverage, this article argues that we move from an "either/or" to an "and/and" mindset to improve global workplace pension coverage, adequacy, and certainty. Pension arrangements can combine the best of DB and DC plans and minimize the impact of their less-attractive features. However, we must also redesign the institutions through which workplace pensions are delivered. The ideal pension-delivery institution is expert, has scale, and acts solely in the best interests of plan participants. A broad consensus acknowledges that workplace pension arrangements around the world are sick and in need of strong medicine. Pension coverage and adequacy are low, and pension uncertainty is high. The prescription of some pension experts is to resurrect the traditional defined-benefit (DB) plan. Others say broad defined-contribution (DC) plan coverage is the cure. This article argues that we have to move from an "either/or" to an "and/and" mindset if we want to seriously improve global workplace pension coverage, adequacy, and certainty. Integrative thinking about these issues leads to pension arrangements that combine the best of traditional DB and DC plans and minimize the impact of their less-attractive features. The kernel of "the optimal pension system" (TOPS) lies all the way back in Robert Merton's seminal 1971 article that laid out the optimal consumption and portfolio rules in a continuous-time model. The basic idea is that informed, rational people strive for smooth and adequate lifetime consumption. Unfortunately, we have learned that the "informed, rational" part of the assumption is inoperative in the real world. So, we need to design a series of "autopilot" mechanisms for enrollment, target pension, implied contribution rate, age-based investment policy, and capital-to-annuity conversion processes. Although these redesign ideas might have sounded radical just a few years ago, they are now being widely discussed as the way to move forward. However, redesigning the pension formula is only half the cure. We must also redesign the institutional arrangements through which workplace pensions are delivered. The ideal pension-delivery institution is expert, has scale, and acts solely in the best interests of plan participants. Far too few pension funds in the world today can pass this triple test. Consider each in turn: Expert means that the pension institution would have enough internal expertise in pension finance, investments, and administration to be managed expertly "from the inside out" rather than by outside agents. That does not necessarily mean that all functions would be carried out 100 percent internally. It does mean that outsourcing decisions would be based on expert judgment that outsourcing is the cost-effective alternative. A related issue is that organization oversight (or governance) would be carried out by a board with sufficient expertise and experience to expertly perform this critical task. This kind of expertise cannot be assembled and retained without scale. Pension-delivery institutions must be large enough to operate at low unit costs. So, ideally, the institutions would manage assets in at least the tens of billions of dollars and would serve hundreds of thousands of plan memberships. At the same time, the institutions would have to pass the governance test: in the best interests of plan participants. This test requires that the ideal pension-delivery institution has an arms-length, co-op legal structure. Peter Drucker observed 30 years ago that such institutions—acting as motivated, expert owners—are ideally equipped to own capitalism's means of production. Although a few such institutions already exist, many more are needed. Indeed, we need a literal pension revolution. Editor's Note: This article is adapted from the introductory chapter to the author's book Pension Revolution (John Wiley & Sons), which is scheduled for release in January 2007.


Laser light scattering (LLS), small-angle x-ray scattering, and small-angle neutron scattering are complementary techniques. Together they become unmatched among the physical methods that can be used to investigate the structure and dynamics of polymeric materials over a large range of length and time scales. The unique features of LLS are its ability to determine not only molecular weight, size, and internal motions of polymers in solution or of colloids in suspension, but also the size distribution. The applications of LLS to polymer physics and colloid science have been extensive and noteworthy, especially in particle-size analysis. Two unique examples of (1) Teflon solution characterization and (2) coil-to-globule transition are presented.


During the course of studies of the molts and plumages of certain waterfowl and other birds, it has become apparent to us, as it has to a number of other workers, that the description of plumage successions has often been hampered by the lack of a uniform and practical terminology. It was our original intent to introduce a new terminology applicable, as far as possible, to all birds, in order to eliminate some of the semantic difficulties of the past. As this project progressed, it became obvious that knowledge of the plumage stages of many species is sadly incomplete or poorly understood; further study revealed the need of a reexamination of many long-held concepts of plumage succession and of more precise definitions of widely but ambiguously used terms. The subject is too large to be covered in a single paper. We propose here to discuss plumage succession beginning at the time of loss of the juvenal plumage, i.e., the bird's first covering of true (in some cases modified) contour feathers. We hope in a later paper to analyze the development of the plumages from the embryo through the completed juvenal plumage. We have adopted this reversed chronological sequence because of the complexity of the question of the "natal downs" and their origin, which we intend to investigate at some length. We hope in this paper to throw new light on concepts of plumage and molt, and we present a framework within which descriptive and comparative studies may be made. In spite of the vast progress made by many workers in recent decades in understanding some of the factors which affect the physiology of molt (genetic control, hormonal balance, photoperiod, temperature, diet, etc.), it must be remembered that such information is available for but a small fraction of the species of birds of the world. We believe it is greatly desirable to have


From Abstract: "Comparisons with other other intensity measurements in individual spectra indicate that the National Bureau of Standards spectral-line intensities may have average errors of 20 percent, but first of all they provide uniform quantitative values for the seventy chemical elements commonly determined by spectrochemists. These data are presented by element in part I, and all 39000 observed lines are given in order of wavelength in part II."


On May 13, 2002, President Bush signed a new farm bill — The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L.107-171). This comprehensive new law contains ten titles covering commodity support, conservation, nutrition, trade, research, credit, rural
development and other related programs. It makes significant changes to commodity, conservation and nutrition programs, and is intended to guide most federal farm and food policies through FY2007. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates (using the
March 2002 baseline) place the total cost of the new bill (i.e., baseline plus new funding) at just under $274 billion over its six-year life-span. This report discusses the bill in detail, as well as the arguments of both its supporters and critics.


Many pupils are now familiar with mobile phones, and they provide an excellent example of how physics can be taught in context. The use of Physics Phones Home, a unit produced by the Supported Learning in Physics Project, is described here together with the positive impact it has had on pupils' interest.


Corporate social responsibility, which, in general terms, can be defined as giving society what is taken from society, is applied not only by the private sector but also by the non-profit institutions. Among these, non-governmental organizations and state institutions take the lead. It is observed that, particularly in the recent years, the municipalities, which are important units of local administrations that provide public services, have operated with an understanding of social responsibility and they have reorganized their perception of service for the community from this point of view. It is because the local administrations have to be in contact with the society as much as, even more than the corporate businesses and non-governmental organizations, and there is a high community expectation about free services from them. Therefore, innately having the perception of public service, the local administrations not only provide obligatory services but also increase the social responsibility projects day by day, attempting to provide much more social support for the citizens. These projects are carried out sometimes by the institutions themselves, sometimes together with nongovernmental organizations or private sector. In this study, whose sample is the Metropolity Municipality of Istanbul, it İs analyzed how and in which domains the corporate social responsibility applications are conducted. The analysis is carried out under the titles such as social support, culture, environment, health, and disaster-emergence response plan of the institution. In the research, it is observed that applications concerning social support services are intensely conducted.


The requirement of Bangla character recognition has become one of the prime attentions among the current researchers due to the increase of automated systems and usage of hand held devices. This paper presents a novel approach to recognize handwritten bangla numerals and addresses a robust feature extraction scheme that spawns 23- dimensional features based on the numeral's structure and topology. The recognition scheme is organized with a proposed decision tree that has been justified using entropy calculation. Considering inconsistency in individuals' writing style and the presence of significant curves and loops, the proposed feature extraction method restricts to less dimensional features of each numeral from 14600 data samples. The recognition time of this scheme is much lower than the existing procedures, since the preprocessing tasks have been performed during down sampling operation. The quick response time 13.04 ms and the higher accuracy (96.82%) explore a new era for the proposed scheme of being implemented in Bangla numeral LeadPad toys.


Observations in steady-state plasmas confirm predictions that formation of a current-free double layer in a plasma expanding into a chamber of larger diameter is accompanied by an increase in ionization upstream of the double layer. The upstream plasma density increases sharply at the same driving frequency at which a double layer appears. For driving frequencies at which no double layer appears, large electrostatic instabilities are observed. Time-resolved measurements in pulsed discharges indicate that the double layer initially forms for all driving frequencies. However, for particularly strong double layers, instabilities appear early in the discharge and the double layer collapses.


Abstract Root-associated stalactites (rootsicles) in Galeria da Queimada lava tube have a mineralogical composition and developmental association with microbes that render them unique. Samples were examined by X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy/X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Three types of rootsicle were defined: incipient; hard (white and red); and black spongy. The incipient rootsicles still contained rotten organic material and showed the beginning of mineralization by allophane. The white hard and black spongy types were also composed of allophane, while the red hard type was composed of hydrous ferric oxi-hydroxide minerals (HFO). The allophane and HFO in the andisol covering the cave roof precipitated out of the dripwater running along the roots to form the studied rootsicles. All three types of rootsicle showed black layers, coatings, spots or patches composed of manganese oxide minerals and, occasionally, hisingerite (iron (III) phyllosilicate). An alternation of organic precipitation caused by filamentous bacteria and inorganic precipitation (the latter facilitated by pH changes in the dripwater and the cave's temperature) built up both the porous and compact rings observed in the white and red hard rootsicles. The largely straight filaments seen in the porous rings of the white hard rootsicles may be indicative of the previous presence of Leptothrix spp., while the helical morphologies seen in the red hard rootsicles may be indicative of that of Gallionella spp. The manganese oxide minerals detected probably formed via microbial activity. This study reflects the important role of filamentous bacteria in rootsicle formation, independent of their mineralogy.


We have studied the effects of endogenous and exogenous estrogen on atherosclerotic lesions in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Female mice ovariectomized (OVX) at weaning displayed increases (P < 0.01) in fatty streak lesions in the proximal aorta and aortic sinus compared with female mice with intact ovarian function. These differences between the OVX and sham controls were apparent in both chow- and "Western-type" diet-fed mice. Moreover, increases in lesion size following OVX occurred without changes in plasma cholesterol. Hormone replacement with subdermal 17-beta-estradiol pellets releasing either 6, 14, or 28 micrograms/day significantly decreased (P < 0.001) atherosclerotic lesion area in both male and OVX female mice. In contrast, neither 17-alpha-estradiol (28 micrograms/day) or tamoxifen (85 micrograms/day) affected lesion progression in OVX female mice. In the Western diet-fed group, exogenous estradiol markedly reduced plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, whereas, in animals fed the chow diet, exogenous estrogen and tamoxifen treatment only decreased plasma and very low density lipoprotein triglycerides. However, lesion area was only weakly correlated with plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, 0.35 and 0.44 tau values, respectively (P < 0.01). In summary, in the apolipoprotein E-deficient mouse 17-beta-estradiol protects against atherosclerotic lesion formation, and this can only be partially explained through effects on plasma lipoprotein levels.


Three new dimeric benzofuran derivatives, ligulacephalins A (1), B (2) and C (3), were isolated from the roots of Ligularia stenocephala MATSUM. ET KOIDZ. (Compositae) together with three known compounds, 5,6-dimethoxy-2-isopropenylbenzofuran (4), euparin (5) and (R)-(-)-hydroxytremetone (6). The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic evidence. The chiral HPLC analysis demonstrated that 1-3 occurred as a racemate. The absolute configurations of each enantiomer from 1-3 were elucidated on the basis of circular dichroism (CD) data.


Tracking the dynamic modules (modules change over time) during cancer progression is essential for studying cancer pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy. However, current algorithms only focus on detecting dynamic modules from temporal cancer networks without integrating the heterogeneous genomic data, thereby resulting in undesirable performance. To attack this issue, we propose a novel algorithm (aka <italic>TANMF</italic>) to detect dynamic modules in cancer temporal attributed networks, which integrates the temporal networks and gene attributes. To obtain the dynamic modules, the temporality and gene attributed are incorporated into an overall objective function, which transforms the dynamic module detection into an optimization problem. TANMF jointly decomposes the snapshots at two subsequent time steps to obtain the latent features of dynamic modules, where the attributes are fused via regulations. Furthermore, the <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L_{1}$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:msub><mml:mi>L</mml:mi><mml:mn>1</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="ma-ieq1-3069441.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> constraint is imposed to improve the robustness. Experimental results demonstrate that TANMF is more accurate than state-of-the-art methods in terms of accuracy. By applying TANMF to breast cancer data, the obtained dynamic modules are more enriched by the known pathways and associated with patients' survival time. The proposed model and algorithm provide an effective way for the integrative analysis of heterogeneous omics.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
There are several trends compelling physicians to acquire team-based skills for interprofessional care. One underdeveloped area of team-based skills for physicians is integrated behavioral health (IBH) in primary care. We used a Delphi method to explore what skills were needed for residents to practice integrated behavioral health.

METHODS
We conducted a literature review of IBH competencies and found 41 competencies across seven domains unique to physicians. Using a modified Delphi technique, we recruited family medicine educators to rate each competency as "essential," "compatible," or "irrelevant." We also shared findings from the Delphi study with a focus group for additional feedback.

RESULTS
Twenty-one participants (12 physicians, nine behavioral health providers) completed all three rounds of the Delphi survey resulting in a list of 21 competencies. The focus group gave additional feedback.

CONCLUSIONS
Participants chose skills that required physicians to share responsibilities across the entire care team, were not redundant with standard primary care, and necessitated strong communication ability. Many items were revised to reflect team-based care and a prescribed physician role as a team facilitator. Next steps include determining how these competencies fit with a variety of medical providers and creating effective training programs that develop competency in IBH.


ABSTRACT Recovery of non-calcareous algae belonging to the Cyanophycophyta, Chlorophycophyta, Xanthophycophyta, and Rhodophycophyta provides evidence for possible binding of carbonate mud by algal filaments to aid formation of carbonate mud mounds. Algal filaments may also have been responsible for mechanical bridge formation of stromatactis.


The described roebuck was primarily affected by a prenatal defect in the region of the frontal splanchnocranium. The defect negatively affected the function of the jaws; marked changes in the skull developed secondarily. Other changes in the whole organism resulted from the impaired capability of receiving and processing food.


Error-monitoring abnormalities may underlie positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Response-synchronized event-related potentials during picture-word matching yielded error- and correct-response-related negativity (ERN, CRN) and positivity (Pe, Pc) and preresponse lateralized readiness potentials (LRP) from 18 schizophrenic patients and 18 controls. Both groups responded faster to matches than nonmatches, although patients were generally slower and made more errors to nonmatches. Compared with controls, patients, particularly with paranoid subtype, had smaller ERNs and larger CRNs, which were indistinguishable. LRPs showed evidence of more response conflict before errors than before correct responses in controls but not patients. Despite ERN/CRN abnormalities, post-error slowing and Pe were normal in patients, suggesting a dissociation of ERN and error awareness. Anterior cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortical dysfunction in schizophrenia are implicated.


Identifying key patterns of tactics implemented by rival teams, and developing effective responses, lies at the heart of modern football. However, doing so algorithmically remains an open research challenge. To address this unmet need, we propose TacticAI, an AI football tactics assistant developed and evaluated in close collaboration with domain experts from Liverpool FC. We focus on analysing corner kicks, as they offer coaches the most direct opportunities for interventions and improvements. TacticAI incorporates both a predictive and a generative component, allowing the coaches to effectively sample and explore alternative player setups for each corner kick routine and to select those with the highest predicted likelihood of success. We validate TacticAI on a number of relevant benchmark tasks: predicting receivers and shot attempts and recommending player position adjustments. The utility of TacticAI is validated by a qualitative study conducted with football domain experts at Liverpool FC. We show that TacticAI's model suggestions are not only indistinguishable from real tactics, but also favoured over existing tactics 90% of the time, and that TacticAI offers an effective corner kick retrieval system. TacticAI achieves these results despite the limited availability of gold-standard data, achieving data efficiency through geometric deep learning.


ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the factors that influence the decayed, missing due to caries, and filled teeth (DMFT) index of patients with dental anxiety during dental treatment discontinuation.Materials and MethodsA total of 110 patients who complained of fear and anxiety toward dental treatments and who re-visited following treatment discontinuation were enrolled in the study. Patient and dental data considered to be related to caries were digitally collected from medical and dental records. The decayed (D), missing (M), and filled (F) scores, and the DMFT index before and after discontinuation were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and the influential factors were evaluated using the Poisson and multiple regression analyses.ResultsThe D score and DMFT index increased significantly during the discontinuation period, and the F score decreased. There was no significant change in the M score. The change in the D score was influenced by the pre-discontinuation D score and the number of experiences of intravenous sedation, and the change in the F score was affected by the duration of treatment discontinuation, the DMFT index before discontinuation, and the number of experiences of intravenous sedation. The increase in the DMFT index was affected by the experience of intravenous sedation, the D and M scores, and the DMFT index before discontinuation.ConclusionDiscontinuation of dental treatment was proven to increase the incidence of caries in patients with dental anxiety.Clinical Relevance: Avoiding treatment discontinuation is crucial, particularly in patients treated using intravenous sedation.


Sustainable development policy is examined for the Belfast Metropolitan Area using a range of linked aggregate and disaggregate models. Energy trade-offs were modelled for both 'stationary' private dwellings and 'mobile' traffic-related energy sources. The research suggests that land-use policies, and in particular corridor-based densification linked to improved public transport, can achieve very significant reductions in mobile energy consumption and modest reductions in stationary energy use linked to residential lay-out design. This would apply to urban areas such as Belfast which exhibit the classic dispersal of population following deindustrialisation. To realise the potential energy savings, sustainable development policy needs to achieve at least the acquiescence of the consumer. Consumers will only support energy-efficient heating systems, improved public transport, densification policies and road charging, if there is some perceived element of financial compensation or other increase in utility for the individual.


Evaluation of the indications for any specific measure in the treatment of cancer of the larynx, whether involving surgical intervention or irradiation, may be arrived at by consideration of the following diagnostic postulates. Under the circumstances, generalities are necessary, but each case must be considered individually. DIAGNOSTIC CONSIDERATIONS Individual History .—The history of the patient, including his occupational and particularly his laryngeal history, the degree of abuse of the voice, laryngeal lesions, such as papilloma, chronic laryngitis, alcoholism, excessive use of tobacco, dental decay and poor oral hygiene are to be considered from a local standpoint. General diseases, such as tuberculosis and syphilis, should be considered not only for differentiation but as possible accompanying diseases. A family history of parents or near relatives having had cancer, in my experience, should not be considered too seriously as evidence that a given lesion is malignant. However, as the cause of canncer remains unsolved,


Assessment and treatment of behavior problems in patients with Alzheimer disease and related disorders is a seriously neglected area of study. Despite the fact that such problems are integral to the disorder, little is known about effective management. This article summarizes the current thinking on five areas of prime importance to patients, care providers, and health care professionals: agitation, assault/aggression, screaming, wandering, and depression/apathy/withdrawal. Methodological guidelines for studying these disorders are provided. Emphasis is on recognizing that behavior problems are important areas of study in their own right as well as in conjunction with studies of cognition.


In forensic science, developing latent fingermarks using powders is a critical, general method to identify individuals. Photoluminescent Eu(Phen)2 complex intercalated clay hybrids have been used to improve the visualization of fingermarks on nonporous (glass and polymer film) and semiporous (euro and dollar banknotes) substrates. An ion exchange reaction has been successfully used to intercalate Eu(Phen)2 complex ions into the interlayer spacing of two different Na+‐clays, Na+‐montmorillonite and Na+‐hectorite, with different primary particle sizes. To change the surface properties of the obtained hybrid to be more lipophilic, the hydroxyl groups at the edge of the hectorite hybrid were modified with hexadecyltrimethoxysilane via silylation. We investigated the correlation of the size and surface properties of the hybrids with their adhesion to fingermark residues. Fingermarks were successfully visualized using hybrids under UV illumination. In particular, ridge details on semiporous substrates can be more clearly seen using hybrids with smaller primary particles and greater lipophilicity.


This article shows the coexistence of the language of legal claims and the use of violence as constitutive modes of getting control over resources. Through the analysis of a specific case of land dispute east of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, we aim at revealing how local struggles are linked to broader geographies of power. Following important changes in the material conditions in Afghanistan, which have led to the expansion of the city and the transformation of the rural-urban fringe, territorialized power appears as a pre-condition to control the circulation of people, goods and money, information and ideas, allowing us to add landscapes, the circulation of land, to the five categories famously distinguished by Appadurai as a way of organizing the study of the world's culture and economy.


University researchers conduct large numbers of case studies in the field of consumer studies each year and many are published in the research journals. Although illuminative and rich in description, qualitative data collected in case studies are singular and often lack generalizability. There is a need for comprehensive studies that subsume individual case studies related to consumer sciences in nutrition, apparel and clothing, consumer consumption, housing, and family studies.

The purpose of this paper was to present a step-by-step methodological procedure for a qualitative meta-analysis, using components of Straus and Corbin's grounded theory data coding technique. This research provides a systematic and rigorous research procedure for deriving hypothetical statements from multiple case studies in the consumer studies discipline as well as other academic disciplines. This method offers a way to overcome the limitation of individual, data-burdensome case studies bounded by context. It extracts conceptual trends across individual case study and eliminates these contextual boundaries. It fills a void in research techniques, by combining existing qualitative case study methods, grounded theory coding techniques, and meta-analysis to create generalizable hypotheses, grounded in the data. This methodology can provide testable hypotheses which contribute to the larger picture of an overall theory in consumer studies or another academic field.


This paper presents an evolutionary approach to architecture design of dynamical modular neural networks. As one of the modular neural networks, we adopt Cross-Coupled Hopfield Nets (CCHN) in which Hopfield networks are coupled to each other. The architecture of CCHN is represented by some structural parameters such as the number of modules, the numbers of module units, module connectivity, and so forth. In this paper, these structural parameters are treated as the pheno-type of an individual, and a suitable modular architecture is searched by using genetic algorithms. To verify the usefulness of the proposed architecture design algorithm we apply CCHN to associative memories.


SDZ 89-485 is a new orally and topically active triazole antifungal with efficacy superior to reference compounds in most animal infection models used for preclinical comparison of antifungals. The compound inhibits mycelial transformation of Candida albicans in vitro at MIC50 concentrations of 0.006 and 0.00019 mg l-1 in MEM and NYP medium, respectively. In rodent models of vaginal candidosis SDZ 89-485 was significantly more active than reference compounds after various oral or topical treatment regimens, with ED50 values ranging from 0.09 to 0.79 mg kg-1 and 0.01% active ingredient, respectively. When administered orally, the efficacy of SDZ 89-485 was superior to, or as good as that of the reference compounds in several murine models of systemic candidosis, sporotrichosis and histoplasmosis. In murine aspergillosis, using the kidney as the target organ. SDZ 89-485 was as active as itraconazole. Guinea pig trichophytosis was more responsive to oral fluconazole and itraconazole than to oral SDZ 89-485.


Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare primary mediastinal tumors arising from thymic epithelium. Their rarity and complexity hinder investigations of their causes and therapy development. Here, we summarize the existing knowledge regarding medical treatment of these tumors, and thoroughly review the known genetic aberrations associated with TETs and the present status of potential biological treatments. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), stem-cell factor receptor, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R), and vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF-A, VEGF-B, and VEGF-2) are overexpressed in TETs. EGFR overexpression in TETs is associated with higher stage, and IGF1R overexpression has poor prognostic value. Data indicate that anti-IGF1R monoclonal antibodies, and inhibitors of angiogenesis, somatostatin receptors, histone deacetylase, mammalian target of rapamycin, and cyclin-dependent kinases may be active against TETs. Continued investigations in this field could lead to advancement of targeted and biological therapies for TETs.