: The main aim of this research was to study the effect of two sowing times (early and late) on Fusarium and fumonisin contamination and some yield component traits of two maize hybrids from the FAO maturity groups 500 (ZP 560) and 600 (ZP 666) within a two-year growing season (2016–2017). F. verticillioides and F. subglutinans have been identified as Fusarium ear rot (FER) pathogens and potential producers of B-type fumonisins (FBs), with F. verticillioides as the predominant Fusarium species in both years. The incidence of F. verticillioides and FB levels were affected by sowing time and maize hybridity. With early sowing and the mid-maturity hybrid ZP 560, F. verticillioides and FB contamination were lower than with late sowing and the late-maturity hybrid ZP 666. Yield parameters also differed significantly between sowing time and maize hybrid treatments. Early sowing increased ear length (EL), number of grains per ear (NGE), grain weight per ear (GWE), and grain yield per hectare (GY). The late-maturity hybrid ZP 666 had higher yield component traits and GY than the mid-maturity hybrid ZP 560. EL, GWE, thousand-grain weight (TGW), and GY were affected by year. Interactions between sowing times and maize hybrids were highly significant ( p ≤ 0.01) for FB level, GWE, and GY. The obtained results indicate the importance of applying early sowing to achieve high maize grain yields with lower contamination by F. verticillioides and FBs. Although mid-maturity hybrid ZP 560 and late-maturity hybrid ZP 666 showed significant differences in terms of levels of F. verticillioides and FB contamination, both were susceptible to F. verticillioides , with high FB levels. These results should be useful to breeders of maize hybrids to create genotypes more resistant to these fungal contaminants.


Ferrofluids containing gadolinium and iron particles in the size range 80-750 Å in diameter have been prepared by evaporating gadolinium and iron onto a mercury surface in an argon atmosphere at a controlled pressure. The particle sizes are determined by electron microscopy and identified by microprobe analysis.


Mice of the C57BL strain were irradiated with 800 R over the whole body. The next day they received i.v. a mixture of 50 x 10/sup 6/ spleen and bone marrow cells from (C57BL x CBA-T6T6)F/sub 1/ hybrid mice, and were challenged with CBA-T6T6 skin grafts later on. About 20% of the recipients rejected the CBA-T6T6 skin, whereas the others were completely tolerant for more than 200 days. By using the cytotoxic test, we found that both tolerant and nontolerant recipients were complete chimaeras, i.e., had only (C57BL x CBA-T6T6)F/sub 1/ cells in their lymph nodes. However, analysis of the same mice by the chromosome marker technique disclosed a proportion of host (C57BL) cells in lymph nodes of both tolerant and nontolerant chimaeras. The percentage of host metaphases in nontolerant chimaeras was significantly higher than that in tolerant chimaeras (P < 0.01). It is possible therefore that the CBA-T6T6 skin grafts were rejected by residual host (C57BL) cells rather than (C57BL x CBA-T6T6)F/sub 1/ cells reacting against skin-specific transplantation antigen(s) of the parental graft.


In French and Spanish, both parts of the causative–anticausative alternation can be formally encoded in two ways: Depending on the form of the verb, marked and unmarked causatives and marked and unmarked anticausatives can be distinguished. The goal of this paper is to verify whether causalness is a factor in the encoding and whether the two languages differ in this respect (verbs used more often as causatives than as anticausatives have a high degree of causalness, while verbs used more often as anticausatives than as causatives have a low degree of causalness). On the basis of a corpus study of 20 French and 20 Spanish verbs, it will be shown that in both languages a strong correlation between causalness and encoding exists. A high degree of causalness increases the likelihood that a verb's anticausative is marked and the causative is unmarked, and a low degree of causalness increases the likelihood that a verb's anticausative is unmarked and the causative is marked.


Leishmaniasis are chronic infections caused by various species of leishmania, transmitted from animals to humans by insects phlebotomos, characterized by mucocutaneous and visceral forms. In Paraguay, mucocutaneous forms are preferably produced by L. braziliensis and visceral form by L. infantum (chagasi). We report a case of an immunocompetent adult with no ulcerated lesions on the skin, with no evidence of visceral involvement, which is determined by PCR that are produced by L. infantum.


One of the biggest political events that took place in Portugal since the Carnation Revolution in April 1974 occurred on 15 September 2012. It was a time when the consequences of the financial crisis hit the majority of the citizens, and the government announced a tax modification, along with several austerity measures. Accordingly, a group of citizens launched a national protest on the internet called 'To hell with the Troika! We want our lives!'. A few days later, around 23 000 people had said 'I'll go' on the Facebook page. Given these kinds of groups, the police had some difficulty to find credible representatives to speak with to adequately plan and execute the policing operation. This event, promoted by organisations outside the traditional political system, has constituted a challenge for the police regarding the constitutional rights of assembly, demonstration, and security and public peace maintenance. This demonstration constitutes the case study to be presented. The main goals are: to describe the police planning and implementation procedures; to analyse the dos and don'ts; and to get some lessons to be learned. Using a qualitative approach, police documents, and interviews with police officers and commanders involved in the policing operation were analysed through a content analysis procedure. Triangulation of data sources and timeline was made. Results are presented in a timeline, enabling the assessment of the whole operation, mainly the management of the information flows and the uncertainty of the goings-on on the field.


Preschool boys' pretense and coconstruction of shared meanings during two play sessions (superhero and generic toys) were investigated with 58 middle-class boys (M age = 54.95 mos.). The frequency of dyadic pretense and the coconstruction of shared meanings in the play were coded. The frequency of pretense did not vary across the two play sessions. There were significantly more prosocial behaviors, clarifications, and explanations during the superhero session, whereas there were more disruptive behaviors in the generic toy session. Thus, both types of play materials required boys to coconstruct shared meanings, and neither detracted from the ability to generate pretense narratives. The patterns of associations across and within the two play sessions demonstrated a high degree of consistency, as well as some interesting patterns unique to the two sessions. Findings are discussed in light of recent literature.


The board of directors plays an essential role in ensuring good corporate governance in any companies or institutes regardless of the size or nature of work. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the impact of board composition on corporate strategy and its contribution to strategic decisions and management monitoring and control of the corporate strategy in Arab organization by examining a case from Jordan. The study adopted analytical descriptive (quantitative) approach; a questionnaire was used for data gathering, and SPSS software was used for data analysis. The questionnaires were distributed randomly to workers in selected companies and banks that are registered in Amman Stock Market, and around 100 responses of members of board of directors (BOD) and other workers were collected and analyzed. The results confirmed the impact of the board on its contribution to the decision process, on the monitoring and controlling strategy, and on its contribution to advising management in Amman Stock Market. The study revealed that the board is primarily responsible for overseeing board performance and achieving a proper return for shareholders, while preventing conflicts of interest and balancing competing demands on the company. The study recommended the need for implementation plans and instructions in order to identify deviations. The Impact of Board Composition on Corporate Strategy in the Arab Region Context: A Case Study From Jordan


The occurrence of a radiolucent line at the interface of bone and cement in total joint prostheses is a frequently observed, although little understood, phenomenon. Because of an operative technique utilised in instances of bone loss, we have, within a single implant mass used in each of a series of 18 total knee replacements, been able to observe two separate interfaces, one between bone and cement and the other between bone and cobalt chrome. The average period of observation was 32 months. All of the knees except one demonstrated a lucency at the bone-cement interface; only one of the knees had a similar lucency at the bone-CoCr interface. One of the knees was studied histologically. In the light of the universal observation of macrophages at bone-cement interfaces and the recent finding that osteoclasts are derived from macrophages, these observations are significant in relation to the aetiology of bone-cement lucencies.


The concept of blended learning in the field of nursing and medicine has been accepted. Blended learning has been extensively used thanks to the development of communication technologies and the availability of Internet services. Meanwhile, experiences-based research, by all accounts, can help the expansion of such a learning modality. Therefore, this study was designed to explain nursing doctoral students' experiences of blended learning. To attain this goal, a descriptive phenomenology method was used to illustrate experiences as they are experienced by the participants in the study. With regard to the nature of the investigated phenomena and the existing methods for the inductive analysis, Colaizzi's method of data analysis was used. The findings of the study led to the discovery of three main themes: "failure", "synergy" and "specific interaction". Each of the themes has been further divided into some sub-themes.


In order to determine the correlation and relationship between the grain yield and other important traits in 24 genotypes of barley, an experiment was conducted in Dry Land Research Station of Shirvan. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications. The evaluated traits were grain yield, days to emergence, days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, plant coverage percentage, number of spike per square meter, number of seeds per spike and 1000-kernel weight. Genotype correlation coefficient and path analysis were used to analyze the data. The results showed the significant direct influence of days to heading, spike per square meter, seeds per spike and 1000-kernel weight on grain yield; however each of these traits had negative indirect effects through other traits on yield which leads to reduction of correlation coefficient with grain yield. Plant height and plants cover percentage have no significant direct effect on grain yield. According to the results of this experiment, the number of seed per spike and the 1000-kernel weight are the most important traits in barley selection in dry land condition.

 Key words: Path analysis, correlation, yield, barley, yield components.


Transthyretin-related familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP) is a hereditary disease with variable geographical distribution. The aim of this study was to present our experience with TTR-FAP patients. We retrospectively analyzed nine cases belonging to different families. Diagnostic criteria were based on the combination of compatible clinical picture, histopathological findings and genetic confirmation. Five cases showed the classic presentation and other 4 the late onset variant. The p.Val30Met mutation in the TTR gene was found in 6 cases and p.Ala36Pro, p.Thr60Ala and p.Tyr114Cys in the remaining 3, respectively. The median age of symptom onset was 35 years (26-60 range). Mean time to diagnosis was 4.2 ± 1.5 years. Our patient series showed the heterogeneity in clinical presentation of TTR-FAP in a non-endemic region of South America.


Brake system is an important thing of vehicle. Many kinds of brake pads presents by each factory. Brake pads made of asbestos and non asbestos material. Each of them have excess and lack. This research aims to know the performance of each type of brake pads so that it can show the excess and lack of each type of product. As user, we have to choose a product which will be used in our vehicle cleverly. The research be done by giving variations in load of brake and weight of rider at a constant speed. The load of brake used spring with the variation are 2 kg, 3 kg and 4kg. While, weight rider are varied with 54 kg and 111 kg. R esearch result shows that increasing load of pull brake led to increasing the value of worn out and a decline in the braking time, while increasing weight of the rider causes an increase in the value of worn out and braking time at all types of brake pad products. In dry condition, t he lowest wear is 1,37x10 -4 mm/second in non asbestos pads and the highest wear is 3,088x10 -5 mm/second in asbestos pads . While , the smallest braking time is 28,79 seconds in asbestos pads and the biggest is 64,26 seconds in non asbestos pads . In wet condition, the lowest wear is 2,422x10 -5 mm/second in asbestos pads and the highest wear is 7,716x10 -5 mm/second in non asbestos pads . While , the smallest braking time is 29,46 seconds in non asbestos pads and the biggest is 62,71 seconds in asbestos pads .


The intermittent nature of the wind resource, together with short-term power fluctuations, are the two principal issues facing a utility with wind power plants in its power grid. To mitigate these issues, utilities, wind power plant developers, and operators need to understand the nature of wind power fluctuations and how they affect the electrical power system, as well as to analyze ancillary service requirements with real wind power plant output data. To provide the necessary data, NREL conducted a study to collect at least 2 years of long-term, high-frequency (1-hertz [Hz]) data from several medium- to large-scale wind power plants with different wind resources, terrain features, and turbine types. Researchers then analyzed the data for power fluctuations, frequency distribution of wind power (by deriving a probability distribution function of wind power plant output variations), spatial and temporal diversity of wind power, and wind power capacity credit issues. Results of these analyses can provide data on the potential effects of wind power plants on power system regulation.


While MRSA rates in England continue to fall, NHS Trusts are looking for smarter ways to achieve further reductions in infection rates, or to support their 'zero-tolerance approaches', and, according to the Copper Development Association (CDA), the not-for-profit, membership-based organisation which supports and promotes 'the correct and efficient use of copper and its alloys', deployment of antimicrobial copper touch surfaces is being adopted in many hospitals and other healthcare facilities worldwide as 'an additional and cost-effective infection control measure'. CDA Director Angela Vessey highlights the benefits, and examines some of the growing number of healthcare installations of 'antimicrobial copper' worldwide.


The present study attempts to investigate declination in Korean and its relevant aspects to the length of utterance, the clause boundary, and focus. More specifically, I examine the relation of declination with the length of utterance, the declination reset at the clause boundary, and the effect of focus on declination. Results showed that the length of utterance had no relation with the first and last pitch values of the utterance but that they were consistent regardless of the length of utterance. However, the declination slope changed to be relatively gentle from the fourth accentual phrase to the end of the whole intonational phrase. There was a reset of declination in such a way that the first pitch in the second phrase was always lower than that of the first phrase, but the first pitch in the third phrase was not always lower than that of the second phrase when the whole utterance was composed of three phrases. Finally, the pitch values of the focusing words decreased as their position went back in a sentence. One declination line was formed in the case of focused utterance, but in the case of an utterance that contained a clause boundary, a new declination line was formed at the start of each new clause. These findings can be applied to developing a Korean speech synthesizer that contains natural prosody; they can be also utilized for teaching Korean prosody.


Cells growing in high density were observed to undergo a variety of responses due to cell-cell contact, pericellular hypoxia, etc. In order to investigate the influence of cell density on cell proliferation and adhesion and to elucidate possible mechanisms, we tested the growth ability of human prostate tumour (PC-3M) cells in dense culture and the influences of density on cell adhesion. Our results demonstrate that increasing cell density exerted stress on PC-3M cells, which decreased cell proliferation in dense cultures, but tended to facilitate tumour metastasis since cell adhesion ability was elevated and the cells showed an increased growth rate after being moved to a favourable growth environment. We conclude that higher cell density-mediated pericellular hypoxia was an important factor inducing expression of the intrinsic hypoxia marker osteopontin, another mechanism contributing to cell adhesion enhancement in PC-3M cells. In addition, cell density enhanced adhesion ability due to the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and protein kinase C. Intracellular calcium also played positive roles at least partially through activating p38 MAPK.


Background: Previously, we showed that gene suppression commonly occurs across chromosome 2q14.2 in colorectal cancer, through a process of long-range epigenetic silencing (LRES), involving a combination of DNA methylation and repressive histone modifications. We now investigate whether LRES also occurs in prostate cancer across this 4-Mb region and whether differential DNA methylation of 2q14.2 genes could provide a regional panel of prostate cancer biomarkers. Methods: We used highly sensitive DNA methylation headloop PCR assays that can detect 10 to 25 pg of methylated DNA with a specificity of at least 1:1,000, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays to investigate regional epigenetic remodeling across 2q14.2 in prostate cancer, in a cohort of 195 primary prostate tumors and 90 matched normal controls. Results: Prostate cancer cells exhibit concordant deacetylation and methylation of histone H3 Lysine 9 (H3K9Ac and H3K9me2, respectively), and localized DNA hypermethylation of EN1, SCTR, and INHBB and corresponding loss of H3K27me3. EN1 and SCTR were frequently methylated (65% and 53%, respectively), whereas INHBB was less frequently methylated. Conclusions: Consistent with LRES in colorectal cancer, we found regional epigenetic remodeling across 2q14.2 in prostate cancer. Concordant methylation of EN1 and SCTR was able to differentiate cancer from normal (P < 0.0001) and improved the diagnostic specificity of GSTP1 methylation for prostate cancer detection by 26%. Impact: For the first time we show that DNA methylation of EN1 and SCTR promoters provide potential novel biomarkers for prostate cancer detection and in combination with GSTP1 methylation can add increased specificity and sensitivity to improve diagnostic potential. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(1); 148–59. ©2011 AACR.


Graphene can be used as a top contact in the solar cell, because it has good values of conductivity, optical transparency, and mechanical properties. Thus, the study of graphene influence on the structure and properties of materials surfaces is highly interesting [1].
In our previous work, we studied the "bcc Fe / Graphene" system. In this work, we performed the research on the "hcp Ti / Graphene" system. Modified embedded atom method (MEAM) [2] describes the relaxation processes well, even the anomalous [3]. Molecular dynamics and MEAM potential was used to study of relaxation surfaces (0001), (1-100), (11-20) Ti before and after the graphene coating for two temperatures: 300K and 400K.
Interplanar distances, atoms distribution along a normal to the surface, radial distribution function for surface layers were calculated. Their analysis is presented in this report. The form of the relaxation changes after the graphene coating. Reconstruction of the surface layer was detected in the system (11-20) Ti/graphene. The relief of the structure was demonstrated for different surfaces.Total and axial stresses were calculated for all systems and for the systems' components separately. Their analysis is also presented.
Comparison of the results for the "bcc Fe / Graphene" and "hcp Ti / Graphene" systems were conducted. Data analysis allows conclusions to be drawn about time-temperature stability of the system, and its potential use in solar energy.


The species of genus Euryomma is revised, and 16 valid species are recognized. Redescriptions for all species are provided, except for six species recently described from Colombia and Costa Rica for which only differential diagnoses are provided. Illustrations of the male genitalia have been added to Stein's descriptions of E. rufifrons, E. longicorne and E. nigrifemur. The following synonyms are proposed: Euryomma erythrogaster Séguy = E. longicorne Stein; Euryomma tahami Grisales, Wolff & Carvalho = E. carioca Albuquerque; Euryomma cornuatum Grisales, Wolff & Carvalho = E. nigrifemur Stein; Euryomma steini Grisales & Carvalho = E. palpingens Wendt. New distribution records are added and maps showing the known distribution of each species are provided, except for the cosmopolitan E. peregrinum. An identification key to the species of Euryomma is also provided. We propose the first phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus Euryomma based on a cladistic analysis using characters from male adult external morphology and male and female terminalia. A cladistic analysis performed using implied weighting shows the genus as a monophyletic group, but relationships among species show little support.


Background Superficial abscesses are common surgical emergencies and unless complicated, are considered a low-priority emergency often leading to delayed primary treatment. Patients who are clinically stable benefit more from an ambulatory-care approach to their treatment. Aim of study This is a retrospective study to investigate the current practice of treatment of superficial abscesses at West Suffolk Hospital, United Kingdom, and evaluate the potential impact of implementing care via the ambulatory pathway to improve patients' experience, optimise the use of hospital resources and identify areas for service improvement. Patients and methods A total of 76 patients who required inpatient care for drainage of their superficial abscess under general anaesthesia over six months were a part of the study. Admission, procedure, and hospital stay characteristics were evaluated as well as our proposed superficial abscess ambulatory-care pathway (SAAP) criteria. Results The mean age was 39 ± 18 years. Perianal and pilonidal abscesses accounted for 53% of the procedures. Only 24% of the patients had a C-reactive protein (CRP) >100 at admission. The average waiting time before intervention was 19 hours (± 16.25) with patients spending two days on average in the hospital for a procedure that lasted an average of 31 minutes. Overall, 39.5% of the patients received drainage of their abscess on the same day of presentation to the hospital with only five discharges on the same day of admission. Of the total patients, 52.6% met our SAAP criteria for ambulatory care and could have avoided inpatient care and benefitted from same-day discharges. Conclusion Ambulatory care of a superficial abscess is a safe, feasible approach. We recommend establishing an ambulatory care pathway for the management of superficial abscess cases with our SAAP criteria serving as a useful objective guide for effective and safe triage of patients with reduced hospital stay and more efficient utilisation of resources.


Abstract Sumatriptan succinate (SS) is a 5-HT1 receptor agonist used in the treatment of migraine having poor bioavailability (15%) due to its extensive first-pass effect. The aim of this work was to prepare SS sublingual fast dissolving thin films (SFDTFs) allowing the drug to directly enter the systemic circulation and bypassing the first-pass metabolism. Plain thin films were prepared using solvent casting technique adopting 23 × 3 factorial design to study the effect of polymer and plasticizer type and concentration on mechanical properties and in vitro disintegration time of the plain prepared films using Design-Expert®. Medicated films were prepared after addition of 35 mg SS to each of the two selected plain formulae (F6 and F7) having desirability values above 0.9 showing the values of: 0.038, 0.039 kgf/mm2 and 156.24, 164.16% and 0.0248, 0.0240 kgf/mm2 as tensile strength, percent elongation and elastic modulus, respectively. PVP K30 was efficient as crystallization inhibitor in retarding SS crystallization. Pharmacokinetic study of the optimum formula F7 (PVP K30:SS (1:1 w/w)) in healthy human volunteers using LC/MS/MS revealed a shorter tmax (0.25 h) compared to Imitrex® tablet 25 mg (2 h) which is considered promising especially for the rapid relief of acute migraine attacks.


The authors report two cases of lipomatosis. Biochemical study of lipomas revealed, in comparison with normal adipose tissue:--an increase in lipasic lipoprotein activity;--a decrease in lipasic triglyceride activity. These changes could be in part implicated in the mechanisms of fatty accumulation within the lipomas, without explaining the topography and encapsulation.


The innocuous histologic appearance of tubular carcinoma of the breast and its superficial histologic resemblance to sclerosing adenosis will occasionally present diagnostic problems. A comparative ultrastructural analysis of two tubular carcinomas and three cases of sclerosing adenosis was made that showed definite differences in the pattern of myoepithelial cell differentiation and basal lamina deposition in these two entities. Prominent myoepithelial cells and basal lamina reduplication were both conspicuous features of sclerosing adenosis that appeared to be absent in tubular carcinoma. Intracytoplasmic "pseudo‐cysts" were frequently found in sclerosing adenosis, but not in tubular carcinoma. Conversely, intracytoplasmic lumina and incomplete tubular structures were present in tubular carcinoma and seemingly absent in sclerosing adenosis. Such basic ultrastructural differences may help to differentiate these two mammary lesions when diagnostic problems occur at the conventional light microscopic level.


This research explores the challenges of translating cultural references in Islamic TV programs from Arabic into English. Subtitling is a constrained type of translation due to the space and time limitations on the screen. Apart from this challenge, the subtitler has to deal with cultural pitfalls that cannot be separated from a stormy global background that includes political and ideological tensions between the Muslim World and the West. This study investigates these difficulties, attempts to suggest solutions to them and identify the basic qualifications of competent subtitlers of this kind of programs. The ultimate purpose is to help establish healthy communication between Muslim and Western countries through translation which is an act of cultural mediation. To achieve this, three real-life examples and their subtitles have been selected from Iqraa TV programs and analyzed using Christiane Nord's functional model. Results show three types of cultural pitfalls typical of Islamic TV programs, i. e., Qur'anic allusions, Sunnah allusions and politicized issues. Instrumental translation has been found to be effective in overcoming these cultural pitfalls, while documentary translation proved to be ineffective due to the space limitations and its lack of clarity. Creativity, flexibility, and cultural sensitivity are indispensable for the subtitler to bridge the communication gaps between the source and target cultures.


Extract: By identifying the proteins (normal or oncogenic), which participate in the development of malignant diseases, we can identify novel targeted therapies to either stabilize or treat the disease. The approach is common to all: identification of targets, establishment of models, definition of pre-requisites for clinical transfer and surrogate markers for evaluation of in vivo efficacy. We have used animal models of myeloid leukemia using a genetic approach in order to understand the biology of leukemogenesis and to develop targeted approaches to therapy. These models are now developed and are ready for testing various different therapeutic strategies. There are good molecular targets for other malignancies and several new drugs are in clinical trials. Our work on the development of DNA vaccines represents, what we hope will be, the beginning of a challenging era in immunotherapy. Our results in the acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) model, a subtype of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), show that DNA vaccination combined with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) results in a survival advantage.


Radiation doses of occupational personnel exposed from diagnostic x rays, therapeutic installations, and patients were measured using thermoluminescent dosimeters. The monthly occupational doses from diagnostic x ray ranged from 0.1076 mSv to 0.5774 mSv, and those from therapeutic treatment ranged from 0.365 mSv to 0.657 mSv, which is within the dose limit recommended by ICRP 60. The patient organ doses were evaluated and found to range from 0.0615 mSv s(-1) to 2.8823 mSv s(-1) for gonad, 0.3676 mSv s(-1) to 2.1088 mSv s(-1) for thyroid, and 0.00972 mSv s(-1) to 4.01 mSv s(-1) for eyes.


This special section of the Oral History Review had its origins in 2014 at the Berkshire Conference on the History of Women, held for the first time outside the United States in Toronto, Canada.The central conference theme—"Histories on the Edge/Histoires sur la brèche"—inspired numerous panels, performances, workshops, and public history tours that engaged feminist oral histories, including a roundtable discussion involving both of us, about the now twenty-six-year-old classic feminist oral history text, Women's Words: The Feminist Practice of Oral History. We did not know what sort of audience to expect for our early morning roundtable, scheduled for the first day in a room some distance from the central conference buildings. But, to our delight, more than one hundred people arrived and shoehorned themselves into a space more suitable for thirty. Our discussion was lively; it highlighted the still-important insights of Women's Words and other early feminist oral history scholarship, particularly the need to center the stories and experiences of women and other marginalized people in discussions of the past, and it raised difficult questions about feminist oral history. As an audience member, Lorraine Sutherland, one of our special section contributors, asked panelists to explain how her Ininiwuk storytelling traditions fit within feminist oral history. She, for one, did not see herself in most of the conversation about the field that day. For us, the remarkable presence of and engagement with feminist oral history on the Berkshire program were clear indications that across disciplines and generations, and among Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, activists, and


The aim of the designer, in this as in other contexts, is to provide acceptable function for an acceptable working life at an acceptable cost. To decide what function is acceptable one must consider the general state of the patients to be treated, as well as the state of the particular joints to be replaced. Clinical experience shows that infection and loosening are the most serious limiters of working life. In attempts to remove or reduce these dangers, many recent designs have used the smallest practicable prosthetic components providing no more constraint than is necessary; this requires a careful consideration of the mechanical state of the diseased joint and the extent to which components of it should be retained. Some laboratory testing is clearly necessary, but the impossibility of exact simulation of the working conditions imposes a limit on its value; clinical testing in patients is therefore unavoidable.


This article is focused on reoxidation processes during filtration of aluminium alloys. Many of our experimental works pointed out, that using filtration media placed in gating system causes reoxidation of poured aluminium alloy. Main aim of our latest work was to validate our arguments, that filter in gating system can be considered as obstacle for continuous pouring, with help of computer simulations. This article is only a small part of our researches focused on reoxidation processes during filtration of aluminium alloys.


A significant amount of α-glycerophosphate (α-GP) was present in voluntary skeletal muscle of rats when the hind limb was frozen in situ. Ischemia of this muscle in situ caused a 7-fold increase in α-GP concentration and a 12-fold increase in lactate concentration. In vitro experiments with diaphragm muscle from rats and adductor fiber groups from rats and monkeys also demonstrated that hypoxic conditions caused a 2.5- to 4-fold rise in α-GP levels. The α-GP concentration in hypoxic red muscle was higher than that in hypoxic white muscle from rats. Lactate diffused into the medium from all types of muscle preparations. However, under aerobic conditions no measurable amount of α-GP appeared in the medium surrounding the fibers and only a small amount diffused out of the diaphragm muscle. Even when incubation was carried out under hypoxic conditions little α-GP was present in fiber medium. Although the diaphragm released ten times as much α-GP as the fiber groups, this amount was small in relation to lactate production. These data indicate that under anaerobic and hypoxic conditions dihydroxyacetone phosphate can compete with pyruvate for the cytoplasmic NADH in diaphragm and voluntary skeletal muscle.


The absorption of longitudinal and transverse ultrasound in plastically deformed single crystals of tungsten was measured as a function of temperature. The maximum in the temperature dependence of the electron absorption was found to be more pronounced in deformed specimens. The electron absorption of longitudinal waves decreases in a magnetic field as the degree of plastic deformation is raised. The results are interpreted, allowing for intersheet scattering of electrons in hot spots of the Fermi surface.


services are perceived by the Indigenous peoples the book goes a long way toward explaining the frustration of so many care workers that their efforts are unrecognised and mistrusted by those they perceive to be in their charge. Most important, it provides a sound solution to the need to increase mutual understanding in this field. This gap in understanding, which Lisa Stevenson so ably describes, is familiar to many who have conducted their fieldwork in the North. She writes with great sensitivity on a topic that many have shied away from since it is too controversial or too difficult to pin down. She uses her material, drawn both from her own interviews and from archival recordings in such a way that the thoughts of those who have suffered greatly from the insensitivity of those whose work is bound by bureaucracy can finally be heard. The book has a freshness and vitality as well as an excellent grounding in academic rigour. It is an invaluable contribution to the literature.


How public participation shapes effective and equitable service outcomes has been extensively discussed but rarely tested in the public administration literature. This article examines how parent participation in schools affects overall student performance and whether socially marginalized students benefit more or less when schools involve greater participation. Using a 63-country cross-national educational dataset, we show that parent involvement in school activities is not significantly related to overall student performance, but such efforts reduce the performance gap between immigrant and native-born students. This finding suggests that direct participation can reduce social disparities in program outcomes.


This study was performed to investigate the quality characteristics of Yakpyun with added brown rice. The Yakpyun was prepared with polished rice, brown rice, Jujube paste, Makkolli, sugar and salt. The Yakpyun was made with various levels (0, 20, 40, 60 or 80%) of added brown rice. After making the Yakpyun, it was examined for the effect of adding brown rice on quality characteristics using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a mechanical test, and a sensory evaluation. The moisture contents of Yakpyun tended to decrease with increasing amounts of added brown rice, but no significant differences were observed. As the content of brown rice increased, the lightness (L) decreased and redness (a) and yellowness (b) increased. In a texture profile analysis, hardness decreased with increasing brown rice content from the moment of production to 3 days of storage. When more brown rice was added, rough surfaces were found more often under SEM, and large holes were evident between granules. The results of the sensory evaluation showed that overall acceptability was the highest for Yakpyun containing 40% added brown rice.


This paper reports two assemblages that were made and displayed by Ashiedu Ogboli. Killing Fields and A Memorial assemblages were executed over a period of four years and were exhibited as part of a Solo Exhibition entitled Sambisa Forest which opened on December 6 th and closed on 22 nd December 2017 at the Fine Arts Gallery Department of Visual and Performing Arts, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. The author explores the significance of the assemblages and their intrinsic and extrinsic value. Keywords: Boko Haram: A Terrorist organization founded on the premise that Western Education and culture are un-Islamic. The group has waged a war of attrition against the Nigerian state since 2009. The resulting insurgency has led to loss of at least twenty thousand human lives and unmeasurable economic, socio-cultural damage. The insurgency has spilled into the neighbouring states of Chad, Cameroon and Niger, where similar groups have been known to exist in a close or loose association. Sambisa Forest: A nature is reserve where Boko Haram group has made a redoubt and where they have been suspected to keep captives. Folk lore of kanuri people associate Sambisa Forest with natural and mythical hazards: a thicks and complex place. Zambisande Kantaram = our zambisa of mosquitoes. Assemblage: A work of art executed by composing related and unrelated materials together. Environment: The material space inhabited by human beings, flora and fauna. Installation: A finished assemblage that is put together to be viewed or kept in a permanent or semi permanent display. Zawama: A sculpted wooden form whose aim is for drying caps. Zawama is usually made with African hardwoods, some of which may be endangered.


Brain tissue samples of mice (7.6 g from 25 mouse brains and lamb (25 g) were homogenized and subcellular fractions prepared in order to assay the distribution of neurotoxic esterase (NTE) activity. The specific inhibitor, N,N-diisopropylphosphorodiamidic fluoride (mipafox) was synthesized and purified. Maximum specific activity of NTE was reached in the microsomal fraction (110,000 g) while the enzyme activity in the soluble fraction (110,000 g) was extremely low. This subcellular distribution of NTE activity in mammal brains is an original contribution. Brain microsomal fraction is suggested to be a more reliable source for the highest activity of NTE. The specific activity of NTE of lamb brain was much higher than that of mouse brain. This might help interpretation of the characteristic species variation in susceptibility to NTE inhibitors which are known to be potent delayed neurotoxic agents.


Describing the relationships among morphology, behavior, and ecology is central to understanding the processes of evolutionary diversification. Anolis lizards are an excellent group for studying such ecomorphological relationships. Extensive research on anole ecological morphology has been conducted in the Caribbean, where sympatric species have repeatedly and convergently evolved to partition habitat through differential perch use. Six ecomorphs have been described, each with particular behavioral, morphological, and ecological characteristics well-suited for the microhabitat it occupies. However, little research has been conducted in mainland Central or South America, and a few case studies suggest that mainland anoles may not conform to the ecomorph classes recognized for Greater Antillean anoles. In this study, we examine the ecological morphology of sympatric mainland species of Anolis in a tropical lowland rainforest in Costa Rica and compare these species to the Caribbean ecomorphs. Our results show overlapping niches and substantial variability in habitat use across many species. Moreover, the relationship between relative hindlimb morphology and habitat use in Anolis humilis and Anolis limifrons does not conform to that of Caribbean species. Predation and fluctuating environmental conditions likely structure morphological variation differently in the mainland, leading the independent radiation of mainland anoles to produce divergent ecomorphological relationships compared with the Caribbean islands.


The retroviral oncogene v-myb encodes a transcription factor (v-Myb) which transforms myelomonocytic cells in vivo and in vitro. It is thought that v-Myb exerts its biological effects by deregulating the expression of specific target genes, most of which are still unknown. The chicken glioma-amplified sequence 41 gene (GAS41) is located immediately downstream of the lysozyme gene, a known Myb-regulated gene. The GAS41 promoter colocalizes with a CpG island which also functions as an origin of replication. Since the GAS41 promoter contains several potential Myb-binding sites (MBSs) we have investigated whether GAS41 is a v-Myb target gene. Our results show that the GAS41 gene is directly activated by a v-Myb/estrogen receptor fusion protein. Furthermore, our studies reveal that the GAS41 promoter is stimulated by v-Myb in co-transfection experiments and that the DNA-binding activity of v-Myb is crucial for transactivation of the promoter. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assays (EMSA) indicate that several Myb-binding sites, residing approximately 250 bp upstream of the transcriptional start site, are bound by Myb in vitro. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrate that v-Myb is bound to the GAS41 promoter in vivo. Taken together these findings identify the GAS41 gene as a novel v-Myb target gene. We have also analysed the GAS41 replication origin in myelomonocytic cells and have failed to observe significant differences in origin activity in cells expressing or not expressing v-Myb.


In a paper which we published recently, 1 we showed that digitalis exerts a direct action on the systolic force of mammalian cardiac muscle. Our preparation was the papillary muscle of the cat's right ventricle immersed in Ringer's solution. We measured tension with the isometric lever and recorded it photographically. Since the muscle was driven at a fixed rate, since there was no coronary circulation or systemic circulation and since the drug reversed the direction of failing systolic tension while the initial (diastolic) tension was maintained constant, we concluded that the digitalis glucosides increase the force of contraction of failing mammalian cardiac muscle by direct action on the muscle. This effect applies to all the digitalis glucosides which have been used: ouabain, digitoxin (Merck), digitalin (Nativelle) and digilanid C (Sandoz). Figure 1, reproduced from that paper, shows the essentials of the results. Since then we have explored the matter further.


ABSTRACT Mutant strain 25-1 of the facultative chemoautotroph Ralstonia eutropha H16 had previously been shown to exhibit an obligately high-CO2-requiring (HCR) phenotype. Although the requirement varied with the carbon and energy sources utilized, none of these conditions allowed growth at the air concentration of CO2. In the present study, a gene designated can and encoding a β-carbonic anhydrase (CA) was identified as the site altered in strain 25-1. The mutation caused a replacement of the highly conserved glycine residue 98 by aspartate in Can. A can deletion introduced into wild-type strain H16 generated mutant HB1, which showed the same HCR phenotype as mutant 25-1. Overexpression of can in Escherichia coli and mass spectrometric determination of CA activity demonstrated that can encodes a functional CA. The enzyme is inhibited by ethoxyzolamide and requires 40 mM MgSO4 for maximal activity. Low but significant CA activities were detected in wild-type H16 but not in mutant HB1, strongly suggesting that the CA activity of Can is essential for growth of the wild type in the presence of low CO2 concentrations. The HCR phenotype of HB1 was overcome by complementation with heterologous CA genes, indicating that growth of the organism at low CO2 concentrations requires sufficient CA activity rather than the specific function of Can. The metabolic function(s) depending on CA activity remains to be identified.


A theoretical and experimental study is presented about the resistance variation caused by spherical particles on the flow of current to disk electrodes embedded in an insulating plane. The calculation of the resistance variation was combined with a trajectory analysis to predict the resistance noise caused by nonconducting particles suspended in the flow of a submerged impinging jet. Experimental resistance noise due to liquid-containing microcapsules was recorded on electrodes located in the flow of the submerged impinging jet. The resistance-noise signals were obtained in electrolytes containing either ferri-ferrocyanide or nickel as electroactive species. From the signals either in ferri-ferrocyanide solution or during the codeposition of microcapsules with nickel, valuable information on the behavior of particles near electrodes was obtained. The possibilities of this method as an electrochemical sensor for in situ detection of particles and control of the electrodeposition of composite coatings are presented.


BACKGROUND
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. Therapeutic options for metastatic prostate cancer are limited. The use of herbal therapies in the treatment of this malignancy remains controversial.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
We tested five herbal supplements, designated FB, FM, PP, HF and FBL101, which contain different combinations of various natural herbs such as licorice, black cohosh, Dong Quai, false unicorn and vitex berry root extracts, fennel seed extract, red clover blossoms extract as well as genistein and gamma oryzanol, for antitumor activity in severely combined immunodeficient mice bearing CWR22R and PC3 prostate cancer xenografts. Their mechanisms of action were also explored.

RESULTS
FB, FM, PP, HF and FBL101 inhibited PC3 tumor growth by 53%, 75%, 80%, 81% and 87%, respectively. In CWR22R tumors, similar growth suppression was observed with all supplements. Total plasma testosterone levels were not significantly altered by the supplements relative to the untreated control. PP and FBL101 significantly reduced VEGF levels in PC3 and CWR22R tumors, respectively. Intratumoral microvessel density was decreased in PC3 tumors treated with all five supplements but only in CWR22R tumors treated with HF.

CONCLUSION
Our results demonstrated that herbal supplements containing the aforementioned extracts inhibit the growth of prostate tumor xenografts, possibly in part by antiangiogenic mechanisms. The potential use of these herbal supplements as preventive and therapeutic agents in prostate cancer warrants further investigation.


Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor is a new type of optical sensor that is light in quality, small in volume, easy to achieve distributed measurement, and easy to embed. When FBG sensor technology is introduced to the damage detection of the CFRP shaft, the shortcomings of conventional damage detection technologies, including ultrasonic testing and radiographic testing, can be effectively overcome. Considering the working load, operating environment and life requirements of the CFRP shaft , combined with the relevant national and industry standards for composite material testing, Prepare three CFRP shaft with embedded fiber gratings (non-destructive CFRP shaft, single hole CFRP shaft , double hole CFRP shaft), the hole diameter is 1mm, and the layering of CFRP shaft is ([0   / 90   / 45   / 0   / 0   / 45   / -45   / 0   / -45   / 0   / 90   / 90   / 0   / -45   / 0   / -45   / 45   / 0   / 0   / 45   / 90   / 0  ]). FBG is embedded between 18 and 19 layers, pasted on the surface of CFRP shaft with 10 FBG sensors (named FBG1, FBG2... FBG10). The strain information of the CFRP shaft is obtained through fiber grating to obtain the deformation of the CFRP shaft under a three-point bending load. Each CFRP shaft is loaded 12 times (A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3, D1, D2, D3). Through the BP neural network method, the mapping relationship between strain distribution and damage model was established. In the model, the FBG sensor measures the strain of the CFRP shaft and forms the input of the neural network. Combined with the damage situation of the composite material, the learning samples of the network formed. After learning and training, the neural network can damage recognition. To better verify the accuracy of the neural network to distinguish and identify the CFRP shaft non-destructive, single-hole, and double-hole damage patterns. The finite element analysis was used to simulate the damage of three CFRP shafts under the same experimental conditions, and extract the eigenvalues at the same position to form the input of the network, combined with the damage situation of the composite material, constitutes a learning sample of the network. The experiment shows that the CFRP shaft experiment based on BP neural network verifies the reliability of the CFRP shaft damage recognition method. The finite element analysis is used to extract the strain information of CFRP shaft measuring points with different damage modes. The damage position information and strain information were input into the BP neural network. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation results, which verifies the accuracy of the BP neural network to distinguish the CFRP shaft non-destructive, single-hole, and doublehole damage patterns.


In this paper FinFET based low power multiplier for IOT applications is proposed. At present society is need of low power IOT devices such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID and Zig-Bee to connect the things to real world. FinFET BSIM CMG model files for the feature size 7 nm, 10 nm, 16 nm and 20 nm are used to analyze FinFET based conventional multiplier using licensed SymicaDE software tool. Static and dynamic power dissipation is investigated for FinFET based conventional multiplier. As the technology node decreases simulation results proved that power dissipation of multiplier circuit reduces and its value is less compared to MOSFET based multiplier circuits, FinFET based Array multiplier, Vedic multiplier circuits. The proposed FinFET multiplier can be used for low power IOT devices such as wireless sensor networks and RFIDs which operates with low power batteries with more battery life.


Abstract. Two patients with pigmented paravenous chorioretinal atrophy are presented. Both patients had chorioretinal atrophy with pigment clusters located in the paravenous areas, and one of the patients had macular affection. This patient had exotropia and juvenile cataract, the other patient had senile cataract. Electroretinography showed decreased, but not totally extinguished potentials. Automatic and manual perimetry revealed relative and absolute scotomas corresponding to the atrophic paravenous areas. To our knowledge this is only the sixth report of pigmented paravenous chorioretinal atrophy with macular affection. ‐


Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating, fast progressing and fatal disease for which there is little treatment. It is marked by loss of spinal and cortical motoneuron function. Many parameters are altered in the time leading up to this loss, including electrical properties, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, glial functioning, glutamate signaling, protein degradation, mitochondrial functioning, axonal transport, and immune response. This chapter concentrates on the interplay between altered electrophysiological properties and molecular events. Emphasis is placed on the changes that precede overt symptom onset and results are mainly drawn from studies using the rodent models of ALS.


The reversible redox isomerisms in first row transition metal complexes of the type ML2 were studied. The six ML2 complexes (M = Mn(III) (), Fe(II) (), Co(III) (), Ni(II) (), Cu(II) () and Zn(II) ()) were synthesized with a redox active Schiff base ligand [2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenylamino)-4-chlorophenol] (H3L) presenting different oxidation states from -2 to 0 (L(2-), L(-) and L(0)). EPR spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate the presence of complexes of the type [Mn(III)(L(2-))(L(-))] () with S = 1/2, [Fe(II)(L(-))2] () with S = 2, [Co(III)(L(2-))(L(-))] () with S = 1/2, [Ni(II)(L(-))2] () with S = 1, [Cu(II)(L(-))2] () with S = 1/2 and [Zn(II)(L(-))2] () with S = 0 at high temperatures. Temperature and solvents influence the electronic structures of the species and give several valence tautomers. At low temperatures these complexes present thermally induced metal-to-ligand (, , ) or ligand-to-ligand (in , ) electron transfer (partial or total), resulting in compounds of the type [Mn(IV)(L(2-))2] () with S = 1/2, [Fe(III)(L(-))(L(2-))] () with S = 1, [Ni(III)(L(2-))(L(-))] () with S = 0, [Cu(II)(L(2-))(L(0))] () with S = 1/2 and [Zn(II)(L(2-))(L(0))] () with S = 1. This electron transfer is in agreement with the general trend in the redox potentials of the first row transition metal ions from Mn(ii) to Zn(ii), and it allows us to prepare and stabilize reversibly switchable tautomeric forms in transition metal complexes with redox-active ligands.


Introduction: Acute Lung Injury (ALI) is a widespread damage to cells and structures of the alveolar capillary membrane that occurs within hours to days of a predisposing insult. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of apoptosis in the initial injury and repair of lung epithelial and endothelial cells and other key cells involved in ALI is lacking. Further information is required regarding cytokine-signaling pathways, patterns of gene and protein expression. The present study attempts to correlate various parameters of lung damage and expression of certain proteins that regulate the cell cycle in an experimental model of ALI.
Material and methods: ΑLI was induced in five groups of mice via inhalation of paraquat. The animals of each group were sacrificed on days 1,2,3,4 and 6, respectively and their lungs were examined for the following parametres: focal thickening of alveolar membranes, capillary congestion, pulmonary oedema, intra-alveolar haemorrhage, interstitial neutrophil infiltration and intra-alveolar neutrophil infiltration scored from 0 to 3 according to the severity of the pathological changes. Specimens were also examined with immunoassay for the quantitative expression (percentile) of Ki-67, TUNEL staining (Todd-mediated dUTP nick end- labeling), p21, p16, p27, Cyclin B, Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E. A control group of animals that were not exposed to paraquat was also studied.
Results: All variables were significantly altered in all the study groups as compared with the control group suggesting the deleterious effect of the paraquat inhalation. Focal thickening of alveolar membranes and intraalveolar haemorrhage were the more significant pathological changes. Multiple comparisons showed significantly higher mean differences in TUNEL staining and in the expression of ki-67, cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs) particularly after 2-3 days from the paraquat inhalation.
Conclusion: These findings implicate that lung tissue damage is characterized by enhanced cellular proliferation and apoptosis both being regulated by complex interactions of cyclins and CDKIs.


This paper analyses the role of ratification quotas in multilateral agreements over emission reduction. The higher is the quota, the lower is the level of emissions in case the agreement comes into force, but the higher is also the risk of failure. In a setting with incomplete information, two country types and a binary contribution to the provision, I examine the differences between simultaneous and sequential ratification. When the benefits from emission of both types are smaller than the social costs, the outcome in the simultaneous case is essentially identical to the sequential case. The optimal quota is 100% and achieves the first best. With the high type's benefits exceeding the social costs, I find that the optimal quota is as small as possible, if ratification is simultaneous. In the sequential ratification case, I cannot determine the optimal quota. However, I find that the aggregate expected surplus decreases with respect to the simultaneous case.


We thank Dr. Kelly for the thoughtful comment on our article,1 which allows us to highlight important aspects regarding chronic kidney disease (CKD) in our work. In fact, CKD is an underrecognized important risk factor for ischemic stroke, potentially affecting safety and efficacy of cardiovascular prevention therapy. In our large cohort of patients with ischemic stroke or TIA, no less than 27.6% (95% CI, 25.5%–29.7%) had a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 upon hospital admission. The frequency of GFR categories G4 (GFR 15–29) and G5 (GFR < 15) were rather low at 1.4% (0.9%–2.0%) and 0.3% (0.2%–0.4%). These proportions must be interpreted such that the most severe strokes with permanent severe disability (mRS = 5 at hospital discharge) were excluded and proportions of severely decreased GFR and kidney failure are presumably higher in this latter group. Patients with a GFR less vs greater or equal 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 showed similar proportions of at least one untreated or inadequately treated cardiovascular risk factor (80.7% vs 79.0%).


Proton pump inhibitors irreversibly inhibit the enzyme hydrogen-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (H(+)-K(+)-ATPase), which suppresses acid production in the parietal cell of the stomach. Omeprazole, the prototype proton pump inhibitor, has proved to be very effective. However, newer agents are being designed to provide even more potent acid suppression and longer-acting proton pump inhibition, with the goal of further controlling gastric hypersecretion. Lansoprazole is the second proton pump inhibitor available on the market. Pantoprazole is not yet available for general use in the United States. However, each of these drugs is slightly different from omeprazole, thus offering some possible clinical advantages. Compared with omeprazole, lansoprazole has a longer duration of action and improved activity against Helicobacter pylori, while pantoprazole has less interaction with the cytochrome P-450 system and more predictable bioavailability. All three agents have similarly high healing rates for acid peptic diseases and appear to be superior to histamine2-receptor antagonists.


This paper reviews the past of community-based health promotion program through public health center to suggest the direction of future. The Minister of Health and Welfare has implemented health promotion demonstration programs at 18 public health centers in September 1998. Health promotion programs were spread nationwide in 2005. Now, 251 public health centers have performed health promotion programs. Health promotion includes both actions towards changing determinants, within the more immediate control of individuals, including individual health behavior, and those factors largely outside the control of individuals, including social, economic and environmental conditions. Direction of health promotion programs in public health is divided into two categories: creating environment for healthy lifestyle and health promotion services. The result of this paper will be able to act as a guide for future operation plan in health center.


How much can the gap in representation between whites and minorities be explained by campaign financing and party support? Studies have found party support to be a essential in a candidate accessing campaign finance networks critical to a successful candidacy. Using candidate race data at the congressional level along with campaign finance network data, we test whether political parties contribute to racial disparities in the ability of minority candidates to raise money and wage competitive campaigns. We look at the campaign finance networks of minority candidates of all racial groups - black, Latino, and Asian - and compare them to white candidates with comparable candidate qualities. We test whether parties discriminate against minority candidates, whether parties seek to promote minority candidates, and whether parties are strategic in which types of minority candidates they support.


Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in serum was measured in patients with various liver diseases using enzyme immunoassay specific to sIgA. Marked elevation of the serum sIgA concentrations was found in liver diseases especially in intrahepatic or extrahepatic cholestasis. In chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis serum sIgA correlated significantly with leucine aminopeptidase (r = 0.69), GOT (r = 0.66), alkaline phosphatase (r = 0.55), and direct bilirubin (r = 0.42). In acute hepatitis their levels correlated significantly with total bilirubin (r = 0.59) and GPT (r = 0.55). In acute hepatitis and acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis the major peaks of serum sIgA were observed later than those of liver enzymes. These results suggest two mechanisms working to elevate the serum sIgA levels in liver diseases. In chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholestasis the raised serum sIgA probably reflects reflux of bile, a rich source of secretory component and sIgA, into circulation. In acute or chronic massive liver necrosis elevation of sIgA may be associated with liver regeneration. Serial measurement of serum sIgA with other conventional parameters will contribute much to the understanding of the pathophysiology of liver diseases.


This thesis is concerned with the synthesis of a range of pH switchable macrocycles and their ability to bind anions. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to anion recogntion within supramolecular chemistry and introduces switchable anion recognition and potential application of such. Chapter 2 describes the optimisation of synthesis of a designed pH macrocyclic receptor functionalised with benzyl groups. This revealed that the cavity size was too stable for efficient switching. This led us into Chapter 3 whereby the synthesis of a series of pH switchable macrocycles of varying cavity size facilitated efficient switching and recognition of a range anionic guests. Chloride proved to be an excellent guest which led us to investigate the macrocycles' ability to transport HCl across a synthetic membrane. The results of this led into Chapter 4 whereby we attempted to optimise the transmembrane transport properties of these system types by improving solubility and also testing some acyclic systems. The conclusions of this showed that the systems required more work to be effective HCl co-transporters.


The nonlinear propagation of ultrashort laser pulses launched into the air is investigated. The formation of optical light "bullets," or spatially localized structures, has been experimentally observed recently. Their stability is shown as due to the occurrence of a dynamical balance between two opposite nonlinear effects: an optical focusing Kerr effect balanced by a defocusing self-induced multiphoton partial ionization of the neutral gas. Characteristics of the "bullets" are predicted analytically and confirmed numerically. They are found to be in agreement with observations.


Breast cancer is one of the primary threats to women's health worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of breast cancer remain to be fully elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate specific target gene expression profiles in breast cancer tissues in general and in different breast cancer stages, as well as to explore their functions in tumor development. For integrated analysis, a total of 5 gene expression profiling datasets for 3 different stages of breast cancer (stages I–III) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus of the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Pre-processing of these datasets was performed using the Robust Multi-array Average algorithm and global renormalization was performed for all studies. Differentially expressed genes between breast cancer patients and controls were estimated using the empirical Bayes algorithm. The Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery web server was used for analyzing the enrichment of the differentially expressed genes in Gene Ontology terms of the category biological process and in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. Furthermore, breast cancer target genes were downloaded from the Thomson Reuters Integrity Database. We merged these target genes with the genes in breast cancer datasets. Analysis of anti-breast cancer gene networks was performed using the Genome-scale Integrated Analysis of Gene Networks in Tissues web server. The results demonstrated that the normal functions of the cell cycle, cell migration and cell adhesion were altered in all stages of breast cancer. Furthermore, 12 anti-breast cancer genes were identified to be dysregulated in at least one of the three stages. Among all of these genes, ribonucleotide reductase regulatory subunit M2 (RRM2) exhibited the highest degree of interaction with other interacting genes. Analysis of the network interactions revealed that the transcription factor of RRM2 is crucial for cancer development. Other genes, including mucin 1, progesterone receptor and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 regulatory subunit associated protein 3, also exhibited a high degree of interaction with the associated genes. In conclusion, several key anti-breast cancer genes identified in the present study are mainly associated with the regulation of the cell cycle, cell migration, cell adhesion and other cancer-associated cell functions, particularly RRM2.


This paper presents a Multi-Area State Estimation strategy suited to interconnected networks that incorporates the traditional external equivalent technique into the model. Given the relevance of external and boundary systems modeled to wide area state estimation precision, this paper demonstrates the potential of synchrophasors to provide more precise external modeling and yield better internal and boundary estimate. The approach has been validated using the IEEE 14-bus system with linear and nonlinear measurement models. Preliminary results indicate the proposal feasibility for the application to real-time modeling without significant changes in existing control center functions.


Introduction: Detecting radical innovations in the solar energy domain could offer innovation references and support the promotion of solar energy. However, relevant studies in the solar energy domain are lacking, and the related methods need to be improved. Methods: In this paper, a new framework to identify radical innovations in the solar energy domain is proposed by combining a technological convergence study and scientific relation analysis, and the link prediction method is utilized to detect potential radical innovations in this domain. Results: 1) The distributions of both the technological classes and scientific categories are uneven in the solar energy domain. The top 15 technological classes account for nearly 75.46% of all classifications. Fifteen scientific categories are cited by all the patents, and applied physics, multidisciplinary material science, energy and fuels play important roles in this domain. 2) The relationships among technological classes have evolved over time and have mainly focused on neighbouring disciplines. 3) A total of 130 patents containing new convergence relationships and/or closely related to science are identified as radical innovations. Radical innovative topics are related to the subdomains of solar photovoltaic (solar PV), heat storage, heat exchangers, and solar collectors. 4) Five potential radical innovative topics are identified. Automatic plants for producing electric energy, solar energy ecology houses, and so on are considered to have great potential in the future. Discussion: The results are consistent with the authoritative report and previous studies, which verify the viability of our methods. And the findings have important implications for scientists, policy-makers, and investors in this domain.


BACKGROUND: Low-grade inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, and anti-inflammatory drugs could be potentially useful as a therapeutic tool. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of low-dose aspirin (300 mg/d) on urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) levels of microalbuminuric type 2 DM patients. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study, 18 microalbuminuric (UAE=30-300 mg/24 h) type 2 DM patients received aspirin (300 mg/d) or identical placebo for 8 weeks, with a 6-week washout period. The patients were aged 56±9 years, had a diabetes duration of 16±7.5 years; 11 (61%) were female, and they were all using enalapril 10 mg bid. GFR was measured by 51 Cr-EDTA single-injection method and UAE by immunoturbidimetry. The sample-size calculation showed that 17 patients were needed to detect a 30% change in UAE (α= 0.05 and β= 0.20). RESULTS: After 8 weeks of treatment, there were no significant differences between placebo and aspirin, respectively, regarding UAE [57.7 (8.9-420.0) vs. 63 (8.2-272.0) mg/24 h; P=0.45] and GFR (108±34 vs. 111±47 ml/min/1.73 m 2 ; P=0.90). C-reactive protein levels [2.72 (0.34-10.3) vs. 2.03 (0.25-10.3) μg/l; P=0.21] were comparable after placebo and aspirin, respectively. There were no period (P=0.41) or carry-over effects (P=0.49). CONCLUSION: Low-dose aspirin did not affect GFR and UAE levels of microalbuminuric type 2 DM. It seems that the putative low-grade inflammation of diabetic nephropathy does not respond to these low doses of the drug.


In 2014 the first multi storey residential building planned and constructed to meet the Passivhaus Institute (Darmstadt) criteria was put in operation in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. This massive-structure building is part of the FP7 EE-Highrise project, aiming to demonstrate nearly zero energy building (nZEB) technologies, an integrated design concept, and advanced systems for sustainable construction. The aim was to test and assess the technological and economic feasibility of innovative energy solutions on a large-scale real project (www.ee-highrise.eu). The construction phases had to be meticulously prepared in order to reach the goals and meet the targets defined during the integrated planning process and selection of most viable design options. This included among other special on-site training and coaching of construction workers, preparation of how-to written protocols, and performing various non-destructive tests and measurements within the established quality assurance scheme. As two of the most important objectives were to reach the passive house standard according to the PHPP methodology and to possibly comply with the national nZEB boundary values while securing a high level of thermal comfort special attention was put also on the airtightness and avoidance of thermal bridges on the thermal envelope, both in planning and implementation phase. The air exchange rate (n50) strongly influences the energy use and affects the efficiency of ventilation system with heat recovery, conditioning of occupied spaces and overall performance of smart control units in each apartment. A high level of airtightness and absence of thermal bridges are two of the vital preconditions for reaching the nZEB standard after having had other parameters successfully fine-tuned. Through a step-by step process of repetitive Blower door tests in consecutive construction and installation phases all weak point were identified, solutions for sealing proposed and implemented, corrective measures tested and the final state approved. The same approach was used for identification and remedy of thermal bridges using infrared thermography. The goal was not just to achieve remarkable energy indicators on paper, but on the actual building. The paper describes the main principles and implementation of the above mentioned approach. Another point of consideration was the long-term economics of selected solutions, i.e. an analytical study of the influence of various building quality parameters (like air exchange rate and thermal bridges). The question was how is the energy use according to different scenarios reflected in the long-term costs. An LCC analysis based on parametric sensitivity studies about the influence of individual thermal envelope features was conducted to find out which of them is the most significant. The aim was twofold, namely to see what is the impact level of the quality of specific work procedures and, indirectly, skills of workers on operational costs, and to see if common guidance for future similar projects can be extracted from the results. The paper explains selected findings and point out the main lessons learnt to be considered on the way towards nZEB standards and sustainable buildings.


The decay of eddy currents in magnetic electron lenses poses a fundamental limit to their speed of operation. The effect of eddy currents on the focusing properties of an electron lens is considered and it is shown that response of the lens field to excitation can be well approximated as a linear system. Using Fourier transform techniques, the transfer function of the lens is derived from a measurement of the peak axial field in response to step-like excitation from which the necessary excitation to achieve a specific transient response can be calculated. For practical implementation, the design of analogue pre-emphasis filters to improve the transient response of magnetic lenses is presented. The procedure involves approximating the step response of the lens field by exponential functions to derive the transfer function of the filter.


: The mechanism of cross-reactivation after UV-irradiation was examined using different deletion mutants as recipients. A model of the rescue mechanism of partly diploid area was suggested. The method of cross-reactivation in demonstrated to permit an easy determination of the orientation of duplicated genes.


This research proposes a modified version of single pass algorithm specialized for text clustering. Encoding documents into numerical vectors for using the traditional version of single pass algorithm causes the two main problems: huge dimensionality and sparse distribution. Therefore, in order to address the two problems, this research modifies the single pass algorithm into its version where documents are encoded into not numerical vectors but other forms. in the proposed version, documents are mapped into tables and the operation on two tables is defined for using the single pass algorithm. The goal of this research is to improve the performance of single pass algorithm for text clustering by modifying it into the specialized version.


This paper set out to investigate how design students
learn from visualising theory in design education. The
exploration rests on the assumption that the application of
tools and techniques from design practice supports design
students with an entrance to the theoretical part of the
field.
The paper is based on teaching experiences from an MA
course in design methodology at Design School Kolding
where we use visualisation as a tool to discuss, explore
and understand design theory. To throw light on the
question, student evaluations and feedback has been
included together with a classification of the material from
one visualisation exercise. In addition, theories for how to
understand designerly ways of knowing and constructing
knowledge have been applied as tools to think with in the
discussion.
The educational approach where design students read,
analyse, and visualise theory, appears to be beneficial to
the students' learning process for a number of reasons,
which will be discussed in the paper. The main findings
indicate that visualising theory is beneficial because it
applies a type of practice that the students are familiar
with, and supports the construction of new knowledge, by
allowing the students to express information and concepts
in ways that are personally meaningful to them.


Prior to recombination, Silk damping causes the dissipation of energy from acoustic waves into the monopole of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), resulting in spectral distortions. These can be used to probe the primordial scalar power spectrum on smaller scales than it is possible with CMB anisotropies. An enhancement of power on these scales is nevertheless required for the resulting distortions to be detectable by future experiments like PIXIE. In this paper, we examine all 49 single-field inflation models listed by Martin et al. in the Encyclopaedia Inflationaris [1] and find that only one of these may lead to a detectable level of distortions in a tuned region of its parameter space, namely the original hybrid model. Three effective multi-field scenarios are also studied: with softly and suddenly turning trajectories, and with a mild waterfall trajectory. Softly turning trajectories do not induce distortions at any detectable level, whereas a sudden turn in the field space or a mild waterfall trajectory predicts a peak (plus damped oscillations in the sudden turn case) in the scalar power spectrum, which can lead to an observable amount of CMB distortions. Finally, another scenario leading to potentially detectable distortions involves a curvaton whose blue spectrum is subdominant on CMB angular scales and overtakes the inflaton spectrum on smaller scales. In this case however, we show that the bounds from ultra compact minihaloes are not satisfied. Expectations for an ultimate PRISM-class experiment characterized by an improvement in sensitivity by a factor of ten are discussed for some models.


The purpose of this study is to examine the vacant technology areas by conducting patent analysis of financial technology (FinTech) related to mobile devices. To this end, this study investigated the technological scheme and industry trends first and then derived the technology classification system. Subsequently, key patent was selected from the effective data extracted from this study, and then vacant technology areas of FinTech were examined. It is expected that this study will be used as reference data in order to check patent trends of key technology in FinTech related to mobile devices and to choose the direction of technological development of FinTech.


Steven Brams's Theory of Moves (TOM) is an alternative to traditional game theoretic treatment of real-life interaction in which players choose strategies based on analysis of future moves and counter-moves that arise if game-play commences at a specified start state and either player can choose to move first. In repeated play, players using TOM rationality arrive at non-myopic equilibrium[2]. One advantage of TOM is its ability to model scenarios in which power asymmetries exist between players. In particular, threat power, i.e., the ability of an agent to threaten and sustain immediately disadvantageous outcomes to force a desirable result long term, can be utilized to induce Pareto optimal states in games such as Prisoner's Dilemma which result in Pareto dominated outcomes using traditional methods. Unfortunately, prior work on TOM is limited by an assumption of complete information. This paper presents a mechanism that can be used by an agent to utilize threat power when playing a strict, ordinal 2 × 2 game under incomplete information. We also analyze the benefits of threat power and support this analysis with empirical evidence.


– The environment is negatively impacted by occasional discharges from industrial activity. When these events contain insoluble compounds such as fats and oils, they are high impact pollutants. This work focuses on an environmental problem in the industrial area of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where a lagoon was contaminated by vegetable oil residues. The aim of this work is to study bioremediation strategies in order to propose solutions for the remediation of the lagoon. For this way, autochthonous vegetable oil degrading bacteria were isolated from Lagoon 3, and the conditions to produce bacterial biomass were evaluated. Then, through microcosms systems using contaminated coastal soil, different site-specific treatments were tested: a control as natural attenuation; a bioaugmentation treatment with autochthonous vegetable oil degrading bacteria; two biostimulation treatments with nitrogen and phosphorus, and with spent mushroom substrate. Although both bioaugmentation and biostimulation showed promising results, biostimulation with N, P was the most effective for site-specific bioremediation of Lagoon 3, achieving 67% of oil vegetable reduction at 60 days.


The structural origins of the selectivity of rubidium ion over other alkali metal ions by tribenzo-21-crown-7 is investigated from single-crystal X-ray diffraction: data for Cs(tribenzo-21-crown-7)(NO(3)), monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 9.598(2) Å, b = 23.466(3) Å, c = 23.973(5) Å, beta = 93.31(1) degrees, V = 5390(2) Å(3), Z = 8; data for [Rb(4,4'-bis-tert-butylbenzo,benzo-21-crown-7)(dioxane)(1.5)(H(2)O)(0.18)][Cl].(dioxane)1.82(H(2)O), triclinic, P&onemacr;, a = 11.687(3) Å, b = 12.800(4) Å, c = 17.680(3) Å, alpha = 75.31(2) degrees, beta = 80.01(2) degrees, gamma = 69.09(2) degrees, V = 2379.8(10) Å(3), Z = 2; data for Na(4,4'-bis-tert-butylbenzo,benzo-21-crown-7)ReO(4).0.5(i-PrOH), monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 24.300(5) Å, b = 14.066(3) Å, c = 22.676(5) Å, beta = 108.06(3) degrees, V = 7369(3) Å(3), Z = 8; data for and 4,4'-bis-tert-butylbenzo,benzo-21-crown-7, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 16.427(2) Å, b = 11.3675(9) Å, c = 33.137(3) Å, beta = 94.469(8) degrees, V = 6169.0(10) Å(3), Z = 8. The structures reported here are the first reported for a tribenzo-21-crown-7, and the alkali metal ion complexes are the first reported structures of these ions with any 21-crown-7 ether. Different crown conformations are observed for each structure. Molecular mechanics calculations were performed on all conformers, and the results are related to the observed extraction selectivity for rubidium.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine whether the incidence of type 2 diabetes differed among elderly users of four major antihypertensive drug classes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
This was a retrospective, observational cohort study of previously untreated elderly patients (aged > or = 66 years) identified as new users of an antihypertensive drug class between April 1995 and March 2000. Using a Cox proportional hazards model, the primary analysis compared diabetes incidence in users of ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers (CCBs), with thiazide diuretics allowed as second-line therapy. In the secondary analysis, thiazide diuretics were added as a fourth study group.

RESULTS
In the multivariable-adjusted primary analysis (n = 76,176), neither ACE inhibitor use (hazard ratio 0.96 [95% CI 0.84-1.1]) nor beta-blocker use (0.86 [0.74-1.0]) was associated with a statistically significant difference in type 2 diabetes incidence compared with the CCB control group. In the secondary analysis (n = 100,653), compared with CCB users, type 2 diabetes incidence was not significantly different between users of ACE inhibitors (0.97 [0.83-1.1]), beta-blockers (0.84 [0.7-1.0]), or thiazide diuretics (1.0 [0.89-1.2]).

CONCLUSIONS
Type 2 diabetes incidence did not significantly differ among users of the major antihypertensive drug classes in this elderly, population-based administrative cohort. These results do not support the theory that different antihypertensive drug classes are relatively more or less likely to cause diabetes.


The need to stimulate technological entrepreneurship has been one of the biggest challenges faced in Science, Technology and Innovation Policies in Brazil. Therefore, the present research sought to carry out a comparative study of different programs and instruments to foster innovation for smaller companies coordinated by the Federal Government and operated through its Autarchies, Public Companies and Social Organizations. The following programs were used as research objects: (1) STARTUP BRAZIL; (2) STARTUP-INDUSTRY CONNECTION; (3) EMBRAPII – SEBRAE PROGRAM; (4) FINEP STARTUP; (5) STARTUP – INDUSTRY CONNECTION 4.0; (6) CONECTA STARTUP BRAZIL. We sought to investigate the following aspects: (1) proposed objectives; (2) profiles of targeted companies; (3) promotion frequency; (4) available financial resources; (5) fostering technological cooperation with STIs, and (6) mobilization of actors from innovation ecosystem. The research's results demonstrated that there were upgrades in strategies to foster innovation. New programs started to establish new rules with the purpose of stimulating and/or conditioning partnerships' formation among companies and institutions present in the innovation ecosystem.


The influence of abiotic factors on species of  Amara ,  Ophonus ,  Harpalus  in the urban environment has been studied. The features of the ground beetles distribution in the districts of Nikopol have been analysed. The influence of roadway on the vital fuctions of ground beetles has been cleared up. Quantitative data of  Amara ,  Ophonus ,  Harpalus  numbers in the town of Nikopol have been discussed. The advantage of natural factors over anthropogenic ones for the existence of soil mesofauna in industrial town has been established.


Countries globally reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic by imposing lockdowns, and as a consequence, higher education institutions were forced to rapidly transition into distance learning. Here, technology played a paramount role as the enabler of remote learning and shaping teaching practices. The aim of this study is to understand the broad trends in higher education during the early lockdown transitions and the role of technology in this process through a literature review approach. After searching for literature and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 61 relevant publications were discovered, which were sorted into three clusters using co-word analysis: (1) teaching and learning; (2) policy and managerial issues; and (3) students' psychological well-being. Each theme was further divided into subthemes based on a thematic clustering approach. Based on this review, implications on learning technology design during the time of a pandemic were derived. First, due to the lack of social contacts resulting from isolation measures, emphasis is needed on interstudent interaction. Second, mobile distance learning technologies and teaching methods could be designed to enable students to move or exercise while learning. Third, diverse pedagogical approaches should be looked into to bring variety into students' lives.


A partially hydrolysed poly(acrylamide)-grafted-gellan (HPAmGG) copolymer was synthesised and characterised. Temperature- and concentration-dependent rheology and gel-like property of Gelrite gellan (GG) disappeared in HPAmGG copolymer. Smart HPAmGG hydrogel was fabricated with variation in aluminium chloride (AlCl3) strength and initial drug loading. The hydrogel reticulates seemed spherical and showed a maximum of ∼65% drug retention, but the assay was ∼22% lower for GG hydrogel. The drug release rate was inversely proportional to AlCl3 strength in simulated intestinal milieu (pH 7.4), but approximated a proportional relationship with drug load. HPAmGG hydrogel liberated only 10–17% content in simulated gastric milieu (pH 1.2) in 2 h. The release data correlated well with the pH-dependent swelling of hydrogel and indicated the anomalous drug diffusion mechanism. Differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and high-performance liquid chromatography analyses confirmed the amorphous nature of the drug and its stability in fresh and aged hydrogel. Hence, smart HPAmGG hydrogel had the potential to prolong drug release mimicking the variable pH of the gastrointestinal tract.


The non-Newtonian flow properties of resuspended red cells were determined in vitro by means of a capillary viscometer. In order to evaluate the rheological effect of the suspending medium, viscosity measurements were made over a wide range of shearing stresses using both plasma and an acid-citrate-dextrose solution as diluents. At low shearing stresses, the plasma exhibited non-Newtonian flow behavior. Using a technique of treating the data to obtain rate-of-shear versus shearing-stress curves without prior assumption of a flow equation showed that whole blood over a wide range of shear stresses and a twofold range of capillary radii did not show any dependence of the viscosity on the capillaries employed. This procedure was also used to examine the data of other workers. In an attempt to determine the shape factor for the red cell, an extrapolation to infinite dilution and zero rate of shear was made. The shape factor can be estimated to be 2.5±1.5 for red cell.


Most studies on dog bite incidents are carried out in the United States where dog bite injuries are the childhood public health problem most frequently reported [1]. Injuries from dog bites may cause a number of physical problems (e.g. eyesight, breathing, nutrition) and psychological problems due to the physical scars resulting from such injuries [2]. Dog bites cost over $1 billion a year, with insurance companies paying out $250 million in liability claims as well as the cost of euthanasia of dogs that have been given up to shelters or abandoned because of biting accidents. In addition the emotional consequences of pet loss following such incidents should not be underestimated.


Speech perception depends on the dynamic interplay of bottom-up and top-down information along a hierarchically organized cortical network. Here, we test, for the first time in the human brain, whether neural processing of attended speech is dynamically modulated by task demand using a context-free discrimination paradigm. Electroencephalographic signals were recorded during 3 parallel experiments that differed only in the phonological feature of discrimination (word, vowel, and lexical tone, respectively). The event-related potentials (ERPs) revealed the task modulation of speech processing at approximately 200 ms (P2) after stimulus onset, probably influencing what phonological information to retain in memory. For the phonological comparison of sequential words, task modulation occurred later at approximately 300 ms (N3 and P3), reflecting the engagement of task-specific cognitive processes. The ERP results were consistent with the changes in delta-theta neural oscillations, suggesting the involvement of cortical tracking of speech envelopes. The study thus provides neurophysiological evidence for goal-oriented modulation of attended speech and calls for speech perception models incorporating limited memory capacity and goal-oriented optimization mechanisms.


Background: Extrapulmonary complications of COVID-19 including acute mesenteric ischemia are being increasingly reported and are a reason of poorer clinical outcome and increased inpatient mortality rate. Case: Here, we present a case of a young obese male who developed acute superior mesenteric artery thrombosis as a result of COVID-19. Discussion: Some direct causes of mesenteric thrombosis in COVID-19 patients have been hypothesized. Furthermore, immobilization, endothelial injury, and increased prothrombotic factor production are proven causes of thromboembolism in COVID-19. Conclusion: Early detection and management of acute mesenteric ischemia in COVID-19 cases is crucial to improve the prognosis.


High angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) demonstrates transient radial coherence of telencephalic white matter in the human fetus. Our objective was to define the neuroanatomic basis of this radial coherence through correlative HARDI- and postmortem tissue analyses. Applying immunomarkers to radial glial fibers (RGFs), axons, and blood vessels in 18 cases (19 gestational weeks to 3 postnatal years), we compared their developmental profiles to HARDI tractography in brains of comparable ages (n = 11). At midgestation, radial coherence corresponded with the presence of RGFs. At 30-31 weeks, the transition from HARDI-defined radial coherence to corticocortical coherence began simultaneously with the transformation of RGFs to astrocytes. By term, both radial coherence and RGFs had disappeared. White matter axons were radial, tangential, and oblique over the second half of gestation, whereas penetrating blood vessels were consistently radial. Thus, radial coherence in the fetal white matter likely reflects a composite of RGFs, penetrating blood vessels, and radial axons of which its transient expression most closely matches that of RGFs. This study provides baseline information for interpreting radial coherence in tractography studies of the preterm brain in the assessment of the encephalopathy of prematurity.


In order to investigate the changes in mechanical properties of sanitary nonwoven fabrics actually used as a top sheet, the fabric was treated with a mixture of chitosan and nanosilver colloidal solution in accordance with the prescribed ratio. The former is a natural polymer with excellent biocompatibility and the latter can give an additional performance while compensating the weaknesses of chitosan of deteriorating adherence efficiency. It was shown that the bending and shearing characteristics of the chitosan/nanosilver treated fabrics decreased, which helped to make it softer, smoother and more flexible. The shape stability and drapability of the treated fabrics improved. As KES-FB system evaluation showed that Koshi was deduced, and both Numeri and Fukurami were increased. Thereby, the chitosan/nanosilver treated fabrics were smoother to provide elasticity. In the change of hand value compared to chitosan only treatment, a better THV was shown in the fabrics treated with chitosan/nanosilver mixed solution than the fabric treated with chitosan alone.


The comprehensive treatment of persons who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia requires the application of an effective and tolerable pharmacologic treatment regimen in conjunction with psychosocial interventions. The mainstay of pharmacologic treatment of persons diagnosed with schizophrenia is antipsychotic medication. The most commonly prescribed are the atypical or second-generation antipsychotic medications that have efficacy that matches, or in many cases is superior to that of conventional antipsychotics. In practice, however, medication adherence, as much as medication efficacy, is the key to improving patient outcomes. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc, 2007; 13(S5), S6.-S15. DOI: 10.1177/1078390307304078


Recent advances in health risk reduction approaches are examined based on inter-country networking experiences. A noteworthy progress is the wider application of low-cost improvements to risk reduction particularly in small enterprises and agriculture in both industrially developing and developed countries. This is helped by the readiness of managers and workers to implement these improvements despite many constraints. Typical improvements include mobile racks, simple workstation changes, screening hazards, better welfare facilities and teamwork arrangements. In view of the complex circumstances of work-related health risks, it is important to know whether a low-cost strategy can advance risk reduction practices effectively and what support measures are necessary. It is confirmed that the strategy can overcome related constraints through its advantages. Main advantages lie in (a) the facilitation of improved practices in multiple technical areas, (b) the strengthening of realistic stepwise risk reduction, and (c) the enhanced multiplier effects through training of local trainers. Action-oriented risk assessment tools, such as action checklists and low-cost improvement guides, can encourage risk-reducing measures adjusted to each local situation. It is suggested to spread the low-cost risk reduction strategy for improving small workplaces in diversified settings with the support of these locally tailored tools.