Food security is achieved through food availability, economic and physical access, proper food utilization, and food stability. Safeguarding the access to sufficient food is more a problem than availability for the most malnourished group as food insecure households favor quantity over quality to avoid hunger.  The Nutrition and Dietetics Department of Silliman University, in partnership with the local government units of San Jose and Amlan in Negros Oriental, launched the Nutrition and Food Security Training Program to reduce the problem of malnutrition.  One of the components of the program is sustainable home garden food production, which emphasized the role of home gardening to improve access to food quality, thereby addressing nutrition security.  This qualitative study seeks to describe the views of the participants on home vegetable gardening to address food and nutrition security.  A total of 20 participants were invited to participate voluntarily in this qualitative study.  A focus group discussion was used as a qualitative tool. As a result, participants realized that having a home garden can improve nutrient consumption, provide economic benefits, and address food security of the household.  Food security was tenable within their homes through concerted efforts, patience, and love.  Barangay policymakers were encouraged to formulate legislation and include in their budget the promotion of home gardens to improve the nutritional status of their constituencies.


The authors present 2 cases of pulmonary lower lobectomy (right and left) using video-assisted modality. The I patient had a stage I NSCLC and the II had a metastasis from rectal carcinoma. The operation was performed using the modern videoendoscopic means introduced into the thoracic cavity thorough three ports and an anterior 4 cm mini-thoracotomy. The patients had an uneventful postoperative course and no pain or trouble breathing were observed. In conclusion the authors are of the opinion that performing lower pulmonary lobectomy, video-assisted technique is feasible and reliable; in very selected cases it should become the modality of choice.


We prove that there exist infinitely many infinite overlap-free binary partial words containing at least one hole. Moreover, we show that these words cannot contain more than one hole and the only hole must occur either in the first or in the second position. We define that a partial word is k-overlap-free if it does not contain a factor of the form xyxyx where the length of x is at least k. We prove that there exist infinitely many 2-overlap-free binary partial words containing an infinite number of holes.


BACKGROUND
Concurrent treatment of tuberculosis and HIV is challenging owing to drug interactions, overlapping toxicities, and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). The efficacy and safety of dolutegravir were assessed in adults with HIV and drug-susceptible tuberculosis.

METHODS
INSPIRING (NCT02178592) is a non-comparative, active-control, randomised, open-label study in HIV-1-infected ART-naïve adults (CD4+ 50 cells/mm3). Participants on rifampicin-based tuberculosis treatment ≤8 weeks were randomised (3:2) to receive dolutegravir (50 mg twice-daily during and 2 weeks post-tuberculosis therapy, then 50 mg once-daily) or efavirenz (600 mg daily), with two NRTIs for 52 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of dolutegravir-arm participants with plasma HIV-1-RNA <50 copies/mL (responders) by FDA Snapshot algorithm (intent-to-treat exposed population) at Week 48. The study was not powered to compare arms.

RESULTS
For dolutegravir (N=69), Baseline HIV-1-RNA was >100,000 copies/mL in 64%, with median CD4+ 208 cells/mm3; for efavirenz (N=44), 55% had HIV-1-RNA >100,000 copies/mL, median CD4+ count was 202 cells/mm3. Week 48 response rate was 75% (52/69) (95% CI: 65%, 86%) for dolutegravir and 82% (36/44) (95% CI: 70%, 93%) for efavirenz. Dolutegravir non-response was driven by non-treatment-related discontinuations (n=10 lost-to-follow-up). There were no deaths or study drug switches. There were two discontinuations for toxicity (efavirenz). There were three protocol-defined virological failures (2 dolutegravir, no acquired resistance; 1 efavirenz, NRTI and NNRTI emergent resistance). Tuberculosis treatment success was high. TB-associated IRIS was uncommon (4/arm), with no discontinuations for IRIS.

CONCLUSIONS
Among adults with HIV receiving rifampicin-based tuberculosis treatment, twice-daily dolutegravir was effective and well-tolerated.


A dairy herd of approximately 700 animals in which brucellosis had not been eliminated by the test and slaughter method over a 5-year period was chosen for a field study to determine the effects of adult vaccination with strain 19 vaccine on reduction of infection and on serologic testing. The standard dose of vaccine administered by the subcutaneous (sc) route was compared with a reduced dose given 2 times via the conjunctiva (C). Forty percent of the herd was vaccinated by each method and 20% was not vaccinated. Serum samples obtained at approximately 2-month intervals were subjected to 5 serologic tests, and selected cattle were examined bacteriologically. Animals considered to be infected with field strains of Brucella abortus were removed. All serologic and bacteriologic data for a 13-month observation period were entered into a computer file and analyzed. The sc method of vaccination, using a dose containing 9 x 1010 viable brucellae, caused a prolonged serologic response, which required complementfixation testing and milk culture to identify infected animals. In contrast, the C method, using a reduced dose (4.5 x 103 viable brucellae) given twice, did not interfere with serologic testing. There was no indication that the latter method provided any less protection than that provided by the standard method. Reduction in the rate of infection was achieved within 6 months, but the presence of nonvaccinated animals as well as continued addition of purchased replacements contributed to the persistence of infection. Five serologic tests were evaluated for their efficacy in this herd. The standard tube test was the least


Background Ultrasound (US) represents a non-invasive imaging method of the major salivary glands that may serve as a supplement to minor salivary gland biopsy. Minor salivary gland biopsy is part of the diagnostic process for primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), but is not suitable for repeated follow-up. Objectives To investigate if parotid and submandibular gland ultrasonography findings may contribute to pSS diagnosis and in the assessment of glandular function and disease activity. Methods Ultrasound of the parotid and submandibular glands was performed with a GE Logiq E9 using a linear transducer with 6-15MHz. The parotid glands were evaluated in a longitudinal and cross-sectional plane and the submandibular glands in a longitudinal plane. Glandular homogeneity and presence of hypoechogenic areas was evaluated and scored (0-3) according to Hocevar et al 2005 (1). Scores 0-1 were considered "normal" and scores 2-3 "pathological". Salivary gland functional capacity was evaluated by unstimulated and stimulated sialometry of whole saliva, in ml/15 minutes and ml/5 minutes, respectively (n=21). Ultrasound scores were compared to sialometric findings and minor salivary gland focus score where such data was available. Results Results: Ultrasound was performed in 20 patients, with scores ranging 0-1 (n=10) and 2-3 (n=10). Mean unstimulated and stimulated saliva were 1.1 ml/15 min and 3.3 ml/5 min, respectively, and levels correlated (p<0.001, r=0.726, n=21). Ultrasound scores correlated with unstimulated (p<0.001, r=0.721, n=20) and stimulated saliva (p<0.05, r=0.546, n=20). Mean unstimulated and stimulated saliva levels were higher in patients with normal ultrasound findings compared to pathological (p<0.05). 10/14 patients with unstimulated saliva ≤1.5ml/15 min had pathological ultrasound changes compared to 0/6 with normal unstimulated saliva (p<0.01). 9/12 with stimulated saliva ≤3.5ml/5 min had pathological ultrasound compared to 1/8 with normal stimulated saliva (p<0.01). Focus score was available in 17/21 patients (mean 2.1, range 0-7), and was ≥1 in 14/17 patients. Focus score correlated with ultrasound score (p<0.05, r=0.516, n=16) and mean focus score was 3.3 in patients with ultrasound pathology and 1.2 in patients with normal ultrasound (p<0.05). Conclusions In a small cohort of patients with pSS findings from non-invasive imaging method ultrasound correlate with glandular function and minor salivary gland inflammation. Ultrasound of major salivary glands may become a useful tool in both diagnostics and follow-up of patients with pSS. References Hocevar A, Ambrozic A, Rozman B, Kveder T, Tomsic M. Ultrasonographic changes of major salivary glands in primary Sjögren's syndrome. Diagnostic value of a novel scoring system. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2005 Jun;44(6):768-72. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


Being caught "between men and women" has a double relevance for Marieluise Flei?er's early writing: it is central to her situation as an author and to the works themselves. In deciding to make writing her career, Flei?er went against her father's wishes and, to some extent, the social order. She found support for her plans from literary mentors, notably Feuchtwanger and Brecht. Their influence on her early writing must not be underestimated. Flei?er burned her first expressionistic essays in reaction to Feuchtwanger's disapproval, and changed her style (from expressionistic to naturalistic) and her name (from Lu to Marieluise) following his advice. Die Dreizehnj?hrigen, the first story he sanctioned because it was written in naturalistic style, was published with his assistance in 1923. The three plays which will be discussed here, Fegefeuer in Ingolstadt (1924), Pioniere in Ingolstadt (1929), and Der Tiefseefisch (1930), show an equally strong influence from her mentors. When Flei?er's first play, then titled Die Fu?waschung was prepared for production at the "Junge B?hne" in Berlin by Moritz Seeler, an unauthorized editorial collective composed of Seeler, Brecht, and Feuchtwanger not only renamed it Fegefeuer in Ingolstadt, but made other changes in the play itself, confidently assuming the author's consent and merely asking for "nachtr?g liche Autorisation."2 Pioniere in Ingolstadt (1929) was produced by Brecht, who also tried to direct the writing of the play, giving Flei?er very definite directions with regard to the characters and the props it was to contain. What seems important here is that Flei?er's "nachtr?gliche Autorisation" of liberties taken with her work was assumed and expected, and that possible objections from her were never seriously considered.


The 'Google Classroom' is one of the technologies used for the teaching and learning process. This paper explores the possibilities of how Google Classroom may be brought into use by educators for the effective teaching-learning process. The study's main objectives are to understand 'Google Classroom' technology and find out the use of Google Classroom by the educators of India particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The study is quantitative research in nature. The data collected through Google form contains 18 questions. A sample of 1050 educators was collected to know the usage of Google classroom in the teaching-learning process. The result indicated that most of the respondents are using Google Classroom for teaching purposes which is good in terms of Ease of access, perceived usefulness, tracking the progress of students, communication and interaction between the teachers and the students. Results also show the effective use of google classroom by the librarians to provide e-library services to their users when physical access to libraries is not available. The study recommends that the Google Classroom may be used to enhance quality in imparting teaching and learning activities at all levels of education, especially during the Pandemic.


The purpose of the present work was to design and optimize compression coated floating pulsatile drug delivery systems of bisoprolol. Floating pulsatile concept was applied to increase the gastric residence of the dosage form having lag phase followed by a burst release. The prepared system consisted of two parts: a core tablet containing the active ingredient and an erodible outer shell with gas generating agent. The rapid release core tablet (RRCT) was prepared by using superdisintegrants with active ingredient. Press coating of optimized RRCT was done by polymer. A 32 full factorial design was used for optimization. The amount of Polyox WSR205 and Polyox WSR N12K was selected as independent variables. Lag period, drug release, and swelling index were selected as dependent variables. Floating pulsatile release formulation (FPRT) F13 at level 0 (55 mg) for Polyox WSR205 and level +1 (65 mg) for Polyox WSR N12K showed lag time of 4 h with >90% drug release. The data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA, and P < 0.05 was statistically significant. Release kinetics of the optimized formulation best fitted the zero order model. In vivo study confirms burst effect at 4 h in indicating the optimization of the dosage form.


This paper describes a framework of an inter-satellite system handover algorithm integrating IETF's mobile IP and RSVP protocols for aeronautical passenger communications. The baseline communication network architecture provides personal communications and Internet access for aircraft passengers. A functional model for mobility and QoS management to ensure seamless handover is described, where a possible method to enhanced the performance of RSVP over satellite link is presented. This model has been simulated using OPNET and some initial results from the simulation of the signalling performance of the integrated HO algorithm for real-time and non real-time applications are discussed


A countrywide survey of fungal diseases of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was conducted from 2005 to 2009. Unusual leaf necrosis varying in shape from 1 × 2 mm necrotic flecks to 15 × 20 mm ovoid spots was found. Sometimes a chlorotic halo surrounding the dead area was observed. Lesions appeared on various cultivars in many commercial fields and experimental plots at a number of sampling sites. Symptomatic leaves were taken to the laboratory and incubated in a moist chamber at room temperature on the bench to induce sporulation of the pathogen. Conidiophores on the diseased tissues were single or in small groups, dark brown, and bore several hyaline-to-olive brown, almost cylindrical conidia with three to seven pseudosepta. Dimensions of conidia were 75.2 to 100.9 × 16.5 to 18.8 μm. Under a stereo microscope, single conidia were transferred aseptically from the leaves onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) with a sterile needle. Plates were kept in the dark at 20°C for 2 weeks. Cultures were gray to olive green, cottony, and did not form conidia and sexual structures. These characteristics indicated that the pathogens belonged to the genus Pyrenophora. Species identity was confirmed by PCR assays with specific primers developed for the barley pathogenic Pyrenophora spp. (3,4). Of 169 isolates, 41 were identified as P. teres Drechs. f. maculata Smed.-Pet., the spot form of net blotch pathogen (2), and two of them have been deposited at an international culture collection under accession nos. CBS 123929 and CBS 123930. The remaining isolates were either P. graminea or P. teres f. teres, the leaf stripe and net form of net blotch pathogens of barley, respectively. Pathogenicity of four P. teres f. maculata and two P. teres f. teres isolates from different regions was confirmed by Koch's postulates. Each isolate was grown on two 9-cm PDA plates at 22°C in darkness. After 10 days, aerial mycelia were scraped off, blended in 100 ml of sterile distilled water, and filtered through two layers of cheesecloth. Ten seedlings of cv. Botond were sprayed at the two-leaf stage with the mycelium suspension of each isolate and a water control until runoff. Seedlings were kept in a growth chamber at 100% relative humidity and 20°C in the dark for 24 h, then at 70% relative humidity and 24/20°C (day/night) with a 12-h photoperiod. Within 3 weeks, one to four brownish ovoid spots, typical of the spot form of net blotch symptoms, developed on the leaves inoculated with P. teres f. maculata. In contrast, the seedlings inoculated with P. teres f. teres exhibited characteristic net-like lesions, whereas the control plants sprayed with sterile water remained healthy. All strains were reisolated and identified by specific PCRs as described above. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of P. teres f. maculata in Hungary. Resistance of barley against P. teres f. maculata and P. teres f. teres is inherited independently (1). Therefore, knowledge regarding the frequency and distribution of these pathogens is important for disease management and resistance breeding. References: (1) O. S. Afanasenko et al. J. Phytopathol. 143:501, 1995. (2) V. Smedegård-Petersen. Page 124 in: R. Vet. Agr. Univ. Yearbook. Copenhagen, 1971. (3) E. J. A. Taylor et al. Plant Pathol. 50:347, 2001. (4) K. J. Williams et al. Australas. Plant Pathol. 30:37, 2001.


Infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was studied in 12 HCMV seronegative recipients of marrow from seropositive donors by weekly monitoring of cultures, expression of HCMV antigenemia (pp65) in granulocytes, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on HCMV-DNA in granulocytes and IgM and IgG anti-HCMV antibodies. Eight patients remained negative in all tests as did 33 HCMV seronegative recipients of marrow from seronegative donors. In four patients, a transient expression of HCMV antigen pp65 in granulocytes from peripheral blood, together with a positive PCR on HCMV-DNA from the same samples were found without positive cultures, seroconversion or expression of other HCMV antigens in granulocytes. The data indicate the presence of an abortive HCMV infection in these four patients.


Rosalind Wright, Director of the Serious Fraud Office looks at electronic and technological aspects of tackling transnational organised crime. Article published in Amicus Curiae - Journal of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and its Society for Advanced Legal Studies. The Journal is produced by the Society for Advanced Legal Studies at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London.


The Danish Economy, measured in terms of real GDP, has not yet recovered to the same level as 2007. The economy initially contracted and has since stagnated with little to no growth in real GDP. This article presents an alternative explanation for this stag-nation, which relies on an analysis inspired by the keynesian economist Josef Steindl. The contribution from Steindl has largely been ignored in the debate, despite its obvious potential. With the use of the theoretical foundation offered by Steindl, the stagnation of the Danish economy can be explained by a combination of the behavior of the house-hold, the investment behavior of firms and the public preoccupation with the fiscal budget. The political consequence of this focus on balancing the budget is also dis-cussed in detail towards the end of this article.


ABSTRACT Research Findings: This study examines efforts by Head Start programs to coordinate with elementary schools and seeks to better understand how coordination practices may support children's transition to and success in kindergarten. Data were drawn from a nationally representative sample of Head Start children (N = 2,019) followed through kindergarten. Findings suggest that Head Start programs are engaging in a variety of activities to coordinate with elementary schools around the transition to kindergarten. Results of lagged OLS regression analyzes found that coordination efforts were significantly related to children's language and mathematics skills in kindergarten for children attending elementary schools engaging in limited school transition practices to support school entry, suggesting that coordination practices initiated by preschools may play a compensatory role for children. In addition, results suggest that direct meetings between Head Start and kindergarten teachers are predictive of higher language skills in kindergarten. Policy or Practice: Efforts by Head Start programs to coordinate with elementary schools may be particularly important for children's academic skills when their elementary schools are less engaged in transition practices. In addition, meeting in person and having a key person responsible for the kindergarten transition may be key ingredients to coordination that yields better outcomes for children.


 Abstract — For the majority of Internet users, the Network represents the endless source of opportunities that enhance well- being. For some though, it might be the reason that makes them "sick" with symptoms specific to mental disorder. This condition is called Internet addiction and is described as "impulse control disorder that does not involve addictive substance". In recent years Social Networking Sites (SNSs) have provided many and significant benefits to users. At the same time, though, there are risks with their use, such as excessive use that can lead to addiction phenomena as well as contribute to the manifestation of Internet addiction. The present study investigates the phenomenon of Internet addiction in adult Greek users of Social Networking Sites, to determine the prevalence of IA among SNS users, and investigates the correlation of socio-demographic factors with the occurrence of IA in SNS users. The results showed that there is connection between the use of SNS and IA, and the prevalence of IA among SNS users reaches 30%. Moreover, IA relates to the age of SNS research interests focus on the areas of motivation, personality, psychological contracts, employee physical activity and health.


Background: Glutamate Receptor, Ionotropic, N-Methyl D-Aspartate-Associated Protein 1 (GRINA), also named TMBIM3, has been deemed to have oncogenic activities in gastric cancer. However, the role and molecular mechanisms of GRINA in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain largely unknown. We evaluated its prognostic value in CRC by an integrated bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification. Methods: Patients with CRC were derived from TCGA and GTEx databases. We first confirmed the expression profiles of GRINA in human cancers and compared GRINA expression between CRC and normal colorectal tissues by Wilcoxon rank sum test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. χ2 test and logistic regression analysis was used for correlation analysis, and Wilcoxon rank sum test or Kruskal-Wallis rank sum was performed to evaluate the connection between GRINA expression and clinical features. Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier's analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to assess the correlation between GRINA expression and clinical outcomes. Colony formation and wound-healing assays were performed to observe the impact of GRINA on cell proliferation and motility. GO annotation, PPI network and GSEA were utilized to explore the underlying function of GRINA. Finally, we analyzed the correlation of GRINA in CRC with immune infiltration levels by ssGSEA.Results: We found that GRINA expression was upregulated in diverse human cancer types and especially in CRC. Higher GRINA expression was closely related to unfavorable clinicopathologic features and clinical outcomes. GRINA overexpression promotes CRC proliferation and migration in vitro. Functional enrichment analyses suggested that GRINA is involved in the most significant terms including anion transmembrane transport, cell proliferation related pathways, metabolic pathways and DNA damage and repair related pathways. GRINA expression was most positively correlated with NK CD56dim cells and negatively associated with Th2 cells through analyzing GRINA expression and immune infiltration.Conclusion: GRINA may be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in CRC. Moreover, GRINA might accelerate CRC development and EMT by regulating the crosstalk of WNT and MYC signaling which contribute to the unfavorite survival rate and adverse immune infiltration in CRC patients.


OBJECTIVE
To study the growth aspects of orbital volume and to establish the normal value of orbital volume by computed tomography (CT).

METHODS
One hundred and twenty three individuals without eye diseases (64 males, 59 females) were divided into 5 groups according to the age. Orbital volume and length of horizontal transverse axis and anterior-posterior axis of the eye were measured at different levels in original or reconstructive CT images. The relationship between orbital volume and age, gender and eyeball volume was analyzed.

RESULTS
There was no difference between the left and right orbital volume in all age groups. Orbital volume grew rapidly before 20 years of old. Mean orbital volume in males aged 17 and females aged 13 was 23.54 and 21.75 ml, respectively, which reached 95% of the adult orbital volume. In normal adult, orbital volume in the male was larger than that of the female. The mean orbital volume of adult male and female was (25.04 +/- 2.37) ml and (22.89 +/- 2.67) ml, respectively. A strong linear correlation was presented between the age and orbital volume (P < 0.05). The difference of orbital volume between the male and female was statistically non-significant before 14 years old (P = 0.315). The growth of eyeball volume was consistent with that of the orbital volume, the ratio of eyeball/orbit volume was decreased with age from 0.40 to 0.26.

CONCLUSIONS
There is no difference between the right and left orbital volume. Orbital volume is correlated with age and gender. Orbital volume grows rapidly before 20 years of old and still grows slowly after 40 years old.


I present a new proof of Kirchberg's $\mathcal O_2$-stable classification theorem: two separable, nuclear, stable/unital, $\mathcal O_2$-stable $C^\ast$-algebras are isomorphic if and only if their ideal lattices are order isomorphic, or equivalently, their primitive ideal spaces are homeomorphic. Many intermediate results do not depend on pure infiniteness of any sort.


We present a new class of MDS (maximum distance separable) array codes of size n/spl times/n (n a prime number) called X-code. The X-codes are of minimum column distance 3, namely, they can correct either one column error or two column erasures. The key novelty in X-code is that it has a simple geometrical construction which achieves encoding/update optimal complexity, i.e., a change of any single information bit affects exactly two parity bits. The key idea in our constructions is that all parity symbols are placed in rows rather than columns.


Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections acquire characteristics of special severity when they occur in patients suffering primary or secondary cellular immune depression. We present a case of pneumonia with fatal evolution caused by CMV, in a female patient suffering systemic lupus erythematosus. The underlying disease, of recent onset, presented multiorgan involvement (skin, joints, kidney, blood) which could be controlled with steroids and azathioprine. The patient presented a few days after she had overcome an acute outbreak of the disease, a febrile status with rapid evolution with a diffuse pulmonary interstitial infiltrate. Circulating anti CMV antibodies were detected, of IgM class, by a enzyme-immunoassay. The necropsy showed a multiorgan infiltrate (liver, lung, skin, kidney) with cells containing cytomegalic inclusion.


Introduction: Formaldehyde is an industrial chemical that is classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC). It is commonly use in mortuaries for the preservation (embalmment) of the dead in Rivers State. Mortuary workers are occupationally exposed to formaldehyde by inhalation and skin contact. This objective/aim of the study was to measure and compare the concentration of formaldehyde in public and private mortuaries of Rivers State, Nigeria.
Methodology: This cross-sectional (field) survey was carried out in 9 public and 6 private mortuaries in Rivers State. The Time-Weighted Average (TWA) and short- Term Exposure Limit (STEL) of formaldehyde concentrations in the embalmment sections of the mortuaries were measured using a suitable formaldehyde gas detector instrument. The mortuaries were selected by a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected, entered and analyzed using XL STATA and SPSS and presented in tables and graphs.
Results: The mean TWA concentration of formaldehyde in public and private mortuaries was 2.42+-1.77 and 2.52+-0.99 ppm respectively. Also, the STEL concentration measured in public and private mortuaries were 0.91+-0.99 and 1.93+-1.22 ppm. The 8 hour TWA values exceeded OSHA (0.75) and NIOSH (0.016 ppm) standards.
Conclusion: There was a high concentration of formaldehyde in both public and private mortuaries which may pose high risk to the health of the mortuary workers of Rivers State. The study recommended health education and surveillance among mortuary workers and good engineering design in the mortuary.


Accurate structure factors up to sin theta/lambda = 1.6 A(-1) have been measured with 316.5 keV gamma-rays from CoF(2), both at room temperature and in the antiferromagnetic state at 10 K. The same crystal was used to collect extended time-of-flight neutron diffraction data in the two magnetic states, which allowed an accurate determination of the fluorine positional parameter. For room temperature, the standard structural parameters are reported. At 10 K, a complete charge-density study has been carried out. The total number of 3d electrons on Co is found to be 6.95 (3). The experimental populations of the d orbitals agree with expectation from crystal field theory. The fluorine valence region exhibits a strong dipolar deformation. Electronic properties at the bond critical points and integrated atomic properties are derived from the static model electron density, revealing the Co-F interactions as purely ionic. On magnetic ordering, a shift of the fluorine ions of 1.5 (4) x 10(-3) A is found which confirms a prediction from theory of optical birefringence. The effect of magnetostriction on the distortion of the ligand coordination octahedra is compared for the late members of the 3d transition-metal difluorides. From neutron powder diffraction, an ordered magnetic moment of 2.60 (4) mu(B) per cobalt ion is found. Despite the strong deviation from the ideal spin value of 3 mu(B), there is still an appreciable orbital contribution to the local magnetic moment.


This study investigated the reliability and validity of measuring reaction time by employing the sit-to-stand (STS) movement and examined its relationship with groundreaction force. The participants included 42 healthy young women (mean age 20.6±0.8 years). Whole body reaction time and STS reaction time as a measure of agility were evaluated. The peak reaction force per body weight, rate of force development and center of pressure moving distance were evaluated to measure ground-reaction force during STS movement. The Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for measuring the STS reaction time was high (ICC (1, 1)=0.735), thus confirming the reliability of the measurement. However, a significant relationship was shown between the STS reaction time and whole body reaction time (r=0.375, P=0.014). However, when the relationship with the ground-reaction force was examined, no relationship was found with all the ground reaction force variables. These results indicate that the STS reaction time is reliability and validity, it was suggested that there may be no association with the ground reaction force.


The aim of this work was to find a quick, flexible and localised method for determining railhead adhesion. The proposed method is a pendulum rig, which has a rubber pad at the base of a swinging arm. The arm is released and as the rubber pad slides across the contact surface, energy is lost. This loss can be translated into a friction coefficient. Tests have been performed under dry and contaminated conditions, including water, oil and leaf layers both in the laboratory on extracted rail and in the field on live rail. Friction modifiers were also tested. The results of these tests are compared with data obtained using a hand-pushed tribometer. The performed study shows that the pendulum is a viable way to test adhesion levels in the field.


OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to investigate how the inflow cannulation site of the left ventricular assist system with a centrifugal pump would influence cardiac function on failing heart models.

METHODS
In 10 sheep, a left ventricular assist system was instituted by an outflow cannula in the descending aorta, two inflow cannulas in the left atrium and the left ventricle, and connecting those cannulas to a magnetically suspended centrifugal pump. A conductance catheter and a tipped micromanometer for monitoring the pressure-volume loop were also inserted into the left ventricle. Myocardial oxygen consumption was directly measured. Heart failure was induced by injection of microspheres into the left main coronary artery. The assist rate was varied from 0% to 100% at each inflow cannulation site.

RESULTS
The pump flow with left ventricular cannulation increased during the systolic phase and decreased during the diastolic phase, whereas it was constant with left atrial cannulation. Ejection fraction with left atrial cannulation decreased as the assist rate increased, whereas that with left ventricular cannulation was maintained up to 75% assist. The external work with left atrial cannulation decreased gradually as the assist rate increased, whereas the external work with left ventricular cannulation did not decrease until the assist rate reached 75%. The myocardial oxygen consumption in both cannulations decreased proportionally as the assist rate increased; they were significantly less with left ventricular cannulation at the 100% assist rate than with left atrial cannulation.

CONCLUSION
Left ventricular cannulation during left ventricular assistance maintains ejection fraction and effectively reduces oxygen consumption.


Understanding cerebral oxygen metabolism is of great importance in both clinical diagnosis and animal experiments because oxygen is a fundamental source of brain energy and supports brain functional activities. Since small animals such as rats are widely used to study various diseases including cerebral ischemia, cerebrovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases, the development of a noninvasive in vivo measurement method of cerebral oxygen metabolic parameters such as oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) as well as cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) has been a priority. Although positron emission tomography (PET) with 15O labeled gas tracers has been recognized as a powerful way to evaluate cerebral oxygen metabolism in humans, this method could not be applied to rats due to technical problems and there were no reports of PET measurement of cerebral oxygen metabolism in rats until an 15O-O2 injection method was developed a decade ago. Herein, we introduce an intravenous administration method using two types of injectable 15O-O2 and an 15O-O2 gas inhalation method through an airway placed in the trachea, which enables oxygen metabolism measurements in rats.


The ultrastructure of the dorsal lingual epithelium of the semi-aquatic West African mud turtle, Pelusios castaneus, is described. Our goal is to give additional information to previous studies of this species such as feeding pattern analysis and gross morphology. Tissue specimens were fixed in modified Karnovsky solution followed by osmium tetroxide, embedded in epoxy resin and observed using light and transmission electron microscopy. The dorsal tongue surface is covered with moderate papillae, which are coated by a stratified epithelium overlying a connective tissue core. Two epithelial regions can be differentiated, although differences are not very obvious: the apical area, where granular cells are more abundant than mucus cells, and the lateral area, where cell distribution is opposite. Within the epithelium, different layers are discernable on the basis of the cells' organelles, corresponding with a process of cell maturation and formation of different granules. These results together with data of previous studies of this species show that the ultrastructure of the lingual epithelium is similar to other turtles adapted to semi-aquatic environments; functional and morphological data indicate a generalist, being well but not highly adapted to feeding in an aquatic environment.


The ability of an autonomous agent to select rational actions is vital in enabling it to achieve its goals. To do so effectively in a high-stakes setting, the agent must be capable of considering the risk and potential reward of both immediate and future actions. In this paper we provide a novel method for calculating risk alongside utility in online planning algorithms. We integrate such a risk-aware planner with a BDI agent, allowing us to build agents that can set their risk aversion levels dynamically based on their changing beliefs about the environment. To guide the design of a risk-aware agent we propose a number of principles which such an agent should adhere to and show how our proposed framework satisfies these principles. Finally, we evaluate our approach and demonstrate that a dynamically risk-averse agent is capable of achieving a higher success rate than an agent that ignores risk, while obtaining a higher utility than an agent with a static risk attitude.


An efficient and a quick microwave-assisted synthesis of benzimidazoles and trisubstituted imidazoles was developed. Three benzimidazoles were obtained as a result of the condensation of 1,2-phenylenediamine with carboxylic acids and acetoacetic ester without catalyst. A series of trisubstituted imidazoles were synthesized by condensation of benzil, aromatic aldehyde and ammonium acetate in the presence of glacial acetic acid.


Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) is a large family which involves approximately 455 genus and 3600 species. Coriander (C. sativum L.) and cumin (C. cyminum L.) are two members of Apiaceae family which commonly used for medicinal purpose due to their antioxidant activity. Since the antioxidants are compounds that prevent the oxidation by neutralizing free radicals, researches about their potential utilizations are of great interest for food science and technology. Due to the consumer preference and the worries about synthetic antioxidant compounds, the food industry shows tendency to use natural antioxidant compounds obtained from plant materials. FDA has recognized more than 150 plants as GRAS, without no limitations intake. Coriander, cumin, anise, fennel, thyme and oregano are some plants found in this list. The focus of this research is to contrast the composition of phenolic profile and antioxidant activity of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of these two medicinal herbs belonging to the Apiaceae family. For this purpose, coriander and cumin were analyzed for phenolic compounds and antioxidant assay. Antioxidant assay analyses were performed by applying cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), 2,2'-azino-bis3 ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl methods (DPPH).


The sequence information for the splicing process of introns is found in the consensus sequences at the two splice sites. For long introns, of 300 or more nucleotides, the middle regions may provide additional specificity for splicing which can be investigated by defining an adequate quantitative parameter. This methodology permits to retrieve the coding periodicity in the viral and mitochondrial introns and to identify with a statistical significance, a surprising alternating purine-pyrimidine base sequence -i.e. a modulo 2 periodicity- in the eukaryotic introns, and particularly in the vertebrate introns. This alternating structure suggests that the vertebrate introns do not have the genetic information to code for proteins, they carry structural and regulatory functions.


It has been reported that daidzein and equol stimulate DNA replication and proliferation of MCF-7 cells. However, their molecular mechanisms of action are still unclear. We examined the effects of daidzein and equol on DNA replication of MCF-7 cells, focusing on MCM2-7 proteins, which function as the replicative helicase. In the presence of either 1 μM of daidzein or equol, the number of cells in S-phase, which was determined by detecting bromodeoxyuridine incorporated into replicated DNA, almost doubled. The total amounts of MCM7 protein and chromatin-bound MCM7 protein increased in the presence of daidzein. The data suggest that phytoestrogens facilitate cell cycle progression in G1-phase by increasing the level of MCM proteins. In the presence of phytoestrogens, phosphorylation of Rb and levels of MCM2, 3 and 7 mRNA increased, suggesting that stimulation of MCM2-7 transcription is involved in the cell cycle progression. Under the same conditions, double-stranded DNA breakage in logarithmically growing MCF-7 cells, which was detected using anti-γ-H2AX antibodies, did not increase in the presence of equol.


In this brief, dynamical systems with unbounded time-varying delays are investigated. Two approaches are developed to derive sufficient conditions ensuring the existence, uniqueness of the equilibrium and its global stability. Moreover, different from globally asymptotical stability and globally exponential stability, a new concept of stability, global power stability, is proposed. Under mild conditions, we prove that the dynamical systems with unbounded time-varying delays are globally power stable.


Three-dimensional Computed Tomographic Angiography (3D CTA) is a new imaging technique for vascular structures. This study was aimed at investigating the diagnostic role of 3D CTA in the intracranial and extracranial arteries. Fifteen patients with intracranial artery disease (thirteen with aneurysms and two with arteriovenous malformations) and fifteen patients with stenosis of the common, internal or external carotid arteries underwent 3D CTA. All patients had been examined with intraarterial angiography. The CT examinations were performed with dynamic scanning during intravenous contrast agent administration. Three-millimeter thick contiguous slices were obtained in the cervical region and 1.5-mm contiguous slices in the intracranial region. CT findings were processed to produce 3D views on an independent workstation. 3D CTA results were compared with those of intraarterial DSA in all cases. Agreement was found in 13 of 15 cases of intracranial vascular abnormalities, and in 26 of the 30 carotid arteries in classifying the severity of the stenosis. The 3D views, which exhibit an excellent image quality, seem to be comparable to angiography in the intracranial and extracranial arteries. The main advantages of this technique are: 1) its low invasivity since only an intravenous contrast agent injection is required; 2) its easy and fast acquisition (2-3 minutes are needed if a non-spiral CT unit is used and less than one minute with spiral CT); 3) good demonstration of the calcified plaques which can be also removed with the softwares available at the workstation, to show the overall vessel lumen; 4) thanks to its simplicity the examination can also be performed in emergency (i.e. in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, if plain CT is positive for subarachnoid bleeding). Its main limitations are: 1) the need of an adequate concentration of contrast agent in the vessels; 2) artifacts due to calcified and bone structures; 3) no information about vessel inflow; 4) limited discrimination between arteries and veins in some areas (cavernous sinus); 5) limited field of view compared to angiography.


Hospitals are among the most energy-intensive commercial buildings in the service industry. Their energy demand is characterized by specific features, being operative 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Several activities performed inside the building require strict control of the indoor climate conditions to ensure comfort and security standards. They present complex HVAC systems, needing various energy forms like electricity and heat in the form of hot water, chilled water and steam. Consequently, hospitals are ideal application to exploit the cogeneration systems potential. Indeed, the number of hospitals using CHP systems has grown steadily in past years. Hospitals that use CHP take advantage of favourable rate structures and protect themselves from rising electricity prices. Since CHP uses waste heat to produce thermal energy for heating and cooling, hospitals using CHP systems are more energy-efficient, leading to a reduction of the global emissions connected to the hospital activity. The present study involves the development of a numerical model of the gas turbine-based cogeneration system installed in a hospital facility. The realized model has been used to define the system management strategies that enabled two achievements. The minimization of the main global emissions parameters of the system as CO and NOx and the maximization of operational CHP parameters as total efficiency and primary energy saving (PES). The present work describes in detail the realized model and its exploitation, leading to define the optimal system management strategy based on control parameters applicable to the real test case management system.


abstract:The term "International Spirit" denotes the network of maritime communication and exchange in the southern Aegean during the third millennium BC, which is usually considered to be a relatively bounded sociohistorical phenomenon. This article exposes the need for understanding the International Spirit as a heterogeneous, dynamic, and open-ended field of social discourse. Such understanding is supported through the employment of recent advances in archaeological theory regarding cultural hybridization. It is suggested that the latter shares the same basic ways of operation with almost all other types of social communication. Therefore, the Early Bronze Age cemeteries in Attica, Euboea, or northern Crete, featuring assemblages with mixed cultural traits, should be considered as examples of such intense, and thus hybridizing, cultural discourse. The Early Cycladic communities may have pursued this type of interaction in order to balance between two pressing needs: subsistence through agropastoral activity and social reproduction through seafaring and exchange.


Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) is one of the most prevalent and deadly human pathogens. The molecular mechanisms determining the outcomes of infection with M.tb remain incompletely understood. Here we show that IL-1α-mediated signaling from infected macrophages is absolutely required for effective pathogen control in a model of pulmonary M.tb infection in mice. We further show that M.tb replication and survival of infected cells in vivo is controlled through an IL-1α-driven signaling to stroma cells that secrete in response TNF-α and enable cell-intrinsic resistance to the pathogen by limiting its replication at a single cell level. The lack of IL-1α leads to profound non-resolving inflammation that contributes to pathology, rather than to pathogen control. Restoration of IL-1α expression in CD11c-positive lung leukocytes in IL-1alpha-deficient mice alleviates inflammation and improves survival of animals after M.tb infection. Our study implicates IL-1α-driven leukocyte-stroma cell crosstalk as a key step in triggering M.tb control mechanisms that are critical for host survival. These data reveal fundamental role of innate immunity in M.tb pathogenesis and define novel molecular targets for the development of drugs to control tuberculosis epidemics.


A postmenopausal female evaluated for thrombophilia because of bone infarcts had mild hyperhomocysteinemia, which increased when hormone replacement was discontinued. Serum folate, cobalamin and methylmalonic acid were normal. Compound heterozygosity for C677T/A1298C methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms was present but oral folic acid failed to lower homocysteine and actually increased methylmalonic acid. Oral cobalamin therapy increased serum cobalamin and partially decreased methylmalonic acid but had no effect on homocysteine. Homocysteine remained unchanged after 11 months of oral cobalamin, folic acid and pyridoxine therapy. However, intramuscular cobalamin promptly decreased both metabolites to normal. Thus, parenteral cobalamin therapy may have greater metabolic effects than oral vitamin therapy even in apparently normal subjects.


Often considered one of the most influential theologians of the latter half of the 20th century, Jurgen Moltmann has been a dominant figure in German Protestant theology through his many published works, especially those undertaken during his tenure as professor of Theology at the University of Tubingen (1967–1994), where he is now emeritus professor of Theology. Born into a secular family in Hamburg and having his interest in theology piqued as a prisoner of war during World War II, Moltmann studied at Gottingen immediately after the war and came to consider himself a Reformed theologian, though many associate him with Lutheran theology because of his work on the theology of the cross, most notably in The Crucified God (1972). The work that brought him to early prominence, however, was Theology of Hope (1964) where he considers eschatology as a hermeneutical premise for understanding Christian theology as a whole. The work, drawing its impetus largely from the philosophy of Ernst Bloch, created a significant trend in theology, and its influence partially extended to other theological currents, including political and liberation theologies. Moltmann's optimism shifted with a number of developments during the 1960s, leading him to work on The Crucified God as a text that interrelated the themes of suffering and God in ways that have been termed a "theology after Auschwitz." Given that the work focuses on the doctrine of God, The Crucified God includes many themes that he would later develop. These first two texts along with The Church in the Power of the Spirit (1975) constitute a trilogy of sorts in that each work explored the "whole of theology" under a single focus. Moltmann took a different approach with his subsequent major works, beginning with The Trinity and the Kingdom (1980), in which he intended to offer "contributions" to the academic field. Additional themes considered in this way included creation (God in Creation, 1985), Christology (The Way of Jesus Christ, 1989), pneumatology (The Spirit of Life, 1991), eschatology (The Coming of God, 1995), and theological methodology (Experiences in Theology, 2000).

Keywords:

Moltmann, Jurgen (b. 1926);
influential theologians, of latter half of 20th century;
German protestant theology;
the crucified God;
creativity and imagination, in his choice of sources


Word-play is one of the biggest challenges in cultural translation due to differences of cultural references from Source Text (ST) to Target Text (TT). The researchers observe this phenomenon by comparing the original and translated work of The Slippery Slope, a book of A Series of Unfortunate Events. This study applies cultural translation approach and is qualitative in nature. There are four strategies employed namely Literal Strategy, Adaptation Strategy, Faithful Strategy, and Communicative Strategy. Those strategies reveal failures of cultural translation from the lack of context and cultural references in the translation product, Lereng Licin. The four strategies employed in the TT do not focus on delivering the cultural references within the ST, making the word-plays losing the same impact in the translated work. This research offers a source or reference for other researchers interested in cultural translation strategies of works with word-plays.


We have previously documented that ursodeoxycholic acid exerts a beneficial effect on liver function and bile acid metabolism in patients with cystic fibrosis. We hypothesized that the mechanism of action may be related in part to the choleretic properties of the administered bile acid. We therefore compared hepatobiliary scintigraphic images obtained before and 1 yr after initiation of ursodeoxycholic acid therapy to document an improvement in bile flow in 13 patients with cystic fibrosis and hepatobiliary involvement. Before therapy, hepatobiliary scintigraphy documented biliary stasis with retention of the isotope in intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts in nine patients; during therapy, duct dilatation decreased substantially in eight patients, with decreased intrahepatic retention and more rapid biliary outflow of the tracer. The time of appearance of isotope in the intestine decreased (from a mean of 36.9 ± 17.8 min to 18.8 ± 9.0 min; p < 0.01) in all patients in whom it had been abnormal, and the half‐time of hepatic washout decreased from a mean of 35 ± 20.7 min to 26 ± 15.6 min (p < 0.05). During ursodeoxycholic acid administration enrichment of bile was achieved, with the mean ursodeoxycholic acid percent composition increasing from 5.8% ± 2.9% to 35.7% ± 8.5%. Ursodeoxycholic acid became the predominant bile acid in serum. Liver function improved in all 10 of the patients with abnormal values at baseline. We conclude that hepatobiliary scintigraphy is of value in monitoring the therapeutic responses of cystic fibrosis patients with liver disease to ursodeoxycholic acid therapy. These scintigraphic changes observed in our patients after treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid confirm the therapeutic effect of this bile acid in cystic fibrosis patients with associated liver disease. The effect may be mediated through an improvement in canalicular excretory function and biliary drainage. (Hepatology 1992;15:677–684).


Managed care has clearly pointed the way to bringing health care costs under control. But the providers themselves, right now, must either take on the responsibility of more directly managing care, bringing utilization down, and sharing in the rewards, or they could find themselves asked to sacrifice while intermediaries prosper.


We present a new method for the determination of 29 endocrine-disrupting compounds in marine water. This method is based on a solid-phase extraction preconcentration technique, followed by a nanoscale liquid chromatography/direct-electron ionization (EI) mass spectrometric analysis. Direct-EI is a novel technique for the rapid conversion of a GC/MS into an efficient and reliable LC/MS for EI detection. The capability to acquire EI mass spectra of the analytes, and to operate in selected ion monitoring mode during real sample analyses, allows certain identification and precise quantification. In addition, this method is not influenced by the polarity of the analytes and does not require different detection modes (positive and negative) for identification with API techniques. Limits of detection of the method span from 0.4 to 118.7 ng.L(-1), corresponding to an instrumental detection limit of 0.005-1.260 ng. Linear regression and recovery experiment data, together with their standard deviations, are also presented. Marine water samples were collected along the middle-western Adriatic Coast (Italy), near the shore and at the mouth of rivers and canals.


Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive, highly invasive tumor with one of the worst clinical outcome among breast cancers with rapid clinical progression and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Epidemiologic data show that IBC affects women at a younger age (58.8 years vs. 66.2 years for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC)) and minorities (African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans) are disproportionately affected. Taken together, the clinical and epidemiological data demonstrate that IBC is in fact a distinct entity from LABC, and therefore more work is required to elucidate the unique molecular characteristics of IBC that will allow for targeted treatment regimens. We have previously shown that elevated expression of Gli1 mRNA, typically a marker for Hh pathway activation, was observed in the SUM149 IBC cell line, compared to a panel of other IBC and non-IBC cell lines, and that Gli1 silencing in SUM149 using siRNA resulted in decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis. SUM149 cells were generated from an aggressive inflammatory breast cancer and have been characterized as a (ErbB2-, ER- and PR-) basal B subtype of breast cancer cell, which is frequently more invasive than other breast cancer cell types. Hence, we also wanted to investigate whether the high levels of Gli1 in SUM149 cells play a role in its unique migratory phenotype. In our study, we first used a conventional in vitro wound healing assay as a measure of migration and found that silencing of Gli1 in SUM149 cells dramatically reduces SUM149 cell migration over 24 hours. To glean more quantitative information from the motility wound healing assay, we were interested in developing high content imaging assays that would also extract other critical parameters defining migration behavior. The advantages of the wound healing assay are that it can be miniaturized and is compatible with microscopy making it amenable to high throughput imaging. Such a high content automated microscopy system allows the analysis of both population and single-cell data on a heterogeneous population of cells and potentially link phenotypic variability to genetic differences. To obtain a more quantitative assessment and further assess the role of Gli1 in the migratory phenotype of SUM149, we tagged SUM149 cells with green fluorescent protein-histone2B (GFP-H2B) to fluorescently label nuclei of living cells and using a high content live cell fluorescence-based imaging system demonstrated that we can track not only cell migration but additional parameters of motility such as linearity of movement and, integrated distance traveled. Many features of each cellular trajectory were tabulated and compared for the experimental conditions and both average linearity and distance traveled were reduced in SUM149 cells with Gli1 silenced. We expect this type of multi-parameter analysis of cell migration after GFP-H2B tagging to be generally applicable to many cell types to assess affects on motility. Grant Support: NIH grant CA137844 (K. P. Williams) and American Cancer Society grant RSG-08-290-01 -CCE (G. R. Devi). K. P. W. and G. R. D. co-senior authors. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):B67.


Abstract : Think. The first responsibility of the acquisition workforce is to think. We need to be true professionals who apply our education, training and experience through analysis and creative, informed thought to address our daily decisions. Our workforce should be encouraged by leaders to think and not to automatically default to a perceived school solution just because it is expected to be approved more easily. BBP 2.0, like BBP 1.0, is not rigid dogmait is guidance subject to professional judgment. That was how Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Frank Kendall described the first of a set of key overarching principles that underlie BBP [Better Buying Power] in his April 24, 2013, memorandum to the Department of Defense (DoD). He said BBP 2.0 should be approached with those principles in mind. In his White Paper introducing Better Buying Power 3.0, Kendall continued to emphasize the vital importance of thinking, . . . nothing is more important to our success than our professional ability to understand, think critically, and make sound decisions about the complex and often highly technical matters defense acquisition confronts.


Batteries as an energy source are no longer a newly recognized technology and their use has been a part of life for many years. Since 1800 AD the battery was invented by Alessandro Volta, an Italian physicist, the battery has undergone various developments ranging from form, function of use, to of course the amount of electric power or now known as MAH. Although the benefits of batteries are undeniable, it is the same as the phrase "There is no ivory that is not cracked", batteries also have the power to harm (bad) especially for the environment, including the contribution of carbon that produces Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions as one of the the cause of global warming (Global warming) which triggers climate change (Climate Change).
To find out, a quantitative study was carried out by calculating the energy conversion of smartphone batteries using the carbone conversion principle in the IPCC formulation. The result shows that the use of smartphone batteries in the last decade has experienced a rapid increase starting from 25,179,840 tons of Co2 in 2011, in 2022 soaring to 302,158,080 tons of Co2. This shows a significant increase in GHG carbon emissions from the development and use of smartphone batteries, this figure accumulatively becomes a fairly large burden on the environment.


The availability and accessibility of livestock products, facilitated by efficient farm production, is highly recognized by Uganda as one of the major ways of alleviating poverty. Although animal genetic improvement offers one of the most powerful and cheapest means of improving the productivity of farm animals, its effective exploitation has been hampered by lack of well planned and executed breeding programmes. With the help of the open nucleus breeding strategy, recommended by many authors for developing countries (Bondoc et el., 1993; Smith, 1988; Kahi et el., 2004), the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Databank (NAGRC&DB) is making efforts to put systematic cattle breeding programmes in place. The essence of this study therefore, is to evaluate a range of open nucleus plans (genetical and operational) for the Holstein-Friesian and Ankole (local) cattle breed populations. The best plans will then be recommended for execution. The study covers the Lake Victoria crescent region in Uganda, a region with an on-going Herd/Milk Recording Scheme, which has provided much of the data. SelAction (computer programme) which uses deterministic simulation, will be used in the evaluation of the different genetic plans. The modes of operation (modus operandi) of the nuclei are to be derived from other studies and literature. 1. Background and aim of the study The multifaceted role of livestock in combating rural poverty, and enhancing food security in terms of quality and quantity makes it an indispensable tool in development. Increasing the availability of nutrients, especially of protein, produced by farm animals is one of the ways out of poverty and malnutrition prevailing in many developing countries. The per capita availability of livestock products in Uganda is 40 litres of milk and 5.6 kg of meat, a pathetic level compared to the FAO recommendations (FAO, 1974-1977) of 200 litres and 50 kg, respectively. At the political level, Uganda has responded to this problem by making animal breeding an important component of its Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP), which is a comprehensive development framework (MAAIF/MFPED, 2000). The National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Databank (NAGRC&DB), a body corporate under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) with the mandate to oversee animal breeding activities in the country, is trying to streamline cattle breeding programmes in the country. The legal basis of its operation is a law entitled "The Animal Breeding Act" (Nakimbugwe et al., 2002). Uganda is one of the few developing countries which have recognised the importance of livestock breeding up to this level.


In earlier days, data was accessible through our electronic devices. Our device is similar to the daily mirror, but with advanced technology like displaying the weather forecast, temperature, time, and daily news. Using the Raspberry Pi, data will be displayed on the device. Our planned system permits us to build such mirrors that mirror to receive online news and display the mirror with present temperature, and weather reports. Our device makes use of a raspberry pi primarily based on a total processor board along with presentations that can be interfaced together. We tend to use an exactly modeled panel to construct the outer frame. Then we use specialized glass with a back frame to enclose the system. The frame cavity is currently fitted with precisely positioned mounts for the display housing to be fitted in the mirror. This is often necessary to achieve the desired effect. Currently, we use the raspberry pi to attach web victimization to an IOT circuit through the employment of a Wi-Fi module.


Abstract Cerebellopontine angle lesions are more commonly found in adults; however, they are uncommon in children. 13 year female child presented with progressive cerebellar signs and decreased hearing in left ear. Magnetic resonance imaging was suggestive of left cerebello-pontine angle epidermoid tumor that was treated surgically. In this rare case we discuss the imaging findings and review the relevant literature.


This report provides a comparison of the oral decorporation efficacy of L-glutathione (GSH), L-cysteine (Cys), and a liposomal GSH formulation (ReadiSorb) toward systemic 60Co to that observed following intravenous administration of GSH and Cys in F344 rats. Aminoacid L-histidine (His) containing no thiol functionality was tested intravenously to compare in vivo efficacy of the aminothiol (GSH, Cys) chelators with that of the aminoimidazole (His) chelator. In these studies, 60Co was administered to animals by intravenous injection, followed by intravenous or oral gavage doses of a chelator repeated at 24-h intervals for a total of 5 doses. The results suggest that GSH and Cys are potent decorporation agents for 60Co in the rat model, although the efficacy of treatment depends largely on the systemic availability of the chelator. The intravenous route of administration of GSH or Cys was most effective in reducing tissue 60Co levels and in increasing excretion of radioactivity compared to control animals. Liposomal encapsulation was found to markedly enhance the oral bioavailability of GSH compared to non-formulated GSH. The oral administration of liposomal GSH reduced 60Co levels in nearly all tissues by 12–43% compared to that observed for non-formulated GSH. Efficacy of oral Cys was only slightly reduced in comparison with intravenous Cys. Further studies to optimize the dosing regimen in order to maximize decorporation efficiency are warranted.


This paper contributes to the debate on the relevance of institutions to economic development in Nigeria. Based on the taxonomy of institutions into informal and formal elements and the seeming overemphasis on the latter, the paper extends the argument further by stressing that Nigeria does not have a dearth of formal institutions, but rather that it is the preponderance of the negative informal institutional characteristics that compromises the efficiency of formal institutions. Consequently, the greater the fossilization of these undesirable informal institutions within the greater segments of the population, the greater the manifest inefficiency of any formal institutional rules or mechanisms superimposed on the society. Thus the informal is a binding constraint on formal institutional efficiency in Nigeria. These constraints must be relaxed through plurality of approaches; the government must play a leading role in socio-economic re-engineering. The focus must be on how to secure a durable political economic equilibrium that will dictate better institutional outcomes.


The current study examined the effects of a preceding bout of aerobic exercise (AE) on subsequent molecular signaling to resistance exercise (RE) of the elbow extensors. Eleven men performed unilateral elbow-extensor AE (~45 min at 70% peak workload) followed by unilateral RE (4 × 7 maximal repetitions) for both arms. Thus, one arm performed AE+RE interspersed with 15 min recovery, whereas the other arm conducted RE alone. Muscle biopsies were taken from the triceps brachii of each arm immediately before (PRE) and 15 min (POST1) and 3 h (POST2) after RE. Molecular markers involved in translation initiation, protein breakdown, mechanosignaling, and ribosome biogenesis were analyzed. Peak power during RE was reduced by 24% (±19%) when preceded by AE (P < 0.05). Increases in PGC1a and MuRF1 expression were greater from PRE to POST2 in AE+RE compared with RE (18- vs. 3.5- and 4- vs. 2-fold, respectively, interaction, P < 0.05). Myostatin mRNA decreased in both arms (P < 0.05). Phosphorylation of AMPK (Thr172) increased (2.5-fold), and 4E-BP1 (Thr37/46) decreased (2.0-fold), after AE (interactions, P < 0.05). p70 S6K, yes-associated protein, and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase phosphorylation were unaltered, whereas focal adhesion kinase decreased ~1.5-fold, and β1-integrin increased ~1.3- to 1.5-fold, (time effect, P < 0.05). Abundance of 45S pre-ribosomal (r)RNA (internally transcribed spacer, ITS) decreased (~30%) after AE (interaction, P < 0.05), whereas CMYC mRNA was greater in AE+RE compared with RE (12-fold, P < 0.05). POLR1B abundance increased after both AE+RE and RE. All together, our results suggest that a single bout of AE leads to an immediate decrease in signaling for translation initiation and ribosome biogenesis. Yet, this did not translate into altered RE-induced signaling during the 3-h postexercise recovery period.


Penicillium chrysogenum is a commonly occurring mould in indoor environments and foods, and has gained much attention for its use in the production of the antibiotic penicillin. Phylogenetic analysis of the most important penicillin producing P. chrysogenum isolates revealed the presence of two highly supported clades, and we show here that these two clades represent two species, P. chrysogenum and P. rubens. These species are phenotypically similar, but extrolite analysis shows that P. chrysogenum produces secalonic acid D and F and/or a metabolite related to lumpidin, while P. rubens does not produce these metabolites. Fleming's original penicillin producing strain and the full genome sequenced strain of P. chrysogenum are re-identified as P. rubens. Furthermore, the well-known claim that Alexander Fleming misidentified the original penicillin producing strain as P. rubrum is discussed.


The study assessed the effects of supplementation of mycotoxin Detoxifier to contaminated groundnut cake (GNC) diet on the growth performance, selected organs and serum enzyme concentrations of two strains of broilers. A total of 198 unsexed day old broil were randomly distributed to 6 dietary treatment groups. Each treatment group was replicated thrice of 33 birds. Corn-groundnut cake-based diet was used for all treatments. Diet that contained non-contaminated GNC was the positive control (PC) whereas diet containing contaminated GNC served as the negative control (NC). Next diet contained contaminated GNC supplemented with mycotoxin Detoxifier. The contamination was achieved by adding 25% water to a unit weight of GNC (w/w), thereafter, stored for one fungi growth and mycotoxin formation. Two percent contaminated GNC was then included in the contaminated diets. These three diets were to the two Arbor Acre and Marshal broilerstrains leading to 6 dietary groups.The results showed that highest total aflatoxin concentration was present in contaminated GNC. Also non contaminated diets had AF concentration greater 20ppb. Marshal broiler starters fed contaminated GNC diet supplemented with mycotoxin Detoxifier had the heaviest final body weight (FBW, P<0.008) and weight gain (WG, P<0.009). Feeding contaminated GNC to broiler starters slightly reduced the FBW and WG for the two strains. Diet imposed did not significantly affect the growth performance of broiler finishers. The main effect Detoxifier had been to restore the liver weight (P<0.023), comparatively to those in the positive control group. Length of the gastrointestinal tract of Marshal broiler chickens was significantly (P<0.026) longer than those of Arbor Acre on contaminated GNC diets with or without Detoxifier. Marshal broilers fed contaminated GNC diet with or without Detoxifier died (P<0.054) more than Arbor Acre broiler fed these two diets.


In this paper, a novel procedure is introduced to find an optimal application-spec ific Network on Chip, considering communication cost and fault-tolerant requirements. The procedure, which is called Ruby, uses a genetic algorithm and a mapping solution to generate a wide range of mappings. A designer can select the optimal mapping from those generated ones, using either a linear function or the fuzzy logic. Ruby enables the designer to customize and prioritize the communication cost and the robustness index. The experimental results reveal the capability of the proposed procedure to explore the design space and assist a designer to find the appropriate mapping from numerous generated solutions.


We investigate the temperature dependence of the mass spectrum of the ion beam emitted by an Au77Ge14Si9 liquid metal alloy ion source. Our results strongly point towards the co-existence of two mechanisms for the emission of doubly-charged monomer ions: direct field evaporation and post-ionization.


Background: Stunting is a chronic nutritional problem that occurs due to lack of nutrient intake over a long period of time, causing growth disturbances which are marked by an appropriate height for age. The incidence of stunting in toddlers is influenced by the low access to food both in terms of quantity and quality. In addition, it is also influenced by the feeding parenting from the mother, particularly in the feeding practice of the children.Objective: To determine the relationship between food diversity and feeding practice with the incidence of stunting in toddlers aged 24-59 months in Bayat Sub-district, Klaten Regency.Method: The study design used was a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted in Bayat Sub-district, Klaten Regency, with a total subject of 100 toddlers aged 24-59 months. The simple random sampling technique was used for sampling. Birth weight and birth length data as seen from KMS book. The food diversity was measured using IDDS (Individual Dietary Diversity Score) questionnaire and feeding practise was obtained through interviews measured using structured questionnaire. The data was then analyzed using bivariate (chi square) and multivariate (logistic regression) analysis.Results: This study showed that the 41% of toddlers aged 24-59 months are stunted. Chi square test showed that there were a relationship between birth length, feeding practice and food diversity with stunting (p ≤ 0.05). The result of multivariate analysis showed that there was a relationship between food diversity with stunting (p= 0,029, OR=3,213, 95% Cl: 1,123-9,189).Conclusion: There is a relationship between birth length, feeding practice, and food diversity with stunting. The most dominant risk factor for stunting was food diversity.


If you have ever been out to the countryside in the spring, you might have heard sheep bleating to their lambs. Sheep also bleat when they are separated from the flock or stressed in some other way. To us, all these bleats sound very similar. But do you think they also sound similar to the lambs? Or do you think the lambs know whose mother is calling and what they are saying? Scientists try to interpret the bleats of sheep by observing their behavior when they hear these sounds. They study the sound waves of recorded bleats to identify each sheep's unique voice and even determine which emotions the sheep are feeling. They also investigate the brain to find out what is going on inside the heads of sheep when they hear and understand the sounds of other sheep. Studies show that sheep really can recognize each other's voices and communicate vocally.


This research was carried out to determine the effects of sorghum (BS = basal diets containing 30% sorghum), corn (BC = basal diets containing corn) and supplemental methionine (BSM = diet BS plus 0.69% methionine, BCM = diet BC plus 0.69% methionine) in broiler diets on the cold carcass weight and cut-up pieces weight of broilers and some chemical, physical and microbiological properties of breast and drumstick meats. A total 240 male (120) or female (120) broiler chicks (Ross-308) were allocated to four dietary treatments (BS, BSM, BC, and BCM groups) in a completely randomized experimental design. At the end of the trial all chicks were slaughtered, and then were stored at 3°C for 24 h. After standard dissection of carcasses, cut-up pieces are weighed. The breasts and drumstick muscles were analyzed for moisture, pH, ash, fat, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), color (L*, a*, and b*), total psychrotrophic, lactic acid, Micrococcus/Staphylococcus, S. aureus, and Enterobacteriaceae counts. Although cold carcass and cut-up pieces weights were positively affected from supplemental methionine containing corn diet. However, weight were not influenced by supplemental methionine in diet containing sorghum and the other groups. While the highest whole breast weight is determined from broilers fed with corn and 0.69% methionine (BCM), the highest drumstick weight was determined from broilers fed with only sorghum (BS). The weights of cold carcasses and cut-up pieces of male broilers were higher than that of female. Except for redness (a* value), other parameters are affected by treatments. The effects of type of meat (breast and drumstick meats) and gender were also variable. The moisture, pH, TBARS, fat, a*, Micrococcus/Staphylococcus and Enterobacteriaceae count were lower ( p<0.05) in breast fillets than drumstick muscles. The moisture, fat, L*, lactic acid bacteria, Micrococcus/Staphylococcus and S. aureus counts were lower ( p<0.05) in female broiler meats than male broiler meats.


BACKGROUND
Job rotation might be an effective preventive measure to reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints, although its effect has not been yet established. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of job rotation in refuse collecting on need for recovery, prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints, and sick leave due to musculoskeletal complaints.

METHODS
A 1-year prospective study among refuse collectors was performed, using standardized questionnaires. Job rotation was performed between collecting two-wheeled containers and driving a refuse truck. The experimental groups of rotating refuse collectors at t(0) and t(1) (group R-R) and non-rotating refuse collectors at t(0) and rotating refuse collectors at t(1) (group NR-R) were compared with a reference group of non-rotating refuse collectors at t(0) and t(1) (group NR-NR).

RESULTS
The adjusted need for recovery of group R-R was marginally significantly lower than need for recovery of the reference group. Groups R-R and NR-R had a more than two times higher risk for complaints of the low back than the reference group. No other significant results were found.

CONCLUSIONS
Job rotation seemed to coincide with a reduced need for recovery and was associated with an increased risk of low back complaints. No effects were found on sick leave due to musculoskeletal complaints. The results might be influenced by the healthy worker selection effect in the reference group and its inverse in the rotating groups.


The aim of this study was to adapt the "Leisure Nostalgia Scale" (LNS) which was developed by Cho, Pyun ve Wang (2019) to measure for the determination of feelings of nostalgia of leisure participants. The study sample consisted of 214 (female 100 Mage = 32.99; Sd= 13.61 years; male 114 Mage = 31.44; Sd= 12.37 years) participants with different leisure experiences. The original version of the scale consists of 5 sub-dimensions and 33 items. Descriptive statistics, item analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Split-Half Analysis, and Cronbach's Alpha analysis were performed to analyze data. EFA and CFA factor analyses showed, the Turkish version of the leisure nostalgia scale was consisted of 3 sub-dimensions with 15 items. The factor loadings of the scale were ranged between 0.51-0.94. Reliability coefficients for the sub-dimensions ranged from 0.93 (social memories), 0.89 (group rituals) and 0.81 (spatial memories). Split-Half correlation coefficients of the scale were found (0.81-0.78). Results finally indicated that LNS was a valid and reliable measurement tool to be used for measuring nostalgic emotional of Turkish leisure participants.


A review is given on the significance, availability, metabolism and application of vitamin E and selenium in sheep. Vitamin E deficiency commonly occurs in spring. Selenium deficiency occurs in certain areas where the selenium content of plants is low. A further factor is the low availability of selenium as a consequence of reduction reactions in the forestomachs. When the supply of vitamin E and selenium is suboptimal, activity of the immune system and growth are impaired.


In present competitive market, there is growing concern for ascertaining and fulfilling the individual customer's wants and needs. Therefore, the focus of manufacturing has been shifting from mass production to mass customization, which requires the manufacturers to introduce an increasing number of products with shorter life span and at a lower cost. Also, another challenge is to manage the variety of products in an environment where demands are stochastic and the lead times to fulfill those demands are short. The focus of this thesis is to develop and investigate platform based production strategies, as opposed to producing each product independently, which would ensure the economic production of the broader specialized products with small final assembly time and under demand uncertainty. The thesis proposes three different platform based production models. The first model considers the economic production of products based on a single platform and with forecasted demands of the products. The model is formulated as a general optimization problem that considers the minimization of total production costs. The second model is the extension of the first model and considers the production of products based on multiple platforms and considers the minimization of total production costs and the setup costs of having multiple platforms. The third model is also an extension of the first model and considers the demands of the products to be stochastic in nature. The model considers the minimization of total production costs and shortage costs of lost demands and holding cost of surplus platforms under demand uncertainties. The problem is modeled as a two stage stochastic programming with recourse. As only the small instances of the models could be solved exactly in a reasonable time, various heuristics are developed by combining the genetic evolutionary search approaches and some operations research techniques to solve the realistic size problems. The various production models are validated and the performances of the various heuristics tailored for the applications are investigated by applying these solution approaches on a case of cordless drills.


This research was done in the Guilan Province. Our statistical populations were the guilanian rice cultivators that cultivated rice in the farming year of 2007 to 2008. The purpose of this article is to compare and study the production average (function) and income of two groups of farmers which culture the productive figures and native ones. Finally, we identified and classified the factors which are effective in the acceptance of improved figures. For this purpose, we gathered the required information by asking essential questions based on the field study method. We then, analyzed the statistics by the SPSS software besides the library study, observation and interviews. The results of this study showed that the cost of rice cultivation for productive figures is high but the income gotten from it may be effective for accepting its cultivation by farmers. Other factors such as the farmer's education, age, communication with the agricultural promoter and participation in the promotional and educational classes and so on can be effective for accepting and using these figures by Guilan farmers.

 Key words: Acceptance, high yield, production.


Conventional telepresence systems allow remote users to see one another and interact with shared media and documents, but users cannot make eye contact, and gaze awareness with respect to shared media and documents is lost. In this paper we describe a remote collaboration system based on a see-through display to create an experience where local and remote users are seemingly separated only by a vertical sheet of glass. Users can see each other and media displayed on the shared surface. Face detectors on the local and remote video streams are used to introduce an offset in the video display so as to bring the local user's face, the local camera, and the remote user's face image into collinearity. This ensures that when the local user looks at the remote user's image, the camera behind the see-through display captures an image with the 'Mona Lisa effect', where the eyes of an image appears to follow the viewer. Experiments show that our system is capable of capturing and delivering realistic, genuine eye contact as well as accurate gaze awareness with respect to shared media.


Communication security for wireless sensor networks (WSN) is a challenge due to the limited computation and energy resources available at nodes. We describe the design and implementation of a public-key (PK) platform based on a standard Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip that extends the capability of a standard node. The result facilitates message security services such as confidentiality, authenticity and integrity. We present results including computation time, energy consumption and cost.


Recent analytical global placers use density constraints to approximate nonoverlap constraints, and these show very successful results. This paper unifies a wide range of density smoothing techniques called global smoothing and presents a highly efficient method for computing the gradient of such smoothed densities used in several well-known analytical placers. This method reduces the complexity of the gradient computation by a factor of n compared with a naive method, where n is the number of modules. Furthermore, with this efficient gradient computation, it is able to support an efficient nonlinear programming-based placement framework, which supersedes the existing force-directed placement methods. Experiments show that replacing the approximated gradient computation in mPL6 with the exact gradient computation improves wire length by 15% on the IBM-HB+ benchmark and by 3% on average on the modified International Symposium on Physical Design 2005 (ISPD'05) and ISPD'06 placement contest benchmarks with movable macros. The results also show that the augmented Lagrangian method outperforms the quadratic penalty method with the exact gradient computation.


Hundreds of new psychoactive substances (NPS) have emerged in the drug market over the last decade. Few drug surveys in the USA, however, ask about use of NPS, so prevalence and correlates of use are largely unknown. A large portion of NPS use is unintentional or unknown as NPS are common adulterants in drugs like ecstasy/Molly, and most NPS are rapidly eliminated from the body, limiting efficacy of urine, blood and saliva testing. We utilized a novel method of examining prevalence of NPS use in a high-risk population utilizing hair-testing. Hair samples from high-risk nightclub and dance music attendees were tested for 82 drugs and metabolites (including NPS) using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Eighty samples collected from different parts of the body were analyzed, 57 of which detected positive for at least one substance-either a traditional or new drug. Among these, 26 samples tested positive for at least one NPS-the most common being butylone (25 samples). Other new drugs detected include methylone, methoxetamine, 5/6-APB, α-PVP and 4-FA. Hair analysis proved a powerful tool to gain objective biological drug-prevalence information, free from possible biases of unintentional or unknown intake and untruthful reporting of use. Such testing can be used actively or retrospectively to validate survey responses and inform research on consumption patterns, including intentional and unknown use, polydrug-use, occasional NPS intake and frequent or heavy use.


This paper presents the development of several efficient learning algorithms for neural networks (ELEANNE). The ELEANNE 1 and ELEANNE 2 are two recursive least-squares learning algorithms, proposed for training single-layered neural networks with analog output. This paper also proposes a new optimization strategy for training single-layered neural networks, which provides the basis for the development of a variety of efficient learning algorithms. This optimization strategy is the source of the ELEANNE 3, a second-order learning algorithm for training single-layered neural networks with binary output. A simplified version of this algorithm, called ELEANNE 4, is also derived on the basis of some simplifying but reasonable assumptions. The two algorithms developed for single-layered neural networks provide the basis for the derivation of ELEANNE 5 and ELEANNE 6, which are proposed for training multilayered neural networks with binary output. The ELEANNE 7 is an efficient algorithm developed for training multilayered neural networks with either binary or analog output. >


Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a lethal genetic disease characterized by progressive muscle degeneration that usually had been used the Golden Retriever as a model for studying the disease (GRMD - Golden Retriever Muscular Dystrophy). A total of 16 male dystrophic Golden Retrievers dogs between 5 to 51 months of age were examined in the present study. The animals were classified as dystrophic according to two simultaneous complementary criteria: genotypic analysis and serum creatine kinase levels. The macroscopic abnormalities of the different organs and tissues and histopathological features were described using hematoxylin-eosin. The lesions in the skeletal muscles associated with the digestive problems resulted in cachexia with different intensities in all the dystrophic dogs. Cardiac muscle involvement was found in 87,5% of the GRMD dogs resulting, however, in cardiac failure in only 18,8% of the animals. The musculature of the diaphragm was hypertrophic in all affected animals resulting in progressive respiratory muscle weakness and at later stages in respiratory failure (81,25%). The liver abnormalities found in dystrophic dogs were originated mainly from heart disease and developed progressively. Hyperemia of mucosa and granular material indicated changes in the functioning and emptying of bladder. The germinative lineage cells presented moderate to severe degeneration probably due to degeneration of the scrotum and cremaster muscle which prevented the proper thermo-regulation of the testicle. Our results highlight the fact that there is significant impairment of the cardiac, respiratory and skeletal muscle systems in GRMD dogs since the age of five months. In addition, significant alterations of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary and reproductive systems are indicating the presence of degenerative lesions in the smooth musculature.


Enzymatic acylation of secondary symmetrical diols (as meso/dl mixtures) in combination with ruthenium-catalyzed isomerization of the diol led to efficient dynamic kinetic resolution. In this way, a meso/dl mixture of the diol was transformed to enantiomerically pure (R,R)-diacetate, making efficient use of all the diol material. For some of the flexible substrates, substantial amounts of meso-diacetates were formed as side products. The results indicate that the major part of the meso product is formed via an intramolecular acyl-transfer pathway.


The unique aspect of the hybrid perovskites is their tunability, allowing to engineer the bandgap via substitution. From application viewpoint, this allows creation of the tandem cells between perovskites and silicon, or two or more perovskites, with associated increase of efficiency beyond single-junction Schokley-Queisser limit. However, the concentration dependence of optical bandgap in the hybrid perovskite solid solutions can be non-linear and even non-monotonic, as determined by the band alignments between endmembers, presence of the defect states and Urbach tails, and phase separation. Exploring new compositions brings forth the joint problem of the discovery of the composition with the desired band gap, and establishing the physical model of the band gap concentration dependence. Here we report the development of the experimental workflow based on structured Gaussian Process (sGP) models and custom sGP (c-sGP) that allow the joint discovery of the experimental behavior and the underpinning physical model. This approach is verified with simulated data sets with known ground truth, and was found to accelerate the discovery of experimental behavior and the underlying physical model. The d/c-sGP approach utilizes a few calculated thin film bandgap data points to guide targeted explorations, minimizing the number of thin film preparations. Through iterative exploration, we demonstrate that the c-sGP algorithm that combined 5 bandgap models converges rapidly, revealing a relationship in the bandgap diagram of MA1-xGAxPb(I1-xBrx)3. This approach offers a promising method for efficiently understanding the physical model of band gap concentration dependence in the binary systems, this method can also be extended to ternary or higher dimensional systems.


The Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI) is a public-private partnership created in 2007 between the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Duke University for the purpose of identifying practices that will increase the quality and efficiency of clinical trials. The initiative was generated from the realization that the clinical trials system in the United States has been suffering as a result of increasingly longer study start-up times, slowing enrollment of patients into trials, increasing clinical trial costs, and declining investigator interest in participating in clinical trials. Although CTTI was created to address a crisis for US clinical research, it seeks to identify practice improvements that can be applied internationally, and is therefore engaging international collaborators with international efforts that have similar objectives. CTTI's approach is to involve all sectors in the selection, conduct, and interpretation of its projects; to keep the dialogue open across sectors; to provide evidence that can influence regulatory guidance, and to attempt to create a "level playing field" when recommending change. The hope is that a broad and diverse data-driven discussion of the important issues in clinical trials will lead to meaningful change for the benefit of all concerned, and importantly for patients.


As of April 18, 2020, 2.16 million patients in the world had been tested positive with Coronavirus (COVID-19) and 146,088 had died, which accounts for a case fatality rate of 6.76%. In Mexico, according to official statistics (April 18), 7,497 cases have been confirmed with 650 deaths, for a case fatality rate of 8.67%. These estimates, however, may not reflect the final fatality risk among COVID-19 confirmed patients, because they are based on cross-sectional counts of diagnosed and deceased patients, and therefore are not adjusted by time of exposure and right-censorship. In this paper we estimate fatality risks based on survival analysis methods, calculated from individual-level data on symptomatic patients confirmed with COVID-19 recently released by the Mexican Ministry of Health. The estimated fatality risk after 35 days of onset of symptoms is 12.38% (95% CI: 11.37-13.47). Fatality risks sharply rise with age, and significantly increase for males (59%) and individuals with comorbidities (38%-168%, depending on the disease). Two reasons may explain the high COVID-19 related fatality risk observed in Mexico, despite its younger age structure: the high selectivity and self-selectivity in testing and the high prevalence of chronic-degenerative diseases.


This study examined two approaches that account for recycled materials in LCA studies, the recycled content (RC) approach and the end-of-life recycling (EOL) approach, which were reviewed with reference to aluminum. Interviews were conducted to obtain best practices in using these two approaches and carbon footprinting was used as an environmental performance metric. The interview results showed that across the stakeholder groups there was no unanimity or preferences regarding either approach where LCA studies involved metals/aluminum. The case study of aluminum recycling applied a custom computer model developed for a Canadian primary producer that compared the carbon emissions of producing 1 metric ton (mt) of aluminum for the two approaches. The average value of mt CO2 eq. produced per mt aluminum was lower using the EOL approach versus the RC approach in every scenario. Percentage differences indicated substantial differences in the results when the two approaches were compared.


Dendritic polymers are highly branched polymers with controllable structures, which possess a large population of terminal functional groups, low solution or melt viscosity, and good solubility. Their size, degree of branching and functionality can be adjusted and controlled through the synthetic procedures. These tunable structures correspond to application-related properties, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, stimuli-responsiveness and self-assembly ability, which are the key points for theranostic applications, including chemotherapeutic theranostics, biotherapeutic theranostics, phototherapeutic theranostics, radiotherapeutic theranostics and combined therapeutic theranostics. Up to now, significant progress has been made for the dendritic polymers in solving some of the fundamental and technical questions toward their theranostic applications. In this review, we briefly summarize how to control the structures of dendritic polymers, the theranostics-related properties derived from their structures and their theranostics-related applications.