Activation of the trigeminal system causes the release of various neuropeptides, cytokines, and other immune mediators. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which is a potent algogenic mediator, is expressed in the peripheral sensory neurons of trigeminal ganglion (TG). It affects the inflammatory responses and pain sensitivity by modulating the activity of glial cells. The primary aim of this study was to use array analysis to investigate the effect of CGRP on the glial cells of TG in regulating nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling genes and to further check if CGRP in the TG can affect neuron-glia activation in the spinal trigeminal nucleus caudalis. The glial cells of TG were stimulated with CGRP or Minocycline (Min) + CGRP. The effect on various genes involved in NF-κB signaling pathway was analyzed compared to no treatment control condition using a PCR array analysis. CGRP, Min + CGRP or saline was directly injected inside the TG and the effect on gene expression of Egr1, Myd88 and Akt1 and protein expression of cleaved Caspase3 (cleav Casp3) in the TG, and c-Fos and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the spinal section containing trigeminal nucleus caudalis was analyzed. Results showed that CGRP stimulation resulted in the modulation of several genes involved in the interleukin 1 signaling pathway and some genes of the tumor necrosis factor pathway. Minocycline pre-treatment resulted in the modulation of several genes in the glial cells, including anti-inflammatory genes, and neuronal activation markers. A mild increase in cleav Casp3 expression in TG and c-Fos and GFAP in the spinal trigeminal nucleus of CGRP injected animals was observed. These data provide evidence that glial cells can participate in neuroimmune interaction due to CGRP in the TG via NF-κB signaling pathway.


An inter-temporal equilibrium model is developed for the purpose of optimizing the scheduling of production in Australian sugar mills. An application of this quadratic programming model is then discussed, and the procedures used to estimate coefficients are outlined. Two tentative conclusions are that mills tend to commence crushing before the optimal starting date and that in many cases they would have been unable to cover their marginal processing costs when producing No.2 Pool sugar in recent seasons.


We used microsatellites to study the fine‐scale genetic structure of a highly polygynous and largely unicolonial population of the ant Formica paralugubris. Genetic data indicate that long‐distance gene flow between established nests is limited and new queens are primarily recruited from within their natal nest. Most matings occur between nestmates and are random at this level. In the center of the study area, budding and permanent connections between nests result in strong population viscosity, with close nests being more similar genetically than distant nests. In contrast, nests located outside of this supercolony show no isolation by distance, suggesting that they have been initiated by queens that participated in mating flights rather than by budding from nearby nests in our sample population. Recruitment of nestmates as new reproductive individuals and population viscosity in the supercolony increase genetic differentiation between nests. This in turn inflates relatedness estimates among worker nestmates (r = 0.17) above what is due to close pedigree links. Local spatial genetic differentiation may favor the maintenance of altruism when workers raise queens that will disperse on foot and compete with less related queens from neighboring nests or disperse on the wing and compete with unrelated queens.


OBJECTIVE
Accumulating evidence highlights the importance of using psychosocial approaches to intervention for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that target the family and school, as well as the intersection of family and school. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a family-school intervention, Family-School Success (FSS), designed to improve the family and educational functioning of students in Grades 2-6 who meet criteria for ADHD combined and inattentive types. Key components of FSS were conjoint behavioral consultation, daily report cards, and behavioral homework interventions.

METHOD
FSS was provided over 12 weekly sessions, which included 6 group sessions, 4 individualized family sessions, and 2 school-based consultations. Participating families were given the choice of placing their children on medication; 43% of children were on medication at the time of random assignment. Children (n = 199) were randomly assigned to FSS or a comparison group controlling for non-specific treatment effects (Coping With ADHD Through Relationships and Education [CARE]). Outcomes were assessed at post-intervention and 3-month follow-up. The analyses controlled for child medication status.

RESULTS
FSS had a significant effect on the quality of the family-school relationship, homework performance, and parenting behavior.

CONCLUSIONS
The superiority of FSS was demonstrated even though about 40% of the participants in FSS and CARE were on an optimal dose of medication and there were significant time effects on each measure. This relatively brief intervention produced effect sizes comparable to those of the more intensive Multimodal Treatment Study of Children With ADHD (MTA) behavioral intervention.


[1] We thank Zhang [2007] for recognizing the significance and importance of our work. In his comment, he questioned whether we have correctly assessed the wind speed/gas transfer velocity relationship derived from the NZ SOLAS Air-Sea Gas Exchange (SAGE) experiment [Ho et al., 2006]. Specifically, he assumes that we only analyzed the gas transfer velocity data from SAGE using a quadratic wind speed enhancement and not a cubic wind speed enhancement. In fact, we concluded that the quadratic fits of Wanninkhof [1992] and Nightingale et al. [2000] were more consistent with the SAGE data than the cubic relationship of Wanninkhof and McGillis [1999], on the basis of statistical comparisons using corresponding quadratic and cubic wind speed enhancements. Also, he has misinterpreted a sentence in the abstract of Ho et al. [2006]: ''The results clearly reveal a quadratic relationship between wind speed and gas transfer velocity, rather than a recently proposed cubic relationship'' to mean that the data derived from the SAGE Experiment excludes all cubic relationships, when in fact, we were merely assessing existing wind speed/gas exchange relationships. In the following, we respond to the comment by Zhang [2007] and address both of his misunderstandings.


In any domestic area, it is important to establish control and prevention strategy for the characterisation of parasite genotype. The purpose of this research is the characterisation of various Echinococcus granulosus isolates found in Iraq, by means of the DNA sequence of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA. To conduct the study, naturally infected Echinococcus granulosus from thirty lungs and livers of goats, cattle, camel and sheep were gathered from the slaughter- house in Kirkuk city , during the period of February and December 2013. For the genetic work, almost eighteen fertile cysts were used. The technique that is premeditated and tested, required two novel primer sets that precisely amplified the portion of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene of 2 Echinococcus granulosus genotypes named G6 and G1. One of the two sets of primer augmented a portion of 674 base sets from the G6 genotype. Whereas the second pair amplified a portion of 253 base sets from the genotype G1. Keywords : Echinococcosis, Molecular genotyping, DNA gene


In this study, mathematical expressions based upon the conventional BEMT(blade element momentum theory) was applied to basic 100㎾ wind turbine blade configuration design. Power coefficient and related flow parameters, such as Prandtl's tip loss coefficient, tangential and axial flow induction factors of the wind turbine were analyzed systematically. X-FOIL was used to acquire lift and drag coefficients of the 2-D airfoils and Viterna-Corrigan formula was used to interpolate the aerodynamic characteristics in post-stall region. Also, aerodynamic characteristics, measured in a wind tunnel to calculate the power coefficient was applied. The comparative results such as axial and tangential flow factors, power coefficients were presented in this study. Power coefficient, calculated by in-house code was compared with the GH-Bladed result. The difference of the aerodynamic characteristics caused the difference of the performance characteristics as variation as TSR.


The glycoprotein Mo1 has previously been demonstrated to be on the cell surface and in the specific granule fraction of neutrophils and to be translocated to the cell surface during degranulation. It is not known, however, whether Mo1 is an integral membrane protein or a soluble, intragranular constituent loosely associated with the specific granule membrane. Purified neutrophils were disrupted by nitrogen cavitation and separated on Percoll density gradients into four fractions enriched for azurophilic granules, specific granules, plasma membrane, and cytosol, respectively. The glycoproteins in these fractions were labeled with 3H-borohydride reduction, extracted with Triton X-114, and immunoprecipitated with 60.3, an anti-Mo1 monoclonal antibody Mo1 was detected only in the specific granule and plasma membrane fractions and partitioned exclusively into the detergent-rich fraction consistent with Mo1 being an integral membrane protein. In addition, treatment of specific granule membranes with a high salt, high urea buffer to remove absorbed or peripheral proteins failed to dissociate Mo1. These data support the hypothesis that Mo1 is an integral membrane protein of plasma and specific granule membranes in human neutrophils.


The Oligocene Menilite Formation represents the most important hydrocarbon source rock in the Flysch Carpathians. The formation is laterally uniform across long distances but shows strong vertical heterogeneity reflecting changes in depositional environments, which control the source rock potential. In the Czech Republic, the Menilite Formation is subdivided into the Subchert Member (nannofossil zone NP22), Chert Member (upper NP22 to lower NP23), Dynów Marlstone (NP23) and Šitbořice Member (upper NP23 to lower NP25). The present study describes in detail the Bystřice nad Olší section in the Subsilesian Unit where all four members are exposed including the uppermost part of the underlying Frýdlant Formation (Sheshory Marls). The present Frýdlant Formation has a negligible source rock potential compared to the Menilite Formation. The Menilite Formation in the Bystřice nad Olší section has mostly "good" source rock potential, although the TOC indicates "very good" potential. The Subchert Member (average TOC: 3.6 wt. %; HI up to 505 mg HC/g TOC) and the Chert Member (average TOC: 2.2 wt. %; HI up to 790 mg HC/g TOC) are the most prolific units. Based on organic petrography and HI, the kerogen is classified as type II and I. Indications of admixtures of type III kerogen are limited to samples with low TOC contents (<1 wt. %). The Source Potential Index (SPI) of the Menilite Formation in the Subsilesian Unit of the Czech Republic is estimated as ~1.15 t HC/m2 which is comparable to SPI calculated for sections in the Silesian and Ždánice units in the Czech Republic and for the Waschberg Zone in Austria. Significantly higher SPI values estimated for the Polish and especially the Ukrainian Carpathians (up to 74.5 t HC/m2) are caused by a wider stratigraphic range, several times greater thickness and higher total organic matter content.


An ultracompact transverse magnetic (TM)-pass polarizer based on silicon nanophotonic waveguides is proposed, which contains two tapered waveguides sandwiching a narrow waveguide section only supporting TM-mode propagation. A full-vectorial eigenmode solver is employed to determine the appropriate cross section of the silicon nanophotonic waveguide. The device is first designed in a 2-D approximate model using a wide-angle beam propagation method, and numerical verification is carried out afterward using a parallel full-vectorial 3-D finite-difference time-domain simulation. Both approaches indicate that the finite thickness of the buried SiO2 layerand the reflection at the substrate play important roles on the extinction ratio of the device. A designed numerical example shows an extinction ratio of ~26 dB for the waveguide polarizer with a length of ~10 ¿m, while the insertion loss for the TM mode is negligible.


Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) was combined with charge-coupled-device (CCD) photon detection in measuring spatially resolved protein adsorption kinetics along one of the linear dimensions of a flat surface. The experimental method was designed to study the kinetics of binding of fluorescein-labeled immunoglobulin G (FITC-IgG) onto the surfaces with the wettability gradient. Protein was adsorbed from a flowing buffer solution. The buffer solution contained either only fluorescein-labeled immunoglobulin G or FITC-IgG and two other unlabeled proteins: albumin and fibrinogen. The concentrations of proteins were 1/1000 of the respective protein concentrations in plasma. Adsorption of FITC-IgG was dependent on the wettability of the surface as well as on the presence of other proteins in the adsorbing solution. The exchange of surface-bound FITC-IgG with other proteins was observed along the wettability transition region of the gradient surface but not at either the hydrophobic or the hydrophilic sides. The amphiphilic interface between the microscopic hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains in the wettability transition region of the gradient surface was proposed to explain the adsorption behavior of FITC-IgG. The spatially resolved TIRF-CCD method has the potential of detecting the fast protein adsorption, desorption, and exchange processes from complex protein mixtures, such as serum and plasma.


The paper presents the theoretical basis of manufacturing and chosen applications of composite coatings with ceramic matrix containing nanomaterials as a solid lubricant (AHC+NL). From a theoretical point of view, in order to reduce the friction coefficient of sliding contacts, two materials are required, i.e. one with a high hardness and the other with low shear strength. In case of composite coatings AHC+NL the matrix is a very hard and wear resistant anodic oxide coating (AHC) whereas the solid lubricant used is the nanomaterial (NL) featuring a low shear strength such as glassy carbon nanotubes (GC). Friction coefficient of cast iron GJL-350 sliding against the coating itself is much higher (0.18-0.22) than when it slides against a composite coating (0.08-0.14). It is possible to reduce the friction due to the presence of carbon nanotubes, or metal nanowires.


In live-cell fluorescence microscopy imaging, quantitative analysis of biological image data generally involves the detection of many subresolution objects, appearing as diffraction-limited spots. Due to acquisition limitations, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be extremely low, making automated spot detection a very challenging task. In this paper, we quantitatively evaluate the performance of the most frequently used supervised and unsupervised detection methods for this purpose. Experiments on synthetic images of three different types, for which ground truth was available, as well as on real image data sets acquired for two different biological studies, for which we obtained expert manual annotations for comparison, revealed that for very low SNRs (≈2), the supervised (machine learning) methods perform best overall, closely followed by the detectors based on the so-called h-dome transform from mathematical morphology and the multiscale variance-stabilizing transform, which do not require a learning stage. At high SNRs (≫5), the difference in performance of all considered detectors becomes negligible.


In this paper, various Recursive Mixed L2-Linfty (RML) learning algorithms are developed by choosing different forgetting factor matrix function () for Linear-inthe-Parameters (LIP) models, including Projection, Recursive Mixed L2-Linfty, Recursive Mixed Mean L2-Linfty, weighted Mixed L2-Linfty, instantaneous RML, and Batch RML algorithms. A few models are given to apply the proposed RML algorithms for system identification, and some simulations are carried out to show the algorithms' efficiency and effectiveness.


Strategic information systems planning (SISP) remains a top concern of many organizations. Accordingly, researchers have investigated SISP practice and proposed both formal methods and principles of good practice. SISP cannot be understood by considering formal methods alone. The processes of planning and the implementation of plans are equally important. However, there have been very few field investigations of these phenomena. This study examines SISP experience in 27 companies and, unusually, relies on interviews not only with IS managers but also with general managers and line managers. By adopting this broader perspective, the investigation reveals companies were using five different SISP approaches: Business-Led, Method-Driven, Administrative, Technological, and Organizational. Each approach has different characteristics and, therefore, a different likelihood of success. The results show that the Organizational Approach appears to be most effective. The taxonomy of the five approaches potentially provides a diagnostic tool for analyzing and evaluating an organization's experience with SISP.


40 patients underwent surgery for aspergilloma at the authors' ward of thoracic surgery. Pulmonary defects or cavities were recorded from 95 per cent of them (13 cases of bronchiectasis, eight with tuberculous caverns, and six cysts). Serological methods, 100 per cent in accuracy, were superior to all other diagnostic approaches. Lobectomy was the most common therapeutic approach, followed by segment resection and atypical resection. Surgery has proved to be the optional therapeutic approach to aspergilloma, though a high rate of postoperative complications has to be expected.


Since the end of the Cold War there has been growing attention paid to relationships between environment and security. Some scholars and policymakers have suggested that regional environmental protection provides a 'soft power' means by which Japan can contribute to its own as well as international security. However, there have been few studies devoted to articulating the links between environmental degradation and Japan's security. This study presents a case of how regional environmental problems affect Japan's security and strategic interests in Southeast Asia. The analysis suggests there are, in fact, compelling reasons for environmental problems in Southeast Asia to be viewed with concern from a security standpoint in Japan.


Plants have evolved to extensively employ leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs), the largest family of RLKs, to control growth, development, and defense. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the EXCESS MICROSPOROCYTES1 (EMS1) LRR-RLK and its potential small protein ligand TAPETUM DETERMINANT1 (TPD1) are specifically required for anther cell differentiation; however, TPD1 and EMS1 orthologs also control megaspore mother cell proliferation in rice and maize ovules. Here, the molecular function of TPD1 was demonstrated during ovule development in Arabidopsis using a gain-of-function approach. In ovules, the EMS1 gene was primarily expressed in nucellus epidermis and chalaza, whereas the expression of TPD1 was weakly restricted to the distal end of integuments. Ectopic expression of TPD1 caused pleiotropic defects in ovule and seed development. RNA sequencing analysis showed that ectopic expression of TPD1 altered expression of auxin signaling genes and core cell-cycle genes during ovule development. Moreover, ectopic expression of TPD1 not only affected auxin response but also enhanced expression of cyclin genes CYCD3;3 and CYCA2;3 in ovules. Thus, these results provide insight into the molecular mechanism by which TPD1-EMS1 signaling controls plant development possibly via regulation of auxin signaling and cell-cycle genes.


Following the significance of dissipative, out-of-equilibrium biological processes controlling living systems, we introduce nucleic acid-based dissipative constitutional dynamic networks (CDNs) that exhibit tunable transient composition changes of the networks dictated by auxiliary fuel strands. CDN "X" composed of four equilibrated nucleic acid constituents, AA', AB', BA' and BB', and the accompanying "dormant" structures T1L1 and T2L2 and nicking enzyme Nt.BbvCI, undergoes dissipative orthogonal transitions to CDN "Y" and back or to CDN "Z" and back. In the presence of the fuel strand L1' or L2', the displacement of the respective "dormant" structure releases the trigger T1 or T2 that activates the reconfiguration of CDN "X" to CDN "Y" or CDN "X" to CDN "Z". The generated duplex L1L1' or L2L2' is designed to be nicked by Nt.BbvCI leading to the regeneration of L1 or L2 that rebinds to T1 or T2, resulting in the dissipative cyclic recovery of CDN "X". Kinetic simulations of the dissipative processes allow us to predict the dissipative behavior of the systems under different auxiliary conditions. Subjecting CDN "X" to altering sets of the fuel strands L1' and L2' yields programmed reconfiguration patterns of dissipative reaction cycles. By engineering functional nucleic acid tethers on the constituents and the triggering strands, orthogonal dissipative emerging catalytic transformations dictated by the dissipative CDNs are demonstrated.


This study presents empirical evidence on the impact of monetary policy transparency on inflation. A lot of studies analyzed how monetary policy transparency is entangled with inflation level from a theoretical point of view and came to contradictory results (some studies argued that transparency leads to lower inflation, others concluded that transparency results in higher prices). But this study is different from prior studies. Firstly, it looks at investigated issue empiri-cally. Secondly, it considers for other causes of inflation and employs a panel data set on central bank transparency. Thirdly this paper investigates the issue associated with transparency in Ukraine. The authors find that transparency significantly reduces inflation rates in developed countries, but it is positively associated with inflation in Ukraine.


Information technology plays a leading role in the transformation of banking. The deepening of financial markets has profoundly affected the business of banking. The recent focus on fintech – basically, new technology-driven players entering the financial services industry – is the latest manifestation of the impact of information technology on the industry. This paper will focus on the structure of the banking industry going forward. We will try to draw lessons from the (older) literature on scale and scope economies in banking. Much uncertainty remains as fintech will lead to a disaggregation of the value chain, and will challenge the bank-customer interface at the core.


In May 2011, at the seventh annual gathering of the Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (QI), Norman Denzin organized two town hall meetings for anyone interested in exploring the idea of creating an Indigenous Qualitative Inquiry preconference day. In this article, we share the story of a small group that met to imagine into being the first Indigenous Qualitative Inquiry preconference day at the Eighth QI Congress in May 2012. We share the call that connected our work with others, describe the events of the preconference day, and share our hope for Indigenizing the academy – a journey of hope that we acknowledge requires careful navigation as we endeavour to move respectfully and in a good way for and toward transformative change.


A theoretical analysis is made of a two-dimensional gasdynamic model of a self-contained supersonic pulse-periodic HF laser with Q switching. It is shown that additional relaxation and the difference between the rotational quantum numbers of lasing transitions are responsible for the reduction in the specific output energy in the pulse-periodic regime to ~15–20%, depending on the pressure in a gas generator, of the output energy in the cw regime. The energy of a pulse per unit area of the nozzle array is ~2.5×10-4 J cm-2. The pulse duration can be varied in a wide range (at least 10 ns) by a suitable selection of the threshold conditions in the cavity. The pulse repetition frequency, governed by the time needed to replace the active medium over the whole length of the lasing zone, is ~30–50 kHz.


We investigated the mechanical properties of nitrogen-containing graphene under tensile loading via molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In the MD simulation, we used three types of potential functions: the second–generation reactive empirical bond order (REBO) potential for covalent C–C bonds, the Tersoff potential for covalent C–N bonds, and the Lennard–Jones potential for the interlayer interaction of graphite. The effects of nitrogen content and different distributions of nitrogen atoms in graphene on its properties were studied. It was found that a nitrogen content of up to 4% had little effect on the mechanical properties of graphene except when two nitrogen atoms contained in graphene adjoined each other.


Nikki Welyczko, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, provides a brief overview of recently published nursing and health articles


As Japan is facing a super-aged society, Japanese women find themselves on the front line as traditional family caregivers. Our aim was to describe the observations and thoughts of one Japanese woman's experience of living with her elderly parents in the suburbs of Tokyo. One open-ended interview was performed and analyzed using content analysis with a methodological departure in qualitative journalistic interviewing. The case was a single woman in her late 40s living with her aged parents. Reciprocity was identified as the glue holding the joy and burdens of the role of caregiving for elderly parents. Moreover, gender was identified as a motivator for reciprocity from a macro to a micro level in a super-aged society.


A technique to characterize the frequency modulation rate (FMR) parameters was developed. The technique is based on zero crossing counting and digital signal processing techniques. A number of implementation issues regarding the proposed FMR parameter measurement technique are addressed. Applications of the proposed technique are discussed.<<ETX>>


All processes involving molecular systems entail a balance between associated enthalpic and entropic changes. Molecular dynamics simulations of the end‐points of a process provide in a straightforward way the enthalpy as an ensemble average. Obtaining absolute entropies is still an open problem and most commonly pathway methods are used to obtain free energy changes and thereafter entropy changes. The kth nearest neighbor (kNN) method has been first proposed as a general method for entropy estimation in the mathematical community 20 years ago. Later, it has been applied to compute conformational, positional–orientational, and hydration entropies of molecules. Programs to compute entropies from molecular ensembles, for example, from molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories, based on the kNN method, are currently available. The kNN method has distinct advantages over traditional methods, namely that it is possible to address high‐dimensional spaces, impossible to treat without loss of resolution or drastic approximations with, for example, histogram‐based methods. Application of the method requires understanding the features of: the kth nearest neighbor method for entropy estimation; the variables relevant to biomolecular and in general molecular processes; the metrics associated with such variables; the practical implementation of the method, including requirements and limitations intrinsic to the method; and the applications for conformational, position/orientation and solvation entropy. Coupling the method with general approximations for the multivariable entropy based on mutual information, it is possible to address high dimensional problems like those involving the conformation of proteins, nucleic acids, binding of molecules and hydration.This article is categorized under:
Molecular and Statistical Mechanics > Free Energy Methods
Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Statistical Mechanics
Structure and Mechanism > Computational Biochemistry and Biophysics


Phase contrast (PC) cardiac MRI is clinically used to quantify flow. The quantification accuracy is diminished by background phase errors. Stationary tissue-based background phase correction algorithms are commercially available, but their accuracy is still under evaluation. Here, we investigate if a self-calibrated phase contrast (SCPC) algorithm which includes automatic failure mode classification, can improve accuracy in a large single-vendor multi-scanner study including 346 PC scans. Our results show that SCPC improves flow quantification accuracy and can identify most PC scans which are unreliable regardless of stationary tissue correction or not.


Purpose of the study. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the current state and prospects for introducing the principles of open access to scientific publications and scientific data in the sphere of science and education in Belarus. Its relevance is related to the need to develop measures to accelerate the process of digital transformation of science and education of the Republic of Belarus. Materials and methods. Information base of the research was made by publications of scientists and specialists on the issues under study, normative documents, final documents of conferences on this topic, data from the Open Data in Belarus portal, national and international aggregators of institutional repositories, open scientific data repositories. Results. The analysis of the state and prospects of introducing the principles of open access to scientific publications and scientific data into the sphere of science and education of Belarus was carried out during the research. It is shown that the digital transformation of science and education is at an early stage. The dissemination of the principles of open science and the introduction of new instruments of scientific communication in the Belarusian academic and university science are uneven, there is a need to develop a strategy in this direction. The principle of open access to publications is being most actively introduced into practice through the development of a network of university repositories. In Belarus, the open data infrastructure is at the very beginning of its formation. In this regard, there is a need to conduct additional research to identify problems associated with the discovery of scientific data. One step in the transition to open science is the unification of all the repositories on a single platform of the national aggregator. The review of national and international aggregators of institutional repositories is presented. The questions on creation of the national system-aggregator of information resources of open access in the Republic of Belarus in the context of the formation of the Republican information and educational environment are considered: the purpose of the system, the platform used, technical solutions for organizing the integration of information systems of higher education institutions and the rules of interaction of system users. Conclusions. The creation of a national system-aggregator will not only provide a single point of access to the institutional repositories of project participants, which will significantly improve the convenience and completeness of the search, but will also solve one of the most important tasks of the project - popularizing the idea of open access to scientific publications. The implementation of the proposed measures to create conditions for the discovery of scientific data in Belarus will contribute to the introduction of the principle of open access to scientific data. The considered approaches will allow accelerating the process of digital transformation of the scientific and educational sphere of Belarus.


Recently, it has been demonstrated that the [4Fe-4S] cluster of the Fe protein of nitrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii can be reduced to an unprecedented all-ferrous state. In this work, the reduction potential for the formation of the all-ferrous state is measured by the reactions of the reduced and oxidized Fe protein with a variety of chemical redox active agents, and by mediated spectroelectrochemical titration. Redox titrations obtain a potential ca. -790 mV/NHE for the formation of the all-ferrous state, a value consistent with the chemical reactivity experiments and with recent theoretical calculations. At present, no known redox protein in A. vinelandii is capable of generating the all-ferrous Fe protein.


The perimenopause period is characterized by a gradual extinction of ovarian function, during which hypoluteinism is replaced by anovulation with relative hyperestrogenia and then hypoestrogenia. At any stage of perimenopause, there is a high probability of the formation of menstrual dysfunction, in particular, abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). The frequency of AUB in premenopause reaches 60-70% among gynecological diseases [5, 12, 18]. Today, hysteroscopy is becoming increasingly important as a method for detecting intrauterine pathology in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding. [11.13]. The pathology of the endometrium and uterine cavity is represented by hyperplastic processes, uterine body leiomyoma, developmental abnormalities (Müller's abnormalities), inflammatory and immunopathological conditions, tumor processes that are clinically manifested by abnormal bleeding, as well as changes in neighboring organs and systems resulting from tumor damage.


Aims: Coccidiosis is one of the most frequent causes of morbidity and mortality in farmed redlegged partridges (Alectoris rufa). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the plant Stellaria media (Caryophyllaceae) on coccidia-infected red-legged partridges. Methodology: Of 9 replicates of redlegged partridges, each composed by 6 coccidia-infected birds (Eimeria legionensis), 3 replicates (S group) received an aqueous extract (12 ml/l) of S. media with drinking water for 3 consecutive days, while 3 further replicates (D group) received 20% sodium sulfaquinoxaline (2 g/l) with drinking water for 3 consecutive days. The remaining 3 replicates did not receive any treatment (C group). The day before the beginning of the treatment (day 0), the last day of the treatment (day 3) and 7 days after the end of the treatment (day 10), individual fresh faecal samples were collected from all examined birds and analysed for presence and number of coccidian oocysts/gram of faeces (OPG). Data were statistically elaborated with the Analysis of Short Research Article Fichi et al.; EJMP, 15(4): 1-6, 2016; Article no.EJMP.26584 2 Variance (ANOVA) and the Test of Student-Newman-Keuls for multiple comparisons. The percentage of reduction of the mean OPG number was also assessed. In addition, all birds were clinically observed in order to evaluate the appearance of diarrhoea and of other signs of clinical coccidiosis. Results: Seven days after the end of the treatment, birds of the C group showed diarrhoea and significant (P<0.05) higher OPG numbers respect to those of S and D groups, while no significant differences resulted between S and D groups. Moreover, percentages of OPG reduction of 98.61% and 99.60% and of 99.23% and 78.46% were found at day 3 and day 10 for group S and group D, respectively, while an increased mean OPG number was observed in the untreated group (C). Conclusion: After oral administration to the examined red-legged partridges S. media was able not only to prevent the clinical form of coccidiosis, but also to give a significant reduction of E. legionensis OPG number in faecal samples of birds treated with this plant. This reduction resulted comparable to that observed in animals treated with the commercial drug.


Background Saline-alkali soil is mainly distributed in the northern and coastal areas of China. The Songnen Plain, located in the northeast of China, is a region with a relatively high concentration of saline-alkali soil and is also one of the more at-risk areas in the country. Every year, the increasing spread of saline-alkali soil areas has a serious impact on the growth of agricultural crops. The maize crop is sensitive to saline-alkali stress, which seriously affects its growth and development. Our previous study determined that Klebsiella variicola performs a variety of biological functions, as well as improves the rhizosphere microenvironment and promotes the growth and development of maize seedlings in saline-alkali soil environments. The present study further analyzed the mechanism that enables K. variicola to alleviate saline-alkali stress at the level of the antioxidant system. Methods The accumulation of O2− was observed directly via histochemical staining. The activities of several antioxidant enzymes were determined using the nitro blue tetrazolium and the guaiacol methods. The contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants were determined using the dithionitrobenzoic acid method. Results The contents of the superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in leaves and roots of maize seedlings increased under saline-alkali stress conditions. The higher level of reactive oxygen species increased the degree of membrane lipid peroxidation. There were differences in the degree of oxidative damage and performance of the antioxidant defence system in maize seedlings under saline-alkali stress. Following the application of increasing concentrations of K. variicola, the activity of antioxidant enzymes increased by 21.22%–215.46%, and the content of non-enzymatic antioxidants increased as well, the ratios of ASA/DHA and GSH/GSSG in leaves increased by 4.97% and 1.87 times, respectively, and those in roots increased by 3.24% and 1.60 times, respectively. The accumulation of reactive oxygen species was reduced, and the content of H2O2 decreased by 26.07%–46.97%. The content of O2− decreased by 20.18%–37.01%, which alleviated the oxidative damage to maize seedlings caused by saline-alkali stress. Conclusion K. variicola reduced ROS-induced peroxidation to membrane lipids and effectively alleviated the damage caused by saline-alkali stress by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes in maize seedlings, thus enhancing their saline-alkali tolerance. A bacterial concentration of 1×108 cfu/mL was optimal in each set of experiments.


In this paper, a general algorithm for pedestrian detection by on-board monocular camera which can be applied to cameras of various view ranges in unified manner. The Spatio-Temporal MRF model extracts and tracks foreground objects distinguishing from background scenes by referring to motion difference. During the tracking sequences, cascaded HOG classifiers classify the foreground objects into the two classes of pedestrians and non-pedestrians. Before the classification, geometrical constraints on the relationship between heights and positions of the objects are examined to exclude the non-pedestrian objects. This algorithm can operates quite robustly against noises and classification errors at each image frame.


Background: Robusta coffee beans contain very high chlorogenic acid. In the last decade, chlorogenic acid was developed as an adjunct in stem cells to enhance the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of stem cells when used as a therapeutic agent. Chlorogenic acid can increase proliferation and migration and inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in stem cells thereby increasing the ability of stem cells to regenerate tissue. Purpose: To analyze the levels of chlorogenic acid in robusta coffee bean extract which can be used as a combination agent for Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSC) in periodontal tissue engineering therapy. Materials and Methods: Robusta coffee bean extract was obtained from the Coffee and Cocoa Research Center, Jember Regency which was processed and processed using the fractionation method. This study used DPSC with the extraction of premolar teeth of orthodontic patients. The toxicity test was performed on the coffee extract 0.0625%; 0.125%; 0.25%; 0.5% to determine the biocompatible concentration of DPSC. Results: The highest fractionation and measurement of chlorogenic acid content obtained was 30.49%. Robusta coffee bean extract with a chlorogenic acid content of 30.49% at concentrations of 0.125% and 0.0625% did not cause toxicity to DPSC. Conclusion: Chlorogenic acid in robusta coffee bean extract concentrations of 0.125% and 0.0625% are relatively biocompatible as a combination agent for DPSC in periodontal tissue engineering therapy.


Modern high-performance locomotives suffer from self-excited vibrations in the traction drive-train due to wheel-rail contact. To suppress these oscillations the motor torque has to be reduced, which decreases the traction force. To avoid this loss of traction force, a universal modal state control concept with feed-forward control is proposed for active damping. It is based on a reduced modal three-inertia model which is identified from an arbitrarily branched multi-inertia traction drive-train. The state control is also designed to be adaptive to wheelset wear. Due to computation time limitations an effort-minimized equivalent modal state control concept is proposed in the frequency domain. Therefore a new design method will be introduced. Finally the proposed modal state control is discussed and compared with a conventional concept by simulation results.


Progressive vaccinia developed in a previously healthy woman following smallpox vaccination and was successfully treated with vaccinia immune human globulin and methisazone. Immunologic evaluation over the next 4 1/2 years revealed evidence for combined variable immunodeficiency with increased numbers of circulating OKT 8 positive (suppressor-cytotoxic T) cells and the virtual absence of OKT 4 positive (helper-inducer T) cells.


The application of standard contract, as at the beginning of its establishment has been creating a controversy related to its existence as well as its legal standardized contract. Indonesian Civil Code (KUHP perdata) does not specifically regulate the standard. The research is focused on two problems which are; the legality of agreement using standard clause and the absence of freedom of contract principle. This research is a normative research that is referred to the constitutional regulation and jurisprudence using legal material both primary and secondary. The legal material is compiled through literacy study which is qualitatively analyzed. This research has concluded; first, the agreement contains of standard clause is no longer being mattered whether it is legal or illegal agreement. However, the more important point is the rationality of the standardized clause substance. Second, normatively, there is no legal effect as the result of the absence of freedom of contract principle in the agreement. Key words : Agreement, standardized contract, validity


Acute unilateral hydrothorax may appear as the sole extra-ovarian expression of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This case report describes two such cases, in one of which the patient developed this rare complication in two consecutive ovarian stimulation cycles. Awareness is needed for the timely and appropriate diagnosis of this rare complication that occurs 9-14 days following human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration and may recur in consecutive stimulation cycles. Thoracocentesis and fluid balance maintenance are efficient modes of therapy resulting in good outcome.


Faculty career development is an essential element to maintain the stability of the workforce in our colleges and schools of pharmacy. Numerous reports from American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy committees, as well as papers in this and other educational journals, have provided useful insight into the challenges and opportunities with faculty career development. Many strategies have been identified and tested that college and school administrators could implement to assist faculty members in their professional growth throughout their academic career.

Faculty work is a complex and at times a challenging process. Faculty members find themselves balancing multiple roles within and outside of their organizations, often leading to role ambiguity; dealing with stress and conflict that result from unclear responsibilities and expectations combined with what they believe are vague criteria for evaluating their success; and handling an increased workload which can lead to a feeling of being overloaded as they move through the academic or administrative ranks. Many place stress on themselves because of high self-expectations and goals for success in their academic career. The goal of a well-designed faculty career development program should be to provide the tools and opportunities to reduce stresses and should be geared to the growth and advancement over the different stages of an academic career.1

Faculty career development goes beyond advancing our knowledge on teaching and learning; developing new skill sets to approach existing or future challenges in classrooms, laboratories, or other educational settings; or gaining experiences and the understanding needed to tackle the complexities associated with working in rapidly changing academic settings. Professional development involves continual reflection, learning, and growth, which will vary or change as an individual matures through the stages of their academic career. In addition, it requires that faculty career development activities be designed to achieve competence and self-awareness via opportunities for critical thought and reflection centered on transformational learning experiences needed for success in adult learners.2 Finally, faculty career development programs must be grounded in a foundation that enables individuals to remain motivated by providing autonomy in their selection of tasks, use of time, nature of the team in which they are working and approaches to projects; mastery in their chosen areas or passions; and to maintain a focus on a larger purpose or goal beyond their own interests.3 Many pharmacy faculty career development opportunities may not reflect the differences in the career stages of individuals. Thus, administrators must be conscious of the differences in the approaches used for faculty career development programs, particularly for new faculty members versus faculty members navigating through the assistant and associate professor ranks versus faculty members who advance to becoming professors and/or those who pursue administrative positions.

Faculty career development offerings for colleges or schools of pharmacy that are based on a one-size-fits-all model may not be effective because they do not address faculty needs and do not effectively motivate faculty members at all career stages. Colleges and schools of pharmacy must design their faculty career development programs with an emphasis on understanding and motivating faculty members at all the stages of an academic career. Dalton, Thompson and Price and Global Novations suggested that there are 4 stages in a professional career: when an individual shows dependence in their contributions; when an individual shows independence in their contributions; when an individual is responsible and contributes to the success of others; and finally,when an individual contributes strategically to an organization through their ability to exercise power.4,5 Furthermore, for programs to be successful they must motivate faculty members by (1) allowing autonomy in how they work on tasks, how much time they spend on tasks, and with whom they work and how; (2) providing opportunities for mastery on their tasks such that they must be able to feel the success and flow associated with mastery and centered on the concept that there is always a need for these individuals to have continued growth in their mastery efforts; and (3) focusing on programs that are purpose-driven such that these programs address issues with a larger purpose, such as the missions and goals of the college/school or the advancement of the profession.3

The key component in any faculty career development programs is time for critical and thoughtful reflection.2 Well-designed faculty career developmental activities must include a chance for written reflection and open dialogue and feedback with peers, mentors, and department chairs. The annual performance review processes must also include elements to motivate faculty members throughout their career stages. The development, planning, and implementation of these faculty career development programs require as much time as efforts to provide outstanding educational programs for students. Faculty career developmental programs must be transformational learning experiences that stretch the intellect of pharmacy faculty and stimulate their motivation as educators, scholars, and clinicians at all stages of an academic career.

The American physician, poet, professor, and lecturer Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., clearly stated this premise by reminding us that "a man's mind, stretched by a new idea, can never go back to its original dimension."6 Each of us must take a leadership role in our efforts to develop transformational learning experiences to enhance faculty career development that addresses the needs and motivations of our faculty colleagues throughout an academic career.


This study aims to examine the significant difference in self-esteem, cognitive emotion regulation strategies and depression between males in early adulthood and middle adulthood. The relationships between self-esteem and cognitive emotion regulation strategies to depression are also examined. This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling technique to collect data from 180 adult male respondents in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. The inventories used in this study are Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) to measure the self-esteem level, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire short version (CERQ-short) to examine the strategy that is used after experiencing negative event and Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) to measure the depression level. Results show that older male adults had a higher level of self-esteem compared to younger male adults, t (178) = -1.993, p < 0.05. Younger male adults use maladaptive coping styles more often and had a higher level of depression than older male adults. Self-esteem is associated with depression significantly ( r = -0.602, p < 0.01). The results could also provide information for program designed to increase the level of self-esteem and reduce the use of maladaptive coping styles in order to reduce the depression level.


This study has been performed to identify intelligent ability, reward choice in assumed situation of delay of gratification, and delay of gratification ability. The subjects for this study were 100 preschoolers between the ages of 4 and 5, their mothers, and 15 teachers of three day-care centers in Seoul. T-test, F-test, Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis. The main results of this study were as follows: First, preschoolers' delay of gratification ability by mothers' educational background was significant and delay of gratification ability by sex was significant. This means that mothers who had a higher educational background were positively related to preschoolers' delay of gratification ability. Second, in an assumed situation of delay of gratification, preschoolers' delay of gratification ability by reward choice was not significant. Third, delay of gratification by intelligent ability was significant. Fourth, the correlation among intelligent ability, reward choice in assumed situation of delay of gratification and delay of gratification ability were significant. Finally, preschoolers' delay of gratification ability was significantly influenced by two factors: reward choice in assumed situation of delay of gratification and preschoolers' intelligent ability.


A theoretical analysis of the optical second-harmonic generation arising from intersubband transitions in quantum wells embedded in a planar microcavity is presented. Starting from the Maxwell-Lorentz equations, an expression for the field in each layer and an integral equation for the local field in a quantum-well structure are obtained. Then, matching the boundary condition, the field in the quantum-well microcavity system is determined. Following the same scheme, the field at second-harmonic frequency in the quantum-well microcavity system is obtained and the second-harmonic generation conversion efficiency is thus determined. By carrying out detailed numerical calculations, the influence of the microcavity on optical second-harmonic generation is shown.


Background/Aims: Anticoagulation in hemodialysis (HD) patients at high risk of bleeding remains an intractable problem. Simulating endothelial cells by releasing anticoagulant on the membrane may be a promising alternative. Methods: We modified a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) dialyzer by loading argatroban into its membrane and verified its anticoagulation efficiency and its influence on coagulation markers such as activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), D-dimer and thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) in an animal HD model. Results: All HD sessions with the argatroban dialyzer were completed successfully with either no or minimal fiber clotting. D-dimer was lower in the argatroban group than in the PAN group; TAT and aPTT values were similar in the two groups, which suggests better anticoagulation and a similar influence on the coagulation system. Conclusion: HD with the argatroban dialyzer is feasible, safe and simple, and could be used in patients at high risk of bleeding.


-With the diversified trend of tourism demand in Beijing and the rising tide of night economic development in recent years, the famous cultural tourism scenic spots in Beijing have gradually become the hot spot of night tourism development, and night cultural tourism is more and more favored by tourists. At the same time, the night tourism market of Beijing cultural tourism destination is affected by such reasons as insufficient planning perfection, low level of employees, imperfect supply of environmental facilities and so on, and there are still many problems in the development of tourism market in the area. This paper uses the method of network text analysis to obtain the tourists' feedback information from the tourism online platform, and analyzes the collected data by using the rose data software, and then studies the consumption demand of Beijing night cultural tourism destinations and the tourism perception image of night tourism destinations. It is found that there are passenger congestion, low service quality and strict commercialization in Beijing's famous cultural tourism destinations This kind of problem has a real impact on tourists' perception and willingness to revisit. Based on the findings of the above problems, combined with the domestic research on the development of night economy, this paper puts forward relevant suggestions on the development and improvement of tourism products in Beijing cultural tourism destinations, so as to better identify the quality of destinations and tourists' needs, and analyze the opportunities and challenges that may be faced in the development process of Beijing night tourism destinations, providing reference for the development of Beijing night tourism in the future.


Increase in employee work performance could lead to additional savings for businesses, and therefore investments to improve the indoor work environment could be very cost effective. However, these business decisions are based on self-reported work performance measures from surveys. Doubts have been raised as to the accuracy of these measures.
In addition to the uncertainties of the self-reported measures, two major post-occupancy surveys by Building Use Studies (BUS) and Occupant IEQ surveys by the Center for the Built Environment (CBE) use two different scales for occupants to report the change in their work performance. This research examines how the two scales influence people in how they report the environmental effect on their work performance.
An experiment has been conducted under three pink-noise conditions to obtain self-reported work performance measures using these two different scales for comparison. Other self-reported indicators of work performance such as motivation, job satisfaction, fatigue and distraction were also collected through surveys, and cognitive tests were conducted to obtain objective measures of work performance.
The results from this experiment show trends for the BUS scales that are 2–3 times larger than results from using CBE scales. These results are significant when the results are correlated with other self-reported indicators; however, the differences were not statistically significant when the scores were correlated with environmental conditions and cognitive performance. The data suggests that the two scales generate different results.
Different scales leading to different results suggests that use of these two surveys could lead business investment analysis in misleading directions. If the productivity bonus of an investment is 5% according to one and 10% according to the other, there is a problem. Business investment analysis using self-reported work performance as an estimate of actual work performance could be misleading if self-reported work performance is used to directly calculate hours of work and savings achieved. Further studies should recruit more subjects, consider other environmental stressors and examine differences obtained by using different survey questions.


Zn0.99Mn0.01O thin films were deposited on borosilicate glass at different temperatures and precursor concentration
using cost-effective chemical spray pyrolysis. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that all the deposits
had a hexagonal wurtzite structure with (0 0 2) preferred orientation. The variation of deposition temperature
and precursor concentration slightly modified the crystallite size and lattice parameters. The compositional
analysis by Energy dispersive X-ray analysis indicated the presence of zinc and manganese. The films deposited
at 723 K using 0.0125M precursor exhibited ~90% transmittance in the visible region. The optical energy bandgap reduced when both deposition temperature and solution molarity were increased probably due to sp-d
exchange interactions. All deposited films showed two emission peaks that is near band edge and deep level
emissions in ultraviolet and visible region respectively. All films showed n-type electrical conductivity. The
observed changes were due to the variation in charge carrier density and mobility in the films. Low-temperature
magnetic studies showed that the films were super-paramagnetic when deposited using low precursor concentration while they were weakly ferromagnetic when deposited using higher precursor concentration.


BACKGROUND
Both treatment guidelines and the amount of antibiotics used for acute otitis media (AOM) vary across western countries. Parental expectations and their awareness of antimicrobial use and resistance, which may also be influenced by the guidelines, are not yet completely known.

OBJECTIVE
To compare parental experiences and opinions regarding the management of AOM in children with AOM in Finland and The Netherlands.

METHODS
We sent the questionnaires via public day care in Turku, Finland, and Utrecht, The Netherlands. We asked about family background, child's history of AOM and parental experiences and attitudes about AOM treatment and antimicrobial resistance.

RESULTS
Of 1151 participants, 83% in Finland and 49% in The Netherlands had had at least one episode of AOM. Antibiotics were used more frequently in Finland than in The Netherlands, 99% versus 78%, respectively. More Finnish parents reported to believe that antibiotics are necessary in the treatment of AOM as compared to Dutch parents. Use of analgesics for AOM was similar (80% in Finland and 86% in The Netherlands). One-third of the parents had discussed resistance with their doctor. According to parental experiences, antimicrobial resistance had caused more problems in Finland than in The Netherlands (20% versus 2%). Finally, 88% of parents in Finland and 65% in The Netherlands were worried that bacteria could become resistant to antibiotics.

CONCLUSIONS
Treatment practices and parental expectations seem to interact with each other. Therefore, if we aim to change AOM treatment practices, we have to modify both guidelines and parental expectations.


Abstract Background Previous studies on computed tomography (CT) in patients with a suspected triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injury have not been successful in assessing distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) laxity. The aim of this study was to develop a novel servomotor-driven device for the assessment of DRUJ by applying increasing torque to the DRUJ in pronation and supination. Methods A custom-built device was designed to function during four-dimensional (4D) CT of the wrist. A torque meter, positioned between the incoming hand holder, and a direct current (DC) servomotor were used for angular positioning and for applying rotational force to the patient's arm. A total of 110 healthy participants were recruited to gather reference values for the range of motion (ROM), maximum torque in neutral and supinated/pronated position, and the ability to withstand an increasing, device-generated torque in these positions. The device was also used during 4D DRUJ CT in five patients with suspected TFCC injuries. Results A gender- and age-relevant reference chart for ROM and torque was created. Men showed a tendency (ns) toward having a larger ROM and increasing strength with increasing age, whereas women showed the opposite. Also, the dominant hand showed a tendency toward having a larger ROM and being stronger than the nondominant hand (ns). A smaller cohort of patients (n = 5) with suspected TFCC injuries showed a significantly decreased ability to withstand increasing torque in both supination (2.1 ± 0.3 vs. 3.1 ± 0.2 s; p < 0.005) and pronation (2.3 ± 0.5 vs. 3.1 ± 0.4 s; p < 0.0005) and also showed a clear laxity on real-time 4D CT image sequences. Decreased strength at all positions was also found (average 74% decrease compared to noninjured side). Conclusion Reference values for torque strength and ability to withstand increasing torque can be used clinically in the assessment of patients with symptoms that could represent ligamentous injuries to the TFCC. The ability to use the device during CT enables radiographic evaluation of instability during increasing torque. Level of Evidence This is a Level II study.


An efficient one-pot catalytic cascade sequence has been developed for the production of value-added ethers from bioderived aldehydes. Etherification of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural with different aliphatic alcohols over acidic Zr-montmorillonite (Zr-Mont) catalyst produced a mixture of 5-(alkoxymethyl)furfural and 2-(dialkoxymethyl)-5-(alkoxymethyl)furan. The latter was selectively converted back into 5-(alkoxymethyl)furfural by treating it with water over the same catalyst. The synthesis of 2,5-bis(alkoxymethyl)furan was achieved through a cascade sequence involving etherification, transfer hydrogenation, and re-etherification over a combination of acidic Zr-Mont and the charge-transfer hydrogenation catalyst [ZrO(OH)2 ]. This catalyst combination was further explored for the cascade conversion of 2-furfuraldehyde into 2-(alkoxymethyl)furan. The scope of this strategy was then extended for the reductive etherification of lignin-derived arylaldehydes to obtain the respective benzyl ethers in >80 % yield. Additionally, the mixture of Zr-Mont and ZrO(OH)2 does not undergo mutual destruction, which was proved by recycling experiments and XRD analysis. Both the catalysts were thoroughly characterized using BET, temperature-programmed desorption of NH3 and CO2 , pyridine-FTIR, XRD, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques.


Introduction: Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder that is characterized by motor and vocal tics and psychiatric comorbidities, including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive behavior/disorder (OCB/OCD). From anecdotal reports and preliminary controlled studies, it is suggested that cannabis-based medicine (CBM) may improve tics and comorbidities in adults with GTS. This study was designed to further investigate efficacy and safety of CBM in GTS and specifically compare effects of different CBM. Materials and Methods: First, we performed a retrospective data analysis including all those adult patients seen at our clinic, who had used CBM for the treatment of GTS at some time. All these patients were asked to complete an online survey (second study part) to receive more detailed data about treatment with CBM. Results: From medical records, we identified 98 patients who had used CBM (most often street cannabis followed by nabiximols, dronabinol, medicinal cannabis) for the treatment of GTS: Of the 38 patients who were able to judge, 66% preferred treatment with medicinal cannabis, 18% dronabinol, 11% nabiximols, and 5% street cannabis. Altogether, CBM resulted in a subjective improvement of tics (of about 60% in 85% of treated cases), comorbidities (55% of treated cases, most often OCB/OCD, ADHD, and sleeping disorders), and quality of life (93%). The effects of CBM appear to persist in the long term. Adverse events occurred in half of the patients, but they were rated as tolerable. Dosages of all CBM varied markedly. Patients assessed cannabis (with a preference for tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]-rich strains) as more effective and better tolerated compared with nabiximols and dronabinol. These data were confirmed by results obtained from the online survey (n=40). Conclusion: From our results, it is further supported that CBM might be effective and safe in the treatment of tics and comorbidities at least in a subgroup of adult patients with GTS. In our sample, patients favored THC-rich cannabis over dronabinol and nabiximols, which might be related to the entourage effect of cannabis. However, several limitations of the study have to be taken into considerations such as the open uncontrolled design and the retrospective data analysis.


This paper introduces a method to cluster subtasks of a complex task to be learned by neural networks. The main objectives are minimization of the epochs needed to train the clusters up to a specified error limit and to maximize the generalization rates of the trained networks. To cope with the combinatorial optimization problem involved a genetic algorithm is developed. It starts with a set of random clusters which are trained up to a stopping criterion. Based on a fitness measure derived from the training results, new clusters are assembled using genetic operators. The approach of this work is relevant for all problems being decomposable into distinct subtasks, for example in robotics and plant control, where piecewise control strategies can be learned, and in image processing. Simulations for letter recognition indicate that the method is superior to both training all tasks on large monolithic network and to training randomly assigned clusters on small modular networks.


Human bronchi were taken from the lungs of a single asthmatic and 5 nonasthmatic organ donors. The tissues were slowly frozen to -70 degrees C and stored for 1-28 months in liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C) while suspended in Krebs-Henseleit solution containing 1.8 M dimethyl sulfoxide and 0.1 M sucrose as cryoprotectants. After thawing, bronchial rings were suspended in 10 ml organ baths for isometric tension recording. Spontaneously developed tone (1.13 +/- 0.12, n = 22, vs. 0.56 +/- 0.07 g, n = 33, p < 0.001) and maximal contractile responses to histamine (1.93 +/- 0.12, n = 34, vs. 1.02 +/- 0.14 g, n = 30, p < 0.001) were significantly stronger in asthmatic than in nonasthmatic bronchi. The potency of histamine was 4 times less in asthmatic than in nonasthmatic bronchi (p < 0.001). Comparison of the maximal responses to histamine after storage at -196 degrees C for up to 28 months revealed no significant reduction of the contractile function by time of cryostorage. Salbutamol and the potassium channel opener SDZ PCO 400 were 3-4 times less potent in asthmatic than in nonasthmatic bronchi. For antagonism of histamine by ketotifen in asthmatic bronchi (pD'2 = 8.04 +/- 0.13, n = 5) 4 times higher concentrations were necessary than in nonasthmatic bronchi (pD'2 = 8.63 +/- 0.06, n = 15, p < 0.001). These data support the contention that in spite of a diminished sensitivity to histamine after fatal asthma, isolated bronchi show enhanced spontaneous and agonist-induced contractile responses whereas relaxant responses appear to be impaired.


Results of therapeutic trials of transfer factor in a number of laboratories suggest clinical benefit and enhancement of immunological reactivity in patients with primary or secondary immunodeficiency diseases. Long term follow-up of 32 patients with the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome suggested that transfer factor caused conversion of immunologic reactivity, apparent clinical benefit, and prolonged survival in some, but not in all patients. In 18 patients with disseminated (Stage III) malignant melanoma treated with surgery and transfer factor, survival was better than would ordinarily be expected for disseminated disease (78% with mean follow-up of 2 years). A randomized trial has been initiated which will answer the question of the efficacy of transfer factor as surgical adjuvant therapy in malignant melanoma. Studies in human subjects suggested that transfer factor does not cause enhancement of reactivity in normal subjects, when evaluated in a controlled, double-blind fashion. Similar controlled studies in immunodeficient patients are necessary to ascertain whether transfer factor does cause enhancement of immune responses in these patients. Based on these observations, a guinea pig model was developed in which transfer factor caused abrogation of tolerance to ABA-Tyrosine.


A case in which the guidewire used to place a percutaneous jugular central line became entangled in the limbs of a Trapease inferior vena cava filter is presented. A 7F sheath introducer was fashioned into a monorail system to uncurl the wire's J tip and remove the wire without disturbing the filter's position. This report highlights an increasingly frequent clinical scenario and an inexpensive effective method for resolution.


A201A, a unique nucleoside antibiotic with potent antibacterial activities, has been synthesized for the first time in a total of 47 steps in a highly modular and linear manner, highlighting the elaboration/incorporation of an unprecedented hexofuranoside unit bearing an exocyclic enol ether moiety.


Seeking change? So are we. "From Corporate to Grassroots" will explore each panelist's contribution to the mission of the organizations they worked with, and the ways they purposefully sought to engage in a global discourse. This panel will demonstrate that no matter what field you work in, you must approach learning with a higher sense of consciousness: How effective are your actions? How does your work benefit local societies and the global community? The panelists welcome students who question whether they can contribute meaningfully in a corporate environment or generate direct change through grassroots initiatives. Join the discourse of purposeful global engagement. Be an active agent of change.


Background: Peripheral vascular calcification (PVC) commonly develop in patients on hemodialysis (HD) and associated with increase risk of morbidity and mortality. Aim of study: To study risk factors of developing peripheral vascular calcification in patients on hemodialysis especially in relation to parathyroid hormone abnormalities. Patients and Methods: Cross sectional (observational) study on 54 patients on regular hemodialysis and divided into 2 groups according to abdominal X-Ray. Results: 54 patient: 32 female, 22 male; mean age = 51.59 +/- 17.61, mean duration of HD = 44.83 +/- 38. 4 months Peripheral vascular calcification by lateral lumbar X-Ray is 12 patients i.e 22.22% We studied effects of many risk factors and appeared significant effects of age, duration of HD and use of calcium containing oral phosphate binders. Also there is some effects of increased serum calcium and phosphate, hypertension and DM but statistically not significant. PTH abnormalities also affect on PVC especially in low level of PTH (a dynamic bone disease) but statistically not significant. In this study, no apparent effect of inflammation on calcification. Conclusion: Peripheral vascular calcification, commonly present in patients on hemodialysis and associated with increase risk of morbidity and mortality, with many risk factors causing increase peripheral vascular calcification which can be prevented and treated


May 2020 marks the 25 th anniversary of the death of Miguel Sanchez-Mazas, founder of  Theoria - An International Journal of Theory, History and Foundations of Science  and regarded as the person who brought mathematical logic to Spain. Here we present some of his biographical features, as well as a summary of his contributions, from his early work in the 1950s - introducing contemporary advances in logic and philosophy of science in a philosophically backward milieu dominated by the scholasticism of that era in Spain - to the development of a project of Lebnizian lineage aimed at producing an arithmetic calculation that would elude some of the difficulties confronting Leibniz's calculus.


We have studied the effect of an in-plane magnetic field on Hall field-induced resistance oscillations in high mobility two-dimensional electron systems. We have found that the oscillation frequency depends only on the perpendicular component of the magnetic field but the oscillation amplitude decays exponentially with an inplane component. While these findings cannot be accounted for by existing theories of nonlinear transport, our analysis suggests that the decay can be explained by an in-plane magnetic field-induced modification of the quantum scattering rate.


The recoil optical force that acts on emitters near a surface or waveguide relies on near-field directionality and conservation of momentum. It features desirable properties uncommon in optical forces, such as the ability to produce it via wide-area illumination of vast numbers of particles without the need for focusing, or being dynamically switchable via the polarization of light. Unfortunately, these recoil forces are usually very weak and have not been experimentally observed in small dipolar particles. Some works theoretically demonstrate orders-of-magnitude enhancement of these forces via complex nano-structuring involving hyperbolic surfaces or metamaterials, complicating the fabrication and experimental demonstration. In this work, we theoretically and numerically show enhancement of the lateral recoil force by simply using thin metallic films, which support ultra-high-momentum plasmonic modes. The high-momentum carried by these modes impart a correspondingly large recoil force on the dipole, enhancing the force by several orders of magnitude in a remarkably simple geometry, bringing it closer to practical applications.


Laws has introduced a class of texture features based on average degrees of match of the pixel neighbourhoods with a set of standard masks. These features yield better texture classification than standard features based on pairs of pixels. Simplifications of these features are investigated. Their performance is not greatly affected by their exact form and also appears to remain the same if only local match maxima are used. An alternative definition of such features is also presented, based on sums and differences of Gaussian convolutions.


Charge transfer to the background gas from ions expanding in a laser-produced nickel plasma created by a neodymium laser focused to intensities in the range 1016-1018 W cm-2 is examined by comparing the ion charge per steradian measured by an ion probe at 0.33 m from the target to that measured by an identical probe signals for background gas pressures less than about 10-4 Torr. A simple theoretical analysis (i) confirms this experimental result, (ii) indicates that the reduction in ion current due to charge transfer is the same for ions of different initial charge and atomic number, (iii) shows that 'superthermal' ions with energy up to approximately=100 keV per unit atomic mass are equally affected by charge transfer as are slower thermal ions, and (iv) indicates that at higher background gas pressure (>10-4 Torr), the experimental results are affected by an additional mechanism for ion charge loss, probably ion scatter off the background gas.


A hallmark of executive control is the brain's agility to shift between different tasks depending on the behavioral rule currently in play. In this work, we propose a "tweaking hypothesis" for task switching: a weak rule signal provides a small bias that is dramatically amplified by reverberating attractor dynamics in neural circuits for stimulus categorization and action selection, leading to an all-or-none reconfiguration of sensory-motor mapping. Based on this principle, we developed a biologically realistic model with multiple modules for task switching. We found that the model quantitatively accounts for complex task switching behavior: switch cost, congruency effect, and task-response interaction; as well as monkey's single-neuron activity associated with task switching. The model yields several testable predictions, in particular, that category-selective neurons play a key role in resolving sensory-motor conflict. This work represents a neural circuit model for task switching and sheds insights in the brain mechanism of a fundamental cognitive capability.


Accurate measurements of fracture resistance properties, including crack growth resistance curves for pipeline girth welds, become essential in defect assessment procedures of the weldment region and the heat affected zone, where undetected cracklike defects (such as lack of penetration, deep undercuts, root cracks, etc.) may further extend due to to high tension stresses and strains. This work presents an investigation of the ductile tearing properties for a girth weld made of an API 5L X80 pipeline steel using experimentally measured crack growth resistance curves ((J-Δa curves). Use of these materials is motivated by the increasing demand in the number of applications for manufacturing high strength pipes for the oil and gas industry including marine applications and steel catenary risers. Testing of the pipeline girth welds utilized side-grooved, clamped single edge notched tensiles (SE (T)) specimens and three-point (3P) bend single edge bend (SE(B)) specimens with a weld centerline notch to determine the crack growth resistance curves based upon the unloading compliance (UC) method using a single specimen technique. Recently developed compliance functions and η-factors applicable for SE (T) and SE(B) fracture specimens with homogeneous material and overmatch welds are introduced to determine crack growth resistance data from laboratory measurements of load-displacement records. This experimental characterization provides additional toughness data which serve to evaluate crack growth resistance properties of pipeline girth welds using SE (T) and SE(B) specimens with weld centerline cracks.Copyright © 2012 by ASME


Quality assurance programs have been established during the last two decades in developed countries to promote high quality performance in clinical laboratories. In Taiwan, such a program for clinical microbiology laboratories has been in place since July 1987. It has been supported by the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, R.O.C. and was set up by the authors. The manpower status, facilities and equipment, and performance of clinical laboratories were investigated during the first year and standards of laboratory quality were recommended. Since then, under a continuing education program, we have conducted seminars, symposia, workshops, short-courses or panel discussions approximately 4 times a year. There have been about 150 participants per session and they have come from local hospitals (primary care hospitals), regional hospitals (secondary care hospitals) and medical centers (tertiary care hospitals). Proficiency test specimens or external unknown specimens were sent to all the laboratories twice a year and approximately 3 specimens were used each time for the evaluation of each laboratory's diagnostic capability and quality of service. Results indicated that there were tremendous improvements in the quality of laboratory performance. At the same time, several laboratory manuals describing the methods of quality control of clinical specimens, test procedures, media and reagents, personnel management and a compilation of reports etc. were published as guidelines of basic requirements for each level of the laboratories. For local hospital laboratories in remote areas, several regional hospitals or medical centers with high quality laboratories were selected to serve as back-ups. Our evaluation has shown that the performance and quality of service provided by most clinical microbiology laboratories in Taiwan have now reached nearly the level of those found in the so-called "developed countries".


In order to obtain the information of the environment for the robot to work, it may be the effective way to work on the environment through the robot's action. In accordance with this idea, a method dealing with the automatic three-dimension partitioning of overlapped objects has been proposed by using the robot vision system which was proposed and constructed by authors. As compared with other researches about partitioning until now, our method can obtain the three-dimension partitioning planes among unknown overlapped objects and this makes it possible to generate the each geometric model of those objects. Within this method, some active techniques such as using laser spotter scanning to obtain the appropriate visual points for investigating the partitioning condition of overlapped objects have been developed. This technique has been proved to be effective to obtain the threedimension partitioning plane of those overlapped objects. Experiments dealing with the several cases of overlapped objects' partitioning make clear the validity of this method. And with these obtained 3-D partitioning plane, the each geometric model of the overlapped objects has been generated automatically.


The interatrial septum was studied with B‐mode echocardiography to determine whether there were specific ultrasonic features characteristic of such congenital heart diseases as atrial septal defect and endocardial cushion defect. In transverse tomograms in the third and fourth intercostal space the interatrial septum is detected almost parallel to the anterior chest wall. The septum continues leftward to the echo of the anterior mitral leaflet. When the interatrial septum extends beyond the left sternal border, it can also be recorded near the left sternal border in the sagittal tomogram. The interatrial septum can also be recorded conventional echocardiography. The pattern is wavy and synchronous with the heart beat with an amplitude of about 10 mm. It is seen near the chest wall in patients with left atrial enlargement and far from the chest wall in patients with right atrial enlargement. The defect in the interatrial septum was visualized B‐mode and conventional echocardiogram in patients with ostium secundum atrial septal defect. The defects were no longer observed after surgery.


We present CMOS electronics for optical sensing of diffraction based micromachined microphone. Peak detector and track and hold circuits are used for continuous time approach with only 58 μA of current for 65dB peak SNR (lPa at 1kHz). We also present a 1-bit sigma delta interface ADC for directly digitizing the signal for digital processing with 63 μA of current for 62dB peak SNR (lPa @ 1kHz). The electronics are designed in 0.35um standard digital CMOS process with reduced supply of 1.5Volts. All the analog front end circuits operate in weak inversion with rail-to-rail wide input linear range.


RBFOX3/NeuN is a neuronal splicing regulator involved in neural circuitry balance, as well as neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. Rbfox3 is expressed in neurons; however, in the retina, expression is restricted to cells in the ganglion cell layer and some cells of the inner nuclear layer. Rbfox3 is expressed in a layer-specific manner in the retina, which implies a functional role, however, the role of RBFOX3 in the retina is unknown. Rbfox3 homozygous knockout (Rbfox3-/-) mice exhibit deficits in visual learning; therefore, understanding the role of RBFOX3 in the retina is critical for interpreting behavioral results. We found Rbfox3 expression was developmentally regulated in the retina and specifically expressed in ganglion cells, amacrine cells and horizontal cells of the retina. We demonstrate deletion of Rbfox3 resulted in a reduction in the thickness of the inner plexiform layer of the retina, where synapses are formed. Number of ganglion cells and amacrine cells is normal with loss of Rbfox3. Innervation of retinal ganglion cells into their targeted brain regions is normal in Rbfox3-/- mice. Importantly, Rbfox3-/- mice displayed normal non-image and image forming functions. Taken together, our results suggest RBFOX3 is dispensable for visual function.


Poly(glycidyl azide) (PGA) an energetic polymer and polyepichlorohydrin (PECH) were condensed with 4,4′ azobis(4-cyanopentanoyl chloride) (ACPC) to prepare macro-azo-initiators. Block copolymers containing each of these polyethers as a block segment combined with polystyrene (PS) or poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) have been drived by the polymerization of monomers initiated with this macro-azo-initiators. Thermal properties of block copolymers were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry. DSC traces showed single glass transition temperatures in between the related segments of copolymers. Dynamic thermogravimetric analysis revealed the individual degradation behaviors of block segments © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


CT/PET is useful in early diagnosis, staging, follow-up and in radiotherapy treatment planning especially for tumors located in motion involved anatomic areas (chest and abdomen). We analysed the treatment planning for radiotherapy of two pulmonary cancer patients. A comparison was performed between GTV (Gross Tumor Volume) and PTV (Planning Target Volume) identified with CT images alone and GTV and PTV evaluated with CT/PET images. CT/PET imaging was demonstrated to significantly modify the target volume if compared with CT imaging: volumes were reduced by 32-49%.


Purpose
This study aims to examine an empirical evidence of the relationship between relational capital, network competence and market entry capabilities on marketing performance in small- and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs') furniture export orientation in Central Java, Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a quantitative research approach to investigate the relationship between relational capital, network competence, market entry capabilities and marketing performance. To achieve the research objectives, data were collected from managers or owners of furniture export orientation in Central Java, Indonesia. Using structural equation modeling, and after a series of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyzed, the authors tested an integrated model of the relationship between relational capital, network competence, market entry capabilities and marketing performance.

Findings
The result of this study indicates that relational capital has a positive significant effect on marketing performance. Relational capital has an insignificant effect on market entry capabilities. Network competence has a positive effect on market entry capabilities. Market entry capabilities have a positive effect on marketing performance. Other results also show that market entry capabilities can mediate the influence of network competence and marketing performance.

Research limitations/implications
The limitation of this research indicates that respondents in this research are very varied, if it is seen from their background into furniture business development, whereas many respondents do not have enough understanding of the questionnaire distributed. This research is only developed at the SMEs' furniture area, so it cannot be generalized at the other organizational area. The influencing of relational capital result in market entry capability has not suitable with theory built. It is because inaccurate dimension market entry capability has been applied in this research. For future research, it is suggested to look for alternative dimension of market entry capability.

Practical implications
Based on the analysis results and discussion, it can be formulated that managerial implication explains the following steps: first, a company should focus on long-period relationship development. Focus on long-period relationship development will increase customer loyalty and company performance. Moreover, the customer has long-term relationship with organization, although instability condition because of the belief in long-period relationship and strong commitment to each other. The evidence from this study suggests that's the organization needs to develop the long-term relationship with customer. Second, networking competency is important in market entry capability. Relationship can change anytime; therefore, the company has to have a strong competency of network developing. This competency helps company to enhance strong relationship. The strong network relationship helps company face easier ways in market entry capability.

Originality/value
The results of this research indicate that the role played by relational capital to increase market entry capability is not as good as the role played by network capability on market entry capability. In the international market context, the role of resource-based view is better than that of transaction cost economy in influencing market entry capability. Other results also show that market entry capabilities can mediate the influence of network competence and marketing performance.


Camel farming is gaining scientific interest due to its unique agricultural characteristics. Camels are versatile for milk and meat production, wool, racing, transport, and tourism. To use their full potential, it is essential to improve our understanding of the genetic structure of these animals. One-humped and two-humped camels have received detailed genetic descriptions, while there is no such information for their hybrids, which outperform their parent species in several agricultural characteristics. Thus, in this study, for the first time, the whole genome sequencing data (WGS) of five hybrid camels bred in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan are presented in comparison with the WGS data of one-humped, two-humped, and wild camels. A total of 43,552,164 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were found across the studied groups. Further comparison of these SNPs showed the following number of private SNPs among the populations: hybrid camels (3,271,083), wild camels (2,515,591), Bactrians (1,244,694), and dromedaries (531,224). The genetic structure of the studied animals was described, and a phylogenetic tree was built to assess their genetic distance. It was found that the studied hybrids are genetically closer to dromedaries since they were on the close branch of the phylogenetic tree.


Double-perturbation theory is developed for the case where relativity is one perturbation and the second perturbation describes the interaction with an external magnetic field. Relativity is treated according to the direct relativistic perturbation theory developed by Rutkowski (1986 Journal of Physics B 19 149, 3431, 3443) and Kutzelnigg (1989 Zeitschrift für Physik D 11 15; 1990 Zeitschrift für Physik D 15 27). For hydrogen-like atoms the pertinent perturbation parameters are and . The relevant radial perturbation equations and formulae for corrections to the energy are derived. For the ground state up to the first order in a magnetic field all the differential equations arising are solved directly to infinite order in relativity. The general solutions of the radial equations are obtained by expansion in appropriate Laguerre polynomials. Exact energy corrections for zeroth and first order as well as very accurate results for second and third order in relativity are presented up to 12 orders in a magnetic field.


The development of applied geodetic techniques for mapping and documentation of historical structures, buildings and sites is an important and vital purpose for contribution of any recording of cultural heritage for any country such as Egypt. This is done to preserve and restore any valuable architectural or other cultural monument, as a support to architectural, archaeological and other art-historical research throughout the ages. The purpose of this paper is to use close range photogrammetry technique (CRP) to reconstruct 3D model of architectural and historical mosque facade and comparing the accuracy of using digital commercial non-metric cameras with different resolutions and metric camera with flatbed scanner and photogrammetric scanner for architectural building documentation. El-Nasr Mosque façade in Mansoura city, Egypt was chosen as a case study in this paper. At first, twenty five points were selected at mosque façade at different elevations and distributed at different façade surfaces and observed using total station. Some of these points were selected as control points and the others were selected as check points to validate the results. Effect of control point's number on image processing and analysis is also studied. Three cameras positions were selected for imaging to get the full details of mosque façade. Close range Digital Workstation (CDW) program was used for processing and analysis of multiple images. The results are indicated that close range photogrammetry using metric camera with photogrammetry scanner instead of flatbed scanner in technique is accurate enough to be beneficial in 3D architectural building documentation. Digital cameras with CRP technique give up different accuracy that depends mainly on the resolution of cameras and camera specifications.


Soil is recognized as the major reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), harboring the most diverse naturally evolved ARGs on the planet. Multidrug resistance genes are a class of ARGs, and their high prevalence in natural soil ecosystems has recently raised concerns. Since most of these genes express proton motive force (PMF) driven efflux pumps, studying whether soil pH is a determinant for the selection of multidrug efflux pump genes and thus shaping the soil resistome are of great interest. In this study, we collected 108 soils with pH values ranging from 4.37 to 9.69 from multiple ecosystems and profiled the composition of ARGs for metagenomes and metagenome-assembled genomes. We observed the multidrug efflux pump genes enriched in the acidic soil resistome, and their abundances have significant soil pH dependence. This reflects the benefits of high soil proton activity on the multidrug efflux pump genes, especially for the PMF-driven inner membrane transferase. In addition, we preliminary indicate the putative microbial participants in pH shaping the soil resistome by applying ecological analyzing tools such as stepwise regression and random forest model fitting. The decisive influence of proton activity on shaping the resistome is more impactful than any other examined factors, and as the consequence, we revisited the influence of edaphic factors on the soil resistome; i.e., the deterministic selection of resistance mechanisms by edaphic factors could lead to the bottom-up shaping of the ARG composition. Such natural developing mechanisms of the resistome are herein suggested to be considered in assessing human-driven ARG transmissions.


Toxic goiter is as different in its various clinical manifestations as it is in its pathologic appearance. The young person with an acute fulminant exophthalmic type of thyroid disease often resembles but slightly the much older patient with a mildly toxic nodular goiter who presents a cardiac or a nutritional problem. Indeed, this marked discrepancy in clinical types has led many to assume the existence of at least two separate clinical entities, exophthalmic goiter on the one hand and nodular toxic goiter on the other hand. In the United States, Plummer and Boothby have been strong adherents to this dualistic conception. There are others who feel that the varied manifestations of thyroid disease represent different reactions on the part of the patient to the same basic pathologic process. Von Bergmann, one of the enthusiastic supporters of this so-called unitarian conception, has recently made an effort to show that there is


We report the development of polymorphic microsatellite markers for the endangered North American cactus Astrophytum asterias (Cactaceae). Six loci, averaging 8.5 alleles per locus, were found to amplify genomic DNA consistently in 94 individuals from four geographically defined demes in South Texas. These markers will permit the generation of appropriate data for estimating population genetic parameters, population structure and the degree of inbreeding in the small, fragmented populations of A. asterias that currently exist. These are the first microsatellites reported for the genus Astrophytum and for the tribe Cacteae.