Introduction:  Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is a pleiotropic cytokine known to exert both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects. Elevated concentrations of TGFβ are reported in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, little is known about the effect of diet on circulating TGFβ concentrations. We recently demonstrated beneficial metabolic effects of a high-protein diet in diabetic subjects. Aim:  We aimed to determine changes of TGFβ concentrations after a 6-week high-protein diet intervention in T2D patients and to evaluate potential differences according to dietary source of protein (animal versus plant). Materials and Methods :  37 individuals with T2D (age 64±6 years, HbA1c 7.0±0.6%) were randomly assigned to either high-animal protein or high-plant protein diet (30% protein, 40% carbohydrates, 30% fat) for 6 weeks. Clinical examinations were performed at the beginning and the end of the study. Levels of TGFβ and other cytokines were determined in blood serum using ELISA and Luminex technology. Results:  Levels of TGFβ were elevated in all participants [mean(±SD)=7594.1±2021.4 pg/mL]. Baseline TGFβ correlated inversely with body mass index (Rho=-0.10) and insulin levels (Rho=-0.32). After intervention, a non-significant decrease in TGFβ concentrations by 5% (7986.4±2226.6 pg/mL to 7594.4±2934.7 pg/mL, P=0.604) was observed in the high-plant protein group. In contrast, an increase of TGFβ by 13% (7155.7±1724.4 pg/mL to 8105.0±1903.2 pg/mL, P=0.004) was detected in the high animal protein group. Parallel evaluation of additional biomarkers revealed that the negative change in high-plant protein diet correlated negatively with changes of adiponectin, while the positive change in high-animal protein diet correlated negatively with changes of C-reactive protein and interleukin-8. Conclusion:  These data provide first line of evidence on the differential effects of animal versus plant protein diet on circulating concentrations of TGFβ in subjects with T2D. Further research is warranted to investigate the mechanism explaining potential role of protein diet in modulating TGFβ inflammatory cascade. Acknowledgements :  Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, German Center for Diabetes Research


A reliability system of the multi-component stress-strength model R(s,k) will be considered in the present paper ,when the stress and strength are independent and non-identically distribution have the Exponentiated Family Distribution(FED) with the unknown  shape parameter α and known scale parameter λ  equal to two and parameter θ equal to three. Different estimation methods of R(s,k) were introduced corresponding to Maximum likelihood and Shrinkage estimators. Comparisons among the suggested estimators were prepared depending on simulation established on mean squared error (MSE) criteria.


The cloned coat protein (CP) gene from Ys strain of papaya rinspot virus (PRV) was sequenced by dideoxy-chain termination method. Results show that the full length of the CP genewas 858 nucleotides (nt). Comparison among CP genes of 16 PRV strains or isolates from Chinaand abroad indicated that Ys shared high CP gene homologous sequence (94.44%~97.68%)with the other strains or isolates from China, while it shared lower CP gene homologous sequence(88.88%-92.70% )with the strains or isolates abroad. It was noted that there were 6 nt missing after the 63rd nt in Ys CP gene, and there were 3 nt missing in CP genes of Sin. G. THAI.SRI. Ys CP cDNA was inserted into the cloning sites between CaMV 35S promoter and nos terminator of the middle plasmid pRok Ⅱ to produce the plant expression vector pRPCY. LBA44004of Agrtobacterium tumefasciens containing the binary vector system pRPCY/pAL4404 was obtained through triparental mating, and will be used to introduce CP gene into papaya genome.


Background Over-the-counter analgesics like paracetamol and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely accessible to the general population. However, ensuring their safe and effective usage is crucial by considering individuals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward these medications. Objective This study aimed to assess the general population's knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the use of over-the-counter analgesics. Methods This cross-sectional study took place in Indonesia from December 2019 to June 2020. A validated questionnaire was used to survey a total of 582 respondents. A comparative analysis examined the variations in mean scores for respondents' characteristics concerning their knowledge, attitude, and practice. A regression analysis was also employed to explore the factors associated with adopting good analgesia practices. Results The findings of the study revealed significant differences in average knowledge scores related to gender, educational attainment, and employment status for the use of both paracetamol and NSAIDs. Regarding knowledge, the respondents demonstrated a higher average score for analgesics (4.56 ± 1.84) than NSAIDs (2.881 ± 2.40), out of a maximum score of 6 points. The results indicate that the respondents obtained a low score for attitude (6.80 ± 3.74) out of 16 points and a positive score for practice (2.71 ± 0.48) out of 3 points regarding using analgesics. Moreover, the regression analysis revealed that gender, residing near primary health care facilities, and having sound knowledge of NSAID use were significant predictors of good analgesic practice (p < 0.05). Conclusion The respondents demonstrated a greater understanding of analgesics compared with NSAIDs. However, despite this higher knowledge level, they had relatively low attitude scores but positive practice scores, indicating a discrepancy between attitudes and actual behavior in using analgesics.


Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been fabricated by a graphene/ZnO nanocomposite (G/ZnO NC) as an electron transporting layer. We use a novel spray deposition method compatible with large area processing methods for deposition of pristine ZnO and G/ZnO NC films. We show the effect of varying the graphene concentration in the G/ZnO NC films from 0 to 1 wt% on the photovoltaic performance of PSCs. We find that a 0.75 wt% graphene concentration in the G/ZnO NC films gives an optimum PSC performance with short circuit current density and power conversion efficiencies going up from 15.54 to 19.97 mA cm , and 7.01 to 10.34% respectively as compared to pristine ZnO. The enhancement in photovoltaic performance is attributed to the superior growth of the perovskite thin-film and enhanced electron transport/extraction on using the graphene network in the NC.


Speakers reduce segments to a greater degree when they are more predictable and frequent. The outcome of this probabilistic reduction varies crosslinguistically—for example, /s/ is more predictable and likely to reduce in Spanish than in English [10]. If probabilistic reduction reflects a speaker's expectations about language, what happens when there is more than one language to contend with? This paper reports on a corpus study of consonant reduction in Spanish-English bilingual speech. Given that bilinguals' languages influence one another, are consonant duration patterns better accounted for when languages are pooled together or kept separate? In a comparison of two linear mixed effect models, fit for pooledand separate-lexicon models does not significantly differ. More importantly, this study largely fails to find evidence of segmental probabilistic reduction, suggesting a fundamental difference in how probability operates in bilingual speech.


The phenylpropene t-anethole imparts the characteristic sweet aroma of anise (Pimpinella anisum, family Apiaceae) seeds and leaves. Here we report that the aerial parts of the anise plant accumulate t-anethole as the plant matures, with the highest levels of t-anethole found in fruits. Although the anise plant is covered with trichomes, t-anethole accumulates inside the leaves and not in the trichomes or the epidermal cell layer. We have obtained anise cDNA encoding t-anol/isoeugenol synthase 1 (AIS1), an NADPH-dependent enzyme that can biosynthesize t-anol and isoeugenol (the latter not found in anise) from coumaryl acetate and coniferyl acetate, respectively. In addition, we have obtained a cDNA encoding S-[methyl-14C]adenosyl-l-methionine:t-anol/isoeugenol O-methyltransferase 1 (AIMT1), an enzyme that can convert t-anol or isoeugenol to t-anethole or methylisoeugenol, respectively, via methylation of the para-OH group. The genes encoding AIS1 and AIMT1 were expressed throughout the plant and their transcript levels were highest in developing fruits. The AIS1 protein is 59% identical to petunia (Petunia hybrida) isoeugenol synthase 1 and displays apparent Km values of 145 μm for coumaryl acetate and 230 μm for coniferyl acetate. AIMT1 prefers isoeugenol to t-anol by a factor of 2, with Km values of 19.3 μm for isoeugenol and 54.5 μm for S-[methyl-14C]adenosyl-l-methionine. The AIMT1 protein sequence is approximately 40% identical to basil (Ocimum basilicum) and Clarkia breweri phenylpropene O-methyltransferases, but unlike these enzymes, which do not show large discrimination between substrates with isomeric propenyl side chains, AIMT1 shows a 10-fold preference for t-anol over chavicol and for isoeugenol over eugenol.


Design of noise detector circuits as compact as standard logic cells is proposed. High-density large-scale digital integrated circuits that embed such built-in noise detectors enable in-depth characterization of dynamic power supply and ground noises. Dependence of power supply and ground voltage drops on the location of active cell rows within 1.8-V standard cell-based digital circuits are consistently measured by 1.8- and 2.5-V built-in detectors fabricated in a 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS triple-well technology. Measurements also show that ground noise distribution is distinctively more localized than power supply counterparts due to the presence of a substrate.


The term prion (proteinaceous infectious particles) was first coined by Stanley Prusiner
while naming the causative agent responsible for a group of invariably fatal
neurodegenerative diseases collectively termed transmissible spongiform
encephalopathies (TSE). A breakthrough in prion research came with the studies which
revealed that yeast species Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains proteins that have the
ability to form prions. Sup35 is a S. cerevisiae protein involved in termination of
translation. In a prion state referred to as [PSI+], a significant portion of the Sup35
protein in the cell coalesces into non-functional, self-propagating, amyloid-like
polymers. Thus, yeast strains that are [PSI+] show increased levels of nonsense
suppression. Once present, [PSI+] propagates by recruitment of the soluble form of
Sup35 into the aggregate in a manner analogous to that of mammalian prions. A search
for genetic factors affecting propagation and maintenance of [PSI+] has identified an
essential role for molecular chaperones, namely Hsp70 and Hsp104. The Hsp70
chaperone family and its associated co-chaperones are highly conserved from yeast to
mammals. A major function of Hsp70 is to prevent the aggregation of denatured
proteins by binding to exposed hydrophobic regions and preventing the accumulation of
amorphous aggregates. In the model eukaryotic S. cerevisiae, to efficiently carry out
such functions Hsp70 works in concert with a number of co-chaperones to regulate
ATPase hydrolysis cycle of Hsp70, which in-turn dictates the peptide-binding status of
Hsp70. While much data has accrued in relation to the ATPase and substrate binding
cycles of Hsp70 there is a distinct lack of information regarding the regulation of this
important chaperone at the post-translational level. Recent global proteomic studies
have demonstrated that in vivo Hsp70 is phosphorylated. Using a simplified yeast
system this study systematically assessed a variety of non-phosphorylateable and
phosphomimetic Hsp70 mutants for phenotypic alterations in Hsp70 functions. It was
found that alteration of Hsp70 phosphorylation status in vivo can impair prion
propagation, alter both basal and acquired thermotolerance and in some cases render
cells inviable. By looking at analogous mutants in closely related cytosolic Hsp70s this
study identified functional similarities and differences between highly homologous
Hsp70 species. This study shows a clear link between Hsp70 phosphorylation status and
in vivo function. Given Hsp70s central role in a variety of important cellular metabolic
pathways and the conservation of these phosphorylatable sites in higher eukaryotes,
these findings have far reaching implications.


Dimercaptophenole (DM) is proposed as a new sensitive reagent for the sensitive extractive spectrophotometric determination of Fe(II). DM in the presence hydrophobic amins reacts with Fe(II) in the pH range 5.3 -7.2 to form a coloured complex. Chloroform, dichloroethane, and carbon tetrachloride appeared to be the best extractants. The absorption spectrum of Fe (II)-DM-Am complexes in chloroform shows maximum absorbance at 552-583 nm. It was observed that the color development was instantaneous and stable. Linear calibration graphs were obtained for 0.03-4.2 μg mL −1 of Fe.The molar absorptivity calculated was found to be (3.08-4.33) and#215; 104 dm3 mol−1 cm−1 and the sensitivity of the method as defined by sandaland#39;s was 1.29-1.82 ng cm-2. The stoichiometry of the complex is established as 1:1:2 (M : L : Am) by equilibrium shift method, and confirmed the methods of relative yield, Asmus straight line and the intersection curves. It may be satisfactorily applied for the determination of Fe(III) with present method. The results of the prescribed procedure applied for the determination of the micro amounts of iron in pharmaceutical, biological, water, food and in plant samples are presented.


Author(s): Lam, Anson; Wright, Edward; Malkan, Matthew | Abstract: While there are numerous criteria for photometrically identifying active galactic nuclei (AGNs), searches in the optical and UV tend to exclude galaxies that are highly dust obscured. This is problematic for constraining models of AGN evolution and estimating the AGN contribution to the cosmic X-ray and IR backgrounds, as highly obscured objects tend to be underrepresented in large-scale surveys. To address this, we identify potentially obscured AGNs using mid-IR color colors from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) catalog. This paper presents the results of optical spectroscopy of obscured AGN candidates using Keck DEIMOS, and their physical properties derived from these spectra. We find that a $W1-W2g0.8$ color criterion effectively selects AGNs with a higher median level of $E(B-V)$ extinction compared to the AGNs found in the SDSS DR7 survey. This optical extinction can be measured using SED modeling or by using $r-W1$ as a measure of optical to IR flux. We find that specific, targeted observations are necessary to find the most highly optically obscured AGNs, and that additional far-IR photometry is necessary to further constrain the dust properties of these AGNs.


Beneath Turkish TV dramas' global glamor lie workplace accidents, systemic injuries on workers' bodies, and deaths. In response, workers seek to impose restraints on what can be done to their bodies by resorting to law and evoking ideals of equality as they struggle for workplace safety, healthcare, and dignity. Drawing on ethnographic research across production sets, industry summits, union meetings and more than fifty interviews since 2015, this article documents drama workers' bodily vulnerabilities, arguing that precarity in this global media industry is a bodily phenomenon legally sanctioned by the state. I dewesternize the notion of precarity in creative industries by foregrounding the materiality of the body and the regulative power of law as centers of exploitation and resistance. Critical scholars of media production could learn from non-Western contexts in identifying how creative workers do not only demand stable incomes but also legal recognition and protection of their bodies.


Two possible detector designs for high resolution positron camera systems have been investigated. The goal is to achieve an instrument that can measure the whole brain with a spatial resolution of 5 mm FWHM in all directions. For both detectors BGO crystals are used, with the dimension 4.5*9.5*25 mm. One detector scheme utilizes the Anger principle for crystal identification with 16 crystals mounted on two dual PMT:s via a 3 mm light guide. The other detector scheme utilizes position sensitive PMT:s. The figures of merit for these two configurations are discussed in terms of high count rate capabilities and identification reliability.


We fully characterize the fine spectral structure of neutral and negatively charged single microcavity quantum dot excitons, using polarization-sensitive magneto-photoluminescence spectroscopy. We show that the microcavity allows the simultaneous detection of both the bright and dark excitons using Faraday configuration. Thus, we were able to fully determine the fine structure and the g-factors of the neutral and negatively charged single exciton states within the same single quantum dot. Our measurements are in excellent agreement with novel, many carrier model calculations, which take into account Coulomb and exchange interactions among all the confined e–h pair states. r 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V. PACS: 78.67.Hc; 71.35.Pq; 72.25.Fe; 71.35.Cc


A system has been developed to link superheated water liquid chromatography with
flame ionisation detection. The system has been demonstrated to be robust, sensitive
and have a linear response, therefore having advantages over existing commercial
universal detectors, such as refractive index and evaporative light scattering
detectors. A wide variety of compounds, such as non-volatiles and volatiles, with
and without chromophores have not only been detected by flow injection analysis,
but also separations have been demonstrated. The columns used have been
polystyrene divinylbenzene, various ion exchange columns, Zirconia-PBD and
porous graphitic carbon, all of which have been proven to be stable at the conditions
required to produce superheated water. The separation of various mixtures have
required pH control and the use of buffers, all of which have been found to be
compatible with the system. The results obtained from the system using sugars,
amino acids and polysaccharides, which cannot traditionally detected directly by FID
or UV without derivatisation, have proven that detection is linear and detection limits
are better than existing universal detectors. Also it has been demonstrated that
compounds which are not detected by flame ionisation detection, such as ammonia,
formaldehyde, dichloromethane and ionic compounds such as sodium nitrite, can be
detected by the new system.


Electrolytically prepared carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were obtained from normal graphite in LiCl-1% SnCl2 melt at 600 o C about 5 h. The carbon consumption for nanotube formation was observed visually and the same may occurs at the graphite cathode due to erosion during the electrolysis. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microcopy (SEM) studies have shown similar features between these electrolytic carbon nanotubes and those prepared by other methods. In addition, it has been noticed that the temperature and nature of the molten salts play an important role in determining the quantity and quality of the graphite-nanotube conversion.


Utilizing a quasi-natural experiment, the 2005 Lehman index rule change, we study the role of multiple rating in corporate hedging. We find U.S. firms exhibit a sharp increase in their demand for a third rating after the event, with this pattern especially significant for firms near a rating downgrade. Open-ended mutual funds also increase their holdings of three-rating bonds. Institutional investors in general trade three-rating bonds more actively. These findings suggest that firms use multiple ratings to maintain a stable rating status, which helps both firms and institutional investors avoid the costly consequences of a rating downgrade.


This paper investigates the influence on the aerodynamic performance of a passenger cruising very fast by some specific car body parts such as side mirrors, wheel arches and wheels designed hardly regarding aerodynamics. The magnitude of the contribution of each part is analyzed via on the CFD simulations. YF SONATA, a sedan of Hyundai Motors Company, plays a major role as the baseline car in this research, representing all passenger car. The CFD analysis condition consists of 6 different cases depending on whether each part exists or not. According to the CFD results, there were confirmed that additionally to the body parts" own drag, the car body went through somewhat the consequential increment of the drag by them. Among the 3 parts, wheel is the magnate that not only has the maximal drag but drives the drag of the passenger car to increase most steeply and the next is the side mirror.


Introduction. Cushing's syndrome is characterized by the wide spectrum of metabolic abnormalities and systemic complications. Patients with Cushing's syndrome, regardless of the cause of hipercortisolism, have enhanced cardiovascular risk and increased mortality rate. An association between hipercortisolism and a variety of cardiac functional and structural changes seen in echocardiography was previously reported. Aim. To retrospectively assess the metabolic status and echocardiographic alterations of left ventricle (LV) in patients with Cushing's syndrome. Material and methods. The studied group consisted of 10 subjects (8 females and 2 males) with Cushing's syndrome, aged 22-70 yrs (mean 45.8 yrs. ± 14.2). In 8 cases hipercortisolism resulted from ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome (6 cases of pituitary adenoma and 2 cases of ACTH ectopic secretion) and other 2 were caused by ACTH-independent Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal lesion. All of the subjects were in the active phase of disease. The prevalence of overweight/obesity, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia was assessed. Analysis of left ventricular parameters obtained in echocardiography was performed. Results. Our studied group was found to have high prevalence of overweight/obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension. Ejection fraction and left ventricular dimensions were within normal range in entire group under the study. Almost all study participants presented abnormalities in left ventricular parameters including enhanced septum diameter, increased posterior wall thickness and relative wall thickness as well as LV mass and LV mass index out of normal range. Conclusions. As the left ventricular dysfunction and structural changes are commonly found in Cushing's syndrome, echocardiographic evaluation should be performed in all patients with cortisol overproduction.


A corporate university (CU) is an educational institution established by an organization whose primary purpose is not education. Traditionally, a CU is considered a training facility to improve organizational performance. However, the proliferation of the CU has engendered its diverse purposes, roles, and forms. This study attempts to identify three types of the existing CUs: (a) a CU to improve organizational performance; (b) a CU to satisfy employees' learning needs; and (c) a CU to develop a competent national workforce. Also, this study suggests a holistic CU model including the three CU types. In order to transform a CU to a multifunctional CU embracing all three types of CU, organizations should (a) provide communication and collaboration channels, (b) present clear organizational goals, (c) establish organizational policies/systems to encourage learning in CUs, and (d) devise an effective approach to evaluate the impact of CUs. Organization' s critical roles in the development of CUs can assist CUs in becoming the core of knowledge management.


The Supreme Court has only issued four opinions endorsing the constitutional rights of sexual minorities, each of them authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy. These four cases, which this article refers to collectively as "the Kennedy Quartet," have done much to advance the equality of LGBTQ adults in the United States. The question remains, however, as to what extent those cases likewise protect LGBTQ children. Far from simply being an academic question, this issue has taken on increased urgency as legislators in a number of states—thwarted by the Kennedy Quartet in their ability to target LGBTQ adults—have turned their attentions to those sexual minorities who are still children. In so doing, they have passed laws that, among other things, punish adolescent sexual activity more harshly when it involves two people of the same sex, prohibit discussions in public schools that portray homosexuality in anything other than a negative light, and deny transgender youth the ability to compete in school athletics or use restrooms that correspond to their gender identity. These laws are harmful enough in their own right but are particularly pernicious in light of the harms those children already face simply by virtue of being a sexual minority in a homophobic society. Looking at the Kennedy Quartet in conjunction with the Supreme Court's jurisprudence regarding the constitutional rights of children, this Article argues that such laws are unconstitutional. It does so by, first, challenging the argument that the Kennedy Quartet pertains only to adults. Second, and more importantly, this Article then distills from those cases three key protections applicable to the entire LGBTQ community—children included—that these current laws violate. The hope is that this analysis will assist judges, legislators, and policy makers alike as they look for ways to put an end to this wave of discriminatory laws and, in their place, lobby for more inclusive legislation.


The authors use a large panel data set from Zambia to examine factors that could explain the relatively lackluster performance of the country's agricultural sector after liberalization. Zambia's liberalization significantly opened the economy but failed to alter the structure of production or help realize efficiency gains. They reach two main conclusions. First, not owning productive assets (in Zambia, draft animals and implements) limits improvements in agricultural productivity and household welfare. Owning oxen increases income directly, allows farmers to till their fields efficiently when rain is delayed, increases the area cultivated, and improves access to credit and fertilizer markets. Second, the authors reject the hypothesis that the application of fertilizer is unprofitable because of high input prices. Rather, fertilizer use appears to have declined because of constraints on supplies, which government intervention exacerbated instead of alleviating. (Extending the use of fertilizer to the many producers not currently using it would be profitable, but increasing the amount applied by the few producers who now have access to it would not be.) Policies to foster accumulation of the assets needed for agricultural production (including draft animals and implements) and to provide complementary public goods (education, credit, and good agricultural extension services) could greatly help reduce poverty and improve productivity.


The process of generation and reproduction of dark-patch defects in GaAs and GaAlAs p-n-junctions after the X-ray irradiation are considered.


State regulatory and other agencies identified that nitrogen loading from the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) discharging around its periphery has adversely affected the San Francisco Bay (SFB) water quality. Here we consider the upscaling of the zeolite-anammox process treatment to nitrogen removal from relatively high-ammonia content (~500 NH3-N mg/L) anaerobic-digester (AD) filtrate to facilitate reductions in WWTP nitrogen discharge. First, by operating a 210 L barrel reactor as a trickling filter with a 10% by volume initial bio-zeolite seeding fraction, we found that 6–8 weeks elapsed before the anammox activity became apparent. Moreover, the 10-mm zeolite aggregate reactor achieved an 89% ammonia-N removal compared to the 85% achieved by the 20-mm aggregate. We then evaluated the performance of the trickling-filter design in a 68 m3 Baker tank nearly filled with 20-mm zeolite aggregate seeded with bio-zeolite at about 1.5% by volume. At an average inflow of 42 m3/day, about one year elapsed before achieving adequate anammox activity and acceptable treatment. Unfortunately, inadequate suspended solids pre-treatment of the AD filtrate resulted in clogging problems in the Baker tank reactor, so we evaluated aerobic-anaerobic cycling within the tank and then operated it (anaerobically) as a nitrate-scavenging tank. In the final anaerobic operational stage, nitrate effluent concentrations were <1 mg/L, perhaps due to dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium by the anammox process, but ammonia removal fractions were only about 47%.


ABSTRACT This paper aims to build the finite element model of the composite sinusoidal specimens and to carry out the parametric analysis. In this paper, the damage behaviour and the energy-absorbing results of composite sinusoidal specimens have been studied by quasi-static crushing experiments. The failure mechanisms of specimens under quasi-static crushing is further analysed. A numerical simulation has been performed by using the finite element model code LS-DYNA. The numerical results, in terms of load -displacement data, have been compared against experimental data, and good agreement has been found. Moreover, a sensitivity study has been carried out by varying material properties in order to assess their influence on the numerical results, and the material parameter selection scheme is optimised based on the constructed corresponding response surfaces. The results show that the response surface model has passed the test of goodness of fit, and the optimisation method can effectively assist the finite element modelling, and greatly decrease the numbers of trial and error.


Paper deals with problems of patient's complaint about the activity of health care workers. Author submits his findings resulting from the qualitative analysis of individual cases, which are aimed at cases with medical and psychological aspects (namely in the communication). Exchange of information between the health care workers and patients belongs to the most risky situations from the point of complaint. As a conclusion, some preventive measures are recommended.


Environmental sustainability has become the need of the hour and has been emphasized immensely because of the increased environmental awareness and resulting problems caused due to negligence. This study has intended to determine the role of knowledge management (KM) practices in achieving a sustainable environment with the mediating role of environmental awareness and green technological use. The study further examined the moderating role of green innovative culture between the relationship of KM practices and a sustainable environment. The data were acquired from 378 managerial level personnel of the construction industry in China through questionnaires. Smart-PLS 3.3.3 was used to determine the study's hypothesis through the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. The study found that KM practice has a significant relationship with a sustainable environment, environmental awareness, and green technological use. Also, environmental awareness has a significant effect on a sustainable environment. Moreover, it was found in the study that environmental awareness significantly mediated the relationship between KM practices and sustainable environment, but green technological use did not find any mediating effect on the relationship between KM practices and sustainable environment. Furthermore, green innovative culture considerably moderated the relationship between KM practices and a sustainable environment. Theoretically, this study contributes to the existing literature by incorporating and investigating the role of KM practices in a sustainable environment. Practically, this article presented some implications for the management concerning promoting KM practices and environmental awareness within the organization and developing a green innovative culture.


Optical generation of impulse-radio ultra-wideband (UWB) signals in the 60-GHz band is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. External-cavity laser (ECL) and vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) is employed for frequency up-conversion by heterodyne mixing with a UWB optical signal for comparison purposes. Real-time bit-error-rate (BER) performance of generated signals at 3.125 Gb/s is evaluated combining fiber and 2-m wireless transmission. Different optical fiber types including 1-km bend-insensitive single-mode fiber and 20-km nonzero dispersion-shifted fiber is evaluated. BER <; 10-9 for the ECL and BER <; 2.2·10-3 for the VCSEL requiring higher received optical power than the ECL is demonstrated employing electrical power detection.


Pneumomediastinum can result from a puncture wound or laceration to the hypopharynx. This is a case report of an 18-month-old child who fell with a pen in his mouth. Initial physical examination was unremarkable, but the child developed neck swelling, fever, and irritability over the next 12 hours. Repeat examination revealed marked pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema. The pathophysiology and treatment of pneumomediastinum are reviewed.


Abstract : Despite the ever-changing face of war, the environment in which it is fought, and the people who fight it, the Marines Corps' ultimate goals of leadership have not changed: mission accomplishment and troop welfare. However, accomplishing these goals is becoming more and more difficult because of the uncertainty involved in battling enemies such as guerrillas, terrorists, and insurgents. The ability to adapt to one's environment is more important than ever. The current approach to Marine training includes initial training, follow-on schools, and Professional Military Education (PME). Each of these trainings has a segment that focuses on a person's ability to adapt and grading criteria to evaluate the ability to adapt. However, these evaluation criteria have not made their way to the most important leader evaluation tool -- the fitness report (fitrep). The United States Marine Corps must add a category to the fitness report to assess a Marine's ability to adapt to an uncertain environment for the following reasons: throughout history successful military organizations have evaluated and rewarded adaptive traits and leadership, the Army and Marine Corps have recently recognized the importance of adaptive leadership training, and adaptive leadership must be emphasized and measured because current and future operations are calling for it. In summary, the ability to adapt must be identified, harnessed, improved, and evaluated to prepare the leaders of today and tomorrow. Where to start? Put the evaluation of adaptation in black and white, let someone see what it means to be adaptable, add a new block to the Fitness Report.


Background Ischemia/reperfusion injury of lower extremities and associated lung damage may result from thrombotic occlusion, embolism, trauma, or surgical intervention with prolonged ischemia and subsequent restoration of blood flow. This clinical entity is characterized by high morbidity and mortality. Deprivation of blood supply leads to molecular and structural changes in the affected tissue. Upon reperfusion inflammatory cascades are activated causing tissue injury. We therefore tested preoperative treatment for prevention of reperfusion injury by using C1 esterase inhibitor (C1 INH). Methods and Findings Wistar rats systemically pretreated with C1 INH (n = 6), APT070 (a membrane-targeted myristoylated peptidyl construct derived from human complement receptor 1, n = 4), vehicle (n = 7), or NaCl (n = 8) were subjected to 3h hind limb ischemia and 24h reperfusion. The femoral artery was clamped and a tourniquet placed under maintenance of a venous return. C1 INH treated rats showed significantly less edema in muscle (P<0.001) and lung and improved muscle viability (P<0.001) compared to controls and APT070. C1 INH prevented up-regulation of bradykinin receptor b1 (P<0.05) and VE-cadherin (P<0.01), reduced apoptosis (P<0.001) and fibrin deposition (P<0.01) and decreased plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, whereas deposition of complement components was not significantly reduced in the reperfused muscle. Conclusions C1 INH reduced edema formation locally in reperfused muscle as well as in lung, and improved muscle viability. C1 INH did not primarily act via inhibition of the complement system, but via the kinin and coagulation cascade. APT070 did not show beneficial effects in this model, despite potent inhibition of complement activation. Taken together, C1 INH might be a promising therapy to reduce peripheral ischemia/reperfusion injury and distant lung damage in complex and prolonged surgical interventions requiring tourniquet application.


Redox potential, superoxide production and NADH dehydrogenase substrate properties of daunorubicin, its four sugar-modified derivatives, 4-demethoxydaunorubicin and ametantrone have been examined. A new method for the determination of substrate properties of anthraquinones for NADH dehydrogenase has been developed. This method is based on the ability of anthraquinones to decrease the amount of enzymatic cytochrome c reduction at low concentrations of NADH. The compounds examined stimulated oxygen radical formation in a very varied manner. However, they had very similar redox properties. On the other hand, the extent of the diminution of cytochrome c reduction by anthraquinones depended strongly on the structure of the compounds examined. We postulate that it is not the redox properties but the enzyme substrate properties of anthraquinones which play the most important role in stimulating free radical formation.


PURPOSE: To compare quantitatively three techniques to measure the optical aberrations of the human eye: Laser Ray Tracing (LRT), Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor (HS) and Spatially Resolved Refractometer (SRR). LRT and HS are objective imaging techniques whereas the SRR is psychophysical. METHODS: Wave aberrations were measured in two normal subjects with all three techniques, as implemented in two different laboratories. RESULTS: We compared the experimental variability of the results obtained within each technique with the overall variability across the three methods. For the two subjects measured (RMS wavefront error 0.5 μm and 0.9μm respectively), we found a close agreement; the average standard deviation of the Zernike coefficients within a given method was 0.07 μm, whereas the average global standard deviation across techniques was 0.09μm, which is only slightly higher. CONCLUSIONS: There is a close match between the Zernike coefficients obtained by LRT, HS, and SRR. Thus, all three techniques provide similar information concerning the wave aberration, when applied to normal human eyes. However, the methods are operationally different and each presents advantages and disadvantages depending on the particular application.


Positioning and location tracking are two major needs of the modern era; in which logistics, industry automation, smart buildings/cities and the Internet of Things concepts are trending topics and are constantly evolving. Introduction of the Global Positioning System (GPS) solved the issue well for outdoor scenarios, however, it is not a reliable solution for indoors, where satellite communication (line-of-sight in general) cannot be maintained. Additionally, there are usually many obstructions (i.e. walls), which block or distort the signals or many signal sources causing interference and noise. Thus, indoor positioning requires different and smarter approaches. iBeacon, is new device-to-device communication technology that relies on Bluetooth Low Energy. In this work, we tested accuracy of a known method used to estimate the distance between two devices communicating through the iBeacon technology. Moreover; effects of the output power, placement of the devices, existence of walls and the possible radio interference, on the accuracy of that distance estimation are investigated.


Summary.  The paper discusses asymptotic properties of penalized spline smoothing if the spline basis increases with the sample size. The proof is provided in a generalized smoothing model allowing for non‐normal responses. The results are extended in two ways. First, assuming the spline coefficients to be a priori normally distributed links the smoothing framework to generalized linear mixed models. We consider the asymptotic rates such that the Laplace approximation is justified and the resulting fits in the mixed model correspond to penalized spline estimates. Secondly, we make use of a fully Bayesian viewpoint by imposing an a priori distribution on all parameters and coefficients. We argue that with the postulated rates at which the spline basis dimension increases with the sample size the posterior distribution of the spline coefficients is approximately normal. The validity of this result is investigated in finite samples by comparing Markov chain Monte Carlo results with their asymptotic approximation in a simulation study.


Cortisol in the human hair is a clinical biomarker of long-term social-and-work-related mental stress, which is of high morbidity rate in the current modern society. This study developed a sensitive hair cortisol assay, featuring surface- enhanced Raman spectroscopy, immunoreaction, and a double-layer paper microdevice. The first layer of the paper microdevice was used to remove the hair residue in the hair extract by filtration (sample pretreatment). The second layer was used for competitive immunoreaction and detection. Standard cortisol antigen immobilized in the second layer and the free cortisol in hair extract competed to bind the spiked Raman-active cortisol monoclonal antibody solution. The hair cortisol can be quantitated by the intensity of Raman signal of monoclonal antibody bound on the paper. We found the Raman signal decreased as the cortisol concentration increases in hair samples. The relative Raman intensity measured was linearly proportional to the logarithmic value of the cortisol concentration in hair samples we measured. The detection of limit (LOD) was 1 pg/mL with the portable Raman spectrometer. The RSD of measurement was 8.38% (n=6). In addition, we used LC-MS to measure two real samples as a comparison with our method as above. The results are 0.771 and 0.153 ng/mL by LC-MS method and 0.63 and 0.247 ng/mL by the proposed method. It can be observed that the results are in same order, demonstrating the validity of the proposed method. In addition, 48 samples can be measured in a single chip. These results showed that this method is sensitive, specific, and suitable for large-scale screening of hair cortisol samples.


Despite international mobilization for greater humanitarian mine action and despite considerable clearance achievements, the majority of mine-affected communities have not yet been involved in formal clearance activities. They adapt to the contamination largely by local means. The differing degree to which local adaptation is successful is now better understood as a result of the Global Landmine Survey, a multi-country survey project launched in the wake of the 1997 Ottawa treaty to ban anti-personnel mines. Socio-economic impact surveys have since been completed in several countries. In addition to landmines, the Global Landmine Survey records impacts also from unexploded ordnance (UXO). The ability to avoid mine incidents is used to measure adaptation success. We use a variant of Poisson regression models in order to identify community and contamination correlates of the number of recent landmine victims. We estimate separate models using data from the Yemen, Chad and Thailand surveys. We interpret them in a common framework that includes variables from three domains: Pressure on resources, intensity of past conflict and communities' institutional endowments. Statistically significant associations occur in all three domains and in all the three countries studied. Physical correlates are the most strongly associated, pointing to a lasting deadly legacy of violent conflict, but also significant learning effects over time are present. Despite different measurements of institutional endowments, in each country one factor signifying greater local development is correlated with reductions in victims, whereas factors commonly associated with the presence of government officials do not contribute to local capacity to diminish the landmine problem. Strong spatial effects are manifest in clusters of communities with recent victims. Two policy consequences emerge. Firstly, given humanitarian funding limits, trade-offs between clearing contaminated land and creating alternative employment away from that land need to be studied more deeply; the Global Landmine Survey will need to reach out to other bodies of knowledge in development. Secondly, communities with similar contamination types and levels often form local clusters that are smaller than the administrative districts of the government and encourage tailored planning approaches for mine action. These call for novel coalitions that bring advocacy and grassroots NGOs together with local governments, agricultural and forestry departments and professional mine clearance and awareness education agencies.


Sea level change is generally taken to indicate climate change, and may be more nearly global than what we perceive to be climate change. Close to the beach, even a small sea level change (such as 1-3 m) produces important changes in local depositional conditions. This effect can be deduced from a study of properly selected beach deposits. Various measures of beach-sand grain size indicate conditions of deposition. The best of these parameters is the kurtosis; it is a reliable indicator of surf-zone wave energy density. An abrupt energy-level shift, after centuries with little change, indicates sea level rise or drop. Kurtosis, within stated limits, shows this. Beach ridge systems (successive, distinct old beach deposits) span the last several thousands years. A sequence of sand samples across such a deposit provides grain-size evidence for alternating high and low sea level. Changes were 1 to 3 m vertically, and took place at rates of about 1 cm yr[sup [minus]1]. There were at least seven such events in the last 3000 years. The two most recent changes were the drop and subsequent rise that marked the Little Ice Age (starting about 1200 A.D.). One cannot say, from these data, that the planetmore » has come fully out of the Little Ice Age. Predictions about what sea level will do in the near future should be based on the many small changes (1 to 3 m) in the last few thousand years, rather than on the arbitrary, fictitious, and unrealistic absolute sea level that appears to underlie various popular forecasts. 15 refs., 5 figs.« less


Eighteen patients with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD) have been analyzed by reviewing all available biopsy, laboratory, and clinical data. Because of features suggesting the presence of circulating immune complexes (CIC), CIC serial sample determinations were performed throughout their disease in available patients. Age, sex, and clinical and laboratory characteristics were consistent with previously reported series. Six of 18 (33%) patients having a drug exposure associated with onset or exacerbation of symptoms demonstrated a significantly decreased survival (P < 0.02). Achievement of complete remission was a significant indicator of longevity (P < 0.001). Only one patient (6%) developed diffuse histiocytic lymphoma. Elevated CIC were detected in the four patients tested. In two patients fluctuating CIC levels could clearly be correlated to clinical remission or exacerbation. Despite the small number of patients tested, it was concluded that CIC may provide useful information for therapy selection, prediction of relapse, and further insight into pathogenetic mechanisms in AILD.


Sunitinib has recently become a standard treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. However, various adverse events have been reported. We present the first case of clinically evident adrenal insufficiency during sunitinib therapy. A 72-year-old man began sunitinib therapy for bilateral lung and adrenal metastases of renal cell carcinoma. His adrenocorticotrophic hormone level was 93.6 pg/ml (7.2-63.3 pg/ml) before sunitinib treatment, indicating that subclinical adrenal insufficiency already existed. Fatigue, which is a frequently seen adverse effect of sunitinib treatment, emerged acutely on Day 24 of the second cycle. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone and free T4 were high and thyroid-stimulating hormone was suppressed. Under the clinical diagnosis of acute adrenal insufficiency with thyrotoxicosis, a low dose of steroid was administered. Fatigue was completely ameliorated by the following morning, although free T4 was still high and thyroid-stimulating hormone was still low. Therefore, hypermetabolism due to thyrotoxicosis unmasked adrenal insufficiency in our case. Physicians should be aware of this rare but potentially fatal complication when severe acute fatigue develops in patients with subclinical adrenal insufficiency.


In this study, underwater recognition technology and a fuzzy control system were adopted to adjust the attitude and revolution speed of a self-developed autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). To validate the functionality of visual-recognition control, an experiment was conducted in the towing tank at the Department of Systems and Naval Mechatronic Engineering, National Cheng Kung University. An underwater lighting box was towed by a towing carriage at low speed. By adding real-time contour approximation and a circle-fitting algorithm to the image-processing procedure, the relationship between the AUV and the underwater lighting box was calculated. Both rudder plane angles and propeller revolution speeds were determined after the size and location of the lighting box was measured in the image. Finally, AUV performance with visual-recognition control was verified by controlling the target object in the image center during passage.


The use of polymer nanocomposites is ubiquitous in every industry. The high corrosion resistance and chemical durability of CNT/Epoxy nanocomposites make them suitable for chemical plants, oil industries, and hydrogen storage. However, unexpected failures have been reported for chemicals that unavoidably penetrate, provoking deterioration and degradation of the composite constituents. Conventional methods are impractical for evaluating structural health conditions because they often require disassembly of the structure and complex postprocessing analysis. Contactless material characterization methods, on the other hand, are rather promising tools. Nevertheless, the influence of nanofillers and acid attack diffusion on wireless signals has yet to be explored. In this study, the effects of acid attack periods (i.e. one, week, two weeks, and month) on the scattering parameters of microstrip antennas ere investigated using a vector network analys. Additionally, an idealised multi-scale modelling approach was developed to study the influence of electrical conductivity and porosity volume changes on return loss (S11). The data showed that the diffusion of ions altered the specimen properties as time progressed. The increment in the electrical conductivity and porosity volume is reflected especially during the month-long period. Finally, in this study, it was found that wireless methods can be implemented to characterise materials which are beneficial for realtime in-situ structural health monitoring.


Mads Meier Jaeger og Anders Holm: Money, education, connections or brains? Testing the meaning of four parent resources for youth choice of education in Denmark

The aim of this article is to analyse the effect of four types of social resources on young people's educational choice. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu's concept of "capital", we distinguish four types of capital: economic, cultural, social, and cognitive, which are hypothesised to affect intergenerational educational mobility in different ways. Data comes from a longitudinal study of young people carried out by the Danish National Institute of Social Research, in which persons born in 1954 were interviewed about their own situation and about the educational choices of their oldest child. The empirical analysis is divided into two parts. In the first part, using multiple indicators and confirmatory factor analysis, we find that the four types of capital are clearly identified in the data, and that the four types of capital are significantly and positively correlated. The second part of the empirical analysis evaluates the effect of the four types of parental capital on young people's educational choice, net of several control variables. For this analysis, we employ the multinomial logit model with a non-parametric estimator of random effects to capture individual heterogeneity. The analysis suggests that (especially) parental cultural capital is a strong predictor of selection to academically oriented tertiary education. Furthermore, we find that social capital is particularly important in selection of vocational education. Finally, parental economic capital and cognitive capital do not affect educational chances, but growing up with a single mother decreases the probability of obtaining university-level qualifications significantly.


The university has now, totally, found its way into our homes. First through demands of the kitchen table to provide the setting for teaching preparation. Then inadvertently: the endless work done with others in mutable workspaces, such as the home, characterizing that same teaching. And now recently, the coronavirus pandemic has found a new, hybrid, teaching space – (working from) home. So, where else is there 'to seminar'? These questions are not new: Roland Barthes made an everlasting call to 'outline a space and call it: seminar'. Henk Slager, whose plea in 2017 to '[re]activate [the] "unpredictable rhythm" of the seminar' echoed Barthes, following artists, activists, teachers and organizers calling for new alternatives to ever-institutionalized formats and modes of education. Much of this – sentimentalizing, reproducing, extracting educational forms – is held within the discursive framework of art's 'Educational Turn'. In the light of impact that the 'move online' has had on art education I am reframing this question of the seminar's 'where' else and 'what' else, again in 2022. Once obvious spaces of art education, clearly defined, are left empty, expensive, expansive and broken. Where ghosts and infrastructures contend with one another, the mechanisms of universities are, in theory, open bare; their complex continues to be impenetrable. This text constellates a set of infrastructural considerations to take stock of what it means to ask this question of 'where' else and 'what' else in 2022.


The murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) assesses skin sensitization potential as a function of proliferative responses induced in lymph nodes draining the site of topical exposure to test chemical. It has been shown that interpolation of LLNA dose‐response data to define the concentration of test chemical required to induce a 3‐fold stimulation of proliferation (EC3) offers the prospect of a quantitative index of the relative potency of a contact allergen. Initial studies have demonstrated that there exists a strong (inverse) correlation between EC3 values and contact allergenic potency in humans. Thus, materials with a low EC3 value were more potent contact allergens in humans. However, it is necessary to examine a wide range of allergens to demonstrate that such correlations are generally true. Thus, in the present study, 10 aldehydes of varying degrees of allergenicity in man were evaluated in the LLNA and their EC3 values derived. Formaldehyde was regarded as the strongest allergen in man and also had the lowest EC3 value, 0.35% (equivalent to 0.93% formalin). In contrast, the extremely weak allergen vanillin and the non‐sensitizer ethyl vanillin both had EC3 values of >50%. For the remaining 7 aldehydes, there was a close similarity between what is judged to be their rank order of allergenicity in humans and EC3 values derived from analysis of LLNA data. These results support further the utility of EC3 determinations in the LLNA as a measure of the relative potency of a contact allergen.


Summary.
A detailed account is given of the anatomy of the mouth-parts of Rhagio scolopacea (L.) (Rhagionidae) and some comparisons made with earlier studies of Scopeuma stercoraria (L.) (Cordyluridae) and Empis livida (L.) (Empididae). The probable movements and functions of the mouth-parts are deduced and the morphological adaptations to these discussed and compared in a similar manner. Rhagio shows no predatory adaptations and is possibly a nectar feeder. Homologies are traced including that of the maxilla and a general discussion on homology, with special relation to particular problems in these three species, is included.


Background: Erythropoietin (EPO) therapy is a common and effective treatment for the correction of anemia in patients with end-stage renal disease. Simultaneous treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for the control of hypertension and/or heart failure is often necessary. Recent reports in the literature have raised concern about a potential interaction between these drugs, with a resultant decreased EPO efficacy. Methods: To investigate whether this interaction occurs in chronic dialysis patients, we retrospectively reviewed the records of 175 patients receiving chronic dialysis. All study patients were treated with EPO for at least 3 months, and had normal iron indices. Patients were treated with ACE inhibitors for at least 3 months, at a constant daily dose for at least 1 month (group 1, n = 32), or did not receive ACE inhibitors (group 2, n = 143). Patients with infections or overt iron deficiency were excluded. Total weekly EPO doses and hematocrit (Hct)/hemoglobin (Hgb) values in the two groups were compared. Variables known to affect response to EPO were compared, including ferritin, transferrin saturation, dialysis dose and serum aluminum. Results: Total weekly EPO dose was 17,358 ± 6,871 units in group 1 and 17,612 ± 7,744 units in group 2 (p = 0.854). The achieved Hct was 32.1 ± 4.4% (group 1) and 30.5 ± 4.0% (group 2) (p = 0.079). Similarly, Hgb, ferritin, transferrin saturation, Kt/V, and serum aluminum were not different. The dose or duration of ACE inhibitor therapy did not affect Hgb or Hct. Thus, ACE inhibitor therapy does not appear to affect response to EPO in chronic dialysis patients.


There is not general agreement concerning the ideal way of preventing pancreatic leakage after duodenopancreatectomy. The aim of the present study is to present the experience of a three years period of performing a pancreatogastroanastomosis (PGA) after duodenopancreatectomy (DPC) in 12 consecutive patients. In 7 cases PGA was performed after closure of the gastric stump using a transverse incision of the posterior wall of the stomach. A total layer of nylon 9 points was doubled by an interrupted serocapsular suture. In one case only the seromuscular layers of the stomach were cut, adjusted to the size of the pancreatic section with a central hole for the duct of Wirsung. Four nylon 10 points were used to anastomose the latter to the gastric mucosa. PGA was performed in one layer interrupted suture between the pancreatic capsule and the seromuscular of the stomach. In 4 cases, after closure of the gastric stump an anterior gastrotomy was associated to the posterior incision of the gastric wall in order to perform PGA using an intragastric route. The postoperative follow-up showed a good evolution with only one anastomotic leakage that necessitated reintervention in the 10th day. PGA might be elective after DPC when appropriate dissection and mobilisation of the pancreas is possible.


"In this paper, the author deals with migration in America since 1950, focusing on the emigration process from Latin America. For this purpose, the analysis is based upon net migration rates that can be obtained by indirect methods. At the beginning, data are provided by continents, then the analysis focuses on 25 Latin American countries." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)


The development of new strategies for the mass synthesis of SiC nanocrystals with high structure perfection and narrow particle size distribution remains in demand for high-tech applications. In this work, the size-controllable synthesis of the SiC 3C polytype, free of sp2 carbon, with high structure quality nanocrystals, was realized for the first time by the pyrolysis of organosilane C12H36Si6 at 8 GPa and temperatures up to 2000 °C. It is shown that the average particle size can be monotonically changed from ~2 nm to ~500 nm by increasing the synthesis temperature from 800 °C to 1400 °C. At higher temperatures, further enlargement of the crystals is impeded, which is consistent with the recrystallization mechanism driven by a decrease in the surface energy of the particles. The optical properties investigated by IR transmission spectroscopy, Raman scattering, and low-temperature photoluminescence provided information about the concentration and distribution of carriers in nanoparticles, as well as the dominant type of internal point defects. It is shown that changing the growth modes in combination with heat treatment enables control over not only the average crystal size, but also the LO phonon—plasmon coupled modes in the crystals, which is of interest for applications related to IR photonics.


In the Fall 2002 issue of TDR (46:3, T175), my article "The common green/common ground Performance Project" detailed the struggle of New York City neighborhood gardeners to preserve their gardens. On 18 September 2002, New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer signed a landmark agreement concerning the future of the city's community gardens, lifting the temporary restraining order established in 1999 by Spitzer in his effort to preserve many of the gardens. According to the Attorney General's web site (Office of NYS Attorney General Eliot Spitzer 2002), 193 gardens under the jurisdiction of the Parks Department will continue to be preserved under the city's Green Thumb program. Under the jurisdiction of the Housing, Preservation, and Development Commission (HPD) 198 other gardens will be offered for transfer to either the Parks Department or a nonprofit land trust for permanent preservation. Another 114 gardens will remain under HPD's jurisdiction and are subject to future sale or development, but only after a "garden review process" and the offer of alternative garden space to gardeners. Finally, 38 gardens are slated for immediate development for housing. I spoke with J.K. Canepa, MoreGardens! activist and common green/common ground performer:


The blended learning method of teaching could be applied within the learning of mathematics and statistics. There are many different ways to obtain such learning, however one of the beneficial ways is to use MyLab and Mastering. MyLab and Mastering is blackboard website managed by the Pearson Publication Company which is used to enhance student learning in mathematics and statistics embedded within the current technological world. This paper describes the use of the MyLab and Mastering website from three points of view: instructor, students and administrative. This paper portrays the results of a recent study, where 120 students were enrolled in mathematics and statistics classes and used MyLab to improve their learning outcomes. Result of the case study are reported and analyzed. In addition suggestions are provided how to establish almost cost-free distance learning environments for mathematics and statistics.


ABSTRACT The type III secretion (T3S) system is essential to the virulence of a large number of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, including Yersinia. YscO is required for T3S in Yersinia and is known to interact with several other T3S proteins, including the chaperone SycD and the needle length regulator YscP. To define which interactions of YscO are required for T3S, we pursued model-guided mutagenesis: three conserved and surface-exposed regions of modeled YscO were targeted for multiple alanine substitutions. Most of the mutations abrogated T3S and did so in a recessive manner, consistent with a loss of function. Both functional and nonfunctional YscO mutant proteins interacted with SycD, indicating that the mutations had not affected protein stability. Likewise, both functional and nonfunctional versions of YscO were exclusively intrabacterial. Functional and nonfunctional versions of YscO were, however, distinguishable with respect to interaction with YscP. This interaction was observed only for wild-type YscO and a T3S-proficient mutant of YscO but not for the several T3S-deficient mutants of YscO. Evidence is presented that the YscO-YscP interaction is direct and that the type III secretion substrate specificity switch (T3S4) domain of YscP is sufficient for this interaction. These results provide evidence that the interaction of YscO with YscP, and in particular the T3S4 domain of YscP, is essential to type III secretion.


ABSTRACT
 Under field conditions, species displacements have occurred in different directions between the same invasive species of leafminers (Diptera: Agromyzidae). Liriomyza sativae (Blanchard) was displaced by L. trifolii (Burgess) in the western United States, with evidence suggesting that lower insecticide susceptibility of L. trifolii is a factor. However, in Japan, the opposite has occurred, as L. trifolii was recently displaced by L. sativae. This displacement is probably because of the higher fecundity of L. sativae and differential effects of parasitoids on the two leafminer species. Here, we carried out long-term surveys of these same two invasive leafminer species during January through March in 1999,2007, and 2011, as well as June through July in 2011, in eight locations (Sanya, Dongfang, Haikou, Leidong, Lingshui, Wuzhisan, Qionghai, and Danzhou) across Hainan Island of southern China. Our results indicate that, between 2007 and 2011, L. trifolii rapidly replaced L. sativae as the predominant leafminer of vegetables on Hainan Island, similar to the situation in the western United States. Further surveys of growers revealed that avermectins and cyromazine are the two most frequently used insecticides against leafminers on Hainan Island. Dose-mortality tests showed that L. trifolii populations from Hainan Island are less susceptible to avermectins and cyromazine compared with L. sativae populations. This lower insecticide susceptibility of L. trifolii may be associated with the displacement of L. sativae by L. trifolii, although additional ecological or environmental factors cannot be ruled out.


Lentinus squarrosulus, an indigenous mushroom species commonly found growing on dead logs in the Zaria environ of Kaduna State was cultured on six different media which were inoculated separately with three different spawn grains and amended with six different oils at five different rates. The various media, oil type and rate all had a highly significant effect (p<0.01) on the stipe length, stipe and pileus diameters and carpophore wet and dry weights of L. squarrosulus. Spawn grains, however, had a significant effect on all the above parameters except pileus diameter. The results reveal that corn and millet spawn induced comparable carpophore wet weights which were superior to that induced by wheat spawn. Corn spawn induced the longest stipe length and heaviest carpophore dry weight while millet induced the widest stipe diameter. The oil rate of 0.014 ml/g induced the longest stipe length, heaviest carpophore wet weight and widest pileus diameter while the highest oil rate (0.028 ml/g) induced the widest stipe diameter and heaviest carpophore dry weight. Coconut oil induced superior results for all the parameters tested except stipe diameter. Animal bedding and rice media induced optimum results for all the parameters.


The recent publication of Faustus from the German of Goethe, translated by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Oxford University Press, 2007), edited by Frederick Burwick and James McKusick, has given rise to some controversy concerning whether Coleridge was properly identified as the translator. In this short essay I select a few telling facts from the comprehensive collection of evidence supporting Coleridge's role as translator. In addition to a sampling of the phrases from Coleridge's own poetry that are echoed in his translation, and of the references in his notebooks on rendering German words, this essay also briefly summarizes evidence from external sources.


Objective: The main aim of study was to investigate the prevalence of risk factors and osteoporosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Methods: This prospective cross sectional study was done in pulmonology department Nishtar Hospital Multan. Total 369 patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diagnosed according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Diseases (GOLD) criteria were enrolled by non-probability consecutive sampling. The study was conducted from January 2016 to November 2016. Ethical approval was taken from committee of the hospital. Written permission was signed by each patient included in study. Quantitative variables like age, body mass index, FEV1, pack years smoking and vitamin D were statistically measured in mean and standard deviation. Qualitative variables like gender and area of living were statistically analyzed in percentage and frequency. ANNOVA was applied to test the significance. P value <0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Overall, 100% (n=369) patients were included, in this study; divided into two groups i.e. non-osteoporosis 60% (n=220) and osteoporosis 40% (n=149). The mean age, BMI and smoking pack-years of the non-osteoporosis patients was 67.99±4.61 years, 23.92±1.95 kg/m 2 and 41.62±10.20 respectively. There were 94.1% (n=207) males and 5.9% (n=13) females. While, the mean age, BMI and smoking pack-years of the osteoporosis patients was 71.44±3.90 years, 21.91±3.26 kg/m 2 and 49.05±3.00 respectively. There were 97.3% (n=145) males and 2.7% (n=4) females. Education status of the non-osteoporosis patients observed as 36.4% (n=80) illiterate and 63.6% (n=140) elementary or above, while there were 38.3% (n=57) osteoporosis patients illiterate and 61.7% (n=92) were elementary or above. Significant differences were found between age (p=0.000), BMI (p=0.000), smoking pack years (p=0.000), BMD T-score (p=0.000), Systolic BP (p=0.000), Diastolic BP (p=0.000), FVC, liters (p=0.000), FVC, predicted%, (p=0.000), FEV1, liters (p=0.000), FEV1, predicted% (p=0.000) and FEV1/FVC (p=0.000), in groups. Association was found between HTN (p=0.000) and GOLD (p=0.001) in groups. Conclusion: Study concluded that osteoporosis is hidden and common comorbidity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Its prevalence was high among the patients. ------ were independent risk factors in developing osteoporosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Pulmonologists should consider and properly investigate osteoporosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Key words: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoporosis, bone mineral density DOI : 10.7176/JMPB/54-06 Publication date : April 30 th 2019


Research aimed to test:

1. The influence of Trust towards Interest of Using E-money

2. The influence of Easiness on the Interest Of Using E-money

3. The influence of Security to the Interest Of Using E-money

4. The influence of Benefits on Interest of Using E-money

5. The influence of Trust, Easiness, Security and Benefits against the Interest Of Using E-money

The purpose of this study is to get proper knowledge and trustworthy on the Influence of Trust, Easiness, Security, Benefits, and Interest of Using E-money. This research was conducted in Indonesia, with a total sample of 200 respondents, namely research. Data was analyzed using SEM techniques, for the purpose of this study was to test the theory, the engineering analysis conducted is based on SEM (Covariance-based SEM), the SEM approach that uses tools PLS. Tools used in the analysis is the PLS approach is SmartPLS 3.0. The results showed that the variables that have a major influence on Interest of Using E-money are Benefits. Meanwhile, variables that have a low impact on Interest of Using E-money was Easiness.


A study of the organization of proteoglycans in articular cartilage indicates that nonaggregated proteoglycans existed in larger numbers in osteoarthritic than in normal cartilage and that proteoglycan aggregates in arthritic cartilage were smaller than normal. After dissociation from hyaluronic acid and tissue glycoproteins, no difference in hydrodynamic size of disaggregated proteoglycans was noted, but chondroitin sulfate chains of those from diseased cartilage were shorter than normal. The data suggest that there is a defect in proteoglycan aggregation in osteoarthritic cartilage which could be of pathogenetic significance.


The nematicidal and egg haching inhibitory effects of extracts from 30 herbal plants (total 32 samples) against Meloidogyne hapla J2 juveniles and eggs was tested using the dipping method. At 1,000 ppm, extracts of Daphne genkwa flower buds, Eugenia caryophyllata flowers, Quisqualis indica fruits, and Zingiber officinale rhizomes produced > 80% mortality in J2 juveniles. At 125 ppm, extracts of D. genkwa and Q. indica produced 91 and 99% mortality, respectively. The toxicity of 5 selected plant extracts to M. hapla differed depending on the solvent used (i.e. hexane, methanol, hot water, or cold water). Hot water extracts of Z. officinale and Q. indica produced nematicidal efficacies of 99 and 99%, compared to 36 and 98%, respectively, with cold water extraction. Q. indica extract was highly active against M. hapla regardless of extraction method. The inhibitory effects of Areca catechu, D. genkwa, Desmodium caudatum, Pharbitis nil, Q. indica, and Z. officinale extracts on egg hatching of M. hapla was evaluated. At 1,000 ppm, D. genkwa, P. nil, and Q. indica extracts significantly reduced hatching at 7, 14 and 21 days after treatment. Numbers of juveniles in soil treated with the methanol extract D. genkwa (1,000 ppm) were significantly lower than in untreated soil in trials in pots and in a ginseng (Phanax ginseng) field. These results indicate that Q. indica extracts could be used as an environmental friendly control agent of M. hapla.


The article analyses organizational structures and coordination mechanisms for crisis management in six European countries, focusing on the prevalence of hierarchical and network arrangements, administrative culture and perceptions of coordination quality. Our main research question concerns the importance of collaboration and cooperation in the management of crises. We apply a structural–instrumental and a cultural perspective, and examine data on formal organizational structures as well as survey data from administrative executives. The mapping reveals hybrid coordination arrangements with different national 'flavours'. The survey data show that the executives accorded significant weight to coordination, but the use of different coordination mechanisms was only loosely linked to their assessments of coordination quality. Our findings support a view of public administration as a largely composite system combining contradictory organizational principles that have evolved through institutional layering. National context and the specific challenges from different types of crises therefore influence crisis management capacity profoundly.


This paper reports tentative findings from a survey (undertaken in 2001) of education staff employed to teach nurses and midwives in four highereducation institutions in the South West of England, with specific focus on answers regarding clinical skills and practice within a wider aim of evaluating training needs. A 57 item self-administered postal questionnaire was sent out to 760 educators, 426 were returned with a response rate of 56%. The results were analysed using SPSS version 9, using descriptive statistics focusing on the responses of HE staff and lecturer practitioners on joint appointments. Findings suggest HE staff teach a limited range of (defined) clinical skills, they have varying and wide definitions of clinical skills, less confidence in teaching skills in practice, minimal experience in working in practice settings and difficulties in engagement in practice. They continue to experience role diversity and a wide variation in meeting clinical demands for clinical competence. Definitions of clinical practice and practice skill are explored in relation to the need for nurse teachers to have 'recent and practical experience of nursing'. A range of education roles are explored.


Reading involves critical ability. While learning a foreign language one should

know how to read and understand the texts and the discussions. The skill to read and interpret texts

and discourses is important since learning English brings us into contact with written texts. Teaching

reading skills is of utmost importance for students of higher education. Reading skill improves not

only the knowledge of language but also it use for academic purposes. Reading comprehension is very

necessary for training students of higher education for it enable the teacher to judge the competence of

the students. In this paper I will focus only on using passages of reading comprehension to test the

development of reading skills. Testing students for reading skills is largely diachronic activity, i.e.,

that is, testing their reading abilities across time. I conducted my research work with first year students

in Samarkand and I used the manual which is designed for teaching reading skills alongside with other

skills such as listening, speaking and writing.


A novel protein-deamidating enzyme was purified to homogeneity from Chryseobacterium proteolyticum and the gene encoding it was cloned. The enzyme is a monomer with a pI of 10.0, a measured M(r) of approximately 20,000 and a calculated M(r) of 19,860. Extensive comparison with Streptoverticillium transglutaminase showed that the protein-deamidating enzyme lacked transglutaminase activity in terms of hydroxamate-formation between benzyloxycarbonyl-Gln-Gly and hydroxylamine, or monodansylcadaverine incorporation into casein. The enzyme deamidated the two glutaminyl residues in the oxidized insulin A chain and deamidated both casein and the oxidized insulin B chain with higher catalytic efficiencies (k(cat)/K(m)) than with short peptides. The enzyme was active against several proteins, including insoluble wheat gluten, but did not deamidate asparaginyl residues in peptides, free glutamine or other amides. The enzyme was therefore named protein-glutaminase (EC 3.5.1). The gene encoding the protein was cloned and, when expressed in Escherichia coli, the protein product had protein-glutaminase activity and cross-reacted with antiserum raised against the purified enzyme. The protein-glutaminase was shown to be expressed as a prepro-protein with a putative signal peptide of 21 amino acids and a pro-sequence of 114 amino acids. The amino-acid sequence had no obvious homology to any published sequence and is therefore a novel protein-glutaminase.


Kangaroos may be the strangest of mammals not so much because they keep their babies in pouches and lok like a cross between a giant rat and a deer but because they alone among the large vertebrates can hop. This appealing natural history by an internationally known expert is the only up-to-date book on these unique animals. Illustrating his account with color photos and black-and-white drawings, Terence J. Dawson makes recent research on the biology, locomotion, behavior, and ecology of large kangaroos accessible to readers from tourists to specialists.The six species and four subspecies of red and gray kangaroos occupy habitats across most of Australia, and are distinguished mainly by size from their smaller relatives the wallabies. The largest marsupials, kangaroos belong to the Superfamily Macropodoidae, or "big foots", and are further characterized by complex stomachs and specialized teeth for grazing.Dawson considers the evolution of kangaroos, as well as their energetics, grazing habits, and classification. For each species, he details social organization, habitat, patterns of activity, population structure, reproductive biology and bheavior, feeding characteristics, and environmental physiology. The author documents as well the uneven history of coexistence between kangaroos and their human neighbors both aboriginal and European. In addition to comparing cultural attitudes towards kangaroos, he explores such issues as hunting habits, conservation efforts, the problem of kangaroos as agricultural pests, and the economics of kangaroo ranching.Terence J. Dawson is Professor of Zoology at the School of Biological Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney.


Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and nylon find their main applications in working clothes, domestic furniture and as indoor decoration (curtains and carpets). The increasing attention on healthy lifestyle, together with protection and safety, gained a strong interest in today's society. In this context, reducing the flammability of textiles has been tackled by designing flame retardants (FRs) able to suppress or delay the flame propagation. Commercially available FRs for textiles often consist of brominated, chlorinated and organo-phosphorus compounds, which are considered a great concern for human health and for the environment. In this study, Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA) was investigated as a green and eco-friendly alternative to halogen-containing FRs. DNA is in fact able to provide flame retardant properties due to its intrinsically intumescent building blocks (deoxyribose, phosphoric-polyphosphoric acid, and nitrogen-containing bases). In a first step, anchor groups (i.e., carboxyl groups) for subsequent coupling of DNA were introduced to PET and nylon-6 fabrics via limited surface hydrolysis with Humicola insolens cutinase (HiC). Released monomer/oligomers were measured via HPLC (1 mM of BHET for PET and 0.07 mM of caprolactam from nylon after 72 h). In a next step, DNA immobilization on the activated polymers was studied by using three different coupling systems, namely: EDC/NHS, dopamine, and tyrosine. DNA coupling was confirmed via FT-IR that showed typical bands at 1,220, 970, and 840 cm−1. The tyrosine/DNA coupling on nylon fabrics resulted to be the most effective as certified by the lowest burning rate and total burning time (35 s, 150 mm, and 4.3 mm*s−1 for the blank and 3.5 s, 17.5 mm, and 5 mm* s−1 for nylon/tyrosine/DNA) which was also confirmed by FT-IR and ESEM/EDS measurements. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) further confirmed that tyrosine/DNA coated nylon showed a lower thermal degradation between 450 and 625°C when compared to the untreated samples.


Biochemical surface modification of biomaterials utilizes immobilized biomolecules to induce preferred tissue responses. Operational stability, or retention of biological activity, of biochemically modified biomaterials is a fundamental determinant of their usefulness. The present study investigated retention of enzymatic activity immobilized on silanized Co-Cr-Mo and Ti-6Al-4V. A model enzyme, trypsin, was immobilized on monolayers and multilayers of silane deposited from aqueous or organic solutions of gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS). Trypsin-conjugated biomaterials were incubated in cell culture medium at 37 degrees C for up to 96 h, and the residual immobilized activity was measured. Retention of bioactivity in physiological saline was dependent on the type of material and on the method of silanization. Activity of enzyme adsorbed on the metals was lost within 24-48 h. Both mono- and multilayers of APS deposited on Co-Cr-Mo by aqueous silanization effectively retained enzymatic activity throughout the 96 h incubation period. The monolayer retained approximately 23% of the activity initially present, and the multilayers retained approximately 50% of the initial activity. Organic silanization of Co-Cr-Mo was marginally effective as it initially slowed the loss of activity. However, all activity was lost by 48-72 h of incubation. Neither organic nor aqueous silanization enhanced retention of enzymatic activity on Ti-6Al-4V.


Existing approaches on Question Answering over Knowledge Graphs (KGQA) have weak generalizability. That is often due to the standard i.i.d. assumption on the underlying dataset. Recently, three levels of generalization for KGQA were defined, namely i.i.d., compositional, zero-shot. We analyze 25 well-known KGQA datasets for 5 different Knowledge Graphs (KGs). We show that according to this definition many existing and online available KGQA datasets are either not suited to train a generalizable KGQA system or that the datasets are based on discontinued and out-dated KGs. Generating new datasets is a costly process and, thus, is not an alternative to smaller research groups and companies. In this work, we propose a mitigation method for re-splitting available KGQA datasets to enable their applicability to evaluate generalization, without any cost and manual effort. We test our hypothesis on three KGQA datasets, i.e., LC-QuAD, LC-QuAD 2.0 and QALD-9). Experiments on re-splitted KGQA datasets demonstrate its effectiveness towards generalizability. The code and a unified way to access 18 available datasets is online at https://github.com/semantic-systems/KGQA-datasets as well as https://github.com/semantic-systems/KGQA-datasets-generalization.


Background Flood preparedness empowers the community to respond effectively to related hazards. However, there was no research done in the country concerning household flood preparedness. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess household flood preparedness and associated factors in the flood-prone community of Dembia district, northwest Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2014 in the Dembia district. A two-stage sampling technique was used. The study was conducted using 806 flood-prone participants. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data were entered using Epi info version 3.5.1 and transported into SPSS version 16 for further analysis. Descriptive and analytic statistics were computed. Variables having association with the outcome variable were reported using odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI). Model fitness was checked by Hosmer and Lemeshew chi-square test. Results Household flood preparedness was found to be 24.4%. The age group of ≥ 46 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=2.62; 95% CI: 1.12, 6.00) above, monthly household income >893 Ethiopian Birr, (AOR=6.72; 95% CI: 2.2 7, 19.88) attending primary level education (AOR=22.08; 95% CI: 8.16, 59.74), warning system in household (AOR=5.41; 95% CI: 2.38, 12.32), knowledge of flood prevention, (AOR=2.52; 95% CI: 1.43, 5.57) were positively associated with household flood preparedness. Conclusion and recommendation This study has demonstrated that household flood preparedness was found to be low in the study area. Household flood preparedness was significantly associated with the older age group, attending primary level education, having a higher monthly income, receive household level warning messages, having knowledge on preparedness, prior exposure to a flood, and length of flood >6 days. Strengthening household flood preparedness in advance is important in order to prevent flood and its related consequences.


We investigate the self-assembly and aggregation behaviors of nanoparticles in hybrid assemblies made from amphiphilic block copolymer tethered nanoparticles using the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) approach. By varying the arm number of the tethered amphiphilic block copolymers, hydrophobic block chain length, and interaction parameter between nanoparticle and hydrophobic block, different morphological hybrid aggregates are obtained, including branching rod-like micelles, ring-like micelles, disk-like micelles, and vesicles. Most importantly, the nanoparticles aggregate in the various micelles and form nanowires, nanorings, and nanoclusters. Only using amphiphilic block copolymer tethered nanoparticles, hybrid vesicles including patchy vesicles and heterogeneous vesicles are obtained. Moreover, nanoclusters with distinct number of nanoparticles in hybrid disk-like micelles and vesicles are fabricated through controlling the interaction parameter between nanoparticle and hydrophobic block.


ADVANCES IN OPHTHALMOLOGY Documenta Ophthalmologica. Edited by F. P. Fischer, A. J. Schaeffer, and Arnold Sorsby. Vol. 2. (Pp. 462; illustrated. No price.) Holland: W. Junk. 1948. The second volume of this series (which periodically summarizes recent advances in ophthalmology) contains seven articles of more than usual interest. A study on physiological optics by A. von Tschermak deals with several problems. The first describes a " contrastometer" to demonstrate the compensating reaction on simultaneous contrast in the retina of frogs, the illumination of which can be varied by polarization. The entoptic phenomenon of Heidinger's brushes is then considered, with an interesting discussion on the effect of double polaroid spectacles in reducing the light entering the eye. The discrimination curves of photopic and scotopic vision are described in terms of wavelength and oscillation frequency, and the basis of stereoscopic vision is reviewed as it originates on retinal points in which size relations differ. It is finally shown that the coincidence of entoptic and exoptic stimuli may result in monocular diplopia. The physiological optics of the visualization of x-ray pictures are discussed by W. Bronkhorst, J. Ten Doesschate, and F. P. Fischer, who bring forward some points of considerable interest which have hitherto been largely ignored by radiologists. R. Weekers and F. Roussel contribute an article on the critical frequency of fusion, particularly in its relation to pathological conditions. They point out that the physiological variations of this factor are small, while pathological anomalies produce marked disturbance. Thus, in cases of detachment of the retina the pre-operative extent of the detachment and the functional defect can be estimated with considerable accuracy. In tobacco amblyopia the critical frequency is reduced in the centro-caecal area in proportion to the degree of intoxication; in glaucoma, disturbances in the frequency are early and common, and may sutpplement perimetric studies. J. Ten Doesschate and F. P. Fischer contribute an article of considerable length on the mechanical properties of the tissues of the eye, emphasis being placed on their micellar structure; the bearing of this work, which may seem academic in nature. is of importance in such conditions as detachment of the retina. Two papers are contributed by G. Karpe, of Stockholm, the first a description of his own apparatus for recording the electro-retinogram in clinical cases, and the second the application of this relatively new method in the investigation of cases of ocular siderosis. Electro-retinography can be used to follow the course of development of siderosis, and Karpe has found that it provides information of great value when the difficult decision has to be made upon the advisability of undertaking a dangerous operation for the extraction of a foreign body which has been in the eye for some time. It is interesting that in the initial stages of this disease both the positive and negative components of the electro-retinogram are increased at a stage when the disease cannot yet be recognized by the usual clinical examination, while at a later stage the retinogram becomes negative and is finally abolished, even though the retina may function reasonably well. The potentialities of this new clinical method are therefore considerable. The final section by L. Poleff, of Rabat, deals with recent work on trachoma. He gives a general review of the state of our knowledge of the aetiology of this disease, based on morphological studies and the results of culture experiments and of inoculations carried out in animals and man, adding a discussion on the virus and rickettsial nature of the infective agent, the significance of the Weil-Felix reaction, and questions of immunity and predisposition. The discussion is critical, and it is pointed out that many problems are yet unresolved. The book, in which the various articles are written in German, French, and English, deals with the more scientific developments of ophthalmology, which are not readily obtained elsewhere, and is of considerable interest and value. STEWART DUKE-ELDER. HEART DISEASE Cardiology. By William Evans, M.D., D.Sc., F.R.C.P. (Pp. 310; illustrated. £1 15s.) London: Butterworth and Co. 1948. Dr. William Evans has set out very effectively, though rather dogmatically, the facts and arguments upon which the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease are based. The work is founded upon a series of lectures, from which it derives a note of personal experience; at the same time it is inevitable that it should bear some of the disadvantages of such an origin. The merits of the work are so obvious that it is unfortunate the author has at times allowed personal views to be presented as final judgments. For example, there is no general agreement that the term " triple rhythm " should replace " gallop rhythm," and, since most cardiologists are resolved that " gallop rhythm " shall stay, the term should at least find mention in a standard textbook. We know that ordinarily there are two heart sounds, just as there are two phases of respiration ; if there is a third sound it may or niay not be of pathological significance. While the term "triple rhythm " might suitably denote the innocent form of this auscultatory phenomenon, it would be better to preserve for the pathological sign the descriptive and honoured term of "gallop rhythm." To speak of "the fourth heart sound" is, to say the least, confusing. It is regrettable that Dr. Evans has given room in this book for consideration of so complex a subject as the classification of auricular tachycardia into five groups. It is true there are good reasons for believing in the identity of flutter and paroxysmal tachycardia, but these matters are far outside the range of the average student. Other criticisms of the same kind could be cited. The author has brought together here many themes that have interested him, and the whole work makes stimulating reading for the physician or cardiologist who can weigh the statements against his own experience. But the student who has no such background will not so readily profit from this approach. No work so individual as this could be free from shortcomings, and the merits of the book far outweigh the demerits. The production is well above the average post-war standard, and the diagrams, electrocardiographs, drawings, and photographic reproductions are on the whole excellent. K. SHIRLEY SMITH.


South Africa has a diverse array of phenotypically distinct and locally adapted sheep breeds that have been developed for different production systems ranging from mutton to wool and pelt, and some dual-purpose and nondescript breeds kept by smallholder farmers. This study investigated genetic diversity, population genetic structure and divergence between South African sheep breeds in order to gain an insight into breed history and genomic architecture aligned to breeding goals and production systems. The Illumina OvineSNP50 BeadChip was used to genotype 400 sheep belonging to 14 breeds representing mutton, pelt and mutton and wool dual-purpose breeds. Nguni sheep were included as a representative of indigenous nondescript breeds that are reared by smallholder farmers. Seeking a clearer understanding of the genetic diversity of South African breeds relative to global populations, 623 genotypes of sheep from worldwide populations were included in the analysis. These sheep breeds included six African, two Asian and eight European breeds. Across breeds, genetic diversity ranged from observed heterozygosity (H0 ) = 0.26 ± 0.02 in Namaqua Afrikaner to H0  = 0.38 ± 0.01 in Dohne Merino. The overall mean H0 was 0.35 ± 0.04. The African and Asian populations were the most inbred populations with FIS ranging from 0.17 ± 0.05 in Grey Swakara and Ronderib Afrikaner sheep to 0.34 ± 0.07 in the Namaqua Afrikaner. The South African Dohne Merino (FIS  = 0.03 ± 0.01), SA Merino (FIS  = 0.05 ± 0.04) and Afrino (FIS  = 0.09 ± 0.02) and other global Merino-derived breeds were the least inbred. The first principal component explained 27.7% of the variation and separated the fat- and rump-tailed sheep (i.e. Swakara, Nguni, Blackhead Persian, Ethiopian Menzi, Meatmaster) from the Merino and Merino-derived breeds and the Dorset Horn. The second principal component separated the Merino and Merino-derived breeds from the English breed of Dorset Horn. Overall, South African indigenous breeds clustered together with indigenous breeds from other African and Asian countries. The optimal admixture cluster (K = 20) revealed various sources of within- and amongst-breed genomic variation associated with production purpose, adaptation and history of the breeds. The Blackhead Persian, Nguni and Namaqua Afrikaner breeds differed significantly from other breeds, particularly with the South African Mutton Merino and Dorset Horn. Breed-differentiating SNPs were observed within genomic regions associated with growth, adaptation and reproduction. Genes such as RAB44, associated with growth and meat/carcass traits, differentiated the Blackhead Persian from the Dorset Horn and South African Mutton Merino. The MAP2 and HRAS genes, which are associated with immune traits involving Toll-like receptors and Chemokine signalling pathways, differentiated the Nguni from the Dorset Horn. The current results give insight into the current status of the sheep genetic resources of South Africa relative to the global sheep population, highlighting both genetic similarities as well as divergence associated with production systems, geographical distribution and local adaptation.