This paper develops a location-allocation model to optimize a four-echelon supply chain network, addressing manufacturing and distribution centers location, supplier selection and flow allocation for raw materials from suppliers to manufacturers, and finished products for end customers, while searching for system profit maximization. A fractional-factorial design of experiments is performed to analyze the effects of capacity, quality, delivery time, and interest rate on profit and system performance. The model is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming problem and solved by using well-known commercial software. The usage of factorial experiments combined with mathematical optimization is a novel approach to address supply chain network design problems. The application of the proposed model to a case study shows that this combination of techniques yields satisfying results in terms of both its behavior and the obtained managerial insights. An ANOVA analysis is executed to quantify the effects of each factor and their interactions. In the analyzed case study, the transportation cost is the most relevant cost component, and the most relevant opportunity for profit improvement is found in the factor of quality. The proposed combination of methods can be adapted to different problems and industries.


Mycobacteriophage L5 integrates into the genome of Mycobacterium smegmatis via site-specific recombination between the phage attP site and the bacterial attB site. These two sites have a 43-bp common core sequence within which strand exchange occurs and which overlaps a tRNAGly gene at attB. We show here that a 29-bp segment of DNA is necessary and sufficient for attB function and identify the positions of strand exchange.


Abstract West Nile Virus (WNV) infection manifests itself clinically and pathologically differently in various species of birds. The clinicopathologic findings and WNV antigen tissue distribution of six great gray owls (Strix nebulosa) and two barred owls (Strix varia) with WNV infection are described in this report. Great gray owls usually live in northern Canada, whereas the phylogenetically related barred owls are native to the midwestern and eastern United States and southern Canada. Naturally acquired WNV infection caused death essentially without previous signs of disease in the six great gray owls during a mortality event. Lesions of WNV infection were dominated by hepatic and splenic necrosis, with evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation in the great gray owls. WNV antigen was widely distributed in the organs of the great gray owls and appeared to target endothelial cells, macrophages, and hepatocytes. The barred owls represented two sporadic cases. They had neurologic disease with mental dullness that led to euthanasia. These birds had mild to moderate lymphoplasmacytic encephalitis with glial nodules and lymphoplasmacytic pectenitis. WNV antigen was sparse in barred owls and only present in a few brain neurons and renal tubular epithelial cells. The cause of the different manifestations of WNV disease in these fairly closely related owl species is uncertain.


In this paper, we develop a new receiver for joint symbol, channel characteristics and code delay estimation for DS spread spectrum systems under conditions of multipath fading. This nonlinear estimation problem is extremely complex. An efficient simulation-based algorithm based on particle filtering is proposed to solve it. The method combines sequential importance sampling, a selection scheme and a variance reduction technique. An extensive simulation study is carried out and demonstrates good performance of the suggested approach.


Abstract Community gardens fulfil many roles, including the reclamation of public space, community building, and the facilitation of social and cultural expression. This paper discusses a nexus between research and education for sustainability that evolved out of an examination of the role of community gardens in fostering community development and neighbourhood improvement in Sydney's Waterloo Public Housing Estate. It argues that they are also an educational resource providing a valuable platform for learning about multiple dimensions of sustainability. The paperis based on interdisciplinary research undertaken by a team from UNSW's Faculty of the Built Environment and the School of Social Work. The findings of this research affirm the importance of community gardens for public housing tenants, and present the gardens and their associated activities as an effective platform for education for sustainability.


Software architecture design constraints exist and they bound the solution space in some ways. However,in research and practice little is known about the characteristics of these constraints and how they influence decision making. In this paper we report our findings on design constraint characteristics based on case studies in two countries. We discovered how constraints typically manifest themselves in the architecture design process, and how they impact the architectural decisions taken. Based on these insights we suggest a number of implications and strategies to support architectural design.


In this paper we demonstrate the existence of specific, high affinity 17-beta estradiol binding in MDBK cells (a normal non-transformed renal cell line). Scatchard analysis revealed binding characteristics typical of the estrogen receptor (ER). Only unlabelled 17-beta estradiol, diethyl stilbestrol and estrone effectively competed with [3H] 17-beta estradiol for binding, other steroids did not compete. Short term TPA treatment of MDBK cells with TPA increased PKC activity and immunoreactivity and caused a transient increase in 17-beta estradiol binding, while longer term treatment with TPA decreased PKC activity and immunoreactivity. The inactive phorbol ester 4 alpha PDD was without effect on PKC activity and the ER. TPA did not affect the affinity of the ER for the nucleus nor did it increase degradation of the receptor. We hypothesize that the renal ER may be a substrate for PKC and its properties can be modified by PKC similarly to the vitamin D receptor.


Every cardiac pump has its own maximum performance, which denotes its pumping capability. The difference between the performance in the resting state and that at maximum is called pumping reserve. Cardiac pumping performance is therefore best quantified by its hydraulic power output. Cardiac pumping capability is predictive of the ultimate prognosis of patients in severe heart failure whereas pumping reserve is a major determinant of exercise capacity. The therapeutic efficacy of cardiotonic drugs used in the treatment of ambulant heart failure patients should be evaluated with reference to the way they alter the relation between cardiac pumping reserve and exercise capacity.


Two of the largest known historic block-and-ash flow (BAF) fields are located on Shiveluch volcano, Kamchatka. The deposits were produced during retrogressive and pulsatory dome collapse events that occurred over 6-9 hour-long eruptions on 27-28 February 2005 and 27 October 2010. The BAFs that were produced by these partial dome collapse events extend up to 19 km from the dome and inundate areas of 24.1 and 22.3 km 2 . We used satellite and field data to investigate the surface morphology 15 of the BAF deposits and their impact on the surrounding area. The deposit surfaces contain overlapping lobate deposits, compaction ridges, levees and channel morphologies, degassing structures, abundant large dome blocks, and large areas of syn- or immediately-post-depositional remobilization, as shown by bench scallops and arcuate scarps. The dome-collapse events produced flows with two components: the dense block-and-ash component of the flows, and the associated dilute pyroclastic surges. The surge components traveled beyond the main flow and killed vegetation to distances of nearly 300 m. 20 The 2005 dome collapse event produced a BAF that extended 17.8 km from the dome and emplaced a large fan deposit and associated surge, which destroyed an area of forest 10 km 2 in size. The October 2010 event also produced a large fan deposit with a distal channelized deposit that extended an additional 5.4 km beyond the main 2010 fan for a total distance from the dome of 19 km. Since deposition, fluvial erosion and deposition produced large areas comprised of dendritic and braided channel deposits. The surface morphology of the deposits as revealed in satellite imagery and observed in stratigraphic


Young people with cystic fibrosis (CF) are asked to avoid a number of environments associated with increased infection risk, but in practice they need to balance this with competing priorities such as building and sustaining relationships with friends and family. This study explored the process by which young people make these decisions. Mixed methods were used: a vignette study presenting choices around engaging in activities involving a degree of infection risk and a thematic analysis of participant's accounts of their decision making. The eight participants chose to engage in high risk behaviours in 59% of the choices. All participants chose to engage in at least one risky behavior, though this was less likely when the risk was significant. Thematic analysis revealed large areas of misunderstanding and lack of knowledge, leading to some potentially worrying misconceptions about the nature of infections and risk. Young people with CF are not currently making informed decisions around activities that involve increased risk of infection, and there is an urgent need for CF teams to address this in information provision.


Covering the fundamental mathematical underpinnings together with key principles and applications, this book provides a comprehensive guide to the theory and practice of sampling from an engineering perspective. Beginning with traditional ideas such as uniform sampling in shift-invariant spaces and working through to the more recent fields of compressed sensing and sub-Nyquist sampling, the key concepts are addressed in a unified and coherent way. Emphasis is given to applications in signal processing and communications, as well as hardware considerations, throughout. With 200 worked examples and over 200 end-of-chapter problems, this is an ideal course textbook for senior undergraduate and graduate students. It is also an invaluable reference or self-study guide for engineers and students across industry and academia.


We have assessed the analytical and clinical performance of five thyroid-function tests by commercially available radioimmunoassays in which antibodies attached to paramagnetic micro-particles are used (Corning MAGIC assays). We evaluated the methods for measuring thyroxin, triiodothyronine, triiodothyronine uptake, thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone), and free thyroxin. Precision, patients' results, and clinical correlation of the MAGIC assays were similar to those of the well-established RIAs used as the comparative methods in this study; the MAGIC assays, however, are much faster and easier to perform.


In the paper we provide an analysis of the potential of agricultural holdings for biomass production, an assessment of the level of farm sustainability and a description of the farming conditions of agricultural holdings depending on the degree of natural valuation of a given area. The approach makes it possible to assess the level of sustainability of farms, also in the context of their potential and taking into account the quality of the production space and its importance for increasing biodiversity. We use public and unpublished data of Statistics Poland (2005, 2007, 2016) as well as data on farms keeping accounts for the Polish FADN in 2016–2018. The paper shows that although concentration processes are progressing, farm productivity is increasing, but this is linked to specialisation, leading to efficient management of labour and land resources. Nevertheless, the decreasing number of farms with proper winter vegetation cover and optimal balances was confirmed. The farming conditions of the farms should take into account the share and degree of natural value of the production space of the areas (municipalities) in which they are located. The study found that farms in municipalities with a high share of high natural value farmland (HNVf) areas, compared to the other municipalities, characterized by lower livestock density per ha UAA, which indicates their less intensive organisation of agricultural production. Moreover, in these municipalities, as their natural value increased, the share of forests and waters in the total area increased and the share of permanent grassland in the total area decreased slightly.


Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic complex condition which is collection of physical, mental and functional abnormalities that result from trisomy 21, the presence in genome of three rather than the normal two chromosome. Mouse model of DS have shown the involvement of trisomy of all or part of human chromosome 21 or orthologous mouse genomic regions and also provide valuable information into contribution of triplicated gene related to many clinical manifestations in DS. Medical advances, special educational programs, and increasing social acceptance of disabled people in the community have resulted in current trends of normalization and deinstitutionalization of these patients. In this study we performed the detailed literature searches to ameliorate molecular cytogenetic study of Down syndrome and its care.


Two natural cytotypes of the Nothoscordum montevidensecomplex are described for the southeastern region of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The cytotypes are 2n = 6x = 24 and 2n = 8x = 32 with metacentric chromosomes (m). Cytological and morphological evidence indicates that these cytotypes belong to N. montevidense ssp. latitepalum, although this subspecies is 2n = 4x = 16m. The probable origin of these cytotypes is discussed.


Guided Local Search is a general penalty-based optimisation method that sits on top of local search methods to help them escape local optimum. It has been applied to a variety of problems and demonstrated effective. The aim of this paper is not to produce further evidence that Guided Local Search is an effective algorithm, but to present an extension of Guided Local Search that potentially has no parameter to tune. Compared to other algorithms, Guided Local Search is relatively easy to apply, as there is only one major parameter (�) to set. In some applications, performance of Guided Local Search is insensitive to the value of this parameter. Nevertheless, the value of this parameter can affect the performance of Guided Local Search in some problems. In this paper, we show how (a) an aspiration criterion and (b) random moves may be added to Guided Local Search to reduce the sensitivity of its performance to the parameter value. The extended Guided Local Search is tested on the SAT, weighted MAX-SAT and Quadratic Assignment Problems with positive results.


Nonredundant and specialized functions of the zein prolamines control maize protein body formation and endosperm texture. Zeins, the maize (Zea mays) prolamin storage proteins, accumulate at very high levels in developing endosperm in endoplasmic reticulum membrane-bound protein bodies. Products of the multigene α-zein families and the single-gene γ-zein family are arranged in the central hydrophobic core and the cross-linked protein body periphery, respectively, but little is known of the specific roles of family members in protein body formation. Here, we used RNA interference suppression of different zein subclasses to abolish vitreous endosperm formation through a variety of effects on protein body density, size, and morphology. We showed that the 27-kilodalton (kD) γ-zein controls protein body initiation but is not involved in protein body filling. Conversely, other γ-zein family members function more in protein body expansion and not in protein body initiation. Reduction in both 19- and 22-kD α-zein subfamilies severely restricted protein body expansion but did not induce morphological abnormalities, which result from reduction of only the 22-kD α-zein class. Concomitant reduction of all zein classes resulted in severe reduction in protein body number but normal protein body size and morphology.


Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, and the pathogenesis of the disease is complex with both bacterial and host factors contributing to inflammatory responses. Lyme disease affects different organs including joints and results in arthritis. Immune responses stimulated by B. burgdorferi through toll-like receptors cause infiltration of leukocytes, which produce inflammatory cytokines and facilitate spirochete clearance. However, arthritic manifestations and chronic fatigue syndrome-like symptoms persist long after completion of antibiotic treatment regimens in a significant number of patients. To counter the effects of inflammation, treatment by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hydroxychloroquine, or synovectomy to eradicate inflammatory arthritis in the involved joint could be employed; however, they often have long-term consequences. Acupuncture has been used for a long time in Asian medicine to diminish pain during various ailments, but the effects and its mechanism are just beginning to be explored. Control of inflammation by neuronal stimulation has been exploited as a systemic therapeutic intervention to arrest inflammatory processes. Our objective was to determine whether activation of the sciatic–vagal network by electroacupuncture on ST36 acupoint, which is used to control systemic inflammation in experimental models of infectious disorders such as endotoxemia, can also alleviate Lyme arthritis symptoms in mice. This aim was further strengthened by the reports that sciatic–vagal neuronal network stimulation can lead to dopamine production in the adrenal medulla and moderate the production of inflammatory factors. We first assessed whether electroacupuncture affects spirochete colonization to attenuate Lyme arthritis. Interestingly, bioluminescent B. burgdorferi burden detected by live imaging and qPCR were similar in electroacupuncture- and mock-treated mice, while electroacupuncture induced a lasting anti-inflammatory effect on mice. Despite the discontinuation of treatment at 2 weeks, the simultaneous decrease in neutrophils in the joints and inflammatory cytokine levels throughout the body at 4 weeks suggests a systemic and persistent effect of electroacupuncture that attenuates Lyme arthritis. Our results suggest that electroacupuncture-mediated anti-inflammatory responses could offer promising healthcare benefits in patients suffering from long-term Lyme disease manifestations.


To address the question of whether elevated concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, we measured NEFA concentrations in 140 diabetic and 343 nondiabetic unrelated Swedish subjects with a family history of type 2 diabetes and related the findings to history of cardiovascular disease in their parents. Parents of nondiabetic offspring belonging to the quartile of highest NEFA concentrations had a higher risk of myocardial infarction (35% versus 16%, P<0.01) and stroke (45% versus 16%, P<0.0005) than did parents of offspring from the lowest NEFA quartile. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, a high NEFA concentration in offspring was significantly associated with myocardial infarction and stroke in their parents. No such relationship was observed between diabetic offspring and their parents. Assuming that the same relationship between NEFA concentrations and cardiovascular disease is seen in the offspring and their parents, the findings suggest that elevated NEFA concentration is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and could be pathogenically involved in the atherosclerotic process.


Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), comprising its whole spectrum of conditions ranging from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; NASH) and cirrhosis, is the most frequent liver disease in developed countries and is now regarded as the liver manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. Several studies indicate that NAFLD, especially in its necro-inflammatory form (NASH), is associated with a systemic proinflammatory/prothrombotic state, independently of shared metabolic risk factors. This suggests that NAFLD/NASH is not simply a marker of the proinflammatory/prothrombotic state in the metabolic syndrome but is actively involved in its pathogenesis, possibly through the systemic release of proinflammatory and procoagulant factors from the steatotic liver (C-reactive protein, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, interleukin-6, fibrinogen, and other proinflammatory cytokines). The clinical impact of NAFLD on the proinflammatory/prothrombotic risk profile deserves particular attention in view of the implications for screening and surveillance strategies in the growing number of patients with NAFLD.


The question of authority, of power plus right, is as old as political thought itself; the awareness of a "crisis of authority" is perhaps equally old. When Pheidippides beat his father in Aristophanes' Clouds, the crisis of authority in Athens was clearly set forth. Today, respect for authority of all sorts has dwindled, and suspicion of it has increased. That situation, as the editors note in their introduction, provides the impetus for this collection of essays (presented originally at the 1980 Authority and the Crisis of Legitimacy Conference in Los Angeles), which examines the problem of authority from a variety of perspectives. The 9 essays, drawing on scholarship in history, political science, literature, and psychology, are divided according to subject: "Politics and Authority," "Literature and Authority," and "Psychology and Authority." In the first section, Diggins, Kann, and Sheldon Wolin discuss authority in the American political tradition, a tradition in which, as each rightly notes, authority has always been problematic. Diggins examines the "three faces" of authority in the American tradition, beginning with the Puritans, for whom the just powers of government were derived from men's covenant with God and with each other. The Founders, in turning away from this "spiritual" authority, separated authority from political power to make power less dangerous. The resulting tension, observed by Tocqueville and Henry Adams, makes authority a perpetual question in American politics. The changes wrought on America's "antistatist" tradition by modern social science and the welfare state are the subject of Wolin's essay. We now stand, he says, between a state "so distended and grotesque as to be without any political content," and "a tightly organized state dedicated to guiding profligate humanity through its seven lean years" (pp. 56-57). The challenge to citizens is to "reclaim our politicalness." Kann continues this theme in his essay on the problem of consent as a source of authority. Consent, he says, has lost its "moral significance" as American politics has become "apolitical." Without a (lost, but recoverable) "moral commitment" in politics, there is no secure basis for authority. "Literature and Authority" begins with John H. Schaar's thoughtful essay on William Faulkner's The Bear. The two worlds of The Bear are the hunt, in which a sense of community gives rise to authority based on personal character and virtue; and the town, in which authority is based on contract. The tension between these two conceptions of authority is America's political heritage. Alfred Kazin and William Arrowsmith turn away from the American heritage and look to the larger Western tradition in their discussions of Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot. For both Pound and Eliot, it was the poetic and historical tradition which was the source of the poet's authority and power in Western culture. The final 3 essays draw upon the works of Freud, finding the crisis of authority, in Jessica Benjamin's words, in "the crisis of our individuality." Russell Jacoby and Benjamin discover the source of the "new narcissism" in capitalism and gender domination respectively. Conditions of modern society, whether the result of the hedonism that capitalism encourages or the change in the status of women, have called into question our old notions of paternal authority and thus of the family structure. Against the radical critiques of authority offered by Jacoby and Benjamin, Philip Rieff argues that authority is always present as a necessary precondition for culture. Post-Freudian culture holds out a false hope for liberation and merely enslaves us to our lower selves. Authority is particularly a problem for Americans. The suspicion and distrust of authority on which our political institutions were founded seems to have become part of our national character. Both our institutions and our character seem to demand that we persistently ask for justifications of authority in all its forms. Thus our questioning requires the comprehensive approach attempted—and largely realized—here. This book challenges us to take a broad view of our condition, a challenge which a responsible social science must accept.


AbstractDedifferentiated endometrial carcinoma is an uncommon but aggressive type of endometrial cancer that may pose a variety of diagnostic challenges, the most clinically significant being its potential for misclassification as lower-grade endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Its behavior and diagnostic features have come to attention in the past decade, leading to its recognition as a distinct entity in the 2014 update of the World Health Organization classification of endometrial cancer. Dedifferentiated endometrial carcinoma is defined as a tumor composed of a mixture of undifferentiated carcinoma and conventional endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Undifferentiated carcinoma grows as sheets of noncohesive, monomorphic, moderately atypical tumor cells that have either completely or nearly completely lost Mullerian epithelial immunophenotype (epithelial membrane antigen, keratin, PAX8, estrogen receptor) and E-cadherin immunoexpression. Extensive geographic necrosis is common, and many cases exhibit foci of tumor cells with rhabdoid morphology. In contrast, the accompanying component of differentiated carcinoma exhibits the typical morphology and immunophenotype of grade 1 or 2 endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Regardless of the percentage of tumor comprised of the undifferentiated carcinoma, patients usually present with advanced-stage disease and progress to recurrence and/or death within a short timeframe. The behavior is more aggressive than conventional grade 2 or grade 3 endometrioid adenocarcinoma, which are the 2 most common misdiagnoses of dedifferentiated endometrial carcinoma. Loss of immunohistochemical expression of mismatch repair proteins is common; however, there are conflicting data on whether this is significantly more common than in other subtypes of endometrial carcinoma. Although the pathogenesis of dedifferentiated endometrial carcinoma remains to be fully elucidated, recent studies suggest a role for inactivation of SMARCA4 or SMARCB1, core units of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex that are also inactivated in other aggressive poorly differentiated tumors with rhabdoid morphology such as ovarian small cell carcinoma, hypercalcemic type, among others. Loss of SMARCA4 immunoexpression in the undifferentiated carcinoma component occurs in up to half of dedifferentiated endometrial carcinomas; since it is retained by the differentiated component, as well as by conventional grade 3 endometrioid adenocarcinomas, SMARCA4 may emerge as a useful tool in the differential diagnosis, although its specificity remains to be fully determined. This review discusses the clinical, morphologic, and immunohistochemical features of dedifferentiated endometrial carcinoma, as well as a practical approach to its differential diagnosis.


The electronics-centered approach to physical computing presents challenges when designers build tangible interactive systems due to its inherent emphasis on circuitry and electronic components. To explore an alternative physical computing approach we have developed a computer vision (CV) based system that uses a webcam, computer, and printed fiducial markers to create functional tangible interfaces. Through a series of design studios, we probed how designers build tangible interfaces with this CV-driven approach. In this paper, we apply the annotated portfolio method to reflect on the fifteen outcomes from these studios. We observed that CV markers offer versatile materiality for tangible interactions, afford the use of democratic materials for interface construction, and engage designers in embodied debugging with their own vision as a proxy for CV. By sharing our insights, we inform other designers and educators who seek alternative ways to facilitate physical computing and tangible interaction design.


Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) promote intra‐acinar trypsin activation and tissue damage. Therefore, reducing NET formation can reduce tissue damage in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). However, NET formation pathways may differ among disease models. In this study, we evaluated the role of the myeloperoxidase–neutrophil elastase (NE) pathway in NET formation in SAP. SAP was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cerulein and LPSs in mice, and NE activity was inhibited by GW311616. Pancreatic tissues were collected for multiplex immunofluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, and western blotting to detect NET formation and the effect of NE on citrullinated histone H3, followed by analyses of serum amylase and cytokine levels. Pretreatment with GW311616 significantly reduced NET formation, pancreatic tissue damage, and systemic inflammatory responses in SAP. Network pharmacology analyses using NE as the target revealed the monomeric compound epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG). Binding between EGCG and NE was validated using molecular docking, and the ability of EGCG to inhibit NE activity was verified experimentally. NET formation by PMA‐stimulated neutrophils was significantly reduced in vitro when the cells were pretreated with 40 μM EGCG. Pretreatment with EGCG significantly reduced NET formation, pancreatic tissue damage, and systemic inflammatory responses in vivo. These results reveal that NET formation requires the myeloperoxidase‐NE pathway, and citrullination of histone H3 is affected by NE activity in SAP. EGCG shows therapeutic potential for affecting NE activity, NET formation, and systemic inflammation in SAP.


The use of hyperspectral imaging in marine applications is limited, largely due to the cost-prohibitive nature of the technology and the risk of submerging such expensive electronics. Here, we examine the use of low-cost (<5000 GBP) hyperspectral imaging as a potential addition to the marine monitoring toolbox. Using coral reefs in Bermuda as a case study and a trial for the technology, data was collected across two reef morphologies, representing fringing reefs and patch reefs. Hyperspectral data of various coral species, Montastraea cavernosa, Diploria labyrinthiformis, Pseudodiploria strigosa, and Plexaurella sp., were successfully captured and analyzed, indicating the practicality and suitability of underwater hyperspectral imaging for use in coral reef assessment. The spectral data was also used to demonstrate simple spectral classification to provide values of the percentage coverage of benthic habitat types. Finally, the raw image data was used to generate digital elevation models to measure the physical structure of corals, providing another data type able to be used in reef assessments. Future improvements were also suggested regarding how to improve the spectral data captured by the technique to account for the accurate application of correction algorithms.


The secreted α-amylase with dominant activity was purified from the crude extract of Mon Thong durian by steps of ammonium sulphate precipitation and the affinity column chromatography. The purified α-amylase (DzAmy1) had a molecular mass of approximately 44 kDa. Its optimum pH and temperature for activity were 7.0 and 50°C, respectively. The enzyme was stable from pH 6 to 10 and from 30 to 60°C. Many metal ions did not affect amylase activity. The gene cloning of DzAmy1 was carried out and it was confirmed that DzAmy1 gene consisted of 1,254 bp open reading frame, which encoded 23 amino acids of the signal peptide and 395 amino acids of mature protein with a calculated molecular mass of 43.7 kDa. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was 5.78. DzAmy1 was shown to belong to sub-family one of the plant α-amylases based on phylogenetic tree analysis. Structural characterization by homology modelling suggested that it consisted of 3 domains with a catalytic triad in domain A. Recombinant DzAmy1 (rDzAmy1) was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli and had hydrolysis activity for starch and ethylidenepNP-G7, which was clearly confirmed the authenticity of DzAmy1 as a functional α-amylase.


Since the last century, Tunisia has been a source of inspiration for the Arab world in protecting rights and recognising the status of the person. The issue of women's rights has always unfolded at the centre of the country's political, religious and social dialogue: questioned and reaffirmed along with the succession of different conceptions of the state and with the alternation of policies divided between secularism and democratisation, has indeed played a pivotal role throughout the development of the country. The revolution of the Arab Spring is an authentic watershed in Tunisian history and has profoundly changed women's status. After a troubled transition period studded with complex ideological and political compromises, in 2014 a new constitution, incredibly advanced for the rights and the recognition of equality, came into force. The process of implementation of the Charter —not yet completed— is accompanied by the vigilant participation of activists and various movements facing the resistances that  —rooted within the country— hinder the effective recognition of constitutional rights. These more or less explicit oppositions are strongly linked to a tradition that, at a social, cultural, political and juridical level, seems difficult to reconcile with the new horizon of rights in which post-revolutionary Tunisia has set itself. This paper aims to identify the root causes of the gap between what is constitutionally recognised and what is found on the social level, taking into consideration the historical and political interweaving of the country and the changing role played by women in articulating moments of continuity and revolution, until today.


In the continuing quest for increased turbine efficiency, the part played by blade profile shape remains crucial. Three turbine vanes with successively increased aerodynamic loading were tested in the High Speed Cascade Wind Tunnel at DFVLR Braunschweig. In addition to wake traverses, measurements of the boundary layer behavior were made. These consisted of: a) use of a constant temperature anemometer to measure the fluctuating heat transfer rate on an array of thin film platinum thermometers deposited on the vanes and b) a flattened, traversing pitot probe held against the vane surface. Transition measurement by these techniques is described.© 1980 ASME


Twenty‐three patients (16 adults) failing their first or subsequent (n= 8) intensive treatment for de novo acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and chronic myeloid leukemia lymphoid blast phase (n = 2) were managed with protocol POG 8201, originally introduced in relapsed ALL of childhood. In this programme, a four‐drug induction phase is followed by early consolidation with teniposide‐cytarabine, intrathecal chemotherapy, continuation weekly chemotherapy alternating teniposide‐cytarabine with vincristine‐cyclophosphamide. and periodic reinduction courses. Fourteen adults and five children with ALL achieved a complete response (CR) (86 per cent). The highest response rate (100 per cent) was obtained in 12 patients treated at first relapse after an initial CR of greater than 18 months (p = 0.07). Median duration of CR was 8 months in adults and 11 months in children. A longer than previous one CR (inversion) was obtained in four cases. Four ALL patients were successfully transplanted from a matched sibling after 3–11 months from achievement of CR. Median overall survival in adults with ALL was 11 months, significantly longer than for 40 comparable cases treated intensively but without rotational continuation therapy in previous years (p< 0.001). This regimen is applicable to adults with relapsed ALL, where prolongation of survival may allow time for effective salvage with bone marrow transplantation.


Appling AutoCAD software to the teaching of mechanical drawing is a great innovation to the traditional teaching, including content, method and medium of mechanical drawing. Tec-hing practice proves that the teaching method improves educational effect and efficiency, and is beneficial to training and improving of the student's ability of computer drawing.


INTRODUCTION
The aim of the study was to value the impact of the consumption of the topical antibiotics used in ophthalmology and to lay the foundations for their prudent use.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
A descriptive study about antibiotic use in Spain between 1st January 2004 and 31th December 2008 was carried out. Drugs used in the study had to follow the next criteria: topical administration and ophthalmic antibiotics only or in association. Data of the number of vials and nosocomial consumption were provided by Intercontinental Marketing Services (IMS) and Health National System, respectively.

RESULTS
Nosocomial and community ophthalmologic antiinfectives in 2008 mean a cost of 4.9 and 24.4 millions of euros, respectively increasing a 5.5% respect to the previous year. Six millions of vials were used, 65% were antibiotics alone and 35% antibiotics in association. The most used ophthalmic antibiotics in monoterapy were the aminoglycosides (tobramycin and gentamicin), followed by the quinolones while the most used ophthalmic antibiotic in association were gramicidine plus neomycine plus polimixin B.

CONCLUSIONS
The ophthalmic antiinfectives market, alone and in association, used in the nosocomial and community context means 30 millions of euros and shows an increase about 6%. Strict measures in the antibiotic use are not taken incount in the context of the ophthalmic topical antibiotics.


We examined the association between depression and anxiety and recurrent coronary heart disease events during the first 12 months subsequent to myocardial infarction. The Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were completed during hospitalization by 288 myocardial infarction patients. Peel Index score and Killip class were used as indices of disease severity. The 12-month incidence of recurrent coronary heart disease events (fatal and non-fatal) was determined. Eighty-two patients experienced recurrent coronary heart disease events, including 27 cardiac fatalities, during follow-up. Whereas the Peel Index differentiated patients who experienced recurrent events from those who did not (OR 3.00, 95% CI 1.46-6.20), symptoms of depression (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0. 55-1.70) and anxiety (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.98-1.02) were unrelated to outcome. Depression and anxiety did not predict subsequent coronary heart disease events and were not associated with either Peel Index scores or Killip class.


Most mechanical vibration of machines is a random process that has certain characteristics. The traditional wave superposition method can not solve the acoustic radiation problem with the random boundary condition. In this paper, the statistical wave superposition method is proposed, combining the wave superposition method with the statistical method to calculate the random acoustic field through the auto-spectrum of velocity on the structure surface. According to the simulations of the vibrating sphere and the cubic body, it is proved that the method proposed in this paper can give good results which caused by the stochastic excitation in a wide frequency band, and the errors is only 0.21% and 1.3%, respectively.


This paper examined the influence of ownership and type of university on work environment in South West Nigerian universities. The study population consists of all academic staff of the ten public and nine private universities in South West Nigeria. In all, 500 respondents selected from eight universities constituted the sample of the study. The respondents were selected using multi stage, stratified, purposive and simple random sampling techniques. The instrument tagged Work Environment Questionnaire (WEQ) was used to elicit relevant information from the respondents. The data collected were analyzed using frequency count, percentage and t-test statistics. The study revealed that the work environment of federal universities was favourable than that of state universities in terms of provision of physical facilities, information services, motivation, authority-staff relationship, participation in decision-making and staff development. The result showed that there was significant difference in the work environment of federal and state universities in favour of federal universities. The results also revealed that work environment in public and private universities was favourable but that of private universities was better than that of public universities. It also showed that there was no significant difference in the work environment of private and public universities. Based on the findings, it was recommended that owners of the universities should provide a favourable environment.


Abstract Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities were determined in rat tissues after dermal exposure to pesticides. Two experiments were conducted in male SD rats, 190–210 g body weight. Acephate (ACP), methamidophos (MAP) and nicotine (NIC) were dissolved either individually or together in 0.25 mL of 50% ethanol, which contained: AP=12.6 or MAP 1.3 or NIC= 9.6 mg; EXP 1 ‐ individual pesticide exposure; 64 rats, 16/group; EXP 2 ‐ mixture of AP+MAP+NIC at levels of IX, 2X, 3X; 48 rats, 12/group; 0.25 mL of solution or ethanol (Controls) was applied to 25 mm2 area of shaved skin 3 times a week. Half the rats were terminated after 4 weeks and the rest after 4 weeks of stopping exposure. Single pesticides decreased erythrocyte (RBC) SOD by 17 % after exposure and in the NIC group after post exposure (P#0.05). Increasing concentrations of AP+MAP+NIC mixture elevated RBC SOD by 22 % in the 2X and 3X groups and CAT by 13 % in the 3X group (P#0.05); post exposure increased RBC SOD by 2–3 fold and CAT activity by 13 % in all 3 groups. Liver GPX increased by 30–40 % and CAT decreased by 12 % in all exposed and post exposed groups (P#0.05). The results suggest that dermal exposure to mixtures of pesticides can selectively induce SOD, CAT and GPX activities in RBC and liver.


The rhodanese coding sequence was extended at its 3' end by three base pairs to generate mutants coding for a serine or arginine residue at the carboxyl terminus of the protein. Wild-type and mutant coding sequences were expressed in a cell-free Escherichia coli system by coupled transcription/translation. Predominantly full-length protein was formed in all cases. The amount of protein synthesized was quantified by incorporation of radioactive leucine into polypeptides. Enzymatic activity of in vitro synthesized rhodanese was determined at different temperatures. Specific enzymatic activity was calculated and is assumed to reflect the portion of the protein that is in its native three-dimensional conformation. It was observed that rhodanese extended by one serine at the C terminus lost enzymatic activity when incubated above 30 degrees C, in contrast to wild-type protein or variant rhodanese extended by an arginine residue. Similarly, variant rhodanese with an additional serine residue was more susceptible to urea denaturation than the other two rhodanese species. These results are surprising in light of the crystal structure of the protein.


A growing body of scholarship demonstrates the positive role that Asian, Black, Latinx, and Native American student groups play in the lives of students of color. Yet, we currently know little about the prevalence of student of color organizations and the characteristics of colleges and universities that are home to one or more student of color organizations. Analyzing our original database of officially recognized student of color organizations across 1,910 four-year, not-for-profit U.S. colleges and universities, we find that although a slight majority of U.S. colleges and universities are home to Black student groups, most U.S. colleges and universities lack Asian, Latinx, and Native American student groups. Drawing on recent insights from racialized organization theory, and employing logistic and Poisson regression, we also show that schools that have higher percentages of students of color, offer ethnic studies majors, and maintain centers devoted to issues of racial diversity, equity, and inclusion exhibit higher odds of having at least one student of color organization. A similar set of factors is associated with the overall number of students of color organizations at any given school. Our study advances scholarship on student of color mobilization within higher education and sheds light on issues of unequal access to student organizations more generally.


The problem of pattern and scale is a central challenge in ecology [27]. The problem of scale is central to community ecology, where functional ecological groups are aggregated and treated as a unit underlying an ecological pattern, such as aggregation of "nitrogen fixing trees" into a total abundance of a trait underlying ecosystem physiology. With the emergence of massive community ecological datasets, from microbiomes to breeding bird surveys, there is a need to objectively identify the scales of organization pertaining to well-defined patterns in community ecological data. The phylogeny is a scaffold for identifying key phylogenetic scales associated with macroscopic patterns. Phylofactorization was developed to objectively identify phylogenetic scales underlying patterns in relative abundance data. However, many ecological data, such as presence-absences and counts, are not relative abundances, yet the logic of defining phylogenetic scales underlying a pattern of interest is still applicable. Here, we generalize phylofactorization beyond relative abundances to a graph-partitioning algorithm for traits and community-ecological data from any exponential-family distribution. Generalizing phylofactorization yields many tools for analyzing community ecological data. In the context of generalized phylofactorization, we identify three phylogenetic factors of mammalian body mass which arose during the K-Pg extinction event, consistent with other analyses of mammalian body mass evolution. We introduce a phylogenetic analysis of variance which refines our understanding of the major sources of variation in the human gut. We employ generalized additive modeling of microbes in central park soils to confirm that a large clade of Acidobacteria thrive in neutral soils. We demonstrate how to extend phylofactorization to generalized linear and additive modeling of any dataset of exponential family random variables. We finish with a discussion of how phylofactorization produces a novel species concept, a hybrid of a phy-logenetic and ecological species concepts in which the phylogenetic scales and units of interest are defined objectively by defining the ecological pattern and partitioning the phylogeny into clades based on different contributions to the pattern. All of these tools can be implemented with a new R package available online.


Feeding of vitamin A-deficient diet to male weanling rats for 10 weeks caused significant reduction in the hepatic cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5, aminopyrine N-demethylase and arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase activities. Contrary to this, the levels of these Phase I enzymes were found to be significantly elevated in all the 3 portions (proximal, middle and distal) of the intestine in deficient animals as compared to corresponding pair-fed controls. Of the Phase II enzymes studied, UDP-glucuronyltransferase showed a significant decrease whereas glutathione S-transferase showed a significant increase in vitamin A-deficient rat liver and small intestine. The study suggests that vitamin A deficiency causes an imbalance between the Phase I and phase II drug metabolizing enzyme systems which may decrease the capacity of the organism to withstand the neoplastic effects of chemical carcinogens in vitamin A deficiency.


The Peer-to-peer (P2P) computing has been one of the emerging technologies, particularly contributing in distributed file sharing. Experimental studies show that for a file download, network congestion or service capacity fluctuation takes minutes to several hours. For a P2P n/w one of the fundamental performance metrics is the average download time. The common approach to analyse the average download time is average service capacity. Heterogeneity and fluctuation have significant impact on service capacity and hence averages the download time. Random Chunk Based Switching is one of the file downloading scheme where, the file to be downloaded is divided into many chunks but the shortcomes of this scheme are mentioned below. User sequentially downloads one chunk at a time. If user gets stuck in a low service capacity peer, downloading a fixed amount of bytes from that peer may take a long time. Chunk size remains fixed and it does not change with time. We have designed and implemented a new scheme Distributed Variable Chunk Based Switching where chunk size changes with time. The downloader will be downloading the file from different peers. If bandwidth available is increased then downloading can complete before specified time. If bandwidth available is decreased then downloader will search another peer with good bandwidth and get it replaced. Our new scheme removes heterogeneity and fluctuation. It also provides a distributed approach to a sequential Random Chunk Based Switching.


BACKGROUND
Although very common, hand osteoarthritis (OA) is rarely the focus of clinical trials aimed at determining whether a drug is effective on its symptoms and/or anatomical progression. Besides the common difficulties met in trials in OA in general, the highly unpredictable course of hand OA presents specific challenges. However, hand OA is beginning to be considered as a potential model for the study of drugs in OA, since researchers now have at their disposal new clinical tools and radiological methods to assess with better accuracy and sensitivity either its symptomatic activity or its anatomical course.

METHOD
The now well-known consensual recommendations for the design and conduct of clinical trials in OA are reviewed, and the specific clinical tools and radiological methods available for the assessment of hand OA detailed. Some specific recommendations for the design of clinical trials in hand OA and the selection of patients for such trials are proposed, taking into account the particularities of this location of OA.


In his Classical approximation to the Twin prime problem, Selberg proved that for $x$ sufficiently large, there is an $n \in (x,2x)$ such that $2^{\Omega(n)}+2^{\Omega(n+2)} \leq \lambda$ with $\lambda=14$, where $\Omega(n)$ is the number of prime factors of $n$ counted with multiplicity. This enabled him to show that for infinitely many $n$, $n(n+2)$ has atmost $5$ prime factors, with one having atmost $2$ and the other having atmost $3$ prime factors. By adopting Selberg's approach and using a refinement suggested by Selberg, we improve this value of $\lambda$ to about $\lambda=12.59$.


The article is devoted to the problem of "technologization" of modern political and legal thinking from its origins in the 16th — 17th centuries up to the era of "digital technologies." Technocratic tendencies, having been manifested in the political sphere, led to the emergence of the ideal government apparatus, namely: bureaucracy. This new social phenomenon has replaced the old hierarchical and sovereignty-oriented systems of governance. The complexity of social life and political pluralism required changes in the nature of governing technologies. Within the framework of the "disciplinary" society, government techniques form the normative environment of existence. The rule of law replaces the domination of personalities. The power is differentiated on the network principle. There comes a time of domination of biopower regulating public and private life and tending to totalization and rigidity.


Food engineering plays a significant role in food production to achieve a high quality. Increasingly discriminating consumer taste has resulted in pressures to improve the flavor quality of food products at ever higher stages.These trends have created demand for food products that offer superior characteristics at the highest stages of food quality. Food production at such levels will require approaches based on new food engineering. This paper will seek to address the role of food engineering in improving quality in food production processes. The examples used to illustrate these issues will include the following: 1) a quantitative evaluation of the kneaded state of bread dough; 2) quantitative identification of factors influencing the intensity of retort sterilization; and 3) quantitative determination of flavor component dissipation during spray-drying. The importance of preventing global warming is becoming more important. The research of LCA which evaluates the environment burden from producing of food stuff, production process, consuming to dumping, become important. The Food Engineering must contribute to improve the efficiency of LCA.


BACKGROUND
Experience from influenza pandemics suggested that convalescent plasma treatment given within 4 to 5 days of symptom onset might be beneficial. However, robust treatment data are lacking.

METHODS
This is a multicenter, prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Convalescent plasma from patients who recovered from the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) (A[H1N1]) infection was fractionated to hyperimmune IV immunoglobulin (H-IVIG) by CSL Biotherapies (now BioCSL). Patients with severe A(H1N1) infection on standard antiviral treatment requiring intensive care and ventilatory support were randomized to receive H-IVIG or normal IV immunoglobulin manufactured before 2009 as control. Clinical outcome and adverse effects were compared.

RESULTS
Between 2010 and 2011, 35 patients were randomized to receive H-IVIG (17 patients) or IV immunoglobulin (18 patients). One defaulted patient was excluded from analysis. No adverse events related to treatment were reported. Baseline demographics and viral load before treatment were similar between the two groups. Serial respiratory viral load demonstrated that H-IVIG treatment was associated with significantly lower day 5 and 7 posttreatment viral load when compared with the control (P = .04 and P = .02, respectively). The initial serum cytokine level was significantly higher in the H-IVIG group but fell to a similar level 3 days after treatment. Subgroup multivariate analysis of the 22 patients who received treatment within 5 days of symptom onset demonstrated that H-IVIG treatment was the only factor that independently reduced mortality (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.02-0.92; P = .04).

CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of severe A(H1N1) infection with H-IVIG within 5 days of symptom onset was associated with a lower viral load and reduced mortality.

TRIAL REGISTRY
ClinialTrials.gov; No.: NCT01617317; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.


Purpose

The paper aims to analyse the effect of acid hydrolysis on the chemical composition and the biological activities of Rubia tinctorum collected from the south of Tunisia. It proposes to clarify the relationship between alizarin content and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Rubia extract.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper opted for analytical tools (HPLC) and the in-vitro study of biological activities, namely, the antioxidant activity which is evaluated using the radical scavenging assay (ABTS) and ferric reducing power assay (FRAP); the antimicrobial activity is tested using the wells agar diffusion method.

Findings

The paper provides information about the positive effect of acid hydrolysis, namely, the enhancement of alizarin content in the extract which has increased its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to study the relationship between the chemical composition, biological activities and colour enhancement.


: The use of desiccants allows to anticipate cowpea harvest at a time closer to physiological maturity. The desiccants saflufenacil and flumioxazin promote the drying and falling of leaves and loss of water from seeds. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of saflufenacil and flumioxazin doses applied to the cowpea crop on the production and quality of seeds at harvest and after storage for six months. Two experiments were carried out in a split-plot design (5 × 2). In the first experiment, the main factor consisted of saflufenacil doses (0, 25, 50, 100, and 150 g ai ha -1 ), while the second factor consisted of evaluation periods (after harvest and six months after harvest). In the second experiment, the main factor consisted of flumioxazin doses (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 g ai ha -1 ) and the second factor consisted of the same evaluation periods. The treatments were designed in randomized blocks, with four replications. Saflufenacil application from 25 g ha -1 compromised the yield components and technological quality, while flumioxazin doses did not affect the yield components. Storage at 20 °C for six months decreased the physiological quality of seeds. Flumioxazin application at cowpea harvest promoted uniformity of maturity and harvest anticipation, without compromising the physiological quality after harvest.


Finding sustainable and novel solutions to predict city-wide mobility behaviour is an ever-growing problem given increased urban complexity and growing populations. This paper seeks to address this by describing a traffic frame prediction approach that uses Convolutional LSTMs to create a Temporal Autoencoder with U-Net style skip-connections that marry together recurrent and traditional computer vision techniques to capture spatio-temporal dependencies at different scales without losing topological details of a given city. Utilisation of Cyclical Learning Rates is also presented, improving training efficiency by achieving lower loss scores in fewer epochs than standard approaches.


When learning to partition the world into categories, people rely on a set of assumptions (overhypotheses) about possible category structures. Here we propose that the nature of these overhypotheses depends on the presence of a verbal label associated with a given category. We describe a computational model that demonstrates how labels can either accelerate or hinder category learning, depending on whether or not the prior beliefs imposed by their presence align with the true category structure. This account provides an explanation for the phenomena described in prior experimental work (Lupyan, Rakison, & McClelland, 2007; Brojde, Porter, & Colunga, 2011) that have remained unexplained by other models. Based on these results, we argue that the overhypothesis theory of label effects provides a way to formalize and quantify the effect of language on category learning and to develop a more precise delineation between linguistic and non-linguistic thought.


Previous research has shown that faceted browsing is effective and enjoyable in searching and browsing large collections of data. In this work, we explore the efficacy of interactive visualization systems in supporting exploration and sensemaking within faceted datasets. To do this, we developed an interactive visualization system called FacetLens, which exposes trends and relationships within faceted datasets. FacetLens implements linear facets to enable users not only to identify trends but also to easily compare several trends simultaneously. Furthermore, it offers pivot operations to allow users to navigate the faceted dataset using relationships between items. We evaluate the utility of the system through a description of insights gained while experts used the system to explore the CHI publication repository as well as a database of funding grant data, and report a formative user study that identified usability issues.


Set against the colonial and neo-colonial unevenness of the globalized neoliberal order, this article offers a critical reading of legal personhood and jurisdiction as mechanisms of privilege and predation. Transnational corporations (TNCs) are, we suggest, the ultimate insider construct for the neoliberal capitalist-techno order. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of corporeal human beings on the move as the marginalized products of that same order (especially refugees and migrants) are confronted by boundaries and barriers all too material in their effect.

In an age of anxiety-driven border hardening against mass human migration and of seamless, instantaneous movements of transnational capital and corporate location across jurisdictional boundaries, we examine the patterns of injustice implicated in and between these phenomena, tracing a Eurocentric logic visible in the complex continuities between coloniality, capitalism and the production of precarity in the Anthropocene.


Abstract Residents experience severely high levels of stress, depression and burnout, leading to perceived medical errors, as well as to symptoms of impairment, such as chronic anger, cognitive impairment, suicidal behavior and substance abuse. Because research has not yet provided a psychometrically robust population-specific tool to measure the level of stress of medicine residents, we aimed at building and validating such a measure. Using an inductive scale development approach, a short, pragmatic measure was built, based on the interviews of 17 medicine residents. The Internal Medicine Residency Stress Scale (IMRSS) was then administered in a sample of 259 internal medicine residents (199 females, 60 males, MAge = 25.6) along with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Satisfaction With Life Scale and Ways of Coping Checklist. The IMRSS showed satisfactory internal reliability (Cronbach's α = .86), adequate structural validity – studied through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (χ2/df = 2.51, CFI = .94; SRMR = .037, RMSEA = .076) – and good criterion validity – the IMRSS was notably strongly correlated with emotional exhaustion (r = .64; p < .001) and anxiety (r = .57; p < .001). Because of its short length and robust psychometric qualities, the use of the IMRSS is recommended to quickly and frequently assess and monitor stress among internal medicine residents.


A reversal of key HIV protease mutations against tipranavir has been observed in a patient undergoing a late salvage antiretroviral therapy. Our patient initially introduced tipranavir/ritonavir in absence of an optimized background and novel drug classes, and nevertheless he experienced a virological-immunological benefit. Our report is a contribution to the present debate around the role of each single HIV protease mutation, and the validation of mutational "scores" (like the so-called tipranavir weighted score), to be applied to last-generation protease inhibitor compounds initially targeted on patients with limited, residual therapeutic options.


To evaluate whether parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) plays any role in calcium metabolism during pregnancy and the perinatal period, we measured parathyroid hormone (PTH), immunoreactive PTHrP and calcium in maternal serum of women during pregnancy and puerperium, and in maternal and cord serum at delivery. Serum PTH levels in pregnant women were lower than those in nonpregnant women (p < 0.01). However, serum PTHrP levels were similar in the two groups of women. Cord serum total and ionic calcium levels were higher, and cord serum PTH levels were lower compared to maternal values (p < 0.01). Cord serum PTHrP levels were higher than maternal values, and umbilical arterial levels were higher than umbilical venous levels (p < 0.01). Higher levels of PTHrP in umbilical arterial blood than in umbilical venous blood suggest that the main source of cord blood PTHrP may be the fetus. PTHrP is reported to stimulate placental calcium transfer from mother to fetus in animals. The elevated cord blood PTHrP level in association with the decreased PTH level suggests that stimulation of placental calcium transfer by PTHrP may also be operative in humans.


The present study explores the triangular links between language, accounting reporting and uncertainty. To do so, we compare the interpretations of likelihood terms as used in international accounting standards in two languages, French and English. Unlike previous studies, our samples are not distinct but the same participants are surveyed twice. To assess the variability of terms' interpretations, we fix the individual characteristics and context. We show that the translations of likelihood terms within the same individuals displays variability in point and range estimation causing differences in interpretations likely to hamper the comparability targeted by international standards. But such variability could also be induced by the ambiguity of the terms themselves. With a one-language control sample, we demonstrate that variability persists within languages. Our findings suggest that unstable interpretations of uncertainty languages exist both across and within languages. Such contribution is of importance to standard setters if they aim at enhancing the comparability and insure the neutrality of accounting on the consistency of decisions.


This paper examines the impact of the CO2 laser parameters on the tensile strength, which is one of the most important properties of paper packaging in the process of cutting paper material. The study was performed on a paper material sample Fbb Board/Ningbo Spark C1S Ivory Board by examination of the influence of four independent variables: paper material grammage, cutting speed, laser power, and resolution on the tensile strength by using definitive screening design. Optimum process conditions of four variables that maximize the tensile strength were predicted and validated accordingly. Results confirm that laser power, paper material grammage, and cutting speed are the main process parameters that mostly affect the tensile strength. Besides individual parameters, two statistically significant interactions were obtained: laser power and cutting speed, and cutting speed and laser resolution. Maximum tensile strength values (20.37 N/mm) were achieved using the laser power of 60.6%, cutting speed of 3.24%, resolution of 2500 Hz, and a paper material grammage of 326.85 g/m2. With laser power at middle values and at a lower speed, a maximum tensile strength value can be obtained. Increasing the laser power and cutting speed will produce a slight lowering of tensile strength.


The genus Limnanthes (Limnanthaceae), also known as meadowfoam, has attracted attention for industrial use due to the unique characteristics of its seed oil. Samples from wild populations showed variability in agronomically important traits involved in seed oil yield, warranting the establishment and continued development of a germplasm collection. The level of genetic diversity within the United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System (USDA-ARS-NPGS) Limnanthes collection was evaluated using 15 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers across 62 accessions representing 7 species. Parsimony analysis separated the accessions into two main groups consistent with the traditional taxonomic sections Inflexae and Reflexae, but there was little resolution within groups. These two groups were confirmed using neighbour-joining analysis and principal coordinate analysis. SSR marker variation suggests that the Limnanthes germplasm collection is genetically diverse and the accessions within the species likely contain novel alleles, and therefore the collection contributes to the conservation of the wild Limnanthes gene pool.


Routine data collection efforts are a necessary, often underappreciated, component of nearly all cancer research and prevention efforts. Public health cancer surveillance data are crucial for identifying needs, planning interventions, directing public health resources, and evaluating the overall effectiveness of initiatives aimed at preventing or treating cancer and its negative health consequences. As the nation's health protection agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides resources for disease surveillance systems to help protect our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats, including cancer. Therefore, public health surveillance is a core function of CDC. In this article we briefly describe CDC's approach to cancer surveillance in our public health programs and other federal initiatives to monitor cancer-related outcomes. We also describe our premier cancer incidence surveillance system, the National Program of Cancer Registries, and discuss uses and applications of the program's critical cancer data.


Objectives The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of the thickness and shade of 3 types of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) materials. Materials and Methods A total of 120 specimens of 2 shades (A1 and A3) and 2 thicknesses (1 and 2 mm) were fabricated using VITA Mark II (VM; VITA Zahnfabrik), IPS e.max CAD (IE; IvoclarVivadent), and VITA Suprinity (VS; VITA Zahnfabrik) (n = 10 per subgroup). The amount of light transmission through the ceramic specimens was measured by a radiometer (Optilux, Kerr). Light-cured resin cement samples (Choice 2, Bisco) were fabricated in a Teflon mold and activated through the various ceramics with different shades and thicknesses using an LED unit (Bluephase, IvoclarVivadent). In the control group, the resin cement sample was directly light-cured without any ceramic. Vickers microhardness indentations were made on the resin surfaces (KoopaPazhoohesh) after 24 hours of dark storage in a 37°C incubator. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance followed by the Tukey post hoc test (α = 0.05). Results Ceramic thickness and shade had significant effects on light transmission and the microhardness of all specimens (p < 0.05). The mean values of light transmittance and microhardness of the resin cement in the VM group were significantly higher than those observed in the IE and VS groups. The lowest microhardness was observed in the VS group, due to the lowest level of light transmission (p < 0.05). Conclusion Greater thickness and darker shades of the 3 types of CAD/CAM ceramics significantly decreased the microhardness of the underlying resin cement.


In order to compare the three non-invasive exercise tests Ecg, Thallium myocardial perfusion imaging and radionuclide angiography in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease, the results of these tests in a consecutive series of 30 patients and 14 controls were analyzed. In all 88 symptom-limited exercise tests a significantly higher double product (heart rate x systolic blood pressure, mm Hg/min) was reached on a treadmill test (for Ecg and Thallium scintigraphy) as compared to the supine bicycle ergometer exercise (for radionuclide angiography: 243.1 +/- 61.1 vs. 215.2 +/- 46.5 x 10(2) (p less than 0.01). Considering all 132 diagnostic tests the overall sensitivity for rest/exercise Ecg was 67%, for Thallium scans 77%, for both combined 83% and for the ejection fraction response to exercise determined by radionuclide angiography 97%. If only the exercise response was considered, the corresponding sensitivity values were 60% (Ecg), 47% (Thallium scans), 70% (both tests combined) and 97% (radionuclide angiography). The specificity for coronary artery disease was determined to be 79% for Ecg, 86% for Thallium scintigraphy, 64% for Ecg/Thallium scans and 71% for radionuclide angiography. The most common reason for a false-positive result in all tests was found to be the diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, whereas most false-negative results were seen in patients with single vessel right coronary artery disease. Based on these results, the clinical implications of the three non-invasive tests in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease are discussed.


BACKGROUND
Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by hair loss on the scalp, face, and other body areas. Despite affecting approximately 2% of the global population, there has been no previous bibliometric analysis specifically focusing on AA treatment, that can guide researchers in exploring promising treatment options and directing future research efforts.

SUMMARY
This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of AA treatment research, encompassing publications from 2003 to 2022. A total of 1323 papers from 65 countries, predominantly led by the United States and China, were included in the analysis. The number of publications related to AA treatment showed a notable increase over the years. Prominent research institutions included the University of Manchester, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, University of Miami, and Columbia University. Among the journals, Dermatologic Therapy stood out as the most popular, while the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology appeared as the most frequently co-cited publication.

KEY MESSAGES
1. This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive overview of the research trends and advancements in AA treatment. 2. The analysis identified key research hotspots, including variants, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, and regulatory T (Treg) cells. 3. Researchers specializing in AA can use these findings as a valuable reference to augment their study and explore new avenues for research in treating AA.


In recent years, graph‐based data clustering algorithms have become popular as they perform connectivity‐based rather than centroid‐based partitioning. Methods related to minimum spanning tree (MST)‐based data clustering are types of graph‐based algorithms that can recognize arbitrary shapes of clusters by eliminating inconsistent edges from MST graphs. In all MST‐based data clustering algorithms, definition of inconsistent edges is the main problem that needs to be addressed. The longest edges in MST graphs are considered as inconsistent edges under ideal conditions. Nevertheless, outliers often exist in real‐world tasks, which makes the longest edges inaccurate cluster separation indicators. In this paper, we propose a new data clustering algorithm using MST and a critical distance method. The proposed algorithm solves the main issue of MST‐based data clustering, namely identifying and removing inconsistent edges to obtain clusters even in the event that the dataset contains some outliers. It begins by constructing the MST over a given weighted graph based on Euclidean distance and then splits up the graph into clusters by eliminating inconsistent edges using critical distance as a threshold. Integration of the advantages of both MST and critical distance methodology to obtain optimal clusters is the main contribution of this work. The conducted experimental analysis and results using different datasets prove that our proposed clustering algorithm yields better overall performance compared with the most common data clustering algorithms. Taking the Liver and Tumor datasets as an example, the proposed algorithm outperforms all other clustering algorithms with clustering accuracy equal to 0.579 and 0.660, respectively.


Three asphaltenes recovered from the vacuum residue of Middle East crude oil mixture (ME), the atmospheric residues of Minas crude oil (MI) and Cold lake oil sand bitumen (CL), were separated into 5 fractions (Fr1-Fr5) according to average molecular weight (Mn) and a fraction from effluent (Fr6) by preparative gel permeation chromatography (GPC), with >95 wt% of the total recovery. The original asphaltene and the fractions were analysed by elemental analysis, 1H-NMR and analytical GPC to obtain the input data for an average molecular structural analysis (H/C, N/C, S/C atomic ratios, and atomic ratios of hydrogen types). The dependencies of those parameters on Mn were represented using 1 or 2 linear fitting equations, respectively. Using the equations, the parameters were calculated followed by the estimation of carbon aromaticity (fa) from those parameters. An average molecular structural analysis was applied to Fr1-Fr5 fractions at several Mns to estimate the numbers of units (condensed aromatic ring systems) and aromatic rings per molecule (M and Ra). M was 1.0 at low Mn range, then increased with increasing Mn. Ra increased linearly with increasing Mn. The numbers of aromatic rings per unit (Ra/M) were about 8-10 at M=1.0 in every original asphaltene, and then increased up to 13-15 for ME and MI, but kept about 9 for CL. An average molecular structural analysis was also performed for every original asphaltene and Fr6 fraction. In the case of ME and MI, Ra/M for Fr6 was larger than that for original asphaltene, and MI had larger unit size than ME. On the other hand, Fr6 fractions for CL had almost the same Ra/M as original asphaltene, while Fr6 fraction contained more hetero atoms.


Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. ISSN: 1044-3983/17/2803-0029 DOI: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000619 To the Editor: We sincerely thank Schumacher and Sheppard1 for their letter; they uncovered a mistake in the Stata code provided in the eAppendix; http://links. lww.com/EDE/B157 (http://links.lww. com/EDE/A839) of our article. The initial code outputs wrong estimations in some particular cases of the simulated samples; the corrected code they provided gives the correct estimations and should be used to run the simulations. Schumacher and Sheppard1 also advocate the use of mixed models in longitudinal observational studies with repeated measures of the outcome (change from baseline) and time-varying exposures or covariates. They cite two studies analyzing the association between several factors and the coronary artery calcium (hereafter referred to as "calcification") progression. Mixed models are appropriate for the analysis of repeated measures of the outcome and can be used to adjust for time-varying exposures and covariates. However, the causal interpretation of the estimations obtained can be uneasy if every exposure/ covariate is considered as an "exposure of interest." The relevance of adjusting for the baseline calcification value will depend on the causal effect of interest. For example, focusing on the causal effect of sex on calcification progression, the causal structure corresponds to an exposure which starts before the baseline calcification value. Focusing on the causal effect of intermediate statin use, the exposure of interest could be influenced by the baseline calcification value. Following the graphical approach presented in our article, it seems appropriate to adjust for the baseline calcification value in the second example, but not in the first example: a single model cannot answer every causal question. Specific statistical methods have been described to study rigorously the causal effect of time-varying exposures or intermediate variables, allowing a proper control for baseline and intermediate confounding.2,3 These methods require to focus on a particular exposure (or repeated exposure) and to define a target parameter corresponding to the scientific objective. For example, to study the causal effect of repeated exposure to particulate matter (PM), one could compare the average potential outcome that would be observed had every individual been repeatedly exposed to PM above a given cut-off, to the average potential outcome had they been exposed below the cut-off.4 Back to our simulated data, the parameter of interest can be expressed using counterfactual language as the difference between the mean outcome ΔBP (a difference in blood pressure) that would have been observed had every individual been exposed to E = 1 versus the mean outcome had every individual been exposed to E = 0. Along with the initial linear models, we applied targeted maximum likelihood estimation5 to estimate the causal effect of interest, adjusted or unadjusted for the baseline value of the outcome (cf. eAppendix; http://links.lww. com/EDE/B157). Targeted maximum likelihood estimation provides an efficient double-robust estimator that can be combined with data adaptive procedures (statistical learning). The results show unbiased and efficient estimations consistent with the graphical analysis in our article. They highlight how critical are the underlying causal structural assumptions to interpret the statistical estimations, whether we apply a simple linear regression or more sophisticated approaches like targeted maximum likelihood estimation.


Stress profoundly affects physiological properties of neurons across brain circuits and thereby increases the risk for depression. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms mediating these effects are poorly understood. In this study, we report that chronic physical restraint stress in mice decreases excitability specifically in layer 2/3 of pyramidal neurons within the prelimbic subarea of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) accompanied by the induction of depressive-like behavioral states. We found that a complex between G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) 158 (GPR158) and regulator of G protein signaling 7 (RGS7), a regulatory GPCR signaling node recently discovered to be a key modulator of affective behaviors, plays a key role in controlling stress-induced changes in excitability in this neuronal population. Deletion of GPR158 or RGS7 enhanced excitability of layer 2/3 PFC neurons and prevented the impact of stress. Investigation of the underlying molecular mechanisms revealed that the A-type potassium channel Kv4.2 subunit is a molecular target of the GPR158–RGS7 complex. We further report that GPR158 physically associates with Kv4.2 channel and promotes its function by suppressing inhibitory modulation by cAMP–protein kinase A (PKA)–mediated phosphorylation. Taken together, our observations reveal a critical mechanism that adjusts neuronal excitability in L2/3 pyramidal neurons of the PFC and may thereby modulate the effects of stress on depression.


The objective of this study was optimization of turkey berry (Solanum torvum) spice blend/formulation using turkey berry powder (TBP), Ginger (Zingiber officinale) powder (GP) and Anchovy (Engraulis capensis) Powder (SP) adopting the D-optimal mixture design approach. A seventeen (17) experimental runs generated by response surface software was evaluated with total phenolic content (TPC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and ARONA as the responses (dependent variables). Results demonstrated that all three components (TBP, GP and AP) had effect on the antioxidant and sensory parameters of the turkey berry powder spice blend. Generally, increasing ginger powder component reduced the antioxidant and sensory properties while increasing turkey berry powder and anchovy powder components had positive effect of increasing the quality characteristics of the spice blend. Sensory evaluation of the aroma, taste and overall acceptability of the optimized spice blend were above an average score of seven (7) on a scale of nine (9). The optimum formulation obtained had Turkey Berry Powder (193.676 g), Ginger Powder (2.577 g) and Anchovy Powder (53.747 g) to achieve the expected responses: TPC (263.824 mg GAE/100 g fw), AROMA (7.55516) and FRAP [9.32421 (µmol TE (Trolox) g-1 fw)] with desirability index (DI) value of 0.614. Though not so high a DI, the results suggest the possibility of producing a spice blend from turkey berry with acceptable quality characteristics. More quality as well as shelf life assessments be carried out for possible commercialization of turkey berry powder spice blend.


Abstract The sands and flint-gravel on the right bank of the river Ouse at Thetford form a terrace 8 to 10 yards above the river, and about 40 yards distant from it. At a spot called Red Hill a large number of flint implements have lately been obtained from this gravel, at from 12 to 15 feet below the surface, and within a foot or less of the chalk on which the gravel rests; and some were found in the same gravel filling pot-holes in the chalk. The author pointed out the exact correspondence, as regards geological position and relations, between the Thetford gravels and the flint-implement-bearing beds of Amiens, Abbeville, Fisherton, Icklingham, Hoxne, &c. He further noticed the close resemblance which these implements and some others discovered in England bear to those of the valley of the Somme; and concluded by expressing his dissent from Mr. Prestwich's conclusions, and stating his own views on their mode of accumulation, remarking that, in his opinion, these implements were manufactured prior to the severance of this island from the continent.


Identifying materials with an efficient spin-to-charge conversion is crucial for future spintronic applications. In this respect, the spin Hall effect is a central mechanism as it allows for the interconversion of spin and charge currents. Spintronic material research aims at maximizing its efficiency, quantified by the spin Hall angle and the spin-current relaxation length . We develop an all-optical contact-free method with large sample throughput that allows us to extract and . Employing terahertz spectroscopy and an analytical model, magnetic metallic heterostructures involving Pt, W and Cu80Ir20 are characterized in terms of their optical and spintronic properties. The validity of our analytical model is confirmed by the good agreement with literature DC values. For the samples considered here, we find indications that the interface plays a minor role for the spin-current transmission. Our findings establish terahertz emission spectroscopy as a reliable tool complementing the spintronics workbench.


Crossbred steers (n = 140; 353 kg) were implanted as follows: (C) control, no implant; (S) Synovex-S (20 mg estradiol benzoate + 200 mg progesterone); (R) Revalor (20 mg estradiol + 140 mg trenbolone acetate [TBA]; international dosage); (ST) S + finaplix-S (140 mg TBA); (STT) S + finaplix-S with finaplix-S reimplanted on d 58. Steers were harvested after 119 to 126 d on feed. Left sides of 40 carcasses were fabricated into boneless subprimals for two s.c. fat levels: 2.5 and .64 cm. Steers administered an estrogen (estradiol benzoate or estradiol) plus TBA gained more rapidly (P < .05) than C or S steers. Feed efficiency was improved (P < .05) with an estrogen plus TBA. No differences (P > .05) were noted among treatments for carcass s.c. fat thickness, percentage internal fat, or lean color. Carcasses from steers receiving TBA had larger (P < .05) longissimus areas and tended to have lower (P < .10) marbling scores and yield grades than C or S steers. Steers implanted with R had a lower (P < .05) percentage of U. S. Choice carcasses (51.8%) than C, S, and ST steers (82 to 86%). Shear force values for implanted steers tended to be higher (P < .10) than for controls. Implants increased (P < .05) subprimal and total side lean yields (.64 cm) compared to controls; the largest increases of 2.3 and 2.8%, respectively, occurred in steers receiving TBA plus an estrogen. Estrogen plus TBA exhibited favorable effects on gain, efficiency, and composition; however, the single estradiol plus TBA implant (R) decreased quality grade.


Human resource also known as an employee is the most important factor in the development of the organization. Therefore, the role of human resource management (HRM) in each organization also need excite employees realize their important position in the organization. Thus encourage their dedication in order to enhance operational performance of the organization. Besides that, the operation of HRM is also to create the balance between employee interest and organization's interest. One of the important factors which the employees concern is wage. So, HRM and wage is related. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the relationship between the HRM and working efficiency based on the wage in a period of crisis in Viet Nam. Therefore, we selected Huong Giang's travel company (HG Co) as objects to research on that relationship.


High-frequency dielectric properties of A5B4O15 ~A5Ba, Sr, Mg, Zn, Ca; B5Nb, Ta! dielectric ceramics are studied by means of the microwave cavity technique, a combination of far-infrared reflection and transmission spectroscopy and time-resolved terahertz transmission spectroscopy. Microwave permittivity e8 and Q3 f factor vary, depending on the chemical composition, between 11 and 51, and 2.4 and 88 THz, respectively. The temperature coefficient t f varies between 273 and 232 ppm/°C, and in two samples ut f u is less than 15 ppm/°C. It is shown that the microwave permittivity e8 of the ceramics studied is determined by the polar phonon contributions and that linear extrapolation of the submillimeter dielectric loss e9 down to the microwave region is in agreement with the microwave data of single phase samples. The relationship among phonon spectra, the crystal structure, and the unit cell volume is discussed. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. @DOI: 10.1063/1.1351873#


The strenght of political marketing dramaturgy is on the self, not the role of an actor. There is an actor who plays the role enchantingly, however when the role is played by another actor, suddenly the enchantment is lost. Therefore, the real strenght of dramaturgy belongs to the actors, not the roles. Roles may be replaceable, because the most important one is not the role, but the actors' performance, self-presentation by the actors to play the role. This dissertation finds that the positioning of front stage and back stage has an opposite relation, indeed, the back stage of actors might turns into the front stage, this turning or changing process is not continually done by internal actors or team mates, however the changing or turning process is done by external actors or audiences, out of the team work. The existance of new stage called quasi stage, stage belongs to the actors and audiences who have no roles on dramaturgical event, however in a certain time this stage creates its own role which is able to turn over the prepared #8213;plot #8214;. This quasi stage is different from the outer stage, which is viewed on dramaturgical theory. Displacement of impression management objectives is also found, formerly aimed to create a good impression to the audiences, but eventually a bad impression comes, therefore an unclarity happens between self-presentation of real and imitation actors. The presentation of self becomes a tool for actors to bring political objectives into reality, intensively, the presentation of self is done symbolically to mobilize the support from society. Self reinforcement of an actor is done by creating self impression. The presentation of self begins from identity-based and interest-based. The existance of political marketing brings out serious implications to the growth of democracy. There are two assumptions about it. Firstly, the assumption comes from people who are scronful to the political marketing practice. Secondly, the assumption comes from people who practice and implement political marketing, their argument is to fulfill what society wants, so that they contribute to increase the quality of general election


An important trend in higher education is an increasing use of digital technologies and an expansion of online-learning formats, which poses new challenges for university faculty to master the pedagogical competences in teaching online. Universities are forced to expand their educational activities in the online environment, and to involve an increasing number of teachers in the design and delivery of online courses. However, faculty members often do not have the necessary skills and competencies, and their experience in the use of digital technology is insufficient. Meanwhile, the success of online teaching depends not only on advanced methods and technologies, but first of all on the quality of faculty involved. An important issue is how teachers are trained to perform these tasks. To ensure the effectiveness of online education, the Institute of Further Professional Education of the Kazan National Research Technological University is developing approaches to training faculty for the transition to virtual learning environment. They should take into account factors, incentives and barriers affecting faculty's participation in online teaching, and analyze changes in the activities of teaching stuff in the online environment. The paper dwells on the foreign experience in training faculty for online teaching. We analyzed publications considering new roles and competencies of online teachers, barriers and motivations that encourage faculty to participate in online learning. The paper gives an overview of the content of foreign training courses aimed at the formation of a complex of subject, pedagogical and technological competences of faculty related to online teaching. The main goal of the analysis was to determine the core competencies of online teachers, so that to reflect them in the program of training faculty for teaching online.


Visual Abstract Gamma (∼40-90 Hz) and beta (∼15-40 Hz) oscillations and their associated neuronal assemblies are key features of neuronal sensory processing. However, the mechanisms involved in either their interaction and/or the switch between these different regimes in most sensory systems remain misunderstood. Gamma (∼40-90 Hz) and beta (∼15-40 Hz) oscillations and their associated neuronal assemblies are key features of neuronal sensory processing. However, the mechanisms involved in either their interaction and/or the switch between these different regimes in most sensory systems remain misunderstood. Based on in vivo recordings and biophysical modeling of the mammalian olfactory bulb (OB), we propose a general scheme where OB internal dynamics can sustain two distinct dynamic states, each dominated by either a gamma or a beta regime. The occurrence of each regime depends on the excitability level of granule cells, the main OB interneurons. Using this model framework, we demonstrate how the balance between sensory and centrifugal input can control the switch between the two oscillatory dynamic states. In parallel, we experimentally observed that sensory and centrifugal inputs to the rat OB could both be modulated by the respiration of the animal (2-12 Hz) and each one phase shifted with the other. Implementing this phase shift in our model resulted in the appearance of the alternation between gamma and beta rhythms within a single respiratory cycle, as in our experimental results under urethane anesthesia. Our theoretical framework can also account for the oscillatory frequency response, depending on the odor intensity, the odor valence, and the animal sniffing strategy observed under various conditions including animal freely-moving. Importantly, the results of the present model can form a basis to understand how fast rhythms could be controlled by the slower sensory and centrifugal modulations linked to the respiration. Visual Abstract: See Abstract


OBJECTIVE
This study focuses on the fatigue behavior of titanium dental implants as-received, with a grit-blasted surface and with a new bioactive surface treatment (2Steps).

BACKGROUND
The 2Step process consists of (1) an initial grit-blasting process to produce a micro-rough surface, followed by (2) a combined thermo-chemical treatment that produces a potentially bioactive surface, that is, that can form an apatitic layer when exposed to biomimetic conditions in vitro. The 2Step treatment produced micro-rough and apatitic coating implants.

METHODS
Residual stresses were determined by means of X-ray diffraction. The fatigue tests were carried out at 37°C on 500 dental implants, and the S-N curve was determined. The fatigue-crack nucleation for the different treatments was analyzed.

RESULTS
The fatigue tests show that the grit-blasting process improves the fatigue life. This is a consequence of the layer of compressive residual stresses that the treatment generates in titanium surfaces. Dental implants that had its surfaced prepared with the 2Step procedure (grit-blasting and thermo-chemical treatment) had its fatigue life decreased by 10% due to the incorporation of oxygen to the surface and the relaxation of the compressive residual stress produced by the heat treatment.

CONCLUSIONS
Thermo-chemical treatment is an excellent compromise between the improvement of bioactive and mechanical long-life behaviors.