In the midst of a generalised HIV and AIDS epidemic in southern Africa, the argument for more coordinated and comprehensive youth sexual health interventions is intensifying. Yet the crucial question of how best to provide young people with these skills and knowledge remains a key challenge for policy-makers, researchers and practitioners in our region. Moreover, amongst the available literature on sex education in southern Africa, few authors have taken an applied perspective, to look at fresh approaches and tools with the potential to be implemented more broadly. This paper argues for a greater focus on concepts of masculinity and sexuality in the development of sexual health efforts in southern Africa. It aims to bridge theory and practice by advancing six promising approaches with the potential to create a suitable space and environment for participants to engage with these issues. Approaches include methods and tools currently being implemented in existing programmes, as well as ideas emerging from recent literature. Our paper is ultimately a call for further 'out-of-the-box' thinking to find more effective and creative practical ways of providing the sexual health education our region's youth urgently needs. It is also a call for more applied research, to better inform future sex education programmes in southern Africa.


Modern global geo-economic development is characterized by a turn of the European and the whole of the Western concept of the Asia-Pacific and East Asian concept, resulting in the further evolution of the World System will determine the economics of the new industrial and post-industrial countries. The purpose of this article is to study the role of the economies of the East Asian countries in the global economic development. And in particular the purpose of this article is to analyze the situation of the textile industry of China in the world market and the prospects for its definition of sustainable and competitive development. During the presentation of this work it was found that textile production in China is currently under the influence of delayed negative effects of the global financial and economic crisis 2008 - 2010 years, which can then lead to the deployment of systemic risks in the Chinese economy, since the textile industry plays leading role in the economic development of China. In the analytical procedures were received substantive justification for increasing the competitiveness of the textile industry in China through the use of organizational and technological innovation, as well as through review of government support measures under consideration of the economic sphere. Enhancing the competitiveness and sustainable growth and development of the textile industry in China to create a new reserve of strength of the Chinese economy and secure in the long term for the textile industry unconditional leadership.


Despite growing interest in "the reading experience," most studies examine avid and accomplished readers. We know little of the responses of working-class readers targeted by the Religious Tract Society and other evangelical publishers in their crusade to purify popular literature. Focusing on five barely literate boys taught at Yarmouth Gaol in 1840 by the Christian prison visitor Sarah Martin, this article considers the experience of occasional, easily distracted, or reluctant readers. Examining the titles they read and their behavior inside and outside lessons, it explores the boys' reactions to didactic fiction and illustration. For these prison readers, the pleasures of reading lay as much in the social and affective relationships surrounding the reading experience as in the meanings of particular texts.


We consider the problem of controlling a discrete-time scalar linear system that is subject to stochastic input noise, using a state-feedback control policy whose performance is measured by means of a quadratic cost.

If the stochastic model for the noise is specified exactly, a control policy is said to be optimal if it minimises the expected value of the cost. For independent noise, such an optimal control policy is well known to be unique, and consists of a combination of state feedback and noise feedforward. Our first contribution consists in showing that this result remains true for dependent noise. However, in this generalised case, computing the optimal control policy is intractable.

Next, our main contribution consists in additionally dropping the assumption that the stochastic model for the noise is specified exactly. Basically, we impose local bounds on the expectation of the noise, and consider the set of all (possibly dependent) stochastic models that are compatible with these bounds. In this context, we call a control policy optimal if it minimises the expected value of the cost for at least one of these compatible noise models. We show that any such optimal control policy consists of the same state feedback term and a possibly different noise feedforward term, and we derive backwards recursive expressions that provide tight bounds on these noise feedforward terms. These bounds are easy to compute, and the recursive expressions turn out to be very familiar.


Objective To investigate the diagnostic significance of microcalcifications in breast cancer.Methods 120 cases of breast lesions with microcalcifications confirmed by pathology were included in this study,of them,97 cases were breast carcinoma,including infiltrating ductal carcinoma(n=71),invasive lobular carcinoma(n=23),and others 3 cases,23 cases were benign breast diseases.All cases underwent mammography,X-ray features of microcalcification were analysed in comparison with that of pathology.Results (1)The microcalcifications of breast in totally 120 cases could be divided into 3 types according to the density of calcifications,those were high (45/120),middle (34/120) and low (41/120) density.The middle and low dense microcalcifications were more seen in breast cancer(73.19%,71/97),high dense microcalcifications were more seen in benign breast diseases(82.00%,19/23).(2)The malignant calcifications were mostly less than 0.5 mm in diameter.The calcifications appeared as sandy in 68/97,bulky in 18,"Y","V",branch or club in 8 and worm in 3.The benign calcifications were mostly more than 0.5 mm in diameter with regular form and defined margin.(3)Dense or clustered microcalcifications were often seen in breast cancer (82/97),scatter and/or bulky microcalcifications were more seen in benign breast diseases(16/23).Conclusion Microcalcification is important finding in diagnosis of breast cancer,espcially early cancer on macrography,but it should differentiate with benign breast microcalcifications.


Tunable repeated drug administration is often inevitable in a number of pathological cases. Reloadable 3D matrices for sustained drug delivery are predicted as a prospective avenue to realize this objective. This study was directed toward sonication-induced fabrication of novel reloadable Bombyx mori silk fibroin (SF) (4, 6, and 8 wt %) hydrogel, injected within 3D porous (8 wt %) scaffolds. The focus was to develop a dual-barrier reloadable depot system for sustained molecular cargo release. Both the varying SF concentration (4, 6, and 8 wt %) and the sonication time (30, 45, and 60 s) dictated the extent of cross-linking, β-sheet content, and porosity (1-10 μm) influencing the release behavior of model molecules. Release studies of model molecules (trypan blue, TB, 961 Da and bovine serum albumin, BSA, 66 kDa) for 28 days attested that the variations in their molecular weight, the matrix cross-linking density, and the scaffold-hydrogel interactions dictated the release behavior. The Ritger and Peppas equation was further fitted into the release behavior of model molecules from various SF matrices. The hybrid constructs exhibited high compressive strength along with in vitro compatibility using primary porcine chondrocytes and tunable enzymatic degradation as assessed for 28 days. The aptness of the constructs was evinced as a reloadable model molecule (BSA and fluorescein isothiocyanate-inulin, 3.9 kDa) depot system through UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopic analyses. The novel affordable platform developed using silk scaffold-hydrogel hybrid constructs could serve as a sustained and reloadable drug depot system for administration of multiple and repeated drugs.


In shape-memory alloys a first-order martensitic phase transition is responsible for pseudo-elastic and for ferro-elastic stress-strain relations. To describe this behaviour a modified Landau theory is proposed in which the free energy of the crystal depends on the temperature and on the full strain tensor. The energy is invariant with respect to the cubic point group Oh of the high-temperature phase. To predict the cubic-to-monoclinic phase transition of beta -phase shape-memory alloys an expansion up to sixth order in strain is necessary for which, for the class of alloys considered, odd terms may be neglected. For a CuAlNi alloy the expansion coefficients are determined by comparison with experimental results. In contrast to classical Landau theory of second-order phase transitions, not only a single second-order but also a fourth-order expansion coefficient depend on temperature.


Abstract The effect of the new antibiotic dactylarin as a potential anticancer agent on energy-yielding and energy-requiring processes in Ehrlich ascites cells has been investigated. At concentrations higher than 10 µg/ml, the antibiotic causes a rapid and practically full inhibition of both aerobic glucose utilization and lactate formation. At lower concentrations (6.25 µg/ml), dactylarin causes a progressive inhibition of glycolysis; after 90 min, glycolysis is completely stopped. At concentrations as low as 3 µg/ml, however, glycolysis is stimulated. This stimulation of glycolysis, according to our previous results, suggests that the possible mode of action of this antibiotic is the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. Dactylarin (Substance 66A1) and dactylarin-like antibiotics (Substances 66A2 or 66A3) stimulated endogenous respiration of these cells. The stimulation of respiration over 100% was attained by concentrations higher than 40 µg/ml. On the other hand, these antibiotics were able to release oligomycin-inhibited respiration of the cells studied. Dactylarin and its derivatives, however, have shown little effect on oxygen uptake by pigeon heart and rat liver mitochondria in State 4 or in State 3 respiration, respectively. Proportionally to the increasing concentrations and in a time-dependent manner, dactylarin inhibits the synthesis of macromolecules in whole cells of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma measured by the incorporation of labeled amino acid, adenine, and thymidine into acid-insoluble material. The incorporation of uracil into the appropriate trichloroacetic acid-insoluble fraction was unaffected. We conclude that dactylarin interferes primarily with energy-yielding processes. Secondary consequences of this interference were both the inhibition of some biosynthetic processes (mainly DNA and protein) and the loss of transplantability of Ehrlich ascites cells.


The purpose of this paper is to review and discuss the impact of the triple bottom line on social entrepreneurship where the triple bottom line is defined as profit, planet and people and social entrepreneurship is defined as entrepreneurial activity embedded with a social purpose such as global warning, poverty, economic inequality, famine, pandemics, terrorism, etc. Specifically, the paper examines the triple bottom line where profit is represented by economic value, planet by sustainability, and people by ethical leadership. The paper also explores social entrepreneurship as a new area of business that takes the problem solving skills of commercial entrepreneurship and combines it with the social concerns of charities and non-profits. The paper concludes that in order for social entrepreneurship to be successful, a paradigm shift of new metrics (beyond the traditional single bottom line metric of profitability) is required.


As Maxillary Sinus Carcinoma (MSC) is a rare and serious condition and due to the variable treatment modalities, that are seeking to manage it, this systematic review is to assess the prevalence, types, and effectiveness of Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and Proton Therapy (PBT) in the management of MSC. PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, EBSCO, SCOPUS, Wiley, and Cochrane Library were searched. Study articles were screened by title and abstract using Rayyan QCRI then a full-text assessment was implemented. A total of twelve studies with 468 patients and 335 males were included. MSC was prevalent in Japan and SCC was the most common histopathological type of MSC, followed by adenoid cystic carcinoma. PBT is an effective therapeutic modality in managing MSC and offers a promising future in the treatment of head and neck cancer. Proton beam therapy's precise function will become clearer as it becomes more widely used and as clinical research's purview broadens. IMRT and CRT have high survival rates, good local control, and a low risk of recurrence. MSC was prevalent in Japan and SCC was the most common histopathological type of MSC.


Accuracy of phenotyping of lipoproteinemias by electrophoresis was assessed by comparing the interpretation of that laboratory test alone with the clinical diagnosis. Results were consistent with the clinical diagnosis in 88.7% of the series. Inconsistent results most frequently occurred with samples for which cholesterol and triglyceride determinations were not made or considered. Quantitative serum values for these substances obtained from another specimen or which had been determined by another laboratory and were not available to our laboratory, were the most common bases for the physician's conclusion that the laboratory report was incorrect. We conclude that cholesterol and triglyceride should be routinely determined in the laboratory testing for phenotyping of lipoproteinemia. The cholesterol and triglyceride analyses must be performed on the same specimen that is electrophoresed to provide satisfactory accuracy.


Summary form only given. We present the first demonstration, we believe, of all-optical switching using a semiconductor nonlinearity in a single arm interferometer (SAI). The SAI is insensitive to long-lived nonlinearities and, with a minor modification, allows for generalized logic functions without the use of an additional control stream. We have demonstrated a 10-Gb/s demultiplexer and inverter using an semiconductor laser amplifier in a SAI. Bit-error-rate measurements have been performed and power penalties of 1.7 dB and 3 dB were obtained for demultiplexing and inverting, respectively. We are investigating the scalability of this device to higher rates.


A thesis submitted to the College of Engineering,
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Science degree, 2002


Over the past three decades there have been a number of clinical trials directed at interdicting the type 1 diabetes (T1D) disease process in an attempt to prevent the development of the disease in those at increased risk or to stabilize—potentially even reverse—the disease in people with T1D, usually of recent onset. Unfortunately, to date there has been no prevention trial that has resulted in delay or prevention of T1D. And, trials in people with T1D have had mixed results with some showing promise with at least transient improvement in β-cell function compared with randomized control groups, while others have failed to slow the decline in β-cell function when compared with placebo. This Perspective will assess the past and present challenges in this effort and provide an outline for potential future opportunities.


N-myc expression is negatively regulated by retinoic acid (RA) which induces the growth arrest and differentiation of neuroblastoma (NB) cells. However, it has not been completely defined whether N-Myc promotes growth and/or antagonises neuronal differentiation of NB cells or whether the down regulation of N-myc occurs as a consequence of the onset of differentiation. By transfecting an N-myc gene construct into these cells, we found that the constitutive overexpression of N-myc stimulated proliferation in RA containing medium and, although these cells were still responsive to RA, they were no longer able to differentiate. Since N-Myc functions appear to be mediated by heterodimerization with Max, the ectopic overexpression of max in NB cells was also investigated. In contrast to N-Myc, Max strongly induced the differentiation by enhancing the effects of RA. Max-transfected cells rapidly arrested growth and differentiated fully within a few days of RA treatment. These findings suggest that the relative levels of N-Myc compared to Max appears to be crucial in stimulating neuroblastoma growth or differentiation, and may contribute to explain the remarkable clinical behaviour of neuroblastomas.


ABSTRACT Disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) are chronic, impairing, and costly behavioral health conditions that are four times more prevalent among children of color living in impoverished communities as compared to the general population. This disparity is largely due to the increased exposure to stressors related to low socioeconomic status including community violence, unstable housing, under supported schools, substance abuse, and limited support systems. However, despite high rates and greater need, there is a considerably lower rate of mental health service utilization among these youth. Accordingly, the current study aims to describe a unique model of integrated health care for ethnically diverse youth living in a New York City borough. With an emphasis on addressing possible barriers to implementation, integrated models for children have the potential to prevent ongoing mental health problems through early detection and intervention.


STUDY QUESTION
Can the spatio-temporal formation of an intact blood-testis barrier (BTB), which is essential for the progression of spermatogenesis, be reproduced in cultures of fresh or frozen/thawed prepubertal mouse testes?

SUMMARY ANSWER
Organotypic cultures allow the establishment and maintenance of major BTB components and the formation of a functional BTB in mouse testicular tissues.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
In vitro maturation of prepubertal testicular tissues is a promising approach to restore fertility in adult survivors of childhood cancer. Although gametes can be successfully obtained from prepubertal mouse testes in organotypic cultures, the spermatogenic yield remains low compared to in vivo controls.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION
Mouse testicular tissues were frozen using controlled slow freezing (CSF) or solid surface vitrification (SSV) procedures. A total of 158 testes (fresh n = 58, CSF n = 58 or SSV n = 42) from 6 to 7 days postpartum (dpp) mice were cultured at 34°C in basal medium (α-MEM, 10% KnockOut Serum Replacement, 5 μg/ml gentamicin) at a gas-liquid interphase (under 20% O2), with or without 10-6 M retinol, for 9, 16 and 30 days. In addition, 32 testes from 6-7, 15-16, 22-23 and 36-37 dpp mice were used as in vivo controls.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS
The mRNA levels of BTB genes (Claudin 3, Claudin 11, Zonula occludens 1 and Connexin-43), germ cell-specific genes (Sal-like protein 4, Kit oncogene, Stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8, Synaptonemal complex protein 3, Transition protein 1 and Protamine 2), markers of Sertoli cell immaturity/maturity (anti-Mullerian hormone, androgen receptor, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1b) and the androgen-regulated gene Reproductive homeobox 5 (Rhox5) were measured by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR). The localization of BTB proteins in seminiferous tubules was studied by immunohistochemistry and spermatogenic progression was evaluated histologically. The integrity of the BTB was assessed using a biotin tracer.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE
Modest differences in Claudin 11 (Cldn11), Zonula occludens 1 (Zo-1), Connexin-43 (Cx43) transcript levels and in the localization of the corresponding proteins were found between in vitro cultures of fresh or frozen/thawed testes and in vivo controls (P < 0.05). However, a 32-77-fold decrease in Claudin 3 (Cldn3) mRNA levels and a lack of CLDN3 immunolabelling in 36-44% of seminiferous tubules were observed in 30-day organotypic cultures (P < 0.05). Although Sertoli cell maturation and the completion of a full spermatogenic cycle were achieved after 30 days of culture, meiotic and postmeiotic progression was altered in cultured testicular tissues (P < 0.05). Moreover, an increased BTB permeability and a decreased expression of Rhox5 were observed at the end of the culture period in comparison with in vivo controls (P < 0.05). Completion of spermatogenesis occurred in vitro in seminiferous tubules with an intact BTB, and in those expressing or lacking CLDN3.

LARGE SCALE DATA
None.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION
Further studies will be needed to determine whether the expression of other BTB components is altered and to decipher the reason for lower Cldn3 and Rhox5 mRNA levels in organotypic cultures.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
This work contributes to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms occurring in in vitro matured prepubertal testes. The organotypic culture system will have to be developed further and optimized for human tissue, before potential clinical applications can be envisaged.

STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTEREST(S)
This work was supported by Rouen University Hospital, Ligue contre le Cancer (to L.D.), and co-supported by European Union and Région Normandie (to A.O.). Europe gets involved in Normandie with European Régional Development Fund (ERDF). The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.


Past studies have shown that there is a wave-enhanced, near-surface mixedlayer in which the dissipation rate is greater than that derived from the "law of the wall". In this study, turbulence in water columns under wind breaking waves is investigated numerically and analytically. Improved estimations of dissipation rate are parameterized as surface source of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) for a more accurate modelling of vertical profile of velocity and TKE in the water column. The simulation results have been compared with the experimental results obtained by Cheung and Street [1988] and Kitaigorodskii et al. [1983], with good agreement. The results show that the numerical full model can well simulate the near-surface wave-enhanced layer and suggest that the vertical diffusive coefficients are highly empirical and related to the TKE diffusion, the shear production and the dissipation. Analytical solutions of TKE are also derived for near surface layer and in deep water respectively. Near the surface layer, the dissipation rate is assumed to be balanced by the TKE diffusion to obtain the analytical solution; however, the balance between the dissipation and the shear production is applied at the deep layer. The analytical results in various layers are compared with that of the full numerical model, which confirms that the wave-enhanced layer near the surface is a diffusion-dominated region. The influence of the wave energy factor is also examined, which increases the surface TKE flux with the wave development. Under this region, the water behavior transits to satisfy the classic law of the wall. Below the transition depth, the shear production dominantly balances the dissipation.


The aim of this study was to evaluate the interrelation among growth traits in Santa Inês lambs using principal component analysis. Data on 270 lambs born between 2008 and 2013 were used. The variables studied were weight at birth, adjusted weights, and average daily gains at 14, 28, 52, and 70 days of age. The wither height, thoracic perimeter, and body length at birth and adjusted at 28 and 70 days of age (weaning), were also used. The statistical model comprised the fixed effects of the contemporary group, the linear effect of julian date at birth, and the linear and quadratic effects of lambing weight. The first principal component explained approximately 89% and 85% of the total variation for body weight at different ages and average daily gains, respectively. The second principal component compared heavier animals or those that gained more weight at 14 days with lighter lambs or those that gained less weight at 14 in the other ages explaining 5% and 10% of the variation, among the animals. The first principal component accounted for 77%, 91%, and 77% of the variation for weight, thoracic perimeter, wither height, and length at birth, 28 days, and 70 days of age, respectively, and compared large animals or animals with greater body volume. The second component, with values of 16%, 6%, and 14% of the total variation at the three ages, respectively, compared animals with distinct conformation to discriminate animals of different shapes and verified that the weights at the different ages and the thoracic perimeter are important sources of variability among the animals.


The aim of this paper is to lay a foundation for providing a soft algebraic tool in considering many problems that contain uncertainties. In order to provide these soft algebraic structures, the notions of closed intersectional soft -ideals and intersectional soft commutative -ideals are introduced, and related properties are investigated. Conditions for an intersectional soft -ideal to be closed are provided. Characterizations of an intersectional soft commutative -ideal are established, and a new intersectional soft c--ideal from an old one is constructed.


In many developed economies there is currently a focus on how the lives of the most disadvantaged in society can be improved and the role that governments can play in this. A number of European countries have embraced a social policy approach that places a priority on those who are excluded from the opportunities that promote wellbeing. This article provides a brief overview of social inclusion and related literatures and some of the issues surrounding the concept. It concludes that while social inclusion has been adopted as an organising principle for social policy in a number of countries, the experience of these countries is mixed and the extent to which the social inclusion agenda has been successful is contested. It concludes that it is important that Australia learns from the international experiences to take what worked and avoid some of the pitfalls. An overview of the other articles in the edition is also provided.


The transformation to perovskite phase of Pb_0.91La_0.09Zr_0.65Ti_0.35O_3 (9/65/35) films on r -sapphire and resulting annealed microstructures were examined by transmission electron microscopy. A random equiaxed polycrystalline grain morphology (approximately 600 nm) was observed after rapid-thermal annealing or furnace annealing when the as-deposited (radio-frequency-magnetron sputtering) films were predominantly pyrochlore. However, an interesting paired-plate structure was revealed after furnace annealing when the as-deposited films were fully perovskite. The average size of such a split precipitate was 35 nm in width and 150 nm in length.


Ohmic electrodes in the form of n-type (Si-doped) cubic boron nitride (c-BN) bulk crystals were fabricated by utilizing a covering technique, depositing Ti(10 nm)/Mo/(20 nm)/Pt–Au(200 nm) ohmic contact metal on both the sides of the c-BN substrate. The size of the specimen electrode was 100 × 100 μ m2 on one side and 300 × 300 μ m2 on the other side. Measurements on the specimen were made using a specially made device. Linear current–voltage characteristics were obtained. It is considered that the contact between the Ti-and Si-doped c-BN was ohmic.


Vapors of a mesophasogenic solvent (which can form an liquid-crystalline phase with the polymer) have been found to actively affect the spatial structure and optical activity of natural polysaccharides (cellulose acetates). This process is accompanied by variations of the specific optical rotation value [alpha] within wide limits, including the inversion of the sign of [alpha]. The action of vapors obeys the dosage-effect rule, with lower doses producing a stronger effect. It was supposed that this approach can be applied to study the structural peculiarities of biopolymers such as DNA.


Understanding the relation between a crystal facet and photocatalytic performance is of great importance for the development of effective catalysts. In this work, we focus on anatase TiO2 with controllable exposed facets toward photocatalytic hydrogen evolution by water splitting. By combining temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS), we obtain that the adsorption of hydroxyl groups and the photo-driven breaking of hydroxyl groups depend strongly on the exposed facets. As a result, the higher catalytic hydrogen evolution activity of TiO2 enclosed with (101) facets than that of (001) facets should be ascribed to the more favorable depletion of hydroxyl groups. Moreover, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with rich surface functional groups are deliberately deposited on the TiO2 surface. The determination of the states and dynamics of surface hydroxyl groups suggests that GQDs facilitate the reaction of hydroxyl groups on (001)TiO2, thus leading to the activity enhancement. By contrast, the already active (101)TiO2 become apparently less efficient after GQD deposition due to the restricted reaction of hydroxyl groups. Overall, our findings not only provide a unique guidance for understanding the crystal-plane-dependent photocatalysis but also present a powerful approach by which to tailor the photocatalytic performance.


Cooled RF ablation catheters increase lesion size and facilitate ablation compared to standard RF ablation catheters. Cooling the ablation electrode increases the disparity between tissue temperature and electrode temperature, making use of temperature for guiding power application during ablation of less certain value. Appropriate energy titration is important, however, to produce large lesions, while avoiding overheating of tissue with steam formation leading to "pops." In addition to power, the rate of irrigant flow can be controlled. Electrode–tissue contact and orientation and the cooling effect of blood flow around the electrode and within the tissue are not as easily adjusted and also influence tissue heating. In addition to electrode temperature, a decrease in impedance, bubble formation detected by intracardiac ultrasound, and evidence of tissue heating from an effect on recorded electrograms or the arrhythmia can be used to guide ablation energy. Guidelines for adjusting power delivery and avoiding "pops" and coagulum formation are suggested.


Abstract The Generales Inquisitiones de Analysi Notionum et Veritatum is Leibniz's most substantive work in the area of logic. Leibniz's central aim in this treatise is to develop a symbolic calculus of terms that is capable of underwriting all valid modes of syllogistic and propositional reasoning. The present paper provides a systematic reconstruction of the calculus developed by Leibniz in the Generales Inquisitiones. We investigate the most significant logical features of this calculus and prove that it is both sound and complete with respect to a simple class of enriched Boolean algebras which we call auto-Boolean algebras. Moreover, we show that Leibniz's calculus can reproduce all the laws of classical propositional logic, thus allowing Leibniz to achieve his goal of reducing propositional reasoning to algebraic reasoning about terms.


Published methods for single and sequential extraction, separation and determination of chromium(III) and (VI) in sewage sludge, soil and dried plant material were critically evaluated. The results obtained illustrate the difficulties of speciation analysis in such complex matrices. A method based on single extraction with 0.43 mol L[-1] acetic acid followed by on-line ion chromatography with chemiluminescence detection was found to be simple, sensitive, free of interferences, and more importantly the integrity of the chromium species was maintained. Instrumental parameters affecting the sensitivity of the chemiluminscence signals were optimised using a multivariate optimisation approach. A linear calibration was obtained from 0.01 to 50 mug L[-1]. Limits of detection were found to be 0.002 mug L[-1] for both Cr(III) and Cr(VI). Limits of determination were found to be 0.02 mug L[-1] for both Cr(III) and Cr(VI). The precision, determined using a 10 mug L[-1] solution of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was 10.6 +/- 0.52mug L[-1] (4.9%) for Cr(III) and 10.1 +/- 0.50 mug L[-1] (4.9%) for Cr(VI) (n=6). Validation of the method was carried out using two water reference materials certified for total chromium content; LGC CRM 6010 49 mug L[-1] +/- 4 mug L[-1] and NIST SRM 1643d 18.53 mug L[-1] +/- 0.20 mug L[-1]. Results obtained showed good agreement with the certified values; 49.21 mug L[-1] +/- 1.81 mug L[-1] and 19.03 mug L[-1] +/- 1.50 mug L[-1] respectively. The developed method was used to study the distribution of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) species in soils. The species extraction procedure was validated using a certified reference material (CRM): BCR CRM 483. The changes in the distribution of both species in soil that had been through similar pre-treatment steps as in the production of reference materials were studied. This investigation showed that contamination or chemical oxidation could alter the chromium species present within a natural sample during production steps such as milling, homogenisation and sieving. As a result the metal speciation in the product is different from that in the starting material. In order to limit the effect of oxidation jet rather than ball milling is recommended.


In this paper a simulation analysis of certain trust models (complex PKI architectures) with regard to the security support of B2B applications on the Internet is presented. The objective of such an analysis has been the choice of the most efficient PKI architecture and a solution of the cryptographic interoperability problem. A simulation model of protected B2B e-commerce has also been presented, based on the chosen PKI architecture. This paper has shown the significance of the up-to-date cryptographic mechanisms: digital signature and digital certificate to deliver the main security services based on PKI.


Cellulose nanocrystals were successfully extracted from caroá (Neoglaziovia variegata) and macambira (Bromelia laciniosa) fibers, which are native plants from the semi-arid Caatinga biome in Northeastern Brazil. Fibers were submitted to alkaline and bleaching treatments prior to sulfuric acid extraction. Morphology and chemical composition (holocellulose and cellulose content) of fibers were determined by scanning electron microscopy and chemical analysis, respectively. Cellulose nanocrystal structure, crystallinity and thermal stability were determined respectively by atomic force microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Results show that mercerization followed by bleaching were able to remove waxes and amorphous regions. Caroá fibers required one mercerization and three bleaching steps while macambira needed one mercerization and two bleaching steps prior to nanocrystal extraction. Alkaline treated and bleached samples had lower thermal stability as compared to untreated fibers due to removal of lignin and increased surface area. Caroá and macambira are renewable sources of cellulose nanocrystals with potential applications as reinforcements to nanocomposites.


Background Mastectomy leaves unsightly scarring, which can be distressing to patients. Laser therapy for scar prevention has been consistently emphasized in recent studies showing that several types of lasers, including fractional ablation lasers, are effective for reducing scar formation. Nonetheless, there are few studies evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of ablative CO2 fractional lasers (ACFLs). Methods This study had a randomized, comparative, prospective, split-scar design with blinded evaluation of mastectomy scars. Fifteen patients with mastectomy scars were treated using an ACFL. Half of each scar was randomized to "A," while the other side was allocated to group "B." Laser treatment was conducted randomly. Scars were assessed using digital photographs of the scar and Vancouver scar scale (VSS) scores. Histological assessments were also done. Results The mean VSS scores were 2.20±1.28 for the treatment side and 2.96±1.40 for the control side. There was a significant difference in the VSS score between the treatment side and the control side (P=0.002). The mean visual analog scale (VAS) scores were 4.13±1.36 for the treatment side and 4.67±1.53 for the control side. There was a significant difference in VAS score between the treatment side and the control side (P=0.02). Conclusions This study demonstrated that early scar treatment using an ACFL significantly improved the clinical results of the treatment compared to the untreated scar, and this difference was associated with patient satisfaction.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the relation between daily diary reports of diabetes-specific social interactions to patient and partner mood and patient self-care behaviors, and whether relations are moderated by unmitigated communion.

METHOD
Participants were 70 couples in which 1 person had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the past 3 years. They were interviewed in-person at baseline and completed daily diary reports on an iPad. Daily diary questionnaires measured support, mood, and self-care behavior (patients only). Unmitigated communion, a personality trait characterized by an overinvolvement in others to the exclusion of the self, was measured at baseline.

RESULTS
Multilevel statistical modeling revealed that daily fluctuations in partner emotional support were related to daily fluctuations in happy mood, more exercise, and dietary compliance. Partner controlling behavior was related to poor mood but was unrelated to self-care. Relations of support and controlling behavior to mood were strongest for individuals high (vs. low) in unmitigated communion.

CONCLUSION
Patients newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes who felt understood and cared for by partners reported a better mood and were more likely to take care of themselves on a daily basis, whereas patients whose partners were controlling on a daily basis reported poorer mood. Patients characterized by unmitigated communion were most affected by partner supportive and unsupportive behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record


Objective To assess whether survival and clinical events following elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair were associated with remoteness of residence in North Queensland, Australia. Methods This retrospective cohort study included participants undergoing elective AAA repair between February 2002 and April 2020 at two hospitals in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia. Outcomes were all-cause survival and AAA-related events, defined as requirement for repeat AAA repair or AAA-related mortality. Remoteness of participant's place of residence was assessed by the Modified Monash Model classifications and estimated distance from the participants' home to the tertiary vascular centre. Cox proportional hazard analysis examined the association of remoteness with outcome. Results The study included 526 participants undergoing elective repair by open (n = 204) or endovascular (n = 322) surgery. Fifty-four (10.2%) participants had a place of residence at a remote or very remote location. Participants' were followed for a median of 5.2 (inter-quartile range 2.5–8.3) years, during which time there were 252 (47.9%) deaths. Survival was not associated with either measure of remoteness. Fifty (9.5%) participants had at least one AAA-related event, including 30 (5.7%) that underwent at least one repeat AAA surgery and 23 (4.4%) that had AAA-related mortality. AAA-related events were more common in participants resident in the most remote areas (adjusted hazard ratio 2.83, 95% confidence intervals 1.40, 5.70) but not associated with distance from the participants' residence to the tertiary vascular centre Conclusions The current study found that participants living in more remote locations were more likely to have AAA-related events but had no increased mortality following AAA surgery. The findings emphasize the need for careful follow-up after AAA surgery. Further studies are needed to examine the generalisability of the findings.


The IEEE 802.15.4 standard is widely recognized as one of the most successful enabling technologies for short range low rate wireless communications. Although it provides all the details of both MAC and PHY layers of the protocol stack, the standard also explains specific methodologies to protect MAC packets through symmetric-key cryptography techniques under several security options. However, the orchestration of available security profiles and the management of key negotiation schemes is delegated to upper layers. In support of this feature, this work describes a standard compliant security framework aimed at proposing: (i) different kind of security architectures, (ii) an efficient mechanism for initializing a secure IEEE 802.15.4 domain, and (iii) a lightweight mechanism to negotiate link keys among devices. Experimental tests have been conducted to demonstrate the behavior of the proposed solution in real environments. Obtained results clearly show that the enabling of security features in constrained nodes requires additional computational efforts, which involve a not negligible growth of communication latencies. Such findings have to be carefully considered when designing and developing enhanced applications in future and secured Internet of Things (IoT) systems.


Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the outcome and complications in patients who underwent double-head pterygium excision with split conjunctival autograft with and without limbus to limbus orientation. Methods: In this retrospective, comparative study, 99 eyes with double-head pterygium which underwent split conjunctival autograft with limbus to limbus orientation (Group 1) and 93 eyes which underwent without limbus to limbus orientation (Group 2) during the period of 2011–2016 were included in this study. The primary outcome compared was the recurrence rate. Other complications were included as secondary outcomes. Results: Mean age in group 1 and group 2 were 46.84 +/- 10.78 years and 54.38 +/- 11.44 years respectively. M:F was 36:63 in group 1 and 45:48 in group 2 with a mean follow up of 18.30 +/- 7.48 months in group 1 and 17.04 +/- 9.98 months in group 2. Recurrence was seen in 4 cases in each of the 2 groups with the mean time of recurrence being 7 +/- 2.34 months in group 1 and 6 +/- 2.01 months in group 2. Other complications included graft edema, SCH, graft retraction, granuloma, dellen and graft loss with only graft loss being statistically significant between 2 groups. Conclusion: This study provides data that recurrence rates are not different among patients who undergo split conjunctival graft with and without limbal orientation. The strict adherence to maintaining limbus to limbus orientation while managing double-headed pterygia may not be necessary in all cases, especially in those with large defects following excision.


Background: Weaning is associated with growth decline and morphological changes in the gastrointestinal tract of the pig. Insects, such as the Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), are suggested as a sustainable novel protein source in diets for pigs. They contain chitin, medium chained fatty acids, and anti-microbial peptides, which could improve the gastrointestinal function and health in the post-weaning pig. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the effect of increasing inclusion of full-fat BSFL in diets for post-weaning pigs on growth performance parameters, digestibility, gut morphology, and the microbial community in the colon. Eighty crossbred weanling pigs were weaned at approximately 32 days of age, with an average weaning weight of 10.6 ± 0.8 kg. For four weeks, the pigs were fed one of four dietary treatments: a control diet or one of three diets containing an increasing amount of full-fat BSFL meal: 4.76% (BSFL5), 9.52% (BSFL10), and 19.06% (BSFL20). Results: Increased level of full-fat BSFL in the diet did not affect growth performance or fecal consistency. A reduction in apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein (P = 0.035) was found for increased inclusion of BSFL, whereas the ATTD of crude fat increased (P<0.001). Jejunal, ileal, or colonic morphometry was not affected by the BSFL inclusion. Some changes in the colon microbiota were observed, but no differences in the short-chain fatty acid concentrations were detected between the dietary treatments. At the phylum level, dietary treatment affected the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Campilobacteria, and Thermoplasmatota, but there was no clear pattern relationship with the BSFL inclusion level. At the genus level, the inclusion of BSFL in the diet reduced the relative abundance of Lactobacillus (P = 0.015) compared to the control. Conclusions: Collectively, the results indicate that up to 19.06% of full-fat BSFL meal could be included in a balanced diet for PW pigs without affecting growth performance, gut function, or health.


Preface. The Author. 1. Career Counseling and Career Advising: Differences and Similarities. 2. Career-Advising Competencies. 3. The 3-I Process: A Career-Advising Framework. 4. The 3-I Process: INFORM. 5. The 3-I Process: INTEGRATE. 6. Career-Advising Resources. 7. Future Challenges. Appendix A: Useful Career-Advising Web Sites. Appendix B: Case Studies for the 3-I Process. References. Index.


Medical myths occur for many different reasons. A common thread is that they all make some pathophysiologic sense. A good example is the concern about using oral cobalamin when treating pernicious anemia. The difficulty in absorbing vitamin B12 when intrinsic factor is not available does not make oral replacement impossible; the dose just needs to be higher. Pathophysiologic concerns have also been a key reason why physicians have avoided using beta-blockers in patients with diabetes. They fear that beta-blockers will block adrenergic symptoms, and patients will not know when they are hypoglycemic. In studies addressing this issue, there appears to be no real problem with increased severe episodes of hypoglycemia in patients on beta-blockers or increased hypoglycemic unawareness. Several studies commented on the unanticipated symptom of increased sweating associated with hypoglycemia in diabetic patients who are taking beta-blockers. Another important concept behind some medical myths is the overreliance on case reports or authoritative text. The concern about depression associated with beta-blocker use grew out of one widely referenced case report. Subsequent studies have not shown convincing evidence for a strong association with beta-blocker use and depression. The strong position taken against narcotic use in Cope's Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen is probably the reason for the perpetuation of the myth of avoiding narcotics for pain relief in patients with undiagnosed acute abdominal conditions. The only two studies addressing this issue showed no problems with diagnosis caused by providing narcotic pain relief. Newer therapies usually undergo closer scrutiny before being accepted, often including placebo-controlled trials to show the efficacy of a medication. Such might not be the case with newer technologies. It is harder to evaluate the benefit of a new technology in the face of noncomparable previous technologies. Catheterization of the right side of the heart (Swan-Ganz catheter) was a technology that became widely used before any outcome studies became available. Multiple reports in the last decade have shown increased mortality and increased utilization of resources in patients who received catheterization of the right side of the heart. Most new drug therapies require randomized data to show effects before widespread use and acceptance occur. Older therapies that have been widely accepted for a long time might not have had controlled trial data behind recommendations for their use, and once practice patterns become widespread, it is hard to change. It is always good to ask the question, "Will this help my patient live better or longer?" when prescribing a therapy. These myths underscore the importance and utility of outcome-based research to help guide physicians in their practices.


Cement mortars are extensively used in tunnels and underground facilities, where the risk of high temperatures due to fires and explosions triggered by traffic accidents, earthquakes or electrical malfunctions cannot be ruled out. It is necessary, therefore, to know the mechanical properties of cement mortars at high temperature in both static and dynamic conditions. The dynamic mechanical behavior of pre-stressed cement mortars at high temperature is investigated in this research project, from 25 to 300°C, by means of the Hopkinson bar. The microstructure of cement mortars is also stud-ied via Scanning Electron Microscopy-SEM. The properties under investigation are: density, coefficient of thermal expansion, dynamic compressive strength, peak strain, dynamic elastic modulus and damage variables, as well as the longitudinal wave velocity. The tests indicate that the physical and dynamic mechanical properties of cement mortars are significantly affected by high temperature. In the range 25 - 300°C, because of the increasing number and size of the microdefects (microcracks), the density and the longitudinal wave velocity exhibit a gradual less-than-linear decline, while the decline of the compressive strength and elastic modulus is more marked (roughly linear), the peak strain and damage almost increase linearly.


The researcher desire is to interrogate the relationship/association between organizational justice (distributive justice and procedural justice) and job satisfaction among the teaching and non-teaching staff of public and private university of KPK. The study was conducted on 550 employees in public and private universities and has hypothesized that employees' perceptions of organizational justice are positively associated with job satisfaction, which is consistent with previous researches. Pearson Correlation and Regression analysis was used to ascertain the relationship/association between various dimension of organizational justice and employee job satisfaction and T test was conducted to compare private and public-sector universities response. Convenience sampling approach is used for this study and a self-administered survey questionnaire was used to obtain employees' perceptions. Study results shows that components of organizational justice are positively and significant associated with employee's jobs satisfaction.


The columns of a building from 1935, located in Buenos Aires city, show cracks that have put the whole structure at risk. A petrographic study was carried out in order to determine the origin of concrete deterioration. The macroscopic characteristics and the reaction products developed in the cracks and in the reaction rims on the deleterious aggregates were analysed. In the selected material, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) were also used to determine the mineralogy. The deleterious reactions that affect the concrete obliterate the mortar texture. Most of the coarse aggregates develop reaction processes with the precipitation of a low birefringence material, but without peripheral concentric cracks. It is concluded that the structure has been deteriorated by the development of the alkali-silica reaction. The reactivity is clearly related to the coarse aggregate, especially to siliceous sandstones with a cryptocrystalline silica matrix and particles composed of different types of metastable silica such as chalcedony and agate.


Mechatronic units are characterized by a complex interaction of functions from mechanics, electronics, communication and computer systems. These different fields of technology as well as influences from the operating environment must be reflected in the dependability consideration, for which so far no comprehensive framework exists. In this contribution, a framework for consideration of dependability of mechatronic units starting from a definition of the term "dependability of mechatronic units" is proposed. Special attention is put on to the influence factors including human-machine interfaces, and real-world constraints, which thoroughly have to be identified and considered. Following questions have to be regarded: What is understood by the term dependability of mechatronic units? Which influencing factors have to be considered? How the dependability is assessed? This contribution also wants to initiate a scientific discussion outside the fault tolerance community.


In the current networked globe, Web has proved itself the most advanced and effective way of communication. During early development of the Internet there was a little notion that the Web development will hit this Internet so hard one day. In such a short time, Web 2.0 and now Web 3.0 has created great heights in the face of Internet industry. The distance from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 has been covered almost in a decade. But soon after Web2.0 a new Web3.0 has evolved which has not only raised the level of interest but also many questions among developers, users and the regulators. Do we really need it at this stage, what are the forcing factors, how it is different from Web2.0 and Semantic Web, what are its social, moral and security implications, is it only about personalization, all these questions have made Web3.0 popular among its stakeholders. In this paper the primary focus will be on the relationship between Web 2.0, Web 3.0 and the Semantic Web while the secondary will be on the rising security concerns about rapid and sequential Web developments. However, the changing business models in the future Web 3.0 will also be highlighted. Semantic Web technologies have been considered as a bridge for the technological evolution from Web 2.0 to Web 3.0. Efforts have been made to describe the distinctions between the current and the future Web. The boundaries of this research will be further stretched towards the future Internet/optical Internet.


3D-operation planning which makes the preoperative visualization of patient's postoperative appearance is one of the main applications in reconstructive and cranio-facial surgeries. The current preoperative surgical planning with respect to tissue changes is based mostly on frontal analysis of 2D information sources such as photographs and X-rays. It is necessary to develop an automatic guided software for performing cosmetic surgery by the process of simulating three dimensional visualization techniques suitable for the display of complex structures of the facial skeleton and of skull base. Three dimensional surface reconstruction of cranial anatomy is obtained from CT (Computer Tomographic) or MRI(Magnetic Resonance Images) images. 3D CT/MRI reconstruction of images is an attractive field generally in digital image processing techniques especially in bio-medical applications. This paper discusses the process of developing a 3D model from the given CT/MRI images based on iso-surface extraction and reconstruction.


Over the last decade consumers' health consciousness is becoming an important factor driving the agrofood market. Healthier food products have entered the global markets with force in the past years and rapidly gained market share. Consequently, the food industry has reacted to this trend by developing a growing variety of new products with health-related claims and images, including organic and functional foods that are selected by consumers for their health-promoting properties. Currently, the healthy foods and drinks market is performing well, in terms of innovation and market penetration; healthy foods in Europe have a turnover of € 5.7 billion. Different researches conclude that a better understanding of consumers' perception of healthy foods and its determinants are key success factors for market orientation and development and for successfully negotiating market opportunities. The research proposes a survey of 300 Italian consumers in order to understand attitudes towards healthy foods, with particular reference to organic and functional products, through the implementation of a cluster analysis. The main aim of this paper is to derive indications that may contribute to better strategic and tactical marketing decisions. The findings of this study are also important for government bodies interested in designing public health programs.


This article summarizes and reflects on two women who were missionaries in New Zealand in the nineteenth century. Anne Catherine Wilson was a native of the island of Jersey off the coast of Britain and came to New Zealand with her husband, John Alexander Wilson. Anne died tragically young, probably of breast cancer, in 1838. Elizabeth Colenso, on the other hand, was born of New Zealand missionaries in 1821 and lived until 1904. Married to, and then separated from, William Colenso, Elizabeth ministered for several years in England after seventeen years working in New Zealand. Returning to her homeland, she was asked to work as a missionary on Norfolk Island in Melanesia and served there for twenty-three years. Both women, author Catherine Rae Ross demonstrates clearly, were "more than wives;" they were actors-even heroines-in their own right.


The drive to meet climate change and energy security targets has led the UK government to incentivise microgeneration, with 2 GW now installed, the vast majority of which is solar PV. However, this only represents 0.2% of UK energy supply and greater uptake is not guaranteed since FIT rates were cut for solar PV in 2012, reducing the financial incentive to install. Thus, other consumer motivations must be focussed on by industry and the government in order to further increase uptake. Additionally, microgeneration may be able to contribute to a sustainable and reliable UK energy mix, but such a contribution is not guaranteed. For example, there is concern that above 10 GW of installed solar PV, the electricity grid will experience balancing problems due to uncontrolled exporting to the grid. With higher intermittent solar PV generation, there will a greater load requirement on variable-load plants such as coal and gas generation plants. This research investigates the above issues by contributing to the question: How can microgeneration contribute further to UK climate change and energy security targets? Firstly, this research determines the consumer motivations and barriers associated with the decision whether or not to install microgeneration, in order to find ways of further improving uptake. A comprehensive literature review was carried out, followed by a survey using the ?best-worst scaling? approach to determine the relative importance of each motivation and barrier across existing adopters, those currently considering installing and those who have decided not to, rejecters. The most important motivations were to earn money, to increase self-sufficiency and to guard against future energy bill increases. The greatest barriers were high capital costs, not earning enough money and the risk of losing money if they moved home. Whilst the Green Deal was designed to remove the capital cost and risk of losing money barriers, it may actually increase the risk of losing money if they moved home as homebuyers are reluctant to purchase a house with an attached Green Deal loan. The desire for self-sufficiency is more important for considerers and rejecters than adopters and greater emphasis on increasing self-sufficiency could help improve uptake. Secondly, an option to increase household energy self-sufficiency whilst mitigating the grid balancing problems associated with solar PV exports was investigated: a combined solar PV, Stirling engine CHP (SECHP) and lead-acid battery household system was simulated and used to carry out a cost-benefit analysis and life cycle assessment compared to a conventional household system using the electricity grid and gas boiler for heating. The system provides 72% of a household?s energy demand and reduces grid demand variations by 35% with a 6 kWh battery. However, the system is only cost-effective for households with large electricity demand, 4,300 kWh/yr. If uptake of such a system is to be encouraged, it must be incentivised: a 24% capital grant would be required for the average household (�3,600). The environmental impacts of the system are reduced by 35-100% compared to the conventional system for 9 out of 11 impacts. However, depletion of elements is 42 times higher largely due to the use of antimony for the battery manufacture. Environmental benefits vary greatly across households and those with the largest energy demand achieve the greatest benefits from the system. Appropriate battery sizing is essential in order to maximise environmental benefits, with 10?20 kWh capacity being optimum for the households considered. Overall, this research has identified numerous ways to increase microgeneration uptake, but this is likely to be at a cost to the government and, ultimately, the tax payer. UK microgeneration policy over the last decade has frequently changed and created uncertainty for consumers and the industry. A more continuous, simple and transparent policy environment would provide security for both industry and consumers, allowing more stable growth in a quickly maturing market.


INTRODUCTION
The clock drawing test (PDR-M) - Manos´ version - is a brief cognitive assessment tool for dementia detection. Objectives. To assess the validity and reliability of the PDR-M to discriminate between patients with dementia and healthy control subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
We evaluated subjects over 65 years of age, excluding those with severe concomitant diseases and those with hearing or visual impairment. We obtained demographic data and performed the PDR-M and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Subjects of the dementia group were also submitted to clinical, laboratory and neuropsychological evaluations as well as computed tomography scanning. Sensitivity and specificity of the PDR-M were calculated as well as the area under the ROC curve.

RESULTS
We evaluated 210 individuals, 103 with confirmed diagnosis of dementia and 107 healthy controls with similar age and sex in both groups, but a higher educational level in the control group. Setting a cutoff point of 7, a sensitivity of 99.0% and a specificity of 83.5% were found. When comparing the areas under the ROC curves of the PDR-M and MMSE we found no statistically significant difference.

CONCLUSIONS
The PDR-M is a brief and reliable instrument for the detection of dementia in the urban population of Lima, Peru.


In this study, the tool wear was experimentally investigated in order to clarify the effective tool material for the turning of SCr420H. SCr420H was turned with three kinds of physical vapor deposition (PVD) coated cemented carbide tools. The coating films used were TiN, (Ti, Al)N, (Ti, W)N and (Ti, W, Si)N coating film. (Ti, W, Si)N is a new type of coating film. The main results obtained are as follows: (1) The (Ti, W, Si)N coating film has both high hardness and high critical scratch load. (2) In the turning of SCr420H, the wear progress of the (Ti, W, Si)N coated cemented carbide tool is slowest.


Abstract Large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids undergo transformation processes in the rumen through microbial biohydrogenation to form fatty acids with higher saturation degree. The respective process explains the high content of saturated fatty acids in products of ruminants and the potential risk of consumers' health by consuming such products. Various nutritional approaches have been attempted to modulate biohydrogenation process in order to obtain healthier fatty acid profile from consumers' perspective. The present paper is aimed to review the influence of dietary tannin, a naturally produced plant secondary compound, on the pattern of polyunsaturated fatty acids biohydrogenation occurring in the rumen. The effect of tannin on some key fatty acids involved in biohydrogenation process is presented together with the underlying mechanisms, particularly from up-to-date research results. Accordingly, different form of tannin as well as different level of the application are also discussed. Key words: Tannin, biohydrogenation, fatty acid, ruminant


Aerodynamic Measurement Stability During Rabbit Versus Pig Benchtop Phonation Megan Caroline Hoggan Department of Communication Disorders, BYU Master of Science Combination corticosteroid inhalers are the primary treatment option for long-term pulmonary disorders including asthma, persistent bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Common side effects of these medications are xerostomia in the mouth and throat, hoarseness, and soreness in the oropharynx. Research indicates that a large percentage of the inhaler particles are deposited onto laryngeal tissue, leaving an alteration of laryngeal mucosal properties. As the first stage in a long-term project, this thesis addresses the need for baseline phonatory data that will lay groundwork for quantifying inhaler-induced phonatory changes. Excised larynx research is a powerful tool for assessing aerodynamic alterations that accompany laryngeal pathology. Porcine (pig) larynges are a traditional species employed in voice disorder research, though leporine (rabbit) larynges are an emerging species that lends itself to histologic vocal fold studies as they have the most similar vocal fold cover structure to humans compared to any other animal to date. The purpose of this study was to examine the measurement stability of six aerodynamic parameters in a traditional excised larynx benchtop model. Specifically, the current author assessed measurement stability of leporine larynges compared to porcine larynges with the following aerodynamic metrics: phonation onset pressure (PTP; cmH2O), phonation onset flow (PTF; L/m), sustained pressure (cmH2O), sustained flow (L/m), onset laryngeal resistance (cmH2O/L/m), and sustained laryngeal resistance (cmH2O/L/m). A total of 30 larynges—15 leporine and 15 porcine—were mounted on a benchtop setup; phonation was sampled over 15 trials for each larynx. Measurement stability for the above six tokens was examined using coefficient of variation (%) analyses. Leporine larynges demonstrated significantly less variation across all six aerodynamic parameters when compared to porcine larynges. The leporine PTP values were most stable as compared to leporine and porcine pressure and airflow values. Leporine airflow values were also more stable than porcine PTP and PTF values. These results indicate that leporine larynges might be a preferred excised larynx specimen for certain benchtop phonation studies. These findings are important for establishing expected measurement variability in porcine and leporine larynges, particularly when translating benchtop research to laryngeal pathology.


Graphs are common mathematical structures that are visual and intuitive. They constitute a natural and seamless way for system modelling in science, engineering and beyond, including computer science, biology, business process modelling, etc. Graph computation models constitute a class of very high-level models where graphs are first-class citizens. The aim of the International GCM Workshop series is to bring together researchers interested in all aspects of computation models based on graphs and graph transformation. It promotes the cross-fertilizing exchange of ideas and experiences among senior and young researchers from the different communities interested in the foundations, applications, and implementations of graph computation models and related areas.


We report experimental investigations of a simple structure, called a moat, which significantly reduces the probability of flux-trapping in Josephson SQUIDs. Proper operation of Josephson logic and memory circuits requires that the SQUIDs be free of stray magnetic flux that may become trapped in the superconducting groundplane upon cooling through the critical temperature. The problem is particularly severe for so-called holey SQUIDs which rely on holes in the groundplane to obtain suitably large device inductances. Moats are rectangular channels in the groundplane surrounding the SQUID's which provide preferred sites for trapping flux, thus preventing such flux from coupling to the SQUID. We have measured the effectiveness of moats by monitoring the flux trapped in the moats and comparing it to the flux trapped in the associated SQUID as a function of applied field. The number of flux quanta in the moat is determined by measuring the shift of the threshold curve of a two-junction SQUID coupled to the moat. The data indicates that at fields on the order of a mG, moats reduce the sensitivity of holey SQUIDs to trapped flux by at least several orders of magnitude. As the chips are cooled through T c , transient magnetic fields are produced in the metallic sample holder parts surrounding the chip by thermal-gradient-induced EMF's. The effects of such magnetic fields on the flux trapping behaviour of the SQUIDs are also reported.


Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) compatible demountable joints are needed in Indus-2 (2.5 GeV, 300mA) electron storage ring for connecting Al-alloy vacuum chambers (homogeneous joints) as well as Al-alloy vacuum chambers to well proven stainless steel components like beam diagnostic components and RF-shielded bellow assemblies (heterogeneous joints). Bakeable & reliable diamond profile Al-alloy gaskets have been developed for Helium leak rate less than 2×10−10 Std. CC/sec, which eliminated the need of any Al to SS transition pieces onto the Aluminium vacuum chambers. Salient features of these gaskets are: high reliability, low cost, reduced flange thickness, self alignment, ease in installation, less torque requirement, formability to non-circular shape & ultra cleanliness. These diamond profile gaskets were machined from extruded Al-alloy 6061-T5 pipes using specially developed high-speed steel formed cutting tools. Thermal cyclic tests were carried to check the reliability of these gaskets. No leaks were found even after several bakeouts at 150°C. Non-circular metallic gaskets like the one used in UHV gate valve bonnet seal can also be manufactured using specially developed formed toolings. This paper describes basic design philosophy, manufacturing process and testing details of these gaskets.


Following previous work demonstrating that the anomalously high rates of propagation of unconfined vapour cloud explosions could be caused, or aggravated, by radiation-induced multi-point ignition due to small fibrous particles ahead of the main flame front, the investigation is extended towards more practical criteria. Ignition lag measurements are carried out in various hydrocarbons, at different relative velocities between particle and mixture, in a radiation flux that is varied in magnitude, direction and range of wavelengths. An image furnace with a tungsten filament as source is used as an alternative to a CO2 laser, to obtain a closer approximation to radiation from combustion products. Measurements on particles of clean insulating and cotton wool are complemented by more 'practical' dusts collected from, for example, vacuum cleaners and shelves. The spectral absorption of various particles is compared with the radiance distribution due to various path lengths of combustion products, and the effect of coating clean particles with lamp black (to simulate the effect of dirt) is assessed. The basic hypothesis is reassessed in terms of a more detailed theoretical model that allows for slip between particle and gas velocity, radiation from secondary ignition centres and a definition of flame speed based on the rate of product gas volume generation. It is found that the susceptibility of various hydrocarbons and mixtures to this type of ignition accords with other combustion properties such as ignition temperatures and burning velocities. While the absorptive properties of certain particles and the propensity of others to emit inert blanketing vapour renders them less effective in producing ignition in the laboratory, all particles become hazardous when blackened by dirt and particularly, when subjected to previous exposure to radiation while not surrounded by a mixture of explosive composition. Theoretical modelling confirms that flame speeds of the order required to account for the damage observed in practice are generated by this mechanism and that this result applies for surprisingly low concentrations of hazardous particles. Thus, given the facility with which agglomerates of fibres are raised in suspension and the likelihood of their presence in numbers sufficient for this mechanism, the hazard warning implied by the previous work is reinforced.


Twenty four subjects were studied for ten 1-hr sessions to determine whether the human observer's visual monitoring of individual meters in a complex display can be differentially controlled by concurrent scheduling of signals. Subjects were divided into two main groups of 12 each. One group was given fixed-interval, variable-interval, and differential-reinforcement-of-low-rates schedules. The second group was given fixed-interval, fixed-ratio, and differential-reinforcement-of-low-rates schedules. Test subjects were instructed only to detect as many signals as possible. Results indicated that observing responses to the individual meters corresponded to the temporal patterns known to be associated with the schedules for the group given fixed-ratio instead of variable-interval as a component schedule. The group given the variable-interval schedule in the three-schedule combination tended to exhibit the same pattern of viewing across each of the three meters during any given session. However, subsequent testing was performed on two more subjects over 64 sessions, by adding initial feedback of signal detection results, and instructions concerning schedule construction. These results indicated that with knowledge of schedule construction and initial feedback of detection data, differentiated responding can be maintained efficiently over long periods of time by the combination including fixed-interval, variable-interval, and differential-reinforcement-of-low-rates schedules.


This study aimed to investigate the situations of pornography use among male college students of China, to explore the addiction possibility for pornography use, and to study the associations between pornography use and reproductive hormone levels and semen quality. Five hundred sixty-eight participants met the inclusion criteria and finished all of the questionnaires and hormone level and semen parameter examinations. A majority of participants (except one) had pornography use experience, 94.2% participants started pornography use before college, and 95.9% participants reported they had masturbation experience when using pornography. Early contact to pornography, frequent pornography use, high amount of time spending on pornography use, and frequent masturbation during pornography use were correlated with addiction trends. Earlier pornography use was found to be associated with lower serum prolactin (PRL), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and progesterone (Prog), as well as lower sperm concentration and total sperm count. Higher frequency of pornography use was associated with lower serum estrogen (E2). In conclusion, pornography use was common among male college students in China. Early contact, high frequent use, and high frequency of masturbation during pornography use could lead to addiction trends and aberrant reproductive hormone levels and semen quality.


Web service technology has been proposed to implement management interfaces of managed resources, but the efficiency of the web service based network management system is influenced. With the development of semantic web, this paper proposes to apply semantic web service technology to the network management. In order to promote the efficiency of network management system and reusability of network management functions, an approach to define and execute composite network management processes with existing technology has been presented. Performance management service as a case is described using OWL-S, then services composited by OWL-S Editor.


Introduction: Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) discontinuation is being investigated in pts with CML-CP with sustained DMR (defined here as MR4.5 or BCR-ABL1 ≤ 0.0032% on the International Scale [IS]), with the goal of treatment-free remission (TFR). Successful TFR has been reported previously for pts enrolled in DASFREE (CA180-406/NCT01850004), which showed that 48% of CML-CP pts with DMR for ≥ 1 year were able to stop dasatinib and maintain major molecular response (MMR) 12 months after discontinuation. Here we present updated results from pts followed for a minimum of 18 months, in order to understand the durability of TFR beyond 12 months.
 Methods: DASFREE is a phase 2, open-label, single-arm study in adult pts with CML-CP on dasatinib for ≥ 2 years as 1st-line or subsequent therapy. Eligible pts had dasatinib-induced DMR (MR4.5) confirmed at a local lab for ≥ 1 year prior to enrollment, with a 1-log reduction in BCR-ABL1 from baseline within 3-6.5 months of starting dasatinib. MR4.5 was confirmed at a central lab twice within 3 months prior to dasatinib discontinuation (screening phase). BCR-ABL1 was monitored centrally after discontinuation every month in the 1st year, then every 3 months. Pts resumed dasatinib at their previous dose if MMR was lost. The primary endpoint is the rate of MMR 12 months after dasatinib discontinuation. Secondary endpoints include BCR-ABL1 kinetics, molecular relapse-free survival (MRFS; no loss of MMR), relapse-free survival (RFS; no loss of MMR, complete cytogenetic response, or complete hematologic response, or progression to accelerated/blast phase [AP/BP] CML), rate of transformation to AP/BP, progression-free survival, and overall survival. Exploratory analyses include frequency of adverse events (AEs) after discontinuation and during dasatinib treatment, and MMR after reinitiating dasatinib.
 Results: In total, 84 pts enrolled between February 2014 and June 2016 discontinued dasatinib; all had
 ≥ 18 months of follow-up after discontinuation at the time of this analysis. Pt characteristics were previously reported (the majority [64%] had low Sokal scores; no pt had prior interferon; 37 pts were on 1st-line dasatinib, 47 on subsequent lines of dasatinib). At 18 months after discontinuation, the RFS rate was 48% (95% CI 37-58) in all pts (Figure), 54% (95% CI 38, 70) in 1st-line pts, and 42% (95% CI 28, 57) in pts who received subsequent-line therapy. With longer follow-up, 1 additional pt lost MMR at 18 months following discontinuation. Of the 45 pts who lost MMR and restarted treatment, 44 regained MMR (1 pt discontinued after only 1 molecular assessment) in a median of 2 months (range 1-4) and 42 regained MR4.5 in a median of 3 months (range 2-18). Analyses of baseline pt characteristics revealed that for the 40 pts who did not lose MMR after discontinuation, 15 (37.5%) were able to maintain MR4.5. Additionally, the median time in prior MR4.5 was 28 months (range 13-116) for all pts, and was similar for 1st-line pts who maintained (27 months [range 13-56]) or lost MMR (27 months [range 15-68]) at 12 months. With longer follow-up, AEs (any cause) identified were consistent with previous reports and were found to be similar on and off treatment: 8 (10%) pts off treatment and 8 (18%) pts on treatment experienced grade 3/4 AEs of any cause after restarting dasatinib (4.4% were drug related). No transformation events or deaths occurred. Of the 13 reported withdrawal events occurring in 8 (9.5%) pts, 10 were resolved (5 off treatment, 5 resolved after restarting treatment due to loss of MMR) after a median of 5 months (range 1-12) after onset. One pt discontinued after restarting dasatinib due to malignancy unrelated to treatment. In addition to efficacy and safety data, multivariate analyses evaluating prognostic factors for MMR will be presented.
 Conclusions: Additional follow-up of pts enrolled in DASFREE revealed that TFR remained durable at 18 months after discontinuing dasatinib. AEs reported here were consistent with the known safety profile of dasatinib, and withdrawal was well tolerated. Collectively, this trial, the largest dasatinib discontinuation trial to date, continues to support the feasibility and practicality of TFR in pts with CML-CP in DMR treated with dasatinib in the 1st line and beyond.
 Figure. Figure.

 Shah: ARIAD: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding. García Gutiérrez:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Larson:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Takeda: Speakers Bureau. Saussele:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria. Rea:Incyte: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Honoraria. Mahon:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau. Levy:Takeda (Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.): Consultancy. Gómez-Casares:Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Speakers Bureau. Pane:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy. Nicolini:Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Sun Pharma: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Mauro:Pfizer: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Sy:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Employment. Martin Regueira:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Employment, Equity Ownership. Lipton:ARIAD: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding.


Abstract The emic cultural categories of pottery materials used by the community of potters in Ticul, Yucatan, were compared to the etic mineralogical analysis of these materials. The study reveals that there is a definite relationship between the cognitive ethnomineralogical system used by the community of potters in Ticul and the verbal, non-verbal, and material aspects of the process of selecting and using raw materials for making pottery. This relationship indicates that the Ticul potter has a sophisticated understanding of his raw materials and suggests several implications for archaeology: (1) the cultural patterns which are manifested in the artifacts may be cognitive; (2) since potters' discriminations are manifested in the physical world, it should be possible to reconstruct ancient emic categories from physical contrasts in the artifacts without the use of ethnographic analogy; (3) the definition of temper as nonplastics may eliminate important cultural information from archaeological consideration; and (4) the community of potters is the unit of population which uses a particular ethnomineralogical system and would be expected to produce a paste and slip combination which is relatively uniform. All of these data indicate that many of the notions of cognitive anthropology can be successfully applied to archaeological considerations.


The effects of thromboxane (Tx) inhibition or arachidonic acid (AA) infusion were studied in anesthetized cats during acute myocardial ischemia (MI). AA (7.2 mg kg-1 h-1) or imidazole (25 mg kg-1 h-1) infusions were initiated 30 min after occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Assessment of the degree of protection of the ischemic myocardium was made by measurement of S-T segment elevation, plasma and myocardial creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activities, and myocardial amino-nitrogen content. Assessment of Tx inhibition was performed by radioimmunoassay. Administration of imidazole inhibited the sevenfold increase in plasma thromboxane B2 (TxB2) levels occurring in MI (p less than 0.001 at 2-5 h), markedly decreased S-T segment elevations at 2-k h (p less than 0.025), significantly prevented the elevation in plasma CPK (p less than 0.05, at 4 and 5 h), the increase in TxB2 post-MI, significantly decreased (p less than 0.025) S-T segment evaluations at 2-5 h, caused a decrease in plasmaCPK levels (p less than 0.05 at 5 h), but did not prevent loss of myocardial CPK or amino-nitrogen. In summary, the administration of imidazole resulted in significant protection of the myocardium in all indices of ischemic damage measured, while AA infusion resulted in only a partial protection. The mechanism of the imidazole protection of ischemic myocardial tissue appears to be via inhibition of Tx synthesis althoug we cannot exclude a hemodynamic or cytoprotective mechanism. These results suggest that specific inhibition of Tx formation is beneficial during acute MI.


An operator called the target signature space-orthogonal projection classifier (TSC) was recently introduced. The author shows that the TSC is actually a scaling of the familiar matched-filter operator. It is also proved that scaling the matched-filter operator does not alter its receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Therefore, the TSC has the same performance as the matched-filter operator but requires more computations.


An automatic music playlist generator called PATS (Personalized Automatic Track Selection) creates playlists that aim at suiting a particular listening situation. It uses dynamic clustering in which songs are grouped based on a weighted attribute-value similarity measure. An inductive learning algorithm is used to reveal the weights for attribute-values using user preference feedback. In a controlled user experiment, the quality of PATS-generated and randomly assembled playlists for jazz music was assessed in two listening situations. The two listening situations were "listening to soft music" and "listening to lively music." Playlist quality was measured by precision (songs that suit the listening situation), coverage (songs that suit the listening situation but that were not already contained in previous playlists) and a rating score. Results showed that PATS playlists contained increasingly more preferred music (increasingly higher precision), covered more preferred music in the collection (higher coverage), and were rated higher than randomly assembled playlists.


Abstract: This paper studies identifiability and convergence behaviors for parameters of multiple types, including matrix-variate ones, that arise in finite mixtures, and the effects of model fitting with extra mixing components. We consider several notions of strong identifiability in a matrix-variate setting, and use them to establish sharp inequalities relating the distance of mixture densities to the Wasserstein distances of the corresponding mixing measures. Characterization of identifiability is given for a broad range of mixture models commonly employed in practice, including locationcovariance mixtures and location-covariance-shape mixtures, for mixtures of symmetric densities, as well as some asymmetric ones. Minimax lower bounds and rates of convergence for the maximum likelihood estimates are established for such classes, which are also confirmed by simulation studies.


The synthetic antimicrobial peptide SET-M33 is being developed as a possible new antibacterial candidate for the treatment of multi-drug resistant bacteria. SET-M33 is a branched peptide featuring higher resistance and bioavailability than its linear analogues. SET-M33 shows antimicrobial activity against different species of multi-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, including clinically isolated strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumanii and Escherichia coli. The secondary structure of this 40 amino acid peptide was investigated by NMR to fully characterize the product in the framework of preclinical studies. The possible presence of helixes or β-sheets in the structure had to be explored to predict the behavior of the branched peptide in solution, with a view to designing a formulation for parenteral administration. Since the final formulation of SET-M33 will be strictly defined in terms of counter-ions and additives, we also report the studies on a new salt form, SET-M33 chloride, that retains its activity against Gram-negative bacteria and gains in solubility, with a possible improvement in the pharmacokinetic profile. The opportunity of using a chloride counter-ion is very convenient from a process development point of view and did not increase the toxicity of the antimicrobial drug.


Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) currently affects around 34 million people worldwide, but due to recent advancements in antiretroviral treatments the morbidity and mortality of HIV has greatly improved (UNIAIDS, 2009). Tenofovir (TFV) is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) that is currently widely used in most HIV regimens due to its favourable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, which allows for once daily dose (Gallent et al., 2004). TFV is used to treat HIV in both treatment experienced and treatment naive patients; it is also used as a treatment for hepatitis B and has recently been approved for use as a pre-exposure prophylaxis treatment. The preclinical trials for TFV showed that it had a good safety profile, however there has been an increasing number of patients presenting with TFV induced renal damage specifically proximal tubule dysfunction (Cooper et al., 2010). It was hypothesised that TFV was inducing this tubule damage via mitochondrial dysfunction, as this has been widely reported as an adverse reaction associated with NRTI's (Kontorinis et al., 2003). Within these studies in vitro cell models were modified via culturing them in galactose media in order to probe for mitotoxins (Marroquin et al., 2007). The cytotoxicity and mechanisms of cell death induced via TFV were elucidated within these modified cell lines. Work presented has shown that TFV causes delayed mitochondrial cytotoxicity, which causes a cell cycle arrest within the G2/M phase leading to an accumulation of cell within the S phase. It was shown that the cell cycle arrest is likely due to the inhibition of mitochondrial polymerase γ leading to decreased mitochondrial DNA and ultimately cell death firstly via apoptosis (caused by release of caspase 3/ 7), and then necrosis when cellular ATP levels become too low to sustain apoptosis. Work presented also showed that autophagy induced by TFV, may play a protective role within cells at lower time period. A study within this thesis using patient urine samples was presented to look for a possible biomarker of TFV proximal tubule dysfunction. Kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) was selected as previous studies have shown that it is specific to proximal tubule cells (Ichimura et al., 2008). Results demonstrated that TFV did not significantly alter the KIM-1 / creatinine ratio within patient urine samples. However the data from this pilot study are novel and should be used for future research into the possible use of KIM-1 as a biomarker for TFV induced proximal tubule dysfunction. The biomarker work presented within this thesis should be carried forward to power a future study using a larger and adequate patient cohort. The work presented within this thesis has now opened doors for further study into this subject area especially with regards to the study of KIM-1 as a biomarker, which is a pressing matter as TFV is now widely available for use as a PrEP treatment.


"Next generation" data acquisition technologies are allowing scientists to collect exponentially more data at a lower cost. These trends are broadly impacting many scientific fields, including genomics, astronomy, and neuroscience. We can attack the problem caused by exponential data growth by applying horizontally scalable techniques from current analytics systems to accelerate scientific processing pipelines. In this paper, we describe ADAM, an example genomics pipeline that leverages the open-source Apache Spark and Parquet systems to achieve a 28x speedup over current genomics pipelines, while reducing cost by 63%. From building this system, we were able to distill a set of techniques for implementing scientific analyses efficiently using commodity "big data" systems. To demonstrate the generality of our architecture, we then implement a scalable astronomy image processing system which achieves a 2.8--8.9x improvement over the state-of-the-art MPI-based system.


Summary Statins appear to have beneficial effects on fibrous cap stabilisation but their effects on plaque thrombogenicity have not been reported. To evaluate the thrombogenicity of human carotid plaques before and after atorvastatin treatment, 59 patients with bilateral carotid stenosis eligible for two-step carotid endoarterectomy (CEA) were randomly assigned to atorvastatin, 20 mg/day, or placebo. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses, Tissue Factor (TF), Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor (TFPI) antigens (Ag) and TF activity were determined in endoarterectomy specimens obtained at baseline and after treatment. Mean TFAg and TFPIAg levels from plaques removed at the first CEA were 55 ± 56 and 32 ± 26 pg/mg. After placebo, TFAg and TFPIAg content was higher in the second than the first CEA. Plaques removed at the second CEA from atorvastatin-treated patients had a lower macrophage content than plaques at the first CEA. TFAg and TFPIAg levels, and TF activity in plaques after atorvastatin treatment were lower (respectively 29, 18% and 56%) than after placebo. These findings indicate that atorvastatin reduce the inflammatory/thrombotic phenotype of carotid plaque, suggesting that these drugs may indeed have a beneficial effect on cerebrovascular events. We are indebted to Pfizer Italia for providing atorvastatin, 20 mg, and placebo.


Background Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people worldwide. Self-harm is a recognised predictor of future suicide and is most common in young people under the age of 24 years. The aim of this study was to estimate the risk of mortality following self-harm in adolescents, including death by suicide, and to examine the factors associated with this outcome. Methods The Northern Ireland Registry of Self-Harm (NIRSH) collects information on all self-harm presentations to all Emergency Departments (ED) in NI. NIRSH data from 2012–2015 was linked to centralised electronic data relating to primary care registration, prescribed medication and death records. Logistic regression was employed to examine the factors associated with increased likelihood of self-harm and Cox regression to estimate mortality risk following self-harm and to examine the factors associated with the greatest risk of mortality. Results The cohort consisted of all 395,771 individuals aged 10–24 years who were resident in NI on 1st April 2012 followed up until 31st December 2019. During the study 4,513 (1.14%) young people presented with self-harm, 116 (2.6%) of whom died during follow-up with 49% (n=57) of those deaths being by suicide. Rates of self-harm were highest in females, those aged 20–24 years (OR=3.47, 95% CI 3.23–3.73), and those living in the most deprived areas (OR=3.10, 95% CI 2.80–3.42). Most individuals self-harmed via self-poisoning with psychotropic medications (68.6%), followed by self-injury with a sharp object (24.1%). Although only 57 of those who presented with self-harm went on to die by suicide they accounted for 28.8% of all deaths by suicide in this cohort. Those who presented with self-harm were 27 times more likely to die by suicide compared to those who did not present with self-harm after adjustment for age and sex (HR=27.20, 95% CI 19.86–37.25). Conclusion This constitutes the first population-wide study of self-harm and suicide in young people in the UK and provides valuable information to inform suicide prevention strategies. Additional analysis is underway exploring variation in mortality risk based on ED care intervention and will be complete by the time of the conference. The authors would like to acknowledge the help provided by the staff of the Honest Broker Service (HBS) within the Business Services Organisation Northern Ireland (BSO). The HBS is funded by the BSO and the Department of Health (DoH). The authors alone are responsible for the interpretation of the data and any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the BSO.


SPARQL (SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language) is a RDF (Resource Description Framework) query language for "key-value" databases such as NoSQL databases e.g. MongoDB. In the recent times, SPARQL/RDF has emerged into a powerful way of extracting data from database columns that contain multiple values for the same key, and especially wherever the columns are joinable variables in the query. However writing a SPARQL/RDF query is in itself a challenging task since SPARQL/RDF' syntax is of descriptive and declarative nature and requires technical skills.A problem in applying SPARQL/RDF queries to NoSQL databases is the extraction of irrelevant results without sensing context of given piece of input against a single query. In such cases, a user cannot get the required information from linked data in the same context as wanted. To address such problem, there is need of an intelligent approach that sense the context of given piece of natural language input and generate context oriented output to end user in the form of a SPARQL/RDF query. In this paper, a natural language query based framework is presented to generate SPARQL/RDF queries for NoSQL databases. Here, a challenging task is to map natural language queries to map to SPARQL queries. Our framework accepts input natural language query in English from user and then translates the NL queries into SPARQL/RDF queries. The results of the experiments with the deigned framework reflect importance of such approach used for automated generation of SPARQL/RDF queries for NoSQL databases.