The idea of the present invention is to replace the existing password/user ID based authentication process by a new digital signature authentication process in which preferably the first HTTP-request header is extended by the client authentication information independently of the authentication process used by the destination server and without server requesting authentication information. The authentication information preferably includes the client certificate containing the client public key, signed by certification authority, and preferably a hash value calculated over the HTTP-request header data being sent in the request, and encrypted with the Client's private key. The certificate and digital signature may be added during the creation of the HTTP-request header in the client system itself, or may be added later in a server acting as a gateway, proxy, or tunnel. A destination server that does not support the new digital signature authentication process will simply ignore the certificate and digital signature in the HTTP-request header and will automatically initiate its own authentication process. The present invention simplifies the existing digital signature authentication process and concurrently allows the coexistence of different authentication processes without changing the HTTP-protocol or causing unnecessary network traffic.


Coronavirus disease 2019 is a global pandemic, and to deal with the unexpected, enormous burden on healthcare system, liver transplantation (LT) services have been suspended in many centers. Development of robust and successful protocols in preventing the disease among the recipients, donors and healthcare workers would help in re‐starting the LT programs. We adapted a protocol at our center, which is predominantly a living donor liver transplant center based in north India, and continued the service as the pandemic unfolded and peaked in India with good results and shared the experience of the same. Between March 24 and June 7, 2020, during the government‐enforced public curfew—"lockdown"—7 children received LT. The protocols of infection control were drafted in our team by local customization of published guidelines. The number of pediatric LT done during the lockdown period in 2020 was similar to that done in corresponding pre‐COVID period in 2019. The outcomes were of 100% survival, and none of recipients developed COVID. One potential donor was asymptomatic positive for COVID, responded well to conservative treatment, and was later accepted as a donor. LT program during the COVID pandemic can successfully function after putting in place standard protocols for infection control. These can be implemented with minimal extra involvement of healthcare infrastructure, hence without diversion of resources from COVID management. In conclusion, pediatric liver transplantation services can be continued amid COVID‐19 pandemic after establishing a properly observed protocol with minimum additional resources.


Over the past two decades successive British governments, both Conservative and Labour, have attempted to implement reforms within the English and Welsh police service. The latest Labour government proposals have resulted in new legislation which paves the way for wide‐scale reforms of how the police are managed, financed and judged against specific performance targets. Further, the introduction of the UKs first "national policing plan" has led to the belief that this is a sign of the British government's intention to reduce/remove the historical, political neutrality identified through "constabulary independence". Past experiences suggest that greater "nationalisation" of policing in the UK is unlikely to meet government expectations owing to the strength of police (sub) culture to adopt and yet resist reform and that the governments failure to pay attention to this may result in the failure of reform.


In order for microflow electrolysis cells to make their full contribution to routine laboratory organic synthesis, they must be capable of carrying out reactions with good selectivity and high conversion at a high rate of conversion. In addition to appropriate choice of the electrolysis medium and control of the overall cell chemistry, both the design of the electrolysis cell (including materials of construction) and the correct selection of the cell current and flow rate of the solution are critical in determining performance. The conclusions are tested using the methoxylation of N-formylpyrrolidine as the test reaction in a microflow electrolysis cell with a single, long, patterned flow channel.


The structure of a neutralizing immunoglobulin (monoclonal antibody mAb17-IA), bound to human rhinovirus 14 (HRV14), has been determined by cryo-electron microscopy and image reconstruction. The antibody bound bivalently across icosahedral twofold axes of the virus, and there were no detectable conformational changes in the capsid. Thus, bivalently bound IgGs do not appear to cause gross deformations in the capsid. Differences between the electron density of the constant domains of the bound Fab fragment and IgG structures suggested that conformational changes occur about elbow axes upon bivalent attachment as was previously predicted. No significant density was observed for the Fc fragment, which adds further evidence for a high degree of mobility about the hinge region.


We study traveling waves for a two-dimensional lattice dynamical system with monostable nonlinearity. We prove that there is a minimal speed such that a traveling wave exists if and only if its speed is above this minimal speed. Then we show the uniqueness (up to translations) of wave profile for each given speed. Moreover, any wave profile is strictly monotone.


 Abstract — The laser scanner is a detection technique essential for the 3D modeling of objects and it is well known its capability to acquire large amounts of data relatively in short times with a high degree of precision. In recent years also it is becoming more common some software-based algorithms "Structure from Motion" (SfM) which allow the graphic rendering of 3D models from images obtained by ordinary digital cameras. The integration of the 3D model with images obtained with infrared cameras can provide an overview not only on the state of conservation, but also provide, in addition to the dimensional characterization, also abnormality information, dimensional and form, invisible to human eyes and to other techniques. In particular, this application with the integrated use of terrestrial laser scanning instrumentation and advanced infrared camera can test a possible use for cars, after packaging and transport, in order to detect any damage caused by transport. We also will conduct the first tests on a possible use of the SfM to replace laser scanner


Plaque rupture and thrombosis are the most important clinical complications in the pathogenesis of stroke, coronary arteries, and peripheral vascular diseases. The identification of early biomarkers of plaque presence and susceptibility to ulceration could be of primary importance in preventing such life-threatening events. With the improvement of proteomic tools, large-scale technologies have been proven valuable in attempting to unravel pathways of atherosclerotic degeneration and identifying new circulating markers to be utilized either as early diagnostic traits or as targets for new drug therapies. To address these issues, different matrices of human origin, such as vascular cells, arterial tissues, plasma, and urine, have been investigated. Besides, proteomics was also applied to experimental atherosclerosis in order to unveil significant insights into the mechanisms influencing atherogenesis. This narrative review provides an overview of the last twenty years of omics applications to the study of atherogenesis and lesion vulnerability, with particular emphasis on lipoproteomics and vascular tissue proteomics. Major issues of tissue analyses, such as plaque complexity, sampling, availability, choice of proper controls, and lipoproteins purification, will be raised, and future directions will be addressed.


We review the current state of research in endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT). We first survey the range of available endoscopic optical imaging techniques. We then discuss the various OCT-based endoscopic methods that have thus far been developed. We compare the different endoscopic OCT methods in terms of their scan performance. Next, we examine the application range of endoscopic OCT methods. In particular, we look at the reported utility of the methods in digestive, intravascular, respiratory, urinary and reproductive systems. We highlight two additional applications--biopsy procedures and neurosurgery--where sufficiently compact OCT-based endoscopes can have significant clinical impacts.


Abstract The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is one of the multi-criteria methods with tools that are effective for decision-making in complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). This approach, in combination with other available methods, such as the Utrecht Method, allows medical professionals and patients themselves to take a balanced choice of special treatment and health control. This is particularly important for pregnant women who suffer from nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP). The mechanisms of toxicosis occur, and the way of treatment have certain uncertainties. The decision-making process for therapeutic care must consider several factors, the determination of which is the result of collaboration between the patient and the healthcare provider. This paper presents the results of a decision-making study regarding the use of the ginger medicinal plant in helping a woman with NVP symptoms. The research was conducted using the original questionnaire according to the methodology proposed by the developers of the Utrecht Method. The chosen respondents were healthcare professionals with experience in treating NVP and pregnant women. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) capabilities in decision-making were shown in an example of analyzing the benefits, risks, and side effects of using ginger during pregnancy. The combination of two methodological approaches allowed to successfully connect the proven facts of using CAM therapy with the subjective assessment of all stakeholders. The study demonstrates that this approach successfully uses decision-making by structuring hierarchical decision elements and weighing the criteria involved in the decision-making issue. The article examines the practicality and effectiveness of using AHP when making decisions regarding the treatment and improvement of the condition of pregnant women with NVP, and summarizes the quantitative and qualitative indicators of the effectiveness of this method. The presented combination of two methodological approaches in decision-making allows for choosing an optimized medical strategy for supporting pregnant women through CAM therapy.


Operative treatment of fractures of the neck and trochanter of the femur does not always produce a satisfactory result. This is usually due to biomechanical problems with the available internal fixation methods. We studied the anatomy of the neck of the femur by roentgenograms and sectional specimens from 70 cadavers. In addition, various nail-plates were subjected to buckling tests and, by simultaneously attaching a strain-gauge, stress distribution was calculated. The results of these preliminary studies were then used to design a new nail-plate better than those available at present. Testing of this new nail-plate confirmed that it had a strength equal to that of the Holt nail-plate (the strongest of the available nail-plates).


In an article published in 1917, 1 a group study was presented showing the results of one hundred physical and mental examinations of so-called well children made at the Little Wanderers' Home in Boston. This report includes the children in the former study, together with 145 additional examinations made at the same institution, and 357 made in the Children's Out-Patient Department of the Massachusetts General Hospital. One of the objects of the investigation has been to emphasize the importance of more systematic and thorough methods of physical examination for all children. A standard form has been worked out in our nutrition clinics, 2 which covers all the practical points in examination in regular order; second, enables different examiners to cover the same ground; third, saves clerical work by so arranging descriptive matter as to allow underlining instead of writing; fourth, acts as a check on the work of the examiner,


The Tribunal de Defensa de la Competencia (TDC) issued on 22 July 2002 a decision in which it established that documents created by companies in the context of their defence in competition…


Letter-to-Sound conversion is one of the fundamental issues in text-to-speech synthesis. In this paper, we address an approach to automatic prediction of word pronunciation. This approach combines example-based learning and dynamic-programming searching to predict sub-word pronunciation. Word pronunciation is formed by concatenating sub-word pronunciations. We conducted comparative experiments over a large-scale English dictionary. Experimental results show that this approach can achieve accuracy of 70.1%, which outperforms those published results.


The Mediterranean area is a hotspot for present day and future climate change. The understanding of past climate dynamics in this area is of great importance to gain insight in the pattern of regional climate variability in response to hemispheric and global climate changes. In the central Mediterranean, contrasting climate responses have been observed during the last 12 ka with drier/wetter conditions in the northern/southern regions lasting until about 6-5 ka, followed by a trend toward the opposite conditions. Carbonate mineral stalagmites are continental archives able to provide simultaneous information about past climate and environmental changes. With the aim to get a deeper understanding of Holocene climate dynamics in the Balkan Peninsula, five stalagmites were collected from two Bosnian caves (Govjestica and Mracna Pecina; Praca Valley) in the frame of a PhD project involving the Universities of Bologna (Italy) and Savoie Mont Blanc (France) with the collaboration of the University of Melbourne (Australia). Here we present the multiproxy methodological approach adopted for the study of these samples and some anticipations of the major findings.


Although, one of the etiologies of localized lipodystrophy of the subcutaneous connective tissue (cellulite) is the histological alternation of adipose tissue, the characteristics of expression of the components of extracellular matrix (ECM) components during adipogenesis are not uncovered. In this study, the effects of caffeine and Ishige okamurae originated diphlorethohydroxycarmalol (DPHC) on the expression of extracellualr fibers was analyzed with quantitative RT-PCR during differentiation induction of mouse subcutaneous adipose derived stem cells (msADSC) into adipocyte. The expression levels of Col1a, Col3a1, and Col61a were decreased by the adipogenci induction in a time-dependent manners. However, Col2a mRNA and Col4a1 mRNA expressions were oposit to them. Caffeine and DPHC stimulated the changes of the expression of these collagens. Eln mRNA expression was increased by induction. DPHC stimulated the expression of it. Mfap5 mRNA expression was deceased in both adipogenic cell and matured adipocytes. Caffeine suppressed the expression of Mfap5 but the effect of DPHC was different by the concentration. The expression of bioglycan, decorin, and lumican were also modified by caffeine and DPHC in a concentration-dependent manner. Based on this study, we revealed firstly the effects of caffeine and DPHC on the expression of collagens, elastin, and glycoproteins during adipogenesis of msADSCs. Those results suggest that DPHC may have antiadipogenic effect and has more positive effets on normal adipose tissue generation and work as suppressor the abnormality of ECM structure. Such results indicate that DPHC can be applied in keeping the stability of the ECM of adipogenic tissues.


Background Observational studies have investigated the associations between antihypertensive drugs and fracture risk as well as bone mineral density (BMD), but yielding controversial results. Methods In this study, a comprehensive drug-target Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to systematically examine the associations between genetic proxies for eight common antihypertensive drugs and three bone health-related traits (fracture, total body BMD [TB-BMD], and estimated heel BMD [eBMD]). The main analysis used the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method to estimate the causal effect. Multiple MR methods were also employed to test the robustness of the results. Results The genetic proxies for angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) were associated with a reduced risk of fracture (odds ratio [OR] = 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.54 to 0.84; P = 4.42 × 10-4; P-adjusted = 0.004), higher TB-BMD (β = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.61; P = 0.005; P-adjusted = 0.022), and higher eBMD (β = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.38; P = 3.59 × 10-12; P-adjusted = 6.55 × 10-11). Meanwhile, genetic proxies for calcium channel blockers (CCBs) were associated with an increased risk of fracture (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.12; P = 0.002; P-adjusted = 0.013). Genetic proxies for potassium sparing diuretics (PSDs) showed negative associations with TB-BMD (β = -0.61, 95% CI: -0.88 to -0.33; P = 1.55 × 10-5; P-adjusted = 1.86 × 10-4). Genetic proxies for thiazide diuretics had positive associations with eBMD (β = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.18; P = 0.006; P-adjusted = 0.022). No significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy was identified. The results were consistent across different MR methods. Conclusions These findings suggest that genetic proxies for ARBs and thiazide diuretics may have a protective effect on bone health, while genetic proxies for CCBs and PSDs may have a negative effect.


The ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of exo-N-methyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]-hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboximide (1) was accomplished in aqueous solution under mild conditions using the simple ruthenium(II) coordination complex Ru^(II)(H_2O)_6(tos)_2 (tos = p-toluenesulfonate) (2). The polymerization yield was nearly quantitative. The resultant high molecular weight polymer (poly-1) exhibited a glass transition temperature (T_g) of 225 °C and was thermally stable up to 402 °C. The thermal and radiative stabilities of poly-1 were further investigated. Poly-1 was hydrogenated to yield its saturated analogue, which had a lower T_g (170 °C) but a higher temperature of decomposition (430 °C). Complex 2 was deactivated by coordination of free maleimides formed during the polymerization of carboximide-functionalized monomers capable of undergoing retro Diels-Alder chemistry. The scope of this polymerization was therefore limited to carboximide-functionalized monomers that are stable toward retro Diels-Alder reactions at the polymerization temperature. Both ruthenium (II)-1 and ruthenium(II)-N-methylmaleimide olefin complexes were identified.


In order to simulate radiation transport, various algorithms, codes, and programs have been developed. In this study Monte Carlo N-particle code is used to simulate a medical electron linear accelerator gantry for research purposes. Detailed geometry of the LINAC head and water phantom are modeled and simulated for calculations. Analyses are made for filtered and flattening filter-free (FFF) systems. Percent depth dose and dose profile measurements are calculated with Monte Carlo simulations and compared with experimental and theoretical values for quality assurance of the model. Flux, dose, and spectrum analyses are performed for filtered and FFF systems separately. In this study, it was aimed to run the linear accelerator in a computer environment for different purposes, and this aim was achieved.


1. Two polysaccharides were isolated from the interstitial matrix surrounding the photoreceptor cells of cattle retina. They were liberated from this region of the tissue in a soluble form after agitation of whole retinas in 0.9% sodium chloride. One, which comprises two-thirds of the polysaccharides present, is a hyaluronidase-sensitive ;half-sulphated' chondroitin sulphate containing uronic acid, galactosamine and sulphate in the molar proportions 1.27:1.0:0.54. The other is a hyaluronidase-resistant non-sulphated heteropolysaccharide for which the name sialoglycan is proposed. It contains galactose, glucosamine and sialic acid in the molar proportions 2.4:1.0:0.4. Both polysaccharides contain only small amounts of nitrogen in excess of the amount calculated from their amino sugar and sialic acid content. 2. A similar combination of mucopolysaccharides is associated with the pigment epithelial-cell layer but in quantities only one-fifth of those present in the adjacent matrix area. 3. The ease with which they are released into aqueous media is consistent with the assumption that they are present in the extracellular spaces in both of these tissue layers. 4. The retinal residue left after removal of the two soluble polysaccharides is rich in amino sugar- and sialic acid-containing polymers, which appear to be firmly bound to the tissue fragments. 5. About one-third of the sialic acid and one-tenth of the amino sugar could be extracted with chloroform-methanol. The components in this fraction were tentatively identified as gangliosides. 6. Digestion of the chloroform-methanol-insoluble residue with Pronase yielded as the principal product a heteropolysaccharide containing 16.5% of glucosamine, 24.3% of neutral sugar (galactose plus fucose) and 18.1% of sialic acid. This substance has been classified as a sialoglycan of composition similar to (but not identical with) that of the soluble one isolated from the matrix area of the tissue.


Background: Atherosclerosis still remains as the major cause of death and premature disability in developed societies. Insulin resistance is a central pathogenesis feature of prediabetes, the incidence of which is rising substantially. The principal cause of end organ damage in prediabetes is premature cardiovascular atherosclerosis.

Objectives: To assess the atherosclerosis in prediabetes.

Materials and Methods: Patients who were nondiabetic of age group between 18 and 50 years were screened for fasting blood sugar, post-prandial blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, after obtaining informed consent and were divided to study group and control group according to inclusion criteria.

Results: In this study, abnormal carotid intimal media thickness (CIMT) was observed in 7 (17.1%), out of 41 pre-diabetic patients. This difference in CIMT findings between two groups was statistically significant. Prediabetics are at 8 times higher risk of developing abnormal CIMT than nondiabetics. Abnormal CIMT was associated with greater body mass index, waist-hip ratio, low high-density lipoprotein, high triglycerides, and abnormal ABI.

Conclusion: Prediabetes was associated with higher risk of developing subclinical atherosclerosis when compared to non-diabetic patients. Lifestyle modification should be adopted to prevent the conversion of prediabetes into Type 2 diabetes mellitus and thus prevention of its complication.


In the 19th Century, Francis Galton (the "father of eugenics") made a case for framing British policy on Africa in terms of the replacement of Africans by the Chinese on the African continent. Many years down the road, the relationship between Africa and China has taken the form of expanded trade and economic relations, seeing a huge inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the direction of African states. This paper argues that it is important that businesses carried out as a consequence of this relationship adhere to standards of accountability, sustainability and responsibility, which are imperative for meaningful development on the African continent.
Framing the Sino-African economic relations in the context of sustainable development and corporate accountability demands a benchmark, and the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) is adopted in this paper as that benchmark.
The paper goes on to conclude that while Sino-African BIT engagements do not show any clear exploitative agenda, it is necessary that Chinese investments on the continent take human rights considerations into account. This is because, absent these considerations, there may well be no real incentive for Chinese businesses to be accountable or to act responsibly in the host African states.


The present research was designed to test the hypothesis that individual differences in organizational memory strategies are associated with formal and non-formal status as defined by Fiaget. It was predicted that (a) both formal and non-formal adolescents would employ organizational strategies but that differences would occur in the efficiency with which the strategy was used and (b) if organization were induced, the non-formal adolescent would profit. Six Piagetian tasks were used to identify seven boys and seven girls who are formal-operational and seven boys and seven girls who are not formal-operational. The subjects were selected from a pool of 15- year-old, ninth-grade adolescents with Lorge-Thorndike scores over 115. After the subjects received the Piagetian tasks, they were given a sixtrial free recall of unrelated words task. In a second session, subjects were administered a six-trial free recall of categorized words task. The categorized words task was followed by a metamemory inventory in which the children described their approaches to real-world situations, involving memory of such items as locker combinations, material for tests, and items to buy in a grocery store. In a third session, subjects received a sort-to-criterion task, in which they sorted a set of words into as many piles as they wished. After they achieved the criterion of two identical sorts, they were asked to recall the words. The adolescents then answered metamemory questions concerning the strategies which they had used in the memory tasks.


Human development is a key to the success of social and economic development of a country. Human development is not only to boost incomes, but also to enhance human choices such human rights, freedoms, capabilities and opportunities and to enable people to lead long, healthy and creative lives. The United Nations developed the concept of human development index (HDI) to assess human well-being of the broader perspective, going beyond income. Eight countries in the research samples showed variations in human development in 2014. Japan joined the group of countries that have a very high human development; Sri Lanka and Thailand have a high human development; Vietnam, Bhutan, Lao People's Democratic Republic and Cambodia have medium human development; and Myanmar has low human development. This study aims to examine four determinants of human development index in the eight countries where the majority of these countries are Buddhists, such as the gross domestic product per capita, inflation, life expectancy at birth and fertility rate. The study period was from 2010 to 2014. The writer used panel regression of a random effect model. The result of the study showed that the four explanatory variables were proven to significantly affect the human development index in countries whose majority are Buddhists. The variables of life expectancy at birth and gross domestic per capita had positive signs, while the variables of inflation and the fertility rate had negative signs. The study implied that the it is important to take into account all explanatory variables in improving human development index in these countries.


Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and refractory autoimmune joint disease that affects multiple organs. Several methods have been applied for the study of microvascular endothelial dysfunction, which is considered an important component of vascular disease in RA. Implementation of nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) represents a viable choice, as the skin is an easily accessible window for the non-invasive, real-time assessment of subtle microcirculation abnormalities. Although NVC is routinely used in the rheumatology field, especially for the diagnostic workout of Raynaud's phenomenon, accumulating evidence suggests a role in the evaluation of systemic vasculopathy associated with autoimmune rheumatic disorders. The current paper aims to provide an overview of NVC as a valuable clinical aid for the assessment of peripheral microcirculation in RA. Previous studies characterizing the capillaroscopic pattern in RA are summarized, along with associations with disease-related characteristics. Most available reports have mainly focused on the descriptions of non-specific morphological alterations that may reflect endothelial injury over the course of the disease. Still, the exact pattern of structural and functional capillaroscopic alterations and their clinical significance in RA remains a subject of ongoing research.


The paper presents outcomes and perspectives of the research on the development of will and self-regulation in childhood. The authors implement an interdisciplinary approach that combines psychological, pedagogical, physiological, and neurophysiological exploration of the problem. Will and self-regulation are considered not only as the phenomena of different phenomenology, but also as differing in their genesis. Priority is given to the line of will development associated with the formation of internal movements, corporeality, individuality. It is on this path that self-regulation of behavior is successfully formed. 'Premature self-regulation', on the contrary, makes it difficult for free will to develop. At the focus of the interdisciplinary research is the pedagogical technology "School for Developing Individuality" ("Rostok"), which is currently being implemented at an experimental site in Novosibirsk. The psychological views of the authors are in the mainstream of the cultural-historical tradition founded by L.S. Vygotsky, the approaches to the problem of will and self-regulation development of L.I. Bozhovich, A.V. Zaporozhets, A.N. Leontiev. The article, on the one hand, summarizes the results of the many years of work, and on the other hand, outlines the prospects that are associated, in particular, with the continuation of neurophysiological studies carried out on the experimental site. Even the first results obtained make it possible not only to capture objectively the various developmental mechanisms in children learning by different pedagogical technologies, but also to identify new neurophysiological phenomena and to reveal the psychological background of neurophysiological phenomena that have been discovered recently and are still mysterious for science, for example, the default mode network.


Lately, place identity and meaning of a place become important issue in environment psychology, architecture, urban planning and urban design. Change and loss of physical characteristic from urban development that exponential developing has caused lost of valuable physical element and replaced with other elements that do not give meaning to people. Hence, places that have significant value need to be preserved and taking care so that people interaction that existed can be maintained. In addition, there is no approach in considering local resident's opinion to change on their preferred place would affect on meaning and place attachment. People experience on place play important role that is important in this study. Therefore, this study considered two physical elements that are important especially in historic town which are municipal market and bazaar in forming bond with the people. Questionnaires and interviews were being conducted on residents of Kampung Jawa with 30 respondents involved in questionnaires and 12 participants involved in interviews session. The results from the survey questionnaire were analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Product and Services Solutions) version 16 and for interview were analyzed using content analysis. The result from studies on place concept and place attachment shows (a) municipal market and bazaar is physical element; (b) physical properties and social attributes that exist; (c) municipal market and bazaar as public place; and (d) change on municipal market and bazaar change the image of Kampung Jawa. This study shows residents have developed deep attachment to municipal market and bazaar, however, change and loss of physical character are factors that caused placelessness in Kampung Jawa. This study also shows that residents want a new market to replace municipal market that was demolished because they have greater place attachment towards this element. Hence, this study gives opportunity to architects, landscape architects and planners in creating better place in take into account relationship between people with a place.


This article argues that in order to understand how international human rights agreements (HRAs) work, scholars need to turn their attention to rights that are not definitional to democracy. When rights practices diverge from treaty rules, but the domestic enforcement mechanisms that give such agreements their bite are robust, how do governments behave? The study explores this question by examining a core treaty that prohibits child labor. When domestic enforcement is likely, states where many children work are often deterred from ratifying. Nevertheless, those that do ratify experience significant child labor improvements. By contrast, in non-democracies, ratification is a promise that is easily made but seldom kept.


Introduction: Anti-tuberculosis drugs can cause adverse reactions including hepatitis and skin reactions. This case control study was aimed at fi nding out whether allergy to drug or food acts as a risk factor for the development of anti-tuberculosis drug induced hepatitis or skin reactions. Patients with tuberculosis on category 1 regimen, who presented to the Teaching Hospital Kandy Sri Lanka, due to anti-tuberculosis drug induced hepatitis or skin reactions from 1st July 2010 to 30th June 2011 were recruited. Methodology: Patients with drug induced hepatitis or skin reactions were grouped as cases and patients who didn't develop hepatitis or skin reactions during the treatment period were selected as controls. Controls were matched for age, gender, weight, and consumption of alcohol. Cases and controls were inquired for the presence of allergy to drugs or food. Two groups were compared using odds ratio. Results: There were 61 cases [33 (54.1%) males, 28 (45.9%) females] and 61 controls .Ten patients (16.39%) among the cases had allergy to food or drugs while in control group only 2 (03.2%) had allergy. Odds ratio for the development of drug reactions in patients with a history of allergy was 5.8 (confi dence interval 1.2 to 27.6). Conclusion: Patients with allergy to drugs or foods have 5.8 times risk of developing anti-tuberculosis drug induced hepatitis or skin reaction. SAARC Journal of Tuberculosis, Lung Diseases & HIV/AIDS; 2013; X(2); 48-53 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/saarctb.v10i2.9714


ABSTRACT This paper examines the home ranges and seasonal movements of eight GPS-collared elephants (two females and six males) in the northwestern Kunene region of Namibia. Minimum convex polygon (MCP) and the fixed kernel density estimation (FKDE) methods were used to analyse home ranges. The collared elephants showed defined home and seasonal ranges. In the eastern section of the research area, the elephants generally had smaller home ranges that were at their least during the hot and cold dry seasons, expanding during the wet season. In the western areas, the elephants moved between the Hoanib and Hoarusib Rivers in response to available vegetation that did not necessarily correspond to rainfall. The length of movement of collared elephants varied from 54.5 to 473 km in the eastern section of the research area to between 251 to 625 km in the west, over periods of up to five months.


Instrumented treadmills and perturbations of the treadmill are commonly used for gait analysis and can provide real time biomechanical information and feedback of gait patterns and abnormalities. Force plates in the treadmill are combined with motion capture data and fed into a musculoskeletal model. High accuracy of the force plates is needed to give reliable feedback for gait analysis. The accuracy still needs to be tested under dynamic conditions, with the belt running. Also, inertial and gravitational forces are measured during perturbations as a result of the rotation and translation of the platform in which the force plates are positioned. This results in an error in the forces and moments as measured by the force plates, which is added up to the forces exerted by a subject. Inertia compensation models have been developed and showed promising results but have not been validated extensively. This study aimed to optimize and validate an inertia compensation model for perturbations on instrumented treadmills and validate the force measurements under dynamic conditions. It was shown that the treadmill can accurately measure the center of pressure (error = 1-6 mm), forces (error = 1-7 N) and moments (error = 0.5-4 Nm). A new calibration trial was found with higher sway accelerations which improved the inertia compensation model and left residuals forces and moments below 2 N(m). Moreover, it showed that using this inertia compensation model for pitch and sway trials led to a reduction of the kinetic residuals of up to 96% and values close to baseline measurements.


Efficient voice leading, in which melodic lines move by short distances from chord to chord, is a hallmark of many different Western musical styles. Although musicians can often find maximally efficient voice leadings with relative ease, theorists have not adequately described general principles or procedures for doing so. This article formalises the notion of voice leading, shows how to classify voice leadings according to transpositional and inversional equivalence and supplies algorithms for identifying maximally efficient voice leadings between arbitrarily chosen chords. The article also includes analytical and theoretical discussions of neo-Riemannian theory, the 'tritone substitution' in contemporary jazz, the music of Wagner and Debussy, the relation between harmony and counterpoint and the connections between scale theory and serial theory.


The immunogold-silver staining (IGSS) technique in combination with epi-fluorescence detection was used to localise cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) particles within banana infected tissues. For this purpose, tissue samples (2 mm3) were excised from CMV-infected and highly proliferating meristem cultures of Williams BSJ banana (ITC. 0570, AAA, Cavendish subgroup). These samples were immediately fixed in a 2% paraformaldehyde/0.25% glutaraldehyde mixture, dehydrated in ethanol, and finally embedded in L.R. White resin. Semi-thin sections were cut, mounted on clean treated glass slides and immunostained for CMV particles using gold-labelled secondary antibodies and silver enhancement. Sections were counterstained with basic fuchsin and examined using laser scanning confocal microscopy. Negative controls included immuno-stained samples excised from non-virus infected material as well as infected material on which primary or secondary antibodies were not applied. Images of autofluorescence (in red) and of epi-reflectance of silver-enhanced immunogold particles (in green) were recorded separately and merged, allowing the specific localisation of CMV particles at the cellular level on semi-thin sections of aldehyde-fixed banana tissues. The main advantage of this analytical approach compared to previously published protocols is that it combines a fast staining procedure, stable preparation, a high resolution, and a narrow plane of focus with the flexibility in generation, processing and analysis of images offered by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Finally, the presence of numerous CMV particles within banana meristems constitutes a clear explanation of the very low CMV elimination efficiency when using meristem-tip culture alone.


Microspherophakia is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by an abnormally small and spherical crystalline lens, which can be associated with several systemic syndromes. We present an extremely rare case of bilateral anteriorly displaced microspherophakia in a female child with Marfanoid habitus. The patient displayed phenotypic features resembling Marfan syndrome, including tall stature, muscle hypotonia, dolichostenomelia, and increased arm span than body length. However, unlike Marfan syndrome, Marfanoid habitus is not associated with mutations in the fibrillin-1 gene. The association between microspherophakia and Marfanoid habitus is a unique presentation that has not been reported in the literature. This case report aims to increase awareness of microspherophakia as a possible ocular association of Marfanoid habitus.


The clinical evaluation and the results of oral glucose tolerance tests in patients with alimentary hypoglycemia, reported previously or studied as part of our group of 24 patients with this disorder, suggest that alimentary hypoglycemia may differ from other reactive hypoglycemias in clinical presentation and importance. Unlike other reactive hypoglycemias, alimentary hypoglycemia may be associated with severe or permanent neuropsychiatric complications. Subtle, "neuroglycopenic" symptoms of hypoglycemia may occur, instead of "typical," "adrenergic" symptoms. Glucose ingestion, by causing early hyperglycemia and provoking the release of insulinotropic enteric hormones appears responsible for this disorder. Therefore, therapy with diets low in simple sugar, but unrestricted in complex carbohydrate and fiber are now advocated.


Background: Academic stress is a common problem among medical students, and the COVID-19 health crisis lockdown further worsened it. High academic stress has a negative impact on students learning and overall performance. Objective: To assess perceived academic stress, causes, and coping strategies among undergraduate pharmacy students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate pharmacy students at the University of Khartoum. Data were collected from randomly selected participants using three validated self-administered questionnaires; perceived stress scale, study habits inventory, and mental health inventory. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, and descriptive statistics and chi-square were employed. Results: The response rate in our study was 99.6% (251/252). About 87% of the participants were females. The majority of participants (92%) experience academic stress, with a mean score (24.99 ± 5.159), the level of academic stress ranging from low (4.3%), moderate (73.2%), to high (22.5%). Approximately 80% of the percipients reported academic stress during all exam times with a mean score (25.33 ± 4.976). The level of academic stress was significantly associated with participants' gender (P-value: 0.042), and living conditions (P-value: 0.001). The most common factors that were significantly associated with academic stress were difficulty in remembering all that is studied (66.7%, P=0.006) and worrying about the exams (54.1%, P=0.011). Moreover, the most frequent strategies used to cope with academic stress were praying (84.4%) and maintaining some control over the situation (61.9%). Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of academic stress among percipients. Academic counseling, monitoring of mental status, and implementation of stress reduction programs are highly recommended.


This study reports the characterization of a cis-acting locus on the Caenorhabditis elegans X chromosome that is crucial for promoting normal levels of crossing over specifically between the X homologs and for ensuring their proper disjunction at meiosis I. The function of this locus is disrupted by the mutation me8, which maps to the extreme left end of the X chromosome within the region previously implicated by studies of X; A translocations and X duplications to contain a meiotic pairing site. Hermaphrodites homozygous for a deletion of the locus (Df/Df) or heterozygous for a deletion and the me8 mutation (me8/Df) exhibit extremely high level of X chromosome nondisjunction at the reductional division; this is correlated with a sharp decrease in crossing over between the X homologs as evidenced both by reductions in genetic map distances and by the presence of achiasmate chromosomes in cytological preparations of oocyte nuclei. Duplications of the wild-type region that are unlinked to the X chromosome cannot complement the recombination and disjunction defects in trans, indicating that this region must be present in cis to the X chromosome to ensure normal levels of crossing over and proper homolog disjunction. me8 homozygotes exhibit an altered distribution of crossovers along the X chromosome that suggests a defect in processivity along the X chromosome of an event that initiates at the chromosome end. Models are discussed in which the cis-acting locus deleted by the Dfs functions as a meiotic pairing center that recruits trans-acting factors onto the chromosomes to nucleate assembly of a crossover-competent complex between the X homologs. This pairing center might function in the process of homolog recognition, or in the initiation of homologous synapsis.


We need to re-evaluate the use of Category II since this contradicts the principle of adding a single drug to a failing regimen.We did a retrospective chart review of patients who received category II from December 2006 until December 2009. The objective was to determined the incidence of MDR-TB among patients who received category II regimen. There were 363 patients who received category II treatment 16 (4.4%) patients had mono-resistance, 14 (3.9%) patients had Polyresistance, 129 (35.5%) were MDR-TB. 152 (41.9%) were culture negative and 52 (14.3%) were culture positive but fully susceptible. Of the 129 patients who developed MDR-TB, 58 (45%) belonged to the Category I failure group, 46 (33.3%) belonged to the Relapse group and 25 (27.5%) belonged to the RAD group. The incidence of MDR-TB among patients who received category II treatment from was 35.5%. Of these, the highest was among Category I failure at 45%, followed by Relapse 35.6% and RAD at 19.4%. We recommend that patients with category I failure should no longer receive category II treatment. Instead, MDR-TB screening should be done and standardized treatment for MDR-TB should be started. As for RAD, and Relapse, MDR-TB screening should also be done and we need to carefully re-evaluate the use of Category II treatment regimen.


The extent and patterns of genetic diversity in landraces of tetraploid wheat germplasm collected from major wheat-producing regions of Ethiopia were assessed with the use of agromorphological,phenol-qualitative traits, grain proteins and molecular markers. The extent of genetic erosion of landraces in tetraploid wheat germplasm from Ethiopia was also evaluated.

Field evaluation of agro-morphological characters and laboratory analysis of grain proteins and molecular markers (ISSR) revealed the presence of broad genetic variation among accessions grown in different regions of Ethiopia. Based on the agro-morphological traits, all accessions included in the study were clustered into 15 clusters, with nine accessions remaining solitary. The first 5, 4 and 3 principal component analyses were involved in explaining most of the variation between region of origin, species and altitudinal classes, respectively. Biomass yield per plot, nature of awn, days to heading, lower glume shoulder width, kernel (seed) colour and stand count at emergence were consistently important in explaining the variation in all
accessions studied across region of origin, species and altitude class. Of the phenologic and qualitative traits evaluated in all accessions across the region of origin, the highest Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H′) was mainly due to plant height, a major agronomic character in
durum wheat, except for landraces from Arsi and Bale, where it was due to awn colour.

Characterisation of Ethiopian tetraploid wheat germplasm for glutenin sub-unit composition resulted in identification of novel alleles at the Glu-1 locus. About 39% of the durum wheat studied contained Glu-A1x sub-units, which are rare in other durum wheats.Although there is monomorphism in a number of accessions for gliadin and glutenin subunits, in this study the B genome was found to be more polymorphic than the A genome.

Analysis of DNA polymorphism with ISSR primers produced 128 polymorphic bands and allowed a separation of 60 accessions of tetraploid wheat genotypes. The Nei genetic distance
for all accessions varied from 0.0090 to 0.8574 and that for region of origin from 0.045 to 0.138. Molecular characterisation of four species of Triticum using ISSR revealed that these species were clearly separated, with T. durum being the most diverse, followed by T. turgidum,
T. aethiopicum and T. dicoccon in that order. Triticum durum was more closely related to T.turgidum than to the other species.

The broad diversity in tetraploid Ethiopian wheat germplasm demonstrated here can be utilised in genetic improvement of the crop through selection and hybridisation. However, this
broad genetic diversity is being threatened by genetic erosion. For conservation and practical application reasons, it is necessary to embark on more comprehensive and systematic germplasm collection from all over Ethiopia, with ex situ conservation and appropriate in situ
conservation at the site of origin of landraces. This would also help to prevent genetic erosion arising from landraces being replaced by improved varieties of hexaploid and/or tetraploid wheat.


This paper presents a compound electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) technique for frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radars to counter electronic countermeasure (ECM) techniques such as coherent spoofing, non-coherent spoofing, and digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) jamming. The proposed technique is based on phase coding in slow time and checking the initial phase of the baseband return signal. A measurement setup was built and operated between 4.3-4.5 GHz for experimental validation. An RF cable of length 12 m was used to emulate the target. The experimental results were analyzed using MATLAB to demonstrate the effectiveness of the ECCM technique in different jamming scenarios. The results indicate that the proposed ECCM technique using phase coding can provide a satisfactory performance in different jamming scenarios. The proposed ECCM technique offers several advantages over existing methods. First, the technique does not entail any frequency bin changes in slow time period, thereby conferring processing benefits. Second, it poses challenges to jammer system in terms of predicting the initial phase of the beat signal. The proposed technique is expected to provide better protection against malicious attacks for FMCW radars.


Precursors of colorectal carcinoma are adenomatous polyps, sporadic or arising in familial adenomatous polyposis and Lynch syndrome and chronic inflammatory lesions related to ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The adenoma-carcinoma sequence is well established and early detection and removal of colorectal adenomas is thought to prevent colorectal cancer in high risk asymptomatic persons, i.e. subjects over 45 years, with personal or familial history of adenomas and colorectal cancers. The precancerous potential of adenomatous polyps varies according to tissue type, with increased risk with the extent of the villous component, high grade of dysplasia, large size greater than 1 cm and multiple adenomas. The development of de novo colorectal cancer from normal mucosa with flat adenomas has been recently emphasized. The risk of colonic cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease is controversed.


In this study, compared to the conventional wet synthesis method, microwave radiation enhanced the synthesis speed of silver (Ag) nanoparticles for electrode of silicon (Si)-based solar cells by over 1,000 times. Especially, contrary to previous studies, no catalyst was used for precipitation of the Ag nanoparticles. In addition, although the synthesis speed was increased, the sizes of Ag nanoparticles were increased by less than 10 nm, and they were well dispersed in an ink solvent system. The electrical resistance of a 200-nm-thick Ag-coated layer was about 28.5 µΩcm after heat treatment at 300 °C.


FS CMa type stars are a recently described group of objects with the B[e] phenomenon which exhibits strong emission-line spectra and strong IR excesses. In this paper, we report the first attempt for a detailed modeling of IRAS 00470+6429, for which we have the best set of observations. Our modeling is based on two key assumptions: the star has a main-sequence luminosity for its spectral type (B2) and the circumstellar (CS) envelope is bimodal, composed of a slowly outflowing disklike wind and a fast polar wind. Both outflows are assumed to be purely radial. We adopt a novel approach to describe the dust formation site in the wind that employs timescale arguments for grain condensation and a self-consistent solution for the dust destruction surface. With the above assumptions we were able to satisfactorily reproduce many observational properties of IRAS 00470+6429, including the H i line profiles and the overall shape of the spectral energy distribution. Our adopted recipe for dust formation proved successful in reproducing the correct amount of dust formed in the CS envelope. Possible shortcomings of our model, as well as suggestions for future improvements, are discussed.


A new syndrome was recently reported with the descriptive title of "painful legs and moving toes". The present paper describes five patients who developed this syndrome following minor trauma to the legs, which in three patients was attributable to surgery. Various mechanisms that may underlie this unusual combination of severe leg pain with involuntary movements of the toes are discussed, as is the role of previous injury. The possibility is considered that whilst the condition may be generated peripherally, a persistent abnormality of the central nervous system consequently develops.


Results of surveys for Trichinella sp. in several species of wildlife in Alberta suggest that infection is limited to wolves (Canis lupus) in northern areas of the province and maintained by a wolf/wolf transmission.


We examine the epoch of hydrogen reionization using a new numerical method that allows us to self-consistently couple all the relevant physical processes (gas dynamics, dark matter dynamics, self-gravity, star formation/ feedback, radiative transfer, ionization, recombination, heating and cooling) and evolve the system of coupled equations on the same high resolution mesh. We refer to this approach as direct numerical simulation, in contrast to existing approaches which decouple and coarse-grain the radiative transfer and ionization balance calculations relative to the underlying dynamical calculation. Our method is scalable with respect to the number of radiation sources, size of the mesh, and the number of computer processors employed, and is described in Chapter 2 of this thesis. This scalability permits us to simulate cosmological reionization in large cosmological volumes (~100 Mpc) while directly modeling the sources and sinks of ionizing radiation, including radiative feedback effects such as photoevaporation of gas from halos, Jeans smoothing of the IGM, and enhanced recombination due to small scale clumping. With our fiducial simulation, we find that roughly 2 ionizing photons per baryon is needed to highly ionize the intergalactic medium. The complicated events during reionization that lead to this number can be generally described as inside-out, but in reality the narrative depends on the level of ionization of the gas one defines as ionized. We have updated the formula observers often use for estimating the ionized volume filling fraction formula with a [delta]b and [Tau]rec,eff to get from [Omicron](10%) to [Omicron](1%) consistency with our simulation results. This improvement comes from not using the traditional clumping factor, but instead, considering the history and local effects which were neglected in formulating the original expression. And finally, we have a new upper limit for the escape fraction of ~0.6 from our simulation, which takes into account the photons in the energy density field and photons used to ionize H I


This paper presents the seismic hazard of the state of Uttarakhand in India, located at the foothills of the seismically active Himalayan mountain ranges. In the present study, an updated catalog of earthquakes has been prepared for Uttarakhand which was homogenized into a unified moment magnitude scale after declustering of the catalog to remove aftershocks and foreshocks. Various source zones were identified in the study area to account for local variability in seismicity characteristics. The seismicity parameters were estimated for each of these source zones, which are necessary inputs into seismic hazard estimation of a region. The seismic hazard evaluation of the region based on a state-of-the art PSHA study was performed using the classical Cornell–McGuire approach with different source models and attenuation relations. The most recent knowledge of seismic activity in the region was used to evaluate the hazard, incorporating uncertainty associated with different modeling parameters as well as spatial and temporal uncertainties. The PSHA was performed with currently available data and their best possible scientific interpretation using an appropriate instrument such as the logic tree to explicitly account for epistemic uncertainty by considering alternative models. The hazard maps were produced for horizontal ground motion at the bedrock level and an attempt was done to bring the hazard at surface level using appropriate amplification factors. The maximum PHA value at bedrock level for 10% Probability of exceedance (PE) in 50 years is 0.34g and same for 2% PE in 50 years is 0.54g.


BACKGROUND
To evaluate the outcome achieved by using Bangerter filters in cases of mild to moderate amblyopia associated to strabismus.

METHODS
Prospective study comprising 30 children (age range 2-9 years) with unilateral mild to moderate amblyopia associated to esotropia and hyperopia. All patients were treated by prescribing the use of a Bangerter filter in the non-amblyopic eye in combination with the refractive correction. In all cases, the filter selected induced a reduction of the visual acuity of 2 lines below the best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) of the amblyopic eye. A follow-up of 12 months was completed.

RESULTS
A statistically significant improvement in BSCVA was observed at 3 months in amblyopic eyes (p 0.01), with additional significant improvements at 6, 9 and 12 months (p 0.02). The BSCVA in non-amblyopic eyes remained unchanged during the initial 6 months of treatment (p 0.52), with a significant improvement at 9 months (p=0.03). Significant differences between amblyopic and fellow eyes were only detected at 3 months (p 0.01). Filter density had to be changed during the follow-up in 12 eyes (40%). Inverse significant correlations between baseline filter density and BSCVA were found at the end of the follow-up (r -0.35, p 0.01). A significant correlation of the visual acuity with the baseline visual acuity difference among eyes was only present at 3 months (r=-0.55, p 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS
Bangerter filters seem to be useful for treating mild or moderate amblyopia due to strabismus, but ocular dominance inversion should be maintained during treatment for obtaining an optimized outcome.


Debate continues regarding a possible marine influence during the middle–late Miocene in the Loja, Malacatos-Vilcabamba, and Catamayo-Gonzanama Basins (southern Ecuador). To shed light on this controversy, we present a detailed stratigraphic and micropaleontological (benthic foraminifers and ostracods) study of selected sections from these basins. The facies associations, together with the presence of several benthic foraminifer species from marginal marine and open-water environments and ostracod genera resistant to high salinity changes, verify marine water influence and sporadic marginal marine conditions in this area during certain periods of the middle–late Miocene. In addition, six new ostracod species are described: Heterocypris ballentae, Cyprideis lojaensis, Cyprideis petersonae, Cyprideis pachamama, Cyprideis tumi, and Cyprideis amaru.


Given that the General Equilibrium (GE) models such as GTAP are highly aggregated, it is difficult to capture the tariff and trade-flow variations at disaggregate levels in these models. On the other hand, Partial Equilibrium (PE) models, which can be used for analysis at disaggregate levels, deprive the researcher of the benefits of an economy-wide analysis, which are crucial to examine trade policy impacts. Therefore, a CGE framework that is nested with a Partial Equilibrium model is an ideal tool to carry out trade policy analysis at disaggregated levels. We develop a Partial Equilibrium model in this paper, using some CET and CES nests, market clearing conditions and price linkages and nest it within the standard GTAP model, calling it a PE-GE model. The primary advantage of this new work is that it is undertaken in conjunction with the standard GTAP model, thereby making it readily available to users of that model, along with all of the decomposition tools that have been developed for the standard model. . In particular, we extend the welfare decomposition of Huff and Hertel (2001) to this model in order to investigate the sources of welfare gain in this integrated, trade modeling framework. To illustrate the usefulness of this model, we examine the contentious issue of tariff-liberalization in Indian auto sector, using PE, GE and PE-GE models. Both the PE and the linked model show that the imports of Motorcycles and Automobiles change drastically with a unilateral and complete tariff-liberalization in the auto sector by India. While the PE and PE-GE models show strikingly diverse results across the sub-sectors of the Indian auto industry, which cannot be captured by the GE model, the PE model does a poor job predicting the overall size and price level in the industry, post-liberalization. Thus, we find that the linked model is superior to both PE and GE models.


Main objective of this work is to suggest some easy procedures to solve typical non-linear problems of analytical photogrammetry, which are also frequent in digital photogrammetry. In particular, we propose a two-steps procedure based on two phases: Relative Orientation and Absolute Orientation, both characterized by non-linear functions. It is firstly necessary to form the model, finding the solution of the Relative Orientation, and then to reconstruct the object considering the solution of the Absolute Orientation. Once validated the technique of orientation of two images, a procedure for the orientation of three images is proposed. In particular, the introduction of a third image allows avoiding human decision to find the final solution. In order to find an easy solution for three-image orientation, each model coming from two images of a triplet is analysed, computing the relative orientation bby using an exhaustive research of preliminary values of its parameters. This non-conventional approach supplies the orientation of two images, taking into account a priori information among four base solutions. Once each model is relatively registered, the absolute orientation is computed by using a linear parameterization. We did a comparison between the method of the three photogrammetric images and a method of Computer Vision.


Introduction: Up to 30% of individuals treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) during chronic HIV fail to recover CD4 counts to >500 cells/mm and up to 10% have quantifiable HIV RNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), termed CSF escape, despite plasma viral suppression < 50 copies/mL. Previous studies have shown that ART initiation in the earliest stage of identifiable infection, acute HIV infection (prior to antibody seroconversion), may limit viral reservoir establishment and systemic immune activation and may improve clinical outcomes. We investigated the frequency, associations, and outcomes of suboptimal CD4 recovery (Project 1) and CSF escape (Project 2) after ART started during acute HIV infection (AHI). Methods: Thai participants with laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of AHI (Fiebig stages I to V) were started immediately on ART and followed longitudinally with blood sampling, neuropsychological and neurobehavioral testing, and optional lumbar puncture. For Project 1, participants with ≥48 weeks of documented HIV RNA <50 copies/mL were stratified by CD4 count at latest study visit to suboptimal recovery (SR; CD4<350 cells/mm), intermediate recovery (IR; 350≤CD4<500), and complete recovery (CR; CD4≥500). To assess determinants of CD4 recovery, clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated at pre-ART baseline and latest study visit. Additional inflammatory and neurobehavioral endpoints were examined at baseline and 96 weeks. For Project 2, participants who underwent blood sampling and optional CSF sampling at weeks 24 and 96 were assessed for CSF escape. HIV RNA was quantified using Roche Amplicor and COBAS TaqMan assays with a lower limit of quantitation of 20-50 copies/mL in plasma and 80 copies/mL in CSF. Participants with quantifiable CSF HIV RNA greater than that in plasma during ART were identified as cases of CSF escape. Results, Project 1: Of 304 participants (96% male, median 26 years old) evaluated after median 144 (range 60-420) weeks of ART initiated at median 19 days (range 1-62) post-exposure, 3.6% (n=11) had SR, 14.5% (n=44) had IR, and 81.9% (n=249) had CR. Degree of CD4 recovery occurred early following ART. Timing of ART initiation by Fiebig stage did not affect CD4 count during treatment. Pre-ART CD4 count in SR compared to CR participants was 265 vs 411 cells/mm (p=0.002). Following ART, the CD8+ T cell count (p=0.001) and CD4/CD8 ratio (p=0.047) were lower in SR compared to CR participants. Compared to the CR group at week 96, the combined SR and IR groups had higher sCD14 (p=0.008) and lower IL-6 (p=0.04) in plasma, without differences in neuropsychological or psychiatric indices. After adjusting for duration of ART, baseline HIV-RNA, and baseline CD4 count, odds of CD4 recovery < 500 cells/mm were higher in those with baseline CD4/CD8 ratio < 1 (odds ratio 3.2, p=0.01), onART CD4/CD8 ratio < 1 (odds ratio 2.4, p=0.007), and on-ART CD8 count < 500 cells/mm (odds ratio 3.1, p=0.0005). Results, Project 2: 204 participants had paired blood and CSF sampling in at least one visit at baseline, week 24, or week 96. The participants were 98% male (199/204) with median age 26 years and baseline Fiebig stage 3 (96/204, 47%), CD4 count 386 cells/mm, and plasma HIV RNA 5.87 log10 copies/mL. ART was started at a median of 19 days post estimated infection. At baseline, 126/165 participants (76%) had quantifiable CSF HIV RNA (median 3.13 log10 copies/mL). At week 24 (n=90), two participants (2%) had quantifiable CSF HIV RNA, with one case of CSF escape identified with plasma HIV RNA < 50 copies/mL and CSF HIV RNA 2.50 log10 copies/mL. At week 96 (n=55), one participant (2%) had quantifiable CSF HIV RNA, which did not meet criteria for CSF escape. The two other cases of quantifiable CSF HIV RNA were due to plasma HIV RNA > CSF HIV RNA. The participant with CSF escape was treated with efavirenz, tenofovir, and lamivudine and had a CD4 count of 840 cells/mm and CSF WBC and CSF protein of 4 cells/mm and 30 mg/dL. His MRI at week 24 showed a small nonspecific T2/FLAIR hyperintense focus in the right high frontal white matter. He did not have a lumbar puncture performed at baseline nor at subsequent visits. Conclusions: Despite immediate and sustained treatment in AHI, suboptimal CD4 recovery is observed in rare individuals, associated with low pre-ART CD4 count as well as persistent low CD8 count and CD4/CD8 ratio during treatment. While levels of CSF HIV RNA in untreated AHI are high, initiating treatment during AHI results in a very low rate of CSF escape in the first two years of ART. The low rate of CSF escape may also be impacted by high levels of adherence to ART in this cohort or the short duration of ART. Longitudinal monitoring will be required to verify if CSF escape remains rare under long-term ART in early treated individuals.


The combination of conciliation with arbitration may offer parties the advantages that are enjoyed under both procedures. The Chinese approach to this combination is highly flexible. It favors the amicable settlement of disputes and at the same time offers the potential advantage of a consent award that is legally enforceable, where parties successfully resolve their dispute through conciliation. The Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China and the Arbitration Rules of the respective arbitration institutions embrace this approach with explicit provisions.


Brucellosis is a zoonosis that may affect almost any organ, notably the musculo-skeletal, cardiovascular and central nervous systems, sometimes with serious complications. Osteoarticular involvement is the most common complication of brucellosis. However, it can be difficult to diagnose it due to its nonspecific manifestations in musculoskeletal system. The painful limitation of movement may be the only articular sign in the involvement of the joint in Brucellosis. In this study we described a child with hip involvement of brucellosis who did not have any other systemic symptoms of brucellosis. It is suggested that brucellosis should be considered for those patients who have live in endemic regions. (Rheumatism 2007; 22: 40-2)


Agrictulture is the science and art of cultivating land, raising crops, and feeding, breeding and raising livestock. Subject Encyclopedias, dictionaries, and loan books


The ability to accurately estimate herbicide efficacy is critical for any decision-support system used in weed management. Recent efforts by weed scientists in the North Central United States to adopt WeedSOFT across a broad region have resulted in a number of regional research projects designed to assess and improve the predictive capability of WeedSOFT. Field studies were conducted from 2000 to 2002 in Nebraska, Missouri, and Illinois to evaluate herbicide-efficacy predictions made by WeedSOFT in two corn-row spacings. Following crop and weed emergence, input variables, such as weed densities and heights, were entered into WeedSOFT to generate a list of treatments ranked by predicted crop yields. The five treatments evaluated included those predicting highest crop-yield potential (recommended control treatment 1), a 10% yield reduction, a 20% yield reduction, a 10% yield reduction plus cultivation, and cultivation alone. These treatments were applied to corn grown in 38- and 76-cm rows. Generally, treatments applied in 38-cm rows had more accurate herbicide-efficacy predictions compared with 76-cm rows. WeedSOFT provided better control predictions for broadleaf than grass species. WeedSOFT provided excellent herbicide-efficacy predictions for the highest crop-yield potential, which indicates a good potential for practical use of this software for herbicide recommendations. Nomenclature: Pennsylvania smartweed, Polygonum pensylvanicum L. POLPY, Corn, Zea mays L


Promising developments are currently ongoing worldwide in the field of neuroprosthetics and artificial limb control. It is now possible to chronically connect a robotic limb to bone, nerves and muscles of a human being, and use the signals sourced from these connections to enable movements in the artificial limb. It is also possible to surgically redirect a nerve, deprived from its original target muscle due to amputation, to a new target in order to restore the original motor functionality. Intelligent signal processing algorithms can now utilize the bioelectric signals gathered from remaining muscles on the stump to decode the motor intention of the amputee, providing an intuitive control interface. Unfortunately for patients, clinical implementations still lag behind the advancements of research, and the conventional solutions for amputees remained basically unchanged since decades. More efforts are therefore needed from researchers to close the gap between scientific publications and hospital practices. The ultimate focus of this thesis is set on the intuitive control of a prosthetic upper limb. It was developed an embedded system capable of prosthetic control via the processing of bioelectric signals and pattern recognition algorithms. It includes a neurostimulator to provide direct neural feedback modulated by sensory information from artificial sensors. The system was designed towards clinical implementation and its functionality was proven by amputee subjects in daily life. It also constitutes a research platform to monitor prosthesis usage and training, machine learning based control algorithms, and neural stimulation paradigms.


Quantitative electroencephalography is a primary measurement by which dysfunctional conditions can be inferred and characterized within the human cerebrum. There is an implicit assumption that anomalous spatial-temporal configurations over the surface of a patient's scalp are strongly correlated with altered cognitive behaviors or that both share a common source of variance. In this experiment a 30 year old male university student who had been diagnosed with toxic encephalopathy six years previously and who exhibited compromised concentration, focus and processing efficiency was exposed for 30 min once per week for 6 weeks to the magnetic field equivalents of another person's normal quantitative EEG patterns that had been recorded from each of 16 sensors. The specific magnetic field equivalents from each sensor had been reapplied through each of 16 solenoids placed in the same position over the patient's scalp. Within two sessions there was visually conspicuous normalization of the patient's EEG, marked reduction in the d.c. transients correlated with his distraction, and increased proficiency for scholastic performance. These results strongly suggest that applying precise spatially distributed magnetic field equivalents matched for each EEG sensor through solenoids with microTesla intensities may be able to normalize aberrant electrophysiological activity and to improve cognitive deficits. The positive changes were clearly evident according to the subject's subjective and objective performance. The calculated energy and secondary current induction from naturally patterned (EEG) magnetic fields to a global array of World Scientific News 58 (2016) 15-33 -16solenoids were within the range that might optimally resonate with intrinsic electromagnetic properties of cerebral cortical tissue and its unifying field.


An efficient synthesis of pyrroles and indoles has been developed via three-component ordered annulation of amines, ketones, and nitrovinylarenes. The reaction selectivity can be well controlled under metal-free conditions to afford the corresponding heterocyclic products in good yields.


The Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Forestry for the period of 2010-2014 has mandated the revitalization of 12 national parks to become Public Service Agencies.  It would allow national parks to be self-financed.  Unfortunately, efforts which have been made have not shown an encouraging progress yet.  T his research aims : (1) to identify the elaboration of main tasks and functions of national park , (2) to analyze the accuracy of the implementation of the Public Service Agency to the national park management, and (3) to formulate implications for the implementation of Public Service Agency to the Sustainable Self Financed National Parks management . The result shows that the elaboration of 8 out of 10 main tasks and functions of national park provide goods and services to the public and its performance can be promoted through Public Service Agency, while the other 2 are identified as government liabilities. The implementation of Public Service Agency models for Self-Financed National Park Manegement both at KNPO dan BTS NGPO meets the requirement substantially and technically. Furthermore, the KNPO Cost Benefit Ratio projection of 6 main tasks and functions for the coming 5 years shows the feasibility.  It can be concluded that national park can be self-financed through the implementation of Public Service Agency scheme. Therefore, it is suggested that in order to implement self-financed national park through Public Service Agency scheme, business development must be included as one of the main tasks and functions and its organization structure and management must be adjusted. Keywords: self-financed national park, public service agency, bromo tengger semeru national park, komodo national park


Aequorin is a photoprotein which emits light in response to changes in free calcium concentration. When aequorin was microinjected into plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum, light emission varied in synchrony with the motile oscillations of the organisms. Therefore, movement is correlated which changes in the concentration of free calcium.


Tuberculous meningitis is a very rare, but serious extrapulmonary complication of mycobacterial infections in immunocompromised patients, such as organ transplant recipients. We describe here a 66-year-old Turkish woman without any history of tuberculosis, who received a renal allograft transplant in 1994. After a pilgrimage to an endemic area for tuberculosis, she presented with fever and headache in August 1998. Clinical examination revealed positive meningism and hyperreflexia. Lymphocytosis was noted in her cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection was detected by PCR within the CSF. Despite immediate triple antituberculosis therapy, the patient's clinical condition deteriorated rapidly, with the development of septic shock syndrome, and she died three weeks after admission due to cardiovascular and respiratory failure. Mycobacterial infections, including extrapulmonary manifestations, should thus be considered in all renal transplant recipients presenting with unexplained fever. Preventive therapy, i.e. isoniazid prophylaxis, may also be recommended for patients risking exposure in areas endemic for tuberculosis.


In this book, Robin Hackett examines portrayals of race, class, and sexuality in modernist texts by white women to argue for the existence of a literary device that she calls "Sapphic primitivism." The works vary widely in their form and content and include Olive Schreiner's proto-modernist exploration of New Womanhood, The Story of an African Farm; Virginia Woolf's high modernist "play-poem, " The Waves; Sylvia Townsend Warner's historical novel, Summer Will Show; and Willa Cather's Southern pastoral, Sapphira and the Slave Girl. In each, blackness and working-class culture are figured to represent sexual autonomy, including lesbianism, for white women. Sapphic primitivism exposes the ways several classes of identification were intertwined with the development of homosexual identities at the turn of the century. Sapphic primitivism is not, however, a means of disguising lesbian content. Rather, it is an aesthetic displacement device that simultaneously exposes lesbianism and exploits modern, primitivist modes of self-representation. Hackett's revelations of the mutual interests of those who study early twentieth-century constructions of race and sexuality and twenty-first-century feminists doing anti-racist and queer work are a major contribution to literary studies and identity theory.


Injury and death rates of youth on farms in the United States are particularly high. Operating a tractor on the farm is one of the most basic, yet extremely risky practices. Machinery (tractors) is the leading cause of fatal farm-related injuries to youth less than 20 years of age. Purpose of the current study was to explore factors that increase the risk of youth practicing unsafe tractor-related behaviours on the farm. This paper presents preliminary data from a youth farm injury prevention research study funded by National Institute on Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The study was conducted in a rural state in Southern United States. Eighty five farm families participated. Youth ages ranged from 10 through 19 years. The influence of fathers risk-taking orientation on youth risk-taking and youth unsafe tractor-related behaviours on farms was explored. The risk-taking orientation for fathers and youth was assessed using the dangerous risk-taking orientation scale. Unsafe youth tractor behaviours included operating a ROPS tractor without a seatbelt, dismounting a tractor with tractor running, giving someone a ride on a tractor meant for one person, starting a tractor while not on operators seat. Regression analysis revealed that fathers' risk-taking orientation positively predicted youth risk-taking on farms. Further, fathers risk-taking orientation also positively predicted youth self-reported unsafe behaviours related to tractors on farms. Importance of parental modelling of safe behaviours on farms to prevent youth injuries will be discussed. Implications of findings for broader youth injury prevention research will also be discussed.


Introduction. In the framework of the INCO-BETOCARIB Project titled "Begomovirus disease management for sustainable production of tomato in the Caribbean" which operated from 2003- 2006, we conducted a survey aiming at assessing the impact of cultural practices on the infestation/infection of tomato plots by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)/begomovirus (TYLCV). Materials & Methods. The survey was conducted in the West and Central regions of Cuba in respectively 100 and 96 tomato plots in open fields (71% of the plots) and under shelter (29%). Results and Conclusion. Analysis of data showed that both TYLC resistant (e.g. Vyta and ARO 8479F1) and susceptible (e.g. Amalia and HC 3880) cultivars were cultivated in open fields whereas only resistant cultivars were cultivated in sheltered plots. In open fields, TYLC disease incidence and severity were found to be significantly higher on susceptible, compared to resistant cultivars. Whitefly infestation and TYLCV incidence were higher in the West region as compared to the Central region, while the reverse was observed for severity of the disease. Whitefly infestation in open fields was high when no chemical protection measure was applied in the nursery and low under high chemical protection. The reverse tended to be observed when considering chemical application in the field, which might be an indirect indication that chemical protection negatively affects natural regulation processes. Implications of the results of this survey for agroecological management of the vector/disease complex in Cuba are discussed. (Resume d'auteur)


Obesity is an increasingly common health issue in developed and developing countries. There is a growing body of evidence linking high dietary calcium and dairy products with low adiposity. In the CARDIA study, Pereira et al. compared the lowest to highest quintile of calcium consumption and found the incidence of obesity reduced by 18.7% (P<0.001). Other researchers have found comparable results. Controlled trials of high calcium diets have had mixed results. In a longitudinal study of young girls, Phillips et al. found no relationship between dietary calcium or dairy products and BMI. Other studies by Zemel have found significant benefits in weight loss from diets high in calcium and in dairy. In a study of 32 obese women on an energy deficient diet, those in the high calcium and high dairy groups lost 38% and 64% more fat, and specifically more truncal fat than did women in the low calcium diet. Calcium's modulation of adiposity appears to act through down regulating PTH and Vitamin D which have been shown to be lipogenic. Certain dangers are associated with high levels of calcium. However, most people in the US are not getting sufficient calcium, and therapeutic levels of calcium do not approach the upper limit of safety. Physicians should feel comfortable recommending that a patient increase his or her consumption of a low-fat dairy product, or use supplements to achieve the AI of calcium to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, and to enhance the weight loss achieved with a low-calorie diet and exercise.


In examining post-communist countries, it becomes apparent that civil society is durable in certain countries and fragile in others. One then asks: What factors contribute to this condition? Many of the theorists in the post-communist literature argue that socioeconomic factors and the communist legacy have weakened post-communist civil society. The article explores the following question: Has corruption replaced the legacy of communism as a factor undermining trust in others and government? The theory proposed in this article implies a break from previous studies on the weakness of post-communist civil society, arguing that corruption has been a major factor in undermining civil society in the region. The article presents a rigorous examination of the association between corruption and post-communist civil society by focusing on the impact of political corruption on trust and, hence, post-communist civil society.


Abstract Isoflavones are secondary metabolites that represent the most abundant category of plant polyphenols. Dietary soy, kudzu, and red clover contain primarily genistein, daidzein, glycitein, puerarin, formononetin, and biochanin A. The structural similarity of these compounds to β-estradiol has demonstrated protection against age-related and hormone-dependent diseases in both genders. Demonstrative shreds of evidence confirmed the fundamental health benefits of the consumption of these isoflavones. These relevant activities are complex and largely driven by the source, active ingredients, dose, and administration period of the bioactive compounds. However, the preclinical and clinical studies of these compounds are greatly variable, controversial, and still with no consensus due to the non-standardized research protocols. In addition, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion studies, and the safety profile of isoflavones have been far limited. This highlights a major gap in understanding the potentially critical role of these isoflavones as prospective replacement therapy. Our general review exclusively focuses attention on the crucial role of isoflavones derived from these plant materials and critically highlights their bioavailability, possible anticancer, antiaging potentials, and microbiome modulation. Despite their fundamental health benefits, plant isoflavones reveal prospective therapeutic effects that worth further standardized analysis.


BackgroundThe incidence of mental disorders during major events is higher in prenatal and postnatal women than in the general population. The COVID-19 pandemic, subsequent lockdown, and social distancing may have caused changes in newborn mothers' mental health, postpartum depression (PPD), and breastfeeding practices. There is no information about this topic in Mexican mothers who have delivered newborns during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The objective of this study was to explore whether quarantine measures, social distancing, and hospital containment policies altered the incidence rates of PPD, breastfeeding adherence, and skin-to-skin contact (SSC) in women giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included women who delivered a healthy baby at term in February to July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed an anonymous online survey incorporating the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.ResultsA total of 211 participants were included; their mean age was 30.5 ± 4.6 years and the gestational age at the time of delivery was 38.3 ± 2.0 weeks. Sixty (28.4%) participants reported PPD, and 196 (92.9%) reported breastfeeding their baby during COVID-19. Mothers with PPD had lower levels of exclusive breastfeeding (P = 0.66) and breastfeeding with formula (P = 0.29). Only 23 participants (10.9%) stopped breastfeeding because of issues with latching (30.4%). SSC was reported by 63% of participants and was more frequent immediately after birth (46%). Mothers with PPD reported less frequent SSC (P = 0.001) and later initiation of SSC (P = 0.001) after childbirth. Mothers who initiated SSC used exclusive breastfeeding more frequently during the first 48 h after birth (P = 0.004).ConclusionsWe found a higher prevalence of PPD in new mothers during the pandemic. Mothers reporting PPD were less likely to initiate SSC after birth. These findings suggest that the pandemic and the measures adopted to fight its spread may have harmed maternal well-being during pregnancy and after delivery. Women giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic represent a vulnerable population that may need focused health care. SSC is a simple, cost-effective intervention that may help reduce the incidence of PPD.Trial registrationThis cross-sectional study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04769700).


The prevalence of obesity in the United States is projected to increase as high as 85% by 2030. Weight loss is associated with improved morbidity and mortality outcomes. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is an effective procedure recommended for individuals with morbid obesity for weight loss. We report the case of a patient who developed worsening food allergic reactions after RYGB surgery that progressed to an anaphylactic reaction. A 36-year-old female developed an anaphylactic reaction to an ingredient in guacamole eight years after RYGB surgery. Prior to the surgery, she had symptoms consistent with oral allergy syndrome. After the gastric bypass, however, she experienced worsening symptoms. On this occasion, she developed throat tightness prompting a visit to the emergency department where she required emergent intubation for airway protection. Blood testing to assess for an immunoglobin E-mediated allergy to common foods was negative. Despite the negative test, the allergist maintained a high suspicion for the progression of food-pollen syndrome following gastric bypass. Disruption of protein digestion from stomach bypass surgery may result in dietary proteins large enough to elicit immune responses being presented to the immune-rich intestinal mucosa. Additional consideration should be given to patients with a preexisting history of food allergic reactions undergoing RGYB surgery.


18 young children (aged from 1 month old to 2 years old) with congenital heart disease were observed. During observation they were divided into 2 groups. Group I-8 children with CHD, not complicated by PAH. Group II 11 children with CHD, complicated by PAH. The content of serotonin and its transporter in platelets, the amount of serotonin in serum were determined. Serotonin content was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The study was performed using the Serotonin ELISA diagnostic kit, IBL Hamburg on the Evolis automated robotic station (BioRad). To determine the Sodium-Dependent serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) there was used the method of quantitative sandwich ELISA of Cusabio production. The main initiator of the development of PAH is development of endothelial dysfunction of the pulmonary vessels. Since the cause of this dysfunction is associated with functional disorders of the serotonergic system, our task was to determine the content of SERT and serotonin in platelets in the studied groups. We suggest that the serotonin transporter (SERT), which is responsible for the proliferation of the pulmonary artery smooth-muscle cells (PASMC), can be used as a biomarker for predicting and diagnosing PAH in children with CHD. The need for early biomarkers in the diagnosis of PAH in children is claimed by scientists from many countries of the world [1, 2]. The results of our studies showed a significant increase in the concentration of SERT in platelets in group II, compared with group I more than several times. The serotonin content in platelets in children of group II tended to decrease as compared with group I. Perhaps, an excessive increase in transporters in platelets is sufficient in itself for the induction of PASMC hyperplasia and the subsequent development of PAH. It is necessary to continue research in this direction, which will help to reveal and understand the molecular mechanisms by which SERT regulates the proliferation of PASMC and the role of serotonin and its transporter in the development of PAH in children.


Ferromagnetic superconducting nanodiamond films show Yu-Shiba-Rusinov bands with an extraordinarily large spatial extent. The combination of different exotic properties in materials paves the way for the emergence of their new potential applications. An example is the recently found coexistence of the mutually antagonistic ferromagnetism and superconductivity in hydrogenated boron-doped diamond, which promises to be an attractive system with which to explore unconventional physics. Here, we show the emergence of Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (YSR) bands with a spatial extent of tens of nanometers in ferromagnetic superconducting diamond using scanning tunneling spectroscopy. We demonstrate theoretically how a two-dimensional (2D) spin lattice at the surface of a three-dimensional (3D) superconductor gives rise to the YSR bands and how their density-of-states profile correlates with the spin lattice structure. The established strategy to realize new forms of the coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity opens a way to engineer the unusual electronic states and also to design better-performing superconducting devices.


Summary form only given. A method of using selectively deposited and selectively removed 'polycrystalline' Si/sub x/Ge/sub 1-x/ as a diffusion source for the fabrication of narrow-base self-aligned BJTs (bipolar junction transistors) is described. The transistors showed excellent quality emitter-base and base-collector junction characteristics. In addition, this process was found to be completely compatible with current double polysilicon self aligned technology. >


We investigate the spectral properties of a one-dimensional piecewise linear intermittent map, which has not only a marginal fixed point but also a singular structure suppressing injections of the orbits into neighborhoods of the marginal fixed point. We explicitly derive generalized eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the Frobenius-Perron operator of the map for classes of observables and piecewise constant initial densities, and it is found that the Frobenius-Perron operator has two simple real eigenvalues 1 and lambda(d) Epsilon (-1,0) and a continuous spectrum on the real line [0,1]. From these spectral properties, we also found that this system exhibits a power law decay of correlations. This analytical result is found to be in a good agreement with numerical simulations. Moreover, the system can be extended to an area-preserving invertible map defined on the unit square. This extended system is similar to the baker transformation, but does not satisfy hyperbolicity. A relation between this area-preserving map and a billiard system is also discussed.


BACKGROUND
Cancers of the lymphatic cells (lymphomas) account for approximately 12% of malignant diseases worldwide. The nitrostyrene scaffold is identified as a lead target structure for the development of particularly effective compounds targeting Burkitt's lymphoma (BL).

OBJECTIVES
The aims of the curent study were to synthesise a panel of nitrostyrene compounds and to evaluate their activity in Burkitt's lymphoma (BL).

METHODS
A panel of structurally varied compounds were designed and synthesised using Henry Knoevenagel condensation reactions. Single crystal X-Ray analysis confirmed the E configuration for six examples of these novel structures. A number of nitrostyrene-related compounds were also investigated including 1,3-bis(aryl)-2-nitropropenes together with heterocyclic scaffolds containing the nitrovinyl pharmacophore such as 3-nitro-2-phenyl-2H-chromenes. The antiproliferative activities of the compounds were evaluated using the BL cell lines EBV- MUTU-1 and EBV+ DG- 75 (chemoresistant) to establish preliminary structure-activity relationships.

RESULTS
Lead compounds with optimized nitrostyrene scaffolds and 3-nitro-2-phenyl-2Hchromene structures were successfully established with typical IC50 values of 0.45 µM and 0.47 µM in MUTU-1 cells and 1.41 µM and 1.92 µM, respectively, in DG-75 cells. The mechanism of cell death was identified as apoptotic and the lead compound was found to elicit comparable apoptotic effects to Taxol in Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines MUTU-1 and DG-75.

CONCLUSION
This class of pharmaceutically active compounds with potential for the treatment of Burkitt`s lymphoma suggest a potential role for nitrostyrene based agents in chemotherapy.