Concrete structures are often exposed to harsh environmental conditions during their service life. Therefore, the investigation of transport properties and deterioration of concrete in different environments is an important topic. This paper reports the influence of salts (NaCl and Na2SO4) and exposure conditions (ideal laboratory (20 °C, 95% RH), a city and sea environment; including sheltered and exposed conditions) on capillary imbibition in cementitious materials with different water to cement ratios (0.4 and 0.6). First, the pore structure was assessed by water absorption under vacuum, torrent permeability, resistivity, and moisture content. The second part revolves around the capillary imbibition phenomenon with different imbibition liquids (water, NaCl, and Na2SO4). The results showed that, among the studied exposure conditions, sheltered conditions resulted in the largest porosity values and capillary imbibition rates (CIR). The influence of the imbibing liquid on the CIR depends on the w/c of the concrete. The CIR value for samples with a w/c of 0.4 is lower for Na2SO4 as imbibing liquid in comparison to water and NaCl. The sulfates might cause a pore blocking effect leading to a decreased CIR. For concrete with a w/c of 0.6, there was no significant difference between the different imbibition liquids. The influence of the pore blocking effect is probably smaller due to the larger porosity in this case. The findings of this research are important to understand the influence of real-life exposure conditions and therefore the influence of relative humidity, temperature, carbonation, and chloride ingress on the capillary imbibition phenomenon.


In this study, we evaluated the molecular mechanisms involved in morphine-induced macrophage apoptosis. Both morphine and TGF-β promoted P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, and this phosphorylation was inhibited by SB 202190 as well as by SB 203580. Anti-TGF-β Ab as well as naltrexone (an opiate receptor antagonist) inhibited morphine-induced macrophage P38 MAPK phosphorylation. Anti-TGF-β Ab also attenuated morphine-induced p53 as well as inducible NO synthase expression; in contrast, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, an inhibitor of NO synthase, inhibited morphine-induced P38 MAPK phosphorylation and Bax expression. Morphine also enhanced the expression of both Fas and Fas ligand (FasL), whereas anti-FasL Ab prevented morphine-induced macrophage apoptosis. Moreover, naltrexone inhibited morphine-induced FasL expression. In addition, macrophages either deficient in FasL or lacking p53 showed resistance to the effect of morphine. Inhibitors of both caspase-8 and caspase-9 partially prevented the apoptotic effect of morphine on macrophages. In addition, caspase-3 inhibitor prevented morphine-induced macrophage apoptosis. These findings suggest that morphine-induced macrophage apoptosis proceeds through opiate receptors via P38 MAPK phosphorylation. Both TGF-β and inducible NO synthase play an important role in morphine-induced downstream signaling, which seems to activate proteins involved in both extrinsic (Fas and FasL) and intrinsic (p53 and Bax) cell death pathways.


Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous airway disease, it is crucial to clearly identify clinical phenotypes to manage asthma better. Objective: To identify and validate the adult asthma clusters in Chinese population. Methods: A prospective 12-month cohort study was undertaken. 284 patients were recruited and 19 variables were included. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed by Ward9s method followed by k-means cluster analysis. Results: Five clusters were identified with a satisfying performance of silhouette coefficient point (0.2). The cluster 1 (n=62) was characterized by young females, low income and mild asthma with normal lung function, the cluster 2 (n=46) by older female, no health insurance, low education level, unemployed, very low income, allergy, longer asthma duration, and moderate to severe asthma with poor asthma quality of life (AQLQ), the cluster 3 (n=74) by female, high education level and poor lung function, the cluster 4 (n=55) by male, smoking, few health insurance, low income and mild to moderate with normal lung function, and the cluster 5 (n=47) by males, high education level, smoking health insurance, full-time job and mild asthma with normal lung function and better AQLQ. Compared with the cluster 5, the cluster 1 was at higher risk of non-planned visits (RR=2.67, 95%CI=[1.12, 6.32]) and emergency visits (RR=4.06, 95%CI=[1.26, 13.04]), the cluster 2 at higher risk of asthma exacerbations (RR=4.39, 95%CI=[1.63, 11.85]), non-planned visits (RR=9.41, 95%CI=[3.64, 24.30]) and emergency visits (RR=15.47, 95%CI=[4.75, 50.33]). Conclusion: Cluster analysis revealed five distinct asthma phenotypes in Chinese population, which exhibited different asthma outcomes.


Since the entry of China into WTO, the increasingly active foreign trade activities of China have played a huge role in promoting the economic growth and development of our country. At the same time, TBT (Technical barriers to Trade) has developed rapidly and become a non-tariff barrier for the export of Chinese foreign trade enterprises. As a result, the export of mechanical and electrical products in China has been greatly affected by the TBT of importing countries. In this paper, the current situation of technical barriers to trade in the export of mechanical and electrical products in China is first expounded, and the negative and positive effects of technical barriers to trade on the export of mechanical and electrical products of our country are analyzed. Then, based on the trade gravity model, using the panel data of 26 trading countries of China from 2008 to 2017, this paper empirically investigates the influence of importing country's TBT on the export of mechanical and electrical products of China, and analyzes the reasons why Chinese mechanical and electrical products export encounters with TBT according to the above research. According to these reasons, the corresponding countermeasures are put forward.


The use of Passive Optical Networks (PONs) in modern and future data centers can provide energy efficiency, high capacity, low cost, scalability, and elasticity. This paper introduces a passive optical network design with 2-tier cascaded Arrayed Waveguide Grating Routers (AWGRs) to connect groups of racks (i.e. cells) within a data center. This design employs a Software-Defined Networking (SDN) controller to manage the routing and assignment of the networking resource while introducing multiple paths between any two cells to improve routing, load balancing and resilience. We provide benchmarking results for the power consumption to compare the energy efficiency of this design to state-of-the-art data centers. The results indicate that the cascaded AWGRs architecture can achieve up to 43% saving in the networking power consumption compared to a Fat-Tree data center architecture.


Four Rosa hybrida cultivars were grown in 100 to 500, 700 to 1300, and 1500 to 2500 ppm CO2 atmospheres for at least half the daylight hours from November to May. Production was studied continually for 24 months.
Numbers of flowering stems and lateral buds, fresh weight, and stem length were greater in CO2 supplemented atmospheres on hybrid tea and floribunda roses. Non-flowering percentages were lower for floribundas in CO2 enriched atmospheres. Greater leaf abscission and less root development were noted for hybrid tea and floribunda roses in 1500 to 2500 ppm CO2. Higher yields in non-CO2 supplementation periods (May to October) largely reflected growing conditions rather than CO2 effects.


ABSTRACT Except for social network and social support, little research was conducted to examine other social and community factors associated with older adults' leisure activity participation. This research proposed three community and social factors of sense of community, trust and online social interaction and examined their relationships with leisure activity participation among older adults. It was based on a cross-sectional survey conducted in China in 2017. A total of 423 older adults completed the questionnaire. Regression analyses revealed that sense of community, trust and online social interaction were associated significantly with older adults' overall leisure activity participation. Among eight individual categories of leisure activities, i.e. mass media, reading, social activities, outdoor activities, sports activities, spectator sports, cultural activities and hobbies, online social interaction was associated significantly with all categories except outdoor activities. Sense of community was associated significantly with all categories except cultural activities and hobbies. Trust was associated significantly with reading, cultural activities and hobbies. The findings highlight the impacts of community and social factors on older adults' leisure activity participation. The findings also suggest different ways to enhance older adults' leisure activity participation through promoting their sense of community, trust and online social interaction.


This work is a preview of computer network's solutions based on mobile agents systems. Agents-based system, in this particular case, is a collection of autonomous, mobile, software agents, which are physically located in computer network's nodes. Agents collaborate and communicate with each other in purpose to accomplish established task. Agents are characterized by two, most important properties: Autonomy (ability to undertake actions independently) and mobility (ability to change physical location). Agents systems could have many applications in computer network as: load balancing, intrusion detection, node management, and monitoring. However all this functionality can be implemented in architecture client/spl bsol/server. The concept of agent-based system brings new capability and properties. Agents systems are considered as dynamic, scalable, distributed, and alternative concept of static, centralized computer networking systems. This work validates the use of this class of systems and indicate its advantages and drawbacks, based on many examples.


The authors analyze data from a service guarantee program implemented by a midpriced hotel chain. Using a multisite regression discontinuity quasi-experimental design developed over 16 months, they control for unobserved heterogeneity among guests and treatments across hotels and develop Bayesian posterior estimates of the varying program effect for each hotel. The results contribute to theory and practice. First, they provide new insights into how service guarantee programs operate in the field. Specifically, the guarantee was more effective at hotels with a better prior service history and an easier-to-serve guest population, which is consistent with signaling arguments but does not comport with the incentive argument that guarantees actually improve service quality. Second, the results offer managers better decision rules. Specifically, the authors devise program continuation rules that are sensitive to both observed and unobserved differences across sites. In addition, they devise policies to reward hotels that exceed site-specific expectations. By controlling for observed and unobserved differences across sites, the authors show that these policies potentially reward even hotels with negative net program effects, which is useful in reducing the organizational stigma of failure. Finally, the authors identify sites that should be targeted for future program rollout by computing the odds of succeeding.


PurposeAlthough the number of blue-collar industrial workers has been declining, manufacturing jobs continue to have considerable importance, even in technologically advanced economies. This study gives a voice to this often-overlooked group of workers, focusing on the Finnish vehicle industry.Design/methodology/approachThe study assessed how manual workers in automotive manufacturing describe their job pride and how their accounts were related to conceptualizations of work orientation. The data included semi-structured interviews and an open-ended survey question on situations in which the respondents had felt proud of their work. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.FindingsAccording to the results, the respondents had a high level of job pride in general, but the meaning given to this attitude varied considerably, depending on the situation. The study participants' work orientation was a mixture of instrumental and intrinsic traits. However, there were also respondents who did not experience job pride or who had lost it because of the work circumstances.Originality/valueRelatively little research has assessed the importance of job pride in the context of industrial manufacturing. Recognizing job pride in its variety is crucial information for employers who aim to develop working conditions and employee retention.


Although automatic flight control systems fairly lighten the pilots' workloads, they may fail as the other systems. In these systems, sensors, actuators and the control surface failures can cause undesirable results to arise. However, it can be possible to tolerate the failures in flight control systems by using what is known in literature as fault tolerant control which makes the operations of systems possible against some types of failures. The fault tolerant control is composed of detection of failures, isolation, and reconfiguration of system stages. Herein, an application is made for the fault detection of a helicopter by observer equipment using lateral movement equations. The application allows user to have an opinion for conditions that can not be directly measured as well as the fault detection based on comprehensive condition estimate.


A method for fabricating a flash memory includes forming a tunnel oxide layer by depositing a material with a conduction band energy level lower than that of SiO2 on a semiconductor substrate; forming a floating gate by depositing polysilicon on the tunnel oxide layer; forming an intergate dielectric layer on the floating gate; forming a control gate on the intergate dielectric layer; forming a gate electrode by patterning the tunnel oxide layer, the floating gate, the intergate dielectric layer and the control gate; and forming a source/drain region by implanting impurities into the substrate using the gate electrode as a mask.


We present a variational Bayesian algorithm for joint speech enhancement and speaker identification that makes use of speaker dependent speech priors. Our work is built on the intuition that speaker dependent priors would work better than priors that attempt to capture global speech properties. We derive an iterative algorithm that exchanges information between the speech enhancement and speaker identification tasks. With cleaner speech we are able to make better identification decisions and with the speaker dependent priors we are able to improve speech enhancement performance. We present experimental results using the TIMIT data set which confirm the speech enhancement performance of the algorithm by measuring signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio improvement and perceptual quality improvement via the Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Quality (PESQ) score. We also demonstrate the ability of the algorithm to perform voice activity detection (VAD). The experimental results also demonstrate that speaker identification accuracy is improved.


We analyzed the host stars of the present sample of confirmed planets detected by Kepler and Kepler Objects of Interest to compute new photometric rotation periods and to study the behavior of their angular momentum. Lomb–Scargle periodograms and wavelet maps were computed for 3807 stars. For 540 of these stars, we were able to detect rotational modulation of the light curves at a significance level of greater than 99%. For 63 of these 540 stars, no rotation measurements were previously available in the literature. According to the published masses and evolutionary tracks of the stars in this sample, the sample is composed of M- to F-type stars (with masses of 0.48–1.53 M ☉ ?> ) with rotation periods that span a range of 2–89 days. These periods exhibit an excellent agreement with those previously reported (for the stars for which such values are available), and the observed rotational period distribution strongly agrees with theoretical predictions. Furthermore, for the 540 sources considered here, the stellar angular momentum provides an important test of Kraft's relation based on the photometric rotation periods. Finally, this study directly contributes in a direct approach to our understanding of how angular momentum is distributed between the host star and its (detected) planetary system; the role of angular momentum exchange in such systems is an unavoidable piece of the stellar rotation puzzle.


Relaxor-ferroelectric ceramics capacitors have been in the front lines of investigations aimed at optimizing energy density due to their high Pmax, suppressed Pr, and high BDS levels, attributed to their highly dynamic polar nano-regions. A set of (1 − x)SrTiO3–x[0.88BaTiO3–0.12Bi(Li0.5Ta0.5)O3] ceramics (x = 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mol%), abbreviated as (1 − x)ST–x(BT–BLT), was designed and fabricated via a solid-state reaction route. A striking energy-storage density of 2.24 J cm−3, coupled with a high efficiency of η = 81% at 300 kV cm−1, was measured for these (1 − x)ST–x(BT–BLT) ceramics. The incorporation of BT–BLT ceramics was found to dramatically transform the paraelectric state of strontium titanate into the relaxor-ferroelectric state, by introducing broad relaxor behavior. The energy storage properties of the ceramic with x = 60 mol% showed outstanding stability in frequency (10–100 Hz) and temperature (20–120 °C), with minimal variation of (±≤0.5%), over the course of 105 cycles. Moreover, under various electric fields, rapid charge and discharge (≤1.5 μs) was also observed for this x = 60 mol% ceramic. Most significantly, the outcomes of this study are expected to provide a standard for other emerging lead-free dielectric ceramics displaying very good energy-storage properties and excellent electric field endurance, which are of pragmatic importance for cutting-edge pulsed power technology.


Objective: To compare the outcome of posterior short segment fixation with bony fusion and without bony fusion in thoracolumbar fractures in the first year of follow up.
Methodology: A comparative study was conducted in Orthopedic Department of Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan for one year. Twenty eight cases were randomly included and divided into two Groups consisting of 14 cases each. Group A had posterior short segment fixation with bony fusion while bony fusion was not performed in Group B. Kyphosis angle measurement by Cobb's Method was carried out in all the cases both preoperatively and immediately after the procedure. This measurement was repeated at follow up visits at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months and kyphosis correction loss was calculated along with percentage of the loss.
Results: The mean age of patients was 30.89±6.40 years. There were 23 (82%) males while 5 (18%) were females. The male-to-female ratio was calculated as 4.6:1. Overall kyphosis angle was 27.36±7.87,o which improved to 2.93±5.73o after surgery. The mean correction in kyphosis angle was 24.29±4.20o and after 12 months, the loss of correction was 10.25±2.90o. Preoperatively, in fusion group, the mean kyphosis angle was 26.00±7.910 while in non-fusion group; it was 28.71±7.870. After surgery, mean correction in fusion group was 23.71±3.97o with loss of 9.93±2.62o after 12 months. There was 41.89% loss of correction observed in this group. While in non-fusion group mean correction was 25.07±4.46o with loss of 10.57±3.23o after 12 months, which is 42.16% loss of correction.
Conclusion: Posterior short segment instrumentation without fusion was a better option for treating the thoracolumbar fractures.


In background noise limited instrumentation systems, an analog-to-digital converter with a square root transfer function will allow a maximum dynamic range with a fixed number of data bits. The converter described herein was developed to digitize the output from a CCD in a space environment where telemetry is limited. The goals of low power dissipation, moderately fast conversion time, and reliability have been achieved using standard components and avoiding non-linear elements.


In this paper the dynamic deformation stages of soils under cyclic loading and the maior factors affecting the shear modulus of soils are analyzed. The tu measurement of surface wave by larger energy source to obtain the shear modulus of the ground is described. On considering the important effect of shearing dilatancy on shear modulus of sandy soils, a modified formula is proposed. For typical soils, the axial strains under cyclic loading are determined either tor estimating shear modulus or for the deformation analysis in design.


The Portuguese and the Spanish carried over the medieval crusading spirit of the Reconquista in their discoveries of the new route to India and the New World respectively. The Portuguese aimed at taking Mecca with the hope of exchanging it for Jerusalem. They also established links with the king of Ethiopia, identifying him as the Prester John. And finally they tightened the economic stranglehold of the Mamluk empire. The response to this initiative came, however, from the Ottoman State, which first incorporated the Mamluk territories in the Middle East within its empire, then challenged the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean and the Spanish in the Mediterranean. The Ottomans, at the peak of their power in the sixteenth century, possessed the required naval strength and the types of ships needed for journeys of exploration. Having prepared the map of the New World, based on a map of Columbus, with America clearly marked as their administrative province, "Vilayet Antilia," they were set to pursue their enemies across the Atlantic. The Sa'dian regime of Morocco, however, prevented their access to the Atlantic. Revolts on the European, Persian, and South Arabian fronts of the empire further weakened the Ottomans. Since in the age of the East India companies the crusading motivation of the Spanish and the Portuguese had been much diluted, the counter-crusading desire of the Ottomans also no longer needed to extend itself to encompass America.


Culture confidence is an important internal factor to promote the development of modern design in China. College students majoring in design are the mainstay of Chinese design field in the future, but some of them are lack of cultural confidence. Therefore, the school should strengthen the cultural confidence of college students majoring in design from the aspects of curriculum setting and reform, environment shaping and professional belief, so that their design originality can be stimulated and maintained, and the "Chinese original design" belonging to the new era can be created.


Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the nutritional content and antioxidant activities of twenty accessions of turmeric rhizome from various locations of Uttarakhand. Methods: The antioxidant activity was evaluated by different method viz; DPPH radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP), Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, Nitric Oxide (NO) scavenging activity, Superoxide anion radical scavenging activity and nutritional value viz; total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total ortho-dihydroxy phenols, total ascorbic acid content and total antioxidant capacity. Results: Alcoholic extracts of different turmeric rhizomes showed wide variation in abilities to scavenge nitric oxide, hydroxyl, superoxide free radical, DPPH with IC50 values in the range of 39.03-76.14, 39.77-72.85, 43.77-77.13, 64.38-271.95 µg/ml and FRAP value 19.54-54.84 µmole. The total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total ortho-dihydroxy phenols, total ascorbic acid content and total antioxidant capacity of different alcoholic extracts of rhizomes were found in the range of 11.19-51.49, 6.35-30.95, 0.93-8.12, 0.14-1.29 and 27.44-94.78 mg/g respectively. Conclusion: The alcoholic extract of different accessions of Curcuma longa L. has shown excellent biochemical and antioxidant potential and therefore refers as an important natural source of antioxidant.


'the research which Pendleton and his colleagues have done is high class and relevant. The results are coherent, and on the whole easy to read and absorb.' The Lancet


Probiotics allow establishing and controlling the beneficial microflora and gradually reduce the pathogenic microflora. Tithonia diversifola (TD) is an alternative to replace protein from other more expensive sources in diets for poultry; therefore, the treatments used TD replacements with 0, 5, 10 y 15% with probiotics (WP) and without probiotics (W/OP) addition: Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC), Lactobacillus Acidophilus (LA) and Bacillus subtilis (BS) and the mix of these (MP) for estimating the in-vivo digestibility. 300 Cobb avian chickens were used, with an average weight of 453.4 ± 24 g randomly distributed with a factorial arrangement 4x5x3x5. Digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and fiber (CF) was determined through the total feces collection method; additionally: Hemogram (CBC) and blood chemistry (BC) were analyzed. DM digestibility increased with the proportion of TD (15%) in the diet and reached 68% W/OP; while this variable rose to 70.67% with SC (P<0.05). Digestibility of CP and CF came up to 85.6 and 82.6% with 15% TD and LA respectively. In WP treatments the red blood cell count (RBC) increased by BS; medium corpuscular volume (MCV), concentration of mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCHC), and platelet count with LA and MP; and eosinophils with SC; while the total count of white blood cells (WBC) decreased in all the treatments with regard to TD 0%, just like the monocyte differential (MD) with MP (P<0.05). The effect of TD was lower in hemoglobin (Hb) and the RBC with TD 5%, and MD with TD 10 and 15% (P<0.05). Cholesterol decreased with SC and MP, while triglycerides (TG) increased in all the treatments with regard to TD 0%. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein, sodium and potassium were modified by the probiotics, being this effect lower with TD; triglycerides, uric acid and sodium were affected with the three levels of TD replacement (P<0.05). We can conclude that the inclusion of TD from 10% in combination with probiotics in the diet of broilers, improves its digestibility, likewise that the CBC and BC parameters showed modifications, which allows assessing the nutritional behavior of the diet and providing guidance on an appropriate balance.


In this study, we consider a gate reassignment problem that reassigns the set of aircraft to the set of gates. We assume the initial assignment plan—the so-called reference schedule—is known and there are disruptions at some particular gates where they become unavailable either for some specified time interval or from then on. Hence, the initial assignment plan is rendered inefficient and even infeasible. Following the disruption, the aircraft are reassigned to the gates or to the apron—an undesired remote gate. Meanwhile, we are concerned with two measures: efficiency—which is obtaining a "good " plan, and stability—remaining faithful to the original plan. We apply hierarchical optimization for our efficiency and stability measures. For our efficiency measure, the primary objective is to minimize the number of apron assignments, whereas the secondary objective is to maximize the total number of passengers whose flights are assigned to the fixed gates. By doing so, the airport's fixed gates are well-utilized with a higher priority, while also putting an emphasis on passenger satisfaction. For our stability measure, the primary aim is to minimize the deviation from the reference schedule in terms of the number of aircraft assigned to different gates, since a large-scale schedule change might be ill-favored or indeed problematic, whereas the secondary objective is to maximize the total number of aircraft assigned to the fixed gates among the ones that were originally assigned to apron in the reference schedule. If possible, we want to seize the chance of assigning a fixed gate to a previously ungated flight. We propose network flow based and assignment based mixed integer linear programming models to both get an initial assignment and a further reassignment under gate disruptions with our efficiency and stability concerns. Using these mixed integer linear programming models, we make various trade-off analyses that would help the airport schedulers to cover their reference schedules with minimum cost and effort. Our trade-off analyses include the development of solution algorithms favoring the following concerns: optimizing our efficienc y measure while keeping the stability level at its minimum level, optimizing our stability measure while keeping the efficiency level at its minimum level and finding the set of non-dominated objective vectors with respect to our efficiency and stability measures. The results of our extensive experiments based on the layout data of the airports located in Turkey have revealed the satisfactory performances of our algorithms used in the trade-off analyses.


Grid technologies enable the sharing of a wide variety of distributed resources. To utilize these resources, effective Resource Management systems are needed. Resource Management system performs resource discovery to obtain information about the available resources. However, the complex and dynamic nature of grid resources make sharing and discovery, a challenging issue. Resource Discovery is initiated by a network application to find suitable resources with in the Grid. Resource Discovery process is critical for efficient resource allocation and management. For making the Resource Discovery more efficient and reliable large numbers of Approaches are there. This paper analyses some of existing Approaches for Resource Discovery, which can search for the preferred resources quickly and efficiently (return the correct results quickly and reduce network complexity) in Grid computing. Finally a qualitative comparison between these Approaches based on the factors that affect Grid Resource Discovery process, has been done and results are presented.


Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the severe malignancies with high mortality. Surgically resected tumor tissues from 50 Chinese SCLC patients were collected for next-generation sequencing to detect 520 cancer‐related genes. The most frequently altered genes were TP53 (94.0%), RB1 (86.0%), LRP1B (44.0%), SPTA1 (26.0%) and KMT2D (24.0%). We detected that NOTCH2, JAK2 and CDK12 (P<0.05) had a significantly higher mutation frequency in Chinese SCLC compared to the Cologne and MSKCC. The single nucleotide variation (SNV) is dominated by C>A (34.1%). We found a significant association between TMB-H (≥10.3muts/Mb) and ATM (P=0.023), CREBBP (P=0.010), KMT2D(P=0.050) and LRP1B (P=0.005) gene mutations in Chinese SCLC patients. Immunostaining was performed using the following antibodies: TTF-1, CgA, CD56, Syn, and Ki-67. Correlation analysis between the expression of 6 markers and mutations in signaling pathways showed that Syn and CgA expression were associated with 4 (cGMP-PKG, Chemokine, TGF-β and Phospholipase D) and 2 (cGMP-PKG and Phosphatidylinositol) signaling pathway mutations. Kaplan-Meier curve showed that age<55 years, mutant ARID2 and high TMB (≥7muts/Mb) were associated with a better prognosis, while the prognosis of patients with mutations in the Ras pathway was significantly improved. High TMB is an important prognostic factor for SCLC patients showed by multivariate analysis. In the combined cohort composed of current and two previous studies, survival analysis showed that SCLC patients with mutant LRP1B demonstrated better OS (P=0.0017). Patients with a high TMB (≥7muts/Mb) have a better prognosis (P=0.0053), consistent with our results in the Chinese cohort. We characterized the genomic alterations profile of Chinese SCLC patients and analyzed the correlation between genomic changes and immunohistochemical phenotypes at the signaling pathway level. Our data might provide useful information in the diagnosis and treatment for Chinese SCLC patients.


On screening x-rays or tomography almost half of the patients with a mycotic sinusitis presented metal-dense structures in the the paranasal sinuses. It can be demonstrated that this is due to extraordinary amounts of calcium phosphate and calcium sulphate which are deposited intracellularly, mainly inside necrotic fungal cells. In the absence of a foreign body history these radiographic shadows are almost definite proof of a mycotic sinusitis caused by aspergillus species.


How can we guarantee the security of our means of transport? How can we strengthen that of our communications? How can we keep our ideology or our market safe? Etc. In this context, the press has recently been asking whether it is possible to be 100% certain that a person is not concealing a dangerous item on passing through an airport control. Nonetheless, technical solutions may be about to alter the aforementioned scenario. Indeed, the authorities in a number of countries have decided to install scanners at airports that allow people to be completely undressed without having to remove their clothes. The protests which have been voiced, quite reasonably, against this measure have been completely stifled by arguments based on security. Just a glance at the press in any European country in the last few days will confirm this affirmation. The example of scanners has not been a random choice to begin this article. It has to do with the fact that airports are truly a unique place to illustrate one of the most characteristic phenomena of our current societies: the need to manage mobility and security in unison. However, from our point of view security is much more than an excuse for legitimising procedures for surveillance and control, or a characteristic feature of contemporary states. It constitutes the very logic of such states. It is characterised by circulation and movement, and it operates as an authentic code that is capable of generating new forms of sociality and regimes of power.


The relative trace formula is a tool in the theory of automorphic forms which was invented by Jacquet in order to study period integrals and relate them to Langlands functoriality. In this paper we give an analogue of Arthur's spectral expansion of the trace formula to the relative setup in the context of $\text{GL}_n$. This is an important step toward application of the relative trace formula and it extends earlier work by several authors to higher rank. Our method is new and based on complex analysis and majorization of Eisenstein series. To that end we use recent lower bounds of Brumley for Rankin–Selberg $L$-functions at the edge of the critical strip.


The difficulty of selection of contractors in Egypt as a result of multiple and different criteria to select contractors and the different relative weights from one project to another has always been the main factors of the problem. There is a need to determine selection criteria of contractors for construction projects, as well as determine relative weights of the selection criteria. This issue has been of interest for many decades and remains a contemporary subject because of the rapid modernization of construction project management. This research utilizes an investigation approach to achieve the research goals and design and perform a questionnaire to collect real-life information covering relevant parties. Results showed that, a total of (15) main criteria, (67) sub-criteria were investigated as the most important criteria. The most important criteria are "experience, working schedule, bid specific, general information & registration details and management & organization of the contractor". It is very useful to practitioners intending to engage in construction projects in the Middle East due to the similar trends and current practices. The paper concerns with providing construction managers and professionals with recommendations in pursuit of better evaluation of constructors in Egypt and Middle East.


Many problems of practical relevance are conveniently expressed as boolean combinations of propositional variables and mathematical constraints. The development of decision procedures able to check the satisfiability of such formulas is therefore being devoted an increasing interest. TheMATHSAT family of deciders is based on the extension of a DPLL propositional satisfiability procedure, used as an assignment enumerator. MATHSAT pioneers a lazy and layered approach, where propositional reasoning is tightly integrated with solvers of increasing expressive power (e.g. to reason about equality and linear arithmetic) in such a way that "more expensive" layers are called less frequently. In this paper, we show the advances in the development of MATHSAT. We discuss the implications related to the use of M INI SAT, a new-generation propositional SAT solver; the role of an incremental mathematical reasoner; the role of static learning; and the extension to integer variables. We show that the new version of MATHSAT is significantly more efficient than the previous one.


The purpose of tailings impoundment is to contain tailings produced from mineral processing. Chemicals used in mineral ex-traction processes are usually hazardous to biota and fauna and their presence in tailings may pollute the environment. To pre-vent the flow of such contaminants from tailing dams into the environment, low permeability membranes or seals are used in the basin of the tailings dam as barrier layer. Geomembranes and natural clay liners are typical examples. The use of naturally occurring clay materials provides the most economical liner for tailings dam construction. Lateritic clay and weathered shale have been evaluated for use as liner. Black cotton soils occur in substantial quantities in parts of Ghana but their potential use as a clay liner has not been evaluated. This study presents laboratory evaluation of a typical black cotton soil from the Accra plains of Ghana as potential clay liner for tailings dam construction. Results of the study indicate that the hydraulic conductiv-ity or permeability, plasticity index, fines content and cation exchange capacity of the black cotton soils met the specification of typical clay liner systems. The soil however failed the specific gravity and liquid limit requirements marginally and hence, the soils may be used as clay lining system in tailings dams.


Deregulation significantly affects firms' debt decisions. Prior to deregulation, regulated firms depend more on long-term and public debt but reduce this dependence considerably during deregulation. Cross-sectional analysis shows that the lower use of long-term and public debt results from changing firm sensitivities to determinants of debt decisions triggered by deregulation. Consistent with credit and liquidity risk theories of debt maturity, the concave relation between firm quality and debt maturity is attenuated among regulated firms. Inconsistent with these theories, the convex relation between firm quality and public debt issues exists only among regulated firms. I find limited support for other theories.


Radiographic studies play an important role in the clinical staging of malignant lymphoma (ML). Conventional procedures are plain chest X-ray, lymphangiography, gastrointestinal series, and 67Ga scintigraphy. Gastro-intestinal series is essential in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of Waldeyer's ring and thyroid. 67Ga scintigraphy is a non-invasive procedure useful in the screening of ML. Recently marked improvements have been made in the diagnostic modalities. CT scan and NMR have made it very easy to diagnose ML of the central nervous system and detect the extension of tumors at all sites. In some cases with Hodgkin's disease (HD), staging laparotomy is necessary, but not in cases with NHL. If tumors are localized, subtotal or total nodal irradiation is performed for patients with HD, and generous involved field is employed for NHL with or without combined chemotherapy at our department. Good local control is obtained except for NHL of the central nervous system at a total dose of 40-50 Gy. NHL is prone to relapse outside the radiation field. Therefore we consider that combined chemotherapy is indicated for NHL such as T-cell lymphomas, those with high grade histology classified according to the Working Formulation, and with involvement of lymph nodes larger than 6 cm in diameter.


Families have historically facilitated a migration of science across generations, but how has this repetition been achieved? The Swedish oceanographer Hans Pettersson (1888-1966) inherited oceanography, primarily through is father, Otto Pettersson (1848-1941). Academic power was transferred from father to son, and one of Otto's major concerns was to find a successor from his family. By exercising control over the early institutions of oceanography, he created a regime where that goal was achieved. Nonetheless, the process of transferring knowledge was multifaceted and paradoxical. Resources were exchanged between father and son, and Hans did accept the academic kingdom, but their relationship was marked by severe tensions.The key analytical concept to capture these contradictions here is imitation – drawn from Gabriel Tarde's sociology. Hans Pettersson did not so much overtake his father's research as he imitated a posture – including attitudes, desires and embodiments – towards science. The right posture included dedication and asceticism in the laboratory setting as well as an ambition to produce new results. Pettersson imitated the desires of an academic entrepreneur. He learned how to design strategies, create his own institutional setting and a research field to dominate. In sum he imitated efforts to create renewal. Moreover, a key feature of the posture towards science was the willingness to struggle for academic survival, often through controversies. Imitating science thus meant repeating a historically specific culture.


The aim of this paper is to present discrete stochastic approximation algorithms that adaptively optimize the spreading codes of users in a CDMA system employing linear MMSE receivers. The proposed algorithm is able to adapt to slowly time-varying channel conditions. One of the most important properties of the algorithm is its self-learning capability - it spends most of the computational effort at the global optimizer of the objective function. A tracking analysis of the adaptive algorithms is presented together with mean square convergence. An adaptive-step-size algorithm is also presented for optimally adjusting the step size based on the observations.


Intrathecal synthesis of immunoglobulins is analyzed by two methods: quantitatively by immunoglobulin titration (IgG index) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and qualitatively by demonstration of oligoclonal distribution of gammaglobulins. The authors report the results of a comparative study evaluating the IgG index and agarose electrophoresis versus electrofocusing. Sensitivity of electrofocusing was higher than the IgG index of standard agarose electrophoresis. Electrofocusing is the best method of proving intrathecal synthesis of immunoglobulins. Although oligoclonal bands are a useful aid in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, they indicate an immunological response but are not diagnostic for a particular disease.


Melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A) gene encodes melatonin hormone which regulates the function of seasonal reproductive activity in sheep. The aim of this study was to make the genetic characterization and identify the variant alleles of MTNR1A gene in Kivircik breed. Blood samples of 110 Kivircik sheep were collected from five different farms located in Kirklareli and Istanbul. DNA extraction was performed from blood samples. Exon 2, the polymorphic region of Melatonin receptor 1A gene, was amplified and PCR products were genotyped by using MnlI and RsaI enzymes. The observed alleles and genotypes for MnlI enzyme were; M (0.891), m (0.109) and MM (0.782), Mm (0.218) respectively. Kivircik sheep was null from mm genotype. Also identified alleles were C (0.682), T (0.318) and genotypes were CC (0.582), CT (0.200), TT (0.218) for RsaI enzyme. The most frequent genotypes were MM (78%) and CC (58%) in Kivircik ewes. Since MM and CC genotypes were known with their positive effect on out of season reproductive activities, Kivircik ewes with these genotypes might suggested to be used in out of season lambing when demanded.


Paleontology, as applied in biostratigraphy, has long been an indispensable part of petroleum exploration. However, rapidly improving technology in many disciplines and the limitations of traditional biostratigraphy based on tops and zones dictate the need for an improved technology. In response to this need new approaches have been suggested, including probabilistic stratigraphy, geohistory diagrams, no-space graphs, isotopic and fission track dating, radiometric geochronology, tephrochronology, magnetostratigraphy, paleo-oceanographic geochemistry, and graphic correlation utilizing composite standards. One example of a research program for the 1990s and beyond includes the development of a paleontologic composite standards and the interactive capability for their use by graphic correlation; the development of computer data bases for morphologic, taxonomic, paleoecologic and paleogeographic research and the interactive capability for synthesis, analysis and display; and, the development of time-based primary sedimentary models for prediction of geologic conditions ahead of the drill. Refined and stable taxonomic data supplied by highly capable paleontologists are a prerequisite for success. Such a program clearly requires management commitment of manpower and resources necessary to develop the technology, and it requires the development of effective technology transfer mechanisms to implement the results in exploration programs. The reward for success will be multifold improvement in our understandingmore » of geologic conditions and history.« less


West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus belonging to the family Flaviviridae included in the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex (JEAC). A seroepidemiological study was carried out in 2011 using 160 horse sera collected from different areas of Bolivia to investigate the presence of WNV antibody. A high proportion (59.4%) of the tested sera were positive to a commercially available WNV competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA). Sixty-six randomly selected C-ELISA-positive sera were further tested by WNV plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), virus neutralization (VN), and immunoglobulin M (IgM)-WNV ELISA to exclude false-positive results due to possible cross-reactions to other members of the JEAC and to investigate if the horses were recently infected. No WNV IgM was detected in these samples, whereas neutralizing antibodies were found in 21 and 18 samples by PRNT and VN, respectively. In conclusion, a high proportion of the Bolivian horses included in this study reacted serologically against viruses of the JEAC. WNV was partially responsible (31.8%) for these reactions, supporting the conclusion that WNV circulated in Bolivia.


The question of European identity is entangled with the question of the nature of the EU polity. The European Union (EU) has developed from an economic project based on the common purpose of peace, to a political project which has not found its identity yet (Schmitt-Egner, 2012, pp. 16–19) (Delanty, 2005, p. 127). Despite its extensive increase, the current academic discourse on European identity still lacks a distinct terminology (Vogt, 2007, pp. 348–350). In the sociological debate the ques-tion of the possibility and structure of a European public sphere is dominant. The realisation of transnational discourses among Europeans is supposed to lead to the formation of a shared European identity (Schmitt-Egner, 2012, pp. 55–60). Pursuant to the debate in political science, European polity as institutional structure, European demos as collective basis and European Citizenship as individual basis, depict the political form of a European public and enable the formation of a collective identity (Schmitt-Egner, 2012, pp. 60–62). In September 2013 the European Parliament (EP) has launched its infor-mation campaign for the 2014 elections. The general aim of the campaign has been the raise of awareness and the motivation of EU citizen to express their voice. The motto 'Act.React.Impact' emphasises that EU citizens can shape Europe's future by making use of their right to vote (Press Service , Directorate for the Media, 2013). Moreover, the campaign has also made use of social media to increase citizen's awareness of the upcoming European Parliament election. The hashtag #EP2014 has been prevalent and used to inform, communicate and motivate voters over so-cial media in an organised manner. Notably, the EP addresses the right to vote and hence the status of belonging to the EU as citizen, via the interactive and European-wide medium of social media. According to Walkenhorst, political institutions have the ability to influence collective identity. In the context of identity-building, the use of mass media is cru-cial. Walkenhorst remarks the issue that the EU has no common broadcasting ser-vices, which would enable the formation of a public sphere (Walkenhorst, 1999, pp. 43, 179-180). As shown above, social media is not affected by this issue. As a European-wide medium, without an intermediary, its potential for European identity
2
building could exceed the common mass media and might provide a solution for the lack of European collective identity.


The dehydriding property of xNaBH4 + (1 1 x) Mg2FeH6 (x = 0.10.75) is measured to investigate the effect of combining with complex hydride Mg2FeH6 on reducing dehydriding temperature of metal borohydrides, which has lately been found to be effective for LiBH4. When x = 0.1 and 0.125, a single-step dehydriding reaction is observed, while in the composition range x 2 0.25, a multi-step dehydriding reaction is observed. Despite the different dehydriding process, X-ray diffraction measurements confirmed that Mg2FeH6 and NaBH4 began releasing hydrogen simultaneously over the entire composition range. The results also indicate that the dehydriding temperature of NaBH4 is reduced by at least 150K when combining with Mg2FeH6. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.MG201404]


A critique of Nyborg's (2009) analysis of the relationship between IQ and religiousness is presented. It is argued that its problems, although relatively minor, could have been avoided if Wilson's (1998) consilience model were followed. In particular, it presents a number of errors of categorization (which impact its results) that could have been avoided if a Religious Studies expert had been involved in the review process.


Residual feed intake (RFI) is the difference between an animal's actual and expected feed intake. Two experiments were conducted comparing energy and nitrogen partitioning in mid-lactation, in Holstein–Friesian cows selected for high or low RFI measured previously as growing calves. Each experiment used 16 cows (8 high-RFI and 8 low-RFI); the first used primiparous (PP) cows and the second used multiparous (MP) cows. Cows were housed individually for 4 days in metabolism stalls, then open-circuit respiration chambers for 3 days. Each cow was offered ad libitum lucerne hay cubes plus 6 kg DM per day of crushed wheat grain. Individual feed intake, milk yield, milk composition and faecal and urine output were measured. Methane and carbon dioxide output and oxygen consumption were measured in the chambers. In MP cows, a greater proportion of energy intake was partitioned to milk and less to heat in low-RFI than high-RFI cows. The proportion of gross-energy intake per kilogram metabolic bodyweight partitioned to milk production was greater and the proportion partitioned to methane and heat production was lower in MP than in PP cows. Energy from tissue mobilisation was not affected by RFI or parity. The amount of nitrogen consumed from feed was greater in MP than PP cows. As a percentage of N intake, N partitioned to milk was greater in PP than in MP cows, but there were no overall effects of RFI on N partitioning. However, there was a trend towards a positive association between N excreted in the urine and RFI, which could have environmental implications. Both RFI and parity were associated with variation in energy and nitrogen partitioning and should be examined in a larger subset of animals in future.


A system of two nonlinear differential equations with slowly varying coefficients is treated. The asymptotics in the small parameter for the solutions that have a narrow transition layer is studied. Such a layer occurs near the moment where the number of roots of the corresponding algebraic system of equations changes. To construct the asymptotics, the matching method involving three scales is used.


Effects of some bitter-tasting compounds on frog taste receptors were examined by recording glossopharyngeal nerve responses. The order of effectiveness of the compounds was quinine greater than brucine greater than formanilide greater than caffeine greater than urea. When the effects of quinine, brucine and caffeine on electrical responses in taste cells were examined, they all produced a depolarization associated with an increased input resistance. The action of the three compounds on taste receptors therefore, operates with a similar mechanism. The electrical responses in cells, produced by quinine, progressed slowly with time. Such effects with quinine are similar to those with procaine. After adaptation to quinine, the nerve responses to various chemical stimuli were gradually reduced in magnitude, while the electrical responses in taste cells during stimulation by chemicals became smaller. The mechanism of the effects of bitter stimuli are discussed in light of recent findings on the interaction of bitter stimuli with lipid monolayers and the extraction of lipid from bovine taste papillae by bitter stimuli.


The patellar clunk syndrome describes painful catching, grinding or jumping of the patella when the knee moves from a flexed to an extended position after total knee replacement (TKR). The posterior stabilised TKR had been noted to have a higher incidence of this problem. Mobile-bearing posteriorly stabilised TKRs have been introduced to improve patellar tracking and related problems by a mechanism of self-alignment. We evaluated the patellar clunk syndrome in 113 knees in 93 patients with such a TKR at a mean follow-up of 2.3 years (2.0 to 3.2). The syndrome was identified in 15 knees (13.3%). Logistic regression analysis showed that the absolute value of the post-operative angle of patellar tilt was significantly associated with the occurrence of patellar clunk (p = 0.025). Patellar tracking should be carefully checked during surgery.


The use of Organic Semiconductors as sensors has revolutionized modern technology in recent years due to their inherent capabilities. Organic Gas Sensors have been successfully developed in many applications to detect Humidity (both absolute and relative), various gases like Ammonia, Alcohol, Nitrogen Oxides, Chlorine, Hydrogen etc. and nitroaromatic compounds based explosive vapors. These research areas are gaining attention due to the fact that the organic semiconductors enable precise organic synthesis, low-temperature fabrication processes on variety of both rigid and flexible substrates, and straightforward miniaturization of their devices. A more appropriate selection of the optimal organic semiconductor is important by addressing the relationship of the surface chemistry of the sensor active material and its electrical response. In this article, the structural and electrical characteristics of several organic semiconductors are elaborated. Earlier works on organic gas sensors based on these active layers have been discussed. A review has been made on the past and recent works on OFETs/OTFTs for the sensing of humidity and gases like ammonia, formaldehyde, alcohol, nitrogen oxides and explosive vapors. Several breakthrough findings evolved are also being discussed.


Hair restoration has long been thought of as restoring hair predominantly in the scalp in men and women who have lost hair for various reasons. Advances in hair restoration techniques have made it possible to transplant hair in non-scalp areas of the face where patients may have never had hair. Refinements in techniques have allowed for the restoration of beard hair and eyebrow hair with very natural appearing results. Pick up any of the latest fashion magazines and you see female models with thick, full eyebrows, or men sporting full beards. In part, due to these fashion and culture trends, along with advancements in techniques that we have developed, our practice has seen a large increase in the demand for beard and eyebrow restoration. This article describes the pre-operative evaluation, operative technique and post-operative care developed from the experience of over 1,000 procedures in facial hair restoration.


Photographs captured by smartphones and mid-range cameras have limited spatial resolution and dynamic range, with noisy response in underexposed regions and color artefacts in saturated areas. This paper introduces the first approach (to the best of our knowledge) to the reconstruction of highresolution, high-dynamic range color images from raw photographic bursts captured by a handheld camera with exposure bracketing. This method uses a physically-accurate model of image formation to combine an iterative optimization algorithm for solving the corresponding inverse problem with a learned image representation for robust alignment and a learned natural image prior. The proposed algorithm is fast, with low memory requirements compared to state-of-the-art learning-based approaches to image restoration, and features that are learned end to end from synthetic yet realistic data. Extensive experiments demonstrate its excellent performance with super-resolution factors of up to ×4 on real photographs taken in the wild with hand-held cameras, and high robustness to low-light conditions, noise, camera shake, and moderate object motion.


In this paper, a novel method of measurement of the real RCS of various airplanes in real conditions, in bistatic mode, and at low frequency is derived. The presence of an airplane is detected by the use of an ADS-B receiver. The RCS of an airplane is derived thanks to the ratio of the power of the received echo signal to the power of the received direct path signal. In practical experiments, a VOR transmitter is used as illuminator of opportunity, and a software-defined radio is used as receiver. The measured RCS will later be used to classify airplanes, in the context of ATR.


Dynamics of the East Asian spring rainband are investigated with a reanalysis dataset and station observations. Here, it is revealed that the rainband is anchored by external forcings. The midtropospheric jet core stays quasi-stationary around Japan. It has two branches in its entry region, which originate from the south and north flanks of the Tibetan Plateau and then run northeastward and southeastward, respectively. The southern branch advects warm air from the Tibetan–Hengduan Plateau northeastward, forming a rainband over southern China through causing adiabatic ascent motion and triggering diabatic feedback. The rainband is much stronger in spring than in autumn due to the stronger diabatic heating over the Tibetan–Hengduan Plateau, a more southward-displaced midtropospheric jet, and the resulting stronger warm advection over southern China. The northern jet branch forms a zonally elongated cold advection belt, which reaches a maximum around northern China, and then weakens and extends eastward to east of Japan. The westerly jet also steers strong disturbance activities roughly collocated with the cold advection belt via baroclinic instability. The high disturbance activities belt causes large cumulative warm advection (CWA) through drastically increasing extremely warm advection days on its eastern and south flanks, where weak cold advection prevails. CWA is more essential for monthly/seasonally rainfall than conventionally used time-average temperature advection because it is shown that strengthened warm advection can increase rainfall through positive diabatic feedback, while cold advection cannot cause negative rainfall. Thus, the rainband is collocated with the large CWA belt instead of the warm advection south of it. This rainband is jointed to the rainband over southern China, forming the long southwest–northeast-oriented East Asian spring rainband. Increasing moisture slightly displaces the rainband southeastward.


The approach of several processes specific for the public sector such as innovation, public and nonprofit marketing in view of co-creation and co-production of public services is more present in the field literature, in research projects or community development strategies. Remarkable contributions, such as those of Ostrom, Osborne, Voorberg, Jacob amplify and redirect the research agenda of public sector, providing also the pillar necessary to prestigious research programmes, i.e. Horizon 2020. A core subject consists in the connection between co-production and citizen participation. In this context, the concept of "emergence of co-production�? is genuine and significant for what we call "new economics foundation�?. The social, democratic and even political aspects joined the new concepts, revealing the growth of trust in the public, governmental authorities and citizen connection through involvement in public policies and programmes development. The current paper aims to provide a new perspective in light to approach public marketing, using co-production as pillar of the process specific to public marketing. The new concept, co-public marketing derives from general concepts, such as co-marketing, and specificity offered to public marketing by necessity and integration of citizen participation within the decisional processes from the public sector.


In the fashionmarket, the lack of historical sales data for new products imposes the use of methods based on Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) attributes. Recent works suggest the use of functional data analysis to assign the most accurate sales profiles to each item. An application of siamese neural networks is proposed to perform long-term sales forecasting for new products. A comparative study using benchmark models is conducted on data from a European fashion retailer. This shows that the proposed application can produce valuable item level sales forecasts.


Genome-wide association studies have opened a new era in the study of the genetic basis of common, multifactorial diseases and traits. Before the introduction of this approach only a handful of common genetic variants showed consistent association for any phenotype. Using genome-wide association, scores of novel and unsuspected loci have been discovered and later replicated for many complex traits. The principle is to genotype a dense set of common genetic variants across the genomes of individuals with phenotypic differences and examine whether genotype is associated with phenotype. Because the last common human ancestor was relatively recent and recombination events are concentrated in focal hotspots, most common variation in the human genome can be surveyed using a few hundred thousand variants acting as proxies for ungenotyped variants. Here, we describe the different steps of genome-wide association studies and use a recent study as example.


After less than a year of operation ,the BaBar experiment at SLAC has collected almost 100 million particle collision events in a database approaching 165TB.Around 20 TB of data has been exported via the Internet to the BaBar regional center at IN2P3 in Lyon,France,and around 40TB of simulated data has been imported from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory(LLNL),BaBar Collaborators plan to double data collection each year and export a third of the data to IN2P3.So within a few years the SLAC OC3 (155Mbps) connection will be fully utilized by file transfer to France alone.Upgrades to infrastructure is essential and detailed understanding of performance issues and the requirements for reliable high throughput transfers is critical.In this talk results from active and passive monitoring and direct measurements of throughput will be reviewed.Methods for achieving the ambitious requirements will be discussed.


Abstract : A unified approach is applied to the derivation of a number of formulas for the probability of signal detection and the probability of false alarm. The context is incoherent integration, with fluctuating signal-to-noise ratios and/or fluctuating thresholds. The standard results are obtained and extended to more general fluctuation models. A fundamental duality is established between fluctuating signals and fluctuating thresholds and used to simplify the derivations. Also included is an expression of the cumulative F-distribution as a finite sum of Marcum Q-functions.


Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) binds right-handed DNA duplex via a minor groove and the backbone phosphate group with no contact to the major groove. It hydrolyses double-stranded DNA predominantly by a single-stranded nicking mechanism under physiological conditions, in the presence of divalent Mg and Ca cations. Even though DNase-RNA interaction was observed, less is known about the protein-RNA binding mode and the effect of such complexation on both protein and RNA conformations. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of DNase I-tRNA interaction on tRNA and protein conformations. The interaction of DNase I with tRNA is monitored under physiological conditions, in the absence of Mg2+, using constant DNA concentration of 12.5 mM (phosphate) and various protein contents (10 microM to 250 microM). FTIR, UV-visible, and CD spectroscopic methods were used to analyze the protein binding mode, the binding constant, and the effects of polynucleotide-enzyme interaction on both tRNA and protein conformations. Spectroscopic evidence showed major DNase-PO2 and minor groove interactions with overall binding constant of K = 2.1 (+/-0.7) x 10(4) M(-1). The DNase I-tRNA interaction alters protein secondary structure with major reduction of the alpha-helix, and increases the random coil, beta-anti and turn structures, while tRNA remains in the A-conformation. No digestion of tRNA by DNase I was observed in the protein-tRNA complexes.


Abstract Background Microbiota-based treatments have shown promise to reduce recurrence, morbidity, and mortality for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections (rCDI), but consistent and reliable safety data are needed to support regulatory approvals and broaden patient access. Here we provide cumulative safety data from 5 prospective clinical studies evaluating RBX2660—a standardized, microbiota-based investigational live biotherapeutic—for reducing rCDI. Methods This analysis included three Phase 2 (PUNCH CD, PUNCH CD2, PUNCH CD Open Label) and two Phase 3 trials (PUNCH CD3, PUNCH CD3-OLS ad hoc analysis). Participants were ≥18 years old with documented rCDI who completed standard-of-care oral antibiotic therapy prior to treatment with RBX2660. PUNCH CD3-OLS allowed participants with comorbidities of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Depending on the trial, assigned study treatment was 1 or 2 doses of RBX2660 (or placebo), administered rectally. Participants whose CDI recurred within 8 weeks were eligible for additional RBX2660 treatment. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were recorded for at least 6 months following last study treatment; CD2 and CD Open Label recorded TEAEs for 24 months. Results Among 620 participants who received at least one RBX2660 dose (assigned treatment or after recurrence), 324 (52.3%) received 1, 270 (43.5%) received 2, 14 (2.3%) received 3, and 12 (1.9%) received 4. 83 participants received blinded placebo only. A total of 1980 TEAEs were reported from 432 (69.7%) RBX2660-treated participants, compared to 174 TEAEs in 50 (60.2%) placebo-only treated participants. Most TEAEs were mild or moderate in severity, with diarrhea common in all treatment groups. No potentially life-threatening TEAEs were considered related to RBX2660. Study discontinuation due to TEAEs was minimal (< 1%) with none related to RBX2660. There were no reported infections for which the causative pathogen was traced to RBX2660. Conclusion Across five clinical studies with consistent investigational product, RBX2660 was well-tolerated in rCDI participants. In aggregate, this data provides compelling and consistent safety data for RBX2660. Disclosures Tricia Braun, PharmD, Rebiotix, a Ferring Company (Employee) Beth Guthmueller, AS, Rebiotix Inc, A Ferring Company (Employee) Adam J. Harvey, PhD, Rebiotix, A Ferring Company (Employee)


Report from the Battlefront Harish Chandola IT will be naive to believe that the mining of North Vietnamese ports and the frenzied bombing of its road and rail links with China will turn the tide of the war in South Vietnam. Even if these acts are performed to perfection and succeed in stopping the How of military equipment to Vietnam (which really is an absolutely impossible task), how long will it take the stoppage of fresh supplies to affect the war? The US stopped bombing North Vietnam four years ago and it is common knowledge that during those four years military equipment has freely been flowing in. So even if the US manages to cut off fresh supplies, the stock of four years is already in the pipeline for the liberation struggle and it will be a long time before this is exhausted.


The distribution and role of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in laryngeal innervation are reviewed, and our recent findings regarding the nitrergic innervation of the larynx are demonstrated for the better understanding of the complexity of the laryngeal innervation system. Noradrenergic innervation of the larynx was studied with fluorescence histochemistry and electron microscopy after application of 5-hydroxydopamine. These studies confirmed the existence of noradrenergic innervation for the submucosal glands and blood vessels, and the origin and course of noradrenergic nerve fibers contained in the laryngeal nerves and their destinations in the larynx. Cholinergic innervation of the larynx has not been clarified in detail. Many kinds of neuropeptides have been demonstrated to be involved in laryngeal innervation. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide originating from intralaryngeal ganglionic neurons participates in laryngeal vasodilation and reduction of laryngeal seromucous secretion. Neuropeptide Y nerve fibers are few in the larynx, and most originate from the superior cervical ganglion. They are distributed around the large or medium-sized blood vessels, especially arteries. They are also associated with excretory structures. Substance P was the first neuropeptide found to be a sensory neurotransmitter in the laryngeal afferent system. It is also involved in regulation of laryngeal blood flow and secretion. Calcitonin gene—related peptide is associated with the sensory, autonomic, and motor innervation of the larynx. The majority of enkephalin nerve fibers are located close to excretory structures, although no information on the physiological significance of enkephalin is available. In addition to the above neuropeptides, the peptides histidine isoleucine, histidine methionine, and helospectin have been shown to exist in the larynx. The nitrergic innervation of the larynx has been recently studied with NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry and immunohistochemistry using antiserum against nitric oxide synthase. Nitric oxide originates from the neurons in the intralaryngeal ganglia and is believed to modulate blood flow and secretion of the larynx. It controls the laryngeal exocrine secretion in cooperation with intrinsic vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and/or extrinsic calcitonin gene—related peptide. Nitric oxide from the nodose ganglion may modulate nociception of the larynx. The existence of nitrergic neurons located in the intrinsic laryngeal muscles has been demonstrated. Many of them are bipolar or pseudounipolar, so they might be sensory in nature. The effect of injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve on the induction of nitric oxide synthase in the laryngeal motoneurons is also discussed.


The myxomatous materials in cutis from a patient with pretibial myxedema (PTM) with Graves' disease were found to be mainly hyaluronic acid (HA), which had accumulated extensively in the upper dermis. Fibroblasts were increased in number in the mid to lower dermis. To clarify the mechanism of the deposition of HA in the dermis, we employed an antibody against serum‐derived hyaluronan‐associated protein (SHAP). This immunohistochemical study disclosed that the greater part of the fibroblasts in the mid to lower dermis stained positively, while the fibroblasts surrounded by fairly large amounts of HA in the upper dermis stained faintly or not at all. From these results, we suspect that the accumulation of HA progresses from the upper to the low dermis and that the interaction of fibroblasts and SHAP leads to development of the physiophathological cutaneous changes seen in our case.


This article examines Shaikh Amadu Bamba Mbacké and his theology as a cogent response to White Supremacy as expressed in French Colonization of Africa. White Supremacy has as its primary goal, the recreation of the whole world in the image of Whiteness upon the premise that the possession of White skin makes one inherently superior. Theism counters this ontological assault with an unabashed turn to a believer's God. Shaikh Amadu Bamba Mbacké's insistence on Islam counters White Supremacy thereby providing an ideological and metaphysical space for the non-whites of Senegal to exist without succumbing to the temptation to aspire to a Euro-centric ideal.


During the course of a fiscal year, Oak Ridge National Laboratory`s Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC) distributes thousands of specialty publications-numeric data packages (NDPs), computer model packages (CMPs), technical reports, public communication publications, newsletters, article reprints, and reference books-in response to requests for information related to global environmental issues, primarily those pertaining to climate change. CDIACs staff also provides technical responses to specific inquiries related to carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}), other trace gases, and climate. Hundreds of referrals to other researchers, policy analysts, information specialists, or organizations are also facilitated by CDIAC`s staff. This report provides an account of the activities accomplished by CDIAC during the period October 1, 1991 to September 30, 1992. An organizational overview of CDIAC and its staff is supplemented by a detailed description of inquiries received and CDIAC`s response to those inquiries. As analysis and description of the preparation and distribution of numeric data packages, computer model packages, technical reports, newsletters, fact sheets, specialty publications, and reprints is provided. Comments and descriptions of CDIAC`s information management systems, professional networking, and special bilateral agreements are also described.


This study focuses on the mechanisms and institutions for the governance of public spaces on Khao San Road, Bangkok. Khao San is a small road famous for tourism. It is located near major attractions, and is full of budget accommodations and street vendors. This street is known among the locals and foreign tourists as one of Bangkok's most vibrant and lively.
Furthermore, Khao San offers immense opportunity for vendors, as it is crowded with tourists all day. This factor is of utmost importance to the success of businesses. Therefore, competitions for prime vending spots on the road have been going on for years. Under these circumstances, public spaces are transformed into private goods that can be traded, transferred and deprived in reality. With the qualitative method of grounded theory, this paper reveals the process of Khao San Road's commodification as well as the mechanisms and institutions involved in the process. Qualitative data collected using three methods: non-participant observations, in-depth interviews, and document studies were triangulated and analysed. The findings suggest that both external and internal mechanisms have stimulated the commodification of public spaces on Khao San Road over the past decades. The external mechanisms are tourism and multinational capitalist economy. The internal mechanism relates to community norms on the de facto individual rights over public spaces. These mechanisms have developed unofficial rules to work at an operational level with official rules supervised by officials. A critical outcome of these mechanisms and rules is the determination of the right to access and use public spaces by various groups of stakeholders.
In conclusion, the paper discusses the relationship between the commodification of public spaces and the inequality problem. Public spaces as private goods are not different from other private possessions that can be excluded through price, authority, and policy mechanisms. Collaboration between mechanisms has resulted in only a small number of people having the opportunity to indeed access and utilise the resources on the street. People whose opportunity is denied need to bring themselves into the patronage system to ensure the survival of their businesses.


Background: Striae gravidarum is a commonly occurred physiological change among women with pregnancy. Although these changes are accepted as physiological, the lack of therapeutical and preventive techniques led to impaired quality of life of women. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of striae gravidarum on quality of life in a sample of Turkish pregnant woman population and the usage of cream/lotion to prevent the striae. Methods: Women with pregnancy whose completed 36 weeks of their pregnancy and admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology outpatient unit between March 2017 and August 2017 were included in the study. The severity of striae was assessed using Davey's score. The effects of striae on patient's quality of life were evaluated by Skindex-29 questionnaire. The usage of cream/lotion whether or not was also asked and recorded. Results: A total of 153 women with pregnancy were included in the study. Of those 43.1% (n = 66) was primiparae and 56.9% (n = 87) was multiparae. The prevalence of striae gravidarum in total, primiparae and multiparae was 75.8%, 66.7%, and 82.7%, respectively. There was a weak positive correlation found between the parity and severity of striae (ρ =0.190, P = 0.018). The emotion and symptom score of primiparae women with severe striae were higher than women without striae (P = 0.001; P = 0.028, respectively). The usage of cream/lotion was significantly higher in primiparae compared to multiparae (P < 0.001). The symptom and emotion scores of the women with striae those applied cream were higher than nonusers (P < 0.001; P = 0.038, respectively). Conclusions: Striae gravidarum may cause psychological and physical effects among women, especially primiparae women with severe striae and negatively affects the quality of life. Cream/lotion may be used to prevent striae development and reduce symptoms of pregnant women with higher emotion scores.


In the present contribution, we propose to make use of Laser Doppler Anemometry to investigate the dynamics of the flow inside an urban canopy immersed into a thick turbulent boundary layer. Previous studies dedicated to such flows (Castro et al. 2006; Reynolds and Castro 2008) have focused the core of their analysis on the roughness sublayer region or on the inertial region. In contrast, the region below the canopy interface have received little attention so far, and only mean velocity or Reynolds stresses data can be found in the literature. Indeed, getting access to the dynamics of the flow inside the canopy represents a real experimental challenge: the flow is turbulent, 3-dimensionnal, and due to the tight clearance, only non-intrusive laser-based techniques such as LDA or PIV can be used. In this contribution, for the first time, a spectral analysis of the flow is carried out inside the canopy region. This is made possible thanks to very thorough LDA measurements as well as the use of advanced post-processing algorithm to compute temporal power spectra. Indeed, LDA measurement yields non-equidistantly spaced data points, and standard FFT algorithms cannot be used. A detailed comparison of various algorithms is undertaken, and a slight improvement is proposed to reduce the impact of measurement noise. Finally, the power spectra inside the canopy are analyzed and the main implications on the flow dynamics are discussed.


What effects will the implementation of the quality standard ISO 9000 have regarding working conditions and competitive advantages? Which are the most important change process characteristics for assuring improved working conditions and other desired effects? These are main questions behind this study of six furniture-making companies which implemented ISO 9000 during the period 1990-1993. The results show that customer requirement was the dominating goal to implement ISO 9000. Five of the six companies succeeded in gaining certification. The influence on working conditions was limited to better "order and method", more positive attitude towards discussing quality shortcomings, a few workplace improvements, work enrichment caused by additional tasks within the quality system and a better understanding of external customer demands. The negative effects were new, apparently meaningless tasks for individual workers as well as more stress and more physically strenuous work. The effects on companies were a decrease in external quality-related costs and improved delivery precision. The study confirms the importance of the change process and identifies "improvement methodology" as the most important characteristic.


We discuss the design of controllers for compressors with general characteristics using a graph backstepping procedure involving the construction of the throttle surface. We show that for a quite general compressor characteristic, every potential axisymmetric equilibrium on the decreasing part of the compressor characteristic, the peak of the characteristic, and every rotating stall equilibrium close to the peak can be globally stabilized by an appropriate choice of the throttle surface and the controller gains. We discuss controllers that stabilise a range of the desired equilibria and guarantee a soft bifurcation of the equilibria as a set-point parameter varies.


BACKGROUND
The long-term impact of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reservoirs in patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is largely unknown.

METHODS
We studied the effects of a reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic HSCT from donors with wild-type-CCR5(+) cells on HIV-1 peripheral blood reservoirs in 2 patients heterozygous for the ccr5Δ32 mutation. In-depth analyses of the HIV-1 reservoir size in peripheral blood, coreceptor use, and specific antibody responses were performed on samples obtained before and up to 3.5 years after HSCT receipt.

RESULTS
Although HIV-1 DNA was readily detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) before and 2-3 months after HSCT receipt, HIV-1 DNA and RNA were undetectable in PBMCs, CD4(+) T cells, or plasma up to 21 and 42 months after HSCT. The loss of detectable HIV-1 correlated temporally with full donor chimerism, development of graft-versus-host disease, and decreases in HIV-specific antibody levels.

CONCLUSIONS
The ability of donor cells to engraft without evidence of ongoing HIV-1 infection suggests that HIV-1 replication may be fully suppressed during cART and does not contribute to maintenance of viral reservoirs in peripheral blood in our patients. HSCTs with wild-type-CCR5(+) donor cells can lead to a sustained reduction in the size of the peripheral reservoir of HIV-1.


Due to the lipophilic properties of the uppermost skin layer of the stratum corneum (SC), it is highly challenging to attain therapeutic concentrations of active substances; hydrophilic drugs, in particular, penetrate poorly. The purpose of this study was the improvement of the topical bioavailability of the hydrophilic dipeptides L-carnosine and its related compound N-acetyl-L-carnosine. Different strategies were investigated. On the one hand, an enhancer molecule, 1,2-pentylene glycol (PG), was added to a standard preparation, and on the other hand, a microemulsion (ME-PG) system was developed. Both were compared to the standard formulation without an enhancer molecule. For all 3 preparations, the penetration of the peptides in ex vivo human skin was investigated. This allows statements to be made regarding dermal penetration, localization and distribution of the active substances in each skin layer as well as the influence of vehicle variations, in this case, the addition of PG or the incorporation of N-acetyl-L-carnosine in an ME-PG system. For L-carnosine and N-acetyl-L-carnosine, the use of the standard preparation with PG resulted in a significant increase of the substance within the SC. Approximately 6-fold and higher dipeptide concentrations in the SC and in the viable skin layers were detected at all experimental periods compared to the formulation without the enhancer molecule and the ME-PG. High concentrations of the compounds were found after a short period of time in the viable skin layers after applying the enhancer molecule, even in concentrations of 5%. The application of the colloidal carrier system did not lead to a higher penetration rate of N-acetyl-L-carnosine in comparison to both standard preparations, although it must be said that the microstructure of the investigated ME-PG might not have been optimal for the hydrophilic properties of the dipeptide.


Ammonite species of the genera Prionocyclus, Subprionocyclus, and Collignoniceras described here from the Cardium Formation, in combination with scaphitid ammonoids and inoceramid bivalves, allow recognition of all biozones for the Turonian Stage (Upper Cretaceous) established farther south in the United States Western Interior Basin. Although many of the species used in this zonation were endemic to the Western Interior seaway, more cosmopolitan forms at some levels do allow correlation with western European sequences. The presence of Prionocyclus germari Reuss is firmly established in the lower parts of the Leyland Member, confirming the position of the Turonian-Coniacian boundary and earlier proposed constraints on the duration of the Cardinal–Leyland hiatus.


Winter can be a stressful period for stream-dwelling salmonid populations, often resulting in reduced growth and survival. Stream water temperatures have been identified as a primary mechanism driving reductions in fitness during winter. However, groundwater inputs can moderate water temperature and may reduce winter severity. Additionally, seasonal reductions in prey availability may contribute to decreased growth and survival, although few studies have examined food webs supporting salmonids under winter conditions. This study employed diet, stable isotope, and mark-recapture techniques to examine winter (November through March) feeding, growth, and condition of brown trout Salmo trutta in a groundwater-dominated stream (Badger Creek, Minnesota, USA). Growth was greater for fish ≤ 150 mm (mean = 4.1 mg g−1 day−1) than for those 151–276 mm (mean = 1.0 mg g−1 day−1) during the winter season. Overall condition from early winter to late winter did not vary for fish ≤150 mm (mean relative weight (Wr) = 89.5) and increased for those 151–276 mm (mean Wr = 85.8 early and 89.4 late). Although composition varied both temporally and by individual, brown trout diets were dominated by aquatic invertebrates, primarily Amphipods, Dipterans, and Trichopterans. Stable isotope analysis supported the observations of the dominant prey taxa in stomach contents and indicated the winter food web was supported by a combination of allochthonous inputs and aquatic macrophytes. Brown trout in Badger Creek likely benefited from the thermal regime and increased prey abundance present in this groundwater-dominated stream during winter.


In this paper,in order to solve the abnormal noise in the pickup while it accelerates or decelerates,the test was done through the use of LMS Test.Lab system,the spectrum and correlation analyses of vibration and noise were carried out. The further research direction and improvement measures were given.


Given the major advantages of productivity and safety, the use of garbage collection (GC) in real-time systems has gained increasing attention. Guaranteeing garbage collection activities' worst-case execution time (WCET) is necessary for a real-time system to perform scheduling and schedulability analysis. This paper describes a detailed GC cost model for incremental mark-and-sweep GC exemplified by a modified Boehm-Demers-Weiser (BDW) collector. The GC cost model computes the WCET for garbage collection in terms of (1) the performance of collector operations and (2) the garbage collection load offered by a real-time task. Separating these aspects is a step along the road to an engineering approach to garbage collection in real-time systems, allowing prediction of system behavior from knowledge of component behavior and environmental specifications. The model incorporates the cost of write barriers that are needed to support incremental GC. To be useful for real-time systems, a model's predicted WCET must be no less than the actual WCET. However, unreasonably large overestimates are also problematic as they may lead to the incorrect conclusion that the application cannot be feasibly scheduled. A pessimism metric assesses the degree to which the model's predictions exceed the measured worst-case cost in particular instances.


The aim of this paper is basically methodological: that viewing literature in unusual light—as discourse and thus as communication rather than as object—produces some unusual insights. Thus it is an argument about 'procedure in literate criticism. Because the idea of 'discourse' is to be defined in linguistics, it is an argument about the scope and aims of linguistics too. But beyond these method¬ological considerations, it would sense an implicit political, or at leas: educational, goal also: the approach recommended is designed to make the institution of literature more accessible, to attack an artificial and polemic barrier that has been built between literature and other modes of discourse.


We studied the effects of an increased bromide intake, at different levels of iodine supply to the organism, on various aspects of iodine metabolism in the rat. A reduction of the food intake and consequently of the body weight gain was observed in rats drinking water with the highest bromide concentration (5 g bromide per liter). An increase in the relative weight of the thyroids and a significant decrease in the 24-h uptake of radioiodide by the thyroids were also found in these animals, especially in those fed a research low-iodine diet. The concentration ratio [I]/[Br] in the thyroids proved to be a very sensitive marker of even negligibly increased bromide intake in the rats.


Arising via an unidentified pathogenic mechanism, central pontine myelinolysis affects the central portion of the base of the pons. Rapid correction of hyponatremia is a frequent cause. The main symptoms are spastic tetraparesis, pseudobulbar paralysis and locked-in syndrome. We report a case of central pontine myelinolysis without hyponatremia, revealed by left upper monoplegia in a 40-Year-old female alcoholic patient without malnutrition symptom. Central pontine myelinolysis occurred consecutive to a suicide attempt with multiple drugs and alcohol. The diagnosis was confirmed by brain magnetic resonance imaging. This case illustrates the paucisymptomatic clinical characteristics of central ponine myelinolysis in patients without electrolyte and nutritional disorders.


The focus of this study is to determine the attitudes towards advertising from the perspective of two (2) generational cohorts. The study intend to analyze the belief affecting consumer' attitude towards advertising of the product by looking into factors such as product information, social role and image, falsity no sense, corrupt value and materialisrV Survey questionnaire is utilized as the instrument for data collection. The design of this study is in the form of cross-sectional quantitative research suitable for attitude towards advertising and marketing research. Respondents who under to this prospective-pursuer (21-34) group and social-striver (35-50) group located in Sarawak were selected to participate in this study which involved a total of 404 respondents. T-test is use to test the different belief between prospective-pursuers and social-strivers about advertising of beliefs. Regression is used to determine the effect of independent variables with dependent variable for each cohort. This study found out there is a significant difference between prospective-pursuer and social-striver about advertising of beliefs (product information, falsity no sense; corrupt value and materialism). Product information and social role and image had found that significant effect on attitude towards advertising to both generational cohorts. The interesting of the finding in this study about the corrupt value is also significant effect to attitude towards advertising to social-striver. The findings also suggested few recommendations for marketers and businesses to plan for their strategies to target the segment in Sarawak.


The purpose of the present invention is to prevent, in a permanent magnet embedded rotating electric machine, a permanent magnet from breaking and spreading not only when the permanent magnet is embedded in a rotor, but also after the permanent magnet has been embedded in the rotor. A thermoset FRP is used as a reinforcement sheet (342). The reinforcement sheet (342) is wound around a permanent magnet (341), thermally cured, and thereby attached to the surface of the permanent magnet (341). After that, the permanent magnet (341) to which the reinforcement sheet (342) is attached is buried into a magnet burying hole of the rotor, where the surface of the reinforcement sheet (342) after being thermally cured is not joined to the inner wall of the magnet burying hole. Accordingly, when the temperature of the rotor rises, stress caused by the difference between the linear expansion coefficient of the rotor and that of the permanent magnet is not applied to the permanent magnet, so that it is possible to prevent the permanent magnet from breaking.


OBJECTIVE
In our study, we aimed to reveal pathophysiologic mechanisms in ASD by comparing plasma amino acid levels between patients and healthy controls while considering vitamin B12 and D levels.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
The study included 21 patients aged 2-18 years-old who were followed with a diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 21 age and sex-matched healthy children from our outpatient clinic as control group.

RESULTS
The study included 42 children and adolescents aged 2-18 years-old (19 girls and 23 boys). There were no significant differences in terms of body weight and height between the groups. We found significant differences in levels of ammonium, phosphoethanolamine, histidine, homocysteine, carnosine, methionine, cystathionine, cystine, threonine, 3-methyl histidine and phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio between patient and control groups. Both vitamin B12 and D were significantly lower in the ASD group compared to controls. In the variance analysis with vitamin B12 and D as covariates, significant differences persisted for only phosphoethanolamine (p=0.04), cystathionine (p<0.001), cystine (p=0.006) and threonine (p=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS
Further studies are needed on the amino acids that show variations in children with ASD in order to reveal their role in the etiology and therapeutic use in ASD.


Background Imaging sequences for detection of meningeal and parenchymal lesions are critical in intracranial pathology. Our study analysed FLAIR MRI sequence for evaluating postcontrast enhancement. Objectives FLAIR imaging sequences have been used in evaluation of enhancement in the brain. We conducted a study of FLAIR imaging sequences to better delineate postcontrast enhancement. Materials and Methods In this prospective hospital-based observational study, postcontrast T1 MTC and delayed postcontrast T2 FLAIR and T1 FLAIR images of 66 patients with intracranial pathology were assessed by experienced radiologists from November 2017 to November 2019. Results 28 cases of meningeal enhancement were identified in delayed postcontrast T2 FLAIR images. Low-grade gliomas included in the study showed postcontrast enhancement on postcontrast T1 MTC images. Multiple sclerosis lesions were better seen on postcontrast T1 FLAIR. In extraaxial lesions of 11 cases of meningioma, brighter enhancement was seen on delayed postcontrast T2 FLAIR images. Conclusion We found that delayed postcontrast T2 FLAIR was better in detection of meningeal enhancement in infectious meningitis and in meningitis carcinomatosis than T1 MTC images. In delayed postcontrast T2 FLAIR images, intra-axial parenchyma lesions appeared more conspicuous or similar to T1 MTC images. Delayed postcontrast T1 FLAIR images provided better anatomic delineation of intra-axial lesions.