Background: Uterine rupture causes high maternal and neonatal mortality in many rural setting in the world. Uterine rupture accounts for about 8% of all maternal deaths. Method and Materials: Facility based cross sectional study design was employed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of uterine rupture. The data were abstracted from the cases registered during 2010 and 2014 in delivery registers, operating theater registers and patients' case files of obstetrics ward of Debre Markos Referral Hospital North West Ethiopia. A total of 880 cases were selected by using systematic sampling method. Result: A sample size of 880 cases was selected after a review of 5-year patients' records (approx. 16,100 registered delivery cases) from Debre Markos Referral Hospital maternity ward. Among these selected cases, 854 (97.2%) cases were responded for the study. Prevalence of uterine rupture was identified in 81 (9.5%) cases. Factors associated with uterine rupture includes: attending ante natal care less than two visits (OR 2.5 95% CI 1.25-5.03), no use of partograph on follow up of labor (OR 7.29 95% CI 3.4-15.4), obstructed labor (OR 15.3 95% CI 7.54-31.1), living within >10 km of distance from the hospital (OR 5.26 95% CI 1.8-15.3), increase in one unit of maternal age (OR 8.15 95% CI 0.18-0.82), increase of one gravidity (OR 2.165 95% CI 1.6-2.9) and referred from other facilities (OR 6.5 95% CI 2.5-16.2). Conclusion and Recommendations: Uterine rupture is one of the major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in Debre Markos Referral Hospital in North West Ethiopia. Majority of uterine ruptures were occurred due to the obstructed labor. The hospital should build strong collaborative and integrative mechanisms with catchment of healthy facility and educative campaign to decrease prevalence of uterine rupture and its impact in the surrounding regions.


Spatial driver eye-scanning behavior and driving speeds were collected along four rural two-lane road test sites under low-beam illumination conditions at night. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that drivers adjust their spatial eye-scanning behavior and their driving speeds in response to pavement marking visibility. Two pavement marking conditions were investigated: (a) low-visibility temporary pavement markings (before condition) consisting of a yellow dashed centerline and no edge lines on a newly paved asphalt surface, and (b) new, fully restored double solid yellow centerlines with white edge lines (after condition). The results suggest that drivers operate with very short preview times and that drivers do not appear to lower their speeds under the low-visibility before condition, as compared with their speeds under the high-visibility after condition. However, drivers systematically and consistently decrease their longitudinal eye fixation distances under the before condition. This study provides further evidence that drivers "overdrive" their low beams at night and that there may be a need for a specific educational effort or, in the case of temporary pavement markings in construction work zones, the use of regulatory lower speed limits and credible enforcement.


Two hundred one biliary endoprostheses were inserted transhepatically with a two-step procedure in 162 patients. Teflon endoprostheses were inserted in the initial 95 patients and polyethylene in seven others. Because in vitro experiments and clinical experience have revealed a lower incrustation rate with Percuflex and polyurethane, endoprostheses made of these materials were used in the last 60 patients. The mortality rate directly related to the procedure was 3.7%, and postprocedural complications occurred in 9% of the patients. Delayed complications included cholangitis in 20%, obstruction in 6%, and dislocation in 3% of the cases. The mean survival time of all 162 patients was 20 weeks. It is concluded that endoprostheses offer effective palliative treatment of obstructive jaundice caused by malignancy.


Advancing critical and enhancing technologies is considered essential to enabling sustainable and affordable human space exploration. Critical technologies are those that enable a certain class of mission, such as technologies necessary for safe landing on the Martian surface, advanced propulsion, and closed loop life support. Others enhance the mission by leading to a greater satisfaction of mission objectives or increased probability of mission success. Advanced technologies are needed to reduce mass and cost. Many space agencies have studied exploration mission architectures and scenarios with the resulting lists of critical and enhancing technologies being very similar. With this in mind, and with the recognition that human space exploration will only be enabled by agencies working together to address these challenges, interested agencies participating in the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) have agreed to perform a technology assessment as an important step in exploring cooperation opportunities for future exploration mission scenarios. "The Global Exploration Strategy: The Framework for Coordination" was developed by fourteen space agencies and released in May 2007. Since the fall of 2008, several International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) participating space agencies have been studying concepts for human exploration of the moon. They have identified technologies considered critical and enhancing of sustainable space exploration. Technologies such as in-situ resource utilization, advanced power generation/energy storage systems, reliable dust resistant mobility systems, and closed loop life support systems are important examples. Similarly, agencies such as NASA, ESA, and Russia have studied Mars exploration missions and identified critical technologies. They recognize that human and robotic precursor missions to destinations such as LEO, moon, and near earth objects provide opportunities to demonstrate the technologies needed for Mars mission. Agencies see the importance of assessing gaps and overlaps in their plans to advance technologies in order to leverage their investments and enable exciting missions as soon as practical. They see the importance of respecting the ability of any agency to invest in any technologies considered interesting or strategic. This paper will describe the importance of developing an appropriate international strategy for technology development and ideas for effective mechanisms for advancing an international strategy. This work will both inform and be informed by the development of an ISECG Global Exploration Roadmap and serve as a concrete step forward in advancing the Global Exploration Strategy.


We report here the preliminary antimicrobial activity of substances produced by Bacillus subtilis NB-6 (air flora isolate), Bacillus megaterium NB-3 (air flora isolate), Burkholderia mallei NB-8 (water isolate) and Corynebacterium kutscheri NB-1 (soil isolate) against a number of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The MRSA were isolated from sheep, bovine, camel and poultry meat samples collected from retails shops and slaughter houses located in Amman area, Jordan. B. mallei NB-8 and C. kutscheri NB-1 were found to possess a good antimicrobial activity against MRSA strains.


Many studies in the fields of Law, Sociology and Management evoke a questioning of the bond of subordination between employer and workers. This transformation of subordination is often explained by the triangulation of the traditionally bilateral labour relation between employer and workers, due in large part to the intrusion of the client or their representatives in the organizational conditions of work, without necessarily distinguishing between the various types of clients, nor between the reality and the rhetoric of the role and the weight of the client. The objective of this article is to propose a classification of the triangular situations between employer, workers and client based on power concept and to analyse the impacts of client on work conditions and employment relations.


This is the first study to investigate the effect of ethanol concentrations on the phenolic content and biological activities of Sripanya Punica granatum peel extract. Various concentrations of ethanol, (20 to 80% v/v), were used in the maceration process. Extracts were investigated for total phenolic content by the Folin–Ciocalteu method, antioxidant activities by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay, and anti-tyrosinase activity by a spectrophotometric method. The chemical composition was investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography. The irritation of the extracts was determined by Hen's egg test–chorioallantoic membrane assay. The results demonstrated that E60, which was extracted using 60% v/v ethanol, had the highest yield (66.23 ± 0.38% w/w), the highest total phenolic content (490.42 ± 7.20 μg GAE/g), and the highest antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities. IC50 values on DPPH• and ABTS•+ inhibition were 10.97 ± 0.97 and 6.48 ± 0.06 µg/mL, respectively. The 60% v/v ethanol extract (E60) possessed strong tyrosinase inhibition with an IC50 value of 0.10 ± 0.13 µg/mL, which is more potent than kojic acid. The major constituents were punicalagin (4.05 ± 0.26% w/w) and ellagic acid (0.63 ± 0.04% w/w). E60 was safe for topical application since it did not induce irritation. Therefore, we suggest that E60 is a promising agent for further product development.


Laser spectroscopies have developed along with the lasers used as light sources and may be applied in diverse situations. Techniques and approaches that generally involve a linear response to laser radiation are covered. These are divided broadly into direct and proxy techniques. The former detects the absorption of radiation directly, whereas the latter detects a side effect of absorption such as fluorescence or heating. A selection of the methods outlined are cavity ring-down spectroscopy and its variants, laser-induced fluorescence, photoacoustic spectroscopy, and some double-resonance techniques. The range of topics covered is not intended to be exhaustive and the selection probably indicates the direct experience of the author.

Keywords:

cavity ring-down spectroscopy;
Raman spectroscopy;
ZEKE spectroscopy;
LMR spectroscopy;
laser induced fluorescence;
Saturation dip spectroscopy;
double resonance


Like early-type galaxies, also nearby galaxy clusters define a Fundamental Plane, a luminosityradius, and a luminosity-velocity dispersion relations, whose physical origin is still unclear. By means of high resolution N–body simulations of massive dark matter halos in a ΛCDM cosmology, we find that scaling relations similar to those observed for galaxy clusters are already defined by their dark matter hosts. The slopes however are not the same, and among the various possibilities in principle able to bring the simulated and the observed scaling relations in mutual agreement, we show that the preferred solution is a luminosity dependent mass-to-light ratio (M/L ∝ L), that well corresponds to what inferred observationally. We then show that at galactic scales there is a conflict between the cosmological predictions of structure formation, the observed trend of the mass-to-light ratio in ellipticals, and the slope of their luminosity-velocity dispersion relation (that significantly differs from the analogous one followed by clusters). The conclusion is that the scaling laws of elliptical galaxies might be the combined result of the cosmological collapse of density fluctuations at the epoch when galactic scales became non-linear, plus important modifications afterward due to early-time dissipative merging. Finally, we briefly discuss the possible evolution of the cluster scaling relations with redshift.


In most countries the structural codes has since long moved from simple deemed-to-satisfy approaches to a performance thinking. As regards the properties of non-load bearing parts of buildings and hence building products the state-of-the-art is still more complex, but the performance road is evident. The European Construction Products Directive, CPD (Council directive 89/106/EEC), which states that the Essential Requirements on constructed works should be met during the intended working life of the building results in essence in a performance requirement on all building products. The life performance of the materials and products has to be assessed and declared. The article accounts for the ongoing work within the EU FP5 Thematic Network PeBBu (Performance Based Building) and how this in the area of building products is connected to the standardisation operated by ISO TC59/SC 14 Design Life. The standardisation within ISO has both historic and novel connections to CEN and to the CPD.


An analysis of simulated framework structures based on the rigid-unit model quantifies the distortion of polyhedra from their ideal geometric forms and decomposes the motions of the structure into components of rigid-unit displacement, rigid-unit rotation and distortion. Case studies analysing the behaviour of quartz and of other silicates demonstrate that the method provides a novel way of extracting information from reverse Monte Carlo simulations. A program called GASP has been developed to perform this analysis and is freely available to researchers. Rotations are handled using the rotor method of geometric algebra.


In the current climate of shrinking newsrooms and revenues, journalists face increasing pressures exerted by the industry's for-profit focus and the expectation of intensified output. While AI-enabled journalism has great potential to help alleviate journalists' pressures, it might also disrupt journalistic norms and, at worst, interfere with their duty to inform the public. For AI systems to be as useful as possible, designers should understand journalists' professional values and incorporate them into their designs. We report findings from interviews with journalists to understand their perceptions of how professional values that are important to them (such as truth, impartiality and originality) might be supported and/or undermined by AI technologies. Based on these findings, we provide design insight and guidelines for incorporating values into the design of AI systems. We argue HCI design can achieve the strongest possible value alignment by moving beyond merely supporting important values, to truly embodying them.


A system has been constructed based on the VanderLugt coherent optical correlator invented in 1963.1 Input data from a thermal imager were transferred via a fiber-optic faceplate cathode ray tube onto a Hughes liquid crystal light valve. Light from a 5-mW He-Ne laser was used, and matched spatial filters (MSFs) were created on 10E75 holographic plates. The correlation output from the optical system was focused onto a TV camera, and simple digital electronics were used to threshold the signal.


Spanish Insolvency Act dates back to 2003, but Spain was one of very few European countries lacking specific legislation on consumer insolvency. A first reform in 2013 introduced several provisions that could lead to a discharge for individuals. Its very limited scope was deeply criticized and there was a general consensus on the need of a further development of this issue to build a useful solution. The rules have been deeply amended by the latest amendment of the Insolvency Act in February 2015. The solution is still far from perfect and there are several provisions that compromise its usefulness. However, now it can be said that the Spanish Insolvency Law affords the situation of insolvent individuals in a more comprehensive way. The following lines will offer a first approach of the present situation on this regard.


Objective: To examine the interplay between smoking, serum antibody titers to the Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigens (anti-EBNA), and HLA-DR15 on multiple sclerosis (MS) risk. Methods: Individual and pooled analyses were conducted among 442 cases and 865 controls from 3 MS case-control studies—a nested case-control study in the Nurses' Health Study/Nurses' Health Study II, the Tasmanian MS Study, and a Swedish MS Study. Conditional logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for the association between smoking, anti-EBNA titers, HLA-DR15, and MS risk. Study estimates were pooled using inverse variance weights to determine a combined effect and p value. Results: Among MS cases, anti-EBNA titers were significantly higher in ever smokers compared to never smokers. The increased risk of MS associated with high anti-EBNA Ab titers was stronger among ever smokers (OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 2.7–5.7) compared to never smokers (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.4–2.3; p for interaction = 0.001). The increased risk of MS associated with a history of smoking was no longer evident after adjustment for anti-EBNA Ab titers. No modification or confounding by HLA-DR15 was observed. The increased risk of MS associated with ever smoking was only observed among those who had high anti-EBNA titers (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.1–2.6). Conclusions: Smoking appears to enhance the association between high anti-EBNA titer and increased multiple sclerosis (MS) risk. The association between HLA-DR15 and MS risk is independent of smoking. Further work is necessary to elucidate possible biologic mechanisms to explain this finding.


When minimally processed vegetables reach their expiration date, expose an increased microbial load. This includes mainly spoilage microorganisms but also foodborne pathogens, thus affecting the quality and safety of highly consumed ready-to-eat salads. A total of 144 ready-to-eat salads from the Cypriot market were analyzed in an attempt to determine the effects of the expiration date on the microbial load and plant metabolic variables of the salads. Possible correlations between them were also investigated for the first time. Furthermore, the impacts of the season (winter, summer), salad producing companies and type of salad and/or their interactions with the tested parameters were investigated. Results revealed that the microbial load (mainly spoilage microorganisms, such as Pseudomonas spp., yeasts and molds) increased towards the end of the shelf life. The microbial load was differentiated among the five salad producers and/or the salad types, highlighting the importance of a common and safe sanitation-processing chain in the preparation of ready-to-eat salads. Summer was the season in which Escherichia coli counts were found to be higher for plain lettuce, while Staphylococcus spp. was increased numbers for the lettuce+endive/radicchio, lettuce+rocket and lettuce+chives type of salads. Additionally, an increased Staphylococcus spp. was observed for plain rocket salads in winter. All samples examined were found negative for Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes. Moreover, carbon dioxide production and damage indexes (hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation) increased on expiration date on both winter and summer seasons, indicating plant tissue stress at the end of shelf life. These findings indicate that the expiration date and relevant shelf life of processed vegetables are important parameters to be considered when postharvest management is applied to these products, ensuring safety and quality.


This study implements the first steps to be taken in the construction of a taxonomy of situations from a trait psychological perspective. Taking the AB5C model of personality characteristics (De Raad et al., 1992) as a point of departure, a collection of situations that is linked to the personality domain was obtained, and subsequently subjected to PCA and HICLAS, yielding three taxonomies of situations. The results suggest that the domain of situations can be described by a handful of situation dimensions. Traits differ in the type and the number of situations in which they can be expressed, and situations differ in the type and number of traits that can be expressed in them. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


This study was aimed at investigating the occurrence of hepatic artery variants, at comparing the diagnostic value of duplex Doppler US with that of angiography, and at correlating the results with the technical problems in portal hypertension surgery. All patients were studied with angiography, conventional and duplex Doppler US. In 162 patients with portal hypertension, 38 hepatic artery variants (23.4%) were observed and classified according to Michaels. The commonest variant recognized by angiography was right hepatic artery arising from superior mesenteric artery (type III according to Michaels). US demonstrated hepatic artery variants in 9/162 patients (5.5%). At surgery, variants were found in 3/162 subjects (1.8%) and caused surgical problems in 2 of them (1.2%) - i.e., right hepatic artery arising from superior mesenteric artery. Arteriography is still the best examination to depict hepatic artery variants, while duplex Doppler US demonstrates only a few types. Moreover, the number of variants detected by imaging techniques (23.4%) differs greatly from that observed at surgery (1.8%). Finally, hepatic artery variants are not correlated with surgical problems, nor can the latter be foreseen by imaging methods. US is useful but not essential to detect hepatic artery variants which are subsequently confirmed by angiography.


Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis t caused by Leishmania major is spread in focal areas of more than 90 countries in the tropics, subtropics, and southern Europe. In the absence of any effective vaccine, the only means to treat and control leishmaniasis is conventional medication. Glucantime is the first choice of anti-leishmanialdrug, has serious side effects like high toxicity, exorbitant cost, problems with the administration and development of resistance. Curcumin is the active component from the rhizome of herb Curcuma longa, possessing many pharmacological and biological activities with antiprotozoal and anti-proliferative effects which make it a good alternative to existing therapy. Antimicrobial peptides like CM11, a small peptide consisting of 11 amino acids, are also novel potential drugs against at least wide spectrum of microbial organisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of curcumin alone and in combination with CM11 on promastigote form of L. major (MRHO / IR / 75 / ER) for 12h and 24h in vitro. The results of Giemsa staining showed that the morphology of the flagellum and cell shape increased changed with increasing concentration of curcumin (5 µM, 10 μM, 20 μM, 40 μM and 80 μM). MTT and Trypan blue results demonstrated that the promastigotes were susceptible against curcumin in dose and time dependent manner, while CM11 alone at concentration of 8 µM as well as in combination with 10 and 20 µM curcumin had no significant effect on promastigotes. Our results revealed that curcumin can provide a new curative candidate against cutaneous leishmaniasis.


In the present report, we further explored the mechanisms by which 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (paf-acether), a phospholipid mediator of inflammation inhibited PHA-induced CD4+ cell proliferation. Evidence was obtained that CD4+ cells stimulated with either PHA or immobilized OKT3 in the presence of paf at concentrations that block CD4+ cell proliferation, exhibited a marked decrease in high affinity IL-2R expression. Importantly, paf did not prevent the binding of IL-2 to its receptor. Scatchard analysis of the binding data indicated that paf caused more than 50% decrease in the number of IL-2 high affinity sites per cell, whereas the receptor ligand affinity remained essentially constant. Moreover, the down-regulation of high affinity IL-2R was also accompanied by a loss of IL-2-dependent proliferative capacity. Together these data suggest that decreased expression of high affinity IL-2R may contribute to the diminished proliferative activity observed in CD4+ cells stimulated with PHA or immobilized OKT3 in the presence of paf. They further emphasize the potential role of lipid proinflammatory mediators such as paf in the regulation of T cell activation.


Functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are coated with a 4-5 nm thin layer of V(2)O(5) by controlled hydrolysis of vanadium alkoxide. The resulting V(2)O(5)/CNT composite has been investigated for electrochemical activity with lithium ion, and the capacity value shows both faradaic and capacitive (nonfaradaic) contributions. At high rate (1 C), the capacitive behavior dominates the intercalation as 2/3 of the overall capacity value out of 2700 C/g is capacitive, while the remaining is due to Li-ion intercalation. These numbers are in agreement with the Trasatti plots and are corroborated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies on the V(2)O(5)/CNTs electrode, which show 85% of vanadium in the +4 oxidation state after the discharge at 1 C rate. The cumulative high-capacity value is attributed to the unique property of the nano V(2)O(5)/CNTs composite, which provides a short diffusion path for Li(+)-ions and an easy access to vanadium redox centers besides the high conductivity of CNTs. The composite architecture exhibits both high power density and high energy density, stressing the benefits of using carbon substrates to design high performance supercapacitor electrodes.


Causalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and sympathetically maintained pain (SMP) are a complex group of disorders, with symptoms of spontaneous/stimulus‐induced pain and vasomotor, sudomotor or skeletomotor dysfunction of the involved area. Sympatholysis has been recommended for diagnosis/classification and treatment of these patients. Lack of adequate placebo control makes the physiologic response to this intervention unclear. Sensitization of wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons in the central nociceptive pathway has been proposed as a key element in pathophysiologic mechanisms of these disorders. Low threshold mechanoreceptors and nociceptors have been implicated as the primary afferents transmitting signals to or maintaining sensitization of WDR neurons in SMP. Vasomotor disturbances may result from antidromic vasodilatation, vasoparafytic dilatation, normal somatosympathetic reflexes, and denervation supersensitivity. There is conflicting information regarding the use of phentolamine and clonidine in these pain syndromes. Treatment of these patients remains a challenge given the many potential underlying mechanisms. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


The goal of this study was to assess the behaviour of the full and half brothers families of yellow passionfruit with respect to resistance to mites (Tetranychus mexicanus), and study the alternatives of selection based on the estimated genetic gain. The 113 families of full and half brothers were assessed using randomized block designs arranged in sets, with respect to productivity of first flowering (g 21 m -2 ), which was defined from the average weight of the fruit, the number of fruits harvested in the first flowering, and the main character, which corresponded to the average number of mites per plot. The F-test showed genetic variability in the number of mites with respect to male families, and in the productivity of first flowering linked to female/male families and male families. It was observed that male variance was greater than female variance with respect to the number of mites. Consequently, there was no gene effect attributed to dominance in this character. The coefficient of male heritability regarding the number of mites was half the heritability of productivity in the first flowering, indicating that it was highly influenced by the environment. Regarding the two characters assessed, the combined selection was the one that provided the greatest selection gains.


Increased production of Seabass fish (Lates calcarifer) influences the stocking density used. The purpose of this study was to determine the growth and survival of Seabass (Lates calcarifer) at different densities of low salinity stocking. The study was conductedin May-June 2019 at the Laboratory of Fisheries, University of Muhammadiyah Malang. The material used in the study of Seabass fish (Lates calcarifer) as many as 550 fish with a size of 7 cm and fish feed in the form of B2 Stella. The method used was experimental with a completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 3 replications, namely 1 fish/2 L as control (A); 2 fish/2 L (B); 3 fish/2 L (C); 4 fish/2 L (D). Data analysis used anova(P <0.05) and tested further with the Least Significant Difference Test of 5%. The results showed that treatment B (51 ± 2 fish/2 L) produced a specific growth rate of length and weight, survival rate, efficiency of feed utilization, and feed conversion ratio which was better than treatment A (67 ± 1 fish/2L (control)), C (44 ± 3 fish/2 L and D (38 ± 4 fish/2 L).


In country like India, the technology should be provided to farmers with appropriate guidance to save their crops and their lives. We focused on introducing the latest technologies such as sensors, to radically revise approaches to agriculture by collecting the data about the various parameters of soil, analyze the data and performed the computations, giving the best optimal solutions for the farming to establish a hypothetical model that make a research based contribution to agriculture. On the basis of the knowledge acquired through actual agricultural operations and subsequent analysis, we can give the best optimal solution to the framers for the framing. The multi- modal sensory devices have been deployed to capture real time value of the soil parameters such as pH level, temperature, water absorption capacity etc. so that the value is presented to the expert database and the computation will be performed accordingly. Huge amount of data is collected by the sensors from the end subsequently, this considerably big amount of data must be processed, analyzed and stored in a cost effective ways. In this manner, an enormous pool of computing resources and storage must be provided to compute this vast amount of data. In this paper , we proposed a prototype model which transmits and receives real time values from the soil sensors and computation will be performed giving optimal solution to the farmers for the farming.


Abstract Introduction: The GPR55 receptor has been identified as an atypical cannabinoid receptor and is implicated in various physiological processes. However, its functional role in the central nervous system is not currently understood. The presence of GPR55 receptor in neural regions such as the ventral hippocampus (vHipp), which is critical for cognition, recognition memory, and affective processing, led us to hypothesize that intra-vHipp GPR55 transmission may modulate mesolimbic activity states and related behavioral phenomena. The vHipp is involved in contextual memory and affective regulation through functional interactions with the mesolimbic dopamine system. Materials and Methods: Using a combination of in vivo electrophysiology and behavioral pharmacological assays in rats, we tested whether intra-vHipp activation of GPR55 receptor transmission with the fatty acid amide, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), a lipid neuromodulator with agonist actions at the GPR55 receptor, may modulate mesolimbic dopaminergic activity states. We further examined the potential effects of intra-vHipp PEA in affective, cognitive and contextual memory tasks. Discussion: We report that intra-vHipp PEA produces a hyper-dopaminergic state in the mesolimbic system characterized by increased firing and bursting activity of ventral tegmental area dopaminergic neuron populations. Furthermore, while PEA-induced activation of GPR55 transmission had no effects on opiate-related reward-related memory formation, we observed strong disruptions in social interaction and recognition memory, spatial location memory, and context-independent associative fear memory formation. Finally, the effects of intra-vHipp PEA were blocked by a selective GPR55 receptor antagonist, CID160 and were dependent upon NMDA receptor transmission, directly in the vHipp. Conclusions: The present results add to a growing body of evidence demonstrating important functional roles for GPR55 signaling in cannabinoid-related neuronal and behavioral phenomena and underscore the potential for GPR55 signaling in the mediation of cannabinoid-related effects independently of the CB1/CB2 receptor systems.


Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA

Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomass (DIPGss) account for 10% of pediatric brain tumors and have a universally poor prognosis. Our laboratory has shown that targeting the NOTCH pathway in glioblastoma (GBM) with gamma secretase inhibitors (GSI), inhibits the growth and viability of tumor neurospheres. Primary DIPG as well as DIPG cell lines express have very high levels of NOTCH activity as measured by western blot and qPCR assays. AKT amplification is observed in primary DIPG, and TORC1/TORC2 activation occurs in DIPG cell lines as measured by western blot. The mTOR and NOTCH pathways are known to interact and alter cancer stem cell growth, stemness, and metabolism. We hypothesized that dual targeting of NOTCH and mTOR in DIPG would lead to decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis compared to targeting either pathway in isolation. In established DIPG cell lines, we observed that GSI treatment decreases NOTCH activity in a dose dependent manner as evidenced by decreased expression of NOTCH targets expression of Hes1 and Hey1 via as measured by western blot and qPCR assays. We also observed a dose-dependent reduction in DIPG proliferation and growth after gamma-secretase inhibition as measured by BrdU (Day 7, DMSO to 5 uM MRK003 had p value <0.05) and MTT assays (Day 5 and Day 7, DMSO to 2 uM and 5 uM MRK003 p value <0.05). However, inhibition of growth and increased apoptosis were not complete. We observed a similar decrease in proliferation and increase in apoptosis using the dual TORC1/TORC2 inhibitor PPT242. Combination therapy with MRK003 and PP242 led to significantly increased apoptosis compared to either treatment alone (cell cycle Sub-G1: DMSO 13.2% vs 1000nM PP242-5uM M003 28.9%). This data suggest that dual targeting of the mTOR and NOTCH pathways with GSI will decrease DIPG cell growth and proliferation, increase cell death, and reduce tumorigenicity.

Citation Format: Isabella C. Taylor, Marianne Hutt-Cabezas, Melanie Weingart, Kathy Warren, Howard Chang, Javad Nazarian, Charles G. Eberhart, Eric H. Raabe. Dual targeting of mTOR and Notch disrupts growth and promotes apoptosis in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3099. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3099


Background Factors potentially causing chronic instability after ankle inversion sprains have rarely been examined during the injuring movement. Purpose To compare control of ankle movement during quiet stance and after inversion perturbation in chronically unstable ankles (n = 16) with healthy controls (n = 26). Methods Movement control was measured as magnitude of lateral ankle oscillation, using 3SPACE Fastrak during single leg stance (baseline oscillation) in two foot positions, flat and demi-pointe. In both positions, time to resume baseline oscillation after inversion perturbation (perturbation time) of 15 ° for the flat foot and 7.5 ° on demi-pointe was also determined. Results Baseline oscillation on demi-pointe was significantly smaller (P < 0.005) for the sprained group (2.5 ± 0.5 mm) than for controls (4.0 ± 2.3 mm). Perturbation time for the flat foot was significantly longer (P < 0.05) for the sprained group (2.2 ± 0.4 seconds) than for controls (1.8 ± 0.5 seconds). However, failure rate was higher (P < 0.05) among the sprained group than controls for perturbation with the foot flat and baseline oscillation on demi-pointe. Conclusions Findings demonstrated altered sensorimotor control in chronically unstable ankles. Those sprainers who successfully completed the tasks minimized oscillation. The impairments in the sprained group may reflect deficits in either movement detection, peroneal muscle response, or both.


We studied the relationship between leg morphology and posture while feeding in a population of great tits (Parus major) under controlled conditions to investigate to what extent morphology and ecology are linked at the individual level. From predictions generated at the interspecific level within the genus Parus (Moreno and Carrascal 1993), we tested whether intra– and interspecific ecomorphological relationships are consistent. Within our population, neither leg bone lengths nor leg muscle morphology were related to the feeding posture of individuals. However, differences in body weight were correlated with inter–individual differences in time spent hanging. These results demonstrate that the association between intra– and interspecific ecomorphological relationships is not uniform. We argue that, at the intraspecific level, body weight overrides the significance of other traits that have a functional meaning at the interspecific level (i.e. leg segment lengths, muscular morphology), due to isometric variation of morphological traits (muscular and skeletal) with body mass. Thus, the discrepancy between the ecomorphological associations at intra– and interspecific levels is the result of a problem of scale (morphological changes in evolutionary time and isometric variation of morphological traits with body mass in ecological time).


For the explanation of the enhanced transmission through the perforated metal plate with below-cutoff holes, the eigenoscillations of the double-periodic screen are studied. It is found that the origin of the recently discovered effects is the existence of the eigenoscillations of the interface between the free halfspace and the metal halfspace perforated with double-periodic set of channels and the formation of the corresponding symmetrically and anti-symmetrically coupled ldquosupermodesrdquo when two such interfaces form a screen of finite thickness. The amplitude and polarization structure of the eigenfields and the behavior of the complex-valued eigenfrequencies depending on the geometry parameters are studied by the mode-matching technique (MMT) both for a finite-thickness screen and for an interface. The symmetrical oscillation of the perforated screen is shown to be the cause of both the well-known phenomenon of total transmission through frequency selective surfaces (FSS), and the recently discovered enhanced transmission through cutoff holes. When the holes shrink, the field pattern of this eigenoscillation transforms from the one concentrated within the holes to that concentrated in the form of Floquet-waves above and below the screen, i.e., out of the holes. In contrast, the antisymmetrical oscillations are always located in frequency near the Floquet-waves grazing points at any hole dimensions and cause the so-called Wood anomalies.


Long pulse beam extraction with a current density of 120 A/m(2) for 100 s has been achieved with a newly developed plasma grid (PG) for the JT-60SA negative ion source which is designed to produce high power and long pulse beams with a negative ion current of 130 A/m(2) (22 A) and a pulse length of 100 s. The PG temperature is regulated by fluorinated fluids in order to keep the high PG temperature for the cesium-seeded negative ion production. The time constant for temperature controllability of the PG was measured to be below 10 s, which was mainly determined by the heat transfer coefficient of the fluorinated fluid. The measured decay time of the negative ion current extracted from the actively temperature-controlled PG was 430 s which was sufficient for the JT-60SA requirement, and much longer than that by inertial-cooling PG of 60 s. Obtained results of the long pulse capability are utilized to design the full size PG for the JT-60SA negative ion source.


This research aims to identify how the prostitutes communicate to their clients in Surabaya. The data were obtained from the real communication occurring among the prostitutes' and the clients. It was found that Indonesian language is dominantly used in the communication compared to Javanese language. This is due to the fact that Javanese language is more complicated having different speech levels based on the social status of the speakers. Furthermore, the research showed that the prostitutes tend to use euphemism in their service. The euphemism is part of the style of Javanese prostitutes performing indirectness as a part of Javanese culture.


The x-ray computed tomography (CT) is well known as a useful imaging method and thus CT images have continuingly been used for many applications, especially in medical fields. This book discloses recent advances and new ideas in theories and applications for CT imaging and its analysis. The 16 chapters selected in this book cover not only the major topics of CT imaging and analysis in medical fields, but also some advanced applications for forensic and industrial purposes. These chapters propose state-of-the-art approaches and cutting-edge research results.


The computer, among the most important inventions of the twentieth century, has become an increasingly important component in our everyday lives. Computer games also have become increasingly popular among people day-by-day, owing to their features based on realistic virtual environments, audio and visual features, and the roles they offer players. In the present study, the metaphors students have for computer games are investigated, as well as an effort to fill the gap in the literature. Students were asked to complete the sentence—'Computer game is like/similar to....because....'— to determine the middle school students' metaphorical images of the concept for 'computer game'. The metaphors created by the students were grouped in six categories, based on the source of the metaphor. These categories were ordered as 'computer game as a means of entertainment', 'computer game as a beneficial means', 'computer game as a basic need', 'computer game as a source of evil', 'computer game as a means of withdrawal', and 'computer game as a source of addiction', according to the number of metaphors they included. Keywords—Computer game, metaphor, middle school students.


This paper presents a wideband 4-channel 10–40 GHz receiver (RX) with integrated LO quadrupler and flip-chip packaging in GF8HP 0.12um SiGe BiCMOS technology. The system-level measurements are done with the chip flipped on a low cost RF board. Each receiver channel results in 20–37 dB power conversion gain with a 3-dB RF gain bandwidth (BW) of 10–40 GHz. The measured single-sideband noise figure (SSB NF) and input PldB at the center frequency of 25 GHz are 9.3 dB (and 8.2 dB) and −17.2 dBm (and −33 dBm), respectively, at low (and high) gain mode. To our knowledge, this wideband receiver represents state-of-the-art performance in terms of bandwidth, linearity and NF. Frequency-modulated-continuous-wave (FMCW) experiment at 15–27 GHz shows the capability of detecting 2 objects with a separation of 1.3 cm.


Special oligonucleotides for targeted gene correction have attracted increasing attention recently, one of which is the chimeric RNA.DNA oligonucleotide (RDO) system. RDOs for targeted gene correction were first designed in 1996, and are typically 68 nucleotides in length including continuous RNA and DNA sequences (RNA is 2'-O-methyl-modified). They have a 25 bp double stranded region homologous to the targeted gene, two hairpin ends of T loop and a 5 bp GC clamp, that give the molecule much greater stability [Fig. 1]. One mismatch site in the middle of the double-stranded region is designed for targeted gene therapy. RDOs have been used recently for targeted gene correction of point mutations both in vitro and in vivo, but many problems must be solved before clinical application. One of the solutions is to optimize the delivery vectors for RDOs. To date, few RDO delivery systems have been used. Therefore, new vectors should be tried for RDO transfer, such as the use of nanoparticles. Additionally, different kinds of modifications should be applied to RDO carrier systems to increase the total correction efficiency in vivo. Only with the development of delivery systems can RDOs be used for gene therapy, and successfully applied to functional genomics.


This paper presents a novel, robust and flexible method for extracting four mouth features (top of the upper lip, bottom of the lower lip, left and right mouth corners) from facial image sequences. While robustness is referred to subject variability, pose, and image quality, flexibility is begotten by efficient fusion of several information sources and expounding the certainty of the generated results.


Objectives
The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) provides temporary healthcare coverage to refugees and refugee claimants. Previous research demonstrates that paediatric healthcare providers poorly utilize the IFHP, with low registration rates and limited understanding of the program. The objective of this study was to examine paediatric provider use of IFHP-covered supplemental benefits, and their experience with trying to access these benefits.

Methods
A one-time survey was administered via the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program in February 2020. Of those who had provided care to IFHP-eligible patients, descriptive tables and statistics were created looking at provider demographics, and experience using the IFHP supplemental benefits. A multinomial logistic regression was built to look at provider characteristics associated with trying to access supplemental benefits.

Results
Of the 2,753 physicians surveyed, there were 1,006 respondents (general paediatricians and subspecialists). Of the respondents, 526 had recently provided care to IFHP-eligible patients. Just over 30% of those who had recently provided care did not access supplemental benefits as they did not know they were covered by the IFHP. Of those who had tried to access supplemental benefits, over 80% described their experience as difficult, or very difficult.

Conclusions
Paediatric providers have a poor understanding of IFHP-covered supplemental benefits, which is cited as a reason for not trying to access supplemental benefits. Of those who do try to access these benefits, they describe the process as difficult. Efforts should be made to improve provider knowledge and streamline the process to improve access to healthcare for refugee children and youth.


Introduction: Hepatic epithelioid haemangioendothelioma (HEH) is a rare and highly malignant tumor with a vascular component,-it arises from epithelioid endothelial cells. Only about 500 cases are described in world scientific literature. The aim: To review this rare, malignant pathology, to submit standards of diagnostic and treatment. To present two clinical cases of HEH, which were treated at Klaipeda University hospital. The methods: Two patients were treated at Klaipeda University hospital, period of treatment 2007 – 2013. Both patients were diagnosed with advanced HEH. The results: Patient 1: E.B., 48 years old man. In 21 09 2007 after performed radiological examinations of thoracic cavity and abdominal organs were diagnosed multiple derivatives in the lungs, mediastinum and liver. Biopsy of liver derivatives with immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of HEH. The patient was diagnosed with advanced HEH. Due to the spread of the disease, surgical treatment was not applied. In 03 07 2008 the patient started chemotherapy treatment (Docetaxel). In 25 07 2008 diagnostic laparoscopy confirmed disease progression, symptomatic treatment was appointed. The patient died in 25 08 2008. Final biopsy with immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of HEH. The death of the patient was caused by progressive HEH. Patient 2: R.R., 45 years old man. In 29 05 2009 after performed radiological examinations of thoracic cavity and abdominal organs were diagnosed: 3.6 cm. size derivative in mediastinum and 4 cm. size derivative in the liver. Biopsy of liver derivative with immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of HEH. In 05 06 2009 the patient was operated, resection of liver segments S3 – S4A was performed. After operation performed control computed tomography (CT) of thorax, mediastium derivative decreased to 2 cm. size. The patient felt well and was observed by chemotherapists of Klaipeda University hospital 3 years. In 03 10 2012 after performed computed tomography (CT) of abdominal organs and thoracic cavity disease progression was determined: new derivatives in the liver, 13.5 mm. size in S8 segment and 27.9 mm. size in S5 segment, also 3.7 cm. size derivative in mediastinum and new focals on both sides of the lungs up to 8 mm. size. In 10 01 2013 the patient was operated, radiofrequency ablation was applied for liver derivatives mentioned above. One month later, after performed control computed tomography (CT) of abdominal organs new focals are not observed in the liver, destruction zones are visible after termoablation. The patient condition is fully satisfactory, hereinafter his health should be observed by chemotherapists. Conclusions: Hepatic epithelioid haemangioendothelioma. is a rare, highly malignant tumor. The disease occurs without apparent clinical expression and tends to get worse quickly. Diagnosis is based on radiological studies and biopsy derivatives with immunohistochemistry. Number, size, location of HEH derivatives defines opportunities of surgical treatment. Surgery remains the standard of treatment - liver resection or transplantation. The role of systemic chemotherapy is uncertain. Metastazic disease does not correlate with survival. Differences of treatment results do not allow to conclude exact treatment algorithms, therefore the strategy of the treatment is discussed considering to the each specific clinical case, during the time of multidisciplinary Counsel. doi:10.5200/sm-hs.2013.070


INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to evaluate depressive symptoms in climacteric women using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) from the National Institute of Mental Health (USA). METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in a gynecological outpatient unit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including 151 climacteric women between 40 and 65 years of age. The CES-D was used to assess depressive symptoms and a structured interview obtained sociodemographic, clinical and gynecological data. A score above 15 points on the CES-D was considered as a cut-point for depressive state. RESULTS: Mean CES-D score was 9.2 points (standard deviation = 9.0). Insomnia, sadness and despondency had the highest scores. There was no significant association between CES-D scores and the climacteric period, sociodemographic, clinical or gynecological characteristics, except for women with psychiatric symptoms, history of depression or on antidepressants (p = 0.000). In 32 women (21%) who scored > 15 on the CES-D, 72% had already suffered from a depressive state. Women with no history of depressive disorder scored more frequently above 15 when they were perimenopausal. CONCLUSION: This sample of climacteric women, from a non-specialized mental or menopausal health service, had low mean scores on the CES-D, with the item insomnia being the most highly scored. History of a previous depressive episode, but not the woman's climacteric period, was a risk factor for higher scores on the CES-D. In the group of women with no history of depression, the perimenopausal women had more scores above the cut-point. This fact may suggest that the perimenopause is a period of higher susceptibility to new onset of depressive episodes.


Summary The integration of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) into many clinical microbiology laboratories has revolutionised routine pathogen identification. MALDI-TOF MS complements and has good potential to replace existing phenotypic identification methods. Results are available in a more clinically relevant timeframe, particularly in bacteraemic septic shock. Novel applications include strain typing and the detection of antimicrobial resistance, but these are not widely used. This review discusses the technical aspects, current applications, and limitations of MALDI-TOF MS.


Background: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is an important treatment in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Few studies examine the timing of MVPA, as there are no established methods to characterize the MVPA bout timing throughout the day. We determined the timing of MVPA bouts in adults with T2D, and examined whether cardiorespiratory fitness and odds of cardiovascular disease (CVD) history relate to timing of MVPA bouts in men and women. Methods: Baseline data from Look AHEAD participants (n=2153, 57% women) were analyzed. Cardiorespiratory fitness assessed by VO2max test was expressed as METs. MVPA bouts (≥3METs in ≥10mins bouts) were determined using the hip-worn RT3 accelerometer for 7 days. Participants were categorized into six groups based on the time of day with the major amount of MVPA bouts (MET-min): ≥50% of MVPA bouts during the same time window (Early morning, Late morning, Afternoon, or Evening, N=214-280/group), Results: Cardiorespiratory fitness differed by timing of MVPA bout category (P Conclusion: Higher cardiorespiratory fitness associated with evening MVPA bouts in women, and with early morning MVPA bouts in men independent of total amount of bout-MVPA. Prospective studies are needed to investigate the relationship between timing of MVPA and cardiovascular outcomes to optimize MVPA benefits in adults with T2D. Disclosure J. Qian: None. M.P. Walkup: None. S. Chen: None. P.H. Brubaker: None. D. Bond: None. P.A. Richey: None. J.M. Jakicic: Advisory Panel; Self; Weight Watchers International, Inc. K. Hu: None. F.A. Scheer: None. R. Middelbeek: None.


Problem: Market mechanisms are emerging as means of offsetting the environmental effects of growth. Unfortunately, formal regulation of ecosystem markets is often separated from broader planning for urban development, resulting in offsets that are unsustainable in the face of future urban growth. Purpose: We aimed to assess how 2008 federal regulations that actively promote aquatic resource markets and encourage watershed planning to restore wetlands and streams damaged during development will affect reputedly efficient existing wetland and stream ecosystem markets in North Carolina. We explore how coordination between regulators and planners can improve long-term viability of market-created resource offsets and improve the ability of markets to respond to rapid urban growth. Methods: We analyzed new state and federal regulations and watershed planning efforts and convened a stakeholder forum including representatives of state and federal agencies, land developers, environmental groups, aquatic restoration companies, and academia. Results and conclusions: Problems with aquatic ecosystem markets in North Carolina stem from poor communication among local and regional planners, federal regulators, and state agencies. Institutional barriers and poor coordination cause federal regulatory decisions made without knowledge of land use plans or urban development patterns, faulty projections of market demand for aquatic offsets, and local land use plans that do not provide long-term protection for the offsets. Although regulators consider current surrounding land uses, they do not consider future land uses. We conclude that local land use projections should be required components of ecosystem restoration site plans and that state environmental management agencies' watershed plans should reflect urban development patterns. Takeaway for practice: Local planners should have input into the design of restoration sites providing environmental offsets as well as into state and regional ecosystem service market implementation plans. Federal, state, regional, and local agencies should facilitate and require information sharing, making planning and regulating ecosystem service markets part of the development process. Research support: This research was supported by the University of North Carolina's Institute for the Environment.


Protein synthesis depends on the ability of the 20 aminoacyl tRNA synthetases to add the correct amino acid to the transfer RNA (tRNA) containing the corresponding anticodon. Although in most organisms it transpires that there is one synthetase for each amino acid, some archaea are a puzzle because they do not appear to have a synthetase for cysteine even though their proteins contain this amino acid. In a Perspective, [Yarus][1] explains new findings ([ Stathopoulos et al .][2]) showing that the synthetase that adds proline to the proline-specific tRNA can also add cysteine to the cysteine-specific tRNA. He suggests several possible arrangements of the active sites of the dual synthetase that might raise new evolutionary questions.

 [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/287/5452/440
 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/287/5452/479


The Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST) is a newly developed epidemiological instrument. The aim of this study was to investigate its construct validity. Four calibrated examiners, using CAST codes 0-6, visually examined 109 surfaces of extracted and exfoliated teeth. These teeth were then hemisectioned, photographed, and assessed histologically by two calibrated examiners using the Downer criteria. Twenty-eight of the 109 teeth were scanned using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and assessed by the same examiners using the same criteria. Validation was determined through calculation of the sensitivity, specificity, and Youden index for two categories of carious lesions examined visually, with histology and micro-CT as gold standards. Interexaminer consistency was κ = 0.76: SE ± 0.05 between visual and histological assessments of teeth and was κ = 0.89: SE ± 0.08 between visual and micro-CT assessments. For the category 'healthy' vs. 'diseased' (CAST codes 0-2 vs. CAST codes 3-6), sensitivity, specificity, and Youden index values of 100%, 92.9%, and 93%, respectively, for micro-CT, and 96.6%, 86%, and 83%, respectively, for histology, were obtained. For the category 'dentine' vs. 'non-dentine lesions' (CAST codes 0-3 vs. CAST codes 4-6) sensitivity, specificity, and Youden index values of 90%, 100%, and 90%, respectively, for micro-CT, and 81.4%, 100%, and 81%, respectively, for histology, were obtained. Construct validity of the CAST instrument was obtained.


Tiotropium, an inhaled anticholinergic used in the management of COPD, exhibits an effective bronchodilator response at once-daily dosing. In 2010, the US-FDA issued a statement indicating its cardiovascular safety based on the UPLIFT trial, the largest and longest placebo-controlled trial on Tiotropium. However, there is still question on the drug's cardiovascular safety, especially in comparison to inhaled LABAs. We determined the efficacy of long-term tiotropium use on mortality, exacerbations, and hospitalizations compared to inhaled LABAs. RCTs among patients with COPD comparing Tiotropium monotherapy with inhaled LABAs with at least 6 months follow-up were identified from different electronic databases and thru handsearching. Data on all-cause mortality, mortality from pulmonary and cardiovascular causes, and rates of hospitalizations and exacerbations were identified. The date of last search is September 7, 2012. Two independent investigators evaluated and extracted relevant data. From 495 studies, 5 trials with a total of 10,759 patients met inclusion criteria. Tiotropium did not reduce all-cause mortality (RR 0.83 95%CI 0.40-1.70), mortality from respiratory causes (RR 0.70 95%CI 0.40-1.25), and mortality from cardiovascular causes (RR 1.57 95%CI 0.86-2.85). Tiotropium significantly decreased the risk for exacerbations (RR 0.91 95%CI 0.85-0.98), and exhibited a trend towards decreased hospitalizations (RR 0.78 95%CI 0.61-1.00). Tiotropium did not reduce mortality compared to inhaled LABAs. Tiotropium significantly decreased the risk for exacerbations, and showed a trend towards possible decreased hospitalizations.


Recently a method to obtain the propagation constants of lossless dielectric waveguides using the Helmholtz equation with the finite element method and penalty function method was presented. The advantage of using this approach is that only one final eigenvalue matrix needs to be solved for only two components of the H-fields. We have determine that the results were obtained using an eigenvalue solver that did not account for the asymmetry in the final eigenvalue matrix. In this paper, we present the results of the same cases simulated using the correct eigenvalue solver, and the results obtained are in good agreement with previously published ones. We also show by simulation of appropriate cases, a high penalty factor is correlated to highly coupled modes, while weakly coupled modes may be correlated to small penalty factors. Finally, we have extended the penalty function method to include the complex case without the use of the perturbation method. The gain results obtained for a channel waveguide are in good agreement with previously published ones.


This study aimed at investigating the effect of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) and drama on developing 9th graders' English speaking skills. Among the speaking skills, the focus of this study is on describing sequence of events based on visual input; expressing personal feelings, emotions and the like; responding to direct questions, instructions, suggestions, offers, visual input and the like and responding to referential, inferential and factual questions. A pre-post achievement test was conducted on a sample of (68) ninth graders who were randomly chosen from Al- Mamounia preparatory UNRWA school in Gaza Strip to represent the study community. Using a checklist to identify the most important speaking skills, the sample was divided into two equal groups (experimental and control). The findings revealed that the program based on CLIL and Drama was effective to improve the 9th graders' speaking skills. Accordingly, the researchers recommend the Palestinian EFL teachers to dramatize the CLIL as a tool of enhancing students' speaking skills.


The electric field distribution around a diamond particle embedded in a metal anode during a steady-state electrolytic in-process dressing (ELID) is calculated for a few more simple situations: A disk-shaped diamond particle with some protrusion, a spherical diamond particle with a hemispherical protrusion, and a long diamond particle with a half elliptical protrusion. It is found that the field concentration effect is greatly reduced with protrusion to a value of about 2 when half of the diamond particle is exposed. The effect is the largest at the diamond/metal boundary, decreases sharply to a small value at a distance of the order of the size of the diamond particle. Our analysis suggests that ELID is ideal for exposing diamond in metal-bonded tools.


Data on commercial catches of japanese flying squid Todarodes pacificus in the northwestern Tatar Strait in 2003–2019 are analyzed. To assess the resours status in the study area, the relative number (individuals per jigger winch per hour) and biomass (kilograms per vessel per day) marks recognized to be the most applicable winch per hour or the catch in kg per vessel per day. The average CPUE value was 35.6 ± 3.6 ind./winch/hour; increasing trend of CPUE is observed (α = 1.5 ± 0.6, r2 = 0.3, p < 0.03). The squid abundance decreased slightly in the last 2 years, with CPUE decreasing to 28 ind./winch/hour in 2019, though the squid biomass was relatively stable (average CPUE 582.0 ± 45.8 kg/vessel/day) — decreased number of caught individuals was compensated by individual body weight increasing. Long-term tendency to the body weight increasing was noted: the average body weight was 205.0 ± 4.0 g in 2004, 256.0 ± 3.5 g in 2012, and 297.0 ± 6.3 g in 2019. Possible climate change influence on the squid population was discussed. Because of warming in the reproductive area of T. pacificus in the southern Japan Sea, SST in the spawning period reached 20–25 оC and exceeded the value optimal for reproduction and larvae development (15–23 оC), so the squid abundance decreased. On the contrary, in the northern Japan Sea (in the Tatar Strait) the warming caused better conditions for the squid feeding: the higher zooplankton biomass in this area was observed under SST 13–18 оC that is reached every year recently. On the other hand, the Tsushima Current intensifying promoted active migrations of T. pacificus to the northwestern Tatar Strait. These factors of climate warming ensure favorable environments for northward migrations of T. pacificus and forming of dense feeding aggregations in the northwestern Tatar Strait that allows to expect good conditions for the squid fishery in this area in the nearest future.


Receptor-mediated alterations in the cytosolic free calcium concentration, [Ca2+]i are monitored with the intracellular fluorescent calcium probe fura 2 by dual excitation microfluorimetry. The calcium dependence on the excitation spectrum of fura 2 allows us to choose two wavelengths, lambda 1 and lambda 2, at which an increase in [Ca2+]i causes either a rise or a fall in fluorescence; the ratio of fluorescence at lambda 1 and lambda 2 (R = F lambda 1/F lambda 2) is a measure of [Ca2+]i. It appears essential for such measurements that the alteration between the two excitation wavelengths is done rapidly, to allow us to distinguish between effects on [Ca2+]i and other effects on fluorescence. In addition, specific problems relating to the calibration of fura 2 measurements, such as its relative insensitivity at basal [Ca2+]i, the role of intracellular viscosity on fura 2 fluorescence, and the difficulties encountered in establishing calibration constants have to be appreciated. In spite of these potential drawbacks, it appears that monitoring receptor-mediated [Ca2+]i regulation in single cells will prove essential for the further comprehension of stimulus-secretion coupling in pituitary and probably many other cell types.


ABsTRAcr. This paper contains an improved version of existing generalized central limit theorems for convergence of normalized sums of independent random variables distributed by a signed measure. It is shown that under reasonable conditions, the normalized sums converge in distribution to "higher-order" analogues of the standard normal random variable, in the sense that the density of the limiting signed distribution is the fundamental solution of a higher-order parabolic partial differential equation that is a generalization of the heat equation.


Gingival fibromatosis is characterized by gingival tissue overgrowth of a firm and fibrotic nature. The growth is slow and progressive and is drug-induced, idiopathic, or hereditary in etiology. It occurs isolated or frequently as a component of various syndromes. Our patient presented with the complaint of gingival enlargement associated with progressive deafness, characteristic of Jones syndrome. This case report is important and unique since it is the first known one to have a Jones syndrome-like presentation without a family history. A male patient aged 14 years reported with the chief complaint of swelling of gums and progressive hearing loss in both ears for the past one year. There was no family history or history of drug intake. Enlargement was generalized, fibrotic and bulbous, involving the free and attached gingiva, extending up to the middle 1/3rd of the crown. Investigations such as pure tone audiogram, impedance audiometry, and Tone decay test concluded that there was severe right and moderate left sensorineural hearing loss. The case was diagnosed to be idiopathic, generalized gingival fibromatosis with progressive hearing loss. The gingival overgrowth was managed by gingivectomy and periodic review. The patient was advised to use high occlusion computer generated hearing aids for his deafness as it was not treatable by medicines or surgery. This unique case report once again emphasizes the heterogeneity of gingival fibromatosis, which can present in an atypical manner.


Background Mutations in the protein gelsolin result in hereditary systemic amyloidosis, characterised by onset of corneal lattice dystrophy in the third decade, a slowly progressive cranial neuropathy and cutis laxa. To date four dominantly inherited gelsolin mutations have been identified, two mutations resulting in the classical syndrome and two mutations resulting in renal-predominant amyloidosis. Methods We identified a family in which four individuals in three generations presented with corneal lattice dystrophy and neurological symptoms. Detailed clinical neurological and ophthalmological assessment and investigations including neurophysiology and imaging were performed. Whole exome sequencing was undertaken in three family members. Results Whole exome sequencing revealed a novel variant in the gelsolin gene (c. G1738A; p. E580K), dominantly inherited and predicted to be pathogenic. Examination, neurophysiological testing and imaging revealed the presence of distal upper limb weakness and wasting, corneal lattice dystrophy and cervical myelopathy in all affected family members. Conclusion The E580K mutation described in this family is in a conserved calcium-sensitive actin-binding domain that displays sequence homology with other actin-depolymerising proteins. Mutations in this domain may result in abnormal gelsolin-actin interactions and changes in calcium sensitivity may render the protein susceptible to the same aberrant proteolytic cascade as with other known mutations.


Novel and potent ACAT (acyl-CoA: cholesterol O-acyltransferase) inhibitors, (R)-N-2-(1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl)heptyl-N'-2,6-diisopropylphenylur ea (2a, EAB-309), and its enantiomer 2b (EAB-310), were prepared from 4-(1,3-benzodioxole)carbaldehyde (7) via optically active (R or S)-2-(1,3- benzodioxol-4-yl)heptanoic acid (12a or 12b). Compound 2a showed potent inhibitory effects on ACATs in vitro, and lowered plasma cholesterol in vivo. The IC50 value for inhibition of rat hepatic microsomal ACAT was 5 nM. The ED30 values of hypolipidemic activities in hamster and rat models were 0.25 and 0.75 mg/kg p.o., respectively. The results indicate that 2a has potential to be a novel hypocholesterolemic and antiatherosclerotic agent. The activities of 2a in vitro and in vivo were only several times more potent than those of the enantiomer 2b. Modeling studies suggested that the three-dimensional structures of the two enantiomers are similar to each other.


Reproductive biotechnologies are used for the conservation, expansion and genetic improvement of cattle, and to facilitate the
creation of germplasm banks of elite animals and endangered breeds. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of
two different doses of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) on the superovulatory behavior of Tropical Milking criollo (LT) females.
The study was conducted in Veracruz, Mexico, in a hot climate. Twenty-five LT donors (47 ± 4 months of age and 423.9 ± 12
kg BW) were used. Two levels of follicle stimulating hormone of 260 (FSH1) and 210 mg (FSH2) were used for each treatment.
The response variables were analyzed with a linear fixed effects model. The data were processed using generalized models with
a Poisson distribution. The weight and age influenced the number of corpora lutea. The weight influenced the number of unfertilized
oocytes, degenerate embryos and the total of collected structures. Only in unfertilized oocytes, statistical difference (P = 0.004) was
found between treatments, but not so in corpora lutea, degenerate embryos, blastocyst, grade one embryos, transferable embryos
and the total of collected structures (P > 0.05). The FSH1 and FSH2 treatments induced the same number of transferable
embryos (2.7 ± 0.6 and 3.5 ± 0.7) and grade one embryos (2.5 ± 0.6 and 3.4 ± 0.7); the 210 mg dose of FSH1 would be the most
appropriate for superovulating LT females.


Adolescence is the transition period from childhood to adulthood, which involves a transformation of the body. It is in this exact period of time that one's body image starts to develop. Body image is influenced by social, psychological and emotional factors through interaction with peers, parents and the mass media. In the adolescent this causes a constant comparison between their own body and the ideal one, resulting in developing an idea of self which may lead to a sense of dissatisfaction with their own physical form. Such behaviour, in serious cases, may interfere with the everyday life of the individual.
The following observational, descriptive, retrospective and multicenter study was created with the aim to describe the reality of adolescents regarding BMI, this by examining a sample consisting of 422 students in total, whom 266 were males and 156 were females, aged between 17 and 19 years.
The students were given a paper questionnaire from which we later obtained the following data: gender Q1, age Q2, height Q3, body weight Q4 and perception of their BMI Q5.
The significance of the observed and calculated data was evaluated by the Pearson chi-square test, and a p-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The statistical processing of the data allowed us to respond to the first objective of the study, namely to observe the BMI perceived by each individual student and the actual BMI. The second objective was to examine the altered perception of BMI, if overestimated or underestimated. Finally, the third objective was to analyse the distribution of actual and perceived BMI among the male and female population in relation to their age.


Introduction: TC is an effective adjuvant chemotherapy regimen in early stage breast cancer (ESBC) patients. Jones et al (J Clin Oncol 2009 Mar 10;27(3): 1177–1183) demonstrated a significantly superior 5-year DFS and OS for TC compared to AC. Because TC was superior to AC in a subset analysis of HER2+ breast cancer treated without trastuzumab, we tested TC in combination with 1 year of trastuzumab in lower risk HER2+ ESBC, predominately node negative disease. Methods: This was an open-label, phase II study of TC+H in HER2+ patients based on HER2 overexpression determined at the local level. Tissue was collected for central review of HER2 and TOP2A status. There was no lower limit of tumor size for lymph node negative cancers. Every 21 days, patients received docetaxel (T) 75mg/m2 IV, plus cyclophosphamide (C) 600mg/m2 IV, plus weekly trastuzumab (H) 4mg/kg IV (loading dose) and 2mg/kg IV thereafter for a total of 4 cycles. After 4 cycles of TC+H, patients continued on H for a total of 1 year. Appropriate patients received radiotherapy. Cardiotoxicity (decreased left ventricular ejection faction) was assessed by MUGA or ECHO at baseline, at completion of TC+H, and then at 3-month intervals until completion of trastuzumab treatment. The primary endpoint was DFS at 2 years with continued follow-up for 3 years. Secondary endpoints were OS and safety. Results: 486 patients received treatment, and 397(82%) completed a full year of H. Median age was 55 years(range: 24–75.8), ECOG PS 0=426(87.7%) and 1=60(12.3%); 280(57.6%) were Stage 1, 200(41.2%) were Stage II, and 6(1.2%) were Stage III. Disease-free survival and OS at 2 and 3 years are listed in the table below according to various features. The most common Grade 3/4 toxicities were neutropenia (47.1%) and febrile neutropenia (6.2%). There were 5 deaths: 1 due to PD, 1 aspiration, and 1 respiratory distress syndrome (possibly related to treatment), 1 cardiopulmonary arrest, and 1 unknown. There were 13 cases of recurrent breast cancer (local 5, or local/distant 8). Cardiac dysfunction occurred in 28(5.8%) patients, with 12(2.5%) being Grade 1, 14(2.9%) Grade 2, and 2(0.4%) grades 3/4. Sixteen patients had to stop H due to cardiac dysfunction with H. Central assessment of TOP2A status was performed by FISH in 90% of cases: TOP2A-amplified (42%), deleted (27%), and normal (31%). However TOP2A status had no effect on outcome. Conclusions: 1) The HER TC regimen was evaluated in 486 patients with HER2 overexpressed ESBC and found to be effective at the primary endpoint of 2 years. 2) Efficacy was demonstrated in node negative cancer including 94 cancers Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr PD07-03.


A case of an intrathalamic epidermoid tumor is reported, and the literature is reviewed with regard to the incidence, location, and etiology of intracerebral epidermoid tumors. The high frequency of mental symptoms associated with these tumors is also discussed.


Statistical inference in high dimensional dynamical systems is often hindered by the unknown dependency structure of model parameters. In particu- lar, the inference of parameterized differential equations (DEs) via Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) samplers often suffers from high proposal rejection rates and is exacerbated by strong autocorrelation structures within the Markov chains leading to poor mixing properties. In this paper, we develop a novel vine-copula based adaptive MCMC approach for efficient parameter inference in dynamical systems with strong parameter interdependence. We exploit the concept of a vine-copula decomposition of distribution densities in order to generate problem- specific proposals for a hybrid independence/random walk Metropolis-Hastings (MH) sampler. The key advantage of this approach is that the corresponding MH proposals generate independent samples from the posterior distribution more effi- ciently than common competitors. All copula densities can be updated during the sampling procedure for fine-tuning. The performance of our method is assessed on two small-scale examples and finally evaluated on a delay DE model for the JAK2-STAT5 signaling pathway fitted to time-resolved western blot data. We compare our copula-based approach to an independence sampler, a second-order moment-based random walk MH algorithm, and an adaptive MH sampler.


Abstract Research on opium in colonial India has so far mainly focused on the competing Malwa and Bengal opium currents under the control of the Sindia and Holkar families and of the British East India Company, respectively. The historical trajectory has tended to emphasize the implementation of a draconian and all-encompassing British monopoly. This study joins the emerging efforts to search the regional histories on the margins of the strongest players' actions on the global scene. It aims at nuancing the narratives by focusing on a region away from such centres. The study investigates the local cultivation and usage of opium in Rangpore district—a region in north Bengal that had recently been badly affected by a severe flood. Here, the drug was extensively used and the lucrative trade with neighbouring states gave small-scale cultivators an income also under hard environmental conditions. The fact that production and trade were small-scale, fragmented, and made use of markets in Cooch Bihar, Assam, and Bhutan impeded British attempts at getting in control of production and trade.


Barry Jones is a living treasure. Literally: he's one of Australia's 100 Living National Treasures, as voted by over 10,000 Australians. He led the campaign for scrapping the death penalty, and in 1984, as Minister for Science, was the first Australian politician to raise the issue of anthropogenic climate change. His long career in local, national and international politics has included five years as a Victorian MP, over two decades as a Federal MP (including Minister for Science from 1983 to 1990), and tenure as Australia's UNESCO and World Heritage Council representative in Paris. Join journalist and broadcaster Jill Singer for a conversation with one of the nation's true polymaths.


This is an excellent collection of papers for professionals working together in secure mental health settings for women. The publication of the national strategy Women's Mental Health: Into the Mainstream (Department of Health, 2002) mapped out gender-specific service development for the next decade and beyond. However, the map had been drawn in the absence of specific evidence about treatment efficacy. There was little professional consensus on what type of service actually worked for which particular group of women; the policy implementation guidance recommended that women's mental health should become an integral element in the training of all staff and managers, within every organisation, but there was no research and little agreement about the types of training required. This book is therefore timely and a valuable resource in a relatively new but rapidly developing field. The content addresses a range of clinical, political, social, training and management issues for women's secure services. The excellent introduction by the two editors, Nikki Jeffcote and Tessa Watson, lays out some of the key themes of the book, including the multidisciplinary nature of the work, the importance of care pathways into secure services and out of them again, and the impact of early experience and trauma on the development of adult therapeutic relationships. A feminist perspective underwrites many of the chapters. It defines the framework within which inequality and disempowerment are addressed; this may not appeal to all readers. The first section comprises six chapters on 'theory building', the second is focused on 'practice' and the third is a collection of four practical papers on training and 'service development'. Needs and risk assessment are both addressed in the first section. The chapter by Nikki Jeffcote and Ray Travers on 'thinking about the needs of women in secure settings' helpfully reviews current approaches and the salience of relational issues, making the important link with Bowlby's attachment theory. This is an illuminating description of an overarching theoretical model of care. It is complemented well by Les Petrie's extremely useful and practical chapter in the third section on 'men, women and good practice.' It also provides an appropriate springboard for Gwen Adshead's provocative piece on 'more alike than different: gender and forensic mental health', which draws out the dialectic with characteristic authority; it is refreshing to see the inclusion of an alternative view of gender sensitivity. Tony Maden's chapter on 'risk assessment' addresses the unresolved difficulty of applying the existing risk assessment tools to women when they have all been standardised on male populations. There are no easy solutions here, but his guidance on the use of good holistic clinical risk assessment complemented by some of the existing instruments is helpful. The 'practice' section includes a series of illuminating case examples to illustrate particular treatment approaches. Countertransference difficulties experienced by staff are described by Anne Aiyegbusi, in her chapter 'Thinking under fire'. She makes an effective case for clinical supervision for nursing staff, but perhaps misses the opportunity to highlight the need for multidisciplinary reflective practice. There is also a good definitive chapter on the Gender Training Initiative by Sara Scott and JennieWilliams, necessary reading for all staff working in secure services. I enjoyed this book immensely; it is rich reading and should be accessible on the bookshelves of women's service resource rooms.


In monkey coronary arteries, outer and inner muscle had a similar resting potential (‐39.5 and ‐40.0 mV). Both showed strong outward‐going rectification, with no regenerative depolarization, on injection of depolarizing current. The depolarization spread electrotonically in all directions, particularly around the vessel wall. Hyperpolarization up to ‐45 mV by injection of constant current caused relaxation. Depolarization caused contraction. Pulses of field stimulation caused a brief depolarization which was reduced by tetrodotoxin or by stripping of the adventitia. They also caused a prolonged hyperpolarization which was not prevented by either, but was prevented by rubbing of the endothelium. The hyperpolarization in response to field stimulation therefore appears to result from electrically stimulated release of a substance from endothelial cells. Relaxation accompanied this hyperpolarization. It was twice the size of the relaxation produced by a similar hyperpolarization due to constant injection. Isoprenaline also produced hyperpolarization, and relaxation five times that seen with a similar hyperpolarization induced by direct current. Hyperpolarization appears to be an important, but not the only, mediator of relaxation induced in this artery both by endothelial cells and by beta‐adrenergic stimulation.


While several past studies have measured the impact of standards on indicators such as output and productivity for a variety of countries, a quantitative analysis that focuses on Belgium has not been performed yet. Based on a dataset containing sector level data spanning 25 years (1994-2018), the authors find that, next to capital investment and the number of patents, standards make a statistically significant, positive and substantial contribution to Belgian GDP as well as to labor productivity. More specifically, one additional standard will on average increase GDP by €2.04 million per year and will increase labor productivity per person employed by €11.5. In addition, standards contribute to about 0.2% of GDP, 19% of GDP growth, and 19% of labor productivity growth.


CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2008 Abstracts

Abstract #P2-1

Metastatic relapse of carcinoma patients is mainly due to clinically occult micrometastases present at primary diagnosis, but undetectable even by high-resolution imaging technologies. Frequently, traditional prognostic factors are insufficient to predict metastasis and treatment decisions are mainly based on statistical risk parameters. Highly sensitive and specific cytometric and molecular methods enable now the detection of disseminated tumor cells (DTC) in bone marrow (BM) and circulating tumor cells (CTC) in peripheral blood of breast carcinoma patients. The presence of DTC has prognostic impact for patients with primary breast cancer with regard to metastatic relapse and overall survival (Braun et al, NEJM 2005) and DTC may even contribute to local relapse (Bidard et al., CCR 2008). However, BM analyses are not well accepted by the medical community for the clinical management patients in breast cancer and other solid tumors. Therefore, most current research efforts are directed to evaluate the clinical utility of CTC detection (Pantel & Panabieres, Nat. Clin Pract. Oncol. 2007). Because of the high variability of results obtained by different cytometric and molecular approaches, standardization of current technologies is urgently required (Fehm et al., Cancer 2006; Riethdorf et al., CCR 2008). While the prognostic significance of CTC could be demonstrated for metastatic breast cancer patients (Hayes & Smerage, CCR 2008), studies on the impact of CTC in primary breast cancer patients are still ongoing but the intermediate results are so far promising (Pantel et al., Nat. Clin Pract. Oncol. In press). Moreover, encouraging results on monitoring CTC during primary systemic or adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients were obtained in recent studies. Now further characterization of CTC is pivotal to understand the biology of tumor cell dissemination (Pantel et al., Nat. Rev. Cancer 2008). The molecular characterization of CTC with special emphasis on potential cancer stem cell features and therapeutically relevant targets such as HER2 (Wulfing et al., CCR 2006) might improve individual risk assessment and stratification of patients for targeted therapies. This characterization will contribute to more "tailored" and personalized anti-metastatic therapies. At present, the success or failure of anti-cancer therapies is only assessed retrospectively by the absence or presence of overt metastases during the post-operative follow up period. Real-time monitoring of peripheral blood (i.e., during and after systemic adjuvant therapy) for CTC might provide unique information for the clinical management of the individual cancer patient and allow an early change in therapy years before the appearance of overt metastases signals incurability (Panabieres et al., CCR 2008). Future clinical trials will show whether the assessment and monitoring of therapeutic targets (e.g., EGF-R, HER2 or VEGF) on CTC (and probably DTC) might become an important diagnostic tool for cancer patients undergoing targeted therapies and may provide new insights into the selection of tumour cells under biological therapies.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-1.


A novel stereo matching algorithm has been proposed in this paper based on the observation that there are plenty of horizontal features in indoor environments. In this algorithm, the shape identity of all horizontal feature correspondences is achieved by means of a special image transformation - reprojection transformation. By using edge string as an intermediate structure, a generalized Hough transformation strategy fuses a variety of criteria, such as shape similarity, disparity continuity and pixel attribution similarity, etc., together. In this way it copes with the correspondence of horizontal and non-horizontal features for 30 environment model building. First the principle of reprojection transformation using calibrated or uncalibrated images are discussed, then the generalized Hough transform strategy is addressed. Preliminary experimental results indicate that the algorithm is an effective and ef$cient method for indoor environment model building by using stereo methodology.


Abandonment is becoming a major focus as an operator and also by regulators with a single prominent objective – to reduce its overall operation expenditure. From an operator's perspective, striking balance between abandonment expenditures asset integrity, regulator's requirement and funding for growth projects is key to ensure safe & reliable operations, sustained growth and profatibility.
 Sarawak Oil (SK Oil) is a brownfield operator with a huge number of legacy asset; some reaching more than 40 years of age. These assets are constantly being monitored closely for any integrity issue that might emerge due to assets operating beyond their original design life. There is also major development project currently on going which requires huge investments each year. These projects are vital to sustain the positive cash flow for SK Oil operations. Thus, there is a need to diligently balance between the expenditure for growth projects, routine operations and abandonment activities.
 In view of the business & operational requirements, a comprehensive abandonment execution outlook, stretching out until the end of field life was developed. The main consideration is the total free cash flow taking into account investments for development projects. The basic formula isOperating Cash Flow minus Capital expenditure where the balance will be used to fund abandonment activities. Another key consideration is the stakeholder management, agreement and consensus have to be met with these partners as well. Thus, the phasing strategy is crucial in determining the prioritization of the candidates which are due for abandonment to ensure minimal cash outflow for a non-cash generating activity.
 SK Oil has developed an abandonment roadmap which narrows down to the next five (5) years abandonment outlook. This roadmap has been presented to the regulator and has been agreed upon. Thus, this five (5) years abandonment outlook will be a guiding principle to plan for the actual abandonment execution.
 This paper is intended to highlight the approach in developing an abandonment database and key criteria that has been considered to phase out the abandonment activities. This paper is beneficial to operators that manage a huge high number of assets with mostly aging facilities, which need to be abandoned in order to reduce the operating expenditure in the long run.


BACKGROUND & AIMS
The intestinal epithelial compartment is populated by CD8(+) alpha beta and gamma delta intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), which monitor the integrity of the epithelial barrier. alpha beta IELs are activated by peptide antigens presented by class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, but it is unclear how gamma delta IELs are activated.

METHODS
G8 T-cell receptor (TCR) gamma delta transgenic (Tg) mice (specific for the class I MHC alloantigen, T22/10(b)) were crossed to class I MHC-deficient beta2-microglobulin-knockout (beta2m degrees) mice, and Tg+ IELs were examined for relative yields and surface and functional phenotype.

RESULTS
Evidence for class I MHC-induced activation of Tg+ IELs was supported by the detection of 4-fold greater numbers of Tg+ IELs in G8 x beta2m+ mice that proliferated at 15-fold higher levels than IELs from G8 x beta2m degrees mice. However, expression of CD69, production of cytokine (interleukin 2 and interferon gamma), and detection of cytolytic function for IELs in G8 x beta2m degrees mice suggested that class I MHC was not required for gamma delta IEL development or maturation.

CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that CD8(+) TCR gamma delta IELs do not require class I MHC for development but support the notion that antigens presented by class I MHC molecules are involved in the peripheral expansion and differentiation of this subset.


Since the 2001 race riots in Bradford, Burnley, and Oldham and the terror attacks of 11 September 2001, British Muslims have been subjected to increased levels of suspicion and hostility. In particular, the spotlight has shone on working-class South Asian Muslim communities in the north of England, which have been accused of "self-segregation" and constructed as alienated from and posing a threat to "Britishness". Racial divisions and tensions have been problematically blamed on the "failure" of multiculturalism; commentators from the left and right of the political spectrum have claimed multiculturalist practice and policies have encouraged too much diversity, thereby obstructing integration, while social factors such as poverty, disenfranchisement, racism, and "white flight" have been obscured or at best downplayed.1 As news stories of young British Muslim men joining extremist organizations at home or abroad continue to circulate, the communities' male youth remain particularly susceptible to Islamophobic stereotyping and profiling. In this interview, performance poet and playwright Avaes Mohammad discusses the ways his work engages with this fraught political context. Our conversation begins by considering his experience of growing up in a racially divided northern English town in the 1980s and 1990s, before turning to the impact of the events of 2001 on his life and art. We discuss the role art can play in politics, and the part faith can play in art, before focusing on specific representations in his plays of young British Muslims held at Guantánamo Bay, divided working-class communities in the north of England, and young men — both Muslim and white — drawn to different kinds of extremism. Finally, we explore the racial and social exclusions of the creative arts, and the reception of Mohammad's work.


A wide variety of polyesters and polyamides was prepared from 1,2- and 1,3-disubstituted cyclobutane derivatives. In general, polyamides containing the trans-disubstituted cyclobutane ring were crystalline. Polyesters containing predominantly the trans-isomer tended to be crystalline but those containing mixtures of cis-trans isomers were amorphous. Mechanical properties have been determined wherever possible. Appreciable yields of cyclic dimers were isolated during the preparation of certain polyesters. These cyclic dimers readily polymerized when treated with dibutylzinc. Examination of acrylonitrile dimer (1,2-dicyanocyclobutane) by gas chromatography failed to reveal the presence of any 1,3-dicyanocyclobutanes.


The functional feeding groups and diversity of macroinvertebrate communities associated with duckweed mats in the New Years River (two sites) and Bloukrans River (two sites), Eastern Cape province, South Africa, were assessed. Duckweed (Lemnaceae) is a ubiquitous family of floating macrophytes. A total of 41 macroinvertebrate families were collected monthly over a six-month period from February to July 2014. Duckweed biomass in both rivers was highly variable both temporally and spatially. The majority of identified macroinvertebrate taxa were predators and detritivores, with a small percentage of herbivores. An average of approximately 26% of the macroinvertebrate taxa found were from families that include species from more than one functional feeding group. Although overall measures of diversity and ecosystem health (Fisher's α and Simpson's index) remained constant over time in the New Years River, significant differences in macroinvertebrate community structure were seen between sites and months on both rivers, with dissimilarity being driven by a larger number of species in the New Years River. This high variability within macroinvertebrate assemblages probably reflects a combination of heterogeneous duckweed distribution, variation in physico-chemistry, opportunistic behaviours of macroinvertebrate predators and/or successional colonisation of duckweed mats.


F344 inbred were repeatedly immunized (days 0, 28, and 42) with normal syngeneic or allogeneic rat tissues or transplantable syngeneic or allogeneic rat tumors (some of which were virus producing). Immunized rats were challenged by sc injection of 10(5) or 10(6) syngeneic rat tumor cells from either of two different tumor lines. Successful cross-protective immunization prevented tumor development in rats that were challenged at 100-1,000 times the 50% tumor dose. The protection was essentially lifelong and complete in that no tumors appeared up to 200 days post challenge in some experiments. To be successful, the tumor cell vaccines had to express a complement-fixing cross-reacting antigen detected with sera from rats bearing any of several different tumors and to be able to induce a spontaneously regressing tumor in the host.