Dynamics of inelastic gases are studied within the framework of random collision processes. The corresponding Boltzmann equation with uniform collision rates is solved analytically for gases, impurities, and mixtures. Generally, the energy dissipation leads to a significant departure from the elastic case. Specifically, the velocity distributions have overpopulated high energy tails and different velocity components are correlated. In the freely cooling case, the velocity distribution develops an algebraic high-energy tail, with an exponent that depends sensitively on the dimension and the degree of dissipation. Moments of the velocity distribution exhibit multiscaling asymptotic behavior, and the autocorrelation function decays algebraically with time. In the forced case, the steady state velocity distribution decays exponentially at large velocities. An impurity immersed in a uniform inelastic gas may or may not mimic the behavior of the background, and the departure from the background behavior is characterized by a series of phase transitions.


【Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common protozoa parasites of human and other warm-blooded animals. Cats and wild felidae play crucial roles in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis. This study was performed to survey the prevalence of T. gondii infection among stray cats in the Seoul. A total of 422 stray cat blood samples were collected from Seoul area. Positive sera for T. gondii were identified in 56 samples (13.3%) exclusively via the latex agglutination test and the detection no antigen particles among seropositive samples by PCR. The overall infection rate of male stray cats (14.4%) presented as higher than that of female cats (10.7%). This study suggested that T. gondii is widespread in stray cats of Seoul area. It is needed to control urban stray cat population and to reduced the risk of zoonotic transmission of toxolasmosis to other animals and humans.】


The effect of herbal extracts of four ethnomedicinal herbs (Zanthoxylumarmatum, Litsea cubeba, Heracleum nepalense, and Evodia fraxinifolia) of culinary importance on the microbial quality of sukuti (a traditional dried meat product) was studied. Herbal extracts were prepared by grinding each herb to particle size < 250 μm, extracting in 50% (v/v) ethanol, and concentrating in a rotary vacuum evaporator at 50oC. Four of the spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms, viz., Salmonella, Staphylococcus, E. coli, and Lactobacillus were isolated from market sukuti samples and used as test organisms for the study. Herbal extracts at the concentration of 40, 20, 10, and 2 mg/ml were tested against the test organisms to determine the antimicrobial property of the extracts. The herbal extract showing the greatest antimicrobial activity was selected for use in optimized product (sukuti) development. The total phenolic content of the herbal extracts was also determined. The analyses were performed in triplicate. The data were checked for homogeneity before being analyzed with ANOVA in Genstat Release v12. The Fisher's Least Significant Difference (LSD) method was used to compare data means at a 5% level of significance. Zanthoxylum armatum at 40 mg/ml concentration showed the largest zone of inhibition (ZOI) against the test organisms and was therefore selected for final product development. Meat strips (1 cm × 1 cm × 25 cm) were marinated with Zanthoxylum armatum (40 mg/ml) extract at the rate of 2%, aged (24 h at 4 ± 2oC), and dried in a cabinet dryer for 2 days at 55oC. The total plate counts (TPCs) of control (untreated)- and herbal (treated) sukuti were carried out for 20 days at an interval of 10 days to determine the microbial stability of the final product. The TPC for the treated sample was significantly lower (p<0.05) than that of the untreated sample.


Acid phosphatase (ACP) is a hydrolytic lysosomal enzyme secreted by a number of cells including blood cells as well as by the prostate, bones, liver and other tissues. Several isozymes of ACP have tissue specificity. The isozymes can be fractionated by electrophoresis into six bands. Prostatic ACP (bands 2-4) is frequently measured for the diagnosis of prostatic disease. Band 5, tartrate resistant ACP (TRACP) consists of two isoforms, bands 5a and 5b. TRACP 5b is considered to be a marker of the osteoclasts and 5a is found in Gaucher's cells, or in the leukocytes of patients with hairy cell leukemia.


Different transdermal nimesulide gels were prepared using various gel bases, with an objective to formulate suitable transdermal formulation of nimesulide. The polymers selected were sodium alginate, HPMC, NA CMC and methyl cellulose. In vitro release studies of the prepared formulation were performed using dialysis membrane and results indicated that sodium alginate gel showed better release. In vivo antiinflammatory activity was studied in carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema and analgesic activity was studied in acetic acid-induced writhes in rats. Among the prepared formulations, sodium alginate gel showed better antiinflammatory and analgesic activity. Sodium alginate gel found to be more stable when stability study was performed. Sodium alginate gel containing nimesulide was found to be better in all aspects compared to other gel formulations and this was comparable to the marketed gel.


Biomass-derived materials have traditionally been used to generate electrical energy through the combustion of their organic components. However, within the past few years, certain common biomass compounds, especially plant-based products such as cellulose and lignin, have drawn attention in the energy field due to their wide availability, low cost, and chemical versatility. In the case of cellulose, the combination of crystalline and amorphous domains, along with the high surface area and abundance of hydroxyl groups, has allowed for its application in multiple devices to harvest energy from the environment. However, to date, there are no reviews focusing on the different approaches that have been developed to implement these sustainable materials in the generation of renewable energies and the desirable material properties for these applications. This manuscript reviews alternative ways that have been developed to exploit biomass compounds in power generation, especially cellulose and lignin. Three different types of energy harvesting are discussed: mechanical, osmotic, and thermal energy. In the case of mechanical energy, the application of plant-derived materials in piezoelectric and triboelectric generators is described. In both cases, approaches where the biomass material has an active role in power generation instead of acting as a mechanical support are reported. For osmotic energy, the performance of inverse electrodialysis systems and the use of plant-derived materials, including the chemical modifications carried out to allow for their use for energy generation, was reviewed. Finally, for thermal energy generation, the reported work on biopolymer-based devices that work using thermoelectricity has been summarised. In each case, the latest advances in the field from the materials science perspective and the reported performance were described. Hybrid approaches involving the combination of biomass materials with other components have also been considered and compared with the performance obtained using biopolymers alone. Current limitations and opportunities are, finally, discussed to offer an overview of the current landscape and indicate future directions of the field.


type="main" xml:id="ecpo12025-abs-0001"> Political actors today seek to influence labor mobility via education just as they have for centuries. Landowners in countries with large industrial sectors attempt to suppress education levels to maintain their labor supply, as educated workers are able to move into industrial work more easily than uneducated workers. However, the relationship between large landowners and education is more complex than has been previously theorized. Using a specific-factors model, I show that large landowners in countries with little economic development actually have an incentive to increase education levels. They realize the returns of an educated workforce without fearing their mobility because competing industrial opportunities for the workers do not exist. In either case, the ability of landowners to achieve their political goals is a function of their ability to overcome the collective action problem and effectively influence the state's provision of education. Powerful landowners successfully deny education in industrialized countries and provide it in agricultural countries. An analysis of panel data covering 77 countries from 1975 to 2000 confirms the conditional nature of the relationship.


1 Small and isolated populations of species are susceptible to loss of genetic diversity, owing to random genetic drift and inbreeding. This loss of diversity may reduce the evolutionary potential to adapt to changing environments, and may cause immediate loss of fitness (cf. inbreeding depression). Together with other population size‐dependent stochastic processes, this may lead to increased probabilities of population extinction. 2 This set of processes and theories forms the core of conservation genetics and has developed into the conservation genetics paradigm. Many empirical studies have concentrated on the relationship between population size and genetic diversity, and in many cases evidence was found that small populations of plants do indeed have lower levels of genetic diversity and increased homozygosity. Although less empirical attention has been given to the relationship between low genetic diversity, fitness and, in particular, evolutionary potential, the paradigm is now widely accepted. 3 Here we present five areas of the paradigm which could be refined, i.e. the 'rough' edges of the conservation genetics paradigm. 4 Treating population size and isolation not as interchangeable parameters but as separate parameters affecting population genetics in different ways could allow more accurate predictions of the effects of landscape fragmentation on the genetic diversity and viability of populations. 5 There is evidence that inbreeding depression may be a genotype‐specific phenomenon, rather than a population parameter. This sheds new light on the link between population inbreeding depression and the expected increased probability of extinction. 6 Modern eco‐genomics offers the opportunity to study the population genetics of functional genes, to the extent that the role of selection can be distinguished from the effects of drift, and allowing improved insights into the effects of loss of genetic diversity on evolutionary potential. 7 Incorporating multispecies considerations may result in the generally accepted notion that small populations are at peril being called into question. For instance, small populations may be less capable of sustaining parasites or herbivores. 8 Comparative studies of endangered, common and invasive species may be a valuable approach to developing conservation biology from a phenomenological case study discipline into one investigating the general principles of what sustains biodiversity. 9 The issues discussed set an agenda for further research within conservation genetics and may lead to a further refinement of our understanding and prediction of the genetic effects of habitat fragmentation. They also underline the need to integrate ecological and genetic approaches to the conservation of biodiversity, rather than regarding them as opposites.


Scale dependence of micro/nanotribological properties is studied for various materials, coatings and lubricants used in micro/nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS). The adhesive force and friction force dependence on rest time and sliding velocity and the effect of relative humidity and temperature on the scale dependence of these properties is studied. The scale dependence of the coefficient of friction is attributable to the sample surface roughness and the scan size. For larger scan sizes the sliding interface encounters larger asperities and so friction force is higher. The adhesive force is higher on the microscale although on the nanoscale surface forces such as electrostatic attraction that are generally negligible on the microscale can become dominant. The difference in the adhesive force on the micro- and nanoscale for different rest times, relative humidities and temperatures is due to the meniscus force dependence on the sample surface roughness. The velocity dependence of the friction force shows significant scale dependence due to the scale dependent roughness and the higher contact pressures that are encountered on the nanoscale.


In LLC converters, the transformer's lumped winding parasitic capacitance degrades the zero-voltage-switching performance as well as power delivery capability. However, the literature survey indicates that there is still a lack of a systematic methodology to guide the optimal winding of the transformer. In this paper, a method to reduce the parasitic capacitance is proposed. The mechanism of the parasitic lumped winding capacitance in spiral winding transformer is detailed. A performance comparison between the conventional winding and proposed winding is conducted experimentally. The experimental results show that using the proposed design, the lumped winding capacitance is reduced from 14.40pF/turn to 1.76pF/turn.


Clinical heterogeneity observed across patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a known complicating factor in identifying potential therapeutics, even within cohorts with the same mutation, such as C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansions (HREs). Thus, further understanding of pathways underlying this heterogeneity is essential for appropriate ALS trial stratification and the meaningful assessment of clinical outcomes. It has been shown that both inflammation and protein misfolding can influence ALS pathogenesis, such as the manifestation or severity of motor or cognitive symptoms. However, there has yet to be a systematic and quantitative assessment of immunohistochemical markers to interrogate the potential relevance of these pathways in an unbiased manner. To investigate this, we extensively characterised features of commonly used glial activation and protein misfolding stains in thousands of images of post‐mortem tissue from a heterogeneous cohort of deeply clinically profiled patients with a C9orf72 HRE. Using a random forest model, we show that microglial staining features are the most accurate classifiers of disease status in our panel and that clinicopathological relationships exist between microglial activation status, TDP‐43 pathology, and language dysfunction. Furthermore, we detected spatially resolved changes in fused in sarcoma (FUS) staining, suggesting that liquid–liquid phase shift of this aggregation‐prone RNA‐binding protein may be important in ALS caused by a C9orf72 HRE. Interestingly, no one feature alone significantly impacted the predictiveness of the model, indicating that the collective examination of all features, or a combination of several features, is what allows the model to be predictive. Our findings provide further support to the hypothesis of dysfunctional immune regulation and proteostasis in the pathogenesis of C9‐ALS and provide a framework for digital analysis of commonly used neuropathological stains as a tool to enrich our understanding of clinicopathological relationships within and between cohorts. © 2022 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.


Over the recent years, the concept of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) has rapidly evolved over the world, with guidelines and regulations now existing not only in the U.S.A. but also in Europe, Scandinavia, Japan, and Australia. The systematic measures laid down in GCP are to ensure that clinical studies are conducted in conformity with strict ethical rules, are performed according to high-quality standards, and result in authentic, verifiable scientific data. Different aspects in managing quality in the clinical field are to be presented: (1) The definition of a two-stage quality system: it identifies the differences between quality control activities which reside with the operational units and auditing activities performed by an independent Quality Assurance group, which assesses the efficiency and integrity of the control systems established to ensure the quality. (2) The multidisciplinary picture of a clinical study: every operational staff contributes to quality through a chain using the "quality in/quality out" concept. (3) The review of the main responsibilities of the main professionals (Sponsor, Monitor, and Investigator) in a GCP environment, to show that quality is achievable by involving appropriate qualified staff. (4) The need of proactive control systems to reduce the risk of error and increase the credibility and confidence in building quality. (5) The role and objectives of a Quality Assurance Group.


This paper reports on an educational experiment promoting relational reasoning as a form of argumentation with graduate students of ICT in learning. Relational reasoning includes working with mind maps, concept maps, use case diagrams, decision trees, flow diagrams, dialogue maps, situational maps and more. More broadly we can say that relational reasoning consists firstly of using nodes and arcs to represent and overview interrelated meanings as visual networks and secondly allowing the interaction with these networks to generate new dynamic perspectives on the content. The educational experiment consisted of four dedicated lessons introducing different diagramming techniques to students of ICT in learning and supporting them in using these techniques as part of their reasoning and analysis in relation to their semester project. A core example tool was ArcForm that is a general-purpose relational reasoning notation and has been explored as a notational foundation for e-learning systems (Allsopp 2013, 2015).


Several alternative ways of defining the syntax of expressions in Pascal are compared. Based on experimental observations, measures of syntactic efficiency are calculated for each variant of the syntax. An optimal variant is determined for each such measure.


Considers muscle activation and fatigue during propulsion of a racing wheelchair. The authors discuss a single case study on the modality of muscle activation during the propulsion of a racing wheelchair. To investigate muscle coordination, muscle fatigue, and the strategies that the subject exploits to counteract the effects of muscle fatigue and keep a high level of performance, the authors first studied the activation intervals of seven trunk and upper limb muscles and then studied the evolution in time of their spectral content by means of two different approaches, according to the statistical properties of their myoelectric signals. Angle, angular velocity, and angular acceleration of the elbow joint have also been considered. This combined approach allowed the authors to obtain different results important to gaining a deeper insight in the differences among the observed muscles in this specific exercise.


Presents the application of a backstepping feedback design technique to the speed control of a switched-reluctance motor (SRM). Using the backstepping method, both feedback laws and Lyapunov based designs are applied in the controller design. The mathematical model for the SRM takes magnetic saturation into account. The controller takes phase currents and voltages, rotor position, rotor speed, and reference speed as inputs, and it calculates the phase current required to maintain the motor speed close to the reference speed. The turn-on and conduction angles are continuously controlled to improve the system performance. An experimentally verified Saber model is used for simulation studies and a 20 kW SRM drive prototype is built to study the performance of the proposed controller. A conventional PI controller is used for comparison. Both simulation and experimental results show improved transient and steady state performance, and robustness of the controller.


BACKGROUND
Breast cancer survivors are at life-time risk of developing lymphedema (LE). The goal of this research was to describe LE incidence over time among women treated for breast cancer.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Limb volume changes (LVC) were evaluated by two measurement methods, circumferences and perometry, among 118 participants followed preoperative to 12 months postdiagnosis. Four diagnostic criteria were used: 200 mL perometry LVC; 10% perometry LVC; 2 cm circumferential increase; and report of heaviness or swelling, either "now" or "in the past year." Using 200 mL, the estimated LE rate was 24% (95% CI = 17%-32%) at 6 months, and 42% (31%-53%) at 1 year. Using 10% LVC, the estimated LE rate was 8% (2%-13%) at 6 months, and 21% (12%-30%) at 1 year. Using 2 cm, the estimated LE rate was 46% (36%-56%) at 6 months, and 70% (60%-79%) at 1 year. Based on reported symptoms of heaviness or swelling, the estimated LE rate was 19% (11%-26%) at 6 months, and 40% (30-59%) at 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS
In the absence of a gold standard, we can only say that the different LE definitions are not equivalent, but cannot say which is "best". From this data, it appears that 10% LVC corresponds to a more conservative definition, whereas the 2 cm difference corresponds to a more liberal definition. These preliminary findings also document the importance of baseline (preoperative) anthropometric and symptom data and monitoring of changes over time. Further investigation of LE occurrence over an extended time period is warranted.


Objective : To assess the influence of pharmaceutical care activities on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) among type 2 diabetic patients. Methods : A total of about 301 patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus were recruited from a tertiary care hospital. Patients were educated about their disease condition, lifestyle modifications and diet regimen to be followed and were given instructions for improving medication adherence. In the initial session, no pharmaceutical care was given, in the second session patient counseling was given verbally and in the last session patient counseling was given both verbally and non-verbally by means of pamphlet distribution. KAP questionnaire and glycemic levels (glycated hemoglobin, fasting blood sugar and post-prandial blood sugar) of participants were obtained at baseline and at follow up. Results : The baseline values of FBS in patients before intervention was found to be 176.5±74.46 mg/dL and it was reduced to 140.7±43.9 mg/dL after 3 mo. henceforth, there was also an improvement in the PPBS values which was found to be 254±77.3 mg/dL at the baseline and was 212.9±54.2 mg/dL after intervention. The baseline values of HbA1c is 8.144±1.727% and after intervention, value reduced to about 7.173±2.768%. After the intervention, it was found to be that 30%, 16% and 12% reduction in FBS, PPBS and HbA1c values and the P-value (<0.0001) found to be statistically significant. KAP scores also found to be improved after the intervention and statistically significant. The results clearly indicate that through proper guidance and educating the patients by the pharmacist is beneficial in managing the glycemic levels and reduce further complications. Conclusion: The study concluded that the pharmaceutical care by the pharmacist is highly essentially and useful for the patients to manage the glycemic index and prevent further diabetic complications.


Human leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) belongs to the Roco family of proteins, which are characterized by the presence of a Ras-like G-domain (Roc), a C-terminal of Roc domain (COR), and a kinase domain. Mutations in LRRK2 have been found to be thus far the most frequent cause of late-onset Parkinson's disease (PD). Several of the pathogenic mutations in LRRK2 result in decreased GTPase activity and enhanced kinase activity, suggesting a possible PD-related gain of abnormal function. Important progress in the structural understanding of LRRK2 has come from our work with related Roco proteins from lower organisms. Atomic structures of Roco proteins from prokaryotes revealed that Roco proteins belong to the GAD class of molecular switches (G proteins activated by nucleotide dependent dimerization). As in LRRK2, PD-analogous mutations in Roco proteins from bacteria decrease the GTPase reaction. Studies with Roco proteins from the model organism Dictyostelium discoideum revealed that PD mutants have different effects and most importantly they explained the G2019S-related increased LRRK2 kinase activity. Furthermore, the structure of Dictyostelium Roco4 kinase in complex with the LRRK2 inhibitor H1152 showed that Roco4 and other Roco family proteins can be important for the optimization of the current, and identification of new, LRRK2 kinase inhibitors. In this review we highlight the recent progress in structural and biochemical characterization of Roco proteins and discuss its implication for the understanding of the complex regulatory mechanism of LRRK2.


We use the basic equations that predict the emission of gravitational waves according to the Einstein gravitation theory to calculate the luminosities and the amplitudes of the waves generated by binary stars, pulsations of neutron stars, wobbling of deformed neutron stars, oscillating quadrupoles, rotating bars and collapsing and bouncing cores of supernovas. This paper was written to graduate and postgraduate students of Physics.


Abstract The ability of machine learning techniques to predict athlete ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) was investigated in professional Australian football players. RPE is commonly used to quantifying internal training loads and manage injury risk in team sports. Data from global positioning systems, heart-rate monitors, accelerometers and wellness questionnaires were recorded for each training session (n=3398) from 45 professional Australian football players across a full season. A variety of modelling approaches were considered to investigate the ability of objective data to predict RPE. Models were compared using nested cross validation and root mean square error (RMSE) on RPE predictions. A random forest model using player normalised running and heart rate variables provided the most accurate predictions (RMSE ± SD = 0.96 ± 0.08 au). A simplification of the model using only total distance, distance covered at speeds between 18-24 km·h−1, and the product of total distance and mean speed provided similarly accurate predictions (RMSE ± SD = 1.09 ± 0.05 au), suggesting that running distances and speeds are the strongest predictors of RPE in Australian football players. The ability of non-linear machine learning models to accurately predict athlete RPE has applications in live player monitoring and training load planning.


Surface roughness on a stator blade was found to have a major effect on the three-dimensional (3D) separation at the hub of a single-stage low-speed axial compressor. The change in the separation with roughness worsened performance of the stage. A preliminary study was carried out to ascertain which part of the stator suction surface and at what operating condition the flow is most sensitive to roughness. The results show that stage performance is extremely sensitive to surface roughness around the leading edge and peak-suction regions, particularly for flow rates corresponding to design and lower values. Surface flow visualization and exit loss measurements show that the size of the separation, in terms of spanwise and chordwise extent, is increased with roughness present. Roughness produced the large 3D separation at design flow coefficient that is found for smooth blades nearer to stall. A simple model to simulate the effect of roughness was developed and, when included in a 3D Navier-Stokes calculation method, was shown to give good qualitative agreement with measurements.


Exemplary method, system, and computer program product embodiments for an incremental modification of an error detection code operation are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, for a data block requiring a first error detection code (EDC) value to be calculated and verified and is undergoing modification for at least one randomly positioned sub-blocks that becomes available and modified in independent time intervals, a second EDC value is calculated for each of the randomly positioned sub-blocks. An incremental effect of the second EDC value is applied for calculating the first EDC value and for recalculating the first EDC value upon replacing at least one of the randomly positioned sub- blocks. The resource consumption is proportional to the size of at least one of the randomly positioned sub-blocks that are added and modified. Additional system and computer program product embodiments are disclosed and provide related advantages.


Even for pure substances, the deduction of the absolute configuration is not always straightforward since there is no direct link between the magnitude and sign of the optical rotation and the absolute configuration. It would be very useful to use computations of the optical rotation to link experimentally measured optical rotations to an absolute configuration. Such electronic structure calculations of the optical rotation typically employ regular energy optimized basis sets from wave function theory, and especially the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set has been popular. Here, we have carried out extrapolation of the optical rotation to the basis set limits for nine small or medium sized molecules, using basis sets developed specifically for DFT and magnetic properties (aug-pcS-n series). We suggest that assignment of absolute configuration by comparisons between theoretical and experimental optical rotations may be improved by employing different wavelengths, and accordingly the optical rotation at two wavelengths (589.3 and 355.0 nm) has been investigated. Several fitting schemes were used to estimate the optical rotations at the basis set limit. It was found that use of the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set often leads to results that deviate significantly form the basis set limit results, especially at 355.0 nm but also at 589.3 nm. The double-ζ aug-pcS-1 basis set usually provides results which are closer to the limiting values. The basis set requirements are generally more severe at 355.0 nm, where also the aug-cc-pVTZ and 6-311++G(3fd,3dp) basis sets show significant deviations from the basis set limit results, while the aug-pcS-2 basis set always leads to results within an acceptable deviation.


BACKGROUND
Parenteral nutrition (PN) is the main treatment for intestinal failure.

OBJECTIVE
We aimed to review the indications for home parenteral nutrition (HPN) in children and describe the outcome over a 14-y period from a single center.

DESIGN
We conducted a retrospective study that included all children who were referred to our institution and discharged while receiving HPN between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2013. The indications for HPN were divided into primary digestive diseases (PDDs) and primary nondigestive diseases (PNDDs). We compared our results to a previous study that was performed in our unit from 1980 to 2000 and included 302 patients.

RESULTS
A total of 251 patients were included: 217 (86%) had a PDD. The mean ± SD age at HPN onset was 0.7 ± 0.3 y, with a mean duration of 1.9 ± 0.4 y. The indications for HPN were short bowel syndrome (SBS) (59%), PNDD (14%), congenital enteropathies (10%), chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction syndromes (9%), inflammatory bowel diseases (5%), and other digestive diseases (3%). By 31 December 2013, 52% of children were weaned off of HPN, 9% of the PDD subgroup had intestinal transplantation, and 10% died mostly because of immune deficiency. The major complications of HPN were catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) (1.7/1000 d of PN) and intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) (51 children; 20% of cohort). An increased rate of CRBSIs was observed compared with our previous study, but we saw a decreasing trend since 2012. No noteworthy deceleration of growth was observed in SBS children 6 mo after weaning off HPN.

CONCLUSIONS
SBS was the major indication for HPN in our cohort. IFALD and CRBSIs were potentially life-threatening problems. Nevertheless, complication rates were low, and deaths resulted mostly from the underlying disease.


Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with unknown etiology. The aim of this thesis was to identify susceptibility regions through genetic mapping, using model-based linkage analysis on nuclear and extended SLE multicase families.In the first paper we performed a genome scan on 19 genetically homogenous Icelandic and Swedish families. One region at 2q37 was identified with a significant linkage with contribution from both populations (Z=4.24). Five other regions 2q11, 4p13, 9p22, 9p13 and 9q13 showed suggestive linkage (Z>2.0).In the second paper, 87 families from 10 different countries were analysed only for chromosome 1. One region at 1q31 showed significant linkage (Z=3.79) with contribution from families from all populations, including Mexicans and Europeans. Four other regions 1p36, 1p21, 1q23, and 1q25, showed levels of suggestive linkage. Linkage for most regions was highly dependent on what population was used, which indicated strong genetic heterogeneity in the genetic susceptibility for SLE.In the two last papers, we used the positional candidate gene strategy, in order to investigate candidate genes in two regions linked to SLE. For the Bcl-2 gene (at 18q21) we could not detect any association with SLE using three different markers. However, when we investigated the tightly linked low-affinity family of FcγR genes (at 1q23), we could find association for two risk alleles in the FcγRIIA and FcγRIIIA genes. The risk alleles were transmitted to SLE patients on one specific haplotype and therefore are not independent risk alleles.The results show that model-based linkage analysis is a strong approach in the search for susceptibility genes behind complex diseases like SLE.


The adsorbability of colloidal particles from different stages of a conventional water treatment plant was studied with the assistance of micro-membrane filtration experiment. The microfiltration (MF) performance and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the foulants on membrane surface were investigated. The results showed that the particles in the ozonated water (OW) had the strongest adsorbability, and stronger than that in the clarified water (CW); and the particles in the sand filtrated water (SFW) had relatively weaker adsorbability than that in the raw water (RW). The particles in the sand filter backwash water (SFBW) were mainly consisted of detached aggregates and had weak attachment with the membrane surface.


Background Currently ~50% of patients with the diagnosis of high-risk neuroblastoma will not survive due to relapsing or refractory disease. Recent innovations in immunotherapy for solid tumors are highly promising, but the low MHC-I expression of neuroblastoma represents a major challenge for T cell-mediated immunotherapy. Here, we propose a novel T cell-based immunotherapy approach for neuroblastoma, based on the use of TEG002, ab-T cells engineered to express a defined gd-T cell receptor, which are thought to recognize and kill target cells independent of MHC-I. In this pilot project we have tested the potential efficacy of TEG002 therapy as a novel treatment for neuroblastoma, with tumor organoids. Materials and Methods Effector cells were created from healthy donor peripheral blood T cells. The TEG002 cells were engineered by transducing ab-T cells with a defined Vg9Vd2-T cell receptor. Both the untransduced ab-T cells and the endogenous Vg9Vd2-T cells from the same healthy donor were used as controls in all experiments. Activation and killing of TEG002 was tested in a co-culture setting with neuroblastoma organoids. Supernatant of the co-culture was collected at 24 hours for IFNg ELISA to measure activation of TEG002. The dynamics of cytotoxicity were analyzed over time from 0 till 72 hours, using the live-cell imaging system IncuCyte from Sartorius. Killing was quantified using a Caspase3/7 Green dye and the IncuCyte software. Transcriptional profiling of the neuroblastoma organoids was done by RNA sequencing and MHC-I expression of the neuroblastoma organoids was determined by flow cytometry. Results We showed that 3 out of 6 neuroblastoma organoids could activate TEG002 as measured by IFNg production. Transcriptional profiling of the neuroblastoma organoids showed that this effect correlates with an increased activity of processes involved in interferon signaling and extracellular matrix organization. Analysis of the dynamics of organoid killing by TEG002 over time confirmed that organoids which induced TEG002 activation were efficiently killed independently of their MHC-I expression. Of note, efficacy of TEG002 treatment was superior to donor-matched untransduced ab-T cells or endogenous gd-T cells. Conclusions We demonstrated that 50% of tested neuroblastoma organoids can effectively activate TEG002 and that killing of the organoids is independent of MHC-I expression. Hence, this pilot study identified TEG002 as a promising novel cellular product for immunotherapy for a subset of neuroblastoma tumors, warranting further investigations into its clinical application.


Although null hypothesis testing (NHT) is the primary method for analyzing data in many natural sciences, it has been increasingly criticized. Recently, a new method based on information theory (IT) has become popular and is held by many to be superior for many reasons, not least because is enables researchers to properly assess the strength of the evidence that data provide for competing hypotheses. Many studies have compared IT and NHT in the context of model selection and stepwise regression, but a systematic comparison of the most simple but realistic uses of statistics by ecologists is still lacking. We used computer simulations to compare how both methods perform in four basic test designs (t-test, ANOVA, correlation tests, and multiple linear regression). Performance was measured by the proportion of simulated samples for which each method provided the correct conclusion (power), the proportion of detected effects with a wrong sign (S-error), and the mean ratio of the estimated effect to the true effect (M-error). We also checked if the p-value from significance tests correlated to a measure of strength of evidence, the Akaike weight. In most cases both methods performed equally well. The concordance is explained by the monotonic relationship between p-values and evidence weights in simple designs, which agree with analytic results. Our results show that researchers can agree on the conclusions drawn from a data set even when they are using different statistical approaches. By focusing on the practical consequences of inferences, such a pragmatic view of statistics can promote insightful dialogue among researchers on how to find a common ground from different pieces of evidence. A less dogmatic view of statistical inference can also help to broaden the debate about the role of statistics in science to the entire path that leads from a research hypothesis to a statistical hypothesis.


In this paper, we discuss the application of Internal Corporate Communication (ICC) in organizations to implement corporate programmes, specifically performance contracting in one large state corporation in Kenya. The paper is a product of a postgraduate study by one of us (Okong'o, 2015), which was motivated by the fact that performance contracting was heavily resisted by many organizations in the country, yet the corporation under review successfully, implemented it, citing the effective use of Corporate communication strategies. The literature reviewed also revealed that that there is relatively scanty research on this subject, especially in developing countries. The qualitative approach to was applied in this research, taking the case study method in the Western region of Kenya involving 42 participants. Data was generated using interviews and document analysis and was analysed thematically. Some of the perceptions highlighted in the paper are: perceptions on the merits of the ICC strategies used, perceptions on the demerits of the strategies and the perceptions on what can be done differently. The paper highlights the need to educate the internal publics of organizations on the meaning and significance of ICC in deciding the nature of strategies to be used in implementing performance contracts. Keywords: Corporate Communication, Internal Corporate Communication, Communication strategies, Performance Contracting.


We review progress made during the last 25 years in our understanding of the Protopityales, Early Carboniferous plants belonging to the extinct group of the progymnosperms. Recent studies support previous observations that the only genus of this order, Protopitys, included large arborescent plant with trunks up to 1 m in diameter. All branch orders had an oval eustele, secondary xylem with small rays and tracheid pitting ranging from circular bordered to scalariform bordered, and vascular traces to lateral appendages emitted in an alternate to subopposite distichous arrangement. Leaf morphology remains unknown. New material also confirms that fertile organs of Protopitys consist of branching systems bearing elongated sporangia terminally. Spores have a perispore and range in two size groups, which has been interpreted as a primitive stage of heterospory. The dense wood and fertile parts of Protopitys are comparable to those of the aneurophytalean progymnosperms of the Devonian, but Protopitys is distinct by its eustelic primary vascular system, and its affinities are still uncertain. The genus is now documented from at least nine localities in Europe, North America and Australia. Recent discoveries also indicate that it was present through the whole Mississippian, from the middle Tournaisian to the Serpukhovian.


An experimental study has been conducted to investigate the flow separation control effects of a blowing jet on an elliptic airfoil at a Reynolds number of 7.84×105 based on the chord length. A blowing jet was obtained by pressing a plenum inside the airfoil and ejecting flow out of a thin jet slot that located in leading edge or trailing edge. The experimental results have shown that the blowing jet had an effect of suppressing the flow separation, resulting in the higher suction pressure distribution and higher normal force. The increase in Cn was more pronounced at higher incidence, whereas the effectiveness of the blowing jet reduced at lower incidences. The leading edge pulsating blowing with 90° was the most effective in controlling the flow separation than other types of blowing jet configuration tested in this research. Moreover, when the pulsating blowing was applied, the stall angle was postponed about 2°-3°. The continuous and pulsating blowing jet is a direct and effective flow separation control for improving the aerodynamic characteristics and performances of airfoil.


A simple method for extracting ovarian steroids from feces is presented, together with enzyme immunoassay systems for measuring estrogen and progesterone metabolites. Small amounts of feces were combined in a 1:10 proportion with a modified phosphate buffer, shaken for 24 h, centrifuged, and decanted; the supernatant was directly measured for estrogen and progesterone metabolites by enzyme immunoassays. Serum estradiol and progesterone profiles were compared to urinary and fecal profiles in the same animals to determine the degree to which each reflected the ovarian events detectable in serum. The correlation coefficients for the relationship between serum, urinary, and fecal hormones for individual animal cycles were found to be statistically significant in every case but one, where the relationship between serum estradiol and urinary estrone conjugates was not significant. Urinary and fecal measurements were used to determine whether estrogen and progesterone metabolism and excretion varied within and between animals. Variation in unconjugated estrogen and progesterone metabolites was observed in the follicular phase, the luteal phase, and early pregnancy.


The complexity of many RNA processing pathways is such that a conventional systems modelling approach is inadequate to represent all the molecular species involved. We demonstrate that rule-based modelling permits a detailed model of a complex RNA signalling pathway to be defined. Phosphorylation of the RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) C-terminal domain (CTD; a flexible tail-like extension of the largest subunit) couples pre-messenger RNA capping, splicing and 3′ end maturation to transcriptional elongation and termination, and plays a central role in integrating these processes. The phosphorylation states of the serine residues of many heptapeptide repeats of the CTD alter along the coding region of genes as a function of distance from the promoter. From a mechanistic perspective, both the changes in phosphorylation and the location at which they take place on the genes are a function of the time spent by RNAPII in elongation as this interval provides the opportunity for the kinases and phosphatases to interact with the CTD. On this basis, we synthesize the available data to create a kinetic model of the action of the known kinases and phosphatases to resolve the phosphorylation pathways and their kinetics.


Metastasis accounts for the vast majority of deaths in breast cancer, and novel and effective treatments to inhibit cancer metastasis remain urgently developed. The expression level of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) in invasive breast cancer tissue is higher than in adjacent non-cancerous tissue. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of penisuloxazin A (PNSA), a novel C- terminal inhibitor of HSP90, on metastasis of breast cancer cells and related mechanism in vitro. We found that PNSA obviously affected adhesion, migration, and invasion of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) MDA-MB-231 cells and Trastuzumab-resistant JIMT-1 cells. Furthermore, PNSA was capable of reversing epithelial–mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of MDA-MB-231 cells with change of cell morphology. PNSA increases E-cadherin expression followed by decreasing amounts of N-cadherin, vimentin, and matrix metalloproteinases9 (MMP9) and proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinases2 (MMP2) and MMP9. Comparatively, the N-terminal inhibitor of HSP90 17-allyl-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) had no effect on EMT of MDA-MB-231 cells. PNSA was uncovered to reduce the stability of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) proteins and thereby inhibiting their downstream signaling transductions by inhibition of HSP90. In addition, PNSA reduced the expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) to promote natural killer (NK) cells to kill breast cancer cells with a dose far less than that of cytotoxicity to NK cell itself, implying the potential of PNSA to enhance immune surveillance against metastasis in vivo. All these results indicate that PNSA is a promising anti-metastasis agent worthy of being studied in the future.


Abstract Context: It has been proved that fresh frog skin is efficient in the wound healing process. Objective: The purpose of study is to introduce a formulation of frog skin powder for evaluation of wound repair where fresh frog skin is not available. Materials and methods: Rana ridibunda (Ranidae) skins were lyophilized, and a powder was prepared. The powder (0.0005 g) was then mixed with ointment (0.0065 g) for treating each wound. Formulation was used on full-thickness wounds on mice (FO group) and compared to positive and negative controls. In order to study the wound healing process, wound contraction, inflammation, number of fibroblast cells, neovascularization and collagen density were evaluated on days 2, 4 and 6 following the injury. Moreover, CFU measurement was performed for the evaluation of wound contamination. Results: Acceleration in wound contraction in the FO group compared to control groups was significant (p < 0.001) on days 4 and 6. Results showed that FO treatment considerably decreased inflammatory cells during the study. On day 4, FO treatment was significantly effective in increasing the number of fibroblast cells and collagen density (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). On day 6 the number of fibroblast cells (p < 0.001), collagen density (p < 0.05) and neovascularization (p < 0.05), were higher in the FO group than the control groups. Results of CFU measurement demonstrated significant reduction of wound contamination in FO treated wounds on days 2 (p < 0.05) and 4 (p < 0.01). Discussion and conclusion: Our findings indicated that the pharmaceutical form of frog skin used in this study has considerable healing and antibacterial effects on wounds.


How have the Inter-American human rights bodies dealt with the notion of war, which has been transformed over time into the notion of (internal and international) "armed conflicts"? This question has guided the first part of this study, which sets out the various types of conflicts that have occurred in the American continent. These situations (armed conflicts, internal strife, State terrorism) have produced a wide range of legal qualifications, used by both the Inter-American Commission and Court of human rights in their case-law. This conceptual delimitation carried out by these two bodies is all the more important as it affects the law that applies to armed conflicts. Indeed, by analyzing this question, the everlasting debate on the relationship between International Law on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law reappears. The second part of this study therefore focuses on the issue of discovering whether and in which way jus in bello has found its place in the Inter-American Human Rights bodies' case-law. As the active political life of Latin American societies has shown, the study of the different applicable legal regimes also requires looking into the "state of emergency" Law, an issue which has been shaped by the Inter-American Court and Commission's work.


354 Background: Tivozanib hydrochloride (T) is a potent, selective, tyrosine kinase inhibitor of all 3 VEGF receptors with a long half-life. T has shown tolerability and has extended progression-free survival (PFS) compared with sorafenib (S; median 11.9 months vs. 9.1 months; p =0.042) in a phase III trial (TIVO-1) as initial targeted therapy for pts with mRCC. We report results of PFS subgroup analyses from TIVO-1.

METHODS
Pts with clear-cell mRCC, prior nephrectomy, and ≤1 prior treatment for mRCC were randomized to T (n=260) or S (n=257). Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate PFS.

RESULTS
Significant improvement in PFS by T vs. S was observed for the following prespecified subgroups: white, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0, ≥1 year since diagnosis, no prior treatment, ≥2 metastatic sites, North America/Western Europe, baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≤140 mm Hg, and baseline diastolic BP (DBP) ≤90 mm Hg. Exploratory subgroup analysis showed a similar significant improvement by T vs. S in Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) favorable prognostic group, and pts who developed hypertension on study had significantly longer PFS than pts with normal BP. The improvement in PFS by T vs S was more marked for the subgroups that developed hypertension (selected subgroups shown in the table).

CONCLUSIONS
PFS subgroup analyses showed a consistent advantage with T vs. S for mRCC.

CLINICAL TRIAL INFORMATION
NCT01030783. [Table: see text].


Despite the best, and at times the worst, efforts of systems of care `to include', there remains a group of people whose refusal to be included remains a problem both for themselves and for society as a whole. Our discussion re-locates the problems arising from the anti-social stance at the heart of this refusal from the internal world of the refuser to phenomena associated with what we have called psychosocial dis-memberment and the ` un-housed mind'. We explore the complex reciprocal relationship between the housed and the un-housed, between society's members and those whom society dis-members and we consider some possible implications for individual workers, staff teams and organizations who are tasked with attempting to house, re-member or otherwise to accommodate such people. We conclude with a challenge to practitioners, academics and policy makers to reframe the philosophical basis of their approach towards these complex psychosocial problems.


Background: The Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score inaccurately predicts survival in patients with chronic liver disease, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet remains the standard tool for assessing hepatic reserve and guiding therapeutic decisions. CTP scoring relies on objective laboratory values for albumin, bilirubin, and prothrombin time and subjective clinical grading of hepatic encephalopathy and ascites. Since liver production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is significantly reduced in patients with cirrhosis, we hypothesized that IGF-1 could be a valid surrogate for hepatic reserve to replace the subjective parameters in CTP score. Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients and collected data and retrospectively tested plasma IGF-1 levels in four independent cohorts: two HCC cohorts from the United States, n=310 (training set) and n=99 (validation set 1); one HCC cohort from Korea, n=188 (validation set 2); and one cirrhosis cohort from Egypt, n=71 (validation set 3). Recursive partitioning identified within the training set three optimal IGF-1 ranges that correlated with survival: >50 ng/mL = 1 point; 26-50 ng/mL = 2 points; and Results: The IGF score was significantly more accurate in predicting survival and improved the stratification of all CTP classes in the training and validation cohorts. Conclusion: The new IGF score is simple and blood-based, and validated well on multiple independent HCC cohorts. It could identify a subpopulation of patients who may benefit from active therapy because of their preserved hepatic reserve, as distinct from patients for whom therapy can be deferred or avoided. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):C26. Citation Format: Ahmed O. Kaseb, Lianchun Xiao, Rania Naguib, Wafaa El-Shikh, Manal Hassan, Hesham Hassabo, Jeong-Hoon Lee, Jung-Hwan Yoon, Hyo-Suk Lee, Young Kwang Chae, James L. Abbruzzese, Jeffrey Morris. Development and validation of a scoring system using insulin-like growth factor to assess hepatic reserve in hepatocellular carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C26.


A recent study demonstrated that PDGF-inducible JE is an inflammatory cytokine that directs chemotactic activity of monocytes. Accumulation of monocyte/macrophage lineage cells at site of bone tissue sites is very important for formation of multinucleate osteoclasts, which mediate bone resorption. Since transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a potent regulator in bone remodeling, we examined whether TGF-beta induced JE gene expression in mouse osteoblastic cells, MC3T3-E1. TGF-beta induced a maximum JE mRNA expression at 3 hr after initiation of the cytokine treatment. This maximal expression was observed in when TGF-beta was used at a concentration of 1 ng/ml. The chemotactic activity for human monocytes was detected in conditioned medium of TGF-beta-treated cells, and the chemotactic activity was neutralized by anti-JE serum treatment.


Clonorchiasis caused by Clonorchis sinensis is a mainly foodborne parasitic disease. It can lead to hepatobiliary duct inflammation, fibrosis, obstructive jaundice, liver cirrhosis, and even cholangiocarcinoma. Interleukin (IL)-10 is an immune-regulatory cytokine which plays an immunosuppressive role during infection. Our previous study found that IL-10 was increased in mice with C. sinensis infection. However, the role and mechanism of IL-10 playing in hepatobiliary injury induced by C. sinensis infection remain unknown. Herein, Il10+/+ mice and Il10+/- C57BL/6J mice were infected with C. sinensis. It was found that IL-10 deficiency aggravated biliary hyperplasia and exacerbated periductal fibrosis induced by C. sinensis infection. Moreover, IL-10 deficiency increased CD4+T cells and CD8+T cells but not macrophages in the liver of mice with infection. There were no apparent differences in Th1 and Treg cells between Il10+/+ and Il10+/- mice infected with C. sinensis. However, the proportion of Th17 cells in CD4+T cells in Il10+/- infected mice was significantly higher than that in Il10+/+ infected mice. IL-10 deficiency also enhanced the increase of Th17 cells induced by ESPs stimulation in vitro. Taken together, our results suggest that IL-10 plays a protective role in hepatobiliary injury in C57BL/6J mice induced by C. sinensis infection via inhibiting Th17 cells, which could deepen our understanding of the immunopathology of clonorchiasis.


We present a novel text entry method for pen-based computers. We view the trace obtained by connecting the letter keys comprising a word on a stylus keyboard as a pattern. This pattern can be matched against a user-s pen trace, invariant of scale and translation. Hence the patterns become an efficient form of shorthand gestures, allowing users to use eyes-free openloop motor actions to perform the gestures. This can result in higher text entry speed than optimized stylus keyboards, the fastest known text entry technique for pen-computers as of today. The approach supports a gradual and seamless skill transition from novices tracing the letter keys to experts articulating the shorthand gestures. Hence the ratio between the learning effort and efficiency in using the system can be said to be optimized at any given point in time in the user-s experience with the technique. This thesis describes the rationale, architecture and lgorithms behind a stylus keyboard augmented with a high-capacity gesture recognition engine. We also report results from an Expanding Rehearsal Interval (ERI) experiment which indicates that users can acquire about 15 shorthand gestures per 45 minute training session. Empirical expert speed estimates of the technique indicate text entry speeds much higher than any prior known pen-based text entry system for mobile computers.


We report the results of a prospective randomized controlled trial, which looked at the incidence of postoperative diabetes insipidus (DI) following the use of three different hydrocortisone protocols, and the results of a study, on the incidence of DI and cortisol response in patients not given hydrocortisone. In study 1, 114 patients with pituitary macroadenoma were randomized into three groups: conventional dose (inj. hydrocortisone 100 mg IV 6-hourly for 3 days); intermediate dose (inj. hydrocortisone 100 mg IV 6-hourly on day 1, 100 mg IV 8-hourly on day 2, and 100 mg IV 12-hourly on day 3); low dose protocol (inj. hydrocortisone 25 mg IV 6-hourly on day 1, 25 mg IV 8-hourly on day 2 and 25 mg IV 12-hourly on day 3). Radical excision was achieved in 92 patients. The incidence of DI with the conventional dose was 52%, intermediate dose, 36% and low dose, 24% (p = 0.025). Study 2 included 16 consecutive patients with Hardy's grade A & B pituitary adenoma. These patients were randomized to receive (Group I) or not receive (Group II) hydrocortisone. Patients in Group II demonstrated normal cortisol response intraoperatively and no patient developed features of hypocortisolism; the incidence of DI in this group was 14%. The low dose hydrocortisone protocol reduced the incidence of DI by 46% when compared with the conventional dose hydrocortisone protocol. In patients with grade A and B tumour with normal preoperative cortisol levels, the use of perioperative hydrocortisone can be avoided.


As a result of the Post-Cold War development, the international relations have shifted from bipolarism to a multipolarism. Once relevant Western-born IR theories lack explanatory power. Current IR witness the growing role of the non-Western states both in regional and international domains. Consequently, there is a growing need for appropriate IR theories that could explain the changing world structure, describe the role of new powers in international politics and define future development. Thus, it is essential to study non-Western research that focuses on conceptualization of ongoing processes from its perspective.The authors analyze the IR theories developed by South Korean scholars. The purpose of this article is to analyze South Korean interpretations of the middlepowermanship that considers the Republic of Korea's unique regional and global context. South Korean scholars agree on a particular geostrategic location of the state. The geopolitical location, absence of natural resources and limited military power hinder South Korea's ability to use hard power in regional and international politics. However, South Korea's economic development and creative approach in foreign policy translate into middle power diplomacy, which includes niche diplomacy, moderating role in relations between greater powers, regional cooperation promotion, and development of the international legal system.The authors conclude that South Korean version of middle power theory is continuously being (re) interpreted and adapted to the country's foreign policy. South Korea is to be a a bridge between the great powers in the region.


Statement of Problem: Basically, performing dental health services on children is not easy and includes many problems which pain or fear is one of the most complicated ones. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of music on sensation of pain and fear in children during operative dental treatments in Kerman pediatrics clinic. Materials and method: This experimental and cross sectional study was conducted on 45 children (4-6 years). In the first visit, filling of one tooth (maxillary first molar) was done with routine behavioral management and without music. In the second visit the children were divided into 3 groups and the same process was performed for the similar tooth in the other quadrant, while music (happy, light and no music) was playing in every visit. Children's heart rates were measured three times, as the indicator to evaluate their fear. Finally data were analyzes by statistical program SPSS 11.5 using, T- test and Chi- square test. Results: The average value of pain sensation in the first visit was more than the second time which was significant (p<0.001). Heart rate decreased during dental procedure, but it was irrelevant to the type of music. During the first visit, heart rate displayed upward trend following the initial decrease (p<0. 01). Conclusion: In addition to the use of routine behavioral control methods. Music as a helping method can cause less fear in 4-6 year- old children during dental treatment. Key words: Music, Pain, Fear, Pediatric dentistry


Abstract-Any sufficiently smooth, positive, real-valued function ψ : S2 → K+ on a sphere S2 can be expanded by a Laplace expansion into a sum of spherical harmonics. Given the Laplace expansion coefficients, we provide a CPU and GPU-based algorithm that renders the radial graph of ψ in a fast and efficient way by ray-casting the glyph of ψ in the fragment shader of a GPU. The proposed rendering algorithm has proven highly useful in the visualization of high angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) data. Our implementation of the rendering algorithm can display simultaneously thousands of glyphs depicting the local diffusivity of water. The rendering is fast enough to allow for interactive manipulation of large HARDI data sets.


Dual hepatitis C virus (HCV)/hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is not uncommon in HCV or HBV endemic areas and among subjects at risk of parenteral transmission. In patients dually infected with hepatitis C and B, the disease manifestations are usually more severe than those with either virus infection. In the past decade, the following issues have been resolved. In dually infected patients with active hepatitis C, combined pegylated interferon alfa plus ribavirin was effective, the treatment outcomes being similar to patients with HCV monoinfection. During long‐term follow‐up, the HCV response was sustained in around 97% of patients; and the long‐term outcomes including the development of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver‐related mortality were improved. However, several clinical issues remain to be resolved. First, host and viral factors influencing the long‐term outcomes and treatment options in patients with dual HCV/HBV infection await further studies. Second, about 60% of dually infected patients with baseline undetectable serum HBV DNA levels develop HBV reactivation after the start of treatment. How to prevent and treat HBV reactivation should be clarified. Third, about 30% of dually infected patients lose hepatitis B surface antigen at 5 years after the end of combination therapy; the mechanisms need further investigations. Fourth, the optimal treatment strategies for dually infected patients with active hepatitis B or established cirrhosis should be explored in future clinical trials. Finally, the role of new direct‐acting antiviral‐based therapy for the treatment of patients with dual HCV/HBV infection also remains to be evaluated.


An immunohistochemical characterization of cytokeratins in the skin tissues of the sea lamprey, Petromyzon Marinus was performed using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Cytokeratins typical for simple epithelia have been detected in the epithelial cells, with a 8/18 pair expression. Granular cells and skein cells showed a labelling of cytokeratins 7, 8, 18 and 19, that is observed also in the non-keratinized layers of the horny teeth. Similar cytokeratins occur in the outermost cell layers of the epidermis; cytokeratin 19 shows a comparatively weaker reaction. These results suggest that the cytokeratin patterns in the above types of cells of adult epidermis are quite different from those in ammocoetes where the expression of cell specific cytokeratins may be correlated with specific programs of epidermal differentiation.


It is now clear that there are three sub-types of the opiate receptor, mu, delta and kappa. Evidence for differential roles of these sub-types in pain modulation is accumulating since the advent of relatively selective agonists and more recently, antagonists for the three receptors. The actions of opioids in the spinal cord is reasonably well understood and there is increasing knowledge of supraspinal sites of action, peripheral analgesic effects in inflammatory states and in the interactions between opioid and non-opioid systems at spinal levels, which may start to explain some of the clinical states with altered opioid sensitivity.


In a context of fundamental human right to a healthy environment should be analyzed and other fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution on which alone their interpretation in the context of environmental protection is in accordance with the principles of sustainable development of society. And the most important is the right to education because education can be achieved only through public awareness on environmental role in sustainable development. This study aims to explore the role of environmental education on the sustainable development of society.


The recently proposed phase imbalanced series capacitive compensation concept has been shown to be effective in enhancing power system dynamics as it has the potential of damping power swing as well as subsynchronous resonance oscillations. In this paper, a comparative effectiveness of two "hybrid" series capacitive compensation schemes in damping inter-area oscillations is evaluated. A hybrid scheme is a series capacitive compensation scheme, where two phases are compensated by fixed series capacitor (C) and the third phase is compensated by either a TCSC or SSSC in series with a fixed capacitor (Cc). The effectiveness of both schemes in damping inter-area oscillations for various network conditions, namely different system faults and tie-line power flows is evaluated using the EMTP-RV time simulation program.


ABSTRACT Electronically enriched content in OCLC can be found on catalog records with URL links displaying such information as dust jackets, book reviews, tables of contents, sample text, and publisher's descriptions. These electronic enhancements mirror book records which are available from the highly popular Web site Amazon.com. Online vendors such as SIRSI can customize these enhancements for the online catalog through such companies as Syndetic Solutions. A use study of books described on catalog records with electronically enriched contents versus those without indicates higher usage of books which are depicted on records with electronic enhancements. A further result indicates that higher use of books described by enhanced catalog records are also found with searchable 505 Table of Contents or 520 Summary field notes in the MARC record.


Abstract: The metabolism of Met‐enkephalin and cholecystokinin (CCK) 8‐(sulfated) by intact microslices was studied in rat brain regions. Incubation of brain slices with Met‐enkephalin (400 µM) resulted in a linear rate of disappearance of parent peptide and appearance of metabolic fragments whose rate of accumulation was specific to brain region. The degradative rate (pmol/min/mg of protein) of Met‐enkephalin was high in caudate‐putamen (5,160 ± 120) and lower in nucleus accumbens (3,630 ± 110) and frontal cortex (3,180 ± 120). Inhibition of aminopeptidases decreased Met‐enkephalin degradation (50–97% vs. control) in frontal cortex but was less effective in caudate‐putamen (20–34%). Tyr‐Gly‐Gly and Phe‐Met were recovered in caudate‐putamen and nucleus accumbens, whereas negligible quantities of these fragments were recovered from frontal cortex. Phosphoramidon, an inhibitor of neutral endopeptidase 24.11, decreased Met‐enkephalin degradation in caudate‐putamen (14%) but had no effect on that in frontal cortex. A cocktail of bestatin or leuhistin (inhibitors of aminopeptidases), phosphoramidon, and captopril (an inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme) protected Met‐enkephalin from degradation (recovery >95%) in caudate‐putamen. CCK 8‐(sulfated) degradation on slices from caudate‐putamen, nucleus accumbens, and frontal cortex was not altered by inhibitors of neutral endopeptidase 24.11, metalloendopeptidase 24.15, angiotensin converting enzyme, or thiol proteases. Inhibitors of either aminopeptidases or serine proteases produced small reductions (13–30%) in CCK degradation in each region. These data provide evidence for regional and structural specificity in terminating the actions of neuropeptides.


Jonides and Yantis (1988) found that abrupt-onset singletons capture attention in visual search when onset is orthogonal to the target's defining and reported attributes and that color and brightness singletons do not. They concluded that abrupt onset may be unique in capturing visual attention. Folk, Remington, and Johnston (1992) challenge this conclusion and argue that (a) the occurrence of attentional capture is contingent on the adoption of an appropriate attentional control setting by the observer and (b) properties other than onset (in particular, color) can capture attention involuntarily. In this article, each of these claims is critically evaluated, and it is argued that the results reported by Folk et al., though important, do not definitively corroborate either one. The available evidence concerning stimulus-driven attentional capture is summarized, and 3 empirical generalizations that characterize the evidence are advanced.


This work seeks to develop a Kantian ethical theory in terms of a general ontology of values and norms together with a metaphysics of the person that makes sense of this ontology. It takes as its starting point Kant's assertion that a good will is the only thing that has an unconditioned value and his accompanying view that the highest good consists in virtue and happiness in proportion to virtue. The soundness of Kant's position on the value of the good will is defended against criticisms directed against it by G. E. Moore and it is argued that there is an ambiguity in Moore's notion of 'intrinsic value' that makes him unable to fully understand and appreciate the Kantian view. It is also argued that the special value of moral goodness has been unduly neglected in modern moral philosophy, even by those working in the Kantian tradition, and it is suggested that the possibility of a Kantian ethical theory centred on the notion of the highest good remains to be explored. In order to lay the ground for such a theory a Kantian approach to reasons for action and the metaphysics of the person is developed and defended, albeit in a way that, in contrast to Kant himself, emphasizes the social dimension inherent in being a person and acting on reasons. It is also argued that there exists what Henry Sidgwick has called a dualism of practical reason, which means that there are two systematic modes, the self-interested and the moral, of approaching action. These two modes correspond to the two components of the highest good as understood by Kant and it is argued that the highest good represents a reasonable way of unifying them. These two parts of the highest good are then considered, each in turn, and Kantian models for understanding them are elaborated and defended against main rivals. On the matter of happiness, it is argued that standard philosophical theories fail to properly account for the way in which a subject's own opinions about what constitutes her happiness are important in determining where her happiness actually lies. On the matter of morality, Kantianism is contrasted with consequentialism, the other leading theory that understands morality in terms of an ideal of impartiality and it is argued that the Kantian ideal, which can be called 'impartiality as universalizability' is superior to the consequentialist one, which can be called 'impartiality as impersonality'. A version of Kantian ethics that places its emphasis on the Formula of Universal Law is then elaborated and it is argued that it is reasonable to understand maxims, or at least those maxims eligible for the universalizability test, as having to do with the basic general principles according to which we live. This kind of interpretation creates a large room for the exercise of judgment on the part of the agent and it is suggested that the standards according to which such judgment is exercised are largely determined through our actual moral practices and discourses.


Insulin increases glucose uptake into muscle by enhancing the surface recycling of GLUT4 transporters. In myoblasts, insulin signals bifurcate downstream of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase into separate Akt and Rac/actin arms. Akt-mediated Rab-GAP AS160 phosphorylation and Rac/actin are required for net insulin gain of GLUT4, but the specific steps (vesicle recruitment, docking or fusion) regulated by Rac, actin dynamics, and AS160 target Rab8A are unknown. In L6 myoblasts expressing GLUT4myc, blocking vesicle fusion by tetanus toxin cleavage of VAMP2 impeded GLUT4myc membrane insertion without diminishing its build-up at the cell periphery. Conversely, actin disruption by dominant negative Rac or Latrunculin B abolished insulin-induced surface and submembrane GLUT4myc accumulation. Expression of non-phosphorylatable AS160 (AS160-4P) abrogated membrane insertion of GLUT4myc and partially reduced its cortical build-up, an effect magnified by selective Rab8A knockdown. We propose that insulin-induced actin dynamics participates in GLUT4myc vesicle retention beneath the membrane, whereas AS160 phosphorylation is essential for GLUT4myc vesicle-membrane docking/fusion and also contributes to GLUT4myc cortical availability through Rab8A.


This paper aims to detect and characterize a signal coming from frequency modulation continuous wave radars. The radar signals are made of piecewise linear frequency modulations. The maximum chirplet transform (MCT), a simplification of the chirplet transform is proposed. A detection of the relevant maximum chirplets is proposed based on iterative masking, an iterative detection followed by window subtraction that does not require the recomputation of the spectrum. This detection is designed to provide a sparse subset of maximum chirplet coefficients. The chirplets are then gathered into linear chirps whose starting time, length, and chirprate are estimated. These chirps are then gathered again back into the different frequency modulation continuous wave signals, ready to be classified. An illustration is provided on synthetic data.


Abstract Several studies identify factors affecting increased length of stay (LOS) in patients with post-primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, there has not been a review study that synthesizes these results. This study aimed to describe the duration of LOS and factors associated with increased LOS among patients with STEMI after PPCI. This study used scoping review using EBSCO-host Academic Search Complete, PubMed, Scopus, Taylor & Francis, and Google Scholar databases. The keywords used in English were "adults OR middle-aged" AND "length of stay OR hospital stay" AND "primary percutaneous coronary intervention OR PPCI" AND "myocardial infarction OR coronary infarction OR cardiovascular disease". The inclusion criteria for articles were: the article was a full-text in English; the sample was STEMI patients who had undergone a PPCI procedure; and the article discussed the LOS. We found 13 articles discussing the duration and factors affecting LOS in patients post-PPCI. The duration of LOS was the fastest 48 hours, and the longest of LOS was 10.2 days. Factors influencing LOS are categorized into three predictors: low, moderate, and high. Post-procedure complications after PPCI was the most influential factors in increasing the LOS duration. Professional health workers, especially nurses, can identify various factors that can be modified to prevent complications and worsen disease prognosis to increase LOS efficiency.


Paper sludge was pyrolyzed to synthesize an adsorbent for ionic dyes. Two reagents, Methylene Blue (MB) and Procion Red MX-5B (PR), were chosen as adsorbates. Pyrolysis of paper sludge was conducted at 600°C for 1 h under a nitrogen atmosphere, and the carbonized sample was washed with 1 M HCl for 30 min to remove inorganic salts (such as calcium) and to increase the carbon content. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging showed that the particle size of the pyrolyzed paper sludge was obviously reduced when the acid-washing process was applied. Additionally, the specific surface area had increased from 13.25 to 193.86 m2/g. The isoelectric point was around pH 3, which meant the adsorbent revealed positive charge to adsorb anionic dye (PR) when pH was below 3. On the other hand, cationic dye (MB) was adsorbed well under high pH values because of the negative surface charge of the adsorbent. The Langmuir equation was adopted to determine maximum absorption capacity. For MB and PR, the maximum absorption capacities were 119.05 mg/g and 65.79 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption kinetic study revealed that MB and PR adsorptions fit the pseudo-second-order kinetic model well. The activation energies for MB and PR were 12.32 kJ/mol and 2.88 kJ/mol, respectively. The results presented indicate that paper sludge can be pyrolyzed to form a dye adsorbent for cationic and anionic dyes.


The local traditional ritual of 1 st of Syura in Loka Muksa Sri Aji Joyoboyo Menang Pagu Kediri in East Java, is a tradition that is held in honor of their ancestors, which is inseparable from the figure of Sri Aji Joyoboyo. This tradition remains as proand contrain the community. Data from this research shows that the implementation of the 1 st of Syuraritual in LokaMuksa Sri Aji Joyoboyo with a complete procession of offerings, ritual behavior, and certain preconditions, negative reactions from a number of people who cannot accept the syura local traditions. They are originally from the modern NU group, the Muhammadiyah elite, and the Salafi congregation. They are concurrently establishing legitimate truth to their people, hen the activities concerning the 1 st of Syura in Loka Muksa Sri Aji Joyoboyo have the potential to become an open conflict, if they were not managed properly.


Results are summarized from searches for the standard model Higgs boson in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 and 8 TeV in the CMS experiment at the LHC. The measurements of mass, cross section, and properties of the narrow resonance recently observed are presented. The searches beyond standard model Higgs boson, in the CMS experiment at the LHC, are highlighted.


Introduction/Background Sentinel node (SN) biopsy is a safe staging method in patients with vulva cancer (VC). Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging using indocyanine green (ICG) has recently been introduced to improve the visual intraoperative SN identification. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of fluorescence tracer imaging for SN detection in conjunction with conventional radio-guided technique. Methodology Prospective study of patients with primary VC planned for vulvectomy and SN procedure. Bimodal tracer (ICG-99mTc-Nanocoll) was injected peritumorally and followed by lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT/CT to define the SNs. Intraoperatively SNs were detected with a hand-held gamma-probe and NIRF camera. The detection rate was defined as the proportion of patients with at least one SN detected in at least one groin on scintigraphy or perioperatively (using gamma-probe and NIRF camera). Results SN procedure was performed in 36 patients (14 uni- and 22 bilaterally), corresponding to 58 groins. At least one SN was detected in 52 of 58 intended groins (90%) on scintigraphy, while perioperatively SN was identified in 54 of 58 groins (93%). In 14 patients with lateralized tumor and in 22 patients with midline tumor (<1 cm from midline) the unilateral SN detection rate was 100%. In patients with midline tumors the bilateral detection rate on scintigraphy and perioperatively was 77% and 82% respectively. In one patient with a midline tumor and no-detectable SNs bilaterally on scintigraphy and in three of four patients with midline tumor and no-detectable SNs in one side on scintigraphy, the SN was detected perioperatively by NIRF only. In 11 of 58 groins (19%) the SN could only be identified by NIRF. Conclusion A combined fluorescent and radioactive tracer for SN procedure is feasible, and the additional use of NIRF imaging may improve the accuracy of SN identification in VC patients. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.


This study examined the use of self-care strategies to address difficulty sleeping among community-dwelling older adults. Data were collected from a series of 18 questionnaires administered to 195 rural African American and white older adults in North Carolina. Participants reported whether they had experienced difficulty sleeping and strategies used to respond to the symptom. The most widely used strategies included ignoring the symptom, staying in bed or resting, and praying. Herb and supplement use were not reported. Ethnicity, income, and education were associated with use of specific self-care strategies for sleep. This variation suggests that older adults may draw on cultural understandings to interpret the significance of difficulty sleeping and influence their use of self-care strategies, including complementary and alternative medicine use. This information may enable health care providers to communicate with the older patients about sleep difficulty strategies to minimize sleep problems.


Medial parvocellular paraventricular corticotropin-releasing hormone (mPVN CRH) cells are critical in generating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses to systemic interleukin-1β (IL-1β). However, although it is understood that catecholamine inputs are important in initiating mPVN CRH cell responses to IL-1β, the contributions of distinct brainstem catecholamine cell groups are not known. We examined the role of nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and ventrolateral medulla (VLM) catecholamine cells in the activation of mPVN CRH, hypothalamic oxytocin (OT) and central amygdala cells in response to IL-1β (1 µg/kg, i.a.). Immunolabelling for the expression of c-fos was used as a marker of neuronal activation in combination with appropriate cytoplasmic phenotypic markers. First we confirmed that PVN 6-hydroxydopamine lesions, which selectively depleted catecholaminergic terminals, significantly reduced IL-1β-induced mPVN CRH cell activation. The contribution of VLM (A1/C1 cells) versus NTS (A2 cells) catecholamine cells to mPVN CRH cell responses was then examined by placing ibotenic acid lesions in either the VLM or NTS. The precise positioning of these lesions was guided by prior retrograde tracing studies in which we mapped the location of IL-1β-activated VLM and NTS cells that project to the mPVN. Both VLM and NTS lesions reduced the mPVN CRH and OT cell responses to IL-1β. Unlike VLM lesions, NTS lesions also suppressed the recruitment of central amygdala neurons. These studies provide novel evidence that both the NTS and VLM catecholamine cells have important, but differential, contributions to the generation of IL-1β-induced HPA axis responses.


The rise of sea levels due to global warming is a problem of concern at an international scope and the causes are already known relatively clearly. Every year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) creates a scenario for greenhouse gas emissions and predicts the global average sea-level rise rate accordingly. It is necessary to estimate the rate of sea-level rise to date in creating such a scenario. In particular, since the height of the sea level changes (SLC) continuously, the errors of SLC may occur due to various causes with a fragmental analysis. To estimate the sea-level rise accurately, we applied Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise (CEEMDAN) is based on the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) to decompose the tidal level. Through this, we discover that the differences in the local sea-level rise rate occurred even within a small area. To understand each component of tide level decomposed through CEEMDAN, we confirm the component-wise/regional correlation between tidal stations. In addition, we looked at how local sea-level rise correlated with the global meteorological phenomenon, El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) which is one of the most influential recurring climate patterns Socioeconomically.


Four new molluscan assemblages from north-central Sonora indicate that the Cucurpe Formation ranges in age from late Oxfordian to early Tithonian. These assemblages extend the known paleogeographic range of Late Jurassic Tethyan fossil groups several hundred km to the northwest and improve correlation of Upper Jurassic strata in northern Mexico. At Rancho La Colgada, near the town of Tuape, the upper part of the Cucurpe Formation consists of 515 m of shale, siltstone, basaltic flows and minor sandstone. The oldest fossil assemblage is assigned to the Bifurcatus Zone of the lower upper Oxfordian and contains the ammonites Perisphinctes (Dichotomoceras?) sp., Sequeirosia? sp., and the bivalves Grammatodon (Grammatodon) hersilius (dOrbigny), Parainoceramus sp., "Lucina" potosina Aguilera, "Lucina" sp., and Isocyprina? sp. The second assemblage is assigned to the lower Tithonian (lower part of the Albertinum/Darwini Zone) and consists of the ammonites Mazapilites mexicanus (Aguilera), Schaireria neoburgensis (Oppel), Subplanitoides sp., and Glochiceras (Lingulaticeras?) sp. The third fossil assemblage from the uppermost part of the section includes the ammonites Sublithacoceras cf. sphinctum (Schneid), Sublithacoceras sp., and Pachysphinctes sp., and the bivalves "Lucina" potosina Aguilera and Integricardium (Integricardium) sp. This assemblage belongs to the Semiforme-Verruciferum Zone to Richteri Zone of the middle lower Tithonian. A fourth assemblage is assigned to the lower Tithonian, representing the middle to upper part of the Albertinum-Darwini or the lowermost part of the Semiforme- Verruciferum Zone. This assemblage was collected from the upper part of the Cucurpe Formation at a nearby locality and contains the ammonites Torquatisphinctes subbleicheri (Burckhardt), T. cf. lauri (Aguilera) and Torquatisphinctes sp. cf. T. diversecostatus (Burckhardt). The absence of Kimmeridgian fossils in the measured section at Rancho La Colgada and a conglomerate between the Oxfordian and Tithonian assemblages combine to indicate an unconformity in the Upper Jurassic interval that omits the Kimmeridgian. A single Kimmeridgian ammonite was recently collected in the Cucurpe Formation about 40 km northwest of the study area. The reported molluscan fossils have close affinities with Tethyan faunas known from other parts of Mexico, Cuba and western Europe. These affinities indicate a possible connection of these regions with Sonora through the young Central Atlantic Ocean and possible faunal dispersal from east to west; however, eastward dispersal across the paleo-Pacific realm is also a possibility. Some endemic species, such as Mazapilites mexicanum and "Lucina" potosina in Sonora permit correlation with other areas of north- central Mexico and indicate a marine connection throughout the region during the Late Jurassic.


OBJECTIVE
The DSM-5 Alternative Model of Personality Disorders distinguishes core personality dysfunction common to all personality pathology from maladaptive traits that are specific variants of disorder. Previous research shows convergence between maladaptive and normal range trait domains as well as substantial correlations between maladaptive traits and core dysfunctions, leading some to conclude that personality traits and dysfunction are redundant. This study sought to examine the potential utility of the concept of core dysfunctions as a means of clarifying the nature of the relationship between maladaptive and normal-range traits.

METHOD
Three non-clinical samples (n=178, 307, and 1,008) were evaluated for personality dysfunction, maladaptive traits, and normal-range traits and normative traits using different measures.

RESULTS
Results indicate that: (1) normal trait domains and core dysfunction contribute independently to understanding maladaptive traits; (2) the correlation of a normal trait domain with its putative maladaptive equivalent is consistently accounted for in part by core dysfunction; and (3) the multi-trait multi-method matrices of normal and maladaptive personality trait domains demonstrate appreciable discriminant validity problems that are clarified by a consideration of core dysfunction.

CONCLUSION
These results suggest that maladaptive traits reflect the distinguishable contributions of core personality dysfunction (problems) and normal range personality traits (person).


In this paper fourth order two step Hybrid additive parameters methods for the numerical solution of the general second order differential equations are presented. The methods depend upon the arbitrary parameters p and q which are dependent on the coefficients of y and y in the given differential equation. The method is absolutely stable for p2 – 4q < 0. Numerical results are presented for linear and non–linear initial value problems to illustrate the order, accuracy and stability.


With a large nationwide retailer, we run a natural field experiment to measure the effects of energy use information disclosure, customer rebates, and sales agent incentives on demand for energy-efficient durable goods. Although a combination of large rebates plus sales incentives substantially increases market share, information and sales incentives alone each have zero statistical effect and explain at most a small fraction of the low baseline market share. Sales agents strategically comply only partially with the experiment, targeting information to more interested consumers but not discussing energy efficiency with the disinterested majority. These results suggest that seller-provided information is not a major barrier to energy-efficiency investments at current prices in this context. Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2015.2327. This paper was accepted by John List, behavioral economics.


Simple Summary This study focused on identifying cancer type-specific genes, which are crucial for improving the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of various types of cancer. We used a network biology framework to explore the expression of transcription factors in different types of cancer. By comparing gene networks in normal cells with those in cancer cells, we were able to identify cancer type-specific genes. This offers a resource for understanding transcriptional networks across various cancer types. Abstract Identifying cancer type-specific genes that define cell states is important to develop effective therapies for patients and methods for detection, early diagnosis, and prevention. While molecular mechanisms that drive malignancy have been identified for various cancers, the identification of cell-type defining transcription factors (TFs) that distinguish normal cells from cancer cells has not been fully elucidated. Here, we utilized a network biology framework, which assesses the fidelity of cell fate conversions, to identify cancer type-specific gene regulatory networks (GRN) for 17 types of cancer. Through an integrative analysis of a compendium of expression data, we elucidated core TFs and GRNs for multiple cancer types. Moreover, by comparing normal tissues and cells to cancer type-specific GRNs, we found that the expression of key network-influencing TFs can be utilized as a survival prognostic indicator for a diverse cohort of cancer patients. These findings offer a valuable resource for exploring cancer type-specific networks across a broad range of cancer types.


The decisive effect of physiological age of ticks on the infection of their saliva was revealed by means of parenteral infection of D. marginatus females with tick-borne encephalitis virus. The virus was not found in the saliva of young individuals of instar II. Maximum number of cases of saliva infection was recorded in mature ticks of instar III (50%). It was established that the infection of saliva did not depend on the amount of virus in the tick's body. Less susceptibility to the virus of young individuals, associated probably with the way of infection, was noted. Under light microscopy there were observed no significant age differences in salivary glands of ticks of instars II and III. The infection of saliva of young individuals is, apparently, opposed by the barrier of fat body on the way of virus to salivary glands, depending on the age of ticks. The barrier is supposed to have an influence under natural transphase infection of ticks.


Tomographic ray tracing is the critical step in ray-based tomographic approaches when we need to represent as precisely as possible the wavepaths of the migration. To be able to update velocities from picked information in the migrated domain, one must be able to back propagate the misfocusing information (e.g., the residual moveout [RMO]) into the model through the tracing of tomographic rays. The complex kinematics associated with some types of migration, ray based or not, will give us RMO curvatures that will be impossible to explain with traditional tomographic ray-tracing methods. We have evaluated a generic method for tracing these rays by fitting constraints unique to each migration approach. We found that, on synthetic and real data, using the correct set of equations in the tomographic ray-tracing engine can make a significant difference in the velocity model update.


Early childhood caries (ECC) is among the most prevalent health problems of low-income infants and toddlers, yet little attention and few resources have been allocated to understanding this disease. Since dental caries in infants and toddlers cannot be exclusively ascribed to feeding practices, other concepts regarding its etiology and prevention need to be examined. Furthermore, the establishment of evidence-based policies regarding this basic health problem is critical for the dissemination of consistent standards of care to health care providers and government agencies. To accomplish these objectives, the scientific community, organizations concerned with children's health and the political process need to be energized to find resources and energy to solve this public health challenge.


Disruption of normal p53 expression is the most frequent genetic change occurring in various human solid tumors; it is mostly due to sequence alterations of the p53 coding region by missense mutations or to loss of an entire, functional allele of this gene. In the present study, possible mechanisms resulting in a disruption of regulated expression of wild-type p53 were examined in acute leukemias of either lymphoid (ALL) or myeloid (AML) phenotype. p53 transcript accumulation, nucleotide sequence and gene structure were analyzed in primary leukemic cells from 50 patients. p53-specific transcripts were detected in 26/26 cases of ALL and 16/23 cases of AML using reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR. Sequencing of transcripts did not reveal any point mutations or deletions. Heterozygosity at a polymorphic Bg/II site within intron 1 was found in 4/28 leukemic samples, and loss of one allele was noted in one of these. In addition, a novel, leukemia-associated structural abnormality located within the 5' flanking region of the p53 gene and associated with the loss of heterozygosity was observed in cells from this patient with ALL. The MDM2 gene which inactivates p53 by binding to it was neither amplified nor rearranged in 28 leukemias studied. Thus, disruption of regulated p53 expression resulting in lack of detectable p53 mRNA even by RT-PCR occurs in about 30% of cases of AML; however, p53 alterations typical for human solid tumors are an infrequent event in most types of human acute leukemias.