Abstract The family Curimatidae is a fish group usually considered chromosomally conserved in their diploid number. However, some studies show small changes in the karyotype microstructure, and the presence of B chromosomes, indicating a chromosomal diversification within the group, even if structural changes in the karyotypes are not visible. Few studies associate this trait with an evolutionary pattern within the family. This study aimed to characterize the karyotype, nucleolus organizer regions (NORs), and heterochromatin distribution of six species of Curimatidae of the genera Cyphocharax Fowler, 1906 and Steindachnerina Fowler, 1906: Cyphocharax voga (Hensel, 1870), Cyphocharax spilotus (Vari, 1987), Cyphocharax saladensis (Meinken, 1933), Cyphocharax modestus (Fernández-Yépez, 1948), Steindachnerina biornata (Braga et Azpelicueta, 1987) and Steindachnerina insculpta (Fernández-Yépez, 1948) and contribute data to a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the chromosomal evolution of this group of fish. All specimens had 2n=54, m-sm, and B microchromosomes. Five species exhibited single NORs, except for Steindachnerina biornata, which showed a multiple pattern of ribosomal sites. NORs were chromomycin A3 positive (CMA3+) and 4'-6-diamino-2-phenylindole (DAPI-) negative, exhibiting differences in the pair and chromosomal location of each individual of the species. FISH with 5S rDNA probe revealed sites in the pericentrometic position of a pair of chromosomes of five species. However, another site was detected on a metacentric chromosome of Cyphocharax spilotus. Heterochromatin distributed both in the pericentromeric and some terminal regions was revealed to be CMA3+/DAPI-. These data associated with the previously existing ones confirm that, although Curimatidae have a very conservative karyotype macrostructure, NORs and heterochromatin variability are caused by mechanisms of chromosome alterations, such as translocations and/or inversions, leading to the evolution and diversification of this group of fish.


The objective of the present study was to examine moderating effects of gender role identification, sex, and type of support on the buffering role of social support on cardiovascular responses. We hypothesized that (a) gender role identification, more than sex, would moderate the effect of social support and (b) to obtain optimal attenuating effects of social support, type of support provided should match type of support preferred in terms of one's gender role identification. That is, feminine participants would benefit more from relatively direct support, whereas masculine participants would benefit more from indirect support. Healthy participants (N = 100) performed a psychological stressor in the presence of a friend, after mental activation of a friend, or alone. Results revealed no moderating effects of gender role identification whether or not in combination with type of support. Nevertheless, results demonstrated an attenuating effect of mental support on heart rate and cardiac output in men. It is concluded that pathways linking social relationships and health may differ between women and men.


Inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis. Randomized controlled trials have investigated the potential benefit of colchicine in reducing cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) but produced conflicting results. The aim of this meta‐analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of colchicine in patients with CAD.


A cross-sectional study was conducted to clarify the contribution of psychological job stress to insomnia in shift workers. A self-administered questionnaire concerning job stress, sleep, depressive symptoms and lifestyle factors was submitted to a sample of 530 rotating shift workers of age 18-59 years (mean age 27) in an electric equipment manufacturing company. Perceived job stress, i.e., job demands, job control and social support at work, was assessed using the Japanese version of the Job Content Questionnaire. Insomnia was regarded as prevalent if the workers had at least one of the following symptoms in the last year; less than 30 minutes to fall asleep, difficulty in maintaining sleep, or early morning awakening almost everyday. Overall prevalence was 37.8%. Logistic regression analyses while adjusting relevant factors showed that lower social support at work was significantly associated with a greater risk of insomnia than the higher social support (adjusted OR 2.5). Higher job strain with lower social support at work increased the risk, compared to lower strain with higher support at work (crude OR 1.8; adjusted OR 1.5). Our findings suggest the low social support at work independently associated with insomnia in shift workers.


BACKGROUND
Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome is a rare inherited disorder that results in waxing and waning nervous system and muscle dysfunction. MELAS syndrome may overlap with other neurologic disorders but shows distinctive imaging features.

CASE REPORT
We present the case of a 28-year-old female with atypical stroke-like symptoms, a strong family history of stroke-like symptoms, and a relapsing-remitting course for several years. We discuss the imaging features distinctive to the case, the mechanism of the disease, typical presentation, imaging diagnosis, and disease management.

CONCLUSION
This case is a classic example of the relapse-remitting MELAS syndrome progression with episodic clinical flares and fluctuating patterns of stroke-like lesions on imaging. MELAS is an important diagnostic consideration when neuroimaging reveals a pattern of disappearing and relapsing cortical brain lesions that may occur in different areas of the brain and are not necessarily limited to discrete vascular territories. Future studies should investigate disease mechanisms at the cellular level and the value of advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques for a targeted approach to therapy.


During the period from 1920 to 1928, 200,000 unfired German chemical ammunitions from World War I were broken down and open-burned near the former western Frontline. This destruction resulted in locally severe top-soil contamination by arsenic, heavy metals and dioxins and furans. The main type of shell, called "blue cross shell" were loaded high explosives coating a glass bottle containing solid diphenylchloroarsine (CLARK 1) and diphenylcyanoarsine (CLARK 2) which have released considerable amounts of arsenic oxides during their combustion. The biogeochemical behavior of arsenic is poorly documented in this type of environment. The aim of this study was to explore the arsenic speciation in relation to mineral and microbial compartments in this particular context.. Four soils were sampled presenting different levels of contamination. The concentrations of major and trace elements were analyzed by ICP-MS. In the samples, the concentration range of arsenic was 1937-72,820 mg/kg. Zinc, copper and lead reached concentrations up to 90,190 mg/kg, 9113 mg/kg and 5777 mg/kg, respectively. SEM observations and EDS analyses were performed on different grains. Results showed that the polluted material was composed of inherited minerals (silicates), charcoal and secondary phases, carrier of metals. In metal rich grains, two phases were identified : a crystalline phase, where arsenic was associated with copper and zinc, and an amorphous phase rich in iron, zinc, copper, and arsenic. Four secondary arsenate minerals were identified by X-ray diffraction: adamite and olivenite (zinc and copper arsenates, respectively) and two pharmacosiderites. Arsenic speciation displayed by SEM-EDS and XRD was proven to be directly linked to the thermal treatments of shells. Indeed, the two main As-carriers were identified as vitreous phases, composed of a blend of metals, and secondary arsenates minerals, which were formed in the material's porosity during its cooling. AsIII and AsV concentrations were 1577 mg/kg and 70,178 mg/kg, respectively : whereas AsV was the major species, AsIII concentration was high. Microbial activities may influence the speciation and mobility of the bioavailable fraction of As, in relation with redox conditions and organic matter. Microbial characterization included total cell counts, respiration, and determination of AsIII-oxidizing and AsV reducing activities. Results showed the presence of microorganisms actively contributing to carbon and arsenic metabolims, even in the most polluted soil, thus potentially driving cycle of biovailable As on the site.


ABSTRACT Introduction: Currently numerous drugs have been observed with lower colonic absorption than small intestine absorption, which can significantly impact in vivo performance of their oral extended release (ER) products. Areas covered: We reviewed over 300 publications, patents, book chapters, and commercial reports of drug products from regulatory agencies for low colonic absorption (LCA) drugs and critical findings are discussed. The focuses of this article are (1) current findings on the causes of low colonic absorption to support early assessment of LCA candidates, and (2) current knowledge on successful ER strategies and technical platforms used for LCA drugs in commercial drug products to facilitate oral ER product development. Expert opinion: Colonic drug absorption is one of the critical considerations in successful development of oral ER products. The root causes of low colonic absorption in many LCA drugs are still unclear. It is recommended to evaluate colonic drug absorption of drug candidate at early stage of oral ER product development. After evaluation, the selection of a formulation platform to develop an oral ER product needs to be carefully considered for LCA drugs. Based on the current commercial oral ER formulation platforms for LCA drugs, compounds are first divided into five types (I-V) and different ER formulation approaches with higher success rate are recommended for each type.


Abstract:The focus of this article is on the social and personal development of children. The essay's point of departure is a specific idea about holistic personal development in the classroom with reference to the philosopher Michel Serres. A historical perspective will be added by the concept of the bildungsreise (in French, Le Grand Tour; in English, educational or cultural journey). This perspective allows us to raise the question of how the idea of increasing self-awareness, coping with life challenges, and the tuning of long-standing aspirations through an educational journey can be related to the concepts of bildung (German) and bildning (Swedish). To understand bildning, a girl's survival in a wide, mystical forest in Astrid Lindgren's novel Ronia, the Robber's Daughter will be sketched as an example of a bildningsresa. A bildningsresa differs somewhat from a bildungsreise. We subsume bildungsreise and bildningsresa under the concept of the educational journey, with the awareness that this term has its own history that we cannot thematize. Modelling the idea of bildung and bildning within the glocalized world, the idea of an educational journey will be connected to personality development in the classroom, seen in Serres's terms.


A detailed dynamic analysis, presented in a series of reports, was conducted on the seismic response and structural safety of key subsystems (steam generator, high pressure steam piping, coal handling equipment, cooling tower, chimney) of Unit no. 3 of TVA at Paradise, Kentucky in order to: (1) determine for the key components the natural frequencies below 50 Hz and the corresponding normal modes; (2) determine response of plant to seismic disturbances; (3) verify through full scale tests results obtained in (1) and determine estimates of damping needed in (2); (4) determine potential failure modes of major structural components; and (5) determine a spare parts policy for a power system so that outages due to damage from seismic disturbances are minimal. Analytical and experimental methods are used. In this study, the dynamic behavior of the cooling tower is analyzed, using quadrilateral plate and beam elements oriented arbitrarily in space, following analysis and confirmation of their predictive value. Response to 1940 El Centro earthquake parameters is studied, and assumed viscous damping coefficients are considered. Comprehensive results, based on this response, are given.


Responding to international calls for critical thinking programs to address social polarisations and extremism through education, this article examines the cognitive and socio-psychological foundations of a critical thinking programme for secondary schools in England called "Living Well With Difference" (LWWD). The aim of LWWD is to develop critical thinking about issues of social polarisation, prejudice and any kind of extreme thinking. These issues often involve the interaction of emotion and thinking, which is understood using a dual systems framework, illustrated with examples of course methodology and content. The learning process aims to promote more cognitively flexible, complex and integrated thinking, measured by integrative complexity, and is supported by meta-awareness to enable emotion management. The aim is for participants to engage with difficult social issues through structured group activities, while becoming aware of social, emotional, textual, visual and rhetorical influences to increase Media Information Literacy, as a foundation for engaging with differing perspectives in order to reduce barriers between groups in society.


Current color-printing technologies often use more than the minimum three or four inks: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK). When the number of inks exceeds three, there is the usual color-management one-to-many mapping problem. Additional constraints have to be applied to achieve greater determinacy. For CMYK ink sets, the black ink is constrained. When additional chromatic inks are added, traditional methods subdivide either colorimetric or colorant space to achieve a one-to-one mapping. However, these traditional methods cannot take advantage of all the ink combinations available for improving image quality. Alternatively, additional constraints can be defined as perceptual metrics such as color constancy, graininess, color gamut, and color look-up table smoothness. A novel color separation algorithm was developed in order to optimize color look-up tables for improved image quality. This algorithm was tested with a six-pigmented ink (CMYKGO), inkjet proofing printer. Various four and a six-ink look-up tables were created based on different metrics. The perceptual performances of these look-up tables in color reproduction accuracy, color inconstancy graininess and gamut volume were evaluated. The results show that the additional inks not only extend color gamut but also provided the potential to improve print quality.


Microblogging platforms such as Twitter provide active communication channels during mass convergence and emergency events such as earthquakes, typhoons. During the sudden onset of a crisis situation, affected people post useful information on Twitter that can be used for situational awareness and other humanitarian disaster response efforts, if processed timely and effectively. Processing social media information pose multiple challenges such as parsing noisy, brief and informal messages, learning information categories from the incoming stream of messages and classifying them into different classes among others. One of the basic necessities of many of these tasks is the availability of data, in particular human-annotated data. In this paper, we present human-annotated Twitter corpora collected during 19 different crises that took place between 2013 and 2015. To demonstrate the utility of the annotations, we train machine learning classifiers. Moreover, we publish first largest word2vec word embeddings trained on 52 million crisis-related tweets. To deal with tweets language issues, we present human-annotated normalized lexical resources for different lexical variations.


The authors discuss the advantages of a backplane connected system including host or remote (via network or telephone) access and monitoring for development, testing, and debugging of real-time applications. The emphasis is on the host/target system architecture and real-time memory management. To provide a fast data path between the real-time target system and the host development system, both can reside on the same VME bus backplane. Host and target systems on the same backplane, however, created new problems. Trying to reset the target processors also resulted in resetting of the host system. Additionally, interrupts meant for real time processors interrupt the host system, and target processors modify the memory. These problems can be alleviated by connecting host and target system backplanes via a VMEbus-to-VMEbus adapter, which links together the address, data, and control lines of both systems.<<ETX>>


We investigate the problem of distributed online routing of bandwidth guaranteed paths with local restoration. A unified model is proposed that captures the bandwidth sharing characteristic of backup paths that provision local restoration, corresponding to different fault models. We apply the model to describe bandwidth sharing on backup paths for varying degrees of network state information. The extent of backup bandwidth sharing depends on the amount of network state information made available through routing protocols. A key design criterion for traffic engineering schemes is to maximize the sharing between backup paths, while minimizing this protocol overhead. M.S. Kodialam and T.V. Lakshman (see Proc. Infocom, p.376-85, 2001) demonstrated that propagating a constant amount of aggregated information per link leads to cost effective bandwidth sharing. We propose oAIS, a new aggregate information scenario, in which we judiciously select the propagated information, such that the protocol overhead is identical to that of Kodialam and Lakshman. Simulations show that oAIS outperforms other information scenarios with comparable protocol overheads.


Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a common condition that is associated with otologic and rhinologic symptoms. The complete assessment of ETD is limited without a valid symptom score. We developed and conducted initial validation of the seven‐item Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire (ETDQ‐7), a disease‐specific instrument to assess symptoms with respect to ETD.


The objective of this study was to develop models for determination the superiority of Holstein bulls as a producer of frozen semen and inheritance of the genetic traits of milk production. The ability of the bull to produce frozen semen per years was analyzed descriptively. Reproductive efficiency of frozen semen in artificial insemination was calculated by service per conception (S/C). Estimation sire breeding value for milk production was calculated by contemporary comparison (CC) method. Model of superiority bulls was analyzed by Structural Equation Model with Partial Least Square method (SEM-PLS). Total average production of frozen semen was 23,109±14,970 doses/year. The average S/C was 2.83. The CC value ranged from -1,865.7 until +1,636.3. Potency of milk production resulted from lactation cow offspring per bulls ranged from 951,749.2 to 52,347,822.9 liters per year. The economic value of bulls based on the potency milk production of offspring ranges from IDR 4,758,745,999 to IDR 261,739,114,505. The superiority of bulls was affected significantly (P<0.05) by frozen semen production, reproductive efficiency and average milk production of daughter cows (DC) as much as 0.59, -0.53 and 0.33, respectively. In conclusion, the superiority of bull can be explained about 78.3% by the production of frozen semen production, reproductive efficiency and milk production of offspring.


The last decades the population of learners has dramatically changed in the majority of western societies. Students with diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds as well as students that fall into the scope of special education needs have enrolled in schooling without being able to perform competitively in science compared to the mainstream students. A prominent reason, among others, lies on the fact that the cultural origins of these pupils are often not taken into account into the teaching process. It seems that these children are taught science in school without any consideration, from both their teachers and the curriculum, about their diversity background and their unique life experiences that have inevitably affected their way of viewing the natural world around them. The present paper aspires to shed light on this issue and act as a call for science education pioneers to expand constructivism theory in order to address student diversity in science classroom.


The proposition that sheer labels or categories are important in people's reactions to the treatment of animals was supported by evidence from two sources. First, print archives showed that in the real world animals with a great deal in common such as (a) dolphins and tuna in the same nets; (b) cats and dogs, and pigs and goats in the same laboratories; and (c) native and feral species in the same parks are viewed or treated quite differently by humans. Second, original experiments were conducted wherein some hypothetical maltreatment of animals was held constant, but the animal label was varied over different respondents. Depending on the fictional maltreatment (hooking, shooting) and label (dog, cat, bird, fish, pig, goat) men and women respondents showed strong and systematic patterns of more or less tolerance for such treatment.


It is known that serum complement levels are decreased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis associated with vasculitis, also called malignant rheumatoid arthritis (MRA). The complement profiles in patients with MRA were compared with those in uncomplicated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in those with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In MRA patients, serum CH50, C4 and C3 levels were all decreased as in SLE patients; and C3d, an activation product of C3, and the C3d/C3 ratio as a C3 activation index were increased. Serum B level was also increased as in RA patients, but AH50 level as the haemolytic activity of the alternative pathway was within the normal range. The regulatory proteins, H and I, were elevated in sera of MRA patients. Circulating immune complexes (CIC) detected by a solid phase C1q binding method were increased, whereas the serum activity to solubilize a performed immune complex (CRA) was decreased in MRA sera. It was suggested that increased consumption of complements, mainly through the classical pathway may be responsible for the complement profiles in MRA patients: a markedly consumed classical pathway and relatively preserved alternative pathway.


Blood pressure (BP) levels, particularly in hypertensives, often fall on admission to hospital. Whether such a BP fall also occurs for BP measured automatically without the presence of medical and nursing staff and hence without the alerting reaction has not previously been studied. Twenty-two subjects, mean age 80 +/- 7 years (BP range 110-190/60-110 mmHg) underwent nurse-taken BP measurements and 24-hour non-invasive BP monitoring on admission to hospital and again after 5 days. Nurse-taken systolic BP (SBP) levels on admission fell significantly from 149 +/- 21 mmHg to 137 +/- 16 mmHg (p < 0.01) on day 2, to 131 +/- 16 mmHg on day 5 (p < 0.05). Mean diastolic BP (DBP) levels showed a less marked fall over 5 days from 87 +/- 12 mmHg to 84 +/- 11 mmHg (p < 0.05). Mean 24-hour BP levels showed no significant change from admission to day 5 (131 +/- 17/72 +/- 12 mmHg vs. 131 +/- 17/72 +/- 10 mmHg, respectively). In addition, nurse-taken SBP on day 5 was similar to mean 24-hour and daytime SBP taken on day 1 or day 5. Using shorter periods of BP monitoring gave similar mean BP levels to the full mean 24-hour BP level although BP reproducibility was poorer, even with more than 10 hours of BP monitoring. A period of automatic BP monitoring on admission to hospital will rapidly reveal a patient's sustained hospital BP level.


Plants, bacteria, and fungi produce essential amino acids (EAAs) with distinctive patterns of delta13C values that can be used as naturally occurring fingerprints of biosynthetic origin of EAAs in a food web. Because animals cannot synthesize EAAs and must obtain them from food, their tissues reflect delta13C(EAA) patterns found in diet, but it is not known how microbes responsible for hindgut fermentation in some herbivores influence the delta13C values of EAAs in their hosts' tissues. We examined whether distinctive delta13C fingerprints of hindgut flora are evident in the tissues of green turtles (Chelonia mydas), which are known to be facultative hindgut fermenters. We determined delta13C(EAA) values in tissues of green turtles foraging herbivorously in neritic habitats of Hawaii and compared them with those from green, olive ridley, and loggerhead turtles foraging carnivorously in oceanic environments of the central and southeast Pacific Ocean. Results of multivariate statistical analysis revealed two distinct groups that could be distinguished based on unique delta13C(EAA) patterns. A three-end-member predictive linear discriminant model indicated that delta13C(EAA) fingerprints existed in the tissues of carnivorous turtles that resembled patterns found in microalgae, which form the base of an oceanic food web, whereas herbivorous turtles derive EAAs from a bacterial or seagrass source. This study demonstrates the capacity for delta13C fingerprinting to establish the biosynthetic origin of EAAs in higher consumers, and that marine turtles foraging on macroalgal diets appear to receive nutritional supplementation from bacterial symbionts in their digestive system.


Microalgae and microalgae-derived compounds have great potential as supplements in the human diet and as a source of bioactive products with health benefits. Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis (Nordstedt) Gomont, or Spirulina platensis) belongs to the class of cyanobacteria and has been studied for its numerous health benefits, which include anti-inflammatory properties, among others. This work was aimed at comparing some spirulina products available on the Italian market. The commercial products here analyzed consisted of spirulina cultivated and processed with different approaches. Single-component spirulina products in powder and flake form, free of any type of excipient produced from four different companies operating in the sector, have been analyzed. The macro- and micromorphological examination, and the content of pigments, phycobiliproteins, phenols, and proteins have shown differences regarding the morphology and chemical composition, especially for those classes of particularly unstable compounds such as chlorophylls and carotenoids, suggesting a great influence of both culture conditions and processing methods.


Background To overcome the high failure rate of gameful interventions, we need to better understand their design and evaluation strategies to build an evidence-base for best-practice approaches that bring about meaningful change. This systematic review asks: 'What behavioural and technological design and evaluation theories and approaches are applied in games developed to bring about positive environmental outcomes?'. Method We reviewed 52 papers published between 2015 and 2020 that used gameful interventions to improve behaviour related to environmental outcomes. These papers were analysed to review the behavioural and technical design, and the assessment and evaluation approaches, employed by the intervention designers. Results We found that these publications report on simple aspects of the behavioural and technical design behind the intervention but fail to justify their design choices in terms of theory and evidence. Furthermore, variability across their evaluation approaches and outcomes exists. Discussion This review highlights several systemic flaws in the literature that limit our understanding of gameful interventions in the pro-environmental context. First, based on this review, we cannot be convinced that these interventions were designed according to best practice for intervention design or for technology development. Second, the justification for proposing a gameful intervention is not always clear. Finally, it is unclear whether these interventions are being evaluated based on best practice. Thus, it is not clear that we can draw confident conclusions about evidence-based outcomes of short-term engagement (in structural gamification interventions) or long-term behaviour change (in content gamification and serious game interventions).


Iconological analysis of the ensemble of pictures from the Lusitania Liberata published in London in
1645 and written by Antonio de Sousa Macedo. The book is illustrated with 13 original prints of figures of
ancient or contemporary historical events. Written in Latin, it defends the Portuguese Restoration of 1640, using
historical and legal arguments. Most of the images have not been subject to systematic analysis. The book is a
work of propaganda defending a nationalist thesis. The Lusitania Liberata develops its argument from the rhetoric
of a particular symbolic universe connected to Portuguese messianism.


The objective of the study was to evaluate, using a prospective cohort study, whether classification of nutritional status by 'Z score' or per cent of reference median alters the prediction of death in malnourished children. The subjects were children with diarrhoea requiring hospitalization due to moderate or severe dehydration and/or associated complications. There were 382 participants under 5 years of age, of whom 37 died (cases), 320 were discharged in a satisfactory condition (controls) and 25 left before diarrhoea was completely cured (lost to follow-up--excluded). Rehydrated weight and recumbent length (under 2 years) or standing height were recorded and the three indices (weight for age, height for age and weight for height) derived as both 'Z scores' and per cents of reference National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) medians. Logistic regression, sensitivity specificity curves and Zda test for normalized distances were used to compare the relative utility of these two classification methods in identifying children with a high risk of dying. The per cent of reference median and 'Z scores' were highly correlated (r = 0.9540, 0.9787 and 0.9667, respectively). Both methods yielded virtually identical results in predicting death of malnourished children for all the three indices. It was concluded that 'Z score' and per cent classification of nutrition are equally efficient in predicting death of malnourished children.


Of the 129 indigenous Acacia species in Africa, 43 species have been confirmed to exist in Kenya. The objective of this study was to investigate Acacia species vegetation in Kenya and to analyze the relationship between the distribution of Acacia species and their growth environments. In this survey, two areas were targeted, representing, as expected, a great variety of plant vegetation. The first area extended from the foot (altitude 2745 m) of Mt. Elgon to the Mombassa coast ( 1 m), separated by 925 km, and the second extended from the foot ( 2150 m) of Mt. Kenya to Lake Magadi ( 620 m), separated by 511 km. Two methods of ecological analysis, regression and ordination analysis, were used to investigate how Acacia species abundance and composition are affected by environmental variables. Of the total 6492 Acacia trees, more than 50 % were Acacia tortilis , Acacia melifera , Acacia nilotica and Acacia seyal var seyal. Regression analysis provides evidence that altitude explains patterns in the abundance of Acacia species. Other environmental variables explained significant amounts of deviance for some, but not all, Acacia species. Ordination analysis and regression analysis suggest that sites with Acacia lahai , Acacia hockii and Acacia abyssinica are generally of higher altitude, contain Croton megalocarpus and Ficus species and are on hillsides. It also suggests that sites with Acacia tortilis and Acacia mellifera occur at lower altitudes; contain Terminalia brownii , Boscia angustifolia , Combretum species and Adansonia digitata ; and have salty soil and are in a valley. Each individual Acacia species has a specific ecological characteristic and survival strategy. For example, Acacia tortilis trees have a comparatively high environmental adaptability and competition capability. A. xanthophoria and A. drepanolobium ' s important survival strategy is their speedy rate of growth.


cap, into her uterus per vaginam. On withdrawing the crochet needle she was alarmed to find that the cap had not come away with it. She had haemorrhage from the vagina, and, becoming frightened, came to the hospital. On examination the uterus was found to be bulky; the os uteri was slightly patulous; no part of the metal needle cap could be felt. Dr. Worrall then took several X-ray photographs, in one of which the metal cap of the crochet needle is very clearly seen (p. 17). As no similar case has been recorded in this Section of the Society, so far as I am aware, it seemed to me that the skiagrams would be of interest to the Fellows. Shortly after the skiagrams were taken, the patient passed an ovum of about two months, together with the metal cap, spontaneously, during an action of the bowels. The metal cap measures 2-,in. in length.


This paper gives a glance into Africa's mobile revolution and what it represents, for not only is the mobile phone leading to a transformation of the technological landscape but also of African society as a whole, as well as its economy. The paper tells the story of how the mobile phone empowers Africans to tackle their development challenges, acting as an enabler to find innovative and locally relevant solutions to long-standing issues. It highlights the mobile phone's impact on Africa's important economic sectors of health, education and agriculture, as well as finance -through mobile money. Focusing on Kenya, one of Africa's most advanced countries in terms of information and communication technologies, illustrates the mobile revolution's full extent, with its opportunities and its challenges.


In terms of weaponry, the knife is a particularly straightforward item to acquire and relatively simple to conceal. This seemingly innocent household tool, a necessity for many domestic chores, can nevertheless have devastating consequences if put in the wrong hands. Over the past 60 years, Parliament has become ever more concerned with the use of bladed articles in criminal offences and, as a result, has introduced a range of increasingly authoritative legislative measures, with the aim of regulating not simply the possession of offensive weapons and knifes, but also the sale of such items. Supplementary investigative measures were also created, designed to make the detection and prosecution of those in possession of knives more efficient. This paper critically considers the rationale and development of the various statutory provisions that have been enacted throughout the past six decades, and questions whether the law has been effective in achieving its aim.


With growing demand for sustainable tourism, ecotourism is a fast-growing branch of the tourism industry, where the design and management of destinations must take into consideration the quality, originality, ecological compatibility, aesthetical properties, educational value, and the evaluation of the carrying capacity of destinations. In this study, we propose a new type of artificial tourist attractions within educative ecotourism, the green hostels constructed entirely of natural materials in harmony with the environment. The here presented model may be adapted to any type of natural environments. Our model of green hostels is based on biologically renewable construction materials and natural economic media network, may constitute a new tourist product in ecotourism. Apart from the presentation of the concept, the study sought answers to the following specific issues: (1) Identify the target group of the planned tourist offer and its needs and estimate the potential number of direct recipients of the project and (2) Demand analysis, based on needs research in terms of developing the tourist offer in a given area, based on which it is possible to indicate the demand for a specific type of tourist product.


We consider the quantum implementations of the two classical iterative solvers for a system of linear equations, including the Kaczmarz method which uses a row of coefficient matrix in each iteration step, and the coordinate descent method which utilizes a column instead. These two methods are widely applied in big data science due to their very simple iteration schemes. In this paper we use the block-encoding technique and propose fast quantum implementations for these two approaches, under the assumption that the quantum states of each row or each column can be efficiently prepared. The quantum algorithms achieve exponential speed up at the problem size over the classical versions, meanwhile their complexity is nearly linear at the number of steps.


Abstract Objective There is little information focusing on the nutritional issue of pediatric recipients before they receive living donor liver transplantation. This study illustrates the relationship between nutritional status and graft liver function and provides a reference regarding nutritional interventions in future studies. Methods We prospectively collected data from 30 pediatric living donor liver transplant recipients from January 1, 2016, to June 30, 2016. The information included demographic data, preoperative nutritional assessment, and postoperative laboratory examinations. The nutritional assessment included the serum concentration of vitamin D, bone density, trace element, and weight Z value. The laboratory examinations included white blood cell count, neutrophil percentage, hemoglobin, blood platelet, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, creatinine, bile acid, blood glucose (Glu), prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, tacrolimus concentration, and graft-to-recipient weight ratio (GRWR). The data were collected on Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 30, and 60 after liver transplantation. Results The recipients consisted of 15 (50%) males and 15 (50%) females. The median age was 7 months (4–48 months). The mean height and weight were 69.07±9.98 cm and 8.09±2.63 kg, respectively. According to the univariate analysis, the gender, diagnosis, blood type, and GRWR did not significantly impact the liver function after the operation. The posttransplantation AST levels and Glu showed significant differences in terms of the nutritional status, with P<0.05. The multivariate correlation analysis showed that the serum concentrations of vitamin D and AST were midrange positively correlated, with P<0.05. Conclusions The nutritional status of patients with biliary atresia is relatively poor. There is a definite midrange positive correlation between nutrition and graft liver function that might play a relatively important role in the recovery of the graft.


Conditions characterized by muscle wasting such as cachexia and sarcopenia are devastating at the individual level, and they place a profound burden on public health. Evidence suggests that inflammation is likely a mechanistic contributor to the pathogenesis of these conditions. One specific molecule, lipopolysaccharide, has gained attention due to its role in initiating inflammation. Toll-like receptor-4 is the primary receptor for lipopolysaccharide and has been shown to be implicit in the downstream proinflammatory response associated with lipopolysaccharide. Importantly, Toll-like receptor-4 is expressed on various cell types throughout the human body such as leukocytes and skeletal muscle fibers and may have site-specific effects that contribute to muscle wasting conditions based on the location in which activation occurs. Accordingly, reducing proinflammatory signaling at these locations may be an effective strategy at mitigating muscle wasting. Regular exercise training is believed to elicit anti-inflammatory adaptations, but the mechanisms by which this occurs are yet to be fully understood. Understanding the mechanisms by which Toll-like receptor-4 activation contributes to muscle wasting and how exercise affects this, may allow for the development of a non-pharmacological therapeutic intervention. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the current understanding of the lipopolysaccharide/Toll-like receptor-4 axis in leukocytes and skeletal muscle fibers on the pathogenesis of muscle wasting conditions and we critically examine the current evidence regarding the effects of exercise on this axis.


We present the results of a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of the surface-tension-driven coalescence of flexible structures. Specifically, we consider the dynamics of the rise of a wetting liquid between flexible sheets that are clamped at their upper ends. As the elasticity of the sheets is progressively increased, we observe a systematic deviation from the classical diffusive-like behaviour: the time to reach equilibrium increases dramatically and the departure from classical rise occurs sooner, trends that we elucidate via scaling analyses. Three distinct temporal regimes are identified and subsequently explored by developing a theoretical model based on lubrication theory and the linear theory of plates. The resulting free-boundary problem is solved numerically and good agreement is obtained with experiments.


Tibial dyschondroplasia is a disease of rapid growth rate that occurs in many avian species. It is characterized by an avascular lesion in which the life span of the growth plate chondrocyte is essentially doubled. A characteristic pattern of gene expression and gene product localization has emerged that mimics the pattern observed with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in growth plate chondrocytes. This activates a cell-survival mechanism called autophagy. The initial phases of this mechanism appear to originate in the avascular transition zone of the growth plate. Because specific genes and gene products are associated with autophagy and ER stress, it should now be possible to identify the mechanisms involved in the development of this cartilage abnormality. The potential biochemical pathways responsible for initiating ER stress are discussed.


The relevance of this project is based on the proper use of new technologies which we have available, and these should be implemented in a correct and proper manner by the staff officers of the National Army because most are not in place fixed, all this in order to have government institutions that go with the growth of technology and thus achieving a better quality of life for officers and thus a better society.


Extinction-debt theory holds that following habitat destruction, some extant species in remnants of habitat are doomed to eventual extinction. The extinction debt will affect the interpretation of ongoing impacts and extinctions, because little is understood about the changes in species abundance through time in remnants following surrounding habitat destruction. In some models, thresholds in mean time to extinction are sensitive to the spatial configuration of the remnants, but changes in abundance through time could also be affected. A simulation that includes hierarchical competition, reproduction, dispersal, and mortality was run on two-phase landscapes varying in spatial pattern and extent of habitat destruction. In this article, the courses of temporal change in species abundance, or trajectories, are examined. Thresholds are not evident among different amounts of extant habitat or across a range of spatial patterns. Instead, trends exist in the amount of impact per unit reduction in habitat. Better competitors are more sensitive to the initial stage of destruction and to destruction leaving a more dispersed pattern of habitat; better colonizers have the opposite trends. Assessment of cumulative impacts will vary with species in the initial and penultimate stages of habitat destruction.


In this paper, have implemented the isolated digit recognition in Kannada language using Hidden Markov Model Toolkit (HTK). Hidden Markov models used as pattern recognizer with the help of MFCC as a featured vector of the wave samples. The paper focuses on all isolated digits of Kannada i.e. Sonne to Ommbattu (0 to 9), The system helps in interaction of rural people and the computer or any system. The system data structure is defined at word level and its performance is evaluated.


Abstract Aims: To study the effect of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) on pain response in preterm neonates and to determine the behavioral and physiological responses to painful stimuli in preterm neonates. Materials and methods: This was a single-blind cross over study in which total 140 neonates were enrolled. Pain stimulus was given in the form of heel-lance before and after giving KMC and data were recorded. Results: The effect of KMC on heart rate variability was statistically significant in preterm (30–34 wks) and very low birth weight (1.0–1.5 kg) neonates. The mean fall in SpO2 from base line was less in KMC group as compared to without KMC group at 60 s (1.63% versus 2.22%) and 120 s (0.45% versus 2.22%). The mean duration of cry was less in the KMC group (15.05 s) as compared to without KMC group (24.82 s) and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The mean duration of cry was reduced by 36% in KMC group as compared to the without KMC group. The effect of KMC on pain scores (premature infant pain profile (PIPP)) were significantly lower after heel-lance in KMC at 60 s (p < 0.01). Conclusion: KMC is a most physiological, non-pharmacological and easy intervention that involves parents: to manage procedural pain that can be implemented for physiological or behavioral stability in their premature infants.


Energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) yields new possibilities for the investigation of Bi 2 Te 3 based nanomaterials. Combined low-loss electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and energy-dispersive x-ray microanalysis (EDS) and energy-filtered TEM were applied on a Zeiss 912Ω TEM to investigate nanowires, thin films, and bulk materials. Multilayered Bi-Sb-Te nanowires with a diameter of 65 nm and a period of 200 nm and stoichiometric Bi 2 Te 3 nanowires were grown by potential-pulsed electrochemical deposition. Tellurium elemental maps of the multilayered nanowires were obtained by two-window edge-jump ratio images (EJI). EDS chemical analysis showed that small Te fluctuations of 3 at.% yielded significant contrast in EJI. Energy-filtered TEM applied on nano-alloyed Bi 2 Te 3 thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) revealed 10-20 nm thick Bi-rich blocking layers at grain boundaries. Plasmon spectroscopy by EELS was applied on Bi 2 (Te 0.91 Se 0.09 ) 3 bulk and yielded a plasmon energy of 16.9 eV. Finally, plasmon dispersion was measured for Bi 2 (Te 0.91 Se 0.09 ) 3 bulk by angle-resolved EELS, which yields a fingerprint of the anisotropy and the dimensionality of the electronic structure of the materials.


Companies and individuals produce numerous tabular data. The objective of this position paper is to draw up the challenges posed by the automatic integration of data in the form of tables so that they can be cross-analyzed. We provide a first automatic solution for the integration of such tabular data to allow On-Line Analysis Processing. To fulfil this task, features of tabular data should be analyzed and the challenge of automatic multidimensional schema generation should be addressed. Hence, we propose a typology of tabular data and discuss our idea of an automatic solution.


Introduction Alternatives to transfemoral access for acute mechanical thrombectomy have been reported and include direct carotid puncture, brachial artery access, and transradial access. This experience is typically based on a rescue scenario where a transfemoral approach is not feasible or has resulted in failure. Large trials have shown the safety of transradial access for coronary intervention with improved morbidity and mortality rates when compared to transfemoral access for cardiology procedures. When considering an alternative access for difficult interventional stroke therapies a primary consideration for using transradial access should be deliberated. This modality has been adapted for ischemic stroke intervention at several centers including our own. However effective, there are instances in which this modality is ineffective or proves difficult to succeed and should be approached with careful consideration. Methods All patients seeking endovascular therapy secondary to large vessel occlusions and treated by means of radial artery puncture at our center with documented reperfusion outcome were retrospectively reviewed for analysis. In brief, initial consideration for radial approach requires an assessment of coronary vessel tortuosity through CTA. If qualified, a modified Allen's test is thus performed to determine vascularity and eligibility for radial access. Following artery puncture, a microwire is advanced in adjunct to a 6–7 F sheath, typically a Neuron MAX 088. In cases involving severe aortic arch, a CLARET technique is used, employing the aortic arch and valve to form a loop allowing for access into the more distal neuroanatomy. Once the thrombus is visualized, thrombectomy is carried out in the usual fashion. We identify cases wherein transradial access was employed, either as initial or secondary intentions, with unsuccessful clot engagement. Results A total of 32 patients met criteria in a retrospective review of our database. Reperfusion to mTICI 2 b/3 was achieved in 78.1% (25/32) of cases. Of the 7 cases unsuccessfully treated through radial access; difficulties in revascularization as specifically relating to this modality were observed in 4 cases. Radial puncture was not attempted in 2 cases due to extreme vessel tortuosity. In the remaining 2 cases wherein transradial axis was attempted, thrombus engagement was unsuccessful, either due to physiological morphology or to the upstream distal location of the thrombus. Conclusion An inherent limitation of transradial access is the restriction to a 6–7 F catheter; however other factors must be considered when identifying cases amenable to radial access. These factors include extreme tortuosity, which not only presents a challenge for radial access, but for all access modalities, and patient height. Patients of above average height or have distal occlusions present a true challenge to the efficacy of radial access as current catheters are limited in length, and thus unable to reach the desired destination. These contraindications are important factors when considering this method of approach, but technological advances in this field may overcome some or all of these limitations. Disclosures K. Sivakumar: None. S. Feuerwerker: None. A. Tiwari: None. D. Turkel-Parrella: None. K. Arcot: None. J. Farkas: None.


It has recently been proposed that the caudal curvature (concave caudal side) observed in the radioulna of terrestrial quadrupeds is an adaptation to the habitual action of the triceps muscle which causes cranial bending strains (compression on cranial side). The caudal curvature is proposed to be adaptive because longitudinal loading induces caudal bending strains (increased compression on the caudal side), and these opposing bending strains counteract each other leaving the radioulna less strained. If this is true for terrestrial quadrupeds, where triceps is required for habitual elbow extension, then we might expect that in arboreal species, where brachialis is habitually required to maintain elbow flexion, the radioulna should instead be cranially curved. This study measures sagittal curvature of the ulna in a range of terrestrial and arboreal primates and marsupials, and finds that their ulnae are curved in opposite directions in these two locomotor categories. This study also examines sagittal curvature in the humerus in the same species, and finds differences that can be attributed to similar adaptations: the bone is curved to counter the habitual muscle action required by the animal's lifestyle, the difference being mainly in the distal part of the humerus, where arboreal animals tend have a cranial concavity, thought to be in response the carpal and digital muscles that pull cranially on the distal humerus.


Creatine is a substance found naturally in body tissues, especially in the muscles and brain. Creatine is found in the diet, especially in seafood and red meat, and is commonly used to increase muscle mass and improve exercise performance in humans. This research was design to evaluate the effects of creatine administration on many physiological and biochemical parameters. In the method design, 24 mature adult male rabbits are divided at random into four groups as the following: G1 (Group of control): six mature adult of male rabbits orally administered distilled H2O (1ml/animal) by gavage daily, G2 mature adult of male rabbits were orally administration creatine monohydrate (1ml/kg BW) by gavage daily. G 3 mature adult of male rabbits were orally administration creatine monohydrate (2ml/kg BW) by gavage daily. While G4 adult male rabbits were orally administration creatine monohydrate (3ml/kg BW). After 30-days of administration, the rabbits were anaesthetized and blood samples were collected for determination thyroid hormones, liver enzymes, lipid profiles and kidney function (determined by urea, creatinine levels) and serum total protein levels, in the results, the groups that received 1, 2 and 3 ml of creatinine significantly increased but more over increased in group treated with 3 ml of creatinine in all studied parameters such as T4 hormones, liver enzymes, urea, creatinine levels and all lipid profile except TSH, T3, HDL, total protein concentration decreased significantly compared to the control group. In conclusions, the creatine has harmful effect on biochemical and physiological parameters in the creatine-treated group (3ml). In the conclusion that an adverse effect of creatine on the functions of the thyroid gland, liver and kidneys increases in these organs with increase doses.


Flosequinan (F) is a potent vasodilator and produces hemodynamic improvement when given to patients (pts) with congestive heart failure (CHF) but little is known about its direct effect on the regional pulmonary vascular bed. Pulmonary perfusion in erect position is known to vary according to the changes of pulmonary hemodynamics. To determine the acute effect of F on pulmonary perfusion 17 pts with CHF (NYHA 2-3, ejection fraction 30 +/- 10%) underwent Tc-99m-MAA pulmonary perfusion images in erect position before and 2 hours after administration of 100 mg dose of F. Pulmonary perfusion were assessed by ratio of upper to lower zone counts in the images (U/L). Increase rate of the lower zone area was assessed by delta L/L (delta L, %). delta L was thought to correspond to increase rate of pulmonary perfusion in the lower lung zone. In all pts significant decrease in U/L (0.82 +/- 0.22----0.63 +/- 0.24 p less than 0.001) was noted. delta L was 9.6 +/- 6.4%. Increase in perfusion to the lower lung zone indicated localized vasodilatation effect of F. In 11 pts with basal hyperperfusion area U/L improved from 0.63 +/- 0.08 to 0.49 +/- 0.07 and mean delta L was 9.6 +/- 6.4%. This showed increase of pulmonary perfusion in the lower zone. In 3 pts of 6 pts without basal hyperperfusion area pulmonary perfusion in the lower zone markedly increased and hyperperfusion area noted in the upper zone disappeared after administration of F. delta L was 21, 32 and 29% respectively. This corresponded to the dilation of pulmonary vascular bed in the basal zone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Since the 1980s, CIS has been a methodology for many enterprises to improve their brand image. The full English name of CIS is Corporate Identity System. CIS originated from the United States, then developed and perfected in Japan, and began to rise in China in 1980s. Because CIS developed earlier in Taiwan, it has reference value for the correct introduction of CIS in the mainland.On this basis, through continuous practice, MOMA design team put forward a new analysis of CIS. As one of China's top ten design companies and design innovation demonstration enterprises, MOMA design is committed to providing customers with comprehensive solutions from product prototype definition, concept design, structure design, supply chain integration and brand building. MOMA design in the field of nearly 20 years of groping, has been highly recognized by the industry, and the composition of CIS enterprise identification system has a new interpretation, thinks that CIS should include five subsystems: MIS(Mind Identity System), BIS(Behavior Identity System), VIS(Visual Identity System), PIS (Products Identity) System and Environment Identity System (EIS). CIS has been developing for more than 40 years in China, and countless entrepreneurs, practitioners and scholars have gradually perfected their ideas and continuously incorporated some new ideas. However, relatively few literatures can be retrieved in the research of EI. With the advent of sustainable design and digital economy, MOMA design in the long-term project practice that "environment" for the development of corporate image is a state of crisis and opportunity, to a certain extent, has played a key role, and the enterprise's demand for external environment is also growing. In this paper, EI of CIS five elements is taken as the research object and the concept of "field" is adopted. "Field" is derived from Bourdieu's field theory. Field refers to "network or configuration of objective relations between positions". Field, capital and habitus constitute the core of Bourdieu's sociological theory, which embodies the characteristics of relational thinking. Capital is the quantity and type controlled by actors, including economic capital, cultural capital, social capital and symbolic capital. Habitus is an actor's temperament of perception, judgment and action according to different fields. Bourdieu believed that each field should explore the special practical experience of the local nature, and be used as a general field theoretical analysis method, as the construction principle and reproduction mechanism of field practical space. Therefore, relevant scholars extend "CIS field" and "CIS field effect", considering the transverse field mutual relations among the five elements of CIS. This paper takes EI as the sub-field of CIS, considers the mining of EI vertical field to improve the overall integrity of CIS, uses field theory to analyze the macro field, meso field and micro field in environmental identification, subdivides the environment contained in each field, and sort out the overall logical framework of EIS. Then through the case of MOMA design, using capital and habitus as media to verify the cross relations between the three dimensions of the segmentation of environmental identity system. This paper aims to further improve CIS and put forward the importance of EI, hoping to promote the collaborative evolution of enterprises themselves, enterprises with enterprises and enterprises with the outside world in this field, and also hope to bring certain reference value to some practitioners and academic staff.


Background Anorexia nervosa (AN) is usually present in adolescence with symptoms partially overlapping celiac disease (CD), but the relationship between these two conditions has received little attention in the literature. The aim of this work was to explore this relationship, considering if CD could be associated with specific baseline AN-related clinical features. Methods In this retrospective study, 82 adolescent female out- and inpatients with AN of the restrictive type (ANr), according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition criteria, were recruited. CD diagnosis and related serology were recorded, including tissue transglutaminase type-2 antibodies, endomysial antibodies, and antibodies against deamidated forms of gliadin peptides. Eating disorder inventory-3, Children's Depression Inventory, body mass index, age, and disease duration data recorded at the time of blood withdrawal were also obtained from each patient. Results Five (6.1%) subjects presented a CD disorder associated with AN: none of the collected psychometric measures was significantly correlated with any CD-related parameter or characterized as a specific subgroup. Conclusion CD diagnosis or serology does not relate to ANr clinical or demographic characteristics. However, a slight increase in prevalence with respect to the general population might be hypothesized and possibly elucidated by further studies with an appropriate design.


Though athletics statistics are abundant, it is a difficult task to quantitatively compare performances from different events of track, field, and road running in a meaningful way. There are several commonly-used methods, but each has its limitations. Some methods, for example, are valid only for running events, or are unable to compare men's performances to women's, while others are based largely on world records and are thus unsuitable for comparing world records to one other. The most versatile and widely-used statistic is a set of scoring tables compiled by the IAAF, which are updated and published every few years. Unfortunately, these methods are not fully disclosed. In this paper, we propose a straight-forward, objective, model-based algorithm for assigning scores to athletic performances for the express purpose of comparing marks between different events. Specifically, the main score we propose is based on the expected number of athletes who perform better than a given mark within a calendar year. Computing this naturally interpretable statistic requires only a list of the top performances in each event and is not overly dependent on a small number of marks, such as the world records. We found that this statistic could predict the quality of future performances better than the IAAF scoring tables, and is thus better suited for comparing performances from different events. In addition, the probabilistic model used to generate the performance scores allows for multiple interpretations which can be adapted for various purposes, such as calculating the expected top mark in a given event or calculating the probability of a world record being broken within a certain time period. In this paper, we give the details of the model and the scores, a comparison with the IAAF scoring tables, and a demonstration of how we can calculate expectations of what might happen in the coming Olympic year. Our conclusion is that a probabilistic model such as the one presented here is a more informative and more versatile choice than the standard methods for comparing athletic performances.


We propose the application of graphical convolution to the analysis of the resonance phenomenon. This time-domain approach encompasses both the finally attained periodic oscillations and the initial transient period. It also provides interesting discussion concerning the analysis of non-sinusoidal waves, based not on frequency analysis, but on direct consideration of waveforms, and thus presenting an introduction to Fourier series. Further developing the point of view of graphical convolution, we come to a new definition of resonance in terms of time domain.


Objective: Population based studies on hirsutism, variability with age and distribution, their associated symptoms are limited in Pakistan. Knowledge on the awareness about hirsutism, variability and their associated symptoms and treatment option is necessary for the patient education and evaluation of underlying causative factor.
Study design: A cross sectional study was conductedFebruary 2017 to April 2017 to determine the prevalence of hirsutism, and their associated symptoms as well as dissemination among students of Islamia University Bahawalpur. Questionnaires were developed and distributed among the consenting participants. Thirteen hundred and sixty five females were included in the study.
Results: Ferriman-Gallwey score was used to determine the distribution of hairs. Results revealed the prevalence of hirsutism is n=388(28%) while distribution was following n=56(14%) having hair distribution on chin, n=328 (84%) on upper lip, n=52(13%) on lower abdomen, n=28(7%) on upper abdomen, n=212(54%) on arms, n=220(56%) on legs, n=24(6%) on middle of chest, and n=12(3% ) hairs on upper back. n=36(9%) participants were belonging to upper class, n=342(88%) from middle class, n=12(3%) from lower class.
Conclusion: It is concluded from present work that n=89(22%) were presented with mild=187(48%)had moderate and n=112(28%)were having severe hirsutism. Associated symptoms were also note down current study suggested that n=88(24%) participants were with ailment of irregular mences, n=76(19%) with weight gain, n=20(5%) presented with infertility, n=12(3%) from the complaint of deep sound and in n=192(49%) with no other specific symptoms.it is concluded that n=89(22%) females were having mild=187(48%) having moderate and n=112(28%) were having severe hirsutism.


Stimuli-responsive polymers play an important role in many biomedical technologies. Light responsive polymers are particularly desirable because the parameters of irradiated light and diverse photoactive chemistries produce a large number of combinations between functional materials and associated stimuli. This Review summarizes recent advances in utilizing photoactive chemistries in macromolecules for prospective use in biomedical applications. Special focus is granted to selection criterion when choosing photofunctional groups. Synthetic strategies to incorporate these functionalities into polymers and networks with different topologies are also highlighted herein. Prospective applications of these materials are discussed including programmable matrices for controlled release, dynamic scaffolds for tissue engineering, and functional coatings for medical devices. The article concludes by summarizing the state of the art in photoresponsive polymers for biomedical applications including current challenges and future opportunities.


Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world, and its incidence is obviously increasing. The NT5DC family has been shown to be involved in the progression of many tumors. However, the biological function of NT5DC family members in HCC is still not well understood. Methods Oncomine, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), UALCAN, Kaplan–Meier plotter, cBioPortal, GeneMANIA, Metascape, and TIMER were applied to assess the biological function of NT5DC family members in HCC. Results Most of the NT5DC family members were highly expressed in HCC. High expression of NT5C2, NT5DC2, and NT5DC3 was closely associated with higher tumor stage and poor overall survival (OS). In addition, high NT5DC2 and NT5DC3 expression also predicted poor disease-free survival (DFS). Enrichment analysis revealed that the NT5DC family in HCC mainly involved the IMP metabolic process, purine ribonucleoside monophosphate metabolic process, and purine nucleoside monophosphate metabolic process. The expression of NT5DC family members was closely related to the infiltration of some immune cells, such as B cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells. Conclusion Our findings provided new insights into the biological function and prognostic value of NT5DC family members in HCC.


Using a novel numerical spectral method, we have found solutions for large static Randall-Sundrum II (RSII) black holes by perturbing a numerical AdS5-CFT4 solution to the Einstein equation with a negative cosmological constant Λ that is asymptotically conformal to the Schwarzschild metric. We used a numerical spectral method independent of the Ricci-DeTurck-flow method used by Figueras, Lucietti, and Wiseman for a similar numerical solution. We have compared our black-hole solution to the one Figueras and Wiseman have derived by perturbing their numerical AdS5-CFT4 solution, showing that our solution agrees closely with theirs. We have obtained a closed-form approximation to the metric of the black hole on the brane. We have also deduced the new results that to first order in 1/(−ΛM2), the Hawking temperature and entropy of an RSII static black hole have the same values as the Schwarzschild metric with the same mass, but the horizon area is increased by about 4.7/(−Λ).


Recent studies have demonstrated perceptual adaptation to nonlinguistic properties of speech involving voice gender and emotional expression. The present study extends this work by examining the contribution of fundamental frequency (F0) to these effects. Voice recordings of vowel-consonant-vowel (VCV) syllables from six talkers were processed using the STRAIGHT vocoder and an auditory morphing technique to synthesize gender (experiment 1) and expressive (experiment 2) speech sound continua ranging from one category endpoint to the other (female to male; angry to happy). Continuum endpoints served as adaptors for F0 present and F0 removed conditions. F0 removed stimuli were created by replacing the periodic excitation source with broadband noise. Confirming previous findings, aftereffects were found in the F0 present condition, resulting in a decreased likelihood to identify test stimuli as belonging to the adaptor category. No aftereffects appeared when F0 was removed, highlighting the importance of F0 in adaptation. However, in an identification test listeners were still able to categorize F0 removed stimuli at better-than-chance levels, indicating that residual cues for gender and emotion were available even when F0 was not present.


Electrical resistivity measurements under high pressure were performed on iron-based superconductor LaFeAsO1-xFx. A steep increase in superconducting transition temperature (Tc) was observed for "optimum-doped" LaFeAsO0.89F0.11, whereas "under-doped" LaFeAsO0.95F0.05 shows a moderate increase in Tc with applying pressure. X-ray diffraction measurements were also performed under high pressure up to 10 GPa. A ratio c/a was observed to decrease with applying pressure, which is similar to the pressure effect on cuprate high-Tc superconductors.


Summary: A concentration of 5% carbon dioxide in air prevents fruiting in Schizophyllum commune and at the same time prevents the breakdown of R-glucan [(1 → 3)-β,(1 → 6)-β-glucan] in the wall which normally occurs during growth of the pilei. R-glucanase is produced as in cultures grown in air but cultures grown in CO2-enriched air form more of a water-soluble (1 → 3)-β,(1 → 6)-β-glucan (mucilage) and less R-glucan. This R-glucan is more resistant to enzymic hydrolysis which may explain the decreased breakdown of R-glucan in vivo. Since R-glucan degradation is required for growth of the pilei to occur, CO2 must indirectly inhibit growth of the pilei by changing the composition of the walls in the previously formed mycelium.


alaysia Airlines Flight 17 took off from Amsterdam at 10:31 A.M. G.M.T. on July 17, 2014, for a twelve-hour flight to Kuala Lumpur. Not much more than three hours later, the plane, a Boeing 777, crashed in a field outside Donetsk, Ukraine. All two hundred and ninety-eight people on board were killed. The plane's last radio contact was at 1:20 P.M. G.M.T. At 2:50 P.M. G.M.T., Igor Girkin, a Ukrainian separatist leader also known as Strelkov, or someone acting on his behalf, posted a message on VKontakte, a Russian social-media site: "We just downed a plane, an AN-26." (An Antonov 26 is a Soviet-built military cargo plane.) The post includes links to video of the wreckage of a plane; it appears to be a Boeing 777.


Counting rare and elusive animals and evaluating their demographic status, are fundamental yet challenging aspects of population ecology and conservation biology. We set out to estimate population size (Nc), genetic effective population size (Ne gen), sex ratio, and movements based on genetic tagging for the threatened Cantabrian capercaillie. We used 9 microsatellite loci to genotype 134 droppings collected at 34 display areas during the breeding season. Using genetic capture-mark-recapture, we estimated 93 individuals (Nc, 95% CI: 70–116) in an area of about 500 km2, with sex ratio biased towards males (1∶1.6). Estimated Ne gen (35.5) was 38% of Nc, notably higher than the published average in wild populations. This capercaillie population is small and well within concern in terms of population viability. By genetic tagging, we detected mostly short movements; just a few males were recaptured between contiguous display areas. Non-invasive surveys of endangered populations have a great potential, yet adequate sample size and location are key to obtain reliable information on conservation status.


Studying the CEOs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the US metalcasting in-dustry—an industry that has been steadily declining for several years—we develop a theoretical model to examine how CEO scanning behaviors in the form of scanning intensity and proactiveness influence self-efficacy, which in turn influences firm inno vation and performance. We extend theory and research by (a) demonstrating of the role and influence of SME CEOs over firm innovation and performance in declining in -dustries, (b) illustrating how scanning provides social learning opportunities for CEOs that enhance their levels of self-efficacy, and (c) showing that self-efficacy mediates the effects of scanning on firm innovation and performance.


Background and Objective: One of the ways to achieve healthy communities is training adolescents in healthy behaviors. This study was conducted to assess the impact of peer education approach to health promoting behaviors in Bastak junior high school students. Methods: The study population was junior high school students in Bastak coun - ty, Hormozgan. In this semi-experimental study 201 students were placed in the intervention group and 157 students in the control group. The data were collected through The Adolescent Health Promotion Scale. The questionnaire measures health promoting behaviors in six areas, including nutrition, social protection, health personal responsibility, valuation of health, exercise and stress management. Intervention was performed through peer education. Data were collected before and two months after the intervention and analyzed by using SPSS19 and independent and paired t-test. Results: Health promoting behaviours scores showed a significant increase in the intervention group except health valuation area compared with pre-train - ing (p<0.001) while the control group showed a significant decrease in average behavioral in all domains (p<0.05). After the intervention, students' health pro - moting behaviors in all six areas including nutrition, social protection, health personal responsibility, valuing health, exercise and stress management in the intervention group were statistically significant compared with control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that peer education approach can be effective in changing the behavior of young adults towards healthy behaviors. Paper Type: Research Article.


In the design of run-to-run controllers one is usually faced with the problem of selecting a model structure that best explains the variability in the data. The variable selection problem often becomes more complex when there are large numbers of candidate variables and the usual regression modeling assumptions are not satisfied. This paper proposes a model selection approach that uses ideas from the statistical linear models and stepwise regression literature to identify the context variables that contribute most to the autocorrelation and to the offsets in the data. A simulation example and an application to lithography alignment control are presented to illustrate the approach.


BACKGROUND
The benefits of HLA-A, B, and DR matching of cadaveric kidney grafts and recipients remain controversial when viewed from the perspective of social equity and graft survival.

METHODS
We estimated graft survival using proportional-hazards techniques, adjusting for patient and donor characteristics, for a series of 30,564 Medicare patients receiving a first cadaveric kidney transplant between 1984 and 1990. The effects of minimal achievable HLA mismatches and maximal matching on graft survival were estimated by simulated allocation of a sample of organs to a sample of 20,000 candidates for transplantation.

RESULTS
The adjusted one-year graft survival was 84.3 percent for grafts with no mismatches and 77.0 percent for grafts with four mismatches. National rationing of donor organs to achieve minimal mismatching and maximal matching could potentially decrease the average number of HLA mismatches from 3.6 to 1.2, with a corresponding increase in the number of matches. As a consequence, projected five-year graft survival could potentially increase from 58.5 percent to 62.9 percent. This would be associated with a decrease in the proportion of kidneys allocated to black recipients from 22.2 to 15.0 percent.

CONCLUSIONS
Under ideal circumstances, a policy of maximal matching of cadaveric renal transplants would increase five-year graft survival by a comparatively small 4.4 percentage points, but the actual benefit is likely to be smaller.


Summary
A quantitative study was made of the vitamin A content of three important Porto Rican foods, the plantain and the white and yellow yautia. The plantain and yellow yautia were found to be relatively good sources of vitamin A both containing an amount comparable to such foods as the tomato and sweet potato. The plantain contained somewhat more vitamin A than was found in the yellow yautia. The white yautia contained much less vitamin A than either the yellow yautia or plantain and was similar in its vitamin A content to the turnip, headed cabbage and beet. Further evidence is furnished to indicate a possible relationship between the color of a food and its richness in vitamin A.


Supervisory control and protection system of the neutral beam injector (NBI) in the HL-2A tokamak is presented. The system is used for a safe coordination of all the main NBI subsystems. Because the system is based on computer networks with its transmission medium of optical fiber, its advantages in high operational stability, reliability, security and flexible functional expandability are clearly shown during the NBI commissioning and heating experiment in HL-2A.


Abstract Objectives Patients presenting with functional neurological symptoms like non-epileptic seizures and weakness have an underlying psychological component and tend to persist for a prolonged time, despite repeated evaluations and interventions. Ayurveda, with its holistic approach to health and disease, can provide better management for such disorders, in the form of customized treatment protocols and unique methods of psychotherapy. Case presentation The patient presented with drooping of both eyelids, initially diagnosed as ocular myasthenia, and later found to have psychogenic pseudo-myasthenic ptosis. She was evaluated based on ayurvedic parameters and managed successfully with ayurvedic treatment modalities of sodhana (dosha elimination), samana (pacifying), and a novel psychotherapy technique of Smriti meditation. Conclusions A holistic approach to the patient, as expounded by Ayurveda, is vital in evaluating and managing functional neurological complaints. Smriti meditation, in combination with selected ayurvedic medicines, is effective in managing psychosomatic manifestations as demonstrated in the present case.


Abstract Sediment samples have been collected from the Schirmacher Oasis and adjoining area in East Antarctica; these areas consist of polar ice, ice-free area, lakes and the coastal shelf area. The 37 samples have been analysed for their grain-size parameters and statistical relationships. The oasis is characterised by ongoing glacial processes, including deposition and erosion of the sediments by ice, meltwater and winds, thus influencing the sediments in various ways. Basic statistical grain-size parameters like graphic mean, standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis have been calculated for the four units. The sediments of all areas are almost all poorly to very poorly sorted, fine-skewed to near-symmetrical and platykurtic to leptokurtic in nature. Bivariate plots between the grain-size parameters have been interpreted. They do, apart from a few exceptions, not show any trend suggesting relationships between the sediments of the four landscape types. Both t- and F-tests have been applied on the samples, and the phi values and grain-size parameters have been analysed; these show that the group variances of the samples are not significant, but that the phi-values are significant.


Science classes require from a person intellectual, volitional and moral qualities, which not all people possess. Therefore, a number of people who do not have the appropriate abilities are tempted to imitate science. Such imitation is called pseudoscience. On the вasis of what attributes can pseudoscience be identified? In modern methodological literature, a number of attempts have been made to answer this question. Some markers can be detected relatively easily. Other markers need some substantive text exploration. However it is impossible to limit by the criteria based on the synthesis of practical experience. A guiding idea is necessary to puzzle out not only simple, but also difficult cases. In our view, we should proceed from the principle of the text conformity to the norms of the scientific ethos. We proceed from the classical understanding of scientific activity as a scrupulous search for truth. It leads to the interpretation of pseudoscience as activity pursuing goals lying outside the science limits: material gain, fame, social status, etc. Therefore, if the signs of lack of conscientiousness are detected in the text it can be qualified as pseudoscientific with a high degree of probability. This approach allows to identify a specific type of pseudoscience, that we call "would-be science". Moreover, this approach makes it possible to qualify as pseudoscientific those texts, which are not scientific according to previously proposed criteria. These texts are signed by the authors whose social status clearly does not leave them the opportunity to study science. Consequently, along with institutional, logical, linguistic and methodological markers of pseudoscience, one more marker should be used sociological.


INTRODUCTION
MELAS syndrome (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke like episodes) is a mitochondrial disease related to the mitochondrial DNA mutation. The tRNALeu(UUR) mutation at the base pair 3234 is associated to 80% of cases of MELAS syndrome. The onset with the stroke like episodes is often before the age 40. Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) presents as acute episodes of focal neurologic deficit that are often related to the temporal lobe. Occasionally MELAS syndrome and HSE may have a similar clinical presentation.

CLINICAL CASE
A 33-year-old woman presented with seizures and a right parietotemporal syndrome of acute onset. The differential diagnosis between HSE and MELAS syndrome was established. MELAS syndrome was suspected based on her phenotype. The diagnosis of MELAS syndrome was confirmed by the presence of the mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) mutation at the base pair 3243.

CONCLUSION
The clinical presentation of the MELAS syndrome may mimic that of the HSE, and antiviral treatment should be given until the diagnosis of MELAS syndrome is definitive. The study of the mitochondrial DNA helps diagnosing in a non invasive way many patients with MELAS syndrome.


I survey some recent research on the role of patents in encouraging innovation and growth in developing economies, beginning with a brief history of international patent systems and facts about the current use of patents around the world. I discuss research on the implications of patents for international technology transfer and domestic innovation. This is followed by a review of recent work by myself and co-authors on regional patent systems, the impact of patents on firm performance, and the impact on pharmaceutical patenting and domestic innovation. The conclusion suggests that patents may be relatively unimportant in development, even for middle income countries.


This paper proposes a control methodology for Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) unit, which can significantly decrease the voltage and power fluctuations of grid connected fixed speed wind generators. The SMES system with a voltage-source IGBT converter and two-quadrant DC-DC chopper using IGBT is proposed as a controllable energy storage device. The objective of the proposed SMES control strategy is to smooth the wind farm output power and terminal voltage by absorbing or providing both real and reactive powers. Thus the control methodology of SMES system is suitable for two objectives stated above. The performances of the proposed system are evaluated by dynamic simulations using a test power system. Real wind speed data are used in the simulation analyses, which validate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. Simulation results clearly show that the proposed control strategy can smooth well the wind generator output power and also maintain the terminal voltage at rated level.


There is considerable interest in implantation techniques and scaffolds for tissue engineering and, for safety and biocompatibility reasons, inflammation, angiogenesis, and fibrosis need to be determined. The contribution of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the regulation of the foreign body reaction induced by subcutaneous implantation of a synthetic matrix was never investigated. Here, we examined the role of iNOS in angiogenesis, inflammation, and collagen deposition induced by polyether-polyurethane synthetic implants, using mice with targeted disruption of the iNOS gene (iNOS−/−) and wild-type (WT) mice. The hemoglobin content and number of vessels were decreased in the implants of iNOS−/− mice compared to WT mice 14 days after implantation. VEGF levels were also reduced in the implants of iNOS−/− mice. In contrast, the iNOS−/− implants exhibited an increased neutrophil and macrophage infiltration. However, no alterations were observed in levels of CXCL1 and CCL2, chemokines related to neutrophil and macrophage migration, respectively. Furthermore, the implants of iNOS−/− mice showed boosted collagen deposition. These data suggest that iNOS activity controls inflammation, angiogenesis, and fibrogenesis in polyether-polyurethane synthetic implants and that lack of iNOS expression increases foreign body reaction to implants in mice.


The rising quantity of available information has constituted an enormous advance in our daily life. However, at the same time, some problems emerge as a result from the existing difficulty to distinguish the necessary information among the high quantity of unnecessary data. Information Retrieval has become a capital task for retrieving the useful information. Firstly, it was mainly used for document retrieval, but lately, its use has been generalized for the retrieval of any kind of information, such as the information contained in a database, a web page, or any set of accumulated knowledge. In particular, the so-called Vector Space Model is widely used. Vector Space Model is based on the use of


Abstract Equations are presented which relate saturation vapor pressure to temperature for moist air. The equations are designed to be easily implemented on a calculator or computer and can be used to convert in either direction. They are more accurate than the commonly used Goff-Gratch equations for the meteorologically interesting region of −80 to +50°C. Equations also are given for the enhancement factor.


Objectives: To examine stuttering by children speaking an alternative language exclusively (LE) or with English (BIL) and to study onset of stuttering, school performance and recovery rate relative to monolingual speakers who stutter (MONO). Design: Clinical referral sample with supplementary data obtained from speech recordings and interviews. Setting: South-East England, 1999–2007. Participants: Children aged 8–12 plus who stuttered (monolingual and bilingual) and fluent bilingual controls (FB). Main outcome measures: Participants' stuttering history, SATS scores, measures of recovery or persistence of stuttering. Results: 69 (21.8%) of 317 children were bilingual. Of 38 children who used a language other than English at home, 36 (94.7%) stuttered in both languages. Fewer LE (15/38, 39.5%) than BIL (23/38, 60.5%) children stuttered at first referral to clinic, but more children in the fluent control sample were LE (28/38, 73.7%) than BIL (10/38, 26.3%). The association between stuttering and bilingual group (LE/BIL) was significant by χ2 test; BIL speakers have more chance of stuttering than LE speakers. Age at stuttering onset and male/female ratio for LE, BIL and MONO speakers were similar (4 years 9 months, 4 years 10 months and 4 years 3 months, and 4.1:1, 4.75:1 and 4.43:1, respectively). Educational achievement was not affected by bilingualism relative to the MONO and FB groups. The recovery rate for the LE and MONO controls together (55%) was significantly higher by χ2 test than for the BIL group (25%). Conclusions: BIL children had an increased risk of stuttering and a lower chance of recovery from stuttering than LE and MONO speakers.


Discussion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues has fallen short in dental curricula. This article aims to describe the didactic approach used to present issues of sexuality in the D.M.D. curriculum at the University of British Columbia. This descriptive article discusses the main pedagogies employed to present and discuss LGBT issues: lecture-based seminars, guest panel discussion with members of the LGBT community, poster discussion, and student reflections on the topic of sexuality. The approach to sexual diversity presented here does not profess to make an otherwise homophobic student LGBT-friendly, but it exposes all students to alternative views of sexuality, challenges their values and beliefs, and celebrates diversity. The methodology presented has had a positive impact upon students as illustrated by their reflections, but further discussion is needed to better understand the implications of LGBT issues in both academic and professional settings.


Sound is one of the fi rst stimuli from the external environment to reach and be perceived by the human foetus as early as the fi fth month in utero [approximately 25–26 gestation weeks (GW)]. Thus, auditory input may sculpt developing auditory pathways as well as those important for perceiving speech sounds even prior to birth. Detailed anatomical studies on postmortem human brains and a battery of functional studies such as the auditory brainstem response (ABR), magnetoencephalography (MEG) and fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) have revealed that the cochlea and auditory brainstem are well-developed by the third trimester and adult-like in terms of structure by 6 postnatal months, followed by functional maturation. However, earlier studies have found that neurofi lament proteins which form the cytoskeleton of axons and act as a marker for maturity in the nervous system (in terms of axonal conduction) are present only in Layer I of the human auditory cortex from 22 GW to 3 postnatal years. These studies have further demonstrated that the neural circuits in all other layers of the auditory cortex have a protracted period of maturation (between 1–12 postnatal years) in terms of neurofi lament expression, suggesting a gradual increase in the ability to process sounds. Contrary to these neuroanatomical fi ndings, other studies have shown that third trimester foetuses respond to complex auditory stimuli (including speech sounds) and the auditory cortex is activated by sound as early as 33 GW. In the present review, I have discussed structural and functional data relating to the maturation of the human auditory cortex. In addition to these studies, I have discussed recent results showing that axons in the human auditory cortex may mature before birth, which can be better correlated with the fairly well-developed auditory processing capabilities of the third trimester human foetus.


The high prevalence of child marriage in many South Asian countries is usually attributed to poverty, lack of access to education and economic opportunities and gender inequitable cultural norms. Yet in Bangladesh, despite economic growth, mass female education and concerted efforts to eliminate child marriage, its prevalence remains very high. This paper explores community-level perceptions, attitudes and practices relating to child marriage in a rural setting in Bangladesh with the aim of understanding the collective discourses of child marriage in the country and identify the factors shaping these. The study was based on exploratory sequential mixed-method research, with qualitative data collected through group discussions and interviews with 64 participants and quantitative survey data from 3344 participants from the Rangpur district of northern Bangladesh in 2014. The findings suggest that, in addition to the already identified drivers, the notion of a 'good match', where the wife is subservient to her husband, is one of the main motivations for marrying off girls early in this region of Bangladesh. Reducing poverty and educating girls may not be adequate to address the persistent problem of child marriage in all Bangladeshi contexts and emphasis needs to be given to transforming the prevailing idea of a 'good match' to one of an 'equal match'.


About 15% of the area of the Czech Republic is classified as territories with special status of protection, most of which is covered with forests. At present, at the time of integration of the country into the European structures, an increase in the area of such territories by approximately 20% is expected. The territories show significant variation of protection objectives, management restrictions, profound differentiation in natural conditions, structure of ownership and different levels of damage, especially that caused by anthropogenic pressure. This situation requires the formulation of long-term management strategies. The problem can be solved in the following successive steps: formulation of variants and alternatives of management strategies based on a retrospective analysis of forest development; prognosis of the forest condition development after application of the individual management strategies on the basis of growth and development simulations; addition of technological and economical bases; selection of optimal variants and alternatives from the viewpoint of the fulfilment of the owner's management goals, in accordance with the principles of forest policy and from the viewpoint of the fulfilment of the protection objective formulated for a specific territory with special status of protection. A set of methods for following the above-mentioned steps is specified in the presented contribution.


ABSTRACT We examined properties of the innate immune response against the tumor-specific antigen simian virus 40 (SV40) large tumor antigen (Tag) following experimental pulmonary metastasis in naive mice. Approximately 14 days after mKSA tumor cell challenge, expression of inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and RANTES was upregulated in splenocytes harvested from mice, as assessed by flow cytometry and antibody array assays. This response was hypothesized to activate and induce tumor-directed NK cell lysis since IL-2-stimulated NK cells mediated tumor cell destruction in vitro. The necessary function of NK cells was further validated in vivo through selected antibody depletion of NK cells, which resulted in an overwhelming lung tumor burden relative to that in animals receiving a control rabbit IgG depletion regimen. Interestingly, mice achieved increased protection from experimental pulmonary metastasis when NK cells were further activated indirectly through in vivo administration of poly(I:C), a Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) agonist. In a separate study, mice receiving treatments of poly(I:C) and recombinant SV40 Tag protein immunization mounted effective tumor immunity in an established experimental pulmonary metastasis setting. Initiating broad-based immunity with poly(I:C) was observed to induce a Th1 bias in the SV40 Tag antibody response that led to successful antitumor responses not observed in animals treated only with poly(I:C) or SV40 Tag. These data have direct implications for immunotherapeutic strategies incorporating methods to elicit inflammatory reactions, particularly NK cell-driven lysis, against malignant cell types that express a tumor-specific antigen such as SV40 Tag.


Recent experiments have revealed that the exponential decay in the sedimentation density profiles of charged colloidal suspensions is governed by an apparent mass that is smaller than the buoyant mass. A simple analytical density functional study is presented which describes the reduction of the apparent mass. In accordance with experiments, it is found that the mass reduction depends on the concentration of added salt as well as on the colloidal sedimentation height.