: Objective: To determine the characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections among children. Method: A cross sectional study conducted in Pediatric Ward Sanglah Hospital. This study performed a retrospective review of medical records from pediatric patients who were proven to have Staphylococcus aureus infection through microbiological examination from blood culture samples while undergoing treatment. Result: There were total of 30 pediatric patients who were proven to have Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection. Nineteen (63%) cases were male. The most common age group was 12-18 years old (36.7%). Malnourished was found in 53% of the patients. Malignancy, pneumonia, and chronic kidney disease were found in 8 (26.7%), 5 (16.7%), and 5 (16.7%) subjects as the major comorbidities. Twenty three cases (76.7%) were community-acquired infections while 7 cases (23.3%) were hospital-acquired infections. The average length of stay before Staphylococcus aureus infection was 9.77 (SD 10.67) days with average total length of stay was 21.97 (SD 17.53) days. Most subjects used medical devices with an average duration of use of each medical device was more than 10 days. Antibiotics that were given before infection, most of the time, were Cefepime, Amikacin, and Cefixime with an average duration of use of each antibiotic was more than 7 days. Infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus occured in two patients. Mortality rate for this study was 33%. Conclusion: The majority of our patients were adolescents with malnourished in more than 50% of cases. Malignancy, pneumonia, and chronic kidney disease as the major comorbidities in this study. Underlying medical conditions and medical devices used may be considered to be related to infection.


A literature review was conducted in order to identify various parameters underlying listening comprehension. The results of this review were used as a basis for a survey of faculty in six graduate fields as well as undergraduate English faculty. The purpose of the survey was to (a) obtain faculty perceptions of the importance to academic success of various listening skills and activities, (b) assess the degree to which both native and nonnative speakers experience difficulties with these skills or activities, and (c) determine faculty views of alternative means of evaluating these skills.

Faculty perceived some listening skills as more important than others for academic success. These included nine skills in particular that were related primarily to various aspects of lecture content (e.g., identifying major ideas and relationships among them). As might be expected, faculty perceived that nonnative students experience more difficulty than native students with all listening activities, and that nonnative students have disproportionately greater difficulty with some activities, such as following lectures given at different speeds and comprehending or deducing the meaning of important vocabulary. With respect to measuring listening comprehension, some general approaches and specific item types were judged to be more appropriate than others. These included tasks that entail answering questions involving the recall of details as well as those involving inference or deductions.

The results of the survey are used to suggest further research on the construct validity of the Listening Comprehension section of the TOEFL® test.


In this paper we describe the mechanical construction and AI-based planning techniques for the locomotion and reconfiguration of a modular self-reconfigurable robot(MSR) called ModRED (Modular Robot for Exploration and Discovery). ModRED is a highly dexterous, chain-type MSR with 4 degrees of freedom. It can maneuver in tight spaces and is suitable for autonomous locomotion over unstructured and uneven terrain such those encountered in extraterrestrial environments like the surface of the Moon or Mars, or, in environments that are difficult to navigate for humans like the inside of a volcanic crater. ModRED uses gait tables for navigating in a fixed configuration. We have developed a fuzzy logic control based approach for dynamically adapting ModRED's gait without changing its configuration, if its goal changes or if its motion is impeded by an obstacle. We also describe our research on reconfiguration planning in ModRED using a coalition game theory based technique that allows the modules to dynamically reconfigure into a new shape while reducing the time and cost expended to achieve the new configuration.


Caprolactam (CPL) is an important chemical raw material. Because even trace level contaminations in CPL can directly influence the polymerization and the resulting properties of fibers, the CPL monomer must be very pure. In this study, gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) techniques were developed to determinate the key impurities in CPL using a novel process which characterized the ultraviolet (UV) absorption rates of the samples. The GC-MS results indicated that the major impurity had a relative molecular mass of 188 and was qualitatively characterized as 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octahydrophenazine. Considering the reaction conditions and properties of the substances in the reactor, we speculated that the octahydrophenazine may have originated from a Neber rearrangement, which is a side-reaction of the Beckmann rearrangement. The impurity contains strong chromophores and severely impacted the UV absorption rate of the CPL product. Therefore, during CPL production, the concentration of octahydrophenazine must be strictly controlled.


Nodes connected to a time-triggered (TT) network can access the network interface in two different ways, synchronously or asynchronously, which greatly impacts communication timing and message lifespans (i.e., the time from writing a message to its send buffer till the time when the message is read by the receiver). In this paper we present a clear timing model to reason about the timing variation possible with TT interfaces. This model facilitates the quantitative analysis of the message lifespans of synchronous and asynchronous TT interfaces. Further, we develop a tool to search for node and network configurations that minimise or maximise message lifespans. We show that choosing the right configuration for synchronous interface access can reduce message lifespan significantly (we observed a factor of 9 even for small scenarios). While industrial practice typically is to choose a slot allocation a priory, we show that optimising the slot allocation in coordination with task scheduling gives an extra edge in obtaining minimal message lifespans. For nodes with synchronous interface access, the tool determines the parameters needed to obtain minimal message lifespan and jitter.


Summary

Organisms living in highly variable environments have to display integrated strategies to deal with both systematic and random variation occurring at different temporal and spatial scales. Two predictions were tested by analysing geographic-scale patterns of seed size and seed retention (serotiny) in Chorizanthe rigida, a strict winter desert annual that delays seed dispersal and releases propagules after rainfall events: (i) adaptation to systematic environmental cues occurs by means of changes in morphology, and (ii) within-individual variation in seed size allows a differential response to rainfall cues: while some seeds germinate rapidly others are retained for future rainfall events.
We quantified morphological variation and performed germination experiments on C. rigida propagules (involucres + achenes) from six populations distributed throughout the Mojave and Sonoran deserts covering: (i) a systematic, west-to-east, winter-to-bi-seasonal (summer and winter) precipitation gradient and (ii) a winter-rain unpredictability gradient inferred from long-term climatic data.
The propagule retention structure (i.e. base area of the pedicel) of C. rigida individuals experiencing bi-seasonal rainfall is double the size of those that have evolved under a strict winter rainfall regime, showing that populations living in bi-seasonal environments have higher seed retention, which allows them to avoid releasing seeds to a summer rainfall cue.
Within-individual variance of propagule size varied significantly between populations and was correlated with winter rainfall variability in each site.
Germination varied as a function of propagule size; smaller seeds germinated more readily than larger seeds. Increased variability in propagule size might result in a more variable germination response.
Under common experimental conditions germination varied significantly among sites and was negatively correlated with mean winter effective precipitation, suggesting that propagules from populations in drier sites have lower germination moisture thresholds.
Synthesis. C. rigida propagules have larger bases in deserts with biseasonal rainfall, which allows them to avoid seed release during summer rainfall cues, and display within-individual seed variance associated to rainfall unpredictability, a trait often interpreted as a bet-hedging strategy. Our study provides empirical evidence of an integrated strategy that allows to cope with both random and systematic rainfall variation.


The high-temperature friction and wear characteristics of different ceramics and ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) incorporated with various solid lubricants have been investigated from room temper- ature to 1000oC. The solid lubricants considered in this paper include representative precious metals, hexagonal boron nitride, graphite, fluorides, soft oxides, chromates, sulfates, and combinations of various solid lubricants. General design considerations relevant to solid lubrication were proposed on the basis of friction and wear data of self-lubricating CMCs. The self-lubricating composites incorporated with SrSO4 or/and CaSiO3 exhibits low and stable friction coefficients of 0.2 to 0.3 and small wear rates in the order of 10-6 mm3/Nm from room temperature to 800oC. The optimized composites appear to be promising can- didates for long-duration, extreme environment applications with low friction and small wear rate.


The COVID-19 pandemic has created an uncanny rift between tact and touch as it expands the virtual towards its potential. Layer upon layer of new information has been repeatedly revising and reformulating our sense of touch. The unconditional freedom of touch needs to be rendered accountable in this rift of time and space. The act of touching entails individual acknowledging the risk of reaching towards the unknown or the known. Tracing with a tactile sense of touch is to be tactful about how, where and what can such act of touching could reach, especially in the context of communicative technology. This article focuses on the possibility of virtual sensibility by challenging ways to feel touched beyond the nostalgic narratives that attempt to indict communicative technology with the loss of touch. To replenish and reinstate touch through tele-synaesthesia performance, I ask: how to elongate our somatosensensation and echo the embodied experience of touching through virtual connectivity? Tele-synaesthesia performance joints telematic and synaesthetic experience together to embody the incorporeality of touch through virtual connectivity. It embodies the injunction of physical contact and challenges what can and cannot be touched by suturing one sensuous modality to another. Inspired by Paul Sermon's artistic production of Telematic Quarantine (2020) and Pandemic Encounters (2020), that tele-presents the stories of self (isolation), I have created The Best Facial (2021): a series of one-to-one participatory tele-synaesthesia performances, where I became a virtual aesthetician and performed 'virtual facial care' on Zoom amid the second wave of the pandemic in the United Kingdom. In this article, I will discuss how tele-synaesthesia performance could trigger tactile experiences in the participants in reference to Michel Foucault's concept Heterotopia (1986) that allegorically address the incompatible physical places in the society. I discuss how to elicit an affective sensory response from non-tactile senses through virtual touch, as stated by Naomi Bennett's 'Telematic connections: sensing, feeling, being in space together' (2020). I refer to Legacy Russell's discussion on glitch (2020) to analyse the possible future of tele-synaesthesia performance and its potential for expanding virtual connectivity with an ethical touch of a non-performative refusal of the present.


The cavity-magnomechanical system is a significant platform for studying quantum information. In this paper, a scheme to realize the ground-state cooling of the mechanical phonon mode in a cavity-magnomechanical system is proposed. In the general cooling method, the system is usually driven by a strong pumping field, and the Hamiltonian of the system needs to be linearized. Different from this cooling method, in a cavity-magnomechanical tripartite interaction system, we consider the magnetic thermal noise as an incoherent drive to facilitate cooling, where the thermal magnon number can enhance the effective coupling between the photon and phonon modes. The mechanical mode can be cooled to its ground state when the magnon thermal number is increased.


Temperature-dependent currents have been observed in unpolarised samples of poly(vinyl alcohol) heated at a constant rate in short circuit. The position of the current peak in the thermal spectrum shifts with the heating rate, and its magnitude depends on the electrode material used. The activation energy of the process responsible for the current has been determined. The possible origin of the spontaneously generated current is discussed.


This work mainly concentrates on the optimization of cubic and bistable nonlinear energy sink (NES) to find the maximum efficiency point under harmonic excitation. The conservative system is considered to reveal the inner property of the damping system. With the application of the multiple scales method and the complex variables method, the threshold of excitation and different response regimes are distinguished under the assumption of 1:1 resonance. The maximum efficiency point of cubic and bistable NES occurs when strongly modulated response disappears. The factors that affect the optimal efficiency limit are explored. The result indicates that the maximum absorption efficiency level is mainly determined by the damping parameters. Compared with the cubic case, the bistable case involves more complex regimes in terms of chaos oscillation. The influence of damping parameters on the chaos threshold is discussed to adopt different energy levels. With the help of analytical predictions, the proper nonlinear stiffness is determined for certain harmonic excitation. This study offers some fundamental insights into the optimal design of cubic and bistable NES.


The industry of mezcal (Agave spp.) in Oaxaca, Mexico annually generates more than one hundred thousand tons of bagasse. With the aim of using this by-product as an alternative organic substratum, there were analyzed the physical, physicochemical and chemical properties before and after the composting of the bagasse of the A. angustifolia Haw with 0, 90 and 180 days of aging. Before the composting, all the physicochemical properties were different for the aging periods except for humidity and dry matter. During the composting process the temperature of the three materials was superior to 58oC, and after 105 days it was obtained mature compost, free of feces. The physicochemical and chemical properties of the three composts were different for the aging periods and most of them were not placed between the reference intervals, except in the C/N relation, contrary to most of the other physical properties.


This paper presents large scale extinction maps of most nearby Giant Molecular Clouds of the Galaxy (Lupus, rho-Ophiuchus, Scorpius, Coalsack, Taurus, Chamaeleon, Musca, Corona Australis, Serpens, IC 5146, Vela, Orion, Monoceros R1 and R2, Rosette, Carina) derived from a star count method using an adaptive grid and a wavelet decomposition applied to the optical data provided by the USNO-Precision Measuring Machine. The distribution of the extinction in the clouds leads to estimate their total individual masses M and their maximum of extinction. I show that the relation between the mass contained within an iso-extinction contour and the extinction is similar from cloud to cloud and allows the extrapolation of the maximum of extinction in the range 5.7 to 25.5 magnitudes. I found that about half of the mass is contained in regions where the visual extinction is smaller than 1 magnitude. The star count method used on large scale (about 250 square degrees) is a powerful and relatively straightforward method to estimate the mass of molecular complexes. A systematic study of the all sky would lead to discover new clouds as I did in the Lupus complex for which I found a sixth cloud of about 10^4 solar masses.


Background and Objectives: This survey examined how family medicine residency programs define scholarly activity, the productivity of programs, and perceived barriers to scholarly work. Five types of residency programs are compared: university-based, community-based (unaffiliated, university-affiliated, university-administered), and military. Methods: A 13 item web-based questionnaire was sent to all 455 U. S. family medicine residency programs. The survey solicited demographic information as well as program expectations of faculty, presence of a research coordinator/director, activities considered scholarly, productivity, and perceived barriers. Results: A total of 177 surveys were completed for a response rate of 38%, similar to response rates of web-based surveys in the literature. 67.6% of programs encouraged, but did not require scholarly activity, and 44.5% indicated their program had no research coordinator/ director. University-based programs had the highest levels of productivity compared to other program types. Primary barriers to scholarly activity noted were lack of time (73/138, 53%) and lack of supportive infrastructure (37/138, 27%). Conclusions: While interpretations are limited by the response rate of the survey, results provide an increased understanding of how programs define scholarly activity as well as reference points for faculty productivity. This information can help program directors when setting criteria for scholarly work.


Brassica napus and its diploid progenitors (B. rapa and B. oleracea) are suitable for studying the problems associated with polyploidization. As an important anti-stress protein, RCI2 proteins widely exist in various tissues of plants, and are crucial to plant growth, development, and stress response. In this study, the RCI2 gene family was comprehensively identified and analyzed, and 9, 9, and 24 RCI2 genes were identified in B. rapa, B. oleracea, and B. napus, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all of the identified RCI2 genes were divided into two groups, and further divided into three subgroups. Ka/Ks analysis showed that most of the identified RCI2 genes underwent a purifying selection after the duplication events. Moreover, gene structure analysis showed that the structure of RCI2 genes is largely conserved during polyploidization. The promoters of the RCI2 genes in B. napus contained more cis-acting elements, which were mainly involved in plant development and growth, plant hormone response, and stress responses. Thus, B. napus might have potential advantages in some biological aspects. In addition, the changes of RCI2 genes during polyploidization were also discussed from the aspects of gene number, gene structure, gene relative location, and gene expression, which can provide reference for future polyploidization analysis.


Vol. 158, Number 1, 2012 Meng Chen, Yuda Fang, Jaideep Mathur, and Wojtek Pawlowski. Focus Issue on Nuclear Architecture and Dynamics. The cover image caption neglected to mention that the top and bottom border images show different stages of interphase and dividing nuclei from BY2 cells and cells fromArabidopsis seedlings, respectively, expressing H2B:EosFP. The border images were provided by Jaideep Mathur.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the hypothesis that anti-obesity action of bofu-tsusho-san (TJ-62) works via activating the brown adipose tissue thermogenesis and inhibiting the phosphodiesterase activity.

DESIGN
MSG obese mice and lean controls were fed a diet including 1.4% or 4.7% TJ-62 of weight of food for 8 weeks. Another group of MSG obese mice were fed with 1-ephedrine (1-E) + d-pseudoephedrine (d-PE) of equivalent amounts as contained in TJ-62 (4.7%) for 8 weeks. Yet another group of MSG obese mice were further supplemented with Glycyrrhizae Radix (GR) extract + Forsythiae Fructus (FF) extract + Schizonepetae Spica (SS) extract (that inhibited phosphodiesterase activity) of amounts contained in TJ-62 (4.7%) for 8 weeks.

MEASUREMENTS
The following were measured: The concentration of ephedrine and its congeners in TJ-62; the inhibitory effect of TJ-62 on phosphodiesterase activity; body weight; food intake; retroperitoneal white adipose tissue (RWAT) weight; interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) weight; mitochondrial protein content in IBAT; cytochrome c oxidase activity in IBAT; guanosine-5'-diphosphate (GDP) binding in IBAT mitochondria.

RESULTS
One gram of TJ-62 contained 3.33 mg of 1-E and 0.73 mg of d-PE. One mg of TJ-62 was equivalent to 2.5 mg of caffeine in the inhibitory effect on phosphodiesterase activity. After feeding with TJ-62, GDP binding was significantly increased in a dose dependent manner. Body weight and RWAT weight decreased in both MSG obese mice and lean controls. Food intake was not changed by TJ-62. Feeding with 1-E + d-PE produced responses of about 70% of those of TJ-62. These responses were, furthermore, enhanced by the addition of the three extracts to the levels that were similar to those produced by TJ-62.

CONCLUSION
Bofu-tsusho-san (TJ-62) works via activating the BAT thermogenesis and inhibiting the phosphodiesterase activity in mice.


Algebraic reconstruction techniques (ART) is a family of practical algorithms which sets algebraic equations for the unknowns in terms of the measured data and solves these equations iteratively. It is typical that the system of linear equations obtained in Diffuse Optical Tomography (DOT) is underdetermined and/or ill-conditioned. ART is one of the most popular image reconstruction techniques used in DOT to solve this kind of system of linear equations. There is, however, no natural way of including a priori information about the image in ART algorithm. Moreover ART requires a large number of iterations to reconstruct the image and hence convergence to the solution is slow. In this paper, for the inverse problem in DOT, we apply a Recursive Least Squares Algorithm (IUS) that converges in only one iteration and enables the use of a priori information such as image smoothness.We present comparison between the images reconstructed by ART and IUS.


We examine the single-atom entropy squeezing and the atom–field entanglement in a system of two moving two-level atoms interacting with a single-mode coherent field in a lossless resonant cavity. Our numerical calculations indicate that the squeezing period, the squeezing time and the maximal squeezing can be controlled by appropriately choosing the atomic motion and the field-mode structure. The atomic motion leads to a periodical time evolution of entanglement between the two-atom and the field. Moreover, there exists corresponding relation between the time evolution properties of the atomic entropy squeezing and that of the entanglement between the two atoms and the field.


Magnetic reconnection is ubiquitous in astrophysical systems, and in many such systems the plasma suffers from significant cooling due to synchrotron radiation. We study relativistic magnetic reconnection in the presence of strong synchrotron cooling, where the ambient magnetization, σ, is high and the magnetic compactness, ℓ B , of the system is of order unity. In this regime, e± pair production from synchrotron photons is inevitable, and this process can regulate the magnetization σ surrounding the current sheet. We investigate this self-regulation analytically and find a self-consistent steady state for a given magnetic compactness of the system and initial magnetization. This result helps estimate the self-consistent upstream magnetization in systems where plasma density is poorly constrained, and can be useful for a variety of astrophysical systems. As illustrative examples, we apply it to study the properties of reconnecting current sheets near the supermassive black hole of M87, as well as the equatorial current sheet outside the light cylinder of the Crab pulsar.


Neomycin is one of the aminoglycoside antibiotics, and on the cellular level it inhibits phospholipase C. The effects of neomycin on the acetylcholine (ACh)-induced current (I(ACh)) were studied in pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells by using the whole-cell clamp technique. The I(ACh) on PC12 cells proved to be generated through activation of the neuronal nicotinic receptor. ACh (30 micromol/L) induced an inward current at a holding potential of -80 mV. When the cells were applied with neomycin (0.01~1 mmol/L) and ACh (30 micromol/L) simultaneously, an inhibitory effect of neomycin on the peak of I(ACh) was observed. This effect was fast, reversible and concentration-dependent. Pretreatment with neomycin for 3~8 min had no influence on its inhibitory effect. Activation of protein kinase C by using an exogenous activator exerted an inhibitory action on I(ACh). However, intracellular dialysis with a PKC inhibitor (PKCI 19-31, 0.1~5 micromol/L) did not affect the inhibitory effect of neomycin. The results obtained suggest that neomycin exerts an inhibitory effect on I(ACh) without involvement of the blockage of phospholipase C.


This paper considers solving the unconstrained $\ell_q$-norm ($0\leq q<1$) regularized least squares ($\ell_q$-LS) problem for recovering sparse signals in compressive sensing. We propose two highly efficient first-order algorithms via incorporating the proximity operator for nonconvex $\ell_q$-norm functions into the fast iterative shrinkage/thresholding (FISTA) and the alternative direction method of multipliers (ADMM) frameworks, respectively. Furthermore, in solving the nonconvex $\ell_q$-LS problem, a sequential minimization strategy is adopted in the new algorithms to gain better global convergence performance. Unlike most existing $\ell_q$-minimization algorithms, the new algorithms solve the $\ell_q$-minimization problem without smoothing (approximating) the $\ell_q$-norm. Meanwhile, the new algorithms scale well for large-scale problems, as often encountered in image processing. We show that the proposed algorithms are the fastest methods in solving the nonconvex $\ell_q$-minimization problem, while offering competent performance in recovering sparse signals and compressible images compared with several state-of-the-art algorithms.


Most antibiotics are metabolized incompletely by patients after administration and enter the municipal sewage with the patients' excretion. Therefore, studies on the biodegradability of some clinically important drugs can be taken as a very first step of an environmental risk assessment. The present study reports the biodegradation of CIP by Lactobacillus gesseri, Enterobacter sp., Bacillus sp., Bacillus subtilius and Micrococcus luteus which were isolated as CIP resistance, non pathogenic bacteria. The presence of antibioticresistant bacteria was identified using the 16s rRNA sequencing. A 0.5ml of overnight starved bacterial suspensions was introduced into medium containing CIP at 5 ppm. Triplicate samples were incubated at 28 0 C with shaking at 100ppm. A 0.5 ml of subsamples was removed at 2 days interval for a period of 14 days. Samples were subjected to High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses were carried out for each sample at the end of the 14 days to find structures of by-products. Complete degradation of CIP by L. gasserri was detected at the end of 14 days of incubation with average degradation rate of 0.182 ±0.15μg /day. Descending degradation rates were followed by Enterobacter sp. (0.75 ±0.03 d -1 ) and Bacillus sp. (0.41±0.02d -1 ) at 8 and 6 days respectively. However, clear cut degradation of CIP was not detected for B.subtilis and Micrococcus luteus respectively. Further, FTIR spectrum revealed that incubation of L. gesseri, Enterobacter sp. and Bacillus sp., changed the piperazine ring and quinolone part in the CIP structure while degradation occurred. Keywords— Ciprofloxacin, Degradation, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Lactobacillus gesseri.


The persistence of color response after fertilizer treatments is a key indicator of turfgrass performance. Tropical carpetgrass (Axonopus compressus (Swartz) Beauv.) is widely used throughout subtropical area, was selected as the subject of this study. Five nitrogen (N) treatments applied monthlyat the application rate of both 7.5 and 15.0 g N/m2 as ammonium nitrate (AN), 2.5 and 7.5 g N/m2 as a 14-6.2-11.6 (NPK) slow release fertilizer (SRF), and 7.5 g N/m2 as AN+2.5 g N/m2 as SRF. The trial was performed twice in the greenhouse over 9 week period in two growing seasons. Leaf chlorophyll content, N content, leaf area, plant biomass, and the growth characteristics were measured. Results indicated that the first leaf, third leaf, and third/first leaf ratios of chlorophyll meter readings (CMR) increased with N treatments to the control. Linear regressions indicated that dry weight-based (Ndw) or leaf area-based N (Na) concentrations were highly correlated with CMR during both growing seasons. However, CMR correlated better with Ndw better than with Na. According to the regressions of leaf N and total dry weight, the critical range of N could be 2.6 to 3.1%. If based on the regressions of leaf N and CMR 3/1, the range of N could be 2.7 to 3.0%. Both ranges are very close. Therefore, CMR3/1 could be a criterion to measuring the N status in tropical carpet grass. This investigation showed that CMR offer an alternative to tissue testing for N status and can be used to identify fertilizer N recommendations.

 Key words: Carpetgrass, chlorophyll meter readings, N content, dry weight, leaf area.


Despite the uncertainty and controversy it has generated, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has sown the seeds for a major reorganization of the U.S. health care delivery system. In almost every region of the country, hospitals and physicians are forming (or talking about forming) accountable care organizations (ACOs) and entering into other arrangements designed to integrate care, manage chronic conditions, and enable evidence-based practices. Critical to the achievement of these ends are the regulations and guidance soon to be issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). One of the . . .


This study examined the effect of an aldose reductase inhibitor (Sorbinil, CP 45634,Pfizer, Sandwich, Kent, United Kingdom) on the metabolite profile of the lens during the first week after induction of diabetes with alloxan. The lens content of sorbitol, fructose, glycerol 3-phosphate, and glucose 6-phosphate was, respectively, 0.33 ± 0.03, 0.55 ± 0.05, 0.10± 0.01, and 0.074 ± 0.006 μmol/g (means ± SEM) in the control group rising to 12.2 ± 0.52, 3.20 ± 0.10, 0.76 ± 0.10, and 0.200 ± 0.009 in lenses from alloxan-diabetic rats. Sorbinil treatment (40 mg/kg) decreased the lens content of sorbitol to 0.60 ± 0.06, fructose to 0.85 ± 0.08, and glycerol 3-phosphate to 0.36 ± 0.03 μmol/g; glucose 6-phosphate remained unchanged. Significantly, the lens content of glutathione was decreased to 60% of the normal value in the diabetic group, but was sustained at normal levels with Sorbinil treatment. The ATP content of the lens was not altered by diabetes or Sorbinil treatment at this time interval. Sorbinil has no significant effect on the above metabolites in the normal rat lens. The effect of Sorbinil in restoring normal levels of glutathione and glycerol 3-phosphate may be a potentially important facet of the action of this drug. The interlocking of metabolic pathways by the redox state of NAD+ /NADH and NADP+/NADPH, their derangement in diabetes, and the wider effects of Sorbinil on the network of reactions in the lens are discussed.


In the context of localization over ad-hoc wireless networks, the effect of non-line-of-sight (NLoS) presents a severe performance bottleneck that causes outages in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the returns and significantly increases the location estimates' error-floor. The non-Gaussianity and the scenario-dependent distributions/statistics of the additive noise-process caused by the NLoS returns make the naive ML-based solutions sub-optimal. In this regard, information-potential (IP) based localization algorithms have recently been found viable, especially in the presence of arbitrary additive noise-processes. This letter presents analytical insights on the error-bounds of two IP based algorithms in a cooperative-localization context, namely, maximum correntropy (MCC) and the minimum error entropy with fiducial points (MEE-FP). The presented analytical results for the considered IP based approaches are validated using relevant computer-simulations assuming typical point-processes.


The scientific approach to cultural heritage is a continuously expanding research field. Art and science have become a nice combination. Scientific themes appear in art, among these, photochemistry takes up a prominent position. Articles published in this field during the last two decades are very numerous and spread over a wide and differentiated kind of journals.This review is not intended to be exhaustive, and even it could not be exhaustive, but aims to give a view of the potential of photochemical and photophysical sciences in the knowledge of cultural heritage objects and in discovering the chemical nature of their constituting materials. To avoid a barren list of authors, titles and achievements, the review has been addressed to some selected and meaningful examples which are described in some detail. They refer to figurative arts, including paintings, tapestries and parchments. Among the large number of their components, attention is focused on polychromatic materials. Two main aspects are concerned: (1) the recognition of artwork components from their photophysical properties and (2) the study of the photochemical impact of light on artworks. For each of these lines, results from laboratory studies and in-situ investigations on real artworks are reported. Particular emphasis is given to the use of portable instrumentation which allows a non-invasive in-situ approach to works of art.


Genetic distance, geographic proximity, and economic variables are strongly correlated. Disentangling the effects of these factors is crucial for interpreting these correlations. We show that geographic factors that shaped genetic patterns in the past are also relevant for current transportation costs and could explain the correlation between trading flows and genetic distance. After controlling for geography, the impact of genetic distance on trade disappears. We make our point by constructing a database on geographical barriers, by introducing a novel dataset on transportation costs, and by proposing a new classification of goods according to the ease with which they can be transported.


Survivin, a member of the inhibitors of the apoptosis protein family, is involved in critical pathways of cancer cell growth and survival. Survivin overexpression is detected in 90% of epithelial ovarian cancers. DPX-Survivac is a peptide vaccine containing five survivin HLA class I peptides (A1, A2, A3, A24 and B7) and a universal HLA class II helper peptide derived from tetanus toxin (A16L) formulated in the novel adjuvanting vaccine platform DepoVaxTM. In a phase I clinical study DPX-Survivac was combined with a continuous (metronomic) low dose of cyclophosphamide (mCPA) to treat patients with advanced or recurrent ovarian cancer. In this study, we found mCPA significantly enhanced the immune responses induced by DPX-Survivac. In order to investigate this effect and to understand the mechanisms involved, we developed an ovarian tumor model in HLA-A2 transgenic mice. Vaccination of HLA-A2 transgenic mice generates an immune response towards the A2-restricted survivin peptide in DPX-Survivac. Mouse Ovarian Surface Epithelial (MOSE) cell lines are "natural" ovarian cancer models established by spontaneous in vitro transformation of primary ovarian surface epithelial cells. MOSE cell lines were confirmed to express HLA-A2 and overexpress survivin, and formed subcutaneous and intraperitoneal ovarian tumors when implanted into syngeneic recipients. HLA-A2 transgenic mice bearing MOSE tumors were treated with either DPX-Survivac, mCPA (administrated at 20 mg/kg/day in drinking water) or a combination of mCPA and DPX-Survivac. We found that combining DPX-Survivac with mCPA provided most effective control of tumor growth. Ex vivo IFN-γ ELISPOT revealed that mCPA increases immunogenicity of the DPX-Survivac in mice bearing MOSE tumors. Analysis of the blood and tumor microenvironment by RT-qPCR showed that mice treated with the combination therapy had an altered immune gene signature with increased cytotoxic T lymphocyte markers compared to mice treated with DPX-Survivac or metronomic cyclophosphamide alone. Our data indicates that the combination treatment enhances the infiltration of CD8+ T cells into tumors, enhancing tumor specific immune responses. In summary, we have established a new model of epithelial ovarian cancer in HLA-A2 transgenic mice. This model was used to investigate the immunogenicity and efficacy of DPX-Survivac, an HLA-restricted peptide vaccine with proven immunogenicity in human clinical trials, in combination with the immune modulator mCPA. This model can be used to explore mechanisms of establishment and progression of ovarian cancer as well as for evaluation of new treatment strategies including new immune modulator/ vaccine combinations. Citation Format: Olga Hrytsenko, Genevieve M. Weir, Mohan Karkada, Neil L. Berinstein, Marianne M. Stanford, Marc Mansour. Translational study of DPX-survivac peptide vaccine and metronomic cyclophosphamide using a novel HLA-A2/ survivin expressing ovarian tumor model to mimic phase I clinical data [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 10th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium; Sep 8-9, 2014; Seattle, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2015;21(16 Suppl):Abstract nr POSTER-THER-1415.


Despite the growing research interest in Internet auctions, particularly those on eBay, little is known about quantifiable consumer surplus levels in such mechanisms. Using an ongoing novel field experiment that involves real bidders participating in real auctions, and voting with real dollars, we collect and examine a unique data set to estimate consumer surplus in eBay auctions. The estimation procedure relies mainly on knowing the highest bid, which is not disclosed by eBay but is available to us from our experiment. At the outset we assume a private value second-price sealed-bid auction setting, as well as a lack of alternative buying options within or outside eBay. Our analysis, based on a sample of 4,514 eBay auctions, indicates that consumers extract a median surplus of at least $4 per eBay auction. This estimate is unbiased under the above assumptions; otherwise it is a lower bound. The surplus distribution is highly skewed given the diverse nature of the data. We find that eBay's auctions generated at least $7.05 billion in total consumer surplus in 2003 and could generate up to $7.68 billion if the private value sealed-bid assumption does not hold. We check for the validity of our assumptions and the robustness of our estimates using an additional data set from 2005 and a randomly sampled validation data set from eBay.


Cytokines modulate general and virus infection-related host immune responses. We have investigated cytokine responses in chronic renal disease patients with regard to haemodialysis and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Compared with healthy subjects with normal renal function (n=15), non-dialyzed/renal disease individuals without HCV infection (n=11) showed increased production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL-)6, IL-10, interferon (IFN-)gamma and IL-12 by blood mononuclear cells (P<0.05). These inflammatory cytokine responses were abolished in haemodialysis patients (n=37;P<0.05), except for IL-12. This hyporesponsiveness in haemodialysis patients was more evident in stimulatory conditions, as shown by the consistent inhibition of IFN-gamma production, and the failure of exogenous IFN-gamma to prime for IL-12 inducibility (P<0.01). The disturbed cytokine response appeared to focus in the T-helper lymphocyte phenotype 1 (Th(1)) because the stimulation of IL-6 and IL-10 (Th(2)phenotype cytokines) was not impaired. The pattern of response was similar among haemodialysis patients with (n=24) or without (n=13) HCV infection. However, HCV-positive haemodialysis patients had a blunted TNF-alpha response (P<0.05) and failed to increase the stimulated IFN-gamma and IL-12 production (P<0.01) compared with chronic hepatitis C patients without renal disease (n=25). On the contrary, IL-10 stimulation was higher in HCV-positive haemodialysis patients (P<0.01). These results disclose the presence in haemodialysis patients of markedly abnormal general and HCV infection-related cytokine responses; the inhibitory alterations appear to affect predominantly the stimulated responses via the Th(1)subset and its relationship with monocyte response with possible pathogenic and therapeutic implications.


Objective: CG200745 is a novel inhibitor of histone deacetylases (HDACs) initially developed for treatment of pancreatic cancer. Since it is water-soluble, it can be administered by mouth. We hypothesized that the HDAC inhibitor CG200745 attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in deoxycorticosteron acetate (DOCA)-induced hypertensive rats. Design and method: For establishment of hypertension, 40 mg/kg of DOCA was subcutaneously injected four times weekly into Sprague-Dawley rats. All the rats used in this study including sham group had been uninephrectomizd and allowed to free access to drinking water containing 1% NaCl. Systolic blood pressure was measured by tail-cuff method. Blood chemistry such as sodium, potassium, glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol were analyzed. Sections of heart were visualized after trichrome stain as well as hematoxylin and eosin stain. The expression of not only hypertrophic genes such as Nppa and Nppb, but also fibrotic genes such as collagen-1, -3, ctgf, and fibronectin was measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: Injection of DOCA increased systolic blood pressure, heart weight and cardiac fibrosis, which was attenuated by CG200745. Neither DOCA nor CG200745 affected body weight, vascular contraction and relaxation responses, and blood chemistry. Injection of DOCA increased expression of both hypertrophic genes and fibrotic genes, which was abrogated by CG200745. Conclusions: These results indicate that CG200745 attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in DOCA-induced hypertensive rats.


In this study, a new accuracy measure is introduced to solve an important practical problem in assessing the forecast accuracy: different predictions' accuracy measures indicate different forecasts as the most accurate. The proposed accuracy measure, called the S indicator, is based on three dimensions of the forecasts accuracy: the summary statistics that take into account the size error, which were aggregated using the S1 indicator, the accuracy measures used in forecasts comparisons that are summarized using the S2 indicator and the directional and sign accuracy based on the S3 measure. For the Spanish inflation, the real GDP rate and the unemployment rate a comparative analysis of accuracy was made for predictions provided over the recent crisis period (2008-2013) by Bank of Spain, European Commission (EC), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and International Monetary Fund (IMF). Own inflation rate and real GDP rate predictions based on a moving average model, and a auto-regressive moving average model, respectively, outperformed the experts' anticipations.


The history of esophagectomy reflects a journey of dedication, collaboration, and technical innovation, with ongoing endeavors aimed at optimizing outcomes and reducing complications. From its early attempts to modern minimally invasive approaches, the journey has been marked by perseverance and innovation. Franz J. A. Torek's 1913 successful esophageal resection marked a milestone, demonstrating the feasibility of transthoracic esophagectomy and the potential for esophageal cancer cure. However, its high mortality rate posed challenges, and it took almost two decades for similar successes to emerge. Surgical techniques evolved with the left thoracotomy, right thoracotomy, and transhiatal approaches, expanding the indications for resection. Mechanical staplers introduced in the early 20th century transformed anastomosis, reducing complications. The advent of minimally invasive techniques in the 1990s aimed to minimize complications while maintaining oncological efficacy. Robot-assisted esophagectomy further pushed the boundaries of minimally invasive surgery. Collaborative efforts, particularly from the Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration and the Esophageal Complications Consensus Group, standardized reporting and advanced the understanding of outcomes. The introduction of risk prediction models aids in making informed decisions. Despite significant improvements in survival rates and postoperative mortality, anastomotic leaks remain a concern, with recent rates showing an increase. Prevention strategies include microvascular anastomosis and ischemic preconditioning, yet challenges persist.


The sliding filament theory of contraction that was developed for striated muscle is generally believed to be also applicable to smooth muscle. However, the well-organized myofilament lattice (i.e., the sarcomeric structure) found in striated muscle has never been clearly delineated in smooth muscle. There is evidence that the myofilament lattice in some smooth muscles, such as airway smooth muscle, is malleable; it can be reshaped to fit a large range of cell dimensions while the maximal overlap between the contractile filaments is maintained. In this review, some early models of the structurally static contractile apparatus of smooth muscle are described. The focus of the review, however, is on the recent findings supporting a model of structurally dynamic contractile apparatus and cytoskeleton for airway smooth muscle. A list of unanswered questions regarding smooth muscle ultrastructure is also proposed in this review, in the hope that it will provide some guidance for future research.


Omega-3 (also called n-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (≥C20; LC-PUFAs) are of considerable interest, based on clear evidence of dietary health benefits and the concurrent decline of global sources (fish oils). Generating alternative transgenic plant sources of omega-3 LC-PUFAs, i.e. eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n-3, EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3, DHA) has previously proved problematic. Here we describe a set of heterologous genes capable of efficiently directing synthesis of these fatty acids in the seed oil of the crop Camelina sativa, while simultaneously avoiding accumulation of undesirable intermediate fatty acids. We describe two iterations: RRes_EPA in which seeds contain EPA levels of up to 31% (mean 24%), and RRes_DHA, in which seeds accumulate up to 12% EPA and 14% DHA (mean 11% EPA and 8% DHA). These omega-3 LC-PUFA levels are equivalent to those in fish oils, and represent a sustainable, terrestrial source of these fatty acids. We also describe the distribution of these non-native fatty acids within C. sativa seed lipids, and consider these data in the context of our current understanding of acyl exchange during seed oil synthesis.


Kinetic studies of the thermal inactivation of test crop spores are necessary to develop optimal heat treatment regimes for fruit juices. The purpose of the work is to study the dynamics of changes in the thermal stability parameters DT and z depending on changes in the soluble solids content in canned fruit products using the example of certain types of apple juice products with a pH of 3.80. The regularity of thermal inactivation of ascospores of the mesophilic mold Aspergillus fischeri in concentrated apple juice (JAC) with a soluble dry matter (RSV) content of 70%, in restored apple juice with RSV – 11.2%, and in restored apple juice with pulp with RSV – 16% was studied. The parameters of thermal stability were determined by the capillary method at temperatures of 80, 85, 90, and 95 °C. It was experimentally established that the heat resistance of A. fischeri spores in clarified apple juice was DT 95 °С = 0.16 min, and the parameter value z = 6.76 °C, in apple juice with pulp parameters: DT 95 °C = 0.24 min, z – 7.12 °C, in YaKS – DT 95 °C = 0.39 min, and z – 7.8 °C. The dynamics of thermal stability parameters D and z of A. fischeri mold fungus spores (test cultures) versus RSV concentration of juice products was established. The research results showed that with an increase in the concentration of RSV, the thermal stability of spores increases exponentially. The rate of increase in thermal stability decreases with increasing concentration of RSV. Since the concentration of RSV affects the rheological properties of the product (viscosity), this leads to a change in the kinetics of heating in products with convection heat transfer. Therefore, an increase in the concentration of RSV should inevitably lead not only to an increase in the thermal stability of spores of microorganisms, but also to a shift in the region of optimal modes of heat treatment of products toward an increase in the thermal load to ensure regulatory requirements for microbiological safety.


【Purpose: This phenomenological study is aimed at illuminating the lived experiences of newly-qualified nurses who working in general hospitals in C province. Method: The data was collected through unstructured, in-depth interviews with 10 new nurses from April to June 2001, and analysed by Colazzi' methodology. Results: Thematic content analysis identified 6 central themes in this experience-difficulties m making interpersonal relationship, negative feelings, fatigue and unskilled work performance, self-reflection, a sense of accomplishment, identity formation as a nurse. Also, this themes were constructed into 6 constructs explaining new nurses' experience. The results may contribute to a better understanding of what new nurses experienced and how their negative conflicts could be managed. Conclusion: New nurses need to get more education and supportive empowerment regarding diverse conflicts during training period. Educational programs like a preceptorship or individual counselling should be developed and adopted to all clinical settings.】


A mutant of Bacillus subtilis, dna-1, which cannot initiate new rounds of DNA replication (obtained from N. Sueoka) was lysogenized with wild-type φ 105 and with the heat-inducible mutant φ 105 cts23. Bacteria were incubated at the permissive temperature in the presence of chloramphenicol and then shifted to the nonpermissive temperature where induction of φ 105 cts23 occurs. DNA made after the shift was labeled with a density label, and the distribution of bacterial and phage markers in replicated and unreplicated DNA was determined. Similar experiments were performed with nonlysogenic dna-1 infected with phage φ 105 cts23 after the temperature shift. The results show that after induction of φ 105 cts23 prophage, bacterial markers on either side of the prophage replicate at an increased rate compared to more distant markers. No selective stimulation of bacterial DNA synthesis was observed on infection or after shifting bacteria lysogenic for noninducible phage to the higher temperature. Attempts to suppress the initiation mutation dna-1 by phage φ 105 were unsuccessful.


Background: IMTs are extremely rare in eyes. This is the first report of a IMT of the ciliary body.Case presentation: A ciliary body tumor was found under slit lamp biomicroscopy in a 55-year-old male first diagnosed with cataract. Then this patient underwent trans-sclera resection via partial lamellar sclerouvectomy and par plans vitrectomy to remove the mass. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry findings showed that the characteristics of the tumor were consistent with inflammatory myofibroblastoma tumor (IMT).Conclusions: we reported a rare case of intraocular IMT, which is confirmed by H&E staining, and IHC positive staining for Vimentin, Desmin and ALK, while negative staining for SMA, S-100, ki-67, CK, CD68, and calponin.


This paper explores the potential competitive advantages from the development of an internal network of subsidiaries and external network of alliances. Given the broad scope and lack of systematic investigation in prior research, clinical field research was conducted in eleven Japanese subsidiaries in China. Our in‐depth interviews revealed that there are benefits and costs associated with the development of both subsidiary networks and alliance networks. While there are exploitation and exploration benefits from subsidiary network development, internationalizing firms (especially smaller firms) are subject to the liability of foreignness. Alliance network development is an effective way to mitigate this liability if internationalizing firms choose the right alliance strategy.


Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and quantitative PCR (qPCR) were used to detect low-level Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus infection in citrus trees, and their results were compared. Sample DNA was prepared from the developing shoots of Citrus depressa and Citrus tankan that were spontaneously infected with Ca. L. asiaticus. The concentrations of the homologous region of the tufB gene of Ca. L. asiaticus were estimated by qPCR analysis using serially diluted plasmid DNA containing the tufB gene region as a calibration standard. All DNA samples from which the specific amplification product was detected by PCR also gave positive results in the LAMP analysis, and qPCR gave positive results for all samples that were positive in the LAMP analysis. Therefore, we concluded that qPCR is the most sensitive method for detecting low-level Ca. L. asiaticus infection.


Gate depletion and boron penetration through thin gate oxide place directly opposing requirements on the gate engi- neering for advanced MOSFET's. In this paper, several impor- tant issues of deep-submicron CMOS transistor gate engineering are discussed. First, the impact of gate nitrogen implantation on the performance and reliability of deep-submicron CMOSFET's is investigated. The suppression of boron penetration is confirmed by the SIMS profiles, and is attributed mainly to the diffusion retardation effect in bulk polysilicon by the presence of nitrogen. The MOSFET characteristics, MOS capacitor quasi-static curves, SIMS profiles, gate sheet resistance, and oxide are compared for different nitrogen implant conditions. A nitrogen dose of cm is found to be the optimum choice at an implant energy of 40 KeV in terms of the overall electrical behavior of CMOSFET's. Under optimum design, gate nitrogen implantation is found to be effective in eliminating boron penetration without degrading performance of either p gate p-MOSFET and n gate n-MOSFET. Secondly, the impact of gate microstructure on the performance of deep-submicron CMOSFET's is discussed by comparing poly and amorphous silicon gate deposition technologies. Thirdly, poly-Si Ge is presented as a superior alternative gate material. Higher dopant activation efficiently results in higher active dopant concentra- tion near the gate/SiO interface without increasing the gross dopant concentration. This plus the lower annealing temperature suppress the dopant penetration. Phosphorus-implanted poly- Si Ge gate is compared with polysilicon gate in this study.


Through analyzing the soil organic matters (N, P, K) of farmland cultivated with different years of Panax ginseng, this paper studied the changes in soil nutrients of farmland with different vertical depths and cultivation years of P. ginseng. Results indicated that the vertical structure was obvious in soil nutrients of farmland with different cultivation years of P. ginseng; in most cases, the soil nutrient content gradually declined with the fibrous roots of P. ginseng spreading downward; the soil electrical conductivity (EC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), available nitrogen, available phosphorus were manifested as surface layer > root layer > bottom layer, while the available potassium was manifested as surface soil and bottom layer > root layer; the soil pH changed in the range of 5.69-6.22, suitable for growth of P. ginseng. It is expected to provide theoretical basis for improvement of soil nutrients of farmland with cultivation of P. ginseng.


In 81 anesthetized rabbits, the baroreflex control of heart rate (HR), hind-limb vascular resistance (HVR) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) was observed during arterial baroreceptor loading and unloading by intravenously injecting phenylephrine (PE) and nitroprusside (NP). The results were as follows: (1) An increase of arterial pressure with PE caused reduction in HR, HVR and RSNA, while a decrease of arterial pressure with NP evoked opposite responses. These reflex responses were reproducible. (2) By either carotid baroreceptor denervation (CBRX) or aortic baroreceptor denervation (ABRX), the reflex changes of HR induced by injecting PE and NP were impaired (P less than 0.01), while the reflex responses in HVP remained unchanged. Despite of the enhanced basal RSNA following ABRX or CBRX, the magnitude of reflex inhibition in RSNA during injecting NP was similar to that before denervation, whereas that of the reflex excitation in RSNA during injecting NP was reduced (P less than 0.05). (3) After complete sino-aortic denervation (SAD), the change of arterial pressure following PE or NP injection was enhanced, but the reflex changes in HR, HVR and RSNA were significantly diminished (P less than 0.001). (4) Vagotomy abolished the residual reflex changes observed after SAD. The results indicate that the aortic and carotid baroreceptors may regulate HR in a simple additive manner, while the aortic baroreceptor seems to be more important. Furthermore, both the aortic and carotid baroreceptors may play important roles for the reflex control of HVR and RSNA, and operate mutually by the way of inhibitory summation.


'In this paper a low phase-noise frequency multiplier chain from lOMHz to 480MHz, built in two stages and intended for use as a base for the synthesis of   frequencies upto the far infrared (FIR) region, is presented. Different methods of frequency multiplication were used and the associated circuit diagrams given. To investigate the performance of the chain, its spectral purity was measured. Measurements were made both in frequency and time domin and a set of graphs have been given. It has been verified that this chain is very stable and that it can be used for frequency synthesis upto 300GHz.


We analyze a limited liability credit market where the borrowers need to borrow to implement their chosen projects with uncertain outcome. We allow borrowers to invest in resolution of the uncertainty in the project outcome before implementing the project. Our paper provides a complete characterization of the borrowers' decision on investment in information for uncertainty resolution and project implementation. We show that the borrowers have more incentive to invest in information at higher rates of interest. If the cost of information goes down a borrower's incentive to collect information increases. We also show that even a socially motivated lender may decide to charge a relatively high rate of interest and make positive profit under specific parameter values. Although a higher rate of interest induces the borrowers to choose relatively riskier projects.


Three studies examined the relationship between self-esteem and responses to periodic decline in close relationships. A four-category typology of responses to dissatisfaction was utilized: exit — actively destroying the relationship; voice — actively and constructively attempting to improve conditions; loyalty — passively but optimistically waiting for conditions to improve; and neglect — passively allowing the relationship to deteriorate. It was hypothesized that individuals with stronger self-esteem would attempt to solve problems in a more active fashion — with exit and voice — whereas those with weaker self-esteem would react to problems in their relationships in a more passive manner — with loyalty and neglect. The relationship between self-esteem and generalized problem-solving styles was explored among university students in study 1, and among adults residing in the local community in study 2. Study 3 explored the relationship between self-esteem and actual problem-solving behaviour in the relationships of lesbians, gay males and heterosexual women and men. Consistent with predictions, a meta-analysis of the results of the three studies revealed that individuals with stronger self-esteem were more likely to engage in active exit behaviours and were less likely to react with passive neglect. However, self-esteem was only weakly promotive of loyalty and was unrelated to voice behaviours. Thus, self-esteem is an effective predictor of negative problem-solving behaviours in close relationships.


The hepatoprotective activities of Cestrum nocturnum (Queen of Night) was evaluated against the paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in the mice. Aqueous ethanol (30:70) extract of plant was obtained by maceration. Results showed that aqueous ethanol extract of C. nocturnum (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) produced significant (p<0.05) hepatoprotective activities against paracetamol induced liver injury in Swiss albino mice. Histopathalogical studied of liver further supported the hepatoprotective effects of C. notrunum . Phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenes, phenolic compounds, carbohydrates and volatile oils. Most of the flavonoids have hepatoprotective activity. Therefore, the hepatoprotective activity of C. nocturnum may be due to the presence of flavonoids and phenolic components. It was concluded from the present study that aqueous ethanol extract of leaves of C. nocturnum has hepatoprotective activity against the paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in albino mice.


The Latin source glosses in Cambridge, St. John's College MS L. i (J) and Cambridge, University Library MS Gg. 4. 27 (Gg)—two fifteenth-century manuscripts of Troilus and Criseyde—are, despite their probable Chaucerian origin, infrequently discussed by scholars of Chaucer's works, and still less frequently thought to hold interpretive significance. Yet, these glosses, like their counterparts in the Canterbury Tales, demonstrate a complex hermeneutic of ambiguity that promotes multiple, at times competing, interpretations of the English verse. This article traces the links between the Troilus and Canterbury Tales glosses, charting the evolution of this Chaucerian marginal hermeneutic. It reads the glosses in J and Gg as an experimental early step toward the more elaborate marginal apparatus in the Canterbury Tales, one that demonstrates the same potential for richly intertextual interpretive ambiguity.


A multipath nested structure which overcomes the bandwidth reduction in the conventional nested structure by appending an independent feedforward path for high frequencies is presented. At low frequencies, the opamp behaves as a three-stage nested Miller-compensated amplifier, while at high frequencies the opamp has the nature and bandwidth of a two-stage amplifier with simple pole splitting. In this fashion, the concept circumvents the classical DC-gain/high-frequency-performance dilemma. No pole-zero doubles occur, because the two regions of operation can be independently and closely matched, unaffected by variations in the parameters of the IC process in which the amplifier is fabricated. >


The ι-malic excretion pattern was studied in the dog using the "stop flow" method. During ι-malic and fumaric infusions, a net reabsorption of ι-malic acid was seen only in the proximal tubule. This reabsorption occurred against a massive concentration gradient and, therefore, was justifiably termed active reabsorption. Infusion of succinate produced a net secretion of ι-malic. This was also confined to the proximal tubule. The secretion, however, occurred in the direction of the concentration gradient and, therefore, was probably a diffusion phenomenon. The secretion could be inhibited by malonate. It was concluded that the renal transports of ι-malic acid are intimately related to the operation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle.


—Deep supervised learning algorithms generally require large numbers of labeled examples to attain satisfactory performance. To avoid the expensive cost incurred by collecting and labeling too many examples, as a subset of unsupervised learning, self-supervised learning (SSL) was proposed to learn good features from many unlabeled examples without any human-annotated labels. SSL has recently become a hot research topic, and many related algorithms have been proposed. However, few comprehensive studies have explained the connections among different SSL variants and how they have evolved. In this paper, we attempt to provide a review of the various SSL methods from the perspectives of algorithms, theory, applications, three main trends, and open questions. First, the motivations of most SSL algorithms are introduced in detail, and their commonalities and differences are compared. Second, the theoretical issues associated with SSL are investigated. Third, typical applications of SSL in areas such as image processing and computer vision (CV), as well as natural language processing (NLP), are discussed. Finally, the three main trends of SSL and the open research questions are discussed. A collection of useful materials is available at https://github.com/guijiejie/SSL.


This thesis analyzes Han Kang's short novel The Vegetarian with a feminist, literary and medical discourse. As I discuss the element of corporeality of metamorphosis in the novel I determine that not only are almost-transformations in the novel are "failed metamorphosis" but also they are thematic charges of Ovidian executions. By doing a comparative reading of Herman Melville's "Bartleby: the Scrivener" I establish similar narrators and narrations to expand my observation of what makes Yeong-hye, the main character, extremely unique among narratives of anorexia. Discussing various feminist and medical approaches to anorexia, specifically to anorexia nervosa, I conclude that these do not completely fit Yeong-hye. I employ Rudolph Bell's Holy Anorexia to read Yeonghye as a saint figure as I compare her to one of the saints Bell introduces, Catherine of Siena. In this thesis I suggest that Yeong-hye's unique anorexia makes her a saint figure because of her obsession with innocence and the post-human way of achieving it by admiring Kang's way of story-making.


This is the relation of a geological tour in the Alps led by the author, in which three young Edinburgh geologists took part. Their goal was to see, on the spot, evidences of thrusting. From Geneva to Sion they crossed two Nappes of the Pre-alps and three Nappes of the High Calcareous Alps. The party travelled light on foot, with a porter called Cola, a chamois hunter. They visited the Savoy Alps between the Lake of Geneva and the Giffre river. They climbed Mont Buet and went to Les Granges de Salvan, a small summer resort, where by good luck they met Professor James Geikie. Then the party went on to Salanfe, a splendid corrie at the foot of the Dents du Midi. They studied the core of the Morcles Nappe in the great wall of the Tour Sallière. At Anzeindaz, on the southern side of the Diablerets, they spent several days, waiting for good weather to illuminate a splendid phenomenon: three Nappes overriding one another. Sections given in the text enable the reader to grasp the differences in the ‶Geology″ as known then and now. Anecdotes cheer up the text.


Darinaparsin (ZIO‐101; S‐dimethylarsino‐glutathione; Dar) is a promising novel organic arsenical, currently undergoing clinical studies in various malignancies. Dar is synthesized by conjugating dimethylarsenic (DMA) to glutathione (GSH) and shows enhanced activity as compared to arsenic trioxide (ATO). Dar induces more intracellular arsenic accumulation, oxidative stress (OS) and cell death than ATO. However, Dar has a maximum tolerated dose that is 35‐fold higher than ATO. The mechanisms responsible for the lower toxicity and higher anti‐tumor efficacy associated with Dar remains to be elucidated. Here, we propose a mechanism for Dar import that might, at least partially, explain the enhanced efficacy. Preliminary results show that both ATO and Dar induce the expression of the cystine importer xCT and that high levels of xCT expression correlates with high sensitivity to Dar, as shown in a NCI60 panel. The cystine/cysteine redox cycle consists of cystine uptake, intracellular reduction to cysteine which is secreted into the extracellular space where it is oxidized back to cystine. Intracellular cysteine (Cys‐SH) can be used for the synthesis of GSH, the major intracellular OS scavenger. We find that increased extracellular concentration of L‐cysteine or equivalent thiols during Dar treatment inhibits intracellular arsenic accumulation, measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP‐MS), as well as apoptosis, assessed by propidium iodide staining quantitated by flow cytometry. Thus, we hypothesized that L‐cysteine or equivalent thiols might prevent Dar import. GSH itself is not imported in the cell, so we thought it unlikely that darinaparsin would enter the cell without being somehow modified. Structural analysis of darinaparsin reveals putative break‐down products: dimethylarsino‐cysteine (DMAC), dimethylarsenic III (DMA III) and dimethylarsenic V (DMA V). ICP‐MS experiments showed that treatment with DMA III and DMA V does not lead to significant intracellular accumulation of arsenic, and correlates with their inability to induce cell death. However, DMAC is very similar to Dar in terms of intracellular accumulation of arsenic, G2/M arrest and cell death. As with Dar, thiols were able to inhibit DMAC‐induced cell death. In summary, we hypothesize that darinaparsin gets transformed extracellularly into DMAC, which is imported via xCT or another cystine/cysteine importing system. Cells respond to arsenic‐induced OS by increasing cystine uptake, which may selectively increase the anti‐cancer activity of Dar. The fact that cancer cells, under a high OS state, have an increase need for GSH, i.e. for cystine, might explain the fewer systemic toxicities reported with Dar. Moreover, cystine/cysteine importers may be valuable biomarkers to predict Dar sensitivity. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):A146.


The cognitive level of students in practical subjects is influenced by various external and internal factors. Cognitive is one of the important elements for students towards the achievement of better skills. The need to strengthen the cognitive level among TVET students has become a priority in the field of education. Effective pedagogical approach should focus on increasing culinary students' understanding of plating technique. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify culinary student's experience using digital platform for plating technique activities, to identify cognitive level of students to understand plating techniques through digital menu design and identify the suitability of culinary students to learn plating techniques digitally. The 63 students from the culinary program who enrolled in practical course. The survey design applied to conduct the research and set of questionnaires as instrument for data collection. The dimension measures are student's experience, student's cognitive level and suitability of learning with digital platform. The results of this study show that teaching using digital design for practical classes is an effective teaching that is expected to improve students' cognitive levels and indirectly improve student achievement. Hence, the digital menu design concept perhaps could be applied in other learning content and alternative teaching method in culinary program.


Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis has been used to study ankle/foot kinematics in eight healthy volunteers. All the joints between the tibia and the first metatarsal as well as the talo-calcaneal and tibio-fibular joints were analysed in input plantar flexion/dorsiflexion and pronation/supination of the foot as well as internal/external rotation of the leg. The findings included the following: INDIVIDUAL JOINTS 1. The joint axis of the talo-crural joint varied with varying kinds of input motion. Substantial amounts of rotation occurred about axes close to the vertical; this occurred particularly when the input motion was in the internal rotation part of the arc of leg rotation and in pro-/supination of the foot. 2. The total amount of rotation in the talo-calcaneal joint was small in internal rotation of the leg and in pronation of the foot compared to external rotation of the leg and supination of the foot. 3. The talo-navicular joint showed a limited ball-and-socket joint pattern in all subjects. The total amounts of rotation were larger than in the talo-calcaneal joint in all subjects. Plantar flexion axes were more transverse than the axes seen in other kinds of input motion. 4. The talo-calcaneal and talo-navicular joint axes were seldom parallel, indicating that these joints do not necessarily behave as a simple hinge. JOINT INTERACTION Joint interaction varied in different qualities of input motion. Plantar flexion induced rotation in the talo-crural joint, and to some extent in the joints of the arch. Dorsiflexion mainly induced talo-crural joint motion. Pronation/supination induced motion in all joints. The distal joints of the arch displayed more rotation in pronation than in supination, while the talo-calcaneal joint showed less motion in pronation than in supination. Internal leg rotation induced little rotation in the joints of the ankle/foot complex. External rotation induced external rotation, dorsiflexion, and supination in the talo-navicular and talo-calcaneal joints. The distal joints of the arch displayed compensatory plantar flexion and pronation. TRANSFERRAL OF ROTATION The ankle/foot complex showed ability to transform leg rotation into pro-/supination and vice versa. This function was most pronounced in external leg rotation. MOTIONS OF THE FIBULA The fibula showed consistent lateral and posterior translation from input plantar flexion to dorsiflexion of the foot.


Curing is a method that can be used to maintain the quality of beef. The curing method uses nitrate and nitrite compounds, which have useful roles in the curing process. However, those compounds have a side effect on the body if consumed continuously, which causes cancer disease (carcinogenic). This harmful carcinogenic property can be controlled by the addition of ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is commonly found in several fruits, one of which is red guava (Psidium guajava L) . Therefore, this study aims to find out the most optimal addition of red guava extract in maintaining the beef qualities with curing treatment on the parameters of water content, pH, whc, texture, color, ascorbic acid, and nitrite residue. This study was conducted using a Completely Randomized Design with the various concentration of red guava extract (0%-5%) and observed at soaking times of 0, 2, 4, and 6 days. The analysis was performed by twice of sample repetition and analysis repetition. The results of the analysis were statistically analyzed by One Way ANOVA continued with the DMRT test if the results were significantly different (α = 0.05). Based on the results of the study, the higher of concentration in red guava extract, the pH, water content, whc, b* color, a* color, nitrite residue were smaller while the hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, L* color, a* color, the ascorbic acid content in curing were higher. The chosen treatment due to the test parameter in this study was the addition of 4% concentration in red guava extract in the curing process with 2 days soaking times.


A new removing of the mixed Gaussian and salt-pepper noise algorithm is proposed based on median filtering and grey relational analysis. At first, a median pixel is determined in the filter window. Then the coefficient of the proposed method can be varied adaptively based on degree of the grey relational analysis. Finally, the values of the processed pixel can be calculated. The calculation results and simulation results based on Matlab show that the proposed method can remove mixed Gaussian and impulse noise efficiently and it can preserve the integrity of edge and keep the detailed information.


BACKGROUND
The inverse relation between ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and income is well known among men, but it remains to be clarified whether the relationship between social gradient and IHD is similar for men and women. The present study explores the associations between income and IHD in men and women in a Nordic country.

METHODS
We used data from two prospective population studies conducted in Copenhagen. A total of 22 782 subjects, 54% women, with initial examination between 1964 and 1992 were followed until 1996 for hospital admission or death from IHD. We performed survival analyses, taking traditional cardiovascular risk factors into account, and estimated IHD-free life expectancy by household income in men and women.

RESULTS
During follow-up, 1803 men and 1258 women experienced an event of IHD (21% fatal). The hazards by deciles of income showed a non-linear graded inverse effect of income, with a large group of middle-income in which income was not associated with risk of IHD. The hazard ratio for highest versus lowest deciles was 0.53 (95% CI: 0.44-0.65). The association was attenuated by adjustment for risk factors, but remained statistically significant. The associations were similar for both sexes. Median IHD-free life expectancy for low-income versus high-income groups was reduced by 9.4 and 7.0 years in men and women, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
The effect of household income on risk of IHD was graded and similar for men and women. The difference between high and low income, regarding IHD-free life expectancy, was considerable.


Within the framework of the renovation of the MASURCA research reactor [1], the development of the future instrumentation for physics measurements has to come along with a better control of the conditions in which they are performed. One of the main goals is to improve the mastery
of temperature effects that affects all reactivity measurements. The assessment of the temperature correction coefficient actually suffers from a large uncertainty (~20%, k=2) due to the difficult establishment of the average temperature representative of the core fuel part. Increasing the number
of temperature measurement points, currently limited to less than 20, is clearly part of the solution. Due to some set-up constraints specific to the MASURCA facility, the use of miniature sensors allowing quasi-distributed temperature measurements without perturbing the experiments seems promising candidates. In addition to their sensing performances (1°C of precision for a temperature range going from 20°C to 100°C), these temperature sensors must withstand the radiation environments associated with MASURCA that mainly consists in a moderate neutron fluence (up to 1014n/cm²).
Based on the feedback obtained in previous studies [2-6] achieved in more severe conditions (higher temperature and high neutron and gamma fluences), and taking advantage of the framework of the NEEDS [7] initiative, CEA and CNRS/LabHC have decided to start the SOMETIME project
dedicated to the design and the qualification of in-core and on-line quasi-distributed temperature measurements systems based on optical fibre Bragg grating sensors (FBG). This kind of sensor will enable online centimetric temperature profiles monitoring using a single optical fibre, thus allowing to minimize both the intrusivity and the induced thermal perturbation in the fuel element compared to the dozen of thermocouples required to get today's the same profile.
In this paper we present the NEEDS initiative, the overall context and the objectives of this project, together with the experimental set-up used in the EOLE facility [8]. Several kinds of FBG temperature transducers have been characterized during a preliminary testing campaign performed in
EOLE reactor (2014): their evolution during the irradiation (few 1013n/cm²) is described with a specialfocus on the Bragg wavelength shift with respect to the neutron fluence. Finally, we detail the coming work for the second part of the SOMETIME project which will be dedicated to qualify the
functionality of a representative FBG temperature instrumentation together with the challenging task of FBG arrays packaging and insertion within a real MASURCA fuel element.

[1] W. AssaI, J.C. Bosq, F. Mellier "Experimental Measurements at the MASURCA Facility" First International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and their Applications (ANIMMA), Print ISBN - 978-1-4244-5207-12009 IEEE
[2] S. Girard, Y. Ouerdane, A. Boukenter, C. Marcandella, J. Bisutti, J. Baggio, and J-P. Meunier, "Integration of Optical Fibers in Radiative Environments: Advantages and Limitations", IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, vol. 59 (4), pp. 1317 – 1322, 2012.
[3] A. Morana, S. Girard, E. Marin, C. Marcandella, P. Paillet, J. Perisse, J.-R. Mace, A. Boukenter, M. Cannas and Y. Ouerdane, "Radiation tolerant fiber Bragg gratings for high temperature monitoring at MGy dose levels", Optics Letters, Vol. 39, No. 18, September 15, 2014
[4] G. Cheymol, A. Gusarov, B. Brichard; "Fibre Optic Extensometer for High Radiation and High Temperature Nuclear applications"; IEEE transactions on nuclear science, Vol.60, N°.5, October 13.
[5] G. Laffont, R. Cotillard and P. Ferdinand, Multiplexed regenerated Fiber Bragg Gratings for high temperature measurement, Measurement Science and Technology, Vol. 24, N° 9, 24, 2013
[6] G. Laffont, R. Cotillard and P. Ferdinand, "9000 hours-long high temperature annealing of regenerated fibre Bragg gratings", 5th European Workshop on Optical Fibre Sensors, Krakow, Poland,May 19-22, 2013
[7] NEEDS French Research Framework – « Nuclear, Energy, Environment, Waste and Society" http://www.cnrs.fr/mi/spip.php?article19
[8] J.-C. Bosq, M. Antony, J. Di Salvo, J.-C. Klein, N. Thiollay, P. Blaise, P. Leconte., "The Use of EOLE and MINERVE Critical Facilities for the Generation 3 Light Water Reactor Studies", Proc. Int. Conf. ICAPP, Nice, May 2-5, 2011


IS researchers may wonder why computing advances often confound expectations. The leisure society, the paperless office, and programmer decline are just a few predictions that didn't happen. If current expectations are to be any more accurate, we must learn from experience. As we create e-systems to rival ourselves, and networks to match society, the problem may be a limited view of system performance. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) sees performance as functionality plus usability. The Web Of System Performance (WOSP) model presented in this paper extends TAM to include other requirements common in performance research literature. WOSP is a theoretical framework for the balanced design and evaluation of advanced information systems, as now being created on the Internet and elsewhere. It analyses performance via four fundamental system elements: boundary, internal structure, effectors and receptors. Each can be designed for opportunity or risk, giving eight performance goals, whose design tension comprises a "web" of performance. It explains why advances sometimes "bite back", and need creative system requirements integration. The theory applies to hardware, software, cognitive, or social system levels, but as each level is a different "world", it cannot be instantiated across levels. The WOSP model should interest those designing or evaluating advanced software systems.


Some diazotrophic bacteria can fix nitrogen biologically in gramineous host plants. Generally, gramineous plants are also associated with mycorrhizal fungi, that can improve mainly plant P uptake. Among the factors affecting plant-microbe interactions, the plant genotype plays an important role. This study evaluates the effect of diazotrophic bacteria and an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), on five genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.), in relation to plant biomass, shoot N and P concentrations, and fine root morphological traits. The experimental design was entirely randomized in a factorial 5 × 4 × 2 arrangement, i.e., five maize genotypes (hybrids C333B, AS3466, and PREMIUM, and the inbreed lines lg40897-1 and lg40505-1), three diazotrophic bacteria (Azospirillum lipoferum, A. amazonense, and Burkholderia sp.) in addition to a control without bacterial inoculation, co-inoculated or not with the AMF Glomus clarum. The non-mycorrhizal plants inoculated with Azospirillum exhibited the highest N concentrations. The lines lg40897-1 and lg40505-1 showed higher P concentrations as compared to the hybrids, mainly when colonized by AMF. The higher levels of mycorrhizal colonization (90%) occurred in the C333B and lg40897-1 genotypes, which also exhibited a greater root diameter. Mycorrhiza increased shoot and root biomass, besides root traits as total length, specific length, total surface, and incidence of root hairs in all genotypes. In addition, mycorrhiza also stimulated the root colonization by diazotrophic bacteria. The bacteria did not affect root morphological traits and mycorrhizal colonization.


Qualitative research can contribute significantly to both applied, and to basic research, opening intellectual avenues that have not been explored in the past. In this paper, I present a unified view of five prominent qualitative methdologies ('genres'): educational criticism; formative research; and action research in the applied orientation, and ethnography and phenomenology in the basic orientation. The analysis of these genres is developed along six parameters: goals; the issues these genres enable us to explore; the intellectual traditions in which they are embedded; the role of theory; the perspectives from which researchers operate; and the writing style which they employ. These aspects are illustrated by concrete examples of research.


Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a globally distributed pest composed of at least 34 morphologically indistinguishable cryptic species. At least seven species of endosymbiont have been found infecting some or all members of the complex. The origin(s) of the associations between specific endosymbionts and their whitefly hosts is unknown. Infection is normally vertical, but horizontal transmission does occur and is one way for new infections to be introduced into individuals. The relationships between the different members of the cryptic species complex and the endosymbionts have not been well explored. In this study, the phylogenies of different cryptic species of the host with those of their endosymbionts were compared. Of particular interest was whether there was evidence for both coevolution and horizontal transmission. Congruence was observed for the primary endosymbiont, Portiera aleyrodidarum, and partial incongruence in the case of two secondary endosymbionts, Arsenophonus and Cardinium and incongruence for a third, Wolbachia. The patterns observed for the primary endosymbiont supported cospeciation with the host while the patterns for the secondary endosymbionts, and especially Wolbachia showed evidence of host shifts and extinctions through horizontal transmission rather than cospeciation. Of particular note is the observation of several very recent host shift events in China between exotic invader and indigenous members of the complex. These shifts were from indigenous members of the complex to the invader as well as from the invader to indigenous relatives.


This article discusses needs, rights and responsibilities with regard to water, drawing on global discourses and cases from South Africa. Taking the New Delhi and Dublin Statements as a point of departure, it describes the prevalent global discourses and sets of dichotomies that have characterised much of the water governance debates, such as human right/economic good, public/private, formal/informal, etc. It explores the boundaries of responsibilities between actors, and argues that, rather than an 'either/or' approach, new constellations of governance arrangements need to be sought in urban and rural settings, that acknowledge the differential needs of people and communities. While water is a public, justiciable socioeconomic good, the provision of which should lie ultimately with the government, there are myriad constellations across the spectrum of public to private provision that can meet the challenges. The dichotomies, and in particular the idea of 'public' and 'private', are only useful to a limited extent, as there are many 'publics' and many 'privates'. The question is not so much who offers the service, but how it is offered or organised, how and by whom needs are defined and contested, to what extent needs are met or not, and how clear lines of accountability are established.


In Denmark, patients being treated on Haematology Outpatients Departments get instructed to self-manage their blood sample collection from Central Venous Catheter (CVC). However, this is a complex and risky procedure, which can jeopardize patient safety. The aim of the study was to suggest a method for developing standard digital patient education programs for patients in self-administration of blood samples drawn from CVC. The Design Science Research Paradigm was used to develop a digital patient education program, called PAVIOSY, to increase patient safety during execution of the blood sample collection procedure by using videos for teaching as well as procedural support. A step-by-step guide was developed and used as basis for making the videos. Quality assurance through evaluation with a nurse was conducted on both the step-by-step guide and the videos. The quality assurance evaluation of the videos showed; 1) Errors due to the order of the procedure can be determined by reviewing the videos despite that the guide was followed. 2) Videos can be used to identify errors - important for patient safety - in the procedure, which are not identifiable in a written script. To ensure correct clinical content of the educational patient system, health professionals must be engaged early in the development of content and design phase.


We report the formation of unexpected ions during the analyses of a first-generation polyamidoamine dendrimer in negative ion mode using an ion trap equipped with an electrospray ionisation source. These surprising ions corresponded to an increase of 12 m/z units over those expected. The formation of the unexpected ions was dependent on the tuning of the solution flow rate and the capillary high voltage. In addition, measurements of unusual value of the current suggested that a reaction was occurring in the corona plasma. The influence of methanol in this phenomenon was demonstrated by using CD(3)OH in the sample preparation. We propose two structures to explain the observed adduct based on the results of MS(2) experiments and by referring to previous work dealing with 12 m/z units addition. We showed that a corona discharge caused by alterations taking place to the electrospray capillary emitter was the origin of these unexpected ions. Finally, we discuss the mechanism involved in the formation of the ions and we propose means to control such artefacts.


: The increase of the content of lipoperoxidation products, the decrease of antiradical activity of lipids and the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in the skin of rats have been found to be a result of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The dose and time dependences of changes of these parameters have been obtained. It is suggested that intensification of lipid peroxidation in the skin of UV-radiated animals is correlated with the inhibition of the antiperoxide systems.


CONTEXT
Health-related quality of life has not been evaluated as a predictor of mortality following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Evaluation of health status as a mortality predictor may be useful for preoperative risk stratification.

OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the Physical and Mental Component Summary scores from the preoperative Short-Form 36 (SF-36) health status survey predict mortality following CABG surgery after adjustment for known clinical risk variables.

DESIGN
Prospective cohort study conducted between September 1992 and December 1996.

SETTING
Fourteen Veterans Affairs hospitals.

PATIENTS
Of the 3956 patients undergoing CABG surgery only and who were enrolled in the Processes, Structures, and Outcomes of Care in Cardiac Surgery study, the 2480 who completed a preoperative SF-36.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
All-cause mortality within 180 days after surgery.

RESULTS
A total of 117 deaths (4.7%) occurred within 180 days of CABG surgery. The Physical Component Summary of the preoperative SF-36 was a statistically significant risk factor for 6-month mortality after adjustment for known clinical risk factors for mortality following CABG surgery. In multivariate analysis, a 10-point lower SF-36 Physical Component Summary score had an odds ratio (OR) of 1.39 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-1.77; P=.006) for predicting mortality. The SF-36 Mental Component Summary score was not associated with 6-month mortality in multivariate analyses (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.92-1.29; P=.31).

CONCLUSIONS
The Physical Component Summary score from the preoperative SF-36 is an independent risk factor for mortality following CABG surgery. The baseline Mental Component Summary score does not appear to be predictive of mortality. Preoperative patient self-report of the physical component of health status may be helpful for risk stratification and clinical decision making for patients undergoing CABG surgery.


Wilkinson defined a sparse matrix as one with enough zeros that it pays to take advantage of them.1 This informal yet practical definition captures the essence of the goal of direct methods for solving sparse matrix problems. They exploit the sparsity of a matrix to solve problems economically: much faster and using far less memory than if all the entries of a matrix were stored and took part in explicit computations. These methods form the backbone of a wide range of problems in computational science. A glimpse of the breadth of applications relying on sparse solvers can be seen in the origins of matrices in published matrix benchmark collections (Duff and Reid 1979a, Duff, Grimes and Lewis 1989a, Davis and Hu 2011). The goal of this survey article is to impart a working knowledge of the underlying theory and practice of sparse direct methods for solving linear systems and least-squares problems, and to provide an overview of the algorithms, data structures, and software available to solve these problems, so that the reader can both understand the methods and know how best to use them.


The application of hydrodynamic models for simulating the overbank flow patterns and predicting flood water levels in rivers and floodplains have improved significantly over recent years. However, roughness remains a huge uncertainty which cannot be directly measured. This is especially the case for vegetation growth in watercourses and on floodplains which significantly influence the behaviour of a fluvial system through the reduction of flow conveyance. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how the vegetation element can be represented better in the hydrodynamic model. This paper follows the development of vegetative roughness estimation for hydraulic modeling through laboratory experiments and remote sensing. The study concludes that there is a prospect of utilizing data fusion of remote sensing data to accurately estimate the main vegetation properties such as height and density as a parameter to input to calculations of surface roughness for practical applications.


The present case report describes asymptomatic worker working in quartz crushing unit and having crepitations on ausculation in the middle zone of right lung, diagnosed as grade 1/1 silicotic according to ILO Classification of Pneumoconiosis. The patient had elevated levels of SACE and serum Copper. This is the first time that SACE and serum copper levels were measured in a covert case of silicosis particularly in India.