In the present study we introduce uniform statistical convergence for double sequences. We present a decomposition theorem that characterizes uniform statistical convergence for double sequences. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 40B05; 40G15


The Ukamau group has a long history which spans for more than sixty years. The oral accounts acknowledge that women participated in all the different phases of the group, undertaking instrumental roles in front of and behind the camera. However, they have been overshadowed and erased from the official history due to the auteurist and formalist scholarly approaches that, to date, have been commonly used to study Ukamau films. This article proposes the use of a feminist methodology and a focus on production processes in order to recover and highlight the contribution of those remarkable participants. Accordingly, it suggests a change in the value ascribed to creative and non-creative labour in Bolivian third cinema practices and calls for the further consideration of personal relationships as fundamental aspects of this artisanal mode of production. Moreover, it analyses the participation of subaltern Bolivian women in the filmmaking process and also as active members of the public.


The BRCA1 gene is commonly mutated in hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. The BRCA1 protein has multiple domains that mediate protein interactions; BRCA1 gene mutations may produce truncated proteins that lose the ability to interact with associated proteins. Additionally, mutations in the BRCT domain of BRCA1 create protein folding defects that result in protease-mediated degradation. Cells that contain dysfunctional BRCA1 proteins are hypersensitive to DNA damaging agents. In particular, BRCA1-deficient cell lines are exquisitely sensitive to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor treatment. Despite initial responses of BRCA1 mutant cancers to PARP inhibitor treatment, acquired resistance develops. To study PARP inhibitor resistance, specifically in the setting of BRCA1 C-terminal truncating mutations, we cultured the triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-436 (5396+1G>A) in the presence of the PARP inhibitor rucaparib. Drug resistant clones emerged approximately 2-4 months after initial exposure. Clones were highly resistant to rucaparib, and cross-resistant to olaparib, as well as cisplatin. No changes in the mutant BRCA1 DNA or mRNA sequences were detected and the PARP enzyme was efficiently inhibited by rucaparib. The mutant BRCA1 protein was undetectable in MDA-MB-436 parent cells, but was abundant in resistant clones by western blot. HSP90 co-immunoprecipitated with the stabilized mutant BRCA1 protein and treatment of resistant cells with the HSP90 inhibitor 17-DMAG reduced mutant BRCA1 protein levels and restored their sensitivity to PARP inhibition. The stabilized mutant BRCA1 protein also interacted with PALB2-BRCA2-RAD51, was essential for RAD51 focus formation and PARP inhibitor resistance. Resistant cells also acquired a TP53BP1 mutation that facilitated DNA end resection in the absence of a BRCA1 protein capable of binding CtIP. Finally, concomitant increased mutant BRCA1 and decreased 53BP1 protein expression occurs in clinical samples of BRCA1-mutated recurrent ovarian carcinomas that have developed resistance to platinum. These results provide evidence for a novel mechanism by which BRCA1-mutant tumors acquire anti-cancer therapy resistance. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):C74. Citation Format: Neil Johnson, Shawn F. Johnson, Yifan Wang, Andrea Bernhardy, Wei Yao, Young-Eun Choi, Marzia Capelletti, Kristopher Sarosiek, Lisa Moreau, Dipanjan Chowdhury, Joyce Liu, Alan D9Andrea, Alexander Miron, Anneka Wickramanayake, Maria Harrell, Elizabeth M. Swisher, Geoffrey I. Shapiro. Stabilization of mutant BRCA1 confers PARP inhibitor and platinum resistance. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C74.


Familial prostate cancer is commonly defined as a family in which there are two first-degree relatives or one first-degree and at least two second-degree relatives with prostate cancer. Data on the familial component of prostate cancer and evidence to support a role of genetic susceptibility in this disease are reviewed in the article. The document presents data from case-control cohort cross-sectional and twin studies which provide consistent evidence for an inherited form of prostate cancer. Studies noted the role of inherited genes in the development of prostate cancer and suggested that this effect is independent of environmental factors. As such segregation analyses were undertaken to characterize the genetic models that may explain the familial/hereditary pattern of prostate cancer incidence. Moreover six prostate cancer susceptibility loci have been identified: 1q24-25 1q42 1q27-28 Xq27-28 1p36 and 20q13 and 17p. The study implies that the identification of men prone to develop prostate cancer based on their genetic background may be used to target prevention programs.


According to classic game theory, individuals playing a centipede game learn about the subgame perfect Nash equilibrium via repeated play of the game. We employ statistical modeling to evaluate the evidence of such learning processes while accounting for the substantial within‐player correlation observed for the players' decisions and rates of learning. We determine the probabilities of players' choices through a quantal response equilibrium. Our statistical approach additionally (i) relaxes the assumption of players' a priori global knowledge of opponents' strategies, (ii) incorporates within‐subject dependency through random effects, and (iii) allows players' decision probabilities to change with repeated play through an explicit covariate. Hence, players' tendencies to correctly assess the utility of decisions are allowed to evolve over the course of the game, and both adaptive behavior as one accrues experience and the difference in this behavior between players are appropriately reflected by the model. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd


Due to the nature of tasks performed by an aircraft, one of the most essential criteria determining the quality of its maintenance process is the reliability of devices and systems installed on an aircraft. The assurance of the reliability of aircraft devices at an adequately high level minimises the causes of failures. Unfortunately, the influence of destructive factors connected, among other things, with the impact of changing ambient conditions, overload effects, and the influence of ageing processes, causes the technical parameters of devices deteriorate. Methods for describing diagnostic parameter changes due to the effects of destructive factors have been presented in the literature [6, 7, 8, 9, 11]. This article constitutes a new attempt of an analytical description of the changes in diagnostic parameter values describing the technical state of devices based on the method


fMRI promises to uncover the functional structure of the brain. I argue, however, that pictures of 'brain activity' associated with fMRI experiments are poor evidence for functional claims. These neuroimages present the results of null hypothesis significance tests performed on fMRI data. Significance tests alone cannot provide evidence about the functional structure of causally dense systems, including the brain. Instead, neuroimages should be seen as indicating regions where further data analysis is warranted. This additional analysis rarely involves simple significance testing, and so justified skepticism about neuroimages does not provide reason for skepticism about fMRI more generally.


Malformations  and  premature birth are  the  most  important  causes of chronic  diseases, disability and  mortality in childhood. Help  for  children   with  malformations  is  often  needed immediately   after  birth.  WHO  determines heart   defects,  neural tube   defects,  chromosomal  abnormality –  Down  syndrome as  the  most   severe  malformations. Down  syndrome  is  a genetic disease in which the child has the superfluous chromosome and often defects in the development of different organs and   systems. The  presence of  several defects  requires a  complex   surgical   approach that  can   be  performed endoscopically.  It  is  known  that  Down  syndrome  can   be  combined  with  chyloperitoneum.  The  article  represents  the clinical  observation  of  successful  treatment  of  the   newborn  baby   with  Down  syndrome,  which  was   combined  with congenital high  intestinal  obstruction at  the  level  of the  duodenum and  parasternal  diaphragmatic hernia, both  defects were corrected laparoscopically. The chyloperitoneum developed in postoperative period was successfully treated with the appointment of total parenteral nutrition and infusions of Sandostatin analogues.


OX40 and its ligand (OX40L) have been implicated in T cell-dependent humoral immune responses. To further characterize the role of OX40/OX40L in T-B cell interaction, we newly generated an anti-mouse OX40L mAb (RM134L) that can inhibit the costimulatory activity of OX40L transfectants for anti-CD3-stimulated T cell proliferation. Flow cytometric analyses using RM134L and an anti-mouse OX40 mAb indicated that OX40 was inducible on splenic T cells by stimulation with immobilized anti-CD3 mAb in a CD28-independent manner, while OX40L was not expressed on resting or activated T cells. OX40L was inducible on splenic B cells by stimulation with anti-IgM Ab plus anti-CD40 mAb, but not by either alone. These activated B cells exhibited a potent costimulatory activity for anti-CD3-stimulated T cell proliferation and IL-2 production. Anti-CD80 and anti-CD86 mAbs partially inhibited the costimulatory activity, and further inhibition was obtained by their combination with RM134L and/or anti-CD70 mAb. We also found the anti-IgM Ab- plus anti-CD40 mAb-stimulated B cells exhibited a potent costimulatory activity for proliferation of and IL-2 production by anti-CD3-stimulated CD28- T cells from CD28-deficient mice, which was substantially inhibited by RM134L and/or anti-CD70 mAb. These results indicated that OX40L and CD70 expressed on surface Ig- and CD40-stimulated B cells can provide CD28-independent costimulatory signals to T cells.


The following infant was born with hydrops of unusual origin, the acardiac parabiotic twin syndrome. 1 This case is presented to emphasize 2,3 the importance of hypoproteinemia in the general pathophysiology of hydrops fetalis, regardless of etiology, and to note its presence in this rare instance. Report of Cases .—Twin babies were born to a primigravida, Rh-positive, syphilisseronegative woman at 35 weeks' gestation. Three liters of clear fluid were notedat amniotomy performed during labor. Twin A, a boy, was limp, pale, and had severe abdominal distention, and gross pitting edema of the scalp, abdomen, and extremities, ie, hydrops fetalis. The birth weight was 1,660 g. His Apgar scores were 2 and 3 at one and five minutes, respectively. Artificial ventilation by endotracheal tube was initiated. Thirty milliliters of 5% salt-poor albumin was given immediately in the delivery room because of hypotension and impaired systemic perfusion. The infant had pulmonary rales and a liver


The goals of the interdisciplinary project HORN were as well to improve competitiveness of service providers that deliver grocery items as to develop new hardware and software needed for its realisation. In the first part, we introduce this home replenishment project, and analyse the needs and challenges of mobile services with similar constraints. In the second part, we introduce our modular software engineering approach and especially present the adopted reconfiguration mechanism for autonomous mobile applications, and its profiling concept.


Eu3+-doped CdS quantum dots (QDs) are successfully synthesized through a straightforward single-pot process in aqueous solution using thioglycolic acid as the capping ligand. The structure, shape, and spectral properties of the QDs are investigated. The obtained CdS:Eu3+ QDs exhibit cubic structures with good crystallinity and approximately sphere-like shapes about 4 nm in diameter. The CdS QDs manifest a broadband emission peak at 600 nm and enhanced Photoluminescence (PL) emission intensity after doping with Eu3+ ions. Given the strong PL intensity and good chromaticity of the sulfide-based QDs, they have potential use in doping rare-earth ions.


Abstract Campylobacteriosis is a common cause of gastrointestinal disease. In this study, we suggest a general strategy of applying gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in colorimetric biosensors to detect Campylobacter in chicken carcass. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was utilized for the amplification of the target genes, and the thiolated PCR products were collected. Following the blending of colloid AuNPs with PCR products, the thiol bound to the surface of AuNPs, forming AuNP-PCR products. The PCR products had a sufficient negative charge, which enabled AuNPs to maintain a dispersed formation under electrostatic repulsion. This platform presented a color change as AuNPs aggregate. It did not need additional time and optimization of pH for PCR amplicons to adhere to the AuNPs. The specificity of AuNPs of modified primer pairs for mapA from Campylobacter jejuni and ceuE from Campylobacter coli was activated perfectly (C. jejuni, p-value: 0.0085; C. coli, p-value: 0.0239) when compared to Salmonella Enteritidis and Escherichia coli as non-Campylobacter species. Likewise, C. jejuni was successfully detected from artificially contaminated chicken carcass samples. According to the sensitivity test, at least 15 ng/μL of Campylobacter PCR products or 1×103 CFU/mL of cells in the broth was needed for the detection using the optical method.


A mathematical model is proposed for the determination of non-stationary characteristics of the cleaning process of industrial liquids in magnetic filters. The theoretical investigation which provides the determination of the variation of the captured particles both with time and along the filter matrix is based on the general filtration equations. Considering the properties of the magnetic filtration process, non-stationary filtration equations involve the capturing and detachment coefficients of the particles in the filter matrix. The effect of the filter length on the magnetic filter performance is also presented. The obtained expressions make possible to compare the experimental and the expected theoretical results.


Henry James had a thirty-year-long relationship with the city of Venice, which made it possible for him to develop a profound knowledge of the city's architecture and art. James's interest in 'The Floating City' is reflected in three of his works that are set there, namely, "Travelling Companions" (1870), The Aspern Papers (1888) and The Wings of the Dove (1902). This essay investigates how Venice and its inhabitants are depicted in the three works. By comparing the tropes on Venice that James employs with the tropes that have been used in the 18th and 19th century, this essay shows the bond that connects James's works with previous authors' works. Furthermore, it examines the picture of the city that emerges and its role in the narration. It draws the conclusion that the depiction of Venice is multifaceted as the city always has an active role in the narration and is not a mere setting. All depictions are collected in the appendix. (Less)


Golden alga (Prymnesium parvum) is a harmful alga that has caused ecological and economic harm in freshwater and marine systems worldwide. In inland systems of North America, toxic blooms have nearly eliminated fish populations in some systems. Modifying nutrient profiles through alterations to land or water use may be a viable alternative for golden alga control in reservoirs. The main objective of this study was to improve our understanding of the nutrient dynamics that influence golden alga bloom formation and toxicity in west Texas reservoirs. We examined eight sites in the Upper Colorado River basin, Texas: three impacted reservoirs that have experienced repeated golden alga blooms; two reference reservoirs where golden alga is present but nontoxic; and three confluence sites downstream of the impacted and reference sites. Total, inorganic, and organic nitrogen and phosphorus and their ratios were quantified monthly along with golden alga abundance and ichthyotoxicity between December 2010 and July 2011. Blooms persisted for several months at the impacted sites, which were characterized by high organic nitrogen and low inorganic nitrogen. At impacted sites, abundance was positively associated with inorganic phosphorus and bloom termination coincided with increases in inorganic nitrogen and decreases in inorganic phosphorus in late spring. Management of both inorganic and organic forms of nutrients may create conditions in reservoirs unfavorable to golden alga.


The percentage of 65Zn taken up (absorbed) from extrinsically labeled turkey meat was calculated from the amounts of 65Zn and a nonabsorbed 51Cr marker present in the body or in a single stool specimen after 1-2 d. 51CrCl3 proved to be a suitable marker for unabsorbed 65Zn and so the early determination of 65Zn absorption was possible. With stool counting, 65Zn absorption data from first stool samples after 1-2 d were accurate as judged by correlation with the amount of 65Zn in the body 7-10 d later (retention); results from subsequent stools gave lower absorption values due to the early excretion of some absorbed 65Zn. The dual-isotope method gave reproducible results when four successive tests of zinc absorption were carried out in a group of six subjects. The average (mean +/- SD) 65Zn absorption from turkey meals containing 31 mumol (2 mg) and 46 mumol (3 mg) of zinc was 39 +/- 8% and 29 +/- 6%, respectively, measured by stool counting; 65Zn absorption and retention correlated well in both studies. A series of different beverages was given in place of water with the turkey meal. Orange juice significantly reduced 65Zn absorption and milk also showed this tendency, but tea, whiskey, wine or beer had no significant effect on the absorption of 65Zn from the turkey meal. In groups of subjects the mean ratio of 65Zn absorption from extrinsically labeled turkey meat on two occasions (1.06) was not significantly different from that of the absorption of extrinsic to intrinsic 65Zn labels (1.16). The dual-isotope technique with either stool or body counting is suitable for the rapid determination of 65Zn absorption from extrinsically labeled turkey within 2 d.


Total tRNA extracted from livers of young (7 +/- 1 weeks), adult (40 +/- 1 weeks) and old (80 +/- 1 weeks) rats showed quantitative variation with age, being maximal in adults. Young and old animals yielded almost the same level of tRNAs. Quantitative changes in tRNAs were also observed from the study of amino acid acceptor activity using homologous enzyme i.e., aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase preparations from rat liver of the same age group. Quantitative variation followed the trend of qualitative variation. When tRNA was amino-acylated with a heterologous enzyme system, i.e., synthetase preparation from rat liver of another age group, age-related variation in aminoacyl-tRNA did not follow a pattern similar to that in the case of the homologous enzyme system. Young and adult synthetase enzymes showed maximum affinity for their homologous tRNAs but synthetases from old rat liver did not show any specific affinity for "old" tRNAs. This shows that apart from tRNAs, enzyme activity also changes with age.


Kidney disease is frequently described as a public health problem. This chapter will unpack what we mean by "public health" and by "taking a public health approach." We will consider the global burden of kidney diseases and their determinants, with a focus on chronic kidney disease. We will explore the aetiology of chronic kidney disease across the life course and the way in which kidney health frequently reflects inequities in societal health, therefore requiring a public health response. We will describe some of the public health endeavours that help address these problems and then introduce epidemiology as the core science of public health. We will describe the common epidemiological study designs with a focus on observational studies and explore the role of the various study designs in addressing different types of research question, and thereby contributing to distinct aspects of disease understanding. We will introduce concepts of primary and secondary prevention and explore the ways in which the application of different epidemiological study designs has contributed to the knowledge and understanding of kidney diseases. We will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different study designs and explain how epidemiological methods allow for the quantification of public health problems.


We identify effective carriers of \emph{Sargassum} in the Caribbean Sea and describe a mechanism for coastal choking. Revealed from satellite altimetry, the carriers of \emph{Sargassum} are mesoscale eddies (vortices of 50-km radius or larger) with coherent material (i.e., fluid) boundaries. These are observer-independent -- \emph{unlike} eddy boundaries identified with instantaneously closed streamlines of the altimetric sea-surface height field -- and furthermore harbor finite-time attractors for networks of elastically connected finite-size buoyant or"inertial"particles dragged by ocean currents and winds, a mathematical abstraction of \emph{Sargassum} rafts. The mechanism of coastal inundation, identified using a minimal model of surface-intensified Caribbean Sea eddies, is thermal instability in the presence of bottom topography.


This text, one of a series of handbooks devoted to Techniques in Pure and Applied Microbiology, is an attempt to present in one volume the fundamentals, basic methodology, and specific applications of gas-liquid chromatography in microbiology and medicine. Perhaps an overly extensive introductory review of the history, theory, development, and basic applications of gas chromatography is presented, but this may be of interest to novices and students. The real utility of the book lies in the discussion of gas chromatography as applied to specific biomedical problems. Mitruka discusses the gas chromatographic analysis of microbial cell constituents, metabolic products of microorganisms, and microbial degradation products of substrates in detail, with specific attention to methodology. The application of these analyses to the identification of microorganisms is included. The detection of viruses, rickettsiae, protozoa, helminths, and fungi are considered in separate chapters. The identification of anaerobic bacteria, traditionally a difficult problem, is discussed by Bricknell, Sutter, and Finegold using gas chromatography. The practical application of gas chromatography to the diagnosis of infectious diseases is discussed by Mitruka with emphasis on characteristic metabolic profiles (fingerprints) of isolates from clinical specimens and cultures. Analytical flow charts, profiles of specific microorganisms, and sample chromatograms are presented. The diagnosis of a variety of metabolic disorders and inborn errors of metabolism by gas chromatography of the specifically involved chemical marker is considered separately. Peter Jatlow discusses the application of gas chromatography to drug analysis in a well documented and up-to-date chapter, and Mitruka offers applications of this tool to routine clinical chemistry determinations as well as to arialysis of chemical carcinogens and nucleic acid analogs. This book should be of value to those desiring to apply gas-liquid chromatography to a variety of specific biomedical problems. The transition of the gas chromatograph from the basic research laboratory to the clinical and diagnostic milieu is well established by this text.


Due to the formation of corrosion products, natural gas liquids and gas hydrates in long distance pipelines, timely and effective pigging operations are necessary to improve the gas transmission efficiency, reduce pressure loss, as well as guarantee the safe operation of gas wells, pipelines and networks. Gas transmission efficiency is a parameter to reflect the working condition and cleanliness of pipelines, which is calculated by the division of actual gas transmission volume and theoretical gas transmission volume. In consideration of the characteristics of long distance gas pipelines, a calculation model of gas transmission efficiency is presented in this paper. A threshold value of 90% is used to measure the running state of pipelines, so as to determine whether a pigging operation should be conducted. The influence factors are analyzed. Suggestions on the operation strategy of long distance gas pipelines are stated.


Woody debris, defined as standing and downed deadwood, consists in an essential component of the forest carbon stock. However, few studies have been carried out to get an efficient and accurate sampling procedure for estimating it. This work proposes two methodologies to estimate the woody debris volume in a Brazilian mixed tropical forest: 1) two-stage systematic sampling, using a mixed methodology, in which the Strand's method is applied to standing dead trees and stumps, and line intercept sampling is used to fallen trees and branches; and 2) ratio estimate of the sum of cross-sectional areas of deadwood pieces and forest basal area, aiming to obtain the total woody debris volume indirectly in the natural forest. Conversions for biomass and carbon stocks were made applying the mean basic density on the estimates of deadwood volumes. Both methodologies are accurate for woody debris volume estimates, with a sampling error equal to 16.1% (methodology 1) and 5.7% (methodology 2), at a 95% probability level. Thus, the methodology 2 has potential to be used in strategic forest inventories of woody debris, such as in National Forest Inventories, due to increasing importance of its quantification in all forest ecosystems.


© SAGE Publications, Inc. The final, definitive version of this article has been published in: Wortham, Stanton Reviews: Redefining Psychology Methodologically, Metatheoretically, Pedagogically, and Ethically BENJAMIN BRADLEY, Psychology and Experience. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2005. 256 pp. ISBN 0 521


Neomycin (700 mg/8 h), ampicillin (500/6 h) and metronidazole (400 mg/8 h), were compared for their effect, on oral administration for 4 days, in reducing blood ammonia in 27 patients with stable chronic liver disease. It was found that there was 38.2, 38.5 and 8.7 m mol/litre mean reduction in blood ammonia in the neomycin, ampicillin and metronidazole treated groups respectively. The difference in blood ammonia was statistically significant for both neomycin (P = 0.01) and ampicillin (P = 0.03) but there was no significant change after metronidazole treatment (P = 0.6). The total stool enzyme activity at optimum pH was maximally reduced by ampicillin and minimally with metronidazole. The reduction was noted to be 3.51 m mol/1 (P = 0.01), 3.87 m mol/1 (P = 0.08) and 2.8 m mol/1 (P = 0.02) of NH3/g dry weight of stool for neomycin, ampicillin and metronidazole respectively. The main bacterial gut enzymes responsible for ammonia production, urease and protease, were found to be very sensitive to stool pH. At pH 6 their activity was around 20 per cent of what was found in optimum pH of 7.4 and at pH 5 it is only about 8 per cent of optimum activity. None of the three antibacterial agents changed the stool pH significantly. It can be concluded that oral neomycin and ampicillin are superior to oral metronidazole in lowering blood ammonia.


Abstract Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene mutations are the main drivers for polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET). The mechanisms of single altered gene causing two different diseases are unclear. Additionally, novel treatments specifically targeting mutated JAK2 proteins are needed. In this study, the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were virally transduced to express wild-type JAK2 (JAK2WT), JAK2p.V617F (JAK2V617F) or JAK2p.N542_E543del (JAK2exon12) under a doxycycline-inducible system. The modified iPSCs which were differentiated into megakaryocytes in the presence vs. absence of doxycycline were compared to ensure that the differences were solely from mutated JAK2 expressions. The JAK2V617-expressing iPSCs yielded significantly higher numbers of megakaryocytes consistent with the ET phenotype, while there was no enhancement by JAK2exon12 expression compatible with the pure erythrocytosis in humans. Capillary Western analyses revealed significantly greater JAK2 phosphorylation in iPSCs carrying JAK2V617F but not in JAK2WT and JAK2exon12 iPSCs. Activation of STAT3, STAT5 and AKT was increased by JAK2V617F, while they were decreased in JAK2exon12 iPSCs. Notably, interferon alpha and/or arsenic trioxide inhibited megakaryocytes proliferation and reduced JAK2, STAT3, STAT5 and AKT phosphorylation in mutant JAK2-expressing iPSCs compared with those without induction. In conclusion, JAK2V617F expression in iPSCs preferentially promoted megakaryocytes with a signaling profile distinctive from JAK2exon12 expression. Treatments with interferon alpha or arsenic trioxide preferentially suppressed the mutated over wild-type JAK2 signaling. This iPSC model is helpful in mechanistic studies and novel therapy screen for myeloproliferative neoplasm.


The basis of screening for cancer is related to the natural history of the disease, to the screening test, to the treatment of preinvasive lesions, and to the application of a screening program at a population level. It is not only the test but the total program that should be valid, ie, detect both those having a preinvasive abnormality and those being healthy. The only reliable indicator on the efficacy of a screening program is the reduction in the mortality from the cancer subjected to screening. The reduction in mortality should be assessed by a randomized preventive trial. There are several examples on inconclusive evidence stemming from observational studies and based on indicators other than mortality.


Mycophenolate mofetil and rituximab have been shown to be considerably associated with poorer outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Such agents were associated with longer hospital stay as well as severe COVID-19 outcomes (infection-related complications, intensive care unit admission, and mortality). Using the data of the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (GRA) registry of inflammatory rheumatic disease (IRD) patients in Kuwait, who had COVID-19 from March 2020 to March 2021, revealed 4 mortality cases (3 cases used CD-20 inhibitors as monotherapy and 1 case used mycophenolate mofetil/mycophenolic acid as monotherapy). This article describes the characteristics and course of disease among 4 patients with IRD who died following COVID-19 infection at Jaber Al Ahmed Hospital, Kuwait. The current series raises the intriguing prospect that IRD patients may have a varying risk of unfavorable clinical outcomes depending on the type of biological agents they were given. Rituximab and mycophenolate mofetil should be used with caution in IRD patients, particularly if they have concomitant comorbidities that put them at a high likelihood of developing severe COVID-19 outcomes.


Background: There is paucity of studies reporting tear film changes and ocular surface pathologies in AA patients. Aim and Objectives: This study aims to evaluate anterior segment changes in alopecia areata patients and compare them with healthy individuals. Materials and methods: Total of 34 patients were enrolled for study with a mean age of 24.56±7.82 years. Schirmer'stest, Tear film Break Up Time (TBUT), Tear meniscus height and Optical surface disease Index (OSDI) Questionnaire were performed to assess tear film changes. Pachymetry, keratometry and slit examination to detect any corneal involvement was also done. Results: Asymptomatic punctate lenticular opacities were found in 12 (35.3%) cases and 2 (5.8%) controls. Mean values of schirmer test (in mm) was 18.59±10.15 in cases and 22.76±9.73 in controls with p=0.23 while mean values of TBUT( in seconds) was 9.59±5.49 in cases and 17.76±5.98 in controls with p=0.002. Dry eye was found in 15 (44.11%) cases and 6 (17.6%) controls with a p value 0.03, thus statistically significant. Conclusion: Alopecia areata strikes hair and Meibomian gland and spares out lacrimal gland.


Three isomeric boron‐containing thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) emitters, namely m‐AC‐DBNA, p‐AC‐DBNA, and m′‐AC‐DBNA, are constructed by incorporating an electron‐donor acridine (AC) moiety into meta‐, para‐, or meta′‐positions of an electron‐accepting boron‐embedded rigid framework. The substitutional positions are found to dramatically affect thermal, photophysical, and electroluminescent (EL) properties. The experimental results show that the para‐substituted compound (p‐AC‐DBNA) exhibits higher decomposition temperature, higher photoluminescence (PL) quantum efficiencies, smaller singlet–triplet energy splitting, shorter delayed fluorescence lifetimes as well as a fast reverse intersystem crossing rate of over 106 s−1, compared to the meta‐isomers (m‐AC‐DBNA and m′‐AC‐DBNA). Bright and highly efficient organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) with external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) up to 20.5% and 14.1% are achieved by employing p‐AC‐DBNA as doped and nondoped emitters in sky‐blue OLEDs, respectively. Moreover, excellent doping‐concentration independent EL properties and very low efficiency roll‐off at a high luminance are achieved. This isomeric strategy provides a simple method to extend structural diversity of highly efficient TADF emitters, optimize optoelectronic properties, and demonstrate the relationship of delayed fluorescence lifetime and efficiency roll‐off of the TADF devices. The three isomers also display distinct temperature‐dependent emission and mechanochromism.


This document summarizes information concerning radioactive waste and laundry shipments from the Three Mile Island Nuclear Station Unit 2 to radioactive waste disposal sites and to protective clothing decontamination facilities (laundries) since the loss of coolant accident experienced on March 28, 1979. Data were collected from radioactive shipment records, summarized, and placed in a computerized data information retrieval/manipulation system which permits extraction of specific information. This report covers the period of April 9, 1979 through April 19, 1987. Included in this report are: waste disposal site locations, dose rates, curie content, waste description, container type and number, volumes and weights. This information is presented in two major categories: protective clothing (laundry) and radioactive waste. Each of the waste shipment reports is in chronological order.


A non-migratory, non-diapausing population of the monarch butterfly, Danadus plexippus L. (Lepidoptera: Danaidae), became established on Bermuda after the precolonial cedar/palmetto forest was opened up by settlers. As part of the Bermuda Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Monarch Conservation Project, 703 monarchs were tagged to gather information on their distribution and movements. One hundred sixty-nine recoveries were made, 96% at the same site at which the butterfly was first captured. Twenty-three individuals were recaptured two or more times. Adult resident monarchs in Bermuda live about 3 to 4 weeks in summer, but up to 13 weeks in winter. They tend to remain near or return continually to a few large milkweed patches. Males spend more time at these sites than females.


IntroductionBeing a new variant of coronavirus, detailed information regarding the virulence, its clinical characters, high risk individuals are yet to be defined. This study was done with the objective of finding out clinical features of corona infection and also studies what are the comorbidities that are associated with it.MethodsThis is a single arm meta-analysis in which relevant data were derived from searches in PubMed. It includes study papers which were written in English language and their completely published article is found. Seven articles published from 24th Jan to 16th March, 2020 are included in this study. ResultsThe total number of patients was 1786 with 1044 males and 742 females with male to female ratio of 1.4:1. The median age of patients was 41 years). Fever was present in 88.8% cases. Dry Cough in 68% followed by fatigue in 33%. Hypertension (15.8%) is the most common comorbidity followed by cardio and cerebrovascular condition (11.7%). ConclusionPatients often presented with symptoms of fever, dry cough, lethargy and fatigue, muscle pain, productive cough. Similarly, patients with previous history of HTN, DM, COPD, cardio and cerebrovascular condition, immune-deficient states are at high risk of developing into the severe COVID-19 infection.


AIM: Compare symptom occurrence and severity among IBS patients with an early vs. late increase in H2 excretion, as measured by LBT, and evaluate the association between symptom severity and global H2 global excretion. METHODS: Patients with an IBS diagnosis (Rome III criteria) as well as healthy subjects were enrolled consecutively. Subjects were asked to fill in a validated symptom-severity questionnaire (IBS-SSS) and to undergo a LBT. The area under the curve (AUC) was calculated for each LBT hydrogen/time curve. RESULTS: This analysis included 160 IBS and 45 healthy control subjects. An early increase in H2 excretion was observed in 53% of IBS subjects, and this was not significantly different from that observed in healthy subjects. There was also no significant difference in symptom pattern or severity between IBS patients with early vs. late increases in H2 excretion. However, a significant correlation between symptom severity and AUC value was observed (R2: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.1-0.6, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Symptom pattern and severity was not significantly different among IBS patients with early vs. late increases in H2 excretion. However, the severity of IBS symptoms was significantly associated with global H2 excretion, as measured by the AUC.


Anterograde axonal transport of neurotrophins has been demonstrated recently, but to date such transport has only been shown for brain-derived neurotrophic factor and no other endogenous neurotrophin. Endogenous neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) protein is present in the ganglion cell layer of the chicken retina, as well as the superficial layers of the optic tectum. NT-3 immunolabel in these tectal layers is largely reduced or abolished after treatment of the eye with colchicine or monensin, demonstrating that endogenous NT-3 is transported to the optic tectum by retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Reverse transcription-PCR analysis of RGCs purified to 100% shows that RGCs, but not tectal cells, express NT-3 mRNA. Blockade of the intercellular transfer of NT-3 within the retina does not reduce the anterograde transport of endogenous NT-3 to the tectum, indicating that a major fraction of the anterogradely transported NT-3 is produced by RGCs rather than taken up from other retinal cells. Immunolabel for the neurotrophin receptor p75, but not trkB or trkC, in the superficial tectum coincides with the NT-3 label. The p75 label in the neuropil of superficial tectal layers is largely reduced or eliminated by injection of monensin in the eye, indicating that p75 protein is exported along RGC axons to the retinotectal terminals and may act as a neurotrophin carrier. These results show that NT-3 is produced by RGCs and that some of this NT-3 is transported anterogradely along the axons to the superficial layers of the tectum, possibly to regulate the survival, synapse formation, or dendritic growth of tectal neurons.


Purpose. The study is devoted to defining the basic principles of formation of the style direction "unisex" as a design practice of fashion design; the formulation of generalized image-design characteristics of this style direction for the development of costume collections as a relevant fashion product for mass consumption. Methodology of research is based on a comprehensive approach to identifying image-design and artistic-compositional properties of costume collection development, in particular methods of socio-cultural analysis, historical and logical development, system-structural, comparative, compositional and stylistic analysis. At separate stages methods of morphological analysis and synthesis, sociological interrogation are applied. Results. The origin of the "unisex" style direction, its features, the obligatory compositional elements in fashion design, the evolution of form, the main elements of products in the style of "unisex" are studied. The stylistic direction of "unisex" is characterized from the standpoint of assimilation of interactive development of men's and women's costume of the twentieth century. The systematization of figurative-design and constructive-compositional features of the main substrates of the style direction "unisex" in the modern market of fashionable clothes of general purpose is carried out. It is identified and characterized the artistic and compositional features of the collection of modern women's clothing in the stylistics of "unisex", taking into account modern materials. The general features of the collection models are systematized and the elements characteristic of the "unisex" style direction, which are the basis for designing the author's collection of women's clothing are structured. The author's collection of women's clothing, corresponding to the tendencies of the "unisex" style direction, has been designed. The scientific novelty of the study is to determine the image-design properties of the style direction "unisex" as a design practice in modern fashion design for mass consumption. The degree of aesthetics of the ideological content and gender aspects of the image-project of "unisex" phenomenon in the modern cultural and artistic space is determined. The main elements of the suit, which interactively interact with the design of men's and women's clothing as a fashion product, have been identified. The practical significance of the study of the main design characteristics of the application of the style direction of "unisex" in clothing design is determined by commercial potential, which allows fashion designers in the mass market segment and clothing brands to reduce production costs and further promotion: a single design, collection for men and women from the same materials, general advertising, etc.


The electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol on polythionine(PTn) film modified with Pt microparticles has been studied by means of cyclic voltammetry and in-situ FTIR spectroscopy. The Pt microparticles produced by cyclic voltammetry were highly dispersed in and on the PTn film. The modified electrodes exhibit significant electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of methano and the catalytic activity was found in dependence on the Pt loading. The linearly adsorbed CO species is the only intermediate in the oxidation of methanol and the abnormal IR spectra for adsorbed CO were observed. On such modified electrodes, adsorbed CO species derived from methanol can be readily oxidized. The enhanced electrocatalytic activity may be ascribed to the high dispersion of Pt microparticles in and on the PTn film and the synergestic effect between Pt microparticles and the polymer. From the above results, a possible reaction mechanism was proposed.


The photoluminescence (PL) properties of the ZnTe epilayers grown on (100) GaAs substrates with various substrate temperatures have been investigated. It has been demonstrated that the PL spectra depend strongly on the substrate temperature. A too low (390 °C) or too high (440 °C) substrate temperature deteriorates the epilayer quality due to the formation of defects or/and to the inclusion of impurities. A moderate substrate temperature (around 420 °C) is suitable to obtain a high‐quality epilayer with the narrow spectral width and strong emission intensity. This is attributed to the moderate substrate temperature improving the crystallinity of the ZnTe epilayer by enhancing recrystallization of the adsorbed precursors.


At only 90 Mpc, ASASSN-14li is one of the nearest tidal disruption event (TDE) ever discovered, and because of this, it has been observed by several observatories at many wavelengths. In this paper, we present new results on archival XMM-Newton observations, three of which were taken at early times (within 40 days of the discovery), and three of which were taken at late times, about one year after the peak. We find that, at early times, in addition to the ~1e5 K blackbody component that dominates the X-ray band, there is evidence for a broad, P Cygni-like absorption feature at around 0.7 keV in all XMM-Newton instruments (CCD detectors and grating spectrometers), and that this feature disappears (or at least diminishes) in the late-time observations. We perform photoionization modelling with XSTAR and interpret this absorption feature as blueshifted OVIII, from an ionized outflow with a velocity of 0.2c. As the TDE transitions from high to low accretion rate, the outflow turns off, thus explaining the absence of the absorption feature during the late-time observations.


This article, based on case study research, highlights how a rural school district in the midwestern United States collaborated with local community organizations to meet the needs of English language learners after the district and community experienced rapid ethnic diversification. In particular, the district EL coordinator spearheaded the formation of a diversity committee composed of civic leaders and the heads of social service agencies; the diversity committee developed and supported collaborative projects aimed at meeting the social, academic, and health-related needs of immigrant youth and their families in a rural community with limited social service resources, and educating community residents about their new immigrant neighbors in order to relieve racial tensions and more easily integrate immigrant youth into the community. The article concludes with recommendations for how schools can maximize outcomes for English language learners through community collaboration.


Soil water potential controls the dynamics of water in soils. This article describes methods to measure soil water potential. Available methods differ with respect to the moisture range where they are applicable. In the moist range, the pore water pressure of the soil is directly measured with tensiometers. In the intermediate moisture range, reference porous media are suitable, where the water saturation changes with water potential. Gypsum blocks, granular matrix sensors, heat dissipation matric potential sensors, and filter paper are used. If embedded in the soil and in hydraulic equilibrium with it, soil water potential is obtained by a calibration relationship from a water content dependent measurement in the reference porous medium. In relatively dry soils, water potential is derived from vapor pressure measurements by thermocouple psychrometry. This article presents the theoretical background of the various measurement techniques and illustrates the construction principles of measuring instruments. Problems and pitfalls of water potential measurements, in particular with tensiometers, are discussed. A list of manufacturers of water potential measurement instruments is given at the end of the article and a reference list provides material for further background information.


This study presents a remote sensing and GIS application to analyze the ground appropriateness to locate and construct the Rodoanel highway, a ring road surrounding the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Region (SPMR). This study was made in close cooperation with the Sao Paulo State Department of Roads (DERSA). It corresponds to section 1 of Rodoanel, whose construction will start in 1998. This Road Department provided documents with several alternative locations for the Rodoanel, which is presently the most important highway construction project in Brazil. To evaluate the aptness of this area for huge civil engineering works, the authors made a map of land cover units using TM-Landsat (bands 1,4,7), which was associated to maps of slopes and geomorphology in a GIS environment.


Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that is caused in part by a dysregulated immune response to the intestinal flora. The common interleukin (IL)-12/IL-23p40 subunit is thought to be critical for the pathogenesis of IBD. We have analyzed the role of IL-12 versus IL-23 in two models of Helicobacter hepaticus–triggered T cell–dependent colitis, one involving anti–IL-10R monoclonal antibody treatment of infected T cell–sufficient hosts, and the other involving CD4+ T cell transfer into infected Rag−/− recipients. Our data demonstrate that IL-23 and not IL-12 is essential for the development of maximal intestinal disease. Although IL-23 has been implicated in the differentiation of IL-17–producing CD4+ T cells that alone are sufficient to induce autoimmune tissue reactivity, our results instead support a model in which IL-23 drives both interferon γ and IL-17 responses that together synergize to trigger severe intestinal inflammation.


Background: Occupational accidents are an aspect of concern in every industrial sector, including the offshore petroleum industry. Little is known about the associations between psychosocial distress and the prevalence of incidents in this sector. Aim: To evaluate the association between effort-reward imbalance (ERI), psychological distress, and the prevalence of occupational incidents (accidents and near misses) in offshore petroleum workers in Peru. Methods: This cross sectional study included 242 (response rate of 67%) male offshore petroleum workers in a gas and oil petroleum company in Peru. Workers answered the short version of the European Working Condition Survey, the Effort-Reward-Imbalance (ERI) questionnaire; Goldbergs general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) and prevalence of occupational accidents or near-miss were reported. After imputation, the association between psychological distress, working activity and working stability and occupational incidents (accidents or near misses) was assessed. Result: The prevalence of effort-reward imbalance was 30%, fourteen percent reported distress based on GHQ-12. The 12-month prevalence of occupational incidents was 9%. Adjusted odds ratio for incidents was 4.3 (95% CI, 1.3-14.0) for those with psychological distress compared to those without it. Conclusion: Psychological distress was related to the prevalence of occupational incidents in this offshore petroleum population. Actions on employment and working conditions to prevent psychosocial distress and the incidence of mental health problems should be implemented for the prevention of occupational accidents in this industry.


In present work we calculated the three components of polarization in phenomenological theory framework by consideration of three Euler-Lagrange equations, which include mismatch effect and influence of misfit dislocations, surface tension and depolarization field. These equations were solved with the help of variational method proposed by us earlier. This approach lead to the free energy in the form of algebraic equation of different powers of polarization components with the coefficients dependent on film thickness, mismatch effect, temperature and other parameters. Several new terms proportional to misfit strain appeared in the free energy expression: built-in electric field normal to the surface originated from piezoelectricity in vicinity of surface even in the cubic symmetry of bulk ferroelectrics, renormalization of bulk transition temperature via electrostriction, odd powers of normal to the surface component of polarization. The obtained free energy made it possible to calculate all properties of the film by conventional procedure of minimization. As an example we calculated phase diagrams of PZT 50/50 films on different substrates, that lead to compressive or tensile strain u in coordinates T , u , l , where l is a film thickness, for two cases – without and with external electric field, that compensate built-in field. It was shown that in both cases self-polarized phase does exist in definite regions of aforementioned coordinates, its nature being mismatch effect. The calculations of pyroelectric coefficient and dielectric permittivity dependencies on T , u and l had shown the unusual behaviour of these quantities, e.g. existence of pyroelectricity at l < l cr , where l cr is critical thickness of ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transitions.


The aim of this study was to compare gene expression profiles of leukocytes from blood (white blood cells; WBCs) and spleen harvested at an early time point after injury or sham injury in mice subjected to trauma/hemorrhage, burn injury, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infusion at three experimental sites. Groups of injured or LPS-infused animals and sham controls were killed at 2 h after injury and resuscitation, blood and spleen were harvested, and leukocyte populations were recovered after erythrocyte lysis. RNA was extracted from postlysis leukocyte populations. Complementary RNA was synthesized from each RNA sample and hybridized to microarrays. A large number (500-1,400) of genes were differentially expressed at the 2-h time point in injured or LPS-infused vs. sham animals. Thirteen of the differentially expressed genes in blood, and 46 in the spleen, were upregulated or downregulated in common among all three animal models and may represent a common, early transcriptional response to systemic inflammation from a variety of causes. The majority of these genes could be assigned to pathways involved in the immune response and cell death. The up- or downregulation of a cohort of 23 of these genes was validated by RT-PCR. This large-scale microarray analysis shows that, at the 2-h time point, there is marked alteration in leukocyte gene expression in three animal models of injury and inflammation. Although there is some commonality among the models, the majority of the differentially expressed genes appear to be uniquely associated with the type of injury and/or the inflammatory stimulus.


Background : Osteosarcoma of jaw is an uncommon disorder found in approximately 5 % of cases. Unlike axial skeletal osteosarcoma, they present in 3rd to 4th decade and carry a favourable prognosis. Soft tissue swelling, cortical disruption and periosteal reaction are radiological hallmarks of osteosarcoma in appropriate clinical setting. Aim : We present a case of osteosarcoma of mandible in 38 year old female showing exuberant sunburst periosteal reaction. Materials and Methods : This is a case report of a 38-year-old female presenting with swelling in the right submandibular region for two months. Results : CT scan of the patient was done that revealed destruction of right side of mandible with exuberant sunburst periosteal reaction. Histopathology revealed osteoblastic osteosarcoma. Conclusion : Osteosarcoma of the mandible is a relatively rare tumor. Such extent of exuberant sunburst reaction of periosteum has not been reported before. Keywords : Osteosarcoma, sunburst, periosteal reaction, mandible


Large scale networks of intelligent sensors that can function without any batteries will have enormous implications in applications that range from smart spaces to structural and environmental monitoring. RF tags present an amenable platform for sensor integration as the backscatter communication offers low energy cost of communication. Current RF tags either use extremely low-power sensors or perform tasks of tag localization and identification based on the strength of the backscatter signal. We present a technique for estimation of amplitude and phase of the tag-to-tag channel that can be performed with very limited computational and energy resources. This enables monitoring of the interactions between tagged objects and activities around tags, as well as assessment of a variety of engineering structures. Experimental results demonstrate high resolution in the amplitude and phase channel measurement at a distances ranging from 22 cm to 1.34 m.


Sustainable utilization of the freely available solar radiation as renewable energy source requires accurate predictive models to quantitatively evaluate future energy potentials. In this research, an evaluation of the preciseness of extreme learning machine (ELM) model as a fast and efficient framework for estimating global incident solar radiation (G) is undertaken. Daily meteorological datasets suitable for G estimation belongs to the northern parts of the Cheliff Basin in Northwest Algeria, is used to construct the estimation model. Cross-correlation functions are applied between the inputs and the target variable (i.e., G) where several climatological information's are used as the predictors for surface level G estimation. The most significant model inputs are determined in accordance with highest cross-correlations considering the covariance of the predictors with the G dataset. Subsequently, seven ELM models with unique neuronal architectures in terms of their input-hidden-output neurons are developed with appropriate input combinations. The prescribed ELM model's estimation performance over the testing phase is evaluated against multiple linear regressions (MLR), autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models and several well-established literature studies. This is done in accordance with several statistical score metrics. In quantitative terms, the root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) are dramatically lower for the optimal ELM model with RMSE and MAE = 3.28 and 2.32 Wm−2 compared to 4.24 and 3.24 Wm−2 (MLR) and 8.33 and 5.37 Wm−2 (ARIMA).


We report the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on the responsiveness of osteoclasts to cellular, hormonal, and ionic signals. Osteoclasts isolated from neonatal rat long bones were dispersed onto either slices of devitalised cortical bone (for the measurement of resorptive activity) or glass coverslips (for the determination of the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]). Osteoclasts were also cocultured on bone with osteoblastlike, UMR‐106 cells. Bone resorption was quantitated by scanning electron microscopy and computer‐assisted morphometry. PEMF application to osteoblast–osteoclast cocultures for 18 hr resulted in a twofold stimulation of bone resorption. In contrast, resorption by isolated osteoclasts remained unchanged in the presence of PEMFs, suggesting that osteoblasts were necessary for the PEMF‐induced resorption simulation seen in osteoblast–osteoclast cocultures. Furthermore, the potent inhibitory action of the hormone calcitonin on bone resorption was unaffected by PEMF application. However, PEMFs completely reversed another quite distinct action of calcitonin on the osteoclast: its potent inhibitory effect on the activation of the divalent cation‐sensing (or Ca2+) receptor. For these experiments, we made fura 2‐based measurements of cytosolic [Ca2+] in single osteoclasts in response to the application of a known Ca2+ receptor agonist, Ni2+. We first confirmed that activation of the osteoclast Ca2+ receptor by Ni2+ (5 mM) resulted in a characteristic monophasic elevation of cytosolic [Ca2+]. As shown previously, this response was attenuated strongly by calcitonin at concentrations between 0.03 and 3 nM but remained intact in response to PEMFs. PEMF application, however, prevented the inhibitory effect of calcitonin on Ni2+‐induced cytosolic Ca2+ elevation. This suggested that the fields disrupted the interaction between the calcitonin and Ca2+ receptor systems. In conclusion, we have shown that electromagnetic fields stimulate bone resorption through an action on the osteoblast and, by abolishing the inhibitory effects of calcitonin, also restore the responsiveness of osteoclasts to divalent cations. J. Cell. Physiol. 176:537–544, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Molecular films of quinonoid zwitterions, of the general formula C6H2(O)2(NHR)2, have been shown to display electronic properties highly dependent on the nature of the N-substituent R when deposited on gold substrates. The different spacing and organization of the molecules can lead to molecular films with semi-metal or dielectric behavior. With the long term goal to establish how packing effects in the solid state correlate with properties as thin films, we first attempted to identify by X-ray diffraction analysis candidate molecules showing suitable packing arrangements in the crystalline state. To this end, we have prepared a series of new functionalized, enantiopure or sterically-hindered quinonoid zwitterions and established the crystal structure of those with R = CH2–CH2–Ph (6), CH2–CH2–CH2–Ph (7), CH2–CH2–CH2–CH2–Ph (8), CH2–CH2–CH(Ph)–Ph (9), CH(CH3)–Ph (12), CH(CH2–CH3)–Ph (13), CH2–((4–CH3)–C6H4) (15), CH2–((4–NH2)–C6H4) (19) and CH2–CH2–((3,4–(OCH3)2)–C6H3) (24). An analysis of the crystal packing of three molecules, 5, 13 and 15, selected as illustrative examples for comparisons, was carried out and it was unexpectedly found that these chemically very similar molecules gave rise to different packing in the bulk, with resulting thin films showing different electronic properties. Various methods have been used for the characterization of the films, such as synchrotron radiation-based FTIR spatial spectra-microscopy, which provided an anchoring map of zwitterion 15 on a patterned substrate (Au/SiO2) showing its selective anchoring on gold. This is one of the best examples of preferential anchoring of a zwitterion and the sole example of spatial localization for a quinonoid zwitterion thin film. We have also used combined photoemission and inverse photoemission spectra and the data were compared to occupied and unoccupied DFT density state calculations.


This paper surveys the literature on the value of current and potentially improved hurricane forecasts from the National Hurricane Center. Research on the societal impacts of hurricanes demonstrates that forecasts are likely generating substantial benefits to society in a variety of uses, including saving lives in the U. S. and across the Carribean and Eastern Pacific, reducing the cost of evacuations, improving supply chain management, and in the transportation and energy production and distribution sectors. The existing literature, however, fails generally to quantify the benefits with rigor sufficient for an academic quality benefit-cost analysis of hurricane forecasts. The paper offers several suggestions for future research to more precisely estimate the benefits attributable to current or improved forecasts.


Special education, despite being a uniform federal mandate, is often implemented drastically differently depending on the school system delivering services, the particular category of disability, and the race or ethnicity of students. Affluent white children who attend well-managed school districts tend to benefit from special education services. In the under-funded and over-tasked districts where most minorities attend school, the special education system does not always provide the same benefits. In these schools, special education, too often, operates as a dumping ground for those students the general education system cannot or refuses to serve. In these instances, the label of "special education" may carry harms that outweigh its benefits. For instance, African-American and American-Indian boys are the most likely to be removed from the general education classroom, be educated in more restrictive or separate environments, drop out of school, and be tracked into lower achieving classes. Consequently, they have the least access to higher education and post-high school employment. In short, special education does not appear to be helping many of these students overcome the challenges they face, and it can sometimes make matters worse.
The over-representation of minorities in certain categories of disability is a decades old problem. For more than thirty years, schools have struggled with the accurate identification of disabilities for students of color. Without a doubt, identifying the optimal level of special education is complex and fraught with uncertainty. But what seems relatively clear is that when students are inaccurately identified as having disabilities — when in fact they do not — the label and provision of special education services can cause educational harm, particularly for minority students. Despite the well documented problem of over-representation and its accompanying harms, courts generally refuse to provide a remedy for "misidentified" students. Thus, special education operates as a one-way street. Plaintiffs routinely sue schools to get more or better services, but when a school implements services the child does not need or want, courts disregard any educational harms suffered as a result of the erroneous label and provision of services. This Article argues courts rejecting misidentification claims do so under a misguided analysis. Misidentified students have valid claims for relief and schools can and should be held accountable for their failure to accurately identify disabilities when such a failure creates educational harms.
This article will explore the misidentification claims, including the current problem surrounding misidentification of disabilities and investigate the questions of why schools fail to accurately identify disabilities and what harms arise out of misidentification. It analyzes the laws in place which purport to guard against discrimination on the basis of race or disability and why those laws fail to offer remedies for misidentified students. Finally, it explores the possibility of injunctive relief or compensatory damages, both of which may force schools to increase accuracy of disability identification, thereby reducing the likelihood that children will be misidentified.


The objective of the research paper is to analyze the inventory management and the profitability of PE in Nepal. The descriptive and analytical research designs have been adopted in the study. The quantitative research approach has been used in the study. The population of the study is 37 public enterprises in Nepal. NFC, HPPC, and DDC are the samples taken based on purposive sampling method. The descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis tools have been used in the study with seven years data from the years 2011AD to 2017AD. The variables used are CR, QR, CCC, ITR, ROA, ROE, OM, firm growth, and size of the firm. The results provide the negative and insignificant relationship between inventory turnover and liquidity ratios with profitability. The results concluded the negative and insignificant relationship with current assets, quick assets with profitability. CCC is found as insignificant positive relationship with profitability. Thus, the study concluded that PE in Nepal should manage their working capital efficiently to achieve the optimal profitability even though the study found no significant relationship of inventory management on the profitability of PEs in Nepal. The study highly recommend to not to ignore the inventory management by Nepalese public enterprises.


Earlier research demonstrated that exposure to the first administration of the kinaesthetic after-effect (KAE) task differentially biases second (and later) session KAE scores. This bias results in low retest reliability. Here we explore the hypothesis that variation in organismic state also affects KAE retest reliability. A significant retest correlation was found for subjects classified as consistent in organismic state (r = 0·349), but not for those subjects classified as inconsistent in organismic state (r = −0·076). If, as these findings indicate, KAE scores reflect state variance, can they also constitute an adequate measure of trait? None of the relevant prior one-session KAE validity studies controlled for state variance, yet most had significant findings. Although KAE scores are evidently influenced by state variables, this does not contraindicate continued use of KAE as a measure of trait.


This paper gives sufficient conditions on a sequence of multipole moments for a static spacetime to exist with precisely these moments. We outline the proof, which is constructive in the sense that a metric having prescribed multipole moments up to a given order can be calculated. These sufficient conditions agree with already known necessary conditions, and hence this completes the proof of a long standing conjecture due to Geroch.


The main aspects of systems efficiency are considered. It is shown that evaluating the efficiency of the functioning of systems can be both a single-criterion and a multi-criterion task depending on the objectives of the study. The correct statement of the problem of evaluating the effectiveness as an integral character in the general case allows only a multicriteria interpretation since in this case a combination of various factors affecting the system is taken into account. Information is provided on existing approaches to assessing the effectiveness of systems that use a large number of criteria for evaluating, which differ in their functional composition. A methodology for multicriteria functional efficiency assessment is proposed, which allows modeling the multifactorial dependence of performance indicators based on integral indicators expressed as radius vectors in multidimensional subject space, and forming a spectrum of various managerial actions and decisions based on the results obtained. The application of the presented assessment model for determining the options for navigation complex with the best and worst implementation for a set of technical parameters is shown.


Murine leukemia virus strains fall into three categories with respect to their ability to propagate in cells of National Institutes of Health (NIH) Swiss and BALB/c mouse embryos. Cultures of NIH cells are 100- to 1,000-fold more sensitive to "N-tropic" strains than BALB/c cell cultures, but are 30- to 100-fold less sensitive to "B-tropic" strains. Some virus strains (dually tropic or "NB-tropic") propagate equally well in both cells. M-MSV pseudotypes show the host-range characteristics of the virus supplying the envelope, both in vitro and in vivo. The host-range characteristics appear to be genetically determined and could not be explained by host-induced modification or virus mixtures. There was no correlation between host range and Gross-AKR or FMR serotype.


This paper is concerned with three evolving disciplines, namely, Management of Technology (MoT), Operations Management (OM) and Supply Chain Management (SCM). These three disciplines have emerged at different times, SCM being the most recent, although they also seem to be concerned, at least in some part, with the same managerial problem areas. Based on this underlying assumption, the paper lays the ground for this special issue of the International Journal of Technology Management, which is devised to provide a platform for discussion concerning the impacts, relationships and possible synergies between the three disciplines that very much seem to be driving the attention of a lot of recent management thinking.


Abstract Anthocyanins, the major red, purple, and blue pigments of plants, absorb visible as well as UV radiation and are effective antioxidants and scavengers of active oxygen species. In plant leaves, one of the functional roles proposed for anthocyanins is protection of the photosynthetic apparatus from the effects of excess incident visible or UV-B radiation and photooxidative stress. In essence, a photoprotective role requires that the excited singlet states of both complexed and uncomplexed anthocyanins deactivate back to the ground state so quickly that intersystem crossing, photoreaction, and diffusion-controlled quenching processes cannot compete. Studies of the photochemical properties of synthetic analogs of anthocyanins and of several naturally occurring anthocyanins show that this is indeed the case, uncomplexed anthocyanins decaying back to the ground state via fast (subnanosecond) excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) and anthocyanin-copigment complexes by fast (subpicosecond) charge-transfer-mediated internal conversion.


To increase the efficiency of surface reconstruction, the surface-reconstruction step was performed following an object-simplification step. However, point simplification often destroys the point distribution and increases the difficulty of surface reconstruction. To reconstruct a low-resolution point-cloud model, this study presents a novel shape-sensitive point sampling approach for modifying a sampling region adaptively. The proposed method extends the projection-based reconstruction method proposed by Gopi. Therefore, our method inherits the high performance of the other method. Generally, a surface reconstruction method only works when the point distribution in a point-cloud model is dense, but the point distribution on feature surfaces is often nonuniform. To overcome this limitation, we adopt the discrete shape operator (DSO) to quantify model features and determine sampling regions to reconstruct surfaces. Experimental results show the DSO efficiently extracts features of a 3D model, and the sampling regions determined by the DSO provide sufficient reconstruction information, thereby avoiding generation of undesired holes.


Correlation of the surface physicochemical properties of nanoparticles with their interactions with biosystems provides key foundational data for nanomedicine. We report here the systematic synthesis of 2, 4, and 6 nm core gold nanoparticles (AuNP) featuring neutral (zwitterionic), anionic, and cationic headgroups. The cellular internalization of these AuNPs was quantified, providing a parametric evaluation of charge and size effects. Contrasting behavior was observed with these systems: with zwitterionic and anionic particles, uptake decreased with increasing AuNP size, whereas with cationic particles, uptake increased with increasing particle size. Through mechanistic studies of the uptake process, we can attribute these opposing trends to a surface-dictated shift in uptake pathways. Zwitterionic NPs are primarily internalized through passive diffusion, while the internalization of cationic and anionic NPs is dominated by multiple endocytic pathways. Our study demonstrates that size and surface charge interact in an interrelated fashion to modulate nanoparticle uptake into cells, providing an engineering tool for designing nanomaterials for specific biological applications.


Many asylum seekers and refugees arriving in Switzerland have been exposed to major trauma such as war, incarceration or torture. A growing number of Swiss doctors treat patients who are victims of violence and torture, and may need to draw up medical reports on sequelae of such trauma. These are often difficult to detect, as patients do not bring up the subject spontaneously. A request for a medical report offers an opportunity to recognize and explore the patient's past traumatic experiences and can be a first step in the therapeutic process. The experience gained in this field at the Travel and Migration Medicine Unit, Geneva, is reported in this article. Analysis of 82 cases treated between June 1991 and December 1993 documents the types of trauma alleged and illustrates the patients' complaints and the clinical signs observed.


A detailed comparison between the Landau and the Dougherty collision operators has been performed by means of Eulerian simulations, in the case of relaxation toward equilibrium of a spatially homogeneous field-free plasma in three-dimensional velocity space. Even though the form of the two collisional operators is evidently different, we found that the collisional evolution of the relevant moments of the particle distribution function (temperature and entropy) are similar in the two cases, once an 'ad hoc' time rescaling procedure has been performed. The Dougherty operator is a nonlinear differential operator of the Fokker-Planck type and requires a significantly lighter computational effort with respect to the complete Landau integral; this makes self-consistent simulations of plasmas in presence of collisions affordable, even in the multi-dimensional phase space geometry.


In the 1920s and early 1930s, Filipino men patronized the popular American social institution of the taxi dancehalls, comprising nearly one quarter of the taxi dancehall patrons in major cities such as Detroit and Los Angeles (see Cressey 1932). Taxi dancehalls were at the height of their popularity during this period, often serving as a key site of sociality amongst and between immigrants. Women were employed as dancers for hire, and men, predominantly immigrants, were their principal patrons. Filipinos, workers and students alike, came dressed in McIntosh suits, eager to spend their hard-earned wages on taxi dancers. Here, Filipino men made rare social contact with women—taxi dancers who were largely white, occasionally Mexican, and very rarely Filipina (see Meckel 1995 for a detailed study of taxi dancers). Filipinos would purchase their dance tickets, choose their favorite girl within a group of taxi dancers, and move to the music of a live band. For ten cents per dance number, slow or fast, Filipino men could choose to dance with the same dancer until their tickets ran out or opt for the pleasures of another. Like a taxi ride, each dance came with a ticketed price and the expectation of a tip, either in the form of a drink, a sandwich, or perhaps even a marriage proposal.


We present exoplanets as new targets to discover dark matter (DM). Throughout the Milky Way, DM can scatter, become captured, deposit annihilation energy, and increase the heat flow within exoplanets. We estimate upcoming infrared telescope sensitivity to this scenario, finding actionable discovery or exclusion searches. We find that DM with masses above about an MeV can be probed with exoplanets, with DM-proton and DM-electron scattering cross sections down to about 10^{-37}  cm^{2}, stronger than existing limits by up to six orders of magnitude. Supporting evidence of a DM origin can be identified through DM-induced exoplanet heating correlated with galactic position, and hence DM density. This provides new motivation to measure the temperature of the billions of brown dwarfs, rogue planets, and gas giants peppered throughout our Galaxy.


Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL

Tumor initiating cells or cancer stem cells (CSCs) were characterized as a unique subpopulation with stem cell features in many types of cancer. Although there has been a number of studies on breast cancer stem cells, inhibitory mechanisms of tumor initiation, progression, and resistance to therapy are unknown. Salinomycin is a chemical isolated from Streptomyces albus and a potassium ionophore. It has been used for many years to control coccidiosis. Recently, salinomycin has been reported to act as selective breast cancer stem cell inhibitor because of its property of reducing the cancer stem cell and inducing the apoptosis in cancer cell. Thus, we investigated the anti-cancer property of salinomycin in mouse mammary epithelial cell. With CDμgeo (mouse mammary epithelial cell), MTT assay was used to confirm cell viability after salinomycin treatment (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10 μm/ml) upon anchorage-dependent state. We observed that salinomycin reduced the cell proliferation dose-dependently. Also, mammosphere formation assay was performed to observe stem cell-like property after salinomycin treatment in anchorage-independent state. We confirmed salinomycin reduced the number and the size of mammosphere in 72, 144, and 216 hours. We performed salinomycin pre-treatment (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 5 μm/ml) for 12-48 hours upon anchorage-dependent state. Results by western blotting revealed that salinomycin promoted apoptosis of mouse mammary epithelial cells by activating both caspase-3 and -9 and inducing PARP cleavage. To confirm the reduction of the side population level, we performed FACS analysis using CD49+, CD29+, and CD24+ markers. Based on our findings, we concluded that anti-cancer effect of salinomycin reduced stemness and induced apoptosis in mouse mammary epithelial cell.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3359. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3359


The article addresses a novel concept: Parental Happiness Management (PHM)—which refers to parents' educational or decisions aimed to improve their children's well-being in adulthood. We ran a survey among 1,110 adults and asked them to retrospectively assess four types of parental decisions: discipline, autonomy, pro-social preferences, and parental acceptance. The results confirm the association between retrospective assessments of PHM and adults' subjective well-being as measured by global life evaluation, positive, and negative feelings, and a sense of meaning in life. We report a positive association between discipline and meaning in life, but also between discipline and negative feelings. Education for pro-social preferences was found to be positively associated with all components of subjective well-being. The child's autonomy was found to be positively associated with global life evaluation. We view parents as managers, who allocate their limited parental resources so as to maximize their children's well-being in adulthood.


This research work examined the relationship between Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) usage and Business Activities in Nigeria. The study was conducted in Lagos cosmopolitan and Ibadan city. The sample size of the study was 200. A pilot study through test-re-test method was also carried out to test the reliability of the instruments with Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient with the following result 0.89 i.e. 89% for trading activities, 0.76 i.e. 76% for Transportation Barriers, while 0.93 i.e. 93% movement of goods and services. The results revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between the use of GSM and trading activities in Nigeria, the use of GSM does not constitute transportation barriers to business activities in Nigeria and that there is a positive and significant relationship GSM usage and movement of goods and services in Nigeria. Recommendations were made to solve the problems identified.


Twenty years ago NICHD issued a request for proposals that resulted in the National Survey of Families and Households, a unique survey that has provided valuable data to a wide range of family scholars. This paper describes the efforts of an interdisciplinary group to build on the progress enabled by the NSFH and many other theoretical and methodological innovations since then. The paper reports on a new NICHD-funded project to develop plans for research and data collection to address the central question of what causes family change and variation. We outline the group's initial assessments of orienting frameworks, key aspects of family life to study, and theoretical and methodological challenges for research on family change.


Recent synthetic approaches to understanding the origin of life have yielded insights into plausible pathways for the emergence of the first cells. Here we review current experiments with implications for the origin of life, emphasizing the ability of unexpected physical processes to facilitate the self-assembly and self-replication of the first biological systems. These laboratory efforts have uncovered novel physical mechanisms for the emergence of homochirality; the concentration and purification of prebiotic building blocks; and the ability of the first cells to assemble, grow, divide, and acquire greater complexity. In the absence of evolved biochemical capabilities, such physical processes likely played an essential role in early biology.


Basic Psychology SIR,-Stengel' has pointed out that the student comes to clinical psychiatry without the same background of basic science from which other branches of medicine reap their applied rewards, but he does not suggest that the psychology of animal behaviour should be an important part of biological teaching in the first year of medical training. Surely a grounding in the principles of ecology cannot be instilled too early. To watch dogfish feeding by smell, for example, rather than by sight must make their large olfactory organs, evident on dissection, more meaningful.-I am, etc.,


Three new species of Loricaria are described from large white- and black-water river channels of the Amazon basin of Brazil, the upper rio Negro drainage of southern Venezuela, and clear waters of the lower rio Tocantins. Loricaria spinulifera and L. pumila differ from other species of Loricaria by having unique patterns of abdominal plate development and hypertrophied odontodes forming conspicuous crests on dorsal surfaces of the head and predorsal plates. Both are small species of Loricaria, reaching sexual maturity at less than 120 mm SL, and exhibiting sexually dimorphic characters consistent with members of the L. cataphracta complex. Loricaria spinulifera differs from L. pumila in having a unique arrangement of buccal papillae and large thorn-like odontodes on the dorsum of the head. Loricaria pumila is the smallest known Loricaria, reaching sexual maturity at less than 80 mm SL. Loricaria lundbergi differs from other Loricaria by having a unique abdominal plate pattern, broad head, and small basicaudal plate. Loricaria lundbergi is sympatric with L. spinulifera in the lower rio Negro drainage, but is also known from the rio Baria system of the Casiquiare drainage. Loricaria pumila occurs in the lower rio Amazonas and lower rio Tocantins. All three new species exhibit varying degrees of reduction in eye size and pigmentation seen in other fishes inhabiting deep river channels of South America.


BACKGROUND
Clinical audit is an important tool for reviewing and improving the quality of service in clinical laboratories. Here we present an audit of total serology test requests and the frequency of positive tests out of these in a calendar year.

METHODS
This is an audit of serology tests carried out at Microbiology section of Clinical Laboratory of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. We counted all the serology test requests for the year 2004. These tests requests were grouped month wise. The frequency of positive tests out of the total test requests were calculated. The tests included Widal, Toxoplasma, Brucella, Anti DNA, Anti Nuclear factor (ANF), Rheumatoid Arthritis Factor (RAF), HIV, HBsAg, HCV, Intra Chromatographic Technique for tuberculosis (ICT-TB), Purified Protein Derivative (PPD), Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test, Anti-Streptolysin-O-test (ASOT) and pregnancy test.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
This audit gives a clear idea of trends of test requests in our hospital. It reflects accuracy of clinicians' judgment in some tests and failure in others, prevalence of different diseases, seasonal variation in number of test requests for some tests and impact of awareness campaigns on attitude of clinicians towards certain diseases. This will help us in planning our laboratory requirements to improve quality.


Background. A novel tissue tracking system (TTS) allows the determination of two-dimensional strain from gray scale digital echocardiographic images. We used TTS to measure myocardial strain of the left ventricle (LV) in healthy children. Methods. The study group consisted of 40 healthy children (2 months to 18 years old). The radial and circumferential strain of the interventricular septum (IVS) and the posterior wall (PW) of the left ventricle were measured using the short axis LV view, and the longitudinal strain of the IVS and lateral wall were calculated from the apical four-chamber view. Results. Large differences were seen in the strain of different cardiac regions. Radial strain was largest in the PW (49.1±12.9%), and longitudinal strain was smallest in the IVS (27.5±8.0%). There were no significant relationships between any of the measured peak systolic strain values and heart rate or age. Bland-Altman analysis showed interand intra-observer standard deviations of 4.7% and 4.9%, respectively. Conclusion: TTS is able to measure three directional strain of the myocardium in a pediatric population. Our data can be used as normal pediatric cardiac myocardial strain values. (J Echocardiogr 2006; 4: 19-24)


We report the synthesis and structural and magnetic characterization of model square or rectangular antiferromagnets [BDTA]2[MCl4] [BDTA = benzo-1,3,2-dithiazolyl; M = Cu (1), Co (2), and Mn (3)]. All of these compounds display a molecular structure of sandwich layers of [MCl4]2- between two sheets of [BDTA]+ molecules. Consideration of likely superexchange pathways suggests that 1 presents a model square lattice of S = 1/2 moments, while 2 and 3 present model rectangular lattices with S = 3/2 and 5/2, respectively. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that all of these materials have modest antiferromagnetic exchange fields, with near-neighbor exchange J/k(B) running from 0.018(1) through 0.35(3) to 2.10(2) K as M runs from Mn to Co to Cu. No signature of any three-dimensional magnetic ordering could be observed down to 1.8 K. 1 is of particular interest because it belongs to a similar class of magnets as the high-Tc superconducting cuprates but has a much smaller exchange field; it has been proposed that the application of a magnetic field to this type of magnet can induce novel quantum states in this class of magnet, but the observation of such states is only experimentally feasible for small exchange. More detailed characterization of 1 by heat capacity measurements showed a broad cusp centered at 1.3 K in the absence of an applied magnetic field but failed to observe any sign of long-range order down to 0.33 K; this suggests that interplane magnetic exchange is weak.


In the past 20 years, the classic paradigm in radiobiology recognizing DNA as the main target for the action of radiation has changed. The new paradigm assumes that both targeted and non-targeted effects of radiation determine the final outcome of irradiation. Radiotherapy is one of the main modality treatments of neoplastic diseases with intent to cure, or sometimes to palliate only, thus radiation-induced non-targeted effect, commonly referred to as the radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE) may have a share in cancer treatment. RIBE is mediated by molecular signaling from radiation targeted cells to their non-irradiated neighbors, and comprises such phenomena as bystander effect, genomic instability, adaptive response and abscopal effect. Whereas first three phenomena may appear both in vitro and in vivo, an abscopal effect is closely related to partial body irradiation and is a systemic effect mediated by immunologic system which synergizes with radiotherapy. From the clinical point of view abscopal effect is particularly interesting due to both its possible valuable contribution to the treatment of metastases, and the potential harmful effects as induction of genetic instability and carcinogenesis. This review summarized the main results of investigations of non-targeted effects coming from in vitro monolayer cultures, 3-dimentional models of tissues, preclinical studies on rodents and clinically observed beneficial abscopal effects with particular emphasis on participation of immunotherapy in the creation of abscopal effects.


Objective In chronic kidney disease (CKD), there is primary deficiency of erythropoietin, thereby leading to anemia. In addition, chronic immune activation and the inflammatory process could be involved in the pathophysiology of anemia in patients with (CKD). However, anemia and inflammation are present in earlier stages of renal impairment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible association of some of the markers of inflammation with anemia in patients with CKD with and without dialysis treatment. Methods The markers of inflammation such as white blood cell (WBC) count, granulocytes % and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined. Similarly, serum albumin, platelets count and hemoglobin level were measured in blood samples from 61 patients with CKD attending Nephrology Unit at Al-Hussein Medical City and 20 healthy controls. The selected patients were stratified into two subgroups; 31 patients without hemodialysis (HD) and other 30 patients on HD. Results A significantly lower hemoglobin level, serum albumin and platelets count were observed in patients with CKD on hemodialysis therapy compared to controls, (P value = 0.0001). There was a significant correlation between WBC count and granulocytes % with regard to the low hemoglobin level in patients with CKD especially those on hemodialysis HD, (P value < 0.05). Conclusion Renal failure anemia was found to be strongly associated with high WBC count and gronulocytes percentage which are known markers of inflammatory status.


This article reports on decision-making under time pressure conditions. It aims at testing the Recognition-Primed Decision model with regard to volleyball. Seven male expert players participated in this study. A match was videotaped; each player was interviewed in a self-confrontation interview. Inductive and deductive analysis revealed three main results. The first showed that their decision-making was based on a recognition process of the situation typicality. The second emphasized that this process had four by-products: (a) expectations, (b) relevant cues, (c) plausible goals, and (d) typical action. The players did not equally report these by-products. The third main result showed that the decisions were largely prearranged. They consisted of an association between a typical situation and a typical action, the typical action was then adapted to the current situation. The results are discussed in relation to the Recognition-Primed Decision model and to research that has considered decision-making.


The interaction between the membrane spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the transmembrane angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor of the human epithelial host cell is the first step of infection, which has a critical role for viral pathogenesis of the current coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Following the binding between S1 subunit and ACE2 receptor, different serine proteases, including TMPRSS2 and furin, trigger and participate in the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell membrane. On the basis of the high virulence and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2, other receptors have been found involved for viral binding and invasiveness of host cells. This review comprehensively discusses the mechanisms underlying the binding of SARS-CoV2 to ACE2 and putative alternative receptors, and the role of potential co-receptors and proteases in the early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Given the short therapeutic time window within which to act to avoid the devastating evolution of the disease, we focused on potential therapeutic treatments—selected mainly among repurposing drugs—able to counteract the invasive front of proteases and mild inflammatory conditions, in order to prevent severe infection. Using existing approved drugs has the advantage of rapidly proceeding to clinical trials, low cost and, consequently, immediate and worldwide availability.


In the new period, the cultivation of innovative talents is the era responsibility and historical mission of Chinese universities. However, the disadvantages of traditional training model seriously restrict the cultivation of undergraduate innovative ability. According to analyze the existential problems of China's innovative talents training model, this paper, on the one hand, discusses the necessity of interaction between scientific research and teaching in the process of innovative talent training, on the other hand, basing on this training model, this paper puts forward countermeasures in the following aspects: building innovative terms of teachers, organizing innovation in teaching, developing innovation bases, building innovation platform and so on. Facing the new situation, this paper hopefully provides new useful inspiration for China's innovative talents training.


HeLa cells contain four keratin-like proteins having molecular weights of 50,000 (IEF 31), 48,500 (IEF 36), 44,000 (IEF 44), and 43,500 (IEF 46), respectively. Mouse polyclonal antibodies prepared against two of these keratins (IEF 31 and 46) have been used in this study to identify human epidermal keratins with common antigenic determinants. Using a sensitive immunoprecipitation procedure we show that the IEF 31 antibody crossreacts with three human acidic epidermal keratins, termed K1, K2, and K3, having molecular weights of 44,000, 47,500, and 54,000, respectively. One of these keratins (K1) comigrated with HeLa keratin IEF 44 and exhibited an identical one-dimensional peptide map. This protein is also abundant in basaliomas. In contrast to these results, the IEF 46 antibody showed no crossreactivity with any of the human acidic or basic [35S]methionine-labeled epidermal proteins. The lack of crossreactivity of this antibody was further confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence staining of cryostat sections from human split skin. These results emphasize both the similarity and diversity of antigenic determinants among HeLa and epidermal keratins.