Current domain modeling techniques encounter a similar barrier that the traditional requirements modeling methods have suffered: lack of enough flexibility to support potential reuse. Domain analysis is proposed to facilitate reuse across different applications in the same domain. But domain analysis is a complex and time-consuming task, furthermore, there are similarities among different application domains. The results of domain modeling should also be reused for different but analogous domains to receive high-payoff. This paper expands the current domain modeling methods by incorporating some concepts reported in the analogy research discipline. The expanded approach include four main models: object model, functional model, relational model, and dynamic model. Relational modeling and systems goals in dynamic modeling are adopted from analogical studies and experiments and are integrated into the approach. The expanded view will not only help better understand the domain, but also facilitate reasoning and mapping of existing knowledge or software to different yet analogous application domains.


In this research work, we have used genetic algorithm an artificial intelligence technique for automatic generation of test data for integer in case of path testing and for automatic generation of test cases. In case of small problems paths can be easily seen and we can manually select the target path, but in case of large complex problems where control flow graph of a problem is very large like control flow graph of www.irctc.com will be very large and it is very difficult to generate all the paths manually , as there are many paths in the graph we might miss some path, so to generate all the paths automatically, we have used one swarm intelligence technique called intelligent water drop algorithm, which is a graph based algorithm, which select the paths on the basis of probability and generate all the paths in the graph. With an assumption that, most feasible paths are first generated as compare to infeasible paths if present. Keywords—Software testing, test data, swarm intelligence, IWD algorithm, Artificial intelligence, Genetic algorithm


Background The concept of Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) was first proposed by Sharp and his colleagues in 1972.1 MCTD has overlapping features between at least two autoimmune diseases, such as SLE, SSc, PM/DM and RA. Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) play a critical role in the maintenance of immune tolerance and the regulation of immune responses. Treg cell dysfunction contributes to the initiation of pathogenesis and the maintenance of high disease activity in RA and SLE.2 Recently, some studies have indicated that the proportion of Treg cells was different from healthy controls in SSc patients.3 Therefore, MCTD may be associated with Treg cells. Objectives To explore the status of CD4+T cells in peripheral blood of patients with MCTD; to explore the effect of low dose interleukin -2 (IL-2) treatment on the balance of Treg cells and Th17 cells in patients with MCTD, and to observe the short-term curative effect. Methods CD4+T cells in the peripheral blood of 58 MCTD patients and 33 healthy controls were analyzed by flow cytometry. All of 58 cases were treated with standard therapy, including corticosteroids, NSAIDs, immunosuppressants, or combination therapy. Among them, 26 cases of MCTD without using immunosuppressant (CYC, MTX, LEF, MMF), were as untreated group, another 32 cases were as treated group. Then we compared the difference of CD4+T cells between two groups. In 58 patients with MCTD, a total of 27 patients were treated with low-dose IL-2 (50WIU) on the basis of standard treatment for 5 days. The difference of CD4+T cells before and after treatment with IL-2 was compared. Results The absolute count of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg cells in peripheral blood of patients with MCTD was significantly lower than those in healthy controls. There was no significant difference in the absolute count of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg cells in the peripheral blood between the treated group and the untreated group. The absolute count of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg cells was significantly higher than those before treatment with IL-2. Conclusions The absolute count of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg cells in peripheral blood of patients with MCTD were significantly reduced, which may be the mechanism of immune imbalance in MCTD patients. The decrease of the absolute count of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg cells in peripheral blood of patients with MCTD was not associated with the use of immunosuppressive agents. Low dose and short-term IL-2 treatment may increase the absolute count of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg cells in the peripheral blood in patients with MCTD, so as to restore the immune balance in patients with MCTD. References Sharp GC, Irvin WS, Tan EM, et al. Mixed connective tissue disease – an apparently distinct rheumatic disease syndrome associated with a specifi c antibody to an extractable nuclear antigen (ENA). Am J Med 1972; 52: 148–159. Vila J, Isaacs JD, Anderson AE. Regulatory T cells and autoimmunity. Curr Opin Hematol, 2009, 16(4):274–279. Cordiali-Fei P, Mussi A, D'Agosto G, et al. Assessment of T regulatory cells and expanded profiling of autoantibodies may offer novel biomarkers for the clinical management of systemic sclerosis and undifferentiated connective tissue disease. Clin Dev Immunol, 2013, 2013:390563. Acknowledgements Thanks to my supervisor, my colleagues and superiors. Disclosure of Interest None declared


The fragmentation of Palestinian lives into exile, under occupation and within Israel has led to a complex interweaving of collective memory and individual memories in the attempt to come to terms with and represent this existence. Central to Palestinian self-understanding is the key interruptive event of the Nakba, the ethnic cleansing of Palestine in 1948 which disrupted the people's links to the land of Palestine – not only for Palestinians in exile but also for those within present-day Israel. Memorialization practices, such as those undertaken in village memorial books which record in detail the Palestinian villages destroyed in 1948, work to foster a collectivity linked across generations and borders. However these practices also repress marginalized voices, especially the voices, experiences and perspectives of women. By highlighting these voices, by engaging in collecting memories and by critically assessing the process of collective memorialization, the authors reviewed present a decentred, complex and kaleidoscopic version of Palestinian self-understanding and identity.


Resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics has led to research on various therapeutic strategies with different mechanisms of action, including photodynamic inactivation (PDI). In this work, we evaluated a cationic, neutral, and anionic meso-tetraphenylporphyrin derivative's ability to inactivate the Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in a planktonic suspension under blue light irradiation. The spectroscopic, physicochemical, redox properties, as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation capacity by a set of photosensitizers varying in lipophilicity were investigated. The theoretical calculations were performed to explain the distribution of the molecular charges in the evaluated compounds. Moreover, logP partition coefficients, cellular uptake, and phototoxicity of the photosensitizers towards bacteria were determined. The role of a specific microbial efflux pump inhibitor, verapamil hydrochloride, in PDI was also studied. The results showed that E. coli exhibited higher resistance to PDI than S. aureus (3–5 logs) with low light doses (1–10 J/cm2). In turn, the prolongation of irradiation (up to 100 J/cm2) remarkably improved the inactivation of pathogens (up to 7 logs) and revealed the importance of photosensitizer photostability. The PDI potentiation occurs after the addition of KI (more than 3 logs extra killing). Verapamil increased the uptake of photosensitizers (especially in E. coli) due to efflux pump inhibition. This effect suggests that PDI is mediated by ROS, the electrostatic charge interaction, and the efflux of photosensitizers (PSs) regulated by multidrug-resistance (MDR) systems. Thus, MDR inhibition combined with PDI gives opportunities to treat more resistant bacteria.


Water vapor (H2O) is the strongest greenhouse gas in our atmosphere, and it plays a key role in multiple processes that affect weather and climate. Particularly, H2O in the upper troposphere - lower stratosphere (UTLS) is of great importance to the Earth's radiative balance, and has a significant impact on the rate of global warming. Hence, accurate measurements of UTLS H2O are crucial for understanding and projecting climate. Currently, the reference method used for in-situ measurements of UTLS H2O aboard meteorological balloons is cryogenic frostpoint hygrometry (CFH) [1]. However, the cooling agent required for this technique (trifluoromethane) is phasing out as of 2020, due to its strong global warming potential. This represents a major challenge for the continuity of global, long-term stratospheric H2O monitoring networks, such as the GCOS Reference Upper Air Network (GRUAN).

As an alternative to CFH, we developed a compact instrument based on mid-IR quantum-cascade laser absorption spectroscopy (QCLAS) [2]. The spectrometer, with a total weight of 3.9 kg, relies on a segmented circular multipass cell [3] that was specifically developed to meet the stringent requirements, in mass, size and temperature resilience, posed by the harsh environmental conditions of the UTLS. Quick response and minimal interference by H2O outgassing from surfaces are achieved by an open-path approach. An elaborate thermal management system ensures excellent internal temperature stability, despite of outside temperature variations of up to 80 K.

In collaboration with the German Weather Service (DWD), two successful test flights were performed in December 2019 in Lindenberg, Germany. We will report on the results of these test flights, highlighting the instrument outstanding capabilities under UTLS and stratospheric conditions (up to 28 km altitude), and identifying some limitations. Further development activities triggered by the test flights, involving both hardware adaptations and spectral analysis modifications, will be also discussed.  The final validation will be addressed, in cooperation with the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS), by laboratory experiments in a custom-made climate chamber, using dynamically generated, SI-traceable reference mixtures with H2O amount fractions below 20 ppmv and uncertainty < 1%. The ultimate goal is to demonstrate the potential of QCLAS as a highly valuable technique for quantitative balloon-borne measurements of UTLS and stratospheric H2O.

[1] Brunamonti et al. (2019), J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., doi.org/10.1029/2018JD030000.

[2] Graf et al. (2020), Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., doi.org/10.5194/amt-2020-243 (Accepted 4 January 2021).

[3] Graf, Emmenegger and Tuzson (2018), Opt. Lett., doi.org/10.1364/OL.43.002434.


UNLABELLED
Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) has been shown to cause a depression of mesenteric blood flow (MBF) and redistribution of blood flow away from the mesenteric vascular bed.

OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine whether two commonly used vasoactive agents, dopamine, a known mesenteric vasodilator and inotrope, and dobutamine, with its inotropic properties, would correct the MBF depression caused by PEEP. DESIGN, MATERIAL, AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats, 180 to 250 g, were treated with mechanical ventilation and either no PEEP (control group) or increasing levels (0, 10, 15, and 20 cm of H2O pressure) of PEEP (PEEP group). Also, we evaluated PEEP's effect on MBF and cardiac output (CO) under the influence of a continuous infusion of 2.5 or 12.5 microgram/kg/min of dopamine or 2.5 or 12.5 microgram/kg/min of dobutamine. Cardiac output and, using in vivo videomicroscopy, mesenteric A1, A2, and A3 arteriolar intraluminal radii and A1 arteriolar optical Doppler velocities were measured. After 20 cm of H2O pressure PEEP was attained, two boluses of 2 mL of 0.9 normal saline were given. The MBF was calculated from vessel radius and red blood cell velocity.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
There were no significant changes from baseline in mean arterial pressure or A2 or A3 diameters in any of the groups. Both MBF and CO were unchanged over time in the control group. The MBF was reduced 78% (p < 0.05) and the CO was reduced 31% (p < 0.05) from baseline at 20 cm of H2O pressure PEEP. After 4 mL of normal saline, the MBF was still 53% below baseline (p < 0.05), while the CO had returned to baseline in the PEEP group. Low-dose dopamine partially ameliorated both the decrease in CO and MBF caused by PEEP, but 4 mL of normal saline was required in addition to the low-dose dopamine to return MBF to baseline levels while on 20 cm of H2O pressure PEEP. High-dose dopamine with the addition of 4 mL of normal saline returned CO to baseline on 20 cm of H2O pressure PEEP, but MBF remained approximately 46% below baseline despite fluid boluses. Neither low-dose nor high-dose dobutamine, with or without fluid boluses, had an appreciable positive effect on CO or MBF.

CONCLUSIONS
It is clear that inotropes are not a replacement for adequate fluid loading to correct the depression in cardiac output and mesenteric blood flow associated with the use of mechanical ventilation and PEEP. Low-dose dopamine may serve as an adjunct to adequate fluid resuscitation to improve MBF.


In Mandarin, lexical tone has been found to interact with intonational tone to influence intonation perception, with the falling T4 facilitating the perception of the statement/question contrast the most, and the rising T2 the least. However, in addition to the four citation tones T1-T4, Mandarin has "neutral tone" which marks weak, non-initial syllables that do not carry a citation tone. The prevailing view is that neutral tone is, in fact, phonologically toneless. It is unknown whether neutral tone can also affect intonation perception. However, it is reasonable to hypothesize that if neutral tone is indeed toneless, it cannot interact with intonational tone in the same way as citation tones do. We investigated this novel hypothesis with a perception experiment in which 22 Mandarin speakers had to determine whether disyllabic citation tone and neutral tone words were a question or statement. Results show that the identification of intonation contours is more accurate for neutral tone than for T2, and similarly accurate for neutral tone and T4, regardless of whether the neutral tone is intrinsic or derived. Furthermore, both T4 and neutral tone are realized with a reduced pitch range at a higher pitch level in questions, unlike T2, which is characterized by a slightly expanded pitch range and a higher pitch level. It is possible that intonation perception in Mandarin is facilitated by changes in the phonetic shapes of lexical tones brought by intonation rather than the phonological interaction between lexical tones and intonation. The importance of pitch changes to the intonation perception in Mandarin was further tested in a second perception experiment with the same 22 participants and disyllabic stimuli with manipulated pitch level and range. Results indicate that the use of pitch cues in intonation perception shows tone-specific differences, namely, pitch range is more important in signaling the question/statement contrast in utterances ending with T4 or neutral tone, while pitch level is the only perceptual cue to interrogativity for utterances ending in T2.


A novel class of hosts suitable for solution processing has been developed based on a conjugated dendritic scaffold. By increasing the dendron generation, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level can be tuned to facilitate hole injection, while the triplet energy remains at a high level, sufficient to host high-energy-triplet emitters. A power-efficient blue-electrophosphorescent device based on H2 is presented.


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the effects of various workplace characteristics on work-family conflict among dual-career couples in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data based on 393 employees belonging to dual-career couples were analyzed. Using multiple regression analysis, the study has attempted to find out the effects of workplace characteristics on work-family conflict in dual-career couples.

Findings

The findings indicate that not all workplace characteristics effect work-family conflict in dual-career couples. Out of 13 characteristics, 8 workplace characteristics, namely, development and flexibility, co-worker support, supervisory support, job competence, self-employee control, practicing overtime, flexibility and discrimination, are found to have significant effects on work-family conflict in dual-career couples.

Research limitations/implications

As this study is limited to the dual-career couples employed mainly in organizations operating in India, these results may not be generalized to other areas such as traditional career couples, self-employed member of couples and in other national contexts.

Practical implications

It would be beneficial for organizations to understand and implicate that adoption of certain workplace characteristics provide appropriate choices, freedom and environment for dual-career employees, which further encourage them to build effective amalgamation of work and family roles suiting their individual circumstances.

Originality/value

This study is an important and almost first study on dual-career couples in India on such issues. As a very scant number of researches have examined the impact of workplace characteristics on work-family conflict on such extensive basis, it definitely contributes to HR literature.


Nonlinear registration is mostly performed after initialization by a global, linear transformation (in this work, we focus on similarity transformations), computed by a linear registration method. For the further processing of the results, it is mostly assumed that this preregistration step completely removes the respective linear transformation. However, we show that in deformable settings, this is not the case. As a consequence, a significant linear component is still existent in the deformation computed by the nonlinear registration algorithm. For construction of statistical shape models (SSM) from deformations, this is an unwanted property: SSMs should not contain similarity transformations, since these do not capture information about shape. We propose a method which performs an a posteriori extraction of a similarity transformation from a given nonlinear deformation field, and we use the processed fields as input for SSM construction. For computation of minimal displacements, a closed-form solution minimizing the squared Euclidean norm of the displacement field subject to similarity parameters is used. Experiments on real inter-subject data and on a synthetic example show that the theoretically justified removal of the similarity component by the proposed method has a large influence on the shape model and significantly improves the results.


The article describes the AR mobile system for Sun system simulation. The main characteristics of AR systems architecture are given. The differences between tracking and without tracking technics are underlined. The architecture of the system of use of complemented reality for the study of astronomy is described. The features of the system and the principles of its work are determined.


For teams of cooperating autonomous lightweight robots with challenging dynamical locomotion properties a platform independent modular software architecture and platform independent modules for sensor data processing, planning and motion control have been developed. The software architecture allows high level communication between modules on different abstraction levels of the control architecture within one robot system as well as communication between different and heterogeneous robots and computers using wireless network. Very different behavior control paradigms may be realized on the basis of the developed architecture. The application to teams of cooperating small and medium size humanoid robots is investigated in this paper. Scenarios for inter robot communication and cooperative task accomplishment are described.


Nurses are often caught in the middle of what appear to be intractable moral conflicts. For such times, the function and limits of moral compromise need to be explored. Compromise is compatible with moral integrity if a number of conditions are met. Among these are the sharing of a moral language, mutual respect on the part of those who differ, acknowledgement of factual and moral complexities, and recognition of limits to compromise. Nurses are in a position uniquely suited to leadership in fostering an environment that makes compromise with integrity possible.


The Workshop Tutorial project has grown in answer to the perceived need to provide students with an opportunity to use and discuss principles of physics and their applications in a learning
environment that encourages interaction with peers and supervising staff. In this manner the Workshops compliment the large traditional lectures that students are expected to attend. The style of the questions and activities are chosen to provide a mixture of quantitative and qualitative conceptbased questions and concrete hands-on activities. Reference to research in physics education on student misconceptions has been made in formulating questions (Sharma, Millar and Seth 1999).


H{sub 2}Gen, with the support of the Department of Energy, successfully designed, built and field-tested two steam methane reformers with 578 kg/day capacity, which has now become a standard commercial product serving customers in the specialty metals and PV manufacturing businesses. We demonstrated that this reformer/PSA system, when combined with compression, storage and dispensing (CSD) equipment could produce hydrogen that is already cost-competitive with gasoline per mile driven in a conventional (non-hybrid) vehicle. We further showed that mass producing this 578 kg/day system in quantities of just 100 units would reduce hydrogen cost per mile approximately 13% below the cost of untaxed gasoline per mile used in a hybrid electric vehicle. If mass produced in quantities of 500 units, hydrogen cost per mile in a FCEV would be 20% below the cost of untaxed gasoline in an HEV in the 2015-2020 time period using EIA fuel cost projections for natural gas and untaxed gasoline, and 45% below the cost of untaxed gasoline in a conventional car. This 20% to 45% reduction in fuel cost per mile would accrue even though hydrogen from this 578 kg/day system would cost approximately $4.14/kg, well above the DOE hydrogen cost targets of $2.50/kg by 2010 and $$2.00/kg by 2015. We also estimated the cost of a larger, 1,500 kg/day SMR/PSA fueling system based on engineering cost scaling factors derived from the two H{sub 2}Gen products, a commercial 115 kg/day system and the 578 kg/day system developed under this DOE contract. This proposed system could support 200 to 250 cars per day, similar to a medium gasoline station. We estimate that the cost per mile from this larger 1,500 kg/day hydrogen fueling system would be 26% to 40% below the cost per mile of untaxed gasoline in an HEV and ICV respectively, even without any mass production cost reductions. In quantities of 500 units, we are projecting per mile cost reductions between 45% (vs. HEVs) and 62% (vs ICVs), with hydrogen costing approximately $$2.87/kg, still above the DOE's 2010 $2.50/kg target. We also began laboratory testing of reforming ethanol, which we showed is currently the least expensive approach to making renewable hydrogen. Extended testing of neat ethanol in micro-reactors was successful, and we also were able to reform E-85 acquired from a local fueling station for 2,700 hours, although some modifications were required to handle the 15% gasoline present in E-85. We began initial tests of a catalyst-coated wall reformer tube that showed some promise in reducing the propensity to coke with E-85. These coated-wall tests ran for 350 hours. Additional resources would be required to commercialize an ethanol reformer operating on E-85, but there is no market for such a product at this time, so this ethanol reformer project was moth-balled pending future government or industry support. The two main objectives of this project were: (1) to design, build and test a steam methane reformer and pressure swing adsorption system that, if scaled up and mass produced, could potentially meet the DOE 2015 cost and efficiency targets for on-site distributed hydrogen generation, and (2) to demonstrate the efficacy of a low-cost renewable hydrogen generation system based on reforming ethanol to hydrogen at the fueling station.


The carcinoid syndrome, a common feature of small intestinal carcinoid tumors with liver metastases, includes flushing, diarrhea, bronchoconstriction, and right heart failure. The etiology of the carcinoid syndrome is not well understood, but serotonin seems to be involved in the diarrhea, whereas tachykinins may play a role in the flush reaction. In a double blind placebo-controlled study, we studied the effect of octreotide in 20 patients with midgut carcinoid tumors and liver metastases. A sc injection of 50 micrograms octreotide caused a significant (P less than 0.001) decrease in median plasma tachykinins and serum pancreatic polypeptide, GH, and insulin for up to 4 h. Administration of octreotide (50 micrograms, twice daily, sc) caused a 26% decrease in urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetia acid excretion, but the number of flushing attacks or bowel movements did not change significantly. A typical flush was provoked by pentagastrin, and plasma tachykinin and serotonin levels were measured. The flush reaction was graded on a 10-point visual analog scale. Octreotide (50 micrograms, sc) given 45 min before flush stimulation prevented tachykinin release completely and significantly reduced the median flushing score from 8.5 to 2. Placebo administered in the same way did not prevent tachykinin release after pentagastrin administration. Thus, octreotide prevents pentagastrin-induced flushing and the related hormonal changes in patients with the carcinoid syndrome.


This research evaluate the second data coming from operator report daily. The second data obtained
from glue winding machine group, the calculation is conducted by calculating mean production
capacities in 1 shift work during 6 month. This calculation uses the assumption that mean production
capacities executed by the same raw material in producing manner of geometry of design product done
by worker. Approach model uses the graeco-latin square to test anova at level significance 5% from
worker skill. The result from this research that worker evacuation from machinery facility to other
machinery facility at same job station, have to pay attention to the skilled ability of worker.
Keywords : geometric design, graeco-latin square, glue winding machine


This paper describes a novel single-ended impedance-based fault-location method for transmission lines, which is based upon the analysis of voltage and current during discrete system states that arise during the operation of single- and three-phase autoreclose schemes. A fault-location estimation algorithm, using the data measured during various system states and is capable of locating the fault types involving one fault resistance (i.e., single-line-to-ground fault or line-to-line fault), is developed and presented. The proposed fault-location technique is shown to have high accuracy; results are presented and compared with the well-established Takagi method and the performance of the algorithm is analyzed and discussed. The proposed technique can reduce or negate limitations associated with conventional single-ended methods and can also estimate other factors associated with the fault (e.g., fault resistance and remote source impedance). In addition, it is a potentially economic solution, since it is relatively straightforward to implement on a standard protection relay hardware platform. The proposed method is demonstrated using Electromagnetic Transients Program/Alternate Transients Program simulation models for a variety of different cases. This paper concludes with an overview of ongoing and future work that has the intention of moving the work forward toward implementation within commercially available relay hardware.


Abstract At the McGee Creek, California, site, three-component strong-motion accelerometers are located at depths of 166 m, 35 m, and 0 m. The surface material is glacial moraine, to a depth of 30.5 m, overlying hornfels. Accelerations were recorded from two California earthquakes: Round Valley, M L 5.8, 23 November 1984, 18:08 UTC and Chalfant Valley, M L 6.4, 21 July 1986, 14:42 UTC. Anti-plane shear strains for the Round Valley and Chalfant Valley events are less than 1.8 * 10 −5 and 1.2 * 10 −5 , respectively. By separating out the SH components of acceleration, we were able to determine the orientations of the downhole instruments. Peak SH accelerations at the surface were 5.7 times greater than those at 166 m in both earthquakes. A constant phase velocity Haskell-Thomson model was applied to generate synthetic SH seismograms at the surface using the accelerations recorded at 166 m. In the frequency band 0.10 to 10.0 Hz, we compared the filtered synthetic records to the filtered surface data. The onset of the SH pulse and the reflections from the interface at 30.5 m are clearly seen in both the synthetics and the recorded data. The synthetic records closely match the data in both amplitude and phase. The fit between the synthetic accelerograms and the data indicates that the seismic amplification at the surface is a result of the resonance of the surface layers and the contrast of the impedances (shear stiffness) of the near surface materials. The impedance contrast of the materials does not account for all of the amplification of the peak accelerations at the surface. The resonances of the layer system below 10 Hz contribute the most to this amplification. We find that a linear model predicts the soil response for frequencies up to 10 Hz. Material damping is added to the soil layers of the model in the form of a quality factor Q . The damping moderates the strong resonance effects by allowing energy to radiate into the half-space. The quality factor Q = 10 is constant in this frequency range but does not accurately model the attenuation at frequencies above 10 Hz.


Floodwaters on Mars likely originated from aquifers confined below a cryosphere. We use an analytical solution to examine freezing‐induced pressurization as a mechanism for releasing groundwater. The results suggest that freezing of an aquifer of global extent under the optimal conditions, i.e., perfectly confined and with low compressibility and high permeability relative to the terrestrial analogs, can release enough floodwaters to carve an individual outflow channel, but not to explain the large total flood volume required to form the all of the outflow channels. It can also produce discharges comparable to those required for carving the outflow channels by repeated floods.


The fine structure of the octopod Graneledone gonzalezi spermatozoa is described by electron microscopy. The acrosome is the longest ever found in Octopodidae. It consists of a long striated cone surrounded by a single helix, which is defined by a numerical expression. The nucleus is rod shaped and one of the largest in Octopodidae. The nuclear fossa reaches up to the fifth part of the nucleus acting as a flagellar root due to its connection with the axoneme-coarse fibres (ACF) via the centriole. Using the morphological characteristic of the sperm, the relationship of Graneledoninae within the family Octopodidae is discussed.


A greenhouse equipped with latent heat storage system was built to obtain various thermal properties, such as greenhouse air temperature, soil surface temperature, energy flow in latent heat storage, etc., which could be used in validation of greenhouse numerical model to be developed in this study. This numerical model expressed with Newton-Raphson method was programed by C-language and utilized to simulate greenhouse thermal behavior. Greenhouse air temperature and soil surface temperature predicted by the greenhouse model developed in this study were very close to the measured data obtained through almost 3 years of experiment. Therefore, it is concluded that the greenhouse model developed and verified by measured data could be utilized for simulating various thermal behaviors of greenhouses equipped with latent heat storage system to be used for energy saving purposes.


The Portuguese architecture – from traditional architecture to nowadays – is universally famous for the attention that gives to its territorial implementation. The way the architecture is placed in a particular location, as well as the way the location is changed by the presence of the architecture – the way it is redefined – are questions inherent in any architecture, particularly the Portuguese architecture, which has responded with special care in general terms. This document aims to investigate the pre-existence in architecture, to see it as a starting point and an essential tool that allows the creation of unique projects. The purpose is to obtain a more comprehensive and deeper understanding of the topic in question, in order to understand the processes that create buildings and cities through the ruins. Tavira is a Portuguese city in the district of Faro, region and subregion of Algarve, and one of Algarve's cities that has a strong tradition regarding its built past. It is in this context of a strong urban identity that Alvaro de Campos Municipal Library is implemented. The architectural proposal is born in the old prison of Tavira, built in the 20th century and converted into a municipal library. Thus, we intend to study and investigate the potential of Alvaro de Campos Municipal Library and, based on its analysis, to substantiate the explanation of the project, its architectural strategies and solutions.


A backdoor in a finite-domain CSP instance is a set of variables where each possible instantiation moves the instance into a polynomial-time solvable class. Backdoors have found many applications in artificial intelligence and elsewhere, and the algorithmic problem of finding such backdoors has consequently been intensively studied. Sioutis and Janhunen (KI, 2019) have proposed a generalised backdoor concept suitable for infinite-domain CSP instances over binary constraints. We generalise their concept into a large class of CSPs that allow for higher-arity constraints. We show that this kind of infinite-domain backdoors have many of the positive computational properties that finite-domain backdoors have: the associated computational problems are fixed-parameter tractable whenever the underlying constraint language is finite. On the other hand, we show that infinite languages make the problems considerably harder. 2012 ACM Subject Classification Mathematics of computing → Discrete mathematics; Theory of computation → Complexity theory and logic


Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Inserm UMR-S1172, University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille, France, Department of Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Andalucía Tech, Málaga, Spain, IBIMA (Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga)Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain


SUMMARY
We present here the freely available Metabolomics Project resource specifically designed to work under the CcpNmr Analysis program produced by CCPN (Collaborative Computing Project for NMR) (Vranken et al., 2005, The CCPN data model for NMR spectroscopy: development of a software pipeline. Proteins, 59, 687-696). The project consists of a database of assigned 1D and 2D spectra of many common metabolites. The project aims to help the user to analyze and assign 1D and 2D NMR spectra of unknown metabolite mixtures. Spectra of unknown mixtures can be easily superimposed and compared with the database spectra, thus facilitating their assignment and identification.

AVAILABILITY
The CCPN Metabolomics Project, together with an annotated example dataset, is freely available via: http://www.ccpn.ac.uk/metabolomics/.


Objective: To analyze scientific publications about the vulnerability of transgender people to HIV / AIDS, starting from the guiding question: What is the demand for scientific publications about the vulnerability of transgender people to HIV / AIDS? Methodology: The collection was carried out between March and December 2018, in the LILACS, CINAHL, MEDLINE and PubMed databases. Using the descriptor "Transgendered Persons OR Transgender" integrated with the descriptors "Vulnerability", "HIV / AIDS" using the Boolean AND and their analogues in Portuguese and Spanish. Results: The sample consisted of ten articles, six in English and four in Portuguese, from Sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil, India, Jamaica, Mexico and Peru. Conclusion: The sample pointed out that stigma leads to both depression and vulnerability to HIV infection in this population. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the vulnerability to HIV and the specific needs for prevention and treatment of infection in this population. DESCRIPTORS: Vulnerability Study; HIV infections; Transgender People; Social vulnerability; Review.


This study deals with a substitute of high density aggregates used for offshore pipeline coating, the hematite-barite ore mined and produced by Steel Manufacture Company and not used in steel manufacture due to containing barite ore and low iron content. Heavy aggregates of iron ore were imported by petroleum companies in Egypt, for utilization as a major constituent of concrete mix used for coating of offshore petroleum pipelines as a heavy coat for pipeline stability on sea bed and mechanical protection against anchor damages. The hematite-barite heavy aggregates form the main constituents 75% of the concrete mix, with sea water cements and specific watercement ratio desired to achieve required compressive strength, water absorption and dry density. The laboratory and field tests conducted for the hematite-barite aggregate to ensure that the physical, chemical and mechanical properties complying with coating specification and standards. The hematite-barite heavy aggregate have 3.9-4.2 g/cm3 specific gravity, well graded hematite-barite aggregate, chemically free from detrimental matter. Heavy concrete mix composed from hematite-barite aggregate, sea water cement and fresh water mixed together to produces a concrete mix of 180-185 pcf (2880-2964 kg/m), minimum dry density and compressive strength varying from 40-47 N/mm2 (400-470 kg/cm2), which satisfied the standard specification of submarine pipeline coating.


Substantial changes in behavior, physiology, and brain function occur when alertness decreases 1– 5. These changes in brain function involve increased synchronization between cortical areas 6,7 as well as alterations in sensory processing pathways and networks connecting the thalamus and cortex 5,8–11. Cognitive tasks engage overlapping functional networks with sensory pathways facilitating information processing 12,13, and thalamocortical and corticocortical networks supporting task performance 14,15. Frontoparietal circuits play a crucial role in cognitive tasks 16 and states of decreased consciousness 17. To develop an integrated framework of consciousness and cognition, it is important to understand how fluctuations in alertness and cognitive processing interact in these shared circuits 18. Our hypothesis is that during periods of low alertness, individuals who actively maintain task engagement would recruit additional frontoparietal and sensory processing networks, while thalamocortical dynamics that typically change during sleep onset would remain unaffected. Our findings demonstrated that as alertness decreased, passively listening to auditory tones led to increased synchronization in the parietal lobe, whereas actively performing an auditory task resulted in increased long-range frontoparietal synchronization. During decreasing alertness, passive listening (but not active task engagement) was associated with widespread increased synchronization between the thalamus and cortex. In contrast, active task engagement (but not passive listening) led to increased synchronization between the auditory cortex and the rest of the brain. These results reveal the functional mechanisms of the brain's flexible reorganization during transitions of consciousness when individuals are actively engaged in cognitive processes.


The strategic decisions defining what defence capabilities are necessary for our country in response to the dynamic changes in the security environment are directly related to the question of How much? What is the price that taxpayers should pay for the creation and development of those capabilities? Since security and defense constitute a public good whose creation is entirely dependent on the economic potential, on the GDP of the country, the manifestation of the price of that good is the budget of the Defence Ministry. This calls for the implementation of a system and tools, appropriate for budget resource management in order to ensure the increase of the added value of defence capabilities.


The interrenalchromaffin tissue ratio (IC ratio) in the adrenal gland of Kuttanad ducks was studied during post hatch development in 78 female birds of 13 age groups from day-old to 24 weeks of age at fortnightly intervals. The measurement was read out from the pictures by the use of "ImageJ software". The proportion of interrenal tissue in the whole gland was least at sixth week of age (1.15:1). However, the highest percentage of interrenal tissue in all the three zones (subcapsular, inner and central zones) was noticed at 18 weeks of age. Interrenal-chromaffin tissue ratio in the whole gland revealed that the interrenal tissue predominated the chromaffin tissue throughout the post hatch period in Kuttanad ducks. The functional significance of higher proportion of cortex is not fully understood, but one possible explanation could be the increased need to regulate water and electrolyte balance in ducks.The highest IC ratio of 2:1 was attained in 18 weeks-old birds when all the birds started laying eggs. This might be due to the fact that when the bird is exposed to stress (egg laying), the adrenal glands release corticoster one and catecholamines into the blood, which help the bird to adapt to new conditions.


The effect of iron, manganese, phosphorus and nitrogen on growth and lipid synthesis of the microalgae Nannochloropsis oceanica CCMP1779, as well as their impact on the magnetic harvesting efficiency, are examined under their depriving cell culture conditions. Herein, it is demonstrated that nitrogen and manganese depletion primarily reduced cell growth while phosphorus and iron restriction led to higher dry biomass. Subsequently, the role of those nutrients on fatty acids profile was examined. Phosphorus and nitrogen restriction resulted in lower and higher lipid content, respectively. High amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids like eicosapentaenoic acid are produced under iron and manganese depletion. Phosphorus deprivation favors monounsaturated fatty acids such as C18:1 and C16:1, while nitrogen restriction favors saturated fatty acid production like C14:0, C16:0 and C18:0. Since the presence/absence of macro- and micro-elements may affect the overall electrostatic charges on the outmost microalgae surface, it was also analyzed how these elements affect the magnetic harvesting efficiency. Results showed that phosphorus deprivation led to the best magnetic harvesting efficiency of N. oceanica cells (93%) as compared to other nutrient starvation as well as standard medium.


Recent increase in the occurrence of intracranial malignancies and poor performance of therapeutic measures have established the disease as an important concern of medical sciences. The lack of information about the disease pattern throughout India creates problems for maintaining community health for prevention. The present study on the hospital population of Kolkata was conducted to determine the incidence pattern of the disease in the population of southern West Bengal, focusing on distribution with age, sex, occupation and religion in different districts of the region, and characterizing diagnostic and therapeutic measures. Among a total of 39,509 cancer patients from 21 health centers of Kolkata, 2.4% had brain cancers and among these more than 60% are gliomas. A cross-sectional study for a period of 3 years reported the occurrence of 15 types of intracranial malignancy, which demonstrated astrocytomas (36.8%), glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) (7.9%) and meningiomas (11.6%) to be predominant. Brain tumors occur more frequently in males with few exceptions and the incidence was found to be highest among the 40-49 year old group (20.2%). No specific trend for religion and occupation was apparent. However, the district wise distribution showed maximum incidences among industrial areas, namely, Kolkata (33.1%), North 24-Parganas (18.2%), Howrah (9.3%) and Hoogly (7.6%). Diagnosis of the disease was by CT scan, MRI and histological identification (pre and post operative). Therapeutic procedures rely mainly on surgery and radiotherapy, whereas chemotherapy was used as an adjuvant for about 10% of the cases. Evaluation of the scenario regarding intracranial malignancy in this region was a long awaited requirement which should ultimately serve an important function in pointing to risk zones within the population and allow better control measures to be introduced for the disease.


The limnological status of an intermitent borrow pit pond in Ekpoma, Edo State of Nigeria was studied between June and September 2005 (wet season). In situ measurements of temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, transparency and total dissolved solids (TDS) were recorded together with the dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total suspended solids (TSS), primary productivity and the phytoplankton species composition for the pond water. The study revealed that the pond was slightly alkaline (pH 7.9 – 8.4) and fresh with low electrical conductivities of 91.8 – 114.1iS/cm and TDS of 46.4 – 57.2mg/l. Water temperature ranged from 26.0 – 32.10C and the pond was well oxygenated (DO values = 6.0 – 9.23mg/l) but slightly polluted with high BOD5 values (4.33 – 7.43mg/l) and highly turbid (TSS = 13.4 – 20.0mg/l). The high TSS was associated with run-offs and allochthonous inputs from the surrounding environment. The Gross Primary Productivity was low and ranged from 2.47 – 6.60mgO2/m3/day while the respiratory activities ranged from 1.8 – 5.23mgO2/m3/day. The distribution of phytoplankton was irregular but characterized by high densities and species diversity. The phytoplankton population was dominated by the Bacillariophyceae. These attributes are typical of an intermitent pond. Key words : Limnological status, intermittent pond, physicochemistry, phytoplankton, productivity.


The metabolism of the synthetic progestin, [3H]medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), was studied in women using a single injection technique. Computer-implemented analysis was used to calculate the MCR (MCRMPA) and volume of distribution (VoMPA) from the steroid disappearance curve. The value of an objective curve-fitting technique was demonstrated. The effect of protocol design (number and frequency of samples) on these metabolic parameters was evaluated. The estimation of VoMPA was most sensitive to alterations of experimental design and biological variability, while MCR was less easily effected. The MCRMPA of 1668 +/- 146 (SEM) liters/day was lower than that for progesterone but higher than that of another synthetic steroid, dexamethasone. Treatment of women with MPA or aminoglutethimide, two drugs known to increase the rates of testosterone and dexamethasone metabolism, respectively, did not alter MCRMPA. From these observations we conclude 1) with the single injection technique it is difficult to estimate Vo of compounds such as MPA which are rapidly metabolized and 2) the MCRMPA was higher than expected and less susceptible to drug-induced changes than the clearance of other steroids.


An integrated array of field-effect transistor structures is used to detect two oppositely charged biopolymers: poly(L-lysine) and DNA. Local deposition of polymer solutions on part of the array induces sizeable variations in the dc current-voltage characteristics of the transistors exposed to the molecular charge. The whole transistor array is measured in the presence of a common electrolyte. Differential signals are studied as a function of electrolyte salt and polymer concentrations. The measurements provide information on the interface electrostatic potentials of the (semiconductor/biopolymer/electrolyte) system and the experimental data are compared to an analytical model which accounts for screening of the adsorbed charge by mobile ions.


Silk fibroin protein is a biomaterial with excellent biocompatibility and low immunogenicity. These properties have catapulted the material as a leader for extensive use in stents, catheters, and wound dressings. Modulation of hydrophobicity of silk fibroin protein to further expand the scope and utility however has been elusive. We report that installing perfluorocarbon chains on the surface of silk fibroin transforms this water‐soluble protein into a remarkably hydrophobic polymer that can be solvent‐cast. A clear relationship emerged between fluorine content of the modified silk and film hydrophobicity. Water contact angles of the most decorated silk fibroin protein exceeded that of Teflon®. We further show that water uptake in prefabricated silk bars is dramatically reduced, extending their lifetimes, and maintaining mechanical integrity. These results highlight the power of chemistry under moderate conditions to install unnatural groups onto the silk fibroin surface and will enable further exploration into applications of this versatile biomaterial.


Since the introduction of new rubber clones from abroad becomes more and more difficult, Cambodian Rubber Research Institute (CRRI) has to consider the possibility to create new clones in Cambodia for improving the rubber yield potential and testing their adaptation to the instability of the environment predicted by climatologists in relation with the climate change. In order to shorten the duration of new clones creation and as hand pollination garden was not developed yet, more than two thousand seeds were collected at random from old seedling trees planted in 1924 in the field 87-A of Sopheak Nika Investment Group Co., Ltd (former Chup rubber plantation) for planting and evaluation in a Seedling Evaluation Trial (SET). All the seeds were germinated and planted in the field with the spacing of 2m x 2m at the CRRI experimental station in 2012, with a total number of 1 230 seedling trees. Early tapping was carried out for 6 months in 2015 in S/2 d3 7d/7. Girth (cm), yield (g.tree-1 and g.tree-1.cm-1) and latex physiological parameters such as sucrose latex content (Suc, mM.l-1), inorganic phosphorus latex content (Pi mM.l-1) and latex DRC (%) have been measured. 20 genotypes showing the best trade-off between girth (cm), early production (g.cm-1.t-1) and latex sucrose content (mM.l-1) have been selected as the 20 most promising clones among the initial seedlings population. These 20 genotypes were characterized with a latex sucrose content increased by more than 40% when compared to the theoretical latex sucrose content deducted from their latex yield, making them candidates for a high latex yield potential, a good response to hormonal stimulation and an improved tolerance to stress. (Resume d'auteur)


In this paper, a low-cost microcontroller-based system that uses the pedometer measurement and communication ranging between neighboring nodes of a wireless sensor network for localization is presented. Unlike most of the existing methods that require good network connectivity, the proposed system works well in a sparse network. As the localization requires solving of nonlinear equations in real time, two optimization approaches, namely, the Gauss-Newton algorithm and the particle swarm optimization have been studied. The localization and optimization algorithms have been implemented with a microcontroller. The performance has been evaluated with experimental results.


In this paper, we present an adaptive input-output feedback linearization controller, using the single cell FitzHugh-Nagumo (FHN) model, to track a normal action potential. The problem is to design a feedback control law which stabilizes an unstable rhythm of the FHN model and track a normal action potential only using output feedback. Here we use an adaptive observer to estimate the unknown parameters and states of the FHN model so that it can be used in the controller design process. The procedure is based on the combination of high-gain parameter and state observer and feedback linearization controller with the aim of reference signal tracking for the single cell FHN model. Simulation results show the efficacy of the proposed technique. FHN model seems to correctly capture the electrical behavior of the cardiac cells, and therefore this method might have important applications, especially, in the ground of control of cardiac arrhythmia.


Many models have been proposed to account for the high temperature superconductivity observed in oxide systems. Almost all of these models proposed are based on the uncoupled low dimensional carrier Cu–O layers of the oxides. Results of several experiments are presented and discussed. They suggest that the high temperature superconductivity observed cannot be strictly two or one dimensional, and that the environment between the Cu–O layers and the interlayer coupling play an important role in the occurrence of such high temperature superconductivity. A comment on the very short coherence length reported is also made.


We present a new extensive database containing experimental scattering matrix elements as functions of the scattering angle measured at 441.6 and 632:8 nm for a large collection of micron-sized mineral particles in random orientation. This unique database is accessible through the World-Wide Web. Size distribution tables of the particles are also provided, as well as other characteristics relevant to light scattering. The database provides the light scattering community with easily accessible information that is useful, for a variety of applications such as testing theoretical methods, and the interpretation of measurements of scattered radiation. To illustrate the use of the database, we consider cometary observations and compare them with (1) cometary analog data from the database, and (2) with results of Mie calculations for homogeneous spheres, having the same refractive index and size distribution as those of the analog data. ? 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


This paper presents a broadcast protocol that makes cooperative driving applications safer. Collaborative driving is a rapidly evolving trend in intelligent transportation system. Current communication services provided by vehicular ad-hoc network (VANET) cannot guarantee fail-safe operation. We present a fail safe broadcast protocol (FSBP) that resides between the cooperative driving applications and VANET to make the cooperative driving applications work in a safer way. The protocol uses synchronized clocks with the help of GPS to schedule the broadcast transmissions of the participants. Electing not to transmit at a scheduled time is a unique message that cannot be lost because of a noisy or lost communication channel. This message is used to abort a collaborative operation and revert to an autonomous driving mode, similar to the current generation of intelligent vehicles, in which a vehicle protects itself. We describe a particular, simple protocol that uses a token passing mechanism. We specify the protocol as a finite state machine and use probabilistic verification to verify the protocol. This is the first formal verification of a multi-party broadcast protocol.


Purpose To compare men and women faculty's family situations and perceptions of organizational climate. Method In 2005, the authors sent an electronic survey to full-time faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School to assess their perceptions of professional relationships, mentoring, obstacles to satisfaction, policies, circumstances that contribute to departure, gender equality, family situations, and work life. Results Of 615 faculty, 354 (57%) responded. Women and men were equally productive and worked similar total hours. Women were less likely to have partners/spouses, were more likely to have partners/spouses who were employed, and devoted more time to household tasks. Compared with men, women reported more experience with obstacles to career success and satisfaction and with circumstances that contribute to departure. More women than men perceived that they were expected to represent the perspective of their gender, that they were constantly under scrutiny by colleagues, that they worked harder than colleagues worked in order to be perceived as legitimate, and that there were "unwritten rules" and bias against women. Few faculty reported overt discrimination; however, more women than men perceived gender discrimination in promotion, salary, space/resources, access to administrative staff, and graduate student/fellow assignment. Conclusions Work–life and family–life factors served as obstacles to satisfaction and retention of the women faculty studied. Many of these factors reflect challenges attributable to subtle gender bias and the intersection of work and family life. The authors provide examples showing that medical schools can implement policy changes that support faculty who must balance work and family responsibilities. Identification and elimination of gender bias in areas such as promotion, salary, and resource allocation is essential.


BACKGROUND
Early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy uses ultrasound with serial measurements of total human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The objective of this study was to explore the possibility that an isolated measurement of hCG isoforms/subunits rather than total hCG could be used as a single test for ectopic pregnancy.

METHODS
Total and intact hCG, free hCG beta- and alpha-subunits (hCGbeta and -alpha), and hCG beta-core fragment were measured by RIA and IRMA in the serum and urine of 76 women presenting at outpatient emergency departments with a positive pregnancy test, lower abdominal pain, and/or vaginal bleeding. Final diagnoses were based on outcomes of pregnancies and tissue histology.

RESULTS
Twenty-seven of the 76 women were subsequently diagnosed with viable pregnancies, 37 with spontaneous miscarriage, and 12 with ectopic pregnancy. Concentrations of all forms of hCG were lower in cases of ectopic pregnancy and spontaneous miscarriage than in viable pregnancies. Serum samples gave better results than urine samples. The free hCGbeta isoform (P <0.0001) had 100% sensitivity at a specificity of 79% at a 281 pmol/L (6.5 micro g/L) cutoff. Total hCG (P = 0.005) had comparable ROC characteristics with a 100% sensitivity and 68% specificity at a cutoff value of 1053 pmol/L (375 IU/L). Neither hCGbeta (P = 0.7) nor total hCG (P = 0.4) could distinguish ectopic pregnancies from spontaneous miscarriage.

CONCLUSION
Measurement of serum free hCGbeta at the time of presentation can identify women with a high probability of ectopic pregnancy who may benefit from closer surveillance, reducing the risk of tubal rupture.


Extreme weather events in animal production are common in tropical coastal areas and have a high impact on the livelihoods of livestock keepers. The objective of the study was to analyze the threats and risks that extreme climatic events represent in the livelihood of the dual-purpose cattle raising families of the Costa Chica in the state of Guerrero. Information was recorded on the livelihood assets, farmer´s risk perception and impacts of climatic threats on 189 production units of cattle. The information was analyzed with descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, cluster and simple correspondence with the SAS ® statistical package. Six types of livelihood were identified, with predominance of cattle-crops (48.7%), only cattle (15.3%) and cattle-crops-services (12.7%). For the level of assets and income, the livestock-crops-commerce livelihood had the highest average values, followed by cattle-farming and only cattle. The perception of farmer´s climatic and flood risk was high, and drought was the risk most important. The livelihoods with income from services and commerce were the least vulnerable to climate threats, since they do not depend entirely on agricultural activities; while the only cattle livelihood was the most vulnerable, due to depends on natural resources and was affected by hurricanes, floods, droughts and high temperatures.


Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC

Background: Vemurafenib is a recently approved anticancer therapy for B-RafV600E metastatic melanoma. Treatment with this agent increases overall patient survival compared with dacarbazine; however, most patients receiving vemurafenib progress within a year and are left with limited treatment options. Few validated screening tools exist to evaluate potentially beneficial therapies for these resistant/refractory patients. To address this deficiency we have generated a panel of paired mutant B-Raf vemurafenib-sensitive and -resistant patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of metastatic melanoma and colorectal cancer. Each parent model was screened for activating mutations and all evaluated in vivo against vemurafenib. In addition, select model pairs were subjected to whole genome sequencing and RNA analysis to identify differences in genetic and expression profiles.

Methods: Establishment of parent models was previously described. Vemurafenib-resistant PDX models (PDX-VR) were generated by in vivo administration of clinical-grade vemurafenib at increasing concentrations over limited tumor passages. Parental vemurafenib-sensitive models were screened for activating mutations of fifty-two known cancer genes using a PCR-based assay with customized primers. DNA and RNA was extracted from select model pairs and profiled and compared for alterations.

Results: To date we have generated six B-RafV600E PDX-VR models (3 melanoma + 3 colorectal) with additional B-RafV600E and B-RafV600K PDX-VR models in development. In vivo studies evaluating vemurafenib in parent models reported notable tumor growth inhibition in all but one colorectal model (ST428), including tumor regressions in melanoma. PDX-VR models reported tumor growth similar to untreated controls at vemurafenib concentrations up to 150 mg/kg/day. Comparative analysis of paired models revealed some differences in DNA and RNA profiles.

Conclusion: We have generated a panel of paired mutant B-raf vemurafenib-sensitive and -resistant patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models representing metastatic melanoma and colorectal cancer available as validated screening tools to evaluate potentially beneficial therapies for vemurafenib-resistant/refractory patients.

Citation Format: Michael J. Wick, Teresa L. Vaught, Lizette Gamez, Justin Meade, Skylar Carden, Anthony W. Tolcher, Drew W. Rasco, Amita Patnaik, Alexander Miller, Ronald Drengler, Kyriakos P. Papadopoulos. Establishment and characterization of paired mutant B-raf, vemurafenib-sensitive and -resistant patient-derived xenograft models. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2037. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2037


Ask anyone why a square matrix of complex numbers has an eigenvalue, and you'll probably get the wrong answer, which goes something like this: The characteristic polynomial of the matrix—which is defined via determinants—has a root (by the fundamental theorem of algebra); this root is an eigenvalue of the matrix. What's wrong with that answer? It depends upon determinants, that's what. Determinants are difficult, non-intuitive, and often defined without motivation. As we'll see, there is a better proof—one that is simpler, clearer, provides more insight, and avoids determinants. This paper will show how linear algebra can be done better without determinants. Without using determinants, we will define the multiplicity of an eigenvalue and prove that the number of eigenvalues, counting multiplicities, equals the dimension of the underlying space. Without determinants, we'll define the characteristic and minimal polynomials and then prove that they behave as expected. Next, we will easily prove that every matrix is similar to a nice upper-triangular one. Turning to inner product spaces, and still without mentioning determinants, we'll have a simple proof of the finite-dimensional Spectral Theorem. Determinants are needed in one place in the undergraduate mathematics curriculum: the change of variables formula for multi-variable integrals. Thus at the end of this paper we'll revive determinants, but not with any of the usual abstruse definitions. We'll define the determinant of a matrix to be the product of its eigenvalues (counting multiplicities). This easy-to-remember definition leads to the usual formulas for computing determinants. We'll derive the change of variables formula for multi-variable integrals in a fashion that makes the appearance of the determinant there seem natural.


We created an overall assessment metric using a deep learning autoencoder to directly compare clinical outcomes in a comparison of lower limb amputees using two different prosthetic devices—a mechanical knee and a microprocessor-controlled knee. Eight clinical outcomes were distilled into a single metric using a seven-layer deep autoencoder, with the developed metric compared to similar results from principal component analysis (PCA). The proposed methods were used on data collected from ten participants with a dysvascular transfemoral amputation recruited for a prosthetics research study. This single summary metric permitted a cross-validated reconstruction of all eight scores, accounting for 83.29% of the variance. The derived score is also linked to the overall functional ability in this limited trial population, as improvements in each base clinical score led to increases in this developed metric. There was a highly significant increase in this autoencoder-based metric when the subjects used the microprocessor-controlled knee (p < 0.001, repeated measures ANOVA). A traditional PCA metric led to a similar interpretation but captured only 67.3% of the variance. The autoencoder composite score represents a single-valued, succinct summary that can be useful for the holistic assessment of highly variable, individual scores in limited clinical datasets.


Abstract. A stable multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber laser has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated based on black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) packaged by polytetrafluoroethylene. The laser mainly consists of a polytetrafluoroethylene packaging device of black phosphorus quantum dots (PTFEPD-BPQDs) and a Lyot filter. PTFEPD-BPQDs have the function of suppressing the mode competition and stabilizing the multiwavelength output. In the experiments, for the unpackaged BPQDs device, BPQDs will degrade and lose its function within 48 h, whereas for the PTFEPD-BPQDs, BPQDs can keep their function for more than 3 weeks. Fifteen stable multiwavelength lasing signals (MWLSs) with the wavelength space of 0.35 nm are achieved. A 10-min optically driven deposition is more conducive to the stable output of MWLSs. The wavelength offset and peak power fluctuation of the output spectrum at central wavelength are 0.1 nm and 0.9 dB, respectively.


Rotary instrumentation with NiTi has proven to be a valid and science-based modality, with many dental schools already incorporating the concept, into their predoctoral curriculum. Instrumentation is a highly significant aspect to root canal therapy whose importance has been stressed by many workers. Improved understanding of the mechanisms involved and greater appreciation of limitations of rotary instrument design currently available indicate that there is a continuing need for meticulous care and thoroughness in this stage of treatment. This explosive development of new technology in endodontic therapy, establishing its presence in the clinical domains of some of dentistry's harshest skeptics, as well as innovative solutions to previously unanswered questions, will continue at an exponential rate well into the next millennium.The latest rotary instrumentations for performing endodontics have elevated the specialty to a level of sophistication never before attain. The future of endodontics looks bright, promising and exciting.


Cancer is a cellular tumor that unlike benign tumor can metastasize and invade the surrounding tissues. In the present study the anticancer effect of paclitaxel was evaluated on 7, 12 Di Methyl Benz (a) Anthracene induced skin cancer in wistar rats and results were compared with normal, paclitaxel and paclitaxel-Di allyl sulfide combined alternative chemotherapy. By analyzing the various biochemical parameters (lipid Profile and lipid metabolizing enzymes) and Marker enzymes (squamous cell antigen). Skin cancer was induced in rats by 7, 12 Di methyl benz(a) anthracene (DMBA) at the dosage of 5 µg was dissolved in 100µl and administered into experimental animals for 28 weeks. In this study, we demonstrated that combination of paclitaxel and Di allyl sulfide protects the rats from a lethal dose of DMBA for 30 days. Total cholesterol (TC), free cholesterol (FC), phospholipids (PL) and triglycerides (TG) were found to be significantly increased whereas ester cholesterol (EC) and free fatty acids (FFA) were significantly decreased when compared with cancer bearing group II animals. From the present study, the effect of Paclitaxel- Di allyl sulfide combination proved to be a more significant chemotherapeutic agent against DMBA induced skin cancer in wistar rats compared to that of paclitaxel by analyzing the lipid profile and lipid metabolizing enzymes and marker enzymes.


Background : Ovarian tumour causes great morbidity and mortality. Objective : The purpose of the present study was to analyze the different presentation of ovarian tumours to see the frequency and clinic-demographic characteristics of ovarian tumour. Methodology : This cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College, Dhaka during the period from January to June 2013 for a period of six months. Patient admitted in Department of Obstetrics Gynaecology ward in Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital with provisional diagnosis of ovarian tumour were selected as study population. Proper permission was taken from the ethical committee of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital for this study. All the patients were informed about the various aspects of the study. Their verbal consents were taken. Women of all ages with ovarian tumour were included in this study. Women with all other tumour except ovarian tumour were excluded from this study. A thorough history variably collected, clinical examination and investigations was carried out. The result of benign and malignant ovarian neoplasms in regard to age parity, physical sign, vaginal examination, laparotomy findings, together with their macroscopic findings are tabulated separately. Histopathological examination was done by senior pathologists of ShSMCH. Result : A total 50 cases of ovarian tumour had been studied of which 26 (52%) were benign and 24(49%) were malignant ovarian tumours which were confirmed by histopathological examination (P>0.05). 28% and 12% patient with benign ovarian tumour were in age group of 18-34 years and 35-45 years and 14% patient with malignant ovarian tumour in age group >45 years (p>0.05). 32% patient with benign ovarian tumours came from poor socio economics condition and 20% from middle class, 28% patient with malignant ovarian tumour came from poor and 16% from middle class family. Out of 50 cases of ovarian tumour , 39 were married and 11 were unmarried. 51% patients did not use any contraceptives and 31% oral contraceptives (P<0.05). No family history was found in 92% patients. 16% patients with benign tumours were unmarried. Conclusion : In conclusion ovarian tumour are mostly benign of which middle age group are most commonly reported. J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, 2014; 6(2):76-78


Photoelectric detection of fluorescence from hematoporphyrin-containing "occult" bronchogenic carcinoma is a potentially useful technique for localizing and delineating such cancers. A method is presented which would enable use of a fluorescence-detection system simultaneously with conventional illumination during flexible bronchofiberscopic examination. Preliminary data suggest that quantities of hematoporphyrin as small as 5 picograms can be detected on the surface of tumors by this method.


Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the major causes of liver fibrosis and liver transplantation in the United States. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in the blood are emerging as biomarkers for pathological conditions. In the present study we performed a systematic screening approach to identify up‐regulated miRNAs in the plasma/serum of HCV‐infected patients with different stages of hepatic histological disease severity. We initially screened serum samples of HCV‐infected patients with fibrosis and compared them with sera of healthy volunteers using serum miRNA array profiling and identified a group of modulated miRNAs. Subsequent study demonstrated that miR‐20a and miR‐92a in HCV‐infected fibrosis patients sera were significantly up‐regulated when compared with that of healthy volunteers or non‐HCV‐associated liver disease. We have also observed an increase of plasma miR‐20a and miR‐92a in acute and chronic HCV‐infected patients as compared to that of healthy volunteers. However, there was no correlation between the plasma/serum levels of any of these miRNAs with HCV viral loads. We next investigated longitudinal plasma samples from HCV‐infected patients. Our results suggested that miR‐20a and miR‐92a remained unaltered in HCV‐infected patients who progressed from acute to chronic infection. On the other hand, miR‐92a expression was reduced in acute to resolved individuals. These data provide evidence that plasma/serum levels of miR‐20a and miR‐92a have potential as sensitive and cost‐effective biomarkers for early detection of HCV infection. Conclusion: Circulating miR‐20a may serve as a potential for predictive biomarker in HCV‐mediated fibrosis. (Hepatology 2013;53:863–871)


Adults describe abstract shapes moving in a goal-directed manner using animate terms. This study tested which variables affect school-aged children's descriptions of moving geometrical shapes. Children aged 5 to 9 years were shown displays of interacting geometrical shapes and were asked to describe them. Across participants, instructions, number of moving figures, whether a figure caught another, and complexity of the scene were manipulated. Nine-year-olds used significantly more animate phrases than 5-year-olds. Furthermore, we found an Age by Condition interaction. Five-year-olds made significantly more animate statements in the animate condition, while 7-year-olds and 9-year-olds were less affected by instructions. Scene complexity increased children's use of animate phrases. Number of agents present on the screen and whether a catch occurred did not impact children's animate attributions. Our results support the hypothesis that children, like adults, are attuned to animacy cues and describe chasing agents in animate terms.


The need to develop reliable, adequate and cost-efficient methods for tool condition monitoring in milling has been emphasised by industry for a long time. The development of such methods has to deal with many difficulties such as complex machining conditions and a large number of available process variables. The paper presents the development of a multi-tooth approach to tool condition monitoring applied to milling where the inherent methods have been evaluated in experimental studies. Non-traditional methods such as multivariate techniques have been used to handle the large amount of process information that become accessible during machining. The developed methods are applied on different aspects of tool condition monitoring where the results obtained create opportunities for future research.


Mathematics can be as effortless as humming a tune, if you know the tune, writes Gareth Loy. In Musimathics, Loy teaches us the tune, providing a friendly and spirited tour of the mathematics of music—a commonsense, self-contained introduction for the nonspecialist reader. Volume 2 of Musimathics continues the story of music engineering begun in volume 1, focusing on the digital and computational domain. Loy goes deeper into the mathematics of music and sound, beginning with digital audio, sampling, and binary numbers, as well as complex numbers and how they simplify representation of musical signals. Chapters cover the Fourier transform, convolution, filtering, resonance, the wave equation, acoustical systems, sound synthesis, the short-time Fourier transform, and the wavelet transform. These subjects provide the theoretical underpinnings of todays music technology. The material in volume 1 is all preparatory to the subjects presented in this volume, although either volume can be read independently. Cross-references to volume 1 are provided for concepts introduced in the earlier volume, and additional mathematical orientation is offered where necessary. The topics are all subjects that contemporary composers, musicians, and music engineers have found to be important. The examples given are all practical problems in music and audio. The level of scholarship and the pedagogical approach also make Musimathics ideal for classroom use. Additional material can be found at a companion web site.


. Traditional methods for determining the solubility of oxygen in water are considered. Their advantages and disadvantages are shown. It is noted that especially great difficulties arise when measuring SO in a real chemical process, where the temperature and components of the system, as well as their ratios change over time. The new method for determining the solubility of oxygen based on thermodynamic calculation of the equilibrium phase and component composition of the oxygen-water system by minimizing the isobaric-isothermal potential of Gibbs using the software package "Selector" is proposed. The model is based on the exact equation of state for calculating the chemical potential of the vapor phase and the chemical potential of the liquid phase. The result is mathematical laws of dissolution of oxygen in water depending on a wide range of temperatures and pressures, which allows significantly facilitating and expanding the range of reliable control of the parameters of chemical-technological processes. The thermodynamic model allows calculations to be performed both in pure water and in acid and salt solutions, as well as taking into account the vapor phase and without it. The equation of Henry's constant is given 2 1 X P A B T C T DT = ++ + 0.0181 exp( ln( ) ) for oxygen and air from temperatures in the range of 273...373 K and pressures up to 10 atm., which allows determining any intermediate values. To do this, it is necessary to substitute in the equation the current data of temperature and pressure, which are easily measurable. It is shown that within these ranges the deviation from the experimental values is minimal ∼1%, which allows using of the presented equations in technological calculations. The value of the temperature, at which the minimum solubility of oxygen is being observed, for pure oxygen is determined Tmin = 370.5K, for air Tmin = 370.3 K., the value of enthalpy changes sign.


Failure of dental treatment due to anxiety is a common problem in children. The aim of this study was to establish whether the use of a combination of intravenous midazolam with inhalation agents (nitrous oxide alone or in combination with sevoflurane) was any more likely to result in successful completion of treatment than midazolam alone. A further aim was to evaluate the clinical viability of these techniques as an alternative to general anaesthesia. In total, 697 children too anxious for management with relative analgesia and requiring invasive dental procedure for which a general anaesthetic would usually be required, were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three groups given the following interventions: group 1 – a combination of inhaled medical air and titrated intravenous midazolam, group 2 – a combination of inhaled 40% nitrous oxide in oxygen and titrated intravenous midazolam, and group 3 – a combination of an inhaled mixture of sevoflurane 0.3% and nitrous oxide 40% in oxygen with titrated intravenous midazolam. The primary outcome measure was successful completion of the intended dental treatment with a co‐operative child responsive to verbal commands. In group 1, 54% (94/174 children) successfully completed treatment. In group 2, 80% (204/256 children) and in group 3, 93% (249/267 children) completed treatment. This difference was significant at the 1% level. Intravenous midazolam, especially in combination with inhaled nitrous oxide or sevoflurane and nitrous oxide, are effective techniques, with the combination of midazolam and sevoflurane the one most likely to result in successful treatment.


Since the financial crisis in 2008, it is no longer outdated to claim that the state has an important task in safeguarding the public sphere. This rehabilitation of central government as the appropriate level of regulating the public sphere raises the question under which conditions the state can execute its public tasks in a satisfactory way and how it should execute these tasks. In order to answer these questions we should avoid the temptation to identify too easily the public sphere with the official sphere. In this contribution I will argue that in order for states to safeguard different interests - including socio-economic ones - in a reliable and effective way, there need to be a strong public sphere, to be differentiated from both the private and the official domain. The features of such a public sphere will be sketched, in fairly simple terms, as the result of a process of representation and abstraction. On the basis of that rough sketch, I will develop three normative requirements by means of which strong public spheres can be distinguished from weak ones. On the basis of these requirements the question can be addressed to what extent and under which conditions the nation-state is able to maintain a strong public sphere in which not only liberty-rights but also socio-economic rights are safeguarded. After having outlined the weaknesses of the welfare-state in preserving a public sphere, two alternative candidates are examined: lower level institutions and the judiciary. It is argued that all three have difficulties in optimising the three requirements. The paper concludes by proposing some possible remedies.


Cervical cancer is the second most common form of cancer among women, and responsible for 274,000 deaths each year, most of which occur in developing countries. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is an essential factor in the development of cervical cancer and also a contributory factor in other types of cancer. The current prophylactic HPV vaccines provide protection against the -16 and -18 genotypes which are most commonly associated with cervical cancer worldwide. However, the increased costs of these vaccines inhibit their implementation in developing countries, affecting their viability. Moreover, a therapeutic vaccine is needed for women who are already infected by HPV and/or affected by HPV-related cancer. A number of innovative approaches to combat and treat HPV infection are currently being studied and some of these will be consider in this work, together with the development of new vaccines, especially in seriously affected areas located in developing countries. At the same time, there will be a discussion of the issues involved in carrying out effective HPV vaccination programs; these will take account of financial constraints, the lack of adequate infrastructure and the competing priorities, that are found in the surrounding social context of the developing countries.


Background Coronary artery disease (CAD), a severe cardiovascular disorder, still remains the major reason for death among adults. In Saudi Arabia, the most common risk factors noticed were hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and dyslipidemia. To date, various therapies have been used for managing CAD, but primary prevention remains the cornerstone to reducing the incidence of CAD-linked mortality and morbidity. The present research aimed to evaluate public awareness levels about CAD in the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods A structured questionnaire was used to assess the demographic variables, information regarding risk factors, and knowledge and awareness about CAD. To analyze the knowledge and awareness of the general population regarding CAD, 26 well-constructed questions were framed and asked. General characteristics like knowledge, awareness, risk factors, signs and symptoms, complications, effects, treatment, and prevention of CAD were recorded by asking questions with different options. The data obtained were then subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 20.0 software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results Out of 651 participants, 66.51% were males and 33.48% were females, and 36.40% were aged between 26 and 35 years. Of the participants, 14.13% had a positive family history of CAD, 66.05% had inactive lifestyle habits, and 59.60% did not report any stress. A total of 61.29% were unaware of CAD, but many of them were aware of the risk factors, symptoms, and complications of the disease. A total of 5.529% were suffering from CAD, with a time period of less than one year. Only 1.84% of participants were taking medicines for CAD. Conclusion Our study suggested that the community of the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia has meager knowledge and awareness about CAD. Westernized lifestyles and urbanization have caused poor physical well-being in people, leading to increased risk factors for CAD. Thus, we suggest that different educational public health awareness programs should be implemented by the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia to decrease the prevalence of these life-threatening diseases.


Introduction: In the current study, the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) treatments were examined based on biomechanical and histological criteria and mRNA levels of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and NADPH oxidase (NOX) 1 and 4 in a postponed, ischemic, and infected wound repair model (DIIWHM) in rats with type 2 diabetes (DM2) during the inflammation (day 4) and proliferation (day 8) stages. Methods: To study ischemic wound repair in a diabetic rat model (DIIWHM), 24 rats with type-2 diabetes were randomly divided into four groups and infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The control groups consisted of CG4 (control group on day 4) and CG8 (control group on day 8), while the PBM groups comprised PBM4 (PBM treatment group on day 4) and PBM8 (PBM treatment group on day 8). These group assignments allowed for comparisons between the control groups and the PBM-treated groups at their respective time points during the study. Results: On days 4 and 8 of wound restoration, the PBM4 and PBM8 groups showed substantially modulated inflammatory responses and improved formation of fibroblast tissue compared with the CG groups (P<0.05). Concurrently, the effects of PBM8 were significantly superior to those of PBM4 (P<0.05). The antioxidant results on days 4 and 8 revealed substantial increases in CAT and SOD in the PBM groups compared with the CGs (P<0.05). Substantial decreases were observed in the antioxidant agents NOX1 and NOX4 of the PBM4 and PBM8 groups compared with both CGgroups (P<0.05). Conclusion: PBM treatments significantly sped up the inflammatory and proliferating processes in a DHIIWM in DM2 animals by modifying the inflammatory reaction and boosting fibroblast proliferation. Overall, the current findings indicated substantially better results in the PBM groups than in the CG groups.


If a hospital employee makes a mistake and a patient is hurt, should that employee be punished, fired, or considered blame-free? With a "Just Culture" framework in place at a hospital, the answer in most instances should be "none of the above." According to David Marx, JD, the design of the health system and the behavior of the employee at the time of the incident--and not simply the incident itself--should come under review.


The spin coating of thin (> 200 nm thick) and ultrathin (< 200 nm thick) polymer films is examined in several solvents of varying volatility over a broad range of polymer solution concentrations and spin speeds. Experimentally measured film thicknesses are compared with a simple model proposed by Bornside, Macosko, and Scriven, which predicts film thickness based on the initial properties of the polymer solution, solvent, and spin speed. This model is found to predict film thickness values within 10% over the entire range of conditions explored, which gave film thicknesses from 10 nm to 33 μ:m. The model underpredicts film thickness for cases in which a very volatile solvent is used or the initial concentration of polymer is high, while overpredicting film thickness for cases in which a low volatility solvent is used or the initial polymer concentration is very low. These deviations are a consequence of how the model decouples fluid flow and solvent evaporation.


Computing systems are becoming more and more complex and powerful. It is nowadays not uncommon to run several server applications on the same physical platform. This gives rise to a need for resource reservation techniques, so that administrators may prioritize some tasks, or customers, over others. This thesis gives an introduction to the Linux kernel 2.6 task scheduler, and scheduling related operating system concepts such as priority, nice value, interactivity and task states. The thesis also presents an implementation of a scheduling mechanism, that in a non-intrusive way introduces per task CPU bandwidth reservations in the Linux operating system. The MATLAB/Simulink-based simulator TrueTime is given a short introduction, and the wireless capabilities of the tool are described in more detail. TrueTime is a tool for co-simulation of real-time tasks, network communication, and continuous-time plant dynamics. The modeling of the common medium access control (MAC) layers of IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802.15.4 is described, along with the radio model used. TrueTime's capabilities to simulate local clocks with drift, Dynamic Voltage Scaling, and battery powered devices are also presented. (Less)


A MasterMind player must discover a secret combination by making guesses using the hints obtained as a response to the previous ones. Finding a general strategy that scales well with problem size is still an open issue, despite having been approached from different angles, including evolutionary algorithms. In previous papers we have tested different approaches to the evolutionary MasterMind and having found out that diversity is essential in this kind of combinatorial optimization problems, in this paper we try to tune the search methods to keep a high diversity level and thus obtain solutions to the puzzle in less average evaluations, and, if possible, in less number of combinations played. This will allow us to get improvements in the time that will be used to explore problems of bigger size.


The safe community is now at time of globalisation very dependent on a safety level of critical infrastructure ensuring the territory by basic services necessary for humans ́ live as there are energy, water, food, information etc. Series of events from recent years connected with critical infrastructure failures showed its high importance. The critical infrastructures represent multistage mutually overlapping systems, i.e. big complex systems, the type of which is a systems system. The paper presents the model for critical infrastructure safety management based on this reality and it shows the way how simply to determine the criticality of individual infrastructures and the whole critical infrastructure.


We develop a consistent mutable replication extension for NFSv4 tuned to meet the rigorous demands of large-scale data sharing in global collaborations. The system uses a hierarchical replication control protocol that dynamically elects a primary server at various granularities. Experimental evaluation indicates a substantial performance advantage over a single server system. With the introduction of the hierarchical replication control, the overhead of replication is negligible even when applications mostly write and replication servers are widely distributed.


Thirty-one infants with gastroschisis have been treated during the past ten years with a mortality of 32%. Improvement in management has resulted in only five deaths in the last 20 cases. The decrease in mortality seems directly related to prompt efficient preoperative treatment emphasizing preservation of body heat, decompression of the stomach with a nasogastric tube and evacuation of meconium with rectal irrigation. Stretching of the abdominal wall, gastrostomy, and primary closure is the treatment of choice in the perinatal group. In the antenatal group, coverage of the viscera with a polyester-reinforced silicone elastomer sheeting seems very effective in providing adequate coverage. The use of gas analyses, respiratory assistance, and parenteral alimentation allows support of the infant until the abdominal wall can be closed and orally administered nourishment established.


Cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized clinically by palpable purpura, and histologically by a segmental angiocentric inflammatory condition with fibrinoid necrosis of the vessel wall, endothelial swelling, and nuclear dust of the post capillary venules. Often, the skin seems the only organ apparently damaged, but systemic involvement may occur. In up to 60% of cases of cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis, the cause remains unknown; in others, it may be due to a variety of underlying conditions such as drugs, chemicals, food allergens, infections, chronic inflammatory systemic disorders, or malignant neoplasms. A rational therapeutic approach of vasculitis begins with the identification and stoppage of any suspected underlying condition. This may be all that is required for the treatment, because it is usually followed by the clearing of cutaneous lesions, and systemic signs and symptoms. In other cases, local and/or systemic anti‐inflammatory and/or immunosuppressive therapy is recommended.


Wrongful birth claim is generally defined as a claim by the parents of a child born alive but with a disability that a doctor was negligent in permitting the pregnancy to continue to birth. There have been four cases relating to congenital rubella syndrome and one case relating to Down's syndrome held in Japan. The claims brought by the mothers were that, but for the negligence of the doctor in managing the pregnancy, the mother would have had a lawful abortion and the child would not have been born to suffer a disability. As we do not have the provision of foetal indication for abortion in Japan, wrongful birth claim by parents is founded upon a breach of doctors' duty in advising of the probability of a disabled child. We compare the lawful nature of wrongful birth claims in Japan with those in the United States and the United Kingdom.


In this paper, hemodynamic changes of 254 subjects were observed by using impedance cardiogram in a double-blind control method. The subjects were divided into 5 groups: heart-asthenia syndrome (98 cases), lung-asthenia syndrome (23 cases), spleen-asthenia syndrome (23 cases), kidney-asthenia syndrome (10 cases) and normal group (100 cases). The results showed that hemodynamic abnormalities occurred in the patients with heart-asthenia syndrome only, the changed regularities were that deficiency of both vital energy and Yin greater than deficiency of heart-Yang greater than deficiency of heart-energy greater than deficiency of heart-Yin. When stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVI), heather index (HI), vascular compliance (C) and ejection fraction (EF) were decreased and total peripheral resistance (TPR) and systolic time interval (STI) were increased, the signs and heart-asthenia syndrome could be found in clinical practice. In conclusion, the above parameters had certain diagnostic value for heart-asthenia syndrome and could be subjective quantitative indices for evaluating effects of treating the heart-asthenia syndrome.


This article presents the development of a program and results of a study to evaluate an online distancebased learning (DBL) program for competency-based, basic emergency preparedness training for employees of local health departments nationwide. The program was developed and implemented beginning in May 2003 by Columbia University's Center for Public Health Preparedness (CU-CPHP), and was designed to be delivered in two parts. The first part was an online training program, providing the basic knowledge required for public health preparedness. The second part was a downloadable template, which the student could use to guide learning and subsequent demonstration of the core emergency preparedness competencies to his or her supervisor. The student could return this documentation to the CU-CPHP to receive a certificate of completion, which would be e-mailed to the recipient. Evaluation findings indicate that this course resulted in a high degree of participant satisfaction along with an increased level of participant understanding of the basic emergency preparedness core competencies.