Magnetic induction tomography (MIT) is a non-invasive and non-contact imaging technology, which can be used in medical diagnosis by reconstructing the electrical distribution of biological tissues. Unlike other large medical imaging equipment, the device of MIT is with small size and low cost. The theoretical basis of MIT is by measuring the phase difference of magnetic flux density generated around the imaging objects, analyzing the eddy current distribution, and then using the reconstruction algorithms to obtain the electrical characteristic distribution of the object. This review introduces the development of imaging systems and the reconstruction algorithms of MIT as a medical assisted diagnostic technology, including the optimal design of the sensors, the excitation methods of the system, the calculation methods of the eddy current, and the improved methods of different reconstruction algorithms.


]The overall objective of this paper is to establish a dynamically substructured system (DSS) testing approach for railway vehicle pantographs. In this approach a pilot study quasi-pantograph (QP) is tested within a laboratory environment, where the catenary wire, contact wire and catenary support (abbreviated as 'catenary' in this paper) are modelled as a numerical substructure. This is simulated in real time and in parallel with the operation of the physical substructure, i.e. the QP rig itself. The entire DSS is driven by parametric excitation within the catenary model, whilst the numerical and physical substructures are synchronised at their interface via the DSS control technique of [1]. Simulation and physical experimental investigations of the pilot QP rig, constructed within the Advanced Control and Test Laboratory at the University of Bristol, UK, demonstrate the efficacy of the method when subjected to parametric variations, unknown parameter values and parametric excitation.


In this paper the object has been to obtain data as to the dissolved constituents of sweat collected from the human body, and at the same time to endeavour to distinguish what is secreted by the sweat-glands from what is derived from the general surface of the skin. The experiments were carried out, as previously, in connection with the experimental chamber of the Mining Research Laboratory, University of Birmingham, and mainly during the author's tenure of the Tyndall Studentship. One of the subjects (A. H. H.) was a medical student of good physique who was known to sweat much more freely than the average individual.


A method is described for the isolation and density gradient enrichment of mammary epithelial fragments from pregnant, nonlactating bovine tissue. Immunocytochemical analysis prior to and following culture revealed specific staining with antibodies to keratin, indicating that these cells are epithelial in nature. Fragments enriched for epithelium could be stored in liquid nitrogen for extended periods prior to culture. When cast within a three-dimensional matrix of collagen gel, the mammary fragments grew as branching, duct-like structures and displayed a 4-fold increase in cell number during 10 to 12 d of culture.


Introduction Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic respiratory pathogen responsible for ventilator-associated pneumonia, acute lower respiratory tract infections in immunocompromised patients and chronic respiratory infections in cystic fibrosis. Antibody-mediated adaptive immune responses exist in cystic fibrosis patients but these lack protective opsonic activity. The role of CD4+T cell responses to Pseudomonas remains unclear. Novel T helper (Th) cell subsets have also recently been defined; Th22 cells produce IL-22, whereas Th17 cells produce IL-17 cytokines in addition to IL-21 and IL-22. The properties of IL-22-producing CD4+ cells in humans remains to be defined, but include an important respiratory anti-microbial defense function. Immunopathological roles of Th17/Th22 cells may also exist. We assessed T-helper cell responses to Pseudomonas in healthy adults. Methods CD14+ monocytes and memory CD4+CD45RO+T cells were isolated from peripheral blood using magnetic-activated cell sorting. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) were generated by culture in the presence of IL-4 and GM-CSF. DCs were stimulated with live Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA103. DC activation markers, CD40 and CD86, were measured via flow cytometry. Autologous T cells were co-cultured with activated DCs, or their supernatants, for 6-days. T cell phenotype was analysed via flow cytometry and ELISA of supernatants for secreted cytokines. T cell incorporation of carboxyfluorescein-succinimidyl-ester was utilised to demonstrate cell multiplication. Results We demonstrate that monocyte-derived DCs from healthy adults are readily activated by Pseudomonas. Co-culture of autologous memory CD4+T cells with Pseudomonas-activated DCs resulted in CD4+ T cells primarily producing IFN-gamma, as well as T cell subsets expressing both IFN-gamma and IL-22, or IL-22 alone. No Th17 response to Pseudomonas was evident. The response was MHC-restricted and specific T cell proliferation was demonstrated. Reproducibility of the response within individuals was also shown. Conclusions These data demonstrate that healthy adults possess Th1 and Th22 memory cell responses to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results may have important implications for patients with deficits in cellular immunity and the pathogenesis of chronic pseudomonas infection in cystic fibrosis. Further work is required to ascertain cross-reactivity of response, antigenic triggers, and the role these cellular responses play in protection vs pathogenesis in Pseudomonal pulmonary infections.


Policy reforms of public service encounters often seek to control, delegate, or eliminate discretion at the frontline. In this paper, we show that rather than eclipsing discretion, the technologies meant to standardize and optimize decision-making in public service delivery introduce rough categorizations and scripts for action that make new types of discretionary responses and workarounds necessary. Here, accounts of street-level discretion as grounded in self-serving coping strategies are inadequate to capture discretion-as-used in the frontline encounter. The paper proposes a Weberian ethics of office approach to frontline discretion that contributes to current more appreciative perspectives on street-level discretion. Through a comparative ethnography of first encounters in three Danish public service bureaucracies, we develop a typology of office-based discretionary responses to standardization. We label the three types as adaptive handling, attentive compensation, and affective encouragement. Our study of doctors, midwives and citizen-service bureaucrats suggests that discretionary possibilities differ in relation to organizational context and level of professional training. However, across cases the discretionary responses are indicative of the frontline practitioners' casuistic practices of balancing professional virtues, client-orientation, and managerial demands in the quest to deliver fair and responsive services. Accordingly, securing the conditions for the exercise of discretion in frontline encounters are essential to the responsible provision of public services.


Summary form only given. A strong interest has been paid towards ultra wide band (UWB) technology for wireless communications since the famous first report and order form the FCC in 2002. After years of emphasis on high data rate (HDR) short range applications, the time as come for low data rate (LDR) ones which include a ranging service. This talk focuses on receiver architectures and performances for low data rate applications and more precisely on non coherent solutions which are very promising in terms of power consumption. A case study is proposed to get a good idea of achievable performances of such systems. Finally, a status of the IEEE 802.15.4a standard, which is mainly devoted to a UWB LDR specification, is given.


The entanglement dependence of the noncyclic geometric phase is analyzed. A pair of noninteracting spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ particles prepared in an arbitrarily entangled state and precessing in an external time-independent uniform magnetic field is considered. It is shown that the geometric phase reduces to a sum of one-particle geometric phases for product states and takes on the two values corresponding to the phase factors $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$ for maximally entangled states. If only one of the particles is affected by the magnetic field it is demonstrated that the influence of entanglement on the geometric phase may be interpreted as an effective reduction of the degree of polarization of the affected particle. The generalization to more than two precessing spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ particles, in the particular case where Schmidt decompositions exists, is briefly outlined. The geometric phase for a pair of spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ particles with a spin-spin interaction is calculated. In this model we show that the noncyclic geometric phase for a certain class of states may be interpreted solely in terms of the solid angle enclosed by the geodesically closed curve on a two-sphere parametrized by the evolving Schmidt coefficients. This suggests a geometric interpretation of Schmidt decompositions for spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ pairs analogous to that of the Poincar\'e sphere for a single spin $\frac{1}{2}.$


BACKGROUND
Chest pain is a common complaint in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). Of those who experience chest pain, about 20% meet the diagnostic criteria for typical or atypical angina.

METHODS
We compared the intima-medial thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery measured by ultrasound in AN with controls and found no difference.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Although clinically relevant atherosclerosis can occur in patients with a normal IMT, there is a strong correlation between carotid IMT and coronary atherosclerosis. This suggests that an atherosclerotic origin of chest pain in AN patients is unlikely.


Demographic methods provide an invaluable foundation for population program planning by giving quantitative expression to present and future characteristics of a population. It must be recognized that, while the formulas may be precise, the validity of the outputs are constrained by the quality of input data available and the assumptions required. Fertility projections present special problems because of the multiplicity of factors that can independently influence reproductive performance. The estimation of births averted by family planning programs is particularly tenuous. Population planners must be cognizant of all the dimensions of population change if effective programs are to be developed.


The self-organizing map (SOM) is among the most widely studied and applied types of neural networks; nevertheless, it has not been utilized adequately to model and analyse data of multisensor systems, in particular of chemical sensor arrays. In this paper an example of how electronic noses can take advantage of the utilization of the self-organizing map is illustrated and discussed. In particular a number of ways of extracting information from a trained SOM is presented. The methodology outlined here is valid for any kind of multisensor application, also in fields distant from the world of chemical sensors.


Integrins and growth factor receptors are important participants in cellular adhesion and migration. The EGF receptor (EGFR) family of tyrosine kinases and the b1-integrin adhesion receptors are of particular interest, given the implication for their involvement in the initiation and progression of tumorigenesis. We used adhesion and chemotaxis assays to further elucidate the relationship between these two families of transmembrane signaling molecules. Specifically, we examined integrin-mediated adhesive and migratory characteristics of the metastatic breast carcinoma cell line MDA-MB-435 in response to stimulation with growth factors that bind to and activate the EGFR or erbB3 in these cells. Although ligand engagement of the EGFR stimulated modest b1-dependent increases in cell adhesion and motility, heregulin-b (HRGb) binding to the erbB3 receptor initiated rapid and potent induction of breast carcinoma cell adhesion and migration and required dimerization of erbB3 with erbB2. Pharmacologic inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase (PI 3-K) or transient expression of dominant negative forms of PI 3-K inhibited both EGFand HRGb-mediated adhesion and potently blocked HRGband EGFinduced cell motility. Our results illustrate the critical role of PI 3-K activity in signaling pathways initiated by the EGFR or erbB3 to up-regulate b1-integrin function.


Introduction. Prior to the introduction of the legislator's amendments to Chapter 40.1 of the criminal procedure code of the Russian Federation in July 2016, the question whether the agreement with the prosecution is a prerequisite for the legality of pre-trial agreement on cooperation has caused heated debates among scientists and practitioners. However, after the inclusion of a provision on possible change of the pre-trial agreement in Chapter 40.1 of the code of criminal procedure, this issue has acquired even greater urgency. Results. Based on the analysis of current legislation and judicial practice the author argues the position that the consent of the accused with the accusation is a prerequisite for the legitimacy of pre-trial agreement on cooperation. The notion of "guilty plea" and "consent with the prosecution" are not equivalent from the point of view of their criminal procedural sense. Conclusions. The change of charges in the direction of deterioration prosecuted may entail a significant transformation of the conditions of cooperation with law enforcement. In this regard, the article substantiates a point of view about the need of renewal of pre-trial agreement on cooperation in case of being charged a more serious crime and proposes a procedure for implementing this procedure in practice.


Density functional calculations of optimized geometries for the migration of single hydrogen and hydroxyl groups on graphene are performed. It is shown that the migration energy barrier for the hydroxyl group is three times larger than for hydrogen. The crucial role of supercell size for the values of the migration barriers is discussed. The paired migration of hydrogen and hydroxyl groups has also been examined. It could be concluded that hydroxyl group based magnetism is rather stable in contrast with unstable hydrogen based magnetism of functionalized graphene. The role of water in the migration of hydroxyl groups is also discussed, with the results of the calculations predicting that the presence of water weakens the covalent bonds and makes these groups more fluid. Increasing the number of water molecules associated with hydroxyl groups provides an increase of the migration energy.


Purified condensed tannins (CT) extracted from the legume Calliandra calothyrsus (var. San Ramón CIAT 22310), harvested in the dry and the rainy season and cultivated with low or high level of fertilization were added to soybean meal in a ratio of 600 mg/g of the incubated crude protein (CP). Effects on degradation either in ruminal fluid only, or in ruminal fluid followed by incubation in HCl/pepsin, were evaluated using a modified two-step in vitro method. Season was found to have larger effects on in vitro ruminal and post-ruminal CP degradation than fertilization. Condensed tannins from the rainy season harvest reduced ruminal CP degradation less than that from the dry season harvest. They had also less negative effects on the degradability of rumen escape protein and enhanced the proportion of post-ruminally degraded CP more than CT from the dry season harvest. An increase in level of fertilization reduced ruminal CP degradation in CT from the rainy season plants but this was not associated with effects on post-ruminal degradation. The study demonstrated the importance of environmental factors for the efficiency of CT in modifying ruminal and post-ruminal CP degradation.


Felid herpesvirus 1 (FeHV-1) causes an acute respiratory illness known as feline rhinotrachetitis. Moreover, it is associated with several syndromes in the feline eye including conjunctivitis, epithelial keratitis, herpes stromal keratitis (HSK) and corneal sequestration. The aim of this study was to gain first insights into the interaction between FeHV-1 and the feline innate immune system, specifically in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). FeHV-1 infection in Crandell Reese Feline Kidney cells (CRFK) as well as in feline PBMC resulted in the induction of proinflammatory cytokine mRNA, i.e. for Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF α). To evaluate a potential role of Toll like receptors (TLR) in the infection with FeHV-1, the level of TLR mRNA in non-infected as well as in infected feline cells was measured. Both TLR 2 and 3 mRNA were down-regulated in FeHV-1-infected cells. Results concerning the expression of TLR 9 mRNA were inconsistent, showing up-regulation in some instances and down-regulation in other instances. TLR 7 was clearly up-regulated upon infection of CRFK cells with FeHV-1, not only on the mRNA level but also in terms of function. Intriguingly, the same effect was not observed in feline PBMC. Thus, the interaction between FeHV-1 and the innate immune system proceeds in a celltype-specific manner.
Key words: Felid herpesvirus 1 / innate immunity / Toll like receptor.


Abstract Nr5a1 (Sf-1) up-regulates lhb expression across vertebrates; however, its regulatory roles on fshb remain to be defined. Moreover, the involvement of Nr5a2 in the regulation of gonadotropin expression is not clear either. In the present study, the involvement of Nr5a1b (a homologue of Nr5a1) and Nr5a2 in the regulation of lhb and fshb expression in the orange-spotted grouper was examined. Dual fluorescent immunohistochemistry using homologous antisera showed that in the pituitary of orange-spotted groupers, Lh cells contain both immunoreactive Nr5a1b and Nr5a2 signals, whereas Fsh cells contain neither of them. In LβT2 cells, Nr5a1b up-regulated basal activities of lhb and fshb promoters possibly via Nr5a sites, and synergistically (on lhb promoter) or additively (on fshb promoter) with forskolin. Surprisingly, Nr5a2 inhibited basal activities of lhb promoter possibly via Nr5a sites and attenuated the stimulatory effects of both forskolin and Nr5a1b. In contrast, Nr5a2 had no effects on fshb promoter. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that both Nr5a1b and Nr5a2 bound to lhb promoter, but not fshb promoter in the pituitary of the orange-spotted grouper. The abundance of Nr5a1b bound to lhb promoter was significantly higher at the vitellogenic stage than the pre-vitellogenic stage, whereas that of Nr5a2 exhibited an opposite trend. Taken together, data of the present study demonstrated antagonistic effects of Nr5a1b and Nr5a2 on lhb transcription in the orange-spotted grouper and revealed novel regulatory mechanisms of differential expression of lhb and fshb genes through Nr5a homologues in vertebrates. Summary Sentence Nr5a1b stimulates whereas Nr5a2 inhibits lhb expression, but neither of them regulates fshb expression in the orange-spotted grouper.


The relentless scaling of semiconductor devices pushes the doping level far above the equilibrium solubility, yet the doped material must be sufficiently stable for subsequent device fabrication and operation. For example, in epitaxial silicon doped above the solubility of phosphorus, most phosphorus dopants are compensated by vacancies, and some of the phosphorus-vacancy clusters can become mobile around 700 °C to further cluster with isolated phosphorus ions. For efficient and stable doping, we use microwave annealing to selectively activate metastable phosphorus-vacancy clusters by interacting with their dipole moments, while keeping lattice heating below 700 °C. In a 30-nm-thick Si nanosheet doped with 3 × 1021 cm−3 phosphorus, a microwave power of 12 kW at 2.45 GHz for 6 min resulted in a free-electron concentration of 4 × 1020 cm−3 and a junction more abrupt than 4 decades/nm. The doping profile is stable with less than 4% variation upon thermal annealing around 700 °C for 5 min. Thus, microwave annealing can result in not only efficient activation and abrupt profile in epitaxial silicon but also thermal stability. In comparison, conventional rapid thermal annealing can generate a junction as abrupt as microwave annealing but 25% higher sheet resistance and six times higher instability at 700 °C.


The heteroepitaxial growth of strained islands on a planar substrate offers an attractive route to the fabrication of quantum dots (QDs). To obtain more functions and superior properties, recent efforts have focused on using nanowires (NWs) as substrates to produce attractive structures that combine QDs with NWs. As the lateral size of an NW is large, it is possible that islands are formed on the side walls of the NW. However, no islands exist, and the lateral surface is rather smooth in thin, core–shell NWs. The existing theoretical models on the growth on planar and patterned substrates are not appropriate for the growth transition on the surface with nanoscale curvature. We thus urgently need to understand the basic physics involved in the strain-induced growth on the surface with nanoscale curvature. Here, we established a theoretical model to study the strain-induced growth on the surface, which showed that the Stranski–Krastanov (SK) mode can change to the Frank–van der Merwe (FM) mode due to the limit of the surface to the island's lateral growth. Using the model to investigate the heterostructured core/shell nanowires (NWs), we found, in addition to the SK mode on thick NWs and the FM mode on thin NWs, that there is a multiplex mode on medium NWs which includes the initial layer growth, the intermediate islands' growth and the final layer growth again. The established theoretical model not only explained some puzzling experimental results but also provided useful information to design and control the epitaxial growth on the surface with nanoscale curvature.


Purpose. Artistic design and production of the author couture collection using constructive and compositional signs romantic style. Methodology. The basic principles of the systematic approach to artistic design of the author couture collection such as literary-analytical research and associative stylization of the source of creativity were used in the process. Results. Using of floral motives in an artistic and compositional solution of the modern women closthing were analyzed and systemized. The main principles of creation the clothes in a romantic style were determined. The main stages of sources of creativity stylization such as peony flowers are determined, the collection of couture in a romantic style is produced, and the main peculiarities of the designed collection are described. Scientific novelty. Systematized the constructive and compositional signs of the modern clothes in a romantic style was developed ty the range, silhouette, figure blocking, color spectrum, materials, prints, decorative and constructive elements, decoration. Practical significance. The trends were analyzed, the modern designers' collections were reviewed and the main artistic and compositive peculiarities of the romantic style in modern clothing were determined. The main substyles of a romantic style in the modern clothing were found. Identified ways of using floral motives using in artistic and compositive solution in modern clothing was developed. The classification is fundamental for designing of the couture collection with a natural source of creativity. Artistic and compositional base of designing of couture collection in a romantic style using the floral motives as the source of creativity were developed.


In the present study, it was aimed to determine the personality traits that accompany the behavior of foster families and reveal the personality trait profiles of the individuals. The present study is descriptive and cross-sectional. The population of the study consisted of foster parents around Turkey and sample selection was not made. The participants were reached through the snowball sampling method. The study data was collected from 124 volunteering foster parents using the face-to-face interview method. Data collection was performed via questionnaire forms and the Five-Factor Personality Inventory. In data analysis; mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage values and the comparative statistical, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal Wlallis H, Tamhane's T2 tests were used. It was determined that 67.7% of the participating foster parents were in the age group of 45 and over, with an age average of 48.37±9.36. The Five-Factor Personality Inventory item score average of the participants was 3.58±0.31. The participants had a score average of 3.88±0.61 from the Conscientiousness/Self-Discipline sub-dimension and 4.10±0.50 from the Agreeableness/Compliance sub-dimension. It was determined that there was a significant relationship between age groups and Openness/Openness to Experience and between educational backgrounds and Openness/Openness to Experience, Extraversion and the Five-Factor Personality Inventory item total score averages. There was also a significant relationship between the presence of biological children and the Neuroticism sub-dimension (p< .05). In the present study, it was determined that the foster families primarily possessed the personality trait of Agreeableness/Compliance, followed by Conscientiousness/Self-Discipline. As a result of the study, it can be said that it is important to pay attention to the personality traits of potential foster parents, make certain psychometric evaluations beforehand to determine their personality traits accordingly, and support foster families based on these.


As a probe into the degree of integration of the bilingual lexicon, a series of lexical-decision tasks was carried out in two bilingual speech communities with greatly differing linguistic, cultural, and socio-historical characteristics: Misiones province in northeastern Argentina (Portuguese-Spanish), and three indigenous communities in northern Ecuador (Quichua and the mixed language known as Media Lengua). In both cases the results suggest a tightly integrated bilingual lexicon, but the pattern of responses was qualitatively and quantitatively different for each group, to such an extent as to potentially challenge the assumption of universal validity for lexical decision tasks.


Several metal oxide compounds, especially those containing metals possessing several valence states, are able to absorb or release oxygen under suitable thermodynamic conditions. Such behavior is found often in systems containing oxides of transition metals. It is important to note that the equilibrium oxidation level of those metal oxides can depend on the aggregation state, which may significantly impede crystal growth processes from the melt. If during the melt growth of such oxide crystals, the average valence state of the oxides is different in the molten and solid state, then crystallization is connected with the absorption of free oxygen from the ambient gas, or with the release of free oxygen into it. This phenomenon can be detected by simultaneous DTA/TG measurements and can deteriorate the stability of crystal growth. This holds especially if the average valence in the solid is smaller than in the melt, because oxygen release can lead to bubble formation at the crystallization front.


Neural networks are vulnerable to adversarial examples, i.e. inputs that are imperceptibly perturbed from natural data and yet incorrectly classified by the network. Adversarial training [34], a heuristic form of robust optimization that alternates between minimization and maximization steps, has proven to be among the most successful methods to train networks that are robust against a pre-defined family of perturbations. This paper provides a partial answer to the success of adversarial training. When the inner maximization problem can be solved to optimality, we prove that adversarial training finds a network of small robust train loss. When the maximization problem is solved by a heuristic algorithm, we prove that adversarial training finds a network of small robust surrogate train loss. The analysis technique leverages recent work on the analysis of neural networks via Neural Tangent Kernel (NTK), combined with online-learning when the maximization is solved by a heuristic, and the expressiveness of the NTK kernel in the l∞-norm.


A 26-year-old woman was seen at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, because of posterior occipital headache associated with right upper extremity paresis and dysarthria that lasted a period of ten minutes. Physical examination disclosed straightening of the thoracic spine and minimal pectus excavatum. Precordial examination showed midsystolic and late systolic clicks; the earlier click was followed by a soft grade 2/6 murmur. Neurological examination disclosed slight hyperreflexia on the right side. An M-mode echocardiogram of the mitral valve, performed the day after admission, is shown below (Fig 1). What is your diagnosis? Diagnosis.—Mitral Valve Prolapse (Barlow's Syndrome ) The patient had a normal echocardiogram, chest x-ray film, EEG, and EMI scan; results of platelet aggregation studies were also normal. A treadmill stress test was performed, which did not provoke arrhythmias. A 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitor showed slight predisposition to faster than expected resting sinus rates, but no supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias.


In this paper a new floating inductance simulator employing only active elements is proposed. The proposed circuit uses one internally compensated operational amplifier and one dual output current controlled conveyor (CCCII). The simulated inductance value can be controlled electronically by adjusting the bias current of the CCCII. No component matching constraints are imposed for the simulator and all active sensitivities are low. The performance of the circuit is demonstrated on a fourth-order elliptic filter using a SPICE simulation program


PURPOSE
To investigate direct and indirect relationships among the practice environment, nurse-physician (RN-MD) communication, and job satisfaction, as is posited in the nursing role effectiveness model (NREM).

DESIGN
Survey.

METHODS
Surveys were sent to a random sample of 500 hospital nurses throughout Michigan, and 332 (66%) responded. Main study instruments were the Conditions for Work Effectiveness Questionnaire-II (CWEQ-II), the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI), the ICU Nurse-Physician Questionnaire, and the Index of Work Satisfaction (IWS), Part B. Inferential statistical tests included multiple regression, t tests, and one-way analysis of variance.

FINDINGS
Practice environment (PES-NWI) and empowerment (CWEQ-II) scales explained 20% of the variance in RN-MD communication. The combination of both environment scales (PES-NWI and CWEQ-II) and RN-MD communication explained 61% of the variance in nursing job satisfaction scores. RN-MD communication was also a significant mediating variable in the relationship between structure (practice environment and empowerment scales) and outcome (nursing job satisfaction).

CONCLUSIONS
Factors in the practice environment contributed both directly to nursing job satisfaction and also indirectly through RN-MD communication. Study findings showed that a practice environment favorable to nurses improved both nurses' perceptions of their communications with physicians and their job satisfaction.


In this paper we propose the use of underlying ITO/glass or ITO/PET electrode structures for reliable conductivity measurements of transparent organic thin films. This technique avoids any mechanical damage of the organic thin film and furthermore preserves its optical transparency. Thin PEDOT:PSS layers with various secondary dopant concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) have been studied. In particular, the degeneration under UV exposure has been investigated by electrical probing and atomic force microscopy. We find that the conductivity degeneration of PEDOT:PSS under UV exposure is reduced by a factor of two for the layers with DMSO doping.


The capability of efficiently processing the data streams emitted by nowadays ubiquitous sensing devices enables the development of new intelligent services. Data Stream Processing (DSP) applications allow for processing huge volumes of data in near real-time. To keep up with the high volume and velocity of data, these applications can elastically scale their execution on multiple computing resources to process the incoming data flow in parallel. Being that data sources and consumers are usually located at the network edges, nowadays the presence of geo-distributed computing resources represents an attractive environment for DSP. However, controlling the applications and the processing infrastructure in such wide-area environments represents a significant challenge. In this paper, we present a hierarchical solution for the autonomous control of elastic DSP applications and infrastructures. It consists of a two-layered hierarchical solution, where centralized components coordinate subordinated distributed managers, which, in turn, locally control the elastic adaptation of the application components and deployment regions. Exploiting this framework, we design several self-adaptation policies, including reinforcement learning based solutions. We show the benefits of the presented self-adaptation policies with respect to static provisioning solutions, and discuss the strengths of reinforcement learning based approaches, which learn from experience how to optimize the application performance and resource allocation.


This paper presents an experimental study for evaluating the decision support value of queueing network (QN) based simulation models for information system design performance. For illustration, queueing network simulation models have been extracted corressponding to three annotated design alternatives of a selected case study. The design alternatives are produced using logical requirements of the selected system. The performance of each alternative is then predicted using quantifiable parameters considering the dynamics of the system such as service time, waiting time and number of entities waiting in the system. In particular, results have shown that the first alternative performs better than the other two in terms of the selected parameters. In general, the case study revealed that QN-based simulation models are capable to distinguish the performance of design alternatives in terms of selected parameters and under given assumptions. This also means that the use of simulation may lead to better designed information systems. Index Terms—Information System (IS), performance,


Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Xpert MTB/RIF (Cepheid, USA) in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and to determine rifampin resistance. Methods: The literature review covered the period from 16 August 2011 to 1 October 2011, and eight domestic databases and foreign databases including Ovid-Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library were used. Key words, such as 'Rifampin, Polymerase Chain Reaction,' 'GeneXpert' and 'Xpert MTB-RIF' were used to search a total of 1,385 documents. The SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) tool was used to evaluate the quality of the 20 selected studies. Results: Test accuracy for the detection of M. tuberculosis was assessed on the basis of 20 studies using the M. tuberculosis culture test as the reference standard. The acid-fast bacteria smearing test had a sensitivity in the range of 0.69-1.00, specificity in the range of 0.72-1.00 and test accuracy in the range of 0.75-1.00. Test accuracy regarding rifampin resistance was assessed on the basis of 17 studies. Using an anti-tuberculosis agent sensitivity test as the reference standard, the sensitivity, specificity and test accuracy of real-time, nested PCR were in the ranges of 0.75-1.00, 0.96-1.00 and 0.95-1.00, respectively. Conclusion: Xpert MTB/RIF is a useful test for patients suspected of having rifampin-resistant tuberculosis. (Ann Clin Microbiol 2014;17:42-49)


The loggerhead marine turtle, Caretta caretta, is a widely distributed and endangered species that is facing critical population decline, especially in Colombian Caribbean rookeries. Mitochondrial DNA sequence data are of great importance for the description, monitoring, and phylogenetic analyses of migratory turtle populations. In this study, the first full mitochondrial genome of a loggerhead turtle nesting in the Colombian Caribbean was sequenced and analyzed. This mitochondrial genome consists of 16 362 bp with a nucleotide composition of T: 25.7 %, C: 27 %, A: 35 % and G: 12 %. Sequence annotation of the assembled molecule revealed an organization and number of coding and functional units as reported for other vertebrate mitogenomes. This Colombian loggerhead turtle (Cc-AO-C) showed a novel D-Loop haplotype consisting of thirteen new variable sites, sharing 99.2 % sequence identity with the previously reported Caribbean loggerhead CC-A1 D-Loophaplotype. All 13 protein-coding genes in the Cc-AO-C mitogenome were compared and aligned with those from four other loggerhead turtles from different locations (Florida, Greece, Peru, and Hawaii). Eleven of these genes presented moderate genetic diversity levels, and genes COII and ND5 showed the highest diversity, with average numbers of pair-wise differences of 16.6 and 25, respectively. In addition, the first approach related to t-RNAs 2D and 3D structure analysis in this mitogenome was conducted, leading to observed unique features in two tRNAs (tRNATrp and tRNALeu). The marine turtle phylogeny was revisited with the newly generated data. The entire mitogenome provided phylogenetically informative data, as well as individual genes ND5, ND4, and 16S. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of complete mitogenome data in revealing gene flow processes in natural loggerhead turtle populations, as well as in understanding the evolutionary history of marine turtles.


Multi-hop wireless broadcast is a critical component in ad-hoc wireless networks. Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANET) in particular utilize broadcast as a primary communication mechanism in many applications. Such networks exhibit situations of very high node densities so it is important that the broadcast protocols used to support applications on these networks scale well to high densities. This work evaluates existing broadcast protocols in terms of this scalability using both a high-level simulation assuming an ideal medium (WiBDAT) and a standard detailed wireless simulation (JiST/SWANS). Four broadcast methods and protocols, each having been used as a forwarding node selection algorithm in VANET, are chosen for evaluation: stochastic broadcast, distance method, Advanced Adaptive Gossiping (AAG), and Multi-Point Relaying (MPR). Results show a distinct performance difference in terms of rebroadcast efficiency at high densities. Protocols using network topology information, AAG and MPR, become inefficient at high densities. Stochastic broadcast and the distance method, which use neighbor count directly to calculate retransmit thresholds, are shown to be highly adaptive to node density.


The negative differential resistance properties of resonant tunnelling barrier diodes with InGaAs quantum wells developed by us for new transistor applications are reviewed. The emphasis is on the peak current density and the peak-to-valley ratio. The tunnel barriers of InAlAs, pseudomorphic AlAs, AlAsSb and GaAsSb are studied. A simple theoretical calculation which includes the mid-gap band non-parabolicity of tunnelling electrons is described. These theoretical calculations show excellent agreement with the observed peak current density at 77 K and 300 K and a reasonable agreement with the valley current density at 300 K.


This paper mirrors and provides references to an invited review talk delivered by the first author at the 13th International Conference on the Physics of Highly Charged Ions. It briefly updates and extends an earlier review (J. D. Gillaspy, 2001 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 34, R93-R130).


AIM
We aimed to investigate the expression of monocyte chemoattractant proteins (MCPs) and their cognate receptor CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) in aortas of apolipoprotein E-null (apoE(-/-)) mice during atherogenesis as well as the possible transcription pathway involved in the early induction of MCP-1 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vivo.

METHODS
Atherosclerotic lesion development, aortic MCPs and CCR2 mRNA expression as well as the cellular localization of MCP-1, CCR2 and MCP-1 related transcription factors in atherosclerotic lesions were analyzed in apoE(-/-) mice fed a high fat and cholesterol diet.

RESULTS
MCP-1 and CCR2 mRNA expression was significantly induced during early atherogenesis and peaked after 10 and 12 weeks of diet, respectively, whereas MCP-2 and MCP-3 mRNA expression elevated in the late phases of lesion development. Immunostaining revealed that early MCP-1 expression was localized to VSMCs and that, in advanced lesions, both neointimal VSMCs and intimal macrophages expressed high levels of MCP-1. During the early (0 and 4 weeks of diet) induction of MCP-1 in VSMCs, the regulatory activator protein-1 (AP-1) proteins c-Jun and c-Fos were highly expressed and observed within the VSMCs nuclei, whereas nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) protein p65 was only observed within the nuclei of VSMCs after 4 weeks of diet. CCR2 was also identified on intimal macrophages, endothelial cells and VSMCs in advanced lesions.

CONCLUSION
This study provides fundamental information on the expression kinetics of MCPs and CCR2 during atherogenesis and indicates that the earliest induction of MCP-1 in VSMCs of apoE(-/-)mice appears to correlate with AP-1 but not NF-κB regulatory pathways.


Geo-composites are generally made by hybridizing of some components among geo-textile, geo-grid, geo-membrane, geo-net, and other materials. Due to practical applicability of geotechnical structures, the demand of geo-composites, especially for drainage application, has gradually increased. In the present study, the geo-composites bonded with geo-grid in chemical process were investigated experimentally in terms of strain evaluation and creep response values. Geo-grid plays an important role as a reinforcing material. Three kinds of geo-grid were prepared as strong yarn polyester and they were woven type, non-woven type, and wrap knitted type. The sample geo-grids were then coated with PVC. The rib tensile strength tests were conducted to evaluate geo-grid products in terms of tensile strength with regard to single rib. The test was performed according to GRI-GGI. The test results revealed that the tensile strains at the maximum tensile strength showed very good tensile deformation characteristics in the range of 10.0-13.0% in terms of mono-rib performance. Any significant trends have not found between warp knitted and woven type geo-grid in terms of the tensile strength ratios. Further experimental analysis has been conducted to investigate the wide-width strip tensile strength, contact point strength and creep features of the geo-grid samples used in this study. It was concluded again from the experiments that the tensile and creep strains of the geo-grid showed so stable values that the geo-grid prepared in this study could protect geo-textile partially in practical structure.


Recent reports have documented the efficacy of tissue plasminogen activator in promoting fistula reformation following trabeculectomy 1,2 and relieving fibrin-induced pupillary block after retinal procedures. 3 We present herein a case in which we successfully used intracameral tissue plasminogen activator in a diabetic patient with neovascular glaucoma who developed a severe anterior chamber fibrin reaction following trabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C. Report of a Case. —A 40-year-old black woman with moderate background diabetic retinopathy underwent an uncomplicated cataract extraction using phacoemulsification with implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens in the right eye. The postoperative visual acuity was 20/20. Four months after surgery the patient presented with rubeosis iridis, a 5% hyphema, and counting fingers visual acuity. Immediate panretinal photocoagulation was performed. The patient remained in stable condition until 10 months later when she presented with a Serratia marcescens corneal ulcer and hypopyon in the right eye for which she


The utilization of simulation has been limited in planning construction process because it is difficult to collect data and build a model using simulation method. This study collects construction operation data and analyzes the characteristics of its distribution. Through the statistical analysis on the empirical data, this study identifies Beta distribution functions is one of the most proper in duplicating the characteristics of construction equipment operation data into a computer simulation. The information obtained in this study can support preparing input data for another simulation.


The research of open-domain dialog systems has been greatly prospered by neural models trained on large-scale corpora, however, such corpora often introduce various safety problems (e.g., offensive languages, biases, and toxic behaviors) that significantly hinder the deployment of dialog systems in practice. Among all these unsafe issues, addressing social bias is more complex as its negative impact on marginalized populations is usually expressed implicitly, thus requiring normative reasoning and rigorous analysis. In this paper, we focus our investigation on social bias detection of dialog safety problems. We first propose a novel Dial-Bias Frame for analyzing the social bias in conversations pragmatically, which considers more comprehensive bias-related analyses rather than simple dichotomy annotations. Based on the proposed framework, we further introduce CDail-Bias Dataset that, to our knowledge, is the first well-annotated Chinese social bias dialog dataset. In addition, we establish several dialog bias detection benchmarks at different label granularities and input types (utterance-level and context-level). We show that the proposed in-depth analyses together with these benchmarks in our Dial-Bias Frame are necessary and essential to bias detection tasks and can benefit building safe dialog systems in practice.


This research was conducted to determine the direct and indirect impact of lodging enterprise employees' perception of job autonomy level on decreasing work alienation tendency. In the examination of the indirect relationships between these two concepts, employees' perceptions of organizational and occupational identification were determined as mediating variables based on the relevant literature and a structural equation model was developed based on sources of identification and tested via appropriate statistical methods. Questionnaire developed to test the interactions between the variables empirically was applied to lodging enterprise employees in Istanbul which is one of the major tourism destinations in Turkey. Based on the theoretical framework, five research hypotheses which include the direct impact of job autonomy on work alienation and sources of identification were developed. After determining the interactions between the variables, mediating role of organizational and occupational identification in the impact of job autonomy on work alienation was examined through appropriate statistical methods via AMOS 22.0 software package. Structural equation modeling was used to test research hypotheses and mediating effects. After examining model fit indices and path coefficients of variables, it was determined that employees' perception of job autonomy decreased their tendency for work alienation and organizational identification played a partial mediating role in this decrease. In addition, occupational identification was affected by employees' perception of job autonomy but did not affect their work alienation levels. Thus, four of the five research hypotheses were confirmed. Findings of this research provide the managers with detailed information on individual and organizational results of providing autonomy for employees at workplace. This study is going to be the first study that aims to analyze the concepts of job autonomy, work alienation, and identification all together with both a theoretical and a structural model. This is also to be the first study on lodging enterprises of tourism industry in this context. Keywords: Job autonomy, Work alienation, Occupational identification, Organizational identification, Lodging enterprises, Structural equation model


Male responsibility is about 40% in all cases of marital infertility. Spermocytograms allow the researchers to isolate pure morphological syndromes, such as microcephaly, and are a valuable tool in prognosis, since the consequences of most such anomalies on the fertilizing power of the sperm are well known. 144 spermocytograms were done by the authors at the request of 144 sterile couples. The spermocytograms were classified according to the system proposed by David et al. In investigating the incidence and the importance of the various abnormalities it was noted that forms of lengthened heads were preponderant, while abnormalities in the flagella were rare. Spermocytograms were divided into pure and mixed syndromes: pure syndromes, with anomalies of a single type, permitted the prognosis of the fertilizing power of the sperm; and mixed syndromes, with anomalies of several types, permitted the identification of diseases such as varicocele.


Abstract Quality improvement (QI) is a science of systematic analysis and improvement of health care delivery systems. Working knowledge of QI models is imperative to professional development of future pediatric emergency medicine practitioners. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has established a list of QI and patient safety expectations for trainees. In order to address educational needs in this area, we have created a novel QI curriculum for pediatric emergency medicine fellows that include didactic sessions, active participation in QI projects, and mentorship by QI faculty. As a part of the curriculum, fellows are required to participate in variety of QI and patient safety activities, such as Morbidity and Mortality conferences, QI and Patient Case Review committees, and Clinical Care Guideline work groups. As a measure of success, fellows who have participated in this curriculum have shared their successful QI work at the local and national levels. This goal of this report is to share our experience in order to provide other institutions a framework for their own curriculum development.


Effects of inbreeding on couples' fertility and primary sterility were investigated in five marriages between uncle and niece, 251 marriages between first-degree cousins, and 358 marriages between first-degree cousins once removed from Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. Three control groups matched on the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the consanguineous couples were created. The number of children born to each couple was extracted from a computerized population registry. The level of primary sterility was found to be similar in all consanguineous and non-consanguineous groups. The mean number of children in all three consanguineous groups was not found to be significantly different from that calculated in their respective control groups (p > 0.05). These results are compatible with those obtained in virtually all the studies reported thus far in different populations.


This study comprises follow-up information or pathologic material, or both, from 34 adult patients with acute transverse myelopathy of unknown cause. These patients had no antecedent neurologic or underlying systemic disease. Five patients died during the first four months of illness. Follow-up information was obtained from the remaining 29 patients 5 to 42 years after onset, and postmortem material also was available in three of these cases. During follow-up a clinical diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was made in only one patient. Two thirds of the patients recovered and became ambulatory, while one third remained paraplegic. The only factor which correlated with prognosis was the observation that patients who retained tendon reflexes and posterior column function had a better recovery than those who exhibited spinal shock.


Developed in this paper is a new approach to subsea production two-phase flow modeling and control of pipeline and manifold assemblies. For that purpose, a reduced-order model is developed for transient two-phase gas-liquid flow in pipelines. First, a mechanistic model is used to calculate the steady-state pressure drop and liquid holdup. From this model, effective fluid properties are calculated and used as arguments to the dissipative distributed parameter model. A modal approximation technique is then used to render the model into a rational polynomial form appropriate for time-domain analysis and controller design. A new low-frequency magnitude correction is applied to the approximated transfer functions providing an improved matching for the steady-state gain without affecting the dynamics of the system. The resulting low-dimensional two-phase flow model is then used to coordinate the arriving pressures at the manifold for different GVF levels through electro-hydraulic valves located at the wellheads.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) incorporated polystyrene beads of uniform size distribution (∼170 nm) and high magnetic content (∼40%) are synthesized by emulsion styrene polymerization in the presence of functionalized SPIO. The role of surface functionality on the polymerization process and SPIO incorporation is investigated by carrying out styrene emulsion polymerizations with different functionalities on SPIO. A unique combination of oleic acid and (2-acetoacetoxy) ethyl methacrylate as surface ligands for SPIO is used to attain the best magnetic beads. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the accuracy of numerical rating (NRS) and visual analogue (VAS) scoring scales compared with force plate gait analysis and agreement between observers for each scoring scale.

STUDY DESIGN
Experimental study.

ANIMALS
Mixed breed dogs (n=21) with a right limb tibial osteotomy repaired with an external fixator.

METHODS
Three small-animal veterinarians with orthopedic training scored lameness using NRS and VAS before surgery, and at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. Peak force and impulse were determined at the same time points using a force plate. Agreement between observers and with force plate data was assessed. Significance was set at P< or =.05.

RESULTS
Agreement was generally low among observers for both NRS and VAS scores. When evaluated at each time point, an acceptable level of agreement was present only at 4 weeks after surgery. Only impulse had a significant relationship with some of the observers' subjective scores. No significant relationships between any observer's scores and force plate data existed if very lame dogs were omitted.

CONCLUSIONS
Subjective scoring scales do not replace force plate gait analysis. Agreement is low unless lameness is severe, and each observer uses an individually unique scale. Subjective scoring scales most accurately reflect force plate gait analysis when lameness is severe.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Subjective lameness scoring scales may not accurately reflect lameness and do not replace force plate gait analysis. Observers must stay the same during the duration of a study for accurate analyses.


The pushbroom scanner HRSC (High Resolution Stereo Camera) onboard the European Mars Express mission is orbiting the planet Mars since January 2004 and delivers stereoscopic imagery with five panchromatic and four colour channels. This paper describes the process of improving the exterior orientation of the HRSC which is needed in order to derive high quality products such as high resolution Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) and ortho image mosaics from the data. The systematic photogrammetric processing for improving the exterior orientation is divided into two steps: First, a large number of tie points have to be automatically determined in the images using digital image matching. Second, a bundle adjustment is carried out using the globally available MOLA (Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter) DTM as control information. The developed approaches of the matching and the bundle adjustment will be described in this paper. After that, the performance of both methods will be evaluated with respect to point accuracy and consistency with the MOLA DTM on the basis of 45 test data sets. * Corresponding author.


Trypanosomosis is a major constraint to cattle farmers in parts of Sub Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. ILRI in collaboration with national partners in Benin, Kenya and Ethiopia is implementing a project on "Improving Livelihood of the poor through Community based Management of Indigenous Animal Genetic Resources". This project seeks to develop participatory processes in sustainable improvement of cattle production. In Ethiopia, the project works with smallholder cattle keepers in Dano District in the south-west of the country. Diseases, and particularly Trypanosomosis, were identified by farmers to be the most important constraint to cattle production, followed by seasonal scarcity of feed and water. As part of designing a development framework for sustainable utilization of lical cattle, this study explored the cattle keepers' knowledge on the prevalence and control of Trypanosomosis. Semi-structured interviews were used to document farmers' perception about the disease and their control measures. Laboratory diagnosis was used to record disease prevalence in cattle which were identified by farmers to sick with Trypanosomosis. The results showed that farmers are not aware of the nature of disease transmission, correct disease symptoms and their control measures. Blood examinations on 84 sample animals, suspected to be infected showed that 27.4 % of the cattle indeed were infected with Trypanosomosis. 83 animals were infected with Trypanosoma congolense, and one with Trypanosoma vivax. Infected animals had significantly less Packed Cell Volume PCV than non-infected animals (22.0 vs. 24.3). Farmers mainly recognized the disease by the following symptoms: Diarrhoea, hair loss, weight loss, coughing and change in skin colour. About 94 % of the farmers mentioned other ways than Tsetse fly as transmitter for the disease. These results were reported and discussed with the farmers. The project is undertaking further efforts to fill the knowledge gap and introduce sustainable disease control measures in the next two years.


The purpose of this study is to identify the correlation between occupational professionalism of teachers and their fear of loss of dignity. The sample for the study designed in accordance with the relational survey model is composed of 530 teachers who worked at primary schools, secondary schools and high schools in Muğla province, Turkey, and were selected through the disproportionate cluster sampling technique. The research data was gathered with the Occupational Professionalism of Teachers Scale and the Loss of Face Scale. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis were used for analyzing the data. The data obtained shows that teachers have a high level of occupational professionalism and that they are the most professional in terms of occupational sensitivity. Occupational professionalism of teachers varies significantly by gender, type of school and seniority. On the other hand, teachers have an above-average fear of loss of dignity. Their fear of loss of dignity varies significantly by the type of school, yet shows no significant variation for gender or occupational seniority. All aspects of teachers' occupational professionalism and their fear of loss of dignity show a low and significant correlation. It was seen that personal development and emotional labor aspects of occupational professionalism are significant precursors for teachers' fear of loss of dignity.


Background: We have recently reported a 35% drop in new lung cancer diagnoses and a 64% drop in lung cancer surgeries during the first year of the pandemic. Methods: The target population was divided into three cohorts: pre-COVID-19 (2019), first year of COVID-19 (2020), and second year of COVID-19 (2021). Results: The number of new lung cancer diagnoses during the second year of the pandemic increased by 75%, with more than 50% being in the advanced/metastatic stage. There was a significant increase in cases with multiple extrathoracic sites of metastases during the pandemic. During the first year of the pandemic, significantly more patients were treated with radiosurgery compared to the pre-COVID-19 year. During the second year, the number of radiosurgery and surgical cases returned to pre-COVID-19 levels. No significant changes were observed in systemic chemotherapy and targeted therapy. No statistical difference was identified in the mean wait time for diagnosis and treatment during the three years of observation. However, the wait time for surgery was prolonged compared to the pre-COVID-19 cohort. Conclusions: The significant drop in new diagnoses of lung cancer during the first year of the pandemic was followed by an almost two-fold increase in the second year, with the increased rate of metastatic disease with multiple extra-thoracic site metastases. Limited access to surgery resulted in the more frequent use of radiosurgery.


Objectives: The aims of this study are to compare effects of conventional physical therapy and kinesiology taping methods on the patients with chronic low back and leg pain and to control in terms of pain intensity and quality of life. Materials and Methods: A total of 48 participants were randomly divided into two groups; kinesiologic taping group and control group. The participants in both groups received a conventional physical therapy program. Kinesiologic taping group received four sessions a conventional physical therapy plus kinesiology tape on the piriformis muscle and sciatic nerve. Pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale), disability (Oswestry Disability Index), quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile), anxiety symptoms (Beck anxiety Inventory) were measured at baseline and after the treatment program. Results: According to the groups comparison, there is no statistical significance (p ˃0.05) in pain, physical competence, anxiety level and quality of life. Conclusion: In the results of this study, kinesiology taping method has not changed pain, quality of life, anxiety and disability level for participants with chronic low back and leg pain. Also application of kinesiotaping did not cause to allergic reactions in those who participated.


Background: Ibrutinib is an orally-administered inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase. It is an effective agent in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), specifically of the Activated (ABC) type (Younes A et al, Lancet Oncol 2014). The combination of ibrutinib, bendamustine, and rituximab (IBR) was reported to be potent for B cell lymphomas, including DLBCL, in a phase I clinical trial (Maddocks et al, Blood 2015). We aimed to explore the efficacy of the IBR regimen in patients with relapsed & refractory (RR) aggressive B cell lymphoma (ABCL), who were either transplant ineligible or in relapse post autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). We report here, the interim analysis of a phase II clinical trial.
 Methods: Patients with RR ABCL of all subtypes as well as transformed low-grade lymphoma and grade 3B follicular lymphoma were eligible. Patients with CNS lymphoma, inadequate bone marrow function or previous exposure to bendamustine or ibrutinib were excluded. All diagnostic biopsies were centrally reviewed or repeated. PET scans were interpreted according to the Lugano criteria 2014. Rituximab and bendamustine were given for a six 28 days cycles in their standard dose (rituximab 375 mg/m2 in day 1 and bendamustine 90/70 mg/m2 day 1 and 2). Ibrutinib 560 mg orally, was administered continuously from day 1. PET scans were repeated after 3 and 6 cycles of therapy and then every 16 weeks up to 3 years. Patients that achieved a response after 3 cycles and who were eligible, could undergo either allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplantation. For the interim analysis, 34 patients were screened, and 32 of them were treated.
 Results: Seventeen male (53%) and 15 (47%) female patients, median age 69 (28-94) were treated. All patients received at least one prior line of rituximab-containing therapy mostly RCHOP (n=28, 87%). Ten (31%) participants received the IBR therapy as a second line and 22 (69%) as a third-line regimen, 6 (19%) received prior ASCT. Eight (25%) patients had relapsed disease, and 24 (75%) were refractory. Twenty-nine patients had denovo aggressive B cell lymphoma, including 12 (37%) ABC-DLBCL, 5 (16%) GCB-DLBCL, 6 (19%) undefined DLBCL, 2 (6%) primary mediastinal lymphoma and 4 (12%) double hit high grade lymphoma. Two patients had transformed low grade and 1 grade 3B follicular lymphoma.
 We recorded 258 adverse events (AEs); 11 (4%) were Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) and 3 (1%) adverse events were of particular interest. SAEs that were related to ibrutinib were documented in 4 patients one time each (1.6%) and included atrial flutter/fibrillation, fatigue, and thrombopenia.
 Of the 32 patients 27 were evaluable for response, the additional 5 patients had early clinical progression. Complete response (CR) was documented in 8 (30%), partial response in 4 (15%) and stable disease in 2 (7%) translating to overall response rate (ORR) of 45%. On an intention to treat analysis ORR was 38%. There were no statistically significant differences in response rates between relapsed vs. refractory patients as well as ABC type vs. others.
 Four patients were referred to transplant after achieving CR or PR, 2 to ASCT and 2 to allogeneic stem cell transplantation. With a median follow-up of 14 months, all 4 patients remained alive and in remission. Median PFS and OS for the entire cohort (n=32) was 2.7 and 7.1 months, respectively. Both PFS and OS were significantly better for patients who achieved CR. Median PFS for patients with no CR was 2.5 months and was significantly different from patients with CR (p=0.008, log-rank test, figure 1a). Median OS for patients without a CR was 5.9 months; no deaths occurred among patients who achieved CR (p=0.032, log-rank test, figure 1b).
 There were no significant differences in OS or PFS between relapsed and refractory patients as well as between the different histological subtypes.
 Conclusions: We demonstrated that the IBR regimen is both safe and effective for patients with RR ABCL. Our patient population was of advanced age and mostly refractory, and despite that, we were able to show 45% ORR. Four of the patients that were chemorefractory and therefore transplant ineligible were able to undergo transplants after achieving remissions with this regimen, all of them are alive and in remission. We conclude that this regimen has promising results as a salvage regimen for RR ABCL patients both as a sole therapy or as a bridge to transplant, and it should be investigated in further clinical trials.

 No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


The structures and magnetic properties of two transition metal frameworks that feature a mixture of two linear dicarboxylate ligands are reported. Compounds 1, Mn2(C4H4O4)(C6H8O4)(H2O)4·2H2O, and 2, Co6(C4H4O4)4(C6H8O4)(OH)2(H2O)4·5H2O, contain a mixture of succinate and adipate ligands but adopt significantly different structures. Compound 1 features layers of MnO6 dimers, intra-connected by carboxylate groups, with neighbouring dimers connected to each other via the adipate ligands in one direction and succinate ligands in the other. Extensive hydrogen bonding in the third dimension provides the main force holding layers together. Framework 2 has inorganic layers of CoO6 octahedra arranged into rings of 14 members each, with adipate ligands providing inter-layer connectivity. The structures of these two compounds are compared to Mn and Co dicarboxylate frameworks containing only one type of organic ligand, including Co(C6H8O4), compound 3, whose structure is reported in this work for the first time; they are found to be significantly different from those that form under similar conditions. Both compounds order magnetically near 2 K. Compound 1 is an antiferromagnet, in which the intra-dimer coupling dominates the magnetic behaviour, while framework 2 is most likely a canted antiferromagnet. Both compounds undergo magnetic phase transitions with increasing applied magnetic fields, at 14 kOe and 0.35 kOe in 1 and 2, respectively. The transition in the Mn compound is a simple spin flop but in the Co compound the suppression of the long range ordered state is also accompanied by the elimination of the ferromagnetic component of its magnetic interactions.


We report data on two patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer invading the aorta, who underwent successful radical operation under cardiopulmonary bypass. One patient (case 1) has been followed up for more than 16 months after the operation without any evidence of local recurrence of the tumor or distal metastases. Although this surgical intervention for an advanced lung cancer invading the aortic wall might be a challenge, we believe that such an aggressive surgical intervention is justified if cure is anticipated.


Sensory evaluation was done with 256 respondents who were willing to participate in the study and chosen through quota sampling based on age and sex. The respondents evaluated pure lemongrass tea and lemongrass with pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius) using the research questionnaire given to them. Analysis of variance, factor analysis, and cluster analysis were used to assess a degree of association between different study components. Results show that herbal teas were the most favored drinks among the respondents who strongly believe that these help in digestion and relieve stress. The sensory attributes driving acceptability of lemongrass teas were linked to light and clear green colors, citral aroma, and distinct taste. The high acceptability of lemongrass tea mixed with pandan, a locally appreciated herb, shows future possibilities in the product expansion lines.


This research has the main objective to explain the steps of the SAW (Simple Additive Weighting) method calculation process used to determine one improvement priority aspect in CIPP (Context-Input-Process-Product) evaluation model so the e-learning services more effectiveness. This research used a quantitative approach to obtain the lowest preference value from the evaluation aspect of the CIPP model. The research subjects who were involved in this research were 64 people. The tool used in collecting simulation data was questionnaires. This research was conducted in several health colleges in Bali Province. The technique was used to analyze the data from the SAW method calculation was the technique of the lowest preference value searching. This research result showed the accuracy of the SAW-based CIPP model calculation in determining the priority aspect of improvement with a preference value was 0.37192.


BACKGROUND. Valid consent for research requires comprehensive and understandable information to be disclosed to participants. The way that information is shared varies, but regulatory bodies usually determine style. Some reports have suggested that although information may be all-inclusive, it does little to support understanding. OBJECTIVE. To explore the impact of various information-sharing approaches on parents' understanding of a research study and the validity of their consent. METHODS. This was a randomized, controlled trial. Parents of immature but well infants admitted to a large tertiary NICU in Edinburgh, Scotland, were randomly assigned within 72 hours of their infant's admission to receive 1 of 2 information leaflets, with or without a standardized verbal explanation, for a hypothetical intensive care research study. The leaflets differed in length and in the amount of detail in which the study process, risks, benefits, and patient rights were described. A questionnaire was used to elicit understanding about the purpose of the research, design of the study, procedures involved, and the consent process. RESULTS. Forty-one parents participated in the study. Those who received the longer leaflet without verbal explanation gained only limited understanding of the purpose of the research. The procedures involved in the study were understood better by those who received the shorter leaflet. Issues relating to consent and study design were readily understood in all groups. Irrespective of documentation style, verbal explanation significantly improved understanding. Differences in understanding had little effect on whether a parent would enroll his or her infant into the study. CONCLUSIONS. Verbal explanation significantly enhances understanding of the research process for participants regardless of the style of written documentation. However, shorter written information may lead to better understanding than lengthy, more complex documentation.


In marketing, there is a clear divide between academics and practitioners. However, there are few empirical studies in Brazil that help clarify the phenomenon. In light of this context, the present research seeks to understand how academics and practitioners perceive the divide between the academy and businesses and how this affects the applicability of theories, concepts and models in marketing. For this purpose, in-depth interviews were conducted with ten academics who teach marketing and 15 practitioners involved in the area. The reasons for the divide are presented, with emphasis on how the teaching of marketing contributes to the phenomenon. The paper shows how the divide affects the applicability of the discipline, and it gives suggestions on how to reduce the divide. Academics and practitioners show interest in reducing the divide. The difficulties for this to are owing to the different understandings of what marketing is. Such an inconsistency can be explained based on the purposes/reasons that lead these professionals to practice the discipline.


Malicious fire raising or arson now accounts for 43% of all fires occurring in the United Kingdom. In some areas, such as Tyne and Wear, two thirds of all fires were started deliberately, presenting to the Local Authorities a problem of epidemic proportions. Evidence indicates that the incidence of arson has been steadily increasing in the last 20 years. In 1978 the Home Office estimated that the cost of this activity was £80-100 million per year. More recent figures from the Association of British Insurers show fire losses for 1990 to be £954 million. With this background, Dr Barker introduces us to the literature relating to arson and presents a clear and concise account of it. The characteristics of arsonists age, parental background and mental history are discussed in chapter 2. Arson is known to be a crime of youth, 77% of those charged or cautioned were under 21 years of age, 33% were under 13 years. Apattem of parental deprivation is seen as a common feature in offending behaviour. Unfortunately for the public the majority of arsonists go undetected. Chapter 3 deals with fire setting behaviour and is of considerable interest to the police and fire brigades who are trying to combat the arson problem. Research in 1984 demonstrated that fire setting in groups is twice as common as individual acts of arson, and the damage caused considerably greater. To counteract this trend, some Fire Brigades have been asked by the Courts to institute an education training programme for young arsonists as a method of changing offending behaviour. Recent evidence seems to suggest that this form of approach is the best answer to the problem. The remaining two chapters deal with the important issues of the psychological motives for arson and some proposals for future research into the problem. r.r. WARREN Neurotrawnatology: Biomechanic aspects, cytologic and molecular mechanisms. Edited by M. Oehmichen and H. G. Konig.Schmidt-Romhil 1997. ISBN 3 79500314 8. Pages 355. Price £21.00. In one quarter of all forensic autopsy case material, the cause of death is traumatization of the brain or spinal cord. This book presents research reports on neurotraumatology expanded from lectures given in Lubeck in December 1966. They come from Germany, France, USA, Japan, Sweden, Austria and the UK The last is represented by the Glasgow Institute of Neurological Sciences and the Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School. The breadth of the aspects covered and many of the results reported make the book worthy of study by neuropathologists and scientists in institutes offorensic medicine. The emphasis is on quantitation. New and sensitive methods are described and assessed for determining the age of brain lesions, distinguishing postmortem trauma, predicting clinical outcomes and guiding therapy. The biomechanics of reconstructing violent events leading to traumatization is the first section. This is followed by genetic aspects of neuronal death, axonal injury, microglial reactions, and some general papers. These groupings of research reports are not mutually exclusive since many of the papers touch on wider aspects of neurotraumatology research. Whilst the genetic studies do not yet have direct and immediate applications in the forensic process, they show possibilities while illustrating, through the links between head injury and Alzheimer's disease, and interesting protein interactions, the clinical, social and economic importance of the work. Although at first sight this volume, number 17 in the series "Research in Legal Medicine", appears rather specialized and formidable, this reviewer quickly found it quite absorbing once at close quarters. There is a good index and all the papers have extensive references, many of which are recent.


HCI field began to see more studies in exploring not only the rational characteristics of human users in making decisions but also the "extra-rational" aspects in interacting with their environment and devices. The first task to exploit one such facet, human affect, is to accurately recognize and assess the affective state in real-time. This paper first serves as a survey of the state-of-the-art in affective state assessment, with focus on computational assessment models. Then a modeling framework developed by the authors based on dynamic Bayesian networks is introduced and compared with other models.


BACKGROUND/AIMS Although the efficacy and safety of pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN) alpha-2a and PEG-IFN alpha-2b have been comparatively studied, there are few study results available in which the two PEG-IFN products were strictly compared. To compare the effects of two PEG-IFN products on blood cell profile. METHODOLOGY The time-course change in blood cell counts was compared between chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1b receiving PEG-IFN alpha-2a/ribavirin and PEG-IFN alpha-2b/ribavirin combination therapy. The comparison was made after matching patients from the two groups based on ribavirin apparent clearance (CL/F), a surrogate marker of the steady state blood ribavirin level, in order to eliminate the effect of ribavirin. Fifteen pairs of matched patients were selected. RESULTS The time-course change in hemoglobin did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, significantly greater reductions in both neutrophil and platelet counts were observed with PEG-IFN alpha-2a compared to PEG-IFN alpha-2b. A slightly longer period was required with PEG-IFN alpha-2a than with PEG-IFN alpha-2b for a reduction in neutrophil or platelet count large enough to necessitate dose reduction. CONCLUSIONS Two types of PEG-IFN products affected the blood cell profile in different manners. Long-term monitoring of laboratory test values is necessary with PEG-IFN alpha-2a.


Hoeing can improve weed control in cereals but this requires wider row spacing of the crop. A spe-cific band row design may also ensure high crop yield and quality, especially at the conditions of organic farming. In order to study those effects two field experiments with winter wheat were con-ducted in 2005 and 2006 at the organic farming research area of the BBA. Three different row de-signs have been investigated: narrow (100 mm spacing), wide (400 mm) and band sowing (alternat-ing of crop band of 400 mm and a crop-free band of 300 mm width). All plots were harrowed whereas the wide and band sown plots have additionally been hoed. Also two cultivars differing in growth habit and competitiveness were tested (Ludwig, Pegassos).
Neither harrowing nor the combination of harrowing and hoeing could reduce weed density (by analysing data before and after treatments). Also the different row spacing had no effect on weed density at late spring (257 weeds m-2). However, weed growth at the same time was clearly influenced by the row spacing: Weed biomass was significantly higher in the plots with wide rows (23.1 g m-2) compared to normal (8.3 g m-2 ) and band sowing (10.5 g m-2 ). Crop yield was highest at band sowing (7.09 t ha-1) whereas the wide sown crop stand was of significant lower yield (6.18 t ha-1) but highest protein content (10%). Regarding cultivar effects Pegassos was more competitive against weeds and provided also a higher yield than cultivar Ludwig.
So far, band sowing has been proved as an easily applicable sowing technique which enables the use of hoes in cereals and ensure high crop yield especially at conditions of organic farming.


The data on chromosome numbers (somatic and basic) characteristic to species and subspecies of earthworms (Lumbricidae) of Georgia (Caucasus region) are summarized. Four values of basic chromosome number (11, 15, 17, 18) while 6 values of somatic number (22, 30, 34, 36, 72, 108) are registered in 19 species and subspecies studied. The diploid karyotypes dominate over polyploid karyotypes. It is supposed that the modal numbers, somatic 2n=36 and basic n=18, are evolutionarily initial on the basis of which the formation of the main part of species and subspecies of earthworms have proceeded in Georgia. Polyploidy did not represent the main evolutionary mechanism of the origin of species in Georgia (and the whole Caucasus).


This article focuses on attunement as a concept that intervenes in the question of how we learn to act ethically in the face of radical alterity. I use Jacques Derrida's concept of a "contraband" tonality and Gilles Deleuze's discussion of "haptic" tone to argue that tonality resonates with dimensions of affect and desire that cannot be accommodated through familiar interpretive acts of listening, hearing, and seeing. Because we are unable to fully understand and account for the tonality of others, the article suggests, we need to approach attunement as a disposition or ethos that prolongs our engagement with the alterity of others' marks and noises. Repositioned as living practice, attunement can redefine ethical action by drawing attention to the material, physical, and emotional challenges of preserving what Diane Davis calls a "radically hospitable opening to alterity."


Transport in Nb/AlO/sub x//Nb junctions involves two parallel channels, barrier defects (pinholes) with sub-nanometer dimensions and nearly-ideal tunneling regions. We fit junction characteristics using only a single parameter, the ratio of the normal state conductances of these current paths. Our barrier model accounts for the excellent Josephson behavior and highly non-ideal quasiparticle characteristics of junctions with critical current densities as high as 4 mA//spl mu/m/sup 2/. It appears to be quite generally applicable to tunnel junctions.<<ETX>>


The understanding of cellular sources of kidney regeneration has rapidly evolved in the last decade. It is now believed that regeneration occurs predominantly from cells that reside within the injured kidney, with minimal contribution from extra‐renal cells. We now know that improved kidney regeneration seen following exogenous administration of stem cells occur predominantly by noncellular paracrine mechanisms. Of all extra‐renal stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are the most promising stem cell type for treating kidney diseases. There is an ongoing clinical trial evaluating safety and efficacy of MSC in treating acute kidney injury (AKI). Results of this trial are expected to bring use of MSC closer to the clinical realm. An improved understanding of the small molecules that facilitate kidney regeneration and are secreted by MSC will likely result in the development of new therapies for treating AKI. Identification of adult stem cell markers will result in improved understanding of pathophysiology of kidney diseases and could lead to the development of new cellular therapies. Directed differentiation of stem cells into desired cell types such as erythropoietin producing cells will allow selective replacement of lost kidney function. Cell‐based therapies for patients with chronic kidney disease are presently in proof‐of‐principle stage and are expected to evolve in the coming years with improved understanding of stem cell biology. Technological advancement in cellular therapy is expected to provide improved therapeutic options for patients with kidney diseases in the near future.


A two-year prospective study of injuries sustained from motor-cycle accidents (MCA) was conducted at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria, in 1983 and 1984 after repeal of the national mandatory helmet law. MCA patients constituted 10.3% of 715 road traffic accident (RTA) patients and also presented a 5.7:1 male preponderance. Peak age was 18 to 30 years. Nearly 75% sustained lower extremity, chest and cranioencephalic injuries. Non-operative management sufficed in 34 patients (45.9%) while 30 (40.5%) and 10 (13.5%) require operations respectively. Eighteen (24.3%) and 17 (23.0%) patients required local/spinal and general anesthesia respectively. Mortality was 6.8% (5 patients). This analysis of MCA injuries provides objective basis for current comparison with what obtains in jurisdictions with/without mandatory helmet law and future comparison when the law is re-enacted in our state.


A retrospective longitudinal study of the frequency and correlates of case reopening in a child welfare population revealed that one-third of all closed cases were reopened. Predictors of reopening were the child's age, ethnicity and prior agency experience.


We report on findings from the first randomized controlled pilot trial of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) developed specifically for reducing social anxiety associated with stuttering. People who stutter with heightened social anxiety were recruited from online adverts and randomly allocated to receive VRET (n = 13) or be put on a waitlist (n = 12). Treatment was delivered remotely using a smartphone-based VR headset. It consisted of three weekly sessions, each comprising both performative and interactive exposure exercises, and was guided by a virtual therapist. Multilevel model analyses failed to demonstrate the effectiveness of VRET at reducing social anxiety between pre- and post-treatment. We found similar results for fear of negative evaluation, negative thoughts associated with stuttering, and stuttering characteristics. However, VRET was associated with reduced social anxiety between post-treatment and one-month follow-up. These pilot findings suggest that our current VRET protocol may not be effective at reducing social anxiety amongst people who stutter, though might be capable of supporting longer-term change. Future VRET protocols targeting stuttering-related social anxiety should be explored with larger samples. The results from this pilot trial provide a solid basis for further design improvements and for future research to explore appropriate techniques for widening access to social anxiety treatments in stuttering.


For the majority of children with beta- hemoglobinopathies and -thalassemias who do not have a transplant donor, survival is shortened and morbidity is high. Hydroxyurea, EPO preparations, sodium phenylbutyrate, arginine butyrate, and 5-azacytidine/decitabine have shown efficacy in approximately 40% to 70% of sickle cell and beta-thalassemia patients. Many responses, although significant, were not completely ameliorating of symptoms or pathology, and trials of new agents with dual actions, or drug combinations, are needed. Ideally, limiting chemotherapeutic exposure is desirable for long-term treatment of children, and an oral therapeutic at tolerable doses is necessary for practical use. A new oral therapeutic candidate that induces fetal hemoglobin production and also stimulates erythropoiesis is entering clinical evaluation. Use of agents that should have additive or synergistic effects in combination, such as EPO and hydroxyurea or a short-chain fatty acid derivative (SCFAD), offer better therapeutic potential than hydroxyurea alone. Childhood is an optimal time to introduce such therapies, particularly the non-mutagenic SCFADs, while the erythroid marrow reserve is preserved and before organ damage has become widespread. A challenge for successful application of these therapies is to define patient subsets that are most likely to respond to a particular agent, or which require combination therapies, and to develop optimal dose regimens in thalassemias with rapid erythroid apoptosis. Development of this therapeutic avenue will require close collaboration among treating and academic physicians, families and patients, funding agencies, and researchers.


BACKGROUND
This study aimed to identify the predictors of hospital mortality in children with acute infective disorders of the central nervous system using an aggregate Modified Glasgow Coma Scale (MGCS) score and other clinical variables assessed within 24 hours of hospitalization.

METHODS
We did a prospective cohort study in a teaching and referral hospital in Lucknow, North India. Consecutive children aged 1 month to 12 years of age admitted with acute infective disorders of the central nervous system were included in the study. The diagnosis was based on the presence of symptoms of fever, headache or irritability with or without vomiting, and either altered sensorium or first episode of seizures or both. The main outcome measure was hospital-based mortality.

RESULTS
Of the 230 patients included in the study, 42.2% had pyogenic meningitis, 36.9% had tuberculous basal meningitis and 20.9% had meningo-encephalitis. There were 43 (18.7%) deaths of which 44.2% were within 3 days of admission. Death was associated with the day 1 aggregate MGCS score only. The area under the curve of four strata of aggregate MGCS was 0.63 (SE 0.05). The likelihood ratio for discharge with an aggregate MGCS score of < 5 was 0.52 (95% CI:0.29-0.95) and > 10 was 5.52 (9% CI:1.02-31.96).

CONCLUSION
The MGCS can be used to predict discharge in patients with acute infective disorders of the central nervous system within 24 hours of hospitalization. The scale is simple, can be applied at the bedside and does not depend on any investigations. In developing countries with limited investigative facilities it can be used for identification and selective referral of patients with a higher risk of death to specialized centres. This study validates the predictive value of the MGCS.


The salt appetite of the rat is useful for studying certain behavioral and neurological functions. A refined method for inducing and measuring salt appetite for these purposes is described, and the efficiency and reliability of the procedures are demonstrated by parametric studies comparing the appetite behaviors of male and female rats. The method for inducing salt appetite couples 2 days of dietary sodium deprivation with a brief diuretic treatment. The measurement procedure involves a 2-hr period of access to one of several sodium chloride solutions differing in palatability or concentration. The induction procedure allowed precise control of drive levels, and the measurement procedure yielded highly reliable results as a function of the properties of the incentives. Female rats consistently ingested about twice as much sodium chloride solution as did male rats regardless of the palatability of the solution or of body sodium levels. At the same time, female rats lost less sodium in urine following diuretic treatment.


In this paper, we analysis the working principle of a cilium-type MEMS vector hydrophone, by analyzing we obtained the errors of the vector micro-sensor are deviations from column cilium. Since the structure is mainly picking up sound vibrations by the cilium, the piezoresistor which on the beams connected by Wheatstone bridge circuit will output the signals, so the deviation of cilium cylinder have greater impact the sensitivity in both directions of vector hydrophone. Through theoretical calculation and finite element simulation of the sensitive structure of the error analysis. By the structure of the hydrophone error test ,we obtained the sensitivity of X direction is 0.755mv / g, the sensitivity of Y direction is 0.683mv / g, The relative sensitivity error of two directions is 9.5% which is close to the simulation results. Finally, this paper give a solution to the error. (Abstract)


Abstract The present study was performed on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) of Theileria annulata transformed dendritic cells (TaDCs) and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs) to compare differences in antigen presentation and stimulation of T lymphocyte proliferation. Antigen presentation for T lymphocyte proliferation was analysed by flow cytometry. Additionally, the level of mRNA transcription of small GTPases of the Rab family expressed in the TaDC cell line was analysed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR). The endocytosis rate of TaDCs was significantly (P < 0.01) lower than in MoDCs. In contrast, when T lymphocytes were co-cultured with TaDC-APCs T cell proliferation was similar, while co-culture with MoDC-APC stimulated proliferation of CD4+ cells to a greater degree than CD8+ cells. However, the efficacy of TaDC-APCs to stimulate T lymphocytes dropped as the number of passages of TaDC-APC increased. Likewise, the transcription level of Rab family genes also significantly (P > 0.001) declined with progressive passages (>50) of the TaDC cell line. We conclude that initially the TaDC cell line efficiently presents antigen to stimulate T lymphocyte proliferation to produce a cellular immune response against the presented antigen.


Hypertension is a common disease associated with high mortality and morbidity. Hypertension could have its origin in childhood and go undetected unless specially looked for during this period. With globalization bringing more lifestyle modifications, adolescents are exposed to multiple risk factors including obesity, diet, academic stress, lack of physical work apart from hereditary risk factors. Early diagnosis of hypertension is an important strategy in its control, effective treatment and prevention of complications. This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet during the period from January 2014 to June 2014. One thousand (1000) school children aged 12-16 years in Sylhet Metropolitan City were included according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria were all school children aged 12-16 years in Sylhet Metropolitan City. School children aged under 12 or above 16 years and with any systemic disorder were excluded. This study showed that prevalence of hypertension in school going children of Sylhet city was 0.70% and there was a significant relationship of hypertension with the obesity, family history of hypertension, dietary habit and physical activity. Among 7 (seven) hypertensive children, 3(42.8%) were over weight and 3(42.8%) obese (p=0.001). All of 7(100%) children had family history of hypertension (p=0.001). Dietary habit were found healthy in 1(14.3%) and unhealthy in 6(85.7%) (p=0.001). Among 7 positive respondent, 6(85.7%) was sedentary working and 1(14.3%) was inactive (p=0.001). While waist hip ratio among those, 2(28.6%) were excellent and 5(71.4%) were average; was not significant (p=0.745). Prevalence of hypertension in apparently healthy school going children of Sylhet city was 0.70% and this had a strong relationship with obesity, family history of hypertension, dietary habit and physical activity.


Ovuliferous spikes with two lateral rows of ovules are described from the Callovian of Georgia. The ovules are large, orthotropous, oblique to the stout rachis, with a scar of subtending bract at the base. They show a relatively thin integument and a bulky nucellus topped by a broad nucellar beak. This find constitutes a new genus Baruligyna gen. nov. closely related to the previously described Semionogyna Krassilov et Bugdaeva from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia. Both are associated with pteridosperm-like foliage. In the case of Baruligyna, the associated leaves are of a Pachypteris morphotype, bipinnate with thick leathery pinnules similar to the ovules in shape and dimensions. This group of Mesozoic plants is considered as transitional between the Permian callipterids and the Mesozoic cycads indicating the origin of Cycas-type ovuliphores ("macrosporophylls") form planated bracteate strobili.