Two earth‐system models of intermediate complexity are used to study the long term response to an input of 5000 Pg of carbon into the atmosphere. About 75% of CO2 emissions have an average perturbation lifetime of 1800 years and 25% have lifetimes much longer than 5000 years. In the simulations, higher levels of atmospheric CO2 remain in the atmosphere than predicted by previous experiments and the average perturbation lifetime of atmospheric CO2 for this level of emissions is much longer than the 300–400 years proposed by other studies. At year 6800, CO2 concentrations between about 960 to 1440 ppmv result in global surface temperature increases between 6 and 8°C. There is also significant surface ocean acidification, with pH decreasing from 8.16 to 7.46 units between years 2000 and 2300.


Abstract— The R&D project selection decision is described as a process by which an intermittent stream of changes are made to lists of currently active and proposed projects. It includes generating alternatives, determining when a decision is required, collecting data, specifying constraints and criteria, and recycling. The decision is viewed as imbedded within a hierarchical, diffuse budgeting and planning process. Process characteristics such as multiple criteria whose relative importance varies over time, inherent uncertainty, and parameter interrelationships result in a highly complex decision problem. The existing normative R&D benefit measurement and project selection literature is assessed and the limitations inherent in the proposed models are determined. A number of research opportunities are identified for both methodological and empirical studies.


Background Radial head and neck fractures are a rare entity in pediatric patients. Due to specific characteristics of the blood supply and remodeling potential, the correct diagnosis and initiation of appropriate therapy are crucial for the outcome. Therefore, the aim of this retrospective observational study was to present the outcome of a series of pediatric patients with radial head and neck fractures. Methods In total, 67 pediatric and adolescent patients with a fracture of the proximal radius admitted to a Level I Trauma Center (Germany) between 2005 and 2017 were included in this retrospective observational study. Patients were stratified in accordance with the classification of Judet modified by Metaizeau and with the AO Pediatric Comprehensive Classification of Long Bone Fractures (AO-PCCF). Results AO-PCCF fracture type of proximal radius was age-dependent. Epiphyseal axis angle and displacement angle correlated significantly. Fractures treated with a K-wire or embrochage centromedullaire elastique stable (ECMES) presented higher displacement angles. The duration of callus formation was dependent on both the reduction technique and fracture displacement. The range of motion after complete fracture consolidation was dependent on the Metaizeau type and reduction technique but independent of the duration of immobilization and physical therapy. Conclusion and clinical relevance Both the epiphyseal axis and displacement angle are suitable for measuring the initial fracture displacement in radiographs. Consolidation is dependent on the initial displacement and reduction technique. The mini-open approach leads to a worse reduction result, later callus formation, and a more restricted range of motion in terms of pronation. Furthermore, the range of motion at follow-up is independent of the duration of immobilization and physiotherapy.


4946 Deregulation of the Wnt mediated self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation mechanisms is associated with malignant transformation and tumor growth. Insights into the key regulators of the pathway may help provide novel therapeutic strategies, specifically targeting the self-renewal pathways in cancer. The receptor tyrosine-kinase like orphan receptor-1 (Ror1) plays a crucial role in developmental morphogenesis. Ror1 over-expression in B-CLL patient samples and a number of cancer cell lines prompted an investigation into its biological role in cancer. Using 293T cells stably expressing the SuperTopFlash (STF) reporter system, we identified Ror1 as a mediator of canonical Wnt3a signaling. Although, Ror1 expression did not influence canonical Wnt pathway activation to the same extent as either LRP6 or Dvl3 over-expression, it was observed to be a positive regulator of the pathway, activating the STF reporter 2.5 -7 fold, in a dose-dependent manner. Mutant Ror-1 constructs, lacking the frizzled-like domain or the entire intracellular domain were unable to enhance STF reporter activation to the same extent as the full-length receptor. In addition, co-expression of Ror1 with Dvl3 resulted in a stronger activation of the STF reporter than by either construct alone, demonstrating synergy between the two proteins and canonical Wnt pathway activation. Using Ror1 targeting shRNA we assessed the role of endogenous Ror1 receptors in Wnt3a canonical signaling. Ror1 shRNA inhibited Wnt3a mediated activation of the STF reporter to the same extent as LRP6 shRNA. STF reporter activation directly correlated with the levels of Ror1/LRP6 surface expression, suggesting that Ror1 is as equally important for canonical Wnt signal transduction as LRP6. Effects of stable Ror1 knockdown was then evaluated in A549 and H1299 NSCLC cell lines, expressing high levels of endogenous Ror1. In both A549 and H1299 cells, Ror1 shRNA decreased cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest in vitro. An even stronger effect of Ror1 knockdown was observed in vivo, where infection of A549 cells with Ror1 shRNA completely abrogated tumor growth, as compared to non-targeting control shRNA. These data demonstrate Ror1 to be a positive regulator of canonical Wnt signaling and crucial for NSCLC cell survival in vitro and in vivo.


The COVID-19 pandemic and its accompanying quarantine restrictions have changed the way people live. People
find themselves in a situation of social deprivation, distance work and learning, anxiety, fear and stress. The specific
attitudes and reactions of student youth to COVID-restrictions became relevant issues for the study. The purpose is to
determine features of the psychological defenses activation in their connection with life time perspective organization of
students in the terms of COVID-restrictions. The study includes 97 students in the six-month period before the COVID19 pandemic (group 1) and 87 students – 18 months later after the pandemic started (group 2). Such methods as
"Lifestyle Index" (Plutchik, Kellerman); "Questionnaire of time perspective" (Zimbardo); "Styles of self-regulation of
behavior" (Morosanova); "Internet Addiction Scale" (A. Zhichkin); "Predisposition to addictive behavior"
(Mendelevich) were used in the study. Test subjects commented on the degree of concern about COVID-restrictions.
The threats from COVID-19 in group 2 led to a relatively high level of activation of such psychological defenses as:
denial (U=2604.50; p<.001); displacement (U=2236.00; p<.001); regression (U=2820.00; p<.001); substitution
(U=1552.00; p<.001); intellectualization (U=3350.00; p=.016); reaction formations (U=3298.50; p=.011). One quarter
of the subjects from group 2, who are most concerned about Covid-restrictions, have relatively the highest level of total
stress protection (χ2=6,615; p=.037), compensation (χ2=7,399; p=.025), reaction formations (χ2=8,470; p=.015), the
highest (primarily compared to moderately concerned subjects) focus on the Present Hedonistic (U=166.00; p=.031).
Almost half of the subjects in group 2 with indifference to COVID-restrictions have the highest level of protection of
displacement (χ2=9,811; p=.007) and intellectualization (χ2=7.423; p=.024). The students' psychological defenses
under COVID-restrictions are reinforced along with overt or covert anxiety and worry, and are combined with
numerous reinforcing connections to the Present Hedonistic and Present Fatalistic, and weakening connections to the
Future. Indifference to COVID-restrictions in almost half of the subjects is accompanied by relatively highest activity of
the defense of displacement and intellectualization. The high level of concern of COVID-restrictions of a quarter of the
subjects is associated with high stress regression protection, compensation, reaction formations, expressiveness of
orientation to the Present Hedonistic, increased likelihood of addiction (in particular, Internet addiction).


In this paper, we develop a distributed cooperative spectrum sensing algorithm based on network code to decrease the need for bandwidth in cognitive radios. The model of the distributed cooperative spectrum sensing is analyzed, and the algorithm of distributed scheme based on network code is described. The simulation results show that compared with the distributed scheme without network code and the non-cooperative one, the throughput of secondary users is increased apparently, and also, the probability of detection of the distributed scheme with network code is improved about 10% and 20%, respectively, further, the optimal sensing time is shorter about 82% and 88%, respectively.


The Second World War marked a decisive expansion of planning for port cities in Western Europe and the UK. The study of plans for Glasgow shows that planners failed to prepare for the modernisation of port facilities and of waterfront-related industry and the improvement of transport connections between ports and the rest of the city. A comprehensive assessment of port matters was compromised by politics, first in bringing about government intervention in matters of port administration, and then in generating opposition between the municipal authorities of Glasgow and the central government on whether Glasgow should dominate the Clyde Valley. The Cooper report on the Clyde Estuary dealt with the question whether a unified port authority should be created. This institutional question kept port issues separate from the process of urban renewal. The Bruce and Abercrombie plans differed in their estimation of the importance of the port to the regional economy, but agreed that major changes in the port district were necessary if conditions in the rest of the city were to improve. This analysis shows that the shortcomings of planning during war cannot be attributed to wartime conditions, but reflected established perceptions of urban conditions and expectations of future development.


The potential for disruption of the Mexican road network increases in importance as the economic depen- dence on road transport increases. Therefore, this article presents an analysis to identify critical segments of the road network in terms of freight transport. The emphasis is on methodology, but the results of applying the method are also shown, by analysing the effect on total travel time within the network, including the effects of route changes in response to segment capacities. The method uses the criterion 'effect on travel time', ATa, of Scott et al., but an original model is presented. Calculation of the effects includes an interface developed in TransCAD®. Application of the method to the main road network in Mexico has identified critical segments where the network is vulnerable and it has been demonstrated that is feasible to apply the methodology with the information available in Mexico.


Summary

Primates dominate lists of pests that damage crops around African parks and reserves. Beyond creating management problems, crop foraging is integral to the ecology of primates inhabiting forest—agriculture ecotones.

Twenty-three months of data from four villages around Kibale National Park, Uganda, revealed that redtail monkeys Cercopithecus ascanius, olive baboons Papio cynocephalus and chimpanzees Pan troglodytes selected different crops or plant parts. Baboons took root and tuber crops ignored by other primates, and fed on the greatest variety of crops. All three species preferred maize and/or bananas. Redtails ate only banana fruit, baboons ate banana fruit more frequently than pith, and chimpanzees raided pith and fruit in equal proportions.

Each primate showed a distinct monthly pattern of crop foraging, significantly non-random for baboons and redtail monkeys, weakly for chimpanzees. Large inter-monthly variation was observed for all three primates, but was least pronounced in redtails.

Raiding frequency on maize peaked approximately 8 weeks after the onset of rains and was strongly correlated between the three primate species. Abundant forest fruit did not diminish primate appetite for maize.

Raiding frequency on bananas varied considerably despite continuous availability of fruit and pith. Peaks in banana consumption were unrelated to rainfall or maize raiding, but were associated instead with forest fruit shortages, specifically Mimusops bagshawei.

Chimpanzees consumed banana pith more frequently when forest fruits were scarce, whereas baboons targeted more banana fruits. The use of banana pith by chimpanzees supports the suggestion that energy-rich pith is crucial to chimpanzees during fruit scarcity.

Conservation of Mimusops bagshawei and other key forest fruit trees may lessen primate raiding intensity on perennial crops, e.g. bananas. Maize raiding appears unaffected by forest fruit abundance. Such highly palatable crops are best planted > 500 m from the forest edge.

Planting agroforestry buffers along park edges creates ideal habitat for crop-raiders. This management strategy is appropriate where human population density is low and crop raiding species are legal game. When dangerous or destructive wildlife species forage amidst densely settled subsistence farmland, managers are challenged to separate forests from agriculture using non-palatable plant barriers or electric fences.


Establishing the N-terminal sequence of intact proteins plays a critical role in biochemistry and potential drug development. N-terminal sequence analysis is necessary for quality control of protein biologics, for determining sites of signal peptide cleavage events, as a first step in elucidating the sequences of genes from uncommon species and for the characterization of monoclonal antibodies. Automated Edman degradation has been the method of choice for these analyses. However, alternate methods for N-terminal sequence analysis have emerged. The recent PSRG studies have established that Edman sequencing and mass spectrometry based techniques have varied strengths and weaknesses depending on several experimental factors and both play an important role in terminal sequencing. With this complimentary role realized, the 2011 PSRG study attempts to evaluate the sensitivity limits of the various sequencing techniques. The PSRG distributed three sample sets of 3 tubes each, varying by sample format (lyophilized, gel slice or membrane piece). Each set of three samples contains the same recombinant protein with increasing amounts of material. The sequence of this protein is not listed in any database. Participants could request any one, two, or all three sample sets. Including PSRG committee, a total of 38 participants requested 74 sample sets. The participants were asked to determine as many amino acids from both termini by their method of choice, and were encouraged to try multiple methods for sequence elucidation. Study participants were directed to a website to anonymously upload sequences and supporting data. Our analysis focuses on the length and accuracy of the sequence calls reported by the participants, and how that compares with decreasing amounts of protein and the type of sample format analyzed. A comparison of the results obtained by Edman chemistry and by alternative technologies as well as information on the type of instruments and protocols is reported.


The explanation of the ridge observed in p-p and p-A collisions at the Large Hadron Collider constitutes one of the open questions in our understanding of high-energy hadronic collisions. Apart from final-state hydrodynamic models, correlations between gluons in the wave function of the incoming hadrons, computed in the framework of the Color Glass Condensate, offer an alternative rationale to explain such phenomenon. A natural question is then what happens to quarks. Here we consider, for the first time, correlations between produced quarks in p-A collisions in the light-cone wave function approach to the CGC. We find a quark-quark ridge that shows a dip at $\Delta \eta\sim 2$ relative to the gluon-gluon ridge. The origin of this dip is the short range (in rapidity) Pauli blocking experienced by quarks in the wave function of the incoming projectile. We observe that these correlations, present in the initial state, survive the scattering process. We discuss possibilities for observing experimentally such correlations and future developments.


The concept of vectorial spin analysis in spin and angle resolved photoemission is illustrated in this report. Two prototypical systems, Bi/Ag(111)(sqrt3 x sqrt3)R30 and Pb/Ag(111)(sqrt3 x sqrt3)R30, which show a large Rashba type spin-orbit splitting, were investigated by means of spin and angle resolved photoemission. The spin polarization vectors of individual bands are determined by a two-step fitting routine. First, the measured intensities are fitted with an appropriate number of suitable peaks to quantify the contributions of the individual bands, then the measured spin polarization curves are fitted by varying for each band the polarization direction and its magnitude. We confirm that the surface states experience a large spin splitting. Moreover, we find that all surface state bands are 100 percent spin polarized, and that for some states spin polarization vectors rotate out of the surface plane.


We began this book by suggesting that scholars in the social sciences are often interested in how processes – whether political, economic, or social – changeover time. Throughout, we have emphasized that although many of our theories discuss that change, often our empirical models do not give the concept of change the same pride of place. Time series elements in data are often treated as a nuisance – something to cleanse from otherwise meaningful information – rather than part and parcel of the data-generating process that we attempt to describe with our theories. We hope this book is an antidote to this thinking. Social dynamics are crucial to all of the social sciences. We have tried to provide some tools to model and therefore understand some of these social dynamics. Rather than treat temporal dynamics as a nuisance or a problem to be ameliorated, we have emphasized that the diagnosis, modeling, and analysis of those dynamics are key to the substance of the social sciences. Knowing a unit root exists in a series tell us something about the data-generating process: shocks to the series permanently shift the series, integrating into it. Graphing the autocorrelation functions of a series can tell us whether there are significant dynamics at one lag (i.e., AR(1))or for more lags (e.g., an AR(3)). Again, this tells us something about the underlying nature of the data: how long does an event hold influence? The substance of these temporal dynamics is even more important when thinking about the relationships between variables.


Abstract Anthropogenic fire regimes obscure natural fire regimes, reducing the ability to manage fire-frequented habitats ecologically. To address this problem, we attempted to decouple natural and anthropogenic fire regimes by comparing them to seasonal climatic patterns and landscape characteristics in Everglades National Park (1948–1999). Of the total area burned by lightning fires, 57% resulted from ignitions seven days within onset of the wet season, 11% from ignitions starting 7–21 days before onset, and 36% from ignitions > 7 days after onset. In contrast, of the total area burned by incendiary fires, 89% resulted from ignitions > 7 days before onset, and 40% resulted from ignitions > 35 days before onset. Moreover, ~100% of the total area burned by prescribed fires resulted from ignitions > 7 days after onset. Lightning fires occurred most frequently in wet seasonal savanna that had limited accessibility to humans; incendiary fires were most frequent in wet seasonal savanna that had ready accessibility to humans. In addition, 35% of the total area burned by incendiary fires in areas of limited accessibility occurred when incendiary fires spread from readily accessible areas. We propose that, because incendiary fires occurred at the end of the dry season, they burned drier fuels and burned more intensely than lightning fires, which generally occurred following the first rains of the wet season. Incendiary fires thus should be more likely to burn lower elevation areas that normally hinder fire spread. Finally, by occurring later in the wet season, prescribed fires may have burned patchily and insufficiently intensely to achieve restoration goals. Decoupling anthropogenic and natural fire regimes using seasonal climate patterns and landscape characteristics leads us to propose strategies to guide fire management in the park.


Regulating DNA building blocks The bulding blocks of DNA, deoxynucleotide triphosphates, are synthesized by the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase (RNR). Its central role in DNA synthesis and its aberrant expression in tumors have made it an important anticancer target, but nucleoside analog inhibitors of RNR can have adverse side effects. Arnaoutov and Dasso identify IRBIT (IP3-receptor-binding protein released with inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate) as an RNR-binding protein. IRBIT regulates the activity of RNR by stabilizing the inactive form bound to deoxyadenosine triphosphate in the low-affinity A site. In turn, phosophorylation of IRBIT regulates its RNR-binding activity. IRBIT provides a new target for RNR inhibition that might avoid some of the side effects of current drugs. Science, this issue p. 1512 A regulator of the enzyme that makes the building blocks of DNA provides a new target for anticancer drugs. Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) supplies the balanced pools of deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs) necessary for DNA replication and maintenance of genomic integrity. RNR is subject to allosteric regulatory mechanisms in all eukaryotes, as well as to control by small protein inhibitors Sml1p and Spd1p in budding and fission yeast, respectively. Here, we show that the metazoan protein IRBIT forms a deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP)–dependent complex with RNR, which stabilizes dATP in the activity site of RNR and thus inhibits the enzyme. Formation of the RNR-IRBIT complex is regulated through phosphorylation of IRBIT, and ablation of IRBIT expression in HeLa cells causes imbalanced dNTP pools and altered cell cycle progression. We demonstrate a mechanism for RNR regulation in higher eukaryotes that acts by enhancing allosteric RNR inhibition by dATP.


Abstract: Since the 1950s, wind has represented one of the main disturbances to forest ecosystems in Europe, causing an increase in the frequency and amount of trees uprooted or broken by wind. Such phenomenon has also increased the incidence of compression wood in the xylem of remnant trees, thus leading to a general decrease in timber quality. In this study, we aimed to determine how wind regime affects the incidence of compression wood by reconstructing its chronology at both inter- and intra-annual scale using dendroclimatic methods. Six silver fir stands at different elevations were selected in central Romania, and compression wood time series were obtained from both increment cores from standing trees and radial discs from felled trees. Wood-structure variables were statistically analyzed as time series, while fluctuations of wind frequency and speed over the period 1921-present were reconstructed based on meteorological data. The structural response of sampled trees to wind was assessed based on the annual fluctuation in the frequency and intensity of compression wood. Results showed that the incidence of compression wood in the time series was synchronized with the intensity of the wind, rather than its duration. Wind regime in December of the preceding calendar year was significantly correlated with the frequency of compression wood, whereas its intensity was significantly correlated with wind load of previous September. The response of cambium to the wind stimulus increased with distance from the tree collar, peaking in the section at the base of the crown. At a decennial scale, only high-intensity wind stress triggered structural responses in the studied trees. Wind effects on xylogenesis in the analyzed stands increased over the last decades as a consequence of the local forest management. A better understanding of the structural response of forest trees to wind regime may explain how individual and groups of trees compete for stability and can help to improve forest management strategies in windy regions.


Sports anemia has been referred to as an anemic or borderline anemic state in physically active individuals, particularly athletes. This paper is a review of literature on sports anemia, including whom it may affect and its effect on performance, and its diagnosis. In general, sports anemia has been found to be a self-limiting condition and usually does not require treatment.


Today, one major practice to control diseases and pests in banana fields is the use of in vitro plantlets. However, nematodes, in particular Radopholus similis, remain a major problem. The restriction on the use of nematicides has encouraged the development of alternative strategies, among which the use of biological control organisms (BCO) such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Their beneficial effects on the control of nematodes have been demonstrated but their application in the field remains rare. In the recent decade the association of BCO to plants at the in vitro stage, has been proposed to produce plants more resistant to pathogens and to transplant stresses. The in vitro association of AMF to banana plantlets may thus represent an adequate system to investigate the interaction with nematodes and for the mass-production of mycorrhized plantlets. Here we developed an in vitro culture system for the mycorrhization of banana plantlets. It was used to study the interactions with the nematode R. similis and to evaluate the effects of the in vitro mycorrhization on plant acclimatization. Regarding the interaction with the nematode, the total R. similis population as well as the root necrosis was significantly reduced in the mycorrhizal plantlets. By contrast, nematodes had no visible impact on the AMF. Regarding the acclimatization of the banana plantlets, the mycorrhized plantlets had a significantly higher vegetative growth as compared to the non mycorrhized plantlets proliferated on the Murashige-Skoog and Modified Strullu-Romand medium. The introduction of AMF in the in vitro micropropagation process may thus represent an innovative alternative to mass-produce banana plantlets, potentially more resistant against nematodes.


Epigeic communities of Collembola were studied after a windthrow in differently managed spruce forest stands in the High Tatras, Slovakia. Investigations were carried out in following treatments: reference forest stands (REF), windthrown stands left to natural regeneration (NEX), windthrown stands from which fallen wood had been extracted (EXT), and windthrown stands from which fallen wood had been removed and which had been affected by fire (FIR). A Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric ANOVA revealed significant differences of Collembola community composition and activity between the treatments studied, which was also further supported by the results from NMS ordination and cluster analysis using indicator species analysis. EXT stands had communities with remarkably high activity and diversity of Collembola, whereas FIR stands had low species richness and diversity indices compared to other treatments (REF, NEX, EXT). Windthrown stands had greater collembolan activity and diversity (NEX, EXT) than intact forest stands. However, forest specialists and bryophilous species were sensitive to forest clearing and fire disturbance and were replaced by xeroresistant and generalist species, or species preferring open habitats. The collembolan community most similar to that found in REF stands, in terms of community homogeneity and the magnitude of diversity indices, was found in NEX stands.


The purpose of this essay is to establish the screenplay as a valid, and relevant, object for study in the field of film studies in order to stimulate further research within the field and for a more prevalent inclusion of screenplays in the general discourse of film studies. I argue that accounts of the screenplay as either literature or blueprints, which stand in ideological opposition to each other, are lackluster as they overemphasize the virtues of their own side of the spectrum while at the same time undervaluing the other side; neither accounting for their own vices. More importantly however, neither account sufficiently emphasizes the cinematic qualities inherent in the screenplay. Thus, I chose to define the screenplay as a 'text', in order to suggest that it can be studied from multiple perspectives and for different ends.

To emphasize the point that the screenplay is an object of high relevance to film studies, I have argued for the potential of discussing cinematic style within the screenplay. To do this, I have argued for the concept of reading as image building, which positions the screenplay as a type of text which triggers processess of constucting written narrative into visual images. To further argue that this visualisation process is cinematic in its nature, I appeal to Pasolini's account of the screenplay as a "structure that wants to become another structure", this second structure thus being film. Furthermore, elaborate on Pasolini's thoughts, and suggest in which means the screenplay alludes to a cinematic structure. I thus introduce the concept of the 'proto-camera', an alternative way of conceptualizing the process of reading as image building in a less semiotic sense. Further, I suggest that the structure which the screenplay seeks to allude to is the structure of a more liberal account of mise-en-scene which leaves room for sound and editing. This structure I have termed as 'mise-en-page'.

Mise-en-page can essentially be seen as, literally, anything that is on 'the page'. I describe the elements that comprise mise-en-page and discuss in which ways the interplay of these elements allude to the logic of mise-en-scene and cinematography.

I also discuss issues of authorship regarding screenwriting and film. On the topic of auteur theory, I discuss its film political effects on screenwriting and also discuss how come attempts to situate the screenwriter as an 'auteur' have been problematic. As it does not pertain to the aim of this essay, I leave the question of whether the screenwriter can, or indeed even should, be seen as an auteur open. Instead, I argue that the screenwriter is a creative collaborator.


Background Chemotherapy remains the primary tool for treatment and control of human leishmaniasis. However, currently available drugs present serious problems regarding side-effects, variable efficacy, and cost. Affordable and less toxic drugs are urgently needed for leishmaniasis. Methodology/Principal Findings We demonstrate, by microscopy and viability assays, that superoxide dismutase inhibitor diethyldithiocarbamate (DETC) dose-dependently induces parasite killing (p<0.001) and is able to "sterilize" Leishmania amazonensis infection at 2 mM in human macrophages in vitro. We also show that DETC-induced superoxide production (p<0.001) and parasite destruction (p<0.05) were reverted by the addition of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine, indicating that DETC-induced killing occurs through oxidative damage. Furthermore, ultrastructural analysis by electron microscopy demonstrates a rapid and highly selective destruction of amastigotes in the phagosome upon DETC treatment, without any apparent damage to the host cell, including its mitochondria. In addition, DETC significantly induced parasite killing in Leishmania promastigotes in axenic culture. In murine macrophages infected with Leishmania braziliensis, DETC significantly induced in vitro superoxide production (p = 0.0049) and parasite killing (p = 0.0043). In vivo treatment with DETC in BALB/C mice infected with Leishmania braziliensis caused a significant decrease in lesion size (p<0.0001), paralleled by a 100-fold decrease (p = 0.0087) in parasite burden. Conclusions/Significance Due to its strong leishmanicidal effect in human macrophages in vitro, its in vivo effectiveness in a murine model, and its previously demonstrated in vivo safety profile in HIV treatment, DETC treatment might be considered as a valuable therapeutic option in human leishmaniasis, including HIV/Leishmania co-infection.


Abstract– To better constrain the emplacement mechanism of the so‐called "mega‐block zone," a structurally complex unit of target rocks within the Chicxulub impact structure, the stratigraphic coherence of this zone is tested using its strontium isotopic composition. Forty‐eight samples across the 616 m sequence of deformed Cretaceous rocks in the lower part of the Yaxcopoil‐1 core, drilled by ICDP in 2002, were analyzed for their 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio. The oceanic anoxic event 2 (OAE2 event), located near the base of the core forms the only stratigraphic anchor point. From this point upward to approximately 1050 m depth, the 87Sr/86Sr trend shows small oscillations, between approximately 0.7074 and 0.7073, characteristic of Cenomanian to Santonian values. This is followed by an increase to approximately 0.7075, similar to the one reported in the seawater strontium curve during the Campanian. Scattered Sr isotope ratios are attributed to local diagenetic effects, such as those expected from the possible presence of hot, impact‐induced dikes and hydrothermal fluid flow, originating from the thick central melt sheet. The absence of Upper Maastrichtian Sr isotope values may result from the removal of upper target lithologies during the impact cratering process. Based on these results, the displaced Cretaceous sequence in Yax‐1 appears to have preserved its stratigraphic coherence. During the modification stage, it probably moved as a whole into the annular basin during collapse of the crater wall, thereby breaking up into discrete units along previously weakened detachment zones. This model is consistent with the emplacement mechanism postulated by Kenkmann et al. (2004) .


This paper contrasts the attitudes of firms towards innovation from the construction sector with those in services and manufacturing, using data from the UK innovation survey. We examine the liabilities that construction firms face in their innovative activities in comparison to other sectors, drawing from literature on the distinctiveness of construction as an economic activity. We find that the liabilities of immobility and unanticipated demand are among key distinguishing features that separate innovative behaviour in construction from other industries. The paper concludes with a discussion of the merits of cross‐sectoral comparative research of this kind, together with issues for further research.


Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS) is the prototype gamma-2 herpesvirus, and shares considerable homology with the human gammaherpesviruses Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and Epstein-Barr virus. The generation of herpesvirus mutants is a key facet in the study of virus biology. The use of F-factor-based bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) to clone and modify the genomes of herpesviruses has enhanced the variety, precision and simplicity of mutant production. Here we describe the cloning of the genome of HVS non-transforming strain A11-S4 into a BAC. The cloning of the BAC elements disrupts open reading frame (ORF) 15 but the HVS-BAC can still replicate at levels similar to wild-type virus, and can persistently infect fibroblasts. The HVS-BAC was modified by RecA-mediated recombination initially to substitute reporter genes and also to delete the terminal repeats (TR). After deletion of the TR, the HVS-BAC fails to enter a productive virus lytic cycle, and cannot establish a persistent episomal infection when transfected into fibroblast cell lines. This shows that while ORF 15 is dispensable for virus function in vitro, the TR is required for both virus latency and lytic virus production. In addition, the HVS-BAC promises to be a valuable tool that can be used for the routine and precise production and analysis of viral mutants to further explore gammaherpesvirus biology.


This research aims to develop psychomotoric instruments adapted to the current conditions of Covid-19. Development research was carried out with reference to the 4D model from Thiagarajan. The research sample used was 39 students of the Ottimmo International MasterGourmet Academy. The research instrument used a validation sheet from validators or experts. Data of the research were obtained based on the results of the validation of the experts, which were then analyzed to determine the validity and reliability of the developed psychomotoric instruments. The findings of study indicated that the results of (1) the validation got an average value of 4.61 with a very valid category; and (2) reliability got a value of 0.671 in the reliable category. The conclusion of the research shows that the developed psychomotoric instrument is suitable for use in service and beverage learning.


Abstract The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) fruit is a source of vegetable oil and various phytonutrients. Phytochemical compounds present in palm oil include tocotrienols, carotenoids, phytosterols, squalene, coenzyme Q10, and phospholipids. Being a fruit, the oil palm is also a rich source of water-soluble phytonutrients, including phenolic compounds. Extraction of phytonutrients from the oil palm vegetation liquor of palm oil milling results in a phenolic acid-rich fraction termed Water-Soluble Palm Fruit Extract (WSPFE). Pre-clinical in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies carried out using various biological models have shown that WSPFE has beneficial bioactive properties, while clinical studies in healthy volunteers showed that it is safe for human consumption and confers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The composition, biological properties, and relevant molecular mechanisms of WSPFE discovered thus far are discussed in the present review, with a view to offer future research perspectives on WSPFE for health and non-health applications.


Background: Facial appearance transfer from donor to recipient in face transplantation is a concern. Previous studies of facial appearance transfer and facial appearance persistence (preservation of the recipient's facial likeness) in face transplants simulated using two-dimensional photographic manipulations found low facial appearance transfer (2.6 percent) and high facial appearance persistence (66 percent). Three-dimensional computer simulation of complex facial transplant patterns may improve the accuracy of facial appearance transfer and facial appearance persistence estimations. Methods: Three-dimensional virtual models of human faces were generated from deidentified computed tomographic angiographs and used as "donors" or "recipients" for virtual face transplantation. Surgical planning software was used to perform 73 virtual face transplantations by creating specific facial defects (mandibular, midface, or large) in the recipient models and restoring them with allografts extracted from the donor models. Twenty independent reviewers evaluated the resemblance of each resulting posttransplant model to the donor (facial appearance transfer) and recipient (facial appearance persistence). The results were analyzed using tests for equal results with one-sample and pairwise Rao-Scott Pearson chi-square testing, correcting for clustering and multiple testing. Results: Overall rates of facial appearance persistence and facial appearance transfer were high (69.2 percent) and low (32.4 percent), respectively. The mandibular pattern had the highest rates of facial appearance persistence and lowest rates of facial appearance transfer. Facial appearance persistence and transfer were similar across sexes. Conclusions: Facial appearance persistence is high and facial appearance transfer is low after virtual face transplantation. Appearance transfer and persistence after virtual face transplantation are more dependent on the anatomy than on the size of transplanted facial aesthetic units. This information may reassure recipients of partial face transplants and donor families.


This article examines the interpretive practices and cultural texts that shape what teachers and students remember and forget during the annual observance of the King holiday in two second‐grade classrooms. Drawing on data from an ethnographic case study of the curriculum in use and theory and research on collective memory, the author analyzes the contest between two commemorative narratives, one focused on King's boyhood experiences of discrimination and his advocacy of non‐violent protest to end segregation, the other on remembering discriminatory practices in the South and the violence perpetrated by Whites against civil rights protestors. After discussing the nature of mnemonic socialization in these classrooms and the consequences of this struggle over collective memory for students, the paper concludes with a call to reconceptualize classrooms as 'critical mnemonic workspaces' where teachers and students are able to draw on a diversity of cultural resources for remembering multiple, even contradicto...


A 63-year-old man consulted for a non-toxic thyroid nodule of 2 years' duration. Fine needle aspiration revealed cell findings consistent with papillary thyroid carcinoma. He eventually underwent total thyroidectomy. Microscopic examination revealed histologic features of Hurthle cell carcinoma of the thyroid. He received radioactive iodine therapy and suppressive levothyroxine treatment. Post-therapy whole body iodine-131 scan revealed thyroid tissue remnants limited to the anterior neck. Four months after radioactive iodine therapy, thyroglobulin level is low and the patient remains to have no evidence of disease.


A CT-pathologic correlative study concerning the nature of the tumor margin was performed in 22 lung cancer cases with solitary nodules in the peripheral lung field. Three of 14 adenocarcinoma cases showed an ill-defined margin and an adjacent subtle high attenuation area on CT, representing alveoli lined by tumor cells. In the other 11 cases, both ill- and well-defined margins were seen on CT. A well-defined margin of the mass represented alveoli filled entirely with mucinous material or tumor cells. In three of six squamous cell carcinomas an ill-defined margin in CT represented the infiltration of lymphatic cells surrounding the tumor and continuous spread of tumor cells from neighboring alveoli. A well-defined margin in the other cases and two small cell carcinoma cases represented alveoli filled entirely with tumor cells. CT was shown to be very useful in the assessment of the nature of the margin of the tumor.


Rationale: Cleaning tasks may imply exposure to chemical agents with potential harmful effects to the respiratory system, and increased risk of asthma and respiratory symptoms among professional cleaners and in persons cleaning at home has been reported. Long‐term consequences of cleaning agents on respiratory health are, however, not well described. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate long‐term effects of occupational cleaning and cleaning at home on lung function decline and airway obstruction. Methods: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) investigated a multicenter population‐based cohort at three time points over 20 years. A total of 6,235 participants with at least one lung function measurement from 22 study centers, who in ECRHS II responded to questionnaire modules concerning cleaning activities between ECRHS I and ECRHS II, were included. The data were analyzed with mixed linear models adjusting for potential confounders. Measurements and Main Results: As compared with women not engaged in cleaning (&Dgr;FEV1 = −18.5 ml/yr), FEV1 declined more rapidly in women responsible for cleaning at home (−22.1; P = 0.01) and occupational cleaners (−22.4; P = 0.03). The same was found for decline in FVC (&Dgr;FVC = −8.8 ml/yr; −13.1, P = 0.02; and −15.9, P = 0.002; respectively). Both cleaning sprays and other cleaning agents were associated with accelerated FEV1 decline (−22.0, P = 0.04; and −22.9, P = 0.004; respectively). Cleaning was not significantly associated with lung function decline in men or with FEV1/FVC decline or airway obstruction. Conclusions: Women cleaning at home or working as occupational cleaners had accelerated decline in lung function, suggesting that exposures related to cleaning activities may constitute a risk to long‐term respiratory health.


We have developed a device that is capable of moving with steps as small as 70 A in any direction over a flat surface. The device that we call the Maggot consists of two permanent magnets attached to the corners of a triangular plate that stands on a flat base with three fixed ball‐bearing feet. The Maggot is propelled across the base by the magnetic fields from two coils that are powered by computer‐controlled current pulses. Steering of the Maggot is made by vector addition of the pulses by the computer. A complete electromagnetic force theory is given in order to find the best magnet and solenoid geometries for maximum performance. The Maggot is UHV compatible, operates from 500 to 4.2 °K, and is most suitable for operation on a vibration‐isolated base. Movement data is measured with both optical and scanning tunneling microscopy.


Large-scale Y2O3:Eu nanotubes have been successfully fabricated by an improved sol–gel method within the nanochannels of porous anodic alumina templates. In this method, yttrium nitrate, europium nitrate and urea were used as precursors, yttrium nitrate and europium nitrate were acting as sources of europium and yttrium ions, and urea offered a basic medium through its hydrolysis. X-ray diffraction techniques, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and selected-area electron diffraction were used to characterize the Y2O3:Eu nanotubes obtained. It is found that the prepared Y2O3:Eu nanotubes can be indexed as a polycrystalline cubic structure and their outer diameters are about 50–80 nm, with the thickness of the tube wall estimated to be around 5 nm. The emission peaks of the as-prepared Y2O3:Eu nanotubes are broader than those of bulk Y2O3:Eu because of the disordering of the crystal phase possibly induced by the increase of the surface/volume ratio in the nanotubes.


Background Although the physiological and biochemical effects of hypothyroidism on salivary glands were frequently studied in previous research, its histological aspects have not been sufficiently studied. Aim This study aimed to assess the histopathological changes caused by experimentally induced hypothyroidism in rat salivary glands as well as its effect on the antioxidant status, and assess the possible ameliorating effect of thymoquinone (TQ). Materials and methods Forty adult male Wister rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=10): control group, TQ-treated group, propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroid group, and TQ-treated hypothyroid group. Thyroid hormone levels, thyroid stimulating hormone levels, and antioxidant status were assessed in the blood. The submandibular, parotid, and sublingual salivary glands were processed for histopathological assessment using routine and immunohistochemical assessment of &agr;-smooth muscle actin, epidermal growth factor, caspase-3, and p53 antibodies. Results Salivary gland acini of the hypothyroid rats appeared smaller, and some were atrophied, with significantly increased percentage and number of heterochromatic nuclei and mast cells compared with controls. Increased &agr;-smooth muscle actin and caspase immunoexpression as well as p53-positive cells were evidence of parenchymal injury to the salivary glands. TQ could alleviate these histopathologic changes mostly because of its antioxidant activity as it significantly reduced malondialdehyde, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase activity and significantly increased nitric oxide concentration in hypothyroid rats. Conclusion Propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism in rats was associated with histological, biochemical, and immunohistochemical changes in the salivary glands, and TQ can alleviate these changes by improving the antioxidant status of the hypothyroid rats. This calls for further confirmation and validation in applied clinical studies on hypothyroid patients.


A field test in the Xinjiang oilfield in China shows that the viscosity of heavy oil has a certain influence on the combustion dynamics and injection-production performance of fire flooding. The experiment in this study uses a one-dimensional combustion tube to study the temperature, gas composition, and air injection pressure and the production performance of the fire flooding of heavy oil with different viscosities. The results show that the oil viscosities of 1180–22500 mPa·s can achieve stable combustion, and the O2 content of the gas produced during the stable combustion stage is <0.5%. The higher the viscosity of the heavy oil, the higher the temperature in the burned zone and the smaller the range of the temperature increase in the unburned zone. The air injection pressure will increase rapidly until a stable seepage channel is formed, and then, it will drop to a level close to the formation pressure. High-viscosity heavy oil requires a higher air injection pressure and will remain in the high-pressure stage for a longer period of time. Low-viscosity heavy oil has a low water cut in the early stage of fire flooding, a large oil production rate, and a low and stable air–oil ratio. The water cut of high-viscosity heavy oil increases rapidly in the early stage of fire flooding and then decreases gradually, so a good air–oil ratio can only be obtained in the middle and late stages of fire flooding. Thus, fire flooding may be more suitable for application in common heavy oil and some extra heavy oil reservoirs with lower viscosities.


Most of our students are reluctant readers who consider reading and learning as an obligatory action. This study is about how to change the students' view of education and study. The study is made of two parts.  In the first section the childhood and school stage is discussed. In this part, I will talk about how to make our children life-long motivated readers who look at reading as a pleasant activity. In the second section, the college and university level is discussed. Here some beneficial classroom techniques are proposed to be used in the classrooms. These techniques enable the instructors to provide an effective learning atmosphere in the classroom to absorb the students in the process of learning as much as possible.  What is more outstanding about these methods is how they increase the quality of learning by classroom activities which stimulate creative reading, thinking, and writing. But it is just the beginning of the story. There are plenty of fabulous articles and books that our respected teachers and instructors can study to build a creative intellectual classroom atmosphere. Keywords: reluctant readers, reading habit, creativity, motivated readers


To the Editor: Langford and colleagues recently reported results from an interesting multicenter, randomized, double-blind study of treatment of giant cell arteritis (GCA) with abatacept together with glucocorticoids as adjunctive treatment. The authors concluded that the addition of abatacept to a regimen of treatment with prednisone results in a longer duration of relapse-free survival compared with treatment with prednisone alone, and that abatacept possibly has a steroid-sparing effect (1). Some points deserve to be discussed. First, published studies in GCA usually refer to the dosage of glucocorticoids in mg/kg of body weight, which allows for a more homogeneous comparison of cumulative glucocorticoid dosages between patients. Second, the tapering schedule used in the study by Langford and colleagues is different from that in other trials and current recommendations (2–4). These investigators used a tapering schedule that was very slow during the first 12 weeks (dosage 20 mg/day at week 12, which would correspond to a dose of 0.2 mg/kg and a dose of 0.4 mg/kg [for patients with a body weight of 100 kg and 50 kg, respectively], versus 0.1 mg/kg in other trials [2,3]) and accelerated rapidly during the subsequent 16 weeks. Consequently, as shown in Figure 3 of the Langford article, most relapses in both treatment arms occurred between the fourth and seventh months, which is earlier than in other published cohorts in which relapses occurred after 6 months (2–4). Besides abatacept effect, the fast tapering schedule increases the risk of relapse, especially in the placebo arm, therefore potentially overestimating the effectiveness of abatacept in controlling disease in the experimental arm. The analysis of adverse events, the number of which typically increases with increasing cumulative glucocorticoid doses, may also be biased by the design of this study, with patients exposed to glucocorticoids for a short period of 28 weeks, but at high doses during the first 3 months. It is not clearly established that cumulative glucocorticoid doses per kg of body weight are lower in this study than in previous studies using classic tapering schedules lasting longer than 28 weeks (which is the actual standard of care). Consequently, this study does not answer the question of whether abatacept acts as a glucocorticoid-sparing agent. Finally, because of the nonstandard design, especially regarding glucocorticoid management, this study cannot be compared with the standard of care, which is a probable significant bias. Therefore, the place of abatacept as adjunctive treatment to obtain superior effectiveness against relapses or as a glucocorticoid-sparing agent remains to be firmly proven by comparison with standard management.


Poly(acrylic acid–amidoxime) [P(AA–AO)] and poly(maleic acid–amidoxime) [P(MA–AO)] resins were prepared by the γ-radiation-induced copolymerization of acrylonitrile with acrylic acid and maleic acid, respectively. The obtained resins were amidoximated by reaction with hydroxylamine. The prepared resins were used for the removal of methyl violet (MV) dye from aqueous solutions. Batch adsorption studies were made by the measurement of the effects of pH, the amount of adsorbent, the contact time, and the adsorbate concentration. The adsorption isotherm of MV onto P(AA–AO) and P(MA–AO) was determined at 25°C with initial MV dye concentrations of 10–70 mg/L. The equilibrium data were analyzed with the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The equilibrium process was described well by the Langmuir isotherm model with maximum adsorption capacities of 398.4 and 396.8 mg/L for P(AA–AO) and P(MA–AO), respectively. The kinetics of adsorption of MV onto P(AA–AO) and P(MA–AO) are discussed. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model described the adsorption of MV onto P(AA–AO) and P(MA–AO) very well. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011


Orbital and periorbital swelling secondary to acute sinusitis is relatively common. Distinguishing between preseptal and orbital involvement can be difficult based on clinical observations alone. A delay in diagnosis and appropriate treatment may result in serious complications including blindness. The literature is reviewed and simple guidelines suggested to manage such patients, including their initial assessment, investigations with particular reference to the indications and timing of CT scanning, antimicrobial therapy and the type of surgery. These guidelines have been approved across disciplines in our unit and trialled successfully for 2 years.


Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamic functional network connectivity (FNC) and its relationship with cognitive function in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients from normal cognition (OSA-NC) to mild cognitive impairment (OSA-MCI). Materials and methods Eighty-two male OSA patients and 48 male healthy controls (HC) were included in this study. OSA patients were classified to OSA-MCI (n = 41) and OSA-NC (n = 41) based on cognitive assessments. The independent component analysis was used to determine resting-state functional networks. Then, a sliding-window approach was used to construct the dynamic FNC, and differences in temporal properties of dynamic FNC and functional connectivity strength were compared between OSA patients and the HC. Furthermore, the relationship between temporal properties and clinical assessments were analyzed in OSA patients. Results Two different connectivity states were identified, namely, State I with stronger connectivity and lower frequency, and State II with lower connectivity and relatively higher frequency. Compared to HC, OSA patients had a longer mean dwell time and higher fractional window in stronger connectivity State I, and opposite result were found in State II, which was mainly reflected in OSA-MCI patients. The number of transitions was an increasing trend and positively correlated with cognitive assessment in OSA-MCI patients. Compared with HC, OSA patients showed extensive abnormal functional connectivity in stronger connected State I and less reduced functional connectivity in lower connected State II, which were mainly located in the salience network, default mode network, and executive control network. Conclusion Our study found that OSA patients showed abnormal dynamic FNC properties, which was a continuous trend from HC, and OSA-NC to OSA-MCI, and OSA patients showed abnormal dynamic functional connectivity strength. The number of transformations was associated with cognitive impairment in OSA-MCI patients, which may provide new insights into the neural mechanisms in OSA patients.


The motion of two rigid bodies under rolling constraint is considered. In particular, the following two problems are addressed: (1) given the geometry of the rigid bodies, determine the existence of an admissible path between two contact configurations; and (2) assuming that an admissible path exists, find such a path. First, the configuration space of contact is defined, and the differential equations governing the rolling constraint are derived. Then, a generalized version of Frobenius's theorem, known as Chow's theorem, for determining the existence of motion is applied. Finally, an algorithm is proposed that generates a desired path with one of the objects being flat. Potential applications of this study include adjusting grasp configurations of a multifingered robot hand without slipping, contour following without dissipation or wear by the end-effector of a manipulator, and wheeled mobile robotics. >


Secretory IgA (SIgA) antibodies directed against the O-antigen (O-Ag) component of lipopolysaccharide are the primary determinants of mucosal immunity to enteric bacterial pathogens, such as Shigella flexneri and Salmonella enteric serovar Typhimurium. In this report, we demonstrate that monoclonal IgA Abs against the O-Ag are effective inhibitors of the bacterial type 3 secretion systems (T3SS) required for bacterial entry into intestinal epithelial cells. While these Abs did not affect bacterial viability, they did transiently de-energize both S. flexneri and S. Typhimurium, possibly accounting for the "paralysis" that has been observed in the case of S. Typhimurium, following Ab treatment. O-Ag specific IgA Abs also elicited long lasting ultrastructural changes in the bacterial outer membranes, suggesting that S. flexneri and S. Typhimurium made undergo specific adaptations in response to SIgA. These findings may have implications for understanding immune surveillance in the gut. We have shown that Peyer's patch M cells transport SIgA and SIgA-antigen complexes from the intestinal lumen to underlying dendritic cells (DC), and that the uptake of SIgA-immune complexes by DCs may be mediated by the mannose receptor and/or DC-¬SIGN. The fact that SIgA may be capable of transiently rendering S. flexneri and S. Typhimurium avirulent suggests a mechanism by which the normally pathogenic bacteria can be sampled safely by the mucosal immune system.


One of the most important issues in automotive industry is lightweight design, especially since the CO2 emission of new cars has to be reduced by 2020. Plastic and fiber reinforced plastics (e.g. CFRP and GFRP) receive besides new manufacturing methods and the employment of high-strength steels or non-ferrous metals increasing interest. Especially the combination of different materials such as metals and plastics to single components exhausts the entire potential on weight reduction. This article presents an approach based on short laser pulses to join such dissimilar materials in industrial applications.


Aim : This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of breast cancer fatalism perception and other factors on breast cancer health beliefs of the midwives and nurses. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional and correlational study was carried with 327 midwives and nurses working at public hospitals in Zonguldak City Center. Information Form, Powe Fatalism Inventory and Champion's Health Belief Model Scale were used for data collection. Numerical and percentage values, Mann Whitney-U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman c orrelation analysis and Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction were used in data analyzing. Results: It was found that seriousness, health motivation, breast self-examination benefits and breast self-examination self-efficacy perceptions of the midwives and nurses were moderate, and susceptibility, breast self-examination barriers and breast cancer fatalism perceptions were low. And also, it was determined that there was a negative and weak correlation between perception of breast cancer fatalism and breast self-examination benefits (r = -.151, p = .006). Conclusion: Evaluating the factors affecting health beliefs of the midwives and nurses is important to increase the awareness for breast cancer.


Morphological and phytogeographical data support the recognition of 41 taxa in Bertya, a genus endemic to Australia with many rare and threatened species. We used 107 morphological characters (69 qualitative, 38 quantitative), including novel characters of leaf basal glands and indumenta, and 166 operational taxonomic units. In three iterations by using cluster analyses and semi-strong hybrid multidimensional scaling ordination, operational taxonomic units were resolved into 41 species (6 new; 5 with very localised distributions). Fifteen (including 3 new) have or merit status as rare, endangered or threatened.


Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a non-specific inflammatory bowel illness characterized by intestinal mucosal barrier degradation, inflammation, oxidative damage, and gut microbiota imbalances. Rosa roxburghii Tratt Fruit extract (RRTE) was extracted from Rosa roxburghii Tratt fruit, exhibiting an excellent prevention effect against UC; RRTE could prevent the damage of DSS-induced human normal colonic epithelial (NCM 460) cells, especially in cell viability and morphology, and oxidative damage. Additionally, in UC mice, RRTE could limit the intestinal mucosal barrier by increasing the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins and mucin, reducing inflammation and oxidative damage in colon tissue. More importantly, RRTE can increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria to regulate gut microbiota such as Ruminococcus, Turicibacter, and Parabacteroides, and reduce the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Shigella. Furthermore, transcriptomics of colonic mucosal findings point out that the beneficial effect of RRTE on UC could be attributed to the modulation of inflammatory responses such as the IL-17 and TNF signaling pathways. The qPCR results confirm that RRTE did involve the regulation of several genes in the IL-17 signaling pathway. In conclusion, RRTE could prevent DSS-induced damage both in vitro and in vivo.


We report a phase inversion polymer coating to prevent clay swelling and fines production in coal seam gas (coal bed methane) or other petroleum well bores. Importantly, this coating remains permeable to gas and water flow across producing coal seams. This approach uses a water-soluble solvent that can form a low-porosity, dense membrane across clay-containing interburden layers, which contain less free water than the coal matrix, but form a porous membrane across the coal layer. Problematic interburden samples and reference coal samples were from a core sample obtained from a coal seam gas well in the Surat Basin, Queensland. The mixture of polymer coating solution (polyethersulfone (PES)/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP)) was prepared and cast onto the target samples by a simple dip method, followed by the phase-inversion step. Polymer coatings were characterised by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The SEM images of coated mudstone and coated coal samples showed that the polymer formed a dense layer across the low-permeability mudstone, but an open porous structure was formed on the coal surface. The uncoated rock samples and polymer coated samples were exposed to a flow of distilled water, and the formation of any fine particles was observed by video camera. The flow tests show that the PES coating can significantly improve the stability of interburden samples containing swellable clays.


An adaptive beamformer used to excise broadband interferences in the direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) system is presented. A beamformer is a smart antenna that is able to null interfering signals while maintaining desired signals. The algorithm of adaptation is based on least mean squared (LMS) method. The reference signal used in LMS minimization is found by the projection technique. The performance analysis of the presented adaptive antenna array used to the DSSS system is given to derive an expression of probability of bit error in comparison to the bit error rates (BERs). The RAKE receiver for code division multiple access (CDMA) is a time diversity technique in that the multipath signals can be combined constructively to mitigate the effect of fading. We apply the antenna array to improve the performance of the RAKE receiver in multipath environments. Simulations are done to illustrate the decreased BERs compared to the BERs obtained by using the conventional RAKE receiver


Detailed study of the uses of IUDs by a sufficient number of young women (aged 17-29) and nulligravidae shows the levels of toleration for and effectiveness of this method of contraception. Long-tested IUDs as well as new models (Cor Ecu) were used. 2.6% of the women being tested experienced extreme pain immediately after insertion. However only 3% of them had to have the IUD immediately removed. The frequent use of IUDs in young women is not recommended but it is possible to use it when the physician finds it more effective than other means of contraception.


This article considers how a viewer identifies spiritual meaning in landscape images of the Romantic era as well as the role of artists' statements about their work in a viewer's interpretive process. It examines landscapes by Samuel Palmer and John Martin, two early nineteenth-century British artists known for the spiritual content of their work, and the connection between the work and their published statements about it. The article also considers the "secular" landscapes by their contemporary John Sell Cotman for the work's possible spiritual meaning despite the absence of published comments by the artist on the subject.


The state of vocational training of the future economists in the context of their potential importance for the development of the country has been investigated. On the basis of the experience of training abroad and Ukraine there has been identified the main problems and suggested its possible solutions. The role of the State educational standard in compliance with the rules of social procurement and the real needs of society as well as economy has been analyzed. The attention on Human Resource Theory as a personal investment of the future specialist in education as an investment in the guarantee of personal well-being and prosperity of the country has been focused.


Intracarotid injections of hypertonic solutions cause marked antidiureses in lightly chloralosed dogs. Intrafemoral injections of identical solutions of hypertonic saline and urea were done with resulting slight diureses, reflex flexing of the leg and increased urine osmolarity. Femoral artery injections of hypertonic sodium sulfate are followed by antidiureses which are explained, at least partially, by active reabsorption of the sulfate ion in the proximal renal tubules. The absence of evidence of antidiuretic activity following intrafemoral artery injections and the marked antidiuretic effect demonstrated following intracarotid injections lends support to the theory of central localization of the osmotic control center.


In his criticism about modern technology, Martin Heidegger etymologically examines the word "Technē" and points out that, technology, as a mode of revealing, does not solely refer to the bringing forth of truth through machine-based experiments and exploration, it also contains the poetic revealing inside which a saving power can be found. Following this argument, this paper conducts a textual analysis of Margaret Atwood's 2009 novel The Year of the Flood and argues that the Compound elites are so delivered over to technology that they have turned everything into standing-reserve, and thereby have fueled the impending ecological disaster in their pursuit of bioengineering innovation. By contrast, a Heideggerian meditative person – Adam One, the leader of God's Gardeners, illustrates the practice of "arts of the mind" by his words and his deeds, exemplifying the possibility of poetic revealing in an emblematic way. Although the trajectory of environmental deterioration cannot be reversed, the ending of the novel does strike a promising note by referring to music, an old form of fine arts.


This paper presents a high performance communication system based on generic programming. The system adapts itself according to the protocol being used on communication, simplifying the development of libraries. In order to validate the concepts, a MPI implementation has been developed and it is compared to a traditional implementation - MPICH-GM. It is demonstrated that the same functionality and interface can be offered with similar performance, but with much less programming effort. That is evidence that the large size of traditional MPI implementations is due to the limitations of conventional communication systems.


Environmental monitoring and surveillance is a popular application of wireless sensor network. In such an application, the data transmitted are tagged with geographic information. A network with better coverage provides better quality-of-service since it will be able to monitor its area of responsibility more effectively. In this work, we study the impact of congestion on coverage of the sensor network. Congestion can negatively impact the performance since it can result in reduced coverage and power wastage. In this paper, we present a buffer management scheme called most redundant drop (MRD) and a scheduling algorithm called coverage transmit (CT) that make use of spatial information in sensor data to improve network coverage. Compared to drop-tail and FIFO, MRD and CT improve coverage by up to 75% when exact sensor location is available. Furthermore, as exact locations may not be available in practice, MRD and CT are evaluated using a modified DV-hop scheme that provides approximate localization. Simulation results show that substantial improvement can also be obtained using only approximated locations


Occasionally binding constraints (OBCs) like the zero lower bound (ZLB) can lead to multiple equilibria, and so to belief-driven recessions. To aid in finding policies that avoid this, we derive existence and uniqueness conditions for otherwise linear models with OBCs. Our main result gives necessary and sufficient conditions for such models to have a unique ("determinate") perfect foresight solution returning to a given steady state, for any initial condition. While standard New Keynesian models have multiple perfect-foresight paths eventually escaping the ZLB, price level targeting restores uniqueness. We also derive equilibrium existence conditions under rational expectations for arbitrary non-linear models.


BACKGROUND: The demographic structure of Iran as a developing country has undergone various changes in recent years. Therefore, the present study sought to analyze policy and upstream documents related to the older people health in Iran in order to identify and analyze the requirements considered by health policymakers to promote the older people health in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a qualitative study conducted in 2021 through national qualitative document analysis. All upstream documents published and related to older people health were reviewed between February 1979 and October 2021. The Scott's four-step method was used to extract the related documents. RESULTS: Policy requirements for promoting older people healthcare in Iran were categorized into 4 main themes in the form of a conceptual framework and 15 sub-themes. Thus, in order to ensure the health of the older people in Iran, it is necessary to take into account the four categories of managerial requirements, financing, infrastructures, and providing older people services. In other words, the sustainable financing requirements and the infrastructural requirements should firstly exist together as basic requirements. Then, geriatric health management requirements are needed to provide the older people health services along with the previous requirements and finally ensure the health of the older people in Iran. CONCLUSION: The results of this study can be helpful in the review of upstream older people health policy documents by policy makers in order to better promote the health of the older people and pave the way for new policies to enter the agenda of policy makers.


One of the challenges for capstone design instructors is forming equitable, balanced, and appropriately-skilled student teams to work on projects for a year. For most capstone programs, there are three main parts of this process: identification of projects, presentation of projects to students, and selection of student teams. This paper focuses on the third part: While there is significant useful research about the best ways to form student teams, capstone design team formation has unique aspects that are not directly addressed by much of the prior work. In particular, what is the best approach for team-forming when the participants have similar skills but are deployed to work on very different design challenges? In our capstone course, we recently compared two approaches to team formation: Student-formed and faculty-formed teams. The results of this comparison are reported in a separate paper. This year, informed by these results, we implemented a new hybrid team-forming process designed to retain the student agency resulting from student-formed team while addressing some of the concerns of this approach. This paper summarizes relevant team-forming research and results from our past approaches to forming teams. Then we describe the hybrid approach implemented this year and analyze the preliminary results obtained after one quarter of student teamwork (including student surveys focus groups, and team peer evaluations).


AIM
To increase the stability of sternotomy and so decrease the complications because of instability.

METHODS
Tests were performed on 20 fresh sheep sterna which were isolated from the sterno-costal joints of the ribs. Median straight and interlocking sternotomies were performed on 10 sterna each, set as groups 1 and 2, respectively. Both sternotomies were performed with an oscillating saw and closed at three points with a No. 5 straight stainless-steel wiring. Fatigue testing was performed in cranio-caudal, anterio-posterior (AP) and lateral directions by a computerized materials-testing machine cycling between loads of 0 to 400 N per 5 s (0.2 Hz). The amount of displacement in AP, lateral and cranio-caudal directions were measured and also the opposing bone surface at the osteotomy areas were calculated at the two halves of sternum.

RESULTS
The mean displacement in cranio-caudal direction was 9.66 ± 3.34 mm for median sternotomy and was 1.26 ± 0.97 mm for interlocking sternotomy, P < 0.001. The mean displacement in AP direction was 9.12 ± 2.74 mm for median sternotomy and was 1.20 ± 0.55 mm for interlocking sternotomy, P < 0.001. The mean displacement in lateral direction was 8.95 ± 3.86 mm for median sternotomy and was 7.24 ± 2.43 mm for interlocking sternotomy, P > 0.001. The mean surface area was 10.40 ± 0.49 cm² for median sternotomy and was 16.8 ± 0.78 cm² for interlocking sternotomy, P < 0.001. The displacement in AP and cranio-caudal directions is less in group 2 and it is statistically significant. Displacement in lateral direction in group 2 is less but it is statistically not significant. Surface area in group 2 is significantly wider than group 1.

CONCLUSION
Our test results demonstrated improved primary stability and wider opposing bone surfaces in interlocking sternotomy compared to median sternotomy. This method may provide better healing and less complication rates in clinical setting, further studies are necessary for its clinical implications.


The author describes such things as the Poincare conjecture, Waldhausen's generalization of it, and the dimension 4 Poincare conjecture. Then he turns to the finite-infinite and discrete-continuous dichotomies. For the former he gives examples in number theory (the computation of decimal and septimal digits of e and π, and the continued fraction continuants for π) and for the latter he gives examples from combinatorial topology (triangulations and homology) and knot theory (homotopy and Whitehead's example). The paper is a written version of a talk given to a general scientific (in contrast to a general mathematical) audience.


Upper calyx syndrome in children was first described in 1968. It may be caused by dysmorphy, organic narrowing and vascular compression. The purpose of this report is estimation the frequency of this syndrome in children with chronic pyelonephritis, its clinical significance and determination the test of roentgenological diagnosis. In 21 cases (5% children with chronic pyelonephritis) there were changes in upper calyx. The main cause of this changes was vascular compression (4,3%). Clinical significance of upper calyx syndrome is big, because in all the cases there was chronic infection of genitourinary tract. The roentgenological signs of upper calyx syndrome are; obstruction at the infundibulum, significant distending of calyx and delayed emptying at intravenous pyelography.


A combined linear and delta-modulated (DeltaM) switch-mode PA supply modulator for polar transmitters in wireless handsets is designed in a 0.25 mum CMOS process. The modulator employs a DeltaM switch-mode DC-DC buck converter to enhance the efficiency of a linear regulator at backed-off supply voltages and powers. The delta-modulator's noise-shaping characteristic, linear regulator's power supply rejection, digital pre-emphasis of the input envelope, and a closed-loop amplitude path from the PA output are simultaneously used to achieve state-of-the-art modulator performance. The presented supply modulator follows the input signal's envelope with 20 dB output dynamic range, maximum efficiency of 75.5% at an output power of 30.8 dBm, and 75 dB SFDR for envelope signals up to 4 MHz occupied RF bandwidth. For a 1625 kb/s 8 PSK RF input signal at 900 MHz, polar modulation of a commercial low-power GSM-900 PA provides 10 dB ACPR improvement.


This article aims to investigate the determinants of firm's capital structure (debt ratio) such as asset structure, profitability, agency cost, innovation and technology, and firm size as a moderating variable. This study used quarterly data from the financial statements of food and beverage firms at the Indonesia Stock Exchange with a purposive sampling method that met the research criteria with panel data analysis. The findings show that firm size and asset structure affect leverage positively; however, profitability and innovation and technology negatively affect the debt ratio, while agency cost does not affect leverage. All findings are in line with the hypotheses except agency cost. The firm size as a moderating variable shows strengthening of the interaction between agency cost and innovation with leverage. However, interacting with firm size weakens the effect of the relationship between assets structure and profitability with the debt ratio. Managerial implications of the target of debt ratio that creates the value of the firm need to be flexible and controlled by the interaction of the firm size with firm characteristics and innovation to achieve an optimal firm value of F & B sector.


Cloud computing is a computing platform with the backbone of internet to store, access the data and application which is in the cloud, not in the computer. The biggest issue which should be addressed in cloud computing are security and privacy. Outsourcing data to other companies worries internet clients to think about the privacy data. Most Enterprise executives hesitate to use cloud computing system due to their sensitive enterprise information. This paper provides data integrity and user privacy through cloud intelligent track system. This paper discuss about the previous experiment done on the privacy and data management. The work proposes the Architecture or system which provides intelligent track in Privacy Manager and Risk Manager to address privacy issues which rules the cloud environment.


The forced oscillation technique (FOT) is a lung function method which is applicable from the age of 2.5 years onwards, because only passive co-operation is needed. We used the method as described by Làndsér et al. The aim of this study was to compare indices of bronchial responsiveness obtained by FOT (Rrs6, Rrs, dRrs/df, Xrs), with indices derived from maximal and partial expiratory flow-volume curves (MEFV25, PEFV25, FEV1). Bronchial responsiveness was assessed by methacholine inhalation. Threshold dose (TD), i.e. the dose which caused a 2 SD change from baseline lung function, and provocation dose (PD), i.e. the dose which caused a 20% fall in FEV1, a 40% fall in MEFV25 and PEFV25 and a 40% increase in Rrs and Rrs6, were determined. We found that the indices derived from forced oscillometry compared well to those from maximal and partial flow-volume curves. PD20 FEV1 and PD40 Rrs6 were highly correlated (r = 0.84). TD appeared to be as good as PD to measure bronchial responsiveness and is preferred to PD because of the lower dose needed and limited bronchoconstriction obtained.


A very diverse collection of early Christian texts, which are not included in the biblical canon but may be compared to the canonical New Testament in terms of genre and narrative, is called The New Testament Apochrypha (Codex apocryphus Novi Testamenti, 1708) since the beginning of the Modern era. A prominent collection of these texts, edited by John Fabricius, had great impact on the term to become a common one. A collection of German translations published in 1904 (edited by Edgar Hennecke) also shares the same name (Neutestamentliche Apokryphen). A third edition of Hennecke's collection, edited by Wilhelm Schneemelcher (Hennecke-Schneemelcher, 1959-1964) secured the term as a convention. The New Testament Apocrypha are understood in relation to the biblical canon of The New Testament – on the grounds of their underlying intention to be classified as biblical and their literary form. Eric Junod discussed this conception and in result proposed a new naming of apocrypha corpus; thus, the French edition was titled Ecrits apocryphes chretiens (Bovon, Geoltrain 1997) and the German one – Antike christliche Apokryphen (Markschies, Schroter 2012). This new understanding of the apochrypha, free from the ties with The New Testament, did not solve all the problems concerning the identification of apocryphicity and the status of different texts. In this article, we propose that the apochrypicity of these texts should be discussed in relation to post-apostolic orthodoxy, not to the biblical canon. There are two types of texts that are attributed to the disciples of Jesus or their followers, and some texts of anonymous authorship as well: first, texts outside the post-apostolic orthodoxy or the Great Church that repeatedly include the "secret teachings" of Jesus; second, texts that correspond to post-apostolic orthodoxy but are not included in liturgical reading analogous to the status of The Old Testament, i. e., as holy scriptures.


We report copper(I)-catalyzed enantio- and diastereodivergent borylative coupling of styrenes and imines to produce enantiomerically-enriched α,β-dibranched γ-boryl amine derivatives. Each of the four possible stereoisomers of the products, derived from the two contiguous stereocenters, was selectively accessible by choosing a proper chiral ligand for the copper catalyst. This method, which combines catalyst-controlled stereodivergency and constitutional divergency derived from the lynchpin motif (i.e., the C-B bond), offers a strategy for addressing the construction of molecular structural diversity concomitant with precise chirality control.


This paper considers a two-stage hybrid flow shop scheduling problem with dedicated machines at stage 2. The objective is to minimise the makespan. There is one machine at stage 1 and two machines at stage 2. Each job must be processed on the single machine at stage 1 and, depending upon the job type, the job is processed on either of the two machines at stage 2. We first introduce this special type of the two-stage hybrid flow shop scheduling problem and present some preliminary results. We then present a counter example to the known complexity proof of Riane et al. [Riane, F., Artiba, A. and Elmaghraby, S.E., 2002. Sequencing a hybrid two-stage flowshop with dedicated machines. International Journal of Production Research, 40, 4353–4380.] Finally, we re-establish the complexity of the problem.


Research over the last few decades has shown that the characterization of microaggregates at the micrometer scale using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) provides useful information on the influence of microorganisms on soil functioning. By taking soil heterogeneity into account, TEM provides qualitative information about the state of bacteria and fungi (e.g., intact state of living organisms, spores, residues) at the sampling date within organo-mineral associations, from the soil-root interface to the bulk soil, and in biogenic structures such as casts. The degree of degradation of organic matter can be related to the visualized enzymatic potential of microorganisms that degrade them, thus indicating organic matter dynamics within soil aggregates. In addition, analytical TEM characterization of microaggregates by EELS (Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy) or EDX (Energy Dispersive X-rays spectroscopy) provides in situ identification of microbial involvement in the biogeochemical cycles of elements. Furthermore, micrometer characterization associated with other methodologies such as Nanoscale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (NanoSIMS) or soil fractionation, enables monitoring both incorporation of biodegraded litter within soil aggregates and impacts of microbial dynamics on soil aggregation, particularly due to production of extracellular polymeric substances. The present focused review suggests that such an approach using micrometer characterization of soil microhabitats provides relevant qualitative and quantitative information when monitoring and modelling microbial processes in dynamics of organo-mineral associations.


Deprivation early in life has multiple long term consequences for both the individual and society. An increasing body of evidence finds that targeted, early interventions aimed at at-risk children and their families can reduce socioeconomic inequalities in children's skills and capabilities. This paper describes a randomised control trial (RCT) evaluation of a five-year preventative programme which aims to improve the school readiness skills of socioeconomically disadvantaged children. The Preparing for Life (PFL) programme is one of the first studies in Ireland to use random assignment to experimentally modify the environment of high risk families and track its impact over time. This paper describes the design and motivation for the study, the randomisation procedure adopted and the baseline data collected. Using Monte Carlo permutation testing, it finds that the randomisation procedure was successful as there are no systematic differences between the treatment and control groups at baseline. This indicates that future analysis of treatment effects over the course of the five year evaluation can be causally attributed to the programme and used to determine the impact of Preparing for Life on children's school readiness skills


ABSTRACT The following ion-adsorption processes may occur on a solid surface, in contact with an ionic solution. An electric double layer is created by: 1 Specific adsorption of certain ions (the "potential determining ions") which give the surface a positive or a negative charge, unless, as in the case of the layer surface of a clay, the charge originates from interior crystal lattice imperfections. 2 Accumulation of "counter ions" ("gegenions") close to the charged surface in the liquid. In an established double layer there may occur: 1 Exchange of counter ions for other species of the same sign available in solution (exchange adsorption). 2 Chemisorption of ions on the surface, which may lead to destruction of the double layer or to the creation of a new double layer, possibly of opposite sign. 3 Exchange of exposed lattice ions at the surface by ions in solution (lattice exchange). Therefore, in a single double layer several possibilities must be considered when interpreting adsorption data. In the case of clays, an additional complication arises in that two different double layers are involved simultaneously—the layer surface double layer and the edge double layer. The layer surface double layer originates from interior lattice substitutions; the edge double layer originates from the adsorption of potential determining ions on the broken-bond surface. The layer surface double layer is negatively charged; the edge surface double layer probably is amphoteric and may be either positive or negative depending on the composition of the solution. Technically, the two most important adsorption phenomena in clays are the cation exchange adsorption on the layer surfaces and chemisorption of anions at the edge surfaces. Our present knowledge on these two topics will be reviewed from the point of view of the electric double layer theory.


A hybrid directional probe was newly installed in the large helical device for fast ion measurement. The collector of the probe mounts a thermocouple to estimate local power flux and can be also utilized as a collector of a conventional Langmuir probe; therefore, the hybrid directional probe can simultaneously measure both local power density flux and current flux at the same collector surface. The concept and design of the hybrid directional probe, the calibration of the power density measurement, and preliminary result of the fast ion measurement are presented.


Rechargeable aqueous Zn metal batteries have become promising candidates for large-scale electrochemical energy storage owing to their high safety and affordable low cost. However, Zn metal anode suffers from dendritic growth and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), deteriorating the electrochemical performance. Here, we demonstrate that these challenges can be conquered by introducing a halogen ion into the Zn2+ solvation structure. By designing an electrolyte composed of zinc acetate and ammonium halide, the electron-donating anion I- can coordinate with Zn2+ and transform the traditional Zn(H2O)62+ to ZnI(H2O)5+, in which I- could transfer electrons into H2O and thus suppress HER. The dynamic electrostatic shielding layer formed by concomitant NH4+ can restrict the dendritic growth. As a result, the halogenated electrolyte achieves a high initial coulombic efficiency (CE) of 99.3% in the Zn plating/stripping process and remains at an average of ∼99.8% with uniform Zn deposition. Moreover, Zn-I batteries are constructed by using dissociative I- as the cathode and carbon felt-polyaniline as the conductive and adsorptive layer, exhibiting an average CE of 98.6% without capacity decay after 300 cycles. This work provides insights into the halogenated Zn2+ solvation structure and offers a general electrolyte design strategy for achieving a highly reversible Zn metal anode and batteries.


FSH, the primary trophic hormone for gamete development in mammals, is composed of two protein subunits, alpha and beta. It is known that 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) can decrease the secretion and synthesis of FSH in ovine pituitary cultures. Data presented here indicate that E2 and P4 decrease the steady state levels of FSH beta mRNA concomitantly with FSH secretion in ovine pituitary cultures. By 24 h, E2 decreased the steady state levels of FSH beta mRNA and FSH secretion by 68% +/- 5%. P4 also decreased both concomitantly, but by 58% +/- 7% after 24 h. E2 and P4 also decrease steady state levels of alpha mRNA, but at a lower rate. Finally, it is shown that E2 and P4 decrease transcription of the FSH beta by greater than 85% in 2 h; alpha mRNA transcription is decreased by 70% in 12 h. These effects are not altered even when cycloheximide is present to block protein synthesis by 95%. These data further define the mechanisms whereby E2 and P4 inhibit ovine FSH secretion/synthesis directly at the pituitary level. They also provide the first example of negative transcriptional regulation by P4 and the second of two examples now established for E2.


This paper introduces and assesses a new method to allocate memory for applications implemented on a shared memory Multiprocessor System-on-Chip (MPSoC). This method first consists of deriving, from a Synchronous Dataflow (SDF) algorithm description, a Memory Exclusion Graph (MEG) that models all the memory objects of the application and their allocation constraints. Based on the MEG, memory allocation can be performed at three different stages of the implementation process: prior to the scheduling process, after an untimed multicore schedule is decided, or after a timed multicore schedule is decided. Each of these three alternatives offers a distinct trade-off between the amount of allocated memory and the flexibility of the application multicore execution. Tested use cases are based on descriptions of real applications and a set of random SDF graphs generated with the SDF For Free (SDF3) tool. Experimental results compare several allocation heuristics at the three implementation stages. They show that allocating memory after an untimed schedule of the application has been decided offers a reduced memory footprint as well as a flexible multicore execution.


Aortic valve rupture is a rare manifestation in comparison to cardiac rupture or contusion following blunt chest trauma. We report a case of aortic valve leaflet rupture with severe aortic regurgitation after a fall from a ladder. The aortic valve rupture had been missed in the emergency ultrasound and was only detected on comprehensive echocardiography after failure of weaning from a mechanical ventilator. The patient underwent aortic bioprosthetic valve replacement that dramatically changed the clinical course.


We introduce primaries—both closed and open—into a Downsian model of two-party electoral competition allowing the two candidates in each party's primary to differ in valence as well as in policy platform. The good news is that the introduction of either type of primary acts as a stabilizing force since equilibriums exist quite generally, serves as an arena for policy debates since all candidates propose differentiated platforms, and guarantees that each party's nominee is of higher quality than its primary opponent. Moreover, primaries tend to benefit the party whose median voter is closer to the overall median. The bad news is that the winner of the general election need not be the candidate with the highest overall quality since primaries that are too competitive can prove harmful. Given the differences between open and closed primaries, we show that the choice of primary type is particularly important and may determine the winner of the general election.