The failure of a silver nanowire (AgNW) random network due to high electric current density is described. The AgNW network breaks down as result of electromigration and Joule heating at junctions, which leads to destroyed interconnections between AgNWs. The AgNW network is not completely destroyed after breakdown, but instead is able to undergo multiple breakdowns after being cooled down, with increased resistance and reduced breakdown current density. The breakdown current density of AgNW network is J m a x = 25 A cm − 2 ?> for a network with R s ~ 40 &OHgr; sq − 1 , ?> outperforming a CuNW network. An effective electrical annealing method is demonstrated to decrease network resistance by 18% by periodically applying high current that is slightly lower than breakdown current with a period of 1 min for a few cycles.


A Blockchain web application for college is an application, it can be accessed throughout the institution and with adequate login provided, especially by the students. The blockchain model uses various cryptocurrencies to pay students the college fee. In this system, Ether cryptocurrency is used which is generated by the Ethereum blockchain platform and ether is a crucial element of decentralized applications. The cryptocurrency ether can be shifted between financial records and used for computational output payment of contributor mining nodes. Meanwhile, the ether blockchain is used to record digital currency (Ether) ownership, whereas the Ethereum based blockchain focuses on running decentralized code applications. This paper focuses on the developing of the blockchain model for college fee transactions and it reveals the significance of decentralized applications. Reviewed the up-to-date dApps and discussed the fulfilment of decentralized applications characters with blockchain development. The readers will get the outline of decentralized applications and aware of the blockchain model.


Background: Whereas a primary role of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in local bone remodelling and articular inflammation has been well established, the effect of prolonged systemic administration of this cytokine on total skeletal Ca, somatic growth and joint tissue has not yet been investigated. Methods: Five groups of 14 rats each, aged 7–8 weeks, had miniosmotic pumps (Alzet 200 µl) implanted and primed to release 100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 ng/kg/24 h of human recombinant IL-1β (rIL-1β) daily for 14 days. On days 0 and 14 total skeletal mineral content (BMC) was assessed by means of X-ray absorptiometry and vertebral and tibial growth was measured by computer-assisted radiometry. On the same days, blood was drawn and analyzed for rat growth hormone (rGH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), and osteocalcin. Also 24-hour urine was collected for d-pyridinoline (dpd) determinations. Hind- and forepaw diameter as a parameter of joint inflammation was assessed using a micrometric calliper. Subsequently the animals were sacrificed and one tibia dissected for measurement of trabecular volume by computerized histomorphometry. Results: BMC decreased in a dose-dependent manner reaching significance at 1,000 and 2,000 ng/kg (p < 0.03 and 0.04) in close correlation with tibial trabecular volumes (r = 0.84; p < 0.02). Normal vertebral and tibial growth was recorded at all dosages. There was no evidence of joint involvement. Blood rGH and IGF-1 remained normal as did osteocalcin, the latter reflecting lack of osteoblast activation. In contrast dpd increased in a dose-dependent manner indicating enhanced bone matrix turnover. Conclusion: It is concluded that graded infusions of supraphysiological doses of rIL-1β capable of inducing osteopenia did not affect skeletal growth in the absence of articular reaction. This is in contrast with the experience recorded in experimental arthritis in which growth retardation, in addition to osteopenia, may be caused by factors other than circulating IL-1β.


This article proposes a novel geometric method to investigate whether a multirotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can achieve static hovering, i.e., hoverability. Hoverability is indispensable for a multirotor UAV to conduct its tasks safely and should be satisfied even after its rotors fail to prevent accidents. The proposed geometric method reveals the relationship between the position of the center of mass (CoM) and the rotor placement of a multirotor UAV with upward-oriented rotors to satisfy hoverability. It can be applied to a multirotor UAV with any number and positioning of rotors. This article also demonstrates that our proposed method can be applied to the investigation of a robust structure against rotor failures. This investigation provides a geometric proof that a pentarotor UAV with robustness against an arbitrary rotor failure cannot be developed. Furthermore, a quantitative measure of hoverability is newly presented based on the analysis method. This enables us to design a multirotor UAV with an optimal structure by maximizing it. Finally, experimental validation is performed by using a hexrotor UAV whose CoM position is adjusted.


BACKGROUND
Gastric heterotopia is a rare congenital lesion, described everywhere in the body, but involves predominantly the digestive tract. Diagnosis is based on histologic examination and requires the presence of gastric mucosa, especially fundic. This diagnosis is usually easy, but sometimes it can be misinterpreted as gastric metapalsia . This latter is an acquired and frequent lesion of the gastrointestinal tract.

AIMS
To determine the relationship between this affection and the other digestive malformations, to describe the clinical characteristics and the evolution of this lesion and to discuss the differential diagnosis particularly the gastric metaplasia.

METHODS
Twelve cases of gastric heterotopia were diagnosed over a 12-year period at Habib Thameur Hospital. Clinical data was obtained and all the slides were reviewed.

RESULTS
Nine cases were found in Meckel's diverticulum (75%), one case in intestinal duplication, one case in the esophagus and another in the gallbladder. The mean age of patients at diagnosis was 16 years with a peak of incidence at the first decade of life. Intestinal obstruction and digestive bleeding were the most presenting features. Heterotopic gastric mucosa complicates other congenital anomalies such as common mesentery, vestigial polyp of the liver, appendiceal agenesis and heterotopic pancreas. Differential diagnosis consists in gastric metaplasia was found extensively in a patient with Crohn's disease associated with Meckel's diverticulum.

CONCLUSION
Gastric heterotopia is frequently associated with congenital anomalies especially with Meckel's diverticulum and digestive duplication. Diagnosis relies on histology, mainly on finding heterotopic fundic glands in normal organizational structure. Sometimes, differentiating between gastric heterotopia and gastric metaplasia requires clinical confrontation.


ABSTRACT Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a potentially fatal neurological condition secondary to antipsychotic medication. It is characterized by distinctive clinical findings and autonomic disturbances. NMS has not been associated with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM). TCM is an abnormal response to physiological stressors resulting from the autonomic abnormalities which at times can mimic myocardial infarction (MI). We present a unique case of a 54-year-old female with bipolar disease presenting with lithium and haloperidol-induced NMS complicated by TCM. The purpose of this case is to make clinicians aware of this rare association.


This essay discusses some of the effects of the "MeToo" movement as a social movement, bringing issues of sexual assault and sexual harassment to the forefront. The essay then raises the question of whether that movement might also have implications for the law of sexual harassment. The essay discusses three elements of the law of sexual harassment—the "because of sex" requirement, the requirement that the harassment be subjectively hostile and objectively severe or pervasive, and the standard for employer liability for harassment—and explores the way that the "MeToo" movement might affect the way in which courts apply those elements. The essay then discusses other ways in which the law relevant to sexual harassment claims has been and may be changed by the movement, including with respect to mandatory pre-dispute arbitration agreements and nondisclosure agreements.


We report a sponge-based transmission surface-enhanced Raman scattering (TSERS) substrate that combines the bulk sampling capabilities of a transmission measurement to improve the quantitative representation of sample concentration with several sponge properties useful for analysis such as fast sample uptake, easy sample enrichment, and a stable polymeric structure. Among nine commercially available sponges made of different materials, a melamine sponge was ultimately selected for this study because it provided the fastest sample uptake and a low background Raman signal. Simultaneously, the amino groups and three-nitrogen hybrid rings in its structure could easily hold Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) inside the sponge. AuNP-incorporated sponges (AuNP sponges) were prepared by simply soaking a melamine sponge in a AuNP solution; these sponges were initially used to measure 4-nitrobenzenethiol (4-NBT) samples with different concentrations in order to evaluate their ability as TSERS substrates. The intensities of the 4-NBT peaks clearly varied according to changes in the concentration, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the peak intensity estimated by the measurements of five independently prepared AuNP sponges was 10.0%. Sample enrichment was easily completed by repeated suctioning of the sample into the AuNP sponges followed by depletion of the solvent, so three-time enrichment doubled the intensity. Furthermore, paraquat samples were prepared in diverse matrices (de-ionized water, tap water, river water, and orange juice) and measured using the AuNP sponges. The paraquat peaks were clearly observed from these samples and their peak intensities became smaller with the increased compositional complexity of the matrices. Our overall results demonstrate that the TSERS sponge substrates are easy to prepare and practically versatile for SERS analysis of diverse samples.


It is shown that the Rytov rotation of the field vectors results in an additional bending of the ray path and this bending depends on the sign of the circular polarisation of light. The effect is the inverse of the optical Magnus ('ping pong') effect: the path curvature results in additional rotation which depends on the sign of the circular polarisation.


In this study, a total of 170 specimens belonging to 21 snake species that have been collected from Şanliurfa province between 2016 and 2017 as well as during the previous years (2004-2015) and preserved in ZMADYU (Zoology Museum of Adiyaman University) were examined. Nine of the specimens examined were belong to Typhlopidae, 17 to Leptotyphlopidae, 9 to Boidae, 112 to Colubridae, 14 Natricidae, 4 Psammophiidae, 1 to Elapidae, and 5 to Viperidae families. As a result of the field studies, Satunin's Black-Headed Dwarf Snake, Rhynchocalamus satunini (Nikolsky, 1899) was reported for the first time from Şanliurfa province. The specimen belonging to Zamenis hohenackeri (Strauch, 1873) given in the literature could not be observed during this study. The color-pattern and some metric and meristic measurements of the specimens were taken. In addition, ecological and biological information has been given on the species observed.


. The spectral hardenings of cosmic ray nuclei above ∼ 200 GV followed by softenings around 10 TV, the knee of the all-particle spectrum around PeV energies, as well as the pattern change of the amplitude and phase of the large-scale anisotropies around 100 TeV indicate the complexities of the origin and transportation of Galactic cosmic rays. It has been shown that nearby source(s) are most likely to be the cause of such spectral features of both the spectra and the anisotropies. In this work, we study the anisotropy features of different mass composition (or mass groups) of cosmic rays in this nearby source model. We show that even if the spectral features from the nearby source component is less distinctive compared with the background component from e.g., the population of distant sources, the anisotropy features are more remarkable to be identified. Measurements of the anisotropies of each mass composition (group) of cosmic rays by the space experiments such as DAMPE and HERD and the ground-based experiments such as LHAASO in the near future are expected to be able to critically test this scenario.


Calcification was demonstrated radiographically within newly diagnosed lymphoma of the mediastinum in two patients. These patients and those in other isolated reports show that radiographic examinations may, rarely, reveal calcification in lymphomatous tissue prior to treatment.


Abstract This article briefly surveys the direct and indirect ways in which the principal of measure for measure is manifested in biblical narrative. It proceeds to examine how it is applied in the David cycle, where it is particularly prominent. David, more than any other human character in the Bible, refers to this principle both in his words and his deeds. His motives are both theological and political. He rewards and punishes measure for measure, but is himself punished according to the same principle. The article examines the different levels on which "measure for measure" works in the David stories: the human plane (David and the human characters around him), the divine plane (between David and the Lord), and the interaction between these two.


Background Hepatitis C is a serious disease with a high prevalence, being the leading cause of liver transplantation. There is now rapid development of new drugs for this disease. During the period of this study, only the following anti-hepatitis C agents were available: peg-interferon, telaprevir, boceprevir, simeprevir, sofosbuvir daclatasvir and ribavirin. Purpose To analyse the effectiveness of sofosbuvir associated with other antiviral against hepatitis C, and identify adverse reactions produced. Material and methods A descriptive study including patients that started therapy with sofosbuvir from August 2014 to January 2015. Data collected were: viral genotype, treatment duration with sofosbuvir and negativisation time to viral load. Results During the study period, 37 patients began treatment with sofosbuvir. Of these, 28 had genotype 1b (17 were treated for 12 weeks and 11 during 24 weeks), 3 had genotype 1a, 2 had genotype 3 and 4 had genotype 4. Patients with genotypes 1a and 4 were treated for 12 weeks and those with genotype 3 for 24 weeks. With respect to treatment for 12 weeks, the associations used most were sofosbuvir with simeprevir and ribavirin in 65.22% of patients. This was also the most prescribed combination in patients with genotype 1b, being used in 11.45.5%. Genotype 1b patients treated with this combination had a rapid virological response (RVR), which means an undetectable viral load in week 4 of treatment. In the 24 week treatment, 76.92% of patients (10 patients) received sofosbuvir with daclatasvir. Of these patients, 9 had genotype 1b. 55.5% of patients with genotype 1b and the above combination had a RVR. 37 patients had undetectable viral load at the end of treatment. All patients achieved a sustained viral response at 4 weeks post-treatment (SVR4), and also showed a sustained viral response at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12), which means cure. Conclusion In our patient population, using sofosbuvir associated with other antihepatitis C drugs available at the time of the study, helped to reduce the time required to neutralise the viral load, and present a good safety profile, which can improve adhesion. References and/or Acknowledgements Gutierrez JA, Lawitz EJ, Poordad F. Interferon-free, direct-acting antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis. J Viral Hepat 2015 No conflict of interest.


More than 100 mitochondrial (mt) DNA mutations have been described in association with different complex neurological disorders and with respiratory chain (RC) deficiency in the past decade.1 Aside from more frequently reported mt tRNA mutations and deletions, a growing list of pathogenic mutations affecting structural genes of mtDNA encoded respiratory chain subunits, mainly cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase subunit genes, has now been reported in association with various mitochondrial disorders as well2 and most of these mutations are thought to be of sporadic origin.

Cytochrome c oxidase (COX or complex IV), the terminal enzyme of the RC, catalyses the reduction of molecular oxygen by reduced cytochrome c. The complex is composed of 13 subunits. Three highly conserved mtDNA encoded subunits (COX I-III) form the catalytic core of the enzyme and the remaining 10 nuclear subunits are thought to modify or stabilise the complex. While the core forming subunits COX I and COX II contain the prosthetic groups and are known to play the most essential role in proton pumping and electron transfer, the function of COX III remains largely unknown. It is of interest that pathogenic mutations in mtDNA encoded subunits I-III have been identified whereas no mutations in the 10 nuclear genes are known so far. In contrast, numerous mutations in nuclear genes involved in the assembly of COX ( SURF1, SCO2, SCO1, COX10 ) have been described.3 As with most mtDNA mutations, the clinical presentation of patients harbouring mutations in mt encoded COX subunit genes is highly variable, ranging from late childhood onset myopathy4–8 to severe childhood onset multisystem disorders,9–14 and this might be explained by the variable distribution and abundance of mutant mtDNA in different tissues and by different expression thresholds.3 All mt COX subunit gene mutations reported to date …


Author(s): Hendershott, Melissa | Advisor(s): Vale, Ronald D | Abstract: The microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton plays an essential role in mitosis, intracellular transport, cell shape, and cell migration. The assembly and disassembly of MTs, which can occur through the addition or loss of subunits at either the plus- or minus-ends of the polymer, is essential for MTs to carry out their biological functions. In Chapter 1, I describe my work on a recently described family of MT minus-end binding proteins called CAMSAP/Patronin/Nezha that act on MT ends to regulate their dynamics. Patronin, the single member of this family in Drosophila, was previously shown to stabilize MT minus-ends against depolymerization in vitro and in vivo. Here, I show that all three mammalian CAMSAP family members also bind specifically to MT minus-ends and protect them against kinesin-13-induced depolymerization. However, these proteins differ in their abilities to suppress tubulin addition at minus-ends and to dissociate from MTs. CAMSAP1 does not interfere with polymerization and tracks along growing minus-ends. CAMSAP2 and CAMSAP 3 decrease the rate of tubulin incorporation and remain bound, thereby creating stretches of decorated MT minus-ends. Using truncation analysis, I find that somewhat different minimal domains of CAMSAP and Patronin are involved in minus-end localization. However, I find that in both cases, a highly conserved C-terminal domain and a more variable central domain cooperate to suppress minus-end dynamics in vitro and that both regions are required to stabilize minus-ends in Drosophila S2 cells. These results show that members of the CAMSAP/Patronin family all localize to and protect minus-ends but have evolved distinct effects on MT dynamics. In Chapter 2, I describe work characterizing a set of inhibitors of a kinesin-12 family member called Kif15, which has a role in spindle organization during mitosis. Kif15 has been shown in previous work to cooperate with the tetrameric kinesin Eg5 to facilitate bipolar spindle formation; we were interested in the possible application of these molecules to spindle disruption in hopes that the combination of Eg5 and Kif15 inhibition might be clinically efficacious. I show that these small molecules have activity against Kif15 through an uncompetitive mechanism and that Kif15 inhibition with these molecules affects spindle organization and cell division in vivo.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
This study examines the association between physical activities and gambling, making a distinction between two characteristics of the former: intensity level and type (competitive/non-competitive).

METHOD
316 adolescents from four high schools in Israel completed questionnaires.

RESULTS
For males, participation in competitive athletic sports was associated with gambling frequency and problem gambling. For females, participation in competitive athletic sports was associated only with gambling frequency.

CONCLUSIONS
Both types of physical activity and gender are important when analyzing the association between gambling and sporting activities.

SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE
Youths involved in competitive sports are at greater risk for gambling involvement. (Am J Addict 2015;24:200-202).


465 male seamen of the GDR's Deep-Sea Fishery (about 10%) had stomatologically been examined at the open sea on board of various cargo-ships. The DMF-T index, the distribution of kinds of fillers, the proportion of primary and secondary caries, the number of teeth being missed, the distribution of Eichner classes and the mode and frequency of dentures had been analysed. The quantity and quality of the stomatological care in deep-sea fishers depends on numerous factors of influence, not at least on the stomatological care preceding their first employment aboard. Though the effectiveness of the existing system of care could be presented, possibilities of a further improvement of effectiveness of the care are explained.


** Indicates corrected total bid price due to discrepancies between multiplication of units of work and unit prices. Per the Bid Document, "Discrepancies between multiplication of units of work and unit prices will be resolved in favor of unit prices. Discrepancies between the indicated sum of any column of figures and the correct some thereof will be resolved in the favor of the correct sum. Discrepancies between words and figures will be resolved in favor of words."


This study surveys religious victims of CSA from three Christian universities with regard to general coping strategies, religious practices used in the healing process, and self-report of current life satisfaction. About twenty percent of the respondents acknowledged some type of childhood sexual abuse. The study identified negative correlations between both professional and church based counseling and positive life satisfaction ratings. When specific spiritual practices were used there was positive correlation between forgiveness and life satisfaction.


A full-scale load test on a reinforced concrete (RC) slab was carried out to investigate the structural adequacy and performance of a double storey shop office building which was converted to a technical college. The RC slab used for the load test had an existing crack defect. The crack was sealed using epoxy resin grouting before the load test. The RC slab was subjected to two static cycles of uniformly distributed load. In the first cycle, the RC slab was loaded with the characteristics imposed load as recommended in the BS 6399. The static load was increased by 60% in the second cycle. Vertical deflection of the RC slab at five locations and crack development were monitored during the load test. The experimental results were compared to numerical results carried out using LUSAS finite element software. The findings showed that the building is safe to carry a factored design load of 4.8 kN/m 2 which complied to the requirement of a college application in accordance to BS6399.


ABSTRACT: The first case of application of forensic entomology in the Brazilian Amazonia is described. The corpses of 26 men were found in the rainforest in Rondonia State, Brazil. Fly larvae collected on the bodies during autopsy were identified as Paralucilia fulvinota (Diptera, Calliphoridae). No data or specimens were collected at the crime scene. At the laboratory, the larvae developed into pupae in 58 h and into adults in 110.5 h. The total development time for P. fulvinota was measured in field experiments inside the forest. The age of the larvae when collected from the bodies was estimated as the difference between the time required for them to become adults and the total development time for this species. The estimated age of the maggots and the minimum postmortem interval was 5.7 days.


In neonates, renal perfusion, glomerular filtration rate and urine output strongly depend on the vaso-dilative effects of prostaglandins on the afferent glomerular arterioles. Glomerular filtration rate in neonates is very low (2–4 mL/min or 20 ml/min/1.73 m2) and can only be maintained due to a delicate balance between vasodilatory effects at the afferent and vasoconstrictor effects at the efferent glomerular arterioli. Despite the overall low clearance, interindividual variability is already extensive and can be predicted by covariates like postmenstrual age, postnatal age, co-administration of a non-selective cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, growth restriction or peripartal asphyxia. We still commonly used creatinine as a biomarker of renal clearance capacity. However, before creatinaemia values can be used to estimate renal drug elimination capacity, there are some methodological issues that need to be considered. Creatinaemia at birth does not yet reflect neonatal but maternal creatinine clearance and because of passive tubular back leak instead of active secretion, creatinine clearance does not yet fully reflects GFR. Finally, absolute creatinine values also depend on the technique used. The move towards harmonisation through IDMS (isotope dilution mass spectrometry) traceability has helped, but not completely solved this problem. More research is needed to document the potential add on benefit of more advanced biomarkers (e.g. Cystatin C) or renal tubular function markers. In the meanwhile, clinical driven interpretation combined clinical and biochemical indicators seems the most appropriate approach.


The most important reliability issues related to the erasing operation in flash memories are, still today, caused by single bit failures. In particular, the overerase of tail and fast bits affects the threshold voltage distribution width, causing bit-line leakage that produces read/verify circuitry malfunctions, affects the programming efficiency due to voltage drop, and causes charge-pump circuitry failure. This brief overview explores the most important characteristics of these anomalous bits, their relation with the erratic erase phenomena and their impact on flash memory reliability. Identification techniques, experimental results, and physical models are also discussed.


Accurate knowledge of global solar radiation (GSR) data is necessary for various solar energy based applications. However, in spite of its importance, the number of solar radiation measuring stations is comparatively rare throughout the world due to financial cost and difficulties in measurement techniques. The objective of this current study is to assess the solar energy potential and to develop solar resource mapping of India without utilizing the direct measurement techniques. GSR is predicted with commonly available meteorological parameters like minimum and maximum temperature as its inputs by using Support Vector Machine (SVM) based solar radiation model. The SVM model is validated with measured data from India Meteorological Department (IMD). This study simplifies the major challenge of preparing GSR data for various solar energy applications in a big country like India. Also the life cycle cost of Solar PV is analyzed in India. The payback period will be around 3 years for an annually solar radiation of range from 3.5 to 6 kWh/m2/day. This work eliminates the requirement of costly pyranometer to get GSR data. Solar resource mapping of India is developed without direct measurement technique thus avoids GSR data recording, daily maintenance and subsequently the increasing cost of GSR data collection.


SUMMARY We apply a new kinematic modelling technique (program NeoKinema) to estimate neotectonic flow in the Persia‐Tibet‐Burma orogen. The models fit geodetic benchmark velocities, geological fault slip rates and stress directions (seismic moment tensor orientations) using a weightedleast-squares method. Models predict long-term velocities, anelastic strain rates and preferred fault slip rates averaged over timescales of 10 4 ‐10 6 yr. While we find a few regions of low anelastic strain rate, the mean continuum strain rate in the preferred model is 2.2 × 10 −16 s −1 (0.7 per cent Ma −1 ), so the India-Eurasia collision should not be modelled as an interaction between rigid microplates. For most faults, preferred fault slip rates agree with geological slip rates within their uncertainty bounds; this suggests that deformation imaged by geodesy over tens of years is consistent with deformation over 10 4 ‐10 6 yr (given appropriate elastic corrections). We also calculate maps of long-term-average seismicity rate based on model fault slip rates and anelastic strain rates in the continuum, using the seismicity parameters of most comparable type of plate boundary. The pattern is generally in agreement with actual m > 5.67 earthquakes in the CMT catalogue (1977‐2002), except that the Himalayan front, High Zagros and Altyn Tagh zones have been quieter than predicted. The spatial integral of our forecast over the orogen is 371 m > 5.67 earthquakes/25.75 yr, versus 238 which actually occurred. If this discrepancy has high significance, it means that some step(s) in our forecast method are faulty (such as the assumption of equal coupled seismogenic thickness in all continental convergent boundaries). If it is only an artefact of stochastic time-dependence, then this may have occurred in the orogen, in the external calibration region, or in both. Independent evidence suggests that large earthquakes (with many aftershocks) will occur along the Himalayan front in the future, possibly reducing this discrepancy.


The effect of a nitric oxide (NO) donor on high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channel currents ( I Ca) was examined using the whole cell patch-clamp technique in L6–S1 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons innervating the urinary bladder. The neurons were labeled by axonal transport of a fluorescent dye, Fast Blue, injected into the bladder wall. Approximately 70% of bladder afferent neurons exhibited tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant action potentials (APs), and 93% of these neurons were sensitive to capsaicin, while the remaining neurons had TTX-sensitive spikes and were insensitive to capsaicin. The peak current density of nimodipine-sensitive L-type Ca2+ channels activated by depolarizing pulses (0 mV) from a holding potential of −60 mV was greater in bladder afferent neurons with TTX-resistant APs (39.2 pA/pF) than in bladder afferent neurons with TTX-sensitive APs (28.9 pA/pF), while the current density of ω-conotoxin GVIA-sensitive N-type Ca2+channels was similar (43–45 pA/pF) in both types of neurons. In both types of neurons, the NO donor, S -nitroso- N -acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) (500 μM), reversibly reduced (23.4–26.6%) the amplitude of I Ca elicited by depolarizing pulses to 0 mV from a holding potential of −60 mV. SNAP-induced inhibition of I Ca was reduced by 90% in the presence of ω-conotoxin GVIA but was unaffected in the presence of nimodipine, indicating that NO-induced inhibition of I Ca is mainly confined to N-type Ca2+ channels. Exposure of the neurons for 30 min to 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, 10 μM), an inhibitor of NO-stimulated guanylyl cyclase, prevented the SNAP-induced reduction in I Ca. Extracellular application of 8-bromo-cGMP (1 mM) mimicked the effects of NO donors by reducing the peak amplitude of I Ca(28.6% of reduction). Action potential configuration and firing frequency during depolarizing current pulses were not altered by the application of SNAP (500 μM) in bladder afferent neurons with TTX-resistant and -sensitive APs. These results indicate that NO acting via a cGMP signaling pathway can modulate N-type Ca2+ channels in DRG neurons innervating the urinary bladder.


Most physicians believe that patients who have fever within 24 hours of the planned date of discharge should be kept in the hospital until the fever resolves. A search of the literature revealed very few articles addressing this topic. The object of this study was to review a number of patient discharges from the surgical service and to document the presence or absence of fever within 24 hours of the time of discharge. The primary end point of the study was to determine the rate of readmission for both patients discharged with fever and those discharged without fever. Secondary end points were to determine whether the readmission was related to the original discharge diagnosis or the presence of fever at the time of discharge. The records of all adult patients with a hospital length of stay of ≥5 days discharged from the surgical and gynecology services from April through July of 2007 were reviewed. Deaths were excluded. The following data elements were recorded: primary discharge diagnosis; age; highest recorded temperature within 24 hours of discharge; date time and cause of readmission within 30 days; and outcome. Fever was defined as a temperature of ≥100° F. Data were entered into an Excel (Microsoft, Redmond, WA) spreadsheet, and statistical analysis was performed using χ2 and Fisher's exact tests using Primer of Biostatistics© (McGraw-Hill, New York, NY). The records of 300 consecutive patients were reviewed. Follow-up was available for 86.7 per cent of the patients, 84.4 per cent of the febrile patients, and 87.1 per cent of the nonfebrile patients. A fever of ≥100° within 24 hours of discharge was noted in 45 (15.0%) patients. The mean fever was 100.5°, with a range of 100° to 102.1°. There were 38 readmissions. Of the 45 patients with fever, seven (15.6%) were readmitted. Of those seven, four readmissions were related to the previous admitting diagnosis. Of the patients who were discharged without fever, 31 (12.2%) were readmitted with 24 of those read-missions for diagnoses related to the first admission. The rate of readmission for fever and nonfever patients was not statistically significantly different (P = 0.697). Similarly, the rate of related versus nonrelated diagnoses in both the fever and nonfever groups was not statistically significantly different (P = 0.351). The presence or absence of fever within 24 hours of patient discharge seems to have no impact on the rate of readmission within 30 days.


Antiplatelet therapy is of proven benefit in coronary artery disease and a number of other clinical settings. This article reviews platelet function, molecular targets of antiplatelet agents, and clinical indications for antiplatelet therapy before focusing on a frequent question to hematologists about the 2 most commonly used antiplatelet therapies: Could the patient be aspirin "resistant" or clopidogrel "resistant"? If so, should results of a platelet function test be used to guide the dose or type of antiplatelet therapy? Whether such guided therapy is of clinical benefit to patients has been a source of controversy. The present article reviews this subject in the context of 2 prototypical clinical cases. Available evidence does not support the use of laboratory tests to guide the dose of aspirin or clopidogrel in patients with so-called aspirin or clopidogrel "resistance."


With the aging population, the burden of atrial fibrillation is increasing. Cryoablation is a novel technique for pulmonary vein isolation and is considered equally effective as radiofrequency ablation. Some of the known complications of cryoablation include phrenic nerve damage, esophageal injury, pulmonary vein stenosis, new onset atrial flutter, pericardial effusion, and stroke. We present a case of bronchial injury immediately after cryoablation for symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. A 67-year-old woman underwent successful pulmonary vein isolation using cryoablation. Her post-operative period was complicated with cough and hemoptysis. During the procedure, she had an extra 3 minutes of freezing of the left inferior pulmonary vein. Her bronchoscopy examination showed blood and erythema in the left main bronchus. She was managed conservatively with cough suppressants and anticoagulation was stopped. Possible etiology of bronchial injury is likely cryoenergy transfer between the pulmonary veins and the bronchus due to their close anatomic proximity. With the increasing use of cryoablation for atrial fibrillation, more cases of bronchial injury will likely be reported in the future. Physicians including electrophysiologist and pulmonologists should be aware of this complication.


Abstract. Tidal salt marsh soils can be a dynamic source of greenhouse gases such as
carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O),
as well as sulfur-based trace gases such as carbon disulfide (CS2) and
dimethylsulfide (DMS) which play roles in global climate and carbon–sulfur
biogeochemistry. Due to the difficulty in measuring trace gases in coastal
ecosystems (e.g., flooding, salinity), our current understanding is based on
snapshot instantaneous measurements (e.g., performed during daytime low
tide) which complicates our ability to assess the role of these ecosystems
for natural climate solutions. We performed continuous, automated
measurements of soil trace gas fluxes throughout the growing season to
obtain high-temporal frequency data and to provide insights into magnitudes
and temporal variability across rapidly changing conditions such as tidal
cycles. We found that soil CO2 fluxes did not show a consistent diel
pattern, CH4, N2O, and CS2 fluxes were highly variable with
frequent pulse emissions (> 2500 %, > 10 000 %,
and > 4500 % change, respectively), and DMS fluxes only
occurred midday with changes > 185 000 %. When we compared
continuous measurements with discrete temporal measurements (during daytime,
at low tide), discrete measurements of soil CO2 fluxes were comparable
with those from continuous measurements but misrepresent the temporal
variability and magnitudes of CH4, N2O, DMS, and CS2.
Discrepancies between the continuous and discrete measurement data result in
differences for calculating the sustained global warming potential (SGWP),
mainly by an overestimation of CH4 fluxes when using discrete
measurements. The high temporal variability of trace gas fluxes complicates
the accurate calculation of budgets for use in blue carbon accounting and
earth system models.


: This study aims to provide an overview of early childhood education (ECE) in Saudi Arabia by describing the policy and programmatic context, analyzing the current state of access and quality, identifying challenges and opportunities for effective implementation, exploring alignment with Vision 2030 goals, and discussing future prospects and steps for improvement. This qualitative case study used a literature review, semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis, and descriptive data analysis to investigate the status and prospects of early childhood education in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on Vision 2030. The study identified key themes and challenges and recommended improvements in the implementation of the national framework for early childhood education. The main results of the study on early childhood education (ECE) in Saudi Arabia show that there has been significant attention and investment in ECE programs in recent years, with a focus on expanding access to high-quality programs for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Despite efforts to improve ECE programs, access to and participation in these programs remain limited, particularly among disadvantaged and rural populations, and the quality of ECE programs varies widely. The study highlights challenges in ECE, such as a lack of qualified teachers and funding shortages. Strategies to address these challenges include increasing access and improving teacher training, but significant obstacles such as limited coordination and parental involvement remain. The key recommendations to improve Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs in Saudi Arabia include increasing investment and commitment from the government, improving teacher training programs, and expanding access to high-quality ECE programs for disadvantaged and rural populations. Additionally, fostering collaboration, aligning with Vision 2030 goals, and promoting family engagement and support are also important for the continued improvement of ECE programs.


Today's highly competitive market environment forces companies to improve their work processes constantly leaving no room for errors. In order to improve customer satisfaction, it is a necessity to improve process lead time and quality. In addition quality efforts improve the bottom line and remain an important part in the continual quest for improving performance. Effective continuous improvement of quality can help in locating areas of development and implementing corrective and preventive actions to support the improvement of order correctness. This study explores the impacts of incorrect sales orders on the purchase order process in a global case organisation in the telecommunications industry. The focus was to find ways for the case organisation to minimize the number of incorrect sales orders released for purchasing. The objectives of the study aimed at describing the current situation to support decision-making, identify the errors in the incorrect sales orders, find out the number of incorrect sales orders and measure the lead time of handling the incorrect sales orders in the purchasing process. The theoretical framework describes how to improve quality, operational performance, and customer satisfaction by continuous improvement of internal processes, i.e. by minimizing the order processing costs and improving internal order correctness. The theoretical section introduces literature on Total Quality Management, Supply Chain Management, Process Management, Continuous Improvement and Performance Measurement. The empirical research was carried out as a case study by collecting error related data from sales orders from 30 th October to 31 st December 2009. Research material was also collected through interviews, an inquiry and by participation-observation. The research results show that 33% of the sales orders were incorrect during the data collection period. In addition the incorrect sales orders lengthened the lead time of purchase order creation from the 1 day's target to 3.2 days. Even the clean orders' purchase order creation lead time was 1.7 days, resulting from the processing time spent on the incorrect sales orders with current resources. Based on the error categorization and empirical data analysis, 33% of the errors are related to incorrect configuration, and 40% of the errors could be eliminated by the case organisation itself. Empirical findings present strong evidence that the sales order correctness quality is poor, the impacts of incorrect sales orders show in extra work and costs of bad quality, and the process requires improvement. A new quality control method was implemented as part of the continuous improvement to improve the reporting of the errors and information flow quality. The framework seems applicable for evaluating the implications of incorrect sales orders in the purchase process of a telecommunications company and could be applied to other industries' internal order correctness process performance improvement efforts as well. Finally, management support is required to ensure that the empirical results are exploited in the continuous efforts toward improvement.


With the proliferation of easily accessible remotely sensed imagery over the last several years, image analysts from a wide variety of working environments are in high demand. These analysts do not always have advanced technical backgrounds in science. Robert Arnold's useful and timely laboratory manual serves as an adequate introduction to interpreting remotely sensed photographs and imagery. The book poses a graduated set of examples and questions with a generally increasing but low level of sophistication. It is easy to read, and considerable care has been exercised in the layout of the subject index and overall organization of the manual.


We treated a patient with a complete invagination of the cecum that contained two large laminated calcified fecaliths. Colonofiberscopy showed a dimpling submucosal tumor that was palpated as a bony hard tumor at laparotomy. This finding suggested that the fecaliths caused intussusception of the cecum and that such an intussusception should be suspected when a bony hard, dimpling submucosal tumor is found in the cecum. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a cecal invagination accompanied by calcified fecaliths without an appendical intussusception.


Visual Abstract The parietal reach region (PRR) in the medial bank of the macaque intraparietal sulcus has been a subject of considerable interest in research aimed at the development of brain-controlled prosthetic arms, but its anatomical organization remains poorly characterized. We examined the anatomical organization of the putative PRR territory based on myeloarchitecture and retrograde tracer injections. We found that the medial bank includes three areas: an extension of the dorsal subdivision of V6A (V6Ad), the medial intraparietal area (MIP), and a subdivision of area PE (PEip). Analysis of corticocortical connections revealed that both V6Ad and MIP receive inputs from visual area V6; the ventral subdivision of V6A (V6Av); medial (PGm, 31), superior (PEc), and inferior (PFG/PF) parietal association areas; and intraparietal areas AIP and VIP. They also receive long-range projections from the superior temporal sulcus (MST, TPO), cingulate area 23, and the dorsocaudal (area F2) and ventral (areas F4/F5) premotor areas. In comparison with V6Ad, MIP receives denser input from somatosensory areas, the primary motor cortex, and the medial motor fields, as well as from visual cortex in the ventral precuneate cortex and frontal regions associated with oculomotor guidance. Unlike MIP, V6Ad receives stronger visual input, from the caudal inferior parietal cortex (PG/Opt) and V6Av, whereas PEip shows marked emphasis on anterior parietal, primary motor, and ventral premotor connections. These anatomical results suggest that MIP and V6A have complementary roles in sensorimotor behavior, with MIP more directly involved in movement planning and execution in comparison with V6A.


ABSTRACT Introduction: The prevalence of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA; previously known as Churg-Strauss syndrome) is lower than that of other antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV's), and only a few randomized controlled trials have been conducted for this rare disease. However, recent international efforts have helped delineate the best treatment approach. Areas covered: At present, EGPA conventional therapy is by default similar to that of other AAVs. Limited, non-severe EGPA can initially be treated with glucocorticoids (GCs) alone. Patients with life-threatening manifestations and/or major organ involvement must receive a combination of GCs and an immunosuppressant, mainly cyclophosphamide. Remission can be achieved in >85% of patients with these first-line treatments, but vasculitis relapses occur in more than one-third of patients, and about 85% cannot stop GC treatment because of GC-dependent asthma and/or ENT manifestations. A few biologic agents, including rituximab or mepolizumab, are now under investigation after interesting preliminary results. Expert commentary: Treatment for EGPA still has several unmet needs. Several biologic agents are now under investigation in randomized controlled trials, but a few others should be considered soon. Their benefit should be demonstrated for devising more EGPA-tailored therapeutic strategies (ideally GC-free).


We present a new Python package, gwbench, implementing the well-established Fisher information formalism as a fast and straightforward tool for the purpose of gravitational-wave benchmarking, i.e. the estimation of signal-to-noise ratios and measurement errors of gravitational waves observed by a network of detectors. Such an infrastructure is necessary due to the high computational cost of Bayesian parameter estimation methods which renders them less effective for the scientific assessment of gravitational waveforms, detectors, and networks of detectors, especially when determining their effects on large populations of gravitational-wave sources spread throughout the Universe. gwbench further gives quick access to detector locations and sensitivities, while including the effects of Earth's rotation on the latter, as well as waveform models and their derivatives, while giving access to the host of waveforms available in the LSC Algorithm Library. With the provided functionality, gwbench is relevant for a wide variety of applications in gravitational-wave astronomy such as waveform modeling, detector development, cosmology, and tests of general relativity.


Augmented Reality (AR) applications provide a high potential to support the user in solving tasks e.g. in scenarios from the domain of assembly, maintenance and repair. AR applications enrich the physical world around the user with additional useful virtual information. However, the integration of physical objects into AR user interfaces poses a challenge to developers. In addition, the information displayed in such an environment often strongly depends on the user's current task. In this paper we present an approach to specify the integration of real objects into AR user interfaces and the task dependent visualization of AR user interface elements on the design level. To describe user tasks, the AR user interface structure and the relations between them we use UML activity diagrams in combination with the Scene Structure and Integration Modelling Language (SSIML), a visual language which provides support for the description of 3D user interface structures. Furthermore, code can be generated from the visual models. The proposed concepts are illustrated by an AR application example from the domain of assembly and lead to a new language called SSIML/AR.


AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
This article presents results from interviews with twelve persons with mild dementia about how life had changed since they received their diagnosis, exploring their experiences of dementia and how they manage life by using different strategies and techniques.

BACKGROUND
Knowledge about how people with mild dementia experience life is important to explore through their unique perspective, providing clinical practice with knowledge to improve dementia care.

DESIGN
Twelve participants were recruited at a Danish school service for people with mild dementia where they receive cognitive stimulation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, video recorded, transcribed and analysed by using Max Van Manen´s five lifeworld existentials: spatiality, corporeality, temporality, relationality and materiality. SRQR checklist was used.

RESULTS
Five themes were identified, illustrating the dilemmas and challenges the participants experience, as all existentials are compromised in some way: Living a social and active life regardless of difficulties; Trying to look at the bright side of life with dementia; It takes time to adapt but at the same time, time is being lost; It is possible to learn, but it is challenging; To try to remember but keep forgetting.

CONCLUSION
The article concludes that all existentials are negatively influenced by dementia, setting the lifeworld of the participants under pressure. However, they still try to live their lives regardless of the difficulties. The study shows it is possible for people with mild dementia to describe their lived experience of dementia and what strategies and techniques they use to manage life.

RELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE
The experienced dilemmas and challenges in the lifeworld of people with mild dementia is of great relevance to be aware of and address in clinical practice. To support people with dementia to identify relevant strategies and techniques, as expressed in the study, that can support them managing life with dementia.


A significant percentage of fine‐needle aspirations (FNAs) is obtained using radiographic image guidance. Such image‐guided aspirates are associated with increased costs, and it is highly desirable that adequate material for diagnosis is obtained at the time of the initial procedure. Hence, intraoperative evaluation of smear material is frequently performed to evaluate adequacy and to triage the aspirate to specialized tests such as flow cytometry and cytogenetics for appropriate work‐up. Although FNA under radiologic guidance has been shown to be useful, little data exist as to the accuracy of such intraprocedural evaluation. The quality‐assurance records between May 2009 and May 2010 were electronically searched for all FNA cases with intraprocedural evaluation. The reports were obtained and reviewed to compare the intraprocedural diagnosis and the final cytopathologic diagnosis. Percentage of deferred cases and percentage of disagreement were calculated. From May 2009 to May 2010, a total of 775 FNAs were performed with intraprocedural review. These cases were reviewed by seven board‐certified cytopathologists. In 738 cases, the preliminary interpretation agreed with the final diagnosis. In 2.2% (17 of 775) of cases, the interpretation was deferred until‐cell block, and/or cytospin preparations were obtained. In 2.6% (20 of 775) of cases, a disagreement in diagnosis existed between the initial interpretation and the final sign‐out diagnosis. Intraprocedural interpretation of FNA material appears to be highly reliable with disagreements occurring in only 2.6% of cases. This degree of disagreement is slightly higher than that reported in some frozen section studies. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system results from hemosiderin deposition in the subpial layers of the brain and spinal cord. A clinical history of subarachnoid hemorrhage is often absent. Patients present with slowly progressive gait ataxia and sensorineural hearing impairment. A history of prior intradural surgery or trauma is common. With widespread use of magnetic resonance imaging, presymptomatic cases are being diagnosed and it is difficult to be certain about the true incidence of this disorder. Despite extensive investigations, the cause of bleeding is often not apparent. An intraspinal fluid-filled collection is a common accompaniment and may be the likely bleeding source. An early diagnosis and prompt intervention directed at removal of the bleeding source may prevent progression. This review discusses the role of multimodality imaging in evaluation of superficial siderosis and the therapeutic implications of identified associations.


This article compares search effectiveness when using query-based Internet search (via the Google search engine), directory-based search (via Yahoo), and phrase-based query reformulation-assisted search (via the Hyperindex browser) by means of a controlled, user-based experimental study. The focus was to evaluate aspects of the search process. Cognitive load was measured using a secondary digit-monitoring task to quantify the effort of the user in various search states; independent relevance judgements were employed to gauge the quality of the documents accessed during the search process and time was monitored as a function of search state. Results indicated directory-based search does not offer increased relevance over the query-based search (with or without query formulation assistance), and also takes longer. Query reformulation does significantly improve the relevance of the documents through which the user must trawl, particularly when the formulation of query terms is more difficult. However, the improvement in document relevance comes at the cost of increased search time, although this difference is quite small when the search is self-terminated. In addition, the advantage of the query reformulation seems to occur as a consequence of providing more discriminating terms rather than by increasing the length of queries.


Painless and painful patellar crepitation and patellar clunk syndrome represent a spectrum of peripatellar scar formation particular to posterior-stabilized knee components, although it may occur with cruciate-retaining designs as well. The formation of peripatellar inflammatory scar tissue is related to implant design and surgical technique, with microscopic and gross findings indicating varying degrees of inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia. These well recognized clinical entities have an incidence ranging between 1% and 5% in different series. The majority of patients with mildly painful or painless patellar crepitation will improve within 6 months to 1 year. In patients with more disabling symptoms such as catching, early intervention with open scar excision should be considered.


The elevation of serum or plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels is regarded as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and many previous reports demonstrated that Lp(a) levels in hemodialysis patients were significantly higher than in controls. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a pentanucleotide repeat polymorphism [(TTTTA)n] in the 5′-flanking region of the apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] gene and of a size polymorphism of apo(a) for elevated Lp(a) concentrations observed in chronic hemodialysis patients. We studied 172 patients on chronic hemodialysis and 199 healthy adults. For analysis of the pentanucleotide repeat polymorphism, polymerase chain reaction products were loaded on polyacrylamide gel for electrophoresis. apo(a) size phenotyping was performed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. The median level of Lp(a) in the patients was 14.2 mg/dl which was significantly higher than that in controls (12.0 mg/dl; p < 0.05). In the genotype of (TTTTA)8/8, the median Lp(a) level in the patients (15.9 mg/dl) was significantly higher than that in controls (13.0 mg/dl; p < 0.05). In the genotype of (TTTTA)8/8 with large-sized apo(a) isoforms (A16–A25), the patients had significantly higher Lp(a) levels than the controls (p < 0.05). In conclusion, increased Lp(a) levels in chronic hemodialysis patients were mainly attributed to the combination of eight repeats of the pentanucleotide polymorphism and large-sized isoforms of apo(a).


The present invention provides a ceramide production promoting agent and / or glucose ceramide generation method for producing a promoter, wherein the microorganism Rhodotorula (Rhodotorula) cultured in a medium containing saccharide and okara, supernatant from obtained in ceramide production promoting agent and / or glucose ceramide production promoting agent. The manufacturing method of the present invention can be utilized as the culture medium readily available materials and using particular microbe, to cheaply and efficiently obtain ceramide production promoting agent and / or glucose ceramide production promoting agent.


Lime hemp concrete is a sustainable building material that combines hemp shiv and building limes. The construction industry is responsible of the use of non-renewable materials, fossil, fuels, and cement, which produce high emission of carbon dioxide. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect mix composition and the size of specimen on the mechanical performance and weathering of hemp concrete. The compressive strength 7 days and 28 days of hemp concrete were measured. The results demonstrated that binder content, size of specimens and densities had a significant influence on the compressive strength at both ages. Additionally, the wetting and drying cycles had highlighted the influence of weathering experiments after 10 cycles of testing on mechanical and physical properties of hemp concrete.


The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in employees being exposed to transformational stressors from within and outside the organization. This has created an opportunity for employee mental health solutions. Indeed, there has been a rapid growth in start-ups offering clinical mental health services via a digital health platform. These platforms servicing enterprise employee mental health needs have not been evaluated with respect to their ability to enhance management communication. Hence, the aims of the present study are to explore communication and service attributes across a sample of five operational leading commercial start-up platforms for mental service delivery to employees. We have observed that all platform models focused on providing on-demand mental health consultation services. Existing platforms fail to adequately support management communication for mental health solutions across 80% of platforms reviewed. We recommend that industry start-ups should understand the need for management engagement with digital mental health platforms. Digital mental health platform solutions in the workplace are ideally supported by valuing leadership communication. A culture around mental health will create sustainability in digital mental health solutions for an organization.


Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS) varies both in terms of clinical phenotype and underlying pathology. Serial assessments allow greater understanding of the pathophysiology. The evolution of neurophysiological changes is particularly helpful in distinguishing between demyelination and reversible axonal conduction failure. Bilateral facial weakness with distal paraesthesias is a rare subtype of GBS. In the largest case series 64% had abnormalities in motor and 27% in sensory conduction on single neurophysiological assessments; this was interpreted as a demyelinating neuropathy. We report an 18-year-old male with bilateral lower motor neurone facial weakness preceded by distal paraesthesias following a 'flu-like illness. Examination of power and sensation was normal. Deep tendon reflexes were present. Cerebrospinal fluid showed albuminocytologic dissociation. By 6 weeks his facial weakness had almost completely resolved without treatment. Serial nerve conduction studies were performed. The first study (day 4) found prolonged distal motor latency and delayed F waves in posterior tibial and common peroneal nerves; normal sensory studies. Second study (day 18) found distal motor latencies and F waves had increased in upper and lower limb nerves. Third study (day 60) found improvement but abnormalities remained with changes similar to the first study. The neurophysiological changes became more marked while he improved clinically. These serial studies confirmed the primary pathological process of this GBS variant to be demyelination.


This research aims to develop Social Science Textbook teaching materials. The material teaching is developed in the form of social studies textbooks with the theme "Beautiful Togetherness" and appropriate based on student's expertise and readability as seen from the material or content, linguistic, presentation, and graphic aspects. This research is a research and development study with the design of analysis, planning, and developing textbook development. The feasibility of the expert test was carried out by material experts and media experts, while the students' openness test was carried out by the 4th grade students of MI An-Nuriyah from group A with a total of 36 students and 4th grade students of MI An-Nuriyah from group B with a total of 32 students. The ttechnique of Collecting data is done using a questionnaire. The method used to analyze data is quantitative descriptive analysis techniques by the distribution of five scales and the rating scale predetermined. Textbooks are well considered by material experts and media experts that has a minimum average score "enough" category. The text book feasibility test results the assesment Experts in the "good" category. Evaluation of textbooks by media experts are "enough" and "good" categories. The results of the textbook feasibility test by textbook students are categorized as "good."


The femtosecond temporal speckle field of a random medium is studied theoretically and experimentally. Femtosecond temporal speckle arises from the interference of multiple randomly scattered electric fields. The femtosecond temporal speckle field is measured with a cross-correlation frequency-resolved optical gating method. The spatial average of the speckle field yields a smooth transmitted profile. The speckle field is a circular complex Gaussian variable because the scattered light beams from different trajectories have no correlation with each other. The field and the intensity profiles of individual speckle spots fluctuate randomly in time. The ensemble average of the temporal intensity profiles converges, thereby yielding the photon travel time probability distribution function.


This systematic review reports on the association of the client-provider relationship with service outcomes across 3 service sectors: substance abuse, child welfare, and mental health. The review includes 60 research reports meeting inclusion criteria: 25 in substance abuse, 7 in child welfare, and 28 in mental health. For each social service sector, we analyze the association of the client-provider relationship to intermediate and ultimate outcomes. In addition, we examine potential moderating mechanisms of rater type (i.e., client, provider, and observer) and treatment setting (i.e., inpatient, outpatient, other). Social services research increasingly seeks to identify the active elements that affect outcomes common to all interventions. Results suggest the client-provider relationship is a consistent predictor of client retention in treatment and a somewhat less-consistent predictor of ultimate outcome across the 3 service sectors. These results contrast with recent findings from the psychotherapeutic literature in which the client-provider relationship demonstrated a weaker association with treatment retention (measured as drop out) than with other outcome measures. Findings indicate a clear need to refine the conceptualization and measurement of key service mechanisms and outcomes, particularly in the area of child welfare given that services research is less developed in that sector. The discussion includes recommendations for future research, including the use of selection criteria to enable researchers to conduct formal meta-analyses and expand the moderational framework with additional moderator variables relevant to social service delivery.


We describe the immobilization within the pores of a porous silicon photonic crystal of an enzyme degradable polymer network, for optical biosensing. A porous silicon (PSi) rugate filter is a one-dimensional photonic crystal with a high-reflectivity optical resonance that is sensitive to small changes in the refractive index of the pore space permeating through the structure. An enzymatically degradable polymer network was constructed by first "clicking" an antifouling copolymer, poly(oligo ethylene glycol-co-acrylic acid)-N3, to an alkyne functionalized PSi surface via copper(I)-catalysed alkyne–azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. MMP-2 or MMP-9 specific cleavable peptide sequences, with diamine functional groups, were then added, using a 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) chemistry to react with the acrylic acid group. The polymer network was completed by further attachment of a sacrificial polymer, poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate-co-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester acrylate). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and optical reflectivity measurements reveal successful modification of the PSi with the polymer–peptide network. Exposure of the biosensor platform to solutions of matrix metalloproteinases, MMP-2 or MMP-9, caused a change in the average refractive index of the photonic crystal, resulting in a discernible blue shift in the reflectivity spectra. The blue shift indicated the degradation of the polymer network within the porous network. Selective detection of different MMPs was demonstrated, via the use of different peptide sequences, which are selectively digestible by different MMPs, to link the two polymers.


Recently deeplearning models have been shown to be capable of making remarkable performance in sentences and documents classification tasks. In this work, we propose a novel framework called AC-BLSTM for modeling sentences and documents, which combines the asymmetric convolution neural network (ACNN) with the Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory network (BLSTM). Experiment results demonstrate that our model achieves state-of-the-art results on five tasks, including sentiment analysis, question type classification, and subjectivity classification. In order to further improve the performance of AC-BLSTM, we propose a semi-supervised learning framework called G-AC-BLSTM for text classification by combining the generative model with AC-BLSTM.


2464 Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, with cure rates of less than 15%. Even though most non-small cell lung cancer tumors express the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr), significant clinical responses to the specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) gefitinib are seen in only about 10% of NSCLC patients. This has led to some question as to whether the EGFr is even the target of these drugs in responding patients. In addition, even dramatic responders eventually relapse and the mechanism of acquired resistance is unclear. We evaluated the sequence of the EGFr in a patient who demonstrated a near-complete response to gefitinib after relentless progression through four chemotherapeutic regimens. This response was sustained for 18 months during which the patient had a completely normal quality of life before relapsing with rapid regrowth of tumor at one of the original sites of disease. A surgical biopsy was obtained from the tumor at the time of relapse and DNA and RNA prepared for analysis. The EGFr genomic sequence was aligned with the abl kinase domain in which point mutations have been identified as a cause for acquired TKI resistance in CML and exons analogous to those involved in abl TKI resistance were identified. This region of the kinase domain was PCR amplified and sequenced from tumor genomic DNA, and an in-frame 15-nucleotide deletion was identified within exon 19. This mutation was not present in somatic DNA and is expressed in RNA isolated from the tumor at the time of relapse. This mutation is predicted to result in the deletion of 5 amino acid residues within the drug-binding pocket and immediately adjacent to a key lysine residue known to be important for drug binding. We have cloned this receptor into expression constructs and are in the process of evaluating the functional consequences of this mutation in vitro. If this mutation is confirmed to underlie the acquisition of resistance to EGFr TKIs in additional patients, this finding will strongly support EGFr as the physiologically important target of gefitinib in patients with dramatic responses. Additionally, these data suggest that non-TKI EGFr targeting agents such as anti-receptor antibodies might be efficacious after acquired resistance to a TKI.


This article is concerned with nonoscillatory solutions of higher order nonlinear neutral differential equations with deviating and distributed deviating arguments. By using Knaster-Tarski fixed point theorem, new sufficient conditions are established. Illustrative example is given to show applicability of results.


The initial attachment, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of stromal cells from human fat tissue were investigated in three-dimensional nonwoven fabrics prepared from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber with different diameters. The largest number of cells initially attached was observed in the nonwoven fabrics prepared from PET fiber with a diameter of 22.0 microm, irrespective of fabric porosity. The number of cells attached was larger and the cells were distributed more homogeneously in the fabrics by the agitated seeding method than by the static seeding method. The culture method depended on the time profile of cell proliferation. Cell proliferation improved in the following order: stirred (spinner flask) culture method > agitated culture method > static culture method. In addition, cells proliferated homogeneously in fabrics by the stirred culture method. When evaluated as a measurement of cell osteogenic differentiation, the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was not influenced by the diameter of fabrics. The static culture method tended to enable cells to enhance ALP activity, in contrast with the stirred and agitated culture methods. It is concluded that fabric fiber diameter and culture method greatly affected the proliferation and differentiation of cells in nonwoven fabrics.


The tobacco-specific N-nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridinyl)-1-butanone (NNK), is a well-known carcinogen. Although the ability of the metabolically activated form of NNK to generate DNA adducts is well established, little is known about the cellular pathways perturbed by NNK in its native state. In this study, we utilized stable isotope labeling by amino acid in cell culture (SILAC), together with mass spectrometry, to assess the perturbation of protein expression in GM00637 human skin fibroblast cells upon NNK exposure. With this approach, we were able to quantify 1412 proteins and 137 of them were with significantly altered expression following NNK exposure, including the up-regulation of all subunits of the 20S proteasome core complex. The up-regulation of the 20S core complex was also reflected by a significant increase in 20S proteasome activities in GM00637, IMR90, and MCF-7 cells upon NNK treatment. Furthermore, the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) antagonist propranolol could attenuate significantly the NNK-induced increase in proteasome activity in all the three cell lines, suggesting that up-regulation of the 20S proteasome may be mediated through the β-AR. Additionally, we found that NNK treatment altered the expression levels of other important proteins including mitochondrial proteins, cytoskeleton-associated proteins, and proteins involved in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. Results from the present study provided novel insights into the cellular mechanisms targeted by NNK.


Abstract Religious educators commonly come to volunteer leadership roles from a sense of parental duty or as a form of service to the congregation, and lament the fact that while doing so they are missing out on the sermon and their own spiritual practice. This study contends that religious educators' volunteer leadership can, by design, be experienced as a spiritual practice in and of itself. In-depth interviews with religious education (RE) volunteers, following a two-year period of intentional focus on volunteer leadership as spiritual practice, reveal that key elements, purposefully introduced, contributed to fundamental shifts in taken-for-granted ways of viewing the religious education experience and acted as support for transformation. This study suggests that the practice of being mindful in approaching RE leadership as a spiritual practice not only gave greater meaning to volunteer roles but the effect often extended into everyday life.


Land-locked countries tend to have bottlenecks and problems of high transport costs, complicated cross border procedures, long distance and remoteness to the global market, and limited accessibility to the sea. Mongolia as a land-locked country recorded comparatively low economic growth rate in the 1980s and 1990s but it could obtain a new momentum of economic growth from the late 2000s due to a continual price increase of mineral resources and other export goods. However, high transport costs and low accessibility to the sea prevent Mongolia from diversifying its trading partners and export goods. This paper examines elemental factors of transport costs between Mongolia and trading partner countries through regression of transport costs, particularly using the ratio of cost, insurance and freight (CIF) amounts to free on board (FOB) amounts and container transport costs. This also scrutinizes the deciding variables of trade volume between Mongolia and trading partner countries by using the gravity model. In a transport cost analysis, transport costs of less than container load (LCL) cargo are affected directly by the distance of land transport and shipping transport, and common border sharing with Mongolia. The effects from the density of transport infrastructures in a transit country and a partner country which were thought to be decisive in the paper by Limao and Venables (2001) are not clear in the analysis. In the gravity model on trade volume between Mongolia and trading partners, decisive factors are Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a trading partner, and distance from Mongolia to trading partners.


Colonoscopy is commonly accepted as the procedure of choice for the detection and treatment of colonic lesions. The current study was undertaken to compare effectiveness and tolerance of different bowel preparations. Three hundred patients were randomized into three groups, to be administered either a senna compound, a polyethylen glycol lavage, or an oral sodium phosphate (NaP) solution. Tolerance of the preparation was considered. After each colonoscopy, the endoscopist blindly scored cleansing for each bowel segment and defined the quality of the examination as "optimal," "acceptable," or to be repeated. Significantly more patients in Group C (68%) achieved a "good" cleansing compared with Group B (50%;P < 0.0001) and with Group A (38%;P < 0.005). Sixty-three percent of constipated patients obtained a "good" preparation in Group C, which was significantly higher than in Group A (28%;P < 0.05) and than in Group B (42%;P < 0.02). Feasibility of the examination was considered "optimal" in 80% of procedures in Group C, which was higher than in Group A (59%;P < 0.005) and in Group B (62%;P < 0.005). The tolerance of preparation was "good" in 93% of the examinations for Group C. This prospective randomized trial showed good effectiveness of NaP solutions, with an optimal tolerance. Results of use of the NaP solution showed a clear advantage for constipated patients, with similar results for nonconstipated patients. The author believes that the NaP solution should be the standard preparation for elective colonoscopy.


For Eric Voegelin, the murderous ideological movements of the twentieth century epitomized human stupidity. The perpetrators of these crimes, however, were not stupid in the conventional understanding of the word. That is, stupidity is not merely a measure of synaptic activity. For Voegelin, stupidity pertains to the larger structure of human consciousness, which is why he argues that it had become "clear beyond a doubt that the center of a philosophy of politics [has] to be a theory of consciousness." The methodological paradigm introduced in the New Science of Politics was his first step toward this analysis of consciousness—an analysis that aimed to describe "the concrete human person, in the fullness of his dimensions, including the intellectual and spiritual." For Voegelin, a human being, in the fullness of his dimensions, does not live in a vacuum. On the contrary, his intellectual and spiritual existences are inextricably bound to the historical community in which he lives out his practical, political, and spiritual life. An analysis of consciousness is thus more than mere psychoanalysis— it is the beginning of political science because political regimes tend to reflect the predominant psychological type they harbor. In short, individual stupidity readily becomes collective stupidity.


Discovering proper search intents is a vital process to return desired results. It is constantly a hot research topic regarding information retrieval in recent years. Existing methods are mainly limited by utilizing context-based mining, query expansion, and user profiling techniques, which are still suffering from the issue of ambiguity in search queries. In this paper, we introduce a novel ontology-based approach in terms of a world knowledge base in order to construct personalized ontologies for identifying adequate concept levels for matching user search intents. An iterative mining algorithm is designed for evaluating potential intents level by level until meeting the best result. The propose-to-attempt approach is evaluated in a large volume RCV1 data set, and experimental results indicate a distinct improvement on top precision after compared with baseline models.


Buildings have become a key source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to the consumption of primary energy, especially when used to achieve thermal comfort conditions. In addition, buildings play a key role for adapting societies to climate change by achieving more energy efficiency. Therefore, buildings have become a key sector to tackle climate change at the local level. However, public decision-makers do not have tools with enough spatial resolution to prioritise and focus the available resources and efforts in an efficient manner. The objective of the research is to develop an innovative methodology based on a geographic information system (GIS) for mapping primary energy consumption and GHG emissions in buildings in cities according to energy efficiency certificates. The developed methodology has been tested in a representative medium-sized city in Spain, obtaining an accurate analysis that shows 32,000 t of CO2 emissions due to primary energy consumption of 140 GWh in residential buildings with high spatial resolution at single building level. The obtained results demonstrate that the majority of residential buildings have low levels of energy efficiency and emit an average of 45 kg CO2/m2. Compared to the national average in Spain, this obtained value is on the average, while it is slightly better at the regional level. Furthermore, the results obtained demonstrate that the developed methodology is able to directly identify city districts with highest potential for improving energy efficiency and reducing GHG emissions. Additionally, a data model adapted to the INSPIRE regulation has been developed in order to ensure interoperability and European-wide application. All these results have allowed the local authorities to better define local strategies towards a low-carbon economy and energy transition. In conclusion, public decision-makers will be supported with an innovative and user-friendly GIS-based methodology to better define local strategies towards a low-carbon economy and energy transition in a more efficient and transparent way based on metrics of high spatial resolution and accuracy.


Teenage pregnancy has been shown by many studies as a difficult experience, revealing consequences as family conflicts, violence against women, low self-esteem, stress and depression. The objective of this study was to describing the experience of unplanned pregnancy for teenagers. This is a qualitative study through interviews with 06 pregnant adolescents who attended at the Family Health Unit of the city of Juazeiro, Bahia, Brazil. The data were organized based on content analysis. The study shows that the experience of unplanned pregnancy is permeated by feelings of rejection and lack of support of the most significant figures for teenagers, parents and boyfriend. Given such circumstances, the teens decide to abort, even without knowing accomplishing it, as none of the interviewed succeeds in stopping. Health professionals need to be alert to the need to recognizing the group's vulnerability on unplanned pregnancy, for abortion complications and the risk of death. Nursing, especially, by acting in the Family Health Strategy, can perform actions and encourage health education.


The absence or presence of extremely wide binaries with a radio pulsar and an optical counterpart imposes a strong constraintontheexistenceandmagnitudeofkicksinsupernova explosions. We search for such systems by comparing the po- sitions of radio pulsars which are not known to be in binaries with the positions of visible stars, and nd that the number of associations is negligible. According to the performed popula- tion synthesis, this implies that kicks must occur, with a lower limit of at least 10 to 20 kms 1 . The single 13-th magnitude star at a distance of 4.9 seconds of arc from the pulsar PSR B1929+10 is a good candidate to be the member of such a wide pair. If it turns out that this pulsar is indeed the member of a wide binary or if another wide pair will be found in the future, the kick-velocity distribution must have a signicant contribution from low-velocity kicks.


Isoarborinol, an intact pentacyclic unsaturated alcohol, was isolated from the Messel oil shale (about 50 x 106 years old). Complex organic substances, even those very sensitive to oxidation, reduction, or acidic conditions, can thus survive without alteration for long periods.


In a large-scale construction project, the project manager needs to allocate many resources, including numerous workers, various kinds of materials, and a lot of cash. Therefore how to allocate resources and to control cash flow ahead of time is particularly important. The general contract and material price fluctuation make the project manager to take great risk. In this paper, we establish a two-stage stochastic programming model which takes price fluctuation, working capital and other necessary constraints into account. We employ a sample-based heuristic to study how price fluctuation affects the progress schedule of the project. We also conduct sensitivity analysis on the important parameters, including working capital and labor cost.


As computer hardware components are achieving greater speeds, network link bandwidths are becoming wider. A number of enhancements to TCP have been developed in order to fully exploit these improvements in network infrastructures, including TCP window scale option, SACK option, and Highspeed TCP (HSTCP) modifications. However, even with these enhancements, TCP cannot provide satisfactory performance in high-speed long-delay networks. As a means addressing this problem, gentle Highspeed TCP (gHSTCP) has been proposed in [1]. However, its effectiveness has only been demonstrated in simulation experiments. In the present paper, a refined gHSTCP algorithm is proposed for application to real networks. The performance of the refined gHSTCP algorithm is then assessed experimentally. The refined gHSTCP algorithm is based on the original algorithm, which uses two modes (Reno mode and HSTCP mode) in the congestion avoidance phase and switches modes based on RTT increasing trends. The refined gHSTCP algorithm compares two RTT thresholds and judges which mode will be used. The performance of gHSTCP is compared with TCP Reno/HSTCP and parallel TCP mechanisms. The experimental results demonstrate that gHSTCP can provide a better tradeoff in terms of utilization and fairness against co-existing traditional TCP Reno connections, whereas HSTCP and parallel TCP suffer from the trade-off problem.


The editors of this fine book are all from the Medical Proteome Center of Ruhr-University in Bochum, Germany. They have brought together experienced proteomics researchers to (i) address organizational and management aspects of collaborative, multidisciplinary research; (ii) authoritatively describe major technology platforms and bioinformatics methods essential for proteomics and peptidomics research; (iii) introduce less familiar assays, such as biomolecular interaction analyses and photonic microscopic robot technology for protein interactions; and (iv) identify potential applications to the discovery of biomarkers for patient stratification, earlier diagnosis, and targets for drug development. The key word is potential: there are very few examples of actual drugs whose discovery or development has already benefited from proteomics research. And few of the authors are from major pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies. In the Preface, the editors challenge their colleagues to conduct 5 to 10 independent repetitions of experiments in a field where "one-off experiments" are often published and coefficients of variation are rare. They draw upon the German and HUPO Brain Proteome Projects to illustrate the necessity for standardization of methods and data submission and the challenges of networking and building consortia. The newer MS instruments (LTQ-FT, Orbitrap, triple-quad) and targeted proteomics strategies (labeled Nglycosite peptides, MRM) have appeared since this book was planned and drafted; this situation is inevitable in a rapidly advancing field like proteomics technology platforms. Nevertheless, sample processing remains a poorly-controlled variable. The available methods only partially explore the complexity, let alone the functionalities, of tissue and biofluid proteomes. And the throughput for analysis is inadequate for clinical trial and epidemiological research. Many proteins have multiple, seemingly unrelated activities, with pleiotropic effects on phenotypes. Seven of the 17 chapters describe searches for drug candidates or biomarkers. Butt and Marcus boldly, perhaps exuberantly, state that "proteomics has entirely shifted the paradigm for drug discovery and novel diagnostics". That chapter describes 2-D PAGE + 32P-autoradiography + MS to determine substrates of cAMPand cGMP-dependent protein kinases and MAPK kinases affected by drugs that inhibit platelet aggregation. Drug candidates undergo modifications and have multiple actions, illustrated by leflunomide for rheumatoid arthritis using cell lines in vitro. Receptors and enzymes are the preferred drug targets, since they have routine, automated binding and enzyme inhibitor assays. Transport proteins, ion-channel proteins, and transcription factors require more complex assays. Other chapters examine resistance to mitoxantrone therapy in breast cancer MCF-7 cells, and markers for renal cell cancers. Altered ubiquitination is prominent in dilated cardiomyopathies with development of heart failure, and crystallins and tropomyosins are elevated in endomyocardial biopsies and serum of patients with acute rejection of heart transplants. With all the caveats, there is little doubt that understanding structure and function of proteins and their isoforms, identifying differential expression of proteins, pathways, and regulatory networks, and devising large-scale high-throughput proteomic analysis will provide a better basis for targeted therapeutics and more reliable detection of toxicities than has been the case with small molecule chemistry in recent decades. So far, genomics and transcriptomics have flooded the pharmaceutical industry with novel targets that have been difficult to validate in a disease context. Proteomics should help map the relevance of these targets. Meanwhile, proteins, humanized antibodies, and bioactive peptides themselves are major classes of successful therapeutic agents. A broad readership should find the book of interest. Perhaps the title would be clearer if it were "Development of Proteomics for Potential Applications in Drug Research".


We have found a case of somatic non-synonymous mutation of BAP1, substituting phenylalanine to isoleucine at codon 170 (F170I) out of 49 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCs) examined by Sanger9s direct sequencing. By in vivo Ubiquitination assay, deubiquitininase activity was suppressed in F170I, comparing with wild BAP1. BAP1 localization assay revealed that F170I mutant preferred to localize within cytoplasm although wild BAP1 mostly localizes within nucleus. Microarray analysis revealed that F170I has drastically altered gene expression profile. The following gene-ontology analyses indicated that expression of genes involved in oncogenic pathways has drastically altered by F170I. We have also found that BAP1 expression was depressed around 10% of ESCs examined by immunohistochemistry. It is interesting that nuclear BAP1-depleted cases have strong cytosolic expression of BAP1, instead. As nuclear localization of BAP1 is important in tumor suppressor function, BAP1 may be functionally inactivated around 10% of ESCs. Citation Format: Takahiro Mori, Makiko Sumii, Fumiyoshi Fujishima, Kazuko Ueno, Masao Nagasaki, Chikashi Ishioka, Natsuko Chiba. Somatic alteration and depleted nuclear expression of BAP1 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4955. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4955


Reductive aminases (RedAms) catalyze the asymmetric reductive amination of ketones with primary amines to give secondary amine products. RedAms have great potential for the synthesis of bioactive chiral amines; however, insights into their mechanism are currently limited. Comparative studies on reductive amination of cyclohexanone with allylamine in the presence of RedAms, imine reductases (IREDs), or NaBH3CN support the distinctive activity of RedAms in catalyzing both imine formation and reduction in the reaction. Structures of AtRedAm from Aspergillus terreus, in complex with NADPH and ketone and amine substrates, along with kinetic analysis of active-site mutants, reveal modes of substrate binding, the basis for the specificity of RedAms for reduction of imines over ketones, and the importance of domain flexibility in bringing the reactive participants together for the reaction. This information is used to propose a mechanism for their action and also to expand the substrate specificity of RedAms usin...


A robust design of a 3D-printed 6–18 GHz double-ridged TEM horn antenna is proposed in this paper. The designed TEM horn antenna has two parts: an adaptor and a horn aperture. The adaptor is realized using a double-ridged waveguide to extend the operating bandwidth of the dominant mode (TE10 mode). Meanwhile, the horn aperture section is implemented in an exponentially tapered configuration to match the impedance of the double-ridged waveguide with the intrinsic impedance. The performance of the initially designed antenna shows that the reflection coefficient and gain levels are less than −13 dB and greater than 5.5 dBi within the 6–18 GHz band, respectively. The initial design was well done, but the noise factors that may occur during the manufacturing process were not taken into account. To design an antenna considering these noise factors, the parameters of the initial design are optimized by a novel robust design method also proposed in this paper. The robustness of the antenna optimized by the proposed method is approximately 12.4% higher than that of the initial antenna. The validity of the proposed method was tested by fabricating the antenna. A prototype of the optimized antenna with the proposed robust design method is fabricated using a 3D printer with a stereolithographic apparatus attached, and the surface of the frame is covered by a nano-silver plating. The measured results of the fabricated antenna are in good agreement with the simulation results over the operating band. The measured −10 dB reflection coefficient bandwidth of the antenna can cover 6–18 GHz. In addition, the measured gain ranges from 4.42 to 10.75 dBi within the 6–18 GHz band.


When beta-pleated sheets pack face to face in proteins, the angle between the strand directions of the two beta-sheets is observed to be near -30 degrees . We propose a simple model for beta-sheet-to-beta-sheet packing in concanavalin A, plastocyanin, gamma-crystallin, superoxide dismutase, prealbumin, and the immunoglobin fragment V(REI). This model shows how the observed relative orientation of two packed beta-sheets is a consequence of (i) the rows of side chains at the interface being approximately aligned and (ii) the beta-sheet having a right-handed twist. The special amino acid composition of residues at the beta-sheet-to-beta-sheet interfaces makes the contact surfaces essentially smooth and hydrophobic.


The development of shock-capturing finite difference methods for hyperbolic conservation laws has been a rapidly growing area for the last decade. Many of the fundamental concepts, state-of-the-art developments and applications to fluid dynamics problems can only be found in meeting proceedings, scientific journals and internal reports. This paper attempts to give a unified and generalized formulation of a class of high-resolution, explicit and implicit shock capturing methods, and to illustrate their versatility in various steady and unsteady complex shock waves, perfect gases, equilibrium real gases and nonequilibrium flow computations. These numerical methods are formulated for the purpose of ease and efficient implementation into a practical computer code. The various constructions of high-resolution shock-capturing methods fall nicely into the present framework and a computer code can be implemented with the various methods as separate modules. Included is a systematic overview of the basic design principle of the various related numerical methods. Special emphasis will be on the construction of the basic nonlinear, spatially second and third-order schemes for nonlinear scalar hyperbolic conservation laws and the methods of extending these nonlinear scalar schemes to nonlinear systems via the approximate Riemann solvers and flux-vector splitting approaches. Generalization of these methods to efficiently include real gases and large systems of nonequilibrium flows will be discussed. Some perbolic conservation laws to problems containing stiff source terms and terms and shock waves are also included. The performance of some of these schemes is illustrated by numerical examples for one-, two- and three-dimensional gas-dynamics problems. The use of the Lax-Friedrichs numerical flux to obtain high-resolution shock-capturing schemes is generalized. This method can be extended to nonlinear systems of equations without the use of Riemann solvers or flux-vector splitting approaches and thus provides a large savings for multidimensional, equilibrium real gases and nonequilibrium flow computations.