Studies have shown that pre-moxibustion protects the gastric mucosa by up-regulating the expression of heat shock protein 70. However, the signaling pathway underlying this effect remains unclear. Rats were intragastrically administered absolute alcohol, causing obvious lesion of the gastric mucosa. Following pre-moxibustion at Zusanli (ST36) for 8 days, the ulcer index decreased to different degrees. The results of an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting showed significant upregulation of heat shock protein 70 expression in the gastric mucosa and serum. None out of transection of the spinal cord, damage to the nucleus of the solitary tract, neurotomy of the vagal nerve and neurotomy of the common peroneal nerve affected the decrease in ulcer index or the increase in heat shock protein 70 expression in serum after pre-moxibustion at Zusanli, and heat shock protein 70 expression was obviously decreased in the gastric mucosa. These findings suggest that pre-moxibustion at Zusanli can protect the gastric mucosa against lesioning, and that the mechanism underlying this effect involves its induction of heat shock protein 70 expression. Neural pathways participate in the regulatory effects of moxibustion on heat shock protein 70 expression in the gastric mucosa.


A rapid screening procedure was developed for detection of Escherichia coli mutants with altered adhesion abilities using polystyrene 96-well microtiter plates as attachment surfaces. During this assay, bacterial strains grew and adhered simultaneously, and attached cells were measured after crystal violet staining. Starting with a total of 7000 W3110::Tn10 insertion mutants of E. coli K-12 W3110, 50 adhesion-deficient mutants were isolated which showed less than 40% attachment, and 22 mutants were found with an attachment of 40-75%. Motility assays were performed on these 72 mutants, and 34 displayed altered motility.


Type-2 diabetes is characterized by impaired insulin secretion associated with excess glucagon release. Exocytosis of insulin- or glucagon-containing granules is initiated by Ca2+-influx through voltage-dependent Ca2+-channels and is modulated by the second messengers such as cAMP. Membrane capacitance measurements were used in this study to investigate the cellular mechanisms behind cAMP-regulated Ca2+-dependent exocytosis in pancreatic beta-and alpha-cells. In pancreatic beta-cells, the secretory granules have been demonstrated to co-localize with L-type Ca2+-channels. Experiments using photorelease of caged Ca2+ revealed that exocytosis of insulin-containing granules requires an increase in [Ca2+]i with a Kd of 17 µM, which is most likely achieved in the vicinity of the Ca2+-channels. It was further proved that a close association between the alpha1c L-type Ca2+-channels and the secretory granules is a prerequisite for rapid exocytosis and ensures maximum usage of Ca2+ influx in a cell with few Ca2+-channels (~500) as is the case in the beta-cell. Pharmacologically, L-type Ca2+-channels are suppressed by organic Ca2+-channel blockers such as dihydropyridines. Glacontryphan- M was isolated from the venom of Conus Marmoreus and was detected to reduce L-type Ca2+ currents and associated exocytosis. It was discovered that this novel antagonist needs the binding of Ca2+ to the Gla-residues for its function. Ca2+-dependent exocytosis in the beta-cell is enhanced by cAMP through both PKA-independent granular priming and PKA-dependent recruitment of granules from a reserve pool. This study revealed a concentration-dependent activation of the two cAMP-signalling pathways and that 5-fold higher [cAMP]i was needed for the PKA-independent mechanism. Interestingly, the sulfonylurea receptor SUR1 was required in the regulation of cAMP-stimulated PKA-independent exocytosis. This is an additional function of SUR1 apart from being a subunit of the KATP channel. Enhancement of exocytosis by cAMP in alpha-cells was discovered to involve similar mechanisms as in the beta-cell. In the present study glucagon was detected to elevate cAMP resulting in an enhanced Ca2+-dependent exocytotic response by binding to the glucagon-receptors in the plasma membrane of the alpha-cell. The stimulatory effect of glucagon was mainly mediated by PKA-dependent mechanisms, possibly due to the inability of glucagon to elevate [cAMP]i to the sufficient level needed for activation of the PKA-independent pathway.


Summary: Bilateral facial paralysis is a challenging situation requiring complex management. Surgical treatment can include nerve transfers, mainly masseter-to-facial, or muscle transfers, gracilis free flap, or temporalis transposition. Deciding on the surgical option depends on the duration of the paralysis and the feasibility of facial muscles. We present the case of a 10-year-old child with permanent bilateral facial paralysis after brainstem tumor surgery. The patient was treated with bilateral simultaneous hypoglossal-to-facial transfer followed by bilateral simultaneous masseter-to-facial 12 months later. After 23 months of follow-up and specific physical therapy, she has good and symmetric resting tone, complete eye closure, moderate bilateral smile excursion, mild lip pucker movement, and good oral competence. The combination of these two nerve transfers, when possible, gives the opportunity of restoring movement taking the best of each technique, with acceptable results and no significant clinical deficits in the donor sites.


Abstract It has been claimed that the success of minority language policy initiatives may only be achievable if at least some degree of 'tolerability' of these initiatives is secured among majority language speakers. There has, however, been little consideration in the language planning literature of what practical approaches might be used to influence the attitudes of majority language speakers towards minority languages, that is to 'plan for tolerability'. This article considers the approach taken in two recent television advertisements that address the attitudes and behaviours of non-Māori New Zealanders towards the Māori language. It begins by examining the discursive approach taken in these advertisements, the attitudinal messages they convey about the Māori language and the behaviours they propose for non-Māori New Zealanders. The article then discusses the responses of 80 non-Māori viewers of the advertisements, considering the extent to which they perceived the intended messages of the advertiseme...


Tube and fin heat exchangers using small diameter (≤5mm outer diameter (OD)) copper tubes are emerging as desirable alternatives to heat exchangers using conventional (≥7mm OD) tubes. Enhanced fins, having slits or louvers, have high heat transfer performance and are often used in tube and fin heat exchangers. Present literature lacks air side pressure drop and heat transfer coefficient correlations for these fin designs for tube diameters smaller than 5 mm. In this paper, the development of correlations for slits fins for tube diameters ranging from 3 mm to 5 mm. These correlations are developed following the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based methodology as outlined in the companion paper "CFD-Based Airside Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Correlation Development for Small Diameter (3 mm to 5 mm) Copper Tube Louver Fin Heat Exchangers". The correlation for the Colburn j factor developed in this paper reproduces 93% of heat transfer data, obtained through CFD simulations, within 85% accuracy. The Darcy f factor correlation reproduces 98% of pressure drop data, obtained through CFD simulations, within 90% accuracy. Using these correlations, a comparative analysis for slit fin and louver fin performance is undertaken. Performance trends with respect to different fin design parameters such as the number of slits/ louvers, slit height, etc. are addressed. The work also includes an investigation of optimal fin design for each of the fin types. These correlations, and the optimal fin designs, can be used to design air-to-refrigerant heat exchangers with tube outer diameters between 3 and 5 mm.


Work from a number of laboratories has indicated that the TATA box sequence can act as a basal promoter element not only for RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) transcription, but also for transcription by RNA polymerase III (RNAP III). We previously reported that, in the absence of other cis-acting elements, the canonical TATA sequence TATAAAAA specifically supported transcription by RNAP II in an unfractionated Drosophila nuclear extract, whereas the sequence TTTTTATA (the same sequence in reverse orientation) directed RNAP III transcription. We have now examined a variety of other TATA box sequences with regard to RNA polymerase selectivity and their ability to support RNAP III transcription. The results have allowed us to rank these TATA box sequences with respect to their relative strengths as RNAP III promoter elements in unfractionated Drosophila extracts. Further, the data indicate that T residues at positions 2 and 4 of the TATA box appear to be important determinants of RNAP III selectivity in this system, whereas A residues at these positions favor RNAP II transcription. Finally, the data suggest that transcription factors TFIID and TFIIIB, although both capable of binding a variety of TATA elements, have distinct sequence preferences for recognizing the TATA box and possibly the surrounding DNA.


This work is aimed at exploring and creating an appropriate approach in strengthening anti-money laundering regime in Indonesia. For structuring the legal framework of anti-money laundering, this work will embody the Pancasila values, such as justice, harmony (coherence and congruence), equality and civilised-based humanity. For visualising those objectives, this work will apply normative (statute and conceptual approach) and empirical legal research. In detail, this work will elaborate and discuss the history of Indonesian anti-money laundering, as well as compare the existing Indonesian money laundering regime and the Pancasila-based Anti-Money Laundering Regime. The comparison will be focused on the weaknesses and the strength of two regimes, by emphasising some relevant issues, such as validity, recognition, legal certainty, harmony, and justice. In addition, this work will discuss the approach to coherence the diametrical norms in between the existing Indonesian money laundering regime and presumption of innocence principle. In the end, this work offers a regulatory model that may accommodate various interests for justice.


We study the dynamics of a Bose-Einstein condensate trapped circumferentially on a ring, and which is governed by an interacting gauge theory. We show that the associated density-dependent gauge potential and concomitant current nonlinearity permits a ground state in the form of a rotating chiral bright soliton. This chiral soliton is constrained to move in one direction by virtue of the current nonlinearity, and represents a time crystal in the same vein as Wilczek's original proposal.


In this study, the applicability of cumulative damage law for carbon steel, STS410, was investigated. In addition, prediction method of low cycle fatigue life based on small crack growth was researched. First, low cycle fatigue tests under two step variable loading condition were performed for STS410. Variation of cumulative damage UF at failure fell within general variation range, 0.7 to 1.4. The relationship between crack length and UF was corresponded under different conditions. Crack distribution was also corresponded under different strain range conditions. Therefore, cumulative damage law is available to evaluate the fatigue life of STS410. Next, crack initiation, growth and coalescence behavior of STS410 were modeled, and Monte Carlo simulation was carried out. Fatigue life and crack growth of simulation under strain range constant condition were similar to those of experimental results. In the case of two step loading simulation, simulation results show that UF at failure fell within variation range of strain range constant simulation. These results corresponded to experimental results. Crack length and distribution of simulation also corresponded to those of experiment. Therefore, good agreement can be seen in experiment and simulation, so low cycle fatigue lives of strain range constant and variable loading condition are able to be predicted using present model.


The loss of b-cell function and b-cell death is key feature of type 2 diabetes (T2M). Different hypothesis is presented to contribute to this disease including amyloid formation by the human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP). Despite the prevalence of T2M on the world, there are no therapeutic strategies for the treatment or prevention of amylin amyloidosis. Clinical trials and population studies indicate the healthy virtues of the Mediterranean diet especially the extra virgin olive oil enriched in phenolic compounds showed to be effective against several aging and lifestyle diseases including their action in relation of amyloid deposits related diseases. For this, oleuropein (Ole) one of the most abundant polyphenol in EVOOO, which has been reported to be also anti-diabetic, and some of its main derivatives, have attracted our interest due to their multitarget effects including the interference with amyloid aggregation path. However, the structure- function relationship of polyphenols Ole and its metabolites in T2DM are not yet clear.
We report here a broad biophysical approach and cell biology techniques that enabled us to characterize the different molecular mechanisms by which tyrosol (TYR), hydroxytyrol (HT), oleuropein (Ole) and oleuropein aglycone (OleA) modulate the hIAPP fibrillation in vitro and their effect on cell cytotoxicity. The latter formed by enolic acid and hydroxytyrosol moiety was found to be more active than the Ole and HT at low micromolar concentrations. We further demonstrated that OleA inhibits more the cytotoxicity induced by hIAPP aggerates by protecting more the cell membrane from permeabilization and then from death. These finding highlight the benefits to consume olive oils, the great potential of EVOO polyphenols, mainly OleA, and support for the possibility to validate and optimize their possible pharmacological use not only for T2DM prevention and therapy but also for amyloid related diseases.


Research efforts have supported the need for multi-dimensional reporting that comprises of financial, nonfinancial, social and environmental components. This paper investigates the readiness of Nigeria to adopt Integrated Reporting (IR) by evaluating the level of compliance of the annual reports of quoted companies in Nigeria to IR framework as developed by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC). A total of 90 companies from 170 quoted companies on Nigeria Stock Exchange were selected based on the criteria that the companies had available annual reports for the period 2013-2017, these companies had neither been delisted nor merged with other companies during the period of study. The annual reports of the selected 90 quoted companies from 2013-2017 were content analysed using the disclosure index developed by Kilic and Kuzey (2018) to measure the IR Disclosure Score (IRDS) of each of the sampled companies. It was found that Nigerian listed companies' reports comply with about 75% of the IR framework requirements. The most compliant companies were in the financial sector, followed by manufacturing, extractive and other sectors. The least disclosed IR content element in all the sectors was performance. Companies were not able to articulate the extent which the objectives of the organisation was achieved using key performance indicators (KPIs) especially the connectivity between financial and non-financial performance disclosures. In order to drive IR adoption, regulatory authorities such as the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) should provide needed support in the area of technical and infrastructural resources which would encourage early adoption of the IR framework in Nigeria.


Codebook-based multiple input multiple output (MIMO) beamforming can significantly improve the system spectral efficiency with limited feedback and gets widely adopted. However, this scheme has a drawback of heavy feedback load that the sum feedback rate can be a bottleneck for the communication system, especially when the number of users is large. In this paper, a new scheme using pseudo-random beamforming vectors and angle based threshold in the feedback process is proposed. In the proposed scheme, both the base-station and the users have no need to store a codebook. In each access procedure, the base-station generates a pseudo-random beamforming vector, and each user calculates the angle between the beamforming vectors and its channel state information (CSI) vector. If the angle is less than a predefined angle-threshold, the user feeds back its channel quality indicators (CQI), otherwise it keep silence. Compared with the codebook based scheme, the proposed scheme can largely reduce the sum feedback rate with negligible throughput loss. In particular, when the system has a constraint on the total sum feedback rate in uplink channel, the proposed scheme can increase the system throughput significantly.


: Seventy-seven patients with soft tissue sporting injuries were studied in a double-blind, randomized trial comparing 400 mg fenoprofen calcium 3-times daily against 250 mg naproxen sodium 3-times daily. Assessments carried out on entry and after 7 days of treatment showed that both drugs produced significant improvement in pain at night, swelling/bruising, and pain and mobility. No significant differences in response were noted between the two groups. Both treatments were well tolerated and few drug-related side-effects were reported.


Heat is a form of energy and is required for the functions of different organs of the body. Every food stuff contain heat in the form of carbohydrates and glucose. The heat is released during the digestion of food stuffs (calorific value of food) taken by human beings and animals. Even when we are sleeping heart and lungs are functioning using the help of heat delivered by the food stuff. Heat is the cause and the temperature is the effect. Temperature can be measured with thermometer. Heat cannot be measured directly and is sensed by touching. For the survival human beings and animals, the maintenance of the temperature is a must. Excess of body temperature causes fever(caused by virus)and deficiency of body temperature causes fits(body shivering). There is a mechanism called hypothalamus in brain which regulates the temperature properly. In this paper we have discussed briefly how the body temperature is regulated by different mechanism, variation of body temperature due to different factors and the reactions taking place in our body due to sudden change in temperature.


The complex dielectric functions of 6H–SiC for light polarized perpendicular and parallel to the optic axis c were measured using spectroscopic ellipsometry. The measurements were made on the (0001) and (010) surfaces of 6H–SiC in the photon energy range between 1.2 and 5.4 eV at room temperature. The measured dielectric-function spectra were fitted with a classical Lorentz-type oscillator model. The indices of refraction in the transparent region (E < 4.5 eV) were also analyzed using the first-order Sellmeier equation. From this analysis, we obtained the high-frequency dielectric constants e∞ of 6H–SiC as 6.59 for E ⊥c and 6.67 for E //c. Using the Lyddane-Sachs-Teller relation, we also obtained the static dielectric constants e s as 9.76 for E ⊥c and 9.98 for E //c.


A case of adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube that presented as a small mucosal papillary growth in a large, otherwise noncomplicated hydrosalpinx is reported. Computed tomography clearly delineated the mucosal tumor and characteristic unilateral tubular shaped adnexal mass of the hydrosalpinx which was easily distinguishable from ovarian cystic masses.


In this article we propose the adaptive learning algorithm of neural network with respect to a rapid temperature change of forecasted day. The proposed adaptive learning algorithm is used to shift the learning range of previous year of forecasted day. Therefore, the proposed neural network can be trained by using learning data, including the maximum temperature to be forecasted. The suitability of the proposed approach is illustrated through an application to actual load data of Okinawa Electric Power Company in Japan.


The paper describes the results of a ventilation study involving subsurface heat and moisture flow at Yucca Mountain (YM), Nevada. MULTIFLUX (MF), a fully-coupled, hydrothermal-ventilation model and software code is used to model the flow of heat, moisture, and air in a subsurface airway within the conceptual, high-level nuclear waste repository proposed to be built at YM. The hydrothermal-ventilation/heat flow model and software MF is a universal coupler that connects the heat and moisture transport calculations in two different domains: (1) the rockmass, with a NUFT-based NTCF model, and (2) the airway with the heat-generating nuclear waste packages, using a CFD model. Temperature, relative humidity and water condensate variations are analyzed in the emplacement drift, assuming air movement, to determine the conditions of the psychometric corrosion environment in the emplacement area. The calculation results show condensate formation in the cold drift section, and are found to be sensitive to choosing from two different CFD model configurations.


Osteonecrosis (ON) of the femoral head, without timely intervention, often progresses to debilitating hip arthritis. Core decompression (CD) with bone grafting was used to treat patients with early-stage ON. In 3 cases, intraoperative oxygen saturation, end-tidal carbon dioxide fluctuations, and/or vital sign fluctuations were observed during insertion of the graft, a mixture of bone marrow and demineralized bone matrix. In 1 case, continued postoperative pulmonary symptoms required admission to intensive care. In this article, we describe these cases and provide supporting evidence that they were caused by fat emboli secondary to forceful insertion of bone graft. We review the literature and present complications data. Although no cases of fat emboli were reported as complications of any CD series with or without bone grafting, CD augmented with bone graft may carry risks not seen before in CD alone. Care should be taken to avoid these complications, possibly through technique modification.


Nowadays, high-bandwidth networks are more easily accessible than ever before. However, existing distributed graph-processing frameworks, such as GPS, fail to efficiently utilize the additional bandwidth capacity in these networks for higher performance, due to their inefficient computation and communication models, leading to very long waiting times experienced by users for the graph-computing results. The root cause lies in the fact that the computation and communication models of these frameworks generate, send and receive messages so slowly that only a small fraction of the available network bandwidth is utilized. In this paper, we propose a high-performance distributed graph-processing framework, called BlitzG, to address this problem. This framework fully exploits the available network bandwidth capacity for fast graph processing. Our approach aims at significant reduction in (i) the computation workload of each vertex for fast message generation by using a new slimmed-down vertex-centric computation model and (ii) the average message overhead for fast message delivery by designing a light-weight message-centric communication model. Evaluation on a 40Gbps Ethernet, driven by real-world graph datasets, shows that BlitzG outperforms GPS by up to 27x with an average of 20.7x.


Studies on patients with monosymptomatic optic neuritis (ON) should give opportunities to identify features typical for early multiple sclerosis (MS). There are increased T and B cell responses to the myelin components myelin basic protein (MBP) and proteolipid protein (PLP) in both ON and MS, but there is little information on the types of cytokines produced by such cells. We describe the use of in situ hybridization with complementary DNA oligonucleotide probes to detect and enumerate mononuclear cells expressing mRNA for the cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) which augments cell-mediated immunity; interleukin-4 (IL-4) which promotes the B cell response; and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) that in many cases downregulates immune responses. Expression of these cytokines was studied in mononuclear cells from peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with ON and MS after in vitro exposure to MBP and PLP, and in absence of antigen. There were elevated levels of cells that in response to MBP and PLP expressed IFN-gamma, IL-4 and TGF-beta mRNA in blood and further enriched in CSF in both ON and MS, compared to patients with other neurological diseases. The results suggest that IFN-gamma, IL-4 as well as TGF-beta are involved in both ON and MS, and that the cytokine profile in early MS as reflected by ON is not different from that in clinically definite MS.


Objective: To determine the age at the diagnosis of rickets in children in a tertiary care hospital of Karachi and to assess the association of age at the diagnosis of rickets with serum levels of vitamin D. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out from January 2016 to July 2017 on 240 patients >1 month to 36 months of age, both genders, admitted in the paediatric ward, Civil Hospital, Karachi for various reasons. Children having clinical signs suggestive of rickets were confirmed to have the disease by radiological evidence, raised serum alkaline phosphatase and reduced serum vitamin D levels. Children with rickets secondary to chronic diarrhoea, non-nutritional aetiologies and those taking anticonvulsants, corticosteroids, or vitamin D supplements were excluded from the study. Data was analysed using SPSS 16 for frequencies of age at the time of diagnosis of rickets and for classification of vitamin D levels into severely deficient, deficient, insufficient and normal. Association of the age at the diagnosis of rickets was tested with serum levels of vitamin D by applying chi-square test of independence. Statistical significance was considered at p-value <0.05. Results: Mean age was 6.2 ± 5.9 months. A total of 130 (54.2%) subjects were 6 months of age, including 84 (35%) 3 months. Serum Vitamin D levels were done in 210 (87.5%) cases. Total of 168 (80%) cases were either deficient [141 (67.1%)] or severely deficient [27 (12.9%)] in vitamin D while 42 (20%) had insufficient levels. There was significant association of age at diagnosis of rickets with serum vitamin D levels. Rickets was an incidental diagnosis in most patients. Conclusion: Nutritional rickets was most common in cases 6 months age with a sizable number 3 months. Vitamin D deficiency was the cause in all patients. Significant association was established between serum vitamin D levels and age at diagnosis of rickets. Most of the subjects remained unde-tected until they were investigated on basis of clinical suspicion.


Metal–organic materials that are constructed from polyhedral supermolecular building blocks, SBBs, can offer exquisite control over structure and afford useful features such as multiple cage types and relatively narrow pores. This contribution describes how a custom-designed porphyrin, tdcpp, self-assembles with M(II) (M = Zn, Cd) cations to generate the first examples of SBBs that are uniform polyhedra based upon a porphyrin molecular building block, MBB. The faces of tdcpp moieties link triangular M2(CO2)3 or M(CO2)3 moieties to form small cubicuboctahedral SBBs that are in turn fused to adjacent SBBs at the opposite face of each tdcpp moiety. The resulting high symmetry augmented pcu topology networks, MMPF-4 (M = Zn) and MMPF-5 (M = Cd), exhibit two distinct polyhedral cages and are permanently microporous with selective CO2 uptake.


We develop a new approach to measuring the correlation between the types of matched workers and firms. Our approach accurately measures the correlation in data sets with many workers and firms, but a small number of independent observations for each. Using administrative data from Austria, we find that the correlation between worker and firm types lies between 0.4 and 0.6. We use artificial data sets with correlated worker and firm types to show that our estimator is accurate. In contrast, the Abowd, Kramarz and Margolis (1999) fixed effects estimator suggests no correlation between types in our data set. We show both theoretically and empirically that this reflects an incidental parameter problem.


Voltage source back-to-back power converters are widely used in grid-tied applications. This paper presents a quasi-centralized direct model predictive control (QC-DMPC) scheme for back-to-back converter control without a dc-link outer-loop controller. Furthermore, the QC-DMPC is experimentally compared with a conventional proportional-integration (PI) dc-link controller-based DMPC (PI-DMPC) scheme. For the QC-DMPC scheme, the dc-link voltage is directly controlled by a grid-side predictive controller using a dynamic reference generation concept and load-side power estimation. For the PI-DMPC scheme, the dc-link voltage is controlled by an external PI controller. Both schemes are implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based platform. Effectiveness of the proposed QC-DMPC is verified by both simulation and experimental data. Moreover, FPGA implementation issues (resource usage and timing information), dc-link control performance, and robustness to parameter variation of the two DMPC schemes are compared in detail. The results emphasize that the QC-DMPC may outperform the PI-DMPC scheme in normal operation but with a slightly higher usage of FPGA resources. However, PI-DMPC scheme is more robust when parameter variations are considered.


The Green function formalism introduced by Keldysh for irreversible processes is applied to the calculation of the time-dependent charge exchange probabilities in scattering problems. Considering the initial state of two non-interacting subsystems described by an independent particle model, their interaction is taken in a first stage, as evolving in time according to a time-dependent Hartree - Fock (TDHF) scheme. The equations of motion for the two-times Green functions are subsequently obtained in Dyson-like form by including the residual electronic correlations expanded perturbatively up to second order. It is shown that, by solving these equations of motion, this in turn allows one to calculate the two-particle correlation functions at equal times, as required to describe the fractions of charge in each subsystem. This procedure contrasts with that of considering expectation values of the correlation functions taken between the corrected TDHF state up to an equivalent order in the perturbation. In order to test the advantages of this method we have applied this scheme to the scattering of an atom from a three-substrate atom chain described by an Anderson Hamiltonian, where comparisons with exact solutions can be easily established. We found that, in this case, the fractions of charges carried by the scattered particle obtained with our proposal compare fairly well with exact results, within an ample range of parameter selection.


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

Androgen receptor (AR) and β-catenin/TCF-4 signaling both play a critical role during prostate cancer progression to castration-resistance and cross-talk with each other. Therefore, identifying novel down-stream targets that are co-regulated by AR and β-catenin/TCF-4 signaling is important for understanding the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Robo1, a transmembrane receptor of Slit, is known for its roles in neurogenesis and angiogenesis. Previous studies have shown that Robo/Slits are aberrantly expressing in different cancers. We have shown that Robo1 is over-expressed in androgen-insensitive prostate cancer cell lines (C4-2B, PC3, 22RV1) compared to androgen-sensitive lines (LNCaP and LAPC-4), and absent in normal prostate epithelial cells. Androgen deprivation resulted in enhanced expression of Robo1 and addition of synthetic androgen R1881decreased Robo1 expression in LNCaP cells. In addition, Wnt 3A and 5A conditioned medium stimulation increased Robo1 mRNA expression in LNCaP cells. Inhibition of Wnt signaling by overexpression of secreted Wnt antagonists Wnt-inhibitory factor-1 (WIF-1) and Frzb/sFRP3 in two CRPC cell lines, decreased the expression of Robo1. Using GenBank and MatInspector software, we have identified potential binding sites for TCF-4 in the 5' flanking promoter region of the ROBO1 gene. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by real-time PCR analysis revealed that TCF-4 binds to the ROBO1 promoter at two predicted sites, and that WIF-1 and Frzb/sFRP3 expression inhibited its promoter binding. Overexpression of WIF-1 and Frzb/sFRP3 also inhibited the promoter activity of Robo1. Knock-down of Robo1 by short-hairpin RNA in PC3 cells resulted in dramatic morphological changes with increased cell aggregation and adhesion. Taken together, our results indicate that Robo1 is a co-target of Wnt and AR signaling. Further studies are in progress to define the functional role of Robo1 in CRPC.

Citation Format: Noriko N. Yokoyama, Zheng Sun, Toshinori Sakai, Bang H. Hoang, Xiaolin Zi. Robo1, a new target, by Wnt and androgen receptor signaling in castration resistant prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3883. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3883


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficiency of the Family Health Strategy in actions related to hypertension.

METHODS
Evaluative, cross-sectional quantitative research based on secondary data of 66 small municipalities located in the state of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil, with maximum potential coverage of 100% by the Family Health Strategy in 2007. Input indicators, products and results were evaluated. The municipalities' efficiency of services production and results production was compared through data envelopment analysis.

RESULTS
The municipalities were more efficient in services production (37.8%) than in results production (16.6%). Forty-one municipalities (62.2%) were inefficient in the services: enrolment in the Hypertension and Diabetes Information System, individual assistance and home visit for hypertensive users, and 55 (83.3%) were inefficient in the production of impact against hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS
The evaluation model used in this study proved to be capable of measuring efficiency in primary healthcare by evaluating the productivity of services and results.


This randomized controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of the nurse-led counseling intervention (NLCI) of postoperative home-based exercise training (HBET) on functional outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer (NDHNC). Forty NDHNC patients were randomly and equally divided into the control and intervention groups. Both groups received routine care, and were instructed to undergo a HBET program with 40 min moderate-intensity exercise 3–4 times per day for 12 weeks after their surgery. Only the intervention group received the NLCI with a bedside demonstration, coaching, consultation, and a weekly telephone follow-up. Shoulder pain (SP), shoulder disability (SD), and quality of life (QOL) scores were assessed using questionnaires at 2 weeks presurgery and at several timepoints postsurgery. Over the 12-week study period, all three scores remained relatively stable in the control group. By contrast, the SP, SD, and QOL scores significantly improved in the intervention group. The generalized estimating equation analysis revealed a significant time effect, group effect, and group–time interaction. The analysis of covariance revealed that all three scores significantly improved in the intervention group compared with those in the control group at 12 weeks postsurgery. We concluded that the NLCI of postoperative HBET improved the SP, SD, and QOL of NDHNC patients.


: Incompetence of the main bronchus within the first 3 postoperative weeks (early incompetence) is proposed as a criterion of efficacy of the main bronchus closure in pneumonectomy. The authors have performed 495 pneumo- and pleuropneumonectomies according to 5 original techniques. No cases of the main bronchus incompetence were registered. Indications to each of the bronchus treatment techniques are detailed.


of general issues The Panel recognised the very high quality of the research presented at the 2018 International Fisheries Stock Assessment Review Workshop. This included research on Southern African hake, sardine and rock lobster, as well as new methods for conducting stock assessments where the main data sources are indices of abundance and catch. The Panel thanked the workshop participants for their hard work preparing and presenting the workshop papers, for the extra analyses undertaken during the workshop, and for the informative input provided during discussions. This report starts with observations from the Panel on some general issues for the species and analysis programmes reviewed, and then focuses on answering the questions posed by DAFF Research, providing a more detailed technical review where necessary, and finally recommending further work concerning each fishery. The recommendations are annotated by their priorities (H, M, L). Much of this report reflects responses to the questions. For ease of reading, answers to the questions that also have research components are indicated by an asterisk.


Objectives : In order to study the anti-allegy effect of water extract of Lithospermi Radix on the B-cells from healthy Balb mice. Methods : The cytotoxicity of Lithospermi Radix was measured with the murine normal lung fibroblast cells by modified SRB assay. And the murine splenic B-cells was stimulated with anti-CD40 mAb and r U . The various cytokines related with allergy were measured by flow cytometry and by RT-PCR. Results : The anti-allegy effects to Lithospermi Radix were identified and observed. The cytotoxicity of Lithosptmni Radix on mouse lung fibroblast cells showed no significant activities. Lithospenni Radix had inhibitory effect on CD23, CD69 and IgE expression by Lithospenni Radix with anti-CD40 mAb plus rIL-4-stimdated murine splenic B-cells. Lithospermi Radix had inhibitory effect on cytokines (IL-, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, TNF-) by Lithospermi Radix with anti-CM mAb plus rIL-stimulated murine splenic B-cells. Conclusion : We concluded that Lithospermi Radix showed anti-allegy effect on murine splenic B-cells.


The work deals with the results of biochemical and angiographic studies in 26 patients with thromboembolism of the pulmonary arteries (TEPA) and pulmonary hypertension of various degree. Acute occlusion of the pulmonary arterial channel calls forth a response of the organism's humoral regulating systems. The degree of hypertension of pulmonary circulation in TEPA, which is determined by the volume of affection of the pulmonary vascular channel, is directly dependent on the functional activity of the adaptation system and the severity of disorders of the intra- and intersystemic connections.


ABSTRACT Born poor, the material and ideological networks that propelled Peter Abrahams to literacy in 1930s South Africa lay bare how white liberalism, Pan-Africanism, and Marxism all overlapped as well as contradicted one another in the global 1930s. The confluences and contradictions of these currents of thought, artistic production, and political action structure not only Abrahams's early life and writing, they haunt the Cold War-era writings which established Abrahams's international reputation, a treacherous era which saw many of his 1930s peers sink into impoverished obscurity. Abrahams's perduring reputation depended on his precarious ability to write and act from the ironic institutional conjunctures that brought together a fragile constellation of networks and positions, derived from the Popular Front politics of the global 1930s, teetering on the edge of collapse and mutual negation. Yet anachronistic readings of his political and literary entanglements, and a failure to take seriously the sites of his early literacy and youthful writings, have manhandled this fragility, overwriting as a watery liberalism his generative merging of Pan-Africanism and Marxism that remains relevant today.


The nation's not-for-profit voluntary hospitals--Catholic organizations among them--provide much more than acute, outpatient, and long-term care. They also provide a variety of services-including clinics for the uninsured, parish nurse programs, in-school programs for children--that reach out to people who are poor, vulnerable, and neglected. Unfortunately, this fact has not been communicated well. As a result, many people have a tendency to ask of these hospitals: "What have you done for me lately?" Voluntary hospitals should do more to communicate their community benefit activities to their various constituencies. Celebration should be the thrust--celebration of the hard work of physicians and staff and their dedication to the communities in which they live. If that fact is celebrated and communicated effectively, voluntary hospitals will find their communities celebrating with them.


Introduction Water is a vital component of animals and the main medium for biochemical reactions. Basically, water characteristics have a close relation to its molecular structure and it can be affected by external processing such as magnetic field. Some researches indicated that magnetized water resulted in better efficiency in agricultural products compared with the ordinary water. In animal husbandry, it has been reported that magnetized drinking water caused an increased production of milk, mutton, and wool in sheep and more weight gain in geese and egg production and hatchability in turkey. Several reports are available on the application of water magnetization including broiler production. However, some researchers reported that 500 Gauss magnetization for drinking water did not significantly affect performance of broiler chickens. The objective of this study was to scrutinize various aspects of magnetized drinking water in broiler chickens.
Materials and Methods A total of 150 male Ross 308 day-old broiler chicks have been assessed in 3 treatments and 5 replicates with 10 birds each. Ordinary drinking water was considered as control group. One minute magnetized water was the second experimental treatment and three hours magnetized water was the third one. Magnetized water was produced by a commercial magnet namely AQUA CORRECT with 0.65 Tesla (6500 Gauss) magnetic field. Magnetization process for 30 liters of tap water has been done daily by magnetic apparatus. These types of water were offered daily to the birds during 42 days. Each pen (1 m2) was equipped with a manual feeder and a manual drinker, and the floor was covered with clean wood shavings. A corn-soybean meal based diet was formulated to meet or exceed the nutrient requirements of all broiler chickens as recommended by Ross 308 broiler rearing guidelines. Drinking water and mesh feed were offered ad libitum throughout the trial. Lighting was continuous, and the temperature was 32°C during the first week and then gradually decreased to 24°C by the end of the third week. Chicks were vaccinated for Infectious Bronchitis on day 4 and Newcastle Disease on 4, 11, and 20 day of age. All data were analyzed using the General Linear Model procedure of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS). Tukey's Studentized Range (HSD) test was used to compare the means.
Results and Discussion Magnetized water resulted in more water consumption throughout the trial; however, feed intake and body weight gain have been significantly increased in the third group just in the starter phase. Feed conversion ratio, mortality, European production efficiency factor and bioeconomic index were not affected by experimental treatments. Magnetized water significantly increased the relative gizzard weight at 21 and 41 d. Also, spleen weight increased at 21 d and pancreas decreased at 41 d, but the other carcass parts were not influenced by magnetized water.
Conclusion All in all, magnetization of drinking water significantly influenced the broilers performance during starter phase and it seems that young chicks are more susceptible to magnetized water.


Culture is a way of life and embodiment of civilizations that is expressed through a language. The transfer of culture is a significant aspect of audio-visual translation as translators deal with more than just the written texts on surface level. Translating culture-specific items on paper cutting is an intercultural communication. However, translating cultural items in subtitling could cause challenges and problems for translators during the translation process. In this qualitative study, the translation strategies and challenges were explored in the subtitling of a Chinese cultural documentary on the art of papercutting titled The Life of Paper-cutting (剪紙人生; Jiǎn zhǐ rén shēng) retrieved from YouTube. The original video was subtitled to identify the challenges in subtitling. The strategies and challenges were first identified and then the process was described. It was found that the most appropriate translation strategies were omission, direct transfer, equivalence, and adaptation. The analysis revealed that the challenges were mainly technical, cultural, and linguistic. The findings can be used as a guide to utilise the translation strategies effectively in subtitling translations of similar audio-visual products to tackle the challenges faced in the Chinese to English translation of culture-specific items.


Two Biradiolites species described from the Yigeziya Formation of the southwestern Tarim Basin are revised. The Maastrichtian Biradiolites boldjuanensis is small and pipe-like species that is usually preserved as clusters or bouquets. Although it was considered to be endemic to Central Asia, similar specimens are abundant in Maastrichtian of other Tethyan regions. Biradiolites minor specimens have no relationship with the genus Biradiolites because their ventral and posterior bands are protruding ridges and interband is depressed broad groove. This species is comparable with the Campanian-Maastrichtian eastern Arabian species Glabrobournonia arabica, by the character of smooth outer shell layer in right valve, and simple radial bands and ridges on margin of each shell flank, but it differs from the latter species in size and the shape of left valve. This study will be a supportive tool for the establishment and reconstruction of the palaeogeographic connection between Central Asia and other Tethyan regions.


Abstract : Leaders in the U.S. Navy have recommended that the United States seriously consider the option of attacking Soviet ballistic missile submarines during the conventional phase of a major war arguing that in, so doing, the U.S. and its allies could gain strategic leverage over the USSR and aid in war termination on terms acceptable to THE U.S. and our allies. They argue further that antisubmarine warfare is small because what is happening ashore, not at sea, would dominate any Soviet decision to fire nuclear weapons. Critics of this policy in the U.S. have vigorously argued the contrary, asserting variously that: attacking Soviet SSBNs would produce little advantage because SSBNs make up only a small fraction of Soviet strategic forces; or the risk of escalation would be unacceptably high because the Soviets would feel significant pressure to rectify the NUCLEAR BALANCE with a counterforce strike ON THE U.S.. At its worst, critics argue, a calculated strategic ASW campaign by the U.S. would encourage the Soviets to attack preemptively because they would see it as little other than a precursor to a surprise U.S. attack on Soviet ICBMs and intercontinental bombers. This paper examines these and other arguments and presents his conclusions as to how they affect the conventional defense of Europe.


The vulcanized rubber waste from the shoe industry causes environmental damage when it is incinerated or inappropriately discarded, turning this into a problem of major concern. Therefore, this study had as the main objective the Polystyrene (PS) toughening using different contents of white vulcanized styrene-butadiene rubber (SBRr) waste produced in the shoe industry. The mixtures were initially prepared in a co-rotational double screw extruder and, thereafter, the extruded granules were injection molded. Analyzed were the rheological, mechanical, thermomechanical properties and morphology of the produced blends. The rheological results showed a viscosity increase as the SBRr concentration was augmented, leading to a higher stability when compared to pure Polystyrene. Verified was an increase of impact resistance of 189% to the blend that contained 50% of SBR rather than pure Polystyrene. On the other hand, the traction properties, hardness Shore D, thermal deflection temperature (HDT) and Vicat softening temperature of the blends tended to decrease when compared to pure Polystyrene results. However, as this SBR waste is made up of a complex mixture of SBR, filler, processing additions, curing agents and stabilizers, it probably acted in the sense of not causing such a drastic reduction of the properties, even using a high concentration of SBRr waste. The morphologies obtained with the SEM method (Scanning Electronic Microscope) were quite different and typical of immiscible blends. The results show that it is possible to obtain a new material with good properties, valuing a discarded industrial waste and avoiding environment aggression.


During their hospital internship, French pharmacists have many opportunities to participate in research activities, especially in post-doctoral work (DEA). We conducted a national survey among pharmacy residents and interns to ascertain their motivations before completing their diploma. Many (about 50%) considered their post-doctorate work as an initiation before starting their scientific profession. Other motivations were also noted. This study provides data for future comparisons.


Distribution and Transportation of Sand and Potential Sand Source Materials on Titan: Implications for the Geologic History Benjamin Dean Lake Department of Geological Sciences, BYU Master of Science Titan is an important planetary body for aeolian research because of the vast equatorial sand seas that span 20% of its surface. Previous studies have determined the general margins of sand and sand seas on Titan, and have speculated about the source of Titan's sand. Little research has been done concerning where sand collects in the sand seas. Additionally, the relationships between material distributions as observed by the Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) and the history of erosion and transportation of sediments across equatorial latitudes is not fully understood. This work focuses on an in depth evaluation of sand distribution and abundance across the sand seas, and presents evidence for an alternative sand source. This work also addresses a potential stratigraphy for the equatorial regions based on the excavation of materials from impact craters. We mapped the extent of relative sand abundances by comparing different Cassini image datasets, largely by mapping where the Imaging Science Subsystems (ISS) regions were darkest, indicating the presence of more sand. Our results revealed that greater abundances of sand accumulate near the eastern margins of sand seas. This is in agreement with previous studies that demonstrated general W to E transport, and fits a general model of sand transport across the sand seas to collect at the downwind margins, perhaps ahead of topographic obstacles that mark the eastern ends of the sand seas. Additionally, we found that the largest continuous expanse of abundant sand deposits lie across Belet, a large sand sea that occupies a broad equatorial lowland. Another sand sea of interest is Shangri-La, which has a recessed SE margin adjacent to the broad, albedo-bright depression Xanadu. We also found abundant sand deposits within Shangri-La across a corridor between highlands and along the SE boundary of the sand sea. Dune crest orientations across eastern Shangri-La indicate WNW to ESE transport in the region. We propose that the low topography of Xanadu, coupled with the strong gradient in albedo between Shangri-La and Xanadu would generate atmospheric disturbances similar to those responsible for transporting sand across positive changes in elevation on Mars, and may be responsible for the distinct boundary. VIMS-blue materials are generally associated with water ice mixed with organic compounds. We found that VIMS-blue surfaces across equatorial latitudes tend to be directly adjacent to and upwind of sand seas. This, coupled with geomorphological observations of erosional characteristics and examination of material properties, suggests that sand could at least in part be derived from VIMS-blue materials. We propose 3 environments (alluvial fans, dry lakebeds, and ejecta from impact craters) for sand production using this interpretation and making comparisons with SAR, ISS, and VIMS imagery. Modeling suggests that Titan's lithosphere significantly thickened 500 m.y. ago. We interpret an elongate exposure of VIMS-blue materials adjacent to Aztlan to be a rift caused by a thickening of the lithosphere, similar to many of the other icy bodies of the solar system. Our interpretation is further supported by the distribution of cryovolcanic features alongside the proposed rift. Anomalous VIMS-blue and bright regions within eastern Xanadu are distributed in a pattern that resembles a multi-ringed impact basin. Additionally, when a value threshold was applied to ISS imagery, a bright circular feature was revealed within western Xanadu. These observations suggest two large impacts may have been significantly responsible for creating Xanadu. Comparisons of impact crater models with VIMS imagery of Paxsi, Menrva, Sinlap, Selk, and other craters suggest alternating layers of VIMS-bright and VIMS-blue cover much of the equatorial latitudes of Titan. We completed ground penetrating radar (GPR) and global positioning system (GPS) surveys across margins of the Kelso Dunes to evaluate the effects of fluvial interaction on sand depth. Our terrestrial model was compared to sand seas on Titan that appear to also have interactions with fluvial channels. Distributions of sand suggest that in both the Kelso Dunes and on Titan, fluvial obstruction is temporary and on Titan isolated across small regions. This work leads to a better understanding of sand production, accumulation and transport on Titan and in sand seas in general, and reveals a basic stratigraphy of the equatorial regions of Titan. This region is of particular interest because it is the landing site of the Dragonfly mission, now in design.


This study aims to explain hudur al-qalb as a tasawuf psychotherapy method for mental health. As a literature research, this article will examine hudur al-qalb in the thinking of Sufi experts, such as al-Ghazali and Ibn al-'Arabi, and to what extent it can provide benefits in mental health, namely peace of mind and soul. This research has implications for efforts to cure mental stress by tasawuf psychotherapy. This research is qualitative in nature, namely it is carried out by collecting, analyzing, and interpreting narratives comprehensively on visual data to gain complete, comprehensive and holistic insight into the phenomenon of hudur al-qalb. The results of the study found that Hudur al-qalb is a condition in which the heart is awake, namely in a stand-by position. This vigilance keeps the heart in awareness, and of course in vigilance. This wakefulness keeps the heart in awareness and in 'mindfulness'. This condition leads to intelligence of mind, meaning of life, clarity of heart, as well as silence and reassurance of the soul. In addition, this condition can also eliminate mental anxiety and reduce negligence.


The Tembusu virus (TMUV) is an avian pathogenic flavivirus that causes a highly contagious disease and catastrophic losses to the poultry industry. The myxovirus resistance protein (Mx) of innate immune effectors is a key antiviral "workhorse" of the interferon (IFN) system. Although mammalian Mx resistance against myxovirus and retrovirus was witnessed for decades, whether or not bird Mx has anti-flavivirus activity remains unknown. In this study, we found that the transcription of goose Mx (goMx) was obviously driven by TMUV infection, both in vivo and in vitro, and that the titers and copies of TMUV were significantly reduced by goMx overexpression. In both primary (goose embryo fibroblasts, GEFs) and passaged cells (baby hamster kidney cells, BHK21, and human fetal kidney cells, HEK 293T), it was shown that goMx was mainly located in the cytoplasm, and sporadically distributed in the nucleus. The intracellular localization of this protein is attributed to the predicted bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS; 30 residues: the 441st–471st amino acids of goMx). Intuitively, it seems that the cells with a higher level of goMx expression tend to have lower TMUV loads in the cytoplasm, as determined by an immunofluorescence assay. To further explore the antiviral determinants, a panel of variants was constructed. Two amino acids at the 125th (Lys) and 145th (Thr) positions in GTP-binding elements, not in the L4 loop (40 residues: the 532nd–572nd amino acids of goMx), were vital for the antiviral function of goMx against TMUV in vitro. These findings will contribute to our understanding of the functional significance of the antiviral system in aquatic birds, and the development of goMx could be a valuable therapeutic agent against TMUV.


3D finite element analyses of a corrugated steel web girder and a steel truss web girder are conducted to investigate the static and dynamic behaviour of the hybrid girders. And the analyses results are compared with those by the equivalent beam theory. The equivalent theory is a theory that all section properties of a truss structure are replaced by section properties of a beam including a shear coefficient. When applying the equivalent beam theory, the shear coefficient of the corrugated steel web girder is estimated as the area ratio of flange section to web section and that of the steel truss web girder is calculated by the equation proposed by Abdel. Static deflections and natural frequencies by 3D finite element analyses and those by the equivalent beam theory are in good agreement.


Motor insurance is a very competitive business where insurers operate with quite large portfolios, often decisions must be taken under short horizons and therefore ruin probabilities should be calculated in finite time. The probability of ruin, in continuous and finite time, is numerically evaluated under the classical CramA©r–Lundberg risk process framework for a large motor insurance portfolio, where we allow for a posteriori premium adjustments, according to the claim record of each individual policyholder. Focusing on the classical model for bonus-malus systems, we propose that the probability of ruin can be interpreted as a measure to decide between different bonus-malus scales or even between different bonus-malus rules. In our work, the required initial surplus can also be evaluated. We consider an application of a bonus-malus system for motor insurance to study the impact of experience rating in ruin probabilities. For that, we used a real commercial scale of an insurer operating in the Portuguese market, and we also work on various well-known optimal bonus-malus scales estimated with real data from that insurer. Results involving these scales are discussed.


Tall cell (TCV), columnar cell (CCV), insular (IC), diffuse sclerosing (DSPTC) and solid/trabecular are uncommon subtypes of thyroid cancer, which have generally been described in case reports or small series in the world literature. Due to the rarity of these thyroid cancers, their clinical behavior remains incompletely understood. The aim of this review was to pool the currently available clinical information regarding these uncommon thyroid cancers so as to gain a better understanding of their clinical aspects and natural history.


In the context of the interconnected world of the information age, and demarcated by a virtual existence through the use of the Internet, decision-making has become even more dynamic. In an evolving era of virtuality, with special emphasis on the increasing role of mobile communication technology, it is indicated that decision-making has become fluid. As part of the phenomenon of fluid decision-making, not only is the evolutionary character of virtual connectivity acknowledged, but the ever-increasing and important role of mobile platforms is also emphasised. In a hermeneutical practical theology of lived spirituality, focusing on the praxis of everyday living, the possible role of spirituality in informing the fluid decision-making processes in a mobile virtual world was traced. A qualitatively inspired analysis, using data collected from various virtual forums, was proposed. In the description of these contours, special emphasis was placed on narrative-inspired biographical accents. The research made a contribution in terms of possible new articulations of the language of faith as embodied in fluid decision-making in a mobile virtual reality.


We examine the demixing transition in star-polymer-colloid mixtures for star arm numbers f=2,6,16,32 and different star-polymer-colloid size ratios 0.18< or =q< or =0.50. Theoretically, we solve the thermodynamically self-consistent Rogers-Young integral equations for binary mixtures using three effective pair potentials obtained from direct molecular computer simulations. The numerical results show a spinodal instability. The demixing binodals are approximately calculated and found to be consistent with experimental observations.


A two-dimensional study of a ship section forced to heave in open water and surrounded by plates representing ice have been performed. The setting is a ship moored in ice infested waters. The ice is modeled as a stiff rigid body and is not allowed to move or bend in any degrees of freedom nor modes. The distance between the ship section and ice have been varied and added mass and damping have been calculated in a frequency range including resonance. The investigation is carried out by means of model tests as well by a linear wave tank based on the boundary element method. In the study it was found that around resonance with ice present an abrupt and steep change in added mass occurs. In the numerical results for the case with two ice-floes the maximum values for added mass it is seen that it becomes larger from b = 0.01 m before it becomes smaller after b = 0.02 m. For the experiments with the same geometric set up the maximum values show a similar trend. The maximum values for added mass shows a growing trend from b = 0.01 m and peaks at b = 0.08 m and get a smaller value for b = 0.10 m. For the case with one ice-floe the same maximum values decrease a the ship section gets further away from the ice. The model tests show an discrepancy of when resonance occurs compared to the numerical simulation and difference in the maximum and minimum values. In general the numerical program predicts a higher added mass and damping compared to the model tests when ice is present. For the tests without ice present the numerical and experimental results correlate well.


A novel silicon-on-insulator (SOI) MOSFET with a variable low-k dielectric trench (LDT MOSFET) is proposed and its performance and characteristics are investigated. The trench in the drift region between drain and source is filled with low-k dielectric to extend the effective drift region. At OFF state, the low-k dielectric trench (LDT) can sustain high voltage and enhance the dielectric field due to the accumulation of ionized charges. At the same time, the vertical dielectric field in the buried oxide can also be enhanced by these ionized charges. Additionally, ON-state analysis of LDT MOSFET demonstrates excellent forward characteristics, such as low gate-to-drain charge density (< 0.6 nC/mm2) and a robust safe operating area (0–84 V).


Summary: Inhibition of quorum sensing (QS), a cell density dependent regulation of bacterial virulent gene expression by autoinducers (AI) is an attractive strategy for the discovery of novel antimicrobials and overcome antibiotic resistance. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1), an opportunistic pathogen in immune compromised patients is under the regulation of the LasR-RhlR system for its QS mediated development of virulence. Natural products have recently become a promising source for deriving molecules that can potentially inhibit quorum sensing.  Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants (HSMP) used in Hispanic cultures have been used for treating common ailments for many centuries. However, few studies have investigated its QS related antivirulent activities. Our objective was to determine the ability of 25 popular Hispanic HSMP on the expression of QS regulated virulence factors in PAO1. Effect of these extracts on QS mediated PAO1 virulent factors pyocyanin, elastase, and total proteolytic activity were quantified by standard protocols. Results indicated that several extracts reduced pyocyanin synthesis, with some extracts completely inhibiting its formation and secretion. The extracts that decreased the pyocyanin formation also decreased the expression and activity of elastase and other proteolytic enzymes important for the virulence. We observed that HSMP from Central/South American countries can inhibit QS dependent and independent virulent processes in PA-O1. Further research into the exact mechanism of action can lead to better understanding and discovery of new category of drugs and strategies for the management of PAO1 infections and antimicrobial resistance. Industrial relevance: Quorum sensing is an important process involved in bacterial survival and infections, recent research has focused on the development of therapeutic agents which prevent or manage bacterial pathogenesis by inhibiting bacterial QS. Inhibition of quorum sensing offers an alternative to antibiotic mediated bactericidal or bacteristatic approach and reduces the risk for development of resistance. Inhibition of bacterial quorum sensing by attenuating the signals can prevent the development of bacterial virulence and successful establishment of infections. Understanding the quorum sensing inhibition activity of natural bioactive phytochemicals can lead to the discovery of novel compounds and development of more effective strategies in preventing and managing microbial infections.


Pericardial defect is a rare anomaly that has a variable presentation. Prompt recognition and early surgical intervention are associated with a favorable outcome. The authors present an unusual case of unexpected fetal demise in a 31-week-gestational-age girl who had a large pericardial defect forming a constrictive ring around both ventricular chambers. The defect coexisted with pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis, an association that has not been reported in cases of pericardial defect.


We examine the issues that arise in extending an estimated-regression (ER) planner to reason about autonomous processes that run and have continuous and discrete effects without the planning agent's intervention (although the planner may take steps to get processes running). An ER planner is a classical planner that searches situation space, using as a heuristic numbers derived from a backward search through a simplified space, summarized in the regression-match graph. Extending the planner to work with processes requires it to handle objective functions that go beyond the traditional step count or cumulative step cost. Although regressing through process descriptions is no more difficult than regressing through standard action descriptions, figuring out how good an action recommended by the regression-match graph really is requires "plausibly projecting" the subtree suggested by the action, which often requires forcing actions to be feasible. The resulting algorithm works well, but still suffers from the fact that regression-match graphs can be expensive to compute.


With respect to the problems of aggregation about group experts' information and dynamic decision in DEMATEL(decision making trial and evaluation laboratory), a dynamic DEMATEL group expert decision-making method on intuitionistic fuzzy number(IFN) is presented. Firstly using IFN instead of original point estimates to reflect the experts' preference, the group experts' information are integrated horizontally at each period. Then the aggregation information at different periods are aggregated vertically again by dynamic intuitionistic fuzzy weighted averaging (DIFWA) operator so as to obtain the dynamic intuitionistic fuzzy DEMATEL total relation matrix. Thirdly, through the analysis of center and reason degree, the positions of the various factors in the system are clear and definite, and the inner structure of system has been revealed. Finally, the feasibility and practicability of the proposed method is shown through an illustrative example of a process of course selection in a school.


Audio tagging aims to identify the presence or absence of audio events in the audio clip. Recently, a lot of researchers have paid attention to explore different model structures to improve the performance of audio tagging. Convolutional neural network (CNN) is the most popular choice among a wide variety of model structures, and it's successfully applied to audio events prediction task. However, the model complexity of CNN is relatively high, which is not efficient enough to ship in real product. In this paper, compact Feedforward Sequential Memory Network (cFSMN) is proposed for audio tagging task. Experimental results show that cFSMN-based system yields a comparable performance with the CNN-based system. Meanwhile, an audio-to-audio ratio (AAR) based data augmentation method is proposed to further improve the classifier performance. Finally, with raw waveforms of the balanced training set of Audio Set which is a published standard database, our system can achieve a state-of-the-art performance with AUC being 0.932. Moreover, cFSMN-based model has only 1.9 million parameters, which is only about 1/30 of the CNN-based model.


In the era of endovascular repair of abdominal aneurysms (AAA) the use of traditional open surgical repair of AAA is declining. The preferred option for patients with AAAs who are young or have challenging anatomy that is not suitable for Endovascular repair is open surgical repair. Most Vascular Surgical units are familiar with the transperitoneal (TP) approach to AAA. Another useful approach to AAA is retroperitoneal (RP). Our unit has found RP a more suitable approach for repairing the AAAs with challenging anatomy and in patients with poor physiological function. RP approach provides excellent access to the juxta/supra renal aorta. In addition, patients undergoing RP have less post-operative morbidity and shorter hospital stay compared to those undergoing TP repair. Our unit recommends RP approach as the preferred option to repair AAAs unsuitable for endovascular repair. Given the relative lack of familiarity with this technique as it is not widely practised, we have described the technique/our experience and its advantages over conventional open surgery.


In this chapter, the hysteresis behavior of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) is investigated. Based on the interface slip state inside of CMCs, the hysteresis loops can be divided into four different cases. The relationship between the internal damage and the hysteresis loops of CMCs is established. Using the experimental hysteresis loops, the fiber/matrix interface frictional coefficient can be obtained. The mechanical hysteresis loops and the fiber/matrix interface frictional coefficient of SiC/CAS and C/SiC composites are predicted using the present models. When the fiber/matrix interface frictional coefficient decreases under cyclic fatigue loading, the fatigue hysteresis loops, fatigue hysteresis dissipated energy, fiber/matrix interface debonding, and slip all change. The fatigue hysteresis dissipated energy first increases and then decreases with decreasing interface frictional coefficient.


The next evolutionary step in human-computer interfaces will bring forward immersive digital experiences that submerge users in a 3D world while allowing them to interact with virtual or twin objects. Accordingly, various collaborative extended reality (XR) applications are expected to emerge, imposing stringent performance requirements on the underlying wireless connectivity infrastructure. In this paper, we examine how novel multi-antenna coded caching (CC) techniques can facilitate high-rate low-latency communications and improve users' quality of experience (QoE) in our envisioned multi-user XR scenario. Specifically, we discuss how these techniques make it possible to prioritize the content relevant to wireless bottleneck areas while enabling the cumulative cache memory of the users to be utilized as an additional communication resource. In this regard, we first explore recent advancements in multi-antenna CC that facilitate the efficient use of distributed in-device memory resources. Then, we review how XR application requirements are addressed within the third-generation partnership project (3GPP) framework and how our envisioned XR scenario relates to the foreseen use cases. Finally, we identify new challenges arising from integrating CC techniques into multi-user XR scenarios and propose novel solutions to address them in practice.


This paper presents a comparative study between four sensors constructed to determine benoxinate hydrochloride (BX) in the presence of its hydrolysis induced degradation product using different ion association complexes and plasticizers. Precipitation based technique was used for sensors fabrication. The BX complexes with the cationic exchangers; BXreinikate, BX- tetraphenylborate, BX-phosphotungestate, and BX- tetrakis were obtained in situ by soaking the PVC membranes in 1 x 10-2 BX solution. Dioctylphthalate and nitrophenyl octyl ether were used as solvent mediators. The proposed sensors showed fast, stable Nernstian responses across a relativelywide BX concentration range (5x10-5 to 10-1M) in the pH range of 4-6. The suggested sensors could be used for several weeks without any measurable change in sensitivity. They displayed good selectivity for BX in presence of its degradation product, common inorganic and organic species. The proposed sensors were successfully applied for the determination of BX in pure powder form and eye drops where good recoveries were obtained.


From 1982 to 1991, a total of 132 children with lymphogranulomatosis involving the mediastinum were studied. The comparative analysis of their survival was made on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings which might affect prognosis. Factorial analysis identified 9 unfavourable factors significantly influencing the survival rates. Their predictive value was defined from the informative rate (IR) and distributed in the following decreasing order: patient incompliance, Stage IV, the mediastinal thoracic index of more than 50%, the histological types: modular sclerosis and lymphoid depletion, the patient age of over 10 years, higher haptoglobulin and ceruloplasmin levels, leukocytosis (greater than 8 x 10(9)) g/l, diseases of the lung and pleura. The findings show it expedient to consider the above unfavorable factors in defining a risk group to apply a differential approach to treating patients with lymphogranulomatosis involving the mediastinum.


The eukaryotic mismatch repair (MMR) protein MSH6 exhibits a core region structurally and functionally similar to bacterial MutS. However, it possesses an additional N-terminal region (NTR), comprising a PCNA binding motif, a large region of unknown function and a nonspecific DNA binding fragment. Yeast NTR was recently described as an extended tether between PCNA and the core of MSH6 . In contrast, we show that human NTR presents a globular PWWP domain in the region of unknown function. We demonstrate that this PWWP domain binds double-stranded DNA, without any preference for mismatches or nicks, whereas its apparent affinity for single-stranded DNA is about 20 times lower. The S144I mutation, which in human MSH6 causes inherited somatic defects in MMR resulting in increased development of hereditary non polyposis colorectal cancer , is located in the DNA binding surface of the PWWP domain. However, it only moderately affects domain stability, and it does not perturb DNA binding in vitro.


The Hartman and Hasher (1991) garden-path sentence completion task has been used in several studies to assess the efficiency of the deletion function of inhibition (e.g., L. Hasher, R. Zacks, & C. P. May, 1999 ), with results suggesting that younger adults are efficient at suppressing once relevant but no longer appropriate information, whereas older adults generally are not (e.g., M. Hartman & L. Hasher, 1991: L. Hasher. M. B. Quig, & C. P. May, 1997; C. P. May & L. Hasher, 1998). An alternative interpretation of patterns of access to relevant and no-longer-relevant sentence endings focuses on the difficulty of selecting final words for sentence frames and on integration effects in implicit memory (M. Hartman, 1995). This alternative is considered and found wanting on the basis of both new and old empirical data. On the basis of present data and related findings, it is concluded that the task does measure inhibitory efficiency.


Many recent content-based image retrieval techniques utilize relevance feedback (RF) from the user to adjust the system response to better meet user expectations. One school of RF-based methods uses a weighted Minkowski distance metric to assess similarity, and adjusts the weights to refine query response. A new method of estimating these weight vectors is presented which outperforms existing methods, particularly for the important case of limited training data. A new objective function is presented for an iterative optimization routine which more closely aligns optimization goals with true system goals. A new analysis framework is presented in the derivation of this technique which is useful for understanding the limitations of many RF methods.


BACKGROUND
The metabolic syndrome is a highly prevalent state affecting one in three US adults and comprises a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors. While metabolic syndrome is a proinflammatory state, there is a paucity of studies examining monocyte/macrophage phenotype in metabolic syndrome subjects. This was the aim of this study.

METHODS
Following informed consent, metabolic syndrome and age- and gender-matched healthy subjects (n=15/group) were recruited, and monocytes were obtained for phenotypic characterization of the classical M1 phenotype and alternative M2 phenotype. Biomarkers of inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP), and proinflammatory cytokines were examined.

RESULTS
Metabolic syndrome subjects had significantly higher waist circumference (WC), significantly increased systolic blood pressure, higher fasting glucose, triglycerides, and free fatty acids levels, and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels compared to matched controls. Also, CRP and endotoxin levels were significantly elevated in metabolic syndrome compared to controls. Metabolic syndrome subjects had significantly higher levels of the M1 phenotype and significantly decreased levels of the M2 phenotype compared to controls, even after adjusting for WC. Among the other biomarkers of inflammation, there were significant increases in the proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and decreased IL-10 in metabolic syndrome compared to controls. The M1 phenotype was significantly correlated to levels of CRP, endotoxin, MCP-1, and WC and negatively with HDL-C.

CONCLUSIONS
Monocytes from metabolic syndrome subjects display a proinflammatory M1 phenotype that could promote the increased cardiometabolic burden in these subjects.


Background Topical hemostatic agents are used when ligation, electrocauterization, or other conventional hemostatic methods are impractical. Because a hemostatic agent is a foreign body, it can cause foreign body reactions, inflammation, and infections that can interfere with the wound healing process. Therefore, we should select hemostatic agents after considering their effects on wound healing. Here, we compared the effects of hemostatic agents on wound healing in a rectus abdominis muscle defect in rats. Methods Twelve Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to creation of a 6 × 6 mm defect in the rectus abdominis muscle and divided into four groups: control group; group A, Tachosil fibrin sealant patch; group B, Surgicel Fibrillar oxidized regenerated cellulose; and group C, Surgicel Snow oxidized regenerated cellulose. For the histologic analysis, biopsies were performed on the 3rd, 7th, and 27th days. Results The foreign body reaction was the weakest in group A and most significant in group C. The inflammatory cell infiltration was the weakest in group A and similar in groups B and C. Muscle regeneration differed among periods. The rats in group A were the most active initially, while those in group C showed prolonged activity. Conclusion Tachosil and Surgicel administration increased inflammation via foreign body reactions, but the overall wound healing process was not significantly affected. The increased inflammation in the Surgicel groups was due to a low pH. We recommend using Tachosil, because it results in less intense foreign body reactions than Surgicel and faster wound healing due to the fibrin action.


Maternal vaccination provides a method for protecting the pregnant woman, fetus and neonate during a period when there is increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. A dynamic state of immune tolerance during pregnancy and the need to develop adaptive memory to a new foreign antigen-rich environment lead to windows of vulnerability to infection for the mother and neonate, respectively. Passive transfer of humoral immunity through the placenta and breast milk from the mother can bridge the gap in immunity for the neonate. Studies on boosting this natural process of antibody transfer have led to the recommendation for administering inactivated influenza, diphtheria, tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccines during pregnancy. Several new maternal vaccine candidates are on the horizon.


Breast reconstruction with autologous tissue has become an essential part of the breast cancer patient care algorithm, with the abdomen being the most common tissue donor site. However, within this field, the technology and surgical techniques available to the reconstructive breast surgeon have evolved over time. This review aims to summarize the literature surrounding current techniques in microsurgical breast reconstruction including the use of alternative, nonabdominal flaps.


Mitochondrial ORFans (open reading frames having no detectable homology and with unknown function) were discovered in bivalve molluscs with doubly uniparental inheritance (DUI) of mitochondria. In these animals, two mitochondrial lineages are present, one transmitted through eggs (F-type), the other through sperm (M-type), each showing a specific ORFan. In this study, we used in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry to provide evidence for the expression of Ruditapes philippinarum male-specific ORFan (orf21): both the transcript and the protein (RPHM21) were localized in spermatogenic cells and mature spermatozoa; the protein was localized in sperm mitochondria and nuclei, and in early embryos. Also, in silico analyses of orf21 flanking region and RPHM21 structure supported its derivation from viral sequence endogenization. We propose that RPHM21 prevents the recognition of M-type mitochondria by the degradation machinery, allowing their survival in the zygote. The process might involve a mechanism similar to that of Modulators of Immune Recognition, viral proteins involved in the immune recognition pathway, to which RPHM21 showed structural similarities. A viral origin of RPHM21 may also support a developmental role, because some integrated viral elements are involved in development and sperm differentiation of their host. Mitochondrial ORFans could be responsible for or participate in the DUI mechanism and their viral origin could explain the acquired capability of M-type mitochondria to avoid degradation and invade the germ line, that is what viruses do best: to elude host immune system and proliferate.


1830 For metastasis to occur, cancer cells must acquire the ability to invade and survive in circulation. Normal epithelial cells die via anoikis (detachment-induced apoptosis) when detached from the epithelial layer because they loose contacts of integrin receptors with proteins in the extracellular matrix. Metastatic cancer cells escape from anoikis by constitutive activation of signaling pathways downstream of integrin receptors which enables them to survive and even grow in circulation. p21-activated protein kinases (PAKs) have been shown to act in signaling pathways downstream of integrin receptors and are frequently elevated in protein and/or activity levels in breast cancer. To examine if elevated PAK-2 activity enables breast cancer cells to escape anoikis, we have generated Hs578T breast cancer cells with a conditionally active PAK-2 construct. Expression and activation of this PAK-2 construct increases PAK-2 activity levels in Hs578T cells, which contain low levels of endogenous PAK-2 activity. The elevated PAK-2 activity results in enhanced resistance to anoikis and anchorage-independent survival and growth of Hs578T cells. Expression and activation of the conditionally active PAK-2 construct also changes pro- and anti-apoptotic signaling pathways. Phosphorylation of Bad and ERK increases indicating enhanced cell survival and growth signaling. Levels of active caspase 3 and cleavage of the caspase 3 substrate PARP decreases indicating reduced pro-apoptotic caspase cascade signaling. PAK-2 itself is a substrate of caspase 3 and caspase cleavage converts the anti-apoptotic PAK-2 into the pro-apoptotic PAK-2p34 fragment. Interestingly, expression and activation of the conditionally active PAK-2 construct also decreases caspase cleavage of PAK-2 indicating that elevated PAK-2 activity interferes with its own caspase cleavage. It is suggested that elevated PAK-2 activity results in enhanced resistance to anoikis of breast cancer cells by stimulation of anti-apoptotic signaling and suppression of pro-apoptotic signaling including its own processing to the pro-apoptotic PAK-2p34 fragment.


Abstract The predictive relation between neonatal reactivity and 12-, 18-, and 24-month temperament was assessed for 22 appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA)/small-for-gestational-age (SGA) twin pairs. Neonatal reactivity included ratings of visual and auditory orienting responses to a bull's-eye, rattle, bell, voice, and face plus voice combined, as well as alertness. Infant temperament ratings were made of emotional tone, activity, attentiveness, and social orientation to staff during ageappropriate activities in the laboratory. There were no group differences in the neonatal or infant ratings. For AGA twins, a pattern of predictive correlations was obtained between neonatal reactivity and temperament at each age. A similar predictive pattern was not observed for the SGA twins. Group differences in rates of maturation related to stresses associated with intrauterine growth retardation influenced the significance of the neonatal variables for later temperament development.


Studies on the enzymatic inhibition of phenylalanyl-tRNAPhe and formylmethionyl-tRNAFMet binding to the ribosomes by defined tRNA fragments indicate that beside the anticodon the following regions of tRNA are important for ribosomal A-site interaction: the TppsipCp sequence, the CpCpA end, and hU loop. In contrast, binding to the ribosomal P site is not inhibited by the fragments of uncharged yeast tRNAPhe containing the hU or the TpsiC loop of the molecule. Comparative studies on the inhibitory effect of the oligonucleotides TppsipCpGp and UpUpCpGp indicate that the presence of the minor bases in TpsiC loop is not an essential prerequisite for the binding of tRNA to the ribosomal A site. Furthermore, evidence is presented that shows that the binding of the TppsipCpGp oligonucleotide to the ribosomes influences the ribosomal P site and increases there the efficiency of the codon-anticodon interaction. It is suggested that the TppsipCpGp binds to the ribosomal A site and competes there with the TpsiC loop of the aminoacyl-tRNA for the same binding site. A model for the interaction between tRNA and the ribosomal A site is proposed that involves partial unfolding of hU and TpsiC loops of the tRNA and, therefore, suggests the dynamic involvement of tRNA in protein synthesis.


Stimulated emission from gas discharge tubes built up of ceramic disc capacitors (C = 3 000 pF) separated by electrodes and having a central hole (discharge channel) has been studied. Nitrogen has been used as test gas. It is shown that the output power density is appreciably higher from this tube when fed by a high voltage pulse generator than from an ordinary straight tube with end electrodes. 230 kW pulses (superradiant mode without mirrors) have been observed from a tube 7 mm in bore and 102 mm long at at nitrogen pressure of 175 torr. The pulse duration is approximately 2 ns. It is further shown that the stimulated emission occurs during breakdown. In a similar tube with aluminium oxide discs (er = 8) instead of the disc capacitors, laser action has been observed at considerably higher pressure. In air at atmospheric pressure an output of 25 kW has been achieved from a tube 4 mm in bore and 102 mm long. The pulse duration is in this case approximately 1 ns.


High-energy electromagnetic radiation scattering techniques have been used to measure the structural differences between liquids composed of four different isotopes of methanol (CH3OH,CD3OD,CH3OD and CD3OH) at temperatures of 24.5 °C and − 80 °C. We measured the magnitude of the isotopic effect, which increases with decreasing temperature and comprises of both intramolecular and intermolecular effects. Intramolecularly, the C-O, O-H, and to a lesser extent the C-H bond lengths, shorten upon deuteration. Intermolecularly, the winding hydrogen bonded chain structure is affected significantly. The results show that hydrogenated simple alcohols are more disordered liquids than deuterated alcohols at the same temperature. Substitution at the methyl site is compared to substitution at the hydroxyl site and the effect is shown to increase more rapidly as temperature is decreased.


We describe a technique for bundled curve representations in parallel-coordinates plots and present a controlled user study evaluating their effectiveness. Replacing the traditional C^0 polygonal lines by C^1 continuous piecewise Bezier curves makes it easier to visually trace data points through each coordinate axis. The resulting Bezier curves can then be bundled to visualize data with given cluster structures. Curve bundles are efficient to compute, provide visual separation between data clusters, reduce visual clutter, and present a clearer overview of the dataset. A controlled user study with 14 participants confirmed the effectiveness of curve bundling for parallel-coordinates visualization: 1) compared to polygonal lines, it is equally capable of revealing correlations between neighboring data attributes; 2) its geometric cues can be effective in displaying cluster information. For some datasets curve bundling allows the color perceptual channel to be applied to other data attributes, while for complex cluster patterns, bundling and color can represent clustering far more clearly than either alone.


Despite their significant growth, Islamic banks only consider about avoiding riba, gharar, and maysir at the expense of maqasid al-Shariah. The banks are somewhat converged with their conventional peers. Consumers believed that the banks imitate their peers pertinent to the pricing calculations and product lines. Without effective measure, consumers may discern Islamic banks undermine their maqasid objective and continued critics of mimicking their peers are prolonged. Against this backdrop, this study examines consumer preference using a proposed index known as the Maqasid Consumer Preference Index (MCPi). Drawing upon the MCPi, the present study examines consumer preference for six Islamic banks operated in Malaysia to which Islamic home financing products are presently made available. Our data were drawn from valid 450 usable questionnaires. The results obtained report that six Islamic banks relatively have a moderate index. Of these, Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB) is ranked first, followed by Maybank Islamic, CIMB Islamic whilst Kuwait Finance House is ranked last. This work examines a new approach to measure consumer preference using the MCPi. Our contributions are confined to these particular factors – educating customer, establishing justice, and promoting welfare in the context of Islamic home financing in Malaysia. Future works may provide a different perspective on these interrogations by considering new dimensions to extend the findings. Despite this concern, the results obtained offer improved insights for bank managers to manage Islamic home financing products effectively.


A new Y-branch structure for dielectric waveguides is proposed and analysed using simple geometrical optics and beam propagation methods. It is shown both qualitatively and quantitatively that the proposed structure has larger branching angles but lower radiation loss than those associated with either conventional Y-branches or structures with antenna coupled and phase front accelerators. The optimal design parameters calculated by numerical simulations are in very good agreement with those found from the geometrical optics. The simulations also reveal that the performance is fairly insensitive to fabrication errors. >


Abstract Purpose To compare the spectral performance of four combinations of kVp available in a third generation dual‐source CT (DSCT) on abdominal imaging. Methods An image‐quality phantom was scanned with a DSCT using four kVp pairs (tube "A" voltage/tube "B" voltage): 100/Sn150 kVp, 90/Sn150 kVp, 80/Sn150 kVp, and 70/Sn150 kVp, classic parameters and dose level for abdomen examination (CTDIvol: 11 mGy). The noise power spectrum (NPS) and the task‐based transfer function (TTF) of two inserts were computed on virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) at 40/50/60/70 keV and for mixed, low‐, and high‐kVp images. Detectability index (d') was computed on VMIs and mixed images to model the detection task of liver metastasis (LM) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Iodine quantification accuracy was assessed using the Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSDiodine) and the iodine bias (IB). Results Noise magnitude decreased by −55%± 0% between 40 and 70 keV for all kVp pairs. Compared to 70/Sn150 kVp, noise magnitude was increased by 9% ± 0% with 80/Sn150 kVp, by 16% ± 1% with 90/Sn150 kVp and by 24%± 1% with 100/Sn150 kVp. The average NPS spatial frequency (fav) shifted toward higher frequencies as energy level increased for all kVp pairs. Lowest fav values were found for 70/Sn150 kVp and highest for 100/Sn150 kVp. The value of TTF at 50% (f50) shifted toward lower frequencies with increasing energy level. The highest f50 values occurred for 100/Sn150 kVp and the lowest for 80/Sn150 kVp. For both lesions, d' was highest for 70/Sn150 kVp and lowest for 100/Sn150 kVp. Compared to 70/Sn150 kVp, d' decreased by −6% ± 3% with 80/Sn150 kVp, by −11% ± 2% with 90/Sn150 kVp and by −13%± 2% with 100/Sn150 kVp. For all acquisitions, the RSMDiodine and IB were the lowest for 100/Sn150 kVp (0.29 ± 0.10 mg/ml and 0.88 ± 0.30 mg/ml, respectively) and increased when the tube "A" voltage decreased (2.34 ± 0.29 mg/ml for 70/Sn150 kVp and 7.42 ± 0.51 mg/ml respectively). Conclusion 70/Sn150 kVp presented the lowest image noise and highest detectability in VMIs of two small focal liver lesions. 100/Sn150 kVp presented the lowest image noise on mixed images and highest accuracy of iodine quantification in iodine images.


Modulation transfer function (MTF) is an important figure of image resolution of microchannel plate image intensifiers (MCPIIs). Dynamic MTFs of two Gen-II MCPIIs were measured under pulsed voltage operation (gated mode) using a narrow slit. The resolution determined by the MTF was calculated under various bias voltages and gate widths. Our numerical results show that with the increase of the reverse bias of MCPIIs, the resolution is improved rapidly below 40 V and then gradually decreased. With the MCP bias increased, both MCPIIs start to suffer rapid reductions in resolution at 800 and 750 V, respectively. The change of phosphor voltage has little influence on the resolution. The resolution declines rapidly with the decrease of the gate width below 20 ns but goes steady above 30 ns. We explored causes of these variations.