Schistosomiasis occurs throughout the developing world and remains a major public health problem in the poorest communities with enormous consequences for development. More than 200 million people are infected and this poverty-related disease is highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. The extent of the problem has long been neglected because the disease rarely kills and due to its insidious nature, signs and symptoms are taken seriously only after permanent impairment has occurred. Moreover; as many other poverty-related communicable diseases, schistosomiasis has been overshadowed by other health priorities. Today schistosomiasis control is a priority on the agenda of many governments, donors and international agencies. A momentum as well as an unprecedented opportunity do exist for cost-effective action. Importantly, the renewed impetus for schistosomiasis control throughout sub-Saharan Africa reinforces the need for operational research to improve our understanding of the disease. The strengthening of the national capacity in endemic countries, a greater commitment of governments and communities from these developing countries, and an efficient stakeholder coordination are vital for a successful and durable control. The paper highlights the current opportunities and challenge for schistosomiasis control for the 21st century. By working all together, we have a great opportunity to take up the challenge and to improve the health of the poor.


Background The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 aggravated already existing difficulties and added new challenges for students. Owing to the gap between needed and available psychological services, group interventions may offer a helpful strategy for student mental health promotion. Objective This study aimed to investigate the acceptability and feasibility of a 4-week online support group program designed for mental health promotion tailored to graduate students at a Brazilian public university in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2022 to June 2022). Methods Participants in the program took part in online support groups based on a pilot group facilitated by a trained clinical psychologist. Self-administered, standardized web-based questionnaires were assessed at the baseline (T0; before the intervention), postintervention (T2), and follow-up (T3; after 4-6 weeks) time points. We measured sociodemographic variables, treatment credibility and expectancy (Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire), satisfaction (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire), negative effects of the intervention (Negative Effects Questionnaire), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire–9 [PHQ-9]), and participants' quality of life (abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment). A 9–answer option questionnaire and open-ended questions also assessed the group's perceived positive and negative outcomes. Results The total sample comprised 32 participants. Most (23/32, 72%) were doctoral students. Credibility and expectancy scores were high. Participants' satisfaction (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire) with the program was high at the postintervention (T2) and follow-up (T3) evaluations (T2: mean 28.66, SD 3.02; T3: mean 27.91, SD 3.02). Most participants reported that they could learn from other participants' experiences (T2: 29/32, 91%; T3: 27/32, 84%) and felt encouraged to take better care of themselves (T2: 22/32, 69%; T3: 24/32, 75%). None of the participants reported that they had no benefits from the program. The PHQ-9 scores showed mild to moderate depressive symptoms (mean 9.59, SD 6.34), whereas the answers of 9% (3/32) of the participants to the PHQ-9 item 9 indicated suicidality at baseline (T0). Finally, the 4 domains of quality of life (physical: P=.01; psychological: P=.004; social: P=.02; and environmental: P<.001) showed a slight and statistically significant improvement at the postintervention evaluation (T0: mean 57.03, SD 15.39 to 59.64, SD 17.21; T2: mean 64.32, SD 11.97 to 68.75, SD 8.87). Conclusions Online support groups for the mental health promotion of graduate students are feasible and can be especially useful for universities with students allocated to different cities. They are also satisfactory and may positively influence participants' quality of life. Therefore, they can be considered a helpful mental health promotion strategy in the educational context. Further studies could evaluate these (or similar) programs under nonpandemic circumstances.


Hospitals should take an active role in promoting physical fitness, establishing a fitness center within the hospital complex and providing outreach fitness programs.


ment associated with "the" modern self? These questions hold important consequences for this book. Though Cocks is at pains not to see the Nazi notion of Volksgemeinschaft (national or racial community) as "just an artefact of a darkling German past" (13), The State of Health consistently sets "Germans" (as modern, individualist selves) in an uneasy tension with "Nazis" (modern, yet really unmodern, collectivists). Rather than explaining something, Cocks' idea of modernity just gets in the way; its telos makes the Nazi project appear doomed to fail from the start. "[M]odern habits of body, mind, self, and o/Others, even though not as manifestly powerful as Nazism at its brief and horrible zenith, certainly proved more durable in the end (271)." This point makes certain questions difacult to answer. "German tenacity in battle until the end of the war," in Cocks' reading, becomes principally an "expression of modern and material individual 'pride and self-assertion' (255)," as if Nazism never really changed anything at all. In light of much recent scholarship on the power and persuasion of the ideal of national community in the Third Reich (the work of Fritzsche, Kühne, and Wildt, for example), many historians will and this explanation less than convincing.1


Most of the traditional spectrum sensing methods consider only the current detected data sets of Primary User (PU). However previous state of PU is a kind of conditional probability that strengthens the reliability of the detector. Therefore, in the cross entropy spectrum sensing method, relationship of the previous and current spectrum sensing is considered to detect PU signal more effectively. But these cross entropy spectrum sensing methods only consider the ideal system. In other words, PU always occupy the channel during the same period. However, PU can occupy the channel either for a longer or a shorter period than the ideal case in the real system. For this reason, the spectrum sensing performance can be varied. In this paper, we propose the method that can maintain the performance of spectrum sensing in the real system and we confirm the results with the help of simulation.


The dynamic response characteristics of a carbon dioxide gas sensor were studied to determine the potential for application of the device to the kinetic assay of substrate(s) under pseudo first-order kinetics. The dependence of the time constant on the concentration of carbon dioxide was determined by using convolution mathematics to analyse potentiometric changes caused by abrupt alterations of gas concentration. The operational conditions of the CO2 sensor were optimised for the development of enzyme electrodes, so that the mass-transport phenomena occurring during the course of the enzymic reactions were enhanced. As a result, the kinetic analysis of substrate(s) was performed more rapidly (2-6 min), with greater sensitivity and with an improved detection limit (10-5 M). A kinetic reaction-rate method for the determination of aspartame in dietary foodstuffs is proposed as a rapid and inexpensive alternative to a classical high-performance liquid chromatographic method.


We investigate the effect of ram-pressure from the intracluster medium on the stripping of H I gas in galaxies in a massive, relaxed, X-ray bright, galaxy cluster at z = 0.2 from the Blind Ultra Deep H I Environmental Survey (BUDHIES). We use cosmological simulations, and velocity versus position phase-space diagrams to infer the orbital histories of the cluster galaxies. In particular, we embed a simple analytical description of ram-pressure stripping in the simulations to identify the regions in phase-space where galaxies are more likely to have been sufficiently stripped of their H I gas to fall below the detection limit of our survey. We find a striking agreement between the model predictions and the observed location of H I-detected and non-detected blue (late-type) galaxies in phase-space, strongly implying that ram-pressure plays a key role in the gas removal from galaxies, and that this can happen during their first infall into the cluster. However, we also find a significant number of gas-poor, red (early-type) galaxies in the infall region of the cluster that cannot easily be explained with our model of ram-pressure stripping alone. We discuss different possible additional mechanisms that could be at play, including the pre-processing of galaxies in their previous environment. Our results are strengthened by the distribution of galaxy colours (optical and UV) in phase-space, that suggests that after a (gas-rich) field galaxy falls into the cluster, it will lose its gas via ram-pressure stripping, and as it settles into the cluster, its star formation will decay until it is completely quenched. Finally, this work demonstrates the utility of phase-space diagrams to analyse the physical processes driving the evolution of cluster galaxies, in particular H I gas stripping.


This paper examines three different rationales that might influence a company's decision of whether to outsource particular information systems (IS) functions within a cross-cultural context. The first of these rationales acknowledges the systemic nature of the IS function i.e. that it is critical for various IS sub-functions and components to work together effectively for the overall IS performance. This perspective is new to IS outsourcing literature. We consider whether and how such systemic effects are factored into a decision to outsource IS sub-functions such as applications development and maintenance. In order to examine the importance of this new perspective, we contrast it with two established ones. The first of these assumes the outsourcing decision is based on a rational cost comparison, including production and transaction costs. The second assumes environmental forces frequently influence outsourcing decisions, as reflected in the opinion of influential stakeholders and the level of discretion in decision-making. This study also explores whether the relevance of determinants in IS outsourcing is influenced by cross-cultural dimensions. This is empirically examined using data from companies based in the United States and companies based in Germany. While cost factors and the opinion of external stakeholders are significant determinants of IS outsourcing for both countries, the countries differ significantly in how the systemic impact of an IS function and the systemic views of IS professionals are factored into the sourcing decision. In addition, the impact of outsourcing decision-making discretion was found to differ significantly between countries. These differences support our perspective that cultural dimensions, such as differences between the United States and Germany in the individualism-collectivism rating as well as in the legitimized bargaining power of labor interest groups, exert a moderating impact on a company's decision to outsource.


The obesity epidemic is a major health problem that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Gastrointestinal hormones have been increasingly understood to be an important element in appetite regulation. Several gastrointestinal hormones can contribute to obesity by modulating the activity of the gut-brain axis. Bariatric surgery is currently the most effective therapy for significant and sustained weight loss in morbidly obese patients. Understanding how gut hormones are altered by bariatric procedures has contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms of appetite. In this review, we address several gastrointestinal hormones that are associated with obesity and consider how their levels are altered after bariatric surgery. The review also addresses specific effects of different gut hormones on appetite, hunger, and energy balance.


A total of 150 blood samples were collected from Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients who visited selected hospitals in Ebonyi State. The subjects were made up of 57 males and 93 female patients. The blood samples were screened for the presence of four human malaria parasites using parasitological examination of blood stained films and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Of the 150 positive individuals, 75(50%) blood samples were positive for malaria ( P. falciparum ). The comparison of blood films microscopy and PCR results were evaluated thus, 88 malaria positive cases recorded a prevalence of 58.68% for malaria parasites by PCR analysis while the overall prevalence of malaria infections by microscopy gave 50% prevalence. However, there were a number of disagreements in the identification of Plasmodium species by these two methods. Ten (6.67%) subjects were identified by PCR to be infected by P. malariae while blood film microscopy yielded 4(2.67%). Microscopy gave 70(46.67%) malaria positive cases of P. falciparum while PCR analysis yielded 75(50%). Two percent of the subjects screened were determined to be a mixed infection of P.falciparum and P. malariae by PCR while microscopy result revealed 0.67% prevalence. Therefore, PCR examination proves more sensitive than the parasitological technique used in malaria parasite studies.


Metabolic and therapeutic stress can simultaneously provoke both adaptive and apoptotic responses in cancer cells. The sum of these programmed signals determines the fate of the cell: cell death or cell survival. As the catalogue of defects in pathways that control apoptosis in human tumors is expanding, understanding the significance of the alternative stress fate, autophagy, has become increasingly important. High-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is a highly conserved nuclear protein, acting as an architectural chromatin-binding factor that bends DNA and promotes protein assembly on specific DNA targets. In addition to its intranuclear roles, HMGB1 was also discovered recently to function as an extracellular signaling molecule during inflammation, cell differentiation, cell migration, and tumor metastasis. Ethyl pyruvate was first identified as an experimental agent that ameliorated inflammation, significantly reducing circulating levels of HMGB1 in animals with sepsis. Similarly, glycyrrhizin was identified as a direct small-molecule inhibitor of HMGB1 release and activity. To determine whether inhibition of HMGB1 release sensitizes cancer cells to chemotherapy, we pretreated cell with ethyl pyruvate or glycyrrhizin. These inhibitors attenuated melphalan-induced HMGB1 release. Moreover, inhibition of HMGB1 decreased autophagy by microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) puncta and LC3-II/p62 levels assay, and increased apoptosis by flow cytometry and cleaved-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) assays in Panc2.03 and HCT116 tumor cells when treated with chemotherapy. To further characterize the role of HMGB1 release in cancer cells following chemotherapy, a target-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to HMGB1 was transferred into Panc2.03 and HCT116 tumor cells. Transfection of HMGB1-shRNA led to a significant decrease in HMGB1 protein as well as release in these cells. Depletion of HMGB1 by shRNA in these cells decreased autophagy and rendered them significantly more sensitive to melphalan-induced apoptotic cell death. Thust HMGB1 release links autophagy and apoptosis, and serves as a potential drug target for therapeutic intervention. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4854.


This research aims to find out the effect of using board game through TTW strategy on seventh grade students' writing skill in descriptive text. Quasi-experimental design was implemented to the seventh grade in one of junior high school. The subject of this study was the whole population of seventh grade students in junor high school, in total 81 students. The data collection was taken from pre-test and post-test. The average score of experimental group is 73.81, and the average score of control group is 57.46. Moreover, the hypothesis test shows that Ho is rejected because tcounting (5.71) is higher than ttable (2.31). In TTW strategy the students collaborate between three activities those are Think, Talk, and Write. TTW strategy is more effective becausethe students have enough time in learning process in a class. Additionally, the result of this study indicates that using board game through TTW strategy gives significant effect for developing English writing skill.


ABSTRACT Positive Exposure was founded in 1998 by award winning fashion photographer, Rick Guidotti. After years of working in high end photography, Mr. Guidotti developed the company to highlight the beauty in people with skin conditions that cause them to look different. Initially inspired by Albinism, Rick has broadened the scope of his project to include a wide array of individuals with a variety of skin conditions.


We consider tomographic image reconstruction from a limited number of noisy projections. An efficient algorithm based on maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) is developed to reconstruct images of multiple discs with unknown locations and radii. The algorithm is successfully applied to images with signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as low as 0 dB, using as few as 16 projections, and containing as many as twelve discs with widely varying radii. Experimental results show that our approach significantly outperforms conventional convolution back projection. The algorithm is successfully extended to the multiple ellipse case.


A new isopod species, Eonatatolana geisingensis gen. et sp. nov., is described from Middle Jurassic shallow‐water sediments of southern Germany. It shows not only the almost completely preserved dorsal morphology but, in addition, details of the cephalic appendages, the pereiopods, pleopods and uropods. The presence of ambulatory pereiopods I–VII of a wide tridentate mandibular incisor with prominently developed posteriormost tooth and a narrow frontal lamina indicates that the new species belongs to the subfamily Conilerinae of family Cirolanidae within the suborder Cymothoida. It is closer to the species of the modern genus NatatolanaBruce than to any fossil isopod hitherto described. The isopod fossil record as well as current practices of isopod taxonomy in palaeontology are discussed, and the facies distribution and fossilization of isopods is reviewed with examples from the Jurassic.


Because personal affluence and an alloplastic adjustment tend to go together, psychiatric treatment encounters special problems in trying to help the very rich. These patients frequently show a strong sense of entitlement and a denial of any psychological problem. This creates special treatment problems. They feel entitled to the "very best," which includes the "best doctor." If their psychological problems cannot be magically erased they will switch psychiatrists until they find the "right one." Part of this is a tendency to externalize their emotional problems. Problems are thought to be caused by the environment and not by intra-psychic conflicts. This encourages the therapist to make environmental changes to improve the psychological state. Other special problems that the very rich present include the V.I.P. syndrome, excessive concern with litigation, their excessive narcissim, and their original emotional neglect by their own parents. Many were raised by parent surrogates and have problems in self-esteem. All of these special problems make the very rich difficult to treat with psychodynamically oriented psychotherapy or psychoanalysis. There are some exceptions to this problematic picture in which psychiatric treatment of the very rich can work out very nicely for both patient and psychotherapist.


This paper presents a new real-time hierarchical (topological/metric) simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) system. It can be applied to the robust localization of a vehicle in large-scale outdoor urban environments, improving the current vehicle navigation systems, most of which are only based on Global Positioning System (GPS). Then, it can be used on autonomous vehicle guidance with recurrent trajectories (bus journeys, theme park internal journeys, etc.). It is exclusively based on the information provided by both a low-cost, wide-angle stereo camera and a low-cost GPS. Our approach divides the whole map into local submaps identified by the so-called fingerprints (vehicle poses). In this submap level (low-level SLAM), a metric approach is carried out. There, a 3-D sequential mapping of visual natural landmarks and the vehicle location/orientation are obtained using a top-down Bayesian method to model the dynamic behavior. GPS measurements are integrated within this low-level improving vehicle positioning. A higher topological level (high-level SLAM) based on fingerprints and the multilevel relaxation (MLR) algorithm has been added to reduce the global error within the map, keeping real-time constraints. This level provides nearly consistent estimation, keeping a small degradation with GPS unavailability. Some experimental results for large-scale outdoor urban environments are presented, showing an almost constant processing time.


The PCV (Piquet-Crinquette-Vilette) laryngoscope has been designed for use in difficult endotracheal intubation in the adult. Its blade, 170 mm long, is curved, narrow (12 mm internal diameter) and semicircular in cross-section, like a closed C. An 8 mm endotracheal tube can be pushed through this blade. There is a cold light source. The use of this blade requires a teeth protector. The epiglottis will be lifted directly, and the blade will be moved into the vestibule, stopping short of the vocal cords. The endotracheal tube will then be introduced into the laryngoscope blade which guides it in between the cords. Once the tube has been checked to be within the trachea, the laryngoscope is removed by sliding the blade backwards over the tube. The PCV may be introduced into the mouth either on the right, or on the left, or behind the molar teeth, or between two teeth. It can held with the handle horizontal in case of a prominent sternum. The limits of this tool are a mouth opening of less then 20 mm, and some rare predictable difficulties which require an X-ray assessment to determine the best intubation technique to be used. Of 115 patients with a predicted difficult endotracheal intubation, fifty were intubated with the PCV without any failures. Also, twenty-five patients, out of thirty, were successfully intubated with the PCV after an attempt with a MacIntosh blade had failed. Of these five failures, one was never intubated by any technique whatsoever, two were intubated by fibroscopy and two by the ENT surgeon.


The mutagenicity results and data for 42 chemicals are reported. All chemicals were tested using the Salmonella/microsome assay preincubation protocol, and four were also tested using vapor phase exposure in a desiccator. These comprise the chemicals studied in the update of the National Toxicology Program's evaluation of the efficacy of in vitro short‐term tests for detecting carcinogens and noncarcinogens.


In Transmitted Wounds, Amit Pinchevski explores the ways media technology and logic shape the social life of trauma both clinically and culturally. Bringing media theory to bear on trauma theory, Pinchevski reveals the technical operations that inform the conception and experience of traumatic impact and memory. He offers a bold thesis about the deep association of media and trauma: media bear witness to the human failure to bear witness, making the traumatic technologically transmissible and reproducible. Taking up a number of case studies--the radio broadcasts of the Eichmann trial; the videotaping of Holocaust testimonies; recent psychiatric debates about trauma through media following the 9/11 attacks; current controversy surrounding drone operators' post-trauma; and digital platforms of algorithmic-holographic witnessing and virtual reality exposure therapy for PTSD--Pinchevski demonstrates how the technological mediation of trauma feeds into the traumatic condition itself. The result is a novel understanding of media as constituting the material conditions for trauma to appear as something that cannot be fully approached and yet somehow must be. While drawing on contemporary materialist media theory, especially the work of Friedrich Kittler and his followers, Pinchevski goes beyond the anti-humanistic tendency characterizing the materialist approach, discovering media as bearing out the human vulnerability epitomized in trauma, and finding therein a basis for moral concern in the face of violence and atrocity. Transmitted Wounds unfolds the ethical and political stakes involved in the technological transmission of mental wounds across clinical, literary, and cultural contexts.


Electron microscopic examination of a lung biopsy obtained from a child in the active stage of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis disclosed prominent changes in the basement membrane of alveolar capillaries. Review of the pertinent literature showed that a structural defect of lung capillary walls in this disease has been proposed in the past mainly on theoretic grounds but not adequately documented at the ultrastructural level. Concentric multilayering of pulmonary capillary basal lamina, one of the changes observed in our material, is a rare phenomenon in this location, although one that has been well described in extrapulmonary microcirculatory beds and is probably a nonspecific reaction to vascular injury. The conceptual difficulties attending a definition of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis are breifly discussed.


The study was conducted to determine structural changes, ultrasound features and measurements of the ovaries from days 20 to 90 of pregnancy. Four crossbred pregnant dairy cows starting at day 20 post breeding were used in the experiment. Bmode ultrasonography of the ovaries was conducted per rectum. Ultrasound densities were classified into hypoechoic, hyperechoic and anechoic. Upon diagnosis of pregnancy, ovaries were classified into ipsilateral and contralateral sides. Presence of wave-like pattern of increase and decrease in the number of subordinate follicles was observed on both ovaries, suggesting the presence of follicular wave development. Dominant follicle appeared as circular anechoic area that was observed in the contralateral ovary of some of the animals on days 27 to 33 of gestation. The corpus luteum appeared as a hypoechoic structure which usually dominates the ipsilateral ovary during the latter part of gestation. Subordinate follicles appeared as small anechoic areas that were usually located near the periphery of the ovary that changed in number during each examination. Both ovaries differ mainly due to the presence of large corpus luteum and several numbers of subordinate follicles and dominant follicle. Ovarian follicular cycle continues even after conception and both ovaries were in different stages of follicular cycle as suggested by different numbers of subordinate follicles during each examination.


With the increasing use of network of workstations (NOWs) as an alternative to huge parallel computers it has become essential to design high-performance interconnection networks for the communication between the nodes of these clusters. A large number of studies have been carried out to achieve this objective. Most of them propose a new technique that affects one of the parameters that characterize the interconnection network. These techniques are completely new or inspired in the techniques previously used in multiprocessor systems. The impact of the proposal is studied (in most cases using simulation), and an analysis is made of the effect of the new technique over the system performance versus those currently in existence. In this kind of study most of the network parameters are fixed and usually only a few parameters are varied. This paper presents a more general study of the interconnection network performance. This study consists in showing the effect of different design parameters over the network performance, and the interaction between them. This study would not be viable with the traditional techniques due to the number of simulations required. The alternative of the experimental design is used to carry out the study.


In this research, CERES-Maize crop model was calibrated, validated and evaluated for different maize hybrids under climatic conditions of Gonabad, east of Iran. For this purpose, an experiment was carried out based on a split-split plot randomized complete blocks design. Main factor consisted of three irrigation regimes (optimum irrigation, moderate drought stress, and severe drought stress), subplot factor included of four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 120, 180, and 240 kg/ha) and sub-subplot factor consisted of three maize varieties (DC 370, ZP 677, and SC 704). CERES-Maize model simulated maximum leaf area index of maize varieties with high precision. However, in most of situations predicted values underestimated as compared with actual values. In addition, the model predicted kernel yield and biological yield of three mentioned maize varieties, reasonably. Variations of kernel nitrogen yield of maize varieties under different water and nitrogen regimes were simulated very well by the model. Although, in most of treatments model data values were lower than measured data from field experiment. Model simulated the increases of water use efficiency due to decrease of water supply and increase of nitrogen application, reasonably. Yet, the model accuracy for prediction of water use efficiency of maize with increase of drought stress level was slightly decreased and deviation of the two data sets was increased. According to the results of this research, the CERES-Maize model could be suggested for decision making in maize production for climatic regions similar to location of this experiment.


Despite the proliferation and widespread usage of simulation games in the field of business education, the pedagogical value of this instructional aid remains unclear. The present study, using a controlled setting, sought to determine whether incorporating a business simulation game in a principles of marketing course improves the acquisition of marketing knowledge. The results suggest that simulation games are an effective means by which to improve quantitative skills but are not an effective means by which to improve the acquisition of applied or theoretical knowledge.


Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is used to measure the relative efficiency of the fourteen police precincts in Taipei city, Taiwan. Our results indicate how DEA may be used to measure these police precincts from commonly available police statistical data for the years 1994, 1995, and 1996. To sharpen our efficiency estimates, we use window analysis, slack variable analysis, and output-oriented DEA models with both constant and variable returns to scale. The problem of the presence of non-discretionary input variables is explicitly treated in the models used. Potential improvements in technical efficiency of police precincts are examined by readjusting the particular output/input indicators. The analysis indicates that differences in operating environments, such as resident population and location factors, do not have a significant influence upon the efficiency of police precincts.


ABSTRACT
 In this paper, we explored how vulnerable, immunocompromised groups and caregivers of the elderly experienced and perceived the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted remotely between the 5th andthe 18th of April 2020 in the three South African provinces hardest hit by Covid-19, namely Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. In total, 60 qualitative key informant interviews and one focus group discussion were conducted. Study participants expressed concerns for elderly people and people with underlying health conditions because of their increased vulnerability to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). People living with HIV expressed an increased fear of infection following the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa. The sidelining of healthcare services and stock-outs of medication proved to be an added concern in particular for vulnerable and immunocompromised groups. Overall, the data suggest that the fear of infection is ubiquitous for people who live in unstable environments such as overcrowded townships and informal settlements. Given the increased fears of infection brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, the mental health of vulnerable communities and those caring for them becomes an added burden for people living in unstable environments.


Since 1990, the California tribal casino industry has grown from a very small and insignificant industry to one with annual gross gaming revenues of about $7.5 billion per annum by 2009. Over this same period, Nevada's gaming revenues grew from approximately $5.0 billion in 1990 to $10.4 billion in 2009, having declined from a peak of $12.8 billion in 2007. Much of the recent decline in Nevada and especially Las Vegas can be attributed to the severity of the economic recession of 2007-2009. However, the major Northern Nevada destination resorts of Reno and South Lake Tahoe had experienced substantial slowdowns or contraction of their gaming industries since the advent of California tribal gaming in the early 1990s, as measured in a number of ways, including number of gaming devices, employment, and gross gaming revenues adjusted for inflation. Las Vegas, on the other hand, had experienced substantial real growth over this same period, until the Great Recession of 2007-2009, at which point it experienced a dramatic reversal of fortune. This analysis estimates demand relationships for gaming activity in the major tourism markets in Northern and Southern Nevada, by specifying a number of variables that relate to the demand for gambling in these markets as well as noting monthly seasonal shifts. It also examines the competitive links between the expansion of California tribal gaming and the Nevada casino industry's economic performance. Regression analysis is utilized to establish the relationship between the growth and expansion of tribal casinos in California and the expansion or contraction of gaming in Nevada's major regions of Reno, Lake Tahoe, and the Las Vegas Strip.


The choice of treatment for epilepsy patients relies on the identification and characterization of epileptic discharges and the type of epilepsy. The continued lack of a universally applied gold standard in presurgical evaluation has opened the ways to the investigation of new localizing and mapping tools in difficult cases including simultaneous EEG-fMRI, which can be used to map interictal and ictal discharges-related haemodynamic networks. The rapid increase in the literature on EEG-fMRI attests to its promised contribution in understanding of epilepsy-related and physiological networks of the brain. Its applications to investigate epileptic networks in humans have evolved since the
mid 1990's, and has yielded a better knowledge of the generation, propagation and particularly localisation of epileptic discharges, as well their interaction with the physiological and pathological brain networks. Here, we review the published literature to raise the awareness of different concepts pertaining to the applications of simultaneous EEGfMRI in epilepsy and discuss their potential impact on our understanding of epilepsy and its clinical management. We also describe our perspectives regarding possible future roles of the technique in epilepsy.a


Performance is an important aspect of software quality. The goals of performance are typically defined by setting upper and lower bounds for response time and throughput of a system and physical level measurements such as CPU, memory and I/O. To meet such performance goals, several performance-related activities are needed in development (Dev) and operations (Ops). In fact, large software system failures are often due to performance issues rather than functional bugs. One of the most important performance issues is performance regression. Although performance regressions are not all bugs, they often have a direct impact on users' experience of the system. The process of detection of performance regressions in development and operations is faced with challenges. First, the detection of performance regression is conducted after the fact, i.e., after the system is built and deployed in the field or dedicated performance testing environments. Large amounts of resources are required to detect, locate, understand and fix performance regressions at such a late stage in the development cycle. Second, even we can detect a performance regression, it is extremely hard to fix it because other changes are applied to the system after the introduction of the regression. These challenges call for further in-depth analyses of the performance regression. In this dissertation, to avoid performance regression slipping into operation, we first perform an exploratory study on the source code changes that introduce performance regressions in order to understand root-causes of performance regression in the source code level. Second, we propose an approach that automatically predicts whether a test would manifest performance regressions in a code commit. To assist practitioners to analyze system performance with operational data, we propose an approach to recovering field-representative workload that can be used to detect performance regression. We also propose that using execution logs generated by unit tests to predict performance regression in load tests.


This research was aimed at finding the cytotoxic potential of the mixed ligand copper(II) complex [Cu(tdp)(phen)](ClO4)—where H(tdp) is the tetradentate ligand 2-[(2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)-ethylimino)methyl]phenol, and phen is 1,10-phenanthroline—to two genotypically different breast cancer cells, MCF-7 (p53+ and ER+) and MDA-MB-231 (p53- and ER-). The complex has been already shown to be cytotoxic to ME180 cervical carcinoma cells. The special focus in this study was the induction of cell death by apoptosis and necrosis, and its link with ROS. The treatment brought about nuclear fragmentation, phosphatidylserine externalization, disruption of mitochondrial trans-membrane potential, DNA damage, cell cycle arrest at sub-G1 phase, and increase of ROS generation, followed by apoptotic death of cells during early hours and a late onset of necrosis in the cells surviving the apoptosis. The efficacy of the complex against genotypically different breast cancer cells is attributed to a strong association through p53-mitochondrial redox—cell cycle junction. The ADMET properties and docking of the complex at the active site of Top1 are desirable attributes of a lead molecule for development into a therapeutic. Thus, it is shown that the copper(II)–phenolate complex[Cu(tdp)(phen)]+ offers potential to be developed into a therapeutic for breast cancers in general and ER-negative ones in particular.


Background No single biomarker has yet been able to predict disease course in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However combinations of biomarkers and changes therein early during treatment may be predictive of later treatment response. Objectives Investigate correlations between early changes (Δ) in the validated multi-biomarker disease activity (MBDA) score and Δ in disease activity measurements – Disease Activity Score (DAS28-CRP), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) and C-reactive protein (CRP) – in early RA patients (the OPERA cohort). Methods In the randomized double-blinded OPERA trial, 180 treatment-naive patients were randomized to an adalimumab (ADA) group (oral methotrexate (MTX) in combination with ADA) or a placebo group (oral MTX and placebo-ADA). Intra-articular glucocorticoids were also injected into swollen joints (1). DAS28-CRP, CDAI, SDAI, and CRP were measured at baseline (BL) and at 3, 6 and 12 months. MBDA score, calculated based on serum concentrations of CRP, interleukin-6, chitinase-3-like protein 1, vascular endothelial growth factor A, matrix metalloproteinase 1 and 3, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, epidermal growth factor, tumor necrosis factor receptor type I, serum amyloid A, leptin and resistin, with a range of 1–100, was determined retrospectively at the same time points on banked serum samples (2). Correlations between ΔMBDA scores and Δ disease activity measurements were analyzed by Spearman's correlation coefficient. Results Patients had a median age of 55.2 (range: 18.7–86) years, disease duration of 84 (range: 42–214) days; 66% were female; 72% and 65% were RF and anti-CCP positive, respectively. At BL, median DAS28-CRP was 5.6 (3.3–8.6) and median MBDA score was 59 (12–90). MBDA scores were low (<30) in 8 (4%) patients, moderate (30–44) in 25 (14%) and high (>44) in 147 (82%) patients. There were no statistically significant correlations between BL MBDA score and other disease activity measurements at 3 or 6 months in the placebo or ADA groups. Median ΔMBDA scores from BL to 3 months (ΔMBDA score0–3m) and to 6 months (ΔMBDA score0–6m) were -16.5 and -20, respectively. Median ΔDAS28-CRP from BL to 6 months (ΔDAS28-CRP0–6m) and to 12 months (ΔDAS28-CRP0–12m) were -2.9 and -3.2, respectively. ΔMBDA score0–3m and ΔDAS28-CRP0–6m were significantly correlated in the placebo and ADA groups, as were ΔMBDA score0–6m and ΔDAS28-CRP0–12m. ΔMBDA score0–3m also significantly correlated with ΔDAS28-CRP, ΔCDAI, ΔSDAI and ΔCRP from BL to 6 months and from BL to 12 months (Table 1). Conclusions In patients with early RA from the OPERA cohort, ΔMBDA score from BL to 3 or 6 months were correlated with longer-term ΔDAS28-CRP, ΔCDAI, ΔSDAI and ΔCRP. Correlations were generally similar between treatment groups. References Hørslev-Petersen K, et al., Ann Rheum Dis 2014; 73:654–661 Hirata et al. Current Biomarker Findings 2015, 5:69–78 Disclosure of Interest C. H. Brahe: None declared, M. Østergaard Grant/research support from: Abbvie, BMS, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Merck, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Celgene, Sanofi, Regeneron, Novartis, T.Jensen, J. Johansen: None declared, N. Defranoux: None declared, C.-C. Hwang: None declared, R. Bolce: None declared, E. Sasso: None declared, K. Hørslev-Petersen: None declared, K. Steengaard-Pedersen Grant/research support from: Meda, Abbvie, Roche, Speakers bureau: UCB, Pfizer, P. Junker: None declared, T. Ellingsen: None declared, P. Ahlquist: None declared, H. Lindegaard Grant/research support from: Boehringer Ingelheim, A. Linauskas: None declared, A. Schlemmer Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Roche, MSD, M. Dam: None declared, I. Hansen: None declared, T. Lottenburger: None declared, C. Ammitzbøll: None declared, A. Jørgensen: None declared, S. Krintel: None declared, J. Raun: None declared, M. Hetland: None declared


As whole‐genome sequencing has become pervasive, some have suggested that reduced genomic representation approaches, for example, sequence capture, are becoming obsolete. In the present study, we argue that these techniques still provide excellent tools in terms of price and quality of data as well as in their ability to provide markers with specific features, as required, for example, in phylogenomics. A potential drawback of the wide‐scale application of reduced representation approaches could be their drop in efficiency with increasing phylogenetic distance from the reference species. While some studies have focused on the degree and performance of reduced representation techniques in such situations, to our knowledge, none of them evaluated their applicability to inter‐specific hybrids and polyploids. This highlights a significant gap in current knowledge since there is increasing evidence for the frequent occurrence of natural hybrids and polyploids, as well as for the major importance of both phenomena in evolution. The main aim of the present study was to carry out a thorough validation of SEQcap applicability to (1) a set of non‐model taxa with a wide range of phylogenetic relatedness and (2) inter‐specific hybrids of various ploidies and genomic compositions. Considering the latter point, we especially focused on mechanisms causing allelic bias and consequent allelic dropout, as these could have confounding effects with respect to the evolutionary genomic dynamics of hybrids, especially in asexuals, which virtually reproduce as a frozen F1 generation.


Women entrepreneurs as the family support unit that plays a role in increasing the family income, has a performance which is still low compared to male entrepreneurs. The purpose of this study was to analyze (1) the profile of women entrepreneurs and snack food industry; (2) the influence of personal characteristics, internal and external business environment, as well as entrepreneurial behavior to business performance of women entrepreneurs. This study used survey method that conducted  in Limapuluh Kota Regency and Payakumbuh City. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used for descriptive and quantitative analysis. The respondents used were 105 women entrepreneurs. The results showed that: (1) women entrepreneurs engaged in the snack food industry in West Sumatera in general are in the productive age above 40 years, the business managed by women entrepreneurs in general is still relatively small business with income average of Rp1.687.000 per week; (2) the personal characteristics, internal environment of business, external environment of business, and the entrepreneurial behaviour has positive and significant influence to business performance. The most dominant personal characteristics which influence the business performance were education and family background, the most dominant  internal environment which influence business performance was financial aspect, the most dominant external environment which influence business performance was marketing and the most dominant entrepreneurial behavior influences the business performance was innovation. Women entrepreneurs were encouraged to improve human resources and risk taking by borrowing capital to develop the business.


Anatomical T1 weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging collected during resting (rfMRI) are promising markers that offer insight into the structure and function of the human brain. The objective of this work is to explore the use of a deep learning neural network to predict cognitive performance scores for a population of normal controls and subjects with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Specifically, we predict verbal and performance IQs and ADHD index from features derived from T1 and rfMRI imaging data. First, we processed the rfMRI and MRI data of subjects using the BrainSuite fMRI Processing (BFP) pipeline to perform anatomical and functional preprocessing. This produces for each subject fMRI and geometric (anatomical) features represented in a standardized grayordinate system. The geometric and functional cortical data corresponding to the two hemispheres were then transformed to 128×128 multichannel images and input to a convolutional component of the neural network. Subcortical data were presented in a standard vector form and inputted to a input layer of the network. The neural network was implemented in Python using the Keras library with a TensorFlow backend. Training was performed on 168 images with 90 images used for testing. We observed a high correlation between predicted and actual values of the indices tested: Performance IQ: 0.47; Verbal IQ: 0.41, ADHD: 0.57. Comparing these values to those from network trained on functional-only and structural-only data, we saw that rfMRI is more informative than MRI, but the two modalities are highly complementary in terms of predicting these indices.


This article relates the results of a research project aiming at characterising the impact of load variations on wood boiler efficiency and emissions. It is based on a case study consisting in a wood fired district heating system in Geneva canton (Switzerland). The heat is supplied by two wood boiler (2 MW and 0.65 MW). The boilers efficiency and emissions were measured on the entire load range. The results given by the traditional indirect method (based on Siegert formula) were corroborated by direct measurements of the efficiency. Surprisingly, the efficiency found not to be influenced by the load: a constant value was observed for both boilers over the entire load range, even during the stand-by periods (83% for the 2 MW boiler, 90% for the 0.65 MW boiler). On the other hand, CO emissions are strongly deteriorated at low load because of the necessary increase in the excess air. NOx emissions remained low over the entire load range. The operation of the overall district heating system was also analysed during all year 2011. High distribution losses (>20%) due to the low linear density of the district heating system (0.9 MWh/m/yr) and a high oversizing factor of the wood boiler (>1.5) were highlighted.


Guide to creating links to full-text journal articles and e-texts which are part of Himmelfarb Library's electronic collections. Links can be used in Blackboard as well as in other course materials.


The aim of the study was to analyse innovations implemented in the milk and meat industries, and their impact on increasing competitiveness. The study showed that the 2010-12 period saw the most product and process innovations being introduced. On the other hand, innovations in marketing were found to be more popular in 2013. Three groups of similar innovations were distinguished. The milk industry stood out when it comes to the extent of innovations implemented. Fewer innovations were found in the poultry meat industry. Beef and pork meat processing was the least innovative. The innovativeness of enterprises is greater with larger numbers of employees and the increase in scope of their field of operation. The implementation of innovations resulted in: improvement of the quality of goods (services), increase in stock, productive capabilities and revenues from sales, emergence of new markets, increase in competitiveness and prestige of the firm. Those are confirmed by the very good performance of foreign trade and better competitiveness rates of Polish meat producers.


Osseointegrated endoprostheses were used in 22 proximal interphalangeal joint replacements in 12 patients between 1993 and 1995. Indications for surgery were joint destruction due to rheumatoid arthritis (13 joints), primary osteoarthrosis (7 joints), posttraumatic arthrosis (1 joint), and psoriatic arthritis (1 joint). The prostheses consisted of 2 screw-shaped titanium fixtures with a flexible silicone spacer. The 1-stage surgical procedure included joint resection and cancellous bone grafting from the iliac crest before insertion of the titanium fixtures. At a follow-up examination 27 months (range, 12-37 months) after surgery, the average active range of motion was 56 degrees (20 degrees to 80 degrees) with an extension lag of 11 degrees (-5 degrees to 45 degrees), corresponding to an average arc of motion of from 11 degrees to 67 degrees flexion. Radiographs indicated that 41 of 44 fixtures were osseointegrated. Four of the 22 joint mechanisms showed fracture of the silicone spacer; deformation of the silicone was noted in an additional 27%. Patient satisfaction was high (20 of 22 joints), with significantly improved range of motion and hand function, increased grip strength, good pain relief, and satisfactory appearance. The results of this study indicate good early clinical findings using osseointegrated implants for proximal interphalangeal joint replacement but also show the need for further development regarding the durability of the flexible silicone joint spacer.


The developments summarized with the name ``weak gravitational lensing'' have led to exciting possibilities to study the (statistical properties of the) dark matter distribution in the Universe. Concentrating on those aspects which require deep wide-field imaging surveys, we describe the basic principles of weak lensing and discuss its future applications in view of NGST (a) to determine the statistical properties of the dark matter halos of individual galaxies, (b) to determine the mass and the mass profile of very low-mass clusters and groups at medium redshift and/or of more massive clusters at very high redshift, and (c) to measure the power spectrum of the matter distribution in the Universe in the non-linear regime, thereby also obtaining a mass-selected sample of halos and providing a means to investigate the scale- and redshift dependence of the bias `factor'.


After independent there have been Indian State took a variety of Constitutional and administrative measure for socio-economic development of schedule population in the county. Nevertheless there are wide variations in socioeconomic well being of Schedule and non-schedule Caste population in the country. Since independence there have been several reservations among the societal classes of India in different government and non-government sector. The aim of these reservations is to pull out the backward section of society and parallel them with mainstream of the society. Schedule Caste population, which make about one-sixth in country's population, have quite low level of literacy for Schedule Caste (SC) population. In addition, there are quite inter-state, inter- district and inter-block variations. Major objective was to assess the regional pattern of literacy differential between Scheduled and non Scheduled Caste population in the State of West Bengal and to examine the rural-urban differentials in literacy rate of Schedules Castes population and how these differ from that of non-Scheduled population. The present study has been based on mainly secondary sources of data. In 2011, literacy rate of Schedule Caste in the State was 61.16 percent against 77.08 percent for the general population. Literacy level for Schedule Castes female population was much lower than the general population. For this study various GIS and cartographic techniques including maps and diagrams will be used to depict the spatial pattern of literacy attributes and their correlation.


The coal column undergoes three types of force evolution from the formation to the end of mining. This paper takes large mining height working face at No.2 Coal Mine as example to study the ways to avoid dynamic instability of the coal column triggered by the deep mining. By means of geological survey, theoretical analysis, numerical calculation and field verification, the load processes under the three stress stage are proposed, and the evolution law of the coal column is analyzed. The study shows that the depth, large mining height working face, coal pillar force and size altogether determine the damage characteristics of the coal pillar. With the combination of Flac3D and 3DEC, it can be analyzed that the plastic failure and displacement characteristics of the 35m coal column under the action of secondary dynamic load coincide. The perturbation stress distribution is stable, which finally determines the reasonable width of the 35m coal column. Field measurements show that the top and gang of the 35m coal column undergo three kinds of displacement characteristics. The lower part is more stable. The top plate of the upper and lower corner completely collapsed in the emptying area, which can play a good supporting role.


We propose a technique to regularize a GRACE-based mass-anomaly time-series in order to (i) to quantify the Standard Deviation (SD) of random noise in the data, and (ii) to reduce the level of that noise. The proposed regularization functional minimizes the Month-to-month Year-toyear Double Differences (MYDD) of mass anomalies. As such, it does not introduce any bias in the linear trend and the annual component, two of the most common features in GRACE-based mass anomaly time-series. In the context of hydrological and ice sheet studies, the proposed regularization functional can be interpreted as an assumption about the stationarity of climatological conditions. The optimal regularization parameter and noise SD are obtained using Variance Component Estimation. To demonstrate the performance of the proposed technique, we apply it to both synthetic and real data. In the latter case, two geographic areas are considered: the Tonlé Sap basin in Cambodia and Greenland. We show that random noise in the data can be efficiently (1.5 – 2 times) mitigated in this way, whereas no noticeable bias is introduced. We also discuss various findings that can be made on the basis of the estimated noise SD. We show, among others, that knowledge of noise SD facilitates the analysis of differences between GRACE-based and alternative estimates of mass variations. Moreover, inaccuracies in the latter can also be quantified in this way. For instance, we find that noise in the surface mass anomalies in Greenland estimated using the Regional Climate Model RACMO2.3 is at the level of 2 – 6 cm equivalent water heights. Furthermore, we find that this noise shows a clear correlation with the amplitude of annual mass variations: it is lowest in the north-west of Greenland and largest in the south. We attribute this noise to limitations in the modelling of the meltwater accumulation and run-off.


The use of Electro-Mechanical Actuator to impact an environment is often criticized because of its presumably higher wear. This is due to the naturally high stiffness of the mechanical transmission, that leads to a hard-to-hard impact with the environment. This paper proposes a position-based impedance control using a Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control (FCS-MPC) controller to solve this problem. In comparison to a standard impedance controller, it can achieve the same impedance behavior in steady state, but the reduction of the mechanical losses and of the compression of the transmission are better during the transient. Furthermore, the trade-off between the mechanical losses and the transient time can be modified easily by changing the weighting factors of a cost function.


In Reply.— The research cited by Sargent and Lawson suggests that patients with migraine may experience permanent structural damage, a fact suggested and observed before the advent of CT.1-4We agree that use of CT in a research setting for systematic study of migraine may allow us to understand better this common illness where little is known about underlying pathological changes. As a research tool, CT is probably adequately cost-effective. However, our article discusses the use of CT for patients with headache, seen by clinicians who use CT to detect or confirm lesions that will affect subsequent patient treatment. Given the current understanding of migraine, we do not believe the findings described by Sargent, Lawson, and others alter patient treatment. Thus, we do not recommend its routine use in patients with normal findings from neurological examinations. Bohmfalk implies that he, as a neurosurgeon, is referred patients with mass lesions


New type professional farmers are farmers who possess certain resources and capitals, have certain extent of spirit of entrepreneurship, and are fully capable of obtaining and allocating resources related to agricultural production and management, and engaged in agricultural production and management for obtaining average profit. Cultivation of new type professional farmers should be promoted in the process and at the background of "coordinated development of industrialization, informationization, urbanization and agricultural modernization". It should establish a proper cultivation subject system consisting of government, enterprises, rural communities and nonprofit organizations. Relying on multiple motive forces, efforts should be concentrated on cultivating those farmers with enterprising, highly innovative and learning ability, to guide traditional farmers to change into learning, enterprising and innovative ones. In addition, cultivation of new type professional farmers must rely on farmer education and training, modern agricultural development, increase in agricultural comparative advantage, innovation of rural management system and mechanism, multiple types of agricultural operation on a fairly large scale, as well as construction and regulation of new rural communities. Finally, it is recommended to provide system guarantee from long-term input mechanism of new type professional farmer education and training, incentive and restrictive mechanism of new type professional farmer cultivation, and construction of favorable environment for agricultural entrepreneurship.


Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is one of the most important sources of commercial production of starch along with potato, maize and wheat particularly for tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is the third most important source of calories in tropics, after rice and maize. Natural mutation, and induced ones in cassava starch have recently been reported leading to new starches with low and high-amylose contents (0 and 30-31 %). These mutants are drastically different from normal cassava starch whose amylose content typically ranges between 15-25 %. The aims of this study were to have an overview of the structural variability among the recently discovered cassava mutants comparatively to normal and amylose-free potato and maize starches. The macromolecular features, the crystallinity, the granule sizes, and the thermal properties of these new mutants were compared with five normal cassava starches (ranging from 16.8 to 21.5 % amylose) and commercial versions of amylose-free or normal potato and maize starch. The structure of cassava amylopectin was not modified by the waxy mutation and waxy cassava starch exhibited properties similar to the ones of waxy maize starch. Waxy cassava and maize amylopectins show similar molar masses and radii of gyration (from 408×106 g mol-1 to 520×106 g mol-1; and from 277 to 285 nm, respectively). Waxy potato amylopectin exhibit lower molar mass and size. Inversely, the higher-amylose mutations induced by gamma rays radiation in cassava, modified deeply the branching pattern of amylopectin as well as the starch characteristics and properties: molar masses and radii of gyration decreased, while branching degree increased. These modifications resulted in changes in starch granule ultrastructure (lowered starch crystallinity), a weak organized structure, and increased susceptibility to mild acid hydrolysis. The distinctive properties of the new cassava starches demonstrated in this article suggest new opportunities and commercial applications for these tropical sources of starch. (Resume d'auteur)


Apparent angles of incidence of the P wave were obtained from the seismograms of the Galitzin-Wilip instruments at Florissant. The "half-periods" of these waves varied from 1 1 2 to 3 1 2 seconds, and the epicentral distances from 16.5° to 103.2°. The data indicate that the velocity of P waves at the earth's surface is approximately 8 km/sec. This suggests that these P waves do not see or are not affected by the earth's crust, although the crustal thickness is known to be approximately 35 km. P wave data from five other stations for the Alaska earthquake of July, 1958 support the conclusions obtained from the Florissant data.


Background: Approximately 60% of patients experience moderate-to-severe pain after neurosurgery, which primarily occurs in the first 24–72 h. Despite this, improved postoperative analgesia solutions after neurosurgery have not yet been devised. This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the effect of intra- and post-operative infusions of dexmedetomidine (DEX) plus sufentanil on the quality of postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing neurosurgery. Methods: One hundred and sixty-three post-neurosurgery patients were divided into two groups: Group D (DEX infusion at 0.5 μg·kg−1 for 10 min, then adjusted to 0.3 μg·kg−1·h−1 until incision suturing) and Group ND (no DEX infusion during surgery). Patient-controlled analgesia was administered for 72 h after surgery (Group D: sufentanil 0.02 μg·kg−1·h−1 plus DEX 0.02 μg·kg−1·h−1, Group ND: sufentanil 0.02 μg·kg−1·h−1) in this retrospective study. The primary outcome measure was postoperative sufentanil consumption. Hemodynamics, requirement of narcotic, and vasoactive drugs, recovery time and the incidence of concerning adverse effects were recorded. Pain intensity [Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)], Ramsay sedation scale (RSS) and Bruggemann comfort scale (BCS) were also evaluated at 1, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery. Results: Postoperative sufentanil consumption was significantly lower in Group D during the first 72 h after surgery (P < 0.05). Compared with Group ND, heart rate (HR) in Group D was significantly decreased from intubation to 20 min after arriving at post anesthesia care unit (PACU), while mean arterial pressure (MAP) in Group D was significantly decreased from intubation to 5 min after arriving at PACU (P < 0.05). The intraoperative requirements for sevoflurane, remifentanil, and fentanyl were approximately 35% less in Group D compared with Group ND. VAS at rest at 1, 4, and 8 h and with cough at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery were significantly lower in Group D (P < 0.05). Compared with Group ND, patients in Group D showed lower levels of overall incidence of tachycardia, hypertension, nausea, and vomiting (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of baseline clinical characteristics, recovery time, RSS, and BCS (P > 0.05). Conclusions: DEX (0.02 μg·kg−1·h−1) plus sufentanil (0.02 μg·kg−1·h−1) could reduce postoperative opioid consumption and concerning adverse adverse effects, while improving pain scores. However, it did not influence RSS and BCS during the first 72 h after neurosurgery.


Woody Allen s uneasy relationship with organized religions, as represented in his entire work, has often drawn accusations of atheism and ethnic self-hatred, just as his personal behavior, as represented in the media, has stirred a series of allegations of immorality. However, Woody Allen s exploration of religion, faith, and morality is far more complex and epitomizes the experience of modern man, living in a disenchanted universe. While most scholars focused on discussing the provocative debates over faith and religion in Woody Allen s films, the main purpose of this paper is to investigate what underlies Woody Allen s obsessive preoccupation with the existence of divinity, as expressed in that part of his work which received little critical attention, namely his short fiction. The purpose of such an analysis is not to clear Woody Allen s vexed reputation, but to understand the relevance of his individual ideology for the religious and moral conundrums of modern man. The corpus selected for this analysis consists of a series of relevant short stories and essays published in the 1991 edition of The Complete Prose of Woody Allen , a volume which gathers the texts published in three other short story collections.


Abstract The knife-over-roll coating process of plastisol formulations for flooring applications has been investigated. The coexistence of smooth spherical PVC particles and rough calcium carbonate aggregates in a Newtonian plasticizer makes this suspension a more complex system than those encountered in the literature. The shear viscosity has been measured with Couette and capillary devices in the wide range of shear rates encountered in the process, resulting in a non-monotonous viscosity curve. A numerical model based on the lubrication approximation theory allows accounting for this non-monotonous behavior. It predicts the deposited thickness, the pressure field between roll and knife and the separating force as a function of the plastisol rheology and the coating parameters.


Two fertile female chimaeras derived by aggregation of morulae from the inbred mouse strains AKR/J and CBA/H-T6 were found to be of mixed sex chromosome constitution, XX/XY. The XY component of both chimaeras was AKR (albino). The records showed that one of the chimaeras had two litters totalling seven young including an exceptional son with an albino coat. This implied that the maternal gamete had originated from the XY component. Other possible explanations are examined and effectively excluded. The exceptional son was sterile and was later found to have the rare 41, XXY ('Klinefelter') karyotype. The possibility of functional reversal of germ cells in mouse chimaeras had hitherto been dismissed on the basis of the apparently undisturbed sex ratio of their progeny and the great excess of single-phenotype progenies in test matings. This evidence is re-examined and shown to be indecisive for female chimaeras.


Flashes of light or phosphenes are the sensation of light without light actually entering the eye. This phenomenon can be evoked by stimulation of the retina or the visual cortex of the brain and can appear unilaterally or bilaterally. From an ophthalmologic perspective, phosphenes can arise from photoreceptor induction by mechanical,1,2 inflammatory,3 or vascular4 stimuli. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the origin of phosphenes for further management. We encountered a patient who reported having phosphenes while moving his eyes laterally. We performed various ophthalmologic imaging studies to identify the origin of these phosphenes.


In spatial points that describe geographical events, outliers that deviate significantly from the global or local distribution indicate extraordinary geographical phenomena. Existing outlier detection methods cannot statistically identify significant outliers by considering the co‐occurrences of multiple categories of spatial points. Therefore, this study develops a non‐parametric statistical test method to detect significant cross‐outliers from two categories of spatial points divided into primary and reference ones. Firstly, the cross K function is employed to test the significance of co‐occurrences of the two categories of points, and the co‐occurrence intensity of each primary point is quantitatively defined as the number of reference points in its circular buffer. Then, the edge‐constrained Delaunay triangulation is utilized to construct a reasonable spatial neighborhood for each primary point. On this basis, the Monte Carlo method is utilized to simulate the distribution of reference points in the support domain of each primary point delineated using the α‐shape algorithm, and those primary points with significantly different local co‐occurrence intensity are determined as spatial cross‐outliers. Finally, those cross‐outliers obtained using different buffers are evaluated further by analysis of living intervals. Experiments on both simulated and real‐life datasets demonstrate the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed method.


Mouse allergy is an important disease affecting laboratory workers and inner-city households with increased exposure leading to allergic sensitization and asthma. To date, only one major allergen in mouse, Mus m 1, has been identified. Using a combination of proteomics and bioinformatics, we sought to identify T cell targets in mouse allergic patients.
 Mouse urine and epithelial extract were analyzed by 2D- IgE/IgG immunoblots using pooled sera from mouse allergic donors. Mass spectrometry of selected protein spots identified 30 novel antibody reactive proteins. Predicted MHC binding peptides from these novel proteins and mouse homologs to mammalian allergens were screened for T cell reactivity in PBMCs from mouse allergic patients. Overlapping peptides from the major mouse allergen Mus m 1 were screened in parallel.
 T cell epitope mapping experiments that responses to Mus m 1 peptides were dominant overall. However, reactivity to mouse peptides homologous to other mammalian allergens was also detected. Very little T cell reactivity against peptides derived from novel proteins was observed.
 In summary, our data demonstrates that the cellular and serological targets of the allergic response overlap, with Mus m 1 being the major target for both T cells and IgE antibodies. However, on a serological level, other proteins are also recognized. Furthermore, mammalian allergens with murine homologs may also be of relevance for the T cell response in mouse allergic patients. Identifying the immunological targets in mouse allergy is of high importance since the prevalence of this disease is drastically increasing and candidates for improved diagnostics and immunotherapeutic approached are of growing importance.


Recently, Graph Neural Network (GNN) has achieved remarkable progresses in various real-world tasks on graph data, consisting of node features and the adjacent information between different nodes. High-performance GNN models always depend on both rich features and complete edge information in graph. However, such information could possibly be isolated by different data holders in practice, which is the so-called data isolation problem. To solve this problem, in this paper, we propose a Privacy-Preserving GNN (PPGNN) learning paradigm for node classification task, which can be generalized to existing GNN models. Specifically, we split the computation graph into two parts. We leave the private data (i.e., features, edges, and labels) related computations on data holders, and delegate the rest of computations to a semi-honest server. We conduct experiments on three benchmarks and the results demonstrate that PPGNN significantly outperforms the GNN models trained on the isolated data and has comparable performance with the traditional GNN trained on the mixed plaintext data.


The aim of this paper is to identify the differences in the determinants of successful transition (understood as the creation of a new development path) between the eastern and the western EU Member States between 1994 and 2014 and elaborate assumptions for a strategy of constructing regional advantage for them at the NUTS2 level. We find that the regional transition requires individual approaches to using comparative advantage at the beginning of the process and then competing with specific advantages that can be consciously constructed throughout the process. Therefore, we hypothesise that a successful transition requires constructing regional advantages based on the knowledge-related factors, leading to specialisation in the knowledge-intensive industries. Furthermore, we state that the way of constructing such advantages differs across the regions. All of our hypotheses were confirmed. Both groups of regions had different comparative advantages at the beginning of the period and constructed competitive advantage based on related knowledge-intensive industries, leading to their specialisation. Interestingly, although the process of building regional advantage was similar, the factors used to create it were different, had a different impact on GDP growth and led to a different specialisation.


This study investigated the relationship of serum selenium to its dietary sources in a group of Lappish men and a control population. Lappish men had higher serum selenium concentrations than non-Lappish men (1.79 vs 1.58 mumol/1; p = 0.003). Serum selenium correlated positively with consumption of reindeer meat, age and cholesterol. In linear regression models, however, being Lappish was the most significant predictor of high serum selenium. Lappish men ate more reindeer meat (p = 0.001) and less fish (p = 0.013) than men in the control group. Consumption of reindeer meat was also correlated with higher serum cholesterol levels. We conclude that high serum selenium concentrations in Lappish men may be important since low mortality from cancer is reported in this group.


Abstract: Although the global population of many native frog species has declined in recent years, alien frog species have spread rapidly worldwide. In order to eradicate alien frogs, characterizing their spawning sites is highly important. In recent years, eastern-Japanese common toads, Bufo japonicus formosus, have caused negative impacts on native ecosystems though predation and poisoning deaths as a domestic alien species. However, their spawning sites preference is little known. Here, to clarify when and what kind of ponds B. j. formosus prefers for spawning, we conducted a field survey on Sado Island which is one of the invaded regions of this species. We recorded their breeding season and analyzed what kind of ponds they use mainly focusing on the pond structure and landscape to obtain basic information for their eradication. Our results clarified that alien B. j. formosus on Sado Island have the same reproductive features as the native population according to the environmental conditions (lunar phase, wind speed, and rainless period), and the ponds they prefer for spawning are in areas with more surrounding forest and less rice paddy area regardless of pond structures. In addition, we identified that B. j. formosus on Sado Island currently have not yet formed large populations. These findings provide useful information for their eradication not only Sado Island but also in areas where B. j. formosus is distributed as an alien species. It is possibile that B. j. formosus on Sado Island can be eradicated completely if extermination activity is started immediately.


The plasmonic optical properties of nanostructures including a dimer, a linear chain, a T-shaped nanostructure, and a 2D array consisting of Ag nanocubes have been investigated using the discrete dipole approximation method. The simulation results indicate that both the interparticle gap and polarization have an important impact on far-field and near-field characteristics. With decreasing interparticle distance for four nanostructures, the plasmon resonance peak is monotonically red-shifted and the electric intensity enhancement factor increases rapidly due to increased interparticle coupling interaction. Moreover, we also find that a T-shaped nanostructure has the largest electric intensity enhancement factor compared with other three nanostructures due to the coupling interaction at the intersection. This coupling is caused by the radiative interference between subradiant and superradiant resulting in Fano resonance. These results show how nanostructure arrangement design, gap adjustment, and polarization control can be used to achieve high field enhancements.


Two models for quantum Brownian motion -the Oscillator Bath (OB) model and the Random Band-Matrix (RBM) model-are compared and a relation between the spectral density function I(ω) and the variance barVab2 is established. The extension to a fractal environment is then considered and the microscopic origin of anomalous diffusion is discussed. In particular, it is shown that the asymptotic behavior of the normalized velocity auto-correlation function (VACF) is entirely determined by the band form factor. This allows for a microscopic derivation of the "whip-back"effect.


A disulfide-engineered analogue of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI), ((N(alpha)-(CH2)2S-)Gly38)BPTI, has been prepared using a thioester-mediated auxiliary functional group chemical ligation of a N(alpha)-ethanethiol-containing peptide segment with a peptide-alphaCOSR segment. In this study, Nalpha-(ethanethiol)Gly38 replaces the native Cys38, providing the sulfhydryl group required for ligation and folding. Comparisons between ((Nalpha-(CH2)2SH)Gly38)BPTI, synthetic native BPTI and reference BPTI purchased from Sigma were made using mass spectroscopy, enzyme inhibitor association constant determination (K(a)) and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance total correlated spectroscopy (1H-NMR TOCSY) measurements. The K(a) value for ((Nalpha-(CH2)2SH)Gly38)BPTI was approximately 20-fold lower than synthetic and reference BPTI, which was attributed to perturbations in the binding loop of the protein (near Cys14). This hypothesis was confirmed by two-dimensional (2D) 1H-NMR TOCSY experiments. The data reported here demonstrate that total chemical synthesis by auxiliary functional group chemical ligation is a practical method for the synthesis of a novel class of biologically active protein analogues containing additional functional groups linked to the protein backbone.


This study aims to find out how the implementation ofmarketing at the Sharia Micro Typical Sharia Bank KempekCirebon and marketing strategies used by the Micro WaqfBank in increasing the number of corporate customers. Theresearch method used is a qualitative method. The marketingstrategy used by the Typical Sharia Micro Waqf Bank inKempek Cirebon is to use segmenting, targeting andpositioning. Applying the characteristics of sharia marketingin the form of God, realistic, moral and humanistic. Marketsegments determined by the Micro Islamic Waqf Bank aregeographical segments, demographic segments,psychographic segments, and behavioral segments.Customers at the Micro Islamic Waqf Bank each year haveincreased, which of course this institution continues toincrease turnover. Customers are very interested in theproducts owned by this institution because they have very lowmargins. Islamic Micro Waqf Bank has done a goodmarketing implementation, even has a marketing strategy.The name of the Micro-Islamic Waqf Bank is already greatbecause it carries the name Pondok Pesantren TypicalKempek.Keywords: Marketing Strategy, Micro Islamic Waqf Bank,Customers.


I eagerly read this book written by a psychologist after seven years on the team of Social Psychiatric Services for Refugees in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. With the massive influx of refugees into the western world and the horrendous political repression, imprisonment, torture, violence, and killing, there is an urgent need for helping professionals and government officials to understand how totalitarian governments destroy hppe for democracy. This book is a welcome overview of healing attempts for refugees. We must look closely at the effect of torture on men, women, and children. No more copouts like the euphemistic oxymoron "compassion fatigue," the buzzword in Washington. There are islands of dedicated people at torture centers for legal and illegal refugees in Europe and throughout the United States. This book covers a vast area of psychological theory and treatment methods for traumatized, uprooted people. It is readable but is an almost overwhelming condensation for


BACKGROUND
Preservation of the mitral valve and subvalvular apparatus was introduced into the clinic in the early sixties, but for two decades the standard technique for mitral valve replacement included excision of both leaflets and their attached chordae tendineae. Lately, increased emphasis has again been placed on retention of the mitral subvalvular apparatus during valve replacement because of its role on left ventricular function.

METHODS
We have preserved the valvular and subvalvular mitral apparatus, when possible, in connection with mitral valve replacement during the last seven years and the present investigation (partly prospective and partly retrospective) was done with the aim of making up the results of our mitral preservation technique. In the period between January 1990 and December 1995, 30% of the patients who underwent mitral valve replacement had complete retention of all mitral tissue. In 1996, the percentage had increased to 50, and during the first seven months of 1997, 70% of the patients had complete retention of all mitral tissue. Since January 1997, we have exclusively used the CarboMedics mitral heart valve prosthesis. A total of 56 patients were identified to have had a CarboMedics heart valve prosthesis implanted. There were 33 men and 23 women with a mean age of 63 years, range 23-77 years. Coronary bypass was a concomitant procedure in 22 patients. In seven patients, both the mitral and aortic valves were replaced. A severely altered valve with thickened and or calcified leaflets, stenotic leaflets, or shortened, retracted and thickened chordae tendineae were not a contraindication for the procedure. Calcified plaques were removed. Adhesion between anterior and posterior leaflets was treated with sharp dissection. Valve and subvalvular tissue were preserved. The leaflets were reefed within the valve-sutures and compressed between the sewing ring and the native annulus when implanting the valve prosthesis. Chordal tension on the ventricle was thereby maintained and the chordae pulled away from the valve effluent. Echocardiography with measurement of ejection-fraction was performed preoperatively during the postoperative course in case of cardiac problems and on a routine basis 1 month after surgery and at various intervals when the patient was seen in the outpatient clinic. Left ventricular outflow tract gradients were measured during the postoperative course in case of cardiac problems and routinely 1 month postsurgically.

RESULTS
Five patients died in the postoperative period and one patient had transient neurological symptoms. In none of the patients was death or transient neurological symptoms a consequence of the retention of mitral leaflets with subvalvular apparatus. The remaining 51 patients were all alive at follow-up. Postoperative echocardiography demonstrated a preserved left ventricular function and a left ventricular outflow tract without obstruction.

CONCLUSIONS
We find that the described technique in combination with implantation of a CarboMedics heart valve prosthesis is very useful even in patients with a severely altered valve, when preserving the mitral leaflets with subvalvular apparatus during valve replacement. The technique is without procedure related complications and preserves left ventricular function without obstructing the left ventricular outflow tract.


Hasanah U, Binawanto, Alimuddin A, Boediono A, Kursini E. 2020. Short Communication: Effect of cryopreservation on ultrastructure and mitochondrial function of albino Pangasius catfish spermatozoa. Biodiversitas 21: 4524-4528. Cryopreservation techniques have been carried out on many endangered species and animals with unique characteristics. Successful cryopreservation techniques vary between species depending on various factors. The study used cryopreserved spermatozoa of the albino Pangasius catfish as samples. The cryopreserved spermatozoa were analyzed by its ultrastructure, functional mitochondria, and viability. The cryopreservation was performed using a combination of 10% methanol, skim milk, and fish ringer extender. A deep freezer is used for cryopreservation at -80 °C with a storage period of 14 days. Observations were made on fresh spermatozoa, post-equilibration spermatozoa, and frozen-thaw spermatozoa. This study found there were differences in ultrastructure and morphology in the three treatments. Fresh spermatozoa and post-equilibration spermatozoa appeared intact membrane, mitochondrial, and flagellar structures. In contrast, in frozen-thaw spermatozoa, there was damage to the cell membrane. The study showed different percentages of yields on functional mitochondria of fresh spermatozoa (98 ± 2%), spermatozoa post-equilibration (57 ± 7%), frozen-thaw spermatozoa (42 ± 3.21%). Cell viability showed that there were differences in viability of fresh spermatozoa and frozen-thaw (p <0.05), the results of fresh spermatozoa (92 ± 0.57%) spermatozoa post-equilibration (80 ± 3.51%), frozen-thaw spermatozoa (61 ± 2.30%).The study concluded that the spermatozoa cryopreservation affects the ultrastructure, mitochondrial function, and viability in albino Pangasius catfish spermatozoa.


In process industries, PID control has been applied to controlled objects such as chemical plants. A cascade control system is applied in order to improve control performance by using several feedback loops. However, it is complicated to design a cascade control system because this control system includes plural controllers. In this paper, a design scheme of data-oriented cascade control system without system identification is proposed. According to the proposed scheme, PID gains included in plural controllers can be determined by using only closed-loop data. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is verified by using a simulation example and an experiment of the water level control system.


As human population, food consumption, and demand for forest products continue to rise over the next century, the pressures of land‐use change on biodiversity are projected to intensify. In tropical regions, countryside habitats that retain abundant tree cover and structurally complex canopies may complement protected areas by providing suitable habitats and landscape connectivity for a significant portion of the native biota. Species with low dispersal capabilities are among the most at risk of extinction as a consequence of land‐use change. We assessed how the spatial distribution of the brown‐throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus), a model species for a vertebrate with limited dispersal ability, is shaped by differences in habitat structure and landscape patterns of countryside habitats in north‐central Costa Rica using a multi‐scale framework. We quantified the influence of local habitat characteristics and landscape context on sloth occurrence using mixed‐effects logistic regression models. We recorded 27 sloths within countryside habitats and found that both local and landscape factors significantly influenced their spatial distribution. Locally, sloths favored structurally complex habitats, with greater canopy cover and variation in tree height and basal area. At the landscape scale, sloths demonstrated a preference for habitats with high proportions of forest and nearby large tracts of forest. Although mixed‐use areas and tree plantations are not substitutes for protected forests, our results suggest they provide important supplemental habitats for sloths. To promote the conservation and long‐term viability of sloth populations in the tropical countryside, we recommend that land managers retain structurally complex vegetation and large patches of native habitat.


Drinking water contamination is a major problem facing urban and rural communities worldwide. a study exploring the linkages between ground water quality and landscape metrics was performed using 55 ground water wells found within 20 watershed sub-basins in the Dobrogea region of romania. the goals of this research were: (1) to establish a statistical model that could be used to predict the risk of ground water contamination; and (2) increase the understanding of the relationship between landscape composition and configuration on ground water quality. The relationships between land cover, landscape and ground water nitrate level were established using artificial neural-network statistical analysis. analysis revealed that the percent land cover in watersheds as forest, agriculture and artificial (urban) surface, combined with area weighted mean contiguity index, like-patch adjacencies, and area weighted proximity index were able to predict over 62% of the variation in nitrate levels in wells. this approach shows promise for being an effective predictor of risk of contamination for drinking wells.


The results when optimising most multi- and many-objective problems are difficult to visualise, often requiring sophisticated approaches for compressing information into planar or 3D representations, which can be difficult to decipher. Given this, distance-based test problems are attractive: they can be constructed such that the designs naturally lie on the plane, and the Pareto set elements easy to identify. As such, distance-based problems have gained in popularity as a way to visualise the distribution of designs maintained by different optimisers. Some taxing problem aspects (many-to-one mappings and multi-modality) have been embedded into planar distance-based test problems, although the full range of problem characteristics which exist in other test problem frameworks (deceptive fronts, degeneracy, etc.) have not. Here we present an augmentation to the distance-based test problem formulation which induces dominance resistance regions, which are otherwise missing from these test problems. We illustrate the performance of two popular optimisers on test problems generated from this framework, and highlight particular problems with evolutionary search that can manifest due to the problem characteristics.


First-principles calculations have been employed to examine the possible use of electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) as a tool for determining the presence of OH groups and hence hydrogen content in compounds. Our density functional theory (DFT) based calculations describe accurately the experimental EELS results for forsterite (Mg2SiO4), hambergite (Be2BO3(OH)), brucite (Mg(OH)2) and diaspore (α-AlOOH). DFT calculations were complemented by an experimental time resolved study of the oxygen K-edge in diaspore. The results show unambiguously that there is no connection between a pre-edge feature in the oxygen K-edge spectrum of diaspore and the presence of OH groups in the structure. Instead, the experimental study shows that the pre-edge feature in diaspore is transient. It can be explained by the presence of molecular O2, which is produced as a result of the electron irradiation.


We tested the hypothesis that dietary components reaching the bovine small intestine influence the expression of genes that encode the gastrointestinal neuropeptides cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The amount of digesta reaching the intestine was manipulated during the experiment by withholding feed from five heifers fitted with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulas for 48 h and then subsequent refeeding. Duodenal and ileal biopsies were collected using a fiber-optic endoscope. A Northern hybridization procedure was used to evaluate changes in gene expression. Blood concentrations of CCK and GLP-1 were determined with RIA. The data indicate that CCK blood concentration and mRNA abundance decreased during the period of feed deprivation, but they returned to predeprivation values within 16 to 24 h of refeeding. The GLP-1 blood concentration also decreased during feed deprivation and returned to predeprivation values within 4 to 8 h of refeeding, despite the fact that proglucagon mRNA abundance did not change significantly during feed deprivation and refeeding. These findings provide evidence that CCK and GLP-1 are released in response to nutrients that reach the small intestine and may be involved in the physiological process of digestion and possibly play a role in regulating feed intake in ruminants.