The effect of transition on body condition score (BCS) and ultrasonographic back fat thickness (USG BFT) was examined in 101 multiparous buffaloes grouped according to transition stage i.e., Far off dry (FOD), Close up dry (CUD) and Fresh (F). With BCS 2 to 2.5, the BFT of F period was significantly lower than FOD period. With BCS 3 to 3.5 and 4 to 4.5, the mean BFT at F period was significantly reduced as compared to FOD and CUD periods. Buffaloes with BCS 5, showed a significant reduction in BFT from FOD to CUD and from CUD to F period. BCS 5 at FOD period was characterized by accumulation of 'fat Pads' around the buttock. Majority of buffaloes with BCS of 4 to 5 showed reduction in BCS at F period. The overall correlation coefficient between BCS and USG BFT was 82, 83 and 78% for FOD, CUD and F period respectively. The overall correlation coefficient between visual BCS and BCS assessed from digital images for FOD, CUD and F period was 99, 98 and 95% respectively. It was concluded that digital images can be readily used to estimate BCS in buffaloes and USG BFT gives an accurate measure of fat reserves in buffaloes.


OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the usability of a feature selection method based on the mutual information theory to increase predictive performance of a classifier in data mining. METHODS: The HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study(HCSUS) dataset was used to apply the feature selection method to a classifier. Its contribution to increasing the predictive performance of the classifier was evaluated by comparing the Naive Bayes(NB) and the Logistic Regression(LG) models using different variables. The infrequent office visit representing limited health service utilization was selected as an outcome variable. HUGIN Researcher(TM) 6.3 was used to train and test the NB models and SAS(R) 8.0 was used for the LG modeling. RESULTS: Higher AUC in the NB model was obtained using the variables selected by the mutual information based feature selection method(AUC=.639, CI=.611, .660); lower AUC using the variables defined by a previous study(AUC=.599, CI=.570, .620). There was no difference between the LG models with different variables. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the mutual information method may be useful in identifying relevant predictors as the feature selection method, which can contribute to an increase in the predictive performance of a classifier.


Isocyanate- and amine-functionalized polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) were prepared through grafting and copolymerization method. These compounds are used as precursors for PP-graft-PS (PP-g-PS) copolymers and reacted at the matrix interface of PP/PS blends. Functionalized polymer structures were characterized by 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. The effects of the synthesized compatibilizer on the rheological and morphological behavior of PP/PS blends were investigated systematically. Results showed that the functional polymer was successfully synthesized, and the additional two different compatibilizer systems dramatically decreased the size of the dispersed phase domains in PP/PS blends. Compared with the uncompatibilized blends, compatibilized blends exhibited a slightly higher crystallization temperature because the melting points of the blend components were not evidently affected by the addition of compatibilizer, as revealed by differential scanning calorimetry. The compatibilizer effect on the PP/PS blends was reflected through rheological property and dynamic mechanical analysis. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:614–623, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers


AbstractThe arrival time difference (ATD) long-range lightning location network (ATDnet) is the long-range very low frequency (VLF) lightning location network owned and operated by the Met Office, locating lightning using a waveform correlation technique. Pronounced differences in the waveform shape with distance to lightning have been observed and attributed to interference between different propagation modes within the earth–ionosphere waveguide. During the day, waveform correlations were significantly degraded at a distance of 450 km from the sensor, with the main degradations occurring during the night centered at propagation distances of 650 and 2150 km. The observation and simple modeling of modal interference spacing allowed the effective ionospheric height during summer over Europe to be estimated for day and night as 69 and 88.5 km, respectively, for 13.7 kHz. Wider distribution of sensor sites, lowering of the receiver frequency, and adaptation of the reference waveform selection criteria have b...


Starting from the USA, the economic downturn has meanwhile reached the entire world economy. The financial crisis is exacerbating the slackening of global business activity. In the euro area, demand and output are set to contract by 1.2 percent in 2009. In Austria, too, real GDP is likely to edge down by 0.5 percent, despite powerful stimulus provided by fiscal policy. The projection for growth picking up by 0.9 percent on annual average 2010 is based on the assumption that activity will gradually recover as from late 2009.


At the Belle II upgrade at the SuperKEKB collider, we expect about 20 kHz level-1 trigger rate at the design luminosity of 8 × 1035 cm−2s−1 which is 40 times higher than the world record given by KEKB. The Belle II data acquisition system is designed to read out the data from the entire detector at up to 30 kHz, with minimum amount of deadtime of several percent that is unavoidable due to the front-end buffer structure. The system consists of subsystems for trigger and timing distribution, data links, event building and high level triggering. We present the system which is designed to be ready for the start of Belle II in 2014.


Hate speech is not only about shared knowledge but also desires and hatred. The purpose of hate speeches is to give the addressee the knowledge unknown before and make them want something never thought of and feel something. This paper describes the type of illocutionary force of hate speech on social media in Indonesia. The utterances used as data have been stipulated by the Indonesian court violating Article 28 and 45a Information and Electronic Transactions Law or article 156a Criminal Code. This article found that the illocutionary forces of hate speeches on Indonesian social media are to express incitement, invitation, order, prohibition, criticism, and warning. The illocutionary functions of these acts are at (1) addressee's compliance upon the will of the speaker; (2) dismantlement of the identity that is the source of the speaker's hatred; or (3) elimination of hatred targets.


Impaired insulin secretion contributes to the development and progression of diabetes. β-cells initially cope with the genetic, environmental, and diabetogenic stresses that diminish insulin secretion or the peripheral response to it by increasing insulin production. However, sustained increases in the insulin precursor proinsulin (PI) place additional demand on the secretory and protein quality control (PQC) machineries of β-cells, triggering endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and β-cell death. Thus, understanding the mechanisms that regulate β-cell responses to increased insulin secretory requirements is critical to prevent β-cell failure. We reported that the cytoskeletal scaffolding protein ankyrin-B (AnkB) regulates insulin secretion by maintaining normal levels of the inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R) at the ER and intracellular calcium in β-cells. IP3R levels and insulin secretion were impaired in knock-in mice carrying the p.R1788W AnkB (AnkB-RW) variant associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Caucasians and Hispanics. Here, we show that selective loss of AnkB or expression of the T2D AnkB-RW variant lead to reduced insulin secretion and accumulation of PI and islet specific amyloid polypeptide in β-cells. These changes are accompanied by enhanced induction of the maladaptive unfolded protein response and apoptosis. Interestingly, the T2D AnkB-RW variant lies within the binding site for the protein chaperone Dnajb1 (Hsp40) . Our results indicate that the Dnajb1-Hspa1a complex, which recognizes and delivers protein clients to Hsp70 chaperones to promote proper folding, refolding, or degradation, is downregulated in β-cells from β-cell-specific AnkB knockout or AnkB-RW mice. Increased proteotoxicity and reduced insulin secretion were also observed upon knockdown of Dnajb1 in rat INS1 832/13 cells. Together, our findings suggest that AnkB and its integration into the Dnajb1-Hspa1a pathway modulates PQC and promotes β-cell survival under diabetogenic conditions.

 J. Tzeng: None. H. Hohmeier: None. D. Lorenzo: None.


Abstract Illycaffé entered Brazil in 1991 with the simple goal of finding high quality coffee and with a simple but revolutionary procurement strategy based on a) direct interaction with farmers and b) on an Award for the best coffee quality beans. The entry of Illycaffé unleashed a series of long-lasting consequences and unintended effects that revolutionised the Brazilian coffee industry and enabled the emergence of the quality coffee sector from the undifferentiated segment of commodity production. This paper analyses the 'butterfly effect' of the emergence of the quality coffee in Brazil in terms of complexity theory; and more specifically in terms of constraints and sources on nonequilibrium. I show how the entry of Illycaffé worked as an attractor (pull-strategy) that caused the decommoditisation of the coffee sector, enabled the emergence of a network of quality producers, and caused the rise of a 'long tail' of diversity.


Salt stress is one of the main factors that affect both growth and development of plants. Maintaining K+/Na+ balance in the cytoplasm is important for metabolism as well as salt resistance in plants. In the present study, we monitored the growth (height and diameter) of transgenic Populus alba × P. berolinensis trees (ABJ01) carrying JERF36s gene (a tomato jasmonic/ethylene responsive factors gene) over 4 years, which showed faster growth and significant salt tolerance compared with non-transgenic poplar trees (9#). The expression of NHX1 and SOS1 genes that encode Na+/H+ antiporters in the vacuole and plasma membranes was measured in leaves under NaCl stress. Non-invasive micro-test techniques (NMT) were used to analyse ion flux of Na+, K+, and H+ in the root tip of seedlings under treatment with100 mM NaCl for 7, 15, and 30 days. Results showed that the expression of NHX1 and SOS1 was much higher in ABJ01 compared with 9#, and the Na+ efflux and H+ influx fluxes of root were remarkable higher in ABJ01 than in 9#, but K+ efflux exhibited lower level. All above suggest that salt stress induces NHX1 and SOS1 to a greater expression level in ABJ01, resulting in the accumulation of Na+/H+ antiporter to better maintain K+/Na+ balance in the cytoplasm of this enhanced salt resistant variety. This may help us to better understand the mechanism of transgenic poplars with improving salt tolerance by overexpressing JERF36s and could provide a basis for future breeding programs aimed at improving salt resistance in transgenic poplar.


In this paper, we study the dynamics of a trapped atom interferometer with internal state labeling in the presence of interactions. We consider two situations: an atomic clock in which the internal states remain superposed, and an inertial sensor configuration in which they are separated. From the average spin evolution, we deduce the fringe contrast and the phase shift. In the clock configuration, we recover the well-known identical spin rotation effect (ISRE) which can significantly increase the spin coherence time. We also find that the magnitude of the effect depends on the trap geometry in a way that is consistent with our recent experimental results in a clock configuration [M. Dupont-Nivet, R. Demur, C. I. Westbrook, and S. Schwartz, New J. Phys. 20, 043051 (2018)], where ISRE was not observed. In the case of an inertial sensor, we show that despite the spatial separation it is still possible to increase the coherence time by using mean field interactions to counteract asymmetries of the trapping potential.


Investigates, in Part 1, the effects of West German stagnation in the 1980s following on from the welfare state doctrine of the 1960s and 1970s, which led to an economic and social crisis becoming inevitable. Shows this is not purely a German problem but one that also affects almost all other capitalist countries – either developed or developing. Expresses irony that the former communist bloc countries should also be engulfed in such crises. Proffers explanations and recommendations to offset the problems in Germany. Part II looks at Israel and how it has begun to emerge from its 1974 austerity programme by Rabin. States that Israel must initiate a new system of stable equilibrium to open a new era that is very possible, but involves economic and social thinking to avoid previous mistakes.


This study investigated if developmental dyscalculia (DD) in children with different profiles of mathematical deficits has the same or different cognitive origins. The defective approximate number system hypothesis and the access deficit hypothesis were tested using two different groups of children with DD (11–13 years old): a group with arithmetic fact dyscalculia (AFD) and a group with general dyscalculia (GD). Several different aspects of number magnitude processing were assessed in these two groups and compared with age-matched typically achieving children. The GD group displayed weaknesses with both symbolic and nonsymbolic number processing, whereas the AFD group displayed problems only with symbolic number processing. These findings provide evidence that the origins of DD in children with different profiles of mathematical problems diverge. Children with GD have impairment in the innate approximate number system, whereas children with AFD suffer from an access deficit. These findings have implications for researchers' selection procedures when studying dyscalculia, and also for practitioners in the educational setting.


Simple Summary The chorion (also called egg envelope) is the primary envelope that protects the fish embryo against drying, mechanical actions, and abrupt changes in the water conditions. Alterations of the chorion during the embryo incubation are not unusual, but these are scarcely reported. Increased occurrence of chorion alterations can lead to decreased reproductive performance and important losses for fish farms. Here, we described several chorion alterations observed in samples of embryonated eggs collected from different salmon and trout farms located in southern Chile over a period of 14 years. We detected four types of chorion alterations and found soft chorion as the most prevalent alteration in the years analyzed, affecting mainly Atlantic and Coho Salmon. Eggs of Rainbow Trout displayed fewer chorion alterations among the three species analyzed. As the eggs analyzed here were produced under standard industrial conditions, we conclude that these alterations are possibly linked to changes in water conditions, which need to be further investigated. Abstract The chorion is the primary envelop that protects the fish embryo against mechanical actions, pathogens, and abrupt changes in physical and chemicals conditions of the incubation medium. During embryo development, chorion alterations are not rare, but the occurrence of these is scarcely reported. Increased frequency of chorion alterations can result in increased embryo mortality and thus decreased reproductive performance and losses for fish farms. In this study, we characterize different chorion alterations observed in samples collected over 14 years from 12 salmon and trout farms located in the region of La Araucanía in southern Chile, which sent live eyed-stage embryos ('eyed-eggs') for quality analysis to our laboratory. We found soft chorion as the most common alteration observed, being present in the whole 14-year series analyzed in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and affecting up to 35.0% of the samples examined in a year. This alteration also affected up to 20.0 and 5.7% of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) samples analyzed in a year, respectively. We also found an increase of other chorion alterations, including perforated and white-spotted chorion in Atlantic and Coho Salmon, in the last 8 years. Among the three species, Rainbow Trout exhibited fewer chorion alterations. As the embryonated eggs analyzed here were obtained from broodstocks maintained under standard industrial conditions, these alterations might be linked to changes in environmental conditions affecting the incubation water that need to be further investigated.


Recent studiesemphasize herbivory's importance in mangrove's carbon flux. Chemio- physical characteristics of the environment caninfluence leaf consumption, leading to differences in herbivory levels. This work evaluates possible differences in thedegree of leaf consumption in two similarly structured mangrove forests submitted to different levels of pollution. In eachforest, a 150 m transect was established perpendicularly to the waterline, and each one was divided in three 50 mstrata. Thirty leaves from each of the local species (Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia schaueriana e Lagunculariaracemosa) of mangrove were randomly collected, in a standardized way, in each strata. The samples were processedand herbivory levels were calculated through specific softwares. No differences were found between the forests norbetween the stratum. The lack of differences between the stratum could be a consequence of the homogeneousdistribution of the herbivorous in the forests. Furthermore, the fact that the forests present similar physiographicstructures – in terms of tree's height, composition and distribution - can be ruling folivory levels, being more importantthan differences in soil and leaf composition.


Cirrhosis is a multisystemic condition in which pregnancy is uncommon; however, the combination may lead to a higher incidence of spontaneous fetal loss and complications such as progressive jaundice, ascites and variceal bleeding. Here we present a 21-year-old woman who presented at 14 weeks' gestation with new jaundice and a two-month history of melena consistent with pre-existing cirrhosis of unclear aetiology. She delivered a healthy male infant at 34 weeks and five days of gestation vaginally with good haemostasis. In the literature, maternal mortality rates have been reported in up to 61% of these women, however, this risk is likely lower now with modern endoscopic therapies and improved access to blood products. There is limited information about labour and delivery in cirrhosis, although the best outcomes to date have been described in well-compensated women.


Red blood cells (RBCs) intended for pediatric transfusion are currently obtained from banked RBC units, from which selected volumes of RBC aliquots are transferred from to smaller pediatric bags. Certain conditions, such as repeated transfusions, limited inventory, and hospitals' distance from blood banks, may require storage at 1-6 °C of pediatric bags for up to six weeks. In this study, we compared the recovery of RBCs stored in pediatric bags from a selected manufacturer (Pedi-Pak, Genesis BPS) to that of their parent unit. We demonstrated that temporary storage in pediatric bags can modify RBC quality, particularly in regard to end of storage hemolysis, and stress-induced oxidative hemolysis.

Packed leukoreduced RBCs from 10 healthy donors were stored under routine blood banking procedures (4 °C) for six weeks. At day 1, 20 mL of packed RBCs from each parent unit were transferred to a pediatric bag by sterile docking. RBC hemolytic propensity in each bag type was evaluated at selected time points (3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days). Storage hemolysis was measured by supernatant cell-free hemoglobin using Drabkin's assay. Osmotic stress was induced by incubating RBCs in hypotonic buffer containing glycerol. Oxidative hemolysis was induced by incubating RBCs with 2,2′-azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH). Mechanical stress was achieved by shaking RBC suspensions in the presence of one metal bead (3/32") for 180 minutes on a plate shaker. Complete blood counts were obtained by a commercial blood counter (Hemavet). Statistical analysis was performed by repeated measures two-way ANOVA using a commercial software (GraphPad Prism 6).

Percent storage hemolysis was higher at all tested time points in the pediatric bags compared to their parent units. Significant differences were recorded on day 21 (0.24±0.09 % in Pedi-Pak versus 0.18±0.11 % in parent units, n=10, p=0.0484) and over. At the end of storage, hemolysis levels in pediatric bags were twice than that of their parent units (0.52±0.25 % in Pedi-Pak versus 0.25±0.14 % in parent units, n=10, p<0.0001). Similarly, RBCs stored in pediatric bags were more susceptible to AAPH-induced oxidative hemolysis (37.7±7.7 % in Pedi-Pak versus 31.7±7.4 % in parent units, Day 42, n=10, p<0.0001). Conversely, RBCs stored in pediatric bags demonstrated enhanced resistance to osmotic fragility at testing days 7-42 (21.2±6.9 % in Pedi-Pak versus 25.5±8.8 % in parent units, Day 42, n=10, p=0.0069). No significant differences between the two bag types were found in regard to mechanical fragility or RBC indices obtained by complete blood counts.

This study suggests that RBCs stored in pediatric bags from a selected manufacturer have altered in vitro recovery. It is not clear whether these changes affect transfusion outcomes, however, higher levels of free hemoglobin and increased susceptibility to oxidative stress may increase the risks of transfusion-related injuries, as free hemoglobin is redox active and capable of inducing hypertension via nitric oxide scavenging. The differences in hemolysis and osmotic fragility between the two RBC groups may stem from the type of plasticizers used in each bag (butyryl trihexyl citrate (BTHC) in Pedi-Pak versus bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in parent units). Other factors may be related to differences in surface area to volume ratio of the different sized bags. Understanding the effects of the storage bag on RBC recovery can improve the quality and safety of RBC products used for pediatric transfusion.

Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


An optical weed sensing sprayer (WeedSeeker) was evaluated for making postemergence glyphosate herbicide applications in a Yuma, AZ lemon orchard. In addition, mechanical (disk and Perfecta cultivator) and chemical weed control strategies were compared. Results were fairly similar; however, the use of the WeedSeeker units combined with a preemergence herbicide (H1) increased weed control three fold compared to disking (D) and perfecta (P1). Additionally, when the WeedSeeker units were used in conjunction with preemergence herbicides, spray volume was reduced by 66% compared to a conventional sprayer and by 57% when used for postemergence applications only. There was a relationship between weed ground cover and the area sprayed by the WeedSeeker units indicating that maximum postemergence herbicide savings will occur at low weed densities or less than 10% groundcover. The use of a sprayer with an improved suspension system allowed for faster spraying speeds than were possible with the tractor mounted sprayer. Weed control was similar for the conventional and the WeedSeeker sprayer. However, yields were variable for both years. Future investigations will include efforts to develop crop budgets based on experimental operations.


Corn grain crops in High Valleys of Mexico generally do not meet quality requirements for use in the tortilla and dough industry. New hybrids have been released by research centers for these agroecological conditions and it is necessary to evaluate the stability of production and grain quality in different production environments to avoid rejection in the market. The objective of this study was to identify stable hybrids in their yield, physical-chemical characteristics of the grains and quality of tortillas. Ten hybrids were evaluated in five different environments with four replications for each treatment. The data were analyzed with SAS, version 9.0, the Anova was developed and the comparison of means was made with the Tukey test at 5%. Significant differences were detected for hybrids, environment and hybrid*environment interaction; for grain yield, physical-chemical variables of the tortillas. The grain yields ranged from 9 to 12.4 t ha. The highest stability due to adaptability and yield by environments was found for hybrids H-70, H-66 and Tsiri Puma. Within the group of hard grains are the Tsiri Puma and the commercial control Albatros. The Atziri Puma hybrids, in Temascalcingo and H-50 in Atlacomulco, presented the largest grains. Correlations were found between proteins vs oil (r= 0.6), oil vs starch (r= -0.86) and proteins vs starch (r= -0.82). The highest dough yield was found in the H-51 AE hybrid, followed by H-47 AE, Albatros and Tsiri Puma with 2 kg of dough for each kg of nixtamalized corn. The yield and quality of tortillas of the hybrids evaluated comply with the values demanded by the industry. The results of this research allow us to recommend these new hybrids, due to their stability in yield, in the test environments, commercial quality of the grain and quality of their tortillas.


Hysterectomy is the most common performed major gynecological operation. There are various other indications that cause disabling levels of pain, discomfort and uterine bleeding. Though hysterectomy is highly successful in curing the disease in concern, it is associated with the risks, morbidity and mortality that an operative procedure carries. The study was undertaken to study the age pattern, indications, type of surgery and the associated complications of hysterectomies done for cases of abnormal uterine bleeding in a tertiary care hospital. The study was conducted in the Dept. of Obst and Gynae. S.M.S. Medical College, Jaipur (Raj.).All hysterectomies done over a period of 18 months were studied. All data collected was analyzed. 1410 hysterectomy were done .47.80% done for AUB of these 50.29% women were in 40-50 years age group and 60.23% were of parity 4-6. DUB and fibroid uterus constituted 80% of these hysterectomies.1.33% cases were of carcinoma body of uterus. Complications were paralytic ileus (3), primary hemorrhage (4) ,injury to bladder (2), menopausal symptoms (26) , wound sepsis(10) and post-hysterectomy bleeding in 6 women. AUB is a very common cause of hysterectomy and all women should be carefully evaluated before surgery.


The appearance of high energy tau neutrinos due to $\nu_\mu \to \nu_\tau$ oscillations of extragalactic neutrinos can be observed by measuring the neutrino induced upward hadronic and electromagnetic showers and upward muons. We evaluate quantitatively the tau neutrino regeneration in the Earth for a variety of extragalactic neutrino fluxes. Charged-current interactions of the upward tau neutrinos below and in the detector, and the subsequent tau decay create muons or hadronic and electromagnetic showers. The background for these events are muon neutrino and electron neutrino charged-current and neutral-current interactions, where in addition to extragalactic neutrinos, we consider atmospheric neutrinos. We find significant signal to background ratios for the hadronic/electromagnetic showers with energies above 10 TeV to 100 TeV initiated by the extragalactic neutrinos. We show that the tau neutrinos from point sources also have the potential for discovery above a 1 TeV threshold. A kilometer-size neutrino telescope has a very good chance of detecting the appearance of tau neutrinos when both muon and hadronic/electromagnetic showers are detected.


By this notice, the Editor and the Publisher of European Journal of Pediatric Surgery retract from publication the following article: Cevizci N, Dokucu A I, Baskin D, Karadağ C A, Sever N, Yalçin M, Bahadir E, Başak M. Virtual bronchoscopy as a dynamic modality in the diagnosis and treatment of suspected foreign body aspiration. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2008; 18: 398-401. Epub 2008 Nov 20. This retraction is due to substantial overlap of data, subject matter and illustrations with the following article: Ozkurt H, Bahadir E, Ucgul A, Altuna C, Basak M, Cevizci N M, Dokucu A I. Comparison of multidetector computed tomography-virtual bronchoscopy and conventional bronchoscopy in children with suspected foreign body aspiration. Emerg Radiol Epub 2008 Nov 19. We apologise to our readership.


Abrade essence have potential to be able be modified essence. One of the modified form from abrade essence is abrade essence of butirat which may be processed tto be cake product. Cake which abrade essence of butirat material never be doneee researcher because it is side which be interested to be done study of cake with which abrade essence of butirat material. The goal of this study is to know phisic, chemistry characteristic along with organolpetic of cake with substitutionh of wheat flour and abrade essence of butirat by specific number.
This study use simple RAK (group random program) by one factor, 5 level consist of A (substitution abrade essence of butirat 0% by wheat flour 100%), B (substitution abrade
essence of butirat 25% by wheat flour 75%), C (substitution abrade essence of butirat 50% by wheat flour 50%), D (substitution abrade essence of butirat 75% by wheat flour 25%), and E (substitution abrade essence of butirat 100% by wheat flour 0%), and it was carried out three times for each treatment with the proportion of wheat flour and abrade essence of butirat. The parameter which be used of chemistry cover: water degree, faat, protein, reduction glucose, and the physic analysis cover: volume, tescture, and organoleptic analysis cover: taste, aroma and clear
The study result show that cake of abrade essence of butirat is carried out De Garmo test which in treatmen A by substitution of essence 0% with wheat flour 100% cover chemistry analysis consist of water degree with result 30.58%, protein 3.022%, fat 6.01%, reduction glucose 26.63%, physis analysis by result volume expand 92.67%, teksture 190.45 mm/secon along with organoleptic cover taste with score total about 4.20 (very like), aroma with score total 3.80 (very strong, and clear 3.87 (very interesting).


Abstract:  Murder–suicide is a relatively uncommon event but as reported by the New York Times, it has occurred and continues to occur yearly. Previous research has indicated that those who commit murder–suicides tend to be men, are in or have been in an intimate relationship with the victim, victims tend to be women, and a firearm is most likely to be used. This study uses a newspaper surveillance methodology to examine such cases. Articles from the New York Times as found in the New York Times Index were coded, analyzed, and examined. The cases, 166 in total, support the findings from prior research. The trend data was examined by cross tabulations and chi‐square analysis. The findings suggest that murder–suicides are rare events and when they occur they usually involve a male perpetrator and an intimate partner victim who is either a wife or girlfriend with the event occurring in a private home. A firearm is the most commonly used method for both murders and suicides, particularly if there was more than one murder victim. The authors conclude by suggesting that future research should focus on using the forthcoming data resource in the CDC's National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) to examine the occurrence of murder–suicide.


This paper is a study of blended learning pedagogy in open and distance learning (ODL), involving two universities in Southeast Asia, STOU Thailand and UT Indonesia. The purpose of this study is to understand the issues related to the implementation of blended-learning pedagogy. Existing theories in Distance education (DE) specifically interaction and communication theory proposed by Holmberg (1995), autonomy and independence theory based on the work Wedemeyer (1981) and Moore (1994) and community of inquiry (CoI) model contributed by Garrison, Anderson, and Archer (2000) are detected to provide a general picture on how practices in teaching-learning provisions and DE theories may inform each other. Qualitative case study was employed to optimize my understanding of the blended learning phenomena gathered through semi-structured interview and documentary analysis. Whilst they operated in different educational settings, these two universities shared similarities. They have developed blended learning pedagogy to promote students' learning classified into three dimensions: printed learning materials, F2F sessions, and online learning. Printed materials, however, may be identified as a major one and online learning have been regarded as strategic policies for further development. They have been equipped with their VLE; the use of VLE helped these universities to provide two-way traffic communications. They have been involved in developing internet-based instruction to widening access and to meet challenges for better future.


(1) Tree growth and nutrient content of leaves as related to the soil reaction were observed with one year old trees of apple, grape and Japanese pear planted in pots with volcanic-ash soil. (2) For an adjustment of soil reaction, ground limestone and slag were used respectively, though the latter contained silica and magnesia beside lime. (3) In every species, tree growth was much promoted by an addition of either these two lime fertilizers. In apples and grapes, the effect of slag was more striking than that of limestone, especially the tendency being conspicuous in apples, while in pears no distinct difference was found between the two fertilizers. (4) As a result of leaf analysis, N content of leaves decreased with an increase of slag supplied. P content of leaves increased slightly in accordance with an increased application of limestone and of slag. However, no relation existed between the K content of leaves and the amount of the lime fertilizers added. The content of Ca, Mg and SiO2 was closely related to the amount of limestone and of silica-slag supplied, especially Ca to the limestone, and Mg and SiO2 to the slag. (5) Finally it is noticeable that growth of apple trees was correlated intensively with the content of Mg and SiO2 in leaves. And it might be a reason why slag was much superior to limestone as a fertilizer for apples planted in the volcanic-ash soil.


A series of monoclonal Antibodies (McAb) against six main respiratory tract viruses(RTV)--respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Influenza A virus (FluA), influenza B virus(FluB), parainfluenza virus type 1.2.3 (PIV1.2.3) were developed, and were used in APAAP bridge-enzyme assay to rapidly detect the antigens of RTV. Total 260 samples of nasopharyngeal exfoliated cells were collected from young men in Beijing Army suffered from respiratory tract virus infections. The results showed that 18 cases were tested with FluA antigen; 10 with PIV2 antigen and 1 with FluB and another with RSV antigen, respectively. All the positive samples were determined by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and blocking test and replacement test. It is suggested that the method used in the study be effective in clinical rapid diagnosis and epidemiological survey.


During the last seven years 118 patients with histologic diagnosis of malign tumor in the liver were examinated by selective angiography, amongst other diagnostic recourses: 14 patients had primitive tumors: 12 hepatoma, 1 cholangiocarcinoma and 1 hepatocholangiocarcinoma. In 12 patients resection was contraindicated preoperative by the angiographic demonstration of the extension of the tumor to both lobes. In 1 patient with cholangiocarcinoma, the tumor was resected with an outlive of 4 years. In 1 patient with hepatoma very vascular a hard league of the right hepatic artery was done. Two months later angiography demonstrated a rich revascularisation of the tumor with development of the colateral circulation. In our experience the hiper or hipovascularization is related with the degree of fibrosis which accompanies the tumor and no so much with the histologic type, the degrees of differentiation or the existence of intratumoral necrosis. Emphasis is been done to show the diagnostical difficulties of hipovascularized tumors and the importance of angiography in the preoperative evaluation of hepatic tumors.


Background Around 5 00 000 people die in England and Wales each year, leaving approximately 2 million people experiencing close bereavement. Around 15% will develop a complex grief reaction requiring specialist support. GPs are often the first point of contact in the health services for bereavement support: GP consultations increase after a loss. GPs therefore have a central role in providing bereavement support and in identifying those at higher risk. Experiences and perceptions of primary care bereavement support are not well defined. Methods Sixty three recently bereaved people were recruited via Registry Officers at the death registration appointment. A sub-sample of 14 participated in in-depth interviews within five months of bereavement, exploring their perceptions and experiences of primary care bereavement support. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim, and analysed using a framework approach. Results The nature of grief varied across the sample, shaped by prior losses, relationship with the deceased, and presence of sequential losses. GP support was one aspect of a broader picture of support provision. Barriers and facilitators of the use of primary care for bereavement support included: difficulty with securing appointments, prior relationships with the GP, the appropriateness of accessing general practice for a non-physical complaint, and expectations of how the GP might help. These served to either encourage or discourage potential help-seeking in bereavement. When the bereaved were registered at a different GP practice from one that had provided consistent GP palliative care for the deceased, bereavement care was particularly difficult. Discussion Understanding bereaved peoples' perceptions of the role of the GP and the wider primary care team as a source of bereavement support, and the factors encouraging or discouraging such help-seeking in bereavement can enable primary care to optimise the provision of person-centred bereavement support.


Observations have been made of the electrical conductivity as a function of time in single-crystal Bi2Te3 during copper plating. The diffusion coefficient along the basal planes is so high that the copper is deposited internally. It has been found that there is a saturation effect which depends on the plating current density, as well as a change of conductivity when the plating current is reduced to zero. These effects can be explained in terms of an outward migration of copper into the electrolyte that is proportional to the copper concentration in the Bi2Te3. A moderately good fit to the conductivity-time curves can be obtained assuming that each copper atom in Bi2Te3 donates 0·65 electrons. A rather better fit might be obtained if it were supposed that each copper atom donated one electron, but it would also be necessary to assume that the diffusion coefficient has only half the accepted value.


Total body size for arboreal vipers is normally biased toward small males and larger females. We evaluated sexual dimorphism in adult and sub-adult Trimeresurus macrops , a small, arboreal green pit viper commonly found in Southeast Asia, but severely understudied. We evaluated morphological characters of 139 adult T. macrops obtained by active and opportunistic searches at Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve in northeast Thailand, from May 2012 to October 2014. We compared 7 external characters including residual index (R i ) and scaled mass index (SMI) between male and female T. macrops . Body length measurements and mass differed between males and females. Females had greater snout-vent length, body mass and head length and width, while males had greater tail lengths. A postocular stripe was always present on males, but never on females. Male head size was negatively correlated with SMI, which may reveal intersexual competition in T. macrops . Sexually dimorphic characters in T. macrops may have evolved through intraspecific resource partitioning.


A class of recursively enumerable sets may be classified either as an object in itself — the range of a two-place function in the obvious way — or by means of the corresponding set of indices. The latter approach is not only more precise but also, as we show below, provides an alternative method for solving certain problems on recursively enumerable sets and their degrees of unsolvability. The main result of the present paper is the computation, for every recursively enumerable degree a, of the degree (in fact, isomorphism-type) of the index-set corresponding to the recursively enumerable sets of degree a: its degree is a(3). It follows from a theorem of Sacks [10] that the degrees of such index-sets are exactly those which are ^ 0<3) and recursively enumerable in 0(3). In particular, this proves Rogers' conjecture [9] that the index-set corresponding to 0(1) is of degree 0<4); partial results on this problem have been obtained by Rogers [9] and by Lacombe (unpublished). The most interesting immediate consequence of our result is a different proof of Sacks' theorem [11] that the recursively enumerable degrees are dense. We refer the reader to Kleene [5] and Sacks [10] for our basic terminology and notation. A useful summary of many results which connect degrees with the arithmetical hierarchy is presented in [9], which is a good background to the present paper since without it the latter would not exist. For an assortment of results on classes of recursively enumerable sets the reader is referred to [2]. If e is a number and A is a set, then we define the partial function 0^ by setting :


Learning in complex, changing environments requires methods that are able to tolerate noise (less than perfect feedback) and drift (concepts that change over time). These two aspects of complex environments interact with each other: when some particular learned predictor fails to correctly predict the expected outcome (or when the outcome occurs without having been preceded by the learned predictor), a learner must be able to determine whether the situation is an instance of noise or an indication that the concept is beginning to drift. We present a learning method that is able to learn complex Boolean characterizations while tolerating noise and drift. An analysis of the algorithm illustrates why it has these desirable behaviors, and empirical results from an implementation (called STAGGER) are presented to show its ability to track changing concepts over time.


For incremental stretch-expanding of sheet metal, the reduction of tool-path schedule is recognized because numerous tool-paths are generally necessary for producing the required profile. A suitable tool-path schedule has been found for hemispherical shells, but the tool-path schedule for hemi-ellipsoidal shells has not been solved yet. In order to reduce the tool-path schedules for producing the hemi-ellipsoidal shells, a possibility of two path method in which a hemi-ellipsoidal shell is formed from a flat blank by means of conical stretch-expanding at first stage and subsequent hemi-ellipsoidal stretch-expanding at second stage was experimentally investigated using blanks of 1100 commercially pure aluminum sheet. Experimental results showed that the occurrence condition of unfavorable deformation modes, such as rupture and rising, depended much on the condition of conical shell height at first stage; by selecting suitable condition of the height, the hemi-ellipsoidal shell could be formed from the aluminum blank.


Surface emissions of CO2 from fossil fuel combustion (FFCO2) are estimated for the Netherlands for the period of May 2006–June 2009 using ambient atmospheric observations taken at station Lutjewad in the Netherlands (6◦21E, 53◦24N, 1 m. a.s.l.). Measurements of 14C on 2-weekly integrations of CO2 and CO mixing ratios are combined to construct a quasi-continuous proxy record (ΦFFCO2 ∗ ) from which surface fluxes (ΦFFCO2 ∗ ) are determined using the 222Rn flux method. The trajectories of the air masses are analysed to determine emissions, which are representative for the Netherlands. We compared our observationally based estimates to the national inventories and we evaluated our methodology using the regional atmospheric transport model REMO. Based on 3 yr of observations we find annual mean ΦFFCO2∗ emissions of (4.7 ± 1.6) kt km−2 a−1 which is in very good agreement with the Dutch inventories of (4.5 ± 0.2) kt km−2 a−1 (average of 2006–2008).


We explored the AIDS knowledge and attitudes of long-distance (non-Saudi) and in-city (Saudi) bus drivers in Saudi Arabia. The 69 non-Saudi drivers tended to score higher on knowledge than the 40 Saudi drivers although there were several gaps in their knowledge. As regards attitude, more Saudis knew that chastity could protect against AIDS and both groups tended to think that they were not the kind of people to get AIDS. Intensive health education and follow up is highly recommended for this sector of workers.


Some recent studies of religion show that the concept of 'religion' is formed through the historical practices of modern Europe and what is called 'the essence of religion' is only a historical construct. This paper draws a comparison between Paul Tillich and Ernst Cassirer from the view of their concepts of religion. Tillich, who is a transcendent realist, considers religion to be the essence of culture, constructed by the religious reality and cultural functions of human beings. Cassirer, a critical idealist, thinks that religion is differentiated from myth, an original symbolic form of the human spirit, and becomes independent and autonomous as a cultural field in which emotion makes a critical role. Their concepts of religion differ, but they are alike in their conceptual arrangement. They suggest that emotion and culture are two critical points of religion in the modern age.


1. Definition and History 2. Why Study Taphonomy? 3. Objects 3.1. Biological Remains 3.2. Artefacts 4. Factors of Accumulation and Alteration 4.1. Biological Factors 4.2. Physical Factors 5. Methods 5.1. Sample Collect 5.2. In the Lab 5.2.1. Macroscopic Observations 5.2.2. Microscopic Observations 5.2.3. Mineralogy Crystallography 5.2.4. Biogeochemistry 5.3. Experimental Taphonomy 6. Some Examples 6.1. Color Changes 6.2. Structural Alterations in Bone and Teeth 6.3. Chemical Alterations in Bone and Teeth 6.4. Various Examples 7. Conclusion Acknowledgements Glossary Bibliography Biographical Sketches


Two clinical cases of successful thrombus extraction in patients of 64 and 67 years old with acute ischemic strokes due to occlusion of large intra- and extracranial arteries are presented.


This study examines competencies of Human Resource (HR) professionals in the manufacturing companies of Malaysia. The Human Resource Competency Survey (HRCS) model is used in this study. The competencies that are examined in this study are business knowledge, strategic contribution, HR delivery, personal credibility and HR technology. All these competencies will be tested whether or not they are significantly related to a firm's performance. Furthermore, researcher wanted to study the relationship of these competencies with variables such as experience, education level, firm's size and salary of the sample. The sample employed here consists of HR professionals from Malaysian manufac-turing companies in Johor, the southernmost state of Malaysia.


A rapidly increasing effort to merge functional community ecology and phylogenetic biology has increased our understanding of community assembly. However, studies using both phylogenetic- and trait-based methods have been mainly conducted in old-growth forests, with fewer studies in human-disturbed communities, which play an increasingly important role in providing ecosystem services as primary forests are degraded. We used data from 18 1-ha plots in tropical old-growth forests and secondary forests with different disturbance histories (logging and shifting cultivation) and vegetation types (tropical lowland and montane forests) on Hainan Island, southern China. The distributions of 11 functional traits were compared among these six forest types. We used a null model approach to assess the effects of disturbance regimes on variation in response and effect traits and community phylogenetic structure across different stem sizes (saplings, treelets, and adult trees) and spatial scales (10–50 m). We found significant differences in the distribution of functional traits in highly disturbed lowland sites versus other forest types. Many individuals in highly disturbed lowland sites were deciduous, spiny, with non-fleshy fruits and seeds dispersed passively or by wind, and low SLA. The response traits of coexisting species were clustered in all sites except for highly disturbed lowland sites where evenness was evident. There were different distributions of effect traits for saplings and treelets among different forest types but adult trees showed stronger clustering of trait values with increasing spatial scale among all forest types. Phylogenetic clustering predominated across all size classes and spatial scales in the highly disturbed lowland sites, and evenness in other forest types. High disturbance can lead to abiotic filtering, generating a community dominated by closely related species with disturbance-adapted traits, where biotic interactions play a relatively minor role. In lightly disturbed and old growth forests, multiple processes simultaneously drive the community assembly, but biotic processes dominate at the fine scale.


Abstract Objectives This study aimed to provide long-term clinical data about an innovative epidermal radioisotope therapy called Rhenium-SCT® (Skin Cancer Therapy) for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), based on the use of the non-sealed beta emitter rhenium-188. Material and methods 52 NMSC patients with a mean age of 71.7 years were treated with rhenium-188 skin cancer therapy between the years 2005 and 2014. An acryl matrix containing rhenium-188 was applied on a plastic foil covering the tumor. The treatment time for reaching a radiation dose of 50 Gy was calculated by a software program. Patients' characteristics and clinical follow-up data were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Results Overall 55 lesions (32 BCC, 19 SCC, 2 M. Bowen and 2 extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD)) mainly in the head and neck region (72.3%) were treated. The average size of the irradiation area was 9.79 cm2 and the mean treatment time 46.35 min. All lesions showed a complete remission after a follow-up period between 3 and more than 12 months. No complications or other post-interventional problems were reported. Conclusions Rhenium-SCT® is considered as an effective, rapid, safe, painless treatment mostly performed in a single therapeutic session, regardless of the shape complexity, anatomical site and number of lesions.


Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are quite common in aging males and these affect the quality of life of an individual. Among various etiologies of LUTS, benign hyperplasia (BPH) has a high prevalence. The term Mutraghata stands for low urine output due to obstruction in the passage of urine.  Mutraghata, a disease of Mutravaha Srotas (urinary system) described in Ayurveda, closely resembles with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) of the modern medicine. It affects men above the age of 40 years. Histo-pathologically the prevalence of BPH is age dependent, initiate usually after 40 years of age. More than 50% of men in their 60s and upto 90% of men in their 70s and 80s have some symptoms of BPH. In contemporary science conservative and surgical treatment are given to the patients suffering with BPH.


An understanding of the rate of reaction of nitric oxide (NO) with oxygen in aqueous solutions is needed in assessing the various actions of NO in the body. A novel approach was developed for studying the kinetics of this reaction, which permitted simultaneous and continuous measurements of the concentrations of NO and the principal product, nitrite (NO2-). Nitric oxide was measured using a chemiluminescence detector, with continuous sampling achieved by diffusion of NO through a membrane fitted into the base of a small, stirred reactor. The results with various initial NO and O2 concentrations confirmed that the rate of reaction is second-order in NO and first-order in O2. The rate of reaction of NO was described by the expression 4k1 [NO]2[O2], where k1 was (2.1 +/- 0.4) x 10(6) M-2 s-1 at 23 degrees C and (2.4 +/- 0.3) x 10(6) M-2 s-1 at 37 degrees C. The value of k1 was the same at pH 4.9 and 7.4. The rate of formation of NO2- equaled the rate of reaction of NO (within experimental uncertainty of a few percent), and there was no detectable formation of nitrate (NO3-). This confirmed that NO and NO2- were the only NOx species present in significant amounts and supported the validity of pseudo-steady-state assumptions for NO2 and N2O3, which are intermediates in the conversion of NO to NO2-.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Topographic investigations of surfaces of melt-textured GdBa2Cu3Ox (GdBCO) samples were performed by means of AFM and STM at ambient conditions. Pure GdBCO is found to exhibit mainly nanoclusters, while GdBCO doped with ZnO nanoparticles reveals the nanostripe patterns as observed earlier in other high-Tc cuprates. Details of the nanostripe patterns are investigated. Using the electron backscatter diffraction technique and polarization microscopy, we could determine the crystallographic orientation of the nanostripes and their interaction with the always present twin boundary structure.


A survey of government action relating to fisheries protection, the maritime boundary dividing Australia and East Timor, regulation of offshore oil and gas operations, and the IMO Convention on Harmful Anti-fouling.


followed by administration of prednisolone (50 mg/day) and melphalan (6 mg for 10 days) each month with monthly intravenous injections of cyclophosphamide (300 mg). Thereafter, the patient showed gradual improvement in motor, respiratory, and renal functions (figure C; table). Four months after treatment, the tissue pressure of the quadriceps femoris in the supine position fell to 47 mm Hg. Serum IgA concentrations were consistently less than 200 mg/dl. There were no serious side effects of DMSO and an unpleasant breath odour was the patient's main concern. Nine months after treatment, we noted a levelling off or a slight decline in some variables. Sixteen months after treatment, the patient aspirated his secretions and died. AL-amyloidosis results from conversion by proteolysis of monoclonal light chains into twisted ,B-pleated sheet fibrils,4 which can be recognised by Congo red staining. Light chain deposition disease is another pathological state associated with plasma cell dyscrasia.5 In our patient with IgA A plasma cell dyscrasia and skeletal muscle pseudohypertrophy, simultaneous deposition of AL-amyloid and A light chains' were shown by amyloid staining, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. Precise mechanisms for physical disability in amyloid associated muscle pseudohypertrophy remain unclear. Most attention to date has been directed toward the weakness.' A possible factor causing motor impairment in our patient was a decreased range of motion, predominantly affecting proximal joints. Involvement of shoulder joints showing "shoulder pad sign" is pathognomonic of amyloidosis.4 Another factor hampering mobility is increased muscle tissue pressure reflected as wooden firmness. Increased muscle pressure is not produced by amyloid infiltration alone' but may be related to deposition of chondroitin4-sulphuric acid and silicon in muscles,' tense muscle fascia secondary to amyloid deposition, or impaired tissue perfusion by amyloid angiopathy. The pressure is further increased by muscle activity to the point that it interferes with muscle blood flow. The goal of treatment in amyloidosis is to prevent further deposition of amyloid and to promote its resorption. In our patient, plasmapheresis and DMSO treatment resulted in an appreciable level of improvement in motor, respiratory, and renal functions. The ability of DMSO to make amyloid fibrils soluble for digestion has been demonstrated.4 Amyloid/light chain-derived materials dislodged from various organs are likely to impair renal function. Therefore, to remove these breakdown products and the precursor monoclonal immunoglobulins, plasmapheresis was combined with DMSO. Because of the grave prognosis and disabling symptoms of amyloid associated muscle pseudohypertrophy, a trial of plasmapheresis and DMSO may be warranted even though the improvement may be moderate and of limited duration. A KOMIYAMA Department ofNeurology, Yokohama City University School ofMedicine, Yokohama, _Japan, M KIJIMA M TAKAHASHI Department of Neurology, Chiba Rousai Hospital, Ichihara, J7apan S ISHIDA Y ONO Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chiba Rousai Hospital, Ichihara, Japan Correspondence to: Dr Atsushi Komiyama, Department of Neurology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Japan.


Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of liver failure that is prevalent in 70% of people with diabetes. Human genetic studies (i.e. GWAS) have identified dozens of potentially causal genes/loci increasing NAFLD susceptibility but translation into actionable drug targets has been impeded by a lack of cellular and molecular mechanistic studies. To address this knowledge gap, we developed a platform for high-throughput genetic perturbation and assessment of fatty acid-triggered lipid accumulation (i.e. hepatic steatosis) in human hepatocytes by combining mechanized cell culture in multi-well plates with high-content microscopy and automated image analysis. We then deployed this platform to screen 106 genes nominated by NAFLD biomarker GWAS, knocking out each gene via CRISPR and scoring the phenotypic changes of the resulting engineered cells in response to oleate treatment. Analysis of over 24,000 images across all gene knockouts revealed 32 genes whose deletion caused significant alterations in cellular lipid droplet (LD) numbers and/or droplet size distribution. Here, we highlight ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 G2 (UBE2G2), whose knockout robustly increases the size of cellular LDs that form in response to oleate stimulation in both the primary screen and subsequent validation. UBE2G2 localizes to the LD surface and is essential for the sterol-induced degradation of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. Thus we propose that deletion of UBE2G2 may increase cholesterol derivative content in LDs, thereby increasing LD size. In summary, we demonstrate the successful development and use of a platform for genetic screening of hepatocyte steatosis in vitro and identify multiple NAFLD-associated genes of previously unknown function that likely operate during this early stage of NAFLD pathogenesis. We acknowledge input: Seunghan Lee, Lifeng Wang, David Frederick, Alessandro Pocai

 S. Hu: None. S. Khandavilli: None. R.Y. Diao: None. J. Raum: Employee; Janssen Research & Development, LLC. N. Azhar: Employee; Janssen Research & Development, LLC. I. Bakaj: Employee; Janssen Research & Development, LLC. G. Cowley: Employee; Janssen Research & Development, LLC. B. Rady: Employee; Janssen Research & Development, LLC. D.F. Reilly: Employee; Janssen Research & Development, LLC. A.R. Majithia: None.

 National Institutes of Health (RDK01DK123422)


Abstract This article analyses the role of Kaingang ritual life in understanding the social, political, and cosmological dimensions of their relations to alterity, which requires contextualizing sources and historical processes. I reflect on aspects of the funeral rites in historical sources, reported along with war "feasts", both of which concern intervillage life. These rituals hence pay a fundamental role in understanding the performances carried out in the Kujá Meeting (Morro do Osso Village) and in the Kiki Ritual (Xapecó Indigenous Land). The ethnography focuses on the rules of etiquette and the ritual prestations that guide relations between the exogamous moieties. Inspired by Americanist debates, one of its aims is to highlight the place of laughter as an alternative to relations of avoidance, arguing that humour in these societies has a range of mediatory roles, particularly in what concerns the incorporation of external powers and foreigners into the interior of the collectivity.


Liquid biopsies refer to the isolation and analysis of tumor-derived biological material from body fluids, most commonly blood, in order to provide clinically valuable information for the management of cancer patients. Their non-invasive nature allows to overcome the limitations of tissue biopsy and complement the latter in guiding therapeutic decision-making. In the past years, several studies have demonstrated that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection can be used in the clinical setting to improve patient prognosis and monitor therapy response, especially in metastatic cancers. With the advent of significant technological advances in assay development, ctDNA can now be accurately and reliably identified in early-stage cancers despite its low levels in the bloodstream. In this review, we discuss the most important studies that highlight the potential clinical utility of ctDNA in early-stage breast cancer focusing on early diagnosis, detection of minimal residual disease and prediction of metastatic relapse. We also offer a concise description of the most sensitive techniques that are deemed appropriate for ctDNA detection in early-stage cancer and we examine their advantages and disadvantages, as they have been employed in various studies. Finally, we discuss future perspectives on how ctDNA could be better integrated into the everyday oncology practice.


Image segmentation and its performance evaluation are very difficult but important problems in computer vision. A major challenge in segmentation evaluation comes from the fundamental conflict between generality and objectivity: For general-purpose segmentation, the ground truth and segmentation accuracy may not be well defined, while embedding the evaluation in a specific application, the evaluation results may not be extensible to other applications. We present a new benchmark to evaluate five different image segmentation methods according to their capability to separate a perceptually salient structure from the background with a relatively small number of segments. This way, we not only find a large variety of images that satisfy the requirement of good generality, but also construct ground-truth segmentations to achieve good objectivity. We also present a special strategy to address two important issues underlying this benchmark: (1) most image-segmentation methods are not developed to directly extract a single salient structure; (2) many real images have multiple salient structures. We apply this benchmark to evaluate and compare the performance of several state-of-the-art image segmentation methods, including the normalized-cut method, the watershed method, the efficient graph-based method, the mean-shift method, and the ratio-cut method.


A growth factor (TJF) for a malo-lactic fermentation bacterium has been isolated from tomato juice, and found to be a β-glucoside. The NMR spectra of TJF and its acetate revealed that the glucosyl residue linked to the hydroxyl group at C-2′ or C-4′ of d- or l-pantothenic acid moiety. Then, 2′-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-dl-pantothenic acid (I), 4′-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-dl-pantothenic acid (II) and 4′-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-d(R)-pantothenic acid (II-a) were synthesized, and Il-a and 4′-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-l-pantothenic acid (II-b) were obtained by the optical resolution of the acetate of II. Among the above compounds, II-a was identical with natural TJF regarding to the biological activity, NMR and ORD spectra, and thin-layer chromatography.


Collaborative engineering design involves various stakeholders with different perspectives. The design process is relatively complex and difficult to handle. Various conflicts always happen among the design tasks and affect the design team performance. Therefore, to represent collaborative design process and capture the evolution of design perspectives in a structured way is critical to manage the design conflicts and improve the collaborative design productivity. This paper provides a generic design collaborative design process representation model based on a Socio-Technical design framework. This model has a topological format and adopts process analysis techniques from Petri Nets. By addressing both the technical and social aspects of collaborative design activities, it provides a mechanism to identify the interdependencies among design tasks and perspectives of different stakeholders. Based on this design process model, a methodology of detecting and handling the design conflicts is developed to support collaborative design coordination.


American Love Stories argues for the continuity between two traditions often taken to be antagonistic: the sentimental novel of the mid-nineteenth century and the high modernism of Henry James. This continuity emerges in the love stories tracked here, from Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin and Elizabeth Stuart Phelps's The Gates Ajar, through Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Blithedale Romance and Herman Melville's Pierre, to Elizabeth Stoddard's The Morgesons and James's The Golden Bowl. In these love stories--the other side of the gothic tradition described by Leslie Fiedler--desire is performed rather than repressed, and the self is less a private container than a public exhibit. This literary-historical claim works in tandem with the dissertation's argument for revising narrative ethics. The recent ethical turn in literary criticism understands literature as practically engaging the emotions, especially varieties of love, that shape our social lives. It figures reading as a love story in its own right: an encounter with a text that might grant us intimacy with an authorial persona or else spurn our desire to grasp its alterity. Narrative ethics thereby enables literary criticism to speak to moral and political questions about how reading fiction might shape our lived experience of self and other. And narrative ethics offers an antidote to methodologies that would reduce a text to a cultural symptom, giving literary critics, instead, theoretical tools to evaluate the sense of otherness and intimacy that reading can evoke. But in imagining the text-as-other, narrative ethics relies on a deep model of subjectivity that isolates the text from its cultural moment. Historicist methods offer an instructive supplement by reading selves and texts alike as flatter entities embedded in discursive networks. Maintaining narrative ethics' notion of the text as the other, this dissertation employs historicist techniques to read novels as thoroughly engaged with their cultural milieu. The dissertation tracks the novels' preoccupations, which direct attention toward surrounding discourses like religious devotional guides, art criticism, and interior decoration. One payoff of this hybrid methodology is to put into conversation texts that have often been divorced from each other in the criticism and thus to bring to light overlooked aspects of each. Read as a starting point for Jamesian psychological realism, sentimental love looks less like an ideological smokescreen, as it can in historicist criticism, and more like a viable description of self-other relations. When James is read as an inheritor of the sentimental mode, his self-conscious difficulty, highlighted in narrative ethics, gets complicated by his relish for the scenic and the melodramatic. Further, by recapturing the historical antecedents of the American love story, this dissertation provides an intellectual history of narrative ethics' commitment to an ideal of reading that is deep and emotional. The dissertation finds sources for this ideal in mid-nineteenth century Protestant guides urging believers to read the Bible deeply, as a love letter from God. Finally, this hybrid methodology tracks in the love stories themselves the persistence of a version of selfhood in the American tradition that is no less lovable for being more surface than depth. This model of subjectivity, and the methodology it sponsors, enables narrative ethics to account for a fuller range of self-other encounters. The text emerges as an other which is at once culturally determined and emotionally compelling.


Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with obesity and hypercholesterolemia. In addition, total fat and folate intake have been associated with NAFLD. Aims: We investigated risk factors for NAFLD among individuals of largely low socioeconomic status, and whether these associations differed by race. Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted within the Southern Community Cohort Study. Through linkage of the cohort with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes were used to identify incident NAFLD cases. Controls were matched 4:1 to cases on enrollment age, sex, and race. A logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios for the associations of NAFLD with covariates of interest. Results: Neither total fat nor folate intake was significantly associated with NAFLD. Hypercholesterolemia (odds ratio 1.21) and body mass index (75th vs. 25th percentile) for blacks (odds ratio 1.96) and whites (odds ratio 2.33) were associated with an increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. No significant interaction with race for any of the studied variables was noted. Conclusions: Both hypercholesterolemia and increasing body mass index, but not total fat and folate intake, were risk factors for NAFLD in the Southern Community Cohort Study.


In the public debate on taxation, fairness has become a dominant issue over the past few years. In recent communications, the European Commission refers to 'fairness' as well and uses it as a benchmark. Legal philosophers have developed a definition of the principle of fairness which focuses on the relations between tax payers and expectations they have of each other. It is this concept of fairness which seems to be dominant in the current public debate on fairness: it is not so much the tax system itself which is debated, but the use some tax payers make of this tax system resulting in other tax payers having to pay more. The question is whether we can distinguish such a principle of fairness in EU tax law as well. This paper analyses this question by taking as a starting point the discussion on fairness in legal philosophy. Next, it is analyses whether this principle is used in EU legislation and by the European Commission. Finally case law of the ECJ is analysed: does the principle of fairness as developed by legal philosophers and used by the European Commission play a role in case law of the ECJ, in other words, is fairness a legal principle of EU tax law? It is concluded that the principle of fairness as developed by Hart and Rawls is currently not a principle of EU tax law. The author does not expect it to become a principle of EU tax law soon. However, the concept of fairness and the emphasis which is put on it both by the European Commission, politicians and NGOs might influence the borders and impact of the principle of abuse of law which can be regarded as a restricted reflection of the principle of fairness.


Summary.  Type 2N von Willebrand's disease (VWD) is characterized by a factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency and a low FVIII/VWF ratio related to a markedly decreased affinity of von Willebrand factor (VWF) to FVIII. Type 2N VWD is diagnosed using assays allowing the measurement of plasma VWF capacity to bind FVIII (VWF:FVIIIB). These assays, crucial in order to distinguish type 2N VWD patients from mild haemophiliacs A and haemophilia A carriers, remain exclusively homemade and limited to laboratories possessing a high level of expertise in VWD. We evaluated the first commercial ELISA (Asserachrom® VWF:FVIIIB; Stago) comparated to a reference method in a multicentric study involving 205 subjects: 60 healthy volunteers, 37 haemophiliacs A, 17 haemophilia A carriers, 37 patients with type 2N VWD, 9 heterozygous carriers for a 2N mutation and 45 patients with miscellaneous other types of VWD (all previously characterized). A diluted plasma sample adjusted to 10 IU dL−1 of VWF:Ag was incubated with a rabbit antihuman VWF polyclonal antibody. After removing the endogenous FVIII, recombinant FVIII (rFVIII) was added and bound rFVIII was quantified using a peroxydase‐conjugated mouse antihuman FVIII monoclonal antibody. The intra‐assay and inter‐assay reproducibility was satisfactory. In all subgroups, both methods were well correlated. All type 2N VWD patients exhibited a markedly decreased VWF:FVIIIB (lower than 15%) and all heterozygous 2N carriers had a moderately decreased VWF:FVIIIB (between 30% and 65%). All controls (healthy subjects, haemophiliacs A and haemophilia A carriers) had a normal VWF:FVIIIB (higher than 80%) except one healthy volunteer and three haemophiliacs who exhibited a moderately decreased VWF:FVIIIB suggesting a heterozygous status for a 2N mutation. In conclusion, the Asserachrom® VWF:FVIIIB is easy to perform, standardized and accurate for type 2N VWD diagnosis with a 100% sensitivity and specificity.


The effect of Eu2O3 concentration on the luminescence properties of double perovskite (cubic) Sr2−xEuxZnMoO6 phosphors was thoroughly investigated using different synthesizing temperatures. Phosphors with the composition Sr2−xEuxZnMoO6, where Eu2O3 was substituted for SrO and x was changed from 0 to 0.12, were synthesized by the solid-state method at temperatures of 900–1200 ◦C, respectively. Analysis of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed that even when the synthesizing temperature was 1100 ◦C, secondary or unknown phases were observed in Sr2−xEuxZnMoO6 ceramic powders. The effect of the concentration of Eu3+ ions on the luminescence properties of the Sr2−xEuxZnMoO6 phosphors was readily observable because no characteristic emission peak was observed in the Sr2ZnMoO6 phosphor. Two characteristic emission peaks at 597 and 616 nm were observed, which correspond to the D0–F1 and D0–F2 transitions of Eu3+ ions, respectively. The two characteristic emission peaks of the Sr2−xEuxZnMoO6 phosphors were apparently influenced by the synthesizing temperature and the concentration of Eu3+ ions. When x was larger than 0.08, a concentration quenching effect of Eu3+ ions in the Sr2−xEuxZnMoO6 phosphors could be observed. The lifetime of the Sr2−xEuxZnMoO6 phosphors decreased as the synthesizing temperature increased. A linear relation between temperature and lifetime was obtained by using a fitting curve of t = −0.0016 × T + 3.543, where t was lifetime and T was synthesizing temperature.


Early fluctuations of the ST-segment elevation indicating intermittent opening and reocclusion of the infarct artery has been well documented by angiographic monitoring in individual acute myocardial infarction patients undergoing thrombolytic therapy. However, the frequency of such episodes has not been studied in a consecutive patient group. Furthermore, it is not known what impact this finding has on the reinfarction risk during hospitalization and on left ventricular healing. The present investigation included 79 patients with acute myocardial infarction (pain < or = 6 h). Continuous Holter monitoring of the infarct-related ST elevation was initiated before or directly after starting thrombolytic therapy. During the 24-h observation period, 34 patients (43%) showed episodes of recurrent ST elevation after an initial resolution (group 1). Among those without episodes, ST elevation resolved within 4 h in 34 (43%, group 2) and persisted > or = 4 h in 11 (14%, group 3). Episodes of re-elevation were more frequent during the first 4 h (0.25 episodes per hour) than in the late part of the observation period (0.04 episodes per hour). Most episodes were transient and short lasting; only nine patients showed persistent re-elevations longer than 60 min. During hospitalization, group 1 patients had a higher incidence of reinfarctions and severe ischemic events than those without episodes (group 1 12/34 (35%) vs. group 2 4/34 (12%) vs. group 3 1/11 (9%), p = 0.03).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Objectives: Usual short- to mid-term vascular accesses for oncologic patients include the peripherally inserted central catheter and non-tunnelled centrally inserted central catheters, inserted in the supraclavicular or infraclavicular area. Peripherally inserted central catheters can be restrictive in active patients; supraclavicular non-tunnelled centrally inserted central catheters are not ideal in terms of exit site location and cosmesis, while infraclavicular non-tunnelled centrally inserted central catheters may be associated with puncture-related complications. In this pilot study, we have evaluated the off-label use of peripherally inserted central catheters as a tunnelled supraclavicular centrally inserted central catheter. Methods: Ten patients were recruited for this prospective study. A non-cuffed, power injectable peripherally inserted central catheter was inserted via a short subcutaneous tunnel into the internal jugular vein using the peel-away sheath and introducer as a tunneller. Puncture wounds were closed with tissue glue. Patients were followed up for comfort scores, dwell time and complications. Results: The median dwell time was 94 days (mean of 113 days). One catheter was removed due to systemic fungemia, resulting in an acceptable complication rate of 0.97 per 1000 catheter days.Mean patient-reported comfort scores was 16 (out of 20). Pressurised injections for computer tomography imaging were performed in five patients without complications. Conclusion: Despite limited numbers, this method appears to be safe and well accepted with low complication rates. This modified vascular access is low profile, easily concealed, readily removable and compatible with pressure injector and uses a commonly found catheter in a modified fashion. Larger prospective trials will be needed to ascertain if it can be a standard of care for oncological patients.


Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a gram-negative halophilic bacterium, first identified as a cause of food-borne illness in Japan in 1950, is widely disseminated in estuarine, marine, and coastal environments throughout the world. As one of major pathogens, V. parahaemolyticus can cause bacterial food poisoning and threaten the public health. V. parahaemolyticus isolates are multiple diverse genotype and serotypes faster adapting to the versatile environment. Molecular genetic analysis showed that the genetic diversity may be acquired as a result of gene recombination or horizontal gene transfer. This paper reviewed the finding, distribution, epidemiological characteristics and mutation molecular epidemiological characteristics of V. parahaemolyticus, particularly the global dissemination of pandemic serovar O3:K6 clone, so as to provide evidences 徐苗苗等: 副溶血性弧菌 Vibrio parahaemolyticus O3:K6大流行克隆的溯源 2113 http://journals.im.ac.cn/wswxtbcn for the traceability of the isolates.


The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), originally introduced only three years after women gained the right to vote, has seen a resurgence in interest in the twenty-first century with recent ratifications in Nevada and Illinois. This is in spite of the fact that the version of the ERA these ratifications pertain to, which passed in Congress in 1972, appeared to expire in 1982. This paper seeks to summarize the history and present of the ERA, with particular attention paid to how ratification might affect current hot-button issues such as restrictions on abortion access and transgender rights.


Children's parks are one of the most important public spaces of urban areas. These areas are ideal places for children to do outdoor activities and social connections. In this respect, it is the common area of use for all citizens and should be designed for everyone. In this study, there was explained the importance of play and children's parks and the design principles that should be used to ensure the use of disadvantaged children are presented. The aim of the study is to design a sample playground in Canakkale Kepez district. For this purpose, a project area have determined that has been approved by Kepez Municipality and design stages have been presented and suggestions have been developed. In the first phase of the study, conceptual framework was formed by literature research. In the second stage, a field survey was conducted in Kepez district, where public need for highest, and an area is determined in the vicinity of the housing and school. In the third stage, all the principles which are necessary for the study area have discussed. As a result, the plan view and perspective views of the design project have been drawn and discussed.


Under SL(2,[ital R]) electric-magnetic duality transformations of the Bogomolnyi bound of dilaton-axion black holes is known to be invariant. In this paper we show that this invariance corresponds to the covariance of the [ital N]=4 supersymmetry transformation rules and their parameters. In particular this implies that Killing spinors transform covariantly into Killing spinors. As an example, we work out completely the case of the largest known family of axion-dilaton black holes which is SL(2,[ital R]) invariant, finding the Killing spinors with the announced properties.


Outage detection has been studied from different angles, such as active probing, analysis of background radiations, or control plane information. We approach outage detection from a new perspective. Disco is a detection technique that uses existing long-running TCP connections to identify bursts of disconnections. The benefits are considerable as we can monitor, without adding a single packet to the traffic, Internet-wide swaths of infrastructure that were not monitored previously because they are, for example, not responsive to ICMP probes or behind NATs. With Disco we analyze state changes on connections between RIPE Atlas probes and the RIPE Atlas infrastructure. This data, that is originally logged to monitor probe availability, has a small footprint and is available as a publicly accessible live stream, which makes light-weight near real-time outage detection possible. Probes perform planned traceroute measurements regardless of their connectivity to the RIPE Atlas infrastructure. This gives us a no cost advantage of viewing the outage inside out as the probes experienced it, characterizing the outage after the fact. Thus, we present an outage detection system able to run in near real-time (fast), with a precision of 95% (good), and without generating any new measurement traffic (cheap). We studied historical probe disconnections from 2011 to 2016 and report on the 443 most prominent outages. To validate our results we inspected traceroute results from affected probes and compared our detection to that of Trinocular.


We studied the synthesis of CRP by perfused livers that had been isolated and removed from 15 rabbits at varying intervals after tissue injury. In each instance CRP was synthesized at constant rates, for 3 to 8 hr, without need for further stimulus. Rates of CRP synthesis by perfused livers rose with increasing duration of tissue injury prior to isolation of the livers and correlated strongly with serum CRP levels attained by the time of sacrifice. The observation that CRP is synthesized by perfused livers at constant rates indicates that the continuing increase in rate of CRP synthesis that occurs in rabbits in vivo appears to depend on continuing exposure to factors of extrahepatic origin and that the consequences of exposure to such factors do not persist isolated of the organ.


Background

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common, lethal autosomal-recessive disorder, and is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein (CFTR), an anion channel that is found in epithelial cells lining multiple organs. The most common mutation of CFTR is deletion of phenylalanine at position 508 (CFTR-F508del), which produces a misfolded protein. This misfolded protein is confined in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), ubiquitinated and signaled for degradation via the cytosolic proteasome. Previous studies demonstrating experimental restoration of CFTR-F508del (F508del) trafficking to the plasma membrane showed partial function of the chloride channel, raising therapeutic speculations. However, many mechanisms that underly its degradation is still unclear.

Results

We discovered that the E2 conjugating enzyme, UBE 2L6, aids in the degradation of F508del. We also show that UBE 2L6's interacting E3 ligase, RNF19B, also assists in F508del degradation. We used siRNA-mediated silencing of endogenous UBE 2L6 and RNF19B in the CF human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cell line CFBE-F508del to demonstrate that there is an increase in F508del-CFTR expression. We also co-expressed UBE 2L6 and RNF 19B with F508del in HEK293 cells that demonstrated a decrease in F508del compared to control. Cycloheximide-chase (CHX) experiments using HEK 293 cells overexpressing RNF19B and F508del showed that there was a decrease in F508del half-life. Lastly, using siRNA-mediated silencing of endogenous UBE 2L6 and RNF19B in CFBE-F508del cells increased forskolin-stimulated short-circuit currents. Interestingly, there seemed to be cooperatively larger increases in short-circuit currents in CFBE-F508del cells that were silenced with UBE 2L6 or RNF19B were treated for 24 hours with VX-809.

Conclusion

These data suggest that there is an additional mechanism where the E2 conjugating enzyme, UBE 2L6, and the E3 ubiquitin ligase, RNF19B, is responsible for the ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of the misfolded F508del. This study presents a novel therapeutic strategy to synergistically restore the function of F508del.


Generation of electromagnetic rf radiation under transient photoemission conditions is considered. Analytic expressions are derived for the fields in the far-field zone and for the total radiation-emission efficiency.


This report, commissioned by the City
& Guilds Centre for Skills Development,
comes at a critical time for the UK economy
and its need for a highly skilled workforce.
As the economy begins to recover, part-time,
low-skilled work seems to be on the
increase. If the economy is to successfully
grow, the UK needs more skilled individuals
and more skilled work. This report sets
out outcomes of vocational education
that, we believe, have not previously been
so effectively articulated. We argue that
these outcomes are what employers and
customers value. If employers value these
skills, and better skilled individuals make
for a better workforce, then it is on this
basis that an economy can grow.


The f.c.c. to b.c.c. martensitic transformation in small coherent Fe-Co particles has been induced by applying external stress to single crystals of a Cu-Fe-Co alloy without activating crystal dislocations. Orientation of the stress-induced martensite variants is sensitively dependent on the direction ([416]f or [001]f) and sense (tension or compression) of the applied stress. The experimental results can be well explained by postulating that the applied stress helps the lattice shear deformation involved in the f.c.c. to b.c.c. lattice change.


Background. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common reproductive disorder in premenopausal women. This syndrome is also associated with many metabolic and cardiovascular complications. These complications are major risk factors for renal injury and kidney disease. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the types of functional and structural kidney injuries in a hyperandrogenic female rat model. Methods. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=10 each): control, sham, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Plasma total testosterone and kidney functional indices were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and colorimetric techniques. Ovarian and renal histological changes were also evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively by Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) staining. Results. Plasma total testosterone in the DHEA group increased about 9-fold compared to the control and sham groups. There was also a significant increase in Cr, BUN, and absolute excretion of sodium ion. Insignificant increases in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine flow rate (V0), and absolute excretion of potassium ion were observed in DHEA group compared to other groups. However, significant damages were observed in the glomerular and tubular parts of the kidneys and the follicular parts of the ovaries in DHEA-receiving rats. Conclusion. Hyperandrogenemia is likely to cause systemic abnormalities through a variety of mechanisms, followed by obvious destruction of kidney and ovarian tissues. Accordingly, DHEA administration provides a useful animal model for studying the mechanism of PCOS-mediated renal injury. Practical Implications. The present study Findings can be helpful in identifying the mechanism of PCOS-induced renal injury, especially in younger women.


This article examines the experience of cohorts of young American men to see how and why their employer-provided health insurance coverage has changed over time. It explores changes in the structure of the labor market, changes in the cost of employer-provided health insurance, and changes in the composition of wages and benefits offered to employees. We find that increases in the cost of health insurance rather than changes in the structure of the labor market are the principal cause of the observed decline in employer-provided health insurance coverage across all cohorts.


Three-dimensional integration (3DI) is a very promising fabrication methodology for extending the CMOS technology roadmap. As such, it is critical to evaluate the capability of this technique to provide reliable interconnection between stacked circuit layers. Since one of potential approaches for 3DI is through use of Cu bonded interconnects, the viability of this process is evaluated in this paper. More specifically, the integrity of bonded Cu interconnects has been investigated as a function of pattern geometry and density, as well as bonding process parameters. It is found that a pattern density around or more than 13 % coupled with the application of a small down-force (~1000 N) prior to temperature ramping and followed by large down-force (~10000 N) during bonding gives optimal yield and alignment accuracy, and provides excellent electrical connectivity and thermal reliability. This result is a key milestone in establishing the manufacturability of Cu-based interconnections for 3D integration technology


The Editorial Board of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine strongly supports the "Call for an International Ban on Asbestos". We concur with the Collegium Ramazzini that a ban is necessary, overdue and essential for public health. To eliminate the burden of disease and death that is caused worldwide by exposure to asbestos, the Collegium Ramazzini calls for an immediate ban on all mining and use of asbestos. To be effective, the ban must be international in scope and must be enforced in every country in the world.


Two readings of the much-discussed πeριτρoπη argument of Theaetetus 170c-171c have dominated the literature. One I call "the relativity reading". On this reading, the argument fails by ignoratio elenchi because it "carelessly" omits "the qualifications 'true for so-and-so ' which [Protagoras'] theory insists on" (Bostock 1988: 90). The other reading I call "the many-worlds interpretation". On this view, Plato's argument succeeds in showing that "Protagoras' position becomes utterly self-contradictory" because "he claims that everyone lives in his own relativistic world, yet at the same time he is forced by that very claim to admit that no one does" (Burnyeat 1976b: 48). I discuss and criticise both readings, and present a third, according to which the point of the argument is, very roughly, that Protagoras is committed to equating truth and truth-for, and so, further, to their intersubstitutability . This further commitment proves fatal to his argument.


The relationship between tourism sector to the agricultural sector in bali causes the number of land conversion and change the function of agricultural land on a large scale. The area of agricultural land in bali has decreased to an average of 1,000 ha per year, due to the conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural land as an impact from development of the tourism sector. Land conversion in bali province affects subak's existence as a permanent institution form related to irrigation water management, socio-agrarian, religious and economic dimension activities. In these areas, the growth of villas and condotels is the major factor of increasing land prices that affect the conversion of agricultural land. the price of fringe area of a tourism area is about 1/2 -3/4 the price of land, the effect of increasing land prices actually decrease the amount of land. To reduce the impact of tourism in changing the function of land especially agricultural land, can be done with strategies such as increasing land value subak through the use of tourism in the form of agrotourism, increased land value subak land through the use of world cultural heritage by unesco and reduction of agricultural land conversion through land pricing and revenue through government support.


The study was made of hematological, rheological and biochemical blood parameters of white male rats in daily intramuscular injection of 0.02 mcg of desmopressin and regular periodic hyperhydration of the organism achieved by introduction of 10% water loading within 3, 6, 9 days. The results evidence for significant action of desmopressin on liquid homeostasis not only by antidiuretic effects on the kidneys, by changing the condition of connecting tissue of the matrix as shown by a marked rise of acid GAG in plasm but also by influence on rheological properties of blood which is an important element of management of transcapillary exchange in tissue microregions.


Chest outlet syndromes are characterized by pain symptomatology caused by (congenital or acquired reasons) compression of the vasculo-nervous bundle. After a brief mention of the anatomy of the question, the indications and angiographic technique are reported, special reference being made to certain positions and dynamic tests which increase symptomatology and highlight arteriographic findings. These are clearly identifiable in the pictures and offer documentary evidence of the cervical rib syndrome, scalenus syndrome, small pectoral syndrome, the hyperabduction syndrome and the costoclavicular syndrome. Differential diagnosis should consider a number of painful syndromes of the upper extremity of purely neurological interest (involvement of the brachial plexus). Vascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis, Takayasu's disease, etc., osteo-myo-articular and ORL sector diseases should also be taken into account. Arteriography is able to identify with precision the causes of the clinical syndrome and to guide surgical exploration of the supraclavicular fossa with excellent chances of success.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the results of Martius' labial fat pad interposition and its modification using skin island in the repair of giant and recurrent vesicovaginal and urethrovaginal fistulae.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Fifteen patients of urethrovaginal and vesicovaginal fistulae underwent Martius' labial fat pad interposition and its skin island modification during 1996 to 1999. Ten of these were recurrent (66%) and five were giant fistulae (34%) i.e. more than five cms.

RESULTS
Results were very gratifying with a successful repair in 14 patients (93%). Two patients had transient, low-grade stress incontinence, which did not need any additional procedure. In one patient, there was failure of repair, which was later successfully repaired using fat pad from opposite labia.

CONCLUSION
Martius' fat pad interposition provides vascularity and surface for epithelialisation and also prevents overlapping of vesical/urethral and vaginal suture lines. Martius' repair has good results with low morbidity in the treatment of giant and recurrent urethrovaginal and vesicovaginal fistulae.


We found the changed distribution of glucose transporter (GLUT) proteins in the skin during rat development. At 15 days of gestation, GLUT1 and 2 proteins were expressed in the stratum corneum of epidermal cells. In postnatal skin, however, GLUT1 and 2 exhibit different expression patterns. While GLUT1 expression becomes more restricted to the stratum basale with development, GLUT2 was found mainly in stratum spinosum and granulosum, but not being localized in the stratum basale at any stages of perinatal skin development. Considering all these, it can be speculated that each GLUT protein plays its specific role in different epidermal layers and that the glucose used in mammalian skin in utero could be originated from the amniotic fluid during skin development.