ABSTRACT Kim, K.O.; Lim, H.S.; Choi, J.-Y., and Kim, S.-S., 2018. Abnormally high waves induced by Typhoon Vongfong along the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula. In: Shim, J.-S.; Chun, I., and Lim, H.S. (eds.), Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2018 (Busan, Republic of Korea). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 85, pp. 906–910. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Korean Peninsula has become vulnerable to increasingly frequent and strong typhoons approaching through the Yellow Sea and the East Sea. The typhoons are one of the threats to the coastal areas causing direct damages with increasing sea surface temperature and sea level rise due to global warming. The damages caused by waves and swells generated by anti-cyclonic winds from the recent typhoons prompted the Korean government to initiate two projects, development of coastal erosion control technology and investigation of large swell waves and rip currents for the southern and eastern coasts. During the typhoon Vongfong (2014), the highest wave recorded at Uljin (6 m) was 80 minutes after the highest wave at Samcheok (4.6 m), which is located further northwest. The measurement of abnormally high waves propagated both from East Sea and along the northern coast was unprecedented. The observed data at Busan, Uljin and Samcheok and a Simulation WAves Nearshore (SWAN) model were applied to analyze the unusually high waves on the eastern coast of Korea. The analyzed results showed that abnormally high waves at Uljin induced by typhoon Vongfong could be generated by the resonance effect that merged with lower energy waves propagated from the East Sea and higher energy waves propagated along the eastern coast from northwest, Samcheok.


Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a disease of the sarcomere and may lead to hypertrophic, dilated, restrictive, and/or arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, or sudden cardiac death. We hypothesized that hearts from transgenic HCM mice harboring a mutant myosin heavy chain increase the energetic cost of contraction in a sex-specific manner. To do this, we assessed Ca(2+) sensitivity of tension and crossbridge kinetics in demembranated cardiac trabeculas from male and female wild-type (WT) and HCM hearts at an early time point (2 mo of age). We found a significant effect of sex on Ca(2+) sensitivity such that male, but not female, HCM mice displayed a decrease in Ca(2+) sensitivity compared with WT counterparts. The HCM transgene and sex significantly impacted the rate of force redevelopment by a rapid release-restretch protocol and tension cost by the ATPase-tension relationship. In each of these measures, HCM male trabeculas displayed a gain-of-function when compared with WT counterparts. In addition, cardiac remodeling measured by echocardiography, histology, morphometry, and posttranslational modifications demonstrated sex- and HCM-specific effects. In conclusion, female and male HCM mice display sex dimorphic crossbridge kinetics accompanied by sex- and HCM-dependent cardiac remodeling at the morphometric, histological, and cellular level.


High-pressure Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction of fullerenes is an important synthetic method for the thermally stable cycloadducts. The effects of high pressure on the potential energy surfaces of Diels-Alder cycloaddition of cyclopentadiene and C60 were studied with a recently developed approach, the polarizable continuum model for extreme pressure (XP-PCM). It is revealed that the high pressure reduces the activation energies and increases reaction energies drastically, making the DA reaction more favorable. The pressure effects on the reaction energetics can be divided into the cavitation and electronic contributions. For the activation energy, the cavitation contribution is significant in comparison with the electronic contribution. To assist future experiments, the activation volume and reaction volume were computed on the basis of the relationship between activation energy or reaction energy with the pressure as a consequence of the fitting linear correlation between activation energy or reaction energy with the pressure.


First published in 1928, the ASLIB Directory is the leading information sources reference work on organizations of all kinds. Now published in its sixteenth edition, the title's diversity is reflected by the wide spectrum of entries. The Directory is widely regarded as the best publication of its type. The ASLIB Directory of Information Sources in the United Kingdom provides instant access to listings of 6,600 associations, clubs, societies, companies, educational establishments, institutes, commissions, government bodies, and other organizations which provide information freely or on a fee-paying basis. Entries in the sixteenth edition include: * Macular Disease Society * Costume Society of Scotland * Parentline Plus * Centre for Global Energy Studies * Surrey Performing Arts Library. Each entry is listed alphabetically and includes the organization's name and contact details, type and purpose, and lists publications and collections where appropriate. The Directory also contains a comprehensive index of acronyms and abbreviations and a substantial subject index.


Steph Landry is starting junior year in a small-town high school where social reputations have been set in stone for years; unfortunately for Steph, her reputation has been that of a heedless loser, with "pulling a Steph Landry" a school and town byword for an act of dorky cluelessness. Steph's determined to change that, however, with a new attitude, a new approach to style, and an old book—about half a century old—that maps the road to popularity. Her revamp goes so well that she's even garnering the attention of her crush, a hottie football player, and the uneasy respect of his girlfriend (the evil one who promulgated Steph's name as denigration in the first place), but why is it taking such a toll on her enduring friendship with next-door neighbor Jason? The book hints at some interesting elements of popularity but then dispenses with them, instead using its topic for predictable adult didacticism rather than originality or insight (popularity brings Steph only hollow glory and superficial connections who just want to use her, while it estranges her from her old friends). It's equally expectable that she ends up with Jason, though that's at least a classic formula element that romance fans will enjoy despite its inevitability. Readers will also appreciate the speedy and easily digestible storytelling, leavened with the frequent interpolation of rules from The Book and generous helpings of dialogue; there may additionally be some secret satisfaction in the notion that popularity isn't worth the getting, so those without it are better off as they are. Though Vail's You, Maybe (BCCB 6/06) is a more successful treatment of the same theme, this book may well achieve a level of popularity its heroine would envy. DS


Plasmodium berghei infection was more severe in pregnant than in nonpregnant mice. Infection initiated on gestation day 7 resulted in rapidly increasing parasitemia and deaths of all pregnant mice within 12 days, while some nonpregnant mice survived until day 21 postinfection. When mice were infected on gestation day 12 or 14, a proportion of mice died before parturition; but some animals survived to deliver living pups. Reduced birthweights and increased spleen weight to body weight ratios were seen in pups from infected mice as compared with pups from uninfected animals. Histopathological abnormalities of placentae from infected animals included degeneration of the normal labyrinthine architecture and thickening of the trophoblast separating maternal and fetal blood vessels.


Based on the difference between the online bus stop and the offline bus stop, two macro models are developed to describe the two types of bus stops. The numerical results show that the two models can qualitatively reproduce some complex phenomena resulted by the two types of bus stops and that the offline bus stop is more effective than the online bus stop when the initial density is relatively low.


A 40-day-old male infant was admitted due to cough, anorexia and pale face. Rapid heart beat was found accidentally by auscultation. Electrocardiograms revealed supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with a heart rate up to 250 beats per minute, and an absence of P waves. Intravenous bolus injection of 1 mg adenosine terminated the tachycardia, followed by transient complete atrioventricular block, then latent Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome with retrograde P waves. Adenosine may be a new trial for the termination of SVT, and also is a safe drug even in the presence of WPW syndrome.


Negative differential resistance in electronic conduction has been extensively studied, but it is not the case for its thermal counterpart, namely, negative differential thermal resistance (NDTR). We present a classical Landauer formula in which the nonlinearity is incorporated by the self-consistent phonon theory in order to study the heat flux across a chain consisting of two weakly coupled lattices. Two typical nonlinear models of hard and soft on-site potentials are discussed, respectively. It is shown that the nonlinearity has strong impacts on the occurring of NDTR. As a result, a transition from the absence to the presence of NDTR is observed. The origin of NDTR consists in the competition between the temperature difference, which acts as an external field, and the temperature-dependent thermal boundary conductance. Finally, the onset of the transition is clearly illustrated for this model. Our analytical calculation agrees reasonably well with numerical simulations.


In this study, the performance of various methods for generating quantitative parametric images of dynamic 11C-phenytoin PET studies was evaluated. Methods: Double-baseline 60-min dynamic 11C-phenytoin PET studies, including online arterial sampling, were acquired for 6 healthy subjects. Parametric images were generated using Logan plot analysis, a basis function method, and spectral analysis. Parametric distribution volume (VT) and influx rate (K1) were compared with those obtained from nonlinear regression analysis of time–activity curves. In addition, global and regional test–retest (TRT) variability was determined for parametric K1 and VT values. Results: Biases in VT observed with all parametric methods were less than 5%. For K1, spectral analysis showed a negative bias of 16%. The mean TRT variabilities of VT and K1 were less than 10% for all methods. Shortening the scan duration to 45 min provided similar VT and K1 with comparable TRT performance compared with 60-min data. Conclusion: Among the various parametric methods tested, the basis function method provided parametric VT and K1 values with the least bias compared with nonlinear regression data and showed TRT variabilities lower than 5%, also for smaller volume-of-interest sizes (i.e., higher noise levels) and shorter scan duration.


We study atom-atom correlations and relative number squeezing in the dissociation of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of molecular dimers made of either bosonic or fermionic atom pairs. Our treatment addresses the role of the spatial inhomogeneity of the molecular BEC on the strength of correlations in the short time limit. We obtain explicit analytic results for the density-density correlation functions in momentum space, and show that the correlation widths and the degree of relative number squeezing are determined merely by the shape of the molecular condensate.


In this article, we consider a semiparametric additive partially linear interaction model for the integrative analysis of multiple genetic datasets. The goals are to identify important genetic predictors and gene‐gene interactions and to estimate the nonparametric functions that describe the environmental effects at the same time. To find the similarities and differences of the genetic effects across different datasets, we impose a group structure on the regression coefficients matrix under the homogeneity assumption, ie, models for different datasets share the same sparsity structure, but the coefficients may differ across datasets. We develop an iterative approach to estimate the parameters of main effects, interactions and nonparametric functions, where a reparametrization of interaction parameters is implemented to meet the strong hierarchy assumption. We demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method in identification, estimation, and prediction in a series of numerical studies. We also apply the proposed method to the Skin Cutaneous Melanoma data and the lung cancer data from the Cancer Genome Atlas.


Background: Hopelessness is a subjective appraisal of negative expectations about the occurrence of a highly valued outcome coupled with the sense that one lacks control over desired events in the future. Hopelessness is an early symptom of depression and is comorbid with cervical cancer. Supportive Group therapy offers an economical and time efficient solution. In Zambia and particularly at Cancer Disease Hospital such structured supportive group therapy is not being offered. This study aims to ascertain whether supportive group therapy can reduce levels of hopelessness in cervical cancer patients at Cancer disease hospital in Lusaka Zambia.Methodology: This was a Single blinded Randomized Controlled Trial conducted at Cancer Disease Hospital in Lusaka Zambia. Single blinded in the sense that participants did not know whether they would be in the control or intervention group. It was conducted between March 2019 and September 2020. Patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of cervical cancer were recruited. Socio- demographic characteristics and clinical presentations were elicited by detailed history taking and file review. All the participants completed Pre- Hopelessness in illness (HAI) Questionnaire and their results were noted. They were then divided into a control and intervention group using computer generated numbers. The intervention group then attended one hour Supportive group therapy sessions weekly for four weeks. The control group continued to receive the usual support of their family members and Cancer disease hospital staff. Both groups were then administered the Post- Hopelessness in illness Questionnaire and their results were noted. Results: 49 patients were recruited. Patient retention was 92% (n= 45). Majority of the participants were of the age group 41-50 years i.e. control group (n =12) intervention group (n= 7). Majority were; married control (n= 11) intervention (n= 12), unemployed control (n=14) intervention (n= 18), had social support control (n=14) intervention (n= 18). Only social support correlated with lower HAI scores (p= 0.047). There was no correlation between therapy and post HAI scores as both p- values i.e. control (p= 0.683) intervention (p= 0.368) were greater than confidence interval 0.05. The intervention group had a greater reduction in HAI scores in comparison to the control group.Conclusion: There was minimal difference in treatment outcomes of cervical cancer patients receiving supportive group therapy to those not receiving supportive group therapy. However, the intervention group showed a better reduction in hopelessness (HAI scores). Social support is the only significant factor associated with lower levels of hopelessness.


This paper describes the architecture of a system, a prototype of which is being developed by the authors at IBM Rome Scientific Centre, providing an interactive approach to the printing process, starting from the input of the basic components (images, texts and graphics) up to the definition and modification of page layout and finally to driving high resolution output devices. The system manages collections of pages, called "documents"; in turn each page is defined as a spatial composition of elementary boxes distributed on different levels. The main characteristics of the system architecture are interactivity, modularity and non‐procedurality (the user has only to describe "what" has to be done, rather "how" to do it).


Background: Bell's palsy is the most common disease of cranial nerve. While most electrodiagnostic tests can detect the abnormality of facial nerve several days later in Bell's palsy, blink reflex usually reveals the abnormality earlier than other tests. Therefore, we investigated the diagnostic usefulness of blink reflex in the early stage of Bell's palsy. Methods: We performed a prospective investigation in patients with facial palsy. We enrolled patients with Bell's palsy who were evaluated within 7 days of symptom onset and excluded patients with secondary causes of facial palsy. We analyzed the findings of blink reflex according to age, sex, evaluation time, and severity of facial palsy. Results: Of 320 consecutive patients with facial palsy, a total of 204 patients were enrolled. Blink reflex was normal for 10 patients and abnormal for 194 patients. The time interval between the symptom onset and the evaluation time was not associated with the result of blink reflex, but House-Brackmann grade was significantly related to the result of blink reflex (P<0.001). Patients with mild Bell's palsy often showed normal blink reflex. Conclusions: Our study shows that blink reflex is useful diagnostic test regardless of evaluation timing in the early stage of Bell's palsy, although it could be normal in patients with mild Bell's palsy.


Non-Saccharomyces yeasts represent a great source of biodiversity for the production of new beer styles, since they can be used in different industrial areas, as pure culture starters, in co-fermentation with Saccharomyces, and in spontaneous fermentation (lambic and gueuze production, with the main contribution of Brettanomyces yeast). The fermentation process of lambic beer is characterized by different phases with a characteristic predominance of different microorganisms in each of them. As it is a spontaneous process, fermentation usually lasts from 10 months to 3 years. In this work, an attempt was made to perform a fermentation similar to the one that occurred in this process with lactic bacteria, Saccharomyces yeast and Brettanomyces yeast, but controlling their inoculation and therefore decreasing the time necessary for their action. For this purpose, after the first screening in 100 mL where eight Brettanomyces yeast strains from D.O. "Ribeira Sacra" (Galicia) were tested, one Brettanomyces bruxellensis strain was finally selected (B6) for fermentation in 1 L together with commercial strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae S-04 yeast and Lactobacillus brevis lactic acid bacteria in different sequences. The combinations that showed the best fermentative capacity were tested in 14 L. Volatile compounds, lactic acid, acetic acid, colour, bitterness, residual sugars, ethanol, melatonin and antioxidant capacity were analysed at different maturation times of 1, 2, 6 and 12 months. Beers inoculated with Brettanomyces yeast independently of the other microorganisms showed pronounced aromas characteristic of the Brettanomyces yeast. Maturation after 12 months showed balanced beers with "Brett" aromas, as well as an increase in the antioxidant capacity of the beers.


The virus that causes COVID-19(Corona Virus Disease 2019), SARS-CoV-2(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2), is causing a worldwide pandemic, posing a substantial threat to human health. Patients show signs of pneumonia, ARDS, shock, acute cardiac injury, acute kidney injury and other complications. The SARS-CoV-2 receptor is angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is an important component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). In addition, TMPRSS2 or other cofactors are needed to allow the virus to enter the host. Clinical patients have exhibited varying degrees of genitourinary and endocrine system damage, and some studies have also reported potential risks to the genitourinary and endocrine systems. This article reviews the mechanism underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection and the current studies on the male genitourinary and endocrine systems and proposes that more attention should be directed towards human reproductive and endocrine health during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic.


Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a disorder that might be transferred genetically due to an autosomal recessive genetic defect of the long arm of chromosome 9 and chromosome 10 (9q21.3–22 and 10q21–22), termed as primary hemophagocytic syndrome (PHPS) or familial hemophagocytic hemophagocytosis (FHPS) and it may be associated with a variety of infections, malignant neoplasms, drugs, autoimmune diseases and various immuno deficiencies, termed as secondary hemophagocytic syndrome (SHPS). For most patients with HPS, the outcome is rapid and fatal unless the diagnosis is made early and followed by prompt therapeutic intervention. Fever, hepatosplenomegaly, cytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia and/or hypofibrinogenemia, low erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hyperferritinemia, hyponatremia and hemophagocytosis shown in bone marrow, lymph nodes or spleen biopsy specimens constitute the clinical presentations of the syndrome. In this paper, a patient diagnosed with dermatomyositis associated with HPS is reported with the clinical findings of fever, lymph node enlargement, weakness and atrophy of proximal muscles, periorbital edema, skin thickness and symmetric violet erythema of the forearms. To our knowledge only two cases of dermatomyositis associated with HPS have been published in the medical literature. In addition, periorbital edema together with dermatomyositis is a very rare condition in the literature.


The history of the appearance of monographs, teaching aids and manuals on OH in Russia has a little less than two and a half centuries. The first work was the book by A.Bakherakht 'The way to preserve the health of marine workers' (1780). The author dwells in detail on the prevention and treatment seamen`s diseases. A more significant event was the appearance of the book 'Diseases of workers, indicating protective measures' by A.Nikitin (1847), in which he talks in detail about the detrimental effects on health of production factors in more than 120 professions. Undoubtedly weighty contribution was made by the teaching manuals of F.Erisman 'Professional Hygiene or Hygiene of Mental and Physical Labour' (1877) and V.Svyatlovskiy 'Factory Hygiene' (1891). In them, academic pedagogues dwell on the issues of research and analysis not only of OD, but also the hygienic aspects of the different professions working conditions. An important role was also played by the appearance of the monograph E.Dementyev 'The Factory, What It Gives to the Population and What It Borrowed' (1893), as well as the numerous scientific works of A.Pogozhev and E.Osipov. Further it is necessary to note the textbook by D.Nikolsky 'The course of professional hygiene' (1907), S.Kaplun's monograph 'Labour and health' (1922), G.Khlopin 'Labour regime and occupational hazards' (1926), N.Vigdorchik's textbook 'Professional pathology. Course of Occupational Diseases' (1930), as well as two manuals published in 1936 – 'Labour Hygiene' edited by V.Levitsky and 'Occupational Diseases' edited by G.Arnautov, I.Gelman and B.Kogan. In the second half of the 20th century, the scientific and educational works of N.Lazarev, N.Pravdin, I.Razenkov, E.Andreeva-Galanina, L.Khotsyanov, Z.Smelyanskiy, A.Letavet, A.Guskova, I.Sanotsky, B.Velichkovsky, V.Artamonova, and of course N.Izmerov. It was under the editorship of N.Izmerov, for the first time in Russia, the 'Russian Encyclopaedia of Occupational Medicine' (2005) and 'Professional Pathology. National leadership '(2011).


** † Advanced technologies are needed to enhance the transportation capabilities of the nation's small aircraft transportation network, and thus relieve the congestion of the hub airports. The existing air transport system cannot fully meet the public demand for safety, higherspeed mobility, and increased accessibility since the current hub-and-spoke model concentrates a large percentage of the air traffic at a few hub airports. To alleviate this problem, current operational concepts and procedures will change and be improved to make practical use of the roughly five thousand existing public-use-landing facilities. A previous paper by the authors developed a basic approach/departure system for non-controlled airports, using an intelligent agent system. This paper extends that work, and addresses aircraft landing scheduling issues for non-controlled airports. The basic problem of aircraft landing scheduling is described, followed by an aircraft landing scheduling model for the single runway case at non-controlled airports. Two different scheduling algorithms, consisting of linear programming and job shop scheduling, are proposed to complete the feasibility analysis. Required simulation methodologies and capabilities are presented with a full description of software and hardware facilities. Finally, numerical results are presented which support the development.


Varicocele defined as dilated and tortuous veins of the pampiniform plexus which is the net of veins that drains blood from both testicles within the spermatic cord. varicoceles are a common identified scrotal disease. Their prevalence in the normal adult male population is 15-20% & they are thought the commonest treatable cause of male infertility. The laparoscopic and subinguinal varicocele surgery has been proven to get better outcomes in many studies. To compare two methods for varicocelectomy Laparoscopy & subinguinal in treatment of primary infertility.Patient and method: Prospective randomized study was performed about laparoscopic varicocelectomy (A) and subinguinal varicocelectomy (B) in primary infertility, from April 2018 to June 2020. Fifty patients in two groups with clinically palpable varicocele confirmed by U/S Doppler complaining of primary infertility as a main symptom with reflux of pampiniform plexus of any grade, unilateral or bilateral. All cases undergone variscocelectomy bilateral a follow up done within one year for postoperative complications, semen parameters and pregnancy rate. Resulats: There was significant difference between operative time in both groups (the mean operative time was 36.28±8.21 vs 49.72±7.89 for laparoscopic and subinguinal respectively). Laparoscopic varicocelectomy had much less pain with highly significant difference in comparison with subinguinal ligation. There was significant difference between outcomes of semen parameters at six months postoperative in both groups regarding count, motility, vitality and abnormal shapes (p ≤0.001). Pregnancy rate improved in both groups (40% vs 32% for laparoscopy and subinguinal respectively). Convalescence days (4 days in group A & 5 days in group B) But no significant difference regarding the hospital stay (one day), and postoperative complications. Conclusion: Varicocele is a highly prevalent condition in the infertile male population. The best method in varicocele treatment is yet a contentious issue. Both methods has short hospital stay, rapid recovery and sooner return to work but laparoscopic has less postoperative pain, shorter operative time and easy accessibility for bilateral varicocelectomy with better outcomes.


Since the 2010s, foreign direct investment in real estate (FDIRE) by Mainland Chinese firms has emerged as a major force within global real estate markets, challenging Western investors' traditional dominance. It is unclear, however, whether Mainland Chinese FDIRE is fueled by the same motivations as those of investors from advanced economies, which to date have represented both the primary investors and main objects of study. One major difference may be that Mainland Chinese investment originates in an institutional environment comprised of strong state intervention and social networks important for fostering business and ethnic ties. To uncover the potentially unique determinants and heterogeneity of Mainland Chinese corporate real estate investors, we build and analyze a state-level panel dataset of Mainland Chinese FDIRE by state-owned enterprises and private enterprises in the U.S. from 2010 to 2017. Our empirical results reveal the importance of Chinese migrants in promoting Mainland Chinese real estate investment, especially by private enterprises. Our findings also demonstrate that at the state level, Mainland Chinese FDIRE exhibits few agglomerative tendencies.


We have developed a new non-isotopic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based method for the detection of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) DNA in clinical samples. In this method a two step PCR is used to amplify and label HIV-1 DNA segments by incorporation of digoxigenin-11-dUTP (dig-dUTP). Digoxigenin labelled amplified products are hybridized to membrane immobilized complementary DNA probes. Hybridization is detected non-radioactively by incubating the filters with antidigoxigenin antibody conjugated with alkaline phosphatase followed by a standard phosphatase assay. With this method the detection limit was between 1 and 10 HIV-1 DNA copies in a background of 1 microgram of human genomic DNA. Furthermore, we were able to detect HIV-1 DNA in 41 out of 41 HIV-1 antibody positive individuals while 10 out of 10 HIV-1 seronegative individuals gave consistently negative results. Our data indicate that this simple non-isotopic technique is sensitive and specific for the detection of HIV-1 DNA in clinical samples and can constitute a good alternative to other non-isotopic methods described to date.


Ultrasound (US) imaging is a common but physically demanding task in the medical field, and sonographers may need to put in considerable physical effort for producing high-quality US images. During physical human-robot interaction on US imaging, robot compliance is a critical feature that can ensure human user safety while automatic force regulation ability can help to improve task performance. However, higher robot compliance may mean lower force regulation accuracy, and vice versa. Especially, the contact/non-contact status transition can largely affect the control system stability. In this paper, a novel electromyography (EMG)-based hybrid impedance-force control system is developed for US imaging task. The proposed control system incorporates the robot compliance and force regulation ability via a hybrid controller while the EMG channel enables the user to online modulate the trade-off between the two features as necessary. Two experiments are conducted to examine the hybrid controller and show the necessity of involving an EMG-based modulator. A proof-of-concept study on US imaging is performed with implementing the proposed EMG-based control system, and the effectiveness is demonstrated. The proposed control system is promising to ensure robot's stability and patient's safety, thus obtain high-quality US images, while monitoring and reducing sonographer's fatigue. Furthermore, it can be easily adapted to other physically demanding tasks in the field of medicine.


Species interactions research and monitoring was initiated in 1989 to investigate ecological interactions among fish in response to proposed supplementation of salmon and steelhead in the upper Yakima River basin. This is the eighth of a series of progress reports that address species interactions research and pre-supplementation monitoring of fishes in the Yakima River basin. Data have been collected prior to supplementation to characterize the ecology and demographics of non-target taxa (NTT) and target taxon, and develop methods to monitor interactions and supplementation success. Major topics of this report are associated with implementing NTT monitoring prescriptions for detecting potential impacts of hatchery supplementation, hatchery fish interactions, and monitoring fish predation indices. This report is organized into four chapters, with a general introduction preceding the first chapter. This annual report summarizes data collected primarily by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 1999 in the Yakima basin, however these data were compared to data from previous years to identify preliminary trends and patterns.


Abstract Bovine mastitis has become increasingly important issues for farmers and consumers, leading to large economic losses in the dairy industry worldwide. Because treatment of mastitis is difficult and costly, improved mastitis resistance through selective breeding would be advantageous. The toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) is an important player in recognising pathogens and activating immune responses. However, its roles in mastitis occurrence and the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. In this study, a single nucleotide polymorphism, rs8193069 (T → C) in TLR4 gene was detected in a Holstein cow resource population in southern China. Association analysis with 5‐year production traits, haematology, and biochemistry parameters revealed that individuals with genotype CC had significantly lower somatic cell counts (SCC), lower fat percentage, but higher 305‐day milk (p < 0.05) and total milk yield (p < 0.01). Both genotypes CC and CT had lower lymphocyte counts (#LYMPH) (p < 0.01) and basophil counts (#BASO) (p < 0.05) than TT. Genotype CC had a less level of triglyceride (p < 0.01) and creatine kinase (p < 0.05) than CT. Further analysis based on the production data revealed significant positive correlations between SCC and #LYMPH. Analysis of TLR4 protein structure and properties suggested that the missense mutation on the 674th amino acid from Thr to Ile reduced the flexibility and hydrophilicity of TIR domain, implying a weakened binding ability of TLR4 to its adaptors. In conclusion, allele C of rs8193069 was the major allele in Holstein cows that indicated a greater genetic potential to mastitis resistance and milk yields, probably via the LPS‐TLR4 inflammatory signalling. This study offers a marker to improve mastitis resistance in the dairy cow population in southern China.


The purpose of this phronetic/pragmatic, mixed-methods study was to integrate quantitative data with qualitative data in examining the complex relations among depression, exercise, screen-viewing time, and life plans among 14 socioeconomically disadvantaged African American young adults. Based on the thematic analysis, the two emerging themes were as follows: life priorities (passing the General Educational Development [GED] test, pursuing profession/career, and being dedicated to church/ministry) and challenges in passing GED examination (e.g., difficulties with the GED test, high stress and low confidence, low interest in studying, health issues, and feelings of rejection/isolation). Based on cross tabulation, depression was highly associated with aerobic exercise and screen-viewing time (Cramer's V = .44 and .42, respectively). Participants' life challenges diminished the antidepressant effect of exercise and were linked to depression and excessive screen use. Two active men and a somewhat active woman experienced educational or health-related struggles, heavy screen watching, and severe depression. All three active men experienced educational challenges and severe depression. Two inactive participants reported limited screen use and limited depression, possibly because of their valued life goals (e.g., writing poetry and spiritually helping others). Contrary to the dominant cultural stereotype about African Americans being lazy, the study results show that the participants had highly similar career goals to the majority population yet faced many, significant structural barriers that interfered with their progress and thus sapped their motivation in achieving their life plans. Policy change is needed to reduce social structural barriers and racial systems of oppression in order to decrease poverty and depression.


Taking a point of departure in theoretical explorations of who is able to speak and be heard in particular generic contexts, this article examines a recent life-writing trend in Sweden: the publication of (auto)biographical narratives of incarceration, in particular written by female inmates. The article investigates the changing production and consumption practices of autobiographical texts. What is the reader assumed to want from these texts? Through a focus on five autobiographies about and sometimes by female convicts, this article investigates which criminal lives reach the publication circuit at the present moment, which life schemas are presented, and what engagement the texts invoke from the reader. Having stood before the law, the autobiographical subject now stands before the reader. The article argues that specifics pertaining to criminal life are downplayed as the event of the crime and the imprisonment are presented as obstacles to be overcome and the narrative becomes a post-imprisonment one that predominantly deals with strategies of coping. These life narratives are part of a larger neoliberal life-writing trend, offering readers ways of working on the self.


A new method for determination of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in body fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection was developed based on previously published methods. The new method is suitable for confirmation of samples tested positive by immunoassay, avoiding loss of LSD by absorption to surfaces. The reduced loss of LSD results in improved sensitivity. This is achieved by adding ethylene glycol to the samples, which cover glass surfaces. This principle can similarly be used to improve analysis of other drugs. Body fluids for analysis included urine and whole blood. An internal standard was applied for quantification of LSD. The new method offers satisfying precision data and has a detection limit of less than 0.05 ng/nL.


Diet is closely related to an economic level, but few studies have reported on the relationship between the economic level and eating habits, especially in college students. Therefore, this study was conducted to clarify differences in eating habits with a focus on processed foods according to allowance level in college students. This study was a cross-sectional survey of 500 college students using a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics, eating behaviors, purchase of processed foods, and preference and intake frequency of processed foods. All subjects were classified based on monthly allowance: less than ₩300,000 (n=149), ₩300,000∼400,000 (n=177), and more than ₩400,000 (n=124). All survey results were comparatively analyzed among the spending money groups. As the level of spending money of the subjects increased, the rate of skipping meals, eating out, and unbalanced diet increased (P<0.05). The reason for consuming processed foods was because they are easy to prepare. The factor considered the most when buying processed foods was price. However, these results showed no significant difference according to level of spending money. As spending money increased preference for retort, convenience, canned, and bottled foods significantly increased. Intake frequency of dairy products was lower, and the frequency of processed foods was significantly higher with more spending money. This study found that a higher level of monthly allowance in college students, was associated with higher rate of skipping meals, eating out, and unbalanced diet, and the preference and intake frequency of processed foods were also high. These results suggest that spending money level in college students, as an economic indicator, is relevant to intake of processed foods.


This study examined the economic importance of exploiting forest products in Enugu State. This study shows that majority of the household heads were between the age of 31 and 50 years. From the study it was found that more of the household heads are males. They engage mainly in different ombined operation in forestry enterprises like gathering, processing and marketing. However lack of access to modern technology and the forms in which forest products are marketed were major reasons that weaken income generation from the forest products. From regression results, access to credit (Cr), access to forest extension services (Fx) and relatives composition of forest output (Or) were statistically significant at 5% level in explaining the observed variability in the dependent variable income (I) based on double logarithmic model. From the study, we recommend that government should encourage the stakeholders that are involved in forest product activities to import the required machinery without any form of restriction. This will lead to value added in their product and attract more income to both households and government. Agro-Science Vol. 7 (1) 2008: pp. 22-26


This report presents a comprehensive review of current literature on the abundance of amines in atmospheric aerosols. The review spans over the whole life cycle of aerosols, showing the relevance of amine-related aerosol dynamic processes in each stage of the cycle. Amine compounds can constitute a siginificant fraction of submicron ambient aerosols, in particular in urban air and close to agricultural sources. It is evident from both field experiments and computational studies that amines have the propensity to contribute to new particle formation. Particulate phase oxidation of amines leads to the formation of potentially toxic products such as imines and nitrosamines. In general, there is a lack of information about the acute and chronic toxic effects of particulate amides and imines, and also the chemical mechanisms leading to their formation in aerosol particles are currently not fully understood.


Contamination of aflatoxins in animal feeds is one of a major problem in the development of poultry industry in Indonesia. Aflatoxins may lead to losses in animal productivity, aflatoxicosis and residue in animal products. A series of investigation on aflatoxin contamination in animal feed in poultry had been carried out at Research Institute for Veterinary Science (Balitvet) between 1984 to 1995. It showed that more than 80 % of commercial chicken feeds were contaminated by aflatoxin B1 (AFBI) within a wide range of concentration. Besides AFB1, other aflatoxins such as AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 were also found. The level of AFB1 more than 200 ppb was found in 13.5 % out of 193 feed samples, whilst 23.3 % and 63.2 % of samples showed concentration 100-200 ppb and 400 ppb respectively. It had approved from the investigation that corn was the most frequent foodstuff contaminated by aflatoxins compared to other animal foodstuff. Most of corn used for chicken feeds appeared to be the major source of aflatoxin contamination, where it could be indicated visually in bad or good kernel appearance. The levels of AFB1 contamination seemed to be higher in the wet season (39.5 ppb) than in the dry season (19.5 ppb) as well as at the lower altitude (39.8 ppb) was higher than at the higher altitude (24.13 ppb). Based on this view, further studies are required to control of the aflatoxins problems in poultry feed in Indonesia. Key words: aflatoxins, animal feeds, poultry


This paper aims to illustrate how the use of features of smartphones, such as the use of video-recordings and of a specific application (Kahoot!), can motivate learners within Italian middle school. When smartphones are integrated into a pedagogical framework, they provide an opportunity to explore forms of language and expression creatively and facilitate a training process centred on learning and on learners, favouring different intelligences and skills. Reference is made to the international and national context of regulations on the didactic use of mobile devices at school. Some examples of good practices are included too, and reference is made to a class-based activity in which an activity was carried out using the Kahoot! application.


Fungal infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in severely immunocompromised patients and have been increasing in incidence in recent years. Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most common filamentous fungal infection and is, in adults as well as in children, difficult to diagnose. Several PCR assays to detect Aspergillus DNA have been established, but so far, studies on molecular tools for the diagnosis of IA in children are few. We evaluated the results of a nested PCR assay to detect Aspergillus DNA in clinical samples from paediatric and adolescent patients with suspected IA. Blood and non-blood samples from immunocompromised paediatric and adolescent patients with suspected invasive fungal infection were sent for processing Aspergillus PCR to our laboratory. PCR results from consecutive patients from three university children's hospitals investigated between November 2000 and January 2007 were evaluated. Fungal infections were classified according to the EORTC classification on the grounds of clinical findings, microbiology and radio-imaging results. Two hundred and ninety-one samples from 71 patients were investigated for the presence of Aspergillus DNA by our previously described nested PCR assay. Two, 3 and 34 patients had proven, probable and possible IA, respectively. Sensitivity (calculated from proven and probable patients, n=5) and specificity (calculated from patients without IA, n=32) rates of the PCR assay were 80 and 81 %, respectively. Our nested PCR assay was able to detect Aspergillus DNA in blood, cerebrospinal fluid and bronchoalveolar lavage samples from paediatric and adolescent patients with IA with high sensitivity and specificity rates.


This work focuses on the barrier capabilities of sputter deposited Ti/Mo and Ti/MoN nanofilms against diffusion of Cu into Si substrates. The thermal stability of the corresponding bi-layer barrier structures is investigated after annealing Cu/barrier layer/Si samples at different temperatures in N2 for 5 min. The drastic increase in sheet resistance of Cu and the probing of Cu3Si with x-ray diffraction after high temperature annealing indicate the failure of these barrier structures. The formation of Cu3Si at the barrier breakdown temperature is also confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Cu diffusion barrier performance analyses show that a Ti(5 nm)/MoN(5 nm) bi-layer nanostructure fails only after annealing at 800 °C; on the other hand, a Ti(5 nm)/Mo(5 nm) barrier stack is found to break down at 700 °C.


The search for replacing manual processes with automated processes brings with it an increase in complexity related to its controls and monitoring. The use of builds, that is, automated software delivery processes, is a good example. Its primary objective is the construction, packaging, testing, and delivery of system versions. The execution of tests in the context of software delivery automation materializes the existing controls in the execution of manual processes and can basically result in success or failure. The failure state occurs when one or many of the steps that make up the automated process do not obtain the expected result. The software industry invests a lot of time in investigating build failures, as they can fail for reasons not directly related to the tests performed. Such failures are called anomalies. This article presents a way to automatically identify anomalies using a natural computing algorithm inspired by artificial immune systems, called the Negative Selection Algorithm (ASN), in order to obtain the correct classification of failures in builds. The focus of the article is on the sensitivity analysis of the ASN in relation to the neighborhood radius of the detectors and the number of detectors generated.


Dominic Ellis Colnaghi's album "Photographs taken in 1852-53-54 in Mytilene, Rhodes, Lycia and Constantinople" is the visual companion to his journal entitled "A tour in Lycia by Mr. D.E. Colnaghi," published as an Appendix to the 1865 book Travels & Discoveries in the Levant by archaeologist Charles Thomas Newton, with whom he had travelled in Asia Minor. Colnaghi's photographic endeavours are recounted in his correspondence with his family, the founders of the London art pub lishing company P. & D. Colnaghi. These letters shed light on Colnaghi's personality and on his relationship with some of the most important protagonists of early photography, including John Ruskin, James Rob ertson, Richard Leach Maddox, Adolphe Goupil, Gustave Le Gray, and many artists who toured Asia Minor during the same years.


ABSTRACT Fosfomycin monotherapy was compared to therapy with vancomycin for the treatment of implant-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) osteomyelitis in an experimental rat model. The proximal tibiae were inoculated with 15 μl of a suspension containing 1 × 108 to 5 × 108 CFU/ml of a clinical isolate of MRSA with simultaneous insertion of a titanium wire. Four weeks later, treatment was started for 28 days with either 50 mg/kg of body weight vancomycin intraperitoneally twice daily (n = 11) or 75 mg/kg fosfomycin intraperitoneally once daily (n = 10). Eleven animals were left untreated. After treatment, quantitative cultures from bone were found to be positive for MRSA in all animals in the untreated group (median, 3.29 × 106 CFU/g of bone) and the vancomycin group (median, 3.03 × 105 CFU/g of bone). In the fosfomycin group, MRSA was detectable in 2 out of 10 (20%) animals (3.42 × 102 and 1.51 × 103 CFU/g of bone). Vancomycin was superior to the no-drug control (P = 0.002), and fosfomycin was superior to the no-drug control and vancomycin (P < 0.001). The cultures from the wires were positive in all untreated animals (median, 2.5 × 103 CFU/implant), in 10 animals in the vancomycin group (median, 1.15 × 103 CFU/implant), and negative in all animals in the fosfomycin group. Based on the bacterial counts from the implants, vancomycin was not superior to the no-drug control (P = 0.324), and fosfomycin was superior to the no-drug control and vancomycin (P < 0.001). No emergence of resistance was observed. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that fosfomycin monotherapy is highly effective for the treatment of experimental implant-associated MRSA osteomyelitis.


Background: The role of IL-1β, PGE2 and MMP-3 in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease is well researched. This study aimed to asses and compared the salivary IL-1β, PGE2 and MMP-3 levels in patients with untreated chronic severe periodontitis and those treated with periodontal phase I therapy and periodontally healthy individuals as controls, in relationship to the presence of salivary anti-β1 IgA. Methods: A total of 30 subjects participate in the study: 15 subjects had chronic severe periodontitis and 15 were healthy individuals used as a control. After saliva collection and its purification, we quantify by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedure using as coating antigen a synthetic β1 peptide with an amino acid sequence identical to the second extracellular loop of the human β1 adrenoceptor (β1 AR), the presence of anti β1 AR antibody (IgA) in the saliva of patients and healthy individuals. Also, IL-1β, PGE2, nitrites and metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) were assessed using ELISA) assay. Results: Our data indicated that IL-1β, PGE2, nitrites and MMP-3 levels are elevated in the saliva of patients with untreated chronic severe periodontitis and were significantly higher than in healthy subjects. Also, the amounts of antiβ1 IgA in the saliva was significantly higher compared with that of healthy individuals. After periodontal phase I therapy these levels of inflammatory biomarkers are significantly reduced but the titres of the antibody did not change, suggesting a close association between salivary IL-1β, PGE2, nitrites and MMP-3 and periodontitis without any changes in the levels of anti β1 IgA. Conclusions: These results suggest that the abnormal amount of these cytokines and enzymes in saliva has potential monitoring applications as a risk marker of the disease progression but the raised levels of anti β1 IgA present in the saliva of chronic severe periodontitis patient, are not directly associated with the course of the disease. Additional studies are needed to validate this assumption.


Congenital coronary anomalies can result in severe consequences such as arrhythmias and sudden death. However, the etiology of abnormal embryonic coronary microvasculature development is understudied. Using a novel contrast-agent-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) technique, scatter labeled imaging of microvasculature in excised tissue (SLIME), we compared diseased and normal embryonic quail coronary microvasculature in 3D. Congenital heart defects associated with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) were induced in a quail model by injecting 40 uL of 50% ethanol solution into eggs during gastrulation. These and saline-injected quail eggs were incubated until stage 36. SLIME contrast agent was perfused through the aortas of embryos and fixed in the vessels with a crosslinking agent. Dissected hearts were treated with a CUBIC-1 clearing agent and the scattering contrast labeled vasculature were imaged using customized spectral domain OCT systems. SLIME data revealed that coronary microvasculature of the control group was organized as parallel bundles over the left ventricle near the apex, whereas in a majority of the ethanol-treated embryos coronary microvasculature had chaotic patterns in similar regions. These differences in alignment of microvasculature have not been previously described in this disease model. Quantitative and statistical assessment will aid in evaluating the significance of this coronary defect. Future investigations will determine whether coronary mispatterning may reflect misalignment of cardiomyocytes that could lead to other negative consequences.


The emergence of a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak represents a challenge for the diagnostic laboratories responsible for developing test kits to identify those infected with SARS-CoV-2. Methods with rapid and accurate detection are essential to control the sources of infection, to prevent the spread of the disease and to assist decision-making by public health managers. Currently, there is a wide variety of tests available with different detection methodologies, levels of specificity and sensitivity, detection time, and with an extensive range of prices. This review therefore aimed to conduct a patent search in relation to tests for the detection of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. The greatest number of patents identified in the search were registered between 2003 and 2011, being mainly deposited by China, the Republic of Korea, and the United States. Most of the patents used the existing RT-PCR, ELISA, and isothermal amplification methods to develop simple, sensitive, precise, easy to use, low-cost tests that reduced false-negative or false-positive results. The findings of this patent search show that an increasing number of materials and diagnostic tests for the coronavirus are being produced to identify infected individuals and combat the growth of the current pandemic; however, there is still a question in relation to the reliability of the results of these tests.


Background: Umbilical cord blood (CB) is widely used for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and holds promise for the development of innovative medicinal products. In order to find out whether the conditions for collection and storage before processing might have an impact on the quality of CB preparations, viability and the clonogenic potential were assessed. Methods: CB was collected under field conditions. Flow cytometry was used to determine leukocytes, CD34/CD45+ cells, viability, and nucleated red blood cells (NRBC). Clonogenic activity was determined using isolated mononuclear cells (MNC). Results: Neither plasma citrate concentrations nor storage temperature (within 24 h) affected cell viability or colony formation. After storage for 49–80 h, leukocyte viability declined by about 16% compared to CB stored up to 24 h. In contrast, the clonogenic activity and CD34/CD45+ cell content were not affected. A higher gestational age was associated with a lower yield of clonogenic activity compared to midterm deliveries. NRBC varied widely (median 7.3%; range 0.63–17.3%) without relation to gestational age or colony formation. There was a close correlation between the percentage of viable CD34/CD45+ cells and colony formation (r = 0.77 for CFU-GM; r = 0.75 for CFU-C). Conclusions: The content of viable CD34/CD45+ cells represents the clonogenic activity of CB preparations. Therefore, determination of viable CD34/CD45+ cells should be generally performed as a routine quality control assay.


We derive a recursive formula for arithmetic Asian option prices with finite observation times in semimartingale models. The method is based on the relationship between the risk-neutral expectation of the quadratic variation of the return process and European option prices. The computation of arithmetic Asian option prices is straightforward whenever European option prices are available. Applications with numerical results under the Black-Scholes framework and the exponential L\'evy model are proposed.


The effect of the Bradyrhizobium japonicum hydrogenase on nitrogen fixation was evaluated by comparing the growth of Vigna and Glycine species inoculated with a Hup mutant and its Hup+ revertant. In all experiments, the growth of plants inoculated with the strain without hydrogenase was at least equal to the growth of the strain with hydrogenase. For Glycine usuriensis and Glycine max cv. Hodgson in liquid culture, the growth was higher with the Hup− strain. It is possible that reduced rates of nitrogen fixation in the presence of hydrogenase are due to O2 depletion caused by the hydrogen oxidizing, since the oxygen pressure in the air appears to be a limiting factor of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in the soybean.


In International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI). National Water Conference on Status and Future Directions of Water Research in Sri Lanka, BMICH, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 4-6 November 1998. Session 4: Participatory management of irrigation; Session 5: Water resource data; Session 6: Managing water quality. Research papers presented


Worldwide, improving tourism competitiveness has been on the agendas of many stakeholders of the hotel sector, and they seem to have agreed that one of the best ways to compete is via the implementation of electronic customer relationship management (e-CRM). In so doing, the organizations enjoy strategic positioning on the competitive market by managing better not only the customers but, other business components including knowledge and employee management. Over the recent years, the tourism industry in Mauritius has witnessed a drastic economic boom at international and national levels; providing a new outlook to boost business performance through existing and potential customers. E-CRM has been one of the management tools used to achieving this position. Thus, this insightful contextMauritiuswas opted for the study. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of e-CRM as a strategic tool in the hotel sector in Mauritius through the implementation of business strategy to create competitive advantage and impact on the business performance. To achieve the objectives of the study, a quantitative research methodology was adopted and the research revealed that eCRM is indeed an effective strategic tool in the hotel industry in Mauritius that can provide a competitive advantage and impact positively on the organization's performance. Keywords—Customer, electronic, management, relationship, strategic.


The efficiency of communications among all the organizations which are somewhat connected to a seaport is crucial for effective port administration. The absence of such communication in Turkish maritime industry causes severe problems. Thus, this paper aims to develop a guideline for successful development of a port community system in Turkey on the basis of Strength–Weakness–Opportunity–Threat (SWOT) analysis of the current situation and benchmarking successful cases around the world. For this purpose, in-depth interviews were carried out with field experts of both public and industrial organizations. As a result, a three-stage development strategy was proposed.


ABSTRACT First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Journal of Cell Science, helping early-career researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Andrew Porter is first author on 'The interaction between CASK and the tumour suppressor Dlg1 regulates mitotic spindle orientation in mammalian epithelia', published in JCS. Andrew is a postdoc in the lab of Prof. Angeliki Malliri at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, investigating how abnormal mitotic events – spindle misorientation, centriole defects and chromosomal instability – contribute to tumourigenesis.


The inclusion of ecology in first-year university biology courses presents considerable difficulties. The new course being evolved at Bath centres round three main themes—spatial distribution, the flow of energy, and the gene as an element of continuity. Practical work presents particular problems on account of the large number of students and a lack of time. The difficulty can be overcome to some extent by the use of simulation experiments which aim to reproduce in miniature within the laboratory certain restricted aspects of the real environment. Bearing in mind that, at most, only one visit to a natural habitat will be possible, it is important that full use should be made of good visual aids such as films and slides. Facilities must also be provided for students to check their own progress through problems derived from second-hand sources such as research papers.


In previous experiments we observed that the short-term feeding of 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) at a low dietary concentration resulted in the late appearance of well-differentiated hepatic tumors at low incidence levels. When the AAF treatment was followed by the feeding of a phenobarbital-supplemented diet, the appearance of these tumors was accelerated, and their overall incidence levels were increased. The present study examined the characteristics of this interaction between the effects of AAF and phenobarbital by measuring tumor production after changing either the duration of the interval between AAF and phenobarbital treatments or the duration of the post-AAF exposure to phenobarbital. When AAF and phenobarbital treatments were separated by increasing intervals (up to 120 days), the resultant levels of tumor enhancement appeared to be influenced mainly by the duration of the post-AAF phenobarbital treatment rather than by the length of the treatment-free interval. Progressive increases in the duration of the phenobarbital treatment (begun within 7 days after the AAF treatment) advanced the time at which tumor enhancement occurred and similarly increased overall tumor incidence levels. The latter enhancement effects occurred and were sustained after the cessation of the phenobarbital treatments. The results of this study suggest that (a) the tumorigenic changes inducedmore » by brief AAF treatment are persistent, although the question of their permanence remains open, and (b) phenobarbital treatment produces irreversible changes in AAF-modified cells, which lead to the expression of the tumor phenotype.« less


This paper introduces a Special Topic on social innovation in the governance of urban communities. It also seeks to widen the debate on the meaning of social innovation both in social science theory and as a tool for empirical research on socioeconomic development and governance at the local level. This debate is organised around ALMOLIN-i.e. alternative models for local innovation as utilised in the SINGOCOM (social innovation in governance in (local) communities) research. The first section explains the role of social innovation in neighbourhood development and how it is best addressed from theoretical, historical and experience-oriented viewpoints. The second section provides a survey of the definitions of social innovation in a variety of social science fields, while the third section mobilises various strands of literature that will be of use for the analytical refinement of ALMOLIN. Section four illustrates how ALMOLIN is used as an analytical tool for empirical research. The final section shows some avenues for future research on social innovation.


We have developed a high performance force display system with a parallel manipulator. The manipulator is composed of a parallel mechanism with direct drive linear servo actuators. The mechanism is called a fixed linear type parallel mechanism. Since the actuators are fixed on the base, the high speed motion of the manipulator is possible. In addition, the mechanism has high load capacity and back derivability. These characteristics lead to a high performance force feedback control. We describe the design policy, the analysis of the operation area, the prototyping and control of the parallel manipulator.


Measurements have been made of the resistive properties of a series of SNS sandwiches of In/W/In containing 0-10% Pb in In. The low-temperature interface resistance attributable to the alloying of the superconductor varied linearly with the resistivity of the InPb alloy, as predicted by Harding, Pippard and Tomlinson (1974). The magnitude of this resistance was, however, found to be a factor of five less than predicted. The theory has been modified at higher temperatures, and agreement between theory and experiment for the form of RSNS(T) in dirty sandwiches has been obtained for the first time.


The phonon dispersion curves of the transverse acoustic (TA) and the lowest transverse optic (TO) branches in the (001) direction of two (KTN) crystals with niobium concentrations of 0.8 and 1.2 at.% have been measured by inelastic neutron scattering at various temperatures. A pronounced temperature dependence has been observed for both the lowest TO phonon at the centre of the Brillouin zone and the TA phonons in the (001) direction for reduced wave vectors larger than 0.04. The temperature dependence of the TA phonons at large wavevectors shows a significant minimum. From the observation of this minimum it is conjectured that both crystals undergo phase transitions. The measured data have been analysed in the framework of a shell model with an anisotropic, nonlinear core - shell interaction. It is shown that the anomalous behaviour of the TA branch is due to an exchange of vibrational character between the phonons of the lowest TO branch and those of the TA branch. An estimate of the size of dipolar clusters around the niobium impurities is derived from the analysis of the dispersion of the lowest TO modes in the long-wavelength range.


Nematic liquid crystal systems with positive and negative magnetic susceptibility anisotropies are studied by NMR in high and zero magnetic fields. The behavior of the system in zero field is dictated by the form of the zero-field Hamiltonian, the symmetry of the liquid crystal phase, and the initial state of the magnetization. Zero-field evolution is initiated both with and without the use of dc pulsed fields in the field cycle. Pulsed dc fields are also used to remove the effects of residual field inhomogeneities by zero-field spin echoes. The order parameters measured in an applied field and in the absence of a field are found to be the same within experimental error for both types of liquid crystal.


Sustained CD4+ cell count increases as a result of potent anti-HIV therapy have been credited with a steep drop in many HIV-related conditions. Indeed, the most recent guidelines for preventing opportunistic infections (OIs) reflect the growing practice of stopping preventive and maintenance therapies. While the risk of developing OIs or having them reappear still exists only after therapy fails, the possibility of stopping OI therapy after achieving an improved immune response is promising for many. Unfortunately, despite success with many OIs, declines in the rate of the fungal infection candidiasis have not been observed.


We present the results of a rapid assessment of herpetofaunal diversity from Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan. Visual encounter surveys, opportunistic searches, and pitfall traps were conducted for four field days to document the amphibian and reptilian diversity. 20 species of amphibians and 29 species of reptiles were recorded during the survey. Specific identity of two species ( Philautus Sensu lato . and Eutropis sp . ) remains to be ascertained. The following species are new additions to the herpetofauna of Bhutan: Uperodon globulosus, Ingerana borealis, Calotes maria , Cnemaspis assamensis , Ptyctolaemus gularis and Varanus salvator .


Multi-instrument data sets from the ground and satellites at both low and high altitude have provided new results concerning substorm onset and its source region in the magnetosphere. Twenty-six out of 37 substorm onset events showed evidence of azimuthally spaced auroral forms (AAFs) prior to the explosive poleward motion associated with optical substorm onset. The azimuthal wavelengths associated with these onsets were found to range between 132 and 583 km with a mean value of 307 _+ 115 km. The occurrence rate increased with decreasing wavelength down to a cutoff wavelength near 130 km. AAFs can span 8 hours of local time prior to onset and generally propagate eastward in the morning sector. Onset itself is, however, more localized spanning only about 1 hour local time. The average location of the peak intensity lbr 80 onsets was 65.9 + 3.5 CGMIat, 22.9 _+ 1.2 Mlt, whereas the average location of the AAF onsets was at 63.8 _+ 3.3 CGMIat, 22.9 _+ 1.1 Mlt. AAF onsets occur during time periods when the solar wind pressure is relatively high. These low-latitude wavelike onsets appear as precursors in the form of long-period magnetic pulsations (Pc 5 band) and frequently occur on the equatorward portion of the double oval distribution. AAFs brighten in conjunction with substom onset leading to the conclusion that they are a growth phase activity causally related to substorm onset. Precursor activity associated with these AAFs is also seen near geosynchronous orbit altitude and examples show the relationship between the various instrumental definitions of substorm onset. The implied mode number (30 to 135) derived from this work is inconsistent with cavity mode resonances but is consistent with a modified flute/ballooning instability which requires azimuthal pressure gradients. It is suggested that this instability exists in growth phase but that an additional factor exists in the premidnight sector which results in an explosive onset. The extended source region 'and the distance to the open-closed field line region constrain reconnection theory and local mechanisms for substom onset. It is demonstrated that multiple onset substorms can exist for which localized dipolarizations and the Pi 2 occur simultaneously with tail stretching existing elsewhere. Further, the tail can be less stretched at geosynchronous orbit during the optical auroral onset than during the precursor pseudobreakups. These pseudobreakups can be initiated by auroral streamers which originate at the most poleward set of arc systems and drift to the more equatorward main UV oval. Observations are presented of these AAFs in conjunction with lowand high-altitude particle and magnetic field data. These place the activations at the interface between dipolar and taillike field lines probably near the peak in the cross-tail current. These onsets are put in the context of a new scenario for substorm morphology which employs individual modules which operate independently or couple together. This allows particular substorm events to be more accurately described and investigated.


STUDY DESIGN
Nonrandomized 2 group post-test only.

OBJECTIVE
To compare scapular position and orientation between subjects with and without impingement syndrome.

BACKGROUND
Abnormal scapular motion is commonly believed to be a contributing factor to shoulder impingement syndrome.

METHODS AND MEASURES
Twenty nonimpaired subjects with a mean age of 34.3 (+/- 7.5 years) and 17 patients with impingement syndrome with a mean age of 45.8 (+/- 11.0) participated. A 3-dimensional electromechanical digitizer was used to measure scapular position and orientation in 3 planes. Measurements were taken with the arm at the side, elevated in the scapular plane to horizontal, and at maximum elevation. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare nonimpaired subjects to the impingement group and the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides within the impingement group. Five scapular kinematic variables were assessed at each arm position. Orientation was described by posterior tilting angle, upward rotation angle, and internal rotation angle. Position was described by medial-lateral position and superior-inferior position and determined by the distance from the scapula centroid to the seventh cervical vertebra (C7).

RESULTS
During scapular plane elevation of the arm, the scapula showed a general pattern of increasing posterior-tilt angle, increasing upward-rotation angle, and decreasing internal-rotation angle in both impingement and nonimpaired groups. Also, the scapula moved to a more superior position and a slightly more medial position with increasing arm elevation. Compared to nonimpaired subjects (34.6 degrees +/- 9.7), those with impingement demonstrated a significantly lower posterior tilting angle of the scapula in the sagittal plane (25.1 degrees +/- 9.1). Subjects with impingement also demonstrated higher superior-inferior scapular position with maximal arm elevation (5.2 cm +/- 1.6 below the first thoracic vertebrae) compared to nonimpaired subjects (7.5 cm +/- 1.5).

CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that altered scapular kinematics may be an important aspect of the impingement syndrome.


An improved lossless image coder is introduced which is based on suboptimal, adaptive multiplicative autoregressive models. Basically the improvements result from the incorporation of three new elements: a backward block-by-block parameter estimator, a probability model for the residuals, and a contextual entropy coder. The results of a comparative experimental study indicate that on average the improved coder delivers /spl sim/7% higher compression than the old scheme.


In Australia, until the year 1860, no deposits of Secondary age had been demonstrated, although Sir T. L. Mitchell, in 1846, during his exploration of tropical Australia, had collected Belemnites and a few other fossils, which are now known to belong to a Lower Secondary formation, such as occurs on the Maranoa River, in Queensland. During my own explorations in 1851–3, I had received a portion of an Ammonite found in the Clarence River District, in New South Wales; and in 1859, Mr. Selwyn* obtained two supposed Cretaceous fossils from the drift-gravel in Victoria. But these were all the data that had been accumulated in Eastern Australia up to 1861, when my paper "On the position of certain plants in the Coal-bearing beds of Australia" was read before the Geological Society†. But of Oolitic fossils no species had been found in New South Wales in 1860, nor to my knowledge in any part of Australia, as stated in my book on the Gold-fields; for I was then unaware even that Mr. Gregory had discovered any Secondary fossils in Western Australia, which fact I first became acquainted with in an editorial note appended to the paper cited. In Mr. Gregory's paper‡, afterwards published, he mentions Cretaceous, but not Jurassic fossils. Shortly after this, my friend Mr. W. P. Gordon, who then lived at Wollumbilla, north of the Condamine River, was requested by me to examine his neighbourhood, and to send me any fossils he might discover, as I was led to


This study uses molecular dynamics to simulate the nanoscale cutting of a Cu single crystal by a conical diamond tool. Actual nanoscale straight-line cutting experiments were performed, and the experimental results are compared with the simulation results. The heaping of copper atoms is qualitatively quite consistent with the simulation result. This paper also proposes a nanoscale contact pressure factor (NCP factor) that is applicable to the probes at different tip radii. An estimation model of the cutting force for nanoscale cutting is established. This model can estimate the cutting force during actual nanoscale cutting. Actual nanoscale cutting experiments were performed for verification, and the difference between the cutting force estimated by this model and the actual force is very small.


The AA. studied the immunologic profile of an oral vaccine to prevent the experimental infection in mice and its effect when it was administered with antibiotic. The mice were infected with Staphylococcus aureus and protected by the vaccine administration. Our results confirmed the higher survival in the group that used this combination. The observed mortality was lower in group of mice treated with vaccine and penicillin combination, than in the untreated group.


The mechanisms of compartmentalization of intermediates and secretion of penicillins and cephalosporins in β-lactam antibiotic-producing fungi are of great interest. In Acremonium chrysogenum, there is a compartmentalization of the central steps of the CPC (cephalosporin C) biosynthetic pathway. In the present study, we found in the 'early' CPC cluster a new gene named cefP encoding a putative transmembrane protein containing 11 transmembrane spanner. Targeted inactivation of cefP by gene replacement showed that it is essential for CPC biosynthesis. The disrupted mutant is unable to synthesize cephalosporins and secretes a significant amount of IPN (isopenicillin N), indicating that the mutant is blocked in the conversion of IPN into PenN (penicillin N). The production of cephalosporin in the disrupted mutant was restored by transformation with both cefP and cefR (a regulatory gene located upstream of cefP), but not with cefP alone. Fluorescence microscopy studies with an EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein)-SKL (Ser-Lys-Leu) protein (a peroxisomal-targeted marker) as a control showed that the red-fluorescence-labelled CefP protein co-localized in the peroxisomes with the control peroxisomal protein. In summary, CefP is a peroxisomal membrane protein probably involved in the import of IPN into the peroxisomes where it is converted into PenN by the two-component CefD1/CefD2 protein system.


Psychosocial factors impacting the overall quality of life for cancer patients may differ between younger and older adults. The objective of this study was to examine the differences between younger and older adults in reports of cancer pain, pain severity, and psychological distress. Symptom data from the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale were collected from younger and older adults (N = 232) receiving outpatient services at a comprehensive cancer center (radiation, chemotherapy). Results showed that younger patients had higher reports of pain and psychological distress compared with the older adults. Multivariate analyses showed that, for younger patients, those who had more functional limitations were more likely to report pain. For older patients, being female, having functional limitations, receiving palliative treatment, irritability, and religious activity predicted a greater likelihood of reporting pain. These findings indicate that older cancer patients have less distress than younger cancer patients, suggesting that older adults may have more effective coping mechanisms to help them better manage their pain. These results endorse the importance of addressing the unique psychological concerns of younger and older cancer patients, while effectively managing their pain.


This study aimed at investigating possible gender differences of adult EFL learners in terms of the effects of semantic elaboration (operationalized through teacher-performed gestures) on memory for new words in English and words in native tongue. To achieve this goal, thirty male and thirty female university students were randomly selected and each of the groups went through the experiment separately. They were presented with two sets of new English words (determined through a pretest) and were instructed to do their best to learn the words in two conditions. One set consisted of word-translation pairs (control condition) and the other set consisted of word-translation pairs followed by a video showing the meaning of each word through gestures. Each participant was presented with every experimental word but in two different orders. Then they were required to complete two recall tasks (i.e. free recall in English, free recall in Persian). The results of data analysis using repeated measures of ANOVA (two-way and one-way) showed a negative effect of using gestures on free recall in English and a positive effect of using gestures on free recall in Persian for both groups. Based on the results some pedagogical implications are provided.


Background Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the second cause of cancer death throughout the world the prevalence of gastric cancer (GC) progressively increased during the last decades in Iran. Health-care systems are always faced with high costs of treatment of gastrointestinal cancers including stomach cancer. The best strategy to reduce the mortality for GC is to schedule appropriate screening and surveillance programs, which raises many relevant concerns taking into account its worldwide variability, natural history, diagnostic tools, therapeutic strategies, and cost-effectiveness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of gastric cancer screening methods (Endoscopy, Radiography and Pepsinogen testing) comparing with themselves and with no screening in high risk people in Iran. Methods A systematic review of relevant databases, including PubMed, Cochran, Scopus, Google Scholar was conducted. The evaluating the quality of studies were carried out independently by two persons using standard checklists. To assess the cost-effectiveness, the model of decision tree was used. The hypothetical population of 1 Million of the high risk of GC were entered into the model. The study was undertaken from healthcare payer perspective. The outcome of the study was the 5 years survival and QALY of the high risk people. Results The 2866 studies were found in the first phase of searching through databases. After eliminating duplicate studies and studies incompatible with the inclusion and exclusion criteria of our study, 8 studies selected. The sensitivity of Endoscopy, radiography and pepsinogen testing were 93%,83% and 77% respectively. The result of modelling showed that with no screening, only 9 84 875 persons out of 1 million high risk individuals would survive after 5 years; whereas by Endoscopy and Radiography and pepsinogen testing 999,691, 9 99 344 and 9 99 113 people will have 5 years survival, respectively. Conclusions In terms of effectiveness, endoscopy is more susceptible to both radiographic tests and pepsinogen tests. The cost of treatment in the non-screening program was estimated at three times the endoscopic screening program. Given the high effectiveness of endoscopy and its therapeutic aspect, it is the best option for screening the population at risk.


Cerebral Palsy (CP) defined as a neurological disorder is happens mainly due to the non progressive brain injury or the abnormalities develops while in kids brain is under development. This appear in early childhood development. The major causes of CP is due to genetic disorder, some infections during pregnancy time, medical problems and accidents that appear in mother during pregnancy, premature babies, poor blood flow to brain. The above mentioned cases can be controlled while taking certain precautions during pregnancy time this might decrease the risk of CP. Since there is no cure for CP; however, proper rehabilitation therapy, visual therapy treatments, medications etc., may help many individual CP Kids. This consider the best approach for CP Rehabilitation. Our Study focused on the Various Risk factors and issues of CP Children and functional assessment for various conditions for CP are measured. The Physicians should also work in conjunctions with rehabilitation therapists, educator, nurses, social care provider and school teacher. The Rehabilitation interventions should be considered for CP children and need to become an essential part of the standard treatment in Effective Way. The rehabilitation therapy approaches is major for CP Kids and assessed rigorously for each individual Children. This research analyses the several case studies in real time and obtained the feedback from CP Kids and the results are illustrated.


392  Epidemiological Study of Trichomonas Vaginalis in Married females Suha A. Kadhum Technical College of Health and Medical / Baghdad Summary The aim of this study was to identify the main risk factors with Trichomonas vaginalis infection in married women that have vaginal discharge. The study include (250) female who attended Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital (Gynecological Clinics), through the period from February 2010 to July 2010.Patients female were subjected for a special questionnaire sheet. The study has found that (65) females were infected with this parasite from total (250), who were complaining from vaginal discharge with infection rate 26%.Higher infection rate was recorded between pregnant female was 17.2% while non-pregnant women 8.8% .The main age group of infected women concentrated in (20-29 years) in which rate were 12.83% and 11.76% in pregnant and non-pregnant women respectively.According to educational level and socio-economic status, the study recorded higher percentage 50.76% between illiterate women and with low socio-economic status 63.07%.The highest infection with Trichomonas vaginalis obtained from women with white to gray discharge 58.46% and with bad odor 81.53%.Depending on residency, in rural residence the high percentage of infection were recorded 63.07% while comparing with urban 36.93%.Considering to contraceptive types which used by women 47.69% for IUDs, followed by 32.31% for contraceptive pills and low percentage for condom 20%.


Representations of public life in recalling past events or history can be found, among others, in 3D animated films. An interpretation of connotative meaning, as the second layer meaning, arises when a symbol is associated with its psychological aspects, such as feelings, emotions, or beliefs, which are closely related to culture, knowledge, and history. This study aims to interpret symbols in the Kenangan Mengusik Jiwa episode of Upin & Ipin animated film for their denotative and connotative meaning to better understand the context of the story and the moral message conveyed. A questionnaire was used in this research to increase validity. In processing questionnaire data, a calculation is conducted using the Likert scale. The results of the study indicate that the main moral message conveyed in this episode is to never forget history or established culture. This interpretation is supported by results from questionnaire data.


Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative bacterium capable of causing deadly invasive disease. Two recently developed vaccines against N. meningitidis serogroup B include recombinant factor H binding protein (fHbp), a surface protein that meningococci use to evade the host immune system. Many anti-fHbp monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) produced against fHbp fail to trigger complement-mediated bacteriolysis when used alone in vitro, but are highly synergistic and bactericidal when used in combination. This opened the door to defining the structural basis by which mAbs activate complement synergistically when binding to different epitopes on the same antigen, a story that is told by Malito et al. in a recent issue of the Biochemical Journal. Using two separate crystal structures of fHbp bound to Fabs from synergistic mAbs, they were able to model the structure of both full length antibodies bound simultaneously to fHbp. This revealed that the bound antibodies orient their Fc domains 115-130 Å apart, a distance that is compatible with multivalent C1q binding. The need for a precise orientation of Fc domains in order to efficiently activate effector functions is an emerging theme across multiple fields, and its implications could have broad impacts on vaccinology and immunotherapy.


A 37-year-old man presented to our hospital for early rectal cancer accompanied by mucosal prolapse syndrome. Biopsy confirmed an adenocarcinoma, and endoscopic ultrasonography indicated proximity to the dentate line but no submucosal invasion. The tumor was removed en bloc via endoscopic submucosal dissection without complications, and its margin was free of tumor cells. The total procedure duration was 37 minutes, and the resected specimen measured 23 × 13 mm. There was no recurrence during the 3-year observation period. Although close to the dentate line and accompanied by mucosal prolapse syndrome, a rectal cancer lesion was safely resected en bloc using endoscopic submucosal dissection.


Runoff from forests predominates above runoff from adjacent agricultural and other land-use types during longer periods of climatic drought. The predominating forest runoff is 180 days per year, in average. There are streamflows of 180–366-day by 10-year average. To practical proving this hypothesis, the runoff study was done for upper part of the Svratka catchment with measuring profile in Dalečin, the Czech-Moravian Highlands. The catchment was segmented into four land-use types: 43% of forest stands, 29% of agricultural crops, 20% of permanent grasslands, and 8% other lands. Besides forest influence on streamflow directly in the Svratka River, the runoff from other land-use types of the agriculturalforestry catchment was also calculated. It was proved that greater runoff drained from the forest than from the remaining land uses of the catchment. The 43% share of the forest in the upper Svratka catchment increased during climatic drought mean runoff in by 6.2%.


In previous work [L. Blanchet and A. Le Tiec, Phys. Rev. D 80 (2009) 023524], motivated by the phenomenology of dark matter at galactic scales, a model of dipolar dark matter (DDM) was introduced. At linear order in cosmological perturbations, the dynamics of the DDM was shown to be identical to that of standard cold dark matter (CDM). In this paper, the DDM model is investigated at second order in cosmological perturbation theory. We find that the internal energy of the DDM fluid modifies the curvature perturbation generated by CDM with a term quadratic in the dipole field. This correction induces a new type of non-Gaussianity in the bispectrum of the curvature perturbation with respect to standard CDM. Leaving unspecified the primordial amplitude of the dipole field, which could in principle be determined by a more fundamental description of DDM, we find that, in contrast with usual models of primordial non-Gaussianities, the non-Gaussianity induced by DDM increases with time after the radiation-matter equality on super-Hubble scales. This distinctive feature of the DDM model, as compared with standard CDM, could thus provide a specific signature in the CMB and large-scale structure probes of non-Gaussianity.


In Pakistani population the prevalence of Calcium and vitamin D deficiency is at alarming rate. Previous studies show that globally vertebral osteoporosis is most commonly recognized site causing deterioration to personal life satisfaction. It is very unfortunate that in Pakistan ample amount of research work has not been done in the area, consequently, information on rate of vertebral osteoporosis & fracture are rare in Pakistan. There is no reduction in T-score on supplementation with calcium and vitamin D3 administration. There is reduction in T-score on supplementation with calcium and vitamin D3 administration. The prime objective of the current work was to determine vertebral spine osteoporosis treatment efficacy in local population. This is an intervention experimental study with no control. The study population was selected from the local community; consisting of individuals with vertebral spine osteoporosis, further they were followed for up to 6 months. Data was analyzed by SPSS-22. Tabs Chewable: Calcium: 1250 mg, Cholecalciferol: 125 IU, BD/Day was advised. The mean T-score before and after treatment were recorded as; Mean ±S.D: 2.890 ±1.7217 and Mean ±S.D: -2.456±0.8064 respectively. The findings of the current work do not provide support for routine supplementation with calcium and vitamin D3 orally for osteoporosis.


Both Glycaemic index (GI) and Glycaemic Load (GL) were introduced to measure the impact of a carbohydrate-containing food on blood glucose. From this perspective, high-amylose (HA) flours, with a higher percentage of resistant starch (RS), may represent a suitable raw material to improve the glycaemic response. The present work aims to investigate the GI of HA bakery products (biscuits, taralli and bread) compared to products obtained from conventional flour. Ten healthy volunteers were enrolled and their capillary blood glucose was measured every 15 min for 2 h after the consumption of HA and control products containing 50 g of available carbohydrates. On average, in the three bakery products, the amount of total starch replaced by RS was equal to 12%. HA biscuits and HA bread showed significantly lower GI than their control counterparts (p = 0.0116 and p = 0.011, respectively) and better glycaemic control. From the survey to assess liking and willingness to pay on HA snacks, HA packages received an average premium of €0.66 compared to control products. Although HA flour results in lower GI in both biscuits and bread, further studies are needed to evaluate the correct composition of HA products to have beneficial effects on post-prandial glycaemia.


In this work, we revisit the density functional theory (DFT)-based results for electron–phonon scattering in highly excited silicon. Using the state-of-the-art ab initio methods, we examine the main scattering channels, which contribute to the total electron–phonon scattering rate and the energy loss rate of photoexcited electrons in silicon as well as their temperature dependence. Both temperature dependence and the main scattering channels are shown to strongly differ for the total electron–phonon scattering rate and the energy loss rate of photoexcited electrons. While the total electron–phonon scattering rate increases strongly with temperature, the temperature dependence of the energy loss rate is negligible. Also, while acoustic phonons dominate the total electron–phonon scattering rate at 300 K, the main contribution to the energy loss rate comes from optical modes. In this respect, DFT-based results are found to disagree with conclusions of Fischetti et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 114, 222104 (2019)]. We explain the origin of this discrepancy, which is mainly due to differences in the description of the electron–phonon scattering channels associated with transverse phonons.


Farmers and smokers are repeatedly exposed to airborne organic material. We hypothesised that farmers and smokers show altered airway responses to inhaled organic, pro-inflammatory agents. A total of 11 farmers, 12 smokers and 12 controls underwent lipopolysaccharide (LPS) bronchial challenge and spent 3 h in a pig barn. Lung function, exhaled nitric oxide and bronchial responsiveness were assessed and nasal lavage fluid and induced sputum were also collected. Symptoms and body temperature were recorded before and after exposures. Following exposure to the pig barn, bronchial responsiveness, exhaled nitric oxide, sputum interleukin (IL)-6, nasal lavage cell count and IL-8 were increased to a greater extent in controls compared to farmers. The sputum IL-6 response was also attenuated in farmers after LPS challenge. The response shown by smokers following exposure to the pig barn was similar to that of controls regarding measurements of exhaled nitric oxide, IL-8 in nasal lavage and IL-6 in sputum, but more similar to farmers concerning bronchial responsiveness and the cell numbers present in nasal lavage. Sputum IL-8 showed a greater increase in smokers than in the other groups following LPS challenge. We conclude that individuals who are repeatedly exposed to organic material develop an adaptation to the effects of acute exposure to inhaled organic material.


This article begins by commenting on an analysis undertaken by the late Stephen Livingstone of 13 cases relating to the troubles in Northern Ireland decided by the House of Lords between 1969 and 1993. It then attempts to repeat the analysis in respect of 12 such cases decided between 1994 and 2005. Areas of law arising for consideration during both periods include the rules on the use of lethal force, aspects of substantive criminal law and criminal procedure and the rights of persons arrested or imprisoned. The more recent cases also raise fundamental questions concerning the status and meaning of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. The article concludes that there has been a sea-change in the way the Law Lords have handled the Northern Irish cases. From treating them in a way which might have suggested a built-in bias in favour of police, army and government perspectives, they have moved to analysing the competing arguments in the light of more modern approaches to statutory interpretation, the rule of law and human rights.