Decision Tree (DT) analysis has emerged over the decades as an effective tool in classification or prediction. Since the publication of the first comprehensive and authoritative book on decision tree analysis by Howard Raiffa in 1968, its applications to a variety of problems from numerous disciplines have grown enormously. However, most of the methods for DT construction have some pitfalls including binary split points of numeric attributes instead of arbitrary splitting, involvement of users with prior domain knowledge to construct DT and finally the absence of training data visualization which this paper aims to remove. Besides we have proposed how the constructed DT can be applied for the adaptive interview process.


Haplotype information could lead to more powerful tests of genetic association than single‐locus analyses but it is not easy to estimate haplotype frequencies from genotype data due to phase ambiguity. The challenge is compounded when individuals are pooled together to save costs or to increase sample size, which is crucial in the study of rare variants. Existing expectation–maximization type algorithms are slow and cannot cope with large pool size or long haplotypes. We show that by collapsing the total allele frequencies of each pool suitably, the maximum likelihood estimates of haplotype frequencies based on the collapsed data can be calculated very quickly regardless of pool size and haplotype length. We provide a running time analysis to demonstrate the considerable savings in time that the collapsed data method can bring. The method is particularly well suited to estimating certain union probabilities useful in the study of rare variants. We provide theoretical and empirical evidence to suggest that the proposed estimation method will not suffer much loss in efficiency if the variants are rare. We use the method to analyze re‐sequencing data collected from a case control study involving 148 obese persons and 150 controls. Focusing on a region containing 25 rare variants around the MGLL gene, our method selects three rare variants as potentially causal. This is more parsimonious than the 12 variants selected by a recently proposed covering method. From another set of 32 rare variants around the FAAH gene, we discover an interesting potential interaction between two of them. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


BACKGROUND
Research suggests Tourette syndrome (TS) can have a negative impact on quality of life. To date, little research has examined the perspectives of young people with this condition in depth.

METHODS
Six 14- to 16-year-olds with TS took part in semi-structured interviews to explore the perceived impact of this condition on self and on relationships with others. The transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

RESULTS
The young people felt that TS was a constant presence in their lives, but one they have learnt to cope with well. Most had developed supportive friendships but encountered problems when interacting with the wider peer network. Specific concerns around meeting new people and future employment were voiced.

CONCLUSIONS
The adolescents described specific ways in which TS affects quality of life and social interactions, and the effort it can take to cope effectively with this condition.


This article focuses on the marginalized woman Maya Angelou with special reference set in her memoirs named I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing and Gather Together in My Name. This paper aims to show that how Maya Angelou a prominent Afro – American writer is marginalized and how despite confronting racism, sexism, classism and gender issues she was capable of making her presence felt by the world. Her way of living life has become a message for black women to reconstruct their self and identity. In light of the concept Black feminism Angelou lesser the burden of other Afro – American women who were cloaked in the burden of slavery. She felt her presence strong and established her relations with others during difficulties. Angelou's works reveal the horror of colour discrimination and marginalization which cause writhe in agony. Thus delivers the message that one should stand for one's identity and defy the harassment and torture.


Nowadays, high-rise residential apartments (HRRA) are developing very fast in major urban areas in Malaysia. However, the layouts of these apartment units seem to be too typical and lacking certain contextual socio-environmental considerations. A residential unit accommodates more than just rooms. There are distinct spaces with various Use-Territories (UTs) inside every room created by furniture layout. During the design stage, usually less importance is given to UTs. In search of their impact, the objectives of this study were firstly to identify the most popular furniture with their approximate dimensions, secondly to find their location in terms of distance from window, and thirdly, to identify typologies of furniture layouts in terms of UTs. Based on a questionnaire survey distributed among 98 HRRA residents in the city of Johor Bahru, the conceptual furnished plans of studied rooms were drawn. That was followed by a qualitative categorization carried out to extract the typologies of mostly-used UTs. Four typologies for living room and six of that for bedroom were identified through comparative analysis. The study showed that the social behavior of occupants in terms of arranging UT may be against their indoor environmental condition of daylighting. The significance of the study lies in the fact that in a tropical country like Malaysia with abundance of daylight but associated with glare, thermal heat gain, and low air movement, social needs can bend the users' decisions to arrange pre-conceived convention of UTs in habitable rooms. Therefore, designing layouts or orienting habitable rooms should need more investigation.


A report is presented on progress and problems encountered in introducing a computer program as an aid in undergraduate teaching rather than as a topic of study per se. A computer-trained engineer differs in outlook from his predecessor reared on the slide rule. These conflicting orientations pose new problems and occasionally supply new fuel to old controversies. Reactions of the administration, of the faculty, and of the engineering student facing the changes are examined. Instructors planning to introduce similar programs, may find it helpful to anticipate these responses and to recognize their motivation. Like other so-called unorthodox teaching methods, the computer program depends for its success as a teaching aid largely on the instructor's ability to develop sound "public relations," solicit constructive criticism, and meet unjustified attacks effectively.


Recent work has shown that Full Waveform Inversion could be suitable to extract physical properties such as sound speed (c), density (ρ), temperature (T), and salinity (S) from the weak impedance contrasts associated with the ocean's thermohaline fine structure.The seismic inversion approaches proposed so far are based on the iterative inversion of c from multichannel seismic data, while the rest of parameters (T,S, and ρ) are determined in a second step using two equations of state and a local T‐S empirical relationship. In this work, we present an alternative to this approach. Using 1‐D synthetic seismic data, we demonstrate that the direct full waveform inversion of T and S using adjoint methods is feasible without the use of any local T‐S relationship and that the models of physical properties obtained with this approach are far more accurate than those inferred from c.


AbstractThis article suggests that patronage relationships can be interpreted in terms of gift exchange, arguing that this pertains in particular to late nineteenth-century forms of patronage. Patronage relationships in this period had a reciprocal nature and were characterised by a certain degree of instability. Since literary patronage had to redefine its position in a field that was becoming ever more commercial, benefactors and beneficiaries were both looking for new ways of fulfilling their role and subtly negotiated their share in influence and power. These changes were caused by developments affecting artistic practice and autonomy: paradoxically, in this period patronage was not so much a threat to the independence of artists as one of the conditions and driving forces for their increased autonomy. Focussing on the 1860s and 1870s, the author examines three patronage circles: one led by a writer-patron, the other by a writer-beneficiary and the third by a salon hostess offering a platform to numer...


A 63-year-old man was referred to our hospital for evaluation and treatment of severe dyspnea on exertion which had persisted for a few years. He presented with cyanosis and markedly clubbed fingers, and laboratory data disclosed hypoxemia, polycythemia, and liver dysfunction. A chest X-ray film showed increased vascular markings in both lower lung fields. Arterial blood gas analysis showed severe hypoxemia, with a PaO2 of 46 Torr and a PaCO2 of 31 Torr while the patient was breathing room air. The PaO2 increased only slightly with inhalation of 100% oxygen, which suggested the presence of a large R-L shunt. The hepatopulmonary syndrome was diagnosed. Angiography of the pulmonary artery revealed a large pulmonary arterio-venous fistula with markedly dilated arteries in both lower lobes. Transarterial embolization was done three times with a total of 62 metal coils. There were no complications. Embolization reduced the shunt from 56% to 31%, increased the PaO2, and relieved the dyspnea. Pulmonary artery embolization can be useful in treating pulmonary arterio-venous fistulas associated with the hepatopulmonary syndrome.


1 Studd JWW, Collins WP, Chakravarti S, Newton JR, Oram D, Parsons A. Oestradiol and testosterone implants in the treatment of psychosexual problems in the post menopausal woman. BrJ Obstet Gynaecol 1977;84:314-6. 2 Dow MGT, Hart DM, Forrest CA. Hormonal treatments of sexual unresponsiveness in post menopausal women. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1983;90:361-6. 3 Montgomery JC, Appleby L, Brincat M,et al. Effect ofoestrogen and testosterone inplants on psychological disorders in the climacteric. Lancet 1987;i:297-9. 4 Gath D, Cooper P, Day A. Hysterectomy and psychiatric disorder. 1: Levels of psychiatric morbidity before and after hysterectomy. BrJ Psychiany 1982;140:335-42.


In Indonesia, the biological agents have been widely used in the agriculture for reducing chemical fertilizers uses, for controlling plant pest and pathogens, and for increasing rate of composting process. The application of biological agents is especially important in the organic agriculture practices. The agents consist ofmicroorganisms both fungi and bacteria, and in some extent are also viruses, that part of them are imported from other countries. Based on their characteristics, any biological agents that are released into the environment can pose potential problems to the environment or the ecology There is a Ministerial Decree thaI require an environmental risk assessment (ERA) for getting a permission of an importation of biological agents. Unfortunatezv, there is not any guidance to conduct ERA ofbiological agents. This paper reviews ERA and using ofthe approach to do a risk assessment ofbiological agents that will be used in agriculture.


Investigation was focused on the formation of {311} planes by wet anisotropic etching of (100) silicon and, in particular, on the characterization by means of surface roughness, etch rates and related convex and concave corner dynamic behaviour during maskless etching. KOH and TMAH water solutions were tested for their influence on previously mentioned parameters as well as the effect of isopropyl alcohol (IPA). It was found that convex corner undercutting is significantly reduced if {311} bounding planes are utilized instead of {111} bounding planes. For shallow structures a self-compensation can be obtained with KOH and when certain conditions are met, also with TMAH. The rounding of the concave corner that arises through prolonged etching is reported, which is particularly emphasized in KOH and less in TMAH etchant. Addition of IPA in maskless mode is experimentally investigated, showing minor influence on etching conditions and on reducing the undercut of convex corners. Etch rates and dimensional control of some microstructures are discussed and presented comparatively for different etching systems in a temperature range of 50-100 °C. By evaluation of surface quality with a surface profiler and SEM, it was found that the smoothest surface was achieved by etching in TMAH. The role of solution temperature in surface roughness was found to be of minor importance, as well as the stirring of the solution. It was determined that the IPA additive increases roughness when used with KOH, while with TMAH, the influence on roughness of the {311} planes is insignificant.


Abstract The article discusses the recent international interest in contemporary Romanian art and its growth in market share, with a focus on the United States. The theme is followed thorough in numerous museum exhibitions, increased collector following, art fair presence, gallery representation and auction activity initially in Europe and the United States. The phenomenon is discussed both in the context of the larger international movement conducive to the contemporary art price bubble, and in that of the local socio-economic changes. My chief interest lies in the factors leading up to the entry of post 1989 Romanian art in the global arena as a manifestation of market forces in the field. The analysis follows its grass roots local emergence through non-profit institutions, individual artists, small publications, low budget galleries, as well as the lack of contribution (with few notable exceptions) of state institutions, while pointing out the national context of increasing deregulation of social support systems resulting in lack of focus on cultural manifestations. The conclusion is that the recent ascent of contemporary Romanian art (and coincidentally, the award winning contemporary Romanian cinematography) is a fortuitous convergence of various factors, among which, increased international mobility and sharing. At the same time, it is also the result of the evolution of various individual artists that pursued a form of art rooted in Romanian artistic tradition but with a focus on the symbolic figurative. The result is a personal semiotics of raising the mundane to extraordinary levels that reconfigured the anxiety of entering a new system into an unmistakable and lasting visual language.


Through out the decades, biotechnology has emerged as research area which requires the understanding of the biological intricacies of nature. Much of the scientific knowledge has been imparted to transfer beneficial genetic traits from one species to another to enhance or protect an organism. In the field of medicine, these tasks have ranged from the production of proteins, such as insulin, to selective targeting and binding of specific cell types. Since the discovery in the year 1800 that the human body is composed of cells and proteins that are susceptible to infection but can also combat pathogenic microbes, the perceived battlefield has challenged our imagination to develop biopharmaceuticals – biologically based therapeutic products . As  we enter the information age, the presence of excessive amount of biologic and genetic data, coupled with exponential growth in computing power, mean that the rate of developing novel biopharmaceuticals is not  at all limited by the ability to identify targets and clone macromolecules. But after post GATT period, this research area has faced a lot of restrictions by the government to follow the patent protection of these biologically engineered products of plant or human cell origin. Thus, biotechnology which is usually defined as any technique that uses living organisms or substances from organisms to make or modify a product, to improve plants or animals or to develop microorganisms for specific uses, is facing serious constraints like lack of skilled human resources, funds to bear the cost of these projects, the sophisticated infrastructure and facilities and stringent government laws.

 Key words: Biotechnology, patents, biomodulation, tissue.


A thesis submitted to The School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the degree of Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, 2016


The main purpose of this study is to develop a numerical analysis code for the prediction of a flapgate breakwater behavior during a huge tsunami. The features of this code are that the FAVOR method and the VOF method are applied. The code is applied to a hydraulic experiment of flapgate breakwater. As a result, the obtained numerical solutions agree well with the result of the experiment. Furthermore, through applying the code to a prediction of the flapgate breakwater behavior during the 1993 Hokkaido-Nanseioki tsunami, the applicability of the code to a real-scale simulation and the effectiveness of the breakwater to a huge tsunami are discussed.


Risk consideration is central to more accurate post-crisis valuation Corporate Valuation presents the most up-to-date tools and techniques for more accurate valuation in a highly volatile, globalized, and risky business environment. This insightful guide takes a multidisciplinary approach, considering both accounting and financial principles, with a practical focus that uses case studies and numerical examples to illustrate major concepts. Readers are walked through a map of the valuation approaches proven most effective post-crisis, with explicit guidance toward implementation and enhancement using advanced tools, while exploring new models, techniques, and perspectives on the new meaning of value. Risk centrality and scenario analysis are major themes among the techniques covered, and the companion website provides relevant spreadsheets, models, and instructor materials. Business is now done in a faster, more diverse, more interconnected environment, making valuation an increasingly more complex endeavor. New types of risks and competition are shaping operations and finance, redefining the importance of managing uncertainty as the key to success. This book brings that perspective to bear in valuation, providing new insight, new models, and practical techniques for the modern finance industry. Gain a new understanding of the idea of value


The effects of future output price uncertainty and wage uncertainty on a firm's investment decision are examined in this paper, by assuming the competitively risk-neutral firm maximizes the expected value of the sum of discounted cash flows. We find that the optimal investment behavior is such that the expected proportional growth rate of investment is invariant over time, although there exists a tradeoff between the effects of the two uncertainty on firm's investment because the shift in output price has positive effects on firm's investment, whereas the shift in wage has negative impacts on firm's investment. And what's more important, fluctuations in output price and wage are correlated so that changes in output price tend to be accompanied by changes in wage.


Does a person have the right to revolt, or the right to public expression of disagreement? Such a right exists, and people use it periodically. In order to minimise the destructive effects of the implementation of this right, the ruling elite creates special institutions whose function could be to create a certain buffer between the individual and the government. The ruling elite is not interested in responding to the requests of the individual, as well as in private delegitimisation, because the individual's satisfaction is associated with serious economic and reputational losses for the government. Historical experience shows that, regardless of the cultural tradition, a person can express their right to revolt, where concerned about the search for truth. From the author's point of view, this ambitious quest for a particular individual, as well as the request on his part to official institutions, is, to some extent, associated with the cultural context. The author confirms this with examples, by drawing parallels between the European and Russian experiences.


BACKGROUND
Research is essential for evidence-based practice yet many health professionals do not have enough time to find research. Studies relevant to occupational therapists can be particularly difficult to find. Most search engines are broad and return a large number of irrelevant articles. Occupational Therapy Systematic Evaluation of Evidence (OTseeker) is an occupational therapy database available at http://www.otseeker.com. Developed by Australian occupational therapists, the resource aims to increase access to research and support clinical decision making. This discipline-specific database contains pre-appraised information from a variety of sources and decreases the time required to locate best evidence.

OBJECTIVES
The aims of this paper are to: (i) describe how health librarians can use OTseeker to help allied health students, researchers and practitioners, particularly in occupational therapy, to find quality evidence; (ii) provide a teaching resource for health librarians based around the OTseeker evidence database; and (iii) highlight new features contained on the OTseeker database.

METHODS
A case study is provided which focuses on searching for evidence on the effectiveness of upper limb rehabilitation after stroke using OTseeker.

CONCLUSION
This paper may increase the knowledge, skills and competencies of health librarians, helping them to access evidence-based databases, and educate other professionals.


The clinical effects of treatment with 808- and 980-nm diode lasers as an adjunct to a uniform and consistent nonsurgical periodontal treatment protocol (NSPTP) for initial probing pockets ≥ 6 mm with a 10-year follow-up were evaluated. In total, 24 patients (16 test cases and 8 control cases) were treated with the NSPTP. The control group (CG) was treated only with nonsurgical conventional therapy, while the test group (TG) received treatment with thermal diode lasers (wavelength of 808 or 980 nm). All patients had recall visits every 3 months and were reevaluated at 1 year after NSPTP. Following the 1-year follow-up, patients were monitored at 4-month intervals for the remaining 9 years. In total, 646 teeth (433 in TG [124 multirooted teeth and 309 single-rooted teeth] and 213 in CG [64 multirooted teeth and 149 single-rooted teeth]) were included. The initial probing pocket depth (PPD) in single-rooted teeth from TG patients decreased from an average of 6.7 mm to 3.3 mm after 1 year, and to 2.3 mm after 10 years. The mean increase in clinical attachment level (CAL) was 3.8 mm. The initial PPD of single-rooted teeth in CG patients decreased from an average of 6.4 mm at baseline to 4 mm after 1 year and 3.3 mm after 10 years. The mean increase in CAL was 2.5 mm in CG. In the TG, the PPDs of multirooted teeth decreased from 6.2 mm to 3.3 mm after 1 year, where they remained stable for 10 years. The mean increase in CAL was 2.2 mm in this group. In the CG, the PPDs for multirooted teeth decreased from 7 mm to 5.8 mm after 1 year and were 5.1 mm after 10 years. The mean increase in CAL was 1.9 mm. The TG had significantly better clinical parameters than the CG, including reduced tooth loss. Compared to conventional debridement alone, the use of thermal diode lasers with NSPTP improves PPD and increases CAL in periodontal pockets ≥ 6 mm over the long term.


Aim: This study aimed to determine the effects of different salinity levels on plant growth, yield, quality, and certain stress parameters during cultivation of Limonium sinuatum 'Compindi White' and 'Compindi Deep Blue' in a greenhouse. In addition, the study aimed to provide an insight into future studies that aimed to reveal the magnitude of the effect of different salinity levels on the commercial cultivation of plants. Materials and method: This study was conducted between 2016 and 2017 at a greenhouse in Mugla-Turkey. Four different concentrations (control, 5, 10, and 20 dS/m) of salinity source in the form of NaCl were used. To examine the physiological characteristics of the plants, the relative water content (RWC) of the leaves, a stress parameter, was presented as percentages.The tips of the plant leaves were examined for the following parameters: chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid values, proline and lipid peroxidation. Result: The results suggested that all parameters investigated were negatively affected by the increased salinity level, and the effects were more prominent in L. sinuatum 'Compindi Deep Blue', which have purple flowers. Compared with the control, the marketable yield losses at 20 dS/m salinity level were 59.11% for L. sinuatum 'Compindi White' and 72.43 % for L. sinuatum 'Compindi Deep Blue'. Conclusion: Considering that many cut flower species cannot be cultivated under saline conditions, losses that occurred in the marketable yield of both varieties grown at up to 10 dS/m salinity may be ignored. Moreover, the use of such plants could contribute to plant variation as an alternative in terms of visualization of saline soils.


Defibrotide is a profibrinolytic agent which has potent stimulatory effects on vascular prostacyclin (PGI2) production and secretion. We have studied the effects of this substance on the morphological organization of venous thrombi by combining ultrastructural evaluation with histometric analysis. Thrombosis was induced by inserting a collagen-coated thread into the femoral vein of rabbits 2 h before sacrifice. The results show that Defibrotide is highly effective in reducing the size of the thrombus. This is due to combined profibrinolytic action and interference with platelet and leukocyte adhesion as indicated by results showing that: (i) large deposits of fibrin-like material are smaller and less abundant; (ii) platelet aggregates are smaller, and (iii) the density of leukocytes in thrombus is strongly decreased. Polymorphism is prominent in platelets which are indistinguishable from control suggesting that the primary site of action of Defibrotide is on adhesion. The inhibitory effect on leukocyte participation to the thrombotic process is probably due to PGI2 release and may be of relevance on maturation and aging of the thrombus.


ABSTRACT Chile has strong interest in biomass production for the purpose of generating bioenergy to accomplish environmental standards for clean energy production. However, no yield or productivity information is available about forest crop plantations established at high-initial planting densities dedicated to energy production. The objective of the present study was to provide long-term results of short-rotation forest crops research trials, investigating first cutting cycle most promising species biomass production. Plantations of Acacia melanoxylon, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus globulus, and Eucalyptus nitens were established at initial stockings of 5,000; 7,500 and 10,000 trees ha-1 on marginal sites with important nutritional and hydric limitations in the Biobío Region, Chile. After 48 months, E. camaldulensis reached the highest biomass yield at initial stocking of 7,500 trees ha-1 (22.5 Mg ha-1) on dry land granitic soils, and E. nitens reached 35.2 Mg ha-1 on sandy soils. Initial stockings and biomass yields were directly related, but strongly conditioned by mortality, where greater initial stocking concurred with greater mortality after 4 years. The collar diameter and total height growth was lower at higher stockings.


For multi-echo EPI, the T2*-weighted echo combination (T2EC) is a commonly used pre-processing step to boost the data quality. We assessed the benefit of T2EC in high-spatial-resolution multi-echo fMRI with explained variances and functional connectivity detectability. The performance was evaluated and compared with single-echo EPI for resting state fMRI on a compact 3T scanner with high-performance gradients. It was shown that a large portion of unwanted signal variance was globally suppressed through T2EC. Multi-echo acquisition shows improved image intensity and enhanced functional sensitivity in brain regions affected by signal-dropout.


The determination of the mechanical properties of soils containing particles larger than the allowable size by standard laboratory equipment is problematic. It is indeed necessary to eliminate the coarsest fraction to carry out the tests, which poses a problem of representativeness of the results at the scale of the structure. Parallel gradation and scalping methods are presented as a means of estimating the shear strength of heterogeneous granular soils from tests on their finer fraction. This study focuses on the effect of fines content on the estimation by these methods, which is not well known. The results showed that the parallel gradation method can predict the angle of friction of the initial material despite a high percentage of fines. However, the cohesion of the initial material was overestimated. As for the scalping method proposed by Fragaszy et al., the higher fines content in the modelled material resulted in an overestimation of the cohesion and an underestimation of the friction angle of the initial material.


Dengue fever is a serious threat for public health and induces various inflammatory cytokines and mediators, including galectins and glycoproteins. Diverse immune responses and immunological pathways are induced in different phases of dengue fever progression. However, the status of serum galectins and glycoproteins is not fully determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum concentration and potential interaction of soluble galectin-1, galectin-3, galectin-9, galectin-3 binding protein (galectin-3BP), glycoprotein 130 (gp130), and E-, L-, and P-selectin in patients with dengue fever in acute febrile phase. In this study, 317 febrile patients (187 dengue patients, 150 non-dengue patients that included 48 patients with bacterial infection and 102 patients with other febrile illness) who presented to the emergency department and 20 healthy controls were enrolled. Our results showed the levels of galectin-9 and galectin-3BP were significantly higher in dengue patients than those in healthy controls. Lower serum levels of galectin-1, galectin-3, and E-, L-, and P-selectin in dengue patients were detected compared to bacteria-infected patients, but not to healthy controls. In addition, strong correlation between galectin-9 and galectin-3BP was observed in dengue patients. In summary, our study suggested galectin-9 and galectin-3BP might be critical inflammatory mediators in acute dengue virus infection.


This work compares two types of psychological similarity in categorization. Similarity is a central component of categorization theories. Exemplar theories, for instance, assume that people categorize new exemplars based on their similarity to previous category members. Traditionally, the underlying psychological similarity is based on the sum of two exemplars' squared feature value differences (Euclidean similarity). The Euclidean similarity, however, ignores the distribution of exemplars within categories by assuming uncorrelated features within categories. The Mahalanobis similarity, in turn, extends the Euclidean similarity by accounting for within-category feature correlations. Results from machine learning have shown that in categorization problems involving correlated features within categories, the Mahalanobis similarity can outperform the Euclidean similarity. On the empirical side, results from psychology indicate that people can be sensitive to within-category feature correlations: Some findings suggest a general sensitivity for within-category feature correlations, yet others have argued that this sensitivity depends on the category structure, task format, and amount of training. The present work rigorously tested the correlation-insensitive Euclidean similarity against the correlation-sensitive Mahalanobis similarity to investigate if people use within-category feature correlations in categorization.


Radon migration in porous, earthen materials is characterized by diffusion in both the air and water components of the system as well as by the interaction of the radon between the air and water. The size distribution and configuration of the pore spaces and their moisture distributions are key parameters in determining the radon diffusion coefficient for the bulk material. A mathematical model is developed and presented for calculating radon diffusion coefficients solely from the moisture content and pore size distribution of a soil, reducing the need for resorting to radon diffusion measurements. The resulting diffusion coefficients increase with the median pore diameter of the soil and decrease with increasing widths of the pore size distribution. The calculated diffusion coefficients are suitable for use in simple homogeneous-medium diffusion expressions for predicting radon transport and compare well with measured diffusion coefficients and with empirical diffusion coefficient correlations.


A 58-year-old man on azathioprine with a history of ulcerative colitis underwent urgent coronary artery bypass grafting following a myocardial infarction, via a median sternotomy and open harvesting of the long saphenous vein. On postoperative day 5, he developed severe and progressive sternal and leg wound ulceration and necrosis, unresponsive to intravenous antibiotics and requiring surgical debridement. He developed septic shock requiring intensive therapy unit admission. Microbiology was negative and histology supported a diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum. Unresponsive to azathioprine and steroid therapy, he underwent a successful skin graft to the leg wound and pectoral reconstruction of the sternal wound.


The last two decades have witnessed an unprecedented growth in the number of users going online. While it has not happened overnight, the growth has been exponential in the last one decade. Chronologically, New media revolution started with the advent of internet. Innovations in computer and network technologies led to a massive adoption of communication technologies in varied forms. The scene in education domain is no different. There is lot of interest and investment in technology integrated education. With innovations such as MOODLE and MOOCS, the opportunities have grown manyfold. New media has enabled the end user to make a transition from a mere information consumer to a spontaneous information producer. Moreover, all along, new media has broken the space and time barrier leading to ubiquitous environment to communicate. It is in this context that the discourse generated through the new media is becoming an object of interest from research perspective. This paper uses a MOODLE based university Learning Management System and its discussion forums to make students participate in online discussions. The resulting academic discourse has been analysed using content analysis through a facet based approach. The objective of the study is to understand how technology and social aspects of an academic discussion are manifested in a mediated discourse.


Sherwood and Zeger (1997) proposed a source-channel coding system where the source code is an embedded bitstream and the channel code is a product code such that each row code is a concatenation of a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) and rate-compatible punctured convolutional codes (RCPC) and the column codes are Reed-Solomon (RS) codes. We improve this system for wireless applications by efficiently reorganizing the source code into a set of independently decodable packets, which makes it more robust in varying channels. We also give a linear-time algorithm for finding an optimal equal error protection for the resulting system. Experimental results show that the performance of our system significantly outperforms that of the current state-of-the-art in fading channels with varying statistics.


BACKGROUND
Double outlet left ventricle (DOLV) is a rare cardiac malformation in which both great arteries originate from the morphological left ventricle. There are limited data regarding the anatomical spectrum, characteristics and outcomes of DOLV.

METHODS
All patients with DOLV between 1960 and 2008 were identified. Patients' presentation, anatomy, surgical history, and outcomes were recorded. Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to describe time-related survival and freedom from surgical intervention.

RESULTS
There were 19 patients with DOLV during the study period, 14 of whom were male (74%). Median age at presentation was 2 days (birth--5.5 years). The most prominent associated cardiac morphologies (in addition to DOLV) were atrial septal defects (14, 74%), ventricular septal defects (13, 68%), right ventricular hypoplasia (12, 63%), and patent ductus arteriosus (15, 80%). At presentation, nine patients (47%) were cyanosed, nine (42%) had cardiomegaly, and all had some degree of right ventricular dysfunction. Of the 19 patients, seven underwent biventricular repairs, nine underwent univentricular palliations, one had only palliative care, and two were seen for consultation only. There were six deaths in this series, five were cardiac in nature (one due to genetic syndrome). Five-year survival after presentation for both biventricular and univentricular repairs was 70-75% (P= 0.80). Most surviving patients had residual cardiac abnormalities at last follow-up despite surgical repair.

DISCUSSION
DOLV is a rare cardiac malformation associated with high mortality and guarded outcomes from residual lesions.


We present a comprehensive digital collections management and presentation system built by customizing and integrating freely available open source software. We adapted the DC-dot Dublin Core generator for metadata creation and management, and integrated it with the Greenstone digital library software to present our digital collections on the Web. Additional functions were implemented using freely available scripting tools.


The rapidly increasing number of this country's elderly requires that dental hygiene students practice the clinical problem-solving skills of information gathering, assessment, and treatment applied to geriatric patients. Computer-based simulations are purported to provide this experience, but little research has been completed with simulations in the education of dental hygienists. This paper summarizes the process used to design, develop, and evaluate a series of eighteen computer-based geriatric simulated patients. It contains a brief description of the simulations and a description of the design, validation, authoring, and formative evaluation phases. The paper also describes the summative evaluation, provides implementation suggestions, and summarizes future directions. The summative evaluation, conducted at four institutions, suggests that computer-based simulations are an effective instructional method as measured by pre/post-tests. The results suggest that simulations can provide a standardized set of geriatric patient experiences. These simulations may prove especially valuable at institutions that are unable to provide clinical geriatric experiences or lack the expertise to conduct a didactic course in geriatrics.


A process planning problem typically encountered in flexible manufacturing systems treating laminated material (e.g. metal sheets) is modelled and solved. In such production systems computer controlled clamps hold the material on a work table. Sheet repositioning represents an important proportion of the processing time. The models developed in this paper give, under various operational conditions, a minimal set of repositionings. The first formulation of the model calls for a medium-size mixed-integer programming problem. In a subsequent reformulation, the real life problem is reduced to a set of simpler linear programming problems. Illustrations of the method, as currently implemented on a FMS are provided.


BACKGROUND
The slit diaphragm is a specialized adhesion junction between opposing podocytes, establishing the final filtration barrier that prevents passage of proteins from the capillary lumen into the urinary space. Nephrin, the key structural and signaling adhesion molecule expressed in the slit diaphragm, contains an evolutionally conserved, atypical PDZ-binding motif (PBM) reported to bind to a variety of proteins in the slit diaphragm. Several mutations in NPHS1 (the gene encoding nephrin) that result in nephrin lacking an intact PBM are associated with glomerular diseases. However, the molecular basis of nephrin-PBM-mediated protein complexes is still unclear.

METHODS
Using a combination of biochemic, biophysic, and cell biologic approaches, we systematically investigated the interactions between nephrin-PBM and PDZ domain-containing proteins in the slit diaphragm.

RESULTS
We found that nephrin-PBM specifically binds to one member of the membrane-associated guanylate kinase family of scaffolding proteins, MAGI1, but not to another, MAGI2. The complex structure of MAGI1-PDZ3/nephrin-PBM reveals that the Gly at the -3 position of nephrin-PBM is the determining feature for MAGI1-PDZ3 recognition, which sharply contrasts with the typical PDZ/PBM binding mode. A single gain-of-function mutation within MAGI2 enabled nephrin-PBM binding. In addition, using our structural analysis, we developed a highly efficient inhibitory peptide capable of specifically blocking the nephrin/MAGI1 interaction.

CONCLUSIONS
MAGI1 interacts with nephrin-PBM with exquisite specificity. A newly developed, potent inhibitory peptide that blocks this interaction may be useful for future functional investigations in vivo. Our findings also provide possible explanations for the diseases caused by NPHS1 mutations.


This study focused on the relationship between teacher stress and burnout and the leadership styles of elementary school principals as perceived by elementary school teachers. The topic of stress is one that has been ongoing for hundreds of years but the teaching profession has seen an increase in this condition over the past four decades. Teacher stress and burnout is a condition that can impact teacher health, job retention, teaching performance, and beyond. Therefore, this topic is important as the findings could serve to help minimize this condition. It could also inform educational leaders about leadership styles and their relation to stress and burnout. Sosik and Godshalk's (2000) model of leadership style, mentoring functions received, and job related stress, was the theoretical framework that guided this study. The Pearson Product-Moment Correlation was used to analyze statistical data via the Maslach Burnout Inventory: Educator's Survey (MBI) and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire Form 5X – Rater Form (MLQ). The results of this study revealed that there is a statistically significant relationship between the leadership styles of elementary school principals and teacher stress and burnout, which aligned with the majority of the literature on this topic.


Respiratory viruses are among the most important causes of human morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially for infants and young children. In the past years, a few commercial multiplex RT-PCR assays have been used to detect respiratory viruses in spite of the high cost. In the present study, an improved single-tube multiplex reverse transcription PCR assay for simultaneous detection of 13 respiratory viruses was evaluated and compared with a previously reported two-tube assay as the reference method using clinical nasopharyngeal aspirates samples. Of 310 prospectively tested respiratory specimens selected from children hospitalized with acute respiratory illness, 226 (72.90%, 226/310) and 214 (69.03%, 214/310) positive for one or more viruses were identified by the single-tube and the two-tube assays, respectively, with combined test results showing good concordance (Kappa value = 0.874). Individually, the single-tube assay for adenovirus (Adv), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human rhinovirus (HRV), parainfluenza virus type 1 (PIV1), parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3) and parainfluenza virus type 4 (PIV4) showed the significantly superior sensitivities to those of the two-tube assay. No false positives were found. In conclusion, our results demonstrates the one-tube assay revealed significant improvements over the two-tube assay in terms of the better sensitivity, more accurate quality control, less nonspecific amplification, more cost-effective and shorter turn-around time and will be a valuable tool for routine surveillance of respiratory virus infection in China.


Joint venture research has overlooked the potential impact of partner conflict on the quality of joint venture marketing strategy. We address this issue by developing formal hypotheses concerning the antecedents to and consequences of functional and dysfunctional conflict between joint venture parent organisations on joint venture marketing strategy. We then describe an empirical examination of our model. Data collection was undertaken via a mail survey of New Zealand joint venture companies. Forty usable responses were returned, corresponding to a response rate of twenty-five percent. Correlation analysis of the data indicates that the degree to which partners exhibit both functional and dysfunctional conflict is influenced by (a) the degree to which joint venture partners share strategic and operational fit, (b) partners' level of mutual commitment, (c) levels of mutual trust, (d) opportunistic behaviours and (e) the adoption of collaborative communication approaches. Furthermore, both functional and dysfunctional partner conflict appear to significantly influence the quality of joint ventures' marketing strategy formulation and implementation. We discuss the managerial implications forthcoming from these results.


DNA methylation changes within the genome can be used to predict human age. However, the existing biological age prediction models based on DNA methylation are predominantly adult-oriented. We established a methylation-based age prediction model for children (9-212 months old) using data from 716 blood samples in 11 DNA methylation datasets. Our elastic net model includes 111 CpG sites, mostly in genes associated with development and aging. The model performed well and exhibited high precision, yielding a 98% correlation between the DNA methylation age and the chronological age, with an error of only 6.7 months. When we used the model to assess age acceleration in children based on their methylation data, we observed the following: first, the aging rate appears to be fastest in mid-childhood, and this acceleration is more pronounced in autistic children; second, lead exposure early in life increases the aging rate in boys, but not in girls; third, short-term recombinant human growth hormone treatment has little effect on the aging rate of children. Our child-specific methylation-based age prediction model can effectively detect epigenetic changes and health imbalances early in life. This may thus be a useful model for future studies of epigenetic interventions for age-related diseases.


Protein disulfide isomerase family A member 3 (PDIA3) is a multifunctional protein, and it plays a vital role in modulating various cell biological functions under physiological and pathological conditions. Our previous study on Mediterranean buffalo demonstrated that PDIA3 is a potential candidate gene associated with milk yield based on genome-wide association study analysis. However, the genetic effects of the PDIA3 gene on milk performance in dairy cattle and the corresponding mechanism have not been documented. This study aims to explore the genetic effects of PDIA3 polymorphisms on milk production traits in 362 Chinese Holstein cattle. The results showed that 4 SNPs were identified from the 5' untranslated region of the PDIA3 gene in the studied population, of which 2 SNPs (g.-1713 C>T and g.-934 G>A) were confirmed to be significantly associated with milk protein percentage, whereas g.-434 C>T was significantly associated with milk fat percentage. Notably, linkage disequilibrium analysis indicated that 3 SNPs (g.-1713 C>T, g.-934 G>A, and g.-695 A>C) formed one haplotype block, which was found to be significantly associated with milk protein percentage. The luciferase assay demonstrated that allele C of g.-434 C>T exhibited a higher promotor activity compared with allele T, suggesting that g.-434 C>T might be a potential functional mutation affecting PDIA3 expression. Furthermore, overexpression of the PDIA3 gene was found to induce higher levels of triglyceride and BODIPY fluorescence intensity. In addition, PDIA3 overexpression was also found to positively regulate the synthesis and secretion of α-casein, β-casein, and κ-casein, whereas knockdown of this gene showed the opposite effects. In summary, our findings revealed significant genetic effects of PDIA3 on milk composition traits, and the identified SNP and the haplotype block might be used as genetic markers for dairy cow selected breeding.


An international collaboration has led to the development of a comprehensive tool [CLL-IPI international prognostic index for CLL] for the predicting of overall survival (OS) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).1 CLL-IPI was based on data collected from 3500 CLL patients and was based on the following parameters: TP53 deletion and/or mutation, IGHV mutational status, β2-microglobulin plasma levels, clinical stage, and age. CLL-IPI provides the means to stratify CLL patients in the daily clinical practice (Supplementary Table 1).1 Although validated for OS2-4 and time to first treatment (TTFT),5 the predictive value of CLL-IPI on progression-free survival (PFS) has until now only been demonstrated in a single study on patients treated with chlorambucil (CLB), as monotherapy, or in combination with obinutuzumab or rituximab, as a first-line approach (CLL11 study),6 and presented as a poster at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in 2016. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


The mechanism of the end breakage due to knots (a weaver's knot and a fisherman's knot using a combed cotton yarn c30s/1 cotton count) in the plain-weft knitting zone is investigated in detail, using a high speed video camera. The results obtained are as follows : (1) It clarifies that the end breakage due to knots in the plain-weft knitting zone occurs in the following three steps :1) jam of knots in the space between a needle-hook and -latch and an old loop, or in the space between a needle-head and a verge, 2) increase in the yarn tension, 3) end breakage due to knots. (2) The end breakage due to an air-splice in the plain-weft knitting zone hardly occurs under every knitting condition. (3) The rate of jammed knots, the end breakage rate for jammed knots and that for knots increase with the increase of the depth of stitch draw, the input tension and the take-down weight for any knot. (4) The rate of jammed knots, the end breakage rate for jammed knots and that for knots due to a fisherman's knot are always more than those due to a weaver's knot under every knitting condition.


Patients with a lupus anticoagulant (LAC) may present with thrombosis, and abnormal coagulation studies. It is important to recognize that these individuals may require special laboratory tests other than measuring the activated partial thromboplastin time or prothrombin time/international normalized ratio (PT/INR) traditionally used by clinicians to monitor hep-arin and warfarin. We recommend the use of a factor Xa inhibition test to regulate heparin in this patient population. This test measures the ability of heparin, as a cofactor of antithrombin III, to inMbit the catalytic function of factor Xa in plasma. Therapeutic levels are 0.3-0.7 U/mL of anti-Xa activity. For warfarin, we suggest measuring the factor X levels as determined by a chromogenic assay, if the patient initially has a prolonged PT/ INR. Therapeutic levels are 10%-40% of normal values. In this article, we review this and other tests available to monitor antithrornbotic therapy in patients with the LAC.


This paper reviews energy storage systems, in general, and for specific applications in low-cost micro-energy harvesting (MEH) systems, low-cost microelectronic devices, and wireless sensor networks (WSNs). With the development of electronic gadgets, low-cost microelectronic devices and WSNs, the need for an efficient, light and reliable energy storage device is increased. The current energy storage systems (ESS) have the disadvantages of self-discharging, energy density, life cycles, and cost. The ambient energy resources are the best option as an energy source, but the main challenge in harvesting energy from ambient sources is the instability of the source of energy. Due to the explosion of lithium batteries in many cases, and the pros associated with them, the design of an efficient device, which is more reliable and efficient than conventional batteries, is important. This review paper focused on the issues of the reliability and performance of electrical ESS, and, especially, discussed the technical challenges and suggested solutions for ESS (batteries, supercapacitors, and for a hybrid combination of supercapacitors and batteries) in detail. Nowadays, the main market of batteries is WSNs, but in the last decade, the world's attention has turned toward supercapacitors as a good alternative of batteries. The main advantages of supercapacitors are their light weight, volume, greater life cycle, turbo charging/discharging, high energy density and power density, low cost, easy maintenance, and no pollution. This study reviews supercapacitors as a better alternative of batteries in low-cost electronic devices, WSNs, and MEH systems.


SUMMARY Young laying hens were infected with Coxiella burnetii to study egg transmission, clinical and serologic responses, excretion of the agent in feces, and its persistence in internal organs. No clinical symptoms were noticed. The birds developed good titers in a capillary agglutination test by 13 days postinfection (DPI), which peaked at 30 DPI and thereafter declined gradually, becoming negative in some birds around 90 DPI. In vivo and in vitro egg transmission of the agent could not be demonstrated. C. burnetii was recovered at 90 DPI from spleen and liver but not from kidney and ovary.


SPARC 2021 Poster No. 20Background: Mammography is associated with
pain/discomfort and this is mainly due to positioning and the compression
applied to the breast. The aim of the research is to develop an evidence-based
positioning protocol that may help reduce pain/discomfort experienced during
mammogram. The angle of imaging plate on side-to-side mammogram projection
plays a vital role in the distribution of pressure through the breast. When the
imaging plate angle is perpendicular to the sternum during compression, there
should be an even pressure balance and increased breast coverage. This could
result into a less painful procedure.

Method: A phantom study was conducted on a
model torso with breast attachment. A digital inclinometer was used to take the
angle of model's sternum before it was positioned for MLO. Xsensor pressure mat
was secured to the surfaces of the compression paddle and imaging plate to read
and record pressure distribution applied on the breast phantom. Compression of
10daN was applied to breast phantom and pressure readings and breast footprint
were recorded with the imaging plate at various angles in the multiples of 5
from 400 to 700. Numerical pressure data recorded on the
mat was transferred onto Excel and analysed.

Results: Imaging plate angles at 550
to 650 produced a more even pressure and area balance. The recorded
sternal angle of model was 600.

Conclusion: When the imaging plate angle is parallel or close to
the angle of the sternum, there is an even distribution of pressure and
area. A study in human female volunteers
using this method is in progress.


In this paper, we develop a mathematical model to represent the conflicting effects of multidirectional pedestrian flows in a large crowd. The model is formulated based on Drake's model of traffic flow. Rather than relate the speed of a pedestrian stream solely to the pedestrian density, we introduce the flow ratio and intersecting angle between streams as variables. To calibrate the model, data collection was conducted through the video recording of pedestrian movements on a pedestrian street in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. Bayesian inference was adopted to calibrate the parameters based on the information from a previous experiment. Finally, we study the relationships among the speed, density, flow and intersecting angles of the pedestrian streams and predict how these variables affect the pedestrian movements.


Risking one"s own life is a phenonema that has perplexed many since Darwins time (1871; 1872), as it contradicts the most basic of all instincts: that of survival. Although several theorists disbelieve the possibility of behavior detached from internal motivations (Leyens & Yzerbyt, 2008), the consequences of these actions are undoubtedly beneficial for those who receive them, and can represent a means of change for a more just, peaceful and sociocentric society (Batson, Ahmad, & Stocks, 2004; Zimbardo, 2009). However, despite the assured importance of altruistic behavior, there have been few studies focusing on the motives for which individuals act in scenarios of victimization (Kahn, 2009; Zimbardo, 2009). It was in the intent to contribute to the understanding of what we refer to as "heroic altruism"actions that besides beneficiating primarily the target of these actions, jeopardizes the safety of the actors lifethat this study was set up to achieve. In order to do so, we conducted in-depth interviews to two men and a woman whose lives have demonstrated altruistic heroic behaviors. The results put into evidence some environmental factors (e.g. altruistic reference models, intercultural contact), personality traits (e.g. courage, inconformity), and certain principles and values (e.g. solidarity and truth) that seem to be key understandings to altruistic heroic behaviors. Key-words: Altruism, Heroism, Solidarity, Courage, Inconformity, Principles.


Nafion nanocomposite membranes were prepared from Nafion 117 and a systematic range of organically functionalized silicon alkoxide precursors using an in situ sol gel synthesis technique. The physical structure of the resulting nanocomposite membranes were characterized using small and wide-angle X-ray scattering, small angle neutron scattering, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. A structural model is proposed for three typical nanocomposite membranes (Nafion-TEOS, Nafion-MPTMS and Nafion-MPMDMS). The proton and methanol transport properties of the membranes included in the model were evaluated by impedance spectroscopy and pervaporation experiments, respectively, and correlated to their composite microstructure. In particular, this model explains the increased selectivity for transport over protons for nanocomposite membranes produced using (3-mercaptopropyl)methyldimethoxysilane as the silicon alkoxide precursor, which is more than six times higher than that of Nafion 117.


A radio-frequency (RF) transition is used to convert a pure F = 2,mF = 2 87Rb Bose-Einstein condensate confined in a TOP trap into a mixture of F = 2,mF = 2 and F = 2,mF = 1 states. We show that the nature of this coupling process is strongly influenced by the presence of the time-varying field of the TOP trap, and complicated by the presence of multiple Zeeman substates. In particular, the effective Rabi frequency associated with the applied RF field is not constant across the spatial extent of the cloud leading to a complex geometry for atom-laser output coupling and `averaging out' of Rabi oscillations. Further, a time-varying detuning can give rise to complex spatial structures.


The soil conditioning index (SCI) is a relatively simple model used by NRCS to predict changes in soil organic C. It is based on three important conditions: (1) organic material (OM), (2) field operations (FO), and (3) erosion (ER). Our objective was to develop quantitative relationships between (1) published soil organic C data derived from field experiments under various management systems and (2) SCI values predicted from those management systems. Within a field study, SCI was usually highly related to soil organic C content. The SCI appears to reasonably estimate changes in soil organic C with adoption of conservation agricultural systems in the southeastern USA.


Based on etiology a new classification for diabetes mellitus was proposed by the Experts of WHO in 1999. According to the classification, type 1 diabetes was subclassified as type 1A (autoimmune) and type 1B (idiopathic). Both forms result from the destruction of beta cells, however in type 1A the process is immune-mediated but in type 1B the origin of the beta cells impairment is still unknown. Moreover, subtype B is considered to be very heterogeneous and the diagnostic criteria are still not clear. The purpose of this article was to review studies on the pathogenesis of idiopathic type 1 diabetes.


Iron sulfide is one of the exotic scales formed in the oil and gas fields, particularly for those deep sour gas wells producing from high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) reservoirs. Compared to the conventional carbonate and sulphate scale, the mitigation of iron sulfide deposition is notoriously difficult.
 To develop a suitable mitigation strategy, it is essential to understand the formation mechanisms of iron sulfide in the given production system. In this work, we combined laboratorial tests, thermodynamic modelling, and field monitoring for the understanding the source of iron and the mechanisms of iron sulfide deposition in the sour gas well during acidizing treatment and production stage.
 Study results indicate that iron sulfide deposition in sour gas wells is a corrosion induced scaling problem. During acidizing treatment, high concentration of iron is released from tubular due to acid attack, despite corrosion inhibitor is used in the stimulation fluid package. Large amount of iron sulfide can precipitate when spent acid mixes and reacts with H2S in the reservoir and potentially causes severe formation damage. During the production stage, the iron released from tubular due to corrosion in produced water under high temperature and high pressure is the major contribution of iron sulfide deposited at the surface of tubing. These iron sulfide deposits, although appeared as porous layer, can protect the downhole completion from the highly corrosive fluids, which leads to the unexpected long service lives of mild carbon steel tubular in many wells. However, accelerated corrosion can occur when the protective iron sulfide film or deposit is disturbed or partial.
 This paper presents a fundamental study to understand the root cause of iron sulfide deposition in sour gas wells. Study results demonstrate that effective corrosion inhibition is key to mitigate the iron sulfide deposition problem in the sour gas wells.


......................................... Received: 29-01-14 Accepted: 05-11-14 Abstract Complete clinical response after neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer has been considered sufficient for implementation of a non-surgical approach of observation and monitoring by some authors. Standard management of this condition is radical resection of the primary tumor six to ten weeks after completion of neoadjuvant therapy. In this review the pros and cons of each proposal are presented, and implications and recommendations for each alternative are described.


2. Spiller HA, Udicious TM, & Muir S: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor ingestion in children. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1989; 27:345–353. 3. Lau CP: Attempted suicide with enalapril. N Engl J Med 1986; 315:197. 4. Lechleitner P, Dzien A, & Haring C: Uneventful self poisoning with a very high dose of captopril. Toxicology 1990; 64:325–329. 5. Stanton A, Jensen C, Nussberger J, Obrien E. Blood Pressure lowering in Essential Hypertension with an Oral Renin Inhibitor, Aliskiren. Hypertension 2003; 42:1137–1143. 6. Framme J, Dangardt F, Marild S, Osika W, Wahrborg P, Friberg P. 24-H systolic blood pressure and heart rate recordings in lean and obese adolescents. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2006; 26:235–239. 7. Harshfield GA, Wilson ME, Treiber FA, Alpert BS. A comparison of ambulatory blood pressure patterns across populations. Blood Press Monit 2002; 7:265–269. 8. Harshfield GA, Treiber FA, Wilson, Kapulu, Davis HC. A longitudinal study of ethnic deferences in ambulatory blood pressure patterns in youth. Amer J Hypertens 2002; 15:525–530.


The fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a major threat to amphibian populations. Here we asked if the prevalence of Bd differs between amphibian species and whether it is related to local environmental factors in breeding habitats as well as landscape variables measured at three scales (500, 2000 and 5000 m radius) in southernmost Sweden. We sampled 947 anurans from six species in 31 ponds. Canopy cover, pond perimeter, pH and temperature were treated as local scale pond characteristics. Number of surrounding ponds, area of arable land, area of mature forest and number of resident people were treated as landscape variables. Bufo bufo and Rana temporaria had a prevalence of 0.5-1.0% which differed strongly from the other four species (Bombina bombina, Bufotes variabilis, Epidalea calamita, Rana arvalis) showing 13-64% prevalence. Bd prevalence in these four species was higher in ponds with higher pH, surrounded by a landscape with less mature forest and few wetlands. Our results show that the infection dynamics of Bd are complex and depend on local pond characteristics, host community composition and the spatial scale under investigation. Information on environmental factors associated with Bd and species differences in susceptibility may mitigate further spread of the disease through public information and guide conservational action plans, especially for the most threatened species.


Background and Objectives: Studies have investigated the effect of antihypertensive treatment in patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis. To our knowledge, there is no cohort study on the effect of antihypertensive treatment in elderly patients with nephrosclerosis. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and risks associated with the use of antihypertensive agents, especially renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors, in this population. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Patients aged ≥65 years and diagnosed with nephrosclerosis who were treated in our department between August 2013 and October 2014 were included in this study and were observed for 12 consecutive months. Results: Forty-three patients were included in this study. Thirty-three patients were men, and 10 were women. The mean age of the subjects was 79.3 ± 7.1 years. At the start of this study, mean values of serum creatinine (Cr) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were 2.48 ± 1.32 mg/dL and 25.0 ± 12.8 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , respectively. At the end of the observation period, hemodialysis was initiated for 5 patients. The mean value of eGFR decreased by 12.2 ± 21.5%, and 3 patients had a decrease of more than 30% in eGFR. Cr values at the start correlated positively with the percentage of decrease in eGFR. Cr values at the start and RAS inhibitor usage rate were significantly associated with adverse effects, such as hyperkalemia and transient Cr elevation. Conclusion: Our study suggests that antihypertensive treatment with RAS inhibitors may cause adverse effects in elderly patients with nephrosclerosis. Caution should be exercised when administering RAS inhibitors to these patients.


Gene and protein expression of TGF-beta signaling pathway molecules in women undergoing reduction mammoplasty. Introduction: The TGF- β signaling pathway is involved in growth, differentiation, apoptotic and senescence processes; it also participates in the malignant transformation events that lead to breast cancer. Hypothesis: TGF- β expression might contribute to the risk of breast cancer. Methods: As part of an ongoing epidemiology study conducted at the Lombardi Cancer Center in Georgetown University, we collected breast tissue samples from women undergoing reduction mammoplasty without history of cancer. We obtained histological slides from 92 women and performed immunohistochesmistry staining against TGF-β1, TGF-β2, TGF-β3, TGF-βR1 and TGF-βR2. The Allred scoring system was used to asses the intensity and distribution of the staining in each slide (in a scale of 0 to 6). Additionally, we extracted RNA from frozen tissue samples in RNA-later solution from 75 women and assessed the gene expression of the TGF-β signaling pathway by quantitative-PCR (relative quantification against endogenous RNase-p). Results: We found the staining highly specific and confined mainly to lobular structures; TGF-β2 (median A-score 6, SD 0.9009), TGF-βR1 (median A-score 6, SD 0.6603) and TGF-βR2 (median A-score 6, SD 0.7460) scores were higher than TGF-β1 (median A-score 0, SD 1.8485) and TGF-β3 (median A-score 5, SD 0.6450), and we noticed high levels of TGF-β1 in 9 women with proliferative lesions (atypical hyperplasia), when compared against women without lesions (Fisher9s exact test P Conclusion: There is an interindividual variation in the gene expression of TGF-β signaling pathway molecules in healthy women, and TGF-β1 protein expression is increased in women with proliferative lesions in their breast tissues. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4706.


Cytokine (TNF-α/β, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, IL-10, and IFN-α/β/γ) and chemokine (IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α/β, and RANTES) production during herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 infection of human brain cells was examined. Primary astrocytes as well as neurons were found to support HSV replication, but neither of these fully permissive cell types produced cytokines or chemokines in response to HSV. In contrast, microglia did not support extensive viral replication; however, ICP4 was detected by immunochemical staining, demonstrating these cells were infected. Late viral protein (nucleocapsid antigen) was detected in <10% of infected microglial cells. Microglia responded to nonpermissive viral infection by producing considerable amounts of TNF-α, IL-1β, IP-10, and RANTES, together with smaller amounts of IL-6, IL-8, and MlP-1α as detected by RPA and ELISA. Surprisingly, no interferons (α,β, or γ) were detected in response to viral infection. Pretreatment of fully permissive astrocytes with TNF-α prior to infection with HSV was found to dramatically inhibit replication, resulting in a 14-fold reduction of viral titer. In contrast, pretreatment of astrocytes with IL-1β had little effect on viral replication. When added to neuronal cultures, exogenous TNF-α or IL-1β did not suppress subsequent HSV replication. Exogenously added IP-10 inhibited HSV replication in neurons (with a 32-fold reduction in viral titer), however, similar IP-10 treatment did not affect viral replication in astrocytes. These results suggest that IP-10 possesses direct antiviral activity in neurons and support a role for microglia in both antiviral defense of the brain as well as amplification of immune responses during neuroinflammation.


The structure of copper with a various content of impurities (0.01, 0.03, and 0.1 wt %) is studied after high pressure torsion at room temperature. It is shown that the content of impurities does not affect the true strain (e = 2) required for the onset of dynamic recrystallization (DR). It has been revealed that the temperature–strain-rate conditions (lnZ), which were the same for copper of various purity, are responsible for the degree of the dynamic recrystallization completeness and the respective type of the formed structure. The correspondence between the range of lnZ and the structure type formed during deformation has been established. Impurity dragging prevents grain growth upon postdynamic recrystallization and ensures the formation of a more dimensionally uniform structure at the stage of partial DR. At the stage of developed DR, the content of impurities in copper does not affect the grain size.


Example 1.2. a) Let X = R and take d(x, y) = |x − y|. This is the most basic and important example. b) More generally, let N ≥ 1, let X = R , and take d(x, y) = ||x − y|| = √∑N i=1(xi − yi). It is very well known but not very obvious that d satisfies the triangle inequality. This is a special case of Minkowski's Inequality, which will be studied later. c) More generally let p ∈ [1,∞), let N ≥ 1, let X = R and take


The objective of this paper is to highlight a new machine learning application to predict a synthetic caliper log using other available Logging While Drilling (LWD) well logs. LWD logs and wireline (WL) mechanical caliper logs for 17 tight gas wells, with more than 120,000 depth data points, were used to train a machine learning model. LWD logs included gamma ray, sonic, density, azimuthal density, porosity, photoelectric log, and mineralogy. The LWD logs were used as main input parameters in the model together with the maximum hole dimeter (Cmax) from wireline data. The model output being the synthetic maximum borehole diameter (Cmax_P) was compared with the measured caliper log. The model was trained with various machine learning algorithms including ensemble algorithms such as XGBoost and recurrent neural network (RNN). In the training process, Leave-One-Out method was implemented where 16 wells were used for training to predict the maximum borehole diameter in the remaining blind well. The results of current dataset showed good prediction accuracy with an average absolute percentage error of less than 6%. In addition, we demonstrated incorporating a physical feature related to geological layering by training the RNN with a window of multiple depth points, which clearly resulted in a predicted caliper curve that was significantly less noisy and had closer characteristics to the measured caliper curve.

 In multi-stage fracturing well completions, running a wireline mechanical caliper log is critical to obtain reliable measurements of borehole geometry along the lateral to identity packers' placement depth for achieving adequate zonal isolation between successive fracturing stages. However, in many instances, wireline caliper logs cannot be run due to borehole conditions and drilling challenges. In such cases, various logging-while-drilling (LWD) well logs could be utilized to derive a synthetic caliper log.


We suggest a generalized definition of self-organized criticality (SOC) systems: SOC is a critical state of a nonlinear energy dissipation system that is slowly and continuously driven toward a critical value of a system-wide instability threshold, producing scale-free, fractal-diffusive, and intermittent avalanches with power law–like size distributions. We develop here a macroscopic description of SOC systems that provides an equivalent description of the complex microscopic fine structure, in terms of fractal-diffusive transport (FD-SOC). Quantitative values for the size distributions of SOC parameters (length scales L, time scales T, waiting times Δt, fluxes F, and fluences or energies E) are derived from first principles, using the scale-free probability conjecture, N(L)dL∝L−d, for Euclidean space dimension d. We apply this model to astrophysical SOC systems, such as lunar craters, the asteroid belt, Saturn ring particles, magnetospheric substorms, radiation belt electrons, solar flares, stellar flares, pulsar glitches, soft gamma-ray repeaters, black-hole objects, blazars, and cosmic rays. The FD-SOC model predicts correctly the size distributions of 8 out of these 12 astrophysical phenomena, and indicates non-standard scaling laws and measurement biases for the others.


Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Early identification may improve the outcome and in 2012 our hospital introduced an automated AKI alert system for early detection and management of AKI. Objectives Using an automated AKI alert system we analysed whether early review and intervention by the Critical Care and Outreach (CCOT) team improved patient outcomes in AKI and whether serum bicarbonate was useful in predicting outcomes in patients with AKI. Methods In a retrospective analysis we identified patients who triggered an AKI alert from 20 April 2012 to 20 September 2013 and collected data on mortality, length of stay, need for intensive care admission and renal replacement therapy (RRT). Results 994 AKI alerts were generated and analysed. Patients with bicarbonate outside the normal range had significantly higher mortality. Bicarbonate <22 mmol/L was associated with a mortality of 25.7% (49/191) compared with 16.9% (39/231) when 22–29 mmol/L (p=0.047, χ2). Those patients reviewed ≥1 day after AKI alert by CCOT compared with those seen on the day of the alert had a 2.4 times increase in mortality and were 7 times more likely to require RRT acutely. Conclusions Electronically identified AKI alerts identify patients at high risk of morbidity and mortality. In this group AKI alerts preceded CCOT review by a mean of 2 days. This represents a window for supportive interventions, which may explain improved outcomes in those reviewed earlier. The addition of serum bicarbonate offers a further method of risk stratifying patients at greater risk of death.


The interaction of nitrogen with thin iron films at 673 K has been studied by means of thermal desorption mass spectrometry (TDMS) and a combination of scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. TDMS spectra indicate the coexistence of atomic and molecular states of nitrogen adsorbed at 673 K and at a nitrogen pressure of 0.75 Pa. The origin of the molecular state is discussed as an intermediate state towards dissociative adsorption of nitrogen. Reconstruction of the polycrystalline iron film occurs as a result of both nitrogen interaction at 673 K and thermal desorption by heating the sample substrate to 950 K. The Fe grains become finer and the Fe film surface shows an increase in roughness upon interaction with nitrogen at 673 K. TDMS heating involves annealing of the Fe film and decomposition of the "surface nitrides." The bulk structure of the Fe film is affected by the nitrogen-induced reconstruction of its topmost surface region.


In a world where transgressors of the Population Law are cruelly and unhesitatingly dealt with, Luke, a third child has spent all of his life in hiding. Enrolling in Hendricks School for Boys under a false identity should be his first taste of freedom, maybe even a chance to help his fellow hidden children. But Hendricks is far from what Luke expects, and he soon realises he doesn't know whom he can trust...Thought-provoking and fast-moving, this wonderful novel is guaranteed to leave readers wanting more from this fabulous writer.


After military officers deposed the president of Mali in March 2012, rebels seized control of the northern parts of the country, and declared independence. The resulting political instability and insecurity in northern Mali has led to mass displacement of the population to the southern parts of the country. Local and international agencies have agreed to work together to develop a coherent and pragmatic psychosocial response to the crisis. Since June 2012, a group of Malian psychosocial professionals meet regularly to coordinate this immediate response. They have established a psychosocial task force, started to map and organise activities to assist affected people, and to strengthen the local capacity of other helpers. The authors highlight the importance of building on local expertise in order to develop appropriate and sustainable mental health and psychosocial support services in response the current crisis in Mali.


The discovery of several attacks on WEP during the past few years has rendered the first WLAN security standard useless. Thus, new mechanisms had to be defined to protect current and future wireless infrastructures. However, some parts of the new standards WPA and WPA2/IEEE802.11i respectively require changes in the used hardware. To ensure interoperability between different vendor's products the Wi-Fi alliance provides a certificate that can be obtained by passing several fixed tests. Unfortunately, there exists no standard solution so far to get your products ready for the certification process. Each vendor has to do his homework by hand. To overcome this manual and error-prone process we have developed a test environment for conducting automated system interoperability tests. In this paper we outline the Wi-Fi certification process and categorize necessary test requirements to be fulfilled. We further discuss our solution, i.e., the setup of our test environment and selected implementation details of the associated control software.


As a senior editor at Nature, Henry Gee has published a number of articles which question the place of Homo sapiens as rightful inheritors of the Earth. In The Accidental Species, he develops this question more fully. Detailed and thought-provoking examples from palaeontology are well-supported by others from diverse fields like cell biology and linguistics. Katarina Gray-Sharp recommends the book to any social scientist (and children of) with even a passing interest in evolution.


In this study, we investigate the new European Union (EU) regulations in the light of the ruling by the World Trade Organization (WTO) panel on the trade in genetically modified crops. To this end, we describe: the basic differences in approaches between the EU and the complaining parties with regard to genetically modified crops, what the main arguments were of the complaining parties as well as the defence of the EU, what the final judgement of the panel was and finally, we describe the current EU regulations. We then analyse to what extent, the arguments and conclusions of the panel still hold regarding the new EU legislation. We find that parts of the current EU legislation, that is, the safety bans as they are currently in place, are in breach of the WTO commitments. Moreover, the new approval procedures have the potential to also break these rules, although whether or not they will, depends on how the European Commission acts. Whether or not the EU will be challenged at the WTO remains an open question, as the decision to fight before the WTO may be more costly than working out new bilateral trade agreements.


Selfsimilarity relations for torsional oscillation frequencies of neutron star crust are discussed. For any neutron star model, the frequencies of fundamental torsional oscillations (with no nodes of radial wave function, i.e. at n = 0, and at all possible angular wave numbers ℓ ≥ 2) is determined by a single constant. Frequencies of ordinary torsional oscillations (at any n > 0 with ℓ ≥ 2) are determined by two constants. These constants are easily calculated through radial integrals over the neutron star crust, giving the simplest method to determine full oscillation spectrum. All constants for a star of fixed mass can be accurately interpolated for stars of various masses (but the same equation of state). In addition, the torsional oscillations can be accurately studied in the flat space-time approximation within the crust. The results can be useful for investigating magneto-elastic oscillations of magnetars which are thought to be observed as quasi-periodic oscillations after flares of soft-gamma repeaters.


Billions of laying hens are kept worldwide. Severe feather pecking (SFP) is a behaviour which occurs with a high prevalence on commercial farms. SFP, the pecking and plucking of feathers of another bird, induces pain and stress and can ultimately lead to cannibalism. Moreover, SFP can occur if a bird is unable to cope with fear and stress and is living in an inappropriate environment. SFP thus reduces the welfare of many laying hens worldwide. To prevent SFP it is essential to know the risk factors in its development. To that aim, first, two experimental studies were conducted to gain insight in the principles of SFP, and three on-farm studies were conducted to assess the risk factors of SFP under commercial conditions. THE PRINCIPLES Factors which relate to SFP are high fearfulness as young and low levels of brain and peripheral serotonin (5-HT) and brain dopamine (DA). Furthermore, commercial laying hen lines can differ in SFP tendencies and associated traits indicating that SFP has a genetic component. In chapters 2 and 3, fear response as young and adult, and stress response, 5-HT and DA brain levels as adult were compared in hens of two lines: the low mortality line (LML) selected on low levels of mortality due to cannibalism and individual performance vs. the control line (CL) which was selected on individual performance only. Hens were exposed to an Open Field (OF) test at 5 weeks of age and a Manual Restraint (MR) test at 33 weeks of age. At 33 weeks of age, levels of corticosterone (CORT) post MR and 5-HT and DA levels in four brain areas were determined. Hens of the LML were less fearful at both ages and had lower levels of DA in the arcopallium, a somatomotor area involved in fear and motor control, compared to hens of the CL. In chapter 2, it was also shown that fearful chicks had higher levels of CORT and higher activity levels as adult, compared to non-fearful chicks. Moreover, presence of fearful animals in the group was related to average CORT levels of their pen members. Fearful hens may induce social instability in a group, and thereby affecting the stress-sensitivity of their group mates. These results indicate that groups differ in levels of fear and stress-sensitivity, and that fearfulness at a young age can lead to stress-sensitivity as adults, which create a risk for development of SFP. THE PRACTICE In chapters 4, 5 and 6, the laying hen production chain consisting of parent stock, rearing flocks and laying flocks was studied. Risk factors for SFP could originate from previous parts in the chain. Therefore, in all on-farm studies, measurements of SFP, fearfulness, basal CORT and peripheral 5-HT system were obtained, and related to housing conditions and to previous parts in the chain. Fearfulness was assessed, on a flock level, by distance to a stationary person (SP) test and latency of bird to approach a novel object (NO). Dekalb White (DW) and ISA brown (ISA) crosses whose pure lines differ in levels of fear, CORT, 5-HT and DA, were compared. First, parent stock (PS) flocks were studied and associations between production performance and measurements of fear, stress and 5-HT were conducted and related to group size conditions (chapter 4). Second, rearing flocks originating from PS flocks were studied throughout the rearing period (chapter 5). High levels of feather damage, CORT and 5-HT in the mothers were related to fearfulness and SFP in their offspring at flock level. Especially, a large flock size and limitation and/or disruption in litter supply affected SFP and levels of fearfulness and 5-HT (chapter 5). Finally, high levels of feather damage during the laying period were related to high SFP rearing, and high fearfulness during rearing and laying (chapter 6). These studies together aimed to determine the risk factors for the development of SFP and the resulting feather damage. The main outcomes of these studies are as follows. O Parent stock flocks DW flocks were more fearful of an SP and hens had higher levels of feather damage than in ISA flocks. ISA flocks, in turn, were more fearful of the NO and hens had higher 5-HT levels than in DW flocks. A small flock size led to higher feed conversion, mortality levels, and smothering events in ISA but not in DW flocks. These results indicate that DW and ISA PS flocks differ in levels of fear and feather damage, and respond differently to their social environment. For both crosses, fear of an SP related to high mortality and fear of the NO related to low hen body weight, egg weight, and feed intake. High basal CORT related to low egg weight. High fear and stress levels in PS flocks may, thus, negatively affect (re)production, and thereby potentially negatively influence the developing embryo. O Rearing flocks In the DW cross, high CORT, feather damage, and 5-HT of mother hens related to high SFP and fearfulness of their rearing flocks at 1 week of age. At 5 weeks of age, a peak in both gentle feather pecking (GFP) and SFP was recorded, coinciding with a disruption in substrate availability (i.e. a temporal absence of substrate) and a limitation of substrate (i.e. limited amounts of substrate provided) in some of the farms. Especially, ISA pullets showed higher SFP under substrate limitation and became more fearful under substrate disruption than DW pullets. ISA pullets had higher 5-HT levels than DW pullets. Only in the ISA cross, high 5-HT related to high fearfulness, specifically under substrate disruption. For both crosses, high fearfulness was related to high feather damage. Furthermore, in a level system (floor system where levels are gradually added) higher levels of SFP and feather damage were found compared to an aviary system (a tier-system with cages and litter area). These results highlight that; 1) parental effects exist in the development of fearfulness and SFP, 2) disruption and limitation in substrate availability can lead to high SFP at 5 weeks of age, 3) ISA pullets are more strongly influenced by environmental conditions than DW pullets and 4) a level housing, which coincided with a large group size, increase the risk of SFP and feather damage during rearing. O Laying flocks In our sample, 49% of the laying flocks had severe damage at 40 weeks of age, compared with 71%, 65% and 53% of the rearing flocks at 15, 10 and 5 weeks of age, respectively. High fear of a SP at rearing and high SFP at 5 weeks of age related to high levels of feather damage at lay. In a floor system and at a large flock size higher levels of feather damage were recorded than in an aviary system and at a small flock size. An adjusted management on the laying farm (i.e. aerated blocks, presence of roosters or a radio playing) reduced levels of feather damage compared to standard management. DW flocks were more fearful of the SP and NO than ISA flocks. This study showed that factors during rearing and laying contributed to feather damage at 40 weeks of age. With the knowledge from the experimental and on-farm studies in this thesis, an assessment of the risk factors for SFP could be established. Risk factors for SFP are: high fear, stress and feather damage in DW parent stock, high fear of humans, especially for DW hens, litter disruption or limitation during rearing, large group sizes, and a floor or level system.


Purpose: Histone acetylation is one of the main mechanisms involved in regulation of gene expression. During carcinogenesis, tumor-suppressor genes can be silenced by aberrant histone deacetylation. This epigenetic modification has become an important target for tumor therapy. The histone deacetylation inhibitor, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), can induce growth arrest in transformed cells. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of SAHA on gene expression and growth of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells in vitro and in vivo. Experimental Design: The effect of SAHA on growth of GBM cell lines and explants was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide. Changes of the cell cycle and relative gene expression were detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, real-time reverse transcription-PCR, and Western blotting. After glioma cells were implanted in the brains of mice, the ability of SAHA to decrease tumor growth was studied. Results: Proliferation of GBM cell lines and explants were inhibited in vitro by SAHA (ED50, 2 × 10−6 to 2 × 10−5 mol/L, 5 days). SAHA exposure of human U87 and T98G glioma cell lines, DA66 and JM94 GBM explants, as well as a murine GL26 GBM cell line resulted in an increased accumulation of cells in G2-M of the cell cycle. Many proapoptotic, antiproliferative genes increased in their expression (DR5, TNFα, p21WAF1, p27KIP1), and many antiapoptotic, progrowth genes decreased in their levels (CDK2, CDK4, cyclin D1, cyclin D2) as measured by real-time reverse transcription-PCR and/or Western blot after these GBM cells were cultured with SAHA (2.5 × 10−6 mol/L, 1 day). Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay found that acetylation of histone 3 on the p21WAF1 promoter was markedly increased by SAHA. In vivo murine experiments suggested that SAHA (10 mg/kg, i.v., or 100 mg/kg, i.p.) could cross the blood-brain barrier as shown by prominent increased levels of acetyl-H3 and acetyl-H4 in the brain tissue. Furthermore, the drug significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the proliferation of the GL26 glioma cells growing in the brains of mice and increased their survival. Conclusions: Taken together, SAHA can slow the growth of GBM in vitro and intracranially in vivo. SAHA may be a welcome addition for the treatment of this devastating disease.


The objective of this paper is to generate a wideband and temporal response of three-dimensional composite structures by using a hybrid method that involves generation of early time and low-frequency information. The data in these two separate time and frequency domains are mutually complementary and contain all the necessary information for a sufficient record length. Utilizing a set of orthogonal polynomials, the time domain signal (be it the electric or the magnetic currents or the near/far scattered electromagnetic field) could be expressed in an efficient way as well as the corresponding frequency domain responses. The available data is simultaneously extrapolated in both domains. Computational load for electromagnetic analysis in either domain, time or frequency, can be thus significantly reduced. Three orthogonal polynomial representations including Hermite polynomial, Laguerre function and Bessel function are used in this approach. However, the performance of this new method is sensitive to two important parameters-the scaling factor l/sub 1/ and the expansion order N. It is therefore important to find the optimal parameters to achieve the best performance. A comparison is presented to illustrate that for the classes of problems dealt with, the choice of the Laguerre polynomials has the best performance as illustrated by a typical scattering example from a dielectric hemisphere.


In this article, I bring five recent, substantial novels by Eastern African women writers together for the first time in a study regarding the texts as modern 'national epics', analysing some of their shared characteristics in foregrounding local participation in the making of East African ethno-national histories. I trace the novelists' implicit, open-eyed moral evaluation of their leaders and peoples, neither sentimentalising nor deriding the often terrible struggles of their peoples against both inside and outside powers that seek to keep them in subjugation. The texts eschew traditional heroic portrayal of single, male leaders in national epics and allow us to grasp diverse, communal contributions to the growth of nationhood, while giving larger, often central roles to women. The texts earn the epithet 'epic' by authoritatively demonstrating that their embodied, localised histories matter, testifying to the wide human spectrum of the peoples they portray; as novelistic acts they are impressive and moving bids for recognition. As post-colonial endeavours, the texts effectively decentre colonial interventions. While the chosen novels are shown to be relatable, their individual power of portrayal and aesthetic achievements are scrupulously differentiated.


Communication (formal/informal) is the key for making society attentive and advance scholarly communication (SC) worldwide openly. Components of SC (accumulation,
creation, evaluation, publication, dissemination and preservation) are cycling towards elevation of education, research and innovation. Stakeholders have critical role in managing the SC cycle. In this study, SWOT analysis is used to evaluate strengths, weaknesses,opportunities and threats of SC and its components emphasizing the internal and external ecosystem. Based the SWOT analysis, the stakeholders potentials, resources, drawbacks, advantages, risks etc. are drawn in order to make strategic decisions to manage system effectively. Results revealed that accumulation of resource infrastructure facilitations brings an idea into creativity, reviewed it for quality, originality and publication (stamp of validity)
that was disseminated through various media & modes and preserved for longevity. Imperatively, the SC carries authenticity and recognition globally. It also shown that an inactive infrastructure, mentorship and policies often indulge scientific creativity through misconduct and biased decisions of reviewing make futile or fake publication that will always spoiling the system. Taking opportunities to create and access resource repositories,
helping to publish research to innovation monetize into products marketing globally with cloud safe and security. Finally, handicap of intellectual infrastructure vacuum (brain-drain) pressures the academia to leap into predatory journals crediting no transparency and
accountability.