BACKGROUND
Oral health-related quality of life may be influenced by a series of characteristics. Considering the multidimensional character of quality of life, these impacts should be evaluated in the context of the physical, psychological, and social domains.

AIM
To evaluate the impact of clinical and perceived oral health problems on oral health-related quality of life in its different domains.

DESIGN
Clinical exams were conducted on a representative cross-sectional sample of 12-year-old children in Brazil. The instrument Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP) was used to evaluate the quality of life in relation to oral health. Descriptive, bivariate, and multiple hierarchical analyses were conducted.

RESULTS
Of the 7328 children studied, 2577 (33.5%) presented oral health-related impacts on quality of life. Clinical and perceived conditions of oral health were associated with the presence of overall impacts in the physical, psychological, and social dimensions of oral health-related quality of life. Furthermore, Family income was associated with overall impacts and the level of motivation to use dental health services was associated with the physical dimension.

CONCLUSIONS
The clinical and perceived conditions of oral health in Brazilian 12-year-olds were associated with a negative impact on oral health-related quality of life.


We focus on a membrane excitation model of finite and bent nerves elicited by magnetically induced electric fields. We simulated nerve excitation by changing the length of an axon and the distance between the coil and the nerve. The computer simulation suggests that the termination points of nerves or the bending part of an axon are low threshold stimulation sites when magnetically stimulated with a figure-eight coil. We also suggest that a short axon is more easily excited than an infinitely long axon of the same thickness. These results give useful information in understanding neuronal responses to magnetic stimulation of both central and peripheral nervous systems.


Airway branching morphogenesis depends on the intricate orchestration of numerous biological and physical factors connected across different spatial scales. One of the key regulatory pathways controlling airway branching is fibroblast growth factor 10 (Fgf10) signaling via its epithelial fibroblast growth factor receptor 2b (Fgfr2b). Fine reviews have been published on the molecular mechanisms, in general, involved in branching morphogenesis, including those mechanisms, in particular, connected to Fgf10/Fgfr2b signaling. However, a comprehensive review looking at all the major biological and physical factors involved in branching, at the different scales at which branching operates, and the known role of Fgf10/Fgfr2b therein, is missing. In the current review, we attempt to summarize the existing literature on airway branching morphogenesis by taking a broad approach. We focus on the biophysical and mechanical forces directly shaping epithelial bud initiation, branch elongation, and branch tip bifurcation. We then shift focus to more passive means by which branching proceeds, via extracellular matrix remodeling and the influence of the other pulmonary arborized networks: the vasculature and nerves. We end the review by briefly discussing work in computational modeling of airway branching. Throughout, we emphasize the known or speculative effects of Fgfr2b signaling at each point of discussion. It is our aim to promote an understanding of branching morphogenesis that captures the multi-scalar biological and physical nature of the phenomenon, and the interdisciplinary approach to its study.


Abstract Improving tumor delivery of lipophilic drugs through identifying advanced drug carrier systems with efficient carrier potency is of high importance. We have performed an investigative approach to identify parameters that affect liposomes' ability to effectively deliver lipophilic camptothecin (CPT) to target cells. CPT is a potent anticancer drug, but its undesired physiological properties are impairing its therapeutic use. In this study, we have identified parameters influencing incorporation and retention of lipophilic CPT in liposomes, evaluating the effect of lipid composition, lipid chemical structure (head and tail group variations, polymer inclusion), zeta potential and anisotropy. Polyethyleneglycol (PEG) surface decoration was included to avoid liposome fusing and increase the potential for prolonged in vivo circulation time. The in vitro effect of the different carrier formulations on cell cytotoxicity was compared and the effect of active targeting of one of the formulations was evaluated. We found that a combination of liposome surface charge, lipid headgroup and carbon chain unsaturation affect CPT incorporation. Retention in liposomes was highly dependent on the liposomal surroundings and liposome zeta potential. Inclusion of lipid tethered PEG provided stability and prevented liposome fusing. PEGylation negatively affected CPT incorporation while improving retention. In vitro cell culture testing demonstrated that all formulations increased CPT potency compared to free CPT, while cationic formulations proved significantly more toxic to cancer cells that healthy cells. Finally, antibody mediated targeting of one liposome formulation further enhanced the selectivity towards targeted cancer cells, rendering normal cells fully viable after 1 hour exposure to targeted liposomes.


Background Young adults with acute myocardial infarction are a critical group to examine for the purpose of risk factors stratification and modification [1]. In the setting of underlying systemic autoimmune diseases, premature cardiovascular disease deserves even more attention in these conditions, such as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), the most common acquired thrombophilia. Objectives In this study we aimed to assess the clinical utility of the adjusted Global AntiphosPholipid Syndrome Score (aGAPSS)[2] for the risk stratification of acute myocardial infarction in a cohort of young APS patients with thrombotic events. Methods The analysis included 83 consecutive APS patients (≤50 years old) who presented with arterial or venous thromboembolic events. Data on cardiovascular risk factors and antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) positivity were retrospectively collected. The aGAPSS was calculated for each patient by adding the points corresponding to the risk factors, based on a linear transformation derived from the β regression coefficient as follows: 3 for hyperlipidaemia, 1 for arterial hypertension, 5 for aCL IgG/IgM, 4 for anti-b2 glycoprotein I IgG/IgM and 4 for LA. Results Demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of the cohort are summarized in Table 1. Higher aGAPSS values were observed in patients with acute myocardial infarction when compared to the others [mean aGAPSS 11.9 (S.D. 4.15, range 4–18) Vs. (mean aGAPSS 9.2, S.D. 5.1, range 1–17); T test: p<0.05]. Significantly higher aGAPSS values were also seen in patients with acute coronary syndrome compared to patients with a history of peripheral or cerebrovascular arterial thrombotic events [mean aGAPSS 11.9 (S.D. 4.15, range 4–18) Vs. (mean aGAPSS 6.7, S.D. 5.7, range 1–17); T test: P<0.005]. When separating for cardiovascular risk factors and aPL positivity, hypercholesterolemia was significantly higher in the group that developed myocardial infarction compared with patients with a history of any thrombosis and patients with a history of peripheral or cerebrovascular arterial thrombotic events (Chi square test: p<0.0001 and p<0.0001) and significantly higher rate of multiple positivity for LA, aCL (IgG/IgM), anti-β2GPI antibodies (IgG/IgM) were present in the group that developed myocardial infarction (Chi square test: p<0.05 for all aPL) (Table 2). Conclusions The aGAPSS is based upon a quantitative score and could aid risk stratifying APS patients younger than 50 years for the likelihood of developing coronary thrombotic events and may consequently guide pharmacological treatment for high-risk patients. References Zimmerman FH, Cameron A, Fisher LD, Ng G. Myocardial infarction in young adults: angiographic characterization, risk factors and prognosis (Coronary Artery Surgery Study Registry). J Am Coll Cardiol 1995;26:654–61. Sciascia S, Sanna G, Murru V, Roccatello D, Khamashta MA, Bertolaccini ML. GAPSS: the Global Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome Score. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2013;52:1397–403. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kes388. Acknowledgements None. Disclosure of Interest None declared


PROCEEDINGS OF THE AIVELA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON VIBRATION MEASUREMENTS BY LASER AND NONCONTACT TECHNIQUES ANCONA, 20-22 JUNE 2018 Since October 1994 the AIVELA Conference on Vibration Measurements by Laser Techniques established itself as the international forum where research ideas and technological innovation on Laser Vibrometry were presented and exchanged. Ancona, an ancient and fascinating Italian town situated on the Adriatic coast, became the biennial destination of the international laser vibrometry community. The event was initially focused on Vibration Measurements by Laser Techniques and it immediately met large consensus among the International Research Community. In 2010 the Scientific Committee decided to widen the topics of the Conference by also including other noncontact techniques and the name of the event was changed to International Conference on Vibration Measurements by Laser and Noncontact Techniques. The Conference aims at creating an active and stimulating forum where current research results and technical advances can be exchanged and the development of new systems for laboratory use, field testing and industrial application can be promoted. For this reason, experts in vibration and acoustics, manufacturers and authorities in the field of optical and non- invasive instrumentation and industrial users of such measurement devices have come from all over the world to present their activities and innovative approaches to vibration measurements.


Previous studies have shown that a single exposure of animals to ozone (O3) can induce protection or adaptation to the acute injurious effects of a subsequent O3 challenge. Although a number of mechanisms have been proposed to account for this response, none appear to be fully explanatory. We examined the role interleukin (IL)-6 may play in the induction of adaptation to O3-induced pulmonary injury. A statistically significant 29-fold increase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid IL-6 levels was observed in rats exposed to 0.5 ppm O3 during nighttime hours when compared with daytime hours even though similar kinetics of inflammation were induced by each exposure. Animals receiving an initial nighttime O3 exposure showed a lesser degree of inflammation following a subsequent O3 exposure when compared with animals which received an initial daytime exposure. Rats pretreated with IL-6 both intratracheally and intraperitoneally and subsequently exposed to O3 showed a lesser degree of cellular inflammation when compared with respective controls. Pretreatment of rats with anti-IL-6-receptor antibodies (ra) prior to the nighttime O3 exposure completely abrogated the O3-induced cellular adaptive response without effecting the inflammatory response induced by the initial nighttime O3 exposure. In fact, administration of anti-IL-6ra augmented the neutrophil influx following the second O3 exposure. Anti-IL-6ra treatment did not alter the pulmonary edema adaptive response, suggesting that the O3-induced cellular and edema adaptive responses are regulated by different mechanisms. Our data indicate that mobilization of pulmonary antioxidants does not play a role in the IL-6-mediated early cellular adaptive response and suggest that IL-6 is an essential mediator of the O3-induced cellular adaptive response.


Contact networks are extracted for 295,108 inpatients over a two-year period from a database used for administering a local public healthcare system that serves 1.8 million individuals in Stockholm county. Structural and dynamic properties of the network that are important for the transmission of contagious diseases are analyzed by methods derived from network epidemiology. The contact networks are found to be very much determined by an extreme (age-independent) variation in the duration of hospital stays and the hospital structure. The structure of contacts between inpatients are found to exhibit structural properties such as a high level of transitivity, assortativity, and variation by number of contacts, which are likely to be of importance for the transmission of less contagious diseases. If these properties are considered when designing prevention programs, the risk and effect of epidemic outbreaks may be decreased.


SIGNIFICANCE
In all cells, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria are physically connected to form junctions termed mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs). This subcellular compartment is under intense investigation because it represents a "hot spot" for the intracellular signaling of important pathways, including the synthesis of cholesterol and phospholipids, calcium homeostasis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and activity.

RECENT ADVANCES
The advanced methods currently used to study this fascinating intracellular microdomain in detail have enabled the identification of the molecular composition of MAMs and their involvement within different physiopathological contexts.

CRITICAL ISSUES
Here, we review the knowledge regarding (i) MAMs composition in terms of protein composition, (ii) the relationship between MAMs and ROS, (iii) the involvement of MAMs in cell death programs with particular emphasis within the tumor context, (iv) the emerging role of MAMs during inflammation, and (v) the key role of MAMs alterations in selected neurological disorders.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Whether alterations in MAMs represent a response to the disease pathogenesis or directly contribute to the disease has not yet been unequivocally established. In any case, the signaling at the MAMs represents a promising pharmacological target for several important human diseases.


Depolymerizing copper(I) phenylacetylide [Cu(C≡CPh)]n with cyclohexyl isocy- anide (CNCy) gave a tetranuclear copper(I) complex Cu4(CNCy)4(μ-η1-C≡CPh)2(μ3-η1,η1, η2-C≡ CPh)2. Crystal data: C30H32Cu2N2, Mr = 547.66, space group P1, a = 8.6448(1), b = 11.5772(2), c = 14.6666(4) ?, α = 88.387(2), β = 86.826(2), γ = 68.222(1)°, V = 1360.97(5) ?3, Z = 2, F(000) = 568, Dc = 1.336 g/cm3, μ = 1.582 mm-1, the final R = 0.0629 and wR = 0.1282 for 3257 observed reflections with I 2σ(I). The phenylacetylide adopts μ-η1 and μ3-η1,η1,η2 bonding modes. The compound shows intense luminescence in the solid state.


Scholars have routinely pointed to the declining policy role of Parliaments' globally and in African democracies, emphasizing the growth of executive power. South Africa (SA) is no exception. Researchers' often accuse this democratic institution of being 'toothless' by 'rubber stamping' executive-initiated legislation. Using the case of tobacco control policy development in SA,the author examines global tobacco policy interactions of the now ruling African National Congress party before its democratically elected win in 1994; and during its continuing majority reign in government and Parliament. Notably, this period includes the time after SA expediently ratified the first ever global public health treaty (WHO FCTC) in 2003, intended to reduce tobacco-related burden of disease. The author observes politically complex policymaking processes in both the upper and lower houses. Most captivating is the intricate power balance of political, business, government, civil society, public health and academic interest groups each trying to compete for 'policy space' in considering this controversial legislation. The author asks whether SA Parliament is as toothless as has been suggested.


ABSTRACT Overlay is one of the key designed rules for producing VLSI devices. In order to have a better resolution and alignment accuracy in lithography process, it is important to model the overlay errors and then to compensate them into tolerances. This study aimed to develop a new model that bridges the gap between the existing theoretical models and the data obtained in real settings and to discuss the overlay sampling strategies with empirical data in a wafer fab. In addition, we used simulation to examine the relations between the various factors and the caused overlay errors. This paper concluded with discussions on further research.


SummaryThe species composition of nematodes found at autopsy of abomasa and small intestines of 24 Mongolian gazelles in Eastern Mongolia is studied. Orloffia bisonis, Marshallagia mongolica, Nematodirus archari, N. andreevi, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, T. probolurus were registered. N. archari and N. andreevi were detected in Mongolian gazelle for the first time. All species of gastrointestinal nematodes found in Mongolian gazelles have already been registered in domestic ruminants of Mongolia. The validity of Orloffia genus is confirmed based on our own observations and literature data. Orloffia is monotypic genus with the only species O. bisonis represented by two morphs where "O. bisonis" is major and "O. kasakhstanica" is minor.


A high conduction band degeneracy (Nv = 6) leads to an extraordinary figure of merit (zT) in n-type Mg3Sb2 thermoelectrics, while the p-type ones show a much inferior zT due to its lower Nv of only 1 owing to the large energy offset (ΔE ∼ 0.4 eV) between the two valence bands. The derivatives of Mg3Sb2, ternary AB2C2 (A = Eu, Yb, Ca, Sr, Ba; B = Mg, Zn, Cd; C = Sb, Bi) Zintls, show a similar valence band structure but with a much smaller ΔE of <0.2 eV, leading to potential convergence of both valence bands for a high overall Nv of 3. This band feature promotes AB2C2 ternaries to be potential p-type thermoelectrics matching with n-type Mg3Sb2 for efficient thermoelectric applications, thus motivating the current work focusing on p-type EuMg2Sb2 thermoelectrics. Interestingly, Na-doping at the Eu site is found to be particularly effective for creating dense in-grain dislocations, which results in a remarkable reduction in lattice thermal conductivity to ∼0.5 W m−1 K−1. Moreover, Na-doping increases the hole concentration up to 6.0 × 1019 cm−3, leading to an effective involvement of multiple transporting valence bands. The synergistic effects of dense dislocations and multi-band transport, both enabled by Na-doping, led EuMg2Sb2 to show the highest zT among known doped p-type ternary AMg2C2 Zintl thermoelectrics.


AUTOMATIC temperature control for aircraft long has been neglected, and it is only during the war that adequate attention has been given to this important subject. The increased duties imposed upon flight personnel by the requirements of modern military aircraft, together with the necessity for reducing air drag to the minimum consistent with required cooling, have prompted aircraft designers to give consideration to automatic operation of cowl flaps, oil and coolant flaps, and intercooler doors. Automatic flap operation can be appreciated fully when it is considered that engine cowl flaps fully opened might represent an air drag as high as 40 miles per hour on a 400-mile-per-hour airplane.


AIM
To explore how oxygen saturation in retinal blood vessels is altered in ischemic and non-ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

METHODS
Fifty BRVO eyes were divided into ischemic (n=26) and non-ischemic (n=24) groups, based on fundus fluorescein angiography. Healthy individuals (n=52 and n=48, respectively) were also recruited as controls for the two groups. The mean oxygen saturations of the occluded vessels and central vessels were measured by oximetry in the BRVO and control groups.

RESULTS
In the ischemic BRVO group, the occluded arterioles oxygen saturation (SaO2-A, 106.0%±14.3%), instead of the occluded venule oxygen saturation (SaO2-V, 60.8%±9.4%), showed increases when compared with those in the same quadrant vessels (SaO2-A, 86.1%±16.5%) in the contralateral eyes (P<0.05). The oxygen saturations of the central vessels showed similar trends with those of the occluded vessels. In the non-ischemic BRVO group, the occluded and central SaO2-V and SaO2-A showed no significant changes. In both the ischemic and non-ischemic BRVOs, the central SaO2-A was significantly increased when compared to healthy individuals.

CONCLUSION
Obvious changes in the occluded and central SaO2-A were found in the ischemic BRVO group, indicating that disorders of oxygen metabolism in the arterioles may participate in the pathogenesis of ischemic BRVO.


Coinduction occurs in two guises in Horn clause logic: in proofs of self-referencing properties and relations, and in proofs involving construction of (possibly irregular) infinite data. Both instances of coinductive reasoning appeared in the literature before, but a systematic analysis of these two kinds of proofs and of their relation was lacking. We propose a general proof-theoretic framework for handling both kinds of coinduction arising in Horn clause logic. To this aim, we propose a coinductive extension of Miller et al's framework of uniform proofs and prove its soundness relative to coinductive models of Horn clause logic.


OBJECTIVES
to present the concept of Knowledge Translation and Exchange as it has been used in the international literature and in Canada, particularly. Next, to describe a renowned conceptual model to guide its implementation, entitled Knowledge-to-Action Cycle.

RESULTS
we described the use of the model in the context of the municipal primary health care system in southern Brazil for the implementation of pain management strategies during vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS
in this theoretical reflection, we argue that in order to promote health equity and quality of care in the Unified Health System (Brazilian SUS) it is important to translate scientific knowledge to various practice settings and create opportunities for exchange with users of this knowledge, such as health professionals, managers, policy makers, patients, family members and other stakeholders.


Flooding is one of the major risks anticipated to increase in association with anthropogenically induced climate change which is likely to intensify the global water cycle. Currently, 20 to 300 million people per year are affected by floods that threaten both social security and sustainable development. This study presents the first estimate of future populations at risk of flooding. Results indicate that in the case of 3°C warming from the average of 1980-1999, approximately 300 million people could be at risk even in years of relatively low flooding; this number corresponds to the number of people affected in a devastating flood year at present. If the temperature increase is greater than 3°C, the flood-affected population would likely be even larger. We suggest that approximately 2°C warming, rather than 3°C warming, should be considered the critical level of temperature increase.


We describe a Mixed Reality conferencing application which uses the overlay of virtual images on the real world to support three dimensional remote computer supported collaborative work. Remote collaborators are represented on Virtual Monitors which can be freely positioned about a user in space. Users can collaboratively view and interact with virtual objects using a shared virtual whiteboard. This is possible through precise virtual image registration using fast and accurate computer vision techniques also described in the paper.


Novice pair programmers find communication within their pairs to be one of the greatest difficulties they face when starting to pair program. However, developers cannot pair program without a certain amount of communication. This research describes the development of an analytic coding scheme derived from the observation of the communication of expert pairs working in industry. Communication patterns identified from these expert pairs are being used to help novices learn to be more effective in their pair communication.


The transplants of one-year-old Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. were subjected to five concentrations of MnSO4-H2O (0, 1.81, 18.1, 36.2 and 54.3 mg·L(-1)) culturing in vermiculite. qRT-PCR and HPLC were respectively used to measure the relative expression of SQS1 gene and the content of glycyrrhizic acid of G. uralensis in different concentrations of MnSO4·H2O. This is to explore discuss the effects of the expression of SQS1 gene and the accumulation of glycyrrhizic acid by Mn treatment. The results showed both the expression of SQS1 gene and the content of glycyrrhzic acid of G. uralensis tended to rise after the fall of the first with the increase of concentration of Mn treatment. And they were of very significant positive correlation (P<0.01, r=0.737). Relative expression of SQS1 gene reached the highest 7.90 under 18.1 mg·L(-1) MnSO4·H2O treatment. It was very significantly different between 18.1 mg·L(-1) concentration of MnSO4·H2O treatment and CK (0 mg·L(-1)), 1.81, 36.2 and 54.3 mg·L(-1) (P<0.01), and 1.75, 1.37, 1.37, 2.33 times respectively. The content of glycyrrhizic acid reached the highest under 1.81 and 18.1 mg·L(-1) MnSO4·H2O treatment, and there were not significant difference (P>0.05). It was very significantly different between them and other concentrations of MnSO4·H2O treatment (P<0.01). This study suggests the appropriate concentration of Mn treatment could certain promote the expression of SQS1 gene and the accumulation of glycyrrhizic acid of G. uralensis.


ABSTRACT Estrogens have well-documented effects on lung development and physiology. However, the classical estrogen receptor α (ERα) is undetectable in the lung, and this has left many unanswered questions about the mechanism of estrogen action in this organ. Here we show, both in vivo and in vitro, that ERβ is abundantly expressed and biologically active in the lung. Comparisons of lungs from wild-type mice and mice with an inactivated ERβ gene (ERβ−/−) revealed decreased numbers of alveoli in adult female ERβ−/− mice and findings suggesting deficient alveolar formation as well as evidence of surfactant accumulation. Platelet-derived growth factor A (PDGF-A) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), key regulators of alveolar formation and surfactant homeostasis, respectively, were decreased in lungs of adult female ERβ−/− mice, and direct transcriptional regulation of these genes by ERβ was demonstrated. This suggests that estrogens act via ERβ in the lung to modify PDGF-A and GM-CSF expression. These results provide a potential molecular mechanism for the gender differences in alveolar structure observed in the adult lung and establish ERβ as a previously unknown regulator of postnatal lung development and homeostasis.


The Romantic period gave rise to a conception of the corpse as being not, or not only, the soul's cast-off remains but a potential asset in itself for imagining human possibility and aiding progress. The corpses and graves portrayed in British Romantic literature resonate within debates carried out in the popular press and in Parliament concerning burial reform, anatomy reform, and the politically-charged translation of remains that viewed the corpse as potentially useful to the living. Reading the imaginary literature in this context encourages a reconsideration of the roles of memory and imagination in Romantic writing—especially as they pertain to remembering and memorializing the dead—as being forward-looking and socially and politically engaged.

I argue that Romantic poets, novelists, and essayists locate the utility of dead bodies and burials in their capacity to act as channels for the imaginative retention, re-creation, and translation of the dead from past to future to benefit the individual and better society. Although many writers of the period share the tendency to view the corpse and its postmortem care as potentially useful, they explore various modes by which that use value might be realized. This project examines a number of those modes and the shifting relationships between the corporeal form and the imaginative literary response to it that transforms and translates the knowledge, character, and experiences of the dead to and for the future.

The first chapter establishes the historical and critical context for the project. The second chapter demonstrates how the disappearance of the dead in Wordsworth's poetry enables their imaginative re creation and memorial dispersal. The third chapter reveals how Byron invests the "dust" of the dead mingling into the soil of a particular place with regenerative potential. The fourth chapter traces Mary Shelley's evolving understanding of how the living learn from the dead: from the detachment of sight to mutual engagement at burial sites. The fifth chapter addresses Hemans's and Bentham's creation of preserved effigial forms to supplement memory.


The paper examines feminist politics in India and the various issues with which they have been engaged. The two issues that divide women and inhibit alliances among the women's movements are the Uniform Civil Code, and the reservation of seats for women in Parliament and state legislatures. The problem is not only differences in perspectives. It is rather the shift in the centrality of feminist politics from women's issues alone, to identity politics of caste and religion. Women's interests and gender justice are undermined by the identity politics of caste and religion.


REPORT OF A CASE A 66-year-old white woman with type II diabetes mellitus requiring insulin and secondary nephrotic syndrome was found to have noncaseating granulomas, consistent with sarcoidosis, on a bone marrow biopsy specimen obtained for an evaluation for anemia. Corticosteroids were subsequently prescribed. Laboratory studies performed at that time disclosed the following values: serum urea nitrogen, 10.7 mmol/L (30 mg/dL), and creatinine, 92 μmol/L (1.1 mg/dL). Several months after corticosteroid therapy commenced, the patient noted tender nodules on her lower extremities. She was not receiving anticoagulants, did not increase her intake of calcium or phosphate, and was never hypercalcemic. She presented with firm, indurated, painful, subcutaneous nodules and plaques bilaterally on her calves and thighs with surrounding livedoid erythema. An incisional biopsy specimen was remarkable for abundant calcification in the deep reticular dermis and septae of the panniculus without vascular involvement or inflammatory response ( Figure 1 ). The von Kossa


In a group of 29 patients treated with digoxin for cardiac failure, only 16 showed increased calcium and potassium concentrations in saliva. There was no correlation in the 29 patients between serum digoxin levels and concentrations of salivary electrolytes. On the other hand, in 4 normal subjects treated with digoxin no change in salivary electrolytes was noted. It is concluded that modifications in salivary electrolytes seen in patients with cardiac failure treated with digitalis are not due to this drug. However, a retrospective clinical study showed a good correlation between clinical signs of cardiac failure and increased levels of salivary calcium, potassium and CaX Kproduct. It is suggested that this phenomenon is due to the well-known adrenergic stimulation in patients with cardiac failure.


UV photofunctionalization of Zirconia-based materials for abutment fabrication is a promising approach that might influence the formation of a sound peri-implant seal, thus promoting long-term soft and hard tissue implant integration. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of UV treatment of test specimens made by two different ZnO2-based ceramic materials on the hydrophilicity, cell cytotoxicity, and proliferation of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). Two Zirconia-based materials, high-translucent and ultra-translucent multi-layered Zirconia (Katana, Kuraray Noritake, Japan), were used to prepare a total of 40 specimens distributed in two equally sized groups based on the material (n = 20). The same surface finishing protocol was applied for all specimens, as suggested by the manufacturer. Half the specimens from each group were treated with UV-C light for 48 h. Water contact angle (WCA), fibroblast cytotoxicity, and proliferation were investigated. The WCA values for the high-translucent Zirconia ranged from 69.9° ± 6.4° to 73.7° ± 13.9° for the treated/non-treated specimens and from 79.5° ± 12.8° to 83.4° ± 11.4° for the ultra-translucent multi-layered Zirconia, respectively. However, the difference was insignificant (F(16) = 3.50, p = 0.292). No significant difference was observed for the fibroblast cytotoxicity test. The results for proliferation revealed a significant difference, which was material-dependent (F(8) = 9.58, p = 0.005). We found that UV surface photofunctionalization of ZrO2-based materials alters the human gingival fibroblast cell viability, which might produce favourable results for cell proliferation.


BACKGROUND
Subjects with asthma do not meet medical requirements for professions such as firefighting.

OBJECTIVE
To prospectively determine the diagnostic value of respiratory symptoms and various tests used in the assessment of asthma in a cohort of firefighters.

METHODS
A questionnaire, spirometry, direct and indirect airway challenge tests, exhaled nitric oxide, and skin-prick tests were administered prospectively to 101 of 107 firefighters employed in Basel, Switzerland. Asthma was defined as the combination of respiratory symptoms with airway hyperresponsiveness.

RESULTS
Six of 101 firefighters (6%) had physician-diagnosed asthma, which could be confirmed in 4 firefighters. In contrast, asthma was diagnosed in 14% (14 of 101 firefighters). Wheezing was the most sensitive symptom for the diagnosis of asthma (sensitivity, 78%; specificity, 93%). Other respiratory symptoms showed a higher specificity than wheezing but a markedly lower sensitivity. Bronchial airway challenge with mannitol was the most sensitive (92%) and specific (97%) diagnostic test for asthma. Using a cutoff point of 47 parts per billion, nitric oxide had a similar specificity (96%) but lower sensitivity (42%) compared to the direct (methacholine) and indirect (mannitol) airway challenge tests.

CONCLUSION
Asthma was considerably underdiagnosed in firefighters. The combination of a structured symptom questionnaire with a bronchial challenge test allows to identify patients with asthma and should routinely be used in the assessment of active firefighters and may be of help when evaluating candidates for this profession.


Mice with a newly identified germline mutation suggest that a fatal genetic disease in humans might be triggered by viral infection, according to Crozat et al. (page 853). The mutated gene, called Unc13d, was identified in a screen for chemically induced mutations that make mice susceptible to murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). Mutations in the Unc13d orthologue MUNC13-4 are associated with a severe human disease characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of CD8+ T cells. These cells produce cytokines but fail to release cytotoxic granules, as MUNC13-4 is required for the fusion of granules with the plasma membrane. The Unc13d-deficient mice, which the team called Jinx, also had the same degranulation defect in their CD8+ T cells. They did not, however, develop the fatal lymphoproliferative disease seen in humans unless they were also infected with lymphochoriomeningitis virus—a pathogen that elicits robust T cell expansion. MCMV infection did not cause the disease, probably because the mice succumbed too quickly to the virus. The pathogenesis of the human disease has so far been unclear. This study now suggests that the disease is triggered in MUNC13-4–deficient humans after infection with a pathogen stimulates a strong but ultimately ineffective CD8+ T cell expansion. The T cells might prompt cytokine-driven expansion of virusinfected APCs without killing them. The APCs, in turn, might drive further expansion of T cells, with each cell type stimulating the other in a vicious cycle. A parasite's power play


Background The purpose of an Emergency Department (ED) is to identify ill or deteriorating patients, but discharge well patients. The public increasingly seeks medical help for mild conditions. Since the addition of the "Paediatric Observation Priority Score" (POPS) into our ED, and the addition of an electronic recording system, we have analysed the group scoring 0, to see if those patients could be confidently discharged from hospital. Methods Ethical and Information Governance Board approval was obtained to record the eight domains of POPS: heart rate, respiratory rate, saturations, temperature, work of breathing, AVPU, key features of past medical history and the parameter of nursing concern. Data was entered electronically during initial assessment on arrival. No concern in any of the 8 parameters scores 0. Variation outside of APLS-derived physiological values or the other parameters scores 1 or 2 points, leading to maximum of 16. Data was collected between August and December 2012 on all children 0–15 presenting with illness (rather than injury). Patient discharge disposition, and ED investigations or treatments were merged with the data file. Patients presenting directly to the resuscitation room were not included in the data set. Results After accounting for downtime of the system and corrupted data there were 2890 records available, of which 1084 (37.5%) scored POPS zero. 137 (12.6%) of these were admitted compared to an overall admission rate of 28.9% (835/2890). The average age of those with 0 was 4.36 years with a large standard deviation (4.55). This was significantly older than from those with a POPS of 3 and above (p < 0.01). 56.7% of children scoring 0 had no treatment or investigation (other than advice and observations) compared with 39.3% of all children. 152/2980(5.1%) children arrived by ambulance overall, but 26.3% (40/152) of these scored 0. Conclusions Children commonly present with no physiological or behavioural disturbance, they are an older cohort but still require resources in the form of treatments and investigations. Determining the role of POPS and other scoring systems in both the detection of serious illness but also as an aid to safe discharge warrants further research.


BACKGROUND
Acute renal failure (ARF) occurs commonly in the intensive care unit (ICU), but predicting which patients will develop ARF is difficult. We set out to determine which risk factors would predict the development of ARF in critically ill patients who are admitted to the ICU without ARF.

METHODS
From August 2002 to April 2003, we enrolled medical-surgical ICU admissions into a cohort using a sampling tool based on their risk factor (RF) profile. The risk factors we identified were separated into 3 categories: chronic major, chronic minor, and acute RFs. Combinations of these RFs were used to create a sampling tool and identify patients to enroll into our cohort. Patients with end-stage renal disease and ARF upon admission to the ICU were excluded.

RESULTS
We enrolled 194 patients over a 14-month period. The mean age of the cohort was 64.6 +/- 14.7 years. The percentage of Caucasians, African Americans, and Hispanics was 40.7%, 50.5%, and 3.6%, respectively. In a univariate analysis of the entire cohort, increasing APACHE II quartile, increased A-a gradient, presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), decreased levels of serum albumin, and presence of active cancer predicted ARF. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, decreased serum albumin (high levels of serum albumin were protective), increased A-a gradient, and cancer were associated with development of ARF (OR 2.17, 1.04, and 2.86, respectively).

CONCLUSION
Decreased levels of serum albumin concentration, increased A-a gradient, and presence of active cancer predict which patients who are admitted to the ICU will develop ARF.


SUMMARY

Commercially available, daylight and near-ultraviolet fluorescent, colored dyes can be used in long- or short-lived surface coatings on coarse sediments. Such tracer coatings make possible day- or nighttime visual and quantitative determination of river or beach sediment transport. Testing of five commercial coatings led to formulation of two additional coatings. A wide selection of dye colors is available for use in four coating mixtures. All coatings are insoluble in fresh or saline water. Single-application coating thicknesses range between 0.0003 and 0.0024 inches. Still air drying time at room temperature for separated particles varies from 40 seconds to 14 minutes depending on coating mixture used. Volume production of marked particles in the field is possible.

Extensive sediment sampling in particle transport studies possibly may be eliminated by measuring visible light emission from coated particles under nearultraviolet excitation. A battery operated, portable photometer was assembled from a light cell, linear amplifier, and metering circuit. Laboratory calibration indicates that 5% differences in areal concentration of marked particles at given sampling locations can be determined.

Color coded sizes of fluorescent sand and gravel were used in a test of foreshore sediment transport pattern over a single tidal cycle. Initial trajectory (minimum transport angle) of particles moved by beach drifting is approximately equal to deep water angle of wave approach relative to the shoreline. Angular magnitude of the dispersion zone for each group of particles seems to be a function of particle size and point of introduction on the foreshore. Minimum average transport velocity of particles was 0.42 ft./min under test conditions.


Histologic examination was made on the distribution pattern of juxtaglomerular (JG) cells in the aglomerular kidney of the red batfish Halieutaea stellata. In this examination, five specimens (71 to 183g in body weight) were used and serial histologic sections were prepared from left and right kidneys (0.26to 0.89g in combined weight) of these specimens. From detailed histologic observation performed on the whole sections, it was ascertained that JG cells were localized as clusters in several regions within the kidney and the number of cell clusters was 3 to 10 and 4 to 10 in the left and right kidney tissues, respectively.


Abstract Reactive astrocytes are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), although the mechanisms controlling reactive transformation are unknown. We show that decreased intron retention (IR) is common to human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived astrocytes carrying ALS-causing mutations in VCP, SOD1 and C9orf72. Notably, transcripts with decreased IR and increased expression are overrepresented in reactivity processes including cell adhesion, stress response and immune activation. This was recapitulated in public-datasets for (i) hiPSC-derived astrocytes stimulated with cytokines to undergo reactive transformation and (ii) in vivo astrocytes following selective deletion of TDP-43. We also re-examined public translatome sequencing (TRAP-seq) of astrocytes from a SOD1 mouse model, which revealed that transcripts upregulated in translation significantly overlap with transcripts exhibiting decreased IR. Using nucleocytoplasmic fractionation of VCP mutant astrocytes coupled with mRNA sequencing and proteomics, we identify that decreased IR in nuclear transcripts is associated with enhanced nonsense mediated decay and increased cytoplasmic expression of transcripts and proteins regulating reactive transformation. These findings are consistent with a molecular model for reactive transformation in astrocytes whereby poised nuclear reactivity-related IR transcripts are spliced, undergo nuclear-to-cytoplasmic translocation and translation. Our study therefore provides new insights into the molecular regulation of reactive transformation in astrocytes.


CP-propeller is known to have the following disadvantages compared with FF-propeller.
 1) Increased risk of root cavitation due to the restricted blade width at the root.
 2) Parts with an increased number of notches are required to function under fluctuating loads in the un-uniform stern stream.
 In order to solve these problems, we conducted 1) blade stress measurements with real ships, 2) static loading tests with model propellers, 3) blade bolt fatigue tests, and 4) propeller cavitation tests, and on the basis of the data obtained through these tests we worked out a new blade suspension system suited for large CPPs, which we named "semi-integrated trunnion" and, have put to practical use successfully. We have also demonstrated that with adoption of this semi-integrated trunnion the upper limit for the severity index for CPP design set by KHI on the basis of the past records can be raised substantially.


A relatively simple diphasic medium, the composition of which is given, allow the cultivation in vitro at 37 degrees C of the parasitic protist discovered in the genital system of Primates. From the study of the various cultural forms a first interpretation of the biological cycle of the parasite may be given.


This study is a qualitative research that analyzes the level of accountability for the use of village funds which is studied through the competence aspect of village fund managers and the internal control system of village funds. The subjects were village in rural village fund manager Beo Rahong Village, District of Ruteng,  Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province. Meanwhile, the object of research is the competence of managers, internal control systems and accountability of village funds. The data collection technique used a triangulation approach, namely from the source, method and time aspects. While the data analysis used a qualitative descriptive approach by analyzing the results of the data obtained by the triangulation approach. Based on the results of the data and after being analyzed, it shows that the competency aspect of village fund budget managers is still less competent due to the limitations of five things, namely, knowledge, understanding, abilities, values, attitudes and interests . Meanwhile, in terms of aspects of the internal control system that are still not in accordance with the standards as stipulated in Government Regulation Number 60 of 2008 concerning the government's internal control system, this is due to the manager's competence not being maximized. Then in terms of accountability for the use of village funds, this has not been realized, this is due to the not yet maximal competence, internal control which is also still not carried out optimally due to limited human resources in mastering information technology and the lack of support for information technology facilities.


Deep learning systems such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have shown remarkable efficiency in dealing with a variety of complex real life problems. To accelerate the execution of these heavy algorithms, a plethora of software implementations and hardware accelerators have been proposed. In a context of shrinking devices dimensions, reliability issues of CNN-hosting systems are under-explored. In this paper, we experimentally evaluate the inherent fault tolerance of CNNs by injecting errors within network modules, namely processing elements and memories. Our experiments demonstrate a non uniform sensitivity between different parts of the system. While CNNs are relatively resilient to errors occurring in processing elements, transient faults hitting memories lead to catastrophic degradation of accuracy.


This presents the results of studying the influence of the type of weave in ballistic fabric, linear density and filamentarity of aramid thread in the fabric on its wear resistance. The study was carried out for linen-and twill-weave fabrics made of filaments with linear density of 100 tex, 58.8 tex and 29.4 tex. In addition, filaments with linear density of 58.8 tex and


Abstract Modern problems of work with youth in rural areas determine the necessity of identification of educational competencies of specialists working in youth organizations, which determines the directions in life of young people. The purpose of the article is to study the most important educational competencies of specialists working in youth organizations in rural areas, based on the analysis of the impact of educational competencies of specialists on the directions in life for youth. Educational competencies of youth work include both general ethical competencies and specific professional competencies related to youth work. The study has been conducted in 2016 and 2021 to compare changes in educational competencies. The structural equation modeling to solve the problem of identifying the relationships between ethical and professional competencies, and the directions in life for youth, and sociological survey to identify the specific area of interest of young people living in rural areas was used.


This paper describes a computer model for the formation of thin films by sedimentation of colloidal particles with allowance for surface diffusion with various methods of self-organization. The process of organizing such films similar to the free fall of identical balls that form an organized structure. Understanding the self-assembly mechanisms of nanoparticles is an important step in the direction of creating new materials with regard to optical and electrical properties.


In the field of natural language processing, open-domain chatbots have emerged as an important research topic. However, a major limitation of existing open-domain chatbot research is its singular focus on short single-session dialogue, neglecting the potential need for understanding contextual information in multiple consecutive sessions that precede an ongoing dialogue. Among the elements that compose the context in multi-session conversation settings, the time intervals between sessions and the relationships between speakers would be particularly important. Despite their importance, current research efforts have not sufficiently addressed these dialogical components. In this paper, we introduce a new 1M multi-session dialogue dataset, called Conversation Chronicles, for implementing a long-term conversation setup in which time intervals and fine-grained speaker relationships are incorporated. Following recent works, we exploit a large language model to produce the data. The extensive human evaluation shows that dialogue episodes in Conversation Chronicles reflect those properties while maintaining coherent and consistent interactions across all the sessions. We also propose a dialogue model, called ReBot, which consists of chronological summarization and dialogue generation modules using only around 630M parameters. When trained on Conversation Chronicles, ReBot demonstrates long-term context understanding with a high human engagement score.


The eddy currents induced in a thrust bearing result not only in a power loss of the system but also in phase lag and a decrease in magnitude of the magnetic force. Therefore, an accurate model including eddy-current effects would be highly beneficial at the design stage. We present a linear model including eddy-current effects for a typical active magnetic thrust bearing (AMTB). We define and calculate the dynamic current stiffness and displacement stiffness using both an analytical method and transient finite element (FE) analysis. We present a simple magnetic circuit model including eddy currents from which the two stiffnesses can be derived analytically. Furthermore, by using a transient analysis of the FE model, flux saturation, leakage, and fringing effects can all be taken into account. We show that the two stiffnesses have the same frequency response characteristics, both in the analytical model and from the results of the linear FE analysis, when the leakage and fringing effects are ignored. Even in the more practical case when the flux saturation, leakage and fringing effects are considered, the two stiffnesses can be considered to have the same frequency response characteristics within the 3 dB bandwidth without introducing much error. The open-loop frequency response of the two stiffnesses derived from the analytical model and the FE model agrees well with the experimental results.


Quality is one of the main topics in current conceptual modelling research, as is the field of business process modelling. Yet, widely acknowledged academic contributions towards an understanding or measurement of business process model quality are limited at best. In this paper I argue that the development of methodical theories concerning the problem of process model quality must be preceded by methodological elaborations on business process modelling. I further argue that existing epistemological foundations of process modelling are insufficient for describing the extrinsic and intrinsic traits of model quality. Taking into account the inherent social and purpose-oriented character of process modelling in contemporary organizations I present a socio-pragmatic constructionist methodology of business process modelling and sketch out implications of this perspective towards an understanding of process model quality. I anticipate that, based on this research, theories can be developed that facilitate the evaluation of the 'goodness' of a business process model.


The geographic area I will focus on is the Minahasa region in North Sulawesi. There, in the eighteenth century the eight 'tribes' inhabiting the area were united into a single 'ethnic group' known as 'Minahasa' until today. Not only the Dutch colonial government but also the Protestant church put great efforts into this unifying and homogenising process that was supposed to create a common identity for all Minahasan people. The effectiveness of those efforts can hardly be denied. Nevertheless, internal differences have continued to exist and they are based not only on 'traditional' concepts that divided the 'original' Minahasan tribes but also on the local population's experiences with immigrants from other parts of Indonesia and overseas (e.g. the Philippines and China). Although this is not a recent phenomenon, political and socio—economic developments during the last few years have had further impacts on demographic conditions and relations between different ethnic and religious 'groups'. Thus, the Minahasa—like other 'ethnic groups' in Indonesia—are confronted with a double binding of supposed needs and requests for diversity under a unifying umbrella—on the regional as well as national level. The paper will address the 'problem' from the perspective of a rural community in the south-eastern part of the region. Hence, local concepts of identity, their constructions and markers in everyday life, as being manifested in food and clothing for instance, will be given special consideration. It will also be taken into account that the media (esp. television) plays an important role in the formation and representation of ethnic and religious identity. The paper aims at showing how 'unity' and 'diversity' in this context are produced and reproduced on the village level and its relation to the national discourse.


In this paper we describe STS-korpus, a web corpus tool for Swedish Sign Language (STS) which we have built during the past year, and which is now publicly available on the internet. STS-korpus uses the data of Swedish Sign Language Corpus (SSLC) and is primarily intended for teachers and students of sign language. As such it is created to be simple and user-friendly with no download or setup required. The user interface allows for searching – with search results displayed as a simple concordance – and viewing of videos with annotations. Each annotation also provides additional data and links to the corresponding entry in the online Swedish Sign Language Dictionary. We describe the corpus, its appearance and search syntax, as well as more advanced features like access control and dynamic content. Finally we say a word or two about the role we hope it will play in the classroom, and something about the development process and the software used. STS-korpus is available here: https://teckensprakskorpus.su.se


Abstract Two protein hydrolysates were prepared from animals by-product (chicken legs(A) and raw shrimp waste(B)) by chemical method (hydrochloric acid). The chemical composition of Protein hydrolysates that include percentage of total solid matter, total nitrogen, Protein,lipid,ash ,yield and degree of analysis were studied, Also the physical properties of Protein hydrolysates were studied (pH and color), The best concentration of hydrolysates for preparing media was 4% for A and B, The Protein hydrolysates were added to two types of media (peptone broth and agar) and (nutrient broth and agar) instead of their peptone .Their ability to support the growth of microorganisms by cultivating natural samples (water, soil,milk and meat). The samples were incubated in 37C


Driving and visual perception are tightly linked. Every moment, a multitude of visual stimuli compete for the driver's limited attentional resources. Despite modern safety measures, traffic accidents still remain a major source of fatalities. A large part of these casualties occur in accidents for which driver distraction was cited as the main cause [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration September 2010]. We propose to help drivers by building an augmented vision system that can guide eye movements towards regions which may constitute a source of danger. In a first study, we have already shown that largely unobtrusive gaze guidance techniques used in a driving simulator help drivers better distribute their attentional resources and drive more safely [Pomarjanschi et al. 2011]. Current experiments investigate the efficiency of more general cues, that only signal the direction in which a critical event might occur. Results of these experiments will be reported at the conference.


Many validation studies of instruments of evaluation derived from ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) are actually in course. In particular, a multicentric protocol with the goal of validating some ICF core sets (in the two forms comprehensive and brief) and the WHO-DAS II Scale is coordinated by the Montescano Scientific Institute of Maugeri Foundation and is currently carried out in our country. During the realization of the protocol some implementation difficulties have emerged; it is essential to point out these problems in order to contribute to their solution. These include in particular: 1) Poor inter-operator repeatability of the evaluation relative to the attribution of the qualificators describing the difficulty level of the person in exam in performing a function, an activity or in relation to an environmental factor; 2) Interrelation problems with the patient due to the complexity of defining some categories in particular in the environmental factor component; 3) Conceptual and applicative problems deriving from the categories of the activity and participation component. Overcoming such difficulties seems to be an essential requirement in order to propose a wide spread application of the ICF evaluation instruments in the practice.


A Statement of Concern by the Council of the New Zealand Ecological Society (Inc. ) Preamble The New Zealand Ecological Society is a scientific society formed in 1951 "to promote the study of ecology and the application of ecological knowledge in all its aspects". It draws its membership primarily from research and teaching institutions. On three occasions in its history the Society has prepared substantive statements on ecological issues it regarded as of national importance: the utilisation of South Island beech forests (1973)1; a population policy for New Zealand (1974)2; and the generation of nuclear power in New Zealand (1977)3. The Council of the New Zealand Ecological Society has undertaken an assessment of the scientific evidence on the environmental consequences to New Zealand, of nuclear warfare in the Northern Hemisphere. Its conclusion is that even a small-scale nuclear war confined to the Northern Hemisphere will have far-reaching and, in some cases, unpredictable consequences for the New Zealand environment. The Council now believes it cannot continue to promote concern for the New Zealand environment and yet remain silent over the threat to world ecosystems posed by nuclear armaments. This statement, which summarises published information available to the Council up to July 1984, is an apolitical expression of concern. It seeks to convey to a wider audience the likely effects of a Northern Hemisphere nuclear war on the New Zealand environment, and to identify issues requiring action within New Zealand.


Thick multilayer composite structures based on sandwiched dielectric honeycomb and foam cores are extensively utilized in the construction of many structural and protective components in the aerospace industry. These structures are susceptible to various subsurface flaws which could be induced due to in-service stresses and manufacturing faults. Non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques are utilized on these structures to detect and assess the severity of the induced flaws. Microwave NDT methods have been shown to be particularly efficient for thick composite inspection. Conventionally, these methods are based on rectangular aperture probes. In this paper, inspection of thick composite samples is performed based on near-field microwave imaging utilizing a custom-made circular waveguide probe operating at 24 GHz. To highlight the utility of the proposed probe, practical multilayer composite samples are imaged using the proposed circular probe and a conventional waveguide rectangular probe. To further benchmark the obtained results, three of the samples are imaged using a phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) system and the images are compared with the images obtained using the proposed circular probe. It is demonstrated that microwave imaging using a circular probe yields images of higher fidelity when compared to a conventional rectangular probe as well as the PAUT system.


This paper discusses our recent research projects in the area of information visualization systems for studying repetition in literary documents. Our rationale for these experiments is that readers typically notice repetition as part of the normal process of reading, and such moments of recognition can serve as useful means of identifying interesting elements for further inquiry; however, while ordinary reading skills are often all that are necessary for spotting repeated patterns within a single document, if the document is long or complicated, or once there are many documents involved, an automated approach combined with an appropriate interface to visualize the results can make the experience not only possible, but also interesting and pleasurable in its own right. We describe three design projects in this area, dealing respectively with an approach that accommodates the contemporary hardware configuration of monitor, keyboard, and mouse; a set of designs that strip away codex conventions; and a design that attempts to take advantage of the new affordances offered by a high-resolution wall-sized display.


The Hatch-Waxman Act encourages generic drug companies to challenge the patents on brand name drugs by awarding the first generic challenger 180 days of generic marketing exclusivity, a bounty often worth millions of dollars. Challenging a patent usually triggers patent infringement litigation from the brand name firm. In response to the increased numbers of patent challenges, brand name firms have adopted an "evergreening" strategy — filing for multiple patents for each drug hoping that the generic firm will not be able to successfully challenge all of the patents and that the continued validity of just one of them will prevent generic entry. Evergreening inevitably results in patents of different strengths. Generics have responded to this strategy by challenging only the weaker patents on a drug and then filing for a stay of the subsequent patent infringement lawsuit until the strong patents are about to expire — which is often many years in the future. Generics seek these stays because an early litigation victory would grant a period of exclusivity that they could not use because the strong patents continue to block generic entry. Brand name firms should also favor stays because by delaying the generic's exclusivity period, the stay also ultimately delays full competition. Yet in two out of three cases, the brand name firm opposed the stay motion. Courts are split on whether to grant the motions but have not addressed the anticompetitive consequences of stays. This Note explores the cases, regulatory background, and economic incentives surrounding the stays and concludes that stay motions should be denied.


In Ottaviani and Sørensen, henceforth OS, (2004b), we have formulated a model of strategic communication by an expert concerned about being perceived to be well informed. In that model, the expert observes a private signal informative about the state of the world. The amount of information about the state contained in this signal is parametrized by the expert's ability, assumed for simplicity to be unknown to the expert. The expert then sends a message to an evaluator, who uses it in conjunction with the ex-post realization of the state to update the belief about the expert's ability. Under general conditions on the distribution of the expert's private signal, we have shown that the expert does not wish to truthfully reveal the signal observed. In equilibrium, professional experts can credibly communicate only part of their information. OS (2004a) have provided a further characterization of the equilibrium when the ex-pert's signal is assumed to be multiplicative linear, a natural generalization of the binary signal experiment that allows for continuously varying intensity. In that setting, OS (2004a) have shown that no more than two messages can be effectively reported in equilibrium. In addition, when the prior distribution on the state is concentrated enough on a particular state, there exists no informative equilibrium. As a result, when experts speak in sequence, learning of the fixed state stops after a finite number of rounds. Reputational herding then obtains. This note collects some supplementary material on the analysis of reputational cheap talk games. Section 1 provides an illustration of the direction of the incentives, studied more generally in Section 4 of OS (2004b). We then perform two robustness checks of the


Singles CTCs are recovered in different tubes Ampli1TM Whole Genome Amplification Downstream Molecular Analysis BACKGROUND: Success of targeted therapy requires expression of the protein. Tumor tissue source can include diagnostic biopsy, surgical samples from initial or follow-up surgeries, fluids e.g. pleural or ascites and circulating tumor cells (CTC). The goal of using CTCs was 1. To determine whether CTC can be used as a "liquid" tumor biopsy and enable gene sequence information at the single cell level and 2. To determine the heterogeneity represented in the circulation compared to that seen in solid tumor by examining single cells (or a small cluster of cells) for the presence of a specific mutation which was detected in tissue tumor source. METHODS: We performed sequencing for mutational analysis on tissue(s) from patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Tumor sources varied from mastectomy tissue, metastatic site(s) e.g. liver or skin from chest wall disease, pleural fluid and CTC isolated into pure single cell populations (or groups of cells) using Silicon Biosystems DEPArray. Ampli1TM WGA kit was used for CTC amplification. Of the 22 patients sequenced, mastectomy primary tumor was examined in 3, metastatic site skin chest wall disease in 15, other metastatic site in 4, pleural fluid in 2 and CTC collected to investigate p53 mutations in 8. RESULTS: To date 35 patients have had mutational data performed, 23/35 had mutations in p53, 6/35 in RB1 and BRAC, 9/35 in PI3K and 5/35 in ERBB2, 2/35 in Notch 1 and 1/35 in each of, ATM, KRAS, MEN1 and ESR1. Numerous amplifications were noted including AKT, RPTOR, MLC1, MYC, CCND1, AURKA, MDM2, FGFR1 and ERBB2. For one patient's chest wall biopsy compared to two single CTCs and a cluster of 10 CTCs the same TP53C229fs*10 mutation was detected revealing the same 2bp deletion. No 2bp deletion was found in single white blood cells. Whereas, another patient which showed a TP53 S215G mutation in her skin biopsy of chest wall disease, only amplifications of AURKA, CCND1, IGF1R, MDM2 and SRC in pleural tumor cells were detected and no mutations in three single CTC, two single pleural tumor cells and in single white blood cells were seen. Primary tumor tissue is being sort for both of these patients. Mutational data reviewed to date suggest that IBC is not one disease but a multiplicity of diseases, revealing a variety of target(s). Aberrations are not consistent across tissue source. CONCLUSIONS: Successful treatment outcomes using standard of care chemotherapy combined with target therapies will require not one, but a panel, of tissue sources for sequencing to guide the selection of appropriate targeted therapies. Single Tissue source analysis


Systematic deviations from ostensibly rational beliefs appear in many economic, financial, and business contexts. This paper introduces a steady-state competitive equilibrium model where firms' knowledge of the market aggregates does not determine their beliefs about their own abilities. Firms maximize expected profit and hold beliefs that are calibrated with available statistical information. Yet firms believe that market statistics, while accurately describe what happens to others, do not apply to them, that when it comes to their own projects, 'this time is di↵erent.' In particular, firms and outside observers agree that market participants are, on average, over-optimistic. They also correctly anticipate a market equilibrium with over-entry and high failure rates relative to the objective distribution of productivity. Implications for corporate finance patterns are explored.


As myoclonus is often associated with abnormally increased excitability of cortical structures, electrophysiological studies provide useful information for its diagnosis and classification and about its generator mechanisms. The EEG‐EMG polygraph provides the most essential information about the myoclonus of interest. Jerk‐locked back averaging and evoked potential studies combined with recording of the long latency, long loop reflexes are useful to further investigate the pathophysiology of myoclonus, especially that of cortical myoclonus. A recent advance in magnetoencephalographic techniques has contributed significantly to the elucidation of some of the cortical mechanisms underlying myoclonus. Elucidation of physiological mechanisms underlying myoclonus in each individual patient is important for selecting the most appropriate treatment of choice. © 2000 American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine. Muscle Nerve 23: 321–335, 2000


Music affects us humans. Marketing has long made use of music as a means to enable customers to identify with a brand, and thus increase sales. The Influence of music is obvious, but can you use th ...


In this paper, I give an overview of the different models and approaches to technology teacher education . Many of the issues which shape the requirements for the professional development of teachers are common to the different teacher education structures which exist, and the need to improve the quality and quantity of technology teachers is shared by all countries. By standing apart from any one country's programme, perhaps novel solutions to common problems will present themselves . I present here a framework for analysis which may be appl i ed to a range of courses , both pre-service and INSET , and cons i der both new and traditional approaches to the education of technology teachers .


Ten years have passed since Wal-Mart's public announcement about its RFID technology adoption plan in 2003. There has been a slowdown of RFID technology adoption since 2008. Many U.S. retailers do not consider adopting the RFID technology because of the uncertainty of return on investment and the lack of business cases. This paper evaluates labor productivity of RFID adopted retailers. This paper uses objective data from financial statements and explains association between RFID technology and adopted retailer's productivity. The regression analyses using the Cobb-Douglas production function suggests that RFID companies have higher labor productivity than non-RFID companies. But the gap between RFID and non-RFID is not significant.


Coculture of chick embryonic sympathetic neurones with spinal cord explants induced an age-dependent increase in the acetylcholine receptor numbers of the ganglion cells. These acetylcholine receptors did not appear to be necessary for the initial formation of spinal cord-ganglion synapses since their blockade with the alpha-bungarotoxin-horseradish peroxidase complex did not prevent synapse formation in culture. The presence of acetylcholine receptors appears to be sufficient for synapse formation since inappropriate motoneurone-ganglion synapses could form and were stable.


We describe a case of a 24-year-old male presenting urgently with a juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) with difficulty breathing, inability to swallow, and respiratory distress following throat swelling. The swelling was reduced with administration of dexamethasone and the JNA was surgically resected within 48 hours. This presentation was atypical given the acuity of presentation and the patient's older age.


Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the default treatment in hospital unless there is a decision to the contrary and this is documented in the patient record. The outcome of CPR in older chronically ill patients is very poor and discharge home is unlikely. Fewer not‐for‐resuscitation (NFR) orders are written than there are patients who would not benefit from CPR. NFR orders appear to be a marker of death, rather than the result of informed discussion about end‐of‐life care. There is a legal and ethical framework for the consideration of the suitability of CPR. Discussions about CPR are challenging, and uncertainty is introduced because of the lack of consensus around futility, the emotionally charged nature of the topic, misconceptions about the success of CPR and the failure to recognise that not offering CPR will allow a peaceful and supported death. Discussion around CPR can be misconstrued as a need for consent. A focus on patient and family involvement may result in an expectation that CPR is an entitlement. As part of evidence‐based patient‐centred care, CPR should only be offered to those for whom it is beneficial. CPR should no longer be the universal default. We propose an opt‐in model, which will drive discussion and evaluation of the efficacy and suitability of CPR for the individual. A CPR discussion should occur on admission for all elderly hospital inpatients.


Many traditional and complementary and alternative healthcare systems or practices, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, taijiquan, or acupuncture, are easily found in many North American and European cities. For the most part these practices are not accredited, and their validation remains limited. This is primarily the result of the lack of modern scientific research. Additionally, the studies that are performed rely on evidence and research designs that often negate the true features of these practices with a loss of authenticity. Is it possible or even desirable for these systems to acquire accreditation and inclusion? If so, given the apparent, subjective nature of these practices, can a pluralistic approach to healthcare that retains the Western values of science and medicine be developed that yet respects the diversity of different concepts about life, health and services while permitting these practices to maintain their authenticity? And is it possible to develop a regulatory framework that practitioners can use? The current paper examines questions concerning the uses of non-Western healthcare practices without the loss of their authentic nature. The process of integration is here examined using the inclusion of taijiquan as a health-promoting martial art as the model.


The diagnosis in each case was confirmed by necropsy. The incubation period for the patients varied from two weeks to two months. The closer the site of the bite to the central nerv- ous system the shorter was the incubation period. Wounds made by the bites of animals should immediately be cauter- ized with nitric acid. The Pasteur treatment or one of its modifications should be instituted in accordance with rules outlined and accepted. The twelve persons whose cases are after suffering great and might have been saved adequate prophylactic measures been instituted the Stringent enforcement of regulations governing


The aim of the present study was to validate low dose Multislice Spiral Computed Tomography (MSCT) in the diagnosis of breast lesions. Fourteen patients with mammographic and ultrasound findings suspect of malignant neoplasm underwent dynamic MSCT of the breast under basal conditions and 1, 3, and 6 minutes after intravenous injection of iodinated contrast medium. Both enhancement of the lesion >100% without further increase after 6 minutes, and irregular margins of the lesion were considered signs of malignancy. All lesions were examined cytologically and/or histologically. A correct diagnosis was achieved by MSCT in 7/8 malignant lesions, and in 6/6 benign lesions. The only malignant lesion missed by MSCT was histologically a ductal carcinoma in situ (false negative). In one case the MSCT showed the multifocality of an infiltrating ductal carcinoma, and in another it defined the bilaterality of the malignant lesions. Sensitivity and specificity of MSCT in the diagnosis of malignancy of a lesion were 88% and 100%, respectively. Our results suggest that MSCT is an effective diagnostic method to define suspicious breast lesions, and a valid alternative to Magnetic Resonance Imaging, especially when the latter is not feasible.


ABSTRACT I have received substantial monetary compensation and a formal apology from my first doctoral school, and a Ph.D. from another university. This essay describes my personal view on discussing the boundaries of academic judgment and research supervision with the ombudsman agency for higher education, and at the High Administrative Court of England and Wales. The Court's judicial doctrine addresses substantial research accountability matters. It clarifies that although the Court and ombudsman agency must not interfere with academic judgment, not everything done by an academic can be considered as academic judgment. A Ph.D. supervisor can seriously fail to perform his/her duties.


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Speech sounds are highly variable, yet listeners readily extract information from them and transform continuous acoustic signals into meaningful categories during language comprehension. A central question is whether perceptual encoding captures acoustic detail in a one-to-one fashion or whether it is affected by phonological categories. We addressed this question in an event-related potential (ERP) experiment in which listeners categorized spoken words that varied along a continuous acoustic dimension (voice-onset time, or VOT) in an auditory oddball task. We found that VOT effects were present through a late stage of perceptual processing (N1 component, ~100 ms poststimulus) and were independent of categorization. In addition, effects of within-category differences in VOT were present at a postperceptual categorization stage (P3 component, ~450 ms poststimulus). Thus, at perceptual levels, acoustic information is encoded continuously, independently of phonological information. Further, at phonological levels, fine-grained acoustic differences are preserved along with category information.


In this paper we propose a new competitive location model that considers the possible negative impact generated by competing facilities (such as cannabis dispensaries) on surrounding communities. The facilities cannot be located too close to the communities. Therefore, when distances are Euclidean, the facilities must be located at a point outside a set of circles centered at the communities. After formulating the model, a specially designed efficient algorithm that solves the single facility location problem within a given relative accuracy of optimality is constructed. A total of 128 instances are solved in a relatively short time. The largest instance of 10 existing competing facilities and 20,000 demand points was solved in less than 15 minutes of computer time. This new model opens avenues for future research by designing similar new models. Also, the algorithm designed in this paper can be applied to solving other location problems with outside of a set of circles constraints.


The connectivity and the causality were estimated using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (f-NIRS) signals to introduce an optimal networks analysis technique for hemodynamic signals. Instantaneous phase information was utilized to analyze the fMRI time series and the f-NIRS signals in order to estimate connectivity and causal networks in the brain. To identify an optimal estimator, the conducted computer-based Monte Carlo simulation using fMRI mimicking signals under various realistic conditions. The simulation results showed that the phase-information-based approach can be an optimal causal estimator for hemodynamic signals.


Conditionality is the most controversial aspect of the IMF`s policies. It has been said to be intrusive and coercive and considered to disregard effects on growth, employment and income distribution. In the 1990s, following a sharp increase in the number of conditions required by programs, Fund conditionality became increasingly ineffective. The paper reviews the nature and purpose of conditionality; its origin and evolution over time. It considers whether conditionality is required to safeguard the resources of the Fund. It looks into the reasons for the increase in structural conditionality, relates the increase in conditionality with the marked fall in the rate of compliance with Fund programs and with the relative decline in Fund resources. The paper notes the revision of conditionality recently undertaken at the instance of the Managing Director and considers progress on that front. Finally, certain difficult political questions arising from conditionality are posed and some suggestions presented for increasing country ownership of programs, the key to making conditionality more acceptable and effective.


1 Objectives The aim of this study is to examine empirically the characteristics of economic growth in Japan for the period from 1960 to 1990, from the perspective of technological progress and the spread of productivity growth across sectors. This study is motivated by two main reasons. Firstly, it is initiated by the recent development in the 'New Growth Theory' highlighting the endogenous growth factor. The second reason lies in the need to re-examine the results of past studies using economic observations of the Japanese economy after the oil crisis. The first objective of this study is to calculate productivity growth by sector and its contributing factors using the input-output table. The second objective is to estimate the spillover effect of productivity growth from one sector to another through inter-sectoral dependency. 2 Main Characteristics of the Analysisa Triangularization of Sectors By rearranging the sectors producing intermediate inputs in the input-output table topdown from products requiring a high degree of processing (final goods) to products requiring alow degree of processing (intermediate goods, in particular basic materials), it is found that final goods are seldom used as intermediate inputs in the production of others goods. On the other hand, while intermediate goods are frequently used as inputs in the production of other goods, they are less likely to be demanded as final goods. Hence, the sectoral spillover of productivity growth tends to lie in one direction. This implies that productivity growth in products requiring a high degree of processing will have no effect on products requiring a low degree of processing, whereas productivity growth in products requiring a low degree of processing will have an effect on products requiring a high degree of processing. b Interdependency Between Products Products could be rearranged into several blocks via triangularization. A kind of block interdependency is found to exhibit through the use of intermediate inputs among the blocks. As shown in Table 5 on page 45, the 12 major product blocks could be further divided into 50 product blocks. Further, the formation of hierarchies through the structure of the intermediate goods was observed within the 12 major blocks and within the 50 smaller blocks (ordering among blocks). In addition, the ordering of products with a low degree of processing at the bottom and products with a high degree of processing at the top according to the ordering in triangularization is also observed within each block. c Measurement of the Rate of Technological Progress By defining the rate of technological progress as the growth in total factor productivity (TFP), TFP of 50 sectors are measured for the period between 1960 and 1990. 3 Resultsa Growth Characteristics of the Japanese Economyi. Capital input had the largest contribution to growth, with the rate of increase(7.6%) in capital input being greater than the rate of output increase(6.8%). ii. Labour input had a 13% contribution to growth, and an annual growth rate of 1.7%. This could be broken down into the 1.0% annual growth of labour force in man-hour base and the 0.7% annual growth rate of improvement in labour quality. iii. Technological progress recorded an average annual growth rate of 2.2%, and its contribution to growth was large at 33%. The rapid slowdown in the rate of technological progress after 1975 constituted one of the reasons for the slow economic growth. b Static Spillover Effects of Technological Progress and Productivity Growth The rate of price increase of an output from a particular sector is measured by subtracting the rate of technological progress in that sector from the product of the share of material inputs and the rate of price increase in material inputs. For instance, Rate of output price increase = Share of the respective material inputs * Rate of price increase of the respective material inputs + Share of labour input * Rate of wage increase + Share of capital input * Rate of price increase in capital. Therefore, by the above relationship, we could measure the effect of technological progress in one sector in reducing the price of output of another sector. This is termed the static spillover effect. c The Relationship Between Static Spillover Effects and Structural Changes The static spillover effect has a close relationship with structural changes in the Japanese economy via the changes in resource allocation among the various systems of basic materials. In an historical perspective, an increasing amount of resources was allocated to sectors in which there was productivity growth in the sectors themselves, and to sectors which contributed to the price reduction in product sector requiring a high degree of processing via spillover obtained through the basic materials used. For the period from 1960 to 1985, large output increases were observed in sectors with productivity increase such as ore mining (h1) and secondary energy products (I). On the other hand, stagnation was observed in sectoral blocks belonging to basic material sectors such as agricultural products (h3), fisheries (h4), livestock products (h5) and materials for natural textiles (h6), in which there had been no productivity improvements. Hence, resources were allocated from sectors with low productivity to sectors with high productivity. d Dynamic Spillover Effects of Productivity Growth The static spillover effect resulted in the price reduction in the final goods, in particular investment goods. While the price reduction in the investment goods resulted in price reduction of capital services through the static spillover effects, we termed the ultimate price reduction effect exerted on the other sectors as the dynamic spillover effects. On the other hand, the employment coefficients had decreased rapidly in all sectors while labour productivity had increased. Although the capital coefficients had decreased in a few sectors, they had increased in most other sectors. This phenomenon was in particular distinguishing during the high growth era. e Spillover Effect of the Computer Sector (b5) Sectors that had experienced continuous productivity growth were mainly found in the industrial machinery (B) block. In particular, the computer sector (b5) had recorded rapid productivity growth in recent years, and it was contributing both in static and dynamic terms to cost reduction in other sectors. The every 5-year annual productivity growth from 1960 to 1990 in the computer sector were 6.1817%, 2.1687%, 1.2742%, 6.0535%, 0.7910% and 4.5262% respectively. As for the static spillover effect, the 5-year average since 1960 were 0.0833%, 0.0431%,0.0091%, 0.0922%, 0.0447% and 0.1658% respectively. The dynamic spillover effects for the same period were 0.2725%,0.1352%,0.0294%,0.3105%,0.1618%,0.4526% respectively. For the period after 1985, differences in the static spillover effects and dynamic spillover effects had been enlarging,and the computer sector was playing an increasingly important role as a provider of investment good.